A/N: I've been trying to get this story done for some time, about a week before the event in 2016 where Warspite was introduced. I had always dreamed about having the Royal Fleet introduced into the game, and went to look for various drawings online on pixiv. My favourite artist for original Kancolle works has to be kannnu, his works for the WW1 era dreadnought ships Orion and her sister ships, made me fascinated with what was possible... well, not so much as Orion and her sister ships were WW1 era ships. Kannnu also mentioned about how it would not be likely to have such ships in the game. Still, his work inspired me and I drew some ships myself. More specifically, King George V class battleships.
I have some strong attachment to the HMS Prince of Wales, the second ship of the line, mainly because she sank in the attempt to defend my country during WW2. Both her and HMS Repulse. And upon reading more on the HMS Prince of Wales, I came to fall in love with the tragic story of both her, and the famous HMS Hood. As I read the story (with my mind going full blown romanticizing the words), I came to envision both the story and how the characters would look like.
I have drawn my own version of those ships on my pixiv account, under the Japanese name あすもす... I have no idea why I came up with that name. But on my account, I submitted drawings for all King George V class ships as well as the Hood and HMS Ark Royal. I have also attempted to draw the first part of this story into a comic, under the name Ich Diene Dem Wind. It is in Japanese though, despite the title, and this novel version would be longer and more detailed.
A few reasons why I didn't continue drawing the comic version:
1) I suck at drawing. Look at my drawings and you will understand
2) Despite owning a drawing pad, I don't have the proper software, nor the time and skills to draw on computer... everything was drawn on paper and scanned in
3) I... really can't draw... I prefer writing
4) Those who can read Japanese will know that I REALLY messed up my grammar
5) I can't colour for shit... everything is black and white. I can't even draw shadows correctly.
I may continue drawing it if I can get the time and patience to sit down and do it.
Personally, I think Prince of Wales may not enter the game at all. She was bombed and sunk by the Japanese, after all. She isn't likely to enter the game any time soon, so I guess I can continue to draw her for as long as I like... If I bother to draw her again.
This story is written in a sort of weird way, taking inspiration from many doujin comics of Kancolle, so by the last chapter it would be somewhat clearer, I hope. I have already written out the entire story for this so I will be uploading all in one go. It was originally planned to be a one shot, more in line with the planned comic, but things got out of hand and now it will have 5 chapters. Oh well...
Kancolle
Unrelenting Anguish
Chapter 1
The darkness that surrounds me.
It darkens my vision.
It clouds my thoughts.
It deafens my hearing.
It is fear.
It is anger.
It is despair.
Yet.
It calls to me.
Beckons me close.
Seducing me with its liberating sleep.
And so I let it consume me.
Devour me.
Become me.
It is me.
It was me.
All this time.
The train travelled through the country side, past rolling hills and open farms. And yet such a scene was of no concern the young woman or her travelling companion, who had taken the liberty of sleeping, her head being propped up by her hand which used the window sill as a support. The young woman herself was focused on the book opened before her, having a slight smile upon reading the pleasant story. The bumps of the train ride was also of no concern or distraction for her as she focused solely on her book. She instinctively brushed the right bangs of her blonde hair to the back of her ear to stop it from covering her view, a habit that made her braid the left side of her long hair to keep it behind there. This braid was something she had insisted for her younger sisters to follow, a form of 'sistership', as she puts it. Her sleeping companion who sat opposite her seat, had a braid too on her right of head, albeit there reluctantly. Her sisters had chosen to wear their braids smaller in size, however, though that did not really bother her after sulking for a few days. Her sister, having most of her silver hair grown slightly past her shoulders, had a bunch of hair grown out as a tail. Long enough to rest on the seat as well, and though she may berate her sister for maintaining it, such advice would often fall upon deaf ears. A knock on the door made her look up from her book. With the blinds down, it was not possible to see who it was knocking on the door, and so she simply called out.
"Come in."
The door opened slightly and a young woman sheepishly looked in with a smile. Her long dark brown hair having a smaller tail tied on the back, and her cheeky blue eyes sparkling with mischief and intrigue.
"Howe, what is it?"
She asked the youngest of her sisters. Howe nodded and spoke in a slightly formal tone.
"Anson-nee sama has asked me to inform King-nee sama and Prince-nee sama that we shall be arriving soon."
Howe answered, and she nodded back.
"I see. Thank you, Howe. Please make sure that Duke is ready to depart. Anson may be prepared by now, but do check on her, just in case."
"As you wish, nee-sama."
With that, Howe bowed slightly and left, closing the door as she went. With Howe gone, she closed her book and called out to her sister who was still asleep.
"Prince. Prince, wake up. We are arriving soon."
She called out to her sleeping companion. At first, there was no response, but then she slowly opened her eyes.
"Mmm..."
The sleepy reply signalled the girl's awakening as she rubbed her eyes and looked up to her.
"Good morning prince. Had a nice nap?"
She asked her companion, who blinked a few times. Stretching her arms behind her head, the sleepy companion shook her head slightly.
"Oh my, was it a bad dream?"
She asked, but her companion shook her head once more.
"...No. Just the usual dream."
She muttered, looking down at her slightly open right hand. The image of blood and a ribbon from her dream still vivid in her mind. She shook that image from her mind as she closed her eyes and hand.
"The same... dark... dream."
The train pulled into the busy station, easing up to the platform before jerking to a stop. It did not take long for their cabin door to open once more as a new face appeared. One that irked her companion greatly.
"Well now, dear prince, I hear that you suffered a terrible dream. Might I offer my most sincerest of condolences to your mental well-being."
The newcomer sarcastically said with a bow. With her light brown hair tied upwards to the left side of her head, the newcomer often had that mischievious glint in her blue eyes and was a constant troublemaker, particularly when she was bored. Dressed in the same black uniform style, the newcomer also wore a dark cloak, held together with a badge with a 'V' insignia over the left part of her chest. A red sash was also present, as well as epaulettes on either sides of her shoulders. White lanyards adorned her right arm, leading up to the badge on the left. Tucked under her left arm was the cap they all wore.
"I do not need your witty remarks, Duke."
Her companion growled irritably as she got up and grabbed her own cloak and cap.
"Duke, there is no need to wear the full uniform as of yet."
She pointed out the lanyards and the sash, but the newcomer merely smiled.
"I had figured that since we have come so far, I might wear it all and break into them before meeting our new admiral. If it displeases you, King-nee, I shall remove them."
"No, it is fine. I suppose you are right. We may be placed into battle soon, and it would be best to get used to the uniforms."
She replied, reaching out for her own cloak.
"Where are Howe and Anson? Are they not with you?"
She asked Duke, who bent backwards slightly to look down the train corridor.
"Anson said she wanted to ensure our equipment are being sent to the correct address. I would take a guess to say Howe went with her."
"Anson doesn't have to worry that much about our equipment. That girl is always too precautious for her own good."
She muttered as she thought about the remaining sister of hers.
"King-nee isn't serious enough."
Duke muttered wryly. Though it wasn't loud enough for King to hear, Prince certainly did.
"Watch your tongue, Duke. I will not tolerate any insolence or slander against our sister."
Prince growled, to which Duke merely raised her hands in mock surrender.
"All right, all right. Keep your teeth in your mouth. I'll try my best not to do it again."
"It should not even be a possible thought in your head, Duke."
"Well now, you cannot expect me to change my entire personality on a whim, do you?"
"If you could do such a thing, I would not be talking about it."
She sighed, shaking her head as her two younger sisters continued to argue. Clapping her hands together, she caught their attention and stopped their bickering.
"All right now, let us stop arguing and join Anson and Howe. It will not do us any good to be late for our first day."
The three left the cabin and alighted from the train, where they were joined by the two remaining sisters. Anson, having shoulder length reddish brown hair and a no-nonsense look on her face, had carried an additional luggage along with her.
"Anson, what is that you are carrying?"
King asked, to which Anson glanced to the luggage before replying.
"It is merely some documents that was to be handed to the commander of our fleet by high command."
Anson replied simply.
"That is odd, I was not informed of this."
King noted, to which the other sisters all had an expression on their faces that simply read 'of course you weren't'. King, despite not being all that reliable, was still able to get the gist of the reason.
"... I see... Well... I am certainly less... capable than Anson... As the eldest... I should be proud of you, Anson... yes... as... the eldest..."
The other four sisters were looking at each other frantically for a remedy to the situation where their elder sister was now getting more and more depressed with each passing second. Howe, decidingly, attempted to placate King's worries.
"W-well, King nee-sama must be very busy! High command must think that since King nee-sama represents us all, ladening her with additional burdens will do us all no good!"
Howe quickly said, earning thumbs ups from her other sisters.
"R-really?"
King asked, her voice slightly hiccupping.
"Y-yes! Of course! Why, King-nee is the one to represent us all before our new fleet commander! High command must have thought you to be nervous and decided to give it to Anson to take care! I'm sure that Anson will let you hand the documents over."
Duke added, but Anson obviously did not agree with that part of the statement.
"High command did not-"
Anson was cut short when Prince elbowed her in the gut.
"High command DID say it. Right?"
Prince's tone to Anson clearly hinted something else, and Anson begrudgingly nodded to Prince's rhetorical question. King apparently did not get the subtle tones and wiped away her tears with a fresh smile on her face.
"I see. Well, I will let Anson hold onto them for now. Anson, I understand that you are both capable and reliable in this, but you must not get too complacent. If such documents are that important, then all the more so."
The four other sisters clearly had the expression 'You're one to talk' written all over their faces.
"W-well, let's not waste time standing around here. We should find the liaison officer so that we can get to the base quickly."
Anson stated, and the others were all in agreement.
The liaison officer was not hard to find and the five sisters were quickly ushered to an awaiting car that drove them out of the station and off towards the naval headquarters. The trip from the station was rather uneventful, save for the occasional reprimanding towards Duke by Prince. It took them about an hour to reach their destination. A large stone castle-like structure, with an outer wall perimetre, various towers and grand statue of a lion graced the entrance. The naval headquarters, situated right by the sea. The car went through the security checks quickly and stopped right before the main entrance inside the compound. The five sisters alighted from the car and headed inside, walking straight through the hallways to the Admiralty office.
"Are all of your uniforms straightened right?"
"Yes, King-nee-sama."
"That would be the fifth time you've asked that question, we're not children."
"Duke, watch your tone."
"Hey hey, King-nee-sama, what do you think our admiral is going to be like?"
"There is no way for us to know, Howe."
"Oh Anson, you don't have to spoil the mood."
"I will do my best to correct such a behaviour then, King-nee-sama."
While the girls continued to talk, it soon became apparent that they had reached their destination. A large pair of wooden doors stood before them, with the large words 'Admiralty' printed on a plaque above the door frame. King stepped forward to the door, hesitated for a moment, looking at her sisters, who all stood behind her, nodding, before she knocked.
'"Enter"'
Came a voice from behind the door.
"Excuse us."
King said as she opened the door. The five sisters stepped inside and stood before the large desk where a middle aged man in dark blue uniform sat behind.
"Heh, so this is the Admiralty."
Howe looked around in awe and curiosity.
"We're before the Admiral, Howe."
Anson reprimanded the youngest.
"Well, the Admiral looks interesting, though I do not care much for whoever gives me the orders, as long as I get to kill some enemies."
Duke of York smirked.
"I have told you time and time again, Duke, to fix that attitude of yours. It brings dishonour to our elder sister's name."
Prince of Wales once again scolding Duke.
"Ufufu."
And while her sisters were all doing their own things, King George V could only smile at their antics, before turning back to the man sitting behind the desk and saluted to him.
"King George V class, lead ship, King George V, together with her four sister ships, reporting for duty, Admiral."