Author: This is a short story that takes place at least twelve years prior to Battlefield Angel's timeline. Of course Ark Royal reads it at the present timeline. It will switch back and forth between the present time around Ark Royal and the past time in Royal Sovereign's perspective.
I made this to answer some of the questions for the next story. Also, this story will give hint to what part of Tirpitz's past...that scares her till to the present.
Passing by the shelves in the warehouse, Ark Royal cleans up the clutters and removes the unnecessary equipment. She gathers the boxes and piles them up in one area, separating them.
"There's a lot of stuff in here"
She smiled faintly seeing old equipments she used before being replaced with more modern ones. Still, she still loves her Swordfish planes even if they are seen as obsolete.
"I used this on my first years in service"
She laughs as she puts down the old and unusable equipments on the ground. Ark Royal then climbs up a ladder to reach for another box when she saw something peaking behind a box. It looked like a book so she went to grab it.
"It's very dusty. How long has this thing been here?"
Ark Royal wipes off the dust on the cover. A single swipe and she saw a capital "M" written on it. She then wiped it even more and read the word "Memoir"
"Memoir? A diary?"
She wiped off the dust the book's back part and to her shock, she saw "R - 05" written on the bottom part.
"R - 05. That means..."
Ark Royal looked around before running away, taking the diary with her. About to enter the warehouse with a box, Vestal is confused to see why Ark Royal ran off in a rush. Ark Royal ran to her room and locked the door.
"R - 05. This means this belongs to Royal Sovereign"
She hesitated to read the private diary of an long gone comrade...who went insane at the present time.
"Royal Sovereign. Warspite's...knight..."
Reluctantly, she opened and saw a writing on the very first page.
I wrote everything I have seen and felt through my life as a guardian to her.
This is so I would have a reminder of who I used to be.
This madness is eating me away. That's why it was the right decision...
...to record my experiences...back when I still have my full sanity in tact...
"Sovereign..."
The handwriting is different from the one Ark Royal is used to. It looked like her hand is a bit shaking when writing her "last words".
"Knowing you...I'm sure you've written all of this for a reason. Perhaps the answer is here"
She flipped through the first log written by Royal Sovereign. The handwriting is much neater and legible compared to the first page.
Where should I begin?
I started to write down everything underneath a tree on one sunny afternoon. The American and British destroyers are running around like playful children.
"Don't play too rough or you'll hurt yourselves. That means you, Javelin"
I passed through the destroyers running around and laughing. I continued to walk around in this peaceful afternoon.
"Hmm? Milady?"
On the way, I found Warspite, the mistress I've been serving even before we both entered in service.
"Are you in pain?"
I bent down, seeing as she could barely stand up. It's probably her leg injury from the last battle. She hasn't fully healed after all.
"Do not worry. I might have strained my leg again"
"Please do not move too much while you're injury is yet to full heal"
I worried. I always worry about her. I've been by her side for a long time. My loyalty to her is the same as ever.
"As a knight, it's my duty to assure the safety of my queen's well being"
She giggled. Whenever I talk formally, it makes her laugh. Probably because she doesn't want too much seriousness.
"..."
I gazed at her face, looking at her uniquely blue eyes, something that is hereditary in her family. Taken by the moment, I gently swept some strands of her hair that's messing the view of her face.
"Milady?"
She gazed at me oddly. As if she is spacing out while looking at me.
"Oh. I was in deep thought..."
Lady Warspite blushed as she looked away. I helped her stand up and we both walk together.
"Sovereign..."
"Yes?"
She called me as I am just about to refill the tea. I went to her side bringing a tray of freshly made afternoon snacks.
"Royal Oak had informed me of potential threat in the north"
"Oak?"
Royal Oak. One of my sister ships, but the one who I have the closest relationships, with Revenge being the next. She's a girl who likes to peak on dangerous business.
"Is she investigating again, lady Warspite?"
"She is. Apparently, she sets her attention to the Russian navy"
"Them. They're not someone one should provoke"
The Navy there are infamously known for being strict to their ship girls.
"My sister is just stubborn sometimes" I sighed
"She never backs down. Much like you"
Lady Warspite laughed. She knows me more than anyone, but I still don't like her teasing.
"He he he. Is that so...?"
Even though some people see her as someone that can be mysterious sometimes, I'm already used to it. Even before government agents came to the mansion and told us we are ship girls. Life may not be easy, but that's why I love it.
"..."
"That expression. I can tell you are very much worried about Royal Oak" She noticed
"Well...she is my sister. I just have...this horrible feeling"
"Sisterly instinct?"
I wryly laughed at that. I'm just really worried for Oak since she's digging information on somewhere dangerous.
"Sister ships instinct...I suppose"
"If it worries you that much, perhaps you should speak to Oak about it" She suggested
"Yes. I will do that"
Royal Oak does what she wants and gets in trouble most of the time because of it. Revenge would always scold her.
"While I worry about my sisters, your well being is what I always worry the most"
The tip of my gloved fingers gently touched her cheek which somehow made her blush.
"Your face is red? Are you unwell"
"N-no. I am fine"
I smiled seeing this side of her. It's quite adorable.
"It's only natural for a knight to worry about her queen"
"Sovereign..."
"I'm your servant, aren't I?"
She looked away while covering her face. She can be adorable sometimes.
"...?"
While I enjoyed the moment, Victorious came by looking all happy...and hops around like a child.
"You look quite happy, Ms. Victorious" It's very obvious
"While on a sortie, our fleet came across a Kriegsmarine fleet. I was so happy since my Tirpitz was there...but her sister was also there"
Either way, Ms. Victorious looks very happy so I should let her be. She just likes the German battleship Tirpitz so much. I haven't met this Tirpitz, but Ms. Warspite have told me a lot about her.
Later...
I returned to my room and there I found Royal Oak sitting and reading something.
"Oak, where have you been? I've been looking for you all day"
"Sorry. I've been busy lately" She smiled
"It's about that again, isn't it?"
I sighed as I sat on my bed. She may be older than me, but I worry like an older sister.
"You don't have to worry about me that much, Sovereign. You an Revenge shouldn't worry that much"
"Why wouldn't I be worried? What you're doing is dangerous" I clenched my fists
"That's why I do it without involving anyone else"
"This isn't just a small matter, Oak"
Royal Oak looked at me, visibly feeling sorry. Now I feel sorry for her...damn it!
"Sovereign, that's the reason why I need to find out the truth. What I'm investigating involves ship girls like us"
"..."
"If I don't do this, who else will?"
"What if something bad happens to you? How would you think I will feel?"
I don't want to raise my voice at Royal Oak so I tried to be as calm as possible.
"...Just think about how I feel for once"
"Sovereign..."
"I'm going outside"
Before a fight between us starts, I left the room. We both don't want to argue with each other.
As Ark Royal is fixated in reading Royal Sovereign's diary, someone knocked on her door. She quickly hid the book inside the desk's drawer before opening the door.
"V-victorious, is there something you need?"
"Well I went to help you clean up the warehouse, but Vestal said you suddenly ran away"
"I just forgot to do something. That's all" Ark Royal made an excuse
Victorious is suspicious, but accepted her excuse anyway.
"Say...Victorious, how much do you anything about Royal Sovereign?"
Being asked a strange question, Victorious narrowed her eyes and gazed at Ark Royal.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well...I've just been thinking since Warspite won't tell much"
Again, Ark Royal lied. She met and fought with Royal Sovereign before being Arkhangelsk, but there are still mysteries yet to be solved.
"..."
With a deep sigh, Victorious entered the room and closed the door behind her. She sat on the chair and looked at Ark Royal.
"I just want to know what really happened to her"
Victorious took a deep breath, reluctant to say anything to Ark Royal.
"I don't even know where to start, but it started everything after Royal Oak's sinking"
"I remembered seeing her grieve..." Ark Royal lowered her head
"Ever since then, she wasn't in the condition to fight anymore. It looked like she lost the will to do so"
Victorious' tone became solemn and serious. Ark Royal can understand why.
"She was transferred to the north, hoping her emotional state would change. Ever since Russian navy commissioned her as Arkhangelsk...she changed"
"Changed?" Ark Royal sat on the bed
"She hasn't spoken to any of us ever since her transfer, but when she came back..."
"...She was completely different" Ark Royal continued
Victorious nodded at what she said. They both know what it meant.
"Ever since her change, she severed her feelings to all of us, especially towards Warspite"
"..."
"The long time loyal guardian turned against her own master all"
Ark Royal knows Sovereign had been by Warspite's side for a long time and not even her expected it would end like that.
"Anyway, not even knows the full truth. Not even Warspite, but...there might be someone who does"
As Victorious stands up, she tells there might be someone who knows the answer to her question.
"Who?!" Ark Royal is eager to know
"The admiral of the Maizuru naval district. Admiral Suveran Schwarze"
"Tirpitz?"
"She was with Arkhangelsk in Russia at that time. Besides, she's keeping a secret none of us knows"
Victorious leaves the room, waving her hand goodbye.
"Tirpitz...knows something? If not even Warspite knows about it, then she has a lot of explaining to do"
Ark Royal shakes her thoughts before opening the drawer and getting the diary she hid inside. She then flipped to a page.
One night, As I finished my duties for the whole day, I found Warspite walking around the base.
"Milady?" I wondered
"Sovereign? What are you doing outside at this hour?"
"I just returned from a sortie about half an hour ago. If anything, I should be the one to ask that"
She's acting a bit strange, then I noticed what's the reason behind her strange expression.
"Really now. You shouldn't strain yourself" I sighed
Her leg must be hurting again. She hasn't fully healed yet from the last battle yet she's overexerting herself.
"I just couldn't resist myself. My past life fought ever since the first war up until to the war next to that"
"..."
"Whenever I lay down, all I can feel is the battlefield. The flashes of the war wouldn't let me rest"
From the looks of it, her leg is really hurting so there's only one thing I should do.
"S-Sovereign?!"
I carried her with my arms supporting her back and legs. She's suddenly blushing.
"Do not force yourself all the time, lady Warspite"
"...?"
"You can always rely on me when you ever needed my help. I'm you're servant, aren't I?"
She didn't say anything. It's probably because she feels embarrassed being carried like a Princess. Our face are almost close to each other, but I don't mind.
"I made it my duty to protect you whenever you needed me. That includes your happiness and well being"
"You don't have to do these kind of things" She looked
"I just don't want to see get hurt or be in pain. I can't bear that, you know"
She looked at me for a while before she gently giggled, confusing me.
"Milady?"
"You worry too much about me, Sovereign"
"..." I smiled
"Well it's not bad to rely on my knight once in a while"
"Just say the word and I will fulfill it without question"
"Then how about you stay by my side for the night" She requested
"...as you wish, my queen"
The memories of the past sometimes gives her nightmares. She would mumble words and sweat coldly. As I carry her back to her room, she leaned her head against my chest. I can almost hear her breathing.
As Ark Royal flips a page, a part of a photo slips out in one of the pages. She pulled out the inserted photo.
"What's this?"
It's a photo of the old Home fleet. That was back when Arkhangelsk was still Royal Sovereign.
"What happened to you that made you change?"
Ark Royal sadly looks at the picture for a few minutes before inserting it back in the diary and closing the book diary itself.
"It all started...when you went to that country in the north"
Ark Royal keeps the diary hidden inside the drawer, not wanting anyone to know she is in possession of such thing.
"You wouldn't turn against Warspite...unless..."
She shakes her head before leaving her room, not wanting to jump to conclusions.