Strike Witches

Boy Meets Witches II

Episode 1: Return to the Sky, The Dragon has Arisen! (Part 2)

Authors note: I originally wanted to post this and the next "episode" so i would't leave you hanging but... I am slightly evil. Anyway during my prolonged absence from this site I've been working and moving to a new home in a new state. Anyway, i still don't have wifi, so im here at the local library. I apologize for any errors. I plan to finish this act of the seires by mid spring, and the rest of the story by the end of this years.

Steve awoke with a snort. He looked around the unfamiliar room, wondering where the hell he was. All he remembered was shooting up from the bottom of ocean up to 200 feet in the air in point five seconds. The thought made him sick to his stomach, no one was supposed to move that quickly. He sat up clutching his head grasping what he had just done. He felt his face. It felt really hairy. He got up and looked at the near by dresser and mirror.

"GAAAHHH!"

He did not like what he saw. His hair was ridiculous long and mangled like it had not been combed in months if not years. And upon his face was full beard. He heard the door open to see the three aces of Karlsland looking at him, each with a slight grin to her face. Steve glanced down, his clothes where torn and tattered but what caught his attention was the pair of starfish stuck to his pecks. Steve groaned and ripped them off.

"Ow-uuch." He yelped. The trio of girls giggled behind him.

Steve walked over to the window and opened it and threw the starfish back into the ocean.

"Sleep well?" Erica chuckled.

Steve gave her an annoyed look.

"How long was I out?" He asked looking back, out the window.

"About six months." Minna responded

"Season 2." Steve muttered.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing, where can I get some food? I'm-" Steve started only to have his stomach rumble loud enough to shake the room.

"Famished." He finished sighing.

"Yoshika's cooking dinner. Should be ready soon." Gertrude said.

"Long enough for me to shave and shower hopefully."

Steve shooed the girls out of his room and proceeded to the bathroom connecting to his room and started the shower. He striped and entered and sighed.

'Six months with out a bite to eat or something to drink or a-' Steve stopped.

'Cigarette! I no wonder I feel…off. All well I needed to quit anyway.' he looked down and sighed 'Looks like I'm going to need to be Stephanie again for a while.' He morphed into his female form and started to clean 6 months of sand and seaweed.

Forty-five minuets later, Stephanie exited the shower to see two sets of fresh Tan US Navy Uniforms: One for a male, one for a female. He also saw what looked like an award box, five of them in fact. He opened the top one.

'What the hell?' he thought.

He morphed back into his male form, put on his male uniform, grabbed the boxes and proceeded down to the hanger, where the witches had gathered for meals while the base was being fixed up.

He sat down after grabbing a bowl of food. After a quick glance he could tell all of them were repressing their excitement and joy toward seeing him again. He ignored it for now, there were more pressing matters.

"Hey Minna, what the meaning of this?"

"Hm?" She questioned him her mouth half full of noodles.

"It seems I've been awarded the Silver Star."

"WHAT?!" Everyone exclaimed Shirley being the loudest.

"It would appear that I have been awarded the Silver Star along with a few commendations."

"Oh," Minna said putting down her food and drying her mouth with a napkin.

"Within days after your disappearance, there was an award ceremony for all of us, we all received commendations and awards, including you. Didn't anyone pay attention?" Minna asked looking around at the other girls. Most were shaking their head no with the obvious exceptions of Gertrude and Mio.

"You did receive a Sliver Star and a promotion. That's all I remember." Lynne said looking up, holding her chin with a pondering look.

Minna put her food down walked over to Steve. She took the boxes out of his hand and placed them on the table.

"Stand at attention Lieutenant.

Steve did as he was told but gave her a questioning look.

"Lieutenant Steve Clark, the Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to you for acts of heroism & extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight."

She pinned the cross on to his uniform.

"Wow, that was unexpected." Steve said.

"There's more." Minna said.

"The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the defense of the United States."

Minna pinned the medal next to his cross.

"Minna really, I don't-"

"I'm not done yet!" She scowled.

"Steve you should be honored to receive these awards." Gertrude spoke to him.

"Considering you don't have any." Shirley mumbled.

Minna continued with the informal award ceremony, by pinning a sliver star to his uniform.

"The Silver Star is given for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States."

"I really shouldn't be getting any of these."

"Shush!" Minna said giving her smile that sends a chill up your spin.

Steve stood up straighter, if that was even possible.

"And Lieutenant," Minna said removing the lieutenant bars from his collar.

"What?" Steve asked completely confused.

"You've been promoted. Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander."

Steve looked at the new insignia, a golden oak leaf, completely shocked.

"I don't know what to say."

"There is one more, though. Because of the criteria for this medal it can only be award to you by the President of the United States, The Medal of Honor."

Both Steve and Shirley passed out after hearing this.

Steve came to in the make shift infirmary of the base. He looked around to see his shirt hanging up. He saw Shirley on her bed head in the knees ether crying of sulking. Ether way Steve didn't like to see girls upset, with one very notable exception, but she was back in his world and he may never have to see her again.

Steve got up and approached her. Shirley glanced up looking at him. She looked like hell.

"Oh, hey Steve." She gloomed.

"Hey." He said quietly.

He sat down next to her. Hearing her sigh, he groaned and spoke.

"What wrong?"

"Nothing." She mumbled.

"Hey!" He said grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her to face him.

"Don't lie to me."

"Ok." She chocked back.

"Now, tell me: What is wrong?"

At this point a few tears started to fall down her face.

"Everything." She sobbed.

"You fall from the sky and only a few months later your award the Medal of Honor and bunch of other things. While I've been here longer than you and I almost have nothing to show for it. You even sacrificed yourself to destroy that final Neuroi."

Steve groaned. This is why he didn't like to been in the spot light. People get jealous of you among other things. He pulled her in for a tight hug.

"Three things Shirley." Steve spoke in as soothing a voice as he could.

"First, I didn't want to win any awards. Second, when the Akagi became normal again and landed, I became trapped under metal beams. I couldn't have escaped if I wanted to. Third, You broke the sound barrier, three years a head of my time. That counts more than for all of the medals I have combined."

"Really?" She sniffed.

"Really. And you did it in a prop plane….er… striker." He corrected himself.

Shirley giggled.

"So what do you say, still friends?" he asked.

"Maybe more." She said placing her hand on his check, moving in to kiss him. Steve saw this. He knew it was wrong, but at the same time he wanted her to.

She kissed him. Words alone cannot describe the feeling. It was full of passion and love, yet it was as soft as really plushy cloud and had a warming sensation as the sun would on a beautiful summer day.

It seems like time was at an impasse. Both Steve and Shirley wanted to remain lost in the moment forever. However fate (i.e. ME) had other plans, a sharp knock on the door startling the two kissing birds. Steve leaped up hitting his head on a low beam and crashing down onto the floor. Steve groaned in pain as the door opened to revile Gertrude.

"What do you want, Trudy?" Steve groaned.

"Minna wants to see you in her office, ASAP."

Steve got up, shaking and groaning even more. He cracked his back standing up straight. He walked over to the First aid cabinet and took out some Advil. Turned on his heels and headed out the door. Gertrude looked at Shirley, whose face almost matched her hair.

"You ok? You're blushing."

"I'm really hot right now, that's all!" She said barley stuttering.

Though she was skeptical, Gertrude chose to ignore it and left.

Steve made his way to Minna's office. He approached the door and knocked.

"Come in." Minna said.

Steve opened the door and stepped in.

Minna was sitting behind her desk. The same one she had received after he damaged the last one.

"Hey sleepy head. Sleep well?" Minna smiled

"Hush you." Steve groaned Minna giggled.

"You and I have a little errand to run."

"Hun?"

"We're flying to London so you can be award the Medal of Honor by the President of the United States."

"Holy Shit!"

"When Eisenhower heard you were back, he also requested an audience with you and me."

"HOLY SHIT! Wait a minuet why me?"

"He didn't say."

"Wait, He called you."

"Yes, he personally called me. You can image the shock when I heard who he was."

"So who knows I'm back?"

"So far only the president, Eisenhower and Adolfine Galland."

"And Stephanie's meeting all three of them."

"Yes and at the same time."

"Oh hell. When do we leave."

"Soon as possible."

"Can I get something to eat first please?" Steve groaned as his stomach growled.

Minna giggled.

"Yes."

After a big breakfast, Steve found himself on a Douglas headed for London. Before he boarded Steve changed into his female form. During the flight Stephanie fell asleep on the flight and Minna awoke her shortly before they landed. After about a 45-minuet drive to HQ, the witches found themselves looking at a pair of very large and intimating red and black doors.

"Well here goes nothing." Minna said.

Stephanie removed her hat and knocked.

"Come in." A voice said from beyond.

The duo enter the very pleasant looking room to find President Franklin D. Roosevelt and an aid, General Dwight Eisenhower with his secretary and General Adolfine Galland sitting at a table, apparently drinking tea.

"Ah, the witch of the hour." Franklin said with a warm smile.

"I trust your flight was pleasant."

"As pleasant as a US troop carrier can be." Stephanie chuckled.

"As you know, I've ask for your presence for a few reason, first to give you your medal of honor, Ms. Clark."

The aid helped the president up. Steve instinctively rushed over to assist. Once the president was standing. He cleared his throat and the aid presented the award to the president.

"Lieutenant Commander Clark, the Medal of Honor is award for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. You have done your country a great service."

"Only doing what any true American would do."

"American?" Adolfine questioned.

"Opps! I mean Liberion!" Stephanie stammered realizing her mistake.

"Relax Mr. Clark. We know who you really are." Franklin spoke. He snapped his fingers and Stephanie morphed back into Steve.

"What! How did you know?"

"Only recently but I had my suspicions. You only confirmed them when you ran over to help me up and when you spoke of being American."

Steve and Minna were shocked; the man truly was a genius.

"Then please sit down sir." Steve said looking down.

"Thank you." Franklin said as his aid helped him to his chair.

Steve and Minna just stood there. Heads hung low like children who had just been scolded.

"Come now take a seat. There's plenty of tea for everyone." Franklin smiled indicating the two chairs between him and Adolfine.

Not wanting to get into possibly more trouble the two obeyed.

"More tea Adolfine, my dear?" Franklin spoke breaking the silence.

"Oh, Yes please."

The aid poured some more tea into her cup, he then offered some to Minna who accepted and Steve who passed on the offer.

"Now then Mr. Clark, why don't you tell us a little bout yourself and your world."

Steve sighed knowing there was no way out of this. He began with his up bring and high school years, even talking about the death of his girlfriend. Everything he told Minna about his past he told the higher ups.

"What I'm curious about now is this World War 2 you mentioned, which you say our story is roughly based on, with some major changes.

Steve paled.

"The subject of that war is so detailed I could talk for almost a year about it and still not cover everything that happened. Even in my time of 2012 we're still learning about things that happened back then. Some good, some not so good."

"Give us the high lights." Ike said now interested as well.

"Yes please." Adolfine nodded.

Steve inhaled and exhaled.

"What I'm about to tell you can not, and I emphasize this, CAN NOT leave THIS ROOM! That includes you Minna!" He said locking eyes with her at the mention of her name.

"You have my word." Minna said.

"And mine" Adolfine said.

"May I never win a battle again." Ike stated proudly

"I will step down from the office if need be." The President spoke.

The aid and secretary got up and left the room.

Steve then began with the events that started the war in Europe: Hitler and his Nazi Raine and how he claimed the Jewish were to blame for the great depression and started the fires of war. Beginning his campaign to conquer the western world. Adolfine and Minna were shocked, how could one man have so much hate for a single race.

Steve wanted to have ended it with the Americans intervening and forcing Hitler back into his own back yard, Germany, and when he killed himself, the Allies declared victory, but Ike wanted to know why they didn't step in earlier.

Steve then spoke of the Neutrality Act put in placed by FDR to try and promote peace and then the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. He continued on how hard the War in the Pacific was, how the American had to fight for every inch of ground they took.

"We finally won the war, after forcing the Japanese government to sign an unconditional surrender on board the battleship USS Missouri."

"But how did The US force the Japanese to concede defeated?" Adolfine asked.

"I mean, I've worked with the Fuso Military before, they seem just as suborn in their ways and in their will to fight to the very end. I think it would all most be impossible."

"True, they are pretty stubborn." Ike said nodding.

Steve sighed again. He hoped he wouldn't have to talk about this part of his world.

"We had been building a bomb."

"So, we've got bombs now." Ike said.

"What's so different about this one?"

"It was a bomb of unbelievable power. We called it, the Atom Bomb."

The room was quiet for a few moments. Hopefully no one would ask.

"Wait did your say, Atom Bomb?" Adolfine asked.

"Damn it!" Steve thought

"Yes."

"Adolfine?" Ike questioned.

"Karlsland scientists have been working on splitting the Atom. I never would have guess the Americans beat us to it." She said gloomily.

"It was with help of your scientist who fled to America, that helped." Steve said obviously not happy ether.

"So these atom bombs, what was its destructive power."

"It destroyed two cities."

"Model towns?" Ike questioned.

"No, Two actual Japanese cities were almost completely destroyed."

"We bombed cities?" Franklin asked.

"Our options were slim. I don't like the idea of hurting civilians to begin with but, it seemed the only option where there could be minimum US casualties."

"And…I…authorized…those attacks?" Franklin said grasping the words.

"With a very heavy heart from what we've learned in school."

"How many died?" Adolfine asked, she was appalled that someone of her country, though a counter part, had the gull to order the killing someone because of there race, but intentionally dropping a bomb on a civilian target, that was cruel and unnecessary.

"Somewhere between 129,000 and 246,000 plus were killed. Half were from the first two days of the bombings."

Everyone in the room was quiet. Franklin was the first to speak.

"I'm not glad for all the terror they have caused, but I thank God that the Neuroi invaded earth. Otherwise, we would be on a similar path."

"After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there have been no nuclear bombings, though there is still the possibility of Nuclear War, no one wants it, it was said during the Arms Race, mankind made enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world at lest five times over."

Everyone was quite again. The silence was broken when the doors where heard opening.

"Some have said it to even be fifty times." A new voice said. Steve suddenly looked up.

"No!" Steve said unbelieving of the voice he just heard.

"Oh, I see you've decided to join us." Franklin said looking up to the new comer.

"Can't be!" Steve said still shocked.

"Come in Major, tea getting cold." Adolfine said eyeing Steve with a keen interest.

"WHAT! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Steve nearly shouted.

"Steve?" Minna questioned looking him, her face full of concern.

"Well, well, well. Hello Steve it's been a while."

Steve stood up and faced the voice he hoped to God he'd never have to see again.

"Ace." He spoke coldly.