Author: I watched the leaked trailer yesterday and I have become hyped ever since. While I wait for more information about the second season, I'm going to grind for Akizuki in World of Warships.
Anyway, progress has been a bit slow recently due to my current life and the fact I have to update two stories at the same time. Yeah I did this myself...
I think I had a sister once...
Once again, Tirpitz found herself dreaming about the mysterious woman she just couldn't recognize. For a reason she couldn't explain, her instincts are familiar with this person. Tirpitz could describe it as someone she very important to her, yet she couldn't recognize the woman.
Tirpitz, as long as I'm here...I won't let anything happen to you...
She felt the warm embrace of the woman. So light yet so comforting. It was a familiar warmth yet she still couldn't recognize it no matter what she does. Warspite said to ignore her dreams, but she knew they are more than just dreams.
I will never leave you alone...
The image turned distorted. She found herself in the middle of a dark open sea. Tirpitz remembered feeling abandoned and alone more than anything. She tried to reach out for anyone, but there was no one there.
Don't...leave me alone...again...
What hurt more than the injuries all over her body is the twisted grip of loneliness suffocating her chest. Everything only went completely quiet when her body begun to fall further and further into the abyss. Even at the very end, she tried to reach out...but there was no one there.
"...?!"
Tirpitz only woke up from the nightmare that refused to let her go upon hearing an echoing roar of a ferocious beast filled nothing but unbridled rage and blind resentment. That pale white beast wrecked havoc, not only because it was filled with anger and hatred, but it was suffering more than anything.
"These dreams are getting worse and worse"
Tirpitz rose up the bed, still shaken by the glimpse of a pale white being with blazing red eyes wrecking havoc to every being it sees, humans and shipgirls alike. Its anger and resentment towards everyone resonated with her it felt as if it's her own emotions.
"Maybe I should go see a doctor"
Her slightly shaking legs slowly made it's way to a mirror where she caught a brief glimpse of her eyes switching to a bright shade of red. She shook her head and upon a second look, her eye color remained to a shade of sky blue eyes. She then thought how after being five years in Japan, her skin remained pale level tone.
"Kriegsmarine shipgirls are coming today. I better get prepared or I'll get a scolding from Nagato"
Still exhausted from the dream, Tirpitz swept her pure white hair backwards, her fingers running through the strands from start to finish. She usually ties her medium length hair in a ponytail and the only time she let it loose is when she's either taking a bath or going to bed.
Meanwhile...
In the training area used by aircraft carriers, CarDiv 01 Akagi and Kaga inspect the arrows they are going to use for practice. Akagi brushed one of her arrows with the finger covered by her glove, a smile curving on her face. The silence only broke when Kaga raised her head, starting the conversation.
"I heard some German shipgirls are coming today"
"Ah, the Kriegsmarine, was it? Even though they're the admiral'semotionlessshe doesn't remember meeting any of them" Akagi gently puts down the arrow
"Not even the name ship of her class?"
Akagi shakes her head in response. Kaga slightly tilted her head, her usual stiff expression concealing her curiosity to how even their admiral never even met her supposed big sister.
"The admiral doesn't always talk about her past, but I heard she's quite the loner. She fought in the north by herself until she sunk. I guess it contributes to why the admiral is a bit cold sometimes, huh"
Akagi jokingly said the last statement, but Kaga remained emotionless as per her usual demeanor. Though occasionally, she would express emotions such as being flustered when around Akagi.
"It makes me wonder how come she never met her comrades. It could be that she had forgotten about them, but that would make little sense" Akagi pressed her index finger on her chin
"It's hard to mame guesses when the admiral herself doesn't really talk about her past life" Kaga sighed, somewhat dismayed
"Seeing the scars, I can understand why"
What Akagi meant is the physical scars on the admiral which she disliked showing to anyone.
"What's with the long face, you two"
Houshou, a veteran yet retired aircraft carrier brought tea for the two hard working carriers. Akagi and Kaga sees Houshou as their mother figure while Houshou sees them and the other aircraft carriers as her "adopted children". The mother carrier's visit would always make the two feel delighted and comfortable.
"Houshou-san, you've been with the admiral since the beginning, right?" Kaga asked
"Yes. Even before I retired. Why do you ask?" Houshou tilted her head
"Do you know anything about the admiral's old life?" Akagi curiously asked
"You know she's not the type to openly discuss something personal like that. Even when drunk, she refused to talk about it"
The two aircraft carriers felt rather disappointed how even Houshou doesn't know much about the admiral's past. On Houshou's part, she does know something, but she respects the admiral's need for privacy of her past life.
Office...
Tirpitz reviewed the records of the Kriegsmarine shipgirls arriving today. Bismarck, Graf Zeppelin, Prinz Eugen, Z1 Leberech Maass, and Z3 Max Schultz. Those are the five names listed on the shipgirls going to be transferred in the naval base.
"Bis...marck..."
As far as Tirpitz knows, Bismarck is the lead ship of the class she belongs to. Even so, she has no knowledge about her supposed older sister other than the one she finds in the records. She isn't fully aware of Bismarck's full career due to her unable to find some records, specifically her campaign in the north.
"Why do you look so familiar? I haven't met you, but I felt like I already did"
Her mind could not go further beyond the reoccurring visions and scenes keeping her awake at night. Every time she would reach out to make sense of the images, something within her would always pulls her back...preventing her from learning it.
"I feel like I had forgotten something important me. Strange..."
Tirpitz removed her cap and leaned on her chair, letting her mind wander off as she questions her own mind. She knows her memory isn't fully correct, but she just doesn't what's the root cause of her confusion and doubt.
"Why do you guys, think?"
She asked her fairy companions about each of their thoughts. Since those fairies are the same ones manning her equipment, she could understand them as she belongs to them. Just like any other shipgirls, Tirpitz could only understand the fairies belonging to her.
"..." The fairies all took a turn in 'speaking'
"That's not really helping..."
"..."
"Yes, I know you all just want to help"
"..."
"It's going to be fine. It's not like something will go wrong"
She assured the fairies that she could handle meeting her supposed comrades from the Kriegsmarine. She 'never' met any of her comrades due to her career spent mostly in solitude so she isn't concerned about them recognizing her. Hopefully.
Later...
After a long trip from Germany to Japan, the five Kriegsmarine shipgirls reached their new naval base. Bismarck crossed her arms, standing proudly and overlooking the naval base she is going to be stationed at from now on.
"At last, we have reached the naval district. I wonder if the admiral here is worthy of my talents"
"As long as you don't punch this admiral and throw him out of the window it will be fine" Graf Zeppelin ruined Bismarck's glorious moment
"That asshole deserved it!"
"We know that, but violence isn't always the answer, Bismarck. You almost got court martialed for heavily injuring our previous admiral"
"Hmph! They can't take me off the front lines. I'm the greatest asset the Kriegsmarine has!"
Bismarck spoke confidently, too confidently that is. Though she made a valid point. The Kriegsmarine wouldn't pull out one of their two remaining battleships from the front lines.
"Right. Let's get going. We don't want to keep our admiral waiting" Graf Zeppelin sighs
"I can't wait to meet our new admiral~" Prinz Eugen gleefully skipped
"I hope this one is a decent one" Z3 truly hoped
The sight of five foreign shipgirls from Eastern Europe quickly caught the attention of the shipgirls they pass. This is much like what happened when Warspite arrived a week ago. Everyone was in awe of the Grand old lady's beauty and grace.
"Oh! More foreigners" Agano gasped
"Those must be the Germans the admiral mentioned a few days ago" Noshiro crossed her arms, barely interested
"That one kind of looks like the admiral, doesn't it?"
Yahagi rubbed her chin, seeing similarity in appearance between Bismarck and the admiral. Her three sister ships could agree to that, seeing similarity between the proud German battleships and their admiral. It's almost like they're related.
"Maybe it's because the admiral is German too" Sakawa popped out
"Not all Germans look the same. You're like one of those westerners saying all Asians look that same"
Noshiro lightly chopped Sakawa's head, visibly disliking her response. On the other side, Bismarck walked with an obvious smug on her face, enjoying the attention she's getting from her mere presence. She just doesn't know the shipgirls in the naval district never saw German shipgirls before.
"As expected, I am known wherever I go" Bismarck chuckled
"I'm pretty sure it's because these Japanese shipgirls never saw foreigners before" Again, Graf Zeppelin ruined Bismarck's moment
"Bismarck-neesama's beauty is one of a kind" Prinz Eugen praised her
"Don't encourage Eugen. It will just make her ego bigger"
The five Kriegsmarine shipgirls make their way to the main building of the naval district, after getting lost for ten minutes, where the admiral's office is located. Bismarck marched through the quiet halls, unable to contain her excitement to meet her new admiral.
"Hmm? You must be the Kriegsmarine?"
Nagato had just exited the office when she finds the Kriegsmarine shipgirls whom she never thought would arrive earlier than expected. She recognized them in an instant, seeing their profiles and records in preparation of their admiral.
"Let me introduce myself, I am Nagato, the secretary ship"
"Oooooh! You look strong and tough. Now I really have to meet the admiral"
Unable to truly contain her excitement, Bismarck went ahead of everyone else, passing by Nagato.
"Ah wait-!"
Nagato is unable to stop Bismarck from entering the office. She didn't even get to finish what she wanted to say before she rushed in blindly.
"Guten tag - Yuu?!"
Rather than the admiral, Bismarck is taken by surprise when she found the U-boat U-511 sitting on the admiral's chair wearing her white cap.
"Yuu is in charge" U-511 raised her arm and declared herself to be the one in charge
"Not here?" Bismarck turned to ask Nagato
"I was about to tell you the admiral isn't in the office. She's outside"
"That's what you get for being impatient, idiot" Graf Zeppelin shook her head
"That was embarrassing" Z3 slightly giggled
"...and awkward" Z1 joined in too
"Where's the admiral?"
"Come with me"
Nagato gestured and the five instantly quietly, silently following Nagato while U-511 marches behind like a disciplined soldier, still wearing the admiral's cap over her own. Bismarck felt rather embarrassed for rushing, letting her excitement render her impatient.
(So this is the pride of the Kriegsmarine. Bismarck, the lead ship of her class)
Nagato's first impression on Bismarck is not what she hoped it would turn out. She thought Bismarck would be disciplined and serious with her duty as a shipgirl. Her impatience out of excitement slight curved Nagato's impression on her.
"Admiral, the Kriegsmarine shipgirls have arrived"
Nagato informed Tirpitz, who is the admiral, about the Kriegsmarine's arrival. Currently with Tirpitz before Nagato's arrival is Warspite whom she is having a conversation with.
"Admiral, Yuu took good care of your cap" U-511 removed the admiral's cap and returned it to her
"Thanks, Yuu"
She retrieved her cap and placed it over head where it belongs, adjusting it until she's comfortable.
"Oh. They're a bit early"
The moment she turned to face the five German shipgirls, she received a mix between a horrified and shocked expression from all of them. Their eyes dilated and their lips parted, all of them being speechless. At that moment, they couldn't believe how their admiral bears suspiciously exact resemblance to someone they knew. Even her voice and expression matched.
"Is there...something wrong? You five look liked you've seen a ghost"
Nagato felt like there's something she isn't aware of while Warspite silently observes from the back. She wore a concerned and serious expression, but kept her silence in the situation. Only she is aware of what's truly happening and why it is happening.
"It can't be. This can't...be real...!"
Out of instinct, Bismarck grabbed both of Tirpitz's shoulders, unable to control her tight grip.
"Tirpitz. It's...you...right? Tell me...it's you..."
"..."
"Hey...Tirpitz..."
Tirpitz never thought meeting Bismarck would derail her ability to think rationally in this situation. She doesn't know what to do and what to say which made no sense. She doesn't know why she feels this way upon meeting Bismarck.
"I'm sorry...but you seem to mistake me for someone else..."
"What?!"
"I don't know who you mistake me for, but I'm certainly not that person. We never even met before" Tirpitz gently removed Bismarck's hands
"Bismarck, she's already gone, remember?" Graf Zeppelin whispered to Bismarck
She pulled away the frozen shocked German battleship before the ruckus she made could escalate.
"I'm sorry for what Bismarck did just know. She...just got confused for a moment" Graf Zeppelin apologized on behalf of Bismarck
"I'm sorry, admiral. I don't know what came over me. It just that...you looked like my little sister"
"Don't worry. This isn't the first time I've been mistaken for someone else"
Tirpitz waved her hand, forgiving Bismarck even though she isn't even upset or displeased with her actions. She is just dumbfounded to how Bismarck instantly recognized her and somehow looked very shock at the mere sight of her.
(Warspite...?)
Graf Zeppelin snuck a glance on Warspite, who isn't surprised or even fazed at the situation. She grew suspicious to why the Grand old lady hasn't said a single world during the whole situation.
"I'm truly sorry for behaving like that, admiral" Bismarck bowed
"There's no need to apologize like that. Like I said, this isn't the first time"
A slight touch of the admiral on her shoulder and a direct look at her face made Bismarck mirror her past memory with her supposedly deceased younger sister. Every single aspect of her is suspiciously similar to 'Tirpitz'.
Later...
After clearing the misunderstanding earlier and properly reported to their new admiral, the five German shipgirls gathered after they settled their luggage in their respective rooms. Z1 and Z3 share the same room while Bismarck, Graf Zeppelin, and Prinz Eugen all have their own rooms since the dorms are divided depending on the ship types and ships of the same class often share rooms.
"That was unlikely of you, Bismarck. Luckily for you the admiral isn't displeased with your behavior earlier" Graf Zeppelin shakes her head
"You can't deny it too, right? The admiral - it's like I really am looking and talking at Tirpitz"
"Tirpitz is already gone, Bismarck. Ten years ago..." Z3 reminded her
"Maybe it's just a coincidence. I mean it's impossible for someone who sunk to come back" Z1 as well
"Max and Lebe has a point, Bismarck-neesama. Tirpitz-neesama...is already long gone"
"You're right. My little sister...has been dead for eight years now. All because of me..."
"What happened wasn't your fault" Graf Zeppelin tapped her shoulder
"It was my fault. I became reckless and Tirpitz had to pay for it. I'm the reason she was...left behind"
The memory of what caused Tirpitz's 'demise' continued to haunt her even to this very day. Bismarck could never forget how she is at fault to why the sister she cared the most sunk.
"Ten years and you still haven't moved on. Well, losing your sister was very painful" Z3 shrugged her shoulders
Just as Bismarck thought she did move on, meeting her admiral earlier made it worse by reminding her of her deceased sister. She even "mistook" the admiral for Tirpitz...which is the case. Though the Kriegsmarine aren't aware about how Tirpitz is alive and indeed the admiral.
Warspite's room...
Warspite overheard the Kriegsmarine's conversation and how conflicted Bismarck felt. Of course she would know Bismarck would react that way. All Bismarck knew is that Tirpitz sunk eight years ago and the sight of an admiral who suspiciously looked and sound exactly the same as the sister she knew...triggered back horrible memories.
"What have I done...?" Warspite begins to regret her actions
It wasn't just Bismarck, even Tirpitz herself felt conflicted. Tirpitz never met her sister before...or at least that's what she remembers in her memory, but her emotions contradicted this. It was nostalgic...too familiar that it cannot be denied.
"All of this isn't right...but I had to do it...to keep it at bay"
Warspite slumped her back against the wall and let her body slid down until her rear sat on the ground. As noble as her intentions may be, Warspite knew that what she did isn't morally right. She reminded herself that what she did isn't right, but she risked going beyond acceptable methods for 'the greater good'.
"I did this...and I will accept the consequences of my actions...sooner or later..."
She pulled herself up and reached for her desk where an old photo rests on top of it. It's not a photo belonging to hers, but to Tirpitz back in her active shipgirl days. In that picture, she was smiling and so was Bismarck. It was a smile of being content with her Kriegsmarine comrades.
"I know what I did is wrong, but it had to bee kept at bay...at all cost"
If Tirpitz were to discover about Warspite's involvement with her inability to recognize her sister and comrades, she will be surely furious for the lies she was kept at for all these years. If that were to happen, then her efforts for the past few years will be in vain.