Author: I spent my Christmas with my "good boy" who tore his Christmas present before Christmas. Then there's the cat who went ballistic on my Santa ornament.

The Chapter is a little late than usual due to me focusing on the holidays so expect the next one will come a little late because of New Year.

An inevitable meeting...

Upon reading the letter, Victorious' trembled and Tirpitz grabbed the letter away before she could crumple it.

"Bismarck wants to meet with you...in Iron Blood?!"

"She just wants to talk" Tirpitz sighs

"Calm down, Victorious. It's not like you're going too"

Prince of Wales forced Victorious to sit down for a moment while Belfast serves them freshly brewed tea.

"It's hard to calm down since Tirpitz is just not going to meet Bismarck but meet other versions of your friends"

"Not every German shipgirl are my friends" Tirpitz pointed out

"Roon might not be happy to see you after fooling her the last time" Victorious remembered Roon

Tirpitz, remembering Roon, shivered at the thought of meeting the research heavy cruiser who emitted a dangerous aura.

"I'm not happy to see someone who's known for tearing her opponents in half. I'm not a fan of brutality"

"You're a bit soft, aren't you?" Prince of Wales shakes her hand

"I learned to balance my old human self and my current shipgirl self. It's actually important for me to balance my nature or a certain inner monster takes advantage"

Tirpitz didn't bother to explain as the two wouldn't understand about the nature of Abyssals.

"That inner monster is what your world calls Abyssals, yes?" Belfast spoke out

"You know?"

"You're not the first one to get lost here" Belfast revealed

"Who came before me?"

"An odd lady who kept her name a secret but she spoke of the monstrous Abyssals being half of her, the twisted half of the warship soul she possess"

"Someone who knew about Abyssals came here too. I wonder who that is"

Tirpitz focused her attention on the black mental cube that is yet to be studied by anyone in the navy.

"If this thing is a mental cube, then this is used to make a shipgirl?"

"It is a mental cube but it's incapable of manifesting a shipgirl" Prince of Wales crossed her arms

"Tirpitz, what did you do with it last time?" Victorious curiously asked

"When Bismarck disappeared, I kind of panicked in confusion. I accidentally activated the cube without knowing how to use it"

"So that second light was from yours?" Prince of Wales widened her eyes

"Most likely. After it got switched on, a device-thingy responded and brought Bismarck back. The cube stopped glowing afterwards"

Since Tirpitz couldn't fully explain her experience, the three looked unsatisfied with the answer.

"Look. All I know is this thing is only good for storing energy and using it when needed. It's like a power bank and a remote at the same time. I've been trying to figure this out for days"

"It stores energy...but for what?" Prince of Wales scratched her chin

"That Tyrant person originally had this so your enemy is the only one who can answer that"

"Tyrant is not someone who appears several times in a short amount of time. It may take a while for her to reappear" Belfast pointed out

"She's not a bold one, huh"

"Even if she does appear, her main target is Iron Blood. She doesn't usually engage with the Royal Navy" Prince of Wales added

The three Royal Navy shipgirls felt concerned about Tyrant almost attacking one of their bases while Tirpitz tilted her head in confusion.

"We thought she tried attacking us to retrieve the cube but she was expecting Bismarck" Prince of Wales tapped the table

"What do you mean?" Tirpitz is even more confused

"What happened the other day. Rather than retrieving the cube, she dealt with Bismarck and completely ignored you. She disappeared again without taking the cube"

Tirpitz thought it was odd how Tyrant dealt with Bismarck even if she could have taken the cube from her. When she meddled with the cube, Bismarck returned but Tyrant herself was nowhere to be found.

"Victorious said before about the history between Tyrant and Bismarck. What's up with that?" Tirpitz wanted to know more

"We don't know all the details, but Tyrant is one of Bismarck's worst enemies. Tyrant repeatedly defeated Bismarck and let her live like she's toying with her which is one of the reasons Bismarck is hell-bent on taking her down" Prince of Wales explained

(She really does hate anyone who would tarnish her pride...)

Tirpitz never faced anyone who would preserve their pride above else and she doesn't think she wants to find out.

"I wonder what she wants from me. She went from hunt me down to the ends of the world to come over for a chat"

"Beats me. You're the one who encountered her the other day" Prince of Wales shrugged her shoulders

"It's making me a bit nervous since she suddenly decided she wanted to talk rather than shoot me in the face"

Tirpitz shivered at how Bismarck looked at her menacingly when she ordered her to state her name.

"Though when I got a close look at her, she isn't as scary as I thought she would be even if she did intimidate me. I feel like she's the type who isn't that bad"

To lessen her nervousness, Tirpitz takes a deep breath and voiced out what she observed from Bismarck upon meeting her personally for the first time. Though Tirpitz is still want as she has yet to see more of Bismarck's side aside from her first impression.

"I'm sure you're going to be fine. If Bismarck says you're just going to talk, then you two are just going to talk" Prince of Wales assured her

"Bismarck keeps her word. She's the honorable type after all" Victorious added

Belfast gave a thumbs up and a gentle smile to Tirpitz, assuring nothing will go wrong. Still, Tirpitz worried to why Bismarck decided to invite her and talk to her when she was hunting her down.

The next day...

Tirpitz sailed through the open seas, enjoying the fresh breeze of the ocean and familiar scent as she couldn't leave the anchorage for almost three weeks now. As a shipgirl, it made her uneasy just staying on land for even a week as she's been used to sortieing from time to time. Escorted by two ships on the way to Iron Blood territory, Tirpitz gazed at the bright morning sky.

"Enjoying your freedom again?" Belfast giggles

"Being in the open seas makes me feel at ease since I'm a battleship after all"

"You've missed the open seas that much, huh"

Tirpitz looked back at the aircraft carrier who commented at her relief of being able to freely sail again.

"You're - who are you again?"

"It's Glorious. The one who the Ugly sisters bullied in the past. They still do to this day..."

"Hahaha. Some things never change even if I'm in another world"

To Tirpitz, what Glorious meant of being "bullied" is equivalent to "rough play" which is a something she doesn't take seriously.

"I bet the Alabama in your world keeps pestering you for a challenge"

"I don't know about Alabama that but the first thing Iowa does is chase me whenever she sees me...then squeezes me between her chest. At least she's happy even if it feels like she's breaking my bones"

Glorious silently reacted upon seeing Tirpitz gently smiling while telling her how she doesn't mind being tightly hugged all the time since it makes Iowa happy.

"You're quite the considerate one" Belfast briefly looked back

"I think she's more of a pushover, Belfast"

As Tirpitz chuckles on what Glorious thought of her when she said those words, Belfast received a transmission.

"We've arrived in Iron Blood waters. We'll reach their port shortly"

Belfast informed Tirpitz who swallowed her breath, nervous to how her formal meeting since the last time they saw each other, Bismarck only asked for her name and left.

"Once you step into their turf, you're on your own" Glorious reminded her

"I know, I know. I have to watch my own back since the Germans here are different"

"..." Glorious sighs

(We'll, even Prince of Wales said they don't trust easily, especially outsiders)

As Tirpitz ponders on how Iron Blood is similar to how her fatherland thinks in the old war, Belfast calls her out.

"Ms. Tirpitz, we have reached Iron Blood coastal waters. Once we dock, someone from Iron Blood will escort you to Bismarck"

"Looks like this is my stop"

Tirpitz held her cap as they slowed down as they near the port. Even if Tirpitz is in another territory, she couldn't stop thinking about how it's still Germany"

"Someone from Iron Blood will escort you directly to Bismarck" Belfast reminded her

As the three reached port and enter Iron Blood land, Glorious gave her a light tap on the back.

"Who's going to take me to Bismarck?"

"Well..."

When Belfast looked to a direction, Tirpitz saw Prinz Eugen slowly approaching them with her usual laid-back and teasing expression.

"It's you again, huh"

"My, you don't want to see me? Even though I got beat up for helping you"

Remembering how injured Prinz Eugen because Friedrich der Grosse, Tirpitz felt responsible and briefly averted the heavy cruiser's gaze.

"I'll be taking over from here. Good job bringing her in time, Ms. Head maid"

Prinz Eugen clearly referred to Belfast and winked as she grabbed Tirpitz's hand and excitedly dragged her away.

"Is this alright?" Glorious whispered to Belfast

"We can't really interfere since this between the alternate Tirpitz and Bismarck" Belfast sounded calm

"You look really relaxed" Glorious crossed her arms

"I believe she can handle herself. Besides, Bismarck wouldn't ask her for a proper meeting if she had any ill intentions"

Glorious sighs, concerned to how the other Tirpitz would speak with Bismarck knowing her personality is completely different. While the telling Royal Navy ships quietly await for how the meeting will unfold, Tirpitz is still being dragged.

"You seem to be very happy about this" Tirpitz noticed

"I'm just curious to find out how your meeting will turn out. I just wish I could see if Bismarck would be soft to another version of her beloved little sister"

"You like making fun of everyone. I still find it hard to believe you're Prinz Eugen"

"Oh? What was the other me like?" Prinz Eugen raised an eyebrow

"She's the cute and cheerful type"

"I'm also the cute and cheerful type, you know" Prinz Eugen giggled

As the two walked, Roon observed Prinz Eugen dragging Tirpitz. She clenched her hand and bit her lip, much to Friedrich der Grosse's amusement.

"I can't believe she fooled me when she was standing in front of me"

"She was aware Bismarck sent you after her so she expected you before you found her"

"..."

"No need to be upset about it, my child. Fortunately, she is no threat to us"

Friedrich der Grosse tried to comfort Roon but she refused her motherly affection.

"Don't you think so too, Z46?"

The destroyer's response is a silent thumbs up while Roon frowned, still not fully convinced.

Meanwhile...

Passing by several Iron Blood shipgirls, Tirpitz found herself distracted by the alternate versions of my comrades.

"You sure having fun sightseeing, huh" Prinz Eugen giggled

"I'm a curious person"

"Don't let your guard down now, you're going to meet Bismarck"

Prinz Eugen stopped right outside where Bismarck wanted to speak to the other version of her sister.

"Good luck and don't get on her bad side"

Prinz Eugen taps her back and winked, completing her task of guiding Tirpitz to the destination. Swallowing her breath, Tirpitz enters the room where Bismarck had just prepared coffee for the two of them.

"..."

Bismarck silently analyzes her from head to toe, studying the puzzled Tirpitz. Much like the other version she met a few days ago, this one resembled just as her counterpart described.

"Take a sit"

With Bismarck's invitation, Tirpitz slowly walked towards the chair and carefully sit while Bismarck hand a cup of freshly brewed coffee to her.

"..."

Awkward silence filled the room as Tirpitz looked at Bismarck, comparing her appearance to the older sister she grew up with.

"Why are you staring intently?" Bismarck slightly frowned

"You really look like the Bismarck from my world...of maybe it's the other way around"

"Though you barely resembled my younger sister...but you possess the same cold blue eyes"

Although Bismarck doesn't see her as a target to be hunted down, Tirpitz finds it difficult to be at ease around Bismarck. She gives off a much different vibe from the sister she knew.

(She looks and sounds so serious that I feel like I'm going to need up what I say)

To calm herself down, Tirpitz grabs the cup with her left hand but switched when her hand shook. She then takes a small sip from her still warm coffee, gently smiling at how Bismarck brewed it. It reminded her of the coffee Graf Zeppelin always make for her and everyone else.

(Aah. This is a bit awkward even though I shouldn't be nervous. Well I'm bad at socializing so I shouldn't be surprised)

Tirpitz thought to herself since she's not fully prepared to talk face to face with another version of her older sister. Her heart raced but Tirpitz tries to control her breathing or she may end up speaking awkwardly.

"W-Why did you suddenly want to talk? Weren't you hunting me down like a fugitive? You didn't really explain last time since you asked my name and left"

It's the primary thing that had been bothering Tirpitz so she decided to ask first before Bismarck starts the conversation.

"...I met my counterpart, another Bismarck from what seems to be your world"

(She met my sister?! How?)

"I no longer see you as a threat as I confirmed my sister is doing alive and doing well"

Bismarck crossed her fingers in between and revealed what she has experienced in the short moment she disappeared during their latest encounter.

"H-how did you meet my big sister?"

Tirpitz eagerly wanted to know as it could help her find a way to return to her own world.

"I was trapped in a dimension that existed between worlds by Tyrant, the battleship whom I chose to deal with first the other day"

"Tyrant? The one with white hair and black clothes?"

"So you're aware of her existence" Bismarck is curious

"She was the one who pulled me here. I learned it was her when I asked Victorious and the others"

Initially, Tirpitz is unaware of the identity of the unknown battleship who pulled her out of her world and into another weeks ago.

"I didn't know what was going on and I panicked when you started shooting at me. You're not an Abyssal so I fled and somehow washed up somewhere else"

"I see. So you were unknowingly pulled out of your world"

"I was just on a mission with my sister and other comrades when we were caught up in a storm" Tirpitz remembered the last time she was in her own world

"A storm? Did the weather shifted during your mission?"

"Yes. It was normal until it suddenly started heavily raining. The storm came out of nowhere like it was summoned or something"

"So there is a connection, huh"

The confused Tirpitz takes more sip from her coffee before it gets cold while Bismarck connects the new information from the one she already have.

"What would Tyrant need in your world? It makes no sense to swap two different Tirpitz"

Unfortunately, Tirpitz got little useful information from Tyrant when she asked why a shipgirl from another world like her was involved. That is what Tirpitz thought at first until she remembered Tyrant's answer.

"She wanted to change something..."

"What?" Bismarck lifted her head

"When I asked her why someone like me who doesn't have anything to do with Iron Blood was dragged here, she said there's something she wanted to change"

"Something...she wanted to change?"

Bismarck knows Tyrant is her younger sister form a grim and dark future but she doesn't know Tirpitz's inner thoughts so she doesn't know what Tyrant wanted to change by involving another version of Tirpitz. She could never tell her own younger sister's true thoughts and feelings.

"I don't really know what it means but maybe...you know something?"

"Tyrant isn't the type to directly answer so it may mean a lot of things"

Tirpitz lowered her head, the close up encounter with Tyrant still fresh within her memory.

"When she said that...I felt regret in her words. It's like she was filled with sadness..."

"..."

"It's not like I'm symphatizing on her but when she looked at me...all I saw was guilt and regret. I've seen those kind of eyes from people who lost something important"

Tirpitz's hands tensed up as both of her hands is gently wrapped around the coffee cup.

"Someone like her...has lost her 'humanity' a long time ago. She's not the same person she was once"

"You know her?"

"..." Bismarck turned her gaze away

(I shouldn't ask further or she'll probably get mad)

Tirpitz sensed it was person so she felt if she asked further, Bismarck would only get upset for being persistent.

"I want to ask something" Bismarck faced Tirpitz again

"Y-yes?"

"The Bismarck of your world. What is she like to you...as a sister?"

Genuinely surprised, Tirpitz widened her eyes as she never thought a serious and strict person like Bismarck would ask her what kind of sister the other Bismarck is to her.

"She's your typical caring big sister. She wants me to stay out of battles sometimes and that's get me mad sometimes. We end up bickering and me not talking to her for a whole day when that happens"

"Do you despise your sister?"

"Sure we fight from to time like any other siblings but I couldn't hate her...because she showed me before how she just wanted to protect me even if I end up hating her"

"How did you understood your sister's familial love to you?"

"I stopped bottling up my feelings and let it all out. Even if there was a chance she would never understand, I want to at least let her know...because to us shipgirls, tomorrow is never a guarantee"

"..." Bismarck reacted in surprise

"At the very least, I want to have no regrets again if one of us were to longer not be there anymore. She's the only sister I have and I don't want to regret anything if I were to lose her"

It made Bismarck think of Tyrant's existence. The fact that she's Tirpitz from an unknown future made her think that how her future self was filled with regret to how her younger sister turned out.

"..."

Bismarck fell silent while Tirpitz takes one last sip at her almost empty cup of coffee. Tirpitz held and lowered her shaking left hand before Bismarck could notice. The silence continued for another minute until Tirpitz remembered something.

"By the way, do you by any chance know what a black mental cube does? Aside from storing energy or something"

"Black mental cube?"

"Like this one"

Tirpitz brings out the black mental cube, eerily glowing with unknown energy. To Bismarck surprise, she slowly reached out her hand to the cube until her fingertip made contact.

"...?!"

She saw herself in the same darkness where Tyrant trapped her the other day. Within that closed world, she saw Tirpitz with tears flowing non-stop and on her knees. In front of her is a delighted Observer who reached out to her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry...big sister..."

Tirpitz repeatedly apologizes while still crying and seeing her emotional displeased the Siren Observer.

"It seems I have to purge your emotions to advance to the next stage"

Observer gently touched both of Tirpitz's cheeks and informed her of the next step.

"I can't have you doing as you please like the other two after all"

The vision ended when Tirpitz pulled Bismarck's hand away from the cube, seeing her in a trance just by barely touching it.

"I'm sorry...but you kind of worried me when you went blank and all"

"It's fine. I merely had a vision" Bismarck takes a deep breath

"I-I see..."

"The black mental cube. How come you have possession of one?" Bismarck pointed

"This was from Tyrant. I accidentally took it from her when she pulled me out of my world"

It was never her intention to take the black mental cube away but at least it seemed like it could be useful even if Tyrant will try to take it back again like she did last time.

"She was really angry I took it so it's probably important to her"

"The cube doesn't affect you?"

"Not really. It just gives off an intense aura that makes me feel heavy"

Tirpitz's gaze briefly evaded Bismarck when she answered her. Bismarck focused on the cube that remained quiet while in the possession of a shipgirl from another world.

"She used this when she opened a rift. Is that correct?"

"Yeah. When she came out a tear in a middle of nowhere, she was holding the cube" Tirpitz partially recalled

"She needed this so she tracked you all the way to Royal Navy waters" Bismarck rubbed her chin

"I don't really know the real use of this thing aside from when I accidentally used it, you kind of appeared again after suddenly vanishing and all"

"...?"

Bismarck then recalled Tyrant's words moments before light swallowed her again. She remembered about someone using the cube.

"How were you able to use the cube?"

"That's the thing - I don't know either. I panicked in that situation since you and that Tyrant vanished all of a sudden"

Tirpitz felt like she disappointed Bismarck she has little to no knowledge about the true nature of the cube.

"I see..."

"Sorry I don't know know much" Tirpitz lowered her head

Bismarck stood up, puzzling Tirpitz who's been wondering why she has been in deep thought throughout the conversation.

"There's...something I want to personally request"

"Personally...request?" Tirpitz tilted her head

"I will require your cooperation to me alone and not towards Iron Blood"

Bismarck's request is as sudden as her invitation yesterday, putting Tirpitz in a conflicted spot again.

"This is just my personal request between the two of us. The rest of Iron Blood has no knowledge about this"

"You're asking me all of a sudden...?"

"Tyrant has an unknown way of keeping track of my next actions"

Tirpitz swallowed her breath, anxious to what could possibly be going in Iron Blood that Bismarck sounded rather cautious.

"That's why I'm being careful who to speak to as of lately"

"How...am I involved?"

"Tyrant is possibly seeking way to retrieve the cube after she failed the other day. She'll use what means to retrieve an important component" Bismarck furrowed her eyebrows

"..."

"That cube could be a key to return my sister back here and you back to your world. If Tyrant gets it back, we might lose our chance of undoing what she did"

"If it will help your sister return and me return to my world, I'll cooperate with you, Bismarck" Tirpitz nodded

"I'm glad you agreed"

Bismarck slightly nodded, glad that Tirpitz decided to trust and cooperate with her.

"Wait, why me when you don't know anything about me?" Tirpitz raised her hand

"I'm gambling my chance whether I could trust you or not"

"Because you're gambling your chance of finding away to return your sister, am I right?"

"...?" Bismarck is surprised she guessed

"I heard from Prinz Eugen and Victorious on how you care for your sister even if your strict towards her"

Bismarck reacted in surprise but she isn't furious or even upset how another version of Tirpitz didn't hesitate to state what she learned from those who knew her.

"That's right. I'm willing to take chances if it means returning my sister here...since she learned who our enemy is"

"...?"

"She couldn't handle the truth and it made her vulnerable. That's why I can't waste my time on trivial matters"

"Bismarck..."

"I'll do what it takes to coul whatever Tyrant is planning even if it means trusting another version of my sister"

Tirpitz smiled after confirming that despite Bismarck being strict and serious towards to her own sister, she does care like any other older sister. Though she removed that smile when Bismarck frowned.

"Remember whatever we discussed here is only between us. None can know about this, even those Royal Navy girls"

"I understand" Tirpitz nodded again

After leaving Bismarck's room and think about Bismarck's suspicion, Tirpitz worried for herself that she's in another serious situation. With her mind out of place, Tirpitz didn't sense Prinz Eugen behind her.

"Guess who?"

The heavy cruiser covered Tirpitz's eyes who doesn't need to guess the sneaky cruiser's identity.

"Prinz Eugen..." Tirpitz sighs

"You look worried. Was your little chat that serious?"

"A little bit. Bismarck isn't that bad..."

"See, I told you it'll be fine"

"I was nervous since she's a bit...intense"

Tirpitz scratched the back of her head then Prinz Eugen started petting her head like she's younger and smaller.

"There, there...it turned okay, didn't it?"

"I'm not a kid anymore so don't pet me like that"

Tirpitz gently removed Prinz Eugen's hand from her head and this made the latter chuckle seeing the Lonely Queen of the North with a flustered expression.

"It's kind of fun teasing you since you don't scold me for playing around like Bismarck"

Prinz Eugen poked Tirpitz in the cheek, starting to annoy the battleship who isn't fond of being teased just because she doesn't like yelling at other people.

"How about you stay a bit longer and play with me a bit?"

Prinz Eugen teased her and winked as she grabbed both of Tirpitz's hand in a tight squeeze.

"Ms. Tirpitz, is your meeting with Bismarck concluded?"

Belfast clears her throat and interrupted Prinz Eugen deliberately testing Tirpitz's patience. Seeing the light cruiser maid with the Glorious, Prinz Eugen crossed her arms and sighed as if she's unhappy her fun is quickly canceled.

"It's done. Bismarck said she'll send a message for another meeting soon"

"I see. Then that meant it went well?"

"Sort of..."

Tirpitz walked towards the two Royal navy shipgirls while Prinz Eugen doesn't seem to be pleased at their presence. Belfast signalled her to bid farewell to her "little friend".

"It looks like this is the end of this little...visit"

Tirpitz scratched her cheek, awkwardly saying her farewell to Prinz Eugen as she prepared to leave Iron Blood with Belfast and Glorious.

"Well, I have to take my leave, Eugen. I'll see you around"

"Don't worry. I'll barge in for some tea time" Prinz Eugen assured

Belfast slightly bowed while Glorious shrugs her shoulders and raised her hand. Tirpitz is the lone one to leave, waving her hand. After the three left the port, Prinz Eugen licked her upper lip and placed her hand on her chin.

"I wonder how long you can keep acting like nothing's going on with you? I'm a bit curious"

Prinz Eugen discovered something but with her personality, she chose to play the observer and wait for how the outcome will unfold.