Author: The oneshot starring Enterprise will take place not long after the Epilogue.
About four months after the whole incident at the northern sea which doesn't exist in the world's records, specially towards the Maizuru naval district who play a huge role in helping resolve incident. Despite this, everyone is living their daily lives satisfied and comfortable without a hint of worry when outside of battle.
"Mamiya-san's parfait is the best, poi~" Yuudachi is in a bliss
"Don't eat too fast or you'll get brain freeze" Fubuki warns her
"Fufufu. A good dessert is all we need to brighten our mood~" Kisaragi takes a bit of her own parfait
"Especially if the four of us are together" Mutsuki's face is bright
"The four of us? Why do I feel strange when hearing that, poi?" Yuudachi tilts her head
Fubuki and Mutsuki feel the same, pausing from eating their dessert since all three of them are bothered this gaping feeling in their mind.
"Did something happened while I was away?" Kisaragi tilts her head
"I don't remember, poi" Yuudachi gives up
"Maybe it's just our imagination" Fubuki does the same
"Probably something happened a year ago or something" Mutsuki shrugs her shoulders
(Why do I feel like something really happened?)
The destroyer trio ignore the strange her familiar feeling they all share and return to enjoying their dessert while Kisaragi is curious and puzzled out of instinct since she sees them having the same "deja vu-like" moment when thinking about all four them gathering.
"Tirpitz, what are you drawing?" Bismarck takes a sip of her coffee
"A tree of some kind? It sometimes shows up in my head when I close my eyes"
Tirpitz stops sketching and leans her sketchpad to Bismarck's side for her older sister to inspect the gray drawing of a withered looking tree with intricate patterns all over its trunk.
"A tree? World...world...something" Bismarck crosses her arms
"Big sister?"
"I feel like I've heard of something about a tree before"
"You did?"
"I think so? No, maybe it's just my imagination"
Bismarck shakes her head, unable to clear her thoughts to make sense of the familiarity she can't shake off. Tirpitz blankly stares at her older sister shaking her own head and nervously laughs as a result.
"Bismarck, do you believe there's another world out there where shipgirls like us exist but different ones?" Tirpitz strangely asks
"That's just in the movies. There's no way parallel world exists" Bismarck immediately replies
"Are you scared of meeting another Bismarck?"
"Nice try, but I'm not falling for that. I'm your big sister, remember?" Bismarck smirks
"Hahahaha. Well, it was worth the shot.
Tirpitz resumes to finishing her drawing while Bismarck enjoys her afternoon snack of coffee...and biscuits. Of course, Tirpitz picks off some biscuits while she draws with her one hand, even if crumbs keeps dropping on her sketchbook.
"Why did you bring up that topic all of a sudden?" Bismarck asks
"I believe there's another you out there, but she's bound to discover something tragic soon"
"That's...oddly specific"
"It's this tree showing up in my dreams. Every time I go near it and touch it, I see someone so ominous. A faint shadowy trace that's sometimes a disembodied soul. She was sad and pitying someone who looks like you for some reason"
"You're being so specific that I'm getting worried"
Bismarck tightly holds Tirpitz's shoulders, visibly expressing how her older sister is seemingly implying something.
"It was just a dream" Tirpitz reminds her
"You should go see Gotland..."
"I'd rather not again" Tirpitz immediately refuses
"Well, that dream of yours is making me worried" Bismarck takes a deep sigh
"It's this tree within an endless world of white. I don't know who put it there though"
Tirpitz resumes to finishing drawing the awfully detailed tree while Bismarck quietly observes her since Tirpitz isn't the artistic type, yet she somehow recreates an object she sees in her dreams.
"Another ten laps for all of you!" Nagato shouts at the battleships in the distance
"I shouldn't have drunk the admiral's secret stash last night..." Gangut feels nauseas
"This is just way too brutal!" Kongou complains
"Hurry up, everyone. I'll be leaving all of you in my dust~" Iowa teases them
"You may not be South Dakota, but you're on!" Washington accepts the challenge
"It's unfair those two Germans are sitting over there. Also, those damn Brits ditching the punishment!" Colorado curses
Most of the battleships within the fleet are forced to exercise by Nagato through a restless marathon around the field. Some of them visibly needs to shed some fat from being so laid-back lately. Although, a certain aircraft carrier should be a part of the exercise, but she is mysteriously missing.
Royal navy base...
Warspite in the company of her usual attendant, Vanguard, has to leave the Maizuru fleet to attend a secret business. Nelson and Ark Royal are also present in the scene but makes no comment regarding a certain object that will surely interest someone like Warspite.
"What is this?" Warspite frowns
"It's an object an unidentified being in a winter coat presents to us after defending an inhabited island near Iceland" Vanguard responds
"She looks like an Abyssal but not an Abyssal. I think she calls herself a Siren" Nelson adds
"Yeah. She also call this a Siren supply box and says it has materials worth researching" Ark Royal waves her hand
Warspite approaches a heavy box with tight streaks clamping it, preventing anyone to simply pry it open. The entire container is made out of metal-like components. Although it's already ready to inspect as a certain Siren willingly hands it over to them, claiming because they successfully defend a coastal town.
"Unknown material of unknown origin. What shall we do with this?" Vanguard inspects the box
Inside are several unknown components and supplies such as an energy source within a cylinder, fuse, and chips with unknown symbols. She voices out her doubts even if the final decision would fall to Warspite.
"What did she say her name was again?" Warspite asks Nelson
"Arbiter...Arbiter Zero...Arbiter Zero: Fool. I think that's what she told me"
"I don't think that's a name of a human being, but not an Abyssal either..." Vanguard scratches her head
"We're keeping this in custody and not inform this to the government. I can't trust politicians to not misuse this"
Warspite's decision surprises both Nelson and Ark Royal, but naturally not Vanguard who simply raises an eyebrow out of curiosity.
"Whoever she is, I'm certain she is not human or Abyssal. Human ambition is easily swayed, so we're keeping this unknown object to be studied by the Royal navy shipgirls" "Warspite, are you sure about this?" Ark Royal approaches her
"I'm certain about this. There may be a chance that another threat is waiting to prey on us" Warspite's decision is final
"Well, you know about these kind of things more than we do" Nelson shrugs her shoulders
"There's some kind of voyage recorder here? Maybe more of a video recorder of some sort"
Vanguard pulls out rectangular object with a large lens and smaller lens from inside the supply box.
"Vanguard, see if you can switch it on" Warspite orders her
"Yes"
Vanguard flips it and pokes it while Nelson and Ark Royal slowly backs away in fear of the unknown object violently reacting to the tampering.
"I think I found it"
Vanguard gently places the activating object right beside the supply box where she pulls it from. Colors emerge from the larger one until a beam of light pierced through it then to the surroundings.
"...!"
To the surprise of the four Royal navy shipgirls, not only it projects a certain area with full clarity but people present in the time of the recording as well. Fool along with Devil approaches the scene...and a third person meets up with them.
"Warspite?!" Nelson drops her jaw
The three shipgirls all feel the same amount of shock and disbelief at seeing Warspite herself having a casual conversation with the two mysterious Sirens as if this isn't the first time they are in a discussion. Warspite herself is shocked to see her own figure speaking to the two beings as she has no recollection of the previous events like everyone else.
Azur Lane side...
Four months after the previous events, Bismarck leads Iron Blood as she always does. This time, it's more peacefully and reassuring since Tyrant no longer exists in her timeline. Although it's a bit melancholic thinking she is the only one who is aware of the entire event while the rest are completely oblivious.
"New equipment has been delivered. We can't use them for actual combat yet since they are still in an experimental stage" Graf Zeppelin reports
"The destroyers are insisting on testing it the moment they laid their eyes upon it" Bismarck shakes her head
"Then say no. You're not doting and spoiling like Friedrich der Grosse" Graf Zeppelin shrugs her shoulders
"Well, at least nothing is giving me a headache"
"You've been awfully cheerful for the past few months. Did something happen?" Graf Zeppelin raises an eyebrow
"Something certainly happened, but I'm the only witness to it. At the very least, someone who refuses to go down...no longer threatens Iron Blood"
"I don't understand what you're trying to say, but whatever takes your mind off work once in a while"
Graf Zeppelin compiles the files and secures it in a long folder, shrugging her shoulders as she leaves Bismarck to attend her own business.
"Graf Zeppelin and the others remain the same. The only thing that's different is how it's strange that I don't have to deal with Tyrant anymore. Eugen never betrayed Iron Blood...and Tirpitz is no longer dying" Bismarck sighs in relief
Bismarck strolls around the naval base, inspecting the well-being of everyone in the base. Others are out patrolling and on a sortie while others are frolicking in their day-off.
"Eugen, Eugen! Look! Hipper made cookies for the commander!" Prinz Heinrich excitedly skips to where Prinz Eugen is
"You stupid rabbit! Give that back!" Admiral Hipper barks and growls
"Calm down, Hipper"
Mainz holds her back before they can start wrestling each other even if Prinz Heinrich is bigger...and more well-developed on certain areas. She holds back the embarrassed and blushing heavy cruiser while Prinz Eugen inspects the snack Prinz Heinrich steals from Admiral Hipper.
"This smells nice. I can't believe you learned to bake just for the commander~" Prinz Eugen takes a whiff of the small bag with small cookies inside
"Take one bite and I'm tearing your chests off!" Admiral Hipper snaps
"Eugen, stop teasing her and give that back. I don't know how long I can hold her!"
Mainz pleads for Prinz Eugen to stop provoking and teasing Admiral Hipper by implying she would open the bag sealed by a purple silk ribbon. Prinz Heinrich is impulsive and excitable while Prinz Eugen is deliberately mischievous and playful.
"Easy now, all of you" Weser enters the scene
"Now that Weser's here, it makes me think how Hipper is the oldest yet...the least developed" Prinz Heinrich crosses her arms under her breasts
"What if I don't have any melons like all of you?! At least the commander doesn't care about sizes!" Admiral Hipper retaliates
"And you said the commander is worthless the other day. Such a true tsundere~" Prinz Eugen teases her further
Mainz and Weser hold each of Admiral Hipper's arms before she can pounce on Prinz Eugen and cause a ruckus within their own headquarters.
"Even Eugen is the same as usual...without the fact she used to be a spy for the Sirens. I don't know how this was possible since I remember dying, but I'm glad I succeeded"
As Bismarck is thankful of the peace without having to deal with Tyrant anymore, Bismarck comes across Tirpitz relaxing by one side and letting the gentle afternoon breeze brush through her skin.
"Hmm?"
Upon spotting her younger sister who remains unaware of her approaching presence, Bismarck overhears her softly singing a slightly familiar tune.
"Led through the mist by the milk light of moon..." Tirpitz sings it to herself
"Tirpitz" Bismarck clears her throat
"Oh? Bismarck? I didn't notice you there..."
Tirpitz looks slightly embarrassed that Bismarck actually hears her singing a certain song she tends to sing when she's either in a great mood or in perfect silence.
"You're more relaxed than before" Tirpitz notices
"Less nuisances to deal with after a certain someone is wiped from existence" Bismarck massages her shoulders
"Right..."
"I see you're in stable condition for the past four months, but I need to know why you refuse to have your mental cube checked"
"..."
The slight suspicion briefly startles Tirpitz, who remains calm even if Bismarck gazes at her with serious intent. Tirpitz remains silent for a moment, unsure on what personal reason she can tell to Bismarck without making her upset.
"Well..."
"Whatever it is, you have to be in a check-up like everyone else. That means no special treatment just because you are my younger sister" Bismarck reminds her
"You are the leader after all" Tirpitz nervously laughs
"A lot happened. The seven months I experienced is as not as peaceful is this..." Bismarck looks over the peaceful scenery
"I'm listening if you're in the mood" Tirpitz relaxes her back
"I can't really tell it not because I don't want to, but it's because no one would truly understand it. Even if no one else possess the same memories I have, it was a small price to pay to preserve this kind of peace"
"Does it pain you?"
"Slightly, but this is for the best. So long as I have these memories, I can continue to protect Iron Blood. If another Tyrant emerges again, I will make sure to stop her before she can make a strike"
"Hmph. It's nice to see you being so determined" Tirpitz chuckles
"I don't want to deal with any more troublesome shipgirls, specially after I had to fight one to the death"
Bismarck doesn't forget about her last moments before the timeline is reset because Tyrant is erased. She clearly recalls a shattered blade piercing right through her heart with Tirpitz staring at her in wide-eyed horror.
(I couldn't imagine the despair you felt seeing me fall right before your eyes...)
Tirpitz cries out her name as she slowly loses consciousness, but she couldn't respond to her anymore. After she collapses shortly before Tyrant does the same, Bismarck has no recollection on the following events and what leads the world to erase Tyrant for good.
"I'm sure you did your best, right?" Tirpitz faintly smiles
"I always give it my all. I'm not so arrogant to restrain myself against any enemies" Bismarck scoffs
"Hahahaha. Even so, you will continue to stand as Iron Blood's protector. You're the only one...who can lead everyone to a future where no one has to lose someone in front of them ever again"
"Tirpitz?"
"Sorry. I got caught up in the moment" Tirpitz scratches her cheek
For a moment, Bismarck senses something else entirely from Tirpitz only to brush off that misdirected suspicion. Tirpitz faintly smiles her and speaks like she always does, so Bismarck finds no reason to overthink the slightest detail.
"It feels more peaceful. It's like a weight got off my chest" Tirpitz takes a deep sigh
"Everyone feels the same way as you do, so I'm thankful everything I had to go through was worth it" Bismarck cheerfully smiles
"If it's worth it, then it's good enough for me" Tirpitz nods
(Even though Tirpitz was in the World Tree as well, she didn't remember anything. It's odd since she was still alive when I died back then)
Bismarck is visibly baffled about Tirpitz unable to remember the previous events even if she present within the World Tree and remains alive. She lacks enough solid reasons to narrow down the possibilities, and it's impossible to ask Tirpitz when she has no memory of it.
"I have to return to my duties, but we'll continue our conversation later" Bismarck snaps out of her relaxation
"Sure" Tirpitz shrugs off her shoulders
"Remember you mustn't dodge the next maintenance check-up or I will drag you there myself"
Bismarck reminds her with a dead serious expression as she hurriedly leaves the scene with more paperwork awaiting her back at her office. Tirpitz waves goodbye to Bismarck, who she slowly observes leaving her field of vision.
"Isn't this nice? Bismarck is completely happy even if she's holding it back"
Prinz Eugen overhears most the conversation and only reveals herself to Tirpitz after Bismarck is clearly out of sight. This turns Tirpitz calm expression to a displeased one, upon meeting Prinz Eugen's mildly hostile gaze.
"That's the only thing that matters, isn't it? So long as Bismarck is safe, I have nothing to worry about" Tirpitz responds to Prinz Eugen
"The situation is the other way around. Bismarck is the one who doesn't know anything"
"Why do you always talk to me like you hate me? You've been prepared for this possibility, right?"
"This was supposed to be a last resort..." Prinz Eugen averts her gaze and clicks her tongue
"There was no other choice back then, but this is for your sake as well" Tirpitz assures her
"How long are you going to keep this up?"
Prinz Eugen's expression grows dim, expressing hostility unusual to her personality. On the other hand, Tirpitz isn't the least fazed at the murderous stare and hands clenching in frustration. In fact, this curves a somewhat amused smile on her lips.
"Eugen, what's this about exactly?" Tirpitz retaliates with a question of her own
"This kind of normalcy you're experiencing isn't going to last long" Prinz Eugen reminds her
"..." Tirpitz averts her gaze
"Don't tell me you're beginning to think..."
"I am Tirpitz now, and no one else. My identity remains the same" Tirpitz's expression grows dark for a moment
Tirpitz immediately reminds Prinz Eugen and speaks in a slightly upset and displeased tone. Prinz Eugen briefly becomes speechless since it's rare for Tirpitz to be visibly upset or raise her voice even for a moment. She should be used to it with how the one in front of her has undergoes changes due to the previous events.
"Is what you're doing really for the best?" Prinz Eugen frowns
"There will be a time Bismarck will learn the truth. I spent a long time to know such thing is inevitable" Tirpitz laments
"Bismarck doesn't notice the least. The more I see you with her and everyone else, it makes me feel pity for them" Prinz Eugen points out
"I'm well aware of that, but this is a will I took as my own now. I won't abandon it or disrespect it"
"To fulfill a wish, huh. Tragicomedy as the Sardegna Empire say...but you're tragedy entirely" Prinz Eugen shrugs her shoulders
Their conversation is rather ambiguous, but the certain thing is that it's serious matter. It's not always Prinz Eugen would lose her playful and teasing personality to someone who isn't an enemy.
"I admit I'm still not used to this...and I doubt I will ever be used to this" Tirpitz squeezes both of her hands
"It's because the reality will remain no matter how much you look away from it. Not even the World Tree can reverse it..." Prinz Eugen crosses her arms
"That's right. This is the price to pay in order to fulfill Bismarck's wish"
"Even if this is for the sake of Iron Blood - forget it. There's nothing that can b done anymore..."
It's uncertain whether Prinz Eugen is upset or accepting the current situation regarding Tirpitz right now. Tirpitz herself accepts the reality of the situation and doesn't turn a blind eye to it or pretend like herself right now is perfectly normal. This is the reality she has to live as part of accepting what needs to be done for the sake of others.
"I will never be Iron Blood's enemy or threaten them" Tirpitz declares to Prinz Eugen
"..."
Prinz Eugen has nothing else to argue about since someone like the Tirpitz in front of her right now is just a waste of time no matter how much she argues with her. Still unhappy with the result, Prinz Eugen turns her back from Tirpitz and begins to walk away.
"You can't replace her existence. After all...you're not even alive anymore"
After Prinz Eugen briefly turns to face her and reminds her of current status, she leaves Tirpitz be, who is somewhat dismayed that while Prinz Eugen is willing to go along with her request, she doesn't mask her dislike and hostility.
I will continue watch over Iron Blood on my own freewill. That's why you don't have anything to worry about...Tirpitz
Sakura Empire...
Shinano wakes up again in one of her occasional rests as she spends most of her resources threading through different branches of each moment. It is a difficult task for someone as gentle and kind as her, but she fully accepts her responsibility for the future of the Sakura Empire. Mikasa accompanies her as the moment doesn't come by often, sharing their thoughts over a warm cup of tea. As the sakura petals are gently plucked by the wind, Shinano takes a deep breath and cherishes the breath of fresh air.
"I had an unusual dream again" Shinano shares her concern
"Was it a bad dream?" Mikasa slightly leans closer
"It was a sorrowful dream. It wasn't mine but someone else who is empty. There was a living being there, spending eternity within a vast and cold void. That being had always been watching, may it be the past or the future, and grasped the one chance of freedom"
Shinano's fluffy tails twitch while she clearly recalls the dream of someone else she unknowingly connects. Rather than dreams, it's more like Shinano unintentionally peers into the thoughts of an unknown being and manages to understand them.
"It cannot die, so it doesn't know what it means to live. Although that being cannot be tainted anymore, it seeks to fulfill someone else wish out of pity for another person"
"Who is this person exactly?" Mikasa curiously asks
"I cannot exactly tell its appearance. It's complete abstract and clad in shadows...but I did see the existence it took as her own. There was a shipgirl, whose lonely existence, gave up her own in order for that being to avoid lashing out its agony to the world"
"It's really hard to interpret that dream..."
"I find it difficult to understand it either. If only it would turn to face me and speak, then perhaps I can seek what would comfort it. Unfortunately, it will not seek out anyone with how it chooses to remain in the shadows, unbeknownst to another where it is alive to begin with" Shinano sighs
"It. So it's not a person, but you speak as if it's like us" Mikasa tilts her head
"It is both alive and dead, but the perspective of others differ. That entity is both nowhere and everywhere, silently aware of what transpire and what will transpire. I fear whether it will be a foe or friend to humanity as it was made by them...but never wanted by them"
Shinano's ears dropped, worried whether the shipgirls will have an unknown enemy other than the Sirens even if there's a chance it can be persuaded to at least not be hostile to them. It will never fully takes someone else side as it detests pointless conflict just as it detests humanity as a whole.
"Whatever it is, I can kill it if it's alive. No matter how strong the enemy is, they're all bound to die" Hiryuu META scoffs
The alternate version of the Hiryuu they know interrupts the conversation by showing no fear over the possible new enemy to the shipgirls but not ally of the Sirens. Mikasa blankly stares at her because their commander is peacefully resting on her lap even though Hiryuu META clashes with the shipgirls several times until a certain event.
"Kill it? You can kill its body, but it will never truly die. So long as humanity exists so will it. That being is completely empty, thus it lacks a proper soul compared to us. Hiryuu, that entity is someone the Root itself marked as the trigger for the end once this world is deemed beyond saving" Shinano warns her
"You're stronger than most shipgirls, but you shouldn't really poke someone who can blow us up" The commander yawns
"Tch. It doesn't matter who that thing is. I'll send it back where it came from and makes sure it never comes back" Hiryuu META clicks her tongue
"Then, I'll need you to track it down and confirm whether it's a threat to us or not" The commander raises her back
"Me?!"
"We don't who it is or where it is, but it's someone dangerous that no ordinary shipgirl can handle it. Hiryuu, you want to fight it once it moves, right?"
"That's not..."
"Hahaha, I know. Still, you're someone I can count to do this without worry. I have trust in your judgement and abilities after all"
"Flattering me isn't going to work! Fine! I'll track this sneaky bastard and kick it out of this timeline" Hiryuu META crosses her arms and averts the commander's gaze
Shinano faintly smiles seeing Hiryuu META showing irritation but softness towards the commander, but she still worries about the dream of that unknown entity.
"Does it even have a name?" Mikasa softly asks
"It is...but a Ghost" Shinano faintly remembers
"Ghost?!" Hiryuu META stands up
"Hiryuu?" Shinano tilts her head
"Ghost is already free. Then that means...she's alive now and can mess up the world. She can't do it with her existence chained to nothingness" Hiryuu META clenches her fists
"Then our top priority is to confirm her existence and eliminate her the second she poses a threat" The commander immediately decides
"That Ember! She knows this was going to happen...!"
Hiryuu META is both furious and concerned since an enemy whose existence is uncertain whether it's real or not now proves itself to be real by fulfilling its sole wish to exist in the world as a living being.
(I think I understand the figure I saw in my dreams. This one called Ghost...had taken someone else's existence...and walking among us as if nothing is miss)
Shinano gazes up at the falling sakura leaves, her chest feeling tight with how a currently neutral being manages to insert itself into the world by taking someone else's existence as its own.
The Siren Empress observes certain locations from both worlds, uninterested at the brief moment of peace in Iron Blood. Although it's referred as peace, it's only a matter of time before one sides provokes the other and another conflict ignites.
"In the end, she got what she wanted...without everyone else knowing. Should I congratulate her or pity then?"
Arbiter Zero interrupts the Empress' peace, much to the latter's chagrin. The former is in neither side of the conflict, but her tendency to side on anyone out of her whims and personal interests makes it difficult for anyone to trust a single word of hers.
"What are you up to this time? Surely, you got your answer?" The Empress takes a deep sigh
"I haven't. Like I said, she's uncooperative. She even threatened to kill my real body if I decide to bother a certain someone"
Arbiter Zero sorrowfully informs the Empress about her unsuccessful attempt. She exerts effort during the incident at the World Tree, but her target proves to be a stubborn and unfriendly one.
"You don't belong to any faction, yet you barge in on both sides. I should be decimating you right where you stand" The Empress threatens her
"Good grief. You had a similar response to that unfriendly abomination..."
"Your false smile isn't going to work on me. Fool, you're impulsive and curious about what's ahead of you...but you're someone who likes to set the game way before anyone" The Empress describes her
"I'm someone who has poor sense of judgment, thus resulting into my childish whims. You don't know what it feels like to be in my place" The Fool's voice grows solemn
"In exchange for being everywhere and nowhere, you're practically in a neutral stance...much like Ghost"
"When Ash realized what I have been going through, she pities me so much it makes me laugh. It also makes me think of putting Ash in a place where she and that thing would clash"
"Don't even think about it, you renegade Arbiter. The last time those alter egos attempted to destroy her, they failed and caused an entire timeline to be wiped out"
The Empress strictly warns of the consequence, but the Fool's smile is certainly belonging to someone who would proceed with her own whims despite the clear risks.
"Although challenging a means to an end would set the bar on how far I can go, even I wouldn't want to pick a fight with someone who solely exists to serve as an extinction program" Someone else interrupts the Empress' peace
Ah, if it isn't that person's kid" Fool sarcastically laughs
"Zuikaku..." Empress narrows her eyes
The Sakura Empire and self-proclaimed Enterprise's rival, Zuikaku, cheerfully smiles at the two Arbiters. No matter how much the situation worsens, Zuikaku manages to restrain herself and observe the whole event as a certain someone tells her to do.
"To think she would be complete that way. Although I'm against her method of becoming alive, it's not like she made it so it would exactly end that way" Zuikaku crosses her arms
"You've done well for the past year, Zuikaku. I'm impressed not even Akagi suspected you the least" The Empress deviously smirks
"It's natural for a child to obey their parent. I did my best because I'm the only one she thinks can do the job" Zuikaku jokingly laughs
"You're a shipgirl yet your interest is within a Siren" The Fool partially loosens her jacket
"It's true that my physical body is formed from humanity's will, but the one who gave birth to Zuikaku's essence is her. Well, my background is a bit complicated" Zuikaku reminds the Fool
"Then wouldn't that essentially make you an enemy to your own nation, Zuikaku? At the end of the day...you will side with the one who created you" The Fool points out
"What about it? I don't seek the downfall of humanity since the world designated a failsafe for that. We call her Ghost...but she's not exactly a ghost anymore"
"I'm surprised you aren't the least worried since Ghost is more dangerous now that she can remain in the world. If certain conditions are met, it will trigger her core programming and detonate this timeline as well" The Empress reminds her
It's a fact that someone like Fool is aware more than anything since a trigger to a purge is now "alive" and walking among humanity.
"Don't worry. I'll do my best not to let anyone trigger the Ragnarok Protocol...again"
Zuikaku assures the two Sirens she will secure and observe Ghost to prevent another purging event, but the Empress has her worries whether keeping that thing behaved for so long is actually possible. Naturally, the Fool appears to be curious enough to thread with the danger of getting herself and everyone else destroyed by an "extinction program".
SHORT OMAKE
An old shed stands somewhere in a forest where wild beasts of all sizes roam. The curious Goddess Neptune stumbles upon this run-down shed that passes the test time as it's estimated it has been present for a few decades. After expelling troublesome creatures, Neptune explores what's the shed has been silently keeping inside.
"There's a lot of book here. Drafts, novel collections, and other literature stuff. I wonder why leave it all here?"
Neptune digs all through the dusts and spreads it around her, causing her to cough and hack from the decades worth of dusts flying all over her. Not only she dirties herself, she probably inhales a lot of dusts.
"What's this? A journal of some sort?"
Among the stacks of books and papers, Neptune picks up the one lying on top of it. Unlike the other books, the one she picks up is least old-looking as the unknown person has been protecting it even without their presence.
"Crossover...story...?"
Neptune dusts off the cover, revealing the partially readable words such as the title consisting of three words and the name of the two franchises the story is based off. The name of the author is completely erased saved for the "A" at the beginning.
"And that's how I found this book!"
Neptune takes a deep breath after half an hour of detailed explanation towards the other CPUs who blink their eyes in confusion on the story of how Neptune steals a random book in a random shed.
"This story kind of ends in a way that's not exactly a happily ever after" Neptune pouts
"What's the story about exactly?" Vert stands beside Neptune
"You really read that book? Are you sure you didn't skip from the first page then to the last?" Noire has her doubts
"I read it all the way!"
Neptune pouts when her own friends doubt she would even read a book without skipping it, let alone a book she somehow finds intact in an old shed.
"I read it when I borrowed it. Isn't this the same book where a phantom replaces the sister at the end?" Nepgear grabs the book
"Way to spoil it..." Noire frowns
"Were you planning to read it as well?" Blanc comments
"N-no...!"
Noire immediately denies it and even blushes, both her response and reaction contradicting each other.
"It seems this story isn't completely over"
Blanc has Nepgear pass it to her in order to skim through the partially wrinkled and torn pages. It's only fortunate not a single page is damaged to the point it's unreadable. She points to the very last page of the book where a sentence in a foreign language takes the center part.
"From what I can translate, it seems that's the case" Vert reads the sentence
"It's the only one of its kind I found in that shed. No sequels of some sort. Maybe the author died before a sequel was written" Neptune shrugs her shoulders
"It's just a story" Noire shrugs her shoulders
"Who knows? This story might be happening in another world out there, and in there world, we're the story" Uni cheerfully theorizes
Neptune tilts her head left and right, thinking about the possibility that an alternate world exists where the reality is reversed.
"I feel bad for the big sister being oblivious of how she got her happy ending" Uni comments
"Well, it's not like we're the original author to redo everything" Nepgear sighs
"I wonder if it's really alright to bring home this book..." Vert flips the book
"I'm sure it's fine. If the author still wanted it, they should haven't left it there. It's only gathering dusts there" Neptune relaxes her back
"Whatever it is, this book has reached to a conclusion" Noire turns away
"It's because you just got spoiled" Blanc scoffs
The way Noire reacts indeed confirms that Noire is simply upset that the element of surprise is lost with how she already knows the ending. Neptune and the others chuckle seeing how Noire angrily blushes with how Blanc seemingly points it out in order to gather an honest reaction from her.
Reached a conclusion? Fufufu~ I wonder about that...