Disclaimer

I do not hold the intellectual property rights to the Strike Witches franchise, or any other book, comic, song, movie, or other work of art I reference. Original Content created by me is copyrighted by me alone. All brand names are property of the respective parties owning rights to them. This disclaimer is valid hereinafter and won't be repeated in the following chapters.

Partial Copyright by Doran Maya

Welcome again!

This is the fifth installment of the Chosen One series, and contrary to what you might hope for, not the last. However, I won't say what's in store for the future right now, heheh…

The following story is a non-canon continuation to the movie, starting right off after the movie ended. I hope that the amount of curveballs I'm gonna throw at you, my dear readers, won't make you dizzy.

Ad Victoriam!

Chapter 1 – Stormy beginning

The newly reformed 501st JFW was flying alongside Mio in a box formation, protecting her from all sides.

"Are you sure you don't want to look at the battle, Mio?" Toshiro asked with a smirk.

"No thanks, smartass. I have to return to the Yamato and return the plane. I hope you won't forget about me after the battle, riiiight?" she mused

"Cross my heart and hope to die!"

They saw the Yamato from a distance. The enormous ship, the pride of the Imperial Fuso Navy was floating like a log on the majestic Rhine thanks to enormous floaters mounted on its sides.

"We let go of one witch from what I remember…" Toshiro heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Jinzaburo! They let you be the captain after what happened in Romagna?"

"That was the fault of the technology, not mine. And thus, I'm on the bridge of the Yamato, sailing across the river Rhine, as absurd as it may sound," he laughed.

"Hahaha! Okay, we're returning Mio. She's now back in the 501st, so we're going to fetch her after we clear up things in Bastogne."

"Understood, General. But she's not capable of fighting as a witch anymore, why do you need her?"

"She'll join as an instructor, in the broad sense of the word. Our girls still need her iron grip, and we have two additions, so she has to test them personally, ha!"

"The 501st reformed for the second time… Bring the Major in!"

"Roger, Captain!" Mio shouted. "Give them hell, girls!"

"Roger!" The girls responded.

Mio gently approached for landing on the water, where the Yamato would later fish her out with a crane, but now, the rest of the 501st is going north-west towards Bastogne in Belgica.

"Yoshika, where did you get that sword you used back then?" Perrine asked.

"Ah… Well… My previous sword evolved…"

"Evolved… Well, I suppose a magic sword can do such stuff…" Perrine sighed. "But it looked plebeian. There's nothing like a good rapier!"

"Yoshika!" Trude shouted.

"What is it, future cousin Trude? Or maybe I should use the perfect tense already and simply call you cousin?"

"Heeeeee..." Trude almost melted away midair but quickly regained her composure. "You need a conventional weapon, catch!" She said and threw her an MG42.

Yoshika caught the gun and replied, "Thanks, Cousin Trudy!"

"Weeeeheeee…" Trudy wilted away with red cheeks for the second time.

"Yoshika, what's up with you and Trude, huh?" Eila asked with a devilish smile.

"Toshiro told me that according to the latest findings, he's Trude's cousin, thus, if I marry Toshiro, she will become my family."

The girls unacquainted with the news, apart from Shizuka, first looked at the blissful Trude and then at the grinning Toshiro.

"Whaaaaaaaat?!" They shouted unanimously.

"So Trude was Toshiro's cousin all the time?!" Perrine asked. "But that means that… Trude is also royalty! O la la!"

"Royalty?" Lynne asked clueless.

"Toshiro was announced a Hohenzollern and successor to the throne of Karlsland officially. Furthermore, he's now the Archduke of Pomerania. That's why he's now using a von in his name." Yoshika explained patiently. "And additionally, he's now a One-Star General, as some of you may have noticed."

The only things that they heard right now was the rumbling of the Striker engines.

"Oh, so Toshiro is now somebody like Maria, right?" Francesca asked with a melodic voice.

"Nah, my Archduke status only an empty title… But the fact is that I'm a Generalmajor and the only successor to the throne of Karlsland."

"Of course, Your Grace…" Shirley simulated a bow with a crooked smile.

"Shuuuut uuup! Or his Grace will give you so many errands that your tits will fall off!"

"Woah shit!" Shirley grabbed her prized possessions.

"Let's focus on the battle ahead, girls," Minna said. "Heidi, any news?"

"Both Brigadier General McAuliffe and General der Panzertruppe von Manteuffel are in dire need of help," Heidemarie responded.

"What's the current situation?" Toshiro asked.

"From what I've been told, there are still at least ten Giant Turtles attacking Bastogne from the east. The 506th A-unit already destroyed such a number of enemies, but they're on their last legs."

"Okay, understood…" Toshiro mumbled. "Say, Heidi?"

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me something about the 506th?"

"They're divided into two units – A and B. The B-unit is comprised of four Liberians, and the A-unit… Um… Let's say that that's the kind of company you would be advised to keep, Toshiro…"

"Oh really? What's so special about them?"

"All five of them have some connection to royalty or aristocracy."

"All five? Wheeeew… But… Heheheheh… I doubt they're as well connected as me, huh?"

"Oh no… Being the direct heir to the throne is something most of them can't even dream about…"

"Good. If the air gets bad between us, I'll have an ace in the sleeve, heh…"

"I don't quite follow your thought pattern, but whatever… I think we should be seeing the battle soon."

And indeed, they soon first heard and then saw the battle. Witches were zipping around in the air and shooting at the mass of Giant Turtles. Many Sherman and Tiger tanks were trying to repel the enemy, as well as stationary Flak 88's.

"Witches, pincer formation!" Minna commanded.

"Roger!" Everyone responded.

"Hey, when did you become the commander, huh?" Toshiro asked, making everyone halt.

"Oh come oooon…"

"Okay, okay, have some fun. I'll just…" Toshiro summoned Aganaimaru. "…cleave one or two…"

"Hey, Toshiro, maybe I could do that too?"

"No sweetie, you use those absurdly powerful shields of yours to protect the less fortunate."

"Oh okay… But if anything happens…"

"Pow! Right in the kisser!"

"Hahahaha!" Yoshika laughed and flew away.

"This is the 501st going into battle, 506th respond." Toshiro said through the transponder.

"501st, this is Major Rosalie de Hemricourt de Grunne." Toshiro heard a polite yet firm voice through the transponder. "We are grateful for your assistance. Can we fall back now? My girls are breathing with their ears already."

"Sure. Fall back to where we came from; we will take care of the baddies. Oh, and be sure to stick around."

"Affirmative. Who am I speaking to by the way?"

"Somebody you can't hold a candle too, heheh…"

Toshiro cut the connection and rushed into battle. The Neuroi spotted him soaring at a supersonic speed at them. They fired a few weak shots, which he either dodged or totally negated with his shield.

He charged up his sword and swung it yelling, "Reppuzan!"

The attack cut two Turtles straight behind their cannon barrels where their cores were located. At the same time another Turtle exploded under a barrage of small rockets

Seven to go.

Then a volley of three high-penetration shots, shot in less than half second intervals hit another one.

Six to go, good job Lynne!

Toshiro looked around and saw Yoshika literally herding the allied tanks into one column to protect their retreat with her shields. Perrine was helping too, shielding the retreat of the soldiers manning the gun emplacements.

Atta girls!

Eila did something breathtaking, as she buzzed between two Turtles, who in turn shot at themselves.

Fucking showoff! Five left!

Somewhat shyly, but Heidemarie did a daring strafing run, destroying one of the Neuroi.

So you can actually fight… Four!

Shirley took Francesca by her left leg and arm and spun her like a small tornado. Then she released the Romagnan, who in turn rammed into a Turtle, destroying it completely.

Hohoho! Three!

Erica didn't want to be worse, and she Sturm'ed her way through one of the enemies.

That's my Erica! Two left!

Minna and Trude joined forces and rushed at one of the two remaining enemies in a hail of bullets, resulting in a kill

One more!

"Mine!" Toshiro heard Yoshika's shout through the intercom.

He barely saw her moving as she swooped down on the Neuroi. Her new sword appeared in her hands and she pierced the Neuroi. The enemy exploded and an eerie silence befell the battlefield.

"And that's a wrap!" Toshiro shouted through the intercom.

Both the 501st and the men on ground started cheering.

Yoshika flew to Toshiro and gave him a vivid hug.

"Weee! We won!" She cheered.

"And you got the last one, hahaha! My girl!"

"I've heard a male voice on the radio commanding the witches." A gruff voice with a southern Liberian accent said. "Identify yourself."

"Majorgeneral Toshiro Lucas von Edelweiss." Toshiro responded.

"Hoho! The heir to the Karlslander throne himself! McAuliffe here! Thanks for saving our boys!"

"Generalmajor, I, von Manteuffel would also like to thank you and your unit for saving our men."

"No problem, dear Generals. The 501st is back in business! Can we be of any more help?"

"I think not," Manteuffel said. "We will manage somehow."

"Okay, Herr General."

Suddenly, a whole swarm of witches approached Toshiro and looked at him curiously.

"Woahwhatthefuck?!"

"Toshiro that must be the 506th, one of them has a purple hakama…" Yoshika whispered. "Nobility…"

As if on command, the girls bowed their heads slightly before Toshiro.

"And what's that for?" He asked partially amused, partially irritated.

"The high born recognize when they're in front of royalty," the blonde with her hair tied in a bun, wearing tights and a Belgican uniform said.

"You must be de Grunne," Toshiro said. "So, while we're on topic… Girls, introduce yourselves and tell me what kind of aristocracy are you. My girls, come in closer."

The 501st drew closer and the introductions commenced.

"Major Rosalie de Hemricourt de Grunne, honorary commander of the 506th," the blonde reintroduced herself. "Heiress to two earl families and on the umpteenth position to the crown of Britannia."

Another blonde, this time with straight hair, wearing a Karlslander uniform, and what made Toshiro almost laugh out loud, with her Magic Antenna formed like a circlet, moved forward.

"Major Heinrike Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. I come from a family of Orrussian aristocrats who moved to Karlsland. And… I noticed something nice on your MG, Herr Generalmajor…"

"Oh, what is it?"

"The sights. I never such sights mounted on an MG 151."

Toshiro unholstered his MG, to which Heinrike did the same. Toshiro looked at hers, and saw that it was a version with an electric trigger."

"We both have customized guns it seems," Toshiro said. "Want to see mine?"

"Oh, please, if I could…"

"Then gimme yours instead."

They exchanged guns. Toshiro weighed the MG in his hands and aimed to the side using the iron sights.

"Well, nice. I bet the electric trigger gives some relief to that trigger finger of yours."

"Indeed. But why does your MG have a stock, Herr Generalmajor? And why is this scope so… weirdly placed."

"Oh, you see…" Toshiro said and flied to her side. "Take aim."

"Mmm… Okaaay…"

"Now, if I press this thingie here…"

Toshiro pressed the spring release button and the scope snapped in front of the reflex sights.

"Woho! How convenient! You can use it both in close quarters and on medium distance!"

"Maybe you should send a request to Neue Karlsland for such a combo? I'm sure they have a few spares."

"Well, if you say so, Herr Generalmajor… But I'll use you as leverage!"

"Meh, as long as you won't ask for a tank…"

"Heehee…"

"Okay, next!"

A witch with crimson red hair wearing a uniform of the Romagna Regia Aeronautica and sporting two Fliegerhammern flew forward.

"Captain Adriana Visconti. I'm from a… somewhat fallen family that has governed Milano. But that doesn't stop me from killing Neuroi!"

"As long as you have the conviction… And geez, two rocket launchers, Sanya, take note!"

"Heh, I'm too small to do it…" Sanya blushed.

Another witch came about forward. Toshiro wasn't exactly sure if it wasn't a wizard, but he somehow knew it was a girl anyway. Sporting a short trench coat and a cap you'd see on a Britannian hunter, she looked at him with her blue eyes from under her brown hair and said, "2nd Lieutenant Isabelle du Monceau de Bergendal. I come from a small aristocratic family from Belgica, but I was raised in Britannia."

"Pardon the bluntness, but you sure look like a tomboy…"

"Ummm… My parents raised me as a boy…" She responded with red cheeks.

"Monsters…"

"Well, they had their reasons… Somewhat… They thought that if I was discovered as a witch, the army of Belgica would nab me… But hey, at least I learned to shoot, heheh…"

"All's well that ends well… Now, my would-be compatriot as I spy with my little eye."

"Heehee…" The girl in the light purple miko suit giggled. "2nd Lieutenand Kunika Kuroda!" The dark haired Fusojin cheered while showing a victory sign with her left hand. "Please to meet you!"

"My, my. You must be Mami's cousin or something, heheh… Kuroda… I think I've heard about that family…."

"Ah, I'm from the branch family, so… meh… I don't even bother…" She shrugged.

"But you still wear your purple."

"Because it's cool! Red is too pretentious…"

"If it fits, it sits. Well, since you've all introduced yourselves, now I'll reintroduce myself. Generalmajor Toshiro Lucas von Edelweiss, Archduke of Pomerania, heir to the throne of Karlsland, Hero of Karlsland, Star of Romagna, blah blah… I'm inviting you girls for dinner and to take a breather."

"Wha?" The girls asked while tilting their heads.

"You've heard me. Now that we have at least three cooks, we can easily make a nice big dinner. You'll get your strength back, maybe even take a bath, and you can go back to where you came from."

The girls looked at their commander.

"Well, if we get an invitation from someone your caliber, General, then it goes without saying that we simply have to accept. Where is your base by the way?"

"Sint-Truiden."

"Ah, yes. Girls, let's follow the 501st and get some refreshments."

"Okay!"

"And you, ladies," Toshiro turned to the 501st. "Go ahead, Minna and the rest will lead you there. I have to go back for Mio, okay?"

"Roger!"

Fliegerhammern is the plural of Fliegerhammer.

Well then, one down, over forty more to go! As usual, the chapters will be published every three days.

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