Azurween: Worthy of a trick or treat?

by DarkBright Cipher

Belfast, happily together with her girlfriend Enterprise, sees it as her duty to help find love for her older sister. There's a certain shipgirl that her older sister has begun to see with dreamy eyes and that alone is enough to get her to act. Will Edinburgh survive the night feeling like another trick or will her heart help her reach her treat? .

1. Worthy of a trick or treat? Part 1

Is that time of year again when the days just feel more magical leading to the end of the year. October is my favorite month of the year, and every year I make it my mission to make some sort of Halloween story with what fandom I'm currently writing.

Before we get started on this story some of you might be wondering why this story wasn't added to the Coffee Leaf anthology that contains all my Belfast and Enterprise stories. Truth is, this story doesn't feel like a story for Enterprise and Belfast. The main pairing is mostly Edinburgh and Seydlitz with the first couple being there for support.

I did try justifyingly adding it to the Coffee Leaf stories, but it wouldn't feel right. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this Halloween story!

Azurween: Worthy of a trick or treat? Part 1

In the outskirts of a small town during the hours of the night that blanketed the surrounding woods, a lone cathedral quietly stood.

The silence of the cathedral marked the end of a climatic conflict. An eternal war that was never ending found some semblance of resolution on that bloody night.

Dawn was soon to approach, bathing the woods, cathedral, and town with the safety of radiant daylight. Where no nightly creature held any authority. However, in this precipice of change before the dawn, a story of personal stakes had reached its conclusion within the cathedral.

A great blow had been struck against the creatures of the night as the vampiric lords lay dead and fatally cold upon the bloody stone flooring of the cathedral.

Amongst the ranks—Belfast, the vampire maid and envoy of the covenant of vampires lay upon a pool of her own blood with a stake piercing her chest. She violently coughed blood, disturbing the silence that hung. "Curse you. You abhorrent woman. Vampire... Hunter!" She bellowed her angry words throughout the cathedral with all her hate. If she wasn't on the verge of death with her powers slipping like water through a puncture, she could have shattered glass at full strength.

The booming nature of her words did shake the ground slightly and it brought back the far-off gaze of a pink-haired woman dressed in hunter-victorian-style clothing. The hunter alone was the one that brought death upon the vampires, only suffering wounds that impaired her mobility and nothing seriously fatal. She was a few feet away from the dying vampire maid while clutching a pale glasses-wearing woman that was lying on the floor.

She and the pale woman lay at the center of the cathedral, where the stained glass windows would soon greet the approaching sunrise that would shine an iridescent glow within the walls of blood and death.

The vampire hunter continued to soothe the pale and unconscious woman in her care. Her eyes darted to the vile vampire maid and the two exchanged an icy glare.

"You're done, head maid of the Royal Blood. Your family will never again devour upon another town ever again. The people of Avon Shores can sleep soundly knowing that you, your queen, and fellow knights are no more."

The realization broke the dying vampire maid. To her right and near a shattered throne, the remains of her queen, who was nothing but a pile of ash and scorch marks on the ground remained.

The blood knights, her kin, were all staked and lying dead around her. Ark Royal, Illustrious, Dido, Sirius, and Sheffield, were all disposed of with the skillful work of a seasoned hunter with more luck than their mortal flesh should've held. The only reason she was still breathing was because of her pitiful dying sister that was the pale woman in the arms of the vampire hunter. That pale woman who had tried to save her at the last second, caused the hunter to deliver a sloppy stab of the stake upon her. Though sloppy, it was still fatal.

She coughed again, her chest hurting unimaginably with blood dripping from the side of her mouth. "Vampire Hunter... I would curse your wounds to be fatal and that you die a slow and agonizing death, but that's too good for you. No..." She let out a manic giggle, looking at the pale woman that was her sister with sadistic glee. "You already have a curse of your very own. To have fallen for one of us. Tell me, did you save my sister's soul? What good is your victory in the dark if the one you have fallen for cannot come into the light when it's time to depart?"

The vampire hunter mournfully exposed her pained feelings to her enemy amidst the grunts brought upon her physical wounds.

She enjoyed seeing the hunter in her distraught state, that's all she had left. "My sister, Edinburgh, is far too weak for this world, even as a vampire. Khhh... you ruined everything! Avon Shores was supposed to be her sacrifice to the blood ritual to elevate her into a lord like the rest of us. You ruined it all. Now bask in the entropy of knowing that she no longer has a future."

The angered frown from the vampire hunter diminished into a tired one. "That's where you're wrong. Edinburgh is far stronger than you, your queen, or any other creature of the night. In my life, I never witnessed a creature who has fought against her primal urges and retained her humanity. Amongst your wicked family's pressure, she remained sure of her ideals."

She gazed at the vampire hunter with disgusting mockery. "Yes... my sister. Weak to the very end as she couldn't even decisively let me go. Instead, she had to make my death more agonizing because of her weak change of heart. Do you approve that she tried to save me?" She said with a wicked smile.

The pink-haired woman closed her eyes in acceptance. "That's not for me to judge if she wished to save her sister who bathes in the blood of her victims—who lets loose reanimated zombies against the young girls of Avon Shores. The same sister who has spent her waking moments of life making her feel like dirt. No... that's not for me to judge. In the end, she wished to save your soul."

Belfast sneered at her venomously with unrivaled revulsion. "My soul burned away long ago, and so did hers. What humanity she tried to salvage was the light of a dead star from long ago. Vampire Hunter—no, Seydlitz. May your hunter bloodline see its end to a pack of ghouls, vampires, or even wraiths one day." With a final glare at the hunter who vanquished her kind, she ultimately slumped to the floor, releasing her final breath.

The vampire hunter was emotionally drained on equal measures as the wounds on her body. She tried to stand up to help drag the unconscious vampire that still held a heart, yet her body would not respond. On her right leg, she had a puncture wound and her waist side had a brutal claw slash courtesy of the Vampire Queen's right hand, Warspite.

The head injury that stained her pink hair with crimson blood started to throb and rattled her head like a broom against a cage. Her hat, adorned with a stylish red feather from a demonic bird had been lost in the heat of battle. While it meant a lot to her, she couldn't drum up the desire to search for it now. Nothing else mattered except making sure the woman in her arms survived the coming sunshine.

Her sword, forged in the fires of the holy church's crucible was completely ruined after challenging the nightmarish toy manifestations of the vampire Dido. They were massive bears in a variety of dark colors and brandishing sharp claws and teeth that would break the sanity of any average human. At the end of that dance was her skewering the darkness-corroded blade into Dido's heart.

Her hunter outfit was in bad shape, making it more in line with her dark pink cape that originally appeared worn and ripped. It hardly phased her just like her missing hat and damaged weaponry. Reaching a heavy and bloody hand upon the cheek of the sleeping vampire, she softened her face. "Edinburgh, you need to wake up. I can't... I can't let it end this way."

The plan of lowering the bounded field around the cathedral had gone off without error, but Edinburgh still lived as detaching from the blood ritual while simultaneously canceling the field should have killed her. If it had, it would have been that, and the hunter would mourn for a second before carrying out the final wish of the vampire she'd grown to respect and more. The reality and what could have been a possibility became true. It was both hope and a horrible twist of fate. Edinburgh had survived which meant that the hunter needed to add her to the list of victims her stakes would reap that night. It was what Edinburgh wanted if she survived the canceling of the field.

She promised she would kill her if she survived but in the deepest corners of Seydlitz's mind, it was no longer desirable as it brought strength and focus that further fueled her hellish battle with the vampire nest.

With the threat of the hostile vampires eradicated, Seydlitz clutched the now-remembered necklace around her neck. It was a black shiny vial in the shape of a cross and a red old ribbon wrapped at the center. Gold detailing etched across the black surface made it uniquely stand out.

The woman under her stirred via a chorus of soft moans that sparked joy on the bloody face of the hunter.

"Seydlitz...?" Edinburgh roamed her hazy gaze across the chaos and destruction that surrounded the only two remaining witnesses of the vampire massacre. Survivor's guilt weighed heavy on her dead heart, eating away at her with a sharpness only found in a nighthound's jagged teeth. "Why am I still alive? This wasn't part of the deal. You need to kill me, too. You owe me that much!" Agony morphed her face, and she clutched the hunter. The canceling of the field and ritual left her weak so her strength couldn't outright tear the hunter apart, but she didn't desire that even at this point. However, with her weakened state, the smell of blood that lingered temptingly around the hunter was too much. Her restraint was failing her, and the bloodlust was reaching her eyes.

Trepidation and hunger revealed her desire to bite the neck of the hunter, and yet, Seydlitz refuse to release her.

The pink-haired hunter smiled grimly at her. "Yes, we did make a skewered deal that benefited me more than you. I'm sorry if you hate me for robbing what little gain you had, but I couldn't go through with it anymore. When I witnessed you saved those girls from the reanimated dead, I did indeed still had no compunctions in killing you. Despite you never killing anyone and only taking what essential blood you needed to survive, it was a foregone conclusion that you would one day kill. That blood would be on my hands If I didn't stop you."

Edinburgh's eyes grew moist with tears that held nothing back. "Then why deprive me of my wish? I promised you a way past the bounded field to kill us all. To save the townspeople from the blight that my family had imposed. I betrayed the murderers that were my family but that still doesn't absolve me of what I am! All of us need to be dead, Including me."

The vampire hysterically roamed her hands all over the wounded body of the hunter. Pain and discomfort followed suit from all her various injuries, yet she still blushed from Edinburgh's touch.

"You must have one dagger or stake remaining— a crossbow bolt?! Perhaps poisonous herbs against us?" Questioned the mad ramblings of the surviving vampire.

Seydlitz muster the strength to keep her away— much to her racing heart that she was sure Edinburgh could hear. "I'm all tapped out. I got nothing left under my belt, boots, or sleeves. My sword met its end from its final strike and my chain whip dagger met the same fate when facing off against Warspite."

Edinburgh whimpered and slumped her body in defeat. "Then... let me burn. Dawn is approaching, so just stop holding me, or else the flames of my body will consume you too."

Seydlitz lowered her head, feeling utterly useless. She genuinely wished to save the vampire, yet the dawn was coming and aside from moving a few feet away, she couldn't outrun the sunshine.

At that crucial moment, she clutched her necklace once again that held the path forward and the words of her mother filled her head. In a whisper, she spoke to herself. "Mother... I now understand what you meant about relinquishing our heirloom not out of forfeit but for the heart." With her heart steadfast and true, she yanked the necklace away from her neck, and with a bloody hand, she pulled the gold seal that rested at the top of the cross.

Edinburgh reacted to the sudden flurry of movements, and she soon felt the hunter's hand around her jaw. A sad smile of joy flashed across the hunter who looked on the verge of tears. "Edinburgh, forgive me. Here you've been seeking an escape from your nightmare through only death, but I had the answer to your blight this whole time. No more, walk with me into the light!" She forced the vampire's mouth open and poured a mysterious fluorescent blue substance from the vial down her throat.

The vampire's blue eyes widened, and she tore herself away from the grip of the hunter. An explosion of pain erupted from her dead heart which felt hot and sharp. Not two seconds went by until she felt her body seizing up as a response that caused her to convulse on the stone floor.

The vampire hunter with bated breath, stood silent in the eerie room of the cathedral, watching it all play out. The dreaded anticipation similar to watching a drowning victim being saved and waiting for them to resurface caused her a lot of emotional distress. Her sapphire blue eyes grew watery and like a flash of light through her despair, Edinburgh stopped and sucked in a huge breath. Her piercing scream filled the cathedral and all the vampire hunter could do was clutch her with all her might.

Hope replaced despair. She never once believed that her family had served her a plate full of lies when it came to her heirloom. Seeing the works of the old liquid that had never left that vial filled her with joy. "Edinburgh! Stay with me, you deserve happiness at the end of this nightmare!"

The shouts of pain stopped and the vampire disorientingly moaned softly while feeling like she was in a state of dreaming.

Dawn brook through the stained glass windows of the cathedral like a focused beam of light, advancing upon them like a wall. She felt decisive in her actions as a minute too late would have made everything pointless.

The light bathed them in its warmth and the vampire hunter smiled upward. A face full of love, devotion, and joy was all that remained. The woman in her arms stirred and the hazy eyes of Edinburgh weakly gazed up at her.

"Miss Seydlitz? What did you do? What is this feeling?" It felt nice, nicer than resting near the hearth of a crackling fire.

"It's the sun. The source of all life and vanquisher of the darkness."

The glasses-wearing woman acknowledged the rays of sunshine by throwing her head back as best as she could while still being held by the hunter. "The sun? It's been so long since I've felt it upon my skin." The once-forbidden rays of sunshine that could burn her into ash soaked her body from head to toe. Her mind swam in a seemingly endless river of bliss that made her forget all that she ever feared from the giant ball of fire.

The haziness cleared and her rationality returned. Her synapsis fired in reactive terror of what she was feeling and how it was even possible quickly hit her like a truck. "Wait a minute! I should be burned into a pile of fire and ash."

Seydlitz could not help herself from seeing how animated and sweet the genuine actions of the former vampire were. A string of pained chuckles flowed out. "There's nothing to fear anymore, Edinburgh. The curse of vampirism no longer cages your soul and flesh."

She was human. The realization swept through her whole body, a full numbing sensation of disbelief and hopeful anxiety for the future. If the rays that soaked them both weren't enough, the bloody sight of the vampire hunter was the proverbial nail in the coffin. The crimson liquid that drenched the hunter smelled bitterly strong and metallic. What once smelled something akin to the sweetest fruit now no longer held the same meaning.

This feeling of elation dwindled significantly as she hung her head, unable to keep basking in the joy of humanity restored while she knowingly orchestrated the defeat of her vampire sisters. They were monsters in the end, but so was she, and they were family above all else. That's why it pained her so much.

Seydlitz frowned guiltily and shifted her body to ease the pressures of her knees. She ultimately dropped beside the former vampire and basked in the sun from the stained glass windows.

"The vampire lineage is truly dead now, milady. You're a creature of the night no more." She held up the empty black vial to let it shimmer in the light like a pearl. "This heirloom has been in my family for many generations. My mother wore it during her vampire slaying days and her mother wore it before her. It's always been passed down to the eldest child that takes on the wet work of hunting what lurks in the night. None have ever used it, a testament to our efficiency to safeguard those around us as well as ourselves. The old liquid whose origins have been lost to time could only purify the tainted blood of a supernatural creature only once. My mother had told me to keep this close to me. This is our strength and our history. If I ever become the thing I hunt, the comfort that it isn't the end always eased me. While I might use this on myself, she told me that I could relinquish this for the heart of another."

The words hung heavy over Edinburgh, seeing the hunter in a new light. "For another? You used something both precious and priceless on me... why?"

The vampire hunter turned to her; her eyes moist with joyful tears. "Because I've fallen under your charm, milady. Not your vampire charm but your human charm."

Blood rushed to her face and her heart boomed fiercely. Two human qualities passed through her body like searing fire. She had long since forgotten this feeling, yet it flowed naturally to her like breathing. "What's with all this milady mumbo jumbo!?" She buried her face between the hunter's chest while delivering light smacks to her body.

Seydlitz laughed through the pain that she somewhat deserved. "Well, you're not a vampire anymore of course. I… I'm sorry for the things I called you in the beginning. Woman of the night, blood devil, husk walker, and… well, my point's been made," she said somberly.

All those names Seydlitz had called her had never cut deep enough to hurt. How could they hurt when she had called those names to herself for centuries? There was no part of her heart that could genuinely argue with the hunter that restored her humanity. "Seydlitz, I... I... Yes, the vampire lineage is dead." She said, feeling free and teary-eyed.

This vampire hunter had used a sacred and old liquid, that was now useless, to cure her of her vampirism. It was wasted on her in truth, wasted against any creature of the night that dared to take the life of another when the hunter could have used it on herself.

In the warmth of the sun that she hadn't felt for so long, she kissed the vampire hunter, responding to her feelings in equal measure.

(End)

A wave of emotional sounds filled the stands around the scene that the audience had witnessed. What was believed to be a cathedral was realistically a set piece from a stage fueled by a splash of imagination when needed. One couldn't be blamed for not noticing this critical fact as the immersion from the actors had captured the hearts and minds of the audience.

The spotlight that acted as the source of the sun that pierced through the stained glass window above turned off, and another light was cast on a silver-haired woman standing on top of a stage tower. Prinz Eugen while wearing torn clothing and greenish make-up that sold her portrayal as one of the zombies that had been used earlier began to narrate.

"Seydlitz, the Vampire Hunter. What was once Edinburgh's sworn enemy had become her avenging angel that razed her wicked Royal Blood family. They had made an unholy deal that she would help the hunter get past the bounded field around the cathedral to kill her family if she also killed her with the others. Yet, the hunter grew a silent agony to her wishes when love struck her fast and true."

A blonde beside the Iron Blood made her presence known as Wales. Even though she wasn't part of the play, she donned a gothic vampire costume as she proceeded to read the next line. "Her death was always a foregone conclusion. To live with her family invited death and to live without them invited death. She was no more than a dreg compared to her family's status resulting from her never indulging in blood as they had done. While conflicted, she wished to make her family happy and be with them but not out of the expense of people's lives. They moved to Avon Shores to perform a blood ritual to elevate Edinburgh into a higher being. For that to happen, they needed to sacrifice the town with a blood spell that would drain them all. Refusing her family wasn't an option as they would force her. She would then lose the remaining fraction of humanity she still had."

Eugen took the next set of sentences, giving her girlfriend a playful thumbs up. "She then concluded to kill herself to spare the town but then, her family would probably still kill them out of sport. That's when she met the vampire hunter, Seydlitz. An enemy that showed her mercy after saving a group of lost girls in the woods from reanimated zombies unleashed by her wicked sister, Belfast. Their journey has come to an end with Edinburgh now human for the first time in over five centuries. Their love from this point on… well, that's for a different story. Hopefully a lot less bloody."

The audience erupted once again with a wave of joy and cheers from the amazing play that had been hosted that evening.

"Heck yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Shouted a random Eagle Union shipgirl from the sea of countless girls.

"It had both drama, action, love, and a happy ending!" Shouted one shipgirl from the Sakura Empire within the crowd.

"It needed more blood and pyrotechnics!" Shouted an Iron Blood shipgirl from the crowd.

"Marvelous! Could you imagine if Queen Elizabeth actually got incinerated like that, or how Miss Belfast was stabbed?" Shouted a Royal Navy shipgirl from within the crowd.

Both Seydlitz and Edinburgh stood back up, seemingly uninjured, while the spotlight from before shined down on them. From behind them, the stage crew and actors came together to take a bow for their hard work. Warspite, Ark Royal, Dido, Sirius, Illustrious, and Sheffield had taken a curtsy bow behind the main characters. Dashing across the stage from the left, Queen Elizabeth, in her vampire outfit, opulently basked in the warm praises of her fellow servants.

"It is I! Did you all think I would burn that easily and fast? Worry not for there was a trap door that I safely dived into when the pyro effects ostensibly engulfed my body!"

Eugen frowned from up top and held a remote in her hands. "Yeah, kind of like this, your Majesty!" She sweetly stated. The button pressed and the trap door that the queen had carelessly rested on opened again. Only the frantic yelps from the royal queen could be heard, quickly turning faint.

"Eugen!" Sighed Wales with a head shake.

A playful giggle resounded from the zombie-dressed heavy cruiser. "This concludes our naval port Halloween play. Courtesy of the wonderful mind of Wales and myself."

A distant booing resounded from a group of Northern Parliament shipgirls that uplifted a vein from the heavy cruiser. "What kind of kiss was that at the end?"

"Who said that?!" Comedically shouted Eugen, giving random shipgirls dagger stares.

From behind the crowd of stage crew and actors, Belfast was the one to get up from the floor lastly. A sisterly gaze acknowledged the hard work of her older sister. She removed the fake stake from her chest and basked in the joy of a successful play.

The presence of someone behind her made her smile softly, knowing who it was. "Enterprise, so how was my acting? If I have to be honest... my face hurts for making such a vile face," she humbly stated to her girlfriend that smiled back at her.

Enterprise went in for a hug, the hug feeling like those given to ones that had been away for far too long. It had thrown the maid off, yet she quickly let herself reciprocate it. "You were a natural, but that's not surprising considering you have a knack for hitting things out of the park."

Belfast giggled softly and fell into the hug from her girlfriend. The praise always felt wonderful when it came from her girlfriend, and it motivated her to always commit to her tasks.

"Hey, what's this now?!" They both turned to see Enterprise's sister approaching them with a grin plastered on her face. "Sis is trying to act all cool in front of her girlfriend?"

"Hornet!" Blurted the ace carrier, her face turning crimson from what had happened not too long ago that she would have preferred it stay secret.

Hornet's playful antics could not be stopped. "Jeez, Essex and I had to hold her down when she saw Seydlitz stab you in the chest with that collapsible stake. She was even biting her nails when you were delivering that vindictive speech."

The mental image of seeing Enterprise acting overly protective was blissful to the light cruiser. "Oh, darling. It was all pretend," she said, blushing madly nonetheless.

Enterprise pouted and composed what little dignity she had left. "I know but at the moment, I was swept up in the theatrics."

"Well, that means we did a good job." Belfast turned back to her sister, and she caught a glimpse of a detail that was lost amongst the celebratory congratulations from the other actors. Every now and then, her sister would gaze at her Iron Blood co-star with a heavenly blush while they dished out autographs from the audience members that approached them.

Mirroring her own experience, she only ever did such a blush when relating to her girlfriend Enterprise. There was chemistry in the air between her sister and Seydlitz. As her duty of being the only one of the two in a relationship and the younger sister, a switch flicked inside her.

With a dumbfounded look that turned enlightened, Enterprise let out a series of hums, voicing her concern. "Bel, you have that look all of a sudden. The one that says that I have a goal and nothing else will dare get in the way."

The bloodied head maid reacted to her lover's observation and exchanged a look that told she wanted Enterprise to understand. "Yes, look over there, Ent-Ent. Don't you see the romantic tension between them?"

Enterprise squinted and made an unsure face. "Well... maybe with your sister. Yes, that look she has reminded me of the way I saw you—acting unsure and captivated at the same time. But Seydlitz doesn't look like she..." She spoke too soon as when the Iron Blood turned her head, she softened her eyes toward a distracted Edinburgh who had been swarmed by a group of destroyer girls from the Royal Navy.

"Oh!" Replied the Eagle carrier, pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. A hand hooked around her neck and Hornet intensely checked out the situation like her sister.

"You know, I found their kiss delivery to be so-so, but oh baby, I haven't seen sexual tension like that since..." From behind the blonde, a pale hand reached toward her ear and yanked it something fierce.

The blonde cowgirl recoiled, her gaze turning toward a head of silver hair and shrine maiden robes. The icy stare containing a mole under her left eye held Hornet in a trance. "Anata! I swear... I can't go five seconds without leaving you alone until you say something so brazenly uncouth, Hornet."

The blonde carrier grinned goofily and pretended to feign ignorance. "Baby... moon pie, I think you heard me wrong. Isn't that right, sis?"

Like a dear caught in headlights or someone being between a rock and a hard place, the eagle ace didn't know how to respond. She hated to lie but she also wanted to save her sister from her girlfriend's ire.

Enterprise made her decision and went for it. "S-Shoukaku, umm..." The events of their relationship were still developing, bringing happiness that she hadn't seen in Hornet. While she had mixed feelings, her younger sister's happiness mattered more even if their relationship appeared within the realms of playful abusiveness.

Belfast with a straight-man attitude struck first. "She did indeed say the shameful comment that you overheard, but it isn't without its merits. My sister and Miss Seydlitz have a certain chemistry. Seeing it now, it further overjoys me that I made the right decision of switching roles with her."

Shoukaku and Hornet blinked a few times until they both recoiled in shock, ending their lover's quarrel. "Are you telling me that you were supposed to be the leading role with Seydlitz?!" They both said in stereo.

Belfast frowned and tilted her head. "Yes, is that incredibly surprising? I merely wanted my older sister to have her moment in the limelight. She studied the script to a tee like I did, and I figured that maybe different roles would be a nice change of pace."

Hornet scratched her cheek in how to word her response as she shook her head to dispel what Belfast thought. However, her girlfriend Shoukaku beat her to the punch since they were of the same mind.

"No disrespect to your capabilities to play the main role. The reason that Hornet and I were flabbergasted was that we were thinking how Enterprise would have reacted to seeing her girlfriend locking lips with another." Her pouty nature didn't go unnoticed via her words and even her body language expressed a sense of disapproval and understanding if she had been in Enterprise's shoes and seen Hornet kissing another, especially an Eagle Union.

The realization hit Belfast like a sea mine and she covered her face to hide her shock. She hadn't given it thought and by the swirly marks around Enterprise's eyes, neither did she.

"K-Kissing...?" Manically murmured the archer.

Hornet smiled, getting past her shock, and finding amusement. "Man, while a part of me wished to see that, I bet my troubles with sis back there would have looked like child's play compared to her reacting to a kiss. Sorry sis, but that's the truth."

Enterprise nervously fidgeted, unable to retort their remark. She was aware that she was overprotective of Belfast and that was something she was trying to mitigate. Ultimately, the royal was her girlfriend and not a caged bird that she owned. "I think... I would have been okay with that—it's pretend, right?"

The head maid felt elated with how mature and not insecure her girlfriend exhibited. "Yes, darling. I really only did have my sister's best interests at heart and didn't do it to avoid kissing someone else. Besides, I find it cute when you're jealous," she kissed the carrier on the cheek, and Enterprise relaxed.

"Aww, look how lovely dovey they are, Hornet. In my opinion, being jealous is a show of devotion that your flames of love still burn strong," stated the crane carrier.

Hornet opposingly let out a defiant chuckle. "Yeah, will those flames can end up burning a relationship if they spread too damn wild!"

Shoukaku pouted before aggressively clinging to the blonde. "Oh, I can't help it. When I see you flirting with those Eagle Union girls my heart gets envious. Choco pie, am I not your moon pie?" She whimpered despondently.

Hornet distressingly reddened and held her girlfriend tightly. It had been a running joke throughout the base that Enterprise's sister tends to fold when Shoukaku starts to cry. "Say what!? Shou, jeez... I'm not flirting with anyone! First of all, Cleveland is with Helena, North Hampton is a good friend, and South Carolina is just... well, she gets flirty with anyone but is harmless I tell ya!"

Enterprise and Belfast shared a synchronized series of blinks that told them they should depart soon. Overall, it was outstanding how Hornet was committed to making her relationship with the carrier ship of the Sakura Empire work.

"Enterprise, let's go to my sister so that we can properly congratulate her performance," suggested the head maid at the perfect timing.

Enterprise swallowed and nodded firmly, deciding to detach herself from the beginning stages of cutesy wordplay regurgitation from her sister and her girlfriend.

A distance away, Enterprise sighed. "I still don't know how I feel about their relationship. It feels like both of them are wrapped around each other's finger. What kind of relationship do they even have if this continues?" She then felt a firm squeeze on her hand from the head maid who turned to smile at her.

"A sturdy relationship if they accept each other's flaws," she said without a doubt. Enterprise smiled at her and moved forward, linking her arm with the light cruiser. Once they reached Edinburgh, the last set of shipgirls moved away from them.

"Hey, that was an outstanding performance," said the archer carrier.

Seydlitz and Edinburgh glanced at them and showed pleasant gratitude. The hunter was the first to speak. "You're too kind. Working with Edinburgh was fun, and Belfast did a remarkable job, too. Although, I wish you would have thrown me a bit harder to make it more authentic."

Seydlitz's comment startled the older sister beside her. "We're not trying to injure each other here, Seydlitz. The point of a play is that it's all an act."

"If there's anything I take pride in it's my ability to be rather durable. I would have been fine. When my fight scene with Warspite happened, I'm sure you all could feel the heaviness of our battle. That's because I told her not to think of me as a lady but instead as an enemy going for her Queen."

The head maid was speechless and gave the hunter a look full of admiration. "Dear me, I commend you for your commitment to bringing this role to life even more. However, that's just not in me to be so rough when it's all for entertainment, Miss Seydlitz."

"Fair enough," shrugged Seydlitz.

Enterprise folded her arms with an eager smile. "I don't know. If she asked me, I'd spar around with her," added Enterprise, earning her a beaming smile from the Iron Blood.

Amongst them, Edinburgh stood shocked at the revelation that Seydlitz had actually been thrown around for real. A deep desire to grant her a back rub fueled her maid mindset along with other desires, but it wasn't her place to invade her personal space. Ultimately, they weren't dating or even close for that matter, and yet, they had shared a kiss that needed to be done.

The cheery sound of Belfast elevated, and she raised a finger. "Miss Seydlitz, do you have any plans later night?"

Seydlitz frowned and folded her arms. "Well, not necessarily. I was going to hand out candy with Hipper and Eugen but... " She uneasily stared at Eugen who was swept up by Wales's presence. The two looked ready to head out alone and get going with what they had planned together for Halloween. It wasn't a surprise as it had been a common pattern. "... I'm sure that ship has sailed. Hipper also texted me about saying how weird it would be for just the two of us to be giving out candy. Honestly, at this point, she's off doing her own thing and might be a bit sour that Eugen ditched us for some Wales time."

Belfast gave her a sympathetic smile but deep down her own agendas exploded with enjoyment. "That's too bad, really. But... If you have the time..."

Seydlitz pondered on what Belfast ultimately offered her. It wasn't every day someone would invite her to do something outside the Iron Blood shipgirls she mostly kept to. A few weeks ago, she would have quickly responded with, "you wouldn't want me around," but perspectives had changed. She was trying to be more positive in herself and venture into doing things she wouldn't normally do. "Gladly…" she responded with anxiety fueling her hopeful smile.

(Some time later)

Enterprise scratched her head, wondering how they had reached this conclusion. Here she stood, in the small living room of their joined dorm room with Seydlitz. Edinburgh retreated with Belfast to the only other connected room which was the sleeping area of the Navy/Union couple.

Belfast had mentioned to her that it would be rude to leave Seydlitz alone and that she needed to talk to her sister privately. So, it was up to the carrier to entertain her hunter guest.

Seydlitz respectably roamed the living room, making sure to observe and not touch anything. Her hunter outfit perfectly suited her to be searching for more extravagant places. Say, the ruins of an old bell tower. All in all, she made observing the mundane look exciting. "You must be very lucky to have your own place like this that comes with a kitchen and living room. In my dorm, I share my room with Thüringen and Elbing, but they are off base at the moment." Her eyes landed on a display case near the kitchen section full of medals and ribbons.

Enterprise truly felt grateful for her situation. "Commander Brea makes exceptions for shipgirls that are romantically involved. Since the base is always expanding and new shipgirls are coming in, she moves things around for those that won't be making too much disruption."

"Oh, how so about this disruption?" Asked Seydlitz.

It felt like it didn't need to be spoken but the Iron Blood did look genuinely engrossed. "I'm sure you can tell. Wales and Eugen have been trying to butter her up for a room of their own but..."

Seydlitz laughed and held an enlightened hand up. "Ah, I see. Yes… I'll feel sorry for the neighbors around them if they were allowed to be together in a private setting such as this."

Enterprise amusingly agreed. "My sister and Shoukaku are trying to get their own room but it's even more complicated. Not only is Brea still deciding, but Zuikaku is also another factor."

"Zuikaku? Shoukaku's sister, right? Hmm, I feel deep sympathy for Shoukaku being pulled like a tug of the rope." On one side you have your sister with whom you've always been close, but now you have a significant other who has taken the same amount of space on the other side of your heart."

Impressed was not enough to describe how she felt about the Iron Blood being in tune with those outside the usual Iron Blood circle. "Eh, I'm more with the commander on this. I just don't think Hornet and Shoukaku are quite the match for each other—don't get me wrong, I still support them by not getting in their way, but I feel like they aren't good for each other. I feel like a hypocrite because Belfast and I weren't that compatible in the beginning either."

Seydlitz frowned and felt out of her element. "I'm afraid I don't have much to offer when it comes to your sister's situation. That's on me, as the topic of relationships goes over my head. If they like each other, it's worth seeing how it plays out, right? I'm sure this is a crude way of looking at it, but a plane takes a while for it to take off from the ground. We now know from engineering and experience that it will, but humanity once was still unsure if their designs would ever reach the skies."

Enterprise gazed at her in wonder. There was wisdom in the battlecruiser that inspired Enterprise to take a chance on her sister's love life. "Wow. For not knowing much about relationships, you sure made a great comparison. I should be more supportive until she says that it didn't work out until the very end."

Seydlitz felt warm all over for having her words taken to heart. She completely expected the carrier to write her off as not knowing anything similar to Eugen or some of the other Iron Blood girls. She felt more at ease and the two shared a friendly laugh. All this couple talk brought her mind briefly back to Edinburgh. Before the play, they hadn't interacted much, yet lately, she's been on her mind more than ever.

Feeling a sense of camaraderie and thinking it wouldn't hurt to ask as it would also benefit Belfast, she went for the golden question. "So, Seydlitz, do you have anyone you have a crush on? I know that relationship stuff goes over you but, the heart is always the one that runs that business." She couldn't help but draw from her own experience with Belfast and how she had known they had something special before she even put two and two together.

The proverbial spotlight shined on the Iron Blood. A spotlight so bright and hot that it made the stage light from before feel cold. There was someone that her heart had been restlessly pining for. Still, she only just started to know Enterprise more as a person and couldn't speak her mind that freely with her. The fact that she was the girlfriend of the sister of the one she liked deterred her more. "N-none at all, haven't seen anyone that catches my eye." An obvious lie that even Enterprise could see through.

Whether it was a half-truth or a half-lie, there was one unequivocal truth that she believed. Regardless of what maddening strings her heart tormented her with, she knew that no one could ever love her that way, much less a distinguished maid who practiced the virtues of being a lady

Seydlitz strained a smile, swallowing her woes. "Now that that's settled, you must tell me the history behind these medals. Milady, these battle medals are highly impressive. I'm honored to even have the privilege to look upon them."

It took a second for the carrier to align herself with the new topic of conversation. To her internal honesty, she had hoped that Seydlitz wouldn't have been interested. Alas, the carrier rubbed the back of her head, meekly smiling from the praise. It was Belfast who took the time to display the medals behind a glass case for her, but she did say she needed to keep her entertained. Imagining that Belfast had anticipated that Seydlitz would be an admirer of medals wasn't a far stretch either. "These things… I'm sure that you have your own set of medals with equal recognition."

Seydlitz humbly closed her eyes. "Not at all. I mean, I do have a few. As much as others tell me they are remarkable, they feel undeserving. Each one required a sacrifice that others had to pay in blood. Even one life is too many, milady. Such is the cruel fate of having to lead."

The critical opinion from the Iron Blood made Enterprise relate with a soft smile of understanding. "I'm sure it benefited your allies and country overall. There's more to war than being a one-woman army. To lead is something to be praised as well. Some of my medals required sacrifice making them feel cold and empty. However, these medals inspire bravery in others. That acknowledgment of bravery that inspires allies to answer the call of duty— that is my true medal there."

Seydlitz gaze at Enterprise with respect and also stars in her eyes as she nodded eagerly.

From the small hallway, the maid sisters had peeked into the living room to hear the full topic of medals. Edinburgh sniffed while a few tears poured out from hearing Enterprise's speech. The words that could instill devotion in anyone made her slump and turn fast to her younger sister. "Bel, Enterprise distracting her is going to end up swaying her off her feet!"

For the last half-hour, Belfast had grilled her sister about her feelings for Seydlitz and that's when the clumsy maid had spilled the proverbial tea that she did indeed have feelings for her. "Oh dear, I wouldn't blame her if she did fall for Enterprise's endearing display of heroism."

"Bel..." Moaned Edinburgh, forming a squiggly frown.

Belfast lightly winked at her. "Worry not. While they are very much alike, their chemistry only extends to respectful camaraderie."

"You like stamps too!?" The energetic question from Enterprise startled the sisters and they quickly saw Enterprise race to the nearby coffee table and lift a binder from it. The pages turned rapidly, and the carrier began to show her expansive collection of stamps to the Iron Blood. "Check these out. I collected a few on my missions, but I have an older sister who retired that goes around the world and mails me some of the most exotic ones I own now."

A chorus of awes and mutual adoration of the colorful stamps displayed in Enterprise's binder filled the room. "Absolutely wonderful!" Gasped Seydlitz.

Belfast nervously perspired and tilted her head the whole time, retaining an empty smile filled with doubt. The image of them practically cheek to cheek, gazing at the new stamps with the turning of the pages could make anyone feel territorial.

"Milady, I'll be sure to bring my own collection on our next available off day. I have a few that have some adorable eagles that are absolutely tasteful." She felt like she had to stress that given the history between their countries, but that fell to the waist side around the base's general culture.

"It's a date then," said Enterprise lightheartedly and unaware of how much that word had stung Belfast.

The maid coughed from the doorway and framed her smile. "We just finished up changing!"

Both sisters revealed themselves. For Belfast, she dressed in her gothic vampire outfit with the stained blouse being replaced with another copy of the same article of clothing. If one didn't know her as an individual, said person would be fearful of running into her in a dark alley.

"Ah, the vampire returns to stock the night," replied Seydlitz in an olden tone of voice. Her eyes had been focused on Belfast until they bounce to the right to see a sight that constricted her chest.

A maid outfit, themed in the spirit of Halloween was Edinburgh's choice of costume. Her skirt was the color of chocolate and invoked a rich and warm visual sensation. A gold and brown ribbon adorably sat around her chest area with a pristine white button-up shirt. On her waist, a tantalizing waist corset hugged her small frame that rightfully would be getting people to make a double take. Black suspenders connected from her shoulders and corset, giving her an antique charm coupling her seductive frame.

Seydlitz felt the temperature in the room rise and her sapphire blue eyes darted to anywhere else that would ease her heartbeat. Locking to the maid's hair, she was awestruck to see that spooky pumpkin accessories attached to her long french braids hanging to her sides. Her white stockings and black pumps were also not a bastion for her eyes as the seductive gauge skyrocketed.

There was little to rephrase that Seydlitz already harbored hidden feelings that also didn't help in calming her.

(Flashback)

"It was a wonderful play, was it not?" The head maid casually conversed with her sister, buttoning the new shirt similar to her old one. Checking herself in the mirror, she adjusted the black leather and strings around her breasts.

Edinburgh stood behind her, her reflection giving off that she was watching her like a hawk. "Bel, what's the meaning of this?" She asked straightforwardly.

"Huh? What do you mean dear sister?" The fake cheeriness of her voice betrayed her.

The older light cruiser puffed her cheeks. "You invited Seydlitz and me to the Halloween shoreline movie feature when you were already going with your girlfriend."

Belfast blushed and innocently turned away. "You stagger me for saying it like that. I'm still a bit lost, though."

The glasses-wearing maid grumbled some more. "Lost my foot. You wouldn't be asking anyone to join you if it was just the two of you."

"Preposterous. Ent-Ent and I love our alone time, but Halloween is a time to celebrate with those around us. I prefer to treat than to trick."

"Gosh Bel, what does that mean?" Sarcastically proclaimed the older sister.

Belfast sighed and acknowledged her sister properly, turning to face her with a sisterly smile. "How long have you had feelings for Miss Seydlitz?"

To the same effect as a ghost spooking her, her face drained of all its color. "Eh!? So you do know?!"

Belfast delightfully smirked, striking proverbial gold. "Then I was right!"

Edinburgh coward away to the opposite side of the bedroom, anger also infused. "Grr... Bel, whatever you're planning, I don't need it. I'm not trying to get with her." She stubbornly stated with shut eyes.

Belfast frowned and maneuvered gracefully, getting behind her sister, and nudging her toward the mirror. "And why is that? You like her and your feelings are equally genuine as they are pure."

Edinburgh reddened and struggled to meet her own reflection. "Pfft, it's not that simple, Bel."

The head maid grew heartbroken to hear her older sister rejecting her desires. "Enterprise felt like a wall when we first knew each other. It was only when I told her how I felt about her that she realized she shared similar feelings. We tested the waters by dating and I was surprised to discover her gentle and romantic side."

That was the last thing she wanted to hear as it soured her even more. It was petty of her to feel this jealousy but where Belfast excelled in everything, she also had to have a "perfect" girlfriend, too. "Well, I don't have your confidence, Bel."

"Even my confidence betrayed me when I confronted her. As soon as my lips finished uttering my love, it left me to dry upon the shocked gaze of Enterprise. Love is a leap of faith, dear sister. It's up to the receiver to meet you halfway."

Hating the way she was feeling, Edinburgh frustratingly hung her head low. "Weren't you afraid it would change things with Enterprise?" She gloomily murmured.

Belfast still heard her as she was quite close to her. "Yes... at times I even asked myself if I was being selfish for wanting our relationship to be something more. But you just need to be true to yourself, Edin. And from a certain point of view, not telling Enterprise would have stunted the both of us to what we truly wanted."

It was easier for her sister to say such uplifting words. For Belfast, she pushed herself to achieve what she wanted. "Oh, sister. Your love story sounds so wonderful. If only Seydlitz and I were good friends from the beginning. We're only acquaintances because of our time rehearsing the play. She's too popular to even look my way."

"Popular?" Incredulously remarked the vampire maid. She didn't want to be rude, but her sister was greatly misinformed.

With a somberness to her voice, Edinburgh began to speak. "Yeah, she's so cool and carries this gallant aura. I've seen how other shipgirls look at her with hearts in their eyes. I even delivered such a weak kiss that didn't sell that of a love-struck couple... I'm sure she had better and can only think that she sees me as some girl."

That statement echoed what Hornet had said earlier. At the time, Belfast had been pretending to be dead and missed the theatrical kiss but now Edinburgh also felt the same. Regardless, there was still chemistry between them, and it was reasonable that Edinburgh hid her feelings with a weak kiss.

Belfast swirled around the negative space that was her sister's emotions, rejecting everything that was being thrown at her. Her sister lacked the courage to go for it and she wasn't going to have it. "So, she has many suitresses pining for her like lovesick puppies just like you?"

"Huh?" The critical tone from Belfast similar to a parent made Edinburgh acknowledge her. The sternness of her voice with a sharp edge to it also reminded her of Belfast's wicked character from the play.

Belfast collected her thoughts in order before speaking. "Dear sister, she doesn't strike me to be with anyone of the sort. Just trust me on this. Didn't even see anyone approach her during breaks when she and I were rehearsing our lines originally." She couldn't say for absolute certainty what kind of person Seydlitz was, but from what Eugen would casually spew from random conversations, she had a general understanding. Seydlitz tended to prioritize her duties on base and had a rigid soldier mentality that kept those outside the Iron Blood faction from getting to know her better. That was old info, and from the fact that she decided on participating in the play, perhaps Seydlitz was making strides in becoming more sociable.

Indeed, Seydlitz was no different compared to Enterprise when she first met her. That experience alone provided her ample assurance that her sister had a good shot at making her crush notice her… if she applied herself more.

"Wait, did you plan this that far ahead?!" Shouted the other royal with the constant question if that was the reason Bel had wanted to switch roles with her.

Belfast relaxed slightly enough to shoot her an amused giggle. "You give me too much credit. Me giving you the limelight was all that mattered at that time. It was only after the play that I finally glimpse at your feelings, and she feels the same."

Belfast was trying to instill hope in her heart, but her sister refused it. Her sister's depressing and critical viewpoint hardly allowed any wiggle room. "Stop trying to play cupid, Bel. She would never give me the time of day." She was nothing special, unlike her younger sister who was capable and confident to tackle anything. She even managed to capture the heart of the Eagle Union's greatest, a feat that definitely made her a rival to some Eagle Union shipgirls.

"So stubborn..." Edinburgh was jolted from her whirlpool of negativity when she heard her sister speak.

Belfast let her go and raced to the closet, pushing a few hoodies from Enterprise out of the way, and going deeper into the closet. "That's why I'm going to prove to you that you are worthy of being loved. Now, where is that outfit you threw back at me last year when you... and I quote, said 'brown and orange aren't my colors. And what's the deal in making me look like the great pumpkin?'"

"You kept it this whole time?! It doesn't even fit you." Her bold statement was directed at her younger sister's chest size rather than it being a matter of weight. The poor shirt would definitely bust on Belfast if she tried to wear it.

Belfast pulled an outfit out, overlaying it on her and smoothing the fabric of any potential wrinkles. "I never discard anything that has value. Still have the ticket stub from my first date with Ent-Ent. She took me to one of the Eagle Union's prominent big states where we went to their state fair. It was quite a sight seeing that massive cowboy."

The glasses-wearing maid deflated comically. "Never knew you to be a hoarder," she dryly stated. Her eyes glanced at the outfit, and she pouted like a kid. "I liked you better when you were acting as my wicked sister! She didn't care about my love life in the slightest."

"We shall speak no such fantasies— now put it on." She insistently demanded.

(End flashback)

Both sisters stood at the entrance of the small hallway, looking at the two capital ships on the other side of the room. "How do I look, you two?" Without being rude, Edinburgh didn't care about Enterprise's opinion but decided to lump them together, keeping her intentions masked.

"You look ready for the Halloween festivities," replied Enterprise with a friendly smile.

"T-Thanks," she replied with uninterested eyes while looking mostly toward Seydlitz.

Seydlitz appeared to look taken aback before quickly regaining her footing into reality. Edinburgh tensed, wondering if that had been a good or bad response. "This is a pleasant surprise, milady. I definitely thought you would be wearing your vampire outfit." She spoke with unhidden surprise in her voice.

Connecting her fingers endearingly, the Halloween maid's stare would only meet the Iron Blood sparsely. "Y-You did break the curse over me, so figured this was canonically appropriate." It came out more mousey at the very end, yet still managed to be heard by the others.

Belfast raised an eyebrow, amusingly impressed that her older sister had such a good quip even though it wasn't true as she had to force the outfit on her like trying to put a sweater on a welsh corgi.

A faint blush and a small smile awarded her riskiness that came from the hunter. Seydlitz straightened, feeling overall embarrassment from hearing it stated like that. "On that, I can agree. Maybe I should have returned to replace the red stains on my outfit like Belfast."

Belfast chimed in quickly. "Not at all, I think it adds more to your glory as a champion of light when hunting creatures." The last thing she wanted was Seydlitz running off with the possibility of her not showing back up.

"I see. Milady... No, Blood Baroness Belfast, I hope you can hold your curse at bay for tonight?" She spoke once again in an olden tone of voice, drawing from the vampire hunter she portrayed.

Belfast channeled her theater character and challenged her with a sinister smirk. "Indeed, you might have vanquished me, but I'll allow you to have fun during this Halloween festivity. It will make your despair that much sweeter when you fall."

They both laughed much to the confusion of Enterprise and Edinburgh who looked like they both ate something sour.

"Actors..." Mumbled Enterprise dryly.

About fifteen minutes went by when Enterprise stepped back out, dressed in a detective outfit. Gray vest, black dress shirt, black dress pants, yellow tie, stylishly black gloves, and a black overcoat with brown detailing at the cuffs and collar of the coat. Lastly, she donned a black hat with a brown ribbon across the brim of the hat, tying her masterwork of a costume nicely.

"Ah, darling that looks magnificent." While Belfast had known what outfit had caught the eye of her girlfriend, this was the first time she was donning it to her. Simply put, the vampire maid drowned madly in love with the outfit. Her delicate fingers ran across the soft fabric of her dark coat and even toward the yellow tie that perfectly nestled around her savory neck.

The light cruiser giggled softly, invitingly pulling on the necktie of her lover, keeping her gaze on her and only her. The passion in the air grew drunk and Belfast licked her lips quickly.

A callous cough from Edinburgh resounded throughout the room.

Darting toward them, Enterprise and Belfast were greeted by Seydlitz, nervously smiling, and Edinburgh's glaring glasses hitting them with a shine from the room lighting.

Belfast sheepishly giggled and winked at Enterprise before moving away. "Terribly sorry. The Halloween excitement in the air is unraveling me from the seams."

Seydlitz, appearing more relaxed, smiled at them without feeling like she was intruding. "You two are an item, it's perfectly fine to express to each other in that regard."

Edinburgh adjusted her glasses and hastily moved out the door. The sooner she reached the hallway dorm, the sooner she could get fresh air from the love-choking atmosphere emitted by those two. She was happy for her sister but seeing them nearly close to dry-humping from how they were staring at each other was her limit.

Seydlitz followed suit, leaving the couple to catch up. The vampire maid held a finger close to her mouth, her face blushing red at what she had wanted to do if there wasn't anyone else besides the two of them. "Oh dear, I wasn't trying to shove my love life in front of Edin like that. I feel terribly awful."

Enterprise then rested her head on the chin of the vampire maid. "I'm not." The purr sensations coming from her throat sent tiny electrical jolts all over the light cruiser's body. Their intimacy poured out upon their soft rubbing of each other's cheeks. Enterprise's hands went to Belfast's shoulders where they began a blissful massage. "Call me old fashioned but I much rather spend the night with you watching a horror movie while hugging ourselves tightly under the covers than go and watch a film with the others present."

Belfast drowned in that reality that grew invitingly closer to the point of touching it. "I do too, but we're doing this for my sister, and we can do that later tonight. Besides, I hear they're going to have festive food, too."

Enterprise defeatedly felt more inclined. "Hey, is she on board with this? I mean, I can imagine someone being frustrated when they feel like they're getting back-seat driving instructions of the love variety from another family member."

Belfast cocked her head, entertaining those stressed feelings that her sister definitely had. "Well, she did finally surrender to the outfit I threw on her. I'm her sister, and it's my duty to push her in the direction she wants when cold feet are at work."

Enterprise sighed, knowing that no number of words would deter her girlfriend from forcing love and happiness onto her older sister. "All right. Just... try not to overdo it. I talked with Seydlitz earlier and she confided in me that she isn't with anyone. She also said that there wasn't anyone that catches her eye but the way she looked at Edinburgh's outfit said other things."

Belfast smiled determinedly. "Before the night is done, she will truly see the beauty that Edin hides away. On that, I am sure."

Enterprise felt concerned by the bold courage of the head maid. It was going to be an interesting night to see it play out.

It feels so nice to have brought this story together. I started it out with rough ideas, and I changed them around until settling with these events. The next one will be the final part of this small Halloween special, and I aim to have it out in a week or so. It's done but needs editing. Thank you all for reading and have a spooky October!