Chapter II:

While the Firemen were putting out the flames coming from the affected areas, the debris removal tasks were beginning and the first waves of refugees were returning for the different regions of Italy, Romagna, its Capital, saw that they would indeed have a Future free of the "Shadow Neuroi". Gone were the days when they were chased by the "Ground Units" of the enemy Armies, the bombings and the devastation caused by the Kanker. Many people had knocked down several monuments, erected by the invaders, that honored the sisters and vented their anger against them, destroying them with demolition maces, hammers, chisels, among other tools. That was appreciated by Double D, who had gone for a walk around and could feel that "frenzy" of celebrations but where hatred had grown against the Kanker. He took a deep breath, touched his chest and knew that these people had to do it, no one should stand idly by and accept a mass extermination, but that they had to respond.

He walked away as people cheered against the Kankers and dismantled several fallen ships, keeping the scrap. He walked away, not out of fear, of what? Yes he was part of that brave group of saviors who liberated Italy and its Capital from the enemy, but, deep down, he felt that those three sisters should surrender to Justice, before any bloodshed against them.

- "It is common to see it in populations that suffered at the hands of the enemy. Greece was one such case where, once the Polis of Asia Minor were liberated, they unleashed all their wrath against the Persians. The same happened when the Italic Peoples of the Interior attacked the Romans until they were given the same status of "Citizens" or when King Alaric I of the Visigoths sacked the Capital of the Empire when he was not promised what he had asked for: Rights for his people and lands to settle", he thought and when he was far away from that square, he reached a street that had not been affected, just a little, by the bombardments. He could see some destroyed windows with their panes of glass lying on the ground and some businesses boarded up with huge wooden planks to prevent looting. He walked around that corner and felt the shards of glass against the soles of his sneakers, hearing them crunching - "I wonder if the "Magic" will still be on our side, since, despite being official, I always kept the theory that it would run out after the extensive battles we have had and the ones that happened in Africa and Romagna. I don't know, maybe I should go check my notes and do a little study".- He thought, bringing his right hand to his chin, while walking and thinking at the same time.

Without seeing who he might run into on his way, the young man collided with someone who threw both people to the ground and when he regained his vision, he knew who it was.

- Eila, I'm sorry.- He apologized and helped her up from the ground.

- Don't worry, I'm fine. Calm down.- The Finnish woman answered calmly.- I've been looking for you all over the headquarters, you didn't show up and Sanya told me she saw you outside.

- Yes.- He said, dusting off his clothes.- I needed to go out and get some fresh air.- He emphasized and took a closer look at her. She looked beautiful. That hair and her eyes were so captivating, so it led to his cheeks turning a light crimson color. He felt the girl's hand on his shoulder and smiled as he saw that coloration on her cheeks.

- I knew it.- She pointed and touched the tip of her nose with one of his fingers.- I recognize that you have a heart, from the beginning. When Marie wanted to corrupt you to fight on her side, you refused, but in a gentlemanly way. That's something boys like you know what to do when there's danger in sight. Come, let's take a walk here. The day is splendid.- She said and proposed that idea, taking him by the hand, and all of a sudden, someone appeared holding the back of his neck, leaning against his back, and he discovered that a certain albino from the Empire of Orussia had suddenly arrived.

- I couldn't agree more.- He accepted the idea and they began to walk through the streets of the capital.- Oh, I see that Sanya never leaves your side, but I thought she was sleeping at this hour.

- We are very close, since a long time ago, especially when the "War against the Neuroi" happened in the past, back in the distant 40's.- Eila told him, while her steps echoed along the sidewalks, expanding to a certain limit and ending up in nothingness.- There are many things I should tell you about our old fight.

- It would be a pleasure to hear it, if it's not too much trouble.- Said the intellectual boy and turned to the albino.- Do you agree, Sanya?.- He asked and the girl nodded her head.

- She agreed. I say it again, you are a very polite guy, Double D. It strikes me that you have collaborated in these scams.- Eila emphasized, which the young man shrugged his shoulders.

- There must always be an intellectual who designs future scams and who has to accept the mistakes when they go wrong, although sometimes it was due to inconveniences caused by third parties, but, let's not talk about me in the first place, you had your story to tell and it would be very bad manners to monopolize the conversation.- He pointed out, putting a stop to that matter that they would leave for later.

Both Eila and Sanya could not believe how kind he was and think that the dark blue haired girl wanted him by force, without giving him a chance to think and give his position. She saw him as an object, something that was her property, just like a hunting trophy or as a Servant, where he was subject to her orders, just like her other sisters would do with her two remaining friends. They would be just that, they would have no right to anything, but that they should respond to her every command, without complaint and if they put up any resistance, God only knew what kind of fate might await them. A shiver ran through both friends, who sighed inwardly, having arrived on time, had it not been for Francesca and her patrolling the neighborhood that day, events would have been different.

- Eila?.- She called out to Doble D, who removed all traces of self-doubt.

- Oh, yes, sorry, I kept listening to you and thinking about it.- She apologized, a chuckle escaped her lips and with that she began the story.- We fought against the "Neuroi", the predecessors of the "Shadow" in the 1940's, having started this war in 1939, and they came out of nowhere, over the Skies of Europe, devastating it completely.- She said. The girl began with the story and scenes of those who tried to offer resistance, using planes, tanks, artillery, everything necessary, were seen: "Although the war technology was advanced, for us we were no more than insects to be trampled by those intelligent and highly advanced beings. Soon Gaul fell, Brittania was threatened from all sides, as well as Karsland and Eastern Europe, endangering the rest of the world. Something had to be done and it was then that the "Strike Witches" emerged, we and other groups offered resistance and liberated the captured countries, destroying the "Neuroi" and expelling them from here.- She said, while a tone of pride in what they did was noticeable.

- I don't even want to imagine what that war must have been like. Compared to now, that was, if you'll excuse me for saying so, "child's play".- Said the boy in the black cap.

- Yes, It was.- He heard the voice of Sanya, who was still clinging to his back with her eyes closed, but suddenly opened them.- We never imagined that one of the scientists who collaborated with General Mallory would have been the grandfather of the Kanker“s sisters. When Minna and the others regained control of the base, since the "Warlock" they designed to destroy the "Neuroi" changed sides, their plan collapsed and both he and his collaborators were arrested and brought before the "Military Courts" for treason and organizing a "coup" against Commander Wilcke; besides putting at risk countless lives of civilians and military who were still fighting against the "Neuroi" in different parts of the world.- Sanya joined in, being heard by both characters.- Even so, Dr. Kanker escaped our surveillance. We all thought it was a fake name, some pseudonym but it wasn't until now, where we were able to track him down.

- And he's been living in Peach Creek all this time?. Under our very noses.- Double D was speechless, for that had been revealed the day the Kankers showed their true nature.

- Unfortunately. You were unaware of the danger posed by that man. According to what Minna and Trudie told us, he was someone who had no heart, a genius of Science but very evil who thought of nothing else but the superiority of his invention, the "Shadow Neuroi", before Humanity. He wanted to displace it, in simple words.- Said the white hair with more information on the matter, producing in the boy with the black cap a shiver that ran through his whole body together with a few drops of sweat.

- God...it's...it's unbelievable what you are telling me.- She said, resting his hand on his forehead.

- And not only that, you can tell that he formed his own family and everything, living intermingled with the local population of Peach Creek and without being recognized by anyone but his own. He died a few years ago but, even so, his granddaughters are more than willing to carry on his legacy, whatever it takes.- Said Eila and after arriving at a park, they decided to go into it.

- Do you think there are other collaborators still alive?. Was the question that Double D asked about it, but neither of them knew what to say.

- No, I don't think so, it's complicated to say, since many of them must have passed away years ago; but the old saying goes "weeds never die".- Hesitated the Finnish woman and once they got into the park, they continued with the walk.

- Don't worry, they are not a danger, they have already passed away. I wouldn't worry about them, but about their offspring like their granddaughters.- Said the white-haired Orussian.

Soon, after a somewhat long walk, they reached a bench in front of the fountain there and sat down for a while. Eila threw her head back, looking up at the Heavens, while Sanya fell asleep and used Double D's left side as a pillow, leaving the boy silent and holding both of them gently, breathing deeply and looking up.

- "What's coming to us now is going to be harder than the previous ones. We can't turn back or run away, but to stay until the end and fight. The same way the Byzantines did when they were besieged by the Ottoman Empire".- Thought the boy, threw an oath and a prayer into the air and closed his eyes for a while.

Later, when he returned to Headquarters, he would carry out his work as an investigator with the subject of "Magic".


Johnny was with his feet in the Tiber River, on the outskirts of Romagna, in the company of Tablon and Yoshika, Lynne and Rolf. The foreigner from Northern Europe had his eyes closed, sunglasses on and his head lying on the river bank, enjoying the sun, toasting his body, while the boy in the white T-shirt was splashing in the cool waters that were making their way through the area. Behind him, peace could be seen, as the Fuso Empire Sergeant approached them with her blonde friend from Brittania.

- Oh, hello, Yoshika, Lynne, please have a seat with Plank and me. The water is cool enough to take a dip.- the young man invited them and both friends smiled, sitting down next to each other.- You two really put up a great fight against the Shadow Neuroi and I was even surprised to see Nazz with that katana and her technique.- the boy was amazed as he turned around.- How did she do it?

- Major Sakamoto trained her for a while. She saw that she had a great handling with that weapon and she succeeded. Even she herself was surprised to see the power your friend had in the fight for Romagna.- Yoshika explained to him, while putting her feet in the water.

- Not only that, she was also a great help in getting you guys out when you were injured after that ambush by the Kankers in the Capital Center.- Lynne recounted.

- Ufff, now that you mention it, the wounds I suffered from those enemy cannons have just closed. They gave me a pretty serious burn on the left side of my back. He touched that area and could feel a small twinge running up and down his back.

- We were lucky that the Kankers suffered casualties in Romagna Center, but, even so, the war is not over yet.- Lynne echoed those words, and it was true.

A moment of silence fell between the parties. Johnny turned around and noticed that both friends were silent, saying nothing, so, after looking from one side to the other, he decided to break the calm that was hanging over them.

- Hey, girls, what do you think will happen now? How will the "Theater of Operations" continue?. He spoke with that military jargon.

- To begin with, I am sure that Minna and Trudie must be preparing us for the next campaign. There are still Karsland, Suomus and Orussia to be liberated but the thing is that those countries must be very fortified and the Kankers will not think of surrendering.- Yoshika explained to him the steps to follow.

- I see. But we will still continue: Liberion, our home, is still under the control of those crazy women, we have to expel them from there as soon as possible.- Said the bald man, closing the fist of his right hand tightly.- I just hope that Peach Creek is still standing. I haven't heard much news about what's going on there.

- Don't worry, news will be coming from Liberion soon. You have to be patient, the communications are very crowded because of what has been happening here and there are other places that have been having a much worse time.- Fuso's chestnut reassured him, putting her hand on her friend's shoulders.

- What do you think the "Karsland Campaign" will be like, together with Suomus and Orussia?.- Lynne asked but her friend did not have that answer in mind.

- Be that as it may, we will have to go there. We will have to prepare ourselves, it will not be the same to fight in Italian territory as in German territory.- Said the sergeant, while they decided to take advantage of the day at the Tiber River and rest.


- You did very well, Nazz, in this fight to free Romagna.- Said Mio, who was with the blonde and Kevin walking around Romagna.- Your performance was excellent in responding to the attacks offered by the Shadow Neuroi. I have to admit that your skill with the katana and the "Reppuzan" paid off. I couldn't be more proud of you.

- Thank you, Major Sakamoto.- The girl thanked, but noticed that the Japanese woman waved her hand.

- Please, no formalism, you are part of us, just like the others.- She said with a very calm voice.- Besides, this is a moment for you to celebrate. The "Reppuzan" is an extremely important technique for those who wish to handle it and you are my successor in this.

- It is true, Nazz, you now carry a power that you must use responsibly. I have a feeling that this war will not end yet.- Said Kevin in support and looked at the horizon, with his hands in his pockets.

- Do you believe that, Kevin?.- The blond American asked and he nodded his head, keeping his eyes closed. Then he looked at Mio, who had the same expression on her face.- I just hope we can end this armed conflict, many lives have been and are still being lost because of the Kankers. God, we should have stopped them in Romagna but we were not that lucky.- She cursed that moment and clenched his fists but it was Kevin who calmed the waters.

- Don't worry, whatever happens, they will not be able to continue with their success and achievements, sooner or later they will be betrayed by what they love so much and they will be dragged to defeat.- The red-haired man predicted with certainty.


Soon it was twilight that day, the sun began to set behind the buildings of the Capital, giving way to night. Small and thin shadowy lines were drawn on the contours of them and on the Tiber River, leaving a beautiful spectacle of Mother Nature herself. In some areas of the Capital City there was no electricity after the fighting and many of them had to rely on generators distributed by the central government to alleviate the crisis until the infrastructures with their basic services were rebuilt. The Police and the Army patrolled the streets to prevent theft, looting and riots, while life was slowly returning to normal.

Still, inside the Headquarters, the "Witches" were gathered there along with the Peach Creek boys. The doors opened and gave way to Minna and Trudie, who remained standing, being received by those present and after that the meeting was called to order. The first to speak was the red-haired Commander, who cleared her throat and began.

- Good evening, I hope you have rested well this day," she began the meeting and went to the point.- As you can see, soon the "Karsland Campaign" will begin, with which we will seek to liberate it along with Suomus and Orussia.- She pointed to the photos and the map displayed on a huge rectangular board.

- Sorry, Minna.- Charlotte rose from her seat.- But don't you think we should discuss this matter a little more?. We barely liberated Romagna and now we are going to another front. We still don't know if the Kankers can launch a counter-offensive against this position and take it. They need it to use this country as a "springboard" to continue their offensive to the East.

- It is a very good point, Charlotte, but it is already official: we recently met with the "High Command" and they have given the go-ahead for Karsland and I know that, like many of you, they fear a possible enemy offensive in order to recover Romagna but that will not happen, because, just as those wretches did by opening several fronts, we are going to close them, one by one, forming an "encirclement" that will prevent them from continuing to advance. He made known the objective of the military operation they were carrying with them. That was what Minna wanted to tell them so much about it and she seemed very excited.- Karsland is my home, as well as Trude's and Erica's. And I will not allow a fist to be thrown at me. And I will not allow a bunch of "Shadow Neuroi" led by those three crazy women to destroy the homeland where we were born, nor to attack the countries of my friends, so, from this moment on, we will begin the reconquest of that territory and not only that: While we attack Karsland, we will also go for the Suomus and Orussia Fronts.- She explained in detail what they would do.

- Great.- Kevin celebrated, clenching his fists as a sign of battle.- And when do we travel there?.- He asked, and then he noticed that the Officers' expression took on a cold and serious posture.

- On that point, Kevin.- Trudie interjected, standing in the middle of the "Meeting Room".- There will be some "slight" changes.

This took those present by surprise, not knowing what to say or argue. Some were muttering or talking among themselves. They could not understand why they were facing these changes if, until recently, they had fought together without any problem. It was then that, raising her hand and raising her voice, Trudie was able to continue speaking.

- Changes?. In what way?.- Asked Perrine and it was then that the dark brunette began to show what was to come.

- To begin with, we will divide into several groups: The first one will go to Karsland and will be composed of Erica, Ed, Yoshika, Lynne, Perrine, Charlotte, Sarah, Jimmy, Minna and me.- She gave that information.- The second one will have as mission the liberation of Suomus and Orussia. Its members will be Double D, Eila, Sanya, Rolf, Johnny, Kevin, Nazz and Mio. Finally, the third will remain in Romagna and will be formed by Eddy and Francesca, who will patrol the Italian-German borders to prevent any attempt of enemy incursion. That's all, questions?.- She finished and no one said anything.

- If that is the way it has to be, I have no objection whatsoever,.- Said Double D to the decision taken by the Officers.

- We are ready for the mission.- Added Nazz.- When do we leave?.- She asked.

- You will rest for a few days, we will let you know when you have to report. We will return to Brittania so you can recover and those who want to practice with their powers, go ahead, no problem.- Said Minna to those present.

No more was said and everyone went on their way, but when Double D was about to leave, he was stopped.

- Wait a moment.- Tredhead stopped him.

- Is something wrong, Commander Wilcke?.- Asked the boy in the cap.

- There is something we want to give you, as a token for your efforts on the battlefield. Come, follow me.- She asked and the young man followed her, going to another room of the headquarters, where Trudie, Mio, Nazz, Eila and Sanya were.

The boy moved forward, he didn't know why he was there, however, a glint on something metallic caught his attention. He noticed that Nazz was carrying the katana in its sheath and holding it, just like in a ceremony, then he turned his attention to that glow. He didn't understand the why of the whole thing.

- What is all this, My Commander?.- The young man asked again.

- As of this moment, the surrender ceremony is initiated for you, Double D.- It was Trudie who spoke and proceeded to initiate the ceremony.


[A longer chapter that ends with something that will change our friend's life forever. What will it be? Where will the Kanker sisters be? We will see in the next chapter.

I send greetings and thanks to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the other Fanfiction and Wattpad fans.

Take care, friends. I wish you a good start of the week and also...

Happy Autumn 2022 for the Southern Hemisphere!].