The girls' look went from horror to confusion.

"Why? Let me do this!" Raven told Amagi in his head. He strained and grunted, his veins showing and his face sweating.

"Don't you see? They need you, Raven. I need you. Forget your stupid mission. Live your life the way you want to."

"I… I can't."

"Listen, Raven. Are you truly a Siren? I don't think so. Sure, you may have the body of one, but you by no means have the heart of one. You're more than that. Better than that. A real king isn't so weak or pathetic that he would end his own life."

"But… but…"

"Our choices define who we really are. So please, Raven, here and now, make the right one." This time, Amagi sounded desperate.

Surrendering to Amagi's words, Raven stopped resisting. He lowered his arm and collapsed.

Later that night, Raven woke up on his bed. It was the first time he was back in his room after what seemed like forever.

The moon was full and hung low, its light shimmering off the surface.

Raven was never so thankful to see such a bright and star-ridden sky.

He then saw two red and white ears peeking from around his door. It was Ayanami.

"When the Azur Lane and Red Axis were at war, I was taken from the Sakura Empire and became a prisoner of war. But even then, the Eagle Union and Royal Navy girls were kind to me, and didn't think badly of me."

Raven slammed his fist on the window frame, slightly scaring Ayanami.

"But that's different. Even though you all were at war, you still weren't true enemies. Deep down, you all cared about one another. Me? I stabbed your backs for our true nemesis, threw your love, trust and care away for something that in the end, doesn't even exist."

"Still, though. We're just happy you're back. Some of the girls are worried, but that's for your sake, not theirs. You're still one of us."

"I still find it hard to believe that this is simply water under the bridge."

Suddenly, Raven felt a kiss on the back of his neck. He blushed a bit and turned around quickly.

"You think I'd do that if I thought you were our enemy?" Ayanami asked, her hands behind her back. "Just be careful, okay?"

Ayanami left Raven's room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

The next day, Raven walked by the coast. He then sensed something. He followed it until he reached the docks.

"Hello? Anyone there?" he asked as he knocked. Opening the warehouse, he found it.

His severed right wing was on the table.

"Wow, they kept it."

For what seemed like an eternity, Raven stared. And stared. Until a voice from behind broke his concentration.

"I can attempt to reattach it, if you like," Vestal offered.

Raven shook his head.

"Oh? Well, how about fixing your eyes? Cut your hair?"

Again, Raven gestured no.

"I want to keep my Siren parts. I'm a Siren, built by Siren hands, and I've embraced that fact. It's foolish to deny the truth, especially when there's nothing you can do to change it."

"Well, I need to remove the Siren energy within your body and gear. And especially your mental cube. Can I at least do that?"

Turning around, his eyes glowing in the dim warehouse, Raven nodded.

Vestal pointed to a chair. Sitting down, Raven noticed that she was plugging wires and tubes into him.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to extract all of it. Your body has become dependent on it, and doing so will kill you," she said. "But, I'll remove enough so that the Sirens won't be able to control you anymore."

"Fine," Raven said with a monotone voice. "I was gonna tell you that I want some of it anyway."

"Why is that?"

"This power, although dangerous and corrupting, is alluring. Calming. Sweet, even. Like poisoned honey."

Raven looked up through the skylight on the roof. The sun shone on another cloudless day.

Raven began to feel faint, but also purified. As if he was being cleansed from within.

"Alright, you're finished. Take it easy for the next day or two, let your body readjust. Also, check this out."

Vestal handed Raven a mirror. Looking into it, he noticed that because of the decrease of Siren power, his right eye reverted back to its original bright red, while his left one stayed yellow.

"Oh, by the way," Vestal asked. "Some of the girls reported that you were mumbling on about you being some kind or king or emperor. What's that about?"

"Oh, nothing," Raven said innocently. "Just discovering my new self. Anyway, thanks for your help."

"Oh, before I forget, Enterprise was looking for you," Vestal called out.

Raven gave a thumbs-up and propelled into the air, landing onto a nearby beach. He sat down and put his sunglasses on, the sun and sand warming him.

He saw a shadow over him.

"Thanks for the shade, whoever you a-"

He stumbled back in shock as his eyes made contact with the shadow's owner.

It was Amagi.

Raven stood up and walked up to her. He reached his arm out, expecting to feel the soft silk of her kimono, but there was nothing. His hand phased right through her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Same thing as you, enjoying the sun." She smiled before coughing.

Raven laughed sarcastically. "No, what I mean is, why are you here? How?"

"I am able to manifest here because your body has been cleansed of Observer's influence. Well, mostly. I feared I would have been purged from your mind, but the opposite happened."

"Can anyone else see you?" Raven asked.

Amagi shook her head. "At least for now."

"Too bad. I'm sure the Sakura Empire girls would die to see you."

Getting up, Raven stretched, facing the shimmering sea. When he finished, Amagi was gone.

"Don't worry, I'm still with you," she reassured in his head. "Now, let's visit Enterprise before she misses you too much."

Raven was walking down the HQ hallway when he remembered about what happened the day before.

"By the way, what happened yesterday?" Raven wondered, scratching his head. "I just kind of blacked out."

"I shut you down, deactivated you so that you wouldn't harm yourself."

"Great, knowing you can shut me down anytime is totally not terrifying at all."

"Well, you'll just have to trust me, then."

Opening the door, Raven was greeted by Cleveland and Prince of Wales.

"Welcome, Raven. Please, sit."

Raven sat at the couch. Across from him was the Gray Ghost.

"Raven, about yesterday…"

"Enough, Enterprise. If you're here to apologize about you raising your bow against me, or about thinking of killing me, then stop, I don't wanna hear it."

"It's not that. I'm, well, we, are just happy you're back."

Raven was rewarded with a special gift, a very rare smile from Enterprise.

"Although," she began. "Your rank of Wing Commander has been revoked. At least temporarily. You need to face some kind of punishment."

"Fair enough."

"Want to regain your status? Prove so. In battle."

Raven stood up.

"I thank you for your offer, but I'll decline. Instead, I have found something grander."

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"King. Of the dark blue above, just as you are the queen of the dark blue below."

Intrigued, Enterprise raised an eyebrow. She also stood up and stood face-to-face with Raven.

"Alright, I'll admit, I'm curious to see this new you. But for now, rest."

"Why, what's going on?"

"The Sirens and their homeland are still weakened after Operation Longshot. But this window won't stay open for long. We plan to capitalize on their weakness now."

"Then I'm coming!"

"Didn't you hear what I just said? You'll get rested. We'll take things from here."

Growling, Raven stormed out of the HQ room. The thing is, she was right, and he knew it.