Mighty Eagle, Calm Nest

by xT-Zealot

With Enterprise suffering from a crisis of identity brought on by her battles with the Crimson Axis and visions of a dark reality, Belfast has chosen to take some liberties to bring Eagle Union's ace to London to try and restore her humanity that had been smothered by duty. Meanwhile, the overseers of this timeline consider its continued worth and what they can extract from it.

10. Chapter 10

Enterprise heard the rumbling that reverberated down into the hall that she and Belfast traversed through, and that alone was enough to give her a starting point to gauge the immensity of what had to be the ballroom. And as was customary for the Royal Navy, those developing expectations were repeatedly broken the closer they came to what was, quite literally, a bright light at the end of a tunnel, its luminance and the sounds coming from it growing. The carrier did try to brace herself, but as the noises – voices, of all things – started to thrum from her eardrums to her very bones, and her vision struggled to adapt to the intense lighting, she knew that she was going to be unprepared for what she was about to behold.

Accepting that still didn't lessen the impact.

They were on the second floor, but the roof and its barrel-vaulted design placed it well overhead, the golden chandeliers still managing to hang above them despite having been lowered a good dozen feet from the apex of the arch. One glance at them told Enterprise the folly of doing so, the bulbs and prisms turning them into small suns that would have her seeing spots if she stared at them for too long. Obviously, she found the source of the room's intense illumination. Looking down and away from them didn't save her vision from them completely, the patterned bronze of the ceiling reflecting and bouncing the light all the way down to the main floor of the ballroom where a smooth, impeccably polished wooden flooring shone with additional aid of secondary lanterns embedded in surrounding pillars.

Clothed tables and chairs nearly encircled the empty space that had to be the dance floor save for one side having been dedicated to a stage where a grand piano was situated and a pianist was currently playing a tranquil melody to ease attendants to the murmurings of conversations that the room, much like the lighting, managed to amplify to the magnitude that assailed Enterprise's physical body in the way it was currently being.

That wasn't to say that the enhancing power of the room's design was exaggerating the number of partygoers, because it wasn't. All it was doing was telling Enterprise just how many people were here. From the red-carpeted upper landing to the wooden dance floor, there were a lot of people.

London did not properly prepare her for this, the groups that filled the seats and the spaces around the tables, bleeding into the couples on the dance floor, and the balconies just as filled with crowds of bodies, sound, and movement, outmatched the activity of a city with their mere hundreds in number in this much more finite space.

And then there was another important distinction between here and the rest of London: that being the greater number of shipgirls that were in attendance.

Enterprise could feel and sense them, but their presences were intermingled with those of humans. They were not overshadowing them, but woven and laced together, the distribution of the two existences making it impossible for her to pinpoint one from the other. Trying to accomplish it visually proved just as hard, the lavish dress code required for a banquet making it so that any remarkable features that shipgirls may possess were well hidden.

It was almost like everyone here was the same from where she was standing.

When she realized she had to go down there towards them, it was a prospect that quickly became incredibly terrifying to her in a way that she had never felt before. The thought froze her, but it didn't last long before the pull on her arm guided her along.

Belfast just had to know what Enterprise was feeling – she always did -, but the carrier was only able to get enough of a look at her to see that noticeable quirk of her lips. Looking at the cruiser fully had suddenly become difficult for her ever since she saw her in her dress. The attempts she tried to make since then usually ended with her head bowed, her unable to look at her face without feeling a building heat at her cheeks, her breath leaving her and her empty on what to say or think, so all she could do was retreat as best as she was able to.

The elegance of the ballroom was one thing, but Belfast had become something else in their short time away. Her face practically glowed, outshining anything that Enterprise had seen in this room even though the carrier was still certain that Belfast hadn't done anything to it. She thought about asking to be sure, but that was where the pesky problem of upfront communication came in, and she felt much too awkward to ask with her head turned away.

Besides, it wasn't just her face. Even now, with her lowered gaze, Enterprise was drawn to the narrow waist that was outlined so well by the hugging fabric which bunched around the movement of those hips as they walked together, and the glimpses of the bare legs beneath that skirt. Enterprise dared not go higher, and even this restricted examination had her eventually looking away, conscious of how Belfast had to be noticing. This became troubling, as the only thing that Enterprise had left was their linked arms and hers had become entirely numb.

Why was it that Belfast had this effect over her?

One crisis at a time, Enterprise told herself.

The upcoming one was the stairs that led down to the main floor, the most exposed part of the room. Just as she had become so inexplicably conscious of Belfast's dress, she was the same for herself and what others who she knew would say when they saw her. Thinking of being spotted and acquiring such attention…Enterprise was praying that she could make it down and mix herself in with the crowd without incident.

Where had that confidence of hers gone all of a sudden? Well, no, she still wanted to do this, but she wanted to approach this gradually. There was only so much of this opulence that she could take all at once.

A shipgirl was waiting for them at the top of the stairs – a Royal Maid. She was just standing there, Enterprise wondering what her duty was as she had been staring out over the ballroom until she noticed the approaching pair. Her countenance was strictly controlled in a prim and proper manner that didn't show anything when she addressed them, the sign of a more disciplined member of the Maid Corps.

"Curlew," Belfast greeted, Enterprise stopping when she did.

"Head Maid," Curlew returned with a respectful incline of her head. A long braid of rosy brown hair hung behind her right shoulder, while exceptionally long and freed locks hung in front of her left.

"Not tonight."

Curlew glanced between Belfast and Enterprise, her expression remaining plain. "As you wish. Then that's how I will announce you."

Announce? Enterprise suddenly had a feeling of impending doom but was too late to act when Curlew readdressed the ballroom and its crowds, took a breath, and loudly spoke.

"Yorktown-class aircraft carrier Enterprise and Edinburgh-class light cruiser Belfast."

It was like watching dominos fall, with those dominos all falling on Enterprise. Curlew's announcement amplified and carried to the immediate surroundings that reached a good dozens of attendees who all turned and Enterprise experienced her stomach plummeting when she not only became the target of that attention, but when she saw it get redirected in order to spread the message of her entrance to the next line of guests to attract more attention. The migration of information was accompanied by a shift of the entire room, Enterprise witnessing a tide of people that swept closer to the stairs while those on the balconies pressed themselves against the banisters to get a better view of her, the buzzing of conversation changing as the carrier's ears burned with how she could detect the cadence focusing on her.

Now Enterprise knew why she had been directed to the second floor.

She leaned closer to Belfast, using it as a justification to hide from all that she was the focus of, but still not being able to meet her put her in the predicament of staring down towards her own feet. "This is not what I would call a 'relaxing transition'."

"Don't tell me that Eagle Union's mighty carrier ace is going through a bout of stage fright," Belfast teased.

Enterprise did not think she was susceptible to stage fright. She's had award ceremonies before when her superiors at Eagle Union decided that she had earned a more decorated award instead of the medals that she had been given with such frequency that she had a collection of them stashed away somewhere. She would admit that she felt uncomfortable, Yorktown and Hornet's urgings for her to accept them in a more formal ceremony to act as an inspiration for humans and shipgirls making it worse rather than helping due to her consistent view of wanting to remain as a regular shipgirl who was doing her job like the rest of her comrades.

But she bore with them, and they were only a little uncomfortable. Eagle Union's management of such ceremonies were barren of excessive pomp, Enterprise walking on stage in uniform, standing silently still as a short speech was made of her achievement before a high-ranking officer presented her with an award that she accepted with a nod and salute, and was answered in turn by a round of modest applause by dutiful personnel who were obedient to the controlled ritual.

Quick, simple, and relatively painless.

…This was not that.

"I'd rather be taking a Siren fleet solo," Enterprise said.

"You've done that. It's one of your career highlights that I keep meaning to discuss about with you, given the number of times you've repeated that feat."

"Except I'm thinking of doing it without my gear."

"Now that's a bit much."

The weakness in her knees was saying otherwise. Enterprise had never felt so embarrassed in her life with how she was able to make out her own name being spoken with astonishment. But she had been able to make a joke just then about fighting so that was…progress? It was very difficult for her to think of any of her other troubles with the potential fiasco that was developing right here.

"Come on," Belfast guided with another gentle tug, bringing Enterprise along to take the first step down. "The sooner you get through this part, the easier the rest of this night will be."

"If I manage to survive," Enterprise murmured.

Belfast tittered quietly, a noise almost lost, but didn't seem to take Enterprise's fully credible fear to heart, instead literally pulling her along to meet her potential death by severe overdose of humiliation.

Enterprise hoped that the makeup that had been applied to her cheeks would cover up the inflammation that she felt occurring there. Beneath her cape, her one hand stealthily manipulated it to cover a bit more of her front. Maybe the dress really wasn't for her. Was it really going as well with the cape as she initially thought? And that feathered band in her hair wasn't too silly? Maybe she should've convinced Victorious to pick something else, Enterprise thinking about the pile of accessories that it had come from and suddenly wishing that she had put more thought into what would work best. She had been gaining ideas of what she liked, and maybe she should've put more faith in that rather than letting Victorious take as much control as she did. There had been so many options, so odds were that Enterprise could've found something that would've suited her better-

These were very weird thoughts.

Just what was she thinking about? This morning she had been wrestling with questions pertaining to her existence and how she would be able to survive a coming reckoning. Now, she was fretting about scraps of fabric sewn together, cosmetics, and how they appeared on her. When had she started to care so much about something as nonsensical as this? What happened to her wearing clothes for the sake of it, and nothing else?

But it was these absurd things that were such a concern here, in the same league as life-or-death scenarios like the one she suggested to Belfast. Logically Enterprise knew that such a comparison was equally absurd, but the further she went down the stairs with Belfast, the less it started to seem like that.

This is ridiculous, Enterprise told herself, and forced herself to raise her head to prove it. There's nothing to be afraid of.

The sea of faces, with their various states of amazement and their excited whisperings, was suddenly a lot closer.

…No, Enterprise was afraid, and she was painfully reminded of the mobility issues of her dress that weren't giving her the option to turn and flee. A cold feeling originated from within the center of her back, creeping up her neck, towards her head, and the carrier felt the beginning twinges of pain as a repressed memory threatened to be exposed. The crowd, being surrounded by it, the voices, her embarrassing stage fright in the process of evolving into something worse…

A squeeze came at her arm, the pressure breaking through the numbness and, without thinking, Enterprise turned directly to Belfast.

Oddly, Enterprise found that the reprieve she needed was located within the cruiser's graceful features that she had been avoiding. The shimmering dress that she wore continued to do wonders, especially in the provided lighting of the ballroom. Looking past the glow that it contributed to her face though, what Enterprise saw was the soft delicacy that she had come to attribute to her, and the dress did its work there too with how the thin material exquisitely enfolded her neck with the chain lighter than her norm, the scarf draped over her arms that were enveloped in those gloves embellishing their slenderness.

It was what Enterprise had become attracted to and drawn comfort from, both on her worst night and in this present circumstance. This side of Belfast, the one who wasn't Belfast the head maid or Belfast the cruiser, was someone who Enterprise didn't know who to designate as but who she had come to see such value in. Seeing the empathetic smile that Belfast passed to her, sparing her from any further teasing, got Enterprise to relax, the cold, paralyzing feeling being purged.

It was enough to finish the downward trek anyway, and then Enterprise was amongst the assembly that had gathered and enthusiastically greeted her.

"Heeey, Enterprise!" The first to do so was Nevada, the tall and solid form of the battleship leaving little to the imagination of how she had managed to get her way to the front. The straps of her dress emphasized her broad shoulders, and Enterprise had to roll her own against the friendly fist that knocked against her in order to keep it friendly. "So all that hiding was meant for this, huh?"

"I wasn't hidi-" Enterprise started to defend herself, wanting to banish any thought of such a thing, until another shipgirl popped up beneath Nevada's one arm.

"Oh, wow, you look great!" Oklahoma complimented, the smaller girl having obviously made use of her sister ship to get the same advantageous position. "I don't mean just as in beautiful, but I mean great!"

"I…uh…" Enterprise initially floundered, trying to figure out what she was meaning, but the knowledge of how this was the beginning and that she didn't have time had her settling with, "Thank you."

Nevada was satisfied enough to smile broadly, but Oklahoma tried to add to her comments – something that Enterprise couldn't catch because she and Belfast were moving on and being hit by the next wave.

Thatcher had used a slightly different strategy to get to the front, the Little Beaver having used her much smaller size to the fullest to navigate through the legs of the mob and appeared quite proud of being able to get to such proximity, going by the excitable waving of her arms. "Enterprise, here, here!"

Enterprise chose to humor the destroyer, putting a bit more energy into her wave and that was enough of a reward for winning her little game.

"U-um!" Juneau, who appeared ready to remain nervously in place and let her by, suddenly jumped forward in a surge of panicky movement, nearly bumping into Enterprise. "I-I'm h-happy to see you well, E-Enterprise!"

The carrier had been momentarily startled, but how bravely the little cruiser stared up at her with watery eyes, sincerity rising above her fidgety nervousness, got Enterprise to muster up a steady smile and reply. "Thank you, Juneau."

At the other end, Belfast was being greeted by members of her own faction, Enterprise managing to catch a few snippets in between her greetings.

"Been a long time since I've seen you like this," Hood said with a short, pleasant smile.

"You as well," Belfast returned, both the comment and the gesture.

"Way long time!" the more energetic Repulse interjected, earning some pointed admonishment from Hood. "Not to mention arm-in-arm with Enterprise! Such a good couple you two make!"

The Eagle carrier shot over a quick glance towards that side. Couple?

"Bless you for all that you do, Enterprise."

Enterprise missed whatever response that Belfast made as she addressed the next shipgirl. She didn't recognize the woman in the turquoise dress – definitely not a ship from Eagle Union – but tried to think of who in the Royal Navy it could be as the greeting was made so familiarly that Enterprise supposed that it had to be someone she had met, even if only in passing. That was until, past the makeup, she saw the hints of wrinkles on her skin and aging strands in the bun of gathered hair that shouldn't be on an eternally youthful shipgirl.

They were, as she had come to learn, something that was exclusively human, and it was this middle-aged human who was smiling at her so gratefully when she said, "May the holy light continue to protect you as you protect us."

Her hands had folded together as she passed on that prayer and Enterprise didn't know how to reply. The familiarity that the woman had spoken to her with and the religious earnestness for her continued wellbeing put her at a loss, Enterprise left staring at her as she passed but all she got in return was that visible, unrelenting gratefulness that was transmitted to her the entire time.

The woman wouldn't be the last. It was a large crowd that had come to see them with how Belfast and Enterprise – or just Enterprise – had become an attraction that was gaining plenty of grand attention. For every shipgirl that she greeted, there were humans who would come right afterwards to pass on theirs, usually composed of appreciation so meaningful that Enterprise didn't know how to react other than with numb nods and belated words of thanks. With so many humans and shipgirls in one place, it left her struggling to be sure of how some of the people who came to exchange pleasantries were human.

"You honor us all with your presence," said another human that she identified immediately due to him being male. He soon became one who wouldn't be satisfied with that as he soon took her hand and shook it.

Enterprise was about to speak in return, but whatever she had intended to stay became stuck on her tongue, leaving her to numbly return the handshake while she stared blankly at his perceivable gratitude.

They knew who she was. That shouldn't seem to matter, except for how Enterprise had been in disguise throughout her entire time amongst them. Maybe there had been some who had been suspicious, but Enterprise believed that any of the casual interactions she had with humans was with the idea that she was a human like them.

There had been the few exceptions early on, yes, and Enterprise had considered then of how she could become comfortable around humans as the other shipgirls seemed to be, but this was another test that was being taken to the limits tonight with there being no mistake of who she was and who they were. Shipgirl and humans. Different.

"Belfast's been teaching you plenty about our proud city, I hope!" Amazon said.

Enterprise's grin became easier to form. "She's been unrelenting."

"Hah, I bet she has!"

And right after her was another woman – younger, but Enterprise knew was human – who apparently overheard her and Amazon's exchange when she said, "You simply must visit the Westminster Abbey if you haven't already!"

Her grin went a bit rigid. "I'll…make sure to do so."

"Please do! It's our most sacred of grounds!"

Different.

"I finally get to meet you!" came a Royal Navy destroyer who introduced herself as Beagle. "You're exactly like I imagined! I hope we'll have the chance to work together at some point!"

"Maybe one day," Enterprise politely entertained.

"You're my favorite Eagle Union ship!" a young boy proclaimed excitedly. "I always use you on my backline!"

His backline? Did that have something to do with that shipgirl game? "I…hope I've been reliable," she awkwardly said.

…Different?

Enterprise switched over to Belfast's side, but of course her friend was taking similar occurrences with ease.

"It's a custom dress," Belfast answered a question that apparently had to do with her gown. "Made from a rather special tailor."

Enterprise did get comments about her dress as well, once again feeling her self-consciousness was being under attack as she stuttered out returns to them. And then there were others that were like the one Belfast had received before: of how good she looked when paired with the cruiser. Enterprise didn't know how to answer to those with anything but her usual 'thank yous', although each time it was made it was after she got over another unusual movement from her insides that rolled around, whether it be a human or a shipgirl that conveyed it.

"So, was I right or was I right!?"

Enterprise knew the voice with that overabundance of energy. The same energy that the owner could barely contain, going by how Victorious was practically vibrating where she stood, fists shaking against her chin as she focused on Enterprise with rapt attention. Even that sight was more calming than being approached by another human.

"Yes, you were right," Enterprise had to admit. Then, remembering the reminder that she had mentally pinned, said, "I'm doubly thankful for your efforts."

Victorious was wearing a gown that was of the same white and gold, but more modest. To compensate for that modesty, the Royal carrier had apparently gone all in with flair with the wide, flowing sleeves and skirt. Gold ribbons and streamers were wrapped loosely around her limbs that screamed hazardous, but Enterprise suspected that they and the collection of bracelets, rings, and other bangles could make quite a show when fueled by Victorious's vigor as long as they didn't get caught on anything. Victorious throwing up her arms in celebration for Enterprise's praise created a short dance of fluttering strips while her decorations dazzled and jingled.

"Another win for Victorious!" she crowed.

"And a most deserving one indeed, as per your usual."

Victorious's showy declaration of victory had suitably distracted Enterprise from the approach of another individual. Reasonable, considering that compared to the outstanding glamour of Victorious, the latest arrival appeared rather plain: a rose-red dress with actual, synthetic roses that were sewn around the skirt, but save for some black frills that ran along the edge of the skirt and outlined the bodice that left shoulders and back bare, there was little else to the outfit save for the white cape that slipped around her upper arms before trailing down her back.

But how the shipgirl held herself spoke volumes of what her regalia did not and would accumulate immediate attention. Her posture that was achievable with a spine of steel-like inflexibility and the uncompromising set of those shoulders that would keep her at permanent attention no matter what the situation may be – not even a banquet would keep her chest from remaining high and presentable.

So intrinsic was this martialed stance that Enterprise could see how the bend in this shipgirl's arm, made by the hand on her left hip, was tilted as if to compensate for a cape that was heavier and more encompassing than the one she was wearing. As for her other arm, it did not quite match as rather than positioned to handle a weightier garment, it was tilted farther back with the fingers and palm shifted in a way that they were used to being braced on something that would usually be hanging from her right hip. The carrier guessed that that something would be a sword. A saber, to be more precise.

That would've told Enterprise exactly who this shipgirl was long before she got to her eyes and hair that belonged to a face of such strong, sharp features despite their inherent femininity. While the former was possessed of a more scarlet coloring, the lengthier blonde hair was of a shade exactly like Prince of Wales, complete with how a section had been braided into a crowning circlet.

"You must be King George V," Enterprise said.

The shipgirl smiled in a way that was astonishingly magnetic and gave a short bend at the waist with her one arm folding across her stomach, the other behind her back – equal parts bow and salute that was initiated with unblemished precision. This was definitely Wales's sister. "You honor me, but, please, just George will do." She straightened, still with that smile, and smoothly gestured a hand towards Enterprise. "For as grand as the reputation attributed to my station may be, it has been made clear to me that yours is most deserving." The curve of her lips went higher. "As it is to everyone else, I would dare declare."

George's words washed over Enterprise like honey. Her manner may be of the same polished discipline as Wales's, but her speech was of a warmer, expressive, erudite example of the higher court of the Royal Family. A few short sentences and simple gestures were enough for Enterprise to instantly recognize her as a leader.

Not to mention putting Enterprise off balance, the carrier once more becoming self-conscious of her situation, the warmth of embarrassment taking over her cheeks again. She was tempted to resume her previous efforts to cloak herself a bit more with her cape but being in George's confident presence inspired her not to bend against a weakness and remain steady.

That didn't mean that Enterprise could muster up words of her own against such flattery easily, needing a moment before she said, "Nevertheless, I would rather you refer to me as just Enterprise as well." It was probably best, she thought, to try and limit the use of her other names.

The hand that George had put out artfully took Enterprise's. The carrier expected a repeat of the polite motions that she had been receiving, but what she definitely wasn't expecting was when George brought the back of her hand to her lips and kissed the thin barrier that was her glove.

"Enterprise it is, then," George assented.

That Enterprise couldn't recover from as she stared at George over their hands. Was this another custom of the Royal Navy? Something that had been unknown to her until just this moment? Was she supposed to do something in return or…?

She was very thankful when George's attention slipped over to her left and she relinquished her hand. "Ah, and Belfast! Such an exquisite sight you can make, when your own wings have become unbound!"

Belfast stepped close, her shoulder nearly touching Enterprise's as she returned the greeting. "Even I can find time to enjoy these festivities, George, with how recurrent they tend to be."

Around them, the crowd had begun to disperse, Enterprise wondering if the timing had something to do with George's approach, with the main event planner wishing to speak to the latest arrivals. The jangling of jewelry had her spotting the trailing ends of Victorious's brightly colored ribbons, the carrier merrily heading out to make a scene elsewhere, knowing her. As for the rest, they were congregating to their own positions and groups, although Enterprise still caught stares and whispers being made in their direction. A respective distance had been created though, which Enterprise appreciated.

"I do not know what you mean by that," George replied, but there was a slightly shamefaced grin. That, however, bled charisma. "Besides, would you not consider this to be a rightly occasion? To be returning home in the wake of a victory, a mighty foe slain, with enemies welcomed back as allies to our glorious alliance?"

"Usually only one of those reasons would be enough for you," Belfast responded with what Enterprise recognized as becoming good-natured banter.

"Then having three should be plenty to absolve me of any undue excess! This is all in the name of the great warriors who had achieved such triumphs! Outstanding deeds cannot be won without outstanding efforts, and should they not be suitably rewarded? The ones gathered here must need it most of all, wouldn't you agree?"

Enterprise had been satisfied that their dialogue was leaving her out of it as she was still reeling a bit from her own exchange with George. She had been content to stand back with Belfast so near, watching the pair of them, until George spoke that last.

There was nothing obvious, nor really any hint of anything at all. But the carrier couldn't help but think that the air had shifted towards her direction. She may've chalked it up to her self-consciousness, dialed to the highest point tonight after the entire week of everything being about her, until there was that thing she noticed right after Belfast inclined her head in what could've been in admission if it were not for that second that became extended before she made her reply – like Belfast considering something before she made her reply.

"I wholeheartedly agree."

It was that extended second that did not match the structure of that sentence, and Enterprise's neck prickled with the impression that although Belfast hadn't broken her gaze from George's, her friend had Enterprise in mind.

Or was that also just the continued machination of her imagination?

George, on the other hand, merrily continued, "You are included as well, of course, and you had me worried. Was it not that long ago that you were out here managing the final preparations?"

Surprised, Enterprise glanced over more fully at Belfast. She had thought that, like her, Belfast had been using her time to get ready. That was what she had said when they had parted but, thinking about it, would Belfast have needed as many hours of time to prepare as Enterprise? She really doubted that.

Enterprise wasn't getting anything from Belfast's cordial expression that she was directing to the Knight Commander. "A bit of an embellishment, wouldn't you say? It was just a brief inspection that I felt obligated to make. You know me."

There was a pursing of George's brows, so slight that Enterprise would've missed it, but the carrier believed that she was starting to gain a knack for being able to catch the miniscule nuances that would be exposed, however shortly, between whatever breaks that would be made in the noble demeanors of the Royal Navy.

Then George gave a polite chuckle, the break gone, as she said, "I do, in fact, which is why I couldn't help but worry. But I suppose that in itself should've allayed my concerns." She performed another of her bows. "With that in mind, I will not impose on you two any longer. There are some dignitaries that I am obligated to speak with, and while your entrance had been a grateful distraction, our customs bid me to resume my rounds." Her parting words were for Enterprise. "I would be delighted if another opportunity would oblige us to speak again."

"I would not be against it," Enterprise responded.

The battleship appeared gratified by it. "Enjoy the banquet, ladies."

She departed with those same precise movements that she shared with her sister, and Enterprise couldn't help but feel like something was taken away along with her, the carrier unable to help but watch her go.

"Now that the excitement had died down a little, should we make our way to some of the dishes that have been prepared?" Belfast suggested.

The mention of food got Enterprise's stomach to rumble, a sound that she hoped would be properly suppressed by the loud richness of the ballroom. It did remind her that she hadn't really eaten since this morning, having foregone lunch or any of the other customary in-between meals of the Royal Navy before she had traveled to the Royal Palace. Her body had gotten too used to a regular intake of meals, and the need wasn't purely biological as the accompanying thought of what Enterprise had become used to of Royal Navy cuisine had her eagerly anticipating what would be served at a banquet like this.

"I am a little hungry," Enterprise convinced herself to reply with rather than a way that would've preferred a word like famished to be used.

Belfast began leading her to a section of the ballroom, crossing over the wooden floor, and Enterprise had to adjust her stride a little as she felt the brush of Belfast's skirt against her own, suddenly concerned about tangling her feet with the cruiser's.

Was it just her or did Belfast seem to be sticking closer to her side? Not that Enterprise really minded, given that the populated ballroom was still an adversary she preferred to have assistance against.

The ace then found herself being drawn to where she had least seen George but couldn't relocate her. Enterprise was a little surprised by that, having been thinking that she could've found her again easily with how she carried herself.

"Left an impression on you, didn't she?" Belfast queried.

"You could say that," Enterprise admitted, giving one last look around.

George was a lot like Wales, equipped with such a competent, commanding presence that the duty-bound Enterprise was instinctively attracted to it. However, the key difference was how much more expressive that the lead ship was compared to her sister ship. With it, Enterprise had found herself caught in what she could only describe as a bubble that surrounded George. A little startling at first, but the sheer charisma that radiated from George had swept her up even when she had been mostly speaking to Belfast.

"She has that effect on people," Belfast said. "It's what makes her such an effective leader of the Royal Knights. Shipgirls are drawn by her presence and can't help but orbit around her."

"I can see that." Enterprise was looking around for her, wasn't she? And she was kind of looking forward to the possibility of being able to speak with her again. "It must make her an exceptional commander. To be honest, I'm a little envious."

Belfast didn't speak again right away, but Enterprise didn't find that strange as she figured that the cruiser didn't have much else to say.

"She isn't without faults, though," Belfast suddenly added unexpectedly. "She has her guilty pleasures. If you stick around the catering tables, you're guaranteed to see why she has a penchant for banquets such as these."

Enterprise did remember something to that effect being passed between the two Royals. "More so than your tea parties in general?" she asked in a joking manner.

"Not as frequent, but I'm sure George would if she could."

Belfast did not respond in the tone that Enterprise expected, and that was enough to pull the Eagle carrier back to her partner.

"And that personality of hers had been a bit problematic in the past. Her talent for taking command and responsibility, or to interject herself into another's troubles, is a very noble attribute. I'm positive that's what contributed to her efforts here and, though harmless, there had been other instances that had led to concerns of her overstepping her boundaries and infringing upon Her Majesty's role of leadership."

Belfast was staring ahead with particularly rigid focus, and Enterprise noted a stiffness in her lip and brow as she spoke about George. Enterprise couldn't help but be astonished by it, the sight and how Belfast was speaking something that she never believed she would ever witness from the head maid.

Because this all seemed to be like Belfast was criticizing a member of the Royal Family.

As soon as she began entertaining such an outrageous thing, the tightened points of Belfast's countenance laxed in a sudden motion, almost like she was snapping herself out of it, but her ingrained flexing of control kept it from being such a sloppy display.

"Oh, but it never came to be anything serious," she started to reassure in a markedly different manner. "She is simply possessed of a strong sense of heart and duty – no ambition of any kind, and absolutely not the sort that would put her in conflict with Queen Elizabeth. All that was needed a bit of tempering of her enthusiasm."

Enthusiasm…? The back of the carrier's hand tingled with the phantom touch of George's lips. "So what she did before…was that part of that enthusiasm?"

Enterprise didn't know if Belfast saw or could figure out what the carrier was talking about even if she did, but the stilled face that came over the cruiser told her that she did know what was being referred to even before she said, "Yes, that…"

She knew, but there was hesitation spent with her mulling something over, and Enterprise spotted the very rare sight of Belfast chewing on a side of her lip. She didn't seem to be aware of her own action, Belfast engrossed with coming up with a proper explanation, so much so that she didn't seem to realize that she and Enterprise had slowed, nearly coming to a stop.

"That's…an ancient tradition of formal etiquette," Belfast responded slowly. "A polite greeting of courtesy and respect. Mostly died out in our modern era, and even those who still perform it use more conservative variations."

"Oh…really?"

"Yes, nothing like what George did. Even if she wanted to make a good impression, she overstepped her boundaries. Tradition declared that the recipient was to initiate by offering their hand." Belfast stared at Enterprise with widened eyes. "Did you?"

Enterprise shook her head quickly, feeling like she needed to answer without delay in the wake of that intense look. "No."

"Right, then she shouldn't have done so."

"…Belfast?"

"What?"

"Are you…mad?"

Belfast blinked, again appearing to break out of another hold that she had been brought under so soon after the first one. "Mad?" she repeated, uncertain at first, and then came a firm shake of her head. "No, I'm not mad. Just making a few critiques. You know me."

Hadn't she said that earlier? Enterprise didn't ask aloud, and really couldn't as Belfast swiftly moved on, taking the carrier with her who had to reorient her pace again to fall alongside her.

Truth be told, Belfast really hadn't looked mad to her. But what Enterprise thought she really saw was something she deemed to be so ridiculous that she couldn't give it any serious consideration, even with how Belfast had been chewing on her lip with that downward drag.

Because there couldn't be any way that Belfast would have actually been jealous. No, certainly not. What would she have to be jealous of?

They circulated through to the other end of the ballroom, still being frequently harassed by other visitors who wanted to pass words or just make a show of stepping aside from their paths and making bows of their heads or other respective gesture towards them. Enterprise remained feeling a bit tense when coming across a human, but the additional shipgirls had passed on from being overwhelming to being more relieving to the carrier.

She had harbored worries about what her comrades would think of her when they saw her again. Even if the celebratory air of the banquet was manipulating the kind of reception that Enterprise was getting…she was nonetheless relieved.

They managed to reach their destination: long dinner tables, where a rather enticing display of delicacies was laid out. Tall candles were planted amongst silver platters full of food, from carefully stacked piles of fruit, roasted vegetables doused with seasonings, meats garnished with herbs, and one section dedicated to desserts of pies, cakes, puddings, and tarts of such creamy and fruity makeup that they appeared to be works of art that Enterprise would feel bad about touching and ruining them. At least until her stomach made its ravening ailment known again a moment later.

Belfast unlinked their arms in order to grab each of them a plate, the separation making it occur to Enterprise that they had remained together the entire time before she took her view of the presented targets.

It was hard to make a selection, not just due to how wide said selection was, but how everything was so…decorative. In this environment, the meats weren't just meats but stuffed together into a roll or pie or some sort of creation achieved with some shape of cheesy or buttery batter that Enterprise was a little unnerved by what would be unleashed once she cut into them. Though Belfast would like to make her dishes presentable, they had never been as intricate as these examples were and the gap between this and her plainer rations had not been filled enough for her to make the crossing into what was before her.

It got her to gravitate more to the plainer-looking dishes, and Belfast helpfully pointed out one for her. "It's the season for grouse, over there in the sauce. Make sure to get some of that watercress."

Enterprise looked where directed, the legs and breasts with protruding bones getting her to assume grouse being some kind of bird. Like chicken? That and the appetizing way of how the layer of sauce glistened on the cooked fowl convinced her to put it on her plate, the leafy green watercress included.

The desserts were a different story when Enterprise got to that space, and the Royal Navy's preference for colorful fruit ingredients that at least half of these elaborate creations favored appealed far better to Enterprise. In particular, she had obtained a craving for berry-based foods: the sweet and juicy fruit full of flavor that she could never seem to get enough of them. Their compact and convenient sizes were an additional bonus. Maybe not as efficient in providing necessary calories – although Belfast would constantly recite their health benefits -, but that refreshing flavor had enticed Enterprise to add a stem full of grapes onto her plate. Examining the desserts and upon sighting a roll of sponge cake wrapped around some vanilla ice cream and raspberry filling, with cut strawberries on top, Enterprise knew she wanted a piece.

She reached for a knife that had been set for that purpose at the same time that another person was doing so. She was already backing down, about to say that the other individual could go first until she recognized them. "Massachusetts?"

The South Dakota-class battleship appeared just as caught off guard, but soon presented a short smile. "Good to see you again, Enterprise." Her gaze flicked down. "London seems to have left its mark on you."

"Ah…" Enterprise did the same, her free hand brushing against the cape in what could very well become a more practiced motion. Huh, she was starting to see why certain Royal Navy girls had a tendency to flourish their capes. "I guess you could say that."

"It suits you well." Massachusetts then did a reverse, looking up towards Enterprise's head. "I like that decoration. Like the feathers of an eagle."

"That was actually why it was chosen," Enterprise told her, the motion she made with her head to show off the feathers a little too easy for her to make. "Victorious's doing."

Massachusetts nodded. "She has been helpful with others who asked. I heard your entrance and would've come over, but I believe there was plenty enough people to greet you."

"A wise decision," Enterprise replied, remembering the harrowing experience and having a feeling that Massachusetts wouldn't have wanted to be in the middle of that either, despite not being the main attraction. She took the opportunity to check out her dress, the other shipgirl wearing a thin white gown that was quite similar to Victorious's with the number of slits that bared much of her legs, sides, navel, and the rest of her body that the carrier had to ask. "You, too?"

"Oh, no." Massachusetts plucked at one of the thin strips that served as part of her skirt, baring even more of the dark skin of her thigh. "I had chosen this one along with a similar one for South Dakota when we were out together once. I had this stored away and brought it with me on the chance that this would happen."

Enterprise had averted her gaze, a repeat victim of this growing consciousness that was decrying her for viewing what it considered as too much skin from another. "Another wise choice."

"Is it?" A meager frown pulled lightly on Massachusetts's cheeks. "You do not seem to think so. Is it strange?"

Enterprise shrugged, getting herself to reface Massachusetts only if she kept her center of focus on her face. "I'm not the best person to ask; I needed Victorious's exclusive help with mine. I think yours matches well." With her hair, anyway, which was all that the ace would let herself admire.

Her care did manage to assuage Massachusetts of her troubled expression. "Perhaps you are right. Everyone else seems to like it." She peered at her dress with satisfaction. "I'm the most comfortable when I can feel the breeze on my skin."

Enterprise thought about how she wore her jacket and things made a bit more sense to her now…kind of. Having experienced her own reservations of what she would and wouldn't wear in public, Enterprise knew that what Massachusetts had was something she definitely wouldn't. But if Massachusetts was comfortable then that was fine, right? As long as Enterprise didn't stare too much.

Massachusetts retrieved the knife that they had been reaching for, cutting a slice off the roll and balancing it carefully on the blade as she lifted it up in Enterprise's direction. "Was this what you wanted?"

Enterprise adopted an abashed look. "It is, but…" She didn't want to reveal that she had been intending to acquire a bigger slice than what Massachusetts was offering.

A furtive grin appeared. "Then this will be mine." She set it down on her plate before handing the knife to the carrier, handle first. "I've had this before. An arctic roll, I believe it's called. Very delicious."

"I'll take your word for it. It certainly looks like it." Enterprise took the knife and guiltily removed a slice that was almost half a size more than Massachusetts's, the battleship observing her as she deposited it on her plate.

"It's not solely the clothes," she then said.

"I've acquired a few tastes when it comes to Royal Navy food," Enterprise defended as she returned the knife to its serving place. In this instance, her taste and hunger required her to get a piece this size or else either wouldn't be satisfied.

"Not that. You're different."

Enterprise frowned at her. "What do you mean?" She examined herself again. At her dress, the plate of food in her hand, all the while the animated thrum of the ballroom and its guests continued all around her and Massachusetts. "I'm still..."

She was going to say, 'I'm still me', but what resulted instead was her thinking back to when she had been looking at herself in the mirror, in this getup, and echoing the same thought that she had then.

Was this really her?

Massachusetts didn't seem to think so. "I used to see you around the joint base before. You would stand out because whenever I saw a crowd, you would be there outside of it. You always kept to yourself, away from the others."

She had been watching her? Or at least enough to notice such a thing? Enterprise hadn't noticed anyone having particular interest in her but, as Massachusetts said, she had never really felt obliged to mix with the other girls that were stationed there, the reason for that being the one she soon gave. "We were at war. I wanted to be prepared."

Massachusetts nodded sagely. "We all were. It brought us together – Royal Navy and Eagle Union. You would be the one who was adrift from us. It made you difficult to approach."

"You wanted to approach me?" Enterprise questioned the normally quiet and reserved battleship. She had thought Massachusetts to be a bit more like her and assumed that that was why she was having such an easy time conversing with her at this moment, including feeling less restraint about indulging in her dessert choice.

But, as she questioned a second ago, was that really all?

"If I believe a comrade needs help, I will help," Massachusetts replied with a sudden spark of adamancy. "I would shame South Dakota if I did not." The righteous energy that the spark supplied waned though, smothered with a reservation that had the other shipgirl treading around something before bringing it out. "I had been with you in those strange waters we fought in and witnessed the even stranger things that occurred. I had wished to approach you afterwards, but you had moved even further from us. I did not know what to do, even after asking for some counsel from my sister."

The Mirror Sea. Enterprise didn't know any other sea that would fit the bill and did recall Massachusetts having been in the line of battleships that had been assigned to that showdown with the Sakura Empire.

Whenever she thought about the Mirror Sea, it was always with the recognition that it was the event that marked the beginning of everything that would become wrong with her. Her fears of the ocean with her sinking, the power that had awakened and controlled her, and her first true connection into the world that had come before theirs, the visions and atrocities of which that would lead to that terrible warship and the existence of the other.

It had been her problem though – exclusively hers. Her doubts and her troubles that came after the Mirror Sea were hers alone. She had secluded herself away from the others, wrestling with those questions that she did not know the answers to and became something far worse than she could ever imagine.

"I had wanted to be alone to think," Enterprise said as much to Massachusetts.

Massachusetts became sympathetic. "You always did, and that's what we did. And that's a regret that I think a lot of us carried after what happened later."

That spawned a deal of surprise for Enterprise. "Regret?"

"After you led us into that final battle, and the one we towed you back from. There was much regret for how we had not done more, a lot of discussions that happened while you were away, and we were concerned when you had not been at the Gateway base along with us. I among them. When Cleveland mentioned seeing you in the city, we breathed a bit easier, wishing that you will be well." Smiling, Massachusetts reached over and patted Enterprise's shoulder in a motion of camaraderie. "Seeing you here, being able to have this talk with you, I am thankful for how much better you appear to be, and I doubt I'm the only one."

A small variation had come from Cleveland, the cruiser having mentioned regrets of not having done or said something sooner about Enterprise's conflicts. Belfast would always say how her comrades respected and admired her. But Enterprise had nonetheless had doubts, unable to help but think of how they had lost faith or had even become afraid of what they had seen from her. It was another reason why she had retreated into herself after the Mirror Sea – of how they viewed her after she lost control.

Then there was the battle afterwards and what a sight she must've appeared to them. Even as they saw her off and then welcomed her back, she had held suspicions of what some of them may have truly felt behind that warmth. Was she damaged? Was she reliable? Could they trust her?

By fixing herself, she would regain what she had lost there, too.

But Massachusetts, a shipgirl who she barely interacted with like many of the others, had been hovering in the background, wanting but unable to really know how to speak with her, regretting it, and now giving Enterprise such a vision of relief as to how the carrier has come to look, from her point of view, better than how she had last seen her during the span of time where she had not been worried about her reliability but her wellbeing.

The distinction created a heavy weight in Enterprise's chest which grew fuller when she revisited her entrance that was met by Nevada, Oklahoma, Juneau, Thatcher, and others. Their hurried welcomes that each had entirely different meanings now, if Enterprise was to believe that they were of the same circumstances of Massachusetts: comrades who had regretted for not providing more, worrying about her, and being relieved to see her as she was.

"I…" Enterprise started but needed to donate a bit of time to collect herself to suitably respond to Massachusetts. "Thank you for noticing. I've been…happy to see you all, too."

Massachusetts's smile broadened. "May we fight together again soon."

The battleship broke away from the table, and soon after she did Enterprise juggled her plate to free up a hand that lifted to rub at a corner of her eye. She had something there that was bothering her, a sudden itch that she did away with, but not without catching a drip of moisture that the half-fingered design of her gloves let touch her skin.

Must've been some of that facial powder or whatever that got caught there.

With Massachusetts having departed, Enterprise remembered Belfast and wondered where she had gone as she hadn't intruded at any point during the conversation. She went back down to the main courses where she had left her, and that was enough for her to relocate her, the cruiser roped into her own conversation with a small individual who she bent slightly down for in order to listen to her.

With Belfast's back turned, it was who she was conversing with who noticed Enterprise's approach, the girl tilting her body to look past the maid and see the carrier.

Enterprise was a little ashamed to admit that it was not because of the dark purple dress that caused the delay in her recognizing Unicorn. Rather, it was because the compact carrier was completely without her plushie companion, Yuni, and her hands were currently being wrung together in a sign of how she was sorely missing its presence.

"Oh, Enterprise," Belfast addressed when Unicorn's attention tipped her to her return. "My apologies, but I became a little engrossed."

"No problem," Enterprise replied. "I actually happened to be catching up with Massachusetts." To Unicorn, she asked, "How are you, Unicorn?"

"U-um…fine…"

The stuttering wasn't really anything new, but between the handwringing, watery eyes, and rosy cheeks that had nothing to do with makeup, and Unicorn appeared about as far from fine as she could be. It was a combination that bred concern for her as Enterprise asked, "Is something wrong? Did you lose Yuni?"

Unicorn lowered and then shook her head. "N-no, no… I left Yuni in my room for tonight…" She timidly went around Belfast and moved towards Enterprise, staring at the floor the entire time until she got close enough to look up at her with a pleading look. "E-Enterprise, could I…could I stay with you and…Belfast?"

Clasping her hands together didn't stop the nervous shaking, but how they did so beneath her chin as she stared at Enterprise established a daunting sense of pity with how her innocent, purple eyes glistened. Helpless, Enterprise went to Belfast, but all she got was a silent but visible sigh of exasperation from the cruiser that said how she must've received a similar plea but had either been refusing or dissuading Unicorn from it, going by the quirk at her lips.

So Unicorn's coming to me? Enterprise guessed, and immediately asked herself why Unicorn would do so. She didn't mind, but if Belfast had refused her, then the ace didn't want to overrule her decision. She chose a different tact, bravely meeting those watery eyes. "What about your friends? Aren't they around?"

That achieved making Unicorn positively glummer. "They're here but…they're…busy…"

"Busy?"

Unicorn looked towards a direction further down the line of tables, despondent, and Enterprise followed it.

It was hard to miss the knot of people that were gathered at the opposite end, consisting of young ones both at the human and shipgirl spectrum of attendants: children and destroyers. Enterprise caught a bit of white fluff, it turning out to be the Sakura destroyer Yuudachi with tail wagging energetically behind her.

The reason for that was how the destroyer was being gifted with endless samples of food, typically meat-based. Like a greedy pup she was snatching the offerings right from the hands of those presenting them, the children and cross-faction destroyers enjoying the same kind of giggling amusement of how her canines grazed their fingers as she seized them. During the breaks where she would be busy chewing and swallowing, her animated tail and ears would get petting attention, something she seemed to ignore completely in favor of the next treat that came her way.

Shigure was nearby, both sister ships having chosen to take up elegant Royal Navy attire, and she had gathered her own following. She was flipping coins in the air, and when they landed in her palms and she showed the results, she got a round of gasps and cheers.

"It's all because of my blessing of luck!" she declared proudly, the coins apparently part of some game that was getting her lavished with reactions that she was basking in. "Again? Again? Just watch, then!"

"It does seem a bit noisy over there," Enterprise conceded.

Unicorn emitted a sullen noise.

Enterprise located the rest of the girl's limited number of friends as soon as she thought about them. Right next to the going-ons of the Sakura ships were a particular trio of destroyers, but they were occupied with their own tasks. Ayanami's position close to the dual shows was meant to keep her comrades in sight while she ate an éclair, the dessert something she enjoyed with the light that lit up her usually barren face obvious as she chewed on her latest bite, chocolate and cream encrusting her lips.

Javelin had her hands full with who Enterprise belatedly recognized as Laffey, the Eagle destroyer's normally exorbitant lengths of hair having been wrapped into buns. With her clean and fitted dress, it was her bunny ears that Enterprise needed to get help from to identify her. That and the sleepy, woozy motions of her body. In front of Laffey there was what the carrier thought to be a rather worrying sight: numerous empty glasses that were laid out on the table, some tipped over, that had once been full.

Enterprise had no idea what the explanation was for that, but now her fellow Eagle ship was making a play for the desserts that were located there, her hands making blind, precarious grasps that could only end messily with some of those sweets she was trying to claim with her nearly closed eyes. Javelin was burdened with the task of trying to get the desserts Laffey wanted onto a plate for her to eat in an appropriate manner, all the while making sure that she didn't collapse into the desserts, the grip she had on the back of Laffey's dress tugging hard whenever she started to lean too far forward.

"What about Illustrious?" Enterprise then asked, the only other candidate who could save Unicorn from her plight.

Unicorn made the same performance of searching for the armored carrier, except more aimless with how she looked out to the ballroom, leading Enterprise to predict what she soon tearfully informed, "I don't know where she is…"

And Unicorn lacked the courage to conduct a search for her. Enterprise didn't feel that she could really blame her, given her own social insecurities, but that wasn't going to solve the problem that Unicorn immediately came back to looking at her for help, the smaller carrier just becoming more and more saddened by her situation.

Haven't I been here before? Enterprise suddenly asked herself. A small, frightened girl coming to her and Belfast for company…

Before she knew it, Enterprise's one hand came over and placed itself on Unicorn's head, giving it a gentle pat.

Unicorn's eyes became huge, quietly gasping at the touch.

"Ah!" Enterprise jerked her hand back, stricken. "Sorry, that was a..." A sudden, unexplainable impulse brought on by Unicorn's increasingly crestfallen expression. She happened to remember Belfast making this kind of gesture for a frightened human child and had decided to mimic it. She had no idea why but…it seemed right to her in that moment.

Unicorn delicately placed her own palm where Enterprise had touched her, her head receding and her gaze dropping down in a movement that would've fit better if she had a certain stuffed animal to hide it behind, going by how her other arm gripped her own side. Not out of fear though, for when Unicorn did glance back up, it was with clearer eyes and a reddened face that was more in line with embarrassment.

But then a very tiny smile appeared. "N-no…I didn't mind…that…" she murmured and cast her sight back down.

At least she didn't look as sad anymore, giving Enterprise time to think without being a desperate focus. "I don't mind you joining us," she said, and immediately got a look full of hope from Unicorn. "But I think your friends would make better company. You should stick around with them."

That look of hope died a little, Enterprise feeling bad when Unicorn murmured, "I don't want to be a bother to them…"

"I don't think you'd ever be a bother to them." Enterprise could remember how Unicorn had more frequently been in the company of the destroyers than she had with Illustrious. Wouldn't friends want to be with friends?

Her gaze happened to wander back over to them in time to see the audience dying down around Yuudachi, the Sakura ship having made her way over to the dessert table where she stood licking her lips at the sweets. She didn't take long, picking up a plate of some kind of chocolatey-looking cake with even stickier chocolatey sauce. She actually grabbed two plates, Enterprise figuring that the destroyer would easily be able to consume both herself.

That was until Yuudachi lifted her head and began rotating it around, her eyes searching and her ears at attention, trying to locate someone, with an uncertain frown dominating her features.

Caught up in a sudden suspicion, Enterprise held up her hand to grab for her attention. She got it, Yuudachi locking onto her, and the carrier pointed down to Unicorn. Yuudachi followed it and her tail wagged in time with a happy, fang-protruding grin before she started quickly making her way over.

"But I don't want to-" Unicorn began to say, unknown of Yuudachi's approach until the Sakura ship came within range.

"Uni-chan!"

Enterprise nearly jumped into action, afraid of how the destroyer leapt at Unicorn from behind was going to result in either them or the desserts crashing to the floor. However, other than a brief cry that Unicorn's quiet nature instinctively smothered, the smaller carrier remained on her feet and Yuudachi kept the plates perfectly balanced within her grip – an impressive skill, if Enterprise had to judge.

"Y-Yuudachi?" Even Unicorn's surprise didn't go beyond anything above the level of a loud whisper as she addressed the excitable destroyer.

"Uni-chan, what's this, what's this!?" Yuudachi interrogated as she showed her the cakes.

Unicorn needed a moment to confirm the destroyer's presence and another to register the question that was being presented. "That's…uh…toffee pudding."

"It looks good! Let's eat them together!"

"T-together?"

"Yeah!" Yuudachi held out one towards her. "One for me, one for you!"

Unicorn stared at the offered plate. "What about what you were doing before?" she asked but was already taking it.

"Oh, I'm full now!" Yuudachi replied with another toothy grin. "So I want to eat some of this with you!"

She's full but wants to eat pudding… Enterprise thought there was something really strange about that.

Unicorn simply stood there with the pudding in her hands, until a smile lit up her face and she nodded enthusiastically. "Let's eat together then!"

"Let's find a table!" Yuudachi turned and sped off.

"Ah, wait!" Unicorn called after the Sakura ship, lurching after her while taking care to not drop her dessert in her haste. "Don't leave me behind!"

With the sight of the two ships taking off, Enterprise was left with a feeling that she had accomplished something. That sense of accomplishment, however, was something she then wanted to downplay when she turned and saw Belfast smiling at her in a way that transmitted a great deal of pride.

"You handled that well," Belfast congratulated.

The praise and how the cruiser was becoming hard to look at again had Enterprise's sight straying away from her. "The situation basically solved itself."

"Perhaps…" Belfast allowed, although the tone had Enterprise perfectly imagining the playful alteration that had to be coming over her friend's expression. "But it was able to because of your input, no matter how small a part it may've been."

Enterprise chose not to unnecessarily extend the conversation, knowing what it would lead to despite how her actions had been nothing of true worth in her opinion.

"Oh."

That tone that signified Belfast noticing something, on the other hand, got Enterprise's attention. "What?"

Belfast leaned forward, Enterprise managing to stay in place because of how she seemed to be troubled by something she saw and what she then pointed out. "You have a smudge right there."

"Where?"

"At your eye. The right one."

Enterprise nearly touched the spot that Belfast singled out but halted in mid-motion when it assisted her in making the connection to why there may be a smudge there. "Is it noticeable?"

"Not really, but if you would give me a second…" Belfast let the lifting of a napkin finish the rest of her sentence and Enterprise cooperated by angling her head so that she could carefully brush at the spot. "You have to be careful when it comes to makeup."

"You were the one who apparently decided on that," Enterprise reminded her with a bit of accusation. "I happened to be talking with Massachusetts and got an itch there. Guess I rubbed on it a bit too much. I think that powder stuff may've gotten into my eye."

Belfast made a noise of consideration as she pulled the napkin away. "I've hardly ever known Newcastle's application to be anything less than perfect. I'm done by the way."

"Well, I just had an itch then," Enterprise modified, shrugging but keeping her head angled. "I'll be more careful if it happens again."

"Please do. Shall we get a table?"

Enterprise was unexpectedly relieved when they did get one. With a lot of the attendees apparently more interested in standing and chatting, they were able to find an empty table in rather short order and the carrier was a little surprised with how she nearly sagged in her chair as soon as she sat down.

Belfast noticed and grinned. "Tired already?"

"Yes," Enterprise replied without shame. This entire ordeal thus far warranted her honesty. From the time between entering the ballroom to her current seat, there had been so many conversations, introductions, and a dash of problem solving crammed in there that Enterprise couldn't recall ever having her limited social skills overworked to such an extent throughout her decades of life. That didn't include all the preparations beforehand.

And Enterprise was exhaustingly aware of how this night had only just begun. Seeing everyone else gathered and chatting so animatedly, Enterprise wasn't only amazed at how they could do that but was also dreading how she'd be able to do the same and survive.

At least she was able to sit down and relax for a few minutes, the food on her plate the perfect excuse to shield herself with for the time being. Grabbing a knife and fork, she looked to see what she should start on first.

Oh, all this time and she forgot to obtain a dri-

A tray of champagne glasses appeared next to her and Belfast's table. "May I offer a drink?"

Mentally complimenting the maid on her timing, Enterprise took one. "Than-." She paused momentarily when she saw who it was and, recovering, finished, "Thank you."

Newcastle smiled her content smile and moved the tray to the other side of the table. "Belfast?"

"Yes, thank you, Newcastle," the cruiser replied and liberated her own glass.

Bowing to the both of them, Newcastle disappeared to deliver her offerings to the next table.

Enterprise took a moment to admire the pale-yellow color of the liquid inside. Curious, she took an experimental sniff and caught the scent of alcohol.

"Something wrong?" Belfast asked. "Should just be regular champagne. I know you don't have any aversion to alcohol."

Enterprise experienced the corner of her lip contracting to a short grin, the sentence getting her to remember of how Belfast would know that: when she had offered a cup of what Enterprise initially believed as coffee until the maid had unveiled what she had mixed into the drink. They had each shared a mug that night at the sandy shores of the command island of the joint base, when Enterprise had been having trouble sleeping, had decided to get out for some night air, and Belfast just happened to be there to come by her side shortly after.

It was a good memory, one of the only ones that she had gained from the campaign. Although she had plenty of bad ones, each one more significant by several magnitudes compared to the few good ones, Enterprise was able to fixate on that peaceful night without any of those intruding.

The carrier shook her head, setting her glass down. "It's not that. I saw Laffey earlier and it made me think of all those glasses I saw near her."

"I see. Yes, I did happen to glimpse your compatriot as well." And with how Belfast spoke about that scene that she must've witnessed, it was the same way that she would refer to Enterprise's bad habits: passive disapproval. "There shouldn't be any cause for concern. Alcoholic beverages are under the supervision of the maids, as you had just seen, and they are appropriately selective as to who can be served those."

Meaning that children weren't considered as appropriate. And going by that, it also included shipgirls who appeared underage by the laws of the present human government. That got Enterprise to remember the one soldier she met at the hotel and how he wouldn't feel right about giving Cleveland a drink if he ever happened to see her again.

It was a silly thing, such morals that had shaped human laws being applied to shipgirls even if the smallest destroyer or submarine probably had decades of battle experience behind them. Not to say that there wasn't justification for that. The younger-looking shipgirls with their smaller bodies did make them vulnerable to the effects of alcohol to the point of there being pragmatic rules in place that dissuaded them from drinking – rules that were quite similar to those laws. But that pragmatism never seemed to be what would be primarily on someone's mind – human or shipgirl. If they looked too young then they shouldn't have one, to the indignation of certain shipgirls like Hornet.

The youngest of the Yorktown sisters had a form appropriate for such: an older teen compared to the young adult of Enterprise and the more mature Yorktown. That was enough for Vestal to pull a drink right out of Hornet's hands if she ever caught the carrier in possession of one, with what drinks that Enterprise knew Hornet having consumed needing to be done in secret, away from the repair ship's watchful eyes and with the promise from her siblings that they would never tell her.

That…was also a good memory – another that was inspired to come to her and linger with the steady tune of piano keys from the stage nearby, the wistfulness she felt lasting.

"You mentioned speaking with Massachusetts?" Belfast suddenly queried. Unlike Enterprise, the cruiser had started into her own dish; a roast with gravy, and a side dish that had cheese drowning what Enterprise saw as cauliflower.

"I happened to come across her when we split up," Enterprise notified, getting around to cutting some breast meat. "Just a quick talk before I found you with Unicorn."

A lady to her core, Belfast's brow arched but didn't say anything until she swallowed a piece that she had taken in. When she did, the cruiser balanced her chin on her hand, more fascinated in getting details out of Enterprise than she was about getting another bite. "What did you two talk about?"

Enterprise had popped a chunk of grouse into her mouth by then, taking the time to chew. The fowl was lean and tender, much of the flavor coming from the sauce that Enterprise tucked into her cheek to savor the taste of. "Nothing much."

"Well, it kept you away long enough for me to get Unicorn on the verge of reuniting with her friends on her own before she decided to make another attempt with you. Swallow before you say anything else, please."

Enterprise obeyed, the grouse sliding easily down her throat. Her pleasant introduction to it persuaded her to answer with enough detail to hopefully satisfy Belfast's inquiries. "Normal things, I guess. Complimenting our dresses and talking about fighting together again."

There was a fractional squint from Belfast, the cruiser on the lookout for something, but when she didn't find anything it disappeared. "Sounds like a very normal conversation."

"That's what I said," Enterprise insisted, going for another piece of grouse.

"And an easy one for you to have with someone you hadn't seen in a while, thanks to the present atmosphere. Just as I said, wouldn't you agree?"

"…For the moment."

That appeased Belfast for the time being, leaving both shipgirls to enjoy their meals. Enterprise topped her next piece with leaves of the watercress, and the addition created a peppery taste that she didn't expect to come from such a vegetable. It was a pleasant surprise, although it got her to take a sip of her champagne.

Such a danger that this presented. If there was one thing that Enterprise couldn't deny, it was the joy that she had come to accept from well-prepared food. They had made the biggest impact on her, and one thing she had considered that could be seen as a substantial prospect for the future that didn't involve her combat capabilities whatsoever was maintaining this diet that had become a regular thing now.

Possessions remained a skeptical thing to her and though she predicted that her quarters may end up with a fuller footlocker or closet with changes of clothes, they would be something that, even if she did like them, would be stored away and brought out on occasions. But food was a constant necessity, and Enterprise was deciding that it may be something of her lifestyle that she would not wish to degrade back to solely her rations. Rather, she was starting to think that it was something she would better manage whether it be to go out and buy her own meals or making more regular visits to the mess hall of whatever naval base she would be stationed on.

Or, better yet, make use of the direct approach to the kitchens to cook her own meals. She had seen Belfast cook enough that she reasoned that she could make some attempts for herself. How hard could it be?

It was, at least, one ray of brightness that she could look forward to when thinking of the future while trying to keep away from the implications of why she would need to cook her own meals.

Enterprise's statement of 'for the moment' was a bit truer than Belfast knew, and maybe even to herself. The two of them seated here, enjoying good food away from the greater continuance of the celebration, was a point right now where Enterprise could describe as being at ease.

But there was one troubling sense hanging in the background. It was being kept at bay for now, but Enterprise was acknowledging how there was something that made her unsettled whenever she turned her attention back to the greater going-ons of the ballroom. Trying to keep her focus on this calm space where she and Belfast were eating, Enterprise picked at her grapes.

"Psst!"

The quiet hiss was a sound that Enterprise initially ignored, even if it did not seem to be something that belonged with the merriment of the banquet. Then it repeated.

"Psssst!"

Enterprise raised her head, not sure where the noise was coming from, but whoever was making it was galvanized to make the same noise a third time to allow her to pinpoint it. Next to one of the pillars that supported the second-floor balconies, someone waved.

Enterprise became tense at first, the masculine clothing of a white, long-sleeved dress shirt with a dark blue vest buttoned with gold making her think it was a human. That reaction definitely wasn't helping with what she was trying to keep away from, but then the carrier happened to notice the long dirty blonde hair and its sidetail-

Oh, that's Cleveland!

The competing emotions of what Enterprise should be feeling in light of recognizing Cleveland and what she was wearing brought them all to a standstill, leaving her to stare at the Eagle Union cruiser when she chose to cross the distance over to her and Belfast's table once she had gained Enterprise's attention. The black dress shoes weren't something that Cleveland was used to, Enterprise catching the brief winces which each loud tap the footwear made as she came over. But they did match well with the blue pants that were fitted tight to the shape of her legs.

"Hey, Enterprise…" Cleveland greeted with a severe lack of exuberance.

Enterprise looked at her up and down, and then did it again for good measure. "Cleveland?"

The cruiser sighed, her shoulders sinking. "Yeah, that's about the reaction I expected."

"Sorry," Enterprise immediately apologized, deciding that a redo was in order. "Good to see you, Cleveland. You look…"

"Very dashing," Belfast finished for her when the carrier became lost on just what she should say.

Unfortunately, Cleveland didn't appear to get any better. "I want to be cheered up by that, but I can't." She touched the back of an unused chair. "Can I take cover over here with you two?"

Enterprise felt that she could emphasize with Cleveland's choice of wording and nodded her acceptance, followed by Belfast.

"Thanks." Cleveland pulled out and then sank into the chair, soon fiddling with her tie to loosen it.

"Victorious?" Enterprise asked, already knowing the answer.

Cleveland nodded, a measure of relief coming to her when the neckwear became a bit loose. "Victorious. Montpelier and I both went to her and…" She gestured to herself.

"Did Montpelier get the same treatment?"

Cleveland released a very deep, very long sigh that had her sinking further into the borrowed chair. "No, just me."

Belfast smiled apologetically towards Cleveland. "Victorious can be a very passionate artist – her designation, not mine."

"She swapped that out with 'visionary' when it came to me, apparently. When I asked her for a different suggestion, she said she couldn't see anything but this."

Enterprise frowned. "She wouldn't give you any other option?"

Her junior stumbled on that a little. "Well, she didn't really force me into this, and probably would've given me another option but, ya know, Monty said she liked it when she saw it and…" She mumbled at the end, pretending to pick at some non-existent lint at her vest.

Enterprise leaned over to better listen. "I didn't catch that."

She was glad that she did, barely hearing what Cleveland repeated. "…It felt really comfortable." Reluctantly, she supplemented it with, "And maybe I thought I looked rather good, too…"

"Isn't that fine, then?" Remembering Massachusetts, if Cleveland thought it looked good and was comfortable, Enterprise wasn't sure what she would be so down about.

"I guess," Cleveland had to force out. "It's just I saw a bunch of the other girls with their dresses, and they looked really nice and pretty so I thought it would be nice if I was able to get something like that. Sometimes I want to try on girly things, too, and isn't it weird for me to be wearing men's clothing?"

"I don't think so," Enterprise replied.

Cleveland blinked at her. "You don't?"

The carrier pointed towards her shirt and vest with her fork. "I probably would've preferred something like that, to be honest. Wish I had thought of asking Victorious about that."

Cleveland was at a momentarily loss for words, looking at Enterprise and then Belfast. "But you look so good with what you have now! You and Belfast!"

"Maybe," Enterprise said, trying to make it as nonchalant as possible so as to hide how she felt rather good about hearing such a compliment from her second friend. Those kinds of things had been improving her opinion of her dress more and it clicked that maybe this was what Cleveland may need. "But I think yours suits a bit more to my tastes."

Cleveland stared down at her ensemble. "Really?"

"It's true," Belfast chimed in. "I've tried, but Enterprise's preference when it comes to clothing had become a bit more masculine as time went on, I must regretfully report."

Enterprise shot her a look. "You've only said nice things about what I've picked out."

"While internally lamenting on my choices that you passed on," the cruiser replied spiritedly.

Enterprise recalled some of the choices that Belfast had previously presented and experienced the same embarrassing discomfort as she did then. Not just her initial suggestions of nightwear and undergarments, but the more flowing dresses and long skirts that Enterprise had been repulsed from. "They just weren't for me."

Belfast sighed, conveying mock anguish towards Cleveland. "See what I mean? She's been awfully stubborn about it."

Cleveland, meanwhile, became a bit more thoughtful. "I think I do." She tugged on her shirt sleeves, straightening them. "This is really comfortable…and this is a special occasion."

"It's how I got put into this," Enterprise spoke of her own attire.

"Well, I like yours," Cleveland attested again. "Pretty but cool."

Enterprise became a bit engrossed in her grapes while she shrugged, tossing one in her mouth. "It's the cape."

"Oh yeah, it definitely is!" the normally cape-wearing cruiser agreed. "The cape's what makes it."

"Has anyone been saying anything about your outfit?" Belfast asked with some concern.

Enterprise paid attention to that, wondering if that may have something to do with Cleveland's attitude.

As expected of Belfast, her aim seemed accurate with how Cleveland rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "Er, people have, yeah. Quite a few, actually."

Belfast's brows knitted together in worry, but Enterprise had a different thought and echoed something that Victorious had said concerning Cleveland. "Turning heads?"

She received two separate looks: one of astonishment from Belfast, the Royal cruiser bewildered at hearing such a question from Enterprise, while the Eagle cruiser was positively flustered.

"…You could say that," Cleveland admitted, color tinging her cheeks. "A lot of people just started coming to me, especially the girls. To tell you the truth, it got a little overwhelming. When you two made your appearance, I snuck off with Monty covering me."

Enterprise believed that she could form a picture now and wondered if that attention had something to do with the distress she had directed to her outfit. "So when you say you're taking cover here…"

"Making ready to move on to the next one," Cleveland replied. "Think I'll be safer up on the balconies. Trying to get some more distance away from here."

Enterprise was confused. "Why would you need to do that?"

Cleveland grinned. "You don't know how these banquets work, but I do. All those girls? A lot of it was requests for what's coming next."

"What's coming next?"

Cleveland was about to tell her, but Enterprise saw the motion of her eyes that flicked over and whatever the cruiser saw got her to suddenly become silent. Instead, all she said was, "Why ruin it for you? Best to experience it for yourself!"

Enterprise frowned and couldn't help but glance over in the direction that Cleveland had looked but all she saw was Belfast taking a sip from her champagne glass.

The knightly cruiser took a look around and then got up from her seat, apparently deeming it clear enough for her. "Time for me to move on. Best of luck to you, Enterprise!"

That didn't make Enterprise feel any better, but Cleveland was gone before the carrier could get an explanation, and Enterprise all but knew the kind of answer she would receive when she directed a silent inquiry towards Belfast.

"Best to experience it for yourself."

Yep, basically what she expected.

Enterprise turned her attention and silverware back to her meal, stripping the rest of the meat from the bones of the grouse and eventually getting to her dessert. The name arctic roll had Enterprise believing that it suited it as perfectly as the first bite she took from it. The spongy exterior of the cake followed by the blast of cold vanilla, enriched by the mix of berries that gave it such a sweet, fruity flavor. For the time being, the carrier concentrated on savoring the delicious confection.

Like the last time a significant change occurred in the ballroom, it was because of sound. On this occasion though, it was not a loud announcement to alert everyone but a sudden absence of a piece of the celebration's tune: the music.

The keys of the piano had gone silent, something that Enterprise did pick up on. It had been the background of a background noise – a layer behind the gossip of attendees, and its disappearance could've been overlooked if it wasn't for the fact of how, when it ended, it was that droning that filled in the space and that change in ambience itself that demanded to be noticed. Enterprise didn't think much of it though, with one assumption she had merely being that there would be a change of song.

She turned out to be right. Eventually the piano returned, but with it was a greater variety of instruments that would generate music that would be louder and overtake what it had once been the background of. Just as the disappearance of the music had been so conspicuous, its return and sudden rise to dominance over the people's chatter had Enterprise breaking to examine what was going on.

The stage was crowded now. The piano and pianist remained and had been joined by other musicians that mostly consisted of string instruments. Enterprise could identify violins, but there were a couple instruments she couldn't put a name to what basically looked like oversized violins and rather than having the instruments tucked against their necks, they were on the stage floor with the musicians seated on chairs next to them, drawing the bows along their strings.

They were a signal, and what it initiated was a greater number of people that roamed to the dance floor. There had been couples previously, but now there came a vaster number that began to fill it. Enterprise watched, seeing the mixture of humans and shipgirls congregating and pairing up as they took hands and began dancing in slow, easy rhythms. Those who weren't dancing were now more inclined to taking seats, the surrounding tables filling up.

"Is this a time where everyone is supposed to dance?" Enterprise asked, needing to raise her voice in order for her question to get across the table to Belfast.

"Social dancing," the cruiser specified. "Typically, how these events work is that there's time for meeting and greeting, the actual banquet, and then dancing as the primary form of entertainment."

"Oh." Enterprise became a little nervous. "It's not required, is it?"

"You mean to dance?" Belfast grinned coyly, which was never a good sign, but then she answered, "Not at all. Some would be entertained with merely watching."

Watching, huh? Enterprise gave it a try, first taking a note of those who were still drifting in. Many were smiling, but some were tentative or outright resigned, with their chosen dance partners needing to give extra physical encouragement to lead them in

As what had to be ninety-nine percent of the influx of dancers being in pairs, a sighting of an abnormal one percent of there being a trio of individuals heading to the dance floor got Enterprise to zero in on them. Laffey, displaying the most energy that Enterprise had ever seen from her, was in a sort of odd stumble-run. Behind her, Ayanami and Javelin were being towed along by the tight grip that the Eagle destroyer had on each of their hands, both looking like they were trying to protest or slow Laffey down, but they were drawn in regardless, becoming engulfed in the gathering of dancers.

Save for them, Enterprise watched as additional shipgirls set upon the dance floor in pairs – some with other shipgirls such as Repulse ensnaring the business-like Pennsylvania, Aurora with a battleship of her faction who had long violet hair who Enterprise didn't know the name of, and Oklahoma with another Royal ship – a carrier – who's most noticeable characteristic was her long, triangular ears sticking through her lengths of blonde hair.

For another scene, Ark Royal's objective of guiding one of the members of a small group of destroyers ended in failure when they all suddenly fled from her, leaving her standing there, shocked at their obvious rejection. One gentleman seemed to try to take pity on her, but she promptly ignored his attempts, instead drowning her sorrows in one of the two champagne glasses that she took from a passing maid, quickly followed by the other.

To Enterprise's surprise, she saw what was as commonly to be shipgirls going in with human partners. Massachusetts, who had managed to develop a ring of suitors, had selected to be escorted by one human male, leaving the rest disappointed. Nevada had done the same and, nearby, Hood had chosen to accept the invitation of a nobly dressed woman.

Whoever they took, the dancers inevitably congregated and contributed to this enormous, swaying mass. Hands clasped in one another's, arms came around waists or shoulders, and what was initiated were back and forth, side to side motions of an easy, relaxing dance.

Enterprise watched, but not for long. Something about the dancing felt…unsettling. She wasn't sure why, but watching them all in those close, intimate demonstrations felt…

Wrong.

"Surely you have seen dancing before," Belfast said when she noticed Enterprise turn away.

"Seen it?" Enterprise repeated, an excuse to give time for this unsettling feeling to pass. "Sure. I've seen enough of San Diego's improv dancing."

"I meant more formal dances such as this," Belfast specified with mild exasperation at having to do so. "Eagle Union must have had time for it in some point of your life."

"I know, and they did." Enterprise could remember instances in the past, earlier in her career, when there had been more to celebrate about. The Sirens being beaten back, the remnants of the States breathing a collective sigh in sudden reprieve before it would launch its counter attacks as the reformed Eagle Union. There had been celebrating back then, and more to celebrate later at the gains they made.

But much like everything else, once things became more normalized – the advances, the battles, the victories -, there had been less things to celebrate and what could've once been instead becoming ordinary.

"But did you ever have time for it?" Belfast asked, with a tone that said she already knew the answer.

"I…was in the vicinity," Enterprise replied diplomatically.

"So, no."

She shrugged, not wanting to admit to such a definite. "I've been around dancing, seen it, but I never really saw the point in it."

A creation who had been formed and meant to act with precise, purposeful movement that could be the difference between life and death in battle, Enterprise couldn't devise the purpose of dancing. Whether it be the dynamics of San Diego's dance numbers or this slow dancing, the carrier could never come to terms with such random, aimless movements having any kind of substantial reasoning behind them to make up for the tiring wastefulness that they seemed to be.

"The point?" Belfast didn't sound agitated, and Enterprise could never recall the cruiser ever being so in times like these when being presented with another of her life's failings. Disappointed, yes, exasperatedly so at times, but she was always patient as she was now, even amused as she was now. And, always, she would seem to view the goal she wanted Enterprise to reach to be as important to her as it was to the ace – even something like this.

So, folding her hands and placing her chin upon them, Belfast took her place to guide her along again with that short, pleasing smile of hers. "What has been the point of the things we've been doing?"

Enterprise quietly reviewed all that they had done the past week, every single one, and repeated what Belfast had said. "To bring elegance into my life. To focus on what makes me…human."

Belfast didn't make any reaction to her hesitance on the last. "Dancing provides for both. We've played our games, enjoyed our food, became more understanding of our history, but events like this hold special significance. It helps us forget the great adversity that comes with our lives. It's a chance to break away from the dangers and the chaos attributed to them, and to just give yourself over to the music and the moment of this night where we can come together like this. It's these kinds of nights, so entrenched in the here and now, that can hold such special meaning in our hearts and carry us through the next storm that comes our way because we know exactly what it is that we protect: the life and togetherness that allows such moments as these, no matter our circumstances or existences."

Despite what she felt about seeing the ongoing dance, something had begun tingling in the back of her mind and the feeling grew thanks to Belfast. It was the same as when she had seen the Royal Palace: a memory striving to lessen the distance between it and her. What the carrier would catch from it was something warm and pleasant, making her want to try and reciprocate its vain attempts to reunite with her recollection, but she was still coming up short. She couldn't help but rub the back of her head, trying to cajole the memory to come forth, but all she managed to do was bump against her hair ornament.

Belfast lifted her chin in sudden alertness. "A headache?"

"No," Enterprise calmly replied, giving the spot there one last, futile scratch before relenting. "There's been something I've been trying to remember ever since we got here."

The cruiser's tense posture relaxed. "Oh. Something good, I hope?"

"I believe so, but I think it was from a very long time ago. I'm having a hard time remembering it."

"Might be something important."

"Maybe." Although Enterprise wondered how important it could possibly be. Even if it was a good memory that she wanted to recall, if it was so far back, was it even relevant?

"Well, no need to force it," Belfast said. "Give it time. We still have the rest of the night to go through."

She said that, but for the next few minutes they weren't really doing anything and no one else was coming to speak with them. All that Enterprise had left to do was finish off the rest of her drink, something she did gradually; swirling what champagne she had left in her glass before taking a sip from it. At the end a maid came for their dishes – not Newcastle, another maid: Kent – which put the carrier even more at a loss on what to do. Maybe take another pass at the buffet table? She was dissuaded from it when she thought of what it may look like if she was to make the journey herself, when everyone else had either been settled or was dancing.

She thought about asking Belfast if she wanted to go and get anything, but the cruiser had gotten comfortable. Her attention had gone to the dance floor, appearing quite content as she had been doing the same as Enterprise: swirling her glass and taking languid sips as she watched the dancers. Enterprise didn't want to bother her, and since she couldn't find it in her to enjoy the dances, what she ended up doing was watching Belfast.

She liked these little moments, she decided – the kind where she could tell that Belfast was just…herself, she guessed the right way to say it was. When she wasn't concerning herself with whatever trouble or lesson she was trying to teach the carrier, or adhering to her maidly tasks and composure, or even when they were having fun together. Here, Belfast was just being Belfast in the most singular meaning possible: at peace, with no worries, and able to just relax.

It was these moments and how few and far between they were that Enterprise felt bad. All this time they had spent on her recovery, and she never really asked about what it was that Belfast wanted to do or, thinking about it, what she really liked. It always seemed to be about Enterprise – whether it be for or with her, the carrier was the central focus. Thinking of her and Newcastle's discussion, Enterprise was becoming more conscious of it now as she watched Belfast, the cruiser having let down her guard enough that Enterprise got a distinct feeling that her usually attentive friend didn't know how Enterprise was looking at her. Enterprise was even counting to herself to see how long she could watch Belfast until she noticed.

She didn't reach half a minute before an interruption came. "Pardon me."

The deep, masculine voice got Enterprise to suddenly tense up, delaying her eventual turn to see who was addressing her.

The voice had been enough for it to click and cause her reflexive reaction. Standing at their table was a man as well-dressed as anyone else here with sandy hair. A young man, with marginally narrowed features, and Enterprise with her better intuition of human appearances and ages assumed that he was the same age that her own form appeared to be.

All that observation she was able to take in, and yet Enterprise was still hesitant to return the greeting. Reluctant, even, to where she had to put effort behind what was a short and – should be – easy response. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry if I'm imposing," he said, honest and apologetic. "But I wanted to ask if you would be so kind to grace me with a dance?"

By all appearances and his manner, there was nothing that Enterprise could find as threatening or unpleasant. He matched everything that could be considered as friendly.

So why was it that she suddenly felt so uncomfortable? It was understandable, maybe, for Enterprise to be so with someone she had never met or known, but to such an extent that had her internally bristling as she was now?

This sudden conflict within her, and the outstanding request that suddenly came, left her sitting in her seat in silent inaction long enough that the man started to look concerned.

"Forgive her," Belfast suddenly spoke up, Enterprise's relief of hearing her just as unnecessarily excessive. "This is her first time in an event like this and she's been using this time to observe and get comfortable. She's not really up to dancing right now."

"Oh, understandable," the man replied easily, taking the explanation in stride. With a degree of remorse, he bowed his head to Enterprise. "I'll leave you be, then. Enjoy the rest of the night."

Enterprise managed to get herself to nod but couldn't do or say anything else until he made his way away from their table. The internal winding that made her so tense loosened.

"Thank you, Belfast," she managed to say, feeling ashamed about what happened. "I guess that was really rude of me right then, huh?"

"Quite alright," Belfast returned sympathetically, not seeming to register or feel any undue concern of Enterprise's reaction. If anything, she was the one who looked a tad contrite. "Maybe I should've warned you, after all."

Enterprise deduced what it was that Belfast was referring to. "I guess this is what you and Cleveland were talking about."

"That it would," she replied guiltily. "Customs and decorum for such a dance do encourage guests to seek the honor of sharing one with those who they find appealing or of notable status and reputation. You being who you are…"

"I can fill in the rest." It gave Enterprise a better comprehension of why it was that shipgirls like Massachusetts or Cleveland would garner such 'honors'. "A little warning would have been nice."

"I'm terribly sorry," Belfast apologized, meaning it. "At the very least, I will warn you that he probably won't be the last."

He wasn't, and when Belfast gave her that warning it was done in the same manner of how she would guide Enterprise to another touring attraction, a restaurant they never been to, or something new with the prospect that Enterprise would end up gaining something of value of it to better accomplish the goals that they had set out to achieve.

However, Enterprise did not believe that it would turn out that way this time.

Two more suitors came shortly after – another man, but also a young woman who would probably be the same age as Hornet appearance-wise. Even with Belfast's warning, Enterprise felt the same anxiety-driven strife within herself that she had to leash control over with some difficulty. It was enough, at least, that Belfast had to inject minor assistance with the second requester with Enterprise able to turn away the third on her own.

Both were mildly dejected, but politely withdrew without fuss. But Enterprise did not feel any better and was actually nervous as to how much more this process would continue.

She wasn't taking this as a good sign, and found this very concerning because of a connection that she believed that she was making.

Belfast, on the other hand, wasn't making the same one, even after Enterprise rejected a fourth person with how she suggested, "Maybe you could accept one dance."

"I've never danced before." It was a true statement, one that should remind Belfast what they went over previously, and the self-explanation of why someone like Enterprise would be reluctant to accept a dance would better hide the ulterior reasonings of why Enterprise really didn't want one.

At least…not with the ones who had asked her.

Belfast took it for what it was with her amused, comforting fashion. "The slow dancing that's being done right now is perfect for beginners like yourself. I expect that there will be waltzes, but the slow dancing is meant to appeal to as many guests as possible to give it a try and build confidence to attempt the later styles."

"Have you been to a lot of these?" Enterprise asked.

"I am the head maid," Belfast reminded her.

Right, stupid question. Although Belfast hadn't really been acting like it, Enterprise should've known better. "I meant to ask if you've danced a lot."

"I have. There's been enough events and enough opportunities where I'll admit to being well-versed in dancing."

Even if there weren't, Enterprise suspected that it would've been another skill that Belfast would've acquired and practiced in order to reach such proficiency for it. "And it's…fun?"

"Oh, very." Belfast's reply was accompanied by a bright smile. "Listening and letting the music flow, your body and limbs being carried by it. It's a liberating moment when you give yourself to the rhythm and let yourself react in whatever way you desire under its sway."

Enterprise glanced back at the dance floor, remaining unconvinced, but Belfast was speaking so glowingly about it. Was dancing something that her friend liked for her own personal enjoyment? "So you say…" she murmured, doubtful that she could achieve such enjoyment.

Belfast rose a bit in her seat, her eyes suddenly twinkling with whatever it was that she was planning this time. "Well, if you remain so uncertain, maybe it would help if-"

"Excuse me again."

Another suitor. Actually, it was one of the ones who came before, Enterprise able to recognize him as the second gentleman who had approached them and who Belfast had helped her turn down. Like the rest, there was nothing about him that should instigate any of the distress that Enterprise experienced upon seeing him again.

But she did, and his repeat approach wasn't making it easier to speak with him a second time as Enterprise struggled to find the right parts for another polite refusal. "Um, sorry, but I still…"

The gentleman interceded civilly. "I know, and I'm sorry for coming here again, but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I borrowed your friend for the dance floor."

He was asking for Belfast? Enterprise felt a little ashamed for the relief she felt at not being the intended target.

Belfast, put off by the interruption, was more so at the unexpected invitation. "I'm flattered," she replied, a hint of a struggle as she tried to frame a response to the request. "While I would normally accept, I'd rather remain at my lady's side for the time being."

My lady? That wasn't something that Belfast usually referred to her as, it sounding a lot more like her official etiquette as a maid that she would drop back to whenever she was to contend with something unexpected. She's not forcing herself to refuse, is she? Because of me? "You can go, Belfast."

It was another rare, unguarded moment that Enterprise witnessed when Belfast went to her, surprise plain on her face. Her lips parted, about to speak out of impulse, but her discipline came into play and closed them, keeping them that way until Belfast could come up with something proper as she made a show of doing with her gaze flicking back and forth between Enterprise and the gentleman. She then centered on Enterprise just as a suitable inquiry came. "Are you sure?"

Was she sure? Truth be told, Enterprise was perturbed at the thought of being left alone, but Belfast said she liked dancing, didn't she? How she spoke about it, how she had been looking at the other dancers before? If she wanted to dance, then Enterprise wanted to let her. "I'll be fine for one or two, I'm sure. Go have fun."

Belfast remained fixed on her. The previous twinkling vanished from her eyes, an invisible brush passing down her face and glossing it over with an unnatural, blank countenance. She dipped her chin and then rotated to the gentleman who had been politely waiting. "Then I will accept."

That…hadn't been the reaction Enterprise expected. Remaining in her seat, she watched as the gentleman, pleased with her acceptance, held out a hand which Belfast took. Then she was being guided away from their table and towards the dance floor.

Had she just…done something wrong?

Enterprise didn't know how that calculation could come about. She had been watching Belfast, listening to her, and it appeared to her that the cruiser had a fond view of dancing. So when someone came by to offer her one, Enterprise wanted to let her enjoy it. She didn't want to hold back Belfast from it, even if she felt that jab of loneliness with the empty seat next to her. But Belfast would be right there so she could bear it.

So why were her instincts saying that she had just made a mistake?

There was one consequence in her decision that became obvious to her though. With Belfast gone, Enterprise could guess as to what kind of target she made, sitting alone at her table. Comparing this to a flagship without her escort, it would make for a very compelling opening for other opportunists. A tactical retreat was the right move then as it would be here, and Enterprise found it sound enough for her to perform as she stood up in her seat.

She wouldn't move far or take long. She just wanted a better spot that was less exposed. There were also things that she wanted to think about.

She thought about taking a page from Cleveland and reposition up on the balconies, maybe even get some mutual cooperation from her fellow Eagle ship, but it turned out to be Cleveland who dissuaded her from that. As she got up and began searching for a way up, Enterprise happened to find the stairs that Cleveland had reached and must've intended to ascend but had been drawn into a conversation by Sheffield who had been going down them.

The carrier couldn't catch whatever was being said between them, but she happened to notice them in time for Cleveland to gesture towards Sheffield's skirt, the maid exempt from her own duties along with Belfast as she was wearing a black dress for the occasion. The movement of Cleveland's hand, as well as her face as she asked whatever it was she was asking, gave off embarrassment but Sheffield was as unexpressive as ever, saying something in return. Whatever it was, it upped the Eagle cruiser's embarrassment, Enterprise able to make out the redness of her face even from here, and Cleveland bashfully tried to go around Sheffield and continue with her goal to reach the balcony.

Instead, with her face not even twitching once with emotion, Sheffield reached back, took the hand of the knightly cruiser, and began dragging her towards the dance floor with Cleveland sputtering the whole way.

An alternative, then, Enterprise suggested to herself, not wanting to fall into the same trap. A better one came when she noticed the open doorways that led outside, out on what had to be the veranda. She decided to move in that direction.

While she was doing so, she thought of the scene she had just witnessed. Although she believed she was missing a bit of context when it came to Cleveland and Sheffield's interaction, going over it in her head created amusement: both at Cleveland's expression and how she had been dragged off so forcefully by the emotionless Sheffield. Along with that, there had been a manner of satisfaction at watching the two and how they were able to perform such a sight.

And that just further served to confirm the issue that Enterprise believed she was having.

The veranda turned out to be a good, secluded spot. If it had been more populated before, the start of the dances must've emptied it out to the point it was currently: a few guests, some nursing champagne glasses, others smoking. None of them took any special notice of her, and that suited Enterprise fine as she went to take a corner for herself while she replayed other events in her head.

They were of a similar performance to Cleveland and Sheffield's: shipgirls pairing up and heading to the dance floor, no matter their faction or what means they applied to acquire their dancing partners. Thinking of them inspired the same emotions, too: of how Enterprise had been happy to see them doing so with their time now being used away from the battles and within this banquet.

That was what she had been gaining from this participation, seeing the other shipgirls here spending time with their dresses, their sweets, and the silly antics that were occurring thereof. Reacquainting herself with some of them provided relief as well. Their attitudes and the atmosphere of the banquet were doing wonders to keep Enterprise from descending into any of her previous darker thinking – and, in fact, it was the sights and scenes that were repressing it in an alleviating twist.

It was when her focus wasn't centered on her fellow shipgirls that she ran into something very troubling.

For the most part, as she admitted to Belfast when they had been seated at their little spot at the table, she had been at peace. But once her attention strayed, wandering back to the occupants of the ballroom, she felt those uncertainties again. Even if she were to identify a shipgirl in close vicinity, she would notice the human attendees in short order, and the nervousness and unease would hit her again when her view expanded further back and outwards, taking in the greater scope of the ballroom and having her wondering just what the ratio was between human and shipgirl. She concluded that the ratio favored humans, double if not triple the amount, and that just made her feel anxious, with the sensation getting worse – not better – when she again reviewed how shipgirls were dressed and acting in similar manners to them.

But that shouldn't be the case, should it? Seeing them side-by-side, celebrating, should just be proving the comparison between human and shipgirl. Enterprise thought that was so before on the occasions that she saw shipgirls spending their free time in the city and, as a result, she was able to let down her guard and enjoy the city, too. So shouldn't this greater example be doing the same?

It wasn't and, thinking about it, Enterprise was beginning to understand that she may've very well been in error this entire time.

She had been thinking that it was okay for her to enjoy the city, to appreciate and participate in its peace, but that didn't mean that she had accepted the ideology that human and shipgirl were the same. For all her gratefulness at the reprieve of not being assaulted by the dark influence of the other, it was Enterprise currently being insulated from it that made her understand that she still couldn't bring herself to see the two existences as one and the same, even with them right here and in front of her. Instead, it made her uneasy.

It got her to contemplate a rather alarming thought: had her sudden rejection of London been more in due part to herself and not the interruption of the other? Rather than an active interference that that other carrier may've been running, had it instead been a subconscious belief that she still retained and had been thrust back to such prominence due to her vision?

Because why else would she still be harboring those doubts, even in the heart of the Royal Palace?

Enterprise decided to conduct a small experiment once she found a satisfactory spot. Upon the railing of the veranda did she lean against it while staring out. Beyond the Docklands, over Thames, the horizon was a bumpy line consisting of the buildings that London consisted of, their bright lights making them stand out as night had come to full descent.

Out there, she had been around humans other than the ones who had been dressed in the uniforms of military personnel with ranks that she had come to instinctively defer to. She's been in their presences, spoken with them, purchased items from them, entertained herself in ways that they did, and very many other things that she hadn't done in a long time, if ever.

She had become what she thought to be more comfortable around them. After watching over Sophie, she had thought she had gained the necessary reminder of what it was she was fighting for.

But as Enterprise looked at London, she uncovered a very disturbing preference to look away from it. The feeling only dispersed when she brought the Docklands back to take over her field of vision, the docked warships putting her at ease again despite their dubious surroundings of gardens and golf courses.

Had there been a deception that Enterprise had been unconsciously forming during her time here? Just like when the visions and the other results of her defects had been suppressed, were maybe even being cured, had her – what she believed to be – growing ease around humans instead been some kind of grand deceit that she had been pulling over herself?

Because if that wasn't so, why was she so adverse to going back to attending this joint human-shipgirl celebration?

It was a terrible question to ask given how, after two final days, she would be returning to active duty. All it did was seem to confirm how all of this had been an enormous waste of time.

Had all this really been a lie, after all?

Given the enormous significance behind such a question, Enterprise didn't fault herself at all for not noticing who came to join her until they spoke up, even if they were a shipgirl. "Lose your date?"

Enterprise turned, finding herself in the magnetic pull of King George V's smile. The sudden disruption of being swept from the melancholic thinking by the Knight Commander's charisma had Enterprise messily stumbling around thought and action as she instinctively snapped her spine to rigid attention. "Belfast, uh," she clumsily started, assuming by 'date' she meant the cruiser, "is just having a dance. I was stepping out for a bit. Only to get some air. Not because I don't like the banquet-"

That was something that Enterprise wasn't sure to consider as a lie or not, but that and any resumption of her fumbling was interrupted by George's light, warm laugh. "An event like this can be as turbulent as the seas. We all want our lulls in it."

Enterprise felt like a new recruit making herself look a fool to a superior, but the laugh alone smoothed over her disorganization, encouraging calm, while the words were of an understanding that assured the carrier that explanation wasn't necessary – especially about with what she had been thinking. What she did do was return the smile with a weaker version.

"That's what I'm doing here, anyway," George then added. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Enterprise replied and scooted over to better clear a spot on the railing.

"My thanks." As soon as space was cleared, George set her plate full of food on it.

A lot of food, all mixed and piled together so high that Enterprise couldn't fathom how none of it was falling off. Suddenly the comments from before made a whole lot of sense, but still the carrier was nonetheless surprised at the massive quantity – mostly due to how it contrasted with the clean and orderly air of George.

George noticed and another shamefaced grin appeared. "An army marches on its stomach."

The plate had enough to probably feed one, but Enterprise kept that to herself. "So it does."

"Care for a drink?" With her load, George had been forced to carry the two glasses with one hand, Enterprise seeing how the thin necks were held between her fingers when she made the offering. "Nights here can get chilly."

"Yes, thank you," Enterprise returned, carefully slipping one glass into her possession. "And, yes, they can."

"Well, you must know by now, as I hear you've been spending a great deal of your time in the greater city," George noted.

Enterprise had taken a tentative sip by then, letting the alcohol burn as she debated on a proper response and chose to keep it short. "I have."

But George didn't go any further, she more interested in her food as she speared into it with a fork and she lit up when she extracted a catch: some kind of sausage with mashed potatoes, cheese, and some other bits stuck to it but whether they were meant to be together or not didn't matter as George consumed everything with obvious relish. "The cooks outdid themselves yet again."

"The food has been delicious," Enterprise complimented. "I had tried the grouse."

"The perfect season for it." George examined her plate. "I believe I have a piece of it somewhere." She shrugged and stabbed again. "I'll find it eventually."

Enterprise was startled when she almost laughed. Something about the way that George was eating with such gusto was funny compared to how the battleship held herself when they met. Well, George still emanated the same air as before, the kind that would've kept Enterprise with her straighter back, but the carrier felt comfortable to drop back into her earlier lean against the railing now at George's show of loosened conduct when it came to her meal.

A short period of silence came between the two, Enterprise leaving George to it as she took slow, short sips from her glass. With another shipgirl's presence next to her, Enterprise found it in her to better enjoy the view of the Docklands. There were lampposts scattered around, each lit, and their modest lighting was enough to create a mysterious but comfortable sight with the flat lands and silhouettes of warships. That is, as long as Enterprise kept her attention on the Docklands.

"I do admit to a bit of disappointment as to how a few of my dishes hadn't made the cut tonight," George said.

"Your dishes?" Enterprise asked, surprised.

George nodded. "Cooking is a hobby of mine. Although we eat to survive, it can't hurt to make things tastier, right? Often, it's these small blessings that help us get more enjoyment out of life."

"I agree." The close proximity that this topic had come to what she had been thinking about before allowed her to contribute. "Earlier I was actually thinking of trying to cook for myself."

"A convert!" Enterprise could see what could be a fire that was instantly lit and burning hot in George's eye at the discovery. "I eagerly welcome any who would wish to come into the blissful world of the culinary arts!"

The carrier couldn't help but lean away a fraction, that same fire a little too intense for her to get too close to. "I've only been thinking about it, but I've been having a bit of incentive lately, mostly thanks to Belfast."

"That would say it all; our fairest maid is quite the grandmaster when it comes to the kitchen. Even with how much I have put into my own skill, I still cannot justifiably compare myself to her. But it's a blessing in its own right, I believe: much of the joy I've taken from my self-learnings is the introduction and experimentation of endless dishes. And though Belfast may be such a specialist, who is it that can really fulfill your tastes other than yourself?"

That would seem like sound wisdom – and one that Victorious voiced about her tailoring - but Enterprise could see how George was nonetheless eager for the challenge of one day ascending to the same level as Belfast, if not past that. And no matter what personal preferences the battleship had established, she had no qualms in spearing her fork back into her bundled selections of cuisine that weren't her own, or chomping down on them as eagerly as she did.

"I wish I had something of my own to give you," she soon confirmed. "Recently I acquired a recipe for authentic 'mapo tofu' from a couple Dragon Empery representatives. I cooked a sample, but Belfast overruled me when she made her rounds before the banquet began about adding it to the menu. I cannot imagine why, although maybe it had something to do with how the representatives mentioned that you'll stop tasting the spiciness after your mouth goes numb."

"That might have something to do with it…" Enterprise unhelpfully contributed, but she was more concerned with what the explanation inferred. "So Belfast was helping out with the preparations earlier?"

"In respect to Belfast, while I do not wish to say anything to the contrary, her contribution during the previous hours hadn't been in the role of inspector in my humble opinion."

Enterprise nodded slowly. "Yeah, I had a feeling about that…"

Which meant Belfast had been helping out more than she had been letting on. Enterprise suspected as much when the possibility became known to her and felt bad about hearing it confirmed. Belfast was always doing so much for her, so when the carrier thought about letting her loose to enjoy something – dancing – it should've been a chance for the cruiser to have some of her own fun.

But, even with that, Enterprise still couldn't shake off how she had made some kind of mistake in doing so, though she also still couldn't come up for the reason why that was.

"You said Belfast was taken on for a dance," George said. Only a short time had passed, but already her mountain of food had been reduced to more of a plateau. "I'm surprised that the same hasn't happened for you."

"…I've been asked," Enterprise replied after a momentary delay. "But I'm not much of a dancer." More truth than falsehood, that one. "What about you?"

"I'm not a popular choice of a dance partner, believe it or not." When Enterprise glanced over, George gave a small smirk. "My station actually hurts my chances there, both its ranking and the nature of it. I'll dance, but they tend to be for courtesy's sake. I do believe that people loosen up more once I'm gone."

Enterprise didn't know if she should offer a kind of condolence for that, but it was clear that after George took another helping from whatever blend of food that she forked out, she was quite happy where she was right now.

"I don't consider additional time at the buffet tables to be a loss though, and God had decided to provide the fortunate circumstance that is allowing us to speak again. Enjoying delicious food is far better with company. Would you like anything, by the way?"

"No, thank you."

"More for me, then." There was what Enterprise thought to be too little time for George to consume another forkful and begin speaking again, but when she did it was unimpeded. "I find my morale lifted by watching these dances than I do participating. You must feel the same."

Any answer to that, as Enterprise had gone over, would share an equal amount of truth and deception which prevented her from giving it. But the way George said about feeling the same… "Why do you believe that?"

George twitched her fork between the two of them. "We are warriors, you and I, more so than the rest. It is the battlefield we prefer because that is where we can best protect those we care about with our power. To witness these moments is our greatest reward and what strengthens us when the time comes to pursue the next battle."

Enterprise quietly digested the wording, needing time to accept a romanticized title like 'warrior' and almost wanting to expel the notion of having a preference for battles, but how George wrapped it all together at the end made it easier for them to go down. Enough for her, even, to agree if she kept 'who' she thought of restricted to other shipgirls. "It does."

"Of course it does." George took a second to wink at her. "Your reputation precedes you. How I wish I had been there to see you in action."

There was no getting around how Enterprise felt about the glowing praise that she received in reference to the Pacific: she didn't like it. Worse yet, it made her wonder just how George would be acting right now if she had seen her, given how respectful the battleship had been so far. So, saying nothing, Enterprise downed another sip of champagne, holding it to let it better burn.

"So, tell me about it."

When Enterprise brought George back into sight it was to see that smile still there, although her brows were high in analysis as she regarded the carrier. Her fork, having been engaged in a ceaseless attack, had halted. "About what?"

"About what happened in the Pacific with the Sakura Empire."

That was something that Enterprise definitely didn't want to talk about and tried to get out of it. "None of the others told you? I would've thought they would."

"Oh, they have, and I've read the reports sent in from Wales, but I'd like to hear it from you. Especially since, for some peculiar reason, the last few missives from my usually meticulous sister had been particularly vague on certain details concerning the battles and their outcomes other than our victories."

Enterprise stared at the curious features of George, an unwilling participant in a contest that she lost when she looked away. "I don't think there's much more that I could add."

"Maybe, but I think this is less about my curiosity and more about obtaining a peace of mind you can receive by talking about it."

"Peace of mind?"

"This is what tonight's all about whether it be through drinking, dancing…" George gave a light tap of her fork against her plate, "…eating. There's plenty of each tonight, as there is conversation." When Enterprise didn't say anything, she went on, "It must've been a very laborious campaign, and I don't mean by personnel and materials. It was a sad day for all of us in the Royal Navy when we lost Vichya and crossed swords with our former allies in Iron Blood. Some still carry the scars of those opening days with the actions that both sides took."

Enterprise thought of Hood and Mers-el-Kébir but it wasn't enough to get her to speak.

"It was your first time fighting against other shipgirls, was it not? And Wales's report mentioned a monstrosity that the Sakura Empire had created and what you felled with what I can only assume to be with great difficulty. Those kinds of factors can leave quite the burden on a participant's shoulders. I'm willing to give a supportive ear if you so desire it. Often, it's easier to speak to a stranger you just met than someone you know."

Enterprise wanted to curse at this intrusiveness that these Royal girls shared. Her comrades in Eagle Union hadn't exhibited this trait, having taken whatever assurances she gave them with little question and leaving her be, including her sisters. Instead, she found herself asking, "Why would that be?"

"Because all they see is the person right in front of them."

The person right in front of her was the second-in-command of the Royal Navy while Enterprise was the revered champion of Eagle Union. Not exactly the kind of situation that would do the reasoning justice, in Enterprise's opinion, but she had to relent that George's lack of participation in the Pacific bypassed a lot of the complications that came to be because of how Enterprise had become known to her sisters and comrades in Eagle Union due to how she previously served with them. For those she met and fought with in the Royal Navy, they had personally seen her mix of triumphs and devastating failures.

However, some of those complications had diminished with how those same comrades had received her tonight after not seeing her for a week. And before then there was how she had revealed everything to Belfast who had believed her and given her nothing but comforting words and an embrace that pacified her into a dreamless slumber so soon after that violent one. Then there was the understanding from Newcastle, the fashion and worldly advice from Victorious, all here in this palace that Enterprise was placing her hopes in with finding something that could help her cure herself before the time limit that had been reduced to two days and…

It was easier to speak with strangers. With George, she was someone who would only be able to go by what she had to say and not be muddled by whatever conceptions she would've had if she had seen what the rest did. It had been like that with the other two Royal Navy ships she had spoken with, it was just that the topic of discussion was much closer to the mark in this instance. It's not like she had to tell her everything either - not that Enterprise would as that right belonged to Belfast -, but maybe she could say just enough for…some kind of helpful input that could be beneficial.

"It was…difficult," she voiced, relenting, and felt the effects immediately. Like with Belfast, a restraining lock broke apart, and the deep-seated feelings that it had kept locked away flowed out easily. "Honestly, it was one of the worst fights that I've ever had the misfortune of participating in."

George, thankfully, was able to properly gauge the seriousness behind it. "I can imagine."

Enterprise took care not to be carried so easily by the flood, keeping the information that wanted to be passed on limited. "There had been much of what I once believed that had been shaken by what I experienced out there, actions that I nearly took that make me ashamed of myself when I think about them, and though I had always known to possess a fear of the ocean and the battles we engage on them, I had encountered something that had absolutely terrified me and…it has proven hard for me to get over it."

"Would this happen to be about that warship? Wales mentioned it in her report. I believe it was called-"

Enterprise interrupted her, fast. "Please don't say that name. I…can't stand hearing it."

George froze, halting just as her lips were forming the O to that thing's name. She brought them into a line, keeping them that way to show that she wouldn't. "I'm starting to see why Wales had been so vague about it in her report. All she described it as was an experimental control ship that was allowing the Sakura Empire to take over the Siren production ships and was equipped with a long-range weapon of devastating power that destroyed an uninhabited island."

"It was worse than that." An icy feeling had clawed at Enterprise's intestines with how close George had been to saying its name. Even the Royal Palace couldn't protect her from how she felt about that warship, and she took a long sip of her champagne, wanting to quicken the thawing of her insides with its help.

"Wales reported it going out of control," George cautiously recited when the glass left Enterprise's lips.

Enterprise shook her head. "No, it worked exactly as it was intended to – just not what the Sakura Empire wanted or knew." She was urged to go on, to say how it had done something to her that she had been fighting to overcome, but she restrained herself.

George wasn't keen on the details though. Instead, she seemed to be rather dismissive of them when she said, "Sounds rather typical, unfortunately. The Sakura Empire just didn't know what it was that they were dealing with. Such are the kind of results that we can expect from the dreadfulness of the Sirens."

Enterprise expected further inquiries, but when she heard the clinking of silverware, she saw that George had decided instead to pick at a bit more of her food. She took her time with it though, looking thoughtful as she chewed on her latest helping. When she regarded Enterprise, the carrier wasn't expecting the smile she passed on to her.

"But you have triumphed, the Sakura Empire is making grounds to rejoin us, and, most important of all, you are still alive."

Enterprise silently stared at the battleship, still expecting more, but the only progress that George found to be of any importance to make was in cleaning her plate. "It's not that simple."

"I'm sure it isn't," George replied. "But isn't that what's most important? For all that had happened out there, doesn't that make the results that occurred thereof to be so wondrous? How can you standing here right now, and our comrades being able to enjoy their lives with former enemies, be anything less than a miracle that we should savor?"

"But there's still Iron Blood."

"A front that has ceased for the time being."

"And when it resumes?"

"It hasn't yet."

"What about Northern Parliament? Sardegna?"

"Rumors that we cannot confirm for the first. As for the second…I think it's best if I keep the opinions of the Royal Family to myself, for the sake of Sardegna's dignity."

"And the Sirens?"

"There will always be the Sirens." George smirked. "Until we defeat them, that is."

Enterprise didn't find it as amusing as George did – or as feasible. "But what if we lose?"

"To whom?"

"Our enemies. The Sirens, the Crimson Axis, or any others who may fight us."

"Why would we want to think about losing? Losing is something we cannot do so why should we think about it?"

"It's not about thinking of whether we can lose or not," Enterprise replied, feeling frustrated now at George's views. That said, she couldn't really think of where else to go with her statements, stuck on how she should form the next one. All she could do was point out to what had been burdening her for so long. "We've been fighting the Sirens ever since we were born, with no end in sight, and our problems increase the longer we go on."

"So they may appear. Tell me something, how long have you been in service? How many battles have you participated in?"

Enterprise thought about it. Her service length? She was in her thirties now, although she wasn't certain if she had reached the midway point to forty, having lost track at some point that she couldn't bring it to an exact number. The battles she participated…she had no hope of even rounding them to a guess.

"You want to know what has remained the same since then?" George asked and didn't wait for Enterprise to answer that question either when she added, "You are still alive, as am I, and the people around us." George put her weight against the rail, taking a definite break from her meal. "When the events came that led to our creation, humanity had been on the verge of extinction. After a decade, the world's powers had become mighty again with new names, and after another we had driven the Sirens out enough to make the world itself whole again."

"Before we became divided again," Enterprise pointed out.

But George only grinned. "We became divided because we had regained a position where we could be." At Enterprise's incredulity, she said, "I actually have two hobbies that I greatly enjoy. One is eating, the other is fighting."

"You enjoy fighting?"

"Very much, so there are a few things I've come to know about it that you may not. When I was constructed, the British Empire had already become the Royal Navy, and as the lead ship of the latest generation of battleships, I had the immense honor of being indicted into the Royal Family where I was given my command. What Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth had done for my sisters and I, and for the shipgirls who came before us, is something that will make her remain worthy as my liege for all eternity."

"What did she do?"

"She gave us a place in this world alongside humanity. When we were created, we had been meant as weapons against the Sirens, but we were weapons that were given the spark of humanity that lets us worry, fear, and care for ourselves and those around us. Rather than have that spark extinguished, it was Her Majesty and our human masters who gave us a place where that spark could mature and become something far more brilliant."

A word came to Enterprise. One that she had heard repeated again and again that it came out reflexively. "Elegance, I presume."

George's smile broadened. "London has grown on you. Yes, elegance; of humanity, of ourselves, and of the world that had been wrought with such chaos but has been brought to where it is now, with the good and the bad. Why I enjoy fighting is because of these God blessed circumstances that let me fight as I can, with the glory of my queen and my beloved nation."

The battleship's veneration of fighting was something she couldn't wrap her head around. "I can't say that I've ever enjoyed fighting in that way."

George tilted her head, a brow crooked while her lips remained curved upwards. "Is that so?"

"At least I can't relate to it," Enterprise corrected herself. "Fighting has always been a miserable thing to me, with death and destruction, and I've grown weary of it for how long our war has continued both against the Sirens and the enemies that have come about since then. I've lost comrades, and my elder sister had been crippled by it. What happened in the Pacific had been the worst occasion, and I've found myself worrying about how much longer we can go on."

Fighting was, for her best opinion of it, a necessary evil, and that at least was a sentiment that was shared by those who she spoke with. It was something to engage in when there was no other choice, their duty to bear it, until there finally came an end to their wars and they could free themselves of them. There was no joy to be found in it, but they had to persevere and set an example in it in order for they themselves to not fall to it.

Enterprise had once thought she could do it, but with the battles only growing, the enemies increasing, and the schemes of their ultimate adversaries becoming that much more horrifying that had managed to harm her in the way they had, and she's found their efforts as ineffectual as her own had been to overcome her personal difficulties.

George made a noise at the back of her throat; a lengthy rumble of contemplation. "Then let me say this: you lack elegance."

This time Enterprise did partially laugh, although it sounded and tasted bitter to her. "Sorry, but that is something that has been said to me a lot." It was also what she had been trying to correct this whole time, with little success.

George did not take umbrage to the response, instead emitting a brief chuckle. "By Belfast, no doubt, but it sounds to me that she hasn't been entirely successful, otherwise you wouldn't speak as you are doing right now."

"How I'm speaking?" Enterprise believed that everything she had just said had been entirely right, with her testimonies supplemented by others such as Belfast and Victorious – Royal Navy girls just like George.

"A question for you, for my own understanding: when our wars are over, and our enemies defeated, what do you see at the end? Of yourself, myself, and the rest of us?"

Enterprise knew what her answer was, but an unexpected impulse had her mentally testing its integrity to be sure that it remained valid. It did, as solid as when she had first thought it so many years ago and what had remained consistent in her battles, even recently reinforced. It was her one hope, her one dream. "When our wars are over, then there would no longer be a need for us."

George stared for a time, waiting, but when Enterprise had nothing else to give, she asked, "That's it?"

Enterprise wavered and decided that the way she had presented her answer was too simple, given what it would mean. "Our existence is centered entirely on the Sirens, isn't it? If we defeat them, if we manage to reunite with the other factions, if the world and humanity can truly become one, then shouldn't our ultimate goal be for humanity to no longer have a need for us? Is that not the most elegant result to achieve?"

To have war and its weapons become obsolete, to be there to see when humankind broke another barrier and reached another frontier that would not require them to follow. That was the goal she wanted to reach, the one that would give her the motivation to continue fighting until she could see it for herself. It was the legacy that humanity would be able to create for themselves, without weapons such as shipgirls.

She believed that her second attempt had been better, George considering it, and then she breathed a short sigh. "Well, that's a relief."

"So you agree?"

George smiled, and with that smile she declared, "Oh, no, absolutely not. What you said was downright ridiculous. I was just saying what a relief it was that you told me that and not Belfast."

Enterprise was taken off guard, both to the rejection and how there were two different queries that she wanted to make but had to choose one at the moment. So she did. "Why's it such a relief?"

"I dare say that she would've struck you."

Enterprise nearly spilled what little champagne she had left in her glass. "She wouldn't." When George just kept smiling, she faltered. "…Would she?"

"It takes a lot to upset Belfast, but that would've made the likelihood of it higher than anything I've seen, especially if you were the one to say it, I'd wager. What you basically alleged is that everything behind our creation and the deeds we accomplished will just be tossed aside and forgotten once everything is over?" Enterprise stopped short of confirming it, but George still grimaced. "Belfast would not have taken that lightly."

"Then what would be a future for us, if there was no war?" Enterprise asked.

George's eyes narrowed at her searchingly. "I thought she would've had you figuring that out by now."

Enterprise paused, thinking back to the museum and the questions of the future that she wanted to ask Belfast. "I think she was leading me to something about that but…we got interrupted." By Sophie, by the appearance of the other carrier, her vision…

"Then let me not only spare you the fate that you would've met if you told her, but also enlighten you." George placed more of her weight against the rail, her expression neutral. "But first, permit me to ask something that I believe I must, even if it means being unfair to you."

Enterprise showed that she was listening, unsure of what to expect.

"Have you really come to think so little of your comrades?"

The question struck the carrier the same way it probably would've if Belfast had physically done so. "What!?"

Her cry was loud enough that whoever was left on the veranda would've turned at it, but George remained unruffled. "I'm sorry for how I phrased that," she apologized, "but I believe that it was best to do so in that way, given what I'm starting to understand about you. If you would let me explain…"

Enterprise was aware that her mouth was hanging open. She closed it, but the action made her notice how the rest of her face had tightened into a glare in response to the – unfair – question.

"Your reputation really does precede you," George said. "I have always wanted to meet with you, as one warrior to another who excel and put their all in fighting. And as we are both warriors, I believe that there is something that I can see about you that Belfast, through no fault of her own, either cannot or will not bring up."

"Belfast has been nothing but valuable to me," Enterprise spoke reflexively, the insult she perceived getting her to with little thought.

George's tactful expression was broken when she lifted her hands as a sign of peace, smiling carefully. "Of that I have no doubt, which leads me to believe that she may know but is trying to solve it with a less direct approach."

"And what exactly is it you're talking about?" Enterprise asked, impatient, with her previous image of George having been smeared.

George lowered her hands and placed them back on the rail. "Let's go back to when we were taking about fighting. I enjoy it but you do not."

"Of course I don't."

"Yes. When you spoke of it, you only refer to those who perished or had been seriously damaged. Even as we stand here, you think of shames that you said you avoided, the great terrors that you have defeated, and the future battles that may or may not happen."

There was much that Enterprise wanted to correct about George's observations but chose not to in order to better get to whatever point the battleship was trying to make. "What am I supposed to think?"

"Why not those victories that you won? Instead of fearing for what you cannot predict, why not take solace in what you have achieved, with the comrades and family who are at your side?"

"I...can't," Enterprise hesitantly admitted. "All I can think of are those who are no longer with me, whether it be those who have sunk or my sister who remains disabled. I don't want to forget about them, nor do I want to become complacent to the dangers that can take others."

"I'm not saying you should, but it sounds depressing if all that you are doing is constantly fearing for those around you and regretting those who have passed."

Enterprise's expression hardened. "How can I not? You must've experienced the same thing I have, if you believe us to be 'warriors'. Your own comrades speak of war in an ugly tone, and how it and its tragedies are something that we should avoid or deal with as swiftly as possible."

George took in her points – and the low but palpable hostility – with a patient nod. "I have, and I mourn our losses, as well as regret the events that may've led to their deaths. But to only view their deaths with regret is not the proper way to honor them. While I would wish for them to be here now to see what has come of the world due to their sacrifice, it is how they fought and died that we are here the way we are, and the most we could do is celebrate and enjoy it."

"I can't see myself celebrating in the wake of their losses."

"You mentioned a sister. Does she regret what has led to her current state? Does she wish you to?"

Enterprise felt her jaw clench, knowing immediately that George was asking something she could not rightfully argue against and leaving her feeling resentment for the transgression of using Yorktown against her in that way. The same sister who's only regret was burdening her younger one and wishing that she would find her own nest.

George was courteous to not push that further. "War has its ugly tragedies, and ones we would wish to avoid, but how we triumph over them is by fighting for what we love. My love is for my Queen and country that made it possible for me to fight with such honor and dignity. Yes, for that I feel joy, and it is that joy that I express to live for those who cannot. And if I were the one to meet my death, I would do so proudly, with my only wish being for those who would go on without me to do so as joyfully as I had, so they would not be burdened with unnecessary regrets."

"Even if who you're fighting are other shipgirls?"

"Especially if they're other shipgirls," George replied to the shock of the Eagle carrier. "Iron Blood, Vichya Dominion, Sakura Empire: they are also where this miracle has come about, having carved their own place in the world through our common purpose for battle, with their own ideals. I would be disrespecting them if I did not give them my utmost when on the battlefield. Whether fighting alongside one another or crossing blades with them, even enemies such as them can lead to such a jubilant occasion."

"Jubilant?" Enterprise questioned, incredulous. "To fight and destroy them?"

George shook her head, smiling with lively passion. "I do not seek a fight to destroy them. I seek it to save them. The difference is how one runs the greater risk of tarnishing ourselves as we did with Vichya and Iris while the other leads to what we – you – had done with the Sakura Empire. How can you cross blades with allies who have turned away, bring them back by the examples you demonstrate while doing so to remind them of what they have been duped into straying from, and not find it marvelous?"

I had fought to destroy them. It was that mission that Enterprise had when she sailed into the Pacific and had nearly destroyed four of the Sakura Empire's carriers in the process. The ones who had fought to save lives had been the likes of Ayanami who had saved her Sakura allies from Enterprise and, in turn, Laffey and Javelin who had saved Ayanami.

In the process, Enterprise had been saved from that terrible thinking that relied on that destruction by them. What the end result had been was the Sakura Empire and Azur Lane fleets uniting, and Enterprise able to shake the hand of Zuikaku – the one who she nearly destroyed – with a prospect for a match between them.

"But it will happen eventually, won't it?" Enterprise asked. "A situation where you won't have a choice but to destroy someone."

"It can and has," George admitted with appropriate sobriety to her passion. "But I would never forsake the chance of doing all that I can to save them, even if it would mean pummeling them into submission with my bare hands or falling to theirs. In that way, even if I was to end them with my sword or cannons or at that of another's, I would have little to regret. By then, they have either made their choice, or have strayed so far that the only honorable thing to do is to release them from what had possessed them to do so."

With a haunting sensation, Enterprise thought of Kaga and Akagi. The members of the First Carrier Division, so enthralled by whatever it was that the Sirens promised them with their help with that warship they created, only to disappear along with it when it sank.

"I would rather not have to do such a thing." It was that complete reversal of how she left the Pacific compared to how she went in.

"Rightly so." George reached over and patted Enterprise on her arm. "And you have not, if Wales's reports were accurate on that much at least. So, I wish to try and assist in saving you from what is keeping you out here and not inside with the rest."

Enterprise knew that she was being wrapped up in George's bubble again, beginning to see her as the Knight Commander that she was when she wordlessly viewed her, the strength behind the pat on her arm, the expressive smile, and the confidence and control in each suiting her better than the dress she was wearing.

"You are very selfless, Enterprise," George praised. "Too selfless, which is why I fear that while you may've heard my words, you have yet to understand them. After all, I'm only saying what the rest of my sisters hold so dear to them within the Royal Navy."

It was a bitter pill to swallow as doing so just supported how Enterprise felt that she hadn't improved at all. A lot of what George said is what she had been told from other Royal Navy girls and those of her own faction, particularly pertaining to needing to bring and inspire elegance on the battlefield – just not in such a specific manner as George unveiled.

It was shocking to Enterprise, but even as the initial feeling of it washed away, she did not feel like anything was really sticking to her, especially with how she recognized that she had never been truly convinced of any of it. She had been listening, she would be bewildered and hopeful of concepts that she had never deigned to think of let alone think about, but something within her had never been truly accepting of them and she couldn't pinpoint why that was.

George reiterated her want to try. "But it's that same selflessness that I believe will help you just as much as it has harmed you, starting with what I had asked of you so unfairly."

"Belittling my comrades," Enterprise recounted, although with a lot less of the hostility that she had responded with. Instead, it was with a want of understanding.

"You have fought so hard, Enterprise, far harder and far more selflessly than any other shipgirl, I'd reckon, but in so doing you have neglected that spark of humanity within you. After one decade, two decades, three – what does that do to someone, who thinks of only the pain and losses as you have regaled to me?"

"It closes me off to the shipgirls around me and distances me from the humans I'm meant to protect," Enterprise recited.

George grinned but it was a small, sad grin. "I see your lips moving, but who I hear talking is Belfast. She's right, naturally, but I don't think she properly conveyed how far those consequences go because of what it may mean to you. Even if you neglect that spark, it still exists. It experiences that pain and loss, and without elegance to counteract it, what you are left with are those sensations and the duty that drives you: to protect humans. What results is how your subconscious links that pain to that duty, associating humans with nothing but suffering."

A sudden flash of recollection had Enterprise going back to the space exhibit at the museum, of Belfast standing there with an odd glistening in her eyes.

"By extension, you believe that it'll be all that the humans you protect will ever be."

"Are you saying that it's made me come to dislike humans?" Enterprise asked, the question ludicrous to her but as she reviewed her recent reactions to being approached by humans, seeing their cities, could that really be what she was feeling?

She thought of Sophie, of the employee at the clothing boutique, the soldier, and the many others who she had shared passing words with. Did she dislike them? No, no not that, but…what could it be then? What was it that had been making her so anxious this night, whenever she had been approached by a human, the distinction between them and a shipgirl clear?

"Dislike…" George mused, thinking about it, "…may be too strong a word, but more accurate than you may want to believe it to be. But that's only a part of the issue at hand."

Only a part of it? Enterprise thought, afraid of how much further that could go.

"You said it yourself, Enterprise: fighting is a miserable existence to you, one that you've grown weary of. What you think of as a goal for the end is how you'll no longer be needed by humans. Does that not sound like someone who desires release from their hardship?" Her expression taking on a graver look, George added, "Is it really the end of the war that you yearn for, or the end of your services, whatever form it may take?"

Whatever the form… Enterprise was able to translate, and she recoiled at the result, her instinct to deny it.

Was that something that she yearned for? No, absurd. She did not go out in her sorties with the expectance to be sunk. Even if she was horrified by how she had gone out with the intention to sink her enemies, even if they were shipgirls, the intention had always been to the duty she had towards humans and shipgirls. As long as she went out, she could protect them. Their deaths she could prevent, even if it meant…her own.

A cold shiver went down Enterprise's spine with how that sounded to her.

Every time she would think of the ocean with fear, it was because of how she witnessed the lives of other shipgirls being drowned in the salty seas, and Yorktown who had been so seriously injured, and her own tribulations that occurred in the Pacific. It was the conflict that they continued to be locked in, with one battle followed by another and another one after that, with the simplicity of fighting an alien foe being complicated with the turn on fighting each other. Yes, she had seen and experienced so much on the ocean, so how could she not fear what she had witnessed countless times?

But was death actually a part of that collection that she feared?

Forced into this perspective by George, Enterprise found something off with her thinking. When she thought of the ocean, it was to recount what she had seen and what she experienced. Her suffering, and those of the others, was what would dominate her thinking, followed by the question of if the battles would ever end. The possibility of her own death came second, but when it did there was a decline of the same horror that belonged to the thoughts that came before it.

It was like thinking of the terrors that could happen out on the ocean…but then there could be death. …To free her?

So was the dread she felt not for her death, but because of how she was thinking of it in that way?

The shivering was more complete here, with Enterprise having a need to pull her cape tighter around her.

"I did mention that the nights could get cold out here," George said, noticing.

Enterprise knew that the battleship didn't believe it was the temperature that was causing this. "I can't believe I'm thinking this. Or that you would."

What was worse was the vibe of truth and, accompanying that, was a thought that slipped through the cracks of the gates of her repressed memories. It caressed her mind with its frostbiting touch, and Enterprise glimpsed the deep, bottomless blue of the ocean.

Wouldn't it be better if she just…sank?

George canted her head. "My loyalty to my queen and my joy of life is due to moments where I think of what I could've become if I did not have either and I see that most plainly with you. Unfortunately, we are not done, because there is still how your thinking not only belittles yourself, but that of your comrades."

Enterprise felt she didn't have any choice but to listen, for better or worse.

"You want to protect them and to let them pursue what they want by denying yourself that same freedom. But because of that, you cannot relate to them. You only know that they are shipgirls like you, fighting in those battles that you only know, and thus are fated for exactly what you believe yourself to be fated for. When I asked you about what the end goal was, it was in reference to all of us, and you answered for all of us. You said there would be no use for us without war, so isn't that because you do not think that there is anything for us without war?"

"I…did not," Enterprise replied, ashamed to admit it, but couldn't do anything else. Newcastle's happy retirement as a maid, Victorious's pursuit of tailoring, and even before then she had never fully appreciated the displays she had seen at the joint base where everything that she had seen of her fellow shipgirls enjoying life whether playing in the sandy shores or running their own shops had been nothing but them trying to imitate their makers. "Our true nature is that of warships, we were born as warships, so anything that was not that I thought…was just pretending."

George nodded grimly. "Whether you dislike them or not, you do feel something against humans because you only know the worst that this world offers due to your service to them. By pushing them away, you push your comrades away from them even though you sacrifice so much for them. You wish better for them, but you can't think of what that is and anything they do pursue you don't understand. To see humans and shipgirls together goes against that. The future you fight for them is the very future that you deny them. You must see the tragedy in that."

Enterprise had, in the most awful of detail. A shipgirl who gave everything to her comrades, and in the end took everything from them in exchange. Their purpose, their future, and their lives that she fought for, but what she then took for herself. The humans she let go extinct because it had been the inevitable result of their ideals that she only knew of; of conquest and its violence that had destroyed their world. The only fate for her and those like her was to continue where their masters had left off: to build their legacy in war, where their fighting and their dying could mean something.

Even if it meant killing them herself, because that was the only way she knew how to save them.

Having it all laid out in front of her, Enterprise could finally see it. Her war in the Pacific had been the tipping point, just as it had been for the other. She had entered it with her on the verge of taking that fatal step that would've crossed a point of no return – where she would've discarded the last of her humanity and taken the plunge that would've came by executing the members of the Sakura Empire as callously as she would with Sirens. She knew that she had been saved from a terrible fate, but now she could see just what would've happened if that hadn't been the case and just how close she had been to not only dooming herself but everyone else – Azur Lane and Sakura Empire.

Because if the intervention of her allies had never happened, she would've become exactly as what that other carrier had turned into and given all that that warship wanted willingly.

"No!"

It was the railing that she pushed herself back from this time, the only victims being the glass that she released and George's plate of remaining food that tipped and fell over onto the grass. The Knight Commander was ignoring it, watching Enterprise's reaction with wide-eyed surprise before she glanced over the carrier's shoulder, saw what had to be whoever else was on the veranda with them, and then without missing a beat she smoothly caught up to Enterprise while shooting off a smile and wave.

"Don't worry, don't worry!" George assured, loud enough for whatever audience that may've taken notice. "It was just a little spill! I can get another plate!" With any suspicion preemptively taken care of, the battleship gently guided Enterprise back to their original spots.

Enterprise didn't register herself doing it, but her right hand had come up and immediately gripped tight to the rail once it was in reach to better halt the tremor that took over. A champagne glass came in front of her – George's, the one that she had managed to save – and the carrier took it with her left hand. It looked full, George not having taken a sip during her meal, but that changed when Enterprise took a few calming sips, having enough of a mind to not immediately down it as she would if it were tea.

"I guess you can see it," George remarked lightly.

"More than you know," Enterprise replied once she found her voice again, slightly out of breath.

George miraculously found it appropriate to chuckle, and Enterprise did manage to get some scrap of humor out of it whether it was due to the Royal ship or the latest glass of alcohol. The tremor in her hand had ceased, the shock of the terrible revelation wearing off. Yes, Enterprise could see it, and while it had been horrifying, it did contribute to the relief she felt when she remembered where she was, taking another eyeful of the Docklands along with another sip of champagne.

"But where do I go from here?" Enterprise asked aloud, more to herself, but leaving it free for George. She had a better appreciation for being here, even if her memories remained absent about the details, as well as a better idea of what it was that had nearly doomed her, but she still didn't know what to do to get past this block that remained in her path.

And she still had no idea of what was to come with the lingering threat that was out there.

"Just do what you've been doing," George answered. "What you needed was a better perspective, and what I think you should do now is go back inside with it."

It was too simple for Enterprise to deem as adequate. "A different perspective about what?"

"About our lives and of our futures. I would hope that you've gained a better understanding of where your mindset had been leading you and your views of human and shipgirls, and that'll incentivize you to see what kind of future we can achieve together."

"And what is that?"

George smiled. "Anything we want. You see yourself as a tool of warfare, but you should know that there have been numerous times in our history where the tools created for war were implemented for the betterment of society. Our long-range communications and radar, for instance, have become pivotal in restoring and maintaining contact with the world. Our ship designs, improvements to our power supplies and aircraft, transfer over to commercial and recreational uses."

"Rocketry," Enterprise mentioned.

"From flying bombs to one day reaching the stars, so the theories say. Even the art of medicine would never have gotten to where it is currently if there hadn't been a need to ease the suffering of our soldiers. So imagine what could come from shipgirls; technology with human thought and emotion."

Enterprise had seen one terrible thing that had come about with shipgirls and the evolution of that technology, and it was obstructing her view. "I can't right now."

George didn't take it as a bad thing. "All the better! Go in there and discover for yourself! Oh, but if I may make one suggestion: I think you should start off with Belfast."

Enterprise blinked. "Belfast?"

"I think it's quite a shame that you weren't the one I saw her dancing with before I came out here."

The carrier tilted her head, confused. Was George saying that she should've been the one dancing with Belfast? "I don't know how to dance," she explained. "She was speaking highly of it, and she seemed to want to, so when someone came by and asked her, I said that she could."

George stared at her, smile fixed on her face in a way reminiscent of the battleship having nailed it in place right before it could fall off. "Oh dear, oh dear," she said with the same tone she used when she described Enterprise's goal of the future as ridiculous. "I guess we really are going to start off with her, but I didn't expect it in this way."

That just added to Enterprise's confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well, this may be for the best," George continued, seeming to ignore Enterprise's question. "How else to better appreciate yourself than by appreciating who has done so much for you?"

"What are you talking about?" Was George trying to get to her again to make another point? "I appreciate everything that she has done for me."

"I don't think you understand the full extent of her actions." At Enterprise's quizzical look, George said, "Let me start off with a confession: I made inquiries, the extent of those you don't need to know, but they were enough for me to glean what went on to get you here."

Enterprise felt she did need to know, but what took precedence was proving George wrong about any ignorance that she felt the battleship unjustly believed that she had. "Belfast told me what happened. She got Wales's cooperation to turn this supply run into a joint effort and assign me to it. Our hotel stay was also due to them."

Rather than succeed, her answer modified George's pinned smile into a better sustainable grin. "You're half right. My clever sister had quite the part to play – I'm quite proud of her for that -, but what you don't seem to know is Belfast first had to make her appeal to Her Majesty and her court twice: one to get herself assigned to the supply run - and taking Edinburgh's place, I should add -, while the other was to assign you directly to it. The joint part was what Wales suggested in order to convince your Eagle Union superiors to go along with assigning you to it as a show of combined might."

Enterprise was caught off guard by the additional detail that she hadn't been told. Belfast mentioned making appeals, but she had thought that it was solely to Wales, not Queen Elizabeth and the rest of her inner circle. The carrier felt the additional magnitude behind it but… "Is it that special?"

"Not in her entire life had Belfast ever directly appealed to Queen Elizabeth in the manner she did, nonetheless twice in a matter of days," George said with the right amount of inflection to emphasize the uniqueness of it. "Not even for the head maid position she so coveted, instead waiting for when Newcastle made the recommendation. Speaking of that, it was of an equal amount of shock to me that not only would Belfast be leaving Queen Elizabeth's side, but she would not be returning to the Royal Palace either during her refit."

George really was conveying the events to be of special significance, but Enterprise's impulse was to minimize it. Surely this case involving her wasn't that extraordinary. "I can't be the only one she's helped, and she's had to have had assignments that have taken her from Elizabeth's side before."

"She has. Occasional escort duty for our scheduled convoys to Northern Parliament, combat missions that require her expertise or are short on personnel, and she would give additional attention to those she wishes to help in our circle, but never far from Her Majesty's side and, if she did, she would return to it as expediently as possible. Why, the only other shipgirl who bests her for time at our queen's side is Warspite."

"I don't think anyone can beat Warspite," Enterprise pointed out.

"But it's the best example," George argued good-naturedly. "Better than your attempt at deflecting the obvious, anyway."

"I'm not deflecting anything," Enterprise replied. "Belfast's a friend." She wanted to leave it at that, but something in her rebelled and drove her to keep going. "A very good friend. It's her friendship that I value. She's…done so much for me." She shifted uncomfortably. "A lot of which I don't deserve."

"Hmmm," George hummed, scratching at her chin. "You say you value her, but you fail to see what it is that she values. Or rather, you can't see it because what she values is what she sees in you"

"Values…in me?"

"Must I repeat myself? Belfast had gone far past what anyone in our camp would say is her norm – all of which has been specifically for you. But that selfless nature of yours that has you diminishing your own worth has also diminished her own feelings because they're towards you." George gave her a look of pity. "Has it not occurred to you that Belfast wants you to get better just as much as you do because of how much she cares about you?"

The question rocked Enterprise, coming close to physically putting her on her heels. "No, I…" she started to say, but words failed her. "I…"

She wanted to say that she knew. She had directly said to Belfast that she trusted her, that she appreciated her, and that it was when they had been arm-in-arm that they had declared each other as friends. It was on their first night here that Belfast swore that she would do everything in her power to make sure that Enterprise accomplished what she wanted here.

But did she know?

There was something that Enterprise felt for Belfast. Something special, but she wasn't sure how to describe it. She knew she did, but did she really know? If so, why was it that she was failing to come to terms with the importance of what George was saying behind Belfast's actions?

Why was she denying it?

Even with Belfast right next to her, guiding her, helping her, and Enterprise baring her secrets to her, when it came to her issues and her recovery, she thought strictly of herself – of how important it was for her to get better in order to be a functional and reliable shipgirl again because she had to be. Belfast's contributions, while vital, were kept to a realm that Enterprise did not see as much different from a trusted comrade who would one day leave her as they went on to their differing assignments. Enterprise called her a friend, but was her inexperience with such a thing at such a level where no matter how special she was told of how Belfast was helping her, she couldn't see it as any more than her doing so because it was a natural thing of them both being shipgirls and nothing more?

Enterprise thought back to when she told Belfast she could go and the look that she got afterwards – the look that convinced the carrier that she had made a mistake. The cruiser had been about to say something before, with that twinkle in her eye that she always got when she was about to pull something and…

"Did she want me to dance with her?" She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but it was pushed out with the pressure that came in response to this understanding that made her mistake unforgivingly grave.

George didn't waste any time. "I would be shocked if that wasn't the case."

Enterprise stood there, experiencing a type of weakness that she had never felt before. For some reason recognizing just what that mistake was, and the disappointment that Belfast must've felt because of something that she did, created a considerable amount of guilt. Not just for that but…how many other moments had there been when she hadn't been able to understand the depth of her feelings?

Thinking of those moments of closeness, whether they ranged from unsettling to comforting only for her to brush them off later and forget about them, more concerned with her functionality, she had to ask herself: had she ever?

This was not a feeling she was used to – a kind of failing that was a first for her. It was, however, something that let her know what to do. "I think I should head back inside."

"As do I," George intoned. "Before that though, if you are keen on advice…"

---

After George passed on her advice, Enterprise turned and traveled back through the doors of the veranda with haste in her step that had the Knight Commander losing her soon after.

Well, that's about all I think I should do, she thought to herself. She leaned over the railing, just enough to see where her plate of food had fallen onto the grounds, Enterprise's broken glass next to it. She looked at the tragic scene in dismay, quietly mourning the wasted food.

She'll get a maid to clean that up…right after she made another trip to the buffet tables.

George intended to make a straight shot to them, but as soon as she reentered the ballroom, she happened to glance at one of the clocks and halted when she saw what time it was. Almost time for the slow dances to end. Her gaze wandered to the stage and the musicians, thinking that maybe she should suggest they play one more song.

The Royal Navy's second-in-command looked at the musicians, then the buffet tables, then the musicians again, and repeated the process half a dozen more times with indecision before sighing woefully. The things she had to do in the name of her station, such as delaying her binge eating.

Oh well, she thought as she turned her feet to the stage. What's a delay when compared to what Belfast has been going through?

Oh yes, their head maid had a knack for taking on difficult challenges, but George believed that Belfast had decided to take on her most challenging one yet when it came to that Eagle Union carrier.