Chapter 22
A burst of bubbles leave a Shipgirl's lips, like fiery embers they shimmered as they drifted upward towards the water's surface. As if weighed down by a thousand souls she had barely the strength to reach out towards those shimmering bubbles as her back came to rest on the muddy sea floor. Her lungs burned as the dark edges of her vision crept closer to its center.
It was just like back then…
With each boom, ripples stretched across the water's surface as the glow from the dancing flames grew ever brighter. Debri fell, all around her, settling slowly in the soft sediment she found herself sinking deeper into. Her tears mixed with the murky water blurring her vision even further as a head of fire came streaking closer, clawing through the water with panicked desperation. Past the ringing, her name drifted into her ears as she felt a strong hand wrap themselves around her own.
"Ari!" The fiery figure called.
"Ari?"
Her name snapped the old Dreadnought out of her memories as a familiar hand rested on top of her own.
"I-I'm fine," she tried to smile at the Light Cruiser, "so you don't have to worry about me, Phoenix…"
"That's impossible, ya know," Phoenix gave Arizona's hand a tight squeeze.
The older Dreadnought's cheeks tinged at the thought.
"Especially when your hand's trembling this hard," the Light Cruiser gave a playful laugh, "you sure you still wanna go back?"
"It's a little too late to ask that, don't you think?" Arizona let out a quiet giggle, "besides, I'm the one who volunteered, remember?"
"Cause someone would've been lonely without me~"
"Oh please~" Arizona laughed, "don't get ahead of yourself."
"Hey guys!" Another voice called, a bit timid and muffled behind a mask, "I think I see them!"
Poking out above the Horizon were the superstructures of the newer class of Eagle Union Battleships.
Phoenix let out an incredulous whistle as the rest of the fleet came into view, "that's one helluvan escort we're gettin'! Brooklyn really stirred the pot with whatever she stumbled into!"
"I pray they're alright…" Arizona gripped her charge's railings tightly.
"Like Bataan already said~, they're fine," Phoenix flashed the older Battleship a reassuring smile, "so stop ruining your pretty little face."
She slapped at Boise's back, as the younger Cruiser let out a pained yelp, "besides, it'll take more than a couple Siren ships to take out a Brooklyn! Ain't that right Boise?!"
"Y-yeah…" the bluenette winced.
"Still though…" Phoenix crossed her arms under her chest, "I ain't so sure I'll ever get used to being the one getting escorted."
"I get what you mean…" Boise ducked below the railing, "usually we're the escorts."
Arizona giggled at the two restless Cruisers, "well I for one, am happy doing the protecting for a change."
"Me too!" Phoenix chuckled loudly, "that way I got to watch your cute stern the entire ride here!"
"Geez~" the older Battleship blushed, as she covered the back of her skirt.
o7
Brooklyn couldn't recall the last time she had seen Honolulu this excited over anything. Well, at least as excited as Honolulu could be, as she rocked from the tips to the balls of her feet, watching anxiously as her sister ships steamed into port, their escorts following closely behind.
"Lulu!~" the girl's ship had not even been completely docked before she lunged into the air with arms outstretched, her voice muffled behind a mask.
"Boise?!" Honolulu was nearly knocked over by her sister's sudden embrace.
"Lulu!" The girl cried burying her face into her sister's chest, "Phoenix is sooo~ mean!"
"There~ there~" Honolulu did her best to console the distressed Cruiser, gently stroking the back of her head.
"In what way?!" The boisterous redhead jumped onto the docks.
"There they are!" Val yelled in her mind, clenching at her skirt as she watched the reunion unfold. She couldn't forget the faces of those that saved her life all those years ago.
"Helena!" Phoenix yelled, pulling her sister into a headlock.
"H-hey~" the youngest Brooklyn whined as she tried to wriggle away, "you're messing up my hair~!"
Despite loosening her hold, Helena did not attempt to break free. In a softer tone Phoenix asked, "How you doin' kiddo?"
"I'm fine…"
"Happy to hear," Phoenix ruffled poor Helena's hair before releasing her entirely.
"Geez~" Helena pouted before taking refuge behind her older sister.
"I hope your voyage was a lot smoother than Brooklyn's," St. Louis chuckled, going in for a quick hug.
"Clear seas all the way!" Phoenix flashed a smile before scanning the crowd of girls in front of her, "speaking of…"
Val, sensing her fiance trying to hide in the crowd, gave her a little push from behind.
Her sister's eyes were on her as she stumbled into view. She had to say something, she screamed in her head as Phoenix watched her expectantly. But her steps weren't the only things she fumbled on as words refused to leave her trembling lips.
Brooklyn's feet moved quicker than her brain as she stepped closer.
"Yo-" Phoenix's greeting was cut short by a sudden embrace. She could scarcely believe it, her normally distant sister initiating this level of skinship.
"W-who are you and what have you done with my sister?!"
"S-shut up…" Brooklyn squeezed tighter, dismissing her attempt at humor.
Laughing to herself, Phoenix returned the hug, "God, why're you so awkward?"
"Shut up!"
"Fine~" Phoenix laughed again before nuzzling into the nook of Brooklyn's neck, "it's good seeing you, Brook."
Brooklyn took in her sister's scent, "yeah," her voice came out shaky along with her breath.
o7
Sooo~" Val snuck around to her fiancé's side, whispering into her ear, "so you're gonna tell them, right?"
Brooklyn hoped that question wouldn't have popped up today, but she couldn't blame her, "I'm working on it…" she grumbled.
"Working on what?" Boise curiously poked her head into her sister's view.
"Some paperwork!" Brooklyn shot out quickly, her experience as a diplomat and part-time politician coming on in full force.
"Aren't you on vacation? You shouldn't be anywhere near a stack of papers." She said wagging her finger in Brooklyn's face.
"Y'know~ last minute stuff for the Summit in two weeks, anyway-" Brooklyn deflected, "have you met my fia- friend Val?"
Val cringed in her mind, laughing at the missed opportunity to finally get the word out.
"Hello! It's a pleasure to-" she went over with a smile, but the younger Cruiser had already retreated behind her sister.
"H-hello…" Boise said with the top half of her head poking past Brooklyn's shoulder.
"Boise~" Brooklyn chastised softly, lightly bonking her sister on the head.
"I'm Val," she held out her hand once more.
"B-boise…" she shakily took Val's hand into her own.
"Love the ears," Val giggled, pointing atop the Light Cruiser's head, "they're really cute."
"T-t-thanks…" Boise aggressively twirled at her hair attempting to hide her face.
"Woah!" Phoenix barged in, putting her bunny-eared sister into a headlock, "look at you~ making new friends without me?"
"P-Phoenix~" the poor girl cried as she failed to break free.
"So, you must be Val…The fiery redhead turned toward the bespectacled girl, looking her up and down. Her brow furrowed as she continued to stare at Val's face.
"Brooklyn's friend, ain't that right? I've heard a little 'bout you from Bataan and New Orleans!" Phoenix continued.
"Valentina's the name~" she nervously chuckled, "hope what you've heard was good."
"Hah!" Phoenix laughed, unconsciously tightening her hold on Boise's neck, "Bataan wouldn't shut up about you! So! How was your first little foray into the Mirror Sea?"
"Alright!" A swift fist to the top of Phoenix's skull made her release Boise, "that's enough out of you!"
The redheaded Cruiser winced as she rubbed at the top of her head.
"It was a harrowing experience!" Brooklyn shot back angrily, "Val's only a civilian! She wouldn't get excited over a life or death situation!"
"Sorry~" Phoenix shirked back, "I'm so used to military types…"
"Well…" Val spoke up, drawing an arm across herself, "I would be lying if I said it wasn't exciting, but I'll say I'm just glad to be out of there."
"Geez~" St. Louis huffed, "all this talk about fighting is getting tiring~"
"Yeah!" Colombia pumped her fist in the air, "we should party! It's a Brooklyn family reunion!"
"Now you're talking my language!" Phoenix shouted back as the girls made their way back up the docks, "Hey," she said looking around, "where's Cleveland?"
"Hehe…" Helena laughed nervously, scratching behind her ear, "it's a long story…"
o7
On the water, just a few yards from the shore, was an old building. A peculiar white structure that no longer matched with its surroundings. Arizona leaned against the railing of its viewing platform as she peered down at the shallow depths below.
There was a ship here once, she thought to herself, me.
But just over her shoulder, her ship, once more, stood proudly above the surface, moored alongside the other Battleships.
"Ari?"
A familiar voice called from behind.
"Pen-" Arizona let out before the wind was knocked out of her by a swift embrace.
"I should've known I'd find you here…" her sister said as she squeezed a little tighter.
"Y-y'know…" Arizona laughed weakly, "I-I thought I'd pay my respects…"
"How you doin'?" She said without letting go.
"Better…"
"That's good…"
"Missed you, Penny."
"Me too, Ari…"
o7
"Kommandantin~" Eugen cooed, "not taking part in the festivities?"
"Not my cup of tea," Bismarck said, turning away from the window overlooking the party below, "or however they put it."
"Besides," she continued, "I'm not too close to those girls, it wouldn't feel right."
"You're not close to anyone," Eugen stated with a chuckle, "and you still have to tell her about your little project…"
The quiet hum of the Black Wisdom Cube drew Bismarck's attention, as it floated above her workbench.
"And I'm pretty sure she already knows, or at least, is aware."
"Soon…" Bismarck turned back towards the commotion below, a pang of jealousy in her heart, as her eyes settled on the Brooklyn sisters, "let them enjoy today…"
"Well~ I'll leave you to your thoughts," Eugen said just before the door, "I made plans with Wales and lady Hood was hoping I could convince you to come down."
Hearing that old Battlecruiser's name stirred something in the depths of her heart, but it wasn't enough to sway her decision.
She wanted nothing more than to be rid of the nuisance that was Hood. That prideful woman, she spat. She could see past Hood's air of dignity that she loved to surround herself with. And behind it, she was nothing more than a spoiled noble. Even now, that woman was always near, hot on her heels, ready to throw a wrench in whatever plan Bismarck had in motion. Granted, she admitted to herself, the plans she had back then weren't in the best interest to the world at large.
"I'll tell her I failed in my efforts, but I'll save you a plate later, little Helena's cooking is wunderbar." Eugen said, closing the door behind herself.
Yes… yes it is…
She continued to watch the party as it progressed, the double paned glass doing wonders to dampen the loud music thumping from below. She spots Z23 and her merry gang of misfits gathered around the dessert table. "Nimi" as that girl Ayanami calls her is someone Bismarck deemed indispensable. How she got in with that group of rowdy girls, even Bismarck couldn't answer. But watching her talk so animatedly, compared to how stoic she used to be, did put a smile on Bismarck's face. Maybe there was hope for herself yet. Even Brooklyn, as far as she knew her anyway. Despite knowing her as an enemy most of her life, she did hold the Eagle Union Cruiser turned Diplomat in high regard. During the cease fire talks a few years ago now, even when Bismarck herself pushed her demands a bit too far, Brooklyn never backed down from negotiations. She kept everyone on the table, drawing ire from her own hire ups as everyone was forced to compromise, for the sake of peace.
There was a girl hanging off Brooklyn's shoulder, Bismarck could observe, a human girl… They appeared to be very close, with the particular looks the two shared striking an eerie similarity with the ones Eugen and Wales give each other whenever they think they're alone. And speaking of Bismarck's most loyal subordinate, there she was, currently exchanging kisses on Wales' and Hood's cheeks. Quick banter was exchanged before all three of them broke out into a light laughter.
Bismarck's eye twitched as she gripped her curtains tightly. Hood's lips had brushed against Eugen's lobes as she appeared to whisper directly to the Heavy Cruiser. The sight irked her like no other. whatever subterfuge that damned Hood was planning was deaf to her own ears.
It was probably just an overreaction, she thought, releasing a breath. But the way Hood hid her little giggle behind her tiny gloved hands made her tighten her grip on her curtains even harder. What exactly is she laughing at?
Eugen nods before peeking behind herself, in Bismarck's direction.
What is she-
For a split second she saw Hood's radiant smile as she waved directly to her, as if beckoning her to join, but she had retreated swiftly behind the wall.
Damn… what kind of Battleship cowers in the face of her enemy?! Bismarck slowly slumped against the wall before hugging at her knees.
Bismarck's mind chugged back to speed as she forced herself to think about other things. Like the Black Wisdom Cube floating just over one corner of her workbench. Not too long ago, she had chased the Sirens, colluding with them, in hopes of unlocking the power and secrets hidden within. But now, like a glorified desk ornament it sat, floating peacefully above its tiny pedestal.
Countless hours were spent toiling away at formulas and theories to reproduce the black cube, and at long last she had finally cracked it. In front of her, were seemingly the answers to everything she had pondered throughout her life. She knew now the cost of utilizing that power and no longer wished to wield it, at least as recklessly as she did back then.
Humanity needs to forge their own path forward and it is the duty of all shipgirls to lend a helping hand.
There was still great potential hidden inside, not only its raw power, but the ability to connect humanity to a deeper part of itself. It was this ability that Bismarck had hoped to harness for her latest experiment, to fix a mistake she had made five years ago.
Everything went smoothly up until that point. Each Wisdom Cube they used brought back a lost Shipgirl, but when it came time for Helena…
It all went without a hitch, so why was she incomplete? That was her original thoughts after finding out about her memory loss, but thinking back to Enterprise's and even her own experiences, she realized Helena's situation might be something else entirely.
Visions of another self…
Was what Enterprise herself said. Bismarck had read that report over and ever again, cross referencing it with her own experiences under the Black Cube's influence.
Whatever lies on the other side, holds the key to that Helena's memories. Now all that is needed is for the girl to muster the courage to step through to the other side and join hands with whoever is waiting for her.
Bismarck took one last peek at the youngest Brooklyn before drawing her curtains closed.
A phone on her workbench sat underneath a pile of old dusty schematics of projects long abandoned. Clearing the area she picks up the handset. One long exhale later, the phone starts to ring.
"Guten Tag-"
"Bismarck?" The voice on the other side said hurriedly.
"Ja-" the Iron Blood Flagship smiled softly, "excuse me for calling so suddenly."
"It's not a big deal, r-really," Tirpitz stammered.
The silence that came next filled the Battleships with anxiety as they tried to figure out what to say next.
"H-how have you b-"
"A-about the shipment-" Their voices stumbled over the other's.
"Y-you first," Tirpitz said, "I-I insist."
"N-no. You," Bismarck said back, "it wasn't important…"
Another silence filled the air.
"So, the shipment…" Bismarck spoke up again.
"Ah, ja!" Tirpitz cleared her throat, before going back to her usual tone, "it is proceeding smoothly, Deutschland and her party should be available for rendezvous before the Summitt."
"Sehr Gut. Does anybody-"
"No." Tirpitz said quickly, "no one else is aware."
"Well done. I'll see to the rest on my end. So if that is all-"
"W-wait!" Tirpitz said quickly again, "what did you want to say… before?
"It wasn't impor-" Yes it was! Bismarck screamed in her head, "...I just… wanted to know, how are you doing?"
A soft exhale came through the phone.
"I'm doing fine… Your little Percival has been a great help," Tirpitz let out a small giggle, "though… she keeps asking when her big sis is coming back, and… me too, i suppose."
Bismarck herself couldn't help but chuckle as well, "Soon… after my work is done here."
"H-how are things on your end? Getting along with everyone?"
"J-ja…" Bismarck said weakly, "you could say that…"
"And Lady Hood?"
"..." Bismarck resisted the urge to hang up.
"Got into another fight?" Tirpitz giggled again.
"N-no! It's just-"
"Well, whatever it is, you should make up," Tirpitz switched to a more authoritative tone, "you guys went to such great lengths to be friends again… so don't throw that away now."
"I'm working on it…"
"Sure you are, Schwester," Tirpitz giggled once more.
"Well," Bismarck said, slightly miffed, "it is late over here so I am hanging up now."
"Bismarck…" Tirpitz said with a pause, "it was nice… to hear your voice."
"Likewise, Tirpitz…"
If one were to listen closely enough, you could almost hear their smiles. The night went by peacefully for the older Battleship as did the younger's day.
o7
My shitty work schedule just went into effect a few days ago so this and probably my next update are gonna be smaller ones.
And I just realized, whatever I say is gonna happen in the next chapter ends up not, so you can just call me a liar.
But… next chapter is gonna be mostly from St. Louis's perspective and will take place during the party. She's like a big sister to everyone, but just this once she might be forced to indulge in being the younger one for a change.
Again for everyone reading this far, thank you! And please if you have any critique about how I'm doing or the story is progressing, let me know!
I've pretty much lost my beta to his own responsibilities for a while so forgive me if things are looking a bit rough.