Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Arc 5 - Order of the Phoenix – part 2
August, AD 1995, an undisclosed location in a place beyond the mortal realm.
"Hold on a second! What do you mean I wasn't supposed to interfere with him?" 'Lieutenant Colonel' Tanya inquired.
"You yourself told me he had to survive to destroy Voldemort!" And 'witch' Tanya pointed out the small detail he had personally shared with her.
"Besides…"
""He DIED!""
"And if it wasn't for me, he would've stayed that way!"
"Sigh! Didn't you witness the dark ritual Voldemort used to reclaim his physical body?"
Both of them nodded their blonde heads.
"That ritual also anchored the boy's life. In the case of Voldemort killing him, his soul would be pulled back and his life restored in a matter of minutes."
""WHAT?!""
"Y-you are saying…"
"… I almost destroyed the universe for nothing?!"
His response came in the form of an angry nod.
"And this had a grave consequence: since Voldemort already killed him, anyone can kill that boy now. Harry Potter lost a vital protection too early!"
Tanya was horrified at this revelation. Given Harry's knack for finding trouble, she feared he might meet his end on his very first day back at Hogwarts.
"H-hold on! Are you sure about this ritual?! It took me great effort to pull his soul back!"
"That was because he was fighting off the hor- the foreign piece on him."
"You mean, that snake?" At the time, Tanya didn't hesitate or even gave any thought. She killed it merely because it was in her way.
"Yes, all your effort was actually to bring it back to life, only to kill afterward! Besides, that boy must be struggling with the excess of life energy you left on him…"
"It's official! I made things worse!"
"H-how the heck was I supposed to know?!"
"This wouldn't have happened had you followed my instructions to the letter! I told you all those years ago to stay away from Harry Potter!"
Both Tanyas exchanged puzzled looks, mirroring each other's confusion.
"This is different from what you said!"
"Yeah! You explained all his circumstances and said I- 'we' should care for him! That I had to watch him closely!"
Peverell closed his eyes and clasped his head with his hands.
"… I said to be CAREFUL of him! That you should watch out to not get in his way!"
"No! It wasn't- or was it?" 'Witch' Tanya shifted her gaze to the other, her expression filled with doubt.
"Hum… thinking back, we talked about Harry at the end of our meeting."
"Right! Peverell had begun to fade away and his words were starting to get difficult to understand."
"I see, I see! Like a transmission full of static, we didn't hear the 'no' part!" 'Lieutenant Colonel' Tanya chuckled.
"It seems I- we messed up big, didn't we? Hahaha-"
"THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER!" Again, his shout thundered in the infinite white.
In response, the Tanyas shrugged simultaneously.
"In any case, it was lucky we misunderstood!"
"Yup, Harry Potter wouldn't last long if it wasn't for me!"
"Exactly as she said! Just in our first year, there was this troll-"
"He would have killed it aided by Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger." Peverell said quickly.
""Huh?""
"This death or life event would cement their everlasting friendship. In truth, you almost caused it to never happen!"
It took them a while to process this new information.
"What about Quirrell and Voldemort later on? If I wasn't close by, he-"
"He had the protection of his mother. Quirrell wouldn't have survived to return three years later."
""…"" Once more, they were left speechless, mouths hanging open in disbelief.
"A-anyway, on the following year, the basilisk-"
"Fawkes the phoenix would have helped him. The same way you did, Harry Potter would've killed it with the sword of Gryffindor."
"I do not like this pattern."
"… the dementors?"
"Without you, his parents would still occupy a dear place in his heart. He would evoke a patronus similar to his father's."
Tanya was too overwhelmed to muster the courage to ask about the tournament or the cemetery.
"He would've handled the Triwizard Tournament perfectly fine without your assistance." Unfortunately, her boss wasn't so kind.
"And about the last encounter with the dark lord, Peter Pettigrew wouldn't be dead. He would have returned to Voldemort his wand…" Peverell elaborated on how this could have been a significant advantage for the boy. Essentially, the two wands, sharing the same core, would initiate a 'Priori Incantatem', neutralizing the Dark Lord's spells and establishing an automatic defense against Voldemort.
"… there was a great chance it would be the deciding factor in the light side's eventual victory."
""…"" They stood frozen in place, fully absorbing every word spoken.
"In other words…" Finally 'witch' Tanya managed to gather the will to speak.
"… all the troubles…" And 'lieutenant colonel' Tanya followed suit.
"… all the times I almost died…"
"… my training of him…"
"… all that hand grabbing…!"
"… becoming his girlfriend…!"
"… t-the kisses…!"
"… a-and the o-other STUFF we did…!"
""In sum, EVERYTHING we did was all for-""
"Nothing? No, you ended up getting in the way of his destiny and now, his chances are lower than in the original timeline!"
""GAAAAAAHHHHH!"" The two could only lament the past four years. Of all the mistakes she had ever made, this one was on top.
"Aff! I underestimated you. It didn't work to keep the location of the hallows from you."
""What…?""
"I would have disclosed everything at the most opportune moment: close to your last days at Hogwarts. As the hallows had a great chance of playing a role-"
"You are saying your plan was for me to struggle in failure straight for eighteen years?!"
"W-well…" It was his turn to take a step back as both Tanyas glared fiercely at him.
"Y-y-you should despair! What were you thinking by making the boy fall for you?!" Cleverly, he redirected the conversation back to her.
"That wasn't the idea, all right?"
"Y-yeah! It all started when I thought of making him see me as a sister figure to facilitate our relationship…"
"Regardless…" He waved his hand. The entire view changed and they appeared on platform nine and three-quarters in London.
"Why are we here?"
"You two watch!" He ordered, pointing a finger.
Tanya was surprised to spot an older Harry Potter walking alongside a person she recognized as an older Ginny Weasley, accompanied by three children.
"Those must be their children- Ah! That is Albus!" She recognized one of the two time-travelers.
"This is how it ends for those two?" The other Tanya asked.
"In my view, they did fairly well. Look how happy they are. Harry must have gotten over me."
"No! That is the future you ruined! While this…" Again, he waved his hand and the scenery changed.
They found themselves in a pub, surrounded by drunken and smoking patrons. In the midst of it all, Harry sat, clutching a glass of alcohol, his expression conveying desolation. It was a far cry from the other smiling man with his family.
"… is the best future in the case of Harry Potter defeating Voldemort."
"What happened to him?"
"Did his friends die?"
"No silly girls! He is still mourning you!"
"Thought as much!"
"No need to be rude!"
"Oh! I am not being rude at all! You have no idea what I wish I could do to you…!" The girls were left shivering.
"… nonetheless, I am bound by my promise!" Once more, he waved his hand and they were on another date and place. One the Tanyas recognized very well.
"This is the Yamanote train platform where I died!" Time was frozen, with the salaryman mere inches from the incoming train.
"Alright, let's conclude this affair fast!" He thrust his hand forward, summoning a gust of wind that pushed the salaryman away from the train tracks and onto the adjacent rails.
"Like this, people will believe the attacker applied too much strength and you got out of the way."
The two Tanyas stared in awe.
"That's it?!"
"So easily, it's over?!" Then, both girls turned to each other, wearing big grins on their faces.
""I AM GOING HOME AT LAST!"" They jumped for joy, embracing each other tightly before breaking into a lively waltz.
"All the ordeals…!"
"All the troubles…!"
""… are all finally over!""
They sang melodiously as they spun around.
"After so many encounters with death…!"
"After so many thoughts that Harry would eventually ravish my body…!"
They came to a stop and each assumed a different yet equally dramatic pose.
""We got the last laugh against that fake piece of shit!"" They concluded their performance with boisterous laughter.
"I don't want to take away your happiness but it seems you are forgetting something considerably important."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"There are TWO of you, and this body can only take ONE soul."
"Eh?"
"Ah?" The two Tanyas distanced themselves from each other, their glares growing intense as if they were rival applicants for the same job.
""!"" In an instant, rifles materialized in their hands.
""You are not taking what is rightfully mine!""
Peverell facepalmed himself in disbelief at this turn of events.
"What… are you two doing?!"
""TAKING THE ENEMY DOWN!"" Quickly, they fired at each other simultaneously… unsurprisingly, nothing happened.
"You understand these are not weapons, right? They are merely illusions cast by your will. Besides, you can't kill each other! You are already dead!" Peverell emphasized this obvious fact.
"No choice! We do it the civilized way!"
"Agreed!" Next, they created test sheets.
""The most capable will have the body!"" A few minutes later, they had answered all the questions and got the same grade…
"Are you listening to me?! You are exactly halves! Meaning one has the same abilities and intellectual prowess as the other!"
"I-I wish he had mentioned it sooner…" And not subsequently she strained her mind in an attempt to outwit her other self.
"How are we… solving this… matter?" 'Witch' Tanya asked, likely feeling as exhausted as she did.
"I believe I have the proper solution." Their boss stepped in, positioning himself between them. Exactly as they had done with their guns, Peverell conjured the illusion of a coin.
"You are heads." He referred to the Tanya wearing the Hogwarts uniform…
"You are tails." … and this to the Tanya wearing military garments.
"Here we go." He tossed the coin high into the air. It landed on the floor and rolled a short distance before revealing…
"HEADS! HOORAY!" 'Witch' Tanya shouted in delight.
"Gah! This is so unfair!" While 'Lieutenant Colonel' Tanya whined.
"Hehehe! There is nothing unfair! In the end, the best won!"
"Grrr! Why the smug face?! You won by chance!"
"Prepare yourself. I will open the path." Peverell informed walking closer to the salaryman.
"No! It can't end this way! She is, err,undeserving!" She felt that Peverell's earlier assertion was incorrect; they weren't divided equally.
"I was born ready, please hurry!"
"See? Besides being smug, she is impatient! My rational mind will be completely ruinedby illogical, foolish, and overly emotional traits if she goes back to my body!" She concluded this with reasoning completely based on rationality (and definitely not envy).
"Hurry! Hurry!"
"Patience, child! I am going as fast as I can."
"Andshe isn't very smart, she left herselfcompletely… open?" Subtly, she glanced at her other self: she was distracted, her expression radiating happiness at her good fortune.
"Another proof of your inferiority, you forgot to not be intoxicated by a temporary victory! Allow me to remind you why you shouldn't!" She positioned herself, a sly grin on her face as she awaited the ideal moment.
"Here you go." Over the salaryman appeared a sort of white hole.
"… steady."
"Jump in there, your memories will be erased and you will resume your old life."
"… steady!"
"OHHH! All I have to do is jump?!"
He nodded his head.
"NOW!" Quickly, 'Lieutenant Colonel' Tanya attacked.
"Thank you so much- OUCH!" Taken by surprise, her other self was pushed out of the way.
"Hey! What is the big idea?!" The girl merely gave their trademark smirk.
"This is called an aggressive takeover! Something an overly emotive person like you could never grasp!" And with those words, she jumped at the salaryman.
"WAIT- NOOOOOO!" Tanya watched in horror as the single existing path to her old life closed when her treacherous other self jumped in.
"How did- PEVERELL! Please, I was the one chosen! Take that BITCH from my body and put me in there!"
"Not going to happen."
"W-WHY?!"
"Because I can't! I am not a God, my powers have limits!"
"But-"
"Besides, our agreement was to return you to your body and it is done!"
Realizing her boss wouldn't budge, Tanya could only gaze longingly at the frozen salaryman.
"Uhh! So close, yet so far! This is so unfair!"
"Yeah, as unfair as someone who messes with the timeline!"
"I told you I am- the timeline…" It dawned on Tanya how she could solve all her mistakes with a single stroke.
"Harry's son used a different time-turner! If it already exists today, maybe I could-"
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
"Why not? I could avoid the creation of my treacherous second self! Maybe go further back and warn me not to get too close to Harry!"
"You are not thinking straight! Messing with time affects all existence, we superior spirits as well!"
"We just need to make it with the utmost caution and precision!"
"There is no caution and precision when dealing with time-turners! You have no idea the damage those things did to this universe!" Peverell started a long lecture, citing cases of changes so colossal that the world changed from an advanced civilization to a lasting stone age.
"Eh? I lived in a changed timeline?!"
"On this side, we can perceive the changes and hope it doesn't affect us! As you can see, a time-turner can be even more dangerous than a thousand deathly hallows!"
"Shit…" As Peverell had said, Tanya wasn't thinking straight. Many years ago, she gave up using time-traveling magic after theorizing the severe consequences.
"… fine. It was a bad idea, worse than I thought." Regrettably, she had to give in. In other words…
"Ahhhh!Goodbye, my true self!" She cast one last look at the salaryman, reflecting on how fourteen years of planning had culminated in this failure. And she literally only has 'herself' to blame.
"Maybe I will visit you someday…" Nevertheless, she has to press forward.
"What am I supposed to do now? G-go back?" She wasn't overly enthusiastic about returning, mindful of her impending marriage and being pursued by that depraved dark lord.
"I am afraid you can't. Your body was left empty of vital energy."
"Did it? Weird, I felt so charged."
"As I had anticipated, the destruction of the hallows demanded an absurd amount of power, and because you gave too much for the boy, you almost didn't make it."
"Harry Potter was the death of me! Why am I not surprised?!"
"Don't fret, we still have a solution available!"
"Y-you can't be talking about…!"
"It appears all my efforts to keep Pandora Lovegood alive will have been worthwhile!" Peverell explained how Luna's mother was destined to die one year before they met. To ensure they had a 'contingency mother', the agent of death worked hard to delay her fate until the day came for Tanya to intervene.
"Is this why you didn't answer me a few months ago?"
"That was a miscalculation on my part, I should have had enough energy for our meeting… instead of waking up mere moments before you destroy the universe!" His scowl flashed briefly before melting back into a smile.
"In any case, ready to be part of the Lovegood family?" Sadly, she expected his smile to falter once more at her reply.
"ABSOLUTELY NO!"
The agent of Death was taken aback by her fervent denial.
"Can you give me a reason to refuse?"
"I could give you a thousand reasons! But one is enough: it is the Lovegoods!"
Peverell sighed hard.
"Please, don't be so difficult! Your passing left that family in profound sorrow, a small push and they will turn to coupling to console each other."
"I-I don't need to be informed of all the dirty details!"
"It's just that we would have to act fast, as a result of her accident, Pandora is almost ending the fertile period of her life."
"Argh! Isn't there any other option?"
"You could return to the circle of reincarnation."
"And lose my memories?!" Besides, there is no way to know what sort of life she would get or what sort of new person she would be.
"Is there no other alternative? Can't you send me somewhere else with my memories?" Though she was aware this convenient outcome was unlikely, she had to try.
"To tell the truth… yes, I can."
"You do?!"
"It would be the place we met, sixty years after your death."
"T-the place we met?!" In other words, the world Being X sent her.
"I always wondered how things progressed there… tell me, was there any new war?"
"No, that world never saw another war of such magnitude. In truth, barely any new conflict starts. It's by a great margin much more pacific than our own."
"Really?!" What fantastic news. In many ways, that society provided more opportunities for someone as ambitious and knowledgeable as her.
"Nonetheless, you went through much suffering so I don't think you will wish to go back-"
"I DO!"
"You sure?!"
"Yes! A peaceful world and I don't have to go to the lunatic Lovegoods?! What are we waiting for?!"
"I believe we should exercise some caution. Let's first meet your future mother before making any definite decision…"
Once again, with a wave of his hand, the scenery changed. Tanya was met with the visage of a young woman very similar to her and Pandora Lovegood, except by her age, she appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties, sipping tea in a cafe close to a square.
Taking in the view, Tanya could tell how serene and prosperous the whole place was, furthermore, people seemed genuinely happy in general.
"It does give the impression of a war-free place…" Additionally, the scenery was strangely familiar. She took a good look at the most attention-grabbing landmark, a big statue of an angel in a praying pose at the square.
"What the-! 'In memory of Tanya Von Degurechaff, our little angel of peace'?!" She was shocked to find out the statue depicted her, with a plate written in Russy.
"Wait a moment! We are in Moskva, the capital of the Russy Federation!" She didn't forget the place she once raided.
"Peverell! What sort of joke is this?!"
"What? If you remember correctly, I mentioned how you weren't going to wish to come here!"
"No kidding! Does it have to be the Russy Federation of all places?! And how the heck did I become a celebrity here?!" Furthermore, it was frustrating and disappointing to see the communist's nest still standing.
"Hmm… could these people be a new occupying population?" She didn't think that was the case, given how everyone around appeared to be native Russy speakers.
"Did anyone hear my transmission?! Or could it be that no one cared enough to avenge me?!" In any case, it was irksome to have wasted her acting skills.
"Shouldn't you be more concerned with your new mother?"
"Humpf! As if I will accept a Russy mother…!" She mumbled while turning her attention back to the cafe.
"What is taking him…?" The woman murmured in the local language.
"See?! She is definitely a commie! What is next? She is Loria's granddaughter?!" The Lovegoods were starting to get better by the minute in her eyes.
"Hum, he is late. Perhaps I should contact his hotel- Ah! There he is!" The woman got up from her chair to wave at an approaching elderly gentleman.
"Comrade Grantz! It's so great to meet you!" Changing her language to German/Imperial, the woman enthusiastically greeted the old man.
"Did she say Grantz? As in Lieutenant Grantz?!" Tanya noticed how behind the wrinkles, the gray hair, and the beard was the young lieutenant who served under her.
"Oh, what a dream come true! The last living member from Tanya von Degurechaff's Salamander Kampfgruppe!"
"Huh? This Russy is my fan?"
"Hohoho! No, the pleasure is all mine to meet the world-famous actress Tatiana Voronovna Demidovich! To this day, your interpretation of the commander brings tears to my eyes."
"She interpreted me? The Russy Federation made a movie about me?!"
"Not just the Federation and not only one, dozens!" She shot Peverell a curious glance.
"What? Eternity can be boring without a pastime!"
"I-I see." Tanya opted to brush aside this peculiar revelation and returned her focus to observing her former subordinate's interaction.
"P-please, Comrade Grantz, stop staring at me so intently…" The Russy Tatiana blushed at the old man eyeing her up and down.
"… although I do feel a little flattered, I am engaged!"
"Oh, no no! That wasn't my intention. I merely can't help thinking how the commander would have become such a striking beauty had she survived…"
"Sorry if I upset you… making you remember your sad past."
"Please, don't apologize. This was the reason you invited me, didn't you?"
"Yes! I know everything about Tanya but I never talked with anyone who actually met her!" With immense enthusiasm, the young woman pulled Grantz to a seat at the table, where the old man was more than willing to share numerous stories.
"… I thought I was gonna die! When I came to, the commander had already dealt with the enemy."
"Ohhhh! And…?! What happened next?!"
"Well, the Francois Republic army had…"
For hours, they continued in the same pattern: he would nostalgically narrate his tales while she listened avidly.
"… I was devastated upon Visha's death. And then, the brass surrendered commander Degurechaff to the NKVD!" In this segment, there was no trace of nostalgia; his voice conveyed anger and regret.
"We did plan a rescue operation… sigh! Our superiors caught wind of it and promptly placed every member of the Salamander Kampfgruppe under house arrest."
"My men didn't abandon me!" This news made the entire trip worthwhile.
"Finally, about one month later, came that transmission…!" Grantz gritted his teeth.
"'The first transmission enhanced by magic', pff! Pretty hypocrital of a country that condemned mages, if you ask-" He widened his eyes in embarrassment.
"My apologies, it wasn't my intention to offend your people." He announced, offering a slight nod of his head.
"None taken. We ourselves find it embarrassing in our participation with her death." Tatiana bowed apologetically.
"I don't get why our leaders exposed her like that. The transmission reached as far as the Unified States."
"It did?" Her message echoed across the globe, yet no one rose to avenge her.
"The Unified States, for example, should be hungry for a chance."
"From what I understand, the federation was planning to restart the war after they recovered. Showing off the broken commander was meant as a demonstration of power."
"It must have been a shock."
"We knew Tanya Degurechaff wouldn't ever betray the fatherland! Even before she made that second statement!"
"I still shudder to think what the ET96 must have done to her…"
"The commander ended up being the sole victim of the damned thing! What was my countrymen thinking creating that crap?!"
"Good question!" While her men were cleared of suspicion, the same couldn't be said about her superiors.
"You don't think… she has been the sole target of the ET96 since the beginning?!" Almost as if they were in sync, Tanya's mother candidate voiced her suspicion.
"No, the commander took the short straw…" Tanya listened intently as Grantz disclosed another valuable piece of information.
Originally intended as a computational jewel for regular soldiers to combat mages, the Elenium Type 96 was designed to disrupt magic in its vicinity rather than calculate mana usage. However, its development proved to be a nightmare worse than the Type 95, leading it to be passed around various departments until it landed in chemical weapons research. While a prototype was developed, it proved ineffective against the majority of mages, only showing efficacy on targets of the named level.
"The more powerful, the most effective…?! I had no chance!" Moreover, during testing, it was discovered the drug had additional side effects at high dosages, which included memory loss and rendered the mage highly susceptible to suggestions.
"… the Empire had no opportunity to use it. Eventually, the intelligence of the Russy Federation, infamous for their wish to eradicate mages, managed to steal a sample."
"Why have I never heard so many details before?"
"Because it remained top secret for several years, and postwar censorship ensured that just a few parts were available to the public. I got the complete version thanks to my wife, Elya, who worked for the intelligence services."
"Ugh! My countrymen went as far as stealing! In those moments, I dread being born a Russy…"
"As you should!"
"No, really! I am so sorry my country made her suffer so much!"
"Don't apologize, my dear. Remember she already forgave you all."
"Eh…? I forgave?!"
"More than brave, she was so kind! Who goes through that hell and forgives?"
"And she was alone in that. People in general were so angry the war might have restarted with the sole purpose of punishing this nation."
"My grandfather told me how our people became loathed. 'Killers of children' and 'pedophiles' were insults commonly thrown at us."
"On our part, we from the Salamander Kampfgruppe were all furious with your people. Major Weiss had to remind us constantly it wasn't the commander's wish to have your country razed to the ground."
"Yes, it was!"
"'This is not what Tanya Degurechaff would have wanted' were words my grandfather said saved him in the world outside." The woman began to giggle.
"He also used to joke how communism would have ended many years ago if it wasn't for her to defend the different ideologies."
"I definitely did no such thing!"
"'The adoptive mother of communism', is how some people called her in those days!"
"WHAT?!"
"The commander would have been pleased to see that today, communism and capitalism walk hand-in-hand, exactly the way she wished!"
"AAARRRGGGHHH!" She instinctively covered her ears trying to block any further slander about her of all people defending socialism.
"Capitalists and communists getting along?! Some would consider this a utopia BUT NOT ME! A good commie is a dead commie!"
"… I have been meaning to ask, isn't that statue…" Grantz pointed to angel Tanya at the square.
"… from the last scene of your movie?"
"You have a good memory!"
"No, I merely watched it a thousand times!" They laughed.
"Really? How about watching it one more time?" Tatiana proposed.
"Today being the anniversary of Tanya Degurechaff's death, my movie will be aired on television and…"
"Okay! Enough for me! Can we leave-"
"Let's trail them!"
"Why?" She was startled at Peverell's excited tone with his proposal. Mostly because he remained indifferent so far.
"I've been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to watch 'Tanya, Little Angel of Peace' again!"
"Ha?!"
"Believe me, you will love it! Your movies are really good and that one is the best of them all!"
"Is he a movie freak?!"
'I love you too, Visha!' Tanya Degurechaff (movie version) declared warmly.
'Oh, warrant officer Degurechaff! Are you sure?! Don't you think I am a pervert?' Visha (also movie version), replied with tears of happiness coming down her cheeks.
'No, in the matter of love, sex and age are meaningless!' With those words, 'Tanya' went full naked.
'Now, come! Let's shower each other with love!'
'Warrant officer- no, Tanya, my love!'
"I knew it was going to be bad but not to this extent!" Tanya could only watch with scandalized astonishment as the two women in the movie engaged in a very risqué performance.
"T-T-THE HECK?! Why did the movie about my life turn into a porn?!"
"This is no porn! The angle of the cameras don't show the private parts. It is, at most, a movie with a few erotic scenes." Peverell, assuming an air of cinematic expertise, elucidated.
"Fine! Why is this 'erotic scene at most' happening?! I never did anything of the sort with Visha!"
"Haven't you heard about poetic freedom? In all movies, the heroine must have a romantic interest."
"It's just… does it have to be so graphic?!" The real Tanya gestured toward the screen to indicate the two girls moaning and kissing immorally.
"Huh? I noticed something, Tatiana, the actress, isn't she underage?" As far as Tanya could discern, her mother candidate was around thirteen years old in the film.
"Unlike ours, this world doesn't have proper laws about children in movies. The common sense is that if it's for the arts, it's allowed."
"Unbelievable…" Thankfully, the scene didn't last long. However, she would find out this was not the sole inaccuracy; in fact, there were several, such as Tanya depicted playing with dolls in her leisure time or exaggerating her love for her country.
"Well, at least the movie represents me as a competent officer. And I admit it has some nice sequences of action- Ah?" The character of Rerugen appeared in the movie.
This was a person whom she still harbored many unanswered questions.
"Did he really sell me off?" Or, similar to her men, did he possess a valid excuse?
"Perhaps, this movie can explain why he was afraid of me-"
'Major Degurechaff! I am madly in love with you!' The Rerugen in the movie forcefully took 'Tanya' in his arms.
"… eh?"
'I know about Serebryakov, yet I can't give up on you! Please, accept my feelings!'
'Colonel, you silly! Of course, I accept your love!' Unnecessary to explain that they kissed, undressed, and… they did 'poetic freedom' in the middle of a corridor.
"Am I regarded as promiscuous too?!"
"Well, you must be aware of how communism supports sexual liberation…"
Tanya had to turn away from the screen, instead gazing at the two living spectators.
"Comrade Grantz! Are you sure Tanya didn't have a boyfriend? Perhaps Colonel Rerugen?" 'Porn actress' asked while blushing.
"To tell the truth, I am an avid Tanya/Rerugen shipper!"
"Hmm… I remember him sometimes visiting to talk with the commander and always with a present. Coffee, chocolate, things she liked…"
"Oh my! Are you insinuating he was courting her?! And how did she answer?!"
"The commander…? She seemed happy when he was around."
"Of course I was! Who wouldn't with the prospect of receiving gifts?!" Besides, his visits brought the hope she would get a job at the rear.
"Certainly! It is no secret how Visha is your true love!"
"…" Tanya concealed her irritation at her boss's words.
"Let me guess, he is a fanatical 'Tanya/Visha' shipper!"
"… and there were rumors she used to sleep in his house!"
Upon hearing her former subordinate's words, Peverell turned to her with a look of betrayal in his eyes.
"D-don't get any weird ideas, it was just on one occasion plus I slept ALONE in one of the many rooms!" Unfortunately, only one person was able to hear her explanation.
"KYAAAHHH! I KNEW IT! THEY WERE LOVERS!" Tatiana entered a state of bliss as it appeared her preferred shipping had been confirmed as real.
"Err, I wouldn't jump to conclusions." Grantz said, attempting to bring her back to reality.
"Those rumors, especially about her being in love with either Visha or Rerugen, were never confirmed."
"Yeah, this was an idea created in 'Tanya, the petite warrior' from back in the sixties."
"Indeed, that was the first time you had a romantic interest!" Peverell explained.
"The movie was of low quality in the details, the actress playing you, in particular, was too old. It turned into a huge success, though, due to the beautifully executed romantic scenes featuring you and Rerugen!"
"I-I see…"
"The following movie, 'Tanya, loved by all', was polemical as it described a homosexual relationship with you and your adjutant…" Tanya sighed seeing as Peverell's flip was switched on.
"… every movie would depict you with one or the other, all except 'Little Angel of Peace' which has a unique approach!" It wouldn't take long to discover what he meant. Later, both Visha and Rerugen would confront Tanya to determine whom she loved the most.
'Choose between you two?! How could I? There is no such a thing as loving one person more than another!' Then, as if it was the answer of this Tanya for everything, she fully undressed herself.
'The most wonderful thing about love is how it can be shared among many people simultaneously!' Tanya closed her eyes, not wishing to see her character engaging in a threesome.
"A-a-as if I would ever take part in an orgy!"
Finally, the movie reached the climax as Tanya informed her men she was to be handed over to the Russy Federation.
'Commander!'
'Don't leave us!'
'We will protect you!'
'Fight to the last man if needed!'
'You must understand! This is necessary for our fatherland to have peace…'
"Please…! Tell me she isn't going to have an orgy with them all!"
'… but I can spare a moment to show how much you all mean to me!' Clothes flew everywhere as EVERYONE undressed.
"'Poetic freedom'…?"
"'Tanya' is showing her immense love in a way for the audience to understand! History sees you as a very loving person."
"I think history actually sees me as a WHORE!" She was tremendously glad to see the credits rolling.
"What a torture! At last, its over-"
"Don't be fooled. The movie still has about ten minutes."
"You are joking!" It was as he told her. Similar to the recent days with the infamous post-credits scenes, the movie resumed.
'Mwehehe! You are mine, Tanya!'
"!" She shivered uncontrollably, becoming aware of what part of her life was left to be shown.
'All you can have is my body! My heart belongs only to the Empire!' Tanya in the movie declared while Loria held a syringe.
Tanya averted her gaze from the screen, apprehensive that the reenactment might evoke memories of the actual events. Instead, she redirected her attention to her mother candidate and Grantz.
"Comrade Grantz, are you sure my country didn't lie about… this scene?"
"…?" Confused by the remark, Tanya turned her focus back to the screen.
'Grrr! Mark my words, you will beg to be my wife!' Loria, despite already having the drugged Tanya at his mercy, left her alone and untouched.
"I thought so at the time, I didn't buy when the doctor declared in person she died as pure as the day she was born."
"'Pure as the day she was born'? Are they talking about me?"
"Once more, it was my wife who confirmed that the results of the autopsy weren't tampered with, the commander wasn't molested."
"WHAT?!" Tanya was beyond bewildered.
"What pedophile wants to wait until they are married?! Why didn't Loria rape her?"
"There are no living people who can tell us…"
"I… wasn't raped?!" More than anything, she longed to ask what they meant, unfortunately, they changed the subject as the scenes transitioned.
"Wahhh! This is my favorite part!" At Tatiana's lively shout, Tanya watched her movie equivalent with a mic in her hands giving a speech.
'… this may sound like a betrayal to my empire! After suffering such… indignities… I forgive the Russy!'
"Hey! I said I did NOT forgive them!"
'… communism will walk hand-in-hand with the capitalist! It's impossible to not realize that!'
"Hold on! They missed the 'not' part again!" She could guess the transmission must have malfunctioned at this point.
"They completely misunderstood what I said?! And all because of a single small word?!"
"Hmpf! Now you know how I felt!" Peverell reminded her own great misunderstanding.
'Please don't forget that I was here…' Tanya let go of the mic and turned to the door as it was broken down.
'I win!' A shot echoed but instead of falling dead, the girl sprouted wings and turned into an angel.
'Tanya von Degurechaff may have died on that mournful day, yet, her message of peace resonated across the globe…'
She let out a heavy sigh. On any ordinary day, she might have been having a tantrum at the portrayal of herself in the film. However, while the true credits rolled, her thoughts returned to the news of her dying a virgin.
"Can't be… my country must have lied to prevent my men from seeking retribution." Nonetheless, Grantz, with access to privileged information, appeared highly confident.
"Should we go and see?" Peverel offered, seemingly in a great satisfied mood for seeing the movie until the end.
"W-well-" Without a moment for her to deliberate, the scenery changed. From the cozy living room, they went to a disturbingly familiar cell.
"I-is that… me?!" Tanya was startled to see herself sitting on the bed, wearing a pink dress. What unnerved her the most was the blank expression on her face, with a drool trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"Is she ready?" A chilling shiver ran down her spine at the sound of the familiar voice.
"Y-yes, we kept her clean." Loria was in discussion with two women who were noticeably uncomfortable making eye contact with him.
"You didn't allow anyone to try to touch what is mine, right?"
"I-it was as you ordered."
"Excellent, you may leave us!"
One of the women hesitated, while the other, with a somber expression, just shook her head. They both left Tanya alone with Loria.
"MWEHEHEHE! Our first night together, at long last, my doll!" Gradually, he approached her, impatiently tearing at his own clothes.
"G-Grantz was wrong!" With a blend of disgust and panic, she shrank away from the impending horror, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"T-t-the doctors lied about my autopsy! It was all a lie!"
"Ohhhh! This is heaven! Your tiny body feels- AHHHH!" Her fears were confirmed hearing Loria grunting and moaning.
"N-N-NO MORE! TAKE US FROM HERE! P-please…!"
"I believe you should watch this."
"I-I don't want to see myself being raped in the past-"
"No, there is something to see, even if not quite what you have in mind."
"…?" Hesitantly, she took a peck at the grunting pig.
"Wha-?!" She saw Loria on the other side of the room, far from her past self.
"Hehehe! You are delicious!" He was lost in a trance, grunting and moaning, having an erotic dream while standing naked.
"I think I am gonna puke-!" In his eyes, she caught a glimpse of a faint yellow glow.
"Being X?!" She concluded her old nemesis was manipulating Loria's mind, making him believe he was having a blast ravishing her body.
Peverell was kind enough to fast forward the entire month, revealing the same sort of occurrence in all her time with Loria. In truth, the closest he ever got to her was on the day at the broadcasting studio when he had her sit on his lap and disgustingly kissed her cheek.
"Why would he protect me? I am sure I didn't pray to him!"
"By my own experience with Death, I can tell those beings are very proud, so maybe, he didn't wish to let someone else break you?"
"Maybe… what a- !" She was hit by the fabulous reality.
"I wasn't raped!" Grantz was right, she died as virgin as on the day she was reborn.
"I… I am so… sob!" She felt like waking from a long nightmare, saved by Being X of all people. She knew he had a purpose behind this act of mercy. But for now, she let the tears of relief flow freely.
"I am sorry, there is nothing more I can do." Lying in bed, an elderly man heard his last diagnosis.
"Make sure he is comfortable in his last moments." The doctor gave the woman in front of him a last encouraging smile before leaving.
"Sob! Thank you. Sob!" The silence of the room was broken by his orphanage's staff sobs.
"… don't… cry…" The dying man tried to offer a bit of comfort.
"Sob! Mr Rerugen- no, grandpa Erich! Please, don't leave us!" Erich Von Rerugen smiled fondly at the way she used to call him. Before being employed in his orphanage, she had been one of the many children he raised.
"Closing my eyes, I can still see all of their smiling faces." In his mind, flashed every single child he had sheltered through the years and all the hard work to direct them on the right path in life. Proudly, he could declare that almost all of them became useful and happy members of society.
"And the most important part, none followed a military career." It was his vow: to not allow the creation of another MONSTER.
"This way, I have one sole little girl to answer-"
"So, we meet again, General Rerugen!"
"!" He almost choked, stepping over him was Tanya Von Degurechaff, a little older and wearing what seemed to be a school uniform.
"T-Tanya… Degurechaff…?" In an impulse, he tried to reach the girl, just to see his hand go through her.
"A-a ghost?!" Either that or his guilty mind was playing tricks on him.
"Hmm? Can he see us?" She said looking to the side, as if someone else was there.
"Only me? Because he is dying? In any case, shouldn't we leave? Won't this count as changing the past?" He was startled, ghost or fantasy, he couldn't let her leave before he apologized.
"… we… need… talk…" His request was met by a fierce glare.
"Why?" A question came with a cold tone.
"I did everything you asked of me! No matter my personal feelings, no matter how utterly barbaric, I carried out my orders!"
"Eh…?"
"Then, why?! WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!"
"… forsake…?"
"I heard there were dozens of movies produced telling my story…"
He turned his gaze away embarrassed. Somehow historians misinterpreted an occasion he invited her over to his house and fabricated they had an affair.
"… did they convey the TERRORS I suffered under Loria?!"
"…!"
"I was unarmed… and the drug took all my defenses away… all I had… was the hope you were trying to rescue me!"
"… I…"
"He… Loria told me you had abandoned me! How the fatherland had ditched me!"
"That was a lie! Me, General Zettour, Rudersdorf, and all of the high command never gave up on you!" He desperately wanted to explain but the words leaving his mouth were barely whispers.
"Not even the belief of being brutally raped hurt me so much!"
"No! It can't end like this!" He struggled in bed, trying to find a way to tell her.
"Grandpa? What is wrong?"
"… Ta… nya…!"
"Did I frighten you so much?! To the point you had to utterly destroy me?!"
"No! I tried! I swear I tried to bring you back!"
"Grandpa, calm down!"
"It wasn't my intention to scare you or anyone else! All I ever wanted was to show how competent I was…"
"No! Though you were a little monster, I did my best to-"
"… so I could earn a job in the rear where it was safe!"
Rerugen's struggle came to a stop.
"… what?"
"I only wanted to live in peace! To work as best as I- Sob!" He was further taken aback at the sight of her tears.
"I thought of you as a friend! You betrayed me, you broke my heart…"
"…" Rerugen gave up any attempt to talk. There was nothing he could say to fix this.
"All she wanted was to work in the rear…?" He recalled all the instances she was given a mission, all the moments he thought she was trying to get more opportunities to kill more people.
"Thinking back, her eagerness could be interpreted as someone trying to please her boss for a promotion! Oh, God!" In other words, he had been ordering an actual innocent child to the battlefield, to KILL and MAIM people.
'… indicates latent danger… her approach to warfare raises ethical concerns… disregards collateral damage as if it's inconsequential… did they read the report I submitted… her aggressive tactics may lead to unnecessary bloodshed…' He was assaulted by memories of him trying to obstruct her progress, all acts of outward bullying.
"Not just bullying…!" His mind drifted elsewhere, to the day following their presumed victory over the François Republic.
'Colonel Rerugen… what do you think of Major Degurechaff?' To Zettour's question, he gladly spoke from the heart…
'Major Tanya von Degurechaff is a monster in the guise of a young girl.' The high command heard his opinion of her, leading to a ceasefire order being issued before she could deal with the last remaining enemy forces. It turned out their army reformed in the southern continent. This prolonged the war, providing an opportunity for the Russy Federation to launch an assault on their increasingly weary fatherland.
"I was convinced she meant to seek more battles, to slaughter more people…" Instead, she certainly would have ended the war right there.
"All the lives lost since that day, including hers, are my fault!"
"… God… I… am… so… sorry…!" At death's door, he realized how many more sins he had, no hell would be enough to clean it.
"Grandpa, you mentioned Tanya. Are you thinking about her again?"
"… my… fault…"
"Please, we already had this talk, you tried your best for her!"
"It is exactly as she is saying." Rerugen noticed that at some point, an elderly gentleman had arrived. He recognized one of the very first orphans he had raised, a hardworking boy who had eventually risen to the position of chancellor in their country.
"After I went into politics, I researched about your past, Erich. The late general Zettour's reports told me you did everything humanly possible to try to rescue Tanya Degurechaff!"
"It was a failed effort, anyway…"
"You went as far as to use your own wealth to try to negotiate her liberation."
"Too late, that horrible broadcast came the following day."
"You may have lost her, still, how many other children have you saved?!"
"Actually, this was all a big coincidence." Erich Von Rerugen was left a broken man following the death of Tanya von Degurechaff. One day, he visited the orphanage where she had grown up, intending to apologize to the people who had raised her.
"The sisters thought I was a homeless man looking for a job."
'We can't pay you much, but as long as you work, we can feed you.' He began by making small repairs from time to time and assisting with the children. Before he knew it, he found himself fully responsible for the orphanage.
"I was in desperate need of something to live for." In other words, he was merely selfish.
"Your passion for helping children motivated me! I promised myself that I would increase all the laws for child welfare! And as of today, there are specialized agencies in every city of this country!"
"What? NOW they have these?! Ugh!" Tanya facepalmed herself.
"Anyway, about what he said, is it true? You didn't abandon me? Did you fight that hard for me…?"
He nodded his head.
"It doesn't matter, I couldn't save you, I broke my promise…"
"… f-forgive… me…"
She stared deep into his eyes for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, she graced him with a warm smile.
"Alright…"
She would forever remain unaware of the complete tale, all the obstacles he put in her way motivated by fear, and today, he fully comprehended the weight of his transgressions; perhaps her forgiveness alone wouldn't be enough…
"I forgive you. Go in peace, my friend!"
"… thank… you…!" … yet, Rerugen felt the decades-long burden tormenting him start to dissipate. Feeling his soul purified, he was allowed to pass away with a serene and satisfied semblance on his face.
AN: By the time this chapter was uploaded, I did some rework in my first prologue (chapter 2), feel free to take a look. By the next, I will also upload a revised version of the teaser chapter (chapter 1).
As you guys can see, Tanya messed up a timeline that would've been good without her (as we saw in the original Harry Potter series). All the troubles she went through in this fanfiction were all for nothing…
Elya is a character that didn't appear in the anime. She is a friend of Visha and works as a spy for the Empire. I thought it would be nice if Grantz met her while both mourned Visha and then ended up together.
About Rerugen, I thought to give him a conclusion for his many struggles with Tanya. I always wondered what would happen if he discovered the truth. Also, I felt he never answered for his hand at prolonging the war. Following the fall of the Francois Republic, at least in the manga, Zettour, after hearing that Tanya was about to attack the remaining forces of the Francoisian, hesitated to let her act as she wished. In the end, he asked Rerugen's opinion and this was what had him order the cease-fire. Later, we would see everyone who got in her way, regret this decision. However, we never see what were Rerugen's thoughts.
Hope you guys liked 'Tanya, little angel of peace'! I wish I had more time and space to write the full movie!
As always, please review to have a chapter as soon as possible.
Next chapter of The marriage of Tanya the witch: The marriage of Tanya the witch!