"" Dialogue
'' Thoughts
Disclaimer: I do not own "Strike Witches", so this is just a fan made.
Chapter 27: Nuremberg: Part II
(shields)
Before the break of dawn and just like the day before, Yoshika was taking care of the breakfast. As expected, she was wearing an apron though just only her swimsuit. As she waited for it to be cooked, she took a seat on the couch to read something. Though Yoshika knew she was a little behind the goals she put herself regarding the learning material Althea brought her, she could not get herself to read them as she had other things on mind and the newspaper had arrived.
"Failed attempt by the 501st: Liberation of Nuremberg on hiatus?"
Yoshika just continued reading the newspaper for a few minutes until she suddenly stood up, served herself a glass of milk, grabbed something from the table still with the newspaper in her hand.
Then, she headed to the closest window and burnt the newspaper as the wind drove away its ashes and she did so until a person got to her side.
"Hey, Yoshika, what are you burning?"
"I didn't you hear coming, Erica," Yoshika said with a stern tone, still looking outside "it's- it's an old tradition from Fuso to scare way the bad luck."
Erica still was watching with a somewhat questioning expression, "I never heard about it before,"
"It's something I heard from my grandma"
"I see," Erica continued watching the paper burn until Yoshika left the little that was left, and it disappeared into the wind, "So… how are you feeling?"
"Great," Yoshika then turned to actually look at her, "And you look great too."
"How very forward, Lynne's gonna get jealous" Erica smirked a little, yet Yoshika seemed unfazed, so she just raised the hair from her forehead, "just kidding, though, I expected it to be bruised but it looks as good as new."
"I'm glad it worked," Yoshika added sternly.
"Don't worry I'm gonna make myself sure that this won't happen, and well that everyone's safe, me included." Erica stated seriously, "It's going to be over today."
Then Yoshika shuddered a little as she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders, "Yes, Yoshika."
"Good morning, Lynne," Yoshika said, without even turning around.
"Good morning to you too," Lynette added cheerfully as she got in front of her, "Group Captain Wilcke needs you at her office."
Yoshika nodded in agreement, then she took off her apron while both girls watched her a bit surprised when they realized she was just wearing her swimsuit, both looked at each other, still they began serving the breakfast that Yoshika just made.
"Did Yoshika seem different to you?" Lynette asked her.
"Yeah, but it's expected, she's worried."
"I hope it's just that," Lynette added not too convinced.
Still, they continued serving what Yoshika made on food trays but before they were done with that, another three girls joined them, Shizuka, Charlotte and Francesca. And this time, the latter was wearing blue tights while the other two were still wearing their usual uniform. After greeting each other, they helped them to serve the food on food trays, then all of them took a seat to wait for their superiors as it had become a costume yet some time passed and no one else came.
"I'm starving!" Francesca exclaimed.
"Me too!" Erica added as she rested her head on the table, "I'm gonna fall asleep if I don't eat something!"
And some time went by but just the five of them remained there.
"We. Want. To. Eat." Both Witches rioted for some time.
"Stop complaining! But yeah, it's weird that no one else has come," Charlotte wondered, "Maybe they're still sleeping?"
"Actually, Yoshika must be enhancing Minna's magic now." Erica stated, "maybe they're also discussing something about today's operation."
"Perrine and Major Sakamoto are there too," Lynne added.
"If you excuse me," Shizuka stood up and left the dining hall afterwards, as the group looked at each other.
"And… what about Eila and Sanya," Francesca asked the group, but the two girls just shrugged. "I really want to eat something."
"Sleeping I guess?" Erica wondered.
"I better wake them up," Charlotte said as she stood up and headed to their rooms afterwards.
On the other hand, Lynette brought two food trays for both girls, one after the other, then she took a seat as they looked at her, "I don't think Minna would mind it and I'll wait for Yoshika."
Moments later and after traversing the few corridors of their new base, Charlotte made it to Eila's room. "Eila you there?" Charlotte loudly said knocking on the door but since there was no answer, she decided to enter her room.
Her eyes widened a little in awe of the scene, seeing that Sanya was snuggling on Eila, her head resting on her chest, and Eila's arm was wrapping around her and that was not even counting the fact that Sanya was just wearing her underwear while Eila was just wearing her usual nightwear. Yet she could not help but smile at the sight as she continued watching them for quite some time, crossing her arms until she realized that she did so for quite a while.
"Um, guys," Charlotte cleared her throat as Sanya turned around and stretched herself, waking Eila up in the process, "sorry for interrupting you but we need to get ready, it's getting a bit late."
"Oh, good morning, Shirley," Sanya said half-asleep, "we were about to get up."
Eila just blushed and sat rather hastily realizing someone was there, "yeah, we- we were about to do just that."
"Sure," and Charlotte left the room afterwards, not without closing the door. Eila just heaved a long sigh, realizing what had just happened, still her redness started to fade away while Sanya headed to the window and opened the curtains.
"It sure is a nice day," Sanya commented.
Eila tilted her head somewhat surprised by her bedmate's lack of reaction, yet she headed next to her, "it is." To Eila's puzzlement, Sanya just locked her arm with hers, and she could not help but gulp loudly as the sensation of Sanya's bared body on her arm overwhelmed her, "I'm- I'm gonna get you your uniform."
Meanwhile on another side of the fortress
Mio, Perrine and Minna were at the office as well as Yoshika though the latter was hugging her superior from the back.
Both were shining as Yoshika continued enhancing Minna's magic and a few minutes went by until Minna put both her hands over her subordinate's.
"That's more than enough Yoshika," Minna kindly said, "thank you."
"Just a bit more," And Minna let her continue for some time.
"It's a powerful spell Miyafuji but there's only so much magic a Witch can absorb," Mio firmly said,
"Remember Yoshika, our magic power is like a tank and there so much magic you can put in there until it's filled up." Perrine stated. "you're well aware of that."
"Group Captain Wilcke has already reached her limit," Mio added.
And Yoshika let her go, this time, reluctantly.
Minna on the other hand, stretched herself as much as she could while all of them watched her, noticing how she was glimmering slightly, "I give you my sincere gratitude, Yoshika."
"I'm just glad I can be useful," Yoshika said with smile, yet her tone did not have the same kindness she usually possessed, "Group Captain?"
"Yes Yoshika."
"Please let me go too, I'm begging you," Yoshika fell to her knees, "at least just as a medic, just in case."
Minna looked her a bit regretfully, "we already discussed it Yoshika, I know I sound egotistic but it's for your own well-being." Minna grabbed her hands to make her stand, "I'm sure this is going to be over soon, and then, we're going to Gallia to discover your underlying condition and after that you will return to your normal life"
Yoshika did not mutter anything to respond to that statement and just lowered her gaze.
Minna sighed, "don't forget that you have to protect this fortress, that is your assignment," Minna made a pause, "And please, put on the rest of your uniform, you're going to catch cold."
"I never caught it before, and I don't think it'd change today," Yoshika quietly muttered.
And the silence filled the office for some time until someone knocked on the door and as it slowly opened.
"Good morning," Shizuka bowed, "sorry my intrusion, I just wanted to tell you breakfast is ready."
"Thank you, Hattori," Minna politely said as Mio and Perrine stood up and started to head outside the office, yet Yoshika remained there with the same lost sight.
"You also need to eat, Yoshika," Perrine said waiting in front of her, but she did not move, as the three young women waited for her.
Shizuka beckoned subtly them and so three commanders left the duo of girls alone.
"I'm- I'm so sorry."
"For what?" Shizuka said as sternly as she could, gazing her directly in her brown eyes yet Yoshika could not do the same, "You already have an assignment here."
"Still, I…"
"You don't trust me?" Shizuka interrupted her.
"What?" Yoshika exclaimed a bit surprised, now staring her, "You know I do, it's just that after I saw all of you covered in blood, I…"
And nothing else was muttered for a few seconds.
"It reminded you of me back in the dome, didn't it?," Shizuka took a deep breath as she waited for Yoshika to say something else to her, but nothing was heard, "you still haven't let go and you're still as anxious as you were after what happened and l am the reason behind such feeling, therefore I'm going to do what I must."
Yoshika watched her with confused yet nervous demeanor, "What-what do you mean?"
"I'm going to ask to be transferred to another division after we're done with this."
"Shizuka don't!" Yoshika exclaimed in worriedness, "I don't want you to go away… I- I just wanna help, that's all."
"You're not even sincere with yourself and it's been months," Shizuka made a pause, "I- I don't want to hurt you anymore."
"You're taking it the wrong way, you're not hurting me and it- it doesn't need to get to that" Some tears started to appear on Yoshika's eyes, "I need you and I- I wouldn't even be here if it weren't you."
"You- you can count on Lynette, she will be there for you to rely on her, I am completely sure of that," Shizuka added as sincerely as she could, "I'm sorry and I really hope you understand it is not easy for me either," Shizuka turned around, "It's getting late." And she left the room afterwards, leaving a troubled Yoshika behind.
Yoshika then put her left on her chest, "Why had it come to this?"
Later that day
Near Nuremberg, Minna assigned groups to protect the small camp where Gerald's division were settled so that Perrine could get acquainted with the Ratte's operations. One of groups, made by two Witches, Erica and Shizuka were patrolling the sky while the rest, were on ground, near the Striker Units waiting for their signal or at least most of them were.
Surprisingly, Shizuka was leading, and Erica was following her, and she did so, flying upwards while the camp became smaller, and everyone could barely even be seen. Though little that matter to Erica as she was staring at Shizuka who had lost sight.
Erica speeded up a little and was now flying just below and could have a closer look to her expression, "What is what that face?"
"What are you referring to, Lieutenant?" Shizuka said as sternly as she could.
"You seem distant."
And Shizuka just continued at a somewhat slower pace, "I- I guess I feel a bit nostalgic."
Erica tilted her head somewhat surprised, "Why are you feeling like that?"
"I always held the 501st in the highest regard since I was a cadet back in the Witches Academy in Fuso and…" Shizuka smiled bitterly, "and it's been more than a year since I joined but even though I am happy being part of this squad, it's simply not meant… it's not meant to be forever."
"Nothing is, but you're almost the youngest of us all which means you still many years in the frontlines." Erica said seriously, "and most of you do, so what's the deal?"
Shizuka stopped midair and so did Erica who was now in front of her, "I'm going to ask to be transferred."
"Now that's something I wasn't expecting to hear."
"If you know about Yoshika and Lynette, you must know about... me." Shizuka quietly said, lowering her gaze, "There's no need to act, Lieutenant."
"You're kind of bold today," Erica put her gun behind her, then her arms behind her head, "but yeah we do, just don't take it the wrong way, we just wanna help. So, what changed?"
"I already spoke with Yoshika about my transference."
"You sure you want to go through this?" Erica reassuringly said, "Nothing will change here."
"Yoshika is still not her old self even after all this time and I am to blame," Shizuka muttered, "Or at least, that's what I'm telling myself, and… well, I am still jealous too."
"You know, it's hard to be that sincere with yourself, you have to be proud of that, not that I agree with you, though." Erica commented as Shizuka looked at her with gloomy demeanor, "Yoshika's gonna be fine, she is now, in any case, why don't you give yourself some time off, you need it, everyone needs it and then you can decide what to do."
Shizuka just began flying again without adding anything else.
Erica followed her and caught on her, "Just think about it."
"I- I will Lieutenant."
Meanwhile, on ground, Minna, Sanya, Lynette, Francesca and Charlotte were helping with whatever was needed but also were vigilant of the two patrolling Witches above them, in case they needed reinforcements. On the other hand, Charlotte could also notice that they were also being stared at or at least someone was, so she excused herself and headed towards Eila while the rest waited for Perrine.
Charlotte then took a seat next to her and crossed her legs, "So…"
"So what?"
"Has something changed?" Charlotte carefreely commented as Eila frowned her with mixture of bother and embarrassment, "Hey, everyone knows the thing you have for Sanya."
"Nothing changed!" Eila loudly exclaimed as everyone stared at the duo of girls, even some soldiers that were passing near them, "…that I'm aware of." She quietly muttered, just embarrassed now.
"Huh?"
"I'm telling you; I don't even know what's going on." Eila exclaimed as her cheeks bloomed, "Sanya just came last night and cuddled with me."
Charlotte scratched her hair, "Doesn't she do that sometimes after night patrol?"
"Don't you get it?" Eila stared her on her blue eyes, "Sanya cuddled with me, she usually just sleeps on my bed." Eila gulped, "And… even there, w-we barely touch each other."
Charlotte just stared with a somewhat confused expression, "Why don't you ask Sanya if something's changed?"
"Are you nuts?" Eila loudly exclaimed, "I don't know what she would do I asked her that sort of thing."
"You're being overdramatic."
Eila took a deep breath, "if she does take it the wrong way, I could scare her."
"Hey, I'm just saying that it'd be better if you know how she's feeling towards you." Charlotte determinedly stated, "The worst thing that could happen is that she tells you're only friends and if not, you could become a couple, that's what you want, I bet."
"I do but it's not that simply doofus…"
"Let's test my theory then," Charlotte stood up, "Hey, Sanya!"
"Don't even think about it!" Eila exclaimed as seriously as she could ever be, but to the surprise of both, Minna beckoned them to come and so the two girls headed there.
On the other hand, Perrine and Gerald had already got out of the ratte and were next to it.
"It sure is a little different from the models of Gallia," Perrine commented, with somewhat hesitant tone.
"It is, Flight Lieutenant Clostermann," Gerald stated noticing her tone, "It's using state-of-the-art technology from Karlsland."
"I notice it as I mostly used older models from Gallia."
And the rest of the squad joined them, save for Shizuka and Erica who were still patrolling the sky.
"Flight Lieutenant Clostermann, are you ready?" Minna asked her as she approached the duo.
"I- I believe I am."
"So… what are we waiting for?" Charlotte wondered loudly.
"Lieutenant Clostermann needs a crew," Gerald stated as the group looked at each other.
"I do."
"I was aware of that, Lieutenant Litvyak and Lieutenant Yeager." Minna said as both Witches gave a step forward, "they are most qualified Witches to fulfill this duty. Please teach them what they need."
"Huh?" Charlotte rubbed her chin, noticing who was next to her, "The three us there, all alone, I bet I can make it work."
"Don't. You. Dare," Eila hissed under her breath.
"It should not take long," Gerald interrupted them, unwarily, "Nevertheless, there's something you need to know, I spoke with our superiors, and they requested my participation as well."
Minna looked at him a little nervously, "General Patton, I mean no disrespect, but the miasma is going to knock you in no time or worse."
"I am aware of that," Gerald added with a mix of resolve and worriedness in his voice.
"They don't trust us with the Ratte, do they?" Minna stated firmly as the rest of the Witches exchanged glances.
"It doesn't matter, Group Captain, at the end of the day, we're just cogs in the war machine, but I'm prepared." Gerald beckoned a soldier, and he brought a smallish box, He opened it up and got out a gas mask from it, "This is an improved version of the masks that Karlsland and Orussian soldiers used back in Osowiec." And he showed it to them as the group watched it with curious expressions.
"If it's that poisonous in there," Francesca asked everyone, "Why don't we get those?"
"They are far too clumsy for you plus they block your sight, officer."
"And they are kind of creepy," Lynette quietly muttered.
"Can disagree with that one," Gerald added as he put it back in the box, "Follow me, officers," and so the four of them entered the gigantic tank.
Meanwhile, in the Fortress
After being done with the dishes, Yoshika had another task pending, to wash the stained clothes. It took her way more than what she expected to leave them clean as the blood had already dried. It even reminded her of her own uniform when she rushed to the fog but at least they were not torn apart.
Yoshika made herself sure that their uniforms as well as the rest of their clothes were thoroughly washed, and after doing so, she headed outside to hang them. Though it was a somewhat sunny day, at the distance, there were some pretty dark clouds, hopefully the wind would dry them before the clouds made it to Ingolstadt.
To her surprise, Mio came out of nowhere and began hanging the clothes as well.
"Miyafuji, I'm sorry for not coming to help you before." Mio added yet Yoshika just continued with what she was doing as if nothing had been said, "But I was speaking with our superiors."
"I hope it's not bad news," Yoshika sternly said.
"There's a cargo ship that's about to arrive."
"Oh," And Yoshika continued hanging now the smaller pieces of clothes.
"Hijikata told me they're bringing equipment as well as supplies, from Kanagawa." Mio eagerly said, catching Yoshika's attention, "Plus, a surprise for you."
"What are you talking about?"
Mio put her hand on her shoulder, "Ha, ha, you'll see soon enough."
Yet Yoshika seemed unfazed by her positive attitude.
Noticing her lack of reaction, Mio sighed, "Want to follow yesterday's regime?"
Yoshika shrugged, "Yeah, why not?"
And after leaving the basket inside, both Mio and Yoshika jogged once again into the forest.
By the afternoon
The Ratte was slowly making its way into Nuremberg with its new crew, Charlotte was the loader, Perrine was taking care of driving the tank, Gerald was commanding them and finally Sanya with the aid of her red magic antenna, was the gunner and also guided them through the darkish, narrow cobblestone streets of Nuremberg.
The size of the Ratte meant it needed wide streets to make it to the hive, but Sanya's magic antenna was able to sense streets that were wide enough for the Ratte as their objective was really deep into the midpart of the city.
Outside, six Witches were flying near the enormous tank and though it was as dark as it could get as not even a faint ray of sun could traverse the dense miasma, the Witches could still see each other, or at least their navigation lights.
Minna and Eila were in front of the Ratte, behind the two of them were Erica and Lynette and its back side, were Francesca and Shizuka, respectively.
The only sound that filled the rather lonely place was the engines of the Ratte, until several sneezes echoed in the sky.
Francesca hugged herself as tight as she could, "It's. Too. Cold."
"Stop complaining, it's not that cold," Eila stated loudly.
"But it's way colder than what I expected," Lynette added as she also hugged herself.
Erica looked at all sides but as expected she could not see anything, "Minna, it is way too cold,"
"Agreed," Minna added.
And shield was deployed swiftly to cover the Ratte or at least part of it, its hatch, "it must be one of those weird Neuroi again," Eila claimed.
Then another, and another beam and more beams came from above them. The Witches continued shielding the Ratte and shooting back as well, but they could not even see if their shoots made it to whatever their objective was.
"Francesca, Erica is up to you," Minna commanded them.
"Roger that," both Witches said in unison as they rushed towards where the beams were coming from.
"From both sides like that time, remember?" Eric said as both Witches continued dodging the beams.
"You bet!"
And thus, a pair of cries echoed in the sky as both Witches used their inherit magic to ram it and seconds later, they both headed back towards the Ratte as its remains, illuminating them from behind and as the shards fell onto the whole group.
"Barely a challenge," Erica carefreely exclaimed.
"Yep," Francesca proudly added, but just before the two Witches made it back to their positions, all of them they all began coughing harshly and loudly.
"What the heck is going on?" Eila exclaimed, covering her mouth with her forearm.
Lynette did the same, "it hurts to breathe."
"It seems, it seems-, it's coming from the Neuroi you just took down," Shizuka stated with the little breath she still had in her.
The whole squad was now covering their noses with their forearms and clothes were quickly becoming stained and even soaked with the blood that was dropping from their noses.
Minna then took a look at the whole group and their current state, "Be careful not to drown on you own blood."
"What?" Francesca exclaimed in dread. "It's that even possible!"
"It obviously is," Eila exclaimed.
Seconds later the ratte stopped abruptly and so did the Witches other than the Strikers' engines, it was as silent as it could get.
The Witches now had a mixture expression of worriedness and questioning on their faces.
"General Patton, what's going on." Minna asked her through her transponder, but nothing was heard in response. "General, Perrine, Shirley, Sanya, what happened?" Minna headed to the Ratte's hatch but just before she opened it, its loud engines began running again with somewhat different sound and started to advance at a really slower pace. "Did it suffer any kind of damage?" Minna asked once again. "It's barely advancing."
"I'm patching you through," Sanya quietly said, "this should be enough."
"We're giving everything it got," Gerald said.
"There's no damage whatsoever," Perrine added.
"If you can still breathe, if barely, the ratte's engines can too, but it's not gonna be efficient." Charlotte stated through her transponder, "in other words, it's going to be even slower."
"If you were right Shizuka," Erica spitted some blood, "this means…"
"We- we cannot engage the enemy." Shizuka quietly added.
Lynette coughed a little, "We can just protect the Ratte..."
"What now?" Francesca wondered.
"You heard Lynne, we must protect it with everything we got," Minna exclaimed as firmly as she could, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Roger that!" The six Witches exclaimed in unison.
Eila took a look at how the Ratte barely continued advancing, "This going to take a while," then she looked at its hatch, 'at least Sanya safe there,' she said to herself.
Sometime later, in the base
After leaving their clothes in the dressing room, both Yoshika and Mio were in the bath once again, though Mio was already submerged in the hot water down from the shoulders while Yoshika was still in the shower.
And quite a bit of time passed, and the bath was being filled with steam.
"Miyafuji, is something wrong?" Mio loudly asked but there was no answer, so she headed to the shower and opened the door widely, only to find Yoshika putting on a wet swimsuit. "Same tactic again, Miyafuji?" Mio confronted her but Yoshika just lowered her gaze in response, "I was expecting more creativity from you."
Yoshika closed the shower's faucet letting her swimsuit fell to her feet as the steam began to fade away, "I can't stay here and do nothing," Yoshika argued back, gazing directly into her superior directly on her eyes, "you heard them!"
"I am not going to stop you." Mio stated giving her back a serious look, "it's quite clear they need help, but I supposed you're aware of the risks it presents to your own self."
"I gave it a lot thought and I still want to protect." Yoshika ears and tail appeared, and they were as white as they could get, "that's why I became a Witch."
Mio sighed, "I'll deal with Minna."
Yoshika now had a mixture of gratitude and bafflement expression, "I don't even know how to thank you."
Mio grabbed the towel from her head and began drying her, "You don't have much time, but you must be careful, Miyafuji."
"I will," And Yoshika put on her swimsuit as quickly as she could, then she left the bath afterwards rather hastily, leaving proud but still worried Mio behind and yet, she grabbed a towel and dried herself as well.
Some minutes later, Yoshika was now equipping her type-99, and wearing her Striker Unit, but just before she took off, Mio entered the hangar, and Yoshika could not help but blush, noticing what was happening.
"You need to put on something dry," Mio told her with a serious tone as she headed to her launching platform, "you heard them, it's cold out there."
"You need to put something on," Yoshika exclaimed embarrassedly, noticing that the towel she was wearing was on the smaller side, as it was intended for the hair, "I-I can almost everything!"
"Ha ha, you haven't changed Miyafuji," Mio added somewhat relaxedly, "but there's no one here and besides, you're about to take off."
Yoshika's blush started to fade away, "Yeah, I was about to do that," then she looked at the hangar, "but I..."
"Don't worry Miyafuji, I may be stripped out of my powers, but I can still protect this fortress."
"I kno-ticed it." Yoshika heaved a sigh, to calm herself, "Major, if something happens to me, please promise me that you'd tell Lynne that I never wanted to end it that way, but this is who I am."
Mio just stared her for a few seconds, noticing her determination yet guilt, "I won't promise you that, Miyafuji. You have to come back."
Yoshika sighed, "I'll do my best," the Shinden started, "Miyafuji, taking off," and Yoshika blasted off, blowing off empty barrels, Mio's down hair and even her towel.
"Quite the magic power"
Meanwhile in Nuremberg
Smallish beams were coming down from above onto three shields that were deployed around the gigantic tank. The ratte barely advanced through the narrow streets that were barely enough for its size. Above them, three Witches continued shooting as many drones as they could, and also shielding the Ratte when they could and also themselves.
"Barely a challenge, ha." Eila sarcastically commented, as she continued shooting her MG42.
"Sturm!" Erica cried as she headed back to the other two Witches, "And they are, these are different, and you know it."
"These almost overwhelmed us, yesterday." Shizuka commented, shooting them down with her type-99.
"Just like now," Eila added as she slowed down to regain her breath.
"What did you expect, the Ratte is enormous, it's obvious the hive will notice it," Erica said as the three Witches scattered quickly and as a shell from the ratte passed near them taking several drones out, though to their surprise, just the shockwave was heard but there was no visible explosion, "We're like flies next to it."
"At least they're not poisonous when they go down," Shizuka added as she also regained her breath.
And more drones started to descend on them.
"Just what we needed, more of those things," Erica added as three deployed shields, yet they just passed around her and around the other two Witches. "Minna, they're after the Ratte."
"Protect the Ratte at all costs, I repeat, protect the Ratte," Minna commanded, and the three Witches reunited again with the other group and deployed shields to cover as much as they could of the gigantic tank.
A rain of beams fell on them as the Witches maintained their shields as they continued shooting from below with their free hand.
"We're gonna need a new plan," Erica added.
To everyone's surprise, the hatch opened, and Perrine came out the Ratte, "I concur with that statement." She flew towards the drones, without deploying a shield, just dodging their beams.
Now above them, she took several deep breaths even though it hurt to do so, as even blood started to drip from her nose.
"TO... NNERRE!" Perrine screamed as both her hands casted electricity just as like a thunderstorm and a couple of seconds went by as the Witches watched in awe how every drone began glowing and so was everything near them.
"Did Yoshika enhance her magic too?" Erica commented as she put her MG42 down, "that's very impressive."
Minna also put her weapon down, "She didn't."
And seconds later that felt like an eternity to Perrine, she stopped using her inherited magic, and though she tried to continue flying, she began to breathe even more sluggishly, then she started to lose altitude not before being caught by Shizuka.
"Are you alright Lieutenant?"
"I am, I just- I just lost my balance," Perrine tried to regain her breath.
The rest of the 501st continued staring at the white, glowing shards that were falling on them.
"That was amazing, Perrine," Lynette eagerly exclaimed.
"Indeed, it was, thank you Captain," Minna proudly said as Perrine nodded in agreement, "Hattori, take her inside."
Shizuka nodded as she headed back to the Ratte, yet she stopped on her tracks as the miasma turned red once again, enveloping everything again.
"Not again," Shizuka exclaimed as a heartbeat skipped on her as she turned to see the sky only to notice that Minna, Lynette, Francesca, Erica and Eila were now at their side.
Five shields were deployed as rain of beams fell on them.
"What the!" Francesca exclaimed.
"They. Were. Not. That. Strong," Erica exclaimed as the whole group tried to maintain their shields, flying somewhat above the Ratte. Though they were not enough as some beams make their way through the gaps of their defenses.
"At this rate, it's not gonna hold up, we're just barely halfway through," Gerald claimed as both Sanya and Charlotte exchanged glances, nodded, equipped their strikers and got out of the tank and then deployed shields right away to protect the gaps between the shields.
And once again, the Ratte started to move again, now shielded by seven Witches while Shizuka opened the hatch to leave a now exhausted Perrine inside.
"That… was impressive, Captain," Gerald added now commanding the tank.
"I thought I failed to destroy the core yesterday, but it seems I just make it worse," Perrine made a pause to regain her breath, "and I used most of magic reserves."
Gerald coughed several times, "The… rumors are true then."
Noticing her superiors' current state, Shizuka opened the hatch "I'll- I'll do what I can to protect both of you," then she got out of the tank and also helped to shield the holes among their defenses.
"Minna, we cannot resist that much longer," Erica exclaimed.
Minna's shield got a bit bigger and so did the rest of them, "Erica, Francesca, Shirley is up to you."
"Roger that," And so, the three Witches passed through the rain of beams and were now behind them.
And began with their assault shooting as many drones as they could from behind, surprisingly with not much issue as the drones were still aiming the Ratte as well as the four Witches that were protecting it. And, though most of them disappeared, more descended from the above, passing near them as if they were not even there.
"Hey you jerk!" Francesca slapped her butt, "We're here!"
And nothing happened, as the drones continued descending and shooting as the three were not even there.
"They really are just after the Ratte," Erica tiredly added.
"They don't give a crap about us," Charlotte admitted with a bit more of enthusiasm, "but that's good actually," Charlotte exclaimed catching both Witches' attention, then she grabbed Francesca and Erica from their waists, "Let's combine!"
"I was waiting for that," Erica continued regaining her breath.
"Yeah!" Francesca exclaimed with a bit more energy.
Sparks came out of the P-51H as Charlotte revved her Striker unit, then three cries echoed in unison as they blasted through the drones, taking most of them as the sky glowed white once again and the Witches dropped their shields.
"It hurts to breath like heck," Charlotte commented as the three of them began descending.
"That was pretty tiring if you ask me," Eila exhaled, taking a look behind, "right Sanya?"
Yet Sanya did not even listen to her as her gaze was focused on her superior as Minna was taking several deep breaths, as even more blood came from her nose, "Thanks the three of you," Minna tiredly said.
"Group Captain," Sanya flew from below her to make her lean on her shoulder, and so did Lynette, "You should go inside too."
"Yes, Group Captain," Lynette added.
"Listen to them Minna," Erica got near them, "You can barely fly."
Minna separated from both of them, "I just lost my balance," Minna firmly stated, yet her Strikers stuttered, and one stopped running thus both Witches caught her again.
"We all have our limits and that's fine," Erica reassuringly added.
"I can manage just fine," Minna's second Striker started, yet it continued stuttering, "I. Need…"
But before Minna finished, the Ratte stopped completely and so did the Group.
"General. Patton." Minna asked him but there was no answer, so Sanya's red antenna became even brighter, "General."
"Sorry. Group. Captain." Gerald tried to say through the radio, "There's. So. Much. A. Mask. Can..."
"General!" Minna exclaimed as she headed towards the Ratte, leaving the two Witches behind.
"He's just unconscious," Perrine stated through her transponder, "But I'm not able to do everything here myself."
"Minna, go inside," Erica added now in front of her, "Your magic is like Sanya's, you can take her place."
"We're almost there," Eila commented. "And we can- we can do this just fine."
"Yeah, we can!" Francesca added trying to show some excitement.
"And if you let me, I can lead the squad," Lynette flew towards her, "I won't let you down, I promise."
Minna gave them a proud yet tired smile, "I know I count on you all," And Minna slowly flew towards the ratte as its hatch opened from the inside. Seconds later the Ratte start to move again with the same slower pace.
And soon as Minna left, their positivism did too yet the now-Witch-in charge noticed right way. It did not surprise her as they were pretty tired as they had used most of their magic reserves and that was not even counting that they were still breathing harshly, including herself. Still, the group continued flying at the Ratte's pace and they did so for a few minutes without much pressure other than the Miasma, until the sky turned red once again.
Shizuka sighed tiredly, "They're back."
"Not again," Eila added resignedly.
"Francesca, Erica, Shirley, wait until more appear and when I say so, you take on them, you need to conserve your magic energy as much as possible," Lynette said with some firmness in her tone, "Sanya, Eila, Shizuka, please, we have to protect the Ratte."
"Understood," the group said in unison as the three Witches headed above the drones dodging the rain of beams, without using a shield.
"Well, we made it one piece," Charlotte exclaimed sarcastically, "I didn't expect it."
Erica squinted her eyes, "Hopefully, they can make it one piece."
Meanwhile, the four Witches continued shielding the Ratte, but beams were still passing through the gaps, and while they tried to maintain their altitude, they were being pushed back.
"I can't last for much longer," Eila exclaimed, maintaining her shield with both her hands yet some cracks started to appear.
Both Lynette and Sanya overlapped their shields on Eila's, "They need to conserve their magic energy." Lynette stated.
A few seconds went by that felt like an eternity to them, as the beams were still coming, until Eila's shield shattered, and she started to lose altitude quickly.
Sanya dropped her shield to rush catch her, "Eila!"
"I'm fine, just rusty," Eila laughed drily as her she tried to continue flying yet both her units stopped, "I wanted to use my shield to protect you, but I can't, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I can protect both of us," Sanya added, but before she raised a shield both Shizuka and Lynette covered them, yet their shields also started to crack.
"We protect you both, protect Eila." Lynette said as her Spiteful MKII revved up.
"Yes, Lieutenant," Shizuka added, doing the same with her Shiden.
"Just a bit more, they don't possess enough magic energy to take them down more than twice," Lynette cried out as Charlotte was now grabbing both Francesca and Erica from their waists, revving her P-51H, "We need to buy us as much time as we can"
"I'm- I'm sorry," Shizuka cried as her shield shattered as well.
"Now!" Lynette shouted as three cries echoed in the sky, though Lynette's shield increased its size to protect the four, its cracks were becoming bigger and bigger but just before it shattered an enormous shield protected them and the Ratte as well.
Lynette dropped her shield, realizing to whom that shield belonged to.
"I'm sorry, I'm so late," Yoshika exclaimed as she flew above the four Witches, maintaining her shield with just one hand, "But I couldn't find you."
"Yoshika!" Lynette rushed to hug her, "I'm so glad you're here," Lynette continued regaining her breath while Yoshika wrapped her hand around her as Lynette's unit stopped.
Glowing shards started to descend on them and so did the other three Witches.
"Yoshika you're supposed to be protecting the fortress," Minna firmly said through the radio.
"I know what my assignment is," Yoshika dropped her shields now that beams had stopped, gazing at the six Witches in front of her, "But look at yourselves, you can barely fly, I will- I will just protect you and the ratte until you recover your magic, then I'll do whatever you ask me too."
"We're going to talk later, Yoshika," Minna firmly stated, "but from now on, follow Lynette's instructions."
Yoshika just hugged her tighter, "yes, ma'am."
Erica then slowly made her way towards the two Witches, yet she passed next to them, "it sure you took long enough," Erica headed to the Ratte, then she landed or rather let herself fall on it, "my butt, that hurt!" Erica rubbed it, now laying on the tank, "You know, I was starting to see myself on the other side."
"Me as well," Charlotte also headed to the Ratte, and let herself fall on it, though at bit more softly, "But we know we can count on you, always, right?"
"Yeah!" Most of the group exclaimed in unison as Francesca did the same and lay next to Charlotte.
"Just rest from now on, I'll protect you all." Yoshika positively yet seriously.
Lynette's face got close to Yoshika's, "You sure?"
Yoshika's lips pressed slightly on Lynette's for a few seconds as both Witches shimmered slightly, then she let go, "You know you can trust me, Lynne."
Lynette's Strikers started once again, "That's- that's your magic."
Yoshika then let go of her as well, "C'mon, you need to rest."
And so, Lynette flew towards the Ratte, with a bliss expression on her face, while the three other Witches watched them.
A now embarrassed Eila was being carried by Sanya as she slowly descended onto the tank, then she laid on it, still hugging Eila and though she tried to make some distance, Sanya did not let her go, "you can rest on me, Eila."
"Thank- thanks, Sanya," Eila nervously added as she continued breathing as steadily as she could.
"Shizuka, you also need to rest, please," Yoshika said as softly with a hint firmness in her tone, "I can protect you all just fine."
"I noticed it," Shizuka said as sternly as she could, lowering her gaze, and though she headed towards the Ratte, though to everyone surprise, she aimed to its hatch.
"What are you going to do?"
"They need someone to load the ammunition," Shizuka opened its hatch, "and I'm bit knowledgeable with that."
Yoshika gave her a faint smile, "Alright," then her demeanor became more serious as she made her way to the middle part of the Ratte and raised her left arm while the other held her type-99.
The ratte had advanced quite a bit when the sky turned red once again and beams started to rain on them, but before they hit them, Yoshika just raised a shield that was big enough to protect the enormous tank. At first, Yoshika did not even seem to be fazed by the Neuroi beams but as the time went on, Yoshika let go of her gun and was now maintaining her shields with both her hands, though she was able to maintain her altitude seemingly without issue.
Lynette was watching her with a worried expression, yet it also somehow showed gratitude.
"I'm fine, I just don't want to take me by surprise," Yoshika smiled at her, "I will protect you all no matter what."
"I know Yoshika," Lynette then gazed the other Witches who all nodded and they all began shooting the drones, still resting over the ratte.
"You know, I could get used to this," Erica carefreely exclaimed.
The sky was soon filled with reddish and whiteish light and Neuroi remains started to fall on the rather big shield. Noticing what was happening, Yoshika also began accompanying the group shooting her Type-99 with her right hand.
The group did so for a few minutes, until the Ratte stopped completely.
"Group Captain?" Lynette said through her transponder, "What happened?"
"There's the hive," Sanya let go of Eila as she took off again and so did the rest Witches as they all got in front of the hive, while Yoshika continued maintaining her shield above the Ratte as a few drones were still overflying them.
"Not exactly imposing if you ask me," Charlotte commented gladly yet all of them covered their noses and mouths with their hands as the miasma became thicker as more came from the hive's holes, "maybe- maybe I'm wrong."
Erica coughed blood, "Minna, we're running out of time."
"Anti-Neuroi AP loaded," Shizuka stated, "everything is ready."
"Target locked" Minna said through the radio, "everyone, move away."
And the Witches started to do so, but to everyone's shook, the hive's perimeter started to light up intensely.
"It's gonna…!" But before Eila finished, an intense, deep, thick red beam came towards the whole group.
Just before it annihilated them, a fierce cry was heard as Yoshika put out a second shield to protect all of them.
The Shinden was revving up as flames came out of its exhausts ports, "it's. Too. Strong. Lynne." Yoshika shouted as she tried to maintain her position, now blood dropping from her nose, "I cannot take it from much longer, not from both sides."
"Yoshika focus on the front," Lynette ordered her, "We take care of the above."
"Understood," everyone said in unison as six smaller shields appeared below Yoshika's then she dropped the shield and now was solely trying to resist the one in front of the Ratte
"Minna!?" Erica exclaimed in worriedness as the six of them struggled to continue flying let alone keeping their shields up, "Any time."
"Yoshika, let it pass."
"What?" Yoshika exclaimed in worriedness.
"We're going to shoot now," Minna firmly said through the radio, "You could get caught on the crossfire."
"Understood," Yoshika revved up her Shinden, "Three. Two. One. NOW."
Yoshika blasted off from its front as the Ratte shot its special round, then several cries echoed in the miasma-covered city as the ammo exploded just after it barely left the Ratte's barrel.
The shockwave threw all of them away several meters behind the Ratte and the silence took hold of the place, surprisingly it also thinned the Miasma.
"My head's hurting," Francesca claimed rubbing her head. "What's the?"
"Everything hurts," Erica corrected her, still laying, squinting her eyes "Huh?"
"Sanya? Where are you? Sanya" Eila screamed, trying to understand where she was, then she got stunned when she heard some muffled sounds.
"You're. Too. Heavy. Eila," Sanya tried to say with the little breath she had on her, pushing her butt away from her face and making her fall on her face.
Eila got up as quickly as she could, "There you are," Eila lifted her up and hugged her as tightly as she could.
"I'm fine," Sanya added trying to breath.
"What the hell happened?" Charlotte tried to get up and so did most of the Witches, only to realize that they were resting over a big shield and then it vanished, only leaving debris behind from all the buildings that were torn apart by the explosion.
Lynette left her Strikers as she rushed towards Yoshika who was even further behind all of them.
"Yoshika!" Lynette lifted her up a little as Yoshika slowly opened her eyes, "please, please be okay."
"I'm- I'm fine and I'm glad you're too," Yoshika rubbed her head, "Ouch, that really hurt though."
Lynette hugged her as tightly as she could, "I'm so glad you're okay," then her happiness became worriedness as her hands were becoming soaked with a warmish liquid. Lynette then stopped hugging her and locked at her own hands, "you're bleeding."
"Huh?" Yoshika began touching her back, realizing that her swimsuit was torn apart, and blood was dropping from her scared back, "it's not that bad, my back just got scratched." Yoshika reassuringly said, yet Lynette did not seem to be eased by her statement.
Yoshika's started the engines of her strikers, "I am not bleeding to death, I know what it feels like and what it looks like." Yoshika took a deep breath, "Everything is going to be just fine, I'm sure of it." yet the Shinden stuttered and halted suddenly but Lynette grabbed her before she fell, "my head's really spinning," Yoshika added rubbing her hair.
"Let me check if you're not bleeding there too," Lynette worriedly added as Yoshika lowered her head but as soon as Lynette touched her head, even more dread filled her, "You're burning with fever."
"Huh? Well, I woke up feeling a little hot so it's not that surprising." Yoshika nervously added with a worried expression, "that's why I'm just wearing a swimsuit." Yoshika then took a look at her torn clothes, "or at least what's left of it."*
Lynette put her right hand near left breast, taking Yoshika's by surprise, "Your pulse is a bit fast too."
Though, before Yoshika could reply something, an intense reddish light lit everything around them, and their eyes were now focused on the hive once again.
"Get out of there!" Erica shouted as she tried to start her Messerscharf and surprisingly she did so.
"Shizuka!" Yoshika started the engines of her strikers right away, blasted off towards the Ratte, yet both stopped on her tracks now covering her eyes due to the intense light, as the beam impacted it, "Minna, Perrine! Anyone!"
A few seconds passed by when the beam finally stopped and the Ratte was still there, seemingly still in one piece, though now there was smoke coming out of it, still the two Witches headed to it.
"We seem to be fine, Yoshika," Minna said through the radio just before they opened its hatch.
"Yes, Yoshika don't worry," Shizuka added through her transponder, "the Ratte absorbed most of the damage."
"And everything seems to be working so far," Perrine stated somewhat relievedly.
"We're lucky, one more of those and there won't even be ashes left," Gerald added.
"Is that- is that General Patton?" Yoshika wondered.
"Oh, yeah, he also came to help us," Erica coughing a little.
"Indeed, Lieutenant Miyafuji, I'm glad to see you're giving us hand with this bastard as well."
"Yeah, I should have come sooner, though," Yoshika quietly.
"What about you all girls?" Minna interrupted her and asked the whole group. "Have you sustained any injure."
The rest of the Witches gathered behind Erica and Yoshika, "We're alive and flying, that's something I guess," Charlotte tried to show some enthusiasm, yet it soon faded away as the miasma above them turned red once again, "for not much longer, though."
Yoshika put out another rather shield to protect them all, as beams rained on them. This time, though, Yoshika was struggling to maintain her altitude, "they're too strong."
Noticing that Lynette rushed towards to help her to keep flying, yet both struggled to do so, "Shoot them down!"
"Understood," the five Witches said in unison.
Eights rockets came out of Sanya's Fliegerhammer as the four Witches continue shooting the drones, yet the miasma seemed to be denser the higher they flow, thus they all descended but they were still able to destroy almost every drone. Yoshika then dropped her shield as everyone tried to regain their breaths.
"Minna, any time," Erica tiredly added.
"Everything's ready," Shizuka stated.
"Everyone, retreat…" Minna said as the group started to do so, then the hive's perimeter lit up intensely once again.
"You gotta be kidding me," Charlotte added.
An intense scream resounded in Nuremberg as Yoshika struggled to maintain her shield, revving up the Shinden once again.
"Yoshika move away!" Minna screamed.
"I won't" Yoshika contended her back as fervently as she could, "I'm- I'm gonna outlast it then you shoot."
"Lynette, get her out of the way, that's an order."
"Minna, that's gonna kill you," Erica exclaimed yet there was no response.
Lynette looked at the Witch next to her and her worried expression, "Un-understood," Lynette was about to head towards her when a shield was deployed above her just before a beam hit her, yet a heartbeat skipped on her.
"They're back," Charlotte added and thus five shields were deployed to protect the Ratte. At that instant, the hatch opened and both Perrine and Shizuka got out from it, flying, the former upwards, and the latter towards Yoshika.
Seconds later, the sky was filled lighting then with white glowing shards, "They're going to regenerate, they fed with my electricity, but they take time to charge," Perrine added as she slowly descended on the group, "it makes them stronger, therefore I don't think we can resist them."
At the same time, Shizuka grabbed Yoshika from the shoulders from behind to make her move, "Yoshika, you must stop, it's overheating."
"I. Can. Do. This." Yoshika averred.
"Your Strikers!"
Yoshika took a look at her legs only to notice that smoke was coming from both of her units, then looked at the group who were watching them, she could see that they were barely able to continue flying, and had exhausted and worried expressions on their faces, "I'm- I'm sorry."
Lynette began heading towards Yoshika, yet she stopped as the beam seemed to be making its way towards the Ratte and to them as well.
Though everyone closed their eyes and hugged each other, a thunderous noise began filling the city.
Francesca slowly opened her eyes, "Shirley we're alive."
Charlotte heaved a sigh in surprise, dropping her shield, "It seems so."
"What's happening?" Sanya squinted her eyes, realizing that she was being carried and hugged by Eila.
"Not really sure," Eila added, dropping her shield.
"The hive is collapsing in itself," Perrine stated.
"Now that's something new," Erica grinned.
The whole group could see that Yoshika's shield was now redirecting the hive's intense beam towards its base or at least near it, and it was being sunk onto the ground, to some sort of tunnel.
As the ground continued to collapse, the beam's path would be now out of everyone's way even without having to be redirected by Yoshika's shield. Realizing that, Shizuka grabbed Yoshika from the waist and blasted off from there.
"Now shoot!" Yoshika screamed, maintaining her shield at the distance as much as she could until she was too far to do so.
As the Ratte's special shell impacted the hive, its shock wave blew everyone several meters away, yet they were again over a shield that seemed to have stopped the fall or at least most of it.
The hive was now just a cluster of white shards with a smallish glowing red sphere in its middle part.
"The core?" Francesca squinted her eyes.
"It's so tiny," Eila stated, doing the same.
"I can barely see it," Perrine added.
"It's starting to regenerate," Sanya stated launching the last rocket her fliegerhammer had.
"We don't much time," Shizuka exclaimed.
"You're going down!" Charlotte exclaimed and so, the eight Witches stood up once again and flew towards it, yet their pace was much slower by now, not even counting the fact that beams started to come once again from the drones that had already generated.
"If we are hit with one of those, we're good as dead," Eila added as the Witches continued dodging.
"It's regenerating too fast," Erica screamed, "we're not gonna make it!"
"I'm aware of that," Minna added as she blasted from the Ratte, and Minna almost emptied her cartridge, destroying the bits of its armor that had already generated.
Though to everyone's surprise, Minna just blasted away from it, then a rocket hit the core, followed by several 14mm anti-armor rounds that made their way there, shattering the core in the process.
The beams stopped right away, and the group turned around to see what had just happened, only to see that Yoshika was wrapping her arms tightly just below Lynette's chest as both irradiated magic, then Lynette stopped scoping.
"About time," Erica tiredly exclaimed as she slowly descended, or rather let herself fell on the ground and so did the rest of the Witches, who grunted, yet they also sighed in relief including Yoshika and Lynette, this time though, the latter softened the fall with herself aided with a smaller shield.
Moments later the miasma started to vanish, revealing a somewhat cloudy sky.
Now on the ground, Yoshika stretched herself as much as she could, "It really worked," Yoshika happily as she continued regaining her breath.
Lynette on the other hand, just embraced Yoshika and brought her to her chest, "How did you know that would work?"
"I trust you could pull it off," Yoshika stated yet she could feel Lynette was not too convinced, "Well, you said your inherit magic make your bullets more powerful, so if enhanced your magic, I thought they would be unstoppable, plus you have the best aim of us all."
Lynette smiled faintly, also looking at the sky, "huh? That- that makes sense I guess."
"Or maybe," Yoshika then turned around and embraced her with her right arm, "-maybe I just wanted to hug you."
Lynette just wrapped both her arms around Yoshika and sighed relievedly now feeling her warm breath traversing through her torn uniform deep into her own body, and even caressing Yoshika's partially bared body, "and you were right, everything is now just fine, and things could not be better."
'Almost everything,' Yoshika said to her own head, still both just continued staring at the now somewhat clear sky.
"Huh? The sun is still out," Erica commented resting her head on her arms.
"I thought it was already night," Francesca added, resting on Shirley.
"There are some hours of sun left," Perrine stated, sitting on the ground or at least struggling to keep doing so.
"Yeah, but it really felt like lifetime there, but it's only been a little over an hour since we started protecting the Ratte," Shizuka added tiredly.
"It's expected," Charlotte tried to raise her head, but she was not able to, "that thing is slow as heck."
"What now?" Eila asked the group with Sanya also resting on her arm.
"I'm so sleepy," Sanya wrapped her arm around Eila.
"I'm- I'm too," Eila gulped loudly. "We can sleep together again, if- you want."
Sanya closed her eyes, resting on her chest, "I do."
As Minna slowly made their way towards the squad, she smiled at the scene of the two groups of girls cuddling, Eila on the other hand, just became embarrassed noticing she was being stared, "You can do it back at the fortress Sanya," Minna then took a look at the now empty yet destroyed city, "let the army deal with this mess."
"You know what, we gotta take a picture when we go back. Just imagine the headlines with us all covered in blood. The Blood Witches Strike back" Charlotte commented lightheartedly now sitting, and so was Francesca, "We're gonna be called that from now on!"
"That sounds like an amazing nickname!" Francesca exclaimed excitedly.
"No thanks, I have a noble image to uphold," Perrine looked at herself and the rest of the Witches as well. "I don't this barbaric appearance to be associated with me."
"And our uniforms are pretty torn apart," Shizuka softly muttered a bit red-faced, looking at the group, "and well, we're showing a bit too much."
"We're half-naked all the time, but in case you didn't notice it, everything's stained, literally," Erica touched her crotch, "You know that it could get easily misinterpreted." And she laid afterwards, 'Marseille's gonna make fun of me nonstop if she's that picture,' Erica said to her own head.
"Yeah, I see your point."
"But speaking of going back, how are we gonna do it," Erica turned around to have a better look to the other girls, "I don't think no one's able to fly and won't be able for quite a while."
"I'm going call someone to pick you officers," Gerald stated tiredly, slowly making her way to them, "and… me as well, the Ratte is not going to move anytime soon."
"There's no other choice then, we wait," Minna nodded as Gerald headed towards the Ratte, and Minna started to do the same, yet instead she slowly headed towards Yoshika and Lynette who were further behind. "Flight Lieutenant Miyafuji."
Yoshika did her best to sit, and so did Lynette, "Yes, ma'am."
"We're going to have a serious talk about your disregard for direct orders," Minna said as serious as she could.
Yoshika lowered her gaze, "I- I will accept whatever punishment you give me."
"But I'm glad you came to aid us, Yoshika, thank you," Minna sighed, "I'm going to speak with Major Sakamoto to update our current status and your current status."
"Thanks, Group Captain, Minna." Yoshika cheerfully added as Minna gave them a tired smile and left them afterwards, leaving two somewhat eased Witches. Now that their superiors had left, all the girls just sighed in relief, and lay just as they were and closed their eyes as they waited for someone to pick them up.
Some minutes went by, and Yoshika was still cuddling on Lynette's chest, and still hugging her, "Lynne, are you awake?"
"Sure am."
Yoshika slowly let go of her and creeped upwards and now was face to face with her, "I told you we'd speak about… well, after Nuremberg is freed," She took a deep breath, "I- I wanted it to be more special though, I mean in a nicer place like in that cafe or with a romantic dinner, but I guess this would do."
Lynette's cheeks reddened, "I don't really care where am I because- because when- when I'm with you, I feel that every place is… special."
Yoshika's cheeks also bloomed, "You mean it?"
Lynette gulped loudly noticing her expression, "You know I do."
Yoshika giggled playfully yet nervously, "I feel the same and- and I have something special for you back at the fortress, but I guess that I could wait too, that's of course if you don't mind it."
Lynette kept staring her, yet Yoshika could not do it back, "I-I also have something for you there but yeah, that could also wait."
"So…" Yoshika struggled to maintain eye contact, "Well then, I wanted to say that I am in..."
To Yoshika's surprise, Lynette let go of her and did her best to stand up, then struggled to maintain her balance, "Y-Yoshika, something happened."
"Huh?" Yoshika turned around and looked at the group, realizing that everyone was gathered around Minna.
Yoshika also forced herself to get up and both rushed towards them.
"What's going on?" Lynette asked noticing their worried expression.
Minna looked at the two recently arrived Witches with a guilty look, "There's- there's a bomber en-route towards the fortress."
Yoshika's colors fade away, "Th-that can't be."
Author Notes:
200k words, now it can be called a longfic I guess.
There's an official art of Yoshika wearing a torn swimsuit and for most of the Witches as well.
Sorry for the late update but this took me way way longer than what I initially expected but here we are.
Most of this chapter has been planned since I began writing this fanfic and so is what's going to happen in the next chapter.
Thanks for the follow and favorite too, they're always appreciated and so are the comments.
Finally, there's an extra scene at the end of the last chapter and a few changes as well, after the infirmary scene.