[Azur Lane Hood]
Whatever this Abyss is… it made this Bismarck faster, stronger and more durable than a Kansen! I found myself on the defensive far more than offensive. I just had to hold out long enough for the reinforcements to arrive. I was counting on U-556 to get to the Pacific HQ and alert the Commander. I just had to—
BOOM
"AH!" I yelled out in pain as one of her shots collided with my back. Luckily, my rigging took most of the impact, but it got damaged quite badly.
"Let me end… your suffering…" Bismarck spoke. My God, she actually thought she was helping me. I suppose I could find some level of solace knowing she genuinely thought she was doing a good thing, but she still needed to be stopped.
The fact that she looked and sounded like Biscuit made it even harder to fight back.
"I'd rather go out on my own terms, thank you!" I retorted as I fired back at her. The water around her seemed to come alive as it acted as a shield.
Hang on…
When she uses her Abyssal power, parts of her body got covered in black-tinted water. When she punched, the water formed around her fists and made it hit harder, or when she moved, it formed around her feet to make her glide across the surface at lightning speed. Perhaps if I got her on land…
Surely Lady Akagi and Lady Kaga had evacuated the civilians by now, right?
I dodged another volley from her as I charged at her. I grabbed hold of her and it as like trying to push a brick wall. Well, for a human, anyway. I moved her, but with great effort.
As I pushed her towards the land while pushing her cannons away, she managed to put her hand on my head. I assumed she was trying to push me back, but then my mind begin flooding with visions of a world ravaged by some sort of apocalypse with dark versions of Lady Enterprise, Lady Takao and others.
Was this what Bismarck saw? Is this what caused her to turn?
"Hood-san…" A soft voice echoed in my mind.
"Lady Shinano?" I asked, still pushing hard against the Abyssal.
"Hai… Bismarck is in terrible pain… She's trying to pull you down to her level… but I'm stopping more visions assaulting your mind… I'm trying to talk her down in here, but it's not working…"
"Can you try to distract her, Lady Shinano? I'm getting her to the land to take away some of her power!" I thought in my mind.
"I will try… hurry… her power is starting to trap me in here… U-556-chan has just contacted Shikikan-sama… help is coming…"
I made a note to repay that little Sub somehow. "I've almost got her there, Lady Shinano! Hang in there!" I got Bismarck back onto the beach and pushed her, making her stumble and fall.
I aimed my rigging at her and ordered, "Surrender, Bismarck! Last warning!"
"You wouldn't… That's not who… you are… Hood…" she slowly stood back up and aimed her own at me again.
Bloody hell, she's right… I charged at her again to engage in hand-to-hand. Now that she cannot use the water to her advantage, we are more evenly matched.
I was very thankful that Lady Sheffield taught me how to fight like this.
Bismarck's strength was not to be trifled with, but I managed to make quick movements to use her own momentum and forces against her. I made sure to avoid hitting her in the head as I didn't want to risk hindering the efforts of Lady Shinano.
[Azur Lane Bismarck]
I followed Akagi outside and saw her getting up on the water. I jumped out to the sea to face her and said, "Stand down and make this easier for us all, ja?"
The black eye on her face started healing quick as she snarled at me, "YOU DARE!? YOU WILL DIE FOR THAT, BISMARCK!"
Her massive fox reappeared and roared at me, putting the base on alert again as I stared her down without moving.
"IF IT TAKES BURNING DOWN THIS ENTIRE PLACE TO MAKE YOU SUBMIT TO MY SUPERIORITY, THEN SO BE IT!"
"Superiority complex, more like." I retorted. "Was it brought on by your consistent losses in training exercises against Frau Enterprise, or perhaps by knowing you're younger than all three of your sisters?"
"SHUT UP!"
I taunted her again. I wanted her to try me. "How about I give you another reason to feel inferior? Let's add losing to a Battleship to your not-so-impressive service history, ja?"
"YOU FUCKING NAZI BITCH!" The crazy fox screamed in rage and had her massive companion try to eat me.
I calmly asked, "Geryon, if you'd be so kind?"
"Nani…?" Akagi mumbled right before my mechanical friend burst out of the water and used all three heads to bite down on the huge fox and pin it down to the surface. Its pain was felt by Akagi, who doubled over and fell from the air.
I came over, kneeled next to her and said, "Your 'superiority' only exists when up against people who don't know everything you're going to do, Akagi. Luckily, you've lost your temper so many times that everyone who pays attention knows what you'll do. Now, are you going to be a good girl and behave? Or am I doing to have to discipline you more?"
"I-" She tried to get up but I pinned her down with my foot.
I reminded her, "The more time you waste picking fights and not helping, the more time you don't get to be with Amagi and your Kommandant."
The last part made her massive fox stop struggling and disappear, allowing Geryon to let go and fly around freely again.
She glared at me and hissed, "Tell nobody of this."
"Don't worry, I won't." I gestured over to the port after helping her up, "Because they saw everything."
Akagi quickly looked at the beach and saw a very unimpressed-looking Kaga slowly shaking her head as well as four scared Destroyers hugging her tails for comfort. I grabbed her by the arm and said firmly in her ear, "And another thing…" I squeezed her arm painfully hard, making her wince, "…Don't call me a fucking Nazi. You know for a fact the Sakura were just as bad as them."
Defeated, she hung her head in shame and returned to land after I let her go.
What the hell is wrong with her? How the hell did she become one of Nagato's advisors?
[Azur Lane U-556]
I got close enough to the base to send the Kommandant all the data I could get from the Siren base, except the cat videos. I kept them. I also of course called for backup to help Frau Hood.
"Come on! We have to hurry!" I yelled to the reinforcements. Frau Enterprise couldn't come because she was taking Frau Belfast to the base hospital, so Frau Essex and her sisters came instead, along with Frau Tirpitz and some other Kansen including my fellow U-Boats and the Royal Knights. We were close to the Sea of Japan, but then the worst thing that could've happened… uh, happened!
"Scheiße! A Mirror Sea!?" Tirpitz's swore. "We don't have time for this! Push through! Frau Hood needs us!"
"Ah, ah, ah! I don't think so!" A familiar Siren with stingray rigging taunted us.
Wait… Purifier!? She must've gotten a new body!
"I got my ass beat by that bitch, so she's mine to kill, ya got me!? I'm gonna wait for Hood to wear her down, then I'm gonna get rid of her! Hahahaha! NOW DIE!" She fired her massive plasma cannon at us!
"Everyone, focus fire on her!" Frau Tirpitz ordered, taking up the flagship role immediately. The Carriers launched their planes to get her in the surface so us Subs could hit her with torpedoes.
"You think it'd be THAT easy!?" She yelled as portals opened up to reveal mass-produced ships.
This may take a while… hold on, Frau Hood…
[Azur Lane Hood]
I was grabbed and thrown into the corner of a building, making it collapse on me.
"AAAAGGHH!"
I must admit it hurt like hell, pardon my language. A normal human would've been flattened.
"Oof… this bloody skirt wasn't meant for this…" I mumbled as I looked at my legs pinned under the remains of the building, cursing my own elegance at that very moment.
"The more you struggle… the more you'll suffer…" Bismarck warned me, taking aim again.
Everything hurt. I was beaten and exhausted. I tried to move but I couldn't. I didn't even have the strength to shift the rubble on top of me. Only my upper half was exposed. The Abyssal stood over me and aimed her arm cannon right at my forehead…
"Bismarck… please, no…"
"This is… for your own good… Hood…" She muttered.
"What about Prinz? She misses you!" I tried, "Your friends! Your family! We were going to get you back, remember!?" I cried, trying anything to get her to come to her senses.
"…!"
Wait… that… worked? She started to hesitate and her aim drifted away from me. Tears began running down her face and humanity seemed to return to her eyes, at least for a moment, enough to make her stagger backwards and hold her head.
"Mein Gott… what am I doing…?" She asked seemingly nobody, before falling to her knees.
Now full of hope, I gained the adrenaline and strength needed to at least lift the rubble just enough to get out, tearing up my outfit on the ruins.
Now free, I got back up and…
Where'd she go?
I looked around frantically, unable to locate her.
I steadied myself, "Alright, Hood. Keep calm. Carry on. Maintain elegance." I told myself. I used my radar instead of my eyes.
There…
I limped further into the now thankfully evacuated city. I saw Bismarck standing at a fountain, seemingly looking at her reflection in the water…
[Azur Lane Shinano, a few minutes earlier]
This one watched as Bismarck throw Hood-san into a building. I was unable to physically restrain her mental image of herself, but I could still speak.
"Bismarck-san please stop…" I tried. Unfortunately, I don't know her personally, but I do have access to her memories.
I saw the building come down on and pin Hood-san in place. "No! Bismarck, please… listen to this one!"
Bismarck stood over Hood-san. I couldn't stop her… her memories were unreachable.
"Bismarck… please, no…" Hood-san coughed.
"This is… for your own good… Hood…" Bismarck responded.
"What about Prinz? She misses you!" I tried, "Your friends! Your family! We were going to get you back, remember!?"
All of a sudden, the obstacles in her mind preventing me accessing her memories vanished. I wasted no time in going straight in. I found the most powerful memory of the alternate Prinz Eugen-san. I noticed it was repressed for some reason. I brought it to the forefront of her mind and went inside to turn it into an active memory…
[Kancolle Bismarck, some time ago]
Oktoberfest is finally here this year. Originally, it was only us Kriegsmarine shipgirls in base that celebrated it, but we got our allies into it as well, and they seemed to enjoy it. We were more than happy to include them in our traditions, as we are allowed to participate in theirs. Cherry Blossom season is particularly enjoyable.
We acted as waitresses for all the rest of the girls and the Admiral. Of course, we made sure not to get him too drunk. Kongou would have a field day. Luckily, she seems to be off her face confessing her true feelings with Iowa and Warspite at the bar.
Oh? The three of them are leaving together? Ok, then. Maybe the Admiral can have some more, hehe…
"Thanks, Bismarck. May I say you girls are looking fine in those outfits?" He spoke, probably somewhat intoxicated already.
I chuckled, "You may, Herr Micheal." I gave him another drink and returned to the bar.
I took a break and sat between Prinz and Graf after placing down the massive bier steins that I had practiced carrying to a table of American shipgirls, who cheered for me. Did you know you can carry up to 14 at once if you do it right? Hehe…
"How did you do that, Bismarck?" Prinz asked, dressed in her adorable Oktoberfest outfit. That's so much bier!"
"Practice." I tapped the side of my nose as I winked at her, making her blush. "I could teach you when you start getting it for us."
"I… I'd like that…" she shyly responded.
She's been trying anything to spend more time with me. Could she be feeling the same things I feel towards her?
Z1 and Z3 took over serving the others. Graf was ready for her turn afterwards. She could somehow carry even more than me, and that would be the end, meaning Prinz and I were free to annoy ourselves, too. We used the bier keg in the middle of our table, which is always there in our corner, and poured ourselves some drinks.
After a while of drunk partying, Prinz and I looked into each others eyes and both blushed. We got closer to each other before Graf chuckled, "Get a room, you two." And got up for her turn as Z1 and Z3 sat back down.
And so we did. We walked hand-in hand to Prinz' room as she led us. When she closed her door, she pulled me closer to her and got on her tiptoes to reach me. I put my arm around her and my hand gently on her cheek. I asked, "I didn't know you felt so much for me, Prinz…"
"Of course I do… you've done so much for me, Bismarck… my life would be so dull without you in it… I'd like to spend the rest of my life with you… if it's okay?"
"Feeling bold, ja?" I teased. "I'd like that a lot, Prinz."
"Ich liebe dich, Bismarck…" She finally confessed, her blush a deep red.
"Ich liebe dich, Prinz Eugen." I smiled as we finally kissed.
But…
Was this genuine? Did she really mean it? Or was she just drunk? I know how I felt and thought my dream of being with her had come true… but since she isn't sober, perhaps she was just messing around?
After sitting on her bed continuing the kiss, Prinz fell back, passed out. Poor girl. The alcohol must've knocked her out. I've always lasted longer than her while drinking, but not by much, so I had to get beck to my room, fast. I tucked her into bed and left.
I managed to get back to my room. I wanted that to be real, but I couldn't assume anything. I couldn't ask her about it when she's sober, she'd die of embarrassment…
I decided to drop it and forget about it happening. She's not likely to remember it, anyway…
[Azur Lane Shinano]
What a bittersweet moment… remembering it seemed to make Bismarck hesitate as she re-lived it after having repressed it.
Also, while she was distracted, I helped her repress all the knowledge of the Leviathans. A mind like mine could handle it, but it's evident she couldn't. I couldn't make her forget, but I could try to make sure she doesn't remember.
I could feel her emotions returning, transforming this cold, dark environment in her head with warmth and a soothing light and images of her Prinz Eugen.
She lowered her cannon arm, walked backwards holding her face and she said in her actual voice, "Mein Gott… what am I doing…?" She ran away towards the town fountain. She looked into the water and…
She saw this one. Instead of herself, she saw me…
[Kancolle Bismarck]
I saw the Kansen in my head trying to help me… I appreciated her efforts… but it wouldn't help me for long… I could feel the Abyss returning…
"You… The one in my mind… why are you helping me?"
The reflection of the beautiful, sleepy fox lady replied, "Your loved ones… they miss you dearly… our version of you has told us how much your Prinz Eugen-san… cries herself to sleep every night missing you… please don't lose yourself… she's counting on you…"
"She… does…? But what's the point…?" I asked, "When those… monsters come… we'll all be killed, slowly and painfully…"
"They are coming, hai… but wouldn't you rather get home… and spend your final moments with the one… who still loves you so much?"
"She… what?" I asked, surprised. Could Prinz really, actually love me?
"Our Bismarck asked her about it… your Prinz' confession that night was genuine. She was heartbroken when she woke up the next morning… and you weren't there…"
"She remembered too…? Nein… Prinz…" Tears flowed from my eyes. I was about to lose myself again, but then…
[Azur Lane Hood]
"…Bismarck?"
She slowly looked back at me. Her teary eyes looked… human again?
"Bismarck, can you understand me?"
"Of course…" she said, "I… I'm so sorry, Hood… I… I lost myself… it will happen again, I know it…"
I gingerly put my hand around her and on her shoulder. I said, "Don't worry. If you do, we'll be there to help. We can contain you at the HQ."
"Contain?"
"Yes, we can test your capabilities and design a room that can hold you should you remember what you were talking about and lose yourself again."
"Remember… remember what?" She asked.
She'd forgotten? Ah, Shinano must still be in there. I replied, "Nothing, don't worry about it. Let's get you back home. Reinforcements are coming to escort us. Oh, bloody hell, I'd better tell them you're okay now."
I grabbed my radio and...
"For now…" My friend from another world muttered.
Must all Bismarcks be plagued with self-doubt? My radio is busted. This could get a bit messy…
[Azur Lane Pacific Commander]
I analysed the data U-556 managed to get from the Siren base that sits where the Atlantic HQ was. What I saw made me call in Akashi. Lord help me if she charged me for this.
"You called, Shikikan, nya?" The green money cat saluted, covering her eyes with her goofy sleeves. All her tools were stuck out of them as always.
"That's right. Take a look at this, Akashi. You think you could do something with this bit here?" I asked.
"Isn't this data on that scrapper thing, nya? There's a lot of Kansen data in it… OH!" She gasped.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" I smiled.
"Nya, nya! Akashi will get the blank Wisdom Cubes out of storage, nyaaaa!" She cheered as she sprinted back to her lab.
She's gonna need some help. I wonder who could possibly-
My communicator went off with an unfamiliar contact number. I answered it, "Commander Johnson."
"Salve, Comandante!" The cheery choice of Leonardo Da Vinci filled the office, "Mi dispiace davvero per il ritardo!"
Did she just-
"Excuse me?" I asked. Surely she didn't…
Another, more mature voice scolded her, "Lui non parla Sardegnano, idiota..."
"Ah! Scusa, Abruzzi! Apologies, Comandante! I said we're really sorry for the delay! We've finally brought the prosthetic Ark for La Signorina Bismarck!"
I looked out the window to see a few warships approaching with white-painted decks with red stripes, a prominent feature of Sardegna Empire ships. Did they really need so many escorts for a false arm?
"Ah, good to hear it, Miss Leonardo, but we have a bit of problem here. If you could make port I'll meet you there and fill you in."
"Grazie, Comandante!"
I switched frequencies, "Akashi?"
"Patience, Shikikan, nya! Akashi is going as fast as she can, nya!"
"I know, I just got some good news! Leonardo Da Vinci has arrived. She can help you out!"
"NYA!? What's she doing here!?"
[Azur Lane U-556]
Frau Tirpitz held the defeated Purifier by her rigging and threw her several metres before blasting her with a full volley. I finished her off with a torpedo barrage.
"Dammit! I'll get you bitches for this!" She yelled before running away through a portal like always.
For a Siren called "Purifier", she's pretty bad at her job.
"That's enough time wasted! We need to help Hood!" Our acting flagship ordered before we continued on.
[Azur Lane Enterprise]
I sat down next to Belfast in Vestal's office after my old friend called me in. I had Bel go in alone first to try and build up her confidence again.
"You okay?" I softly asked Bel, who nodded with a little smile, "So what's up, Ves?"
Bel seemed to shrink a little and looked away from me. I hoped it wasn't serious. Of all things, I didn't want whatever is wrong with Amagi to be affecting her too or something. That fox… there never seemed to anything we could do for her. Her Cube and her body are perfectly healthy, yet she keeps coughing up blood and fainting at random, like she has symptoms to some phantom disease…
What ended up happening was beyond anything I was ever prepared for.
Vestal nervously answered, "Enterprise… I think the treatment of the Atlantic Kansen by their Commander was far worse than we thought…"
I put my arm around Belfast and pulled her close to me, "What did he do to her, Ves?" I asked, doing my best to temper my anger.
Without a word, Vestal put something on the table in front of us. My eyes went wide when I saw them and what they were indicating.
They were two pregnancy tests, and both were positive. She must've done it twice to make sure.
I took my hat off, as if that would make things any different. I looked back at Vestal, "That… that's impossible… isn't it?"
"This has never happened before, Enty. Not to a Kansen, anyway. Azur Lane has tried before, with many other Commanders. A lot of Kansen were disappointed, especially the more… unhinged ones, but this time it worked. It just happened to finally be successful with a complete scumbag…" Vestal replied, just as surprised.
I looked at Bel, who looked down seemingly in shame. I softly rubbed her arm to comfort her, "It's alright, Bel. It's okay." I looked at the doctor again, "Can't we just… prevent it like humans do?"
"Contraceptives that humans use for this aren't strong enough for Kansen biology, Enty. Besides, if they did work, it's far too late for them now. Plus, NHQ never thought to have any made that are compatible with us because they want us to have kids."
"Damn… fucking bastards…"
"Also…" Vestal added, "Bel… said she doesn't want to abort it, either. She wants to keep the baby… to make at least something good out her time with such a horrible man…"
I looked back up at Vestal, and then to Bel, who looked back at me, red in the face.
I then heard Vestal add, "And… she asked me to ask you on her behalf if you'd… help her raise it."
Me? Raising a kid…? Like… like a mom?
Me face went just as red as Bel's. She wanted to keep it? What was she thinking? Was it some kind of maternal instinct?
"Enty? You still with us?" Vestal weakly joked.
"Uh… yeah… I just…" I saw the look in Bel's eyes. She really trusts me that much? I asked her, "Why me, Bel?"
She got close to my ear and whispered, "Because… I love you, silly. You… don't have to… if you don't want to…"
At least she was starting to get her old self back already, but I could tell she was scared. Perhaps the pride of having a kid is building her back up?
Vestal assured us, "I promise you both I'll be here to aid you in anything you need. I know what a human baby needs to survive, but we'll need to work together on a baby Kansen. Who knows what will happen?"
I had to pull myself together. Belfast needed me in that moment more than ever. I had a new purpose. I was going to make sure her kid didn't end up like their "father".
"When is she due?" I asked.
Vestal shrugged, "Again, Kansen biology, I can't say for sure. If she were human… at this stage, I'd say she's somewhere in her 4th or 7th week as she's started having morning sickness. If we go off a human pregnancy, she'll have about 8-9 months. I can talk you through everything that happens to humans so if they happen to Bel, you'll both be somewhat ready, okay?"
I nodded, "You're a lifesaver, Ves. Literally." I turned my attention back to my favourite Royal, "Belfast, of course I will. I promise, we'll raise up the best little Kansen ever."
Bel carefully hugged me close, letting her tears loose again. I kissed her on the forehead as she cried into my chest.
This time, I could tell they were tears of joy, probably her first in years.
Vestal quietly smiled as she watched us. Belfast whispered in my ear again.
"Thank you… Enterprise…"