"Fear..." Alicorn narrates. "Fear is a primal emotion. Everyone feels it at one point in their lives."
The Elite Siren stops mid air and the Siren ships behind her come to a stop.
"Everyone has a fear. Even the strongest of people have a fear, that even they don't know."
Suddenly dozens of missiles unch out of the ocean beside the fleet, followed by several Drones. The missiles begin to decimate the fleet with the help of the drones.
"Even I have a fear."
The Siren Elite begins to look around in worry as her fleet sinks to the depths of the ocean.
"Do you want to know what it is?"
Alicorn, with her rigging, shoots out from the water below the Siren, her sword at the ready.
"It's quite simple really. What I fear..."
Alicorn then nds back on top of the water. The head of the Siren Elite falls beside her as the rest of the body follows a second ter.
"...Is Myself."
Alicorn flicks her bde to the side and yellow blood falls onto the water.
Alicorn looks back to the burning Siren fleet, before putting her sword back in Midly's head. She then turns around and her rigging turns into thousands of cubes and forms her Sub.
Alicorn jumps up onto her Sub and it starts to move. Alicorn looks up to the dark blue sky, before putting a hand on her chest. "I kind of can't wait to see Sheffield and Edinburgh again."
Alicorn's heart starts to beat faster as she thinks about the two maids, and a small blush forms on her face. "Oh, this feeling, it's confusion and wonderful at the same time."
Alicorn sighs and heads into her sub as it dives below the icy waters.
....
Baxterbro
....
In the open water the Azur Lane fleet, comprising of only Azured Ships, is sailing towards a soon to be battle.
Two Eagles circle the fleet above, a real and a robotic one.
Enterprise looks up at the two. "One battle, followed by another..." She looks to the waters next to her and sees a dark shadow beneath the waves. Alicorn's sub.
Queen Elizabeth stands on the bow of her ship. "This is the fleet I was waiting for!"
Prince of Wales stands behind Elizabeth. She lets out a chuckle. "It is not just our own, Your Majesty. It is a combined fleet with the Eagle Union."
Hood sitting at a nearby table, drinking tea. "This is indeed an astounding view."
Sheffield and Edinburgh stand beside Hood.
Hood continues. "Quite promising, certainly."
Warspite stands nearby. "Yes, indeed. This is going to be a decisive battle."
Over on Hornet's ship, Clevend is talking to her sisters.
"You can count on us, the Knights of the Sea." Montpelier says. "We are second to none."
"We can't let our big sister down." Denver adds.
"Can we rex a little?" Columbia asks. "We could get hurt being so tense like this."
Clevend looks at her sister with a proud look. "That's right, you're all my precious little sisters. Don't push your luck."
"Okay." Clevend's sisters reply.
Sitting in a Dougss SBD is Hornet herself.
Hornet was watching and listening to Clevend and her sisters. She then lowers her hat over her eyes. "I guess there's no way around this now." She mutters. "Showdown."
Hornet forms a finger gun and points it out to the ocean in front of her, then fires.
Over with Hood.
Hood looks out towards the fleet. "Alicorn's being Antisocial."
"Miss Alicorn isn't too happy about this upcoming battle." Sheffield informs.
Hood takes a sip of her tea, then sets it down. "I can see where she's coming from. The short and heavy battle she took part in st week, and now having to partake in this one."
"Poor Lena." Edinburgh grows sad.
Back at Hornet's ship, Laffey is sitting on a railing while Javelin leans on an AA gun. A soft breeze blows through the air.
"Ayanami is on the other side..." Javelin states.
Laffey hops off the railing and walks over to Javelin, and puts her hand on top of Javelin's. Javelin looks at her and smiles. The two hold hands.
"It's okay." Javelin smiles. "I don't know what to do yet... But at least I have no doubts."
Back with Enterprise, she's taking the breeze with her eyes closed. Belfast walks up to her. "Enterprise." The maid calls out and Enterprise turns around and looks at her. "Are you concerned about something?"
Enterprise smiles. "No, just feeling the wind." She then stops smiling and looks back to the ocean. "A decisive battle is ahead of us. I must be sharp."
"Please refrain from acting too rashly."
Enterprise sweats a little as she looks back at her maid. Then she looks to the side with a small smile. "I will put in my best effort."
Belfast stares at Enterprise. "Enterprise."
Enterprise gives Belfast a small smile. "Don't worry so much. I'm fine. I have no doubts." She walks past the maid and looks down at the dark spot in the water beside her. "I just hope your doing fine."
Several hours pass and it turns night time. Alicorn's eagle screeches as it's eyes shine blue and circles the fleet.
The Eagle looks up to the night sky as it fps its wings. A sense of longing forms in its eyes.
.
.
.
In the distance a certain psychotic Siren watches the fleet.
"Oh, my Imouto." Purifier calls out with a smile. "Show me what you've learned."
"You aren't going to interfere with my experiment, are you Purifier?" Observer Alpha calls out from behind said Siren, making a shiver run down her spine.
"N-No." Purifier stutters a little as she stares down the smaller Siren.
Observer floats to Purifier. "Though, I wonder? Are you here to watch your dear toy fight, the same toy that should be dead, but is still alive. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, right?"
Purifier ughs. "You'd think I would disobey our Empr-?" She gets cut off as one of Observer's tentacles wraps around her throat, and squeezes it.
Purifier cws at the tentacle as she gasps for air.
"Oh, I think you would betray our dear Empress, just for a little fun." Observer's yellow eyes shine brightly as she gres at Purifier. "We have no real use for you anymore, so we can just kill you. But that would mean one less High Ranking Siren. So answer me this!"
"C-Can't.... b-b-breeeath!" Purifier chokes out.
"Why did you bring her back?!"
Purifier's face slowly turns blue. "S-She can still be.... useful!"
"How?" Observer tightens her hold onto Purifier.
"You're... missing... a Mental... Cube right?" Purifier chokes and coughs. "She... can... get it back!"
Observer gres at Purifier, then hums for a few seconds as a thought enters her mind. She then lets go of Purifier and said Siren falls to the ocean waters, clenching at her throat and coughing for the desperate air she needs.
"I'd hate to admit it, but your pn is good." Observer floats past Purifier. "She can being me back my Mental Cube and the data it holds. But how?" She gnces back at Purifier.
Purifier smirks as she takes a few deep breaths. "I... Have a back.... door into... her coding."
Observer smiles. "Good work Purifier, maybe you can now be more of use to us." She turns around and watches the Azur ne fleet.
Purifier gres at the short Siren, before summoning her rigging and aiming her cannons at the unsuspecting Siren. But she never fires and just lowers her cannons and looks back to the Azur Lane fleet.
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A storm suddenly appears and the waters get rough. Javelin nearly falls off Hornet's ship, but Laffey grabs onto her.
"Are you okay?" Laffey asks.
Everyone else starts to hunker down. Yet Enterprise and Belfast stare up at the storm.
<
"Alicorn?" Enterprise brings a hand up to her ear.
<
"The Sirens?" Enterprise questions.
"Enterprise?" Belfast calls out.
Suddenly something appears in the clouds above the Azur Lane fleet.
The symbol disappears and Enterprise gasps. Suddenly red lightning shoots down around the fleet.
A loud ringing echoes, before everything turns white. The bright light dies down and everyone finds themselves in a strange area.
The sky is purple and unnatural pilrs, with red markings, rise out of the waters below. Everyone looks around in caution as they sail towards what looks like a volcano in the distance.
A bright red light shines in the sky with a vortex around it.
"What is this pce...?" Clevend questions.
Montpelier points to the front of the fleet. "Big sis! There!"
Baxterbro
Many pink portals appear far in front of the fleet, and out comes a rge fleet of Mass produced Sirens.
"The Siren!" Clevend shouts.
Enterprise and Belfast gre forward. Then Enterprise gasps as she sees a figure floating in front of the Volcano.
"Akagi!" Enterprise calls out.
Akagi smiles. "Welcome to my sea, Azur Lane." She puts a hand on her cheek. "I welcome you all."
Siren Jets unch off the Siren carriers. Alicorn's sub, that's still under water, moves towards the fleet.
Queen Elizabeth points her weapon forward. "Go forth, royal soldiers!"
The Royal Navy charge forward towards the Sirens. The Siren's open fire onto the fleet and the Azured Girls change into their riggings as the shells nd around them.
"Elegance isn't just for show!" Hood shouts and her rigging attaches to her back.
Sheffield and Edinburgh change into their rigging.
Hood, Sheffield and Edinburgh lead the charge as they fire onto the Siren fleet. The rest of the Royal navy open fire.
Missiles unch out of the water, followed by drones. The drones shoot down several Siren jets aiming for the Eagle Union fleet.
Alicorn reaches the Siren fleet and her sub shoots out of the water and sms back down onto a Siren ship, blowing it up. Alicorn stands on the bow of her ship with a small frown on her face.
Alicorn raises a hand and all her weapons appear and fire onto the remaining Siren's. Smoke and fire surround Alicorn as she changes into her rigging, her three heads roaring at the sinking enemy ships.
Alicorn huffs and wipes some dust off her shoulders. She then jumps back as several shells nd in the water where she was standing, nding beside Clevend and her sisters.
Sakura Empire Battleship Ise floats in front of the group. "Good moves... I will enjoy this."
Battleship Hyuuga floats in front of the group. "Let's wrap this ip and go for a drink."
"Sakura Empire battleships...!" Clevend mutters.
Alicorn's sharks let out a deep growl as their red eyes stare at the approaching enemy ships. A panel opens up on Midly's head and Alicorn takes her sword out.
Suddenly more Sakura Empire ships sail out from the pink portals, all lead by Kaga.
"This isn't good." Alicorn mutters as her drones turn into small toys and nd on Midly's back before disappearing.
"Now..." Akagi starts. "Let me savor this."
Takao takes her sword out as well as Atago. Javelin readies her Javelin and Alicorn twirls her sword around before aiming it forward.
Wales points her sword forward. "Fire!"
Everyone open fires before charging forward. Alicorn's sharks open their mouths, revealing rge cannon barrels, and they fire. Then she charges forward.
Kaga throws an arm out. "Advance, Sakura Empire Warriors! Heaven's will is on our side!"
Takao and Atago charge forward and slice through several shells. Alicorn jumps up into the air and Midly's head shoots forward and a couple jets unch off his back.
Alicorn twists through the air as a few Zeros fly past her, firing their guns at the sub girl.
Alicorn nds on the water as Enterprise flies past her. Kevin roars and Alicorn brings her sword up as Zuikaku's sword crashes into her sword.
"I remember you." Alicorn says to the Sakura Empire ship.
"If I can't fight Grey Ghost, then I'll settle for you; Predator of the Depths!" Zuikaku shouts and brings her sword back and brings it down.
Alicorn jumps back and avoids Zuikaku's sword, and fires off several rail gun rounds. Zuikaku slides back as the rounds crash into the water and throws out several paper air pnes at the Sub girl.
Alicorn unches several drones that crash into the paper airpnes, blowing them up.
Shoukaku appears behind Alicorn and readies several pnes, only for her to be blown away. Shoukaku nds a few meters from Alicorn and looks up to see Sheffield and Edinburgh.
Sheffield does a curtsey. "I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to hurt Miss Alicorn."
"Y-Yeah!" Edinburgh shouts.
Shoukaku huffs and readies against the two maids.
Alicorn and Zuikaku swords together.
"I don't want to kill you." Alicorn says to the taller girl.
"To bad!" Zuikaku tries to kick Alicorn, but the sub-girl grabs her foot and throws her back and she nds on her back.
Alicorn closes her eyes and sighs, then Midly's rail cannon moves up and charges. "So be it."
Zuikaku flips back up only to see Alicorn gring at her as her rail cannon fires. She barley twists to the side as the rge shell flies past and her and blows up in the water behind her, creating a massive wall of water.
Zuikaku's heart beat speeds up as sweet falls down her brow. 'I've never felt fear like this before.' She readies her sword. 'I am facing a true predator of the seas.'
Zuikaku shoots forward as Alicorn's sharks fire several rounds out of their mouths. The Sakura Empire ship twists through the air as the shell barley avoid her and she brings her sword down onto Alicorn, who rises her sword in respond.
The two csh together again.
"You are really strong." Zuikaku comments.
Alicorn doesn't respond as she remains emotionless. Kevin shoots forward and sms his head into Zuikaku's gut, throwing her back. Then Righty's rail-gun fire and the shell sms into Zuikaku's gut.
Zuikaku coughs up blood as she flies through the air and roughly nds on the waters. She rolls a few times before coming to a stop. Zuikaku props herself up and looks at Alicorn.
A bzing fire rages behind Alicorn and her eyes shine yellow, giving her a menacing look. The red eyes of her rigging bare into the Sakura girl.
'I'm not facing a predator... I'm facing a monster.' Zuikaku says in thought.
Alicorn starts to walk toward Zuikaku, as her rigging lets out a few deep growls. The Sakura Empire ship struggles for a few seconds, before standing up.
'She has no hesitation in killing... She's much different from any other ship.' Zuikaku states in thought. 'She's just toying with me now, if she really wanted me dead, I would be by now.'
"Enterprise!" Belfast's voice cuts through the sound of battle.
Alicorn looks back to see Enterprise's body fall into the water and sink. Her eyes widen in shock as she nearly drops her sword.
"Enterprise?" Alciorn calls out in shock. 'She's... No! She's can't be! That'd make mother sad! No Mother can't be sad! If she's sad, then everyone is sad!'
Alicorn puts a hand on her head as a headache starts to form.
'What's wrong with her?' Zuikaku rubs some blood from her mouth.
BeatBeat
Alicorn stops as her eyes fsh a few times. Alicorn puts a hand on her chest, feeling her beating cube.
BeatBeat
Alicorn then finds herself in a burning battlefield and she sees Meta Alicorn standing in front of several burning ships. She looks to the side and Alicorn follows her gaze and spots Meta Enterprise.
"Stop holding back." Meta Alicorn looks back at Alicorn. "Stop holding back or everyone you love will die."
"How do you know?" Alicorn questions.
"Because I have already experience your life." Meta informs as her sub floats next to her. "I've experienced the same pain you have and much more." Suddenly a bck and yellow hammer head shark rigging appears on Meta's back and she floats up to her sub. "Much, much more."
A psychotic giggle is heard behind Alicorn.
"Looks like you won't be the one in control." Meta smirks and everything goes dark for Alicorn.
....
Zuikaku stares at the unmoving Alicorn, who's hair is covering her eyes.
'She just... froze?' Zuikaku questions in thought. 'Then this is my change!'
Zuikaku shoots forward with a yell and her sword held back. As she reaches Alicorn she brings her sword forward, aimed at Alicorn's neck.
Alicorn head shoots up and her Yellow eyes shine brightly and her Rigging's eyes change from red to Yellow.
"Huh?" Zuikaku questions, only for all three heads to open their mouths and fire. "AAHHHH!" She yells in pain.
Zuikaku flies back and nds on her back as blood seeps from a wound on her stomach. She grunts and rolls onto her side as blood falls from the corner of her mouth.
Alicorn walks roboticly towards Zuikaku.
"What the hell?" Zuikaku questions as she spits some blood to the side.
Suddenly a rge yellow pilr of light shines behind Alicorn, she seemingly doesn't notice.
In the distance Observer watches. "So you've awakened. I guess it's you again. In this world as well, you are the key... Enterprise."
Yellow cracks appear in the sky.
"You and your partner, are both the key." Observer smiles, and she looks back only to find empty space. "She's gone. Damn you Purifier!"
Back with Alicorn.
Alicorn keeps walking towards Zuikaku as the yellow light starts to extend. Alicorn seemingly only focused on Zuikaku.
Suddenly a portal opens up behind Alicorn, and a pair of pale hands grab her, making her eyes go dull. A psychotic ugh echoes and Alicorn is pulled into the portal.
"Zuikaku" Shoukaku tackles Zuikaku as the light reaches the two.
The light engulfs everyone on the battlefield.
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Morse code echoes.
-- .- -.- . / .. - / ... - --- .--. --..-- / .--. .-.. . .- ... . .-.-.- / -. --- / -- --- .-. . -.-.-- / -. --- / -- --- .-. . -.-.-- / .. / -.. --- -. .----. - / .-- .- -. - / - --- / .... ..- .-. - / .- -. -.-- --- -. . -.-.-- / .--. .- .. -. -.-.-- / ... --- / -- ..- -.-. .... / .--. .- .. -. -.-.-- / ... --- / -- ..- -.-. .... / ..-. . .- .-. -.-.-- / .--- ..- ... - / -- .- -.- . / .. - / . -. -.. -.-.-- / .--. .-.. . .- ... . --..-- / .. .----. ...- . / .... .- -.. / . -. --- ..- --. .... .-.-.- / .--- ..- ... - / . -. -.. / -- . .-.-.-
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The seas are rough as a storm rages above them.
Back in the real world Akagi and Siren Enterprise float across from each other.
Akagi gres at Siren Enterprise. "Who... are you?"
Siren Enterprise doesn't respond as her yellow eyes glow.
Akagi's rigging catches on fire. "You won't stand in my way." Suddenly a fming dragon appears around her.
"This is the manifestation of my love." Akagi yells. "My love surpasses time and overwhelms even the gods for Sakura Empire..." Tears fall from her eyes. "And for my dear sister...!"
The Fming dragon flies forward and heads toward Enterprise. It roars at the Eagle Union ship as she brings up her bow and pulls back the string.
A golden arrow appears on Siren Enterprise's bow and she lets the string lose. It goes through the Dragon and straight into Akagi's chest.
Akagi falls down into the waters below with her hand stretched out towards Siren Enterprise. Enterprise blinks and she's back in control and she reaches her head out to the falling Akagi, but it's to te.
The Sakura Empire ship falls into the waters and sinks. Enterprise gains a look of horror as she stares down at the rough waters where Akagi sank.
"I see now." Enterprise starts. "I finally understand." A tear falls down her face. "I... I am afraid of the ocean..."
"Even the strongest of people have a fear."
....
Baxterbro
...
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07-11-2023
3647 words