"The sun's comin' up. Even after the darkest nights, morning always comes."

  Birds start to chirp as the sun rises over the ocean, casting an orange glow. The sun starts to cast its rays on the Azur Lane base on a calm Monday morning. Everything is quiet, but a few soldiers and ship-girls about the base.

  Ships and soldiers from the four main factions walk around, slowly getting used to each other, as it only has been a week since the cease fire was called. Tensions are still high, but everything remains calm.

  Suddenly a robotic Eagle swoops down from the sky and flies past several ships-girls and a couple soldiers. The bird then circles the dorms and then nds on a rge tree branch. The eagle hops down the branch and looks into an open window, where the curtains flow in a small breeze.

  The robotic eagle caws a few times as the sun rises up behind it.

  Inside the dorm we see a rge bed with Alicorn sleeping on it. Her soft breaths have a rhythmic beat, her long ashen blond hair is covering her face. The clock on her nightstand hits 7 AM and her record pyer automatically starts up and pys a song.

  Baxterbro

  Alicorn lets out a soft moan as she opens her siren yellow eyes. She lets out a yawn and pats two spots on either side of her, she then slightly frowns as she finds nothing.

  "They must have gone to work already." Alicorn mutters.

  Alicorn lets out along yawn as she sits up, revealing she's wearing nothing but an oversized shirt. She brings up her right arm, which is pure white from the elbow down, and rubs her eyes. She the slides to the side of her bed and slowly gets out of bed.

  She hears a robotic chirp out the window.

  "Good morning Avis." Alicorn calls out and she gets a chirp in response.

  Alicorn walks to her wardrobe as she slightly sways to the music. "I don't want to set the world on fire~" Alicorn sings along with the music. "I just want to start. A fme in your heart."

  Alicorn smiles as she reaches her wardrobe and the rge mirror next to it. Alicorn holds her arms up and stretches and lets out a soft moan, before yawning.

  Alicorn takes off the rge shirt that goes down to her knees and puts it in a basket next to the mirror. Alicorn then stands in front of the mirror, looking at her bare naked body. She rubs a hand over the rge scar over her right eye, then the small one over her left eyebrow.

  Then she just stares at her self for a few seconds before titling her head and showing a small smile. Then her eyes lower down to her two very small mounds on her chest.

  Alicorn frowns as she puts a hand over her chest. "Why am I so small, I'm such a big and powerful ship, yet I have these tiny things." She huffs in annoyance. "This isn't fair, even Unicorn has a bigger chest than me... What if I drink more milk?"

  Alicorn then looks at her pale right arm and moves it around, before opening and closing her hand a few times. A foreign and familiar feeling accompanies her little test.

  Alicorn shivers a little and shakes her right arm a little. Then she moves over to the wardrobe and starts to get changed.

  After several minutes Alicorn puts on her tiara, then her military coat on. She smooths out her coat and adjusts her medals a few times. She then reaches into the wardrobe and pulls out her Medal of Honor. She then puts it around her next and looks into the mirror.

  Alicorn does a pose and smiles.

  "I'm the cutest ship to exist~" Alicorn smiles to herself and does a small dance.

  She then dances over to her desk and picks up a hair brush and starts to brush her hair. she walks over to a window and moves the curtains to the side as she brushes her hair, letting in the morning sun.

  Alicorn looks out to the ocean as the sun's warmth hits her face. The smell of the ocean reaches her nose as the sounds of birds chirping reaches her ears.

  Peace and calmness washes through Alicorn as she finishes brushing her hair and sets the brush down. Alicorn lets out a content sigh as she gnces over to the clock.

  7:43 AM

  "Breakfast should be going by now." Alicorn mutters and she pushes some hair behind her ear and heads towards the door. Her heels cck on the ground and as she fixes her gloves.

  She then exits her dorm and heads down the halls, walking past several tired ship girls, who are either going to bed after getting off guard duty or are just waking up. Alicorn quietly walks down the halls and finally reaches outside, where a light breeze blows her hair a little.

  Alicorn waves her hair a little and continues on towards the canteen. A few ships waves as she passes them and she gives them a nod.

  "Morning Alicorn!" Columbia runs by and waves.

  "Morning Columbia." Alicorn smiles.

  Columbia's eyes widen a little as she slows down a little. "It's still weird to see you smile." She then continues running on.

  Alicorn raises an eyebrow. "It's not that weird." She pours a little as she walks.

  Alicorn looks around as she walks and spots Sheffield in the distance, she's sweeping the steps of a building as a soldier tries to talk to her. Sheffield's face remains indifferent, but the soldier has a smug look.

  Alicorn comes to a slow stop and she narrows her eyes at the soldier. Her eyes suddenly start to glow and gain a look of anger. But after a few seconds she shakes her head and the glow disappears.

  Alicorn rubs her head. "That... was weird?" She continues on, then starts to mutter. "I'm still finding out stuff about my body, I think I should find out what that was next."

  Alicorn smiles and starts to hum a tune as she walks. Some ship-girls give her weird looks, not used to seeing her so happy and showing emotion.

  Alicorn eventually makes it to the cafeteria and is immediately ambushed by Team Destroyers and they force Alicorn to sit with them.

  "Oh, I can't wait to perform tonight!" Echo talks with a mouth full of food.

  Alicorn gnces at Echo. "Echo, chew your food before you speak."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "But how can we not be sorry!" Kalk fps her arms.

  "Hobby is excited." Hobby states.

  "We'll be performing for the four Commanders and many other nations soldiers." Belchan states. "So it's natural we'll be excited. This could make our band even more popur!"

  "Belchan, may I ask a favor?" Alicorn speaks up.

  Belchan nods and turns to her. "Yes, Miss Alicorn?"

  "I just finish writing a song, and I wanted to ask if I can perform it tonight?" Alicorn reaches into her coat and pulls out a stack of papers.

  "Let me look." Belchan grabs the papers and looks through them as everyone continues eating. After several minutes Belchan sets the papers on the table. "This seems very personal."

  "Every song I write is very personal to me."

  "Well, I think we can squeeze it in, we can py if first if you want."

  "I would like that. I was originally gonna sing it in Japanese, but I'm gonna sing it in English. More people will understand it then."

  "You can speak Japanese?" Kalk asks.

  "Watashi wa ōku no gengo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu." Alicorn says. [I can speak many nguages.] "Ich kenne fast jede Sprache der Welt." [I know nearly every nguage in the world.] "Dois-je continuer?" [Should I continue on?}

  Alicorn speaks in Japanese, German then French.

  "No need, Miss Alicorn." Belchan speaks up.

  Alicorn nods and grabs the papers off the table and stuffs them back inside her coat. She looks up to a nearby clock and then starts to pack up. "I need to meet up with Commander Sicilia and Commander Stait for the meeting with the Commanders of Iron Blood and Sakura Empire."

  Alicorn picks up her tray and stands up.

  "Good luck!" Team Destroyers call out.

  Alicorn puts her tray away and heads out.

  .

  .

  .

  Alicorn stands at the docks as the sun shines high in the sky. Next to her stands Commanders Sicilia and Stait. Yorktown is in a wheelchair nearby with Enterprise beside her.

  Sicilia shifts in nervousness, and Stait puts a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, everything will be fine."

  Sicilia nods. "S-Sure, t-this is just a very im-im-important meeting." She rubs a few of her scars.

  "Sakura Empire is here." Alicorn calls out.

  The two Commanders look to the ocean to see the ship Yamato sailing towards them. On the bow of the ship is Osami with Yamato and Musashi at her side.

  Sicilia takes a deep breath. "He-Here we go."

  Yamato sails in port and docks where the group is. Musashi's ship materializes besides Yamato's and the two ship girls walk down a ramp with Osami behind them.

  The two ships girls and Commander reach the three. Osami walks past her two ship-girls and gives a nods to Sicilia and Stait.

  "Greetings Commanders Sicilia and Stait." Osami greets in English. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you both."

  Stait gives a little bow, and Sicilia follows her example. "It's also our pleasure."

  Osami looks around. "Is Iron Blood here?"

  Sicilia shakes her head. "No, we're still waiting on them."

  Osami sighs and pushes her gsses up. "Itsumo no yō ni." [As always].

  "Awww aren't you a cutie!" Musashi is heard as she giggles.

  Everyone looks over to see Musashi patting Alicorn on the head, while Alicorn has a small blush.

  "I could just gobble you right up!" Musashi's tails wag.

  'Must. Resist. Fluffing the tails!' Alicorn says in thought.

  Osami walks over to Alicorn and moves Musashi back a little. "So you're the ship that's caused me a lot of headache." She looks Alicorn up and down. "You are a little small for something very powerful."

  "Don't underestimate me, I am the most powerful ship to exist." Alicorn states.

  "Heh, we'll have to see."

  Sheffield and Edinburgh walk up to Commander Stait. Edinburgh waves to Alicorn and she waves back. Sheffield gives Alicorn a smioe.

  "Miss Osami, if you would follow Sheffield and Edinburgh, they will take you to the meeting room and provide food and drinks." Stait calls out.

  Osami nods and snaps her fingers. Yamato and Musashi follow up behind Osami. "Very well."

  Osami, Yamato and Musashi follow Sheffield and Edinburgh into the base.

  "O-Oh, I hope Iron Blood doesn't take long." Sicilia wipes some sweat from her head.

  One hour ter.

  Stait grunts in annoyance as she looks at a pocket watch. "They're over an hour ter!"

  Yorktown and Enterprise have recently left.

  "A-Are they even c-c-coming?" Sicilia questions.

  "They have to." Alicorn speaks up. "This is a very important meeting, if they don't show up, then Iron Blood will be looked in a bad light."

  A loud horn rings out and everyone looks to the ocean to see an Iron Blood fleet. Which consists of Bismark, Friedrich, Roon, Prinz Eugen and Z23.

  "Hallo!" Arndt yells as she waves from Bizmark's ship.

  "This is a big show of power." Stait frowns. "Is she trying to increase tensions?"

  Iron Blood sails into port and anchors their ships. Arndt walks off Bismark's ship, and Stait notices a pistol holstered on the Iron Blood's right hip. Bismark walks beside Arndt.

  "Commander Arndt, trying to start this war back up?" Stait asks.

  "Oh, Commander Stait, you know how dangerous the ocean can be, I just had to make sure my safety was guaranteed."

  Friedrich walks up behind Arndt.

  Followed by Roon.

  Prinz Eugen and Z23 walk up and stand behind Arndt.

  "We may be in an armistice, but the seas are still dangerous as ever." Arndt smiles and she notices Alicorn. "Ah, Alicorn, I see you are fine, though I wonder where you're ship is."

  "On an offshore repair facility." Alicorn informs. "My engines were damaged and leaking radiation, so they had to take it far away and repair it there."

  "Hmm, sometimes I wish you were still in my fleet."

  Sicilia looks at all the Iron blood ships. "Th-This will make people worried, C-C-Commander Arndt."

  Arndt walks over to Sicilia and stands over her. Arndt behind the tallest of the commanders at 6'3'' (190.5). Stait at 6 feet (182.8 cm). Sicilia being 5'7'' (173.7 cm) and Osami at 5'4'' (164.5 cm.)

  Arndt smiles and puts a hand on Sicilia's cheek. "My my, aren't you a cute thing." She licks her lips.

  Sicilia grows a blush, but it goes away as Stait removes Arndt's hand from Sicilia's cheek.

  "We must hurry to the meeting room." Stait says. "Cause someone is an hour ter."

  Arndt adjusts the eyepatch over her right eye. "?h, wen interessiert das?" [Eh, who cares.]. "But lead on."

  The three Commanders walk off, leaving behind the ships. Alicorn watches them, but soon a shadow covers her and she looks up to sees Friedrich standing over her.

  Friedrich smiles. "You're such a cute ship!" She brings Alicorn into a hug, stuffing Alicorn's head between her breasts. "I think I'll make you my daughter."

  Alicorn tries to struggle, but Friedrich's grip is too strong and she just goes limp.

  Bismark sighs and shakes her head, Prinz Eugen chuckles and Z23 shows no emotions. Roon does look a little jealous.

  .

  .

  .

  In the Academy meeting room, Sicilia and Stait sit on a couch across from Arndt, while Osami sits in a nearby chair, while she drinks some tea.

  "You do know this won't st long." Arndt points out. "It won't be long before our leaders are at each other's throats again. Mein Führer really doesn't like either of your countries."

  "The feelings mutual." Stait speaks up.

  "Cra!" Sicilia says in worry.

  Arndt smirks. "Still as fiery as ever."

  Stait just gres at Arndt.

  "Well, while we are at a truce, we can focus on our true enemies, the Sirens." Osami speaks up. "They may have been quiet for the past week, but we all know they'll come back at us in full force."

  "We've dealt with whatever they've thrown at us before, we can take care of what's next." Stait cims.

  "B-But each time, they've th-thrown something stronger a-a-at us." Sicilia points out.

  "Iron Blood has superior engineering, so we can easily deal with anything those Sirens try to kill us with." Arndt says with confidence.

  "Heh, if your ships are so superior, what happened to all your HO ships?" Stait asks. "Especially to that heavily advanced destroyer a year and a half ago."

  Arndt growls at Stait. "Eagle Union destroyed them all."

  "Heh, you're such a bad Commander, like your father."

  Arndt starts to grow angry. "Don't speak ill of my father."

  Stait grows Smug, which worries Sicilia. "Got to overwhelmed in the st war, and abandoned his allies and in the end, was condemned and in the end shot himself."

  "Shut. Up."

  "You're father was a coward and you are becoming just like him."

  Ardnt swift stands up and pulls out the Walther P38 off her hip and aims it at Stait. At the same time Sicilia pulls out a 1911 from the inside of her coat and aims it at Ardnt. Stait has a smug look and Osami just looks between the two Commanders with guns.

  Osami just sips her tea.

  "Drop it." Sicilia orders.

  "Then tell that Hündin to shut the fuck up!" Arndt yells.

  "Drop. It." Sicilia pulls the hammer back on her pistol.

  Arndt gres at Stait, while said British Commander gives her a smug look that says "Do it."

  Arndt huffs and holsters her pistol and Sicilia puts her pistol back in her coat. Sicilia then turns to Stait. "Car, don't do something like that again in my base. Do you understand."

  "Alice-"

  "I said, do you understand?" Sicilia grows very serious.

  Stait tugs on the colr of her shirt and gulps. "Yes, ma'am."

  "Good." Sicilia sits down. "Now, let's get back to business."

  .

  .

  .

  Alicorn watches as team Destroyers finish setting the stage up. She then looks in front of the stage and sees hundreds of people, both ships and humans. Then she looks to the other side and sees the calm ocean with the setting sun barely peeking over the horizon.

  Alicorn sighs and fixes her dress up, having ditched her coat and Medals back in her room a few ours earlier.

  Belchan walks over and informs Alicorn that everything is ready.

  "Let's do this." Alicorn takes a deep breath and walks onto the stage.

  Belchan is holding a recorder flute, Kalk is holding a guitar, Hobby is at a digital piano keyboard and Echo is at some drums. Alicorn walks up to a microphone and grabs it.

  The lights on the stage turn on and everyone cheers. Alicorn nods to everyone and they begin to py.

  Baxterbro

  Alicorn nods along with the music for a little bit, then starts to sing.

  "So, as for my lifeOr, anyone's life.Sometimes, and often times, they're judged equally... right?You came into my dark skiesBringing along depressionWith some occasional rainBut I'm so leaning onto youWhat do I do?"

  People cheer along with the song, and Alicorn looks through the crowd and Spots Yorktown in the back, smiling and cpping along with the sing as she sits on a chair, Enterprise beside her.

  "Love hate so extreme till its decayedBut you take it all in.And easily smile ...why?My written words, come out ambiguous It doesn't quite conveySo I look to you as the only one to trust.Collecting the dreams I threw away This little mistake that I made.Ba, ba, ba."

  Alicorn closes her eyes and continues to sing.

  "Oh, even if at times I stumbleIt's so cold, cold, cold, cold, cold.It's so cold, cold, cold, cold, coldIt's so cold, cold, cold, don't sweet talk.Oh your your your voiceIs so far, far, far, far, farIs so far, far, far, far, farOh so far, far, far, far, don't hurt medo I care where I am in this line,in order for me, to be me?"

  Alicorn opens her eyes and looks upon the crowd and sees many of her freinds.

  "I'm here with promises I recollectedToo painful to swallow the mistakes that I've made. Love hate so extreme till its decayedHere you are, taking it all inSmiling so easily ...why?'Flowers to settle me down'Cause, because you gave up?Oh, running after that dream so far awaySo fast, fast, fast, fast, fast.So fast, fast, fast, fast, fast, fast.So fast, fast, fast, fast, I can't keep up.

  Those feelings I couldn't drive awayI hate, hate, hate, hate, hate it.I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate it.I hate, hate, hate it, can't I beForgiven?"

  Alicorn then suddenly changes her voice to be a little muffled as she sings.

  "Oh, the dream, the dream I had, but." Alicorn's voice returns to normal."I'm so scared, scared, scared, scared, scaredI'm so scared, scared, scared, scared, scared,I'm scared, scared, scared, scared, don't come close.We just keep repeating our secret codeIt's so cold, cold, cold, cold, coldIt's so cold, cold, cold, cold, cold.It's so cold, cold, cold, cold, please,

  Who care where I am in this line,in order for me, to be me..."

  Alicorn takes a couple steps back from the microphone as the music continues. She nods her head to the music as it slowly closes out the song.

  The song ends and everyone cheers loudly ring out. Alicorn smiles as she looks at everyone cheering. She then starts to ugh.

  "Times are happy..."

  Far out into the ocean a rge fog rolls over it, with a storm starting to brew overhead.

  "But a new enemy is about to show up and take it all away."

  Three sets of burning orange eyes shine in the fog as several deep growls are heard. The a pair of yellow eyes glow in the fog and a corrupted ugh echoes out.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  (Alicorn has come to far, she's really growing up. Today is also Alicorn’s birthday!)

  09-26-2023

  3295 words