Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Jane was looking around the crowded Common Room when she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Harry there along with Natsumi. "Cuz? Where the heck were you?"

Grumbling, Natsumi gave Harry a look and scowled a bit. "That was what I was wondering myself. But this guy..." She jerked her thumb at the amused Harry who grinned. "Won't tell me where he disappeared off to except..."

With a small sip of the drink in one of the goblets, Harry shrugged. "Except for the fact that I was talking with the Headmaster about something. Like I told you, Natsumi-Chan, I'll tell you later."

It went without saying that her glare only made him more amused. Same with the pout that she gave him moments later. "Mou, come on, Harry-Chan! Tell me!"

A grin on his face, Harry reached up and tapped her on the tip of her nose which caused her to scrunch it some. Much to snickers from Jane. "I'll tell you about it later, Natsumi-Chan. Besides... it has to do with you."

The whine that came from her made him chuckle some. "Harry-Chan, you big meanie. One of these days..."

Smirking, Harry only shook his head before looking at Jane as he held out a goblet to her. "Here, this is for you." Once the curious girl took said drink, he sipped his own. "Anyways, enjoying the party?"

Only nodding as she looked around, Jane grinned. "It's pretty awesome actually." Head tilted to the side, Jane blinked some. "Though this group they're playing, the Weird Sisters?" Getting a nod from Harry, she continued. "They're a bit odd. Not bad, but... really different."

Harry gave a small nod at that while humming. "Yeah, they're that though I sort of like them." Considering the music, he shook his head. "Naka-Nee shrugged when she heard some of their songs and called them really alternative."

Eyebrow raised, Jane gave a snort at that. "You can say that again... They're actually using bagpipes along with guitars and the rest." Finally turning her attention to the goblet which had foam at the top, she sniffed it. "By the way, what is this?"

Glancing at her, Harry looked at the goblet and shrugged. "Butterbeer." At her look, he rolled his eyes. "What? You wanted to try some."

Just as Jan was about to say something though, a voice behind her caused her to jump. "Beer? Please do not tell me that you're giving Jane alcohol, Harry." Quickly turning, Jane gave a sheepish smile at an unamused Arizona who crossed her arms. "Jane..."

Nervously scratching her neck, Jane gave a small chuckle. "Um, it's sold in the Wizarding World to kids, Ari-Mama. Nothing bad about it." Seeing her slowly raise an eyebrow, she gave another nervous chuckle and glanced at Harry who only sipped his own drink. "Really, Aunt Nagato lets Cuz drink it after all."

When Arizona glanced at Harry, the black haired boy gave her a small shake of the head. "Um... while there's some alcohol in it, there's not much?"

Before the American Battleship could say anything though, Yamashiro walked over and cleared her throat. Once Arizona turned and regarded her, the Japanese Battleship gave her a smile. "Arizona-San? I couldn't help overhearing what you were stating but if I may make an observation?"

Slowly, Arizona nodded some. "You may."

Yamashiro gave Jane a smile and then gestured at the butterbeer in the unsure Jane's hands. "It's not very strong. In fact, my crew once had some American root beer that was about the same strength."

All of a sudden Arizona relaxed and gave a chuckle. "Well now, that's rather different then what I was thinking." She then turned and gave Jane a nod. "Then it's perfectly okay for you to have some, Jane."

Relaxing herself, Jane was about to take a sip of her drink when she paused and looked up at Arizona in surprise as the words fully sunk in. "Wait, root beer had alcohol in it? And... because of that you don't mind?"

With a soft snort, Arizona shook her head. "Jane, I'm from a different time." Leaning in, she gave the twelve year old a smile and ruffled her hair. "And when I was starting out after being commissioned, root beer sometimes did have alcohol, but not much. If this... Butterbeer is like that, then it is perfectly fine."

Expression brightening, Jane took her first sip of the concoction and her eyes widened some as she smacked her lips. "Hey, this stuff isn't really all that bad." Taking another sip, she tilted her head to the side. "Tastes almost like butterscotch."

Hearing a throat being cleared, she glanced at Arizona who tapped her upper lip. "You have some foam there, Jane." As the girl licked it off, the Battleship chuckled some. "But it's good then?" At the nod from Jane, Arizona only nodded and smiled as she mused some. "Then that is good to hear, though I do wonder now if they call it Butterbeer due to the taste?"

At seeing Harry scratch the back of his head, she turned to him. "Um, actually Aunt Arizona? It's because the drink was called 'Buttered Beer' centuries ago." When she raised an eyebrow, he continued. "The recipe calls for ale, eggs, butter and sugar among other things. But since it's boiled while being made there's pretty much no alcohol left..." Having noticed Natsumi and Jane give him surprised looks, he shrugged. "I looked it up in case I ever wanted to make some."

Finger tapping against her arm, Arizona only nodded some as she hummed. "Interesting..." Sighing, she gave Jane a small smile. "Just don't drink too much of it then. Even if it's for children and those of your age... Though perhaps I'll try some myself just in case."

Arizona, having said that, then walked off and left the three young teens there with Natsumi finally shaking her head. "Hopefully she doesn't drink any firewhiskey if people give that out."

That only caused Harry to snort and grin. "Nah, that's not until the end of the year when NEWTs are done. Now that's a real party." With another sip of his own drink, Harry turned to Jane and asked the real question on his mind. "So... what did you think of the game?"

Widely grinning, Jane threw one hand to the side. "It was so awesome! Seriously, I can see why you enjoy it." Sighing a little though, she shook her head. "Sort of wish that I could play myself though. Even if Ari-Mama, Jinstuu-Mama, Hiei-Mama, and Mutsu-Mama would freak."

In reply, Harry patted her shoulder. "Yeah, I can imagine. I mean, those Bludgers really hurt when they hit. Even the body armor doesn't help much with that..." Seeing the look on Jane's face, he raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking, Jane?"

Frowning, Jane had a focused look on her face. "Just... some thoughts, Cuz. Something that might work out."

A glance to the side though nearly made her snort out her Butterbeer though. Mainly due to the image of Smolzona waving around a thimble of Butterbeer as twirled around. If that was not a clue to her state, the fact that she had a red face was another. "Zooooona~"

However, that was not to say that the other Smols were much better. Minmu and Smallbacore both had similar blushes while swaying. Minagato though only nodded some as she sipped her own thimble of drink. Though there was a small bit of redness to her cheeks that could just be seen. "Gato."

Shaking off her laughter, Jane turned to Harry who was also grinning. "So, Cuz? What are we doing tomorrow? Because Ari-Mama and I aren't leaving until tomorrow night, so..."

With a thoughtful look, Harry considered the question before draining the rest of his goblet. "Well, tomorrow morning we can go and have a tour of the school if you want. I mean, we covered some of it already but..." Jane nodded at that which made Harry smile. "Afternoon though besides the time after lunch is free. So if you want, I can take you flying."

Eyes practically sparkling, Jane stared at him. "Wait, you mean flying around in daylight? No joke?" At his nod, her grin seemed to become even larger. "I can't wait!"

With the evening wearing on, the party continued though it did slow down some. Walking away from where he had been dancing with Verniy, Harry could only shake his head as Gangut was doing a dance of her own to the enjoyment of several First Years. The fact that the Battleship looked like she was enjoying herself only increased the smile on his face. Suddenly, there were several bangs and Harry glanced over to one of the tables and blinked before laughing at the sight that met him.

Mainly that of Yamashiro, Fusou, and Willie D blinking with soot stained faces as the Exploding Snap cards they were using to build a card tower smoked from where they laid ontop of an drunk Minimu. Obviously the Smol had stumbled into it and knocked it down while setting off the cards. Even though she was not laughing, Shigure had trembling lips as she patted both Fusou and Yamashiro, with the elder of the two sighing. "Such misfortune..."

Tapping on his shoulder caused him to turn and find Natsumi there behind him. "Natsumi-Chan? Is something wrong?"

Natsumi though only shook her head. "No, nothing is wrong... I'm just wondering if we can have that talk now." Just glancing around, Harry nodded before gesturing for her to follow him. Soon, the two were in the Second Year Boy's dorm with Harry sitting on his bed as Natsumi looked around curiously. "Huh... it's way less messy then I expected it to be."

All Harry did though was snort at that. "I always keep my area neat." Seeing her raised eyebrow, he scowled a bit. "What? I do and you know it. So does Ron as well... though I think that the House Elves do the rest here."

Considering that, Natsumi finally chuckled some and then sat down beside him. "I guess so..." Within a few moments though, the disguised Kitsune looked over at him in thought. "So what happened between you and the Headmaster? You said that you needed to talk with him after the game about something?"

Only nodding, Harry frowned. "Well, it was due to a thought that struck me while the team was waiting for the game. Um, you're staying for a while, right?"

Eyebrow raising, Natsumi nodded. "At least for another week or so. School just let out so that I got about a month until we go back and I'm top of the class anyways."

As always, she preened a bit as he gave her a thumbs up. "That's great, Natsumi-Chan. Though you're really smart anyways so it'a not like it would be too hard for you anyways."

While she would never tell him, it made Natsumi happy to hear him say stuff like that. Unlike some of the boys, and most of the girls, he just accepted her as it was. Not just her looks, but also her other aspects he would give her a compliment in such a way it sounded more like a fact of life. Like the sky being blue. "Thanks, Harry-Chan."

Glancing around, Harry shifted until he was laying on the bed and patted the spot beside him. Not needing anything more, Natsumi moved until she was laying down with her head on his shoulder and was looking at him as he smiled at her. "Comfy?"

Slowly, Natsumi nodded. "Very much so. Now..." Her eyes narrowed a bit into a playful glare. "Stop beating around the bush, Harry-Chan. What did you talk about?"

Lips twitching, Harry put his hands behind his head as he thought over his response. "Well, I also know that you mentioned going back to that room filled with all the stuff, right?" The girl laying her head on the shoulder had an interested look, but rather then say anything she just nodded. "Well, I asked him about the things in there. About who owns them. Dumbledore stated that they weren't really owned by anyone at all, so anything not obviously school property is up for grabs. I mean, sure, some of that stuff is sort of neat but you could sell a lot of it..."

Eyes wide, Natsumi stared at him before slowly shaking her head. "Harry-Chan... I can't. I mean, I would love to since I'm going to be looking through everything there anyways since it's interesting, but... My family, um, really avoids the limelight. You know that and selling all that stuff would attract attention."

Much to her surprise though, Harry just smirked. "Yes? But what if it was not you that sold what you wanted to sell? I can ask Daphne and Tracy if they could sell stuff that you find as if I was selling it to them as their families are merchants. And as it would be coming through me, they would assume that I was the one finding it and then I give the money to you."

If anything, Natsumi's eyes went wider. Most kitsune would be stunned at just the thought and from her, admittedly brief, look over the room, there was a lot of money. "How much would you...?"

Harry only shook his head. "None."

Frozen, Natsumi barely dared to breath. Eventually, she turned and stared Harry right in the eye. "Nothing?" When he nodded, she licked her lips. "You're serious about this... You really would do this and give me all the money for what I find without taking any for yourself..."

Scratching his cheek, Harry slowly nodded. "Yup. I mean, this would give you some funds, especially if we exchange it for normal money instead of wizarding. After all, I don't need it and if you're going to be sorting through it, you might as well get something, right? And this way no one will realize a thing about you as they'll stop and assume it was me. Especially as apparently it's known that my family has a lot of stuff anyways that could be sold."

Several moments passed as Natsumi stared at him in disbelief. 'He's serious... he would do that just for me... Oh Kami...' Moments later to Harry's confusion, she buried her face in his shoulder and pounded her fist on his chest lightly. "Harry no baka..."

Utterly confused, Harry blinked and looked down at her. "Um, did I do something wrong there? Because I thought that you might be happy, especially since it gives you some money."

With a sniffle, Natsumi raised her head and gave him a smile. "Because I am happy, you baka. That sort of thing is just so... you, I guess. Harry-Chan no baka." Then she moved up and gave him a kiss right on the corner of the lips which made Harry freeze. "Chu~"

Pulling away, Natsumi had to grin a bit at the bright blush that crossed Harry's face as well as the deer in the headlight's expression. There was a part of her that was happy that she was in her human form though. Mainly because otherwise her tail would be wagging rapidly from side to side.

 

[darthcourt10]

Pyeknu

Next scene in my Foresters snippets for this story:

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Including lyrics from Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (1979), written by Roger Waters

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The British Ministry of Magic...

"YEAH-HOO!"

Hearing that shouted scream from the office of the current director of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, Amelia Bones blinked before she swung herself around, then marched over to peek into the small bullpen occupied by Arthur Weasley and his small staff. There, she stopped and gaped on seeing the current patriarch of the Weasley Clan dancing a happy dance. "Arthur!" she called out...before squawking as he came over and literally swept her off her feet, gay laughter escaping him. "Arthur! Put me down, you insane lunatic! Arthur!" the current matriarch of the Noble House of Bones of Bute screeched while her current companion just stood there and laughed at the sight of the normally-severe witch being treated so.

"Don't mind him, Director Bones. Director Weasley just got some good news."

Remembering he currently had a guest, Arthur stopped himself before he turned and bowed politely to the muscular and tall man standing off to one side, a cup of tea in hand. He had military-short grey-shot brown hair and deep brown eyes, the right covered by a monocle. Turning to look herself, battleship Orion was quick to note his mode of dress: The mostly green-and-black Canadian Disruptive Pattern combat uniform in Temperate Woodland type, looking quite worn, as if this man had lived in that dress for years. Of course, that beautifully simple flag that marked Britain's once-senior dominion was displayed in a low visibilty patch on his left arm, the crown-and-Vimy star of a lieutenant colonel on his slip-on over the regimental shoulder mark RCF. On his right arm was a black rectangular patch in the same pattern as all Canadian Army divisional badges, possessing no symbols on it, not even a properly stylized maple leaf in gold or some other colour. A quick glance down to his left wrist showed a barely-masked holster of a similar make to what Amelia herself wore under her robes, the grip of a wand just peeking out from under the fabric of his top. On the desk nearby was a grey-and-black raccoon skin hat, that holding a badge denoting a pine tree over crossed woodsman's axes, that on a wreath of maple leaves topped by the Royal Crown.

Having often interacted with members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces of Canada, the first of her class of super-dreadnoughts was totally lost at sea while she tried to recognize where this chap's home regiment was actually based.

Much less his home formation...

Amelia looked over, then she gaped. "Harry Leffert! What are you doing here?!" she said as a beaming smile crossed her face, then she walked over, offering her hand to the Canadian officer, who took the hand and courtly kissed it.

"The Queen's business brings me here as always, Amelia," the native of Halifax politely stated before he turned, then he sighed. "Commander Orion, my deepest apologies," he said as he braced himself to attention; since his headdress was on the table, he didn't initiate a hand salute. As Orion nodded politely in return, he mused, "I trust something's happened that's forced the Security Service to ask you and your sisters to come visit Her Majesty's Ministry of Magic this fine day."

"Oh, nothing much," the crimson-haired battleship said with a wry smile, her own chestnut brown eyes twinkling in amusement. "Another silly dragon got off the range at that reserve in Wales. Conqueror had to go in there and deal with it."

Hearing that, Harold Leffert shook his head. "Full broadside of Mark Vs, I take it?" he said as his eyes twinkled in amusement.

That made the shipgirl gape. "How'd you guess?"

"My grandfather saw your division in action at Sec-..." He caught himself on realizing that Orion wouldn't know the Canadian name of that particular slug fest. "Sorry. At Jutland. He was part of the gun crew of one of the ships that was protecting the Grand Fleet and the High Seas Fleet from the sea leviathans who wanted to make magical mincemeat of all your crews."

Silence.

More silence.

Still more silence.

Then...

"The Leviathan Homicidae...?!"

A wide-eyed Orion was trying not to keel over and faint as her crew of faeries began a mad scramble to record down this incredible story so it could be passed on to the relevant authorities. "Dear God! They were just magnificent that day! They...!" She then stopped. "That's right! Some sailor appeared on my bridge just as the general withdrawal from the battle was ordered by Admiral Jellicoe that night! He actually...!" She closed her eyes. "He hypnotized my bridge crew...!"

"For your crew's safety and your survival from that night, Commander," Leffert assured her. "There were over THREE DOZEN of those things swarming the scene from the edge of the Dogger Bank right to the coast of Jutland." As Orion gaped in horror on realizing how close she and her fleet mates came to be ripped apart by those gorilla-like things that always seemed to pop up during major sea battles in both world wars, the Canadian officer sighed. "It was distasteful but necessary. It was also authorized by His Majesty the King." At the battleship's surprised yet approving nod, he then said, "Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty were fully in the know of the involvement of that squadron in the battle, as were Admirals Scheer and Hipper." As the veteran of the Grand Fleet gaped on hearing that those four magnificent ships — including two gargantuan warships that truly epitomized the term "super battleship" long before the Yamato-class were ever built — hadn't differentiated between opposing sides, he added, "My grandfather's crew and the services he was a part of and was attached to were neutral in that war since those things didn't care which ships they attacked as long as they got those ships. And the souls of those within."

Orion winced. Whenever she encountered other veterans of the largest clash of battleships in human history, they always speculated on any possible relationship between the mysterious sea leviathans and the modern Abyssals who were mucking things up worldwide these days. Given the ever-growing working relationships between shipgirls and human magicals, that was being quietly researched; those ships who had been sunk in both world wars and who could remember the sensation of their "dead" crews being taken off them by one of the mysterious Leviathan Slayers were more than paranoid enough about that subject. Yet to believe that Fate Itself had just brought a relative of one of those great ships' crews here today...!

"Are they out there now?" the super-dreadnought demanded.

"No one knows, Orion," Amelia stated as she looked at the smartly-dressed shipgirl. It was "official" policy of the Ministry of Magic to say NOTHING of Canada's magical militia, naval militia or air militia to any shipgirl or any muggle affiliated with them. Mostly, this stemmed from growing fears among worldwide magical leaders that if the shipgirls were able to understand the stories of the Royal Canadian Foresters, the First Canadian Battleship Squadron and 7 (Magical) Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force, it would just add "another brick in the wall" — to borrow the name of the famous muggle song — to the growing movement to forever reunite muggle and magical. Of course, given how most conservative leaders on the Continent didn't care for the "muggle lovers" of the Dominion and their own reciprocal hatred of all "stalebloods", such was easily done. For the most part, the Canadian Ministry of Magical Affairs made sure their own forces stayed within the borders of their nation.

But if Amelia's old study mate from magical government classes at the Institute of Sorcery and Magic was here now...?

"Oh, bloody hell...!"

"They are still on guard against it, Orion."

That was a smiling Arthur. Hearing that, the lead ship of her class nodded. "Yes, Warspite and the others have told me they've seen those ships out there. The Abyssals don't bother them. Why is that, Colonel?"

"To the Abyssals, the sea leviathans are known as the 'hungry ones', Commander," Leffert said. "As far as they're concerned, my grandfather's ship and the others are needed to keep the 'hungry ones' from eating all the Abyssals."

Hearing that, Orion nodded. She then perked. "Which one?"

"Excuse me?"

"Which one did your grandfather serve on? The big three-stack brute that did the herding, the single-stack one that did the culling, the normal-sized one who got her 'A' turret stove in by one, or her sistership with the wrong-way mainmast?"

Leffert laughed as the two British magicals smirked in delight. He then made a gesture with his right hand, allowing an impressive image to appear over it. Seeing that great ship there, Orion shook her head as she recalled what her crew had seen that drizzly afternoon off the Jutland Peninsula in 1916. Three stately funnels sticking up from a very streamlined superstructure over a well-shaped hull that was 960 feet long overall — nearly half a football pitch's length longer than the largest British warship in commission at that time, HMS Lion — the beautiful tripod foremast topped with fire control directors and a winged flying platform for observers, the tall tripod mainmast flying the White Ensign and a black British ensign possessing an odd emblem in the fly, the four twin turrets in two super-firing pairs holding BL 18 inch Mark I 40 calibre rifles that could hit those blasted things from many miles away, the forest of 12 pounder 18 hundredweight QF guns serving as secondary armament, the wide hull that bled a tsunami of strength and invulnerability to all who looked upon her...

And her name at the stern...

Lady Elgin.

Clearly, Orion realized, she was Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Lady Elgin.

The shipgirls of the World War Two generation remembered their crews seeing the green maple leaf on the middle funnel.

Of course, the shipgirls of the Royal Canadian Navy knew nothing of any CAPITAL SHIPS serving their force outside the three light aircraft carriers who served as the effective flagships of the fleet, Bonaventure, Magnificent and Warrior.

Sodding idiots...! the adopted native of Portsmouth in Devonshire muttered to herself as she cursed again the stupid and useless veil of secrecy dividing Her Majesty's Subjects even to this day. "Is she still in commission?"

"She is," Leffert said as he dispersed the image. "Modernized of course to make her even more powerful than Pjótr Velíkij and her sisters when it comes to missiles, plus helicopters and rapid-fire guns to replace the old twelve pounders." As Orion nodded on remembering the one time she had met the modern atomic missile cruiser that had been one of the first Russian ships summoned back as shipgirls, the native of Halifax added, "The Mark Is were replaced by American-designed Mark As before the Wars of Liberation to give her even greater range." As Orion nodded again, the commander of "F" Commando sighed. "She won't be the one off Saint Brendan's Isle for the next while, though."

That made Amelia gape as Arthur whooped again, then he grabbed Orion by a hand and began to dance with her around the office, the super-battleship laughing as she went along; she knew how much the manager of this particular department of the Ministry of Magic was seen as quite the competent fellow and his youngest son had won Warspite's heart, especially after a wonderful present he had got for her before he began attending Hogwarts. "You're deploying to the island?! Why?!"

Leffert leaned over to whisper, "Case Morganna. People are preparing, Amelia."

She blinked, then she sighed. "Oh, Merlin...!"

"YEAH-HOO!"

All four people in the office perked before they turned...

...just as a panting elder wizard came into the room. "Arthur!" Thomas Perkins gasped. "You have to watch out! There are Foresters here! Some one's just come along and scared the magic out of everyone in the DRCMC office...!"

The aged wizard then nearly had heart failure on seeing ANOTHER soldier of that particular service standing next to the chief law enforcement officer of the Ministry of Magic, finishing a cup of tea. As the poor man nearly collapsed to his knees as he began to mutter prayers for the evil wizard in the room to go away and leave him be, heavy running footfalls heralded the arrival of the third of the Orion-class, who was now grinning like a cat who swallowed a canary and got away with it.

"I get to keep the dragon! I get to keep the dragon! I get to keep the dragon! I get to keep the dragon! I get to keep the dragon! I get to keep the dragon...!" Conqueror sing-songed as she skipped into the office, dancing gaily away.

Arthur and Orion stopped dancing as they gazed on the blonde member of the quartet of super-battleships who currently acted as a special "monster hunting" squad for MI5, who was laughing and twirling like crazy. "What's going on?!" Orion asked.

Conqueror stopped, then she turned before she saluted Lefferts; she had her cover on, so it was alright. "Colonel Leffert! My compliments to whomever commands Sergeant-Major Sheutiapik's unit! She really made my day today!"

"I assume, Commander Conqueror, that you just engaged in battle most vile against a dangerous beast threatening Her Majesty's Subjects somewhere within Her Realm," Leffert stated as Amelia moaned and Arthur shook his head.

"Indeed I did! And yet again, that spoilsport Grimblehawk comes along, accuses me of 'murdering' a 'rare creature', then she has the utter GALL to try to take the carcass away after I did her team's blasted job!" Conqueror snarled.

"They will not be doing it again, Harold."

Footfalls echoed from the hallway, allowing a fireplug of a woman with the face shape and darker skin marking her as Inuit to enter. She had on a white-furred tailed hat — no doubt from some Arctic creature and not a raccoon, Amelia mused to herself — and her rank insignia bore the wreathed crown of a master warrant officer. She was middle aged with grey-shot black hair done in a bun and the darkest brown eyes either magical had ever seen on anyone. "I assume you had to give those poor fools a lesson in their own laws, Craftsmistress Sheutiapik," Leffert stated with an amused smile, which made Amelia wince as she imagined how Margaret Sheutiapik might have "delivered" said lesson to Mathilda Grimblehawk and her co-workers.

As Arthur instantly straightened himself in respect to the just-arrived witch's civilian title — the title "Craftsmistress" was seen as one of the most honoured job titles for post-NEWT students who sought to become a top expert in a specific field of study — the current commander of No. 7 Pioneer Section of "X" Commando smirked. "Telling those stalebloods in that office that they risked losing their very magic for disrespecting the Sacred Laws of Conquest forced the message through, Colonel," the native of Ikpiarjuk on Baffin Island dryly stated as her eyes twinkled, making both Arthur and Amelia wince. "To make sure of it, I sent Sergeant Aariak to the commander's home to proof it against unauthorized entrance. The full warding package, of course." As Amelia winced again — "full warding package" would make Conqueror's house in Dalmuir, a gift given to her by the town council in respect to it being her place of birth in 1912, a total magical no-go zone — the elderly wardmistress gazed in amusement at the chief law enforcement officer of the British ministry. "Director Bones, why must WE be the ones who have to remind you of these things?! Your ministry has argued for years that shipgirls are magical beings! If a sentient magical being kills another magical being, the Sacred Laws of Conquest ALWAYS applies! Surely at least your aurors should be made aware of that, not to mention Director Peasegood's people. It will save you a blizzard of unnecessary headaches in the long term." She looked at Conqueror. "You can communicate with Linienschiffskapitän Radetzky to contact my section while we're on Saint Brendan in case the Great One gives you another such victory, Commander."

"YOU WILL NOT GO THERE!"

Leffert shook his head before he barked out, "LA REINE LE VEULT!"

Without any warning, Arthur and Amelia stiffened instantly to attention, their faces melting into total shock as they felt their magic totally respond to that Norman French phrase, forcing them to pay particular attention as to what was to be announced. They weren't the only ones: The sobbing Perkins had instantly shut up, his body frozen stiff. Ditto with the small crowd of people that had been coming towards the office from nearby in the wake of Conqueror's stampede to join her sister to share in her good fortune. As blissful silence fell, Orion smirked as she crossed her arms. "Nice trick, Colonel," she said with a polite nod of thanks to the Canadian officer, who nodded in return as they shared a knowing look; the super-dreadnought was going to use this in the future once she got a proper briefing from Her Majesty about how to make use of such a power should she or her sisters ever run into agents of this particular ministry in the future. "And the Queen's Will is...?"

"The ENDING of all oversight by this ministry over the Isle of Saint Brendan and its inhabitants. That being turned over for the time being to Her Majesty's Ministry of Magical Affairs for the Dominion of Canada per the request by the leaders of the provisional government of the island because of the sheer FAILURE of this ministry to protect them, to say anything of the International Confederation of Wizards, Commander," Leffert stated as he picked up his cap and placed it on his head.

Calmly walking out of the office, the native of Halifax smirked on seeing the small chorus of pale, wide-eyed locals staring at him as if he was the Archfiend risen from Dante's Inferno. Concentrating on the dapper-dressed man with the awful sense of headgear, Leffert walked over to stare into Cornelius Fudge's eyes. "You don't wish to lose your magic, do you, Mister Fudge?" the commander of "F" Commando asked. As Fudge instantly shook his head at THAT dire threat, the Halifax native added, "Keep your people away from Saint Brendan. Since you're so worried about defences here, we can handle any issues there."

He then focused on Dolores Umbridge, who looked as if she had just swallowed a very foul-tasting potion even if she also looked mortally terrified of this fur-capped demon as her co-workers. "No hiring of mercenaries, Madame Umbridge. If they come, we're coming for you once we have them interrogated. Don't depend on Mister Riddle's delightful friends, either. We've got nice, cold cells in Quttinirpaaq all ready for them should they prove to be as stupid as they were over a decade ago." As Umbridge stiffened on hearing that threat concerning the many "fine, upstanding purebloods" that she knew still privately supported the cause of a certain dark lord who had fallen thanks to Harry Potter, Leffert shook his head. "If we don't deal with them like our friends did Fenrir Greyback last year. Sergeant-Major, let's go. We have a mission to perform."

"Yes, sir."

With that, both he and MWO Sheutiapik portkeyed out. Silence then fell for a moment before the weird "spell" that the Canadians had used finally fell away, making most of the people present spin on each other, a storm of shouted questions and accusations flying from their lips as they tried to determine what just happened to them all. Watching this from inside Arthur's office, Orion and Conqueror exchanged amused looks, then the former tapped her host's shoulder. "I think you best go re-read your Separation Act, Arthur. Might explain what that good chap just demonstrated to you all now." She then gazed on her sister. "Now, show me that dragon!" she bade as they moved to get to the elevators and get back to work.

Both shipgirls smartly walked out of there, singing off-key...

We don't need no education!
We don't need no thought control!
No dark sarcasm in the classroom!
Teachers, leave them kids alone!
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!

All in all, it's just another brick in the wall!
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall...!

To Be Continued...

****

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

And once again, a piece of writing is presented to internet peers, dissatisfied with it though I may be. Seriously, that one conversation did not want to be written. It was painful.
Present the Dots

-----

Takumi isn't entirely sure what he was expecting when he walked in the classroom door, but Tachibana standing in front of him looking like she hasn't slept the night through? Wasn't completely it. Yes, he was expecting some kind of "retribution" again today, which would involve Tachibana and Uzukawa, but something like this is a little… unexpected. He looks at her again, a little harder—what, is he expecting her to blow away in the nonexistent wind somehow?—and notices that her hands have been wrapped in gauze and her left has one of those weird little protective gloves wrapped around it.

"So hey…" she says, and he's almost taken aback physically, as if her cracking, uncomfortable voice is an exploding bomb. "You got a minute? Like, during lunch?" Takumi debates with himself if this could be the lead in to another prank. On the other hand, looking at the girl before him, does she really have it in her to pull something like that off right now?

"Let's say I did," he replies slowly, trying to test her responses. There's no change in her stance, but her lips pull a little tighter, and he decides to take that as, if not a good sign, then a hopeful one. "If I had this theoretical moment during lunch, what would you want to use it for? I mean, that's what you're asking of me, isn't it?"

Her face shifts again, this time into something recognizable as a frown. "I just need to talk to you about something," she admits. This something, whatever it is, seems to be something she's uncomfortable with discussing in front of the classroom. Takumi can already hear whispers going around, and attention is on him like it hasn't been since Sakurada confessed to him last week. He found that he didn't exactly enjoy it last time, and he's not really enjoying it this time either.

"We'll see," he says evasively, stepping around Tachibana as gracefully as possible and taking his seat. He looks back to see her gazing over her shoulder almost forlornly. He returns his gaze to his desk, trying not to feel her eyes on him. Really, this girl makes less sense every time he sees her.

-----

Yakumo spends half of first period trying not to look at Inoue. Half of it is curiosity, and half of it is… relief, she'd probably have to say. There's something else in there, but it's not something that she can really explain.

It hadn't been until much later that night, driving back from the hospital, that Tachibana had been able to explain what she had seen that night—how she had seen Inoue walking with a pale girl that she had never seen before, then reaching down and kissing her. For Yakumo, it was both comforting (Inoue already had a girlfriend, of course he wouldn't want to go out with her) and confusing (why had no one ever heard of or met this mystery girl), but more than anything, it spelled an end to the war of tricks and troubles that her two friends had been waging.

And now that it was over, she couldn't stop wondering about this pale girl that she had heard about.
-----

"I'm sorry."

Much to his frustration, Takumi realizes that all he can feel at these words is a sense of utter exasperation. However much he's played it off, the stunts that Tachibana and Uzukawa have been pulling on him the last few days have been a source of constant frustration for him. An apology like this probably means that she's done with the whole thing, but at the same time, her voice doesn't have quite the penitent tone that you'd expect or really hope for from messing with bikes and lunches.

"It's alright," he says finally.

"Yeah, it's just…" she looks down at her hands. "Sakurada's… she's a good kid, right? I mean, you don't know her that well, but she cares about people, she's helpful, she's cute... and if you've ever seen her really smile…" she sighs, and a smile of her own wisps across her features, "well, that's something to fight for."

Takumi isn't really sure he should be hearing this, but he nods along, and she continues. "But, she's also really shy. She's come a long way, but she's still bad with people, and… she's been looking at you since the beginning of the year."

Now that's something he hadn't noticed before. Takumi scans his memories of the semester, looking for a point—any point—that Sakurada has acted any differently to him than she has anyone else. But then again, Tachibana says she's socially awkward, right? That might have something to do with it. Oh crap, she's still talking.

"… so when you turned her down," Tachibana continues, "I guess I was… I was kind of mad. But I shouldn't have been, because… Well, I saw you last night. With that girl."

And Takumi freezes.

"And that explains why you didn't take Sakurada. So, I can't take issue with that." Tachibana finishes. "So yeah, sorry."

"How much did you see?" Takumi asks, trying to keep his voice from trembling.

"Just you two walking the streets," she admits, and he feels relief creep through the worry. "Is there… something weird about your relationship? You… You didn't bring it up when Sakurada asked you out." He tries not to sigh with relief—though at this point, he supposes it wouldn't be too suspicious.

"Yeah, it's just… It's just family circumstances." Like when your girlfriend's family consists mainly of sea-going hate monsters. "The relationship and how we got in it is kind of complicated, so we're trying to keep it under wraps. You… you didn't tell anyone else?"

"Yuzuki and Sakurada," she admits. That's… well, hopefully, it won't mean anything. "But they won't say anything if you ask them to."

"Please," he replies fervently, refusing to grind the heel of his palm into his forehead. This is starting to become a little bit more complicated than he would ever have liked.

Oh well. Nemo's worth it.
-----

"… Still no sign of change from the subject, she's still doing those little donut circles… Oh, wait, I was wrong. Now she's doing figure eights."

"Thursday night, Thursday night," Nemo sing-songs cheerily.

"Don't worry," Shi-chi says to the battleship observing the young cruiser. "She should calm down by tonight. Just give her a little space… she's going to be terribly embarrassed once she does."
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Sitting on a windowsill, Natsumi was staring out onto the dark and still Hogwarts grounds as well as the more distant Black Lake that the window looked out on. As she sat there, she could see a small lantern bobbing along its way while one of the Pirategirls did a patrol outside. Even with the Basilisk having been slain, the Hogwarts Security force kept up their patrols. Part of Natsumi was impressed, though she had heard that they might be kept around for various reasons.

But the rest of her was focused on something else.

Thus, as deep as she was in thought, Natsumi did not notice that she had a visitor until a throat was cleared and gave a small jump. Heart pounding in her chest, she whipped around and blinked to find Shiromizu there in her hybrid form looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "What are you doing there?"

Her eyebrow raising more, the snake woman snorted. "What am I doing here, Natsumi? Just trying to figure out where some of the fairies are going."

With a blink, Natsumi followed Shiromizu's gaze to find a bunch of Nagato's and Maruyu's fairies leading others. Some of them she recognized as being Arizona's and others coming from Kaylee. There was even some from Verniy and the rest of DesDiv6 and various other shipgirls. 'Huh? Where are they all going?'

Just as she was about to ask though, Shiromizu spoke up. "But there's a better question to be asked. And said question is why exactly you're here so late at night while the rest are cuddling."

For almost a minute, Natsumi had a staredown with her friend before finally sighing and looking away. "I... was just thinking. About what Harry-Chan did earlier."

Only tilting her head to the side, Shiromizu hummed a bit before coiling her lower body underneath her and using it as a seat. "About what Harry did, hmm? I take it that you're not talking about the game then? Or is it because of his offer?"

Natsumi flinched a bit but then nodded. "I don't think that Harry-Chan quite understands what that means."

Intrigued, Shiromizu hummed a bit. "Really? Well then he's not the only one who doesn't understand it." At Natsumi's look, the snake woman shrugged. "I understand it could be quite a bit of money, but..."

Sighing, the kitsune shook her head. "I mean, it's a lot but still." Getting nothing more then a curious look, she looked out at the grounds. "I went over it with Harry-Chan though there's a bit more to it then he told me at first. Albus-San will be allowed to look over anything that we find. Not just to see what is owned by the school, but also in case any of it is objects that he would rather not be in circulation."

After a moment of consideration, Shiromizu nodded at that. "Well, that is rather common sense... Which is odd from a wizard." That got her a snort of amusement from Natsumi. "But I very much doubt that is all of it."
Eyes on her hands, Natsumi slowly shook her head. "That's... pretty true. There is more to it then that really."

Humming and narrowing her eyes, Shiromizu frowned at her friend. "Oh? How so?"

Briefly, Natsumi chewed her lip before glancing at Shiromizu. "How... How much do you know about kitsune? Especially our culture?"

If anything, that made Shiromizu's eyebrows raise upwards nearly to her hair. But instead of saying something right away, she let herself think it over. "... Not too much, I'm afraid. Onee-Sama never really spoke much about kitsune. I know that kitsune are usually seen as tricksters and pranksters by other yokai. But you do have your own honor and can be extremely loyal as friends and lovers... That's basically it for your culture that I know of."

Slowly, Natsumi nodded as she considered that. "I'm not surprised that's all you know. Most people really don't understand a lot of kitsune culture. It can be somewhat complicated to an outsider, especially since we're split into groups such as Zenko and Yako. I'm a Zenko as is my family for example... But there's some things that is common across the spectrum and Harry-Chan..."

At her blush, Shiromizu hummed some and smirked. "Fufufufufu. So he pressed some of those buttons then?" At the blush that crossed the kitsune's face and how she twiddled her fingers before slowly nodding, Shiromizu smirked. "Well now, which one? I know that some kitsune like wealth..."

That got her a snort from Natsumi before she raised her head. "The money isn't it, Shiromizu-Chan." Not noticing the blink she got from the honorific, she continued. "While some kitsune are very into the idea of wealth and fancy things, most of us actually don't really care much about such things. Sure, we might have some very nice things laying around, but too many such items attract attention. Not just from humans who may wonder, and so blow our cover, but other yokai. Even us kitsune prank each other if one of us gets too big a head. It's even gotten more so over the years since the Statute came into force."

Finger tapping her cheek, Shiromizu frowned. "I see, I didn't know that."

Rather amused, Natsumi brought a hand to her chest and smiled. "It's odd, but true. My own family is... rather wealthy by most kitsune standards. Not that you might know it as we have spread out our wealth in various ways just in case. Chichi-ue wouldn't need to work if he didn't want to for example, but it helps with our cover and we can use what we have hidden away over the years if needed. Most kitsune have done much the same. When you live as long as we do, and with some intelligence, material wealth no longer really matters though it is nice to have."

Shiromizu hummed some as she rolled that around in her head. "That's... Huh. But if material wealth does not matter, what does then?"

Becoming thoughtful, Natsumi took a glass from the windowsill beside her and gave it a sip. Putting it back down, she sighed. "To kitsune, certain items have an extremely high value. Magic items are one such catagory. But what's placed higher is those with a high emotional value. Something that a lot of work and thoughts went into. If you was to give a kitsune, especially Zenko, the choice between the Mona Lisa and a drawing made by a child specifically for them? A drawing that the child worked hard and poured into it, even if it was far from the best and made from crayon? They would rate the drawing higher then the Mona Lisa in value."

All of a sudden, Shiromizu perked up some. "Wait, what about your ribbons then? You value them extremely highly and they have a high material value!"

Chuckles escaped from Natsumi as she nodded. "That is true, items made from unicorn hair is always of a high value. But, it's not that which makes them so high value to a Zenko. What makes them high value is the work that Harry-Chan put into them as a gift for me. He was the one who worked to get the hairs to make them, he was the one who used his own magic to weave them together into a ribbon. From start to finish, he poured himself into them. Specifically for me. And from the view point of a Zenko, that makes them utterly priceless..." She then sighed. "But in the case of what Harry-Chan did today, he gave me something that is beyond priceless to a kitsune."

Head tilting to the side in her confusion, Shiromizu frowned. "And what is that?"

Leaning in close, Natsumi's eyes stared into Shiromizu's own. But when she spoke, it was in nearly a whisper that the snake woman somehow heard easily. In the tone though, there was so much unsaid. "Trust."

Quickly blinking, Shiromizu frowned and stared at Natsumi. "Trust? That's what he gave you?" As Natsumi nodded and leaned back, she frowned. "But... why is that such a big deal? And you already had his trust?"

A low, barking laugh came from Natsumi before her expression softened. "It's odd when one thinks about it. That a race of beings that place so much on pranking, being tricksters, on slyness and cunning would place one thing on a pinnacle above the rest and that is trust. Most would think that it would be much lower down, but it's right up there with love and loyalty when it comes to those things we treasure the most. Above gold, above gems, above the finest silks... Love, friendship, loyalty, and trust are those things that kitsune feel are the greatest treasures. Even Yako, for all their issues, will not betray trust freely. Tamamo no Mae is one of those who turned her back on that and broke and threw away such things. She trusted no one and thought that those who did so to her were fools at best. She had no loyalty or love, even to her own family. It's why she is far more reviled among kitsune then even among other yokai."

Keeping some of her own thoughts inside, Shiromizu slowly nodded. "Is that why in the stories when someone found out that their wife was a kitsune, said kitsune would run? Because they broke the trust?"

Nearly too fast to be seen, Natsumi grimaced. "Once, it was like that a long time ago. The reasons behind such were more complicated then just trust, though that was part of it. However, it's changed in recent centuries and now kitsune reveal themselves when they are ready to fully become lovers with someone. As a show of trust."

Interested, Shiromizu frowned some. "It's changed to that? But why?"

There was a far off look on Natsumi's face as she thought back to an old story. One that was told to a four year old Natsumi after she asked why her Aunt Haru had revealed herself to her soon to be husband. "Three hundred years ago there lived a man on a mountain. He was but a simple farmer, nothing to write home about. During a bad snowstorm, he heard sounds outside his hut and went into the storm. He could barely see a thing, but then he spotted a shape in the snow and found a woman there unconscious. Bringing her back to his hut, he warmed her by his fire. Over the next week, he shared his meager food with her while the storm raged."

Eyes widening some, the pieces clicked into place for Shiromizu. "She was a kitsune, wasn't she? And they fell in love?"

Chuckling, Natsumi nodded. "Hai. In fact, she was from a rather highly ranked kitsune clan. But even though he was but a human, the elders of the clan allowed for them to be married, not that the man knew that at the time. They were greatly in love with each other and she bore him children, some of whom were kitsune who hid that fact from him. Many, many happy years passed until he was an old man and fell ill. He was on his deathbed when he called his wife to him. There, he revealed that he had known she was a kitsune for a long time. He also knew that several of his children were not human, but were rather kitsune themselves. Tears in her eyes as she felt her heartache, both from his rapidly approaching death and from the fact he hid that from her, his wife demanded to know why... Why did he never tell her! Did he not trust her?!"

Unable to help herself, Shiromizu leaned in. "What did he say? What was his answer?"

Natsumi stared off into the distance before shaking her head. "He told her that he never said a thing as he did trust her. With his heart and life and soul. Due to the old stories, he knew that she would leave if she knew and could not bare the thought of that due to the love he had for her. He was loyal enough to her not to say a thing to anyone except now on his deathbed as she deserved to know. Trust he had in her to know that she had her own reasons for never telling him and that if needed, she would tell him... His wife then let her disguise drop and cried into his arms even as he breathed his last. Not just because he was soon to be gone from this life, but also because she realized one fact... One that sent shockwaves through kitsune society when the story got out."

Seeing the tears prickling at the corners of Natsumi's eyes, Shiromizu reached over and gently grasped her hand. "And what was that? What could cause a kitsune to cry?"

With a swallow, Natsumi turned to her friend and shook her head. "The realization that while he trusted her fully, she had never trusted him like he had her. By hiding her true self from him, even to his deathbed, she showed there was some distrust. According to Chichi-ue, it was considered explosive among kitsune as everyone realized that was true. That for all the respect given to trust in regards to foxwives, it was more a two way street and that by hiding who they really were from their husbands, they were showing distrust. My own ancestor while she stayed away from her human husband after his discovery, still returned every night to his arms only to be away come morning. Something that at the time was considered really skirting the rules. With this though, a change overcame kitsune society in the next hundred years. How many other husbands and wives of disguised kitsune had known what they really were? But had never said anything out of fear of them running? Because they could not trust their significant other not to leave? Nowadays, us kitsune will reveal ourselves to those that we truly love and wish to take as a wife or husband. If... if the time comes when Harry-Chan and I take that step, I will reveal myself to him."

Both of them were wrapped in silence before something occurred to Shiromizu. Lifting her head, she looked at Natsumi. "What... what about the kitsune in the story? What happened to her?"

Eyes closed, Natsumi sighed. "The realization of how she did not trust her husband to accept her for being a kitsune, even though he did, hit her hard. A few years later, she died of a broken heart, hating herself for what happened. She was only three hundred..." Opening her eyes, she turned to Shiromizu. "Do you see why Harry-Chan giving his trust like that is such a big thing? Yes, he trusted me and has shown that before. But now? Today, he offered to entrust me with his reputation. If I was to lie or cheat, he would be the one who would suffer, not me as it would be under his name. But he did so without a thought of that being a possibility. That... that is a powerful gift amoung us kitsune."

Looking her face over, Shiromizu reached over and placed her hand on Natsumi's shoulder. "I think that I do understand." She then chuckled a bit. "You really do love him, don't you?"

A blush on her face, Natsumi took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I... I don't know. I mean, I'm still a young kitsune but sometimes... But I think that what I do feel for Harry-Chan could very easily when I'm older become love, real love if it's not already. And I would like that, to be his wife one day if it comes."

Raising her eyebrow, Shiromizu frowned some. "If? I take it besides the fact that Harry has all those girls who will also be seeking his heart? Though I suppose if I was in your position that I would be somewhat worried about that as well."

Much to her surprise though, Natsumi shook her head and gave her a smile. "No, I'm not really worried about that. While I wouldn't like him not having me as his, if it happens then it happens. And besides there is also..." Trailing off, Natsumi shook her head to get rid of a voice that sounded suspiciously like Louisiana's whispering to her. "Anyways, that's years from now. No need to worry about it right now."

Bemused, Shiromizu considered talking about how she was about to say something else. Thankfully for Natsumi though, she decided to just drop it in exchange for looking Natsumi over. "Feeling better, Natsumi-Chan?"

There was a small smile on Natsumi's face as she nodded. "Hai, I'm feeling better... guess that I needed to talk with someone. Thank you." All Shiromizu did was bob her head some as Natsumi got off the windowsill and drained the rest of her glass of water. Once that was put down on the table, the kitsune said good night and returned to the same room she was staying in and looked over the sleeping cuddlepile with Harry in it. Her smile growing a bit, she reapplies her full transformation and once more looked completely human and joined them. No one woke up though there was some grumbles and soon, Natsumi found herself against Harry and drifting off to sleep and pleasant dreams.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

We interrupt harem shenanigans to bring you this special snippet, which literally wrote itself out in my head last night as I was lying in bed.
Family Matters

-----

"Welcome to Tokyo," Saki said, resting her forehead against the glass window and watching the buildings pass by. "Kind of weird knowing that this is where Mamiya's family lives. I mean, we were a little bit farther north, weren't we?"

"Stuff like that happens all the time," Umi replied, sitting at ease. "It's not really all that unusual."

"But she was staying with her aunt and uncle for her entire middle school career," Saki pointed out. "Didn't you ever wonder what was going on with that? My little brother did all the time. Kept spouting out crazy theories. Now whenever I think about it, I start wondering."

"Theories, huh? Like what?"

"Oh, you know. That they were secret agents, or superheroes, or astronauts. You know, the kind of thing that a really chuuni eight-year-old would think of." Umi snickered, and Saki shrugged ruefully. "The one he finally settled on was that they were some kind of demon slayers. Had this whole backstory written out and everything. It was actually kind of interesting."

"Saki," Ushio cut in, poking at her shoulder. "Your hair's coming undone." Saki shifted her head away from the glass and ran a hand over the back of her head. Crap, she was right—it felt like the pin had fallen out. She scanned the spot between the armrest and the side of the train car and found it glinting up at her.

"Crap," she muttered, dropping to her knees and fishing around as best she could.

"I keep saying that you should cut it," Umi said. "When you've got enough hair to trip over it, that means you've got a bit too much."

"I like my hair the way it is, thanks," Saki sniped back. "Ah—need something long and skinny. Either of you got a pencil?"

"I'm just saying, you can learn all the elaborate buns and braids and stuff you want, but it literally comes down to the floor." Umi insisted, twisting a lock of her own pixie-cut hair. "Don't you ever get tired of carrying that much weight on your head?"

"Why do you always come back to this conversation?" Saki grumbled in return, accepting Ushio's pen and digging for the hairpin. "Almost… got it!" She examined her prize balefully. "Aaand need to clean you off. Nice." She pulled out her handkerchief.

Ushio's phone rang. Pulling it out, she examined the caller ID and sighed before raising it to her ear. "Hello, Hime-Oneesan. Did you call the wrong number again?" She smiled, tired and affectionate. "Any way, how're Niichan and Mai? She's feeling better? That's great!"

Saki paused in her cleaning of her hairpin, and glanced over at Umi in confusion. The navy officer shrugged and raised a finger in a "wait" gesture. Wait until Ushio was done. She examined the hairpin and, determining it to be sufficiently clean, ran her fingers along the back of her head. Ushio continued chatting with her sister-in-law for several minutes longer before finally hanging up.

"You told me she was bad with technology," Saki said, raising an eyebrow.

"More like waging an endless war," Ushio explained, standing and pocketing her phone. "She literally can't make sense of any of it. My brother calls it one of her charm points, but sometimes it feels like she's forcing herself to have trouble with it."

"An electric stove," Umi recalled, exasperated, "And it caught fire twice—say, doesn't she look familiar?"

"Who?" Saki asked, craning her neck around.

"That lady, right there."

The woman in question was sitting across the aisle from them. She looked like she was in her mid-forties to early fifties, frame unbowed, with hair that was just beginning to grey. Saki cocked her head to one side and squinted slightly. "You're right," she agreed. "Wait just a second." Rising to her feet, she stepped into the aisle.

"Excuse me," she said carefully, "Would you be… Ashida-san?"

The woman turned and looked over Saki, scrutinizing her. Then she looked across the aisle herself, examining Umi and Ushio. "You are friends of my daughter's," she said finally. "From when she was in school."

"Yes," Saki confirmed, nodding gratefully. If she hadn't been right, it would have been horribly embarrassing. "I didn't know that you lived this far down south."

"Our family moved to Hiroshima for her father's work," Mrs. Ashida explained. "And then… May I inquire as to why you are asking?"

Saki quashed the part of her that so dearly wished to respond with 'yes, you may,' and chose to give a more proper answer. "We learned through another friend that Yae is… pregnant and in a bad way," she explained. "We're on our way to see if we can do anything to help."

"I see," Mrs. Ashida responded tersely, and for a moment Saki remembered how in stories you heard of parents disowning their children over matters both greater and lesser. Then the older woman's eyes softened, and she nodded—actually, that was a little bit deeper than a nod, but not quite a bow. "You have my thanks."
-----

"Tatsuya," Mamiya said over the phone. Her voice was doing that thing where it was almost but not quite a growl, which meant she was not angry quite yet but getting there. Not a place Tatsuya wanted to be in.

"What's up, Mami-nee?" he asked lightly, scanning the improbably abandoned street.

"One of your teachers called me earlier," she said. "You're skipping school again."

"There's a perfectly good explanation for that," he replied. "See, there's this—"

"THE SPIDER'S BACK!" Benio screamed from around the corner.

"What was that?" Mamiya demanded. "What's going on?"

"Video game, very old, very retro, you won't find it on the shelves anymore," Tatsuya lied as quickly as possible. "The spider's a major—"

"Never mind," Mamiya replied. She wasn't almost-growling anymore, but now she just sounded tired. "I understand. Just… Try to make the rest of the day, alright?"

"I'll do my best," he agreed. "Gotta go, bye!"

"Tat—"

Tatsuya pocketed his phone. As he turned, Benio rounded the corner at a dead run.

Slowly, a multi-jointed leg that didn't belong on any spider smaller than a gorilla appeared around the side of the corner. "Freaking Jorogumo," Tatsuya growled under his breath. "Why is it always spiders?"
-----

"I would have thought you'd be angrier about something like this," Umi said. Mrs. Ashida, who had moved to sit next to Saki, shrugged.

"Heaven chose to bless and curse me with a passionate child," she admitted. "It's something that I have worried about for many years. I guess that takes the edge off of the shock."

"Huh," Saki said, not entirely sure how she should feel about something like that. On the one hand, Yae's mother seemed to be a bit more accepting over her daughter's… transgression than you would have expected. On the other hand, expecting that something like this might happen—either she didn't quite trust her daughter as much as you'd expect, or Yae had a bit of a track record.

"Though I was not expecting," Mrs. Ashida continued, "for events to play out as they have." She shook her head in disgust. "So shameful," she added bitterly.

"E-excuse me," Ushio cut in, tapping her fingers together. "I-it's just… Do you know anything ab-about… Haneoka-san? Such as…"

"Why he would do something like abandon my daughter?" Mrs. Ashida's eyes darkened. "I don't suppose I could venture to say. I have met him several times, and while he never struck me as someone who handled pressure well, he seemed to be a responsible enough person."

"I see," Ushio replied pensively. Umi shot her a vaguely disapproving look. Why was that? Was there something going on behind the scenes that Saki wasn't privy to?
-----

"THE SPIDER'S ON FIRE!"

"THANK YOU BENIO I CAN SEE THAT!"
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

A short update, enjoy...
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Rather bemused as he walked along the stone floors of Hogwarts, Franklin Buchanan could only chuckle as they walked along. Seeing a look from one of Enterprise's crew members, he gave a small smile and waved a hand around them. "{Well, I feel something like Gulliver did in Brobdingnag.}"

After a moment, the Nagato crewmember grinned a bit. "{Ah, the novel?}" At the nod, the small fairy shook his head as he looked around. "{It does feel like that, doesn't it? Everything is giant compared to us now.}"

Off to the side, one of Enterprise's airmen nodded and turned from where he was talking with one of Shinano's. "{Tell me about it! We're fucking tiny as hell! But hey, it's sort of nice to come back here.}"

There was various sounds of agreement from around them as conversations drifted to other things. If there was one thing that they all enjoyed about being dead, it was that language was no longer a problem. It was all the same thing really... Which also had the effect of making it so that they could try and tell tall tales to whoever would listen.

Yamamoto for his part only sighed yet again at some of the betting going on about Harry's lovelife. Yes, he realized that the crews needed something to talk about, but the child was only twelve years old. And the adopted son of one of his Flagships, which made it worse in some way that he could not quite grasp even for himself. Though it was rather amusing at times... A cough then caused him to turn and see a familiar American there. Frowning, Halsey gave his one time enemy a look. "{Where are we going exactly?}"

Smirking, Yamamoto snorted. "{What? Scared, Halsey-San?}"

A scowl on his face, Halsey glared at the Japanese Admiral. "{I ain't scared of anything, Yamamoto. Just wondering if there was a point to us tracking along these hallways or not. Besides... kind of hard to be scared of shit when you're dead.}"

Only nodding and giving him the point, Yamamoto noticed a familiar statue and pointed. "{Our destination is actually right behind that. It was set up by Hermione's crew soon after she arrived here at the school and those of us who accompany our girls usually use it for shore leave. And being as it's the last day for a number of us...}"

Eyebrow raising, Halsey was about to say something when another voice spoke up. "{Shore leave for the crew? I was wondering why they asked for a skeleton crew to be left behind on Ari.}" Both Admirals turned to find Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh walk up to them. "{Though what we could possibly do considering what we are, I don't know.}"

Snickers from one of Maruyu's crew made the two Americans look at him and raise their eyebrows in askance. "{Ah, sorry about that. But you'll just have to see... However, let me just say that I am sure that your crews will enjoy themselves greatly.}"

Just sharing a look with Halsey, Valkenburgh shook his head as they walked around the base of the statue to find a small door in the base. On either side of the door, two odd blue creatures stood, both of them with black eyes and wings behind them. More then one of those not used to the magical world stared at them in utter confusion. Boggling at the sight, one of Shigure's fairies shook his head. "{What in the world...}"

With a grin, Yamamoto walked over and nodded to the two, who nodded back. "{Nothing to worry about, they're just pixies.}" Turning, he regarded the group of fairies and imps from Regina. "{Now then, you all know the usual rules for shoreleave. They are the same as they were when we were still alive. So enjoy the night.}"

Yamamoto turned back and the two pixies opened the door and the fairies all tramped inside and down a staircase to the space between the floor and the ceiling of the castle level below them. Once they got through another door, the Japanese Admiral had to grin at the look on Halsey's face. "{So? Your thoughts, Halsey-San?}"

Turning, Halsey gave him a small glare and then snorted. "{Besides the fact that you are a asshole for not mentioning this before, you Jap asshole? How in the fuck did this get set up?}"

Only shrugging, Yamamoto shook his head. "{I have no idea how they set it up or how they managed it so quickly. But it will be rather nice for the crews.}"

Head cocked to the side, Halsey turned and regarded the room. There was smoke hanging in the air from some of the various fairies of the Pirategirls smoking. Everywhere there was small tables perfect for a one of them to sit in or at. Over in one corner there was even a bar with a Pixie cleaning out a glass with various drinks behind it. But what caught Halsey's eyes was the stage and what was on it. "{What in God's name...?}"

Fairies.

As in actual, real life fairies like in old story books were singing and dancing on the stage. Walking up beside him, Admiral Kidd blinked and looked at some of the Pirate fairies and could see them walking around with some of the female fairies on their arms. He did ignore how some went off through a door to one side. "{Well... I never expected to find Tinkerbell's sisters here...}" At the look he got, he shrugged. "{Jane had Ari watch the movie some time ago. Not a bad movie really and some of the boys grumbled about not getting to watch it with any grandchildren. Worth it with Jane though, kid's going to grow up to be a Admiral to serve under.}"

There were nods from some of the other fairies with Yamamoto clapping him on the shoulder. "{Well my friend, now we got another chance. And your crew can all go ahead and enjoy themselves as much as they want.}"

Cheers went up as the various sailors from the shipgirls and Regina all went into the bar/pub/saloon. Walking up to one of the fairies, Buchanan tapped her on the shoulder and whispered into her ear. Moments later, she threaded her arm through his before he was joined by a second female fairy. Reaching up, he tilted his Kapi some at them with a small grin. "{Gentlemen, I will be seeing you later then.}"

Softly snorting, Halsey shook his head before walking over to where several of the pirate fairies were playing cards. One of those there he had to do a double take at though as he recognized him as being Sir Drake himself. A grin on his face, he soon joined them alongside Yamamoto as the rest of the fairies began a night of carousing. Though some of the crew fairies did return to their shipgirls partway through the night so that the rest could arrive and enjoy their own shoreleave.

After all, it was not exactly something common to happen and might as well enjoy the chance.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 75: S0ngD0g13

Catesby ap Roger Jones, Lieutenant USN and former-CSN, called up to the watch as he supported a nigh-insensate and giggling Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan and staggered up to their ship. "On deck, there!" he called out, "Help me with the Captain here; he's had a long night and needs to get back to his bunk."

One of the sailors bounded down to help. "Lord o' Mercy, he's went an' pickled hisself..." he said as he took the opposite arm from Catesby.

"Catesby, ya shoulda been there," slurred Buchanan with a grin.

"I was there, Franklin. I know all about it."

"Ya shoulda been there; they got ack-shul Fairies as dancin' girls."

"I saw them, Franklin. Very pretty."

"Specially the ones as took a shine ta me, eh?"

"You've told me before, Franklin; I don't need to hear it again..."

Franklin grinned drunkenly and told Catesby again.

"Twins, they was..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 1: Sir_Braazmiir

Time for a snippet I thought of a couple minutes ago over on Sufficient Velocity!
Ad Astra Per Aspera

At a concert hall, a young man and a teenage boy found their seats.

"So, this is an orchestral concert," the man mused.

"Indeed it is, Arthur," the boy replied. "I might only be here because of one piece the orchestra is going to play, but it's from a good series of stories!"

Arthur chuckled. "Master Athan–"

"Hush! Nobody is supposed to know about the Heroic Spirits!" Athan interrupted. "Besides, the concert is starting!"

The orchestra warmed up, and then began to play.

As the song played, Athan began to quote from memory:

Space, the Final Frontier.
These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.
Her ongoing mission:
To explore strange new worlds.
To seek out new life, and new civilization.
To boldly go where no man has gone before.


In the darkness of the starbase docks, she dreamed.

She dreamed of her adventures long ago. Her adventures with...him.

Of all of her captains, he was not only her last, he was also her favorite. Even when he left her for her current slipmate, she never faulted him for it.

And then, in the darkness of the starbase docks, she heard his voice, begging her to return to serve her duty with honor.

Duty with honor.

Systems that hadn't activated in Iconian years began to boot up as machinery long abandoned revved up.

He dropped the name of her sister.

Luckily, she once took up the name of said sister for a time.



As the song ended, there was a flash of light and a bang as a woman popped into existence. A woman in a Starfleet Odessy uniform. A woman in a Starfleet Odessy uniform, wearing what appeared to be a warp nacelle jetpack and a saucer hat.

Taking in the sight of the confused crowd, the just as confused shipgirl scanned it for a bit before grinning.

"Aha! There you are, Captain!" she cried as she glomped Athan.

"Wh-who are you?" Athan tried to ask, but was heavily muffled due to the shipgirl shoving his face into her chest.

It was at this point that Arthur decided to make himself known to the shipgirl. "Whoever you are, you are suffocating my student," he told her.

"Oops! I'm sorry," she apologized, releasing Athan, who immediately began to gasp for air.

"Who are you?" Athan asked, once his breathing returned to normal.

"You mean you don't recognize me, Captain? I guess not since this is the first time I've ever been human," she answered, tilting down the saucer so Athan could read it.

The saucer read:
USS Yorktown
NCC-1717


So, thoughts?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Looking up from his phone, Harry had to give a small snort at the image of Jane shoveling food into her mouth. "Hungry, Jane?"

Quickly chewing what she had eaten, Jane swallowed before nodding. "Well, of course I am! I'm a growing girl after all." Biting some bacon, she waved her fork around. "Besides, I got to be ready for the tour today, Cuz. You did say that it was going to be awesome."

A tap though caused her to turn and find Arizona giving her a raised eyebrow. "Jane, that is still no excuse for bad manners. Eat slower, it's not going to run off on you and neither is Harry."

Blushing, Jane shifted some. "Sorry, Ari-Mama. I'll eat slower." Once Arizona nodded and turned back to her own breakfast, yet another mountain of donuts that her and Smolzona were working through, the twelve year old gave Harry a frown. "What's got you so interested on your phone anyways?"

With a glance up, Harry shook his head and sighed. "Just some moderating for Shipgirls Online. Guam posted a thread and... there, locked."

Eyebrow raising, Jane frowned some. "You locked her thread?" When Harry nodded her eyebrow climbed some. "Why?"

In reply, Harry passed her the phone so that she could look through it quickly. "She forgot that Shipgirls Online is not her doctor or Repair Ship. It was for Jumper anyways."

Her eyebrows furrowing, Jane frowned some. "Jumper was in bed and in pain? And was asking for water to drink?"

Slowly, Harry nodded as he began to eat his own breakfast. "Some sort of celebration. Apparently Guam was happy about it, so he's probably just got a hangover or something. See? The Saratoga Sisters said that something similar happened with them and their boyfriend. Though I don't get the bit with Jersey there between her and Mo right after she told Guam she shouldn't post that sort of thing."

Blinking, Jane frowned some. "'That's rich coming from you, Jersey. But I suppose that experience in that shows.' And then Jersey tells her to... um... go F herself? And Mo tells her that was what she posted a thread asking about?"

Unnoticed by the two, Arizona froze and then closed her eyes before pinching her nose while Harry nodded. "Yeah, not so sure about that. But Alaska got Atago-Oba to tell her to ask for Aunt Sara. Though Jumper didn't have to come onto the thread and say that he hates us all after several more comments. I think that his games are pretty fun and engaging again, so I don't know why Bismarck saying that would make him go off like that..."

Thumb flicking the page, Jane only shook her head. "I wonder why he stated that Elder_Ferrous will have to deal with that like he does soon enough though. You told me he was in Hawaii to see Sendai-Nee along with Nevada."

Only nodding, Jane gave a small shrug at that. "Yeah, that's what I heard from my sources."

Clearing her throat, Arizona got their attention and gave Harry a nod. "While it's good that you locked a thread like... that... I would hope that was not the only one that caught your attention."

Harry scratched his neck some before shaking his head. "Well, no. I mean, I checked up on Akizuki-Chan's and Jaw's 'Pimp my Electric Bike' thread." He then leaned forward some and looked to Hamakaze. "You know, the one where they talk about modifications to electric bicycles like the ELFs that Akizuki-Chan, Teruzuki-Chan, and Hatsuzuki-Chan all have. And that some of the other Destroyers also have?"

There was a small smile on Hamakaze's face as she nodded. "Yes, I have actually been following the thread, Harry-San. It's been rather interesting to see the modifications that people have done."

Frowning, Shinano paused in her eating before tapping her chin. "Um... wasn't there something of a problem though when Libeccio showed off hers? I remember that Roma did not react well to the video of her driving it through the streets."

Arms crossing, Harry tilted his head to the side. "Um, was that before or after Aunt Roma showed up? 'Cause she really was not pleased with what was on the video. Though Taylor's comment of that being normal Italian driving did not help matters I think."

Just shrugging, Jane turned back to her food and handed the phone over. "No clue. But did you hear about Akebono? And what they did?"

Grinning, Harry gave a nod to that. "Kind of hard not to. I mean, they managed to get heated seats in theirs. Heated. Seats." He then snorted some. "I think that Johnston's took the cake though. I mean, she has actual leather seats in hers."

Shigure perked up some from where she was seating between the Fusou sisters. "Leather seats? Really?" When Harry nodded, she huffed a bit. "I can't wait until my order comes in. That way I can get around some and so can Fusou-Sama and Yamashiro-Sama."

Both Battleships blushed at that before Yamashiro reached over and cupped Shigure's cheek. "Thank you for the thought, Shigure-Chan. Both I and Nee-San would like that, though hopefully our misfortune will not effect such rides. Though with your luck, it should not... And also, what have we told you? Call us... Fusou and Yamashiro."

It went without saying that Shigure just blushed deeply at that. For her part, Iowa gave a swallow of her food as she nodded. "You know, it still surprises me how popular those things have gotten among the Destroyers and smaller girls. I mean, before all this that stuff was something you didn't really hear about and now..."

With a small blush on her cheeks from her own encounters with the Destroyers or smaller displacement shipgirls driving such vehicles around, Nagato gave a small nod. "It is not just you that finds it surprising. I know that Ooyodo has found it rather eyebrow raising as well, though she does not mind much."

That got her a snort from Tenryuu. "Of course she doesn't. It cuts down on fuel being used to get Destroyers around after all. Heck, I heard that they added a wind turbine and some solar panels to charge them over night back in Yokosuka..." Turning towards a grumbling Kaylee, Tenryuu cocked an eyebrow. "What about Kure? They doing anything similar there?"

Blinking as she realized that she was being talked to, Kaylee shrugged some. "Kind of? I heard that they might set up something anyways. Not too many in Kure anyways as it was though I think that some might have put in for orders."

Eye rolling, Tenryuu shook her head. "Give it some time and it will happen. Kami knows that my girls like the freedom that theirs gives to them after all. Heck, I am willing to bet that the next few years will see the companies making them find a lot of orders. Not like us shipgirls need to worry about our legs getting tired or anything while pedelling after all."

Murmers of agreement could be heard from everyone before Verniy turned to Harry. "Have you found one yet? You were looking alongside me last summer for one."

Frowning in thought, Harry eventually shook his head. "Not yet, though I want to have a look at some when we get back to Yokosuka..." Glancing around to make sure that no one was too close, he smirked a bit. "Been thinking about using some magic if I do though. Maybe ask Mister Weasley if he has some ideas."

Thoughtful, Natsumi hummed before shrugging. "Mind if I tag along, Harry-Chan?" At the look, the disguised kitsune blushed some. "I might have been thinking of getting one myself. Since it would let me get around without a license and everything."

However, before Harry could say anything, Ron's voice could be heard and they turned towards him. "What are you bunch talking about now?"

As they watched him help a somewhat blushing Warspite onto the bench, Harry shrugged. "Just electric bicycles really. They came up because Akizuki-Chan and Jaw updated the thread on them and that got us to talking."

Warspite's eyes widened some as did her smile. "You know, I have seen some here in England. They're really quite cute, I find."

Small amounts of redness in her cheeks, Nagato only nodded as she watched Hoppou glare at her brother for taking another one of her muffins. "Yes, they... Really are, aren't they?"

Perking up some, Ron looked towards Harry. "Sounds pretty good, Mate. How much do they cost? I mean..." He glanced towards Warspite and shrugged some. "So that I can take you around at times."

If anything, the small blush on Warspite's cheeks grew much to the amusement of several there. "I... We'll see, Ronald."

With a smirk on her cheeks, Tenryuu leaned forwards. "So... we were wondering when you would join us." At the confused look on Warspite's face, the Light Cruiser's smirk became a grin. "Fufufufufu. You looked rather comfy there on the couch with Ron here as your teddy bear."

Both Ron and Warspite blushed at that and glanced at each other which made the grin on Tenryuu's face widen. Turning away, Warspite just poured herself some tea as she eventually gave Ron a smile. 'It was rather comfortable, I suppose, but...' Briefly, she had the image of an older Ron with their positions reversed and felt the heat rise in her cheeks again. 'It could be better...'

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

I came to a realization about Nagawa Mai that I thought was worth sharing in omake form.
.....

"Hmmm..." Nagawa Himeyuki said to herself, leaning down and examining the dials on the stove from an inch away. "If I recall correctly, this is supposed to control the burner on the left. But which one..." Ichiro smiled and, leaning down himself, scrutinized the same dial.

"This is the small burner, in the back," he explained, pointing to the dial on the left. "And this one is the big one, in the front."

"Yes, I see," Himeyuki smiled, encouraged and reinvigorated, "Because of the little circles beside them. And I turn the one in the back up to... five?"

"YOU TWOOOOOOOOO!" one of Ichiro's younger sisters screamed from the living room. The couple looked at each other and sighed. Ichiro stood, and stepped around the wall. There stood one of his multitudinous little sisters, gingerly trying to lift his infant daughter Mai away from her head. This was more difficult than it looked, because the tiny child had wrapped her tiny fists in the Shipgirl's hair and was chewing on it with gusto.

"You're her favorite aunt, Akebono," he said. "You'll have to deal with it."

"She's eating my hair!"

"She's one, and I have to supervise Hime in the kitchen," Ichiro said in measured tones.

"That's no excuse!" Akebono whined. Mai laughed in response. "I'm a fffff-f--I'm a Kanmusu! I don't have to deal with this s-----"

"First rule of babies," Ichiro replied, "Baby gets what she wants unless it'll kill her." He paused. "And maybe unless it's nap time. I don't know. Still figuring this out."

"I-CHI-ROOOOOOOOOO!"

"Aaand that's my wife's siren call," he said, sighing. "Be gentle, watch your language."

"But you didn't--hey, wait! What about my--OWOWOWOW!"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The Sun was still rising over the horizon when a shape made it's way under the waves above. Still somewhat early in March, the waters this far north were extremely cold, not that mattered much when all was said and done. And the being currently under the waves was one who was used to the temperature. She had been born here and lived all her life in the area, after all.

Reaching where the seabed rose, she broke the surface to reveal a Abyssal So-Class. With a blink, she glanced around to make sure that she had the right area before smiling as she spotted the island up ahead. For a moment though, she had a brief pang in her heart at the memory of another island, to the west of where they were. But she shoved that, along with the memories of fire and death out of her mind.

After all, she still had a mission to accomplish.

Several minutes later, she felt a tingle as she passed through protections that made it so that people would not come to the island. It did nothing for the Abyssals that had found the island but catch their attention. Not long after that though, the So class entered the kelp forest that surrounded the island. Here and there she could see objects bobbing in the waves above the kelp. Then a grey head raised and let out a snort of mist before sucking in another breath and submerging.

Passing one of the objects, the So glanced at it's eyes. Said eyes were placid and calm, not even caring or concerned about the Abyssal in the slightest. The massive body barely moved as it grazed on the kelp, the creatures thick rolls of fat and blubber keeping it from sinking too far down. What sort of creature it was, the Abyssal did not know. All she did know was that they stuck around the island in small herds, grazing on the kelp. Giving one a pat as she passed it by, the Abyssal considered them. Such very odd creatures. Though some of the others simply enjoyed watching them as they went about their day.

And the small ones were always fun due to being rolly polly at times. Much different then the adults. The sight of them relaxed the So though, they were something of home. Defenceless against predators, but calm. A reminder of more fun times for the Abyssals that now called the island home.

It was far too soon, she thought, when she reached the beach to the island. Climbing ashore, she dismissed her outer carapace and stood on two shaky limbs, her hair covering most of her body though she did have black, skintight pants. Much like a WO class did. The So then began to walk up a well trodden path into the forests that covered the island, a slightly smoking mountain rising above.

Less then a half hour later, she entered a clearing around what had once been a palace of sorts. What the So did not know was that with the creation of the Statute, a Russian wizard had claimed the island as his home. He built a grand, magical palace with the help of non-magical serfs. Ones he had taken from their village when young. Around the island, he placed powerful wards, one on top of another. All of them attached to the volcano that rose above all. Thus they were unbreakable.

More then a century passed though with him trying to first unite Magical Russia under him as a "Magical Tsar" until he was driven back to his island. It was there, after many years of cruelty, that one night while he brooded that his serfs rose up against him. Ordinarily, one powerful wizard against some non-magicals armed with various tools would have been a one sided slaughter. But the wizard was recovering from wounds and some of the serfs had magic due to his own actions he had taken. So he fell, though he took many with him in the end.

With the wizard dead, those left alive on the island left in the wizard's ship. Heading to where they felt the mainland was.

Then the island was left for many, many decades.

Slowly, the land was reclaimed by the wilderness though the darkness still remained. Far too much had happened there for the land to be cleansed so easily. Outside the protections, the world turned and the Tsar eventually fell, then a hammer and sickle rose over the lands. Eventually though, that too passed. Even Blood Week left the island untouched. And so time passed...

Until a Ta-Class stumbled onto the island with a small resource seeking fleet. After exploring the island, which took several days, the Abyssals received a distress call and fled back to their then home. The So could easily remember that day as she walked. Here and there, the old buildings had been modified with what could be found to provide shelter for various Abyssals who now watched her as she entered the palace.
Eventually, she came to the main hall and sank to her knees. "My Lady..."

Footsteps could be heard until the owner came to a stop and paused. Then a massive gauntleted finger raised the Submarine's chin. "Ah, Sokie... did you find the... supplies?"

Head raising, the So took in the sight of the Princess before her. From the massive hat perched upon her head or how her modesty was kept mainly by a white fur coat that draped her body and a black patch of armor. More then that though, was the fact that she had four arms of sorts, two were normal if large due to the Princess' stature. The other two were massive and made of black, Abyssal metal and attached to the Abyssal organism that grew from the Princess' back. Above those rose the turrets, heavily modified from when she had been a Ta and before she had become a Princess.

With a swallow, the So nodded. "Yes, my Lady. I gathered the supplies without the shipgirls or humans knowing. There was plenty and the others will be by soon. But..."

The fact that she trailed off caused the Northern Water Princess to narrow her eyes some. "But what? Did something... occur? Were you discovered?"

Unsure, the Submarine shook her head in confusion. "No, I do not believe so, my Lady. But..."

After a few moments, the Princess turned and walked down the hall. "Come... follow me..." They reached the end of the grand hall and she sat down in a throne of sorts. Granted, it was more a massive stone bench which allowed the Princess to get comfortable with either side held up by anvils they had found in the old blacksmith shop. Various shiny things were also around it and it was covered in furs with the floor in front much the same. On either side, old cauldrons burned with some Abyssals throwing in the odd piece of wood. "Sokie, come... sit." Once the Submarine had done so, the Princess tilted her head to the side. "What happened?"

Taking a deep breath, the Submarine reached into her hair. "We found several human magazines there. And... and one of them..." Utterly lost, she held it out with a shaking hand. "L-look..."

Head tilted to the side, Northern Water Princess blinked. "You do not... need to fear... me. We are family... and Mother... would never have..." Her gaze fell to the cover and her eyes widened as a gasp escaped her. Mainly due to the picture of humans and Abyssals. But it was one in particular that she was staring at in shock and brought a trembling finger to it as her memory went back.

Back to how the small flotilla she had lead had received a distress signal. Her home was under attack, but not by shipgirls or humans, but by fellow Abyssals. Due to being on the far eastern portion of the territory though, by the time they reached their home it was all over. And all they had found was death and destruction with the human warships and shipgirls finishing off the last of the attackers. Not long after, they fled back to this island, one of the few groups to have survived though the Princess knew of two others on different islands who had as well.

Despite that though, right there was the image on the cover of the one who haunted all of them. Who's screams of pain echoed through their dreams when they closed their eyes along with the death cries of their sisters. Her finger tracing Hoppou's face, the Northern Water Princess just stared as a single, bloody tear dripped from her eye.

"Mother...?"
______________________________________________________________________

"What's Hoppou doing?"

Blinking, Harry glanced first at Jane who was looking over her shoulder and then followed her gaze. There, on a rock, Hoppou sat and watched them as the unicorns mingled with the group. "Hoppou... just likes to watch." At Jane's look, he shrugged. "She doesn't think that the adults would like her."

Only shaking her head at that, Jane let out a sigh before rolling her eyes. "Seriously, Cuz? I'm pretty sure that they would like her." Suddenly, one of the unicorns bumped it's snout against her and she let out a giggle. "Hey!"

Harry simply grinned at her a little bit before pulling out a small bag. "Here, she likes carrot sticks you know." At the raised eyebrow, he shrugged. "I've been around them enough to know what each one likes."

Taking one of the carrot sticks, Jane held it out and watched as the unicorn gently took it from her hands. Wiping some of the drool onto her pants, she then reached with a shaking hand and placed it on the unicorn's muzzle before it let out a soft snort. Gently rubbing the soft fur, Jane only shook her head. "Oh wow... this is so amazing... A real life unicorn..."

Rather amused, Harry gave her a look. "I told you that I was not pulling your leg, Jane."

Simply shaking her head, Jane blinked back some tears. "Y-yeah, I figured as much. But still... hearing about them and seeing them? Totally different things." Hand running along the unicorn's head, Jane's fingers ghosted along where the horn met the head as she gave it another carrot stick. "She's so beautiful..."

With his hands in his pocket, Harry only gave a nod. "Of course she is, after all she's a beautiful unicorn."

Moments later though, giggles escaped from Jane and Harry glanced at her. At his raised eyebrow, she gave him a small grin. "Just thinking of something. Mainly that Pennsylvania would have loved to be here." There was a look like she was considering something and glanced over at Arizona before leaning towards her cousin. "Especially as she likes My Little Pony."


If anything, that caused Harry to raise his eyebrows in surprise. "Wait, she likes My Little Pony? Really?"

Nodding, Jane hummed a bit. "I know, right? I mean, you wouldn't think that she would like it but there you go. Granted... I only caught her one night watching it when everyone else was asleep..." Snickering, she shook her head. "I will never forget the sight of her sitting in front of the computer softly singing along to the theme song. She even had a Twilight Sparkle doll with her."

Harry only scratched his head at that but didn't comment more then that. After all, if that was what the usually angry Battleship liked, then who was he to judge? Suddenly, a thought struck him and he turned towards his cousin. "Wait, does she know that..."

Eyebrow raising, Jane gave him a look. "That I know? Nope! Though Ari-Mama knows about it as she caught her too. But I don't mind as the only times that I've seen her that at peace was when she had Smolzona with her. Sometimes she likes placing Smolzona in her shirt and then closing her jacket up. And there's the odd look of happiness and peace."

Glancing around, Harry grinned and leaned in. "Hey, want to do a trial run of that prank you want to pull on the rest? That way you get used to... you know."

There was a considering look on Jane's face before she glanced at Arizona who did not notice some foals behind her. "Um... is it really that big of a deal? I mean..." At Harry's nod though, she frowned and sighed. "Sure then, that way I'm not going to make a fool of myself I guess."

With a snicker, Harry shook his head. "No, it's not you that you'll be making a fool of, Jane. Just remember, I want photos or recording of it."

In reply, Jane snickered back at him. "Trust me, I'll make sure of that." A yelp though caused them to both turn and they barely held back laughter at what they found. It seemed that the unicorn foals had snuck up on Arizona and she did not know that they were there until one of them nuzzled her leg. Stunned, the Battleship was rapidly blinking up at the foal in front of her that was gazing at her. Grumbling, Arizona was about to get up when another foal began to nuzzle her neck.

Result being, of course, a very unlady like squeak that made everyone turn towards her.

Moments later though, Arizona found her lap full of unicorn while several more began to sniff and nuzzle her face and neck. Unable to help herself, Jane just recorded it with light laughter while the Battleship sputtered and tried to gently push them away. "Oh man... Dad, Mutsu-Mama, Hiei-Mama, Jinstuu-Mama as well as Albie, Archie, and Pennsylvania will love this!"

Not even the glare that Arizona tried to give her stopped the laughter from Jane or Harry. Same with the others, all of whom were watching in amusement.

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord K: "All that is Abyssal does not rage"

TankFan said:
So in an attempt to deal with the 'cowardly' Hoppou the Abyssals seeded the world with anti-abyssal cells. Some have gone into hiding and are gathering strength while others are doing what guerilla war they can do. And they didn't even kill her, meaning that all of these survivors have a leader capable of rallying them together. And she has traded her isolationistic inaction in for actively aiding humanity.

So good job there gals.​

All that is Abyssal does not rage,
Not all those who sink are lost;
The old that is strong does not rust,
Deep harbours are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a Zero shall be woken,
A light from the abyss shall spring;
Renewed shall be fleet that was broken,
The crownless again shall be Princess.

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Have another Ron and Warspite snip, morning addition.

--------

Ron Weasley awoke slowly, not quite remembering where he was. The victory party in the Griffindor common room had gone on well into the night and he'd gotten so tired that he didn't remember if he'd made it to bed or not. Not that he was particularly eager to find out given how warm and comfortable he was at the moment but he should probably find out at some point.

Deciding that some point could be after another round of sleep, the boy snuggled his face into his pillow, the warm material promptly squishing beneath his motions. It only occurred to him several seconds later that pillows didn't usually squish, at least not like this one. Several other things occurred to him at that moment, like the fact that he couldn't actually move much more than his face, with one arm pinned beneath what felt like another person and his legs partially tangled up with theirs. One arm was free, though currently wrapped around the other person.

Ron pondered the dilemma before him. On the one hand, he was comfortable warm and the person against him was soft, very soft. On the other hand that person was definitely a girl, no a woman. Most girls weren't that much bigger than him. His mind was still scrambling on what to do when he finally noticed the last of his senses.

His partner smelled warm in a way he couldn't really describe but at the same time there were undertones of cold steel, salt and oil. He knew exactly who he was sleeping with then, feeling himself heat up as he fought with various emotions, embarrassment being the one he felt most keenly. Opening his eyes only further confirmed his knowledge, what with the corner of bright red ribbon that was peeking into the corner of his vision.

He tried to squirm away, to get out from Warspite's arms and the mortifying way he was pressed up against her. Unfortunately for him, Warspite was a battleship and no mere mortal could have escaped her grip, despite how ultimately soft it felt. After a few more seconds of his attempt he sighed and gave up, not having managed to move much more than his arm, which he had to place back on Warspite's side simply because there was no other comfortable position he could reach. This was further compounded when instead of letting go, one of her hands reached up to cradle his head, causing even more of a squish than before.

This was torture he thought, trying not to do much more than breath as he waited for Warspite to wake up. He didn't dare call out or try to wake her up he doubted he could make much noise and he didn't know who might catch them like this! Instead he waited in marshmallow hell, torn between enjoyment of and embarrassment at his current situation.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Warspite was having a very pleasant dream, one involving Ron, her hull and the book he'd just given her. She'd flip through the book blindly, then name off an item or compartment and have him list of the specs and what it was for. He was never wrong of course, he wouldn't lie to her about memorizing every part of her.

Of course the details of the dream were important too, like how Ron was a few years older, his voice deeper, hands stronger and warmer with the rough callouses and soft touch of a man who used his hands for a living. There was also the little bit where as he was listing off the compartments those big strong hands would trace along the rough flesh equivalent of her structure. The page dedicated to her bridge had the hand on her cheek, the page on her shafts and power-plant had him tracing the outline of her calf muscles and then when it came to her turrets….

Warspite started awake like she always did when things got a little… warm, in her dreams. As much as she felt for Ron she still had to maintain some control, at least for a few more years. After that… she shook herself again. Now was not the time for such things. Blinking her eyes after the initial jerk awake, she felt herself coming to her senses. No battleship was fast at getting awake except in emergencies, building up steam for maneuvering castles of steel through the waves was best done carefully and had translated over accordingly.

Squeezing down on the pillow that she had wrapped her arms around for the night, Warspite suddenly realized that it was not a pillow. Pillows were not warm, did not breathe and certainly did not squirm against her bosom. She felt herself blush, a lady was not supposed to be as clingy as she was and it was one of her small embarrassments that she cuddled as much as she did. Hopefully the destroyer she'd grabbed would forgive her once she let go, if not there was always ice cream.

As she opened her eyes, only to be greeted with a shock of red hair she finally remembered where she was and what had happened last night. She was at Hogwarts, not her own room and last night had been a late party where she remembered staying up with Ron until they both fell asleep on one of the couches. She felt herself blush even more as Ron squirmed again, the location he was at reminding her of her dream and…

It was all she could do not to burst her pressure valves, realizing that her hand was the reason Ron's head was where it was. She quickly let go, Ron's head removing itself almost as soon as she moved her hand. She met his eyes as best she could, though the both of them were having difficulties doing so.

"Good morning," Ron finally managed to say, breaking the silence in a quiet tone.

"Good morning," she replied, trying not to let her voice crack, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," he said, managing to control his own voice, "Did you?"

"It was… lovely," she found herself admitting, realizing that she was in fact completely rested and although not completely willing to meet the day yet, fully capable of doing so.

That got Ron to blush and smile just a bit, a mutual silence falling over the two.

It was broken a minute later when a bugle call, small and tinny as it was, began to blare over top both of them. Turning to look, they were confronted with quite the sight.

There was what amounted to an entire fairy sized fort on top of the back of the couch, constructed with various bits and bobs that could likely have been gathered from around the common room and imposing despite it's small size. It was helped by the fact that they'd somehow found and placed several small artillery batteries on appropriate sized bases that were fully manned by what looked to be mixed parties of sailors and marines. All of it was topped off by a small Union Jack hanging from a quill that had been stripped and re-purposed as a flag pole.

As the tiny fairy marine finished playing Reveille, the rest of the fort promptly lined up on one of the ramparts and waited, Warpspite biting her lip as she stuck her hand up for them to jump on, every last one and the batteries disappearing up her sleeve, leaving the two alone for the moment.

"That was… interesting," said Ron, trying hard not to laugh at Warspite's embarrassed face.

"I suppose they knew I wanted a quiet night," she said, looking down at Ron.

The two of them finally realized they were still rather close on the couch and promptly sat up, with another few mutual looks of embarrassment.

"We should get ready for breakfast," Ron said, his hand down on the couch.

"Yes we should," said Warspite, her hand reaching down to clasp his softly.

Another mutual smile happened, only to be interrupted as a different pair of red heads poked around the corner.

"Oy Fred, looks like we can get breakfast now," said George, "Ronnie-kins and his girlfriend are awake now."

"Are you sure?" asked Fred, "Those fairies are wicked shots."

"Yeah," said George, "Lets go."

"Right smart those cannons were," said Fred as the two walked out, "It was only going to be a couple dung bombs and maybe..." his voice cut out as the portrait shut.

Ron and Warspite looked back at each other, embarrassment on their faces but a small squeeze showing each other that despite whatever flack they'd get from their friends, it was worth it in the end.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

On his broom, Harry glanced over his shoulder at Jane and grinned at her through the goggles that she wore. Jane, oddly enough had on a leather jacket that Arizona had pulled out from her pocket. According to the Battleship, it belonged to her Floatplane pilots and they wanted Jane to be warm up in the air. It went without saying that Jane practically squealed and put the jacket on over her thick sweater.

Snorted laughter escaped Harry at seeing his cousin in the oversized coat before Jane stuck her tongue out at him and rolled up the sleeves some.

At first though, Jane had thought it a bit too warm though. Especially due to the thick sweater that Arizona had demanded she wear under it. But now? Now Jane was happy as about three thousand feet up, the air was bitingly cold. And without it, the twelve year old was sure that the wind would have cut right through any of her other jackets. However, the flight jacket was warm and she could enjoy herself as they flew through the air. 'This... is beyond awesome!'

With snickers escaping him, Harry raised one eyebrow at her. "I take it that you're enjoying yourself, Jane? Especially with that grin on your face?"

Laughing, Jane gave a nod before tightening her hug around her adopted cousin's midsection. "Are you kidding? This is so freaking cool! Way better then that time that you took me flying at night last summer. Now I can see everything!"

His lips twitching as she gestured around them, Harry barely held in a laugh of his own. "Well, it's flying? You know? It's always like this." For a few seconds, his gaze turned distant. "I really enjoy it. I mean... it helps me think and feel so free."

Gaze turning gentle, Jane then gave him a short hug, the leather of their flight jackets creaking some. Much to her happiness, he didn't flinch like he had years before when he had been freshly adopted by Nagato. Confused, Jane had asked her father why and it was one of the few times she had seen him at a loss as to what to say. That was, until Hiei had told her that Harry's relatives he had been staying at her mistreated him.

Eight year old Jane Richardson, despite her age, was no fool and had clued in immediately.

Said time was also one of the few times that Jane had actually felt anger and hate towards someone, that being her newly adopted cousin's (though really he wasn't technically at the time, as far as she was concerned he was) relatives. To Jane, family was something practically sacrosanct and to mistreat a family member was right down there among the lowest of the low. Especially with how she had been trying to make her family bigger, something that paid off recently with Mutsu marrying her father. Granted, that still left her three other "Mothers", but she was working on that issue.

Jane shook off those thoughts and turned them back to her cousin. Back then, she decided that she would show Harry how cousins really should treat each other and during each visit made sure to do so. Along the way, he had become the closest thing that Jane had to a brother, which pleased her to no end especially as she knew he considered her a sister of sorts. Both of them even had the same basic idea to become shipgirl Admirals and planned to help each other get there. Him feeling free though... "One day, Cuz, you'll be able to do this whenever and wherever."

Bemused, Harry snorted some. "I don't think that I'll be able to do it anytime, Jane. Airspace and stuff, you know?" That got him a snort from Jane before he shrugged. "But if it happens, then I won't mind. It'll be nice and I can take everyone to where they might need to go, like Tokyo."

That got him a nod from Jane as she imagined it and smirked internally. She knew exactly who "Everyone" was. Shaking off the thoughts of shipping, she turned her head and gazed around at the area around in them some awe. At their peaks, the mountains were still covered in snow, even into March while some of the grounds were as well. With that and the Black Lake, the view was majestic.

However, a flash of red caught her attention and she tapped Harry's shoulder and pointed. "Look over there!'

With a blink, Harry turned in that direction and grinned. Mainly because there, on one of his brother's brooms was Ron with Warspite right behind him. Said Battleship was holding on tightly, though not really out of fear. Even from where Harry was, he could tell there was nothing but pure trust there. As he watched, Warspite leaned in and was whispering in Ron's ear, with the red head nodding some as they turned towards one of the low lying clouds in the area.

Only shaking his head, Harry glanced back at Jane to see a similar grin to his own on her face before she reached out and ran a hand through a cloud in pure joy. Then he reached back and tapped her on the leg. "Want to do some cool stuff?"

As she gained a mock thoughtful look on her face, Jane hummed a bit. "Hmm, I'm not sure. You mean those tricks and such of yours, right?" When he nodded, her lips twitched but she still had a false unsure expression on her face. "Ari-Mama might have a heart attack you know."

Head tilting back and forth as if considering it, Harry finally shrugged. "Maybe she might. You want to?"

The reply he got was for Jane to tighten the hug and grin manically. "Do you really need to even ask, Cuz?" Harry chuckled at her in answer before he began to tilt the broom forward, the ground coming closer and closer as they spun. A squeal of pure joy and excitement escaped from the girl as her eyes widened. "SO MUCH BETTER THEN A ROLLAR COASTER!"
_______________________________________________________________________

A few hours later had the group back in the quarters that they were using while Harry had a frown on his face as he tilted his head some. "Wait, seriously? Basilisk meat isn't all that good? So it's inedible?"

Kaylee slowly shook her head with a small sigh. "Not inedible, but..." Lips pursed thin, the Ironclad hissed a bit. "It's the dark magic in the meat. Gives it something of an unappitizing taste is all."

Eyebrows furrowing, Harry blinked in confusion. "Unappitizing? How so?"

This time, Kaylee gave a snort while shaking her head. "Some of my boys tried some and found that it was an... aquirred taste, to say the least. According to Professor Snape, the dark magic makes it unpalatable without a lot of preperation. It's not impossible to do anything with it, but you sort of need to marinate the meat in a mixture first to get all the dark magic out of it. Makes it a lot harder to do anything with it."

Needless to say, Harry frowned even more at that. "Really? That's the only way?"

Softly snorting, Kaylee shook her head with a small grin. "That's the only way. Basilisk meat isn' something encountered very often after all. So no one needed to come up with easier ways of dealing with the meat from it."

If anything though, that made Harry's frown deepen as he shook glanced at the plate of meat left out. "That's... unfortunate." Turning back to Kaylee, he missed Hoppou peeking over the table. "It could have been useful for supplies."

Grimacing, Kaylee scratched her head some. "Yeah, it could have been. Smoke some of it and it would have been real good. But the special preparation needed means it will be a bit more of a cost." Neither of them noticed Hoppou take some of the meat onto a form and snap her thumb, a blue flame appearing on it and under the meat. "Still, might be worth it, I suppose. Especially with the amount of it."

Both of them lapsed into silence for a few minutes as they considered it until a smell reached their noses as well as the sound of meat being cooked. Heads whipping around, they noticed Hoppou turn off the flame. Just before they could stop her though, Hoppou popped the meat into her mouth. "You try to eat Big Brother! Now I eat you!"

Moments passed as Hoppou chewed before she stopped and her eyes widened. Slowly, Harry walked forward. "Hoppou? Are you..."

Suddenly, Hoppou began bouncing as stars appeared in her eyes. "Yummy! Yummy, yummy snakey! Hoppou like a lot! Super, super yummy!" As Harry and Kaylee blinked, Hoppou ran over to Regina, who crouched down, and held up some more cooked meat. "Lookie, Regina! Try some!"

Glancing at the confused Harry, Regina leaned in and then took the rest and chewed. Her own eyes widened some and a look of bliss crossed her face. "So... very... good..."

At the sound of steel hitting steel, Harry turned to Kaylee who was grumbling and shrugged. "Well, guess that we found one group that will like it. Maybe they like the dark magic in the meat or something?"

That only got him a sigh from Kaylee. "Because O' course Abyssals like that sort of thing. At least that gives us something to do with that meat which should make some of them happy."

Slowly nodding, Harry paused as a thought occurred to him. 'Didn't Wanko say that she was up at Scapa Flow due to an Abyssal Princess wanting to make peace? Maybe ask Warspite if the Royal Navy would like some, I guess...'

Meanwhile, at the other end of the room, Nagato was smiling down at Jane who had a grin on her face that brought whole new meaning to the word "Bright". Slowly shaking her head, the Battleship gave her a pat on head. "I take it that you enjoyed your time here?"

Practically vibrating, Jane only nodded. "I did! I really, really did! This place is so amazing!"

When Nagato turned towards Arizona, the Japanese Battleship had to hold back some laughter as Arizona grumbled a bit. "I suppose it was good, despite the heart attacks that some seem to want to give to poor Battleships."

Jane only grinned back at her. "You know that you liked it, Ari-Mama. Besides, I trust Cuz on his broom. And I was perfectly safe with him."

Finally sighing, Arizona only nodded some as she glanced to where the M422a jacket she had given Jane was laying on the bed. When Jane returned it, Arizona had just waved her off and stated it was a gift. "Well... yes, I suppose that you were perfectly safe." Another sigh then escaped her. "I'm just feeling somewhat out of sorts at the moment."

That made Jane stop bouncing and she frowned at Arizona. "You're okay, right? I mean, you're not getting sick or anything?"

Warmed by her concern, Arizona shook her head before ruffling Jane's hair. "No, I'm perfectly fine, Jane. Just feeling a bit odd since waking up, I'm sure that it will pass before long. Most likely because I'm not used to the food here."

Simply nodding as she, too, had felt a bit odd the first time she tried some of the British food, Nagato glanced at her watch. "You'll be leaving in a few hours, correct?"

Glancing at her, Arizona smiled down at the pouting Jane. It was obvious that the twelve year old didn't want to leave quite yet. "I'm afraid so, Nagato. We can't leave Sasebo for too long." Her gaze going back to Nagato, the red head frowned a bit. "You're going back as well, I assume?"

Nagato gave a small sigh before shaking her head. "Unfortunately so, and for much the same reason. Yamato, Yahagi, and Enterprise as well as Iowa and Willie are also heading back. Same with Shinano, Hamakaze, and Urakaze, we were supposed to earlier today, but..." Trailing off, Nagato shrugged and then waved a hand. "But Isokaze, Yukikaze wll be coming with Louisiana and possibly Hoel-Ni. I think that Iku and Imuya might come, but they might switch out with Hachi."

Her gaze gentling, Arizona turned towards the window. "Hachi... I take it that she did not take the news well?"

Lips thinned, Nagato shook her head. "No, she did not. From what I have heard, she wanted to head back at full speed to check up on Harry and it was only Teitoku promising to let her come that she stayed on patrol. Especially as Harder left with Naka for Pearl to check up on Sendai."

Turning back to Jane, Arizona gave her a small smile. "Well, then I believe that she will get something of a pleasant surprise at seeing Harry, however briefly. We do have need of him after all."

Snickers escaped from Jane as she nodded. "You got that right, Ari-Mama! I can't wait to see their faces!"

Her lips curling upwards, Arizona chuckled some herself. "Neither can I, Jane. Especially Mutsu's face."

A sigh escaped from Nagato as she shook her head in mock disbelief. "I believe that my Imouto has corrupted you, Arizona. How unfortunate."

In reply, Arizona only smirked before they went to head downstairs for dinner before heading back.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 76: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee sat at the edge of the Black Lake, lost in thought. Been near-onto two years, now... She mused to herself, closing her eyes and remembering a day in early-autumn, a flash of penny-red hair under a floral bonnet, and eyes green as new tobacco-leaves. I was wearing gray that day at Blue Springs, and you wore gingham and laughed when I sang...

The memories rolled on in flashes, a smile, a sigh, a laugh like brook-water over stones; the feather-light touch of lips and the scent of lilac and honeysuckle...

You were a light... You were better'n what I deserved and yet thought I was too good for you... I cried, when you moved, and wept cold and bitter when I heard you were gone, caught in the open by Abyssal fighters when they hit Jacksonville...

Kaylee smiled wetly and laughed. "We had us some good times, though, eh? You helped me move past the bad memories, healed the scars..."

"Kaylee? Who are you talking to?" asked Ginny, approaching.

Kaylee shook her head. "Just reminiscing about an old friend who's done gone on. 'Byssals got her, bout a year ago; leakers slipped past the patrols, hit her hometown." Kaylee's voice was low, her accent thick as blackstrap on her tongue.

Ginny sat down, leaning against the ironclad's side. "She was special, I can tell. Tell me about her?"

Kaylee smiled and wrapped an arm over Ginny's shoulder. "It was two years ago that we met, at a Civil-War reenactment near my hometown, the Battle of Blue Springs. She was wearin' gingham and I wore the gray. Someone had challenged me to sing and she told me after I was done that I oughtn't sing sad songs..."

"What had you been singing?"

"I was singin' Rebel Soldier, and by stroke o' chance, her name was Polly. Polly O'Toole."

"Will you sing it for me? I've never heard it before."

"It's a sad one."

"I'm in a sad-song mood, to be honest."

"Alright."

Oh Polly, oh Polly,
It's for your sake alone,
I've left my own father,
My country, my home;
I've left my poor mother
To weep and to mourn;
I am a Rebel Soldier,
And far from my home...

The grape-shot and musket,
And the cannons lumber loud...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was early in the morning, though some might claim it really late at night, in the Richardson household. Everything was calm and quiet in the house as everyone slept as the various clocks ticked onward. In Jane's room, the "Ari-Bear" clock had it's arms pointed towards the time. Meanwhile, in the Master Bedroom, John Richardson was quietly breathing through his nose. Wrapped in his arms, Mutsu smiled softly with her own arms over her pregnant belly.

Now six months on, the Battleship was very obviously carrying twins to any that looked. She had also been taken off combat duties two months earlier with Montana taking her place finally. Not that Mutsu had minded much either then or now. In fact, she had grown to enjoy her time off and sometimes could be seen just staring off into space with a smile on her face as she rubbed her stomach.

Alternatively, she found Destroyers cuddled around her tummy and using their sonar to listen.

However, right now, Mutsu was quietly in her land of dreams where she was walking along pushing a stroller. In it was a young brown haired girl, while on either side of Mutsu were two identical sisters, hers and John's twin daughters. Both of them were heading for their first day of school while beside the Jane walked, looking beautiful in her dress whites and John on Mutsu's other side.

John was, for some odd reason, dreaming of paperwork while this odd collection of lines and names floated around the room staring at him. The fact that his name was one of those along with Mutsu, Hiei, Arizona, and Jinstuu were confusing as heck. It was when he was yelling at the thing which was, somehow, staring at him in disappointment without having eyes that he first heard the noise. An odd tapping sound that penetrated into his head.
Grumbling, he tried to get it to stop and go back to sleep even as it pulled him from it. In fact, John even buried his face into the pillows as he somehow knew he was supposed to get up in another hour to see Jintsuu off to Hawaii. Finally, he awoke and sat up in bed with a scowl. "Where is that noise coming from?"

Also waking up from the movement of the bed, Mutsu yawned some and sat up as well before draping herself over him best that she could. "John? Come back to bed and snuggle some more."

Only glancing at her, John frowned before he looked around at the tapping noise again. "Don't you hear that? That tapping?"

Blinking, Mutsu only frowned at him. "Sound? Tapping? What are you-" She was cut off by the tapping again and glanced around. "Actually... I just heard it as well."

Moments later, John shifted his gaze to the window just in time for another tap and growled. "It's coming from the window. I swear, if it's one of those Destroyers wanting to prank me..."

Rather bemused, Mutsu swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up before pulling on a housecoat. "Are you sure that it's one of the Destroyers, John? It could be a tree branch."

However, Richardson only grumbled as he also got up. "No, because that branch was torn off in the last typhoon." Walking up, John noticed that Mutsu had sent three fairies out which soon vanished. He waited until Mutsu nodded before thinly smiling as she came up to stand beside him, 'Good, Hiei and the others are awake. I'll distract which ever one it is and they'll catch them.'

Then he yanked open the curtains allowing the light from the streetlights outside to spill in.

For several long seconds utter silence filled the room as both Mutsu and John blinked. Then they blinked again before finally deciding to simply stare at the sight of Jane in a costume right out of a comic book. On her face was a mask while behind her a cape flapped in the wind while on her chest was a symbol that combined a S and a J in it. Now, that alone would not have been that far out there. Except for the fact that Jane was right in front of the window roughly twenty five feet above the ground on nothing. Glancing at each other to make sure that they were really seeing a flying Jane in front of their window. "Mutsu..."

Slowly blinking, Mutsu stared for a moment before glancing at him. "Yes, John?"

Bringing up his finger, John pointed at Jane who had now placed her hands on her hips. "Please tell me if you are seeing Jane in a superhero costume flying in front of our window?"

All Mutsu did at that was nod before speaking in a faint voice. "Oh... that's good. I thought that my rangefinders were malfunctioning."

Once more, the two shared a look. For all the weirdness they dealt with, this was well up there. Opening the window, John cleared his throat. "Jane... what are you doing?"

From the corner of his eye, he could see a gobsmacked Hiei at the front door staring at the sight with Jintsuu looking much the same. Albie meanwhile popped out of a bush and was rubbing her eyes in utter disbelief. Clearing her throat, Jane only glanced around. "Good evening, Citizen! I'm afraid that you are most mistaken for I am not this Jane person, as cute as she may be. For I am the superhero, Super Jane! Defender of Justice and all things adorable!"

Utter silence fell and John chanced a look at his wife whose expression gave him a clue that very likely something, perhaps a fuse, had blown in her mind. The fact that said fuse might well have been physical crossed his mind as well as it being a vacuum tube. Slowly, John turned back to Jane and raised an eyebrow. "I see... and what brings you here today... tonight... this morning?"

Grinning, Jane, or rather "Super Jane", raised one finger into the air. "Why Citizen! With my Super Jane Hearing, I heard a call for help from this location! And so I rushed here from helping fight the evil cookie thieves, Taffy 3!"

Already feeling a headache coming on as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on, John ignored the popping sound from Mutsu. 'And there goes another fuse...' Clearing his throat, he fixed her with a look. "I see... well, as you can see, none of us need any he-"

Suddenly a voice called out. "Super Jane! Thank SecNav that you are here! I need some help!" Nearly as one, everyone turned to where Arizona was beside an army truck. Said Battleship had a mock distressed look on her face, but there was a twinkle of amusement visible even from where John and the others were. "My tire is flat and I need to get it replaced!"

Only nodding, Jane actually flew to where Arizona was and landed on the ground with ease. "I see! Well then, Citizen, it is my sworn duty to help!" Reaching down, she grabbed hold of the truck and promptly lifted it above her head with ease. "And here we go, Citizen!"

Blinking once, John rubbed at his eyes before closing them. When he opened them, Jane was still easily holding the truck above her head as Arizona changed one of the tires out. 'What. The. Fuck.'

The sound of steel striking steel made him look toward a nearby window where Pennsylvania had slapped herself. Now the Battleship was muttering to herself. "No, it's still there."

A glance at Mutsu showed that she was still blue screening and three minutes passed as everyone watched in stunned disbelief as Jane held the truck and Arizona changed the tire. Once she was done, the American Standard gave Super Jane a thumb's up and the girl gently placed the truck back onto the ground. "And there we go, Citizen!"

Smiling, Arizona gave her a nod. "Thank you, Super Jane for the help. It was much appreciated."

John blinked and looked around as, from seemingly nowhere, the Superman theme began to play. 'Where the... what the...'

If he had looked, he would have seen another twitch from Mutsu, but he missed it. Meanwhile, Super Jane had placed her hands on her waist and gave Arizona a nod. "No need to thank me, Citizen! As a hero, it is my sworn duty to help out wherever I can, however I can. Where there might be people in need, Super Jane will be there to help! Where evil may lurk, the Light of Justice will shine down on them and I will be there to save the day! For I am Super Jane! The Defender of Justice and of all things adorable!"

With her smile growing, Arizona gave a nod. "Well, thank you anyways, Super Jane. I hope that you have a good day."

Floating upwards, Super Jane gave her a smile right back. "Thank you, Citizen. Now, I believe that it is time for me to leave! For I may yet be needed elsewhere! Up, up, and away!"

And with that, Jane flew upwards as every one watched and then disappeared over the roof. Down below, as the last bit of the music faded, Hiei opened her mouth several times trying to say something. But it was Jinstuu who gave voice to their questions. "What the hell just happened here?"

Walking past, Arizona gave her a smirk. "What do you mean? Your first time meeting Super Jane?" Then she was in the house itself just barely able to keep from collapsing at the expression she had seen on Mutsu's face. Not to mention her own sister's. 'Yes, this was something to remember.'

Everyone heard another window open and sharing a look after, everyone but Arizona rushed for Jane's bedroom not even two minutes later. Opening the door, they found Jane there unpacking her knapsack with a surprised look on her face. "Um, did I wake you?"

Glancing around the room, and noticing the open window, John cleared his throat. "Jane... something rather odd just happened." At her confused expression, he crossed his arms. "Something involving someone who called themselves 'Super Jane'-"

About to continued, he was cut off as Jane gave a gasp. "You saw her? I mean, I always wanted to meet her for real, cause she is pretty awesome and cool! She's a Defender of Justice and all things adorable, you know."
Before anyone could say anything, Arizona poked her head in and sighed. "Sadly, Jane, you just missed her. She's gone now."

Snapping her fingers, Jane huffed a bit. "Shoot! And here I was hoping to meet her."

Almost as one, everyone's eyes except for Arizona's turned to the costume poking out from under Jane's bed. A costume that she kicked back under while having an innocent look on her face. Several moments passed before John promptly turned and walked off. "I need coffee. Maybe the world will make sense afterwards, because it certainly is not right now."

Following him was an utterly befuddled Mutsu as well as the others and soon enough, it was just Jane and Arizona in the room. Unable to help herself, Jane began to let out giggles and only able to keep it from full belly laughter. Arizona meanwhile had a massive grin on her face before turning to the window. "Thank you, Harry. It was much appreciated."

Harry's head appeared from under the invisibility cloak with a grin on his face similar to Arizona's. "No worries, Aunt Arizona. Besides, I really, really enjoyed it. You did get it on film, right?"

In reply, Arizona tapped the side of her head. "Yes, my bridge crew was recording the whole thing along with the Smols. And yes, I will send you copies when I can." Walking over, she reached out of the window and gave him a hug. "Now, you take care of yourself and I will see you later."

With that, she turned and walked out of the room. Once she was out of earshot, Jane gave a squeal and ran over to give Harry a hug of her own. "Thanks Cuz, that was beyond awesome!" Flexing her arm, she pouted a bit. "Kind of a shame that the super strength is already leaving."

All Harry did was shrug at that. "It was only a drop or two, which was a few minutes, Jane. Anyways, you'll get me some video of our next prank on them, right?"

Smirking, Jane raised a vial filled with a grey potion. "You bet ya, Cuz. I cannot wait to see Ari-Mama's reaction."

Both teens shared a grin and, with a final hug, Harry flew out the window with Jane closing it behind him. After all, he had to meet up with Fawkes. Downstairs, Mutsu's eyebrows twitched as Arizona began to hum the Superman theme.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 77: S0ngD0g13

Jaw looked out at the craft in front of him and smiled broadly as an engine-test was conducted. It would move...

"Excellent..."

.......................................

"Jaw?"

"Yeah, Zui?"

"I've got a problem; a bunch of my Fairies are MIA; all the other Carriers on base report the same, and so do quite a few others from Destroyers on up."

Jaw grinned. "Might could be I know their whereabouts. Fetch the other girls out to the ball-field and I'll have your crew meet y'all."

When the Shipgirls, and Admiral Shimada, arrived, Jaw was standing on the pitcher's mound by himself. "Where are our Fairies, Jaw?" asked Zuikaku, looking around. Her question was echoed by the other girls.

"They're en route, Zui. In fact, I believe I hear them now..."

A roaring sound in the distance grew louder and louder, until finally, it cleared the top of the stands. It was sleek and futuristic, long and lean as it hovered on roaring jets over second-base, its bulbous bow pointed toward home-plate where the Shipgirls stood.

"Like her? She's a joint project between me and some of the repair-ships who like sci-fi. I've always been kind of a geek for MechWarrior and BattleTech, so we built a Fairy-Scale, Fairy-Crewed ship from the MechWarrior universe. Of course, none of the ones in that universe her class had names worth mentionin', so we named her after someone near and dear to my heart."

"What the Hell kind of ship is she?" squawked Johnston.

Jaw laughed. "She's a Thera-Class Carrier. Just so y'all understand the scale, according to the lore a full-size Thera-Class massed nine-hundred-sixty-thousand tons and her length bow-to-stern was one-point-one-three kilometers, with a crew of fourteen-hundred-forty souls at full complement not counting pilots, aircrew, and Marines. A storage deck that could hold seventy-seven kilotons of cargo, and two combination hangar-flight decks that could hold, launch, and recover a hundred-eight fighters apiece."

Jaw held up a radio. "Launch'em, boys."

The hangars opened and one after another Fairy pilots streamed out in modified RC F-35Bs. The pilots circled the field, then formed up into flights, then squadrons, and passed low overhead as the Carrier turned and prepared for recovering them.

The registry-number on the ship's bow became visible, reading '19221227', and the livery on the F-35s dawned on everyone.

As the Thera-Class Carrier Houshou recovered planes, Jaw grinned. "On behalf of me, the ones who helped me, and the crews of every Aircraft Carrier who came after you the world over, Houshou," said Jaw on that cold late-December day in Kure, "Happy Commissioning Day, Mom."

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

S0ngD0g13 said:
*Birthday*​

Aww...

...

eheheheh

"Fourze, Fourze..." Mamiya whispered to herself, brushing her fingertips along the DVDs in the large cabinet that Yae had devoted to her toku obsession. "These are organized by year, so..." Dropping down two shelves, she pulled a box out, revealing a character clad in a white mock-up spacesuit. "Here we are!" she said triumphantly, pulling out some of the adjacent boxes. "Was there anything else I needed..."

thmp

Mamiya ceased thinking out loud, turning to look over her shoulder. She felt reasonably sure she hadn't made that noise. So where was it coming from, then? Raising a foot gingerly, she began to tiptoe away from the DVD cabinet. It seemed to have come from the small kitchen area near the door. Walking forward, the thought that she was without her shinai blaring in the back of her skull, she walked past the refrigerator and began to look over the ground, then... There. One of the cabinet doors was suspiciously ajar. Placing all her weight on the balls of her feet, she stepped forward, grasped the door tightly, and threw it open.

A girl who looked to be about fourteen years of age looked back at her. In her hand, she clutched a sheaf of papers with a photograph that Mamiya recognized as Haneoka Yosuke rested at the front of. A dossier? But why? Who was this girl--wait, that uniform looked familiar. A shipgirl?

The girl reached out calmly, grabbed the edge of the door, and pulled it closed.

Mamiya stared at the blank door for several seconds more, then turned towards the apartment door. Nope. Not gonna follow this rabbit hole. This never happened.

...

My brain. No filter.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Kaylee was eating in the Great Hall when Ginny sat down across from her. "Hi, Kaylee."

"Evenin', Ginny. You up for a hand or two of poker after supper? I figured me and the Twins might could get a game goin'."

Ginny laughed. "Against anybody else in Gryffindor I'd say yes, but Fred and George cheat and you're a fifteen-year-old card-shark, Kaylee McAmis."

"Sixteen. My birthday was the day of the Quidditch game."

The Shipgirl contingent went silent and stared. "It was your birthday? And you didn't tell us?" asked Harry.

Kaylee shrugged. "Had other things on my mind. Besides, I got to see my first Quidditch game that day; that's gift-enough. Uncle James and the others will hang onto any other presents till I get back to Kure, or else send'em on with the next bunch o' girls comin' in."

The Shipgirls and Harry offered their well-wishes, and Ginny hugged Kaylee. The ironclad saw the look on the Twins' faces and smiled an evil smile. "Don't even think about it, you two. Try pranking me and they'll find you both in the Slytherin-Dorm Girls' Showers, gagged and hogtied in your boxer-drawers."

.............................................

That night when Kaylee returned to Gryffindor Tower, she froze in surprise; there was a small cake sitting on the table, the icing reading 'Happy (late) Birthday Kaylee'. The Pirate-Girls were there, as were Ginny and Harry and Natsumi, the Twins and Ron, and the Shipgirls, grinning.

"Y'all ain't have to do this..." she said, blushing.

"You're our friend," replied Ginny simply. "Now make a wish and blow out the candles."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Around Harry swirled fire until it abruptly stopped and disappated to show the dock area of Yokosuka. Glancing around, Harry turned to Fawkes with a smile on his face and chuckled some. "Thanks, Fawkes. I hope that you didn't mind taking me to Sasebo like that along with Jane, Arizona, Shigure-Nee, Fusou-Oba, and Yamashiro-Oba... or waiting around."

There was a sparkle in Fawkes eyes that betrayed the Pheonix's high amusement at what had happened. A chuckle though made Harry turn to see Dumbledore walking up to him. "Do not mind that old featherbag, Harry. I suspect that he rather enjoyed himself with your prank."

Blushing some, Harry glanced away. "Um... you knew?"

Eyes twinkling madly, Dumbledore smiled a bit. "As a matter of fact, I did. But I suspect that due to my age, my eyesight was not quite what it was and so I was very likely seeing things." Giving a wink to the black haired boy, the elderly wizard's smile widened. "Your mother is meeting with some of the others at the moment and asked that I wait for you here and that you would know the way to Admiral Goto's office from here across the base."

Only shrugging, Harry gave him a bit of a sheepish smile. "Yeah... I know my way." Reaching into his pocket, he then pulled out a flashlight and clicked it on with the bright beam lighting the way. "Well, it's this way."

Walking beside Harry, Dumbledore considered the flashlight before slowly shaking his head. "Sometimes I feel my years, Harry." At the confused look, he gestured at the flashlight in Harry's hand with a wry smile before stroking his beard. "I remember when muggles first created flashlights. Those things were not very impressive nor bright. As a matter of fact, I remember laughing at some using them and shaking my head as a Lumos was much more effective. And yet here they are, such a simple object, but far brighter then the usual Lumos."

Head tilting to the side, Harry considered the Headmaster. While he had known that he was quite old, the idea of him having been born before flashlights were a thing was actually surprising. Glancing at the beam now cutting through the darkness, Harry blinked for a moment. "Huh... is that why Lumos is allowed to be used during the Summer?"

Slowly, Dumbledore nodded. "That is one reason, yes. After all, the spell merely makes a light on the end of a stick and is easily explained away as a flashlight of sorts. It is much the same with Lumos Maxima which I believe that Fillius will be having you and the others of your year practice over the summer. Both spells have for the longest time been able to be used without setting off the Trace, though I suspect that is less due to their usefulness and more because why would a muggleborn care about a flashlight when they can create light?"

Eyes narrowed some, Harry only nodded at that. "Like how Aguamenti is allowed? Because of the Abyssals using firebombing early in the war?"

Dumbledore simply smiled at him. "Correct. Even the Ministry would say nothing if that was to be used to put out fires started by such bombs. After all, it would be possible for even a wizarding home to be affected after all."

Considering that, Harry made a noise of agreement, though internally he was thankful for being allowed to use said spells. Hearing a noise, he glanced at one of the piers to see what looked like a small ship pull out some. More then a little curious, he spotted someone he knew coming from the dock and waved. "Hey! Casey!"

Said man stopped and turned before waiting for Harry to catch up. He did give Dumbledore an odd look as well as the bird on the wizard's shoulder before deciding to ignore it. After all, Casey had seen odder things. "Hey there, Kiddo. What are you doing here, I heard that you were at a boarding school?"

Harry only shrugged as he came to a stop. "Something happened and I'm back for the night. But you didn't see me, okay?" The man smirked, but then made a zipping motion over his lips and Harry continued. "What ship was that? I didn't recognize it."

Glancing at the disappearing form of the ship, Casey gave a small shrug. "That? It's a Patrol Tender that arrived two days ago for refueling. They're going to use it for the smaller shipgirls and such who go out on patrol, not to mention some of the older shipgirls since some of them don't have the ability to stay at sea for long periods or a high speed getting anywhere. Amazing that they made it all the way here to Japan though... Anyways, you know James McAmis down in Kure, right?"

Eyebrow raising, Harry nodded some. "Yup! In fact, Kaylee his niece was at my school recently."

With a blink, Casey stored away that bit of information for later before shaking his head. "Right, anyways he somehow got in contact with some people about it oh... about a year back. That one is going to be used for his dogs since he needs something a bit better than that Boston Whaler of his he's been using. Guess that they might be using her for Kaylee and some of the other Ironclads to help support their patrols."

Interested, Dumbledore turned back to where the ship was, but now vanished into the dark night with only the faintest sound of motors reaching them. "May I ask her name?"

A small smile on his lips, Casey shrugged a bit. "Name's USS Polly. Been a few jokes about it, but what the heck, right? Besides, the USN had another Patrol Boat named Polly back in World War I."

The black haired boy frowned a bit as he tried to figure out why she was given that name, but eventually just shrugged it off. Probably not all that important in the end.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Opening the door to the Administration building's lobby, Harry just had time to take a breath before he was glomped by several people. Even before they shouted, he knew who they were by the swimsuited bodies that even now were clutching him tightly. "HARRY-CHAN!"

Nagato had an amused expression on her face as she watched the Submarines currently hugging her son. Hearing snickers, she glanced at Isokaze who had a grin on her face. And it was not just her as Kaylee was shaking in silent laughter while Hamakaze had a small upward curl to her lips. Enterprise didn't even hold back as she had full blown belly laughter alongside Iowa while both Yamato and Willie sighed, Yahagi just blinking in confusion and Gangut smirked. Off to the side, Tenryuu was sighing before flicking the madly grinning Ikazuchi on the ear. "Behave, Aki."

Beside her sister, Inazuma looked unsure while Akatsuki was muttering about it not being lady-like behavior. Verniy, meanwhile, only nodded. "Khorosho."

Simply shaking her head, Nagato walked over and tapped Iku on the shoulder as said Submarine blubbered. "... And we were so worried, Harry-Chan! Teitoku wouldn't let us take off to your school as soon as we found out! And then you nearly died and we've all been beside ourselves-"

Clearing her throat, Nagato caught Iku's attention and then pointed at Harry. "While I know that Submarines can be submerged for quite some time, I would like to remind you that my son is not a Submarine. He needs air more often."

All of them gained blushes as they realized that with him currently suffering marshmallow hell on their part, Harry could not breath. Pulling back, Imuya went from frantic to bashful as she and the others felt like diving into the floor as Harry gasped to get some air back into his lungs. "Um, sorry about that, Harry-Chan..."

However, Harry just waved them off. "Um, that's okay, Imuya-Chan. I don't really mind and I must have scared you." Much to their confusion, Harry had a red face though they chalked that up to him being out of breath. Unknown to them was Harry was confused at the feelings he was having. 'Why did I enjoy that so much?'

Biting her lip, Hachi shifted a bit. "Still..."

To her surprise though, and silent glee, Harry grabbed her into a hug. "I said it was okay, Hachi-Chan. Besides, it's not like it wasn't good or anything..."

Only blinking as he trailed off, Harry went red once more as did the Submarines. Meanwhile, Nagato internally groaned before spotting the smirk on Tenryuu's face. 'Don't tell me...'

Currently though, RO was walking around and examining Harry with a keen eye. 'Hmm... he does seem to be in good healthy and...' Her thoughts trailed off as she spotted something when Harry's sleeve shifted. Grabbing his arm, RO pulled up the sleeve and the other Submarines went utterly silent at the sight of the circular scar on Harry's on. Her finger tracing it, RO looked at Harry directly. "Is that where it bit you, Harry-Chan?"

Grimacing, Harry gave a small nod. "Hai..." Just sighing, he shook his head. "Madame Pomfrey said that not even magic can really do anything about it."

RO only stood there with her thumb silently tracing said scar. Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing actual proof of how close the black haired boy came to dying was entirely another. When the news had first reached them, the others freaked out some while RO submerged herself right back into the professionalism known to the returned U-Boats of Germany. Slowly tilting her head back, she reached over and pulled Harry into a hug. "Gott sei Dank that you are alright except for a battle scar to be proud of."

With a blink, Harry just patted her back before finding that the others were now hugging him again. This time, they didn't squash him in their embrace but just held him as if they were afraid to let go. Moments later, they were joined by Louisiana who had been watching the whole thing from the side as well as Isokaze and Yukikaze. Eyes closing as he enjoyed the hug, Harry let out a sigh and returned it best that he could as he remembered back in the Chamber, the pain of the venom in his veins and the painful realization that he might not see his friends and family again. "Tell me about it..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts Omake: "An Offer"

S0ngD0g13 said:
Kaylee's gonna cry. You realize this, right? You are going to make an Ironclad cry, seeing a Tender named after her first love. Bravo, Good Sir.​

Yes, I do realize that, though in this case it's basically what Naka had mentioned to Harry a while back about "Shipgirl Ambulances", though in this case based more on the USCG Marine Protector class. At most, it has a tub for an injured shipgirl to soak in and is more for coastal patrols. But if I really, really wanted to make her cry...
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello there.

What? I... who are you and where am I?

I have gone by many, many names over the years. But none of that matters now. As to where you are...

... I'm dead, aren't I? Last thing I remember was seeing Abyssal aircraft and then...

Yes.

...

I am sorry about that, but such things I cannot interfere with.

*Bitter laughter* Yeah, I suppose so.

You're full of anger though, aren't you? For dying. Enough that it could, possibly bind you to the mortal plane as a ghost. Not too uncommon.

Guess so, though what good would it do me?

Well... it allows for me to make you an... offer of sorts in this case. I am sure that you know of your friend, Kaylee McAmis?

YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER, YOU HEAR ME!? I DON'T CARE WHAT OR WHO YOU ARE, TOUCH HER AND REGRET IT!

I have no plans to do so, child. But did you know that she is a shipgirl? One incarnated as a human?

... No... I didn't. But what does that-No, no! She's going to have to fight!?

Unfortunately, I am unable to prevent certain things. She will be in a bad place for some time and may need... assistance. So I am willing to make you an offer of sorts...

What sort of offer.

...

I'll take it.

Very well.
...
You always were a sucker and softy for romance and such. Granted, such things are sometimes even more powerful then I am.

Shut it, you old ha-OW!

Call me that again, Davy. And I will kick your ass like that white haired Destroyer did. Rather like her, and not just for the amusement she brings me in regards to the Child.

That still smarts... And you need a hobb-GAH!

I warned you. And everyone saw. Oh, get up, it wasn't that hard of a kick.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 78: S0ngD0g13

Morning dawned and Kaylee rolled out of bed, stretching and yawning as she built up steam. She showered and dressed, shrugging into her coat and pulling on her kepi, before heading down to breakfast...

..........................................

Kaylee was tying into her third helping of bacon and eggs as she let the murmur of conversation wash over her; she took a sip from her coffee when she heard Harry talking about a vessel he'd seen the night before, bound for Kure. "...and Casey said her name was USS Polly."

Kaylee stiffened. "Say again, Harry? I ain't catch that."

Harry looked over to where the ironclad sat. "Last night in Yokosuka I saw one of the new Patrol Tender ships, the ones that were funded on donations? You know how if folks donated a certain amount they could name one? Casey said your uncle got together with some others a year ago and funded a ship; she's named USS Polly."

Kaylee's cup fell from nerveless fingers and shattered on the floor. Everyone saw tears in her eyes and watched her bolt from the Great Hall...

"What? What's wrong? I... I don't understand..." said Harry confusedly.

Ginny spoke softly. "She's named after a girl named Polly O'Toole, a friend, or I think more-than-a-friend, of Kaylee's who was killed a year ago during an Abyssal attack..."

.........................................

"Kaylee?"

"Yeah, Harry?"

"What was she like? Polly, I mean."

"She was... She was somethin' special. Her first words to me, at the Battle of Blue Springs Reenactment, were 'Your voice is too pretty to be singing sad songs; sing something happy'. I looked up from my harmonica, saw them eyes o' hers green as 'bacca leaves..."

"And fell madly in love, like in the stories?"

Kaylee laughed. "I laughed right in her face; I was a bitter, broke-souled angry person back then. The scars from... You know... Were still really raw. Polly just laughed right back." Her face sobered. "She came to my campfire that night. Told me I had a pretty voice and eyes too full o' pain, too full o' anger. I asked her what the Hell she knew 'bout pain, an' she just rolled up the sleeves o' that gingham dress she was wearin' and showed the razor-marks on her arms, said her an' pain were well-acquainted. Then she asked me to sing a happy song, somethin' hopeful."

"What did you sing?"

"I'm just a poor wayfarin' stranger,
Trav'lin' through this world alone;
But there's no sickness, toil or danger,
In that fair land to which I go..."

Kaylee grinned wetly. "She swatted me with my own kepi for singin' the saddest-soundin' hopeful song ever. Then she sang Star of the County Down in a voice fit to turn angels green as summer grass with envy, and that's when I started fallin' in love."

"She sounds like a wonderful person."

"Harry, she helped me heal, helped me move on, helped me live instead o' bein' the half-dead, bitter beast I was when we met. She never judged me, never played me false. I loved her fierce as fire, Harry, an' she loved me the same, that year we were together..."

Kaylee wiped her runny nose on her sleeve and stared out at the lake. "Dunno if you can grasp it right now, but in time I'm sure ya will... Polly Elizabeth O'Toole was my First, Harry. My first since... Then... And the one I consider my real, true First. The last words she said to me, the day her family moved to North Carolina, were 'Now don't you go wastin' that pretty voice singin' sad songs over me, Kaylee Virginia. Sing a happy song, somethin' hopeful'. I sang We'll Meet Again at the top o' my lungs until the car was long gone..."

Harry sniffled a bit and hugged Kaylee in silence...

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 79: S0ngD0g13

Jaw's variant on The Speech, when Akizuki starts Dating...
...............................................

Jaw looked at the Kid. He knew the Kid's name; Akizuki had told it to him already, but for the moment, the teenager on his dad's couch was simply 'the Kid'. The Kid was nervous. This was good; it meant the Speech would be more likely to stick. "You okay over there, Kid? You look kinda twitchy."

"I'm okay."

"Good. So, first-date with my Little Sister... Going to the movies?"

"A car-show in Tokyo; her idea. I'll have her back by eleven, I pro-" Jaw cut him off with a hand as he stood by the mantle and the cabinet next to it.

"No worries, Kid. I trust you. I'm sure you've already gotten all sorts of 'hurt her and die grotesquely' Speeches from the other Destroyers by now, so I'll spare you one more. I'm just going to say one thing, and then I'm going to ask one question. Fair enough?"

"Y-Yessir."

Jaw met the Kid's eyes. "Don't hurt her deliberately. I know accidents happen but a prompt apology buys a lot of forgiveness." He turned back to the mantle and opened a box, then turned back to face the Kid holding a fine-point Sharpie and a three-inch-magnum twelve-gauge shell. "Now, Kid, how do you spell your last name?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Almost as soon as the Submarines finally let him go, Harry found Lousiana kneeling in front of him before she pulled him into a hug as well. "I am glad that you are well, mon chéri. It does my heart good to see that."

Tightly hugging her back, Harry let out a small sigh. "Thanks, and it's good to be here." For a brief moment, he allowed himself to relax and let the small whiff of spices that were under the smell of steel, seawater, and cordite bring him back to other days. Then slowly he let go of Louisiana and then gave a smile to Goto before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a rolled sheet of papers. Papers that he then handed to the Admiral. "Um, I got my report on what happened here."

With a small nod, Goto glanced through the report quickly. Long experience allowed him to get the gist of what was in it which made him furrow his eyebrows. "I see... I'll have a look at it later." He then reached over and gave Harry a pat on the shoulder. "But for right now, I'm just glad that you're still here."

A wry smile on his face, Harry gave a nod. "You and I both, Teitoku."

Chuckling some, Goto shook his head and gestured for them to follow him. "Kongou's set up some early morning tea in Conference Room Two. Niiyodo as well as Ooyodo are there and Junyou is as well with Haru." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Natsumi chew her lip some and then nod. Once they were in said conference room, Goto handed the report off to Ooyodo who read through it. Before his eyes, the Light Cruiser's eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper as time went on. When she nodded though, he frowned and turned to Harry who was now between Hachi and Louisiana. Leaning forward, he glanced at Dumbledore. "Harry? As loath as I am to ask, would it be possible to see your memories of what happened down there."

Just blinking, Harry looked up. "My memories? Like last year you mean?"

Goto just nodded as Kongou began to leaf through the report as well as the one given by Kaylee which would be sent to Admiral Shimada and RIchardson. "Hai. I think that it would be for the best to do so as well as a verbal one. Same as last year."

Only nodding, Harry waited as the camera was set up before he launched into his story of what had happened down in the Chamber. He did notice that when he mentioned Peeves, Junyou's expression transformed from it's normal half-smile to a much more stormy one. And her's was not the only one as Haru's also changed as she softly growled. More then one set of eyes widened at the description of the monsters down in the chamber though. And once he was finished, everyone paused for several minutes to calm down before Haru stepped away from the whispered conversation that she had been having with Natsumi and pulled out an Ofuda. "Harry-Chan? This will be just the same way as last year."

Swallowing, Harry looked up at her. "Can I... can I be awake this time?"

With a small pause for a moment, Haru nodded some. "If that is what you want, Harry-Chan."

Placing the Ofuda on his forehead, she nodded as Ooyodo turned the camera to the projector screen and adjusted it to catch the 'Memory'. It started off with the discovery that Ginny was missing and went through what happened through Harry's perspective. Peeves pushing him into the Chamber caused more then one angry mutters, but there was some sounds of shock when the first of the undead horrors appeared. But that was nothing compared to when the confrontation happened in the Chamber. Expression ashen, Nagato watched with wide eyes as the Basilisk rose up before her son. Beside her, Enterprise softly cursed. "Jesus F. Christ..."

Eyes wide, Kaylee stared at the live monster before shaking her head. "Mother o' Mares... seeing it dead is one thing. But alive?"

Haru frowned as she watched the creature with her eyes narrowed. But more then that, her focus was more on Riddle himself and she was not the only one. When Harry had tricked it though into going down another tunnel, she nodded. "Clever. Good use of what we've taught you."

Of course, shortly after that was when Harry got bit and a chocked sound as well as a tight grip on his hand caused him to look at Hachi. The Submarine looked stricken as did the others as they saw the damage done by the bite. Gently squeezing her hand, Harry got her to look at him. "I'm still here, Hachi-Chan."

Chewing her lip, Hachi hugged him as well as she could. "I-I know, Harry-Chan. But seeing that... it's hard to believe."

Meanwhile, on the screen, Myrtle had begun her beatdown when Harry grabbed the Basilisk fang and soon after, Riddle was dead and he was healed. When the memory stopped, every one was silent for several moments before Tenryuu glanced at Harry with a smile that did not reach her eye. "Looks like you might need to work on your form some, Kiddo."

Inazuma gave her a look though and a frown. "Not the time, Kaa-San."

However, Tenryuu only shrugged. "Someone needs to lighten the mood some, Ami-Chan. You know that." Scratching her head though, she grimaced. "But, Kiddo? You still did pretty good there for someone with barely any practice. Next time though, keep an eye on the bad guy as well."

Thinly smiling, Harry nodded some. "Hai, next time I get attacked by a giant monster, I'll keep my eye on the bad guy, Tenryuu-Oba. And kick his stern just like you would."

As it turned out, that broke the ice and there were soft snickers around while Goto accepted thumb drives from both Kaylee and Nagato which detailed what had happened during the exploration of the Chamber. He knew that the others had their own as well, but was willing to wait. Finally, Haru narrowed her eyes and looked towards Dumbledore. "That Diary, do you know what it was? Because that was no ordinary memory recording."

Sighing, Dumbledore nodded some before frowning. "I do. But the information is extremely sensitive and..." He paused before his lips thinned. "While my instincts are telling me to trust you, everything else is stating that I need to keep it under wraps for now. I have one other source to check, but then I promise to explain what exactly it was. It is not something to be spoken of lightly."

In reply, Goto grunted some as he made some notes. "I see, well I can let that slide for now. But I have a few questions regarding these Basilisks if that would be possible." At the nod from Dumbledore, he continued. "The biggest ones in my mind are how easy is it to make them? Is the size of that one normal? And what are the chances of one being used?"

For a moment, Dumbledore considered the question before leaning back. "In regards to how easily they are made, the answer is rather easy. You only need a chicken's egg and a toad after all as well as a pile of manure. You use a somewhat dark spell to keep the toad on the egg mind you, which is where some of the dark magic comes from. However, they are far from common due to how powerful they are. In fact, only Parselmouths can control them and they are rather rare in Europe and elsewhere from memory. Even Voldemort never used one and he would have been very capable of making one. But since they are as much a danger to his followers as it was to his enemies, he never bothered. Especially with the weakness to the crow of a rooster."

Glancing up from her own notes, Ooyodo frowned. "So a very low chance of someone releasing it into a populated area?"

Even though he understood why they were asking, Dumbledore felt more then tired because of the possible ramifications. "Highly unlikely. In Europe we have had maybe a dozen Basilisks being used for attacks in the past five hundred years. More commonly, they're used as guardians over something the dark wizard does not want being taken. Which does tie into your question as usually they do not reach such a... prodigious size. More commonly they are about the size of the giant anaconda in Brazil, I believe forty feet long."

That made Goto flinch before he shook it off. 'That is not a small snake. Though I suppose that we should thank the Kami for small mercies.' Making another note, he sighed some before nodding. "I may have other questions about such creatures mind you, though I believe that you're in common contact with Victory? I suspect that the Royal Navy will want to know what they can."

All Dumbledore did was nod at that, after all he could not fault them for wanting to know more and be prepared. In fact, he internally applauded it. "From what Vicky has told me, she may be by more often. Something about hanging around Hogsmeade for some time though she has not explained more then that."

Various odd looks were given to him before they were shaken off. What Victory and the Royal Navy were up to could wait. Various other questions went back and forth and at one point, Harry dozed off a bit before startling awake as Haru spoke up. "So you don't mind if Natsumi-Chan stays at Hogwarts for a time?"

With a twinkle in his eyes, Dumbledore shook his head. "Not at all. In fact, I welcome her being in Hogwarts as she's taken on a rather big task for the time that she has given herself. Not many would have decided to look through the Room of Requirement's Room of Hidden Things. Granted, some of the items there Harry has stated he wants for his own reasons."

Seeing the looks, Harry shrugged. "Mainly the cauldrons there in the room. There's entire piles of them stacked up at times and... Well, I can use them."

His eyebrows furrowed, Dumbledore looked at him. "I am not sure for what exactly though. From the glimpse that I got, many of them are damaged. And with the recent flood of cauldrons in the market from India, the price has plummeted."

Kongou also frowned at Harry in confusion. "Dess. So why would you want them, Harry-Chan?"

Much to their surprise though, Harry grinned. "Materials." Leaning back, he placed his hands behind his head. "Most of them are cast iron with others being copper or brass. There's also some pewter ones too, but..." The black haired boy then shrugged. "I can transfigure them into bars. The pewter ones I can separate into copper and tin as well as antimony. I think that I saw some silver and gold ones as well."

Eyebrows raising, Ooyodo looked at Harry in surprise. "There's enough of them to do that?" When Harry nodded, the Light Cruiser was about to say something when Natsumi handed Ooyodo her phone. On the screen was one of the piles with Harry for reference with it piled high above him. Several moments passed before she blinked and then looked at Harry directly. "Is it possible for you to transform the iron into steel?"

Frowning in thought, Harry blinked and then looked at Dumbledore who seemed thoughtful. "Um, I don't know..."

After a few moments, Dumbledore gave a small nod. "It's not exactly hard to do as a matter of fact. One just needs some ashes to mix in and you can create steel though it might take a few tries to manage it, I suppose." At the expressions, he gave a thin smile. "During the war with Voldemort, several Muggleborn used old cauldrons to reinforce their doors and made them into steel. At most, it might have bought them a few minutes before the Death Eaters instead burned the house down or forced their way through the walls."

Once more glancing at the pile of cauldrons, Ooyodo had a thoughtful look on her face before turning to her sister who was looking through some notes. "Niiyodo-Chan." When said Light Cruiser looked up in surprise, she continued. "I think that Harry-Chan may have need of someone to keep track of the materials he may receive."

Goto gave Ooyodo a look, only for the Light Cruiser to give one back. Between the two of them there was a silent conversation going on. But finally, Goto gave a small nod. "That would be perhaps for the best. If the Headmaster is willing to allow us to use such items for resources, then it would be best that we handle part of it."

For his part, Dumbledore only smiled and nodded. "Of course. In fact, it would help clear out the space and from what I have seen, they are mostly from the last few hundred years and would simply be thrown out." That got a twitch from Ooyodo before she shrugged it off. "If you want, I can assign a house elf to make sure that the cauldrons are clean of any magical contamination. There is a few of the older ones who would be more then willing to do so. They could also find any of the older ones that might be kept for antiques."

Humming, Goto slowly tapped his finger. "I don't see a downside there. If most of them are worthless and broken, then I fail to see why we cannot use the materials. Niiyodo?"

Quickly stiffening, Niiyodo sat up straight. "Hai, Teitoku?"

A thoughtful look on his face, the Admiral nodded at her. "Your orders are simple, help Harry out with the gathering of various raw materials that can be used here. I leave the specifics to be discussed between the two of you, meanwhile."

Brightly smiling, Niiyodo bowed some. "Hai! I can do that, Teitoku!"

On his own face there was an amused look as Goto looked back at his notebook and nodded. "Hachi? Seeing as you and the others have somehow come up with a solution, I am willing to give you leave to be at Hogwarts for the next two weeks, followed by a week in Germany. All I will say is this... enjoy yourself. With all the work that you've put in, you deserve it."

Confused as Hachi bowed with a massive smile, Harry blinked. "Solution? I knew that you were coming for the last week at Hogwarts, but what happened?"

There was a soft expression on Shioi's face as she got up and walked over to Harry. Hugging him from behind, she chuckled some. "We've talked with some of the others about taking over some duties. Nimu and Nima are both taking over some of the duties for Hachi and so is Goya... Archie is also willing to shoulder some of the burden as well."

When Harry looked at Hachi, the Submarine had a misty eyed look in her eyes before smiling. "Hacchan has some very, very good friends. Ones who are willing to help out." Glancing at Goto, she gave him a slight smile. "Um, Hacchan is also ready just like the others..."

All Goto did was sigh at that before shaking his head in some bemusement. 'I should have expected that.'

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 80: S0ngD0g13

"Uncle James?"

"Yes, Charlotte?"

"When's Gin-ya comin' home?"

James looked up from his book and smiled. "I don't know, but it shouldn't be too long. I miss her too. But that's part of life for a military family, little Charlotte; sometimes folks are gone a long while. I bet she misses you bunches, too."

Charlotte, who'd grown larger since Kaylee left for Scotland, gave a nod. "I don't like it. Miss her." She hugged her plushie in her front-legs. "Lucy misses Rupert, too."

James smiled a bit. "I'm sure she does; your Lucy would miss Kaylee's teddy bear, seein' as how they're such good friends." He checked the time and set his copy of Cimarron Rose down. "Well, time to get back to work. You ready?"

Charlotte jumped up, big as a mastiff, and was almost vibrating with excitement. "Uh-huh! I'm good to go, Uncle James!"

James laughed happily. "Alright, then. Go put Lucy in her web and bring me your rig, and we'll get to work."

The Acromantula rushed back to her's and Kaylee's room and put her stuffed Black Widow up in the web she'd spun for it, and decorated with plastic bugs. When she came back with the custom harness she wore as a Trainee Military Working Spider, James knelt and buckled it on her.

"Okay, Charlotte. Let's go." The pair left the house and headed for the Kennels at a brisk jog.

......................................

They were almost to the Kennels when Charlotte suddenly stopped. "Uncle James? Something's wrong..." she said lowly, looking around.

James scanned the tree-line on either side of the running-trail. "Talk to me." Gone was James McAmis, mild-mannered dog-trainer; in his place stood James McAmis, United States Marine MWD Handler. His tone was all business.

"I hear voices ahead. One male, one female. Not yelling but loud, angry." Gone was Charlotte McAmis, sweet-tempered Acromantula hatchling, and in her place stood Charlotte McAmis, US Navy Military Working Spider. She knew it was Business Time and not Play Time.

James nodded. "On my left, Charlotte, and let's see what the problem is..." Charlotte fell in-step with James as they advanced up the trail, the spider one pace to James' left.

The pair rounded a bend in the trail just in time to see one of the base's civilian workers arguing with a female sailor, apparently over the woman's infidelity. Without warning the man lashed out with a backhand and the sound of it connecting was loud on the still air. Charlotte started to lunge forward but checked herself as James called out, "Stop right there."

The man froze, his hand raising for a second blow, and stared at James and Charlotte. James took advantage of the silence to add, "I don't know what sparked this quarrel, but I think it best we all head to the MP Station to finish it."

The man bolted. James pointed after him. "Charlotte, Catch and Hold." Charlotte bounded forward, skittering along the trail after her prey. She could see him, could smell his fear on the breeze, and could hear his footfalls slow...

The man stumbled only once, and Charlotte pounced, bearing him down after she landed on his back. The Acromantula quickly wrapped his legs in silk, then his hands.

When James came up after helping the girl, he saw Charlotte sitting over the scared-senseless civilian. "I caught him, Uncle James! I caught the Bad Guy!" So excited was Charlotte that she showed her age and giggled happily.

"You sure did. Good Girl, Charlotte. Ya did good."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Opening the door to the Room of Requirement, Natsumi sighed some and shook her head as she gestured around them. "Well, here we go. Welcome to the Room of Hidden Things."

As she walked inside, Niiyodo's eyes widened in surprise as she took it in. The "Room" seemed to extend for extend for at least a few hundred feet in either direction much to her surprise. But more then that, it was filled with giant piles of various things that stretched all the way to the ceiling. "Wow... This is... wow..."

Behind her, Louisiana gave a low whistle as she pulled her cover off and scratched her head. "And this is the place that you wish to sort out ma chérie? A bit of a job, non?"

With a chuckle, Natsumi shook her head as both Yukikaze and Isokaze walked in followed by an older House Elf, both Destroyers widening their eyes at the sheer amount of stuff in the room. "Well, it might be a bit much I guess. But it gives me something to do at least. And besides..." She grabbed a silver goblet and turned it over. "There's all sorts of neat stuff in here."

Isokaze walked up to a cabinet filled with potions which shimmered evily before shaking her head. "You can say that again. Wonder how much of this is useful and how much is dangerous?"

Off to one side, Yukikaze lifted a seemingly blood stained axe before frowning. "Yukikaze thinks that there's a lot here that could be dangerous."

As Yukikaze gently set down the axe, Niiyodo walked up to one of the piles of cauldrons that Harry had told her about. Even from what she could see, a number were chipped, cracked, or partially melted. Reaching out, she flicked one with her finger and was rewarded with the sound of metal against metal. "Harry-Chan was right, this is cast iron."

Tilting his head to the side, the House Elf blinked. "Course they would be metal! Blinky put some in here hisself! Little Misters and Missus sometimes break cauldrons, so wes be getting rid of them in here. Lots and lots of thems in here. Not cheese cauldrons though."

Needless to say, all of them blinked before they turned to him and stared. Eyebrow raising, Natsumi cleared her throat some. "Uh... a cheese cauldron? Do you mean a cauldron made of cheese?"

Rapidly nodding, Blinky smiled with his eyes nearly disappearing behind his wrinkles. "Oh yes! Blinky remembers how Master Dumbledore Sir talk about wizzard who make cauldrons out of cheese. Does not think it turned out well..."

Glancing at a facepalming Natsumi, Louisiana chuckled some. "Sounds like something that Whisky would try."

That got several chuckles from everyone except the House Elf, who was just confused. After all, the love for cheese that the Iowa had was rather famous among shipgirls. Especially as she was often seen with wheels of cheese and munching on them happily. Shaking that off, Niiyodo turned back to the pile of cauldrons and hummed in thought. "I am surprised at how much metal there is here though."

While she nodded, Isokaze walked up beside her and grinned. "You're telling me! And the Headmaster told us that this can all be ours." Grabbing a copper cauldron that seemed to have burst along one side, the Destroyer crushed it flat with her hands. "Man, the amount of resources here is ridiculous!"

Not noticing the wide eyes of the elf at what Isokaze had done, Yukikaze only nodded in awe. "This is like... a year of expeditions all rolled up in one!" A frown on her face, she turned towards Louisiana who was examining an Frisbee that seemed to be trying to chew the Battleship's finger. "Um, some of this is going to the Royal Navy, right?"

Smiling, Louisiana held the biting Frisbee in one hand while the other ruffled Yukikaze's hair. "Oui, that is the plan. Half will go to us, and half to the Royal Navy as thanks. From what I can see, there will be enough for both of us easily. Perhaps more then enough even."

On Yukikaze's face there was a small smile as she enjoyed the attention. With the amount of time that Louisiana had spent with Shinano as part of their Battlegroup, the three Japanese Destroyers had grown to like the boisterous American. Even Urakaze had warmed up to her after a time. She was warm and affectionate to them after all.

And it did not hurt that she often gave them ice cream and cooked up some great food.

Just sighing, Natsumi scratched her head with a small frown on her face. "It's going to take a while to even make a dent in this though. You guys really willing to help?" At their amused looks, the kitsune blushed. "Not that I mind the help, I'm really thankful for it! Just..."

Walking up, Lousiana pulled Natsumi into a hug, causing the kitsune to blush even more as she found her face in the Battleship's chest. It did not help that the Montana class gave a chuckle. "Do not worry yourself, ma chérie. We are more then willing to help." She then held out one hand and Natsumi blinked as fairies came pouring out before jumping off the hand to the floor. It was then that she also realized that the other shipgirls were also sending out their fairies before Louisiana winked at her. "We have many hands for help, after all."

Unable to help herself, Natsumi chuckled a bit and smiled. Meanwhile, Niiyodo pulled out a clipboard with a bright smile on her face before adjusting her glasses. "Well, we should get to work then! It's not going to sort itself out on it's own after all..." Humming happily, she walked over to the pile of cauldrons as the fairies began to sort them out by type of metal. 'Now how to list them? Size?'

The others shared a look of amusement before they got to work themselves, Blinky levitating several expanded trunks into the room to be used for storage.
_______________________________________________________________________

Her arms clasped around Harry's waist and holding him close, Regina just looked around as they flew across the grounds. Unlike the other times though, Harry was not very high up. In fact, the Re-Class guessed that the broom was roughly head height for Wanko. Somewhat confused, though she was enjoying the time spent with him, Regina glanced down at the boy who's head rested against her chest. "Um, Harry?"

With a blink, Harry glanced back some with a slight smile on his face. "Yeah, Regina? What's wrong?"

Only tilting her head to the side in a manner some would term cute, Regina furrowed her eyebrows. "I was just wondering what we were doing out here? It's almost as if you're looking for something."

There was a slight smirk on Harry's face as he turned his attention back onto whatever he was doing. "I sort of am." Shrugging, he sighed a bit. "I'm looking for something because of what happened today."

Frowning, Regina thought back over the day's events. After Harry's return late the other night, he had retired to bed which soon turned into a cuddlepile once the Submarines had taken a bath and changed. Something that Regina still enjoyed though Hachi was the one who was closest to Harry followed by Natsumi and Iku, Maruyu having somehow curled up between them all. But it was still comfortable for the Re-class.

Granted, she did miss Shinano and how cuddly the big Carrier could be.

After they had awoken, the group had done their various things to get ready for the day. Besides an incident that morning where Kaylee had left breakfast with tears, nothing too much had happened. Louisiana and Niiyodo had left with Natsumi for the Room of Requirement along with Isokaze and Yukikaze. The Submarines meanwhile had stated that they had their own thing to do as Harry went to class.

Several times though, Regina had spotted the Submarines in the area keeping an eye on things. Much to her quiet amusement, the fact that they were in normal casual clothes had gotten them more attention then their usual swimsuits would have. As to Regina? She followed Harry during the day often sitting in the classes. Most of the time she would end up standing in the back of the room.

Mainly due to, as it turned out, none of the seats were made in consideration of someone of her height. They were made for teenagers up to seventeen after all, not for someone who pushed six feet, five inches as Regina did. Result being that when she sat down on the benches, it would end up with her knees up to her stomach. And that was not adding in her tail, so to say it was uncomfortable was putting it mildly.

But she had been dealing with it for the week previous so it was not a huge issue to her. Most of the time she just ended up at the back of the room watching and listening. Though to her amusement somehow she seemed to just fade into the background for the most part and everyone but Harry seemed to forget that she was there. Said boy would often glance back and had taken to sitting as close to the walls as possible. Needless to say, Harry had snickered more then once when Regina spoke up to him and various people had jumped in surprise.

He still did not understand how people forgot that there was a Re-class right there in the room, even the teachers.

Just the same though, going back over her day still did not help Regina any in solving the mystery of what Harry was doing exactly. Mostly, she had sat beside him, especially after seeing the memories of the fight. Finally though, Regina sighed and frowned at him. "I still don't understand what you mean..."

All Harry did though was smile over his shoulder at her. "You'll see, Dess!"

Still confused, Regina eventually shrugged it off and went back to enjoying hugging him from behind. Roughly twenty minutes later though, Harry grinned which made the Abyssal tilt her head in curiosity. 'I wonder what he found.'

Once they landed though, she watched as Harry walked over to a large, fallen tree on the shore of the Black Lake. Examining it, Harry looked up the mountainside and frowned as it was obvious that it must have fallen and came to rest there. Then he turned back to the tree and examined it more closely before slowly nodding. "This will work."

Regina sat down on a nearby rock to watch as Harry pulled out his wand and made a motion with it. "What are you going to do, Harry? Use a spell on it?"

Glancing over his shoulder, Harry shot her a grin. "As a matter of fact... yes, yes I am." Curious, Regina watched as he marked out two lines on the tree before nodding and walking over to one. "Diffindo!"

Much to Regina's surprise, a large cut appeared over the line before Harry said the same spell again, deepening it. It wasn't too deep, just several inches, but her eyebrows still raised at it. Slowly, Harry continued to cut away at the trunk before finally cutting all the way through with the now unsupported portion falling with a crash. "Wow... that was incredible!"

A small smile on his face, Harry reached up and wiped his forehead before nodding. "Yup! Now time to finish up with the rest."

While he walked up to where the other line was and began to cut, Regina leaned forward with her chin supported by her hands as she watched in curiosity. The pose that she was in, with elbows on one leg and the other stretched out, likely would have gotten her stares if anyone else was around. But Regina for the most part was simply watching. However, she got up when Harry cut through the second line and tried to lift the chunk of wood. "Here, let me take care of that."

To Harry's bemusement, she easily lifted up the chunk of wood that had been giving him trouble. "Thanks, Regina. Hey, would you mind carrying that all the way back to the castle?"

Somewhat confused, Regina only shook her head as Harry grabbed his broom. "Not at all, Harry. Why?"

Once more, Harry just gave her a smile. "Because I need it for something."

Hence, an hour later found them in the quarters where they were staying with Harry making a movement with his wand after taking the bark off with a different spell. Moments after, Regina could feel some heat from the wood while small droplets gathered on it's exposed surface. Slowly nodding, Harry pointed his wand at it again before gesturing at a cauldron. "Tergeo"

As Regina watched, the water was seemingly yanked from the surface of the wood to the cauldron until whatever spell Harry had used stopped and there was no more. Blinking, she watched as Harry took the cauldron over to the fire and set it up. "What sort of spell was that, Harry? It looked like it took the water from the wood."

Slowly nodding, Harry hummed some as he watched the water. "Actually, that is exactly what it did." With a frown, Harry cut up some ingredients on the table he had set up. "It's a camping Charm, all it really does is draw water from wood to make it easier to use in a campfire. You know, because wet wood smokes a lot."

Considering that, Regina finally nodded some. "I see..."

Meanwhile, Harry added some of the ingredients and then placed a mechanical egg timer on the table and set it. That done, he turned back to the wood and made motions with his wand while muttering a spell and Regina watched as the wood began to shift some on the top, becoming concave, though the edges curved downwards at two points. When the eggtimer dinged though, Harry turned back to the potion and added some more and stirred it. Glancing over his shoulder, he gave her a small smile which made Regina blush some. "Hey, Regina? Could you go over to the owl box? Mum should have sent what I asked her to by now."

Even though she was still confused with what was going on, Regina got up did as asked before returning with a paint brush she handed to Harry before sitting back down. Despite everything, she found everything that Harry was doing absolutely fascinating on a few levels as before the recent weeks, she had not seem magic very often. The enjoyment that the black haired wizard had on his face caused the Abyssal to smile back at him as he made a gouge in the side of whatever he was working on. 'I wonder what he is doing...'

Finally, Harry took the cauldron off as various people re-entered the Common Room and began to watch. Once it was gently steaming, no longer bubbling, Harry dipped the brush into the potion and brushed it onto the wood. From where she stood leaning against the couch, Hachi had a curious look on her face. "What's that, Harry-Chan?"

Glancing over at her, Harry grinned. "Wood preservative potion, one of the components for it is water from the wood it's supposed to be used on. Because it comes from the wood, it soaks in really quickly and acts like a varnish."

Kaylee chuckled some as she looked over his project in interest. "Making yourself a stool, are you, Harry?" With a rueful look though, she shook her head. "A bit big for you though."

Much to her surprise though, Harry simply grinned back at her. "For me? What gave you the idea that it was for me?" He then pointed at Regina who squeaked some at his next words. "It's for Regina here to use."

Mouth working for a few moments, the Abyssal just stared at him before blushing as she poked her fingers together. "F-for me? Really?" Seeing Harry nod some, she ducked her head a bit. "Um... not that I mind it or anything, but why?"

Finishing up the sides, Harry began working on the top. "Why?" At her nod, he snorted some. "Regina, you literally stand all day in the classes because the seats are too small. This way, you can sit down more easily. Heck, I made a handhold so that it's easier for you to carry." Sighing, the wizard grimaced a bit. "Sorry that it's a bit rough though."

Slowly blinking, Regina turned to Harry and regarded the stool. Frankly, it did not look very uncomfortable at all and she was warmed inside by the fact that he did his best to make something big enough for her. And now that she looked at it, she could see where the "Back" of the stool was lower then the sides for her tail to more easily rest on it. "That's okay, Harry. I think that it looks pretty good myself."

With a somewhat surprised look, Harry finished the top and stopped. "Really?" At her nod, he scratched the back of his head with his free hand. "Huh. Well, all we got to wait is for the cushion and you'll be set. Sent the order with Hedwig so it should be here by tonight."

That caused Regina to stare at him before she looked to where Natsumi was snorting in barely concealed laughter. "Oh..."

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

I am so annoyed with this one, but I'm posting it anyways. Hah.
Had to Happen

-----

It's at about one in the afternoon that the destroyer radios in. Three Re-classes inbound.

Nemo is looking down into the water, engines idling, trying to gauge if she can reach down and catch a fish without accidentally killing it. When the message reaches her, she about faces, guns her engines, and heads for the destroyer's coordinates.

As she closes in, she begins to notice other destroyers closing in on the radar. Another cruiser catches her eye, and she looks up to see Neko waving at her. The younger cruiser looks nervous, and Nemo can understand why. Destroyers and a couple of cruisers? Where's everyone else?

They'll come, she reassures herself. They always come.

Another cruiser inbound. Riri.

She has visual contact with the Re's. Can see the flashes of cannon fire. Planes taking off.

Contact.

She throws herself to the right, narrowly evading a shell and firing her own artillery. She's not in close enough to do more than cover their jackets with burn marks, but it catches their attention.
-----

"Family problems?" Yakumo echoed consciously. Tachibana nodded again.

"Yes," she confirmed. "Inoue says that there's some kind of issue with their relationship, and he's trying to keep things under wraps."

"Sooouuunds fishy!" Uzukawa crowed, flipping herself upright. "I smell a mystery! What say you—"

She was silenced by a stunned stare from Tachibana and a glare from Yakumo.

"Kidding, geez. Too soon?"

But when Yakumo is sitting at her desk, spinning in her chair absently, it starts to bug her. There aren't any families that have the money or history to be like that, are there? At least, not in the area, not that she knows of. She feels silly for worrying, but then again…

"I'm being silly," she mutters to herself.
-----

Haruka stares up at the photograph clutched in her hands, holding it at arm's length above her head. Sakurada agreed to go with them to the arcade that Tuesday evening, so that they could use the Purikura. The image it holds is one of Haruka leaning forward, wrapping her arms around Sakurada's neck as she leans away, trying to hold her back and laughing. Yuzuki has, as typical for her, moved so far into the foreground that half of the photograph is a shadowy image of the left side of her face.

Looking at the photograph, Haruka feels her stomach warm over at the message it conveys.

All is forgiven.

She laughs to herself. The event wasn't so momentous that she actually framed the copy she was given as soon as she got home.

Except... she kind of did.
-----

Chaos.

Shells flying back and forth. Ships dodging in and out of fire. Destroyers harrying their opponents like hungry dogs, dodging around their feet in a lethal dance.

That graze from the shell is still bleeding. She cuts it out, cuts out the tickling feeling as it trails down her arm.

Riri is dancing, sliding around enemy shots with an agility Nemo honestly doesn't think she should have. The stoic cruiser's shots are dead on target, or would be if the Re's couldn't dodge similarly well, if not as gracefully.

Neko…

Nemo scans the battlefield, looking for her—and there she is, desperately trying to keep her balance, caught in a split second of life and death. Her arm is hanging limp, her face spattered with her own blood. Terror floods Nemo, chasing away exhaustion. She needs to get to Neko.

She hears a familiar whistling sound.

Turns.

Sees the shell before her eye.

And suddenly it's gone, Renata standing directly next to her, closing her fist around the exploding shell, her wake spraying down from high in the air with a gentle pattering noise. Neko has fallen back into Rumi's arms, the Battleship picking her up and cradling her like a small child. The air has gone silent, the Re's silently gauging their new opposition. They don't notice the destroyers silently drifting away.

Renata begins to drift forward slowly, having selected a target. One meter, two meters, and the other Re's open fire. Renata's arm blurs, the air in front of her shimmering with frantic motion. After a minute, the bombardment ceases. The only part of Renata that has been bloodied is the palm of her hand. One of the Re's balks, backing water frantically. She only realizes her mistake when Renata appears directly in front of her, water spraying into the air in her wake, tail coming up and lifting her into the air.

"Bad move," she says, her face a mask of deadly calm, and fires. Rumi rolls her eyes.

"Don't I keep telling you not to play with your food?" she asks.

-----

She's late, Takumi thinks, staring back towards the city, towards the skyline.

He's not worried, he tries to reason. She'll be here on time. She promised, and she's never missed a date before. She's just earlier usually. Nothing to worry about.

Minutes stretch closer and closer to an hour. Takumi paces, checks his schoolbag (Merchant of Venice, he thinks she'll like it), flops down in the sand with a groan. He closes his eyes, listen to the sounds of the wind, birds out past their bedtimes, waves lapping at the shore. And then—

A girl's feet, skimming over the water.

He sits upright, scrambling for his feet as he sees her close in, the tightness in his chest that he has been denying releasing with a warmth he's never quite felt before. Relief, he believes, which tightens up slightly as she closes in and he sees the angry red welt on her arm. She coasts in like a wisp, drifting tiredly into his chest, resting her head against his collar.

"Sorry'm late," she murmurs. "There was a fight."

"Is that what happened to your arm?" he asks gently. That explains a few things. He feels her hair rub against his neck as she nods.

"M," she confirms. "Don't worry, Renata got'm all. Had't sneak away after ever'thin."

"I see," he says, then he peels her away from his body as she protests tiredly. He tips her head back, looking down into her eyes, tired and slightly peeved at him now that he's broken their embrace. "I'm just glad you're okay," he reassures her, leans down and presses his lips to her.

She pulls back sputtering. "I-I-I I just—what the!"

"Did you not want me to do that?" Takumi asks. She shakes her head frantically.

"No, I mean I love, I mean that's not what I'm who's that?" she babbles so fast that Takumi almost misses the last part. But when they've been secretive as they have about this, it's not something he's inclined to miss and he's already turning around, seeing the person lying at the edge of the road, coming awake and shaking their head. He's bolting forward before he knows it, and then he slows and stops.

The person, supporting herself on her arms, tries her best to pull herself away from him—or, more importantly, from Nemo.

"Uzukawa?" he says.
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Barricade

RBomber said:
You know, now I'm wondering, what kind of Military/ Figurne Company allowed creation of likeness of certain members of military, right down to the smallest details....

"Jane's."

"Seriously. How the hell do they pull it off?"

"No kidding. They're already updated their shipgirl edition pages before we've even updated our OWN warbooks. We keep summoning results classified for the first 48 hours, and those pages are still updated before we sent out our own updates."

"And now they're giving out virtually perfect specs of the shipgirls for modeling companies. Modeling companies!"

"Better not tell Ooyodo that Good Smile just got her Kai specs, and the measurement accuracy of the model they're about to put out would put Playboy's measurement accuracy to shame, not counting the 'anime eyes' they added in. She'll blow a fuse, literally, from embarassment."

"Pray that she never sees that one."

"About the only thing worse, for her, would be if that wizard she's been seeing gets his hands on one. Or Supprin and that sunshipgirl spot her with one. Although I am a it worried. As I know she was wavering about giving him a model of her hull..."

"Whoa, really? She is getting serious..."

"Hai. But, I probably shouldn't worry too much, she doesn't just 'skim' over images when looking to buy online, even though she said she decided on something quickly that wasn't too expensive, or detailed enough to be 'risque' as kanmusu see things."

"Yeah, its Ooyodo, she'll be fine. Its not like she ordered it before she had her morning coffee or anything..."
*MEANWHILE IN SCOTLAND*

"Nee-san? You okay, you've been sneezing non-stop for several minutes now."

"Might...ACHOO!...be the... ACHOO!!.. altitude? Mold or mildew? Nevermind. Just help me and Supprin get Percy up off the floor. Amisi, YOU go hide that model for the moment! ACHOO!...Dammit. Then get back here with some smelling salts."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Early morning and the Sun had risen on the United Kingdom. Once the centerpiece of an Empire upon which the the Sun had never set, it nonethelesss welcomed the light of the Mother to the planet. Still Mid-March, not yet Spring, the weather outside was still quite chilly to say the least. In the north, at Scapa Flow, an Abyssal Princess awoke for yet another day speaking with others in regards to what needed to be done while also speaking for them to the humans. She was grateful though for her massive, male companion.

Somewhat to the south of Scarpa, in the Scottish Highlands, yet another group greeted the day in a school of magic. There was one Abyssal in particular with them as well as a group of shipgirls and one kitsune. Most of them seemed to orbit around one young boy in particular. One with a Destiny hanging over his head that he only had an inkling about. In time, he would know more about what awaited him in the future. One that he would face with every advantage he could grab.

However, this particular thing did not have anything to do with his story except in the most distant of manners.

In a small, comfortable home in the British countryside, two forms slept in the bed curled up against one another. Both of them were women and they were just showing small baby bumps revealing that they were pregnant. Something that had surprised both of them, but that they were happy over. While they looked like normal, if more muscular then normal, women, some might well have been surprised with who they really were and their shared pasts...

The Battleship Bismarck and Battlecruiser Hood.

More then one of the Royal Navy shipgirls and returned German shipgirls still had issues believing that it had actually happened. But somehow it had. Some blamed Bismarck for being so protective of Hood. Others stated that Hood's normal British insanity, a form shared by many Battlecruisers with an origin in Britain, had infected Bismarck when she won her over. But the truth was more that the two had grown together, much to the annoyance of Tirpitz who more then once had walked in on them while they were performing "Night Battles". Granted, Bismarck had laughed herself sick the night before upon learning of her sister's new "Escorts" when Tirpitz had called her for advice.

However, right now, they were just a couple enjoying a lie in. Soft smiles were on their faces as they cuddled together in their bed, a vacation well needed. Especially after the news of their future children had hit the media. Both of them were looking forward to some nice rest and relaxation. Especially with some of their escorts at work in the kitchen getting ready for breakfast. Eugen speaking softly with Prince of Wales in regards to her younger sister wanting to come to Britain. All was quiet...

Or was it?

Slowly, the door to the bedroom opened near silently. Wider, and wider it stretched until a form slipped into the room quietly. Crawling along the floor, they paused whenever there was a sound, but then continued. Their progress was steady across the room and all too soon, they reached the bed and began to move into view. The first thing that became obvious was the red hair as they pulled back their hood and then they revealed themselves... Her Majesty's Shipgirl, Ark Royal.

Lips slowly curling upward, she watched Bismarck sleeping, unaware of the person just behind her. Amused, Ark Royal began to grin as she shook her head. 'Ah, Bismarck... did you really think that you could escape from me? I am the huntress, one that you cannot get away from no matter what you try. And now...' Pulling out a sharpie, she popped the top off and her tongue poked out from between her lips as she moved in for the kill. 'And now, for yet another victory...'

Closer, and closer to Bismarck's pale skin the black sharpie came.

And then, all of a sudden Hood's hand whipped up with a can of pepper spray which Ark stared at for a brief moment. "Oh... Bloody shite."

Then the finger on it pressed down and released it right in her face which made her sputter. All in time for the hand to drop the can and grab something else which it brought down on Ark's head, revealing it to be a cast iron pan which deformed as it impacted the Carrier's head. Cartoonishly, it actually created an imprint of Ark's face before the hand let go and, without missing a beat as a group of fairies opened the window, grabbed the British shipgirl and tossed her out. Once more there was silence for a few moments before a splash could be heard and Bismarck sighed. "Does that girl ever learn?"

With a snort, Hood kept her eyes closed while their fairies closed the window and ignored the shouting from the others as they headed outside to deal with the intruder. "I'm afraid not, Bissy. But then, at least this life is never boring, so there is that."

Scoffing, Bismarck merely snuggled a bit more. "Ja, there is that." Eyes finally opening, she stretched some and grumbled. "Breakfast?"

Eyes also opening, Hood nodded some and watched what Bismarck's movements were doing to the German Battleship's body with a smile. "Hmm... Yes, a spot of breakfast would do nicely I think." Pulling herself from the bed sheets. the Battlecruiser smiled some. "And perhaps you can tell me some more Hartmann's son? From what you told me he's in charge of some of the Kaiserliche Marine?"

In reply, Bismarck smirked some. "I think that I can do that, Hood. Eugen seemed rather amused with the last stories that we were told..."
_________________________________________________________________________

"Daphne, Tracy..."

"We would like to speak to you."

Both Dapne and Tracy came to a stop and slowly turned before frowning at the two brown haired girls who stood there. Sharing a small look with her friend, Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Hestia, Flora, I must admit that is rather out of character for you."

The twin Slytherins blinked before glancing at some of the other students who were trying to listen in. Then they turned their attention back to Daphne with Hestia nodding. "Perhaps. But then we would still like to speak to you."
Flora turned to look at the other students with a frown. "Alone, if possible."

Silently, Daphne gestured for them to lead the way and both her and Tracy followed. Walking beside Daphne, Tracy had a frown on her face as she quietly whispered to her friend. "Those two wanting to talk? Something's up, Daph. They try to keep out of things as much as possible."

A frown on her face while she nodded, the strawberry blonde Slytherin narrowed her eyes some before commenting as quietly as possible. Though she did suspect that the two in front were listening. "Agreed. But let's hear them out first."

It was not long after that they reached one of the former Castle storerooms and stepped inside. Both Carrows laid spell after spell on the door. At least one of which Daphne recognized as a very nasty one for any would be eavesdropper. Once that was done, they turned and regarded Daphne and Tracy before Flora spoke. "Thank you for speaking with us."

Only shrugging, Tracy had a frown on her face as she glanced at one and then the other. "Well, you of all people asking for us intrigued at least me. And Daphne as well." Her head tilting to the side, she narrowed her eyes. "But excuse us, but it's not exactly a secret that the two of you try and stay out of the normal politics in the House."

Sharing a look between them, the twins were quiet before they spoke up as one. "Normally, that would be true. But things have recently changed in regards to that and we have found ourselves... considering things. First though, we would like to know something." Waiting until they got nods, they continued. "Is it true that the Monster was a Basilisk?"

Already having an idea as to what was going on, Daphne nodded some. "Yes, as it turns out it was a Basilisk. Which is why you've come to us, I suspect. Because this changes quite a bit in our House."

Very slowly, Hestia nodded. "It does. We were all in danger of being killed one way or the other, Pureblood or not. And those involved may see themselves on the way out."

Her arms crossed, Tracy scoffed a bit. "That's putting it mildly. You would need to be some sort of idiot not to realize the issues with what happened."

Their eyes narrowing, the Twins sighed with Flora shaking her head. "Unfortunately, that includes our family. Our mother being one of those who have seen no issue with what happened, except that Potter..."

Continuing, Hestia shook her head. "Killed it. Not that it surprises us too much sadly enough as she is a fool that has not realized that things have changed."

Simply shrugging, Tracy shook her head. "Sounds like a bunch out there. Though considering that you're talking about Alecto..." Frowning, she tapped her arm. "Okay, sure, things have changed quite a bit. But why come to us? Blaise would be more likely, I think."

Flora though snorted. "Blaise would be, if we were only concerned with magicals. But he follows his mother too closely and we would be a fool to go with him. No, we are worried about other groups as well if we are to see our family survive the coming storm."

Before Daphne or Tracy could comment, Hestia turned to Daphne with a frown. "We know that you have been speaking with Potter and that shipgirl, the one with the grey coat. You have some sort of deal with them... We would like to be involved as well."

Expression on her face becoming impassive, Daphne's voice cooled. "Our deal with them is purely business, I assure you. He has access to several items through some people that he knows and that our families find quite interesting while he is willing to make an accord regarding them. Nothing more, nothing less. Something that I am sure that you can understand."

The twins only nodded some at that before Hestia sighed. "Yes, business. For now anyways." As Tracy was about to say something, she held up one hand. "We understand entirely. But that understanding is also why we wish to be in. Potter and his connections might well be the only way we have to make it through what is coming. While our family may be fools, we are not."

With her lips a thin line, Flora nodded. "And we can also help out as we have certain... connections that may be of use. Certainly, no one would raise an eyebrow if we were to sometimes speak with you. After all, your families are well regarded and Pure enough that none of our family would have issue with us associating with you."

More then a little thoughtful, Daphne considered what she had just been told, rolling it around in her head. 'It's true that they have some connections that would be useful. And both of them are quite intelligent compared to some in our House, which means another set of brains. But that makes them no less dangerous, perhaps it makes them more so.' Clearing her throat, Daphne narrowed her eyes. "I suppose that being associated with Potter could cause issues, especially in your families. But it also allows for you to cut us both loose if needed. So the question is... why should we trust you?"

Sharing a look, the Carrow Twins had a silent conversation before finally turning back to Daphne. "Our family is considering an arranged marriage with either the Flints or the Notts. Neither of them are of the sort that we would like to be involved with. But by allowing our family to know that we have been trying to ally ourselves with you, they may put it off for a while. After all, the Notts and Flints would want to be involved and thanks to any marriage agreements, they would be allowed to do so. Something that could cause issues."

A smirk then crossed Flora's face. "And if some of the things that we have overheard are true, in a few years their plans could well become moot. Something that we understand and want to see."

Just pausing, Daphne considered that before turning to Tracy. The other Slytherin eventually nodded and then turned towards them. "Perhaps we can come to an understanding then..."

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Now then... for thingy. Spot the reference!
Get Started

-----

The doors slid open, and the little party stepped out onto the platform. Saki and Mrs. Ashida were still talking congenially, and Umi had been giving Ushio little disappointed looks ever since they had started speaking to Yae's mother. She would put it off until after they had spoken to Yae, that Ushio knew, but they were still going to have the conversation.

As the people around them milled around, waited for friends to greet them, or ran to board the trains themselves, Ushio craned her neck around to try and scan the crowd for their ride. Did Saki say it would be Mamiya who would pick them up? Or maybe it would be Miko or Miya? They had come over to the base a few months ago, but maybe it would someone she hadn't seen since those days in school. Who would—

The crowd parted, and Ushio caught a glimpse of Mamiya making her way towards them, blond hair tied back into a short ponytail and old college jacket tucked under her arm rather than actually wearing it. By the sound of things, Umi had seen her too.

"There's Mamiya-san, everybody," she said, stepping forward. "Let's get going."
-----

"I don't know," Ichika said, watching high schoolers caper around on the television screen, "I still think that the goth chick is kind of weird." Yae sighed and rested her head against the back of the couch.

"They're all kind of weird!" she exclaimed. "That's part of the fun of the series!"

"Yeah, but I think she's a different kind of weird," Ichika insisted. "Like seriously, who carries a snakeskin around like that?"

"Because it's funny," Yae replied. "They're weird, so they're funny. That's the whole point."

"You've both made your points," Chisaki said, sitting on Yae's other side, "Now can you please both be quiet? I have papers to grade." She looked back down at her work and groaned. "Is this supposed to be some kind of demented extended metaphor or something?"

Yae turned to look at Ichika, who looked back at her with the same sarcastic, slightly unimpressed expression that she herself was wearing.

"You're seriously overworked, you know that?" Ichika said, refocusing her attention on the main character transforming into a superhero. Chisaki rolled her eyes.

"Don't want to hear that from a NEET," she replied.

The door opened, and Mamiya walked in, followed by… by… oh…

Mom stepped forward, with that same quick, purposeful step that was so much a part of her Yae still looked for her when she heard anything similar. The fight on the TV pushed to the back of her mind, she stood slowly, turning towards her just as her mother reached her and pulled her into a hug.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked. Yae felt tears building up in her chest and pushed them down. This wasn't a time to cry, or at least, that's what she was telling herself.

"I'm fine Mom, really," she replied, leaning into the hug and returning it. Looking up momentarily, she noticed the other three people who had entered with her, now hanging back respectfully. Hoshikawa Umi, Tohda Saki, and Nagawa… would she rather be called Ushio now? That was something that she would have to think about.

Hug. Hug more important for now. Talk later.

"Kirisaki," Saki called, giving a half-wave. "How's Sakura-shinmachi treating you?" Chisaki looked up from her papers and returned the favor with a tired half-smile.

"Nothing to complain about," she replied. "You doing well in Kure?"

"You know it."

Finally, Mom released her and smiled sadly at her. "You don't need to play tough, you know," she said gently. "We're all here for you. You know that, don't you?" Yae looked down at her feet and gulped. She knew that, yes. But knowing something and holding to that were entirely different things, she thought that they knew that already.

"Actually," Ushio spoke up, bringing everyone's attention to her. "Ah-ah, hi, everyone, nice to-to see you're doing well, b-b-but—" Umi placed her hand on her shoulder, and Ushio looked up at her. Umi smiled fondly. Ushio nodded, looked down, and took a deep breath. Then she looked up at Yae.

"We were thinking that, once the baby is born, you'll need a way to support them," she said slowly, deliberately, as if she were speaking from a script. "So, I talked to some people, and I think that I can help you get a job on base."

Yae choked.

"There would be a few more steps to go through," Ushio continued, "But you'd have a place to stay, and you'd be able to—"

"Thank you," Yae cut her off, her voice just louder than a whisper. Ushio balked, and stared up at her.

"Huh? I-I mean, you're welcome, but—"

"Thank you," Yae repeated, stepping past her mother, "thank you," standing in front of Ushio, "thank you, "dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms around Ushio's stomach, holding her tight as tears finally came again, "thank you." Ushio yelped, started, and then slackened as she calmed down and brought a hand down to rest on the back of Yae's head.

Now… with this… she'd be able to stand.

"How long are you two going to do that?" she heard Ichika ask, but her voice lacked the mocking edge that she'd been becoming used to over the past morning and evening.

"Well then," Saki cut in, half-jokingly, "I had Mamiya-san stop at a grocery store, so we've got dinner and cake. How's ramen sound?"
-----

"Mamiya-san…" Umi said, staring after the particularly grumpy teenager who had walked over to the bathroom growling under his breath, "Why does your brother smell like gunpowder and spider guts?"

"I couldn't venture to say," Mamiya replied with a shake of her head. "I try to let him live his own life."

"Ooookay then," Umi replied, turning back to the television. "Oh hey, I remember this episode!" Mamiya sighed and went to find a towel—whatever happened with the "spider," it must have been bad enough for Tatsuya to willingly ignore that today was laundry day.
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?