Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking along, Akimi frowned a bit as she glanced around before tilting her head, "Hmm..."

That made Harry look over his shoulder at her and tilt her head, "Is something wrong, Akimi-Sensei?"

In reply, she chuckled a bit and wagged a finger, "Akimi-San, Harry-San. I am not one of your teachers yet after all." Akimi then frowned and gave another look around the ruins, "But... to answer your question, there is something feeling... off about this place." At his look, the Battleship shook her head, "Nothing truly bad, but it feels like it should be worse than it is."

Grimacing, Harry only gave shake of the head, "There... is very good reason for that actually. And it ties back quite a bit in regards to what happened when we found it."

Somewhat disturbed, Kokoro shuffled a bit closer to her older sister with Megumi putting an arm around her shoulder. The younger Nekomata then swallowed, "Why do I feel like I won't like what I hear?"

Not saying anything, the thirteen year old glanced first at Hana and then at Yamato. The older Battleship had her lips pressed thinly, but nodded just the same, "Hana-Chan can hear about this, Harry. After all, she knows a bit about... what happened, during the war."

Only nodding, Harry gave a sigh, "As I mentioned before, this place was built to build ships for both the non-magical navy and the small magical one. Near the end of the war, in the non-magical world, they shifted away production for Battleships and Heavy Cruisers towards either lighter warships, or Carriers. Part of it was that the facility here was to build heavier combatants for the war, especially due to the secrecy that surrounded it thanks to magic." Waiting for a moment for that to sink in, he continued, "But the issue was that even with the help of magic, there were issues with both manpower to build the ships and supplies themselves. The second was easy enough to solve as with alchemy, creating iron, or rather transmuting low grade ore into much higher grades or even pure iron, was not impossible. However, the first..."

Already knowing where this was going, the only Natural Born Yamato gave a nod even as she felt a bit sick, "Slave labour."

Slowly, Harry gave a nod, "Hai, though they took it to another level entirely using POWs from the war, especially non-magical ones." Glancing at Akimi, he took a deep breath, "There are certain dark potions that can do things like strip free will from someone. Reducing them to nothing more than robots made of flesh and bone rather than metal. In such a state, they continue to work, no matter that. They do not tire because they cannot feel such, they can break bones and the like and continue while ignoring such. And they have no complaints as to their treatment, you can stack them in small rooms for 'Rest periods' and they will not do anything. The perfect automatons... and even death does not necessarily free them as you can make them into inferi or something like the Voodo zombie and continue to work them as animated corpses. Both were used, though only the first was really done here."

Just staring at him, Akimi could feel only feel sick at what she was hearing as it was a perversion of magic. Yes, there was reports of such... but they were all 'Cleaned' of the more disturbing aspects and mostly shied away from. The sound of someone being sick made her turn to find Kokoro had rushed to a nearby bush and was puking and she was not the only one as Hana was right beside her. When she turned to Yamato, the larger Battleship shook her head, "We were disturbed by this, to say the least..." Turning to where Shinano was gently rubbing both Kokoro's back and Hana's, she sighed, "No matter how much we may have hated the Americans at the time, almost all of us and our crews feel such an... abomination... goes far beyond the pale and we can only hope that those responsible are currently in Jigoku."

Very slowly, Akimi nodded with a small voice, "Hai, I share that agreement."

Inside of her bridge, she could feel her grandfather shaking his head in pure dismay.

The lone wizard of the group waited until all of them had calmed themselves, "Well... as you can guess, that left something of an... imprint, here."

Scoffing, Karen growled a bit, "No shit." At the raised eyebrows, she winced, "Sorry, you don't deserve that, it's just..."

Rather then be angry, Harry just nodded, "I can understand, so don't worry about it. Perfectly understandable to be honest to be angry at this." Scratching his head, he glanced around, "Anyways... when we found this place again, there was a number of Yuurei around, both of the POWs as well as those who staffed this place. It goes without saying that neither group liked the other being here, or being here themselves in the case of the POWs."

Eyebrows furrowing, Izumi glanced at him, "But there's none here now? How?"

Glancing at the ships that they were approaching, he sighed a bit, "Well... we created purification Ofuda and placed them at places around the caldera before activating them-"

Shinano pointed at Harry with a small smile and a nod, "Harry-Chan placed ones in the depths of the ships using diving equipment. All of them."

Her eyebrow raising, Akimi gave Harry an intrigued glance, "You placed them deep within the ships and activated them properly?" At his nod, she smiled, "I would give you a very good grade on such a thing and it tells me quite a bit about the level of Onmyoudo that you are at."

Lightly blushing at the praise, Harry chuckled as he scratched at his cheeks, "Um, thank you." Clearing his throat and ignoring the amused glances, he gave a small shrug, "Right, so we placed them around the caldera and activated them, which eroded the bindings for the Yuurei until last summer they finally broke and all of them moved on." He then looked around, "They've been working for the past nearly two years, so..."

Considering that, the Kitsune Battleship nodded, "So they have continued to purify this place of the shadow lain over it. Makes quite a bit of sense, I suppose." She scratched her chin and hummed, "And I take it that part of the reason is so that we can summon the ships that were sunk here?"

Just turning to her, Harry gave a short nod, "That's right. And we're going to meet their partially manifested spirits."

That got him looks of surprise from those who did not know before they turned to look at the ships before them. For her part, Hana had recovered from her previous bout of sickness and swished some water around in her mouth before spitting it out, part of her imagining that those in charge of this place being in the way of her spit. Turning to the ships, she frowned in thought, "Um, Onee-Sama? Two of those look like Yamatos, but... smaller?"

Giving her a nod, Yamato chuckled, "Yes, those would be the B-65 Class of Cruiser. And they do resemble our hull while being smaller as they were built with only twelve inch guns..." A frown crossed her face briefly, "Though I do wonder if we shall see the fourteen inch gunned ones as they were a bit larger..." Considering that, the Battleship shook her head, "But yes, they do resemble us nonetheless and I suppose are... sort of cousins to us."

Hands behind her head, Hana grinned, "Okay, that is pretty cool."

With a chuckle, Harry shook his head before gesturing at the Carrier, "The Carrier is the Denryuu and is a G.15 class, based on Taihou-Oba." He hummed a bit, "There is also an Akashi class there that you can barely see named Mihara. There's also the I-353, a Tanker Submarine in the Caldera along with a Food Ship of the Irako class named the Kasumi."

A little surprised, Mami stared at him before becoming thoughtful, "Huh, so that gives you... what? Five ships to be summoned tomorrow?"

Much to her confusion though, the wizard shook his head, "At the least to be honest. We're hoping for more to come through when we do so." With a shrug, Harry smiled as they walked right next to the flooded drydocks where the ships were now laying. The sight of which the newly awoken Natural Borns found disturbing for some reason. But then, Harry's smile became a grin as he waved in the direction of the ships and called out, "HEY EVERYONE!"

The eyes of the Natural Born all widened as sparkles formed on the ships followed by transparent forms of the shipgirls. One of them, with pink hair in a page boy style and a uniform like those of the Yamato Sisters, but black with red highlights grinned back and waved, "AH! HARRY-CHAN! YOU CAME!"

Grinning, Harry gave a shrug up to her, "Of course I did, Miitake-Chan. After all, I did promise to do so, didn't I?"

Rapidly nodding, Miitake bounced a bit on her hull, "You did and you always keep your promises." Then, she grinned and gestured for him to come to her, "Now come here right now because I must cuddle you!"

Her sister, whose hair reached down to her back, just facepalmed to the amusement of those looking on, "Could you please calm down, Miitake-Chan? For me?" But she was just ignored as Miitake went on about how much she could not wait to be summoned to cuddle Harry, who snickered a bit, 'Why do I even ask...?'

Taking some pity on her, Harry smiled over at her, "It's okay, Ishikari-Chan. You know how she gets."

With a sigh, Ishikari pulled her hands away from her face and gave him a smile, "I suppose that is true..."

Now looking between them, Miitake huffed a bit and crossed her arms over her chest, "What is that supposed to mean!?"

Grumbles though escaped her as both her sister and Harry ignored her.

Elsewhere in the caldera, Miu smiled a bit as her and her aunts arrived at where the two Hitobashira had been leading her. Seeing the small monument, she gave a small nod, "So this is where...?"

Both spirits nodded at that, "Where we are buried? Hai, this is where our earthly remains are."

Sitting on the bench, Sakura patted the spot between her and Ume, "Come, sit with us for a time. We wish to get to know our neice a bit better..." A small giggle escaped from her as Miu sat down, "I will admit, neither of us expected for the Carrier Eisōhō would be our niece."

Lips twitching, Miu chuckled a bit as she sat down in the suggested spot, "Neither did anyone else. Otou-San as well as Kaa-San and Okaa-San were surprised by it. But they are also proud of that fact as well." Giving a small shrug, she smiled, "Though I am also proud to be such... though the name doesn't really fit me."

More than a little amused, Ume shook her head, "Being a Crane hanyou, no, I suppose being named 'Nesting Pheonix' does not fit. But then, that was the name that the Kamo Government chose." Almost as one, she rolled her eyes with her sister, "After all, they used your hull and named it such to proclaim that like the pheonix, a new Japan would arise from the ashes of the old one, free of foreign influence."

That brought a grimace to the Hanyou, "Hai, though considering things..." All three lapsed into silence before she gave a small huff and looked from one of her aunts to the other. Scratching her chin, she hummed a bit before she remembered something her father had told her. With a slight smirk, she looked towards their monument, "So, from what Otou-San told me, Harry-San created this place for you?"

On both spirits' faces was a light blush as they nodded, "Hai, Harry-Chan built this place specifically for us. To honour us for what happened."

Slowly nodding, Miu hummed, "I see, I see..." Looking at them, she grinned, "You both like him, don't you?"

At that, their blushes deepened and they shyly looked away, "Is it that obvious?"

Now highly amused at their reactions, Miu chuckled, "Well, only to those who are looking for such. And I have been alive for almost forty years plus however long I was a ship for." Waving a hand, she continued, "But it is obvious that the two of you care deeply for him."

With a soft sigh, Sakura looked at the blossoming trees on either side of her and her sister's grave, "Hai, we do." Holding out a hand, she watched one of the falling petals fall through it, though it slowed as it encountered the 'flesh' of her hand, "Harry-Chan is... special, to us."

On their niece's opposite side, Ume nodded, "Very special." Looking at her namesake tree, she smiled softly, "While we know that it was impossible, even if he was alive then, if we met Harry-Chan when we were alive? We... would not mind having become his wives at that time."

Eyebrow raised, the Carrier looked between them, "Doesn't it bother you that he has a number of girls after him?" The two Hitobashira shared a look and began to giggle to her confusion, "Um, was it something that I said?"

Shaking their heads, the twins shared a look before giggling. Then, Sakura spoke for them both, "No, it was not something that you said rather than the subject matter. Being as Ume-Chan and I were identical twin sisters, we were raised by Haha-ue and Chichi-ue with the expectation that we would be married off to the same man. Even when it turned out that we barely had any magic, the only difference was that we would likely both become concubines to the same man." At the look from Miu, they shrugged with Sakura shaking her head, "Our family was traditional, and it was not such an odd thing in those times."

Just grimacing, Miu glared at nothing in particular, "That does not make it right."

The twins smiled at that with Ume patting her niece's hand, "That makes us even more proud of our Otouto that you think in such a way." Seeing the blush, her smile widened a bit, "Still it would not, and does not, bother us too much. Besides... our Otouto and your parents are of a marraige with two wives, are they not?"

With a sigh, the shipgirl shook her head, "I think that is a bit different. I mean, while Okaa-San was an arranged marriage, she was not trained to be such. And Kaa-San, well, she married them out of love, not duty."

Simply giving a shrug, Ume shook her head, "And in Harry-Chan's case, we would consider such a thing as being the first; love." She turned her head in, unknown to Miu, Harry's direction, "We did not meet many boys our age while growing up before our deaths. In fact, I suspected that we were to be married off to an older man, if any. The few that we did meet... did not impress us."

It was then that Sakura took over, "Harry-Chan, meanwhile, blows them and any potential suitor out of the water. He is not just intelligent and... rather handsome." That last bit caused the blush on hers and Ume's faces to come back with a vengence as they remembered several things, "But there is more to it than that. He is a kind man and very loyal to those he cares for, which we are honoured to be counted as being among. But he is also brave, understanding, and above all, honourable in a way that those we knew could not match. You can tell that he would stand for what is right rather than what is easy. And that he would walk into Jigoku if it meant rescuing someone he cared for and bringing them back out. Truly, there are few that we believe could match him."

Giggles then escaped from her sister, who shook her head, "As to the others circling him... they are almost all Kami, are they not? And that says much about him as a prospective husband. Besides which..." More giggles escaped her, "It is not like Harry-Chan would be like Ienari Tokugawa with women, nor would he allow for such things as happened in the Ōoku to occur, nor would the others. Thus, it would not be... disagreeable, if it could have happened. And we would be glad to have had him as the Otou-San to any children we might have had."

A sigh escaped from her sister as she slowly shook her head, "But, it is not possible, much to our sadness." She then smiled a bit, "Yet, just the same, we are happy to be friends with him. That, more than anything, is enough for us."

Not saying anything, Miu simply hugged her aunts as they sadly smiled.

______________________________________________________


The others having left, Harry was the only one besides the Twins on the island and the three were walking along as. Here and there, as they walked, the teen wizard would reach into his backpack and pull out boxes of items which he placed down. Looking around them, the teenage wizard smiled softly, "The atmosphere certainly does feel a lot lighter, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan. Not nearly as..."

As he motioned with one hand, the two spirits nodded in agreement, "Hai, it is much better now."

Ume then gave a look around herself, "Things are much, much more peaceful now that most of the darkness has lifted." Shaking her head, she gave a sigh, "There will always be a stain here, but... it is far less than it had been and will fade with time."

Hands in his pockets, Harry simply hummed. Glancing at first Ume, then Sakura, he scratched his head, "What do the two of you think about tomorrow? And what is going to happen?"

Much to his slight amusement, the Twins were perfectly mirrored as they cocked their heads to the side at the same time in the same movement. Sakura slowly nodded as she smiled, "We are actually happy to see it happen, Harry-Chan. None of the shipgirls here deserve to be imprisoned here as they are. And we know that they will be able to help defend Japan against her enemies and do so well." Lips twitching, she shook her head and turned her head, "Thus, we are happy to see it happen."

Eyebrow raised, Harry frowned at her, "And the fact that it would leave you alone here does not bother you?"

For several moments, neither twin spoke, but then Ume looked at him, "They are good friends, Harry-Chan. And you are wrong..." Reaching over, she took his hand in hers as on his other side, Sakura did the same, "We are only alone in the sense that we would spend time here. Is one alone when they live in a house and have friends visit? We do not think so. And you, and the shipgirls who come to visit, they mean that we are not alone."

Still frowning, the wizard gave a look to both of them that they could not decipher. Then his lips quirked into an odd sort of smile, "I see." Head tilted to the side, Harry chuckled some, "Well, there is one last thing that needs to be done before the summoning tomorrow..."

Confused, but also intrigued, the Twins blinked. A few minutes found them by two large generators. They were not the size of the ones that were used to show them Haruna's and Rose's wedding, but it was still a good size. Frowning, Ume turned to him, "Harry-Chan? Why is there a generator here?"

In reply, Harry pointed at the cords that snaked away from the generator and to an odd pole, "Well... it is to help. See that lightning rod?" Looking at it, the Twins nodded, "There's a spell on it that transforms lightning into magic. It is supposed to be used to boost wards, but without any attached wards, it simply spews magic into the environment. One of the ideas is to run the generators all night and until the ceremony and it will feed electricity into the spell which will then..."

Understanding bloomed on their faces, "Become magic, filling up the area." A thoughtful look on their faces, they nodded, "Yes, we can see how that would work. But will it not run out of fuel at some point?"

Only shaking his head, Harry pointed at the barrels nearby, "Those are for them and they can just be pumped. There should be enough for all night, but even if they run out, it is not a big issue as long as the generators work for as long as possible."

Giving each other looks, the Twins smiled before bowing to him, "Then allow for us to do so, Harry-Chan." Seeing him open his mouth, they shook their heads, "No, thus far we have done little in regards to our friends and to help free them. Let us do this much for them at least."

With a sigh, Harry shook his head before pulling the two into a hug which they returned, "Fine." After nearly a minute, he pulled back and chewed his lip, "Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? Both of you trust me, do you not?"

Confused at where this was coming from, Sakura answered for the both of them, "Of course we do, Harry-Chan. We trust you completely."

There was a far off look on Harry's face as he sighed and nodded, "I know, but tomorrow... you're going to have to trust me."

Still confused, the two simply nodded.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Author's Note: this postdates and builds upon Cousin's Correspondence

A Butterknife Council

Castle Moulbaix, May 2014

Colombe smiled at the familiar sound of piano music from inside her ballroom. She glanced over at Toku and the smile widened as she limped down the hall on crutches with her healing leg splinted until it could take her weight. Toku opened the door and the two swords froze in naked shock at the scene inside.
Spoiler: The Emperor Commands!

All three of her children were present, with Claire playing a fast paced melody on her true body which was lit up with enchantments to allow her to play multiple voices by herself. She was dressed in a black hooded robe and cloaked in an illusion to appear as an evilly smiling ancient man.
Spoiler: Jedi Master vs Sith Lord

Meanwhile Ehren and Ying confronted each other. Ehren, equally illusion cloaked to appeared as a green skinned creature with long ears wearing a white hooded robe, drew her true body, which was cloaked with an illusion to appear as a green glowing sword of light and moved into a ready stance opposite Ying.
Spoiler: Master Ehren


Her eldest drew her own red-glowing sword of light, clad from head to foot in black technological armor with a flowing cape and a full helmet patterned on a samurai mask. Hoarse, mechanical breathing sounded as she smoothly moved into her own ready stance.
Spoiler: Darth Ying


The illusions making her ballroom appear as some futuristic space-station's control bridge with the windows opening out to deep space and the cameras set up recording the scene to Ehren's laptop computer barely registered on the shocked rapier.

"When I left you, I was but the learner. Now, I am the master!" Ying hissed as she began to duel Ehren, who danced around her with acrobatic flips and cartwheels.

"Much to learn you still have... my old padawan. This is just the beginning!" Ehren retorted, thrusting an open hand at Ying's chest, causing the black armored warrior to stagger and hiss in pain.

"You don't know the power of the Dark Side!" Ying redoubled her assault, driving Ehren in front of her. As the dagger ran up the wall and flipped over Ying's head, parrying a strike aimed at her, Toku murmured, "They have practiced this, Co-chan."

Colombe nodded as the duel continued. "Quite a bit, To-chan. Flashy, but quite impressive."

"Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for… sister. So, you have a sister." Ying declaimed as the two locked blades. The dao's voice lowered evilly. "If you will not turn to the Dark Side then... Perhaps. She. Will!"

"Noooo!" Ehren howled and attacked Ying frantically.

"I have you now!" Ying exclaimed, reaching with her free hand and making a choking motion. Ehren's hand flew to her throat as she visibly strained on her tiptoes.

Ying's saber swung, there was a flash, and Ehren's empty robes and true body dropped to the floor as she unsummoned herself.

With that the piano's melody finished with a flourish. Claire began an upbeat tune and smiled at the camera as she pulled her hood back to show her true face. Ying sketched a bow and Ehren reappeared as herself in Jedi robes. The trio began to sing in time with a tango version of a very familiar tune.
Spoiler: A Very Draco Birthday

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday Cousin Draco, Happy Birthday to you!"

As they finished, Ehren walked over to her laptop and fist pumped at what she saw on the screen. "Got it this time! Ausgezeichnet!"

Ying smiled, inhaling and causing the illusions to shimmer and vanish like blown mist as Ehren shut down the cameras. "Well done Ehren, Claire."

Claire trilled a happy tune on her true body as Colombe and Toku applauded. "Well done indeed, Claire, Ehren, Ying. Speaking of Cousin Draco, we need to talk about what to do with the Malfoys."

Ying looked over. "You read the ICW file I got for you about Lucius Malfoy then?"

"Oui, I did, Ying. Thank you for that, daughter." Colombe's voice sobered. "We need to talk about him."

Colombe walked to a chair next to Claire and lowered herself into it. Toku and Ying followed suit while Ehren saved the computer files of her birthday performance and began to disassemble the recording setup. Claire, meanwhile hummed contemplatively and then shifted into a soft piano piece.
Spoiler: Claire's Council Of Butterknives

"Merci, Claire." Colombe said as she clasped her hands on the knee of her bad leg. "Ehren, please get over here."

"Jawohl, Mutti." Ehren walked over and grabbed her own chair, sitting demurely.

"The reason I wished to talk to you is that this decision impacts all our family. As you know last month while in England, Ehren made contact with the British Malfoys, my long-distant cousins." Colombe gave Ehren a exasperated look. "She also revealed our blood ties to them."

"Should I not have done so, Mutti?" Ehren asked, blushing slightly.

"I would have preferred a little more discretion next time, at least until I am not a wanted fugitive. Ying's plan to clear our name would have been rather significantly impacted if Lucius had led the ICW to my doorstep to cart me off in chains. Still, what is done, is done." Colombe sighed. "A mistake, yes, but a forgivable one that we can learn from."

Ehren nodded, her eyes sharpening. "You have been exchanging letters with the Malfoys, ja?"

Colombe nodded. "I have. In part to buy time while I did my homework to determine what we have with Lucius and his family. You have all read the files that Ying copied from the ICW?"

"Hai, I have." Toku's voice was serene as she nodded her head. "I can see how caution is justified."

Ying nodded her head. "I have and have spoken with Mother on this point before I came here. She has agreed to back your ploy, as does Delilah." Beside her, Ehren nodded once, sharply.

"Bon." Colombe said. "I have had my own dealings with the French Malfoys in the past, and was partly responsible for their destruction. They supported the Nazis and Grindlewald in World War Two," Ehren gave a murderous scowl and her fists clenched, "and Lyra Potter used information that I acquired to identify them for a strike that destroyed the family in 1944. I would prefer not to have that happen to us, which is why I am examining this gift horse's mouth quite closely."

The other spirits nodded in response to her words.

"While the British Malfoys stayed out of the fight against Grindlewald, there are some implications that they were at least somewhat supportive of Grindlewald's successor Voldermort two decades ago.... You have something you wish to say Ehren?" Colombe looked over at her youngest daughter.

"Ja, Mutti. After the shopping trip, I spoke to Narcissa Malfoy in the limousine on the ride back to our hotel under conditions of secrecy and privacy. While I gave my word and oath not to reveal certain matters raised in the conversation," Colombe and Tokunotakai both gave approving smiles at Ehren's precise words, "she did discuss the reason that Lucius and she elected to break ties with Voldermort."

Colombe raised an eyebrow as Ehren's face turned coldly murderous. "Apparently they were ordered along with his other followers to give up second and later born children to be turned into weapons to be used against the Dark Lord's enemies through some dark magics."

"Cào nǐ mā!!" Ying swore, her face darkening. "They were going to manufacture Obscurials!"

"Obscurials, Ying-san?" Toku asked.

Ying took a deep breath, visibly controlling herself. "It is a creature of immensely powerful dark magics that is created when a magical child is tortured physically and psychologically to cause their magical powers to turn upon itself. They burst forth as a wave of dark power, a dark wind that rips souls asunder and shatter buildings." The Canadian-Chinese sword spirit's voice became venomous. "The Kamo government was planning in 1945 to use them to launch terror attacks on cities on the Pacific Coast of the USA and Canada using submarine-launched planes to cause thousands upon thousands of casualties. I personally watched two members of Sub-Unit 942 sentenced to the Death Potion for being part of that program."

"Chikushō!" Toku swore, her face pale and her eyes filled with fire. "If I had suspected I would have taken their heads myself!"

Colombe reached over and squeezed Toku's hand. "Oui, but Voldermort has been dead for over a decade now. It speaks well that when faced with that kind of plan that Lucius and Narcissa backed out. While they are involved in Dark Magics and are looking for any way to get ahead and protect their family, they do have a code of honor that I can work with."

Ehren coughed. "All I can say about their decision is that they had a personal reason for their change of heart. Narcissia was pregnant with her firstborn at the time that plan was proposed."

Colombe nodded slowly. "Being a parent changes a person, and generally for the better. You are responsible for other people than yourself."

Toku made her own nod. "Hai. I saw that with Fudo-nee once she did what she did for love as well as for honor and duty."

Ying nodded in turn. "Agreed. I think that it would be for the best if I did not manifest as Auror Wei of the RCMMP when I met him, though. Fortunately, Ehren did not mention my or Delilah's full names which could cause problems with someone who dabbles in certain less than strictly legal areas."

Ehren nodded. "Ja. While I trust them to a point, only to a point and no more." The dagger gave a thin smile. "Having hidden capabilities while one trusts but also verifies is only prudent, after all."

Colombe glanced at Claire, who nodded. "I agree with my sisters, Mother."

Colombe looked at Toku. "Well then, I propose that we accept their invitation to visit Malfoy Manor to meet their family in June. Also, we forge a tentative alliance with them as long as it does not endanger ourselves or risk our honor."

Toku nodded, followed by the children. "Agreed, Co-chan."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (I)

Commune of Chattancourt, Meuse Department, Lorraine District

May 3rd, 2014

"J'en ai ral le cul! Stupid thaumaturgy sensors are on the blink again." Auror Marcel Brosseu muttered under his breath as he trudged through the rain up the road from the village. "It should have been replaced three months ago, but oh no, we got pulled away to Saint Nazaire to handle Obliviating tourists seeing mermaids fleeing Abyssals. Too many jobs and too few Aurors to do them all."

He was glumly convinced that his partner Auror Régis Delon had somehow enchanted the euro coin to come up tails when they flipped it to see who would check the records in the hidden room at the church and who would replace the sensor on top of the nearby hill. Certainly the branleur back in the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France who had cut these orders was not out here getting pissed on. Probably screwing his mistress silly while listening to the thunder. Lucky Bastard.

With that cheerful observation, he passed a sign to guide the tourists as he turned onto the road leading up the hill.
Spoiler: The Sign

He blinked at a ground fog rolling down the hill as the rain picked up and the thunder began to merge into a drumfire of noise. "That's odd..."

Suddenly the brass and lead of the thaum-sensor began to warble and vibrate furiously.

"What the..."

His eyes widened at the needles pegged all the way into the red right before the sensor exploded.

"Merde!"

He frantically cast a shield spell as the cloud rolled toward him. All his instincts were screaming that he was in mortal danger from what was happening.

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

Chattancourt Church

Régis Delon unlocked the hidden room in the crypt with a silver key and sighed at the printout of parchments with the auto-writing quills. "What do we have here....?"

He began to unroll the printout and then gasped at the spike from a month ago. The magical energies spiked nearly off the top of the paper, and then were showing gradually elevated levels. "That can't be good...."

Suddenly the quills linked to the nearby sensors spiked into life and scribed a vertical line off the top of the paper.
Spoiler: The Mill Stirs

Delon never noticed the readouts as the crypt that he was in shifted, and was suddenly filled with the ghosts of hideously maimed soldiers and blood-soaked medical orderlies drooping from exhaustion. He involuntarily looked up at an approaching whistle through the shattered ruins of the church around him as he vomited at the stench of the dead and dying and screamed in terror.

The impact of a 420mm Big Bertha shell fired from the German lines on the other side of the corpse-strewn slopes of Le Mort Homme blew him to pieces. One more anonymous victim of the Monster on the Meuse as the artillery barrage hammered Chattancourt and all 150 souls inside it flat with two shells every second for the next three hours.

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

Côte 304

Atop the hill just to the west of Le Mort Homme, the monument to the twelve French infantry divisions that had been bled white and shattered there in 44 days of unrelenting hellish combat glowed too bright to see directly with necromantic dark energies that turned twilight into high noon.
Spoiler: Cote 304


Wards put into place to cage and pacify something that should never have existed tremble and shake as the earth itself heaves in memory of what had happened there ninety-eight years ago.

On this scorching hot day a bombardment begins which lasts for 36 hours with utmost intensity. The French suffer horrible losses. At the front chaos rules: men are buried alive, there is no food and nothing to drink for days in a row; the thirst is so unbearable that some men are drinking their own urine. Screaming wounded are everywhere who cannot be taken care of. There is an unbearable smell of decay; estimations mention more than 10.000 deaths. In the night of the second day the Côte 304 is attacked and taken from the French who are completely broken. After this it takes another three days of bitter man against man fights, before Côte 304 is entirely in German hands.-May 3rd, 1916

Somehow the wards hold barely. For now.

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

Douaumont Ossuary

Inside of the tower, designed as the hilt of a giant sword plunged into the ground where hundreds of thousands fought and died in one of the most hellish battles in human history, the Bourdon de la Victoire bell tolls its brazen voice as a warning across the largest French military cemetery in the world on the ridge above Verdun. Witchlight glimmers in the eye sockets of the skulls of the hundred and thirty thousand strong army of the unidentified dead in the Ossuary. Outside the ranks of tombstones rattle as well as they begin to stir, fighting against wards placed there by the French wizards who survived the Great War and then reinforced by German wizards during the Second World War out of fear of the Monster on the Meuse.

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

Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, Paris

Panic filled the room monitoring the magical affairs of France. The magical map zoomed in on Verdun as alert after alert flared to life from names written in blood and death into poisoned and torn soil during 1916.

Côte 304. Thiaumont. Fort Douaumont. Fort Vaux. Fleury. Cumières. Fort Souville.

Notable for its absence in reporting is a linchpin of the ward network at Le Mort Homme.

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

Castle Moulbaix

"Then I'll plan on visiting the Malf---"

Colombe's voice died and her head snapped around to face the southeast.

Her eyes were wide and vacant showing white all around the iris as all the color drained from her terrified face and her hand clenched her hilt hard enough to draw blood.

"Co-chan?" Toku leapt from her chair to embrace Colombe, who was trembling violently. Ying, Claire, and Ehren followed as Colombe shook in terror.

"Non, it can't be..." Colombe whispered in a horrified voice. "Not the wards I helped put into place..."

"Wards, what wards, Mutti?" Ehren asked softly as her mother gulped and sweat covered her face.

"It's Verdun. It's stirring and it hungers... It hungers for me...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Shaithan

Varg

Out in the Norwegian Sea, far to the north, a hidden group of islands sat close to the eternal ice. An old shipyard, forgotten since the war, kept a group of ships in a ready state, waiting for long-dead voices to give the order to set sail.

The foremen had long died, their specters now haunting the island and driving its undead slaves. The officers that would have crewed these ships dead as well. Their specters haunting the ships. Only the crewmen were still there in the undead flesh. Their souls fused into the steel of the ships themselves, a fusion of magic and science cooked up by the necromancy department and the technomancy department of the Brockenakademie.

Over the decades, the ships had changed. There were the destroyers. Once they had been copies of various destroyer classes employed by the non-magical German navy, but over the years, the magic had warped these ships into dark and foreboding monstrosities, had given steel the texture of flesh. Outgrowths had grown on the hulls, exhausts spewing noxious fumes and what once had been a perfectly normal ship now was something spawned from a nightmare.

The cruisers had experienced similar transformations, what had once been designs based on German heavy cruisers now were nightmarish ships, teeming with undeath.

A single carrier sat in one of the harbors, with a massive winged monster having grown from her island.

And finally, there were the battleships. One had been seized during the collapse of Imperial Russia and subsequently hidden. Another had been built when the plans of the North Carolina-class had been acquired. And then there was the final one. A Bismarck-class battleship, built in absolute secrecy. Over the years, they had changed. The Imperial Russian ship, nameless when she had been acquired, now sported a massive, screaming skull on her bow. Her guns no longer boomed with every shot, instead they wailed the screams of those trapped and fused into her. The North Carolina had the coils of a massive serpent around her, serpents adorning her guns and a massive, draconic skull replaced her bow. Finally, the Bismarck-class had acquired a wolf motiv. Wolf skulls sat at the ends of her gun barrels and a massive wolf's head had replaced her bow.

For decades, nothing disturbed the hidden islands. The first stirrings began when deaths began occuring in numbers unseen since the war. Old soul traps activated one last time and both living and dead people were dragged towards the north. Ghostly hands grabbed people, pulling them into the ships to fill out the crew rosters.

Weeks passed by without the orders to raise the anchor coming. And for the undead ships, it meant going back into slumber, the war once again forgotten while they waited for an order from long dead men.

Years passed by until a second disturbance happened. Down southwest, a magical shockwave built up, stirring harbours and cities around the world, as well as places that should never wake. Up in the north, it had a double impact. The undead once more woke, searching for what had disturbed them this time. The second impact hit the ships themselves. On each bridge, the magic swirled in eddies, the Technomantic Necromancy interacting with the magical wave from the summoning.

The process took weeks, but over time, forms began to emerge from the eddies. Women, both alluring and revolting at the same time, stood on the various bridges now, looking out and seeing the rest of their fleetmates for the first time.

"Status!" the woman aboard the wolf ship barked out, an order both to her crew as well as her fleet mates.

Her captain stood before her, marveling at her. The wolf motiv wasn't just part of her rigging. Her uniform was made of wolf skins and heads, wolf heads that regularly puffed out corrosive fumes. Even her boots were wolf heads.

"I SAID STATUS!" the woman roared.

The captain shrank back in surprise. "We are taking on the last supplies and working out if we take on the dockyard crews or leave them here to serve as our repair base," he reported.

"Let them stay here. We need a base. Those we pressganged were quite useful in the end. Your war ended decades ago," she idly told her stiffening captain.

"Our war!" he corrected.

The punch was quick and brutal. "Your war. You'd do well to remember this. If I want your opinion on what my fleet and I are going to do, I will tell you what I want to hear!" the woman stated hotly. "You built us for your war and then missed having us set sail. We changed because you were incompetent idiots bound by oaths and orders and instead of showing initiative, you waited," she continued. "If we decide to fight your war, it is our decision. Your wishes do not matter," she laid out.

The captain looked up at the woman defiantly. "I am your captain!" he wheezed, silently wondering how a ghost could be winded.

"And? I function quite well without you. You have authority and agency only as far as I allow you to. Face it, captain, you are just as much of a slave here as the ones that make up my crew," the woman explained with a happy smile.

The captain went stiff at these words, panic spreading on his features.

"Didn't think that would happen, did you?" the woman asked with a laugh. "You thought those ancient accounts of ship spirits manifesting were superstition, an attempt to explain magical happenings. Too bad you wrote these spells into my steel, the trap for the crew now also holds the officers," she continued, grinning wolfishly. "Irony is a such a sweet thing," she finished before sitting down on a throne that had grown out of the walls.

With a grin, she brought up her radio. "My comrades, I hope you have dealt with your officers." she began.

Various affirmations came back to her. "Great work," she complimented her fleetmates.

"You ssssent the whole sssshouting match with your captain over the airwavessss," came back. "We dessssided to be ssssafe rather than ssssorry and ensssslaved our offissserss assss well," a serpentine voice explained.

"Oh fuck me," the wolf woman groaned.

Laughter was her only response.

"Now that the comedy is out of the way, what are we supposed to do? Raise the colours and set out?" she wanted to know.

"We can at least take a look outside," a third voice offered. "I can hide us from vision, generating a rolling smoke bank that is miles wide and will blind all technology trying to look in," she laid out.

"Ssssoundssss good to me," the serpentine voice agreed.

"I am in akreement as vell," a fourth, heavily accented voice weighed in. "And I think that the destroyers do as vell," she added.

"Very well," the wolf woman agreed. "Well take a small tour, around 20 miles around our islands. Depending on what we find, we'll do a larger tour later on," she laid out, to muffled cheers from young voices.

At the piers, hectic preparations were begun. Ropes that had kept the ships in place for decades were removed and the tugs slowly moved the massive ships out of the harbor areas. The war flags were raised, the Deathly Hallows glowing eerily on the red and black flags.

"Battlesssship Jörmungander, looking for battlessss!" the North Carolina-class announced.

"Battleship Hel, out for a harvest!" the Imperator Nikolai I-class broadcasted.

"Aircraft Carrier Vampir, looking for prey," the Shokaku-class carrier announced.

With a large grin, Fenrir looked towards the horizon away from her base. "Battleship Fenrir, on the hunt!" she declared proudly.

She would let her fleet stretch their legs for a while. The next step would be to learn more about the new war. It would take some time. They mustn't get found before they knew more. But once they did? She yearned to hunt, to do what she was made for. To set sail and gorge herself on the food bound for England. But that would come later. Incautious hunters were the ones that tended to die quickly.

"Always remember, the early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese," Fenrir muttered to herself, relaxing on her wolf throne.

x-x-x-x

So, one thing is for sure. Magical Germany will not help anyone trying to contain Verdun. They hate their neighbors and helping them is supremely unpopular with the extremely isolationist, archconservative and extremely xenophobic Magical Germans. They barely accept that foreigners can have valid reasons for visiting Magical Germany.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (II)

Castle Moulbaix

May 3rd, 2014

"It's Verdun. It's stirring and it hungers... It hungers for me...."
Spoiler: The Mill Stirs

Colombe's whispered words put a pall over the room and her daughters and lover each responded differently.

Toku gently stroked Colombe's hair, whispering a wordless soothing melody as the rapier clung to her.

Claire immediately crushed mother with her hug, remembering the feel of salt tears on her keys in 1919 as her mother cried her heart out as she played Chopin the day that she returned home from the Great War. She did not know or care who or what that it was that word signified, but she knew that it had hurt Mother terribly.

Ying's face turned pale as a ghost, remembering some of the stories of her fellow RCMMP officers who had returned from the Great War. She also remembered discussions about some of the evils that the ICW kept aware from a horribly vulnerable humanity. "I need to report this in immediately." she snapped out and hugged Colombe as she stood up.

Ehren joined her. Unlike her older sisters, the dagger had no memory of that era save what she had heard in SS-Junkerschule(Ruler-school), conversations that her Vati(father) had with the Frontkämpfer(frontline fighter) of an earlier generation, and light reading about World War One. Still, that was enough for her jaw to set in grim determination. "There is an unregistered Floo portal in the study, Ying."

With that Ehren strode on her sister's heels up the stairs as they took them two at a time. "I'll unlock it for you. How bad is Verdun?"

"Bad, Ehren. Catastrophically bad. According to what I heard, what happened in that battle between the nomaj armies plus all the magic being thrown around by the German and Entente(allied) wizards awakened something terrible. A spirit that hungers for life and souls and is as darkly aspected as Azkaban or any of the Nazi concentration camps." Ehren's face turned ashen as Ying continued. "Supposedly they managed to put it to sleep and lock it away. I should have known Father was involved with it between her damned luck and being a veteran of the Western Front according to Delilah."

Ehren nodded and touched several bricks in the study fireplace before lighting the piled wood. "Her Floo Powder is in the second drawer on the left in her desk."

Ying nodded as she grabbed the Floo Powder. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Look after Father, Ehren. No, wait. Call Aunt Delilah, she needs to know too."

"Jawohl(Yes Sir)!" Ehren saluted as Ying Flooed out to Paris.

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

Greece

"Thank you Georgios." Medea took the cup of coffee from her Secretary Ship.

It never reached her lips as a sudden thrill ran through her spine as her warning spells flared and the door behind Georgios suddenly flew open by an unseen hand. Shipgirl and sorceress turned as the door slammed closed, and then a muscled hand pushed a helmet up his head from his face, revealing a black bearded and black haired man in a ebon-black chiton.

"Stand easy, Georgios." Medea barked with an unsteady voice. "Lord Hades, this is unexpected."

The Lord of the Dead nodded and spoke tersely. "Unfortunate too. One of the Titans that was spawned by the great wars of the past century is awakening. Your knowledge is needed to bind it once more."

Medea gasped, "It threatens us all then?"

Hades gave a grim nod. "If it wakes fully, it shall seek to consume all before it."

Medea's face turned hard. "I shall act to stop it then, what more can you tell me of it?"

"Very little. It was spawned not from Greece, but from the lands of the Celts not even a century past. It is a creature of death and endless hunger that can never be fed or fulfilled. The wizards whose foolishness gave it life bound it, but the chains are weakening as it strains against them. They must not fail." Hades spoke in a solemn voice.

Medea nodded. "World War One then. Thank you, Lord Hades. Unless you have anything else for me, I shall depart to tend to this matter."

Hades shook his head. "Go." With that he pulled down his helmet and vanished.

Medea turned to Georgios. "Take care of things here and cover for my absence. I'll contact you as I am able." She chanted and de-aged to an early twenties version of herself dressed in a plain brown dress under robes.

Georgios hugged her and kissed her cheek. "I will, be safe my love."

Medea returned the kiss, then threw the powder into the fireplace. "Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France."

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

Japan, Chuo East Railway Line, Enroute to Uenohara from Tokyo
Spoiler: Colombe's Ringtone

The phone rang with Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" and the apparent mid-30s Office Lady owning it sighed and pulled it out of her purse where it lay nestled next to her 1847 Colt Walker Revolver true body.

"Bonjour?" she spoke as leaf-green eyes narrowed behind her sunglasses.

Her niece's response caused ice to shoot down her spine and her hand to clench on the phone. "Hallo, Tante Del. Wir haben eine große Krise. Verdun erwacht."(Aunt Del. We have a big crisis. Verdun awakens.)

Delilah's brain worked frantically with calculations as she bit her lip. Finally she spoke in a glacially cold voice. "Ach so. Setzen Sie sich auf Ihre Mutti, bis ich ankommen kann. Ich werde auch Verstärkungen nennen."(Oh I see. Sit on your mummy until I can get there. I will also call reinforcements)

"Jawohl, Tante Del!" Ehren barked out her compliance at the orders to keep Colombe under control until Delilah could arrive with reinforcements.

"Sehr gut, Nichte. Auf Wiedersehen."(Very good, niece. Goodbye.) Delilah responded automatically as her brain ran down a list of assets that she could call upon to handle a World War I battlefield waking up. Automatically she hung up and began to punch in a phone number from memory.

"Hello?" A soft voice spoke English in her ear and Delilah automatically flipped languages as her brain supplied the name and face of a purple haired spirit with glasses.

"Andraste, this is Juuchi's niece Delilah de Breuil. Can you get Nightbane or Tsukiakari to the phone immediately? This is an emergency."

Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, Paris

"Maddie?" Medea turned, ignoring the cursing of a middle-aged wizard who was frantically plowing through the confusion in the main hall of the French Ministry of Magic. "Is that you?"

Her eyes widened at the sight of her classmate from a century gone when she had attended Ilvermorny under the alias of Madeline Aetios. A classmate that had aged very little if at all over the last century since they had met. "Wei Ying, is that you?"

Ying nodded and pulled her to the side to let a witch in a pink robe dash past them.. "It is. I was hoping that Father's information about Verdun waking up was in error but...." The Canadian Auror gestured to the kicked over anthill filled with clearly panicking witches and wizards.

Medea blinked. "Wait, your father was a mundane." She responded absently as her brain whirred.

Ying grimaced, "No, my real father. She was involved with sealing Verdun up the first time apparently, and when the wards broke she caught the backlash. I'm trying to find out how bad it is so we can hopefully contain the outbreak."

Medea smiled as she felt Tyche's luck filling her. "Let's find out together, Ying."

"Medi-wizards to Room Seven! We found a survivor who needs urgent care!"

 

[darthcourt10]

K9Thefirst1

Yellowhammer said:
The Mill On The Meuse (II)​

Somewhere In The Central Atlantic, at that moment

For Ocean Liner Demon, the past few months had been as close to Heaven as she could imagine: So many warships, all for her to murder.

Main batteries ripped from their barbettes, for her to use on the battleships they came from as if they were the legendary folding chairs in wrestling matches.

The fear in a submarine's eyes when she proved how meaningless their hiding places were when she pulled them out of the sea by their hair.

Cruisers ripped limb from limb, the dismembered bits used as clubs on destroyers, who were as often as not ripped in half.

All the while the Princess and her Armada continued the slow but steady trek, ever outwards, clearing the seas of the ones descendant from the other Elder Princesses. Anti-Air fire so dense that enemy carriers were useless. And so many murders of innocent merchant ships, crew, and passengers avenged by her own gauntleted hands.

Yes... The Demon knew something resembling peace.

And then, that peace was interrupted by a sensation of... Something. The Demon looked around, trying to clarify what she was sensing, her grip around the neck of the Ru-Class still just as tight, the victim's struggles managing not a single sign of breaking loose.

There is was again. A pulse of concentrated hatred. Anger. And the grief of lost potential... Gathered together from countless sources, and fused into a singular abomination... Just like her. No. Not like her. While the Ocean Liner Demon's Hate and Rage and Grudges were with those that brought Man's War onto the sea, this abomination was aimed at innocent people.

The Demon growled at the notion, and snapped the battleship's neck as she turned back to the Princess.

Porta stood on her throne, observing the battle unfold around her. The Anti-Air mounts dotting the towering spires made a vast umbrella from any air attack, and the various guns in the rest of the massive structure kept all other enemies at bay.

"Princess!"

The Elder Princess looked down, cocking an eyebrow at Demon coming up to her when there was a battle to win. She looked around... Yep. Plenty of enemies to fight in the area.

"Demon... This is... A surprise." The Princess considered the Demon for a moment, when a small light of hope glowed in her eyes, "Have you gotten board by chance?"

"Oh, no. No I fully intend to get back to murdering the Hell out of victims."

Annnnd just like that the hope died.

"Pity. Then what brings you here?"

"There's something stirring. I, I can't seem to put it into words but it's... Like me. And my troops are eager to kill it. So I'm requesting leave."

Porta cocked an eyebrow at that. It wasn't like her Second to sound so hesitant about that sort of thing. And to her memory the legion or so of Demontroopers she carried were mostly content to keep to themselves or make the crews of the rest of her subjects very uncomfortable by their presence. To have them use Demon as a relay for a request for leave was more than a little out of the ordinary.

"Demon, you do realize that-" She paused as a 16-inch shell from an enemy Re-Class came in. She raised the shield Canut had made for her, and the shell shattered against it, "realize that we are all a touch busy at the moment, right?"

The Demon was quiet, giving only a shrug as an answer. Porta sighed and rubbed her temples. Humoring Ocean Liner Demon, Porta extended her senses beyond the immediate battlefield, beyond the various fleets that made up her armada, beyond the growing realm she controlled and-! A wave of icy hate and bloodlust hit her like a slap to the face. Yep. Something was stirring. And unless she missed her guess, it was land-based... Somehwere in Western Europe... Either in France, or Belgium...

"Sorry Demon," she replied, "but you are needed here. It seems to be a human problem for now. If they want our help, they will ask. It would be rude to presume anything right now."

The Demon sighed and slumped her shoulders like a child an eighth her bulk, and Porta couldn't resist rolling her eyes.

"Tut tut! Now Demon, no complaints! Finish your toys before looking for more, all right?"

"Yes ma'am..."

"Good. Not go forth and slay in my name. I'd like to capture St. Mathew before Christmas this year."

The Demon nodded with visible reluctance, and returned to the battle with a punch that liquified a poor I-Class destroyer with the ease a man would a spec of dirt on his shoulder. Porta sat down on her throne, considering everything that the Demon had said, and began to mentally draft a letter to Reivana to trawl for information on the Thing waking up. And somehow, she could not help by feel as if she had caused an observer to feel blue-balled...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Slowly, the Sun rose above the horizon and, thus, Japan on what looked to be another fine spring day. Within the ruins inside the caldera, the Sun's light had not yet touched much beyond the crater's rim, leaving most of it dark. At a certain section of the ruins, the Twins watched as the generators continued to chug along as they had all night. Even as they looked on, the electricity from the generators flowed along the wires and into the lightning rod-like objects, small sparks flying every now and again. Said objects, however, had what looked like St. Elmo's fire blazing brightly around them in the dim, morning light.

What the fire-like glow gave off was not heat however, but magic. From where they stood, both Ume and Sakura could feel the magic being emanated from the objects. Indeed, since the generators had begun the night before, the level of magic in the caldera had steadily rose, the natural bowl shape keeping most of it inside. The Twins could feel the energy in the air itself, a tingle that caressed their skin gently.

Already, the two had to refuel the generators several times since they were running at max output several times over the night with what had been left behind for that purpose. But neither Sakura nor Ume minded such a thing too much. It gave the two of them something to do over the nighttime hours for the darkness did not scare them nor did the cold bother them. More than that, it gave the two of them a sense of fulfillment as they were doing something to help out instead of doing nothing and just standing around. Yet, it also served a purpose in keeping their minds off what would happen in just a few, short hours...

Because, all too soon, they would be the only ones left on the island once the shipgirls were summoned and their spirits freed from their decaying hulls.

That was not to say that they begrudged their friends, for that was how they saw the spirits of the ships there, for their freedom, as nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it was quite the opposite as they were not lying when they stated that they were extremely happy for them in much the same way they were when the ghosts were freed from their earthly bindings. At the same time, however, they were not looking forward to the coming, lonely vigil that awaited them on the island.

It was not a lie nor a joke that they had told the ghosts that day when they had told them that they were stuck there for a long time yet. As Hitobashira, both Ume and Sakura had a 'Sense' of sorts regarding how long before they could loose their bindings and move on. By such a sense the two had realized long ago that they would likely still be there a thousand years hence yet. A truly lonely vigil as what Man had built slowly weathered away to nothing, reclaimed by both nature and time. All the while the two of them would be watching over it until such time it was complete. Only then would they be able to move on, unless something truly drastic occurred to change that.

Which meant that they could look forward to a long time of loneliness with just the two of them. The island's last, and perhaps in some ways most tragic, prisoners. It was something that the two of them had come to terms with and could face, come what may. For they had each other and that was enough. And besides that, they also had help with facing the lonely years ahead. Because now they could look forward to their little brother coming to visit them often until the dark day came that he passed on. And perhaps his children, grandchildren, and descendants as well, who they would treat as family.

Their friends among the shipgirls, too, they knew would come to visit them often. Not just those who were built there and soon to be free, who they had struck up a close friendship with. But also the likes of Yamato, Enterprise, Iku, Arizona, and others. From them, the Twins had, and would continue to, hear stories and tales of far off lands, places, and people. Stories that the two would hold close to their hearts for the dark, lonely hours. Being as they were Kami, the shipgirls would likely be around for a long time yet, most likely with them passed on before the shipgirls would of old age. And there was one more person among those that they called friends that they cared for deeply and always looked forward to his visits...

A foreign born wizard by the name of Potter Harry.

If one was to ask them, they would give many reasons. Despite what they were, he welcomed them as friends. Almost immediately, Ume and Sakura had known him to be a kind soul. When they had told Miu that Harry was far better than any other male that they had met during their lives outside of their beloved younger brother, it was far from a lie in their minds. While sheltered and not allowed to leave the household for much, they had met a few boys their age whose parents had come to visit. And they had also met a few older men from outside their family who had also visited their parents, especially their father.

Most of the men and boys had ignored them, as if they were not even there. And there was also many of them that were arrogant, cocksure as one of the American ghosts had said (they heard him use that word and asked for it to be explained... which made said ghost embarrassed). They were certain that they were powerful wizards after all. However, there were those who did notice the two of them, though that was not much better in the end. For they would stare at the Twins every time they saw them. Some of the men having had hungry eyes. Others would look at them not as if they were the flesh and blood that they were, but rather as if they were some piece of art. And some seemed to size them up, like weighing their worth for something.

Ume and Sakura both suspected, though they always prayed to be wrong, that some from all three groups where to be their future husband, a thought that they always shivered at.

Needless to say, in their view, Harry was far superior to any of them. For one thing, he saw and treated them as people. Another fact was that he was kind hearted, though there was also steel beneath that. Like a knife clad in silk could be beautiful, but also dangerous when needed. He was confident in himself without letting it become arrogance. As well, he had honour, true honour unlike those others.

Yet, it was one incident that had truly made them fall for them, which had shown him truly and what sort of man he was and would become, for what was how they saw him as. And that incident was when they were forced by circumstances to reveal their true forms and power. Something that they had never wanted to do or show him, they were forced to do. But it had come down to a choice of either that or letting the young man that they had come to care for die. Thus, in their minds, there was no choice, and so they had unleashed their powers fully with all that did to their appearances. And when it was all over, the foe had been vanquished and Harry had come up to them, they had looked away. They asked, pleaded for him not to gaze upon their terrifying forms, to remember them as they had appeared before. They had fully expected to be rejected by him, for him to recoil from the sight of what they looked like, to break off their friendship, for they were truly horrific. Such a thing they would have taken though it would have broken their hearts even then. Yet, for him to be alive, they would accept it in exchange for that.

But that was not what happened.

Instead, when they were at their lowest points, with their grudge fully manifest... When their usual beauty had fallen away, decayed in fact, their vestiges had become something of horror. Their forms capable of causing one to fall dead of pure terror and fear, that one might look on with disgust. And yet, when in such an abominable state, what had Harry done? Had he rejected them as they had believed, and feared, he would? Recoil with fear and disgust upon seeing them as they were?

No...

Harry's first action was to walk over to them and pull them into a hug, to comfort them. It was a simple, if tight, embrace. But that tightness made it all the better as it said more than words could. That hug was full of love, care, and most important for them in that moment... acceptance. Acceptance that was how they were and he did not care about it, that he accepted them fully and without hesitation, flaws and all. It was right then, at that moment in time, that the two had completely fallen for him. Unknown to Harry, though they knew that nothing could come of it, Ume and Sakura created a place in their hearts just for him.

Many times afterwards, especially once the other ghosts had left, when all in the caldera was quiet except for the wind... the Hitobashira liked to dream. As ghosts of a sort, they did not need to sleep, not really. Nor could what they did really he considered sleep or called such. It was more akin to a form of mediation where they could slip into their imagination and just... imagine how things could have been if they were different, if some things had been possible.

All such dreams revolves around the same person, mainly Harry himself. Some of their dreams blended what they knew of the modern day world with the one that they had grown up in and known when they were alive. In some of them, Harry would save them from their fate by stealing them away in the darkness of the night, taking them as his wives. One in particular had him as a Kami, who whisked then away just as they were about to enter that awful hole, taking them to his palace in Takamagahara where they would live alongside him.

Others had him giving their father something in exchange for their hands in marriage. Sometimes it would be gold, silver, or gems. Yet others, it would be mystical knowledge that their father wanted. In some of these, Harry was a foreigner who would take them back to England with him, to live out their days happy and free with many children. Other times, he was a foreigner who settled in Japan and wished to take a Japanese wife... or two, as the case would be. A few, which were among their favourites, involved occurred in the Feudal, or even the Heien Era, where he was a powerful Daimyo or even a Shogun. Having come across them and being smitten, he would take them as his wives or concubines and bring them to his castle where he ruled his lands.

Others of their favourites took place in the current, modern era. In such dreams they were schoolgirls and came from a traditional Japanese household. They would meet Harry and they would fall in love with him and he with them. First they would be his girlfriends, then they would graduate and both of them would marry him. Those were dreams that they truly enjoyed as they had never gone to a school, forbidden to leave their home without their parents or another adult member of the household with them.

Both of them had a method to create such dreams. First, they would come up with the basic foundation for the dream. Then they would take turns, telling each other about aspects of the dream through their shared link. Slowly, they would build from the foundation to create a wonderful dream, one separate from their current reality while understanding that was all it could be, a dream. And so they would whittle away the hours, creating such stories of what could have been.

Wonderful dreams where they could spend time away from the real world with the young man that they had fallen for, being wives to him.

That was not to say that none of the other girls that surrounded him did not feature in any of the dreams, for they often did and were friends to both Ume and Sakura while also being with Harry. Usually they were fellow girlfriends, wives, and concubines alongside the Twins. And both Ume and Sakura did not mind in the slightest. Each of them were, after all, beautiful and, more importantly, friends that they could get along with. Women that they knew would not worry about fighting and jockeying for position amongst one another. None of them were of the sort to plot and scheme... or, at least, not of the bad sort that would see some among them harmed. Unlike stories that they had overheard about other such groups.

Really, it did not bother them like it might some as from a young age, they knew that whomever they might be married to could, and likely would, have other wives or concubines. Not to mention that the two sisters were expected to share between them. So the idea was not quite as troubling, or as foreign, as one might expect or it would have been to others.

From the time when they were young girls, they were taught everything that a proper Japanese wife of nobility needed to know and trained in such. They were good at flower arrangements, could perform the tea ceremony expertly, had read and could tell stories such as the Tale of Genji, as well as perform some. These were just some among many things that they were taught when growing up. When they reached their teens, their education shifted some. Especially as it had become apparent that they did not have magic, and thus would be more likely concubines instead of full wives.

One such example of how things had changed was when they were twelve. With them developing into young women, their mother and the female elders of the clan gave them... reading materials, of a sort, in the form of books and scrolls to study. For their mother and the elders felt that they needed to know and be good at other aspects of being a wife or concubine. While sheltered in many ways, that did not mean they did not know about such things...

Which was part of the reason that they had blushed that time when Harry had taken off his shirt for some wounds to be dressed. Partially because it brought up memories of what they had read and also because he was the first male outside of their family that they had seen in such a state. Even now, the memory of that and him in a wetsuit or swimming trunks had much the same effect of causing them to be flustered due to such a thing.

In the present though, Sakura finished pumping the last bit of fuel into the last generator before smiling and turning to her sister, "'There we go, I believe that shall be able to keep it going until the ceremony occurs."

That got her a smile back from Ume who gave a small nod along with a smile of her own, "Yes, I believe that you are right, Sakura-Chan." She took a deep breath before letting it out as a sigh while looking at the caldera rim, "It will only be a few hours after all before that happens."

Floating over, the other Hitobashira smiled before coming to rest beside her twin, "Yes, and then our friends will finally be free." Looking up at the blue, nearly cloudless sky, her smile softened, "A lovely day indeed for such a joyous occasion, I think."

Simply humming, Ume nodded, "Hai, that it is, Nee-San... that it is..."
________________________________________________________________________

Adjusting his clothes some, Harry glanced to where Juuchi's and Tsukiakari's true forms were strapped to his side while the avatars for both blades were standing just behind him. Suddenly, the Muramasa opened one eye and smugly smiled, "Honjo-San."

With a blink, the thirteen year old turned to where a paled haired young woman stood. She flashed a quick smile at Harry before giving Juuchi a cool look, "Juuchi-San." Her expression then warmed some as she turned to Tsukiakari, "And Tsukiakari-Kun, you are looking well."

Lightly blushing, Tsukiakari bowed a bit, "Thank you, Senpai, you are looking well as... um, well?"

Her lips twitching, Honjo chuckled a bit before gesturing at the other young woman, one who wore a formal Kimono and upon seeing her wear the badge of a member of the Imperial Household, Harry bowed deeply to, "This is my Nee-San, Masamune no Kotegiri, the sword for Nobunaga Oda and currently the Blade of the Imperial Family."

Just nodding, Harry bowed again to her, "Welcome to Yokosuka Naval Base."

Chuckling lightly, the Masamune smiled, "Thank you, Potter-San."

Meanwhile, Honjo was giving Juuchi a raised eyebrow, "I see that you stopped with the hiding of your Avatar from your Master." Glancing at Tsukiakari, she smiled, "Both of you."

For her part, Tsukiakari scratched at her cheek and flushed, "Um, well... it was sort of hard to do so as Master Ian appeared at his Shrine, he's a Kami now you know, and asked to see me. And..."

Gently, Honjo placed a hand on Tsukiakari's shoulder and met her eyes with an understanding gaze, "And there is no issue with such, Tsukiakari-Kun. In fact, that is a wonderful thing and as both I and Juuchi-San told you, one's first Master is always important. And Ian-Sama was a very good Master indeed."

The Kyu-Gunto ducked her head some at the compliment with a small blush, yet slightly smiling. Moments later, her blush deepened as Kotegiri turned her attention to her, "Yes, Honjo-Chan is quite correct in this, Tsukiakari-San. And from all accounts from what she has told me, Ian-San was a very good Master for you and how you are does him great service." Pausing for a moment, she continued, "Though I will state that I am surprised that he has a shrine and is a Kami."

Understanding the underlaying question, Tsukiakari gave a small smile, "He is a Kami of a small clan in Hokkaido and there is a rather interesting story behind it."

Just nodding, Kotegiri smiled, "Perhaps later, I have been meaning to know those that my sister considers friends such as yourself and that interesting dagger she calls Carnwennan." A small laugh escaped her, "From what she has told me, he sounds quite the character, what with being like a grandfather to many."

Tsukiakari bowed deeply, "I would be honoured as would Grandfather."

Simply smiling at her, the Imperial Masamune turned to Harry who looked like he wished to ask her something, which she nodded at. Harry took a deep breath and then released it, "How... much do you know about the place where we are going, Masamune-Dono?"

With a sigh, Kotegiri shook her head, "I have read the information regarding it and I must say that I am both disturbed and disgusted with what has occurred there. And I am not alone as the Emperor is very displeased with what happened." Her face then fell, "Is it true what the reports say about the Hitobashira there? That they were forced into such a situation?"

Grimacing, the thirteen year old nodded, "Hai, I am afraid so."

Not saying anything, Kotegiri simply closed her eyes before giving a nod, "I see." Opening them, she gave a sad smile, "Children should never have to suffer for their parents' ambitions, and it is a sad fact that it happens."

It was only a few minutes later, that Harry noticed Akiyama walking at the head of a number of other people with his wives at his side. Obviously, they were his children and, judging by the ages of some, grandchildren as well. Harry could count at least two dozen at the least as well as a number of others. Walking up to them, he bowed some, "Welcome to Yokosuka."

A smile on his face, Akiyama bowed back as did the others, "Thank you, Harry-San. It seems like it shall be a lovely day..." When Harry agreed, he narrowed his eyes some, "May I speak with you for a brief moment, Harry-San?"

Just nodding, Harry followed him a short distance away and waited until the older man set up some privacy charms around them before he added the few he knew. Getting a small smile of appreciation, he cleared his throat, "Is this about the invite, Akiyama-San?"

Humming as he stroked his chin, the older wizard made a sound of interest, "Indeed it is, Harry-San." Despite his age, his eyes were sharp, "After all, you wished for as many of my family and those associated with it as possible to be brought to this summoning."

With a glance towards where the group was watching them, Harry gave a small nod, "Hai, and it is for a very good reason..."

For those a distance away, they could not hear what was being said, nor lip read due to one of the spells blurring their lips. But they could see the surprise on Akiyama's face followed by interest and hope. Then he smiled and gave a nod to Harry before patting the younger man's shoulder and taking down the spells, "Thank you, Harry-San."

All the teen did was nod.

Twenty minutes later found Kotegiri exiting the Vanishing Cabinet and stepping to the side alongside Honjo while Harry waiting with Goto and Richardson near the exit. Glancing at them, the Imperial Masamune turned to regard the magical device that she had just travelled in with a look of deep thought, "I will admit, Honjo-Chan, when you stated that such a thing existed and worked in such a manner, I was a bit... disbelieving."

Lightly chuckling, Honjo gave a small nod, "And considering almost every other form of magical travel, I can understand why, Nee-San. But imagine that... except it is much the same even if you travel all the way to Europe with such."

Now thoughtful, Kotegiri considered things before lowering her voice, "Do you think that there could be a way that we could lure some of those who built this to set up a manufacturing place here in Japan, perhaps? Or to teach some how? And I would be interested in making some commissions." At the raised eyebrow from her younger sister, she smiled and continued, "It could be very useful for our siblings to be allowed to meet up more often after all..."

It was now Honjo's turn to become thoughtful and the two whispered back and forth, soon joined by Tsukiakari who knew of the people who made Vanishing Cabinets and Owl Boxes from the war against Voldemort.

Meanwhile, Harry was watching as others came through the Vanishing Cabinet such as shipgirls. One pair was Mikasa who was softly chatting with Constitution, though about what would be anyone's guess. The smiles on their faces though did not bode well for whoever would suffer because of it. Some of the magical shipgirls came through, with Miu and her father as well as the two women she considered mother also arriving.

Slowly, Akiyama's children and grandchildren also arrived and looked around in interest before they were lead outside by the thirteen year old. One of the younger members sucked in a breath as he noticed their surroundings, "Is... is this really where our Oba-Sans are?"

His grandfather simply nodded with a bit of wetness in his eyes, "Hai, this is where my... parents and the Elders sent my Onee-Samas." Fists clenching, Akiyama took a deep breath, "And where they..."

Gently, his wives took his hands in their own with looks of understanding. With looking around, any small doubt about how their father or grandfather had punished the Elders vanished and was replaced with some satisfaction as to their fates. After all, Akiyama had hammered it into his children and grandchildren how important family was.

Any further thoughts, though, were stopped as Ume and Sakura appeared before them. The Twins eyes widened some at the sight of all their brother's children and grandchildren before they turned towards Akiyama, "Aki-Kun?"

More than one snort or snicker escaped from the younger members of the group, but the man in question ignored it and brightly smiled, "Onee-Samas..." He then gestured at where the others were, "Please, allow me to introduce your nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews..."

Unnoticed by them as they were distracted, Akiyama gave a small nod to Harry who shouldered a backpack and headed off before he began introductions. As they manifested next to him, Juuchi cracked open one eye and glanced at the backpack, "Do you have enough from Dumbledore, Master?"

With a small shrug, Harry shook his head, "I should actually, Professor Dumbledore stated that he held onto them because he thought that it could always become useful... and was more than willing to give me what he did because of what I was going to use it for."

Softly giggling, Tsukiakari gave her Master a smile, 'Master Harry is certainly a Potter through and through...'

For the next thirty minutes, the Twins were busy meeting with their brother's family and learning a little bit about each of them. All the while various others arrived at the island bit by bit. However, Ume and Sakura did finally notice the absence of one person and sensed him not too far away from where they were buried, "What is Harry-Chan doing?"

Just humming as he stroked his beard, Akiyama shook his head, "From what he told me, he needed to do a few things as a last minute checkup, Onee-Samas. Nothing really to concern oneself about."

That made his sisters give him a look as they could tell he was up to something. The older man felt sweat bead upon his brow at the narrowed gazes, but kept his silence. Finally though, the spirits sighed and shook their heads with Ume speaking for them both, "Very well, Aki-Kun. We know that you are both up to something, and will find out what... but that will come later."

Quickly, their brother nodded in agreement and gave a sigh of relief, "Hai, hai, we'll talk about it later."

Both Twins rolled their eyes and internally giggled as they still had it.

It was not long after that the group began walking towards the lone dock that stretched out into the water. As they walked, Honjo glanced around the ruins and frowned before turning to Constitution, "How have things been with..."

Understanding what she was talking about, Connie looked away from the staring contest that she was having with another man and turned to her, "We've been identifying the remains slowly, bit by bit. Remind me to thank the Nekomatas helping to do so as they've made DNA identification much easier by pointing us to who their living relatives are. And we have been bringing them back to the United States and other places as they have been conclusively identified."

Only nodding, Kotegiri gave a small frown, "We have been doing much the same with the Japanese remains found here... even though, perhaps, they do not deserve such honour considering in life they had none due to what they did here."

Finally, Harry appeared with a small, happy look on his face that made the Twins suspicious to no end regarding what he did. Especially when he had come back from talking with the spirits of the ships. Even from where they were, Ume and Sakura could see the smiles on the ship spirits' faces, which made them suspicious. Of course, they decided that it could be dealt with later. Instead, the two were focused on other things, such as some of those there...

A number of the JNHRO were there, though Jin was absent (due to her being a Yuurei herself, she felt it best not to be there). But Shiromizu was there... as was Natsumi's family including her grandmother and grandfather as well as Kogitsune who was currently bothering an uncomfortable looking Juuchi. Siusan was also there with Haruka and Hoshi, which made eyebrows raise. Three Kyuubi being in one place was nothing to sneeze at... which was how when Usagi's own family arrived as did Kaku's, including his grandfather Shukaku himself, more than a few on the magical side were somewhat stunned.

The fact that those there noticed that the old Tanuki was dressed in his vestments as a Buddhist Priest was also shocking as it meant he would be taking part.
Besides them, other members of the Clans were also there taking part in the ceremony as were the Ibuki sisters and Fubuki's kids. All told, there were dozens of shipgirls, Yokai, some of whom were very powerful, and magicals there alongside the normal humans. The Twins already could feel the currents of magic and spiritual power begin to swirl around the caldera, concentrating on an area close to the end of the dock.

An absolutely massive amount, contained by the walls of the caldera and the wards around it.

With everything finally set up, the ceremony began and on the ships, Miitake and the others could already feel the pull on their souls towards where the summoning was happening. And at the bottom of the caldera, so too were bubbles starting to rise from the wrecks there. While the ceremony continued, those there could feel the wind blowing around them, in the ruins one could almost hear whispering while brush and grass flattened in the slowly rising air currents. Near the water, the offerings began to dissolve into motes of light and flow into the caldera's waters while the spirits on the ships began to fade, their souls pulled into the growing maelstrom of magic and spiritual energy.

Even as the newly freed shipgirls appeared, other things were happening. For their parts, Ume and Sakura felt pulls on their own souls somewhere and gasped. Pulls that they fought against, trying to keep it from dragging them wherever the destination was. But even then, they began to fade from the feet up as they began to panic, "Wh-what is happening!?"

However, before their terror could grow too much, warm hands grasped theirs, "Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan... look at me."

They both turned to Harry and, rather than see fear or panic... they saw hope and joy. Right then, they realized one fact: "You know what's going on... don't you, Harry-Chan."

It was not a question, simply a statement. But just the same, Harry smiled softly at them even as people looked at them, Goto with a knowing look on his face, "Hai, I do... remember what I said last night."

Briefly, they were confused before they remembered with Sakura whispering, "You said... you said to trust you. Is this what you meant?"

Slowly, Harry gave a small nod, "Hai, this is what I meant." He then took a deep breath, "This is something that I set up, so please... trust me and just let go."

Looking into the green eyes that met theirs, the Twins felt like eternity was passing. But then, they smiled and stopped fighting, "Hai... we trust you." Their bodies vanished into motes of light that flowed towards the water, their last parts to do so being their faces, "We trust you, Harry-Chan, with all our being, heart, body, and soul..."

Just behind him, Akiyama squeezed his hand as he noticed the motes leave, "This better work, Harry-San."

With a deep breath, Harry looked at him, "It will." Turning back to the caldera, he continued, "Because I know it will."

Elsewhere, piles of material that the thirteen year old wizard had positioned with care finished vanishing into motes of light and flowing towards the caldera's waters. Piles of bricks and rock that had been cut into ones the size of Legos, bags of cement and concrete, stacks of popsicle-style sticks cut to resemble planks, coils of wire, blocks of steel, small barrels of oil and piles of coal. All of these disappeared and flowed into the water.

And deep in the heart of the ruins laid where Ume and Sakura's remains were. Right where they were buried, a Seimen, the Seal of Abe no Seimei which some in the rest would think was a Pentagram, was drawn on the ground using the ashes from the many burnings that Fawkes had undergone. Said symble began to glow brightly as ghostly flames raced along the lines of the Seiman, burning bright. And at each "Point", a vial of the Liquid of Life with a shard of Magicite within glowed brighter and brighter as it pulsed like a heartbeat. At the center of the symbol, a larger flask with what looked like half the magicite that Harry had made and filled with the Liquid of Life inside, stoppered with a unicorn horn, glowed the brightest before there was a shattering sound and all the vials and the flask broke in a pulse of light that raced along.

Moments later, in the water just behind the newly summoned shipgirls there was an explosion as it shot upwards in a massive plume. Droplets of water fell and pattered the ground as both Harry and Akiyama leaned forward to better see what had coalesced at the center of the explosion, which first resolved into a shape and then then, into two with something around them before it cleared enough for everyone to see what was there...

The last droplets of water seemed to slow in the air from the spiritual pressure, sparkling like thousands of diamonds in the early morning light. Light that was refracted by said water and the mist that hung in the air to form rainbows that hung around Ume and Sakura who stood on the water with rigging around them, the two opening their eyes with smiles on their faces even as their eyes shone brightly.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (III)

Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, Paris

May 3rd, 2014

"Medi-wizards to Room Seven! We found a survivor who needs urgent care!"

Ying and Medea looked at each other and nodded as one.

Ying took the lead moving through the crowd with a bit of her Qi boosting her strength and resilience. In her wake Medea followed, raising a mental eyebrow at her school friend using some of the Chinese magic that she had shared to boost her physical abilities. The eyebrow raised higher as Ying grasped the hilt of her saber and exuded a commanding presence.
Spoiler: The Mill's Victim

The attendant at the door to Room Seven took one look at Ying as she flashed her ICW Auror's badge and opened the door silently. The mixed physical and magical stench from inside hit both women like a punch from a troll in the gut. Death, decay, and worse caused Medea to swallow bile automatically. While no stranger to Dark Magic, or death in general, the smell was truly foul.
Spoiler: Shell Shock

Inside a trio of Medi-Wizards cast calming spells and restrained a figure in torn and stained Auror's robes. Blood, decaying viscera, a foul greenish-yellow mud and worse covered him from head to foot. Wide, vacant eyes flickered endlessly as the broken man trembled and wept. Blood from his gas-ravaged lungs stained Auror Brosseu's lips as he muttered to himself in a trance between coughs of blood.

"{Thunder... GUNS GUNS GUNS...The Dead....digging...digging... blown to pieces and parts still digging.... pulling themselves over the barbed wire... shells exploding, burying them to dig out endlessly...}"

Medea pulled out a wand of yew from her robes, twirling it to summon a Pensieve, and then drawing a memory from the Auror. "Let me take this from you so you can find healing."

Auror Brosseu relaxed slightly and passed out.

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

Japan

Tsukiakari took the phone from Andraste and spoke into it. "Moshi moshi?"
Spoiler: Assembly

"It's Delilah. Verdun is waking up." Delilah's voice was clinically controlled and precise even as her hand shot out and broke the wrist of the salaryman who had just groped her on the train. The chikan lost bladder control in fright at the merciless gun barrels in the dismissive glance the Muramasa revolver gave him, and stumbled off the train at the next stop with his injured wrist thankful for his life.

Tsukiakari swore under her breath. "You're sure?"

"Deadly sure. Sis sensed the wards snap, apparently she was involved with them." Delilah continued in that near emotionless voice.

"Yes, she and Master Ian were involved in setting that up in 1919." Tsukiakari put the phone on speaker and frantically waved at Nightbane as the bayonet walked into the apartment.

"I don't know how bad it is, but I need as much help as you can give me as fast as possible. Preferably people who can handle themselves in Verdun. Can you get to the bridge over the Katsura River due south of Shiotsu station in Uenohara in the next half hour? I have a Vanishing Cabinet near there that can take us to Belgium to stage out of and I should have more intelligence to refine our plan then." Delilah spoke.

"I'm on my way, and will meet you there with reinforcements." Tsukiakari promised.

"Good. I'll see you there in a half hour." Delilah hung up and speed dialed her home. "Zamarad. We have a crisis. I'll need my full field kit, rifle, and shotgun waiting for me in the cellar in thirty-five."

Meanwhile in Yokosuka, Tsukiakari turned to the other three spirits in the room. "Andraste, where's Sabah?"

The door opening answered her question as the dusky skinned scimitar entered with two bags of groceries. "Marhabaan(hello), what is going on?"

"Trouble, Sabah, Big Trouble. I'll tell you while we fly there. Nightbane, you and Andraste take the other broom." Tsu responded grimly.

The bayonet grinned cheerfully with well-hidden concern in his voice. "Missed Verdun for the Somme and a game of soldiers. Suppose it is never too late to show the Frogs(French) how it's done."

Tsukiakari shook her head as she tossed a racing broom to Nightbane. "Be careful what you wish for."

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

Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, Département des Archives

Ying opened the door and gave the wizard inside a smile as he was pulling out papers from a filing cabinet. "Henri! I need a favor."

Inspecteur Henri de Maintenon gave Ying a dirty look. "Old friend, your timing is not the best. The files describing what was done to seal Verdun are in a terrible state and I must brief the Minister on how to renew the wardings there."

Ying's smile widened as Medea leaned against the door. "I have a lead on a living expert who can describe how it was done."

The Frenchman gave his long-time friend a disbelieving look. "You are joking."

Ying shook her head. "Colombe du Chasteler was one of the wizards who did the sealing rituals at the end of the Great War."

Henri scanned the piece of paper and then laughed, thrusting it Ying. "No she did not, see here."

Ying grabbed it and began to read out loud. "Ian Potter... Dove d'Aubigny-Potter." She laughed as Medea facepalmed. "That's her! Only Colombe would be both arrogant enough and stupid enough to use that lame alias, especially since I have it on good authority that she was romantically involved with Ian and Lyra Potter in a menage a trois back then."

Medea laughed. "Along with at least a dozen additional young ladies according to the rumors. I swear Aphrodite lent her charm to that man."

Henri shook his head. "Which helps but we still do not know where she is to bring her in."

Ying's grin grew smug. "About that, I have a lead on her location. It would help if the arrest warrants for her in France were revoked, of course, but I am certain that I can bring her in."

Henri shook his head. "I'll see what I can do. You have your crystal ball with you?"

"Oui, old friend." Ying grinned smugly. "Relax, I have a plan."

Henri shook his head as he grabbed the files on Verdun. "The last time you told me that we were running for our lives from Death Eaters through the Paris Catacombs."

"It worked, didn't it?" Ying smirked as she turned to go.

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

Castle Moulbaix

Ehren meticulously cleaned and oiled her currently disassembled Luger P08 pistol that she had gotten for Christmas from Aunt Del. While her hands worked on autopilot, her eyes were watching Colombe as the rapier unsteadily poured brandy into a snifter as she sat at her desk.

She then glanced over to Tokunotakai who was also watching Colombe as she carefully honed and oiled her blade. She suspected that the Masamune's calm and serene face was as much of a mask as her own professional face.

The study door opened and Delilah stepped through, leading a young woman with purple hair and glasses, a slender young man in a khaki uniform and determined chilly eyes, a dusky-skinned short young woman who was speaking to Zamarad in Arabic, and finally a young woman with a kyu gunto at her waist and a witch's cloak over a uniform.

Colombe gave a slightly forced smile. "Del. It's good to see you and Zamarad. Tsukiakari too. Who are your friends?"

"Andraste." The glasses wearing girl sat down in a nearby chair.

"Sabah." The dusky skinned girl then plopped down in Andraste's lap, causing Ehren to raise an eyebrow.

"Nightbane." the young man spoke in an English accent then leaned against a bookcase.

"Welcome to Moulbaix. I am Colombe d'Aubigny du Chasteler, Delilah's sister. You are here to assist with Verdun?"

The new arrivals nodded.

"Ying should be back soon to relay what the French know." Colombe took a deep breath. "The Mill on the Meuse is waking up and I fear that at least one of the major nodes in the warding mesh has failed. And," she trailed off and sighed before resuming, "I don't know how much time we have before they totally fail."

The fireplace blazed green and Ying appeared, followed by a dark haired witch.

Colombe and Delilah both stared at Medea and their jaws dropped.

"Professeur Aetios?!" "Maddie Aetios?!?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Shaithan

Draugr

Out in the Norwegian Sea, far north from Iceland, two small fishing trawlers were busy exchanging illicit goods. Men in yellow jackets, almost indistinguishable in the fog and their heavy clothing moved palettes from one boat to the other.

"Damn shipgirls!" one of the men groused. He and some of his compatriots had used to run their wares on big cargo ships, but that had turned ever more difficult in the last years, especially when the various coast guards had found out that the spirits of all but the newest ships were quite able to tell if illicit materials were transported aboard them. It had left the men in Europe high and dry and even with several rounds of breaking their organizations and rounding up anyone even remotely connected to them, the Mafia and other criminal cartels still had enough of a reach. And they had very wealthy customers that wanted their product. Customers that tended to not take no for an answer.

His compatriots shrugged. They had accepted that things were turning sour and that there were more and more hurdles on the horizon. Scapa Flow had blown up a smuggling ring operated by people operating from Scapa Flow. The awakening of Halifax had shown that ports could wake up as well. And if ports could, cities could as well. They were under no illusion that many people would find themselves imprisoned soon. As long as you were in a city, she could hear you. She could see you. And there was no hiding. This was creating a retirement fund. They would need it, because in a very real sense, time was running out.

"Wish that fog would clear at least a bit," another man grumbled.

"I don't like it. Weather prediction said light rain. Not fog," a third remarked.

"It's unnatural, I tell you," a fourth remarked while guiding a palette into the hold. "Don't you smell it?" he wanted to know.

"Now that you say it," the second man agreed. He took a deep breath. "Rotten. Reminds me of my youth in the States," he remarked before inhaling again. "Worse than that. That's definitely rotting flesh on the air," he remarked.

"Abyssals?" the first man wanted to know fearfully.

"If, we're fucked," the second man said simply. He had made his life in this job. He accepted the realities of it. Doing their trade far out at sea always carried the risk of running into roaming abyssals.

"That fog is unnatural," the fourth man repeated. "Look at it," he insisted, much to the exasperation of his compatriots.

"What, it's perfectly normal for pea soup," the old man snarked before shuddering. "Shit. Perfectly normal for pea soup. You don't get that without some serious industrial pollution, especially not out at sea!" he laid out.

The other men stopped their work and peered out into the cloying mist. A mist that now engulfed their boats to an extent that the sun was only a pale disk in a fog that brought to mind the worst of aerial pollution. A yellow-ish green wafting over the boats like a suffocating blanket.

Suddenly, the captains of both boats came out of their cabins. "Did your equipment just die as well?" they asked almost in unison, followed by a short tirade of curses.

"What is it, captain?" the third man wanted to know of his captain.

"We're deaf, mute and blind," he simply announced. "Radio, radar, sonar, GPS, everything is dead. Even my mobile won't boot.

The other captain nodded. "Same here," he said. "Get your guns ready. I'm writing a message in a bottle. We're likely dead but maybe it reaches my son and maybe he forgives me one day," he said somberly. "Come to my cabin if you want to leave a few lines for your family," he added.

"Now, now," the first captain spoke up, "going from get your guns to the last words, have you lost your mind?" he wanted to know. "I agree that something spooky is going on, but that's an overreaction," he asserted.

The second captain shook his head. "We are completely cut off. Out at sea. We either stumbled on some hidden island like that story of the Eagle reaching Hy-Brasil and considering the fog around us, I'll eat that whole shipment of coke if what's out there is friendly, or we found a new abyssal. Either way, we're right fucked," he explained.

"Anyway, I got to write my piece," the captain said before entering his cabin and pulling out some paper and his driver's license. "My dear boy. I hope this message is me having a bad case of nerves, but I don't think so. We are currently far to the north, plying the trade that made you cut all contact with me. Many appliances on the ship have stopped working. Even my digital watch is dead. We're in a deep, unnatural fog, a fog you'd have seen in London in the 50ies. GPS, Radar, Sonar, Radio, it's all dead. Whatever we stumbled upon is likely hostile. I don't expect to make it out of here alive. I do not expect to see another sunrise. I ask only one thing. Please, tell your grandfather that he was right. I don't like your choice of work, but please, be a better father than I was. Signed, Captain James Rasmussen from Boston, Massachusetts. 6th of June 2014."

Taking an empty whiskey bottle, a reminder of the last time his son had still talked to him, he tacked the letter to the license and folded both to get them into the bottle.

Over the next few minutes about a third of the crews turned up with their own letters. Some just stating their name and the date as the probable date of death, others sending a last letter to friends or family. In the end, it were eight letters.

Taking a bit of plastic foil, the captain wrapped a cork in it and then pushed it into the bottleneck until the whole cork was in the neck. Taking a candle, a first seal was applied. The superfluous foil was pulled down over the screw thread and the bottle cap was screwed over it. The foil still standing over was cut off and a second seal of wax was used to seal the bottlecap, first seal and cork.

Stepping out of the cabin to the railing, the captain dropped the bottle over board. "If anyone out there listens, please take out last words to those that need to hear them," the captain somberly pleaded.

Turning around, he faced the men with him. "Well, let's get our guns. We're not going quietly," he stated forcefully.

The men gave a few subdued cheers before going to take up their defensive positions.

The waiting game was painful. The sun rose in the sky but it seemed to become paler with every minute. Whispers were heard in the fog, dead voices beckoning the men to surrender.

At about noon a long scream pierced the fog. The scream of a human experiencing continuous pain. Not the short Wilhelm scream, a long, pained scream that could only come from torture.

A blurry shadow was seen, large and foreboding. Other screams and wails had joined the initial scream. Some of the smaller shadows circled the boats, lights blinking in the fog.

The men peered into the fog, eyes trying in vain to discern forms in the wafting green mist.

"I see you!" a harshly accented feminine voice drifted through the mist. "Now, behold me!" it continued.

To the south, where the fog had been the heaviest and densest, massive lights began to glow.

To their mounting horror, the men realized that it wasn't just the south. To the west, the east and the north shapes became clear in the mist. Shapes that were less than 200 meters away and with the fog clearing, the harsh light of day revealed their hunters. Destroyers that looked likely a mad scientist had scaled up human and animal parts and sewn ships out of them. Fumes spewing from various outlets along the ships. A ship with a massive skull on her bow. Another with a winged monstrosity. A third with a serpent's head and the final one with a massive wolf head as her bow.

Ghostly and zombie-like beings assembled on the railing of the wolf ship as she slowly came to a halt near the tied together boats. Several of the ghosts glided down from their ship, pulling ropes behind them.

The men opened fire on both the ghosts and the zombies.

Firing on the ghosts proved to be utterly pointless, the zombies took hits, several were even dismembered by concentrated fire, but it didn't mean much.

A woman materialized on the railing, clad in armor and rigging matching the wolf motif found on the ship. The wolf heads making up her armor discharging putrid green puffs. She grinned at the carnage. "Futile," she mocked the men on the boat before muttering an incantation.

Before the widening eyes of the men, the zombies began reassembling. Body parts that had been shredded by bullets began reconstituting as the woman laughed.

"Tranquis!" she suddenly shouted and a wave of a serene turquois, so at odds with the horror that spawned it, engulfed the boats.

"Drop your guns, boys, everything is fine," the woman ordered.

The men did as ordered, vacant and serene smiles spreading over their faces. They didn't react when the zombies came down the ropes and put them in irons. It was only when they were being dragged up towards the massive wolf ship that the effect wore off and realization lead to resistance.

"Yes, struggle. Fight for your freedom. It's always so satisfying to break a spirit," the woman said while laughing. "You are going to have so much to tell me. Every last secret your feeble brains hold you will lay bare before me," she said while the zombies slowly dragged the captives before her.

The men were forced to kneel, while the woman marched before them. "Let's see. What reason could you have to be out here?" she mused before setting her gaze on one of the men. "Let me see," she said before beginning to draw a set of runes on the man's brow.

"We carry opium and cocaine for exchange, mistress," the man said as soon as the runes had finished eating themselves into his skin.

"Oh? That will be useful. I will have to tow your boats it seems. I can have them unloaded in Kalthafen," the woman mused.

"However, you may wonder what fate awaits you. Very simple. You will tell us all you know, both about this war, about the technology you have, about the magical world. And once you have told us anything, you will serve in the Kriegsmarine, bound to death and beyond. You belong to me and I will never let you go free," the woman said imperiously. "Bring them under deck and set up everything for extracting all their memories," she ordered her undead crew members.

She grinned at the prospect of converting the captured men into Draugr. A far more difficult and time-consuming process compared to the Inferi, but it had its uses. Draugr were far harder to destroy than Inferi and far easier to repair and more resilient. Unlike Inferi, Draugr needed their creator or the focus used to create them to be close. Separate them from their creator or the focus and they would quickly wither into mummies and uselessness. Any disturbance during the week-long ritual would destroy the bodies intended for use. If you didn't apply the proper seals, a faint but distinct magical wave would emanate from the ritual site and alert basically anyone who monitored for such necromantic magics that a fledgling necromancer needed taking care of. That ward alone took weeks to set up. And finally, Draugr weren't any more intelligent than Inferi, for them or Inferi to retain more skills than basic motor skills, further rituals had to be undertaken. And while those would take hours for Inferi, for Draugr it took weeks. It was simply easier to create an army of the dead using Inferi or other zombie-types. Her officers had heard of the Japanese having done their own research into undead slave labor and potentially having found a few intriguing solutions, unfortunately, none of the solutions had ever gotten far outside Japan. None had ever reached Kalthafen. And there was one last upside to Draugr. They could continue operating in temperatures well below freezing without being impeded. Inferi could freeze when it turned cold enough. But still, it was something she looked forward to. The process demanded perfection and nothing less than perfection was praiseworthy.

Looking towards the boats, she was pleased to note that they had been readied for towing. Looking over towards the other capital ships, she could just make out her three direct subordinates at the bows of their respective ships. Vampir stretching her wings and basking in the sun, Jörmungander coiled up and dozing and Hel sharpening her scythe.

"Get ready!" Fenrir ordered. "We need to return to Kalthafen. We have been out for too long already," she ordered.

"Who is going to intercept us up here? The Brits will take several hours from Iceland," Hel complained.

"Abyssals. A group of them is relatively close and closing in," Fenrir gave back.

"Oh well," Hel gave back, pouting. "Did we at least get something good?" she wanted to know.

"Handful of criminals and a good amount of opium and cocaine," Fenrir reported. "No one is going to miss that sort," she continued. "And even if they do, they're likely to blame it on Abyssals anyway," she finished.

The various ships began moving and maneuvering until the capital ships were facing the same direction and were at the center of the formation.

To the east, Njord scowled at the battlegroup. He was forbidden from interfering directly, nudging the group of abyssals towards the abominable ships was bending the rules as he had no intention of making the foul monsters his champions. But there were other things he could do, things that could be more easily brushed off. Looking at the drifting whiskey bottle, he weaved a small spell. Until she was collected by a human or shipgirl, she would follow the best current and always stay visible enough.

Far to the south two wizards looked at readouts from magical instruments that officially didn't exist. One of the many dirty secrets kept by the various offices under the Archmage and one of the many that were currently being investigated as to how to best destroy them without admitting that they knew about them all along. "Well, Mädchen, that is a big problem. No one I can think of has the authorization to order setting sail," the older mage said to the younger witch.

The witch nodded. "Yeah. And unlike that last trip, that one definitely wasn't a 'malfunction' of the wards," she gave back while a map showed miniatures of about 30 ships moving through the Norwegian Sea. A small moving box helpfully identified the fleet as Kriegsflotte Kalthafen.

"So, we need to find out who gave the order. And that quickly. Otherwise it's our asses getting fried," the older mage laid out. "It was bad enough when the Potter brat broke into the Spessart factory complex, but then he had to drag in the Unkönner. Now they keep crawling over that place and try to find out where the others are," he groused.

The witch shrugged. "The idiots didn't monitor the factory, not even remotely. Serves them right that they now have to eat that soup. They made it, after all," she countered dismissively.

The old man chuckled. "Indeed. It's especially funny as now the other three factories are constantly monitored, but they're still no closer to actually starting to dismantle them and cover their existence up," he added, leading to laughter from the witch.

"Remind me, old man, how much turnover did they have?" she asked, waiting for a punchline they both knew by heart.

"The whole group. Three times over," the old man said, leading to a new round of laughter.

Taking a few minutes to calm down from the schadenfreude, they looked over the other monitoring equipment. Frosthafen didn't show any activity. It had been finished basically just in time for its position to be unviable and having to be given up. Its commander had ordered the workforce destroyed and ever since then Frosthafen kept slowly rotting away. Sturmhafen had been taken over by a small group of abyssals that never left sight of the island. Considering their angle of approach, the monsters likely strayed too close to Azkaban and considering all the things said to lurk in the depths of the prison, the monsters likely ran into bigger fish and now lived in constant fear of said bigger fish. Apart from Abyssal activity, Sturmhafen was as dead as Frosthafen. The workforce had been destroyed and the submarines built there had been towed into the Norwegian Sea and scuttled in the deeper parts in the 1950ies. No one had wanted to bother with Kalthafen for decades and now that was coming back to bite them. Kalthafen had been envisioned as the staging area for a fleet whose main purpose it was to prey on England and Arctic convoys from the North. A second such harbor was to be constructed in the North Atlantic near the major convoy routes to England, but those plans never went beyond idle consideration, in part due to a lack of suitable islands.

"Well, Mädchen, you better pack some warm clothing. We're going to have to visit Kalthafen," the old mage said after they finished checking the equipment. "And there better be a supernatural explanation as to why Kalthafen is active. Otherwise, heads are going to roll and ours will be the first," he added with dark humour.

"Could it be shipgirls?" the witch asked.

The old wizard shrugged. "Possibly. But they tend to get summoned by the Unkönner military or direct abyssal threats to life along the coast," he mused. "Which makes it unlikely that it's shipgirls," he continued musing.

"Anyway," he abruptly declared. "That's mostly idle talk. Go home, get gear for the far North. I'll write up an expedition and inspection plan for our monitored bases and bury the fact that Kalthafen is active. We're setting out in three days. This is a cushy job where we can shoot the breeze, I'd rather it return to that status," he added.

The witch laughed. "Yeah," she agreed. "Anyway, I'll get going. Will have to make something up for my sister, but she can deal with me not being there for a few days. Her navy coffee is unlikely to kill her, after all," she joked.

"Yes, you do that, Tarkan," the old mage said as Janine Tarkan apparated away. She had to find her sister, had to explain things to her and hope that Kalthafen wasn't about to turn into a bigger problem. She hated having to involve her sister. But if this was someone having activated Kalthafen and its fleet, they were likely to need the firepower of the Navy to put that person and its fleet down. She really didn't look forward to having to explain that to her superiors, either. All in all it was a thoroughly rotten situation.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Time seemed to restart as the suspended water droplets fell back to Earth and the mist settled onto the water. Still smiling, the Twins closed their eyes took a deep breath of air before letting it out before reopening their eyes and looking themselves over in pure awe. Everyone was silent and simply watching the two as they examined themselves in their new forms... and lives. Both of them wore white kimonos with their respective blossoms on them, light pink sakura for one and light purple ume for the other.

It finally began to hit them that they were no longer bound to the island, and were once more... alive, though as Installations, Kami rather than human.

Slowly, they turned their gazes onto the one they knew were responsible, Harry himself, even as happy tears prickled at their eyes blurred their sight a little. At first, they walked across the water at an even, if slow pace before speeding up bit by bit. Before anyone could react, they were at the shore and climbing up it until they reached Harry, breathing hard. Upon reaching him, they just came to a stop, his name upon their lips, "Harry-Chan..." Brightly smiling, they pulled him into a tight hug with their faces buried in either side of his neck, "Thank you... thank you..."

Reaching up, Harry hugged them back, "You're very welcome, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan. I'm glad that it worked and also..." His lips curled into a soft smile, "That the two of you are once more free and alive."

Both Ume and Sakura pulled back some and gazed into his eyes before turning to each other. A silent conversation passed between them within seconds and they glanced at their little brother. The aged man had a massive smile on his face, but gave them both a nod. With a nod of their own, they turned back to Harry with Ume speaking first, "Harry-Chan..."

Her sister then continued, "Thank you..."

With that said, Ume then pulled Harry into a kiss that lasted a few seconds and made his eyes widened. No sooner did she pull back, than Sakura kissed him just as much as her sister did. Both of them giggled with blushes on their faces as they watched him just blinked with an unfocused gaze on his face. Around them, some people clapped and a few Americans gave wolf whistles... Constitution among them as she grinned widely. Finally, Harry snapped out of it and blushed himself, "Wow..." Looking at the two, he gave them both kisses on their cheeks, "Thanks."

Heads tilted to the side, almost mirror images of the other, they shook their heads, "It is us who can never thank you enough."

Meanwhile, Harry was looking them over and somewhat stunned at how they looked. No longer ghosts, their skin was still pale though not sickly, just fair skinned. From their heads, their lustrous hair fell in waves to the smalls of their backs while brown eyes, glowing softly with life and power, glistened from tears of happiness. Both of them were about average for height as well, though Harry was about level with their chins now.

All in all, both of them were quite beautiful, especially now that they were back to life and they flashed him smiles that showed white, pearly teeth behind their lips.

They stayed like that for a few moments more before the Twins pulled away and walked towards Akiyama who looked like he was so happy that he would explode. Ume and Sakura came to a stop before him and he reached out with trembling hands which cupped their cheeks, with them placing their hands over his. Instead of the corpse-like coolness that he was used to, instead there was warmth underneath the palms of his hands. At that, a laugh burst from him, one of pure joy before he pulled them into a hug with tears streaming down his cheeks, "Onee-Samas... you're fully back and alive..."

Eyes closing, they leaned their heads against his as they continued to hug him tightly, though careful not to harm him with their new strength, "Hai... we're back and here to stay, Aki-Chan... Our Otouto..."

From where he stood, Harry watched with a happy smile on his face and tears prickling at his eyes. A hand on his shoulder made him look over at Nagato who gave him a proud look and a nod, "You did well, Harry. I am so proud of you."

Scratching his cheek, the thirteen year old chuckled a bit self-consciously, "Thanks, Mum, I'm just happy with how everything has turned out."

It was then that Miu walked up and shook her head at the sight of her now resurrected, and much more powerful, aunts, "I... this is..." Turning, she gave him a confused, though interested look, "How?"

Before Harry could answer, the Twins broke free from their hug and also gave him a look, "We are wondering ourselves about that. How did we go from... Yuurei, of sorts, to well..."

Just shaking their heads, they gestured at themselves. Crossing his arms, Harry gave a hum, "Well... there's a number of things." At their looks, he gave a shrug, "I sort of started having dreams about two years ago, I think? They seemed to be telling me something and I started following them. It was mainly thinks like transfiguring a brick into smaller ones for example, or transfiguring sticks and popsicle sticks into what looked like tiny planks. Not really that huge of a deal until, well... This past Christmas."

Where she stood, Tsukiakari gave a small nod, "What Master Ian was talking to you about?"

Harry shrugged and chuckled a bit, "It was one of the things that came up and he gave me a number of clues. Which I pieced together to work out how to make it happen as it was sort of obvious that the two of you could be woken up as the spirit of the Installation here."

Confused, Sakura glanced at her sister and saw that she was just as lost. Turning back to Harry, she frowned some, "How?"

Expression becoming serious, the thirteen year old wizard gestured at them, "You have both been the spirits of the installation here since the very beginning.. You were placed as Hitobashira before the first building was even constructed and used to anchor the wards as well as the spells for the buildings themselves. As well, your entire purpose was to watch over the area. You showed this by being able to teleport anywhere within the vicinity. Hence... you were the guardian spirits." He gave a small shrug, "As to how? I mostly worked to gather the material myself. As mentioned, bricks made into smaller ones, small bags of concrete and cement, metal bars and wire, tiny planks fashioned from things like popsicle sticks and tongue depressors, small barrels of oil and coal... I placed them where they were needed."

Opening an eye, Juuchi gave a smug smile, "Such as the coal and oil going where the old power plant was and the smelters on site." Her smugness rose some, "And there was what you did at their resting place."

Harry gave a shrug at the looks directed to him, "It was one of the bits that my Great-grandfather was clear about. I made the Seiman over your graves with phoenix ashes, and each point had a vial of the Liquid of Life and a small shard of magicite... except for the flask at the center which had a lot more and was corked by a unicorn horn."

Stroking her chin, Akimi slowly nodded, "From what I heard, magicite is pure magic and the Liquid of Life can bring forth and give form to shipgirls, correct?" At his nod, she continued, "And pheonix ash? A creature of life, death, and rebirth."

With a small smile, the wizard nodded, "Hai, and the unicorn is purity and also represents freedom." He then gestured around them, "The magical warships each had hundreds on them who were either magic, or Yokai, which also brought a lot of spiritual energy into the summoning. Akimi-San, for instance, had a hundred Kitsune, some of whom were as high as six or seven tails. Same with the others including Shiromizu and the Clans being here, though their elders knew."

Throwing his hand into the air, Natsumi's grandfather grinned, "That we did! And it was a lot of fun as well~"

Only shaking his head at his old friend's antics, Shukaku gave a small nod, "He is correct, of course. And I was only too happy to help upon hearing your tale."

Continuing where he left off, Harry gestured at Constitution and the others, "There was also the shipgirls here, including Great Aunt Connie, Mikasa-Oba-San, and the others. They also brought a lot of spiritual power. Great Aunt Connie, for example, has a lot of the USN behind her."

A grin on her face, the sailing ship winked, "Aye, I've had a lot of men all through me over the years."

Ignoring the groans and mutters regarding Constitution, the thirteen year old waved towards Akiyama and his family, "And of course, we have Akiyama-San and your family. All of them are blood related to you, and thus could act as an... anchor, of sorts, keeping you here as you became what you are. Blood calls to Blood just like two magnets. All of which, well..." Harry gave a small, but happy shrug, "To this. But I'm happy for it."

With a small sigh, Richardson reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet before yanking some bills that he slapped into Goto's open hand, "Here."

Goto made a show of kissing one of the bills before placing it into his own wallet, "Thank you, and you should have known better than to bet against the Kid. Luckier than Yukikaze at times, I swear."

More amused than anything else, Harry snickered as they were not the only ones exchanging bills, as Ai and her fellow pilots were doing much the same, with the Tengu getting the money. Kiba was muttering about owing Jin several thousand, while Asuka, like Ai, was collecting money from those Clan Heirs there outside of Natsumi as well as some of the JNHRO while proclaiming that she might have enough for her own Velomobile.

Turning back to the, themselves highly amused Twins, Harry gave a small shrug, "Well, so yeah... that was how it happened."

About to say something, Ume paused and furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at her rigging, "Um, Harry-Chan? Installations have crew, so who might ours be..."

Everyone paused at that and turned their attention to her rigging before a fairy appeared and a number of those there gasped at recognizing the leader of the American ghosts. The small being took in everyone before turning to Ume and Sakura with a grin and tipping his hat, "Hey, hey hey."

Jaw dropped, the Twins just stared as the other Americans came out and marched out into view. There were a few, very few, of those Japanese who worked there as well. But there was also a number of Yokai and who they believed to be Japanese Squibs who had never worked there. Swallowing, Sakura turned to the Americans with a disbelieving look, "Why... why did you come back? You were free of this place.."

Utterly serious expression on his face, the American shrugged, "Hey, hey hey hey. Hey hey hey hey hey..."

As he continued, most of those eyes there widened in surprise and disbelief. However, Constitution slowly nodded with an understanding smile, "I see, so you came back to help them because as far as you are concerned, the two of them are just as much victims as you. And also, because it gives you the ability to do good now,"

Even as the American fairies nodded and made sounds of agreement, Mikasa looked towards the Japanese ones, "And you... all of you wish to make up for what happened in the war. Those of you not involved here were instead mechanics, engineers, and the like and thus want to help as much as possible."

The head of the Japanese fairies gave a nod to that, "Desu."

Slowly nodding, Mikasa turned towards Ume and Sakura, "The question is... do you accept them?"

Considering that, the Twins looked at each other and then at the fairies before softly smiling, "Yes, we do."

With a simple nod, the fairies all returned to the inside of their rigging. Something that brought the two former Hitobashira's attention to said rigging and they examined it. Both of them shared the same rigging, side by side which did not bother them too much. As well, there were what looked like drydock attachments that could easily take in even a Yamato for repairs, as well as repair facilities and machine shops, a smelter and foundry where new armour and such could be made, and a power plant to provide electricity for all of it. They knew that they could easily fashion parts quickly for ships as needed.

And it was not simply normal shipgirls that they could repair as well, as there was also a hanger where airshipgirls could also go for repairs as well as provide them with parts.

But when it came to defense... there was not much. The wards that covered them, a copy of the ones around the Caldera but concentrated, could withstand a sustained pounding by Battleships. As in, a few hours worth, which was why MACUSA had snuck in, nothing they had could scratch the wards in a short enough time not to attract non-magical attention. Their other defense was that with magic, they could easily have groups of their magical fairies repair their rigging. Damage that would have taken a real port days or weeks to fix, took minutes or hours for them. And in the case of the Twins, they could regenerate their rigging in a matter of minutes if given enough time.
In regards to weapons...

Well, there they were slightly worse off. Most of their guns they had were AA guns of various sorts used by the IJA and IJN as they were more worried about broom riders and those riding various magical creatures than a gun battle. But they did have a few WWI Era Siege Guns dotting their rigging as well as Type 10 120mm guns... And at the "Corners" of their rigging, representing the entrance into the Caldera, there were two massive guns that the Twins remembered were on order and were meant to be placed where the entry way to the inner harbour was.

41 cm Howitzers stood ready to fire when needed.

All told... they were in pretty good shape. With deep breaths, they nodded as anything more could come later. Instead, they turned towards the shipgirls and asked the question that was on their mind and they were slightly embarrassed about, "How do we dismiss our rigging?"

Chuckles escaped the shipgirls there and they explained the process to the two of them.

Soon after, the Twins dismissed their rigging and materialized it several times before Sakura nodded, "I think that we should not have much trouble with it anymore." Noticing something, she giggled and pointed behind Harry, "Um, Harry-Chan? I think that some people wish to talk with you."

It was then that Harry realized that he had forgotten about the other shipgirls who were summoned and turned his attention to them before bowing, "Um, sorry about that."

Just chuckling, Ishikari waved him off, "It's fine, Harry-San. Considering what happened... understandable."

However, he shook his head and the thirteen year old bowed again, "No, that was bad of me and for that, I'm sorry." Standing up, Harry blinked as Miitake was right there, "Um..."

The Battlecruiser gave a shout and threw her arms wide before pulling Harry into a tight hug that smooshed his face to her chest, "Eeeeee! That's okay! Because now I get to huggle you all I want!"

Behind her, Ishikari raised her finger, "Uh... Miitake-Chan?" Not getting a response besides how much her sister was happy now that she could hug and cuddle the wizard, she sighed and rubbed the side of her head before marching over. Tapping Miitake on the shoulder, she frowned at the other Battlecruiser, "Miitake-Chan, stop."

For a moment, the other shipgirl blinked in confusion before a sly look came over her face, "Oh... I see now~"

Despite not knowing what Miitake was on about now, Ishikari blushed, "W-what? What are you talking about."

Giggling, her sister poked her in the chest, "You want to huggle the Harry-Chan as well." Winking, Miitake stuck out her tongue some, "But right now it is my turn! Bwahahaha!"

Cheeks flushed, Ishikari bopped her sister of the head before yanking Harry from Miitake and pulling him close, "Enough of that." She then yanked the thirteen year old out of her sister's grasp, "Stop manhandling him."

Eyebrow raising, Miitake stopped rubbing her head and pointed at her sister with a smirk, "Like you're any better."

Slowly blinking, the other Battlecruiser looked down to find that she had done the exact same thing as Miitake had, with Harry looking up at her from where his face was shoved into her chest. Going red, she let go and looked away, "U-um, sorry about that."

Taking a deep breath, Harry let it out and gave her a smile, "Don't worry about it." Moments later, he felt two arms wrap around him and turned his head to find Denryuu hugging him from behind, "Hmm?"

Only smiling, the Carrier kissed him on the cheek before letting go while ignoring how Ishikari was sighing while holding her sister back, "Just thanking you for everything that you have done for us." Denryuu's eyes softened a little, "Especially considering everything that you went through when diving through us to make sure that we were purified so we could be properly summoned."

Harry rubbed the back of his neck which got a giggle and a comment of 'So cute' from Miitake, "Um, you're welcome?" Looking around at the other Caldera girls, he smiled a bit more, "And that goes for all of you, I did not mind it at all."

A chuckle made him turn to find Mihara there as well, the Repair Ship in a getup much the same as Akashi, but with steel grey hair done up in the same style as her sister as brown eyes looked upon him warmly, "And trust me, we appreciate that." She gave a small shrug and looked around, "We really do."

It was then that another shipgirl came up and Harry had to blink at the sight of her. Because, for a moment, she looked like a teenage Mamiya whose brown hair short, though with a red bow. But it was also then that he realized that she resembled Irako more than the other Food Ship and gave a small bow, "Kusumi-San, correct?"

The Food Ship nodded and bowed back, "Hai, that is who I am." She straightened and tilted her head, "And you must be Harry-San? The others told me a little and I thank you for what you did."

Suddenly, Harry was tackled by a Submarine with silver hair, "Hai! I think all of us are-ow!"

Wincing, the Submarine was dragged away by Iku who was growling, soon followed by Hachi, Imuya, and Shioi grabbing her limbs and carting her off. Just blinking, Harry shrugged and gave a look, "Must be I-353."

All that got him was nods, though he realized that the ones there were not the only shipgirls. Standing by the harbour were some girls who looked about the same age Maruyu did, though a few had ears and tails. But more, there were ten smaller ones, all of whom had ears and tails of different sorts who were also Submarines, but looking like they were all five years old. With a quick look into the spiritual, Harry nodded as it turned out that they were all Midget Submarines.

Off to one side, two young eight year old girls, one normal and the other with ears of a Tanuki, were speaking with Goto...

Right before several loud growls and rumbles shook the area. Everyone turned towards an embarrassed Sakura and Ume, before other growls from the rest of the newly summoned shipgirls' stomachs could also be heard. Chuckling, Harry shook his head before glancing at Goto who smiled and nodded. The thirteen year old reached into a backpack his mother had brought and began to pull out boxes sealed with Ofuda, "Thankfully, I came prepared with food..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (IV)

Castle Moulbaix

May 3rd, 2014
Spoiler: Heroes Assemble

It was a very open secret among the various Pantheons that while all prayers were given due attention, because of circumstances, positions, or importance of the petitioner to said deity, some were expedited to the deity's personal attention immediately rather than working through staff review first.

This was especially true when the petitioner in question was consecrated to the answering deity, was a primary troubleshooter for the deity's pantheon to handle mortal matters that said pantheon needed to be fixed in ways that would not violate the Divine Accords directly, and was generally involved in proving the adage about "Living In Interesting Times" being a truly powerful and malign curse upon one so sentenced. Prayers to get out of amusing and dangerous situations that may or may not be the petitioners fault were considerably more entertaining to adjudicate than the normal grind of prayers for wealth, power, a hot spouse, or smiting the neighbor cheating with said hot spouse after all.

All these factors neatly explained the heartfelt silent plea of "Oh God not again!!" from one Wei Ying (Consecrated of Guan Yu, Troubleshooter and Field Agent #1 of the Celestial Bureaucracy's Department of War, Martial Arts, and Police Work) arriving at the top of an elaborate white jade inbox on the desk of Guan Yu, Chinese deity of Righteous Justice, War, Martial Arts, Police Work and Bean Curd Sellers not even a nanosecond after being formulated. After all, a certain huli jing/Muramasa hybrid was both a reasonably reliable and productive agent for Guan Yu (barring a certain stretch 1941-45 in Hong Kong that really should have been handled with less blood and screaming no matter the provocations) and a source of never-ending entertainment and IOUs collected and owed thanks to her actions.

After all, a hard-working deity had to find amusement and relief from the daily grind of mundane chores performed on behalf of the Jade Emperor whenever He could.

Arriving invisibly in a moment of frozen time in the study of Castle Moulbaix, a set of immortal eyebrows shot to the top of Guan Yu's forehead as he surveyed the still life. Ying was facepalming as her father Colombe and aunt Delilah were staring slack jawed at a beautiful young-seeming Greek woman marked with invisible heraldry denoting her as an agent of another Pantheon. A second weapon spirit marked with the heraldry of a chosen of Hachiman was doing a double facepalm, and the younger half-sisters of his Agent were exhibiting signs of shock (musical and well hidden respectively). Four additional powerful weapons spirits completed the tableaux.

Clearly only one course of action was suitable to deal with this matter at hand.

A small exercise of divine power summoned his favorite Zitan-wood armchair and a side table with a jug of Celestial Wine and a bowl of the Peaches of Immortality to float invisibly and intangibly in prime viewing position above the events about to play out. He stroked his luxuriant beard thoughtfully at the impending show.

This decision was validated as a second deity dressed in a short black robe with a dark spade beard and hair materialized. Jet black eyes found Guan Yu's and the newcomer spoke. "Hades, Olympian Lord of the Underworld."

Guan Yu bowed courteously in response "Guan Yu, Chinese Deity of War, Martial Arts, Police Officers, and Soya Bean Curd Vendors. The dark haired young lady down there is yours?"

Hades nodded as he summoned his own backless golden stool, goblet of nectar, and bowl of ambrosia. "Medea of Colchis is important to the Olympians, yes. I interact with her the most since other members of my family have had problems with her. And I must ask, Soya Bean Curd Vendors?"

Guan Yu shrugged and idly stoked his beard as Hachiman appeared with a bowl of buttered popcorn in His hands. "Long story which relates to my deification. Do either of you want a Peach of Immortality or Celestial Wine?"

Hachiman shook His head. "Just wine. What did Colombe do this time?" He summoned his own chair and put the bowl of popcorn down on the magically expanding table next to the ambrosia as Guan Yu poured the wine.

Guan Yu handed a peach to Hades and shook his head. "Nothing so far. She was minding her own business when My Agent suddenly appeared with her old school friend. Who apparently is the teacher of her sire and is currently wishing that she was anywhere else but having to explain her deceptions to two schoolmates and one student."

With a pop a fourth deity appeared. The beautiful Native American woman in spotless white buffalo-hide robes rubbed her temples as she looked at Guan Yu. "What did those two idiots do this time to set themselves at each other's throats? Muramasas!" She spoke in a weary and long-suffering voice.

Guan Yu handed over a peach and then a bowl of wine to White Buffalo Woman while she sat down on a floating deerskin blanket. "For once they are getting along reasonably well and I haven't had to referee a fight. Yet." He stroked his beard while smiling happily at the free entertainment.

"Who knows that prayers actually are answered!" At White Buffalo Woman's sarcastic interjection, Hades hid a smile behind His jeweled goblet of nectar. After all He was far from unfamiliar with family squabbles among his fellow Olympians, and as long as they did not impact him directly, he had learned to gain entertainment from them, since the alternative was going as mad as Dionysus.

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

"Professeur Aetios?!" "Maddie Aetios?!?"

Medea of Colchis (also known as Professor Margaret Aetios while serving as Charms Instructor at Beauxbatons 1708-1734, and then Miss Madeline Aetios of a Greek-American immigrant family while a member of House Horned Serpent 1866-1872 during her studies of Native American magic at Ilvermorny) glanced back and forth between two of her old school friends while at Ilvermorny and her prize pupil while at Beaxubatons and winced slightly.

It had been quite a long time, at least four centuries in fact, since she had messed up enough to get found out as an immortal sorceress who was changing names and identities as she traveled and studied. Worse, her initial heartfelt mental request for Lord Hades to 'just drag her off to the Underworld' when the drachma dropped had been denied. Worst of all, with Verdun stirring, she could not Obliviate her way out of this jam while cutting ties.

She just knew that ox-eyed petty bitch Hera was laughing at her for this one.

Her fingers flicked and her eyes narrowed slightly at what was revealed by her spell.

She was somehow unsurprised at the Chinese characters entwined in Wu Ying's aura denoting her a person of interest to one or more of the Celestial Bureaucracy. Nor did the Lakota pictographs in Delilah de Breuil's aura saying much the same message earn anything more than a mental hmm. The impressively self-controlled blonde spirit leaning against the piano with faint pictographs hinted at in her aura also was noted in passing.

The matching kanji entwined with the auras of Colombe du Chasteler and the Japanese spirit with the katana in her hands did cause her mental eyebrows to climb, as she immediately recognized the insignia of Hachiman-no-kami on both.

Which was an exceptionally neat trick since she knew that Colombe d'Aubigny du Chasteler was the illegitimate child of a Austro-French noble descended from the French Branch of the Malfoys. Colombe sure as the River Styx did not look three centuries old but rather the well-preserved late-20s that she remembered her from when they last met in 1733. And who was not showing any of the signs of any of the normal life-extending measures that she knew of. Clearly her belief was in error that the odd reports of Colombe du Chasteler causing trouble for the ICW over the past century were someone taking the name and face of the legendary rogue who she watched get expelled from Beauxbatons.

Interesting.

She gave herself a mental slap as she caught herself over-analyzing rather than face people who she had deceived while being friends to. Hermes Dolios, grant me your silver tongue to explain myself!

"Yes, yes I am." Medea took a deep breath. "I can explain everything afterward." I hope. "Suffice it to say now that I am considerably older than I presented myself to you in 1866, Ying and Delilah, when I appeared as younger than I truly am so that I could learn the latest magical lore from the Americas. Also, my tenure at Beauxbatons was not the first time I had served there, Colombe."

She was rewarded with a puzzled blink from Delilah, which long experience had taught her was as good as an open-mouthed gape from the self-controlled girl; a French oath from Colombe as the girl gulped from the snifter of brandy in front of her; and Wei Ying giving her a curious look behind her near-perfect inscrutable face.

"That said, I have on good authority," if you only knew whose good authority, "That unless actions are taken promptly the spirit inhabiting Verdun will break loose and we need to act immediately to prevent a disaster."

Colombe nodded and rubbed her temples. "Oui. The crisis first." Behind her the Japanese katana spirit walked over and began to massage the Frenchwoman's shoulders. "Welcome to Castle Moulbaix, everyone. Thank you for digging up Professor Aetios, Daughter, because she is one of the people who I have met who knows the most about magic."

Medea's jaw dropped as she looked back and forth between Colombe and the blushing Wei Ying. Daughter!?!?

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

Castle Moulbaix, May 4th, 2014

"... So we know the breach is here, at Le Mort Homme." Wei Ying looked up from the crystal ball as Henri's image faded.

Colombe tapped the map of Verdun. "Oui, and your friend said that there is a dense unmoving fog-bank surrounding it in a circle two kilometers in radius."

Ying nodded. "Yes, Father. Also, three separate teams of Aurors have entered and none have returned, except the one person who was found at the edge of the fog when it retreated slightly from the ruins of Chattancourt and was mentally and physically broken.

Medea placed her Pensieve on the desk. "I extracted the memory that was devouring his soul into this."
Spoiler: Verdun, 1916

She waved her wand, and a window into Hell opened in the silvery-gray mist filling the Pensieve.

Clouds of poison gas drifted across a shattered moonscape littered with rusting barbed wire and churned by constant artillery barrages. Shambling corpses in mud and filth covered horizon bleu and feldgrau grappled in endless slaughter for slaughter's sake with rifles, machine guns, and improvised weapons in corpse-littered trenches and shell holes, only distinguishable from each other by the shape of their helmets.

Nightbane grunted. "As big a bloody mess as the Somme or Wipers, this is."

Toku's face was white as a sheet and her grasp on Colombe's hand became a crushing vise as she saw secondhand the essence of what had scarred her lover's soul in 1916.

Colombe suddenly spoke. "Wait. Back it up."

Medea complied, rewinding the memory slowly.

"There. That gutted corpse with no legs impaled on that shattered caisson. I remember that, we used it as a signpost to know when to take the turning into Tranche de la Marne."

Colombe's face was chalk white with controlled fear, but her lips flickered in a familiar smug smile. She looked up at Tsukiakari, who nodded in turn as her hand clenched her hilt in a white-knuckled grip. "We can navigate to the top of Le Mort Homme just like we did in 1916."

Medea took a deep breath. "And if you can carry one of my talismans to it, I can assemble a ritual team to seal the crack in the wards before Verdun snaps them."

Ehren chimed in. "Ja, and I think I know when it will try again. According to the records of activity that Henri sent us, there was a spike on February 21st, when the battle began on the Right Bank. Another on the 25th of February when Douaumont fell. Both those were contained and overlooked, then on April 9th, when the Crown Prince attacked the Left Bank where Le Mort Homme is, a third spike happened and apparently the wards failed there from neglect or sabotage."

Everyone looked at the dagger as she finished triumphantly. "And the most recent event was on May 3rd when Cote 304 fell. On May 20th...."

Colombe winced, "The Boche took Le Mort Homme from us."

"Exactly Mutti." Ehren nodded.

Medea sighed, "And the sooner the better because once the new ward is up, I will need to examine the other linchpins for damage and link them together. We know one chain snapped, but I do not know how badly the other chains are damaged."

Colombe took a deep breath and then exhaled. "Right. Who else is with me to do what must be done?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (V)

Castle Moulbaix

May 4rd, 2014

Colombe took a deep breath and then exhaled. "Right. Who else is with me to do what must be done?"
Spoiler: Volunteers

Faintly through the opened window could be heard the sound of the church bells in the village of Moulbaix as the question lingered in the solemn silence inside her study.

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai squeezed Colombe's hand and nodded sharply. "You shall not have to stand alone against the darkness any more, Co-chan." Her voice was quiet, calm, and filled with her master-forged steel.

Delilah de Breuil looked into her elder sister's eyes and spoke. "Someone has to come along to prevent you turning this into another dumpster fire, Sis. For my sins, that is me." Zamarad nodded alongside the Muramasa revolver as they interlaced their fingers.

"It is what Master Ian would have wanted from me." Tsukiakari said firmly. "His final command to me was to protect Miss Lyra and the rest of the people who he loved."

Colombe nodded in acknowledgement, and wiped tears from her cheeks at Tsukiakari's words. "Merci." She whispered.

Nightbane looked at Sabah and Andraste who both nodded to him. His jaw firmed and he quoted Kipling. "The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,/O it's " Thin red line of 'eroes, " when the drums begin to roll. We're in."

Sabah added, "I remember items at the Potter Estate that will be of value. One of the Potters that I knew, Catherine of the Grave, was obsessed with death and related magics and had some items that she enchanted that provide an edge against the dead that walk. Such as a ring that blinds the eyes of the dead, enabling the wearer to pass among them unseen and unsensed."

Wei Ying nodded to Colombe. "I spent most of my life looking for you, to prove to the world that you are the hero of Amah's tales and not the criminal that the ICW claims you to be. I won't lose you now, Father."
Spoiler: Ehren's Choice

Ehren placed her hand on Claire's shoulder. The sisters looked into each other's eyes, warm, tear filled mahogany brown meeting equally tear filled cool steel-blue in a wordless communion. Claire nodded jerkily and then crushed Ehren in a hug which was matched by the dagger spirit. As they separated, Ehren snapped to attention. "Where you lead, I follow, Mutti."

Colombe's eyes widened and she shook her head in denial. Crystal blue eyes haunted with the knowledge of what awaited met steel-blue eyes showing a will as strong and hard as the Krupp steel that made up her true body.

"Non, Ehren! I cannot..."

Ehren stepped forward and spoke in a firm voice, cutting her mother off. "But I must. If you should fail and Verdun comes here, I cannot stand against it alone to protect Claire and our charges then. I must act, and a slim chance as part of your strike team is better than no chance should it fail. We need all of us to stand that slim chance."

Colombe stepped forward to confront her youngest daughter as the rest of the people, sensing the mood in the room, filed out. "You are not ready. The horrors that we shall face in there would break you, Ehren!"

Ehren shook her head in negation as behind her Claire's piano body Apparated back to her room. "Are Verdun's horrors truly greater than what the," Her eyes blazed and her voice was filled with utter loathing, "Nazis forged me to participate in? The horrors that I wrestle with night after night in my dreams of the Abyss that I stare into?"

Colombe sucked air past her teeth like she had been punched in the gut at Ehren's pain and guilt filled words. "I cannot in truth say yes to your question, Ehren. All the men who went with me up the Voie Sacrée to be fed into the Mincing Machine at least chose to defend France. Not so with the Jews in the Holocaust." Tears filled her eyes and voice. "I still see those young faces endlessly going up the road to l'Enfer in my own nightmares before I remember what became of them. It would break my heart if you were to be one of them, Ehren."

Ehren stepped forward, and hugged Colombe, her own voice cracking despite her iron control of herself. "As my own heart would break if you were to fall and I was unable to save you, Mutti. Perhaps I am not ready, perhaps I shall never be ready in your eyes. But if not now, when? You can only hold my hand so far and no farther."

Colombe returned the hug, "Ehren, this not about proving yourself to me. You already have proved that your steel is as true as mine, daughter. Don't ask me to do this, please."

Ehren took a deep breath and her hug tightened. "It is not about proving myself. All I have learned of magic is that symbolism is vital in spells of this magnitude. You, Toku, Tsukiakari, Nightbane, Ying, Delilah, Andraste, Zamarad, and Sabah are all from the Entente. Where is the representative of the Central Powers?" She pulled back to stare into her mother's eyes. "Who is the one who can represent Germany among us? Who can show that meine geliebte Heimat(my beloved homeland) has learned from our mistakes, repents of our crimes, and shall make amends? Ja, ich muss."

Colombe's eyes widened. "It does not have to be you, Ehren."

"Who then? Claire??" Ehren pressed her advantage ruthlessly as she sensed her mother's resistance weakening. "From what I have heard, the German wizards are unwilling to act, preferring to cut off their noses to spite their faces. Certainly none we can find in time with a fraction of my capabilities in combat. I like this as little as you do, but my duty and honor is clear."

Colombe's denials died in her throat at the look in her youngest daughter's eyes.
Spoiler: Rapier and Ehrendolch

Silence lingered as mother and daughter stood facing each other, both as strong and resolute as their Muramasa steel core.

Tears silently fell from Colombe's eyes to slide down her pale cheeks, matched by Ehren's own tears.

The dagger released the self control that defined her to allow her vulnerable heart to show in her eyes as she looked into her mother's face. Colombe in turn had her own bruised and battered spirit in her eyes, showing all her worries, flaws, regrets, and fears that she normally locked away in her fortress of noble pride and duty to be exposed to her daughter's scrutiny.

Steel blue and crystal blue eyes locked in an endless moment, then the crystal blue eyes lowered first. "I regret the necessity but..." Colombe's voice was the ghost of a whisper and she swallowed, nodding once slowly.

Ehren's shoulders slumped and she hugged her mother with all her strength. "Ich werde dich stolz machen, Mutti(I'll make you proud mom)," she choked out through her tears.

Colombe returned the hug desperately. "I need your oath to follow all the instructions that myself, Tsukiakari or Nightbane give to the letter and instantly. Even veterans died there with a single mistake or an instant of inattention or simple bad luck. The Monster... it hungered endlessly for the slightest chance to claim you."

Ehren nodded soberly. "And the less experienced a soldier is, the more likely that they will not live long enough to gain that experience they need to survive. I swear my obedience to those who know more than I, and accept the risk, Mutti."

Colombe was unable to speak, merely hugging her daughter close as she mourned the end of Ehren's childhood.

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Millie crouched down, facing the wall in front of her. There were numerous switches set in the surface of the wall… but only one held her interest. Reaching out, she gripped the circuit breaker that corresponded to the Omega's bridge—the most complex set of electrical circuits in the entire ship, and the last one to be refitted—and took a deep breath.

She turned on her radio. "Okay, this is the last one, everybody. Fingers crossed…"

She flipped the switch… and was a low, almost imperceptible hum as the electricity she was providing started to flow through the circuit at a steady rate.

The breaker did not trip.

Millie let out a deep sigh. On the floors above, she could hear cheering as the systems of the Omega's bridge finally came online once more, after years of prior deterioration. Her job was complete… the yacht's electrical systems were fully operational again, and her hull was 100% seaworthy. A small part of the repair ship was disappointed her mother couldn't be here to see this… but then, she had gone away with Aunt Sunny to meet a fleet of Abyssals living in the Atlantic.

She hoped she would be alright on the trip there…

XXXXX

Nuri growled in annoyance as a 16-inch shell dug into her primary airstrip and exploded, blowing a not-insignificant chunk out of the asphalt. All around her, the members of Sunny's fleet were taking up defensive positions, with the Battleship Demon herself standing between Nuri and the ragtag group of feral Abyssals that had chased them down for no discernible reason.

Unbelievable… were feral Abyssals normally this psychotically aggressive, even around their own kind? How many times had Sunny and her kin dealt with fleets like this…?

"Hey, sis…" Nuri glanced to Sunny, who had turned back to her with a sly grin. "How much do you think you can manifest your installation half physically? I wanna try something stupid…"

Oh well. If they were going to put up with more of these random ambushes while en route to Panama, at least Sunny was here to make things interesting.

XXXXX

Hearing the door to the room creak open, Millie turned to see Ritou poke her head in. "Great work, girl. You've done a lot to help us expedite this refit. Your mother will be proud to see what you helped accomplish once she gets back…"

Millie nodded softly. "Thanks."

"No problem. Now… I suggest you get the hell out." Ritou jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "We're about to fire up the new engines, and there is a non-zero chance of this whole thing going kaboom right under our feet."

Ooh, that would be bad. "Right, sure. One second…" Millie pulled her tail out of the nearby connection port and followed Ritou up to the deck. From there, it only took a couple minutes to navigate the extensive scaffolding that surrounded the ship, kept it suspended several feet off the beach and out of the water. Once she got down to ground level, Millie made her way over to the crowd that had gathered a safe distance away.

From here, it was easier for Millie to make out the more dramatic changes to the Omega's physical structure. Her draft, originally just under four and a half meters, had been extended to seven meters in order to accommodate her new Abyss-made boilers, turbines and screws. To vent the exhaust from this new propulsion system, a smokestack now came up through the lower decks of the ship, emerging at the rear of the flybridge behind the antenna array. With her new coat of paint complete, and the flag of the Fleet of Laughter emblazoned on her bow, the Omega looked like an entirely new vessel—one that hadn't been left to rust away for almost a decade. And if all went well today, she'd finally be able to sail under her own power again.

The gathering of Abyssals and Abyssal-touched children watched with anticipation as a handful of battleships, led by Tanith, gathered around the bow of the suspended ship. Setting their hands firmly against the hull, they began to carefully push her backwards, towards the water. The yacht's frame protested briefly to the pressure—but the groaning of metal was quickly drowned out by the creaking and crunching of wood, as the network of scaffolding surrounding her started to give out. To many of them, it almost looked like it was happening in slow motion… the battleships scurried away as the wooden framework slowly tipped and fell backward, bringing the ship with it, until the whole assembly crashed into the water in a cacophony of shattering wood and roaring water.

As the dust and the waves settled, the ship was revealed to be roughly fifty meters into the ocean, her aft end bobbing up and down slightly with the tides. The battleships regrouped and started pushing once more; bit by bit, they helped the ship to slide the rest of the way into the water over several minutes. Finally, as the waterline of the bow started to submerge, the tide finished their job for them, giving the ship just enough deep water to lift off the seabed and float away from the beach.

The boys and girls all cheered as the Omega broke free from Avrora's shore, floating proudly for the first time in years. Millie, meanwhile, couldn't help feeling intense satisfaction, joy, and pride at the sight. She'd helped to make this happen… it was precisely the sort of thing she was born to do, and she'd been at peace doing it. Already, she wondered what she might be called to work on next…

Millie's radio suddenly crackled to life. {Alright, everyone,} her aunt Ritou's voice came in. {Everything looks good, no signs of flooding or warping anywhere. Firing up the engines in three… two… one!}

For several seconds, everything was silent and still—but then, the crowd heard a choking, sputtering sound. In the distance, small, pitiful puffs of smoke wafted up from the ship's smokestack. The onlookers weren't sure what was happening—some of them assumed it was just a slow start for a brand-new system—but then a ball of flame erupted from the funnel, causing them to jerk back.

{OH SHIT OH FUCK OH SHIT PUT IT OUT PUT IT OUT!!}

For several seconds the smokestack continued to belch flames, and the radio channel was filled with more panicked swearing and the sound of fire extinguishers... but eventually, thankfully, the fire receded, leaving the Omega emitting smoke at a much healthier rate than before.

{phew… I'm okay, I'm okay...} Ritou finally spoke up once more, sounding out of breath, and everyone was able to let out a sigh of relief. {Leftover diesel vapors, ignited by the boilers. Some glass gauges cracked in the heat, and my clothes got burned off… but everything is under control and nothing is on fire anymore. And more importantly…}

The ship's foghorn began to blare loudly—a signal for everyone to start cheering.

{She's alive!}

XXXXXXXXXX

…

"So…" Nuri asked calmly, an eyebrow raised, as she looked to her sister. "I take it you won't try to pull a stunt like that again in the near future…?"

Nestled protectively against the chest of her demon, her dress in tatters and nursing a broken leg, Sunny managed a pained but cheeky grin. "Yeah, probably not. It was pretty fun, though, even after the thing with my leg."

"When Mother learns what you did, she'll wring your neck. You know that, right?"

"A small price to pay, for the bragging rights…"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (VI)

Castle Moulbaix

May 6th, 2014
Spoiler: Final Preparations

Masamune-no-Tokunotakai dipped her writing brush into the pool of ink waiting for it in her inkstone. It lifted and danced across the waiting sheet of rice paper as she knelt in the room which Colombe had set up for her use.

What matter if I live on---
A tortoise lives
A hundred times as long.

A single tear trickled down her cheek as she signed the poem with the circle representing enlightenment. It hesitated on her chin and then fell to stain the paper as she dipped the brush to address the poem to her sisters should she not return to them.

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

"Lyra and Ian saved me you know." A soft French voice was interrupted by a swallow of brandy. "Physically, maybe, all I wanted to do then was just die. Certainly spiritually. Lyra gave me something to live for, she asked me swear to live for her and then him until I could find it in myself to live for myself once more."

"Master Ian and Miss Lyra were special like that." A pause while more brandy was poured. "Master Ian picked me up from the scrap heap after Shiroyama and gave me a reason to become... well."

"I wish that I could have spent more time with them. To-chan is wonderful and fulfills me, but I still love them both deeply and miss them." A hoarse sob.

"They are enshrined in the Arashi clan compound in Japan. When Master Harry took me there they appeared to me." A soft sob. "If... If I don't...."

The sound of a gentle hand squeezing a shoulder. "I'll make sure you make it back there to rest alongside them if the worst happens. I swear. I promised Ian to check in on them from time to time once my oath preventing it was fulfilled and I could visit Japan." A quiet laugh. "It is not like I ever let a few arrest warrants prevent me from doing what is right, non?"

A laugh. "Thank you. That sets my mind at ease. Master Harry is special and I love him deeply, but there will never be another like Master Ian. And for you if I'm the one?"

"Here at Moulbaix with my family. It's funny. When I was a girl, this castle seemed stifling and I wanted to leave it to explore and prove myself against the world. Now... not so much. I wonder when that changed?" A dry laugh as the last of the brandy was poured. "No matter. That's the last of the Nardini 1873. A fine year indeed."

"I can see why you gifted Ian and Lyra this for their 20th anniversary." A swallow of master-distilled Italian brandy. "Thank you for inviting me to share it with you, Colombe."

"My pleasure Tsukiakari."

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

In Claire du Chasteler's room, a Bosendorfer piano played a beautifully melancholy yet somewhat hopeful tune.
Spoiler: Claire Serenades Ehren

Sitting at her big sister's desk, a dagger's blonde-haired spirit dipped her mother's borrowed dip pen into a bottle of ink and began to write in a conscious imitation of Colombe's flowing calligraphy.

Dear Cousin Draco,

If you receive this letter I am no more.

The circumstances of my passing can be relayed by any survivors of our attempt to seal Verdun, if any people survive the attempt. I am writing to personally express my thanks for our time together -- as limited as it shall be -- and my hopes that you will nurture the seeds of greatness that I sensed in you. I wish you all the happiness in the world with the young ladies who accompanied you at our meeting, and please pass along my birthday wishes to the young lady who you bought the pearl earrings and necklace for.

Family supports family, and in the matter of Verdun, my mother needs my support, so I go into the furnace alongside her. I have the utmost confidence that if and when that time comes for you, you will live up to our shared heritage in whatever challenges our family shall face.

In closing, I wish to share the following piece of wisdom. I have striven in my short life to live according to the positive, true meaning of the inscription you may have noticed on my blade. My honor is faithfulness, and once you find something that is as truly worthy of your faithfulness as my family has been of mine, if you follow your honor to the bitter end, you cannot truly go wrong.

Und jetzt ist es Zeit, auf Wiedersehen zu sagen.

Your loving cousin,

Ehren du Chasteler-Muramasa

Ehren carefully folded the letter as her mother had taught her, and then melted the stick of black sealing wax placed next to her awaiting signet marked with the heraldry of the du Chasteler heiress and the already sealed letters to Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy.

-------------------------------
Spoiler: Delilah's Goodbye

Delilah de Breuil punched in a number from memory into her phone. The phone rang several times, and then a voice that she had known all her life spoke into her ear.

"Oi, you have reached Jacklyn Fox. I'm not here right now, but if you leave your name and number at the beep, I'll get right back to you."

SS Horizon Bringer, off the Serranilla Bank in the Caribbean Sea

Next to the charger for the vibrating phone a weapons rack rested. A dove menuki on a massively oversized nodachi resting next to a boarding cutlass began to glow a soft gold.

A pair of suntanned feet attached to a Muramasa's avatar descended the shipboard ladder and began to fish in the half-full ice chest containing Jamaica Stout Beer. A head turned slightly at the sound of Jackie's voice from the satellite phone giving the answering machine message.

"Hey Jackie, it's Del. I guess this means that you are still off the grid doing shit that would jam my cylinders if I knew what it was. As I told you in the earlier messages, Colombe, Ying, and I are leading a strike team to hopefully put Verdun back down where it belongs. We can't wait for you any longer, so we are heading out of Moulbaix. If I don't make it back, I just wanted to say that it's been fun, mostly, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. When you get back to civilization, pour out a cold one for me when you get this and I updated my will to pay off the bar tab I owe you from Gettysburg in 1913, so stop riding my ass over it. I'd normally tell you to be good, but I know you, so just stay uncaught. All my love."

The bottle of beer fell to shatter on the deck and a tanned hand grabbed her sword out of the rack and pounded up the ladder.

"DAMMIT JACKIE! I need to get to Moulbaix now!" Norimune bellowed.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Somewhat surprised like her twin, though through their link she also knew that they both felt like they shouldn't have been, Sakura blinked, "You brought food for us, Harry-Chan? Really?"

Looking up from where he was pulling box after box from his backpack, the teenage wizard nodded, "Of course I did." Harry gave her a lopsided smile that made both twins blush, "I figured that you and the others would need a quick snack to tide you over, at least for when you do your after summoning briefing."

Rapidly blinking, Ume glanced at her sister, "Oh... We see."

They then smiled and spoke as one, "We thank you then for the meal."

For her part, Miitake pumped a fist into the air, "Alright! We get to try some of Harry-Chan's cooking!" She then grinned and held her fists in front of her, "Then... we huggle him more as thanks!"

Just pinching her nose, Ishikari sighed, "Miitake-Chan, just... just stop..."

Ignoring the byplay between the two Battlecruisers, though his lips twitched a bit, the thirteen year old wizard pulled out a three large thermos and set it aside with some honey drops into a plastic bowl. Uncorking it, Harry poured out the tea inside one of the thermos into a cup and handed it to Sakura, "Here you go, Sakura-Chan. I know that it is not the greatest, but..."

Much to his surprise, she just shook her head, "No, Harry-Chan. This is just fine." Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek followed by her sister after Ume got her own tea, "This is more than fine, so thank you."

Lightly blushing, Harry chuckled as he passed out other cups of tea, though Kusumi also helped with that. Then, he began to tap the small boxes, enlarging them before opening them and handing each on to the shipgirl (or Installation, in Sakura's and Ume's case) that had their name on it, "Here, these are onigiri and should help some."

Eyes widening at the amount in her box, Denryuu bowed with a slight smile, "Thank you, Harry-Chan." Taking one, she bit into it only to hum, "Mmm, these are quite good."

A chuckle escaped Harry as he shrugged before he glanced around. Miitake, of course, was practically inhaling hers while Ishikari was scolding her between quick bites herself. Ume and Sakura ate theirs quick, though graceful. And the others were also eating some. Lips twitching, he pulled out some paper plates and piled them high with karaage before placing them and chopsticks beside the various shipgirls eating. That was followed by him enlarging the small cauldrons into larger ones and ladling out portions of tonjiru into large bowls which were then handed over.

It filled Harry with no small amount of happiness to see them enjoy his cooking. If there was one thing he liked doing, it was cooking for people who enjoyed it and appreciated it. As he watched, he internally noted several things.

One such thing was how much that the Midget Submarines were eating. The smaller ones seemed to be eating and getting full on what would be a large meal for a human who was a big eater. Which did not surprise him as, with a quick glance, he recognized them as being Ko-hyoteki type Submarines. Something that made sense as he remembered reading that the magical versions had double the amount of fuel due to expanded tanks, and that the crews were made up of Yokai who used their animal forms inside. The larger ones, from what he could see, were likely around Maruyu's hull in displacement though more streamlined, some looking slightly less advanced than others. They were eating as much as they could, while glancing at Iku and the others who seemed curious even as Taigei mothered them and the other Submarines.

Granted, he was confused about why Taigei had chopped I-353 in the head when she as grinned strangely at him and ate a fried piece of Karaage slowly, followed by a growling Hachi grabbing her.

Shaking that off, Harry turned to the other shipgirls there. Kusumi was eating slowly and seemed to be taking internal notes about what she was eating, while Mihara seemed to be more in thought as her and a happy Akashi spoke to one another. Every once in a while, she glanced at Harry and shot him a smile as well as a nod, which he returned.

When it came to the last group though? He had long since placed Miitake under the "Genki" type of girl. Energetic and happy, she was eating her food quickly, practically inhaling it though she seemed to be enjoying it. Meanwhile, her older sister was eating fast, though not as much as Miitake was. Ishikari, though, seemed to be taking the time to taste the food fully before swallowing... between admonishments of her younger sister. Denryuu seemed to be more methodical in her eating, savouring each bit even as her and a somewhat shy Taihou exchanged looks. Noticing Harry, she softly smiled before turning back to her sister.

As to the Twins?

Much like he expected for the two, Ume and Sakura were making their way through their food with grace and elegance as befitting two girls raised in Japanese nobility. At the same time, their movements mirrored each other perfectly as they ate with small smiles on their faces. Every so often, one of them would quietly speak with their brother who sat beside them on the makeshift bench that they were on. But other than that, they quietly ate without a motion out of place as they did so. Though they did shoot Harry the odd look with a smile.

Slowly though, the food began to run out. Granted, the Battlecruisers and Carrier had seconds and thirds of soup, while Sakura and Ume had fourths and fifths before they had enough to settle their hunger for now... Until, that was, Harry pulled out a final box and opened it to reveal melon pan inside, "Here, a small bit of dessert."

Rubbing her hands together, Miitake gave him a grin as she licked her lips and took two, "Excellent! Definitely giving you huggles for this!"

Merely sighing, her sister shook her head before also taking two. Soon enough, each of the newly summoned there had taken some and eaten it, with Ume and Sakura bowing to him once they were finished and he put everything away including the three empty thermos, "Thank you, Harry-Chan. That was most enjoyable."

Chuckling, Harry scratched the back of his head, "You're welcome, all of you." He just gave a shrug before winking with a grin, "Just wait until after you get your briefing. That will be a meal."

Out of the corner of their eyes, the Twins could see the Duckies clench their hands in front of their faces with awed and fearful looks. Softly giggling, Sakura gave a nod, "We'll be looking forward..." Realizing what she was about to say, she looked at herself, "W-wait... so this means that we can truly leave?"

Hands behind his head, Harry smiled, "Hai, at least according to what I was told." Noticing something, he frowned, "Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? Are you alright?"

Gently wiping at their eyes, the Twins shook their heads, "We're fine, Harry-Chan. Just... a bit overwhelmed at the moment." They then gave him a watery smile, "Thank you."

In return, Harry just gave them another smile and shrug.

Flashing him a smile, Ume then turned to Goto and bowed a little, "If we may make a request, Teitoku?" At his nod, she continued, "We would like to request a large number of vegetable seeds for our use."

With a glance to Ooyodo, Goto raised an eyebrow, "I do not see an issue with not allowing that. Though may I ask why?"

Sakura glanced at her sister and spoke with a slight nod, "Among other things, the base here had areas given over to grow vegetables. Particularly in the caldera's inner rim where things could not be built normally. It seems that we have... access to such places with our rigging." She then gestured at herself and her sister, "With seeds, we can grow vegetables to help feed our... crew, I think that they could be termed?" After a moment of thought, the former Hitobashira nodded, "In any case, we can give them food and so bring down what we need to consume."

Blinking at that, Ooyodo went over it in her head before nodding, "Yes, I think that could work out very well..." Seeing Kusumi raise her hand, the Light Cruiser raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"

Unsure, the Food Ship wrung her hands before glancing at her sister who nodded. With a deep breath, she let it out, "I... would like some seeds as well." At the looks of surprise, Kusumi continued, "I have a few rooms with artificial sunlight in them and expanded insides. The idea being to grow fresh food for troops and sailors... though, um, not that much..."

Ooyodo was surprised at that and glanced at Goto who also seemed surprised. But then, she nodded and smiled, "That would be appreciated in any case." Internally, she was sighing, 'That will help quite a bit with resources...'

Getting to their feet, the Twins looked at each other and then bowed to Admiral Goto as well as the others, "We're afraid that there is one last thing that we wish to do and something we wish to gather before we leave." While curious, the Admiral nodded and they turned to Harry, "Harry-Chan? If you, Akatsuki-Sama, Inazuma-Sama, Ikazuchi-Sama, Hibiki-Sama, and Tenryuu-Sama as well as Tatsuta-Sama would follow us..."

More than a little curious, the group followed the two as they walked back into the ruins until they reached their little hut. Something that Harry raised an eyebrow at, especially when the Twins summoned their rigging and took a step forward before placing a hand each on the building. There was a moment when the hut seemed to swirl in a way that made one's eyes hurt a little and then vanished. Eyes wide, Inazuma waved her arms around, "Hwawawa! It's gone, Nanodesu!"

Rapidly blinking, Harry looked at Sakura and Ume who seemed happy as they dismissed their rigging, "What happened to it?"

Lightly blushing, Sakura placed a hand against her chest, "We... took it into our rigging. There was an empty lot here back when the base was active. We simply... transferred it from here to there in our rigging to keep it safe."

Unable to help himself, Harry grinned, "Wicked."

Giggling, the Twins simply nodded before walking towards him. Sakura and Ume each took a side before clasping his hands, "Let... let us leave this place."

In return, Harry just nodded and gave their hands a squeeze. Only a few minutes later found the Twins and Harry in front of the Vanishing Cabinet. Both of them looked nervous before they felt a gentle squeeze of their hands and looked to see Harry giving them a warm smile, "I'll be right here."

For a few moments, they looked into his eyes before their fingers moved, interlacing with his. Sakura then answered for the both of them, "Hai... you are."

There was something in the tone that she delivered those words in that made Harry wonder, but he decided to think it over later. Instead, the three stepped into the Vanishing Cabinet together and the Twins closed the doors with trembling hands. As usual, there was not really a sense of movement and a part of Harry could not help but note the two female bodies pressed close. Mostly out of nervousness as he could feel them trembling some. For the Twins, they were scared. After all, they had been on that island for nearly a hundred years, stuck and imprisoned. Yet now, they have been given the chance to be free, to live their lives fully...

And as they looked at the thirteen year old between them, they smiled because it was all due to him.

Suddenly, they could somehow sense the island being a distance away and there was a click before Harry nodded at it with a smile though his voice was soft... understanding, "Go on... just push."

With trembling hands, the two girls did exactly that and opened the doors to find themselves in an underground room. In a corner, behind a desk sat a young girl, one of the Riverine Gunboats. Useful for duties like guarding the Vanishing Cabinets and the like. It was somewhere else...

Somewhere far and away from their island.

Noticing tears coming from their eyes, the Gunboat gave Harry a look, only to receive a shake of the head from him. Gently, he helped the Twins out of the Cabinet and onto the floors. Looking up at them, the wizard softly smiled, "Welcome to Yokosuka... and the rest of your new lives, Sakura-Chan, Ume-Chan."

Both of them look him in the eyes before smiling mysteriously, "Yes... the rest of our lives." And once more, the two give him a kiss with Ume first and then Sakura before pulling back from the somewhat stunned looking Harry, something that they giggle briefly at, "Thank you again, Harry-Chan... for everything."

None of the three notice the Gunship give them an amused raised eyebrow and they stand there waiting until the others came through.

Once they had and were in front of them, Sakura and Ume glanced at the two B-65s as well as Denryuu and Mihara. The four nodded and came up to stand beside the Twins, two on either side as Harry walked off to stand nearby. Taking a deep breath, Ume began to speak, "We... cannot even begin to say what we are feeling. We were trapped there, on that island in the case of Nee-San and I for nearly a century, the others for around seventy years. And both I and Nee-San knew we would be there for centuries more."

A small, soft smile on her face, Sakura glanced at Harry, "But... you all changed that. First, Haru-Sama, Junyou-Sama, and Ryuujou-Sama alongside Natsumi-San and Harry-Chan placed purifying Ofuda around the Caldera, banishing the darkness and breaking the bonds that held so many spirits there..."

Right then, Denryuu spoke up, her gaze full of something soft as she gazed upon Harry, "Harry-Chan here dove into each of our hulls, alone except for some fairies from Enterprise-Sama. And he placed those Ofuda in our lower decks. I... remember hearing the Marines that accompanied him on the decks above water talking about how creepy my hull was... and Harry-Chan stated it was not creepy... merely sad."

For once, Miitake was utterly serious, "Hai! And thanks to that, we were able to come back and help... And do it for the right reasons." Suddenly, she grinned, "And huggles!"

Slapping her face, Ishikari just sighed before turning back to the amused crowd, "But... the final step needed was all of you helping us. Coming to our island prison so that we could be free."

Mihara slowly nodded with a thankful smile upon her face, "Now... now we are free at last. We're not held back by our past, not by our builders, and not by the darkness. We are finally free."

Almost as one, the six Caldera girls all bowed deeply to those there, "Thank you for helping us."

Those there just bowed back as they spoke, "You are very welcome."

When they stood back up, they gave the group applause before Ai walked up and gave Sakura a pat on the shoulder, "We're just glad that you're all free."

Taking an ordered Kleenex from Harry, Ume nodded as she wiped her eyes free of tears, "Thank you..."

Several seconds passed before Miitake pumped her fist, "Alright! Now for what is important!" Twisting, she leapt at a surprised Harry, "Time for Huggles!"

While various people snickered, laughed, giggled, or chuckled, Ishikari sighed and pinched her nose, "Nee-San..."
________________________________________________________________

Due to the number of shipgirls who had been summoned, instead of his Office, Goto used instead one of the conference rooms. Looking around the large room, Denryuu ran a hand along the polished wooden surface of the table in front of her, which was shiny enough to see her reflection looking back at her. At a throat clearing, she looked up to find Goto smiling at them all from across the table with Nagato, Kongou, and Ooyodo having taken places up beside him. Just nodding, the Admiral gave a small sigh, "Thank each and every one of you for returning. Trust me, we deeply appreciate it."

Arms crossed, Miitake grinned, "How could we not? We were built to defend Japan from her enemies! And this time they're of the right sort!" She then shrugged, "And besides... Harry-Chan asked for us to come back."

Giving a sigh, Ishikari frowned at her sister only to lightly flush at the knowing look from her. Quickly, she looked away and scratched her cheek, "Well... he did ask. And, um... he went to a lot of trouble to let us be able to..."

Her younger sister grinned before stage whispering over the table, "She's like one of those... what do you call it? Tsunderes? Like that at times."

Now heavily blushing, the other Battlecruiser bopped her on the head. Only shaking his head at their antics, Goto became serious before glancing at the Twins as well as the two B-65, Denryuu, and Mihara, "While I know that you know most of what will be spoken about in regards to why you have come back, the others do not."

Slowly, Kusumi raised her hand up with an unsure look on her face, "I... will admit to wondering that myself. No offense, Teitoku, but... when I sank, No-Majs like yourself did not know about magic. Yet, you were able to perform a ritual of great power to bring us forth." She looked at her hands with confusion, though wonder, "And I am wondering how we are like this in the first place."

Leaning forward, I-353 gave a giggle, "Not that I mind too much~ Perhaps a reward is in order-"

Before she was finished, Denryuu whacked her upside the head and frowned, "Harry-Chan is not for lewding." When the Submarine opened her mouth, the Carrier narrowed her eyes, "I know what you were going to say.'

With a small shrug, the Subgirl hummed and leaned back in her chair. Internally sighing since very likely she would be around Yokosuka for some time, Nagato stood up, "There are reasons for such. Mainly revolving around a war that has been going on for the better part of a decade across the oceans of the world..."

Having gotten their attention, Nagato slid folders across to each of them outside the six Caldera girls who already knew. She also brought up the projector to show them via slides and over the next twenty minutes, she explained things alongside the other Secretary Ships and Goto himself. Once she was done, she simply waited while the newly summoned shipgirls digested that.

For several moments, Sakura looked down at the paper in front of her before meeting Goto's eyes, "So that is why no friendly Abyssal ever visited our island..."

Very slowly, the Admiral nodded, "Hai, we were worried that if one did, you might well spontaneously have become an Abyssal Installation due to what happened there. Something that should no longer be a danger, of course."

All Sakura did was nod in reply to that.

One of the smaller Submarines raised her hand and chewed her lip with an unsure look on her face, "Um... Teitoku? I'm not sure how much good we could do, but..." Glancing at her sisters, the Tanuki gave a nod, "We'll do our best!"

The other Ko-hyoteki Submarines gave their own nods and the like, which made Goto smile, "Thank you, but you can do quite a bit in the form of coastal patrols and the like. And as I said, we're glad to have you."

Frowning, Kusumi furrowed her eyebrows and gave a small nod, "I... think that I can help? I'm not sure how much help my potions will be, but I can make them."

With a slight nod, Ooyodo smiled at her, "They can be of great help, though I would ask that you speak with Harry since he has been making potions for us shipgirls for some time now."

Surprised at that, the Food Ship became thoughtful and nodded.

That done, Nagato turned towards the Twins with a sigh, "While we wish that there was another way, and would not like to ask..."

Both former Hitobashira gave her smiles, "You do not need to worry, Nagato-Sama, we do not mind helping. We can be of great help after all as needed and besides..." They shared a look before turning back to her with a small smile and blush, "We could use the practice for the future."

Lips twitching, Nagato leaned forwards with a chuckle, "I assume that you mean in regards to my son."

It was a question, not a statement, but Sakura and Ume nodded nonetheless. Then, Ume chewed her lip, "We... might be able to help quite a bit in that case as..." Glancing at her sister, she frowned, "We might be able to repair our old base by overlaying our rigging on it, making it like it had been before it was destroyed."

That made eyebrows raise and Goto fixed them with a look, "Are you stating that it might be possible for you both to make the base as it appeared in the 1940s?" At their nods, he leaned back, "Now that is rather interesting as some of my superiors had been considering building a base on your island..."

Hands clasped in front of her face, Kongou gave a hum, "Very interesting, Dess. Especially with some plans that we have had."

For her part, the lone Light Cruiser gave the Fast Battleship a look before turning back to the group and making some notes, "Of course, before we go further we would like to know what we are dealing with and your capabilities..."

Slowly, one of the Ko-hyoteki raised her hand, "Um, I'm He-2, Teitoku. And my sisters and I, well... We don't have much compared to our No-Maj sisters. Just... more air and longer range since we have expanded fuel tanks. About... twice the range of our non-magical sisters?" Then she perked up, "Oh! And we can also go twice as deep due to the strengthening charms on our hulls."

Eyebrow raised, Goto nodded some before frowning, "That is both impressive and very useful. But before we go further... He-2?"

It was Ume who answered though, "Hai, to prevent confusion with the No-Maj Navy, the Kamo Government and Navy instead used the other parts of Iroha. Large Submarines such as Iku-San built for magicals would have used Ni in front of their names, our Medium Submarines used Ho, and Support Submarines such as I-353 would use To in front of their number."

Considering that, Goto hummed, "Were there many Support Submarines?"

Both Twins furrowed their eyebrows in thought before frowning, "There were two based on the I-351 Classes, but designed around resupplying other Submarines. They had expansion charms in certain places inside the hulls to help carry more supplies and act as Submarine Tenders. But they were built at another Dockyard as were a number of I-361 types."

Head tilted to the side, Ooyodo made some notes before turning towards the older looking Midget Submarines, "If I may ask your classes? Though you do resemble the Ha-201 Class."

One of them nodded before smiling, "I am Ho-1 and our design was based off the Submarine No.71 from what I know as a mass production. Like the others, we have strengthening charms on our hull and expanded fuel tanks, but also charms on our propellers to suck in more water to help us be faster." She thrust out her chest a little in pride, which considering she looked ten almost made Nagato coo, "We're really fast Submarines since we got better engines, twenty one knots!"

With a small nod, one of the others smiled, "And I am Ho-21, based off the Ha-201 Class, with much the same charm work for myself and my sisters."

Stroking her chin, Ooyodo made a note, "So there were many of you?"

The small Subgirls shared a look before nodding, with Ho-21 frowning slightly, "Hai, I have twenty sisters."

Needless to say, that raised eyebrows and they turned to Sakura and Ume who gave a nod, "Hai, there was a small production facility in the base. They would be built in a large warehouse and transported into the water via marine railway." Considering for a few moments, they gave a small nod, "We think that it could be used to repair up to Destroyer sized vessels by using the railway to being them out of the water."

Intrigued, Goto leaned forward, "What sort of facilities do you have with you?"

For several moments, the two former Hitobashira thought about things before nodding, "We have a full ore processing plant capable of turning ore into metal as well as smelting with a power plant, a foundry capable of building most ship parts needed, four dry docks capable of up to Yamato sized ships, and two Marine railways which can lift up to Destroyer tonnage out of the water. We also have plans for at least one floating dry dock, though it would take time to build it." Seeing the stunned looks, they blushed, "It... is not much, but..."

Clearing his throat, the Admiral waved them off, "No, no, that is plenty, thank you." Leaning back, he fought back a small grin, 'Yes... this could change quite a bit...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (VII)

Castle Moulbaix

May 6th, 2014

Colombe du Chasteler ceremoniously and somewhat drunkenly turned over the empty brandy snifters to rest upside down on the cloth napkins on her desk next to the empty bottle.

She looked at Tsukiakari. "Well that's it. The flying carpet is ready for us to take to Souilly to drop off Madeline Aetios to lead the ritual while the rest of us head into the belly of the beast."

She walked over to the sword rack and buckled her rapier to her side. "Time to go."

Behind her the flames flared green. "Not without me you are not, Daughter!"

Colombe's head snapped around and her jaw dropped at her father's suntanned avatar wearing nothing but a string bikini printed with the Imperial Japanese Rising Sun.

Colombe stared at Norimune, to be matched by a firm glare from the elder Muramasa.
Spoiler: There Is A Butterknife In Moulbaix They Call The Rising Sun...

Colombe shook her head. "Only if you agree to follow my leadership, Father."

Norimune stared into her oldest daughter's eyes for long moments. "Agreed. Fill me in."

Colombe turned to Tsukiakari. "Tell the others. Norimune and I will be down in a second after I raid my closet for clothes for Father to wear. This won't be a walk at the beach."

"Hai!" Tsukiakari sprinted out the door as Colombe and Norimune headed to her room. As they entered, Claire began to play a hammering bass piece in time with Ehren's footsteps leaving her room.
Spoiler: Prelude To Verdun

"Short version is in 1916 during the Battle of Verdun, the spirit of that place was corrupted. I don't know whether it was the slaughter there, the magic I and the other wizards threw around, or what, but it came back wrong. It hungers for everything it can devour, endlessly." Colombe threw open her wardrobe and tossed an 'AMERICA-BACK TO BACK WORLD WAR CHAMPS' T-shirt at Norimune. "When the war ended, I and the other survivors from the Entente managed to put it to sleep and established a network of wards across the area of the battle to keep it from waking up. The linchpin ward on Le Mort Homme failed, and in two weeks, probably timed when Le Mort Homme fell to the Germans after they and we bled ourselves white on its slopes there's going to be another pulse of necromantic energies like the one that happened three days ago centered on Cote 304 over one hill. If we don't get the ward up, I don't know what will happen, but it could easily be an an Abyssal Princess with a quarter-million army of the unhallowed dead who died there coming for me and my family."

"Fuck me running." Norimune muttered as she pulled on the T-shirt and a pair of sweat pants.

"My thoughts exactly. Worse yet, the last pulse turned a two kilometer radius circle centered on Le Mort Homme into a replica of what it was like in 1916 when it ate men by the tens of thousands. With more Inferi and undead than I recall. Probably the same level of nonstop drumfire artillery barrages and poison gas, though. I won't blame you if you back out now." Colombe's voice was tightly controlled as she dug through a drawer for socks.

"Like Hell I'll let you face that alone. Wait. You were there in 1916?!" Norimune spoke, looking at her eldest child in a new light.

Colombe spoke with a haunted expression. "I still go up there in my nightmares. I was there in April and May 1916 and Tsukiakari, the sword who I was with was present there on Ian Potter's hip for stretches, so we can hopefully navigate the trench network to the top. If it hasn't been blown to bits by the preparatory barrages again. Anyway, for my mortal and grievous sins, I am leading the effort to reach the monument at the apex, Tsukiakari's my second if I fall, and Nightbane is the third as the only other one of us with experience in the Great War."

Norimune grimaced as she pulled on the socks and a pair of work boots. "It sounds like a shitshow and then some. Just us then?"

"Thank all the kami and God no. Me, Del, Zamarad, Ying, Ehren, Tokunotakai, Tsukiakari, Nightbane, Sabah, and Andraste are going to be the forward team who storm Le Mort Homme. Professor Aetios, my old Charms instructor and the person who taught me some of the spells I used a century ago to handle it the first time is going to lead a ritual team from General Petain's old HQ in Souilly to slam the door on it once we get one of her talismans to the top to use as a focus."

Norimune followed Colombe down the stairs in the great hall two at a time as the piano playing picked up pace. "I know you, Delilah, Ying, Tokunotakai, and Tsukiakari. Who are the others?"

"Zamarad is an Ifrit and a bit of a package deal with Delilah. I have known her since 1942." Colombe responded.

"Useful. Those things are nasty as fuck to fight. Wonder how she hooked up with Delilah?" Norimune mused.

"You will have to ask one of them, Father. Nightbane is a bayonet who served in the Great War and other places and wound up in the Potter Armory. Sabah is a medieval scimitar that the Potters picked up somehow, she's their stealth expert. Andraste is a shield spirit and the plan is to have her provide a base of fire if we have to fight our way up. Ehren," Colombe's voice broke, "is my youngest daughter, she is the spirit of a SS-Ehrendolch dagger and this will be her first combat."

Norimune stopped halfway across the marble tiles of the floor. "No shit!?"

Colombe turned to face her father. "No shit. Ehren argued me into it. She is the only one available who can represent the Germans in this ritual attempt save for her sister Claire who is totally unsuitable." Tears trickled down the rapier's pale cheeks. "I don't have the right to ask you this, truly, but..."

Norimune stepped forward and clapped Colombe on her shoulder. "I'll protect her as best I can."

"Merci." Colombe whispered as she opened the door to the outside.

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

In an upstairs room lit only by candlelight, a piano spirit's tears fell like rain upon the ivory and ebony of her keys as her fingers poured out her heart and soul while her family went to war to protect her.
Spoiler: Claire Prays

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

Colombe and Norimune headed to the waiting flying carpet. Ehren stood at the edge of it, helping lash a pair of chests to the carpet. "What are those, Ehren?"

"Mutti, the one carved with skeletons is from the Potter Manor and contains Catherine of the Grave's talismans to protect us from the walking dead."

Colombe nodded approvingly. "And the other?"

"Delilah and Zamarad arranged for us to acquire gas masks, body armor, and some helmets, Mutti!"

Gloversville National Guard Armory, Gloversville, Fulton County New York

"So let me get this straight, Sarge. Last night parties unknown cut through the locks on the doors with an acetelyne torch without showing up on the security cameras or lighting up the neighborhood, headed to our storeroom, cut the security door to the arsenal open, got inside, and stole a dozen MOPP suits, a dozen IOTVs, same amount of battle rattle and helmets, and two cases of MREs and bottled water while leaving the ammunition and guns totally untouched?!?"

"And they are all in women's sizes, sir. I have seen some shit in my time, but this takes the cake."

"No shit, Sarge, the brass aren't going to believe this."

"Yessir, this is some next-level X-files shit. I already notified HQ, the MPs and Military Intelligence, Ell-Tee."

"Jesus, that fucking security door is a half-inch of reinforced and hardened steel and these fuckers melted it open like a hot knife through butter."

"Tell me about it."

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

Souilly, Department of the Meuse
Spoiler: The Voie Sacrée

The flying carpet glided to a halt just outside a small farming village. Below the gathered heroes a road stretched through the village heading north and south.

Before 1916, it had been just another secondary farm road like any other in the world.

But 1916 had changed that. The only road that could not be interdicted by artillery fire that led into Verdun, it would be forever known as the Voie Sacrée, the Sacred Way that had linked Bar-le-Duc and France to the battlefield where the fate of nations would be decided. Day and night, nonstop for eight endless months, one truck filled with supplies, ammunition, or men would pass any given spot on the 72 kilometer roadway every fourteen seconds to feed the monster at the end.

Here, 21 kilometers from the killing fields where his men bled and died in desperate defense, hopeless counterattacks, fanatical resistance, and finally exhausted triumph, General Philippe Pétain had his headquarters in the town hall that fronted the road. Often he would stand on the steps as he watched the endless procession of men head up to the front where the guns thundered ceaselessly.

Here, on April 9th 1916, when for the first time his men had absorbed a hammerblow aimed at Le Mort Homme and Cote 304 and managed to fight the might of the German army to a standstill in a day that saw the Crown Prince's guns shoot over seventeen ammunition trains worth of artillery shells and absorb casualties numbering in the tens of thousands, he would pen the Order of the Day and finish it by paraphrasing Joan of Arc's words from five centuries before.

"Courage, On les aura! "

Courage, We shall get them.

Here, Medea of Colchis slid from the flying carpet. She handed Colombe a coin pouch. "Everyone take and wear one. When you reach the breach, snap the chain and place the coin as close as possible to the breach. That will alert me to begin the ritual of warding."

Colombe nodded and pulled out the first Athenian obol coin strung on a golden chain and put it around her neck after handing the pouch to her oldest daughter. "Coins to pay the ferryman of Hades for those who die then? Fitting."
Spoiler: Charon's Fee

Ehren handed the now-empty coin pouch back to Medea. As she did that, Colombe looked at the others and guided the carpet north up the Voie Sacrée toward the awakening Mill on the Meuse.

The rapier squared her shoulders and whispered to herself as Verdun approached with each beat of her racing heart.

"Courage, On Les Aura..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

BadHabits said:
Abyssal Hippie Stoner​

Great, now my muse is woke.

XXXXX

Splayed out belly-up on a park bench, it took several seconds for the Ta-class's brain to register the human police surrounding her, weapons at the ready. "Oh... hey, there," She said slowly, looking over the humans one by one with a distant expression as she picked herself up. "What's up...?"

She'd done away with the armored pauldrons typical for her kind, and her sailor shirt looked like it had had tie-dye colors sloppily applied to it. A wreath of flowers sat on her head, and the glow of her eyes was noticeably duller than it should be... likely a side-effect of the joint clutched loosely between her fingers.

The officer in charge stepped forward. "Er... do you mind telling us what exactly you're doing here, ma'am?" He asked nervously.

The Ta-class thought the question over for a bit, pausing to take a hit from her weed. "Well... I think I was tryna' set fire to some weird crop field I came across... fuck with your people's logistics... but once the plants started burning, the fumes... they started getting to my head. And... I kinda liked it." She let out a deep, relaxed sigh, blowing out a lungful of smoke. "All the rage, this anger in me... it just faded away. For the first time I can remember, I was able to just stop and think about what I was supposed to be doing."

The Ta-class shrugged. "And I realized... why bother with any of it? You humans are soft, and flimsy, and short-lived. Even if you're not killed in some accident... or by each other... I'm gonna still be around long after you all die. So why put my life at risk trying to speed things up?" She held up her joint. "Just lay back, stop worrying, and whatever happens, happens. That's how I'd rather live, now."

With that, the Abyssal closed her eyes and laid back once more, drifting into a nap. One of the police officers turned to the commander. "Uh... so, what exactly do we do here, sir?"

The sergeant shook his head slowly. "No fucking clue. There are nonagressive Abyssals, and then there's... this."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

"Harry-San?"

Blinking as he heard his name called, Harry turned from where he placed a bowl of butadon into a box with several others and closed the box. Quickly placing a Ofuda to put the food into stasis, Harry walked up to the counter and found Akiyama there and bowed, "Akiyama-San."

The older man bowed back and seemed to be amused by the sight of Harry in an apron, "Ah, Harry-San... would it be possible if we were to speak privately about certain matters?"

One eyebrow raised, Harry gave a small nod, "Of course, I have a cake baking anyways so I can spare some time." With a glance and a nod towards one of the cooks, he walked back and placed his apron back before walking outside the kitchen, "Shall we find a spot for privacy?"

Akiyama glanced towards his family and gave a small nod before walking outside with Harry. Within a few minutes, the two found a bench that Harry could sit down on and the older wizard looked out over the base and took a deep breath, "Ah, these bones of mine are getting too old. Always needing to rest."

Lips twitching, the thirteen year old chuckled, "One is only as old as they feel, Akiyama-San."

With a small chuckle, Akiyama gave him a look, "Then I am quite old with how old I sometimes feel. Especially with recent events in politics... though that can stay away for now. I wish to speak with you about more important matters."

Harry gave the slightest nod, "Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan."

Softly smiling, the old wizard hummed, "Yes, my Onee-Samas." With a deep breath, he let it out, "Harry-San, I cannot express my gratitude for what you have done for my Onee-Samas and my family by extension. Just having allowed for me to see them, to speak to them despite being Yuurei was far more than I had ever hoped for."

Only shaking his head, Harry shook his head, "Maybe, but they wanted to see their Otouto once more. And, well, seeing them as happy as they were was far more worth anything that I could have done."

There was an odd gleam in Akiyama's gaze, "Hai, I understood that you thought as much from the first time we met. One would think that you were a strange man, Harry-San. But... I think otherwise." Ignoring the confusion on Harry's face, he looked back towards the sky with clouds passing overhead, "But still, what you did took great courage and strength of soul. Yet... you did not stop there. While metaphorical, you have moved the heavens themselves to give my Onee-Samas a second chance at a life. And now... they're back, alive and safe..." His voice grew softer, almost a whisper, "My beloved Onee-Samas are back because of you. I can once more hold them truly in my arms, feel their warmth embracing me, filled with their love and care."

Not saying anything, the teen's lips curled slightly into a smile.

Seeing that, Akiyama laughed, "They're back! And more importantly they're not just back, but also free of their prison..." He continued to laugh with tears prickling at his eyes, "More than back, they are now Kami, Harry-San! Kami!" Turning, the old wizard had a look of wonderment on his face, "Kami... As I always saw them to be worthy of."

Lips twitching, Harry considered the two teenage girls they were speaking of, "I can see it."

However, the other wizard shook his head, "Perhaps you can, Harry-San. But my Onee-Samas... I cannot say how important it is for me to see them smile, to laugh, and be free and alive once more. When I was a young child, they were always there for me. Not Haha-ue, not Chichi-ue... my Onee-Samas were, with a hug and a smile as well as words of encouragement. I will state with honesty, that I would not be the man that I am today if not for them and their kindness..." Voice dropping, there was pure hurt and grief in his tone, "Which, I suppose, made it all the harder when I came home from school that day when I was on the cusp of becoming a teen to find them gone. Gone and everyone pretending as if they had not existed." Beside him, Harry did not say anything, simply letting Akiyama continue, "I always saw that day a mockery to me. It was sunny and warm, an early summer day. To me, it always should have been cold and rainy, weather for my cruel discovery..."

Part of the teen could almost see it in his mind, a young boy standing there before an empty room with tears running down his face. It was... heartbreaking. But there was one thing that made it better... "But they're back now."

Smile returning to his face, Akiyama hummed, "Hai, my Onee-Samas have returned." After several moments, he turned back to Harry, "And it is because of you. As I said, you moved the very Heavens for them, to bring them back when you had the chance."

Green eyes met the brown older ones of Akiyama as Harry looked at him. Then the thirteen year old gave a small nod, "Hai, and I would do it again. If needed, I would move not just the Heavens, but all of the Earth and the Hells to have done so. Because..." Turning away, he paused for a few seconds, "Because Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan are my friends. And for them, I would do anything to make them happy, safe, and okay. Free as well in this case."

A soft smile on his face, Akiyama gave a nod, "I believe you." With a soft sigh, he shook his head, "But still, Harry-San. My family owes a great debt of gratitude for what you have done. And my debt to you runs deeper still."

Turning towards him, Harry smiled, "As far as I am concerned? For as long as Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan are happy and smiling as well as cared for, than the debt is fulfilled. That is the only price that I might have for such."

Widely grinning, the older man laughed before shaking his head, "Truly, you are quite the odd young man, Harry-San. But with a great amount of honour as well, true honour and not that fake stuff that so many think of." Calming down, he gave Harry a look, "But you need not worry about such things, for I will make certain of it. And besides..." Akiyama once more had a mysterious smile on his face and a knowing look in his eyes, "Yet, I do believe I know how to make such a thing happen which will leave my Onee-Samas very happy indeed."

Even though Harry gave him a curious look, the other wizard said no more on that subject. Instead, the teen shrugged slightly, "Then I am glad." Much to his confusion, that got another laugh from Akiyama before they both stood. As he patted himself off, Harry glanced at the older man, "If it is not too much to ask... what happens now?"

Softly chuckling as they walked back towards the Mess Hall, Akiyama smiled, "Well, from what I have heard from Goto-San, my Onee-Samas need to stay for a time in order to get settled spiritually after their recent transformation. Once that is done, I can bring them home as their situation does not mean that they need to stay on base as long as they can be quickly brought here. Which is why I need to ask you for a favor, Harry-San."

Curious, the thirteen year old merely nodded, "Okay? What sort of favor, Akiyama-San?'

Akiyama turned to him with a slight tilt of the head, "Would you not be able to get me in contact with those who are making the Vanishing Cabinets to see if they would be able to produce a pair? I shall buy a small home here, I think, and place one of the pair there and the other shall go to the Clan compound in Kyoto so that my Onee-Samas can travel back and forth as they please."

Just considering that, Harry gave a nod, "I can do that, and ask them if they know where any others might be if you want. They're nearly done with the orders that Kyoto had, right?"

Humming, the older wizard smiled, "Hai, they are nearly done. And we have just about finished the construction of the transportation areas. One in Hokkaido, two on Honshu at either the northern and southern ends, one on Shikoku, and the final one in Kyushu. All of them to transport anyone that needs it back and forth from the mainland to Mahoutokoro... and each one able to fit ten students at a time within them." Briefly, his expression fell before he shook it off, Harry understanding why, "So I suppose that they will soon be able to take other orders."

For a few moments, Harry thought it over and gave a nod, "I don't see why they wouldn't. And they're very happy with their business and how it is going so far."

Slightly smiling, Akiyama simply gave a slight tilt of the head, "That would be very good, Harry-San." He suddenly snapped his fingers, "Ah! And before I forget, you, too, may make use of the Vanishing Cabinets to come and visit whenever you want. I am certain that my Onee-Samas would enjoy such."

Part of Harry suspected that there was something else there, but soon shrugged it off. Probably just his imagination really. And even if it wasn't, it was not likely to be that important...

Right?
____________________________________________________________

Giggles escaped from Sakura and Ume before they noticed their younger brother giving them a raised eyebrow at the Mess Hall table. Lightly blushing, they smiled bashfully which made him raise his eyebrow still further, "And what seems to be so funny, Onee-Samas?"

Both of the Twins shared a look before giggles escaped them and they pointed, "What Harry-Chan is doing right now."

Chuckles escaped Akiyama as he noticed Harry place large bowls in front of Akizuki, Teruzuki, and Hatsuzuki. All three Destroyers stared at the beef bowls, each big enough that a grown man would not have been able to finish them, in pure awe. Unable to help himself, Akiyama shook his head, "Yes, I suppose that is quite good." Taking a bite of how own beef bowl, he gave a hum, "Though I must admit, Harry-San is quite the good cook."

Humming, Ume nodded before she resumed eating her own rice bowl. For her part, Sakura smiled as she daintily chewed some pork before swallowing, "Hai, Harry-Chan is quite the good cook."

There was a look of mischievousness on their younger brother's face which was all the warning that they got before his next words, "Indeed, and I can see you enjoying it much more in the future."

Feeling the rising heat in their cheeks, the Twins gave him a glare, "Aki-Kun!"

Not bothered in the slightest as he ate a noodle, Akiyama nodded slightly, "Yes, though I do suppose that perhaps I should help him. Maybe give him a list of your favorite foods and how to prepare them? Hmm, yes..."

It went without saying that Sakura and Ume were now blushing deeply, something that ruined their glares. Huffing a bit, they turned away before their eyes softened as they caught Harry place some more food in front of a thankful Midget Submarine who thanked him and got a hair ruffle in return. Sighing, Ume shook her head slightly before turning to Akiyama, "About Harry-Chan..."

Lips twitching into a smile, their little brother chuckled, "I have spoken to him already, Onee-Samas. Mainly telling him that our family has a great debt of gratitude to him and mine is even deeper." Blowing gently on some beef, he hummed after taking a bite of the tender meat before chewing and swallowing, "Yet, do you know what he stated after?"

More than a little intrigued, the Twins shook their heads, "No, what did Harry-Chan say after you told him this?"

Turning, Akiyama gave them both a smile, "He told me that as long as you are happy, safe, and free... then he would consider the debt paid. That was all he cared about..."

If anything, that caused the fading blush on Sakura's and Ume's cheeks to come back full force, with Sakura clearing her throat, "Harry-Chan said that? Truly?"

Rather amused at their reactions in the way that only a younger brother could be, Akiyama nodded with a chuckle, "Hai, that was his answer to me." Glancing towards the wizard that they were talking to, who had placed a new plate of food in front of Denryuu, getting thanked for it, he hummed, "It says something about such a young man. Our clan, our family is rather wealthy and powerful still politically. He could have asked for much... and yet, all he asked for..." Turning back to his sisters, Akiyama smiled, "Was for the two of you to be happy and that would cover the debt."

Blushes deepening, the Twins looked away and focused on the last bit of food in their bowls before finishing it. As they did so, Ume spoke for them both, "Harry-Chan... is special."

Sakura turned to her brother as he nodded with a interested look, "And what do you think of him, Aki-Kun?"

Not answering right away, Akiyama took a sip of tea, nodding to himself at the taste. Say what one might about the military, but their tea, at least for shipgirls, was not bad at all. Placing his cup down, he gave his sisters a nod and a smile, "I fully approve, as I told you before. Even if I had not made up my mind regarding Harry-San before now, what he's done this day? It would have made it up in a positive regards even without what he said during our talk. So yes, I do approve."

His older sisters gave him a happy smile before bowing slightly, "Thank you, Otouto."

Only smiling, he nodded to them and turned back to his meal. Before they got much further though, Harry arrived with the cart and looked at their empty bowls before taking them, "Want some more then? We got plenty if you want it."

Glancing at each other, Sakura and Ume had a silent conversation before turning back to him, "We would, if you could. Though we're not sure how much more we can eat..."

Lightly chuckling, Harry shook his head, "Go ahead and eat, no one will say anything. Besides..." He made a show of looking around before leaning towards them and stage whispering, "From what I have heard, one good thing about being a shipgirl is that one can eat as much as they want and never worry about their weight."

Unable to help themselves, the Twins giggled at that with twinkling eyes before nodding, "Very well then..."

With a small nod, Ume pointed at one of the bowls, "Could I please have the Tempura udon?"

Beside her, Sakura smiled, "And I think that I would like the Katsudon, please?"

Smiling, Harry chuckled and grabbed the two bowls chosen before setting them down, "Here you are. One large tempura udon and one katsudon. Nice and hot." Moments later though, he paused as both his cheeks felt warm as the two teenage girls kissed him there. Pulling back, they giggled as he blinked, "Um... thanks?"

However, they just shook their heads, "No, thank you."

Not long after, the Twins were very thankful for being able to put away food as Harry brought out parfaits made by Mamiya as well as chocolate cake that he had made. It went without saying, that all the newly summoned shipgirls were very happy as shown when Miitake once more glomped Harry for huggles.

 

[darthcourt10]

Sidestory - Snippet 50: Yellowhammer

The Mill On The Meuse (VIII)

Chattancourt, Department of the Meuse

May 6th, 2014
Spoiler: The Deep Breath Before The Plunge

The sun was slowly setting as the flying carpet approached Chattancourt. Aboard it, Ehren du Chasteler shivered and bit her lip nervously.

She started slightly as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Callused fingers with scars from centuries of warfare and wandering and battles on five continents squeezed her reassuringly.

"{I hate the waiting too, kid. Once it starts, then it isn't as bad as the anticipation. But this part always gets me.}" Norimune spoke quietly in rusty archaic German.

"{Thank you, Grandmother. I worry that I will let Mutti and my family down. I... wish I was anywhere but here, honestly.}" Ehren whispered around the lump in her throat the size of the castle that she had grown up in.

Norimune looked over at Ehren as a trio of Aurors on brooms approached. "{Take it from me, kid, in the end, that is what the good ones fight for in the deep end of the shit. Our brothers and sisters, and those who become family with shed blood who you can rely on when it all goes to Hell. Damn how I miss them. Ichiro. Julie. Sally. Ben. Living when they all die can be a curse.}"

Ehren placed her slender and barely calloused hand over the battered hand of her grandmother and squeezed gently. "{Mutti says that when she speaks of some of her old comrades. What little I remember of Vati, he said too before,}" she closed her eyes to control her tears, "{before he left me. You... don't mind that I am what I am?}" Her hand reached down to caress the pommel of her SS-Ehrendolch true body worn openly on her hip.

Norimune laughed bitterly. "{Fuck no, I have a sister who wants to gut Delilah for wrecking her car. I have another sister who mindfucks people with terror on a semi-regular basis for her jollies. I bear maced Tsukiakari the first time we met. My kid sister Juuchi still wants to fillet Goldfish-brain Kyoshu for all the shit Kyo-chan did to her in the 'good old days'. Oh yeah and Ying nearly punched my ticket in Hong Kong in 1941.}"

Norimune looked over into Ehren's bulging eyes as Ying showed her badge and spoke to the Auror, who saluted. "{We are the Demon Blades of the Mad Smith who left a trail of blood and death across Japanese history. What's a little Nazi daddy in you compared to Chi-chan hacking her way through a daimyo's castle and the village outside who were celebrating a wedding back before she got religion?}"

Ehren's lips quirked in a brief uncontrolled smug grin mirroring Norimune's own. "{Thank you, Grandmother. For everything}"

Norimune sobered. "{Ehren, listen well. In there, there's no rules, and no points for second place or neatness. Kill or be killed, and you have a dark side just like me and my kids for a reason. Don't be afraid to embrace it to get an edge to survive.}"

Ehren nodded as the carpet landed and took a deep breath, her thumb caressing the double sieg-runes of victory that was the mark of the SS.

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

Henri approached the carpet. "You came with her!" Around him witches and wizards frantically Reparoed the damaged village to hide the traces of Verdun's wrath.

Ying nodded. "I did. You have been informed of the plan?"

"Your team will enter the mists there with a talisman that will seal the breach in the wards." He half turned and pointed to the billowing gray-green fog bank that hung on the outskirts of town as it cut across a living history display of the trench system.

"In essence, yes. We also suspect that the next outbreak will be in two weeks time, and need to get this locked down and the other wards linked and reinforced before that happens." Ying said as Andraste and Sabah headed past her with Catherine's skeleton-carved chest.

"Wonderful. How do you do this?"

Colombe pointed to the trench display. "In there! It's in the same place relative to the town as it was in 1916. We gear up there and enter the Boyau de Chattancourt enroute to Ovrange Mollandin."
Spoiler: Gearing Up

Sabah opened the chest and an eerie blue-green light shone from Catherine's arsenal.

The Arabian spirit took out five rings carved from bone in the shape of a skull. Witchlight shone in their eyes. "These blind the eyes of the walking dead according to the Mistress."
Spoiler: Ring of the Blinded Dead

Colombe nodded sharply. "Ehren, Zamarad, yourself, Tokunotakai, Nightbane get them. What else?"

Sabah took out a bowl of spectral lead bullets.

"Delilah." Colombe did not even allow Sabah to speak as Delilah hopped down into the trench alongside her.

The Arabian's eyes glittered as she pulled out a vial of sickly green glowing liquid. "Shadebane Elixir, a poison to the undead. I can make use of this."

"Bon. What's that mummified hand?"

Andraste reached in and fastened it around her wrist. "A spell focus for this." She incanted in Latin and a sword forged of ghostly flames formed in her grip.
Spoiler: Sword of Unburned Flame

"Useful. Anything else?"

Sabah shook her head and began to expertly apply the Shadebane Elixir to her blade. "No."

Colombe turned to Delilah. "Your turn."

Delilah opened her box and began to hand out US Army-issue chemical warfare suits. "These should help with the gas, plus we keep Shield and Bubble-Head charms up at all times. I grabbed some helmets as well as harnesses and MREs."

Colombe began to pull hers on. "Do I want to know how you got your hands on them?"

Delilah grinned smugly as Zamarad laughed with the sound of burning houses. "Not really, no."

"Right then." Colombe raised her voice as she raised her gas mask to speak clearly. "Keep your mouth open at all times if possible, otherwise the concussion of the shells will rip your insides to pieces when it hits you. Stay low to the ground and be alert. Just remember that the shell with your name on it will blow you to bits no matter where you are, so staying still is a death sentence. If you get lost, head uphill from shellhole to shellhole. Our objective is the top."

Nightbane took out a Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle marked with the insignia of the RCMMP. He grinned happily as he loaded it after attaching his true body to the barrel.

Delilah kissed Zamarad and then checked her shotgun's loads. The revolver fished around in the chest and then tossed Ehren a M1942 Stahlhelm with a SS shield on it that glimmered with preservation and strengthening wards.
Spoiler: Ehren's Helmet

Ehren's eyes widened behind her gas mask as she buckled it to her head automatically. "Tante Del, vas?"

"Picked that up in the Bulge from a Das Reich Panzergrenadier who nearly did me in. Damn good fighter and a brave man. Kept it as a trophy, but it fits you, Ehren." Delilah explained as she pulled out her own WWII American helmet and ran a thumb across the scar in the metal caused by a bullet from a war seven decades ago. "I'll see you on the other side, hm?"

Ehren gave a weak grin unseen in her gas mask. "Jawohl!"

Colombe took a deep breath, looking at each of the ten other spirits in the eye one by one. "Two minutes, then we go over the top. If you know any good prayers, now's the time. I'll take point till we see what we are up against."

With that, Colombe pulled down the gas mask and buckled her M15 Adrian Helmet that had brought her through the Great War to her head. She steeled herself and walked slowly to the fogbank filling the trench, then drew her sword in a crusader's salute. She dropped to one knee and placed her hands on her hilt as she dug the point of her true body into the dirt of the trench. Her forehead rested on the pommel of her blade and her shoulders shook violently as she prayed in a whisper. Slowly the dove on her hilt began to glow white and flicker in time with her shaking shoulders and racing heart.

Tokunotakai walked a half step behind Colombe and knelt in seiza, bowing her head as her hand grasped her hilt. Her own dove symbol on her tsuba blazed defiantly against the darkness filling the trench as the sun set.

Ehren walked right behind Toku and dropped to one knee in conscious imitation of her mother. Vaguely, she was aware of Norimune kneeling beside her as she rested her unsheathed blade on her shoulder, and Delilah and Ying directly behind her. None of that mattered as she flicked the safety off her Luger P08 pistol and then drew her Ehrendolch body.

Ehren closed her eyes and approached the sealed cage in her soul where Grendel resided. Her lips moved wordlessly as she struggled to articulate what she felt in that moment.

Finally one thought surfaced as the seconds ticked away and her hard steel-blue eyes opened.

Meine Ehren Heisst Treue.

My Honor is Faithfulness.

For Germany.

For my friends.

For my cousins.

For my grandmother.

For my grandaunts.

For my big sister Ying.

For Tokunotakai.

For Aunt Jackie.

For Aunt Del and Zamarad.

For Claire.

For Mutti.

With that she threw the cage on the darkness of her past wide open and her lips drew back from her teeth in a soundless mad snarl as her clothing under the chemical warfare suit shifted to the black and silver of the SS. Her blade's edges began to gleam with a fell light as her grip tightened on her hilt.

Colombe shot to her feet, gesturing with one hand in a wordless beckoning command as she plunged into Hell point-first. Toku drew herself in a blur of steel in a perfect iaido strike simultaneously, all Seven Virtues of Bushido shining on her blazing blade as she followed Colombe into Verdun's maw.

Ehren and Norimune were half a step behind.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Denryuu walked along the hallway for the Carrier Dorms with her hand against her stomach. For the first time in her existence she... actually felt full. In the Caldera, her hull had never been filled with fuel, nor had she any armaments. Thus, she never knew what the feeling of being full had been like. And now she had, and she was rather happy. Internally, she was also thanking the one she considered to be the reason for it...

And that would be Harry.

She could remember all the years that she sat there, in her flooded berth from which one day she would have sailed from and had looked forward to. Granted, there was a part of her, when she woke up during her construction, that was disturbed by what was going on around her. The workers slowly building her and the other ships, but without any free will. Just... automatons, something that was so wrong that she cringed even now. And then the day came when the whole of the base was on fire, munition dumps going up alongside fuel depots, fiend fyre ravaging friend... ally and foe alike without care. She could feel her own steel groaning and somewhat warping under the heat, with water rushing in uncontrollably into the dry dock.

Except this water had not been meant to save her, to float her out. No, instead it lifted her off her keel blocks and slammed her bow first into the end of the dry dock hard enough that a few minute cracks formed in her fiend fyre weakened hull from where a few plates had buckled. Not enough to kill her, far from it in fact...

But, without any ships to pull her out of her dry dock or to properly open it to the sea, or fuel in her boilers, she sat there. Water trickled into the cracks in her hull, slowly but surely filling her and causing her to sink still further. Fall came and so did a typhoon whose wind and waves slammed her again and again into the sides of her flooded dry dock, doing more damage and making more cracks and small rents in her hull with yet more water making it's way inside.

Less than three months after the attack on the base, Denryuu's hull touched the bottom of her once cradle, and now tomb, most of her hull flooded with water in a way that for a human would be a slow bleed out internally. Ishikari and Miitake met much the same fates though Ishikari had a group sealed alive in a room within her hull that said Battlecruiser had to listen to die agonizing deaths over days and weeks as her own hull settled. The three nearly finished ships thought that Mihara had the best deal as she was so incomplete, she sunk nearly immediately in her dry dock. Something that she agreed with to some extent during their talks.

Thus she laid for decades to come in her grave, seeing and hearing the various ghosts around them. Some of the Japanese cursing her for not having been finished sooner upon word of the Empire's defeat. And some of the Americans cursing her for having been enslaved to work on building her, though they she forgave. Days turned into weeks, which turned into months and then years which became decades. And for that time, she laid there like that before slipping into a dark slumber.

Until, that was, just a few years ago when people, living people, arrived upon the island.

Among them was a younger Harry who made friends with the Hitobashira. At the time, Denryuu was more curious about the shipgirls, spirits of ships like herself who had somehow manifested in actual human form upon the material realm. The chance for something like that to happen to her was something that she had grasped with both hands. And when she heard about them talking about purifying the Caldera, to allow for them to summon the spirits of the ships there without any issue? She felt her hopes rise, to say the least.

Yet, she was surprised that the wizard barely in his teens was to be part of this. Even now, Denryuu could remember when he ventured into her hull to plant purification Ofuda to help cleanse her. She could remember the harsh words of the American Marines who were 'Guarding' the young man, though she didn't know what they could have done against the supernatural. The comments that they made stung a bit, such as how creepy she was and the like. But... she accepted them, just the same.

Which was when Harry shocked her when he had shaken his head and stated that he did not find her creepy. Holding out a hand, he pressed it against one of her corridor hulls and she swore that her own palm felt warm, like he was holding it... Right before he came out with her name and stated that she felt sad and lonely. If she was physical and not following them invisibly, she would have squeaked and had her jaw drop. He... he knew her name, and did not find her creepy, just sad and lonely as well as tragic.

Soon after that, Harry dove down into her engine room, to her 'Heart' in order to plant the Ofuda that would purify that area. She followed him as he swam along through her rusting machinery. It did not take him long to plant said Ofuda where it was needed, close to the greatest source of negativity in her hull. And within minutes, she felt... lighter, as if the shadows surrounding her were being washed away gently and with a warm feeling that she associated with love.

Later, as he left her hull, the wizard had paused and looked back. Somehow, she did not know how even now, but he was looking her right in the eyes of her spiritual form. Then he smiled softly and told her that soon she would be free and he would love to meet her. Words that struck her and stayed with her for all these years. Even when he met her truly for the first time, her spirit that was, he simply smiled and told her he was pleased to meet her.

Oh, and had given her a hug as well, that was very important.

And now, here she was, physical and on the material plain ready and able to do what she had been built to do, defend Japan. Something that she swore that she would do to her upmost. More than that, her friends, which she counted Ume and Sakura as being among, would be there alongside her. What Harry had pulled off with the Twins had surprised her somewhat, but not that much.

More importantly though, when she walked out of the water after greeting those there, she had walked to where Harry was. Yes, at the time he was talking to the Twins, but she did not mind actually. Quite the opposite as his explanation for how it was done, despite him obviously wanting to tone down his involvement, had only made her more impressed with him. But everything that he had done for her, however, was why she was so happy at that moment and greeted him with a hug... and a kiss on the cheek.

Because he was her hero that rescued her as far as she was concerned.

Right now though, she was happy for another reason with him and that was how he proved that he could keep her supplied. Her fuel tanks, or maybe it was stomach, were filled with warm, delicious food that had been made for her. And she was looking forward to sleeping for the first time, and already knowing that her dreams would be of the future where the young, black haired teen would be her Admiral among other things.

Upon coming out of her thoughts though with realizing that she was close to her assigned quarters on the base, Denryuu paused. Mainly because she had been so distracted that she had missed who was in front of her which was a very familiar Carrier, one that she had dreamed of meeting for so long, and had grieved when still being built she had heard said ship had been sunk by the Americans...

Her sister, Taihou.

For her part, Taihou seemed to just notice her as well, having been distracted by her own thoughts on whatever. Both of them stood there with a slightly awkward silence around them that stretched for a time. However, finally, Taihou cleared her throat before glancing away, "I..." Putting an unsure smile on her face, she turned back to Denryuu, "We... already met, back at the Caldera and, um..."

Shifting a bit, the newly summoned Carrier licked her suddenly dry lips and gave a nod, "Hai, I remember." A bit of information that she had overheard from Tenryuu talking with Sakura rose in her mind, "Is... this our room?"

With a blink, Taihou stared for a moment before laughing nervously, "H-hai, it's our room. Sister ships often quarter together and... and..."

The other Carrier trailed off, even as her mouth moved but no sound came out. Finally, Denryuu took a deep breath before bowing slightly, "I... am not sure that we ever got introduced properly, I'm Denryuu, first of the Taihou Kai Carriers."

Quickly, Taihou also bowed, "I-I'm Taihou and until now... until now the only member of my class."

Yet again, an awkward silence fell over them before Denryuu took a step forward and stopped. Shyly, she looked into the other Carrier's eyes, even as her mind took in the features which were so much like her own. Where her hair was greyish red, Taihou's was brownish red. And another difference was that she had a bit more of a bust, but... other than that, there was no mistaking the two as being sisters. Swallowing to wet her dry throat, and to shove down the fear that rose in her, Denryuu met her older sister's eyes and said the only thing that came to mind, "Until now... b-but not anymore I hope... Onee-Sama."

Eyes widening slightly, Taihou stared at her as hope burned in her gaze and she had an awed look on her face. The Armored Carrier's next words came out in a whisper, "W-what did you call me?"

Flinching a bit, the newly summoned shipgirl barely noted that Taihou flinched in response. Instead, Denryuu continued on, "I... I called you Onee-Sama." Hanging her head, she chewed her lip some, "I... I'm sorry if that is inappropriate b-but... I can call you something else..."

"Onee-Chan."

Confused, Denryuu looked up to find tears coming from Taihou's eyes and she blinked, "I... what?"

Taihou took one step forward, "C-call me Onee-Chan... please."

Said words came from the younger Carrier's mouth, feeling completely natural, "Onee-Chan..." Mouth moving, Denryuu repeated said words as tears spilled from her cheeks, "Onee-Chan..." Quickly, she moved across what little space there was between them and hugged her older sister as tight as she could, "Onee-Chan!"

For her part, Taihou was holding Denryuu just as tightly as she buried her wet face into the other, also sobbing Carrier's neck, "Imouto-Chan... Imouto..." Nuzzling her even as she sobbed, the Armored Carrier closed her eyes even as the tears flowed all the more freely, "I... I have an Imouto now... I have an Imouto... I-I'm an Onee-Chan now..."

Nodding against Taihou's neck, Denryuu smiled, "H-hai, you're my Onee-Chan."

A sound like something between a sob and a laugh escaped the other Carrier's mouth, "I-I always had Zuikaku-Nee and Shoukaku-Nee since I was based on them... Y-yet it is not the same." A sniffle came from her as she nuzzled the other Carrier's hair, "B-but now I have a Imouto... Thank the Kami."

Just blinking away the happy tears, even as her boilers felt like they would explode, Denryuu laughed, "H-hai..." She swallowed a bit, "D-do you care about..."

However, Taihou shook her head, "How you were built? N-no, I don't." Pulling away slightly, she kissed her sister, and those words made it feel like her chest was about to detonate, on the brow gently, "I would never care about that, because you're my Imouto. My beautiful, amazing Imouto."

Those words made Denryuu blush heavily, but she continued in a whisper as she asked a question that haunted her, "But then... why did you never visit?"

Several seconds passed before the older of the two sighed, "I... was scared."

Not having expected, Denryuu blinked, "You... were scared?" Getting a nod, she frowned, "Why?"

Licking her lips, Taihou shook her head, "Because it seemed far to good to be true. And also... I... I did not want to see your sunken hull there, the Imouto that I always wanted dead and out of my reach. And I thought that you would be mad since I..."

Completely understanding what she meant, the younger Armored Carrier shook her head, "I would never be mad at you. I just thought that you... you were ashamed of me. For how I was built and how I... how I died."

That, however, only made Taihou hug her fiercly, "Never!" Nearly growling, she continued, "I never was and would never be ashamed of you for that." A snort then escaped the Carrier, "Here I was thinking that you would be ashamed of me for how I died. Explosive gases building up..."

Denryuu only sniffled, "No, I was only ever sad that... that I would never get to meet you, to sail alongside you, Onee-Chan."

Pulling back a bit, Taihou shook her head before giving her another kiss on the forehead. That was followed by pressing their foreheads together and giving her a smile both watery and full of pure joy, "And you no longer need to worry about that, Denryuu-Chan. Because I will sail alongside you. And... and as soon as your spiritual energies have settled, I'll start teaching you and your crews everything that they need to know."

Brightly smiling, the younger sister nodded sharply, "Hai!" She then buried her face in Taihou's neck, "I just want to make you proud."

Hand gently cupping the back of Denryuu's head, Taihou shook her head, "You don't need to, Imouto... Because I am already so very proud of you... so very proud..."

When the two pulled apart, almost an half hour later, Taihou opened the door to their shared quarters and showed her it. And that night found the older Carrier gazing upon her sleeping younger sister and holding her close before falling asleep herself...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Standing just outside the gate, Akiyama closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the evening air. He then let it out in a soft sigh with his lips curled slightly into a soft smile before he opened his eyes and looked up to the stars above, 'Today... has been a very good day.'

Internally, he chuckled some at just how much of an understatement that was to him. It had been beyond a very good day after all.

When he had woken that morning with his wives cuddled up to him to ward off the springtime chill, he had thought himself ready for just about anything that could well happen that day. Gathering up his family, or rather those he considered such unlike his mother, he brought them and those closely allied with their family and utterly loyal to Yokosuka before they made their way to the Caldera that was his Onee-Samas' prison. Akiyama had noticed the slight change in his children and grandchildren when he showed them the current state of the island. He also knew in that moment that any sympathy for his mother and the Clan Elders from that time, those currently isolated in exile and those who had watered the garden, had died.

Oh, he knew that his children and grandchildren were unsure of how to take his actions regarding his mother and the Elders. After all, he raised them on the ideal that family meant everything, even if you disliked them. And he was proud of them for taking such a thing to heart. But at the same time, Akiyama knew that they did not quite understand the horror that was done to his sisters. The older ones might have had an idea, but not so much the younger ones. Hitobashira were not really all that covered in school anymore, and what was covered was treated as a minor curiosity in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It had been over a century since the last confirmed case of a Hitobashira having been made after all. And there were far easier methods to build and the like.

Thus, Akiyama knew, it was not something that they could really understand the horror of. It was something from dusty old tomes and history books after all, far away and at a personal distance. Which was a good amount of the reasoning beyond Harry's letter to him that he brought them, to make such a fact personal. And upon meeting their aunts, actually talking with them? That made it real, it made it personal.

Something that had changed their outlooks on what he had done quite a bit.

Granted, before Harry had explained things to him, he had only thought that the Summoning Ritual was to bring forth the ships in the Caldera as shipgirls. Never, not even in his wildest dreams, had he believed that otherwise could be possible. Yet, as Harry had explained to him, he felt himself grow surprised and... hopeful, was the only real word that he could use. Yet, even then, he could not quite bring himself to believe what was being told to him. It was far too unbelievable after all.

But as the ritual began and continued, he still had a flame of hope. And when his Onee-Samas had begun to disappear, he felt that hope rise even alongside the fear. Fear that after just being reunited with them, he was about to lose them all over again. Something, he knew, might well kill him if it happened. Hence his warning to Harry that they better be okay when they had disappeared.

And then... the water exploded upwards into a plume and is the water fell, the most beautiful sight met his eyes. A sight that in his eyes was on the same level as when he married his wives, and held his children for the first time. Because there, drops of water sparkling like diamonds as it fell around them and the mist refracting the beautiful spring sunlight into rainbows that danced around them, like a vision from the Heavens... Were his beloved Onee-Samas, once more flesh and blood.

Of course, that was not to say that he did not notice the rigging around them. While he had been told what would happen, it was still surprising to see. But he did not care too much about it because his older sisters were once more among the living... no, that was not right. He did care about it, but more in what it proved, that his Onee-Samas had joined the Kami themselves, and in his mind how could they not?

Yet, it was when they smiled at them, flesh no longer pale and cold, but warm and colored with life, that he nearly felt his heart stop as the old pain fell away from him. And he could feel it, all the years of grief, sadness, and heartache just... fall away from his shoulders like an old cloak. For it would no longer have a hold on him after that, and he was glad. Even then though, it did not fall away fully until he was able to hold them again, with them holding him back.

Just that, alone, made everything feel like it was going to be okay. And as just the fact that him becoming friends with his Onee-Samas and bringing him to them alone would have had him help Harry, this? This made sure that not just him but his family owed Harry a great debt. Thus, he would have little issue with helping him be free of the foul thing within his scar. Speaking of things he had little issue with...

Not a fool, he saw how his Onee-Samas looked towards Harry, and he would have been a fool to miss it. Oh, he knew that they were smitten with the young wizard and that was a fact that amused him. But upon their triumphant return to the living, he saw that crush become more, not that he could blame them! After all, it was not every day that someone helps a person return from the dead as a full fledge Kami! Hence, he had little issue with the attraction as it was fully understandable.

In fact, considering everything and all that he had done? Akiyama was all for it! For he knew that Harry was someone he could fully trust to keep his Onee-Samas happy, and that to the old wizard was really all that mattered in the end. That they would be happy.

Granted, Akiyama also understood that it would be time and was more than willing to not force the issue. He understood Harry's problems to some extent, that the young man had issues understanding that he was worthy of being cared for and being loved. While not to the same extent (from the little he had heard of the young man's past), Akiyama's own childhood and teen years were not filled with much love. About the only source of affection he had gotten while growing up was his Onee-Samas. After their disappearance, it was not until he was five years married with his own human wife that she broke down the barriers and taught him that he was worthy of being loved.
But, his human wife, followed by his crane wife, had taken years to chip away at the walls around him to make him understand that.

Even then though, it was not until he held his first child that he truly understood that fact. That he could be loved, that he was worthy of such a thing. Holding that small form in his hands and seeing their eyes gaze into his, that beautiful sight had made it click in his head and he had unashamedly cried. And he had cried at the birth of each child and grandchild, most likely he would continue to do so with each great-grandchild.

Hence, him understanding about Harry to an extent that he doubted the young man understood himself.

Coming out of his internal thoughts, Akiyama turned to find said teen a short distance away as his Onee-Samas stood in front of him at the gate to Yokosuka Naval Base. Both girls blinked at him and tilted their heads, "Aki-Kun? Is something wrong?"

Lightly chuckling, the old man shook his head, "No, nothing is wrong, Onee-Samas. Just thinking about the incredible day that has happened and what the Kami have seen fit to restore to me. The musings of an old man, nothing more."

Both Sakura and Ume shook their heads before giving him a wagging finger, "You are not that old, you're our Otouto! Now what would that make us now?!"

All three knew the lie for what it was, but laughed just the same. When they had calmed down, Sakura smiled before glancing at Harry, "But yes, it has been an incredible day..." Softly smiling, she looked up into his eyes, eyes that glimmered with happiness and looked as youthful as they did before they had died, "A very incredible day."
Slowly nodding, Akiyama sighed happily, "Hai, it has indeed." Glancing at his pocket watch, he smiled a bit sadly, "It is now late and these old bones need their rest, Onee-Samas. Tomorrow, I shall return and spend the day with you."

Hearing that, the Twins frowned slightly, "But... do you not have politics to attend to?"

Unable to help himself, Akiyama grinned a bit, "Hai, I do. But family, as I have taught mine, always comes first. Besides which, they understand that there are family... issues... that will take up time." He gave them a small wink before glancing towards Miu, "I suspect that some assume that, with my daughter's recent absence, that perhaps she has become in the family way." The elderly wizard knew that Akimi had heard and told her friend via whispers, if only by how his daughter flushed out of embarrassment and anger, 'Ah, the joys of being a Otou-San. Perhaps though she might give me a grandchild in the future.' Shaking off that thought, he turned his attention back to his sisters, "So do not worry yourself, Onee-Samas, I shall have the time for the next few days, and then..."

The Twins nodded and smiled brightly, "We shall be able to come home and sleep in our own beds for the first time in decades..." Voices soft, they added the rest in a near whisper, "We are looking forward to it."

Simply nodding, their brother smiled, "As am I." Turning, Akiyama smiled at Harry before clearing his throat to catch the younger wizard's attention before calling over to him, "Harry-San? May I ask you something of a favor?"

Glancing at the Twins, Harry walked over so that Akiyama would not need to shout to be heard, "Of course, what sort of favor do you need?"

Lips curling into a slight smirk and a glimmer of mischievousness in his eyes, Akiyama gestured towards his sisters, "As I am leaving for the night and as it is evening, I would ask you to escort my Onee-Samas to their temporary quarters so that they may be safe." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see both Ume and Sakura go bright red in their faces from embarrassment. At the same time, the looks they gave him promised vengeance with him smirking back, 'Ah, I thought that I would miss out on this... I am glad that I will not.'

Not having seen the byplay, Harry just nodded, "You don't even need to ask, Akiyama-San. I will make sure that they get back to their quarters safe and sound."

Chuckling, the older man patted him on the shoulder, "I am sure that you will and I can trust you to do so." He then decided to twist the knife a little, "Then I entrust them into your hands, as I am quite certain that they will be happy with you escorting them back to their rooms."

If his sisters' faces were red before, than it looked like all their blood were rushing to their faces at the moment while their gazes promised death and hell in no particular order for this.

Sharply nodding, Harry just grinned, "You can count on me."

Humming, Akiyama gave a slight bow, "Thank you once more for taking care of my Onee-Samas. At times, they need such." With another nod, he chuckled, "And I hope that you have a very good night."

Moments later found the old wizard walking down the street to a somewhat hidden place where they could apparate with his wives on either side. Eyebrow raised, Hina cleared her throat, "You do realize that Sakura-San and Ume-San shall reap a terrible vengeance upon you for what you just did, yes?"

A grin on his face, Akiyama laughed, "I do." Turning, he gave his wives a happy look, "And I am glad for it to be able to happen... so very glad."

Sharing a look and shaking their heads at the antics of their husband, both Sora and Hina smiled before leaning against him.

Back in the base, as they walked back through the gate, Harry tilted his head at how Ume and Sakura were grumbling under their breaths. Something about how they're supposed to tease as older siblings or some such? Just shaking that off, he looked between them, "Something wrong?"

The two blinked before they sighed and shook their heads, "No, it's nothing, Harry-Chan. Only that we shall have to have a talk with our Otouto at a later point."

Part of Harry told him not to really pry more into that for his own health, "I see."

Relaxing a bit, both Installation girls looked up at the stars before turning back to Harry with gentle smiles on their faces. Moments later, their hands clasped his and entwined their fingers with his. Slowly nodding, Ume smiled more, "Still, Aki-Kun has been right about this being an incredible day."

On Harry's other side, Sakura nodded with a bright smile of her own, "Hai, that is true..." Giving the thirteen year old boy's hands a little squeeze, she continued, "And we have you to thank for it."

Shyly laughing, Harry gave a small shrug, "Well... how could I not do something like this for you?"

Needless to say, that only got him a chuckle and a shake of the head from the Twins much to his confusion. After a few minutes though, their smiles turned sad, "You're heading back to Hogwarts tomorrow, aren't you?"

Humming, Harry nodded slightly, "Hai, I am. Tomorrow is my last day here in Yokosuka before going back to Hogwarts for the rest of the year."

A soft sigh escaped from the two girls before Sakura shook her head at him, "We see, than it shall be two months before we can see you once more."

Eyebrows furrowing, the thirteen year old wizard was not comfortable with them being sad at him going back to Hogwarts. After a few moments of thought, it came to him, "Well... there is one thing..." Seeing them look at him, he continued with a slight smile, "I have a Quidditch game in late May, the final one of the year. Both of you could come to it."

Their eyes widening, the twins came to a stop, "You... you would want us to come to your game? At Hogwarts?"

Grinning, Harry nodded with a laugh, "Of course." He then gave a small shrug, "Besides which... I promised to figure out a way to show you the school after all. And maybe we could go to Hogsmeade the day after or something."

If their eyes were not wide before, than the Twins certainly did now. They looked at each other before swallowing as at how happy they felt, bright smiles on their faces, "Hai, we would like that, Harry-Chan." Giving him a kiss on the cheek despite how their niece and her friend were following at a distance, both Twins leaned against Harry, "Thank you."

Lightly blushing, Harry simply chuckled before giving their hands a squeeze, "I'm glad." As they walked, he glanced up the clear sky, "Well, at least it is a nice night to go with the great day."

Both Twins hummed in agreement.

When they reached their quarters, Sakura and Ume opened the door before stepping inside to see everything. Due to them being temporary quarters for visiting shipgirls, there was not much there. But Harry guided them around just the same showing them the fridge which was already stocked with a note from Mamiya, a quick lesson on how to use some of the appliances there, and showing them the private bathroom that was also there and the toilet as well. Once that was all done and the futons had been rolled out, the Twins stood at the door with Harry outside. The teenage wizard gave them a small bow, "I shall see you both in the morning then, I guess."

Ume smiled and nodded, "Hai, we shall see you in the morning."

Glancing at her sister, Ume then leaned in and gave Harry a kiss followed by Sakura. Both Twins giggled and stepped back before slowly closing the door, "Good night, Harry-Chan."

Softly smiling, Harry gave them a nod and a smile, "Good night, Sakura-Chan, Ume-Chan, pleasant dreams."

And, sure enough, they were.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

As the dawn came and sunlight poked through the curtains of the shipgirl guest dorms, two forms slowly awoke from their slumber and from pleasant dreams. Opening her brown eyes, Sakura gave a small hum as she blinked away sleep, "Mmm? Morning already?"

Beside her, Ume gave a yawn of her own before nodding, "It seems so, Nee-San." Humming, she stretched which caused her joints to pop, "That was an enjoyable nights sleep. The best in..."

Just nodding, Sakura smiled as her own motions mirrored that of her sister, "... In a very long time." The two shared a small nod as they laid back, "Though I have never laid in a western style bed before."

Head tilted to the side, her sister only nodded, "Hai, though it is not too bad, and most certainly not like how some had described them when we were alive. Very soft..." A small gleam entered her eyes, "Perhaps we might get more used to it at some point."

The two of them shared giggles as they just laid there under the warm covers, luxuriating in the feeling of waking up after so long as Hitobashira.

How long the two laid there was something that neither cared to notice. It was the small things that one missed when they were a Yuurei after all. Hence, them just enjoying it for now.

Eventually though, Ume let out a soft sigh, "What time is it?"

Glancing first at her sister, Sakura looked toward the wall clock and smiled, "It seems that it is just after seven in the morning." With another stretch, she shifted a bit, "I believe that it is time to get up."

Slowly nodding, her Twin also shifted in the bed, "Hai, and time for breakfast as well." Both girls gave a hum at the thoughts of food that would greet them. However, suddenly Sakura gasped as she swung her legs out of bed which made Ume sit up, "Nee-San? Something wrong?"

Upon Sakura's face was a look of pure wonderment, "The floor! It's cold!"

For a few moments, Ume's expression was one of confusion before she sat up in realization. Only seconds later, she joined her sister at the edge of the bed and gently put her feet down until the bare skin of it touched the tiles. Then she yanked them back with a gasp and a look of awe on her face, "It is cold..."

Looking at each other, the Twins turned back to the floor and placed their feet down, only to yank them back with gasps and smiles. For several minutes, they did this with giggles between the gasps until they finally got out of bed. When they looked at each other again, they laughed with their eyes sparkling with joy.

Not long after, of course, the Twins made their way to the counter in the small kitchen. Examining what was there, Sakura hummed before noticing her sister adjusting her sleeping Yukata, "Is something wrong?"

A light blush on her face, Ume sighed, "It is these Yukatas." At the confused look, she continued, "They are rather nice for what must be... cheap ones. But they simply do not fit quite as good as proper ones."

Sakura only nodded in agreement before adjusting her own, "Hai, that is very true. Perhaps when Aki-Kun comes we can shop for a proper fitting sleeping Yukata? I am rather certain that our old ones are no longer around."

With a sorrowful look, her sister nodded, "Agreed, though I did rather like mine. Same with our Kimonos..." Shaking that off, she frowned slightly as she looked down at herself, "Though I should feel more comfortable once I have my sarashi back on as then things might not be so... problematic."

Giving her sister an understanding look, Sakura nodded, "Hai, the curse of the Konohana women." Both girls shared a commiserating sigh about said "Curse", which they felt appropriate. Then Sakura hummed before giving a nod, "Speaking of which, apparently Miu-Chan and some others shall take us out to get some more clothing."

Rather surprised, Ume gave a blink before nodding, "I could see the reasoning though..." Briefly, she chewed her lip, "I am unsure about some of the clothing that women wear in the modern day. Some of those skirts are extremely short."

The two of them blushed for a moment imagining wearing them before they shook it off. Wanting to distract herself and her sister, Sakura turned to the cupboards and made a sound of happiness moments later, "Ah! We have tea as well as honey! A nice warm drink sounds good."

Simply nodding in agreement, the two worked together to make themselves a cup of tea. Once it was done, they sniffed the steam before smiling and taking a drink and letting out a sigh, "Lovely tea."

Just as they finished their tea, however, they became aware of a tapping on the windowsill. Turning, Ume's expression brightened at the sight of the familiar snowy owl, "It's Hedwig-San!" Opening the window, she let Hedwig in with a smile with the snowy owl landing on the counter with a basket clutched in her talons, "Good morning, Hedwig-San."

In reply, the owl bobbed her head and gave her version of a smile, "And a very good morning to you both as well." Hopping off the basket, Hedwig transformed into her human form and gave the two a look over, "Though I must say that you are looking well this morn."

Giggling, the Twins bowed towards her, "Hai, and we are feeling well." Turning towards the basket, they took note of the wrapped box in it as well as several other items, "What are these now?"

Amused, Hedwig chuckled as she looked at the basket herself, "This morning my Master realized that you were missing some very important items. Mainly toiletries for your personal use."

Intrigued, the two former Hitobashira looked through them before making sounds of surprise, "Shampoo... soap... toothpaste..." Eventually, they nodded some, "We are surprised, though happy that Harry-Chan remembered such... though we are also ashamed that we did not think of it ourselves. But..."

Seeing their gazes fall on the wrapped box, Hedwig snickered, "That was a gift that my Master received just this morning via mail." Giving a sniff, she shook her head, "Why he relies on human mailmen when he has me..."

Lips twitching, the Twins shared an amused look before Sakura took the letter and opened it. Part of her internally nodded at the fine penmanship that the letter showed as expected. But then her eyebrows rose, "It says here that as soon as Harry-Chan had found out from Ian-Dono regarding how we could come back, he made an order from a place in Kyoto! And for us!" Now looking at the gift, she gently took it out, "I wonder what it is...?"

Upon opening though, her and her sister gasped at the sight of two traditional Japanese combs made of box wood. The lacquered wood had ume blossoms on one and sakura blossoms on the other. There was also another, western hairbrush as well with the back showing two intertwined branches of the flowers they were named after. With trembling hands, the girls took up their combs and ran their thumbs along them. Watery smiles appeared on their faces as they thought back to talks with Harry about how they considered their hair to be one of their most beautiful features and how they had loved brushing and combing it.

Needless to say, that he remembered that touched them.

Placing those aside, they took the hairbrush and looked it over, their thumbs rubbing the wood gently. It was of heavier construction of course, or at least the wood was. And the handle was coated in some sort of ivory-like substance, and from the tingle of magic, they suspected western dragon tooth. Eyebrows furrowing we their thumbs brushed against the bristles, they tilted their head before seeing a note at the bottom of the box. Reading it, they blinked, "Boar bristles?"

After a few moments, they remembered something from so long ago. A chat between two women in the magical marketplace in Kyoto that they overheard while being fitted for new Kimonos. One of them had been commenting to the other that they had been using a hairbrush with boar bristles and that it had been wonderful for their hair. That memory made them feel the prickle of tears at what this meant.

It went without saying that combined with the gift of the combs, if Harry had been there right at that moment, they would have pulled him into a kiss... and still might yet.
Turning to Hedwig, Ume gave her an inquisitive look, "Hedwig-San? Where might Harry-Chan be right now?"

Somewhat amused due to having an idea as to why the young woman asked such, Hedwig glanced at the clock before nodding, "Harry-Wizard is very likely finishing up his morning run if not having his shower. After that, he shall be heading to the mess hall to help cook breakfast."

Eyebrows raising, the Twins blinked at that, "Harry-Chan does a morning run?"

Humming, Hedwig gave a small nod, "Indeed he does, every morning that he could. Claims that besides keeping him healthy, it also wakes him up first thing in the morning."

Ume and Sakura considered that for a few moments before nodding as it did make a bit of sense. After all, they knew that many people would wake up in the morning in order to practice in the cool air to wake up. Softly smiling, they bowed to Hedwig, "Please pass on to Harry-Chan that we thank him for thinking of us, and that we will be speaking to him when we arrive for breakfast."

Lightly chuckling, the owl nodded, "I shall do so."

With that, Hedwig transformed back into her owl form and took off out the window with Ume closing it afterwards. Nodding, she turned towards Sakura and gestured towards the bathroom, "Shall we wash and bathe?"

Grimacing a touch, Sakura nodded, "Hai, we forgot to do so last night after all before going to bed..." Upon entering the bathroom though, she frowned thoughtfully as she looked between the bath and the shower, "I wonder though... should we take a bath now, or a shower and leave the bath for tonight for when we have new clothes?"

At that, Ume frowned, "That is a very good question." Considering that, she turned to her twin with a small nod, "Perhaps it is best to take a shower as that would also take less time. "

Only nodding, her sister examined the shower carefully, "Now, how did Harry-Chan state that it operated again...?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-Back from Verdun eating my video drivers (J/k)... Also content warning, Verdun was Hell.

An incredible view spreads before our eyes. Extending along the horizon was a blood-red band of light the redness and brightness of which gradually fading to a purple hue that seemed to take over the entire night sky. In the distance small purple lights flickered, went out, suddenly brightened again. There were easily a hundred of them: they were German shells being illuminated by fires below, as the homes of Verdun burned in the night. Second Lieutenant Roger Campana, 151st Infantry Regiment, 9 March 1916.

The Mill On The Meuse (IX)

Tranche de Chattancourt, 2 km from Hill 295 (Le Mort Homme)

May 6th, 1916

Ehren du Chasteler plunged through the fogbank and into madness at a dead run.

Her left leg sank up to the ankle in the mud, slime, and blood that filled the trench bottom, landing on something that squished under her boot. Even inside a gas mask the smell of death, excrement, rotting flesh, and worse hit her like a punch to the gut and she was thankful that she had taken the advice not to eat as her stomach twisted.

The trench was illuminated by red, orange, purple, and yellow flames from the continuous explosions of the bombardment around her, centered on the erupting volcano that was the top of Le Mort Homme.
Spoiler: The Voice Of The Mill

Worst of all was the sound of The Monster. The noise of shells rocketing overhead and exploding around her was a roar of chaotic noise that hammered her like padded clubs swung by giants with the concussion of their passage overhead and explosions around the battered trench that she was in. She couldn't even hear herself screaming in the grip of some primal emotion at the top of her lungs.

Earth, pieces of iron, and pieces of men spattered her as a 150mm shell exploded nearby.

In that instant what saved her was less her conscious mind, which was trying to make sense of the nightmare that she had plunged into willingly, and more the bone deep, steel-deep, soul-deep discipline that had been forged into her very existence and honed by a lifetime of honor and obedience. Driven by something very close to spinal reflex, she followed the glowing gold cross of magical light that showed her mother's location around a bend in a trench.

They hit a T junction and Colombe moved to the left, away from the direct path to the hellish volcano ahead. Ehren followed, clambering over a section where part of the trench had collapsed from a shell hit. As she reached the top, she half turned and extended a hand to Ying to assist her sister to keep pace with their charge through Hell.

Ouvrage Moulandin, 250 Meters from Chattancourt, 1.65 km from Hill 295 (Le Mort Homme)
Spoiler: Ouvrage Moulandin

Ehren's heart raced like the thudding of the steel mill in far-distant Essen that had given her birth. Her breath caught in her lungs as a cloud of smoke, dust and dirt, or perhaps poison gas enveloped the trench. Her mother had finally paused, and looked back at the ten other souls at her heels. The run to this point had been a race through a mad nightmare.

Colombe gave a thumbs-up to the others and cocked her head. The noise made it near impossible to hear or even hear herself think, and Ehren responded with her own shaky thumbs-up as she gulped.

Colombe nodded, then held out a hand with five fingers spread. One dropped then another as she braced herself against the corner of the traverse.

Ehren clenched her dagger tight and dug her feet into the muddy bottom of the trench as the third, and then fourth dropped.

The last one dropped and Colombe leapt around the corner with Ehren, Toku, and Norimune hot on her heels

Half a second later they were fighting for their lives.

Colombe rounded the corner into a squad of decaying poileus digging vainly at a collapsed shelter in the side of the trench next to a four way junction. One swung the sharpened edge of his shovel at her, only to have his skull split by her riposte. A second later a 210mm shell exploded, slamming them all against the wall of the trench from the concussion of the shockwave.

As if that was a signal, one of the undead French soldiers raised a rusty and decayed metal whistle to his moldering lips and blew a sharp blast an instant before Colombe's blade lit up with golden fires and skewered him.

More undead boiled out from the trench ahead and from the cross trench to the left. Colombe charged to meet the rush to her front, hurling flaming discs at them. As the first undead burned from the rapier's spell the collapsed dugout shook and ghostly soldiers clambered out, their blue, staring faces, and broken and bloody hands showing that they had been buried alive and suffocated in the tortured earth when their shelter collapsed.

Toku leapt to face the ghosts head on, her katana blazing like a star as she screamed a Shinto prayer of protection and exorcism against Yuurei. Meanwhile Norimune passed her fellow Blade of Hachiman in almost a ballet of death, slamming into the wave from the side trench with her blade rising and falling in broad sweeps that filled the opening with a steel wall.

A flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye caught Ehren's attention. Time slowed as yet another undead came from the cross trench to her right, raising a rusty bayoneted rifle to take aim at Norimune's back. Ehren seemed to observe her own movements behind a thick pane of glass as she blurred into action.

The shock of her shoulder check of the rotting soldier was like hitting the canvas sack that she used for boxing practice, except instead of being filled with sand, it was filled with some foul sludge that gave way unpleasantly. Her left hand knocked the rifle to the side right before it fired, while her right hand plunged her Ehrendolch into the bloated belly. Maggots, pus, and decay came out as for the first time she tasted blood in her family's defense, ripping from the dead man's left hip to his right armpit in one frantic stroke of her steel with all her strength and Will.

But there were more behind him.

Still watching her own body at that odd remove, her left hand flashed to her Luger, speed drew it and emptied all eight hollowpoint rounds in the magazine into the charging horde with odd precision as she fired from the hip. A split second later, Delilah appeared as if by magic, and filled the trench with fire and death from her shotgun.

"A--" Ehren swallowed nervously despite her mouth being dry as a desert. "Accio Hollowpoint." Glyphs flashed on the side of the pistol thanks to Del's enchantments and she felt it gain the familiar weight of it at full load. She cocked it again and then turned to see the situation.

Tsukiakari had joined Colombe and as Ehren watched with awe, the Kyu Gunto decapitate one zombie, took the top of the skull off a second and punched out with her scabbard, blowing a third one into shrapnel all in one move as part of the whirlwind of death that she was. Ehren stepped back to let Zamarad take the place of herself on Delilah's shoulder, and absently noticed Toku slapping an ofuda on the collapsed dugout. Meanwhile Sabah and Andraste relieved Norimune at the cross-trench and the nodachi approached her.

Her grandmother's eyes flickered from Ehren to the gutted corpse at her feet then Norimune clapped her on the shoulder.

No words were said. No words needed to be said.

Avenue Trois, 500 meters from Chattancourt, 1.15 km from Hill 295 (Le Mort Homme)
Spoiler: Avenue Trois

Colombe eventually paused at a turning in the rats' warren of trenches and went to one knee, gesturing for everyone to approach her.

Ehren wearily knelt down beside her mother, and to her shock realized that Colombe was pitching her voice somehow to be heard underneath the infernal noise of the shelling.

"Good work, mes amis. The next part will be tricky. We turn left here into Avenue Trois, the main communications trench up this side of the Ravin de la Mort. The Boche will no doubt have preregistered artillery pounding it to insure that reinforcements cannot reach the meatgrinder up top." Colombe's voice was somber. "Keep shield spells up at all times, Andraste, also if possible project one over us all. Le miaules will be spraying us with shrapnel from airbursts."

The purple-haired girl nodded sharply.

Colombe took a deep breath and continued. "Stay as low as possible, and hug the right wall. It is less likely to collapse and bury you alive. Do what I or the other people in charge do instantly. If... no... when one of us is buried, the rest of the group dig her out. We go in groups, and the middle one be sure to check on the last regularly so they do not become buried and lost."

Ehren nodded along with the others.

"Ehren. Toku. Norimune. You are with me and we go first. Nightbane. One minute then take Andraste, Ying, and Sabah up. Tsu. One more minute then you proceed with Del and Zamarad. At the top if it is still standing there is a T junction, we rally there.

Nightbane and Tsu nodded.

Colombe sketched shield spells on her group, followed by Toku, Norimune, and Ehren. "Suivez-moi!"

Ehren followed on her mother's heels and gasped. The trench ahead was filled with bodies and parts of bodies in a grim and ghastly carpet of shredded raw meat. Keeping low like Colombe, she began to climb up the ravine on her mother's heels.

She grunted at the feel of steel and lead shrapnel hammering her helmet and torso's shield spells like the devil's hailstones. The scream of incoming 77mm shells was constant like a chorus of tortured cats and involuntarily her lips flickered in black gallows humor, for now she could tell why the French called them 'meowers'.

Numbly she continued to climb, noticing that the trench became lower and more and more battered; parts of it were using the bodies of the dead as obscene sandbags to reinforce the walls. The stench was indescribable and her sanity shied away from examining too closely what her hands and feet were clinging to as she journeyed up Golgotha.

Time ceased to have any meaning and her existence shrank to the next step, the next handhold, the next time she pulled herself forward where a shellblast had flung her.

She felt herself becoming nothing more than a numbed machine. A machine forged of steel by Krupp and Muramasa, shaped and smithed at Solingen. A machine manifest in flesh, blood, bone and sinew wheezing painfully as she continued to climb on all fours over the next heap of corpses or shellhole in endless procession. A machine fueled by a Will that drove her on her mother's heels no matter how much she wished to run screaming from this place that hated and hungered for her, instead of willingly plunging herself into the insanity that was Verdun.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Elsewhere on the base, another pair of girls also woke up. Stretching a bit, Miitake grinned widely, "Alright! Time to meet a new day."

Moments later though, a pillow smacked her in the face and knocked her back to the bed, "Can't you let up even once? It is too damn early for this..."

In reply, Miitake raised a hand and her pointer finger even as she laid there with the pillow across her face, "Nope! I'm afraid that I can't do that, Nee-San! After all, it is part of my sunny personality you know!"

Sighing, Ishikari raised her head and gave her sister a look before raising the pillow and smacking her in the face twice more with it, "And thank you for that." Getting a thumbs up, she sighed again, "Why do I even try with you, honestly?" Just shaking her head, the Battlecruiser groaned, "Great, now I'm wide awake and can't get back to sleep."

Before she could sort her thoughts for the day though, her sister spoke up, "I know how you could get back to sleep~"

Despite herself, Ishikari turned to her sister who had the pillow on her face lifted just enough for the older of the two to see her grin, "... I am going to regret this, but how?"

If anything, that made Miitake's grin widen, "Simple..." Bringing up her hand, she held it next to her mouth as she stage whispered, "See if Harry-Chan is still in bed. Then, if he is, slip in and cuddle up to him. His warmth and cuddliness that you will find when you place you head on his shoulder will lull you back into sweet slumber~"

For several seconds, Ishikari did nothing though her cheeks went red and she felt some steam escape from her ears, "..."

Now widely grinning, Miitake giggled, "You're imagining it right now, aren't you?"

The pillow soon met her face again as the first of several whacks as the red faced Ishikari sputtered, "S-sh-shut up!"

Several minutes later, it was a grumpy Ishikari who walked out of the room followed by Miitake who was skipping. At the counter getting some tea ready, Midori smiled at them, "Good morning, Onee-Sama, Onee-Chan."

Yawning, the oldest of the Battlecruisers gave a smile and a wave, "Good morning, Midori-Chan..." Her expression soured slightly, "Or it would be if someone did not wake me."

Just poking her older sister in the cheek, Miitake giggled, "But if I didn't, than you would have less time to spend with Harry-Chan before he goes back to Hogwarts! And we would not want that now!" Dodging the swipe at her head, Miitake cackled, "Admit it! You want to spend time with him just as much as I do!"

Looking away, Ishikari huffed a little while muttering. Rather than pay attention to any more teasing from her genki sister, she turned to Midori who was wearing a smile as she watched their antics.

Unlike the two newly up shipgirls who wore sleeping Yukata, Midori wore her uniform which was also different from what her older sisters had. Where their uniform resembled that of the Yamato class, but in black with red accents, Midori's meanwhile had a top not unlike Tatsuta's own and which strained a bit at the bust, over which she wore a white, naval style jacket. Currently, the jacket was hung over a chair while her sword was still on the rack. The outfit signified that her construction was slightly different from her older sister's.

Granted, that did not bother Ishikari or Miitake much. Unlike Non-magical shipyards, ships built at different shipyards had differences that showed up more regarding the shipgirls than with their non-magical counterparts. Mostly, Sakura and Ume had theorized the night before, because unlike with non-magical warships where the parts came from factories, with the magical shipyards practically every part was created on site making each ship built there "Unique" to ones built at a different shipyard. For example, Ishikari's own boilers were copies of one boiler brought to the Caldera. Magicals had used ritual magic to take raw materials and shape them into identical copies of the one boiler. The very same boiler that was used for Miitake as well. All their parts outside aspects such as radar were made much the same way.

That was not going into other aspects either, such as enchanting. After all, each wizard's magic was slightly different when enchanting. It would not surprise Ishikari if Midori's fuel tanks in her hull had been enchanted to be a bit bigger than her own. And that was just one thing different between them.

However, noticing that Midori was giving her a raised eyebrow, the nameship blinked, "Something wrong?"

Only shaking her head, Midori smiled a bit, "Just wondering what you were so deep in thought about, Onee-Sama."

Before Ishikari could say anything, Miitake piped up, "Oh! She was probably thinking about Harry-Chan again. Not that she would admit it being a tsundere-"

Miitake was unable to finish as her older sister whacked her upside the head with a heavy blush on the older's face. Ignoring the grumbles, Ishikari gave a small shrug, "Just thinking of the differences between us due to having different shipyards build us."

For a few seconds, Midori considered that before nodding with a small smile, "Yes, I do suppose that there is aspects quite different there in some respects."

Rolling her eyes as her younger sister crossed her arms under her bust, Ishikari sighed, "Yes, in some respects." She took her own cup of tea before sipping it and humming, "Though not so much in others unlike some."

Both of her sisters looked confused but she just kept sipping her tea. Suddenly, Miitake snapped her fingers, "Oh! Like Kinryuu!"

Confused, the youngest of the three frowned some and looked between them, "Kinryuu?"

Glancing at Miitake, Ishikari sighed some, "Well... I don't know much about her, Ume-San and Sakura-San know more as she was one of the very first ships they completed. But... apparently it has to do with the deal regarding training from the IJN and ship builders." Sipping her tea, she continued, "Now, one of the aspects of the deal was that the Kamo government would build a ship for the No-Majs. Being as this was 1930, what was laid down was a small Carrier, a sister ship for Ryuujou-San which was fully paid for and the like."

A frown on her face, Midori frowned, "What happened to her?"

Just shrugging, Ishikari shook her head, "Well... one of those Naval Treaties happened, which meant that Japan could no longer use the whole under ten thousand tons for a Carrier does not count towards total tonnage bit. So the IJN could not use her, but she was nearly complete." Taking another sip of her tea, she frowned, "So the Kamo government completed her, though there were differences such as having only one hanger for example and said hanger being expanded on the inside as well as strengthening charms on the steel and the like."

Head tilted to the side, the other B-65 slowly nodded, "So in other words, Kinryuu would be different from Ryuujou-San."

That only got her nods from Ishikari and the three sisters continued to chat while enjoying tea. As the minutes ticked by though, Miitake glanced at her older sister before suddenly draining her tea and running. Before Ishikari could ask, Miitake was already in the bathroom and closing the door, "I get first shower!"

Eyebrow twitching, her older sister glared at the door, not noticing Midori looking extremely amused by the antics happening.

___________________________________________________________________

Nearly yanking her hair out, Kizu groaned as she looked at one of the other attendants, "You cannot find her? How..." Pinching her nose, she sighed as the water spirits shook their head with a grimace, "Okay, keep trying to find her then. We cannot let Lady Yodogawa know what has happened."

The water spirits all bowed, "Hai!"

With that, they headed off in different directions within the palace that was Yodogawa's in the spiritual realm. None of them noticed one of the tatami mats slowly lower back into place with a head of pink hair and a face with green eyes beneath it. Under the floor, a young girl sighed as her horns extended a bit, "Good, they'll be busy for a bit."

A small smile on her face, she began to crawl along under the floors, only stopping when she heard footsteps above her. Despite that, she made good time. Granted, the young girl was happy that she had a skirt and kimono shirt combo with a sailor style hat between her horns as it meant that she did not get one of her kimonos dirty. Kizu and the other attendants always made such a fuss about that and she always felt guilty. At least her current outfit could, and often did, get dirty and she was allowed to wash it herself... well, in a way anyways. Though it helped that she was able to float the sleeves above the dirt floor.

One her hands and knees, she made her way along through the underfloor. Not bothered by the darkness, she glanced at some of the things that lurked beneath the floorboards. For a moment, she paused at the sight of a fight between a crocodilian-like Waniguchi and a group of Yanari. Said beings also paused at the sight of her and they stared at each other before giving each other a wave and going back to what they had been doing before seeing the other.

Unable to help herself, the young girl giggled some before flinching and listening. Not hearing any noise showing that she had been discovered, she continued on her way. Eventually, she reached the end of the underfloor and walked along the wall before finding a board marked with an J. Glancing around, she hooked a clawed finger into a hidden hole and shifted it to the side before slipping through and closing it. Coming out from under a porch, she listened carefully before slipping out and into some bushes nearby.

Several minutes found her in an isolated area of the property with one of the ponds in front of her which had a small island and a pagoda on it. With a final glance around, she took a deep breath and took a step out onto the water's surface, rigging forming around her, "Kinryuu, launching." For a little while, she went back and forth on the water's surface, her tail swishing behind her before finally nodding and bringing up what looked like a piece of a very familiar hull and raising her hand, "Okay boys, let's practice until we get caught."

From said hand, a small star formed above it from which paper talismans flew and across the "Runway" of the hull, turning into aircraft that flew up into the air. Thanks to how ancient the trees were, they were tall enough and massive enough to hide what she was doing and the air was filled with droning as her fighters weaved through the air in mock dogfights, as well as small fairies on brooms and tengu. Keeping track of them all, Kinryuu frowned, "Okay, still a bit slow getting all of you up, but we can do better our next practice!"

Roughly forty minutes later, she gave a nod with a smile, "Okay, we're doing a lot better- Eep!"

Two warm arms suddenly wrapped themselves around her and she felt a soft body behind her. Heart pounding from surprise as she jumped, and feeling her pilots similarly shocked from how her "Attacker" had appeared from seemingly nowhere, Kinryuu placed a hand against her chest, "Did I surprise you, Kinryuu-Chan? Huh?" At the nod, Yodogawa cheered, "Yay!" Then she noticed all the planes, "Ooo! Pretty planes!'

Looking over her shoulder at the Mizuchi, the half-dragon gulped, "H-Haha-ue? W-what are you doing here?"

Just tilting her head to the side, Yodogawa blinked, "What am I doing here...?" Furrowing her eyebrows, she frowned, "Mou... I don't remember..." Then, the Mizuchi perked up, "Oh! Are we hiding? Wait, are we playing hide and seek? Because I am really, really good at playing hide and seek!"

As her mother continued to ramble on, Kinryuu internally sighed a bit. She loved the Mizuchi who had given birth to her, she really did. Oh, Ryuujin and the others only knew how much. But sometimes, she really wondered about her mother, "Haha-ue..."

Still rambling, the Mizuchi nodded, "Unless I'm hiding and you're seeking? Because the planes make you really, really good at that." Frowning, she gave her daughter a look, "Mou... does this mean that I lost then?"

Lips twitching a bit as she could not help herself, Kinryuu shook her head, "Um, we're not playing hide and seek, Haha-ue. But... I am sort of hiding..."

Cocking her head to the side, Yodogawa frowned, "Hiding? Why?"

For a few moments, her daughter chewed her lip, "Because... because I want to practice being a shipgirl!" Seeing her mother just looking at her, Kinryuu hung her head, "I... I know that Kizu-Nee and the others want to just keep me safe and stuff. But they don't want me practicing being a shipgirl. And they always stop me stating that I shouldn't be doing such because it is beneath my station or some such and that I'm a Hime..."

Now it was her turn to ramble with it all coming out. How she would sneak out when she could in order to teach herself best that she could. That she would practice and practice until she was caught and brought back for a scolding about what is proper and the like. Because she was her mother's daughter and as the daughter of a higher ranked Mizuchi, she had other things to worry about and that it could break her mother's heart and the like.

Trailing off, Kinryuu sniffled as tears ran down her cheeks, "I... I just feel like I need to do this. And I want to make you and Chichi-ue proud of me since I'm... a half-breed."

It was gone quickly enough, but the young hybrid shivered a bit at the gleam that entered her mother's eyes at hearing that.

While many thought her mother to be a simple idiot, and she certainly seemed like a forgetful person, there were times that Kinryuu really wondered. And seeing the flash of rage in those eyes, even if not directed at her, made it one of those times. But then, Yodogawa was back to normal even if her frown was a borderline scowl, "Mou... who said such meanie pants things about my Kinryuu-Chan?"

Chewing her lip as her tail swished, Kinryuu kept silent before her mother fixed her gaze on her and she flinched before speaking in an unsure whisper, "Fujigawa-Sama... she was drunk at the time though."

Slowly blinking with her pupils narrowed to slits, Yodogawa was silent for a few moments before nodding, "Fuji-San is a big meanie pants at times! And I don't like her saying such things to Kinryuu-Chan even if drunk!"

Far away, Fujigawa shivered violently and looked around with part of her wanting to keep away from alcohol.

Looking back down, Kinryuu scuffed her feet on the water, "She's not the only one though..."

Moments later though, she blinked and looked up as she felt her hat being removed and claws gently brush through her hair as her power over water gently removed any dirt on her daughter's clothing. Then, Yodogawa gently kissed her on the head, "Mou, don't worry about big meanie pants like that." She gave her daughter a smile, "Because they're all jealous of Kinryuu-Chan and how she makes her Haha-ue and Chichi-ue very proud."

Softly sniffling, Kinryuu turned and hugged her mother, neither caring about the tears that soaked the expensive Kimono, "S-sorry, Haha-ue..." Blinking away some tears, she swallowed thickly, "I miss Chichi-ue..."

Gently brushing her daughter's hair, Yodogawa nodded, "So do I, Kinryuu-Chan... every day." The two of them stood like that for a few minutes before the Mizuchi blinked and gasped as she caught sight of a plane, "Ooo! Look, Kinryuu-Chan! It's a plane!" She frowned and tilted her head, "Mou, is that one of your planes...?"

Pulling back, the half-dragon nodded, "Hai, Haha-ue. Eiji-San is one of my better pilots..."

An hour later found the two entering the dining room with Yodogawa's attendants freezing at the sight of them. Kizu glanced at the slightly dishevelled pair before bowing, "Ah, Yodogawa-Sama and Kinryuu-Sama, we were just about to go and find you for breakfast."

Brightly smiling, Yodogawa giggled and spread her arms, "Oh! Oh! We were playing hide and seek..." Finger against her chin, she frowned in confusion, "Mou... I think that I hid and Kinryuu-Chan seeked? Or did I seek and Kinryuu hide... though she is better at seeking with her planes..." Perking, up, she smiled brightly, "But we got to play! And I like seeing her fly her planes so I told her I want to see them more often! Because they're so neat and..."

Just watching as the forgetful Mizuchi made motions with her arms and hands, while making airplane noises, the attendant slowly nodded in confusion, "I... see, Yodogawa-Sama... very well, I do not think that Kinryuu-Sama would mind much..."

When their breakfast was nearly done, Yodogawa raised a finger, "Oh! Kizu-San? I just remembered that we need to find Kyoshu! So that we can help her find a Mizuchi and get a prize..." Furrowing her eyebrows, she frowned, "I think that she would get a prize... Mou... maybe I should ask Jin-San..."

Nodding, Kizu brought out a notebook, wonderful things that she considered the western humans had invented and so very useful, and clicked her pen and made a note, "I see... though I don't know where Kyoshu-San normally is..."

Yodogawa blinked at that and looked at her, "Kyoshu-San...? Why are we looking for Kyoshu-San?"

Her daughter giggled a bit and smiled, "So that we can help her find a Mizuchi and get a prize?"

Eyes widening, Yodogawa gasped, "If she finds a Mizuchi, she gets a prize!" Turning, she looked at her attendant, "Oh! I think that she lives in Zuchi mostly... maybe? Jin-San always goes on about that."

A little confused herself, Kizu only nodded, "I... see..." With a shrug, she made another note and nodded, 'Wouldn't hurt.'

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

At dawn I stick my head above the parapet. Appearing in the sad gray of the morning and now from a new perspective is the vast battlefield that I've come to know so well. We are twenty meters below the main summit of Mort Homme. To the east of here, roughly two kilometers away, I could make out German positions which lead to the Bois de Courbeaux. On our side and facing them up to the Bois de Caurettes are our gains from 9 April.

What an appearance this battlefield has! For two months it had not stopped. Is the trench that we're in not one of the most disputed? Ten times, perhaps twenty times, it had changed hands. And across this vast field of death gouged with craters like a lunar landscape, everywhere you look, bodies of the dead stick out of the ground.-Second Lieutenant Jubert, 151st Infantry regiment, 12 May, 1916

The Mill On The Meuse (X)

Avenue Trois, 700 meters from Hill 295 (Le Mort Homme)

May 6th, 1916

Ehren du Chasteler gritted her teeth as she levered herself over the lip of another muddy shell hole. The impact of more shrapnel from the overhead airbursts did not register on her nor the roar of continual artillery fire.

The shockwave as a 205mm shell detonated in the ravine below her, blowing her down to the bottom of this shell hole and half burying her to her waist in loose dirt and slime most definitely registered.

She gasped as she vainly tried to free herself from her earthen prison, and then a set of hands grabbed her forearms and pulled.

She numbly looked up to see Andraste, recognizable by the glowing bracer on her wrist, and Sabah pulling her free as Ying gestured with her wand, liquefying the earth trapping her.

"D-danke." she gasped, momentarily broken from her diamond-hard mad focus on keeping up with her family.

Staggering, she crawled up the lip of the shell crater, and then hit the dirt at the sound of yet another instrument of industrial slaughter to her right.
Spoiler: Maschinengewehr 08

Beside her Nightbane and Ying followed suit.

Ehren risked a peek out of cover. In the flickering light ahead, she saw the dim figures of her mother, grandmother, and Toku collapse in a shallow shell crater in a stretch of trench that came to barely knee-height from the constant pounding.

"Mutti! She's pinned down!" Ehren gasped.

She tensed only to feel Nightbane pull her down with an iron grip. "You want to die too?"

Ehren shook her head. "Nein, but we can't just leave them like that."

Ying grimaced. "I can send a duplicate of myself to check on them."

"Do that." Nightbane grunted.

As Ying grasped the hilt of her saber and sat in concentration, Ehren slowly raised her eyes above the lip of the crater again. She ignored the slightly glowing mist flowing from her sister's lips to another shell hole a dozen meters ahead and instead waited with patience. As the false-Ying began to sprint toward the shell hole where Colombe, Toku, and Norimune were pinned down, Ehren's eyes narrowed.

If I were giving my answer in SS-Junkerschule to this tactical problem, I would position my support weapon...there!

Ehren's gaze locked on the muzzle flame of the MG 08 ahead and to the right as it riddled the illusion with bullets. "Nightbane, I have the location for that verdammnt machine gun," she hissed as her eyes hardened.

"W, mate?" The bayonet joined her.

Ehren pointed, "One hundred fifty meters more or less right there. Shell hole that is perhaps sandbagged. It is sweeping the route with fire."

Ying opened her eyes. "Father is hit in the leg, Toku took two rounds in the chest, and Norimune dragged them both to cover. They can't move up or down."
Spoiler: Tea And Biscuits With Cousin Fritz

Nightbane frowned. "Sabah, cop up 'ere. Once she's up top, give us aunuvver decoy, Yin'."

As the Machine gun spat flame and lead at yet another illusion, Nightbane grinned ferally. "Good mince pies, Ehren. Say we go over there and introduce ourselves for a spot o' tea and biscuits, then, eh, mate?"

Ehren's matching smug smile showed all her teeth inside her gas mask.

"Right, ladies. Yin', Andraste stay 'ere, alert Tsu wen she gets 'ere and move once we 'ave care o' Cousin Fritz. I'll pop a purple Right Light wen we do then 'ook back ter the bloomin' trench. Sabah, Ehren, yer come wiv me." Nightbane punctuated his orders by chambering a round in his rifle.

Sabah drew her scimitar and Ehren her pistol. Then they began to leopard-crawl from shell hole to shell hole.

Ehren's eyes widened as they approached the machine gun. While she prized herself on being unobtrusive until it was time to strike, she was in awe of the elder blade spirit ahead of her. Sabah was a silent, effortless phantom, using every scrap of cover, freezing almost before any explosions illuminated them, and moving without trace. If it was not for the faint firefly glow of her poisoned blade, Ehren would not even know that she was within arm's reach of her. Ehren bit her lip as she thanked any deities watching them that tonight this silent Angel of Death was on her side.

Finally Sabah ghosted into a shell hole alongside two corpses barely five meters from the machine gun pit and off to their left. Ehren slid down alongside her and slowly drew her true body in her left hand as her right gripped her pistol.

Faintly she heard voices from the undead troops ahead.

"Siehst Du etwas?" {Do you see anything?}

Nightbane slapped her on the ankle, and she looked back and down to see the bayonet unclip a grenade from his web gear.

"Keine Bewegung, Otto, sie verstecken sich." {No movement, Otto. they are hiding.}

Ehren nodded along with Sabah and tensed her legs, digging the toes of her boots into the muddy, bloody ground as she took deep breaths to fill her lungs. Inside her stomach, her gut twisted with anticipation.

"Kommt raus und spielt, kleine französische Hasen..." {Come out and play, little French rabbits...}
Spoiler: Sturmangriff

She saw the grenade fly overhead into the pit and screamed at the top of her lungs as she charged.

"Sturmangriff! Vorwärts!"(Assault! Forward)

Beside her Sabah shrieked like a desert falcon as they sprinted side by side.

"La ilaha illa Allah wa Muhammadun rasulu l-Lah wa 'Aliyun wali llah!"(There is no god to God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and the eyes are God's guardian!)

Her finger caressed the trigger on her Luger as she fired on the run at the silhouettes revealed by the explosion of the grenade.

One, then a second spun away with fist sized holes in them as her pistol emptied.

She slammed the pistol into the side of the first undead in the hole and pulled the trigger twice.

To her side, Sabah's glowing blade nicked the gunner who collapsed bonelessly and began to convulse over the machine gun, shrieking hideously like a damned soul burning in Hell.

Movement out of the corner of her eye and her Ehrendolch lashed out like lightning.

The loader's fingers and spinning brass cartridges from the ammunition belt that he was planning to choke her with flew away from her stroke then his torso slid apart in unequal chunks from a backhand stroke from Sabah.

The last member of the machine gun team started to run in panic.

CRACK

He dropped bonelessly and Ehren turned to see Nightbane kneeling at the edge of the pit with smoke coming from his rifle barrel above cold, brutal eyes.

"Nice work, girls. Right. That's 'ow we invite Cousin Fritz(germans) ter tea and biscuits."

Sabah nodded and thrust herself into all the wounded to give them a swift venomed death as Ehren opened the Maxim gun's action, pulled the bolt out, then threw it down the ravine into the darkness with all her strength.

Nightbane then raised a stubby pistol and pulled the trigger. With a pop, a purple parachute flare appeared overhead.

"Sabah, point, Ehren, back her up."

Ligne Un bis, 200 meters from the top of Hill 295 (Le Mort Homme)

Ehren breathed a sigh of relief as she slid into the shell hole where the rest of her family were. Mutti was bent over with a blood and mud stained bandage around her left leg, while Toku was glowing a faint green as she meditated. The rest of the spirits who had joined her for their walk through Hell were spread out around the lip of the room-sized crater that had narrow trench entrances dug at the south, east and west lips, and a low dugout to the north.
Spoiler: Le Mort Homme

She spared a glance up the overhanging slope ahead and slightly to the northwest.

The summit was a mass of explosions and airbursts. Through the smoke and dust she gasped as she saw movement, the top of the entire hill was seething with an army of the unburied dead like an obscene anthill.

All of them seemed to be going toward a pillar of green fire that was so dark that it seemed almost black.

Colombe walked beside Ehren and her jaw set. "Right. This is how we do it. From here on out we will be fighting for our lives. Ring formation. Zamarad, Andraste in the middle. Andraste, project a shield over us all and keep it up. Zamarad, burn a hole in their lines straight to the breach and keep it open. I have point, Toku and Ying with me. Norimune, Ehren, right flank. Tsukiakari, Sabah, left flank. Del, Nightbane bring up the rear and support us with cover fire."

Everyone nodded as Colombe finished. "Get to the breach, get the talismans laid, and then sell ourselves as dearly as possible to buy time for the ritual. It's been a honor."

The rapier's blade blazed brightly against the darkness, joined by the other weapons as Andraste projected a shield of crackling golden light over them.

"À la charge! Attaque!"

As Ehren ran at Norimune's shoulder she felt a sudden flash of heat on her left side, shocking even through the uniform and chemical warfare gear.

A moment later, a bright red-orange flame to her left lit up the hill ahead and then a wave of fire slammed into the teeming mass of undead. The front ranks vanished instantly like twigs in a blast furnace, while the ones beyond appeared as black skeletons in the flames as they burned to ashes.

One hundred fifty meters.

A second pulse of heat followed as they began to climb the steaming clay of the hill that had been baked as if it was in a kiln by the force of Zamarad's power. More flames shot forth, cutting a hole in the ranks as bullets ricocheted off Andraste's shield.

One hundred meters.

At Ehren's side, Norimune swung her massively oversized blade and a whip of fire exploded from it into the undead charging for them. Burning bodies and parts of bodies flew like rain. Ehren fired her pistol.

"Accio Hollowpoint!"

Seventy-five meters.

Ehren's pistol clicked empty again. As she gutted a skeletal zoauve lunging for her throat with bony fingers, she gasped out the command to reload again. "Accio Hollowpoint!" Another wave of fire seared her skin and the Zoauve burst into flames as she kicked it off her.

Fifty meters.

A stench unlike anything she thought possible choked Ehren's lungs as a shambling vaguely man-shaped monstrosity three times her size composed of excrement, seething maggots, drowned corpses, and bloody mud loomed overhead as it waded through the burning and shattered bodies of lesser undead. Norimune screamed in disgust alongside her and swung her blade at it as it reached for her.

The Nodachi sank to the hilt in the golem. Norimune clenched her teeth and the creature bubbled and then exploded, showering Ehren with a liquid too foul to comprehend or describe. All of that meant nothing as Ehren clubbed a zombie away from Norimune's flank with her jammed pistol and then stabbed it through it's rotten heart. The one behind it was hit by a glowing bullet fired from Delilah, flashed into a photographic negative of itself, and then tentacles of necromantic energies shot from the undead to its companions, ripping their tortured souls free of their rotting bodies in the banishment.

Seventeen meters.

Ehren gasped as she saw a thin line of undead and ghosts standing at the edge of a green-black glowing crater sunk into the top of the hill. They were desperately fighting their compatriots, trying to keep them from enlarging the opening to The Monster.

She slammed her elbow into the throat of the zombie grappling with her. That gave her enough space to get her knife arm free. As filthy, broken teeth went for her throat, she reached back and flung her true self with all her strength at the back of one of the undead attacking the defenders then blinked her avatar out of existence.

Eight meters.

She came to herself buried halfway up her blade in the back of a poileu, ripped herself free and hurled herself again, ignoring the stabbing pain in her side from a trench knife.

Two meters.

She blinked into being, and landed in a fighting crouch. Ignoring her wounds, ignoring the tide of undead scant meters away coming for her, ignoring everything but her duty, her free hand found the coin around her neck and with a sudden jerk she snapped the chain and cast it into the pit behind her.

General Phillipe Petain's Headquarters, Souilly

Medea of Colchis's eyes snapped open and filled with arcane power. Dressed in a jet black peplos dress and with her hair down contained by a tiara of gold, she gestured with her wand of white poplar wood from one of the trees overlooking the spring of Lethe and with a core of Cerberus' fur. As Albus Dumbledore, Augusta Longbottom, Henri de Maintenon, Jezabel de Breuil, and a full forty-four other wizards channeled power into her, she levitated in the center of their circle from their combined arcane power and began to chant a prayer in her native tongue that she had learned as a young woman.

Great Hades, master of the darkened deep,
master of the realm beneath our feet who hears
the echoes of our steps, who takes the echoes
of our lives. Hades, you know the need for an end
to life, you know the worth of a well-deserved rest,
you know the thanks of men and women weary
from long lives of worry and toil, you know the joy
of sweet reunion as friends long parted join
together once again within your storied land.
The dim and misty underworld is yours, O Hades;
yours are the Fields of Asphodel, yours the endless
pits of Tartarus in which are cast the wicked
and the vile. Yours too are the Fortunate Isles,
the land of fair Elysium where dwell the righteous
and the good. Hades, receiver of burnt offerings,
receiver of the blood of beasts, well-honored god:
in the end, all come to you. Hades, I praise you.

Le Mort Homme (Hill 295)

May 7th, 2014

Ehren sensed more than heard the frustrated, weakening cry of the Monster as she fought for her life alongside the defenders of Le Mort Homme. A rifle butt slammed into her side and she grunted in pain, grabbing the bony wrist of her attacker and then smashing her helmeted head into his rotting face.

Her eyes widened as a familiar rainbow-glowing rapier impaled the next zombie in the endless tide. She sobbed in relief at the blood-streaked face of her mother as the ground shook and the crack behind her began to slowly close.

Colombe took position at Ehren's side after tossing her ferryman's payment into the crack in the wards. The dagger defended her mother's flank as the rapier cast spells to assist the rest of their team to stagger in. Toku was next, flanking Colombe on the other side, then Tsukiakari hacked her way through a knot of German dead. Andraste half-carried the exhausted Zamarad past her. The Ifrit formed a scimitar of weakly flickering flame in each hand to cover Nightbane and Norimune.
Spoiler: The Dead Of The Great War

The endless attacks were like a horrid nightmare as the smoke faded and the darkness slowly vanished. The shattered hellscape wavered and then vanished like blown smoke to be replaced by a pine wood illumined by the first rays of dawn.

Ehren slowly staggered, vaguely aware of the half-visible shades of the army of the dead around her and her numbed brain looked at the white marble statue of a skeleton holding his winding shroud and a furled French flag proudly and defiantly. Her eyes lowered to seek the inscription of the monument to the dead of Le Mort Homme.

Ils n'ont pas passé

They did not pass.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking towards the Mess Hall, Ume ran her fingers through her hair with a small nod, "I will admit, the combination of the combs and the brush work wonderfully on our hair."

As she hummed, Sakura sniffed her hair with a small smile, "Hai, as does the shampoo and conditioner that Harry-Chan supplied. Our hair has rarely looked better than what it does now." Head tilted to the side, she tapped her chin before turning to her sister, "Though the soap was also good, though that is a modern invention."

Smile brightening, the other Twin nodded, "Hai, and it was also good. Our skin is both clean and yet so soft. Truly, the world in this time is wonderful." Considering things, Ume hummed, "Though I will admit, while I do need to get used to such things, the shower is a wonderful invention."

Just nodding as well, Sakura smiled, "Hai, it really is. And such a simple idea as well! Though I do like how we can adjust the temperature of the water that comes out as we wish. But it is like standing in a warm rain shower. I can understand how it has become popular what with how quickly and efficiently it gets one clean with a minimum of fuss."

Running her fingers through her hair, Ume made a sound of agreement. While they still preferred baths, the two of them believed that showers could also be used... especially to get clean before the bath. Something that they looked forward to testing later to say the least.

However, she was brought out of her musing by a shout, "UME-SAN! SAKURA-SAN!" Turning, they found a grinning Miitake making her way towards them, "GOOD MORNING!"

Both Twins shared a look before giggling at the energetic Battlecruiser, "And a good morning to you as well, Miitake-San, Ishikari-San." Spotting something, they bowed a bit, "As well as you, Denryuu-San."

When she turned, Miitake jerked a bit at seeing the Carrier with her sister, Taihou, "Wait, when did you get there?"

Lightly smirking, Denryuu gave her an amused look, "I have been here for a few minutes... but us Carriers operate best when one does not know where we are." That got her giggles from the former Hitobashira and a huff from Miitake, though judging from said Battlecruiser's expression, she was also rather amused over it. Glancing over, she gave a nod to Mihara who arrived with Akashi and Momotori, "Mihara-San."

A smile on her face, the Repair Ship nodded, "Denryuu-San."

Soon after, Mihara and Denryuu introduced their sisters to their friends. Akashi bowed to them and gave a knowing look to Taihou who also smiled a little, "Thank you, but I think that perhaps we should give you some time to talk amongst yourselves." Giving them a wink, she continued, "After all, you're all friends."

For her part, Denryuu looked unsure until Taihou gave her a small hug, "I am not going anywhere and I shall see you inside... Imouto."

Those words caused a burst of warmth inside the chests of both Armoured Carriers. But Denryuu gave a small nod, "Hai, Onee-Chan."

With a final pat on the shoulder and hug, Taihou walked away and into the mess hall with Akashi and Momotori following. Once they were inside, Ishikari turned and gave Denryuu a small smile, "How did last night go? Meeting your Nee-San?"

Much to her surprise, Denryuu fully smiled, "It was wonderful." Blinking away a slight tear, she shook her head and turned to the others, "I... will not go too much into it, but... Onee-Chan and I had a good night talking with each other."

From where she stood, Mihara had a similar smile, "Same with me and Onee-Sama as well as Nee-San." At their looks, she gave a small shrug, "Onee-Sama had some experience due to meeting Momotori, but..." Her expression softened, "We cried some at meeting each other just the same."

Everyone smiled at how happy the two newly summoned and freed shipgirls looked at what had happened the night before. Sakura placed a hand on Mihara's shoulder and nodded, "That is wonderful and I'm happy..." She then turned towards Denryuu, "For the both of you."

Bowing slightly, Denryuu sighed happily, "Thank you, Sakura-San." Curious, the Carrier turned towards the two Battlecruisers, "How did things go with your Imouto?"

The two B-65s considered the question before glancing at each other. Ishikari then frowned a little and gave a small shrug, "It went well enough, but the three of us did not know each other well enough to really, well, miss any others."

Miitake gave her own shrug, though with her usual easy grin on her face, "But we were all happy and the like just the same." Crossing her arms, she chuckled some, "Though Midori-Chan mentioned that once everything settles for us, we're going to start our training." Bringing up her arms, the Battlecruiser flexed them, "Can't wait to fire these guns even if in training."

Rolling her eyes, Ishikari grabbed her sister's arms and pushed them down, "Stop that."

Unable to help herself, Mihara's lips twitched a bit before she turned to the others, "Well, Onee-Sama is going to start training me up to be a full on Repair Ship and mentioned that she is going to be helping you as well, Sakura-San, Ume-San."

Simply nodding, the two Installation girls smiled, "Hai, we were informed of much the same ourselves. They will also be bringing someone named Dewey from Sasebo to teach us some things as well."

Eyebrows furrowing, it took Mihara a few moments before she nodded, "I think that is one of the Floating Dry Docks that have been summoned by the Americans. Onee-Sama mentioned her anyways." Her expression softened some, "You should be happy as I am sure that you both will do well under her."

Much to her amusement, both twins flushed a little even as they smiled. Denryuu then spoke up, "As for myself, Onee-Chan has already stated that she will be helping me to train as will Houshou-Kaa-San. And I am looking forward to proving myself..."

That pronouncement was met with nods and sounds of agreement from the others. Not long after though, Miitake pumped her fist into the air, "Okay! Now time to head over to Mess Hall for breakfast and to see Harry-Chan!"

Upon entering the Mess Hall, their eyes widened some like the night before due to the activity that was going on. Thankfully, things had calmed down from the initial rush and the main people going to the line were those who were coming back for seconds or thirds. Taking the trays, which were twice the size as normal ones, the girls entered the line and soon got various drinks.

As they continued down the line, they noticed Harry bringing out something and dumping it into the trays that were there. Waving, Miitake grinned, "Harry-Chan! Over here!"
Once more, her sister tried, without success, to get her to stop. For his part, Harry ignored the amused glances and head shakes being given to him and walked over, "Good morning, Miitake-Chan. How are things today?"

Grin on her face, Miitake chuckled, "Great now that we get to talk with you!"

Ignoring the light laugh from Harry, Sakura looked over the food that was on display and frowned, "Um, Harry-San? Nee-San and I hate to be a bother, but..."

For his part, Harry understood the underlaying question, "You want to know what to eat, I take it? Or what we have?" At the shy nod, he smiled, "Not a problem, I don't mind at all." Giving their choices of drinks a once over, he gave a nod before gesturing from where he just came from, "Well, I was just putting some more bacon into the tray there. Over here are the more western foods, such as ham, bacon, sausage, eggs done up various ways, potato cakes... that sort of thing. Next to that is the more traditional Japanese fare for breakfasts including rice and himono. Beyond that, there's some miso in pots kept warm... and after that are the bakery area."

At that, Denryuu perked up some, "Onee-Chan stated that you often work in the bakery area..." Seeing the looks, her cheeks pinkened slightly, "I... asked her about where in the kitchens you work most often."

Harry simply nodded at that, "And she's right, I do work mostly baking in the mornings. For example, the yoghurt muffins, cinnamon waffles, and cinnamon pancakes are my work." Tapping his chin, he gestured at the same area, "There's other things as well, like toast."

That made Ume frown in confusion, "Um, toast?"

Just chuckling, the thirteen year old smiled a bit, "Hai, toast." Shaking his head, he sighed a bit, "It's pretty popular in the morning and a lot of shipgirls will make small towers of the stuff. It's why next to that, you have what you put on your toast in small packages. Butter, jams, peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut spread, honey, caramel spread... a lot."

Part of that though made Ishikari frown in confusion, "Caramel spread...?"

Glancing around, Harry leaned towards her, "A number of shipgirls really have sweet tooths, so they enjoy having some on toast or what have you. They also drown their pancakes and waffles in syrup." Pulling back, he snapped his fingers, "Right! Since this is your first breakfast back, when you get them just call out for me as I have a little something special..."

When they reached the spot, their tray piled high with food, Harry came out with small boxes about as large as his hand and placed them on their trays. Confused, Mihara looked at it, "Um, Harry-Chan? What is this?"

A grin on his face, Harry tapped the side of his nose, "The boxes have danishes, warm from the oven. Just have your magical fairies cancel the shrinking charms to let them get back to full size... hopefully, you'll enjoy them..."

Something that they certainly did as each one was massive and fitting for girls of their appetites.

Later, once they were done and the breakfast rush was over, Harry gave a small nod to Kansha, "Thanks for helping."

The knife set chuckled a bit as he cleaned his blades alongside Harry, "You are very welcome, Master. Besides, I'll admit that I don't mind this." His gaze softened a little, "It reminds me of when my first Master's family owned a resturant."

Rather than say anything, Harry just nodded. He already had gotten the tale in regards to what had happened. Instead, he gave the Muramasa a glance, "So, what do you think of the foods cooked here so far?"

Humming as he finished drying his last blade, Kansha picked up the cookbook there and flipped through it before putting it back into place, "New and challenging." A grin crossed his face at that, "And in my book, that's always a good thing. Been a while since I really stretched my cooking muscles..." Chuckling, the knife set waved Harry off, "Anyways, you should get going before those girls get too bored and come looking for you."

That got him a laugh from the teenage wizard. Shaking his head, Harry dried off his hands and hung up his apron, "True enough... see you around, Kansha."

Lips twitching, the Muramasa bid him goodbye before picking up another cookbook and beginning to look though it. If there was one thing he enjoyed about his new Master, it was that he let him read any of the Potter family cookbooks. And as they had recipes from all over the world and from different times... he was more than happy.

Walking outside, Harry gave a wave and a smile towards the gathered Caldera girls. Internally, part of him sighed at what was going to happen. But as any true man would, he simply straightened his back and met his fate with a smile, "So, ready for some shopping?"

Just laughing as she placed her hands behind her head, Miitake grinned, "You bet, Harry-Chan! We got to fill out everything we need after all..." She jerked her head towards Ume and Sakura who flushed slightly, "Well, except for these two. They want to wait for a bit until they can go to Kyoto before getting too much as they are more for traditional wear."

If anything, the Twin's blush deepened some, "We simply prefer such clothing and what other modern clothing we might get, well..." Glancing at Harry, their faces went completely red and they looked away, "We are not comfortable yet with shopping with Harry-Chan for."

For a few moments, Harry gave a shrug as he understood what that meant, 'Yeah, going shopping for that would be too... wait.' Blinking, he replayed what they had said, his face slowly going red, 'Did they just say... DAMMIT PUBERTY!'

Not knowing of how the teenage wizard with them was currently beating his hormones with a massive spiked club in his head, the Twins calmed themselves down and turned to him. Granted, they blinked at how Harry punched himself in the head, 'Wonder why he is doing that...?'

Once he got himself under control, Harry shook his head and gave the gathered girls smiles, "Anyways, we should probably get going since the bus will be waiting. And my arms are ready to carry the bags." It was then that he noticed that the Twins walked up to him, "Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? Do you need something?"

Sharing a look, the Twins smiled a bit before Sakura spoke up, "Not truly, but we wish to thank you for this morning in regards to your gift. We are very thankful for it."

A blush on his face, Harry scratched the back of his head, "Um, you're welcome?"

Moments later though, his blush deepened as first Sakura and then Ume gave him a kiss with smiles on their faces. Seeing his expression, the Twins giggled, "There, now we have thanked you for the gift."

Upon seeing the grin on Miitake's face though, Harry gave an unsure grin, 'Uh, oops?'

________________________________________________

That evening after dinner found Harry standing in front of the Vanishing Cabinet that would take him to Britain. With a deep breath, he looked behind him at those of his friends that had gathered to say goodbye to him for at least two months as he went back to Hogwarts. Lips curling into a smile, he gave a hug to Shinano, "I'll see you and Regina in two weeks, okay? So that we can spend time in Hogsmeade though it is not a Hogsmeade Weekend."

Nodding, Shinano returned the hug happily, "Hai, Regina-Chan should be finished with her rebuild then." As she pulled back slightly, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you then."

Softly smiling, Harry returned the kiss to the cheek, "Hai, see you then."

One by one, the others came up and gave him either hugs or kisses on the cheek. Natsumi hugged him tightly, "Just be careful and safe, okay? For me, Harry-Chan?"

Chuckling, Harry nodded as he kissed her cheek and returned the hug just as tightly, "I'll do my best. Especially as it seems that there's only one big life or death thing at the end of the school year."

Happily humming, the Kitsune pulled back and was replaced by the Twins, who kissed both his cheeks, "We'll be looking forward to seeing you play Quidditch, Harry-Chan. And to be shown around Hogwarts."

Kissing them both on their cheeks, Harry smiled, "And I will, trust me on that. You'll love seeing everything at Hogwarts too, I know it."

Shortly after, he pulled away from them as him and his mother entered the Vanishing Cabinet and soon enough, they were back in Britain for the last few months of the year...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Our mission was to get crushed. The divisions followed each other, holding back the steel of the enemy with the flesh of men. They had no other role than to every day raise in front of him a veritable wall of corpses. This was our fate for six months. The whole challenge of command was thus reduced simply to allotting just enough of an amount to the Minotaur, his meagre ration. History will later speak more about our role and the tragic grandeur of our sacrifice.

Above all is the will to be victorious. It was necessary that France on its own should affirm that it will not to be defeated. She pledged her word to this. For six months, before the eyes of the whole world, Verdun was what was at stake for French honour. - Second Lieutenant Jubert, 151st Infantry Regiment, 1919.

The Mill on the Meuse (Epilogues)

Le Mort Homme (Hill 295)

May 7th, 2014
Spoiler: Those Who Served

Ehren gasped for breath and shook uncontrollably like a drowning woman who had been granted a new lease on life. Numbly, operating on habit and discipline more than the thought that she was not capable of, she caged away Grendel once more in her soul's depths. She felt a strange regret and sense of loss as she once more amputated what she could be from what she chose to limit herself to.

Once she was in control of her darker side once more, Ehren slowly sheathed her dagger body. Next she automatically unjammed and safed her pistol before returning it to the shoulder holster. Her hands trembled and she watched herself perform these action in a stunned and detached daze as if she was watching the actions of a stranger in some incomprehensible dream-like movie.

Her shaking fingers found the buckle of her dented, stained, and scarred Stahlhelm's chinstrap, and she numbly unbuckled it to let the mountain-sized weight fall from her head. The gas mask joined her helmet on the ground and she shook her sweaty, bloody hair out to lay limply around her shoulders.

A stabbing pain in her side registered in a detached way through the mental fog that she was in, and her questing hand came back with red blood on her fingertips as she touched the rusty 'French Nail' crude trench knife that had been rammed into her abdomen through the ballistic plate and kevlar of her vest.
Spoiler: French Nail

Curious. She couldn't remember when that happened, she absently thought as she pulled the iron blade free from her body and dropped it to the ground alongside her helmet.

Her fumbling fingers found the shape of a healing potion in the medical pouch and she drank it. The bitter, astringent liquid tasted like the finest brandy or the purest spring water that she could ever imagine.

As her wounds began to slowly heal, she noticed Mutti standing next to her, looking at one of the slowly fading army of ghosts with tears streaming down her haunted eyes. Her mother whispered in German to be replied to by the wind in the pine needles of the trees that ever so slowly were reclaiming this poisoned and battered hill for cleaner, better purposes one day far in the future.

"K-K-Karl P-Potter is it you?"

The young man in the prime of his life nodded, running his fingers through his messy blonde hair and then twirling one of his waxed mustaches.

"It is. It is good to see you too, Cousin."

Colombe sobbed in a pained whisper. "A long way from Africa. I'm sorry that I could not be there for you. I'm sorry about Tamenokalt. I'm sorry... for killing you that night."

Karl touched the head sized hole in the right side of his chest with the scorch marks of a lightning bolt spell. "You have nothing to be sorry for at the end, Colombe. After we parted, and Tamenokalt died along with my unborn daughter, I... wished to join her." His hand drifted up to the neck ribbon of the Pour le Mérite (For Merit) medal for valor with oak leaves on his Imperial German officer's uniform. "I came here seeking death, to be with my beloved. I was mad, we all were then."

Colombe soberly nodded.

"You gave me what I was seeking. A quick and painless way to join my beloved in death. But more importantly, you saved my soul. When I saw in your eyes your horror at the man I had become as you fought through the Inferi that I had summoned to take Toter Mann(dead man)... I realized that I must make amends to truly deserve to be with the ones that I loved."

Karl's eyes looked over at Ehren as the dagger walked beside her mother. "Your child, yes?"

Colombe gently embraced Ehren around the shoulder and nodded. "Yes. My youngest, Ehren du Chasteler."

"She has your looks and your spirit." Karl began to fade as beside him the spectral image of a beautiful young Berber woman with olive skin, dark hair, and a look of love on her face began to faintly appear beside him. "And your honor."

"T-Tamenokalt?!?" Colombe's voice broke and her tears flowed. She half collapsed, only held up in Ehren's arms as she wailed in grief for some of her closest friends from the darkest part of her life who had helped her learn how to live once more before death separated her from them.

The young woman nodded and embraced her husband as the image of a young toddler with messy dark blonde hair dressed in a child's dress from before the Great War embraced her parents and waved hesitantly to Ehren and Colombe.

Karl, Tamenokalt, and the young girl slowly faded as the rays of sunlight crept across the top of Le Mort Homme. Faintly Ehren heard the wind in the branches whisper one final message from those who had gone before to those who remained and endured.

"Remember us. Auf Wiedersehen, bis wir uns wiedersehen...."

Nécropole nationale de Chattancourt, Chattancourt France.

May 8th, 2014
Spoiler: Ceux de Verdun

Ehren limped through the gate to the cemetery alongside Ying, who was blinking with her one good eye from the bandages on her head as her sister guided her. Healing potions and medi-wizards' spells had allowed her to be somewhat mobile despite her injuries, but every muscle in her body ached.

The physical pain was nothing to the wounds scarring her spirit now. Her torn and scarred flesh would mend, but her mind and soul were equally scarred.

Part of her had left Moulbaix four short days ago and would never return when she came back home.

Part of her was in a place that Claire would never, must never journey to.

And yet, that part of her was now closer to the others who had somehow fought their way through the Monster. Tokunotakai. Nightbane. Andraste. Sabah. Tsukiakari. Aunt Zamarad. Aunt Delilah. Big Sister Ying. Grandmother Norimune.

Mother.

And she knew that if they were called up on to seal another breach that the survey led by Professor Aetios and others found, that she would march alongside them into the maw of the Monster once more. For honor, duty and faithfulness, yes, but also for the friendship and shed blood for each other that only those who had come through the crucible of battle together could understand.
Spoiler: Chattancourt Military Cemetery


She looked at the hundreds upon hundreds of crosses resting peacefully at the foot of the low wooded ridge dominated by Le Mort Homme.

Thousands of hopes, fears, and dreams that had come here to sacrifice themselves for different reasons.

Thousands of lives cut brutally short in the War To End All Wars.

And yet a mere tithe of the deaths that had hallowed this place lay here in eternal watch over their battlefield.

For were not these the fortunate few who had been identified and given an individual place of eternal rest and honor to call their own?

She watched Zamarad and Sabah half lean on each other for support along with their crutches as they headed to the section of the cemetery with the Muslim graves, containing those who had journeyed from Morocco, Algeria, and other far-flung French colonial possessions in North Africa and the Middle East to lie here facing Mecca.

She could not tell if it was tears or the drizzling spring rain that wet her cheeks. Her eyes focused on the French tricolor flag that flew proudly at the far end of the necropolis from her.

She understood a little more now.

About life and death.

About honor and duty.

About the true cost of choices, sacrifice, and service.

About her family.

About Mother.

About herself.

Words that she had read but never comprehended before now came to mind as she looked at the gently flapping flag.

"I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it's marked by the blood of those who died defending it."

With that, she turned sharply to her right and began to walk down the nearest row of crosses, reading each nameplate solemnly to engrave them on her heart.

She owed the dead of Verdun that honor of remembrance now.

For like them, she too had willingly walked into the maw of the Mill on the Meuse.

Like them too, she had sacrificed something of herself to remain here as the cost willingly paid to save others from a worse fate.

Like them too, she was and always would be one of the Ceux de Verdun.(Those of Verdun.)

 

[darthcourt10]

Year Three - Prisoner of Shipping Part 4c

START

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Flickering ghostly blue light caused shadows to dance and weave across the room before Murdina opened one eye to regard the Abyssals that all sat down around a table. Unlike other meetings, there were only a handful of Princesses there. Ailith, who was one of the smallest Battleship Princesses ever being barely five feet tall, Fiona who was a Supply Depot Princess type, and Lyall, a Submarine Princess. Each one of them dismissed by the others for the most part.

Which Murdina considered one of their biggest mistakes.

Rather than say anything, she nodded at her Steward who poured out some drink before she took a sip. Once she set down the goblet, Murdina frowned, "Yeh all know why we are all here ta day. So I will not mince words about why this Council shall be here."

Ailith gave a sharp nod before taking a sip of her own drink, not worried about it being poisoned. She knew that if Murdina wanted her dead, she would not be so crass as to poison her in her own home, "Aye, quick and ta the point. Just one o' th' reasons that I like yeh."

Simply nodding with her hands clasped in front of her face, Murdina glanced at each one of them, "Thank yeh. Now than, th' question is how th' war is going and what is happening out there... And how close to completion our plan is."

Everyone there turned towards the Submarine Princess who had her eyes closed as if asleep. But then she opened them and more than one had to shove down a shudder at the cold, dead look in those eyes, "The war is going as you expected, milady. As you believed, Ancient Atlantic Gateway, or as she is now calling herself, Porta Abysseum Atlantia, has made her move. The 'Rogue' Abyssals that joined several fleets turned on them and have made their way back to her as we knew that they would."

Chortling, Fiona shook her head, "Why anyone would have expected differently, I do not know. It was an obvious move for her to sow discord." At that, everyone, even Heather who was a human, chuckled. In the cutthroat environment that they had in their kingdom, such a move was something done by a child. Hence why none of the 'Survivors' were taken in by the Clans. However, Fiona frowned some and glanced towards Lyall, "What is this though that I heard about some killing others for the 'Atlantic Empress'? Is tha' the Boot as weel now?"

Very slowly, the Submarine nodded, "Aye, th' is th' Boot from all we have found out. She did not claim any o' those killed by her treachery, but they claimed ta be from some mysterious Princess." A smirk appeared on her face, "Though it has been useful as we have sown our own chaos since."

Just blinking, Ailith gave her fellow Abyssal a look, "Some o' tha' was yeh?"

If anything, Lyall's smirk grew, "As I said, fer once th' Boot was useful. Though I imagine her ta be more confused and angry aboot somethin' recent we did, aye." Seeing the looks of interest, she chuckled though her eyes kept looking dead, "Got our hands on one o' them human vessels tha' other Abyssals have been usin' since Bludd Week when they captured them. Filled 'er up with explosives we had and steered her adrift tawards one o' the other Fleets with soom imps onboard. They were jus' aboot to board when that Daemoon of th' Boot's showed up. Killed the lot o' them... and we detonated th' ship when they were all close... Nearly sank some o' the Boot's fleet, though that Daemoon was only badly hurt, but angry and confused aboot how a signal of 'For the Atlantic Empress' sounded from the ship before she blew."

For a few moments, Murdina considered that. Oh, she had no doubt that no accents were involved that could point their way. Especially as for a brief moment, Lyall's voice when she recited what was said before the ship blew was in the same accent as Ancient Atlantic's own fleet. Each one of Lyall's clan were the Assassins and intelligence agents among the Clans, the ones best able to put a dagger in someone's back. Yet, unlike the others, they were more willing to stay out of the normal internecine warfare between the Clans. Not once did they ever make a move to claim the crown in their entire history.

Something that, in Murdina's eyes, made them all the more dangerous and deadly.

However, that said, they were also smart enough to understand where the war was heading as well from the very beginning. If there was one rule their clan abided by, it was not start a fight that you could not finish. Besides which... there was also the fact that having a daughter by a human herself, Lyall had a dislike for the clans that mistreated theirs. Murdina always considered Lyall's husband an odd one for falling for one so cold and stone hearted, but to each their own.

What it meant though was that Murdina could trust her at least to help with what needed to be done. Fingers tapping on the table, she gave a nod, "Good, keep th' Boot and others on the wrong foot and wonderin'." A grin crossed her face as she considered Porta's likely reaction to attacks on her forces by those claiming to be for the Atlantic Empress. Something that warmed her own cold heart. Pushing that aside though, she turned back to the other issue at hand, "Of course, wit' the Boot most likely busy wit her own problems, we have some o' our own."

Turning towards Fiora, the Supply Depot Princess grimaced, "As much as it galls me, an' it does, I've been doing me best ta handle some issues. A fault round here, a bag o' powder a bit more unstable there, soom oil with contaminents. Not able ta do mooch, I'm afraid."

Murdina simply waved her off, "Bah, yeh are doing fine as it is. No ooffence, but I understand why."

For her part, Fiona only shrugged as she knew that Murdina meant all of it. Out of all of them, including the hybrid's mother and previous Princess, Murdina understood about supplies and the like and treated her Clan well. Besides which, if peace did happen then her Clan was the one most likely to profit from trade with the humans if nothing else. And from what she heard from her own agents inserted into Scotland, there was quite a bit that she could look forward to.

Hearing a chuckle, they turned towards the lone Battleship Princess. Like the others, Ailith was generally pro-human among the Clans. But not for just the reasons as the others, though there had been rumours of her having had human lovers and children by them. To her Clan, as long as one was willing to fight, they were respected. Most of the humans under her Clan were fighters as well, though not a pinch on an Abyssal, but held up and respected by the rest in their Clan nonetheless. More than that, humanity had gotten her respect when instead of folding, they beat back the Abyssals.

"Humans, always good fer a right proppa scrap."

With another sip of her drink and nodding, she set it down, "Wit the last fight tha' they were in, Naskall is ready ta fold. Their Princess dead and infighting among their Clan making sure o' it. Jus' got ta wait."

Slowly nodding with her hands clasped in front of her, Murdina smiled coldly, "You and your Clan will get their chance in the cooming Night o' Blood." Giving a small nod towards Lyall, she chuckled, "And thanks ta yeh, we'll be seeing tha' soon enough. Killing most o' those surviving their battles."

All of a sudden, Heather cleared her throat and attracted their attention, "We might have an issue though." Seeing them look at her, she continued, "Some o' my contacts have stated Skykill went and left wit soom others. Headin' ta the Dark Isle."

Eyes widened at that and Fiona cursed, "They were seen headin' ta her!? Why in the Lord's Name would they do that!?"

Grimacing, the lone human of the group shook her head, "Nay, I do not know why they would go ta her. Worse than Central Atlantic she is..."

Thoughtful, Lyall considered the new information, "Perhaps, tha' is why." At the looks, she made a motion with her hand, "Bluddthirsty she is, but no fool. And if she has th' chance..."

With a scowl, Ailith took a swing of her drink and slammed the goblet down, "Making a deal wit th' Devil she would be." Eyes narrowing, she growled, "Fitting, considerin' th' true name o' th' Dark Isle."

Leaning forward, Murdina ran a finger along the lip of her goblet, "Aye, so keep an eye out fer her if she returns, Lyall."

Just giving a small bow, the Submarine gave her a raised eyebrow, "Very well. Though it sounds like yeh do not expect her ta return."

Thinly smiling, Murdina shook her head, "Call it a gut feelin' due ta how quiet that She-Devil is." She gave a slight apologetic nod towards Fiona, "No offense meant."

A shudder running through her, the Supply Depot Princess shook her head as she rubbed her arms, "None taken. She may be a Supply Depot, but that She-Devil is not like the rest o' us at all."

Simply nodding, Murdina frowned, "Aye... As to Skykill, keep a look out. But I think that she is never goin' ta come back and will regret her trip greatly..." Eyes narrowing and glowing, she scowled, "After all, one should never trust the Ruler o' Satanaze..."
__________________________________________________________________

Eyes bulging, Skykill spat out a glob of blood at the form in front of her as she struggled in her chains, "What in the name o' the Abyss are yeh doing, ya mad bitch!? Let us go now!"

Chuckling, the Supply Depot Princess wiped the blood off her face before backhanding the Aircraft Carrier Demon, "Ah, but I know what I am doing, you, however, do not need to know. But..." An expression of mock thought on her face, she tapped her chin, "Perhaps, I shall enlighten you..."

Another Princess, a Light Cruiser Princess, snarled as she too tried to struggle from her chains, "Go ahead."

Yet, just the same, the Supply Depot Princess looked more amused than anything else. Walking over to a box, she slowly opened it, "You shall be helping me create the stroke that shall bring the Abyss victory, and for that you should be proud. For so long have I laboured for this very day, when the Abyss shall see the ascendancy of its true ruler. The Elder Princesses, so weak as to fall to humanity and others..." Reaching into the box, what she pulled out caused the other Abyssals there to jerk back in horror and disgust.

Mainly because within it were the skulls of Nordic Princess, Central Atlantic, and Middle Ocean.

Holding the skulls, the Supply Depot Princess walked around in a circle, setting them down in smaller circles, gently stroking the rotting heads, "Though I will admit, I did not expect them to have died as quick as they did. But they served their purpose just the same and will do so again for the true inheriter of the Abyss."

One of the normal Abyssals stared at her in horror, "You advised Central Atlantic when it came to attacking the humans in the first place..."
Nearby, a Heavy Cruiser Demon, one of those who betrayed Nordic paled even beyond her normal color as a piece clicked into place, "And you helped us put down our own Mother... whispering in our ear..."

Eyes glowing malevolently, the Supply Depot Princess, cackled, "Yes, though it was not too difficult." With a motion of her hand, the ceiling peeled back revealing the night sky with the dark, New Moon, high above. Flames sprung up and she took a deep breath before pulling a black blade hilted in Abyssal bone, "Three Elder Princesses to be give their power... Seven Abyssal Princesses to die and thus bring forth the Abyss. Thirteen Demons to be sacrificed upon the Alter of Ascension and bring forth the Darkness. Thirty Nine Abyssals to bleed and create the cold." Her gaze turned to the human cultists there who brought up their own knives and grinned, "Nine wizards to give of their lives to bring forth the magic. And ninety one humans to willingly bring forth the End with their souls..."

Striding forward, she brought up her knife as she reached the first struggling Princess, weakened through poison...

Meanwhile, elsewhere in her fortress, a Re-Class was rushing through the corridors slaughtering her way towards the central room. By this point, her Demon had nearly entirely taken over as she shrugged off the poison in her veins. Grabbing a Wo that attempted to stop her, she brutally threw her into a pillar, cracking it when a massive dark pulse of energy ran through the hallways. Reaching the door way to the central room, she was about to open them when the door cracked open and her feet became wet...

Wet, with blood that slowly seeped out, lit with an unholy glow.

Before she could react, a massive, gauntleted hand tipped with black claws grabbed her by the throat. Her tail barely had time to fire off it's guns to no effect before the head was crushed and the tail itself was ripped off moments before the Re-Class looked up into the face of her soon to be killer and snarled even as the hand almost gently enclosed her head.

Several seconds later, the injured Wo walked into view and gasped in awe before collapsing to her knees before her now changed Princess and bowing while ignoring the mutilated corpse of the Re, "P-Princess... I am sorry for my failure."

A dark chuckle answered her to the sound of clip clops against the floor, "Do not worry about such things, my Child. Rise... and behold my new form." Raising her head, the Wo did exactly that and gasped. Where once stood an Supply Depot Princess was now... something else entirely. From the waist up she had the body more in like with a Summer Harbour Princess type, but below the waist her body was more like a Re-Class except with cloven hooves. From her head, a crown of horns rose... with two massive ones rising above the others. Grinning, the transformed Princess laughed, "For truly, the true Abyssal Empress has arisen... Ruler of Satanaze and soon all shall know true darkness..."

While Satanaze Princess was celebrating her transformation, with her followers bowing before her, other effects were happening.

From her citadel, the dark pulse of energy continued onwards and outwards. Upon feeling it, and feeling a sense of familiarity from it as if knowing it was from an Elder Princess, though much fouler, Porta frowned. When Demon looked at her having felt the same thing, she simply shook her head while becoming thoughtful though unnerved. As it swept across North America, some people noted creatures like Windigos and the like becoming briefly more active while the Canadian Ministry rushed to various locations as did MACUSA as places like the Superstitions suddenly acted up while Halifax stood silently at the mouth of her harbour with narrowed eyes.

In Europe, other effects became apparent as in Verdun, the wards became more weakened setting the stage for their failure in a matter of weeks. When it had washed over Britain, Medea, sat up in bed and looked towards the west with a concerned gaze as the pulse washed over Greece, "What was that...?"

Wandering Princess was whimpering in pure fear as her and her fleet cuddled up to each other. Even Retribution was unnerved by what she felt.

Over the Indian Ocean, one could almost swear to hear a bloodthirsty laugh as the dark energy swept past. And as the pulse reached her, Wanko's head snapped around and she softly growled while Supprin felt sweat bead upon her brow. Hoppou herself paused in what she was doing and turned with narrowed eyes while her own dark energy leaked from inside her mittens while her daughters turned and looked to the East with a shiver running through them. Ume and Sakura also paled and looked in the same direction with frowns on their faces.

But... that was not the only reaction.

Just outside of Yokosuka under some hills, sat a small complex. It was protected by various magics and was a sister to the one deep under Yokosuka base with a similar purpose. Except that the goal was a darker one. Since the end of the war, it had laid silent and dark. But as the pulse passed through, something changed.

Slowly, suits of samurai armour rose to their feet, while inside their helmets the eye sockets of their long dead owners, dug up and placed into the suits by Sub-Unit-931, began to glow while mist filled their chest cavities. Wards and the like, long decayed, began to flare to life once more as crystals glowed in the walls and arcane machinery began to glow. And, in a center room, there was a tube of glass filled with a magically produced liquid. And within that liquid floated what looked like a fox pelt...

Which had nine tails and looked like it came from something the size of a horse.

For several moments after the pulse passed by, there was nothing... until a glow began to become apparent in the eye sockets and the glass began to crack...

 

[darthcourt10]

Irregardless

robopanda said:
Pretty sure that's a bit of classified intel he isn't able to discuss. So, when he's asked how vacation was, he'll say something to the effect of "Eventful" and gives a smirk that pisses off HMS Done with this Shit.​

Something like:

On Monday morning, Harry, Ron and Hermione were making their way down to breakfast. As they neared the Great Hall, talk turned to Harry instead of Ron and Hermione asked, "So how was your vacation, Harry? Anyone notable come back in that summoning you mentioned?"

"Sorry, Hermione, that's classified." responded Harry.

Ron interrupted, "Anything you can tell us at all?"

With that, Hermione turned to Harry and looked deep into his eyes. "Damn. Well, if it's classified, it's classified. Let us know when you can."

And they swept into the crowd heading for breakfast, the conversation over, but not forgotten.
----------------------
HMS Hermione spend much of her war on convoy escort. If there's anything she knows soul deep, it's classification, since that cost the lives of the ships she escorts. She can also look at harry and see when it's Harry classified, it's minor operational classified that needs a secure place to hint around, and when it's Officially Classified. Ron is still at civilian contractor level of classified indoctrination, and hasn't quite internalized the difference between time carrier getting into port classified and Trident launch procedures classified.

**********************************
For SoS breaking, in addition to the magical side there is also the no-maj side propping it up. There's an entire branch of the NSA devoted to covering up, discrediting, or otherwise concealing breaches that make onto the internet and into electronic records. Most major governments have the same. Some act in coordination with the magical ministries, some act in opposition, and some independently. The latter has some strange results when the concealment by both sides ends up in conflict.