The Betrayed And Forgotten. (Azur lane x USS Montana) [SLOW UPDATES]

Chapter 4: The Meeting. (Rewrite)

Walking along the stone path towards the grand cherry blossom tree offered a calming atmosphere. Montana took in the picturesque scenery as he strolled, although his focus was somewhat hindered by the handcuffs that bound him. Despite this, he observed the shipgirls going about their activities, receiving varied reactions from curious glances to disdainful stares. Instead of bowing his head, he met their gaze with an intense glare.

Their journey to the tree was interrupted when someone stepped in front of Akagi. "Oh my, why is an Eagle Union ship here?" Montana's gaze shifted over Akagi's shoulder, meeting the red eyes that awaited him. A giggle followed, emanating from the girl - Prinz Eugen. In response to his intense glare, she giggled more, playfully nudging Akagi aside as she approached Montana. "My my, here I thought we would never see each other again," she remarked, looking up at him. "Eugen, I didn't expect my old friend to be here," Montana replied, prompting more laughter from her.

"It's good to see you too, comrade," Eugen smiled warmly. "So, why are you in handcuffs and walking with these two?" Before he could reply, Kaga intervened, swiftly explaining, "He surrendered to us and is now a Prisoner of War." Eugen's eyes briefly showed confusion, reverting to their original expression. "Well, I shouldn't get in the way then," she said before wandering off. Montana watched her departure, offering a soft smile and a gentle shake of his head.

With a nudge to his back, he recalled his purpose, his blank expression resurfacing. He continued walking until he arrived at two imposing doors beneath the tree. Gazing upward, he expressed surprise at their sheer size. Akagi joined his side, instructing, "Come along, Nagato is waiting," waving for him to follow. Lacking an alternative, he began walking swiftly. As they approached the doors, Montana's tension grew, culminating as they stood before a set of large double doors. Gradually, they opened, revealing the familiar visage of Nagato. He bowed slightly, entering the room and taking a seat on the opposite side of the table.

Nagato's gaze fell upon him, signaling Akagi and Kaga to approach and remove his cuffs. Looking at them in astonishment, Montana gently rubbed his wrists, hoping to alleviate the discomfort. The two situated themselves on either side of Nagato and took their seats beside her. Silence enveloped the room, broken suddenly by Nagato's voice.

"Why did you surrender? Why did you leave your faction only to come here?" She questioned, her confusion evident. Montana remained silent momentarily, considering his response before speaking up. "I surrendered to seek protection," he said, nodding his head. "A half-truth," Nagato interjected, causing Montana's eyes to convey confusion. "You clearly don't need protection, considering you destroyed the Eagle Union's ammo storage."

Montana's eyes widened in surprise as Nagato resumed speaking. "So, let me ask again. Why. Are. You. Here?" His eyes darkened as he lowered his head, reaching into his jacket. Kaga and Akagi braced themselves, ready to react, until Nagato raised her hand. With her signal, the two stepped back, Montana producing an item from his jacket and placing it on the table, sliding it across.

Nagato's surprise was palpable as she looked at a file stamped with [TOP SECRET]. "What is this?" she inquired, waiting for an answer. With no response from Montana, she picked up the file and opened it. Akagi and Kaga looked on with curiosity. As Nagato read through the contents, her eyes widened further, her gaze lifting to meet Montana's with shock.

Placing the file back on the table, Nagato swiftly stood and walked over to Montana, offering a hug. Taken aback, he hesitated before his tears began to flow, and he embraced her tightly. Akagi and Kaga, their faces mirroring Nagato's shock, picked up the file, reading its contents and sharing a similar reaction. Approaching Montana, they, too, hugged him.

Gradually, Montana's tears subsided, prompting the trio to release their embrace. Nagato gazed at him, expressing, "I'm glad you shared this information with us. You're no longer a prisoner of war and are welcome to live here." Smiling and wiping his tears, he replied, "Thank you." As he stood to leave, Nagato halted him. "But I have one more question..." He looked at her, puzzled, nodding to indicate his attention. "I want to ask if you'd consider joining the Sakura Empire, not as a civilian, but as a member of our navy." Shocked once again, Montana looked down, his mouth opening as he began to respond.

[Time skip to 2 hours after.]

Inside the expansive warehouse, the entirety of the Sakura Empire's members had congregated, a sea of curious faces exchanging hushed conversations. The atmosphere was thick with confusion and anticipation, as everyone speculated about the purpose of this gathering. "What do you think this announcement is for?" a voice murmured within the crowd, followed by another response. "I have no idea, but whatever it is, it must be important." The voice chimed in before a hush fell over the assembly, and the illumination dimmed. The collective expression of the audience shifted, a mix of anger and confusion as they looked toward Nagato.

"This man has endured betrayal without flinching. He's the one who defiantly stared down his former comrades and kin and rejected them," Nagato proclaimed, her words resonating through the space. From the shadows on the opposite end of the stage emerged a mysterious figure, moving deliberately towards the center. "Today, I'm honored to present our latest addition, a former battleship of the Eagle Union, MONTANA!" As Nagato's words reached their crescendo, spotlights converged on the enigmatic figure, revealing him to be Montana himself.

The cavernous warehouse was plunged into silence for a brief, suspended moment. Then, a collective voice resonated from the gathered shipgirls, their incredulity, and astonishment melding into a unified exclamation. "WHAT?!"