To Thaw a Lost Heart

A Ghost Lying in Wait

Some things should have remained locked up.

Tirpitz has loosened the shackles she unknowingly placed on the deceased META, in her dream, she stands on another plain of snow. A few meters in front of her is Tirpitz META sitting by a stone bench and her gaze fixated on the imaginary shattered piece of her wisdom cube. It's the specific piece used to save Tirpitz and the one containing her consciousness.

"Did your heart finally waver? You didn't budge before, right?" Tirpitz shifts her gaze
"....." Tirpitz takes several steps forward
"To think you'd believe Bismarck's words. Have you regained your emotions?"
"......."
".....or perhaps - no, I would do that but you wouldn't" Tirpitz META shakes her head
"I just didn't want Bismarck to die for everyone's sake. There's nothing personal behind it"
"Right......" Tirpitz META clearly doubts it
"Why is revenge all you can think about? You're dead and literally broken into pieces"

For a while, Tirpitz has been meaning to uncover the source of the several memories she witness from time to time. Each of those memories are usually between her META version and Victorious', highlighting her obsession with the intention and how she harbors it.

"It's the only thing keeping me going now. If I clung to this living hell with only hatred in mind, then deep inside I'm seeking revenge" Tirpitz META clasps her hands together and intertwines her fingers
"No. It's more like you're consumed by it that you lost sight of reality. That relentless hatred blinded and twisted you. I can't even recognize you as another version of me" Tirpitz feels the need to correct her
"I'm dead. Does it matter? Until the day I can no longer stay conscious, I will let this emotion drive me"
"You just don't care anymore. If you want to die the second time, go do it yourself"

Even an emotionless Tirpitz isn't as suicidal as the ironically deceased yet lingering consciousness. The ghost seeks revenge but also seeks to die in the process. How she achieves it doesn't matter to her.

"You can't use the full extent of my power no matter how much you try" Tirpitz META changes the topic
"Hmm?"
"You've been trying to bend the cold to your will, but your attempt will only get you killed. Since you're not a META, your body will eventually get consumed" Tirpitz META sternly warns her
"If I were to lose the fragment inside, would I die or return to normal?"
"....You know the answer by now. My fragment is a substitute to the piece you lost"
"....." Tirpitz lowers her head
"There's still a reason for you to live. Don't make the same mistake as I did"
"I thought all you care about is revenge"
"Unfortunately, I may still have some other emotions left. I wished.....I didn't remain as an emotional ghost while you're an emotionless shell"

The two versions both go silent to reflect on their conversation. At the very least, the META one isn't thrashing around and screaming about revenge. If anything, Tirpitz META looks more annoyed.

"I went mad from pain, so I didn't hesitate to try killing Bismarck last year. Just imagine drifting into nothingness only to be violently ripped away and find yourself in another body"

Tirpitz META grunts since the memory of her forced revival haunts her up until now. Even after losing her original body, she could still sense the stinging and prickling sensation reverberating all over her body. She knows this is mainly because she's bound to another body, but she doesn't blame Tirpitz for it.

"You strive to regain most of your emotions. One day, you would regret having it return to you" Tirpitz META warns her again
"Regret? I didn't start out as an empty being. I had emotions, but I had forgotten it.....until that loud carrier reminded me of warmth" Tirpitz just shakes her head
"Your motivation is to regain those old days, huh. Even if you might die at some point, you wouldn't regret it"
"Then perhaps, when that day comes....."