Azur Lane: Story of the Blind Battleship

Chapter 3: Old Friends and New Places

Arkansas: It's been awhile, hasn't it, lil' Gato?

Nagato still speechless accepts the sword. She then looks at Arkansas, who is still kneeling in front of her.

Nagato: I.... I remember you, the promise you made, the warning you gave. After all this time, you finally show yourself?

Arkansas: I couldn't control it, I just randomly appeared here. Though I feel as though more time passed for me. Though, it's good to see you again, lil' Gato.

Nagato: That is still not my name, but I am very happy to see you.

Arkansas: If only I had the same pleasantries. By the way, did you get any bigger? You were still only waist high last time I saw you, and as flat as a cutt...

Before Arkansas could even finish his sentence, he is slapped by Nagato who is blushing up a storm. The force of the slap launches him into the left wall, breaking it. 

Nagato: AFTER ALL THIS TIME, THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU SAY?!?

Mutsu and Yamato are laughing to themselves while Zuikaku just sweatdrops at the whole thing. Nagato is very embarrassed, and well.... Arkansas is stuck in a wall.

Arkansas (muffled): Okay, 3 things. 1, I deserved that. 2, if I got slapped, then you haven't grown at all, and 3, I believe there used to be a wall here.

On the other side of the wall is some other Sakura girls, who just look at Arkansas confused and some laughing.

???: Hmmm, hello there.

Arkansas: I know that voice

???: Hey Arkansas.

Arkansas: Hey Amagi.

Arkansas: That hurt.

Amagi: What an unusual spot I see you're in, you're stuck in the wall.

Arkansas: Yes, I might've teased someone a little bit and got this wall as a reward. I might need some help getting out. 

Zuikaku and Amagi then help Arkansas out of the wall, apart from some small cuts, he is pretty much fine. 

Arkansas: Sorry about that Nagato.

Nagato: Don't ever say something like that again, Arkansas.

Yamato: How do you know of Amagi, Arkansas?

(Author's notes, messing with history here a bit, nothing too bad should be missed)

Arkansas: Oh, I was part of defending a famine relief mission to Japan before the war, meet some of their ships there. Had a fun talk with Amagi. Though, I never encountered her during the war, any reason for that?

The Sakura ships start looking uncomfortable with the question, the lack of a response worries Arkansas a bit.

Amagi: I believe it would be best if I explained that. You see Arkansas, my hull was hit by an earthquake in 1923. My hull was way too damaged and my ship was scrapped apart and it's spare parts were used to refit Kaga into an aircraft carrier. 

Arkansas: Huh, never knew. The relief mission was in 21', and I never went back to Japan during that, or got news of the earthquake. Though, I'm glad to hear you again. It's been awhile since our last game.

Mutsu: Game?

Arkansas: Yeah, during my short visit, we played games with each other. I taught her how to play poker, blackjack, and go fish. She taught me this little... strategy sorta game like chess? Sho... something? I don't remember it well.

Amagi: Shogi, and I do hope you aren't rusty.

Arkansas: Oh don't worry, I had to endure your 5 hour lecture on the art of war and the ultimate strategies of Shogi, I do not feel like I'll ever forget something like that. Oh, by the way, you had a sister right? She was small last time I saw her, Akagi? I think that's right.

Amagi: Yes, that would be her. She's glad to see me after what happened and all.

Arkansas: What do you mean, what happened?

All the Sakura ships start sweatdropping, leaving the room in an uneasy silence.

Nagato: 3 months before you arrived, we and Azur Lane had split off. Along with Iron Blood, we formed our own alliance, the Crimson Axis. Our goal was to defeat Sirens by using their own technology. Azur Lane did not like that goal of ours. 

Mutsu: And so, tensions rose until we attacked their main naval base at Hawaii, we then declared war. Akagi and Kaga working with Sirens was building a supposed ultimate shield for the Sakura Empire, a super battlecarrier named Orochi. That however just lead to them being manipulated by the Sirens to have us battle against each other, and that would've left the Sirens able to pick off the victors of the fight.

Yamato: We realized this and worked with the Eagle Union and Royal Navy to destroy the Orochi before it could destroy the Azur Lane base. It was using some sort of weapon we don't fully understand, only that it was very destructive.

Arkansas: An atomic bomb

Yamato: What?

Arkansas: From the sounds of your weapon, it was an atomic bomb. The very same weapon that ended me previously. Not in war, but as a test. Nagato would know about it

Nagato: Indeed, even with your reminder to look away, I still remember the cloud it left behind as I slowly sank.

All the ships look grim at each other, except for Arkansas, who can't read their faces cause of well you know, he's blind.

Arkansas: So, you nearly started another world war, almost ended up destroying the last line of defense of humanity, due to a split of how technology should be used?

Nagato: Yes, ever since then, we and Iron Blood have been working with Azur Lane to make amends for the incident. And also the reason those sisters even built Orochi.

Arkansas: Huh?

Mutsu: Akagi and Kaga were building Orochi under false promises that the ship would bring back their sister, Amagi.

Arkansas: Wait, did it work?

Yamato: No, what they got was a wolf in sheep's clothing, an installed impersonation of Amagi made to manipulate Akagi. The Amagi you see is one we rebuilt after finding wisdom cubes and plans for a 40s modernization of her battlecruiser.

Arkansas: I see. Hmmm, I do find it dumb to split over technology though.

Nagato: Why do you think that?

Arkansas: I mean, during the war, we reversed engineered the engine of a A6M Zero to build more powerful engines for our later fighters. We used enemy technology to progress our own. So I don't see why you'd split over something as trivial as that.

Arkansas: I get using enemy technology to progress your own, but I do not find that to be reason enough to split apart from your allies.

Yamato: You have an interesting perspective for an Eagle Union ship.

Arkansas: That perspective is one of a realist. By the way, how long will it take for my ship to be repaired?

Mutsu: A couple weeks, it looked very bad when I saw the carrier twins towing your rusty ship in. It has an unusual design.

Arkansas: Oh, that's because I'm a full gun dreadnought. Which is just some fun words for I have 6 turrets.

Yamato: You still refer to yourself as a dreadnought?

Arkansas: Well, yeah. I was built from the years 1910 to 1912. This time was very much the era of dreadnoughts. I and I believe another interwar battleship had the most guns mounted in a central position. Not like some other dreadnoughts who were using side turrets.

Mutsu: Interesting. Though I saw many AA guns on your ship when it was being towed to the repair dock.

Arkansas: Ah yes, that's my last refit. My last refit gave my targeting radars, it also received overalls to the AA guns. I used to have torpedo tubes, but those were removed with my 25' refit. My 42' refit gave me all the interesting AA guns. I did also carry floatplanes, 3 of them.

Nagato: Where? With the amount of guns, I don't see much room for a catapult.

Arkansas: That's the fun bit, they mounted the catapult on top of one of my turrets. Turret 3, Charlie. The first superfiring turret in the back. It was a rather interesting and well, quickly thought up idea to give some means of recon I guess.

Arkansas' stomach starts growling, which alerts the rest of the Sakuran ship girls.

Arkansas: Ah, guess I'm hungry. You guys got any food?

Nagato: No, but we could run into the town and get stuff.

Arkansas: Ohhhh.... like a date?

Nagato starts blushing again and goes to slap Arkansas again, only for him to duck beneath it.

Arkansas: Ah ah ah, I let you get me the first time because I deserved it, I'm just teasing you Nagato. But does this mean I have to go back down the.... stairs?

Yamato: Unfortunately, yes. We'll help you down.

Arkansas: Ah, thanks.

Timeskip brought to you by everyone's enemy... Stairs

Akashi: Welcome to my humble shop, here to grab some food?

Arkansas: I don't have any money.

Mutsu: Don't worry about it, we'll pay for it, Arkansas.

Arkansas: Ah, thanks. Ummm, what food do you have?

Akashi: We have sushi, miso soup, udon, tofu, unagi, natto, tempura, ramen, omurice, and bentos.

Arkansas: I'll take some udon and omurice. I can't have sushi.

Yamato: Why's that?

Arkansas: I got tired of eating fish for 70 years. I do not want fish. Ever

Yamato: Ah, understandable.

The group of ships was eating their food, and Arkansas had some assistance eating his. While they were still chatting, Enterprise and Cleveland arrived at the store.

Enterprise: I've been everywhere trying to find this warship. First I went to Vestal who said they went to the shrine, I went to the shrine who said they went to this shop. They better be at this shop.

Cleveland: A nice workout never hurt anyone, at least doesn't hurt someone like Baltimore.

Enterprise: Agreed.

The duo looks at the group who is eating and notice Arkansas, they are unaware of who he really is.

Enterprise: Oh, hello, have you seen the kansen of that old battleship out there being repaired, I haven't meet them yet.

Arkansas: That would be me. And who are you?

Enterprise and Cleveland froze at this and stared at Arkansas, well, mostly stared at his giant fox ears.

Arkansas: Something wrong?

Cleveland: Are those ears.... real?

Arkansas: Yes, they are. 

Enterprise: Okay, well, that's rare. Anyways, I'm Enterprise, Yorktown class carrier.

Cleveland: And I'm Cleveland, nameship of my class.

Arkansas: Arkansas, Wyoming class dreadnought.

Cleveland/Enterprise: Dreadnought?

Arkansas: Yeah, never heard that before?

Enterprise: We have some older battleships, but we never heard them refer to themselves as dreadnoughts.

Arkansas' ears perked up at Enterprise's statement, both the Eagle Union ships noticed this.

Cleveland: Something catch your mind?

Arkansas: You could say that. I have a question, if I may.

Enterprise: We don't mind.

Arkansas: Do you have the battleships Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania?

Enterprise: We have Nevada and Pennsylvania, but I do not know anyone named New York.

Arkansas: Ah, that is unfortunate. But I'm glad those 2 are alive. I'm wondering, do you have Pensacola and Saratoga as well?

Cleveland: Yeah, we have them.

Arkansas: Ah... good. Ah, Nagato, I forgot to ask during our meeting. Is the Sakawa here?

Nagato: Oh, yeah, she is.

Arkansas: That's good, I have something as well to return to her.

Nagato: We can go to her if you like.

Arkansas: Ah no, it's getting late.

Yamato: How do you know that?

Arkansas: I have an internal clock, it's still sync'd up. I know it is currently 8:37 PM.

Yamato: Ah, probably should've known. Anyways, we can take you back to the infirmary to stay the night, your ship is still being repaired, so sleeping there isn't advised.

Arkansas: That would be nice. Thank you.

The ships help and guide Arkansas back the the infirmary, where he lays down. After falling asleep in 10 seconds flat, the ships start asking questions.

Enterprise: Nagato, do you know why he was interested in the ships he asked about?

Nagato: I have a pretty good idea, one reinforced since he asked for Sakawa.

Enterprise: Then what is it?

Nagato: He's completing promises...

End of chapter 3