To Thaw a Lost Heart

Fading Ego

Note: This was supposed to be last week, but I felt like last weekend lasted a few seconds. Definitely not because of a PlayStation sale.

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Two sisters hinder another pair of sisters. Renown META and Repulse META both draw their greatswords, firmly standing in the way of Scharnhorst META and Gneisenau META. The two Iron Blood battleships' goal is to reach the raging blizzard, but two Royal Navy ships appear just when they're close.

"Out of the way. I don't want to waste my time with you two" Scharnhorst META declares
"You know we won't do that" Renown META shakes her head
"Tirpitz META was forced out by your Victorious. You know what happens, right?" Gneisenau META steps forward
"This is Victorious' choice and she's willing to die for it" Repulse META frowns

Renown META and Repulse META both share a tense and pained expression, but doubt isn't present. They're aware of the situation and the outcome, yet they willingly choose to hinder the two fellow METAs.

"You can't save both Tirpitz. One of them has to be eliminated because the body is too damaged to sustain two egos" Scharnhorst META grits her teeth
"All four of us know who has to go. Victorious didn't hide that fact from us" Repulse META briefly averts their gaze
"Tirpitz META wants to be put to rest. We'll do that without harming the other Tirpitz. Your Victorious will end up killing both!"

Scharnhorst META is losing her patience, so she loads all of her main armaments and prepares a battle stance.

"Move out of the way. This is my final warning" Scharnhorst META points her blade at them
"Make us" Renown META refuses
"Fine!"

With a swing of her blade, both Scharnhorst META and Gneisenau META let loose their cannons without restraint. High explosive shells fill the sky and rain toward the other pair of META sisters.

"How can you turn a blind eye to what Victorious META did?! Tirpitz META died by natural causes, but your ally desecrated her death and brought her back against her will!" Scharnhorst META couldn't hold back her anger
"Victorious didn't do it out of malice. We saw how her grief and sorrow turned to desperation"

Renown META swings her enormous sword first and the heat she sends up in the air is enough to detonate the shells before any of them could reach them.

"She saw Tirpitz right before her eyes, so she was overcome with her guilt from her helplessness" Renown META continues
"If anything, she would gladly trade her life if it means bringing Tirpitz back" Repulse META adds
"We are not Gods to decide who lives and who dies. The world will smite those who try to usurp the heavens!"

After another salvo from Scharnhorst META, she follows it shortly while charging herself and Renown META being her target. Her blade may be smaller, but the strength of her swing is enough to push back Renown META by a meter even while using her sword to defend herself.

"Renown!" Repulse META tries to aid her sister
" Not so fast!"

Gneisenau META opens fire at her and one shell manages to land a direct hit on Repulse META's left side, enough to stagger her for a few seconds.

"Arrogance is why civilizations fell over and over again" Scharnhorst META continues to berate them
"Is that why Bismarck ditched your country?" Renown META reminds them
"......!"
"She couldn't put down her sister. That hesitation out of love led to the death of two Iron Blood ships. In shame, Bismarck stepped down as leader......and disappeared without a trace"