Chapter 1
© 2024 Grár Varg
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An Azur Lane Fanfiction. I make no claim on the characters belonging to Azur Lane. Yostar and Manjuu retain all rights to them. I only claim my MC, his mother and father and older brother and younger sister. Things are not what they seem in Azur Lane.
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Location: Baltic Sea coast, coastal city
Time: 16:00 hours, 1936 25 September
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We had just finished setting up this supply cache when everything began for us. She came ashore, her brown eyes still glowed amber with her emotions. She walked right up to where I stood, the small barrels of oil, fresh off the truck. I quickly opened one for her and placed it in her hands. While she drank I summoned my classmates to make everything more accessible to her. Not once did I take my eyes off of her, and she kept her eyes on me. Finally the manjuu made an appearance and began loading her ammunition, fuel and oil.
“You're not afraid of me, are you?” Roon asked between drinks. “Even shipgirls are terrified of me. I'm mad, unpredictable, they fear I might turn my guns on them.”
“I don't fear strength, my Lady, I respect it. You saved my family when you attacked that siren. She was making for the last transport. For that I will be eternally grateful, Lady….”
“Roon.” She puckered her lips as she pronounced her name, then she drank more. “I'm no lady either, I was born to kill sirens, nothing more. I… I couldn't just let them die.”
“Lady Roon, you are so wrong. You are not a machine, nor are you a monster. You are a force of nature. You are unrelenting, you throw yourself into protecting what you hold dear; your nation and its people.” Her eyes rolled and she crumpled into my arms. Her rigging had closed as we spoke, with great ease I swung her legs up and carried her to the nearest pallet, the one I used these last two days. She opened her eyes a slit, then they flew open, I was not what she looked at.
“My child, are you well?”
Roon, her voice barely a whisper: "Sire... I... I failed..."
Friedrich, her voice gentle: "You did not fail, Roon. You saved countless lives. That is a victory, no matter the cost."
Úlf, his grip tightening on Roon: "She's exhausted, Madame. She pushed herself too far."
Friedrich, nodding solemnly: "I understand. We must get her back to port, and soon.”
She turns to Úlf, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Úlf. You've done a great service to the Empire."
“I have done nothing praise worthy, Sire. I have done my duty and nothing more.” Úlf replies.
Friedrich, smiling wryly: "Duty, well done, is always praiseworthy, young man."
He turns his attention back to Roon, his expression softening.
Friedrich: "We must be careful with her. She's pushed herself to the brink."
Úlf, nodding in agreement: "Yes, Sire. We'll get her back to safety.”
“Aunt Tirpitz, if I may?” She nodded her head. “Grandfather was shot. I think it was at the behest of his subordinate in the Ministry of Naval Affairs.”
Her rigging instantly came into view, her beautiful face turned dark with rage. Everything became cold. The ‘Lonely Queen of the Northern Ice’ was now fully awake in Tirpitz. Awake, and in a full blown killing rage. Her short white hair moved in a wind only it felt. Her uniform long coat billowed as if it was alive. As I stood with Roon in my arms, which felt like she had always been and would continue to be there, she placed her right arm around my neck and pulled herself closer.
