Azur Lane: Lies or Truths? (Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 10: faith, courage, and honor.

    "USS Iowa. The flagship of Eagle Union. Surrender now, or die.."
I held up my hands surrendering.
"Good Choice-"
Suddenly, out of nowhere Enterprise went in front of me and Iowa. Her deck was broken and ruined, as her bow was broken.
"Scarlett, get out of here—
"Enterprise! Why are you saving this battleship? She's going to be sunk anyway. Just like you should've been when I ordered you to kill Yamato—"
       "That wasn't your call to make Iowa! It was mine-"
Without hesitation, I aimed my torpedo tubes at Iowa, with all twenty four of my secondary twin 127mm turrets aimed at the other three Iowa class battleships.
"No one, and I mean NO ONE. Disrespects anyone in any camp! As Long As I live-Do you all understand!"
The other Iowa battleships saluted along with the carrier.
"Yes ma'am!"
But Iowa, she didn't salute. Nor say a word.
"Do I make myself clear?"
Her response was Silence.
"I am your successor—"
"Successor? No. No you aren't. And I will not bend my knee for you. Even if Enterprise was given the choice to help and did. I will not bend my knee and follow your rules."
"What u were to crown me as your flagship-"
"Then it will be over my dead body. Because I am the main flagship of the eagle union. And I say you are not my successor."
Iowa advanced slowly passed me, but while she passed me, I noticed something. Her second main turret was smoking.
"I'm sorry about our sister. She believes she holds herself responsible for what had happened.."
"What happened—"
Suddenly, U-556 surfaced.
"Lady Scarlett! I need—"
I looked at her and accidentally spoke what first came to my mind.
"Not now U-556!! Can't you see I am stressed out?! If you need something to do! Why don't you go out, and find my fucking sister!?!"
U-556 looked at me, shocked and surprised along with the other Iowa class battleships. She nodded and submerged. I couldn't help but feel guilty for what I said to her.. I began to head back to base, just to get hear the sound of rifle salutes, I jumped up on the dock and walked over to the USS Iowa. Heading onto her ship, just to see Manjuu officers rifle saluting a long line of Manjuu sailors with the eagle union flag on their caskets, and Iowa standing behind them on a podium. With tears in her eyes, she didn't let but a single one dropped to the floor of her deck.
"To the Sailors.. Of this ship..I am deeply sorry. I am sorry I couldn't bring you back home alive.. to your family.. To the people you care about the most.. May your names be etched on the books. And on this ship. For all to be reminded.. That this will never happen again.. However we must not lose the fight. We must keep our faith in those who trust. Have the courage to move on. And to remember and honor these brave souls.. Our friends.. Our sailors in arms aboard this ship.."
Iowa walked off the podium, as the Manjuu sailors began to remove all the caskets off the deck and off the ship.
"look here Scarlett, there will be times where no matter how hard you try, you cant help but feel guilty about leading. anyone who dies is your responsibility. Do you think you are capable of handling that?"
I grabbed Iowa, hugging her tightly.
"It's alright, it's alright to cry.. I lost people too.."
"Y-you don't know me. You know nothing about me!"
Iowa shoved me away, I let go of her as tears were running down her cheeks.
"Yes, your right. I know nothing about you.. But what I do know. Is that we cannot journey alone. It's like you said 'We must keep our faith in those who trust. Have the courage to move on. And to remember and honor these brave souls' so all I am asking you. Is to put your faith in me, and have the courage to go on. And when the time comes, honor us. Regardless the camp or faction. Understand?"
She nodded, but before Iowa could speak, Bismarck ran up to the deck and stood two feet in front of me.
"Scarlett! U-556 is in trouble-"
"What happened?"
"I went in her room to see a note saying she's off to take care of Cataclysm-"
"She—What?!?! Iowa! Bismarck! On me!"
I ran off the deck and jumping off the side of the Iowa, I activated my rigging.
          "I am only comming because I don't want you to end up sinking as well."

Heading out to open sea, I altered my engines to overdrive. Pushing the engines to produce more speed.
"Scarlett! Slow Down! Your going to-"
Suddenly a flash of white came across my eyes, I stopped immediately to be greeted by another shipgirl. But. She was different. She had the same red crimson eyes as mine, with short white hair. Her rigging looked like mine but it was a bit smaller, and she had a single carrier deck instead of four torpedo launches, with sixteen quad forty millimeters bofors guns However, she wasn't giving me a Siren. Or acting like she's apart of any faction.. She was just.. Standing there with a single one-handed swords in her left hand. She lowered her carrier deck and placed the blade inside the deck, she placed the deck back on her rigging.. Just who is this person?
"Wh..Who are you! What are you?!"
She slowly put her swords back in their sheaths and straightening her left index finger, she put it over her lips.
"We.. Are..ghosts.."
"are.. You our enemy?"
She shook her head no.
"Not for now-Goodbye."
She vanished in front of my eyes, then a volley of water splashed in front of me.
"Are you hurt Scarlett?"
"No, I am fine.. I just... Am wondering who that woman was-"
"Oh Scarlett. Scarlett. Scarlett~..I'm so glad I hired that ghost to help me out. To keep you busy while we 'talked' with your friend."
Suddenly, Cataclysm came into view, holding U-556, with a knife's blade against her neck.