Archive of Our Own ^beta

The Commander looked around, staring at the blazing sea. The once-mighty Azur Lane, the organization he had long served to protect the world, was now brought to frivolity. Cries of pain filled the air as many Kansens struggled to stay afloat and sank. Looking at the bleeding Hood in his hands, he nudged his head against her head. “I’m sorry…” 

Hood, tears in her eyes, just brought her hands up one last time to touch his face. “Me too.” And with that, she let go, the sea claiming her as its own. Standing up, the Commander looked at Bismarck, the last remaining Kansen with him despite being severely wounded.

Limping over to him, she held the Commander’s hand, shaking as she leaned against his chest, tears slipping down her face. “I don’t know what’s coming, Aven. But I’m braced.”

Suddenly, a voice spoke over their frequency. “You’re a slave to history.” The Commander and Bismarck grimaced as they looked towards a red glow in the distance. “Even after the Chaotic Cataclysm, you fought against the only order who could save the lives of your fellow Kansens. You solely are responsible for this. ”

With that, a giant red beam raced across the sea, forcing the Commander and Bismarck to jump away from each other to avoid it. Dashing across the burning sea to the left, Bismarck opened fire with her Bruno and Anton, the few remaining operational main cannons she had. The Commander flanked from the other side, aiming with his experimental electromagnetic railgun as he charged up a shot. 

An air fleet of Siren bombers forced the Commander to redirect his shot as he fired at the incoming air fleet, devastating half of it with the speed and force of an AA shell that broke the sound barrier. Still, the other half dropped their ornaments, bombs splashing around the Commander and Bismarck as they weaved around torpedos. 

“What do you have to show for yourself, Commander? Blood? Medals? A broken relationship? I will burn you so completely the universe will have to turn over itself a thousand times before your ashes are found.” Weaving through the splashes, the Commander tried to get a view of the figure speaking in the distance but could not due to the constant disruption by bombers and fighters.

Opening fire with his rigging, he nailed several planes as they began to circle the two, stalking them as if they were vultures. Back to back, Bismarck and Commander put their hands behind their backs, grabbed each other, and spun around, firing as fast as they could. Unable to maneuver without colliding with one another, they were each destroyed one by one.

However, just as the last bomber fell, another air fleet approached the two. Grimacing, the Commander raised his EM gun again, ready to take it out. However, two bombers snuck around and dove at him from behind.

“ AVEN! ” 

Turning around, the Commander watched in horror as two 1000 lbs bombs flew across the air towards him. Without hesitation, Bismarck dashed towards him, shoving him away as the bombs nailed her rigging and left shoulder, destroying both in the process. 

“BISMARCK!” Running over, the Commander lifted the dying Ironblood ship in his arms. “No, no, no, NO, NO !” The Commander couldn’t accept it. He would now allow the reality of his wife to leave him to come true.

Bismarck, knowing her time was up, just smiled happily, and with one final act of defiance, kissed her Commander. “S- Sorry I couldn’t keep up. Goodbye, Mein Mann.” And with that, her body fell limp as the Commander’s eye welled up with uncontrollable tears.

“Me and you now. No distractions. No wives. No war. Just me and you. Whoever wins is the ruler of this world.” Looking back at a figure that appeared on the horizon, the Commander’s heart boiled with anger as he took a deep breath before choosing to overclock his reactor to 120%.

“Very well then. Every safety’s coming off. No second chances,” the Commander swore, firing an EM round at the figure, surprised by the round as she took the brunt of the force. Capitalizing on the moment, the Commander closed the gap with surprising speed, launching two cruise missiles at the figure before firing a salvo with his array of secondary five-inch guns. 

The figure grunted as she struggled to keep up with the Commander, the two dueling and exchanging blows. Watching the color red and blue flashing across the night sky, one could say their performance was a beautiful ballet. Others could easily mistake the colors for an aurora borealis. But the sounds of the gunfire and roaring engines of planes overshadowed everything, the cries of pain and death filling the air, both Kansens and Sirens alike.

As the two continued to duel, the Commander’s reactor began to reach its criticality, but he did not care. All he could think about was those he had lost, especially those he loved and swore to protect. 

Enterprise and Belfast in the Chaotic Cataclysm when two WMDs were dropped on his base when he was out fighting. Baltimore when they fought against the Sirens at the Mariana trenches. Nimi at the Caribbeans. Friedrich Der Grobe and Shinano at the Battle of the Indian Sea. And now the rest of his fleet and wives, Hood and Bismarck. 

“Commander, you use the name of a leader. What do you rule over? The dead? The Siren’s fought for unity and peace in this war, and you denied them that.” The Commander grimaced, tired of listening to the ramblings of the mad Kansen he had once loved. 

“Just think. How many people have you got-”

“God, just shut up!” 

“You dar-”

“ SHUT UP! NOBODY ASKED!!! ” The emotions the Commander was feeling could no longer stay bottled up as his anguish and rage spilled out. “Do you think I specifically chose to break up with you because I hated you? Do you think I didn’t care when you suddenly disappeared?”

“Well, of course! You’re nothing but an unhinged dog!” The figure taunted, lifting her bow as she fired off another red arrow at him before launching a massive air fleet of two hundred plus fighters, dive-bombers, and torpedo-bombers. 

“Shut up! I won’t hear the lies the Siren’s fed to you!” Unable to stand it no longer, the Commander began firing his array of weapons from Tomahawk cruise missiles to forty mm Bofors cannons, shredding apart the air fleet the figure was sending and injuring her. 

The figure leaped back in retreat, grunting and retorting, “But where would you turn to? Where would you go? We all know how this will end!” The figure then looked straight at the Commander straight in the eye, her eyes glowing red with rage and despair. “And Azur Lane. Do you think they deserved it?” she spat out. The Commander, no longer in control of himself, cried out with anger as he fired another round from his EM main cannons, destroying a part of the rigging on the figure.

The figure cried out in pain as she dropped to her knees before standing back up. “Kill me!” she screamed. “Kill me and see what happens to this world.” Lifting her bow, she declared, “Either way, your life ends today!” Firing another arrow bolt, she screamed, “Die, Aven!”

Sliding to the right of the beam, the Commander aimed and fired a single round from his EM cannon. The shot penetrated her rigging, passing through a CPU and the reactor to it, causing the figure to drop to the ground, yelling in pain and confusion as her body began to decay, the damaged reactor hitting criticality. 

“I- Ugh! Wher- What happened?”

Upon hearing those words, the Commander carefully approached the figure and lifted the hoodie she wore off of her, exposing her brown hair and still crimson red eyes. Looking at the Commander, the figure’s eyes began to water. “Commander… wha- what have I done?” 

Coming to a realization, he dropped to his knees as he embraced her. “Independence…”

Independence just hugged back tightly, her left arm beginning to dissipate as her damaged reactor began to accelerate her deconstruction. “I- I’m sorry. I ran away because I was sad you oathed Fredrich, but then I got captured… an- and I can’t remember anything else. I don’t… don’t wanna leave yet…” 

The Commander, tired of all the pain and suffering he had just endured, just looked at her. “Me too. That is why I am doing this.” Closing his eyes, he overclocked his reactor to 300%, causing his reactor to hit criticality as his own body began rapidly decaying as well.

Looking at her, they both smiled sadly. Locking eyes one last time, Independence, with much reluctance, asked with much grief, “Aven, will you forgive me? For all the pain and death I’ve done?” 

The Commander just smiled lovingly, no longer able to embrace her as both of his arms were now gone, turned forever to dust. “ Always. ” With that, he closed the distance between the two, kissing her one last time as both of them faded away into nothing, their remains intertwining with each other and whatever remains of Azur Lane.

[

“GAHHHHH!” Waking up, the Commander bent forward with unnatural speed, shocked at the dream he just had. “ That was all a dream, yet- ”

“Are you alright, Commander?” Looking to his right, Independence got up from her sleep. 

“It’s- It’s nothing, Just a bad dream.” She tilted her head as she sighed. Snaking her arms around him, she tickled him slightly, making him grunt. “You know I’m impervious to that.”

She smiled lovingly. “I know, but I know your weak spots~” Moving her arms up, she began to massage the shoulders, causing the Commander to arch forward sharply, gasping for air. “My, you’re quite tense here. What did you dream about that caused you to stress out so much?” 

Hesitant, the Commander answered, “I saw myself fail Azur Lane, fail everyone I know and care for.” Sighing, he cast his eyes down. “Am I truly worthy of being the Commander?” Independence stopped massaging the Commander before pushing him down onto the bed, making eye contact with his dark brown eyes.

“Aven, there’s nothing to fear. You will always have us, and we will be with you all the way.” Smiling, she pressed herself against him, snuggling against his chest. “Besides, we have this moment together anyways. I’ve waited long enough for this time together, and I will not let a nightmare ruin it.”

Chuckling, the Commander stroked her smooth brown hair. “Will… you stay with me, even when I walk through the Valley of Death in my darkest hour?” 

Smiling, Independence answered, “Always,” before closing the gap with the two kissing each other passionately. The two would make love for the rest of their life along with the others, having multiple offspring and watching them grow up to have their children. 

To say that dream never did happen, though, would be ignorance.