Chapter Text
Irving and Fritz giggled as they downed their shot, Seydlitz played Auld Lang Syne on the piano as the crowd drank their fill.
Fritz stumbled as he walked around. Irving tried to walk, but he fell on his ass. Fritz laughed as he walked to the dance floor. Many were stumbling and shuffling around like zombies, trying to keep themselves standing. Bismarck was standing, her back hunched over as she was smiling from ear to ear, her blushing face red as a tomato.
“And for my next trick, I’m gonna summon a rigging from my hat!”
A blinding blue light filled the room as Geryon roared. His roar became a whimper as he looked around. He let out a scared mechanical growl as the crowd surrounded him, enamored by the mechanical dragon Bismarck summoned.
Nevada giggled as she ran up to Geryon. She jumped and clung on to his head. Geryon roared as Nevada laughed, clinging on to his horns.
“Just like riding a bronco!”
Geryon roared as he threw his head on the ground, leaving a hole in the floor. Nevada fell off, laughing on the way down.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a party pooper.”
Geryon growled as Fritz climbed up his back. The group clapped and cheered as Geryon roared in anger. Fritz clung on for dear life as Geryon thrashed his head around, trying to get Fritz off of him.
Geryon’s head hit the wall of the ballroom, leaving a massive hole in it. A water pipe burst open, spilling water everywhere as it sprayed the crowd with cold water.
“Yeehaw! I’m a cowboy!”
With a mechanical roar, Geryon threw his head against the other wall. Fritz fell off and went flying through the window, falling on the snow outside. Tirpitz ran outside as fast as she could, her blue eyes filled with concern.
“FRITZ!”
Fritz sat up as he held his head. He groaned in pain as he stood up. Tirpitz wrapped an arm around Fritz as she looked at him, her blue eyes full of concern.
“Fritz! Are you alright?”
Fritz nodded as the couple limped back inside. Nevada was once again on Geryon’s head, riding him like an enraged mustang. Geryon roared as Nevada hung from his horns like a pair of monkey bars. Geryon rammed his head against the ceiling as Nevada laughed. She sat back on his head as she stuck her tongue out.
“You got to try harder than that!”
Geryon threw his head against the hall as Nevada went flying out the window. The crowd clapped and cheered as Oklahoma held a stopwatch in her hand.
“12 seconds!”
Tirpitz and Fritz limped their way through the crowd as Tirpitz glared at her sister.
“Sister. I’m only going to ask you this once. Put Geryon away.”
Bismarck laughed as she looked at her sister.
“Or what?”
Tirpitz took a deep breath and let it out as she closed her eyes.
“Looks like you leave me no other choice.”
Tirpitz opened her blue eyes as she punched her sister right in the face. Bismarck went down like a sack of potatoes. Geryon fell to the floor unconscious as the group looked at Tirpitz. She looked down at her unconscious sister as she picked her up in a bridal carry.
“I’m taking Bismarck to her office to sober up. Don’t disturb Geryon.”
Littorio laughed as she blushed. She held a bottle of red wine in her hand as she looked at the crowd.
“How about we make this party more interesting?”
Tirpitz glared at Littorio, her icy blue eyes stared into Littorio’s passionate crimson. She stopped smiling and sighed, Tirpitz’s glare stopping Littorio from doing her lust-filled plan.
Fritz leaned against the wall and sat on the floor. Tirpitz looked at her husband with a slight smile on her face.
“You’re done for the night?”
Fritz nodded as he held his head with his hand, his head throbbing in pain. Tirpitz looked at her unconscious sister as she let out a sigh.
“I’ll be with my sister. Try to sober up, alright? Ich leibe dich.”
Fritz’s ears couldn’t even process the words coming from his wife’s mouth as his head hit the wooden dancefloor. His eyes shut as he passed out.
Fritz sat up as he lay on the floor. His head was pounding, with the bright morning sun coming through the sunroof not helping his pounding headache.
“What the hell happened last night?”
New Jersey stood above him with a disapproving look on his face.
“Well, from what I could remember, everyone got so drunk, we ran out of booze. Bismarck thought it would be a good idea for her to summon her Type Zwei rigging. Everyone rode Geryon like a bucking bronco. It trashed the ballroom. Nevada holds the record at 12 seconds before Geryon threw her out the window.”
Fritz scratched his head as he looked around. There were holes in the walls, in the ceilings, and on the floor.
“That didn’t happen.”
New Jersey grabbed her phone.
“Really? Then explain this.”
New Jersey handed her phone to Fritz. His eyes went wide as he looked at the video.
“Yee Haw! I’m a cowboy!”
Fritz hung from Geryon’s head as he tried to buck him off.
New Jersey grabbed her phone and showed Fritz another video. It was Enterprise and Irving holding their heads inside of Geryon’s jaws.
“Hey Fritz! Look! I’m a lion tamer!”
Fritz shook his head in disbelief as he watched the video.
“I can’t believe that happened.”
New Jersey sighed as she put her phone in her pocket.
“Well, it did. Thank god no one had to be hospitalized. With Littorio here, I thought it was going to turn into one of her alcohol-fueled orgies.”
Fritz blushed as New Jersey helped him stand. He patted himself down as his eyes went wide.
“Where’s my gun? And my medal?”
New Jersey sighed as he closed her eyes and relaxed against a wall.
“I put them in Bismarck’s office. You were waving it around and claiming you wanted to play Polish roulette.”
Fritz sighed as he crossed his arms.
“Really?”
New Jersey nodded as she looked around the trashed ballroom. Many were still lying on the floor, trying to sleep off their hangovers.
"Yeah. I had to take your gun away from you so no one got hurt."
Fritz nodded as he walked into the elevator. He pushed the button as the elevator doors closed.
As the elevator doors opened, Fritz stepped out. The smell of sweet cherries filled the air as he walked down the long hallway. The hallway glowed with the warmth of the oak walls, along with plenty of Ironblood decoration.
“Honey?”
A loud retching sound filled the hallway as Fritz ran down it. He opened the door to Bismarck’s office. Bismarck was sitting at her desk, her eyes worn out and bloodshot. Her normally straight blonde hair was now disheveled as she looked at Fritz.
“There you are. Tirpitz is in my bathroom puking her guts out.”
Fritz nodded as he walked into the small private bathroom. Tirpitz’s head hung inside the toilet as she coughed and spat into the toilet. Fritz bent down and placed his hand on Tirpitz’s shoulder as a slight smile grew across his lips.
“You alright, honey?”
Tirpitz shook her head as she closed her sharp blue eyes.
“I feel like shit.”
Fritz nodded as he held his hand out. Tirpitz grabbed his hand as he helped her up.
“I’ll be alright.”
Fritz nodded as he walked out of the bathroom. U-556 walked into the office with a stack of papers in her arms.
“Good morning Lord Bismarck. I brought you your-”
Bismarck shot out of her chair and ran into the small bathroom. She vomited violently into the toilet as Tirpitz held her hair back. As she coughed and spat, she flushed the toilet and stood up.
“Thanks, sister.”
Tirpitz nodded as Bismarck placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder.
“Don’t mention it.”
Bismarck walked into her office and looked at U-556. She looked at her master with concern as she placed the stack of papers on Bismarck’s desk.
“Lord Bismarck, are you alright?”
Bismarck nodded as she sat in her chair.
“I’m alright. I’m just hungover.”
U-556 nodded as Bismarck placed a hand on U-556’s head.
“How was your New Year’s Eve?”
U-556 giggled as she smiled from ear to ear.
“It was fun. U-96 and U-47 and I were in Le Lotus Dansant for New Year's and Jeanne d’Arc gave us all the red wine we could drink.”
Bismarck nodded as a slight smile grew on her face.
“I see. It seems you’ve enjoyed yourself.”
U-556 nodded as she grabbed a chair and sat next to her master.
“I did. Now let's get to work.”
Bismarck nodded as she opened one of her oak drawers and pulled out a couple of water bottles and a powder in a plastic can. She scooped some powder and put it inside one of the water bottles. She shook the water bottle like a martini. As she placed the water bottle on her desk, she opened it and took a swig, tasting the sweet pomegranate flavor. She looked at Fritz and Tirpitz with a slight grin on her face.
“Wait, I’ll make you guys one too.”
Bismarck repeated the process with the two other water bottles. She handed one to Fritz and the other to Tirpitz. The couple took a sip of the water bottle as Fritz smiled from ear to ear.
“That feels good.”
Bismarck nodded as she relaxed in her chair.
“It’s a drink powder with electrolytes. It will help with your hangover.”
Fritz nodded as he downed the water bottle as fast as he could. Tirpitz savored the sweet cherry flavor of her drink as she finished drinking it. Bismarck cleared her throat as she looked at Fritz.
“Let’s get down to business.”
Fritz nodded as he grabbed a chair and sat across from Bismarck’s desk. Bismarck leaned to her right side as she glared at Fritz.
“First things first. I think you have someone to apologize to.”
Fritz turned around as Geryon walked up to Fritz. He let out a mechanical growl as Fritz slinked back in his chair.
“From what New Jersey both told and showed me, you, along with all the others, were riding Geryon like a rodeo bull and you trashed my ballroom. It’s going to take months to repair the damage. Not to mention the cost of repairs.”
Fritz sighed as he placed his elbows on his knees. Geryon glared at him, his yellow glowing eyes staring into his soul as he let out a mechanical growl.
“I’m sorry, Geryon. I shouldn’t have ridden you like a rodeo bull during New Year's.”
Geryon looked at Fritz with his mechanical stare, judging him as he let out a growl. Fritz closed his eyes as he accepted his fate.
Fritz opened his eyes as he felt Geryon's heavy center head on his lap. He giggled as he rubbed a hand on Geryon’s head. Geryon let out a mechanical grumble as he dimmed his mechanical yellow eyelights.
“You forgive me?”
Geryon looked at Fritz as he let out a two-tone noise. Fritz smiled from ear to ear as he laughed.
“Thanks, Geryon.”
Geryon nodded as he let out a mechanical roar. Fritz smiled from ear to ear as he turned to look at Bismarck. She giggled as she took off her Zwei rigging, with Geryon disappearing into a ball of blinding blue light. As Geryon disappeared, Bismarck cleared her throat.
“I have another thing for you. It’s from the Commander. He told me you need to go to Shiranui’s as she has your new uniform.”
Fritz nodded as he stood up and saluted Bismarck.
“Alright. I’ll go do that.”
Bismarck nodded as she reached inside her drawer.
“Here. Your hat and your gun. New Jersey took it off you during the party and put it in here.”
Fritz nodded as he grabbed his white officer’s hat and put it on. He wrapped his holster around his hips. Bismarck giggled as she looked at U-556.
“556, do you mind doing my paperwork for me? I have to make sure everyone who’s still here gets out alright.”
U-556 nodded as Bismarck stood up. U-556 sat in Bismarck’s chair as she went to work. The trio walked out of the office together. The trio walked into the elevator together as the doors shut.
As the elevator doors opened, the trio stepped out. Littorio was standing in front of the elevator, her eyes bloodshot and her mascara ruined. She waved at the trio as she let out a yawn.
“There you are, Fritz! I was just about to look for you.”
Bismarck nodded as a slight smile grew on her face.
“I’ll be here to help you guys out. Fritz and Tirpitz are going to Shiranui’s shop to pick up his new uniform.”
Littorio nodded as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“Got it. I’ll help you out with all the guests.”
Bismarck nodded as Fritz and Tirpitz stepped outside. Fritz shielded his arms from the bright sun reflecting off the snow as he slammed his eyes shut.
“The sun’s making my head hurt.”
Tirpitz nodded as she blinked a few times, rubbing the sides of her head.
“Same here.”
Fritz and Tirpitz walked into the parking lot and got inside of Fritz’s Mercedes-Benz. Fritz reached inside the glove box and put on a pair of sunglasses.
As the duo drove into the Sakura Empire part of the base, Tirpitz took a deep breath and let it out. Mutsuki and her sisters swept the streets with a broom, sweeping red confetti off the street. Kaga stood over them with her arms crossed.
“It seems they’re still cleaning up after the New Year’s party”
Fritz nodded as the car stopped in front of Shiranui’s store. The duo stepped out as they walked inside. A doorbell rang as Shiranui looked at the couple.
“Are you Fritz Decke?”
Fritz nodded as he walked up to the counter. The sweet smell of incense filled the air as he looked at Shiranui.
“That would be me.”
Shiranui nodded as she gestured for Fritz to follow. Fritz followed her into the back room as she pulled out a slim cardboard box.
“Here’s your order from the Commander. If it doesn’t fit, please let me know.”
Fritz nodded as he opened the box. Inside was a blue Ironblood naval officer’s uniform. He put it on as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
“Fits like a glove.”
The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves shined in the sun as Fritz looked at his sleeves. The single yellow stripe and yellow star of a Leutnant zur See made way for the two yellow stripes and yellow star of an Oberleutnant zur See. Fritz smiled from ear to ear as Tirpitz leaned into his ear.
“Oberleutnant zur See Fritz Decke. How does that sound?”
Fritz smirked as he kissed his wife on the lips.
“Sounds wonderful.”
The couple walked out of Shiranui’s store, beaming with pride. They entered Fritz’s Mercedes-Benz together as they drove off.
As the couple drove into the driveway, Fritz turned the key and turned off the engine. He put his sunglasses back in the glove box as he looked at his wife lovingly. The couple walked into the house together. Moritz was sitting in the living room, watching television with his siblings.
“We’re home.”
The children looked at their parents as Fritz smiled at them. Fritz and Tirpitz sat on the couch together as Tirpitz placed her head on her husband's chest. Fritz giggled as he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
In a mirror sea, a couple of women stood alone. A woman with her light purple hair in a ponytail stood as still as a statue.
“Are our preparations ready, Purifier?”
Purifier turned around and nodded as she saluted the other woman.
“Yes, Observer. Shall we put the finishing touches on our project?”
Observer nodded as she tapped away on a glass tablet.
“Yes. Start Phase I of Project Reckoning”
Purifier nodded as she pulled out her glass tablet and tapped on it. The sky turned a sickly neon green as it pulsed. Observer smiled a devious smile as she looked up at the night sky.
“This is the final project Progenitor made. Are you certain this will work?”
Purifier nodded as she looked at her glass tablet.
“As long as they go along with the experiment, yes.”
Observer nodded as she turned around.
“Splendid. Do not let me down, Purifier. I’ll go watch this experiment with Tester. They’ll be here soon.”
Purifier nodded as she looked up at the neon green sky. A bright orange bolt of lightning hit the mirror sea as she smirked from ear to ear.
“This is going to be fun.”