Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

As Harry had predicted, the party had continued well into the early morning, which is why it found him and the others walking back towards the guest quarters. Rubbing the back of his neck and sighing, he turned to the Twins and grimaced, "I am really, really sorry about McLaggen bothering you. He personifies all the worst qualities that people see in Gryffindor and I hope that it didn't ruin anything."

Only shaking their heads, the Twins took his hands and entwined their fingers with his with Sakura speaking for them both, "It is fine, Harry-Chan. He did not ruin our trip in the slightest and there will always be people like him."

From where she stood on Harry's other side, Ume giggled, "Though it was funny how he backed off after you spoke to him and glared. That was very amusing, especially with how he blustered as he did so."

Lightly blushing, the thirteen year old couldn't look either girl in the eye, "He was bothering you with it making you uncomfortable. I wasn't going to let him get away with that."

Expression softening alongside that of her sister's, Ume shook her head, "And you didn't." With a sigh, she shook her head in exasparation, "I do not know why he thought that just because his Uncle is in the British Ministry that it would impress us all too much and make us join him. Or that his family is connected when much the same is with yours."

A snort escaped from Sakura and she rolled her eyes, "Or how his family goes back five hundred years. Ours and yours goes back about a thousand, not very impressive compared to that and certainly not something that one would brag about." Her lips curled into a slight smirk, "Though his expression when we told him such was amusing."

Scoffing, her twin narrowed her eyes some, "He reminded us far too much of some of... those men, who worked under Kamo. Who believed that one should be impressed with them due to their families and thought themselves Samurai because their ancestors fought in some war or another. He's a... braggart, I believe the English word is."

Bemused, Harry nodded some, "Hai, that just about sums him up." He gave a slight shrug, "To be perfectly honest? No one really likes him in Gryffindor." Pausing, the thirteen year old frowned, "Granted, his attitude is such that he does stupid things if you bet him the right way. Had to go to Madam Pomfrey after someone bet him that he would not eat a live flobberworm and did so."

On Nagato's back where she was being carried due to being sleepy, Hoppou blinked and looked back in confusion, "Big Brother... Hoppou is confused... isn't a Flobberworm icky worm thing that spits out mucus?"

Tone completely dry, the thirteen year old wizard nodded, "It is, Hoppou. About ten inches long as well and covered in mucus like a hagfish..."

Shuddering, Hoppou stuck out her tongue in disgust, "Ick! Hoppou thinks that really, really gross! And he ate one alive?!" When Harry nodded, much to his amusement, the Abyssal shook her head and made disgusted noises, "Too icky!"

Lips pressed thinly together, Nagato gave her adoptive son a look over her shoulder, "I hope that you were not involved in such a thing, Harry."

In reply, Harry cocked an eyebrow, "No, but I did see him do it as he performed it in the Common Room to prove he could. Yet, for some odd reason, no one was too impressed with him in the slightest."

The only thing that the Battleship did in reply was shake her head and sigh. Granted, she had seen much worse done to someone who annoyed other people with bragging and such, but at least Harry was not involved. Suddenly though, a thought struck her and she gave Harry a look, "You haven't done anything to him, have you?"

Head tilted to the side, Harry gave a hum, "Well... there may have been one time when we had a House Meeting that the chair he was about to sit on, and had shoved a First Year away from, suddenly slid out from under him... Resulting in him falling on his arse in front of everyone..."

For several moments, Nagato stared at him before sighing. But before she could say anything, Yamamoto came out from her hair, looked at Harry, and then grinned before giving him a thumbs up, "Desu desu!"

Glaring at him, the shipgirl scowled, "Don't encourage him to be more like you, Admiral."

All Yamamoto did was smirk back at her before going back inside her hull and leaving her to grumble.

Meanwhile, Harry snickered a little before whistling as Nagato shot him a look, something that made the two former Hitobashira giggle madly. Once they were done, they smiled at him before shaking their heads, "Though as we said, we were amused that you were able to make him back off with a glare and that tone of yours."

Shivers ran down their backs as they remembered how Harry got between them and the Fourth Year. McLaggen's comment of "Keeping all the women for himself and he should share the bounty" really pissed off Harry. The thirteen year old's voice never rose in volume, but was even in tone... and utterly, utterly frigid with a fury behind it of the storm as well as carrying an edge as keen as that of Juuchi Yosamu herself. Harry had also narrowed his eyes into a glare before they started to glow a venomous green...

The green of the Killing Curse.

Very quickly, McLaggen found somewhere else to be and did so. Much to the amusement of others that were in the room. The Twins had spotted Wood as well as some of the other Sixth and Seventh Years heading over to deal with the Fourth Year if he continued to push his luck. But since said troublemaker left, they apologized on behalf of their House and told them that they would have no further issue that night. Fred and George looked rather happy with their wide grins as they nodded in agreement, and neither girl had seen McLaggen at all for the rest of the night.

As well, they had seen Nagato and Hoppou both giving Harry proud looks for how he had handled it.

Over the next hour, much to the Twins bemusement, various other Gryffindors had come up to apologize for their Housemate's actions. Ume and Sakura found it rather... honourable in a way. But unneeded just the same, though appreciated.

Having felt them shiver a bit, Harry gave them a concerned look, "Sorry." At their confused glances, he flushed a bit, "For, um... maybe scaring you when I confronted McLaggen. I was just so... angry. How dare he talk to you as if you were objects that he could be just given. Bloody hell, gets my blood broiling just thinking about it."

Unnoticed by him, both Ume and Sakura had blushes on their cheeks. They were not about to tell him that the shiver was not from fear, but rather because it reminded them of some dreams that they had of him where he was a Lord or Shogun with them as his wives, especially when commanding Samurai or meeting an opposing Lord... Sometimes their own father.

Instead, they simply leaned over and kissed his cheeks which snapped him out of his thoughts before Ume shook her head, "We were not scared, Harry-Chan. That you did such... well, we are thankful and happy about it."

On Harry's opposite side, Sakura nodded, "Hai, thank you again, Harry-Chan."

Confused about it, the thirteen year old frowned for a few moments before deciding to just shake it off, "Um, you're welcome?"

Even more to his confusion, that got him more giggles and smiles that made him blush for some reason.

Shortly afterwards, Harry used his time turner to turn back time several hours until it was close to nine in the evening as they stood in an alcove by the guest quarters. Considering that, and how her own clocks somehow went backwards to keep match with the current time, Nagato shook her head and looked at the small device that Harry slipped under his shirt, "That... is a very useful device."

With a nod, the thirteen year old smiled a little, "Hai, very useful." Then he gave a sigh and shrugged some, "Unfortunately, I only have it for one year, though I am a bit thankful for it."

Ume tilted her head to the side in question, "Oh? Why is that, Harry-Chan? We would have thought that you would be happy."

Just shaking his head, Harry gave a sigh, "Way too complicated keeping track of everything that I need for it. And there's so many rules regarding time travelling even a short distance that... well, I'll be happy not to have the stress of it." Rolling his eyes, he snorted, "At least Ron and I managed to keep Hermione from going too nuts with it and taking actual rest periods so she does not wear herself out."

That made Sakura blink, "Is she really that bad?"

Grimacing, the thirteen year old nodded some, "If Ron and I were not there? I am almost certain that she would push herself to the point of collapse, even with the... benefits, she has."

All the others did was nod at that.

Within an hour, the group had entered the guest quarters and gotten changed for the night. Adjusting his pajamas a bit, Harry heard the door open to the bathroom and turned with a smile, "Ready for bed, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan..."

Both girls nodded as they walked out in their sleeping Yukata with smiles on their faces, "Hai, we're ready for bed."

Mouth slightly open, Harry blinked at how the two looked. While he had never seen the ones that they were given by the JMSDF, these ones were quite obviously fitted for them with Sakura's being a light pink and Ume's being a light purple. Them being fitted for them was also something that made a few facts somewhat obvious to Harry, 'Bloody hell... they're like Hamakaze-Chan or Ushio-Nee...' Snapping out of it, Harry brought his eyes up to meet theirs, which for some odd reason twinkled in amusement, "Well, um, that's good to hear." Calming down a little, he ran a hand through his hair with a slight grin, "After all, we need to get up a bit early tomorrow, so we need all the sleep that we can get."

Lips curling into identical smug smiles, the Twins nodded, "Hai, that is true enough, Harry-Chan. We're looking forward to seeing Hogsmeade after all."

Hands in his pockets, Harry smiled back at them even as, inside his head, a Chibi-Harry brought out a giant spiked Morning Star style mace to go after various thoughts and such, "And I'm looking forward to showing you around it, Sakura-Chan, Ume-Chan. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it."

Simply hooking their arms into his, they smiled and followed him to one of the guest bedrooms. Lips twitching, the Twins noticed Hoppou already out like a light as it was an adorable sight. They also noticed Nagato looking at them and Harry with a soft smile on her face, "Ready for bed then?"

With a nod, Harry chuckled a bit, "Hai, we are, Mum." Turning, he gave the Twins a hug, "Hope you both have pleasant dreams."

Returning the hug, the two nodded before Ume spoke up, "Hopefully you do not mind us sleeping in a separate bed, Harry-Chan. I know that the others often sleep in a cuddlepile with you, but we..."

A hand gently cupped her cheek and she looked to find that the messy haired wizard was softly smiling, "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Ume-Chan." Turning, he gave a nod to her twin, "Nor do you, Sakura-Chan. If you are uncomfortable with an idea, you don't have to do it. That is simply all there is to it in the end. And while I like such, I understand why you're uncomfortable with the idea."

Both girls had a soft smile and nodded with slightly teary eyes. First Ume and then Sakura leaned in and gave him a soft kiss before pulling back. Ume had a bright smile on her face, "Thank you, Harry-Chan..."

Sakura then took over, "For understanding, we appreciate it."

Lightly blushing, Harry scratched the back of his neck, "Um... you're very welcome, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan."

The two smiles that the girls had brightened a touch and they hugged him tightly before heading for their bed. Slipping under the covers, they called out their good nights and had them returned before the lights went out. Despite their excitement for the next day, the two of them soon had sleep claim them. As soon as it did, they found themselves in the "Base" that was now their spiritual selves.

Walking along in their usual clothes with their Geta softly clacking against the stone roads, they nodded to those members of their "Personnel" that they passed with said people nodding back. Here and there, they could see people hard at work as they produced what was needed and in the distance, they could see smoke rising from the smelters and factories where they were working on making parts. Briefly, the two paused before a railway junction and watched as a train went by carrying newly forged parts to fabrication where they would be put together to form the 20" turrets that Sora would need and also for Musashi's Rebuild.

As they continued their walk, they could see the small Seaplane base that stuck out, something that had been planned but never built. The hangers were built into an old lava flow. Inside, they knew, there would be their pilots training for their Seaplanes, such as the Kawanishi H8K that the base had. And around the air of the Caldera, Tengu as well as wizards and witches on brooms could be seen flying around. While against actual aircraft they would be next to useless, they would be more than capable of providing the Twins with scouts as needed.

It did not take the Twins long though to reach their main administration building. With it's red bricks, charmed not to break and fall apart during an earthquake, as well as the white stone covering above the main entrance, the doors of which were made with a rich mohagony, it resembled the headquarters in Kure. But above the rest of the building was a large clocktower, at the top of which was a clock ticking away as seconds and minutes passed. Even as they reached it, the clock struck ten o'clock, the bells slightly muted due to the time of night. Walking through the doors and over the polished stone floor, they nodded at yet more personnel working on various pieces of paperwork needed for such a base.

Reaching the office that belonged to the Base Commander, they sighed with small smiles before walking through. Inside were four desks, one of which, the Base Commander's, had a plaque with Harry's name on it. Behind said desk was a portrait of Harry himself with his usual, lopsided grin. Close by was the desk that belonged to the Twins, both of them sharing it, while one of the last two desks were occupied by American woman who flashed them a smile before chuckling, "Well, hello you two."

The Twins bowed to her with their own smiles, "Good evening, Charlotte." Once they reached their desk, they sat down into the fine leather chairs that were there. Something that they had bought with a little bit of the funds they were paid with, "How are things going so far?"

With a hum, Charlotte shuffled some of the papers around before nodding, "Things are doing good actually. We're ahead on the turrets with the second being constructed as we speak and the eighth of the secondaries complete as well. Armour plate production is also starting as well. Though the pilots want to know when they can start actually practicing. There's only so much that they can do without actually flying. Same with the gunnery crews."

Frowning, Sakura considered that before nodding, "Once we're back in Yokosuka, we'll speak with Admiral Goto about it and set something up. I'm certain that he will not mind."

Head tilted to the side, Ume tapped her finger on the desk, "What about the community gardens? And the Herbology greenhouses?"

Just standing up, the American went over to one of the filing cabinets and pulled out a folder before bringing it over to them, "The gardens are complete as are the greenhouses, so we'll be able to start producing vegetables at the least. Something that will cut down on supply usage quite a bit. One of the Tengu was a brewer before the war and wants to know if he can start up a small brewery here for the boys. You know how they are."

Flashing her a smile, Ume nodded, "That's fine. And since we're here at Hogwarts, we'll visit the herbology teacher and ask her for some seeds. They have barnicle geese trees as well as tartary lamb. We'll be able to grow those and help out with the meat situation a little at least."

Only shaking her head, Charlotte sighed, "Before dying when the Senior Home I was in was bombed during Blood Week, I would never have believed that magic was real... yet look at how the world is and my current situation."

Giggles met her mock exasparated exclamation from the two girls. Suddenly, Sakura smiled a little, "You speaking of the beer reminded me... is the club for relaxation up and running yet?" Her smile turned a little sly, "John did say that you would be one of the singers there."

Blush standing out against the pale skin of her cheeks, Charlotte thought of the man that she had loved since the 1930s when they met. If only in life they were able to... Shaking that off, she gave the two a grin, "It's coming along fine. Some of the boys and girls can play instruments so we'll have that which means entertainment for everyone, including visiting crews."

Moments later, as the Twins nodded, there was a knock on the door and they turned, "Come in."

The door opened and John walked in, his teeth shining against his dark skin as he caught sight of Charlotte, "Hey there, Hon."

For her part, Charlotte giggled and blushed a bit as she leaned against the Twins' desk, "Hello, John. Come to see me?"

Deeply chuckling, the black American pulled her into an embrace and kissed her before letting go, "Among other things." Turning towards the amused Twins, he nodded and smiled, "Me and the boys were wondering if we had permission to head out on shore leave. To blow off some steam and such."

Blinking, Ume and Sakura shared a confused look before turning back to him, "Shore leave?"

With a small shrug, John gave a nod, "Yup. Some of them heard from the other crews that there was a special bar here in Hogwarts for fairies and stuff. Wanted to go and see it."

Still blinking, the Twins furrowed their eyebrows, "But... why are you asking for permission? Couldn't you go anyways?" A booming laugh escaped from John before he was lightly slapped on the arm by Charlotte, "Was it something we said?"

Only shaking her head, the female American gave them a smile, "While you are right, it has to be done properly, dears. Which means asking for permission first."

Eyes widening, Sakura answered for the both of them as they nodded, "Of course, we're sorry about that. Go ahead, we only need a skeleton crew after all, just... make sure that everyone gets a turn, though we'll be here for two nights."

Amused, John gave them both a nod, "Not a problem, Little Ladies. Me and the boys? We'll do up a schedule." Raising an eyebrow, he frowned a bit, "Are you going to be alright here?"

Now it was the Twins' turn to be amused and they chuckled, "We have some paperwork to do, after which we'll go and sleep some... Hopefully they're nice dreams."

The two Americans simply nodded at that and soon left with the Twins going through the paperwork. And, later when they went to sleep, they dreamed about Harry and themselves.

Meanwhile, John, Charlotte, and the others all went to the Fairy Bar in Hogwarts. Walking along the walls, Charlotte shook her head some in disbelief, "[This has to be one of the strangest experiences that I ever had. Everything looks so large! And being in a magical school...]"

Simply nodding, John kept his arm around her, "[Tell me about it, takes some getting used to.]" He gave a wave to a passing Ravenclaw Prefect who blinked, and gave an unsure wave back, "[A lot better than most.]"

A loud laugh made him turn to one of the Italian-Americans that was part of the original crew, "[That's putting it mildly, John. Besides, you see how the Little Ladies were all excited? Especially with the guy that they like showing them around?]"

One of the Oni snorted at that and grinned, "[I liked how he shot down that one fool. Glorious...]"

More than one of the others of Ume's and Sakura's "Crew" laughed at that. Said boy had annoyed them after all, and more than one wanted to give him a piece of their mind. Just shaking her head at their reactions, Charlotte turned to Yamamoto who was leading them along, "[Mister Yamamoto... how much further until we reach it?]"

Smiling at her, the Japanese Admiral gestured, "[Just around that corner as a matter of fact...]"

It was less than a minute later that the group began to file into the bar, more than one of them stared at the fairies, actual fairies like those from storybooks, were going around. Following one that had very short dress on, and who winked at him, the Italian-American grinned before placing his hat against his chest, "[Lord Almighty, thank you for gifting this poor sap with the chance to visit such a place like this.]"

Another member of the crew snorted and gave him a look, "[There's a first from you, Donnie.]"

Grinning, Donnie winked at him and laughed, "[What? Can't a guy thank someone? Anyways... I'll see you boys later!]"

Quickly, he made his way over to the fairy and started talking with her, musical laughter escaping from the female being before she lead him away and he was not the only one. Shaking his head, John guided Charlotte to one of the tables and sat down with a sigh before glancing at the menu, 'Huh... wonder what this firewhisky stuff is like...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A.N.-This is the Ron and Ehren meet backfill story set during Operation Ehren's Reise the day after Ehren meets the Malfoys.

The Origin of Fan is Fanatic (An Operation Ehren's Reise Sidestory)

April, 2014

Entrance To Diagon Alley, London
Spoiler: To Sports Fans Everywhere

Ehren du Chasteler frowned as she surveyed Diagon Alley. She had missed her chance to speak to Miss Granger and her shipgirl friend day before yesterday about a good robe to wear to blend into wizarding society. She could pass as a false student from a wizarding school in France wearing her mother's old school uniform, but that kind of travel across borders was apparently a rarity.

Damn insular society.

Rather like showing up in Munich wearing her beloved Rot-Weiss-Essen custom-order Fußball Jersey (DU CHASTELER #1) that she got for Christmas and speaking her Hochpreussich Middle German regional dialect trying to pass herself off as Bavarian, she thought sourly to herself.

Even those damn beer-swilling Weißwurst-eating Lederhosen-wearing FC Bayern München-bandwagon fan lazy drunks wouldn't buy that. Not even at Oktoberfest. Not below the Weißwurstäquator.

She then chuckled slightly at the next thought. Anyway, considering the stereotypical view of Germans in England, if she wore a Bavarian Dirndl dress, someone would call her Heidi and that damn fictional girl was SWISS.

"Ehren?" A semi-familiar voice called from behind her.

She turned to see the young lady who she had raced on the motorcycle on the drive up from the Chunnel to London standing next to a red-haired young man. Automatically her brain remembered the French accent and she shifted languages to the lingua franca of Moulbaix. "Bonjour! Madame Jean Bart, oui?" She spoke with a polite smile and a curtsy

The tall woman with reddish eyes and a near-floor length ponytail. nodded her head and then extended a hand. "I never would have imagined you would be here." She spoke in French-accented English. "Ron, this is the girl who was racing me across Kent that delayed my consultation."

Ron, the redhead, extended his hand after she shook Jean Bart's "Ron Weasley."

She gave him a very polite smile. "Ehren du Chasteler, of Belgium."

Jean Bart blinked. "Belgium? But your accent is German, and North German at that. What are you doing here?"

Ehren nodded. "It is. Vati was from Prussia and died in the War, and I take after his speech. Mutti is Belgian and raised me and my sister Claire alone after his death." Leaving aside the minor issue of keeping my true nature concealed, which war Vati fought in and which side he was on, and the rest of the staff and family. "Mutti suffered a mischance recently," an accident named Masamune-no-Fudo, "and I was deputized to handle some business here in Diagon Alley while she recuperates from the broken leg and arm."

Ron grimaced, "Well if we can be of any help...?" He began.

Ehren smiled gratefully. "My thanks. I need to acquire post owls to keep correspondence with some Hogwarts students whom I have met," inspiration struck as she continued, "and I have an allowance for the trip so wish to see if any English Quidditch teams are worth following."

She gestured at herself. "I'm Nicht-Magisch-born, you see," If you only knew the truth. "So I grew up following Fußball rather than any wizarding sports." Thank heavens Aunt Del played on her school team in Ilvermorny and told me that the Wizarding World is mad about the sport. Rather like Fußball when it comes down to it. Except for the Americans, though, idiots don't know what they are missing by shunning The Beautiful Game.

Ron grinned and clapped her on the shoulder as he steered her toward Quality Quidditch Supplies. "Let me tell you about the Chudley Cannons. We are due for a breakthrough any year now...."

Ehren's matching grin lit her face up as she sensed the presence of a fellow die-hard fan of a sad-sack downtrodden sports franchise. Which made the day that they returned to glory all the sweeter, in her eyes. Besides, her steel had been smelted in Essen, so of course she had to support her hometown team!

-------------------------------------

Eeylops Owl Emporium

"You know, you really didn't have to buy this for me, Ehren." Ron Weasley said as he hefted the cage containing the Scops Owl that they had just bought.

"It is the least I could do after you told me about the Cannons and helped pick proper robes to support them. Also the store is running a special sale so that if you buy a mated pair and keep them together to help breed and continue the species, you get a discount on a third owl." Ehren responded evenly as she picked up the twin cages containing a mated pair of Eurasian Eagle Owls by the metal bar holding them together. "Also, you had enough for the owl box or to purchase an owl and so it was more efficient for me to get you an owl that can use the box to travel. What do you plan to name your new Owl?"

"I think Pigwidgeon," Ron replied. "I remember an owl named that in one of my favorite books growing up. What about you, Ehren?"

Ehren smiled slightly. "Uhu and Bubi. One can hardly go wrong with the classics, no?"

Jean Bart grinned happily, her ponytail swishing, "This will let you send mail to and from me," she said, hefting the pair of Owl Boxes. "Useful."

Ehren nodded. "Ja, they are. So now...shall we continue the conversation over ice cream?"

"Let's." Ron responded as he grabbed the box of Owl Nuts for Pigwidgeon.

--------------------------------

"So, you are interested in using magic in marine engineering?" Ehren asked curiously, her spoon hard at work in her butterscotch and vanilla sundae.

"Yes I am." Ron said eagerly before taking a bite of ice cream. He then pointed to the hand-sketched blueprint of a battleship's engine room. "I have personal reasons for wanting to help shipgirls meet their designed specifications."

Ehren leaned over the table to look at the sketches, her eyes intent. "Hm. Interesting. I have a friend who knows a spell that does self-repair. Her enchanted sword is enchanted so if broken, if the pieces are put together they will grow together and reforge the sword back to its original condition."

Ron's eyes bulged. "Really? I have never heard of that!"

Ehren nodded as Jean Bart looked intrigued. "Really. I am led to believe it may be a variation of a spell that her father learned from his travels in China. The Chinese apparently have a long tradition of magical engineering and technology dating back several centuries. I can ask her when I get back home and see if she has any notes that I can pass along to you. Also Mutti traveled extensively and has a large library, including a number of esoteric treatises. She has told me repeatedly to always look for new knowledge and not assume any one school of thought has all the answers."

Ron grinned. "As I said, if you are going to buy me an owl, the least I can do is invite you and your family to visit for a Cannons game this summer before the Quidditch World Cup."

Ehren grinned back. "Deal, although I shall take you to a proper Fußball game in return when Rot-Weiss-Essen plays again. Sadly Zweite Bundesliga is in the playoff season now, and we missed the cut." She sighed in resignation and shook her head. "Again. Three points from being relegated to the semi-pro regional leagues!"

Ron squeezed her shoulder. "Always next year. Always hope. The Cannons are overdue for a breakthrough too, you know."

Ehren gave him the smile of a fellow long-suffering sports fan. "Ja. Always hope. Next year is our year for sure!"

Jean Bart chimed in as her boilers flared a little hotter at their attitude and perseverance. "Oui. The harder the road, the more sweet the prize at the end."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

It was bright and early, with the Sun having been up for at least an hour, when Sakura and Ume walked out of Hogwarts with Harry, Nagato, and Hoppou. Each of them had their fill at breakfast, which was helped by how few people there were there. But currently, they were walking towards a carriage that would take them to Hogsmeade for a small trip. Pausing before it, the Twins looked it over before giving a small frown towards the thestral that was pulling it, "Harry-Chan? Is this the normal carriage that is used?"

With a nod, Harry pulled open the door, "Hai, it is as a matter of fact. Though in colder months and when the weather is wet, there's a sort of hood that goes over them. It gets removed when it's nicer out." Considering that, the Twins nodded before noticing his hand. When they looked at Harry, they got a nod which made them smile, "Allow me, Himes."

Much to his amusement, that got blushes from the two before they smiled brightly, with Sakura answering for them both as she took his hand, "Thank you, Harry-Chan." As she sat down, she watched as Harry helped her twin sister into the carriage as well, 'Very well mannered.'

Glancing at her sister, Ume sat down beside her before softly whispering, "Harry-Chan is very nice when it comes to manners. Like an old Lord."

All Sakura did was nod in agreement as they watched Harry help both Hoppou and Nagato into the carriage, though the last did not need it. Stepping up into it himself, he closed the door behind him and was about to sit when he found his hands grabbed by the Twins, "Hmm? Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? What's wrong?"

The two shared a look before shifting a bit, "Come and sit between us, Harry-Chan."

Simply blinking, Harry turned to his mother who gave a small nod, "Um, sure." As he did so, he frowned a bit as it was a little bit of a squeeze, "Is this okay? Not too tight?"

However, Ume and Sakura shook their heads with them once more speaking as one, "No, Harry-Chan, this is fine." Laying their heads on his shoulders as they grasped his hands, they sighed a little, "More than fine."

Confused, Harry blinked for a moment before mentally shrugging it off and simply enjoying the two pressed up and cuddling against him. Meanwhile, the Carriage began rolling towards Hogsmeade along the dirt road that connected it with Hogwarts Castle. Said road went around the lake towards where Hogsmeade Station was and continued on a distance from there. Soon enough, they passed through the gates that separated the castle grounds from the rest of the area. The Twins, meanwhile, watched their surroundings and had expressions of happiness as they saw various things that they never had either when they were living at home, or in their Caldera.

Part of the thirteen year old was saddened by how much the sight of a herd of deer made them gasp happily and excitedly as they passed them by. Or how they squealed at the sight of a fawn on unsteady legs. Yet, he was also happy because they were obviously enjoying the ride along. Granted, when they came back he was already making some plans regarding something that he guessed that they would enjoy greatly...

As Harry considered things, the carriage continued on its journey to Hogsmeade. Despite it being a dirt road, however, the ride was actually smoother than it would have been in a car. Finally, they reached where they would get off the carriage to walk the rest of the way into town, though Harry blinked at who they found there, "Fubuki-Nee? Yuudachi-Nee? What are you doing here?"

The blonde haired Destroyer giggled some and gave a wave as Harry got up and helped the others down and out of the carriage, "We're here to escort Nagato-San and Hoppou-Chan, Poi."

From where she stood beside Yuudachi, Fubuki nodded some with a slight smile on her face, "Hai, and to pick up some things." At the curious look from the thirteen year old boy, she scratched her cheek, "We'll be heading out on convoy escort in less than a week. I figured that we could pick up some treats and such for Fu-Chan and the others."

Grinning, Yuudachi leaned towards Harry with a glance at her fellow Destroyer, "Fubuki-Chan takes really good care of them. Just like a Kaa-San should, Poi."

Eyes narrowed at her friend, the "Mother of Destroyers" was about to say something when she paused. Instead, she grinned evily, "Yuudachi-Chan~" Seeing the confused look, she continued and turned with her voice still in a sing song, "I suppose that means that I won't do that tomorrow night when we get home~"

Jaw dropping, Yuudachi stared, "POI! FUBUKI-CHAN, NO!"

Bemused at their antics, Harry just shook his head and held out his arms. Both Ume and Sakura took them, "Shall we?"

Extremely amused as Yuudachi now began to beg a smirking Fubuki, Ume hummed some, "Hai, let's go, Harry-Chan..."

With a final wave to his mother and Hoppou who waved back, the Abyssal giggling madly behind one of her mittens, the three of them walked on towards Hogsmeade.

As they walked, Harry glanced at the Twins with a chuckle, "Well? What did you think of the ride?"

Pressing a finger aginst their chins, the two thought about it before Sakura spoke up, "It was quite nice actually. A nice trip through the countryside with nice, spring weather."

Rapidly nodding in agreement with her sister, Ume smiled, "I especially liked seeing the deer. The little fawns were quite cute after all." Tilting her head some, she hummed, "It reminded me of going around Kyoto in a rickshaw as a matter of fact. Though much smoother."

Harry considered the rides he had done in rickshaws himself before nodding, "That is true enough, I suppose. Though some of them aren't too bad now with new suspensions and the like."

The Twins just shrugged at that and smiled before turning their attention to the village around them. It was quite a bit different from the villages that they knew about, though they had never visited them and only saw them in photographs and scrolls. But... it was still a nice little village nonetheless. And one that they could see themselves enjoying walking around and experiencing. The sights, sounds, and even smells were different than what they had encountered before.

It was a grand adventure to them after all.

Just the same, it did not take them very long to come to the realization that Harry was leading them somewhere. A fact that Sakura brought up and made Harry smile at the two of them, "Well... I'm bringing you to a nice tea house that is somewhat off the beaten path of the village as a whole. It's a nice place and great for a snack early in the morning."

Considering that, the Twins nodded as it had been about two hours since they had eaten. And while before they would have been full, they still had a slight bit of hunger and being Installations? They didn't really need to worry about over eating, not in the slightest.

Which brought smiles to their faces as they nodded in agreement and cuddled a bit more closely to him.

Not long afterwards, the three of them entered the teahouse with Harry smiling to Emma, "Welcome to the Dragon's Tea Pot, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan."

Both girls had their eyes widen as they looked around before smiling softly. Slowly, Sakura nodded as she looked around, "This is a bit different than other teahouses we have been to, Harry-Chan. But... it is quite nice."

With a hum, Ume also nodded, "Hai, very nice as a matter of fact."

Leading them over to a table, his usual one, Harry pulled out the seats for the two of them and helped them sit down before doing much the same himself. It was just moments later that Emma walked over with notepad and quill to take their orders, "Good morning, welcome to the Dragon's Tea Pot, I'm Emma and I'll be taking your orders." She flashed a smile towards Harry and winked, "Though I already know what you will be having to drink, Mister Potter."

That got her a smile and a chuckle from the thirteen year old, "You're right about that, Emma."

Once she turned to them, both Ume and Sakura stood and did a small bow with Ume speaking first, "I am Konohana... I mean, Ume Konohana, Emma-San."

As she sat down, Sakura smiled and nodded, "And I am Sakura."

Blinking, it took Emma a few seconds to shake it off before she did a slight bow, "Thank you, Miss Sakura and Miss Ume. Do you know what you might like to drink?"

Just blinking, the two of them chewed their lips before grasping the menu and looking through it. Both of them had their eyes widen at the amount of teas, coffees, and hot chocolates there were there. Finally, they nodded some and pointed, "We think that the English Breakfast Tea might be nice, it is a black tea, correct?"

Simply humming as she wrote it down, Emma smiled, "That is correct, it is a blend of black teas from Assam in India, Ceylon in Sri Lanka, though thankfully the teas have started coming from there again, there was a dearth of them earlier in the war you know..." Remembering what she was doing, she gave a nod, "And also from Kenya. Robust, flavourful, and strong as the old English Empire."

Lips twitching, Sakura smiled back at her, "That does sound good, thank you."

After Emma left with their orders a minute later, Harry turned and gave the Twins an interested look, "English Breakfast tea? Not quite what I was expecting really..."

Raising an eyebrow, Ume smiled, "Well, what did you expect?"

The wizard considered things for a few moments before gesturing with his hand, "I suppose something like Jasmine? Or maybe Oolong?"

With a small giggle, the two girls glanced around, "Well, we did consider such. But we could also get such teas back home in Japan. As for English Breakfast tea? If our parents and Clan elders from that time could see it, they would be... very angry with us. Of course, they're no longer in power, and thus we can have such and enjoy what their reactions likely would be."

Looking at the menu, Sakura hummed, "Though if we come back later, perhaps we could have some of this 'Masala chai' that is listed here. It does sound like an interesting blend of tea to say the least."

As Harry nodded in agreement, behind the counter as she prepared the tea, Emma raised an eyebrow, 'So they chose that blend because it would aggrevate their parents and older relatives? Hmm... reminds me of some of the younger members of some of the more traditional Pureblood families and how they will secretly enjoy something they know would get their elders angry about from the Muggle world.'

Finding the blends needed, she began to work brewing them. As she did so, Emma did glance over at the two girls with Harry deep in thought. While, yes, he had brought that other pair of twins to her family's teahouse, not once did she think he would follow it up with another pair. And a pair just as beautiful, if more stately, as the other pair. Something that made her shake her head.

Especially as she could tell that the two were obviously from either a very well off family, or a very old one, probably both along with likely being one of those Natural Borns she heard about considering what their orders were.

While not an expert in foreign clothing, Emma could tell that the ones the two girls wore were very well made. As well, there was the fact that it was quite obvious that said clothes were made of silk! Probably cost more than most of her wardrobe put together really. There was also the fact of their manners, though somewhat odd, likely due to being foreigners from Japan she suspected, were also telling of their social position. Something that made Emma internally nod.

Teas done, she placed the mugs onto a plate as well as a few eccles cakes that she had baked just that morning and were still warm. Bringing them over, Emma set the items onto the table and smiled at them, "Sorry about the wait, it will be just a few minutes more for the rest of the order. But please, enjoy."

Ume and Sakura nodded at that with smiles of their own, "Thank you."

Just nodding at that, Emma left to work on the rest of the order. Turning their attention to the tea, the two took a sip before frowning and adding some honey, though they raised an eyebrow at Harry using sugar cubes for his, which he shrugged at, "It's how I like to sweeten it a bit, though I do add some honey."

Considering that, the Twins nodded before they added milk as they watched Harry do and took a sip. With a sigh, Sakura hummed a bit, "This is quite a good blend. I take it you use it to wake up?"

With a chuckle, Harry scratched the side of his head, "Hai, it is pretty good to wake up with. I don't really drink coffee unless I really, really need the caffine. Give me a nice, strong black tea instead, that will wake me up or keep me awake."

Internally, unknown to him, both Ume and Sakura made notes of that before turning their attention to the small cakes on the plate before them. They looked like they had some sort of berry in it and was covered with powdered sugar. Gesturing at them, Harry gave a nod and Ume picked up one before biting into it. Chewing it, her eyebrows raised, "What are these, Harry-Chan? In them, I mean?"

Taking his own, he took a bite before washing it down with some tea, "Currants, a type of berry, and my family grew them on our property." Looking at it, he hummed a bit, "Though there's another version called Blackburn cakes which use apples instead."

Also having taken a bite, Sakura considered what she had just been told before nodding, "That could be very good actually, Harry-Chan. Did you ever think of making some of those Blackburn cakes?"

Head cocked to the side, Harry didn't say anything right away as he took another bite. Once he was done chewing and swallowed, he made a thoughtful noise, "Not really? Though I might see how people back in Yokosuka like it..."

By the time they were mostly done with the eccles cakes, though there were only five of them, Emma returned with a large plate that she set down, "Here you go, loves. Nice, fresh carrot cake."

Eyebrows raising at the sight, and the slightly spiced scent that drifted up from it, the Twins smiled back at her, "Thank you, Emma-San."

Just chuckling, the employee nodded as Harry chimed in with his own thanks, "You are very welcome, and I hope that you enjoy." Spotting that the cups for the Twins were drained, she took them, "I'll just go and get you some refills."

Less then two minutes later, she returned with freshly refilled cups that she placed down and left to do other work. Slowly cutting themselves a slice and placing it on a plate, Ume and Sakura looked at it and then Harry before clapping their hands, "Itadakimasu."

Picking up the forks, the two each took a piece before taking a bite and slowly chewing. After a few moments, Harry leaned forward with his hands clasped in front of him, "Well? What do you think?"

Still chewing, they held up their fingers before swallowing and wiping their lips on a napkin. After which, they smiled with Ume taking another piece with her fork, "It is quite good, Harry-Chan. Different from what we have had in Japan, but quite good just the same."

Having taken a bite already, Sakura waited until she was done chewing before nodding in agreement, "Hai, Ume-Nee is quite correct in this, Harry-Chan." Briefly, she paused before a slightly mischivious smirk crossed her lips. Quickly, she used her fork to take a piece and then held it before Harry, "Here you go, Harry-Chan."

Only raising an eyebrow, Harry nonetheless took the offered piece and chewed. As he nodded and watched, Sakura took another piece and held it before her mouth with a twinkle in her eye, 'What is she up to now?"

Now grinning, Sakura glanced at her sister, "Indirect kiss."

And then she put the fork into her mouth as Harry froze as did Ume. Giving her sister a look, and getting a smirk back, Ume gained her own before taking a piece of cake and holding it out to Harry, "Here you go... take one from mine."

Even as Harry blushed, he swore that he could hear the employee giggling madly behind the counter. Yet, when he glanced at her, she was just wiping the countertop with a cloth, her expression seemingly stating she was focused on that, 'Hmm...' Shaking that off, he turned to Ume who raised an eyebrow and gestured with the forkful of cake, which he internally sighed at before taking it. And, just like with her sister, she took another forkful and ate that as Harry gulped, 'Bloody hell...'

The two girls simply grinned at that before they continued doing what they had been.

It was almost an hour later when they left the teahouse, arm in arm. As the door closed behind them, Ume took a deep breath before letting it out, "That... was quite enjoyable, Harry-Chan. Thank you for bringing us here."

Lips quirking upwards, Harry gave a chuckle as he nodded, "I'm glad that the two of you liked it, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan."

Glancing at her sister, Sakura moved a bit in front of him, "Hai, we did..."

Then, she gave him a soft kiss before moving back and being replaced by Ume. Both girls lightly blushed at the stunned look on Harry's face before their soft giggles snapped him out of it, though he still had a blush. However, he just laughed it off as did they before they continued their journey on in Hogsmeade.
___________________________________________________

Humming as she tore a small piece of bread from the nearly stale loaf that they had bought, Sakura tossed it towards the small pond in front of them. Almost immediately, various ducks rushed in quacking and trying to snap up the pieces which made her giggle. Beside her, Ume mirrored her actions, watching as the quacking increased briefly before looking at her sister, "This is fun."

Slowly nodding, Sakura had a bright smile on her face, "Hai, it really is." Tossing a piece, she tilted her head, "Do you know what this reminds me of?"

Curious, her sister looked at her, "What?"

Gesturing with one hand, Sakura shook her head, "It reminds me of when we used to feed the Koi back home in the pond there. Do you remember that?"

A soft smile of remembrance on her face, Ume sighed, "Oh yes, this is similar to that." Tossing a piece of bread with a deft flick towards some ducklings, she giggled softly as they swarmed the small piece of food, "Though I would like to think that our Koi had better manners, but they most likely do not."

With a glance towards where Harry was at a stall, her twin hummed a bit, "This has been a very good trip as a matter of fact. And I think that Aki-Kun would be most pleased with everything as Harry-Chan has done it properly."

Raising an eyebrow, Ume gave her a look, "Did you expect any different from Harry-Chan?" At the shake of the head she got, she nodded, "Neither did I."

Softly sighing, Sakura shook her head, "If only... could you imagine it? Had things been different and such a thing would have been possible when we were young before... that?"

Considering the question, her sister smiled and sighed as well, "Hai, I can imagine it, Sakura-Nee. To have been able to court Harry then..." After a few moments, she tossed another piece of bread towards the ducks, "And yet? I am quite happy with how things are now. Hai, it was perhaps a very long wait, but worth it in some way that it allowed for us to meet Harry-Chan. And now we have a chance to be truly happy."

Bemused, Sakura chuckled a little, "Though he does have quite the number looking to be with him."

That got her a soft snort of amusement from Ume, "And? Neither of us expected to be the lone wives of whomever we were chosen to marry, if the youngest. Or concubines, as our parents later had us believe. But unlike those situations, we do not need to fear older, jealous women attempting violence on us. Could you see any of the others harming us?"

Not even giving it a moment's of consideration, her twin sister shook her head, "No, I do not. And neither could I see Harry-Chan just ignoring it if something did, for some reason, happen. Besides..." A smirk crossed her face before she continued, "We both are quite... knowledgable due to our studies. The others might well find that of great use."

Looking at each other, they giggled madly, though with slight blushes due to what that 'Knowledge' was of, though it was from studying scrolls and books on it which they had to do for their future husband.

Once they calmed down, the two continued to toss pieces of bread to the ducks while talking. Glancing at Harry, Ume lowered her voice, "I am quite happy with that one place Harry-Chan took us, Gladrags. While most of their selection is of things that we are not... quite comfortable with, they did have some items that were much better for us than what we had to buy back home."

With a glance towards the thirteen year old wizard herself, Sakura nodded, "Hai, that is true. While Miu-Chan was nice to show us that one store where those like us who suffer from the family curse can buy certain items at, they only had a small selection of them. Not like what they had there, though I am thankful that Harry-Chan understood and stayed at the other end of the store." Cheeks red, she shook her head, "I would have been mortified to have him know what we bought!"

Just nodding in agreement and with a blush of her own, Ume chewed her lip, "It is much the same for me. Though they are quite comfortable, much so then binding them up. Miu-Chan is quite correct in that and the employee that helped us was of great help, though I wonder..." Frowning, she furrowed her eyebrows, "Is it because of diet that western women have such a wider selection of such things than back in Japan?"

Thoughtful, Sakura shook her head, "Perhaps? Though I am unsure of that in any case." With a small shrug, she hummed, "Though I do think that those 'Nighties' are quite nice. If it gets too warm and humid in the summer, they should be of great help. They're also very acceptable compared to some of the clothes that they had there. And the slippers are quite nice as well, which I think we shall enjoy when wearing them around the home."

Finger on her chin, her sister glanced around, "Did you know, Sakura-Nee, that some of the others have taken to wearing some of Harry-Chan's old clothes? Such as Hachi-Chan wearing one of his cloaks to bed..."

Eyes widening, Sakura stared at her before frowning in thought, "Do women of this era do such things normally?"

Nodding, Ume chewed her lip with a slight flush on her cheeks, "Apparently so, Sakura-Nee. From what Miu-San told me when I asked her..." At the look, she shook her head, "I told her that I overheard some other young women speaking of such things with no names. But she said that it was relatively common and that it could enflame the passions of a young man. Because wearing his clothes for bed is akin to stating, without outright saying, that they were the young man's."

Several seconds passed as her sister digested that before nodding, "I see... that could be very useful information indeed for the future."

Before they could continue their conversation much more, they noticed that Harry was walking towards them. The two smiled at him as he arrived with three cups floating behind him and a box filled with cylindrical objects filled with a white substance, "Hello, Harry-Chan."

At seeing their interested looks, he sat down with them moving apart so that he could sit between them before he floated the cups before them, "Here you go, I thought that you might be a bit thirsty and wanted a drink as well as a small snack. First, we have elderflower cordial..." Harry then held up the box, "And here we have some brandy snaps filled with cream."

Interested, the Twins took a hold of the drinks and examined the light yellowish substance within. Sakura turned to him with an intrigued look, "Elderflower cordial, Harry-Chan?"

Placing the box in his lap, Harry gave a nod, "Hai, that is what it is, Sakura-Chan. Made from elderflowers as a matter of fact."

Now really interested, the twins took a sip from their straws and their eyes lit up. Pulling away, they nodded, "It's sweet, but not too much and... there's a little bit of lemon added?"

Just chuckling, Harry smiled, "The sweetness is from the elderflower actually, and the lemon is added to help preserve the syrup made from the flowers and add a little tart to the taste."

Taking another sip, Ume nodded, "It really is quite nice." Looking at the box, she glanced at Harry who nodded before taking out one of the objects and examining it. As she expected, it was in the shape of a hollow cylinder with the middle filled with cream it looked like. The cylinder itself was a dark brown and somewhat hard. Gently, she put it into her mouth before biting down with her eyes blinking as she chewed before swallowing with a nod, "It's good."

Also taking one, Sakura gave a nod of agreement after a bite later and soon, the three teens were enjoying a small snack at the edge of a duck pond between tossing pieces of bread to the waterfowl swimming there.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XIII)

Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch)

Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

29 May, 1945

Deliah de Breuil flashed into existence in the living room of her ranch. Tears trickled from her pain-filled eyes in her grief-stricken face. Gold glimmered around her neck as she violently ripped the necklace containing the ring from around her throat and slammed it to the surface of the side table next to the couch. Her MACUSA Auror's dress robe was next, as she almost tore it from her body to be tossed into a corner with a savage insane snarl.

Now clad in a black knee-length mourning dress, she staggered to the sideboard and yanked it open. Grabbing a bottle of 1938 Ogden's Old Firewhisky, the weeping Muramasa pulled the cork out and began to drink straight from the bottle.

Horrified, Zamarad watched her friend slam back the liquor with grim determination. She frantically battered at the spells binding her to the ring so that she could manifest. She screamed voicelessly to Delilah. "Delilah... Please! Please release me!"

Delilah couldn't hear her.

Finally finishing the bottle, Delilah glared at it murderously, and then threw it like a Quaffle at the fireplace with all her strength, turning to grab the next bottle from her liquor cabinet.

The fireplace!

As the bottle shattered on the stone, the flames flashed brighter with the dregs of the Firewhiskey in the bottle as it burned.

Zamarad strained for that fire with strength that she never knew that she had. The pain was intense, but the pain of seeing Delilah weeping her heart out on the other side of the damnable gem containing her was far greater.

The Ifrit gritted her teeth and gasped nonexistent air as she flamed brighter and brighter, reaching for the fireplace, whose flames began to flicker and shift to burn in her direction.

Just...

A...

A second emptied bottle of alcohol was flung to smash into the hearth stone of the fireplace

Suddenly, she felt the spell release just enough for her to reach out and claim the lesser Fire in the room as part of her greater essence. With a roar the fireplace surged like a blast furnace to cough up a fireball that formed itself into her avatar. Slipper-clad feet shattered shards of brown-colored glass underfoot as she dashed to cradle Delilah as the third half empty bottle dropped from the revolver's hand.

"Ssssh... sssh... I am here, love of my life..." Zamarad whispered in a warm soothing crackle and pop of embers, gently stroking Delilah's hair as she gathered the revolver to her bosom.
Spoiler: The Price Of Liberty

Delilah clung to her desperately and sobbed brokenheartedly. Leaf-green eyes filled with an ocean of guilt and pain closed as the revolver desperately whispered to the jinn. "How can you care for a monster like me?"

Zamarad hugged Delilah tighter to her. "But you are no monster."

"But I am!" Delilah shrieked in a near-hysterical voice. "You were there, you heard it!"

Zamarad closed her eyes as she remembered the scene that she had passively witnessed from within her ring a half hour ago.

-----------------------------------------

Delilah had been delivering the personal effects of one of her men to a Native American woman in a clapboard farm house. Clearly it had been taken care of with love and care. As the woman walked to the door alongside a minister from the local church, a young boy answered the door next to the embroidered window flag with one blue star, signifying a child in the US military fighting in the war... and one gold star, signifying that second son had paid the ultimate price in the service of his country.

Now there would be two gold stars in the window.

Now there would be a young widow with a child in her arms. A child who would never know her father.

A young boy who would have to grow up too early to be the man of the house answered the door, clad in worn but mended clothes. He looked at Delilah and the minster looking at him with compassion on his face and opened his mouth.

Saying words that scarred the revolver as few other things could. "Bring Daddy back! I want my Daddy!"

-----------------------------------------

She then opened her compassionate eyes and whispered soothingly. "It is not your fault."

Delilah shook her head in negation and screamed out in a guilt filled agonized voice. "But it is all my fault! I gave the order that sent Sergeant Bearclaw to his death! I made the decision to send him on a suicide mission to reinforce that position. And I'd do it again! I'd do it to Sis, or Jackie or even you! Or Mother! Or Myself! Because when I'm like that I just... don't... care... about people as people. All they are are numbers to me! Pieces to move on the board according to my whims and desires as I plot their fates coldly and ruthlessly like the killing machine that I am!"

Zamarad's hug stopped the babble of guilt and pain filled words. "You pay the price of freedom so willingly and spend of yourself so deeply, Delilah. And I shall pay it alongside you. You may not care when you must decide who lives and who dies, then I will care for you in turn when you must weight the price dispassionately." The Ifrit's voice was as uncompromising as a forest fire in a bone-dry forest.

A hand cupped Delilah's chin and forced the leaf-green eyes full of an ocean of guilty tears to meet the gaze of blazing emerald eyes filled with the heat of a love that could and would dry up that ocean of pain or extinguish herself in the process. "Because I love you, Delilah Naomi de Breuil-Muramasa. Because I love you and you are worthy of my love."

She gathered the weeping Muramasa in her arms and held her in her warm embrace once more. "Because a killing machine would not care or mourn or feel remorse for the price that she paid to free me and others."

Delilah nodded hesitantly as she wailed out her grief once more for the sacrifices that she had made.

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Sákpe Mázasu Pteyúha (Six Bullet Ranch)

Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

30 May, 1945
Spoiler: An Ifrit In The The New World

Zamarad smiled at Delilah as they consumed some bacon and flapjacks for breakfast.

Delilah had eventually cried herself out and then spent the night cuddled up to her restlessly. Zamarad was content merely to comfort and warm her love by simple proximity as she privately wondered how many nights Delilah had laid alone weighted down by this inner darkness.

But yet, it was not the capability but the intended usage and actions taken with what gifts and attributes that one had given that determined their moral standing. Delilah's dark side was a tool that she had honed to serve her will as a weapon to fight greater evils than she could ever become.

With that insight, she looked at Delilah. "So, what do you plan now?"

Delilah laughed slightly. "I..." She paused, clearly weighing her words. "I have responsibilities here that must be maintained. Oaths sworn. Promises kept." Her green eyes were shrouded in bittersweet memory. as she looked out the window. "Perhaps...."

Zamarad blinked curiously. "Perhaps?" She inquired as she turned the last 'flapjack' to fulfilling flame and ash. Silently she chuckled at the disappointed look on Delilah's face when she had turned down the bacon.

Delilah rubbed her chin thoughtfully and finally nodded decisively. "You know how to ride a horse?"

Zamarad laughed. "Of course I do. I would be a poor jinn if I could not ride!"

The Muramasa got a smug smirk on her face. "Then after we wash up the dishes, we have a little field trip."

Zamarad grinned. "You wash," she snapped her finger and a fireball formed over her palm, "and I'll dry."

Delilah laughed and began to scrub the skillet with hot water and a rag. "Deal!"

Zamarad rode after Delilah up a trail across the meadow and then up through the pine woods. The air around her was filled by a vast potential full of invisible eyes measuring her. It reminded her of nothing so much as some of her family's holdings int he desolate places of the earth where the Unseen touched the world of the Seen.

Her already high esteem for Delilah clicked up a notch. Clearly this place was Guarded, and she suspected strongly that her love was one of the Guardians. Of course, if she asked, Delilah could not tell her, any more than Zamarad could speak willingly of some of her own family's responsibilities.

It would not do to have the Children of Adam tamper with the Seals against the Kin of Iblis, for along that road led the destruction of all that she held dear.

Again her thoughts went to the Shayatan that she had sensed in London. She was more wary of it now, not less. If it was smart enough to hide among the Children of Adam rather than using its newfound freedom to sate its desires and malicious cruelty and sadism....

An intelligent mortal foe was the worst sort.

Her eyes glimmered as she remembered the cost paid by her older sister and the mage who had aided her to prevent the Seal of Erta Ale from being shattered by a Shaitan.

With that, insight struck her and she started. Just as she would one day soon devote her life and her existence to eternally being the warrior on the ramparts, the watcher in the night, and the guardian of the barren places which held threats that the Children of Adam must be protected from, so too would Delilah be another Guardian until the day when her life was laid down in defense of that which she loved and allowed to receive her eternal reward.

After all, Delilah was teaching her by word, deed and example that liberty is precious because the cost is so unutterably high and yet is paid so willingly for something that gives our lives meaning. A cost that Delilah was paying with the guilt over a friend's death at her command, the burden of knowing that she had wounded his family to prevent a greater evil, and the many many other responsibilities and regrets that she labored with. A cost that she herself was paying with separation form her family, and knowing that very soon she would have to dedicate her life to being a Guardian, which one day would demand the ultimate sacrifice from her.

Zamarad's musing was interrupted as Delilah reached the edge of a grassy meadow and dismounted. "We're here."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Holding hands with the Twins as they walked along the small park, alive with flowers with magic keeping the late frosts away, Harry gave a smile as the two girls looked at the various flowers, "Enjoying the flowers?"

Just nodding as she turned to him, Ume nodded, "Hai, they're quite lovely and smell wonderful." Looking at them, she shook her head, "There are many that I do not recognize."

Eyes closed as she leaned in towards a lilac bush, Sakura happily hummed as she sniffed the flowers, "Very lovely."

Slowly, the thirteen year old wizard nodded. An action that caught Ume's attention, "What are you thinking of, Harry-Chan?"

Glancing at her, Harry shrugged a bit with a small smile, "Maybe I should buy you a flower in a pot. You know?"

Both girls blushed at this but gave him a kiss on the cheek, with him returning it before they continued on their walk.

As they did so, the Twins continued to take deep breaths and letting them out, the floral scent of their surroundings relaxing them. Turning towards Harry, Sakura tilted her head to the side a little, "How long is there left in the school year, Harry-Chan?"

With a blink, Harry hummed a little, "How long?" Getting a nod, he frowned slightly, "Well... this week is OWLs and NEWTs, next week is for normal exams. And we head home the Monday after that on the twenty third."

Unknown to him, the Twins made a note in their calendars within their office, which Charlotte noticed and giggled at. Ignoring that, they smiled back at him, "That does sound good. But what are you going to do when you get home?"

Thinking about the question, the thirteen year old gave a slight shrug, "Not too much for a bit. I mean, there is the trip to Shiromizu's mountain on the thirtieth." Seeing the curious looks, Harry smiled, "Her Shrine is going to be dedicated and there's a small festival there dedicating when we saved the village from Kuroshi. The Abyss Riders will be there as well... though from what Asuka said, Ai and the others didn't know what to do at first when they got the invitations."

Slowly blinking as they digested that, the two girls giggled a bit at the thought.

Not long afterwards, the three re-entered the village proper and slowly made their way through it. Still chatting, the question came up of where they should go now. After all, they had visited the local Honeydukes (with the Twins buying a number of sweets for their little brother as well as family), the ice cream shop, and others.

Considering the question, Harry glanced up at the Sun and frowned a little, "Well... you mentioned going back to the Dragon's Tea Pot? We have the time after all..."

Briefly, he glanced towards his chest where the time turner was hidden and the Twins nodded happily with Sakura answering for them both, "Hai, that does sound wonderful, Harry-Chan."

It did not take the three of them very long to arrive at the Dragon's Tea Pot. Upon entering, Emma where she was serving an older lady. Said older lady, who looked rather ancient chuckled a little, "Ah, well, you know how it is, Emma my dear. I remember giving you, your OWL examinations like I did Albus'. And again this year." Pausing, the old woman nodded, "You did very well on both your OWLs and NEWTs if my memory serves correctly. Eight OWLs and seven NEWTs."

Much to the amusement of the three, Emma lightly blushed before she caught sight of them. She chatted with the elderly woman for another minute before leaving her to her business and walking over with a smile, "Well, I did not expect any of you to come back today."

Lopsidedly grinning, Harry gave a small shrug, "What can I say, Emma, we enjoyed the tea so much we had to come back."

All four chuckled at that before Emma shook her head, "Well, let's get you a seat and I'll make your orders, hmm?" Turning, she suddenly paused and turned back around, "Rather than your usual seat, Mister Potter... would you like to partake of one of our theme rooms?"

That made Harry blink in confusion and he furrowed his eyebrows, "Theme rooms?"

Somewhat amused at having gotten him a little off kilter, Emma chuckled, "Yes, they're special rooms for tea that we have in the establishment. Each one is unique and has a different theme. For example, the African Safari makes one think that they are on the Serengeti. Or the Forest Room is set up as if one was in a primordial forest somewhere, untouched by man." Lips quirking a bit, she chuckled, "Usually word of mouth lets people know, though there is also information on the last page of the menu."

Glancing at Harry who just lightly blushed, the Twins smiled a bit, "Could we see one of the menus please to make our decision?"

Lips twitching, Emma nodded, "Of course. You can even inspect the rooms as needed if that is what you wish." It took her just a few seconds to return with a menu which she handed to them, "I'll give you a few minutes."

With that, she walked off as Harry flushed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Um, Ume-Chan? Sakura-Chan? Sorry about this..."

Both girls simply shook their heads, "Harry-Chan, it's fine. We had a look through this menu and missed it ourselves." Flipping through it, they chuckled, "Which is rather easy due to the size. Ah, here we go."

Holding it so that the thirteen year old could see it, they looked at the description of the rooms. After a few moments, Harry pointed at one, "Do you want to try the Japanese room?"

Ume hummed a bit, but then nodded, "Hai, or at least see it."

A short time later, they found themselves before a Shogi door which Emma slid aside to reveal the room. Both Ume and Sakura gasped as it resembled a Japanese patio with a traditional garden beside it. Off in the distance, they could just see a mountain or two with snow on the summit. Harry meanwhile blinked before his eyes widened and he noticed a plaque. Reading it, he smiled a bit, "Heh..."

Turning, Sakura looked at him, "Harry-Chan?"

However, he just waved her off with a small smile, "I'll tell you in a bit. But the better question is... do you want it?"

Just considering, the Twins nodded and Emma bowed slightly to them before gesturing inside. Somewhat to her confusion, the Twins removed their shoes as did Harry before the three sat in seiza with Sakura looking around, "This... is wonderful."

Nodding, Harry smiled at her, "It is."

A sigh escaping from Ume made him turn, but she shook her head, "Just wishing that we had the time and instruments to perform a traditional tea ceremony, Harry-Chan. This place... would be wonderful for such." With a deep breath and another sigh, she turned to Emma, "I think though that we will order now."

Simply pulling out her notepad and quill, Emma smiled, "Of course, what will you have..."

Roughly ten minutes later found the three with new cups of tea in front of them. This time, it was Harry choosing to have the same as Ume and Sakura, the Twins having gone with Masala chai. The two girls closed their eyes and sniffed at the tea before humming. Opening hers, Sakura hummed, "An interesting smell, and a few of the spices we can identify. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a few others."

On the opposite side of her from Harry, though also slightly in front of him, Ume tilted her head before nodding, "Hai." Taking a delicate sip of the tea, she allowed it to wash over her tongue for a few seconds before she swallowed and opened her eye, "And a very intriguing taste. Much different than the teas back home."

Having taken a sip of his own, Harry gave a nod, "Hai, then again, it is a style of tea from India, so it would be different from Japanese and British teas." Smiling and setting it aside, he picked up a plate next to them that held a number of rectangular shaped objects. Some were a pale yellow and some a light brown. And a few had been sandwiched together with cream and jam in the middle, "Here, try some of these."

Interested, Ume took one of the yellow ones and slowly hit into it. Chewing, she raised an eyebrow, "Little sponge cakes!"

With a chuckle, the thirteen year old boy nodded, "That is what they are. The brown ones are chocolate flavoured, by the way."

Taking one of the chocolate ones, Sakura examined it before also taking a bite and happily smiling. Once she had swallowed, she turned to Harry, "You called them sponge fingers, correct?"

Only humming as he took a sip of tea, Harry nodded. Taking one himself, he smiled, "That's right, because they're about the size of fingers, you see." Both girls nodded as it made a certain amount of sense, "They are pretty good though with tea."

Now thoughtful, the Twins communicated silently before turning to Harry, "You are right that they go well with tea, Harry-Chan. Do you know how to make them though?"

Blinking, Harry cocked his head to the side and nodded, "I do, as a matter of fact. I know that Natsumi-Chan learned how to make them from me and usually puts chocolate on them for tea. Aunt Rose said that once Sumire is old enough for somewhat solid food, she'll give her some since they're soft."

Sakura only nodded as she took another bite, 'They are quite soft... perfect for a baby...' Briefly, the image of her holding an infant with mixed Japanese and European features as well as messy black hair and green eyes flashed through her mind, with her feeding such a thing to them. That brought a blush to her face, but she shook it off, "That does sound like it would be a good idea, Harry-Chan."

And she did not need to glance at her sister to know that there was a slight blush on her cheeks from the same image, they were Twins, after all.

It was then that Ume decided to get her mind off what she had just imagined and to sate her curiosity a little, "Harry-Chan? You seemed to recognize this place when the door was opened."

Lips twitching, he nodded some, "I did and for a good reason though I was not there in Spring like it is now." Harry pointed towards the mountains, "This is actually the tea house of the Arashi Clan. I know because I could see those mountains from it and from the exact same angle. Also..." The teen's gaze softened slightly, "There was a plaque just outside the door stating that my Great-Great Grandfather and Grandmother were the ones who donated the money and had this room built."

Reaching over, the Twins placed a hand on his legs and gave him a gentle squeeze. Nothing needed to be said because they understood. Softly smiling herself, Ume looked around and nodded, "Your relatives, they have very good taste, Harry-Chan. I think that I would like to visit them one day and see this personally. Perhaps when the Sakura bloom."

Thinking it over, Harry gave a small nod, "Maybe, I'll see what I can do."

With a small smile, the Twins picked up another sponge finger and ate them with a hum.

An hour later found them leaving the tea house with all three thanking Emma who smiled back and waved them off. Glancing at the Sun, which was sinking towards the horizon, Harry gave a nod, "We should have plenty of time to get back to the meeting spot. Then back to Hogwarts."

Hand in his, Sakura nodded, "Hai, and Harry-Chan?" When he turned to her, she kissed him for a few seconds and pulled away, "Thank you."

Moments later, Ume also gave him a kiss before pulling back, "Hai, thank you for the wonderful date, Harry-Chan. This has been a very good trip."

Cheeks flushed, Harry chuckled a little, "Glad that you both enjoyed yourselves. That is what was important about this after all."

That got him another pair of kisses, though on the cheek before they began to walk away.

Inside the Dragon's Tea Pot, Emma bit her lip to keep from squealing at what she just said, before blinking at a sigh, "Ah, that takes me back..."

Blinking, Emma turned towards the older witch who had been there when Harry and the Twins had arrived, "Madam Marchbanks?"

The elderly witch hummed and turned to her before shaking her head, "Just some old memories." Looking back at Harry, she had a thoughtful look, "Word is that he has had other girls with him on dates this year and they all know of and have no issues with the others."

Lightly blushing, Emma said nothing.

Chuckling, Griselda shook her head, "Ah, that was all I needed for confirmation. Young Harry most certainly takes after his Great-Great Grandfather, Ian Potter. Henry was close though and got it from his father and mother... but neither Fleamont nor James had the touch. Granted, both of them had their eyes on a specific girl from when they were young!"

Furrowing her eyebrows, the younger witch frowned, "Did you know Ian Potter? Great Gran just titters when I ask about him."

A giggle came from Madam Marchbanks as she waved her hand against her face, "I do say that I can understand why she would, that charmer. Ian Potter could very well get into the chastity locked pants of the Devil's own daughter if he wanted to. Lyra as well, for that matter. Ah, the days when I was younger..."

Part of Emma did not want to know, and another really did not want to know. But before she could squash it, one part forced her to speak up, "Does that mean that you knew him...?"

She twitched a bit as the older witch tittered and blushed, "Oh my, yes, that is one way that you could put it. I was one of his examiners as a matter of fact. Nice sixty, but looking like I was in my late thirties, good genes in my family, you see. Well, it was... the September after his graduation. His NEWTs had been sent in and graded when he came to the Ministry to get some paperwork done for a trip to Japan. And, well, he was a fine, handsome lad and..." A few minutes later, she giggled, "... His skill, Morgana herself would have bowed before it." With a sigh, she shook her head, "Best three days of my life that. Of course, then we went to the bedroom for his last night in Britain before he went to Japan, though the kitchen table was never quite the same..."

Meanwhile, Emma was just staring ahead with a blank look on her face that was stating that she was internally screaming.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XIV)

Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

30 May, 1945
Spoiler: The Spirits Of The Black Hills

Zamarad's eyes widened at the scene ahead as she dismounted automatically without thinking of doing so. Several dozen large brown-black shapes were placidly grazing the late-spring sweetgrass in the meadow or drinking from the crystal-clear stream that flowed through it. Several large bulls rolled in a dust wallow in clear joy.
Spoiler: Tatanka In The Meadow

She blinked and suddenly gasped at how massive the American Bison ahead were. To her eyes, they seemed to glow spiritually in colors not visible to humans. She felt the attention of this place, this hidden land, focus on her like a hawk flying over the desert sands of her homeland would focus on the movements of a small mouse far below.

Beside her Delilah took a deep breath, and pulled out her wand, chanting in the throaty guttural sounds of Lakota.
Spoiler: Wakinyan

As she did, Zamarad felt an avian cry of regal majesty and wild power echo through her very being. She looked up, sensing more than seeing a mighty bird, as great as a roc, lightning-crowned with its wings booming like thunder above her, measuring her spirit. She felt pinned in place, frozen in place by a greater Will as the world itself stopped moving.

Delilah finished her invocation, and then pulled a leather pouch on a rawhide thong out from underneath her clothing. Reaching inside, she sprinkled dried sweetgrass and sagebrush over Zamarad's head. Instinctively, the Ifrit flamed up to consume the sacred herbs, and as she did, her clothing flashed to flame to burn from her in drifts of ash blown to coat her body by the winds that the mighty bird spirit generated. Now nude save for the golden ring on its necklace, she felt time resume and knew what she had to do.

She stepped forward into the meadow, feeling the grass rustle under her feet. The feeling terrified her as she sensed that a test lay ahead that could destroy her utterly if it judged her as a threat.

But she trusted Delilah utterly.

Ahead of her the Bison moved as one, forming a corridor to the stream. Their eyes stared into her, measuring her as she walked between them, sensing the leashed power to shatter the ground and split the skies with the thunder of their stampede. Power far greater than she represented.

She continued her walk to the stream, gathering her courage as she traversed the gauntlet. As she did the stream writhed and shimmered, beginning to glow a rainbow color as the sunlight illuminated it.

Reaching a flat rock at the edge, she knelt and looked into the shimmering water as behind her the Bison formed a ring.

Water.

The Element of Death for her kind.

For just as Fire gave her life, and she fed on Earth with the aid of Air, Water was her opposite, her antithesis. Her Nemesis.

Summoning all the courage that she had, she plunged her hands into the stream at an unspoken command. The water was ice-cold, and she whimpered in agony, seeing her hands suddenly flicker and go out to lifeless ash and charred bone underneath the water, then reignite as a surge of power flowed through her.

"Brave, child. I am impressssed" A hissing seductive serpentine voice sounded from the depths and the water exploded in front of her as a great translucent shimmering serpent slithered from it to coil in front of her.
Spoiler: Unk Cekula

The Horned Serpent towered over her, its eyes flickering and shimmering liquidly as the shadow of its mighty horns fell across her. "I have the wissssdom and undersssstanding that you sssseeek, child. Go on and drink and you sssshall be free of the sssspellssss that bind you to that ring. You will be transsssformed into what you sssshould be." Its voice was soothing and seductive and she knew deep in her soul that the words it spoke were true in this place, this time.

The Thunderbird overhead screamed angrily in response as she lifted her cupped hands from the stream, now filled with rainbow-shimmering water.

For long moments she stared into the water's depths, promising so much that she desired, and finally closed her eyes. Tilting her head back, she raised her arms above her head, and then poured the water on her face to flow across her body.

The pain was excruciating, ribbons that were knives of cold agony flaying her as the water trickled over her body, forming patterns in the ash. She gasped for air as she faintly heard the Horned Serpent's voice whisper angrily in her ears. "Cursssse Wakíŋyaŋ for hissss protectionssss on you. You passsss my tesssst..."

She felt the buffalo crowd her now, rubbing and nudging against her as she shivered, marking her further with the dust on their hides. She was turned around by their pressure to now sit with her back to the Serpent.

Her eyes opened and she saw a single white buffalo calf calmly approach her. A blink of her eyes and she was now a beautiful young woman with copper skin and high cheekbones, long blue-black hair parted in the middle and braided on the sides, and eyes the liquid dark brown of the bison. She was dressed in a snow-white buckskin robe. with elaborate bead-work and held in her hands a carved unlit wooden pipe with feathers attached at both ends.
Spoiler: White Buffalo Woman

The woman sat before her and offered her the pipe. Zamarad numbly noted that the feathers on it shone and flashed with lightnings like those of the Thunderbird hovering overhead, and the serpentine carvings running down its length were identical to the scales of the Horned Serpent quietly hissing behind her. The smell of the sweetgrass and herbs that the buffalo had been eating tickled her nose as she took the pipe, seeing that it was already loaded with herbs and tobacco ready for the touch of her Fire to burn in savory, cleansing smoke.

The young woman gave her a gentle, compassionate smile that warmed her heart and made the lingering agonies of the Water that she had been tested by fade into perfectly centered and cleansed readiness.

-----------------------------------

The Thunderbird overhead that Delilah had summoned.

Air.

Looking at it, now fully visible and hovering protectively over her head; she was unsurprised to see that it had the same leaf-green eyes that Delilah Naomi de Breuil had.

-----------------------------------

The Horned Serpent at her back, hissing and muttering to itself.

Water.

She sensed now that what was present here was a fraction of what was buried and bound underneath these hills. A presence that Delilah was Guardian of to insure that it would not escape its bindings.

-----------------------------------

The Buffalo standing silently watchful with their eyes intent upon her.

Earth.

As she watched, a sweetgrass plant grew from soil fertilized by their dung to renew the life that had been eaten to give them nutrition, in an endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

-----------------------------------

Herself.

Zamarad aibnat Alnaar.

Jinn Daughter of Emir Rayhan bin Alnaar and Periezade Fakhoury.

Fire.

Born of a epic journey in the service of his father's ruler by her sire. Her mother had been raised overlooking the Middle Sea in a city whose history stretched back into the distant past and whose family had lived there almost as long, since the time when it was a fishing village next to a temple complex binding a entity of darkness and nightmares.

Conceived on a night of flaming passion between a now grown in power and wisdom Emir of the Ifrit and his beloved wife, the daughter of a Djinn Sultan, in their tent pitched in the heart of the Sea of Sand as they tended to their Guardianship, traveling from place to place to insure all was properly kept.

Raised as the baby of her family, the youngest one who was prophesied to be won by a hero of the Children of Adam in exchange for a crown of Emerald to match the earrings that her father had given her mother when they first met. Emerald that had given her name to herself.

Captured by a mage using the knowledge of the weaknesses of the jinn and forced to obey his cruel whims to lead him to a place of power that could potentially tip the balance of the greatest war in history.

Rescued by a fellow spirit, the child of artifice and ingenuity, of the sheer potential that the Children of Adam had for good and for ill. A young-seeming woman that -- she realized with shock -- had been born on the same day, the same hour, to a witch who mourned her mistakes and the heartbreak that she had given a warrior of the Light unknowingly. For just as she had drawn her first breath to fill the birthing-chamber with her cry, so too, Delilah had as her revolver body formed before her mother's astonished eyes.

A fellow spirit that she had fallen in love with, and who even now stood in grave hidden danger that she could not face alone. But Delilah would not stand alone against the darkness any more.

Never alone.

With that silent solemn promise to the spirits gathered in witness, the sagegrass and tobacco in the pipe ignited at her will as she raised the pipe in both hands to the Spirits of the Black Hills.

"Now See, Zamarad abnatu Alnaar," White Buffalo Woman spoke to her in a quiet voice that brooked no disobedience, "See and learn the Wisdom that you need, to do what you must do in service to the Light, not what you desire to do of your own wishes and whims."

With those words, Zamarad placed the pipe to her lips, and breathed in the smoke.

She Saw.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

As the Sun reached the horizon, bathing the Scottish countryside in reds and oranges, the carriage gently rocked underneath them. This time, it is as a bit more crowded than it had been on the trip to Hogsmeade as Fubuki and Yuudachi joined them for the trip back to Hogwarts. Thankfully, Nagato was able to have Hoppou in her lap with the little Abyssal dozing a little as Yuudachi sat in Fubuki's lap with a slight grin on her face. Chuckling at that, and missing the thoughtful look on the Twins' faces, Harry smiled a bit, "This was a great day."

Cuddled up into his side, Ume hummed happily even as she looked out over the countryside, "Hai, it certainly was." Placing her head on his shoulder, she sighed, "Most certainly."

On Harry's other side, Sakura nodded in agreement as she also placed her head on the thirteen year old boy's shoulder. Like her sister, she was not very tired despite all that they had done. As ghosts, they had gone a long time without rest, and as Installations, they could do much the same if they wished. Hence, them just enjoying the calm and smiling as they felt the chill, evening breeze brush against them, 'And hopefully this is just the first of many such days...'

Meanwhile the boy in question unconsciously placed his arms around the Twins making their smiles brighten as he talked with Yuudachi and Fubuki, "So, the two of you got everything, Fubuki-Nee? Yuudachi-Nee?"

Both Destroyers nodded as Fubuki spoke for the two of them, her arms around Yuudachi's midsection, "Hai, we did get everything that we needed and then some."

The Shiratsuyu Destroyer brightly smiled, "And we got plenty of treats at Honeydukes for the kids, Poi! And also ice cream in bulk at Fortescue's Hogsmeade Branch. Including Raspberry swirl! They're going to be really happy about that... and so are Ooyodo-San and Niiyodo-San!"

Chuckling, Nagato gave a nod as she remembered that her own holds were filled with orders from said places, "I would expect so. And you as well as the other Destroyers should be happy with the ice cream as they're made with real cream and not just milk. It's good that we can buy in bulk and relatively cheaply."

Even as Yuudachi nodded in agreement, Fubuki frowned a little, "I wonder though..."

Turning, the blonde shipgirl blinked, "Wonder about what, Fubuki-Chan?"

Fubuki furrowed her eyebrows and gestured with one hand, "Well, take the Cauldron cakes." Seeing the looks, she returned the hand, and the arm, to where it had been around Yuudachi's stomach, "They're made by a Wizarding company named Qizilbash Quality Confectionary, right?" At their nods, the Destroyer continued, "Except they make them in Pakistan. So how do they get them all the way to Britain in bulk and in the numbers that they do."

Now thoughtful herself, Nagato frowned, "That... is a very good question. It is unlikely that they ship them overland in any great numbers, so one would assume that they use the ocean like others. But... not how."

Harry chuckled a little and when they looked at him, he gave a shrug, "Mostly by shipping them up the Red Sea, through the Ptolemaic Canals, and eventually through the Med to Europe."

Eyebrows furrowing, Fubuki frowned, "Ptolemaic Canals? As in the Ancient Egyptians? And they don't use the Suez?"

Shaking his head the thirteen year old wizard hummed, "Yes to the first, no to the second." Upon seeing the interest, he continued, "It was mentioned, briefly, when we had to do some homework on a goblin rebellion back in the 1640s when the Ottoman Magical Government was harshly taxing the goblins using it due to a previous incident which set them off... and it did not end well for the goblins that were in Egypt as well as Greece. Especially when they killed one of the magical sons of the Sultan who was there to negotiate an end to the rebellion because he oversaw the execution of a number of goblins after they were captured ransacking a human village. They sent back his head to his father and, well... the Ottomans a few years later stated that they no longer had any problems with the goblins. And also why the goblins concentrated themselves in Western Europe."

Everyone of the others there grimaced as they could easily read between the lines at what happened. Rather than stick anymore on that, Nagato cleared her throat, "So leaving that aside... what can you tell us about the canals?"

With a blink, Harry started a bit, "Uh, right! Anyways, I sort of got interested in it because, well, you know?" The obvious amusement everyone got from it made him blush slightly, "Um, so the canal is really old. As in, Darius the Great, a King of Persia finished the first one. Later, Ptolemy the Second extended it when the Bitter Lakes, a body of saltwater the original canal connected to, was cut off from the Red Sea by the land rising. It was used by the Egyptians with Cleopatra using it to sail on, and later the Romans improved on it. For the next few hundred years it was used until a Sultan buried portions to stop a rebellion from getting support. For the most part, it stayed buried until the Ottomans dug it up in 1560 using magic. Because of how magical ingredients have a general short shelf life, or did back then, they couldn't use the spice route for them and they could get a lot of money through taxation between further east and Europe."

Tilting her head, Hoppou frowned though she was listening closely as it interested her, "But Big Brother, you said there were two canals. What about the second?"

Lips twitching into a smile, Harry shrugged, "The Second was built with ICW funds in the 1820s to allow for bigger ships to pass through with cargo. It is considered something of a wonder of the magical world as you have inscribed stones along either side the size of houses that magically block sand from burying the canals while the bottoms of the waterways have other stones with spells to keep them from clear. The first canal is about a hundred feet wide and fifty feet deep, and the second is two hundred feet wide and just as deep. Enough to let sailing ships pass through and smaller ones. All along it there's charms to keep non-magicals from seeing it or knowing that it is there and a little distance from where it attaches to the Nile, there's a lake where ships can wait for nightfall to slip past sight and into the Mediterranean." He frowned a bit, "There's also a spell that apparently hides the incoming freshwater or transforms it into saltwater so no one notices on the other end."

Interested, Nagato frowned, "And these canals still exist? As well as in operation?" At the nod, she hummed, "Interesting and useful to know."

Soon enough, the conversation turns to other things and the castle begins to loom above them. As they got off, Harry remembered an idea he had and turned to his adoptive mother with an unsure smile, "Um, Mum? I got something to do with Ume-Chan and Sakura-Chan. It should only be a few minutes..."

He glanced at where the time turner was and Nagato smiled slightly as she understood what was unsaid, "Of course, just don't take too long though."

A smile on his face, Harry gave a nod before he grasped the confused and lost Ume's and Sakura's hands and led them away. It took the two a few moments to shake off their confusion and to look at Harry with frowns, "Harry-Chan? What are you doing?"

Chuckling, the thirteen year old flashed them a smile, "Something that I know that the two of you will enjoy."

If anything though, that only made the Twins more confused. But they allowed him to keep pulling them along until they reached a rocky overhang that was just out of sight of anyone around. It took the two of them a few moments, but they recognized it as one of the collapsed secret passages. At sometime in the past, the roof had fallen in and lead to it leading close to the main door to the castle rather than inside.

Raising an eyebrow, Ume looked at him, "Harry-Chan, what are we doing here?"

Harry had an amused look on his face as he pulled out his time turner, "It's a surprise~" At their frowns, he chuckled a little, "Not convinced, huh? Trust me, you'll love it." Sharing a look, Ume and Sakura nodded before lowering their heads to allow for Harry to slip the chain around them. Mumbling to himself, the teenage wizard nodded, "Three hours should be more than enough."

With a flick of his fingers, time began to rewind around them as the Twins watched in wide eyed curiosity. They could see the odd person rushing backwards and the Sun, which had been setting, rising back up into the sky. Then the backwards movement slowed before stopping with Harry nodding. Curious, Ume looked towards him, "Now what?"

A smirk on his face, Harry held up a hand, "You two wait here for..." Pausing, a thought occurred to him and he cleared his throat, "Uh, Dipsy? Are you there?"

Out of nowhere, a house elf appeared, "Dipsy is here, though Dipsy is confused as to why Mister Harry Potter Sir would be asking for him. Because students don't normally."

Just crouching down, Harry smiled at the house elf, "That's because I need a little help, Dipsy. Could you bring me a small basket of apples and get some hay ready in the clearing for me to use?"

Eyes wide, the house elf vanished before Ume and Sakura frowned due to being lost. Obviously, Harry wanted to show or do something, but what? Just the same though, they did trust him and simply waited five minutes for the house elf to return with a basket, "Here you go, Mister Harry Potter Sir, a basket with some apples. Dipsy already has the hay in place, Sir, and also added some food if you bes hungry."

Lips curling, the black haired wizard bowed slightly, "Thank you, Dipsy. I really appreciate this." Eyes wide, Dipsy let out a small squeak before vanishing. Turning, Harry pulled out his Invisibility Cloak which he held out, "Here, its not too far, but we shouldn't be seen."

Despite their confusion, the Twins went along with it and helped put the cloak over themselves and Harry. It was certainly not because they were pressed against him due to how little room there was for two sixteen year old girls and one thirteen year old boy to hide under. Anyone thinking otherwise would be a liar.

Later, that night, Harry would likely be cursing his hormones yet again and puberty as a whole. But... right now, it felt nice. He had his arms around the waists of the Twins while the scents of their shampoo, sakura blossom and ume blossom, mingled in his nose. Not to mention the warmth of their bodies against his among other things. Part of him was disappointed when they reached the clearing in question and the invisibility cloak came off.

With a nod as he looked around, Harry smiled, "Just one last thing to do..." It was less than five minutes that found the hay strewn around the clearing in piles, "And there we go, they shouldn't be long now."

Arms crossed over their chests, the Twins frowned at him, "Okay, Harry-Chan, we let you have your fun. What is it that you have planned?"

Humming, there was a twinkle in Harry's eyes before something caught his eye. Smirking a little, he gestured towards the clearing, "Well, it was mainly because I thought that you might want to meet some friends of mine and special residents of the Forbidden Forest... who are arriving now."

Both Ume and Sakura blinked and turned only to gasp at the sight that met them as a Unicorn stallion walked into the clearing, his coat glowing nearly white under the late afternoon Sun, "Oh... by the Kami..."

The Unicorn glanced at them, as if weighing their very souls... but then snorted and walked to some of the hay and began to eat. Other Unicorns seemed to fade into existence from the shadows under the tree branches and walk into the clearing as the two stunned, former Hitobashira watched with wide eyed wonder on their faces. Mares, one or two of whom looked pregnant and about to foal, as well as foals just days or weeks old, their coats a burnished gold. Other younglings, just a few years old with silver fur, also walked with the herd into the clearing to eat the food there.

Simply watching the sight before them on wonder and awe, neither of the Twins noticed Harry smile at them before reaching into the basket. A few minutes later, he tapped them on their shoulders and made them look away from the wondrous sight. His voice soft, he smiled at them, "Beautiful, aren't they?"

Just swallowing, Ume and Sakura nodded, "Hai... they are. The descriptions on books and scrolls don't do them justice. They're... they're so pure." Rather than say anything, Harry simply hummed in agreement and they stood there for a few seconds. That was, until he poked them and held out two paper bags, which they took curiously and looked inside, "Sliced apples?"

It took everything for him not to grin, especially a few seconds later at their expressions as his next words registered, "Turns out that they absolutely love apples."

Frozen, the Twins stared at him in utter disbelief and then at the bag. Swallowing, Sakura shook a bit, her voice filled with emotion, "You mean... you mean that we could... feed them?"

Softly smiling, Harry nodded, "That's correct, Sakura-Chan. You're allowed to feed them and, trust me, they'll let you... both of you, do so." Gently, he placed his hands on their shoulders, "Go ahead."

Unsure, they looked into his eyes and then back at the herd. They could see that some of those there were watching them and the bags that they held. Shaking a bit, they took a few steps forward and the stallion from before made his way over to their. When he reached them, he stopped and they looked into his eyes. There was intelligence, if not of the human kind, and wisdom forged over decades of leading his herd. The mind behind those eyes seemed to examine them... and then softened.

Hands shaking, the two girls reached into their bag and pulled out a slice of apple each. The stallion, gently, took the slice from Ume and chewed it with a crunch before doing the same for Sakura. Both Twins brought up their hands and held them just above the stallion's snout, pausing as they were unsure.

But then, the stallion moved his head forward and nuzzled their hands with a snort before taking a step and nuzzling both girls who gasped in pure and utter joy.

Neither girl at first felt the tears running down their faces as their hands softly caressed the Unicorn's muscled neck, his fur softer and smoother than the finest of silks. And then, silently crying, they buried their faces in his mane while hugging him. Part of them had caught sight of Harry taking pictures, likely for memory's sake, but they did not care in that moment. Because in this moment, they felt everything fall away, as if they had been gently washed of all their darkness.

A nudge from behind made Sakura turn to find a mare there. Said Unicorn looked at her before nuzzling her face and gently licking the tears that were there away. That action caused the former Hitobashira to gasp a bit before another sob broke free. And out of the corner of her eye, she could see that another mare was doing much the same with her Twin. Slowly, Sakura pulled out an apple slice which the mare took making her smile through her tears.

For what seemed like hours, the two fed the unicorns that came up, hugging and caressing them. Said beings would return such with nuzzles and licks. They did spot Harry feeding one mare, who had a scar on her side, some apple as well as a yearling. It took them only seconds to realize that this must be the Unicorn that Harry had saved in his First Year as well as her foal.

Eventually though, all their apples were gone and the unicorns went back to grazing... except for the stallion, who nudged them, much to their confusion. Glancing at her sister, Ume shook her head, "I'm sorry, but... we don't have any more apples on us right now."

A chuckle made them turn to find Harry watching them with a smile even as he scratched the mane of a young foal, a sight that made the two girls' cheeks heat up a little, "It's not the apples that he wants, Ume-Chan, not right now, anyways."

Confused, Sakura shared a look with her sister before turning back to Harry, "It's... not?" At the shake of his head, she frowned, "But... what does he want now?"

Humming, the thirteen year old looked at the stallion and cupped his chin, "Hmm... unless I'm wrong, I think he wants the two of you to get on his back and ride him for a little bit."

Much to his amusement, the jaws of the two girls dropped at that pronouncement. It took a few moments for them to say something, "B-but I thought that only a pure maiden was able to ride one! And... and we're..."

Eyebrow raised, Harry gave them a look before comment in a dry tone, "Are you trying to tell me that you're not pure? Because having the unicorns come up to both of you and one offering a ride says much the opposite." His expression softening, he walked over, "Go ahead, Ume-Chan, Sakura-Chan."

Several moments passed as they looked at him before turning to the stallion. With a swallow, their voices nearly a whisper, they turned back to Harry, "Could you help us?"

The only thing that Harry did was smile.

Not even three minutes later found the two girls with their faces filled with utter rapturous joy and wonder as they sat on the back of the Unicorn Stallion as it walked through the field. Off to the side, Harry grinned as he brought up the camera and took another picture of the Twins as they rode the Unicorn, 'I think that Akiyama will enjoy these photographs quite a bit...'

When they finally get off the Unicorn, the two look somehow both so happy and yet sad that Harry felt his own heart hurt for them. But they calmly smile and walk away from the stallion until they reach Harry. Gently, but tightly, they embrace him with sniffles, "Thank you..."

Pulling back just a bit, Sakura and Ume share a look and smile before the first puts her hand behind Harry's head and pulls him into a kiss. Something that is repeated by Ume moments after she pulls back. At the end, the thirteen year old looks like his brain just got fried with how he is blinking owlishly, "Um... wow..."

Lips twitching, the two manage to smother their giggles before leaning into him with a sigh, "Thank you, Harry-Chan. Can... can we stay here for a bit longer?"

Harry simply nods and the three soon sit against a tree, Ume and Sakura leaning against him as he strokes their hair. Seeing their eyes partially closed, he chuckled a bit, "Tired?" Both girls just murmur and he kisses the top of their heads, "Then go ahead and have a small nap."

Closing their eyes, the two do exactly that we the late spring Sun shines down on them and the breeze caresses them while the unicorns nearby graze...
_______________________________________________________________

Standing in front of the window looking out over the grounds of the castle, Ume and Sakura took a deep breath before letting it out as a happy sigh. Both of them had not been quite sure what to expect from the trip after all, especially as they had never been as far from home as they currently were. And yet? They were happy with it.

Just the sight of Hogwarts and seeing the inside would have made the trip worth it to them. A magical school, an actual magical school! One that they were able to see and experience themselves. To say that was enough, because it was an actual dream come true, was putting it mildly.

Yet everything built on that making this weekend one that they were certain that they would remember for the rest of their lives. The Quidditch game, another first as their parents would not take them to one. Partially out of "Shame" for them not having magic. And partially because they disliked the game for being "Too western". But Harry brought them to one, their first, and he was the star seeker. One who won the game and a trophy cup!

Though, yes, the Twins understood that many would not see it special because it was a school trophy, to them it was special just the same.

And then came the party, oh the party! One which they had never even imagined that they could have experience. Where they could, for once, be more like the teenage girls that they appeared as and always wanted to be. The two had drank Butterbeer, which their parents would have hated and despised seeing them do, as well as eating various snacks. That was followed up by dancing with Harry most of the night. Even now, the memory made them lightly flush and wish to do it again. Never before had they laughed as much as they had during the party. Not even that one person, McLaggen, had been anymore than a dim spot. Especially when Harry stood up for the two of them, which had caused them hearts... well, power plants, to flutter in a very nice way. And which made sure that they would likely be having more dreams of Harry as a Shogun and them as his wives for some time to come.

As the next day began, the two found themselves going to a magical village, Hogsmeade!

In the village they had even more fun with the young man who captured their hearts. First, he had taken them to a lovely little teahouse where they enjoyed a British tea. Both of them enjoying the black tea that they had drunk as well as the carrot cake. And better was the company as Harry had chatted and laughed with them.

Once their meal was done and they left, they explored the village itself. The trip to the clothing store, Gladrags, was excellent. After all, they found a number of things for themselves that were hard to find back home which was a relief due to their family curse, as it were. With Harry being the perfect gentleman, neither asking what they were buying and by being at the other end of the store. They were quite prepared to pay for their purchases, but were surprised when the employee told them that Harry stated he would and called him over once they were all bagged and put away. And, the thirteen year old had done so, much to their astonishment.

Which was the other thing that flustered them. Like a true gentleman, he paid for what they wished during the day in the village. From the stale loaf that they fed to the ducks, a simple pleasure they enjoyed, to meals, and clothes. The two could still remember the sweet, yet tart, taste of the Elderflower cordial among other things which they enjoyed.

They had even picked up a few bottles of the drink to have back home and to share with their family as was custom.

After a lovely lunch and a walk through a park in full flower, which they adored with so many new flowers, the Twins were taken back to the teahouse. There, they enjoyed another new tea, which somewhat fascinated them with the spices used in it. But the room, that reminded them of home. And already they were planning on having a tea ceremony at their family compound with Harry as a guest. In their eyes, it was practically the best way to end the trip...

But then it turned out that Harry was not quite finished.

Soon after returning to Hogwarts, the young man had taken them aside and used his time turner to bring them back three hours to their confusion. After all, what reason could he have for such? It confused them even as it seemed he was amused. As if he knew something that they did not. Something that soon became apparent shortly after when they found his surprise.

Unicorns...

An entire herd of unicorns.

Even in Japan they had heard of the beings, how pure they were. It had brought the Twins to tears that they were able to see such purity in their existence. After all, they were the result of something impure, and Yuurei were anything but pure, even in their new lives and existences. Which is why they were so shocked when Harry had held out a bag of cut apples to them both to feed the unicorns with. They were positive that the pure beings in front of them would not allow it, and yet... the stallion, the herd's protector, came over and took that first one, a dam broke in them before it was shattered and overwhelmed by him nuzzling them and the mares coming up to do the same as well as gently lick the tears they shed away.

As if that was not enough, they were given permission by the stallion to ride upon his back.

It went without saying that picture they would take and place in their office with a copy in their internal base. And it was a memory that they knew they would always remember for the rest of their existence. No matter how long that would be, it would remain as bright and pure as it was that day. A balm for their souls.

The experience also had another effect. One that made them fall even more in love with Harry. That he would bring them to such a place, and help make such a thing possible... even now, they knew that if the choice had not been made before, it was now. And onwards to eternity, they would be thankful to him for what he did.

This trip... was the greatest experience in their lives, wonderful and one that would always be there in their memories.

Hearing footsteps, they turned and smiled as the young man that they had been thinking about walked up. Looking out the window at the grounds, he smiled before turning to them with a sigh, "You're going to be heading back in a few minutes."

Slowly, the Twins nodded with a smile, which was slightly tinged with sadness itself, "Hai, we are."

Unsure, Harry scratched his cheek, "Um, I would like to say that hopefully you enjoyed yourselves, but... I think that I can guess.

Eyes twinkling, Sakura nodded, "Perhaps." Walking over, her expression softened as she hugged him, soon joined by her sister, "This weekend has been most wonderful, Harry-Chan. More so than we could have ever expected."

Nodding against him, Ume sighed, her breath tickling his ear, "Sakura-Nee is right, Harry-Chan. We'll never forget this weekend. For as long as our soul will exist, we will remember. Thank you..."

Gently, she gave him a kiss followed by Sakura before the two pulled back, speaking as one, "We'll see you in a short time, Harry-Chan. Until then... be safe."

This time, Harry was the one to pull them into a hug and kiss them, "I will. See you in two weeks."

Happily smiling, Ume and Sakura stepped back and grasped the portkey and waved as Harry returned it until the portkey activated and they were whisked off.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XV)

??????????

9th Century BCE

Zamarad found herself outside a tent pitched on a narrow peninsula of land extending out into black briny waters in the middle of a darkened camp.

As she looked around, she heard the crackle of jinn voices from inside the tent.

As she walked toward the tent's entrance, a bolt of lightning from an approaching storm split the skies. She froze in terrified shock at the insignia visible on the war banner in the front in the flash of light in the darkness.
Spoiler: A Dark Council Of War...

A war banner formed by the flayed skin of a still-living human whose soul was bound into it.

Iblīs

She hastily shrank back into the shadows, and circled behind the tent, still hearing the crackle of voices.

The area was pitch dark and she did not dare risk a light. she reached out to the tent and traced the fabric with her fingertips to guide her. Suddenly she stopped and moved her hand back slightly, then her eyes narrowed as she found a seam that was already coming apart.

Her eyes flamed in the darkness and she concentrated, using her flame to burn away the few cords holding the two strips of leather together.

They parted and a dim light shone as she bent to the crack and peeked inside with one eye.

A half dozen Shayāṭīn stood arguing around a table. Zamarad's eyes were caught by the map there, showing this peninsula with a scattering of black tokens blocking off an encirclement of more numerous white tokens marked with a blue six-pointed star composed of interlaced identical triangles.

The Seal of Solomon.

Her eyes were then caught by a small carved cedarwood jewelry coffer sitting on the map. The chest glimmered with magical wards and hexes, that slowly writhed through the engravings like a serpent of flame

"What do we do now? You said that you had a foolproof plan!" The largest of the Shayṭān shook his fist at another. Zamarad shuddered in terror, for he outstripped her power as a burning city outstripped a bonfire.

"We fight the children of mud and their milksap servants! We shall win, of course, for we are superior to these insects!" A second snarled.

A third one spoke. "Perhaps, but should they prove the stronger they shall regain Yahalom and Bareket. This would undo the work we have done to free the Dark Master!" He pointed at the map with a taloned finger. "We must act!"

A fourth Shayṭān, much weaker than the others but far more cunning and cruel, smirked and spoke ingratiatingly. "We can do both. We have a fishing boat that the storm blew ashore and some slaves to work it. One of us departs with Yahalom and Bareket to keep them out of the hands of these children of mud. The rest of us and the lessers who follow us fight and feast on their entrails once we prevail. But first, a Great Work."

The first voice snarled. "We already tried that and Sulaymān ibn Dāwūd resisted us. His destiny is too strong!"

The fourth gave a vicious shark-like smile. "He may be, but his kingdom is not. And what good is a king with no kingdom?"

Evil laughter sounded. "Indeed. Once we cast the Great Work, then depart with our prizes Gaumâta! The Dark Master will be freed to lead us to our rightful domination! One way or another!"

Gaumâta nodded and scooped up the coffer in his taloned hand. "I shall. The Dark Master shill rise once more."

Zamarad gasped as she watched them link taloned hands and began to summon their power to twist destiny.

As the energies built inside she released the tent fabric and stepped backward. She could hear the whispers calling for her to join them, to cast off the shackles of the Law and make Delilah her pet forevermore as was her right as a Child of Smokeless Fire.

She turned and began to run wildly, blindly, away from what was about to happen.

Away from the whispers of Iblis tempting her.

Flattering her with all the knowledge Iblis had of her.

Promising her her deepest darkest desires to enjoy unchecked.

Whispering for that moment of inattention, that moment of weakness, that would cause her to Fall, to change from a shining emerald flame into an entity of Iblis' Dark Fire.

As the power reached its crescendo, a massive bolt of lightning struck the camp. The flash blinded Zamarad and the thunder knocked her senseless.

--------------------------------------------

Susa, Persia, Achaemenid Empire

450 BCE
Spoiler: ...A Scheme Of Revenge...

Zamarad woke suddenly. The hallway that she found herself in was opulent with exotic blue and gold tile bas-reliefs showing a procession of human-headed sphinxes. The torch that she was manifesting herself in had the familiar smoky, tangy bite of the cedar wood from her mother's homeland of Lebanon.

A soft footstep sounded and she looked to see a beautiful dark-haired young woman with a golden tiara on her head, gold sandals on her henna-dyed feet and white robes of fine linen with gold embroidery.

Zamarad's eyes narrowed and she tried to manifest, but realized that whatever power was showing her this scene was preventing her from doing so. Sighing, she leaped from torch to torch after the young lady.

She reached a set of cedarwood doors carved with mythological beasts and at her entrance, the door guards opened them for her and bowed low. Beyond was a massive throne room

Zamarad followed, leaping to a hanging bronze brazier that briefly flared up as she inhabited it. Her eyes scanned the room as the regal young lady approached the throne. She knelt to touch the outstretched tip of the royal scepter held in the hand of a bearded man with a golden crown fashioned in the form of a castle wall.

"{What is it Queen Hadassah? Even to half of the kingdom, I shall grant it!}" The king asked the young woman.

Hadassah spoke demurely, "{If it pleases the King, let he along with his Chief Minister Haman come to the banquet which I have prepared}"
Spoiler: Hadassah And Haman


Zamarad gasped as 'Haman' entered the throne room at the king's request. To the humans, he appeared as a middle-aged bureaucrat with a bit of a pot belly, a curled blue-black beard in ringlets, and rich robes.

But she saw what was lurking under his skin in the depths of his dark, almost black eyes.

The Shayṭān that the others had called Gaumâta was speaking through him.

"{My King, you requested my presence?}" He said unctuously, and she noticed the eyes of one of the court mages sharpen.

"{Yes, we are to dine with the Queen tonight, for she has prepared a feast for us!}" Something dark and resentful flickered in Haman's eyes as the disguised Shayṭān followed the king and his other court officials, mages, and priests to attend the banquet.

Zamarad followed along the line of torches, finally watching the banquet as a silent observer while consuming the smoky, tangy deliciousness of the cedarwood torches whose smoke was keeping insects away.

"{Now what shall I grant you, my Queen? Even to half the kingdom, shall it be done!}" The king spoke as he ran his fingers through the hair of the young woman who knelt before him.

"{Merely that I shall host another banquet for you and Haman privately, My King. I shall tell you my desire then.}" Hadassah responded humbly as the party broke up

Zamarad frowned to herself as she followed 'Haman' through the streets back to his house in the flame of his torchbearer. He was much weaker than she had seen him before.

Presently she leapt inside his house to an oil lamp. Waiting for him was a female Shayṭān and ten younger ones.

"{What news, Father?}" The oldest son spoke.

"{Our plans proceed apace, my kindred. I have ingratiated myself with that jumped up insect to become his chief councilor and soon will use him to destroy the Jewish remnant here to take revenge upon them for the Great Binding.}" Haman snarled. "{Curse my immersion in the Water of Death as I fled from our setback there! I still have not learned the location of the ten other jewels, save that were captured in the sack of the Temple and that then the Babylonians were overthrown by this other tribe of dung beetles. Still we will be allowed to loot their property if they have them hidden, and put their wise men to delectable torture to find out their secrets. You have prepared the brazen pole to impale them to put them to the question?}"

"{Indeed, all is ready, we just await the order to act, Father.}" They nodded.

"{Go and rest, tomorrow I speak with the chief worm at this private banquet!}" The others left, and Haman walked to a wooden chest.
Spoiler: ...And Two Stolen Gems

Opening it, he reached inside and pulled out the enchanted coffer from earlier. "{Soon...very soon....}" He hissed as he disarmed the magical traps. Zamarad strained to look inside as the Shayṭān opened the lock.

Her emerald eyes widened in shock at the sight of two magnificent flawless jewels inside. One was a brilliant pale pink and transparent diamond, shining with an inner light from its inch-long oval body. The other was a brilliant forest green transparent square emerald filled with the promise of life and renewal in its gleams.

With that she gasped as she felt herself falling endlessly into the twin gems.....

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Waving to Ume and Sakura as the two headed off to their quarters, as well as Nagato and Hoppou, Fubuki smiled before stretching, "Ah, that was a good trip."

Lips curled into a smile of her own, Yuudachi nodded in agreement, "It really was, Poi! And we got so much stuff."

Only nodding, the other Destroyer hummed in agreement as they made their way through the tunnels before exiting them. As they walked, Fubuki noticed at Yuudachi was chewing her lip a little and raised an eyebrow, "Yuudachi-Chan? What's wrong?"

Poking her fingers together, Yuudachi pouted, "It's about what you said, Fubuki-Chan. Are you really not going to do 'that' with me tonight?"

Eyebrow twitching, Fubuki chuckled weakly, 'That is what is bothering you, Yuudachi-Chan? I mean, really?!' Outwardly, she scratched her cheek, "Well, you shouldn't tease me like you were."

The blonde Destroyer just frowned, "But it's true, Fubuki-Chan! You are like a good Kaa-San to them." Skipping ahead of her, Yuudachi shook her head, "You take care of them like a real parent. Which they need, Poi!"

Sighing, Fubuki tilted her head back and looked at the clouds above, "I... They deserve to have a good life now what with how rough theirs was. All of them, and I just... I just want to give them the life that they deserve and should have."

Bemused, Yuudachi poked her, "Hai, and what is it that a parent wants to do for their children? Face it, Fubuki-Chan, you've become a Kaa-San."

Not answering, the brown haired of the two considered the words before her expression softened, "Maybe that is what a parent would want for their children. But... besides, you know..."

A scowl on her lips, Yuudachi growled a little, "Sheo... that bastard gave you a complex, didn't he, Poi! All his teasing about being a Mother! I'm going to give him a nightmare party!"

Moments later, a hand came down on her head in a chop as Fubuki smiled, "Stop that." As a pouting Yuudachi rubbed her head, the Destroyer hummed, "But besides that... I don't really feel all that comfortable being their Kaa-San. After all, they had parents, even if they're dead now." Reaching out, she grabbed her friend's lips before she could say a word, "And I know that you are about to mention Harry-Chan as well as Nagato-San. That is sort of different."

Pulling away the hand in question, the blonde raised an eyebrow, "How so, Poi? You've basically adopted them into your family, just like Nagato-San did with Harry-Chan."

Lips twitching, Fubuki shook her head, "Perhaps, but... Harry-Chan made the decision to call Nagato-San 'Mum'. None of them have called me that any time since we brought them to Yokosuka. So they don't think of me that way." Chuckling, she gave her friend a grin, "Just the same, I'm going to give them, all of them, the childhood that they deserve."

To her surprise, Yuudachi pulled her into a tight hug, "You're a good person, Fubuki-Chan." Kissing her fellow Destroyer on the cheek, she nodded, "A very good person, and I'm glad to know you."

Lightly blushing, especially with how tight the hug was, Fubuki looked away though she had a smile on her face, "Thanks, Yuudachi-Chan." Reaching over, she took the other Destroyer's hand in hers, "And I'm glad to have you, Mutsuki-Chan, Kisaragi-Chan, and Kana-Chan with me."

Now it was the Nightmare of the Solomons' turn to blush a little, but she squeezed Fubuki's hand back, "You're welcome Poi. Though with Kana-Chan... does that mean...?"

Fubuki chuckled a little and shrugged, "It depends on her, Yuudachi-Chan." Chewing her lip, she smiled a bit, "Her Honmei Choco was good, though I don't think that she realizes that I knew the whole time. And, well... Kana-Chan is very cute."

Just nodding, Yuudachi thrust her fist into the air, "And is very cuddly with great pillows, Poi!"

Once again, the other Destroyer brought her free hand down on Yuudachi's head with a chop, "Yuudachi-Chan..." Getting a laugh back, Fubuki shook her head in amusement as their fingers entwined with each other. She really did consider herself lucky to have the others in her life, and knew that they thought the same. Looking out at the harbour, Fubuki could just make out the outline of her namesake floating at her pier. A small, black speck fluttering from mast towards the smokestack and vanishing, "They're going to be launching the Mutsuki in a couple of months."

With a hum, Yuudachi nodded, "Hai, Mutsuki-Chan is really excited to see her daughter, Poi." A soft, happy sigh escaped from the Destroyer as she shook her head, "And next year, the JS Yuudachi will also launch. My own daughter... and this time, I'll be there to see her kiss the sea for the first time."

Simply squeezing her friend's hand, Fubuki nodded, "Hai, same here."

Both of them lapsed into silence as they made their way through the naval base. Due to the time difference between Britain and Japan, while it was early morning there, it was getting on into the evening in Yokosuka. Part of Fubuki wondered what the Yokai children were doing before she shook it off as they still needed to drop some of the items that they had in their holds off at the small warehouse where Niiyodo as well as others were waiting.

It was not a very big warehouse, mostly used for smaller items that the base needed stockpiled for the most part. But it had the available space needed for Niiyodo's small store and, as they walked in, they could see the area in question with the Light Cruiser along with Mamiya, and Hinata in her true form. Neither of the Destroyers even blinked at the sight of the Jorogumo who turned towards them and waved, "Good evening, Fubuki-San, Yuudachi-San."

The two simply bowed back as they greeted her in return as well as the others. Turning to Niiyodo, Yuudachi gave a small smile, "We have the items that you sent for, Poi."

Pulling out a clipboard, Niiyodo smiled back, "Good to hear, Yuudachi-Chan."

With a hum, Fubuki walked over to a nearby pallet and rolled her shoulders before she began to pull out ten gallon bucket after ten gallon bucket until there was several stacks of them on the pallets before the three of them, "Here's the ice cream that you ordered from Fortescues. All nice and cold as asked for."

Her eyes wide, Hinata walked over along with Mamiya before the Yokai shipgirl turned to Fubuki in surprise, "How did you keep them cold in your holds?"

Moments later, a small, pale skinned fairy appeared on the Destroyer's shoulders looking somewhat tired, "Desu, desu desu desu desu."

Giving the fairy in question a frown, Fubuki narrowed her eyes, "Seaman Arashi Hikari-Kun, do not tell me that you did not rest since we got the ice cream to keep it frozen." When the fairy looked away, she sighed, "You were only supposed to make sure that the ice cream was kept frozen with small bursts of your powers. Not using them continuously."

In reply, the Yuki Onna fairy smiled and shrugged, "Desu desu desu." Yawning, she shook her head, "Desu desu desu desu desu desu, desu?"

Only sighing, Fubuki nodded, "Permission to go and lay down granted. You get some rest... you did a good job."

Just giving a jaunty salute, the fair grinned, "Desu desu, desu desu."

And, with that, she vanished back into Fubuki's hull to go and lay down for a nice rest.

Meanwhile, Fubuki herself turned to Mamiya and the surprised Hinata before gesturing at the ice cream that was there, "Well, this is the full load. Five Raspberry ripple, five Caramel sea salt, six Apple crumble..." She continued on listing the various ice creams that she brought back before she brought out a bunch of boxes, "And these would be three dozen Bombe glacée and three dozen Arctic rolls."

Happily smiling, Mamiya had her own fairies pick up the desserts and place them into her own refrigeration holds as did Hinata where the frozen treats would wait until it was time to use them. The non-Yokai of the two nodded, "These will be great for the menu."

For her part, the Jorogumo smiled herself, "They really will be. I can see a number enjoying them." As she loaded them up, she glanced to where Yuudachi's fairies were bringing out stacks of various treats with Fubuki joining. Something that made Hinata furrow her eyebrows, "If I can ask... how are you fitting so much into your holds?" At the looks, she blushed lightly, "It's just... Destroyers don't have big holds."

Glancing at Ooyodo as she brought out a stack of cauldron cakes, Fubuki shrugged, "We sort of cheat." Seeing the interested smile, she continued, "We bought a number of trunks with expanded insides and use them for storage in our holds. I have one that we modified with insulation to function as a freezer hold. All Hikari-Kun needs to do is open it every few hours and fill it with freezing cold air before closing and sealing it back up."

With a nod, Niiyodo hummed, "It certainly does help when the Destroyers go out on supply trips. Between Yuudachi-San and Fubuki-San here, they got the same amount of space as a small cargo vessel."

Eyes widening, Hinata looked between them, "That's... impressive."

Simply shrugging, the Light Cruiser looked over at her, "Well, it works as most of the shipgirls for the JMSDF have bought some, even second hand. And it practically doubles the storage space most of them have." She pointed at a locked door, "We store new ones, though most have been used, in there."

Hinata blinked at that in surprise, "I... see."

It was several minutes later before Niiyodo happily nodded as she finished off the last of her list, practically bouncing, "We have everything that was on the list! Onee-Sama will be very happy."

The sound of chuckles made her jump and turn to find Ooyodo there glancing at the stacks of supplies. Looking at her younger, flustered sister, the older of the two Cruisers could not help but grin, "As if I would ever be unhappy with your work, Niiyodo-Chan. You make me very proud after all with how far you've come."

Despite the blush on her face, the other Light Cruiser had a happy smile, "Onee-Sama..."

Gently patting her younger sister's head, Ooyodo cast her eye out over the amount of supplies in front of her. She really was not kidding, she was extremely proud of her younger sister. After all, it was Niiyodo behind the Vanishing Cabinet project that was even now being worked on. And it was also the younger Ooyodo class shipgirl who had bought up the expanded trunks to be placed on Destroyers and the like, increasing the amount of space that they had in their holds, and allowing for more to be transported.

Looking at her sister now, the older of the two could not help but remember the shy, unsure Cruiser who walked up to her with the report of the deal she had made with Honeydukes to buy various things in bulk from them. And now? Now Niiyodo had started to grow into her own.

And Ooyodo could not be any prouder.

Lips twitching at the happy sigh from her sister, Ooyodo turned her attention to the stacks of sweets and the like with a small nod, "You've both done a fine job, Fubuki-San, Yuudachi-San. While some of these will be sent to the other bases, this still helps out."

With a small shrug, Fubuki smiled a little, "Thank you, Ooyodo-San. We're happy to help out with this sort of thing..."

Beside her, Yuudachi glanced at the treats, including the massive chocolate bars and pouted, "I wish that I could get the chance to buy more from your store, Niiyodo-San. But..." She sighed and waved a hand, "You're always busy, Poi."

Chewing her lip, Niiyodo glanced at her sister and then at Hinata who blinked in confusion at the attention, "Well... I have had a few ideas with that. And I was going to bring them up to Onee-Sama when I could..."

Intrigued, her older sister raised an eyebrow, "I'm listening, Niiyodo-Chan. What sort of idea."

Not saying anything right away, Niiyodo reached into her pocket and pulled out a folder that she handed to Ooyodo, who took it. As her sister opened it, Niiyodo cleared her throat, "It's still pending to the Admiral, but... it is based with the instant buildings that Harry-Chan brought to the Fleet of Laughter. There's a space close to Mamiya's resturant that we can use and place one based on the house version. The basic design omits the kitchen on the main floor as well as the fireplace. Instead, the mainfloor is mostly cut into two rooms, one a quarter the size of the other, though there's two bathrooms as well. The backroom will be for storage and upstairs will be turned into an employee area with a kitchenette, bathroom for themselves, and lounge area."

Eyes looking over the floor plans, Ooyodo frowned a little, "Hmm... I notice that your notes state that we would need to wire in electricity for heating as well as for the fridges that you want to add?"

Just nodding, the second of the Ooyodo class pointed, "Hai, which won't be that hard really. We could even just buy one of the old, glass front fridge units and use that for cold drinks like Butterbeer and sodas. There's a Yokai in Shiromizu's village that I have been talking to who knows how to make Butterbeer and also old fashioned soda and is willing to do so if he has customers. We can sell them here and, if the response is good..."

Rubbing her chin, Ooyodo hummed, "Hai, we could spread it to the other bases as well. But what about employees? You are busy enough as it is..."

Much to her surprise, Niiyodo smiled at that, "Well, I have two ideas for that. One is that one of the sailing ships we've summoned can staff the store... And also, I have been thinking of asking Baker Eric-Kun to be there as well." At Ooyodo's surprised look, she shrugged, "We can have him staff the register and... I overheard a conversation with him where he wished he could help out in some way, but with his education and some of the other problems..."

Ooyodo considered it for a few moments before handing the folder back to Niiyodo, "Bring it to the Admiral and I am sure that he would look at it. While some of it is of a magical nature... it could work out very well. And from memory, Shiromizu-San's village also has someone who builds magical ice boxes. It can be used as a test for them to see if they can function in a non-magical environment."

Brightly smiling, her sister nodded, "Hai, Onee-Sama!"

Meanwhile, Hinata knew what conversation Niiyodo meant and smiled a bit to herself, 'Maybe, Eric-Kun... you will be able to get Sora-Chan a ring after all...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

"Your concerns have been noted, and you can rest easy. I am addressing the responsible party as we speak…. very well. Carry on, lieutenant." A quiet clack as the phone was hung up. "That makes the seventh call-in this hour."

Hoppou sat quietly in her chair, hanging her head sheepishly. In front of her, Admiral Goto leaned forward on his desk, his fingers tented in front of him. Ooyodo stood off to the side, pinching the bridge of her nose with a strained expression.

"So, one more time…" Goto said, eyebrows raised, as he put a pen to the paper in front of him. "What exactly happened?"

The Princess kicked her feet weakly. "Hoppou was… inspecting something her girls sent over. It was a parasitic clone of Mad Scientist Princess, planted in one of her flagships. Hoppou believes it's how the Princess comes back after something kills her."

Goto nodded slowly, jotting down notes as Hoppou spoke. Even if this incident had gotten slightly… out of hand, they now had some vital intelligence—they knew how the Research Princess managed to keep coming back from the dead. "Alright. What happened then?"

"The clone suddenly started trying to grow roots… probably trying to feed on Hoppou to grow to full size. It managed to get under Hoppou's skin before she could react… and Hoppou went full Princess to fight it off." She twiddled her thumbs. "Hoppou is sorry if she hurt anyone…"

"No, it's fine. You've caused a few scares, but no physical harm was done." The admiral waved a hand. "Continue."

"So when the clone tried to infect Hoppou… Hoppou thinks she infected it instead. Which caused…" Hoppou glanced beside her. "...well, this."

Sitting in the chair next to her was an Abyssal child. She was even smaller than Hoppou, looking four to five years old at best, in contrast to the Princess's nine-year-old appearance. Like Hoppou, she had long snow-white hair, a white dress, a spiked collar and bracelets, and two stubby horns jutting from her head. But there were just as many differences as similarities. Where Hoppou wore mittens over her little hands, this girl had none—her hands were rough and bony with pointed fingertips, not unlike miniature versions of Wanko's claws. She had no ankle bracelets like Hoppou; instead, she had peculiar black markings covering her left leg and arm, almost like tattoos. Her metal adornments were smaller, more compact, with her collar in particular hugging her neck quite snugly. And where Hoppou's dress was a simple gown, hers was a tube-top with markings resembling a cat's face.

But the most jarring difference between the two, Goto felt, was their demeanor… while Hoppou gave off her meekness and guilt quite clearly, the girl next to her was very visibly agitated and twitchy. Goto was pretty sure her hair hadn't un-bristled even once since Hoppou brought her in.

"Do you think she could be a danger to others?" He asked. "She seems… rather irate."

At this, Hoppou tilted her head. "Hoppou is not sure. She's been like that since she appeared… but she follows Hoppou around and listens to instructions without any complaining." She looked over to her doppelganger. "Why are you grumpy?"

The little girl folded her arms with a hmph. "...I dunno."

"Is there something wrong? You can tell Hoppou, she won't be mad."

"...I dunno."

The Princess sighed. "Will you at least be a good girl for Hoppou? Promise you won't break stuff, won't try to hurt anyone?"

The girl fidgeted in her seat. There was a long silence before she finally answered. "...okay."

Goto and Ooyodo shared a glance. "Well, then…" The admiral finally said, turning back to them, "If you believe her, I think we can at least give her a chance to show she's trustworthy. But even so… the fact remains that while she may be patterned on you, Hoppou-Chan, she is ultimately derived from an enemy's technology and biology. That makes her a security risk. As the local expert on Abyssal biology, you will have to ensure she is fully debugged before we can allow her any freedom of movement."

Although Hoppou doubted this girl would enjoy being a prisoner on the base, there wasn't really much that could be done about it. She nodded reluctantly. "Yes, sir. Hoppou will inspect her properly, to make sure there's no bad stuff left from the evil Princess."

"Very well." Goto wrote down some final notes before continuing. "Once you return with a clean bill of health for this little one, we can see about letting her move around beyond the base. Until then, however, she must be accompanied by either you or a fleet of shipgirl escorts at all times." He gestured to the door. "You're free to go."

Hoppou gave a small bow. "Okay. Thank you, Admiral." Getting up from her seat, she took her doppleganger's hand and led her to the door. "Come on, Seiko. Let's go meet Mommy."

As the Princess reached for the doorknob, Ooyodo spoke up. "Oh, speaking of which, you mother was supposed to be on her way over to—"

Too late, Hoppou opened the door to find Nagato standing on the other side. The battleship looked down… and froze.

Goto almost swore he could see a Windows bluescreen in the battleship's eyes as she slumped to the floor, knocked out cold by the sight of two Hoppous standing in front of her.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Ugh… that sound is getting annoying."

Reaching out with a bloodied scalpel, the Research Princess sliced into the throat of the Ru-class laid out on the table before her and severed its vocal cords, putting an end to its shrill screams and replacing them with a weak gurgling that she found much nicer to listen to.

What a pathetic specimen, she mused. The highest recorded pain tolerance of all the battleships she had constructed to date, yet still unable to endure this mind-numbingly simple operation to install her routine implants; this one lasted mere seconds longer than the previous record-holder before starting to scream. It appeared she was reaching the upper limits of how much she could reduce an Abyssal's ability to feel pain without compromising their ability to function—she could only deaden their nerves so much before they lost all feeling, which was problematic. If only she could identify and isolate the Abyssal equivalent of the NTRK1 gene, and reproduce the mutation the humans called CIPA…

There was a sudden itch at the peripheral of the Princess's senses. Curious, she looked inward to find the cause: the clone seed she'd implanted in the Re-class designated "Revoker" had just been compromised and triggered its failsafe.

That couldn't be right. That specific vessel had been taken out three days ago in the failed probing attack on the Northern Princess's spawn. The seed should have exhausted its supply of nutrients and broken down by now. How could it still be active and able to trigger?

She didn't get to ponder the answer to that question—within seconds of her becoming aware of it, that itch exploded into an extraordinary pain in her skull. The Princess stumbled backward, her surgical implements falling from her hands, as she clutched her head and screamed. She could feel something other in her mind… crushing her, burrowing into her, trying to consume her. She tried to sever the connection, cut the seed loose and save herself, but whatever was attacking her wouldn't let it happen—it wanted to make certain she suffered.

The Princess had no idea how long the assault lasted; it could have been seconds, it could have been minutes, maybe even hours. All she knew for certain was that it ended as suddenly as it began… one final wave of agony as she felt something tearing away, and the unknown force vanished from her mind, leaving behind only the damage it had wrought to her psyche in the process. She slumped against the wall behind her and slid to the floor, the remnants of her conscious mind desperately trying to figure out what had just happened while her brain pieced itself back together.

It wasn't long before she managed to reach a conclusion:

Something—someone—had just torn her clone from her control.

Despite being half-delirious, with lingering pain in her head, the Research Princess still managed to make a wide, gleeful smile, baring her jagged teeth… because she had a very good idea of just who that someone was.

Things had just gotten interesting.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XVI)

??????????
Spoiler: A History Of Jewels

Zamarad fell into the warm verdant sparkle of Bareket and the lustrous pink glow of Yahalom in an endless spiral. Images flickered past her one after another.

Queen Hadassah revealing "Haman's" plot to slaughter herself along the other Jewish exiles in Persia....

The Haman-Shayṭān impaled upon the pole of bronze fifty cubits high that he had intended to be used to torture his enemies, then the corrupted jinn breaking free from his human shell as it writhed in torment, only to be subdued by the waiting mages....

Soldiers and wizards storming Haman's house, capturing his wife and children to be shackled with fetters of mage-craft and bronze as they were dragged before the King of Kings to be thrown at his feet. The image of them being ritually trampled in submission and defeat before they were imprisoned in the waiting vessels of bronze to be hurled overboard from a ship would be carved into the living rock of Mount Behistun as a warning to those who would rebel against the will of God....

The search of the house revealing a coffer, which exploded into a torrent of fiery beasts as a trap was triggered. A spell that burned much of the house to ash but left two enchanted jewels intact under the ash and rubble.....

Yahalom would be found by the searchers after the flames were extinguished and set in the crown of Imperial Persia as a silent token of triumph over the forces of what the priests would call Aŋra Mainiiu, later known to Zoroastrianism as Ahriman, the embodiment of evil.....

The green-glimmering Bareket would be found by a scavenger's hands who pocketed it and then sold it to a merchant traveling the Royal Road to Anatolia....

Yahalom was captured after the last Achaemenid King of Kings lost his army, his baggage containing the crown jewels, and his throne upon the field of Gaugamela in one of the greatest and most decisive battles of antiquity only to be lost in the fording of the Hyaspedes River as the legend known to history as Alexander the Great fought his last great triumphant battle to etch his name for all time in the pages of history....

In a twist of fate, while Yahalom rested at the bottom of the river to be found a millennia later to be claimed by a Rajput lord, Bareket would in turn pass from hand to hand to finally shine upon the creamy breast of the last and greatest of the Cleopatras, the child of Alexander's great general Ptolemy who ruled Egypt in his master's name before founding a dynasty in turn....

Only for Bareket to be captured in turn in yet another of the battles that would echo throughout history when at Actium, Cleopatra VII Philopater and her lover Mark Antony's forces were smashed by those loyal to Gaius Octavius or, as he would be better known in the annals of world history, Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus, the founder of the Roman Empire and the Pax Romana....

Who in turn would display Bareket as part of the captured Egyptian crown jewels in his Triumph in 29 BCE as Caesar Augustus rode through the streets in a four-horse chariot with a crown of laurel, his face painted red, and wearing the purple and gold toga picta showing that he had ended the civil wars of the Roman Republic at long last....

Yahalom would eventually reach the hands of the Mughul Emperor of India Shah Jahan, who would place it, believed to be delved from the diamond mines of Golconda, into the Peacock Throne that he would commission at a cost double that of the Taj Mahal that he would build as the eternal resting place for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal in one of the pinnacles of Indian architecture....
Spoiler: Noor-ul-Ain

Only in turn to have the Peacock Throne taken as tribute by the last great Asiatic military conqueror, Nader Shah, the Sword of Persia, who had just decisively defeated the tottering Mughul Empire at the Battle of Karnal in 1739 despite being outnumbered six to one. Yahalom would be taken back to Persia once more to serve as part of the crown jewels of the Shahanshah, the King of Kings, under its new name, the Noor-ul-Ain 'Light of the Eye'....

As for Bareket, it in turn would pass from hand to bloodstained hand, from Roman Emperor to Visigothic looter to feudal warlord to Saracen invader to Reconquista knight as the tides of history turned and shifted. Finally it found its destined place as apparently part of a shipment of fellow emeralds from the recently-discovered New World. It in turn would be purchased by another history-striding titan's agent to become part of the collection of Kanunî Sultan Süleyman, Suleiman the Magnificent, the greatest of the Ottomans....

Only in turn for Bareket to be sold by one of the last and least of the descendants of the Great Turk, as Sultan Abdul Hamid II sold it to a gem broker in France as the clouds of revolution and war gathered in 1908 and the Ottoman Empire in turn fell into decay and ruin as had the other empires which it had traveled through....

And as Bareket was shipped to the Americas to await the next page to be written in its history and as Yahalom abided in the ancient land where it had rested, Zamarad saw one final vision....

A bronze vessel, inscribed and sealed was dredged up from the sea which had kept it safe and hidden for so long with a prisoner inside who had been stewing in his own malice for centuries upon centuries. Refining his art to use words, trickery, flatetry and the whispers of his evil nature to gain the power that his long imprisonment had stripped from him until he could regain his strength. A prisoner who was now free to walk the earth once more and seek the prizes that had been torn from his taloned claws, prizes that were some of the keys to a greater evil's cage....

Zamarad sensed the Shayṭān that she had seen in London once more speeding down the same rushing river of events that she was. Speeding inexorably toward a fork in the course of destiny....

One path from that fork fell into darkness, cities obliterated in an instant in a bust of Fire sufficient to even consume the jinn. Along the other, she saw herself, decades older, sitting on a sofa next to Delilah, with an infant, the product of their love, nursing at her breast as matching rings sparkled on her finger and her love's showing the trials and difficulties that they had won through together to bind themselves eternally to each other, steel and flame united, a Child of Smokeless Fire and a Child of Adam becoming one....

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth, Fu-Chan's tail wagged behind her as she wrote before nodding, "Done!" Brightly smiling, she held out the paper to Kashima who smiled, "Here you go, Kashima-Sensei!"

Chuckling, the silver haired shipgirl smiled, "Very good, Fu-Chan. Now, just let me check over your work for a few minutes."

Rapidly nodding, the Kitsune watched as Kashima began to check over the worksheet. In her mind, the Training Cruiser was almost as cool as Fubuki and the others. Often, Kashima would come by in the late afternoon after her work at the local Lawsons to do some teaching. From what she had told Fu-Chan and the others, before becoming a shipgirl she had been saving up to become a teacher and had done tutoring work on the side. Something that was really cool to them, and often made her grin when they told her that.

After a few minutes, Kashima set down the paper and smiled at her before ruffling the Yokai's hair, "Good job, Fu-Chan. You only made a few mistakes..." Pushing the paper across the table, she leaned over it to point at the places where the young girl had been incorrect and began to explain where she had gone wrong, "... So here, you made the mistake when subtracting."

While Fu-Chan began to work on a new sheet, the shipgirl sighed a little, but was smiling. This was the sort of thing that she loved after all, teaching. And, as it turned out, the JMSDF was fully behind her becoming a teacher. Especially with how she worked with Summons to teach them about the modern day. Or Natural Borns to help keep up with their education as they fought.

Hence, she had little issue when Fubuki approached her to help get the Yokai under the Destroyer's care up to the level where they could join school.

Lips curling into a small smile, she paused and looked over at Daichi who was frowning as he worked at a math problem before suddenly brightening and performing it as he figured it out. On his head, two bear ears twitched as he finished and got started on the next problem. Part of her chould not help but shake her head a little as the boy in question was a bit heavyset. Not because he was chubby, because it was mostly all muscle.

While a bit amusing, Kashima could not help but note that he would very likely grow up to be a "Bear of a man" and was already showing signs of that.

That said, she was not worried in the slightest about it as the eleven year old was not bad tempered. One of the American shipgirls after seeing him taking care of his "Little sisters" as the rest of the Fubuki children were considered by him had commented that he was a big teddy bear... as long as you did not threaten any of the younger ones, that was. If you did, watch out!

Between him and Yoshi, who was a Sarugami, the Training Cruiser knew that the younger children would not be threatened by anything, especially as the two had started learning martial arts from Fubuki and Yuudachi. Something that she had noticed made the two Destroyers all the more cooler in the children's eyes. And also that Daichi had started to hero worship that one American, Dalt, as the coolest man he knew. Kashima wondered what might come of that...

It was then that she noticed that all the children had stopped what they were doing, though with the Oni twins, Akari and Atsuko, watching the others. Eyebrow raised, Kashima noticed that all the animal ears they had perk up and swivel towards the front door, '3... 2... 1...'

Just as she reached zero, they all quickly rushed to their feet and rushed out the room with bright smiles, which nearly made her giggle. Getting up, she poked her head around the corner in time to see the door open to reveal Fubuki and Yuudachi, who were tackled by the young Yokai, "FUBUKI-SAN! YUUDACHI-SAN! YOU'RE BACK!"

Lightly chuckling, Fubuki shook her head and patted their heads, "Hai, I am, you guys."

Yuudachi then gave them all a thumbs up, "And we brought treats with us, Poi! Enough for everyone including some that we'll have after dinner!"

Over the murmurs of excitement, the two Destroyers shared an amused look. And as Kashima watched, Mutsuki poked her head around the corner from the kitchen with a smile of her own, "And not until after supper. We don't want to ruin your appitites after all with sweets..." Narrowing her eyes, she gave Yuudachi a look, "Right, Yuudachi-Chan?"

The blonde Destroyer in question just nodded with an innocent smile on her face, "Hai, Mutsuki-Chan." All she got from the other shipgirl was narrowed eyes before Mutsuki slipped back into the kitchen. Once she was certain that her fellow Destroyer was gone, Yuudachi reached into her pockets and pulled out some candy that she gave the kids, all of whom grinned, as she winked, "Don't want to ruin appetites, Poi."

Madly grinning, all the children quickly stuffed said candies into their mouths even as Fubuki and Yuudachi ruffled their hair.

Spotting Kashima, Fubuki walked over even as Fu-Chan and Natsuki attached themselves to her legs and hips after the Destroyer had removed her shoes. Part of the silver haired shipgirl was a bit jealous at how much Fubuki made it look easy and motherly, before shaking that off, "Good evening, Fubuki-Chan."

In return, the shipgirl in question nodded with a slight bow, "Good evening, Kashima-San. Are you staying for dinner? Especially as we're expecting someone about the next few weeks."

Kashima spotted the ears of the various children wilt a little at those words, knowing that Fubuki and the others would be away on convoy escort for at least a month. She knew that they understood that, but that they still found it hard. Rather than comment, especially as she noted that Fubuki and Yuudachi patted their heads, she smiled and nodded, "That sounds good actually, from what I know, Mutsuki-Chan and the others are making Chanko."

Happily humming, Yuudachi made her way to the kitchen, though in her case Natsuki was hanging from her neck and giggling madly, "Sounds good, Poi! I'm hungry."

With a sigh, Fubuki rolled her eyes before reaching over and grabbing Yuudachi, "First, wash hands and then time for dinner."

All the pout from the other Destroyer got was giggles and snickers from the children and an amused eyeroll from Fubuki herself.

Less than thirty minutes found them getting the table set up when a knock at the door could be heard and Fubuki walked to it. Some of the children curiously poked their heads around the corner to watch and their eyes widened at the sight of a young woman with black hair and a rather large chest talking quietly with Fubuki. Daichi, for his part blushed as he realized who it was and gave an awed whisper, "Takao-Sama..."

Glancing at him, Fu-Chan only shook her head at the stunned look he had on his face at the sight of one of his favorite shipgirls. When she turned back to Takao who was taking off her shoes as she continued to chat with Fubuki, she tilted her head some. The Heavy Cruiser would have turned heads in her black turtleneck sweater and jeans, but all the Kitsune could do was internally shrug, 'She's pretty, but not as much as Fubuki-San.'

Takao soon walked into the dining room and bowed a bit to the gathered children, though she giggled a bit at the young boy with bear ears on his head and how he had an awed look on his face as he looked at her. Lips twitching, she bowed to them, "Good evening, I'm the Heavy Cruiser Takao and I'm very pleased to meet you all."

Just smiling, Fubuki walked around her and began to gesture at each one of the children in turn, "Well, since you introduced yourself... We have the twins, Atsuko-Chan and Akari-Chan, they're Oni. Beside them, we have Fu-Chan, though her name is Fubuki so we call her by her nickname, and at her side is Natsuki-Chan, a Kitsune and Neko respectively."

A grin on her face, Yuudachi ruffled the hair of the Inu at her side, "This is Kasumi-Chan, Poi. She's an Inugami."

Matching the blonde Destroyer's grin, the Inugami nodded, "That's right, Poi!"

With a sigh, Mutsuki gave the amused Heavy Cruiser a bemused look before crouching and placing her hands on the shoulders of the two smaller Nekos, "And these two cuties are Akane-Chan and Ayame-Chan. They're Nekomata like Natsuki-Chan"

Both young girls gave a slightly shy wave before hiding behind the Destroyer's legs. Meanwhile, Kisaragi gently patted the shoulders of two other girls, one older than the other and both having squirrel ears and tails, "These two are Hitomi-Chan and her Imouto, Yomi-Chan, they're squirrel Yokai."

Finally, Kana gestured at the two boys, "And these are Daichi-Kun and Yoshi-Kun, a bear Yokai and Sarugami."

Softly smiling, Takao bowed to them, "I'm very pleased to meet you."

They returned the bow and the same words as well. Not long afterwards, Takao found herself being seated at the very full table and simply watching as Fubuki and the others got everyone food. Yuudachi was putting the stew into bowls which were set in front of the children while Mutsuki and Kisaragi filled the glasses with milk. Much to the Heavy Cruiser's amusement, said brand was "Fubuki Milk" which made her lips twitch, but she said nothing. Kana, meanwhile, brought over a basket that had gently steaming breadrolls in it and set it on the table. She did note that the two squirrel Yokai were the only girls there not to be shipgirls, but didn't seem to bothered by it.

Finally, every one was seated and began to eat while various people there chatted. Takao noted that Fu-Chan was seated right beside Fubuki and looking at said Destroyer with love and worship in her eyes as the two ate and talked. Glancing to her side, she noted that Daichi was there as well. Head tilted to the side, she smiled a bit as she decided to get to know him, "So, Daichi-Kun?"

Quickly swallowing the food in his mouth, the young bear Yokai turned to her, "Hai, Takao-Sama?"

Unable to help herself, Takao giggled and wagged a finger, "Please, Takao-Nee-San or Takao-Chan. San at worst." The flustered look on the Yokai's face nearly made her giggle again... nearly, "So, from what I was told you're a bear Yokai?"

Simply nodding as he ate some more stew, Daichi hummed. Once he was able to, he scratched his cheek some, "Well, um, I'm an Onikuma to be specific, but hai?"

Interested, the Heavy Cruiser raised an eyebrow, "An Onikuma, huh?" At the nod, she continued, "I take it that means that you're going to grow big and strong then?"

From across the table, Akari nodded with wide eyes, "Hai! Daichi-Nii-San is super strong as it is! He protected us when we were on the streets along with Yoshi-Nii-San..."

Voice soft, Ayame nodded, "And, um... he sometimes got beaten up so that we wouldn't... that's how he got that scar above his eyebrow. Because that person wanted to hit me when I spilled his coffee by accident and Daichi-Nii-San stepped between us."

Eyes wide, Takao looked at the embrassed boy who was mumbling that he was just being a big brother. Sure enough, cutting through one of his eyebrows was a scar. Seeing her look, he blushed a bit, "He was wearing a diamond ring at the time, and, well... as long as I get hit, they're safe."

Much to his surprise, he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to see the nameship of the Takao class smile at him, "You are a very good man, Daichi-Kun. Taking care of your Imoutos like that."

If anything, that only made Daichi more flustered before the conversation turned to other things.

Once the food was gone, Fubuki smiled and stood up before grabbing some dishes, "I have a treat for everyone, direct from Britain." Reaching into her pockets, she pulled out a box and opened it to show an what looked like sponge cake wrapping something, "This is an arctic roll, ice cream wrapped in sponge cake with a layer of raspberry sauce between them."

All of the kids stilled at that and stared with hungry expressions on their faces. Tail wagging behind her furiously, Fu-Chan whimpered a bit, "W-we're going to have that, Fubuki-San?'

Lightly chuckling, Fubuki cut a slice before putting it onto a plate which she placed in front of Fu-Chan, "Well, what do you think?"

Gasping, Fu-Chan looked at her and got a nod. Picking up her fork, she took a piece and put it into her mouth. Moments later, she was kicking her feet out as she closed her eyes in bliss, "So good!"

Getting a slice for herself from Fubuki, Natsuki also took a bite and nodded rapidly with a purr as her tail twitched. She was not the only one to react in a similar way as most of the kids did as well, though they were reminded not to eat it too fast. The younger Neko twins had a blissed out look on their faces.

Unable to help herself, Takao smiled at the sight and internally chuckled. Taking a bite herself, she felt her eyebrows rise, 'This... is very good.'

It went without saying that the treat was soon gone for all of them, though Fubuki was happy with the reception while making note to buy more. Together, the Destroyers cleaned up the plates and other items before putting them away, Coming back to the table, Fubuki sat down and took a deep breath, "Now that dinner is out of the way, it's time for us to have a talk."

Frowning, Yoshi glanced at the others, "Um, did we do something wrong, Fubuki-San?"

However, to his and the others relief, the Destroyer shook her head. Sighing, Fubuki sipped her coffee before frowning, "It's about what is going to happen." She gestured at the other shipgirls in the household outside of Kashima and Takao, "As you know, Yuudachi-Chan, Mutsuki-Chan, Kisaragi-Chan, Kana-Chan, and myself are all going to be escorting a convoy to the United States starting tomorrow evening."

A sniffle came from Fu-Chan and she wiped at her eyes, "W-we know, Fubuki-San. B-because all of you have a job and need to do it to d-defend Japan."

Gently placing an arm around the Kitsune's shoulder, Fubuki kissed her between her ears, "Hai." Pulling back, she gave the young Yokai a soft smile, "By escorting convoys back and forth, we can make sure that you and the others have all the food you need, as well as the rest of the nation. That said... we're not abandoning you. Because as soon as we get back, we'll spend time with all of you."

That got her various nods from the other children before Mutsuki spoke up, "However, that does put us into a position where we won't be in the house. We do trust you to take care of things while we're gone, all of you proved that. But we asked for both Kashima-San as well as Takao-San to drop in daily to check up with you. We'll leave their numbers as well as Dalt-San's, who also agreed to check in with you at times, so you can contact them if something happens."

Smiling, Kashima gave a nod, "You can bet that we'll help you with whatever you bunch might need. Trust me."

Kisaragi gently patted Akane's head as she continued, "Now, besides that? We'll be leaving behind the Mess Hall pass for all of you. That way you can get hot meals at the mess hall when you need it."

It was obvious that the children really did not like the thought of their guardians leaving the next day for a dangerous trip, but they understood there wasn't much of a choice. Still, they brightened up at the fact that Dalt as well as Takao and Kashima would drop by to check up on them as needed. The rest of the evening was a discussion of various things that would happen. Such as Fubuki mentioning that some nights the people mentioned might stay over. Which was something else that lightened spirits.
_________________________________________________________________________

Over the day, Fubuki and the other shipgirls had spent all their time with the Yokai children that they had all but adopted. And only but due to a few reasons such as wanting them to be used to the household before doing so. For hours they had done various things with them, leading to spending some time in a nearby field playing. Though some people would have stared at the fact that the shipgirls were playing with a fox, a shiba inu, several cats, two larger than normal squirrels, a monkey, and a bear.

In fact, one of the MPs had dropped by and stared at Kana wrestling said bear and explaining moves.

When the fox had waved a paw and shouted hello along with the other animals, he had waved back before getting into his car and driving off. Then he went and took the rest of the day off. The last anyone had seen of him was the poor man stumbling into one of the bars on base.

However, all good things came to an end and after an early dinner, Fubuki and the others were gathered at the launch ramp. Hugging Fu-Chan, and having tears in both their eyes, Fubuki smiled, "You be a good girl, Fu-Chan. Okay?"

Nodding even as she buried her face in the shipgirl's neck, Fu-Chan hummed, "Hai, I will, Fubuki-San."

Just pulling back, the Destroyer nodded while patting Fu-Chan's head. Doing much the same with Kasumi, Yuudachi gave a wink and thumbs up, "It'll only be a month, and we'll bring you all back treats, Poi! Stuff from the United States and Canada even!"

Daichi tried to wipe his eyes without being noticed, after all he was the oldest and had to be strong in his mind, "L-like that maple syrup?"

Bemused, Mutsuki chuckled a bit from where she was hugging the Neko twins, "Is that what you might want?" At the hesitant nod, she smiled, "Well, you'll get it then. We'll bring back a lot of maple syrup and have it on pancakes!"

Thrusting her fist into the air, Yuudachi nodded, "And waffles, Poi!"

Lips twitching, the lone Battleship hugged the squirrel sisters tightly, "Also we'll bring back other treats like chocolate bars and the like. Just for you."

Both squirrels just hummed as they hugged her back.

Over the radio, Fubuki got the signal to launch and gave a nod before sending an acknowledgment. With one final round of hugs, the shipgirls all walked down the ramp. Reaching the bottom, Fubuki took a deep breath before stepping onto the water, deciding to do a little show as her rigging appeared around her with sparkles, "Destroyer Fubuki, doing her best and deploying!"

Smiling, the other shipgirls did much the same and turned one final time to wave goodbye before heading for the convoy of ships coming from Yokohama.

Upon the shore, the Yokai children stood there waving and shouting goodbye as well as good luck. Even as the Sun reached the horizon and began to bathe the world in it's now orange light, the children stood, watching as the ships and their escorting shipgirls sailed towards the horizon. Finally, Fu-Chan let out a breath and smiled, "One day..."

With a blink, Natsuki looked towards her, "One day what, Fu-Chan?"

The Kitsune looked at the Neko and smiled happily, "One day, Natsuki-Chan, we'll be out there as shipgirls too! And sailing beside Fubuki-Kaa-San as well."

Eyes glimmering a bit with unshed tears, Natsuki nodded, "Hai! One day we'll sail alongside Fubuki-Kaa-San, Yuudachi-Kaa-San, Mutsuki-Kaa-San, Kisaragi-Kaa-San, Kana-Kaa-San... and each other. And we'll be just as pretty and awesome as they are."

About to walk off, Fu-Chan paused before turning to the sea and looking in the direction that Fubuki was heading off in before doing her best impression of a salute, "Like you, Kaa-San... Fubuki will do her best when that day comes... so wait for us."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XVII)

Black Hills, Southwestern South Dakota, USA

1 June, 1945
Spoiler: Regrouping

With a sudden start, Zamarad returned to herself from the visions, feeling a ghost of the warmth that vision-her was sharing with Delilah and her firstborn daughter linger in her heart.

The meadow was dark and silent, illuminated by the coals of a small campfire banked low and giving the odd ember and spark to join the river of stars overhead illuminating the scene. Zamarad instinctively clutched the scratchy wool of the blanket that Delilah had draped around her nude body where she sat on the rock to herself and gave the fire a commanding look, making it acknowledge her rulership of her element.

On the other side of it, Delilah sat cross-legged on a blanket like a bronze statue in the firelight, lost in her own thoughts. The Muramasa revolver had changed clothes to a shirt of unbleached deerskin, leather leggings of buffalo hide, and beaded moccasins while she had her medicine pouch resting on her slowly rising and falling chest as she stared with oddly unfocused eyes into the flames.

Delilah began to mutter to herself in Lakota, then English. "Emily... Louise.... Bearclaw.... Jackie... Sis.... Mère...." Finally she blinked and came to herself.

"Zamarad. You have returned?" Delilah's voice was hushed and reverent.

The Ifrit nodded, hearing the whisper of the night wind in the meadow grass around them like the breathing of some huge beast in restless slumber around them. "I have, Delilah. I... was not anticipating what happened."

Delilah's teeth flashed in the firelight in a brief smug smile. "No one truly is, I suppose. Truth is like that. Standing naked and exposed to the Spirits and the Universe, your very essence laid bare for them and yourself to truly judge for good and for ill.... " She trailed off meaningfully.

Zamarad nodded. "I... saw things, with the help of the Powers that you invoked, Del. Thank you." She spoke sincerely, feeling that she had emerged the stronger for the trials of her very being that she had faced to gain these fragments of understanding.

Delilah gave another brief smile. "I would be a poor medicine woman if I was unable to help a seeker achieve the insights that she desperately needs." Del's eyes gleamed. "Ah... whatever happened in your spirit walk is intensely private and I won't pry, but.... Did you get an indication that you were called to take over my handling of matters out here?" One hand gestured to the darkness beyond their circle of firelight.

In the unseen distance, a wolf howled.

Zamarad closed her eyes, remembering as much as she could of what she had Seen. "No. I can help you with your responsibilities certainly but... no. Not like that. I am...tolerated here, but I am Fire and what sleeps here... would quench me if I had to fight it to bind it, truly."

Delilah closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped. "I see. It was a faint chance, though, I suppose. It's just... " She reached behind her to lean back on her hands to look at the stars overhead. "I was planning on grooming Bearclaw to be my backup plan for here. He's Cheyenne, true, but he knows," she sighed sadly, "knew the importance of my stewardship of these hills and he was low-ranking enough to dodge the consequences that will ensnare me when the Statute comes down."
Spoiler: The Statute Of Secrecy

"Statute, Delilah?" Zamarad asked curiously.

"Ahh yes, I forgot that you don't have the context that I am used to." Delilah said quietly as she locked Zamarad's gaze with hers. "In brief, well before either of us were born or the White Man came to the Americas a decision was made to hide evidence of magic from the no-maj, humans without magic to prevent a catastrophic war and witch hunts by the far, far more numerous no-maj. You saw the Salem Memorial in MACUSA headquarters. That incident and others force me to admit that they had a point at their intentions were good, although..." The witch trailed off again and shook her head with a deep sigh.

Zamarad nodded along as Delilah continued in a soft voice, "Records were falsified, evidence suppressed, people's memories and identities were tampered with and still are tampered with to prevent the no-maj getting a clue. But it can't go on. Not only are they growing more numerous and expanding into places that we keep hidden, but communication has grown and grown. When mother was a child, news from England took months to reach America on a sailing ship. Now it is a matter of weeks or less for the newsreels, and hours for the telegraph and wireless networks, and transportation is equally fast with their steamships and now aeroplanes. It becomes harder and harder to keep the masquerade up, and all we need is one big slip-up, and then they will know."

Delilah raised herself up to stare into the fire. "Which poses some real problems for me personally. Leaving aside the massive unanswered question of how the No-maj react when that day comes toward wizards at large, whether with acceptance, curiosity, or hostility and war, I have committed well documented crimes and actions that will be seen as crimes in the pursuit of keeping the Statute going. Conspiracy, theft, Obliviations, altering memories, kidnapping, even murder. Oh yes, two days ride from here is a shallow grave that I filled with a prospector in 1873 who was looking to mine for gold in a cavern containing one of Unk Cekula's spawn that was bound. Big one too. His life was forfeit either way and a bullet from ambush in the brain-pan is a hell of a lot more merciful than the other fate. Doesn't change the fact that I shot him from ambush with no remorse to protect the statute." Delilah's voice was very flat as she finished.

Zamarad nodded and then quietly spoke. "I am... not unfamiliar with such things. My own family, mother and father's side both are Guardians of certain things that should never be tampered with. What you and your sister saw in the desert is but a tithe of Father's responsibilities and not the worst by far. Such as," Zamarad took a deep breath. "Such as what I Saw."

Delilah leaned forward. "A warning then? If it is allowed, I shall help you with, well, whatever it is. Just tell me what you can and I'll give you a hand with it."

Firelight gleamed from the Ifrit's razor smile. "Oh I can do better than that, Delilah de Breuil." She closed her eyes and gestured and the campfire roared to life and turned the emerald of her eyes. Inside the dancing emerald flames a street scene in a London celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany formed. "I can show you. Because I sense that we are both called upon to handle the matter at hand."

Delilah's jaw dropped at the sight of Lieutenant Colonel of Aurors Ben Arnold smiling knowingly at Zamarad as she heard the Shayṭān whispers. Once more encouraging her to give in to her darker impulses. Delilah gasped out. "But I KNOW Ben! I worked with him before the War and during it. What I saw, that was Ben, just..."

She stopped and her eyes widened in shock as she finished in a horrified whisper. "Unleashed to become more than he was."

"MACUSA and MIB have no idea that Delegate Arnold's favorite son is... what he has become." Delilah's voice was glacially cold and thoughtful, with her eyes becoming hard and her brain whirring. "And he's responsible for the hunt for the ex-Nazis and Grindlewald supporters, being our on-the-ground local liaison to the Gosudarstvennyy Komitet po Magicheskim Voprosam in the Occupation Zone and has full access to all the captured files...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Gently patting Natsumi's currently vulpine head, Harry tilted his head to the side a little in thought, "A school project?"

With a sigh, the Kitsune nodded as she shifted a little under his hand, "Hai, and a real troublesome one." Seeing his raised eyebrow, she rolled her eyes, "It is sort of a creative project that we need to make. For the School Festival."

Moving his hand some to scratch behind her ears, the thirteen year old wizard nodded, "I see. What sort of creative project exactly?"

For a few moments, all Natsumi did was give something like a purr, which Harry liked to call a "Murr". But then she blinked and frowned, "Anything really. And that's part of the problem because we're trying to come up with something. A few of the other students are putting on a play, for instance. Some are putting together sculptures or paintings... but we don't really have much, though we're doing the cafe again anyways. This is more to raise money for a school trip at the end of the semester. Whoever gets the most actually gets an extra day and a stay at an Onsen."

Considering that, the wizard scratched his chin some, "But its you, Usagi-San, Ayaka-San, Kaku-San, Rika-San, and Asuka-San, right?"

A frown on her face, Natsumi grimaced a little, "Hai? Though because of things Nobu-San, Okita-San, and Uesugi-San are also joining us..."

His eyebrows furrowing, Harry looked at her in some confusion, "Why those three?"

Sighing, the Kitsune gave him a look, "Because, Harry-Chan, no one wants to work with Nobu-San... especially after what recently happened."

Frowning, Harry blinked, "Why? What happened?"

Once more, Natsumi sighed, "Well, you know how Nobu-San likes her prank bombs? A few days ago, Okita-San got caught in one by accident that Nobu-San made for science class..."

*****************************************************

All everyone could do was stare in shock or horror as the sound of dripping could be heard... that was all but Nobu who grinned, "Well, it worked." Cupping her chin with one hand, she hummed, "That color looks good on you."

Just a short distance in front of her, Okita stared straight ahead and covered with pink paint that dripped onto the ground.

Slowly blinking, the teenage girl turned to her friend and clenched her fists to the point that people swore they heard her bones creak. Completely unconcerned, even as everyone else took a few steps back, Nobu scratched her nose, "What? Not my fault that you came late to class. And besides, it's water based paint, it will wash right off."

Okita just continued to stare at her before suddenly closing her eyes and smiling, "Haha! You're right, Nobu-Chan, it is all my fault. And this is such a nice color."

Behind Nobu, all their classmates quickly backed up until they hit the wall, though the girl who created the bomb just grinned as the paint covered teen walked up to her, "I know, right? One of my best work?"

Having stopped mere feet away from Nobu, and with her expression still one of happiness and unadultred joy, Okita nodded, "Oh yes." Before Nobu could react, her hand lashed out and grabbed hold of her head and squeezed, fingers digging in. Opening her eyes, Okita revealed them full of rage which was at odds with her oddly calm voice, "Now what did I tell you about making bombs, Nobu-Chan~"

The black haired girl was lifted bodily off the ground by Okita and struggled, "A-ah! Bombs are good, Okita's great! Please let go or my skull will break!"

Sadly, Okita just brought up her free fist which was shaking as veins pulsed on her temple, "I just washed this last night, Nobu-Chan... especially as today is picture day..."

Everyone very rapidly ran away as only the truly brave could as screaming started.

*********************************************************

Harry considered what he just heard before nodding, "Hai, I can see that happening." With a small shrug as he continued to scratch Natsumi behind her ears, he frowned, "But couldn't you just have Okita-San and Uesugi-San?"

Simply laying her head on his chest, the Kitsune sighed, "Don't I just wish? Bringing in the other two would cause that Chunni to join in." She paused and frowned a little, "Though..." Eyes narrowing, Natsumi gave Harry a look, "You could join in... though I am assuming that you have a plan judging by your expression?"

Chuckling, Harry slowly nodded, "I do have an idea or two actually. Though before I do anything more, I need more information."

Eyebrow raised, Natsumi gave him a look before nodding, "That's... not an issue." Bringing her paws up and her muzzle close to his face, she hummed as he stroked her back, "What do you need to know?"

Lips curling a little, the thirteen year old boy tapped his chin with his free hand, "Well... can we have help with this? And what sort of help? Also, what sort of limits do we have on what we can do for it?"

Natsumi blinked at that and considered the questions, "In order... we can have help if you mean adults, but just the bare minimum for it. They can't actually do the work itself for us. And... there's no limit on what we can do for the project as long as we can do it with resources available to us."

Just nodding, Harry continued to think before smiling some, "I... think that I have an idea, Natsumi-Chan. How about we make a short film?"

That caused the teenage Yokai to blink and give him an odd look, "Say what now, Harry-Chan? A short film...?"

Waving a hand, Harry shook his head, "I know what you're thinking, Natsumi-Chan. But it is a simple one with the bare minimum of work and time. Heck, if needed I can use the time turner to get enough time to work on the editing. The school festival is, what? Three weeks away?" At her nod, he gave one of his own, "Then we can do this. I already got exactly the story that we need to use in order to pull it off which won't take long. All we need..." He smirked a bit, "Is two places available to us and just some resources."

Ear twitching, Natsumi raised an eyebrow, "It takes more than that to put together a short film, Harry-Chan. A lot more."

However, he just waved her off, "If we were going for something complicated? Sure, I would agree with you. But this? This is something that can be easily ad-libbed. Maybe a day or two of shooting to be honest."

Not saying anything for a few moments, Natsumi considered what he just said. Finally, she sighed as it was not like they had any other ideas, "Okay, Harry-Chan, how are we going to do this?"

Grinning, Harry nodded some, "Well, first, I'll have to talk with Naka-Nee about her onsen and using her studio. Next, we need to get access for a few hours to an old hotel with an elevator..."
________________________________________________________________

Blinking as she picked up the stapled sheets, Okita frowned a little as she noted there was really less than six pages, "That's it? That's the script?"

Arms crossed, Harry gave the group of teenagers a smirk, "That's it. The whole script."

Flipping through it, Rika began reading as did the others. Coming to the end, she flipped back to the beginning and went through it again, "Hmm... not bad really. Simple and to the point..."

Laughing, Nobu grinned, "Indeed! And yet, so very interesting! Would you not say so, Uesugi-Chan!"

Said girl adjusted her glasses and frowned, "In a way..." Looking back at the pages, she frowned, "Though I suppose that is one way of putting it. Creepy is another..."

Head tilted to the side, Asuka shook her head, "It... seems rather straight forward. No real special effects needed for it and the props are simple enough for what we would be using them for. But... what about editing?"

Jerking her thumb towards Harry, Natsumi shook her head, "We rely on Harry-Chan for that." At their looks, she shrugged and continued, "Harry-Chan has done editing for his own videos. So all he needs is access to Naka-San's studio for the sound."

When they turned to him, the wizard shook his head, "I'll need to add in certain sound effects to the film and Naka-Nee has a lot stored in her studio that we can use. It will take a day or two of work for me to clean it all up in the end. That's post-filming since the rest we can get done in a day or two of filming."

Going through it for likely the fourth time, Ayaka had a small frown on her face, "Huh... where did you get the idea for this anyways?"

Not missing a beat, Harry placed some photocopied pages in front of her, "It's from an old story actually that I came across. Never got the chance to have it pop up on my videos, and it is so short that, well... I can't see anyone making an actual movie on it. Figured it would be something short and to the point."

After several moments of thought, they all considered it and eventually nodded in agreement before they went to talking about how to make it work. None of them noticing the time that passed until an amused Kiba along with the other adults came to pick them up. It was an embarrassed group of teens who went home. And for the next week, they prepared for their work while getting everything ready and asking for some people to help them."

That Saturday, the group arrived at the Onsen/studio owned by Naka. Said shipgirl was outside with a wide grin on her face, "Well, all of you ready for filming?"

Sharing a look with the others, Natsumi pumped her fist and grinned, "You bet, Naka-San! All of us are ready for filming!"

Grin on her face, the Light Cruiser chuckled, "Good to hear." Turning she looked at Harry who was bringing out a gym bag, "Need some help, Chibi? I don't mind giving a hand if you need it you know."

However, he shook his head, "That's okay, Naka-Nee. I got this and so does Kaku-San."

The disguised Tanuki chuckled some and shook his head, "Hai." Internally though, he was signing a little, 'Because of course we would be carrying the bags.'

Only nodding, though her expression of amusement hinted that she could guess Kaku's thoughts, Naka chuckled, "Sounds good then, Chibi. Let's get you all set up for the night then. You're going to need it."

As they followed her in, Okita looked around in interest, "You have your very own Onsen, Naka-San? Really?"

Rather amused, the shipgirl nodded, "Hai, though I have a studio attached as well to it." At their looks of amazement, she shrugged, "I bought it cheap and built the studio. Trust me, it helps a lot to have somewhere to go and relax after a session. And not just for me, but my employees as well."

Stunned, Usagi looked at her, "And you're going to let us use it?! Really?!"

Laughing, Naka shook her head, "Sure! And I don't mind as your project is actually pretty interesting." She snapped her fingers towards Harry, "All I want is a copy once you're done in exchange."

Just nodding, Harry grinned back at her, "Not an issue, Naka-Nee. I planned on it anyways, though any others you're going to need to buy from us since we're selling them at the festival to raise funds."

More amused then anything else, the orange wearing Idol chuckled, "That I don't mind doing. And while you're here, help yourselves to what you want, on the house."

Several seconds later, she laughed more at the cheer that got her from the teenagers.

Reaching their room, Harry and Kaku set down the gym bags before opening them up and revealing the contents. A small smile on his face, Harry pulled out a camera and went through various checks for it before nodding, "Okay, now this is going to be the one that we use."

Thoughtful, Nobu examined it, "I take it that this is a good one?"

Glancing at her, the wizard nodded, "Hai, I've actually used it myself for when I'm doing my web shows and such. So I know that it is pretty effective and better then using a cellphone camera. That... would be a bit difficult." Pulling out another item, he hummed, "Now, this is the directional microphone that we're going to have set up. It is going to record what we say and the like. Also..." Harry brought out some wires and lights, "These, you guys are going to wear to help pick out sound. The lights will be used to help brighten the scene a little... I got my makeup and costume in here as well."

Each of the teens nodded.
___________________________________________________________________

Each of the teens bowed to the well dressed man in the hotel lobby that they stood before, "Thank you, Fujimoto-San for allowing us to be here."

Lightly smiling, Fujimoto, the hotel manager, simply bowed back with a smile, "And you are very welcome. We honestly do not mind such and according to what you stated, it would only be for an hour or two at most? Correct?"

Asuka gave him a small nod with a smile, "Hai, that is correct. We shouldn't take too long and we'll clean up after ourselves as well."

Smiling, the older man gave them a nod and a wave, "That is no problem." Clapping his hands, he gave a small nod, "I'll leave you all to it then." With that, he walked off with a shake of his head, 'Kids today... though I wonder if they will give me a copy...?'

Meanwhile, Harry turned and clapped his hands as he nodded towards the group of people. Besides the teen, there were several adults there as well. Koga was one as was Jin, Kiba, Ai, her squadron, and some of Jin's gang. There was also Kongou and Goto there as well as Yonehara. With a nod, he grinned, "Okay, just give me a bit to put on my makeup and we'll get started..."

Amused, the adults all just nodded to that before they got to work.
_______________________________________________________________________

Stepping out of the rental, Natsumi took a deep breath of air before letting it out, "We're finally here..."

A chuckle escaped from Usagi before she smiled at her friend, "Hai, we finally are. Though we're still some ways out." Looking at the driver, she shook her head, "Though, thank you for driving us, Taichi-San."

In the front seat, Natsumi's older brother just shrugged, "I don't mind giving you all a lift." A frown then crossed his face as he looks up at the Onsen and then back to all the teens, "Are you bunch really sure that you're going to be alright for the night? I'm crashing at a friend's place in the city for the next day or two after all. I'm sure that they wouldn't mind you crashing there instead of leaving you at some Onsen."

However, his sister rolled her eyes and gave him an exasperated look, "We'll be fine, Nii-San. Tomorrow night we'll be at a hotel in the city for the weekend."

Still frowning, Taichi gave her a look, "If you're sure..." At her glare, he raised his hands, "Okay, okay, you're going to be fine, understood. Just... be careful, okay?"

Getting a nod, he drove off. Once he was out of view, Nobu cackled, "Of course we'll be fine! For I, the Great Demon Nobu-Chan, will be more than able to protect all of us!"

Just sighing, Okita pinched her nose as she muttered some before whacking her friend upside the head nearly knocking the hat from her head, "Stop that, this trip is for us to relax."

Flailing, Nobu caught her hat and poured some, "Oh, come on, Okita-Chan! We are relaxing!"

Simply ignoring the two bickering in the background, Ayaka turned towards her rival, "I cannot believe that you managed to get our parents to agree to this trip!" Grinning, she laughed, "No adults, just us!"

Highly amused, Natsumi bowed, "Thank you, thank you, that is just how great I am." Laughter met that before she shook her head. "Anyways, it was not that hard. As long as we went together, our parents wouldn't have much issue because they trust us." Picking up her bag, she jerked her thumb towards the Onsen, "Anyways, we should go and get signed in..."

Talking among themselves still, the group did just that and proceeded to enjoy the late afternoon and evening.

But that night, Natsumi jerked awake in the darkened room. For a few moments, she looked around before she heard the sound again... wood being dropped on something. Beside her, Rika also woke up and looked around, "What was that?"

Frowning, Natsumi shook her head, "I... don't know." The two shared a look and soon after, the other girls were awake at the odd sound and followed Natsumi out into the corridor. There, they were met by Kaku who she looked at, "Kaku-Kun... did you hear-"

A frown on his own face, he gave a nod, "An odd sound? Hai, I did..." Suddenly, the Sound was heard again and they looked for the source, "There it is again!"

Unsure, they shared a look among each other and proceeded to walk along the darkened corridors of the Onsen. Soon, they found themselves outside and above a hill when Asuka gasped and pointed, "G-guys... w-what is that...?"

Each of them followed her finger only to pause at the sight below. There was a teen about their age before an old wagon with a blue, flickering lantern glowing somewhere inside, putting boxes into it. The source of the odd sound that had woken them. But despite the obviously non-threatening aspect, something about it... creeped them out and made the them shake a little as they held onto each other.

Which was when the Moon came out from behind some clouds and they had to hold back a scream as it turned out it was not boxes he was putting into the wagon...

It was instead Coffins.

Almost as if he head heard them, the boy their age paused before he turned and they backed up a step. In the moonlight, his skin was as pale as a corpse with his hair looking greasy as it hung from his head. And around what was almost glowing emerald eyes were black rings showing this eyes sunken in his skull. Seeing them, he grinned, though there was nothing friendly about it, and revealing yellow, broken teeth, "Why, hello there. Want to come over?" He gestured at his wagon and chuckled, "Always room for a few more."

Petrified, the teens stared in utter terror as he laughed at them before the Moon went behind some clouds again and the lantern blew out. Moments later, when the moonlight returned, the teens let out a scream and rushed back to the Onsen, a ghostly laugh following them.
_______________________________________________________________

Rubbing her eyes, a tired looking Natsumi continued to work on her laptop as she frowned. Behind her, the others were discussing what had happened the night before which had caused them to spend most of the rest of the night barricaded in one of the rooms shaking. Still going through webpages, the fourteen year old girl could hear Nobu arguing with the others, "I'm telling you, I've seen this movie! You know, the one where the young, beautiful woman goes into a home haunted by spirits that torment her and eventually kill her, forcing her to join them at the end!"

Only sighing, Okita gave her a look, "I live that movie every day since I've moved into my current apartment. But I'm still alive and sane... somehow."

Blinking, Nobu frowned, "Wait, our apartment is haunted by an evil spirit?" Throwing her arms into the air, she scowled, "Why does no one ever tell me these things..." Noticing that everyone was just giving her an even stare, the teenage girl frowned and thought for a few moments. Her eyes then widened before giving a glare, "HEY!"

That got some chuckles from the others as Okita waved her off. Even Natsumi at the computer had her lips twitch a little bit. But the conversation turned onto other matters as the lone boy ran a hand through his hair, "Still, I doubt that it is anything like that movie... and there's no well on the property, we asked."

Mumbles met him at that as they nodded in agreement. Various other old stories were talked about briefly, only to be shot down one by one. Something that frustrated all of them.

Until, that is, Natsumi sat up straight with a gasp.

Now looking in her direction, Uesugi frowned as she adjusted her glasses, "You have something, Natsumi-Chan?"

Quickly, she nodded as she waved them over, "Hai, I think I do." As they gathered behind her, Natsumi pointed at her screen which showed an odd image of a creature, "That thing we saw last night? I think... I think that it was a Shinigami."

Frowning, Kaku shook his head with his eyebrows furrowed, "A Shinigami? That... didn't look like a Shinigami."

Everyone paused at that for a few moments before turning to face him with Ayaka speaking for them all, "What the heck do you think that a Shinigami would look like?"

With a shrug, the lone boy shook his head, "Um... like a cute girl in robes?" At their looks, Kaku flushed, "What!? It's possible!"

Her expression blank, and tone dry, Usagi gave him a look, "Anime is not real, you know, Kaku-Kun."

Scoffing, Nobu raised an eyebrow at him, "If your Waifu is a Shinigami? Then your Waifu is sh-Mmph! MMPH!"

Just keeping her hand on Nobu's mouth, Okita sighed, "Please don't." Turning towards Kaku, she shook her head, "She does have a point."

Unable to help herself, Rika grinned and laughed, "A Waifu Shinigami? In this case having a Waifu would definitely ruin your Laifu."

Ignoring Kaku grumbling in embarrassment, they lightly laughed, lightening the mood. Lips twitching a little, Natsumi shook her head before sighing and pointing at the screen, "Anyways, it says here that seeing a Shinigami is a bad omen and a warning. Because they're seen before a disaster strikes somewhere. Often right where the disaster is going to happen."

Thoughtful, Uesugi considered that before nodding as she leaned in to read herself. Adjusting her glasses, she hummed, "According to this, they hang out in areas of darkness and where evil or terrible things happen. Nothing about them following someone, so... we should be safe once we're gone, though maybe warn the owners what we saw, even if they don't believe us."

At that there were nods at the others before Usagi shivered a bit, "Well, we are leaving later today, so we should be safe. And the sooner we get out of here, the sooner we'll all be safe."

Each of them nodded, though no one gave voice to the obvious last words to finish the sentence, 'We hope.'...
______________________________________________________________________

The Sun shone, but it was a group of tired teens who walked into the Hotel lobby and signed in. Beside them, Taichi frowned in concern, "Are you all, alright? You really look beat..."

Attempting to smile, and it not coming out right, Natsumi tried to assure him, "We, uh... just didn't get much sleep last night." Briefly, there was the image of all the teens bundled up and grouped together with all the lights of their room on and then it was gone, "J-just a bit tired."

Only nodding as they finished signing in, they grabbed their bags and noticed that one of the elevators was slowly closing its doors after a group of people had entered it. Rushing towards it, Nobu called out, "Hey! Hold the elevator!"

Suddenly, the elevator's doors stopped closing and opened. The group breathed a sigh of relief as they slowed down only to stop in horror as the doors fully opened. Because there, in the elevator, as a teen their age in a Bellhop uniform...

The same teen they had seen last night.

Giving them all a smile, he made a gesture at the elevator, "Why, hello there. Want to come over? Always room for a few more."

With a sigh, Taichi nodded with a smile back as he took a step towards it, "Thanks-"

However, he was stopped as Natsumi's hand shot out and grabbed his arm. Turning to the Bellhop, she gave him a weak smile, "Ah, on second thought w-we'll take the stairs."

Seeming to be amused, the Bellhop tilted his head, "Are you sure? We have plenty of room..." Briefly, his face changed to that of the ghoul from the night before, "For just a few more..."

Just ignoring Taichi's protestations about the walk up the stairs with their luggage, Uesugi grabbed his other arm, "Hai, we're sure."

The doors to the elevator began to close and the last thing that they saw was the chuckling Bellhop, his one green eye looking at them as the doors completely closed. Frowning, Taichi looked at his sister with a unhappy gaze as the elevator's indicator rose story by story, "What the hell was that all about?! There was plenty of room in the elevator and now we got to climb the stairs."

Her face still pale, Natsumi turned to him, "Uh, w-well... we... I just had a bad feeling."

Confused, her brother was about to ask when the sound of a wire snapping could be heard and everyone in the lobby turned to the elevator. The indicator rapidly went down while there was the sound of screeching metal and screams of terror before there was a loud bang and the sound of crumpling steel as a burst of dust blew past the shaken, and horrified teens. Eyes wide, Taichi rushed towards the elevator, "Oh Kami!"

Meanwhile, the teens could only stare at the reflection in the elevator's metal doors. Within them, the reflection of the Bellhop smiling at them as he looked like the ghoul from the night before, his whisper reaching them over the panic, shouts, and screams, "Always room for a few more..."

Eyes wide, they began to run for the door as his ghastly laughter echoed over the noise...
_______________________________________________________________

As the credits rolled on the screen behind them, Natsumi and the others, including Harry who had shown up just for this, grasped each other's hands and bowed to the audience, "We hope that you enjoyed our film!"

Massive grin on her face, Jin cackled a she stood up and clapped, "Fucking awesome, you bunch! I'm definitely getting a copy!" Shaking her head, she nodded, "Finally! I'm in a damn horror movie!"

She was not the only one as others also stood up and applauded the group. A fact that made them all proud. Nearby on a table were DVDs of the movie with the cover of the closing elevator doors with a green eye peeking out and the title "Always Room For A Few More..." on it.

It went without saying that they sold a number of copies of their forty minute film and made the most money in the festival, thus winning the two nights stay at the Onsen just outside of Yokosuka in a few days...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XVIII)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

6 June, 1945
Spoiler: A De Breuil Council Of War

Jézabel de Breuil's aged hands clenched on her cane as the final image in the flames faded as they resumed their normal red-orange color.

Beside her, the enchanted portrait of her younger self rubbed her painted fingers across her chin from the position it had been moved to witness the report that Delilah and Zamarad had just given.

Presently she gave her daughter a look. "You are certain then? I haven't seen the Arnold boy for over a decade."

Delilah sighed. "Reasonably certain, Mère. When we met in Germany, I was feeling impulses to neutralize him when he entered. Now, that is nothing new when someone enters the room with me as you know. After all, I have to suppress the impulse to shoot to kill on a fairly regular basis." Delilah's thin smile showed no warmth as she continued in a precisely analytical manner, "but I was at least as worked up as when Henry Adams was stolen from me by that Chinese-Canadian bitch Wei Ying during Fifth Year. With no good or even bad reason to open fire save for the aura of corruption that a Shayṭān apparently generates."

Jézabel sighed and shook her head. "Yes, I remember that little incident dear. Certainly not your finest hour at all. At least you managed to restrict yourself to beaning her with the Quaffle during the match the next day rather than shooting her. Somehow, since I know all too well what kind of a vicious temper you had as a girl. Still have although you keep it controlled."

Delilah sighed and blushed at the memories. "I was sorely tempted to blow that smug infuriating smirk off Ying's face with a bullet, believe me. Looking back on my scapegrace schoolgirl days, I think the main reason that I didn't was that I wasn't going to give the little Canuck the satisfaction of knowing that she had scored a big point on me. I swear, she rubs me the wrong way and I cannot pin down what it is that sets me off."

The painting coughed. "Getting back to our problem at hand rather than Del's issues with her contact north of the border. If in fact Ben Arnold is possessed or working in league with this Shayṭān, how much damage can it do? What kind of powers and capabilities does it have?"

Zamarad sighed. "I don't know the specifics, not without examining it. That would reveal my presence to it since we can sense each other, although I can conceal myself somewhat by banking my essence down to a fraction in Delilah's ring while the bulk inhabits another flame. What we can actually do depends on our heritage since certain bloodlines are stronger than others, and also how much the jinn has practiced and used her powers. I am from an exceptionally strong bloodline as the daughter of an Emir and a Sultan, but very young, the same age as Delilah in fact. So while I have the potential to overpower it, I doubt that I can unassisted right now."

Delilah nodded. "You mentioned inborn powers to me, Zamarad?"

Zamarad nodded and absently waved a hand at the fireplace. The flames there formed themselves into Arabic script as she spoke. "We are the Children of Smokeless Fire and rulers of Flame. I can master any normal fire and a fair few supernatural ones that I see and make them mine to control, ignite, or extinguish. I was even able to take control and snuff Delilah's summoning of Fiendfyre day before yesterday for a test, although that was difficult. Even among my family, I am known to have that knack strongly, though. I can also of course set objects or people on fire that I see with a glance and a command. So that makes me a dangerous combatant, but that is in some ways the least of my powers."

"Oh? Do elaborate." Jézabel leaned forward with a creak of wood from her chair.

Zamarad caused the flames to form a miniature doppelganger of Delilah. "We also have inborn power over destiny. Your folklore has tales of those blessed or cursed by fate, or destined to perform a certain deed, yes? One of us, or a group of us acting in conjunction, can alter the fate of a target with the application of our will and magic. Essentially locking our target into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Which can be... unpleasant to the target at best. My sister's husband was cursed by a Shayṭān that he fought to witness the death of my sister in child bed and then fight his cousin Colombe to the death."

Delilah's eyes widened in shock. "You never told us this, Zamarad."

Zamarad spoke quietly. "I did not want to bring up your sister's old wounds, my love. But now it becomes relevant because it shows the strengths... and limitations of that power. When Tamenokalt aibnatu Alnaar, Karl Potter, and Colombe du Chasteler fought the Shayṭān it could have targeted any of the three. However, Tamenokalt was immune to that power. As a jinn, we are masters of such things and it was not powerful enough to overwrite her but could strike her indirectly through Karl. Colombe...could have been cursed, but has a Destiny already. According to Tamenokalt and confirmed by my observations of her, she has been touched by one of the Great Powers to do certain things. Humans like her, along with the great figures of history such as King Solomon, Alexander the Great, Suleyman the Magnificent, and similar are immune and any attempt to divert their course rebounds upon the jinn quite badly indeed."

Jézabel spoke with old pain and heartbreak in her voice, "Norimune would be another then. What I know of her history is that she is a key figure and the fact that the ICW has concealed that has wounded her greatly."

Zamarad nodded solemnly, "I shall take your words about Delilah's father as truth then. But more relevantly in the case of Delilah, she has been touched by one of the Higher Powers of this land, and any attempt to meddle with her destiny that run contrary to the higher power's wishes would end spectacularly poorly."

Delilah murmured. "Yes, White Buffalo Woman of the Lakota pantheon."

Zamarad rubbed her chin. "Quite. But as Tamenokalt's example demonstrates, while Delilah and myself are shielded from direct harm with this power, we can be struck indirectly. As far as I can determine, you are vulnerable to it Jézabel."

Delilah then joined in. "Which is part of the reason why Zamarad and I came back here. We talked about this and have a plan that should immunize you from the worst that our foe can do."

Jézabel looked between her daughter and, she mentally sighed at the thought, future daughter-in-law. "Go on."

"With your permission, we will preempt that by locking your destiny into a course that will be difficult to alter." Delilah explained, leaning forward, "Specifically, Zamarad will twist it so that you reunite and are reconciled with Father with my assistance as you are now. Any attempt to curse you to a gruesome premature death, twist your body into alien shapes, curse you to fall hopelessly in love with another, and so on will bounce off that as it links you into my destiny as well as Father's. It is risky, since we would need the approval of Father's divine patron to avoid a catastrophic backlash onto Zamarad, although I sense that White Buffalo Woman at least approves of my role in matters."

Jézabel began to weep uncontrollably and the painting's eyes were shiny as well.

After a minute, the still weeping Jézabel nodded frantically. "P-please...." she choked out in a desperate whisper.

Zamarad got up and walked to kneel on the rug in front of the chair where Jézabel sat. Delilah followed and the two young women linked hands, and then each took one of Jézabel's worn and withered hands in hers.

Zamarad closed her eyes and gathered her fiery essence, feeling the reassuring cool solidity of Delilah forming a base for her to attempt this. She reached out with her very being, sensing the now frayed red strands of fate that once had woven Muramasa-no-Norimune and Jézabel de Breuil together.
Spoiler: Norimune and Jézabel

A flash of a much younger Jézabel throwing on a hooded cloak to explore the nightlife of the brawling, sin-filled boomtown that was San Francisco in during the California gold rush of the 1850s.

A blond-haired and blue eyed face, which Zamarad realized was that of Delilah's father, twisted in frustration and exasperation as Norimune asked Jézabel how she could be so stupid to nearly get 'recruited' into a brothel in the notorious Tenderloin District.

Meetings in gambling houses, bars, and saloons, where the world-weary and soul-sick sword's heroic spirit and that of a naive but confident socialite from the sheltered cloisters of the First Families of MACUSA found common ground, respect, and attraction that turned into love.

Norimune speaking to Jézabel in drunken monologues, playful banter, war stories, and eventually pillow talk as they held each other in their arms after sating their passions with each other. Each word opening up cracks in the armor of cynicism, guilt, and remorse that shielded the aching and battered heart of a true hero who had sacrificed so much for so long with so few triumphs to her name. Each word in return trying desperately to comfort and soothe agonies greater than one sword should have to bear alone.

Jézabel finding out that her father had intended to trap Norimune all along to win trade concessions in Japan. Reverting to her inborn habits of social maneuvering and passive-aggressive combat that she had learned as her training to be a future matriarch in MACUSA. Not realizing how her words would sound to the sword listening to their argument. Not realizing that Norimune would view this as a particularly bitter and cruel betrayal by someone who she loved so deeply.

Jézabel realizing that while she had argued, Norimune had fled. Letter after letter explaining her position then begging Norimune to return to her sent back unopened.

Then the awful night when she understood that her ill humors, inability to keep solid food down and growing belly were not merely an illness, but instead caused by the child in her womb who she had just felt kick. More and more desperate returned letters as her stomach swelled and her Father argued for her to have the half-human abomination aborted.

Finding the inner strength in herself to stand up to her domineering father in an argument that would hasten the onset of the fatal stroke that killed him. Before his disbelieving eyes, the young frightened timid pregnant girl that he had raised was replaced by a young woman with flashing green eyes and a will of tempered steel as strong of that that her love and her daughter had in their true bodies. A young woman who had sworn on her broken and bleeding heart, on the ruins of her true love, and on the love that she had for the infant Delilah inside her that she would not compound her mistakes and errors, but would instead live up to the potential that Norimune had seen and helped her find.

Giving birth to her only child Delilah Naomi de Breuil-Muramasa and seeing the deadly lethal weight of the revolver appearing on the table by her bed. Swearing to the ghost of Norimune in her heart that she would raise her daughter to be a fellow hero and someone that Norimune would be proud one day to be known as the father of.

Finding out that MACUSA had captured Norimune for execution for her actions in the American Civil War, and frantically pulling every string that she had available in the webs of intrigue and obligation that she had begun to weave throughout MACUSA. Saving Norimune's life at the cost of permanent exile, and having to hide her actions, only letting Norimune know that the mysterious 'Anne Winters' had managed to pay the bribes and use blackmail to set her free to return to Japan.

Decade after decade fighting battles for the soul of America and MACUSA as the director of the Magical Information Bureau and the secret head of the clandestine Winters Network. For just as Norimune had fought on the battlefield in 1776, 1812, and then again in 1861 to birth and protect the American Dream, so too would Jézabel de Breuil fight with honeyed words, poison in the cup, blackmail, bribery, and reports leaked to the press to save the soul of the nation that her great love had shed blood to make happen.

Raising Delilah as her successor, confidante, right-hand-woman and general executive officer to fight the good fight as Jézabel felt old age overtake her inexorably. Trying with all her heart to redeem the oath and promise that she had given Norimune at Delilah's birth, that one day the Unrepentant Blade of the Mad Smith would be proud to claim her youngest daughter as her own as the result of an act of heroism that produced something true, and pure, and good that could never be taken from Muramasa-no-Norimune.

Zamarad sensed more than saw a great white Dove watching her actions with interest as she and Delilah's powers combined to repair and mend what they could, using her flames and powers supported by her love's essence to reforge a formerly frayed cord of shared memories and dreams, love and pain, remorse and grief and sadness that one day would cause words to be said -- to perhaps not mend the damage, for it was truly deep and sorrowful and both Norimune and Jézabel were not now what they had been -- to at least achieve some measure of reconciliation and forgiveness and understanding.

Some healing.

-----------------------------------
Spoiler: Loved And Never Forgotten

Assam Hills, Burma

In a jungle clearing, a hungry, thirsty, dirty, and exhausted Muramasa-no-Norimune watched the campfire flicker and gutter.

She had been thinking how easy it would be to just wander off into the jungle and die.

Who would miss her, after all?

Not her sisters, not truly. Bitches one and all there.

Not her fellow fighters in the remnants of her unit as they retreated in front of the unstoppable allied advance into the collapsing Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. One less mouth for the inadequate rations to be split between.

Not the Imperial Japanese Army and the Kamo Government who had entrapped and tricked and betrayed her. They never had deserved her loyalty anyway.

She had been thinking not even Hachiman-no-kami would truly miss losing a flawed and worthless blade such as her.

A failure.

The flames flared up emerald as one of the branches in it snapped and for a brief moment, she saw the face of a green-eyed and auburn haired witch in them. The emerald firelight gleamed from the softly glowing dove menuki on her hilt.

Jézabel.

The aching pain of Jézabel's betrayal of her was strangely absent in this moment, and she remembered the past unclouded by her regrets and failures and misconceptions of what she had shared with Jézabel de Breuil and how deeply they had loved each other.

Perhaps....

The campfire died down as Norimune rolled over in her thin blanket and tried to find some rest before resuming the retreat that would take back to her homeland of Japan.

Back to her sisters.

Back to her family.

And one day in the unguessed future ahead of her, back to her unknown to her as yet daughters and grandchildren who were seeking her even now.

Because they loved her in their own ways and despite their own flaws and shortcomings.

Because they loved her.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Clapping her hands, Louisiana smiled at the group before her, "Welcome, my friends, to my cooking lesson." Lips twitching a bit, she gave a deep, rich chuckle, "Thankfully, we will be able to use mon chéri's kitchen for cooking today."

Softly smiling, Sheff glanced at the rest of the group that consisted of Kansha, Saki, and Hinata in her human form, "I think that we should be thanking you, Miss Louisiana. After all, this is a new form of cooking that we have not been exposed to and..." Glancing around, he frowned thoughtfully as Saki nodded in agreement with his next bit, "I must admit, I am interested in learning."

Hinata gave a small nod of her own, "Hai, it is much the same here." Lips curling into a smile, she hummed a bit, "I will never turn down any new form of cooking after all. And from what I hear, some of your meals use rice, so I am interested in it."

When she looked at him, Kansha gave a shrug and a grin, "I've got nothing different to say from what the others say. I live for cooking after all."

Just chuckling, the Battleship nodded and gestured for them to follow her, which they did. While Harry's corner of the kitchen was not large, it was not small either as often he had help. Thus they were all able to fit in the area with little difficulty, though they did not have much extra room.

Once they all had on their aprons, Hinata glanced as she washed her hands once Louisiana was done, "So what are we making today?"

Drying her hands, Lousiana nodded, "Today we shall be making Cajun dishes in the form of po' boys, jambalaya, gumbo, and dirty rice as well as perhaps some soul food."

That last one gave the three Japanese beings there a pause and they turned to her. Clearing his throat, Kansha raised an eyebrow, "Uh, 'dirty rice'? That... does not sound appetizing."

More amused then anything else, Louisiana chuckled, "Non, I suppose not. But it iz not actually dirty, you see. It iz called such because the ingrediants, the beef, pork, chicken, and others will turn the rice brown. As if it were dirty, you see. Nothing else."

Relaxing, Kansha chuckled as well at that, "Okay, I think that I understand. So... what is first."

Simply humming, the American Battleship gave a slight nod, "First, we shall prepare ze po' boy as we are making one with roast beef. Though one could make it with fried shrimp, fried oysters, catfish..." As she continued to list off ingredients, the three others were listening in bemusement until she was done. She then gestured them over as she brought out a large chunk of beef, "Now, we must begin with the chuck beef. It iz what one needs to use in a New Orleans style po'boy. Then we bring out the beef stock to simmer it in along with other ingredients..."

After a few minutes of helping her prepare the stock as well as the seasonings, Hinata raised an eyebrow at Lousiana, "And how long does the cooking take?"

Bemused, as she expected their reaction, Louisiana gestured at the clock, "It will take a few hours, you see, of it simmering before it iz done." At their looks of surprise, she smirked, "To make a po'boy properly, the roast must be done well enough that it falls apart at a stare."

There was a considering look on the Jorogumo's face which made Saki look at her, "You have an idea?"

Humming as she slowly nodded with furrowed eyebrows, Hinata smiled slightly, "If the meat is that soft once done, I wonder if I could mix it with something more traditionally Japanese. Such as Gyūdon with the beef being replaced with this type of roast beef."

Upon hearing that, Kansha became thoughtful himself, "Hmm... now there is an interesting idea." Shaking it off, he noted that Louisiana brought out celery, green bell pepper, and onion, "What are we to use those for?"

Amused, Louisiana gestured at the vegetables, "These are the Holy Trinity of Cajun and Creole cooking! Onions, green bell peppers, and the celery." She then pulled out a garlic bulb, "Though perhaps we shall add the Pope, non?"

For a few moments, Sheff stared at her before his lips began to twitch. Finally, he was unable to help himself and turned as he began to snicker madly, which only amused the Battleship. Looking at him, Kansha blinked in confusion, "What's with him?"

Coughing into one fist, Saki has a slight smirk on her face, "He's English and, well... calling a garlic the Pope, that... He has reason to laugh."

Utterly lost at what is so funny, the Jorogumo shook her head and turned back to Louisiana who had a smirk on her face, "So how do we cook them then?"

With just a nod, Louisiana smiled a little, "We use them in what is known as the mirepoix for the foods that we are making."

Having calmed down, Sheff turned around and had a thoughtful look, "So once more slow cooking." At the looks from the other two outside of Saki, he shook his head, "One of my Mistresses had tried a French cookbook once. You cook them slowly in butter, fat, or some sort of cooking oil. But you need to do it slowly over a low heat to prevent them from browning."

Eyebrow raised, the lone Muramasa there frowned, "Why wouldn't you want to brown them? Is that not normal for cooking?"

Much to his surprise, Saki was the one who answered as she wagged a finger in his direction, "Quite the opposite as this way of cooking sweetens the vegetables and brings out more of a taste."

Nodding in agreement, Louisiana had a happy smile on her face, "Oui, that is correct, Miz Saki. Though unlike normal mirepoix, we have one part of each vegetable..."

As they continued to cook, Kansha looked at the Battleship, "There seems to be a lot of slow cooked meals here, is that common?"

With a slow nod, Louisiana glanced at the beef cooking, "Oui, it is, Mister Kansha. But not as slow as proper barbecue." At his interested look, she smiled, "It can take hours to get the meat properly cooked just right."

Cocking an eyebrow as he chopped some vegetables, Sheff frowned, "Hours? Really?"

Once more, the American nodded with a chuckle, "Oui. In proper barbecue, the meat, it just falls off the bones." She licked her lips a little bit, "It is one of my more popular dishes come the summer when I make it my smoker with my barbecue sauce."

The others considered that before nodding, Saki humming as she helped cook the vegetables, "I think that Master enjoys your smoked barbecue. The smoke helps flavor the food as well, right?" When Louisiana made a sound of agreement, she chuckled, "I can imagine it being popular."

Watching as the other shipgirl pulled out some sausages, Hinata considered them as Louisiana told all that they were Andouille sasauge, "Where did you get the sausage from, Louisiana-Senpai? Do you have it sent over via convoy?"

Unable to help herself, Louisiana shook her head, "Non, I make them myself." At the surprised looks, she made a gesture towards the distance, "There is an hidden island further along the coastline. It is overrun with wild pigs, so no one cares if we go and hunt them, which I do. I then make the sausage from them afterwards as well."

Just considering that, the Jorogumo gave a nod, "Maybe you could tell me where the island is, Louisiana-Senpai? And, um... possibly teach me how to make them?"

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Louisiana nodded, "I do not mind at all, Miz Hinata. Not in the slightest."

As they went back to cooking under the shipgirl's direction, Saki frowned slightly, "What sort of bread do we use for the sandwiches by the way? That way we can be finished in time."

Glancing at her, the Battleship chuckled, "Oui, that may be a good idea. We shall make some New Orleans style French bread, fresh from the ovens for it..."
______________________________________________________________________

Several hours later, as the Sun began to set, a van pulled up into a parking space and the driver's door opened to reveal Suzume step out. Taking a deep sniff of the air, the wolf Yokai could feel her stomach grumble a bit at the smells that came out before she turned to the passenger door where Hachiko came out of, "Well, welcome to the Yokosuka base, Hachiko-Kun."

The Inugami hanyou glanced around as he helped Aki out from the van, "Are you sure that this is alright, Suzume-San? I trust Moriko-Chan..." Lightly blushing, he shook his head, "But I don't want to trouble you any."

Leaning against the van, Suzume shook her head, "It's fine, Hachiko-Kun. The food is practically free for shipgirls and cheap for other people due to the amount made. And family as well as dependants of shipgirls get a discount making it even cheaper."

Hachiko had an expression on his face that stated that he was still unsure about it, but nodded, "If you and Moriko-Chan say it is alright, then it likely will be I suppose."

Beside him, Aki stood on his tip toes and sniffed the air before he felt his mouth water at the smells that he could detect, "It smells really, really good, Tou-San!" Taking another sniff, he closed his eyes, "Really good."

With his lips twitching, Hachiko ruffled his hair, "Well, if you say it smells good, then it must be." It was then that he noticed a grinning Suzume move Aki away and blinked, "What?"

Right then, he noticed a shadow and turned as Moriko appeared, "Hachiko-Chan." Moments later, she embraced him and he was given a tour of an Ibuki Class' fuel tanks, "Come here."

Despite his embarrassment, the Inugami Hanyou still smiled a bit. Especially when Moriko pulled back and lifted him up to give him a hard kiss, one that he fully returned as his fingers buried themselves in her wild mane of hair, "Mmm, Moriko-Chan..."

As she wheeled up, Sachiko giggled as Aki had an odd look on his face, "Tou-San and Moriko-Nee-San is silly." That got him snickers which confused him, but he shrugged it off as he remembered a few days earlier when he asked Hachiko when he could call Moriko "Kaa-San", which got all sorts of sputters from his brother. Funny, but he was a bit confused when the older Hanyou told him not for some time with an odd expression on his face, 'Wierd...'

Meanwhile, Suzume was grinning as she held up her phone and recorded what was happening to later post on Shipgirls Online again. She fully expected the thread to blow up again after all. Finally though, she cleared her throat, "I think that we should be going, Moriko-Chan, Hachiko-Kun. After all, if we don't we might not get the good stuff."

Not exactly wanting to, Moriko gently set Hachiko down, with the male of the two adjusting his glasses. Grinning, the muscular wolfess licked her lips which got a blush from her boyfriend, "True enough. Especially with Louisiana-San cooking today."

Confused a little, Hachiko raised an eyebrow at her, "Louisiana-San?" It took him a few moments to place the name, "The American Battleship?"

With a hum, the Okami took his hand, their fingers entwining with each other as they began to walk towards the Mess Hall, "Hai, one and the same. She cooks food from the American South including Cajun and what they call Southern Barbecue." Once more, she licked her lips with a happy growl, "Trust me, you would not believe how good her barbecue is. Especially pulled pork sandwiches."

Shuddering, Sachiko had a hungry look on her face, "Too bad that she hasn't had the time to cook that yet."

Head cocked to the side curiously, Aki furrowed her eyebrows, "Um, barbecue? Like that Korean place we once went to?"

Only shaking her head as she took the young Hanyou's hand, Suzume smiled, "Better in some ways actually. She takes the meat and smokes it as it cooks, and adds this sauce to it." Licking her lips, she growled a little herself, "The meat is slow cooked so well over several hours, it easily falls from the bone, but not cooked to the point where it turns black. And it is so juicy and good! And there's so much meat to choose from... pork, beef, and chicken as well as others."

Also licking her lips, the wheelchair bound of the sisters hummed, "Hai... remember when she cooked up rabbit?"

Much to Hachiko's and Aki's confused amusement, the three sisters shuddered. The older of the two males chuckling, "I'll have to see about trying some."

Softly growling, Moriko kissed him again before pulling back some, "I'll have to bring you when she makes some again..." A grin crossed her lips and her next words made him blush, "And be able to taste it when we kiss."

Not saying anything, Hachiko scratched his cheek.

Moments later, they entered the Mess Hall and his younger brother's eyes widened at the sheer amount of activity that was there, "Wow..."

Unable to help herself, Suzume giggled a little before shaking her head and giving his hand a light squeeze, "Now, don't let go, Aki-Kun, okay? It can get a bit busy... but I'll help you see what they have."

Entering the line, they took their trays for their meals though some of the shipgirls noticed that the couple really did not want to let go of their hands. As he walked along, Hachiko blinked as he noticed one tray and what it was marked as, "Dirty rice?"

With a nod, Moriko pointed at it, "It's not dirty, Hachiko-Chan. The rice is that color because it's cooked with the chicken giblets."

An understanding look crossed Hachiko's face at that, "Ah, that makes sense. I suppose that would change the color of the rice in that case." Deciding to get a "Small" serving, he still blinked at the amount that was there, 'Huh...'

The line only moved along a short distance before Sachiko gave a gasp, "Chicken fried steak!" Licking her lips, she held her tray up, "I would like some of that, please."

Curious as he watched on his tiptoes as something that looked like a breaded cutlet was placed on a plate and covered with a white sauce, with peas added to one side, Aki blinked, "Chicken fried steak?"

Looking down at him, Suzume nodded with a smile, "Hai, it is like a cutlet in that they bread a tenderized steak and fry it. Then, they cover it in a white sauce." Amused, she gave her youngest sister a look, "Sachiko-Chan loves it when they serve it."

Expression one of mock outrage, the younger Okami gave her sister a sniff, "I will have you know that I am a shipgirl under construction, so I need the protein."

Snickers from her sisters answered her as they walked along the line and got other foods. When they got to a table, they had Aki sit on one side of the table with Sachiko and Suzume on either side of him. Across from them, Moriko sat down with Hachiko beside her. Examining the plate of jambalaya as well as the bowl of dirty rice and piece of bread, he nodded, "It does smell and look good."

Rubbing her hands together, Moriko grinned as she looked at her own, much larger dinner, "Tell me about it, though that's usual for Louisiana-San's cooking." Just licking her lips, she lifted up her po'boy which was large for a sandwich and filled with gravy covered meat as well as lettuce, tomatoes, and sliced pickles, "Come here you..."

Unable to help himself, Aki gave a giggle before turning to his own meal, which was much smaller than his older brother's. Like Hachiko though, he had a plate of jambalaya as well as one of gumbo and sniffed it with a curious look. Taking a spoonful of the second, he took a bite and his eyes widened as he chewed before swallowing, "It's really good, Tou-San!"

Only chuckling at the antics of his brother, the older of the two Hanyou shook his head, "I'll take your word on it." Using his own spoonful, but of the jambayala, he blinked after tasting it, "... It really is good."

Sharing a look, Sachiko and Suzume turned back to him, "Told you so."

All four of the older people there smiled at Aki giggling madly at their antics. However, noticing that the young Hanyou was looking at her steak, Sachiko smiled at him, "Want a taste?" Rapidly nodding, she cut a small piece off, wiped it into the sauce, and then put it on his place, "Here you go, Aki-Kun."

Just sighing, Hachiko gave her an amused look, especially as Suzume then tore a piece off her own po'boy and placed it on Aki's plate, "You two are going to get him spoiled."

Blinking, his younger brother grinned, "That's okay if they do, Tou-San."

When his ears popped though as he bit into the piece of sandwich, Hachiko panicked a little and was about to say something when Moriko placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's fine, Hachiko-Chan. He's perfectly safe here after all..." Hand moving down to rub his back, she nodded in another direction, "He's in good company after all."

Confused, Hachiko looked in that direction and his eyes widened at the sight of a undisguised Kyuubi there eating a sandwich the same size as Moriko's and with a lot more on her plate. Beside her was a young, one armed young man who was obviously part Japanese, another young woman who looked to be his sister as well as an older woman and man who he guessed were their parents. But beside the older woman was a group of children with their Yokai features out in the open.

Looking around, his eyes widened a bit more as they were not the only ones as some others also had Yokai features.

He relaxed a little as Moriko's breath ghosted past his ear, something that provoked a shiver though not one of fear, "See? He is perfectly safe to let it out here. No one will have issue and he won't get in trouble for it."

As he turned back, Hachiko noticed that Aki's ears were pressed against his head as he shrunk a little in his seat, "Sorry, Tou-San..."

Somewhat to his surprise though, Hachiko shook his head, "It's fine, Aki-Kun. Like Moriko-Chan said, it's okay for that to happen here." When his little brother's expression brightened, he gestured at the food, "Go ahead and eat, Aki-Kun. Then you can have that red velvet cupcake."

Turning to Suzume, he got a nod from the wolfess, "Hai, and they're really good. They use this icing that they call 'ermine frosting' on it and it's really good."

Now relaxed, the older of the two Hanyou was about to turn back to his meal when he noticed that Moriko had torn off the end of her sandwich and was holding it out, "Hmm? Is that for me?"

Softly smiling, Moriko nodded, "Hai, it is... go ahead and try it, Hachiko-Chan." The two had a glance filled with a silent conversation before Hachiko leaned forward and began to eat it, which got a growl from the muscular wolfess. When he was finished, she raised an eyebrow, "Good?"

With a nod, Hachiko licked his lips a little, "Hai, it was." Noticing her look, he frowned, "I got some gravy on my face, don't I?"

His girlfriend chuckled a little, "You do, here... let me." Leaning forward, she licked his cheek where it was with a slight blush, "There we go... all gone."

Blushing some, Hachiko shook his head before glancing at his jambalaya and filling a spoon with it. Holding it out, he smiled, "Here you go, Moriko-Chan."

Now it was Moriko's turn to blush, but she leaned forward and took it, "Mmm... good."

Across from them, it took everything for her sisters not to giggle madly as the two continued to feed each other food throughout dinner. And, keep themselves from squeeing when they started to feed each other red velvet cake. They did notice various shipgirls recording the dinner on their cell phones and swore that they could hear someone shout about their servers.

Meanwhile, Aki just shrugged off the adults being wierd in his mind and continued to eat his dinner. Though he did agree that the cupcake was great and he wanted more... if his tummy was not so filled with food. And he softly giggled, half asleep due to a food coma, as his older brother when they left was once more shoved face first into Moriko's chest, and then kissed by her.

He did like that Hachiko stated that maybe they could have other dinners there as he dozed off...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XIX)

De Breuil Estate, Upstate New York

4 July, 1945
Spoiler: A De Breuil Luncheon

"Good afternoon, Congressman Borah." Delilah smiled as she escorted the plump congressman from the Floo Portal to the parlor as her mother's designated hostess.

"Howdy there, Miz de Breuil." The Congressman drawled as Delilah escorted him inside and curtsied to Jezabel, who was sitting with a shawl in her lap. "You are lookin' mighty fine indeed."

In the chair beside Jézabel, a Zamarad whose avatar looked to be about seven years old petted a striped tabby kitten in her lap as she curiously watched a second kitten from the litter that Mouser had given birth to chase and pounce an animated piece of yarn. Delilah's lips flickered in a small smug smile as she realized the ploy at hand as she pulled out a bottle of Old Toby's Premium Firewhisky for her guest.

"Thank you kindly, Congressman. May I introduce Miss Emma Fakhoury from Algiers?" Actually not a total lie, since she apparently does have one branch of her clan in the area. "She is a war orphan, her parents were part of the French Resistance against Grindelwald until they got executed shortly before we pushed them out of Africa." The best lies have a leavening of truth as Mother taught me. "They saved my unit with their information, so I adopted their orphaned daughter and brought her home with us rather than leave her to beg on the streets. You already know my mother, of course."

"That's mighty kind of y'all, Miz de Breuil. Mighty kind indeed." Borah agreed as she handed him the shot glass of firewhisky.

Delilah smiled happily. "Thank you very much.I fear I must perform my rounds as Mother's able assistant as hostess, since we have another guest arriving."

With that she headed to the portal as a bell chimed to signal another imminent arrival. She curtsied to the tall and thin patrician features of Congressman Dominic Arnold, chairman of the MACUSA Finance and Oversight committee. The mane of gray-white hair and mutton-chops that had given him his name of 'Lion of the Congress' wagged as he nodded his head. "Major de Breuil. It is good to see you once more. Benedict mentioned you in his letter to me last month."

Delilah gave him her best smile as behind her warm welcoming expression and twinkling eyes, her brain moved at overdrive computing probabilities. "Oh? Nothing bad I hope, Congressman."

"Quite the reverse, really. He said that you did an admirable job crushing Grindelwald's fanatics and he wishes that you were in Germany working under him dealing with their remnants and the filthy Reds." Arnold said in his nasal Boston voice as she escorted him into the parlor.

"Thank you very much, Congressman." Delilah agreed pleasantly as she spared a glance for Zamarad while pouring firewhiskey for the other guest.

The disguised Ifrit picked up the indignant kitten and began to babble in French to it. "Qui est un bon petit garçon? Oui tu oui tu es..."(who is a good little boy yes you yes you are)


"Emma." A clearly unamused Jézabel gave the 'child' one of her basilisk stares. "I fear that you need to have an English Lesson to learn our language. If you must play with my cats, at least do so in a language everyone speaks. Delilah," Jézabel gave the braced to attention Delilah a commanding glare, "I expect you to correct that problem with her education before she is sent to boarding school to prepare for Ilvermorny. It would reflect poorly upon us should she be unable to express herself properly. Go and tend to that now."

Delilah nodded in obedience as she took Zamarad's hand. "You can play with the cats later, Emma. For now, let us head to the downstairs kitchen and I shall get some sandwiches to teach you outside in the apple orchard."

Jézabel watched her daughter go and shook her head. "She means well, but still has much to learn."

Borah laughed. "She's been an Auror since I was a boy and you still treat her like she was six and raiding the cookie jar, Jez. Still out with it, you didn't ask us over for lunch to show off your new project." Arnold nodded in agreement, his eyes intent.

Jézabel gave a thin smile. "We know that the War will end soon. The No-Maj have taken Okinawa and the next step is Japan itself. Germany has already fallen and Grindelwald is in custody, with Kamo to follow suit. I have recently received word that the Navy has confirmed Yamatai is on the bottom of the Pacific now, so revenge for our dead there. We need to look ahead now. That young child is indicative of a greater problem on our hands, gentlemen. "

Borah frowned as he thought about how this would impact the Foreign Affairs Committee that he chaired. "How so?"

Jézabel shook her head with a frown on her face. "The events of the last four years since we were attacked on December Seventh have proved that our oceans are no shield from other people's problems slopping over onto us. MIB was able to warn us in time to prepare for the war with Grindelwald, but Kamo blindsided us because we did not have enough eyes looking outward. Worse yet, the old empires are tottering. The British are a shell of what they were before the Great War, and France is regaining what they had before they fell. They can no longer keep a lid on matters in Europe, Asia, and the Colonies any more. Which leaves us and the Soviets."

Arnold nodded as he sipped his drink. "Us and the Reds."

"Indeed. Worse is that either we prop up someone in Germany and Japan or cede control to let the Soviets do that. If we cede control, than we leave ourselves vulnerable to another sneak attack once more. Director Johnston forwarded me a report that says that the No-Maj government plans on a permanent occupation of Japan just like Germany, at least until matters can be resolved there and we can root out the fascists." Jézabel's eyes glittered as she continued. "Which means we need to make the wartime expansion of MIB more regular and start to handle things that we cannot expect others in the ICW to handle for us. Also I have copies of Delilah's memories of the kind of devastation the No-maj armies inflicted upon communities in Europe and Africa, and to be blunt we need to insure they never point their guns at us."

Jézabel finished, looking at the other two congressmen. "In short, we need to rethink our position on isolation and start to take a more proactive approach to our threats, lest our enemies instead do such for us...."

Meanwhile outside in the apple orchard Delilah cuddled with the now-adult Zamarad and fed her wood chips as they listened to the supposedly private conversation through the flames that Zamarad was controlling in the parlor fireplace and outside in a campfire.

Delilah kissed the Ifrit as she watched the scene. "This is quite a useful ability of yours. I am also glad that you gave me the coded all-clear sign about Congressman Arnold so I won't have to arrange a fatal accident for him."

Magical Congress of the United States Headquarters, Woolworth Building, New York City

August 8th, 1945

The newly pinned silver oak leaves on Lieutenant Colonel of Aurors Delilah de Breuil's shoulders shook with the trembling in her frame. Slowly the newly minted deputy assistant head of the now-forming Near Eastern Department of the Magical Information Bureau rewound the memory of the newsreel that had just been seen by the No-Maj today. Showing what the No-Maj had managed to do.

Inside the ring that she wore, Zamarad had equal emotions of disbelief, shock, and awe at what she was witnessing. She remembered a phrase from the Hindu epic of the Bhagavad Gita that she had read in the Potter's library.

A phrase that, unknowing to her, had been spoken by J. Robert Oppenheimer at 5:29 AM on the morning of July 16th, 1945.

The Dawning of the Atomic Age.
Spoiler: I Am Become Death, The Destroyer Of Worlds

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XX)

New York City

August 14th, 1945 (V-J Day)
Spoiler: V-J Day

Delilah was hard at work typing out a memo to justify the hiring of an Arab-language expert to work with her when the shouting outside the office registered.

Irritated, she stuck her head out the door to her office and snapped. "Keep it down, I'm trying to work here!"

"The Japs threw in the towel!" was the response from a happily grinning Tina Goldstein as she waved a special edition of the New York Ghost at her.

The top half of the page was a two word headline.

WAR ENDS

Delilah's eyes bulged and she teared up. She joined her own voice to the celebration in the main area of the Magical Information Bureau. "Right, anyone working for me, come back in twenty-four...no. Seventy-two hours! Don't do anything to let the No-maj know who we are and don't look to have me bail anyone out of the drunk tank because I'll be in there with you all!!"

With that proclamation, Delilah joined the general exodus to the growing party in the streets outside. She paused to enter a restroom on the second floor and hastily summoned Zamarad in a toilet stall. "You saw?"

The Ifrit nodded with tears in her eyes and gave Delialh a deep, passionate kiss. "Indeed I did!"

Delilah returned the kiss, grinning happily. "No need to hide our relationship today, I think. Not with how everyone will celebrate."

With that the Ifrit and revolver made their way to the streets outside. "So, the big question is," she accepted a bottle from a passerby who saw her uniform and drained it after giving him a kiss, "is where do we go to celebrate. Times Square, maybe, but...."

Zamarad gave her a hooded look. "Let's shop for jewelry then."

Delilah laughed and headed to the nearest subway station. "I bet you a kiss that all the sales clerks at Tiffany's are out partying."

Tiffany & Company

727 5th Avenue, New York City, New York
Spoiler: An Ifrit In Emerald...

Delilah, looking seriously ruffled from kisses given and received and grinning ear to ear alongside an equally beaming Zamarad entered the upscale luxury retailer. At the sight of a pair of elderly clerks she laughed ruefully and whispered to Zamarad. "I guess you win our bet."

The Ifrit gave a smouldering gaze as she nodded happily, clad in a finely cut dark brown woolen dress from Delilah's closet.

The nearest clerk turned to them. "Can I help you ladies?"

Delilah smiled and curtsied in her Women's Army Corps uniform. "Actually, yes sir." She spoke in her most upper-crust New York accent. "My friend Emma here shall be wed to my brother John once he returns from overseas duty in Germany. Mother has agreed to assist her in assembling her bridal trousseau and we were wondering what selection you have of fine jewelries that we can price so I can report to Mother to make her wedding the talk of the Hamptons."

The Clerk noticed the extreme upper-class bearing of the WAC captain in front of him along with the clear quality of Zamarad's outfit and nodded to himself mentally. "Follow me please, ladies. I shall see about bringing out a selection that will satisfy."

Twenty minutes later, Zamarad clutched Delilah's arm hard enough to bruise as the clerk brought out a platinum, emerald and diamond Art Deco wedding tiara for examination.
Spoiler: Zamarad's Bride-Price

Zamarad's eyes widened at the sight of the flashing verdant fire of the large emerald mounted as the centerpiece of the tiara. The very very familiar large emerald in the centerpiece with a faint glow that might have been a trick of the light.

But it wasn't.

Delilah's eyes met Zamarad's and she nodded. "Let me see how it looks on Emma here."

The clerk and the Muramasa both gave impressed whistles at the red-headed princess in the mirror as she beamed at the sight of herself.

"I'll put a hold on that one until I can speak to Mother and arrange a bank draft for the $600,000 purchase cost. It's perfect for the planned wedding for Emma." Delilah said in a awed voice as she began to fill out the paperwork to reserve the tiara.

Zamarad's eyes gleamed with fire as she looked at the tiara and remembered a prophecy of her birth. A prophecy that she was sworn not to reveal so that her fated love would be properly tested.

A prophecy of a bride-price of an emerald crown.

-------------------------------------------
Spoiler: ...And A Gathering Storm

MACUSA Headquarters

13 December 1945

"Thank you." Delilah smiled at the young red-headed intern who had just fetched her some coffee. Her efforts to legitimize Zamarad had borne fruit and the Ifrit, in her new name as Emeraude de Rosier (Cohen) was now the junior secretary and analyst in her office.

Delilah sipped the coffee and thought about how the Ifrit was now a homeschooled near-Squib refugee from France according to MACUSA who had gotten records forged by Lyra Potter as part of her immigration paperwork. Fortunately for all concerned, the recordkeeping for the French Ministry of Magic on such things was kept in the provincial centers, and the archives in Caen had not survived the street fighting that wrecked the medieval Norman town. So the only paper trail was of course the one generated by the British when she 'fled Hitler', then married her late subordinate Gideon Cohen shortly before he dropped into Normandy and was killed there.

Delilah mused idly that she just needed to make sure Zamarad never visited Los Angeles where her 'husband's family' lived.

With that cheerful thought, she scribbled her signature on the latest report to appear in her inbox. The document promptly folded itself into the form of a paper rat and ran down the tube in the wall for such Memorandum Rodentia. She picked up the next report and froze.

It was a list of files that MIB were reporting that the Soviets now had acquired from caches in East Germany. The words Grendel, Vargr -- the German name for the twisted incredibly fast and blood-mad werewolves that she and her squad had called Wulfen -- and Vampire were like a spiked punch in her stomach. Never mind the research on jinn unbindings.

For she knew in her soul that the Shayatan in MIB was responsible for this breach. responsible for the start of a new magical arms race between the two superpowers.

Zamarad knocked on the door.

"Enter!" Delilah snapped out, running her fingers through the hair.

Zamarad placed another report on her desk after closing the door and engaging the wards. "We have a major problem, I suspect. I will have to check with my family, but I am led to believe that there is a Seal here in this part of Persia where the Soviets have just set up the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad."

Delilah winced. "Right, no rest for the wicked. I need to touch base with your family anyway."

 

[darthcourt10]

lt_agn02

It was sweltering under the tropical sunlight. It wasn't even summer yet. As Aso wiped some sweat off her brow, the battleship beside her unscrewed the cap of her canteen and offered it to her.

"Aso, did you drink through your whole canteen?" Missouri asked.

"...Hai...both of them…"

Missouri practically shoved her canteen into Aso's arms. "Drink. Don't push yourself. You're supposed to drink around four liters of water every day. More if you've been active."

Aso nodded and took a swig from the canteen, the cool water soothing her parched throat. As she handed it back, an unsettling thought entered her mind.

Every time she saw Carrier Division One sortie, she never saw them carry any canteens or water bottles. Yet as far as she knew, they came back just fine. Maybe it's a lack of training. Or maybe there was something else at play that she doesn't understand.

"Missouri-san, does everyone drink that much water?"

The battleship sighed. "Not as many as I hoped, honestly. Yeah, ship girls can retain water and drink less of it overall, but that's not an excuse for neglecting your health." Seeing the carrier's expression as she walked away from Admiral Settle's office, the battleship shrugged. "...And try not to look too much into what Settle says. He's a bit...eccentric, shall we say."

"Yeah...and the Lance Corporal next to him is no better…" Aso handed back the canteen with a pained look on her face. "Thanks for the water…"

Missouri nodded. "As long as you carry at least four liters in your hold with you at all times. That's what I hear CarDiv1 does."

'So that's how they do it!'

Silently, the two of them continued down the hallway of the administrative building before stopping at a very battered door. Nervously, Aso produced the paperwork she was supposed to give the man behind the door. After having to meet Admiral Settle, there was still this rear admiral she had to deal with.

She hoped the rumors weren't true.

She prayed Admiral Stanley Smith wasn't a former CIA agent that could kill a man with half a paper clip.

With a nervous breath, she knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The carrier opened the door, fully expecting to see someone that at least looked like Settle. Instead, she was greeted by a kind-looking African-American man that stood up as soon as she opened the door.

"You must be Aso," the man greeted. "I'm Rear Admiral Stanley Smith, Commander of Ship Girl Operations."

"Y-Yes, sir. Unryuu-class aircraft carrier Aso. It's a pleasure, sir…" As she shook his hand, the carrier couldn't help but feel he looked somewhat similar to the man she saw in an old movie...the one with the snakes on the airplane.

The man shuffled his paperwork around just as the girl sat down in front of him. Missouri, for her part, was trying to make the room as less cramped as it already was by standing against the wall. The key word being "trying".

"I've heard a lot about you," he said. "Arizona calls you the 'Jingoistic Jackass'. Is that true?"

The carrier felt herself wilt. "I...I suppose…"

"Looking at the records Shimada gave me...I think you'll fit in just fine. There's no better teacher than on-the-job experience. We could do without the 'jingoistic' part, that's for sure. But we could always use another jackass."

"...Sir?"

"According to Admiral Shimada, you rescued a whole community and set them up with steady aid out of your own pocket. All without authorization from command. How is it doing at the moment?"

Aso hesitated. "T-They're doing well, sir. I don't have to go back often, but sometimes they give me a few pieces of fruit as thanks."

Smith nodded. "Good, good. I like that initiative. In that case…" He typed a few things onto a file. "Did Admiral Settle give you the rundown of expected behavior, UCMJ, and the rules regarding this naval base?"

"Hai."

"Saves me a lot of trouble, then. All right. For the rest of today and tomorrow, you'll be acclimating to operations here. Mainly in the realm of sustainable operations. Even if supply routes are opened up, we don't want to get choked out if the Abyssals decide to cut us off again. The day after tomorrow, there is a mandatory briefing on disaster relief and sustainable operations for you and all new personnel, so make sure you attend."

"Y-Yes, sir."

"Now then, that aside, I'll be assigning you a battle buddy."

The carrier shook her head. "With all due respect, sir, I'm not a fan of that system."

"I wasn't asking for your opinion, sailor, but if you must know, it's required. That's why you're here, isn't it? You went off on your own and caused a lot of trouble when you got back, didn't you?"

The carrier shrank in her seat.

"Going off on your own in Japanese waters is one thing. I will not tolerate a renegade operating out of Pearl. Even the submarines patrol in pairs." Smith narrowed his eyes. "Not to mention that you are an aircraft carrier. You're literally the fattest seal in a sea full of sharks, so you at least need an escort to keep you alive."

"U-Understood, sir."

"However, during operations, you will be the center of the formation regardless, so we don't necessarily have to worry too much about a battle buddy there. Everyone here already knows from basic doctrine to protect the carrier at all costs. Therefore, on-base, I'm putting you under Bowfin's care while you are here."

"B-Bowfin, sir?"

"The Pearl Harbor Avenger herself."

Aso gulped nervously.

"D-Didn't she sink the Tsushima Maru?" She asked. "The passenger ship full of children?!" Aso retorted. "A-And you want to assign me to her?!"

Admiral Smith glanced at Missouri. Said battleship looked like she was going to pummel Aso into a pile of scrap heap out of blind protective instinct. He waved the Iowa-class off, to which the woman crossed her arms and took a moment to calm herself.

"I wouldn't bring that up if I were you," Smith told her. "She's been kicking herself for that incident ever since she got back." He leveled a solemn look toward the girl in front of him. "I will only say this once: we don't want someone getting so low that self-scuttling becomes a valid option in their eyes."

Aso tugged at her collar, then looked down at her knees. What was she supposed to say? What was she supposed to do? Heck, what was she supposed to think? When she was first Summoned, she would have gladly shot her mouth off at the prospect of being assigned with the submarine that sank Tsushima Maru. She would have proudly declared Bowfin as the prime example of why the Americans were incorrigible monsters.

But that was then. That was before she even thought of why she acted the way she did or thought the way she thought.

That was before she got captured.

The admiral continued. "As for Tsushima Maru…"

The door slammed open and made Aso jump from her seat. Turning around, she found a young girl no more than twelve years old. A Japanese girl at that. The young girl looked up awestruck at the carrier, her eyes sparkling. Swiftly, she turned around.

"BOWFIN-MAMA!" she yelled as she ran away. "I FOUND HER! I FOUND THE NEW JAPANESE CARRIER! DO I GET A PRIZE NOW?"

"Tsushima Maru!" the admiral yelled after her. "No running in the halls!"

"Sorry!" the little girl yelled back.

Smith just chuckled, turning back to a dumbstruck Aso. "Cute kid, isn't she? Reminds me of my oldest before she went to middle school. Anyway, that sums up her situation quite nicely, don't you think? I hope you like babysitting, Aso. Because you're gonna be doing that a lot from now on."

All Aso could do was nod awkwardly.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XXI)

IG Farben Building, Frankfurt am Main, American Occupation Zone, Germany.

December 15th, 1945
Spoiler: A War Of Shadows And Mirrors

Gaumâta tamped down his reflexive anger at the maggots inhabiting the buildings that now housed the Occupation Authorities. He could not wait for the day when the children of mud would be forced to bow down to their true rightful overlords.

A day which was coming sooner and sooner with each move made by him on the chessboard.

A smugly cruel smirk flickered around his lips and he heard the fool who had thought to Pact him scream internally as he hammered his fists into the flaming cage of the superior being's will once more. He breathed in, savoring the torment of the despairing screams of disbelief as he used his host's face to infiltrate the power structure of this 'United States' to weaken them in preparation for the day which would restore proper order to the universe.

He seated himself behind his stone-faced driver and nodded. The car began to speed off and he chuckled darkly as the Imperiused soldier drove him back to his headquarters.

With a stop on the way to drop off the package that he had received from Benedict Arnold's worried father. After all his favorite son had seen the newsreels and was curious about what the no-maj maggots were up to.

He touched the book that the head of the MACUSA Finance and Oversight Committee had procured for him through the services of MIB. Gibberish to him, but the inventive worms would no doubt find a way to advance their appetite for destruction.
Spoiler: A Guide To Armageddon

His contact on the other side of what would one day be called the Iron Curtain would definitely find this interesting and useful to advance his standing in the Gosudarstvennyy Komitet po Magicheskim Voprosam.

Inflaming paranoia as 'Ben' then reported from his contacts that he was weaving in Eastern Europe about how the Soviets were rearming magically as the Soviets in turn frantically labored to catch up with the Yankees.

Not least was that he had received word that his 'report' about how Grindelwald's mages had learned some of their magics from freed genies sunken in bottles, along with a map of those underwater sites that the SS had been excavating had reached the ears of decision makers in Moscow. The sites that housed his kindred, who had been sworn to work together to unbind the Dark Master.

Why the maggots would unknowingly unbind the seals upon their superiors and then be forced to kneel as was proper.

Or burn.

With that cheerful thought, he directed his driver to make a detour. There were so many of these insects, and he was feeling peckish after dealing with his 'superiors'. Burning alive a family or three would do him a world of good.

----------------------------------

La Mamounia Hotel, Marrakesh, Morocco

3 January 1946
Spoiler: A trip To A Family Reunion

Delilah de Breuil looked out across the Old City of Marrakesh from her hotel window as the sun set. She heard a footstep behind her and half-turned to see Zamarad clad in a towel step from the bathroom. The Ifrit walked to her side and laid a hand on her shoulder gently.

Zamarad whispered gently. "You did not have to do this, you know."

Delilah shook her head. "No, I did. You deserve to see your family after so long without them. So I will drop you off here to visit while I handle matters in Persia for MIB, then send you a letter once my business is concluded. They need to be warned anyway. About the escapee and... other things."

Both hushed as they remembered the images of what the no-maj had unleashed upon humanity to end the World War. Knowing deep in their hearts that these would be the weapons that any future World War would be fought with.

Delilah spoke quietly into the pregnant stillness. "Even without that, seeing your family after over three years without is the right thing to do. Letters are one thing, but I know full well what the pain of separation from your family truly is."

Zamarad nodded in solemn agreement. "And I think you for it, Delilah."

The Muramasa's lips curled in a smug smile as she hugged the Ifrit. "Just be sure not to eat all the woodchips in the trunk. Save some for your parents and brothers. Don;t think that I have not noticed how curvy that you have gotten, love."

"Delilah!" Zamarad's face flamed as red as her hair. "You take that back!!"

----------------------------------

The two women walked through the winding streets of the Old Quarter the following day. Presently they reached an anonymous house and Zamarad knocked on the door. She then turned to the hired porter with her space-expanded trunk and spoke in Arabic. "{Put that down here.}"

Delilah smiled, and then handed over several gold coins.

"{For your services.}" she spoke in her practiced Arabic, silently blessing Zamarad's lessons in her mother tongue and Persian. That combined with Colombe's spell to help learn foreign languages rapidly had managed to give her fluency, albeit with a minor accent.

As the porter departed, Delilah gave a cold look at two rather shabbily dressed men turning their way. The two pickpockets took the obvious warning to heart and moved further down the street in search of easier prey than the steely-eyed kafir.

Presently the door opened and Zamarad smiled broadly, embracing the young man inside and kissing him on both his bearded cheeks. "{Ismaeel! Brother!}"

The disguised jinn returned the embrace. "{Younger sister! Come in, come in, with your friend too!}"

Delilah, remembering her lessons in etiquette, extended her right hand to shake, making eye contact, and bowing slightly. "{Peace be upon you, gracious host!}"

"{And upon you, peace!}" was the expected traditional response and Delilah mentally breathed a sigh of relief at the necessary first step taken in the intricate dance of host and guest in the traditions of the jinn.

Inside the house, Delilah sat on a cushion and scooped up mutton with the flatbread in her right hand. Across from her, Ismaeel, the younger and mustached form of the eldest son of the man of the house named Hamza and Zamarad ate from an assortment of American hardwood wood cuttings and chips from the opened trunk.

Ismaeel then pinned her with a flaming stare. "We are grateful to you for your help in protecting our family's charges, and for returning Zamarad to us. What can we do to assist with that debt?"

Delilah matched the stare. "I wish to find a way to liberate her from the ring that she is trapped in." Delilah pointed to the gold ring on the necklace that Zamarad was wearing. "Also, there are strong indications that one of the jinn who you know as the Law-Breakers was released to walk the surface of the Earth once more during the recent war. I need to deal with him, ideally with death if one such as he can be truly killed, but if not imprisonment will serve."

The Muramasa revolver's smile was viciously smug and cold as ice. "If imprisonment is required, I have the perfect location to insure that he never gets out. After all, the Great Lake that the first humans to see it named Gitchigumi never gives up her dead. Ever."

Matching vicious needle-pointed smiles answered her words from the jinn present. "I must speak to my father about such matters of course, but in principle, I see little problem with such aid."

Delilah smiled warmly. "Thank you. I shall spend the next few weeks dealing with a crisis in Persia near the shores of the Caspian Sea. It may be linked to the Law-Breaker that I am contesting with, Zamarad mentioned that there may be a Seal there that needs to be defended. Any introduction that you can give me with your counterparts there will be helpful. Zamarad has the details and will be staying here until I return on the trip back to America. She... also has information about developments in the Magical and nonmagical worlds that may be of interest to you."

More nods answered her words as a young boy entered with a pot of coffee. "We shall send word to those whom we know such as the Storyteller. Just check into the hotel in Persia under your true name and we shall get in touch."

Delilah bowed her head. "I am grateful for any assistance you and your friends can give." With that she sipped the thick coffee, thankful that Zamarad had also persuaded her to get used to the taste of Ifritroasted beans. The coffee that was being served could wake the dead, in her humble opinion. It might be even able to sober up her sister Jacklyn.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XXII)

Mahabad, Republic of Mahabad, Northwest Persia

February 15th, 1946

Delilah watched with curiosity behind her apparent ox-like indifferent expression as a group of Red Army soldiers drove a Packard Truck past her.

Considering the loaded rifles and general air of arrogance directed at the locals, it would not take too much to generate a nice incident to further drive wedges between Stalin and the Kurdish leadership. Say a public accusation of rape paired with one of the locals taking a shot at a Russian soldier who were nominally 'peacekeeping' this part of Persia.

Fortunately for this bunch of Ivans, this was not her current mission, nor was she her sister Colombe the Trouble Magnet.

With that she ducked into a side street, reflecting on her path to the meeting that she was heading toward.
Spoiler: Playing The Great Game

As it turned out, her request to Zamarad's family had borne fruit. As she flew to Cairo from Morocco, then to catch a steamer to Persia, word had been transmitted from mouth to mouth ahead of her. For as Miss Delilah de Breuil, Special Correspondent sent by the New York Times -- which would have been news indeed to The Gray Lady since she had never been hired by the self-styled 'Paper of Record' -- arrived in Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, she had a unexpected surprise waiting for her....

"Miss de Breuil?" The hotel concierge handed over an envelope that had been waiting for her at arrival. "You have a message."

Delilah smiled and tipped him a silver half-dollar as she took the envelope and read the contents handwritten in neat English.

Palm Garden Restaurant
7:00 PM
Dress Nicely.

Delilah looked at the clock and grinned. "It seems I have a dinner appointment. If you can perhaps arrange transportation to this restaurant?"

Freshly changed into one of her nice shirtwaist dresses (and carrying her normal covert package of true body, primary and backup wand, Bowie knife, garrote, and a smoke grenade in her purse), she had made her way to the meeting point in question.

She stepped into the private room, automatically sweeping the area visually for threats. The only other occupant was a slender dark haired Arab woman. Delilah automatically extended her hand for a shake and gave the normal greetings as she sized the lady up. Five-four, about one-twenty pounds, slender but clearly had been active with her build, no obvious weapons. Clothing was finely cut and definitely showed that she was used to the halls of power. Calluses on the hands were those of a scholar.

"Thank you for coming, Miss de Breuil. I have heard many things about you from my friends and have been looking forward to this meeting for years. May I recommend the catch of the day?" Delilah's mental antennae pinged at the flawless British English of her contact, and elected to advance her own gambit.

"{When in Rome, do as the Romans do, Miss...?}" Delilah responded in her Arabic, measuring the young woman for any obvious tells as she showed one of the cards in her deck.

A throaty laugh showed white, pearly teeth at her words. "{There must be quite a story with you indeed. Over and above the tale of one of the jinn falling for you that I have heard whispered on the wind. But speaking of the thousand and one stories that I could tell if we had a thousand and one nights to listen to them all, I am sure that you have heard my name before?}"

She sipped a glass of water as Delilah's eyes narrowed and the revolver spoke in English. "Scheherazade. I have read both the 1880 Burton translation after I acquired it in 1902 and then later on Galland's French translation from 1710 when I picked up a copy in Europe during the War. Obviously not the original source material, but a valuable resource with nuggets of true knowledge hidden in the allegory and poetic license."

"Scheherazade indeed." The young-seeming woman agreed. "You wished to know what kind of trouble could be unleashed by the current events in the north of Persia and how to put a stop to it if so?"

Delilah nodded, watching the woman like a hawk. "I do. I would also like to curb Russian influence there, of course, but the Great Game takes a back seat to insuring that the board does not get knocked over to the detriment of all."

"Wise, very wise. Just as wise as the hero of a story that I know from that region. Of course, it is tradition for a story to be given for a story, as you are well familiar." Scheherazade agreed. "Also I have some friends who know people who you may wish to talk to there to find the truth of matters."

Delilah grinned and leaned back on her cushion. "I shall give you one of my own stories in return. Perhaps the tale of Wakinyan the Thunderbird assisting humanity against the Great Horned Serpent of the waters Unk Cahkula?"

Scheherazade bowed her head. "That will do for a first meeting between story-holders." She sat upright and assumed the position of a storyteller. Her voice grew stronger and her dark, knowing, ageless eyes sparkled as between her hands a scene from her story formed. "Hear O Caliph, for in the days of Iskander the Great, one of his captains heard tales of a temple of wrought bronze upon the shores of Kaboodan Island in Lake Urmia....."

Delilah grinned smugly at the memory of what the storyteller had told her about one of the children of Erlik Khan imprisoned there and the means used to seal him up. She touched the pouch containing a curiously shaped bronze amulet that the prior owner had no further use for since he and his NKVD squad who had manned the boat that came ashore were currently feeding the fish at the bottom of Lake Urmia.

She was not in the mind to return it to Moscow's Institute of Central Asian Studies anytime soon, either.

Witht at in mind, she knocked on the door that she had been directed to. Upon entrance, she consented to a search of her person, and with a twinge gave up her true body and Bowie knife. They missed the wand that was serving as a hairpin, though.

Still, she hopefully would not need that since she was carrying the deadliest weapon in existence into her meeting with the head of the Republic's Defense Council, Mustafa Barzani.

Information and a mind to use it.

While she did not expect to change his mind overnight, she could plant the seeds of distrust against the Russians and the potential of an opening for future visits to forge an alliance with the Kurdish tribes of the area.

After all, Russia was an immediate threat to the Kurds if the Bear elected to expand this way, and the example of the Chechens was fresh on everyone's mind. Plus Stalin was Georgian and feuds among the tribes of the Caucasus Mountains and neighboring regions were old and bitter. On the other hand, America was far distant, so not threatened at all by Kurdish activities done on its behalf.

----------------------------------------

Beirut, Lebanon

February 19th, 1946
Spoiler: A Leave Taking

"I wish that you did not have to go so soon, daughter." Emerald sparkled from the ornate silver earrings that Periezade wore, matching the color of her shadowed eyes.

"As do I, Mother." Zamarad responded. "But you and Father have seen my memories and know what is at stake for us all. Uncle has also seen them now and is spreading the word among our kin. And... even if the world was at peace, I would still wish to be with Delilah."

The Emira nodded solemnly. "I heard the prophecy on my wedding day just as your father did. Knowing that such is Fated makes it scarcely easier to bear."

Zamarad's own eyes shadowed as she remembered the ghost of her beloved elder sister who had also been entrapped by the prophecy and died as a result.

Tamenokalt.

"Mother...? Did you ever regret leaving home to wed Father? When we visit your family, you seem... different." Zamarad spoke hesitantly.

Periezade shook her head. "At one time, yes. I was Djinn, the daughter of a Sultan. Moving to your Father's court was quite a change in many ways. Always on the move, patrolling his domain. So different from the stability that I had known all my life. And yet, now when I look back on it, that was something that I missed and yet desired without knowing of it as a girl. So now, no regrets, not least because of you, your brothers and your sister who I bore to the jinn that I love."

Zamarad bowed her head and then took another cedar twig to savor. "I am beginning to see now why Delilah loves the Americas so. It grows on you over time." She spoke thoughtfully as she slowly consumed the savory wood. "It helps that she has led me to see her homeland through her eyes."

"Indeed it does, Daughter. You know that she is mortal and that you will almost certainly outlive her, even though she comes from long-lived stock of the Children of Earth. And very often heroes have short and painful lives," Periezade spoke quietly as she took one of the last chips of American Chestnut, "since in the end they are all consumed by what drives them to reach greatness, leaving behind but memories and monuments that crumble to dust one day."

Zamarad nodded. "I know, and when that day happens -- may it happen far from now! -- I shall mourn and always remember her. For if Delilah's life shall be that of an ember, still she burns so brightly against the darkness. Brighter than I ever dreamed that it would be possible for one soul to blaze."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, was quiet in the predawn light. That was, of course, when there was the sound of air being displaced and suddenly there were a group of humans standing there. Dusting herself off, one of the witches in a rather expensive looking suit and cloak looked around with a frown, "Where exactly are we? And this better be good considering it looks like we are in the middle of nowhere."

Simply nodding, one of the Wizards, or perhaps witches for it was hard to tell, chuckled behind their mask, "Trust me, Madam Laird, it is." Looking around behind his Raven mask, they nodded, "As to where we are? We're in Central Alaska and there is not any human settlement in any direction for several hundred miles. And what ones there are that are 'Close', they barely number more than a few hundred No-Majs at most. Perfect for Project Mayflower."

Frowning, though only partially because she hated these 'Cloak and Dagger' things, including how one was unable to tell what gender any of the masked magicals were. Their masks and cloaks prevented anyone from making out details of their bodies, and the masks distorted their voice, making identification impossible even as it also took out any emotional tones in their voices.

Like many, Chief of Staff for MACUSA, Athena Laird found it creepier than hell.

Slapping at her neck due to a fly biting her, she scowled as she decided that she hated this trip more for being out in the middle of nowhere. A scowl on her face, she gave the best glare she could, "I see... and what, may I ask, is Project Mayflower? President Quahog wants me to check up on the progress on it and I had to go through an unbelievable amount of red tape. Not to mention the blood magic oaths never to speak of it except to authorized personnel."

If she was hoping for some sign of sympathy, she would have been disappointed as none came from the gathered magicals. Instead, Raven tilted their head some, "Do you know the significance of the name?"

Eyebrows furrowing, Athena nodded, "Of course! What sort of question is that as the Mayflower brought the first pilgrims and European magicals to America." She grimaced a little, "Which makes it worse that the No-Maj managed to summon her as a shipgirl. Can't leave well enough alone."

The magical wearing a bear mask shook their head, "Truly fascinating how shipgirls are summoned..."

Giving Bear a look, Raven was about to comment when one wearing an Owl mask spoke up, "Well, there was the Roanoke Colony, they were the first. Even the first European Magical born in America with Virgina Dare... especially with how she went on to become a white doe animagus."

Clearing their throat, Raven gave them a look as well before turning back to the annoyed Chief of Staff, "Indeed you are right, Madam Laird. The Mayflower did transport some of the first European magicals to America. And so a project bearing the name will help protect the magicals in the new world to come."

A grimace on her face, Magical President Quahog's Chief of Staff grimaced, "The fall of the Statute."

Just nodding, Raven sighed, "The Fall of the Statute of Secrecy."

That brought a scowl to Athena's face as she glared at the assembled masked magicals, "Yes, which all your projects have failed to prevent."

It went without saying that she bristled as Raven gave an unconcerned shrug, "We have tried our best which is all that can be asked. But the methods needed to fully test any new memory spells among other methods is... intensive, to say the least."

Owl spoke up and shook their head, "Especially as we would need to make sure that there are no noticeable side effects that the No-Maj might make note of. There were chances of mental issues appearing later on in life including memory problems within ten years of the application of the spells. Unfortunately, just the chance was enough to sink any testing."

Only sighing, Athena shook her head, "The Senate has too many that want to avoid harming the No-Maj even if that means causing us yet more problems and keeping our world a secret. But that is water under the bridge."

Straightening her back as it was an old argument as she felt that the Statute must be upheld no matter what, she gave them a look. TOTEM, the MACUSA version of the Department Of Mysteries, though under more control by the government than their English brethren, were still secretive. Such as their animal masks that they used among other methods to conceal their identity. Many found them unnerving, and more than a little disturbing at times.

Athena gave them a frown and narrowed her eyes, "That does not answer how Project Mayflower will help MACUSA weather the coming trials."

Despite not being able to see it, the Chief of Staff was certain that Raven had a smirk on their face, "Of course, Madam Laird. If you will follow us..." As she did so, they cleared their throat, "Project Mayflower was started in 1947 with the idea of allowing the government of MACUSA to survive any event that would otherwise destroy it. Such as discovery by the No-Maj with their then brand new nuclear weapons. That was a nasty shock to happen, that they somehow created a weapon capable of destroying an entire city in one shot. And then just a few years later, the Soviets detonated one of their own. There were those that feared perhaps the two sides going to war which would have left the magical community devastated even as collateral." Waving their hand, Raven shrugged slightly, "Of course, there were our own plans in case of a Third World War, same with the Magical Soviets and others. Things that would be just as devastating in some ways."

Lips pressed thinly together, Athena grimaced as she recalled the files and reports she had read about some of MACUSA's "Countermeasures" in case of WWIII. To say that they were downright horrifying would be putting it mildly. There were things that Grindlewald was not willing to mess with that was locked up for a rainy day. She was quite happy to learn that they were deep in Abyssal territory, and even more so that there were plans to get rid of them.

Much less so that it involved summoning their own shipgirls.

Simply deciding to ignore that for now, she frowned some, "So it is some sort of shelter then? Where we can wait out whatever apocalypse occurs? Like one of those No-Maj bunkers then."

Even though she could not see their expressions, Athena knew that the members of TOTEM were amused at her. Not helped as Owl snickered, "Something like that."

Raising an eyebrow, the Chief of Staff didn't get any other response and so turned to Raven who shrugged as they continued to walk, "In a way, you are right. Though I would like to think that we are much better prepared than the No-Maj." Getting a snort from the witch, and understanding it, they waved their hand, "Construction started in 1949, though we had to make sure that a few local tribes of Bigfoot were... relocated elsewhere. One of the first things we did was set down wards."

Slowly, Athena nodded with a slight frown, "Muggle repellant and the like then." At the shake of their heads, she blinked, "Not those type of wards? Then which ones?"

Head tilted to the side, Wolf hummed, "They're not quite modern wards, mainly ones we created on examination of older ones. Ones designed to guard various places such as the Black Hills." Shaking their head, they sighed, "We lost Deer examining some interesting ones in the Black Hills for reverse engineering. It is a place of interest to us after all."

Furrowing her eyebrows, the witch frowned, "Why?"

With a small chuckle, Owl shrugged and she thought that they were grinning behind their mask, "There's things buried there, ancient things that slumber. And so much knowledge to be had from examining them." A snort then escaped them, "Granted, one of the ideas if a Third World War broke out was to crack the protections there and let what sleeps there run amuck before we would seal it back up. But we needed information on them... and we only got some back in the late 1800s when we got a No-Maj prospector to look for gold and such there with some passive magical scanning equipment after using a potion. Told us a lot, same with Deer before they died... both killed by Agent Delilah de Breuil, though the prospector got pretty damn far in before he was killed."

Wolf nodded with a thoughtful noise, "Between the two of them and investigations of other places, we created a new ward scheme." They gestured around them, "For about a hundred miles around Project Mayflower, there's a spell that causes anything that is intelligent to... not go back, but rather go around, the location. It subtly makes the being take certain paths that end up avoiding the area. All of us have talismans that prevent it from effecting us. The region is also mostly muskeg which helps as well."

Chuckling, Raven shook their head, "This path is practically the only safe one to the location. The other wards are sort of an inverse of the ones on the Black Hills and such. Instead of keeping things in, it keeps them out." Shrugging, they turned to look at the witch, "We did not want anyone to know that there was something here. Especially certain parties."

An expression of understanding appeared on Athena's face, "That is why you had me sign those oaths then? So that I would not tell someone and it gets back to the No-Majs."

With a nod, Raven looked at her, "Exactly, Madam Laird. The Winter's Network, for example. We suspect that they might give information to the No-Majs with the fall of the Statute. Likely to curry favour of some sort, and they have penetrated MACUSA pretty throughly. Remember we mentioned Agent Delilah de Breuil?"

Eyes narrowing, the Witch scowled, "She's a member of the Winter's Network?! That..."

Just snorting, Owl shook their head, "She's a member, but low ranking at best. We believe that they use her for a trouble shooter of sorts, which makes a certain amount of sense, and used her mother before her for much the same. A... deniable asset, if you will."

Frowning, Athena gave them a look, "Do you think that is how she became... ageless, as she is?"

That got her a scoff from Raven, "No, the Winter's Network doesn't have that capability. Or else they would have given it to everyone in their group. No, at best she was given a mission and stumbled across it. We have considered examining her, but... too much trouble for what it would be worth."

After a few moments, the Chief of Staff for MACUSA sighed, "A shame that such a seemingly upstanding agent is possibly crooked." Then she shook it off as they reached a small mountain that rose upwards. Eyebrow raised, she followed them to a rock face where they tapped cracks after which, the rock seemingly melts away revealing a short tunnel with an elevator which they get on. After it slowly descends for nearly a minute, Athena gives the TOTEM members a frown, "How long is the ride?"

With a chuckle, Owl rocks back and forth on their heels, "We are nearly a thousand feet down. Besides..." He gestured in time for the elevator to enter a cavern, "We're at the first level."

Boggling at what she is seeing, the witch stared at the massive cavern that seemingly stretched onwards around a bend. The ceiling was enchanted in spots to reveal the sky outside and the floor was green with plant life. There was even a small village that she could see beside a stream, "This... this is incredible..."

Slowly nodding, Raven nodded, "Agreed. What you are seeing is the culmination of nearly seventy years of work. Project Mayflower, the last refuge for magicals in North America come the fall of the Statute of Secrecy. There is a large chance for witch hunts in the aftermath, thus, as soon as the Statute falls, Operation PILGRIM will go into effect. The President, their staff, their families, and three thousand others we have chosen who would be... untroubled by escaping from future No-Maj persecution of magicals, will be brought here to live."

Owl looked around seemingly in thought, "In preparation, we have been stockpiling wands, magical books of knowledge, and ingredients in stasis. Enough to restart magical society after what will come. One of the lower caverns is given over to magical creatures that are useful for various things, one for magical plants and fungi, and one for expansion later. After PILGRIM initiates and everyone is here, we'll activate lockdown."

Not saying a word, Athena out at the cavern before her, 'So this is where I will live out my life after the Fall.' Turning to them, she frowned, "How long will we need to stay down here?"

Glancing at each other, none of the answered until Wolf spoke up, "We are unsure, though a century is the minimum. We believe that it will take that amount of time for the No-Maj to... finish things, assuming that someone in one of the other countries such as Russia does not unleash something in retaliation that quickens the probable collapse. Possibly a war as we believe that once the Abyssals are done for, the No-Maj will turn on the shipgirls as being 'Unnatural'. In any case, after two centuries, we believe that the No-Maj societies will have either collapsed due to environmental effects such as global warming with large disruptions to the climate, or that they will believe magical humanity to be extinct. In any case, we will be able to reinstitute the Statute and go from there."

Softly, Athena muttered to herself as she shook her head, "Two centuries..." With a sigh, she gave a nod, "It must be done, I suppose. For our kind's survival." Turning back, she crossed her arms as she resumed looking over the cavern, "Do you think anyone else may have such a fall back?"

With a shrug, Raven shook their head, "Unknown, though that does not mean anything. Russia, quite certainly would have such a place. Perhaps China as well as India among others. Chances are that they will be found though."

All the Chief of Staff did was nod with a small frown before shaking her head, "Well, show me the rest of our future home..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XXIII)

Beirut, Lebanon

March 5th, 1946
Spoiler: Beirut

Delilah walked town the gangplank from the Liberty Ship SS Virginia Dare that had just made port. Scheherazade had arranged a trip captained by 'an old acquaintance of hers' back to Lebanon where Zamarad was apparently staying with her cousins.

Whoever her 'old acquaintance' with that impressive mustache was, he was one hell of a sailor, Delilah mentally added to herself. He even gave Jackie a serious run for her money in terms of skill handling a ship, which Delilah had not believed was possible.

She chuckled at the name of the ship as she reached the bottom of the gangplank and hefted her trunk. To the No-Maj, Virginia Dare was the first English child born in the Americas to her parents in the 'lost colony' of Roanoke Colony. To the Magicals, she was the first magical born to Europeans in the New World, and a noted animagus who took the form of a white doe as she led the now-hidden Croatan Colony.

More relevantly, she had a set of handwritten notes about the ritual to free a Jinn from the object that it had been imprisoned in. Written in the hand which had set down a thousand and one other stories of the magical lands of Arabia.

Delilah's lips quirked as she walked down the wharf. I wonder if Zamarad would mind for our child to be named Virginia once I explain the truth behind the legend to her?

"{Delilah!}" The call caused her to turn and give a warm smile at the sight of Zamarad waving to her from beside a donkey-drawn wagon.

She hurried over and, mindful of the social proprieties, restricted herself to shaking the Ifrit's hand and greeting her traditionally. "{It is good to see you too.}"

The wagon driver helped load her trunk in the back of the wagon and then they took a seat beside it. Delilah raised an eyebrow at the very well hidden Cushioning Charms on the wagon as she took her seat. She automatically placed a headscarf around her head to cover her hair and tapped her wand against her dress, changing its appearance to a long black outer cloak over a long-sleeved dress with a richly embroidered belt. Now apparently a middle-class matron just like Zamarad, she glanced at her love. "{You look well.}"

Zamarad whispered back. "{I am well, but you should be aware that my parents are waiting at my uncle's house. they wish to meet you at long last.}"

Delilah took a deep breath and centered herself as the cart made its way through the streets. Silently she reviewed all the rules of etiquette that she had studied for this moment.

Fakhoury Clan Compound

Deir Qoubel, Lebanon (15 miles south of Beirut)

Presently the cart turned off the dirt road onto a path winding up through the woodland crowning a hill south of the heart of the city. Delilah nodded as she sensed powerful wards woven into the cedar trees and glanced over at the thoughtful form of Zamarad.

She then looked ahead as the cart rounded a bend in the road and her eyes bulged from her head at the sight of the palace where she was being led to.
Spoiler: The Fakhoury Palace

She was not unfamiliar with Old Money from her time in America among the First Families of MACUSA and the No-Maj captains of industry such as the Roosevelts, Carnegies, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and others. She had also visited her sister's European castle, and the Potter Manor, both of which belonged to families that were nobility among the Wizarding World with bloodlines and traditions going back centuries.

This, this was on a whole different level.

She reflected that these walls had seen not just the French lay claim to the city below them, but the Ottoman Turks, the Mamlukes, the Arabs, the Byzantines, the Romans, the Greeks and more back into the distant past of prehistory when her own ancestors were mastering simple magics or perhaps raising pigs in what would become Francia. Or, she added with a mental grin as she thought of Father, learning how to forge iron to eventually make Muramasa steel.

Still, nothing for it but to enter the dragon's den, she thought as the sun gilded the waters of the Mediterranean in the distance and illuminated the honey-colored stone of the palace in gold highlights. With a wave of her wand, she restored her traveling dress to her best modest dress that she could manage to magic up, and slid down from the carriage pulled by a pair of cream-colored Arabian stallions that had been transfigured into the apparently humble cart.

Zamarad joined her at her elbow as the door ahead of her opened by unseen hands.

Inside the foyer was a riot of color and patterns. Delilah's eyes widened at the magnificent multicolored tile work. Enthralled she turned to Zamarad, who gave her a reassuring wink and then vanished.
Spoiler: The Genie's Hall

At that Delilah's lips curled in a smug smile.

A test then.

So be it.

She took off her shoes and placed them neatly by the door before sliding on the offered gold-embroidered slippers. She then walked to the center of the pattern on the floor and curtsied in her best form, feeling invisible eyes upon her. "{I thank you for the hospitality that you have shown myself and Zamarad aibnatu Alnaar,}" she spoke in her best Arabic as she waited patiently.

A door to her right opened up and she curtsied to the invisible doorman before proceeding. Inside was a fountain of water leaping from a marble fountain set in an octagonal pool. As she watched, the sunlight through the window illuminated calligraphy in pure gold on the domed roof and walls formed of snow-white marble. Delilah smiled as she translated the inscriptions mentally and sat on the offered rug before the fountain, folding her left leg under her right and then placing her right knee against her chest. Her voice echoed in counterpoint to the laughter of the water. "{The Ninety-nine names of God.}"

She was quite thirsty, of course, but was waiting for explicit permission to drink the water. Silently she blessed her obsessive reading habits as she began to amuse herself by attempting to list all the different sobriquets used in the decorations as an exercise to work on her Arabic literacy.

She was up to Name #47 (Al Barr "The Most Kind and Righteous") when she felt a warm fire at her back. Grinning to herself mentally, she smoothly stood and turned to extend her right hand -- "always use the right hand, Delilah, the left is unclean!" she heard in Zamarad's remembered voice -- to the ageless beautiful woman who had just entered clad in cloth of gold. The dark hair, emerald eyes matching those she knew so well, and the sparkle of silver and emerald at her ears provided the clue that the revolver needed to identify who had come to escort her to the family meeting.
Spoiler: Periezade Fakhoury

"{Peace be upon you, Emira Periezade Fakhoury.}" she spoke with a bow to the Djinni princess who had grown up here.

"{And upon you Peace, Delilah de Breuil,}" was the response as her hand was taken and shook. "{I have heard much of your character and deeds. I am pleased to see that the stories are apparently accurate. Come, join us. Water, food, and hospitality awaits.}"

Delilah smiled, "{My thanks. Ahh, your husband and kinfolk are well?}"

"{They are quite well. Your parents are well?}" Periezade smiled with a flash of ivory teeth as they walked through beautifully decorated halls.

"{My beloved mother is as well as she can be at her venerable age. As Zamarad may have told you, my father was exiled from America and returned to her homeland of Japan. God willing, I shall meet her one day soon, alongside my half-sisters Colombe du Chasteler and Jacklyn Fox.}" Delilah finished with a wry chuckle. "{I am the youngest of three half-sisters you see.}"

Periezade chuckled with a crackle of logs popping. "{I was unaware that you were born by the love shared by two women. That is not normal among the Children of Adam, is it?}"

Delilah shook her head as they reached an ornately carved cedar door. "{Not normally, no, but magic makes many things possible. My father, Muramasa-no-Norimune was a spirit of her sword just as I and my sisters are, so she is magic and I share many of her properties. Hence, if I am allowed to marry Zamarad, I plan to provide you grandchildren to enjoy in good time.}"

Periezade nodded sharply. "{Which is what we shall now discuss. You know the story of my engagement.}"

Delilah squared her shoulders as the door opened. "{I know.}"
Spoiler: Throne Room

The room beyond was large and spacious and ornamented in a mixture of blue and gold. A host of jinn in colorful robes stood to either side of the blue tile work leading up to the twin thrones. One dark-haired jinn sat on the left clad in ornate blue and gold robes, while to his right, a second jinn clad in black velvet with gold embroidery with flaming red hair and red eyes gave her a measuring stare.

Periezade gestured for her to stay at the door and then walked down to bow to her husband and brother. The Djinn gestured and the Emira walked to the throne set to her husband's side of the room.

Delilah squared her shoulders and swallowed as every eye turned to her.

"{Let the Petitioner approach the Court.}"

-------------------------------------
Spoiler: The Price Of A Jinn's Hand

Zamarad watched from her position behind the carved filigree screen hiding her from observation alongside her unmarried female cousins and half-sisters as Delilah walked down the aisle into the watchful silence.

Delilah reached the base of the steps leading up to the throne and curtsied low to the royalty examining her.

"{Delilah Naomi de Breuil, Child of Adam, name your request of us. Name and be judged.}" Rayhan's voice was that of a barely leashed inferno as he measured the steel of the Muramasa standing before him in the flames of his passion.

Only Zamarad caught the well-hidden fear under Delilah's cool and controlled voice. Fear not for herself in the midst of beings who could obliterate her, but fear for the hidden jinn who watched her with emerald eyes. "{Emir Rayhan bin Alnaar. I humbly request your permission to court and to wed your youngest daughter Zamarad aibnatu Alnaar if she will have me after I free her from the ring that enslaves her.}"

A stir ran through the court as the Ifrit's flaming eyes narrowed to molten slits. "{You ask much Child of Earth. Zamarad is beloved by us all.}"

Delilah nodded in agreement. "{Indeed I do, Emir. I ask for the greatest treasure in your realm to pledge my troth to. I have heard the tale of the bride price that you paid in this very hall to be permitted to court her mother.}" Delilah nodded to the intent Periezade. "{I am no Emir of the Children of Fire with ten elephants loaded with the gold of Africa, true. But I value Zamarad equally highly and I shall now demonstrate it!}"

With that Delilah flicked her wand as she levitated a black cushion to float before her. The Muramasa then took a deep breath as she concentrated on the tiara that she had bought with her family fortune. A tiara crafted to hold a legendary flawless emerald that an Egyptian Pharaoh had treasured, a Roman Emperor had displayed, and an Ottoman Sultan had valued.

"Accio Tiara!" Delilah's wand moved in her spell.

Expressions of awe and disbelief ran through the crowd of witnesses and even the assembled royalty as with a flash, the tiara appeared upon the cushion in front of her.

Sunlight sparkled from the diamonds and lesser emeralds set in the glistening platinum, and blazed from the emerald known to the Twelve Tribes of Israel as Bareket.

"{I merely ask as a humble request that my love is allowed to wear a crown that is suitable for her bride-price upon her wedding day, Emir.}" Delilah finished as she knelt before the Emir, Emira, and Sultan with the tiara extended upon the cushion. Zamarad stared at the scene through her flowing tears of joy as her cousins and half-sisters congratulated her for finding such a catch.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Warning: Dark snip ahead.
___________________________________________________________

The elderly woman hummed a bit in the darkened room lit only by candles with narrowed eyes. In the background one could hear almost animalistic grunts and muffled groans hinting at pain. Slowly, the elderly woman nodded, "Yes, almost there... almost there... ah, I can see the head." Pulling out her wand, she waved it around a little before reaching for a towel, not caring about how her arms were covered in blood, "There we go, my lord. All done..."

A shuffle in the darkness made her glance at the shadowed form that was standing to the side, "Truly? My lord?"

For a few moments there was silence before there was a sibilant hiss, "Yes... it is done."

Chuckling, the woman just bowed a little as she used the towel, "As I promised, my lord. After all, I have many decades and this was not my first birth."

The shadowed figure gave a nod, "Indeed, you have done a splendid job, madam. First rate."

Once more, the sibilant voice spoke up, "Quite, very well done. One deserving of a proper reward."

Lips twitching as she set the bundle aside, the woman bowed again, "Thank you, it pleases me that. Though I ask for little you understand. Just that you continue the old ways..." She sneered a little, "And kill some of those animals that call themselves human when they don't have a drop of magic in their blood. One of them, an American, killed my son during the war."

Dark chuckles echoed through the room before the hissing voice came back, "Of course, of course. You can be certain that will happen, my good lady. Brandon, please escort her and give her the proper amount of payment."

Yet again, the woman bowed before a man in a cloak lead her out of the room and down the hall. Inside the bundle, two red eyes looked out, practically glowing in hate as they moved revealing something that could have been an... infant, perhaps. But was not as it lacked a nose and the skin was the white of a corpse. Everything about it just screamed that it was wrong and should not exist.

From the shadows, a giant snake came out and helped the infant prop itself up as it hissed at said being before it ran one hand, which resembled a spider in a way, down the scales of the serpent, "Thank you, my pet." Both ignored a green flash and the sound of a body hitting the ground as the infant coughed some before chuckling at a hiss from the snake, "No, no, she is much too bony and her meat is stringy for you my dear Nagini."

Hearing a whimper, both of them turned and looked at the female form that laid in a ritual circle. Neither of them cared much about the slowly spreading pool of crimson that slowly erased the signs of the circle and the symbols around it. Granted, the woman in the circle did not seem to do much other than give the odd whimper, sounding more animal than anything else.

Within the red eyes set in the infant's face, there was not an ounce of concern within the gaze it had. Instead, he held out a hand, "Peter, make yourself useful... give me my wand."

Quickly, a rat faced man scrambled out from the corner where it had been hiding and bowed several times, "O-of course, my lord! I have it right here!" Reaching into the cloak he wore, Peter pulled out a wand, polished and clean, "H-here you are."

Gently taking it, the infant gave a soft sigh, "Thank you Peter... Crucio!" For a few moments, Pettigrew screamed and writhed at the pain coursing through his body before it cut off. Ignoring the sobbing man, the creature hummed, "Yes... everything seems to work well. Peter, go and help Brandon and make yourself useful." Hearing a hiss, it chuckled, "No, Nagini, there's no need for you to risk indigestion... yet."

Terror in his eyes, Peter took off, "O-of course, my lord! I shall g-go now un-until you have need for me once more."

Simply waiting until he was gone, the creature turned towards the woman and hummed as using it's wand, the woman was lifted into a sitting position, "I suppose that leaves you, my dear. Though not for long as the strain placed on your body will kill you fairly soon. Even now, your organs and body are failing. I am told that it is a fairly agonising process." A humour filled chuckle escaped from the being before it shook it's head, "But then... you don't understand a word at all which I am saying, do you?"

Across from the creature, the woman just stared sightlessly ahead with eyes glassy, yet empty of the light that marked a thinking mind. Drool slowly dripped from the corner of her mouth which once upon a time spoke words, but now only the odd whimper and groan created unconciously as there was no intelligence left to direct such sounds. If not for the magic holding her upright, she would have flopped back.

Yet, the whole time the thing just watched her in dispassionate interest. Fingering it's wand, it made a few mutters and motioned with the magical instrument before smiling, "I would say rejoice, but... it would be wasted on you. Just know that through you, Lord Voldemort has once more entered the world. And my rebirth will be granted to me fully with the information that you once had. Now, I shall repay you with mercy even as you make me truly immortal, Madam Jorkins... Avada Kedavra!"

Moments later, the light struck the woman and she stopped breathing entirely as did her heart moments before Voldemort screamed in agony.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Thousands of miles away, in Britain, Harry woke with a shout of pain and horror as he writhed on the bed as it felt like every nerve was on fire and there was a sort of echo of a tearing sensation. He knew that it was not him however, and instead he sat up in bed before rushing for the bathroom. The thirteen year old just barely reached the toilet in time before he started to spew what was left of his previous day's meal into the bowl. Body twitching, Harry kneeled there with bile dripping off his chin as tremours caused by phantom pains raced through his body.

It took him a few minutes before he shakingly got to his feet and walked over to the sink, rinsing out his mouth and spitting it out.

Already, the dream was fading, but he forced himself back to his bed before grabbing his dream diary. And, in a shaking hand, he wrote down what he had seen and experienced. Part of his mind was thankful that he used a pen, as a quill would have torn the paper and a pencil would have broken. By the time he was done, there was only the bare haze in his mind of what he had seen, but for some reason he still felt horror deep inside himself. As well as an odd feeling of thankfulness that he did not remember what he had seen and heard clearly.

Sitting there with his back against the side of his bed, Harry shivered as the sheen of cold sweat he was covered in, and which soaked his clothed, chilled him in the darkness. He was so out of it that he did not hear the near silent sound of wingbeats in the night. Nor did the thirteen year old hear the Owl Box open, close, and a minute or two later reopen.

What he did notice was two pairs of arms on either side as they embraced him.

Just blinking a little, he turned to find Shiromizu on one side and, on the other, Hedwig in her humanoid form. Gently, the Mizuchi stroked his head, "Otouto... it's fine... it's all fine."

Tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, Harry swallowed, "N-no, I don't think that it is..."

Noticing the diary in his hand, the water spirit took it and read the words. Her eyes widened and her face paled a little before she closed her eyes to control her reaction. Instead, she closed it and set it back in the drawer that it had come from and went back to hugging Harry, "Shhh... shhh... it's fine, Otouto. You're here and safe... perfectly safe."

Harry leaned against her shoulder as he nodded, "Y-yeah... it was just a dream. A really bad dream."

Said words sounding like he was trying to convince himself was not commented by any of those there.

Instead, Hedwig and Shiromizu lifted him up gently before placing him back into the bed. Frowning at the sweat drenched sheets, the young Mizuchi formed a ball of water in her hand and let it spread out over the sheets. Then, she motioned with her finger and the water flowed in a stream towards the nearby bathroom and they could hear a splash as it entered the toilet. Looking down at the now dry and clean blankets, Harry gave a weak chuckle, "Well... that's useful."

Lips curling into a smile, the Mizuchi nodded, "Hai, you have no idea." Bringing her hand up, she placed it against his head and water dripped down, flowing across his body and clothes before gathering into a ball at his feet. All of the sweat gone and his skin as well as clothes dry and warm. With another flick of her finger, the water orb shot off into the bathroom and another splash told them where it had gone, "There, all clean."

Just nodding, Harry sighed a little as he felt tiredness grab hold of him, "Thank you, Nee-San."

Gently, Shiromizu kissed his brow, ignoring the fact that besides the sweat there had been a slight amount of blood on his brow, "You're very welcome." Coiling herself around him protectively, she stroked his head, "Just rest for now. Tomorrow, you'll be coming home after all."

On his otherside, Hedwig extended a wing which covered her master protectively, "Aye, Harry-Wizard. Do not let such things bother your sleep, for we shall guard you."

With a muttered thank you, the protectiveness and warmth from the two soon sent him back to sleep. And Harry never knew, nor did Hedwig comment on how Shiromizu had tears dripping down her cheek as she held him close. Nor did Shiromizu comment on the look in the transformed owl's eyes, or how her eyes were suspiciously wet as well.

Because they understood...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

A Courtship in Emerald (XXIV)

Beirut, Lebanon

March 5th, 1946
Spoiler: A Discussion Over Coffee

Delilah gave a smile and a nod at the sight of Zamarad entering the small chamber that she had been escorted to after her audience. Sitting in a semicircle around a argilah water pipe, she sat on a cushioned divan and took a small hit of the lemon-flavored tobacco. Remembering her lessons, she neatly folded the hose upon itself and set it back on the small table, making sure to point the gilded mouthpiece toward the bubbling water pipe.

The Ifrit princess had a silver tray with small handleless finjān coffee cups and rolled date treats in one hand and the other carried a gold dallah coffee pot. Delilah's smile grew. "Ahh, qahwah sādah! Zamarad has introduced me to the pleasure of a properly roasted Arabicia bean."

Rayhan breathed out a stream of smoke and nodded. "She has done well in teaching you properly. I confess that I was concerned when I received word from her that she was interested in a Christian, and one from the Americas."

Delilah smiled and accepted several date rolls and then a cup of mirra coffee. "Understandable. Fortunately my sisters and mother have taught me to have an open mind when it comes to other cultures. And in this case it serves me well both personally and professionally."

She sipped the coffee, raising an eyebrow slightly at the taste of salt in the coffee. Now why... ahh, a traditional test of a prospective bridegroom. If the groom gets upset with the salt, he demonstrates his unfitness in temperament. Besides it was no worse than the jet black crime against nature that Jacklyn brewed for the around the world cruise to keep us awake going round the Horn. She smiled and continued, "Professionally, as you are no doubt aware, the extant colonial authorities are not what they were before the war. The British expended much in the way of their strength to defeat Grindelwald and Hitler and the French are even worse off and are trying to regain their empire."

Nods from Rayhan, Periezade, and Sultan Muhammad Fakhoury answered her statement as she continued. "This poses problems since the new powers will either be local, or outside the region with less in the way of understandings and quiet agreements with those of us who watch over things that should not be meddled with. The saying about fools rushing in where angels fear to tread applies here, and both Magical Russia after the Communist Revolution and MACUSA are fools indeed with little in the way of perspective involving questions that should not be answered and locations that should not be meddled with. Zamarad has mentioned my own responsibilities in the Dakotas in broad terms, yes?"

Muhammad blew out a smoke ring. "Yes, in the broad strokes. She was surprised that no jinn were managing what you protect."

Delilah nodded for a refill on her coffee, which she held in her hands for Zamarad to fill. "For whatever reason, the jinn never have come to the Americas, so alternate mechanisms were in place to handle certain inimical spirits, sites of power, artifacts and so on. Mechanisms that the Lakota handed over to me and through me to MACUSA seventy years prior to fill in my responsibilities in specific, since it was clear that they would lose to the expansion of us pale-faces before too much longer. Discussions with Zamarad and Colombe have made me realize that a similar situation might exist here if and when MACUSA starts to play the Great Game to step into any power vacuum that develops. Unfortunately, MACUSA will be meddling outside our shores thanks to the impact of the sneak attack by the Japanese Kamo government blowing up the traditional policy of extreme isolationism."

Delilah sipped her coffee and then nibbled a date roll. "Which is why I made arrangements to have a position of influence and leverage in MACUSA's activities in the Middle East. Hopefully I can keep us from making any bad situations worse and work with you and others to keep any fires contained. This also puts Zamarad on the payroll of MACUSA as an agent, and with your permission, I'll use her as my point person here since she both knows what is what and also is sworn to secrecy with matters that humans like me really have no need to know or meddle with."

Rayhan glanced at his wife and then nodded. "That is acceptable. We can spare her to travel to trouble spots."

Delilah gave Zamarad a smile as the Ifrit headed for her now empty cup. "{Daymen.}" Zamarad nodded and poured half a cup at the words and then gave her father a refill next since Delilah was satisfied with her coffee. "Good. Personally, while I plan to live with Zamarad in the States, I have no objections to her and I making visits to here or family visits to see us, responsibilities permitting of course. I have quite a few responsibilities Stateside between my guardianship of the Black Hills and helping Mother that I must tend to, though. That said, I do intend to ask Zamarad for an engagement and court her once she has the unshackled free will to answer my question with no implicit coercion. I want her answer to be what she truly thinks rather than what I wish to hear."

Rayhan rumbled a laugh with a sound like logs splintering in a flame. "A rarity among the Children of Adam, especially ones that have a beautiful jinn maiden in their thrall, I can assure you. We had... concerns... about such, which we now see were ill-founded."

Delilah nibbled a date. "Understandable. She mentioned that I have extreme hatred toward slavery in all its forms, yes?" Delilah's voice was heated under the control as the jinn all nodded. "Hence my trying my best -- despite extreme temptation -- to do the right thing for her. The problem is even when I ask her hand, and if she accepts, I can't marry her openly in MACUSA. The No-maj have issues accepting the idea of two women having a romantic relationship, and while magical culture is more liberal than that, there is prejudice against foreigners among the upper crust of society which I have to navigate. I'm trying to push needed changes in that, but it is quite slow and delicate work." Delilah sighed deeply. "Which is a damn shame, since she deserves a proper marriage and I cannot give her one for decades at best, maybe never."

Periezade spoke up for the first time as she leaned forward on her divan. "Oh, have no worries on that count. I am certain my husband and brother will give her a wedding that will be the talk of society for centuries to come." Both the male jinn winced at the fire in her words. "And I can assure you that after your display today, Delilah, that there will be no tongues wagging where I or my family can hear them about your 'unworthiness' to wed a Child of Fire, Delilah Naomi de Breuil. But such will be a matter of planning and preparation."

Delilah chuckled at the clear statement of intent from her future mother-in-law. "Oh quite. I take it that you would have no objection to my family supplying a variety of American woods for the wedding feast to supplement your own efforts?"

The four jinn laughed. "Oh, not in the least!"

Delilah grinned smugly. "Good. As for my escorts, it would be myself, my mother, my half sisters Jacklyn and Colombe, and my father Norimune... perhaps." Delilah's face fell. "Father and mother had a bad falling out shortly before I was born and Norimune was exiled to Japan from MACUSA when I was a young girl. So that will be tricky. Although if I can manage it, I want her to be there." Delilah finished in a somewhat choked voice.

Zamarad spoke quietly. "Lyra Potter as well."

Delilah nodded. "Yes, Lyra definitely. All of these are people whom I trust to keep their mouths shut about me getting married. As for the rest, well I leave the guest list for the bride, bridesmaids, and so on in your hands." Delilah finished by draining her coffee cup.

She then glanced at Zamarad and winked, putting her now emptied cup on the table. Her lips curled in a smug smirk at her planned action.

Rayhan laughed. "You know that by tradition you must now either fill that cup with gold, marry my child serving the mirra, or finance the wedding of Zamarad, honored guest."

Delilah's smug smirk widened as she touched the coffee cup with a finger. "I choose the second option that tradition allows. Should she accept my courtship, I shall marry Zamarad."

Zamarad blushed behind her veil as her father nodded. "I take it you have a mechanism to allow Zamarad to travel back and forth across the oceans?"

Delilah smirked troumphantly. "I do. We have developed what is known as an Owl Box, which is a pair of linked and enchanted boxes. An object placed in one when the lid is closed appears in the other across great distances nearly instantly. Zamarad can use that to travel as a spirit of flame, and in my case," Delilah took a very deep breath, "I am the spirit of my revolver. The 'me' who is enjoying your hospitality is an avatar, a projection from my true body here."

She removed her true body butt-first and placed it on the table next to the coffee cup as the jinn curiously examined it. "So if that is placed inside the box, I get transported across the distances. I would prefer this information goes no further, since my enemies inside and outside MACUSA can use that information to destroy me."

Rayhan spoke solemnly. "You have our word of honor in such matters, Delilah Naomi de Breuil." The other two nodded in agreement.

"Thank you all." Delilah said gratefully as she reholstered herself.

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

HMCS Severn, Off Haida Gawaii.

The Captain drank from his trusty mug as he sat in his chair reading a status report from his chief engineer. It always fascinated him how technology and magic could work together. For instance, the boilers were charmed for improved power output and corrosion resistance, while the turbines had wards to reduce friction and wear and tear. The forward 3-inch gun mount was enhanced to the point it could sustain the original maximum rate of fire of 20 rounds per minute and could fire a variety of rounds including magically enhanced munitions.

"Maintain course,"

"Maintain course, aye."

He nodded at the Petty Officer working at the helm before turning his eyes to the ship sailing ahead and starboard of the Severn. One of the oldest active vessels in the Canadian Magical Navy, the ship in question was of World War II vintage, rebuilt after the war.

The old destroyer escort had, in fact, started out in life as an M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy, though no records of such ship had existed. However, it saw extensive service in World War II, fighting an enemy hidden in secrecy and statutes. Her part in the war ultimately ended in dramatic fashion.

After deploying troops on D-Day, a 30.5 cm shell from a German coastal defence gun apparently struck the ship, causing what the few eyewitnesses claimed was a massive explosion. The only debris found by British Wizards was a 6 square inch piece, as well as the remains of a sailor. Those who landed from the destroyer had assumed the ship was lost, aside from a few who were privy to the truth.

Some conspiracy theorists in the Wizarding World would say the ship went on a series of misadventures, with wild outrageous stories of encounters with demons, or other bizzare creatures. Such stories were nothing like what actually happened.

In reality, several things occurred in quick succession. As soon as the ship was struck, an experimental portkey activated. This portkey was designed by a brilliant expert in Charms to evacuate a crippled ship back to homeport and hopefully save the surviving crew. However, as it powered up, a fragment from the german shell struck the alchemical-based propulsion systems, releasing fiendfyre that gutted a good portion of the ship. The fiendfyre also played havoc on the portkey, and changed the destination. The ship disappared in a massive pop, which when combined with the raging inferno, gave the illusion of a catastrophic detonation.

In a remote part of Canada, the ship reappeared, still aflame. However, to the relief of the surviving crew, the emergency extinguisher systems activated, ending the uncontrolled flames. Despite this, the ship was dead in the water. It was rather fortunate then that the ship had arrived near a remote village of Canadian Magicals, where a protege of a certain RCMMP tsukumokami rapidly flooed in for help from the Canadian MoM. The people of the village provided shelter, medical care, and food to the survivors as they waited for help. Within two days, the Magical frigate HMCS Ontarian arrived to tow the crippled destroyer to HMC Dockyard Erebus, the primary base of the Canadian Magical Navy.

There had been a debate on whether to scrap the badly damaged destroyer, but the Canadian Ministry of Magic decided to repair the ship, and prepare it for possible service in the Pacific. The superstructure had to be rebuilt along with most of the engineering systems, while a handful of AA mounts were also installed. However, by the time the ship was ready to return to service, Emperor Showa saw the writing on the wall and agreed to have the Empire of Japan surrender unconditionally.

Once again the fate of the ship was up in the air, as the British MoM had returned to isolationism and already declared the ship as lost. After some quiet negotiations, the ship was handed over to the Canadian Magical Navy, which soon put it on patrols during the early years of the cold war.

In the late 50s and early 60s, out of a need to upgrade the warship for the post-war era, and to reduce the chance of a Statute Breach, the ship went into refit once more, this time being fitted into a destroyer escort, similar to what the nomaj Canadians had done for HMCS Crescent and HMCS Crusader.

Despite her infamous wartime service, crew members aboard the ship believed the ship was content with her relatively boring service post-war. The crew of HMCS Merlin, DDE 226π, were proud of their ship and her continued service for Canada.

Author Note: I want to credit Yellowhammer for giving me permission to write the above. Do not tempt me to delete this bit.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Upon hearing a knock at his office door, Remus looked up from where he was packing various items away as it was the last day of school, 'Wonder who that could be...'

Taking a sniff, he raised an eyebrow at the scent which by now was familiar. Granted, he still was not sure what to think about some changes he had noticed over the last couple of months. As a werewolf, he always had enhanced senses. Nothing truly spectacular, mind you, but still better than most. Slightly better sense of smell and hearing for example. From his talks with Lily, his senses as a werewolf had been pushed to the upper limit of human capabilities. Same with his strength and speed, which Lily after some research had determined were at the upper end of Olympic athlete level.

Of course, his physiology also meant that he healed fast as well unless the wound was caused by silver or dark magic... such as another were's claws and fangs. Not as fast as in some movies that non-magicals had, granted. But he once broke his leg in a fight and spent five days in a bolt hole hiding from Death Eaters in Ireland. By the end of that, his leg was healed and no longer broken. Another time, he had been shot by an Imperioused non-magical policeman in the chest, with the bullet going through his liver. Something that even without magic he healed from in a matter of days and that at the time meant he ignored the wound to wrestle the man to the ground.

It had fascinated her to no end which lead to annoying tests she had done such as hours on a treadmill or attempting to identify flowers by their scents.

However, up until recently, all his abilities outside of healing were within human norms for the most part, if at the upper end. It was only during the days of the Full Moon that everything got boosted further. Which is what made him wonder since, as of a few months before, that boost had kept past the Full Moon. And he knew that the students and such at his school also had noticed such. Something that made him wonder...

Remus shook those thoughts off, placing them into the back of his mind before he cleared his throat and called out towards his waiting visitor, "The door's unlocked, Harry. You can come in if you want."

Moments later, said thirteen year old opened the door and walked in with a smile, "Good morning, Uncle Moony."

Lightly chuckling, Remus gave him a look before glancing at the clock, "Shouldn't you be getting ready to head out? Or getting breakfast? After all, the train leaves in two hours."

With a small shrug, Harry grinned, "Already packed all my stuff last night actually. And already had some breakfast earlier." Glancing around as he walked further into the room, he noted that all the posters and various items were gone, "Not coming back?"

Shaking his head, the Were snorted some, "And risk the curse? Not bloody likely." He then stood straight and cracked his back a little, "Besides, I've got a school of my own to look after."

Not saying anything right away, Harry gave a hum, "True, though you might be getting a small amount of money donated to it." Ignoring the frown on the older man's face, he changed the subject, "Still, a bit of a shame since we learned the most from you that we have on the last three years. What with everything that has happened."

Briefly, Remus considered the rumours and what he had been told before grimacing. If there was even a small kernel, and he suspected that it was more than just a small one, he was not surprised in the slightest. However, he gave Harry a smirk, "Well, as I said, this was temporary from the start. Besides which? Snape would get annoyed and I'm already lucky that he has not found some way to spill my secret."

The thirteen year old nodded a bit with a small sigh, "Yeah, I suppose so." Harry then smiled slightly as a thought occurred to him, "I guess that we should meet up outside of school. That way you can tell me embarrassing and mortifying stories about my parents as well as get me all embarrassed about them."

Unable to help himself, Remus laughed at that, "You know? I would like that, though I can't help but think that you have another reason for it."

With a small shrug, Harry hummed a bit, "Well, I have a number of nieces that are single, you know? Like Sunny." Seeing the stunned look, he raised his hands, "Or Tanith... granted, I could set you up with some of the others... like Ritou! I can imagine you as a wolf with your head on her lap as she strokes it."

Very slowly, the older man turned and looked at him, "... You're joking..."

Later, when the conversation was talked about, Remus claimed he did not whine. And that he does not whine at such things and sound like a little kid not wanting to do chores. He is a grown man after all and above such things... though he did blush a little at the memory of what said female beings looked like... and how little clothes they wore.

All the while cursing his inner wolf which was panting a little.

Meanwhile, Harry frowned at him and crossed his arms over his chest, "What's wrong with them?"

Quickly, Remus waved his hands in the air, "Nothing, absolutely nothing at all, Harry. They're beautiful women after all, just... uh... I'm not interested in that sort of thing. Right now, I mean."

Frowning, the teenage wizard continued to stare at him in thought, "Hmm but according to my Mum's and Dad's journals, they mentioned that you needed a good girlfriend. Though I suppose that there is Ruby..."

Confused, though somewhat annoyed at the memory of Lily and James attempting to matchmake him and it still happening despite them being dead for over a decade, Remus frowned, "Ruby?"

With a nod, Harry blinked, "She's a Harbour Demon. Looks a lot like Big Sister Wanko, except her claws are flesh. Has a bit of trouble getting dates due to sounding like a little girl for some reason..." He then frowned again at Remus, "Are you sure that you don't need a girlfriend? I mean, Uncle Sirius has one, Mum and Dad married and stuff..."

Twitch in his forehead, the werewolf nodded, "I'm positive."

Said twitch grew as Harry muttered to himself, "Maybe later then..." After a few seconds, the teen shrugged and turned back to the older man, "Um, right, I was wondering if it was possible that you might visit Yokosuka sometime? Or if we could meet up and you could tell me about my parents?"

Remus crossed his arms as he considered it as he also remembered small chats he had with the thirteen year old about his parents. It... hurt, a little, to remember what had happened and to be the one to tell him about his parents. At the same time there, there was also a... happy feeling at remembering those times and telling him. Slowly, Remus gave a nod and a chuckle, "Sure thing, Harry. If I can find a way to Japan, then I would not mind at all. Or maybe at times you're back in Britain. Lily and James would appreciate that."

At that, Harry just nodded before humming, "Though... if you come to Yokosuka, you could try some of the bars. They might have a good Campari and Soda... but you could settle for a Guinness as well."

For several moments, the werewolf stared at him before sighing with an amused tilt to his lips, "Harry, you are most definitely Lily's son. Your Mum used to order that for me when the bunch of us went to a bar."

All Harry did was laugh before walking over and hugging the older man, who returned it happily.
___________________________________________________________

Leaning against the windowsill, Harry looked out the window in deep thought at the British countryside that was rushing past as the Hogwarts Express made it's way to London. Around his neck, Shiromizu dozed a little while Ron's new owl, hyperactive little thing it was, rapidly flew around the cabin. Oftentimes getting an annoyed look from Hedwig while Crookshanks watched in amusement.

Most of the train was mostly those students talking and saying goodbye to each other before Summer Break. After all, they would not see many of them until the next year. It was a time for friends and such to talk one last time before going home. And in other compartments one could find couples together. Some of them being teary eyed at their coming separation from each other... and such people were not all girls either.

Currently in their cabin though, Ron was telling the others about something that he had overheard from Ginny, "... So, apparently Amisi found out about the sort of ritual that the Seventh Years undergo when they leave Hogwarts the last time. You know what that is, right?"

Eyebrow raised, Hermione looked up from her book with a slight frown, "Ritual? You mean how the Seventh Years leave the school via the boats, right? Like how they arrived at the school the first time, but in reverse?"

Giving a nod, the redhead shuffled a little bit of the lap desk he had and was drawing something on, "Yeah, there's a bunch of symbolism and stuff tied up in it."

Neville gave a nod as he bit into a cauldron cake, "Um, right, Gran told me about that." Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he gave a small shrug, "Well... when you arrive as First Years, it is by boat in the evening, right?"

Both Hermione and Ron nodded as did Harry, the former two talking at the same time, "Right."

Motioning with a hand, the Longbottom Scion frowned a little, "And when you leave with your Seventh Year done, you move across the lake by boat in the morning. With the first years, it represents leaving your childhood behind with the Sun setting on it and it's evening beginning. The lake represents the gulf between your childhood and the years to come. Dark, mysterious, and a little scary. And when you leave after Seventh Year? You do so in the morning which, well... represents that your adulthood has now begun and that you are leaving your years in Hogwarts behind, crossing a gulf once more. But this time, it is lit and clear for the most part. Not so frightening anymore."

For a few moments, everyone was quiet as they digested that. Once he gave it some thought, Ron nodded a little, "That... makes a lot of sense."

Eyebrows furrowing, Hermione gave him a look, "That's not mentioned in Hogwarts: A History though."

With a small shrug, Neville shook his head, "Well, it is a history book. Does it really go much into other traditions and their backgrounds?"

The Light Cruiser considered that before simply making a sound of agreement. Hermione then turned towards Ron who was taking a bite of a sandwich, "So what happened with Percy and Amisi?"

Swallowing his sandwich and taking a sip of tea from his thermos, Ron waited a few seconds before snorting, "Well, Amisi apparently offered to summon herself to give her Pharaoh a proper ride across the lake. It turned into a bit of an disagreement between them, but... she accepted it. Though that meant he had a boat mostly to himself as she sat in his lap the whole way across."

Various snorts and snickers came from that bit of information. Though Neville remembered something, "Wait... does Percy have a job lined up?"

Making a note on the sheet of parchment in front of him, Ron gave a nod, "He's actually joining the Ministry." At the looks of disbelief, the Weasley shrugged, "I know, a bit bonkers that. But he figures that he could get in on the ground floor for when the Non-Magical government takes over as someone who knows what is going on, but has not been there long enough to be problematic. Lots of opportunities he thinks."

Only shaking her head, Hermione sighed and was about to say something when she paused and looked over towards the only human occupant who had not said anything, "Harry? Is something wrong?"

Blinking, Harry turned towards her, "Hmm? Not really wrong l, just..." Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair, "I... think that it's begun."

With a glance towards the others, Neville frowned, "Begun? What has begun?"

Grimacing, the messy haired thirteen year old wizard looked out the window, "The final collapse."

That brought a wince from Ron, "Is... this about what is going on with Germany?"

Needless to say, that caught the line shipgirl's attention very quick, "Germany? What about Germany, Ronald?" At his shifting, she narrowed her eyes, "What is going on now?"

Neville blinked at that with a frown on his face, "Hermione, didn't you read the Daily Prophet today? They had it on the front page..."

A frown on her face, Hermione looked between them, "No? I've been meaning to read it, but was caught up in other things instead. Such as... some stuff with Professor McGonagall. Did something happen besides them seceding from the ICW?"

Looking at Neville, Ron shook his head, "With Germany? Not really? I mean, since they left the ICW they've been very quiet. Isolationist really... but that's made a lot of people nervous that they could be planning, um... the Third Great Magical European Dustup if you will. The ICW has been meeting nearly non-stop since they did it to try and figure out what to do next while, well..."

It was Neville who continued, "The Magical Ministries of Belgium and the Netherlands have decided that they're taking no chances and... have started to position their forces along the German border. Rumour has it that they have been threatening a pre-emptive invasion of Germany if the ICW doesn't do it. Poland is also positioning their forces as well on their side of the border."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Hermione took a deep breath, "Are... are you telling me that we might well have an invasion of Germany by the Low Countries sometime soon? Is... is that correct?"

With a glance towards Neville, the redheaded wizard nodded with a shrug, "Apparently? They don't want to be invaded again with the fighting on their soil, so... yeah?"

The sound of steel hitting steel as well as flesh meeting flesh could be heard as Hermione's hands renewed their romance with her face. About to comment, Harry paused before frowning as he looked at the window, 'Did I hear someone in what sounded like a French accent shout that it was not their fault...?' Shaking that off, he ignored the muttering from Hermione and shook his head, "Um, well that was not what I quite meant actually." At their looks of interest, the thirteen year old scratched the back of his head, "It's what is happening back home right now. The final death spiral of the Tokyo Magical Diet has begun there."

Concerned, a feeling shared by her other two friends, the Light Cruiser frowned, "What happened, Harry? And how bad?"

For a few seconds, Harry did not say anything before letting out a breath, "Okay... you know how there was that big battle in Tsushima Strait a few weeks back, right?" At their nods, he continued, "Well, there was some damage to the island itself from it. Some people were actually killed on the magical side. But... the thing was that the Diet didn't send anyone there to help until fifteen hours had passed, while Kyoto was there within minutes even as the fighting was happening. Even sent Healers there... Well, as of two days ago, Tsushima, Iki Island, and Fukuoka Prefecture declared independence from Tokyo and that they were fully throwing in their hat with Kyoto, followed by Nagasaki Prefecture as a whole the next day alongside Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands. The only one of the Ryukyu Islands still in the Diet's control is the Yokai Reserve. They figure that the Izu Islands will declare for Kyoto sometime today or tomorrow along with the Bonins... though that goes without saying what with Mahoutokoro under Kyoto's control as it is."

No one said anything for a few moments before Neville spoke up, "Mate... what... what does that mean? And what happens next?"

Letting out a breath, Harry shook his head, "I don't know, Neville. But... with Fukuoka and Nagasaki Prefectures now under Kyoto's control? Alongside Tsushima and Iki not to mention the Ryukyu Islands? That is some of the major ports into and out of the country right there. I would not be surprised if the rest if Kyushu follows within a matter of weeks, a month or two at most. With the Izu Islands? There's a chance that Shizuoka and Kanagawa Prefectures will follow. After that... it all depends on how the Diet responds. If they try and use force, it will get very messy, very quickly. If they don't... other places will join Kyoto. I'm betting on Hokkaido next after Kyushu."

The others glanced at each other and had the exact same thought, 'This... is a mess.'

Noticing Harry's expression, Hermione gave him an understanding smile, "Harry? I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure that people are working on it back in Japan."

Harry just nodded at that and soon was drawn into other conversations.

All too soon, as the Sun touched hovered above the horizon, the Hogwarts Express pulled into Platform 9 3/4. Walking out, Harry grinned at seeing Nagato as well as Hoppou, Kitakami, and Ooi. Almost as soon as he reached him, he was swept up into a hug by the brown haired Torpedo Cruiser, "Hey there, Otouto! Ready to head home?"

Hugging her back, the thirteen year old nodded, "Hai, I am. It has been... an eventful year, Ooi-Nee."

Once he was let go, he turned and gave Nagato a hug as well as Hopppu. Soon, the group was leaving the hidden platform and an hour later found Harry softly sighing as he looked out onto Yokosuka. Slowly, he gave a happy little nod.

He was home.

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdul

Yellowhammer said:
Nice to see that Enver's Coldest Fuckup did not wind up eating the local city raw.​

Funny you should say that...

---

Date: May… something or other. Year: It has been far too long.

Location: Allahuekber Mountains

I feel it is the supreme irony that I am back at the site of the first betrayal I suffered… in the country that still reveres my greatest betrayer.

At least I have my army back.

I have no idea what happened. One moment, I was in Turkestan, charging against a Russian position. The next, I am lying in a forest clearing, my hands looking half-rotten, with some dark eyed Arab sitting across from me. He smirked at me, then disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a smell of sulfur. Then my soldiers came. And asked for my orders.

It feels so good to be back to commanding an army. Even if it is in this God forsaken, frozen hellhole, that does nothing but remind me of betrayal after betrayal. Still, this time traitors cannot take my army from me. Kemal… I read that they built a big tomb to that traitor. "Atatürk" they call him! Bastards! Traitors! What does he have to deserve that title! I should have had that title! I am the one who sacrificed everything for them, and they consider him, that weak-willed traitor their idol!

Well, once we deal with whatever they have around here, I know where I am marching. Whispers keep telling me to go south, but no! First… that edifice in Ankara! Then… then those Soviet bastards! Another sign of treachery. They yanked me around for months, while they propped up Kemal. Godless bastards! They are next. Then… and only then… maybe… Well, Arabs, they are traitors as well.

I have my army now. And what an army. This time, there will be no betrayal.

I just wish it wasn't so fucking cold.

Commander in Chief of All the Armies of Islam, Son-in-Law of the Caliph and Representative of the Prophet, Hero of the Revolution, Savior of the Nation, Emir of Turkestan, Müşir İsmail Enver

---

As Ali sat down, a beeping made Schehrazade look down into her phone. "Well, this is interesting. A maintenance crew discovered this morning that the grave monument in the Abide-i Hürriyet Park was desecrated. Who would want to desecrate…" Her eyes shot up and met Ali's horrified eyes.

The rifle just closed his eyes as if in pain and swore viciously, prompting Sinbad to reflexively cover the ears of the destroyer next to him. Korkut covered his eyes with his palm, while Hızır looked up at the heavens in a silent question.
Spoiler: Author's Note
I am stating this officially. Trying to get into Enver's headspace is fucking cancer. It took me a week to push this abortion of a piece out, and even now I hate it. Well, the rest should flow easier. I am committed to finishing the meeting and get a good headstart into Sarıkamış tonight.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico Virginia.

A Meeting In The Woods
Spoiler: A Meeting Among Old Friends

FBI Special Agent Alondra David parked her car and got out. To her right the bulk of the museum stood. Absently adjusting her red US Marine Corps-Retired polo shirt tucked into her tan slacks, she walked toward the park's monuments. She ignored the late-spring rainfall dripping from the trees as she walked through the wooded park, her attention flickering to see if she was observed. Finally, she checked her chronometer as she reached the monument to Marine working dogs, and then took a seat on the bench under the gently swaying boughs of the trees..

Three minutes early. Perfect.

With that thought, she pulled out a bag of unsalted shelled peanuts and began to toss them to the squirrels chattering from the woods around her.

Presently a second young-seeming woman walked up the path.

Automatically Alondra gave her the once-over.

Chestnut-red hair, leaf-green eyes, five-six, dressed in a dark gray conservative skirt-suit and carrying a copy of the Washington Post in her hand. She looked quite tired, which gave Alondra a start since in the two decades that they had been working together, she had never known Del -- no other names just Del -- to look anything other than in control.

"You look like shit. Rough day?" she said as she flicked another nut to a chattering squirrel.

Del nodded absently, her fingers twitching as her eyes flickered around. She finally relaxed slightly. "Clear. And rough like you would not believe. You haven't heard about Verdun yet, have you?"

"Verdun?" Alondra blinked, referencing her memories and the information at hand. "It doesn't ring a bell."

Del gave a bitter smile. "Cover-up's holding for now then. Short and dirty, shipgirls aren't the only things that can come back as the spirit of something. Last month the spirit of the town of Verdun, where one of the largest battles of the First World War happened nearly broke free. We locked it back down, but it was a damn near close run thing with a bigger death toll averted than I care to think about and more undead than I even want to contemplate right now. Perhaps ever. Nearly killed us shutting it down."

Alondra stared. "You sound like you had a personal part in it."

"Oh yes." Del's shoulders slumped as she spoke wearily, "I got tapped for my sins to be part of the strike team that went into the belly of the beast to shut it down. It was... rough and I nearly died in there. But while it's all in the paper," she tapped the newspaper resting on the bench between them, "Verdun broke some major shit loose that you need to be aware of."

Alondra leaned forward, eyes intent. "Trouble then."

Del agreed with a deep sigh, "Big trouble. Internationally the Germans went full retard and pulled out of the ICW when the news of Verdun hit. We aren't sure if they are planning to rearm up to go a-conquering or what, they have locked the borders down tighter than a miser's purse. The ICW is running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to deal with things and the neighbors are panicking. Tensions over in Europe are rising to a level I last saw in the mid fifties, or perhaps the thirties. So don't be surprised if something breaks loose then and there. Japan's a mess as well, but at least trying to deal with their internal problems for the shit I checked on since we last met. Details are in my report."

Del rubbed her eyes, "Domestically MACUSA is up to something too but I don't know what. I got a whiff of something called MAYFLOWER, no other details, just the name on an emergency financing proposal the Congress approved and someone failed to redact before I got a glimpse at it. It's getting a hell of a lot of money and I don't know what for. Security is getting paranoid as well, they are looking for leaks like yours truly since some of the dinosaurs think that the no-majs plan to reenact the Salem Witch Trials on them if they get a whiff about magic."

Delilah shrugged at Alondra's concerned look "If that was not bad enough, also we nearly had a escape of a Naagloshi from the Superstition Mountains into downtown Phoenix two days ago. Fortunately I was able to put paid to it when I checked the wards and realized we had a shapeshifting runner heading out for a spot of serial killing. Disguised the corpse as a drug cartel hit where they burned the body. Thank God for the narcotraficantes giving us excuses to justify that kind of thing to the local law enforcement when they look into the reports of a car on fire with a few bricks of cocaine in the trunk and a burned corpse behind the wheel."

Del tapped the paper again. "Copies of the Scourer activity reports and the other relevant paperwork that crossed my desk are in there too as normal, of course. I also included a map of areas of concern in the CONUS and Alaska where we have things warded that shouldn't be messed with, like Verdun. For God's sake when this blows keep a lid on those things. I don't know how much longer that we can keep the charade going and I really don't know which way MACUSA will jump when it collapses. A fair few of the isolationists are terrified of getting outed, and that includes some people who have Quahog's ear, dammit. And terrified people do stupid shit and some of them are getting very paranoid. Not a majority, but enough to cause big trouble."

Alondra tossed the rest of the peanuts to the squirrels. "How long have we known each other? Twenty years now?"

Del shrugged, "More or less. Longer if you count seeing me when I visited your father to check in on him after the Beirut Bombing in 1982. He did me and mine a solid in Lebanon back then during the Civil War. Ask him for the details sometime and tell him that I cleared you."

Alondra nodded, "I heard his family stories of you as a teenage girl. That was why I joined the Corps just like him. Wound up in Military Police instead of infantry like Papai did, so after I did my four, I transitioned to the civilian side and joined the FBI. Where I ran into you again."

Del agreed absently. "1993. World Trade Center Bombing. I ran into you since I was aware by that time that Al-jamāʻah al-islāmīyah had been infiltrated by Shayatin, and Abdel-Rahman was working hand-in-glove with them."

Alondra agreed. "Our first big case together, even if I was the junior rookie agent pounding the bricks then. At least those mundane scumbags responsible won't ever see the outside of a Supermax outside their coffin, and the magicals you dealt with."

Delilah gave a brief nasty smug smirk. "Oh yes, the Witch of November makes an excellent and willing jailer for Shayatin. Water severely weakens and inhibits their powers, especially cold water, and she is quite a possessive and cruel bitch who fundamentally can never let any 'guests' in her ice-water mansion at the bottom of Lake Superior go. She and I have... an agreement, I suppose you can say. She is willing to listen to me just long enough to let me explain the nature of the jinn which I have captured, and she agrees to keep them as her guests for me."

Alondra gave a matching smirk. "We did swear to defend the Constitution against all enemies Foreign and Domestic, Del."

"Indeed we did, Al. Indeed we did." Del sighed deeply, "Doesn't change the fact that we are now in endgame and not too many more moves left on the board from all indications. Let your bosses know that time is running out in the hourglass and plan accordingly. I don't know if I will see you again, so I made arrangements for failsafe copies of all the data that I gathered to help the transition to be sent to you if MACUSA realizes what I have been doing. They are already looking for me. Or the shit breaking loose takes me out, since it is crisis central for the Aurors these days."

She turned and looked deep into the deep-brown eyes of the Brazilian-American Natural-born Shipgirl, and slowly spoke in a weary voice. "If I don't see you again, I just wanted to say. Thank you. For everything. And keep on fighting the good fight."

Alondra placed her hand on Del's shoulder and squeezed gently. "You too. Now go and get some rest. You deserve it. You did your part and more, let others take up the labor now and protect yourself from the reckoning at hand if they catch you."

Del shook her head slowly. "Not really possible since I swore an oath back in 1864 to do my part and it is not discharged yet. All of us, me, my sisters, my nieces, my aunts, my father are all crazy like that in our own ways. Functionally crazy, but crazy is crazy. So many have sacrificed so much to advance this great work remaining before me and I must see it through to the end, no matter the cost. I cannot betray them... or myself even in this late hour. Even knowing the risks if MACUSA finds out all that I have done."

She stood up, leaving the newspaper with the files stolen from MACUSA hidden inside the pages on the bench and straightened her skirt.

As Alondra David, the natural-born shipgirl of USS Pillsbury (DE-133) watched, MACUSA Auror Delilah de Breuil whispered a verse of poetry in a voice filled with steely determination as she stared at the park's trees. Tears glistened in her eyes as she headed back to do what she could to prepare the Magical and Nonmagical United States for the inevitable fall of the Statute of Secrecy.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdul

Hızır sighed. "Alright, this changes things. Initially, we thought the army in Sarıkamış was directionless, and expected them to follow their last orders – to move towards Russia. But now I have a very bad feeling about this. So…" He turned to the destroyer shipgirl sitting next to Sinbad. "I need you to go get Hamidiye and if possible Yavuz immediately."

Demirhisar got a distant look for a moment. "Done. Radio is magnificent, isn't it? Hamidiye is actually close. She will come in now." She then turned to the door, and a moment later, the doorframe darkened with the tall, willowy form of the protected cruiser.

At first glance, Hamidiye did not cut an impressive figure. Distinctly coltish even at her apparent age of early 30s, her tall frame looked all arms and legs. She was sharp featured, with a shock of windswept black hair topping a face which had the light olive complexion shared by her Near Eastern and Italian origins. Her almond eyes were an expressive hazel, and her brow was somewhat creasedas she took in the group in front of her.

As Ali lightly blushed and ducked his head, she gave him a brief smile. "Well, I cannot let you out of my sight for a moment, it seems." She then turned to the rest. She gave a respectful nod to Hızır and Ilyas, then grinned. "Well well well. Helmsman Sinbad al-Bayruti, I was wondering where the hell you were. So was the captain."

Sinbad just gave her an irreverent grin, eliciting a shake of the head. She then approached the table. "Yavuz will be here in ten minutes or so, but Demirhisar will be relaying anything we talk about to her." She glanced at the teenager destroyer, who had a resolute look on her face as she nodded. "Her radio set is better than mine. So, problem? She mentioned Sarıkamış.

Korkut leaned forward. "Exactly. Backstory first. A couple of weeks ago, Verdun in France threatened to blow up spectacularly. Basically, the battle there was both magical and nonmagical, and horrible on both sides. So the residue, the spells used, the death and destruction, it corrupted the spirit of the area. Right after the war, apparently, it was locked down and sealed through clandestine wardwork using the monuments in the area. For some reason, and by that I mean we have some speculations as to why but nothing concrete, it decided to break its bindings at the worst possible time. We are thinking it might be related to the ungodly amounts of magical energy released by the awakening of Halifax, but I am not sure. Still, long story short, a strike team went into an undead reenactment of 1916, managed to make it to the breach point, and resealed her. However, the close call did jar loose some problems. One of them is right on our doorstep – Allahuekber Mountains. The tens of thousands of dead from the Battle of Sarıkamış, in addition to the debacle that followed, really tainted the whole region. Undead has always been a problem, but we do not have convenient sites like the French did, so warding and protection schemes are less a complete seal and more a containment effort. That changed, apparently, right after Verdun was finally put down."

He pulled out a gnarled wand of juniper wood and waved it over the table, shrugging at the raised eyebrow from the others. "What? It is convenient." A map of Eastern Anatolia appeared on the surface, with a rash of red down the mountains at its northern edge, and a handful of glowing spots surrounding it. "A few days ago, responding aurors discovered a large band of undead soldiers moving slowly down the mountains. They tried the standard containment and misdirection, to get the soldiers to turn back and head back up into the containment areas, but this time they failed, and got their asses handed to them. Only two survived out of a team of seven. Those two, thankfully, stumbled upon an old tekke, a place of power for one of the eren in the region. Their entrance, along with the presence of nearby undead, roused the old eren, and thankfully Babaerenler were able to head off the band, which was almost a regiment." He then indicated the rest of the red rash. "However, later on more bands appeared. The auror on the scene, one Murat, made a smart decision and started hitting various open and hidden tekke and turbe in the region, getting more and more awliya into the fight. However, there is a limit to how many dervish that can be put against the army, and that limit is pretty much reached. More than one wali has already martyred himself to both hold them back and to keep things quiet. When I left the area two days ago, they were stretched thin to hold the valleys. I thought this was just another upswell due to the necromantic energy released in Verdun, but it seems I was wrong." He nodded at Schehrazade.

Schehrazade looked up from her phone. "Okay, I have bits and pieces, not much. I contacted a friend in the Istanbul Adli Tıp. She says even though it was discovered this morning, the grave was opened at least a couple of weeks ago. Since they did this so long ago, in the middle of the city in a busy park, and nobody noticed anything until today, suggests magic. And considering who it is, we have to assume they were connected."

Hamidiye sat back. "Well, so somebody picked Enver, and took him to the army he killed."

Schehrazade nodded. "We were thinking that we had to command the army to turn back, but for that we need someone with authority. We were thinking about you, actually. You certainly have the legend for it."

Hamidiye shook her head. "Maybe, maybe not. Still, if they have Enver leading it, that definitely will not work. But first, we must confirm Enver is actually used to lead the army. And we must have an idea why they are pulling this and now."

Schehrazade leaned forward and pressed a finger on Mount Tendürek. "There is your problem. In the distant past, the region was much fought over by jinn and Shayatin. In Biblical times, three great armies of Shayatin were sealed under three of the major volcanos in the area – Tendürek, Süphan and Nemrut, with Lake Van between them to weaken them. Nemrut is somewhat secure for now – it is being watched closely, and so is Süphan. But I have information that some local unpleasant characters have been dealing with various free Shayatin under the table, and they have moved north through Van recently. Tendürek is the most isolated of the three, so we are concerned that they might hit that seal. However, the army is a new development. So far, their movements suggest they are gunning for the town of Sarıkamış, but now that I think about it, Sarıkamış is between them and Tendürek. It is also between them and Armenia proper." She shook her head. "It can be one, it can be other. It can even be both, with Enver having one agenda and the Shaitan holding his leash having another. We really need more information."

Hamidiye shook her head. "That I can agree with. Yavuz is going to be here any minute. Between us we do have some resources we can call in. But what we need is a recon in force." She turned to Ali. "Call Mehmet. Let's start putting together a strike team. Best case scenario, we can put another bullet into Enver's brainpan and actually resolve the issue. Worst case scenario… well, I will try to pry Sultan Osman loose from her duties down in Cyprus. Because we will need a lot of big guns. Hope it won't come to that though. Because if that happens we are never going to keep this hidden."