After the Storm

War's end and new beginning

We were thrown into the fray, there was an opening which we punched through making our way into the middle where the Empress is. Once we arrived at her location, she closed off our exit. It was a trap, memories from that nightmare seeped into my mind, soon the first explosions hit us. I was unable to do anything as if time stopped a bright light soon approached me.

???: "Do you wish it to end the same as you foresaw?"

Iwo: "No, I have so much to protect. The home that I wish to see, the smile of my family and friends. I can't give up now since I made this promise to myself, and it's way too early to give up." The light gets a little more visible which was another version of myself.

Iwo (Alt): "Good, they'll need you now more than ever." Time soon resumes.

Takao: "Ma'am your orders?"

Iwo: "All hands retreat, I'll clear a path!" Good thing I packed special missiles for this, I soon fire off creating a hole back the way we came which was made of layers of Klein fields. "We don't have much time let's go!" They soon pull out, but I decided to stay to face the monster herself.

Empress: "I was certain you'd run."

Iwo: "No this ends now!"

I charge at her with all my strength but was stopped by a wall, soon it changes all-around me showing the rest of the future, voices soon cry out in pain. I know these are all false because I won't let it happen, I close my eyes and focus on the footsteps. I soon hear them to the stern she charges at me, and I repelled it with my blade.

Iwo: "I see so you're using illusions to fool me, not bad." She retreats.

Empress: "Your friends will be captured, and along with it on your knees."

Iwo: "We'll see about that."

It continues to play, but I know they're not real, still with my eyes closed I fight with my blade and bow. I aimed my arrows at specific areas to bring them down. I open my eyes and what followed was an intense duel with her and my blades clashing, I thought to myself 'I'm not going to let her get away with this.' She grabs me by the neck as I was distracted. I drop my Katana 'Hatsukaku' which was the only thing I carried with me.

Empress: "Any last words?"

Iwo: "Yeah, トラトラトラ。" (Tora Tora Tora.) The bomb hidden near my core explodes covering the entire fleet and myself included.

Zuikaku's POV

When we exited the area, we looked around making sure everyone was out, all but 1 are accounted for.

Zuikaku: "Where's Iwo?"

They looked around to find her not with them, we were 5 kilometers from our objective when a flash of light covered the battlefield.

Zuikaku crying: "No!!!!" I cried on my sister's shoulders, she held me close in return.

Shokaku: "You know this is what she wanted, for all of us to go home even if it costs her own life."

She's right she did this on many occasions before, after the dust settles, we search the area for any signs of her to find nothing.

Haida: "Contact underwater seems to me it's something down there."

Zuikaku: "Ok, let's retrieve it." After recovering it was her own Katana 'Hatsukaku', I had to accept that she was indeed gone.

Sagami Bay

Upon our return to base, there were cheers because the war was over, at last, when they saw our faces, it wasn't that of celebration but mourning and defeat.

Yorktown: "Everything alright?"

Zuikaku: "No, we lost Iwo. She's gone." What were just cheers celebrations, are now silenced by this news.

Yorktown: "We'll all hold a funeral for her."

15th August
No POV

It was pouring in their homeworld, lines of umbrellas all in black accompany the coffin to its final resting place at the cliff overlooking the ocean. Once in place, Yorktown began her speech.

Yorktown: "For us, the storm has passed the war is over but let us never forget her who journeyed into the howling night and did not return. For her decision requires courage beyond measure. Sacrifice and unshakable conviction that her part in this fight is over. This cliff will remain barren a memorial to her and shall never be forgotten." She holds out a small box.

Yorktown: "This award is a one-of-a-kind awarded to only her, the 'Medal of the Rising Sun' for going beyond the call of duty, courage, and self-sacrifice for everyone."

She salutes a line of 8 fires 3 times each, they fell silent for some time to remember her then placed flowers onto the grave and left but not for Shokaku and Zuikaku.

Shokaku rubbing her shoulder: "I know how much she means to you but knowing her she wouldn't want you to sulk over it and keep smiling."

Zuikaku: "I know." She cried on her shoulder. "It's just going to be hard on me."

Shokaku: "Take your time, I have something to do for her."

Zuikaku: "That would be?"

Months later

It's the commissioning day for the Eagle Union's new carrier, which was named Iwo Jima in honor of the previous, lead ship of her class of three they were modified Midway class with Sakura Empire range finders.

After it was over Shokaku asked Iwo Jima if she could have some of her time to which she agreed.

Shokaku: "Thank you for your time."

Fuyu: "Don't worry about it, so what did you want to talk to me about?"

Shokaku: "I made a promise to the previous Iwo Jima that you would know everything there is to know about her, along with her possessions since I think you should have it to remember her by."

Fuyu: "I see then let's get started." Shokaku smiles and so begin their adventure.

Sorry about this coming out quite late, the reason is I couldn't think of a good picture cover for it. This story will mainly focus on Shokaku and Iwo (CV-44), the only reason why I used 2 names here is that I want everyone to be able to differentiate between the two of them. Just to note I'll have to contend with three of them all simultaneously the other two being, 'After the Storm' and 'Warriors from different worlds'. With that, I'll do my best throughout all three of them.