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Legendary Witches 2: Return
Epilogue: The Skies of the World
-April 5th, 1952-
After returning to their proper time from the Third Neuroi War in what they now call the "alternate future", the Strike Witches settled back into their normal lives, as normal as it gets.
When Yoshika casted the Zen Serenity upon the world, she unintentionally relayed everything she knew about alternate future, with a few details missing and a few details altered. Thanks to the meddling of the Goddess of the Seven Stars, the details surrounding the death of Kye Miyafuji were kept secret, as were the details involving the gods. The details about the Battle of Dunkirk where the Neuroi Supreme Commander Xale was killed were altered to show that Kye Miyafuji was able to defeat the Neuroi through normal means, but sacrificed her magic power to do so and was removed from active duty. The details of how the Strike Witches returned to their proper time in the final battle were changed, with Yoshika's Zen Serenity being the cause instead of Kaylie's divinity over time. Only the Strike Witches, a select few of the Green Neuri Tribe leaders, and the members of the Red and Blue Neuri Tribes who participated in the war know the truth.
While all of the witches officially returned to active duty in the Third Neuroi War - some of them having already retired after the Second Neuroi War - some decided to return to retirement while others who were previously retired decided to remain on active duty.
-April 1st, 1953-
Lieutenant General Kye Miyafuji was permanently promoted to General of the Allied Forces upon her return. The world leaders decided that she was more than deserving of the rank after learning of the Third Neuroi War in the alternate future.
Major General Mio Sakamoto chose to remain in the Imperial Fuso Navy and returned to Yokosuka where she started the Yokosuka Witch Academy. Witches from all over the world were invited to attend when the school was set to officially open in the first week of February 1953. The first term each year would be from early February to the middle of June and the second term from early August to the middle of December. Little did she know that her establishment would become both the biggest witch institution and one of the most prestigious schools in the world.
Lieutenant General Minna Dietlinde Wilcke chose to remain in the Karlsland military after her return. She decided to transfer to the Joint Strike Base in Berlin after its completion and become its base commander. Minna enrolled her daughter, Alina Wilcke, in Mio's Yokosuka Witch Academy in February
Major Gertrude Barkhorn decided to remain on active duty and rejoined the military upon her return. She pushed her younger sister, Christiane Barkhorn, to transfer to the Yokosuka Witch Academy for her final year of school in early 1953. Trude enrolled her daughter, Sieglinde, to begin her schooling as a first year in Elementary School. Trude started training witches at the Joint Strike Force base in Berlin shortly after it was completed.
First Lieutenant Erica Hartmann also decided to remain on active duty after her return and rejoined the military. She reluctantly started training witches with Trude at the Joint Strike Force base in Berlin shortly after it was completed. When she heard about Mio's plan to open a school, she decided to send her daughter, Isabel, there. Consequently, her sister, Ursula, also decided to send her own daughter, Irma, to the school, even though Irma was a year younger than Isabel. Ursula managed to get Irma in a year early with a recommendation letter sent directly to Mio.
Major Charlotte E. Yeager "Shirley" remained in the military and continued her endeavors to break speed records. She enrolled her daughter, Allison, in the Yokosuka Witch Academy when it opened in February 1953.
First Lieutenant Francesca Lucchini retired from the military upon her return. She spent most of her time with Shirley, and their young daughter became friends quickly, though they were separate when Allison went off to the academy. Luciana was too young to attend.
First Lieutenant Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen and First Lieutenant Aleksandra "Sanya" Vladmirovna Litvyak, returned to retirement to care for their daughters, Aina Ilmatar Juutilainen and Anastasiya "Anna" Viktoriya Litvyak. They sent Aina to the Yokosuka Witch Academy when it opened in February 1953 and decided to wait until 1954 to send Anna, who was a year younger than Aina.
First Lieutenant Lynette Bishop remained in the military after her return. She frequently traveled between Britannia, Gallia, and Fuso to visit Yoshika and Perrine. She decided to wait to enroll her daughter, Diana, in Mio's academy until 1954, even though Mio was willing to take Diana in 1953.
Captain Perrine Clostermann also remained in the military after her return and frequently visited Lynne in Britannia and traveled with her to Fuso to visited Yoshika. She decided to wait to enroll her daughter, Louise, in the academy until 1954, even though Mio was also willing to accept her in 1953.
Second Lieutenant Rei Miyafuji retired from the military upon her return and enrolled in Mio's academy as soon as it opened, where she became friends with Christiane Barkhorn. The two intended to graduate together at the end of the year.
First Lieutenant Yoshika Miyafuji resumed her retirement upon her return. Hailed as the hero of two wars in different times, she became the most famous person in the world, if she wasn't already. She didn't let her fame get in the way of her everyday life, and frequently visited her friends around the world. Together with Mio, she scheduled Ayame to begin school in 1954.
-April 2nd, 1953-
"Is this really the only way, Mavet?" Goddess Kye asked an old acquaintance. Both were shrouded in black cloaks.
"I have finally found him. I will have him answer for his actions."
"You are an Elder God. You cannot make a decision to destroy a universe lightly. Do not forget that the universe you have your sights set on is under my protection."
"Under your protection, Kye? You are a mere shell of your true glory. You have regained a portion of your Elder God powers, but you cannot match me. You should be ashamed that you allow your lesser gods to believe you to be the Primordial Goddess. Stay out of the way, or you will fall under my wrath as well."
"Be weary of your words, Mavet," another man said after suddenly appearing next to Kye, soon to be flanked by another woman, both shrouded in black cloaks. "We will not allow you to bring harm to Kye or our worlds."
"Ah, Doran and Michelle," Mavet said with a chuckle. "Come to protect your dear weakened colleague?"
"You're as cheery as always," Michelle remarked.
"Either way, the universe I target is under only Kye's protection. You two have no business with it."
"By that same logic, you also have no business with it," Doran said.
"Not only that, but there's two additional reasons," Michelle said. "One: you are not Phantom. The rest of us have turned a blind eye because you haven't caused problems for any of us, but you are about to cause a problem for three Elder Gods, which leads me into reason two: this universe is currently the home of two Elder God and is under the protection of a third, Kye."
"Then stop me," Mavet jokingly taunted. He turned serious again and looked back toward Kye. "Step aside. You know the business I have with the two in this universe."
"I cannot do that," Kye said.
"Then I will force you."
"Is force the only answer you can come up with?" Kye asked. "I have another suggestion if you are interested in some entertainment."
"You have my attention," Mavet said. "Convince me."
"A War Simulation."
"Go on."
"You want to destroy this universe. How about we make a bet. Let's have a War Simulation. If I win, you do nothing to this world. If you win, you can have one of my worlds."
"Kye, you cannot make that decision on your own," Doran said.
"Then let me make it," Kye said.
"I don't like it," Michelle added.
"I accept the terms," Mavet said. "Granted they will let you off your leash."
"I won't lose," Kye said to Doran and Michelle.
"You never do," Doran replied with a sigh. "Come on, Michelle. Let's leave them be."
"Alright, but if this comes back to bite us, I'm whoppin' both your asses," Michelle said as she and Doran vanished.
"It's a deal," Kye said to Mavet as the two shook hands.
"Gather your forces. We will begin soon."
"I'll have my forces gathered in three Earth days, and we can begin an Earth week later."
"Agreed. However, I have one condition. His champion, Toshiro Edelweiss as the boy currently goes by, must participate. The war will be fought at the mortal level of the world in your care where your mortal counterpart lives."
"Agreed," Kye said. "But with Toshiro not being at that level, I will boost his power to match. I will also set up a special planet within the God Realm of the Seven Stars for the war to take place."
"Agreed," Mavet said. "Two continents, we each start with one. Victory is determined by complete domination with every member of the losing side killed."
"Agreed, but anyone killed will simply be removed from the game, instead of actually killed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Until then," Mavet said.
"Until then," Kye said before she disappeared.
Kye reappeared in the Seven Stars and immediately generated the planet for the War Simulation.
Toshiro is not going to like this...
(A/N) This is the new epilogue written to update the continuity of the story with the inclusion of Legendary Witches 3: Cross World Battle. The story continues in LW3! Also, since this update is replacing an original, if anyone who has already reviewed wishes to review again, send it to me via pm or post it as a guest review, but mention who you are so I can respond!
The long author's note that used to be here has been removed. The music and story recommendations have been removed, and the thanks section is being moved to the Appendix, which will be posted after the revisions to LW1 and LW2 are complete. Thanks for reading!