Family is Stronger Than this Feud

A Feud had Been Settled

The two shipgirls were locked in silence, while Arbiter smiled at them with no intent to attack.

Arbiter: I guess you have some questions abo-

Bismarck: Shut up!

She marched up to Arbiter and grabbed her.

Bismarck: You...you had to tarnish my mother like that didn't you?!

Arbiter:* sly smirk* I have no idea what you mean~

Bismarck shook with rage at the expression on Arbiter's face, but it wasn't the actual look she was giving her that set her off, it was how she was doing it.

Bismarck: My mother would never make that kind of face Siren!

Arbiter: And how would you know? Mathilde was someone who did many things behind your back, but she kept her loving visage on the front for all to see...no one saw who she really was

Bismarck and Roon both felt pure rage build up from their cores. She looked and sounded like their mother, but she acted like a devil.

Bismarck: Give her back to us!

Arbiter: Really? Making demands to a dead woman?

Bismarck: I...w-what?

Arbiter dropped the smile, as Bismarck let go of her.

Arbiter: Listen, I understand your rage and hatred against me, but at least listen to what I'm about to say before you do anything

Arbiter looked between the two, as they both agreed to her request.

Arbiter: Now then, what I'll say about our fight is that Mathilde did die

The girls clenched their fists, knowing their mother's killer was in her body.

Arbiter: But, she gave me a fatal wound, and I would have succumbed as well-

Roon: Had you not stolen her body

Arbiter:*glares* Let me finish girl!

...

Arbiter: I wouldn't say that, as controlling a shipgirls or Siren requires the complete control over their cube, something I didn't have the power to do

Bismarck: So...what you're saying is...

Arbiter: Yes, I am saying that Bismarck. I've been keeping her asleep for these 2 years, staying in my own form of stasis until you girls finally solved the riddle I came up with

She gave them a kinder smile, one that they would usually see on their mother.

Arbiter: Kurfürst is alive, and since I'm not in stasis...she'll wake up soon, and I'll truly perish as I have no body to return to

Roon: But...didn't you say she died? How can she come back?

Arbiter: I've described it already; I used my energy to control her cube. But I also moved my energy to her weakening vessel, mending her wounds and saving her body while I controlled it...with a consequence

She pointed to her hair, which had several white streaks running through it.

Arbiter: Then, I simply bided my time and waited until you finally found out...

She looked out to the sun, where it now sat just above the water's surface.

Arbiter: Beautiful, is it not? I can't believe I once was caught so far in my own longing that I dared to strip this away from you girls

Bismarck: It...it is quite beautiful

Roon hummed in response.

Arbiter turned back to them, holding her hand out to Bismarck.