Return of the Azur Lane

by Hokuto Ulrik


Chapter 1

"Ready for your first day at school hun?" My mom asked me as I sat down at the breakfast table.

"Yeah. It just sucks we had to leave Pearl. I know that you retired from the navy and living in Hawai'i was too expensive after that, but it still sucks having to say goodbye to everyone." I replied as I poured some cereal and milk.

"I know. But with your Aunt Inga needing help with her ranch, I couldn't just leave her in a lurch." My mom, Abitha Braunwen, said.

"True. I am looking forward to learning how to help out more aside from just feeding the animals." I replied as my Aunt Inga walked into the house.

"Don't you worry Niamh, yer mom and I will get you there eventually." She said cheerfully as she filled her mug up with the navy coffee that was the norm for us.

"She's right youngin. Now hurry up and finish eating so I can get you up to school." Mom said.


Soon enough, we had made the drive from the N-O Ranch to town and up to the school.

"You have a good day at school sweetheart. First day of the year should be easy." Mom said as I unbuckled and made ready to hop out of the pickup.

"Hopefully. Just don't wanna make a fool of myself, ya know?" I said as I fidgeted with my backpack.

"You'll do fine hun." Mom replied. "Now give yer mother a hug and git in there."

I laughed and did as requested.

Getting out of the truck, I turned to look at her and said "May the azure lane smile upon you."

Mom smiled brightly. "Same to you kiddo." She replied as I shut the door and she drove off.

I watched her drive out of sight before turning my attention to my new school. I had been lucky compared to most navy brats, in that my parents had only ever been assigned to Pearl Harbor. Of course, it was only Mom and me out there as my father passed away a couple of months before I was born, but I had over a hundred 'aunts' and 'cousins' in the form of their friends. I never knew what exactly my parents did in the navy, just that it was important work to keep the oceans safe. After Mom retired, we moved to the mainland to help my actual aunt with running the ranch she had bought when she had gotten out of the navy on medical grounds, having been injured to the point she couldn't do her job.

I reached into the pocket on my hoodie and fidgeted with the cube my cousin Sandy had given me at our going away party. It was a blue cube that was slightly warm to the touch and I had been assured it was perfectly safe, and I did feel calmer when I would hold it, so I didn't question it. Mom did say that it was important that I keep it with me, and she hadn't steered me wrong yet, so I made sure it was with me at all times. Though lately, I could swear that it was glowing from the inside, though it was probably just my imagination.

I looked at the front of the school, taking in its appearance. Brown roof, kind of a mulberry color exterior with white trim, three stories tall. Definitely bigger than the base school at Pearl. Newer too. Pretty sure the school at Pearl had been around since the 50s at least. The mustang statue out front was an interesting touch. Probably the mascot for the school.

I walked into the front doors and followed the signs to the office and entered.

"Hello dear. How can I help you?" The secretary asked.

"Yes Ma'am. Niamh Braunwen, I'm a new student this year." I replied, introducing myself to the dark haired woman.

"Ah, just a moment then Miss Braunwen. Let me get your schedule and locker assignment." She answered with a smile, quickly getting my schedule printed up and writing down my locker number and combination.

"Here you are. You're not the only new student starting this year. Maybe you two can help each other out with fitting in." She said as she handed me the papers.

"Couldn't hurt." I replied. "What's their name and where might I find them?" I inquired.

"I would try the library, she did ask where it was. Red and yellow hair, can't miss her." The secretary answered.

I nodded and followed the helpful signs and instructions on the paper and found my locker where I quickly stowed my bag, only taking a notebook and writing utensils, since I didn't want to carry it around all day when I didn't need to. I could just run back to it between classes since most of them were on the same floor as my locker, only P.E. being in a different building and my last period of the day, I could take my bag with me so I would have my work out clothes.

I then headed to the library to find the other new kid. Looking around and giving the librarian a kind smile, I spotted the hair, and the girl about my age it was attached to. The girl who was attempting to use a computer. I say attempting to, because it was very clear she had no idea what she was doing.

Walking over, I cleared my throat. "Hi, I'm Niamh Braunwen. I'm new here too, the secretary said we might be able to help each other get adjusted here."

The girl looked at me with a flat expression. "Sunset Shimmer. Maybe you can help me use this thing. I'm trying to fill in the gaps in my knowledge that my previous teachers left." She answered curtly.

"I can do that. I can even help tutor you if you run into issues in some subjects. I had some good teachers and tutors at my old school." I replied as I pulled up a chair to help her out.

"History is going to be where I could use the most assistance. My previous teachers, uh, definitely weren't following the accepted narrative of it." Sunset replied.

"What, did they teach conspiracy theories as truth or something?" I jokingly replied. There had been a few groups on the Big Island that had sworn up and down that the history of World War II was all a fabrication to cover up the real events of a war with aliens called Sirens and the only way to fight them was with ship girls. I mean, I know that a lot of my aunts and cousins at Pearl were named the same as some ships, but the whole idea was just crazy.

"You could say that." Sunset replied tentatively.

"Eh, history has always been my favorite subject. I can help you out with it. Won't write your papers or do any homework, but I can help you out with that." I replied.

"I can handle that." Sunset replied.

Just then, the bell rang and we went our separate ways. My first day at Canterlot High now under way, I headed to my first class.


That evening after dinner, I was helping Inga do dishes.

"So, how did the first day go?" She inquired.

"Not too much different from the base school at Pearl. Building is a heck of a lot nicer though." I replied as I handed her a pan to dry.

"That's good. Make any friends?" She asked.

"Maybe?" I said tentatively. "Another new girl, Sunset. We at least were cordial to each other and I said I could help her out with tutoring if she needed it. Girl didn't even know how to use a computer. From how she talked about her previous schooling, I think she might have escaped from a cult. One of those technophobe ones."

Inga gave a thoughtful hum. "It is possible. There have been so many of them over the years." She said finally.

"Y'all talkin' about those anti-technology idiots?" Mom asked as she came back into the house after doing her evening sweep of the herd and stables.

"Yeah Sis. Sounds like Niamh's new classmate might have come from one. She offered to tutor her if she needs it." Inga replied.

"Well, that makes me proud Niamh." Mom said, smiling at me before turning serious and adding, "Just don't let her take advantage of you."

"I won't. Already told her I wouldn't do the work for her." I replied as I drained the sink and took off the gloves.

"Good. She won't learn anything if she can't do the work herself." Mom said with a kind smile.

Soon enough we all headed to bed. When I feel asleep that night, I didn't have an inkling of just how weird my life was going to get during the next two years, and by John Paul Jones's ghost did it get weird.