[h3][center][b][i][color=f6989d]Hibiki[/color] & [color=6ecff6]Shizuka[/color][/i][/b][/center][/h3]
 
And so the battle was won. Ciel left the battle despite having Hibiki in a bad spot, though her allies were ready to gun Ciel down on her orders. Shizuka had lashed out at the demons before they left, but failed to do any additional damage. She was, however, present to see Artoria die by Eos’s blade. To Shizuka the attack didn’t seem anything unique beyond Eos stabbing Artoria, but shortly after Shizuka completely forgot about the demon girl’s existence. Not that she knew much about it before she arrived anyways.
 
With the demons and angels successfully repelled the two sisters did their best to check the safety of the factory. Many of the scientists tried to leave the factory when the coast was clear, despite Eos’s orders to stay and fight. Hibiki made sure these scientists didn’t get far and rounded them up. She understood their fears, but was angry at their lack of faith in their queen. She had promised to protect them, how could so do that if they run from her? However Hibiki would not cast judgement on them. That was for Eos to decide. Shizuka went through the factory to clear out any demonic influences left, cutting down compromised scientists and soldiers who still carried demonic taint on them. Even though she was missing an arm Shizuka simply bandaged her stump and continued her duties single-handedly. 
 
Eventually the two sisters reunited, and immediately a sense of guilt it Hibiki. She felt disappointed that despite her best efforts, she failed to do any real damage against the angelic forces outside. In fact up to the last moment, she was practically held hostage by Ceil thanks to Ceil’s powerful magics. Whereas Shizuka successfully managed to fend off some of the demon’s strongest fighters, merely losing her arm in the process. Sure Queen Eos scared them off in the end, but Shizuka was able to hold her ground long enough for Eos to arrive. Shizuka sensed this doubt in her sister and went up to her, patting her head.  [color=6ecff6]”We did our best. Sometimes that’s all we need to do. Let’s go home, Hibiki.”[/color]
 
Once the situation at KC-00032 was settled, including returning the Alpha and Beta Suit (as well as finding the Gamma Suit), the mecha maids returned to Hyperion. Not much was spoken between the two sisters that their telepathy with each other didn’t pick up. Hibiki still felt an intense amount of doubt in her abilities while Shizuka remained emotionally stoic. She felt that she simply did her duty, nothing more, nothing less. Hibiki felt like she didn’t do enough. Once at Hyperion Shizuka told her sister that she’ll need to see a specialist to get her arm replaced.
 
[color=f6989d]”Replaced? Shizuka, we could just regenerate your arm. It’ll be easy to do here.”[/color]
 
[color=6ecff6]”No… It’s fine. I think I’ll get a replacement. As a reminder that… Sometimes we need to make sacrifices..”[/color] 
 
Shizuka looked down at Hibiki’s prosthetic leg. Covered with her stocking, no one would’ve noticed her leg was mechanical by sight or sound. But Shizuka knew about it, and Hibiki never bothered to get her real leg healed back either. Partly out of utility (She had a few weapons hidden in her leg now), partly as a reminder of what Hibiki had to do back at Rutharia: Sacrifice. The two sisters parted ways to their own destinations.
 
Hibiki went back to their apartment to rest. Taking the train back to her neighborhood Hibiki noticed a package at her front door. It was from her parents living at one of the Machina’s remote colonies. Her parents were too old to fight, but still provided to the Machina through labor. Their father in particular was an excellent mech pilot and used his skills to mine materials for the Machina. Their mother, much like the maids themselves, was a highly skilled housekeeper as well as an engineer. The package they sent contained a cake and a letter wondering how the two were doing.
 
Taking the package inside Hibiki read the letter. Her parents were living happily and had only heard recently about the sister’s promotion. When the two had joined the Machina Military, they would have never imagined that Hibiki and Shizuka would become commanders. They didn’t know much about the battles the two fought (Such information was generally confidential for civilians), but they seemed to think that Hibiki and Shizuka alone were winning the Machina’s wars. This only made Hibiki chuckle knowing that they haven’t really won many of their recent battles, and Shizuka has done more work than Hibiki had. Hibiki also realized that her mother actually bothered to write a letter of all things, instead of sending something like an email or just calling them. Though Hibiki supposed that it was just something nice to send along with the cake.
 
The rest of the letter described her parent’s life at the colony. They lived comfortably and haven’t heard any information or sightings of enemy forces, so much that they worry their soldiers were going to go soft. Hibiki’s father is getting on with the years and slowly growing senile, so much to the point that when he’s inside his mech he thinks he’s fifty years younger and could go into battle himself. However outside of his mech he still needs his wheelchair to move around. Hibiki’s mother has been working on a few new vintage cars as well, and wants to send one to Shizuka. The rest of the letter then went on about personal things about neighbors, the price of groceries, and other mundane stuff. Hibiki read through it and felt a tinge homesick. While the life as a soldier and general was exciting, something about just being able to go home and raise a family appealed to Hibiki. She wondered if she could retire, but quickly dismissed it knowing that she was far too young to think about something like that. And besides, you don’t retire in the Nexus.
 
Meanwhile Shizuka went to see someone to replace her arm. There was a specialist her sister went to when she had to replace her leg. They were part of the Machina Military, so their stuff was highgrade. And thanks to Shizuka’s rank as a commander, she’d be getting the job done at a huge discount. The place Shizuka went do was simply called [i]Sector Seven[/i], appropriately located within the Seventh District of Hyperion. Sector Seven was a technological research department that also studied magic, often combining the two for the Machina. It was one of the reasons that Hibiki recommended it to Shizuka to ensure that whatever cybernetics that Shizuka gets, it wouldn’t interfere with her magical incantations.
 
Once inside Shizuka went up to the receptionist and gave the Receptionist her credentials. Shizuka wanted to make an appointment about getting a mechanical prosthesis for her war wound. The receptionist would make sure that Shizuka has top priority, however right now their primary doctor was occupied. From the shouting in the back room, it also seemed like their primary doctor was very angry at something. This concerned Shizuka, but the receptionist reassured her that the doctor was always like that, but very professional. Shizuka should have her first check up within a few days, and will be fitted with a prosthesis within a week.
 
In the meantime, Shizuka was given proper medical treatment to ensure her arm wasn’t infected and will heal properly. As Shizuka laid there being operated on, she thought about Hibiki. Ever since they were given the title of commander, Hibiki has been taking the battles much more personally. Shizuka always fought seriously, but she never really changed her mindset as a soldier. Fight hard, don’t die, protect Hibiki, follow orders. After the battle at Hohenheim’s tower, Shizuka removed the restrictions she placed on herself to ensure her alliance with the Machina. She’s been using more of her angelic powers as well as the Machina weapons. She has grown stronger, if only a little. But Shizuka still felt incomplete.
 
These past few days with Hibiki has been stressful to Shizuka. Her new found independence was both a boon and a bane, as Shizuka has been able to think for herself more, but now can see Hibiki’s own struggles more clearly. Truthfully, Shizuka wasn’t even aware of how hard Hibiki was struggling even before Hohenheim. She had always just assumed that Hibiki was always cheerful and ready to charge into problems head on. But now more detached from her sister, Shizuka could see that Hibiki puts up a strong facade not only for Shizuka’s sake, but for the sake of the other Machina soldiers too. It was very little wonder why Shizuka and Hibiki had a bit of a falling out due to Hibiki’s controlling tendencies.
 
At this point Shizuka wasn’t sure what to do. Shizuka was stronger now but she wanted to help Hibiki. But she wasn’t going to do that by willingly making herself weaker just so she could rely on Hibiki more. But simply training isn’t going to be enough. Frankly, Shizuka and Hibiki had just about all the training they’d need. No, what Hibiki needed was to be stronger herself. As Shizuka said before, teamwork and training was nice, but Hibiki needed to do more than just rely on others. She needed to be reliable too. And now Shizuka was wondering what she could do to help Hibiki become stronger, instead of just pointing out how weak Hibiki really is.
 
Before either sisters could do much else they received a message. They needed to attend an audience with the High Queen Eos. Shizuka just finished her operation and Hibiki just got out of the shower, and once the two were dressed in their uniforms they went straight to Eos’s palace. Hibiki hopped into her car while Shizuka created wings, and they both sped to the palace as soon as possible. They arrived nearly at the same time. When they both were outside of Eos’s door they took a quick moment to clean each other up, straightening out creases, picking dirt and dust off their uniform, and trying to look presentable. Hibiki did a quick hem job on Shizuka’s sleeve to account for her missing arm. Once finished the two sisters entered Queen Eos’s court. 

As the twins walked in, for some odd reason Endian was there too. Apparently Krieg had taken over Endian and while neither sister said anything about it, it bothered Hibiki. Krieg, and by extension the various forms he took, haven’t exactly done well in battle. Hibiki personally hoped he was only here to get punished by Queen Eos but said nothing about it. They lined up next to Endian and gave their queen a proper curtsy.
 
[color=f6989d]”Greetings my queen. Hibiki Meido, your humble maid, has arrived. To what do I owe this great pleasure?”[/color]
 
[color=6ecff6]”Hello High Queen Eos. Shizuka Meido is here to serve you. I hope you are well, I must thank you for saving me at our last battle. I would not have lasted a moment longer if you had not come to my rescue.”[/color] 
 
[@Kol]