Chapter 2: Exile and Journey

The sun had barely risen over the horizon as Ai, a 5-year-old shipgirl with a fox-like appearance and abilities, stood on the deck of her ship, looking out at the sea. Her nine tails swished behind her, and her large, sparkling purple eyes shone with a mix of sadness and determination. She was a light aircraft carrier, but her capabilities far exceeded those of her peers. Ai's creation was a result of a collaboration between the world's top researchers and engineers, who had been given a budget of 200 billion dollars and a dream of absolute chaos. They had modified a Wisdom Cube and used it to create Ai, infusing her with the power of the War Robots. Ai's abilities were inspired by the Ares robot, a medium robot known for its offense-focused playstyle and powerful ability. Despite her impressive capabilities, Ai was a kind and gentle soul, loved by many of the shipgirls in the Azur Lane fleet. Enterprise, a stoic and battle-hardened aircraft carrier, had taken Ai under her wing, and the two had formed a close bond. Ai's maternal harem, which included Enterprise, New Jersey, Hornet, Cleveland, Queen Elizabeth, Warspite, Belfast, Sheffield, Hood, Cheshire, Illustrious, and Unicorn, adored her and would do anything to protect her. But not everyone shared their affection for Ai. The Sakura Empire, led by Akagi and Kaga, had grown increasingly wary of Ai's connections to the Sirens and her perceived threat to their power. They had decided to exile Ai, stripping her of her title as IJN and casting her out of their fleet. Ai's emotional reaction to her exile had been devastating. She had felt betrayed and hurt by the very people she had considered her family. As she set sail for Azur Lane's base, accompanied by Shoukaku and her sister, Ai couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her. Would she find a new home and a new family among the Azur Lane fleet, or would she be forever alone? Shoukaku and her sister chased after Ai, their ships slicing through the water as they tried to catch up to her. "Ai, wait!" Shoukaku called out, her voice carrying across the water. "We care about you, and we don't want to see you go!" Ai looked back at them, her eyes welling up with tears. She knew that Shoukaku and her sister were trying to help her, but she also knew that she couldn't go back to the Sakura Empire. She had been hurt too badly, and she couldn't trust them anymore. As she sailed away, Ai felt a sense of loss and isolation wash over her. She had never felt so alone in her life. But she also felt a sense of determination and hope. She knew that she would find a new home and a new family, and she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The Sakura Empire's decision to exile Ai had sent shockwaves throughout the fleet. Some shipgirls, like Bismarck and her allies, had expressed disgust and anger at the treatment of Ai, while others, like Queen Elizabeth and her inner circle, had discussed the implications of Ai's exile and its potential consequences for the factions. As Ai disappeared into the distance, Shoukaku and her sister were left standing on the deck of their ship, looking out at the sea. They knew that they had to report Ai's exile to the rest of the fleet, but they also knew that they would never forget the little fox who had captured their hearts. "We have to find a way to help her," Shoukaku said, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's just a child, and she doesn't deserve to be treated like this." Her sister nodded in agreement. "We'll do everything we can to help her, sister. We promise." And with that, the two ships sailed off into the sunset, determined to help Ai find a new home and a new family.