Hi everyone. Here is chapter 23. Like I said before, this chapter will be Coco-centric and will basically tell us what happen when she came home. Her timeline will matched with the girls. She went home on the first day Julie went to school. And on the fourth day, Saturday (the chapter before this one) was when Julie found her sister pearl. However, this also happens. But hey, instead of explaining it, how about you read it for yourself?
To all Coco x Lady Bat shippers: If you think I am pairing Coco and Lady Bat in this chapter, think again. I view Lady Bat's feelings for Coco as more of a desire love than a true genuine love. Sorry. But there will be some moment of the ship from Lady Bat's point of view.
Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 23: Blocked Sunlight
-Sea Cave-
Three days ago, in the sea cave, Shika was sitting on her throne as her three servants kneel in front of her.
"Shika-sama, you called us for something?" Lady Bat asked.
"Yes, you see, yesterday one of the Mermaid Princess has left the group, so it will be a bit easier to target the main mermaids." Shika replied.
"Which of the princesses has left the group, if you don't mind my asking?" Lady Bat questioned in curiosity.
"The Yellow Mermaid Princess of the South Pacific Ocean." Shika answered.
"Shika-sama, would it be okay if I take a rain check for any possible mission right now?" Lady Bat asked.
"Yes." she simply told him.
"What did you just say?" Lanhua thought she heard wrong.
"Today, I have a different plan that doesn't involve you three for a little while, but perhaps later in the future. I am planning for a much bigger surprise for those mermaids... So you three are free to do whatever you like until I need you again. Go, you are dismissed." Shika told them as she got up from her throne.
"Hai, Shika-sama." Lanhua and Alala replied as they left the room, leaving Lady Bat alone with his master.
"Do you need something? Because if you don't, then I would like you to leave." Shika had her back towards Lady Bat.
"What are you planing to do for all those princesses?" Lady Bat asked.
She turned to him, "I have no plans for the others except for the Pink and Red Mermaid Princesses. So if you are lucky enough to capture a princess, you are to bring her to me so I can at least drain her of her powers first before deciding on what to do with her." she smiled wickedly. "Enjoy your catch. Now go."
"Hai, Shika-sama." Lady Bat obeyed as he disappeared into the shadows.
-South Pacific Ocean-
Three days have passed since Lady Bat left the sea cave hidden somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean. He have arrived to the South Pacific Ocean as the Yellow Kingdom, also know as "The Queen of the Desert" glows a yellow light in the distance. He remembered the Princess of the Yellow Pearl perfectly. Every single detail of the princess. Her long beautiful yellow hair, her golden yellow eyes that reflect the sunlight, her pale skin as pale as the faint sun rays as it shows the first sign of the rising dawn, and her pale pink lips that could be as soft as the petals of a flower. If they weren't enemies, he would be sure that he would try to win Coco's love in the most genuine way as possible, but because that's just not who he is, and the princess, herself, doesn't love him, he'll just do what he does best. He is going to steal her love by force.
He was swimming quietly and slowly towards the beautiful Yellow Palace so no one can see or hear him. When he went past the entrance, something caught his attention. In the front courtyard of the castle, there she is. The Yellow Princess was playing with the younger yellow mermaids, no older than ten. The way she giggled in fun, that playfulness that makes her very cute as she twirled around with the mermaids made Lady Bat wish that it wouldn't end. When the yellow mermaids asked for their princess to sing was when he heard the song clearly. Her voice was clear and beautiful as she sings the melody of her song. Again, he wished the moment could last, but it was just not meant to be. He watched as the princess made her way back in the castle with the little ones following her. However, the youngest one was not paying attention and he found his chance.
"Hey, chibiko." he called out to her.
The youngest looked around to see who had called her. Because she never looked up, Lady Bat has to descend down to her. When she saw him, she gasped in fear.
"A water demon!" she started to cry.
"Hey, hey, don't cry chibiko... And I'm not a water demon." Lady Bat told her.
"Then who are you?" she stopped crying.
"I'm Lady Bat, a dear friend of your Princess." he lied. "Can you tell me where she went?"
"I don't believe in you. Mama told me to not talk to strangers." she told him.
'Clever little brat.' Lady Bat thought.
"Then I'm afraid I have no choice." Lady Bat frowned as bats started to surround the little mermaid.
-Coco's Room-
Coco was in her yellow room drinking a cup of tea. It has already been three days since she left the girls and returned to her kingdom. Today is also the day that Karen and Noel are suppose to return to their kingdoms. She wondered if the girls were doing okay back on land. Despite the sea has remain quiet, she couldn't shake this strange feeling that something bad was going to happen. Plus, Hana, the youngest mermaid she was playing with, hasn't come back yet. She was sure that she had followed her back to the palace. Something wasn't right.
"Ahh!" she heard many screams from the hallways.
She moved so abruptly that the tea cup fall to the floor, shattering to many pieces with tea spattered on the yellow clear palace ground, but that wasn't important. Her subjects were in danger and she has to help them as their princess. She opened the door.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she opened the door of her room.
Music enters and filled the room as Coco tries to block the sound from her ears. It wasn't good enough, she could still hear the music and she felt weak. Nevertheless, she continued to leave her room and into the hallways. With one hand to her ear and the other on the wall to support herself, Coco went into the throne room.
-Throne Room-
She opened the door to the throne room to see many of her yellow mermaids on the floor, screaming and yelling in agony as they are suffering from the terrible music. To her left is a mermaid she recognized.
"Ai!" she exclaimed as she rushed over to help one of her best friend.
Ai was slightly older than Coco and she was the one who gave Coco the courage to become childhood friends with Sara when she was just six years old.
"Hime, don't!" Ai tries to warned her.
"Eh?" she didn't understand what she meant by that as a blast of darkness hits her and pins her arms around a nearby pillar. "Kyaa!" she cried as the blast then became vines and dark red roses bloomed around her.
"Hime!" Ai screamed in worry.
"Your late, Princess. I've been excepting you." a voice told Coco. She looked to her right to see Lady Bat near the yellow throne shell.
"Lady Bat!" she yelled in anger.
"Enough about me, you already know my name so that isn't fair. What is yours?" Lady Bat started to approached her. He was now in front of her, but Coco simply glare at him in hated.
"I will never tell you my name." she answered in a quiet, but serious tone. He lift her chin up so she look at him in his eyes. He gave her a devilish smile to reveal his fangs.
He sighs, "This reminds me so much when we first met. However, unlike last time, you are going to surrender this battle."
"And why would I surrender to someone like you?" she asked.
"Because if you don't..." he walked over to a pillar on the other side of the room and showed her the youngest yellow mermaid he had captured.
"Hana!" Coco exclaimed. Her anger disappeared and is replaced with concern and worry for the little one's well being.
"I will kill her." Lady Bat finished. "You see Princess, you and I are the same. We both share a common thing and that is loyalty. You are loyal to your friends and subjects while I am loyal to my master. The difference between us is that you're too soft."
Coco was now at a disadvantage. If she refuse, Hana is going to die and probably all her subjects, but if she gives in, then everyone will have to save her. Either way, she can't let her subjects suffered any longer.
'I'm sorry everyone.' she told her friends spiritually.
"Wait." she told him. Lady Bat let his bats hold onto the child as he walk up to her again. He looked into those beautiful yellow eyes that twinkle in the light.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Please... Spare my people." Coco pleaded sadly.
"Oh course dear, anything for you." Lady Bat snapped his fingers and Hana is out of harms way along with the other yellow mermaids. "I told you that you would surrender, the you would give-" he got cut off.
"No... I haven't given up yet. If you are going to capture me, then you will know that I won't go down without a fight!" she exclaimed as her pearl shined brightly.
Lady Bat has to shield his eyes from the brilliant light that is coming from the pearl. The blinding light was so strong that it destroyed the vines around her, freeing the princess from her captivity. Coco took this chance immediately.
~Yellow Pearl Voice!~
Coco transformed into her super idol form and started to sing her song.
"Pichi Pichi Voice Live Start!" Coco started to sing her song, Best Friend.
Would you be my friend? Listen...
Sakiga mie nakute kujike sounatoki
Itsudemo kimi wa sunu egao de yuuki wokuretayone
Tsuraku sabishi itoki warawa setekureru
Kun nashijakitto ima no watashi inakattakana
Iitokimo warui tokimo
Itsudatte issho dattane
Hanare teitemo tasuke ae ru
Hitorijanaiyo
You are always my best friend
Kawa razukonomama sasae taiyozutto
I wanna be there for you
Naki tai toki itsudatte soba ni ite kureru
Taisetsu na you're my best friend
Kimi dakega my only best friend
"Love Shower Pitch!" Coco finished her song. However, to her surprise, Lady Bat is still standing there with a smirk on his face.
"I applaud you for the beautiful song, but today, I'm not leaving without getting what I want. Get ready for my wonderful concert!" Lady Bat told her as he started to sing his song.
Bara yori mo utsukushiku tsuki yori mo nayamashiku
Taisetsu na inochi naraba kono te de sakasetai
Ankoku no sekai tobira ga ima hirakareru yo
Mou ichido unmei azukete umarekawaru sa
Sono mabuta tojite mitsumete mayonaka no MASUKAREEDO
Ima yami ni suberi ochite yuku saa oide! Obienakute ii yo
Soshite eien ni nare
When he finished his song, he can see Coco losing her form as she changed back into her mermaid self, but what really surprised him is that she manage to resist his music to avoid being in the usual trace-state that the other mermaids usually ended up in. He wasn't sure how it was possible since he still has the power of the Red Princess. However, when he saw her collapsed to the floor, he smiled. Coco was becoming exhausted as her body began to feel numbed.
"Oh, I see. The Red Mermaid Princess must have aided you." Lady Bat correctly concluded.
"Eh?" Coco could only manage.
"For you to resist my music could only be done with the help of the Red Princess, Julie, since she represent strength. It may prevent you from falling asleep, but resisting it took a toll on your body." Lady Bat explained as he walk towards her.
'Julie was helping me? How could her powers reached all the way here?' Coco thought in confusion.
"You poor thing, you must be tired from all your hard work." Lady Bat taunts her as he lift her chin again so she has to look at him once more. "Why don't you rest for a while? I shall take good care of you, dear." his eyes glowed purple.
Coco tried to look away, but she couldn't. Her yellow sunrise eyes are locked onto those purple twilight eyes. He smiled when he saw that the Princess' eyes became pupil less yellow as she closed her eyes and fall into his arms. He did it. He had captured a Mermaid Princess, even better, the Yellow Mermaid Princess he was so fond of.
I hope you like this chapter. The song that Coco was singing was Best Friend by BoA. If you haven't heard it, I suggest you do, but you don't have too. I picked it because the meaning is like her sisterly bond and friendship with Sara. Remember, Favorite, Follow, and Comment. See you soon.
