Oh my! This took longer then I actually anticipated, so I deeply apologize for the inconvenience. Long story short, there were several drafts written and more rewrites then I like to admit. The original version of the chapter wasn't doing it for me, and it became a huge mess of revisions. But its over now. Here's your chapter to delight yourselves over.
IMPORTANT STORY NOTICE: Since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, certain elements of the story has changed to better suit the society and world building of the Zora people. Zoran cities are no longer coral based, but are constructed with luminous stones. This is the first of many for this story. A heads up as more changes are due down the road.
Syloannika 5:47 am
The golden threads of the horizon sun spray across the black sky as it smite the ghostly beams of the frosty moon. The streaks of heavenly light chased away the fleeting darkness as they bless the ocean with a warm, sparkling glow. The waters below the lapping surface turn from the eerie tyrian purple of the night to the gentle lilac hue of dawn. The densely packed reef forests surrounding the valley in which Syloannika was nestle from view pulse with the brightening abyss until they quietly ceased to glow, slumbering in anticipation of the night. Din's rays bathe the uppermost structures of the city as the midnight creature flee the light into the safety of the reef, but the waters were still poorly lit as of the moment.
Nicoda step out of the ballroom and scan the lilac tinted world, his fins stiffen and his broad chest out. The little Moon Jellies still hovers aimlessly in the swishing currents in all directions, cluttering the world in their abundance of ghostly blues as he gently brush them aside as to not hurt them. His violent eye held a precise level of fierce alertness as he study city perimeter, eyeing the surrounding hills and mountains intently.
Their gargantuan sizes shadowed the city in their mighty structure, the peaks kissed by the mixture of silver and gold tendrils licking their rocky crowns as the world's light ribboned around them.
The silhouettes of the Ocean Realm's inhabitants scitter across the bushy sea plants that, using the wall of the simpleminded jellyfish as brief cover from predators such as himself, but he had no intention on eating them at the moment. Instead, he listens, narrowing his eye towards the small, startled sharks as his caught glimpse of Zoras racing for the distance sea mounts. He overheard the critters, who were clearly distressed by something. They chatter in their distinct chaotic languages, but he strain to understand them all, being one of the few Zoras to even bother taking courses in high school to learn the tongue of other shark species. Overhearing the frantic tones in relations to an event in the mountains, Nicoda cocked his head so his left ear could pick up any vocabulary he could recognize. Lurking close to the nearby coral trees, he dimmed his forest green lights in hopes of being less inconspicuous during his ease dropping, his muscular body rigid.
"Vile...!"
"...Bad..."
"Help..."
"...R-Repel...!"
Nicoda fathom at their strange dialect, generally aware that this is no ordinary predator-vs-prey situation he was dealing with. 'Nayru, the poor things are startled something badly. What could it be that is upsetting their ways of life? Or who?'
"Nicoda..."
The ghostly white Zora partly rotated his upper body to commit eye contact with three other Zoras and four mako sharks standing patiently before him in a neat row. Nicoda gave a firm nod in greeting as he dusted the silted particles that cling to the pearly nooks in between his iridescent scales.
"Our team is organizing a scouting expedition to investigate the disturbance in the forests. Several of our patrol sharks are already questioning the local reef communities for any clues. In fact, it seems one of our cadets are just returning with an eyewitness right now."
"Good. Let us hope they are of good use for the investigation," Nicoda said as he turn his back to his soldiers, staring ahead as they observed a lithe frame swivelling through the thick underwater growth in their direction. Their scales caught the shine of the submerged starlight snared on the sticky algea, the glow streaking through their slim body like a shower of icy comets.
Out from the bristling, snarling branches and flora sea life that prickled greedily against the beautiful glassy form that emerge from the shadows, an armoured Longfinned Mako glided effortlessly through the water with a yowling ratfish in its mouth. The larger animal dip his conical snout in respect toward Nicoda and release the grip on the cussing creature. Although his attempts of carrying the fuming fish was gentle, tiny puncture marks still dug their way into the scales.
"How dare you bring me to your master to have me for dinner! This is unjust!" The strange looking animal, wild with panic, mentally shrieked his disbelief, flapping his velvety wing like pectoral fins as he batted aggressively at the mako's snout. Being of the same family as sharks, it too lack any true vocal cords to produce antiquate sounds, thus providing the shark Zoras an easy method of communicating with him. Despite this little tidbit, it had apparently "squeaked" in between his mental outburst. He is a strange looking animal, with a whip-thin tail and sharp rat like incisors which resembles a fusion of fangs. A stitching of crudely woven lateral lines seems to crisscross from the creature's face and slithering across its dull grey back, almost as if holding the freakish thing together. He has a comical little blunt nose, and pearly, luminously bright gemstones of radiant green light for eyes. He turn his back towards the Mako, exposing the venomous spine prickling dangerously at him from the dorsal fin, ready to stab the larger fish's face as the shark swum backwards to avoid a direct strike.
"No no! We do not intent to harm you, little creature," one of the Zoran Heroes declared as he quickly step forward to contain the frantic animal. He scooped him up in his claws, careful not to impale him with their viciously sharp points. The ratfish accelerated the pumping of his fins, slapping wrists of the larger predator as the Zora try to reassure him. "And trust us when we say we don't find ratfishes very appetizing, and even if we do, we would not sell your kind in food trades out of respect for a friend. Now please relax sir."
"He has fits. Its normal," the mako seem to have try to mimic a shrug as he regarded his thrashing cousin kind with an unimpressed glance. "Always yelling profanities at me when I'm off patrolling in the mountains, and picking on my son when he goes off to play near there. But he's also the most observant of the wild fish community, and he sees many incidents most others don't 80% of the time according to his neighbors. Its worth speaking with him since he was around near the sight of the disturbance earlier."
The ratfish halted his flailing movements from the Sylovaakien's claws. His eyes bore a distance look as he settle his peridot lights towards the silhouetted wilderness slowly unraveling their majesty from the smoky, lavender veil of the sunlit horizon. The last remnants of stardust twinkled from the sticky algae and the corals that held them delicately within their crowns of springily branches as Din's radiance melted away the milky silvers of Nayru's wading light. They wink feebly from the black mountains, as if tiny lanterns were orbiting across the undersea forest and forming an earthly constellation. "Disturbance?" he inquire as he crane his neck up to meet the Zora's eyes. The humanoid shark confirm this with a nod, and the little piscus further proceed his thoughts. "Oh yes, you speak of that disturbance that emitted from reefs beyond the neighborhoods, do you?"
"Correct. What do you know?" Nicoda questioned softly. By now more Zoras had paused in their activities and engaged in watching them, and murmurs arose in the crowd. Some of the citizens had explicit an intense staring match with the very mountains that shrieked with dismay mere moments before, and Nicoda had spotted a few small groups of Zoras already heading towards the reef to investigate the cause of the alarming disruption, their lovely printings flaring embers of golds and reds.
"There was this red punk harassing another Zora, who was minor as you call them youngsters. He pinned the little one down and try to gorge his eye out to get information outta him. This understandably set that boy in a state of panic and he bit right onto that bastard's face! It was quite the sight seeing a grown-ass Zoran bull getting his jaws nearly bitten off by a tiny teenager mewling like a seal pup. I was so transfix by the whole ordeal that I haven't notice the little Zora swimming away, and neither had that jackass who try to attack him. The whole reef community are all gossiping about the incident until the patrol sharks came into our turf."
The commotion that follow had surprised the ratfish, as the normally reserved Mako people and their beloved shark partners had set them into a frenzy of rage.
"Was that Zobens? Zobens returns?!" One of the Zoras fired up his markings in furious flashes of blood red and sheering white. The water seem to have boiled from the intensity of his angry lights, shimmering chaotically in bubbling rage. The poor moonjellies found themselves caught in the turbulence of heated fury, shuddering meekly as they helplessly collided with the ignited flares of the Zora's markings.
"He assaulted a minor!" howled another Zora into the sea, as if announcing such atrocities will summon the Lunar Goddess herself to descend from her nightly heaven and smite the offender.
"Kill Zobens...!" One of the patrol sharks shrilled in the darkness, his comrades chanting the phrase in unison.
"Death to the murderer!"
By this point the civilians had started to look wild with nervous excitement, some showing their enthusiasm in supporting the death of the culprit whereas others skirmish away to their homes with their hands covering their confused pups' ears. There are those who remain unnerved with uncertainty, hissing absently with their fins tuckering low and pressed against their bodies.
"Enough!" Nicoda barked as he abruptly twist his body in their direction. He snap his teeth to get their attention, each clacking of his fangs sending crackles of electricity that sizzled the surrounding waters into a chaotic mess of distorted rings. All the Zoras immediately grew stiff and silent and lower their fins submissively, but their flaming markings still gave away their boiling rage. "I have no doubt in my mind that we are indeed dealing with our long forgetting enemy. It appears that even after all this time and the many chances we gave him to change for the better, Zobens is still the same devious criminal from when we last seen him. And once again he had committed to do harm to a young Sylovaakien, or at least attempted to. Exile had proven to be an ineffective punishment and too good for him. Death is the only way we'll be liberated from his treachery once and for all, as much as I condemned it. We will move on immediately before the tides roll in and whisk away his scent. No doubt he is making a getaway as we speak! Now go! Hurry to the reef. I'll send the medical mages to find the young Zora in need."
"Yes sir!"
Nicoda look back at the little animal as the Zora holding him release his grip to accelerate for the sea mounts with his cadets. The legion of warriors blazed across the sea leaving a trail of particles of dusting off of their markings. Their white hot fangs contrasted against their illuminated mouths. Their regal patterns, each unique to the individual's particular breed, sparkling into a mad display of bloody ivory. Like comets springing across the endless expanse of the stars that are said to be the souls of sealife, they whisk by the dying stardust and vanished straight into the dark horizon. The little ratfish wrinkle his snout at him.
"So, um...can I go home now? No offense, but you Zoras freak me out really badly, now even more so after tonight's episode. I'm getting anxiety just looking at you."
"Personally I think its best you stay here for the time being for your own safety. Or at least nestle in the gardens until the danger has past. Like Nutlius said, we Sylos have little interest in eating ratfishes. Part of it is due to respect for a friend who's ancestor happen to be your species, and the other is, well, yo're not too appetizing, especially when your venom upsets our digestive system." Nicoda addressed the creature with serine thread of kindness lingering from his husky tone. His single purplish black eye, glowing an eerie ruby shine, spied Ruuna peering at him from the ballroom entrance, her wine colored pearl a showcase of puzzlement. No doubt she and the others inside had heard the commotion. He hoped Mikau hadn't picked up the growing hostility of the raging Zoras; he didn't wish for him to be expose to the more aggressive side of Sylovaakien society at such a tender, innocent age. "But if you must leave, then I won't stop you. It is your decision."
"Thank you," the curious looking animal dip his head gratefully and Nicoda spot a ghost of a smile swimming on his gaunt features. "Don't worry about me. You just do your part. I'll secure the safety of my friends in the meantime."
"Take care..."
Turning, Nicoda strode in the direction of the hall as the ratfish gave a mighty pump of his silken fins and propelled away to the wild reefs. The beating music were still reverberating off the entire district as the calming lights reflected off his mate's velvety scales like pane of white, silvery mirrors. Her powdery scales beamed from the glow, spending little particles of light in every which direction as if they were running along a crystallized surface. Nicoda always enjoy the relaxing display a Zora's skin can demonstrate, putting his racing mind at ease as his tension somewhat lessen. Ruuna perk at his approach, whistling her welcome. The couple touch noses and momentarily enjoy the electrifying sensation tickling at the point of contact with rumbling purrs rising from the back of their throats. As much as Nicoda so dearly wanted to remain by her side, holding his beloved in his protective arms, he knew that his duty as a protector is first and foremost if he wishes for Termina's Ocean Realm to be harmonious.
"I'm sorry, but I have important matters to attend too."
"I understand," Ruuna console somberly as she bore her eyes into his. Nicoda could make out his own reflection in her gentle pools, but notice her uncertainty deep in their shining depths.
"Roo, it'll be ok...I got this."
"Zobens returns, has he?" Ruuna spoke in a manner which betrayed her incredulous thoughts of the situation, feeling the muscles in her lean arms tighten. Her contracting actions cause a reaction of the pectoral fins to activate into their iconic sword forms as they sharpen their edges, blades braking through the soft coating that would normally conceal them otherwise. Its as simple as that. She took to looking around her anxiously. "He's back for our family. He's going to want to finish what he started. Do you recall what happen with four of your siblings..?"
Nicoda exhale the water out of his gills in a sigh. Memories of his one of his sisters and three of his brothers faintly appear before the haze that obscure the bleak memory he try to forget. "I forbid such things of happening again. Don't worry, he won't touch any of our love ones so long as I'm here. I will personally strike him down and return with his teared blades as my trophy."
"Please do. As harsh as I will sound, and forgive me for saying these morbid things, Zobens's better off dead at this point. No good can come from a Zora who refuse to change their ways, even if prison sentence is more then enough."
"I'll decide his fate once I arrest him. In the meantime, please keep our children safe. Don't let them leave the residence, and perhaps bring the band to our mansion to provide them better security with the guards. You know how violent Zobens gets when he sees Zoras outside of our own species."
"Understood. Please stay safe."
The larger bull flash her a cheeky smile. "Do I ever disappoint you in that regard?"
"Yes, you do. Frequently in fact," Ruuna responded half-heartily, grateful that her mate can still make her feel confidante about the situation. They rub noses one final time and Nicoda step a paces away from her, still holding her hands. They stared lovingly into each other's eyes for split moment more before Nicoda finally gave his great fins a mighty flap. Instantly he rocketed into the shifting horizon of the ocean "sky" before turning sharply for the sea mounts, disappearing in the distant haze that dusted the marine world.
Ruuna sigh to herself and crane her lightly striped neck to gaze back into the ballroom. Mikau can be seen playing games with the other guppies now while the mother of his new Trejax friend delighted herself with harassing the The Indigo-Go's with obnoxiously stupid questions and invasion of personal space. Few Zoran Heroes nonchalantly removed her from the premise, her embarrass mate apologizing profusely for her behavior. Ruuna knew that with the confirmation of Zobens swimming wild near the city perimeter, her youngest son is in immediate danger. Her father's obsession with the Sea Deity linage had been reflected in Zobens's belief, making Mikau a possible target to the age old scheme she would rather not remember.
She knew that whatever it takes, she must defend her child to the death if he were to one day fulfill the secret purpose Nayru bestow upon him. The Ocean Realm will one day rely on him as their savior, a guardian to lead the people of the sea to triumph, justice, and their liberation of the upcoming evil. Just as his chosen ancestors once did. No matter the cause, Zobens shall never lay his claws on him.
Even if it ends her, then so be it.
Mikau flutter his radiant pools of blue light as broken rays of shattered gold bled into his residence from the dome above, the soft, warm beams whisking across his face in a twiddling flurry. He discovered to be in his room, strewn with scattered toys and crystal shells dotting the mossy white carpet. His bed was stationed in a nice balcony with fancy railings crafted from white gold and flecked with sapphires, rimmed with luminous stones and studded gemstones. Two large, artistically barred windows took up most of the walls of either side and a third smaller one with a doorway next to his bed, all lined with delicate curtains gently draping in the calm currents, and an enclosed outer balcony that were graced with a garden, outstretch into the further reaching of the luminous palace. They all crisscross and interconnected in winding bridges and flourishing platforms lined with glass globes used as light sources, absorbing the solar light encasing the Twilight Depths. Spindly branches of sea trees scrape against the luminous architecture from the flourishing courtyard below, waving their fingers as if scolding him for being up in this hour. The eerie chimes of distant bells weep sorrowfully from the faraway land, only faintly audible to Zoran and Hylian ears, and the clock across from his bed vibrated with muffle clings.
Strange. He didn't remember falling asleep the night before, but how else would he explain his sudden awakening? Next to him was the family pet, Oaky, a tiny dumbo octopus whom his family had adopted several months ago. Shoal had often wanted one during his childhood. His brother always had this weird fascination with these particular critters along with cuttlefish, and considering that both are popular pets among the Zoras, eating them was the last thing on anyone's mind, despite the Sylovaakien's peculiar diet of cephalopods. Not that Mikau ever mind. These things were too cute and friendly, and he would honestly cry if someone ate one of these. He poked the tiny peachy cephalopod, and the chubby creature reply with a squeak in protest before snuggling into him again, closing her pebbly eyes. The little Sea Deity giggle as he let the animal rest against him, recalling he past adventures of the previous night.
The thrill of the concert, the harmony of its music, the colorful lights, his brief moment of fame, the talented Music Zoras, his new friends Lulu and Japas...
He sat up, suddenly not as restful as he had been mere moments ago. Japas was no doubt sent back home with his parents, that much he understood. But Lulu still lingers in these waters, perhaps even at the hotel still where he first met her acquaintance last night.
Rubbing his tire eyes, he comically roll out of bed and plop onto the furry white moss carpet, a slosh of bubbles popping and crackling like flames licking the sides of his mattress. The sheets snag onto his minuscule scales and tighten its grip on him, and an eruption of spastic movements and whistling growls sent the fabric blowing away and circling around the room. It gracefully glide just under the dome overhead, as it twist into a ghostly dancing extension of the ocean. The sunbeams shot through the translucent silk and gave it a haunting presence, triggering the young Zora to attack. He propel himself upward, the sheet suddenly lurching as he then dive bomb blindly at top speed, the fabric clinging to his slippery frame. Oaky perked considerably and watch as the ghostly water curtain plummets towards the floor, only for it to jerk sharply ahead seconds before collision. The world was tainted in dizzy cloudy white as a squeaking Zoran Hero barrel himself through the door, flinging it open and bumping into the walls of the hallway.
Mikau stood and looked around, noting the hazy stillness that cloaks around the luxurious residence. Few shoals of glittering flashlight fish darted by into various rooms, and occasionally a shark's sleek silhouette lurk in the furthest depths of the golden mist. The figures only reveal faint glimmers of scales as they swiftly blaze by the heavenly rays seeping through the crystallized windows and bleed through the silvery blue walls of the mansion. He bundle the shimmering sheet snugly to his tiny frame and kick his legs in a slow steady swim, the ghostly fabric whipping fluidly behind him as it reach aimlessly around.
The little Zora paddle past the many portraits of historical Zoran Heroes and the impressive statues of the few fallen siblings he will never get to know, lined neatly in between the ancestral paintings in a knightly formation as they face the sibling across from them. The primary material used in the construction of the statues consist of white marbles and panes of pearls specially molded in such a way that Mikau had trouble comprehending. The main structure consist of marbles carefully crafted into shape, of which upon completion were painstakingly imprinted with tiny flecks of pearls to provide the illusion of fine, healthy scales. The marble sculptures were adorned with various beads of gemstones draping their bodies as looping necklaces and graced with different assortments of jewels that made up their eye color. Where their hearts would have been was in its place a Zora's Sapphire in the shape of such an organ engraved royally on their chests, the golden trims swimming with slippery colors flickering on its smooth surface like flames. He stare at the Zora shaped monuments with a growing sadness welling into his heart, constricting his chest in painful knots and pressing into his gills. Mikau took in the calmness of the afternoon and let himself intake a deep breath of the warm water to calm down. Lulu and the Indigo-Go's flash into his mind, and he vow to further ignore the statues' ever lasting presence as he set his goal.
He pumped towards the living room in the midsection of the house, twirling to head for the double silver doors when his lateral line picked up a disturbance in the rooms nearby. Tail flagging in alarm and spines protruding instinctively, Mikau titter softly to himself as he tilted his body to the right and dashed into an open hallway. He flap his pectoral fins busily yet quietly as to not disturb his slumbering family. Now in another section of the palace, Mikau stop at a particular guest room near the dining room and place a padded palm on the smooth pane of pure silver that made up the double doors. Longfinned Mako Sharks bearing Nayru's Pearl in their fangs faced each other from each door, with the Zora's Sapphire in between the roaring beasts. Mikau gently swung the doors open and a gasp of delight caught in his throat.
Nestle in the guest room, beyond three doorless archways that made up smaller rooms, were the resting forms of the Music Zoras. Although cover in sheets and blankets, they looked dead from exhaustion, almost as still as death. The rhythmic breathing of their gills was slow and tranquil, and their postures were relaxed. Interestingly, Luth was the oddity of the bunch, having been submerge in a plot of sand on the ground, her special gills shooting small jets of bubbles from behind her eyes. Darkness cloaks these inner rooms, providing the Zora the much needed privacy needed for a restful sleep.
And he can see their instruments on display, in plain sight.
"Yay..."
Mikau proceed to tiptoe across the room to approach these rooms, his tiny clawed flippers scraping the plush mossy flooring when something off the corner of his blue gaze capture his attention. Whipping his head curiously, the young Zora was surprised to see the silhouette of Lulu de Second staring out the blinding golden blaze of the outside world, rays blooming from the edges of her frame. She took no notice of his presence, but instead hum a little tone that the male guppy is familiar with, for it is the holy melody that is Nayru's Song. However, it was sad and distant, as if the song was a vain attempt at cheering her up. With a soft thrust of his fins, Mikau silently glide over to her spot before the window and landed quietly next to her. Looking at her, her eyes were close and her fingers were entwine together as she held her hands to her chest, swaying back and forth. Radiant sunlight cast a riveting glow on her soft facial features.
"Hey..." Mikau chirrup softly with an hint of a whistle to his tone. His hidden sapphires seem to had lit up to her presence, because he felt the soft, reassuring warmth emitting from it. "Why you up right now? And what you doing?"
Lulu open an eye and chance a glance at him, her magenta pools brimming with emotions. "I can't sleep. Because it's all so pretty..." She huffed out a sigh, as if vaguely believing her own words.
"What? The house right? The sea mountains? Coral forests?"
"Everything," Lulu beckon with her hands at the room surrounding them and beyond the windows. "These depths are so rich! Look at everything! The water is always like this in the daytime-where I from it only gets like this in the evening. The sights are amazing! And the Zoras are all super pretty and sparkly! I like sparkles. I just wish Japas was here to see all this and your unique culture."
"Oooh..." Sorrow creep into the depths of his heart as the realization of Japas's departure suddenly came to fruition. His bejeweled fins grew cold and hollow, the light flickering out slowly as it melt into the water leaving nothing but a husk. If what his people's superstition of the ocean beyond these mountains are anything to come by, Mikau knew that the changes of ever seeing Japas again are close to zero. Why must these revered warriors stay nestle in the shadows like aquatic Sheikah, shunning the world and all of its wonders? What are so they so worked up about that they have to flee and hide from other Zoras upon their rescues? Are they simply just paranoid of the outcomes involving the unknown, or are they hiding something that they rather the ocean did know about? "I'm sorry... I miss him too," he finally sighed. The young Sea Deity took another look at the honey soak ocean, watching the few deep sea reef fishes tending to the coral gardens in the walled courtyards below. One looked like a tiny trevally, and the image of Japas's friendly face flash through his eyes. Looking past him, he saw Lulu bore the same expression as she, too, stare at the little teal as it converse happily with his friends. The look on her face only brought more sadness to him, but alas an idea spark to prevent the moody atmosphere from prevailing.
"Did you see everything we have to offer down here, miss Lulu?"
"No...I-"
He grab her hand, causing her to abruptly stop mid sentence and looking down at their hands with surprised eyes. She whistle in awe, looking back Mikau with questioning eyes.
"Listen, I want you to see everything! If you like, I can show 'round some more, before you and the Music Zoras go away. I show you the forests, stores, playground, surrounding towns, and the rest of the big, BIG city! And teach you our traditions. It'll be fun! I know my way around. Much pretty sights to explore."
"Are you sure? I mean, what about my Mommy? She will get scare because she can't find me..."
"We be back in no time. I know, for I go sneaky-sneaky when Mommy and Daddy asleep. Will you come? I want to show you so much...and I want to know more and be real friends..."
"Mikki, you're sweet. Thank you so much..."
Taking a longing look at the Fishbone Guitar nestle in the darkest reaching of the room, Mikau inspected a crystalline lock on the glass with a claw. The shine of the heavenly glow outside reflected off the metallic blue claw as he try to poke it through the hole curiously. After fiddling with the door, he whirl over to one of the inner rooms with a careful degree of silence. Peering in at the occupant resting within, Talako's gills bubbled with every exhale he unconsciously pushed out, and his tail curl around his neck protectively as his solid fins twitch.
Mikau, in what he believe to be stealth, darted across the dancing shadows as the light gradually taunts them away. He stare at the skeletal prized instrument that stood on its stand marvelously, a trophy that truly speaks volume in its regarded status. Fighting to not strum a single silvery string on its dull golden frame, Mikau reach into one of the antique Clock Town vase his Mother likes to collect for reason. Something about it connecting with the colonial times...weird. He fished out a rusted brass key, the salt water chipping away at its exposed metal, and an entwining white gold key shining with brilliance, untouched by the sea. A smile grew on his cheery face at the prospect of the first key, and he held them close. Mikau turn and paddle his way back to Lulu with his prizes, inserting the beautiful white key into the lock and turning it with a satisfying "click".
The door was pried open by the whooshing undersea currents, whisking and churning sediments from the gardens below. Glittery tornadoes of golden sand and stardust twirl around playfully before the awestruck guppies, inviting with their enchanting ballad. Mikau grab Lulu's hand and shut the door behind him, swimming down through the enclosed, over arching bejeweled bridge until they reached its midsection. He insert the key yet again in the door here as well and a rush a fresh water past through their gills as he opens it. With a rush of excitement, Lulu and Mikau graced into the gardens where Mikau hid the stunning key by a path carved with slick, luminous rock. To Lulu's interest, he held onto the ugly, peeling mess that was the brass key.
With his task complete, the pair lifted into the sun and flew across the sunlit ocean. From below, their tiny bodies became fleeting silhouettes against the glaring glow of the light behind them. Mikau felt the adrenaline pulsing through his hot blooded veins as he race against the stirring tides threatening to yank him back, the ocean moaning ominously from all around. Lulu fidgeted, trying to maintain her troublesome buoyancy with her lack of a tail. Mikau saw her tilting her hammerhead back and forth to prevent from tipping over, her fins flailing with equal anxiety. Despite that, her eyes were anything but anxiety. It was excitement, the same thrill he expresses when out exploring. He slow to a glide and use his shoulder to support, flashing her a big smile. A blush blossom on her pearly white cheeks, tinted with flecks of amber by the Twilight Depths. The two wisp over the forests and hug the mountainside, awaiting to make their adventure really count. The luminous city just beyond the colorful forest radiant the Sun's light off its reflective, glassy surfaces, like cultivated diamonds sending wave links of various shades of yellows and luminous greens. The silvery blue buildings bloom with liquid threads of tawny gold as it shimmer rhythmically to the rolling waves.
Mikau stayed true to his words, taking Lulu to a beautiful park in the heart of the neighborhood where a playground is located. They frolic and goofed around on the play-set, dashing through the openings and tackling each other into the dancing sea grass.
Mikau, as much as he try to focus on enjoying his time with Lulu, couldn't shake the feeling of guilt he express over sharing his culture without Japas. The little Trejax had been an interesting companion for sure, one that riled the adults for all the wrong reasons and confused the living moonlights out of any guppy who took one look at him.
To many, he was interesting. To others however, he was weird. Japas wasn't a new, intriguing discovery to their home waters as Mikau thought he'd be. He'd saw how the adults stared at him whenever his small back was turned to them, their lean bodies rigid but their expressions a mask of uncertainty. He was different. He was nosy and in some accounts annoying. He was an outsider in THEIR sacred waters.
Images of his departure flare in his subconscious like the sparks of volcanic embers, the memory as crisp as moon ice...
"Come dearie."
"But I don't want to go..."
The sea had traded its expressive starbusting purples of night into the glittering rosy pinks of dawn. The residence bled a reflective hue of the morning light as Mikau's family and Japas's parents stood by one of the glass doors leading to the balcony overlooking the courtyards, the way to the outside world. The ocean belch in protest, its undersea gales churning the glittering particles that accumulated during the night. Ruuna's gaze had been diverted to the wisps of stardust dazzling in Din's light, her delicate white face illuminated in soft gold as her wine colored eyes caught glimpse of the Sun's glow. Near her, more Zoran Heroes dutifully stood around the room, many wearing silver plates of fine armor and a selected few armed with small spear guns, though such weapons are seldom use in Sylovaakien combat. Her kin hung around, with Shoal paying minor attention to a locket he keeps within his chest plate, staring into the frozen imagery of his deceased sibling, Noliko, before slapping the watch shut with a muffled ring that shimmer the water around him. Ruuna radiated a silent code to her subordinates from her entwining markings as Japas's folk, eyeing the Zoran Heroes with uncertainty, try to coax their reluctant son.
"Please boy, we've to go," Japas's father demanded. "If what the Makiiekdo folk says is true, the surrounding seas, though passive now, will become cyclonic and difficult to traverse once Din rises to her highest peak. Then we'd be stuck here here for who knows how long, since its unpredictable, right ma'am?"
"Very unpredictable," Ruuna confirm as she nodded in the male Zora's direction.
Japas ruffle his fins in retaliation and let his stylish bangs swing loosely as his shook his head quickly. His emerald eyes darted from his Trevally parents to the towering shark people that dominates this mysterious and secluded part of Termina.
"No! I like it 'ere. De city is pretty and really shiny, I make new friends, water is warm and toasty, everythin' less noisy and annoying, and it'z de home of the Super Cool Super Zoras. Don't make me go."
"Dumpling, Sylovaakiens are nothing more then folklore," his mother reminded him as she knelt down and stroke his cheek. The Mako Zoras didn't seem the least bit peeved by her comment, but out of the corner of her jade colored eyes she only faintly detected a wink of somber silvers streaking across their lithe bodies before quickly blooming back to their default hues, reminiscence to the aurora borealis. Aside from this, they patiently watch her with their sharp noble eyes that stirred her thoughts. Although she refuse to acknowledge her feelings publicly, deep down she instinctively knew that these were quite possibly the fable guardians spoken of in ancient Zoran mythologies. They were much more polite and dignified than the immature Makiiekdo Zoras, notorious for their trickery, and their fins alone were exceedingly long and shaped like various blades from breed to breed.
"They are! Look around ya, Mommy! They 'ere! We in their secret kingdom thingy!" Japas hurriedly paddle over and locked himself onto Shoal's ankle. Ruuna finally turns her elegant sights onto the Trejaxes, pillars of light haloing her regal body. Her son gave a startle trill, then whistling soft burrs tickle his throat as he smile down at the desperate guppy.
"Little guppy," Ruuna addresses tenderly as she strides over to the tiny Trejax. "We are all flattered by your interest in our society. But your future is back at home in Zothora, not out here in these wild seas. You have a home to call your own, two loving parents, and a life full of promises ahead of you as Nayru permits it. But you will never reach your full potential as a Trejax Zora shielded away from your own kind. This goes for all Zoras, including us, so it is best that you go home and reunite with your awaiting love ones, for I'm sure Trejaxes love living in large schools." She pause as the guppy's parents both nodded in agreement to this statement, for their kind indeed flourish in large families. "You are, however, welcome to stop by should you ever find yourself in southeastern Termina again. We'll be more then happy to welcome your company for short periods of time."
Japas sniffed. The meaning of her words reverberated in his conscious like the mournful echoing of weeping bells. "Ok...I guess you're right, nice lady. I have siblings and friends at home too. Maybe we all visit one day." With a new light burning in his emerald pearls Japas waddle back to his folks, who patted him reassuringly as he look at them each in the eye. "Let's go home, Momma and Pop."
"Datta boy," the adult male chuckle as a Zoran Hero step forward to the family. He gazed up at the taller Zora, their chest silvered with plating and their fins pulsing with the flow of the currents. He spied the rest of the Mako folks twitching their long, broad fins in a way that expresses curiosity and good spirits. Ruuna wore a cheery expression on her features. "Thank you for bestowing your wisdom onto our son, mi'lady. Normally he's very mellow and keeps to 'imself and generally well behaved; I've never seen him so hyperactive before-ok, maybe the other day when the Dai-Blue band came to preform in our city...But we do have a few Makiiekdo Zoras living in our condominium complex, and he's sees them all the time, even plays with them, so I don't know what's gotten into 'im all of a sudden. So again, thank you."
"Always a pleasure, good sir. We wish you a safe travel back to the capital." Ruuna gave a firm nod, and the armored Zora open the glass door to the courtyards. Fish exploded from the coral pots as the door tap upon their surface, sending a ringing tone to dance on their inner ears. The Trejaxes bid their farewell to the Zoran Heroes, who all bowed with a blazing display of vivid wave link cascading down their markings. Two Zoran Heroes missiled out of the palace first, then the Trejax couple with Japas wiggling in between them. Another pair of Sylovaakien Zoras followed closely behind for added protection on the long, treacherous journey back to Zothora. As the group steadily rose up to the lighter depths, Japas took what he knew would be his final look back at the mystical world of the Sylovaakien Zoras as it gradually melted into the sea mountains, a sparkling veil steadily shrouded their world the further he ascends. He could faintly make out the mako guppy watching him depart from the big glass dome in his room, a look of sorrow in his sapphire blue eyes before he too, became one with the golden wisp of smoldering the expanse of their deep sea empire...
It took Mikau a moment's notice to realize that his soulful eyes were geared toward the luminous pavement that made up the roads of underwater cities. Looking back to where Lulu was, she can be seen struggling to pull at the multicolored sea-grass trying to dig her way to a tiny burrow, pouncing on a particular goby who dare peaks out at her, its eyes extremely curious to her presence. She yip excitedly upon detecting it and snuffle her nose into the hole after it, the sensitive pores inside her snout picking up traces of the rapid beating of the creature's tiny, but lively heart. Lulu de Second giggle uncontrollably at the tingling sensations that tickle her instincts and awaken the primal urge to attack.
Mikau held a bubbly breath as he watched her, his frost laced flippers flattening on the pane of glossy road as gravity smugly claimed him due to his natural lack of a swim bladder. Thoughts were in disarray in his brain, swirling round and round in spiraling loops, and gradually becoming a mental whirlpool of emotions. Japas had been the first friend of another species he had ever made, a uniqueness among his society, and he was sent away just because of his different species. He doesn't want to loose Lulu as well. Not, until in the very least, he makes the most of her short visit. He enjoyed Lulu's company; every moment he spent with her, a wave of bliss and profound enlightenment wash over him as he gathered new information on her kind, and her from his. His sapphire markings always radiates brilliantly whenever she drew near, and a happiness he never before felt engulfs any emotions he currently endures. Japas's departure taught him he must cherish her presence, that every moment with her is precious.
"Lulu!" Mikau softly bellow as to not disturb the slumbering Zoras stored away in their lustrous homes. His gentle call chimed with the edge of a shimmering trill that shattered the pristine imagery of the waters around him, distorting his snowy form into a flurry of blizzarding ice. "Come here and follow me! I show you something really nice."
Lulu, burying her face in the whitish powder, jerk her hammerhead back and a dust storm of blue sand bulged in silky plumes around her. But Din cast a ray of her sunshine to reveal her exposed face, with her emotions displaying inquisitive delight. "Oh? If you say so, Miki! We going where now?"
"You see. Follow me!"
Soon they were distancing themselves away from the empty streets and into the suspended suburbs. Everything in Syloannika seems to have temporarily frozen in time; life only occasionally made itself known with the presence of few fishes darting in and out of the shadows. The only sounds were the lulling melody of the rolling waves and the faraway cries of baleen whales singing their ballad with the sea.
"Mikau," Lulu finally began once they were nearing the outskirts of the slumbering community. She pointed to the crusty metal vaguely visible in his left palm. "Why did you bring that key?"
"Because it's important to what I want to show you. You'll see!" Mikau picked up speed and accelerated into the feathery brush at the back of the silvery blue houses. Lulu followed suit and the young guppy lead her across the vast, densely packed coral forests, the blunted branches snagging at their fins greedily. The bristly sea floor prickle at their soft bellies as they skim over the sparse feathery brush. It was a good twenty minute swim before they made it out of the claustrophobic forest into a sudden clearing of a grassy, deep sea valley before them, with deep sea plateaus jutting out from either side of a shocking sight.
A large foreboding shipwreck was embedded deep in the whitish silt and mud, its churned hull rotting away similarly to Mikau's ancient key. Barnacles and algae bulged and slither on the imploded rusted metal like rocky warts surrounded by sickly green. Yet, vibrate coral and lush sea plants blossomed from the majority of the ship's surface and coated the entire vessel in eye popping colors spiking from every which way, like a rainbow jungle. Two of its four steam funnels had collapse and crush the deck, and the bow sagged under its immerse weight. The remaining two stood tall and sickly, bumpy with rocky corals and barnacles. Windows were smashed and a jagged hole snarled at them from the lower bottom of the ship where a missile once struck it. The sharp searing edges of the hole were like fangs ready to shred anyone who dares venture into its wound.
Broken silvery shards of luminous walls showed evidence of homes being crush by the old wreckage when it sank, and on both sides the remains of Zora palaces were shattered and decimated with few remaining walls standing. Deep sea trees scrape against the rusted hull with their rocky limbs, and cluster near the wreckage. A sleek, obsidian obelisk with the Mark of Nayru engraved in real gold and sapphires loom over the entire scene just behind the ship wreck, spearing at the ocean "sky" with it sharp tip. Precious luminous stones and statues of coelacanths wearing skull masks surrounded the ship. More of the blue stones cluster around the monument as a final farewell to the lives lost in the disaster. A dense, glittering mist roll over the metallic grave, basking the the ship into a blurry crackling haze.
Lulu gasp and hid behind Mikau, pointing at the ghostly imagery that haunts the deep sea mountains. "Wha-what! What happen here?"
"Uncle said ship sank when meanies bullied them. Gerudo Pirates, he says! They attack and hurt people. Then it sink, and goes bye-bye." He pointed sadly at the abandon homes and whimper. "It came down and smashed the houses. Neighbors lost their homes, but were ok."
"Oh, so no one down here was hurt?" Lulu asked as she step around Mikau and took a few strides to stare at the wreckage. The multi colored blades of sea grass slither and razed around her ankles like fiery sea serpents wrestling for dominance.
"Nope, and it good thing too! Aleer said they heard it before they saw it and swam away in time. But they all lost their housy. Mommy and Daddy let them stay over our place til they can buy a new place to live. Now they live in villas outside the city near the undersea plains."
"Oh good...but poor humans though..." She place a flipper on the smooth pane of azure glass and silver that made up the road going into the mangled valley, right in the path of the shipwreck. "When did this happen? It looks super old."
"Daddy said 40 years ago. Longtime. Aditu wasn't born yet when it happened!" He juggle the key playfully and grin. "This is from the ship. Zoras took stuff to keep as souvenir or to sell to each other. Mommy really likes keeping things from a long time ago. Calls them antiques. This key can open lots of doors in the ship. I know, for I did it! I want to show you around in the ship."
Another gasp resonated from Lulu, this one of nervous excitement. "Go inside of it? What if there's ghosts and bones of dead people?"
"No ghost ship. And no bones-I think. I didn't see EVERYTHING, so...Come on! Spooky is fun!"
"You will protect me from any meanies that spook around, right mister hero?" She said, putting her hands to her hips the same way her mother does when trying to get her point across.
Mikau puffed his chest out heroically, giving her a cute wink for added effect. "Sure! I am a Zoran Hero. I protect you! Come on. Let's go all sneaky and explore the ship."
Lulu finally gave a half agreeable nod and the two Zoralings approach the foreboding tragedy that plagues the valley. Mikau lead her inside through the gaping wound of the rudded hull. A strong taste of iron hung in the water, reaching the roof of their mouths which was met with the two to grimace and wrinkle their noses in displeasure. Beams of light bled through the muddle windows and teared holes as it tentatively flicker its warmth into the dark rooms. Several schools of fish and a few deep sea sharks patrol the vessel like a busy intersection as they darted into rooms and kept the reefs intact, enjoying their artificial ecosystem. Sea stars of wild colors sluggishly slithered across the floor and various objects left behind by the deceased crew. Mikau stare at the scarce congregation of animals and tilted his head wonderingly.
"Huh...Funny, there are always a gazillion fishes in here. Today there only few schools and fewer sharks! Where they go?"
"Maybe they on vacation?" Lulu replied.
Tapping his finger to his chin as he seen his elders do, Mikau decided it was the most logical solution. "Oh, that make sense. Enough of thee fishies! Come on." The pups turn down a musty hallway shrouded in darkness, the light of the outside world behind them becoming more faded and blurred until it flicker like the essence of a faint candlelight. Their eyes shone brightly against a tunnel almost as black as the abyss, orbs of stunning athemyst and brilliant sapphires blinking in and out of existence. An occasional sound of the ship moaning as it settles had almost sent the pups swimming for the exit, but they pressed onward, daring themselves to conquer the unknowns. They soon made it to an abandoned dining hall leading to various rooms, including the stairs leading to the crew's quarters and an exit that lead to other areas including where the captain once operated the ship.
Mikau fiddle with the bold key into the locks of cabinets as the pair explore the room, tinged in yellow from the flaming seas outside. He would absentmindedly tap it against surfaces in a similar fashion to his crystal shells as he pace around the room, trying to form a jazzy beat. Lulu peered under a table meanwhile to see neon colored blobs of various sea slugs slithering under its shifting shadow, giggling as they raise their antennas at her once the oddly shape creatures felt her presence.
"Its not so bad in here!" she commented delightedly, gesturing the entire room with her outstretched arms as she spun.
"See?" Mikau said as he insert crusty key into a desk lock and turn it for the satisfying click. "I told you its not bad! I come here a lot and pretend to be a pirate Zora sometime! Many other kids play here too when grown ups aren't looking." Mikau pull at a shattered glass drawer of a topple table back to salvage for any loot as he poked his head in for a quick sniff, his lateral line tingling. "They don't like us going here; too dangerous they say! They make up ghost stories to scare us, but that makes all the guppies and big kids more d-deeturdmint?-to explore more! Its fun, and I get to be a pirate and command my crew!"
"I don't like pirates..." Lulu murmur timidly, her fins pressed to her body as she huddle on what's left of the rosy carpet. "I live near Zora Hall in Coral City, and they are so scary. The Zoras there fight them sometimes, and I hear BOOM BOOM sounds when they fight! Mommy said they almost took me away when I was still an eggie. They wanted to sell me because Mommy is super famous! But she and Daddy save me and now I am here playing with you."
Mikau pull his snout out of the drawer and turn to face her, a small yellow paper sticking to his nose. He felt his scales prickle at her brief story as something came over him. He wasn't exactly sure why it was, but the sense of possible distress awoken an instinct he instantly knew to be the redeeming trait of all Zoran Heroes; the will to protect the innocent.
With a reassuring smile, Mikau paddle over to the distraught female guppy and wrap his arms around her as he gave her support. "Its ok Lulu. I protect you, remember? I won't let stinky pirates get you again, or I go slashing with me fins!"
"You a good sharky," Lulu sniffed as she return his embrace, swaying him a little as she rock her body side to side. "Thank you Mikki."
"No problem. You can always count on me. Want to see the rest of the ship to make you feel even more better? I like going in deep, deep deep. Sometimes I find hidden treasures that the grown ups didn't find yet. Maybe I can find something nice for you down there."
"Sure, I would like that," smiled Lulu as they let go of each other. Mikau lead her out of the dining hall and into the deeper ends of the shipwreck. A musty odor linger in the stale tasting water and darkness once again cloaks their forms. Their eyes scan the interior for any point of interest in the silent gloom. Through their visions, they detected silt stirring from the crack beneath a door to the storage room, swirling into a dusty turbine that entwine and danced its way down to the rotted molded mat. Treads of its tattered fabric were powdered with hauntingly grey ash, gnarling from the fibers like blacken kelp sprinkled with dull stardust. Silver treads of a sticky, translucent substance stretch from one end of the battered mat to the next, catching the reflected twinkles of their eyes on its soft glass like surface. Faint smears of similar gelatin were embedded deep into the fabric of the mat in a swift arch, with glops of goop smothered on the bare floor and traces of silvery slop oozing from beneath the door. An odd odor emitted from the suspicious materiel.
Lulu was to first to break the silence, cocking her quizzically at the odd substance. "What's that? Is it sea sluggie slim? Those guys are all icky."
Mikau settle on the thin layered, dust covered floor and kneel before the bizarre slime, its density looking quite thick and sticky as it were heavily grounded to the mat and door. He poke a tentative claw near it, wary of touching it for caution of the ill side effects that it may inflict should he make contact. "I don't know what kind of sluggie this is, but it looks neat! There must be a lot of them today if there are so many goopy slime. Many we can find you a sea bunny!"
"Sea bunny?" Lulu echo, genuinely curious now.
"Oh yep! They so cute! Itty bitty sluggy with little black ears and bushy tail things like real bunnies! I use to have one, but Oaky ate it and got sick because it was poisonous. She needed to be at the vet for three days! Family not happy with what she did, but I forgive her. Sea bunnies are great pets, just don't lick them! They gross."
"Ah! They sound cuddly! Real bunnies are so fluffy! I play with one when I was at Romani Ranch. Maybe the sea bunnies with give me the same warm fuzzy feeling I felt when I played with land bunnies."
Mikau inserted the brass key into the hole and heard a satisfying click once he turned it in the proper direction. press his small body against the surface of the door and began to shove it in, the ship ringing with the protesting wails of its aged hinges echoing across the hallway. Lulu's heart accelerated as Mikau boldly shove it forward, his flapping fins creating a gust of currents behind him. "Then we got some hunting to do! Come on! Let's find them bunnies!"
A acrid draft hung in the dank smelling room, with a bleak ray of sunlight slicing through the only window at the far side of the wall. A slimy patch of algae carpeted the radius, warm and slick to the touch. The old door was caught in an underwater current filtering into the room from the hall behind them, swinging it softly as it held it open in the Zoras' favor. Particles hover in the musty water like suspended dust, and few bubbles loom and dissolved into a fizzling mist from open cracks and the moldy ventilation shafts. The room was barely brighter then the hall, the honey like glow dimly illuminating the silhouettes of decayed crates and busted shelves and cabinets swinging ajar. Complex metal pipes and tubing systems crisscross throughout the storage room and extended to the ceiling and press against the walls like thick pillars of twisting iron, intersecting over to a beaten down contraption in which Mikau wasn't aware of its previous usage. Creeping skeletons of overturned chairs and pet carriers laid cripple and abandon, and glistening pebbles of broken glass erupt with heavenly pillars of sunny rays bursting forth, like threads of gold shimmering in and out of existence and dappling the dull walls with fleeting spectacles which flicker and dazzle of star like light.
Few fragments of animal bones lay scattered across a soot coated flooring. Some from that of terrestrial creatures who sadly died in the tragedy that had transpire decades prior, others of marine life that fell prey to superior predators. Smashed sea shells sprinkle across the room, jotting the surfaces of the crates and ground. Some are of simpler mollusk, yet others were the broken sharp shards of what's left of Shell Blades whom possibly fell victim to hungry Sylovaakien Zoras. Sighs of Zora activities were recorded on the now dull shelling, which speaks of vicious claw marks that rake the once intact animals, teeth indention that bit through the protective armor stabbing into the tender internal flesh, and severed remains when Zoras would finish them off with a flick of their arms, their hidden weapon shooting through the open maws of the beast like harpoons firing from their guns. Yes, it appears that tenacious Zoras had been hunting here not that long ago, evident of the neatly craved claw and blade marks raking across the metallic surfaces of the room with swift ease as proof of their previous break in. Mikau decoded the meaning of their sighs clearly, for he knew from watching his elders that Sylovaakein Zoras will mark their territory by preforming such actions. Each Zoran species, from what they told him, has a specific method of claiming turf, such as rubbing their scent glands on the surfaces of reefs or secret a neon substance to smear onto the surfaces of their property.
However, when there is death, their is also vague sighs of life which may still linger in the mostly dead storage room; sticky strains of the same substance the guppies had encounter hung limply from the overhanging pipes and rafters, swaying softly as the whispering currents crescent their silky glaze. Small pearly dew swelled lightly from the thread like substance, like polished beads bejeweling a curtain with its glistening magnificence. The thin glassy strings drape half way down from the pipelines and slithered down the walls, glittering a welcome as it caught the shine of their eyes on its reflective surface.
The guppies advance forward, poking their little snouts at the remnants of the human world. To Mikau, the human realm is such an alien concept, one that he looks into with a great inquisitive mindset. Most Zoras from what he registered will shy away from the sight of one, something Mikau never fully understood. The most contact he had with such people were the occasional Merfolks passing through their holy waters as they migrate west, their silhouettes smudging away the sunlit expanse of the topaz waves like overcast clouds as their shadow skirmish the dense bristly forest below them.
On another occasion, at one point a "friendly" Merman lurking in the coral woods near his house had try to lure him over to his weird submarine thing with candy, only to get a face embedded with teeth as his mother try to rip his eyes off while an oblivious Mikau got distracted chasing after a butterfly fish (his parents just HAD to scare the candyman away did they?). These people, from what he had learned in school and story books, are aquatic humans who were once the sons of men on land, but had adapted and evolved for a marine lifestyle after being abandon at sea and later adopted by Zoras during their infancy. Alas, regardless of their watery habitats and fairly good relations with his race, they are still humans none the less, and like all such humans, they have an ego bigger then their fully developed brains, and are greedy creatures. Mers will often work and sometimes even claim their terrestrial cousins as mates, making them a race the Zoran Heroes had taken especially great precaution of.
As the little Sea Deity peak under a chewed up Shell Blade fragment and turned it in his hand, the marble like innards catching sight of his tiny snowy face, a shrill rattling sound rose from the back of the room, echoing off the hollow walls. He instinctively jolted, the spines of his fins protruding as his small tail flag in alarm. Beneath his body paint, the Sapphires ignited, feeling hot and fierce as it vibrated madly, as if ready for action. Lulu had the upper half of her body duck into one of the crates, her kicking flippers sending wavering rings of cool currents in his direction as she chime excitedly during her preoccupied agenda.
"Meep!" Mikau squeaked, flashing his fins desperately as his try to garner her attention.
"Meep!" Lulu echoed, more cheery and up beat as she bop her head about. "What's up Mikki?"
"Do you hear that? Because I did. Sounds like a meanie afoot! Stay calm!"
"Oh?"
Beady, ruby like eyes gleam in the pitch black darkness in the further ends of the room, wisp of red swirling forth from them as if they were liquid flames. The frightful gaze stare straight at the Zoran Hero out in the open, locking onto his own sapphire ones. The eyes seem to study him, scanning his tiny frame, and as soon as it set its sights on the dim white glow in which it concealed a vibrate blue and gold, its eyes grew hungrier.
"Go away!" Mikau yelp, trying to sound bold. But every fiber in his being is telling him to swim as fast as he can, back to the safety of his room where his can hide under his blankets for the rest of the evening. Lulu grew alarm at the sight not far before her, realizing that she might get struck first. Her voice cracked as she try to speak, her fins were stiffer than stone, and her eyes were wild with fear. Lulu darted over to Mikau's side hurriedly, nudging him to the door. The guppies back away from the animal's line of sight, hoping that it will leave them be if they did not act like prey.
"What is that?!" she wailed, panic stricken as the tiny red orbs bobs about while it observes them. The wavering tendrils highlighted the movements of the eyes as they trail along like bloodied sea snakes bleeding their life force away into the darkness. They blink, delightfully alarm by the presence of second guppy in the midst of the gloom, and bone shattering rattles quake the surrounding water, sending ripples in their way.
"Must be a grumpy skullfish here to bully us! My big brother told me all about them. They don't eat Zoras, but they like to bite them and make those funny sound. But Zoras eat them! So let's look mean so it can leave us alone."
"Gotcha!" With a newfound courage, Lulu puff her chest and glare hard at the intrusive beast, pulling her meanest look she can muster. Mikau responded in similar fashion, instinctively shielding her with his small frame, barely bigger then her. His fins spread out to keep her guarded, his spines pulsing with blazing hot venom ready to impale his possible attacker. Despite his fear, a part of him grew excitement of a heroic display, eager to strike first to demonstrate his proud heritage to his foreign friend.
A hideously disfigured structured of a large skeletal fish suddenly shot straight for the guppies from the darkness it dwell in, its dislocated jaw unhinging only to quickly snap back in place wildly in rapid scissoring motions. Deep, deathly pits of darkness held its tiny eyes in place, blacker then the darken reaches of the room from wench it spawned from. Its spiny body were constructed entirely of spiked, bony sharp ridges shooting out from its slender frame like harpoons ready to burst from their host. Its fins were tattered and clawed with similar protrusion, water breezing through the nicks in the membrane as it slice through with a trail of currents flashing behind them. Despite being nothing more then a skeleton, its bones were robust and shine with a ghostly hue in the mist of the gloom that ceased to cloak its unholy appearance. Its fangs oozed the same slimy substance the pups presume to belong to the colorful mollusk in which they sought, the thick spattering drool draping heavily as they smear nearby surfaces. The gunk reeked of decay, encapsulating the creature's fangs in a coat of harmful bacteria.
It was nothing at all like the nuisance Skullfishes Mikau's fellow Zoras would eat for much required calcium and a form of pest control.
Mikau and Lulu screech in wild eye terror and bolted straight for the hall, their fins pumping so hard that they blurred in the stirring waters that rapidly swish and pull at them. The giant, spiny edged skull fish creature calculated their intentions and rush over the fleeing guppies. Surprise, the pups spread their fins to break as the skeletal beast ram its body onto the door and push it forcefully shut with a loud, clinging slam that vibrated across the ship. The trembling guppies back away timidly as the monster turned its bloody gaze to them, tendrils of reds swirling mystically from its eyes as it trailed after its every movements. It almost seem to grin at them, gnashing its fangs as its slowly advance to their direction.
"Eep! We have to do something Mikki! Its going to eat us." Lulu wailed as she cowered behind her friend.
Mikau took a glance back at the startled Malletila guppy crouched behind him, her body shivering as she covered her lovely magenta eyes behind her tiny webbed hands. Distortions of sleek oily colors transcend across her trembling milky bluish form like the disturbed surface of an otherwise serene pond, her sun kissed scales shimmering with flashes of flecks of pure amber light. Something in the back of his self conscious snap, and with a sudden bout of courage, the young guppy turn to face the abomination responsible for his friend's distress.
He felt his precious sapphire emblem started to gleam brighter, the light of the jewel now radiating dully from beneath the chipping coating of body paint. Its pure and holy aurora wrath the water surrounding them in what felt like an invisible bubble and stroke her cheek with tender warmth, the misty golden threads entwining with tendrils as blue as Nayru's eyes. They were whispering hushed melodies in the frighten Zora's consciousness, it almost felt alive in a sense. Lulu peered from her silk like webbing and marvel in shock curiosity at the wavering strings of their race's sacred emblem. It illuminated a soft, heavenly light that chased away the creeping darkness that dare advances towards the hapless youth, and with a bout of shock, it seem to activate her own little secret that she must've speak of to another soul, not even to her family aside from her parents and sagely grandfather.
The monster stared at the display before it, mystify by the wondrous light that danced and fleeted about the reflection of its soulless, bloody eyes. It was so lovely. So pure. And all the more reason to commence its next assault, its spines bristling and jaw unhinging.
The sapphire seem to had fueled Mikau's young spirit, for his next respond were that of such courage and foolishness that it froze the young Dame with a new dose of worry.
"Don't worry Lulu! I protect you!"
Before the little female could respond to his bold statement, Mikau torpedoed straight into the monster before them, her fan like fins flaring in surprise as she squeaked at him to stop his assault. The startled skullfish did a double take and blink in disbelief, turning tail quickly to dodge the sudden attack. Surely this tiny youngster wouldn't so recklessly throw himself in the face of danger itself, would he?
With a squeaky war cry, the young Sea Deity felt his little fangs connecting to the retreating creature's flexible spinal cord, his teeth puncturing tiny holes in the bones. The monster let out a inaudible screech of pain and thrush its head in every which way, shooting itself to the wall with the broken window in hopes of dislodging the pester some guppy. Mikau held on for dear life, his sapphire symbols blooming with such impossible intensity that may as well be transmitted into his fiery spirit. Lulu gawk in amazement as the guppy release his iron hold of the giant skullfish seconds before it ram its sides to the metal, its bones shuddering painfully from fang to tail. Mikau's snow white body somersaulted back into the furniture, bouncing off dizzily as he became suspended in the water. The bony monster withered pathetically before him, unable to voice its misfortune as it lacks any vocal cord, so it pants, its eyes shrinking ominously.
"Yeah...take that!" boasted the tiny pup, holding his head high with authority. Lulu rush to his side as the creature spazzed and sputter before them, the light of the day only providing more discomfort as it burned its eyes.
Lulu beam with a sudden impressed gasp, excitement shaking her flapping fins as she helped Mikau steady himself in the water by supporting his weight with her own body. "Wow! How you do that? I wanna do that too! What's yer secret? And wow, you glowing too! I thought grown up Zoran Heroes have pretty lights...Neat!"
The young Sea Deity couldn't help but exchange a baffle gaze in her direction for her last statement. But all the while, he had commence yet another good deed, and that made himself feel extraordinary. First, saving Japas from a pack of derange, feral dogfishes in the dark alleyways of downtown Syloannika, and now protecting Lulu from this nasty Skullfish with a bad temper and horrible breath. He loom mightily over her, pride swelling up in his heart at her impressed expressions. "I saw my Daddy do that once when my pack were hunting scary giant squids! Its a cool trick that all Zoras do to take down big game, he says!"
"Oooo! I should try that!"
The great skeletal beast abruptly lunge, whipping its flexible spine in a fluid downward arch. The tail connected with the guppies, smacking them forcefully towards the floor. The room winded and churned in looping spirals, the details hurriedly blurring into smudges of browns and grays that soon melted into the blacken storage room. A cloud of soot and silt puffed into dusty cloak around the disorientated guppies, and the glare of the Din's rays biting hotly into their eyes. The little ones rubbed the irritation away and were soon in a staring match with the monster above them, its wicked eyes boring into their wildest imaginations. Mikau and Lulu scramble to their flippers and stood their guard, the former ready to spring for the exit should it charge them again. The scalding blaze of the outside world spotlighted them before its presence, the particles dancing in the welcoming warmth around the pups.
"We not scared of you!" Mikau squeaked mightily, sticking his cyan tongue out as added insult to the ugly beast's injuries. The monster seem to had jeered at him in a fit of wild eyed anger at the offensive gesture as it rattle its bones in what appear to be a type of war dance. "You are just grumpy because you jelly of our adventure!"
It merely stare in silence as it pants its mouth quietly, its dead eyes seemingly holding a sense of disdain for the annoying guppy. Then it open its strong bony maws, the lower jaw loosely hinging far back in a silence scream that tremble its spindly body. Then it slowly loom closer to the pups, it tail pushing its gangling, ghostly form ever so closer. Its spinal cord slid smoothly against each socket, which eroded the ends of each bone into neat grooves as it fluidly glide through the water. Its silvery fangs caught the feeble light of Mikau's cloaked sapphire, tinging it shining copper with hints of speckled blue.
A cold gust of underwater currents whooshed in from the shattered window, swirling the water in tight balls of vortexes. The pups heard the unmistakable clattering of an angry Shell Blade as it squirts burst of water that reach into the storage room. The giant creature paid no head to the disturbances, and thrust itself forward mouth scissoring madly. The guppies panicked and scramble away, with Mikau tripping on a rustic crowbar that lay conceal in the cloak of fine sediments. With his pectoral fins pulsing wildly to regain his buoyancy, the Zoran Hero accidentally graze the passing offender's dusty cheek bone with his sharp venomous spine extended as it was dangerously close to him. It shuddered violently with intense agony as the toxins burned into its nervous system, before it angrily arch its neck with clumsy reflexes, its mouth ready to snip him in retaliation. Mikau bolted for dear life, his bravery quickly evaporating as wild panic drove him into a flailing escape. He roll into the shadows of the toppled crates and carriers and lay flat on his white belly, his eyes nothing but pools of blue light with his jeweled fins pulsing with intensity. He refuse to leave through the window, not while Lulu still remained in the room with the crazy skull fish with serious temper tantrums. The undead beast slam its bony cranium in every which way, chaotically bashing the intrusive obstacles out of its way as it snapped it jaws crazily in a rapid scissoring sessions. The water around the beast foamed with globs of bubbling slime as it edge its way closer. Mikau back further into the darkness, too terrified to dart overhead for freedom.
But in spite of his predicament, he never screamed, nor did he cry for Lulu's help. A part of his spirit flared valiantly; he felt the blood of Zoran Heroes accelerating into a raging river of fury. Generations of warriors, samurais, assassins, and ancestral Sea Deities all coarse through his body, and it fed to his growing spirit more and more as the creature edge closer and closer. His sapphires bloom so strongly now, it nearly became a scalding glare beneath their armor of body paint. Fear was both an ally and the enemy in these situations. He will not give in the deceiving hope panic could bestow upon the weak minded. He's a Zoran Hero! He must let the meanie know that his scary behavior is not appropriate. After all, he'd seen his fellow Zoras fought more powerful beasts in his short life. Surely he can prove himself by using this bully as an example?
His small back bump into something that made him whorl around with a startled yelp, but soon saw it to be another pet carrier with it barred door still intact to its rusted hinges. Its door hung widely open, yawning a welcome for him. The Skullfish finally broke through the barrier of crates lunge for him, panting excitedly. Mikau tumble backward and felt the fish miscalculate its aim and instead resorted to bumping him right into the crate.
"Meep! Owie! Dumb meanie-head!"
A shrill clang rung across the storage room as the thrashing Skullfish slam the cage door shut in its confusion. Lulu de Second peered out from her hiding spot in the cabinets to find the dumb creature bashing its own head against the floor in puzzled anger. Outraged that it lost sight of the pup, it circle around the room rattling its spinal cords and needled fangs in an almost panicked manner. It looked at the door in which it was left ajar, and in erratic jerks dash around the room without rest.
Mikau tentatively pry open the metal door to his cage, carefully not to bring attention unto him. But the old hinges creaked with decades of neglect, scratching into his inner ears painfully. The monster stop its fretting and snapped it head towards him. In a rush of un-contained excitement, the Skullfish torpedoed straight for the male guppy, and Mikau quickly slap the door to his hiding place shut with a vibration of screeches reverberating his enclosure. The cage suddenly jerked upward as the vile creature ram it. As it sank back down, the Skullfish hooked its teeth through the bars of the carrier, tugging its body back as it proceeds to rip the latch open, or so it seems. It scrap the scratchy floor and provoked a wholly storm of plumes to choke out his attacker's spindly structure, inching ever so closer to the door.
Mikau remain at the far back of his cage, all of his fins becoming rigid. He stared intently into the bony maws of the beast and focus hard, suppressing his fears. Then, as the only barrier between him and the monster began to twist and bend, he leap forward and swiped tiny claws at any scrap of the bony surface he can come into contact. A series of blue spears spiked into the Skullfish's hinges that connects the lower jaw to its cheekbone, and the thing let go it convulsing pain. It then continued its assault onto the cage, but each time Mikau retaliated with bold rushes which set the creature back in silence whimpers. The light of his sapphire flared as bright as Din's beams of cascading golds with each attack, and his blood pumped with eons worth of some of the greatest heroes in all of Termina. Mikau felt a radiant energy rushing to the centerpiece of his bejeweled fins, as if his very ancestors are lending him their strengths.
The freakish abomination glare in bewilderment at the courageous pup who stood his ground. What is this? What kind of guppy doesn't scream in traumatizing terror when attacked by the likes of it? It suddenly grew skittish yet again, pacing the room noisily as whorls of water spirals into swirling vortexes around its spiny candual tail. The light from Mikau's sapphire made it even more fearful, each of its bones clattering. The more the sapphire's presence made itself known, the more it freaked out. That, and with it sensing a sudden disturbance shrouding over the shipwreck, the unmistakable sensation of a larger Zoran shark, its terror escalated with agonizing momentum.
The guppies watch in curiosity now as the bloody orbs that made up its eyes seem to almost roll back into its skull, and with a strange presence that loom in the water, it gave Mikau one last mournful look before shooting through the broken window as if it were a spiky arrow, its fleeting frame instantly devoured by the veiling mist.
It took the guppies a moment to breathe, a moment to move from their spot of safety. Mikau finally willed himself to free himself from the secure clutches of his sanctuary, shaking his loose fins as he stretch the venomous spines. He look around the room with a wildly beating heart, but lessons from his mother taught him to take deep gulps of water to fully recollect his state of mind. The Sea Deity stood in place, contemplating on the turn of events and how lucky he and Lulu had been to survive and tell their epic story of triumph. But for reasons that goes beyond his better judgement, he was vaguely disappointed with the creature's departure...It was indeed odd, and he couldn't understand why he'd prefer the presence of such a vile beast to last a little longer when it was clearly trying to gobble him up despite its lack of a stomach. Was it so he can defeat it in front of Lulu and prove his point that he can protect her? Was it to make his parents proud by bringing home his first trophy, a tradition practice by Zoras who swiftly killed their first prey? Although he was scared for his life, (and pretty irresponsible, though he will never admit that), he cannot stand to know that it just up and left like that. Especially in the midst of his grand "battle".
And then the familiar image of the weeping silvery strings resonant deep in the bouts of his consciences, and now he fully understood his unusual disappointment.
Lulu tentatively pull herself out of the cupboards and the stale metallic taste of the musty water reach into the roof of her mouth and roiling down the back of her throat like irking oil. She wrinkle her snout in displeasure, never getting use to the foul tasting water in an otherwise pristine ecosystem, and she felt herself feeling daze. She gently glide her way towards Mikau in shaky maneuver, the little guppy in question looking quite rattled from what they sure was his near doomed experience. The tiny female guppy landed quietly next to the young Sea Deity and disturbed the loosely packed sediments that stormed up around their lower half of their bodies. A nuzzling nudged to his upper jaw spoke of meek reassuring, small broken clicks in between shaky whistles and distorted chirps grazing her vocal cords. It took the disturbed male a moment to register that something was rubbing against his wintry cheek, and with a jolt of surprise was sent cowering back into his cage in a flash, flailing his fins wildly. His shimmering pools of blue locked eyes with athemyst pearls of soft light, and a moment in time had seemingly slowed for the pair. Nothing in the room seem in order as it fade away into the nothingness, and the little ones remain fixated on a silence that speaks in volumes. Mikau hadn't even taken notice of his friend closing their distance; she wrap her arms around herself as she continues to speak in the aquatic tongue of sea life. Soon, the young Malletila Zora was a mere inches from the pet carrier and she reach out a hand for him. Mikau did not hesitate to grab onto it and let himself be pull out of hiding.
Their lateral lines picked up the disturbance again as he was encourage from out of his crate, the activities of a roaming Zoran Hero drawing ever closer to their location. They could sense that it was a huge Zora; not as large as Mikau's father, but defiantly a powerful full grown bull. They heard him made soft whistling sounds that did not form any distinct syllables. It was the type of call one does to summon a loyal pet to their side, a call that domesticated or tamed animals delighted to received from their favorite masters. Although Lulu is still unfamiliar with the citizens of the deep, Mikau sensed an air of unfamiliarity from the approaching male, and concluded a plausible theory.
"Stranger Danger...Swim away..." It ranged nosily in the back of his head, yet they were oddly quiet voices yelling at him to flee from his own kind. Wait...voices? He didn't remember hearing such tones in his lifetime so far. They felt distant and strange, yet familiar and near. They seemed to ring in from an unknown ethereal of existence, like a time long since past, older then the antiquity that is the Ikanaian Empire even. The language he heard were true Nayran, the ancient predecessor of modern day Zoran, and a tongue his people still use exclusively among themselves. But unlike today's Nayran with adopted words and characters from the more commonly spoken Zoran, this Nayran felt pure and untainted, the owners of surreal voices are as if they had once grace these brilliant seas an eternity ago.
A bout but silent cry fractured the sooty mist that accumulated around the pair like a cyclone disturbance. Lulu gave a confused squeak accompanied by a perplexed expression as Mikau grabbed her hand into his. He bent down and frantically ruffle up the grainy sediment as the floor suddenly belch up its contents to clear the way for him. Mikau scanned the floor quickly until his eyes detected the weak pulse of light shinning off a rustic object. He hurriedly picked up the brass key, knowing full well how persistent his mother is about her odd collection of antique human wares. She'll immediately question him about its whereabouts due to his antics of sneaking off with her weird stuff, and the last thing he needs as of now is to get in trouble on top on top of the frightening experience he had endure. With the prehistoric relic now back in his possession, Mikau tug Lulu along as he swiftly escorted out through the shattered window, disappearing into the feathery brush of the deep sea forest.
Not a moment too soon, the door protested as a scarlet Sylovaakien Zora gradually pressed his broad shoulder against the ailing surface, repulsed by the silence that introduce itself to him. His sensory system that ran from his snout all along his blood soaked scales were previously overloaded with fascinating tidbits of two guppies tangoing with his Desbresko, the skeletal Alpha of the skullfish species. But the adrenaline of the encounter suddenly went cold, and now he lost track of the youngster he desired along with his loyal, but albeit very infuriating, "pet". He pulled his mouth back in a toothy leer as he spied the smashed window with hatred as it seem to taunt him over to its heavenly rays that bloom from the illuminated sea. 'Of coarse those bloody teenagers had to brake in to the ship and vandalize it the previous night.' He thought himself bitterly as he gave a wolfish snarl.
He shook his rose tinted head in disbelief, lifting a claw to gingerly caress the peeling scales that prickled loose from a freshly hideous gash to his lower jaw. Like delicate rose petals, the red flakes twiddle and twirl as they popped loose from the raw skin, suspended by the weak current that spun the gleaming petals into a ballad. But Zobens, agitated by his plot being foiled somehow, paid no heed to the innocent dance his scales are blessing him with, and instead proceed to try to ignore the stinging pain in efforts of concentrating. Kiva had put up quiet the fight last night; tearing right into his right jaw and nearly dislodging it before Zobens can properly due him away. The little git was a embarrassing excuse of a Zoran Hero; meek, clumsy, awkward, and a full blown momma's boy who always had difficulty fighting. He wasn't one to inflict violence on another Zora, so it came as an insult to Zobens that the younger Sylovaakien Zora (if he can call him that) had dealt a nasty blow to his face and ego.
But its not as offensive as the guppies' sudden escape.
"So, I reckon your flawless plot didn't end well?" It was a telepathic voice, echoing from the back of his mind as the transmitted message gave way to the vibration waves behind him. A lithe frame of a Longfinned Mako Shark causally slid his way out of the small dark space as if he had materialize from the black water. He was stretching his aching limbs as his fin-tips rustle the loose sediments into a wildly dancing mist around him, the fine particles clinging to the nooks of his reflective scales tauntingly as it conceal his radiant form. The animal was strikingly beautiful, bejewel with rose colored scales not unlike Zobens that dazzled like melted rubies having been smeared across his lean body, polished into a iridescent finish. With the exception of his lunate tail, the shark's fins curled inward and out around the edges into fine velvety grooves, giving off the illusion of rose petals that served as his ruffled appendages. His darker shades of markings matches Zobens's distinctive rosettes, layered with petal-like vines that snaked into thorny waves of violet streaked with bangs of white. He look at Zobens in the eyes with his own cynical pearls that swam in mystic hues of white, with a silvery blue adularescent . It was as if the eyes were made of moonstones.
"No. It appears that despite his age, the little Sea Deity is surprisingly capable of handling these situations. Most guppies would have been bawling wildly at such an encounter, and yet I did not hear any panicked screams from him; only the whimpers of that Malletila pup."
"Well, he is a descendant of the chosen heroes of old, whom were members of the elite 'Terminian Guardian' forces. You know very well the stories of how much significant the purified bloodlines have to the success of the chosen ones of each race."
"The problem lies in which he shares his blood with those traitors that defied the late Queen and ultimately killed our last ruler thousands of years ago. And now, ages later, they multiply and spread their influence onto the rest of the ocean with a false history, as if they are the heroes and Queen Lerala was the primary villian. He is anything but pure. This feels more akin to a cruel prank on Nayru's part to mock our people's bloodline after all we did in her service. She's giving power to a Zora with false purity."
"Zobens, you still go by what Adelar instilled onto your mind? Its been 700,000 years since those days; most of modern day Termina had long since abandon monarchy, of them being the Zora race. Adelar, like the rest of his nutcase family, are seething mad and grudgeful about the ordeal; he is, by default, a direct descendant of the Queen herself. Logically speaking, if those Zoras of the past haven't dethrone her, her traditions would still translate to today's society because of the family's refusal to give up monarchy and he would've been crowned king. Its old news that shouldn't concern you. Sea Deities had nothing to do with the bullshit his family obsesses over. Get over it."
"You sure love berating any and all my attempts of redemption so long as they involve Adelar, do you?"
"Because he was fool. There's no credibility to a criminal who is nothing more that a delusional hypocrite."
"Well, no matter," the red Zora gave a toothy chuckle as he extended his large, broad fins. They seem even more reminiscence to rose petals then his scales, having a similar appearance to the actual plant's velvety leaves. "Say what you wish. I'll meanwhile continue my observation on the guppy and snare him when the opportunity arises."
"And may I ask who is this 'guppy' who speak of, Zobens?"
Zobens's normally warm blood sudden crystallized into slurry streams of ice, the prickling shards spearing at his now frantic heart. His shark seem to almost psychically yelp and choked on the very water he was breathing, eyes rolling back in terror. The scarlet Zora turn around to face the broad chest of another, larger Sylovaakien Zora.
The Zoran Hero was of the largest breed, a lovely lavender beast with beautiful violent spirals dappled with gold. The various amount of purple shades that bled across his lean body almost made Zobens want to vomit for how disgustingly obnoxious the over saturation of the color was. Then again, purple is his least favorite color...The new Zora's semi-translucent fins rippled with soft groves that almost looked fan like. For some ungodly reason, these deadly and regal fins were a soft purplish-pinkish color, which on its own tormented Zobens greatly. Unlike most Zoran Heroes whose fins were stationed at the base of their lower arms and flare out menacingly, the appendages of this Zora ran up its entire limbs before fanning out and tilting upwards near the shoulders. This, however, replace the maneuverability needed to demonstrate proper body language, sacrificing such in favor of a permanent intimidation. The Zora wore two golden armbands on each wrists marked with the insignia of the Sylovaakien's private sapphire, signifying his status as of member of the guards.
"What are you doing here? This is my ship!" Zobens nearly wail, ready to stab his claws into the lavender Zora's throat. "I meant, my temporary rest stop..."
"No, the real question here is this; what are YOU doing here? You know you are no longer welcomed back to these sacred waters, you criminal!"
"I'm aware of that, and I'm ashamed of my trespassing, but please understand I came here to briefly rest. This is merely a temporary residence I've taken up. I needed to cross over these seas to reach the central part of the Ocean Realm. Towards my destination of Shark City. This is the only route I know of to get there. I'm not stalking anyone if that's what you believe."
As expected, the larger bull gave him a cynical look that clearly demonstrate that he isn't falling for Zobens's phony lies. He crosses his powerful arms over his harden chest, the muscles rippling to his actions. "Then what's this pup you speak of? You sound unusually fond of guppies all of a sudden, considering you use to always berate them and threaten their families."
"Those are nothing but petty assumptions spread around by misinformed Zoras..."
"Assumptions you say?"
"Its none of your business, peasant!"
"None of my business? You're telling me the idea of you stalking little Zoralings is 'none of my business'? Perhaps you can explain your sudden fascination of guppies to Sir Nicoda. I'm sure he'll be more then delighted to hear of your confessions and violations of returning. Wouldn't you say, Kadreal?"
"Yesss..." A mako shark of similar coloring to his Zoran counterpart slithered up from the shadows, his heavily scarred body ricocheting in blistering flashes of angry reds. He eyed the scarlet mako duo with disdain, his damaged left eye permanently rolled back from years of combat and endless abuse at the fins of their sworn enemies, the Gyorgs. It was thanks to his Zoran comrade here that he had been given a second chance of life. "Ruuna would especially be thrilled to see her mentor again after all these decades. I think its almost poetic in a sick, demented way; watching you two finally getting the deaths you deserve at the claws of the very Zora you interned."
"I feel like I'm going to die..." the scarlet shark whimper pathetically. The lavender shark next to the enforcer snarled a response and rush over to flash a bite at his cowering target's flank, earning a pained yelp from the frightened animal.
"Hey!" Zobens growl, reaching out to hit the offending animal. "That's my shark! Leave him alone!"
The scarlet mako slapped his attacker away with his lunate tail before bolting off and out the window, crying for Nayru to save him from his misfortune.
The purple Zora pointed straight at the exit and commanded his partner. "Follow him, Kadreal!"
Obeying his orders, the battered shark Kadreal torpedoed out of the shipwreck and into the golden expanse of sea, disappearing in a fraction of a second as his pectoral fins exploded into a double edged swords.
The lavender Zora approach Zobens with a deliberate slow pace, kicking himself off the sooty floor and encircling his target in a classic shark like prowling. Zobens kept his eyes on him at all times, looking for an opportunity to strike his tormentor down. Fins grew rigid and sharp, shining off what little reflected light filter into the gloomy dark room. Shadows grew, and each time Zobens's opponent swam within range of the darkness, these shadows swallowed the officer whole, and only his amethyst eyes and blinking markings gave away his element of surprise. Zobens readied himself for the inevitable, when a new sensation tickled his electro-receptors that buzzed in his snout. A dreaded sensation he wished to not engage with at the time.
"Nerar, is everything all right in there?" The voice gave a sonorous boom as it pound the walls of the vessel, trembling the loose soot off the nooks of the wall to convulse into thick ashen plumes. There is no mistaking that deep, thunderous tone that rattled their cartilaginous skeletons.
Alpha Nicoda has arrived.
Without warning, Zobens dashed straight out of the room the same way his shark had done, and disappear in a blinding flash of hot white. A wild cry shrilled from the now dubbed Nerar, sounding out a deep whale like bellow that alerted every Sylovakkien within the perimeter. He exited out the window, pumping his unique wing like fins as he went. Tendrils of sizzling light glittered into a crackling display behind him as they secrete from his luminous printings. He was quickly being follow by Nicoda, who skillfully shot straight out of the shipwreck like oncoming war jet ready to set loose its assault. His leader's eye looked eager to take out the perpetrator as he took the front position. The Alpha male flared various complicating signals through his forest green markings as more Zoras join the hunt, each one responding accordingly either through repositioning themselves into a fleet or cutting from the group to heard their target towards them. The adrenaline course through their veins, their colors pulsing excitedly. They picked up a scent trail, an all too familiar scent that evoke the warriors to pressed harder in the chase. Their eyes were locked, their swords catching the golden fury of the Goddess of Power as the waves grew with ferocity, chanting a booming war cry as they leap for the celestial ocean beyond the expansive dome that made up their sky.
The hunt is on.
All done. Now I'm going to work on the next segment of my second tale, Wild Sapphire. I will upload short stories and one shots from time to time to help ease out the wait that goes with chapter writing. Hopefully it provides entertainment for those who are eager to read something during the waiting process.
Short Notice: For news updates in relations to my stories, please check in on my DeviantART page under the username "Nayrus-Wishes" once in a while. I keep my watchers up to date with regular updates concerning my Fanfiction as well as future plans. My profile won't update for some reason, so please take moment to read a journal entry to get news of my works on the site. :3
