Chapter 3: Spiraling into the Ocean Blue
Out on the seas of the Yokai World one late, stormy night, two yokai were out on the sea in a small yet comfortable yacht, making sure there wasn't any danger aside from the ongoing storm.
"Rabby my gal, as much as I fare for the sea, it's kinda boring when it's just the two of us doing watch duty." Sailornyan talked to her partner in crime on sea, Snow Rabby. "Why can't I, I dunno, fight evil by moonlight or something fun like that? At least I don't ever run from a real fight, either."
"I wish I could help, but there hasn't been any sort of unnatural balances yet." Snow Rabby commented. "Well, at least that requires us, Lie-in Heart, Kagemura and the whoever else we have to go all out on sea."
"Have you been having adventures without me, because I can tell you some stuff I've been doing off duty, with all my fellow felines." Sailornyan said, perking up to hear what Snow Rabby had been doing.
"Well, from what I can recall from what the...dramatic and sentai enthused summoner had told me, she's looking for an ancient treasure, split into five crystal shards. However, it seems heroes from Super Seed are either trying to claim it before her, or it's all just really odd coincidences." Snow Rabby explained. "I didn't get the full story, she summoned me and Kagemura to deal with some nonsense and then tried her best to catch me up."
"Woah, first Tempest Pride being not on the moral high ground, now Super Seed? What's going on with those heroes!? Unless your summoner is a crazy treasure hunting rouge, like that one eyed charming guy constantly in the shadows." Sailornyan asked, shocked to hear what Snow Rabby was saying.
"Though I'm not sure about the summoner herself. She's quite enthused about being on the side of good. Anyways, enough moral grey areas, how about you, Sailornyan?" Snow Rabby shrugged, before going into asking Sailornyan.
"I'm glad you asked. Well I was meeting with my fellow nyans to open that new theme park off the coast, but I then got into a super heated argument with Nyanmajo quite literally. But that isn't all, I found this really nice looking lily flower and I gave it to the kid who helped me. Turns out he knocked out, right then and right there, and it apparently caused him to have a really weird dream or something. I dunno what even went down entirely, it was kinda freaky." Sailornyan explained to her comrade. "But on a lighter note, once all the preparations are complete, I should be the nyan of the year to open the park!"
"Oh my, that sounds like quite a lot..." Snow Rabby responded, intrigued by what Sailornyan was doing. "But congratulations on that title, you've earned it!"
Quickly, the snow rabbit's ear's perked up as she noticed something.
"Sailornyan, I think I see something washed up on shore and it looks...Alive!?" Snow Rabby said, Sailornyan looking surprised.
"What!? Something alive on these shores!?" Sailornyan replied. "But the seas are rough and stormy, you sure we can do this?"
"I'm positive." Snow Rabby said, taking wheel of their little yacht. "Now let's go now!"
By some miracle, Snow Rabby was able to navigate their ways to the stormy shores to locate the odd thing that washed up ashore.
It was a tricky thing to identify in full given the poor lighting of the night and stormy weather, but whatever it was, it was thankfully breathing.
"I'll take this lil guy back to base, he probably needs to be cleaned up and integrated." Snow Rabby said, slinging over the unknown yokai over her shoulders.
"Gotcha, I'll head back up to base as well." Sailornyan said. "I need to get some beauty rest again, Hovernyan wants me to check on that kid again to be sure he's doing alright."
The two ladies shambled back into base, to investigate whatever the heck just came from the deep ocean blue this stormy night...
The next day, things seemed to have been going better for Lucas and company. For one thing, there was a significant lack of passing out over as much as touching certain types of flowers. Though, this still begged the question for the child.
"Umm, father?" Lucas asked, catching his father before he went off to work.
"Lucas kid, what happened to you yesterday? I was worried about you, so is something still the matter?" His father responded, despite his gruffness, was caring and understanding for his child.
"About that, I touched a lily flower and I saw this woman named Yami before I came to, do you know her by chance?" Lucas questioned, his father's eyes looking shocked for once.
"Yami?" The boy's father began, looking into deep thought. "Never really heard that name before...Dunno what's been going on with ya kid..."
After a good period of awkward silence, a nearby window was unceremoniously opened.
"Ah yes hello Flint Irkalla, was it? I'm just here to speak with your son." Sailornyan said, peeking through the window. Lucas' father, Flint, didn't seem to notice the feline. Sailornyan looked over at Lucas.
"This is your cue to conveniently have to leave!" Sailornyan beckoned forth, waving over one of her paws.
"Oh umm, let me go close that window. " Lucas said, taking it as his cue to leave to see what on earth Sailornyan wanted. Thankfully Flint didn't seem to mind, almost as if he could see the pink cat yokai as well.
Once outside, Sailornyan looked up at the black haired child.
"Sailornyan, that was kind of awkward..." Lucas spoke to the pink feline. "A-Anyways, what did you need exactly?"
"Oh nothing too dangerous or severe, I was here to check to see if you were doing alright, but also there's a little something up you know?" Sailornyan informed, waving her paws a bit.
"I'm fine thankfully, I don't know what happened the other day..." Lucas responded quietly, Sailornyan leaning in closer.
"None of us do, it's a hard riddle to fiddle." Sailornyan commented back with a shrug. "But that's besides the point. We can worry about that crazy flower weird stuff later, what matters is what's going on my end."
Sailornyan looked around, taking the kid by the hand.
"Well it's hard to explain here, but lucky for you I got a one way ticket to my base of operations at the Yokai World!"
"Wait already!?" Lucas yelped. "To me it feels too early to be treading over there!?"
"Nah, it's never to early to go to the Yokai World." Sailornyan said, leading the way. "Now come on now, we can't miss the train."
After a bit of forceful dragging along for the ride, Sailornyan had lead the way to the local train station. This didn't seem too extravagant at first.
"This is a little less cramped than some elevator. Can't you believe that was our mode of transportation to the human world before the council finally decided to give us a few train lines!?" Sailornyan went on, digging around for a small train pass.
"You sure this is safe? I mean, I don't know where Venoct and Draggie went, let alone they know where I am..."
"Oh no problem kid. They're probably a bit preoccupied. Like...I dunno, Venoct's probably...in a hot tub...sitting 5 feet away from some other yokai because he isn't-" Sailornyan tried to say, only to be gently prodded by a cyan dragon head.
"Ahem, I for one do not appreciate such falsehoods." Venoct said, entering into the scene nonetheless. "Before you ask, I followed you all here. I'm not one for the sole heir to scamper off."
"Gee, who knew you were this kid's aggressive nanny?" Sailornyan commented, placing her train pass on the scanner. With the scanning of said pass, the station shifted scenery, lacking in any humans that were aware of yokai and had much more of a bizarre, yokai look.
Without much added fanfare, the train to the peaceful yet dazzling island city of Yokinawa. Sure the train itself was decked out to look rather, well, intimidating of that of an oni, but it was the ticket to the yokai world.
"Anyways, Yokinawa is a little less...how you say...flashy than somewhere like New Yoma City. Plus it's close to the sea, which me and my team know quite well." Sailornyan explained, the train ride seeming nothing to her at this point. "You hear a bunch of crazy stories about the sea in Yokinawa as well."
"Crazy stories, like what?" Venoct asked, raising a brow.
"Well this story I heard long ago, but legends say there's a fabled kingdom under the eastern sea, being the home to things like mermaids and dragons under the peaceful rule of Otohime. Though, some stories say it was destroyed by some horrifying multi headed eel dragon thing named Watasumi." Sailornyan told with a shrug. "Anyways, we should be getting back to base of operations soon."
Soon enough, the gang were dropped off from the station and Sailornyan lead them into her base of operations in what looked like a nice beach villa.
"Apologies for leaving so long, but I brought along some fellas who can help us unravel this nonsense we've discovered." Sailornyan said politely, opening the door. Sailornyan's operative partner, Snow Rabby, was conversing with a white lion with many tails at a table over some drinks.
"I see you've returned, Sailornyan." The lion yokai greeted. "It's glad to see you back, even if I'm one to usually bide time."
"Alright Snow Rabby, Lie-in Heart this is..." Sailornyan introduced, looking down at smudged writing on her paw before continuing. "...Venoct and Lucas."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Snow Rabby greeted. "It isn't usual that you find humans in the yokai world. How did you see yokai like us, I'm curious?"
"Actually...it's a long story..." Lucas added, a bit shy. "Mostly boils down to getting this watch and nearly getting killed or at least seriously harmed."
"Why would people target you like that?" Lie-in Heart asked, looking puzzled. Venoct stepped in with another sigh.
"That's an even longer story." Venoct added with his usual sighing. "Anyways, what was the emergency Sailornyan brought us over for?"
Sailornyan looked off a bit, before Snow Rabby and Lie-in Heart explained.
"A few nights ago, there was a horrific storm. Me and Sailornyan were on watch duty and well, a yokai was found washed up on the coast. Thankfully they were still alive, but not in the best condition." Snow Rabby explained. "Though, we should check on them today, to see if they're well enough to answer questions."
"Well Snow Rabby, lead em'." Sailornyan nudged to her rabbit partner in crime.
Of course, Snow Rabby agreed to her sassy pink partner, leading the guests over to a small room.
"Kagemura, is he doing okay?" Snow Rabby asked, as quite the shadowy figure looked back from the bedside.
"Yes, he's doing a lot better, perhaps you and your...guests can help with this child." The shadowy yokai, Kagemura, responded. "Even better that crazed summoner didn't summon me in the middle of any of the exams I was doing."
"That's nice, I don't think she's getting into any trouble requiring us." Snow Rabby respond playfully. "Well, aside from that time in the woods. That was...something."
"I'll leave the interviewing to you and your fellow guests. Yell for me if there's any medical attention required." Kagemura said, before leaving the room.
"Who was that?" Lucas asked, confused about the rather antisocial yokai.
"That was Dr. Kagemura, sort of our team's resident medical professional." Snow Rabby explained. "He isn't very social, and kind of grouchy at times. But his smile is really cute when he does."
Without much delay, the three walked into the roo. Snow Rabby leaned over to a sleepy lump covered in blankets.
"Hey little guy, are you feeling any better?" Snow Rabby asked, as the blanket covered lump quietly revealed itself.
This yokai revealed itself to quite shockingly, have a very strong resemblance to Venoct, same eye color, same hair color and style, with a few notable key differences. For once, his hair was a lot more wavier for starters, the dragons on his scarf looked less like dragons and more like moray eels, he looked a lot smaller, and he lacked the ever so brooding look for a much more enthused one. Even on his dresser was a little crown made of pearls and coral, with a sea star in the center. He quickly grabbed for it and put it on.
"Yes I'm feeling a little bit better..." The tiny Venoct look a like piped up, having the real one cock his head in confusion.
"Just...who are you?" Venoct asked, very startled by this child. "And why on earth do you look like me!?"
"I'm Seanoct, at least that's what I'm usually called..." Seanoct answered, tilting his head at the other. "Why do you look like me?"
An awkward moment of silence stemmed through the room, until Snow Rabby piped up to ask questions as she originally intended to.
"...Anyways, Seanoct, do you know why you were washed up on shore?" Snow Rabby asked, before the other looked a bit down.
"I dunno...I just remember something happened to my mama by one of her guards acting really odd..." Seanoct explained, looking more down. "I remember he got a lot of power and was able to fling me to the surface...And then I was here..."
"Just who are your parents?" Venoct asked the smaller yokai, completely and unceremoniously butting in.
"Uhhh...I only really have mama. I dunno why someone would want to attack her suddenly, she's the nicest person I know!" Seanoct responded, a bit saddened and confused.
Venoct was kind of silent, feeling kind of bad he made this random kid cry.
"I-I'm sorry that he asked you that..." Lucas shyly apologizing on behalf on Venoct.
"It's okay..." Seanoct muttered, before leaning out a bit to hug his grumpier lookalike. "...I forgive you."
"Don't fret yourself." Venoct added, trying to help the kid more. "I've dealt with weirder counterparts, like a blonde version of me who glowed and yelled about fighting Hardy Hound in the name of good vengeance. It was weird."
"So from my understanding, you lived under the sea and then something happened so you're on the surface now?" Snow Rabby asked. "Just who are you?"
"Ummm...a lot of people call me Sea Prince? I dunno if that's a real title or not..." Seanoct explained, shrugging a bit in bed.
"...Just how many royal families of yokai are out there?" Venoct asked, being confused.
"You sound weirded by that...Think some people called mama Otohime or something..." Seanoct quietly answered, causing the room to be more shocked.
"Otohime...Didn't Sailornyan mention her?" Lucas asked.
"I believe so, but she also mentioned the sea palace being wrecked by some horrifying sea monster by the name of Watasumi?" Venoct added in.
"No it was never destroyed, but...Oh no..." Seanoct began, before getting more and more worried.
"What's wrong?" Lucas asked the young sea prince with concern.
"I think whoever went after mama wanted to unleash Watasumi..." Seanoct piped up, not holding back on tears this time around. "I don't want anything like that to happen!"
"Of course nobody wants that to happen, that sounds horrific..." Snow Rabby added in, trying to hush the child.
"I wish I knew how to get back but...I'm not good with any kind of navigation..." Senoct sniffled, having calmed down only slightly.
"Well finding a sea kingdom only spoken in myths is going to be...troublesome..." Venoct muttered, as Seanoct looked around as he grabbed something from under his scarf. It was a decently sized aquamarine gemstone, seeming to have waves of the ocean in it move slowly.
"I know this is a key if I ever get lost...But I don't know how to use it or anything..." Seanoct piped up, calmer now, but just as distressed and confused.
There was a moment of silence, before something hit Snow Rabby.
"If you washed up on shore here, it couldn't have been too far. If I recall, the winds from that night were coming from the east..." Snow Rabby thought aloud, trying to figure a plan out.
"Yes but I doubt you can just...sail there as is." Seanoct said in an effort to explain. "Only very certain yokai can open the way there...I at least think. It's kind of a one way thing, it's easy to exit, but hard to get in, you know?"
"What is this criteria of specific yokai you speak of?" Venoct asked his smaller counterpart.
"Usually dragons, since mama has a strong connection with them I think..." Seanoct answered, looking a bit down. "But none of us are truly dragons, we just have nice scarves or something."
"I think if I can get Draggie, we might be able to have enough power if it's possible..." Lucas pondered, grabbing for his pocket watch given to him not that long ago by Venoct. The child looked at the watch, popping it open to reveal the clock face design. Thankfully, he carried the few medals he had with him, and eventually found Draggie's. He looked...nervous at the very least.
"...Am I supposed to say something?" Lucas asked, as Venoct shrugged.
"I dunno, think some people yell 'Come out my friend, yokai medal do your thing!' or something like that." Venoct answered, shrugging as he didn't know the exact answer.
"Alright, yokai medal, do your thing, come out my friend!" Lucas for once actually shouted, inserting Draggie's medal into the watch. The clock hands spun around, as a rather loud "Summoning Slippery!" accompanied by an even louder tune followed with a spiral of cyan light.
Soon, the small dragon yokai was summoned after quite a fanfare.
"Huh, I didn't know you already left for somewhere." Draggie said confused. "And why is there two Venocts?"
"We can explain that later, for now, we must set off to sea." Venoct said, trying to lead the party. Before the other could really move out, Sailornyan busted through the door.
"Did I hear sailing?" Sailornyan said, entering the room unceremoniously. "Because I found this glamorous map leading to good ol' buried treasure!"
"Where did you even find that?" Lucas asked.
"Oh, just some random spiky black haired kid gave it to me. I swore he was with you once, are you two related?" Sailornyan asked.
"I doubt so on the related part." Lucas answered with a confused look.
"Anyways, these ships aren't going to sail themselves, we're going out to sea!" Sailornyan said, getting everyone to follow her once more, out where she had the yacht from the other night safely docked.
"Are you sure you're not going to trip on those?" Venoct asked, as Seanoct was following behind, wearing fancy sea themed robes that were obviously too big for him.
"I'm sure I'm not gonna!" Seanoct said, as he unceremoniously tripped on the back part of his robe. "...Okay I will be sure not to next time..."
Soon Sailornyan, Lucas, Venoct, Seanoct, and Draggie all got onto the ship.
"Trust me, I can sail this alone. I know the sea quite well." Sailornyan commented, taking the steering wheel with her tiny feline paws.
Without much ado, the crew was out onto sea once more, to go after the alleged ocean palace to figure out what was going on down there, and to possibly prevent ocean wide destruction. It was on them now, no matter if this is all a myth or not.