The Jungle, Toto'Haha…

"Ugh…did the hunter have to live somewhere like this?" Rarity said as they walked through the jungle.

"Wouldn't be much of a hunter if they didn't live in nature." Jexi said.

Toto'Haha was an island settlement nestled in the very center of Solistia, between the eastern and western continents and sitting in the middle of the great sea. This island is home to a peculiar race known as the Beastlings. People with animal ears and tails. This is where the hunter is.

"Hmm…" Natsu said as he smelled the air. "Hey…somethings coming our way."

"Oh…that must be the hunter. We are so glad they're…" Weiss said as emerging from the jungle was a gigantic lizard much to their shock.

"That's a….King Iguana!" Miles said.

The King Iguana raced past them, having no interest in the group. Almost like it was trying to run away from something… something chasing it.

"King Iguana…you've been eating more than your fair share. It's not right to eat more than you must and leave nothing for others." a figure said. "I'm here to hunt you…and get back for breakfast." They said, jumping out as emerging was a young girl with pointed ears and a tail with a brown owl flying by her side. The girl herself was clad in a beige white and pink dress, grey sandals with straps around her calves, and jeweled bands around her arms.

"Well… I think we just found the Hunter." Sunset said while recovering.

"Mahina!" the hunter called out as the owl attacked the lizard with wind magic. "That's perfect!" she said, firing an arrow into the beast. "Now…!" she said before going and capturing it. "Phew…you gave me a lot of trouble."

"Nicely, nicely done, Ochette. You've really been improving lately." Mahina said.

"Ugh…" Ochette said as her stomach growled as she went to the lizard.

"Not yet. Everyone eats together." Mahina said.

"Aw…just one bite." Ochette begged.

"Oh…if you must. But just a little." Mahina said.

"Yeah! That's the Mahina I know." Ochette said before she stopped as if to sense a change in the air. "Uh…actually…let's return to the village." she said before sniffing as she spotted the group. "Humans?"

"Well…not all of us…but a majority." Jexi said.

"Yeah, I can actually tell. You guys dress funny, so you're not like the humans who live on the island with me and the rest in the village." Ochette said. "Unless… you're not with them, are you? Did they ask you to come here?"

"Did who ask us to come here?" Alear asked.

"Huh…" Ochette said as she sniffed her. "You look like a human…but you smell like a lizard."

"Uh…thanks?" Alear said.

"We're here cause we felt like visiting the island." Ash K said. "That's all."

"Oh…then welcome." Ochette said as she led them to the village with others just like her.

"Whoa…what are these guys?" Ochako asked.

"Beastlings. A demihuman race with animalistic features. Mainly ears and tails. They can also speak with the animals." Sheer said.

"Whoa, that is so cool." Luffy said.

"Wow… you think we're cool?" Ochette asked. "That's weird… most humans think we're just animals. Well… only the ones living with us on the island, anyway."

Suddenly, the group heard a commotion down at the village.

"Speaking of…" Ochette said as they saw some human villagers confront some beastlings.

"Listen up, beastlings. Our forest is almost hunted out. So give us some of your forest, too. We humans need it." a villager said, with no reply from the beastlings.

"This is pointless. They're animals. Can hardly talk, even. Maybe they'll understand this." another said, pulling a dagger.

"Knock it off!" some of the group called out as they charged in.

"Leave them alone!" Sunset said.

"What? But you all are humans. You should know that we need more land then they…" one of them said before being punched in the face.

"We said…leave them alone." Odd said.

"Hey, everyone take it easy!" another one of the villagers said. "If Cohazeh hears some of us got hurt because we picked a fight with…" he said before something else caught his attention, pointing up above the scene. "...The Warden of the Isle!"

The group followed the man's finger, seeing a large white lion with bracelets around his upper paws, a ring around his tail and black markings on his back.

"Begone, O Humans. We have lived on this island in peace since time immemorial. Now you who came after seek to rob us of it. We had an agreement. We divided the land and swore not to trespass against each other." the lion said.

"Yeah, the lion guy split the land." Luffy said.

"... We can't argue with numbers like these. Let's get outta here!" a villager said as the villagers started to retreat.

"You'll regret taking the beastlings' side!" the one who provoked the beastlings said to the group as they ran off.

"So glad that's over. Now…" Ochette said, hauling in the King Iguana. "Let's eat!"

The group cheered as the Iguana was carved up into jerky and shared with the group and the villagers as Ochette went to meet with the lion, Juvah.

"Wow…this is good." Luffy said, eating several of the strips.

"You humans defended us from our neighbors." a beastling said. "Where do you come from?"

"From across the sea and stars." Kaminari said.

"We're from a lot of different places actually." Pit said.

"Wow…." the beastlings said in awe.

"Yes…but…this jungle…" Fluttershy said.

"Something wrong?" Jexi asked.

"Yeah. I've been feeling it too. It's like the animals in the jungle are…afraid." Chopper said.

"Afraid? Afraid of what?" Jexi asked.

They could only ponder as they saw some of the same humans going to the hill.

"Who were they?" Aelita asked.

"Cohazeh, leader of humans in other village. Probably come to take out land." one beastling said.

"Actually, that wasn't it." Ochette said, arriving. "I know we just met, but do you all mind if you help me with something?"

"Sure…what is it?" Jexi asked.

A few moments later…

"This is what we're helping with?!" Weiss asked as they fought against a number of monsters inside some old ruins.

"Yes. The human should be nearby." Ochette said.

"I see her!" Izuku said seeing the girl crying in some grass. He quickly used his black whips to swing across and grab her and bring them back to their side.

"Why are you all here? And… working together?" the girl asked.

"I wouldn't worry about the details." Ochette said. "Here…" she said, giving her some jerky. "A hunk of jerky makes everything better. If that works, then we're friends already." she smiled as they all headed out.

"Huh…" Fluttershy said as the trees rustled and the animals scurried. "Calamity…is coming?" she said.

"You can tell what the birds are saying?" the little girl asked.

"It's my power." Fluttershy said. "Birds are the most sensitive ones to nature."

Out of nowhere, a strange monster popped out from the trees that looked as if it was melting.

"Whoa! What is that monster?! I've never seen anything like that before!" Ochette said. "Is that what the islebirds were anxious about? This monster?"

"It doesn't even look natural." Pit said as they quickly dispatched it.

"I don't like this. We should hurry." Twilight said as they ran towards the village and saw the beastlings standing outside it. "What the? Why are you all out here?"

"Monster…monster came. Village in trouble." one of them said.

"Where is Master Juvah?" Ochette asked.

"Fighting monster…still fighting." another of them said.

"What's wrong?" the little girl asked.

"Stay here with the beastlings. We need to go and help the lion." Jexi said as the heroes and Ochette ran towards the village.

The group reached the village, seeing Juvah standing face to face with a misshapen beast that had pieces of a tattered robe on its back. It hissed at the lion with barley constrained bloodlust, its breath heavy and ragged, as though its very existence caused it pain. It was locked in combat with Juvah, as they literally fought tooth and claw.

"Begone, calamity! Leave his place!" Juvah declared, only for the beast to reply with more ragged breathing. "So, the change in the island was your doing. I have not seen its like before. Where did it come from? Could it be a harbinger of.. Of the coming night? No.. surely not."

Juvah barely had time to think any more as the beast attacked him again, forcing him to his knees just as Ochette and the heroes arrived.

The warden tsked. "The years have dulled my edge, I see. All of you… flee.. It's too strong."

"Not happening." Jexi said as they stood tall. "We're not gonna leave you to be killed by some monster."

"They're right, Master Juvah. And besides, what kind of hunter flees from their quarry? Whatever this thing is, it hurt the villagers." Ochette said, drawing her bow as she prepared to fight with the Dimensional Heroes. "Come on! You want a fight? Here we are!"

"We're doing this here and now!" Jexi said.

The dark beast roared as it went on the attack against them.

Herald of a Bloody Night

Dark Entity

The dark beast immediately went on the attack on its new targets, extending its neck and preparing to gnash at them.

"Okay, you will not hurt anyone else." Alear said as she attacked the beast with her sword as Petra M and Byleth backed her up.

"I will prevail." Petra M said.

The Dark Entity responded to the three sword attacks by blasting a dangerous dark breath at them.

"Not today!" Caspar said as he and Ochette cleaved into it with an axe.

"Hrr…hrrr….rar!" it roared.

"What's that? You're just getting started? Good. Me too!" Ochette said as she bared her fangs and her claws grew out. "I'm…starving!" she said slashing at it as she managed to cleave into the beast, finishing it in a single blow.

"Whoa!" Rainbow said as Ochette returned to normal.

"Eheh… sorry you had to see that." Ochette chuckled.

Like all demihuman races, Beastlings have both human and animal traits. Most Beastlings are able to keep their animal instincts in check. But when pushed to their peak, their inner beast comes out and allows them use of their fangs and claws.

"...no longer trust…" a voice echoed from the fallen entity. "...cannot…be allowed…to…exist…" it uttered before turning to dust.

"That creature…was only the beginning." Juvah spoke as he rose back up. "A greater calamity approaches our island even as we speak. The Night of the Scarlet Moon."

"The Scarlet Moon?" Ochette asked.

"Once every 400 years, there comes a night where the moon turns scarlet. This night brings disaster and destruction to the island. So the legends say." Juvah explained, faltering a bit before standing up. "Follow me. I must show you all something."

He led the group and Ochette into the temple where they stood before a mural.

"What is this?" Ochette asked.

"Long ago…there were three Creatures of Legend…" Robin began to translate. "Tera. Cateracta. Glacis. The three creatures watched over the land for many years before departing to become guardians of other lands. Should their might be needed again they must come back to the island. Before the calamity of the Night of the Scarlet Moon."

"It is an old old legend…but it appears to be on the verge of coming true." Juvah said. "Ochette, you told me protecting the island was too heavy a burden for you. But alas, only you can save us all. You must help us prevent this peril by gathering the Three Creatures of Legend."

"But…where will everyone get their food?" Ochette asked.

"We will manage. You are special. I knew since you were a babe…that this child would rescue the island. That is why…I raised you to be a hunter!" Juvah said.

"We'll do it." Ash K said. "We'll travel across the land and get these creatures of legend."

"And we'll be helping her along the way." Jexi said.

"You…you guys…" Ochette said. "Like they said…I'll do it."

"Spoken like…a true apprentice of mine. I leave the island…in your hands…Ochette. I…grow weary. I…must rest now." Juvah said as he lied on the ground.

"No! Lion guy!" some of the guys said.

"He was so brave." Eijiro said.

"Yeah…and he was able to talk and stuff." Luffy said. "Like a mystery lion."

"We will never forget him." Zenitsu said.

As the group cried, they soon heard snoring.

"You mean he was asleep?!" they all said before sending the lion flying. "Don't worry us like that!"

The next morning, the group was heading out as Juvah, now with some bandages on his body, slept in the village.

"Sleep well master…" Ochette said. "We'll have to search for the beasts at our own pace."

"Yeah. We just need to get a ship and start sailing.' Jexi said. "Shame we didn't…"

"Guys!" Usopp called out as he ran down the path to the harbor. "You won't believe what I saw."

The group followed Usopp as they looked in surprise as a certain ship sat in the harbor.

"No…way!" they all said seeing the Sunny sailing right there.

"Whoa…! Is that your ship?!" Ochette asked in awe.

"Yeah…it is. And as long as you sail with us…it's yours too." Jexi said. "But how did it even…" he said, seeing a note on it. "Thought you could use a helping hand…signed…the story sage." he read.

"The old man must've sent the Sunny our way right after we arrived on Toto'Haha… that's so generous of him!" Caspar said.

"Surprised he didn't send the Galaxy King…but…guess flying ships would stand out way too much." Jet said. "So a sailing one was probably the better choice."

"You guys are something else. If you're really gonna help me this much and allow me on your ship…then I think you're the right people to travel with!" Ochette smiled. "Let's go find those Three Creatures of Legend, and bring them back to protect the island!" she said. "Come on Mahina!" she said as she and her owl jumped onto the ship as the others boarded.

"All right! Let's set sail!" Luffy said as the ship was soon taking off from the port.

Ochette leaves the island with her faithful companion and new band of trusted travel mates. The calamity known as the Night of the Scarlet Moon strikes every 400 years, and they must defend their island by bringing back three Creatures of Legend. The sea is wide, but the world beyond wider, with more to see, hear and learn than Ochette ever imagined….