The Chronicles of Narnia: The Seven Arcobalenopods

by VPVPVP

Kurama, a rogue Nine-Tailed Kitsune has established a cult around a false Aslan in Asgard Sky City and is planning on stealing seven powerful creatures for his future cult plans. Quaoar, a Nine-Tailed Kitsune-Kumiho hybrid and his team are tasked with putting an end to Kurama's cult and Quaoar must also rescue his twin sister Siveth whom Kurama has kidnapped.

16. About Momotaro's backstory

Chapter 16- a talk about Momotaro and his three friends

Quaoar and company continued their LONG ascent into the Sky Domain in their Flying Saucer. It will be several hours until they actually reached the Domain of the Sky for the area was so high up. The magical world of Narnia wasn't merely 'small' from the perspective of the Land. It was VERY high and was as high as it was deep though it was not a spherical world like the human world of Earth. As the travellers continued their ascent with Bentley the Giant and Ozone the Cloud-Man having a nap to pass the time, Quaoar continued gazing out of the Saucer via one of its floor windows and watched the familiar Land Domain recede as the Saucer increased in altitude. The Garden of Youth was visible as a small bubble of special trees surrounded by a boundary of greenery of its hedge walls. A small sliver of gold, the Garden's gates, was just visible on the eastern side of the hedge. As Quaoar continued gazing at the receding Land Domain, the distance-verbal communicator emitted a beeping noise from within his tails' fur. Immediately, the Kitsumiho reached into his tails' fur and pulled out the device as it continued to beep. He then pressed the crystalline 'answer' button and began to talk to the caller.

"Hi, Xenon," said Quaoar.

"Hi, Quaoar," Xenon spoke on the other end, "Are you on your way to the Westernmost Skylands?"

"We are, yes," replied Quaoar, "It will take several hours until we arrive."

"Great," Xenon said gladly, "Once you arrive there, call me again and I will give you the next instructions and directions on where to go next. But the destination I would like you to go is the house of the Seven Sisters. They are a group of seven sister Acquas named Alcyone, Merope, Electra, Caleano, Maia, Taygeta and Sterope and they are some of my friends. I have alerted them and their family, friends and guests that you're on your way to them and they are aware of the crisis in Asgard Sky City but I will not direct you to them until you have arrived in the Westernmost Skylands."

As Xenon said this, Naihanchi, Iridia and Adamans came up to Quaoar but the Kitsumiho raised a paw to nonverbally tell the Nekomata and the Fenghuang couple to not interrupt so the three waited.

"That's brilliant," Quaoar continued on the DV communicator to Xenon, "But we have had to investigate the reason behind these Wish Potions first and we have finally uncovered some answers."

As Quaoar said this, Xenon's voice tone changed to one of UTMOST indignation but he already knew this.

"I know, Weywot explained everything to me," the Cloud-Man and the last surviving family member of the assassinated King Lightning-Bolt replied, "I just cannot BELIEVE that a Cardinal Beast ordained by the Sun Corona Feline to take up such a RESPONSIBLE position would abuse that position like that. The Seven Sister Acquas' father, Cielo, told me about the Land Domain's Garden of Youth and how it is the most important of the Nine-Realms Potion ingredient areas as it is not just a place and the ONLY place where the Land Domain's sole ingredient for the Nine-Realms Potion grows."

"Shenron has likely been using some of those apples for himself and his cult leader Kurama," said Quaoar, "And yes, it IS a very serious sin that Azure Dragon has committed. As his punishment, Aslan had the Guardian Phoenix viciously attack Shenron and then banished him from the Garden of Youth under the threat of reversion to a dumb beast if he EVER returned to the Garden's premises. However, though Shenron had listened to the warning, he has NOT stopped selling these Wish Potions. Based on all this, I believe he may have taken some of the fruit to grow trees OUTSIDE the Garden to continue making these potions."

"If Shenron had abused his position as the secondary Garden of Youth Guardian, he hadn't been the first one," Xenon seriously said, "Several other Cardinal Beast secondary Guardians have also been stealing apples from the Garden and they, too, have been punished and banished by the Sun Corona Feline and replaced by another Cardinal Beast of their species, one who is more trustworthy for the role."

"Have any of these banished Cardinal Beasts ever returned or tried to return to the Garden of Youth against Aslan's orders?" asked Quaoar.

"Yes, including a White Tiger, a Black Tortoise and a Vermillion Bird," replied Xenon, "All four Cardinal Beasts have had their fair share of individuals pilfering from Aslan's apple Garden. Some were reverted to dumb beasts as per the Sun Corona Feline's punishment while some others including a Vermillion Bird, suffered extremely painful and rapid ageing and then crumbling to dust, so yes it is a VERY serious offense and sin against the Sun Corona Feline to abuse your position as the secondary Guardian of the Garden by stealing its fruit, and even WORSE when they purposely allow thieves to enter the Garden and do nothing about it, though it has happened that sly thieves have managed to evade them and have entered the Garden under their noses despite their best patrol efforts but that's where the Guardian Phoenix comes in. For those that have heeded the Sun Corona Feline's warnings to stay away from the Garden, however, they have to deal with the lifelong consequences for their sins such as the HORRIFIC side effects of eating the apples."

"And Shenron, sadly, will be one of those individuals," said Quaoar, "In fact, Salamander, the new Azure Dragon Secondary Guardian told us that he believes that Aslan's judgement is already on him, and it is not just his dishevelled, sickly appearance and the hideous scars from the scratches he sustained from the Guardian Phoenix."

"If that is the case I wouldn't be surprised," Xenon replied, "The Sun Corona Feline will bring about consequences on those who go against him in a variety of ways but I think we've discussed enough on disobedient Cardinal Beasts and the Garden of Youth. I would like to tell you more about the Seven Sisters and their family."

"Okay," said Quaoar.

"As I have stated before, the Seven Sisters are a group of seven Acquas, all who are sisters and they are named Merope, Electra, Caleano, Maia, Taygeta and Sterope," Xenon continued, "They do a variety of jobs with their parents, extended family and guests but the Seven Sisters themselves are weavers, Cloud Sheep shepherdesses and painters. Their uncles and male cousins are dumb Sky Whale farmers and game hunters and their female cousins and aunts also weave and paint. Staying with the Seven Sisters and their family is a quartet of heroes from the Land Domain."

"Land Domain heroes?" asked Quaoar.

"Yes," Xenon added, "Their names are Momotaro the Peach Elf, Inu the Dog, Saru the Macaque and Kiji the Pheasant. They, too, are some of my friends. They used to live in a human village on the Land Domain. However, they had been forced to flee their village when a band of rogue Talking Beasts stormed the place and slaughtered most of the villagers like wild animals. Momotaro's adoptive human family managed to send the Peach Elf and his three friends away and Cielo, the father of the Seven Sister Acquas who had been visiting the Land Domain to preach about the true Sun Corona Feline Aslan to help to keep the beliefs of as many Land Domain inhabitants in the true Lion alive due to the decay that had happened down there, found and took them back to the Sky Domain and into his family for a few years."

"We have dubbed the times the Dark Age on the Land Domain," Quaoar said, "and yes a LOT of communities on the Land Domain have become faded in their beliefs in the true Aslan and our society has largely decayed on so many levels. Some have even abandoned the Lion altogether to follow their own way. It's been happening since the four Pevensie Kings and Queens mysteriously disappeared at the end of the Golden Age hundreds of years ago," Quaoar then breathed a sigh before continuing, "By the way, can you tell me more about Momotaro and his friends?"

"Momotaro is of the Peach Elf species," Xenon explained, "Unlike many other Humanoid creatures like regular Elves, Curupira, Dwarves, Gnomes and Blue Elves who give birth to their babies live and fully formed, Peach Elves have their babies via eggs shaped like the a large peach fruit. Aside from their unusual reproductive biology that differs from the other Elves, Peach Elves (which are a kind in their own right due to their unique traits) possess orange and pink skin like the peach fruit, hence their name alongside their peach-like eggs. You'll see what a Peach Elf looks like when you meet Momotaro in person."

Nearby Quaoar, Naihanchi, Adamans and Iridia looked on.

"We've met that Peach Elf before," the middle one, the Fengcock said.

"Yes," put in his wife, "He was sent to a human village by his parents down a stream as an egg when they and their clan's home was being attacked by a group of warrior humans called Telmarines."

"Momotaro's egg was found and taken in by a human couple who could not have their own children," added Naihanchi. Xenon heard Naihanchi and the Fenghuang couple's voices nearby though Quaoar shot the three a slight glare for interrupting. However, Xenon answered Naihanchi and the Fenghuang couple anyway.

"That's right, um," Xenon stopped when he could not recognise the voices of the Nekomata and the Fenguhang pair. Quaoar pointed the DV communicator to the three as they spoke so that they could speak to Xenon clearly.

"Oh, it's Naihanchi," the Nekomata said, "I'm one of Quaoar's friends."

"And we're Adamans and Iridia," said Adamans, "We're a married Fenghuang couple."

"So what exactly happened to Momotaro's original clan's home?" asked Iridia. Immediately, Xenon launched into a proper explanation of Momotaro the Peach Elf's backstory.

"Momotaro's clan's home was attacked and burned down by a group of Telmarines but his biological parents managed to send their son still in his egg down a stream to safety. Eventually, Momotaro was found by that human couple who took him into their village. In their house, he hatched and became their adopted son despite their drastic difference in species. Growing up, Momotaro was taught by his adoptive parents and their clan a variety of skills such as archery, livestock care and swordfighting. One day, during his teen years, he meets and befriends three Talking Animals also living in and around the human village: Inu the Dog who lived as a 'regular' Dog in the house of another human family; Kiji the Common Pheasant and Saru the Macaque and they became a quartet. Momotaro and his three Talking Beast friends helped the human village to deal with several serious threats such as a trio of evil Oni intent on attacking the village and also save some young adult Daughters of Eve, a few pledged to be married to their respective Sons of Adam, from the highly dangerous and seductive Man of the Grey Three-Piece Suit, a dangerous warlock with the ability to transform into a dangerous beast."

When Xenon mentioned the Man of the Grey Three-Piece Suit, he was instantly reminded when he saved a human princess from the warlock before he lured her away with his highly attractive and seductive looks and smooth-talking voice. Xenon continued.

"However around three years ago before Kurama turned Asgard Sky City into his base for his egregious Cult of the Lion, killing my family in the process, Momotaro, Inu, Kiji and Saru's village soon came under attack from a pack of savage Talking Beasts and they slaughtered many of the human villagers. Momotaro's adoptive parents managed to help the Peach Elf and his three friends to escape with some other humans and they were soon found by Cielo who took them in, prompting the four to move to the Sky Domain and into his family. Several times, they met me and my family when we went to visit the Westernmost Skylands and they became our friends. Believe me, you should have seen how UTTERLY disgusted and devastated Inu, Kiji and Saru had been with those Talking Beasts that had attacked that human village, not to mention what had become of Asgard. In fact, they are still UTTERLY upset over what had become of those Talking Beasts and so they should be as it was NOT how the Sun Corona Feline had formed them to behave. Talking Beasts, whether Land, Sea and Sky or other Domain, are SUPPOSED to be MORE than mere Animals and NOT like their dumb animal counterparts and that includes NOT attacking humans like them but I digress. Anyway, during his time with the Seven Sisters' family, Momotaro and his three friends trained in further areas such as spying and the use of specialised weapons and though they are now adults and had the option of settling down with wives and children of their own, they had forgone marriage and family to help deal with the crisis in Asgard Sky City alongside some other spy groups, one lead by a noble Kotobuki named Yong Bao."

"Momotaro and his three friends have been spying on Kurama and his cult?" asked Naihanchi in shock.

"They could get themselves KILLED," said Adamans. Iridia looked on agape but said nothing.

"They have not entered Asgard Sky City itself as it is too dangerous due to Kurama completely isolating the area and stationing dangerous guards around its periphery," Xenon replied, "But they have been spying on the scouts sent from the cult OUTSIDE the city to bring back reports to Cielo, along with a few other spy groups including Yong Bao's. Hopefully, they and the other spies will have collected enough information for you and your group once you arrive in their area. Momotaro has been in contact with me and has told me what he, Inu, Kiji and Saru have been doing and have been providing me with updates and I believe they are going to go out on another spy trip, this time at night. He and his three Talking Beast friends will tell you guys more face to face when you meet them, along with the other spy groups working for Cielo. In the meantime, you need to arrive at the Westernmost Skylands first. Can you please let me know when you get there? You may even have to spend the night before heading to the Seven Sisters and their village as dusk is not too far off."

Quaoar returned the DV Communicator to his ear and mouth while Naihanchi, Adamans and Iridia walked away, "Yes I will, Xenon. Thanks for telling us about Momotaro and his three friends. We look forward to meeting them and see what information they have managed to gather surrounding Kurama's evil cult, perhaps in the morning."

Then after another minute of talking, Xenon and Quaoar said their goodbyes and hung up. After returning the DV communicator to his tails' fur, Quaoar walked up to Obi Wan and his Lumino co-pilot as they continued to drive the Saucer upward.

"It will be a good few hours before we eventually reach the clouds, Quaoar," Obi Wan said, "You might want to get some rest until we arrive at our destination. Further, it might be dark by the time we arrive up there."

Quaoar, a yawn escaping his mouth, immediately took in Obi Wan's suggestion and left to take a short nap to pass the time. The Flying Saucer continued its ascent towards the clouds and the Westernmost Skylands. Around in this area existed one of the sub-regions of another domain, the Cardinal Domain and the nation of the White Tigers of the West lived in the area. The Cardinal Domain was only accessible via the Bifrost Transporter due to how it was built into the Narnian world.

Meanwhile, back in Asgard Sky City

Sunset was approaching with the Narnian Sun slowly sinking towards the eastern horizon. From the perspective of the Skylands, sunrises and sunsets were often clearer due to how high up the Sky Domain was from the Land Domain. The only Domains that did not have sunrises and sunsets were the Underland Domain and the Abyssal Domain due to them being underground and deep in the Eastern Ocean's abyssal area respectively so obviously the sun wouldn't shine on those areas. The Narnian Sun and Moon also did not have sunrises and sunsets because the former, obviously was THE sun and the latter, the dominant light of the night made by Aslan to be a biosphere in its own right. The sky was painted a lovely picture of orange and pink and many of the smaller clouds even above the Skylands took on a pink-orange hue. In Asgard Sky City and its surrounding areas, most of the citizens and villagers oppressed by Kurama and his evil Cult of the Lion, together with Kurama's own underlings, got prepared to turn in for the night. The oppressed citizens were forced to return to their homes due to the strict curfew placed on them by Kurama and his underlings and from that point on, no-one will be allowed out of their homes until the morning. Due to this, the citizens hastily did their last activities including the last shopping of the day and quickly returned homes. Those that didn't make it on time were seized and severely punished. In Asgard Sky City's Royal Castle, Kurama's eyes sparkled from the stash of shiny gold and silver coins as the greedy Nine-Tailed Fox counted them. Nearby stood a group of some of his underlings, among them a sickly looking Serpentine Dragon whose azure hide had lost its handsome sea blue lustre; this Dragon and his comrades looked on as their leader continued counting the coins which was money the Dragon had brought back from the Land Domain from selling the Wish Potions which we now know has been made from the progeny of the apples the Dragon had stolen from Aslan's Garden of Youth. The coins had been converted from the Land Domain currency of the lions and trees to the Sky Domain currency of the clouds such as cumulonimbi. Like in our world in which different countries had different currencies and conversion between currencies was a must to trade in those currencies, the Narnian Domains had their own currencies and the essential conversion between them existed in the Narnian world as well. For example, for a Land Domain visitor to trade in the Sky Domain, they had to change their lions and trees to the cloud currency the Skylanders used.

Gleeful giggles escaped from Kurama's mouth as he continued counting the cumulonimbi the sickly-looking Azure Dragon, his azure scales faded to a grey-blue colour and his face and upper body crisscrossed with tiger stripe scars as a result of his punishment from the Guardian Phoenix at Aslan's command in the Garden of Youth when he pilfered some of the apples, had accumulated with his group and converted from the Land Domain currency of the lions and trees (and lesser values such as branches). Kurama then gazed at the Dragon and his group with a wide smile. Standing near the Dragon was a Talking Chimp, the same Chimp who sold Spot the young Cheetah a Wish Potion some time ago.

"You have done an EXCELLENT job in making this much money on the Land Domain with your group, Shenron," he praised, "This will go into Aslan's treasury right away."

Then after finishing greedily counting the money; Kurama returned the coins to their bag and called for a Talking Gorilla assistant. As soon as the big black-furred Talking Ape appeared, the Kitsune commanded him to take the money to a secret compartment in the throne room. The large Ape obeyed, took the big bag of money and left to carry out the command. However, this money wasn't really for the true Aslan. It was all for Kurama and his cult and. The dishevelled and scarred Azure Dragon, Shenron, looked on with the other Talking Animals with him, among them a few Talking Rats and Mice, and the Talking Chimp that had sold one of his Wish Potions to Spot the Cheetah cub in Quaoar's community. Then the Azure Dragon spoke and put his front paw onto his stomach.

"Well, I think it's time I had a bite to eat, Kurama," he complained, "It's been an EXHAUSTING trip and effort down there."

As he said this, one of the Talking Rats shot him a look.

"But you've already had a BIG meal while we were down there, Shenron," the Talking Rodent grumbled. However, Shenron, his belly feeling like a MASSIVE empty chasm, turned and left for the kitchen where a group of cooks, among them some Cloud-Women, were cooking a variety of foods. As Shenron left for the kitchen, several Wolves, a Bear and a Regular Orange Tiger came forward. They had been some of the members of the team lead by the Giant Eagle named Eagle Sec. Kurama shot the group a look.

"How come your team leader Eagle Sec is not with you when you returned from the Bifrost Transporter?" he asked. At first the group was reluctant to answer this question but then one of the Wolves plucked up enough courage.

"He, er... was killed, Boss," he said. When Kurama heard this, a flash of rage tore through him.

"Eagle Sec was WHAT!?" the tyrannical Nine-Tailed Fox demanded, making the Wolves, the Tiger and the Bear flinch, "And BY WHOM!?"

"It... it... it happened SO FAST while we were trying to attack that human monarch and his men on the Land Domain," another Wolf, a female, timidly spoke, wary of the tyrannical Kitsune's temper and fearing is DEADLY foxfire, "But a group of resistant Talking Beasts and some Humanoids happened to be there with them. Eagle Sec took on a Nine-Tailed Fox but that Fox was armed with a strange-looking sword. Eagle Sec was killed by that sword when he battled the Fox."

As the She-Wolf said this, Siveth walked into the room and gazed the group's way. Kurama hardened his glare.

"Identification of this Nine-Tailed Fox," he demanded.

"It had ivory and white fur with some metallic yellow, blue and silver, sort of like Siveth over there," the Bear replied. He had seen the Vixen enter the room and she winced. There was only one other Nine-Tailed Fox that had a mix of white and ivory fur like her and such Foxes were VERY uncommon for Kitsune and Kumiho pairings were quite rare and, Kitsumiho living to past their 900th birthday was EVEN fewer. Based on this, Kurama had drawn a conclusion on the identity of the Fox briefly described to him by the Wolf and the Bear and as he did, his mouth widened into a wicked smile so wide that it spanned the entire length of his muzzle.

"I do believe that Fox you described to me is Siveth's twin brother," he spoke evilly; "I'm surprised he's still alive all this time."

That made Siveth flinch again and her flinch was more intense as though she had been stung by a bee.

"Quaoar!?" she blurted out though a flash of regret at doing this coursed through her. Surprise also tore through the two Wolves, the Bear and their comrades.

"Seriously!?" cried the Regular Tiger in disbelief. He and his comrades, who also thought that Quaoar was deceased, were also seized with incredulity. Kurama, however, shot the orange and black-striped Cat a wicked smirk.

"I-I-I thought Quaoar had died," the Tiger continued.

"I don't think so," Kurama sniggered in a wicked, sly tone matching his evil smile, "And I believe he may have become aware of what's going on up here in Asgard Sky City. Well, he shall be in for a pleasant surprise eventually," he topped this remark off with a wicked giggle. Siveth winced in disgust and left for the kitchen to get herself something to eat while Kurama dismissed Eagle Sec's group and the other Talking Beasts gathered. However, he hissed negatively under his breath about Eagle Sec and called him a useless Eagle for 'allowing' himself to get killed by 'that pesky Kitsumiho' on the Land Domain.

Siveth entered the kitchen, hoping that the cooks had prepared something and was going to ask them for it but as she entered the cooking area, she was greeted with a sight... not a good one.

"Oo-er, Shenron, all that food including the whole dumb pig on a stick was MEANT to be for everyone else," a Cloud-Woman cook complained.

"You GREEDY, GLUTTUNOUS Azure Dragon, Shenron," a male Leopard Water Dog cook grunted in disgust. More groans of disgust also rolled throughout the rest of the cooking team as they looked on at a certain Azure Dragon as he ate their food. Disgust also seized Siveth as she too looked on and her face contorted into a sickened look. Shenron was stuffing his face like a dumb animal on the food the cooks had been preparing. Scattered on the floor around the Azure Dragon were crumbs of bread, fluffy cloud cakes (a dessert in the Sky Domain resembling clouds, hence their name), pieces of fruit and vegetables and pieces of meat, among them fish and dumb Sky Whale meat, and also bones and it was clear that Shenron had eaten quite a number of the loaves of bread and fluffy cloud cakes alongside much of the other items on the menu. Shenron retorted at the cooks as they complained to him.

"I'm STARVING" the scarred, dishevelled Azure Dragon yelled back and with that, he began to dig into the pig on the stick, eating like a dumb beast to the further disgust of the cooks and Siveth. Then Siveth walked up to the cooks.

"Shenron has practically eaten EVERY crumb of that box of bread loaves and fluffy cloud cakes, Siveth," complained a Skunk cook.

"And two large vats' worth of meat," said a Kappa cook.

"Plus five big bags and vats' worth of fruit and vegetables," put in a Cloud-Woman who was the leader of the other Cloud-Women cooks in the kitchen.

"Whatever is WRONG with that Reptile!?" demanded an Elephant cook. Siveth looked on at Shenron as he continued to greedily devour the whole pig. She couldn't quite understand why Shenron had such a BIG appetite but she had deduced one reason, one that she didn't like.

Aside from his dulled appearance as a result of pilfering and eating of Aslan's Garden of Youth apples, Shenron had acquired a variety of other powers... and consequences that were unpleasant to say the least. One was immortality, a common effect an eater gained from consuming even one Garden of Youth apple. While the idea or thought of immortality gained from eating of the fruit sounded like a good one, think again. The immortality gained from eating of Aslan's apples was NOT at all a happy one. It was immortality involving a cursed half-life and EXTREME misery and HORRIBLE side-effects from the apples. Jadis the White Witch, the first thief who visited the garden gained a bottomless pit of greed for possessions and vanity that she could NEVER satisfy. The Cartoon Shadow Cat, another well-known thief and unwanted visitor to the Garden of Youth had obtained its own package of nasty side-effects such as weakness to water, a permanent scar on its shoulder inflicted on it by the Guardian Phoenix, and EXTREME photophobia or aversion to sunlight, among other things. For Shenron right now, his consequences he had reaped from eating of the apples for his own personal gain had given him not just a dishevelled appearance, but also an insatiable appetite for food that he cannot satisfy, no matter how much food he consumed. Ever since taking his first bite of those apples, Shenron had developed a bottomless pit for a stomach and now, he was suffering from this consequence. And that consequence was causing a LOT of bother not just for himself, but for everyone else as well. True to the warning on the Garden of Youth's gates about finding your heart's desire from eating of the fruit alongside despair and Shenron was suffering from that despair in the form of constant hunger alongside his misery right now but there was more to come for him.

Shenron finished eating ALL the food the cooks had prepared and had stripped the whole dumb pig on a stick down to its skin and skeleton. However, he placed a paw on his stomach and complained.

"Have you cooks any more food?" he asked. However, the response he got was UTMOST outrage from the cooks.

"That's the FOURTH time you've asked that STUPID question, Shenron," snapped one of the Cloud-Women cooks, "You MUST have had at least THREE big meals huge enough to feed an army of Skylanders today."

"And if you want our honest answer, Shenron," said the Elephant, "NO, we do NOT!"

"We're completely and FRESH out of food in this kitchen thanks to you and your appetite which is FAR deeper than the Abyssal Zone in the Eastern Ocean," grumbled a Talking Chimp cook, a female.

"Others need food as well, you know, Dragon," put in another Leopard Water Dog.

"But all YOU can think about is YOURSELF and your OWN STOMACH and NOT ANYONE ELSE!" added an irate Blue Dwarf in an enraged voice. Shenron, however, lost his temper and exploded, his bottomless pit stomach driving him to a fiery outburst. Seizing an empty cooking pot from a nearby worktop, the FURIOUS Azure Dragon threw it across the kitchen like a rock, forcing some of the larger members of the castle kitchen team such as the Cloud-Women, to duck or dive out of the way to avoid getting struck. A Cherub cook covered some of the smaller team members with her wings and ducked herself while some of the others, terrified screams exploding from their mouths and beaks, frantically backed away as the heavy piece of kitchen equipment struck the wall with a terrifying clang and then clattered to the floor. Siveth also ducked and covered her head with her front paws as the EXTREMELY angry and UTTERLY hungry dishevelled Reptile Beast that was Shenron then stormed out of the kitchen like a savage animal ravaged by hunger, his mouth vomiting a torrent of sewage whose content was too offensive to write as he cursed the kitchen team and complained how USELESS they were. After the volcanic Dragon left with Siveth looking on in UTMOST disgust and shock, some of the cooks went over to the cooking pot that Shenron had thrown. The large pot had left a crater in the wall for Shenron had thrown the cooking container at the wall with such force. A Cherub cook picked up the pot and began to inspect it for damage while the Elephant and the She-Chimp went and complained to Siveth. All the members of the kitchen team had been seized by UTMOST shock from Shenron's outburst but it hadn't been the first time this had happened.

"SERIOUSLY, Siveth," the Pachyderm growled, "That Azure Dragon certainly DOES have a SERIOUS gluttony problem. We just don't have enough FOOD for anyone else because of HIM!"

"He practically gorges himself and when he has finished his MASSIVE meal," put in the Chimp, "He complains that he STILL FEELS hungry. I mean WHY is he ALWAYS demanding food despite eating SO MUCH!?"

"Yes, and isn't it unbecoming of a noble creature that is SUPPOSED to be loyal and respectful to the Sun Corona Feline, ESPECIALLY if the creature is one of the four Cardinal Beasts like an Azure Dragon of the East!?" said a Cloud-Woman. Siveth just gazed back at the three cooks in silence, clearly unable to answer the question.

"I think I'll give you lot some space to recover from Shenron's outburst," said she, "I'm sorry you had to be subjected to his bottomless pit hunger-induced rage."

With that, the Kitsumiho Vixen turned and left the kitchen via its entrance and exit door, leaving the cooks to continue to recover and recollect themselves from the shock of Shenron's outburst as well as clean up the mess Shenron had left behind including the pieces of material that fell from the crater in the wall where Shenron had thrown the cooking pot.

Shenron stormed out of the kitchen and then in the direction of another building to carry out his tasks set up for him by Kurama. As the dishevelled Azure Dragon left, Siveth exited the castle after him and looked on, wary of her distance to the Azure Dragon. Just then Kurama came in, his shining nine tails and royal cape sweeping behind him.

"Seriously, Kurama," Siveth said, "Shenron's bottomless pit appetite is causing everyone else a LOT of bother. He just lashed at the cooking team in the castle a few moments ago and I thought he was going to actually attack them."

However, to Siveth's dismay, Kurama remained nonchalant towards Shenron's condition caused by his consumption of the Garden of Youth apples.

"Oh, he's always been like that, Siveth," the wicked cult leader said, "Just don't get under his scaly hide or rub him the wrong way and you'll be fine. Now, you need to get yourself off to your place and turn in for the night, the sun's going down."

"But..." began Siveth but Kurama enforced his command, "Go, Siveth, or you'll be in SERIOUS trouble for disobeying my important curfew. The only ones who are exempt are those out on special missions outside our city."

Siveth released a frustrated grunt and sourly obeyed. However, as she left to her den which was somewhere near the castle, she heard commotion. Immediately, the Kitsumiho Vixen looked up and when she saw the cause of it she winced. Several Nestri Primi, Dwarves and Blue Elves loyal to Kurama were dragging in a family of Gnomes and a Sea-Fish Person, the former being from the Underland Domain and the latter, the Sea Domain but was in his Human form for he was not underwater, in Kurama's direction. The Gnomes and Sea-Fish Person were shouting protests and squirming but their restrainers kept a firm grip on them as they continued to carry them towards the Kitsune. Leading them was Nicholye the Vermillion Bird.

"Boss Kurama," the Vermillion Phoenix called, "These Gnomes and this Sea-Fish Man were caught questioning your cult rules so we had to seize them and bring them to you."

As Nicholye then stepped aside to allow the group of the Nestri Primi, Dwarves and the Blue Elves to throw the offenders down before Kurama, the Dog Fox glared angrily at them.

"Ooooh dear, ma dears," the wicked rogue Kitsune spoke in a sickly sweet voice, "Attempted to step out of line, have we? You know full well that it is STRICTLY forbidden to question what Aslan has told me to write."

Siveth watched on as the Gnome family, a family of five, and the Sea-Fish Man then trembled before Kurama. Gnomes were also called Earthmen and were mostly native to the underground world of Bism. They resembled Dwarves but were often rocky grey and VERY few of these underground Humanoids ventured onto the surface of the Narnian Land, the Land Domain, much less move to the Sky Domain so this family of five was one of the VERY small handfuls to actually have made this UTTERLY brave decision to make the Sky Domain their home. Then the Gnome family man slowly raised his head and glared at Kurama in the eye while his wife and three sons and their Sea-Fish Man friend continued to tremble timidly and in fear of the cruel Kitsune.

"If the Fiery Crowned Cat (the Gnomes' name for Aslan) REALLY commanded you to write that stuff, Kurama," he spoke, "Then why did he tell you that Talking Beasts are to behave like their dumb counterparts!? Did he NOT say that, 'from dumb beasts you were taken, to dumb beasts you will return' to them if they EVER started to behave like their dumb counterparts?"

Siveth watched on as the bold Gnome said this to Kurama but then what happened next sent a MASSIVE shockwave coursing through the Kitsumiho Vixen. Kurama turned to Nicholye and the Nestri Primi, Dwarves and Blue Elves that had brought in these questioners.

"Take these six to the castle," he commanded, "and summon Imhotep to deal with them. I will NOT tolerate ANY of Aslan's followers questioning what HE writes."

Immediately and without hesitation, Nicholye and his group seized the five Gnomes and the Sea-Fish Man and began to drag them, kicking, screaming and shouting, to the castle. Disgusted, Siveth resumed her journey to her den to avoid Kurama's rage at her disobedience but as she continued to walk along, she stopped again as she heard more commotion, this time from one of the dens nearby. However, as Siveth listened more, hoping it was not what she thought it was, she realised that her ears weren't lying and that she was not in a puff of the abominable golden glitter gas stuff Kurama often used during the Day Seven worship services at the Gathering House.

Exploding from the den was a MASSIVE argument and the words were exchanged in shouts. Siveth, worry taking hold of her, left her path to her own den and began to cautiously approach the den where the violent arguing took place. As she got closer, she realised that the den was where Cloudy the Slugcat and his family lived and the arguing was between the parents.

"I TOLD YA BEFORE, SLIM," the female screeched, "WE HAVE BEEN PRAYIN' TO ASLAN OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND STILL HE WON'T HEAL OUR SON CLOUDY!"

"LOOK, PRIMROSE," retorted the father named Slim the mother was named Primrose, "Aslan WILL heal our son of his blindness, crippling and deadly internal condition such that he will be a normal Slugpup like the rest of his siblings as well as no longer need the medication to keep his condition in check. We just need to keep going..."

"We HAVE been keeping going... for OVER A YEAR, Slim and STILL there is no change in our son for the better," Primrose retorted, "We have been FORCED to spend a HUGE sum of money on Kurama's mandatory payments and our son's medication and it's BEEN MAKING OUR FAMILY SINK..."

Siveth winced and peered through a window into the den. She felt a wave of pity wash over her as she watched Cloudy's siblings cower in one corner while their parents, Slim and Primrose, continued arguing back and forth over Cloudy. It was clear that the Slugcat family was at its breaking point and Siveth knew that they weren't the only family or group to reach this tragic point. A number of other families and marriages had also broken down because of Kurama's cult and only recently, a Horse couple had separated as they couldn't take it anymore with the Mare going to another area with her and her mate's Foals, leaving the Stallion alone in his area and since then, the married Talking Horse couple and by extension the family, had NEVER got back together. A number of other marriages had followed this fate as well though some had regrouped. Then finally, Primrose snapped.

"C'mon, kids, pack up," she commanded, "And Ferret, Weasel, you get Cloudy and his things. We're leaving."

The Slugpups including two teen males named Ferret and Weasel obeyed and left to get their things. slim continued to protest.

"Primrose, honey, WAIT!" he begged but Primrose shot him a tearful glare.

"It's OVER, SLIM," she retorted, "I'm SICK of this vicious circle and never-ending Slugcat's chase of something that will NOT come to pass regarding our disabled son Cloudy. We're SICK of this stupid 'Aslan's gonna heal our son' business and GETTIN' NOWHERE WITH IT! WE'RE SICK OF IT ALL! KIDS, come ON!"

Siveth winced and stood there. She wanted to intervene and help but was reluctant to for she felt that she could make the fires worse. Then moments later, a white Slugcat with some smaller Slugpups including a small one in a carrying chair carried by the two teens Weasel and Ferret, emerged from the den. The others carried containers holding their possessions, sort of like suitcases humans used with Primrose carrying a larger one. However, before they could leave the den, three Ravens and an Eagle of the bald eagle species loyal to Kurama appeared, stern looks on their faces, and blocked their way. Siveth backed away so that she could not be seen by them.

"Where do you lot think you're going?" asked the Eagle, making Primrose and her Slugpups except Cloudy shoot them a timid look. Then Primrose brushed aside her nervousness.

"Leaving our den for somewhere else," the female Slugcat blatantly replied but then one of the Ravens stepped towards her and the Slugcat children.

"Back into your den, Slugcats," he ordered, "It's curfew. NO-ONE is allowed out of their homes once the sun starts descending towards the western horizon."

"B-b-but..." began Ferret, one of the Slugpup boys who carried the blind and sickly Cloudy.

"No excuses, no backtalk, just OBEY," the second Raven yelled, "Or you'll shall face consequences from Kurama."

And with that, the four Birds began to force Primrose and her children back the way they came, Slim looking on from inside.

"We're LEAVING because SLIM over there does NOT care about our son Cloudy's serious disabilities and internal condition!" Primrose protested but the third Raven shot her an unsympathetic, nonchalant glare and what he said next added fuel to Primrose's already sky-high fires of frustration.

"It's 'cos you don't have enough faith, Slugcat," the cruel Corvid underling of Kurama cruelly, "Aslan has ALWAYS healed ill and disabled Talking Beasts and Humanoids in the past and there's no doubt that he will heal your disabled son. Now no more questions and objects and BACK to your DEN and do NOT exit it until the morning!"

Primrose, seeing no other choice and COMPLETELY lacerated by the Raven's words, obeyed and returned inside her den, followed by her children. Immediately, her children went to one of the bedrooms with Cloudy in tow as their mother began to erupt into a meltdown, the four Birds looking on nonchalantly before moving on. Siveth looked on tearfully, having seen this too many times before.

'A LOT of marriages and families here are breaking down because of Kurama's cruel and suffocating rules,' she thought, 'And Kurama and his underlings do NOT care one little bit. If this continues, Asgard Sky City will soon be reduced to a city of ruins. Aslan, help us.'

And with that, she quickly left as the mother Slugcat in her home continued to have her VIOLENT meltdown.

Siveth resumed her journey until she came across another group of Kurama's underlings including one of the Bears that had returned from the Land Domain via the Bifrost Transporter as they talked with another of Kurama's higher ranking followers, Voldemort the Komainu. However, when she saw what was in their clutches, she flinched and felt her stomach lurch.

"These poor humans certainly didn't stand a chance during our trip through the Bifrost, did they?" hooted the Bear as he held the corpse of one of the captured humans he and the others with him including Shenron took through the Bifrost Transporter. Siveth looked on with a disgusted look, knowing FULL well that humans and the Bifrost Transporter did NOT mix.

"What do you want us to do with these dead humans, Voldemort?" asked another Talking Beast that went with Eagle Sec to the Land Domain, a Wolf.

"Oh, I have splendid plans for those scum worms," the Komainu spoke wickedly, "Come with me to Asgard Sky City Diner and I'll show you."

Siveth winced as another wave of revulsion tore through her. Asgard Sky City Diner was a large dining area like a high ranking restaurant but since Kurama's takeover of the city, it had been taken over by some of Kurama's underlings who were skilled in cooking food. Based on this, Siveth deduced Voldemort's plans for the dead humans, a conclusion that she did NOT like one bit. Repulsed, she resumed her journey and returned to her den faster for the night. She had hoped that the two escapees, Glitterwing the Cherub and Ozone the Cloud-Man, had found help, possibly including her twin brother Quaoar whom she had not seen for so long.