Chapter Text
He doesn’t remember much, after his crushing defeat.
He remembers the explosions, the cry of his mistress in his ear, and the seeping cold - before a light grabs him. There’s terrified cries from minions under his command as they flee for their lives, an intense buzzing from something held deep in his home now let go. The light that envelops him is familiar and calming, like the grip of an hold friend holding his hand. However, it’s a bad grip, and he’s slipping, about to lose his hold. He’s slipping, and without so much as a warning, his systems boot off, his eyes go dark, and the moon does not save him right away.
He was going to die.
There’s another scream, clamor, but its far, far away. Something about the ocean. The last thing he hears as his life fades is a gentle, familiar voice, bit he cannot place who it is. However, he remembers what it tells him...
”Your curse has been broken.”
———
It was a fairly pleasant evening, with the way the clouds lazily float over the sea. Not too bright, not too dark, and a wonderful breeze that kept Nekoyama company along his mail route. He was having a rather wonderful time, with the sea breeze lightly rushing over his feathers, and he could honestly say that today, for sure, he won’t get distracted.
That is, until a high pitched, but soft, whistling catches Nekoyama off guard.
He stalls in the air, flapping his wings to keep him from falling into the water himself, and listens. It might just be the Starfruits talking to him, but... the whistling gets louder.
Nekoyama glances down, and finds himself near the guarded gate of the Deep Sea Kingdom. The crab guards don’t seem to notice the noise, but crabs aren’t exactly well known for having great hearing. Nekoyama figures it’s probably just him, and prepared to continue his deliveries, until the whistling gets unbearably loud, and the air next to Nekoyama shoves him past. He squawks in surprise, and the force of the object causes him to fall into the sea himself.
Something black and pink went rocketing past him, landing squarely in the middle of the rock gate and sinking to the depths below. Nekoyama squawks again, attempting to beat the water and keep his letters from getting lost, but to no avail. The seagull frowns, using his wings to fix his hat.
“... What was that thing...?”
———
Ever since the oceans had been sealed and peace returned, weird things generally didn’t happen anymore. Sometimes that damn orca would stroll in, dangerous smile on his face, but other than his occasional intervention? Life was good. The residents of the sea were happy, for the most part, and the sea witch had finally be reunited with her familiar.
That’s why when something weird happens, the people contact Wadanohara first, and the princess second.
It’s why Wadanohara was the name everyone chants as this lanky figure in black sinks down, down and further down to pavement. The fall it had taken was made gentle by the water, the force slowing until the... whatever it is, had its back make contact with the floor. As quickly as ever, Wadanohara skips out of her home, with all her familiars in tow as she does. She can see familiar faces in the crowd - in fact, it was Cherryblod himself who rushed over to her door, knocking on it to alert her. He and Doloz had been taking a stroll with Lobco, when the peculiar person had fallen to the floor.
“What is it?” “It looks like a human...” “Too tall to be human!” “Maybe it’s a bird?” “Another bird?” “......”
A gap in the crowd clears for Wadanohara, and she’s finally able to look over what everyone’s talking about.
“Hey, hey! Give’m room!” Memoca squawks, waving her arms at the crowd and making a perimeter around the fallen person. There’s shuffling around, and Tarako peeks out from behind Lobco to watch what’s going on.
“Room!” Dolphi repeats, stepping forwards to help.
Fukami says nothing, their tentacles lazily writhing - Samekichi keeps his eyes on Wadanohara as she approaches.
“Hmm...” Wadanohara pauses, giving the person a look over.
The figure appears to be human, in most senses of the word. He’s extremely tall, with long, spindly legs and long spindly arms, with dull pink skin color. He has white hair, formed into three points, and what looked like tight cords laced his hair in square patterns and wandering, but rigid lines. He appears to be dressed like a butler, but with silver gauntlets, and no proper tie. His coattails, however, seem to slowly crawl with light and dark purples, from complete black to light, ending sharply at a slant. He also has a rather impressive mustache, same color as his hair - along with a golden brooch and a golden monocle.
She reaches out to touch the side of his neck, to locate a pulse, when her sleeve brushes the golden brooch on his chest. It has a unique design - a large circle with a line out either side, with a curved, flat piece that arcs back into the circle, with a blue stone in the middle. The blue stone flickers and glows for a moment, then shuts off.
Wadanohara notes the detail, but reaches over it anyway. Her fingers press the side of his neck, despite the odd outfit in the way. Whatever was used to make his suit seems to be of a slick material that is stretchy, but sturdy. However, though it was faint...
She feels it.
A pulse.
“Still alive!” Wadanohara shouts, and the group clamors to action. “Let’s get him up to the surface - Samekichi, Fukami, let’s go!”
Fukami easily scoops the odd fellow into their tentacles, all but gliding across the floor as Samekichi takes his shark form. Fukami hops onto Samekichi’s back, along with Wadanohara - Memoca and Dolphi are grabbed by Fukami’s free tentacles.
Samekichi, if he were any younger, would bitch about the situation - time was of the essence, however, so his complaints about being a taxi service would have to wait. He makes a beeline for the gate, then comes to a screeching halt to let everyone off and the strange fellow into the air outside.
Samekichi shifts back to normal as Fukami sets the odd person down. Wadanohara goes to grab for her father’s staff, when the fellow jerks forwards with a cough.
He quickly sits up, hacking up water, but still places his hand over his mouth to be polite. He turns his head and heave, emptying water from his mouth with a horrible wretch. Memoca grimaces, and Samekichi looks away.
“G-goodness.” He finally says, giving his chest a few quick thumps to make sure everything is in order. His silver gauntlets suddenly spark, and a soft purple flame begins to burn out of each one, gently enveloping his arms, but producing no smoke, nor heat. His brooch flickers to life, the blue stone in the middle suddenly gleaming bright. He pulls his knees close and forces himself to stand.
“Are you alright - do you need help? You were underwater for a while!” Wadanohara frets, and the man nods - now that he was awake, his non hidden eye could be seen - it’s completely blacked out, save a green iris. He has notable lines on his face, too - but in all fairness, Wadanohara had to squint to make these features out. When the man stood, he was easily twice her height.
“Yes, thank you.” The man says, realizing the height of his company, and dropping to one knee, so it was a tad easier on them. “I apologize for the trouble I have caused you all, and I do owe for the favor, but I must be going as soon as I can.”
Wadanohara goes to ask after him, but Memoca beats her to any kind of conversation.
“Who are you, anyway!? Why did you just fall out of the sky?! Where do you need to go!?” Memoca rapid fires questions.
“Who are you...?” Dolphi squints. Fukami stares expectantly, and Samekichi growls.
“I am no enemy, if that is what you’re asking.” The man says, closing his eyes. After a moment, he opens then again. “My name is Arlon the Serene. As for your other questions...”
He pauses again, like he can’t figure out how to word something. He seems to be trying to regain his memory. “... My home was destroyed, after I was defeated. I fell from the wreckage of my home, and into the water, where you found me.”
Fukami gives Wadanohara a look.
“As for where I need to go, I must return to Mistress Viridi. Something went wrong..” He finishes, then his eyes dart around, glancing at the sunset. Excellent, this is his chance.
Wadanohara’s expression shifts to that blank face she makes when she loses track of the conversation. Samekichi and Fukami clearly don’t believe him, and Dolphi is unreadable as ever - at least Memoca isn’t side tracked.
”Viridi?! Whose that?!”
“She is the goddess of nature, and my superior.” Arlon explains, tapping the stone in his brooch. A screen if light appears under his touch, but he makes a frustrated sigh before waving the screen away.
“It appears there has been quite the damage from my fall.” Arlon sighs. “None of my systems are working.”
“Uh, what systems? Are they like, life support?” Memoca chirps.
“Memoca...” Wadanohara sighs.
Samekichi pushes his way to the front of the group, arms out to keep everyone safe. Fukami shifts around behind him, and Wadanohara attempts to get around him.
“Hey, you gotta start explaining shit better than that! Why should we trust a thing you’re telling us?!” Samekichi accuses.
“I understand my tale is rather... difficult to believe. However, I do have to manage information accordingly. I took an oath of silence in regards to my affairs with the Forces of Nature, and I intend to honor it.” Arlon responds, gaze narrowing slightly - but he stands back up, posture completely straight.
“Forces of Nature...?” Dolphi tilts her head to the side.
“Yes. The Forces of Nature. I am among their ranks, and that is all I can say on the matter.” Arlon sighs. “What I can tell you, is that I am the moon.”
Fukami pipes up. “Hold on. You are the moon?”
Wadanohara quickly takes over. “Could we talk about this in my boat, perhaps? Maybe over tea? Or at least, not here?”
Arlon looks perplexed for a brief moment, then nods. “Of course, as the young lady wishes. May I have your names?”
“Yeah! I’m Wadanohara.” The sea witch slips past Samekichi and offers her hand, which Arlon shakes very politely. His hands are big, and his gloves have odd patterns on the back... But Wadanohara doesn’t miss a beat.
”This is Samekichi,” she gestures to the shark in the front, with his missing eye and his angry face, “Memoca,” then to the seagull with her bright eyes, “Dolphi,” to the dolphin who one could mistake for a shark, then lastly, she gestures to the odd fellow with all the tentacles coming from under his coat. “and this is Fukami.”
Arlon bows politely in greeting. Wadanohara curtsies back.
”Hey Dolphi, can you go tell the princess everything’s under control?” Wadanohara asks. Her dolphin familiar nods, then leaps back into the ocean, taking the form of a proper dolphin when she does. Arlon eyes this, but says nothing, returning to the present.
“Er, if I may, Lady Wadanohara,” Arlon begins, “seeing as it may take me time to get back to Mistress Viridi, I would at least like to return the favor for saving me.”
“Alright, I guess that’s okay! And please just call me Wadanohara...”
Samekichi’s glare did not go unnoticed by Arlon. Arlon pretended not to noticed instead, the group leaves the gate, heading for the boat, and to make the tea.
———
The tea is served, and everyone is gathered around the table - Arlon is left to kneel on the floor, as the chairs were just not big enough to accommodate. He politely sips at his tea for a moment, then clears his throat again. Sea water still seems to burn his throat, but the tea helps.
“I can attempt to answer questions, however - I simply cannot promise you will like my answers.” Arlon explains, folding his arms across his lap.
“Uh, then, start with Fukami’s question!” Wadanohara offers.
“Of course. The answer is yes, I am the moon. I go by many titles and many faces - moon spirit, moon god, moon ambassador... but I do prefer this face, and Arlon the Serene, best out of my options.” Arlon pauses to take another drink as Fukami glares at him.
“So if you’re the moon god, and your home blew up, does that mean there’s a hole in the moon?!” Memoca pipes up.
“Not quite. To protect the earth and the moon itself, I had orbiting base of my own. However, again, I cannot share too much on it.” Arlon suddenly has a feeling like that is going to be a pattern. “But I confess, I have not been to the surface of the world in... many, many life times.”
“Maybe we can help fill you in?” She offers. “We can tell you what happened while you were gone!”
Arlon smiles, a small, quiet smile. He cannot place it, but something in his chest makes him feel... proud, of Wadanohara, despite only meeting her today. In fact, many emotions he has not pondered in such a long, long time have come rushing back - when he catches Samekichi glaring at him, he feels... worried. Like he needs to guard, perhaps, but he couldn’t be for sure why. The sea always gave Arlon peculiar emotions, anyway. It was the nature of the moon to be attracted to the ocean, to sway and dance with the waves, yet... this time, things are much, much different.
Though, Mistress Viridi is his primary concern... but if his internal systems were correct, he wasn’t in a place she could get him, anyway. He’ll most likely need the witch and her familiar’s assistance to return to his moon. He could only pray that he doesn’t worry her. Besides, there’s no reason to be rude.
“I would be happy to learn. Please, if you do not mind telling the story?”