Takahiro, May 6th
Hey, you alright?” Katherina shook Takahiro gently by the shoulders as reality faded back in. The purple walls, white wooden tiled floors, black trim, and gold for extra accents of the hallway they were in was a dead giveaway that they were still at the Black Palace. His eyes flitted around, seeing Katherina to his left and Milena to his right, walking down the hallway.
“Huh? Yeah.”
“You seem out of it.”
“No, I’m fine, don’t worry.” Takahiro said. He looked around, but saw no traces of Satan and everyone he brought with him earlier. “Are they still here?”
“They teleported away, and everyone else here got the fucking unconcious potion and I get to be the lucky bastard to wake everyone up!” Milena grumbled, slowly raising her voice to yelling.
“We really need to find a way to restrict those things…” Katherina said.
“What are they made of, anyway?” Takahiro asked.
“Melatonin, some kind of sleep spell, and something from some animal, I don’t remember exactly.” Milena said, “I have a feeling they teleported back to their palace in hell. You know we could capture them, if we make it in there without a pass and also make it past security somehow. Everyone in here is asleep now, but if I got help from a few others at the other kingdoms we could probably wake everyone up, and capture Satan and co, if you want to.” Milena continued walking down the hallway as she used her magic to wake one of the ten people passed out on the floor out of their prolonged unconsciousness, then another, and another.
“Nah.” Takahiro decided.
“Really?” said Milena.
“Yeah. I don’t think you wanna see the Mendozas again anyway.”
“Okay, wow. After everyone’s awake again, what then?”
“Let’s finally go after Grey.”
“Already? Even after-” Katherina said.
“I’ll be fine, I can just use people from the other kingdoms I’ve conquered.”
“Alright, if you say so.” Katherina shrugged.
Takahiro managed to gather another army within twenty minutes. From Green, he got an army division, a naval division from Brown, and an air force group from Light Grey. Combined together, he had about 45,000, which would be overboard even for a kingdom as small as Grey.
He now stood on the dock on an amphibious assault ship, a large ship with planes on the edges and a square platform at the end the planes could take off from. They were a reasonable distance from Grey, close enough to see it somewhat, but not too far they couldn’t see anything. They’d stopped sailing ten minutes ago, keeping still on the calm waters of Grey. staring at the main island. It was called Holoholona, sometimes known as Animal Island to outsiders of Grey like Takahiro himself. Holoholona had beautiful green grass and bushes with palm trees and beaches where the land met light blue waters. The Grey Kingdom, or at least Holoholona, was second to the Green Kingdom of how beautiful its nature was.
Takahiro watched the humanimals of Grey go about their lives. Some walked around markets, and others went in tiny boats and sailed away from the island, throwing fishing lines and bringing back their biggest catches. He knew he’d completely change everything, but he didn’t care. He spaced out, his eyes glued to the island, but head otherwise empty.
“Hiro? Hiro? Are we gonna get moving soon or are you just gonna keep staring at Grey?” Katherina waved a hand in front of his eyes as he came off autopilot. He turned around and saw Katherina, in a short sun dress and Milena was wearing long flared pants and a brown tank top, parts from her usual outfit with the bandana around her head, jacket and corset removed. As if they just came down to the southern parts of Ayuzuma, Takahiro suddenly felt how hot he was getting.
“Yes, yes. Sorry.” Takahiro said as he took off his fedora and fanned himself with it. He walked into the cockpit while motioning for Katherina and Milena to follow. He opened his laptop that was on a side table and logged in as quickly as possible, wifi out at the sea was patchy at best. As soon as the laptop was ready, he opened Zoom and invited the leaders of each brigade and other necessary parties. When everyone was on Zoom, he turned the computer around to a map of Grey Island he had taped to a nearby pillar. He stood right next to it so he was visible to the Brigade leaders.
“Alright, let’s just get to it. Grey consists of thirteen islands,” Takahiro pointed out on the map, “We’ll need to divide the work between us. My personal crew will be with Army Brigade Green Seven. We’ll focus on Animal first since it’s the most populated and where the Chang royal family lives. Assuming things go well for us, we’ll move on to the next most populated island. This is likely Bunny, Dragon, Tiger, and Rat Island. Now, Naval Brigade Brown Two will focus on Snake, Horse, Goat, and Monkey. For them, the order doesn’t matter. Finally, Air Force Group Light Grey Will take Ox, Pig, Dog, and Rooster. Though I doubt, we’ll need them, there are other brigades on standby in the event of something happening. Are we clear?”
The other brigade leaders and commanders said yes and nodded. Takahiro bid them farewell, closing the laptop.
“Captain?” Takahiro turned to the boat’s captain. The captain’s head whipped around to look Takahiro in the eye.
“It’s time. Take us to the coast of Animal Island, where Army Brigade Green Seven is.”
“Yes, sir!” The captain saluted before turning their attention back to the waters and steering the wheel to Animal Island.
Takahiro, Katherina, and Milena all teleported onto the sands of Animal Island. Suspiciously, there were no citizens on the beaches of Animal. Takahiro walked up to the Colonel of the Green Brigade to greet him.
“We almost ready? Did we already scare off the citizens?” Takahiro asked.
“We are, I think the ship not being at the docks was what did it.” The Colonel explained.
“Of course. Call in your army, let’s just get this show on the road.”
“Aye, aye sir!” The Colonel saluted before using their walkie-talkie.
“Alright, you two are coming with me, we’re gonna break into the palace and deal with the royals.” Takahiro motioned towards Katherina and Milena, who followed him.
The Grey Palace was just in the distance. Compared to other palaces Takahiro had encountered, it was relatively small but still a gorgeous sight. The palace was elevated on wooden poles, and a small staircase led up to the entrance with two doors with matching bunny carvings. The roof was raised high in the air to a point and swooped down, then back up again at the back. There were two other sets of small staircases that lead to slightly lower elevated palaces in the palace. Of course, the palace had as many Grey parts as possible without looking too boring. Grey was the namesake of the island, after all.
Guarding the palace were multiple guards, as expected, each with a diverse range of animal features, some with ears and tails, some with markings, and some with other less obvious animal features like claws or animal legs.
“I don’t think we’re getting in there if we just waltz in the palace, no disguises or anything, sir.” Milena whispered to Takahiro.
Almost as if the brigade from Green was waiting for her to say that a few of the soldiers from the brigade marched up, guns and swords in hand, and fought off the guards. While the guards seemed to put up a good fight, the soldiers from Green outnumbered them and could take them out.
“Alright then, guess we don’t need that.” Milena said.
The trio followed the brigade from behind, but the brigade was pushed back. From the entrance came two bunny humanimals, on the left was a man in his mid-forties and a girl in her early twenties.
“You will be leaving this island immediately.” The girl marched up to Takahiro as the man disappeared back into the palace.
“No.” Takahiro said as he used his shadow powers to attempt to plunge her into darkness, but his magic fizzled out. He whipped his head around, and suddenly he was encircled with other humanimals from Grey.
“Takahiro, catch!” Milena threw a switchblade at Takahiro.
‘Fuck, I should’ve gotten a new weapon before today, oh well, this works for now.’ Takahiro thought as he raced up to the girl. She dodged him in what felt like less than a second, sliding to the left.
‘Come on, come on, please help…’ Takahiro thought as he turned around to swing the switchblade at the girl. Just as he thought that, finally, one soldier grabbed the girl by her neck, forcing her to stop, the others that the girl had summoned were either held back or restrained in some way until, finally, they were all captured.
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“Hey, let me go!” She fought against the members of the brigade.
Takahiro looked over to Katherina and Milena, who had just captured one of the humanimals the girl summoned. He motioned for them to follow him inside the palace, slowly creeping inside together.
The inside of the palace was small, as expected. Compared to other throne rooms, the Palace of Grey felt much more cramped. The throne was only a few steps away, and doors were on either side of the entrance. Takahiro listened for any suspicious sounds but heard none.
“You two, thoroughly check what’s behind these doors, see if the other royals are in here. I’m going back outside to hold onto the princess.” Takahiro whispered.
Milena and Katherina nodded, then they all went their separate ways.
Takahiro raced down the steps and saw the huddled brigade all whispering.
“What’s going on?” Takahiro asked, forcing his way through the group.
The brigade all collectively said ‘um’, hesitating until Takahiro frowned at them like a disappointed mother. Then one blurted out: “The princess was able to use her speed to wiggle out of our grip, and someone came and led her into the water!”
“Someone? Wait, did you catch what species they were?”
“Well, they looked practically human, might’ve been some fins on either side of their torso but otherwise-”
“The merfolk!” Takahiro hissed. both at the brigade member that spoke and at himself as he marched over to the beach where the water was. As expected, there was the bunny girl from before, and a mermaid.
“My hanfu is wet Marisol!” The girl complained.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry. Just let my people handle this.” Marisol comforted the bunny girl. The merperson happened to glance over and saw Takahiro making his way over.
“Oh hell no. Kiana, we’re going under.” Marisol said. She pulled the bunny girl, who Takahiro now knew was Kiana, farther out to sea. A fellow merperson used magical powers on Kiana before they all went under together. Takahiro raced to the edge of the beach, trying to use his shadow powers to plummet them into darkness under the ocean, but he felt his magic not grasping on anything human-shaped.
‘Of course I can’t even swim…’ Takahiro backed up before the water could splash on his legs. Takahiro whipped out his walkie-talkie before saying, “Hey, naval brigade, are you busy?”
“Yeah, we just got Snake and Horse, and we’re on our way to take Goat now. Did something happen?”
“A mermaid- well, I think they were a female merperson, just took the princess underwater. I tried using my powers to take them out of the water, but my powers weren’t gripping on anything merperson shaped, and I can’t swim either.”
“Where are you right now?”
“Eastern Beach on Animal Island.”
“Alright, I’ll send a small boat over there. If it’s just the one princess, it should be fine.”
Just as Takahiro said that the same man from before raced past him and dove straight into the water. An unfamiliar merperson and the same one that performed the magic on Kiana appeared and used the magic on the man before disappearing underwater again. Takahiro tried to use his magic to capture all three, but another magic-using merperson blasted magic at Takahiro. Whatever spell they used, he wasn’t sure, but it was enough to keep him from getting a grasp on who was likely the king. Takahiro heard footsteps behind him and whipped his head around, but thankfully, it was only Milena and Katherina.
“Fuck!” Katherina cursed.
“We still can get the Queen, at least.” Milena sighed.
“But where is she?” Takahiro asked.
“She wasn’t in the castle… Hm…”
“While you do that, I’m gonna get an update from the other portion of the army and the air force,” Katherina began using her walkie-talkie, “army and air force, what islands do you have?”
“We’ve got Bunny, Dragon, and Tiger!” The army brigade’s commander said.
“Tiger, Pig, and Ox. Do you have animal?”
“Not yet. I’ll update you later.” Takahiro said as he raced back to the palace. “A few parts of the Green brigade should guard the palace. Milena, Katherina, and the rest are with me.”
“Now what? Still don’t know where the queen is.” Milena asked.
“You think it’s possible she went to one of the other islands?” Takahiro said.
“Could be.” Said Katherina.
“Sorry, another question, anyone happens to see the Queen of Grey on the islands at all?” Takahiro used the walkie-talkie again.
“Nope.” said the air force commander.
“Me either.” said the navy commander.
“Nothing here.” said the army commander with the rest of the Green Brigade.
“Hmm… If they still haven’t taken Rat, Monkey or Rooster, we could pay a visit to each of those islands maybe…” Takahiro thought out loud.
“Which one’s closest? Monkey?” Milena asked.
“Yeah.” said Takahiro.
“I’ll take Monkey, you guys handle the other two,” Milena said, as she began to walk off.
“Aren’t you gonna ask for someone to sail you over?”
“It’s just a quick swim, it’ll be five minutes. I got this.” Milena waved them off as she headed for the southwestern area of the island towards Monkey. Takahiro and Katherina eyed each with an eyebrow raised.
“To each their own, I guess.” Katherina shrugged.
“Sorry again, Katherina and I are gonna hit up Rat and Rooster. Whoever was gonna look for the princess, are you on your way?” Takahiro spoke into the walkie-talkie once more.
“Almost there, sorry!” Someone, presumably the one controlling the small boat. Takahiro looked up and saw the boat come closer. He waved as he went onto the beach, approaching the boat even more.
“Thank you!” Takahiro yelled as he jumped off the boat onto Rooster Island. The captain waved and swiftly turned the boat around, making its way back to Animal. Takahiro made sure to enter the island by the ports, where there was a map. He approached the map and let his eyes observe. There were three main villages, one near the port, one in the middle of the island and one to the northwest. One of the houses was abnormally larger and more detailed than the other miniature houses, and the key noted that it was the home to Mr. and Mrs. Kalani,.
‘Wait, isn’t that… the Queen’s parents? I know I read somewhere the Queen’s father grew up in Rooster. Must be why their house is huge and a landmark. If she’s on Rooster, she’s gotta be there! Or, if she’s trying to throw me off, she went to some other village.’
As Takahiro was lost in thought, a voice pulled him out of his thought.
“Takahiro Koizumi, you are under arrest!” They yelled.
Takahiro turned his head around and just laughed. The guard growled and bent down slightly as if they were about to pounce on Takahiro, but Takahiro began using shadow powers, making a clasping hands motion to wrap them in shadows, and raising one hand up in the air and moving it like he were holding a basketball to throw the guard into the water.
‘I wanted to take a nice walk, but I guess that’s not happening. Oh well!’ Takahiro thought as he began teleporting himself away.
Takahiro looked around and saw the house. The house had fencing that stretched high enough to be excessive and red ropes leading to the gate as if others entered before.
‘Hm… I wonder if I can teleport in?’ Takahiro thought. He used his magic again and, shockingly was now inside the house gate. He peeked at the closest window and saw a somewhat chubby woman, possibly in her 30s or 40s, with muted copper skin, white wavy hair, and bunny ears pointed downwards. She was talking to another man and woman with similar traits, just much older.
‘I can see how she resembles the princess.’ Takahiro thought. As Takahiro watched them, trying to formulate a plan, the Queen happened to look out the window and saw him, watching. Staring.
Takahiro watched her rush out with her assumed parents, and Takahiro teleported every few seconds to keep up with them, but every time he almost caught up with them, they ran past. It all continued until they made their way to the nearest ocean, the merfolk waiting with open arms to take them underwater.
Takahiro growled as he teleported closer for the last time, only able to watch the merfolk take the Queen and her parents underwater. Takahiro made a daring move to attempt to go under the water, throwing his hat, shoes, and socks aside and diving in.
“Ugh, what am I doing. I can’t swim! And I just got my clothes wet… It is pretty nice, though…” Takahiro said as he went deeper into the water.
As soon as all of Grey was in the hands of Takahiro, he and his crew headed straight back to the palace in Black. Takahiro immediately changed from his soaked clothes into a simple button-up shirt and pleated pants. He flung himself onto his bed, exhausted.
“Was the water nice?” Katherina asked.
“Yeah.” Takahiro raised himself from the bed to look at her entering the room before plopping back down again.
“So, what’s next?” Katherina sat next to Takahiro.
“Finally get a new weapon for me. Milena did give me a pretty nice switchblade.”
“I meant what kingdom to take next, but that’s good too. You sure you're not going to…” Katherina trailed off.
“Yes, yes, I told you I’m fine. That was me in November and December. The me now can handle it. We just took over Grey and stopped an uprising in Green, I want to rest for a bit.” Takahiro yawned, sitting up to lean his head on Katherina’s shoulder and hug her,
“Alright then.”