Chapter Text
Mao Mao has always lived in the sea, in a city of other catfish and other merfolk. His father was renowned as the greatest warrior in all the sea, his sisters were following in his footsteps, but Mao Mao, being the runt, was always left behind. His whole life he had been sheltered and protected within the city, but not anymore. He had made up his mind to prove to them he was just as strong as his family. He was going to sink a ship. Beforehand he had double checked his future and luck with the local Deranged Witch, she had said a bunch of nonsense that he dismissed as her usual ramblings, but the thing that stuck with Mao Mao was how she said he would find true love on the adventure. Her crystal ball showed the face of a man he didn’t recognize, but Mao Mao wasn’t concerned, he’d meet him on his way to proving himself to his family.
“Bao Bao! We’re going on an adventure!” Mao Mao announced, grabbing his fishy companion. “Pack your bags bao Bao because we aren’t coming home until we’ve sunk a ship, maybe a whole fleet! HAHAHAA” he laughed his Trademark Mao laugh as he swam along the outskirts of the city. “Maybe that’s when I’ll meet my true love, after he sees me take down a whole ARMY of battleships, I’ll Blow him out of the water with my impressive feats!” he thought to himself, still daydreaming about how cool he would look as he swam into fisherman- infested territory.
Bao Bao paddled beside him, growing more and more anxious at being in such dangerous waters. “You’ve got nothing to worry about Bao Bao, we’ve always got each other’s back.” he patted his friends head and kept moving.
Eventually he peeped his head above water and started singing, and soon enough he saw a large vessel heading straight for him. Perfect! He tried moving back to lead them toward a rocky cove, but his tail had caught on something.
A fishing net, his voice wavered as he struggled to detangle himself. The ship was getting close.
“Bao Bao! Help me!” He yelled to his friend, who was swimming around in panicked circles (unhelpfully). Bao Bao was just a fish! He didn’t know what he was supposed to do to help.
Suddenly he felt himself being pulled out of the water, the air itching his skin, and then he was knocked out.
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Vaguely, as if in a dream he remembers some foggy words and distant phrases.
“Is that a real mermaid?! I didn...”
“Is it still.....”
“We’ll be rich! I can’t believe our...”
“25 thousand... no, it’s small, an....”
It was blurry, he couldn’t make out a lot of it.
Mao Mao woke up with a splitting headache, “Fuck. Where am I?” He looked around, squinting at the bright artificial lights. After a few minutes of fumbling around and squinting he realized he wasn’t in the ocean anymore, he was in some kind of fishtank on land. The building around him seemed to be a fancy restaurant, with gimmicky “mythical creature” decor and fake monster artifacts. Uhg. And Bao Bao was no where to be found, he had escaped, his best friend had LEFT HIM and saved himself while he got captured?! “AHG” Mao Mao growled, rubbing his temples, he was in some deep shit now. “How are you gonna get yourself out of this one Mao Mao??” he thought you himself. It was a question that would have to wait, he was *starving*. There were some other small reef fish in the tank, not enough to be a full meal, And right now he was in the mood to HUNT and kill... but these little fish would have to suffice.
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Rufus sat at his desk with his partner.
“That was an amazing find Reggie! A real live catfish! This is going to attract so many new customers.”
The short raccoon blushed, “Aw, Rufus, I’m just glad I don’t have to pretend to be a mermaid anymore, the tail was getting pretty uncomfy. I don’t think many people bought the act anyway.”
Rufus laughed, “in any case, I thought you were cute. And we’ll finally start getting some real business around here! Be here bright and early for the unveiling tomorrow.”
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