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Tohru, Kyo, and Haru were enjoying their time at the beach. Tohru had been collecting shells on the beach, when she stumbled upon a rather strange object buried in the sand. Above the sand was a wide, flat knob with a bony look. Tohru grabbed it and tugged it out of the sand, revealing a single beautiful fish scale the size of a hand fan. The inside was raw bone, but the exterior look as polished emerald so clear that Tohru could see her reflection in the glassy surface. Tohru sighed in awe, before leaping up to bring it back to her bag. Once it was secure in the bag, she went back to have more fun. Later, as the three prepared to leave, they became rather tired. Tohru got up, but before she had a chance to do anything she passed out onto the floor.
When she awoke she, along with Kyo and Haru, found themselves in a strange-looking cell. The roof and walls were a pearlescent dome, with a cheap-looking floor made of dead coral. The only furniture, if it could be called such, was a blue fleshy tube in the middle of the room, protected with some plastic netting and poles: This appeared to be the room's source of light. Kyo immediately stood up and tumbled down the unusually steep floor. "Ow! Fuck!" he yelled. "Kyo!" Tohru cried, "Are you alright?".
"Yeah, I'm fine" he replied, climbing back to his feet, "Now where the hell are we?".
"It looks like some sort of cell" Haru commented. "You think?" Kyo replied. "Yep" Haru said, "This seems like it could be a prison cell". Kyo facepalmed. "How did we get here?" Tohru said. "We were probably kidnapped by someone and lock up here" Haru explained. "That isn't helpful!" Kyo said. "She did ask" Haru protested. Before the argument could escalate, a strange intruder entered the cell. They were wearing something like a sapphire-toned kimono, and had flipper-like arms and a crustaceous tail in place of legs. Their head was horse-like, and the face held only an accidental resemblance to that of a human. "Wha- Who are you?" Kyo demanded. "I'm an advocate" the intruder said with a thick accent, "You're going before the court tomorrow, so we'll need to make a defence".
"D-defence?" Tohru said. "You've been accused of stealing from the duke of the city" said the advocate. "Who's he?" Haru asked. "Apologies" the advocate spoke, "He is Duke Greruge, also named Duke Emerald. He is the duke of Goldcoast City".
"Still don't know who that is" Haru replied. "Well, I don't know what to tell you" the advocate said, "Anyway, what do have to say about the accusation?".
"Nothing!" Kyo yelled, "We haven't stolen anything!".
"Oh, it's a mixup then" the advocate replied, "Let's just go and set things straight".
"Yes, let's do that" Tohru quickly said. "Great" spoke the advocate "Wait here". The advocate slipped out of the cell, and the three of them were left once more. "So, now what?" Haru asked. Before anyone could answer the three of them were portalled out of the cell. They found themselves in a great glass dome sat in the middle of a massive lordly courtroom. All around were beautiful plants, seaweeds, and corals decorating the walls. Merfolk, octopodes, and other aquatic beings made up the courtiers and servants of the court. There was a great throne of pearl, jewels, and gold in the centre of the hall. Floating above it was the great sinuous form of a dragon. Its piscine visage bore long barbels and 10 shark-like gills. A long ridged fin ran down its back, and its talons were webbed like a swan. Tohru particularly noticed the emerald-green sheen of its glassy fish-like scales. Suddenly the dragon's voice echoed in their minds: "So, you are the accused. What is your side of the event?".
"What event?" Kyo demanded, "We haven't done anything".
"One of my scales was taken, and my hydromancers tell me you did it" the dragon answered. "Y-your scale?" Tohru said. "That is what I said" spoke the dragon. "Oh, w-well" Tohru babbled, "I g-guess I did find a scale on the beach, but I d-didn't th-".
"So you did take it" the dragon interjected. "W-well, uh" Tohru stammered, "You weren't using it?". The dragon simply looked at her. Before it could respond, Haru spoke up: "That's a terrible excuse. You'd be freaked out if someone collected your hair, right?".
"I guess so" Tohru sighed regretfully. "So" the dragon spoke, "Your sentences. You, uh, redhead? You're free to go: Please follow the guard". As it spoke a large octopus slid into the dome and gestured for Kyo to come. "Now, you two" the dragon said. "Yo-".
"What did I do?" Haru asked. "You argued against your own friend" the dragon explained, "That's rather disrespectful".
"Hmm" Haru mused, "Fair enough".
"So, your sentences" the dragon continued, "Now you, um, brunette? Given that this is a first offence, I'll give you a month". Tohru simply hung her head in sadness. "Now, other guy" spoke the dragon, "Your crime was more minor, so I'll just give you 3 days in jail. Coul-". A serpent rushed into the court and called out to the throned dragon. This new serpent had a terrestrial appearance, with a furry mane around its fin and its barbels and webbing only half that of the throned dragon's. The two creatures debated for a short while, until the throned dragon returned to the teens. "Well" it began, "It seems that you two are.. somewhat important to a few members of my inner court. I've already handed out the sentence, so I can't change that, but I'm not going to send you to a jail..".
"Oh, we don't need any special treatment!" Tohru said, "We d-".
"Politics is a delicate thing" the throned dragon explained, "If Shoumra doesn't want you in jail, then my claws are tied".
"So if you can't send us to jail then why not let us go?" Haru suggested. "No" the throned dragon declared. A short silence followed, interrupted by the dragon once more: "OK, I've considered a solution. Please follow the guard". Tohru and Haru turned to find a large octopus ambling towards them in the dome. They were then brought back to the pearlescent cell.
A short while the advocate returned. "So" the advocate spoke, "You were found guilty".
"Yep" Haru replied. The advocate sighed. "Well" they continued, "Your sentence is to be handled by the Baroness of Goldcoral".
"Oh" Haru replied, "Who's she?".
"She's a Baroness" said the advocate, "Now, I have some things to give you". They handed out two thick gildenish ribbons. "Put these on your neck" spoke the advocate, "They're water-breathing charms". The charms were taken, and then the advocate left. A dark silence fell in the room. "So" Tohru began, "D-do you think we're under the sea?".
"Most likely" Haru replied. Before the conversation could continue, the cell tipped on its side. Tohru fell down to the new floor, which promptly split open to drop her into the water. Haru joined Tohru in the brine a few moments later. Immediately they were escorted (or rather, shoved) into the back of a massive car. They were joined in the back with an ichthyoid figure: Her head, breast, and arms seemed half between human and fish, with the tail fully piscine. She was wearing a tight garment somewhat like a kimono, which had a blue hue accented with white. "Hello" Tohru greeted, "How are you?".
"I don't what's happening with you two either" replied the fish-woman. "Oh, O-OK" Tohru stammered. Haru gazed out of the window. It seemed just as an old city but underwater. They travelled over gravel roads lined with kelps, along many buildings of shells and coral. Sharing the road were cars, trucks, and the occasional floating raft drawn by piscine citizens. Tohru cleared her throat. "So, um.." Tohru began, "W-where are we going?".
"Goldcoral estate" the fish-woman stated. "Oh" Tohru said, "Is it far?".
"We're pretty much there now" the fish-woman replied. Tohru turned to the window and watched the scenery pass. Mostly she saw a great kelp forest through which the road cut. Soon the two of them noticed a grand wall of stony columns. The car rolled along past the columns, into a field of beauty. Perfect reefs of all sorts of corals grew in grand gardens, with glittering fish darting about amongst them. Great halls stood about them, contrived of pearl and coral and ornately detailed with jewels. Gilded boxes outside held great exotic flowers that floated in the brine. Before the two could realise the car came to a stop right beside an immane archway, and the car door opened. Without a word the fish-woman swam from the compartment, leaving Haru and Tohru alone. "N-now what?" Tohru asked. "We're alone.." Haru said, "Maybe we could escape?".
"What?!" Tohru exclaimed, "B-but, you've only got 3 days?".
"And you've got a whole month" Haru spoke, "Anyway, le-". The door slid open and a giant octopus appeared, wearing a blue-and-white livery upon its skin. "Oh!" Tohru exclaimed, "We were, uh, not escaping! Y-yeah!". If the octopus understood Tohru, it didn't show it: It simply took the two by the arm and escorted them into the halls. "W-where are we going?" Tohru asked. No response was given. They were brought through several turns until they were released into their day's second outsized courtroom. It was not so grand as the duke's court, but it was still opulent. The two human's attention was not on the hall, but on the individual in the centre of the room: She was a gigantesque figure as great as an orca. Her upper body had a beautiful human form, with flawless skin and soft red hair in an elegant coif. A tall lurid cockscomb sat on her scalp, and two silvery horns grew above her forehead. She was clothed in a kimono of gilded sea-silk, with large amount of tasteful jewellery. Below was a long tail that was half-fish and half-dragon, with a wide finned tail and bright shimmering scales. "Hello there" the figure spoke, "I am Baroness Goldcoral". Tohru gasped and bowed deeply. "Get up" the baroness said, "You're already small enough".
"Sorry!" Tohru replied, quickly standing up. "So, your Ladyship" Haru said, "Why are we here?".
"Something about dragon ghosts, apparently" the baroness replied, "I'm not too sure myself. Anyway, I've been instructed to hold you in one of the guest houses for your sentences".
"I don't think that's really a punishment" Haru stated. "I agree" the baroness spoke, "But those are the instructions I have received. Now, my servant will bring you to your lodging and show you around". At this, a scaly being, entirely fish-like aside from arms and legs, swiftly swam towards Tohru and Haru. It bowed (as much as it could with its fishy form), and spoke: "Follow me, guests". They then headed to their new cell.
"Here is the guest house" spoke the servant, opening the door. Inside was a beautiful hallway wrought of pearl and coralstone, furnished with perfectly carved articles of expensive wood. Tohru and Haru stared in wonder at the luxurious room, as they were lead about by the servant. They went through a quick inventory of the house's layout, before they returned to the hallway. "Well, that is all" spoke the servant, "Any questions?".
"Where are the beds?" Haru asked. "Beds?" the servant spoke, "Oh, of course! You're terrestrial. I'll get you some futons before nightfall, is that alright?".
"Yep, that's good" Haru confirmed. "Anything else?" the servant enquired, "No? Well then, goodbye!". The servant bowed again and swam through the doors, which were then closed and barred. "Now what?" Haru said. "I guess we just have to serve our time" Tohru replied.