Chapter Text
“Land ho!”
The crew of pirates approached the deserted island, their ship cutting through the choppy waters with a ferocity matched only by the fierce determination in their eyes. The winds howled like banshees around them, whipping their hair and clothes into a frenzy as they prepared to disembark onto the shore. Stealthily, they navigated their vessel towards the sandy beach, every muscle coiled in readiness for whatever awaited them on this uncharted land.
Finally, they touched land.
As soon as the anchor was securely in place, the commanding captain leapt from the side of the ship and gracefully landed on the sun-kissed shore. With a flick of his tail, he brushed off the sand and pushed back his striking scarlet locks. His piercing red eyes scanned the beach with a watchful gaze, searching for any potential threats. The intense sun reflected off his shimmering gold scales, adding to his imposing presence.
“All right, everyone. Disembark! Hurry up and set up camp before the sun goes down!”
The crew quickly followed the captain's orders, scurrying off the ship and onto the beach. They worked together to unload supplies and set up tents, all while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The captain stood tall, his regal demeanor commanding respect from his crew.
Finally, after a long journey, they could finally wind down. They were exhausted from the long journey, but they knew that their work was not yet done. The crew had to ensure that the campsite was secure and that they were prepared for any potential dangers that may arise. The captain surveyed the area, taking note of any potential threats and spotting possible supply sources.
A koopa appeared by the captain’s side, rolling the sleeves of his blue tunic. They adjusted their thick-rimmed glasses before speaking, “Just check our reserves, as you requested, Captain Bowser.”
Smoke billowed from the nostrils of the commanding Koopa as he grumbled, "How long can we afford to rest?"
"Three days, tops. Then we must resupply and check on the settlements," replied his subordinate.
Bowser nodded, begrudgingly accepting the news. "Kamek, keep an eye on the crew. I need to stretch my legs and wander around for a bit."
The captain's tone was gruff and irritable, a reflection of the immense frustration that comes with balancing the needs of one's troops with the demands of a mission. For far too long, he had placed his own needs behind those of his crew. Sensing his captain's sour mood, the quartermaster allowed him to leave. There was no need to worry about Bowser, as he was more than capable of defending himself. Anyone foolish enough to try and fight him would quickly regret their decision. Additionally, the crew would no longer have to walk on eggshells, trying to avoid further irritating their hot-tempered leader.
Huffing flames every now and then, the mighty commander strolled along the sandy shore, relishing the gentle lull of the ocean. Bowser delved into his belt, snatching up a small waterskin. He took a long swig of the cool water, feeling it quench his thirst and soothe his fiery temper. As he walked, he surveyed the landscape around him, Bowser tried to ease his frustration.
Despite his fearsome appearance, there were moments when the captain allowed himself to simply enjoy the beauty of the world around him; otherwise, he’d probably lose his sanity. The sound of waves crashing against the shore, the salty tang of sea air on his tongue - these were small pleasures that reminded him there was more to life than just protecting his settlements.
Bowser shifted his gaze to the side, where a cluster of black rocks had caught his attention. The tide had receded, revealing their flat surfaces, and the large koopa wasted no time in making a beeline for them. It was the perfect spot for basking, and the last thing he needed was to get sick from not getting enough light. After all, he had a busy schedule to keep up with. Who else was going to care for his people?
As Bowser settled onto the warm rocks, he couldn't help but think about the weight of his responsibilities. Being the leader of the Koopa Troop was no easy task, and he often found himself sacrificing his own needs for the sake of his people. But he knew that it was worth it - after all, they were his family. And he couldn’t possibly let countless people live in anguish under that wretched king’s rule. He closed his eyes and let the sun's rays wash over him, Bowser's mind drifted further. There were so many issues to address - food shortages, infrastructure repairs, and threats of discovery. It was a lot to handle, but Bowser had always been up for a challenge. He had to.
At the end of the day, he knew he was doing good. Even if others feared him or considered him nothing more than a beastly sea outlaw. Such opinions meant nothing to him; all that mattered was the safety and freedom of his people. With those thoughts, the captain drifted off, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
┍━☽【❖】☾━┑
Beneath the crystal-clear surface of the ocean, there existed two extraordinary beings - twin selkies. These majestic creatures swam through the vibrant coral reef with unparalleled grace, their sleek seal bodies gliding effortlessly through the rocks. Their shimmering fur coats sparkled in the sunlight that filtered through the water, a sight that left onlookers in awe.
As they swam, the selkies communicated with each other through a series of clicks and whistles, a language known only to their kind. These guardians of the reef were tasked with protecting its inhabitants from harm, a duty they had fulfilled for nearly three decades. They knew every inch of the reef, every nook and cranny where danger could lurk.
Their powerful tails propelled them forward with ease, and their movements were nothing short of mesmerizing. The selkies were a sight to behold, and their presence alone brought a sense of calm to the ocean's inhabitants.
The twin seals circled a rock formation, then headed towards the surface. As they swam upwards, the seals could feel the pressure of the water decreasing. They knew they were getting closer to the surface; and when they broke through the water's surface, they took a deep breath of fresh air. The sun was shining brightly overhead, and they could see for miles in every direction.
The seals looked around, taking in their surroundings. They were surrounded by rocky cliffs and a beautiful blue ocean that stretched out as far as the eye could see. The smaller seal nudged his brother, his glassy black eyes focusing on something on the shore.
A large ship was docked on the shore of their home. The larger seal followed his brother's gaze and let out a low growl. He had seen these ships before, and they always brought trouble. The landfolk who came on them were loud and carried strange objects that could harm the sea life; many even relished in doing so. The smaller seal looked up at his brother, fear in his eyes. " What do we do? " he asked.
The larger seal thought for a moment before responding. " We need to stay away from the shore, " he said firmly. " And we need to warn the others. "
“ Mario, you don’t think those are the pirates from before? ” asked the smallest.
“ They are all the same to me, Luigi, ” said his brother bitterly. “ Nothing but a gang of reef destroying, coat-stealing bastards. ”
With those words said, the eldest selkie brother dove back under the waves. Luigi anxiously glanced back at the ship, noticing how they seemed to be settling on the beach; he hopes they don’t stay. The young selkie has heard tales of massive ships like these; they scour the seas, snatching up schools of fish in nets. Sailors would purposely hunt after merfolk for nefarious reasons; he had a friend who was captured recently… She was fished up by one of these fiends and narrowly escaped with her life.
Luigi shuddered at the thought of his friend's close call. He knew that not all humans were like this, but the ones who were made life dangerous for all sea creatures; it wasn’t worth his life, trying to discern whether their intentions were good or bad. Best thing Luigi could hope for was that they were only passing by. As long as they stayed clear of their reef or the estuary leading to the Jelly Town, the two won’t be seeing any combat.
As he watched, a group of sailors started looking out at the sea. Luigi quickly sank below the waves; even though he had his coat on and camouflaged as a seal, he still wanted to avoid detection. The selkie swam along the shallow water, heading towards the estuary; he had wasted too much time gawking at the ship. Once at a safer distance, he resurfaced to catch his breath; something caught his eye.
A huge sea turtle had washed ashore on top of some rocks; the ebbing tide must have left it stranded and too tired to swim back. However, they weren’t like any sea turtle Luigi has ever seen. For one, its size was far too drastic; toned muscles were visible even from a distance. He’s never seen a sea turtle with a spiky shell or bright red hair.
Luigi approached it cautiously, unsure of what to expect. As he got closer, he noticed that the turtle's eyes were closed and its breathing was deep, not showing any signs of distress. He wondered how long it had been stranded on the rocks and if there was anything he could do to help; although, it looked just fine.
Grunting slightly, the selkie climbed onto the rocks and galumphed towards it, sniffing it. It smelled like… smoke? Not like the suffocating scent of fire though, more like cedar. Luigi poked his snout against its hand. Wait, hand? He looked down, noticing the sharpened claws.
This was no sea turtle.
Luigi yelped, shuffling backward in a panic. The noise woke up the giant before him. The strange beast slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the small figure in front of him. Luigi froze, unsure of what to do next. He approached it, thinking he would need to keep a fellow sea creature, but now he just willingly walked towards a predator.
But as the beast slowly blinked at him, Luigi noticed something strange. The giant wasn't angry or aggressive. In fact, he looked almost...confused?
"What the… a seal?"
Luigi jumped out of his stupor at the sound of its voice. He waddled back, sliding down the rocks, and into the water depths.
Meanwhile, the now (rudely) awakened and confused Bowser looked on as the startled creature fled, scratching his head. He didn't have too much time to, though; in the distance, his crew was calling him.