Chapter Text
In the vibrant world of Empires, another day dawned as Katherine prepared for the highly anticipated Monthly House Blossom meeting, a gathering that brought together the various emperors to discuss important matters. With a sense of hope and determination, she focused on rephrasing her notes, understanding the delicate balance of diplomacy required to convey her points effectively—much like Fwhip, who was known to exercise remarkable restraint when needed.
As she prepared, Katherine couldn’t help but overhear the laughter and mischief of Fwhip and Sausage, who were up to their usual antics of pranking the Codfather. This time, however, their pranks had escalated from harmless jokes to a rather bold stunt. They had distributed fireworks to the unsuspecting citizens, a seemingly innocent act that took an unexpected turn when Sausage decided to ignite them with a flick of his magical powers.
Although Fwhip had tested these fireworks thoroughly to ensure they were safe for Elytra flights, the loud bursts startled the codfolk, causing a scene of chaos. The Codfather, known for his protective nature, was furious at this disruption and immediately set out to confront the pranksters, chasing them with unwavering determination.
Fwhip's and Sausage's guards, while dedicated to restoring calm among the frightened codfolk, found themselves preoccupied with the Codfather's pursuit. The chase unfolded dramatically from the lush waters of Codlands to the harsh, sandy terrain of the Desert. For Jimmy, one of their companions, this escape was particularly perilous. His identity as a siren made him vulnerable in such arid conditions, increasing the risk of dehydration and illness, which could even leave him bedridden if precautions weren’t taken.
Katherine was aware of the potential consequences of this and understood why Jimmy might miss the meeting. Although he had sent word that he was fine, his cryptic remark about looking "a bit different" piqued her curiosity. She had heard whispers from other residents that he had taken on a feathery appearance, a detail that left her intrigued but uncertain. As she prepared for the meeting, she couldn't shake the feeling that today might hold surprises, whether from her fellow emperors or news about her friends.
"Greetings, Lady of Overgrove." The words echoed softly in the air as she turned to face Sovereign Smajor of Rivendell. He stood before her, as graceful and elegant as an intricately carved ice sculpture, yet emanating a chilling aura that hinted at his frosty disposition. As he walked toward his seat, the sound of his footsteps reverberated in the room, betraying his true emotions. With each step, a thin layer of ice began to form beneath him, solidifying the understanding that something was deeply unsettling within him.
Katherine couldn't help but wonder if he had heard about what transpired with Codfather. She had been the one tasked with conveying the unfortunate news to the other emperors, a group largely disjointed and lacking any formal alliances. It was perplexing to her why Scott seemed to take such great offense. After all, Rivendell had never officially allied with the Codlands; their singular interaction had been less than favorable, stemming from Codfather's notorious temper and Smajor's own enigmatic nature. Despite the tensions, Smajor had chosen to maintain a stance of neutrality toward the Codlands.
With a polite yet cautious tone, she inquired, "Greetings, Sovereign Smajor. How have you been lately?"
Smajor responded with an arched eyebrow, clearly taken aback by her question. "As fine as I can be. Why do you ask about such mundane matters, Katherine?"
She gestured toward the crystalline ice spreading across the meeting room floor, a delicate reminder of his inner struggle. The ice was harmless in her warmer region, where it melted away almost instantly, yet it symbolized far more than just a temporary state. It illuminated his emotional turmoil.
"Ah, that... I thought I had better control over it," he admitted with a resigned sigh, then reached down and shattered the ice, hastening its melting process to restore some warmth to the atmosphere.
"Scott Smajor, what troubles you?" she inquired gently, her voice laced with a blend of curiosity and genuine concern. His response, however, was anything but gentle—a piercing glare that cut through the air, cold and fierce, reminiscent of the ancient glaciers of Aeor. After a tense moment, he let out a long sigh, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.
"I'm just worried about the Codfather," he began, his voice strained with apprehension. "I know Fwhip would never go so far as to murder the Codfather, but what he did was incredibly reckless. Think about it—Merfolk, or anything related to the ocean, would simply wither away in a desert. And to make matters worse, they were miles away from Pixandria! They could have seriously injured him... or even worse," Scott exclaimed, his agitation growing as he started to pace back and forth in the meeting hall. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and an icy breeze fluttered through, amplifying the urgency of his words. Katherine had never before realized how deeply Scott cared about the well-being of the Codfather.
"I understand your concern, Scott, but the Codfather reassured me that he is okay..." she responded, her tone soothing, trying to ease his anxiety. Smajor let out another heavy sigh as he sank back into his chair, the lines of worry etched across his forehead.
"I know, but still, he should really take the time to rest and recover," he murmured, his voice tinged with fatigue.
Katherine dedicated the remainder of the hour to calming Scott down, gently steering the conversation away from the troubling events. Just when the atmosphere seemed to lighten, a vibrant, colorful parrot fluttered into the room, perching cheerfully on the back of a chair, a broad smile on its beak and an undeniable spark of joy in its eyes.
"Hello, Katherine! Oh goodness, why is it so chilly in here?" Joey exclaimed as he stepped into the room, his gleeful smile quickly fading when he was met by a gust of cool air swirling around him. He shivered slightly, instinctively rubbing his arms for warmth. "Greetings, Emperor Graceffa," he added with a playful bow, but his attention soon shifted as he noticed Katherine was in the midst of a conversation with Smajor. "Ah, but you know… the Codfather," he mentioned, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Joey's face lit up like one of Fwhip's redstone lamps as he connected the dots. "Ohhh, the fishboy! He’s doing quite well, looking fabulous if I do say so myself." His compliment hung in the air, surprising both Katherine and Scott, who exchanged quizzical glances. It was quite uncharacteristic for Joey to praise the Codfather’s style, especially considering his typical judgmental views on that very subject.
Katherine and Scott locked eyes, conveying mutual surprise, and turned their attention back to Joey. "Is there something you'd like to elaborate on, Emperor Graceffa?" Katherine queried, her tone a mixture of curiosity and caution, as a renewed chill swept through the room
"Easy there, Ice Sovereign," Joey replied with a teasing grin, trying to diffuse the tension. "The Codfather is doing just fine; I even helped him resolve a few issues, shall we say?" His statement, however, did little to quell Scott’s growing concern about the Codfather. Instead, the atmosphere seemed to grow colder, mirroring Scott’s unease.
"Lady Katherine, may I freeze him?" Scott inquired with a gleeful undertone that masked the seriousness of his intentions. Joey immediately sensed the peril in Scott's playful words and quickly ducked behind Katherine, feeling the weight of Scott’s fury pressing down on him.
"Smajor, no! Don’t you dare!" Then Shrubs walks in and feels the cold air, "Scott! Calm down, the room is getting colder!" Before a scuffle could break out, the Great Wizard Gem's voice echoed through the hall as she scolded Fwhip and Sausage.
"Do you have any idea how much danger you could have put him in?" Gem yelled, striding into the room with Pearl beside her. Fwhip and Sausage followed sheepishly behind her, with Sausage blushing.
"W-well, he’s okay, and, um... you know..." Sausage stammered, but Gem shot him a glare that left him trembling.
Katherine then approached with Scott trailing behind her. "Greetings, Wizard Gem! You too, Count Fwhip and King Sausage," she said cheerfully. Gem sighed as she turned to Katherine. "Greetings, Lady Katherine. I know we need to discuss what these hooligans did. But I assure you it won't happen again. Right, boys?" She fixed them with a glare that could rival a thunderstorm. Scott also glared at them, while Pearl tried to diffuse the tension, aware they were the culprits.
Fwhip and Sausage nodded quickly. "Yes, Gem!"
Pearl sighed and added, "I asked Pix if he could check on Jimmy."
Scott and Katherine exchanged glances before Scott asked, "How is he, Lady Pearl?" He struggled to keep his emotions in check.
"He's fine, but Sausage cast a spell on him—" Pearl started, but Sausage interrupted. "I thought he wouldn’t survive!"
Pearl rolled her eyes at him and replied, "The effects may or may not last a week, and let’s just say he looks very different..."
Katherine and Scott looked more confused. "What do you mean?" As Pearl opened her mouth to respond, the Cod alliance entered the meeting room, but the Codfather was nowhere to be seen. The Ocean Queen glared at Fwhip and Sausage with the intensity of the ocean depths, as if to say they had gotten off lightly.
"Greetings, Ocean Queen. How is the Codfather?" Katherine asked, trying to ensure the Ocean Queen didn't flood the meeting room.
"Ocean's Blessings, Lady Katherine. My brother is fine, but... let’s just start this meeting. No worries, I'll fill in for now since he's currently... how do we explain this?" The Ocean Queen pondered. Katherine walked back to the head of the table.
"Okay, everyone! As you heard, the Codfather is absent due to the actions of a certain duo. Therefore, in his absence, the Ocean Queen will report on the Codlands."
The Ocean Queen rose from her seat and began her report on the Codlands and the Ocean Empire. Once the monthly reports were finished, Katherine addressed the elephant in the room.
"As you all heard, Count Fwhip and Sausage have had a misunderstanding in the Codlands regarding fireworks brought to the Codfolk. While there were no casualties from this incident, the Codfather and a few others were irritated. However, I heard from the Great Wizard Gem that you won’t do it again. I hope you keep your word on that." Fwhip quickly nodded, while Gem glared at both him and Sausage.
"But Sausage, you did cast a spell that affected the Codfather," she added. Sausage then rose from his seat.
"Yes, but I thought he was drying out, and it wasn't meant to affect him for a month or so—"
The Ocean Queen interjected, "I shall explain everything. As you know, the Codfather and I are Sirens. There are two types of Sirens: one is a Mer Siren, like me, and the other is an Avian Siren. Unfortunately, any have hunted Sirens. To protect themselves, some drown and turn into mer sirens. While I cannot switch between Avian and Mer form, the Codfather can. However, Sausage's spell has affected his ability to transform back and forth, and well..."
She turned to the Mad King of Mezalea, Joel. Joel then called for the Codfather.
"Jim! You can come in!"
The door opened to reveal the Codfather, adorned with bright yellow wings and feathers on his face where his scales would typically be. He wore a backless green chiton, complemented by brown accessories as well as some Maztec jewels. To say everyone was shocked was an understatement; jaws dropped as The Codfather showed himself, Katherine and Shrub gasped as she saw him, Joey was smiling smugly as he did help with his Outfit, Gem's glasses almost dropped, but Pearl caught them quickly, but Fwhip looked away as Sausage looked at him as if he was the most beautiful thing in the world. And Scott was stunned by the Codfather's beauty. He looks ethereal as his Fishy self.
"Hello, everyone. As you know, Count Fwhip and King Sausage pranked me, which led to my current situation. While I'm in this form, please remember that I am still the Codfather, so I ask that you treat me the same as before." Pix smiled as The Codfather—Jimmy—presented himself with dignity.
Copper King rose from his seat and added, "If anyone has a question, please direct it to The Ocean Queen or me. Let's not overwhelm him."
Scott was stunned as he took in The Codfather's appearance—his shining golden feathers and adorable brown talons. He felt mesmerized and wanted to talk to this beautiful being, this burning phoenix.
"So when does Jimmy turn back?" Shrub asked genuinely, prompting the Ocean Queen and Copper King to look toward Sausage.
"That will be up to King Sausage here," they said. Sausage fumbled with his words. "It was supposed to last a day or two, but, um, I mistakenly set the duration wrong. The spell actually lasts for a month," he quietly admitted, scooting away from Gem and hiding behind Pearl.
"Codfather, I assure you, if you wish, I'll help undo the spell," Gem offered. Jimmy raised his hand to stop him. "No need, Gem. It could get worse. For now, I'll stay in Avian form," he sighed, looking at Katherine. "Oh, that concludes this House Blossom Meeting. Count Fwhip and King Sausage, please remember not to pull any pranks for the coming week."
As the Cod alliance was about to depart, the Rivendellian Sovereign approached the Codfather. "Codfather, may I have a word with you?" Jimmy turned to his sister and nodded. She looked him over one last time, picked up her husband, and prepared to leave.
"What is it, Smajor?" Scott asked, feeling nervous as he approached the Codfather. The light reflecting off his wings was almost blinding. "I was wondering if you would like help preening your wings. I know Joey can do it, but he isn’t the most gentle person..."
"I heard that, Ice King!" Joey shouted from a distance, prompting Scott to roll his eyes. "What do you say?" Smajor asked, figuratively on his knees as he sought the Codfather's permission.
"I would love to learn about wing preening from you, Sovereign Smajor," Jimmy replied, beaming as brightly as the sun. Scott looked away, feeling slightly awkward, as Jimmy smiled radiantly.
"Please, just call me Scott, without the title," he requested. Jimmy's eyes widened, and then he smiled even wider as he bowed. "In that case, please call me Jimmy."
At that moment, the Ocean Queen called out, "Jimmy! Hurry up!"
"I'm coming!" Jimmy replied, fluttering his wings as he hurried to her. Scott stood silently for a moment before Katherine approached him. "So, you have a date?" she asked. Scott remained still for a second before flopping onto his back, exclaming, "I do!" Katherine and Shrub giggled at his excitement. This month was shaping up to be just fine.