[center][img]https://www.mariowiki.com/images/thumb/b/b2/Koopa_Troop_artwork.png/658px-Koopa_Troop_artwork.png[/img] [h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2] [b][color=SpringGreen]wordcount:[/color][/b] 4,668 (+3) [b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 9 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (30/90) [b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]/////////////////////////[/color]////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (23/80) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (91/70) [color=fff79a]Kasugano Sakura[/color] 30/40 [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Location:[/color][/b] Edge of the Blue – Seaward Bay [/center] [color=SpringGreen]”Ok. Now try this out”[/color] Jr said to Rika, as he stepped back from the work he had been doing on her arm gauntlets. He’d taken a break from trying to upgrade the ship to, well, upgrade a different ship in a sense, though this modification was making sure Rika could use her armaments again rather than shoving armor and weapons where they had no right being like was happening to the Atomos. Not that the cruiser girl hadn’t undergone an even more drastic transformation of her own. Indeed the ship looked very different, because she was now wearing actual [url=https://i.imgur.com/a7KoHZH.png]clothes[/url] as opposed to a mat black bikini. A sturdy pair of black buckled boots adored her feet, while her legs and waist were covered in a red knee length skirt (she’d liked Sakura’s so it was more like hers than Peach or Bella’s) and a number of satchels (which contained mostly snacks at the moment), while her upper half was wrapped in a black jacket studded with brass buttons. This last fine piece of fashion had had to be slightly mutilated to accommodate the metal component on Rika’s back that connected her to her gauntlets, but a bit of sewing by Kamek and an addition of some clasps welded to the steel let the edges of the hole in the jacket hook onto the side of the metal contraption in a relatively elegant manner, keeping the ensemble in palace despite it missing a chunk of the back. The ship herself was in the middle of trying to decide whether she should wear a hat or not to go long with this when the prince got her attention. He’d finished welding/bolting a pair of clasps and grips to where her hands used to be bound to her gauntlets, and now wanted her to try testing them out. [color=SpringGreen]”Ok, so you put one hand here and then close the case like this”[/color] Jr began to explain, only for Rika to triple check that “These will come off again, right?” [color=SpringGreen]”Uh, yeah duh. That’s kinda the point? Look I’ll show you in a moment don't worry. Ok so you snap it shut like that”[/color] Jr closed the padded wrist guard sized clasp over her arm while she held a new handle bolted in front of it. [color=SpringGreen]”and then do the same over here and hey presto, you're in fighting shape again!”[/color] It was true. The girl hauled her weapons up, the sensation both familiar and a little strange due to the difference between the old set up and Jr’s new one (mostly the padding on the inside of the wrist guards and the cloth of her jacket keeping the metal off of her, which was very nice. The handles would probably give her more control which was good too) and the fact that she’d been free before, so this wasn't all she knew anymore. It now felt uncomfortable where once it had been completely normal “Ok. Cool. But how do I-?” [color=SpringGreen]”Just turn one to the side like this''[/color] Jr guided the massive floating gun gauntlet into position so her palm was facing up, [color=SpringGreen]”then just reach over the other one and you see that lever? Pull it and-”[/color] there was a click and Rika’s arm came free again [color=SpringGreen]”yay, it worked! ... I mean see? Easy.”[/color] “Yes. I do see. Or well. I didn’t. Was a bit hard to with the gun in the way but I got it” Rika said as she freed her other arm again. It was so easy! She’d feel less bad about having them on again in future knowing came off that was for sure. [color=SpringGreen]”yeah you did. So. Now that we’ve gotten that working, you wanna try-?”[/color] Jr began to suggest, but Rika nodded before he could finish. They both knew what the plan was once they’d gotten everything mundane sorted. [color=SpringGreen]”Cool.”[/color] Junior found Peach inside the Atomos with Bella, who’d just changed into her own [url=https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/59962678-0d9c-4ffe-a433-e26d992f2452/de13xhs-12951ce9-44d1-4928-ada8-90e35130f36b.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNTk5NjI2NzgtMGQ5Yy00ZmZlLWE0MzMtZTI2ZDk5MmYyNDUyXC9kZTEzeGhzLTEyOTUxY2U5LTQ0ZDEtNDkyOC1hZGE4LTkwZTM1MTMwZjM2Yi5wbmcifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6ZmlsZS5kb3dubG9hZCJdfQ._p_gs88GFpdfSKaxjK1xUICBUxInmo0zkBrcT4P09LU] brand new outfit[/url]. With a blue floral summer dress, fancy sandals, and a pleasantly quaint straw hat bound in blue ribbon, she looked good, and if not for her stark white skin and the toothy leviathan curled behind her, rather normal. Still, that bashful, self-conscious smile did wonders for making her seem approachable. The way she leaned on her new umbrella like cane, knees shaking perilously, also put her somewhere between adorable and pitiable. Peach seemed pleased. “Well, you might not be able to leave just yet, but you’re something, alright! If we ever manage to square you being an Abyssal with the townspeople, I bet you’ll have dudes all over you.” Bella looked wary. “Um. I think I’d rather not…” [color=fff79a]"Forget the dudes, then. You look [i]beautiful,[/i] Bella!"[/color] Sakura practically squeed. She had already lauded Rika with similar compliments and was over all beside herself with joy the entire time. It took just a moment for the Water Princess to turn red. “P-penses-tu vraiment cela?” [color=fff79a]"What?"[/color] Junior called over to the princess in pink [color=SpringGreen]”Hey Peach, you got a second? We wanna pull the Brachydios outa me and see if it helps Rika”[/color] Peach gave Bella an apologetic glance before turning to face the kid’s way. “Sure. Hold still.” After taking a breath and getting serious, she knelt and plunged her arm into Junior’s chest, just as she did with Ranger before. A few moments of rummaging passed before she seized on something deep within him, and in a burst of light she yanked the Brachydios right out of him. With his only spirit defused, the young prince was back to his normal self. Peach deposited the spirit of the blue dinosaur in his waiting hand, remembering the night she helped fight it with a shiver. If she was lucky that awful, inexplicable color wouldn’t factor into her dreams tonight, sending her sailing across alien vistas and unfathomable voids, but she didn’t bet on it. [color=SpringGreen]”Wow. That. Was really weird. I mean it was one thing to see it but to have it happen? Super weird,”[/color] Was Jr’s response to having the princess rummage around inside his chest, the boy left a touch dazed by the bizarre experience. Then he shook his head and got over it and, after saying a quick thanks and goodbye, headed back to find the ship. Sakura followed him, wanting to see this. He found her where he’d left her, the woman now doing the feathered captain's hat and with a lollipop in her mouth as she tried to balance on her legs while using the gauntlets’ antigrav as support. It wasn't working nearly as well as it had when they had been strapped to her back but it was still better than not having them at all. When she saw Jr had returned she plopped back down on the ground, and then quickly uncoupled her hands from the gauntlets and removed the lolly from her mouth before she spoke (the ship was a big fan of them already. You could enjoy sweetness for a long time and you could take it out to talk without people being weirded out). “Oh. you look different. Less purple,” she commented before asking “That it?” pointing at the spirit with the pop. [color=SpringGreen]”Yup”[/color] Jr replied, holding it out to her. The cruiser tentatively took it from him and, after a brief reminder of how this worked exactly, pressed it against her own chest. [center][hider=For Rika]Great Spirit Consumed: [b][url=http://oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/monster-hunter-generations/2/2c/MH4-Brachydios_Render_001.jpg]Brachydios[/url][/b] The host has gotten taller and more muscular, with more pronounced fangs, a large and bright green tongue, and red eyes. Her hair is dark blue and very spiky, enough so that it’s hard to wear hats, and from the left side of her forehead rises a single, thick horn, flanged like a mace.The black parts of her outfit now feature blue scale padding, and the skirt exhibits equidistant blades. Her gauntlets resemble Brachydios heads, complete with slime horns for punching, inladen mouths of freaky human teeth, and built-in cannons within the mouths. Her personality has gotten more assertive with a hotter temper, and an always-outdoor voice. This spirit confers the Power [b]Blastscourge[/b], allowing her to exude a slime from her horns and gauntlets. Once activated by her saliva, the slime will explode after a few seconds if parted from her, or if she’s very angry, on contact with a target. It also confers the Weakness [b]Aqua Bane[/b], giving her a mild weakness to water-based or aspected weapons and attacks plus a more severe one to ice[/hider][/center] The first thing that happened was that her ewn spiky hair caused Rika’s hat to fall off, never to be donned again. The second was she looked down to examine her adjusted cloths, (the scaly pattern was certainly unique and stylish. The blades on the skirt looked a bit dangerous but also quite cool in her opinion.) while giving her lollypop a lick. Then she paused at noticing things were different there and then sticking her tongue out fully to try and look at it, wiggling it about sillily as she did. Sakura took a step back. [color=fff79a]"Woah. Is this punk?"[/color] The ship paused her wiggling. “You tell me” she said [color=SpringGreen]”Huh, you got a different kinda horn bump from me,”[/color] Jr noted [color=SpringGreen]”also your eyes are red again… You still know who Galeem is right?”[/color] “The sun that took lots of places and squished them together” Rika replied, distinctly louder and more confident in her words than she had been before. She reached up and patted the horn on her head before parsing what he’d said and happily saying “Oh! Cool. I ranked up!” [color=SpringGreen]”Huh?”[/color] “Oh, so. Regular cruisers have blue eyes, elites red, flagships gold and then Kai Flagships have one gold and one super blue.” [color=SpringGreen]”Oh ok. So you're like a stronger variant now? That’s good.”[/color] Jr was more than used to that being a thing. “Definitely stronger,” she said as she gave her arm a feel. Her muscles were a lot more prominent where she’d been rather scrawny in places before, at least for someone who hauled massive cannon gauntlets around. There really was only one way to find out if this actually helped “let me try-” she said as she carefully tried to stand without support “ow ow ow” and yet despite the obvious pains he was able to get up on her own two feet, abit shakily. “Its. ok. It works but ow.” she said, holding her arms out for balance. [color=SpringGreen]”Here. With these?”[/color] jr suggested, picking up both cannons and holding them out for her. The ship grabbed for them, and then the prince helped secure them. With the gauntlets acting as supports, the shipgirl was still a bit unsteady but “Ok. Ok. I think I can” she took a step, and then another and another. The extra arm muscle was helping just as much as that in her legs as it made supporting herself with the gauntlet easier, letting her take a step, and then another and another. It was, she realised, mostly the motion that was the worst. The ships didn’t actually walk on water after all, they just glided across it. So it was still tricky, but step by step, she felt like she was understanding how to move properly where before she’d been relying on the gauntlets being strapped to her back to hold everything up. They were still supporting her, but she found that it was easier to force her legs to support her than it was to hold her whole body up with her arms. “It’s working!” [color=SpringGreen]”Haha, yes I knew this was a good idea!”[/color] Jr said, and Sakura clapped. [color=SpringGreen]”Shame it didn't do anything about the teeth, their still weird and flat,”[/color] the dragons-turtle’s idea of what teeth were supposed to look like was a bit skewed after all [color=SpringGreen]”but do you think people would still recognize her?”[/color] he asked Sakura Sakura had been circling around Rika, examining her like she was some kind of fashionista. [color=fff79a]"[i]E to[/i]..."[/color] She said to herself, thinking. [color=fff79a]"I dunno. She doesn’t look like any Abyssal I’ve ever seen anymore. But, I’ve only seen two. Her and Bella. I think the horn and the hair makes her look very different. And Abyssals don’t like lollipops, I think."[/color] Sakura said, smiling at Rika. “Th-” Rika began to say, then awkwardly removed the pop from her mouth again, the gauntlets still made that a bit tricky “they should! Or. I mean, I bet they would if they could try them.” Having seated herself again some time ago, Bella concluded her own observation. “Compared to the shipgirls and other Abyssals, I would say you’re closer to ‘normal’, Rika. Colorful clothes and hair help a good deal.” She held up and looked at her own hand, then stroked the head of her leviathan tail. It gave a contented if somewhat scary sigh. “Compared to me, you’re not so obviously Abyssal at all now. Just your pallor and your cestus, the latter of which you could leave behind. Plus, you look rather cool. It is not hard to imagine you walking among people on land. Amazing...” It was hard to hide the undercurrent of envy that ran through her voice. “I suppose the most vital aspect would be confidence? You already sound different. If you act as if you have nothing to hide, maybe they won’t suspect you.” “I do?” Rika hadn’t noticed, but now that it had been pointed out, maybe she did sound more confident? Now that she thought about it, it had assumed it had been a natural extension in her gradually growing confidence in, well, everything, but maybe she’d gotten a boost from the spirit “Was this bal... Bal... what was it again?” [color=SpringGreen]”Brachydios”[/color] “This Brachydios confident?” [color=SpringGreen]”I mean it was a big stompy dinosaur monster. I guess it has a kind of confidence in a ‘rawr I’m big and strong and scary’ kinda way?”[/color] jr said, comically baring his claws and putting on a voice while he gave his impression of the creature. Riak shrugged “Well. Ok. I don’t know about that, mostly I just feel more like. Me? Like a me who is me who isn't all the other cruisers?” where normally she’d have left that question hanging, now she launched right into answering it herself “Yeah! More like Rika. So I’m gonna say it’s all me even if it’s the big stompy dinosaur confidence, because I can... What's a dinosaur anyway?” [color=SpringGreen]”Like a big lizard.”[/color] “Sure. Don’t matter if the big lizard is helping or not, I feel more like me and I feel great!” the ship girl declared, riding about 3 separate highs (one of which was a massive sugar rush) all at once was doing wonders for her ego. Bella smiled herself, infected by her underling’s enthusiasm. “That’s wonderful! Are you going out to see the city, then?” “Yeah!” Rika was on a roll and nothing was going to stop her at this point “I’m gonna see people and buy clothes and no wait you did that already but we can go get that hot chocolate thing and.. Other stuff? What other stuff is there?” [color=SpringGreen]”Well there were lots of shops and restaurants. Maybe there's a concert or band playing? Oh or an arcade! That would be cool. Oh. Oh wow. There must be soooo many video games from... Everywhere!”[/color] Jr said, both to her and to himself, getting a little stary eyed at the end. The boy had set himself work to do on the ship, but he deserved a break after this big success, or so he decided. “I don’t know what those are but I’m gonna find out. Are you two going to come, Sakura and, oh, um” she paused before asking Bella if she wanted to go with her. She wasn't all disguised like she was. Well the outfit was definitely different, but the big monster tail was all the same and she still couldn't walk too well. Rika finally caught on that maybe her success was making Bella feel bad and that didn't feel good to her. “Sorry. I. um. hmm” the ship girl floundered, not really knowing how to handle the situation. Smiling patiently, Bella waved her hand. “Oh, do not worry about me. I am still not too mobile after all. You have fun out there. Oh, but if you do end up getting something tasty, would you mind bringing me back something, too? I have only ever had fish, so I am very curious.” Rika let out a little sigh of relief and then told the princess “I’ll get you the tastiest thing i can find!” before glancing at Sakura to see her response. Sakura put out another peace sign. [color=fff79a]"Sure! I could use a distraction."[/color] She looked over at Bella. [color=fff79a]"Try not to have too much fun without us,"[/color] She smiled. [color=fff79a]"We’ll be back before you know it."[/color] [color=fff79a]"You play video games, Junior-kun?"[/color] She asked, looking towards the boy. [color=fff79a]"Maybe we should see if they have an arcade!"[/color] She put her hands on her hips proudly. [color=fff79a]"I’ll have you know I’m a top one hundred Super Chibi Puzzle Gem Fighter II: Ultra Turbo Arcade Edition player in the world back where I’m from! "[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Wooow really?”[/color] Jr said, amazed by the rank alone. “Less talking, more going! I want to see the things you're talking about not hear about them more” Rika insisted excitedly before confidently, if a touch unsteadily still, striding forth to go take the town by storm. [color=SpringGreen]”Hey wait up!”[/color] Jr called, scrambling after her, catching up with the ship girl on the docks. “Oh. sorry. I'm just. I want to move!” Rika replied after she held up as asked [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well now, that’s quite the transformation you’ve gone through, ah, Rika was it now?”[/color] Came a call from Kamek, who along with a gang of toadies and clones, was continuing to work on the ship’s modifications from the ‘blueprints’ the prince had provided, which consisted of a series of paintings he’d made in his signature energetic and explosive, if a bit childish, style. The mage had undergone a transformation of his own while away: [hider=For Kamek] [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda_gamepedia_en/images/e/e3/HW_Cia_Twilight_Map_Hatless_Costume_Model.png]Cia (Blue)[/url] The host has gotten a little taller, with slightly longer, more humanoid limbs, and has gotten younger as well. His hat's peak has split into two, and his glasses become a beaked mask with lenses inset. His skin tone has become less yellow, more like Cia's. One sleeve is gone, with golden bands on the arm, and his robe is more elaborate, with pale yellow stripes. This Spirit confers the Strength [b]Shadow Craft[/b], bridging the magical gap between dark magic and summoning. Now, all Kamek clones and toadies can be Shadow Kameks and Shadow Toadies, which are stronger by default. Shadow clones of beings important to the host can also be summoned, at greater or lesser mana cost depending on their power. This Spirit also confers the Weakness [b]Light Bane[/b], causing the host to take more damage from light-based or light-aspected spells and weapons [/hider] But was adapting rather well. Very well in-fact. As far as Jr was concerned Kamek had always been old, so seeing him suddenly be younger and more limber was bizarre. Indeed the same impression was shared by his father, who was helping with some of the heavy lifting but stopped to come over and say hello [color=FD0000]“Ah, back you your old self again son”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Yup. Totally worth it because I mean, look”[/color] the boy gestured to Rika’s new look [color=SpringGreen]”so cool”[/color] The king nodded while Kamek said [color=DeepSkyBlue]”The new look does suit you rather well”[/color] “Yeah it does” Rika (who, depending on who you ask, either did not or absolutely did know how to take a compliment) replied. [color=SpringGreen]”We’re going out into town to show Rika around and have some fun, I’ll see you when I get back”[/color] The prince’s guardians shared a glance. The town wasn't quite as safe Kamek had initially though, his new fusion was a testament to that. [color=FD0000]“You mind if your dad tags along son? I gotta find a place to get this clean anyway”[/color] the king said, referring to his rather messed up suit that probably needed more than just a spot of dry cleaning.. Sakura crossed her arm and scratched her head, not sure if hanging out with a dad and son duo was conducive to having a good time in the town. [color=fff79a]"I mean-"[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Sure!”[/color] Jr replied, the boy blessedly not old enough to be embarrassed by being around his old man. [color=SpringGreen]”That’s ok right g-”[/color] he began to ask before realising Rika had gotten impatient and was boldly strolling off towards town already. [color=SpringGreen]”Not again, hey Rika!”[/color] he shouted before sprinting after her, followed by Bowser stomping after him too while Kamek chuckled to himself. He stopped laughing when he realized he’d been left well the majority of the grunt work for fixing up the ship. He sighed. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well I suppose that's what minions are for. Chop too it!”[/color] [hr] Rika awoke with a start as the world suddenly moved, flailed about a bit in the dark for a few moments before funnily untangling herself from the nest of blankets she’d been sleeping in (keeping Bella company instead of going to the hotel had been here way of making up for going out without her, along with a lemon meringue pie) and then having to shield her eyes from the light glaring in through the small window in the door to the cockpit of the Atomos. Morning it seemed, had arrived and so too had the seekers of light, back from their rooms at the inn, judging by the yapping going on behind the door. And the fact that they were moving, the dull roar of the engines confirming that it was just the ship and not the whole world shifting beneath her feet. More important than both these facts was the smell also coming from the cockpit. Following her nose the ship girl got (a touch unsteadily still despised, or perhaps because of, an evening’s with of practice) to her feet and then made her way through the door to find the Koopa troop all sat or stood around in the cockpit of the ship. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Ah, good morning Rika. Apologies for the rude awakening”[/color] Kamek said to her, turning to look at her as she joined, [color=DeepSkyBlue]”but the young master was quite insistent we got under way as soon as possible”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]”Coz we’re gonna be late if we didn’t! You let me sleep in!”[/color] Jr complained from the pilot’s chair as he took them up out of the cove and around towards the navy’s harbor [color=FD0000]“You needed it after being up so late last night”[/color] Bowser told his son. The king was lacking his suit and top hat, having left both to be cleaned and repaired. Considering he was likely going to be going swimming at some point, whether he wanted to or not, this was probably in the suit’s best interest. [color=SpringGreen]”I mean yeah, but… ok sure”[/color] the combination of Rika wanting to see and do, well, everything, followed by a last batch of changes to the ship, had left precious little time for a full night's rest. Jr much preferred yesterday’s schedule of them setting off to fight the boss at noon, but the navy’s schedule was a military one and that meant using all the daylight they had available. “What’s that smell?” the ship asked, not entirely bothered by how she’d awoken, or pleasantries, and more interested in the scent she’d caught from through in the bedroom, which was coming from a small hamper Bowser was carrying. [color=FD0000]“Breakfast of course,”[/color] the king told her while holding the basket out for her to take, [color=FD0000]“Pancakes specifically”[/color] Rika didn’t feel the need to ask what those where as she eagerly got to work, tough she did receive a few pointers on how to use the jam and cream properly, and to not scoff everything before Bella joined them and got her fair share. [hr] The newly refurbished ship docked with the Navy’s harbor next to the two other ships just in time for the troop to disembark and join the briefing. Well. refurbished was perhaps being generous. Hackily retrofitted was more accurate. Sheets of metal and sturdy wooden planks had been welded onto the important parts of the ship like the cockpit, engine and wide sides as impromptu armor. Weaponry, in the from of four scorpion sized [url=https://i.imgur.com/qdo1NZ8.png] harpoon guns[/url] was bolted just over the the railings on the back of the ship where people could use them to fire on enemies or, if rope was used, create ziplines to board other vessels or drag them closer to the ship. A large pair of large straps had been attached to either side of the bridge to help secure an enlarged seeker to the ship. Finally, the hull had been emblazoned with the troop’s logo, a stylized depiction [url=https://i.imgur.com/QtKMCNC.png]Bowser’s face[/url], on either side of the cargo bay doors. Inside the holds had been gutted of all non essential items and now held a series of ropes that could be used for repelling down two, or climbing back up from, the ocean and a ballista size [url=https://i.imgur.com/W42tS2j.png]harpoon turret[/url] capable of firing not only dangerously large bolts but also weighted nets, ropes or (if you were especially daring/stupid), a person a long distance. If they risked opening up the bay doors and exposing the insides to enemy fire that was. This ungodly contraption looked rather out of place among the stylishly designed ship girls and their captain’s well maintained sailing ship, but it was the best the troop could do with the mostly civilian grade wares on offer. Having a military consisting of ladies with inbuilt guns did rather reduce the demand for weapons larger than personal small arms, and so the troop had resorted to going to the local fishermen of all people for their needs, hence the arms and armament consisting entirely of sea monster hunting equipment. It remained to be seen if anyone other than the troop would opt to board the hack job of a ship when two more conventional vessels were available. The troop joined the others just in time to hear Peach questioning the fact that the navy had child ship girls among their ranks. [color=SpringGreen]”What’s so weird about that, huh?”[/color] Jr asked, helpful reminding everyone they weren't above it all and that, indeed, unlike the Navy’s child soldiers he’d not only be coming with them but would be transporting some of them into battle. [color=SpringGreen]”Also has anyone seen that hat kid recently?”[/color] he added, further twisting the knife. There wasn't that much time for discussing that however, as the admiral stepped up to give a speech, announcing their new method of dealing with the Abyssal fleet’s respawning ability once and for all. The ship girls were roused by this news, as well they should. It was a new war, one they actually could win instead of simply endure. There was, of course, a few exceptions, one of whom had just finished her pancakes and wandered over to the window just in time to overhear/see the speech. There were a lot of ways Rika could have responded to this, or ways she could have felt about the implications of all this if she’d stopped to think about this, but instead she was reminded that “Oh is that the admiral lady? Weren't we supposed to talk to her at some point?” She said, talking to both herself and to Bella (if she was still on the ship). Down below the team where talking strategy. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I would recommend that those without water or aerial mobility divide themselves up evenly between or two vessels so that, if/when we need to peel off from the navy to go find the guardian we don't need to rendezvous with the admiral’s ship first”[/color] Kamek suggested [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I believe we three will be sticking together, right sire?”[/color] [color=FD0000]“That’s right!”[/color] Bowser agreed, before getting everyone attention and launching into the start of his own speech [color=FD0000]“ALRIGHT LISTEN UP TROOPS-”[/color] “Hi. Hello!” came a call from Rika, not directed at them but at “Miss Admiral Merlwyb! I think I need to talk to you!” [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Ah, oh dear. Well I suppose this is when we’re doing this then. I’ll be right back”[/color] Kamek said, hurrying over to where Rika was approaching the admiral while saying cheerfully “Hi, I’m Rika, I used to be part of the Abyssal fleet and I want to talk to you about that”