[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=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 997 (+2) [b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 10 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (176/100) [b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 9 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (146/90) [b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 10 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////////////(68/100) [b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] Bottomless Sea – Carcass Isle Feat: Rika [/center] Link's suggestion drew their attention to the little fleet of abyssals Rika had escorted the two princesses out of. The wretched dregs of the fleet, broken amalgamations of shiprightery and fragments of human woman that stood there, near motionless and making little to no attempt to recover from the dual shock of liberation. They were the lowest on the totem pole, broken patched together husks and it was perhaps a blessing that they exhibited nothing akin to human intelligence. “Hey. Psst. Is anyone home?” Better they be mindless than have thinking and feeling people trapped within those twisted shells, or so Kamek thought as she watched Rika, who the mage had come to realize was something of an expedition among the abysall’s soldiery in that she had a form close to human/the princesses, try and fail to rouse any kind of personhood from them. At the very least, they didn’t attack either, simply stared at the shipgirl, as if awaiting orders. That would have to do. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I think they recognize you as one of the fleet’s leaders?”[/color] Kamek drifted over to say. They certainly seemed to be looking at her rather than either of the rescued princesses or even Bella who was keeping them company, [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Specifically Pacific?”[/color] “Huh? Oh…” she replied, reminded of that unnecessary death. Kamek would have consoled her, and indeed she would later, but right now they needed to act. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”I know it may not feel right, but we should try and follow Link's plan. Take command of these minions, and we might be able to resolve this with less death and injury”[/color] she insisted “Ok but how do I…” Rika began to ask how she should lead, before realizing she had an example to draw from. How good an example Bowser and his son were to draw from was highly debatable, but, well, that's all she had to go on. “Um. Ok. So,” she began faltering almost immediately before clearing her throat and tapping into the bits of her hack job of a personality drawn from the Brachydios and the Pacific princess. Namely loud and stern. She stepped one foot up onto one of the [url=https://imgur.com/olEPL2H]squat abyssals[/url], planted her hands on her hips and commanded loudly “Abyssal feet to attention! From up into a defensive posture around me, on the double! Then hold your fire until I command it!” before glancing over at Kamek and whispering “was that good?” The answer spoke for itself, as the wretched mass of ship-mutants crawled, flopped or hoovered towards her, forming, as rapidly as they could, a wall of guns and far too human maws in front of the tunnel leading towards the dead sea and their way home. Of course, this shouting drew the attention of a lot of the other creatures as well, stirring them awake. They had to act fast, and Kamek did so by hovering up and over the fleet and shouting [color=DeepSkyBlue]”We mean you no harm unless you mean it to us! If you want to leave, you are free to do so. If you want answers, step to the side and we will treat with you once only you remain. If, however, you wish to die senselessly”[/color] he raised her hand and beckoned the true monsters closer to Rika’s new army [color=DeepSkyBlue]”come and meet your fate”[/color] [hr] The smoke cleared soon after. The dead where tallied, the fled where long gone, and the friendly moved off of the walls they’d pushed themselves up against to stay clear of the fighting. Of the living, there where: One hulking [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda/images/2/28/Zora_%28character%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20100206224117]river zora[/url] who briefly thought he recognized Link, and then when it became clear they hadn’t met before, offered to sell him a set of [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda/images/a/ab/Zora's_Flippers_(A_Link_to_the_Past).png] flippers[/url] like he had one of the hero’s past reincarnations. Some incredibly ugly but otherwise unremarkable [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/psychonauts/images/f/fe/Fish.jpg]Lungfish Citizens[/url] who reacted to the whole situation exactly as a bunch of panicked humans would and had to be placated with promises of safety and modern conveniences. Much less ugly but just as helpless band made up of various fish-folk who called themselves [url=https://www.deviantart.com/ghiraham-sandwich/art/ABXY-The-Chirpy-Chips-552278572]The Chirpy Chips[/url]. A friendly talking fish who introduced himself as [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/humongous/images/f/fa/Freddi_Fish_2.png]Freddy [/url] and asked if they’d be able to help him leave the restrictive tide pool he was in. And finally a mermaid who seemed to have no issue moving around on dry land despite her lack of legs who called herself [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/chrono/images/d/d5/Irenes1.jpg]Irenes[/url] and who, along with the Zora King, and another mermaid called [url=https://valkyrieprofile.fandom.com/wiki/File:Yumei.jpg]Yumei[/url] had kept the lungfish folk and (non combatant) musicians safe at the sides of the cave. The dead consisted mainly of Pelagic Plague victims, Squirts, eldritch undead and Ocean Crawlers, along with some surprisingly dangerous [url=https://i.imgur.com/7IguONS.png]dire penguins[/url] and [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/plantsvszombies/images/3/3b/Dolphin-Rider-Zombie.gif] dolphin wielding zombies[/url]. These spirits where piled up along with the [url=https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/elderscrolls/images/e/e0/Land_Dreugh_Oblivion_transparent.png]Dreugh[/url] spirit and a fair number of fallen abyssal minions, while Kamek kept the Tonberry for herself. The various xenophobic fishmen, from murloks to pelagics to aquatoids, had taken one look at this mess and decided to leg it in the name of self preservation, while the hulking diving suit had crushed everything dangerous near it with cold brutality and then left without a word, ignoring any thanks or questions called out after it. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well. That’s the end of that”[/color] Kamek sighed with relief, not knowing how much more of this she could take, before saying [color=DeepSkyBlue]”now maybe we can finally rest?”[/color] before wincing at Rika shouting “Minions, make way for the friendly people” to her remaining fleet troops. As they obeyed and the friendly folk hurried over to ask questions about where they were and where safety might be found, and where directed back to the painting to get such things, Rika reminded Kamek that “We still gotta find New South, remember? Like Link said” The mage sighed, gave the hero of the wilds a dirty look and then with a groan agreed, saying “Well at least she can’t have gone far.” She turned out to be quite wrong about this.