Keibe hit the mat hard, vision blurred. Time slowed as his head spun as he struggled to gather his senses. His body wouldn't move, it hurt far too much.
The referee came, sliding to his knees, patting the mat and yelling something.
“One” the words were so slowed and distant.
“Two” The face of king Neptune, his large mermaid frame standing out clearly in the crowd, long wavy orange hair below a crown.
“Three.” The face of one the king's daughters, Arial, eyes wide and full of concern as she stared into his.
It was over. Above him Keibe caught sight of Decklin standing proudly in victory. He was a fish man, a bull shark breed. He wore the rank of master as Keibe did, yet he was the one standing victorious and not Keibe.
“Keibe” A voice called out as Keibe left the arena in defeat, the voice belonged to his brother Kontu. He, just like Keibe was a Jellyfish Fishman, both of them wore their trails under a multicolored beanie.
“Kontu, what is it?” Keibe asked his brother.
“Second place isn't bad at all!” Kontu said encouragingly, concern clearly in his eyes. “Better than me, I barely got into the top thirteen.”
Keibe continued to walk, his brother trailing behind him. “I have to get stronger, I think I need to leave to train.”
“Seriously bro?” Kontu said, rushing in front of Keibe. “You dont need to get that extreme.”
“I feel I have reached the limit of my abilities here.” Keibe said. “The surface world will teach me much.”
Kontu paused. “If you think so.”
The mermaid peeked over the corner, drawing Keibe’s attention. “Kontu, head on without me.”
Kontu spotted the orange haired mermaid then did as told without a word. Keibe rounded the corner where princess Arial floated. Fishman Island was built in an air bubble, so mermaids like Arial had to use special bubbles of water to keep themselves moisturized and able to move with their tails. It would only be a year before Arial was old enough to split her tail into legs but for the time being she had to float.
“Are you okay?” Arial said, looking over Keibe.
He looked away ashamed. “Only a bruised pride.”
Arial grabbed Keibe’s face and pulled it into a deep kiss. Keibe melted at the kiss, he wondered if all mermaids kissed like that. He felt a sense of rebelliousness from the kiss, a result of his feeling of doing something disallowed. Fishman and Mermaid were completely allowed to interact and breed, but a fishman and the king's daughter?
Opinions of fishman hadn't been the best the last few decades, and it seemed the only time the king cared for their people was during the yearly fishman karate tournament, the one he had lost. Arial pulled back and looked at his concerned face.
“I don't think you need to win.” Arial said as if to calm him. “If he knew how much we loved each other I am sure my father would approve.”
“I swore an oath.” Keibe said. “I cannot break it.”
“Father will not care.” Arial said. “Just tell him, and i'll tell him how I feel.”
Keibe shook his head in disagreement. “I am sorry, a man is only as good as his word.”
Arial pouted. “So, another year of waiting?”
“I apologize, I will do better next year.” Keibe said.
“Decklin has won for the last four years, you got second place, take that and use it.”
“I cannot.” He said more sternly.
There was a moment of silence, then Arial smiled at him. “Your stubborn pride is part of why I love you, so I cannot fault that. Very well, I shall wait until you win the tournament, then we will be wed.”
Keibe felt his resolve harden, now he just needed to find a way to get the strength he needed.
It was not even a week later, when the pirate arrived. Keibe was deciding which side of the red line he would cross in the attempt to train, deciding the new world to be the best option. That was when Kontu broke into the room in a rush.
“A pirate ship!” Kontu said sharply.
“We get many of those.” Keibe said, looking over the map he had of the early islands, perhaps the Tianti Archipelago would be a good place?
“They came from the new world!” Kontu yelled out.
Keibe’s eyes turned sharply.
The ship was massive, one of the biggest he had ever seen. It was a large black vessel, and the sail bore a symbol of a skull with a bandanna across its head and one large blade pointed directly downwards behind it.
“Oh shit.” Keibe said, realizing what the flag was.
“Who is it?” Kontu asked.
“Ollin Blackblade.” Keibe said hesitantly. “He is one of the four emperors of the sea.”
The ship docked at the Coral Hills dock. Almost the entirety of the fishman island came to take in the sight. Fishman had emerged from their slums, hiding behind the rocks to look down on the scene.
The gangplank fell, and down stepped a hulking figure in a jet black cloak with its hood pulled down. The large hunk of iron that some would call a sword would be the attention grabber of most, but for Keibe it was the fact the man was a fishman. Ollin Blackblade stood revealing the tiger shark features that make up his face, with a set of fangs that stood out from his upper teeth.
“Greetings.” Ollin said to Neptune with a flourish of a bow. “I see I have drawn quite a crowd.”
“You have, I admit I head the tales of the Emperor of the sea, but I did not know he was a fishman.” Neptune said in his bellowing voice.
Ollin gave a toothy smile. “That is expected, those down here are sure to miss the news from the surface world.”
“What brings you here today?” Neptune asked as Ollin’s crew began to step off the ship’s gangplank.
“I understand there has been a few issues.” Ollin said, looking around. “Pirates raiding this land on their way to the new world, is that correct?”
“That it is.” Neptune said with a curious eyebrow raise.
“Perfect, in that case.” Ollin waved over a man who carried a large pole wrapped in cloth. Ollin took it, raising the pole high into the air, then dug it deep into the sand of the beach. The pole stayed firmly, hitting the bedrock below the dirt. The cloth unfurled to reveal a large replica of Ollin’s flag. “I will claim this island as my territory. Any who challenge the people of this island also challenge the honor of Captain Ollin of the RagingWorld Pirates.”
Neptune looked to the flag that now billowed in the breeze. “And why would we accept such a thing?” Guards raised spears towards the pirate.
Ollin gave another smile. “Do not think you can best me? I have on rule, strength above all. If you truly think you can stand to me then come, if you defeat me then I will serve you, however the same is expected of you.” He said it all so calmly, yet it was filled with resolve that shook even Keibe from the distance he was at.
A long moment held between the two kings. Finally, Neptune broke eye contact. “Very well, what is it you require of us?”
“Quick to step down.” Ollin said.
“The World government does not look to our land favorably, the aid of a pirate is the only thing we can hope for.” Neptune said.
Ollin looked around. “Old Roark also ruled this land at one point, before he died right?”
“That is correct.” Neptune said.
Ollin nodded. “Very well, my request will be simple. I will have crews come thru to gather the materials we request, which would be weapons of the Eel Shark. I understand that shouldn't be a problem?”
“It will not.” Neptune said sternly.
Keibe knew the difficulty of hunting Eel sharks, he had bested one but was incapable of moving for days after. The bones from the eel were not ideal for underwater combat, but in the open air they would be much more viable being as strong and flexible as they were.
“Perfect, we shall stay here for a few days and get all other negotiations settled, then we will be returning to the surface.” Ollin said.
Keibe felt a sudden realization. It wasn't till the next day where he set his thoughts into motion.
“Please take me with you.” Keibe said with a deep bow.
Ollin turned to the fishman with a look of confusion. He was joined by several members of his crew, who wore matching looks. “What?”
“You are strong aren't you.” Keibe asked. “If so, I wish to learn from you. I need to return here in less than a year.”
Ollin laughed. “You want to join my crew, for a whole year?”
“Less than, the fishman karate tournament will be in less then a year.” Keibe said.
“Seriously? You expect me to take on an apprentice or something for that time?” Ollin asked.
“Yes sir.” Keibe said, he looked up into Ollin’s eyes.
“Captain.” A crewmate said. “Remember what that guy said? Fishman karate is a form of Water Niten, perhaps he can teach you it.”
Ollin’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Can you teach it?”
Keibe nodded. “I have trained in it for most of my adult life.”
Ollin smirked. “Welcome to the crew, what is your name?”
“Keibe.”
“Keibe aye? Well, just know, our crew admires strength above all else you got that?”
“Of course, captain.”
Ollin patted Keibe’s shoulder. “We leave tomorrow, you will meet us at the shore, or you will be left behind.”
Arial was of course upset at Keibe. “Your joining a pirate crew? This is insane, you could die! The surface is no place for you!”
“I am sorry, but it is what I must do.” Keibe said, holding her arms with his hands gently. “When I return I will finally win, then we can wed.”
Arial was crying. “We could wed now you know? Just tell my father, he will agree.”
“I made a vow.” Keibe said. “I will not break it.”
Arial nodded, then did something strange. She pulled out a necklace from beneath her shirt. “This is the first scale I shed as a woman.” Arial said, handing the necklace to Keibe. “Soon I shall be able to grow legs and go to the surface. I cannot join you now, but if you leave again, I will be joining you.”
The scale was a beautiful blue green color that seemed to shift depending on how he held it. “I will treasure it forever.” Keibe said, then kissed her. He left Arial in tears that day, a thing he swore to never do again.
The next day Keibe stood on the shore of the island he had called home, then stepped onto the ship with a shaky step. Ollin and the other crew members welcomed him warmly as the ship departed, floating up towards the surface.
