The fishers who conquered the skies
-Hold on tight Rin!
The boy did as the girl said, one mistake and their boat along with them would fall off the clouds, but the time to freeze in fear by that thought had long since passed, this was a fight or flight situation, and none of them had yet learnt the latter.
-Meri! Watch out!
The beast approached once again, ready to assert the final blow and put the final dot on this young duo's tale. Its fast, erratic moves and fragmented flashy body made it look like lightning, and precisely that was what it wielded as its weapon.
-Now!
At her partner's command she boosted the boat by manipulating the clouds below, barely dodging the beast's assault, if it was water what their boat was resting on she could have done it without trouble, but she wasn't used to clouds just yet, and judging by the way they landed this time it didn't look like she would have a chance to do so.
-Meri! Are you ok?
-Don't worry about me, just try not to die and I'll try to get us out of here.
She gave her partner a thumbs up and a smile, but he could see the worries right through.
-I'm so sorry I got you into this…
-Worry about that when we get back home… what about you make it up to -!
The snake emerged right in front of them, blocking their path while he looked at its prey.
-Make it up to me by making some hot chocolate and drinking it together while you read me one of those stories I like so much.
-I would love that…
They gave each other the most sincere smile they had left on their tired hearts and faced at the monster, who readied its inescapable electric attack.
-Ok… Let's go.
-Wait wha-? RIN NO!
The boy launched himself towards the lightning, maybe he couldn't do much in this situation, but there was something even he could do, taking a hit.
He readied his fishing rod, pointed straight to the attack to offer it the path of least resistance, if all went right he would be able to redirect it without much consequence, if worse came to be, however, he would turn into a tasty extra crispy snack for its adversary, maybe falling off of the cloud was even worse, but he didn't give it much thought.
The lightning started to creep through the line as he started to make his move. His speed was in no way comparable to that of pure electricity tho, so even before his spin had arrived at the first quarter of its destination the electricity stored itself in his very core, leaving his mind blank as reality faded to black.
(So... this is game over…
At least Meri will be able to escape safely after this)
Nothing surrounded every single part of him, and sparkling resonances of colours could be seen flickering all around, spaced perfectly to make nonexistence feel neither empty nor full…
(I wonder how much time I have left here… maybe I should search around in case there's something I can do.)
(That won't be necessary.)
He turned towards the sound of the voice, well maybe those things didn't apply to nonexistence, no concept of turning or even sound can be applied.
A gorgeous woman appeared where no one was before, looking at Rin with her closed eyes, her long golden pink locks ravelling themselves around her dark skin alongside beautiful fabrics of vivid colours
(Rin, I would be humbled if you allowed me to be your guide through this -your- short visit through this plane of nonexistence)
(You know my name? Are you a friend of my mother or something? Please don't tell me you changed my diapers too when I was a baby too…)
(I… No, I did not change your diapers I…)
The woman stopped for a second to secure that bit of composure she had almost lost.
(For years I have waited for your destined arrival so I could guide you through this -your- first step in your journey as the chosen hero)
The woman extended her hand towards Rin's chest, and from it a shining sword emerged.
(Take this and make reality yours to bend.)
Rin raised his hand, and with a slow movement he pushed away the sword, which floated at a constant speed towards the woman.
(I'm sorry but you got the wrong guy, I don't really like those things.)
The woman gracefully caught the sword.
(There's no room for misinterpretation, this sword came out from your own core. Destiny is absolute)
She grabbed the sword by the blade and pointed with the handle at its destined owner.
(Don't you want to go back to save her?)
(I've done more than enough, besides, she's way tougher than she looks.)
(It is her destiny to be saved by you, if you don't take this sword she's as good as-)
(Why are you so sure?)
(Huh?)
(Wasn't this destiny of yours absolute? Then even if I didn't go back she would still survive.)
(That's not how it works.)
The woman pinched the sword with as much pressure as she was sending Rin, but not only didn't he falter, he didn't even seem to notice…
(I don't know how much time I have left to think before I stop existing, but I would appreciate it if you left me chill by myself)
(You don't get it, you have to-)
-RIN!
The boy opened his eyes to see his favourite face ever was dropping tears of sorrow and joy over his own.
-Meri… What…
Meri embraced her partner with all the strength she had, and she had a lot.
-Thanks the stars you're still with me… I was so worried…
-Meri… Why are you still here…
-You idiot! You just promised me you would make me chocolate, how could I leave you?
Rin incorporated his aching upper body, it seemed like the lightning didn't do much physical damage to his arms, but the pain in his chest was pretty severe.
-How did you bring me back?
-Oh eh… I just punched your chest until you reacted… hehe…
-Oh yeah, that explains a lot…
A lightning bolt passed right by them, and they hugged trying to protect each other.
-I'm sorry for getting you into this...
-That again!?
-I'm sorry it’s just-
-Stop! Stop saying you're sorry! We just wanted to help someone, there's nothing wrong with that!
-But-
-Rin, you've never, ever, done a single thing you should apologize to me for.
Meri stood up ready to do whatever she could to protect her partner.
-... Meri, do you believe in destiny?
-Huh?
The girl turned towards her still sitting partner.
-Do you think we were destined to meet?
-I… I don't.
They knew the beast could attack at any moment, but they didn't care.
-I thought about it once, and thinking that believing that our meeting was caused just by the random whims of the cosmos would be an insult to the people that allowed it to happen…
The sky serpent finally appeared, and it didn't seem like it was polite enough to wait for them to stop their talk.
Rin raised his hand towards his partner.
-And do you believe in me?
Her smile answered the question before her voice could. Meri grabbed her partner's hand and raised him to his feet.
-Then let's fish this thing.
Both of them started to resonate with each other, almost as if they were about to become one, and right as they faced the beast it launched itself towards them.
Rin invoked his fishing rod.
-Jump above it!
-On it!
The boat soared over the serpent's lunge, landing safely in the clouds.
-Now grab on tight!
-What did you-?
Before she could finish her sentence she noticed the line of her partner went from the tip of his rod to the mouth of their assaulter.
-Oh no.
The boat started to chase the monster violently right as Meri held onto Rin.
-What’s the plan!?
-It might be big but it’s still a living creature! And as long as something’s alive it has a rhythm! We might need some extra force but besides that, it’s just like fishing any other fish!
-Ok! You focus on that, I’ll focus on keeping us on the boat!
From Meri’s back two purple, almost crystal-like wings appeared and instantly changed colour to match her soft yellow mane. The wings grabbed themselves to the boat as if they were just a pair of extra arms.
-They might not be any good for flying but at least they’re good for this! How’s everything going on your end!?
-I don’t know if I can handle this..! I feel like my arms might fall apart at any moment, and if I miss one single beat we will-
-PAF-
Meri clapped her hands over Rin’s.
-I’ll take care of the pressure for you! Focus on the beat!
-Sorry for dumping all the hard work on you…
-It’s not like that, I take care of what I do best and you take care of what you do best, if you asked me to handle the beat you could forget about the line, I would have snapped the entire rod in two! I already said I believe in you, so believe in me when I say this is nothing!
After his partner’s words resonated inside him something happened, his rod started to transform into one they had never seen before. As if made of the Kosmos itself you could see the stars through it, and where the reel once was an orb that seemed to distort reality around it appeared, with a line of pure black still connected to the beast’s mouth.
-Meri! Whenever I say so, pull the boat back as far as you can using the clouds!
-On it!
The pair of fishers synced in perfection, pulling from the beast at the beat of its soul.
It finally realized the tables had turned, its status as the hunter had just been revoked, forcefully changed for the one of the prey. Maybe if the beast had just changed its course and attacked them directly it could have assured an easy win, but its instinctual fear told him otherwise, so it tried to shake its hunters off with its lightning as it panicked.
-Crap… Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that!
-No! Evade them at my signal or we might kill the beat!
Surprised, Meri looked at Rin’s determined eyes and let out a soft laugh.
-What is it?
-You’re so handsome when you’re confident in yourself…
-Really? I’m pretty sure I’m handsome all the time.
-That’s because you haven’t seen yourself while you’re saying I’m sorry every three words.
Their intertwined fingers pressed against each other even harder as they readied themselves to avoid the attacks coming their way. There was no need for words, Meri could perfectly feel when Rin wanted her to move and in which direction, and little by little the prey’s energy started to diminish.
-Rin look! The lightning has stopped! We are almost there!
-No… There’s still some fight in him! Watch out!
-Is it..? It’s diving into the clouds! Hold tight!
The beast escaped into the clouds, and the boat followed. they had lost all visibility, but that wasn’t gonna stop them.
-Meri, don't lose focus! I can feel lightning coming our way!
-Awesome! then let’s keep on reeling!
Rin could still feel the beat of the beast, but without visuals the information was incomplete, giving him less time to react, he knew he couldn’t keep this up forever, so he slowly closed his eyes.
(Open up your senses…)
As he said that to himself the entire world turned black, it was not unlike the nonexistence he had experienced minutes ago, only faint lines and sparks of vivid colour could be “seen”, but that allowed him to feel the beast’s movement even better than with his own eyes.
-It’s trying to use all its remaining energy in a desperate struggle, after this it’ll be ours for the taking! Can you hold on!?
-I’ve still got energy to spare, just focus on the beat!
This was the hardest fishing they had endured in their lives, but they were determined to see it through.
-It’s going back to the surface! how are you doing!?
-Just..! A little more! Meri! get ready for the final pull!
They finally emerged out of the cloud right after the beast did, right as the moment of truth arrived.
-I think it’s changing course! What do we do!?
-This is perfect! bust us forward to use the speed we already have! NOW!
They boosted with all their might, carrying the beast with them, and after a few seconds they understood why the beast had changed its course.
-What’s the plan now, Rin!?
-I don’t know!
-WHAT!?!?
-I had my eyes closed! Why didn’t you say anything?
-BECAUSE I HAD MY EYES CLOSED TOO!
-WHY DID YOU HAVE YOUR EYES CLOSED???
-BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN YOU! WHY DID YOU HAVE YOUR EYES CLOSED?????
-AAAHG, I’ll explain it to you later, first we need to think!
They hugged as the boat fell from the skies, with the body of the beast falling too at their side.
-Look Rin! We are going to fall on a lake, you think will survive the fall!?
-What do you think I’m made of!?!?
-And what if we use the beast as a shield!?
-Only if you want to get shocked! But I think I got an idea!
Rin carried himself towards the motor of the boat and started kicking it
-Good thinking! back off, I’ll handle it!
Meri pulled Rin by the arm as she destroyed the motor with one of her wings. Multiple parts were sent flying, a blue shining blue crystal being one of them.
-I’ll catch it!
Meri invoked her fishing rod and laid it against her waist while she aimed, and with one elegant and fast strike she caught the crystal mid-air and brought it to Rin’s hand.
-Get all the water inside of it out as fast as you can! break it open if you have to!
-On it!
Rin connected with the water crystal and forcefully extracted all the water it had, thankfully it was a lot. Meri hugged Rin as hard as she could as she covered them with a water shield. Their eyes closed as they waited for the impact…
Great pressure separated them from each other. Mari came back to her senses after recovering from the shock, but the beast collapsed against the lake creating a shockwave that disoriented her once again. She finally saw Rin, sinking to the bottom of the lake, and as fast as she could she dived to take him to the surface.
-Fiu~ Finally safe… Hey, look! This is our lake! We’ll be home in no time!
-How… can you be so… calm… we almost died…
-Well yeah… but wasn’t it awesome!?
-Yeah… I guess it was…
-By the way, you should really learn how to swim, you almost died down there.
-I’ve already told you, it’s not that I don’t want to, I literally can’t swim!
-Yeah, yeah. You’re gonna have to make me an extra cup of chocolate for this.
-... Thank you, Meri, for everything.
Meri sank her head in the water while she tried to drown her screams.
-YEah hehe… Thank you too I guess…
Meri held Rin on her back with her arms as she slowly swam with her wings, she could have gone faster if she wanted to, but she decided to enjoy this quiet moment as much as she could.
-Hehe…
-What’s so funny?
-It tickles when you pet my head like that
-...Meri… I’m not petting your head, both of my arms are clinging to your neck.
-wat.
Meri started to aggressively search through her head, almost making Rin fall multiple times, until she found the culprit.
-Gotcha!
In her hands was now a little yellow snake trying to escape from it’s captor.
-Hey! Who gave you permission to interrupt you jerk!?
-Is it the snake from before?
-Yeah, we must have pulled it out from the rest of its body at the end. What do we do with it? Should we feed it to Yuri?
-NYOOOO
The snake started to revolve and cry, as if trying to escape and asking for forgiveness at the same time.
-I think she already learned her lesson, let’s leave her off the hook for now.
-Hmm… If you say so…
Meri approached her face to the snake and started to whisper to her.
-Listen here you little punk, you’re lucky Rin has decided to forgive your life, but if you ever make any sort of trouble for him I’ll cook you and feed you to my bear. Got it?
The little snake wiggled in agreement as she cried before swimming off as fast as her new little snake body allowed her.
-Hmm, hey Rin, I don’t think that snake had its electric powers, and if the rest of the body had them the entire lake would be electrified by now… You think it lost them?
-I think I have a pretty good idea about where her powers went, but right now I want to rest… Mind if I sleep on your back while you swim?
-My pleasure… You think Metalica will get mad at us when we tell her we destroyed the boat?
Rin buried his head on her back as he expressed his disgust.
-I don’t want to think about that right now, let’s just get home and take a nap…
-Ok, ok… What about the chocolate tho?
-I’ll make some chocolate before that…
-And the story?
-Zzz.
Meri smiled as she swam towards their home as quietly as possible, enjoying every single moment as much as she could.
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