The Mangrove of the Ocean (Part 2)

*Sura's POV*

It wasn't only us along the beach, there were other people too, but not too many. A young naga and goat girl ran in the shallow water squealing with joy while their parents watched. Some sunbathed in the sizzling light... I see a tan bunny lady with super large floofy ears. She was fanning herself, her ears drooping more and more due to the heat. Suddenly a umbrella comes to the aid, plopping down near her... it was Klara as she kneels near the girl with her sly smile.

"Eeehhhh… Mooooom can I go!!"

Watching everyone play in the waters while I had to get my hair properly put into a ponytail makes my skin crawl hmph!

"Just a bit more sweetie…. There!"

"Yay!"

I was about to jump off her lap before getting pulled back into a hug.

"Do you know how to swim?"

"Yes mom"

"Stay within this general area ok?"

"Yes mooooom."

"Make sure I can see yo-"

"Yeeeeesssss…"

"... hehe you may go~"

*Boom*

"Sura-chan!! Aah what did I just say---!!"

I was so excited to swim in the ocean for the first time… I didn't even realize I was running across it. As I slow down, the blurring shimmer beside me slows down to the gentle waves of the ocean.

As I move my feet forward against the waves to halt, a burst of ocean water erupts, their salty smell fills the air as droplets rain down on me… then I sink into a new world.

It was like a massive forest underwater… the tall trees instead, are the vine-like cage roots of the Mangroves… reaching far down into terrain alongside tree-like corals. Root and trunk like structures holding up small colonies and discs of corals like the leaves of a tree. Some twisted and turned, some leaned down again to grace the floor.

Under their underwater canopy, rests the underbrush of corals each vibrant in color… eventually slowly dropping off to plains of ashen dark, with high reaching plateaus and small canyons. Within the deeper, darker areas where light's kingdom ends, rests in depth's realm. Covered in algae, decorated by kelps, blue hued trees grew, bearing eerie cyan pulp fruits that attracted fish like moths to a flame.

Some violet purple, some held bulbous gelatin cases, containing

Bubbles obscured my sight for a little bit but I already began to beg for more to see…

"Heya lil' girlie, don't forget your bubble helmet!"

Jackie! There was now a bubble of air around my head… I hadn't even realized since I was holding my breath the whole time.

"Just swimming around, enjoying ma homeland! Ah, there's the little ground skippers!! They were some of my favorite animals!"

Streaked in blue and yellow, sitting upon tripod tipped fins, the little ground skippers hopped across the ocean floor, atop corals and rocky reefs. In schools of hundreds, they create stripped undulating waves under the ocean.

"Beautiful ain't it? Now ya hold on till I get everyone else down here! It's a beauty ya can't just miss around here!"

She jets back toward the shore, where I can just barely see a frantic figure waving towards my direction… mom. Eh Ah!! I got out of her sight!! I gotta get back before mom gets upset!

Hurriedly kicking my legs, I put too much force and it spins me out of control.

"Waaah! I never learned to swim properly!!"

*Pop*

"Eh-"

Warm, salty water covers my face as my bubble pops. I had accidentally got too close to some of the corals and rocks. I hold my breath, suddenly, my heart beats fast… I'm panicking. The sand beneath opens up, sinking in as I try to jump off the bottom. The Ocean channel description of gills pops into my mind.

"If only I had gills like Jackie!!"

"Calm down, flower maiden."

Goddess Myriam?

"Yes, I've been here. I've been keeping an eye on you so far hehe. There, you're ok… I must say, you really are interesting."

A green emerald bubble forms around me as I see the rest of the group swim towards me. Mom rushes towards me.

"Sweetie!! Are you ok?! Bad munchkin"

"Mom… sorry, I got too excited."

"It's ok, at least now you're in my sight. Thank goodness I had asked Goddess Myriam to watch over just in case. Don't go too deep or the bubble may pop ok?... what is that?"

Mom points at my neck. Jackie leans in her gills flare in surprise.

"No way girlie! Those are gills! Wha-how ditcha get those?!"

"Woah, gnarly!"

Commented Pandora, as the others stared in awe at my neck. I want to feel my neck and I can't see it! Jackie excitedly speaks, her gills vibrating.

"Try breathing underwater!"

Gently, Jackie removes the bubble around my head with mom at the ready to spring in, eyes filled with worry…

*Pop*

…holding my breath for a little bit. I wasn't sure if I was ready… but I let out some bubbles, and breathed in… a rush of super salty water almost made me cough as it went into my throat. However instead of going into my stomach, I feel the water divert and exit the gills… and I take in a breath. Jackie blows a bubble onto my head again.

"Wah!! Bleeeh…. That feels weird!! And the water is so salty!!"

"Hahaha! You'll get used to it… wowee you sure are something out of this world girlie."

"Fascinating, a fully developed gill system…"

A black cuboid box floats near me, with Mokuren's voice filtering through.

"Mokuren isn't coming down here."

"Ahaha, I'm good… saltwater isn't exactly great for dryads or my hair. I'll spectate through the cube!"

With the water breathers ready, everyone else follows as Mom takes me by the hand and swims with me. Passing through the corals and at times, large bulbous glowing corals, we swim with Jackie leading the way.

Turning around, we're all swimming through this magical underwater world… I see Wukong awkwardly tug and help Saraswati move as she struggles, her spindly legs providing little to no proposlution atop her body shape.

"I'm so sorry eweh I'm upside down!!"

Hehehe, but at least miss spider lady is enjoying herself, the eight eyes of her darting, scattering trying to see everything at once which dizzy's her more. Off on the right, beneath the large Mangroves, rest entire palaces made from Mangrove wood.

People swam back and around that palaces, some on sea animals, some tending to giant farms and schools of fish. Communal palaces for everyone to use and work alongside one another. I see someone wave their hand, directing a group of bioluminescent fish to shed ghostly light so they can see better under the shadows of the mangrove forest.

*Weoooooo-eyah--eyah--eyah*

Sounding like a whining radio, ending in dolphin-like calls, a large shadow casts over us as we look up. Its massive eel tail sways behind slowly, attached to a large whale body. Rock hard plating on its back coated in generations of life with corals and algae, fish taking shelter under its large stature.

"That everybody, is the , Rok-hom (रॉक होम: "rock home"), the minerals it eats form it's hard plated back! Its name kinda means "Rock home" as our ancestors had always relied on them for guidance, safety, and travel."

Its vibrant green eyes showed intelligence as it glinted at us with warmth. Its four multi-jointed fin appendages do a little wave to us. In the distance, I see another one, this time it carried a sort of station building on its back, and behind it, it hauled a large seed pod shaped like the Mangrove's hearth lotus. After the tour, we get back on the beach… where's Kyuu?

"Kyah!!"

Mokuren's leaf boat rocking before she flips over… Kyuu pokes her head out, laughing with revenge.

"That's pay back for messing with me!"

*CRACK*

The vine splits the water in a painful lash… Mokuren backs up, her hair wet as her emerald hair drips ghostly over her face as glowing green orbs stare at Kyuu. Vines grow from her crawls out, a living mass with evil intent…Kyuu backs up… realizing her mistake.

"Ah…shi-*CRACK* Woah!! I'm sorry! Calm down Mokuren!!!"

"Get back here!!!"

I don't think… I've seen Kyuu run away with fear before… nor have I seen Mokuren chase with so much ferocity before.

"Yeah… sometimes I'm scared of my own daughter too ehe. She's so strict sometimes, hmph."

Goddess Myriam nervously chuckles. While Kyuu ran for her life, we continued playing at full speed!

"Score!!"

Just missing the volleyball, I dive into the sand. Dang it!! Klara laughs as she hovers in the air, that's not fair! Together like this, diving here and spike down for the point there! Was our adventure on the beach.

However it continues as we approach the mangrove forest. Mom holds my hand as we walk into the gates of one of the Mangrove towns. The guards there all wore layered plated kelp green armor. Trident in hand they smiled at us.

"Bringing some visitors eh Jackie?"

"Don't forget about our catch up time, freckles haha!"

"Whatcha names again?"

Tilting her head comically to the side, fingers to her chin and teasing them, Jackie laughs together with them as we pass through. I anticipated chatter, hollers, and conversations kinda like Heiwa on its busy days but no! It was much more quiet and the sound of the waves filled in the missing chatter. Markets, shops circled formed near the outer rim of the giant lily pad. One one side I also see small hotels and even massage parlors… oooh, I've only passed some back in Heiwa.

"Goddess Myriam!"

Standing near, towering above the rest of the people, was Goddess Myriam. Almost nude as always, this time she stood with emerald warriors of her own creation. She holds a large staff made of wood brimming with primordial essence as I felt it. Facing her, was someone in a black business suit, wearing a helmet.

"Flower maiden Sura-chan, Misses Ohari, good to see you two here."

She sounds… different. More serious. The strange man turns to us, exposing a giant glowing digital eye on his helmet, it seems to analyze us before the helmet clicks. Bowing pretentiously, his back had a circular mechanism, turning and whirring. Next to the stranger, were robots… I've never seen them in person before. Humanoid, might metal framed their body as their glowing chest powered their hollow soul. Pinpoints of red light were sensors for eyes resting upon its round metal head that periodically rolled around. I didn't like them… they don't look cool like in the TV shows hmph.

There were so many small parts on them I almost got dizzy trying to count.

"Greetings… if I may, Goddess Myriam, about the proposal to establish a market here for Digita. It would boost profit margins both here and for us-"

Goddess Myriam's staff comes down, silencing him.

"The answer is no… I intend not to chastise Digita's ways, but do not think otherwise if you think a God of nature can't understand market schemes."

"...very well."

Leaving, their clanks and heavy foot steps stride unwelcomed in the town. After finally hearing some kind of spaceship leave, Goddess Myriam's shoulder finally sags.

"Ugh… sorry about that, why can't they just leave me alone! We've been getting more and more attention here because it's a nice vacation spot. Those rotten businessmen think they can monopolize this place and take over? No way! I see through their cold metal exterior!"

Returning to her kinda immature way of talking, she complains to mom.

"Well Myriam, you're doing the right thing hehe. But perhaps Mokuren could help, she's more… in touch with the modern economy and world, especially like planet Digita."

"Eh… but then I'll seem imcompetent in front of my own daughter…"

Raising an eyebrow, Mom just looks at Goddess Myriam.

"... ah fiiiiine, Mokuren will help… geh I'm losing my credibility as a Goddess!"

"Hehe, thanks for looking over Sura. Can you still keep an eye look out?"

Deconstructing her emerald warriors, Goddess Myriam gives us a wink.

"You don't need to ask… but I need to go talk to some town elders regarding this. I will always answer if you need help."

Waving bye to Goddess Myriam we go further in. Stepping forward, ready to explore, I almost fell back as mom held onto my hand.

"Nuh uh, you're not running out of my sight again, munchkin! I'll hold your hand but you can lead me to places you wanna visit."

"Ehehe, oki~"

As we all spread out, the fresh scent of something like nectar mixed with the slight salty haze of the ocean catches me. Letting my nose lead me, I take mom to a… food stand? A Jalaparee man was roasting some kind of spherical fruit. On each end protruded a handle like a stem.

"Oh… wanna try one Munchkin~"

"Yes!"

Waiting in line, I see a frog girl, holding up the fruit in her webbed hands and carving into it with a knife. Fruit juice pours out as she opens her wide mouth to drink… After doing so she throws the fruit up in the air and a long tongue zips out, sticking onto it as she swallows it whole. Later she spits out the handle stem, throwing it out on the floor… hey don't throw it on the floor!

"Mom I'm gonna pick up that and throw it away properly!"

"Good Sura-chan~ hehe thank you."

After throwing it away into the bio recycle bin… it took me a while to remember all the different signs for trash cans… I quickly rushed back to mom, noticing she was at the stand talking to the seller!

"Hello ma'am."

"Hello~ could I get 2 of those… fruits?"

"Sure! They're called 'bahatas' (bahata hua amrt). Careful when biting into it, the fruit juice inside pours out easily."

Using a claw, the lady grabs two bahatas from a hot grill and puts them into a little box for mom to hold. She gives me a wink as we wave goodbye. Sitting along one of the beaches, overlooking the ocean. Mom takes it out, still steaming a little, I hold onto the fruit on its stem bars.

"It's warm!"

Holding it up closer under the sun, I can see water inside though its fibrous outer layer. I open my mouth and take a bite… crisp and chewy, it wasn't as dry as I thought! Immediately, a warm tropical sweet nectar gushes into my mouth.

"Careful munchkin!"

"Ehehe"

With a napkin in hand, mom wipes off the dripping sun orange juice off my chin… it's kinda like mom's hair color. Together we chowed down on the fruits.

"Ready~"

"Ready!"

"...go!"

Tilting up the fruits, we chug down the nectar, savoring the warm taste. We finish around the same time and mom looks at my chin again.

"Sweetie you got some dripping down your chin again hehe."

"Hmph! You too!"

Slightly embarrassed, mom chuckles as she wipes my chin and hers too. Getting up to leave, we explore the mangrove town more. From above, some Jalaparee people swing down from ropes to talk to someone with a clipboard.

"Any changes?"

"Nope, the weather is clear as day, no incoming storms or rainy weather for the next few days it seems."

"That right? Oh right, good time to make some deliveries overseas."

Eventually I see Saraswati and Wukong at a booth where there were people playing on some type of bongos. The store was lined with different shapes and sizes… each making a different hollow bongo sound.

"Sorry we don't serve your kind here, please leave."

Saraswati… nodded reactively, almost as if she's used to it. Wukong defends her, stepping forward.

"Exc-excuse me, we're only here to look. I-I don't think that's a problem."

"We have the right to refuse if we are uncomfortable."

We get closer to see… It's the frog girl from before! A frog boy comes behind, and tries to calm her down.

"Sis, it's fine… they're just here to look, let's not stir up trouble."

"No! Have you seen what those… wretched spider-kin can do?! They're mass murderers, especially to our frog-kin! Uncle and Auntie were killed by one!"

Mom steps forth, trying to calm her down.

"Please ma'am, she's with us and she's proven nothing but harmless… even cutely shy. We're here too."

"No means NO!"

Saraswati taps mom's and Wukong, her eyes turn towards the ground.

"It's ok, it's common for me, it's nothing."

No it's not nothing!! I can see it still hurts in her eyes! Why… does she hate Saraswati so much? It's not fair… she's been nothing but kind and even taught me how to play guitar.

"Hey!! Leave her alone, frog lady! You're not nice!"

"Ha? What is this shrimp doing here?"

"Sis please, stop stirring up trouble. It's ok."

Her brother's drowned out voice passes unheard to her sister's anger. I was about to… I don't know… call her names? Dumb stupid? When I see Saraswati walking away already with Wukong trying to comfort her… then… I see a chewed bahata stick hit her in one of her legs and make her lose balance as she trips onto her legs…

"...tch, unwanted bitch!"

…My heart hammered against my chest as a crushing pain spread into my heart and head… but it didn't hurt… it called to something burning as my fists crack. A mantra chants like haunted echoes in my head…

*RIP AND TEAR… LIMB BY LIMB*