Sunnyfest - Treasure Dive Quest

When the two Pouflon and the Vespire were safely back onto the boat, Aria rushed over to inspect the map and make sure it was still intact outside of the water. Eponine and Vasha leant in with interest as she gingerly unrolled the parchment. The full map of bellacoste came into view with a prominent hole visible in the ocean. Vasha walked around the map to the pointed object on the far side of the boat’s deck, it was approximately the length of her foreleg and tapered to a now blunt tip at the end. She considered the object with interest, testing the point with a long claw.

“We will meet again soon old friend” she said finally with a wicked grin, turning back to the three pouflons as she laid the item back down. “This isn’t an ordinary object, this tooth belongs to a fearsome creature that has sunk bigger ships then this to add to its treasure hoard. Levian.” The name sent shivers down Aria’s back as she looked down at the water surrounding them and she moved back to tuck herself back next to Nimbus on the bench. The pale Pouflon gave her a worried look as he pulled a towel around her shoulders and nuzzled her neck, bringing the Hermyte companion back over to comfort her.

The two explorers left the couple on the bench to talk as they took the map over to the console. They laid it over the map they were following and Eponine marked the stab hole. The mark was still in the middle of the ocean off the north-west coast of the Ebony Wreath, a two hour boat ride away at minimum. The sky was starting to cast a yellow-orange glow over the water as the sun sunk lower on the horizon and Eponine looked around at their surroundings. “We can get there before nightfall, we just need Aria’s Illumination again if we want an advantage over this creature” She said finally, being careful as she rolled the old map up again and lad it on the bench next to her two friends who were exchanging soft murmurs. They had all noticed Aria’s new jewel resting around her neck when they resurfaced from the water, but what Eponine saw on further inspection was the swirl of colours from warm purples to almost an identical pink to Aria’s runic. She tucked this information away for later as she started the boat’s propeller again. 

As they travelled back out into the open water, Eponine thought she saw a familiar pair of piercing grey-green eyes watching them from the rocks. The moment she blinked the shadow had disappeared Into the water out of sight and she shook her head as she turned back to the water in front of them. It must have just been an illusion or light reflecting off the water she told herself, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being followed as the boat left a trail of bubbles through the water In their wake. 

Since the boat ride was going to be longer this time and it was already approaching evening, Eponine and Vasha took turns steering the boat while the other rested. Nimbus was watching over Aria as she dozed against him, the pale Pouflon used to long days without sleep from all his messenger duties over the past few years. “Get some rest Loverboy, Its going to be all hands on deck when we arrive.” Vasha said, checking the instruments before letting Eponine take over again for her shift at the helm. Nimi nodded in response and rested his chin over Aria’s shoulders, making sure the Hermyte’s shell next to them was secure on the bench. 

Eponine watched the water vigilantly from the steering wheel of the boat as her toucana moved back to its place at the bowsprit. Its wings were tucked against its sides, but the fan on Its tail was still swaying slightly with the wind currents. They continued their path following the coast of the ebony wreath before they finally had to steer straight into open water towards their destination.

When Vasha took over for the final shift, Eponine moved over to her friends to nudge them awake. “Almost here,” she told them with a gentle smile as she leant against the railing on the opposite side of the boat, giving them time to wake up and prepare to the events ahead.

It wasn’t difficult to keep track of the boat’s whereabouts as the shadowy figure glided through the water. She wasn’t as skilled at swimming as the two Capricorns, but the motivation of treasure and finally getting revenge on her rival was enough to keep her travelling forward. When they got out into the open water however, she realised how exposed her position would be when the team entered the water, she would have to search forward herself and find their destination before they get off the boat. 

The figure dived back underwater and swam as close as she dared to the boat before recharging her air bubble and sinking level to the ocean floor. She heard Eponine’s voice on the deck saying that they were getting closer so it shouldn’t be too hard to spot the opening to the underwater cavern. The Pouflon swam on and used an enchantment on her cloak to help her travel faster through the ocean currents and overtake the boat on the surface. 

The ocean floor was covered in vines and rocks so she didn’t see the ledge up ahead until she reached the edge of the crater. At the last moment she caught herself against some sea grass and stared out at the great hollow depression in the landscape. It was dark, the only light coming from the moon rising from the horizon, so she could barely make out a formation of rocks making up the walls of an ancient temple in the centre of the crater. Using the ledge as a spring board, the Pouflon kicked off from the side to propel herself further downward, choosing the first visible entrance as her destination.

The boat was making progress on the water surface and Eponine volunteered to swim ahead to find the best place to drop anchor. As soon as she entered the water she set to work looking for a flat area with large rocks that would keep the boat steady. She swam ahead of the boat and found a location that would be suitable on the edge of the underwater crater, but before she gave the signal she noticed another shape moving over the ledge not too far away from where she was crouched. They hadn’t seen her yet, but when they kicked off the side of the ledge their hood flew back revealing a messy crop of silver hair and white fur. A Pouflon she knew all too well. 

“Finn,” Eponine growled under her breath and watched closely to see which entrance she was aiming for. She then shot up to the water surface to signal for the approaching boat. Without waiting another moment, she grabbed the anchor and swam it down to the floor again to secure it. “We have company,” she said seriously once she had resurfaced and waited as Vasha gathered a coil of rope over her shoulder and the others secured their belongings and Aria’s Hermyte in the small hold space below the boat’s console. 

When the other pouflons and the vespire joined her in the water, Eponine took the lead and turned to follow where she had last seen her rival disappear into an entrance to the sea temple. She didn’t notice the water around her slowly growing darker the further she swam, her determination acting as blinders to the surroundings. 

Aria shook herself once she’d reentered the water and focused on their adventure at hoove, she had to put aside the fog that clouded her mind after her discoveries in the ship. Her friends needed her. She quickly helped Nimbus charge an air bubble around his head to breath and they worked together to help illuminate their surroundings. 

It didn’t take long to reach the sunken sea temple and Eponine stopped just outside the entrance, considering if Finn would wait inside for them or continue ahead to beat them to the prize. She waited for the others to catch up none-the-less as their would be safety in numbers. The walls and pillars shone gold from the glow of the other pouflon’s illumination spells and Eponine kept a watchful eye on their surroundings for any sight of the orange Pouflon shrouded in black but saw no sign of her rival. The seaweed and foliage drew thicker against the walls the further they swam inside the temple and Aria let her tail drag along the sandy ground to mark the way back to the entrance. It wasn’t until they entered another winding corridor leading downwards that they saw a glow of light not coming from their own spells. They all stopped when they reached the entrance and Vasha grinned at the sight of the room that stretched out in front of them. 

The room was round with a high ceiling and crumbling pillars around the perimeter. In the centre was a heaped pile of all sorts of treasures imaginable, from gold and coins to jewels and trinkets. But laying at the very top was the prize that Vasha had been seeking, a large ornate looking bronze chest with a chain wrapped around the front. Eponine surveyed their surroundings before letting the rest of the team enter the room, relieved to see that the chest was still on the pile but still not letting her guard down. 

Vasha swam closer to the chest, but as she landed on a pile of coins at the base of the pile a nearby collection of metal objects dislodged themselves and clattered along the ocean floor. She looked back at the team, not noticing the large shadow growing behinds her and starting to loom over them from behind the treasure pile. The creature was unlike anything ever found in the world of Bellacose, it’s head was almost the size of the vespire’s full body, while it’s body was thin with wide wings that seemed like they stretched the whole width of the room. It didn’t speak, but Instead let out a sharp hissing sound as it reared up again to intimidate them. The weathered adventurers that they were, Eponine and Vasha stood rigid on the temple floor, unafraid of the fearsome beast. 

Eponine saw a flash of white in the corner of her eye and watched in apprehension as Finn approached the chest and attempted to pry it open with her hooves. The fiery orange gaze from the sea creature snapped down at the movement and let out a roar when It realised the other Pouflon was touching Its prized treasure. With one swing of Its wing, an air current knocked Finn off her feet and sent her skidding towards a pillar. At the last moment the villainous Pouflon righted herself and landed with her hooves on the pillar surface. The side of Finn’s mouth quirked up with a cunning side-smile that only seemed to aggravate the creature further as it launched towards her. 

“You want a piece of me fish-brain?” The Pouflon taunted, but, but didn’t notice until the last moment the finned tail coming at her from behind until it had her pinned against the pillar. 

Eponine let out an exasperated sigh at the pouflon’s foolishness and grabbed a carved sword from the pile of treasures. She took off after her rival and the sea beast as her teammates prepared a plan to retrieve the chest while Levian was preoccupied.

Finn’s air bubble was running low with the more breaths she took while being pinned against the pillar wall, but she scowled at the approaching Pouflon who only smirked In return. With a well aimed rush of water, Eponine barrelled against the tail holding Finn down and jabbed it with the end of the decorative sword, causing the creature to let out a shriek in anger. 

“Let’s go Seablade!” Vasha called from the door where they’d entered, Aria and Nimbus already outside of the threshold with the treasure chest. Eponine looked back at the beast who was rearing up ready to strike again and she did the only thing she could think of to by them some time. With a rush of bubbles, she grabbed Finn by the hood of her cloak and flicked her tail around as she turned, sending the bubbles into the face of the beast.  

Despite the protests and struggling from her rival, Eponine followed Vasha back through the tunnels. She was acutely aware that Levian was following through the cavernous hallways behind them and she made a last ditch effort to obstruct his path by slamming a blast of water down against the pillars that lined one side. They swayed and started falling one by one behind them. ‘Almost there’ she thought before they made It out to the open water and the entrance crumbled behind them. 

All four team members and their new accomplice resurfaced with a gasp and Finn coughed up water from when she had to hold her breath after the bubble finally burst. Eponine reluctantly hauled the spluttering Pouflon onto the boat before helping her exhausted friends with the chest. Vasha reeled In the anchor effortlessly and launched the boat back into motion just in case the creature found a way to follow them. “Looks like another successful expedition, wouldn’t you say so team?” She cheered happily.