=== Mermaid City - part 4

Wait we won? I was not the only one shocked by that realization. The second we all noticed that we were the lucky ones, madness transpired. For a reason unknown to me, it seems that everyone but us was shouting with their hand up in the air. "Gosh, they are so cute!", "How adorable that these little kids won.", "Damn they are lucky, I guess I'm going home." Those kinds of voices were heard all around at once. I was really confused to what we were supposed to answer, blushing.

With Jielby grabbing my hand and Corona's we rushed through the crowd and onto the stage, with the audience giving us the space to do so. Slowly, as I walked the strange grey pavement...I noticed that today, despite that we couldn't even get our priest to hunt with us, luck shined for me for the very first time in my life. Yet, these circumstances are improbable, I thought, so it might have been...

[So our lucky winners, could you tell us our names?]

[No, there is no need. I rather remain anonymous.]

[Hey hi hello! Is this mic working? Yahho! Oh upsie, I made a bloopie-funnie again! Please excuse us everyone. That aside, Bam! We are the totals absocutely Wing Sisters! I'm their commander, the dashy-flashy pegasus knight called Jielby! Huray! This here is Corona, the most lovely-dovey fairy idol you can find in this world! You should all check her stuffs, subar rad! Also we are missing out sleepy-neaty owl priest called Noctia. If you ever find in need of guidance come down to her church!]

[Sorry, I'm so sorry everyone! I would gladly do a song right now if I knew, but I’m completely unprepared to do my performance. Anyway, please do check my awesome videos on my channel. I really worked hard and honest on them so I hope you do enjoy them! Right? You will do that for your magical fairy idol? Umm...they don't seem fired up too much. Okay, I will be waiting for you! Umm...actually I think you missed something during the introduction Jielby. People are looking at her, not at me, for some reason.]

Quite understandably, I was the only one that has not been all happy-go-lucky about telling my name in front of this audience. They looked desperate to know just who is this grumpy and poorly dressed girl is doing on the stage, with all those other showy, talkative and loud little disasters. The answer, I was just trying to cope with what was happening here. By some chance we were selected, yet I had a strange feeling about this.

It was probably how the fox girl acted when she announced us to the stage. Was this her plan all along? Why would she give us this?

[Okay, congratulations again! We don't have too much time before the opening and our beautiful shrine maidens are also waiting. Say, you guys have entered with four, but I only see the three of you. Did something happened? It would be most unfortunate...]

[She is sleeping, that's all. I'm sure she is not missing a whole lot from this event, so don't worry about that. Anyway, I'm surprised that you even mentioned her, since I don't know how we were actually allowed to participate.]

[Oh that little thing? Don't worry, all the rules were on our page, so technically you were not cheating. Even more, there was a bunch of team of fours that entered, so you were on even ground with them. It's more fun with friends, yes?]

[If you say so then I guess you had no...wait! It says that the organizer can change the rules without notice. Oh well, in that case I have nothing to add. I'm sure that this is not just a giant coincidence, and our victory was not staged.]

Right...even if I said that, no one was at least a little shocked knowing that she might have bend the rules a little. I’m the only one noticing that? I was expecting the audience draw their attention to her, but instead, their doubtful eyes were now watching my every action carefully. I appeared as the perpetrator, and the other girl were just smiling innocently, with her ears wiggling around slightly. Feeling a little responsible for the silence that occurred, I bowed in apology and simply took the tickets from her hand.

[Please forgive her...Anyway, we are going to have so much fun! I'm already thinking of this special street performance. Do you know to what extend the mermaid tail can waggle? Like if it's like just a tail or can it curl up like a snake? Oh gee, I have so many ideas about using water as stage effects! We could have like bubbles that gush out of a nesting, and then inside of them will be my adorable little...Oh my goodness! I didn't ask you for your permission yet girls!]

I appreciate the cheer, but I’m not the idol work...unless it pays more than hunting.

[It's all fine, right Oddie? You were utter-platter today about doing dungeons and stuff, and this is it! Our time to shine! Just think about the spot of we can get when we rise on the top of the charts. It's like a deal-steal for all the sisters! We need now to take the full advantage of the situation before it slips away from our hands! Like totals honest-crow nest here, you are the one asking us that we should worked as a team, and quite frankly, this is also something we should be doing as...]

[No! This is totally the opposite of what I mean. You guys don't get it...and I can understand that at least. Save me your talk, but why did you suddenly turn into this showbiz personality? You were opposed to being a backstage dancer, do you remember? Yet, now you involve me and others in this plan...well technically this is what Corona proposed, but you did accept so it's your butt. I'm saying that even if we won those tickets, we can actually sell them instead of using them. Have you even thought of that, huh?]

[Come down you guys! Goodness you are a wild bunch. I need to say something before you decide on anything though. Those tickets are character bounded, you can't trade them. Additionally you spoke about those mermaid outfits, yes? As you know the winners of this raffle did receive that special prize, but it was limited only to a single time. But don't be down now, I'm sure you can find something suitable here, in this shop! Again, thank you for coming!]

The realisation that from the start her plan was deemed to fail was so shocking that Corona’s legs started wobbling. About time, the other shrine maidens have entered the stage, so we had to quickly evacuate. Who knows, if we stayed there for any longer, we might have been forced to dance along with them. Yet, I had completely no interest in staying for the night. That’s because...

Since the tickets expire in a year from now, we had plenty of time to decide if we want to go or not. How did they work, the fox girl explained off-stage, was that we had a full day of free rides and snacks, also free of charge. On top of that service, we would be able to enter the off-limits test server and have fun with not so optimized rides. That was really interesting, for Jielby and Corona, but not for me. Whatever I was going to enjoy was not close to the feeling of wasting our time on...

Eventually we decided to contact Noctia and relate everything that transpired on the stage. We also had one integrated plan, which was to gather materials for our missing swimsuits until the next weekend, during which our priest will be able to come. This rush was crazy and there was no way I could know what was actually happening. But somehow, in spite their everyday conduct, the girls and I had achieved a whole new level of dedication to hunting. We were working ten times faster as usual until...

[It's today! I'm so happy that you girls helped with everything. I'm really looking forward to this, though I'm getting the chills.]

[You got cold feet Corona? How fishy-swishy of you, despite that you being a totals adorbs idol! I know, I kidders, but out of all of us I just couldn't help that you will be having all the fun here! I'm like really-billy excited, I just can't wait to ride all those things and eat sea food underwater. Did you birdies know that they have this one, extra dangerous ride where you are being grabbed by an octopus and swung around by the tentacle that rolls you like...]

[Silence is a virtue sometimes, Jielby, I'm sure we all know how deep their ideas are. I'm just afraid that in all this, we will forget that God gave us this opportunity to bond together. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Since today is no different, and we must remind ourselves that, through all our deeds towards others, we can’t lose ourselves in our selfish pleasures. That is the path my wisdom will follow, and so I understand that you will accompany me as well, yes? Let’s head out then.]

[Right, we can't forget we are really good at doing this hunting thing when we put our head into the goal. Isn't that right, Noctia? Though I understand you don't have much time to play with us, you are still fine member. Next time, let's do dungeons.]

Okay I get it, I have been talking about this all the time, being annoying to a certain degree, but this if thing works out, I might be seeing a reason to do all those silly recreation stuff...from time to time, and only when it's completely free. I can even endure paying for my matching bathing suit, all for a greater cause. Thus, as we all stepped through this portal...

We found ourselves near an entrance to changing rooms. It is here where we should prepare ourselves before entering the water. Obviously we all went through the women’s door, finding lots of lockers and some girls during their switching clothes animation. Additionally, from the instructions on the wall I read that it is smart to do a little exercise and lay down on soft. And so, after preparing our clothes we had to make sure our bodies were ready as well. As we did that, we talked during the work out.

[Looking good birdies! I knew from the start that picking up all those matchie-watchie bikinis would be the most adorbs choice! Starting from the charming-swarming Corona, your design accompany fairy wings of course, on top of those little butterfly details. Next up is the cutely-mutley Noctia, who is rocking a quite simple yet chic swimsuit with a short bouncy white sash-type skirt. And of course last is out moody-trudy specialist in queer look Oddie, who has nothing to complain about her lose fitting bandeau.]

[What a surprise, do you expect me to pose? Of course it's lose...just like the rest. It's completely unnoticeable! Your choices are fine with me though, I only accepted since it helped us all to bond together. I actually think...]

[Oh my gush, those are super adorable! I'm so glad that I agreed to your crazy plan! Jielby, you have a good eye for cute. Like now we can totally do stuff like group performances, and each member has their colour as well! It's going to be fun!]

[Indeed Corona, there is only good in playing nicely with others. Hence, I do plan being on the same page with you children, so do not fret. I'm also completely awake and ready for spending here an entire day. I must say that I am intrigued greatly, but first we should prepare ourselves physically. I have brought this sun amplification oil, since there is barely any light deep in the ocean.]

From her inventory, Noctia, who is usually pale like the moonlight, took out a bottle containing liquid. Without reading the label, she popped the top open and started spreading the cream all over her tiny body. I didn't know why, but I guess it can be her habit. In seconds others joined her as well, asking if they could borrow it for themselves. I was not that interested, stretching my legs.

[Oh come on Oddie, you got to oil up to have a beautiful skin! We are technically at a beach trip, so you should behave.]

[Righto, you don't want to pesky little tourists say you didn't even been to the beach, seeing you have no tan.]

[Be kind to others my child, they only seek you having the same skin as them. It is a ritual, I'm afraid.]

[Wait a second, isn’t skin is already dark enough? Why would I...stop! Don't cling on me from all the sides! Dammit! Can you not see I'm not interested...whatever, let's just get done with this. After this thing I'm going to shower...]

Strange, the sensation of being applied this mixture was soft and gentle to my body. Slowly the girls caressed my limbs, neck and torso, leaving not a single stop to rest. I became so mushy I could not think about anything but a bubbly bath, with me surrounded with nothing but gentle waters. I dived into that image, with my face in delight and muscles relaxed. Soon I was too all oiled up and ready, only the entrance door remained closed. Others were waiting for me as I finally...