Axel was shivering excitedly as he restlessly paced around in the cabin. He looked outside at the vast sea and saw his dad’s bright yellow boat nearing the shore. Axel burst through the front door in to the cool outside wind and rushed up to his dad, Jake.

“Can we finally have fish for dinner now dad?” He swallowed his saliva as he thought of the scrumptious meat of the fish.

“No… I’m sorry son.”

“What??? I was looking forward to it?” Axel’s excitement turned to anger and disappointment.

“There was no fish. Not a single one at all. The ocean is basically empty.”

“Nope, not true. You can’t fool me dad.”

“It’s true. Run to the nearby village and see for yourself. We might have to survive on the scarce rations of meat, seaweed and vegetables we have.” Jake spoke softly.

Filled with hope that his dad’s words were false, Axel bolted to the nearby village where his dad usually sold fish. That’s when it all fell on him, and he felt a shortness of breath. It was true. All fish markets were nearly empty and the prices of the last fishes had risen dramatically. Fisherman were scattered around shaking their heads or scratching them or complaining and swearing. No one seemed to know what was happening.

Axel lived in a small, cozy log cabin near the sea where his father fished for life. They kept some of the fish for themselves and sold the rest for money to buy essentials and some other foods. It was a rather relaxing life. Until now, when the fish have disappeared. Axel smoothed back his chestnut brown hair as he sighed depressingly and remembered the awesome times when his dad took him out to sea to fish and told him how his blue eyes matched the colour of the sea. Jake joined him on the balcony.

“The men are going to find a way.” He spoke reassuringly.

“What?”

“Seven fisherman in the village have taken a strong boat out to sea to find answers. All we can do right now is wait, Axel.”

“Ugh, why did this have to happen in the first place?” Axel muttered annoyedly

Ignoring him, Jake walked calmly back into the cabin as Axel paced on the balcony restlessly.

A month had passed and the men from the village still hadn’t returned. There was still no sign of fish. Jake was struggling to feed his son and himself, although the kind donations of villagers were greatly appreciated. Axel sat in his room, absentmindedly flipping through his book of sea monsters. That’s when a crazy idea popped into his mind.

“What if I take my dad’s boat out to sea! I could help! I know how to steer my dad’s boat.” He thought. But then doubt crossed his mind.

“If those men can’t return, does that mean they’re dead? And if they are…”

Axel shook those thoughts away as he thought of the proud grin of his dad’s face if he succeeded. He tiptoed into his dad’s study and stole a map of the sea, a compass, a knife and took his sea monster book to entertain himself. Axel also took half of the rations of food that his dad had, for himself. At midnight, he will follow his plan.

The soothing, milky white light of the moon reflected on the seemingly silver sea water as a silent shadow carrying quite a bit of supplies made for a small, strong boat. Blending, into the night, the little boat left the shore, towards the north where the villagers suspected the cause of the problem to be. Axel awoke with the soft sound of the waves licking the bottom of the boat. He must have fallen asleep. He checked the compass and it indicated he was travelled north west, so he directed the boat to sharp north again. Axel tried to lean on the bench but butterflies swarmed over his belly as thoughts of himself being alone and what his dad was doing wrapped around him. Suddenly, a strange wobble took over the boat.

Axel screamed, thinking it was a monster, but really it was just a giant pink, see through fish. It kinda looked like a gummy fish that was alive and had bright sparkling eyes.

“U-um hello? Are you some type of a f-fish?” He stammered as he held the knife in his hand, in case if the creature was dangerous.

“Not at all, little boy. I am a god. The god of the fishes.” The pink fish replied with an angelic voice. Instantly, anger flared up in Axel’s eyes.

“Where are all of the fish then?! Do you know how much we need them!?” He yelled with a scowl on his face.

“Oh, I would need your help for that.”

“What do you mean?!”

“This mean powerful monster has taken over my fellow fishes, and he is immune to my powers. Only a mortal can kill him.” The gummy fish sobbed as little drops of pink tears trailed down from its eyes.

“N-no, don’t cry,” Axel instantly felt bad. “I’ll help you kill the monster.”

“Really?” With the sad face gone, the fish’s expression was a mixture of hope and innocence.

“Mhm. But I need you to show me where he is.”

“Of course! I will swim alongside you.”

The days had been relaxing as the bubbly pink fish kept Axel company. Telling stories and bringing him little pearls and seafoods other than fish. In the blink of an eye, that had arrived on an island filled with black rocks and a cave on the other side. Strangely, random palm trees had sprung up every where for no reason. Axel shuddered as he noticed the shipwreck of the men from the village. He suddenly felt very small and exposed. The gummy fish put on a sweet smile.

“Go on Axel, you know I can’t go on land. Just shove your knife in the monster’s heart when he’s asleep. Hurry before he wakes up! Right now is his nap time.”

Axel gulped as the hand gripping the knife sweated. He tiptoed to the other side, checked his surroundings and unwillingly entered the cave. In there, some type of creature slept. It had a hawk head with the natural colours of a hawk, talons, sharper than any weapon, black dragon wings and a luminous serpent tail that consists of spots of purple, black, green and blue. Very strange and terrifying indeed.

Axel crept closer and closer as his heart hammered loudly in his chest. Suddenly, the monster’s yellow eye opened, scaring him so much that he shrieked.

“What brings you here, boy? Don’t you know this is my lair?” The monster’s snapped as it stood up, towering over Axel as he forced him out of the cave. Its talons clinked on the dull grey rocks as it moved, its tail trailing comfortably on the ground.

“I-uh.” Axel stuttered

“Speak up!”

“Why have you taken all the fish?”

“Don’t be silly. Me? Took all the fish? I don’t even eat fish!” The monster suddenly burst out laughing.

“B-but where is the fish then?”

“With this pink wretched monster, that’s what.”

“But-” Axel started.

“But what? She tricked you into killing me?” The monster smiled bitterly.

“Then what do you eat if you don’t eat fish? You look like you do! With that serpent tail!” Axel demanded, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.

“I eat coconuts, crack the shell with my beak, boy.”

“Oh… That’s why there were palm trees…”

“Oh.” the monstered mimicked.

“Hey! I still don’t believe you yet! The pink fish god is my friend!”

“Pink fish god? You know how ridiculous that sounds? She’s the one who stole the fish. She’s just using you to kill me! Dummy!”

“W-what?” Axel couldn’t believe it, the friend who was so nice to him.

“N-no,” he stammered, “it can’t be true.”

“Oh yes it is!” The monster howled.

“What about the men from my village? W-what did you do to them? Axel mumbled.

“Ask that pink idiot.”

Suddenly, the pink fish leapt on shore, using its tail to walk.

“Don’t listen to him Axel!” She cried.

“You said you couldn’t come ashore!” He growled. The truth dawning on him.

“You tricked me all along! You were using me!”

“N-no? What? We’re friends Axel!” The pink fish smiled sweetly.

“No.” Axel shuddered.

“That’s right, boy.” The hawk creature said proudly.

“Ugh!” The pink fish snarled as it melted into pink goop and entered the sea.

“Wait where did she go?” Axel asked.

“To her island of course! Where all the fish is boy. Name’s Fredo by the way.” The creature yawned as it slowed padded towards its cave.

“You’ve got to come with me! Please Fredo!”

“Why?”

“I need the fish!”

What’s that go to do with me?”

“Come on! I need help!”

“You were about to kill me and now you want me to help you?” The creature snorted.

“Well I was tric-” Axel began.

“Fine, boy but don’t expect me to just get rid of your problems in the blink of an eye.” The creature snapped impatiently.

Axel climbed onto Fredo, who was a apparently a Hippodragent’s back. When the pink monster left, she had destroyed Axel’s boat so he had been stuck on the island with Fredo. Strangely, the Hippodragent hadn’t killed him but had become friends.

“So what exactly was the pink fish?” Axel queried.

“You ask a lot of questions and it’s annoying.” Fredo grumbled.

“Fine, I’ll stop, but answer my question!”

“That… Monster, is a shapeshifting gloop. All it is is pink gloop, but it can shapeshift very well and is rather hard to hurt.”

“How do you kill it?”

“You can’t.”

“What???”

“But you can imprison it in an enchanted cage that I have in handy.” Fredo announced proudly as he spun around the glittering cage in his talons.

“I’m so glad you came with me.” Axel muttered.

He was woken by a soft thud as he nearly lost his balance and fell off Fredo’s back.

“Woah!” He exclaimed as he saw the massive tropical island down below. The sand was a beautiful golden as there was plenty of shade and palm trees. There was even a hammock between two of the trees.

“Wait, what is that?” Axel inquired. Down below the island, a huge bubble expanded so much that it was even bigger than the island itself.

“Let’s look closer.” Fredo said calmly as he swooped down. Inside the colossal bubble, millions or maybe even billions of fish pushed against the surface.

“That’s where the fish are! Let’s go free them!”

“Woah, woah, wait a second kiddo.”

“What???”

“We still need to trap the pink idiot first before she does it again.” Fredo reasoned.

“Right.” Axel grudgingly agreed.

Fredo yawned as he landed smoothly, his talons barely making a sound as he touched the soft sand.

“How do we sneak up on the monster?”

“She already knows we’re here, kiddo.”

“Then wha-”

“Oh hello there Axel, so you decided to show up!” The pink fish smiled sarcastically. “And what are you doing here you monster?” She scowled at Fredo.

“I know you have imprisoned all the fish. I need them back!” Axel growled.

“Yeah and get this over with because I want to go home.” Fredo snarled.

“Don’t panic guys,” the pink fish slurred, “just sleep…”

“W-what are you doing to us?” Axel stammered as he felt a dizziness.

“I’m so tired…” Fredo yawned.

“Just rest, you must be tired!” The pink fish said melodically as she beckoned closer, releasing the cap of a pink potion and letting the mist travel over her enemies.

Desperate to fight off this tiredness, Axel wrenched the enchanted cage from Fredo’s talons and blindly hurled it at the pink fish’s direction. All he heard was a thud and a shriek. Then all the light was gone.

Axel had no idea how long he had been asleep, but he was roused from his deep slumber by the sharp jabs of Fredo’s beak.

“Did I get her Fredo?”

“Not quite, boy, come and take a look.”

Axel unsteadily stood up and stumbled towards the cage. He looked around and saw swaying palm trees then focused back onto the cage. There was the pink fish, squashed under the incredibly heavy cage.

“Free me now! Don’t you dare imprison me!” She shrieked furiously. The pink fish writhed violently, almost toppling over the cage. Axel realised that the monster couldn’t shape shift if it didn’t have enough space. Using this to his advantage, he pushed the cage down with all his strength, keeping her in place.

“Fredo,” Axel nodded at the Hippodragent, “please go and pop the bottle.”

“Sure thing, kiddo.” He said as he dived down, his serpent tail trailing after him.

“Free me now!” The pink fish screeched.

Ignoring, her, Axel waited patiently for Fredo’s return. Meanwhile, Fredo had entered the cool water that was a deep blue. He was holding his breath as he saw neared the humongous bubble, packed with squirming fish. There was tuna, swordfishes and much more. The bubble looked like a human bubble where people put themselves inside a transparent ball at a theme park or something. Fredo folded back his dragged wings and streamlined as fast as lightning, driving his beak to home. On the island, Axel suddenly heard a satisfying pop and all kinds of fish burst from around the island, desperate to return to their groups and homes. Joyous tears formed in his eyes as Fredo leapt gracefully out of the water and back on shore. The fish were back.

“Tell me, why did you do this?” Axel demanded.

“I w-wanted to be the only fish…” the pink fish trailed off.

“And?” Axel questioned with his eyebrow raised.

“I wanted to be the one and only fish ok? It was always sooo infuriating to watch those crowds of fish swim by, ignoring me and laughing at each other while I was alone!” She screeched angrily.

“You selfish creature. Now you’ve learnt your lesson. You do not deserve to be free.”

Depression and fury clouded in the pink fish’s eyes. Axel exchanged a glance with Fredo.

“We’re going to imprison you in this cage for at least a few years. Until you have truly learnt you lesson.”

With that, Fredo picked up the pink creature tightly with his talons and shoved her briskly into the enchanted cage, while Axel locked it.

“It’s time to go home.” Axel sighed as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. Meanwhile, the pink fishes was banging against the cage an struggling to get out, earning herself a few bruises.

“Let me give ya a ride, boy.” Fredo offered.

It took three whole days for Fredo to take Axel back to his sea village, and by then the fish were back and they were exhausted. They were greatly welcomed by the villagers and Fredo was given huge serves of coconuts while Axel hugged his furious yet happy father. There were bright lights and banners with all the villagers dancing to a cheerful country tune. There was a feast that night and Axel was now known as a hero along with his loyal companion. The next day, Fredo set out for his own island and bid Axel farewell. Disappointment didn’t linger too long in Axel’s heart though, because tomorrow he could go fishing with his father in their new boat with a drawing of a Hippodragent. Occasionally, if they travelled close enough to the islands where Axel had ventured to, they would hear the snores of Fredo and the banging of the pink fish against its cage.

雨蛙

2020/4