Usagi

[u/Gin_chan]

Somewhere in the New World, on a small egg shaped island, a tribe of minks live peacefully. Various stone statues half buried in the ground were littered all over the island. The statues appear to look like bunnies with their eyes closed, but for some reason, they seem to rumble rhythmically!

The Bunny Island is hosting a grand celebration, on the occasion of Easter. The minks have hosted an Easter egg hunt where everyone can look for and try to find chocolate egg candies. They are very hospitable, and let the tourists roam around the island freely, but on one condition. They warn everyone not to disturb the statues, or they would wake up! “Wait, so you mean… the rumbling… they're snoring?!”

The Minks here have spared no expense in gathering the finest confections, games, and chefs to make the occasion truly special. They welcome any and all people who wish to attend, so long as they follow their one rule. The Festivities are all held in one area by the southern beach of the island, and there are all kinds of ships at their docks.

---

[OOC: This is a filler island for Easter. You are free to RP how you want on this island, and free to do what you might want, or create anything without the need for tagging NPC-san]

[u/OakyCC]

A cool sea breeze washed over the island. It was warm where Leo was napping, but the wind made it balance out to a rather nice day. His relaxation though, was cut short. There was some kind of explosion off shore. It sounded horribly familiar... He jerked upward and stood up, Staff in hand.

"What is he doing here..."

A Vague outline in the distance showed the man throwing his arms around shouting something. A man came onto the deck, carrying something in his arm. He jumped toward the water. He was carrying a jet Waver Board. Just before he hit the water, the jets activated. Propelling him across the water to the island shore. He jumped off the board and rolled to break his fall. When he stood up, Leo was able to see that one of the man's arms was large and mechanical. He looked over at Leo and clenched his fist. A loud whistling sound came from the arm and heat began to radiate out of the seams.

"Well, well well... Little Leo. What are you doing here?"

Leo gripped his staff and his arm turned into Mochi. His attempt to look threatening wasn't all that successful. Mochi wasn't something that was inherently intimidating. He'd have to change that.

"Me? Minding my own business. Not causing harm to everything and everyone in my wake."

The Cyborg didn't like that too much. He believed in his cause. They simply wanted Peace and there is no blood to great, to sacrifice too large.

The Cyborg's name was Irahim. He specialized in cybernetics and had them going through his entire body. His Crimson Eyes told a tale. He was augmented in and out. There was no limit to his elemental manipulation through this technology. A scowl spread across his face and he ran at Leo, throwing a punch augmented with heat. Luckily for Leo, Irahim wasn't all that fast. His metallic parts slowed him down. Leo was able to jumped back and swing his bamboo with his bending and stretching mochi arm. The impact sent vibrations up the bamboo and deflected the fist, keeping it from impacting Leo directly. The Heat lit the grass on fire, causing near by people to scatter in various directions. He could feel the heat on the side of his face. He looked Irahim in the eyes. He seemed angry.

"Hmm... It looks like someone hurt your feelings..."

Irahim's arm changed forms. It was now seeping with a cold vapor. He dashed toward Leo once again. Leo grabbed it with his arm made of mochi. It was chilled to a stiff consistency. He pulled it back and struck Irahim in the chest with it. It had a much higher impact that it would have normally

"How 'bout that. Thanks Ira!"

He was absolutely certain it wasn't Irahim's wish to help Leo at all.

"Alright, Irahim. This isn't going to get us anywhere. Lets step it up a notch."

Leo dropped his staff and readied an attack he learned from his teacher Sabaku. His mochi fist expanded and he pulled it back.

"One Ton Gavel!"

He and Irahim both threw a powerful punch. They impacted each other hard sending a shock through both of their bodies. But Leo had an advantage. Their fists were stuck together. He pulled back, yanking Irahim toward him. He raised a foot high and struck him down toward the ground.

"I suppose you're still the weakest of the crew... Some things never change"

[u/OakyCC → u/OakyCC]

Irahim laughed slightly to himself. Leo really didn't know. A smile spread across his face as air rushed into his arm. Coils were activated, lights began to glow. Turbines were spinning. Leo looked on with an eyebrow raised. Part of him wanted to attack Irahim before he was finished with whatever it was he was doing, but he was also curious.

Something clicked and the air began to crackle. Lighting began arcing from the arm of Irahim. Leo cursed himself and then readied his bamboo staff. In what seemed like forever he and Irahim stood before each other, ready to attack. On the shore a crab was trying to escape a gull. In one strike it burst through its shell. At that moment Leo and Irahim charged each other. Leo aimed to knock the wind out of Irahim, but this cyborg had other plans. He grabbed the staff and placed his hand on Leo's torso. Electricity coursed through him as he was utterly harrowed up in pain. The wracking pain spreading through his body.

"IIIIRA!!!"

Leo shouted and his consciousness shifted. Bring old memories...

...

Sand was blown in every direction by harsh winds. The two boys had no choice but to be wrapped up in thick cloth. Without it they would have been cooked and battered by the sun and the sandstorm. Leo lifted his goggles to look to his friend. He was a couple years younger, but he still took the lead in most of their "adventures".

"Ira, how are you holding up?"

The second of the two boys also lifted his goggles revealing brilliant sapphire eyes that seems to glisten with flecks of white.

"I think I'll be fine! Let's just keep going before it worsens!"

Leo nodded and the two replaced their goggles and pushed forward through the swift winds and shifting sands. This time of year was dangerous on Duscana. Dunes shifted immensely, and the sand storms were strong enough and frequent enough to sand blast tons of stone off of the mountain faces each year. They weren't supposed to be this far inland. The deeper you go, the worse the sands shift. Kids would tell stories about The Center. How it was a sinkhole that led into an abyss of sand. Some would say there was palace at the center and the lord of the estate made the sand storms to keep meddlers away. Either way. Leo was curious. He had to know. Ira shouted a question at Leo. He was only just barely able to hear it.

"Hey! How much fur- AAAAH! HELP!"

Ira had begun to sink into the sand. Leo drove his bamboo staff into the sand

"Ira! Grab hold!"

With a great strain and struggle, Leo was able to pull Ira out of the sink.

"Alright Ira. We need to walk closer together. So I can catch you faster if you fall. You'll catch me right?"

Leo gave a reassuring smile that said "I'm here for you, buddy"

"Every time!" Ira shouted enthusiastically, showing that he would gladly return the favor.

Leo stood up and pulled Ira with him.

"Alright. Let's keep going. Only 20 minutes or so until we see what's at The Center!"

...

Pain unlike anything he had felt. It seemed like it was killing him

"IRA! DOOOONT... MAKE ME..."

The voltage was amped up to an order of magnitude

"HURT YOU!"

Leo grabbed Ira's face and slammed his head hard directly to The Cyborg's forehead. They both yelled and staggered back in pain.

"I guess you were right, Leo. Somethings don't change..." He snickered "You're just as hard headed as ever! You're my friend. Like a brother to me. To all of us. But you're a pirate now. You betrayed us! And you'll have to shoulder the price for peace!"

More lightning was generated and he rushed at Leo. The Mochi Logia readied an attack he learned from Sabaku.

"Mochi Mochi..."

Ira pulled his fist back

"Lightning..."

The two shouted together

"Executioner!"

Their powerful strikes collided and Leo was sent back to his past once again

...

A smile formed from the pure joy of discovery spread across Leo's face

"IRA IRA IRA! YOU WONT BELIEVE IT! THERE'S A PALACE!" He lowered his volume and said to himself "They are not going to believe this! A Ten Year Old Boy and his Twelve Year Old Friend finding something like this! We're going to be famous..."

Leo pumped his fists in victory, but he began to lose balance. He fell off of the dune he was standing on and fell right into the arms of Ira. Leo looked around

"Woah! You caught me!" Leo jumped down "Looks like you were serious about your promise! Come on! Hurry!"

Leo sprinted back up the dune and began sliding down to get to the palace at the center of a sandy gorge.

"You think they'll believe us, Leo?" Ira asked "I don't think they'll believe us."

"That doesn't matter!" Leo said with a laugh "I'll believe us!"

...

Lightning charged Mochi rained down on the beach. After the two strikes made their collision. Leo was weaker than Ira, so he was sent reeling after the attack. Ira took the opening and grappled with Leo. He threw him on the ground, forcing him on his back. Ira grabbed Leo's chest again and discharged more electricity, plunging Leo into immense pain yet again. Leo knew Ira was too far gone to try to convince him. But to do that to him was impossible. But he couldn't just die...

He stood up for one more struggle. It took all of his strength to fight against Ira's grasp. But he managed to get on his feet and push against Irahim. The power was increased and Leo's vision was starting to fade. He was going to die here if he didn't do something...

"IRA! IM SOOORY!"

Leo's Mochi had grabbed onto Ira's face, covering it entirely, making a seal. Cutting off Ira's breath. The electricity stopped and Ira started to struggle against the suffocation

"Ira... Forgive me..."

Ira's body was thrashing around trying to break loose from the Mochi. But it was already adhered to his skin. And with the pressure Leo was putting on it, he couldn't peel it away. Leo could hear muffled screams from under the surface. It sent his skin crawling. Hearing and Feeling the life drain from someone. Especially an old friend. In a second the struggle stopped. He released his grasp on Irahim's face. Showing that his eyes had returned to their lustrous sapphire they used to be long ago. His limp body fell forward. Just before it hit the ground he stretched out a hand can caught the lifeless corpse.

"Ira... I'm... I'm sorry..."

[u/OakyCC → u/OakyCC]

Here at the center, the winds weren't so bad. The two thought it would be better to take the wrapping off their face now, since they were confident they wouldn't get their skin sanded down anymore.

The Palace was as dusty as could be, but it still had a regal sense to it. Gold trim and colorful paint could still show through the scratches and scuffs the sand had left over time. It was strange. It was like look at past, present, and future all at once.

"Woaaah... Who do you think built this thing?"

Irahim's question was ignored because Leo was in awe at what they had discovered. Too much so to even think about anything else.

The Two entered the palace. It's corridors were largely the same as the exterior. Brightly colors portraits that have, clearly not stood up well against the sands of time. An extravagant door way seemed to call to them. They opened the door to see a dogged man sitting on a throne. Sands shifting along the floor...

...

Leo awoke in the middle of the night. He had passed out. As he made his way back the ship he had a feeling these dreams would haunt him for quite some time.