The Tokoyamiverse 3

hippocampus

RMA_Jahzell_61006

It was supposed to be a routine rescue mission, a simple search-and-retrieve at the edge of the ocean. Hawks and Tokoyami had been tasked with assisting a stranded vessel whose crew was in distress near a dangerous, rocky shore. But as the waves grew rougher and the clouds thickened, Tokoyami felt the familiar, creeping sense of dread seeping into his chest. He'd always had a quiet but consuming fear of the ocean—the vastness, the unpredictable depths, and most of all, the shadows lurking beneath.

"Hawks," he muttered, gripping the side of the boat as they navigated closer to the stranded ship. "Are you sure we'll be okay out here? The water... It's unsettling."

Hawks shot him a reassuring grin, though even he seemed on edge. "Hey, we'll be fine! Just stick close, and don't look down. Besides, I need you, Tokoyami—you and Dark Shadow are my right-hand wingmen today."

They were close now, almost within range of the stranded ship. But as they maneuvered closer, a sudden swell hit, and the boat lurched. Tokoyami lost his footing, his hands scrambling for the edge, but he was too late. He slipped and plunged into the dark, churning water below.

The world fell away as cold, salty water enveloped him. Tokoyami's heart raced as he struggled against the pull of the waves, disoriented and gasping for breath. The darkness of the ocean felt all-consuming, swallowing him up as he tried to fight his way to the surface.

"Tokoyami!" he heard Hawks shout, though the voice sounded distant, muffled by the water.

Flashback 

His mind screamed in fear, his muscles tensed

He couldn't remember just how it had happened, but he was only 6 years old, fallen into the rushing seas during a storm, no longer able to see the boat in which he had been sitting in. He suspected his parents must have pushed him in, never having had any love for the child. This would be an easy accident to explain, perfectly logical. Yet his mind refused to calm.

Just as panic began to take hold, a strange warmth spread through him. The darkness in the water felt different from any shadow he'd ever known, more fluid, alive. And then he felt it—something awakening deep within him.

Dark Shadow's voice echoed in his mind, stronger than usual, a strange thrill in its tone. "Fear not, Tokoyami. Let me guide you... into our true form."

In that moment, his body began to shift, transforming in response to his fear. His legs fused and elongated, dark scales rippling down his skin, sleek and glimmering like shadowy armor. He felt a powerful tail where his legs had been, fins fanning out gracefully. His arms grew slender yet strong, and webbed fingers extended from his hands. He was no longer simply a boy in shadow; he was something other, something born from the depths of his own fear—a shadow siren, a creature of darkness and sea.

Tokoyami blinked, his vision adjusting to the water as he looked down, marveling at his new form. He could feel the strength in his tail, a sleek, powerful tool that allowed him to slice through the water with ease. Dark Shadow had transformed too, its shape shifting into a more fluid, aquatic form, coiling protectively around him.

"the water will never be our enemy, not if we are together" Darkshadow comforted as Tokoyami tread the water  

All he knew, was that he was grateful for the gift of life, and would not let this gift go to waste. 

Back to present 

Above, Hawks hovered, scanning the water with a worried expression.

With a surge of energy, Tokoyami propelled himself upward, breaking through the waves with Dark Shadow swirling around him in wisps of inky black. Hawks, wide-eyed, almost lost his balance in shock.

"Whoa! I didn't know Dark Shadow could take that form!" Hawks called, surprise and awe in his voice once the adrenaline and relief had passed. 

Tokoyami managed a small smirk. "It is... one in which we had discovered young" he said, his voice reverberating strangely in his new siren form.

He glanced back at the ocean, feeling its pull, but no longer as something to fear. He felt a new power coursing through him, a connection to the darkness that lurked beneath the waves, an energy he could control.

Without hesitation, he dove back down into the water, swimming with newfound speed toward the stranded vessel. Dark Shadow weaved around him, sharp as a blade as they approached the hull of the ship. He pushed with his tail, gliding effortlessly up to the side of the boat, grabbing hold of the edge to give the stranded crew a reassuring nod.

They gasped in surprise, uncertain whether to be frightened or awed by this strange, shadowy siren that had come to their aid.

Hawks flew down to Tokoyami, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Kid, I don't know what just happened, but whatever it is... it's incredible."

Dark Shadow, his constant companion, seemed to smile with pride. "You see? Together, we are unstoppable. Whether land or sea, darkness is our strength."

With Hawks by his side, Tokoyami helped guide the stranded crew to safety, his new powers making him swift and fearless in the water. When the mission was complete, and he finally climbed out of the ocean, his legs returned to normal, his scales fading, but he felt changed.

As they returned to shore, Hawks looked at him with a mixture of pride and amazement. "You did great out there. And hey... that new form? Very impressive."

Tokoyami managed a small smile. "Thank you, Hawks. I suppose... there's more to darkness than even I had known."

From that day on, Tokoyami held a new respect for the ocean. It was still mysterious, still vast, but now he knew he was no longer afraid. He had found strength in his fear, and with Dark Shadow by his side, there was no shadow too deep to conquer