Eleo soared high into the air, landing with a thud beside Kenji and Olorun, who were locked in mid-battle. They both turned in alarm, ready to strike—until they recognized the cheerful bunny wobbling with exhaustion and excitement.
"Guys, guys!" Eleo shouted, throwing his arms up, "I beat Agharna!"
Kenji and Olorun paused. "Really?!" they said in unison.
"N-No way!" Ravager stumbled forward, mouth agape. "You actually beat him?!"
Slitherin, tied to a post nearby, hissed with disbelief. "Yeah, I don't buy it. Not even a little."
Olorun stormed over and slapped him across the snout. "Shut up, you damn snake!"
Kenji squinted. "If you really beat him… then why isn't Agharna here right now?"
Ravager folded his arms, expression serious. "You're right."
Everyone turned to him.
Kenji narrowed his eyes. "So what are you going to do now?"
Ravager hesitated, then said plainly, "I'm going to save him."
"What?!" Eleo, Kenji, and Olorun all said at once.
Ravager placed a fist on his chest. "He's more than my leader. He recruited me when I had nothing. He's… like a father to me."
Slitherin blinked, stunned silent.
"So once you guys leave for World 2…" Ravager looked down. "I'm going after him. No matter how far he went."
Over near the rubble, Doom and DuDu were eavesdropping, crouched low with the camera man.
DuDu whispered, "Okay Doom, I've got a really good idea."
Doom raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? What is it?"
"Just trust me," DuDu grinned wide. "Wait 'til they leave…"
Back near the ship, Eleo scratched his head, glancing at Ravager. "I… don't like the idea, but… I respect it."
Ravager gave him a firm nod. "Thanks, bunny kid."
He walked over and grabbed Slitherin by the back of his ropes like a sack of potatoes.
Slitherin squawked, "Untie me, Ravager!"
"Hold on, dumbass." Ravager muttered.
He hoisted Slitherin up Agharna's ship, dumped him on deck, and looked back one last time.
Eleo pointed out to sea. "I sent him flying that way."
Ravager nodded, set the sails, and took off silently.
Olorun said, "Alright. Time to regroup with the others."
"Agreed," Kenji said.
Eleo leapt up onto Olorun's back. "Okay! Let's gooo—ow, ow, my everything hurts."
Kenji and Olorun dove off the dock, disappearing into the distance with Eleo clinging on tight.
The camera slowly panned back to Doom and DuDu, watching from behind a rock
The camera man said, "Welp. They're gone."
"Yep." Doom nodded.
DuDu stood up dramatically. "Alright, get that camera ready. Point it at the broken boards over there where I'll be standing."
The camera man nodded, recording.
DuDu strutted forward, arms out wide, standing on a broken crate like it was a stage.
"WORLD ONE!" he shouted. "Take a good look! Doom and I are now the strongest in this entire world! But we're not staying…"
He leaned forward with a cocky grin.
"We're heading to World 2. So if any of you punks think you've got the guts," he pointed toward the sky, "come and find us!"
BOOM!
Smoke exploded around him for dramatic effect.
DuDu gave a thumbs up. "Cut! End scene. Nailed it!"
The camera man clapped. "That was… actually really smart."
"Thank you, thank you," DuDu grinned smugly. "This is how you build a legend."
Suddenly—
FWOOOOOM!
A massive flying ship loomed into view above them.
"DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDU!!" the crew shouted in unison.
Bo, BK, even the rat was leaning over the edge, arms waving wildly.
"DuDu! We're so sorry we left you behind!" they all cried.
DuDu's eye twitched. "You jerks dare come back after that stunt you pulled?!"
They all shouted, "We're sorry!"
DuDu huffed, arms crossed. "Hmph… fine. Apology accepted. But only because I need my spotlight crew!"
Cheers erupted from the ship.
A rope ladder unfurled.
"Alright!" DuDu grinned. "We're heading to World 2!"
He looked at Doom. "You coming?"
Doom nervously glanced at the crew. "They're not gonna, uh… hurt us, are they?"
DuDu gave a big toothy smile. "Of course not. Only if I say so."
Doom gulped. "Great."
The camera man muttered, "I have regrets."
But together, the three of them grabbed the rope and climbed aboard the ship.
Olorun, Kenji, and Eleo stepped through the forest's final edge as the coastal town came into view—smoke drifting from chimneys, sunlight hitting rooftops, and animal folk bustling about.
Eleo's ears perked up. "Look! It's the Boom Go!" he shouted, pointing.
The Boom Go sat anchored at the town's port, its hull freshly repaired by hardworking animals. Dozens of rabbits, dogs, birds, and badgers were hauling wood, hammering planks, and calling out instructions.
Tony, leaning against a stack of crates with a drink in hand, snapped upright when he saw them. "You guys! You're back! Did you beat him?!"
Eleo threw up a fist, eyes beaming. "Of course we did!"
Tony's skull-grin widened with wicked glee. "Ha! I knew it! Take that, old ghost freak!"
Suddenly, a rush of animal villagers ran toward them, cheering.
"Thank you!"
"You saved us!"
"Heroes!"
Kenji raised a brow and stepped back. "Wait… it was all Eleo. He's the one who beat him."
Olorun nodded. "Yeah. Give credit where it's due."
But Eleo waved both hands and hopped off Olorun's back. "No, you idiots! We did it together!"
The old dog with the mechanic's goggles barked out a hearty laugh. "And for that, we'll fix your ship—and throw a proper party!"
Eleo gasped. "Really?!"
The dog grinned. "A hero's welcome."
"Niiiiiiiice!" Eleo kicked into a little victory dance, drawing more cheers.
Tony waved them toward the ship. "Come on, come on! Come say hi to Amai and Kawai!"
The trio made their way onto the Boom Go, footsteps echoing as they descended below deck. The hallway buzzed with the scent of tea and old wood.
Kenji knocked softly and pushed open a white door with pink trim.
Inside, Amai sat elegantly, tea in hand, across from Chiyo, Kawai, and Timmy, who sat on a stack of cushions barely taller than a mug.
Timmy's eyes sparkled. "Kenji! Eleo! Olorun! You're all okay!"
Eleo threw both arms up. "Yup! And guess what—I beat Agharna!"
Chiyo smirked and raised her teacup. "Nice job, bun-boy."
Amai stood gracefully, setting her cup down. "Ah, Eleo." She stepped forward and gave him a soft, unexpected hug.
Kenji blinked. "No hug for us?"
Amai sighed theatrically, then dragged Kenji and Olorun into a tight embrace.
"Okay, okay, you're going to crush us!" Olorun wheezed.
She let go and smiled slyly. "Apologies." Then she tapped each of their chests with two fingers. A soft glow of pink light washed over them.
Kenji blinked. "Wait… you could heal us this whole time?"
Amai sipped her tea. "Of course I can."
Olorun threw his hands up. "Then why didn't you tell us?!"
"I didn't think you needed it," Amai shrugged. "But I did tell Timmy and Chiyo."
Chiyo lifted a hand lazily. "Yup. First class members."
Timmy nervously waved. "S-Sorry, guys…"
Amai smiled gently. "Now that you're all back in, I assume it's time for World 2?"
Eleo nodded. "Yeah, but—not yet! We're all partying first!"
Amai raised a brow. "You guys are partying. I can't leave the ship, remember?"
Kawai waddled up beside her. "Meep."
Olorun looked at them both. "Aren't you going to be sad, though?"
Amai's eyes flickered toward her tea. "Of course not. I have my tea… and Kawai."
"Meep meep," Kawai said, puffing up proudly—and immediately tripping over a stray cushion.
Just then, Tony burst into the room, dramatic as ever. "Alright you lot, the party's starting! They all took agharna fireworks, cake, food, and we got loud animals—let's gooooooo!"
Eleo's eyes sparkled. "Really?! Come on, guys!"
Timmy leapt up onto Chiyo's head. "Let's gooo!"
"See you soon!"
"Later, Amai!"
"Don't miss us too much!"
The crew all waved as they exited.
Amai watched them go, her smile slipping into something softer—something more wistful.
She sipped her tea again. "...Bye, guys."
Kawai hopped into her lap and curled up.
Amai looked down at him. "Shall we drink more tea, Kawai?"
"Meep meep," the fluffy bird muttered, half-asleep already.
The door closed behind them with a click, as laughter and music began to rise from the deck above.
The moon hung high over the Boom Go, casting silver light across the bustling seaside town. Colorful lanterns lined every rooftop, bobbing in the salty breeze. Loud music blared from somewhere near the docks, a mix of drums, whistles, and badly tuned violins played by overenthusiastic animal folk.
Eleo burst out of the ship's hatch, arms wide. "PARTYYYYYYY TIME!!!"
BOOM!
A rogue firework exploded right above his head, raining down sparks. Eleo yelped, spun in a circle, then grinned. "Nice."
A dozen boars were spit-roasting a sea serpent, while birds in chef hats tossed vegetables into the air like confetti. Squirrels were juggling fruit and failing miserably. Tony stood on a makeshift stage, shirtless as usual, swinging around a giant fish like it was a dance partner.
"EVERYONE DRINK OR FIGHT!" Tony shouted. "OR BOTH!"
Kenji sighed, leaning against a barrel with arms crossed. "This is ridiculous."
Olorun slapped his back. "Which is exactly why it's amazing." He then cartwheeled into a group of otters playing limbo with a swordfish.
Timmy, now covered in streamers, was being thrown into the air by a group of overly excited bunnies.
"Higher! Higher!"
"I CAN SEE THE MOON!" Timmy squeaked before landing on a soft pile of pillows shaped like carrots.
Chiyo, drink in one hand, was shouting at a deer who claimed he could beat her in arm wrestling.
"Your twiggy legs can't even support that ego! Sit down!"
"You're just scared!"
"I'll destroy you."
They wrestled. Chiyo won. She threw both arms up. "I'M QUEEN OF THE DAMNED AND THE DANCE FLOOR!"
A nearby raccoon DJ dropped a beat.
"DROP THAT BEAT FOR CHIYO!"
And thus, a vampire dance circle began.
Kenji, still leaning against the barrel, was being silently approached by a duck with a fake mustache holding a love letter.
"...No," Kenji said before the duck even said anything.
The duck sighed and waddled away.
Olorun appeared again, this time with a crab on his head and juggling three bottles. "Kenji! Dance-off. You, me, here, now."
"No."
"Come onnnnn—oh!" Olorun slipped and fell into a punch bowl.
"Now I smell like mango," he mumbled underwater.
Eleo was hopping around the crowd, high-fiving every animal he passed. He climbed onto a stack of barrels.
"LISTEN UP EVERYONE! I—THE BUNNY KING—HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!"
Everyone paused, some mid-bite, others mid-fall.
Eleo beamed. "When I started this crew, I thought I was just gonna be cool and stuff. But then I got Tony, who's crazy and awesome…"
Tony blew a kiss and accidentally punched a goose.
"...Kenji, who's scary but cool."
Kenji nodded, chewing quietly on grilled fish.
"Olorun, who's a loud dumbass, but like, the best one."
"Ayyy!" Olorun yelled from a barrel, two raccoons clapping beside him.
"Timmy, who is squishy and cute and smarter than me."
Timmy raised a teacup. "To the forest!"
"And Chiyo, who'll probably punch me later but I'm glad she's here anyway."
"You better be, fuzzball." Chiyo grinned, but there was real warmth in her eyes.
"I'm just really… happy. We're a team. A crew. My crew." Eleo held his fist out high. "And we're gonna kick World 2's butt together!"
"YEEEEAAAAAAHHH!" the crowd roared.
Fireworks exploded above them—chaotic, lopsided, and full of way too much glitter. A stray one zoomed into the punch bowl. Olorun threw it into the sky like a volleyball and it exploded in a smiley face shape.
Timmy was riding on a badger like a cowboy.
Tony was now sword fighting with two flaming mackerels.
Chiyo was slow dancing with a drunken sloth.
Kenji accidentally got pulled into a conga line by two hyper squirrels.
Eleo laughed so hard he fell backward into a beanbag, arms behind his head, gazing up at the stars.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Best crew ever."
Hours passed, but the party only got wilder.
Someone had rigged up a giant jellyfish like a disco ball, its glowing tendrils lighting up the sky in pulsing colors. The music shifted, now a faster tempo with bongos, spoons, and someone (probably a ferret) screaming the lyrics to a song that didn't have any.
"We need more energy!" Tony shouted, now standing on top of a cannon wearing a crown made of shrimp. "WHERE'S MY SHRIMP CANNON?!"
"I ATE IT!" a goat confessed before collapsing into a pile of confetti.
Olorun slid across the deck on his belly like a penguin, high-fiving Timmy, who was still riding a badger that now wore sunglasses.
"Go left, Timmy!"
"YEEEEEHAAAWWWW!"
They crashed into a pile of pillows. "We're good," Timmy mumbled from under a beanbag.
Kenji sat at a small table, eating roasted eel like nothing around him was on fire (which it was—a squirrel's tail, specifically, but he was too busy dancing to notice).
"Is it weird that I'm used to this?" Kenji muttered.
Chiyo dropped beside him, drink in hand. "The weird part is that I'm actually enjoying myself."
"Same."
Just then, Eleo ran by wearing three different hats, carrying a tray of burnt cupcakes. "WHO WANTS TINY EXPLOSIONS FOR YOUR MOUTH?"
"Why are they sparking?" Kenji asked.
Eleo blinked. "Uh-oh."
BOOM!
Mini cupcakes exploded in confetti. A possum clapped. "Do it again!"
Tony started a conga line again, this time shouting, "DEATH CONGA!" while smacking everyone on the back to join.
Olorun danced on a table with two badgers, both spinning frying pans in sync like nunchaku.
"Whoooooo!"
Kenji looked at his drink. "I think this juice is fermented."
Timmy crawled up onto Chiyo's lap, yawning.
"I'm gonna nap here now."
Chiyo ruffled his leafy hair. "Yeah, okay, little sprout."
Suddenly, a crab in a sombrero climbed the mast and shouted, "MIDNIGHT LIMBO!"
Everyone screamed.
The limbo stick was a swordfish again.
The first raccoon tried and was immediately bonked.
Second was Kenji.
"I am not doing this."
"You're doing this," Olorun said, pushing him forward.
Kenji stared at the swordfish.
Bowed slightly.
Cleared it with terrifying precision.
Everyone gasped.
"KENJI! KENJI! KENJI!"
Kenji blinked. "I regret this immediately."
Eleo's turn.
He bounced.
He flipped.
He accidentally dug underground, reemerged behind the crowd, and screamed, "I WON BY BUNNY RULES!"
Everyone screamed again.
Bunny rules were now law.
Meanwhile, Amai was watching from the ship window, sipping her tea with Kawai snoozing on her lap. The two sat in silence, Kawai occasionally twitching and letting out a sleepy "meep."
"…They're gonna blow something up, aren't they," Amai muttered.
BOOM!
A crate exploded and an animal flew into the air.
"Yep," she said, and kept sipping.
Back on deck, Tony and Olorun were locked in a dance-off, shirtless and glittering with sweat and fish scales.
Kenji and Chiyo sat under the mast, surrounded by knocked-out animals, watching the moon rise.
Chiyo leaned back. "You think Eleo's gonna cry when we leave this place?"
Kenji shrugged. "Probably. Or scream. Or explode something."
"…You know what? I'd miss that if he didn't."
Suddenly, Eleo hopped into their laps.
"I LOVE YOU GUYS!"
"You're heavy."
"You smell like burnt sugar."
"You're welcome!"
He looked at the stars, eyes wide.
"Tomorrow, we sail to World 2. And I'm gonna be even stronger. We all will."
Kenji sighed. "You better not explode the next island on arrival."
"No promises!"
The party raged on through the night. Food was eaten. Games were played. Naps were taken in weird places (including Timmy inside a teapot). Eventually, the fire died down, and laughter faded into soft snores.
As dawn peeked over the horizon, the crew lay sprawled across the ship, half buried in confetti, food crumbs, and broken musical instruments.
Eleo, eyes closed, whispered to no one:
"Best… night… ever…"