Daily Life of A Caretaker

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Arc 6: Drama In Life - Chapter 2

"Good work, Shirahoshi. You're no longer a giant and are now around my size. It only took you an hour." I said to the former giant-sized mermaid princess, who beamed at me with a bright, relieved smile. "Now, remember" I continued, my tone firm. "You must not cry if possible. Otherwise, you'll revert to your original size, and we'll be shifted to another plane of existence again."

Shirahoshi nodded quickly, her long pink hair flowing behind her as she 'swam' effortlessly in midair, as if it were water. Thanks to Boundary Manipulation, she could move as naturally as she would in the ocean, unhindered by the usual constraints of gravity.

"Oh, right." I reached into my shadow and pulled out a plate of salad drizzled with ranch dressing, a fork stabbed into the middle. "Here, snack on this for the time being until we find somewhere to settle down for the night, and I'll make lunch for us." I handed her the plate.

Shirahoshi tilted her head in curiosity but took it nonetheless. As soon as she took her first bite, her eyes lit up with delight, and she immediately began eating in large, eager mouthfuls.

"Slow down. There's plenty more for you to eat. No need to rush." I sweatdrop, watching in mild amusement as she devoured the salad. Judging by her enthusiasm, it seemed like this was her first time ever eating one.

"This is so good! What is it?" Shirahoshi nearly pressed her face against mine, her wide, sparking eyes filled with excitement.

I quickly pushed her away before answering. "It's a salad with ranch dressing." I said, watching as she continued to devour it with enthusiasm.

Then, I paused, considering how Shirahoshi had lived up to this point. Given her sheltered life in Ryugu Palace, she probably never had anything like this before. So, I gave her a brief explanation of what a salad was, describing its ingredients and how it was made.

Shirahoshi listened intently, nodding along with fascination. "Jin-sama, where are we exactly?" She asked with curiosity clear in her voice.

I straightened my posture, putting on a refined, confident look before answering. But internally, I was just as baffled by the strange world we had landed in.

"We're in the Land of Ooo." I explained carefully. "A vibrant, magical world filled with a diverse range of creatures, kingdoms, and mystical forces. It blends elements of fantasy, science fiction, and surrealism, making it unlike any other place. Despite its colorful and whimsical nature, Ooo is built upon the remnants of a fallen human civilization. It emerged after the catastrophic Mushroom War, a disaster that left the world mutated and infused with magic."

I paused, giving Shirahoshi a moment to process my words. Her expression shifted from curiosity to deep contemplation, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

"The Land of Ooo is a place of endless adventure, where reality bends in strange and unpredictable ways." I continued. "It's inhabited by all sorts of beings, from talking candy people to ancient cosmic entities, each adding to its deep lore and creative storytelling. While it may seem playful and lighthearted at first glance, Ooo is steeped in mystery, history, and underlying themes of loss, change, and the passage of time."

"OOH!" Shirahoshi's eyes lit up in awe, her excitement bubbling over.

"So just be aware." I said in a dead serious tone, locking eyes with Shirahoshi. "There are creatures in this world that could be extremely dangerous. Once again, I'll remind you—do not stray too far from me. Stay by my side unless I say otherwise, and never go anywhere alone with anyone, no matter the reason."

"I understand, Jin-sama." Shirahoshi nodded quickly, finishing the last piece of her salad. However, as she stared down at the now-empty plate, a hint of sadness crossed her face.

"Here." I snapped my fingers, creating a small gap above her plate. A fresh serving of salad with ranch dressing pour out, neatly replacing what she had just finished. "This will be your last serving for now—I'd rather you save room for the proper meal I'll make for lunch."

"Don't worry, Jin-sama!" Shirahoshi patted her chest proudly, flashing me a bright, confident smile. "I can always go back to my original size and keep eating!"

She happily resumed eating her second serving without hesitation, clearly enjoying every bite.

I sweatdrop, wondering if salad was going to become Shirahoshi's favorite food—or maybe just a snack she'd crave whenever she felt like it.

"Moving on." I continued. "We'll be staying in this world for a while as you gradually get used to your powers. Also, if anyone asks, you're Princess Shirahoshi of the Ocean Kingdom, who came to the land to experience its wonders." I glanced at her and noticed she was already halfway through her second serving of salad. "Since there are many princesses in the Land of Ooo, people will naturally address you as one without much question."

Shirahoshi paused mid-bite, tilting her head in confusion. "Are there any kings and queens? What about princes?"

"There's one king, but he's... not exactly what you'd expect. He's called the Ice King, ruler of the Ice Kingdom. But don't mistake him for a true king like your father—he's more of a sad fool who kidnaps princesses in a desperate attempt to marry them." I explained, my tone laced with mild exasperation. "Don't worry, though. I'll make sure he doesn't even get the chance to touch you, let alone kidnap you."

I paused for a moment, considering her other question.

"There are other kings, but I don't know much about them for now. As for queens and princes—well, there is a Vampire Queen. As for princes... good question." I shrugged as I peeked into the River of Time, raising an eyebrow at what I saw. "By the way." I added, shifting my attention back to Shirahoshi, "if you need anything or want to do something, let me know. I'll help you to the best of my abilities."

"Got it, Jin-sama. Also, could we visit one of these kingdoms?" Shirahoshi asked, finishing her salad once again. This time, however, she didn't seem as sad about it.

I took the empty plate and let it drop toward the ground. Just before it could make contact, a gap formed beneath it, swallowing the plate from existence right before Shirahoshi's eyes.

"Sure." I replied. "The Candy Kingdom happens to be close by."

Up ahead, I spotted the Cotton Candy Forest—a vast area in the Land of Ooo covered with pink, fluffy cotton candy trees.

Thanks to the River of Time, navigating was easy, and we wouldn't get lost. After a few hours of walking, we reached the outskirts of the Candy Kingdom.

Shirahoshi, unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, pointed toward the pink trees. "What's that?"

"Trees made out of pink cotton candy... You're free to try eating some, but your fingers will get sticky after a while. Also, it might spoil your appetite. So, best not to touch them right now—maybe later." I said.

I narrowed my eyes, then snapped my fingers, triggering the Boundary Manipulation.

"Are they the Candy People you told me about on the way here?" Shirahoshi points out the wandering Candy People before us.

"Yes, those are the Candy People." I confirmed, watching as they wandered about, chatting and going about their daily lives. Their pastel-colored bodies shimmered under the soft glow of the sky, each one uniquely shaped—some round and plump like gumdrops, others stretched thin like licorice sticks. "Just remember." I continued. "They're incredibly gullible, and—believe it or not—they have a tendency to explode when they get too scared."

Shirahoshi's eyes widened in shock. "E-Explode?!"

"Yeah." I sighed. "So, be careful not to startle them. The last thing we need is a bunch of them panicking and turning into candy shrapnel."

Shirahoshi nodded quickly, clearly taking my warning to heart. Her gaze darted nervously between the Candy People, as if she was already imagining the worst possible scenario.

"Jin-sama, where should we go now?" Shirahoshi asked carefully.

"Well, seeing as it's already nighttime..." I trailed off, fully aware of what was about to happen soon.

Suddenly, the deep, resonant chime of a large bell echoed through the kingdom, cutting through the sugary-sweet air.

"All citizens of the Candy Kingdom! Report to the palace immediately!" A commanding female voice rang out, amplified across the land.

I looked up, already knowing who I would find.

Atop her castle, standing tall against the candy-coated skyline, Princess Bubblegum held the bell's rope in one hand. Her expression was firm, her gaze sweeping over her kingdom with authority.

"Should we go to the palace, Jin-sama?" Shirahoshi asked, worry evident in her voice as she glanced at me.

"Technically, we're not citizens of the Candy Kingdom." I said, watching as the Candy People slowly shuffled toward the palace in obedient, sugary waves. "So we don't have to. But if you want, we can."

Shirahoshi bit her lip, her gaze trailing over the marshmallow roads and gumdrop-lit streets. The Candy People moved at a leisurely pace, their soft, pastel-colored forms bobbing slightly with each step. "I wonder if something bad is going to happen..." She murmured, her large eyes filled with concern.

I smirked, crossing my arms. "I'm sure the ruler of the Candy Kingdom can handle it." My tone was light, my grin lazy, but there was a flicker of curiosity in my mind. Princess Bubblegum wouldn't call her entire kingdom to the palace for no reason.

Given that I knew exactly what was happening, the timing caught me off guard slightly. Still, we had arrived just in time—conveniently aligning with the main characters' gathering at the palace.

"Could we go to the palace then, Jin-sama?" Shirahoshi asked, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.

"Sure." I narrowed my eyes slightly, feeling the corners of my mouth twitch into a grin—only for it to vanish the moment Shirahoshi flinched and looked away.

Right. I forgot my smile wasn't exactly friendly…

In no time, we arrived at the palace, but the massive front gates were already closed and firmly shut.

"How are we going to get in?" Shirahoshi asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Hm. Let me get back to you on that." I muttered, reaching into my mindscape. With a thought, I pulled out the Newtonian Apple and took a crisp bite. The familiar rush of understanding flooded my mind as Universal Gravitation returned to my grasp.

But before I could focus on the gates, a more immediate problem made itself known.

"I've got to deal with these Candy People first." I said, my gaze shifting past Shirahoshi.

A slow, unsettling shuffle filled the air. The once-bright and cheerful Candy People now bore dull, lifeless eyes, their colorful bodies tinged with decay. They moved in jerky, unnatural motions—Zombie Candy People, mindlessly advancing toward the palace.

Without hesitation, I activated Universal Gravitation. Instantly, the undead confections lost their footing, weightless in the air. They floated helplessly, unable to advance or retreat, suspended like grotesque decorations in a twisted festival.

"That should keep them busy." I said, watching them drift uselessly in zero gravity.

"A-Are they going to be okay?" Shirahoshi asked, staring at the floating Zombie Candy People with a hint of fear. Her hands tightened slightly at her sides, as if resisting the urge to help. "Do you have any way to get them back to normal?"

"Nope. They are not okay. And yes, I do have a way to fix them." I answered casually, lowering myself onto the candy stairs. The surface was oddly soft, slightly sticky against my fingers. "But." I continued, resting my elbows on my knees. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Shirahoshi's gaze flickered between me and the zombies, her concern deepening. Meanwhile, the undead confections groaned and twitched, their sluggish movements betraying a singular, mindless hunger—for sugar. More specifically, for the Candy People who weren't zombies.

I watched the scene unfold lazily, my eyes half-lidded.