Somewhere in the outer sea region of the Frontier was the independent island nation of Leuca, the land of the panda beastfolk. The country has remained liberated from foreign forces since its inception and was considered to be the trading hotspots of the outskirts. However, the cogs of a new age were revolving once again as a cataclysm was about to dawn upon them.
Inside the central palace of the independent island nation, the princess of Leuca stood before the council of elders and expressed her worries regarding the emerging circumstance of the outer sea regions. Gazing at them with the regality of a panda princess, the council of elders were obliged to listened to the rambles of a paranoid girl.
The discussion lasted hours upon hours as details regarding the sinking of various neighboring islands echoed throughout the halls of the chamber. An eerie silence filled the council of elders as dread permeated through the air. Yet amongst the senile old panda, one raised their plump and furred arms. "How can you be sure that the phenomena will affect the country, Princess?"
It was a simple and straightforward question, but it brought about a cascading effect to the council of elders. It was what they needed to stand against the maddening proposals of their princess. "The general of the garrison has a point, My Lady. What is the basis regarding the island sinking phenomena affecting the nation of Leuca?"
"A complete evacuation based entirely of theories cannot be accepted by the council of elders, Princess. Tens of thousands of our people roamed the streets of Leuca. Once displaced, it will take decades for the country to stabilize from the effects of the evacuation." Another elder panda remarked to her, earning the agreement of others.
It was somewhat clear that the evacuation couldn't be welcomed without undeniable proof of their island sinking. The cost of complete evacuation was wholly too much for the council of elders to undertake without risking their own wealth and authority over their respective lands.
"At the very least, we won't sink alongside our homeland and drown with it. The sinking of islands in the outskirts of the Frontier is undeniable. Traders have spoken about it and even the trading network of the outer sea regions had lost its former influence. This is undeniable proof." The princess of Leuca responded with a grave and elegant tone.
"One after another, the sea are eating the lands that stand above it. Kingdoms and civilizations have fallen to its grasped, and we will not be the exception. Of the dozens of nations that dwell within the outskirts, few remained contact with one another. Many have been lost. We must evacuate!" Her words resounded to the chamber of the council of elders.
The king sat at the council throne within the middle of the chamber and sighed to himself. "My daughter is amongst the brightest of us. I have trusted her and with her assistance. The economy of the country has grown enough to make our neighbors jealous. I trust her unique wisdom. I'm sure all of you think the same." He gazed upon the council of elders.
The senile old pandas couldn't directly look at their king as all of them understood his remark. A decade ago, the nation of Leuca was an isolated country. The technology, economy, and military was at its lowest point during that old era. It wasn't until the great effort of the princess that forced the nation to open up to trade.
Naturally, they were distrusting but with the knowledge of trade imparted by the princess. There was no doubt about the wisdom that dwelled within her mind. No matter how much they tried to question her thoughts regarding the phenomena. They trusted her words enough to even doubt themselves. As such, all of the elders sighed upon themselves.
"The council are in agreement to the complete evacuation of the country. The trading ships will be repurposed to ensure the success of the order. Some warships will have their weapons thrown overboard to save weight for more passengers. This is the decision of the council." One of the major councilman within the group stood up and uttered with a stern voice.
None of the council elders disagreed or publicly rejected the idea. As such, the plan was set forth to begin tomorrow. At any rate, the meeting ended with the acceptance of the evacuation. The princess of Leuca sighed in relief as she felt her heart pounding in dread from the inevitable disaster that was threatening to consume all of them.
As she exited the chamber of the elder council, the princess noticed her father returning to the throne room alongside many of his entourage. A smile formed on her face as she ran after him. "Father! Thank you for your support." Without him backing her, there was no doubt that the council elders would have resisted further. They would have wasted precious time bickering with one another.
"No need to be grateful. I am confident in your capabilities and wisdom. After all, you have pushed this kingdom to stand upon its golden age. Some might found it difficult to let the age end. But a new era has begun regardless whether we accept it or not." The king uttered with unspoken pride and continued. "The sinking of islands has become the inevitable."
"We will not be a herd of ignorant who would pretend to be a fool for excess. However, I'd like to ask you an important question, my daughter. Can you predict when the island sinking will strike our nation?" The king questioned as he didn't doubt his daughter to have the wisdom to understand the duration of island sinking and their upcoming signs.
"After studying remnant information from neighboring sunken nations and the traders that visit us, the island sinking can have a mercy period of a month. Afterward, the island would be immediately consume by the sea without hesitation and delay." She thought about it for a couple of seconds before answering the question of her father.
"A period of a month, huh?" The king narrowed his gaze and pondered about the implications of the short duration of mercy. "Has the signs of island sinking been uncovered?" He inquired his daughter, to which she sadly shook her head upon. "We haven't been able to find signs in regards to the island sinking, Father."
"Even studying the days before the sinking of neighboring nations have proven to be troublesome. None of their islands shook, nor did their sea levels rise by a margin. The only thing we discovered was a prophecy of some sort, which was a month before the spoken nation fell into the ocean." The princess of Leuca understood that no matter how much they tried to research the phenomena.
It would be all for naught.
After all, it would imply...
"Doesn't that mean that our island can sink anytime soon?" The king raised his eyebrows as the princess nodded in agreement. "It is for this reason why I pushed the complete evacuation onward. We must be ready, and time is not by our side." The cataclysm dawning upon them could happen sooner than later. Perhaps, even now. My V*i&r.tu^al Li!b@rar+y E$mpire (&*-)! t!h!a!n+k#s you for re.ad&ing^ at the so%urc*e^.*
*BOOM!!!*
A deafening yet muffled explosion reverberated out of nowhere as the ground shook in defiance. Cracks formed throughout the walls and pillars of the palace as birds soared across the skies and left their nests behind. Screams of terror resounded throughout the independent island nation of Leuca as the disaster had finally begun.
"What the-" The princess was shocked as her limbs trembled from the sense of dread. But catching her panda paws was her father who gave her a calming nod. "Prepare the evacuation! Our citizens must survive the catastrophe to build a future for Leuca." When she heard of his calm and pacifying voice, the princess regained her composure. "We will start the evacuation!"
The princess sprinted to her abode while the king returned the throne room at accelerated speed. Guards darted across halls while maids and royal staffs cried out in terror. The shaking of the earth got stronger as she felt the earth lightening for some reason. No, she was becoming lighter. Which meant that... 'We are steadily descending and the speed is increasing by the moment.'
Further pushing herself, the princess reached her abode and tore to her drawers. She was searching for a device that was given to her by an acquaintance a week ago. The one that pushed her to start the evacuation of the nation. As she looked through the drawers, she finally discovered the device and pushed the button. It lit up in a crimson hue while the shaking became stronger.
The ceiling of her abode inexplicable collapsed as she ran towards the large table for cover. Her body barely fit, but it gave her enough shelter to be barely harmed by the collapsing ceiling. The roof became open and the skies unveiled itself to the horrified princess. 'I- I hope...' She gazed upward as she saw a speck of black dot falling towards the capital city.
Above it was an unidentifiable flying object, she could barely discerned it before the island fell into the ocean. Everything became light as the skies was getting farther away from them. The rough waves of the Frontier filled every nook and cranny of the island nation as Leuca collapsed into a bottomless hole consumed by the ocean. What happened afterward was black. Nothing.
Until the princess awakened her consciousness and roused while being barely afloat in the rough seas of the Frontier. A gigantic storm casted lightning overhead, flashing her wet fur. She was holding onto a piece of plank in the middle of the ocean, alone and alive. Her face was filled to the brim with terror until a sound reverberated from the water.
The waves lightly calmed down while a vessel emerged from underneath. Its spotlight gleamed across the area of the sea where the princess resided as it hums its horns announcing its presence. There was no doubt about it. The expeditionary fleet of the United World Government have arrived, albeit already too late.