Chapter III: Reunion

One day, a storm of unprecedented magnitude struck the waters of the Open Sea. Thunder, wind and enormous waves wrought havoc on the surface. Most of the creatures cowered in fear as their watery world sloshed and swirled around them. The most sensible animals retreated to the safest parts of their habitats and sheltered from the storm. However, one shark lingered just below the surface of the water. Like a typical shark, it saw everything as a test of its strength and this storm was just the latest chance to prove itself.

Even as all other creatures sank to safer depths, the shark moved ever closer to the seething water of the surface. But then, as the shark rode the momentum on the underside of a wave, its dorsal fin broke the surface and was struck by a lightning bolt. Paralysed by the electric shock, it slowly turned belly up and floated to the surface. Having lost the ability to move, it prepared for what seemed like certain death.

After floating to the very surface, where every new wave hit with renewed vigour and lightning bolts tore through everything in sight, the shark wondered about the life it had lived. “What was the point of it all?” it asked itself. Suddenly, the impersonal, detached existence of a life according to the shark code didn’t seem worth living. But for the shark, its own death was not the saddest thing. The shark realized that so many ocean creatures struggled to survive, yet had no idea that there could be a greater freedom.

Even though the shark knew it only had moments to live, it couldn’t shake the thought. What started as an innocent rumination on their cruel lives took hold of the shark and became a powerful wave of energy that grew from deep within and erupted from its throat: “WAGMI! WAGMI! WAGMI!

It turned out to be an ancient, unifying spell that hadn’t been uttered for millenia. Something had changed after the shark was struck by lightning and as soon as the roar of the stricken shark echoed through the depths of the Open Sea, all 29 saber-toothed sharks forgot their ferocious ways and rushed to the rescue. The quickest shark reached the surface and tried to turn the dying shark over, but it was impossible to do it alone. The shark gave one last heave, paused and let out a powerful cry: “WAGMI! WAGMI! WAGMI!”

On any other day in the Open Sea, the other sharks would have pounced on any sign of weakness. But the power of the ancient spell shattered the hierarchy of the ocean and they all rushed to the surface to save their friend. Each shark that swam helped the one before it and before long, four helper sharks had gathered around the shark that lay near the surface. Holding onto each other's fins, they formed a pentagram. For a moment nothing happened, but then the water around them started to boil and shone with a blinding light. The light grew so bright that the other sharks had to shield their eyes and retreat.

When the light faded and the cloud of fizzing bubbles finally lifted, the five sharks ascended above the water. However, they weren’t holding each other anymore. They were connected by something greater: loyalty and unity. The other sharks couldn’t make out what was going on through the shimmering surface of the water, but one thing was clearly visible. As they got closer, it was as if the sharks were growing into each other, forming a single mass, the outline of which looked like a flying fish of extraordinary size.

When the transformation was complete, the gigantic creature came crashing down into the water. The impact caused huge waves to leap up into the sky and drown out the storm. The ocean creatures had just witnessed the evolution of the first Open Sea Whale. Mighty, wise and independent, the whale was like nothing that had ever existed. Once it broke through the waves, it made its way to the bottom of the Open Sea.