The underwater city was bustling with sea creatures running about and cheerfully conversing. Some young men and woman decorated their hair with barnacles and kelp, making their white hair stand out even more.
In a certain stall, a young man in white stood, carefully selecting his hair accessory.
"this one will look beautiful on you young Hachin," the shopkeeper clam happily whispered rubbing his hands together.
The fairy like boy chuckled, hiding his face with a fan. "That's too kind of you sir, I think that red ruby is too flashy on me,"
"No, no, it will look so beautiful complementing your beautiful red iris," the shopkeeper further added until the young man was convinced. His jade like hands reached for the huge red ruby barnacle pin but another pale hand beat him to it.
"It will be taking this, sir," a cheerful voice happily said.
Hachin glanced at him with a frown. "Qu Wren, why are you trying to steal what's mine," he shouted with a slight frown.
"Eh, but you didn't buy it yet, right? Mister Clam, can you bill me?" he smirked and handed a string of pearls.
A fan stuck his hand and the sting of pearls rolled down. "Red does not look good in your ugly pink hair," young Hachin said with a smile.
Qu Wren turned completely to him and stepped closer. "Did I hear you talk about my hair? Who said red does not look good in pink. I'll prove it to you otherwise." He plucked the pin and tied his silky pink hair up swiftly in a messy bun with it. "See, it looks so good,"
"You!"
"Mister Clam, I have paid the price. Please make sure not to cater to entitled customers such as him. You might end up in loss," he shouted and swam away.
"QU WREN!! You just wait; I will become stronger than you soon. Then... then,"
"You can think of what you are going to do to me slowly. I have work to do at home," Qu Wren said and swam swiftly up the current. His silvery pink hair tightly bound in his red ruby pin, he happily swam home. Opening the door to their coral he shouted, "Mom, Diago, you won't believe what happened today?"
A lady wearing blue walked out from the attached room, holding a small ribbon in hand. Her white hair tied up neatly in a braid hung to her waist. She tied the ribbon to the end and glanced up at her silent son. "What spectacular thing happened?"
"let me guess, you fought with Hachin again," a loud voice said from another room. A young man chewing on a piece of dried octopus peaked out.
"Yes, brother, he was aiming for this red ruby pin. And before he could buy it, I snatched it away from him." Qu Wren happily shouted and ran to his second brother. "Where is first brother? Isn't he home yet? It's already time... what if he could not attend it?" he anxiously bit his nails.
"Just calm down. He has swum down to the market to get you hundredth birthday gift," his brother, Diago patted his shoulders.
"But it's getting late. The heavenly rain can fall any moment now!" Qu Wren anxiously paced around the room.
Diago sighed. "kiddo, you have a lot of time. The rain is yet to start. You can definitely catch it. And if Ren can't make it, I can swim you to the surface,"
"No! I want Ren, not you. You even barely swim on your own," he said with a hump.
"You little brat, are you calling me a bad swimmer? I'm the second best oyster here in Yixin town. How dare you mock me," he gripped his neck in a choke hold and tussled his already messy pink hair.
"Hey, let go you brute. I prepared my hair for my special day!!" Qu Wren fought out of his hold and pouted. His hair was similar to messy kelp, all flying in a different direction. "You ruined it," he glared at his stupid brother. "Mom~ Diago spoiled my hair!!" he ran to his mother and hugged her.
"Oh, little baby, you hair was already tussled," she patted his forehead gently and tugged him to the ornate sea shell chair. "Mum will help you comb, yeah?"
She gently combed through his tangled hair from bottom to the top until the seas shell comb glided without any resistance. "Shall I tie it up with a ribbon?"
"No, I want it pined," he handed her the red ruby pin.
She gently gripped his hair and rolled it up in a neat bun on top of his head and inserted the pin. "It looks spectacular, dear. You really have a discerning eye for fashion," she whispered, kissing his ruddy cheeks.
"Don't lie mum, he has the worst fashion sense of us three brothers. I mean, look at his short pants, I can even see his thigh," Diago grumbled from the doorway.
"Hey! Its freeing compared to yours," Qu Wren accusingly glanced at his brother's tight pants. 'Isn't he uncomfortable there? I can't handle my two pearls being restricted like that,' he smirked at his short loose pants.
"Thank god, you will be in your birth shape when you are receiving your blessings," Diago said sarcastically and left chewing loudly.
Qu Wren glared at the empty doorway. "Stupid Diago, I prefer Ren." He sighed ruefully.
"Darling, your brother has a lot of duties protecting you youngsters from danger. It's to make your journey to the surface as pleasant as possible," she leaned against his shoulder gently. "Your second brother greatly anticipated this day as well. Why don't you give him a chance?"
Qu Wren pouted and nodded. His mother helped him change into red robes and lose pants. Adjusting his lapel, he glanced up. The light had receded, and it had turned slightly dark. "It's time," he whispered nervously.
"Come on Wren, you don't want to miss your first shower, right?" Diago said with a smile. He had changed into a ceremonial robe and black pants. He held his hand out and winked at him. "Young brother, I bet there will be a lot of girls swooning at your beauty. Let's go,"
"You bet. Since you asked so kindly, I can forgive you for destroying my hair," Qu Wren took his hand.
"You bet," Diago whispered and gently led him out the door.
But as soon as they exited Qu Wren met another unfortunate sight.
"Oh Qu Wren, you decided to wear red too. Too bad, it does not suit you all," Hachin taunted, shaking his white fan around.
Wren growled, but he held back his anger. "Oh, why are you standing alone? Are you not escorted by anyone? So sad, so sad, brother why don't you escort him as well? I feel so bad looking at his pitiful smile," he said with a wide smirk.
Hachin growled out loud and swam away, huffing.
"Why do you taunt him so much?" Diago tapped his forehead.
"He was the one who started it!! Why are you hitting me?" he but his brother's hand and glared at him. "I really meant it when I asked you to escort him," he whispered softly.
"I know kid," Diago hugged him tight.
They both slowly swam up towards the light. Sun light streamed through the surface in small rays. Wren gently held his hand in its path. "The surface.... here I come," he happily whispered.
Just a few feet down, a lot of young white-haired men and women gathered around in a circle. A tall head was in its centre, giving them guidance instruction.
"Brother Ren!!" Qu Wren ran to him but he was unable to pass through the crowd. Dejected, he glanced at the top of his first brother's head.
"I told you, get ready soon," Diago teased him from behind.
"You were the one at fault. You spoiled my hair,"
"Your hair was messy even before I touched it," Diago shrugged.
Right then, a small pitter-patter sound echoed around. Startled, Qu Wren glanced up. The calm surface was covered with small circular ripples of waves. "It's the heavenly rain!! It's here!!" he excitedly swam up but Diago held him back.
"Silly Wren, you have to transform into your birth form," he slightly patted his head again.
Qu Wren excitedly nodded and closed his eyes. With a small swish, his figure disappeared and a small pink oyster stood in his floated in its place.
Diago took him carefully in his hand.
Qu Wren excitedly swam around him.
"Little brother, contain your excitement and stay within the group," Diago frowned and pulled his brother back to the crowd.
"Diago come over here," Ren shouted aloud.
Taking one last glance at his brother, he swam over to his first brother. "I am escorting Wren here, make it quick,"
Ren pulled him out of earshot of the youngsters. "There is a security problem. The seniors have just now ordered me to cancel this heavenly rain ceremony,"
Frowning, Diago nodded. "I will escort the young oysters to safety." He glanced back and shouted, "Young men and women, there has been a small sliver of problem. My brother here will take care of it, but till then we have to move to safety. Please transform and follow me,"
The young oysters all changed back to their human form with a disappointed look.
Diago's eyes wandered around the crowd searching for the familiar pink hair, but it was nowhere to be found. "Where is Wren? Has anyone seen Wren?"
The nearby youngsters shook their head.
"Oh lord, Qu Wren swam to the surface!!!" someone shouted aloud.