"Tell me do you know how when you're with me?" Callie sang into a microphone in her hand.
"You wouldn't listen, oh irony," Marie sung in response.
The Squid Sisters were on stage singing "Maritime Memory" for the celebration that was taking place. It was set in Inkopolis Plaza with the Great Zapfish residing on the tower, smiling dumbly. There were many inklings dancing in the plaza to the music provided by Callie and Marie. Although it was already past midnight, the inklings showed no signs of quitting the celebration as they continued to express their enthusiasm and excitement through the music.
Today was not Splatfest. Today was Sunday night and the next Splatfest would be held the next Saturday. The inklings of Inkopolis Plaza had gathered in the main plaza to celebrate the heroic and brave actions of Silver and Sapphire, who had defeated the army of Ontarians and their king, DJ Octavio. In return, they returned the Great Zapfish to Inkopolis City. Dressed in their gear and holding up their Hero Shots, Silver, Sapphire, and Captain Craig Cuttlefish stood on the portable stage in the middle of the plaza. There was a large group of inklings and adults cheering for the two heroes. After the Squid Sisters finished performing "Maritime Memory," they began to close out the celebration.
"Give all your gratitude and thanks to Silver and Sapphire, guys!" Callie said.
"In thanks for Silver, we will be releasing a new ink color: silver!" Marie announced gaining the interest from the crowd.
"Yes! Silver ink!" Silver exclaimed, being thrilled as Sapphire laughed.
"And in thanks for Sapphire, we will be releasing ruby and sapphire colored weapons at Ammo Knights," Callie announced as the crowd talked amongst each other in excitement.
"Yay! Red and blue, my favorite colors on my rollers!" Sapphire exclaimed, as Silver smiled at her.
"And remember, Splatfest is in a week, so be sure to vote for either Art or Science and get a T-shirt!" Marie reminded.
"Thanks again Silver and Sapphire, and stay fresh!" the Squid Sisters gave thanks and signed out.
As the Squid Sisters departed from the stage, more of the number of inklings in the crowd in the plaza began to diminish. The lights dimmed to a minimum, allowing some for the other inklings who still were energetic to participate in battles. As Silver and Sapphire jumped off their stage, they went to Captain Cuttlefish who also was slowly stepping off from the stage.
"Thanks a ton for helping us through Octo Valley, Cap," Silver spoke up with a smile, with Sapphire nodding afterwards.
"Don't thank me, thank you guys!" Captain Cuttlefish exclaimed. "If it weren't for you two lads, then the Great Zapfish would have still been in their hands! I'll always know a pair of inklings I can call when I'm in trouble" he said with a smile and a salute before trotting back to the sewer pipe to Octo Valley.
Silver and Sapphire glanced at each other and smiled as they were walking out of the gates to the plaza.
"We did it, Sapphire," Silver said tiredly. "I can't believe it though."
"Well, you could say it wasn't bad for our first time in Inkopolis," Sapphire chuckled.
"Hahaha, sure," Silver laughed at her remark.
They walked beside each other down the roads of downtown Inkopolis. Downtown Inkopolis, located in the center of the city, included Inkopolis plaza, government buildings, and the commercial shops lined up and down each street. Surrounding downtown Inkopolis was the suburban area containing houses and apartments for all the inklings and adults who took residence in the city. Downtown Inkopolis continued southward from Inkopolis Tower until Hammerhead Bridge, the southernmost point of the mainland. Silver and Sapphire passed by Urchin Underpass and Blackbelly Skatepark on their way to their apartments. Busy highways loomed over the city next to Moray Towers and Urchin Underpass in the downtown area. Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall were also set in the South near the southern beach, where Hammerhead Bridge and Port Mackerel were located and Saltspray Rig seen from afar. Southeastern Inkopolis was where Flounder Heights and Bluefin Depot were located, and a little ways North was the Ancho-V Games headquarters. To the far West coast of Inkopolis was a more recreative and attraction area of the city, where Museum D'Alfonsino and Mahi-Mahi Resort were located. Kelp Dome was located in the North, near the more rural vicinity of the mainland. In aforementioned rural area was where Camp Triggerfish and Piranha Pit were located.
Since Silver and Sapphire had just recently arrived in Inkopolis, they were given an apartment room for the time being until they could afford a house. Now, the two had arrived at the lobby of their apartment complex and took the elevator. Because their apartment rooms were nearly at the top floor, the elevator ride was slow, and it was filled with an awkward silence. Both Silver and Sapphire were still bewildered at the battling capabilities that they demonstrated against the Octarian army.
When the elevator reached their floor, Silver quickly stepped out and sighed heavily, for he was reluctant to stay in there longer.
"C'mon, why don't you hang out for a bit, until midnight?" Silver suggested.
"Sure, why not?" Sapphire finally agreed after thinking. "But only for thirty minutes, okay Gold?"
"T-That's not my name!" he stuttered, annoyed at the old nickname she called him.
"Whatever, let's just get inside," she laughed at him as he held the door open for her to get inside.
Silver's apartment was plain and simple, with a bunch of unpacked boxes lying around. No decorations were up and it smelled like a fresh room. There were bags of food on the counter next to some plates. The apartment was decently sized, enough room for a kitchen, a TV room, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
Sapphire set her Hero Shot on the table in front of the TV and joined Silver who was making dinner for the both of them. Silver's Hero Shot and his Hero Jacket were laying on the counter, leaving him in his black undershirt, his headpiece, and his shorts and shoes. Two small bowls of rice were made with slices of bread. Silver took both bowls and gave the other one to Sapphire, heading to the couch. Sapphire looked at her serving.
"Wow, rice and bread, huh? Like last week's Splatfest that we missed out on," Sapphire said with a disappointed look on her face.
"I guess you could say that," he said in reply taking a seat on the couch.
Sapphire set her bowl on the table next to her Hero Shot, unzipped her Hero Jacket, and shrugged it off onto the floor. She also took off the headpiece that was covering her ears, leaving her in her shoes, shorts, and black undershirt, which was cropped a little above her waist. Straightening her tentacle hair, she regained her natural blue hair. She looked down at Silver who was sitting on the couch, nibbling on his rice, looking up at her the entire time.
"Silver, stop staring at me like that!" Sapphire said angrily, though laughing at him.
"What?" Silver asked her. "It just that you're reeaally pretty," he told her in an overly boring and sarcastic tone as he looked down and nibbled at his rice.
"It's not like you said that like a million times on my birthday," she shot back.
"Well, I couldn't help it that you turned out to be beautiful in your human form," he responded with a warm smile. Sapphire sat on the couch close to him, grabbing her bowl of food. "Also, stop complaining about me, 'cause I even waited for you to turn fourteen so we could both move together here," Silver added.
"Whatever you say, Silvy," Sapphire gave up and started eating.
Silver grabbed the remote and turned on the TV to a random news channel. On the screen, it showed news about the other cities continuing South of Inkopolis on their own islands. It reminded him of his hometown. Sapphire looked up from her bowl at the news.
"Who knew we could do Turf Wars in that oil rig that we saw from the bridge to here," she pointed out.
"Or the port at the end of the bridge," Silver added. Sapphire looked at him again.
"Why are you still wearing your headpiece?" she pondered.
"Uh, I don't know. I just like it," he answered honestly. She pulled it off his ears and put it on the table. Silver looked at her with an annoyed glance.
They continued to eat their rice and bread in silence, only the sound of voices coming from the TV news. Silver set his empty bowl on the table, beginning to reminisce over his past. Sapphire noticed him in thought and put her almost empty bowl down.
"What's wrong, Silver?" she turned to him and asked.
"Oh, nothing's wrong," he replied plainly.
"But what are you thinking about?"
He hesitated. "I wonder what everyone thinks of us at home," he admitted.
"Well... They must be really proud," she tried to give her best answer. Silver took the remote and shut the TV off.
"Also, I can't believe I've gone this far with you," Silver released his thoughts. "I still remember you from my earliest memory, since our parents were friends. And then our graduation from eighth grade. Now we're here, and we just saved an entire culture single-handedly."
"...Wow, you're right," she quietly responded. She leaned her head on Silver's shoulder and pulled her legs up onto the couch.
"I'm really glad that I got to experience all of it with you, Silver. Being my closest friend through school and now. I'm grateful for it," she gave a thankful response as she fell asleep. Silver looked at her and smiled warmly. He put his feet up on the table and put his arm around Sapphire's shoulder, hugging her tightly. He looked at the digital clock under the TV.
12:01 A.M. Monday, September 14, 2015 CME
I guess thirty minutes wasn't enough for her,Silver smiled as he fell asleep alongside Sapphire.
The adult Octarians were gathered around a machine with a tray set under it. The machine was producing a substance that was spreading across the tray. Every other machine in the room was on, illuminating the darkness of the laboratory.
"We completed it sir," one of the Octarian scientists said.
"Of course," said the leader. "Now all we have to do is free DJ Octavio from that foolish snow globe, and all is set," his deep and clear voice said.
"When is the release date sir?" another asked.
"Saturday, September 19: the day of Splatfest," the leader said with a confident voice. "The Squids and other enemy species will be destroyed. Nothing will go off plan. Get the Octarians ready! We'll need an army along with the execution."
And with that, he sent everyone standing with him off to his task, leaving him alone. He shut of the machines, leaving the light shining on the tray full of the mysterious substance. He stepped back into the darkness, an evil grin shining on his face.
And that's it for the first chapter of my Splatoon story. Thanks a ton for reading, and I hope to see you through to the end of the story.
~AuraMasterADV13~
Originally published on Wattpad on August 2, 2015
Republished on Wattpad and Fanfiction on July 15, 2018