Author's Note: While it's not required, I advise reading my previous stories to know what's going on and who many of these characters are.

Life in Inkopolis: The Tournament

Chapter 1: Preparation

Ammo Knights Training Grounds…

The team just made it to the training grounds and in good time. Sarah looked over to her team. It was comprised of her, her Octoling boyfriend Guyver, Army Girl Sylvia, and the shy Octoling Octim.

"What's first, Captain?!" Sylvia excitedly asked Sarah.

"Wait, I thought I was Captain." Guyver said, confused. "I mean, I have the cool helmet."

"Well, of course I'm Captain." Sarah told him. "After all, I got the majority of the team together."

"True…" He admitted. "Though maybe we could be co-Captains?"

"I don't know…" Sarah pondered it. "I mean, why should I?"

Guyver then pulled her in close enough for a kiss, but just grinned.

"Can we get a little space, please?" He asked them.

They backed away.

"Because I'd like to be on equal footing with you." He stated. "Also, I am the only one with actual military training, doubt Sylvia actually has any, so I just thought you'd like it if someone in a position of power on the team had the know-how to effectively lead a squad."

"True," Sarah admitted. "But remember your army's military training lost to an old squid, pop stars, and 14-year-olds. Maybe if I'm captain, you'll improve a lot more than you ever did under Cass."

"Hm…" He took a second to think about that. "Very well, but I will constantly be undermining your authority with cute nicknames for you, Saralicious."

Sarah cringed at that nickname.

"A-alright…" She agreed. "But come up with better names than that one."

"I'll sure try…" He said before planting a kiss.

"Umm…are we training soon?" Sylvia interrupted.

"Right!" Sarah let go of Guyver. "Now let's go Team…Team…"

Sarah paused a second.

"We don't have a team name, do we?" Sarah asked.

Guyver took a second to think. "…No, we don't…"

"Team names are important!" Sylvia added. "It helps identify who we are as well as gives us a 60% boost in confidence during battle! The perfect name will help us play better!"

The two were pretty sure she made that last part up, but they still agreed with her.

They then sat down to come up with a name.

"Ink Busters!" Sarah came up with. "…No…

"Spicy Cephalopods!" Guyver came up with. "…Nah…"

"Soldier Squids!" Sylvia came up with.

"Maybe not that one…" Guyver said. "The only army-obsessed one is you."

"Oh...okay." Sylvia agreed.

"Cirrina Squad?" Tim suggested. "I mean, half of us are from Cirrina Countryside and I'm pretty sure we all have some connection to an army."

"That works." Guyver said.

"Yeah." Sarah agreed.

"I like your style, Private!" Sylvia told him.

"Th-thanks." Tim said.

"Now that all distractions are out of the way, can we train?" Sylvia asked.

"Yup!" Sarah confirmed. "So we're gonna practice with our weapons: My and Guyver's Brushes, your Bamboozler, and Tim's…what weapon do you have?"

"A splattershot…Jr…" He admitted. "I just started…"

"…Okay, we'll spend half of our training time practicing in the training grounds, and the other half in Turf Wars." Guyver announced. "Experience is the best teacher. Second best is pain judging from my experience."

"Then let's begin!" Sarah cheered.

Octo Canyon…

"Ahoy, Agent 3!" Cap'n Cuttlefish greeted her. "What brings you here?"

Beth walked over to Cap'n Cuttlefish. He was sitting next to Callie and Marie. Callie had headphones on while Marie was reading a book.

"Just coming here to check on things while Mei plays Turf Wars with her friend." Beth explained. "She's apparently good with Dualies, but she needs to level up so she can have some first."

"Things are fine here for now." The Cap'n told her. "From what I've heard, you should be checkin' on the tournament."

"Right…" Beth said. "It's just that we have no leads on who the spy could be or why they're interested in the tournament."

"Well, just keep yer eyes peeled." He said. "Ya can't be too sure who to trust these days."

"Oh, and congrats on the thing with Mei!" Callie took her headphones off and said.

"Thanks." Beth said to Callie.

"You're dating Mei, 4's dating Guyver, Callie's dating 4.5," Marie said. "…And I'm still single…"

"You'll find someone, I'm sure." Beth assured her.

"Probably an Octoling." Callie guessed. "I mean, half the people on our staff are dating Octolings."

"Right." Marie rolled her eyes. "And where would I find said Octoling?"

"Careful Marie…" Callie warned. "Arnold got seduced by an Octarian prisoner. It could happen with the one we have here."

"Callie, gross." Marie groaned. "He's waaaay too old for me."

"Yeah, Imma hafta agree with her." DJ Octavio said. "After three marriages, I think I'm done."

"Three?" Beth raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"

"Died, Died, left me." Octavio told her. "And no, I don't wanna talk about it."

"Right…" Beth said. "Anyway, where's Arnold? We're supposed to practice for the tournament soon."

"He's patrolling Octo Canyon." Marie told her. "He's making up for his failure at guard duty with some reconnaissance."

"Oh yeah…" Beth recalled. "So he really kissed Cass?"

"Kissed?" Callie's eyes widened. "I saw the video. It was a full-on make out session, tongue and everything!"

"Wow." Beth was surprised. "Cass must've really messed with him that night."

"The poor lad…" The Cap'n shook his head. "That lass played him like a guitar."

"Yeah, I should really apologize again." Marie sighed. "I've been a little hard on him lately..."

"Well, I'm going to Grizzco." Beth turned to leave. "If we can't practice, I might as well earn some cash."

"Have fun!" Callie waved goodbye.

"Don't get eaten." Octavio said sarcastically. "Octo forbid y'all make me happy."

Inkopolis Plaza…

"So why are we over here?" Sam asked. "Hardly anyone goes here anymore."

"And the ones who do tend to use illegally modified gear." Damien added.

"Because the Ammo Knights training grounds will be empty." Otis explained. "Perfect for practicing strategies in secret."

"Not a bad plan." Ivan admitted. "Let's check with the staff."

"I thought the Ammo Knights here closed when Sheldon moved the store." Damien remarked.

"It did, but Sheldon's grandpa still owns the property." Otis told him. "I'm sure he'll be glad to see the old training grounds get some use."

"Outside of being a place for couples to make out…" Ivan mumbled.

They entered in the shop to find an elderly horseshoe crab in an electric wheelchair. He wasn't moving.

"Hello?" Otis asked.

"He's not dead, is he?" Sam asked.

Ivan then went up and poked his head a few timed. The old crab shot awake.

"Hello, Ammoses!" Ivan said loud enough so he could hear. "We'd like to use the training grounds!"

Ammoses slowly raised his head and nodded. He turned his chair around and led them to the training grounds. He pressed a button that automatically opened the door and mumbled something incoherent.

"Thank you!" Otis said. "Oh, and Sheldon says hi!"

He slowly raised his shaking hand and mumbled something incoherent.

"Wow, what dedication to his work." Damien admired.

"I hope he doesn't die while we're using the training grounds." Ivan said.

"Ivan!" Otis glared at him. "Seriously?!"

"What?" Ivan asked. "Would you want to break the news to Sheldon?"

"If he does, I'll break the news." Sam decided.

"On a lighter topic," Otis changed the subject. "Damien, let's see what you came up with!"