Gwen's mornings were often the same. She would wake up, she would stretch, she would shake out the crookedness from whatever position she had decided to sleep in the night before, and she would get up good as new and ready for a new day in Inkopolis. She thought once more that she was glad her parents had finally decided, on her sixteenth birthday, that they couldn't stop her from growing up, and she immediately drove to Inkopolis and started out her career doing what she loved.

Turf Wars.

She wasn't half bad at it, either. With an A- in ranked and a crazy high score, both with coverage and with splats, she was good enough to make her way comfortably. She was still sorting out a pile of gear to switch around when she wanted, but that was okay. Most of the things she wanted wouldn't disappear tomorrow.

She ran from her house to Inkopolis Plaza. She was once again thankful that she didn't have to take the stuffy old train, and let sunlight embrace her as she made her way to Inkopolis.

In her mind, the same thoughts as always went through her head.

I bet she'll be there by now. She always is.

Oh, I can't wait!

A smile spread on her face as she slowed down at the plaza and caught sight of her best friend.

Her only friend, but then again, with a friend like her, who could ask for more?

"Gwen," Torri smiled, gentle brown eyes settling on her friend. Torri, unlike most Inklings nowadays, smiled with her eyes, and Gwen thought it was far prettier than a line of teeth. There was a detailed web of emotions that she portrayed through her eyes, and as much as Gwen loved it, she could never bring herself to stare for too long before feeling awkward, which meant she had yet to understand the full complex of her mind that one could see in her eyes.

Torri could stare very, very well, though. She had stares for every situation.

"Torri!" Gwen called, waving. Torri walked over, breaking her hello-my-friend stare, and waved herself, though it was merely a brief greeting. It was barely needed any more; the two were too close, really, for proper greetings.

"Turf Wars again today?" Torri suggested, hopefully.

"Yeah," Gwen agreed, "But I need to buy something from Annie first."

"Which means you want me to go buy it," Torri guessed.

A sheepish smile was accompanied by a points card.

"I'll be right back." Torri waved and walked off.

I'm kind of glad that Torri doesn't bother to pay attention to Moe, Gwen considered absently, watching a bird fly away. I can barely stand him for more than five seconds.

"I'm back," Torri said into Gwen's ear, making her jump.

Gwen tried to look upset, but all she managed was a short burst of laughter. Torri smiled again, and there was a silent agreement as the two walked towards Inkopolis Tower, Torri handing back Gwen's point card.

"Not long now," Gwen grinned, her Splatterscope off the belt on her waist and instead in her hands.

Torri nodded agreement, holding her Inkbrush like someone would hold a broomstick. Just then, the system started up, and the two were pulled into Cyberspace.

They were promptly dropped onto Saltspray Rig. Thankfully on the same team for once.

Gwen shared a short grin with Torri before the buzzer rang. Like usual, Torri launched forward instantly and made a clear path for Gwen before she could charge her Splatterscope. Sighing and leaping down, she waved her thanks before climbing up and setting up to shoot at anyone that came by.

She managed to snipe a few Rollers and shoo away the E-Liter on the other side with quicker, threatening shots, and she held her next charge. Watching her team mates charge into the main area, she adjusted herself again and waited.

For a few seconds she wondered why she wasn't being attacked at all, but she brushed it off.

This is a serious workout.

Torri stretched and looked at the absolute carnage before her. She had managed to splat three people in the last five seconds, all of which were after Gwen.

Of course, it was a silly thing, to go after Gwen in a turf war where Torri was involved. Torri smirked, slinked into the shadows, and leaped out again as all four of the team members came rushing at her.

A quick jump dispelled the danger of the E-Liter for a while yet, and Torri grinned. She boosted off of the nearby wall and twisted. The result was a tornado of Ink being launched full power towards the group of opponents.

"OH Sh-" One of them bit off as he was splatted. Torri swung around the final charger and cackled before splatting her as well. Torri smiled grimly.

"Say goodnight..." she whispered.

Then the buzzer rang.

"YES!" Gwen exclaimed, holding the new set of headphones above her. "They're perfect!"

"I'm glad it was worth it," Torri said, wearing her I'm-happy-for-you stare. This one made Gwen nervous, because it hinted to sadness and a strange feeling that something was missing, but she ignored it for the moment. She had her new headphones, and for that, she was happy.

Gwen headed home soon after that; after their customary hot chocolate, it was heading home that marked the end of a day. She ran back, just because she could, and hopped into her apartment gleefully.

The bright room was a symbol of her freedom. Small but quaint, with paintings, a small kitchen, a sofa and a small TV. A washing room with what she needed, a bathroom, a bedroom, a closet.

She stood in front of the open-concept window and watched as Inkopolis flashed to life in an array of lights, like many stars all blinking to life at once.

"Gwen!" Called a voice from below.

Gwen peered out her window, and her heart began to flutter. "Elwyn!"

"Are you and Torri having fun with turf wars?" The blue-tentacled Inkling called from the street.

"Yeah!" Gwen replied. In reality, her mind was thinking something else.

OmigoshOmigoshOmigosh

It's Elwyn

he's talking to me

Gwen calm down!

"We just did the usual!" Gwen continued, hoping he would continue the conversation.

"Aw, no hot chocolate for me?" he whined comically. "I should start joining you guys! Then maybe I'll get some hot chocolate!"

Gwen laughed, and started to talk again, but as she began she heard a quick gasp.

"Elwyn?" Gwen asked.

Silence. Then a distant scream.

"Gwen!"

Her head snapped around, and her eyes locked with those of her best friend.

"I'll chase after that freak!" Torri called, pulling her Inkbrush. "You call the police!"

"Uh, uh, right!" Gwen replied nervously, dashing inside.

I can't fail.

Torri used her Inkbrush to go faster, ignoring the law briefly, and managed to start gaining on the rouge Inkling, who had Elwyn in his arms.

Gwen would be heartbroken if anything happened to Elwyn.

Just as heartbroken as me.

I can't let that happen.

New determination filled Torri as she began to catch up even more. She felt her legs screaming but she didn't care right now. All she could do was hope to the heavens above that her awful health wouldn't harm her mission.

She didn't particularly like Elwyn, but Gwen must have seen something she didn't, because she loved him unconditionally. It wasn't something Torri felt she had a right to intervene in.

If this is what makes Gwen happy, I'll do anything to help it be achieved.

Her body forgot itself, went numb as she launched herself forward and swiped at the squidnapper, knocking him over and giving Elwyn the chance to run for his life. The criminal hissed violently and pulled a weapon on her.

Torri didn't hesitate to hold her weapon to his neck.

"Leave him alone," Gwen said simply.

"Not wise, girl," The husky tone replied, an awkward, broken grin on his face. He opened fire.

Torri twisted in a complicated way as she dodged the blue-white ink bullets, unable to swipe at him, and she hissed instinctively before dashing around her target.

He was calling someone on his phone, but she didn't care. Dashing forward in an attempt to take advantage of the opening, he merely swung his arm to one side and knocked her at least three meters away.

She growled internally as she got up. She thought briefly that there was an ache in her arm, but she ignored her pains and instead focused on the pulsing anger in her brain.

How DARE he.

She felt instability return, after months with it being gone, and all she could manage to say was an inaudible swear, before her anger took over. Swinging onto her feet, she launched herself at him again, ignoring the bullets trying to leech their way through her shirt and swiped at him until the plastic part of her inkbrush finally knocked him over.

He hissed, threw down an ugly black bomb, and promptly exploded, launching her away into an alley. She stopped moving.

I hurt all over. Something's wrong. Why aren't I being sent to my spawn point?

She crawled away, desperate.

If Gwen saw me like this, it might tear her apart...

"Elwyn!" Gwen cried, forgetting herself. She full-body tackled him, and the two fell on the ground.

"I'm fine," Elwyn assured her. "Where's the squid who saved me?"

"What?" Gwen said. "But I thought-"

"Stop! You're under arrest!" A loud, shaky voice called from not far away. The pair turned to see a short, orange-tentacled inkling holding one of the city weapons at them.

"Oh, wait, you two are civilians," he grumbled, lowering the City Splattershot. "You seen a squidnapper around here?"

"Yes," Elwyn said. "I was the one he squidnapped, until this person came rushing through with an Inkbrush and chased him that way." Elwyn pointed.

"Right," the policeman said, more confidently. "C'mon, guys, let's move in." He ran at a steady, quick pace, and the parade of police followed him.

Turning a corner, they were met with a grim sight.

The whole place was vacated, black liquid in a large pool on the ground, and two well-defined circles at the edges. In the center were the remnants of a small splat bomb.

"It looks like Oil, sir!" an examiner called, handling a portion of the liquid with very strong gloves.

"Two potential deaths, then," he cringed, nervously messing with his weapon in his hand. "Ugh. I think I've lost my appetite for tonight's supper." He walked over, and inspected what specks of ink were left.

One was a bright blue-white colour, and it was far lighter than any he'd seen before.

"He's probably mortally wounded at his base," the officer mused. "which gives us time."

Another examiner walked over with a small sample of ink. "Sir?"

"Yeah?" the officer acknowledged.

"We can't identify it. There's no spawn point keyed to it, or if there is it was recently destroyed or broken."

"Which means that its owner is dead," the officer groaned. "A suicide bombing gone wrong, except that the bomber survived." He shook his head. He felt bad for the civilian, but it couldn't be helped. It was the way of this criminal to find his victim and disable their spawn point, before destroying it. Then, of course, he killed them.

"Who did this?" Gwen said disbelievingly.

"Hey, you're a civilian, move back," the officer grumbled.

"But my friend went this way!" Gwen retorted.

The Officer seemed briefly upset, but instead, he said, "We need to identify the people who were splatted here and get them to recovery. Stand back."

One of the examiners came over with the ink sample again, and Gwen squealed displeasure.

"Torri's... Torri's ink!"

"You know who it belongs to?" The officer asked seriously.

"Yes," Gwen replied.

"I know where her spawn point is," Elwyn added.

"Lead the way, then." the officer requested, waving over an officer on standby.

"What about me?" Gwen asked.

"Just stay calm, and wait." The officer requested, feeling now was not the right time to tell her her friend was probably murdered.

"Thought as much," the spare officer said when they saw the wrecked status of the house.

The house, even before it was intruded, was crumbling and old. There was barely any space for one inkling, and it looked like Torri had made the best of a bad situation. It was homely, if a complete dump.

Then, of course, there was the fact that her bedroom was wrecked and her spawn point destroyed.

"What does this mean?" Elwyn asked with dread in his voice.

"That she's dead," the officer replied simply.

Elwyn considered, head hung low. "Can you do me a favour?"

"What is it, kid?" He asked, with hints of gentle sympathy in his voice.

"Don't tell Gwen about this." Elwyn held back a whimper. "She's... sweet, but terribly fragile. She'd be so heartbroken that it would ruin her."

"What, you like her or something?" the officer asked, though his voice was calm and soothing.

"Not especially," Elwyn admitted, "but anyone, I'm sure, would ask you this. Gwen relied on Torri for her strength. That's just how they worked; Torri was the support, Gwen the angel that resulted. If her support is gone..." Elwyn shook his head.

"I see." the officer nodded. "It would tear her apart mentally to know. I'll call base and alert the officers on this."

"Thank you," Elwyn said sincerely. The officer nodded, and with a brief, sympathetic smile, he left.

Elwyn went into Torri's room. It seemed empty and broken, to him. Just a bed and a stand with three drawers.

He sorted through the drawers, and what piqued his interest was a little red book. He decided to pocket it for later, feeling slightly guilty but not enough to stop, and opened it.

"Woah."

Filled to the brim with drawings, poems and passionate notes, all about Gwen.

This scared him.

He knew, however, that Torri, as lonely and strange as she was, was not mad, and was indeed very self-aware. She would never have done anything to Gwen or her friends. She would have been aware of her obsession, taken steps to prevent it. Perhaps this was one of them.

He sighed and closed the book, putting it in his jeans pocket. If he ever needed to explain what happened to Torri, it might be something Gwen would want.

Torri's world was pain.

Only minutes earlier the panicky rush of overworked adrenaline had worn off, and now all she could feel were aches and pains all over her body. She cringed as she accidentally pulled on some bruised Ink, considered switching into squid form, then re-evaluated the intelligence of that decision. Groaning, she pulled herself to a lying down position on one side so she could contemplate the intelligence of protecting Elwyn.

You protected the love of her life.

Despite her terrible situation, she smiled to herself, thinking of how glad Gwen would be that Elwyn was okay.

You brought her more happiness. She's happier with Elwyn alive then with you alive.

Torri felt a new wave of pain assault her as she twisted in discomfort.

I am Gwen's best friend. Torri told herself. Don't die, Torri. Not yet.
Gwen needs you.

Torri pulled herself up, ignoring the screams of pain that her leg were feeling, and walked. This late at night, there were no people to see her crawling around. She walked for a long time.

She leaned her weight against a wall and stumbled her way towards home.

After that, her thoughts and memories were jumbled, but along the way she picked up a large, raggedy black cloth. It may have once been a beautiful cloak, perhaps for a masquerade party, but now all there was was an old set of rags to be thrown away, thrown onto Torri's back to keep her safe and warm.

She fell over, at some point, and finally, she slept.

A/N: Welcome to the unexpected story. It's basically where I was trying to go with my first ever project, Blacklight, but a bit different. It's a bit more true to itself, and I've got more skill now, so I expect it will be better. If anyone's wondering, the names are all pulled from Welsh. Gwen means white/holy, Torri (from my very questionable sources) means broken, and Elwyn is a variant of Alvin, meaning Noble Friend. Don't expect fast updates, but hope for big ones.