Leo walked up to the door of the train. He turned around and waved bye to his family. Some were crying, others were cheering. It was Leo's birthday, his 14th. As he stumbled onto the train, a pocket full of coins scraped together for him, a suitcase filled with clothes and pictures, and the address for student dorm

"I'll miss you all! I'll visit on holidays though!" He yelled.

"Good luck!" The group called back.

Leo went to his seat and sat down, handing his ticket to the conductor.

"Train to Inkopolis, arriving at 3 PM tomorrow! Came a voice from the speaker.

Leo sighed, it was noon the day before. The train picked inklings and other creatures from all over the country heading to Inkopolis so it took a while.

The train started moving and the speaker said the next stop. Leo could feel the train speeding along, rumbling against the tracks. Today, well tomorrow, was the day he'd been waiting for his entire life, to move to Inkopolis. He'd also gain his full ability to transform into a squid and back to a normal looking inkling and a few hours, the most important occasion in a squid's life.

Leo started reading a book telling about what abilities are most likely and least likely to get on clothes from certain brands. There were also maps of every stage and key points for each mode.

Leo looked confused when he read that the tower in Blackbelly Skatepark was a great sniping spot. It really wasn't, there was no cover and you couldn't see your sides very well. A better spot would be off to the side, or you have someone or two inklings guarding you. Leo pulled out a pencil and made these notes. He hadn't ever played turf wars, but knew had learned every map inside and out from watching and the internet.

A few hours passed, Leo jotted down his own notes and his gear recommendations into the book. He started tingling a bit and felt his body vibrating.

Here it comes! Leo thought excitedly.

He watched, with a camera pulled out to capture the moment, as his semi squid-like body transformed into a full inkling.

He bit back a scream of excitement, but other inklings on the train started clapping when they saw what was going on. It was the most important event in a squid-kid's life.

Leo blushed and sunk back into his seat, trying to figure out how to transform into a squid. Many failures ensued until he realized he dropped down and felt like liquid. He then realized his predicament, it would be hard to transform back.

He took a deep breath and focused, nothing.

An adult inkling came over and looked at him, "still learning how to squid and not?" he asked

"Yes" Leo replied.

"Here's what you do: calm yourself, and relax, let your brain and body want to be humanoid."

Leo nodded, or at least attempted to nod, and relaxed. He felt his body harden and then realized he was crouching on the floor

The man laughed, "it takes practice, but once you get the hang of it, it will be easier than breathing."

He dropped into squid form and back to show that Leo could eventually do it easily.

"Thanks," Leo said, and he went back to his seat.

The time seemed to pass faster as Leo practiced turning into a squid. Eventually he could do it at will, just not very quickly. Before he could practice more, he yawned, realizing how tired he was. Leo sat in his seat and used his coat as a blanket.

Leo woke up. He fished for his phone in his pocket, only to see that it was noon.

I was asleep for 16 hours? Leo thought. Inklings liked to rest, but never that much. He quickly got up and started looking out the window. Leo got lost in his thoughts as he watched the trees blur by.

He jumped when he heard a voice from behind him, it was the adult man, "Heh, all inklings oversleep when they turn 14, it takes a toll on the body to change that much at once."

Leo looked back and nodded, "yeah, but at leas-," Leo was interrupted by a yawn, "I'm pretty well rested for today.

The man nodded and sat back down leaving Leo alone.

The hours passed by slowly, Leo could barely hold in his excitement, slowly getting greater and greater until he screamed when he heard "Next Stop: Inkopolis Plaza!"

The inklings around looked at him and chuckled, they too had once known the joy of going to Inkopolis for the first time.

Leo could feel the seconds ticking by slowly as he waited for the arrival in Inkopolis. The train began to slow down once Leo saw the skyscrapers of what he thought was Moray Towers.

"We have arrived." The announcer's voice came again.

Leo grabbed his stuff and watched the doors open.

Leo looked around the plaza, the lime green tower resting in front of him, Booyah Base to the left, and the Squid Sisters' studio to the right.

"Hey! You!" Came a voice from a kiosk.

Leo looked over, "yeah?"

"You new to Inkopolis?" The jellyfish behind the counter asked.

"Yeah, I just turned 14," Leo replied as he walked over.

"Well then, on behalf of the Turf War Foundation, I give you your starting equipment."

The jellyfish handed over a set of clothes (the standard starting gear), a splattershot jr., an ink tank, and best of all, a splat watch.

"Thanks!" Leo exclaimed, knowing that he'd get his first gun and ink tank.

Leo was excited for that of course, but most of all, he wanted his splat watch. The splat watch let him see his experience level, coins, super sea snails, info when in battles, and a map of the entire city. It was essential for any kid to have when first coming to Inkopolis.

Leo opened the map app on his watch.

"355 Squiddin Rd., Inkopolis" Leo murmured as he put it in.

Two dots popped up. A green for the destination and a white for you current location. Leo grabbed his suitcase and started running down the alleyways.

The city was bustling. Cars were crowding the onramps to the interstates. Jellyfish were all around. Most inklings were running to the plaza, a gun in hand. Some inklings were heading away from the plaza, ink sweat running down their cheeks.

A/N: Thanks for reading! This will be a story that I'll continue occasionally, writing it when I have time to in study halls. (No upload schedule) I hope you enjoyed and will stick around.

If you give me constructive criticism, please put it very kindly, I can sometimes stress over little things.