AN: And I'm back! Funny thing, this story will take a while for me to finish because I'm just starting college. So I won't have much free time to write more chapters. But like I said in the last story, I haven't given up. I'll try to find time to write this story as much as I can, but I can't guarantee when the next chapter will come out. Most likely, I'll find time to write during the breaks, but we'll see how that goes.
But still, I hope you like this chapter.
Splatoon 2: Next Wave
Chapter 3: Celebrity Sighting and Saving
I didn't realize until after I got one foot into the front door of the building that I was about to blindly follow my sister into Deca Tower. I froze once I did. Amy looked back at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmm? What're you doing?" she asked.
"I haven't gone in here before, Amy," I said. "Am I allowed to even go in without intending to battle?"
"Actually, I think there's a lobby or resting spot for people who aren't competing."
Although, I was still a little nervous about going in there, I also couldn't stop thinking about Fin. I probably wouldn't have paid attention to Amy's battle anyway.
"You know what, sis? I'm sorry to say it, but I think I'll skip seeing your battle."
A look of disappointment came on her face.
"You sure?" she said. "You've seen me battle only two times already. And they were both times when you just so happen to pass by the area."
I nodded. "I can't shake this feeling that something involving Fin has happened. I wanna find him and figure out what's going on."
She seemed upset that I wasn't gonna watch her match, but she understood me.
"I see..." she said. "Well, if you find him, let me know. I'm kinda worried about him, too..."
I nodded and began to leave, but Amy stopped me.
"Check out Ammo Knights, Arthur. It's the only store that we haven't checked yet. Maybe Sheldon would know something."
"Good idea. I'll go check. Good luck in your battle."
She smiled.
"Thanks, bro." We high-fived and went our separate ways.
I made my way over to Ammo Knights and found Sheldon polishing a small shooter.
"Sheldon?" I said making him jump in surprise. He turned to see me and waved happily.
"Hello, hello, Arthur!" he said. "What brings you here? Weapon shopping for your sister?"
"Not this time," I said. "I'm looking for Fin. Have you seen him recently?"
"Depends on what you mean by 'recently'."
"As in, the last twenty minutes. He sorta just ran off."
Sheldon then looked a little nervous for some reason.
"U-Um...n-no I-I don't think I have...heh heh..." he stuttered.
Normally, Sheldon's not too great at keeping secrets, and this time was no exception. I don't know how, but Sheldon knew Fin before I met him and knows what he looks like.
"Sheldon, you okay?" I asked.
"O-Of c-course..." he said. "W-Why w-wouldn't I b-be...?"
"You seem...anxious...like you know something but don't wanna tell me..."
"W-Well...uh..."
"Could it be that you know where Fin is?"
He was starting to sweat, now. I hated to pry the truth from the poor guy, but I really need answers.
However, before I could get any, there was a bit of commotion going on outside...
That same girl with the parasol that I saw earlier rushed by the front doors as quickly as she could with two people running after her. I recognized the two immediately: the twins.
"Oh, no...this can't end well..." I thought.
Sheldon and I ran out the door in time to here her yell for help.
"Who is that girl?!" I asked Sheldon.
"No time to explain! Take these and go help her!" Sheldon exclaimed as he tossed me a pair of small shooters and an ink tank.
"But...I don't...she...AAARGH!" I gave up trying to argue and ran (and swam) after them with my new weapons. I tried to catch up to them as quickly as I could, and by the time I did, the twins had cornered her in an area blocked off by construction.
"Back off, you two! I'm warning you!" the girl said.
"See what happens when you insult my skills?!" Storm said. "Now, you've got nowhere to go!"
"Think fast, Arthur!" I thought. I then picked up a small rock and threw it as hard as I could at Storm's head to get her attention. It worked...maybe a bit too well...
"Ow...who threw that?!" Storm yelled as she turned to see me. A wicked grin came on her face. "Well, well, look who it is..."
"I b-bet you two are g-glad to see me, r-right?" I stammered while fumbling to keep my shooters in my hands.
"Heh heh, look at yourself!" Stinger said mockingly. "You can't even hold those things still! What are those things and what're you gonna do with them?""
"I don't know...use them?"
The twins laughed and pulled out their weapons. Storm had a Heavy Splatling, and Stinger had a Dynamo Roller.
"Carp...this is bad..." I thought.
I looked at the girl and thought of a quick plan. I shot ink from my weapons in opposite directions.
"Let's play a quick game," I declared. "Sound fun?"
All three looked at me with a confused expression.
"What game?" Stinger said skeptically.
"Choose the right puddle I'm in. If you win, I'm splatted. Deal?"
The twins looked at each other and grinned confidently.
"Fine," they agreed.
"Okay, choose wisely." I sunk into the ink and began moving.
They quickly and viciously splashed ink in the direction of the two puddles covering them with dark purple ink.
"You seriously didn't think that we would fall for that, did you?" Storm said confidently.
"Actually...no, I didn't," I said as I leapt from between the puddles and stood between the girl and the twins.
"What the-?" they said in surprise. "How-?"
"Did you really think I was gonna move at all?" I said.
"Great plan..." the parasol girl told me sarcastically. "Now, we're both cornered..."
"Hey, I'm the one trying to help you, remember?"
"Now, it's my turn to return the favor."
She pulled out a couple of Splat Bombs and tossed them at the twins. They exploded leaving the twins momentarily blinded by the ink.
"Run!" she yelled as she grabbed my wrist and pulled me between them. We managed to get far enough from them that we were able to catch our breath.
"Alright, we're safe..." I said. "At least, I hope we are..."
"Yeah," the girl said. "I appreciate your help...uh..."
"Arthur."
"Arthur, huh? Well, thanks for the help, but I gotta get back to my search."
"Search for what? And who are you, anyway? You seem familiar somehow..."
"Ha Ha! Very funny..."
"No, seriously. I don't believe that you and I have met. What's your name?"
"I'm-"
"HEY! YOU TWO!" I heard Storm yell. "WE'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOU YET!"
"Come on! Don't those two ever give up?!" the girl said obviously annoyed.
"I wish they would more often. Let's go!"
We took off, but I stopped when we were on top of the grate that the girl stood on before.
"What're you doing?!" she asked. "We need to go; they're coming!"
"I have an idea, but..."
"You know what? Don't care! Just do it!"
"Okay..." I said hesitantly. I turned into my squid form and dove into the grate. I didn't have time to think of a better plan, this was the best I had at the moment.
Who knew that this was the moment that changed my life?
"WAIT! NOT DOWN THERE!" the girl shrieked. She turned into her squid form and tried to block the grate with her body, but instead we both passed through the grate and fell into the dark abyss below it.
We both screamed as we started going through numerous twists and turns until we both came up out of another grate. We flew up into the air for a second and came crashing down. Well, to be specific, I landed first and she landed on top of my back.
"Huh..." the girl thought aloud. "This feels familiar..."
"Can you get off me, please?" I said painfully.
"Very familiar...sorry..." she said while getting up. I noticed that we were in some kind of canyon. There were also several giant rock formations that looked like octopus tentacles.
Once I got up, I got a good look at the girl's face. Pretty, calm, and golden eyes with four-pointed star shaped pupils. Suddenly, my hearts started beating a bit faster, and my palms began to sweat a little. I didn't realize that I had frozen in place staring at her.
"Um...are you okay?" she asked awkwardly.
I snapped back to reality.
"O-Oh, uh, y-yeah..." I managed to say. "W-Well, um, I-I should be asking you. A-Are you okay?"
"Yes, thank you."
"W-Well, that's g-good." I cleared my throat to stop sounding nervous. "So...um...might I have the pleasure of knowing who you are?"
"I'm Marie."
"Marie, huh?"
"Now, I know you're a bit starstruck, but I need you to get over it."
"Starstruck? What're you-?!"
"Yes. I'm THAT Marie. You know...from the Squid Sisters." She then did a cute pose.
"Oh..." I said. "Right...sorry, never heard of you..."
Marie froze and looked shocked.
"You've never heard of me? For eel?!"
"Nice pun..." I said sarcastically.
"Hmph! Well, someone's a bit uncultured..."
"Thanks for that...now where are we?"
"Octo Canyon. For now, that's all you need to know."
"I'm not done with my questions yet. What were you searching for that led to that whole problem that brought us here?"
"I don't need to tell you."
"Now, you're just being difficult!"
"Hey!"
"Well, whatever. At least, you're safe."
"And again, thank you."
"So, how do I get back to the square?"
Marie pointed behind me to a grate on a ramp.
"That's your ticket back," she said.
I walked over to the grate and prepared to leave.
"I guess I'll see you later?" I said looking back at her. But she was already gone. "Okay...that was...weird..."
I made my way back to the square and went into Ammo Knights where Amy and Sheldon were waiting.
"There you are!" Amy exclaimed. "Where have you been?"
"You'd never believe me if I told you," I said as I returned Sheldon's weapons and tank.
"Try me. Sheldon already told me that you went to help someone."
"Fine," I sighed. "I helped Marie of the Squid Sisters get away from Stinger and Storm, and we hid in a grate to lose them. The grate led to a place called Octo Canyon; Marie thanked me and disappeared; and I made my way back here."
She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Really?" she asked. "Heh, great story. What really happened?"
"Told you so. It's the truth, and I'm sticking with it."
"Okay, fine, don't tell me!" she said loudly earning an eye roll from me.
"Whatever..." I said. "Thanks for letting me borrow those weapons, Sheldon. What were they, anyway? I haven't seen them before."
Sheldon made a wide grin. (Oh, boy, I knew I shouldn't have asked...)
"These are new weapons designed for Turf Wars," Sheldon explained. "I'm pleased to present: the Splat Dualies! These are the first weapons in Turf War history to allow the user to wield not one, but two shooters! (That's one in each hand.) The name suits them well, don't you think?"
"Uh...yeah..." I said with grin.
"They look kinda cool," Amy said. "Sheldon, how much are they?"
"Soon to be 2400 coins," Sheldon said as he put them under the counter.
"Soon to be?" I said.
"I'm not selling them just yet," he said. "I'm running some field tests with...uh...some associates of mine. Once I get the data I need, I'll be able to perfect them, and mass produce them. I can even use that data to make some new designs and modifications to them."
"Dang it..." Amy groaned.
"Don't worry. Hopefully, the tests won't take too long. You can get them when their ready."
"I'll be first in line!"
"Well, don't expect me to pay for it..." I said. "Can we go now?"
"Oh, yeah, sure. Later, Sheldon."
We both waved goodbye as we exited the store.
"So, what now, Arthur?" she asked. "Also, did you find out what happened to Fin?"
"No, but we might be getting close," I said. "Sheldon seemed a bit nervous when I asked about him."
"Does he know something?"
"He has to. But it's getting a bit late."
"I hope the guy's okay. You don't think he's in trouble, do you?"
"I'm sure he's not in danger or anything. You both told me that he's been in some crazy situations before and got out just fine. If he were in danger, he might be able to handle it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"It's getting kinda late. Why don't we go somewhere to eat to cheer ourselves up? We can keep looking for him tomorrow."
"Sounds good. It's been a while since we last ate."
With that thought, we decided to find a place to eat. While we walked, I couldn't help but think of Marie. She seemed like she knew something else and wanted to tell me, but she had to keep it a secret. That made me wonder: what was she looking for?
"So..." Amy began.
"What is it?"
"You met the Marie, huh?"
"Did she read my mind or something?" I thought.
"Yeah, but I still don't know who she is..." I admitted.
"I do. I'll tell you about them. But I gotta know something very important."
"What?"
"Did you think she was cute?"
I stopped and stared at her with annoyance.
"What?! It's an honest question!" she retorted. "A lot of people thought that she was and still is!"
"That's a question I choose NOT to answer, thank you very much!" I said defiantly.
Despite her continuously trying to get me to answer her question aloud, I answered in my head.
"She wasn't cute. She was beautiful..."
AN: And that's chapter 3 done. And you all can expect Finley to return as the narrator for the next few chapters. That's right, everyone. This story's gonna have two narrators! This'll be a first for me, and I really wanted to give multiple narration a try. In the next chapter, we'll see events from Finley's POV. I'll give cues for who's speaking at the beginning of the chapters from now on.
But until then, hope you all liked this chapter. Review, follow, and favorite if you want. And I'll see you all next time!
[By the way, if you're starting this story first and like it so far, check out my first fanfiction story Splatoon: Agent 3 Begins to see how it all began, and tell me what you think. Hope you like it!]