Squid Party

Chapter 4: Water Under the Bridge


Lucas awoke to the sounds of a broadcast chiming on TV. Sighing sleepily, he hugged his pillow as it played in the background.

"Hold on to your tentacles..." piped a bubbly voice.

"It's Inkopolis News time!" finished a more reserved one.

"Before we get to the stages, we have some breaking news!"

"Callie, we have some of those Smashers over for a visit, remember?" We cancelled all fights yesterday..."

She gasped. "What? We did? How come I didn't get the memo?"

"You did... We told you two weeks in advance and everyone's been talking about it ever since..."

"...Oh well!" she laughed. "That's that then! Onto the breaking news!"

"..." Despite not looking at the broadcast, Lucas could almost feel the blank look of the second newsperson.

The first newsperson continued. "Last night, disaster struck at the Mahi-Mahi Resort! Local Inkopolis resident and regional Turf War champion," She gargled Orange's name, "suffered horrifying injuries after falling into the resort's pool!"

"Yikes. Water way to go. Sources indicate there was no foul play or motives in the incident."

Upon hearing that, Lucas sat straight up and looked at the TV. A pair of pink and green Inklings he'd never seen before were situated in a brightly-colored studio, gesturing to a monitor behind them. On it was a shaky video of the rescue from last night, clearly recorded from a phone. The video then changed to an image of Orange in a happier time, posing playfully with a Splattershot.

"We went out on the street to get some eyewitnesses!" Callie pointed to the monitor as it showed a montage of a newscaster jellyfish interviewing random people.

"Hi, Mom!" waved a female Inkling.

"I dunno what happened, dude, but I blame the Government!" said an Octoling, shaking his fist.

("Oh no, what a purr-dicament!") A chunky, black-and-white cat with markings similar to a referee gasped. ("I actually wasn't there, but it sounds like a cat-tastrophe!")

An old codger of an Inkling scratched his cap in confusion. "Who did what now?!"

"I didn't get any more cake!" whined Magenta.

As the montage finished, the green Inkling cut her eyes at the pink one. "...Callie, what kind of eyewitnesses were those? Most of them weren't even at the resort..."

Callie ignored her, gesturing to a picture of Lucas on the monitor. "Luckily, the victim was saved by this guy right here! I dunno who he is, but he's a real hero!"

The other Inkling narrowed her eyes. "...That's Lucas. He's one of the dudes visiting us..."

"Oh, really?" Callie studied the picture and gasped. "Wait! Marie, how'd you know his name? Have you guys met? He's not even from here!"

"..." Marie stared at her long and hard before finally speaking. "He. Is. One. Of. The. People. Visiting. Us. Callie."

"That still doesn't explain how you know his name." She slyly smiled. "Is there something you're not telling us? Any other news you'd be willing to share with us today? Have a little rendezvous with Mr. Hero here?"

Marie looked about 1000% done with Callie, deciding to finish her dialogue before she lost her cool. "...In other news, remember that our special event, the Inkvitational, will be hosted later today as a showcase for the Smashers. Whether you want to show your stuff in an epic splat-for-all, or just chill out and have some fun, we hope you'll join us there as we broadcast live on the scene. Admission is free, food and drinks will be catered, and we have plenty of fun activities planned for the spectators. Applicants are still being excepted, so if you think you got what it takes, then show us what you got. Be there, or be square, folks."

Callie fistpumped. "Until next time..."

"Stay fresh!" they said in unison, performing their trademark pose.

The broadcast ended, being replaced by a commercial where a male Inkling hounded a female Octoling with a trumpet as she fruitlessly covered her ears to block him out. Lucas didn't even bother guessing what it was trying to advertise. There was a knock at the door as Ness entered.

"Hey, look who's finally up!" he greeted. "Decided to sleep in, huh? Have too much fun last night?"

Lucas rubbed his face. "Guess you could say that..."

Smirking, Ness walked over and elbowed him. "Hey, didja see the broadcast? Guess who was on the news."

"Me," said the blonde, still trying to fully wake up.

"Yeah!" He pat his back. "Lookit you, being a little town hero! Aw, we haven't even been here for two days and everyone already loves you. You always were good with animals."

Lucas smiled at him knowingly. "Let's not make a scene out this, okay? I just did what anyone else would've done. I'm no hero."

"Don't be so modest, Luke. You deserve it." Ness walked away, expression souring. "Especially since it was that orange bitch from the lounge last night..."

The blonde frowned sadly. "Ness, don't call her that... Despite how you may feel about her, we still have to be respectable while we're here. Master Hand wouldn't appreciate you calling anyone names..."

"Speaking of which," He turned and threw him his phone, Lucas fumbling to catch it, "he texted us this morning. Make sure you keep your phone with you from now on."

"Why?"

"Read the text and you'll see. And meet me downstairs when you're ready, 'cuz we got a lot of things to do today." His face lit up before he ducked out the door. "Don't take too long or we'll be late!"

Puzzled, Lucas looked at the door as it slammed shut. Late? For what? With how mischievous Ness was, he knew he'd get no answers from him, so he turned to his phone. Since the party started last night, he'd gotten a handful of texts from various Smashers asking him about how the trip was going. He glanced over some entries from Hero0fTime, xXPeachyPrincessXx, tHaTdAmNdOgLoL, StraightOuttaSmashville, and Pikachu_Is_The_Best_1996, just to name a few. The newest message was from Master Hand, his screen name being... MasterHand.

He laughed. Just like him to be formal, even while texting. ...How did he even text? Did he have a giant, intergalactic phone stashed somewhere? Shrugging it off, he opened the message and began to read:

"Salutations, Ness and Lucas! I'm glad you both reached your destination safely and hope everything is going well! I just wanted to let you know that we've recently received communications from the Squid Research Lab! They've caught wind of our evaluation process and we're currently working with them to further their study of the Inklings and Octolings! Since they're a species and not just one individual, we feel this would be an opportune time to not only gather info on their fighting prowess, but study them in their natural habitat, as well! From now on, we encourage you to get as many pictures and videos as you can so we can analyze these amazing creatures in better detail! We recommend you be natural and socialize with them, but do not forcefully engage them or invade their privacy to accomplish this. Be respectful and upstanding at all times, as you are representing us as a company. We will be keeping in touch. Enjoy your visit!"

Best Wishes,

Master Hand."

Lucas had no idea who this "Squid Research Lab" was or why Master Hand suddenly decided to affiliate with them, but they must've had some good credentials if they were worthy of his time. The psychic had always been a bit hesitant to trust people of science and technology, so he figured it was his own bias speaking... For now, all he could do was trust them.

Stretching and yawning one last time, he swung his legs off the bed and stood. Entering the bathroom, he rubbed his face again as he began getting dressed.


Eyes glued to his phone, Lucas was busy responding to the Smashers' texts as he walked off the jellyfish-operated elevator. He'd barely stepped into the lobby before Octavian popped up. Since last night, he'd changed into some more casual attire, first evident by a pair of gray headphones with small, orange loudspeakers placed on his head. No longer in his black tux, he was now dressed in a lose, burgundy sweatshirt with a logo resembling a black "8" on it. His slacks had been replaced by some gray cargo shorts as he sported a pair of worn, gray-and-yellow sneakers.

"Goooooood morning!" he greeted.

"Ah! Uh, good morning?" Lucas recoiled, looking around. "Even though it's... noon?"

"Eh, tomato, tamato." He waved it off, jamming his phone in his face. "Hey, did you check Squitter?! Everyone's talking about you, dude! You're the #1 topic!"

The psychic blinked. "I don't know what that is, but thank you?"

"No, thank you for your heroism and for saving the city's best battler from a watery grave!" He slung an arm around the blonde, walking him through the busy lobby. "Another few seconds, and she woulda been nothing but orange juice!"

Lucas grimaced at that before asking, "How's Orange doing, anyway?"

"Oh, she's doing great! I told Blue she'd make it. That girl's a fighter. Ain't no H2O gonna keep her down." He smiled. "Actually, I was gonna invite you guys to come visit her with me."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's at the Surgeonfish Hospital. It's not too far from and we got some time to kill before the event, so why not?"

"Event?" repeated Lucas. He recalled the broadcast from earlier. "Is it that Inkvitational thing?"

"Yeah, man! From now until you leave, we got some fun-filled activities planned for you guys every single day! Last night was the welcoming party and today's the Inkvitational! We're gonna be throwing down some mad skillz as a demonstration on how we battle, so you gotta see it!" By this point, the two'd traversed several rooms and hallways, eventually ending up in a cafeteria. "Ah, here we are: the mess hall! Hey, grab yourself some grub and meet me at the table! We'll talk more there!"

He playfully slapped him on the back before wandering off as Lucas surveyed the area. It was nowhere near as big as the lunchroom in Smash Mansion, making it feel a little cramped. Regardless, it was clean, inviting, and contained all the essentials, so he couldn't complain too much. The background noise of chatter and silverware clinking put him at ease as his nose took in the scintillating smells of freshly-cooked food. Buffets and drink machines were situated in the room's right, tables and chairs dotting the left as residents came and went as they pleased. Empty trays were filled at the buffets while filled trays were emptied by the hungry cephalopods at the tables. He decided to join them.

Grabbing a tray, he got a drink filled and visited various buffets to gather his food. He tried to stay away from the more colorful and exotic selections, getting what he usually would've back at Smash. He was ecstatic to see they even had his all-time favorite food in stock: warm, fluffy, freshly-baked omelettes. He tried not to gush as he added it to his collection.

Not long after, he made his way to the tables, spotting Ness, Green, and Octavian over at a window booth. Judging from the empty plates and messy trays on the table, they'd already eaten. The trio were engaged in a lively conversation as he sat down with them.

"Heya, champ!" greeted Octavian. "Got everything you wanted?"

"Oh yeah! Nice selection, by the way," he responded, biting into his omelette. It was just as good as he hoped it would be. "So, this... Inkvitational is another event you planned for us. And there'll be a new one every day?"

"Yeah! Today's only the second day of fun! We won't spoil the event for tomorrow, but you better believe it'll be awesome! And guess what?" He stuck his chest out. "Yours truly is gonna be one of the Inkvitational fighters!"

"I'm in on it, too," said Green. "It's a round-robin tournament, but we're going to be the headliners. First fight was supposed to be Blue, Orange, and Octavia versus me, Magenta, and Octavian with two other applicants who signed up for it. Unfortunately, now we'll need to get another applicant to fill in for Orange and the teams will be unbalanced..."

"Hey, it's all cool, brah!" assured Octavian. "Me and Blue're already working on choosing a replacement, so don't you worry!"

Green cut his eyes at him. "...That's exactly what I'm worried about."

"Anyway!" Ignoring him, Octavian clapped his hands together as he addressed the Smashers. "Got a question for you guys! Have you ever had a disagreement over anything?"

Confused, they looked at each other for a second before Ness shrugged. "Well, yeah, I guess."

"Don't you wish there was a peaceful, yet fun way to settle your differences without causing any collateral damage?"

"Uh, no? Because we don't let it get that far."

The Octoling continued as if he couldn't hear him. "Well, you're in luck! Because today, this Inkvitational will be having a theme! See, when we battle, we do so based on a random assortment of colors, but sometimes, we have special themes in our Turf Wars known as Splatfests."

"That sounds kind of lewd," remarked Lucas.

"No, no! Splatfests are a huge part of our culture! We always get the themes from..." He looked around suspiciously before leaning in and whispering, "on high..."

Ness made a face. "...Okay...?"

"But this time, we're making an exception and letting you guys pick! We feel like bestowing such an honor onto you will bridge the ever-widening gap between cultures and customs, bringing us together as one for the greater good of peace and harmony!"

Lucas looked him over with respect. "Wow... That's very endearing. If it really means that much, we'd be honored to choose a theme for you."

"Oh, thank you so much! With that said," Octavian grinned, "any vices or gripes going on between you two you'd like to settle once and for all?"

Ness mulled it over. "I... don't think so?"

Octavian's smile slightly faltered. "...So there's absolutely nothing you guys can't come to an agreement on?"

"Not really."

"Not one thing?"

"Nah."

"Nothing's gone wrong in the happy-go-lucky world of Nintendo?"

"Not between us, at least."

The Octoling's grin waned. "...Oh. Well, that's unfortunate..." He quickly rephrased himself. "I mean! It's great you guys are so tight with each other, but we kinda need some opposing themes here..."

"Night and day?"

"Huh?"

The three looked at Lucas. The blonde hated seeing Octavian look so disappointed, so he quickly cobbled something together to appease him.

"Night and day," he repeated. "Ness is more of a night owl and I'm more of an early bird. It's not so much a disagreement as it is different opinions, but..."

"Oh... Well..." Wincing, Octavian sank in his seat. "See, we already had a Splatfest for that and Team Night Owl won..."

"Well, what about..." Ness thought for a moment. "Rock music and pop music? I love me some rock, but I know Lucas prefers pop groups." He leaned over to Green, whispering, "Don't blame him for having such bad taste..."

Green whispered back. "I prefer death metal myself, but Magenta loves J-Pop, so I feel you..."

Lucas heard them. "Hey!"

"Ah..." Octavian sank further into his seat. "Rock vs. Pop was already a theme. Team Rock won that..."

"Well, maybe... past and future?" tried Lucas.

"Team Past..."

"Sci-fi and fantasy?" asked Ness.

"Team Fantasy..."

Lucas was starting to get desperate. "Singing and dancing?!"

"Singing..."

Ness was starting to get annoyed. "...Eating and sleeping?"

"Eating..." Beside himself with embarrassment, Octavian had sunk so low into his seat, only his cowlick was visible now.

"Listen, maybe we should just forget about the theme. It's not that big of a deal, anyway..." said Green, suffering from second-hand embarrassment. "We can just do it the old-fashioned way."

Exasperated, Lucas leaned back in his seat, shrugging in defeat. "I don't know then. Steak and omelettes. Probably did that one, too."

"..." Octavian's yellow eyes peeked at him over the table. "Actually, we haven't done that one."

Lucas lifted his head. "What?"

Unbridled joy returned to the Octoling's face as he rose from under the table. "...We haven't done that one! Yes! YES! That could work! They compliment each other, yet could be their own thing! It's perfect! Where did you get such an amazing idea?!"

"Ness' favorite food is steak and I love omelettes, so I just..." Lucas sheepishly rolled his shoulders.

"Fantastic! We'll get the preparations under way immediately!" He pulled out his phone. "Lemme text Blue the good news real quick, then we'll run over and see him!"

"I thought we were going to the hospital," said Ness.

"We are. Blue's at the hospital with Orange," he responded, sending the text. "He got admitted last night with her after passing out on the scene. He's okay now, though. We've been talking since this morning."

Green checked his phone and stood to leave. "Well, I hate to bail out, but I've got to go, too. Octavia and Magenta are waiting for me. We still got a few things to finish up before the crowd gets there, so I'll see you guys later."

"All right, man! Peace!" Octavian looked at his phone and frowned. "Ugh, Blue's such a slow typer... Forget it. When you're ready, we'll just go on over there. The Inkvitational'll be over before he even answers."


Psychics in tow, Octavian strutted down the sidewalk through the loud, bustling city. The hospital was only three blocks away, so the walk would be brief. Plus, it was a good opportunity to do a little sightseeing on the way. Distant upbeat music echoed around the area as Inklings and Octolings chatted, idled, and went about their lives as normal. Some denizens bought strange-looking, fried food from a giant shrimp vendor while others window-shopped at a clothing store run by a jellyfish. Ness had his phone at the ready, snapping a picture every few moments at things of particular interest. Lucas remembered what Master Hand texted earlier and also got his phone out.

"So!" said Octavian. "How was the party last night? Never got a chance to ask after what happened with Orange. Didja like it? Was it fun?"

"Yeah, it was awesome!" answered Ness, snapping a shot of some playful Inklings running past them. "Shame it had to end so soon, but them's the breaks."

Lucas took a picture of an Octoling breakdancing across the street as onlookers threw him money. "I was really worried for her after the ambulance left. You don't think she... did it on purpose, do you...?"

Octavian gasped. "What?! Oh, shell no! She'd never do that! Orange was probably just wasted and fell in by accident. ...And then became extra wasted upon doing so."

The blonde looked down. "...Do you think it was my fault making her run off like that? I don't know if you saw what happened, but-"

Ness angrily butt in. "No, because if she'd been looking where she was fucking going, she wouldn't have run into you like a drunk waitress! I thought squids could see in the dark..."

Octavian nodded. "They can! And so can we! Cephalopods have amazing built-in night vision! And I guarantee you whatever happened wasn't your fault. Orange is a loose cannon and she just happened to go off on you. They say you're not a true citizen until Orange has slapped you around a bit, so consider it a privilege."

"A privilege?" sarcastically repeated Ness. "You consider a banshee throwing food and drinks at you a privilege?"

The Octoling waggled a finger. "She may be a banshee, but she's our banshee. Orange has always been a wild child, so she acts out for attention sometimes. You'll get used to it. If you try and stop her, it only gets worse."

Ness narrowed his eyes. "So lemme get this straight: all this weird hissing and growling she's been doing since we got here... She does all the time?"

"Pretty much."

"And she's the mascot?!"

Octavian sighed. "While I wasn't here for the first campaign, Orange truly earned that title. She's won tournament after tournament, mastered every weapon, and always blows away the competition. So when the campaign exploded, so did her popularity. Now she's pretty much the face of Inkopolis." He looked at them sadly. "I think that's one of the reasons why she doesn't like you. She's afraid fame and fortune will destroy the legacy she's built on having fun..."

"What about Blue?" asked Lucas. "Isn't he a mascot, too?"

Octavian stopped talking, his silence overtaken by the street's ambiance. Eventually, he forced a weak smile. "Hey... I've said too much already, so it's probably best to just drop it for now..."

"..." Lucas knew he meant well, but something about the way he said that concerned him.

The tense mood was broken as Octavian pointed to a large, white building. "Ah, there it is! The Surgeonfish Hospital! C'mon, this way!"

Walking up a pathway, the trio entered through the automated doors and into the lobby. As far as hospitals went, it looked pretty standard; a primarily white interior with beige seats and basic decor such as plants, magazine racks, and wall-mounted TVs. Jellyfish staff populated the room with a few Inklings and Octolings idling as patients and visitors. Situated behind a counter, the jellyfish receptionist looked them over as they approached. Ness took a picture of him.

"Hey dude!" Octavian greeted. "Here to see Orange! Just point us to her room and we'll be on our way!"

The receptionist took him literally and pointed down a hallway, his blobby body jiggling as he did so.

"Three doors down and to the right! Thanks, man!" He happily slapped the desk and signaled for the Smashers to follow.

It was a quick walk to Orange's room as Octavian got there first, knocking on the door. Ness and Lucas trailed behind, talking amongst themselves and sharing pictures on their phones. It sounded like they were starting to make their first official ruling for Smash. Octavian tried not to let his curiosity get the best of him as fumbling was heard inside the room.

"Coming!" called Blue. Opening the door, he was ecstatic to see who it was. "Guys! You came to visit?"

"Yeah! We had some time to kill, so I thought we'd let them see Orange and give her some moral support," said Octavian. "By the way, did you get my text? You take forever to respond, dude."

"Sorry, I had to help Orange with some stuff... But that idea was great! I'm all over it!" He gushed at the psychics. "And really, thank you so much for coming. I bet Orange'll be happy, too. Come on in."

Stepping back, he welcomed the Smashers in as Octavian waited outside. The room was as basic as basic could be, containing all the necessities; bed, chairs, table, indoor bathroom, and TV. Balloons and flowers populated the nearby nightstand, as well as Orange's shoes, headphones, and neatly-folded clothes. The only thing missing was their owner.

"So, uh, where's Orange?" asked Ness, looking around.

"Right here," said Blue.

"But she's not-"

Lucas stopped as Blue gestured to a large, white vat situated on the bed. Inside was about a pool of soupy, orange ink. The outside was covered in stickers and signatures from past visitors, the bed itself showered with gifts and 'Get Well Soon!' cards.

Blue peeked inside, speaking gently. "Orange? You've got some special visitors."

A small, gunky lump looked out with a familiar pair of orange eyes surrounded by a black mask. Upon seeing them, it receded into the liquid with a small splash. There was a cacophony of grotesque squishing and sloshing as an amorphous mound of ink peeled itself away from the tub. Sludgy hands grasped its edges, painstakingly heaving itself from the ink and forming into an atrocious creature that was neither squid or kid.

While her body appeared humanoid, it was caked in a thick layer of ink and was nearly indistinguishable from the liquid she resided in. Her face no longer sported any human features, now appearing as if she had an actual squid as her visage. Soppy tentacles dangled from where her mouth should've been, a pair of bulbous eyes staring at them unblinkingly. Soft wheezing was heard as she struggled to maintain her quasi-human form, her unstable body shivering under the stress. Lucas would've been disgusted if she didn't look to be in so much pain. Ness looked on in intrigue, more curious than disturbed.

"Orange!" cooed Blue, cradling her face. "There's my girl! Look at yoooou!"

He smushed and squished her waxy countenance, doting over her hideous form. The fact that Orange wasn't talking was even more unsettling. She didn't react, emote, and barely moved; she just sat there, an offensive amalgamation to all.

"On a scale of one to 10, with one being the worst, how're you feeling?"

Orange shakily held up a hand. Despite her digits being a melted mess, she displayed four fingers.

"Good, good! That's an improvement from this morning! How about transforming? Think you can go back to normal yet?"

She slowly shook her head, making him sigh.

"...Still hurts, huh? Well, it's okay. You'll get there." He embraced her.

Over his shoulder, Orange's unwavering stare never left the Smasher's gaze. Lucas averted his eyes, too intimidated to keep looking at her.

Eventually, Blue pulled away, smiling. "Okay then, Orange. I'm gonna go get ready for the Inkvitational, all right? Is there anything else you need before I go?"

"..."

"Well, we got some help and nurses on standby, so if anything comes up, just let them know, okay?"

"..."

His face softened. "I know, know... You really wanted to go, but you need to rest for now. We'll be broadcasting live, so at least you can watch us on TV. I'll bring you back some souvenirs. How about that?"

"..."

There was a quick knock on the door before Octavian peeked in. "Hey Blue, we really need to jet if we're gonna make it in time. You almost ready?"

He nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming. Think you could escort Ness and Lucas there for me? You can show them around the place and get them up to speed. I'll catch up with you guys in a bit."

"Sure!" Octavian gestured to the boys. "C'mon, you two! You're with me! Let's get this party started! Day Two, let's go!"

"All right!" Ness laughed, the two fistbumping. With that, they hooked their arms around each other's shoulders and playfully stumbled off like a pair of drinking buddies.

Blue sighed heavily, rubbing his face. He stood like that for a moment, possibly contemplating, before making his way to the door. His walk was sluggish and lethargic, face burdened with fatigue. His earlier perkiness seemed to be a facade...

Before leaving, he put a gentle hand on Lucas' shoulder, tired eyes looking him over fondly. "Hey, uh... I just wanted to thank you for saving Orange last night. I'm in your debt, man. No matter what happens after this, you need anything, you let me know."

"It was really nothing."

"It was everything," he solemnly responded. Letting go, Lucas watched him close the door on his way out.

"..." The dripping of liquid sounded from the other end of the room.

It was then the blonde realized he was all alone with Orange and became unsettled. After what happened last night, should he even talk to her? What could he say? A simple "sorry" didn't sound appropriate, but leaving without a word seemed just as rude. He mulled it over before heaving a sigh, his good-hearted nature making a decision for him.

"So, uh... Judging from last night, I'm getting the feeling you don't really like us."

"..."

"And something tells me maybe you don't want us messing around in your affairs." His tone and face darkened. "Believe me, I know how it feels when someone comes in and tries to change your way of life..."

Orange noticed he was looking at the floor with a slight scorn. The way he said that sounded like he'd been through it at one point.

Remembering himself, Lucas snapped out of his sour mood. "...Sorry. You probably want me to get out now. I'll, uh, see you later, I guess. Get well soon, okay?"

He reached for the doorknob when a strained, haggard voice called out, "...WaAAaAAait..."

He could only assume that was Orange. She sounded awful, like she was desperately trying to talk while being strangled. His blood ran cold as he heard more grotesque sloshing and a splash. Reluctantly facing her, he saw Orange'd receded back into her vat. Reemerging as a squid, she looked so small and pitiful as she peeked at him over the side.

"...Wait," she quietly repeated, voice normal. "Before you go, I'm, uh... I'm glad you stopped by, Squirt."

"Sure." He approached her, more at ease now that she was a squid. "We just wanted to see if you were okay. I feel bad this all happened to you. Must've been terrifying..."

"What do you care?" There was a bitter chuckle. "And you're right, I don't really like you. You and Fishbait probably don't like me too much, either, so we're even."

Lucas looked hurt. "I don't hate you. Ness probably does, but that's besides the point. The number one rule of being a Smasher is to always fight for what's right." He thought for a moment. "...Unless you're a villain, then always fight for what's wrong... I think?" He shrugged. "...Anyway, whether you like us or not has nothing to do with anything. If you go the rest of the week hating our guts, it'll have no bearing on whether or not you pass the evaluation."

"...Really?"

"Yes. We're not here to judge you, change you, or ruin your lifestyle. The main reason why you were even considered is because of your uniqueness. If you stop being you and try to be like us, you just end up being nobody."

Orange thought long and hard about that. It sounded almost like what Octavia said yesterday...

Her musings were interrupted by loud, rock music blaring from her TV. Bright globs of ink splattered the screen as Inklings and Octolings of all colors ran, scurried, jumped, and slid across various platforms, engaged in battle. An announcer excitedly garbled in Inklish as the battlers got inked, shot off missiles, and dodge-rolled all over the place. Dynamic shots of various battlefields were displayed one after another as a crowd of combatants, all wielding a confusing array of weapons, charged across the screen, leaving a sea of color in their wake. The commercial finally ended with Inklish text plastered all over a neon-splatted backdrop, the announcer finishing his monologue.

"You guys have some really crazy shows around here," said Lucas, clueless as to what it was.

Orange sighed. "That was a commercial for the Inkvitational..."

"Do you really want to go that bad?" asked Lucas as another commercial played. This one depicted a startled Inkling boy with several pizzas walking into a flaming room.

"Yeah," she sighed, "but now I can't walk, can't ink, and can barely become human. I was hoping one of the others would drop out and chill with me, but I guess not. The show must go on, and all that."

She huffed and sank into her vat with an indignant splash. Looking inside, Lucas saw his own concerned reflection in the rippling ink. After a bout of silence, his kindness shone through again.

"How about I take you?"

Her eyes opened up in the ink. "...What?"

"I'll take you. Maybe you can't participate, but at least you'll be there in person."

"Yeah, right," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Like they'll just let me waltz outta here in my condition."

"Another rule of being a Smasher is to always help those in need. ...Unless you're a villain, then you-" He waved it off. "You get it."

Orange side-eyed him hard. She rose from the ink as a squid, judging him incredulously. For some reason, she wasn't getting any feelings of patronization from him. Firmly, she asked, "...How?"

"I've got an idea. It may just be crazy enough to work..." He stooped down to offer her an arm. "If you're willing to trust me."

She looked at his hand, then him, then his hand again. She thought long and hard about her options. Orange was never one to miss out on a fight, but she wasn't one to give in to temptation.

On one hand, who did this guy think he was? She didn't need any pity or favors from some dorky emissary from an overblown, overrated establishment. He and Fishbait were already guests of honor, and saving her catapulted him even further into the spotlight. Now that he was the subject on everyone's lips, he was probably just doing this to showboat.

...On the other hand, not only did Squirt come and visit, but he was the only one to stay behind while everyone else ditched her for the Inkvitational. Even Blue, who she was sure would forfeit on her behalf, decided to carry on without her. She appreciated everyone's support after the incident, but it would've been nice if they didn't shrug it off like some minor inconvenience. She almost died last night, and while she'd never admit it, was still suffering from the effects. She could really use the company...

Her tentacles dangled over the side of her vat in contemplation as Lucas tried to gauge her expression. Finally, she locked eyes with him, expression resolved.

"...You better not try anything funny."

Orange slid up until her body straddled the container's rim, studying Lucas quizzically as she extended a tentacle. It cautiously hovered without purpose until it was placed on his wrist. The psychic carefully slipped his hand underneath her soppy body as she began to exit the tub. Intertwining the rest of her tentacles with his fingers, Orange gradually slithered into his grasp. She firmly clung to Lucas' palm as he lifted her up and away from her inky pool.

"Well, now what?" she impatiently asked.

Lucas answered this by taking both hands and placing her on his head. He hated having his hair sullied, but it was for a good cause. Orange sat there for a moment, puzzled, as her longest appendages dangled off his head. She was a dead ringer for a squid hat.

"Well? What do you think?" asked Lucas with a shrug.

"...That's it?" she jeered. "This is your idea? Really? This is it?"

Lucas sighed. He had a feeling that would be her response. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It was stupid, I know. Can't blame me for trying..."

Embarrassed, he lifted his arms to remove her, but was stopped as Orange pushed them away. Confused, they fell limp at his sides.

"No," she said.

"No?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because..." She settled down, forming a makeshift nest in his coif. "I like this idea."

"You... do?"

"Yeah." She flexed her tentacles, pawing at his hair curiously. "It's a little demeaning, but beggars can't be choosers, I guess."

"..." Lucas just stood there, not sure of what to do now. He honestly didn't expect to get this far... A light slap to the cheek got his attention.

Orange waved a tentacle. "...So, we gonna go to the Inkvitational or not?"

"Oh! Right, yeah! Um..."

Lucas carefully stood, trying not to let her being on his head affect his movements. Once he was comfortable she wouldn't fall, he stiltedly turned to leave when the door opened to a confused Blue. They yelped in surprise upon seeing each other.

"Oh, Lucas." He tilted his head in confusion. "What're you still doing in here?"

"Uh, I, well, um..." His eyes danced around the room. "I was just saying goodbye to Orange...?"

The Inkling's face softened. "Wow, man. That's real nice of you." He peeked past him. "Maybe I should check on her one last time, too. Just in case..."

"NO!" shouted Lucas, a little louder than he meant to. Seeing Blue's puzzlement, he cleared his throat. "Uh, I mean... She's sleeping now. She was really tired earlier and now she's taking a nap. Wouldn't want to wake her up, now, would you?"

"No, I guess not..." was his skeptical reply.

"Good, so let's get out of here." He hurriedly walked him out. "We're probably already late for the Inkvitational, so we should really get going."

Blue looked at him suspiciously. "It doesn't start for another two hours..."

"Well..." He grinned uneasily. "The early bird gets the worm?"

Blue studied him long and hard. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't put his tentacle on it... Eventually, his eyes rested on Lucas' new hat and became fixated on it. Orange gazed at him unblinkingly, trying to look as artificial as she could.

After a tense stare down, he gasped. "Hey!"

Lucas flinched. "Y-yes?!"

"Where'd you get that hat from?" he asked with a smile. "It looks totally fresh, man."

"Ness, he... He got it for me! For the Inkvitational!" he lied.

Had Blue been wide awake and full of energy, he would've asked more questions, but a wave of dizziness made him abandon the subject. Orange noticed this and looked at him curiously.

"Well..." he weakly groaned, holding his head. "Looks good on you..."

"Are you okay?" asked Lucas, concerned.

"Yeah! Of course! Never better!" He briskly rubbed his face and forced a tired smile. Before the blonde could pry further, Blue tugged on his arm. "C'mon, now! We gotta meet Ness and Octavian at the event, okay? Since you don't know where it is, let's tag along together!"

"If you say so..." he hesitantly responded, still worried about his well-being.

Beaming, Blue excitedly led Lucas down the corridor towards the exit. Turning away from him, the Inkling's smile drooped as he quietly groaned. Another bout of dizziness hit him like a truck as his vision blurred, steps slightly faltering as he shook off his exhaustion again. His body was screaming at him to stop, but his spirit urged him to keep going...