Entry 11: Never Ready, but Never Waver


To say that Team Bangaichi was not in high spirits would be an understatement. To call them 'felling a little blue' would be too weak. They were currently feeling absolutely miserable for themselves. The rainy weather right now was doing no one any favours, either.

"In the end," Deej muttered, "our efforts amounted to jack shit."

"We don't even know where she's gone off to," Ahato followed up. "She just... up and vanished the moment the Squid Sisters turned their backs for a second."

There was a dull thud of flesh hitting the wall. It was to no one's surprise that Timey was taking this the hardest out of everyone. "Damn it," he murmured. "What the hell am I good for? I can't... I can't even help a friend in need."

A sombre silence fell, diluted only by the sound of the rain.

"What's got you guys looking so glum?" the voice of Mesh spoke. Whilst it did catch them by surprise, Team Bangaichi didn't show it. "I mean, I get if it's the weather, but your match is gonna be indoors."

"It's not that," Eighter answered, facing the umbrella holding Inkling. "Our friend, Shades, is going through a rough time. We want to help her, but we can't even find her."

"That's... wow," Mesh said. And really, what else could she say? It was the day of the second round, the three matches that would have happened beforehand had to be pushed back, due to the weather, Bangaichi's round against Old-School Literature was in the next hour, and they were really worried about their friend. Mesh didn't really need the context -it wasn't her place to ask-, but still, she gave her sympathy to them. "I'm not sure what to say."

"I failed her," Timey muttered. "I was suppose to prove to her that she wasn't as bad as she thought she was, and I failed."

"Is... he alright?" Mesh asked.

"He's taking this really personally," Basic said. "Can't say I blame him for it, either. He just cares so much."

"The downsides of sympathy," Mesh mused. "Well, I'll just give you a heads-up about your next match, then. Team Old-School Literature has called in a sixth player."

"Seriously?" Deej asked. "Why the heck would they do that? I thought they were..."

"Dunno for certain," Mesh shrugged. "But, what I can tell you is that their new player's a giant squid."

Basic's Splattershot Jr hit the ground at that moment. "A... giant squid? They're being allowed to play in this league?"

"Nothing's saying they can't."

"Sorry, but what's a giant squid?" Eighter asked.

"Exactly what it says," Basic said. "Imagine an Inkling roughly five times larger. The Splat Battle operators organised it so that they had a league of their own. Several blatant advantages and disadvantages with us playing together."

"So, we're now fighting an uphill battle with a giant," Ahato muttered. "Shit. Could this day get any worse?"

"Well, now that you've said it..."

"Excuse me?" a new voice spoke up. The group turned to the source, to see...

Headphones and Bobble Hat of Team SYG, thought they were noticeably not sporting the yellow-green colour -opting for a more primary blue.

"Just had to say it," Ahato muttered bitterly. "I just had to freaking say it, didn't I?"

At that moment, most of those present quickly stood at attention. The two that didn't were Mesh, on account of being the non-combatant, and Timey, whom was more focused on beating himself up. "Alright, squiddo, what do you want?" Deej asked. "If you're here to cause us more stress, then get to the back of the line and wait your turn."

Headphones, who was looking particularly nervous, took a small step forward. "I just... want to say something. I promise I'll be out of your way afterwards." There was something about how she said that, which caught them off guard. Enough that Timey stopped brooding for a moment to access the situation. Headphones took a few steps forward, standing face to face with Timey. At that moment, Timey really noticed that she was surprisingly tall. Not quite taller than himself of Deej, mind, but not far off. "I just... wanted to say..." Her voice began to trail off. Nerves must have been getting the better of her. After a deep breath, she shouted. "I'm sorry!" The shout had enough force that any lesser squid would have been blown off their feet. "I... We, were wrong. You're... not Goggles, and we... I..."

Timey was quite caught off guard by this. He cast a quick look to Bobble Hat, who nodded to confirm the honesty of Headphones' statement. Well, only one thing to do in this situation. "It's alright," he said kindly. "You were grieving. Still are, I'm guessing. I can't truly blame you for reaching the conclusions you did."

"But..!" Headphones cried. "But that doesn't... doesn't change the fact that we..."

"You're right; it doesn't," Timey agreed, "but what's important is that we're learning. Growing. Mistakes were realised, and action is being taken to correct them."

Headphones tried to say more, but Deej cut in. "You'd best just take it, kid," he said. "Timey's in his 'forgiving' mind set, now. Once he goes for that, there ain't no going back, so you're best of just accepting it and moving on." There was a slight pause, before Deej suddenly looked like he had just trodden on someones tail. "That could have been phrased better."

"But the point was still made," Eighter chimed in. "If anything, this is some of the better news we've heard in the past few days."

"Really says something about our standards," Ahato commented. "And about a lot of things these days."

Timey gave a small chuckle. The first he'd had in days. "Still, Headphones. Thank you. I think... I really needed that."

"We all did," Ahato added. "So, what do ya plan to do now? Can't imagine Rider'll be happy with ya."

"We'll have to do what we must," Bobble Hat said. "We'll try to convince him with words, but if that doesn't work, then... we'll have to take it to the turf."

Mesh let out a whoop of excitement. "Now that's the kind of fire I like to see!" she shouted, before turning to Timey. "So, Mr Leader, ready to face your own destiny?"

Timey nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready." He turned to his team mates. "Bangaichi, let's move out!"


Goby Arena was the stage set for them. Decently sized, at that, and kept out of the rain.

As Team Bangaichi spawned in, they immediately noticed their opposition, and their new plus one.

First off, their usual team members. First their was Moni, dressed as she was two days ago, and carrying a Hydra Splatling. Next was Drive -wearing the Annaki Drive Tee, Camping Hat, Armour Boots Replica, and holding the Grim Range Blaster-, followed by Anchor -Anchor Sweat, Designer Headphones, Black Trainers, and Goo Tuber-, Sunny -Sunny Day Tee, Fake Contacts, Black Flip-Flops, and Kensa Splattershot Pro-, and Carrot -Zekko Long Carrot Tee, House-Tag Denim Cap, Flip Floppers, and Undercover Brella-. They alone looked quite formidable.

The Giant Squid with them, though, gave fear a whole new meaning.

He was a massive, nine foot tall, muscle bound behemoth of an Inkling, going by the name of Devil, dressed in the Chilli Octo Aloha, Lil Devil Horns, Moist Ghillie Boots (all of which in sizes that fit), and his weapon of choice was...

Six Dynamo Rollers. Held one between each finger like claws. Good lord, man, haven't you heard of moderation?

"We're screwed, aren't we?" Ahato asked. "I mean, who deals with someone that large? Why is he that large?"

"Nature," Timey said plainly. In the distance, he noticed Moni walking calmly towards centre stage. "Hold here for a tick, I'll be right back."

A quick super jump later, and Timey was once again face to face with Moni.

"So, she didn't show up," she noted sadly. "I'm... not really surprised."

"Sorry. We tried, really," Timey bowed as he spoke. "I guess... we're going to have to go through this the hard way, then."

"Sorry, Timey. It... really is nothing personal," Moni said. "I just... want to close the book on this part of my life. If I need to use that wish to do it, then..."

"I understand," Timey nodded. "If anything, should you beat us, I reckon we'd be willing to throw in with your lot. We may have a use for the wish ourselves, but our first order of business is to keep it from Team SYG. And, if we do beat you here, then I promise..." He held his left hand out to Moni, "that you and Shades will get the closure you two deserve. I swear on my life."

Moni looked slightly flabbergasted for a moment, before giggling. "You know, I thought it was you," she muttered, taking his hand. "Well, I guess I'll hold you to it, then, Koyo Raito."

Timey blinked in confusion, as they broke the handshake. "What does..." He couldn't get another word in, before Moni super jumped back to her team spawn. "Koyo Raito... I know that's Octarian, but for what?" Shaking his head, he jumped back to spawn.

"Now that's the sort of sportsmanship we like to see!" Mesh's voice echoed through the arena. "A sombre battle with no animosity whatsoever, where both victors and losers can get something out of any outcome. Why is it we can't have more of this without all the emotional turmoil that kicks it off? Without further ado, let's get ready to rumble!"

"Alright, hero, what's the plan?" Ahato asked.

"Take middle, and keep it," Timey said plainly. "I'm no strategist like Shades, so that's the best I've got."

"Guess it'll do," Deej stated, twirling his... were those Glooga Dualies? Come to think of it, Eighter had switched out for the Ballpoint Splatling, and Basic had upgraded to an Aerospray. Guess it was time of a switch up.

The buzzer sounded, and the game began.


While Bangaichi began their match, and Team Idol-lescense watched from the audience, Shades kept herself huddled up by the Cuttlefish Shack down in Octo Canyon.

Of course, that wasn't to say that this was where she had been the entire time. She wasn't so careless as to stay in one obvious spot for two days.

Really, she had only been here for the last hour, before the match started. Not enough time for Octavio to get the word out.

Speaking of whom.

"Are ya really just gonna keep running?" the Octarian king asked.

"Shut it, DJ," Shades spat sombrely, eyes glued to the TV.

"Oh Jesus Carp, girl. Pull yourself together!" Octavio shouted. "Those are ya friends out there! How is it that ya don't care?!"

"I..." She paused. "I don't... do friends..." The way she said that was more to convince herself, if anything.

"Well, news flash, squiddo! They don't care about that!" Octavio slammed his tentacle against the inside of the dome. "They don' exactly care that you don't think of them as your friends, because they sure as hell think that way of you! I mean, just look at the size of that lad their facing!" As if to emphasise his point, the TV showed a scene of the giant squid Devil lobbing one of his Dynamo's like some kind of tomahawk, narrowly missing Deej by a small margin. "It don't matter if you don't think they're your friends, kid, because they sure as hell think you are! Now pull your Cod damn head out of your beak, and at least try to prove to yaself that you're a better person!"

"Don't act like you know me, Octavio!" Shades shouted. "You know nothing of what I've been through! So don't... act so..." her voice began to die down, as she struggled to even convince herself.

"Oh, for the love of..." Octavio muttered, and with a swift punch, shattered his glass prison. Before Shades could so much as react, Octavio shifted into his Octoling form, grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, and slammed his head against hers, with the added bonus of leaving a crack in her Aviators. "Will you shut up already?!" he shouted, echoing all across the canyon. "You keep going on and on about how much of an asshole you are, yet you forget who you're talking to! Every time we've fought, you kept going on and on about how you'nd I are night and day, and ya know what? You're right! Unlike me, you actually have remorse for your assholish tendencies! At the end of the day, though, I'm still right! You're not 'just like me'; you're better than me! You can prove our differences can be set aside! Now pull your thumb out, grab your shit, and get. To. That. Arena! THAT'S AN ORDER! UNDERSTAND?!"

Shades was far too afraid from all the sudden yelling to even respond, yet alone argue. With a sudden salute, she quickly made her way through the grating.

Letting out an irritated sigh, Octavio slumped into the couch. "Cod, just look at me," he muttered. "Giving life advice to my mortal enemies. Getting chummy with them... When did I become such a sap?"

"Yer tellin' me," an additional, familiar voice spoke. Octavio took a sidelong glance over his shoulder, to see an all too familiar old Inkling.

"Where the heck have you been, Craig?" he asked. "Ya've been gone for what, a month now?"

"Ah, lay off," Captain Craig Cuttlefish replied, taking a seat next to the DJ. "If ya must know, I've been helpin' other Octarians migrate to the surface with Sheldon. No fan of the Squid Sisters is a foe of mine. I don't see species."

"You know, you say that, but during the war your aim was particularly Octo focused."

"Different times, 'Tavio," Craig shrugged. "After all, here you are giving Inklings pep-talks."

"Touche, you old fool." The duo turned their attention back to the TV. "I wonder. Will that kid make it?"


Things were not looking Team Bangaichi's way at the moment.

The match had reached half-time, and they were nowhere close to holding centre stage. They had roughly 4/10 of the stage at best. The sort of pressure Team Old-School Literature was putting on them was astounding, to say the least.

Not to put lesser value on the rest of the team, but among them, the giant squid Devil was, by far, the biggest threat, no pun intended. It took the combined efforts of Ahato, Eighter, and Basic, just to splat him once. Devil had only been splatted that one time during the entire match. Giant squids had stupid amounts of health, after all.

So, while Deej led the distraction with the others, Timey had been put in charge of base infiltration and general distractioning. That wasn't a real word, but it worked for its cause.

Unfortunately for him, though, Moni had predicted that, so while the rest of her team was duking it out with the rest of his, the two of them were currently cover shooting each other on the upper left area.

Also, Moni's Hydra was modified for a faster charge time. What fun.

Taking a deep breath, Timey ducked out of cover once the Hydra's charge died down, and fired off a few burst shots. All missed. "You know, for a heavy weapon user, you're awfully nimble."

"Well, I had a lot of training," Moni shouted back. "Besides, you Inklings are a little too lax in your efforts."

"Don't blame us for that," Timey replied defensively. "Peace makes it easier to lose muscle mass."

"True, I guess." A Splat Bomb was lobbed Timey's way. He barely got out of the way before it blew, yet he was now left wide open. "But that complacency will be even your downfall!"

Timey cursed himself. There wasn't going to be enough time to dodge, or to put up a Splash Wall. What to do, what to do.

As it would turn out, fate had other plans. A familiar pole fell right in front of him, and the subsequent ink jets it produced blocked the Hydra shots milliseconds before they struck.

The super jump indicator flashed at Timey's feet, and a second later, an all too familiar Inkling landed. "Sha..."

Barely a word in, before she shoved him off the ledge, and dived to cover as the Splash Wall broke.

Moni looked in surprise, as Shades stepped out of the cover, Bloblobber in hand. "Shades," she muttered. "Is that..."

With nary a word, Shades tossed aside the Bloblobber, shot into the air, and activated Splashdown, slamming about a foot away from Moni. Close enough to do damage, but not enough to splat. Following up, she manifested an Ultra Stamp, and used it to swat the Hydra from Moni's hands. She would have brought it down again, but a quick Burst Bomb knocked the Stamp from her own hands. "Shades, what's going on?" Moni asked. "I get that you..."

Shades gritted her teeth, and, manifesting her Specials again, pulled out not one, but two Sting Rays. "How about you stop trying to talk and HIT ME!" she shouted, firing both Sting Rays. "Fight back, damn it!"

Moni girded herself. The Sting Rays were firing in such a way that she could effectively run up to Shades right here and now. But, the small voice in the back of her head told her it might be a trap.

Barely a second later, she disregarded that voice, sprinted, and decked Shades in the face. The knockback was enough that the Sting Rays dissipated immediately. Shades regained her footing, though. "Is that all you've got?!" she shouted again, swinging a punch of her own.

Miss, and immediate counter. The crack on her glasses enlarging with the force of the blow.

From below, Timey could only really watch in shock and horror. "Shades, what the hell are you doing?" he called to deaf ears.

All sound died in the crowd. The battles that had been going on on the other side of the stage came to a halt, as all eyes fell to this one sided slug fest.

A strong punch knocked Shades off her feet, and half of her right lens fell out. Moni looked at the state of Shades spitting out a little blood in abject horror. "Why?" she asked. "Why are you..."

"Would you... stop talking already?" Shades muttered, wobbling to her feet. "I'm not here... for some half-assed apology. I'm here... to put an end to this!" Shades charged once again, and was met face to fist by Moni in retaliation.

Shades was knocked to her back, the Aviators flying off and landing in pieces a ways away. "Why?" Moni asked tearfully. "Why are you doing this... while you're crying?"

It was noticeable the moment the lens first broke. Throughout all of this, Shades had been biting back her own tears, right up until now.

"I told you," she muttered, "I didn't want... some half-assed apology. This was... the right way to do it."

"How? How was this right?"

"Because... it's what I deserve. For what I did." The tears fell freely as she spoke. "I was just... some no good bitch. I hurt you... all because of some damn upbringing. I..." a sob broke through her voice. "I didn't deserve you, Moni. You were..." she placed her arm over her eyes. "You were too good for an ass like me."

In that moment, the past minute made complete sense. All this was just a ploy for Shades to get what she feels she deserved.

At that moment, Moni ran over to Shades, picked her up in as tight a hug as she could manage, and broke down into sobs. "I... I could never hate you..." he managed to say.

"...Why?" Shades asked. "I... I treated you... so badly. How could you... not hate me?" It was here that the dam broke for her, and Shades broke down into loud cries.

From his spot, Timey watched. What does one do now? He took a look at the others, and noticed the rest of Team Old-School Literature discussing something, nodding, then... signalling their surrender?

"I... guess that's the game, then?" Mesh spoke, equally bemused. "I... what even happened? I've... actually got nothing constructive to say right now."

"Preaching to the coir there, Mesh," Timey muttered.


An hour after the match had ended, the rain finally let up. Shades found herself sitting on a lone bench, holding the remains of her coveted Aviators. It was strange how... liberating it felt, holding them here like this.

She felt someone sit down next to her. Taking a side-ward glance, Shades locked eyes with Moni.

"Hey," the Octoling said quietly.

"Hey," she replied bashfully. "I must look a mess to you, huh?"

"Kinda," Moni admitted, "but no more than when I last saw you." A pause, before both of them began laughing.

Shades let out a small sigh. "You know, I still remember the times we use to laugh like this, without a care in the world," she muttered. "I... really wish we could go back to those days."

"So do I," Moni agreed, "but... I know it can't happen. You have someone else, after all." Shades baulked in surprise, and fumbled with her words. "Timey told me, two days ago. I'm... happy for you."

"But..." Shades stuttered, "but that doesn't..."

"Please. Don't... try to make it better," Moni interrupted. "In Octarian society, we soldier class citizens don't even have such a thing as significant others. I couldn't dream of... of being able to share with another." There was a sorrowful pause. "Tell me, Shades. When you look at me, what do you feel?"

Shades took a deep breath before answering. "Love," she said. "I feel love. Always have, and always will."

"Is that right," Moni muttered. "I guess, this just makes this all the harder, then."

"But..."

"Okay, I've heard just about enough," a new voice cut in, and from on high, a white tentacled Inkling dropped.

"Wha... Marie?" Shades called in surprise. "What are you..?"

"Wait, you're dating Marie? Of the Squid Sisters?" Moni shouted. "Oh Cod, I knew I never had a chance, but..."

"There ain't no chances to be had, girlfriend. You're both coming with me," Marie said plainly, hoisting them both over her shoulders by their collars.

Both Moni and Shades let out sounds of confusion, though Moni more than Shades. "But... what?"

"Moni, was it?" Marie spoke. "You've been in our society for what, two years now? And you haven't learned that we Inklings are quite happy to have multiple partners? Heck, some even have straight up open relationships."

"What? But that's just... what?"

"Look, long story short? I'm planning to keep you two together, without losing Shades myself. So, if that means I make you my girl as well, then Cod damn it I'll do it. What do I have to lose? Heck, what do any of us have to lose?"

Moni looked at Shades in absolute bewilderment. "Best not to argue with her," Shades said rather embarrassingly. "She's... incredibly forceful when she wants to be. Once she's set her mind on something, there's no going back."

"This is what you were trying to tell me?" Moni asked, to which Shades nodded. "But... I mean, Marie barely even knows me! In fact, I think the most she knows is that I punched you an hour ago! A lot!"

"Then we'd best get started learning about each other, huh?" Marie said. "We've a ways to go before we reach the apartment, so let's get chatting."


From a top a building along the way, Timey sat and watched the whole thing play out, a small smile upon his face.

"Well, at least that went well," he muttered. "Thank Cod for Marie's forceful side."

"With you on that one, bub," a voice he did not recognise said. Looking behind himself, Timey was met with one of the other members of Team Old-School Literature.

"You were... Sunny, right?" Timey asked.

"Das me," she replied. "So, good ol' Shades was dating a Squid Sister, huh? Colour me surprised."

"I'm sure most people would," Timey agreed. "Still, I'm kinda surprised Moni didn't know about the whole relationship thing with Inklings."

"I know!" Sunny exclaimed. "Heck, the girls and I even told her outright about it, and she just thought it was us trying to make her feel better! It's like; sweetheart, I know you're sad, but the truth is still the truth!"

"Oh, I freaking feel that," Timey muttered. "Still, I must say I wasn't expecting you to just... surrender like that."

"It was kinda in our plan to begin with," Sunny answered. "We were in this for the sole purpose of getting to see Shades again. One way or the other, something like this was bound to happen." Sunny turned her attention to the sky. "Still, it'll be kinda sad without Moni as our leader."

"Hold up, Moni's not going to be your leader after this?"

"It was her call," Sunny replied. "Said she wanted a fresh start after all was said and done."

"Makes sense, I guess," Timey shrugged. "But what do the rest of your team plan to do now?"

"Choose a new leader, then get back to it, I guess," Sunny said. "All we can do is move forward."

"Guess so," he agreed. "If I can just say; I'm glad you were such good friends to your leader."

"If 'you' can say? I'm the one who should be saying that!" Sunny retorted. "So, thanks for being a good friend to Shades. Cod knows she needed one."

"What do you mean 'one'? There's like, four other people just in our team, and that's just lowballing how many of us care."

"Fair point, that," Sunny conceded. "Well, I'd best get going. Ain't gonna be able to decide a new leader without me there, after all."

"Ah, the powers of democracy," Timey mused. "Well, you take care of yourself."

"Right back at you, bud. Don't go getting yourself killed, and be sure to look after Moni for us."

Timey gave a mock salute, as Sunny took her leave. Now left alone with his own thoughts once more, Timey felt something in the back of his mind click. "You know, our team name actually does make some form of sense."

"What do you mean?" Tartar asked, stepping out of the dark corner of Timey's mind.

"Well, our team name is Bangaichi, right? I'm just saying, it actually fits us quite well."

"Then you're going to have to elaborate a bit," Tartar continued, "because I'm not exactly fluent in either of your languages."

"Well, 'Bangaichi' actually comes from an old human language. Heck, Inkarian and Octarian both derive from different human languages. To my knowledge, 'Bangaichi' in one of the human tongues and Octarian mean the same thing: Nowhere."

Tartar hummed in interest. "So Octarian derives from Japanese, then. Interesting. Also, that makes you Team Nowhere?"

"Basically," Timey replied. "I mean, think about it. Our team comp is three Octolings who migrated surface side, myself -who is being mistaken for someone who's dead-, and Shades -with her low opinion on herself-. In fact, the only one who doesn't quite fit our bill is Basic, and considering his sister's been surface side for longer than most Octolings, he probably fits in by proxy."

"So, a team that ended up building itself around the idea of having nowhere else to go, but to each other," Tartar said with a small chuckle. "You know, it really is quite fitting."

"Glad you agree," Timey said, standing up. "Now, the next matches should be starting up. How about we see how well Rider's team does when they're two players down?"


A/N:

Let me just say that, after all this, I really, really, just want to give Shades a nice big hug.

I can safely say I'm not the biggest fan of writing these downer thing, doubly so when there's so much swearing. I mean, these characters are basically my children! But, sometimes, these things are needed.

I'm actually more surprised I let myself drop 'bitch' in my writing, rather than try to find a lower rated work around.

Needless to say, we press forward.

Allons'y!