Christine P.O.V

(An hour or so later)

My eyes slowly opened.

"Waky, waky." said a familiar voice.

I immediately stood straight up in bed with a gasp. Am in Octo Canyon? No, I'm in one of the beds in Cuttlefish's shack. Upon sitting up, I felt a hand grab my arm and saw the source of the voice.

It was Jessie.

"Hey, relax," she said, "It would suck to get knocked out for the second time today banging your head upon waking up."

I looked at Jessie and began stuttering incoherently, "How...How did you-! WHAT?!"

"Listen I know you have a lot of questions but to be brief I essentially saved your butt." laughed Jessie.

I immediately ignored her and embraced Jessie. I began to sob.

"Jessie, I thought I was going back," I cried.

"And I thought you were dead so we'll call it even," responded Jessie.

I sniffed and cried a bit more. Not in a sad way but of happiness. I was alive! Not only that I was safe!

However, our reunion was cut short as another person entered the room.

It was that cheerful inkling. That one named Callie.

"Hey, looks like our guest is up." she said as she held a plate of crabby cakes.

I immediately tackled the inkling to the ground as the plate of crabby cakes smashed to the floor.

"Ow! Hey! Get off me!" screamed Callie in alarm.

Surprisingly, Jessie pulled me off her.

"Yo, chill for a sec," she said, "I haven't explained everything yet."

I calmed down and listened.

A few explanations later…

Jessie explained everything to me while Callie rubbed her head with an ice pack. I must have tackled her a little harder than I thought. Octarian strength I guess.

Either way, Jessie told me everything that happened. She was also grilled me multiple times for waking her with my splattershot jr. I told her again and again that it was for her safety but she wasn't hearing it.

"Christine, we're friends and part of that is letting me help you. I know you hate this place and all but you nearly died!"

Ouch, she did have a point. Perhaps things wouldn't have escalated to violence if I had inkling there to explain herself with me. Speaking of violence I felt kind of bad for slamming Callie to the ground.

"Uh, sorry for attacking you." I said. "That looks like it hurts."

"It's okay!" she responded happily, "I understand why you did."

Suddenly, Marie entered the room. I immediately felt intense rage toward that inkling. Callie was different, she defended me from what I heard, Marie was the mastermind behind sending me back. The awkwardness was apparent to everyone in the room as my hostile face literally read, "Go jump in the ocean jerk."

The room was silent for a good minute before Marie spoke.

"This probably won't mean much but I'm sorry," she stated, "What we did was inhumane and stupid so I sincerely apologize."

I tried my best to look like I accepted her apology but I couldn't help but grimace. What that inkling did was irreversibly burned into my memory. I would never forget her trying to blindfold me and the memories that it brought up that I never wanted to think about it again.

Marie seemed to notice my hostility and spoke again, "Listen," she said, "it's just...it's just…"

Tears began to stream down the inkling's face and her voice began to crack.

"It's just...Callie...the octarians captured her...I didn't want to happen again," she cried, "so I became paranoid when I saw a new face seem to slip by unnoticed without gramps telling us. I'm so sorry."

Marie was sobbing now. I now had two options. One, I could let this inkling cry and feel the grief she caused me for once. Two, I could forgive her. I was honestly moving toward the first but then I realized something. Marie was experiencing the same pain I experienced. She had someone close to her hypnotized by Octavio. I know only to well how that feels…

I embraced Marie in a hug

"It's all right. I forgive you." I said.

"Really?" sobbed Marie like a child.

"Really."

After Marie, had calmed down I asked her, "Wait is Captain Cuttlefish your grandfather?"

"Wait how do you know gramps?" asked Marie.

"He let me stay at his place for a few days." I replied.

"Wait," said Marie, "for eel?!"

"Yeah," I said as if it were obvious.

"Than why didn't he tell us?!" screamed Marie.

"Actually," interrupted Callie, "I found this under some books."

Callie held her hands a slip of paper it read,

Ahoy Buckos!

I'm off with Agent 3 doing a little recon so I want be back for a wanted to tell you I befriended an octoling about a week ago. You may see her in the square. She's a fine lass and be sure to say hi!

-Cuttlefish

P.S: Callie don't eat my crabby cakes. I know you eat them when I'm gone.

"They were under the books you knocked over with your umbrella the other day." said Callie.

Marie facepalmed.

"So this really was a misunderstanding!" she sighed.

"Even worse," said Callie, "I ate the Crabby Cakes."

"Well," said Marie, "This proves it, you're innocent."

"Thank you." I said.

"Additionally," Marie added, "You have my word that the Squidbeak Splatoon will ensure you will never be kicked of Inkopolis!"

That sounded amazing. I could finally stop worrying about that, I was truly able to stay her forever.

"Also," said Marie, "We're going to inform Agent 4 about this but I'm warning you she will not be too happy about it. You may want to stay away from her."

"We've been doing that!" commented Jessie.

"What's Agent 4's deal anyway?" I asked.

"Well," responded Marie, "Her parents were killed by octarians."

That didn't make sense to me. I mean outside of a few isolated instances we octarians never waged outright war against the inklings. This instance was unusual.

"She was a great fighter but when she took the job we noticed she was very...passionate," Marie continued, "Callie and I have tried helping her manage her anger but she's a good agent.."

"Crap!" said Jessie, "We have a match against her in a week!"

Well that was a problem. I didn't want to turf against Agent 4 again real or simulated.

"Well, no offense, Christine and I are going to get going." said Jessie, "It's been a long day."

"We understand…" said Marie.

"Please come again!" squealed Callie.

Jessie and I went through the exit.

Epilogue (not of the story but the chapter, seriously, I'm not done with this story anytime soon)

Christine's P.O.V:

I was...home.

It was raining outside so we had to move quickly once we got to the surface. It was unhealthy to be in that kind of weather not to mention unpleasant.

I took my usual spot by the window on the couch.

"You sure you don't want to sleep with me?" teased Jessie, "It may thunder."

"I'm good." I yawned.

"Jeez what a day…" said Jessie, "And to still think we have to face Agent 4 in a week."

"Yeah," I sighed.

"By the way, I took a look at your splattershot jr," said Jessie, "You basically trashed it hitting me. It was a miracle you were able to use it at all."

"Do you think we'll have to get a new one." I asked worrying I was going to give Jessie another expense.

"Nah," she replied, "If Kaya can't fix this then I'll be splatted."

"Well, that's good," I said sleepily, "Goodnight,"

"Goodnight,"

I rolled over and instantly fell asleep. I wasn't afraid of the rain anymore. It was weird. I felt like I was home. I didn't need to worry about getting kicked out of Inkopolis anymore. Maybe, I can relax. At least for a little bit. Even if life goes topsy-turvy again. I know I will have friends to support me...

Well, I think I finally tied together the first plot thread of the story. I feel I have gradually began to connect Christine with the Splatoon cast and I feel I've done a decently good job so far. A few days ago, I got a reader asking me when the next chapter was and I was truly touched by that...Seriously, your support really keeps me going. You all our the best. Now that the first, I'm hesitant to say "arc" because the story is nowhere near finished is complete, I hope to add in some nice fluff in upcoming chapters. However, I had a pretty cool idea for the next one…

Merry squidmas!