Author's notes: Got another chapter for you guys! Hope you like it.
From Etriuswimbleton: Wait what? He chose octarnick even when he knows he's a bit jumpy also for the fact he loses his memory from time to time?
What does octarnick look like? I dont see any recent male octolings (justified from the line "clenching his fist") in splatoon before. Only the various octarians. And I dont believe they have hands...
Author: Probably by the time you read this you'll understand why Octavious chose Octarnick so...
And yeah I've been meaning to try drawing my interpretation of a male Octoling but haven't had the time, (if I do it will probably be posted on my Tumblr page.) Octavious is also a male Octoling if any of the rest of you hadn't caught on, (probably not the case but just to be on the safe side...)
Also that was an old music video they watched, not a current one and I'm pretty sure I never said they had black and white ink, (although anybody who has read Tehreign's random shenanigans would have noticed the color gray is mentioned.)
From Guest: What side did you pick for the Cars vs Planes Splatfest?
Author: Whoops! I don't normally forget to say which team I'm on when it's Splatfest that weekend but I guess I did in last chapter. I chose Cars and I believe I got like 10 snails, (haven't had a whole lot of time to play the last two Splatfests...)
As usual your reviews and questions are always welcome here.
Enjoy!
Chapter 29: Dreams Become Reality
"Molly! Squil! You're here!" Callie cried out as she wrapped her arms around the two, "it feels like it's been too long since we last saw each other."
"Cal...we saw each other only four months ago whe-" Molly froze mid-sentance as she saw sadness enter into Callie's golden eyes, "...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to bring up..."
"No, its alright Molly," Callie quickly insisted, "Both me and Marie really do miss Gramps a lot still but I'm sure he's in a better place now. I'm doing okay but I would be careful not to say anything around Marie. Since she lived with him longer than I did she considered him more as her father."
"We'll try to keep that in mind," Squil said as he looked around Octo Valley, "so you mind telling us why you contacted us?"
"I will...once the other agents show up."
"Others?" Molly's eyes widened, "you don't mean...?"
"Thought you wouldn't see me now did you...sis?"
"Marin!" turning around quickly she quickly pulled him into a hug, "Dude! I haven't seen you in over a year."
"I've been busy and would you please stop calling me Marin Molly...you know I hate it when you do that!"
"So you name makes you sound like a girl, big deal Agent 3 it doesn't sound that bad," Callie commented with a shrug.
"You're not the one who was stuck with the consequences of having such a name for 13 years of my life. There's a reason why I changed it to 'Marlin'."
"Oh please tell me we are not bringing up this topic again? This is really starting to get old..."
The foursome turned to see a familiar pair of Inklings coming over from the sewer grate entrance. One being a female purple Inkling while the other was a male green Inkling, "Hey! I can totally understand my cousin's opinion on the matter Inka."
"Yes...but that doesn't mean we need to talk about it all the time," she insisted.
"Hey Ploosh, Inka, how's life been?"
"Nothing too splatacular I must say Molly," Inka sighed, "I gotta say it used to be much more fun when we were all active agents but I'm in college, you're working at the labs and both of you boys are regularly busy with Major League Turf Wars."
"It does pay the rent though," Ploosh pointed out.
"Yes...but I don't see you that often now Ploosh," Inka pouted slightly.
"True...but that doesn't stop me from thinking about you whenever I get the chance," he planted a quick kiss on her lips, causing her to blush faintly.
Marlin groaned as he shook his head at the two of them. The fact that Ploosh and Inka had been dating for a solid two years now still surprising the rest of them considering Inka and Ploosh had never particularly liked each other when they were kids.
"That aside though I really would like to know why we are all here?" Squil quickly stated as he tried to ignore Ploosh's antics towards Inka.
"Funny you should ask that Squil but first I need to introduce you to two people..." as she said this a male Octoling and a female Octoling walked over to them from behind the shack, "This is Octyler and Octatia. These two came to me and Marie late last night and they stated they had come in peace."
"It's a pleasure to meet you two," Molly stated as she shook both of their hands, "I understand that our two races have been at great strains with each other for many generations but I hope that someday Octarians and Inkling can be at peace with each other."
"You're Agent 4 aren't you?" Octatia smiled, "many of us Octolings have heard about you and your teams missions."
"Thank you Octatia but I really would prefer you calling me Molly Colorian or just Molly. I only go by Agent 4 when on mission."
"Molly than Ms. Colorian, and please you can call me Tia and him Tyler. The 'Oct' beginning in our names is an ancient naming tradition. In normal occasions we often take the first part off."
"Very well...Tia and Tyler."
Octyler simply nodded his head at her.
"Well what brings you two to seek out the Squidbeak Splatoon?" Squil asked.
"We and a small group of Octarians were exploring an area in one of the lesser known domes when we came across something no Octarian probably has ever seen. We're not sure whether it is something left behind by Landdwellers, or by some other ancient race but we fear it could potentially be dangerous if it were to end up in the wrong hands."
"What would you like us to do?" Inka asked as she finally pulled away from Ploosh.
"We were wondering if you agents could perhaps examine it to see if our fears are true."
"And if your fears are true what do you want us to do?"
"We would like you to destroy it. Octavious might be gone but that doesn't mean someone might not try to complete what he had started."
Molly shuddered. Killing Octavious the way she'd had scared her as a kid and simply thinking about it still on occasion made fear grip her heart even worse then when she still had little control over her Changeling ability.
Squil must have felt her shake because it was then that he reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly. Giving her the courage to speak, "If that is what you wish than the Squidbeak Splatoon will check out this strange object for you."
"Thank you Molly Colorian," Octyler finally spoke in a gruff voice, "We will lead you and your team to the object but the journey is long and it will be nightfall if we leave now."
"Then will head out at dawn tomorrow than, which will give me and the rest of the Squidbeak Splatoon time to prepare."
"Very well...we'll withdraw back to the domes until dawn. Until then, goodbye Molly Colorian," the pair then backed away a few steps before turning away and towards one of the kettle entrances.
"Well...they're certainly a cheerful pair right Marlin?" Ploosh said before turning and seeing that Marlin's face had turned pale, "Hey dude, you okay?"
"Um, yes...I'm fine," he answered as he shook his head. He then turned back to Molly, "hey sis! Can I talk to you?"
"Yes of course," letting go of Squil's hand she followed him behind the shack.
"Oh Molly, you've sure have grown since last we met."
"I've only gain an inch in the last year Marin."
He cringed at her use of his real name, "Well I still rest my case...Sia."
She glared, "You wouldn't dare start calling me that?"
"It is your name," a playful smile on his lips, "I won't call you Sia if you stop calling me Marin."
"You know if mom found out..."
"She won't...I won't let her find out."
Seeing that this was getting her nowhere she quickly changed tactic, "Where have you been this whole time."
"Traveling."
"That's not an answer Marlin."
"I needed time to think."
"For a whole year?"
"I've had a lot of things on my mind."
"But none of your brother or sister or even your mom? She's been worried about you."
"Well you can tell her I'm fine the next chance you get."
"You're leaving again? When?"
"Tomorrow after the mission. I'm not going with you guys but I'll be rooting for you four here."
"You can't just show back up here only to just leave again."
"Yes I can...I'm 21 Molly, not a teenager. I can make my own decisions now."
"Is it because of those Octolings? Ever since the death of Octavious the Octarians-"
"It's not because they're Octarians Molly!" he snapped, causing her to flinch, "It's...some other reason..."
Her eyes suddenly widened, "Marlin...do you know them?"
"Tia...was my girlfriend when I was Octarnick. At first she was my commanding officer but it turned into more as we continued to interact with each other. We had dated a whole year before you found me again as Octarnick when you were 15."
"Does she recognize you?"
"No idea," he sighed while looking down at his shoes, "and even if she did what does it matter? She's an Octoling and I'm an Inkling."
"Why does that matter Marlin?"
"Wha...?! Molly, we are not of the same species!"
"Who says that matters?"
"Molly..." his face started to turn bright red, "...it would never work out!" his anger then deflated just a quickly as it had flared up, "Don't you understand?."
"Yes I do Marlin..." she looked down at her feet as she released a slightly skaky breath before looking back up at him again, "is this what you wanted to tell me? That because you're a coward and can't handle your feelings it may be another whole year or so before we see you again?"
He cringed at her words like they were Octarian ink burning his skin but his expression otherwise didn't change, "you have no idea how much this has tormented me Molly over the last four years," he mumbled so quietly that she nearly didn't hear him say it, "Please...you've got to understand Molly."
Molly bit her lip with one of her fangs, "Well then I'll let mom know you said hello," she cried out bitterly before spinning around on her heels and walking away as quickly as she could out his sight so that he wouldn't see her start to cry.
"You know what I hate more than traversing through dank, dark tunnels that smell like something died?"
Inka rolled her eyes, "No Ploosh but knowing you you'll tell us anyways."
Ploosh growled in frustration at her comment before continuing, "I was referring to the fact that we're traveling through a dank, dark tunnel that smells like something died and we have no idea where we're going. We're literally coming into this mission blind!"
"Tia and Tyler are guiding us," Molly quickly pointed out as she indicated the two Octolings walking several paces ahead of them, "any Octarian would probably know these tunnels far better then we ever could."
"That doesn't mean I trust them."
"They want peace Ploosh."
"That's what their saying but is it really true?"
"Ploosh," Squil barked, instantly grabbing his attention.
"What?"
"Could you please for once stay quiet before you get us all in trouble. We are not here to start a second Great Turf War."
Ploosh grumbled something under his breath but otherwise stayed silent the rest of the journey through the tunnels.
As they neared a turn in the tunnel Octyler and Octatia turned around to face the four agents, "okay before we go into the dome we need to know if any of you can speak Calamarese?"
"All of us can," Molly answered, speaking in the before mentioned language instead of English, "one of our older agents taught us all so that if the need arose that we needed to speak in private we could without running the risk of being spied on."
"Well in this dome we have quite a few Octarians who know very little of any other language other than Takoyakese or Calamarese. One of which we need to talk to goes by the name Octakeshi. He used to be an Octarian captain and you'll have to be extremely careful what you say around him."
"Understood," dipping her head in agreement she turned to the other three who also bobbed their heads, "we will speak in Calamarese from now on if you want."
"Yes we do and thank you. We appreciate your help in dealing with this matter," turning back around they both rounded the corner with the four agents only a few paces behind them.
They all blinked several times at the sudden change of light as they walked into what looked like a wooded area, "What on Terra? How can you have plants underground?"
"This dome must be near the surface Ploosh," Molly answered as she looked around the area in awe, "the tricky part would be really getting what light comes down here focused in such a way that its energy can be used by vegetation."
Octatia whistled in surprise, "that's pretty impressive Ms. Colorian. Are you a botanist?"
"No, I'm a geneticist but I had tinkered around with being an engineer before I decided officially on my current career so I was able to theorize what you would need to create to accomplish such an amazing feat."
"Well you're pretty much right on for the answer. Using a mirror system we have been able to direct the light exactly where we want it to grow crops to obtain food for ourselves."
"Speaking of you Octarians it looks like our presence has been discovered," Inka stated as three young Octarians, an female Octoling, an Octocopter, and an Octotrooper, came out from between the trees and were about to greet the two adult Octolings when they spotted the four Inklings and stopped and stared at them wide eyed.
"It's okay little ones," Octatia insisted, "these Inklings have come to help us."
"You mean they are going to get rid of the metal monster?" The Octotrooper asked in a slightly high pitched voice. It sounded like it might be male but Molly wasn't certain.
"Yes, they're here to deal with the metal monster," Octatia answered him as she patted the Octotrooper's back, "could you let Octakeshi know we're coming?"
The trio nodded before dashing back into the woods ahead of the group, chattering loudly in Takoyakese to each other as they did so.
"They didn't seem too afraid of us."
"Many of them were too young to know of what happened four years ago to understand the significance of your arrival to this dome. Any adult who sees you however is another story entirely."
"Well we better get moving then before they get too far ahead of us. Lead on Tia and Tyler."
They nodded once before following the direction the youth had gone through the plant life.
After several minutes a clearly visible path revealed itself underneath their feet before opening up to a wide meadow with various building structures and dozens of Octarians of various types.
As soon as the group had stepped of the path and through the small village they were greeted with stares from dozens of bright glowing green emerald eyes. Some with curiosity and fear, while others with hostility and anger.
"Just ignore them, they won't hurt you with you being with us."
"How can you be so certain?" Ploosh asked as he partially flinched when a female Octoling growled at him while she clutched a tiny octopus infant in her arms.
"Because...they won't ever disobey their leader."
"You mean Octakeshi?"
"No, Octakeshi isn't our leader."
"Then who is Tia?" Molly asked.
Before she could answer a voice cried out, "Octatia! Is that you?" before the owner, a older female Octoling with her tentacles pulled back from her face with several strands of kelp, came rushing over to them and hug Octatia, "Oh thank goodness you're all right!"
"Mom...please stop," the young Octoling pleaded to the older one as she continued to be squashed in the hug, "I'm in the middle of something very important."
"Oh, sorry dear," she let her go, "you know I and the other elders really dislike it when you take off like that with no warning."
"I'm sorry Octariffa but this matter needs to be dealt with and these agents may be able to do just that," she turned and pointed at Molly, "this is Mollinda Colorian, she is their team leader and the one who took out that sad excuse of an Octoling Octavious."
"Tia! Don't say such things about Octavious."
"Why? Because he was my brother?" Octatia demanded harshly, "The jerk never cared about me or you or anyone else really but himself! Remember when dad finally escaped and came back to us ill and weak? We tried to contact him so that he could see father one last time and do you know what he did?"
"Tia-"
"He did nothing!" Octatia shouted, cutting her off, "he told me when I went to tell him about dad that it was his fault for underestimating a 14 year old kid and that he deserved to die for his stupidity," tears started to stream down her face, "He said those awful things and more to me as well as acted like I didn't existed for most of my life and you want me to show more respect for him? I'm sorry but if that's to be the case then perhaps it would be better if you picked someone else to be our leader!" choking back sobs she pushed through the gathering crowd and ran off into the surrounding woods.
Octyler made a move as if to go after only to have Octariffa shake her head at him, "Let her go Tyler, she needs time to adjust and we must give it to her."
"Wait...Octatia is...?" Molly asked worryingly.
"Octavious' sister?" Octariffa said with a sad expression as she stared in the direction Octatia had ran, "Yes she is, but I had Octavious long before I had Octatia which is why there was such a big age gap between them. Sadly I think that might have been one of the many reasons why they didn't get along well."
"So if they were both-"
"Yes...their father was DJ Octavio our past leader. Now that Octavious is no longer with us the task of being leader falls on my daughter's shoulders."
Oh great...my brother has a crush on the Octarian chief's daughter and he doesn't even know it. Molly mentally commented to herself before shaking her head to rid herself of the thought, "Should we wait for her to come back?"
"No, she'll come round when she's ready but that doesn't mean you can't investigate the source of our distress," using a cane to walk an old male Octoling hobbled over to them at a fairly quick pace, "you must be the Inkling agents Tia mentioned. My name is Octakeshi but really I'd prefer to be called Takeshi. I was a captain during the Great Turf War and I still am heavily involved in basic training of some of the Octolings for the 5th Legion."
"It's nice to meet you Takeshi. I'm Mollinda Colorian, otherwise known as Agent 4. These three are my comrades, Squil Aquatica, Ploosh Seagrove and Inka Krakowski, being Agents 5, 6 and 7 respectively. Now from what I've gathered you have something you want us to see?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so Inkling. Follow me and I'll take you and your team to it."
"Then lead on sir, we're right behind you."
Nodding he headed down a pathway through the trees with Molly and the others following closely behind him. Several minutes in the path soon turned into a tiny trail with only the slightest look of being used before, "Takeshi I heard one of the children mention something about a 'metal monster' I was wondering what they were referring to."
He let out a grunt before turning to look at her, "They were referring to the thing I'm going to show you my dear."
Panic started to grip her heart but she plowed on with her questions, "But why do they call it that?"
"Because three times now it has awoken since we first found it and in each instance it has tried going after anyone who goes near it. Even though it is made of metal it seems very much alive and it terrifies the children."
"I see."
"If you fear that it might be too dangerous to proceed then-"
"No, I want to see it. If it really is as sentient as you claim then perhaps we can learn something from it."
"Very well Inkling," pushing back some ferns Takeshi revealed the entrance to a meadow, "we're here."
Swallowing nervously Molly walked past the old Octoling and out into the clearing with Squil, Ploosh and Inka right behind her.
Most of the meadow was covered in bright green grass with tiny white flowers dotted across but on the opposite side of it laid a giant machine that was laying motionless on two awkwardly folded metal legs like they were broken.
Rust covered most of it preventing Molly from seeing it's true color of finish but the shape and form alone made Molly audibly gasp before her hands flew to her mouth while she shook her head, "It can't be..."
"Molly, what is it?" Squil asked as fear came into his eyes, "do you know what it is?"
She didn't answer him but instead ran towards it only to stop a only a step in front of it.
Raising her hand towards it she hesitated for a second before placing her hand on its cold metal side and wiped away dust and grime from it to reveal the faded words 'Peace Walker' written in the human language on it which was only visible now after years of being cover in the stuff that covered most of the machine.
"Peace Walker..." she whispered as she continued to examine it, "...what has happened to you to make you like this? Is Ty alright or has something happened to him?!" her voice grew louder and in higher pitched as she waited for it to speak.
The machine remained silent and motionless in front of her like it had sat there for thousands of years.
She banged her fist on it in frustration, "answer me please Peace Walker! Have I waited too long to give my answer? If Ty is in danger then I want to help him, even if it kills me! I want to help!"
"Molly! What are you doing?" pulling her away Squil held her as she struggled to free herself, "please stop or you'll hurt yourself."
"But he could need my help," she cried out.
"He? Who are you talking about?"
"I must find a way to..." she froze when she suddenly heard something. Pricking her ears forward she was slowly able to deceiver the sound into words...
"Sing, sing a song. Sing out loud, sing out strong..."
"Who's that singing?" Molly asked as she tried to pinpoint the source.
"Singing? Molly what are you talking about?"
"...Sing of good things...not bad. Sing of happy...not sad..."
"You can't hear that?"
"No...Molly, no one is singing."
"...Make it simple...to last your whole life long. Don't worry that it's not good enough..."
Realization soon came to Molly as she listened to more of the words. She turned her head towards the Peace Walker, "Is that you Peace Walker?"
"...For everyone else to hear...just sing. Sing a song..."
"Does this mean it's not too late to help?"
"Do you accept your new mission then Mollinda Colorian?" it asked her once it had stopped singing.
"I do," she answered with a moments hesitation.
"Very well...prepare yourself!" the rusted Peace Walker suddenly lurched to life with a loud hum. getting up partially onto its legs a strange blue colored energy sparked across its hull and started to gather in front of it. After several minutes a bright blue sparking swirled around in a circle before them to form a tunnel of energy.
"What on Terra is that thing?!" Ploosh asked in shock.
"It appears to be some form of portal," Molly answered, "a way to travel from one place to another that may otherwise be impossible to do."
"But where does it go?"
"Only one way to find out," she took a step towards it.
"No! Molly don't..." he tried to reach for her but instead he tripped over an uneven patch of grass and ended up pushing her into it with him following behind with a yelp.
"Molly! Squil!" Inka nearly screamed before she jumped after them, "come on Ploosh, we can't lose them!"
"Oh great squid above us...why can't something normal ever happen to us?" Ploosh muttered to no one in particular before jumping in as well just before the portal collapsed in on itself seconds later.
The journey had only taken seconds before Molly found herself falling forward onto hard concrete. She only had a few seconds to regain her senses before Squil fell on top of her with a loud thud with Inka and Ploosh falling on top of each other next to the first them.
"Ugh..." Ploosh groaned as he clutched his stomach while his face turned a little green, "...that felt even more horrible then getting splatted repeatedly over a dozen of times..."
"Don't you dare throw up on me Ploosh!" Inka growled at him before pushing him away from her.
"Like I totally want that to happen..." he responded weakly.
"Molly..." Squil groaned as he got off of her, "what we're you thinking?"
"Sorry Squil...I didn't know that was going to happen," surprisingly enough she didn't feel that bad. Sore like when she had awoken to the dream from the day before but she didn't feel ill or weak like the other three clearly were.
She had become so worried about her team that she almost didn't notice another person's presence. Whipping her head around she reached up to grab her Hero Brush in defense but stopped when she saw the person.
He was a yellow colored Inkling but unlike most normal yellow Inklings the tips of his tentacles were gold colored and his eyes were sapphire blue like a blue Inkling's eyes. A color combo Molly had only seen in one place, and it hadn't been in this reality...
Watching him she saw him lower his arm from reaching behind to grab the hilt of a sword strapped to his back. It was then that she dared to confirm what her eyes were having trouble believing stood before her...or rather who stood before.
"Ty?" her voice slightly cracked as she spoke.
"Molly...I didn't think we'd see each other again this quickly."
