Third POV
The ship landed on an island, as the winged slugger and Rabbit stepped out. The others just waited on the ship. The winged Slugger returned with herbs, powders, and other primitive things. Cauldern's master ran into the medical wing, dragging Rabbit with her.
"Where is she?" The Octoling looked around.
"She is over there, sleeping." Rabbit replied.
The Octoling ran over and hugged her. Cauldern opened her yellow cat like eyes. She sat up and looked at her master. She quickly held her master, clutching her worn lab coat. Small whimpers and hiccups could be heard as Cauldern's tears of joy ran down her face.
Cauldern's POV
Master gently patted my arm. I released her and just smiled. The Octoling just petted me. I noticed Zero sleeping across the room. I slowly climbed out of bed and staggered to the floor. I didn't feel very strong in this form. I slowly got up and stumbled over to him.
"What's that? Isn't that Zero? Are you going to care for him, just like you always do?" Master asked.
"Master's order is care for Zero. Just like before."
I poked him. He jolted a bit, and looked at me. I rubbed my cheek against his. He just tilted his head. He rubbed his cheek against mine in return.
I decided I was tired, and jumped on top of him. I rested my head on his chest so I could listen to his heartbeats and breathing. His heartbeat sped up for some reason. It soon calmed back down. Soon we both fell asleep, just like we used to in the kennel.
Connie's POV
I finally did all I could do for everyone in the medical wing. With every single injured person, my heart ached more. I faked a smile to every single person. I held back my tears and despair. I walked to Chomp's room, hoping she would just pop out of nowhere, and sing to me to sleep. That this horrible dream would finally end.
The door opened to only an empty room with a big round stuffed whale. That doll was mine. Chomp would use it as a bed for me when I was a hatchling. After I grew up, she always keeps it in her room. I climbed onto her bed and hugged it. It smelled just like her. It reminded of how she always took care of me. She became my mother after my real mother died. Now, I lost them both. There wasn't a thing I could do. I gripped the doll tighter as I cried to myself.
"Chompie... I-I can't sleep..." I called to nobody in particular, "I had… a bad, dream… I need you…"
I waited for a response I knew was never going to come. I just wanted to believe she was still alive. I wanted to listen to her song again. Suddenly, a gentle cloth was wrapped around me. Aria cradled me, as she sang to me and rocked me to sleep.
Aria's POV
I tucked Connie into Chomp's bed. I took off my mask and slid down onto the floor. I covered my face with my hands and quietly sobbed.
"I could have saved her, it should have been me! Because of me, Chomp's..."
I looked over at Connie and stood up. I wiped away my tears and walked to the mirror in her room.
"I'll get them… for this..." I picked up a photo of us, "I promise."
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts and I put my mask back on.
"Hey… Have you seen my grandsquids?" Captain Cuttlefish peeked through the door, "I haven't seen them in a long time"
"No, I haven't seen them since… we first infiltrated the Slugger's arena…" I answered, "Comp, locate Aoi and Hatoru."
"Location found." Comp showed a map of the Slugger's arena with three red dots blinking.
"No…" Nana nearly fell over, but Captain caught her
"This can't be happening again… I need to get them back!"
"You aren't going alone! I'll go through the deepest part of the ocean for my grandsquids! You can't tell me no, honey! They are my children too!"
"I will assist you, but first I need to talk to my father… There is something I need to do before I go..."
Acrilic's POV
I glanced over at Cuddlefish.
"Just what was that, that power? It felt like it happen before… I was so blood hungry, that everything became my prey… I almost killed her. I just couldn't stop myself. There was just an urge to shred everything to the ground. But I stopped when I heard Pastelli's name. But why? There are too many questions. I need to find the answer before I hurt anyone else… Who can I ask?!"
I whipped out my Roller and inked ("accidently" smacked a hole) in the corner. I changed into my Kraken Form and thrashed around as sparks flew from my body.
Till's POV
I watched that strange Winged Slugger, mix up different color powders and grind up different leaves. I had not left Corol's bedside even once, when he was brought in here. To be honest, I haven't slept either. The winged Slugger noticed me and walked over.
"You are looking rather pale, child" She replied, "Perhaps you should rest…"
"I'm okay, really, I am," I muttered back, "What are you doing?"
"Oh yes, I am mixing up some medicine for your poisoned friend there"
"Medicine?! You mean you know how to save him?" Cuddlefish sat up
Her antennae drooped and she continued to mix the bowl.
"It may not be enough… to save him… it will save his body, but I don't know if I can save his spirit…"
"What? I don't understand…" I looked to her,
"Draguna's poisonous ink corrupts the host's ink and disrupts the mind. My medicine can dissolve the poison in the body, but the damage to his mind has been done. It is possible he will wake up with a new blank mind."
"A-a new blank mind?"
"He will not know or remember anything from his previous life. He will only be an empty shell."
"No, he won't remember anything?!" I clutched my head, "But everything that happened!"
"It is not for certain, after all it is his decision… would you care to see something?"
Her antennae grew into larger wing and surrounded Corol and me.
"Hey, I want to see!" Cuddlefish pushed me to make room.
Under her "wings", it was very dark for some reason. She placed her hand on Corol's head. She began chanting something. Corol's tentacles began dimly glow. Her wings showed a fuzzy image. Finally, her chanting completely disappeared and was replaced with a gentle rustle of grass in the wind. We were surrounded by long golden grass, and a bright blue sky with small patches of white puffy clouds.
Third POV
A bright blue Squid toddler sat up in a field of golden grass. He cringed at the brightness of the sun. He stood up and began walking.
"Hello?" He called out,
Someone giggled and the grass rustled somewhere, that startled the lost child and he began running away from the rustling. The rustling followed right behind him, until another bright blue toddler pinned him to the ground.
"I caught you, brother!" The identical child grinned, "You're it, now!"
"B-brother? I don't have a brother…" The confused toddler replied,
"Corol… Of course you do… We are twins..." The child began crying, "That's a very mean thing to say!"
"You… know my name?"
"Of course I do! We are TWIN brothers! You're mean!"
"Hey, please don't cry… I'm sorry."
"It's okay… I'll forgive you, because we are best friends," He took Corol's hand, "Come on she's waiting for us! She's making cookies!"
"Err, could you tell me something?" Corol reluctantly followed him,
"Sure, what's up, bro?"
"Am I dead?"
"Dead? Is this a trick question? Hmm, how am I supposed to know? You are weird."
"Um, okay… Not to sound mean, but what's your name?"
"… It's me, Arisoro…" He started to cry again, "Your bestest twin brother friend… Ari..."
"A-A-Ari?!" Corol nearly tripped and fell on his face.
"WAHH! I HATE YOU!" Ari ran off disappearing into the grass
"Hey wait! I'm sorry!" Corol chased after him.
He chased after Ari until he got to a clearing. There were many different beautiful flowers and a comfy looking house in the middle. There was a smell that drew Corol towards the house. He stopped at the door and peek into the slightly open door.
"Oh Ari, you silly squid… You left Corol all alone," a familiar Octoling lifted Ari up.
"B-but he hurted my feelings!" Ari was bawling his eyes out
"I explained this to you already, right? Aren't you supposed to be the oldest?"
"I know but still!" He started to calm down a bit, "It's just not fair!"
"And is that Corol's fault, dear?"
"N-no… You are right...Auntie Octrillari..."
The door squeaked open as Corol took a step forward. Octrillari turned around and put Ari down. She gave him a warm smile and Corol's tears started flowing down his face. He ran as fast as he could and leaped into her arms. He clung to her clothes.
"It has been a long time hasn't it dear?" She held him tight, "You grew up into such a handsome young squid… There is someone very special; I've always wanted you to meet. Come, let's go."
Ari sulked after us, but perked up when he heard some humming. He ran to a Squid with really long tentacles. Her tentacles matched Ari's and mine. Ari hugged one of her tentacles.
"Ari, you are just in time! The cookies are ready. We just need to wait for them to cool, first!" The lady giggled as she wiped the drool from his face.
"Stella, aren't you forgetting someone, dear?" Octrillari rolled her eyes.
She turned around and look at them. Her eyes were a bright pink, just like Corol's.
"Hello there Corol…" she smiled as she took Corol from Octrillari, "My name is Stella Cielo. Would you like to join us for tea and cookies?"
-Author's Notes-
I did it! I got 3 chapters in on my spring break! This is the longest out of all of them. But the idea was to help you see what's going on in the characters' minds. Welp, back to writing two chapters a week for this story, and hopefully drawing the characters too. I thank you guys so much for your support this week. It really helped. Special thanks to Darkstar248 and 466 Gaming for helping me with the ideas for the story and designing the cover.
Same as always, and thanks for reading! Happy Easter!
