A fresh start for the week following a busy weekend, it was all thanks to that trip that everyone learned a bit more about each other and even themselves. Certain rivals saw to burying the hatchet, and others formed unlikely friendships thanks to their surprise shared interests and hobbies. As the 15th day leading up to Nationals, Fuchsia wanted everyone to have a light practice for the day to ease them back into schedule after having an entire weekend to recuperate. At practice, it was the usual routine: a run to start off the session followed by volunteers to play the scrimmage games and then their usual workout routines and menus. A day that Fuchsia warned them about when they were on the bullet train, they all saw for themselves how difficult it was to concentrate after having their minds taken off of the stressful practice sessions. Sluggish. Drained. Fatigued. It was a dreadful sight to behold as the players looked paler than usual, their glow nonexistent the entire time they dragged their bodies. Fuchsia expected as much but found it irritating that of all the times to hit the mental and physical wall of their progress, it had to be in the middle of their training. As the head coach, she's responsible for getting them out of that slump, for sparking something within them that'll make the difference-anything that could allow her to replicate the genius of her sister. But when she opened her mouth to put her encouraging thoughts to words, she couldn't utter a sound. As if her throat tensed up with nervousness, she could only watch the players wear hopeless expressions during their workout, seemingly burned out from the constant strain. Immediately she wondered if she might've pushed them too hard, and made the wrong move for the weekend with disconcerting thoughts creeping into her mind. The thought of being responsible for Squid Academy's burn weighed heavy on her conscience, her face dropping as she observed their struggling. In turn they noticed their coach was wearing a look that one in her position never should, and in an attempt to correct that, they thought they could push themselves and surpass their limits, but as the pain lingers in their muscles, their resolve weakens. Luckily, this is what the team staff was for! From the Elites to the Rebels, everyone lent their energy to wake them up. Apollo, Corey, and others did their best to push them past their limit, while Cannola, Chlora, and Gileslie also did their best to motivate everyone-though not as extreme.

A peek inside how the players are doing, Azule wears a nosebleed after activating midnight one too many times, his muscles tightening up as his movements stiffen, nearly at the end of limit; if he continued any further he risked injury. Reice and Jory looked exhausted for different reasons: Reice's upper body workouts were hammering away at his shoulders that only worsened after his sessions in the batting cage yesterday with virtually no rest. Jory's stamina was under attack after struggling to control his breathing while pushing his lungs to take in more air-as the player entrusted with No.10 and the one believed to be their essential playmaker, he needed to have the durability to play every game; the responsibility of being a starter on a stacked team of talent, he couldn't afford to be the weak link when he knew he could lose his position right away to his hungry teammates. Violet is also hammering away at her menu and practicing on her accuracy with Sally in her corner supporting her, who saw her as an integral piece to the starting team; no doubt everyone would carry their weight in their class, so it would come down to how she performs as their primary charger, which Sally resonated with deeply as a fellow charger user. The situation is the same for everybody else, who are battling their own demons. Pastelle especially is wrestling with some adversity as she experiences a sensation she's never experienced before: despite her built up strength from combat, never before had she been under such pressure. Not only did she waste precious time scraping off the rust, but she now had to find a way to reinvent her game and evolve, and all while under the pressure as a team starter and as a senior player with juniors looking to her for some guidance; she couldn't let them down by any means, especially since she's the only starting upperclassmen. Todd too is juggling with that newfound pressure as a starter, realizing that he not only beat out the likes of Sky and Aaron, but was given the position over fellow captains Zaneki and Evelyn. A chance for redemption, he needed to capitalize on the road he walked-he can't turn back anymore now that he's reached the point of no return with the expectations laid out in front of him. As for Evelyn, Zaneki, and the rest of Squid Academy, they all focus on the tasks in front of them, wondering how they can elevate their game and be of use to the team for the upcoming games. Even if they are on the bench and in the case of some-restricted to a few games of play, they all knew there was something for them to do in preparation of the moment their numbers are called; unlike some teams, Squid Academy don't have the luxury of leaving teams in reserve or on the bench willingly-the likelihood of everyone having to step in a very high likelihood, but the trick is who to send in, and when they should be sent in.

Fuchsia had been thinking about that frequently, and that was partially why she chose the current lineup as her starting six. Not only were they missing Sally and the Elites for different reasons, but the current six provided the most coverage and insurance: Squidcom's irreplaceable chemistry matched with the talent of Todd and Pastelle along with the experience and leadership of Azule and Pastelle, it made sense to roll with them. But the tournament is a grueling one built on the endurance of one's might, and that meant that relying on just the starters wouldn't be enough to suffice for the first match, let alone the group stage, and thus came the tricky part. Every member of the Elites is allowed a triplet of games each to be available for play, while they must sit out the remainder. Fuchsia flirted around the idea of possibly activating every player at a different game so that when one was unavailable, another would step up, and though a sound plan since one member of the Elites is enough of a boost, there fact that they will be facing very difficult opponents meant that they couldn't get cheeky about such a selection. Then there was the other option of tagging together certain members or holding them back for the final games, which would've been nice if it wasn't for the grim possibility that it might be too late. Food for her thoughts, and surely on the minds of everyone working so hard, Squid Academy were just one of many at the moment with plenty on their mind.

Back in the capital, business is back on track for everyone with stores open and life returning to normal. Shopkeepers are doing their best to attract customers, cars are honking while stuck in traffic as usual, and the only thing getting displayed throughout the city were updates from the local and national news about the information released daily regarding the corruption of Inkopolis and Octaria. A day of awakening for the people of Inkopolis and for the world, radical change occurred immediately to meet the demands of the people. As expected, an emergency placement for Prime Minister occurred despite the lack of constitutionality, mainly an outcry by the people for change which the government couldn't deny after the corruption that happened all in the dark. Mack Netifla took charge and immediately got to work to fix the mess started by his predecessors and colleagues. Anyone who had a connection in any of the crimes were hunted down and charged, and then there were the relations between the nations that needed repairing that would be discussed between the two new leaders. A monumental occasion, the rest of the world wanted to take part in what would define the present and influence the future. Now, the city waits in anticipation of what result comes from that meeting happening in parliament lasting an entire week. A discussion on the fate of the future with the world's leaders hoping for an era of peace, the parliament building is packed to the brim-many reporters and journalists hounding out on the outside every single day. On the inside there is a sea of powerful and notable people from all walks of life, but even among these high profile names there's a pair of inklings who carry a presence so massive that heads have to turn when they walk past.

"Y-you're really holding my arm tight..." Verde grimaces a little bit with an embarrassed face averting his gaze from the glances of the others, looking over to his companion latched to him with a beaming smile on her face.

"Should I hold you tighter?" Handan teases with a playful giggle, maintaining her beam while staring into his eyes.

Verde flashes a smile, "Why not...I mean, it's not like it hurts or anyth-ohhhh!"

Handan wears the same smile but now with spite, "Huh? What's that? Are you doubting my strength?"

"Never!" Verde squeals, tapping out.

Handan releases the pressure, "Good."

"Honestly, you're something else."

"Why?" the oblivious inkling said, unaware of the attention they brought.

Verde's eyes dart from side to side doing a quick count of the glances received, "Everyone is watching us…"

"So what? They can watch all they want." She said without a care, snuggling on his arm.

"I appreciate how bold you are, but isn't it a little concerning if someone of your status is in a relationship with someone like me?"

"I'd cast it all away if I could, believe me. But I love the Pharaoh dearly and will dedicate all my life to serving her-she wants me by her side, and so I shall stay...unless?"

"Unless…?"

"A certain brave general from the far east convinces her otherwise?"

"That's asking me to move a mountain."

"Yeah, but it'd be fun to see you try…"

As the couple continue their walk through the corridor, their conversation shifts to the current events of the world and what were likely the main topics of discussion for the day in the big meeting just like they did throughout the week. The news of Shiva Octavio's coronation hit the world like a storm and quickly put everyone on notice as she not only made her mark at the conference but now acquired legitimate power, and the second move that caught the world's eye was her immediate action to imprison the previous regime and rebuild the foundation with her hand selected board-now here in Inkopolis to discuss the future affairs with their former enemy. Then there is Ikayumu, a nation usually isolated from the rest of the world in certain geopolitics but suddenly becoming very active ever since Simone Tokugawa took over influence; as a hero from the previous war, it was hard for anyone to doubt her judgment as well. There were whispers in the main lobby and several rooms about the possibility of a tri-nation alliance between Inkopolis, Octaria, and Ikayumu, based on how frequent their delegates had been in contact and were communicating outside the room at the very moment and while it would usually seem like a baseless assumption, there were the solid evidence that all three nations played a massive role in everything that took place in rapture, and it surely wasn't a coincidence that the people in power all shared a connection somehow.

"I think the world is about to take a dramatic turn. Whether for better or worse all depends on the people in that room right now…" Verde mumbles, a little nervous about how things are going in the room sitting nearly every world leader on the continent.

Handan smirks, "My Pharaoh is there and she shares the same views as the young Queen and your Prime Minister, with her on board it should be much easier for the rest to follow suit."

"Even so, everything has been moving so quickly that I find it puzzling we're only a month beyond the madness of rapture. Since then, Ixia were captured right away and thrown into Death Row Island, all the rats and traitors were tossed into federal prison, Prime Minister Netifla has passed several bills and regulations to jump start Inkopolis economically and socially, and there's so much social commentary that I'm nervous the people will turn on him if he messes up on anything."

"It's a crazy time but there will soon be stability and balance once time passes, that is why he has followed through with every single demand of theirs. He knows he talked up quite the mighty sell at the conference and the people were completely behind him, he needs to secure their trust before bringing some order and balance. He's done well so far, so have faith him!"

"I guess so, I just hope he doesn't get drunk with power…"

"Isn't that why your big sister is there?"

Verde furrows his eyebrows, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing~!" Handan sings while rolling her eyes with a smirk on her lips.

"Yeah? What is that supposed to mean, hm?" A voice follows behind them.

"L-LIME!?" Verde jumps.

"Head General…" Handan whispers under her breath, letting go of Verde's arm and putting a little distance between them.

"Why are you here?" Verde asks, shocked to see her when the meeting is supposed to be happening.

"How rude, not even a greeting from my little brother? You've become so heartless now that you have your girlfriend with you."

"No, it's not like that…"

"What was that?" Handan grilled crossing her arms.

"Yes, it's like that…"

Lime studies the shy pair for a moment and then wears a smug grin and laughs to herself, finding them to be adorable. "Anyways, the meeting is adjourned yet again so we can reflect on what went down. As usual, I'm not allowed to discuss the details with anyone until the end of the meeting but I think we're on the verge of a monumental breakthrough after the week-long endeavor."

"And it's all thanks to me!" Pharaoh Nefertina announces the following behind Lime with an arrogant laugh; "The Prime Minister and Queen might be great at rallying the hearts of people but they are still green behind the ears when it comes to negotiation! I had to bail them out when the Sultan and Tzar put fire to their chair!"

"M-my Pharaoh, please refrain from discussing the details!"

"Don't worry, Handan. I wouldn't do something so foolish, and speaking of fools….Verde, where's your little brother?"

Lime and Verde both wear a confused look, "Huh? Azule?"

"Yeah, Is he in the area? I didn't get to truly express my gratitude for his efforts in protecting Handan and myself during that ordeal. I was...hoping to see him again and...thank him properly."

"I don't like this." Lime mumbled.

"I really don't like this." Verde doubled down.

"Oh stop it, you two. You're so overprotective of that boy. The Pharaoh isn't who you think she is!"

"Are you sure? I always thought her to be this vixen who takes whatever she wants but is great with diplomacy and her policies but her ultimate ruin would be her impulsive desires."

"Ah, you know her well after all."

"HEY! I'm right here!" Nefertina shouts; "Goodness! I just want to show him my thanks for everything he's done. Because of him, you all have solid allies in the west now."

"He's in Ravia right now." Lime reveals, beating Verde to the punch.

"Ravia? How come? There's no reason to go back there so soon, is there?"

"Nationals." Verde adds.

"Oh, that tournament is happening over there after all. The defending champions are a school from Kolnogov if I remember correctly…" Nefertina said putting a finger up to her lips to recall.

"Kolnogov... that small nation to the northwest of Squirabia that became a territory of Mollusca?" Verde asks.

Pharaoh Nefertina nods happily, "Yes, prior to Mollusca's invasion far back, they were a nation ruled by a family on track to become a dynasty. Now, they're ruled under law of Mollusca but retain their image as an independent nation for tourism purposes. Since their rulers always live long lives, rumor has it that their current prince Edward V, may become the one to establish liberty for them when he becomes their emperor."

Handan brings her hand up to her chin and recalls what she knew about the territory,"I've always been intrigued about why Mollusca was like that. For a nation so intimidating, I thought they would've overruled and stripped the family of their power. Hard to believe they just left them as is…"

"They're somewhat of a colony now, allowed to remain independent under the power of their emperor. The only explanation I've heard is that the Tzar of that time admired them enough to leave them be, but wanted them as a territorial reminder for Squirabia that if they got greedy and began expansion, they'd have their reason to get involved. In fact, Emperor Edward IV would've attended this meeting had he not been under Tzar Nikola's control, but I'll refrain from digging into that."

In that moment, the adjournment ends with all involved parties to return to the round table. Upon their return inside, the outside is abuzz with commentary from everyone who kept watch of the involved parties, guessing on what might be going on. Since talks were classified until the meetings were over at the end of the week, the entire week was a buildup of questions about the contents of the meeting with everyone hungry to know what direction the world is heading. Some claimed there is agitation and frustration, and others claim there is worry and fatigue, but overall, those who were only spectators drew the same conclusion: this second half would likely decide everything.

Inside the room behind those two large doors, the tense discussion continues at the round table. Shiva, Simone, Netifla, Nikola, Ruhtab, and Nefertina all are present for the meeting on the future of Inkland, but even with so many people gathered with the sake of the land and its people at stake, there were still some reservations and questions that needed to be answered by unconvinced parties, which in this case included Squirabia and Mollusca who still were suspicious about the proposition of Inkopolis. Over the last week, the dominating topic of discussion was of an offer Mack Netifla proposed that shocked everyone and prompted a week long argument: create a pact involving all the nations of Inkland and pledge to forbid war-strip every nation of their military and instead allow them to retain a defense force, disallow the manufacturing of assault weapons and adopt a similar bill to the one that Inkopolis possessed where the only weaponry allowed was within the sport of turf wars. An offer as bold as the one who proposed it, many nations were hesitant on the idea for various reasons from its hastiness to questions of the practicality of such a pact-an unprecedented feat it would be if it came to fruition. The Tzar of Mollusca and the Sultan of Squirabia voiced their displeasure and offered opposition to the idea, citing that not only was it impractical for every nation to cut out their military, but that it would be highly expensive as a loss of profit. Shiva of Octaria and Simone of Ikayumu came to his defense and explained that by cutting down the military, that opens the path for more funding in other fields such as infrastructure and health care, as well as allowing nations to bolster their own economies by focusing on promoting smaller businesses and creating new industries that can in turn spread the profit, which sounded great for the smaller nations that couldn't survive another great turf war if it was to happen between any of the powerhouse nations. If that wasn't enough, Inkopolis also unveiled that Octaria and Ikayumu would be joining the pact and entering in a direct alliance-meaning to be a threat to those who oppose and an opening for other nations to join who didn't want to risk being cast outside the umbrella of protection. If Inkopolis, Octaria, and Ikayumu joined forces, that meant trouble for anyone in the east as they covered the easter sea, underground and entire region, making them impenetrable; even if the other two powerhouses came together, they stood no chance against the technological advancements of Octaria that would surely be shared with their allies, and if Inkopolis weren't already strong before, with the help of the octarians, they would be unstoppable. If that hadn't made matters difficult, Pharaoh Nefertina kicked it up a notch and created an uproar when she announced that she'll join in the Inkland pact and enter an alliance with Inkopolis to further the strain with Squirabia, who didn't want the smoke. An impasse, the entire week operated slowly as the nation fought for any little leverage and details to grab influence, but every time they attempted to inject some juice into revitalizing their side, the allied force of those four proved too difficult to strong-arm. Today's adjournment had been caused by the irritable Pharaoh finally bringing to light that the reason behind Mollusca and Squirabia's reluctance to join laid in them having forces gathered to attack Inkopolis that no longer looked possible with the alliance formed, putting them in a difficult spot. An argument ensued as both leaders demanded that the only way for them to even think about the possibilities laid in the allies coming clean about everything they hid in the dark as well. For many of the smaller nations on the fences, this was crucial-if they had anything to hide, why enter a pact with them? Of course, neither side wanted to reveal their deepest and most confidential information, but for the allies, if they didn't reveal at least something meaningful, then what was all that effort spent to get to this point? Requesting an adjournment to mull over things, this second half would decide everything. As both sides returned to the table, the question was whether they could reach a consensus or risk starting another conflict; the world watches from the outside on what the leaders will plan in this follow-up to the Ravia conference.

Sultan Ruhtab slams his fist on the table, "Well!? Will you spill some information or are we supposed to join this pact blindly? If we are to take such a financial risk for the sake of morality and peace, then I'd at least like to know what prompted this-show me you're trustworthy or else you're no different from your predecessors!"

"I would hold my tongue if I were you, Ruhtab. The fact remains that you colluded with the former queen of Octaria and the Tzar of Mollusca about attacking Inkopolis. You aren't exactly in the clear." Simone responds sharply, already suspicious of the outspoken inkling.

Tzar Nikola crosses his arms with an arrogant smirk while raising his chin and leaning back in his seat, "The same could be said about you and your nation for trespassing. You got involved in a conflict that had no connection to you whatsoever and broke international law. To enter a pact with such a nation concerns me..."

That comment pissed off Simone, as he implied that her nation was barbaric and likely to be the first to turn on everyone, but before she could respond, the young queen came to her defense swiftly. "You act so tough but you're still as sly as ever sitting behind that facade of toughness, but the reality still remains that you're not only scared of Inkopolis, but you're scared of change. How sad that of the powerhouses, the one inciting positive change is the nation painted to be the bad guys? The world doesn't want war, but you're inciting that we need it? This a chance for a new age, an era of peace. We should be working together to ensure that possibility becomes a reality. It's going to be tough? Unprecedented? Excuse my language but-no shit! The greatest accomplishments are born from the most unlikely of origins. We have a chance to break the cycle, and instead of using our collective mind to think up theories that can be put to practice, we're in division falling to old habits that we believe to be supreme. This is no better than the racism and discrimination my people fa-"

"That's enough, Princess Magenta." Pharaoh Nefertina said in commanding tone, seemingly putting her foot down with a stern look to the others; "You made your point at the conference, and no one doubts your resolve. However, when you reach the negotiation table like this where people show their true colors, you must throw away that naive mindset and bring facts. The world rests in our hands and we have to do more than just preach; I thought you'd know this better than anyone."

Shiva narrows her eyes-still angered, "There is nothing I hate more than the obstruction of societal progression. We as leaders obsess over power and coin, playing with people's lives as just numbers in a gamble and hide it behind the mask of sorrow and empathy!" she shouts, channeling her emotions into her arms. "I might be 'green behind the ears' but I'm certain I'm far more in touch with my people than anyone else here, and that's a humble brag. I believe that as a queen, the people don't serve me but rather, I serve the people."

"I understand that the first steps to change will be quite difficult, but we made this decision ahead of time. We risked our lives and our future on a gamble that led to this meeting! Anything built on a weak foundation will lead to the crumbling of everything, and the seeds of our efforts have already been planted and started rapid growth. You might not agree with our ideals, but your people do. And do you know what happens when the people and those at the top aren't on the same page?" Netifla asks with a smirk, expecting his answer to be clear.

Nefertina crosses her arms, "You'll end up like the octarians."

The Sultan twists his face, "I get it! No need to make such weak threats, alright? I'll join this pact even if it bankrupts my country!" for a moment, there's a wave of relief as it looks like there will finally be some resolution; "However, in return I want to know all about the 'New World' and its findings. If I'll be making such an investment, I request that I-and all other nations who will be making a sacrifice for your plan-learn about the truth behind why you dispatched some of your best operatives to trek a land outside of our jurisdiction? Why were the heroes of the war thrown into such a mission?"

The air in the room is sucked out immediately with Inkopolis and Ikayumu delegates alike holding their breaths; Shiva has no clue what any of them are talking about, but based on the way Netifla is sweating and Simone's silence, she knew it had to be something major. Even though there is an opportunity on the table, the price is that they have to reveal one of their darkest and covert operations to the entire world all for the sake of trust. As the strongest nation on the continent and the leading power, revealing such details left a huge vulnerability in several ways that could harm the country if the pact was ever broken, but if Inkopolis refused to spill what they know, certain nations might even drop out the pact right away and resume hostile intentions from the lack of compliance-the fact that a fellow powerhouse had the guts to bring it up in the first place spoke volume to the opening presented for nations on the fence who were leaning towards Inkopolis through peer pressure. For that reason, Inkopolis needed to talk. Even if it meant discarding the ominous veil that kept nations on edge for years all for the sake of becoming transparent to prove their trustworthiness, Netifla knew that this is the price. Resigned to speak the truth, Netifla reveals what really occurred when everyone went missing, and offered more insight into why the rapture and rebirth were carried out. It was always rumored that Inkopolis were up to something when Agent 3 and 4 vanished, as well as many of the war heroes who returned from the Great Turf War, but nobody ever found any leads. Many nations spied and came to the same conclusion that Inkopolis somehow allowed them to simply vanish off the face of the earth, but Mollusca and Squirabia were too smart to fall for such an outcome. It was top secret and only few of the top nations knew about it, however none knew of Inkopolis' motive.

"At the time, the war had just reached an end and to the top brass of Inkopolis, now was the perfect time to operate from the shadows before anyone could notice. They wanted to return to an age of imperialism, but to do so right after a war and against many other rival nations wouldn't have been a wise decision, so instead, they looked elsewhere…"

"The Dark Continent. A forbidden land, a 'New World' so to speak." Maya said, taking the stage, aware that now was the time to make her presence felt as the sole representative of the Squidbeak Splatoon along with Cap'n Cuttlefish, who was very observant on everything thus far; Simone and her Ikayumu delegates felt at ease when they saw their old comrade take the stage, knowing that if anyone can do it, it'd be her. "My husband and I were sent there following the war, and though the reasons for why we went are very personal, the intentions of the top brass were to drain resources from unfounded lands and use them to either fuels newer industries that they could monopolize, or prepare for an advantage in war with more land. Colonization was the first step, but they ran into a roadblock when our team was sent to explore the lands. It was barren. Desolate. Void of life. Mud and dirt, flatland as far the eye can see, and no sense of life-even in the weather as the air felt dead. It was an eerie feeling I couldn't shake during that initial trip, but we began searching for resources. The further and further we explored, the worse it got."

Pharaoh Nefertina raises her hand, "Could you tell us how this relates to the sultan's request? We're running short on time and I'd love to read this spinoff another time." she said with a vain tone, secretly trying to help her by avoiding any of the major details, which she caught on right away.

"Right. Sultan Ruhtab, I believe the answer you seek is in how would we be trustworthy if we kept secrets? Well, the secret behind our trips to the continent was that they were the groundwork for Rapture and Rebirth." Everyone goes silent, wanting her to continue now that she barked up something of their interest; "Agent 8 of our splatoon was one of those who explored the land, though at a different time and place from myself, and unlike me, she got in far deeper. She frequented Inkopolis, and even Octaria as well and was the one who hatched the idea and then planted the seeds that lead to the string of events that occured. Instead of making colonies on a dead land and using it for selfish reasons, why not use the expansion to benefit more people? Why not give the octarians a new home? Work with everyone to explore the new land and restart fresh with a clean slate? Open up a far bigger trade and finally communicate? She foresaw these possibilities and took a gamble, and now I understand why she made such an elaborate attempt to help the world in such a roundabout way. Look at us now: even after all that we've been through, we still don't trust one another. Here we are, still looking for profit and power-the same things she intended to break by cultivating this plan with that world in mind."

Netifla takes over, "The top brass of Inkopolis kept it a secret because they wanted to continue the cycle of destruction and further expansion and create an empire in a different land, an idea so destructive that I'm sure the entire world would've turned on us immediately. The reason why we've been reluctant to share that information is simple: it's the old us, and a reminder that we aren't free of our sins. We underwent all these risks to start anew and put behind the time we worked under the cruel intentions of another. Why should you trust us? Because we plan to restart on this new land, to help grow it to meet the conditions of Inkland and in turn give a home for the octarians so that they no longer live in darkness. We plan to expand the global economy by finding resources there and introducing them to our existing market and help promote growth through investment. Everything might be under wraps for now, but in due time it will all come out. I know it's difficult to ask for your trust and communication, but no progress will be made if spend our time over analyzing with a lack of initiative. We want to rid the world of war and this is the first step." As they laid everything on the table and dished out all the information that the undecided wanted to know, nobody spoke another word on their conclusion. Based on the looks of their delegates, it looked like progress had been made with some of them wearing light expressions throughout the closing moments. The Tzar and Sultan looked pleased to learn everything but still didn't seem convinced, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, they joined the pact. With the powerhouses together under the same mindset, the other countries followed in their footsteps in hopes that an era of peace awaits them at the end of the long journey started today.

Finally, the first gear on the road to change turns...

That night on the beach of Arowana where the neon lights of the mall flash brighter than the twinkling water. Azule and Fuchsia sit on the shore admiring the moonlight glowing along the black sea, the waves calm as they kiss the shore. Thanks to the after hours, they could enjoy the beach all to themselves and avoid the luster of the nightlife in the malls and bask in the serene environment of the beach instead. Laying down together under the stars, they look up at the infinite canvas of space and draw the constellations to pass the time by, sharing laughs and spending time chatting-that is until Azule falls silent after a while.

"Hey...what's wrong?" Fuchsia asks, poking his face and breaking his concentration of the stars.

Azule brightens and does his best not to worry her, but her focused stare on him breaks his shallow defenses. "It feels like something big is about to happen, I can feel it in my gut."

"Like what? Have any clue?"

"No, not at all. I just feel really nervous all of sudden-I mean, look at this…" he said holding up his hands that trembled terribly; even if he didn't show it, his body had fear written all over it. "I've never been under such pressure in my life before. I thought rapture was enough, but this is far beyond my imagination. Everyone in the area is placing their hopes on us, and then there's the guy who even made this possible for us-his job is on the line. Then there are our families, friends, the schoo-"

Fuchsia shuts him up with a smooch, getting him to calm down. "I thought you brought me out here to relax?" she smirks with a little smugness at her newfound confidence.

"I'm amazed you can be so relaxed."

Her face drops a little as she gets serious, "Not like I want to just undermine the importance of everything, but if I got so worked up, that fear of failure would eat away at me until I make it a reality, like a self fulfilling prophecy."

"I see."

"Do you really?" she asks while shifting her position to lay on his lap and look up at him; "It seems to me like you're still having trouble adjusting to everything. As captain-"

"I know. I've had many chances to step up and I've failed every single time, and now this might be the last chance I get-er, best chance. I can't screw this up like I did in the spring, you know?"

"You never change." she says softly with an endearing smile, her gaze carrying a shine thanks to the moon's glow.

Azule chuckles, "I dunno, I think my development has gone through the roof, wouldn't you say?"

"I could say the same about myself! You're not special!"

As the two continued their discussion under the stars, they both knew that despite their attempts to keep a cool head through the steaming pressure, they were about to sail uncharted waters where the common action for anyone was to fold before ever getting a chance to fight. By any means they must avoid that, and together as they sat on the shore, they drew upon the experiences they had thus far to guide them-a trail for them to follow should they ever lose their way.