The last week for Squidcom was spent on intense training for Squidcom; their next opponents are Kidvel, the second best team in the school. They camped out at the Inkopolis plaza, destroying everyone in their path. The school still buzzed about their passionate performance in their loss last week, earning a small following of students. There wasn't much socializing for them though, their full attention was on one goal: win every match from now one until Azule wakes up from his coma.

Today, the venue for their showdown would be at the Ancho-V games office complex. Squidcom enters the week 2-2, currently in the 6th seed, having dropped from 4th after their heartbreak defeat to the Rebels; Kidvel is 4-0, sitting in 2nd place with an intimidating Ace in Pastelle, the team captain. Fuchsia sits next to Tangie with nervousness for how the outcome of the match might turn out.

"Fuchsia what's wrong? You look tense!"

Fuchsia had been so focused that she forgotten Tangie's presence, "Oh it's just that…Pastelle, the leader of Kidvel, is a close childhood friend of mine."

Tangie looked lost, "Eh?"

"She's like another big sister to me, and seeing her go up against the others…I don't know who to root for!"

Tangie gives her a pat on the head, "No problem! Root for both of them!"

Fuchsia pouts as the match begins-Tangie didn't help at all! "Oh, have you heard anything from Cobalt?" asks Fuchsia, noticing his absence.

Tangie looks down with a sad expression, "No, I have no idea where he could be."

The match begins, Kidvel storms to the main area inking the turf in their bright Reddish-Orange ink. Squidcom rushes forward, using the same tactic as last week.

"They'll be going up against a strong team." Analyzed Fuchsia, "Kidvel's team of Two Rollers, One Shooter and One Charger are the issue. It's the exact same lineup as last week, and then the fact that this is a stronger team overall with more experienced players."

"Pastelle's the pretty one with the green hair over there?" pointing to Pastelle.

"Yes, she's quite the skilled player. If the others are going to have a chance to win, they'll need to go through her."

The match is intense! Squidcom and Kidvel exchange turf and splats from left to right; the match remains in a deadlock. Pastelle gets a double splat on Violet and Sally with her Custom Splatterscope.

This isn't good! At this rate we'll lose any momentum we had!-an image of Azule's laughing smile enters his mind- I...Can't lose! For his sake I can't allow them to defeat us! Thought Reice, gritting his teeth with heavy pressure applied, defending the turf until the girls respawn, he tightens his grip on the roller and begins inking aimlessly; Kidvel swims forward, and surrounds Reice from three angles like a pack of wolves ready to attack.

"You had a good run friend! It's a shame we have to beat you under these conditions." Salutes Pastelle, splatting Reice mercilessly with one shot.

The tempo of the match slows down as Kidvel begins to defend their 70-30 lead; Time is running out, only 25 seconds remaining on the game clock. Sally makes a final push forward trying to drive back Kidvel, Charging her Heavy Splatling and making a thunderous roar as she blasts everyone back. Pastelle throws a Splat bomb in a rushed attempt to get the quick splat and seal the victory, but Sally counters with a Splash wall.

Reice and Violet return with a bang, both of them help splat a member of Kidvel; Pastelle and one other member dodge in time and make a retreat. 10 seconds are left on the clock as Sally and the others continue their comeback.

Just a little longer! Strains Sally to herself, leading the comeback.

Time expires, the audience roars with applause for such an exciting match. Pastelle and her team stand there before Squidcom; stunned, but not upset. Pastelle walks toward them with disappointment on her face. Squidcom sat on the ground exhausted; Reice lays on the ground like a rug, Sally breathes heavily looking at the sky, Violet kneeled on the ground with her Splatterscope as her support.

"You guys played great!" congratulates Pastelle, helping up Sally and Violet as her teammates help Reice up.

Fuchsia and Tangie jumped up out their chairs cheering at the top of their lungs. Reice looks up at the scoreboard and gasps emphatically, with tears welling up.

"We Won!" celebrates Tangie throwing her hands in the air and giving Fuchsia a hug, tears running down her cheeks.

Violet rests her hand on her chest and closes her eyes, This one's for you Azule, smiling to herself. Sally shakes all the Kidvel player's hands and goes over to celebrate with the others; they huddle up.

"On my count everybody!" readied Sally, with glistening Salmon pink eyes, "1...2…3!"

"Squidcom!" yelled them all, jumping around to celebrate their first win after their vow to Azule. They finally got over the first hump on their way to reaching their goal.

That day became the turnaround for Squidcom, winning the next two matches in convincing fashion and maintaining the 6th seed. Squidcom spent those couple of weeks hanging out whenever they weren't visiting Azule in the hospital or practicing for Rank Wars. The group went out to restaurants, the mall and even spent a day in Octo Valley, meeting Fuchsia's Sister and learning about Octarian history.

The gang is currently at a farm field in west Octo Valley picking out different fruits to make smoothies back at Shiva's house; Shiva had been lecturing them on Octarian history and taking them to different important sites in Octarian history.

Tangie picks out a bunch of Strawberries and dumps them into her basket, "Wow! Fuchsia, you never told us about your massive farm!?" awed Tangie, tasting one of the Strawberries- Super Sweet!

"Well, I had to save some secrets…" grabbing a mango from the Mango tree nearby.

"But Fuchsia, I never expected you to make such wonderful friends!" butted in Shiva with her big sister presence, handing everyone some strawberry peach lemonade.

"I'm curious though, where's my sweet Azule?" she wondered; Fuchsia, Sally and Violet all did a spit-take. The three girls stood there astonished, Shiva laughed, unaware of his current condition.

"About that…" paused Reice- gathering the right words to say, "He's in the hospital with a coma…"

Shiva drops the lemonade, "What…!?" with a shocked expression. She puts her hand to her forehead, "How? Why?" she asks, clear concern in her voice.

"Someone shot him in the face." Added Sally, resting her basket of apples down.

Shiva's concern turns to anger, she clenches her fist, with a different look in her eye-one that not even Fuchsia had ever seen. "Do you know who did it?" -They all shook their heads "no" slowly with sadness all over their faces-; Shiva walks inside to make a phone call.

"Fuchsia, I didn't know your sister cared so much about Azule…" Said Violet- a little uneasy.

"Yeah, when we first met, she took an immediate liking to him." grabbing her hand tightly as she remembered their first encounter- smiling at how friendly he was.

"Can't blame her…" adds Sally, nonchalantly stealing a grape from Reice's basket and eating it; much to his dismay.

"Yeah, Azule's a great guy. It isn't a surprise to see him make friends with anyone he meets; he's got that charm." Tangie adds, also stealing a grape from Reice.

Sky picks up the phone; she's in a dimly lit room on the computer.

"Shiva? What happened? I can't keep up with what you're saying!" fumbling the phone.

"Sky, why didn't you tell me what happened to Azule!?Tell me who harmed him!" she demands in a shaken voice.

Sky sighs and massages her eyebrows-putting the phone on speaker, "Shiva you know if I'd told you what you would've done…"

"I know! But this your little brother we're talking about…for so many years you enriched me with adventures and stories about him that… that I've come to accept him as my own too." -Beginning to sniffle- "I always wanted to have a brother, and when I saw him, I knew he would make the perfect one." She stops her sniffling and her voice tightens, "Sky, I know someone targeted him-I remembered when you figured out the Black Urchins were after him and his friends, and I know you're planning something. Whatever it is, count me in!

"Ok hold on, yes I have a plan to get revenge on the people who did it. But I rather speak in person about something like this, I'll meet you in OctoValley next week once I wrap up business over here. I have someone you will want to meet who found out the culprits- we'll need a squad of trusted people only, so don't bring in anyone unnecessary if it jeopardizes our plan, ok?" Shiva keeps quiet, "Of course I'm upset about all this, but I can't panic, I know he'll be fine-He's my blood." Adds Sky, playing with her bobble hat.

"Good, I'll see you soon." Calmed Shiva.