Squidcom sits nervous watching the Rebels, the 4th seed, play against Tentatek, the 5th seed. Today's playoff matches are being held in the school gym, for the final, on the school field. Violet had informed everyone earlier that Friya would be joining their team for the match today. Sally and the others didn't seem upset by the decision once she heard the reason for why Friya was admitted into the team.
"Just this once…" Patting her on the back, "you can join but only for this match, ok? The fourth spot on the team belongs to another person and he means the world to us."
Friya nods and shakes her hand, "I promise I won't let you down!"
They all sat together and watched as the Rebels grabbed victory against Tentatek in close one; 54-45. Everyone rises and heads to the spawn area, cool and calm headed, staring down Squidforce across from them on the other side of the gigantic gym.
Revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge! That's all that races through Sally's mind as they walk closer and closer to the spawn point. Her body unconsciously trembling with anxiousness knowing the target is just a moment away from her grasp. Sally closes her eyes, taking in a deep breath.
The whistle blows, Sally opens her eyes with a savage expression her face and darts out the gate-leaving behind her teammates. Sally inks everything in her sight, reach the middle area before anyone else. Sally proceeds to the enemy turf, you'll pay! I'll make you all pay! Her intensity grows the closer she gets to Squidforce, inking everywhere in front of her.
Squidforce finally reach her line of vision and a light shines in her dilated eyes. She leaps forward and splats one of them and then pushes the rest of Squidforce back with her splash wall. Sally continues applying brute force to her play, not allowing a single member of Squidforce to pass; Violet and the others join her. Cameron notices Friya on the enemy team and grows a look of displeasure.
"So you've joined the enemy huh?" widening his eyes while avoiding the shots being fired by Sally and Violet.
"Yeah, you're getting what you deserve!" She yelled, splatting him instantly.
Squidcom continue their move, gaining full control of the territory; 72-28. How could she!?...How? Did she know I would get upset? N-No…I… Cameron in the state of respawning, he struggles with the situation at hand, he'd been mentoring Friya, growing emotionally attached to her. You were supposed to be my new Sky, but this time one that'd stay by my side! One who wouldn't leave me for some jock head! He makes a visual comparison of Sky and Friya, holding his hand out to reach her. She slaps his hand away and dissolves into stardust; Cameron respawns and roars, turning the entire audience's attention to him.
1:30 left on the clock, both teams are locked in a close battle. Since the 72-28 lead, Squidforce has rallied back to force it to a tied match with any ounce of ink being the difference. Cameron's been the difference maker, splatting Reice and Violet in one go and applying pressure to Sally and Friya.
Cobalt, Tangie, and Fuchsia sat with concern written on their faces; it's the first time Squidcom's been in a 4-on-4 match the entire season.
"It looks like they're finally feeling the effects of an even roster." Declared Fuchsia, putting her palm on her forehead and gently massaging; Cobalt and Tangie don't do anything comical for the first time.
"I don't see Reice and Violet making the special effort to take them down. Surely, Sally and Friya will have to pick up their slack.
45 seconds pass by; time's running out for Squidcom to seize the game. Squidforce have them by the throat, ready to end them at any minute. Cameron Splats Reice, Violet and Sally to gain the lead; Friya's left behind to battle against her former team.
"How does it feel to know you made such a foolish choice going against me?" Cameron snickers, cornering Friya, "Don't you just hate it when you can't get your way? Don't you just hate it when the one you care about leaves you? How dare you betray you low-life scum!"
Friya throws a suction bomb and forces Cameron back, "Shut up! What do you know about someone's feelings you emotionless twig!" she leaped forward and lands a triple splat-taking out everyone but Cameron.
"How dare you play with a woman's feelings!" she screams, her facial expression oozes the same nostalgia he experienced with Sky during their break up. Don't give me that angry look…I'd never hurt your feelings…I was only doing what a good captain and mentor had to. He said to himself, why…why won't the words come out!?
Friya splats Cameron and grabs the lead for Squidcom; 59-41. Squidcom returns to back up Friya, securing good spots to see out the remaining 20 seconds. Squidforce looks to make one final push to steal the victory. No! I can't lose you too! Cries Cameron in his head, desperately trying to rewrite the ending that waits for them patiently, He feels his heart sink as she moves away farther and farther from him.
Sally awaits him in isolation and takes aim, "You're the reason! It's because of you!" she screamed, splatting him forcefully.
Squidcom wins with a score of 64-36, but the real story was the Friya vs. Squidforce story; the audience cheers the new addition on Friya and Squidcom begins to become a favorite in the playoffs-having knocked off the 3rd seed Squidforce in the revenge game.
That night was another night of celebration as Squidcom danced the night away at the hospital with Azule. It's a joyous day for them, grabbing a huge win over Squidforce in the revenge game and securing a spot in the Semi finals against Kidvel, the 2nd seed team with the goddess of green, Pastelle; Fuchsia shudders after hearing the nickname of her close friend.
Meanwhile, in a area far away from the hospital. Cameron appears before a figure who sits on a throne of sorts. The surrounding area was dimly lit and filled with different grunts and subordinates kneeling before him.
"I hear you lost your game today?" taunted the silhouette figure; Cameron shows deep regret.
"My apologies Master Hayama, I faced against Tokugawa's friends. They had a team I was not prepared to face…please spare me master." Groveling at the figure's feet.
"Please…call me Kida, master doesn't suit me…" staring at Cameron, kicking him in the face afterwards.
Getting up and grabbing him by the tentacles, "You're a useless tool you know that? I gave you simple instructions to assassinate and retrieve the items earlier! Instead your man shoots an innocent bystander and lets the items get away! Now, as a result I have the Blue samurai plotting an attack on me with the help of Midnight Sky!" throwing him back on the floor and sitting on the throne, leaning back into the chair.
"Blue samurai… Midnight Sky…? You couldn't possibly mean them! They're busy with playoffs!" exclaimed Cameron, crawling to Kida.
"You had another chance to retrieve the items today! I heard you lost miserably too. How could the proud son of the 2nd Great Turf War hero and master Tamaki Shibuya, now you're just a Ronin! A fallen samurai!" jeered Kida; Cameron tightens his fist.
"Don't say my father's name!" he shouted, standing up and unsheathing his sword.
"Oh? And what will you possibly do? You're in my territory working for me; you can't be so delusional to believe you can start a fight in here and walk away alive!"
Cameron doesn't say a word; he sheathes the monstrous blade and kneels down reluctantly. The subordinates and grunts giggle at the second-in-command's foolish action.
"In two weeks, we'll strike them right where it hurts…we'll attack the hospital where that boy is staying. When we raid the hospital, Cameron, you will kill that boy-your choice if you want it bloody or to pull the life support. I honestly don't care, I just want him eliminated; surely Midnight Sky would crumble if her little brother dies hmm?" glancing over at Cameron, aware of his past and feelings for the dangerous woman.
"I see she's quite the lady, one with which you share some history with? She'd make a fine madam to me don't you think?" mocking Cameron where it hurts; Cameron unsheathes his sword and puts it straight against Kida's throat, trickling a little drop of Purple blood.
"I'll slit your throat if you dare try anything on her…" putting his sword away, realizing the amount of guns and swords that aim at him.
Kida laughs with great amusement, "Excellent! You've finally returned to us! I hope you will follow through with this next mission." He dismisses everyone and guffaws loudly; he's the man with all the power in Inkopolis, he can get whatever he wants.
The week leading up to the showdown between Kidvel and Squidcom was headlined as: A battle for second place.
"Kidvel spent the last two years finishing as runner ups to the Elites, losing all four of the finals. Kidvel's lead by the gorgeous Pastelle Greenwood, the prettiest girl in SAHS and amongst the best players in Inkopolis with a high S rank as well as the 19th spot in the top 25 and she's a professional in the workforce, working as a state trooper at IPD: Inkopolis Police Department. Kidvel as a team was also stacked with some formidable foes such as Parker, Pastelle's boyfriend and lead tactician with his Carbon roller. Taylor, the only shooter on the team with his sploosh-o-matic; Nelson, the second roller, uses the Dynamo roller and capitalizes on the opportunity that Pastelle provides for him. Pastelle is the charger of the team, using a custom Kelp splatterscope, she's going to be a huge issue for you guys if you don't cover her. My suggestion is to take her out the equation, eliminate Pastelle, and you have the victory secured." Fuchsia gave a hearty lecture on how they were going to stack against the mighty foe before them.
"But Fuchsia, we already beat them before…I think we can beat them again." Said Reice with confidence, slouching over the chair; they were at the boy's dorm, planning their strategy for the game in a couple days.
"No Reice, we must alter our game plan! Pastelle is not the type of opponent to lose to someone twice and fall for the same tactics too. Last time, you won because of Sally's willpower and the clutch support, forcing them back. It is not like you dominated the match and sealed the victory with ease-that's the worry. Pastelle knew a chance rematch would come, we must not let them grab victory!"
Sally has a look of a girl ready to gossip, "hey, Fuchsia, why are you so obsessed with Pastelle? Do you like her?" she raised her eyebrows up and down, "I think you like her!"
Fuchsia blushes hard and starts laughing until tears come out, "you think I like her? No it's quite different you see. Pastelle is to me what Sky is to Azule, a big sister. One unlike Shiva, who's your super caring and irresponsible big sis who likes to make to fun, Pastelle is the responsible big sister who'd always come to visit me when I was younger. It is very similar to how Sky visits Shiva."
"Anyways, study the notes that are prepared for you! We must not take them lightly! They are the 2nd seed team and we are in the Semi finals, one more game until the Finals!" she claps her hands and brings them in for a group hug; everyone was shocked by how engaged she was for this specific match. I'll show you Pastelle! I'm not the same little kid I was when you came, I'll help my family get the victory and reach the finals; we'll win it all for Azule and participate in the Fall preliminaries together…
Pastelle relaxes on the balcony of her luxury apartment, staring off into the bluish orange sunset. Her Emerald green eyes are lost in the sight, voices fill her head as she has a flash back to when she was kid.
A boy and her run through the lush green meadows near Greenwater, Inkopolis. Pastelle takes the boy by the hand gives him a kiss on the forehead-he's got a striking resemblance to Azule, "You'll always be my little brother right? You won't ever leave me?" she said, giving him a big hug.
"Of course, I'll be the best brother I can be! I want to stay by your side until we grow old!"
The memories I shared with him were among the happiest in my life, continuing her recollection, Verde, my precious little brother.
"Mom… What happened!? Verde got in a car accident!?" cries Pastelle with horror, holding onto her mother's arm.
"He's…gone." She responded beginning to weep.
Pastelle runs into the hospital room and bawls over the dead body of her beloved little brother.
Pastelle sheds tears as she halts the rush, not wanting to relive the nightmare of losing the most important boy in her life. Pastelle continues to view the sunset, seeing it go all the way down. Azule, please come back to us. There's so much you haven't done.
It's the big day, the first semi final. Squidcom and Kidvel prepare for the rematch that the school, outside audience and even the scouts awaited. Fuchsia gave a pre game speech beforehand, pumping them up for the fight they were heading into.
"This match is more than a semi final, it is our big chance…a chance to seize for ourselves and reach the remarkable goal of appearing in the finals. I know you guys are capable of achieving victory; you have done it before against them! Show your best performance against them and add another story to give to Azule when he wakes up!"
"You gave a great speech earlier." Patted Tangie; Fuchsia's embarrassed.
Covering her face "I only said what I was feeling…"
"Well, those are some pretty good feelings; I'd say the others heard your words loud and clear. Sally, Reice and Violet all smile as they remember her speech; Win the game for him! Sharing the same thought
The whistle blows as the audience cheers for the long awaited match, a match between the 2nd seed Kidvel: a team riddled with Runner up failures against Squidcom: the underdogs who've managed to overthrow Squidforce and steal key victories against Kidvel and the Elites in the regular season
