Mahi-Mahi resort is a huge resort along the coast of Inkopolis, just further east of Arowana. It attracts quite the number of tourists with its extravagant casino, restaurants, dancehall, and of course, the pools. It's hot and sunny outside as Azule exits the underground parking lot using the bellhop cart to carry the bags and boxes he purchased on Pastelle's behalf. With the humidity from outside sapping his energy, he pushes ever so forceful as the cart begins to slow down more and more in response to his lack of speed, feeling the heaviness of each strenuous push. Azule finally reaches the elevator, pushing the number 8 button and sliding down onto the floor.
"Whew!" exhaled Azule, wiping his forehead-although no sweat was present. "If I remember right, today was the day I was supposed to help Fuchsia with something…but what was it..?" placing his hand on his jaw and looking up into the ceiling as if in deep thought. His forehead turned purple as he realized his duty that he'd promised her.
"Sure Fuchsia! After I finish my training with Pastelle, I'll gladly go out with you for some ice cream." Responded Azule cheerfully, oblivious to the fact the he got asked out.
"Really..? Are you sure it won't be weird?" blushed Fuchsia, looking away-poor girl didn't know that he just misunderstood her intention.
"Nope, won't be weird on bit…" he responded with thumbs-up and a wink.
Fuchsia's face relaxed as she's satisfied with her bravery, "Then don't be late!" skipping away jovially.
Oh no…she's going to kill me! Azule thought, realizing the tragic mistake.
The elevator doors open as the bell rings. Azule pushes the cart out-looking both ways with vigilance. I must avoid running into her until I can find a way to explain to her my situation…wait, I don't think it helps that I ditched her to help another girl either! Azule sweated, as he hurriedly pushed the cart, looking to take them to Pastelle's room.
Cobalt and Reice had finished their game and decided to hang out with the girls, who had all finished their sunbathing and were now under some huts eating food and listening to music and watching TV as splashing water could be heard in the background. Sally was over by the indoor bar, watching her Mom compete on one of the monitors. Fuchsia had her headphones on with a ferocious vein bulging from her fist as she growled at the thought of being ditched by Azule.
"Where's the seniors?" asked Cobalt, taking a seat next to Tangie, Friya and Brittany, who were watching another PTWL game.
"Sky and the others said they had to be somewhere at a certain time, but we don't where they went or when they'll be back." answered Tangie, eating a cool blue Popsicle.
"Oh, what about Azule..? We haven't seen him since before his training." Added Cobalt; Fuchsia jumped out, frightening the four of them.
"Azule…? You mean that idiot that stood me up? He must feel like he's a macho man now! Training with my Pastelle, and forget about me!?"-she clenched her fist even tighter- "Oh if I see him anytime today, he won't be a man when I'm done with him!" stomping off, throwing one of the jellyfish pool boy's in the water.
"That's unlike her to be so upset…" commented Reice, halting on his way to Sally.
"Yeah, usually it's Tangie or Sally with the scary attitude…" Cobalt added plainly; Tangie turns to him with a scary face, grabbing his hand and squeezing it tighter as he squealed 'I give'.
"Apparently Azule stood her up…" said Violet, who was reading her book at the table nearby.
"Stood her up!?" said the boys in sync.
"Yes, he promised her earlier that he would take her out for ice cream. But when Pastelle came back later, she told Fuchsia that Azule had already gone shopping for her." Violet said indifferently, flipping the page.
"Ohh…wait a sec, don't you like Azule too?" blurted Cobalt insensitively; Violet's face peaked red, burying her face in the book.
"Cobalt you dummy!" said Tangie, slapping him on the back of the head.
"I like him…but I could never have the courage to ask him out, and he clearly doesn't recognize either of our feelings for him." Returning back to her book; Sally returns, very satisfied with the result of her mother winning her game.
Sally walks in the hut, passing by the jellyfish boy who was climbing out the pools and being helped up by some nearby Inklings and Cuttlefish. Reice walks over to her putting his arm over her, knowing she hates when he does that. She gently grabs his hand, and begins crushing it with an evil grin; Reice winces in pain as the she tightens her grasp.
"Reice…you should know better than to attempt something so foolish!"-Her devilish grin growing wider-"You're a hundred years out of your mind if you think anything's happening between us!"
She lets go of his hand, "look Reice, you're handsome and all. But in the end, you're still my bro. so please quit the failed flirting, it's creeping me out…" each point she delivered shot an arrow at Reice.
"I was only going to ask if you wanted to go to the mall with Cobalt and I…" he responded, holding his hand in pain.
"Oh…cool." responding in a little regret, "sorry about that…"
Back in the meeting room, General Lime was going through talks and discussions on the many topics that had risen. Such topics were of Fuchsia's admission, which she supported and now she was moving onto the topic that was on the mind of all of her subordinates, Sports.
"The Fall preliminaries will be next month, so prepare your squads for then. The teams that perform well will advance to the winter tournament. The fall preliminaries will be a round robin tournament of 16 teams, which is you all-excluding Kidvel. I have all 16 of you teams here today to draw your groups for then; there will be exactly 4 groups: A, B, C, and D. The top 2 from each group will advance to the winter tournament."
A Gold Inkling boy laughed, he had a gold and white varsity jacket on-matching with his fellow teammates, and had this arrogant smirk; which angered Gin. The Gold Inkling raised his hand, "My lady, is it really necessary for us to have a meeting over this? I mean it's all about Nationals and the Grand Finals…"
Many of the other teams shot him a piercing look as the General told him to take a seat, resuming what she was saying beforehand. As he sat back down, his name and the school name was stitched into the back of his jacket, it read: Jin Ika, captain of the Special Forces High; Gin's glare grew as he made eye contact with the golden squid. Jin stuck his tongue at him playfully, closing his eyes too.
"Stop it!" barked the first division leader out of nowhere; both captains halted.
Azule was now pushing the cart on the twelfth floor, seems like he got the floors mixed up. He still was on the run, knowing at this point that Fuchsia wanted to pummel him, but at this point, he had no clue where he was. Unlike the previous eleven stories, the twelfth story only had conference rooms and meeting halls, it was quite empty. Azule pushes the cart with all his might, huffing and puffing each time he pushed. Finally, he ran out of breath, stopping conveniently in front of the conference room where General Lime and the others were. Azule heard the General's voice, hmm? That voice…Azule pressed his body against the cart, catching his breath and listening to what the general had to say. She continued to talk about the fall preliminaries and the winter tournament, all things that weren't of much interest to him. But, she mentioned the martial arts tournament, which surely drew his interest.
"Now as you know, we've added certain events to this year's splatfest such as the martial arts tournament in the hopes of finding any raw prospects that can be handpicked and groomed for the army based on their performance. For this reason, I have sent a trio of you to compete, will my three strongest please rise…"
Azule heard the sound of some chairs moving, and then he heard clapping, then once again, the General spoke. Why does her voice sound so familiar?I mean…I do remember hearing a tender and soft voice such as this one as a child but, what are the possibilities? He thought, putting more weight on the cart, now leaning on the door and making a knocking sound. Azule then hears Callie and Marie's voices as they open the door, with Azule and his cart filled with luggage crashing on the floor in front of everyone.
The General and everyone turn to Azule, wondering what he was doing on this floor, since it was well known that no one other than business people or government related people be there. Sky, Pastelle and the two teams of SAHS shriek in horror in their minds, all screaming, "Why are you here at the worst timing!"
"Azule...!"-Said Aaron slamming his hand on the table, getting up-"Why are you here!?"
Azule…? Thought the General, try to get a better look at his face as she got up slowly, leaning forward over the table.
Certain captains of their schools immediately began to scowl as they heard that name, the infamous name of the infamous boy who made an enemy of his school the first day. Azule got up, rubbing the side of his head and started laughing.
"My bad, everyone…"-putting his hands up and closing his eyes with an innocent smile-"I was resting against the door when it opened on me suddenly; I truly apologize for disturbing you!"
The first division leader bounced up suddenly, as well as Gin. Both gave each other a long and hard look, before Gin walked over to Azule. Sky and Pastelle held their breath as the others stayed alert, all eight of them knowing that the situation could get worse if a fight broke out between Gin, the future Second division leader and Azule, the kid with incredible raw strength.
"You are Azule, yes? The same disrespectful scum that picked a fight with his own school..?" yelled Gin, getting in Azule's face; Azule smirked as he placed his hand on Gin's chest.
"Don't yell at me…" Azule responded with a shift in tone, and a glint in his eye.
Lime clapped everyone's attention back to her, walking over to Azule and Gin. Azule couldn't help but admire the curves that the general had with her commanding posture to accompany her near perfect features. She got between them, placing her arm around them both.
"Let's not fight, you two. It would be quite unwise for a tussle to happen in a room filled with skilled agents and officers."-Turning to Azule, getting a perfect view of him and confirming her thought-"your name is Azule? Azule Royale by any chance..?"
Azule nodded his head; Sky broke out in a cold sweat as Azule gave himself away, seeing the chance opportunity present itself. She got up, looking down at the table, her hands trembling and so did her voice as she joined in.
"I-I'm his sister, Sky Royale!" locking eyes with the general; General Lime had a breakthrough once she saw Sky's face, recognizing her ever so clearly, L-Lime green eyes!?Then there's no doubt it's her! Sky thought as she too had her breakthrough.
"Azule…Sky…I would like for you stay behind. We have something that needs to be discussed.
The first division leader dismissed everyone immediately. As the others filed out the conference room, the mood into the room turned a little awkward. Many of the Inklings filing out were whispering gossip about the two siblings who'd already become a familiar name amongst everyone and of the possibility that there might be linkage between the Royales. Callie and Marie closed the doors-aware that many of the dismissed Inklings were just outside to eavesdrop.
