Chapter 7


Chili and Kira got comfortable inside their bunk and was having some hot chocolate. Kira's hair messily thrown back into a swoop and wearing some pajamas as they played on the Switch she managed to save. Both were laying on the bed as the pro controller rested in her hand as she played a game called A Hat In Time.

"Damn. The Mafia in this game is a joke." Chili commented.

Kira snickered. "You should see Snatcher. He's my favorite. He's such a ham."

"Kinda like you?" He chuckled as she playfully smacked him upside the head. "I thought so."

Her eyes centered to the TV as she managed to reach the boss area. She paused the game and saved it, turning off her switch. "Say, can we talk?"

Chili raised an eyebrow. "About?"

"It's about when we fused... Y'know, as Cherry Bomb."

He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I was wonderin' about that too. It's so weird how we did it."

"Could it be the one thing we need to beat TarTar? Because when we fought off his goons, he looked pretty scared."

"Now that's something I'm not entirely sure on." He shifted his position on the bed. "I've been meaning to ask Layette about it. See what she thought about it."

"About what?"

Both squids jumped and turned towards the door. Layette was positioned against it, her hood off her head and her glasses resting on her nose. A book in her hand and a her Victorian attire. Her red eyes glowing with curiosity.

"Oi! Haven't you heard of knockin' before?" Chili retorted.

She chuckled. "I have. I just didn't want to interrupt you two during cuddling time~"

Both squids blushed in embarrassment as the vampire snickered. "Anyways, I overheard about you wanting to talk to me?"

"We learned how to fuse." Kira began.

Layette's eyes seemed to widen as she smiled. "You finally learned the technique of fusion. It's such a mysterious power that comes with these. It only happens when the two have a bond together and become another entity, stronger than the two could ever be when standing alone."

"So will it help us end the war?"

"Yes and No." She cleared her throat and sat down on the bed, reaching into her satchel for a leather book decorated on ornate swirling patterns and an indecipherable language.

"Now what's this bullshit?" Chili wondered.

Layette flipped through the pages and stopped at a page, labeled 'Fusion'. "Here. This teaches you about the power of Fusion and what it can do."

Both squids read through the book, taking information in and processing it. When they were finished, they looked at Layette.

"How do we do this though?"

"You have to let your heart and soul guide you."

Both groaned and Kira flopped back onto her bed. "That's such a hippy thing to say!"

Chili tilted his head a bit. "Did you smoke something before coming in?"

"Nonono. I mean it in a serious way too. If it's what my successor told me, I must follow her words of guidance too."

The squid threw his hands up in the air. "We're back to square one! Fan-FUCKING-tastic..."

Layette sighed. "I'm sorry I wasn't of much help.."

"Great! Fucking GREAT! We have nothing to-"

"Kira?!" Mint cried out and ran in.

Kira looked genuinely concerned and sat up. "What's wrong Mint?!"

"Salmonoids! Approaching the camp!"

Chili and Kira looked at each other and nodded. "Let's go!"


Outside the camp walls there was a large group of salmon approaching. They stopped upon a clicking noise and two people approached.

The first was a woman with silvery scales and long orange hair. Her eyes filled with determination as a smirk played on her lips. Her gear was not the normal coveralls. She wore a sleeveless shirt with pants, one pant-leg longer than the other. Her boots covered in spikes and a backpack on her back.

The second one was a buff male, similar to the Steelhead. Wearing a painter's mask and a bomb pack on his back. His eyes green, filled with a fire. Sharp teeth bared at them. He wore a sleeveless vest with different types of splat bombs on a sling across his chest. Long pants and even wore similar boots to the female.

The female squawked and the salmonoids stepped back. "Which one of yous is the leader 'ere?"