On we go. To the story.
Chapter Two
Sisters
(Skul's apartment, a few hours later)
Skul watched as Sagaci kept looking around, taking in the sights of Skul's apartment. The Inktoling walked towards Skul's bookcase, and looked at the trophy from the Vanilla Tournament. She faced Skul. "What is this?" Skul smiled. "It's the winner's trophy for the Vanilla Tournament two years ago. The tournament was named after a friend of mine, who sacrificed herself to save Inkopolis. Sagaci nodded, then looked at Skul's Octoleet Armor. "Where did you get that?"
Skul chuckled. "I was raised by Commander Khan. That's the armor I wore in Octo Ravine." Sagaci faced her in amazement. "You were in an Octarian Settlement?" Skul nodded. "Ten years, then I came here." Looking out the window, she said, "Kyle's been a blessing." Sagaci faced her, curious. "Who's Kyle?" Facing her half-sister, she replied, "My boyfriend. But you can call him Choco. Only I'm allowed to call him by his name." Sagaci nodded, then sat on the bed.
Skul sat beside her, which caused the Inktoling to flinch. The purple Inkling noticed this. "What's wrong?" Sagaci hesitated, then slowly removed the upper segment of her Octoleet Armor. Skul raised an eyebrow, then, taking note of what Sagaci was trying to show her, said, "Oh, my Cod..." Sagaci's upper back was bruised, and they looked recent. It took a lot to get Skul angry nowadays, but seeing that someone had beaten her little sister, she didn't care for that at all.
"Who did this?" Sagaci flinched at Skul's tone, then timidly replied, "M-My mother..." She sniffled, and continued. "Sh-She said that I was a freak, that I was ugly, and that I deserved the beatings." Skul faced her in shock. "She beat you more than once?!" Sagaci nodded. "For as long as I can remember..." Skul clenched her teeth, then put her head in her hands. Thinking it over, she made a decision. "Does it still hurt?" Sagaci nodded. "Sometimes..." Her sister replied, "Well, tomorrow, we're going to see my mother."
Sagaci looked at her in interest. "Your mother?" Skul nodded. "I don't have a clue how to treat bruises, but Mom might." She walked over to her closet, and pulled out a sleeping bag. Sagaci faced her, curious. Skul told her, "You need the bed more than I do. We can look for either a bed for you, or an apartment, but for now, I won't let you spend another night without a bed. That's not healthy for you, especially with those bruises." Sagaci nodded, and Skul tucked her in. In flawless Octarian, Skul said to Sagaci, "Sleep well, sister."
(The next morning)
Skul smiled as they walked to the first floor of Flounder Heights. Shortly after they defeated Octavio two years ago, the scientists in Inkopolis had found a cure for Calamari Syndrome, saving her mother's life. She now lived in an apartment on the first floor, where Skul could easily visit her whenever she wanted. Because of how much money she made at Turf Wars, Ranked Battles, and yearly Tournaments, she had enough money to pay for both herself and her mother, plus more to spare.
She knocked on her mother's door, and waited. The door opened, revealing Jessica looking at her. "Oh, Susan! Come on in!" She then took note of the Inktoling standing beside her, and said, "Oh, you must be Sagaci. Come on in!" Sagaci faced Skul in surprise. Her sister smiled. "I called her before we left." Sagaci was still confused, but said nothing. They walked inside, and Skul sat beside Sagaci across from Jessica, who faced her. "I wondered if it had led to that.."
Skul faced her. "You knew about Octavia?" Jessica nodded. "We didn't know her name, but she did force your father into bed with her, and made me watch out of spite." Skul sighed. "How long did she-?" Jessica replied, "Two weeks. That's how long she kept us in her cave. We went on a picnic before that, and she caught us by surprise. After the two weeks were over, she let us go, with a warning: I will rise." Skul looked at Sagaci, then back at her mother.
"She showed me something last night. Something that I think you should see." Sagaci faced Skul, nervous. Skul faced her. "It's okay. You can trust her." Sagaci hesitantly removed her shirt, revealing the bruises on her back. Jessica gasped, then faced Skul. "Did Octavia do this to her?" Skul nodded. "That's what she said." Jessica sighed, and, facing Sagaci, said, "Lie down on your back. I have just the thing for the pain." Sagaci did as she was told, and Jessica rubbed an ointment on her back.
Sagaci stiffened at first, but relaxed as she felt how much better her back was. Skul watched, and smiled at how relaxed Sagaci was now. The Inktoling got up after her back was rubbed with ointment, and Skul asked, "How do you feel?" Sagaci replied, "Much better." Facing Jessica, she said in Octarian, "Thank you, m-." She cut herself off. Skul faced her. "Were you about to say...?" Sagaci blushed, and nodded. Jessica faced Skul. "What was she going to say?"
Skul replied, "She was about to call you Mother." Sagaci continued to blush. Jessica looked at Sagaci with a smile. "Oh, I don't mind. You certainly need a new mother." She hugged Sagaci, who gladly hugged her back. Skul smiled, and sat down beside her sister. Sagaci put her shirt back on, and listened as Skul told her mother about the new members of Team B-Rush. "GG tried hitting on me, but his skills are pretty good." Her mother nodded. "And the other one?" Skul grinned. "Vian is really good."
A/N
The story is not dead.
