A/N: Okay, so this is your last warning before you read. There are major spoilers for my story, Splatoon: A Fresh Spark.
If anyone is reading any of my other stories, you're probably wondering why I've decided to focus on this new one-shot instead of one of the other stories. A certain someone on the Splatoon Writers Community discord I'm a part of, who shall remain nameless, has decided to have the final day for a contest of one-shots be on May 28th.
Anyway, if you're here and you've read the story, or you don't care about spoilers, I hope you enjoy this.
Rated T, because of some slight heavy themes. Also, exercise caution if you're triggered by grief or depression.
By the way, Happy Birthday, Splatoon! Feels like just yesterday we were just like, "Squids swim in ink. Cool."
"It's a real shame that you will be leaving us, Ms. Arowana. The same goes for your brother, too. I wish he were here in person to say goodbye."
"I wish so, as well," Anemy responded. Her voice was flat as she spoke with the headmaster of Inkblot Art Academy. "However, until this family matter is… settled, I will have to leave." With that, she stood, reached out her hand and shook his.
"Well, I wish you and your brother well, Ms. Arowana."
Anemy could only nod in response. She stood and turned towards the door. She wished she didn't hear what the headmaster asked next.
"Do you think you will be back?"
Anemy's hand was on the doorknob and had opened the door, when he asked that. It would be rude not to answer, so she did.
"No."
It felt like eternity to get back to Octo Valley. She didn't want to go there, but it wasn't like she had a dorm to just hole up in, now. Her steps were steady, but were getting heavier. Just when she thought she couldn't take another step, she did. Her limbs were shaky and heavy and her mind was still foggy, and carrying two suitcases and a backpack of her things wasn't helping. Anemy was annoyed from all the lingering sensations, but she was too tired to find something to hit. She boarded a bus and rode back out to Inkopolis Plaza.
It wasn't far to Octo Valley. Anemy had to just walk up to a grate near Inkopolis Tower. She looked up, seeing excited Inklings everywhere chatting, excited to participate in Ink Battles. So many happy faces.
Except her.
She was just so tired, she wanted to just crumple on the floor. It was a nice warm day, so it was tempting.
No. She had already been made a fool. She could at least save what dignity she had left and not have the townspeople see a random Inkling girl passed out in the crosswalk. She took the grate to Octo Valley and the cap'n was there to greet her. Callie and Marie were there, too, wearing casual clothes.
Anemy took slow steps, staring at the floor. She could feel their eyes on her, the eyes of the people she threw away her entire life for. And for what?
"We saw everything," Marie said, trying to sound as kind as possible. "You were very convincing."
"Shut up," Anemy said, her words starting to slur. The cap'n frowned, and reached out his hand.
"Maybe you outta sit down," the old squid said.
"Don't tell me what to think, old man!" Anemy snapped. However, when she took one step, her world spun and she soon found herself falling. In the haze, she could hear the concerned voices of the cap'n and the Squid Sisters.
Callie and Marie had caught Anemy on the way down and lowered her to the ground gently. Her breaths were heavy and the concealer on her head was starting to come off from sweating, revealing the faded low-tide ink stain on her face. Her suitcases had slipped out her grasp and fell sideways onto the floor.
"I think she's just tired," said Marie. She mentally kicked herself, knowing that she was to blame for Anemy's condition.
The cap'n nodded. "Then she needs to rest." He looked down, seeing his agent barely open her eyes. "You hear me, 3? You're not getting up until you're feeling better."
Anemy sighed and closed her eyes. Better? She wondered what that would be like… if it would ever be that way…
Callie and Marie did most of the heavy lifting and helped the dazed agent into Cuttlefish Cabin. It was just a little shack, but it should be a good shelter for now. They took off her shoes and backpack, before laying her down on a bedroll. Callie grabbed a towel and decided to just wipe off the rest of the concealer on her head, seeing as it was no longer needed for now. There was a faint green mark on the side of Anemy's head. It was fading away, but it would've raised eyebrows if anyone had seen it. Marie came back with a heavy blanket, unfolded it and tucked in the tired agent.
Anemy was mumbling something under her breath. Callie leaned in close.
"'Nem, do you need anything?"
"I need…" the Inkling girl began softly, "you two…" Despite her eyes being too heavy to open, her brows furrowed, "to go away." Her voice grew harsh at that last part. Callie backed off. Before Marie could say anything in response, Callie grabbed her cousin's hand and dragged her out of the cabin, as requested, before closing the door, carefully behind them.
The shack was dark, blocking out the sunlight. Anemy just stared at the roof. At least it was quiet and her backpack and suitcases were leaned against the wall. She could see the maps and old fashioned, handwritten letters, and the maps of the Octarian domes. It was the many things she had given her time for. She was chosen to protect Inkopolis. If she wasn't so curious, maybe some other Inkling would've been lying here… with their friends gone, and the most important person in their life…
Dead.
What did she do? The frown on her face grew deeper as orange, transparent tears filled up her eyes. Before she joined the New Squidbeak Splatoon, she went to school, had friends, and a brother who would help guide her through this crazy world.
She had a life.
And now, it was all gone.
She remembered when Bass smacked his hand so hard against the wall, he hurt it and it began to bleed.
"NO!"
She remember Angel crying as much as Anemy had. However, even while Anemy had first awakened from being shot with the experimental low-tide ink, her tongue was still as sharp as ever.
"This is all your fault! You killed him!"
She wondered if the pain would've been lessened if she wasn't forced to keep quiet about it. Shell, maybe everyone would've had an easier time, if they weren't forced to keep quiet about it.
It didn't matter now. None of it did. All of it was said and done, and now she was laying here, still dazed and out of it from Marie's stupid ink, but with it enough to know the full weight of what she was being forced to endure.
She was completely alone.
The tears fell from her eyes, her body shaking as she tried to hold back the sobs that escaped her mouth. She laid there, unmoving until she cried herself to sleep.
The Squid Sisters felt awful, having to leave Anemy, but they had to do their nightly news show, or people might start asking questions. So, Cap'n Cuttlefish was left to look after Anemy alone.
He went into the cabin and found Anemy still asleep, the tears had dried up, so the cap'n picked up a rag with cured water and wiped them away. The green ink stain on Anemy's face was still apparent, and he still didn't know what kind of side effects his agent may face from taking a hit from such an experimental substance. Granted, he wanted Marie to use it, during that fight, but he swore to Anemy up and down after she woke up that he didn't intend for Marie to use it on her. It was to subdue Octavio.
But he doubted the girl before him would ever believe his words at this point. He sat down on the floor, knowing that Anemy would be too tired to wake up from his presence or any noises.
Even in sleep, Anemy still had this depressed, broken look on her face. He had seen it many times back in the days of the Great Turf War. He had seen many of his fellow Inklings laid up from injury or illness from the hazards of the battlefield. Others were long gone, while others had survived, only to die later on from complications from their war-time injuries or something else.
But the ones that really stuck with him sometimes were those who had lost just more than a limb or a friend. It was everything.
Of course, he and a few friends kept an eye on the Octarians, even after their defeat. He never thought their attempt at revenge would actually happen in his lifetime, but now, here he was staring at yet another tortured soul before him. It didn't matter that it wasn't Callie or Marie, like he had feared and thought about many times during their training or any close calls. This gave him the same amount of despair whether or not his grandsquids were the ones in Anemy's shoes. In truth, the one who truly faced blame for what had happened, was himself. And because of it, his granddaughters, the Squid Sisters would have to bear the burden of their deeds in silence.
DJ Octavio, even when they were young, had always been a sore loser. Maybe this was one final "splat you" before getting put behind glass.
"I'm sorry, Anemy…" he said, solemnly.
Already, the cap'n was regretting having Marie use the low-tide ink on Anemy. It was the fourth day since the final battle with his nemesis, DJ Octavio, that decided the fate of Inkopolis, but his star agent was still experiencing symptoms.
She had a headache and felt like there was pain behind her eyes. The girl was thankful that the shack blocked out most of the sunlight, but was too nauseous to eat anything, let alone get out of bed.
The cap'n walked in to see Anemy reach for a nearby trash can and throw up whatever she had eaten the night before, which wasn't much. She was barely willing to take food since… what had happened. He left the cabin and was soon back with some tea made with cured water, but no matter how long he held it out for her, she wouldn't even look at him as she laid curled up in her pillows, hiding her face and heavily breathing.
"Anemy, you just got sick," said the cap'n. "You should drink something."
The only thing the Inkling girl could do in response was groan and shake her head. It seemed she was still adamant on being defiant for pride, despite her current state.
Or maybe, she simply no longer trusted him.
The cap'n sighed. He walked up to her, spine cracking as he knelt down. Anemy slid open one eye, staring as he drank from the cup himself, before holding it forward. With a shaky hand Anemy finally took it, drank the rest of the tea and then threw the empty cup across the room, before flopping back down on her bedroll.
The cap'n sighed and stood, walking over to pick up what Anemy tossed aside. He was thankful the cup was plastic, since he learned what Anemy would do to glass ones the hard way.
Callie and Marie returned to Octo Valley by the afternoon and it didn't seem like things were any better. The moment they approached Cuttlefish Cabin, their ink color unwillingly turned blue and tears started racing down from the girls' eyes.
It brought them back to that horrible day. They remembered the moment Anemy screamed, the way her voice echoed, and suddenly, they were able to feel what she felt. They knew what she had wanted.
So that's why the cap'n had Marie do what she did.
Fearing for their own and their grandfather's safety, they raced in to only find the cap'n rubbing Anemy's back while she moaned into her pillow. The Squid Sisters had stopped to find some medicine for headaches before they came here. They were relieved that nothing had happened, but even the old man's ink color had turned blue and Anemy was the source of it. They were more used to the vibrant orange she usually had.
"Don't touch me…" Anemy moaned, her voice shaky like she wanted to or had been crying. Even so, the cap'n didn't listen.
"She ain't doing so great," said the cap'n. He was biting back and wiping away tears himself. The Squid Sister's could see that. Callie probably was more liked than Marie at the moment, but it still didn't mean her chances of getting Anemy to do as she wanted without getting yelled at were any higher.
She opened the bottle and poured the medicine into a tiny cup before getting close to the incapacitated girl. She was slow like she was approaching a dangerous creature. Which, since they didn't know what kind of thing Anemy started being able to do, she probably was dangerous.
"H-Hey 'Nem," Callie said, kneeling down next to her. "We got you some medicine for your headache."
"Your cousin gave me this headache…" Anemy grumbled into the pillow.
"Tch." Marie looked away, arms crossed. It was more of a flinch than anything. As much as Callie wanted to snap at Anemy for upsetting her cousin, now wasn't the time.
"We just wanna help you feel better," Callie spoke, gently.
Anemy growled. Her fist shook. She lifted her head, a fresh batch of blue tears streaming down from her eyes.
"Oh, if you want that, then bring back my b-"
Anemy couldn't say another word, because the popstar shoved the drink to her lips and forced her to down the thick liquid. She gagged, but swallowed all of it before turning her back to them and flopping back down in her bedroll.
Eventually, Anemy fell asleep, and whatever was making Anemy's sadness be felt by everyone who was near her faded away. Her ink color even changed back to orange. The cap'n tucked the Inkling girl under the blanket and the three left the cabin quietly to chat outside.
"So what are we going to do, now?" said Callie.
"I think that's up to Anemy," said the cap'n.
"But what's left for her?" said Marie. "We uprooted her whole life. Angel and Bass left, and we made her leave Inkblot Art Academy. This wasn't what we were fighting for, gramps. Are you telling her to just deal with it?"
The cap'n sighed. "No, it ain't that. But, if word got out-"
"What if it was me or Marie? Word would definitely get out! She wanted to perform on stage like us!"
"Callie-" Marie tried to interject.
"Are you somehow thankful that she was just some nobody and not a popstar?"
"Callie, that's enough!" the cap'n then snapped.
The pink Inkling winced.
"None of us want this for her, but for the sake of the world, we have to keep this a secret."
"So, she can't have a life?" said Callie.
"I never said that."
"Well, she can't just keep staying in that tiny shack like a hobo."
"Hey, it's cozy!" the cap'n insisted. "What's wrong with that?"
"I don't think you like being on duty with an Inkling who probably wants to hurt you…" said Marie. "A lot."
"But you said she can't perform?" said Callie.
"I said she can no longer attend the academy," said the cap'n. "Getting her name out there is asking for trouble. People will start asking questions."
Callie hated this hypocrisy. Her and Marie's were out there, but because Anemy now had a relative that was no longer with her, because of that darn DJ, she had to just stop?
"Can't we just make something up?" said Callie. "They're probably already suspicious as to why she decided to just drop out."
The cap'n just sighed. "All we can do for now, is just be there for Anemy. She probably doesn't want us around, but we should probably stay by her side."
Marie scoffed. "So much for Bass and Angel…"
"We give her everything she needs, or wants," said the cap'n. "I know eventually that low-tide will wear off, and then we can help her think about what to do next."
Both girls were conflicted, but there was no way to speed up the recovery process of grief. What would they tell a therapist? That her brother died helping her to prevent a second Great Turf War by fighting the leader of the long banished Octarians?
Callie wasn't sure what to do, and she was sure that Marie didn't either, but like every problem, they would just have to work it out together.
To say that Anemy was a mess, was an understatement. If losing her brother and friends wasn't enough, the end of the life she was pursuing was just the icing on the cake. All of it was forced upon her by the hero of the Great Turf War, and the Squid Sisters, a pair of idols she and her brother looked up to so much.
She fell apart.
Days had passed since the effects of the low-tide ink wore off. Even then, it didn't seem that the Splatoon's star agent had gotten any better with her mind clearing up. The stain on her face had faded away, like it never happened, but tucked under her hair on the side of her head was a small mark of slightly scarred skin from the initial shot. Anemy knew it would probably be permanent.
She ate only enough to stop the hunger pangs, which allowed her to just try and sleep the day and night away. Food usually stimulated almost any Inkling's predatory brains, but not even Anemy's favorites caught a second glance. The girl only spoke to the cap'n and the Squid Sisters only if it was absolutely necessary. They had brought her books to read, left little knick knacks and trinkets they would get from somewhere they went. Anemy had the strength to stare at them, even organizing them neatly on a nearby shelf, but other than that, she wouldn't move from her spot in Cuttlefish Cabin. There wasn't much space to move to, anyway.
Anemy had ignored whatever the three came by to say to her, whether it was something kind, or reassuring. For all she knew that was under a thin veil of lies, like the kind that got her shot in the face, and drove her away from what she valued most: Her friends, her music, and her brother.
It made her wonder: They got what they wanted. So, why were they still keeping her around? Maybe they were still trying to figure out how to tie up the loose end that was her.
The Squid Sisters and the cap'n especially, weren't blind to it, either. It was probably unbearable to feel what Anemy was feeling, and the overwhelming despair was twisting her thoughts to these vile assumptions. The only bright side was that her emotions had evened out enough that the strange phenomenon that caused them to feel Anemy's sadness had stopped, but Callie and Marie weren't sure what to do if it happened again.
Autumn was coming.
Anemy had lost track of the time, but she knew about the changing of the seasons, seeing the leaves out of the window changing color, along with the familiar sights of Octo Valley. It had been quiet and dormant since her final battle. It was the last time she had ever even picked up a weapon. And wasn't it strange? What kind of young Inkling wouldn't engage in Ink Battles at least once in their lives? It was a good release for their primal minds.
Young. That was right. Anemy was still young, but it still felt like her life was over, which as far as she was concerned, it was.
A TV had been set up near her, but she hated turning it on at night. Splatfests had gone on in the time she had been sitting in solitude, and of course, the Squid Sisters, the pair of idols that had once given her happiness would be there, singing their hearts out. She despised seeing them on the TV. Why were they allowed to have such fun and fame, while she was forcibly shoved to the wayside?
It was never about becoming famous. That wasn't why she wanted to go to Inkblot Art Academy to engage in their performing arts program. Having an audience would have been the cherry on top. She loved music, and wanted to make people smile, like the Squid Sisters, and many other bands do. But now, because they had to cover up what happened to her brother, she couldn't even stand on a stage.
Seeing all those people happy, having fun, and being friends… All of it was made possible, because she freed the Great Zapfish. However, she couldn't find happiness in it… knowing that her brother was the sacrifice and that life was still going on while she wallowed, which just made her feel even worse. So, she thought it was better to lose herself in cartoons and other shows. Anything that was fake, or just helped her escape reality, if just for a little while.
"Anemy…"
The cap'n came in at the end of one night. The TV was on and he wasn't surprised to find her watching it. The girl didn't have a regular sleep schedule anymore. She slept whenever she felt tired, or just wanted an escape, which was often. Her back was against the wall, with a pillow as cushioning. Since he was here more than the Squid Sisters, he had gotten used to her sitting there, but with her unwillingness to do anything, it was like she was fading into the background, becoming nothing more than decoration. Depressing decoration. She knew she heard him, but didn't see the point in responding.
"We need to talk."
Anemy didn't want to talk. If it wasn't food, which she would barely eat, anyway, she didn't want to hear it. Usually, if she just sat there and ignored whoever was at her bedside, they would give up and leave, sometimes saying a little thing here or there.
This time, however, it was different. No matter how long she sat there, watching the TV as the characters discussed whether or not Sea Savvy Sally would survive the operation, his big eyes were still on her, like she was something shiny, which she knew she wasn't. She wasn't anything to look at. So, she opened her mouth and spoke.
"...What do you want?" She barely even spoke these days, so hearing her own voice out loud was foriegn to her. She didn't even make eye contact with the cap'n.
"What I want is for my best agent to stop wasting away in front of me," said the cap'n.
"Would you stop calling me that?" said Anemy. "I was a pawn."
"No, you're not."
Anemy held back a laugh, or a vague attempt at one. It was more of a sigh. "Forgive me if I don't believe you. I'm fine."
"You've lost weight."
"I haven't been weighed."
"It's apparent."
"So on top of telling me what to do on the battlefield, you're telling me what to do with my body?"
"And, forgive me for being so straightforward with you, uh…" The cap'n scratched the back of his head. "I think you need a bath."
Anemy sighed. She was pretty sure she hadn't changed out of the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing since she left Inkblot Art Academy. It was showing its overuse with tears on the seams and the wrinkles and parts of the elastics on the neck area being stretched out. "So that's why Marie stands halfway across the room from me like I'm a spoiled krill… I'm sorry if my hygiene isn't up to her high popstar standards."
"'Nem-"
"I'm surprised you still show up and check on me…" said Anemy. "I'll give you that."
"Because you ain't just an agent! We care about you!"
"I thought Bass and Angel did…"
"We ain't talking about them. I know what it's like to lose everything, and I hate seeing you go through the same thing."
Then finally, while Anemy didn't turn her head, she moved her blue eyes, that had all but lost the life in them, and looked at her captain.
"Octavio was… my best friend," the cap'n continued. "I had many other friends in those ink trenches with me. And many of those didn't make it home. Many of them would never see their friends or families again. We may have won, but I lost my best friend. Plenty of them. It felt like there was nothing left, and I lost sight of what I was fighting for. Many of my pals who remained felt the same. It was hard, and even harder watching those around me suffering. It's a dark place, but it is possible to climb out of it." The cap'n knelt down, being careful and using his Bamboozler for a cane as support. "You can find a way to live life again."
Anemy didn't want to hear another speech about hope, but the cap'n was still in her face. She just wanted to see if Sea Savvy Sally was okay, but he wouldn't stop yapping.
"But even as we were at the bottom, we couldn't just give up. Fighting the war was only part of the battle. The rest of it lied with what we did next. The rebuilding, and not just people's homes, but their lives, and ours, as well. For everyone's sake and our own, we had to keep going. Please, Anemy. Can't you try? If not for yourself, then for the people who care about you."
Anemy sighed. She leaned back on her pillow.
"You won the war," she stated, flatly. "You had children, and grandchildren. I only had my brother, and after what happened, he really was all I had. I don't have any friends. I don't think I ever did."
"You're wrong, bucko! I know I ain't much, but I'm here. My grandsquids-"
"All three of you are traitors!" Anemy said sharply, using her tongue like a knife. "To your own kind. You shot me and covered up the truth. You would shoot a girl who wants justice and keep a war criminal alive! That is what you've shown me who you're here for."
"Your brother was trying to protect you above everything," said the cap'n. "That's all the more reason not to waste the life he gave you by being the way you are now."
"You never knew my brother! He was an innocent Inkling who got caught in the crossfire, concerned for his only sister. He should be the one still here!"
The cap'n tried to hold back his reaction. He held his teeth tight. Did Anemy feel… guilty?
"Now leave me alone," said Anemy.
"But-"
"LEAVE!" the Inkling then shouted. Her ink color turned blue, her eyes glowing the same color, it wasn't long before the emotion had spread to the cap'n as well. Anemy gasped and covered her mouth as tears raced down her face. They were running down the cap'n's eyes, as well. She lowered her hands slowly, her breath shaky. "Just leave me like everyone else."
The cap'n needed a second to stand, the emotion almost overwhelming his senses. Anemy kept her breaths steady and eventually the wave of sadness faded, but her ink color was still blue for a while.
"I know things feel hopeless," said the cap'n. "Please… Remember the gift of life he gave you… and treasure it."
The cap'n left the cabin shortly after. Leaving Anemy as usual: Alone. Anemy thought it was for the best.
A freak like her belonged in a tiny shack like this. Alone.
It was much later into the night, just a few hours after Anemy and the cap'n's conversation, when the Inkling girl awoke with a start. She had no idea why, but she felt like something wasn't right, like there were eyes on her. She pulled the blanket off of her lap and stood on her bare feet, when suddenly, the window she had been sitting next to shattered. The force made her fall to the ground.
In the split second Anemy was laying there in the broken glass, she thought about how pathetic she was that she got knocked down by glass breaking, like a leaf blowing in the wind. Maybe she really had lost weight.
In the next second, she was pinned down by Inklings? No. She knew the red goggles and suction cups on their tentacles for hair. These were Octolings! Anemy found herself facing upward, looking at an elite. She could tell with the kelp in her hair.
"I didn't even have to try," she said. "Now, be a good girl and tell me where the general is."
"The cap'n knows," Anemy answered. "Not me." She was met with the barrel of an Octo-shot to the side of her face, but even then, she didn't even stare up at her attacker.
"Search the place," said the elite. She sniffed and then glared down at the agent laying on the floor. "And make it quick. It smells."
Other Octolings were soon searching around the cabin, tipping things over and letting whatever contents that was in or on them spill onto the floor.
While that was happening, Anemy was held at gunpoint, her body flat on the floor while the barrel of the weapon was pressed into the side of her head, while her face looked to the same direction. The girl looked at the Octoling above her before she just kept her gaze facing where her head was. She didn't see the point of trying to be brave and just let the tears leave her eyes and closed them.
"Just… get it over with."
Then the door was busted down, with the shot from a charger. To be more exact: It was a shot from a Bamboozler.
"AGENT 3!" yelled the voice of her captain.
There were weapons being set and aimed. Anemy opened her eyes to see them aiming there weapons at her captain, who was shocked to see all the Octolings around.
They were so distracted by the sudden intrusion, they didn't notice Anemy react, reaching out her hand and shouting.
"CAP'N!"
Her ink color turned white and suddenly all the Octolings around her fell to the ground, backing away from her, just wanting to be away from her.
Anemy stood up, seeing the troops being afraid of… her? She wasn't sure. They just seemed scared.
"3, now!" Despite being affected, as well, the old squid threw his weapon to her and, forcing her ink color back to orange, she started shooting. Some of them managed to get up as the effect wore off, but it was too late. Somehow, her instincts were still there, dodging, flipping and rolling away from attacks.
When it was over, there was nothing but orange ink on the floor by the time the cap'n's hair returned to his normal grayish white.
"'Nem!" the cap'n raced over as Anemy sunk to her knees, grabbing a nearby blanket and placing it around her shaking form. She looked at the ink and then the weapon in her hands, before handing it back to the cap'n. "Are you okay?"
She wasn't sure, but nodded. She was certainly scared, just like she had been many times before, but if it weren't for whatever she was able to do now, who knows what could've happened. The girl had stood her ground and splatted those Octarians.
It felt… good.
The cap'n sent a telegram to her grandsquids and they, despite how late it was, came to Octo Valley as soon as possible.
"Gramps!" Callie, wearing her agent gear, along with Marie was the first to approach the old man and nearly made him topple to the floor with a hug.
"Easy, girl!" the cap'n insisted. "I'm okay!" But Marie, despite her silence, embraced him, as well.
"Where's 3?" said Marie.
"She's fine. I was more worried about her, but she handled it just fine, the poor girl."
"She did?" said Callie.
The cap'n nodded. "I gave her some food to calm her down. Seemed eager for some when I offered."
Marie hummed. Her head tilted. "Really?"
The old Inkling walked up to the shack, opening the door, and found his agent curled up and asleep in her bedroll. There were bandages wrapped around her skin where the broken glass had cut her, and to their shock, the bowl of seaweed stew he gave her was almost completely empty, with bits of kelp still stuck to the edges of Anemy's mouth.
"Holy carp!" Callie exclaimed. "She ate! She actually ate!"
"Shhh!" Marie and the cap'n were quick to silence the girl. Callie huffed and just walked over to wipe Anemy's face with a napkin.
"What does this mean?" said Marie.
The cap'n shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe those Octo-jerks were a wake-up call or something. We should use it as a chance to drag her out of her slump."
"But she can't stay here," said Callie. "She managed to fight those guys off, but she's still weak."
"Well, you may be right about that," said the cap'n. "She probably shouldn't be here until she's back in fighting shape."
"Then we'll just have to do our best elsewhere," said Callie. "It'll be fine. When we're not doing the news or performing, we'll be helping her, and when we're not… uh…"
"I'll take over," said the cap'n. "We ain't giving up on her, like Bass and Angel did."
Callie grinned. "Duh! Of course not! We won't stop until she's happy again. This life may not be the one she expected, but we'll do everything we can to help her adapt. I call it: Operation Smile!"
Marie rolled her eyes and held back a chuckle. Despite Callie's loud attitude, she was a bit more hopeful, but how their plan would go would solely depend on Anemy's willingness and mood. Then she pinched her nose. "And maybe we can drag her to a shower, too."
The cap'n was practically grinning ear to ear to see Anemy eating breakfast the next morning. It was the same seaweed stew from last night. The morning that followed was cloudy and it was beginning to drizzle, but the shack was more than capable of keeping the rain out. The water landed onto the tilted roof and glided down and off into the ground. From inside, it was actually kind of peaceful to watch such dangerous water land outside.
The rain brought a chill, so Anemy stayed wrapped up in that blanket from last night. Not only did it keep her warm, it seemed to block the stench from the unhygienic agent.
The cap'n ate beside her, the radio was on, playing the old tunes he adored. Despite the relative silence, the mood felt different.
"It's good, huh?" said the cap'n. Anemy only nodded in response. "I'm glad to see you're awake, because there's something I need to tell you." He frowned to see that her eating was slowing down. It had been too long since the girl had eaten a full meal, so he wasn't surprised to see her struggle to finish. He put a hand on the bowl and made her set it down. It was mostly gone, anyway. "You've eaten enough. You don't want that coming back up, do you?"
Anemy shook her head and pushed the bowl aside. He closed the door and they were safely inside and protected from the chill of the rain. After that, he turned to her and explained what he and his grandsquids discussed.
"You want to move me?" Anemy spoke, her voice soft, but audible.
"Just somewhere until you have your strength back," said the cap'n. "My grandsquids offered you to stay with them. It's in the city and less likely to have Octo-jerks running around."
"Oh." It had been a long time since Anemy had been in Inkopolis. She picked up a napkin and wiped her own face. "Can I go back to school?"
The cap'n sighed, and Anemy just looked away. It was foolish to even ask. She knew it, but her heart wanted to ask it. She can't. They both knew that. The old Inkling didn't even need to explain it again.
"I'm sorry, Anemy. Do you still wanna protect Inkopolis?"
"Of course I do," said Anemy. "Just… It's just…"
"I know," said the cap'n. "And I'm sorry for having to pull you into the shadows like this. There is a chance that you may have to spend the rest of your life in the Splatoon. Can you accept that?"
Anemy gasped. She knew the consequences of knowing about this secret society of heroes, but now that the facts were laid out bare for her, it was hitting her all at once.
"I'm sorry I'm putting you through all of this," the cap'n spoke, solemnly. "But seeing you regain yourself has given me hope. I'll do what I can to get you back into shape."
"Why?"
"You're special, Anemy."
"Huh?"
"Your ability isn't something that most Inklings or Octolings have."
Anemy tilted her head. "You… know what it is?"
"I've looked into it before, as have friends of mine, during our Turf Warring days, but it's nothing too conclusive. It may be a leftover from our evolution. Squids and octopuses would change color to communicate and camouflage. How it ties into our emotions must be a DNA thingamabobber that I don't fully understand, but we can use it to our advantage."
"I mean, I don't really have a choice, do I…?" said Anemy. "I signed up… to protect Inkopolis from the Octarians. The city…" She raised her hand and put it onto her chest. "That has to come first… doesn't it?"
The cap'n nodded. He placed a hand on hers. "Thank-you. And I'm sorry about all of this." Anemy wondered how many more times he was going to apologize. It wasn't going to make anything better, no matter what he tried. "Well, I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. As the cap'n of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, I give you my word."
Anemy lowered her head, staring at her lap. It wasn't very reassuring, but she would just have to take it. What else could she do?
The words that the cap'n told her still rang in her ears. She didn't know why she was still alive, but she was. But until she could figure out what she was going to do, she would look at the cap'n and those Squid Sisters, and as the academy taught her…
Put on her best show…
The Squid Sisters came for Anemy later on in the day. It was awkward to leave the cabin and even more so to return to the city. In fact, when Anemy got near the sewer grate to return to Inkopolis Plaza, she was overcome with overwhelming anxiety. Luckily, Callie and Marie were in disguise, and had no problem with wrapping her up in a blanket to calm her down and staying with her as they walked out of the plaza and rode the bus to their apartment building.
The reception and hallways weren't that different to living in a dorm. They took the elevator to their floor and were at the apartment in no time.
Anemy only had a brief moment to look around, while Marie handled her suitcases, and Callie set her backpack onto the couch. It changed color based on the cephalopod's current ink color when they touched it. The walls were decorated with pictures of family, the Calimari County and various promotional posters for concerts and Splatfests.
"I guess you can sleep in the living room for now," said Callie. "It'll be fun. Like a sleep over!" A tiny noise left her mouth as Anemy walked past her to the window, showing the view of the city. There it was. Still lively and bustling with life.
"Let's give her a minute…" Marie said, pulling Callie aside.
Anemy just stood there, blanket still around her, like it was the only thing shielding her from the reality that she was completely alone in the city. At least out in Octo Valley, she didn't have to worry about running into another soul, unless it was the enemy or the cap'n. They weren't disguised as friends, so she could see their intentions without having to use her brain.
"Okay, minute's over!" Marie said. "I've been waiting for this for too long." Anemy could only yelp as she was yanked away from her spot and into the bathroom, where she was soon stripped of her clothes and tossed into a bath with cured water.
When the lights turned off on her first night back in the city, Anemy had been given supper and had eaten most of it, until her body refused any more. The amount she ate was acceptable to the Squid Sisters and they were sure she had a long day, so they tucked her into her bedroll that they had brought from Cuttlefish Cabin.
Anemy could still see all the photos and posters in the dark. It was like they were mocking her. She rolled onto her side, and hid beneath the blanket as she tried to sleep.
Still she formed a fist just before she fell asleep, knowing what she had to do.
But for now, she did as they wanted. She kept her mouth shut and kept the secrets of what happened to herself.
Anemy continued to improve as the days went on. Every morning, she went to Octo Valley to train, while the Squid Sisters were out singing, or doing the daily news. In the afternoon, they would pick her up and go to the plaza to battle at the Battle Dojo.
At night they would go home and eat dinner, where the cap'n would show up sometimes, and discuss the status of the Octarians, now that Octavio was behind glass. Anemy's hands would tense at the dinner table, wanting to demand, where the shell Octavio was, but she didn't ask.
She would show up, dress in her gear, and take out the stragglers of Octavio's troops in the valley. She practiced every day, relaxed and slept when directed to get her back on track to a normal sleep schedule. She was courteous to the gifts the cap'n and the Squid Sisters would give her. Meanwhile, however, her instruments remained untouched.
And she hadn't smiled. At all.
One day, Callie and Marie came back from a rehearsal. They entered the apartment, eager to see Anemy, but the living room was empty, and it didn't sound like she was in the restroom. Then something fell over, and it sounded from somewhere in the hall.
"'Nemy?" Callie said, rushing forward first. She saw the door to Marie's room opened. The green Squid Sister caught up with her cousin, saw the door open, and quickly rushed in, wondering what the shell Anemy was up to.
When they walked in, Marie was appalled. Her floor was spotless, all her clothes were neatly tucked away, and everything was dusted, with the bed made. She was wiping down the windows, an apron on, and a do-rag on her forehead.
"Yes?" Anemy said, turning around.
"Oh, uh…" Marie swallowed and looked around. "I thought-"
"Wow, 'Nem! This place looks fantastic!" Callie exclaimed. She ran over and embraced the Inkling. The agent flinched, but just stood there. She didn't hug Callie back, but she didn't desperately try to pull away like she had done previously.
Anemy nodded. "I got… a little sad, while I was waiting after training, so I tried cleaning up to distract myself. Sorry, I guess I got carried awa-"
"No," Marie said, starting to smile. "I've never seen my room this clean before. Thank-you."
"I know you don't like your socks and shirts in the same drawer, so I put them with your undergarments instead. I hope it's okay."
"Meh! It's fine!" the pink Squid Sister said, pulling away. "Anyway, 'Nem." She kept her grin, even if it faltered as her affection didn't make Anemy even grin a little. "We've got a surprise for you."
"What is i-" Anemy could only say, before Marie blindfolded the girl.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Marie said, taking off the girl's apron and do-rag. "Now, come on!" She pushed Anemy forward by the shoulders. The girl was a bit surprised, but decided not to fight it.
She heard the elevator, knew she was getting on the bus, but they were sitting there for a while. She was sure one of one them woke her up, because she fell asleep on the ride.
When they got off the bus, she didn't hear the hustle and bustle of the city. Sure, she heard a car here and there, but it was quiet. Anemy could hear the crickets that were out at night and feel a firefly or two buzz past her as they walked on. They were either planning something big… or… they were dragging her out somewhere to kill her, which was a small terrifying thought that began to grow in her head. Neither Squid Sister had said much of anything since they escorted her from the apartment.
"We're here!" Callie exclaimed. She undid Anemy's blindfold and she saw that she was in the suburbs of Inkopolis, and in front of her was a real cabin, not the tiny shack that was referred to as such.
"Here's the real Cuttlefish Cabin," said Marie.
Anemy stared up, but didn't see what was so special about it. She had been here a few times, but didn't see the significance.
"I don't get it," she said. Then she was blindfolded again.
"You'll see," said Callie. She led her up the steps of the porch and inside. They went through the living room and into the hallway, all the way to the furthest door in the back. The blindfold was taken off just as the door was opened.
Anemy gasped. What used to be an empty storage room had been converted into an entirely new bedroom. Her computer had been set up in the corner, her weapons on the walls, her favorite music CDs were organized in a shelf along with her favorite comic books. In the closet was all of her clothes. On the floor she saw the suitcases emptied.
"Happy Birthday, Anemy!"
The girl turned around, seeing that source of the voice had come from the duo of pop stars and their grandfather. She had been so caught up in herself, she had forgotten that today was her birthday. And it made sense. If she stuck around at the cap'n's house, she could stay close to her work, and she didn't have to feel the pressure of the city as much.
Callie, Marie, and the cap'n were worried when they saw tears escape from Anemy's eyes, but then, after all this time, they got the reaction they wanted.
She smiled.
Anemy wiped the tears from her eyes. "Thank-you." And then, she felt three pairs of arms around her.
"Of course, bucko!" said the cap'n. "We'd never want you to keep sleeping on the floor. If you're staying with us, you might as well feel at home."
Callie and Marie were hopeful and smiled at one another. They retreated to the kitchen where they sang songs, told stories and ate some cake into the night.
Once it was late, Anemy went to her new bedroom to sleep. She waited until the door was closed before kicking her shoes off. With her foot she booted up her computer that she hadn't used in a while and typed in the password.
She shouldn't have done that.
As soon as she got into her computer it loaded up her desktop. She gasped, and just let her jaw drop. She saw the photo of herself, her brother, along with Bass and Angel standing happily in front of Inkopolis Tower.
She stepped back, looking down at the floor.
What am I doing? she thought.
She sat down in the swivel chair slowly. The room was silent. All she could hear was the silent whirring of her computer running.
It didn't matter what the Squid Sisters or the cap'n did. All they were doing was trying to cover up the wound with a bandaid. It didn't change anything. She was still out of school. Her friends had gone. Her brother was gone. Everything she accepted from the Squid Sisters and Cap'n Cuttlefish was like accepting a bribe to keep her mouth shut and stay obedient.
She was still alone.
And yet, she was sitting there just taking it.
It didn't feel right, but doing anything else felt selfish. But, her reason for joining up in the first place was selfish… at first. Did it even matter at this point? No one would even know that she saved the world.
Agent 3 wasn't a hero. She was just… a selfish, horrible girl.
She stared at the screen, her eyes narrowing. Maybe… she no longer cared about that fact.
Cars vs. Planes.
Anemy wasn't sure what she preferred, but it didn't matter. She had no intention of participating in tonight's Splatfest. The cap'n was collecting the notes, scrolls and other bits of intel from the tiny shack in Octo Valley. They thought it would be safer to move them out of Octo Valley. Anemy was just supervising, sitting on the roof, making sure no Octarians showed up. The night brought a chill, but the Squid Sisters had put together a cape for the agent to wear. It was kind of a blanket to her and kept her calm if anything made her tense.
Anemy was just staring up at the night sky, while the cap'n and the Squid Sisters gathered everything. They decided to leave behind the plushie Zapfishes just in case. Luckily, the plaza had been cleared out to prepare for the Splatfest, so they had time to move everything without having questions raised.
Once everything was safely back at Cap'n Cuttlefish's house, all they had to do was just organize everything. But, the cap'n was already tired from all this hard work.
"Feeling tired, gramps?" said Callie. "Maybe it's time for a nap."
The cap'n sighed. "That ain't for another hour, Callie."
"But you already look tired!" said Marie. "Come on. You said you wanted to see your grandsquids sing tonight."
The old squid's protests were heard as Marie dragged him down the hallway towards his room. Anemy hadn't looked up and was just putting everything in its proper pile. There were probably things they could afford to get rid of, but it would have to be disposed of properly to prevent the wrong hands from getting any maps, or scraps of weapons.
"You sure you want to stay here, tonight?" said Marie.
Anemy nodded. "I'm fine. I'll just watch some TV and eat some junk food or something."
Marie grinned and snickered. "Not very healthy for your training, but tonight is a party."
"Yeah. A party."
The cap'n slept for about an hour before he was ready to go. Anemy was about done organizing when the cap'n got ready to see the Splatfest with his grandsquids. Callie and Marie were in their usual popstar outfits. Anemy saw them when they were walking out from their respective rooms.
And as usual, she smiled. They took their snacks that Anemy had prepared for them and headed out the door.
"Okay!" Callie exclaimed. "We'll be back soon!"
"Don't wait up all night!" said Marie.
"Look after the place, bucko!"
Anemy giggled, her grin apparent until the door shut. Then, it faded away, as she looked down at the work she still had ahead of her.
"I'll… be here…" she spoke, solemnly.
The night went swimmingly. The plaza was united in song, and everyone played their hearts out at the Splatfest. The cap'n stayed up super late, watching his granddaughters perform.
Once things were settling down, and Inklings were going home for the night, Callie and Marie prepared to go home, as well, but decided to drop off their grandfather first. The night was quiet, spirits were high, and all was well.
The house was a different story.
The girls and their grandfather walked up to the porch and the cap'n opened the door… and they were met with a jarring sight. The living room had been ransacked, stuff was tossed everywhere, like Anemy never even finished sorting. There were orange ink stains everywhere. Callie looked in her room, Marie looked into her own, as well as the cap'n in his own, finding them in the same condition. The sunken scrolls and maps were gone, along with tools and weapon mods. All of them converged at the entrance to the basement, desperate to find their agent.
She was in the basement alone, packing stuff into a ridiculously full backpack and slinging it onto her back.
"Anemy, what in tarnation are you doing?" said the cap'n.
The agent's hair glowed, the orange ink around her rising to her whim. She turned to them, her eyes glowing the same orange color, and they soon realized what all of her smiles meant: Nothing.
All that was there was hatred.
"Remembering who I am!" Anemy answered. She pulled out a Splat Bomb, already ready to explode. "Oh, and one more thing: I quit!"
"RUN!" Callie screamed. She, her cousin and her grandfather tried, but the next thing they knew, all they saw was orange.
Marie was the first to open her eyes, finding that she was still alive, but orange ink covered the walls and the floors. She saw the same colored footprints heading up the stairs. The cap'n stirred, and Callie was groaning, and the girl breathed a sigh of relief. She stood up first and rushed up the steps.
She didn't understand. They thought she was doing so much better. Or… were they just covering up the wounds? Were their efforts pointless? Or was this Anemy's plan all along? If she stole those precious documents and weapons, this only meant one thing:
Anemy still wanted to kill Octavio.
Callie and the cap'n caught up to Marie before long and ran outside. They were just in time to watch Anemy speed away on her brother's motorcycle down the road.
Anemy had played them like it was a game.
Show them how you smile
It's only for a while
Take what you need
Leave them to bleed
Let them know bitter while your
Revenge is sweet
Smile - By Jeff Williams (ft. Casey Lee Williams)
A/N: This song is kind of what inspired this one-shot.
So, I just wanted to say that this is somewhat of a preview to something I'm working on. If you have read Splatoon: A Fresh Spark, have you ever wondered how Oliver and Oscar ended up on the surface? How Oliver and Marina met? And, how Anemy ended up assembling the Agents of Three? Well, now you can find out. Coming soon is the prequel to Splatoon: A Fresh Spark. See the story of how Anemy finds her footing after losing everything and puts herself and her friends on the path to vengeance.
This was kind of a preview. A very long preview dressed up as a one-shot. Everything written here is subject to change.
Update: Hey, so remember when I said that a certain someone was having contest was ending on May 28th? They changed to June 1st. Thanks, deepcauldron. Like really. So, great. Yeah, I busted my ass for a week.