Chapter 25: Eleede Valley

As the cargo plane flew over multiple towns and cities it started to slowly descend toward a town full of small lights.

"We will soon be landing in Eleede Valley, the town of...mostly...firefly squids." The pilot's voice said over a speaker.

Cici's tentacles started lightly glowing. She sighed watching her tentacles glow brighter the closer they got to Eleede.

"You okay, Cici?" Jack asked from the booth, a bowl of noodles in front of him.

"...Yeah…" She replied.

"If anything is on your mind you can talk to me about it."

"...I don't really…. have anything to say…."

"Okay. Well, the offer still stands." He gave her a smile before turning back to his meal.

She walked outside to the dark cargo hold, her tentacles illuminating it pink.

Jack watched her walk off, the glow from her tentacles making her stand out.

She seemed to be very conflicted as she wandered aimlessly.

"You think she'll be okay?" Callie asked as she looked out the window of the bus at Cici.

Arisara poked her mantle out of a vase, "Hmm?"

"Will Cici be okay?" Jack looked over at the Octoling.

"This place is where it happened isn't it? I can kinda see why this may make her upset or uneasy." Arisara replied.

"Oh…" Jack looked down.

"Should...one of us hug her or something?" Callie asked.

"..." Arisara looked around, "Hmm that's kinda weird… A chill ran down my back"

"You okay?" Callie asked.

"Something is giving me bad vibes… It's probably nothing…" Arisara looked at Cici outside.

"Hopefully." Jack finished his noodles and looked out at Cici.

"She hasn't touched any food or water when we got on board… including sweets."

"I thought it was because she was avoiding getting airsick or something." Callie said.

"Oh no...don't starve yourself, Cici. Please." Jack sighed.

"Oh boy…" Arisara sighed.

The seatbelt icon turned on. Cici walked back and sat down and tied her tentacles to the table.

Everyone else sat where they could and held on tight. Callie tied her tentacles around her seat as well.


The landing was a bit rough, but they managed to get down safely. Cici's tentacles were twinkling and bright when she got off. She walked off on her own.

"Should we follow her?" Jack looked at everyone else.

Arisara followed quietly behind her and Marie joined her.

Callie and Adstrum followed behind them, with Jack running to catch up. As they walked through the town they passed by many shops and homes before coming to a graveyard.

Cici walked into the graveyard and to a grave surrounded by flowers.

"...I'm home…Alex..." Her tears ran down her face.

Everyone saw her and just kept quiet, a few tears rolling down their faces.

She sat down and took something out of her cloth. She put down some cookies on a plate.

Jack took a step toward her to comfort her, but a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"My lady… I thought I'd find you here" An elderly tall striped Octoling walked to her, "Now, now. That's not how a Bubble…. Ah… that's not really a good way of putting it…"

"Chilly…" Cici still had tears flowing down her face.

"It's Chives, my lady…"

"Chii ave… Chilly."

"Yes… nice try… I see you came to see young master Alex again. How is he?"

"Mad… probably… I'm a bad person…"

"No, you aren't. Come, let's let him rest now"

"No you're not, Cici." Jack choked out between sobs. "You are a wonderful inkling."

"...I betrayed him…. I let him die..." Cici muttered as Chives took her by the hand.

"Cici, it wasn't your fault." Jack told her as she and the elder walked by. Everyone followed behind them.

Chives changed his appearance to look like an inkling.

"You did no such thing, my lady. Now let's go find your companions."

"They are all behind us…" Cici muttered as Chives turned around.

"Oh my. My apologies, I didn't see you all" Chive bowed to them, "Of course we met before in one of your concerts."

Cici looked back at the grave quietly.

"Really?" Callie wiped her eyes. "When did we meet you?"

Arisara kept looking behind her and all around.

"At that concert where only suits and formal wear was allowed. I played one of the instruments for you"

"Oh. Right." Callie nodded. "That was you?"

"I guess you saw me change just now? I guess I forgot I can do that. Yes, I was asked to play for you, by my lady. Yes, you all must be tired, but let me take you to Bubble Manor. Oh, that reminds me. Is there a Mr. Trench here? His parents are jumping at our gates looking for him."

Cici pointed to Jack.

"My mom and dad?" Jack asked.

"Yes, maybe I can invite them inside too. Let us be on our way now" Chives led everyone to a many acre mansion.

Cici took refuge in Chives's tentacles.

"Back in your favorite spot are we, my lady? Heh, you haven't changed a bit" Chives petted her.

They arrived at a large gate and Chives opened it up for them.

"So...what are you?" Adstrum asked Chives. "An Octoling? Inkling? I'm so confused."

"An Octoling. A mimic to be more precise. I was supposed to be an enemy, but Byrion spared me and gave me a place to stay. I now have a family here."

"Cecilia!" A voice was heard that made Cici cringe and hide.

A dressed up boy ran over to the gate.

"...Rubert. You know you just missed her." Chives lied to the boy.

"Humph, she can't run for long… She will wear my ring and like it"

"...Ah, well, you can't force her to…"

"Doesn't matter what YOU think… I'll find you Cecilia!"

"I'm sorry, but what is this?" Jack asked. "Ring?"

"I am the rightful partner for Cecilia, but of course. It's an engagement ring of course."

Jack facepalmed. "Okay...and if she says no?"

"She can't deny our love."

"Yes I can…" Cici muttered under her breath.

"Oh, I get it." Adstrum chuckled at Rubert. "You're a dumbass."

"Addie!" Callie yelled.

"Excuse me?!" Rubert crossed his arms, "I am better suited than Alex and than-"

Cici jumped out and grabbed him by the neck, "NEVER. SAY. THAT. EVER. AGAIN."

"You brought this on yourself, stupid." Adstrum put his hands up and walked away toward the manor.

"Ah honey! I didn't mean to upset you." Rubert held up his hands.

"DON'T...Call her 'honey.' You freak…" Jack said as he facepalmed again.

"..." Cici let him go and he hugged her.

"Um...you okay with this, Cici?" Jack asked.

"Kill me…" Cici sighed.

"Let her go, Rubert." Jack said.

"I missed you honey, how's about we go out for a walk?"

"..." Cici glared at him.

"Let her go." Jack took a step toward the delusional squid.

"Why, are you her fiance?"

"...I don't want one…" Cici pushed him away, "Not now, not ever again"

"I'm not, but I know I'd be a better match for her than you." Jack replied while grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

He started laughing, "Someone like you?! You gotta be joking"

"Nope." Jack shook his head. "I'm only going to warn you once. Leave her alone."

"… I don't wanna be married or have a partner. I wanna die alone" Cici replied.

Jack sighed from hearing that before looking back at Rupert. "Get lost. Now." He pushed him away.

"She will be my future bride. You will all see" Rubert walked away.

"Freak." Jack muttered before turning to Cici. "What's his problem?"

"He wants my estate…" Cici replied, "Maybe that is what you are after too?"

"Oh, of course that's what he's after." He shook his head. "I don't care about that, Cici. I don't want your estate. I just want you to be happy. And if you want to be alone then…" He sighed.

"That is impossible for me. So go find a partner so YOU can be happy..."

"I already found the one I love." He walked toward the manor, jogging a bit to catch up with everyone else.

Cici stood there quietly closing the gate, "I lost my right to be happy a long time ago. Right, Alex?"

"You deserve more happiness than I do." Jack muttered as he opened the door and stepped inside.


"THIS PLACE IS SOOOO CRAZY!" Marie looked at all the fancy decorations

"I KNOW! THIS IS AMAZING!" Callie yelled as she ran around.

"Mr. and Mrs. Trench. I believe this is your boy?" Chives brought the two to Jack.

Cici closed the door behind her. She walked to a window seat and looked out at the stars. She let her tears stream down her face as she rested her head against her arms.

"MY SWEET BABY BOY!" A slightly chubby woman squid ran up and hugged her son. She was wearing a dress with yellow poka dots and had short tentacles. "JACKY! I missed you!"

"Hi Mom." Jack hugged her back with a blush on his face.

Cici glanced over from the sudden loud voice.

"How ya been, my boy?" An older inkling male walked up and patted his back. He wore a military outfit, had a slightly fit build, and a shaved head.

"I've been...fine, dad." Jack hesitated. "Nice to see you two again."

"Oh, tell us what you've been up to. How did you come to meet one of the richest people in the world?" His mom asked.

"Oh, um…" Jack rubbed his arm.

"He… is a very nice person. He helped my friends through some hard times" Cici answered, "You raised a great squid..."

"We did our best raising him." Jack's father replied. "He always liked helping other people."

"I am Ceecsal…. Cesauli…." Cici tried to say her name.

"Mom, Dad. This is Cecilia. Or Cici as she likes to be called. She's Callie and Marie's outfit designer and is…" He glanced at her and sighed. "A good friend…"

She looked at him as she rubbed her arm, "Not the greatest friend…"

"I rank you higher than Callie and Marie." He replied back.

"I heard that…" Marie snickered and stuck out her tongue.

Callie squealed in glee. "I know why he likes Cici more."

"Enlighten me" Cici looked at the Squid Sisters

"I'm not telling." Callie teased. "Ask him yourself."

"I won't ask...I think it's best that way then. " Cici started braiding and unbraiding her tentacles.

"Is something wrong, Jacky?" Mrs. Trench asked as she looked at her son with concern.

Jack looked at Cici. "I don't know…"

"..." Cici seemed depressed.

"Does it have to do with her?" Mr. Trench gestured over to Cici.

"I don't wanna talk about it. She wants to be left alone." Jack fought back some tears.

"My lady. Before I forget I received a package for you" Chives brought her a box.

"Oh. okay." She took it and pulled off the tape.

She took out a pair of glasses. She looked at them and looked around the box for a sender. When she couldn't find it she just examined the simple pair of glasses.

"Have you been taking your medication, Jacky?" Mrs. Trench asked.

"Mom, I haven't had to take it in years." Jack replied.

She immediately opened her purse and pulled out a bottle of pills.

"How long have you had those?"

"This was what we had left when you left for Inkopolis." She handed him the bottle.

"I don't need them, Mom." He sighed and put them in his pocket. "But I'll keep them if it will make you feel better."

Cici put the glasses on top of her head.

"Callie, I'm going to bed." Adstrum said as he looked around. "Where do we sleep?"

"Yes, I have set up all of your rooms to your like. Young master Jack even got a gift from Celeste and Byrion. They should have your names on the door."

"Really?" Jack's eyes widened at hearing that.

"Oh, that's sweet of them. Hope it's something good." His mother smiled.

"Come on, Mariana. We can talk to him tomorrow." His father said as he walked upstairs.

"Okay, Tonga. Be right there." She bent down and kissed her son on the cheek. "Good night, sweetie."

"Good night, Mom." Jack smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

Cici went up into the attic and sat on the window sill. She stared out into the sky.

Jack went toward his room and opened the door, quickly going inside and getting ready for bed.

There was a present box just like Chives said. He opened it up and found a soft plush ram. It was a puffy ball with a head, ears, horns, and stubby legs.

"What's this for?" He took it out of the box and found a note attached to it. It read, 'Cecilia really likes plushies. I thought maybe you could give this to her. Alex told us to hide it and couldn't give it to her. So we think maybe it would be best for someone who really cares about her to give this to her. Our best wishes to you both, Celeste and Byrion.'

Jack smiled and patted the plush. "I'll give it to her tomorrow." He gently placed it on a nearby dresser before getting into his pajamas. "I hope she'll be better tomorrow. I really hope she'll be more reasonable." He went into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

Cici didn't go back to her room. She just continued staring at the stars. She sneezed from all the dust and the glasses fell onto her face. She became blank and non responsive.

"...It's about time… You will obey without hesitation…" A voice came from the glasses, "You will eliminate anyone in your path. Starting tomorrow. Sleep slave"

Cici knocked out on the window sill. Chives put a blanket over her and left.

Author's Note: And here is the next update sooner than last one. Yay!

Thank you The Bowser Monster, Gajesteel, Devil Dude 42, Ashanti, and Agent 8 for leaving reviews. Thank you guys so much.

Yay for crazy, Devil Dude! Yay for crazy queen!

Glad you love the fanfic, Ashanti!

Okay guys, sorry to say this but I don't know when the next update will be. Finals are in a couple of weeks and I need to study and focus on other things. I will try to keep updating, but the updates will not be predictable. I'm sorry. This is just temporary, though. See you all next update! Leave reviews if you want to!