Splatoon x Real Life Crossover

My Inkling Sister

[ALL REFERENCES IN THE CONTENT ARE ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL. I DO NOT ENDORSE RADICAL VIEWS, NEITHER DO I SUPPORT ANY RADICAL OR EXTREMIST GROUPS. I DO NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THE SOURCE MATERIAL. ALL COPYWRITTEN MATERIAL IS OWNED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. IF YOU FIND MY WORK UNSUITABLE, THEN READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. THE INTENTIONS OF THIS PRODUCT ARE TO ENTERTAIN. SO PLEASE BE CIVIL.]

MUSIC - Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake OST Cover - Ripley9

[Opening Credits]

"The year was 2011: the year that almost took my life. My family of a thousand generations was shattered. One man had taken everything away from me. That's when I met her. My sister. She raised me as a son, fed me, and loved me. Over time, our bond strengthed til we became inseparable. Little did we know things were about to change. Let me tell you the story of My Inkling Sister..."

Jack forcibly reloads his .45. He charges forward, gritting his teeth and firing.

Sound Cue - Fighter Name Title Appears - SSBB

JACK

Stephannie embraces Jack warmly. She rushes to shield him, spreading her arms out in front of him, looking stern.

Sound Cue - Unicorn Horn Magic - MLP: FIM

STEPHANNIE

Delta sneaks through alleyways, tranquilizing threats as he goes. He marches down a corridor while carrying a silver briefcase.

Sound Cue - .357 Magnum Firing - STOCK SOURCE

AGENT DELTA

Alexander helps Jack to his feet after he gets injured. He types away on a keyboard to hack into a supercomputer.

Sound Cue - VS. Mode Select - Star Fox 64

ALEXANDER

Frederich has his back turned when Jack enters the room. He spars with his son in the mountains.

Sound Cue - Villain Appears - SSBB

FREDERICH

Barr drinks morning tree with a blissful smile. He reflects on the past, reading a book.

Sound Cue - Enter the Map - Star Fox 64

DIRECTOR BARR

Octavio experimenting on test subjects in vats. He revolves the turntables in his mech walker.

Sound Cue - Lightsaber Ignition [Vader] - Star Wars: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

EMPEROR OCTAVIO

Marie closes her eyes and holds onto her parasol, hoping for her daughter's return. She smiles faintly at a younger Stephannie.

MARIE

Callie jumps for joy when she sees Stephannie alive. She pinches Jack's cheek against his pride.

CALLIE

Pearl raps to a crowd of fans. She screams to send a devastating Killer Wail blast, it destroying all Octarians on the ground from her helicopter.

PEARL

Marina dons her Octoling Battle Armor timidly. She winks at Jack, manning a helicopter within the cockpit.

MARINA

Pablo leaps onto the road, landing in a kneeling position, his weapon drawn sideways. He folds his arms and nods seriously.

PABLO

Zeke places a hand on Stephannie's shoulder, smiling warmly. He wraps an arm around Alexander as they both chuckle.

ZEKE

Tifani sticks her tongue out to take a picture. She blows a tentacle away from her left eye, placing her hands on her cheeks excitedly.

TIFANI

Frankie puts her fists up fiercely against Jack. She lustfully kisses Jack, whom is struggling to break loose from her arms, kicking at her fearfully.

OCTO TROOPER THETA

Captain Cuttlefish observes the heroes training. He strafes back and forth like a drill sargeant when he adresses the team.

CAPTAIN CUTTLEFISH

The Hunter engorges himself at his dining table. He aims his sniper rifle at Jack and Stephannie, looking into the scope with a wide grin, then he fires a shot.

THE HUNTER

The Retriever writes in his book, constantly looking behind him. He levitates over the terrified Joneses.

THE RETRIEVER

Omega steps towards Jack, covered in ink. He opens his glowing green eyes and stares him down menacingly...

OCTAVIUS OMEGA

Starring...

Jack as...

Jack John Jones

Stephannie as...

The Inkling Girl

Frederich as...

Mr. Jones

Alexander as...

Reporter Beckham

Zack Randolph as...

The Hunter

Officer Gruff as...

Agent Delta

Wilbur Barr as...

the CIA Director

Callie and Marie as...

The Squid Sisters

Zeke as...

Agent 4

Pablo as...

Agent 3

Maurice as...

Captain Cuttlefish

Tifani as...

The Inkling Buddy

Octavio as...

DJ General Octavio

Octo Trooper Theta as...

Frankie

Sargeant Burner as...

The Retriever

Voiced by...

Josh Keaton

[Jack John Jones]

ManicWednesdayVA

[Stephannie]

Jim Cummings

[Zack Randolph]

Samuel L. Jackson

[Frederich]

Nathan Sharp

[Alexander Beckham]

David J.G. Doyle

[Officer Gruff/Agent Delta]

Paul Eiding

[Wilbur Barr/Director Barr]

Kira Hoshi and Yume

[Callie and Marie]

Anthony Del Rio

[Pablo]

Mike McFarland

[Maurice]

Pete Capella

[Zeke]

AnimaSync

[Shrimp]

Alex Beckham

[DJ Octavio/General Octavio]

Bella Hudson

[Scorch/Octo Trooper Theta]

Phil Parsons

[Sargeant Burner/The Retriever]

Written by...

Action scenarios by...

Scripted by...

Original characters by...

Developed by... Ace Gamer Productions

Software - OfficeSuite Documents

Splatoon by... Nintendo

Published and dubbed by... Ace Gamer Productions

With special thanks to...

Brando Lee

Nana Rose

Les Eveline

T.M. Matthew

AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU!

Ace Gamer Productions proudly presents...

C

R

L

BOOK COVER ART [FRONT COVER]

MUSIC - Main Theme - Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Three images in the top corner show three scenes

Middle: Jack and Stephannie are embracing one another. Jack has his eyes open, a somber frown on his face. Stephannie is crying, her eyes closed as tears flow down her cheeks.

Left: A golden sihoulette of Jack is standing outside the back porch. He is standing over an unconscious Stephannie who is lying next to large piles of leafs and red trees in autumn.

Right: Jack is mortally wounded. Stephannie is clutching his hand as blood leaks from his ankles. Callie and Marie look on in horror. Zeke yells for a helicopter to come.

In the center corner, Jack is facing away from his father, who looks the other way. He has a serious expression. Frederich has a look of regret on his face with his arms crossed.

To the left and right, we see both factions. Agent Delta is surrounded by officers, the SWAT Team in riot gear, and other CIA agents wielding pistols. Law enforcement vehicles are parked behind them. Colored lights paint the road. Helicopters and fighter jets flying towards their direction. The American faction is on the left.

The Octarian Army is on the right. General Octavio sits in his disco mech, pointing a tentacle at his troops below. Countless Octo Soldiers are lined up in parade formation. Leading the pack at the front is Octo Trooper Theta, who is a female Octoling. Agent Delta has a cold expression while Scorch is glaring angrily with clenched teeth.

On the bottom corner, it shows a massive portal between the present and future Earth. New York City is on the left while Inkopolis is located on the other side of the portal. We see the title in giant metal letters.

The tagline reads: "Live for the ink, die for the ink."

A release date is under the tagline. It reads: "Coming soon to a bookstore/theater near you!"

INK IT UP!

ACT I

ALPHA INCIDENT

Chapter 1-A: Rainy Days

"Memories can be salvaged. Deceased relatives are unsalvagable." - Jack J. Jones

September 3, 2016

Ash Town, North Carolina

[9:30 PM]

Jones Residence - 2180 Feast Ring

Living Room

MUSIC - Safe Room - Resident Evil

[Prologue]

I can't say what my life is like now. Oh, you showed up. Pull up a chair. Here, have a drink. Come on, relax. Rest your feet on the table. Allow me to enlighten you on my story. Good. Now i can begin. As I was saying, I can't tell you everything about my life in a nutshell. It's better that I show you than describe it in words. It couldn't hurt. Personally, I'd like to take a walk down memory lane so I can remember those glorious days again.

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Splatoon STAFF

DIRECTORS

Yusuke Amano

Seita Inoue

Shintaro Sato

And even though she's not here with me to attest to my words, I assure you my heart is still kindled enough to tell the story from the deep corners of its walls. But make no MISTAKE. Don't downplay what I say as sappy high school drama. It's something I take deadly serious. You see, siblings are one. One supports the other, the other raises the one. What affects one affects the other. The other learns from their one, the one dies, the other becomes the one. Understand?

GAME DESIGN

Koji Kitagawa

Hiromu Takemura

Kenji Matsumoto

Shigeyuki Asuke

Taketoshi Akimaru

Keiko Kinoshita

Ryutaro Kanno

Yoshiteru Fukuda

Shinichi Ikematsu

So think back to the heart. What does the metaphorical heart do? Feel. That's right. To feel is to have emotion. Love is an emotion. Love is absolute. Love can warm a person. Love can also BURN. With people who don't share your blood, it warms. But between family, it BURNS. Love shared with your parents is warmth. But love shared with siblings is heat. There's a difference, my friend. Warmth gives life. Warmth makes you feel good. Heat melts. Heat cooks your food. Heat lights your path.

SOUND

Toru Minegishi

Ryo Nagamatsu

Shiho Fujii

Takahisa Yamamoto

Takuro Yasuda

Mitsuhiro Kida

And love between siblings is far stronger. Your mother taught you never to touch the stove. Because why? You'll get burned. And if you're not careful, you'll catch on fire. A sibling's love is not to be underestimated or scoffed at. Their love will drive siblings to protect one another. Their love will turn all those who dare touch them into ash! Their love keeps them ALIVE! Their love is so strong, they are willing to DIE for each other!

PROGRAMMING

Shinya Nakagawa

Souichi Nakajima

Toshikazu Kiuchi

Kenichi Nishida

Takuto Asaka

Kazuhide Ueda

Yuji Udagawa

Keita Tsutsui

Yosuke Morimoto

That's why you need to take off the coat society has given to you. The coat of ignorance blocking the rain of love from nourishing your dry hearts and minds. We're all guilty of wearing it over our backs. So let's throw them aside. Let's reveal our true clothes. Very well. Are you ready? Excellent. Now prepare to see it from my view, from her eyes! Know the truth behind brother and sister! Alright, enough holding back! Roll the film!

[2:45 PM]

MUSIC - Serenity - Resident Evil 4

[Who I Am?]

Rain again. Why me? Guess I can't have it easy. I am Jack John Jones. Or Triple J, as everybody else calls me. I'm a seventeen year old student currently studying at Archduke High School. That's north of Ash Town. Bleh. I never liked this state all that much. North Carolina's a place for hicks and hillibillies. I'm a spoiled city boy, and hick town ain't for me. I wanted to live somewhere big like California or Kansas. Wait, is Kansas big? I think so. Or was it small? Oh, fuck it! I don't know then!

JACK JOHN JONES

[JOSH KEATON]

Stephannie told me to be thankful I have a place to live. I can't argue with that. I asked her what's the point of living if you can't go anywhere? She was left speechless as she didn't know how to answer my question. Embarassing. The older sister was less wiser than the younger brother. But this is for a good reason. You see, there's more to her than meets the eye. She's nothing like you and me. Stephannie is no ordinary human. In fact, she's not a human at all.

Her biology is foreign to me. Sorry. I can't reveal her origins. I swore myself into secrecy. I can't tell anyone who she is. I fear someone will post information, which the media will exploit for their personal gain. After that, the FBI, CIA, NCPD, you name it, will take her away. And who knows what things they'll do to her. They might brand her as a terrorist and throw her in jail, or experiment on her, or just flat out kill her! Or some sick, depraved bastard will... UGH, i can't finish that sentence!

Let's keep it simple. I'm worried I'll never see her again. That's why I've gotta make sure no one knows the truth. That means I have to protect her everyday. I've gotta stay on guard at all times. I have to always think twice. No rest, no mercy. I can't sleep at night. I fear if I let my eyes close, someone or something evil will snatch her! I lay awake in bed every night, listening out for any danger. Every sound puts me on edge. Even the rush of the wind will make me reach for my machete.

Overkill, I know. But dammit! I. Will. KILL you if you lay a hand on her! She's a secret I must protect with my life. It is between US! This secret lives with me, and this secret dies with me. I think I've wasted enough of your time, so let me get on with it already.

Anyways, Stephannie reminded me why I should be content with living here. She wasn't able to wrap her head around the question, so she tried to change the subject. She said something along the lines of, "Back where I'm from, our grandpas would always say, "better to be in a box than play outside with sharks." So please give this place a chance. You might like it here. Hey, maybe someday you'll be famous. Then we'll buy lots of games!" I think that's how it went.

Although I admit my memory is foggy. I could be wrong after all. Back to present day, I stand in the living room, behind the table. My house is unorthodox. The kitchen was on the top floor. So was the living room. Those rooms should be downstairs like the other houses. Upstairs, my bedroom was in the northern wing of the hallway, to the left of Stephannie's. I don't like how my home is structured. It's cramped. Heck, it's so narrow, I often find myself bumping into walls like it's bumper cars or something.

In the middle were my father's quarters. It was left abandoned after he ditched me and went to Florida to "find himself". I never saw him again. A few months after I found Stephannie, we turned that place into our gaming pad for when we needed to unwind and blow off steam. It served as our sanctuary. It was where we could express ourselves without receiving flak from the people around us living in this dark world.

Down the hall, to the right, was my mother's room. The door was locked up tight. Stephannie knew what it meant to me. Sure, she wasn't there when the Incident happened... but her gentle empathy gave her the sight to comprehend why. Why my dad closed it off from the world. I could never bring myself to go in. How could I?! THAT room was like a tomb! Inside, it was tainted by the painful memories of my mom's death. It traumatized and shattered me to the point of wanting to take my life.

The only person able to pass through was Stephannie. She was my legal guardian, so she had to. My dad gave me an awfully large stash of money, which we kept in several safes. Alongside this sum of cash, he gifted me his credit card as a heirloom, the clever bastard! Stephannie would go in to retrieve what she needed, take care of the bills: basic financial management. She spared me the pain, to which I thank her wholeheartedly for.

As I stare out into the window, watching the grey clouds go by slowly, my mind is focused on something else. Like what am I doing here when I could be making history? What has become of my life? And where will I be in the next fourty years? I agonize over whether or not I'll accomplish my goals before I die. It's an unsettling reality, and a devastating truth. Stephannie understands how I feel. But she has only scratched the surface. She hasn't tasted true grief. She hasn't lost someone she loves to the jaws of death.

She has never met face to face with the Reaper himself. Her heart has not been consumed and POISONED by sorrow, anger, helplessness! Her mind has not been shattered into a billion pieces, where you lose sight of what is truly real before you. I called her a fool, hissing bitterly.

She teared up and fled my room sobbing. What broke her heart was me raising my fist, ready to harm her for her ignorance. Afterwards, she... didn't talk to me for days. We stopped meeting eye to eye. I had broke my promise to not let anyone harm her, including MYSELF. At first, I didn't care, but hours later... I came to regret my mistake. I asked myself, "Did I go too far with laying the truth on her? Perhaps, I should've been easier on her. Was there something I should've done?"

Rrrgh, I wish I could rewind time to that moment... just so I wouldn't be standing here, lonely. Today, we still feel the impact of the ARGUMENT. We are still dealing with the scars I inflicted upon us. The rain is gentle, crisp. The dark sky acted as a gateway into life, a mirror that somebody can look into to reflect on their choices. Mine? Haha! I'm a failure.

The droplets glided down the glass. I could feel the cold, frigid air penetrate my bones. A dull pain permeated throughout my body. It felt like my mind was numb. But for some reason, I welcomed it. I gazed up at the black clouds above. I was melancholy. I found peace in the weather. It was as if the Earth had taken pity on me. The rain represented my regret of the deed that relentlessly haunted me. The blackened skies symbolized the depression threatening to suffocate me in its grip.

The faint glimmer of sunlight was a reminder that there was still time for me to change, and one day, I would shine again. I looked away, instead, moving to ruminate over my decisions. Stephannie was in her room doing something. I don't really care. Heck, I didn't think about it because I was lost in my thoughts. Turmoil boiled within me as I examined my life decisions. Am I nothing? What do i have? Is this what i deserve?

Am I doomed to waste away in this town? Helpless anger flowed through me as I fought hard to not go on a rampage. I wanted to make my destiny. I wanted to do something. I want to be remembered. I don't want to amount to nothing, and be forgotten, becoming no more than a name on a tombstone. But I can't... I just can't...! I just want to lose myself and DESTROY! Destroy everything, destroy the fuckers that bullied me, destroy my life!

BURN all that everyone thought of me! I want to wipe it out until there's not a trace left! I cursed and growled. The promise I made returned to my mind. "No. I... I can't do that. I promised her. Stephannie, you won't hear this, but I love you. As much as I would like to avenge myself, I know I can't. Who will watch over you? And if I die, you'll be alone in this world, just like ME. I can't even begin to think what would happen. I'm not going to put you through what I've been through."

"I failed to stop my father, but I WON'T fail you!" I ended the mental monologue. Alright. You've heard enough corny exposition. Now to return to reality. I was called back when someone spoke behind me, "Oh, Jackie." I turned my head and saw her.

STEPHANNIE JOHN JONES

[MANIC WEDNESDAY VA]

It was Stephannie. Lemme give ya the rundown. She was an Inkling. Don't let her human appearance fool you. She's actually an anthropomorphic squid. In her human form, she stands tall. Her height is about a few inches taller than me. Her skin was white. She wore dark green sneakers she bought from Foot Locker. Her lanky legs were covered by thick long-sleeved pajamas, which I found weird since she was wearing them in the day. They were adorned with emerald colored cotton, decorated by a pattern of roses and sunflowers. Her shirt was a plain, white t-shirt with a logo of an unknown company on the front.

Stephannie's most noticeable feature were the long tentacles dangling from her head. There were two spring green tentacles on both sides, each sporting an additional tentacle that was much longer. She also had two elongated tentacles hanging behind her head. They were the same color as the ones on the side. Stephannie would normally wear a beanie to hide them, but when she wasn't going somewhere or attending school, she let them loose, flowing downward.

She looked at me with closed eyes and a cheerful smileOkay. I've summed up her appearance. Let's get back on track! I turned around and walked towards her briskly. I came to a stop once I was close enough to her. I looked at her face before I spoke up, "What is it, Stephannie?"

I asked, trying my best to sound as nice as I can. It went over her head and she kept smiling, "I saw you looking out the window. I, um, wanted to ask. Whatcha doing!?" She answered my question with another question. I was mildly annoyed. I took a moment to determine my response, then I responded. "Nothing. I was just contemplating my life decisions." I lied.

It was a pathetic lie. I groaned inside, embarassed. Stephannie put a finger on her chin in thought, processing what I said. She reached a conclusion, "Jack, that's sad. Come on. Why don't we talk about something exciting!?" Stephannie cheerfully suggested in an attempt to change the subject to a more comfortable topic. "Meh. We can't go outside, Stephannie. It's raining. And besides, you hate water. You're a squid." She looked at the window after I reminded her.

"Aw, don't be such a downer. I'm not a kid!" The Inkling girl squealed like a kid in a group of adults. Her eyes glistened, forcing me to nearly puke from exposure to girliness. "Ughhh! I think I'm gonna throw up...!" I tiredly groaned, my voice falling to a low pitch as I got sleepier. Stephannie giggled at my fake disgust, "Sick? Since we can't go outside, I guess I'll have to play doctor!" She teased in a sing-song voice. I saw what she was trying to do, so I tried to run.

But I was too slow, and Stephannie caught me, and she pulled me to her with her hair tentacles. She wrapped her arms around my fleshy stomach. "Hey! Lemme go! I don't need this!" I squirmed, desparately trying to escape from the arms of the Kraken. My strength was outmatched by her remarkable arm strength. Now I was trapped in her arms, err, tentacles? She laughed, "Ah ha ha ha! Yes, you do! What you need is love. Um, does this hurt? Oops. Sorry, Jackie."

About time she realized she was holding me too tightly. I swear my shoulders are about to pop like a balloon...! I grunted in pain. When she saw I was in considerable pain, she decided to loosen her grip on my body, finally! "There. Um, is that any better?" I nodded silently, breathing too heavily for me to talk. I felt tempted to break out, but I supressed that urge. I didn't want to be a dick. She was giving me a hug to help me feel better.

It would be rude to crush her enthusiasm. "I've been through a rough week at school, Stephannie. It was BATSHIT INSANE, and I've had enough. I'm so exhausted from last week's test. I've lost my will to fight back." I decided now was not the time for arguments. Yeah, said time, I did not have. Anyways, I gave up and submitted to her. She grinned, revealing her shiny fangs. "Alright, alright. I surrender. Go ahead, humor me. What're we gonna do today?"

I sighed in defeat. Stephannie ran her fingers through my chest, me shivering from her cool touch. "Why don't we... watch cartoons!?" "Nope." I answered firmly. She shifted her cyan eyes towards the end of the northern hall, where the game room was,

"Sooo, how about-" "Don't feel like it. Too tired." I gave an excuse. This guy right here was a tough customer. My sister fumbled around trying to find an activity to get me out of my cynical slump.

"Hmph! Rude meanie! ...Hmm... let's watch funny videos on YouTube." She eagerly came to a conclusion. "YouTube, really?!" I said in my head. I would've said that out loud, but instead, I chose to say this, "Nice try. Sorry, too much politics." I declined, leaving her stumped and dumbfounded. With her distracted, I released myself from her grip. "Wait. Jackie." Stephannie cried softly as I took a few steps. I stopped, and I gave her my retreating back.

MUSIC - Safe Room - Resident Evil 2

[Stephannie Faces Reality]

"No means no, Stephannie. I'm just not in the mood. I-I can't, I don't, ohhh... forget about it! I don't feel like it, okay?!" It was harsh, but I had to tell her I meant no. She... didn't digest that pill very well. "Why!?" The squid sadly moaned, her eyes threatening to shed tears from her tear ducts. "Because depression doesn't work that way, Stephannie. It just doesn't disappear instantly with a hug or music or games. I'm just... tired. That's all."

I explained, my voice lowering to a gentle tone. Safe to say, she was a mess. "You're not mad at me, are you...?" Stephannie nervously asked, afraid I would shout at her and kick her out of the living room. I shook my head, "I'm not mad. I'm just dissappointed in you. Remember, Stephannie. The world is a cruel place. It's nothing like where you came from. There are people out there who hate other people for their race, color, even what political views they hold. Some are so heartless, they're willing to KILL those people out of hatred and distrust."

My words seemed to be coming through. I assumed she caught my drift. Now to pour on the hard truth, "I'd think you'd understand. After all, isn't that the same in YOUR world?" The last two words made the gears in her aquatic brain. Her squid eyes bulged, "Huhh! The Turf Wars... between the Inklings and Octarians!" Stephannie whispered to me, seemingly getting it. Her expression fell flat. I faced her again. This time, with a look of conviction and honesty.

She kept her distance from me, watching me warily. My fiery yellow eyes clashing against her soft blue pearls. The shark was staring down the fish. It was inevitable. I HAD to tell her the truth. "I see..." Stephannie agreed, solemnly bowing her head down. I won this debate again, like I always did.

Class was now in session. "Good. I see I've gotten through to you. So please listen carefully, sis. I'm seventeen, and my birthday is coming up. I'll be a legal adult, which means I'm old enough to take care of myself. I can move out and live somewhere else. Like it or not, Stephannie, I won't be here forever." The tough truth struck an arrow in her heart. She started breathing anxiously. "Jackie, don't say that!" I heard her beg.

"I can't stop, Stephannie. It's the truth. Life isn't fair to anyone. Someday, I'll be famous and move away from here. I'll live in my own house. I may get married and raise kids as well. I'll be gone. And you'll be left to fend for yourself. No one will help you or understand you like i do. That's why I'm depressed. I fear I may never see you again." I revealed the true culprits of my pain to her.

Her world was shattered. Tears streamed down her cheek as she could not hold them back any longer. She dashed towards me and embraced me like a frightened koala. I grabbed her shoulders with both hands. I swung her over to the left, next to the couch. "Stephannie, calm down. Listen to me." I cried firmly, in a voice loud enough for her to hear. I shook her strongly, but not too rough so she wouldn't feel pain.

She sniffled incessantly, choking on her cold tears as she poured them over my jacket's sleeves, burying her head in my chest. She flung her entire body towards me. I let her release her sorrow, my face somber and calm. For a minute or two, she wept, she wept, and she wept. My coat was wet from her flowing tears. I looked away to allow her a moment of privacy. I waited for her to grieve until I acted.

Watching her break down was heartwrenching. It tugged my heart muscles like a heart attack. I too wanted to join her and lose myself, but i fought that temptation with ALL of my will. I couldn't let myself be weak in front of her. I had to be strong so she would see what she needed to do to survive in this world.

"I C-CAN'T! I CAN'T...! I CAN'T L-LET Y-Y-Y-YOU... PLEASE D-D-DON'T... GO...!" Stephannie stammered between sniffs and tears. She lowered her head and wrapped her arms around my neck, shaking her body. I flinched since she was handling my poor neck very roughly. I swear she's gonna tear my head off if she squeezes me any tighter! I started to gag from the pressure she exerted against my windpipe. I let out a series of loud, vehement coughs. It was flu season, therefore, I strived to take preventative measures by directing the blasts of bacteria away from her face. They were ejected to the right.

With chance of infection lowered to zero percent, I was able to deal with the real patient in the room. "Stephannie, stop!" I commanded her to desist with her act. She bellowed incoherent words. I stood straight, emotionless. It was like I had become momentarily deaf. I tuned out those sobs and wails. Seeing yelling at her proved to be useless, I decided to opt for a more direct approach. I stretched my arms forward.

MUSIC - Safe Room - Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

[Leaving for Adventure]

I maneuvered my large palms across the space dividing us, and I aimed them to her chin. I made my hands cup the bottom of the chin. The texture of her flesh felt rubbery as can be. "No more, Stephannie! No. More." I emphasized firmly, lifting her head up to my face so my eyes mirrored hers, Stephannie got one last cry in before being hushed by me, "Now listen, Stephannie. Stephannie! Crying won't help you. It'll never make the sorrow go away. You'll only end up weakening yourself and your heart. Remember that disease you have?" I took a hand off to show her, pointing at her physical heart.

"Breathe. Breathe, Stephannie. You need your lungs to breathe. You also need your heart to survive. The heart pumps blood into the lungs, which gives it the energy to pump oxygen. And the lungs return the blood to the heart. You know what the heart does with that, right?" I reminded her how these vital organs functioned, giving her a hint as to what the heart does next. "Gives it back...?" She shakily answered my riddle. "Right! The heart sends it throughout your body. The blood vessels transport it to other important areas like the brain. That's why I need you to be strong."

The guessing game proved to be the trick up my sleeve, as it appeared to distract her from crying. "What a relief. Phew. You almost had me scared there." Stephannie was now focusing on me despite having her cheeks soaked with tears, their trails partially dry. Her eyelids were sore and red. I pitied her. I didn't blame her. I bawled so much when I found out dad had ditched me the night before, I almost vomitted. So I wasn't angry at her pitiful behavior.

I was more surprised by how willing she was to hear me out. I decided to switch to clarification mode, "Then, what am I supposed to do? W-Will the depression go away if I feel better?" Stephannie earnestly begged me for answers, taking her arms off me slowly, causing me to catch my breath at last. My expression changed from surprised to serious. "I can't say. People deal with depression differently. It's anyone's guess. But what I can say is we must go on a journey." Stephannie's mood perked up when I said that.

"Go on a journey!? You mean, like, we're going on vacation?" The Inkling's eyes lit up with the innocent glow I knew she had. She was still melancholy, mind you, yet she was excited. I nodded, "Yes and no. Yes, we're going somewhere. No, it's not a literal vacation. It ain't summer break yet. But I do agree. We can't stay here forever. This place is a prison." I tilted my head up to the dotted ceiling, outstretching my arms as a gesture. I brought my arms and head down to a normal level.

Stephannie glanced at the ceiling and all around her. She got my point rather fast. "Ohh... I, understand, Jackie. Who wants to be cooped up in a lame house all day? Heh heh... heh heh..." I started walking. It seemed to her like I didn't hear her. But truth be told, I was heading down the hall. "Well, get dressed, and we'll go. Don't wanna get stuck in traffic. I hate the night rush." I informed her cooly, walking past the stairs, to the clothing closet beside it. I twisted the yellow knob effortlessly. The door opened to reveal coat hangers holding our favorite jackets. Various hats, toboggans, and scarfs were strung up by curved hooks on each side, located below.

In the middle, on the carpet, were two wide black bins, which we used to depposit dirty clothes into for laundry. I reached for a dark blue toboggan, using my other hand to grab another. The other one was olive green. That was for Stephannie. I tossed it over to her feet. "You're definitely gonna need these." I added, grabbing some socks and sending them her way. "It's freezing outside, so we'll need to bundle up." I ellaborated, handing a striped sweater to Stephannie, whom went over to get it.

I shut the door afterwards. Stephannie watched me head towards the supply cabinet further down the hall. It was a tall rectangular box that was located above the air conditioning vent. The container was right next to the first bathroom. I opened it. This was where we kept a stash of ready cash on hand in case we needed it for something. My father also left the keys to the car in there.

Among these was a sufficient cache of over-the-counter medicine. It was carried overhead by a plastic rack. Way in the back was my wallet, which I cleverly hidden behind the tall jugs of skin cream, mosquito repellent, and everything else. As much as I despised my dad, I had to give him credit. He came well-prepared for an emergency such as this. It was as if he knew what was coming. He provided me with MORE than enough to survive!

Our supplies were more than adequate, they were SUBSTANTIAL. For that, I can commend him. We had supplies and money to last DECADES! I eyed my wallet, and I fished it out of the medicine rack. "Bingo! Now to retrieve the keys." I glanced down to the bottom in search of the next items. I picked them off the dusty wood, "Here. Take the car keys. We'll be driving." I said, tossing them to her. She balanced on her tippy toes and caught them. With the keys in hand, she said, "Really, Jackie? Thanks. I'm touched." She sheepishly thanked me, closing her eyes joyfully. I smirked behind her back. "That's the Stephannie I remember. Let's roll. Ready when you are."

I did the same thing I did to the closet. One task done, another task to do. I turned to face her again. I saw she was in the finishing process of putting on her clothes. I proceeded to go down the carpet-filled stairs. "I'm gonna head outside to check the weather. Go do your thing while I test the waters. I'll be waiting in the driveway." I alerted while walking down the steps, halfway in the middle.

MUSIC - Boggly Woods - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

[Autumn Breeze]

Once I reached the front door, I gingerly turned the knob. The door glided open smoothly, revealing the outside world, the autumn breeze entering the home. I took a long look at the landscape before I mustered the courage to step out. I exited my humble abode. I then shut the door behind, and like a flash, I was gone. Stephannie was left inside to do who knows what.

"I hope she doesn't go crazy." I said under my breath. I took another breath as I inhaled the invigorating, cool air. "Ahh... the smell of fall. Oh, it's a beautiful day in this neighborhood." I quoted Mr. Rogers while I surveyed the land. Peering left and right, I took in the atmosphere of the moment. Our house was located in 2180 Feast Ring.. Straight ahead lied a small cul-de-sac, which one could access by traveling up a short road. A ring of suburban houses lined the sphere.

Outside, a larger circle surrounding the cul-de-sac overshadowed it. This outer ring looped around, going back to my piece of the road, that hard concrete road. The difference being this one had a path leading out while the other did not. This road led to a fork. Taking my eyes off them, I shifted my focus to the sky. It was no longer black as tar. The clouds that pelted the neighborhood turned into a peaceful grey.

A gentle but strong breeze blowed across the damp land. Leafs of red and orange flew in random directions the wind took them to. I heard the blissful melody of children laughing as they frollicked and played in the leaves. I sighed, "Oh, you poor kids. Enjoy your innocence while it lasts. Heh. They know not what suffering awaits them." I lamented deeply.

On the adult side, the grownups were supervising their children from afar, standing on the porch of their houses. Our house dwarfed them all alone. It was a three story beast of a house with a treehouse on the roof. Its throne was an elevated hill, making it the tallest in our neighborhood. We could see everything that went on in the area. The neighbors knew, but they kept it to themselves. I wasn't fazed at all.

The older ones watched their offspring closely, prepared to step in if they saw them breaking their rules. I felt like calling them out just because I didn't like kids making loud noises. However, I chose to mind my own business since it wasn't my problem. I looked at the jagged trees. They reeked of fall. They were almost barren. Only a few scattered patches of vegetation remained. I gazed upwards to the west side of the sky.

"Oh shit." I cursed in a low voice so no one would hear me rant. I caught a glimpse of the sun setting. It was close to sunset, which meant it was almost night time. "I've gotta get in the car. I don't want Stephannie to be alone out here without me." I panicked, stepping off the front porch. I made a beeline for the driveway. I ran along the right-hand path leading to it. Eventually, I made it to where the car was parked.

I took out my extra car keys from my pant's pocket, though I fidgeted around trying to find them. "Well, can't win em' all." I stepped up to the front door. I inserted the key into the lock hole, twisted it good, clearing access to the driver's seat. However, I wasn't going to drive, which is why I walked away. I moseyed over to the other side: the passenger seat. I leaned down, and placed my hands on the door handle. With a "Buck!" sound, I pulled the door open and got inside. My car was a 1995 Toyota Carolla passed down from my father. It had a red paintob. The vehicle was quite old. Its paint was starting to chip. The tires were worn. I wondered how this piece of junk still worked, let alone, drive.

I squeezed my body into the passenger seat, the brown cushions creaking in agony as I slid my ass on its gritty surface. With a mild thud, I sat down. "Uaghhh...! I swear this thing's gonna fall apart someday." I nonchalantly commented, reclining on the aged chair with my arms behind my head. My hair was short, but not too short to be bald.

I rested as part of my respite. I put my feet on the floor, crossing them. What I had to do now was wait for Stephannie to finish changing. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long. Cause she emerged from the back door. Her winter clothes were different. Instead of pajamas, she wore grey jeans. She put on a black jacket, which she wore over her shirt to conceal her identity. Stephannie retained the same shoes. Ths girl was wearing the olive green toboggan I gave her.

Her hat hid her tentacles from sight. That way, she appeared more inconspicious. I required her to cover up her hair tentacles as I called them. But the tentacles on the front were still dangling from it. It was faintly noticeable. To protect her, I came up with a convincing lie: they were dreadlocks.

The tentacles on the back stuck out a little too. But people seemed to overlook them, so we were safe. She appeared to be an average teenager from their perspectives. Next on the list was traveling. Also, Stephannie wore dark blue fingerless gloves, and a polka dotted scarf. Me? I wore tennis shoes like her. But mine were black.

For pants, I wore thick long-sleeved pants that covered my legs. I had on a blue hoodie. I prefered to keep the hood off, and my zipper undone. I was getting less heat in addition to more cold air. I traded warmth for comfortability. I didn't mind the cold despite the fact i hated it. I rolled my sleeves up, folding them multiple times. I couldn't stand heavy things touching my body.

I wore a toboggan just like my sister. The only thing I didn't wear were gloves. Gloves bothered me too much. Plus, they were a pain to put on. I had nothing to fret about my hair since, well, I had natural hair. My hair color was a solid black, cut like a marine haircut, which suited me just fine. My skin was a fair yellow. I'm Vietnamese, of course. I'm skinny as a twig. That's why I fit in the car easily. As an Asian-American, I'm short.

Stephannie, however... let's say she towers over us Asians like a giant. Speaking of Stephannie, there she was now! "I'm ready!" The Inkling enthusiastically said as she ambled over to the car. She pulled the door open and climbed into the driver's seat. Shutting the door carefully, she turned to me, saying, "Let's drive! Um, keys, please." Stephannie politely asked. I simply reached into my pocket and handed it to her.

MUSIC - Park Theme - JJ the Genius

[Scenic Drive]

"Thanks." She winked. I retreated into my seat, looking away in embarassment. VROOMMM! The car roared to life proudly. The sound of the mighty engines pierced my eardrums. I felt the car rumble with a purr. I began to relax. I laid back, waiting for her to get the show on the road.

Fastening her seatbelt, she put on her shades. Now she was ready to hit the road. With elated pleasure, she shifted the black lever from neutral to drive. Stephannie slammed on the gas, and we were off! The first obstacle to go was the concrete ramp. The car slid along the driveway, going down the reflective ramp polished by the rain. The ramp took us to a flat portion that was part of it. The car came to a sliding stop, the front nearly hanging over the edge of another slope.

Stephannie applied some force to the accelerator, giving it the boost it needed to get off the ramp. I watched the car descend towards the bottom, us feeling the momentum rock our bodies. Human and squid clung to their seats as we reached the bottom: on the road. The Corolla bounced when it touched flat ground. Stephannie looked both ways for pedestrians. The coast was clear, so she moved onward. Drifting perfectly right, she exited the driveway.

We passed by buildings slowly. I felt something tick in my brain. A feeling of confirmation. I sighed internally this time. The journey had begun. For better or worse, this was the beginning of a new development. Stephannie was too focused on driving to talk. So back to my mind, I go. She continued to drive, dilligently watching her surroundings.

I saw a small field of dead trees to my right. It was a fleeting moment as they vanished from my sight. Back with Stephannie, my Inkling Sister, she reached a fork in the road. Our destination lied to the right, so we took that path. Stephannie's car rounded the corner. She braked and checked for traffic for a few seconds before she moved. We went right.

Gathering speed, we cruised across a straight road, which took us to the city. Twin walls of skeletal trees sandwiched the path, making it even narrower. Stephannie traveled at a steady pace. I implanted myself deep into the chair, staring out the door windows. In mere moments, the trees ended when we got to the city outskirts.

In its place was an expansive slice of suburbia. Two story apartments lined the block accompanied by small one story houses. Their front yards were far more compact than ours was. They were neatly trimmed and box-like. Green grass shimmered a radiant orange-yellow. My vision was blinded by the sun floating in the sky. Its bright rays made it hard to see. Not Stephannie! Her eyes were protected by her black shades. An added benefit was her Inkling biology.

Her eye receptors were enhanced to resist sunlight due to her kind evolving during their time spent underwater, and when they entered the surface two million years later. We humans were extinct. Not for me! My eyes were wounded. I looked away fast. It felt like someone filled them with molten copper like the Hunchback movie. I swear my eyes were melting once I recovered.

Rather than letting myself go blind, I decided to stare at the various landmarks ahead. The road split off into three paths. One led to the west, where the shopping district was. In the distance, I could see the sihoulettes of jutting skyscrapers and malls. The lights on the humongous structures had just activated, giving off a dim red light.

To the east was the industrial district. This was where the factories, farms, and schools were. Students were forged into "productive members of society!" Ugh, I hate it when my teachers call us that! It's so... creepy. Back on topic! Last, but not least was the northern path. This led to nowhere but the highway.

And THAT'S where we were headed. We stopped at the stop sign, "So, Jackie... where are we headed?" She energetically spoke to me with a stare. There were no cars behind us. "Ahh! There's no pressure. Eh, why not? Let's take the highway. I know a place I'm interested in." I hinted at the location we were heading to. Stephannie gave an "ohh!" when she realized what I meant. It took her awhile...! "It's getting dark. You'd better take I-43 if you wanna avoid the night rush." I advised sternly.

Stephannie was submissive, so she carried out my order. I could tell it was late because the setting sun was hovering over Hazel Mountain, the pride of Ash Town. It was a fairly large mountain, a decent one at best. It was a hazel landmass, hence the title. The sun was setting, and soon, it would be pitch-black. Time was of the essence! We could not delay!

Stephannie let three trucks pass first, then she crossed the fork. I suddenly found myself getting sleepy from looking at that gorgeous sunset. It's been a long day of emotional drama for me, so I figured a nap couldn't hurt. I submitted, and closed my eyes, letting myself fall into sleep's soothing grasp. Stephannie returned to driving, leaving me to drift to sleep.

I was just resting, meditating while she drove. We passed a second wall of trees on our way outta here. A couple miles later... we had entered the highway. Interstate 43, how I've missed you! A wave of nostalgic coursed through my veins. It's been a while since I traveled down this road. As Stephannie increased throttle, I dwelled on old memories. Memories from the past. Memories of my MOTHER...!

I snapped that train of thought in half! Nope! Not goin' there! It's the past. I cancelled what I was thinking about, and switched to a different topic. I focused on watching the long road ahead. This was gonna be a tough, arduous trip. Stephannie increased speed full throttle. Now she was meeting the requirements of the speed limit, which was sixty to seventy miles per hour.

I heard the noisy orchestra of engines pound against our ears. In a matter of seconds, the sky was pitch-black as I foretold. There were no lights but the lights of headlights, tail lights, highway lights, and the occassional radio tower. Our own headlights illuminated the way before us. Stephannie set them to high so she could see ahead of her. The rays revealed the dark road's color. Tires spun tirelessly to get us to where we desired to be.

The grinding of rubber screeched within our ears. It was hardly appropiate or someone to nap. I haven't slept for days, which you can see judging by my face. Dark, plunging bags ran beneath my eyes. My wrinkles were sprinkled on the cheeks above my nose. My heart was beating in my chest rapidly. It truely looked like I had escaped a war zone. Further nailing in the point was the fact I sported the thousand yard stare.

I felt the night beckon me to fall into her arms. I couldn't resist the temptation to drift off into the darkness. Ah, yes. Rest. I yawned, making Stephannie giggle, "Aww. Gettin' sleepy, Jackie?" I responded with a weary nod. She melted like I was some kind of kitten to her. Stephannie felt empathy for me. She knew last week of high school had wiped me out! She knew that I was understandibly tired.

MUSIC - "Another Night" - Real McCoy

[Flicker of Hope]

"This is DJ Lazarus here, bringing you another spicy tune on NC Radio 800. It's "Another Night" by Real McCoy. Enjoy it!"

Then she lulled me to sleep... WITH MUSIC from Real McCoy! "Ohh, you cheeky rascal..." The song was playing on my custom, built-in MP3 player and radio combo. Stephannie turned it on when I wasn't looking. My dad had time to install that. He must've had plenty of time on his hands. I see where I got my creativity from. And why I'm always three steps ahead of everything.

Whatever! The song was putting me to sleep! That, combined with the engines, the night, and the deviously pleasant road massaging my body with gentle bumps made me sleepier. Stephannie was the woman who guided me into my dreams. She spoke softly, "That's it. Go to sleep... shhhhh... relax, Jackie. We'll be there soon. You've had a long day. Now, rest. You deserve it." Her voice was soothing as silk. I felt my consciousness collapse upon me.

I couldn't resist it forever. So I composed myself and surrendered. "T-T-Thanks... Stephannie. Or should I call you... sis..." Those were the final words I was able to mutter as I fell into my makeshift bed. I gave a groan of peace. I stirred a little before I let sleep take me. I looked at her gorgeous face and her twinkling eyes before I closed my eyes. For once, she had beaten me in a battle I could never win: bed time. How ironic. Defeated by the very thing I tried to avoid.

She was right. I fought the battle with philosophy and wisdom. But she fought the battle of kindness and love. I won the first battle, she won the second... with kindness. "You know the saying, honey: kill em' with kindness. Ha ha." She killed me with kindness. Now I sleep in death's cape, which is sleep. A series of relieved breathing was heard until it transitioned to peaceful, quiet snores. It WAS a long day for both of us.

Seeing me sleep warmed her heart. She chuckled victoriously when... she remembered what I said...! "Huh?" Stephannie whispered as to not wake me up. She took a moment to search through the words to comprehend their depth. She gasped, staring quickly at me before bringing her eyes back onto the road. My final word struck her heart like a knife. It was a word she never expect to hear from me. "D-Did you call me sis!?" Stephannie's eyes grew in confusion as she let that word sink in.

She gawked, blushing red as a rose. She rewinded time to the moment I said it. "...You did." She shockingly realized, her eyes growing weak. Her hands loosened a bit on the steering wheel, legs wobbling. An extended moment of silence passed til she gathered her composure to speak, "Thank you. Jack..." My Inkling sister whispered into my ears. I was K.O'd, so I was in no position to thank her back

I wish I was available to respond and tell her how proud I was. She had taken her first step into a dark world. Words cannot describe how satisfied I am, both with myself, and Stephannie. My teachings had been fulfilled. But I remained on guard. There was much she had to learn. I stayed sobered up cause I couldn't be drunk off bitterness and despair.

There were still battles to fight. There were still enemies to defeat, trials to overcome. There were still hurdles in which, we had to leap over. And there were still mountains we needed to climb to get to each other's level. Stephannie was willing to learn. I was determined to GROW. We would face these monsters soon. We would suffer, we would bend. But we would not BREAK. But we would face it TOGETHER. AS ONE. We would conquer them by our LOVE. We would provide HEAT for one another.

"We will IGNITE. OUR. HEARTS. So we can see through the cave of life. We are ONE. We are READY. Now let us show you the FIRE and HEAT of our LOVE! Be afraid, GRIEF! We have endured your FIVE STAGES, and we. Will. SLAY YOU! THAT... is what we'll do...! I thank you for your time. Have a damn good night! DJ Lazarus: signing in from NC Radio 800. Up next, it's "Sweet Escape" by Gwen Stefani ft. Akon. Stay tuned..."

Jack:

Thank you for reading!