Meggy's house in the Mushroom Kingdom Suburbs. Home. How long had it been since she had last been here? She had lost track of time since her kidnapping. It was...what, three days in hospital? Four? Six?! She couldn't remember. And she wasn't exactly in the mood to do so. There was no creak as Tari slowly opened the door. The place was brand new, and Meggy kept it meticulously clean. It was a modern style house down to the floor plans...which was really just a fancy way of saying it was mostly one big room, primarily made of wood and white paint. Traveller would normally grumble at a house like this. How they were cheaply made, and a fire hazard, and just so damn tacky. But not today. This was not the time.

"Fancy place..." Traveller said, faking the amusement in his voice, "Nice catch for someone living alone. Paid for with Splatfest money, huh?"

"I wish..." Meggy sighed despondently, "Even for their doomed ecosystem the prize money was a large amount of cash...but the conversion rates from Inkling Coin to Mushroom Kingdom Coin was...well."

[Three Thousand IC to ONE MCC,] Saiko sounded off, borderline offended, [Talk about one final fuck you from those guys.]

"SMG4 pays for it now..." Tari sighs.

Traveller nodded respectfully, "Well, he seems to be a good enough man. Even if he had to deal with those hedonistic little-"

"Guys?" Tari asked, exasperated, "Can we PLEASE stop talking about that?" she sighed, "Don't forget Meggy used to be one of them...what if you heard all this about your kind?"

"...I do," Traveller sighed, "And I'm sorry, Meggy."

"It's okay..." Meggy mumbled softly, "They don't want me either. Just...take me to bed. It's kinda dark out there now."

Tari looked out of the window. It was indeed getting dark. It wasn't even that late, but then Tari assumed Meggy just didn't feel like tackling the rest of the day. Not after being thrown from her chair. She sighed, "Are you sure you'll be okay without us?"

Meggy nodded faintly, "Yeah..."

"Okay...if you say so. We're a phone call away if you ever need us. You wanna play some video games, I'm your gal! Heh heh..."

"I know..." Meggy looked up and nodded. Her expression was soft and broken, her voice a timid whisper, "Thank you."

[It's what friends are for, Meggs. I think,] Saiko smiled, but it looked...forced, [Now get some rest. Let's see how things are in the morning.]

"Yeah...yeah..." Meggy sighed. The group wheeled Meggy upstairs. Not the soundest plan, but it's what she asked for. She'd have access to water and a bathroom, so she'd be fine until the morning. They wheeled her to her bed. Meggy didn't even bother to get undressed beyond removing her head accessories, not like she had any boots to remove now. She flopped in bed, and after a few sniffles, began to drift off into sleep. The others closed the door and slowly tiptoed out of the house, though not before Tari placed a blanket on Meggy's sleeping form.

The air outside was crisp and cold. Tari could see her breath as she sighed gravely, "Okay...now what?"

Traveller nodded, "Plan C-RA."

"Plan C-RA?"

[Plan Coffee and Robot Arm.]

/

The coffee shop was a nice one. Fairly understated, not much to say about it. Wood floors, large seats, overpriced coffee in cardboard cups, just your average coffee shop. Even had that coffee smell to it, one wafting into Tari's nostrils as Saiko and Traveller discussed their plan over a round of caramel lattes. Tari was ecstatic, "Yes, of course! Prosthetic robot arm! ...Kinda kicking myself I didn't think of it before. It's...well it's ON me."

"Looking after the wounded is generally higher priority," Traveller noted, somehow drinking his coffee through his scarf. It was certainly nicer than the stuff in the hospital, that was for sure. He cleared his throat, "Never mind emotional states often clouding logical reasoning."

[Oh, so THAT'S why you don't have emotions!] Saiko snarked, giving him a nudge.

"Stop iiiiiiit," Traveller said somewhat sarcastically. Saiko simply chuckled before sipping her coffee. Traveller sighed and chuckled himself, "...Heh, okay. Walked into that one. Still, that does seem to be the idea of the century. Get her some robotic legs. Preferably similar to that robotic arm. That thing's a marvel of technology all on its own! Who made it? Where did you get it?"

"That's...um...that's the issue," Tari twiddled nervously with her cup, "I don't know. All I remember is waking up in a room. Some sort of...surgery room. With my old arm lying in a cooler box and this one attached. The logo was scratched out when we were attacked by the T-Pose Zombies!"

Traveller's confused as hell expression returned, "...What the fuck even is this place?!"

[I ask myself that a lot,] Saiko rested her head in her hands, [Just go with it, trust me. So, that's a bust.]

"Mmm," Traveller looked forward and gestured with his cup, "Unless someone you know is smart enough to reverse-engineer it."

There was a brief silence as the three racked their brains for people capable of such a feat. Saiko could practically hear the gears turning in her head. And then, all of a sudden, it was like a light switched on inside and she slammed the table, [E GADD!]

"...Bless you."

"No, it's a scientist we know!" Tari corrected, "He's got some screws loose...to put it lightly. But he can make anything for us! He made Meggy an ink-surfing board! If I give him my arm, he should be able to make Meggy new legs!"

"Fantastic!" Traveller exclaimed, "Better give him a call..." he trailed off. He stared down at the reinforced leather holster on his hip. The handle of some sort of blade was jutting out of it, usually hidden by his jacket. He sighed harshly, "Fine you're in this story," he said to nothing in particular, before digging the blade out; it was jagged and ceremonial in nature. A black, obsidian blade with red, lava-like cracks running across it, its hilt a rocky steel with gems embedded within it. They were lucky this place was nearly empty at this time, such a reckless action. But then he...put the blade to his ear, the hilt acting as a sort of mouthpiece. He nodded, then looked at the blade. A holographic numberpad appeared on the blade, "Do you girls know his phone number?"

The other two stared, incredulous, at the sight. This man had the audacity to take out a large knife...and use it as a telephone. And to their further shock, the glowing cracks on its blade pulsated as the blade began to...talk, in a gruff but jovial voice, "...Yes this man's talking, possessed ancient cult blade can be used as a phone, what of it?"

Tari whimpered under her breath, "Now it's our time to be eternally confused..."

The blade sounded offended, "What?! I got us a great deal on our phone plan. Infinite calls, infinite texts, across time and space. AND if we use this feature enough, HE gets a free coupon for that Shakeporium down in the No-Zone."

Traveller nodded shakily in agreement, "Their Red Velvet shakes are the best, man. Anyway. Calling ..."

===

[What do you mean you can't for it for free?!] Saiko demanded as they burst out of the coffee shop.

"Well, sorry girls!" came 's voice. On his end, he was working on...something sinister, even he had no idea what it was. There was a spark and a yelp, but he was back on the line within seconds, "But you used up the IOU on that ink board. Textureless clones and beeg versions of your boss don't appear from thin air, you know. My experiments require funding! Or at the very least...material."

"Material?" Traveller spoke into the bladephone, "So what, you'll do it if we get you some good metal?"

"AND a sort of generator so I don't tap into my own supply. Then it'd be COMPLETELY free on my end and we can call it even. I think. But any old scrap metal won't do. It needs to be premium stuff!"

"Like?" Traveller asked, grumbling.

"Hmm...ever heard of Sardinium? Those Inklings started using it in their stronger weapons just before Splatfest. Gather some of that and...hmm, one of their Zapfishes. That should cover it."

"So..." Tari slowly put the pieces together, and she didn't quite like the total puzzle, "Like, just take it-"

[By force,] Saiko's grin grew into some psychotic smirk that even Traveller found unnerving, [I like how you think, Egghead.]

"Well, from what I hear they did to your beanie friend, they probably have it coming, heh heh," 's signature chuckle rang through the receiver, "I'll hear from you again, I presume?"

"Oh you bet..." Traveller assumed his own psychosmirk and pocketed the blade, "Well, looks like we're getting a little...revenge, girls."

"Do we have to?" Tari asked fearfully.

[Yep...] Saiko crackled her knuckles in anticipation, [And I know just the guy we need to help get to all that good metal,] she arched her torso forward and stretched out her arm, her hand balled into a fist, [Give me a sec...wait for it...]

Before Traveller could ask what the Hell she was doing, a red and blue streak came literally screaming around the corner. It was the Plumber, and he was exclaiming...something in joy, "WEE HEEEEEEEE!" he certainly saw Saiko's arm, but had no time to stop. He slammed into her arm, knocking him off his feet. His crumpled body ragdolled to the floor, and he was not happy about the encounter, "OOF! Mama F*UCKER!"

Traveller tilted his head quizzically, "The plumber?"

[You'll see,] Saiko said as the plumber dragged himself to his feet. She cleared her throat and put on an extremely fake polite face and excited tone, [Hey...uh, Red, I think? We doin' a little shopping for Meggy. Some metal and some inkshed. You in?]

"Sorry, girls," Mario said, running frantically in place, "Mario's a-in a little trouble, here! Mario need-a that last-a plate of Festive Spaghetti! IT'S-A MINE!" with that, he began to run off towards town.

[Aww come on Red,] Saiko continued with her awkward sincerity, [You'll be doing a good deed for Meeeeeeggyyyyyyyy,] Mario suddenly stopped. Saiko smirked, [Heh, gottem. And you'll get to kick some Inkling ass~]

Suddenly, to Traveller's horror, Mario's head turned 180 degrees to look at the group, his face twisted into a grotesque, extended triangle smile, "Oh boy! Mario's-a always down to kick some juicy ass!"

Traveller was about to object again, but Saiko cut him off, [JUST...go with it,] she cracked her knuckles a second time and turned to the group, [Alright team! Let's go cheer up our friend the best way we know how.]

/

Hours passed. The dark evening turned to darker night. The gentle snow turned to harsh rain, and then thunderstorms. That rain pattered against the Meggy's bedroom window, as the girl tried desperately to get some sleep. But time after time, horrific memories flooded back, about how this year had NOT been kind to her; Francis, Splatfest drama, SMG3 erasing her from history, the textureless clones, the Mario Mask...and then, Shades with his roaring chainsaw, wreathed in flames. One after the other, over and over again. She whimpered, pleaded to whatever deity may be listening to just make them all go away. To make this panic attack stop. She tussled this way and that, twisting violently in her bed. Until, suddenly, she fell with a scream and hit the wooden floor. The remains of her legs waved about frantically as the memories only got worse and worse, louder and louder. Her breath was shallow as she reached in to curl into a ball.

"I can't...I can't..." she wheezed, "Someone help...I can't...I can't breathe! I can't..."

"Yes you can..." came a voice. A smooth, comforting...familiar voice. Meggy felt a cold chill spread onto her back, slowly rubbing in vague circles. The voice continued, breathing in slowly, "In...out. Like that. Come on, in..." they repeated the large intake of breath. A shivering Meggy did the same, "Out..." they exhaled. and so did Meggy. as she did so, it felt like the memories were slowly receding into the dark. Her heartbeat slowed, her breath returned, and she slowly uncurled from her ball. The voice seemed satisfied, "There we go."

Meggy sat up. She looked at the ghostly figure in front of her. She was transparent, leaning on the bookshelf, staring at the floored girl. It was an Octoling. One of the old Elites, not those new Metro Dwellers, magenta colours, a blue hoodie and boots. Meggy couldn't believe her eyes, "...D...Desti?! I thought you told me to forget about you! After Splatfest..."

"Well yeah, that was the plan..." Desti said, her face somewhat morose, "Until that sore loser cut your legs off. You think I'm just gonna sit by and watch you suffer? Of course not. Like I said, I like to keep things...well, not professional, but there are lines I won't cross. Not like those Killer Inks."

"You saw 'em, huh?"

"I couldn't take my eyes off 'em!" Desti said, trying to keep her cool, and doing a poor job of it. She walked around the room, "Honestly. People called ME a jerk. Man..." she sighed, brushing her tentacles back and walking over to Meggy and sitting with her, "Pay 'em no mind, Meggs. After all, insulting you was MY job! Heh heh..."

Meggy couldn't shake her sorrowful expression, "W...What're you doing here?"

"Little encouragement," Desti tilted her head with a more caring expression. She brushed back some of Meggy's frizzled hair, "I mean, you seem to be a little down. For obvious reasons."

Meggy looked down at her stumps. They were still wrapped in bandages, still had some burnt tissue from...whatever Shroomy did with that iron. She felt sick simply recalling the events, "I never...it's one of those things you never think would happen to you..."

"Like death, eh?" Desti pointed to herself, specifically that place on her chest where she was stabbed, "Still hurts some days. But, this ain't about me. You're stronger than you think you are, Meggs. You said yourself, you survived dang near everything this year has thrown at you. You can do this. Ain't nothin' gonna stop you now!"

Meggy wasn't so sure. She remembered when she had tried to pull herself back into her wheelchair. She had used all her strength to try. But she failed. She failed in front of her friends, and the guy who saved her life. She...FAILED. And that always sent her reeling. She looked at Desti like she had been sick on the carpet, "But...I fell."

"So? Get back up and do it again!" Desti tried to thump Meggy on the arm. 'Tried' being the operative word, as her incorporeal arm went straight through. She sighed, "The Meggy I knew wouldn't' just give up at losing that first battle in Splatfest...even if they did cheat. The Meggy I knew wouldn't let those Killer Inkos steamroll her from beyond the grave. The Meggy I know would get. Back. Up."

Meggy thought long and hard. Those sorts of words felt to meaningless coming out of that weird scarfed guy's mouth. Hell, it felt weird coming out of her own. But out of Desti...well, she could never let Desti down. Not after all the rigmarole she went through to win Splatfest! Even if it led to...

No. Desti was right. She couldn't let those Killer Sinks get one over her. She couldn't let them win. She looked up to Desti, a new determination blazing behind her eyes, "...I got this!"

Grabbing the edge of the bed, Meggy groaned with effort as she began to climb up onto it. She was grimacing all the while, her noodle arms shivering with the strain. She wasn't used to this. But she was going to do it, damn it! Desti cheered on, "Come on Meggs! Come on! Work those noodle human arms! COME ON!" spurred on by her words, Meggy continued. She almost lost her grip and her strength and fell, but she grabbed another, more solid part of the bed, resuming the climb. She got one stump up past the mattress onto the bed itself. Desti's cheers became more intense, "Almost there...almost there..." and with a final grunt, Meggy pulled herself up onto the bed and rolled into the middle. Desti exploded, arms threw into the air, "YES!"

Meggy laughed in victory, a new form of sheer joy dwelling within her, "I DID IT!"

"YOU did it," Desti repeated, chuckling, "That's my sorta-rival! I bet Shades is spinnin' in his grave right about now! Wait, hang on..." she suddenly vanished in a puff of smoke. Meggy was confused for a few seconds, before she popped back into reality. She chuckled, "Yep, you REALLY ticked him off! Gives him another thing to scream about down there."

"...Down there? He's in Hell?"

"Where else would I send him, heh heh," Desti grinned slyly, "Never mind that, tho. You did it, Meggy!"

Meggy sat up and faux-humbly scratched the back of her head, "Aaah I just got into bed..."

"So? That's just the first step. It's all up from here! You can get by without your leggys, Meggy!" Desti quickly chuckled at her own dark joke, "Heh, Leggy."

"Stop it..." Meggy warned sternly, to which she was met with a raspberry. She sighed, her energy drained, and she flopped back onto the bed "So...now what?"

"You're exhausted, Meggs. I get that," Desti sighed, getting close to Meggy and trying to place her under the covers. Meggy got the message and squirmed under herself. Desti smiled warmly, "Go back to bed and get some rest. Maybe something cool will come for you in the morning. You've got good friends, Meggs. I guess I sorta...underestimated 'em. Even that dumbass plumber's okay...just, okay."

Meggy felt more tears flow into her eyes, only this time they were ones of joy. She arched up and hugged the ghost...and she knew from experience she felt that one. Meggy snuggled into the embrace, "...Thank you, Desti."

"You're welcome," Desti said cooly, slowly lowering Meggy back into bed, "Now get some sleep, Meggs. You know I'm always watchin' over you..."

And with a final russle of the beanie girl's hair, Desti vanished back into whatever afterlife she had come from. A content, smiling Meggy shuffled further into the covers and drifted off into a wonderful, heavy sleep stuffed to the brim with dreams.

/

Meanwhile, across town, 's laboratory was still bustling with some form of life. The lab was darkly lit, with only the dim glow of computer monitors lining the walls giving a soft blue glow to the inteterior. There was no sign of himself, bar some rustling and crashing noises in the roof, sending dust to settle onto piles of his old inventions. Only beeps and bloops from the computers rang throughout the room for a while, but it would soon be overtaken by a hiss as the heavy main doors finally opened.

In the doorway were the group from before; Tari, Saiko, Mario and Traveller. All four of them were slathered head to toe in spilled ink of multiple colours, and surrounded by tons of Inkling weapons scattered across the floor. Mainly rollers and splatters, the odd charger here and there. Tari looked horrified, Saiko looked shocked, Mario was happy and Traveller...well, he sure had some sort of expression. The group stood there for a few seconds more, taking in what they had just done.

[...Wow!] Saiko exclaimed like a kid on Christmas day, [That was the most badass thing I've ever done!]

"Well, you certainly weren't a pushover!" Traveller chuckled, an impressed tone to his voice, "I saw you spike that Inko like he was a tent peg! Where'd you get THAT strength?!"

"That...wasn't fun," Tari sobbed, before sniffing and regaining he composure, "But it WAS necessary. Yes."

"Oh boy!" Mario crowed, that distended smile still plastered on his face, "Mario's pingas feels-a funny!"

An awkward pause followed this outburst, and the others looked warily at Mario. Saiko grumbled out a reply, [...Thanks for ruining the mood, Plumber.]

"Whatever. ?!" Traveller called out amongst the complex, looking up towards the ceiling, "Where are you?"

To respond, came a violent crash. More dust and debris rained from the rafters, along with a clattering of steel and plastic. Above it all, a scream of "INCOMING!" came barrelling through the complex. , a screaming white blur, slammed into the floor at mach speed with a violent smashing sound. He looked injured, but not lethally. He slowly got to his feet, supporting his back, "Oooh, that smarts. Excuse me, I was just...readjusting my TV areal. Yes."

Tari stepped forward, placing a Foil Flingza Roller and a still squirming Zapfish onto the floor in front of the professor. She then twisted her arm and removed it, also handing it to him, "Well, we got your material sir..."

"Excellent!" exclaimed, adjusting his glasses and moving to gather up the weapons further into his workshop. He turned to the group, "Now, I will just need a few hours to make the legs. And, uh, patch myself up. I suggest you all go home and sleep. I'll see you in the morning!"

"Many thanks, scientist fellow..." Traveller saluted, before the group turned to walk out of the lab. Traveller stopped, turning to look at the strange little man as he patched himself up, then continued walking away, "God you look familiar."

[Well, time to get some shuteye.] Saiko yawned, stretching to the heavens, [You got a place to stay, spiky?]

"You can-a stay with Mario!" Mario suggested, though he ignored Traveller's face scrunch up in pure, refined "Plz No".

The hedgehog shrugged, "Eh, I'm sure your princess won't mind if I find a room in her place..."