Epilogue

Inkopolis

Last night following Neon's suggestion, the group celebrated Eight's safe return.

The next day Eight was up late, at least by Octarian standards, but by Inkopolis standards waking up at 10 wasn't all that bad.

Eight woke up, stretched, washed and got ready for the day.

Of course she didn't have anything planned yet.

She left her apartment, greeting a few neighbours in the lobby as she exited the building.

Everyone looked happy to start their days, Eight didn't know any of them very well, but she was still glad to see how cheerful everyone was in Inkopolis. Good thing she didn't end up staying in Octo Canyon with Ophelia.

Why did she even consider that in the first place?

'Oh right, the whole purpose thing… I made such a big deal out of it…'

Eight recalled everything Ophelia had revealed once she had dropped her act of kindness.

Apparently the Octarians she created were made to serve whatever purpose she programmed them for. Perhaps that is why Eight made such a big deal out of finding a new purpose once she had finished with the Deepsea Metro.

Or maybe it was just something normal for all creatures, after all Eight was given the ability to think for herself, she wasn't like those other experiments who could only do as Ophelia said.

Eight shrugged 'Oh well, the past remains the past, I want to live for the good times in Inkopolis, so I'll do just that.'

Today was just going to be a normal day, everyone was already doing their own things.

Kal had to do some runs for Grizzco and Sky had translator work.

As for Neon she was always playing turf wars, but that's because she had both sponsors and a very high rank, so she could make much more than the average Inkling just by playing anyways.

Off the Hook was off recording in their studio too, leaving just Eight on her own.

She used to spend a lot of time training for C.Q Cumber's tests, but now those were all done and Eight had no more reason to visit the metro.

Well, now she could either play ranked battles and earn a living with that, or find another job.

For now, Eight set those thoughts to the side as she spotted a tired looking Inker, walking casually down the street and yawning.

She waved over to him and walked up, only to see that he was clearly tired as black lines were starting to form under his eyes.

"Couldn't sleep last night?" Eight asked

Inker nodded "Barely slept at all, something Ophelia said kept bothering me, so I was up before five and went back to Octo Valley this morning."

Something was bothering Inker?

Since he and the others helped her when her past was bothering her, it was only right for her to hear what was bothering Inker.

Eight asked him to explain.

"Well, I remember Ophelia saying something like 'Did you think that just cause I'm not under Octavio's control, that I's suck up to you Inklings?' For some reason I can't get that out of my head. So I went back this morning and questioned Ophelia with the help of Lynn and Victoria." Inker explained

Up to now, the Octarians who heard the Calamari Inkantation either stayed with Octavio of their own volition or moved to either New Octopolis or Inkopolis.

But in Ophelia's case she did neither of those.

"Ophelia told us her backstory with Project E.E.L in order to stall, you remember how she shamelessly admitted to murdering her own friend shortly after hearing the Calamari Inkantation?" Inker asked

"Yes"

Eight remembered it clearly, after all she had been paying close attention as she was very eager to learn more about herself.

"Wait? Do you think that maybe the Calamari Inkantation is to blame for how Ophelia turned out?" Eight asked

"I'm not sure." Inker replied "All I know is, Ophelia became much more ambitious and unstable after hearing the Calamari Inkantation. That's why I went back to Octo Valley so early, I just had to speak with her one more time and clear things up."

"Well then, what did she say?" Eight was curious too.

"Not much, she is still claiming that she actually regrets everything and wants to be let out as soon as possible, though I don't believe her one bit."

"That's it? Well I wouldn't be so quick to trust her either, not anymore at least."

"But she also did confirm my suspicions, it was only after being freed from Octavio's control, that Ophelia started to get even more ambitious, believing her success with Project E.E.L made her the smartest being in the world. That's probably why she had no problem with murdering Alicia and disposing of you."

Inker looked worried, Eight could probably guess as to why, she had come to know him quite well after all.

"You're wondering if it might have been a bad idea to spread the Calamari Inkantation everywhere?"

Inker nodded

"Don't worry, sure there might be a few bad eggs, but the Inkantation has helped hundreds, no thousands of other Octarians, just look at New Octopolis? Or at the Octolings hanging around Inkopolis?"

"Well yeah but, I can't help but worry a bit."

"Don't be such a worrywart, if something pops up we can deal with it! That's our job as Agents of the New Squidbeak Splatoon."

"Right."

Maybe Inker was still tired, so he was worrying a bit too much.

"If that's all, you should probably get some rest now." Eight suggested

"Well there was one more thing." Inker replied "Ophelia explained that the reason you came to life while all her previous experiments failed, was because her previous experiments had only one directive: 'serve the Octarian Army' that of course, didn't include any sort of natural instincts and since they weren't allowed to learn, they could never figure out how to even breathe. Alicia found a way around that when she gave you the ability to learn, live and adapt. So if you are wondering why you turned out so well, that was it."

"Huh." Eight never questioned why she was the first successful experiment, but by now it didn't really matter to her anymore.

"Well I guess that's good to know, but like you said it doesn't matter where I come from. After all that's said I am still an Octoling. Anyways you should probably go get some sleep, or at least get a coffee, you look like an owl with those bags under your eyes." Eight said.

"Sure, I'll do that. See you around Eight." Inker waved goodbye for now and left the Square.

Eight was left to herself for now, but it didn't bother her.

There was so much to do in Inkopolis.

Maybe she would run into Neon while playing ranked battles.

Or maybe she would go to work at Grizzco like Kal.

Perhaps she could even end up as an idol like Off the Hook or the Squid Sisters.

The possibilities were limitless, there was no reason to turn back now. This was her place, her promised land.

Eight had tied up all the loose ends from her past and was satisfied moving on from here.

Though sometimes she would look back and think of Octo Canyon, Project E.E.L, Ophelia, the Deepsea Metro, Telephone and C.Q Cumber.

Everything she had been through that had made her who she was today. So it really didn't matter where she came from.

No matter what happens, she will always be Agent Eight of the New Squidbeak Splatoon.

A/N: That's it for this story, I never planned it to be as long as Old Hatreds and I doubt I could write another story of such length. Ever since I was still writing the earlier chapters of Old Hatreds, I noticed how the character creation screen for Agent 8 featured Eight floating in a pool of green liquid, since then this story idea slowly made its way into my head. That's why I hopped into this story not long after finishing Old Hatreds.
Well now that this is done I think it will be a while before I start another story, until then, see you around everyone.

Thank you for reading Splatoon: A Friend In Need