Chapter 8
Author's notes:
Not a alot to say here...but I may write a rewritten version of this story but it will be different than this one. I have more more stories planned out too. So speaking of NX last chapter, I think this supposed hybrid/handheld console will be pretty dang awesome since there's going to be a new Sonic game for it in 2017. I look forward to that plus the next installments of Splatoon, Super Mario, Super Smash Bros, etc. But if they end up being ports from the Wii U...I guess I'll be fine with that too.
Anyway here's chapter 8!
At Arowana Mall…
The heroes are standing in Riptide Plaza, where hundreds on Inklings and other various sea creatures are walking, riding bikes, talking, hanging out or playing Splatoon Go. There were different little shops around but the biggest one of all is Arowana Mall right in front of their faces, with its huge letters on the front with some Inkling letters that looks similar to Japanese under the big letters. Guess not all Inklings speak and understand English. There is a fountain spewing out different colors of ink and there's with a park nearby with more Inklings relaxing under the trees.
The residents are swarming in and out of the mall like ants. They all stood there agape at the sight, but the question is…where are the Inklings they spoke to yesterday? They've been searching around the area and couldn't find them anywhere.
"I'm guessing this is the right place to be?" Toad scanned around, looking unsure
"Most-a likely…we followed the-a directions" said Mario
"So, where are the squid kids that said they wanted us to go here?" SMG4 wondered "I'm betting they're inside already"
"Mama mia..." Luigi muttered
"Maybe, let's go inside and try to find them" Steve suggested
"How we know it's them though?"
"Simple, they'll just-a yell our names" Luigi answered "Let's-a go inside"
They all agreed and went to the entrance, crossing the street with one of them almost getting ran over but they made it, the huge sliding glass door swooshed open giving them access. Inside, was very astounding. They were tons and tons of stores inside selling various things, a larger version of an ink fountain with jellyfish sitting at the concrete edges, graffiti on the walls, glass walls and pretty much everywhere, same goes for the decorations hanging from the ceiling.
Some weird music is also booming through the speakers, sounds like the one plays in the plaza but more...complex. And its packed, this will make finding Joey and his friends more difficult, the group groaned again.
"Great! We're never going to-a find them at this rate!" Mario hollered
"This will take forever..." Toad facepalmed
"How about we ask around?" SMG4 wondered "Surely, these other Inklings will know about um...Joey and his friends" He had to rack his brain to remember
"Okay so what do we know about him and his friends?" Luigi interrogated
"I think there are three others with him...one guy and the other two are girls" Toad stated
"That settles it then, we need to find-a two guys and two girls hanging out-a together" Mario acknowledged
"Well what are we waiting for then? Let's get a move on!" Toad declared and began walking away with the others immediately tracking him. "That's the most obnoxious Toad I've ever seen..." Steve grumbled
The other sea creatures acknowledged their existence as they paraded through the crowd...some waved, greeted, smiled while others just scoffed at them just because they're humans but the group didn't pay any attention to them. They just flashed smiles at them to internally kill them. "Just smile and wave guys...smile and wave" Toad said. Eventually they've reached the spewing ink fountain and sat on the concrete edges.
"There you guys are!" A familiar voice called out to them. The Mario group looked up in front of them as they heard footsteps and sloshing sounds, they see 4 Inklings squids turned from squid to a kid, it was indeed Joey and his friends, wearing the same outfits the last time they saw them. "Hey guys! What's up?" Joey greeted them
"Sorry we're a bit late...Jessie over here overslept" said Becky, gazing at her friend who looks slightly tired
"It's-a fine, this place is pretty awesome" Mario claimed
"It's Arowana Mall for ya, pretty huge huh?" asked Kevin
The gang nodded their heads "yes" without hesitation. "Since apparently, its your first time here let us show you guys around" Becky inisisted "Come on, follow us" The four Inklings began to tour them around. "Oh by the way, if you see splat of ink on windows...that's because this place is also a Turf War stage" said Jessica. This puzzled the group. How can they ink up a place like this?
"They shoot ink around the place where people go shopping? Sounds a bit scary..." SMG4 informed
"But no worries, there's a courtyard outside exclusively for Turf Wars so no other sea creatures cant be bothered by it" Joey assured "That way, no one gets hurt...except for the others playing the Turf"
"Glad we're able to hang out with you guys" Becky smiled. The gang smiled back "Hey no problem!" Mario said.
"Here let's show you guys the clothes section..." They walked into Jelly Fresh Topic
After some time passed, they were all done touring and decided to eat some lunch in a huge food court at a round table. The food court is rather the size of a large house, with many different vendors offering different types of food. They ordered some squid burgers, salads, fries, drinks and a few hotdogs. The Inklings and the Mario crew sat down on the chairs randomly and they were munching away. "So tell us Mario..." Becky began "What its like living in the Mushroom Kingdom? We heard the news about you from the Squid Sisters"
"Well...first off" Mario started, then clearing his throat "It's-a pretty relaxing place where me, my brother and my other friends live in a castle"
"A castle? That sounds pretty rad" Kevin commented
"With a princess"
"Wait a princess? No way...what was she like?" Jessica wondered "Is she beautiful and elegant?"
Luigi answered this time "Yes she is, but-a lately she's been rather up and down"
"I see...heh the Squid Sisters are like that too since they're hosting news and performing in Splatfests and what not" said Kevin
"We don't have Splatfests anymore ever since the Callie vs Marie one" Joey reminded them
"It was intense as heck" Jessica added in
"What is this Splatfest?" Toad asked "Is it some kind of party?"
"Well it is basically, there's themes we had to pick out too like hotdogs vs marshmallows or going hiking vs have a space adventure, you get the picture" Kevin explained "All battles are Turf Wars too"
"By the time its over, we get Super Sea Snails depending on our performance as a reward...but now Judd gives them out" Jessica finished for him. The Mario crew seems interested. "That's sounds pretty fun actually" Toad claimed "How about spaghetti vs muffins Mario?" He looked at the red plumber who raised an eyebrow "That sounds like-a challenge" he said
"Wait wait no Toad, how about... spaghetti vs burritos?" SMG4 suggested. They all went quiet for a minute, like if he told a really bad joke and waiting for someone to laugh or respond.
"Nah, maybe later" Toad said "Anyways, not only do we relax we also do go-kart racing, partying, tennis, basketball, other kinds of sports and a bunch of other things to do"
"That's pretty awesome" Becky spoke "We like to give that a try of those activities you mentioned sometime"
"Yeah we can...one day"
"So speaking of Squid Sisters...my friends and I got to meet them in person" said SMG4. Joey, Kevin, Becky and Jessica were in shock, they've never got to meet them in person, not even in Splatfests cause they were busy splatting it up or dancing in the plaza. "What? You guys are so lucky!" Becky squealed
"They're the coolest idols ever!" Jessica shouted
"Man...that's a bummer we didnt we get to meet them..." The boys became very grumpy, almost jealous-like
The Inklings took a look at Steve. The way he looks just bizarre the hell outta them, They now have a chance to talk to him since he's right there in front of them.
"So uh...Steve right? What's your story?" Becky continued "You look like a fish out of water"
"Oh him? He is a long story but we'll-a tell the short version" Luigi stated.
Back at Inkopolis
"Uh Marie? Looks like more weird creatures showed up" Callie announced, looking through the window and seeing Bowser, SMG3 and Toadsworth standing in the middle of the plaza surrounded by some Inklings showing interest. She examined SMG3 and Toadsworth and see how similar they look compared to SMG4 and Toad. "Its not one of the Octorians either!"
"For the love of squids Callie I-holy carp! Who are they?" Marie was all she can manage to say when she gazed out of the window for a brief moment "Whats with these creatures showing up?" She demanded
"That guy in the black and blue clothes looks like the other one wearing white overalls and the Mario Brothers" said Callie
"Get a load of him! He looks as old as Gramps!" Marie exclaimed, seeing Toadsworth "And I have no clue, what THAT is" She pointed at the Koopa King. They began pondering for a mere few seconds until Callie remembered a while back.
"Ooh! Ooh! Maybe it's Godzilla! You know from that movie!" she recalled, which she received a perplexed look from Marie "Wait what?"
"We watched that last Sunday?" She continued "It was on TV"
"Really Callie, that cheesy movie? But come to think of it, he does look a little bit of Godzilla..." She puts her hand under her chin. "But a miniature version of him"
"Should we get Agent 3 to investigate this?" Callie suggested.
"She's down there right now actually" Marie pointed at Cassidy, standing in front of Bowser, SMG3 and Toadsworth talking to them. "Let's hope nothing terrible happens..."
Cassidy happened to walk up to them when they showed up earlier and she was spotted instantly. Their presence has stirred up quite the attention around the plaza. "Hey you, the one with the pointy cones" SMG3 called out "Have you seen anyone that looks like me? Or him?" He pointed at Toadsworth. Cassidy examined all of three of them one by one "Well yeah actually, I don't know where they went" She answered
"See told you two we're in the right place and you didn't believe me" Toadsworth bragged
"Alright, alright shut your trap old man" Bowser shushed him "You got us on this one"
Cassidy crossed her arms and put on a mean look "So who are you and how did you get here?" This caused Bowser to laugh a bit
"Well if you insist, the names Bowser, this old bag is Toadsworth and that other moron is SMG3" Bowser introduced themselves
"And we came from that manhole way over there...some old guy with a cap showed us the exit I think his name was Cuttlefish or something like that" SMG3 replied. Cassidy became astonished and so was the Squid Sisters. "Cuttlefish?" She whispered. Some of the other Inklings suddenly formed a crowd around them wondering what's going on. The group became a little too uneasy about it. Their eyes and their tentacles are one of them. "What in the world?" Toadsworth yelped
"Hey tell your friends to back up!" SMG3 demanded.
"Oh dear..." Toadsworth can feel Bowser's is about to unleash one of his roars to scare them away but he seems to delay it. The jellyfish creatures later joined in the crowd making it more uneasy for them. "Can you guys give them some space?" Cassidy ordered but they didn't listen, they were too interested in them, especially Bowser bombarding him with questions.
"What are you? Some kind of land mutant?"
"Are those horns real?"
"Can I touch your tail and spikes?"
Someone then grabbed Cassidy by her shirt, reeled her in and kicked her out of the crowd, she stumbled out of it almost "Hey!" She shouted "Jerks!" More Inklings are surrounding them closer like a pack of sardines. "Oh man what should I do?" She started to get a little panicky, this is worse than dealing with the Octorians. "This is not good..."
In the studio, Callie and Marie noticed how much she's freaking out, she hasn't done that since when she first started trying out being an Agent to bring war to the Octorians. "Oh man, Agent 3 is freaking out again..Marie we need to do something"
"Alright alright I'm calling her right now" Marie got one of her headsets and called Cassidy. "Come on, come on..."
Cassidy hear the ringing in her headset, making her to go to the closed down cafe and answer the call "Hello, this is Agent 3 answering" She spoke in a way to make sure no one hears her but her voice is a bit shaky "Agent 3! Are you ok? We saw you panicking"
"Yes I'm fine, I think that Bowser guy is going to lose it"
"Alright stay calm, try to get the Inklngs away from them" As she soon as she said it, that's when Bowser started to bellow loudly, rumbling buildings. The squid kids immediately screamed and ran away from them. Judd woke up from his sleep, saw the Inklings running away and went back to sleep. "Yep, he lost it" Bowser stomped forward, to the middle of the plaza and roared again, with fire emerging from his mouth.
"Holy hell...Callie, it's Godzilla" Marie whispered with a frightened expression
"What did I tell you? We need to send out an emergency broadcast" Callie assumed "We need to protect Inkopolis!"
"Fine, whatever it takes to keep everyone safe" Marie agreed
Back at the mall...
"Sounds like you have a very interesting world Steve...I can't believe you're the only human in that world surviving against monsters" said Jessica, before taking a sip of her drink
"Yeah I know" Steve assumed
"Don't you ever feel alone back at home?" Becky asked
"He was...till we went there" SMG4 "And Mario pretty much screwed up everything"
"Hey, I wanted to-a do something fun! Not look at blocks all day" The red plumber claimed
Suddenly the channel changed on a huge flat screen TV, hanging on a wall is viewable by everyone in the food court. It showed the Squid Sister's logo on the screen which baffled everyone, then they showed up looking frightened
"Hold onto to your tentacles..." Callie started
"It's Inkopolis News time!" Marie followed
Then it showed "EMERGENCY" on the top screen, they know it can't be good. "Inklings we have an emergency going on in Inkopolis!" Callie shouted
"There's a big monster in the plaza, roaring and scaring the citizens! It might be Godzilla!"
Then a loud bellowing roar is heard from the speakers. Mario and the crew recognized that sound anywhere as they stood up out of their chairs and so did the others.
"If anybody can come and help deal with this beast...that would be great" said Marie
"Please anybody!" Callie yelled
Then it flashed the logo again.
"Until then..."
"Stay fresh!"
Then it ended, the entire sea creatures in the food court were on edge and afraid at this point. "I'm not gonna sit here and let some monster try to destroy our city!" Joey cried out
"Yeah let's take care of it!" Kevin shouted
"Well come on! Let's go before it's too late!" Becky yelled, then she gasped. She noticed that the Mario crew were gone "Where's Mario and his friends?" Joey, Kevin and Jessica looked and gasped also "Where did they go?"
"I'm guessing back to Inkopolis! Come on, let's get kraken!" They all transformed into squids and swam away.
"Uh Bowser, scaring away those poor squid creatures doesn't get us anywhere y'know!" Toadsworth acknowledged. This enraged the Koopa "I don't care! They were getting annoying! I just want to find Mario and his dumb friends and beat the crap outta them!" he bellowed
"This is why we can't ever have nice things!" SMG3 reminded him
Cassidy, on the other hand hid behind one of the pillars and eavesdropped in hope of getting out of his way. She remained shaken while whispering "It's not an Octorian...it's not an Octorian" to herself. All of the Inklings went into hiding, except for Judd...he's still sleeping on the pedestal. Lazy fat cat.
"If none of you are willing to cooperate...I will claim this city mine!" Bowser, started walking towards to the tower. "Where is Mario?"
"Hello! It's-a me, Mario!" That voice is none than...Bowser, SMG3 and Toadsworth turned around and saw Mario, Luigi, Toad, SMG4, and Steve standing proudly in front of them. "Huh? Mario!" Bowser shouted
"Bowser?!" They all said in unison
"SMG4 what a pleasant surprise to see ya" SMG3 smirked evilly
"SMG3..." The blue-white plumber scowled
"Oh god it's Toadsworth" Toad facepalmed again
"You in trouble boy!" He said
"What are you-a doing here, ya fat turtle?" Mario demanded, angrily
"We're here to kick your asses, ya mustachioed punk!" Bowser retorted back "We came to here to this weird ass world to do so!"
"And for making me clean up your disgusting messes!" Toadsworth added in
"Oh yeah! Bring it on, Koopa face bring it on!" Toad bragged, throwing his fists into the air "We're gonna kick your asses first!"
"Let's dance!"
"So be it..."
The Mario cast began to stare down at each other in the eyes, like a draw duel of the West. With a posture, that looks like they will a sudden movement. It was all dead silent. Everyone became really anxious.
An ultimate showdown may have began...it went on like this for 4 minutes but out of the blue, a shrieky voice that sounds like Toad is heard from above. They started to see who is making that sound, another Toad wearing glasses is on the tower but he appears to have...a snowglobe with DJ Octavio inside. All of the Inklings, including Callie and Marie became very afraid.
"Is that Octavio?" Cassidy squeaking, through her lips. She gulped
"Who wants an octopus?" The Toad offered
Things are about to get really ugly from here.
DJ Octavio in Inkopolis? Bet you didn't see that coming huh? If Octolings were there, why not him? Anyway, things might get ugly from here.
Stay tuned and fresh!