Aureolin had spent the last few hours alone. She was rather depressed, still being turned down by another team for the competition. It had been the third time thus far. She realized it was nearing seven in the evening, and the sun was beginning to go down, though as dark as it was getting, Inktopolis was so big that the street lights alone illuminated a good part of the area. She was making her way toward the plaza, a place where the competition was going to be held. When the teenage inkling arrived to the plaza, she saw a lot of stores there. A small restaurant a clothing store lay nearby for upgrades and various nice clothing, though the main focus of hers was on the tower that was high in the sky, ominously looming over her as if it was mocking her for not being able to compete in the Turf War competition.
"Aure!" Linen's voice rung out as he approached, seeming excited for the practice tonight.
"Hey, Linny. I told you I'd be here to cheer you on… even if tonight is just practice," Aureolin reminded him happily. She felt his arms wrap around him as he pulled her into a tight hug, catching her off guard.
"Thanks a lot," Linen smiled, happy to know he had her there. He broke the hug and pointed up to the huge screen television that was displayed from the tower. The yellow haired inkling knew she will be watching her friend from that screen.
"Where's your team, by the way?" Aureolin curiously inquired, not seeing the rest of the team. Linen chuckled.
"They're inside, I think. I told'em I wasn't coming in without making sure you were here first," the purple inkling claimed. His close friend wished him good luck before watching him head into the tower. All she could do now was wait and watch.
Linen entered inside the tower. The inside was nicely decorated, and there were a lot of inklings there, along with multiple strange platforms. He saw two inklings specifically sitting there waiting for him.
"What took you so long?" one inkling spoke. She had very long green tentacles for hair that reached her knees almost in length. She was wearing goggles on her head and a white shirt that was completely blank. She was Myrtle, another member of the team. She was the first to join it. She was a bit aggressive, all things considered, though she didn't notice half the time herself.
"Sorry guys. I was making sure my friend was here," Linen apologized, though the other inkling looked a little annoyed while staring at his cellphone. The boy had short pink tentacle hair that was tied back behind his head, and he was wearing a red shirt that had a huge fang symbol on it. He was Folly, the leader of their team, the Ink Jets. He was a nice guy, but he heavily believed in being objective.
"It doesn't matter. We won't be playing in the competition," the pink inkling claimed the news, shocking their teammates.
"What? Why?!" Myrtle gasped. Linen didn't know what to say on the matter, letting their team leader continue. They all had gotten to be somewhat good friends ever since the team was formed.
"Sky texted me and said she quit. We're out by one player and we have only until tomorrow to find one, otherwise our practice tonight is cancelled, too," Folly explained to them what happened. One of their other teammates had abruptly quit on them for no given reason, and they couldn't get back in contact with their teammate. They were unable to enter the tournament or practice with only three people. There was a fourth inkling requirement. Linen only took a second of thinking before he grinned, having an idea.
"Don't worry, guys! I know just who can help us," Linen claimed. Folly and Myrtle gave each other concerned looks, but before they could say anything, they watched him dash off, that hyperactive energy being easily noticeable, but now he seemed extremely happy, which did nothing but worry the two more. Linen wasn't bad, but when it came to spur of the moment ideas, he tended to make big mistakes.
Aureolin was sitting on a bench. Currently being displayed on the big television screen was another Turf War in progress. It was pretty much one sided, though she grew a confused look when she saw Linen running out of the plaza tower. It took a second to recognize him and the all too excited look on his face.
"I have a bad feeling…" the yellow inkling muttered as Linen ran up to her.
"Aure! I have great news!" the purple squid haired boy hummed. He was far too excited, which made her nervous. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the tower.
"Can you tell me the news before you drag me around!?" Aureolin requested, her shoulder aching in protest from being tugged by Linen's tough arm.
"We got an opening on my team! We need a fourth person real bad," Linen explained briefly. Aureolin got a bright smile and shimmer in her eyes at her friend's words. She saw Folly and Myrtle standing there, having been waiting.
"This is who you had in mind to replace Sky? Jeez, Linen do you ever think before you act!?" Myrtle angrily demanded. Linen waved his hands defensively.
"That's a trick question, Myrtle, we both know it. This is Aureolin, she doesn't have a team. I know Sky was a pro, we all know that, but I swear on my clothes that Aure is able to help our team," Linen vouched. Aureolin was trying her best to keep up, but between how fast her best friend had dragged her here and hearing the two teammates nearly break out into an argument, she was a bit lost. The pink inkling boy had his eyes closed, thinking over this.
"Um… hi it's nice to meet you guys," Aureolin tried to be friendly, though her words fell on deaf ears. The team tried to argue this decision.
"This is nuts! She has no experience! As if you weren't crippling enough, Linen," Myrtle growled, practically butting heads with the purple tentacle haired boy. Just then, the two teammates saw their leader Folly rummage around his pocket and pull something out.
"Welcome to the team," he welcomed with a warm smile. He was holding a button out to her. It had a blue splatter symbol on it that read their group name, 'The Ink Jets'. Aureolin took it, staring happily at the button. That smile on her face seemed to only indicate how overjoyed she was. Linen was glad to see her happy.
"What!? Folly, this is nuts!" the long tentacle haired girl tried to argue, but their leader shrugged.
"Yep, Myrtle, this is nuts. That's why I took you and Linen as teammates in the first place, because you both were unpredictable. She has the attitude we need, too," Folly explained his own reasons for allowing Aureolin on the team. She was so bubbly that her attitude would be a welcomed morale raiser. Their leader began to walk toward one of many odd platforms that were in the tower.
"Come on, you guys. We've got to get to practice," Folly ordered. Myrtle gave a nasty glare to the two close friends.
"Don't mess up," she hissed before going off to catch up. Aureolin wanted to hug Linen until his bones broke. She was now excited for this, but she knew she had to do well here, or they might just change their mind. This was her one opportunity to be in the Turf War competition. All she had to do was give it her best with her teammates.
"I'll give it my all!"