NOTE: Thank you for choosing to take time and read my story. While I will make my best efforts to update the story on a regular basis, things may happen such that I might not post any new chapters for a while. I will try to make up for that by including more content in later updates. Also, please leave reviews! Every time I see a review, it makes me want to write more. Feel free to leave suggestions, constructive criticism, or questions (for me or the characters). Thanks!
Even though the clock sitting on a bedside table showed, in squiggly shapes lit up a bright blue, that midnight was far past and 1:00 am was fast approaching, no sleep was found in the small, cramped bedroom at the end of a hallway. Moonlight shone through the colorful curtains and threw splashes of color throughout the room, illuminating a medium-sized television in the corner, a long, strangely shaped item leaning against the wall, and a teenaged boy with long tentacles in place of hair, eyes wide open. They followed a darting flash of hot pink light around the ceiling. "That'll be them setting up the plaza for the Octarian Festival tomorrow," he murmured.
Every year, around mid-summer, Inktopolis, the town in which we find the teenager, hosted the Octarian Festival, a day-long celebration marking the defeat of the Octarian invasion. By stealing the Great Zapfish, the main source of power for Inktopolis, the Octarians threatened to plunge the nation's largest city into darkness and chaos. However, the mysterious being named Agent 3 sprang into action just in time and retrieved the Great Zapfish before the reserve supplies of power ran out. The reason this event kept the boy, identified as "Orange" by a sticker attached to the inside cover of an open book, awake so late was the special events planned for tomorrow's festival. Rare appearances by Agent 3 himself, as well as his famed mentor Captain Cuttlefish, were scheduled for the starting ceremony at 9:00, followed by autographs from them and the local newscasters, Callie and Marie. Then, at noon, a Splatfest pitting Team Chargers, led by last year's champions, against Team Rollers, featuring several special guest from outside of town at the forefront. But most of all, Orange was looking forward to the food. Food stands and carts were everywhere for the Octarian Festival, all offering wonderful options for the day.
It was just as the sun was starting to just peek over the horizon, still hidden from view by buildings, that Orange slipped off into a deep sleep. Exhausted by staying up nearly all night, as well as extensive preparing for the big day late into the evening before, he didn't hear it when his alarm went off, or when his mom got up and started preparing breakfast. The sound of her opening the front door didn't disturb him, and neither did the carts rolling in on noisy wheels. And so, when the festivities started at 9:00 sharp, Orange slumbered on, oblivious to what he was missing.
IIIII
Meanwhile, everyone was having a wonderful time at the festival. Agent 3 and Captain Cuttlefish had finished their speeches and autograph signings, so now it was time for various activities in the plaza. Game stalls and the food carts had been set up, and all of the various shops had sales on their wares, the flashiest of which were displayed on brightly colored tables outside their storefronts. Even Judd, the typically lazy cat who presided over competitive matches in the turf war arenas, was up and about, checking out any vendor offering fish. Nobody noticed Orange's absence. Except one person. Orange's best friend, Blue, who he had known since they were both babies and had been in all of their classes together, was darting around frantically, asking if anyone had seen Orange. Finally giving up looking around the plaza, Blue ran over to Orange's apartment building, sprinted up three flights of stairs, and rapped on the second door on the right. A loud yawn could be heard from inside.
"Who's there?" Orange yelled sleepily. Blue had trouble understanding him, since he had only just been woken up by the napping and was still in bed, trying to get back to a wonderful dream he had been having about meeting Agent 3 and venturing off with him for grand adventure. The dream was fairly reminiscent of Orange's favorite childhood cartoon, "Agent 3, Take me Away," but that didn't bother him.
"Is that you, Orange?" yelled back Blue, relieved he had located his friend. "Come on, what're you doing sleeping in so late? You already missed the kick-off party!"
Orange was drifting back to sleep, so only certain parts of Blue's statement registered in his mind. However, it was enough to throw him into a panic, rushing around his room, throwing clothing items all over the floor, grabbing the long item by his wall (that had the word "Splatterscope" printed on it), and sprinting out to the living room. He flung the door open to reveal Blue, who had jumped at Orange's sudden appearance.
"DID I MISS AGENT 3?!" Orange screamed. He was right next to Blue, but the emotion coursing through him at the news of possibly not being able to meet his childhood hero made him speak louder than necessary.
"Calm down, Orange. It'll be all right. Besides, he'll be at the awards ceremony later, so you can see him then," Blue reassured Orange.
Orange gradually calmed down. His face went from somewhat crazy to more composed, and his actions became less erratic. After telling himself everything would be all right, that he could still see Agent 3 later, Orange followed Blue down the stairs, and out to the festivities.