I did give up on this fanfiction after believing I had lost the files, yet while doing a clean-up I discover this baby hiding in the far-reached of cyber space. So I dusted it off and finished writing it… enjoy!

Chapter 7 – Ink my Hand with Cash

Cap'n Scuttlefish turned away from the kitchen counter holding a tray containing two large mugs of tea and a platter of what must be Crabby Cakes, he bought it unsteady to the table which housed a very miserable Octoling with her head on the surface, her tentacles fanned around her face.

"Here yeh go lass! A cup of me finest tea, my two granddaughters bought me this special blend of tangerine and kelp tea. It's delicious!"

"Granddaughters?" asked Tela with curiosity as she sat up and gratefully accepted the tea from the old Inkling.

"Aye lass! There ain't no finer Granddaughters an old Inkling like me could ask for!" smiled Scuttlefish with obvious pride and delight on his face.

Tela took a sip of her tea with slight uncertainly, then sighed in delight when it tasted pretty good, her body slumped slightly as the heat of the liquid seem warm her as it flows down to her stomach.

"Now then… tell me what happened lass?" asked Cap'n Scuttlefish as he watched the Octoling take a Crabby cake and bite into it.

Tela munched her mouthful of the savoury treat before swallowing and answering.

"Well ok… how to start… well, there's this Inkling boy that I started to be friends with, but… I started to feel weird when I was around him. My heart would race every time he touched me or… or looked at me with his amazing green eyes."

Cap'n Scuttlefish nodded his head as he smiled, listening intently to the girl's words.

"I've never felt this way about anyone before… so for an Inkling of all people… it doesn't make sense. I… I kissed him, out of the blue. I don't what came over me! The worse part… he… he kissed me back… he actually kissed me back."

"Sounds like you're in love lass!" laughed Scuttlefish as Tela blushed heavily and looked away, she took another sip of her tea.

"But it's wrong, isn't it?" asked Tela in desperation as tear began to form in her large amber eyes. Scuttlefish seemed surprised at this question and proceeded to stroke his beard in thought.

"Wrong? What rule there be lass to say it's wrong?"

Tela blinked. Then looked thoughtfully at the dregs in her cup.

An Octoling and Inkling can't be together, can they? Both our species have been at war with each other that we all just assumed it was wrong to even consider a relationship like that. Even if it isn't wrong… Sora would never love an Octoling… wouldn't he?

"So, what happened then lass? A little kiss wouldn't have made yeh that upset."

Tela swallowed the last piece of her Crabby Cake and went to grab another.

"I did something… horrible to him, But I had to! I… I didn't want him to find out who I really am, I didn't want him to know that I'm an Octoling… He's the first friend I've ever had but now…"

Tela put her cake down and clutched at her face with her hands, anger and resentment flashing across her features.

"Now I've lost my friend. I hurt him so much… you should have seen his face when I rejected him. He looked so hurt and lost… I'm such a bad person."

"Lass, yeh be thinking too much into this. How do you KNOW this Inkboy wouldn't like ya if he knew you were an Octoling eh?" said Cap't Scuttlefish smiling warmly as he reached out to grab a Crabby Cake himself.

Tela stared at the old Inkling in thought. Would Sora really mind if she was an Octoling? Was she really scared for no reason? Yet the doubt and fear remained… is the risk worth it?

"Sometimes lass… we can't help but fall in love to those we least expect." Said Scuttlefish as he leaned back in his chair and sighed, his eyes glazing over as his thoughts went elsewhere.

"Take me younger brother for example, mind ya lass… this is going back 100 years but I can still remember it as clear as day."

Tela paid rapt attention to the old Inkling, her eyes shining with curiosity and excitement at the prospect of learning more about the past, especially of the past from 100 years ago.

"My little squid of a brother was part of a Research Platoon that was made up of both Inklings and Octarians. Why… I couldn't believe me ears when, out of the blue… My dear brother Inka told me he was starting to get sweet on a young Octoling in his squad."

Tela blinked. Inka? Could this possibly be the same Inka that Janjan had told her about? No way… it couldn't be… could it?

"I see the confusion in yeh eyes lass, guess it be best if I start from the beginning aye?" said Scuttlefish with a hearty chuckle. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, his droopy ears giving a slight flick.

"Back then lass, Octarians and Inklings were friends. Them were the days, everyone helping each other to find solutions to our problems. Your leader Octavio… well… yeh might not believe me lass but, me and Octavio use to be the best of friends."

Tela already knew this thanks to Janjan, but had the courteously to look surprised anyway for the old Inkling sake. She wanted him to carry on after all and learn more.

"We both decided to create a Platoon whose sole focus was researching ways to deal with the increasing sea level, my brother Inka became a member of that team along with another Inkling and two Octarians."

"One of the Octarians were a young Octoling just like yeh self lass. What was her name again… Janjan!"

Tela blinked.

"That be her name. Inka was completely smitten with her, and I admit she was good for him, Inka had always been so uptight and serious yet Janjan helped him to loosen up and have fun."

Tela felt completely floored at this point, knowing that Janjan's ex-sweetheart Inka and Cap'n Scuttlefish's little brother Inka were the one and same Inkling.

"What happened next?" she asked eagerly, her hand reaching to snag another crabby cake of the silver platter. Tela's sadness and worries from earlier seemed all but forgotten… for now.

"Octavio betrayed me! That's what happened lass!" yelled Scuttlefish suddenly angry as he slammed his fist on the table, nearly knocking the platter of crabby cakes on the floor.

"Octavio became so convinced that the only solution to the raising sea level was for either the Octarians or the Inklings to leave the surface and go live underground. I tried to reason with him, living underground was not an ideal or a permanent solution."

"Avast… me efforts were wasted. Octavio grew distance with me, and I felt like I had lost me best friend. Then came the day when that blasted Octopus and his Octarians suddenly turned against us! None of us were more surprised or devastated… like my brother Inka. It broke his heart when Janjan suddenly attacked him on Octavio's orders."

Tela felt immensely guilty despite not even being around at that time in history. The Octarians really were the bad guys… How could DJ Octavio allow this to happen?

"Now now lass!" said Scuttlefish as he waggled a finger in Tela's direction who was startled out of her thoughts from the motion.

"No need ta look so down! The Octarians were scared, no doubt fuelled by Octavio constant doomsday speeches. I have nothing against yeh lass, and you'll be surprise how the others might feel if yeh meet them. Most Inklings don't even remember or care about what happened in the Great Turf War between our two species. Now days they 're too busy playing Turf War games and acquiring the latest fang dangled fashion non-sense!"

Tela moved her elbows on the table and placed her head on her hands as she stared with thoughtful half-lidded eyes at the old Inkling. A small spark of hope had ignited in her heart, would the other Inklings really care that she was an Octoling?

"Would they really accept me Sir?" she asked with a quiet tone, trying to be polite at the same time. Scuttlefish scoffed at the word 'Sir'.

"Please lass, call me Scuttlefish. Sir just ain't cutting it for me! And yes, most Inklings will accept you I wager. You just need to show them that yeh be harmless like, trust me." Scuttlefish said as he pushed back his chair and made to stand up, he yawned loudly then began to trot off towards a green worn-out recliner chair in the living area.

"Now run along… ah… forgive me lass. I don't know yeh name!" Scuttlefish asked as he quirked an eyebrow at Tela who looked surprised before giggling slightly, the Octoling now decided that she really liked this old Inkling.

"It's Tela, but… before I go, what happened to your brother after he was attacked?" said Tela as she tilted her head slightly to the side, curiosity written across her face. Janjan never did tell her what happened to him.

Cap'n Scuttlefish's eyes seem to sparkle as he brushed his beard with his fingers in deep thought, a warm smile on his face.

"That, Tela me lass, is a story for another time. A little something to encourage yeh to come visit me in the future. I admit I rather enjoyed your company."

The old Inkling settled himself down on his recliner and gave a large yawn as Tela watched him, a smile on her face. She quickly downed the last of her tea before pushing back from the table and making her way towards the front door. Before she could leave however, Scuttlefish spoke up.

"That job I offered yeh lass? It's still open to yeh, but only when yeh be ready. I'll explain it to yeh next time, another little motivation to come visit an old worn out sea-squid!"

Tela laughed and she twisted the handle and pushed open the door to Octo Valley.

"As long as you tell me more about our history and have some of those Crabby Cakes on hand then sure! See ya Cap'n Scuttlefish." Said Tela as she waved to the now chuckling old Inkling, then she left the little cottage and began to make her way home.

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Weeks had passed since Tela had left the Splatfest Festival in Inkopolis. Janjan had reprimanded her when she had returned early, she explained to the old crazy Octoling what had happened. Except for the part where she met Cap'n Scuttlefish, Tela didn't know why but she wanted to keep that part quiet for now.

Sora seem to be on her mind constantly, often distracting her from tasks around the house and causing concern for her little sister Levi who now followed her so much that it almost bordered along stalking. Levi even took it upon herself to wear his cloths constantly just so she could smell his scent.

She couldn't help but feel like a freak, what kind of persons falls head over tentacles in love with a person after only meeting them twice? Not to mention the completely out of the blue kiss, so sudden yet so wanted!

Tela had planned to leave Janjan's house to go live back at the little broken-down hut she had built years ago, but seeing Levi enjoying the comforts of the old Octoling rather large and somewhat luxurious home made her change her mind.

She sometimes wonders why she even left in the first place.

As for Agent 3… she heard from some locals one day of another break-in at one of the many hideouts where Octavio had hidden the mini Zapfishes, this time Agent 3 had been completely ruthless in his attacks to claim back what belong to his people, er… squids. It was the first Tela felt compassion towards him, whereas before she held nothing but hatred.

It was during a cold day in the underground as Tela headed back home from the market to collect Janjan's shopping, when she realised Levi's birthday was only a week away.

What could she get as a birthday present for a 7-year-old Octopus in a desolated not to mention falling apart underground world?

Tela dropped the grocery bags on the floor and sat down on the broken stump beside her which used to be a pillar. She placed her head on her hands and stared up at the ceiling of the cave in thought. What could she do to make Levi's special day… well… special.

A couple of Octarians walked past, giving little notice to Tela due to the deep conversation they were having. Tela's amber eyes zoned onto them as key words from their discussion were picked up. Agent 3, DJ Octavio and… a kidnapping?

"Do you think he can pull it off?" asked the Octarian on the left, one of his eyebrows quirking up.

"I dunno… I mean, didn't that Scuttlefish fellow train Agent 3 or something? I've lost count how many he's splattered, it's not going to be easy." Replied the Octarian on the right as he shrugged his shoulders.

Both Octopuses disappeared around the corner as Tela stared at them, her face scrunching up in confusion and a touch of concern.

What was DJ Octavio up to now? Something was obviously being planned and by the sounds of it, Scuttlefish and Agent 3 are involved. It wasn't like she could found out much anyway, now that she isn't part of the army. Still… it might be wise to keep her ears open from now on.

After resting, Tela continued on her journey until she finally reached the home of Janjan. On the front sat Levi playing with what seem to be an Octopus ragdoll of some kind, Tela recognised it instantly as the little doll their mother had given to her when she had turned 6. As soon as Levi turned 3 she had passed the doll onto her, it was the only possession she had that she could pass on to her younger sister.

Levi looked up at the sound of approaching feet, her face bursting into a wide beaming smile as soon as her eyes met the figure of her older sister.

"Tela! You're back!" the little Octopus squealed in delight as she slithered forwards and leapt into the air where Tela caught her with one arm, laughing.

Tela placed the shopping bag carefully on the ground and then moved to sit down on the small patch of grass her younger sister had been playing on, hugging said sister close to her chest.

"Excited about next week?" Tela asked with a grin as she rubbed the top of Levi's head with affection. The little Octopus beamed as she moved two of her tentacles up to gently tap Tela's cheeks, a return of affection.

"Yeah! Who wouldn't be?"

Janjan appeared from around the corner of the house, a basket of washing clasped in her hands as she slowly waddled to the front door. She paused however, when her eyes caught Tela and Levi on the grassy floor. A warm smile crept up her face as she chuckled, then continued her journey.

"So…" began Tela as she crossed her legs, she leaned over to pick up the ragdoll and pass it to her sister who made herself comfortable on her lap.

"Anything you would like for your birthday? You know I'm not good with ideas squirt."

Levi tapped her chin with a tentacle as her little face screwed up in concentration.

"Well… I… that's if…" Levi's face grew red as she stared down in sudden nervousness. Tela watched bemused and with a hint of curiosity, why was her sister suddenly looking like she had been caught doing something bad?

"I know you're going to say no but… can I have a Kelp Burger?" Levi timidly said as she peeked up at the surprised and slightly panicky face of her older sister.

A Kelp Burger? But that would mean going back to Inkopolis, not to mention having money she obviously didn't have to purchase said item.

"I've wanted to try a Kelp Burger ever since you talked about it to Janjan… Please Tela?"

Tela leaned back as ideas raced through her mind, it wasn't impossible to obtain a kelp Burger. To be honest, she should be grateful Levi had asked for such a simple and pretty much cheap gift as she has.

Sora popped into her head, and the idea of bumping into him made the poor Octoling cringe, ignoring the way her face suddenly felt hot and her heart missing a beat.

Levi mistook her sister's silence for a no and began to pout, her little face screwing up slightly as she turned her head away.

"I knew you were going to say no…"

Tela looked down at the little Octopus feeling slightly annoyed.

"Fine! I'll get you a Kelp Burger. Holy Octo you're lucky that I love you, or else I wouldn't even bother getting you one." Said Tela as she gently pushed Levi off her lap and then got up, grabbing the bag of shopping and making her way to the house.

Levi gurgled in delight and excitement as she raced after her sister, the ragdoll clutched tightly in her tentacles.

So, it seems another trip to Inkopolis was inevitable, Tela really felt nervous about bumping into Sora and his friends but maybe… maybe she could explain? She really did miss his friendship and company despite only spending two days with him.

Memories of the two Octarians conversation about Scuttlefish and a kidnapping floated to mind. Hopefully going to Inkopolis might shed some more light on that subject, Tela actually liked Scuttlefish and really didn't want anything to happen to him.

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Tela had a plan, a plan to get the money she needed. It was something she didn't want to do but it was for Levi, so she just had to suck it up and get on with it.

This plan of hers? It involved going to Inkopolis every day for the week and taking up a few odd jobs available. Tela knew she only had to do one job to get the money she needed, yet having spare Inkling cash on the side might come in useful one day.

So, all too soon Tela found herself standing in the familiar alleyway in Inkopolis the next morning, donning the clothes Sora had given her and having her usual Inkling disguise in place.

The streets were crowded with Inklings as normal, the air filled with the sounds of their chatter and usual city noise. Tela quickly slipped into the crowds and began to make her way towards the city centre, surly there would be a bulletin board there with jobs, right?

After an hour of searching however, the young Octoling concluded that such a board did not exist.

Tela rubbed at her tired eyes, careful not to smudge her disguise as she slumped into a nearby bench. The Inklings passed her in doves with hardly any notice.

"Ok… this was defiantly not part of the plan." She muttered as her eyes looked up to stare at the sky. Then the Holy Octo God himself must have took pity on her… because her attention had been caught by the sound of an angry voice, Tela looked towards the source and saw a Jellyian trying to shift boxes out of the door of the clothes shop.

"Blast it all!" the Jellyian shouted as he finally gave up, throwing his jelly-like tentacles into the air.

Tela smirked as an idea popped into her head, she strolled over to the shop with almost a swagger to her steps and then leaned against the doorframe with a grin.

"Seems you're having trouble there…" drawled Tela as the Jellyian squinted at her. "I can move the boxes for you, for the right price of course."

"Of course." Nodded the Jellyian as he crossed his tentacles. "Fine… my lazy good for nothing employee was suppose to do this, but the lazy bum decided to throw a sickie for a week! A whole inking week! Who does that? Honestly…"

The Jellyian pointed a tentacle in Tela's face who was trying her hardest not to beam in delight.

"You become my helping hand for the week and I'll pay, no tentacle about it. What you say Inkling?"

Tela squealed as she grabbed hold of his tentacle with both hands. "YES! I m-mean… thanks! I'll work really hard sir!"

The Jellyian huffed as he wretched his tentacle out of the girl's hands. "That's MR. Cuba to you little miss! Now get those boxes out of here and into the dump around the back ok?"

"On it Mr. Cuba!" said Tela cheerfully as she grabbed the first box and lifted it up, almost toppling over at the sheer weight of the thing. What were in these things?

Mr. Cuba sniffed as he wobbled away, headed towards a couple of Inklings browsing through his selection of clothes on sale.

Tela staggered slowly around the building towards the dump and felt relieved as she dropped the box on the ledge and pushed it in, the large bin made a loud metallic bang.

"One down…" muttered Tela as she headed back the front of the shop where at least nine other equally heavy boxes waited for her. "Them to go… Octo help me, my back's gonna be broke at the end of this. This better be worth it Levi!"

Finally, after much sweat and some tears, all the boxes were gone. Tela barely had a moment rest before Mr. Cuba gave her another job of clearing and organising the junk in his basement, by the end of the day the octoling wasn't surprise the employee had pulled a week-long sickie.

"Nice work kid! See you tomorrow, 7-am sharp!" Mr. Cuba said joyfully as he ushered the tired and filthy looking Tela out of his shop for closing.

Tela stuck her tongue out at the door and began to make her way home, ignoring the looks she kept gaining from the passing Inklings due to her filthy clothes. That basement was a health hazard and CLEARLY had never been sorted before, the octoling was surprise she was still alive.

It took no time at all for Tela to arrive in Octo Valley, just as she passed Capt. Scuttlefishes cabin the octoling stopped as she heard the familiar swoosh of someone going through a kettle.

Then sky-blue ink caught her attention. Agent 3!

Tela followed the trail of ink towards a certain kettle, surprise at which one it was. "Octo beach? Why would Agent 3 go there? Didn't he already steal back the zapfish?"

The octoling tilted her head with her hand cupped under her chin in confusion at all the questions swimming around her head with no answers. She couldn't deny the fact that her curiosity was getting the better of her.

Well… Agent 3 has never really attempted to splatter her with all the opportunities he had, so it's safe to snoop around a bit, right?

While trying to ignore the thought of this being a really bad idea, Tela turned into Octopus from and leaped into the kettle. She shot out from the other side after traveling and landed on the sands of the fake underground beach.

Tela turned back and began to hack and cough, her mouth full of sand after landing face first.

"D-dammit! Why *cough* can I n-never *cough* land properly on these octo forsaken *cough-cough* things!?" The octoling stood up and brushed off the sand clinging to her face and slowly opened her eyes to stare around the area.

"What the… the lights are back on?"

Octo Beach should be in a state of closure and darkness, yet everywhere Tela looked everything was moving and shining brightly.

Fake sounds of seagulls and gushing waves of the ocean echoed around the vast cavern as lights of every colour imaginable shined brightly from every nook and cranny. Even the fun fair was operational, each ride resting on his own floating platforms all connected with bridges and ink rails.

Something was wrong… Two things actually.

First was, how did DJ Octavio obtain another zapfish to power-up everything here and secondly… where were all the octarians and octolings? Even at this time of day, this place should be packed. After all, Octo Beach was the only place you could come to in order to forget all your worries and depression of living underground.

Loud gun shots suddenly echoed from the distant. Tela looked up with wide eyes and then after a moment of hesitation, began to run towards the obvious sounds of battle going on, leaping onto the ink rails to travel faster.

As she got closer and closer, she realised the fight was going on in the power room. When Tela entered the building, she gasped in shock before quickly throwing herself to the side behind a crate, her eyes wide in horror as she bought up her hand to bite into it.

It was carnage… Octarians and Octoling fighting ruthlessly against Agent 3 who seemed almost invisible to the eye as he zipped around the area in squid form, avoiding the many bullets and rapid fire of purple ink.

"An ambush!?" hissed Tela in surprise at the thought of DJ Octavio actually staging such a trap. The Octarian had never retorted to such cheap tactics before, but maybe it was only a matter of time before something like this had happened.

They were getting desperate after all… and desperation can make anyone do things they wouldn't normally do.

Now came the dilemma… Agent 3 was obviously overwhelmed and it was only a matter of time before he was splattered, and yet… Tela didn't want that to happen… is that normal? The octolings didn't know whenever to help out her own kind… or help Agent 3 instead.

What to do… what could she do!? Then she noticed a crowbar next to her, propped up against the crate she was hiding behind.

She came to a decision she hoped wouldn't back-fire on her.

"I must be crazy in the head!" said Tela as she grabbed the tool and leaped out from behind the crate in octopus form, swiftly swimming through the ink towards the nearest Octarian. Her heart was pounding as she leaped up, turned and swung the crowbar with as much force as possible.

The Octarian splattered without even knowing what was coming. Tela disappeared into the ink again and went for her next target. The soldiers were so busy trying to splatter Agent 3 that they took no notice as one by one they were picked off.

Tela went into deep focus drilled into her at military training, she felt nothing but the beating of her frantic heart as the remains of her fourth target washed over her as they were splattered.

Agent 3 cried out as he skidding into a puddle of purple ink, his tiredness making him prone to mistakes as he tried to wretch his feet free. An Octoling superior threw herself at the trapped Inkling and viciously butted the end of her gun hard against his face, sending his helmet flying and landing on the floor with a crack. Tela couldn't understand why he hadn't just shot himself free, then realised his Ink-Tank is empty.

The Octoling pressed the barrel of her Octo-Blaster against Agent 3 head, but before she could pull the trigger she suddenly splattered with a screech, her remains raining down as Tela panted behind from where she once stood, purple ink dripping down her body.

It was finally over… then the emotions came crashing down as she fell to her knees and tossed the crowbar to the side.

She had killed her own Octarians… for an Inkling who was slowly shutting down her world, risking the lives of everyone down here.

If anyone found out about this, she would be killed for sure.

"Idiot…" the octoling hissed as she continued to stare at the purple soaked floor, her body trembling with adrenaline, anger and fear.

"You walked right into their trap… you stupid Inkling MORON!" Tela screamed and she looked up to face Agent 3. As soon as their eyes meet she froze, all the breath leaving her lungs as the air around them turned icy cold. Her heart stopped beating as her chest constricted.

Without the helmet to cover his face, Sora stared down at her with the same expression of shock and bewilderment. A dribble of blue ink making its way down from a gash on his forehead.