Chapter Description:
Ace has found another Inkling willing to help me with my crazy scheme... and she also thinks I'm crazy. it's possible that she's right, of course.
Spike has also remembered he's meant to be giving me a bit of training himself and has taught me what I was doing wrong with dualies - not that it's enough to beat him, at least, not yet. Thankfully this is just practice for the real thing.
Then after he's done, I meet an Octoling who has a lot to teach me... and who doesn't think my idea is crazy, but still thinks I should challenge Spike on more conventional grounds.
And yet, I'm starting to wonder... with the reputation Spike has, would it really be so bad if I lost to him and stayed here?
Disclaimers:
Splatoon is owned by Nintendo
Spike, Ace and Chive, Lime and Neon are all my own OCs.
Ace only managed to find one other person willing to help prepare me for my questionable challenge, an Inkling named Chive who was… very pink. I mean, my hair and normal ink colour was pink too, but hers was a brighter pink than mine, and she wore Custom Trail Boots that were also very pink.
Her Zapfish Satin Jacket also looked pink in certain light, but at least her Jellyvader Cap wasn't. She favoured chargers, her favourite being one of the Bamboozlers, and within just a few matches, she quickly made me aware of the benefits to them… and the drawbacks.
I've still never quite got as good with chargers as she is, but she made me realise the vulnerabilities of the weapon, as well as making me aware of what to look for - both when trying to find a charger opponent, and for trying to avoid getting noticed as one.
Chive also shared Ace's view that I was probably, in her words, 'a total loony' and that I should absolutely consider facing Spike on more conventional terms, insisting that I should keep learning to fight in other modes.
"After all, there's the really real possibility you'll lose to Spike," she pointed out casually, twirling her cap on one finger as we sat on a rooftop at Inkblot Art Academy. We were among others who were watching a Rainmaker match taking place below in person - which is absolutely the best way to appreciate ranked matches when you're not taking part.
"I'm kinda hoping you and Ace can train me well enough for me to… not lose to him," I said around the salad I was eating. The cafeteria had an all you can eat offer on salad, and it really wasn't bad.
"Right, but you gotta admit it's a possibility, yeah?" Chive said, prodding me in the shoulder. "So, like, you gotta be prepped for that, 'cause you'll be here for the rest of your life then. You wanna suck at even turf wars then?"
She had a point. Even if I won, there was the possibility that however Spike managed to get in and out, I might also be able to make use of. Out loud I replied, "No, of course I don't want to suck, it's just…"
"I know. You wanna have a chance against him, and you think being a loony is gonna do it. Pers'nally, I reckon you're just gonna piss him off so much that he'll turn around and splat you right there'n then. But hey, at least you'll have given it a shot, right?"
"I want to believe I can pull it off," I insisted. "And if I don't try it…"
"You'll never kn-" she was cut off, not by her player returning… but by Spike. Not only was I dragged away from my salad, Chive, and watching the match, putting me back in Inkopolis Square, but a few moments later, Spike was there too.
"You know Spike, you can talk to me just fine whenever the game is loaded, so would it kill you to ask if I'm in the middle of something?" I asked acidly. "I was just talking with one of my new friends-"
"And I'm meant to be training you, so quit your whining," he cut me off. "Stage or weapon, pick one and I'll pick the other. Consider it a practice for the real thing."
It was tempting. Oh, it was tempting. But I needed it to be a surprise in order to take full advantage of his probable reaction, and besides, Grizzco wasn't hiring at the moment. Somehow in the moment, I'd completely forgotten that you could set up private Salmon Run matches even out of season - they're just simulations instead.
"Whatever stage you want, just help me learn a thing or two about dualies," I told him. "Even Ace has given up trying to make me good at them." He gave me a quizzical look, so I went on, "What, did you expect me to not make friends here?"
Spike shrugged and shook his head. "No, I just… I know that name. I… might have… had a disagreement with him once."
Suddenly I remembered what Ace had said about him. "You mean you punched him once because you were irritated because of me."
"I did not punch him, he punched me!" Spike suddenly burst out. "I only threw him down the stairs because he told me I should be giving you more of a chance - and we all know how that turned out!"
A lot of the others in the square definitely noticed that outburst, and some even seemed to recognise Spike, giving us a clear berth. "I'm sure your side of it is very different to his, but this is probably not the time or the place for that," I said quickly. "Let's get into the Shoal and have a match where you'll probably splat me a lot so you can burn off that temper, then you can teach me a thing or two."
Spike gave me a glare, then stomped off toward the Shoal muttering irritably to himself. I'd learned from both Ace and others who had experience with his issues that it was important to head him off quickly, otherwise he'd get even more aggressive… and physical.
As a result of him, I actually had to pay a fee at the front desk in order to make them let him in, and promise to pay for any breakages. Spike really had a reputation, and between that and Chive, I started to wonder if it would really be a bad thing if I stayed here, and Spike didn't.
He needed two whole matches at The Reef before he finally calmed down enough to be coherent, and I lost both. Partly because I was more trying to calm him down, and partly because, of course… I still sucked with dualies.
Once he was more level-headed again however, he became one of the better teachers I had. Where Ace considered me and dualies to be a lost cause, Spike showed me exactly where I'd been going wrong, forcing me to go the target range back at the Shoal to show me where I was going wrong.
"Ace doesn't have any experience in your world, which is why he completely missed this," Spike explained. "You're thinking too much like your human movies and even some of the games you play, holding them like this," he demonstrated, holding them out to either side, the guns practically vertical. "When instead, you want to hold them like this." Rather than demonstrate this time, he holstered his and changed my grip… holding them almost horizontally in front of me.
"You don't wanna think of them as separate weapons, and you absolutely don't wanna be trying to aim in two directions, because you'll completely miss everything both ways. You gotta focus your fire, and keep them as close together as you can."
He wasn't wrong. Pretty much all the sources of dual-wielding guns I'd ever seen had been exactly as he described, and while it took me a while to get used to the way he showed me, it definitely made a difference.
Once he was satisfied I wasn't quite so inept, we went back to The Reef for another match, and while I still lost to him, even he noticed the difference. I'd actually made him have to use the dodge-roll unique to dualies, and even managed to splat him a couple of times. First splat was still his though, and I was still splatted more than him - but it was progress.
Spike had to leave again, even apologising for not having been able to come in much due to leading my human life still. I couldn't blame him there, I knew what it was like, and besides this time he'd actually been a huge help.
Once he was out I sent a message to both Ace and Chive on my phone - Spike had told me to use his, but I'd bought my own one to help keep things from Spike, in the older arrow-design because to be honest I just don't like the newer Sea-Cucumber model.
Inkbook's messaging app (yes, the Inkling Facebook. You would not believe how many apps have ink based pun names) told me that Spike was under his player's control, but Chive quickly messaged back saying she'd meet me at the Shoal.
While I waited, I spotted a fellow Octoling who also sported the same FA-01 jacket that I'd picked out. Unlike me, she had lime green hair colour, a matching cap turned backwards, and shoes that for once I recognised, the Neon Sea Slugs. I also noticed that she kept a splatling with her - the Hydra Splatling at that.
Not many people kept their weapons with them, especially the larger ones, and I'd learned that the Shoal had rules about this to make sure those who were privileged to have them there didn't abuse it. For her to have it with her, she had to have proven she was both good and responsible with it.
Splatlings were a weapon I wanted to get good with, but neither Ace or Chive were too good with them. If I could persuade an expert to help me, maybe challenging Spike with them could be a viable option. If I wasn't terrible with them.
She noticed me as I approached, and considering the narrowing of her similarly green eyes, likely recognised me by reputation. "I uh, hope I'm not interrupting anything," I started. Have I mentioned being social isn't my strong point? "I… just wondered if I could ask for your help?"
There was a long, silent moment before she finally nodded. "Rumours are true then. Challenging Spike, yeah? I'm Lime. Yes, name as well as colour. Laugh and I'll splat you. Ask away."
"Well, the challenge with him is only one part of it…" I briefly explained both my interest in splatlings, and my possibly hair-brained Salmon Run idea. Unlike everyone else so far, Lime didn't even blink.
"Interesting possibility," she conceded afterwards, looking thoughtful. "Would teach Spike a lesson even if he wins. Might be hectic with only two of you. You need to make sure your assumption is right though."
"Assumption? What assumption?" I hadn't even realised I was making one.
"Terms of the duel. You don't know that you just have to splat him first. Just that you have to defeat him in a match. Probably turf wars, who knows if you're even allowed to choose a Salmon Run stage. You need to find Neon and find out for certain."
"I've tried to find him, but he's an elusive Sea Urchin. I might have to ask Spike… but that might also tip him off."
Lime shook her head, "Ask him. Tell him you want to know the terms. Don't tell him why." Lime had an interesting tendency to use only a few words where possible. "You need to know, he doesn't. Hope you can choose Salmon Run."
"You know, you might be the first person who doesn't think I'm mad to try it. Kinda glad I saw you and asked for your help now. Uh, I should also ask, do you want me to repay you for this?"
"Nah. Should be fun to watch. And you need the help. Lots you don't know, not just about matches. Watch," she told me, pointing to the long green tentacles on either side of her head. Slowly they turned from lime green to white, then from white to a pink that matched my own.
I was stunned. I hadn't known about this. "I thought… Spike had to do that…"
"He does for it to stick. You change it, he plays you, it gets reverted. Can do hairstyles too, eyes, voice, even skin colour. Takes longer, a bit of practice. Even gender."
"You said what? The rest I can sort of understand, but… you're saying I could…"
Lime nodded, "Everyone can, Inklings too. Most find one gender more comfortable than the other. Can teach you while we wait for your friends. Then, splatlings."
She'd made it look easier than it actually was. It took a lot of concentration even with her guidance to change my normal pink to match her lime, chosen because she explained it was easier to change to something that was either familiar, or that there was an example of.
Learning to change my skin tone wasn't so difficult once I'd got the hang of changing hair colour, but eyes were more challenging. I had to use a mirror to do that, and even then it distorts your vision while they change.
Part way through learning I got a notification on Inkbook, one of Chive's friends telling me that her player had turned up so she wouldn't be able to meet me for a bit, so Lime took the opportunity to walk me through more of learning how to customise myself.
Most of the changes only felt uncomfortable during the actual change itself, after it's done there's no real difference - though getting used to seeing a different hairstyle always takes a bit of getting used to.
The change of gender though… that was the most difficult, but Lime turned out to be an excellent tutor. It was definitely… an unusual experience, and I'm also definitely more comfortable while male, but it was also interesting.
Inkbook sent me yet another notification, this time a message from Ace telling me that his player had just got done, so he'd be over shortly, and on hearing this I discovered that Lime has an unusual sense of humour.
"Be me," she said suddenly. "You know how now. I'll be you. See how long it takes him to notice."
"He'll notice if we're wearing each other's outfit," I pointed out.
"Same jacket, similar leggings," Lime replied, pointing them out. Her leggings and mine had a different colour stripe down the side, matching our original colours, but she added, "He might not notice."
I was still a little hesitant, but Lime was already changing her appearance to match mine - and to help me out, she showed me a selfie of herself on her phone so I had an example to work with.
Of course she even made me wear her cap and shoes, her taking mine and moving her Hydra Splatling to stand next to me in case - just in time too, just as she was taking a seat next to me again, I spotted Ace coming in. He was hard to miss, considering he always wore the bright, reflective Hero Hoodie Replica.
He didn't seem to notice at first, making Lime smile as he came to join us, clearly focused on who he thought was me. "I see you've made another friend. No Chive though?" he asked.
Lime showed that she could, when she wanted, use more than just a few words at a time and answered for me. "One of her friends sent me a message telling me her player came online, so I got to know Lime here. She's going to teach me how to be good with Splatlings. Lime, meet Ace," she said to me.
I hoped my attempt at acting like her would be good enough, all three of my hearts beating fast with nerves. I treated Ace to the same kind of smile Lime had given me, nodding and just saying, "He shows promise. No training yet, but he can change his hair now."
Ace gave 'me' a look, seeing the single tentacle peeking out from under my beanie that I usually had. Lime laughed and said, "Yeah, I'm not good at it yet, and I figured I'd stick with something familiar."
The inkling looked thoughtful for a moment, looking from one of us to the other, then finally said, "Nice try, but you missed two things. You take a bigger size of jacket than Jaden does," he said, pointing to the real Lime. "And you forgot the extra marks below your eyes that female Octolings always seem to have," he added to me.
Lime laughed and shrugged. "Worth a try. Almost fooled you."
"I didn't even think of the eye marks," I admitted. "And that was with you showing me a selfie to help me do it right."
"You two want to turn back into yourselves so I don't end up confused about who I'm talking to?" Ace asked.
"No problem," Lime put in. "He's not bad for a first-timer."
Which was high praise, coming from Lime. "I had a good teacher, and I'm hoping you can teach me splatlings just as well…"