Thank you, guys, for the positive reviews!
Guest - really glad you're liking the story so far.
Zelkova48 - Much appreciated, I have been sitting on this for a while now and believe me when I say I am going through with this without much planning.
After the Dance
Bolero bowed to Deep Cut and waved goodbye to the ebony idol.
"Stop them!" Frye yelled out as Bolero fell backward off the platform.
The instant they touched the ground, they were surrounded by the audience. Instead of surrendering, they used what little stamina remained and danced around the crowd. Everyone tried to apprehend them, but the enigmatic dancer was too evasive despite finishing an intense dance battle.
The crowd failed to land a finger on them, tripping over one another in a reckless attempt to seize the figure. It was ridiculous how one person could escape an army of Splatlandians.
Bolero managed to escape and ran towards the nearest alleyway. They could hear some people break away from the masses and chase after them, but by the time they reached the narrow passage, the path to freedom was laid out.
The chasers lost sight of the dancer, who had vanished into the night without a trace.
"Don't think you can hide from me!" Frye's voice rang out. "I'll unmask you eventually! But thanks for the dance!"
Bolero watched the stage a little while longer before super jumping off the building to a safer location, making sure no one was around when doing so.
Once safe, Bolero leaned back against the wall and stared up at the stars, exhausted from the night's events. Their thoughts were transfixed on Frye and the magical dance they shared with her. Their ink was burning hot with anticipation.
Under their shawl, Bolero smiled, taking it all in. They were happy with how the night turned out and couldn't wait for the next chance to dance with Frye again. They could envision the scenery now. Instead of a blank canvas, they were alone under the stars, dancing in the moonlight without flashing lights and a massive audience judging them. It was just them, and the thought caused Bolero's three hearts to start racing again.
After a few moments of silence, Bolero finished planning their next routine and decided to head home. They would have to thank Frye again for a lovely time.
'Next time, Amada.'
The Next Morning
Frye woke up feeling rejuvenated and on top of the world. She was bouncing off the walls with a level of excitement that could not be contained, and her morning spell lasted longer than usual. Her head sat high in the clouds as the eel charmer got ready for the morning newscast ahead.
Shiver, Big Man, and the news crew noticed the idol's merriment and simply let her be. No one could blame her for being so happy after what they had all witnessed last night. It was a hot topic they discussed while setting everything up.
"Think we might see them today?" Shiver inquired before the program got started.
"I hope so. I need to feel that thrill again," Frye practically swooned at the prospect. After the adrenaline faded from her systems last night, she thought the event was merely a fantasy, but her body remembered the titillation it felt when she danced with the mysterious Splatlandian.
Frye patted her cheeks to calm her delight. "Okay! I'm ready!"
The familiar melody of the Anarchy Splatcast grabbed everyone's attention as the members of Deep Cut appeared on TV.
"Listen up! It's going down. Repping the Splatlands, we are Deep Cut!" Shiver bowed to her adoring audience.
"Anarchy Splatcast! We are live!" Frye cheered with more enthusiasm than ever. Hawkeye viewers also noticed a slight change in the chocolate-colored idol's appearance. Not only was she sparkling, but she also had a black and red rose tucked in her hair, the same one the new talk of the city left for her.
"Ay! (Here we go!)"
"You lip-synch, we drip ink."
"Ay, ay, ay! (Shiver, Frye, and Big Man!)"
The screen transitioned to the next segment, which had Frye shaking in her seat.
"Before we kick things off, I have an announcement to make!" She stated.
"Ay? (What about the Splatfest results?)"
"Hold on, Big Man. This is important. I need to get this off my chest," Frye waved the cameras closer. "Alright, here's the big deal. If you didn't see the most epic dance show in history last night, I feel sorry for you. We had a performer calling themself Bolero hit the dance floor with some of the freshest moves I've ever seen."
"Ay! (That's right!)"
"Your performance was recorded and posted online last night," Shiver pointed out. "It's already close to a million views and rising."
"Ay. (I've watched it twice already.)"
Frye continued her announcement, "I know you're out there listening, Bolero. Hear me out for a minute. I ain't satisfied with one dance. I want to see more of you. You are exactly the kind of rival I've been looking for. That's why I initially planned this competition. I wanted to find someone who could light up the dance floor like I could and bring more to our city, and that someone is you. You had my curiosity, but now you have my undivided attention, and like I told you last night, once I set my eye on something, I never let it go. Come find me when you're ready to dance again. I'm warning you though. Soon, I'm going to find out who's under that mask. You can't hide from me forever. See you soon, Bolero."
Frye winked at the camera and sat back down.
Shiver had to fan herself before following up. "That was spicy, Frye. Our taciturn friend left quite a strong impression on you. Could this be the start of a crush?"
"No!" Frye fervently denied it. "I'm just impressed by their skills!"
Everyone erupted with laughter at the Inkling's flustered state.
"Joking aside, she's not the only one curious about your identity, Bolero," Shiver had an evil look on her face. Fans knew the cold-blooded bandit had a devious idea. "I'm also curious, but I know you won't give it up that easily. How about we have some fun of our own?"
"Whatchu got in mind, Shiv?" Frye inquired as she fiddled with the rose. She wasn't used to having flowery accessories in her hair, but everyone said it looked great on her, so she didn't complain.
However, since pointing out stupid feelings, Frye wondered if Bolero thought she looked cute. It was stupid, and Frye knew that, but she couldn't shake the thought. What could a girl say? Compliments are always welcome.
"I'm thinking of placing a bounty on our new friend. They went to great lengths to preserve their identity, so let's add a little challenge to this game of hide and seek."
"Ay. (I like games.)"
"As do I, Big Man, and I'm sure our fellow Splatlandians will be happy to play along. See, according to Frye, Bolero is an Octoling with red eyes, but that doesn't help us much. This is where you all come in. The game is simple: whoever can provide concrete proof of Bolero's identity, will not only earn a day with us like prior, but we'll let you help host the Anarchy Splatcast for a week."
"Ay! (What a deal!")
"However," Shiver tapped her little table with her fan, "If we uncover the truth before you, everyone must use their least favorite weapon for Turf War and ranked battles for one week."
Frye nodded. "Let the hunt begin! Oh, but no brutality! Don't attack every Octoling you see."
"Yes, please, this isn't a war," Shiver stated.
"Ay! (Be careful!")
The rest of the news played out as normal, and Frye was on camera writhing in euphoric glee. Her announcement spread like wildfire, and now, the city wanted the same thing.
Bolero's secret identity and roles as co-stars became Splatsville's most sought prize. Various groups came together to stake out the city, and adventurous citizens swarmed the streets in search of the mysterious dancer.
Others held off, pooling their knowledge together to uncover more descriptions of the individual. Two small traits were not enough of a trail to follow.
What is their gender?
What color is their primary ink?
Did they skip town?
Were they even there to begin with or was it all just their imagination?
No one knew, but the hunt was still on.
Bolero
After the morning Splatcast, Frye entered another dance spell. She had tons of energy to burn, and her rival was somewhere out there hiding amongst the citizens.
"C'mon on, guys, we have to gather some clues before anyone else makes more progress," she stated. "I want to dive deep into this mystery."
"We don't exactly have a lot to go off of," Shiver pointed out. "Are you sure you saw them with red eyes?"
"Yep, barely noticeable, but I'm one hundred percent positive they were red, and their little head tilt is an Octarian trait."
"Not every Octarian does that, okay? Don't make baseless assumptions," Shiver advised.
"You still do it to this day. Daddy Chase and Auntie Olivia down at Grizzco does it, but Uncle Tobias and Mommy Sabrina don't. Daddy and Auntie are Octolings."
"That's beside the point," the shark tamer averted her eyes. "It will be hard thinning out the crowd with little information. I've seen numerous people with red eyes."
"Ay? (Are they a boy or a girl?)"
Frye crossed her arms and thought back to the dance. "I couldn't tell. Body language said boy, but plenty of the girls are built strong like that too. They did have some nice muscles. Had to be strong to launch me into the air like that."
"Your rose may be a hint," Shiver suggested. "What are the chances they bought a bouquet recently? We can interview some vendors and see if they saw anyone."
"Ay. (I can check the clothing stores.)"
"In that case, I will head to Grizzco. and see if the EVPs have any details. They know the most about the denizens."
"I guess I'll head over to the flower shop then," Frye shrugged.
"You know, I stand by our statements. Black and red look nice on you," Shiver complimented. "Bolero has good taste."
"Ay! (Agreed!)"
"I don't hate it, but I'm not a flower girl."
"Says the girl who loves sweets more than anyone else," Shiver countered, giggling behind her fan.
"Anyway!" Frye growled at her fellow bandit. "Let's get hunting."
The trio split up and headed into the city, where they witnessed their handiwork unfold firsthand. Their announcement lit a fire in the hearts of the Splatlandians. Everyone's curiosity got the better of them, and the city was livelier than ever.
Deep Cut had to work fast. They refused to be outdone by anyone.
Bolero
Frye hurried over to the "Thorny Florist," a small flower shop close to the Tableturf Battle dojo. For a place labeled the "City of Chaos," it was strange to have a flower shop set up around denizens who prefer to eat rock candy than chew gum. However, it was a popular shop that garnered plenty of business. Even the toughest cephalopod had a soft side.
The idol pushed open the door and was welcomed with a smell of pleasant roses, lilies, and other flora. She quickly noticed the young cashier at the counter, and the girl's eyes widened when she recognized the face of Frye.
"Oh my gosh! You're Frye from Deep Cut!" the girl exclaimed. "Hi, my name's Sophia. I saw your performance last night. You were phenomenal! How may I help you?"
"Hey, thanks; I had a blast," Frye responded with a proud smile. "Listen, I'm looking for some information. Did you see the Splatcast this morning?"
"Oh, yes, yes! You were talking about that Bolero dancer. Is it true what Shiver said about you?"
"It's not," Frye shook her head. "She's just teasing me. There are no romantic feelings between this Bolero and me."
"Oh, okay. That's too bad. You guys looked great dancing together. It was straight out of a romance novel."
'I'm going to get this all day, aren't I?' Frye tried not to sigh. 'I'm a treasure hunter, for squid's sake! I don't have time for love.'
"They're the ones interested in me. I'm just looking for a good dance partner, and that's why we're trying to collect some details about them. Shiver thinks they bought flowers from your shop. Do you know anyone who purchased this particular rose?"
The cashier studied the flower. "The Adenium obesum, otherwise known as the Desert Rose. It's a striking plant with succulent stems and deep red flowers. It's a symbol of wealth and good fortune."
They paused in thought. "Hmm… I don't think I've seen anyone buy that type of rose recently. Splatfest is always a busy time for us, but I can check our database and see if anyone purchased some."
"Would you do that, please?"
"Certainly, just one minute," the cashier went to the computer and typed superfast on the keyboard.
'I doubt it will be that easy.' Frye mulled over her accessory. A flower begetting wealth and good fortune. Truly, there was not a more perfect flower for a bandit. She was neutral towards it at first, but the more she looked at it, the more she came to like it.
'Shiv's right, they do have good taste. I guess it's kinda nice. A girl can't say no to getting a flower, and it does bring out my eyes.'
There was a countertop mirror next to the idol. As she waited, she admired her reflection. She didn't think too much about her own looks, but the reflection she saw was a beauty with a smile more brilliant than diamonds.
'Do I really look that different?'
Frye noticed on the way to the flower shop that people were staring at her differently. She was an idol, so of course they would be starstruck by her presence, but she was turning a lot more heads. In particular, there were a lot more boys than usual.
'Is it the flower? Nah, can't be. It must be Shiver trying to get in my head again.'
"Okay, sorry about that," the cashier snapped Frye from her thoughts as they returned with a piece of paper in hand. "I checked the records, and it looks like there was one customer who bought some desert roses. It was purchased two days ago by one of our regulars, Maya."
'Not who I'm looking for.'
"A regular?"
"Mhm, she comes in all the time with her big brother and likes to study the flowers. I remember seeing her come in during the first day of Splatfest, but I wasn't the one who checked her out. As I said, Splatfest is always a busy time."
"No problem. Can you tell me what she looks like?"
"Absolutely. Cute little Inkling girl with turquoise pigtails and big soft yellow eyes. I'd say she's about nine or ten years old. I don't know where she is right now though. Sorry."
"That's okay. What about her big brother? What can you tell me about him?"
"Not a whole lot. His name's Syrus. He mainly works at Grizzco and salvages scrap from the desert, but that's about all I know. Other than that, he takes good care of Maya."
'I bet he visits the shipyard a lot, but if he's an Inkling too, he can't be Bolero.'
"Thanks a lot. I'll be sure to check this lead out."
Frye exited the flower shop, stroking the rose in her hair, and processed the new wave of information.
'We can make this work. I just need to find this Maya girl and pick her brain a little.'
The idol kept an ear close to the ground. The rumor mill was a great source of knowledge, and although Frye didn't believe every piece of information, there was bound to be something to help push Deep Cut in the right direction.
She observed the crowd for a while, but there was no one with the right combination of species and eyes. The idol sighed, but her spirits were not broken.
'This is more of a marathon than a sprint. Can't expect to find them that easily.'
Many people stopped to wave and asked for pictures, which Frye didn't fact, it was a good distraction. It gave her time to think and plan out her next course of action.
'I should check the lobby first and ask around for Syrus. He might be well-known in the Turf War scene.'
Frye thanked her fans and climbed up the stairs leading to the Lobby. Walking inside, the place was packed as it should be. Frye loved seeing the competition. Her people were here, the battle-hardened warriors that thrived in intense combat. She wished she could join in the fun and lead a team to inevitable victory, but she had a rival to ascertain.
Soon, though, she would feed the world to her weapon.
Like in the square, she mingled with the crowd, looking for anyone who matched her description.
"Hey," she tapped on one male Inkling's shoulder. "I'm looking for a guy named Syrus. Think you can help me out?"
The Inkling turned around and said, "Ask a dude named Zane. He should be over there by the dummies. Look for a guy with green hair, a skull bandana, and Dualie Squelchers."
"Thanks!" Frye followed the direction given and soon spotted a green-haired Inkling wearing the mentioned bandana and seemed to be talking to someone on his Sea-Cucumber Phone.
As she got closer, she could hear him saying, "You've been out in the desert for too long, bro. You're seeing things. First rule, man. Hydration is the number one priority. Luke would have a fit if he heard you talk like that."
Frye straightened her back, a determined expression taking over her face.
"Hey, Zane, right?" she called out. "I need to talk to you."
The green Inkling froze, and his eyes grew to the size of platters, sparkling with excitement as his mind processed the fact that Frye of Deep Cut wanted to have a chat with him.
"I'll call you back. … Dude, I am in the presence of awesomeness. Bye, man," he shoved his phone in his pocket and gave Frye his undivided attention. "This is amazing. Frye, I am a huge fan. What can I do for you?"
"Sorry to interrupt your bro talk, but I need your help with something."
"Sure, what do you need?"
"I'm looking for a pair of siblings named Syrus and Maya. Do you know them?"
"Yeah, Syrus is my best bud, and Maya's my little sister in all but ink. Why are you looking for them?"
Frye felt relieved and motioned to the rose in her hair. "The cashier at the flower shop said Maya supposedly bought some of these the other day. I was wondering if you knew anything?"
"Oh wow, that is a nice flower." Zane leaned in and admired it. "It looks expensive, too.
"One of the most expensive."
Zane sucked in some air. "Yeah, that explains why she asked me for a couple more coins," he sighed and crossed his arms. "I was there that day. I didn't pay much attention to what kind of flowers she wanted. She was so happy that I didn't bother asking. Maya has always loved flowers, and when he could afford to spare the coins, Syrus would take her out and let her buy some. He was busy on that day, so I volunteered to take her out. Splatfests put Syrus in a frenzy, so Maya being alone makes him anxious. I was happy to look after her though."
'Well, aren't you two nice older brothers?' Frye was smiling at the story.
"What can you tell me about Syrus? According to Sophia at Thorny Florist, he works a lot."
"Dude is a workaholic," Zane chuckled. "Maya and I have to practically beg him to take breaks, but he's a cool guy after you get to know him. I was talking to him before you showed up. He and Maya went to Wahoo World."
Frye was not deterred.
'Gah! I can't go there now! The afternoon Splatcast is coming up.'
"If you want to talk to them, Syrus should be free this evening. He has the day off from Grizzco, so he'll be with Maya the entire day."
"No, that's fine. I'll visit them next time. Listen, I can't thank you enough, Zane."
"No prob. Anything to help a fellow turf warrior."
"You know it," Frye waved goodbye and strode out of the Lobby.
'Nice, now we're getting somewhere. Maya is the only one to buy the same rose, but if it was just for decoration, there's no point in pursuing her. How did Bolero get their hands on one then? Did they grow them? That's a possibility.'
Since it was next door, Frye decided to go back to the studio and wait for her co-stars. To kill time, she practiced her dance moves to make them ready for her next battle against the enigmatic dancer and satisfy the jitteriness plaguing her body. Her confidence flooded from her frame in waves, positive that Deep Cut would find their prey, and that she would get to experience yet another fiery dance that would last throughout history.
"I have so many questions," she muttered while going through her stretches. "How did they learn two ancient dances? I thought they were lost to time."
She paused to relax and then got back into position. Her practice lasted to the point whereupon Shiver and Big Man's return, they caught her in the middle of her trance.
"'Bout time," Frye said as she eased her stance "You won't believe all the juicy details I found. How did things go on your end?"
Big Man lowered his head. "Ay. (No luck on my part.)"
"I have some good news," Shiver spoke up. "I have five suspects. The EVPs graciously gave me a list of all Octolings with red eyes they remember."
"Ay. (No one remembers anyone buying the clothes Bolero wore last night.)"
Shiver turned to Frye. "What did you find out?"
Frye smiled. "This rose is a symbol of good luck. The girl at the flower shop told me the only person who bought these was a little girl named Maya. She has an older brother named Syrus, but he took her to Wahoo World. I wanted to follow, but we have the afternoon Splatcast to do."
Frye paused and covered her face, a sudden realization taking over. "Carp, I just realized I never asked for defining features. I didn't ask if Syrus was an Octoling. I figured since they're siblings, he might be an Inkling too, but you can't be too sure."
"It's fine," Shiver patted her shoulder. "We are better off than when we started. We'll look through our notes after the afternoon newscast. Who knows? We might be on the right track still."
Frye nodded and held her chin up. "Yeah, you're right. Let's get to work."
Later that night
Frye could be seen alone on the rooftop of the studio. She was surrounded by the stars and the darkness of the night. She looked down at the city, full of life and energy, and felt a sense of peace. Her home was a hodgepodge of lights, and the horizon was a mix of pink and purple. Frye had always enjoyed the night sky. It made her feel small and insignificant, but it also made her feel alive, reminding her why she and Deep Cut plundered treasure.
Not everyone was as fortuitous. Many were struggling, and Frye couldn't stand to see her fellow Splatlandians suffer. A thought occurred to her as she went over the information with Shiver and Big Man. Joining forces with Bolero sparked more interest in the denizens. Together, they could bring more profit to Splatsville and make it more prosperous. Just a thought she mulled over silently.
"The city looks beautiful from up here," she sighed. "I have the perfect backdrop."
Frye removed the rose from her hair and spun the stem between her fingers. Something stirred in her chest as she admired the flower.
"How did you ever go unnoticed? There's no way you just showed up outta nowhere. You've been around for a while."
The idol tucked the flower back in her hair and stretched out her arms, feeling the cool night air against her skin. She closed her eyes and replayed yesterday's performance in her head. She got back into the zone and let the music in her head take hold of her. Before she knew it, her body was going through the motions of every twirl and every flourish. Some would call her frequent spells a curse, but Frye felt blessed with her body loving to dance. It was the medium that defined her.
She stopped and opened her eyes to the night sky.
"I'll find you," she said. "Wherever you are."
Her left ear twitched as she picked up a pattern of noises from behind.
"What the?" she turned, and her jaw went slack.
Now, Frye was no pushover when it came to her senses. It was exceptionally difficult to sneak up on her, but somehow, someone managed to evade her senses and sneak up behind her. Not just anyone could accomplish such a feat either.
"Well, well, well, look who's finally here," Frye grinned and approached the hooded figure. "You're a slippery cephalopod, you know that? Do you have any idea what I went through today?"
The figure's outfit was different from their previous one, but there was no mistaking the shawl that obstructed their face or the rhythmic sequence of speaking only they could portray in tap dancing.
"Did you like our present? Now the whole city wants to know more about you."
Bolero crossed their arms, and Frye understood without the need for tapping.
"Hey, I had nothing to do with this. Take that up with Shiver. I'm just along for the ride. I was going to hunt you down regardless, but the whole city gets to have some fun this way."
Bolero tapped their foot impatiently.
"It's not at your expense," the idol reassured them. "We did mention no brutality, and we went into the city and saw no such thing. Besides, I was the villain during Splatfest trying to bring out the heroes' full power. You can do me a favor and be the end goal for Splatsville. That's what you get for keeping secrets from me."
They stepped forward, and Frye met them until both were several feet apart and bathed under the moonlight. Their positions mirrored yesterday's festival, but with the lack of an audience, the tension became more friendly. Since it was just the two of them, Bolero had a better look at the idol and vice versa. They remembered the exhilaration they felt during their dance battle turned duet and felt it rising their chests and spreading through their bodies.
"You're a great dancer," Frye said, her voice a whisper in the night air.
Bolero gave a slight nod and tapped out the same response. Frye nodded in understanding and tilted her chin up in admiration. The two stood in the same spot, enjoying the moment until Frye suddenly lunged forward and attacked the enigmatic dancer, going for their shawl.
However, Bolero evaded and stopped her hand from tearing off their cover.
"Carp, thought I had ya," Frye gave a light laugh. "You got good reflexes though. I like that. Better stay on your toes because I plan on seeing what you look like. I bet you're cute."
She stepped back and crossed her arms.
"Hear me out for a minute. I meant what I said. I've been looking for a rival like you to make an entrance. It gets boring going through the same thing every day, but thanks to you, I had a dance worthy of the history books."
Before she could continue, Bolero reached into their pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and handed it to the idol.
"You're pushing this whole silent protagonist trope to the limit, aren't you?" Frye accepted and read the paper's contents.
Thank you for dancing with me. I had a great time last night. Imagine my surprise, however, when a city-wide search for me appears on the news the next morning. You're even bolder than I am, Amada. However, you think lowly of me if you think your army can apprehend me.
Frye paused to give Bolero a challenging smile.
"Oh, you think so, huh? Well, you underestimate my talents. Also, what's an Amada?"
Bolero refused to elaborate.
"Silent sneak," Frye grumbled and continued reading.
I'll play your little game, Amada, but it's not fair if you're the only one having fun. So, I have a game for you. How many times can we dance under the moonlight before our rivalry becomes more intimate? Can the dancing gangster withstand my serenade of water, or will the tamer become trapped in my bolero of fire? Will you sing me a sonata of awakening as we dance to my new wave bossa nova, or will I need to dance through a song of storms in this nocturne of shadow?
Frye stared at the letter in disbelief.
"Wow, you really like poetry, huh?"
Bolero nodded and held their stance with pride.
"Shiver would love to meet you. She's a big haiku nerd. It's a little too poetic for my tastes, but I respect your hobby."
She smiled, tucked the letter away, and held out her hand.
"I accept your challenge. Don't get your hopes up though; I'm not so easily swayed."
Bolero stared at the hand for a moment.
Frye could only fathom what was going through inside the enigmatic dancer's head. Even still, she remained steadfast in her decision. She had no regrets.
"Let's make some more history, okay?"
In the end, Bolero grasped and shook Frye's hand. Part of them wanted to yank the idol into an embrace and dip her again like yesternight, but they resisted the urge.
"I'm ready when you are," Frye said, and the two became trapped in a dancing reverie. There was no audience except the stars above to judge them. It was just Frye, Bolero, and the rhythm of the night.