I messed up the ages! Agent 4 and 8 are 2 years younger than captain 3 and not 2 years older/the same age in the games! I'm still gonna keep my agents as that tho, and if it matters Hiroko is a year older than Ceru and Haru but a year younger than Ember.
WARNING: THE FLASHBACKS IN THIS CHAPTER CONTAIN SOME BLOOD, DEATH AND ABUSE
"Quartz, I knew your mother…" said Hiroko, somberly. "Dear cod, she was amazing. I miss her a lot." she smiled, letting the few tears forming at her eyes fall. The younger octoling began to tear up too. "Do you remember her?" he asked. "Of course I do." replied the elite octoling. "She was the light in my somewhat dark childhood, and she always reminded me of the good in this world.
Flashback…
Seventeen years ago…
"Okay my little octolings, that's it for today's training. Your parents will come get you on the porch." smiled a 20 year old octoling soldier. She had just finished another day of teaching future octoling soldiers basic combat skills, and her students ran out her door to wait for their parents. "They're such good kids." she smiled. "I know my daughter will be just as wonderful."
A lone 5 year old octoling sat on the steps in front of her mentor's house, watching her classmates hug their parents and walk home happily in spite of the pouring rain. "Hah! I guess your mommy isn't here!" laughed another octoling, who splashed water from a nearby puddle into her face before running off. That rude octoling was stopped in his tracks by the teacher.
"Charlie, why did you splash Hiroko?" she asked with a stern tone, yet a soft face. "Her parents abandoned her because they haven't shown up yet!" he laughed. "What do you gain from being mean to others? All you did was hurt your classmate." responded the young adult.
After he left, the teacher came over to the young Hiroko with a handkerchief. "Here, wipe the dirt off of your face." she smiled. "T-thank you, Mrs. Rose." smiled the small child, wiping her face. "My mom…still hasn't shown up yet." she sighed. Mrs. Rose smiled. "I will wait with you. No child should be sitting in the pouring rain alone like this." she added, opening an umbrella.
They waited. For a long time.
"She still hasn't shown up." frowned Hiroko. "Who's that?" smiled Mrs. Rose, pointing at a man who was heading for her house. "Thanks for waiting with me, Mrs. Rose! I'll see ya tomorrow!" smiled the little girl.
Present day…
"Father was always working in the army, he tried his best but he couldn't be around very often. I misunderstood it as him being neglectful like mother." Hiroko had a slight smile on her face. "She would never let her students go through things alone. The class trusted her with all kinds of dark secrets." Hiroko's smile became a slightly nervous one. "Very different from Octavia, right?" she chuckled. The only thing Quartz could respond with was "Wow…" He was amazed.
"She taught me almost everything I know, as well as some of my top soldiers. Mrs. Rose taught more than just battle skills, though…She was very powerful. Her skills matched no other, not even Octavia, Marina or the DJ himself. She had a way of thinking that not many other soldiers had…"
Flashback
Sixteen years ago…
"Mrs. Rose, is that the baby?" asked Hiroko, who ran into her at the park. "Hiroko? What brings you here?" she laughed. "Mom told me that I have to stay here all day and tomorrow, and that I can't come home." replied the younger octoling. "Hiroko, that's terrible. Would you like to stay at my house for the night?" In response, Hiroko nodded happily.
"This is my new daughter." smiled Mrs. Rose. It was a beautiful night when she was born, so I named her Celeste. "That sounds so pretty!" smiled Hiroko. "She's smiling at you." laughed Mrs. Rose. "I think you'll be a great teacher to her when she's older."
"B-but I'm not very good, miss…"
"Hiroko, you're not good– You're amazing. You're stronger than you think, and you have a heart of gold. I think Celeste needs someone like you if she wants to become a soldier." She smiled, and gave Hiroko one of her homemade cookies. The young octoling happily ate it. That night, Hiroko had the best sleep she ever had, and even returned home smiling.
The words Mrs. Rose told her that night echoed in her head as her mother glared at her. "Show your mother some love, and see if it changes her attitude. It just might." Mrs. Rose said after she gave Hiroko one of her old octoshots.
"Why aren't you covered in dirt? Last night should've been horrible for you!" scowled Hiroko's mother when her daughter walked through the door. "I got you something." smiled Hiroko, giving her a small wildflower she found on the way home. "...Just go to your room." scoffed the older octoling. However, she put the flower in a cup of water once Hiroko left. She felt something heavy grow in her three hearts. "Weird girl." she muttered.
Present day…
"Violence was always her last resort, never her answer." smiled the elite octoling. "She loved Celeste so much, she's the new agent 3 now, isn't she?" Quartz replied to her question with a nod. "I wish I could've protected your mother…" Hiroko sighed.
Flashback…
Fourteen years ago…
"He took Celeste with him? Does that mean I can't play with her anymore?" frowned Hiroko, who was now around 7 years old. Mrs. Rose sadly nodded. "Hey, Mr. Rose is still a nice man. We split up because we had a disagreement about the octarian army, not because he's evil. I know he'll take good care of Celeste in Splatsville."
"Disagreement?" asked Hiroko. Mrs. Rose tried her best to explain it in a way she would understand. "Well, I love the octarian army and I want to stay in Octo Canyon, but Mr. Rose doesn't. We wanted to live together, but we couldn't agree on where to live, so we decided to divorce." The older octoling smiled. "There's someone I want you to meet, though. I'm picking him up from the nursery in a few minutes."
"Oh! Can I come with you?!" Hiroko asked excitedly. Mrs. Rose chucked. "Of course."
Present day…
"Hiroko, what happens to this son I've never heard of?" asked Quartz. "Quartz, didn't I mention that this memory happened fourteen years ago?" she smiled. The elite octoling even began to laugh softly. Quartz was just completely confused. "W-Why are you laughing?!"
Flashback…
Fourteen years ago…
Hiroko gently held the baby's hand. "What's his name?!"
"I haven't decided yet." said Mrs. Rose. "He's a wonderful dark purple though, just like me…"
Present day…
"I never got to find out what she named you." said Hiroko. She then fell silent, and Quartz followed suit.
Flashback…
Fourteen years ago…
"Thanks for visiting me." smiled the younger Hiroko, who broke her leg and was in a hospital bed. Mrs. Rose smiled, holding her baby. "I brought my friend Octavia with me, since we ran into each other." Octavia smiled at the young octoling girl. Hiroko gave her a shy smile back. "A-Aren't you one of the strongest octarians ever?!" she asked.
"Have been for years now." replied Octavia, somewhat dryly. "We went to the same military school, and we got our promotions at the same time." added Mrs. Rose. "I remember how happy I was, but you weren't really smiling, Octavia…" she said. "That's just because I already knew I was getting that elite spot." Octavia answered.
"Did you name the baby yet?" asked Hiroko. "I did." smiled Mrs. Rose.
"Hey, could you show me where the bathroom is?" asked Octavia.
Mrs. Rose placed her baby in the stroller. "Of course. Hiroko, watch the baby for me, okay?"
"Yes miss!" answered Hiroko, watching the two older women leave the room. "I wonder what his name is…" she wondered, looking at the newborn Quartz.
BANG
She heard a singular loud gunshot from the hallway, and quickly ran out, constantly wincing and yelping in pain from her leg. She saw it, and Octavia was kneeling down next to the sight.
The most important figure in her life, bleeding out and dead. The young woman spotted Hiroko down the hallway in her final moments, giving her one last warm smile.
Present day…
"I couldn't handle the sight, so I ran back into the room…Octavia came in shortly after the police arrived, telling me that she was dead, and that she gave you to her." said Hiroko, tearing up. The elite octoling began to sob, Quartz wasn't sure how to comfort her. "When I was teenager, I found out that Octavia is a two-faced snake." hissed the elite octoling.
Flashback…
Ten years ago…
Hiroko was heading to Octavia's house in Beaker's Depot, carrying a package. "They didn't tell me if I should give it to her or leave it on the doorstep…" She was still smiling though, as this was her chance to see Mrs. Rose's son for the first time since…
Since the incident.
"Miss Octavia!" she waved excitedly, peaking through the window on the front door.
"You're nothing but a monster! All I can see is your slut of a mother!"
"O-Octavia?" whimpered Hiroko, who's smile turned into a face filled with fear. Octavia was beating the little boy right in front of her eyes, and called the most important figure in her life something horrible. The four year old boy was being repeatedly punched and shoved into the wall.
"YOUR FATHER WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME IF YOUR DAMN MOTHER JUST STAYED OUT OF MY LIFE! YOU AND THAT RAT HE TOOK WITH HIM SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN! BUT NO, YOU'RE JUST THE SMALLER VERSION OF HER, WHICH MAKES YOU EASIER TO TORTURE!"
The young girl watched the scene in horror, nearly screaming when Octavia took out a knife. She quickly rang the doorbell, hoping it would stop her.
"You're lucky that the octoling at the door saved you." she scoffed, answering the door.
"M-Miss O-Octavia, remember me?" asked Hiroko, trying to act like she didn't see anything.
"You're just a delivery girl, why the hell would I remember you?"
Hiroko weakly handed her the package, holding back her tears. "H-How is Mrs. Rose's son?"
"Get out." Octavia growled lowly.
Present day…
The elite octoling sat in silence for a moment, remembering a four year old Quartz covered in fresh scars, and the puddle of blood that pooled below him.
"Even the smallest mistake I made would result in that, and sometimes she just did it anyway." said Quartz. "I was never a living being to her."
"Quartz, seeing you sitting here strong…Makes me happier than ever." smiled Hiroko.
"Quartz!" called out Celeste, running into him for a hug, surprising the two. "I found you!" she cried. "Thank cod!" sighed Ember in relief, catching up to her. "Oh, you're that lady from the canyon!" exclaimed the inkling.
"Yup." nodded Hiroko. "We're havin' a BBQ at the house, you should come try a delicious Ceru burger!" smirked Ember. Quartz and Celeste shared the same thought of "Don't ever fucking call them that again."
Meanwhile…
"They've been out in the woods for a while." said Haru. "You think something ate them?" asked Cerulean, in his usual monotone voice. "You're so silly!" laughed Haru.
"WE GOT THE BOY AND THE LADY WE MET THAT ONE TIME A FEW MONTHS AGO!" shouted Ember, sliding onto the property stylishly. "Show-off." muttered Cerulean.
"Hello, Quartz ran into me when he was running away from them." greeted Hiroko. Haru glared at Ember and Celeste. The two explained everything, as they were terrified of the "the glare." Haru shook his head. "I trust that you're mature enough to never do that with him again." he said, passive-aggressively. "Thank you for keeping him safe." Haru thanked, smiling at Hiroko.
Hiroko found herself talking to Haru and Cerulean a lot during the late-night hangout. They told her about how Quartz has been over the past few months and she told them some of the more light-hearted moments that happened when she would sneak into Octavia's house to give Quartz things like good food. The boys also finally found out when his birthday was.
Quartz sat at the dock, gazing at the moon and its gentle reflection on the water. While he sat there, he could have sworn he saw a lady with long, dark purple tentacles and light purple eyes. "A ghost?" he thought to himself. "It could have been Bloody Calamary, but that ghost had a warm aura surrounding her." A bang! sounded, bringing his attention to the sky. A few fireworks went off. He smiled softly.
"As nice as mother sounded, I think I was destined to find the people here."
To be continued...
I cried a bit while writing this chapter ;-; This mainly took a while bc I went on a few of my own vacations and also august is just always rlly busy for me (my bday is on the 18th!) also QUARTZ'S BDAY WAS ON JULY 31 but I was too busy to do something...