A/N:
Hello! My name is Dip. I'm the primary writer for this Alternate Universe, which is the brainchild of Nae.
Dancing Tides is a story written for a more mature audience–there are some heavy scenes and themes that can be found inside. From abandonment issues and parental abuse, to gaslighting and loss of a loved one, if you're not comfortable with these things, we ask that you do not proceed. If you're alright with being exposed to these subjects, read on.
This AU was inspired by three characters initially–Raymond, Mara, and Fynn. Initially, I was only given about 3 pages to go off of. And after some joking and encouragement, I began to write my own characters, which turned into a mountain of "what if?" scenarios that eventually evolved into a full on story. This is a living story, so to speak. It will be expanded on, with more already planned and in the works. What's presented here, is the labor of a multitude of hours, weeks, and months of typing, correcting, and editing, with much of the editing and idea-crafting done by Naeriie.
We hope you enjoy it!
"You are all weak!"
The Octocommander rolls back and forth before the octarians lined up under flooders, water-infused ink raining over them as part of their 'training'.
"I will make you strong. The King will not tolerate anything less!"
It hurt. It was supposed to build up a tolerance…but it hurt so bad. Seela stands straight upright nonetheless though, tears welling in her eyes.
"When you fight, you fight for your families! For the future of Octo-kind! Is that clear?!"
"Yes sir, captain sir!"
"I said, am I clear?!"
Before the line can reply, one of her comrades falls to the ground and cries out in pain–the others stop moving in fear. The captain looks offended.
"When you fall, we fall." He says in front of the fallen octoling, soldiers coming over. "Take them away."
Everyone had to undergo basic training, for any job in the army. Even the desk workers had to learn to fight. Seela had wanted to become an officer–like her mom said her dad was. The training was intense. Day in, day out, in grueling conditions–the values of the Octarians borderline beaten into her, if not literally. She didn't live far away, yet she couldn't see her family on any given day. She slept in a cramped bunkhouse with the other recruits. Every day, it was a new struggle. Some days it was resisting ink, and physical blows. Some days it was testing reflexes, or simply starving to build resilience. But one aspect remained the same, as training went on.
"If one of you falls, all of you do!"
It forced them to get to know each other. To find where each of their brothers and sisters weaknesses were found, and to work together as a squad to overcome the challenges. If things got too easy, the challenges would ramp up in difficulty, but so too would the rewards. The training was grueling. And that sense of camaraderie was slowly chipped away at. If someone started to do too well, they were taken–scouted, the captain said–and rarely, if ever seen again. They seemed more distant than before. Not cruel, but like they had a secret they just couldn't let out. Like something was keeping them from just saying 'Hey! I'm okay!'
One day it was Seelas turn.
She was as nervous as she was tired. Pulled from the formation, she was led inside, into a different part of the complex, and locked in a dark room and told to sit over the intercom.
A screen turned on, making her wince moment as her eyes adjusted to the light. It was a video–two teams of Octarians, duking it out in a training turf war, viewed from various angles, but always returning to above, until one team had decisively won.
"What did the losing team do wrong? What could they have done better?"
Seela ponders a moment, confused
"...can I see it one more time?" She asks the voice, a frown forming on her face It replays, and she watches.
It was obvious; the Octoshot users looked nervous on the front–never committing to any sort of push. The charger couldn't aim from a distance to save their life, but up close, they were definitely a threat to be reckoned with. Their octobrush charged head on, without any sense of strategy or care, constantly getting caught and taken out.
"Change the composition." She suggests, "The splattershots could run support. Stay out of range, and this guy–" She taps the charger "Have him be their front man. Nobody got close to him."
"And their fourth?"
"Oh, well that's easy. They just need to try and flank a bit better. To strategize" She says, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world "Running head on into enemies over and over again like that, that doesn't help your squad at all. You're just going to let them down."
"Noted. There's a bed behind your chair. You'll sleep here. Rest, cadet Seela."
The lights came on with a loud bang, as the Captain entered the room and Seela scrambled to attention to salute.
"At ease." He tells her, another octoling entering, dressed in a more formal looking military outfit, but not a field one. "Welcome to Scouting and Logistics."
Seela lowers her salute, confused. "Logistics?"
"Yes. Logistics. From now on, you're a private in the Logistics branch. This is Commander Kelly. You'll be under her care now."
Kelly, a purple haired Octoling with deep purple eyes offers a hand to shake. Seela takes it. "You've got a bright future ahead, Private. Your suggestions increased the effectiveness of Squad B in training by around 60%."
"Oh!" Seela blinks, "That's great!"
"Great, but it could be better." Kelly says. She salutes the captain "May we be dismissed?"
"Yeah." The captain replies "Dismissed."
"Come on then." Kelly says "You've got a lot more training to do."
The following stretch of time would blend together. It was all analysis. Occasionally finding out whether or not something will work. Whether or not they need more supplies. And always the question,
"What could they do better next time?"
She had to do a huge amount of research. Constantly requesting specs and videos from R&D to better provide answers. She eventually made it to Petty Officer, happening only when Kelly pulled her aside, and offered to enlist her in the Officers school. Seela accepted, of course, not expecting the mountainous pile of work that would appear as a result–or the fact she still had to work full time in tandem with the schooling. She busted her ass, but eventually being spread so thin would have her test and score low–having her be placed as just a low ranking ensign. But still…an officer. At least in title.
The rest for her, is history. Tirelessly working, trying so hard to ensure even the most elite were prepared. But that damn agent proved to be too much. "When one of us falls, all of us falls!" That phrase would ring in her mind with every failure.
Depression and anxiety would set in. It was no wonder she fell victim to such a simple email media attack. Her comrades had already fallen–it was only a matter of time before she did too. Only once did she stop to realize what had happened once she was on the surface. The implications of her leaving. Only once, did she think of her squadmates, terrified that she'd been scouted too, that were now likely never going to see her again. And she cried. She tried to leave it all behind, but that day she felt the sun, the wind, and smelled the fresh air, she knew. Part of her would always be stuck underground.
As would parts of many Octolings. Yet after the fall of the king, the allure of the surface world was irresistible…many leaving as Seela did. Some of them more lucky than others.
Elsewhere, two Octoling twins also worked their way through the valley, trying to make their way to the surface. They were tall–broad, and kind. Both had been present at the first instance of the King being defeated. The Calamari Inkantation echoed in their heads ever since–and they reveled in the excitement of it all. The discontent they felt underground was at its peak–they had to act. They were so close…and yet there was a sinister feeling in the air.
Their pace slowed, until one fateful day, the two came upon an elderly squid staring wistfully out over the valley. He panicked on seeing the two–immediately calling for help. The brother looked at his sister, smiling. Where they were similar in looks and minds, she was no soldier. He was, however.
"Go on. Hide, sis–I'll be back before you know it."
He tried to sound confident. But he was young–and all he sounded was scared. Abruptly, a fight broke out–the brother was attacked by an inkling assailant, pushing them closer and closer to the surface. The sister followed behind, as carefully as she could–but once the terrain opened up, there was little she could do. If she showed herself, she was as good as dead…