Splatoon: The Brothers and the Others
The Destructive Scrap Metal Octomachine
"Run." Splin whispered, looking up at the metal octopus looming above them.
"Huh?" Sharq asked, Ari snapping in his direction.
"RUN!" Splin shouted, making a mad dash for the kettle.
Sharq gulped, taking Ari by the hand. "C'mon Ari!"
Ari nodded nervously, the two other Inklings breaking for the kettle, following closely behind Splin. The octopus spurted violet ink after them, the ink corroding the ground somewhat. Tai's eyes widened in alarm, the Octoling hopping out of the kettle momentarily, waving them into the kettle. Three squids hopped in, Tai following soon after in her own aquatic lifeform state, narrowly dodging another blast of ink following after them. The four of them landed inside, ducking halfway through the kettle in their respective cephalopod shapes.
"What IS that monstrosity?!" Ari asked.
"It's a-" Tai began, but was interrupted by Sharq.
"Hey wait, I wanna explain this one!" Sharq said.
Tai raised her index finger as if to say something, but slowly lowered it, smirking. "Sure, go ahead Sharq."
Sharq cleared his throat as the ground above shook. "So, this thing that's rampaging above us right now is a Great Octoweapon. The Octarians- That's Tai-" Sharq said, pointing at Tai, who grinned and waved. "Developed these machines to take down enemy Inklings or for defense!"
A drop of corrosive ink dripped through the pipe, instantly burning through the steel.
"I presume this is one of the less, 'defense-orientated' ones?" Ari asked.
"Beats me. We have so many of these things sitting around somewhere." Tai said.
"Mmm-hmm! All in all, it's pretty awesome! Kinda dangerous, but awesome." Sharq said.
Splin nodded. "Yes, I have to admit, these Octarian machines are rather remarkable in their ingenuity."
Just then, a long tentacle smashed through the grates above, quickly snatching Splin by one of his tentacles.
"I just wish they weren't so deadllllllyyyyyy!" Splin yelped, being dragged up and out of the kettle.
"Splin!" All three shouted.
Sharq quickly slid out of the tube and leaped from the kettle, watching Splin getting flailed around like a ragdoll.
"Shaaaaaaaarq!" Splin yelled.
"Splin, are you alright?!" Sharq asked.
The metallic octopus proceeded to slam Splin into the ground. The tentacle rose, dragging a discombobulated Inkling into the air, dazedly looking around.
"Ohhhhh…" Splin groaned, his eyes spinning. "Not particularly…"
Sharq frowned, staring straight at the mechanical octopus. Reaching at his back, he pulled out his Krak-On Roller, cautiously deploying it on the ground and rolling towards the mech. Using one of its tentacles, the octopus slammed the ground, causing Sharq to duck into his own blue ink. Unfortunately for Splin, he had to take most of the damage of the blow, as that was the only other tentacle the octopus had. Hopping out of harm's way, Sharq flailed the roller, covering the ground in front of him, allowing him to dip himself in that ink. He continually followed this pattern of flicking and ducking until he was just about underneath the octopus' head.
"...What do I do now…?" Sharq wondered aloud, looking up at the octopus.
Splin shook his head, snapping himself out of his daze. "Sharq! Hit the tentacles, it can't stand up if it doesn't have anything to stand on!"
Sharq blinked, looking up at the tentacle legs. Raising his roller, he brought it down on the lone tentacle, all of the blue ink from his roller weapon vanished.
"Aw, Sharq, did you forget to refill?!" Splin asked.
Sharq grinned sheepishly. "Yeah."
The octopus, seeing an opportunity, capitalized on Sharq's weakness by dropping straight down. Sharq quickly hopped to the left, dust and ink tossed up in the air from the impact of the octopus directly slamming the ground. The body slam managed to get the octopus to release its grip on Splin, who began running towards Sharq.
"Sharq, quick, refill your ink, when that thing gets up again, it's going to exact its vengeance." Splin warned Sharq, who nodded, lightly dousing the ground beneath him with blue ink using a very low quantity left on his roller.
Sharq dipped into the blue ink, swimming in circles as to gather as much ink as he could. Popping back out, he slammed one of the tentacle repeatedly with his roller, battering it like smacking a bug with a rolled up newspaper.
Sharq looked up at the sky, a curious look on his face.
Not a great simile, eh?
Sharq shrugged, going back to bashing the tentacle. "Why isn't it breaking?!"
"The scrap on its tentacles serve as an armor alone...we'll need more firepower." Splin commented, tapping the tentacle.
As if on cue, Tai and Ari burst out of the kettles, the both of them wielding Octoshots.
"Alright Jungle Hat, let's whoop some tentacles." Tai said with a smirk.
"But of course!" Ari said, aiming down the Octoshot.
The two rushed the tentacles, blasting it with ink, orange and violet. Despite the similar colors Tai used, it still seemed to seep through and damage the tentacle she shot at, the machine's remaining limbs flailing. Tai smirked evilly.
"Heh...next time, stay in the ground." She told the machine.
The machine responded with a blast of ink towards Tai, which knocked her back, Tai grunting from the impact.
"Tai!" Splin shouted.
Tai shook her head, quickly leaping back onto her feet. "I'm good, don't worry." She grinned, lightly hitting her chestpiece with her Octoshot. "Armor, brah."
Splin nodded, turning back to the octopus. He was met with a tentacle that smacked him back, sending him into a crumbling building. He groaned, rubbing the back of his head.
"I think I might have to ask you for a spare set of armor later…" Splin said through grit teeth, staring at the mechanical octopus.
The octopus was quicker than ever now, whirling around using one tentacle. The three still standing hopped over the tentacle each time it whipped around, shooting immediately after, then repeating the jump each time the tentacle whipped towards them. Sharq retreated after a third stroke, going over to his brother.
"You're really fragile, man." Sharq said, picking his younger brother up.
"...Yeah." Splin muttered in defeat, resting his head on Sharq's shoulder.
"You guys go ahead and beat up the Octoweapon, I'm going to get Splin to a safe place!" Sharq shouted, running off, Splin weakly waving his goodbyes to the other two.
"Gotcha Sharq." Tai said, cocking her Octoshot. "Looks like it's just me and you Ari."
Ari nodded, the two jumping over yet another tentacle spin. "Sorry about earlier!"
Tai smirked. "If you really wanted to see what was under there, you could've at least taken me to dinner first."
Ari's eyes widened. Tai rolled her own, chuckling.
"Just kidding man." Tai said, experimentally firing at the octopus. "This thing's shell is hard as stone, we're not going to make a dent with these weapons. If only the Skell were active…"
"Then, what's our plan of action Tai?" Ari said. "...I can refer to you as that, right?"
Tai nodded, butting the tentacle as it whirled around with her Octoshot, causing a scrap plate to fall off, exposing a purple-green tentacle underneath. "Yeah, why not?"
"Well, you know...I was worried you'd be peeved at what happened earlier." Ari said, shooting at the now exposed tentacle, filling it with orange, the ink burning through the organic materials underneath, the tentacle fading weakly underneath.
"Hey, sometimes you can't hold grudges." Tai told him, kicking the tentacle. The remaining scrap metal that held the appendage laid destroyed on the ground, violet and tangerine colors dripping out through the cracks. "I'm not REALLY going to maim someone who just so happened to strip me by accident."
Ari's mind sighed in relief.
"Well, maybe I would've splatted you if it weren't for Splin and Sharq." Tai told him.
Ari visibly flinched at the thought. Tai noticed and laughed.
"Oh my gosh, your face...heh heh, priceless." Tai said with a smirk.
Ari frowned. "I don't understand how they manage to put up with THAT."
Tai grinned. "Hey, what can I say? Just one of my many charms."
The two cephalopods stared at the remains of the octopus. Ink was spurting out uncontrollably from its sockets, staining the ground violet. The "head" of the octopus made one last ditch attempt, rolling towards the two. Tai simply sidestepped out of the way, while Ari on the other hand made a panicked dive to the left. The octopus head, upon missing, landed on the ground, ink fading in defeat.
"Nice." Tai said, holstering her Octoshot, staring over at Ari.
Ari blinked, then reached for his own Octoshot, presenting it to Tai. She shook her head.
"Nah man, go ahead and keep it. We needed to get rid of some of them anyways." Tai said.
Ari glanced at the Octoshot in his hands, then slung it over his back, wearing it heroically. "You have my gratitude."
"Yeah, you're welcome." Tai told him.
Tai walked over to a kettle, shifting into octopus form, sliding through the grates. Ari stood still and watched, the sound of ink still trickling out of the Great Octoweapon the only thing breaking the silence. Tai popped her head out of the kettle after a few minutes.
"Well? You coming or what?" Tai asked, hands on her cheeks, just dying to see what Ari's choice would be.
Ari grinned, then went over to the kettle, hopping down through the grates after the Octoling.
"Splin, you good dude?" Tai asked, staring down at Splin.
"Aside from the feverish feeling, fine." Splin said, laying his head down on a table, Sharq looking over him.
The four of our heroes were sitting in the Rec Room of the Octarian HQ. As usual, a certain energetic catfish danced around in its pen nearby, generating electricity for the base to use. The room was mostly empty at the moment, only a few Octoling and Octotroopers walking to and fro, giving the Inklings curious glances every so often.
"You sure it's um...safe to remain here?" Ari asked Tai, looking around at the Octolings passing by.
"Relax. No one's gonna try anything as long as you're with us." Tai said, propping her boots up on the table, leaning back in her chair.
Ari sighed. "It's just amazing how a whole different society remains down here without us on the surface noticing. You ever try appealing to the Inkling society?"
Tai scoffed. "And look like a bunch of weak cowards? No, some of the radicals up there and down here wouldn't like that, most Inklings without a brain would shoot at the first sight of a tentacle."
Ari frowned, looking down at his legs. "So you just sit down here, waiting?"
Tai sighed. "Yep. That's pretty much how it's always been. That Great Zapfish thing that happened earlier, the one where it went missing, you know?"
Ari racked his brain for a while, until it came to him. He nodded.
"Yeah...that was us. Didn't work out well for either side really." Tai said, putting a hand on her cheek, leaning forward. "Now the Inklings in charge of defending Inkopolis are suspicious of us. They really won't give any second thought, I'm sure if it weren't for those two..."
Both Ari and Tai looked over at Splin and Sharq. Sharq tapped Splin on one of his ears, to which Splin tried to shoo Sharq away, only getting Sharq to chuckle at Splin's inability to do anything. Splin sighed, looking down at the table sadly. Sharq flinched, lightly patting Splin on the back, getting Splin to manage a small smile at his brother's antics. Tai grinned, looking back at Ari.
"Pretty sure I speak for both of us when I say our lives would probably be pretty ship without those two." Tai said.
Ari stared at her, then glanced back at the brothers. Ari sighed.
"I suppose you're right. My rivals have got to be one of the better people I've met in this world, to be honest." Ari said. "Don't know too many other people who'd ever want to participate in my challenges, even if it wasn't their prime choice."
Tai nodded, staring at the ceiling. "Makes you wonder how it'd all go without them."
Ari grinned. "Sure would be much more…"
"Boring." The two said simultaneously.
The two snickered. Everyone stayed in the room, relaxing at the tables. After a while, Splin managed to get his head up and off the table.
"I think we should take our leave. We need to pick food up for ourselves and Maria." Splin announced, standing up somewhat unsteadily.
Sharq noticed this, then went to help support Splin, taking his younger brother's arm and slinging it over his shoulder. Splin murmured his thanks to Sharq, to which Sharq smiled.
"No problem bro. Ari, you coming?" Sharq asked eagerly.
Ari blinked, standing up. "Sure."
"Alright, let's go gang!" Sharq said, walking away.
"Since when were we a 'gang'?" Splin asked with a smirk.
"I dunno!" Sharq said, chuckling.
Ari began following the two younger Inklings outside the base, but not before taking a final glance towards Tai. She waved to Ari, who waved back just before he left via kettle. Changing into an orange squid, Ari hopped up through the kettle grates after Splin and Sharq, who were already well on their way to their home. The three walked across the mostly barren landscape, passing metal platforms and buildings. All three were just about to leave Octo Valley, until they came across one final obstacle.
"Ahoy lads!" Cap'n Cuttlefish greeted the three.
Standing above the manhole cover leading to Inkopolis, all of them froze. They spun around carefully, all with blank faces. Standing next to a scrap metal shack was Cap'n Cuttlefish, an elderly Inkling with a magnificent beard and a raggy shirt decorated with medals.
"..." All three were silent.
"Agent A, Agent B, mind tellin' me who the newbie is?" Cap'n asked.
Splin and Sharq blinked, looking over to Ari.
"He's…" Splin stopped, attempting to think of something.
"Agent C!" Sharq declared, surprising everybody.
"...Agent C, eh?" Cap'n asked, staring him down. "Where'd you get that Octoshot from, whippersnapper?"
Ari looked around, then cleared his throat, adopting a heroic pose that would probably involve a scarf flowing in the wind if it were available. "Ahem, yes sir! Agent C here, we just got back from eliminating a rogue Great Octoweapon with little casualties, the Octolings equipped me with an Octoshot to defeat the Octoweapon, and, being the gentleman I was, did just that with the help of these two! Quite the amazing team if I do say so myself!"
Cap'n blinked, narrowing his eyes. The three began sweating nervously. Then Cap'n smiled.
"Alrighty, nice work Agent C! Agent A and B, good work, I'd invite you in for some crabby cakes-"
"Nah, no, it's fine!" All three piped up, confusing Cuttlefish.
"Sorry Cap'n, we have to go, we have a...Turf War appointment?" Sharq thought, sending Splin and Ari deadpanning straight into the ground.
Cap'n Cuttlefish grinned. "Really? New-fangled regulations keep popping up, didn't know you had to go to appointments anymore. Well, I won't take up your time, get out there and kick some tentacles you three!"
"We'll be sure to, thanks Cap'n." Splin said, hopping through the manhole, quickly gesturing for the others to follow him.
Falling through the pipe, the three landed back outside in Inkopolis, where the light was already beginning to fade, making way for the night sky. Blinking in an attempt to get used to the light, Splin, Sharq, and Ari made their way out of the manhole.
"Huh…" Splin muttered, looking around.
Already, the Inklings appeared to be making their way out of the plaza. Shopkeepers in the Booyah Base watched them go, tiredly waving. The Squid Sisters left their studio, walking and talking about how the day went, Spyke watching the plaza population disperse.
"Well rivals, I have to thank you for that extremely enriching experience!" Ari declared, jumping out of the manhole. "You have my gratitude for showing me around Octo Valley, and meeting quite the rose." Ari lowered his voice at the last part.
"You aren't going to tell anyone, right?" Splin said.
Ari smirked. "Of course not! Wouldn't dare wish harm upon them."
Sharq smiled. "See Splin? Nothing to worry about."
Splin nodded. "Thanks Ari."
"No problem, Splin." Ari said, walking away.
Splin blinked. "You called me by my actual name."
"Hmm?" Ari hummed, looking back at the manhole.
"Nothing." Splin said.
Ari smirked. "Until we meet again, rivals!"
Ari ran off, exiting the plaza. Splin and Sharq left the manhole, doing the same, walking away from the plaza as the dusk began settling in.
"What do you feel like eating Sharq?" Splin asked.
"Hot dogs, man." Sharq said. "Maybe we could have a few marshmallows for dessert?"
Splin laughed, slugging Sharq on the shoulder. "Mr. Splatfest Reference over here, huh?"
Sharq shrugged, looking around at the city buildings. Blinking, suddenly he spotted something in a glass window. Without any second thought, he slammed his face against the window, scanning the insides.
"Hey Splin, check this out!" Sharq called, smothering his face against the glass pane.
Rolling his eyes at his older brother's childlike curiosity, Splin walked over to the window, glancing in. "...A remote airplane?"
Inside was a box with a see-through plastic, where a tiny RC plane complete with a remote control sat inside.
"Yeah, man!" Sharq said.
"...Why are you so interested in the airplane?" Splin asked.
Cameo reasons?
Sharq blinked, looking over at Splin. "It's an airplane man! If we can't fly, this is the next best thing."
Splin stared at Sharq, then sighed. "We can Super Jump, remember?"
"Super Jumping isn't flying." Sharq said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Splin stared at his brother for a while, then back at the toy plane. "You're not leaving until we buy the plane, are you?"
"It's my destiny to buy this plane!" Sharq announced, playfully putting his hands on his hips in a mock stubborn fashion.
"Sharq, come on, that's not how destiny works. If that was even a possibility, who would go so far as to change their fates just to play with something? Knowing you, I'm pretty sure we'd smash the plane into the ground." Splin said.
Somewhere, a white haired youth stopped what he was doing, and stared straight at the sky. Shaking it off, he went back to what he was doing, brandishing a golden sword.
Sharq blinked. Then he rushed inside the shop, ignoring the words of his brother.
"Sharq!" Splin cried out. "Get back here, you're not buying that-"
"Maria, check it out, we bought a plane!" Sharq announced, showing the boxed plane to Maria.
"Cute!" Maria commented, tapping the box.
"Darn it Sharq…" Splin said, facepalming.
AN: My Path is Clear!: Howdy everybody! So, a totally unrelated and pretty stupid update, still haven't found my lost copy of Majora's Mask 3D. Anyone out there, if you found a copy and are hoarding it, I will come over to your house, and give you a stern talking to. But honestly not in the mood, since I'm getting hyped for FE: Fates. Apologies if this update came a little later than usual, I'm trying to juggle a couple extra stories, get quests and contracts done, and all the like, needless to say, it's tough trying to slack off on all these things at once. :3
Aside from that, how 'bout we talk reviews? Thanks write n wrong and RMVHXtreme for reviewing! Glad you enjoyed the hilarity write n wrong, really gives me motivation. RMVHXtreme, you're right, after looking over the Tai chapters, it does make a little less sense for her to narrate, considering she's more of the action centered gals. I'll make sure to make it more third person whenever using Tai, I feel like that'll work better.
Thanks again everybody, this is ThePizzaLovingTurtle, I really need to save up money this year!