Splatoon: The Brothers and the Others

Sharq-Infested Waters Ahoy, Part 2

Splin groaned in his slumber, shivering rapidly in the sheets. While Ann-Gel paced back and forth on the floor, worrying over the current state of the young brother, Splin was off in dreamland, having a jolly good time sitting in a white space, doing absolutely nothing. He sighed, sitting boredly on the ground.

"Well isn't this nice." Splin thought to himself.

I know, right? Very spacious.

Splin blinked, staring up in the air. "What? Voice?"

Hello sleepyhead.

"...What are you doing in my… Dream? Oh, wait." Splin muttered, staring at the ground. "I get it. You know, I expected heaven to look a lot more cloudy."

Nah, cool your tentacles gloomy squid. You're still alive. Just asleep.

Splin frowned. "Well then what about that… Phenomenon then?"

You tell me.

"You know, the flashing lights and disorientation." Splin attempted to explain.

Have you tried blowing into the cartridge or turning it on and off again?

Splin smirked, leaning on what appeared to be nothing but air. "Good, how helpful, next you're probably going to tell me to clean the disc or reset the router."

Pretty much.

"So, what, is this one of those things I have to figure out myself, or…?" Splin asked.

Hit the nail on the head. Where's the fun in spoiling it all?

"Maybe the fun comes in not getting injured trying." Splin spoke up.

Maybe. Enjoy your sleep Splin.

Splin narrowed his eyes. With a shrug, Splin laid down on the white floor, relaxing in the realm of nothingness.

Maria sat at a large long wooden table, large plates filled with biscuits and butter as well as utensils to the side decked the table, crew members of the vessel happily digging in, Sharq sitting at the head of the table in a grand throne. Maria was seated next to him, as was Xarius, his cap respectfully put to the side, letting two red tentacles flow down his back.

"Mm? What's wrong Maria? Aren'tcha going to eat?" Sharq asked between mouthfuls of buttery biscuits.

Maria stared down at her plate. "...Maybe later."

"What's the matter? I can try and see if there's any other food." Sharq began, descending from the throne.

"No, it's fine… I'm just thinking." Maria muttered.

"Oh, okay! Splin does that all the time. Just stares at the floor." Sharq explained. "Hmm. Hey, Xarius?"

At Sharq's left, Xarius blinked, glancing towards Sharq. "Yeah?"

"Why'd you suddenly decide I would be captain? It's cool, but why?" Sharq asked innocently, the parrot resting on his hat giving him another odd look.

Xarius blinked, staring away at the wooden boards of the floor.

"Why does everyone do that when they're thinking?" Sharq whispered to the parrot.

The parrot gave a shrug with its scarlet wings, resting on Sharq's hat tiredly.

"Oy, if she tries anything, make sure to silence 'er for good." Xarius muttered. "She's already proven her worth. No need to attempt to try capturing her anymore."

In the pharmacy, the pirate goons made sure to bag Sharq, the blue squid squirming in the sack cloth bag they had captured him in. The woman running the register seemed to shrink under the fierce gaze of the pirates. Xarius walked over to the register, then reached at his side. In the blink of an eye, an Inkbrush fashioned to look like a cutlass, finely brushed down with a sharp, gooey edge, slashed at the cash register. The register slid apart in pieces, leaving a mere handful of coins.

Xarius growled. "This still ain't enough to settle our debts. Search the woman's pockets. No funny business-" Xarius glared at the other pirate Inklings, whom tentacles began shivering slightly. "Especially from you."

With a nod, the pirates began advancing on the poor woman quickly, the orange Inkling woman backing away in fright. Suddenly a spitting sound could be heard. Turning around, they noticed a patch of cloth missing from the bag Sharq was wrapped in. Swift footsteps blew past Xarius, and the surprised shouts of his crew alerted him. Staring at the side, Xarius noticed Sharq tackling the others, knocking them to the floor. With a roll of the eyes, Xarius simply took his Inkbrush and flicked it forward, ink flowing onto the ground with the same motion of his wrist. Like water, the reddish ink flowed onto the floor, under Sharq's feet, causing him to slip. With a thud, Sharq groaned, then met the Inkbrush head on, the tip of the brush pointed dangerously close to his face.

"...You had us going for a moment there, squid." Xarius smirked. "I'm feelin' a little generous today. I'll grant you the privilege of telling me yer name 'fore I chop you into bits."

Sharq frowned. "My name's Sharq, and I'm not letting you keep me from achieving my mission!"

Xarius laughed. "'Mission', eh? Rather noble of you. Fruitless, but noble. Take a look around, Sharq. See the ink?"

Sharq blinked, staring at the floor. Red ink fizzled dangerously. Xarius raised his Inkbrush, the ink raising up, forming into deadly spires of scarlet, poking at Sharq's clothing.

"A mere point towards the ceiling is all I need to off you." Xarius muttered. "It's been nice knowing you."

"Whoa, how are you-" Sharq's eyes widened.

As soon as Xarius raised his sword skywards, Sharq switched to a squid, grasping onto one of the spires. They rose into the sky with a fierce speed, piercing the ceiling. Snarling, Xarius lowered his sword and slashed horizontally, cutting through the ink spires with ease, Sharq hopping off. Sharq made his way towards the door, but was stopped by one of the grunts, who pointed their flintlock ink pistols towards Sharq menacingly. Sharq simply slammed into one of them, taking their pistol in the process, then switched to a squid and headbutt the other. Sharq switched back to Inkling form, aiming the pistol at Xarius angrily.

"Hey now!" Sharq shouted. "Take another step and I'll shoot you in the face!"

Xarius rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. That pistol is hooked up to their ink supply, which is absolutely harmless-"

Xarius barely intercepted the blue bullet with his Inkbrush before it was shot at his face almost cleanly. With wide eyes, Xarius stared at Sharq curiously. Sharq was sweating bullets, with a sort of determined yet terrified stare in his eyes.

"How'd you…" Xarius stammered, staring at Sharq.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that the pistol's harness was attached to Sharq, who was panting heavily. "I'm not going to let you stop me from helping my brother out with his flu!"

Xarius muttered something indiscernible, lowering his Inkbrush. "...Amazing reflexes. What'dyou say your name was again?"

Sharq blinked, letting the pistol fall to the ground. "Uh, Sharq? It was just, I dunno-'

Xarius smirked. "Sharq… What would you say to going on a bit of a treasure hunt?"

"Right now? Aren't we going to fight or something?" Sharq asked curiously.

Xarius sighed, sheathing his Inkbrush at his side in a sheath attached to his belt. "Nah. Don't want a murder on my conscience right now. Besides, I think I might have a task you can do for me. I'll even pay you."

Sharq frowned. "Um, no thanks. I'll just be buying my brother's medicine-"

Xarius smirked. "Boy, with the rewards we'll reap you'll be able to afford a whole hospital with the cash."

Sharq blinked, staring at Xarius incredulously. "Really?!"

"You got guts kid. It'd be a cryin' shame to spill them all over the floor." Xarius grinned, "Shall we?"

Sharq stared at the fallen, groaning heaps of Inkling on the floor. "What about-"

Xarius chuckled. "They'll be fine, they've face much worse than your tackles. They'll be up in a moment."

Sharq blinked, smiling somewhat. "Well, okay then! Sorry!"

Sharq was responded in turn with multiple shaky groans coming from the polished pharmacy floor. Xarius frowned, beginning to leave through the front door, glancing back at Sharq with an eyebrow arched.

"You coming?" Xarius asked, arching an eyebrow.

Sharq blinked, then nodded gleefully, making his way outside with the older pirate, the door closing with a thud behind them, leaving a bunch of unconscious pirates in a pharmacy with a terrified woman.

"Alright, first things first, I need to authenticate you into the crew, ya can't just go waltzing into the ship like you own the place." Xarius explained, walking along the streets of Inkopolis, Sharq following closely behind.

"A crew AND a ship?" Sharq asked.

"Aye. Look yonder." Xarius muttered, pointing ahead.

Sharq blinked in confusion, turning ahead. His eyes grew in delight, a large wooden pirate ship laid stranded in the middle of the street, cars honking at the maritime vessel irritably. As Sharq stared in admiration, Xarius planted something on Sharq's shoulder. Sharq blinked, turning to his right. A scarlet macaw, short and stout stood on Sharq's shoulder, waving to Sharq.

"Caw! Ca- Ahem, gak!" It coughed, then shook its head, "Sorry 'bout that a cashew nut got stuck in my throat."

"Oh, hi! My name's Sharq." Sharq greeted the parrot cheerfully.

"Ahoy, new captain!" The colorful parrot greeted back.

Sharq tilted his head. "'Captain'?"

Xarius shrugged. "I figured the easiest way to get you on-board was to grant permission to borrow my title, 'til we finish our quest and get the treasure."

"I don't really get it, but as long as there's a parrot on my shoulder, sure!" Sharq smiled, patting the parrot on its head.

"Oy, easy." The parrot scowled, shielding its head with its feathers. "Name's Hueli, by the by. Don't you be callin' me 'parrot' now. And especially don't call me 'Polly' neither, new captain Sharq."

"Hmm. Okay Hueli." Sharq said with a grin. "So, you're pirates? Like, actual, boats in the ocean, rob and pillage people, search for treasure type of pirates?"

"Eh, close." Hueli responded.

Xarius scoffed. "We don't 'rob people'."

Sharq instinctively turned back towards the pharmacy, Xarius frowning in response.

"That's the last time I'll ever rob anyone. Besides, we've got something better." Xarius smirked. "You can fight, yeah?"

Sharq shrugged. "I mean, I know how to use a roller and a few other ink guns, if that's what you mean."

"Perfect." Xarius grinned. "Ya see, we need a bit of assistance on something."

Xarius began heading towards the ship, Sharq following. The two Inklings, and parrot, nonchalantly made their way through the crowded line of cars towards the wooden vessel, drivers shouting in indignation as they did so. Xarius merely rolled his eyes at the cars, paused, reached for his scabbard, and released his Inkbrush, which gleamed menacingly in the air. Immediately, most of the traffic's racket died down, some Inklings huddling in the cars in fear. Xarius smirked, sheathing his Inkbrush again, resuming his walk, Sharq following behind, giving apologetic glances towards the drivers.

"Feh. Wealthy squids think they own the roads." Xarius spat. "Alright, 'Captain', the ship's up ahead. Just let me do the talking."

Xarius walked over towards the ship's bottom, gave two quick knocks on the hollow wood, and waited, Sharq staring in awe.

"Hey, you might wanna step to the side there." Xarius informed Sharq cautiously.

"Hmm?" Sharq muttered, before a large wooden plank smacked into the ground next to him. "Wah!"

Sharq took a step back in shock, Xarius shaking his head with a chuckle. "Guess you didn't need to after all. C'mon."

"Er, yes sir!" Sharq saluted, the parrot on his shoulder attempting to retain balance.

Turning around, Xarius smirked. "'Sir'? You're the one who's supposed to command all the respect, Captain. Might wanna start acting like it"

Xarius began ascending the plank, Sharq staring up at the parrot.

"I still don't get it." Sharq told the parrot.

The parrot shrugged.

Xarius frowned, furrowing his brow. "Gah, no, what am I thinking! This impulse of mine is going to get this squid krilled! I just gotta keep my cool. He HAS to be the one to unlock the doors. He has to…"

"Has to." Xarius murmured.

"What's up Xarius?" Sharq asked, sitting next to him.

"Nngh!" Xarius flinched, backing off of the bench that acted as the table's chairs. "Err, apologies Captain."

"You still haven't answered my question!" Sharq frowned.

"What was that?" Xarius reiterated, taking up a seat again.

"Why am the captain again? It's cool that I get a parrot that sits on my head-" Sharq began.

"Hey." Hueli waved from his comfortable Inkling roost.

"But you still haven't really told me." Sharq frowned.

Xarius scowled, shutting his eyes. He sighed, reopening them in an instant. "Alright, fine. Sharq, I chose you to be captain for a very specific reason. Ya see, the treasure we're going after isn't just gold and riches."

Sharq tilted his head. "Really?"

"Nah. It's something far greater." Xarius told Sharq, staring at the ceiling. "Ya see, you ain't just captain 'cause I want to shrug off my duties. No. ...It has to do with a curse."

Sharq blinked. Xarius frowned, believing that he was not going to believe him in the slightest. Maria frowned at the side.

Maria sighed. "Xarius, that just sounds-"

"A curse?! Whoa! Wait, is Hueli cursed?! Is that why you gave him to me?!" Sharq gasped in fright.

Hueli scowled. "Oy! I'm a clean bird here!"

Xarius smirked. "No, no, it's nothing like that… The treasure is tricky. There's uh… How should I put this… This barrier that protects it from the outside."

"A barrier?" Sharq asked.

"Aye. This barrier is a bit of a special one… It peers straight into your own hearts. Sees something it don't like?" Xarius made a shoving movement with his hand.

"Psycho Man- I mean," Sharq shook his head, "So, this barrier stops you because you were… The captain?"

Xarius sighed. "Something like that. As the uh, former head of the ship, the barrier generally seeked out me and pushed the ship back."

"Full speed ahead!" Xarius cried out on the mast of the ship, pointing his Inkbrush towards a small island.

As the sails took on wind and sped up, the wood vessel began making its way over to the island. As soon as they tried to cross the waters towards the island, Xarius slammed into an invisible wall, stumbling backwards.

"Captain!" His crewmates gasped.

Xarius growled, attempting to slash through the air with his Inkbrush. The barrier bended the brush like a toothpick, then shot it back, knocking Xarius down to the wooden floor with a groan.

Xarius frowned. "Wasn't pleasant."

"Oh, okay. So I just have to stand around being the captain then? Sounds great!" Sharq smiled.

Xarius grinned. "Ya don't seem too concerned about the consequences there."

Sharq took a righteous pose, pumping his fist in the air. "Anything to help my brother! If what you told me is true, then I'll be able to help him out in anyway I can!"

Xarius blinked, laying one hand on the side of his cheek, brushing over his scar. "Noble goal of you."

"Oh! Speaking of which, Maria, how's Splin doing?" Sharq asked.

Maria looked up from her plate, smiling softly. "He's fine last I checked Sharq. I told Ann-Gel to watch over him before I left."

"Alright. Thanks Maria." Sharq grinned, "I'm going to go outside and look at the sea!"

Sharq got up out of his seat, Hueli sticking to his cap like glue. Maria grinned as she watched Sharq hop up out of the brig carelessly, running up the stairs to the awaiting sunlight out on deck. She turned to Xarius.

"Hey, I'd like to ask a question." Maria told Xarius.

"Eh? What'll that be?" Xarius asked.

"How exactly does this ship run on land?" Maria asked, Xarius frowning.

"Oy, it's magic of course." Xarius told her plainly, sitting back in his seat.

Maria narrowed her eyes, then sighed. "You don't know how it works either, do you?"

"Can't complain. Got it as a gift." Xarius muttered.

"Hmm." Maria hummed, looking around. "Well, despite its oddities, it's quaint."

Xarius smirked. "Thanks Miss Maria. 'Spose the captain's talk of you wasn't just sheer gushing, you seem polite and fair."

Maria smirked as well. "Careful." She lifted her hand, a ring gleaming on her finger. "It's Mrs. Altezio to you."

"Oy oy, don't get the wrong idea either. I'm spoken for, you best keep to yourself." Xarius laughed.

The two smiled at each other in good humor. Then they felt an impact, the ship wobbling as a result.

"Eh? Hey, quit messin' around out there." Xarius called out.

"Hey, uh, Xarius? I think we have a pretty big PROBLEM!" Sharq yelped the last part out, the sounds of crashing and screaming coming from above.

Maria and Xarius blinked. Reaching at her back, Maria grasped her Splatterscope, Xarius unsheathing his Inkbrush.

"...A sword?" Maria tilted her head.

Xarius nodded. "Beauty, ain't she? Named her myself. 'Wanderlust'."

Maria chuckled. "Wow, naming a blade? Aren't you a bit old for that?"

Xarius frowned. "Hey, a gift's a gift, besides, naming it's fun."

"Sure. Hope you know how to use it." Maria chuckled, running up.

Xarius rolled his eyes, dashing off after her. "Oh, what would you know about a proper melee weapon?!"

As the two departed from the hollow hull of the brig, they were met with the azure color of the sky brightening into view. Their view was spoiled, however, by an unforeseen obstacle.

"Hey guys! Can you give me a hand? I don't think this kraken's very happy." Sharq shouted, beating back a large green tentacle with a wooden barrel.

The two older Inklings blinked. True to Sharq's word, the old weathered face of a kraken squid had emerged from the water, the ship having hit the ocean long after they had departed into the mess hall. It screeched, a shrill noise released from its beak. Maria and Xarius aimed their weapons fearlessly at the tentacles, Maria giving Xarius a quick glance.

"...As if I didn't already have enough swordsmen in my life. Goodness me." Maria sighed to herself, before she and Xarius sprinted into the fray, weapons at the ready.

AN: With part two out of the way, I'm setting this arc aside to catch up on matters over at Inkopolis involving a certain pair of cephalopods. Sorry! But if you don't like this arc, you're welcome, I guess!

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Huh, is it just me or are the reviews on the site really strange as of late? I'm not saying, "b0ss review more pls" I mean, some reviews aren't showing up after April 12 for some reason, even when it says they are. Odd. Well, hopefully the fix that soon, thanks for reading, this is ThePizzaLovingTurtle, off to work on chapters and such.