Splatoon: The Brothers and the Others

Miscommunication

A pile of books turned upside down, their pages exposed to the air laid by Splin, who was currently slamming a wrench on a broken satellite of sorts, each and every one of the covers relating to that of "repair". Similar to a Squid Beakon in appearance, except wrecked beyond recognition at this point, the younger Inkling tried time and time again, delivering a beatdown using his tool, the metal colliding against each other. After a while, Splin promptly tossed the wrench on the ground, sighing.

A trapdoor leading from the roof to the house lifted up, and up popped Maria, who was rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Splin, what are you doing?"

Startled, Splin spun around, sighing in response to spying the older squid. "Sorry, sorry, I'm just trying to fix this."

Maria glanced at the destroyed beacon that laid in shambles on the roof. She frowned, glancing at the sizable dents in the machine and the wrench that laid at Splin's feet.

"I don't think you're going to get anywhere by hitting it." Maria smirked, placing a hand on her hips.

The younger squid sighed, kicking away the wrench. "Yeah. Maybe I should try to find a construction booklet or something."

Maria smiled and shrugged at the little brother's efforts. "Well, if you need any help, you know where to find me."

With that being said, Maria retreated into the house, the trapdoor slamming shut behind her as Splin turned towards the wrecked Beakon. He realized that life was not a video game, except that it was and he did, which made that moral pretty worthless in hindsight. Humming, he played with the tentacles on his head, then began working on the shabby project once more, taking up the wrench, fixing dents and checking the screws.

"...Have you attempted resetting this device?"

Splin bit his lip. "I think it's far beyond resetting, Maria."

"I beg your pardon. My name is Ityl."

The Inkling ruffled his headphones for a moment, only pausing when he realized he did not recognize the voice. Turning around, he stepped back in fright, accidentally pushing the Beakon, almost shoving it over the railing onto the grass. The unexpected visitor, a tall female Inkling with cyan tentacles in an equally as long robe took a step forward, and, stopped the machine from falling.

"..." Splin stared at the new visitor.

The Inkling's tentacles were outstretched, far beyond the normal height that reached down to the waist, no, her tentacles looped around the beacon multiple times, constricting it, keeping all of the pieces together. Hoisting it up in the air, she set it down gently back on the roof, staring at it with her emerald eyes.

"Thank goodness." She spoke in a soft voice, making sure it would not tip over, "Certainly would be a hassle fixing it more than already needed."

All of a sudden, she giggled in an equally soft voice as if she were trying to avoid getting scolded in a library, laughing at her own miniature quip. Splin blinked, then glanced down at her tentacles. They draped over the roof together, two cyan lines dropping over the side of the house, which would certainly be a decoration to boast had it not been connected to a living, breathing, host.

She paused, staring at Splin in a manner that made it seem as if she were sad. "I'm sorry, was that in poor taste?"

"...No?" Splin blinked, staring at her with an equally odd look, "Um, sorry, who are you?"

"Ah, apologies. My voice might not have adjusted to the atmospheric conditions of the planet yet. Either that or I need more practice. " She spoke, Splin taking note of her quiet, serene nature, "My name is Ityl, pleased to make your acquaintance, Splin."

"Oh." Splin blinked, nodding quickly, sticking his hand out to shake, "Nice to meet you. How did you know-"

At the sight of Splin's open palm, Ityl hesitated, her robe blowing in the wind slightly.

"Oh dear oh dear oh dear." She squeaked, "I didn't realize- I should've brought a gift? Oh dear me, the Inkling traditions have changed since I've been gone."

Hastily, Ityl reached at the middle of her robe, where its design was split, presumably for wearing and removing. Thankfully, she wore a regular white shirt underneath, though the main thing on Splin's mind was confusion. And lot's of it.

"Uh." Splin blinked.

"...Did I do something wrong?" Ityl asked, not in a fearful way, almost probing, wanting to know exactly what she did wrong, how she should have done it, and why.

"...I just wanted a handshake." Splin deadpanned at her bizarre attitude.

Blinking, she blushed, retrieving her plain robe, colors to match her tentacles, buttoning up once more, nodding.

"Right, erm, so the mannerisms- It hasn't changed much, then. Apologies, I don't get much contact up in space." Ityl spoke up.

"...Space?" Splin's eyes narrowed.

"Space." Ityl nodded in affirmation.

The wind blew past, dragging Ityl's long tentacles up into the air, blowing past her face, shrouding it in a mystery approximately four inches (10.16 centimeters if you prefer) across.

"I… Should feel inclined to disbelieve you." Splin muttered.

The other Inkling stared at the floor, almost ignoring the gaping hole, frowning. "I wouldn't blame you-"

"But," Splin began, "Considering we are both squid humanoids, discussed how to fix a highly complicated beacon device, and all of the other things I've seen in life, I can safely say that this is one of the more believable things I've heard."

"Ah." Ityl blinked, "Is that so? That makes everything significantly less complicated.

"Er, I guess." Splin rubbed the back of his head.

The taller Inkling hummed quietly, then turned towards the sea across the hills. She took in its width, the clouds rolling above it slowly, Ityl finding a solemn solace in the azure expanse of the large body of water and the sky that bordered it. Splin just stood to the side, unsure of how to progress.

"...Would you happen to know any other Inkling with tentacles such as these?" Ityl asked.

Splin glanced at the cyan vines that practically stuck like glue to the house. He could recall Sharq telling him of his adventure with Maria and the lot of pirates that had crashed onto the hills once upon a time and a mention of a man with tentacles that could ensnare the party. Other than that, he had just figured it was a coincidence.

"No." Splin muttered unconsciously.

"Pity. I suppose I'll have to wait until later to divorce him, then." Ityl frowned.

That single statement practically knocked the wind out of the little brother. His eyes were wide, this woman certainly seemed to have an interesting life, and he had hardly asked her a thing. That was what he was inclined to believe...

He needed to clear things up. Clearing his throat, he began, "So, er… Would you happen to have a… Space...ship?"

That sounded increasingly weak as he drawn his words on, feeling rather foolish as he spoke. Ityl smiled at him, turning around, Splin having to hop over her tentacles as they swept the roof.

"Oh! ...Where is it?" He asked, looking around.

"I crash-landed in a set of trees." She admitted plainly.

A sudden explosion rang out in the distance with a flash of light and a plume of smoke. Splin glanced over at another part of the hills. A set of trees were alight, with the silhouette of a metallic rocket falling onto the soft hills with a thud. The irritated, rapid squawking of finches indicated that a nest may have been disturbed, and the flock that flew overhead, chirping with a fury, only hammered in the reality of the situation.

"Look at that." She remarked, "It fell."

Briefly reflecting on how everything in his life that had any sort of abiotic set of traits attributed to it managed to explode as if it were a movie, Splin swallowed a harsh bullet, feeling less than peachy as he saw the smoke.

The squid with bluer shade of blue turned towards Ityl, who was standing quietly. "...So, you crash-landed here because you… Wanted a divorce?"

"Well, yes." Ityl stated simply, "But that was only one of my chores to-do."

"I can't help but feel bad for whoever she eloped with. Though if he managed to make HER angry…" Splin thought, clearing his throat, "One of the chores?"

"Yes. I had received a signal; a signal that of distress coming from this location. I believe I see the distress." She remarked, glancing at the ruined landing indicator. "My vessel automatically gravitated towards it."

Splin looked towards the corner of the roof where the Squid Beakon laid in shambles. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Your beacon served as a perfect way for me to decide how to land. Though I fear it may have been at a bad time." Ityl replied.

He sniffed. The smoke continued to blow past in the background, and he could smell the harsh, burning scent wafting across the air.

Perfect landing.

"...You mean it could've been worse?!" Splin whispered frantically.

Ityl fidgeted behind Splin, constantly making curious glares over at the city of squids in the distance, Inkopolis, looking as grand as ever. The younger Inkling noticed, mostly because he had to leap every single time she twisted her head.

"That city…" Ityl glanced at it strangely, "I do not remember it being so… Expansive."

Splin blinked. Before he could debate whether or not asking her what she meant, he did it anyways, "What do you mean?"

Ityl blinked. "Ah, excuse me. I was left in cryostasis for a few years thanks to a secret project founded by an organization long gone dedicated to preserving the long-arm squid species, ever since I was young I had dreamt of-"

Now, compared to his older brother, Splin felt that he was a better listener most of the time. But he could feel himself drifting off into sleep somehow, the color of the sky switching from a light blue to that more similar towards the deep blue ocean, the sun almost directly above them.

"-they arranged a marriage for me before I had left for space." She frowned, "I hardly even liked Alabaso, too arrogant and possessive."

The chirping of a bird brought Splin back to his senses. Staring upwards, he noticed a collection of straw suspended on top of his headphones. A nest, with a sparrow sitting right in the middle, had been constructed in the time Ityl had been painstakingly recalling her early life. Carefully, Splin set the nest down by his feet, struck with the feeling of déjà vu.

"...Alright." Splin frowned.

"But I digress, all you need to know is that I've returned to this planet, and-" Ityl looked from side to side, gently clenching her abdomen, "I… May or may not feel peckish."

Splin perked up, nodding. He began making his way down towards the house. Lifting up the trapdoor, he stared down into the wooden shack. A slumbering Maria snoozed peacefully, wrapped in the coziness of her bed. To the left of Splin's vision, he could notice Ann-Gel sitting on top of the Tele-Cube, gazing out the window as the cube slept, blips and beeps blinking every now and then.

While Splin honestly had no clue what type of misadventures Sharq had dragged Maria into, he was purely convinced that it was hardly a wonderful vacation. If Ityl happened to be related to this so called "long tentacled hermit… guy" that Sharq mentioned, then the younger squid could only foresee a rapid jab as the welcome for the bizarre visitor. The fact that said visitor was also presumably hungry after Cod knows how long in space- If what she was saying was true, only made things worse. The little brother began to formulate ideas, attempting to figure out if he could make it down there and whip something up without the others gawking at Ityl- Or taking drastic measures.

"Mmm." Splin heard crunching coming from behind him.

Spinning around, Splin could only stare as the remnants of a sandwich was finished, Ityl wiping her mouth with a collection of napkins. Her tentacles, having weaved past Splin while he was pondering, were now inside of the house. Suspended right next to Maria. Oh dear.

"You have…" Ityl swallowed, a satisfied look on her face. "Quite the food here. It's admittedly better than the packages of frozen food I had in space. Now then, I hope you don't mind-"

Ityl proceeded to leave the premises. She hopped off the side of the roof onto the hills, dragging her tentacles after her. Splin stopped and stared, hesitantly shooting a glance towards the door. Everyone else was still highly inactive. For the life of him, Splin had decided that it would be best if he stayed and watched over her- In case of something catastrophic happening, and probably to keep this "foreigner" from stumbling about. Or take more sandwiches without anyone looking. Starting for the door, he made haste, dashing down the stairs and across the floor.

"Whoa, Splin, what's up?" Ann-Gel piped up, glancing over at Splin.

Splin made a frantic "shush", pausing by the kitchen table, glancing over at Maria. Ann-Gel turned, noticed her, and nodded.

"Did you fix the thing?" The amiibo whispered curiously.

"Uh, no." Splin spoke up, making constant glances towards the hills outside. "I'm… Getting more parts for it."

"Ah, alright!" Ann-Gel smiled, "See you later then!"

With that said, Splin nodded, and resumed his pace, nearly tackling the door in an attempt to open it. Using the door handle like he was supposed to, he made it outside, the warmth of the summer sun rays beaming down, light reflecting off with a blue sheen off of his tentacles. Circling around the house, he found, and heard, the tentacles slithering around to catch up with her as well. Splin followed them, eventually finding Ityl at the end.

"Er, wait, where are you going?" Splin asked.

"Hmm? Ah." She turned around.

Switching into a squid, he simply slid over her own tentacles, switching back this time. He mentally made a note of the movement and his tactic for avoiding it.

"I apologize, but I need to repair my ship. To do that, I need to purchase new parts."

"What a coincidence." Splin reflected.

"Perhaps I may have reentered the atmosphere too early." Ityl commented, glancing up at the sky, pursing her lips as though the color may have been purple.

"...O...kay." Splin blinked, "Uh, good luck?"

"Now then…" Ityl hummed, "Where could I find a nuclear reactor core?"

"Permission to tag along."

Had Inkopolis been in need of a clean-up, they would immediately know who to call, and it had nothing to do with vacuum wielding men. Ityl's stride proved surprisingly handy, leaving a tidy trail behind her as her tentacles practically swept the streets clean. Every so often, Splin would carry her tentacles in a knot as they crossed streets for fear of a car passing by, severing the squid limbs. As the two of them walked, Splin dutifully carrying around the odd woman's "hair", she would stop and stare at certain stores and objects they would pass by. Inspecting them in every aspect of the word as if she were taking inventory of them all, she hummed, sometimes picking up random coins strewn about the sidewalk.

Eventually, Splin's curiosity had risen once more. Fearing yet another conversation that would practically lead to nowhere fast, he cleared his throat, attracting Ityl's attention.

"Sorry, I don't wish to bother you too much, but why are you so intent on returning to space? Isn't it uninteresting up there?" The bluer Inkling asked, finding himself fiddling with her tentacles. He stopped, pressing the tentacles together into a neat pile.

"...It has a tendency to be uneventful, yes." She admitted, hardly minding Splin's fumbling.

"Then why do you want to leave this planet so badly? It may not be my place to ask-"

A tangent ensued. "Splin, weren't you listening? My kind had been endangered for a long period of time, our place in society was simply less and less of an impact as it was years before, I remember when-"

Ityl paused, turning to face Splin behind her. Already she could notice a hummingbird sitting on Splin's head, staring back at her, as did the young Bate brother, his irises already shrinking considerably.

"...Apologies. I will keep this simple: I was put in that ship to stay alive." Ityl spoke up.

"Stay alive? What was so catastrophic that it needed you being flung into space for? The Great Turf War? That… Flood…?" Splin asked uncertainly, the hummingbird taking leave with a rapid flap of its wings.

Ityl shook her head. "No. From that."

Her tentacles unraveled quickly, prompting Splin to let go in an instant. They wrapped into a shape, an arrow of sorts, and pointed skywards. Splin blinked, sheltering his eyes as he looked towards the sky, the sunlight proving somewhat of a deterrent.

"..." Splin frowned, narrowing his eyes.

That was when he noticed it. Despite being a spec in comparison to the sun, he could see another bright light suspended in the sky. The tentacles stretched out on the floor next to him, the cyan outline blocking the light of the sun.

"Perhaps now you can understand." Ityl spoke up.

"...Understand WHAT? Why do you have to make things so cryptic?! Or so complicated?!" Splin glared towards the sky.

The spec appeared to grow ever slightly. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the only other object hovering above was the sun.

"Ityl, I'm sorry, but I can't understand." Splin sighed.

"...I…apologize. I don't seem to be concise enough. I can remember quite a bit, but…" Ityl bit her lip. "That. Is a meteorite."

"Oh." Splin blinked.

Her appendages unraveled once more. "Indeed. That happens to be what my people discovered so many years ago."

"...It's dangerous, then?" Splin asked.

"They made a prediction," Ityl spoke up, a few passerby taking note of her extraordinary tentacles as she spoke, "That one day this planet would vanish. Paranoia clouded their minds-"

"So they sent you into space to…" Splin frowned.

"Essentially preserve the species, yes." Ityl nodded.

At this point, Splin was finally beginning to doubt Ityl's story through and through. It seemed rather convoluted and somewhat odd for a ship to be triggered by a beacon only for it to crash. Sure, he could realize that space shuttles exist. Still, the glowing dot in the sky could just be another trick of lighting or something that he had imagined. ...Was it? Was he really doubting her, or was he just losing sanity over this whole situation?

"..." Splin glanced at the ground, with nothing else to say.

He stared at the sidewalk for a while. Eventually, the murmurs and shouts of others got his attention. Looking up, he noticed a couple other Inklings and sea life staring and pointing towards the sky. Splin glanced skywards once more. The glint he noticed had grew. It was getting closer. And closer. Each minute it appeared to home in, the mass increasing and the light becoming ever brighter. Panic arose.

"Another mech?!"

"I thought we were finished with those 'attacks'!"

"I knew I should've moved out when I had the chance!"

The crowd grew in volume, discussing with a fervor. Splin could hear the dragging sound, finding Ityl walking off. She could be right. Or she could be insane. But if there was one thing that he knew, it was that insane was practically on par nowadays. That and the space shuttle. Quickly, he ran to catch up with her, following her tentacles as they trailed through Inkopolis. Eventually, he found himself in a familiar location: Inkopolis Plaza.

"Where…?"

Splin walked through the plaza. Where were the tentacles leading him? The resounding clanging noise quickly answered his question. A manhole cover rattled over by a vending machine. Falling through were the sky colored tendrils that belonged to none other than the odd woman Splin had met from earlier. He gulped. This could only end so well. How she managed to find the Octarians was confusing enough. There was something else awry on earth.

The answers would be a pain to discover, though.

Splin burst through the manhole cover quickly enough. Landing on the other side, ignoring the snoring captain suspended on a raggedy blue couch, he saw Ityl walking off in the distance. He gave chase, which proved to end quickly enough when she noticed him. Hopping over the tentacles, he stopped in front of her, panting.

"Splin?" Ityl spoke up.

"F-First of all, how do you know my name? What's happening? Who's Alabaso?! Why would being sent into SPACE alone be beneficial to a whole race of squids?! I- I can't understand ANY of this! And I've seen a lot!" Splin cried out.

"Splin-"

"Did you overhear my name earlier? Are you playing with me?!" Splin demanded, stepping forward.

"Splin, listen-"

"Now you're suggesting that a meteorite is on a collision course for earth?! No! It's- I can't- There's no way you could be telling the truth!" Splin shouted.

For a moment, all was silent. Ityl stood still, her tentacles still draped over on the ground, Splin breathing heavily. She said nothing, and just stared at the ground.

"...Even if you were telling the truth, there is no way you can visit the OCTARIANS. They won't trust you- Not for spare parts, not for help, nothing." Splin sighed.

The older Inkling could only stare at the younger one. He whimpered, wiping his eyes.

"...Unless I come with you." Splin spoke up, shocking Ityl. It was as if Splin had lost it. "...So I can finally figure this out. If there is a meteorite. If I'm not just going insane again."

The answer was silence. Splin said no more, and Ityl was too surprised to respond. He was losing it, she was perfectly calm. Despite everything Splin had seen, he could feel himself slowly deteriorate.

"...Thank you."

Now she was thanking him. Anytime, he could fall over unconscious at this point.

"...I realize that my story is farfetched. I realize that you may not trust me as much anymore with all of this excitement. But thank you anyways for sticking by me, despite the oddities of it all." She spoke softly.

"..." Nothing from Splin, back to Ityl.

"But you must trust me. There is something heading for us. It is hardly a laughing matter, and it requires some advanced technology. That much I know. That meteorite cannot be repelled without their help. I understand that there is much left to discuss." She responded.

The wind whistled in their pointy Inkling ears.

"But I fear that if we do not act quickly…" She turned towards the sky.

Both Inklings could see. The meteorite had started moving closer and closer towards the planet. The gravity of the situation started setting in quickly. As was the incoming object.

"Okay then. Let's go." Splin turned towards the set of kettle entrances.

Ityl nodded. "After you."

The two of them made for the kettles. A smack sounding off behind Ityl combined with the feeling of something colliding with her tentacles had her cringe.

"Oh dear!" She squeaked.

"...Be careful please." Splin muttered, rubbing his cheek.

"Is this right?"

"Indeed, Mr…?"

"The name's Octavio, lass!" DJ Octavio boomed proudly.

Compared to most of the other meetings Octavio attended, Splin could swear that this was one of the ones of lesser importance to the Octarians. Though considering their busy conditions as of late, he could also make a case that it was of short notice. The only others sitting around the table besides him, Ityl, and Octavio were Chi and Jerry the Octocopter. Though only three-fifths of the company were technically sitting.

"There's a meteorite?!" Jerry exclaimed.

"Indeed. It's taking on speed; it's just a matter of time before it smashes into the earth." Ityl crossed her arms.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?! Where's Ova and Lee?" Octavio shouted.

All of a sudden, cheering burst out. Turning to a door leading into a hall, those seated noticed Chi peeking over through the hall, watching a group of Octarians kept watch. Over a television screen.

"Uh-" Chi began to point out.

"Oh. Er." Octavio wiped the back of his head.

Ityl continued, brushing her tentacles back, which certainly turned heads on its own. Luckily this time, Splin sat adjacent to her, and had the smart solution of having her tentacles laid flat across the floor.

"Well then, Miss Ityl, I can't say I would see what you need from us." DJ Octavio cleared his throat.

"I am… unaware of the current state of affairs between the Octarians and the Inklings above. However, we are in need of some assistance as of late. I've heard that the Octarian race took pride in their technology, is that correct?"

Octavio blinked. The hovering turntable that he stood behind flashed, the speakers behind him blared to life, and the mechanical fists extended out and flexed.

"Alright." Ityl hardly gave it a second glance. "Then I presume you do have defensive weaponry?"

Octavio frowned, sighing. "...Yes. It's a bit… Temperamental, so to speak. It ain't too helpful to be frank."

"May we borrow it?" Ityl asked politely.

"...One moment." Octavio spoke up.

A violet tentacle extended to the turntable and pressed a single button. A screen lifted out of the turntable's set of switches.

"Sure. Why not." Splin sighed, shaking his head.

"How's the Skell looking, ladies?" Octavio asked.

Gunfire. Then the audio cut off completely. The screen retracted into the table, leaving a tangible silence in the air. Chi and Jerry snuck glances at each other. The shadows cast around Octavio's eyes underneath his crown seemed to spread across his face.

"Welp, I think it's safe to say that it's battle ready." Octavio spoke up.

"Really." Chi began sweating.

"Great!" If there was anything less sensible than Octavio in denial, it was Ityl agreeing with him. "We have no time to lose, Splin!"

"Wait, you don't even know- Gah." Splin groaned, running after her.

The Octarians watched the Inklings leave for the destruction inflicting mech. Chi and Jerry continued their stagnant stay at the table, watching as they left.

"Well then, I think I might have to go check this so-called 'meteorite' just in case she decided to fib." Octavio told them all, adjusting his nonexistent belt.

"Wait, Octavio! What about- You're just going to let them visit the Skell alone?" Jerry asked.

As Octavio started to hover away, he turned back for a brief moment, smirking. "If you're so worried, why don't you look over the Inklings, huh?"

With a chuckle, Octavio left the Octarian foot troops alone as he ascended into the light of day. Chi and Jerry glanced at each other, then towards the hall they had taken.

"Uh. Any chance you'd be willing to go get Tai or Auss…?" Jerry grinned sheepishly.

"What?! Come on, you know I'm not going down there! What do you think, I'm nuts?!" Chi asked in an appalled manner.

"Then… that means…" The Octocopter's face darkened.

Chi gulped, glancing over towards the hall. "We're going in."

As harmless as it looked, the foreboding nature of the metallic walls were anything but friendly anymore. They appeared menacing, the last barrier of civilization before they would drop into the pit of trials, so to speak. As they took a step, they could already feel the burn of the ink running down their backs, the Skell towering over them…

Elsewhere, on an island in the middle of the sea, a host of palm trees serving as a jungle shaded the remnants of a temple. One Inkling, armed with an Inkbrush holstered at his side, his red-stained tentacles glinting underneath his black tricorn. A map held clenched in his hand, he hardly noticed the glint overhead as he made his way through the temple.

Xarius entered the darkness, fully realizing he could end up attacked. The torches lining the walls, providing light, began fading away as he descended deeper and deeper.

"Why have you returned, Xarius? Wish to impart more pain and misery to this man after all he's been through? After you've seen him fall from his perch?" An accusing voice echoed throughout the bricks.

Xarius held the map with a tight grip. "Alabaso."

"My kind has vanished from the earth. The rest of your regular Inkling's pointless conflicts were to blame. Even then, you decided to press the last of them- Who had almost nothing to lose." Alabaso spoke.

"I get it. You used to be up there in power. You just happened to take this-" Xarius raised the map, and waved it around a bit. "From me. Yar, I didn't particularly enjoy that. But I came back because I discovered something a wee bit… alarming."

"Hmm…" The other Inkling's long, dark tentacles wriggled uncomfortably.

"Now, I realize that we had a grudge on each other for a while. I had a map, you extorted it from me, and now I got it back. But I think this… 'doomsday' written here involves both you and I. And a bunch 'a others, now that I think about it." Xarius remarked.

"..." Silence.

"But more to the point. This 'prophecy' business that you're going on about with Inklings meeting their match has yet to come true. Still, even that ain't what I'm here for. You…" Xarius took a step forward. "Have family too, don't you?"

Alabaso flinched.

"Well, if you agree to help me out, I think we can pay her a little visit." Xarius spoke up. "That sound nice… Partner?"

"...Insufferable as always." Alabaso groaned, shaking his head.

"Didn't hear you say no, now." Xarius grinned.

"Why, after all of those horrid transgressions, would I trust you? You don't even know where she is!" His longer tentacles shook with a ferocity.

"Because I'm your only way off th' island." Xarius kept his Inkbrush holstered.

The torches in the background crackled behind them.

"...If you can help me find my wife, I'll assist you in finding HER as well." Alabaso groaned.

"There's my guy." Xarius grinned.

"Shut up." Alabaso spoke up, then began trudging towards the light.

Footsteps echoed as two pairs of feet started off. Eventually, the two came shoulder to shoulder, walking towards the entrance. The sound of the dragging of tentacles followed them, shuffling over the bricks.

"...Hey, have you been wearing perfume or something? You smell alright for once." Xarius smirked.

"I'm pushing you into the sea the first chance I get, you brat." Alabaso frowned.

AN: Exposition, backstories etc. I wanted to make this chapter a bit of a parody of more accomplished stories, then I realized that I might get some flack for that. Then I tried something a bit more original. But then I realized it could get cliché. After a while, I just decided to go with this. I might even write a story explaining the sudden, "Alabaso-Xarius partnership" thing, which I actually have a good idea of.

But who knows how that trainwreck will go? I have to finish this arc first.

Thanks Ultrapyre and write n wrong for reviewing! Ultrapyre, Aussie is a woman of secrets, that's for sure. I had quite a bit of trouble deciding how to continue this story for a while, but this really gets me started on a few potential good ones in my opinion. Write n wrong, that's a great summary! Waste your time playing video games and stuff! Endorsed by Octarians!

Thanks for reading through this, this is ThePizzaLovingTurtle, off to really get started on a writing spree, see you!