Chapter Seven:

The Fallen Splatoon Star

'How times have changed, so much time has flown.

'Now we walk alone. Walking alone on Sorrow Road.

'Things were different then, we were all happy.

'We walked with our friends, full of hope that the fun never ends.

'I remember, walking home a champion.

'We were the best on the field, claiming victory with the skills we would wield.

'And in the end, we would hold high with a victorious cry.

'Now it's over. The fun has come to an end and times are changing.

''We walk alone, on Sorrow Road, and the happy times have flown.

'Tomorrow may be better, we may try again, but it perhaps it's time to let go.

'We walk alone on Sorrow Road, knowing that nothing will last forever.

'Sorrow Road, time has flown, and we walk home.

Alone.'

The sun cast an orange glow over 135 Inkwell Road in the hour of twilight, and a gentle early evening air swept through the streets as birds tweeted. He walked alone, looking down, and never bothering to look ahead, nor did Oneshot Wren ever look back while the memory swept through his mind.

He thought little of what tomorrow would bring, aware that his defeat was the start of the sorrow. Once, he looked ahead, full of hope, carrying the shining gold of victory in his hand, that was bestowed upon him. The memory of a past victory flashed bright in his mind, the memory of when he received the cup after defeating the Inkmo-Hawk team:

With a firm hand gripping the hilt of the cup, Wren raised it high, a bright smile on his face as Inklings around him cheered. A few journalists called him a symbol of hope for struggling squids across Inkopolis, and the squid in the straw hat smiled approvingly, putting his hands together for the great Oneshot Wren.

Next to him, Midne-Mohawk stood with her back turned to Wren, her arms crossed, and she fumed in a bitter manner. Her team stood on the sidelines, discussing what to do in light of their loss. Cameras flashed once more, and Wren flashed a victory sign, basking in the hour of his victory.

Wren looked up and looked around the street, seeing Jellyfish playing in the park, and Inkling kids laughing as they played pretend Turf Wars with their fake Splattershots. One elderly Inkling waved to Wren, and Wren lifted his hand a little, and shot a weak smile.

The defeated Turf player saw his mansion a few blocks away. There weren't that many cars near it like there used to be, but at least there were people visiting. His mind flashed back to the day he'd beaten Captain Squid Star, remembering when his wife waited on the porch to greet him with a kiss, and then they partied away in the living room.

Nothing lasted forever, and he knew, it would likely be the last party that Wren would host in that house. It would be hard for him and his wife to see their friends, especially after what had happened this Splatfest season, and he wouldn't forget how he was the one who bestowed the title of champion to Inkura as Splatfest was ending;

A red-haired Inkling girl flashed Inkura a thumbs up, and many other Inklings throughout the Plaza chanted her name as well as the name of her team. A few more squids held up green bean signs, and an Octoling chowed down on some beans from a plate that was ready for him.

Wren held the cup in one hand, and a microphone in the other, handed to him by Callie. He announced his retirement, his final retirement, and told everyone to still give potatoes a chance. And he would go on to tell the many kids in the area they had a Splatfest champion in them, telling them to never give up and never fear the chance to take their shot.

He tried to downplay it, but his mood was somber, and some people knew it. Wren's wife knew it, even Sophia knew it. Wren almost hesitated, but he had to finish passing the honor of champion to his successor.

"The Splatfest cup goes out to an incredible player who did what no one could do, who gave people a chance at eating beans..." Wren said into the microphone, "And that player is Inkura..."

He looked at the cup one last time, feeling lament and great loss. He had many cups at home, and he thought he could add one more to it, maybe a few more. But now, the prize was going to the one who'd beaten him. Wren looked away as Inkura took the cup, and she held it high with a squeal as the crowd roared their approval.

Wren walked past the old house where he and his father stayed at, in the days before the family got the mansion. He still visited that place, but the mansion was his real house. Even then, Wren and his wife made sure the house was in good shape, just in case if someone else lived there or if they wanted to spend the night in a different house.

The dark-haired Inkling passed by the mailbox, and strode through the driveway, hearing the sound of laughter inside the mansion from several feet away. They'd started the party, and he wasn't hosting it. Anetta had to be the one, Wren wasn't the only Inkling who could start a party in that mansion.

It sure felt different compared to the last party. Wren never forgot his first Splatfest victory party, and he remembered the party he'd thrown not long after he'd met that cute girl Meggy. So many good times, when the people of Inkopolis respected him. Now he was nothing, and all of that merch based on him wasn't in production anymore.

A Jellyfish held the mop firmly, cleaning up a spot on the floor, as Wren walked around the toy store and looked at the items on sale. He saw a few Gal. Blasters being sold, and then he saw a Great Zapfish plush hanging from the ceiling with a few lights attached to it.

One Inkling with brown hair looked up and remarked, "Oh, Oneshot Wren. How's it going?"

"Fine. Hope you have a good day." Wren replied casually.

He walked towards the sector where they sold plushies and action figures of different Inkling celebrities, several Callie and Marie figures were up for restock, and he saw a couple of Captain Squid Star figures on one desk. Wren turned, and his eyes settled on the spot where one would find the Oneshot Wren merch.

And there wasn't that much Oneshot Wren goodness on sale, save for some stuffed dolls and action figures who were left, being sold at low prices. Wren walked towards them, remembering the very first day his merch went on sale here.

Now, in light of his defeat, he wondered what would become of all that Wren merch.

"This is the last batch of your merch..." A Jellyfish manager said, "Your contract expired a few days ago, and the company's received the order to stop the production of all Oneshot Wren merch. This was right before the Splatfest..."

"Before I lost?" Wren said aloud, "What happened?"

"You're old news, Wren. Times change. Not much anyone can do about that." The Jellyfish walked away, "And besides, who wants anything to do with you now?"

Wren turned to walk away, then he looked back just as a young Inkling came over to pick up a Oneshot Wren action figure. The kid's mother smiled and pat her son on the head, telling him they could buy it. And then she looked up, her gaze settling on Wren, and she waved politely to him.

The former champion left the area and was just walking through another section when he bumped into an Inkling in a green shirt. Wren tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "You still think I'm cool?"

"Yeah?" The kid replied, "You're a pretty cool-looking Inkling."

'At least I still have fans somewhere.' Wren thought, and his confidence slowly wavered as a pair of nearby Inklings spotted him, and started to mock Wren, calling him a loser. One Inkling stuck his tongue out at him, and another scoffed at Wren.

He walked up the porch of his mansion, took a deep breath, and leaped around the door with a casual smile. Wren held up his fingers like guns as he looked at the people in the house, and he said, "Hey!"

Inkura looked at him with a look that said, "Really?"

The other Inklings in the house, many of whom Wren had competed against in Splatfest before, flashed Wren that same look. Nobody said 'hi', nobody grinned at the sight of the Turf veteran, and they all looked at him as though he was someone they didn't like that much. Wren stood there, silently, and began to assume what that look meant.

'Oneshot Wren was not invited. And in his own mansion.'

Wren backed away, deciding to wait until the party ended. And he was filled with fear, was Inkura going to take his riches, and how much longer until the mansion no longer belonged to the once-great Oneshot Wren?

Just then, he heard Green's voice call out. "Uh, Wren? You can party with us!"

Wren turned, taken by surprise, and he looked into the eyes of the masked Inkling boy, who was holding a soda. "We're not gonna kick you out of your mansion just because you lost a Splatfest..." Green told him, "What the heck gave you that idea?"

"There's room in the party for me?" Wren asked.

"Of course there is, we don't mind you being with us a little, you just can't act all cool and flashy as if you were the champion of the Splatfest like you used to." Green put a hand on Wren's shoulder, "And your wife invited us."

Wren processed this for a minute. "I could wait outside until the party is over..." He suggested.

"No-no-no. Please..." Green said with a smile, "You were the one who invited the losing player to your mansion for the party in the past, and it doesn't hurt to party with the new Splatfest champion in your mansion."

"Green, thank you." Wren smiled and shook the Inkling's hand, then he followed him inside the mansion. Thankfully, nobody complained about the former Splatfest champion joining the party, and Anetta was happy to see her husband.

"Hi, guys." Wren said in a casual manner.

"Hey, Wren." Inkura said with a polite smile.

"Quite a Splatfest, huh?" Midne-Mohawk remarked, taking a sip of her drink, "I'm impressed that Inkura did what I couldn't do."

"Yeah, quite crazy." Wren remarked as he took a drink of squid sprite, the former champion then turned to his wife, "Sorry for taking a while to come home, dear. I was taking things in, chatted with some people, and I did a bit of checking in on some... things."

"I heard there won't be merch based on you anymore, dear." Anetta said somberly, "And that's a shame, I loved those action figures of you."

Just then, Wren heard a whimper, and turned to see Inkura doing an odd dance with a pale look on her face. Green face-palmed, even with the mask on, and Wren could tell what was going on. He put aside the thoughts of his defeat, and tended to Inkura's needs. How much did the poor girl drink, she must have drank too much.

Wren led Inkura upstairs, and he checked to see if the guest bathroom was free. Luckily, there was nobody in there. Wren opened the door for his successor, and Inkura dashed in with a slight sigh of relief.

"There we go." Wren said, "Emergency taken care of."

He rejoined the party downstairs, and was in for a surprise when the doorbell rang. Anetta answered it, and a large Inkling with orange hair stepped in, wearing a fresh shirt and dark pants along with a battle helmet; Captain Squid Star.

"Captain Squid Star?!" Wren chuckled, "Hey, big guy."

"Hey, little guy." Captain Squid Star waved, "I got the word that you lost the Splatfest, now that is a big deal, even though folks who still respect you won't talk about that much.

"Well, gotta expect the unexpected." Wren said as Inkura rejoined the party.

For most of the party, Wren often interacted with the guests, then he would stand to the side and take a sip of wine. Anetta came over to his spot and comforted him, and he would often chat with Inkura, who'd talk about some of the wacky adventures she'd experienced. Despite his defeat, Wren enjoyed the party, and felt happy that he didn't have to be alone.

It lasted a while, then the festivities came to an end, and Wren was alone in the mansion with his wife. Michael came by for a while with Sophia, who comforted Wren as best he could, but the sting of defeat was hard to overcome. Michael hugged Sophia when she got worried, and Wren gave his brother and niece his well-wishes as best he could.

Soon, the only people in the mansion were Wren and his wife as they sat together in the living room, with Anetta hugging her husband. The moon shone through the window, illuminating the dark house. Wren yawned, deciding it was time for bed.

Tomorrow would be a new day, but figuring out what to do would be rough, and Wren knew his position would be very rough since there were people out there who disliked him now.

"I can make you feel a little better, Walter." Anetta told Wren as she pecked him on the cheek.

Wren smiled, and his wife told him to wait while she went up to their room. A short notice later, and Wren headed upstairs to the bedroom, ready to get some shut eye. The moment he walked into the room, he found his wife laying on the bed in a sultry nightdress, eying him in a sweet manner.

"Ready for a little more fun?" Anetta asked.

Wren smiled, and he climbed upon the bed, folding his arms around his caring wife as he pushed aside the thought of his defeat and what it would bring. He leaned in and kissed Anetta, who lay back, and they made out passionately in bed. And then, they closed the door, and rolled up the windows, allowing the two Inklings to have some alone time at last...