Chapter Nine:

Makerboy's Charm for Saiko


With Bob following him, Makerboy headed right to the jewelry store, located near the very spot where he last saw Saiko after their date to Wahoo World. Luckily for the green-haired squid, the Nectaria Crystal Charm was still on display. What was he worried about, it wasn't like someone was gonna steal it or the price would be raised higher.

Makerboy pushed through the door, grabbed the Nectaria Crystal Charm, and ran up to the front desk with Bob making it inside like a breeze before the door closed. Makerboy didn't need to ding the bell. No sooner than he'd reached the desk, Aziz came waltzing out of the back room.

"Ah, Makerboy10..." Aziz quipped, "What brings you to my shop again?"

"Aziz, I got the Kaira Star Crystal..." Makerboy told him, "I put together a team and we cracked that vault."

Aziz's eyes seemed to light up. "My word! You actually did it, you managed to break into that bitch of a vault and take the crystal without getting caught?!"

"And I sold it at a pawn shop, with a Sol Emerald that someone gave to me on the way there."

"YoU gOt To AdMiT tHe WoRlD iS fUlL oF sUrPrIsEs!" Bob quipped.

Makerboy nodded, "And so, I got enough money to buy this twenty-thousand dollar charm for my girlfriend. Looks like you were right that I would get a lot of money if I sold the Kaira Star Crystal after stealing it from the Vilron-Phrisk Vault..."

"Ha! Not so fast, Makerboy!" Aziz quipped with an evil look on his face.

"I dO nOt LiKe ThAt LoOk." Bob said warrily.

"Twenty-thousand dollars?" Aziz howled with laughter. Don't you mean... SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS AND TWENTY FIVE CENTS?!"

"Are you scamming me?" Makerboy asked.

"Ah, I love bait-and-switch." Aziz whooped, "Good for business."

'He doesn't know how much money I got from the sale.' Makerboy flashed Aziz a smirk, "What if I were to tell you... THAT I GOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS from my selling of the Kaira Star Crystal at the pawn shop?"

"NANI?!" Aziz's eyes widened.

"That's right. I said I had fifteen thousand dollars during my last visit. Combine that with the hundred dollars I got from the pawn shop..." Makerboy grinned, "...and I have a large enough amount of money to get that charm off you, you sleezy Port Aurora scam artist."

"My, my..." A sultry voice said, "Now that is interesting."

Makerboy looked up, spotting a shapely humanoid female bat in a revealing catsuit hanging upside down on the ceiling. Bob looked up too and hearts appeared on his face, both the ex-rapper and the squid were heart-struck to see none other than the sultry gem thief Rouge the Bat, whom Makerboy had made out with a few times.

Rouge spread her wings and dropped down from the ceiling. She leaned on Makerboy and fingered his shoulder. "You're quite the lucky money boy, sweet squid." The bat commented, "And I do agree that hundred and fifteen thousand dollars is enough to buy that expensive charm you want for that girl of yours."

"What's up, Rouge?" Makerboy asked with a polite smile, "Bet you had some wild treasure hunting adventures as of late, huh?"

Rouge reached into her top pocket and pulled out a large ruby that was colored dark-purple. Bob's eyes lit up as he saw the gemstone, and Makerboy was fascinated by what he was seeing.

"I didn't think you'd ask first..." Rouge then pulled Makerboy aside, "May I interest you in this rare Black Ruby that I found in an ancient island ruin a couple days ago?" She leaned over his shoulder to whisper in his ear, "You can get more money if you sold this to Aziz, giving you another ounce to buy that charm with."

Makerboy took the Black Ruby and looked at Aziz. "And how much would you be willing to pay for this gemstone that Rouge found, if you want to sell it?" He asked.

"ThIs Is GeTtInG iNtErEsTiNg." Bob quipped.

"Er, well..." Aziz stammered, his face brightened and he held up a two-hundred dollar check, "I'LL PAY TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE BLACK RUBY! You got a deal..."

'And that puts me up to three hundred and fifteen thousand dollars.' Makerboy thought as he accepted the check. He didn't notice that Bob pulled Rouge aside and was taking a selfie with her, Makerboy was missing the sultry smile that the bat was giving off as Bob took the photo.

"So, about the Nectaria Crystal Charm...?" Makerboy held up the item he still had, "With the money I have, and how much it costs, would you say two hundred and forty eight dollars and nine seventy-five cents sounds good enough..."

"Oh, a-ABSOLUTELY..." Aziz said half-nervously, "Take it! IT'S ALL YOURS, MAKERBOY! Have a good day!"

Makerboy paid Aziz and walked out of the store with the Nectaria Crystal Charm, whooping excitedly and watching it gleam brightly in the sunlight. Bob soon stepped out with Rouge, who planted a seductive kiss on the Inkling's cheek, taking him by surprise.

"Normally, I'd take gems from people..." Rouge told Makerboy, "...but this is one of these instances where I happily let them walk away with such a special treat for their loved ones. In the meantime, I'll be helping myself to the Kaira Crystal Star as well as that Sol Emerald, assuming Blaze doesn't swing by for the latter first."

"Rouge, you are one of the nicest women I've ever known." Makerboy told her.

"HeLl YeAh." Bob agreed, "ShE's AlSo My FavOrItE SoNiC wAiFu AnD sHe JuSt AcCePtEd My SpEcIaL iNvItAtIoN fOr ToNiGhT. We'Re GoNnA bE dOiNg StUfF aT tHe HoTeL."

"And what's that, Bob?" Makerboy asked.

"It's private, sweetie." Rouge playfully ruffled the Inkling's head, "See you around, boys."

Rouge flew off and Makerboy watched as his cheeks flushed red. He looked at Bob, who gave him a sheepish look. And yet, Makerboy had this feeling that he knew what Bob and Rouge's private business was going to be. While the green squid hadn't been noticing looking, the ex-rapper had managed to woo over Rouge.

Now was not the time to even think about what they were going to do. Makerboy gripped his newly-purchased Nectaria Crystal Charm and headed off through the streets. He pulled out his phone and texted Saiko, telling her that he was coming by her place with a gift.

She texted back, telling him that she couldn't wait for his present. Makerboy smiled. It wouldn't be long until she was finally human again. Well, as human as an anime girl could be.

Makerboy morphed into squid form and super-jumped, flying over the city, and soaring to his destination. He didn't drop the charm, it was safe in his hands, and he felt more confident than ever before. Makerboy soon made his landing by Saiko's house and reverted back to his squid form, then he breathed in that sweet-smelling afternoon air.

Feeling warmth in his heart, the smooth squid walked up the steps to his girlfriend's front door and knocked softly. He then rang the doorbell and heard Saiko's bubbly voice tell him to come inside. Makerboy opened the door, and walked over the rug, as he made his way to the sitting room where Makerboy found his girlfriend strumming on a guitar.

"Hey, babe." He said, "How's it goin'?"

"We can jam if you want." The anime girl-turned Octoling said, holding up her guitar.

"What about a special dinner? Tonight?" Makerboy suggested.

"Anything you want."

"I came to give you this..." Makerboy held out the Nectaria Crystal Charm.

Saiko gasped, holding a hand over her mouth, and Makerboy could see the awestruck bliss in her eyes. She stood up and approached the kind Inkling who was her boyfriend, unable to take her eyes off the gift he was giving to her.

"Its so... gorgeous. Wh-What is it?" Saiko stammered.

"A charm, it can counter and overcome curses, like the one that made you an Octoling in the first place." Makerboy said, "Its magical and I'm giving this to you because I love you with all of my heart so much, I would do anything to help you return to normal. No one should remain stuck in a certain form for the rest of their life. Will you accept my gift?"

"Where did you get this?" Saiko asked, taking Makerboy's hand, "It looks just as beautiful as any other necklace."

"I got it from the jewelry store and it cost a lot, but I did what I could to get the money to buy it and, in the end, it was worth it."

"Is it really magical?" Saiko picked up the necklace, which glowed a little bit.

"Saiko, has a charm never been magical?" Makerboy chuckled, "The card said it can bring good luck and cure curses. It is, without a doubt, magical, and I bought that because this is what you need right now to overcome the curse."

She stepped closer towards the Inkling, and then, she dipped in and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. Makerboy hugged Saiko warmly, then he pulled back and nodded to her. The Octoling held the charm, then she slowly placed it around her neck. Makerboy pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of Saiko, in her Octoling form, wearing the charm.

"For memories." He told her, "How does the necklace feel?"

Saiko looked at the charm around her neck. "It feels nice." She told Makerboy, "It feels like I'm wearing a necklace of wishing stars around me and the wishing stars know what our wish is. And the glow its letting off, it... fills me with warmth."

'Looks like its doing its thing.' The squid thought, 'Please let this work.'

The glow of the Nectaria Crystal Charm seemed to get brighter until a wave of energy swirled around Saiko, who floated off the ground. Makerboy could hear her let off an Octoling gasp, and a light filled the room. The Inkling shut his eyes for a moment, even as he could hear a yelp and a humming sound.

It lasted for a moment. And then, the light settled and he heard a thump. Makerboy uncovered his eyes and was met by the very sight he hoped to see;

Where a pink-haired Octoling stood, a shapely pink-haired woman with purple eyes in a tan jacket, a revealing black top, a brown skirt with a black belt, black leggings and dark-gray boots looked at her hands with near surprise that became a happy smile. Tears filled her eyes, and Makerboy felt waves of emotion roll over him.

The anime waifu Saiko Bichitaru was back! And she still wore the necklace too!

"W-Wow! You actually did it!" Saiko exclaimed, "ITS ME AGAIN! I'M BACK! MAKERBOY, MY LOVE! WE DID IT! *sniff* Arigato, Makerboy. I wondered how long this curse would last."

Makerboy was bursting with joy. He cried happily, and embraced Saiko. They danced around the living room, rejoicing the end of the curse. Makerboy twired the slender anime girl around and Saiko whooped, then the Inkling swept her into his arms and twirled about with her.

He locked eyes with Saiko, who looped her arms around his neck, and they exchanged dreamy looks with Makerboy unable to even take an eye off Saiko for a second.

"Am I still pretty?" He heard her ask.

"Girl, you are the fire of my heart." Makerboy said, "I know I've been around other women, but you are my number one waifu and nothing will ever separate us. I'm so happy you're back, Saiko. H-How should we rejoice this moment?"

"I don't even know..." Saiko giggled.

"C'mon, babe." Makerboy kissed her, "There has to be something we can do together."

Saiko smiled at the green-haired squid in a seductive manner, and he could read her mind. He knew what she was thinking, but he was so eager to hear her say it.

"Well." Saiko finally said, "Since you asked, I do have a reward for you waiting in the bedroom?"

Makerboy's face lit up. He liked where this was going, both he and Saiko were thinking the same thing. They could watch a movie, drink champagne, and yet, he'd worked hard to make Saiko's return to her human form a reality.

And, after all that, he deserved that reward that Saiko was planning to give him.

Minutes later, Makerboy's shirt and shoes lay on the bedroom floor with Saiko's vest, leggings and shoes. The shirtless Inkling lay back upon the bed with the anime girl on top, kissing him passionately, and Makerboy kissed back with fiery passion as they engaged in a deep make-out session that evolved into something more romantic between them.

Outside, a pair of birds gathered in the tree tops, tweeting in unison, while a couple Salmonids happily swam around in a nice little pond...