Estimated Reading Time: 26 Minutes

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Melodic Discord

Ness was nervous as he was sitting at a lone table in the food court. Today Tina is taking him to a special place. He didn't want to make a fool of himself. Everything has to be perfect.

*Pat pat*

Tina: "Sup, dude."

Ness: "Ah!"

Tina: "Shit, I didn't mean to scare ya."

Ness: "Scare me? I wasn't scared. I was just surprised is all haha..."

Tina: "Haha! Ready to head out?"

Ness: "Y-yeah."

The two left the mansion. They took the subway to an area called Inkling Cove. It was a giant island but instead of water surrounding the area, it was ink. This place looked like a giant beach resort paradise.

Ness: "Wow, it's beautiful!"

Tina: "I know right~"

The two went to the main area. It was a tropical Hawaiian themed village. Tina led him to the beach bar.

Bartender: "Oh hey, Tina, long time no see, mon~"

Tina: "Wassup, Jelonzo."

Jelonzo: "And who's this cute fella?"

Ness: "H-hey."

He had an awkward smile on his face.

Jelonzo: "Aww, what a cutie."

Ness: "W-what?"

Tina: "He is, isn't he?"

Jelonzo: "Sorry, this might sound rude, but I must ask, what are you, mon?"

Ness: "I'm a human."

Jelonzo: "A human. I've never seen one before."

Ness: "Yep. T-that's me. Ness the human."

Tina: "In the smash mansion there's lots of different types of races and creatures."

Jelonzo: "Wow! Tina, you should take me there, mon."

Tina: "Yeah maybe one day."

Jelonzo: "Anyway, what can I getcha two lovebirds?"

Ness: (L-lovebirds?!)

Tina: "Yeah, can I get sex on the beach."

Jelonzo: "Absolutely and what about you young man?"

Ness: "Oh uh, I don't drink actually."

Jelonzo: "You sure you don't wanna try, mon? My drinks are delicious~"

Tina: "Oh my god, Ness. You gotta try Jelonzo's cocktails. They are to die for."

Ness: "Y-yeah? I don't know. I don't drink."

Tina: "Aww, c'mon, treat yourself. I'll buy it for ya."

Ness: "Y-you don't have to do that."

Tina: "Jelonzo, get this boy a delicious cocktail."

Jelonzo: "What kind?"

Ness: "N-no, I shouldn't. You don't have to-

Tina: "Surprise him!"

Jelonzo: "You got it boss!"

Ness nervously laughed as she purposely bumped into his side. Jelonzo worked his magic and set the drink in front of him.

Jelonzo: "Jelonzo's speciality. Made with lots of love."

Ness: "T-thank you."

Tina: "You're gonna love it~"

The two stared at him waiting for him to drink it. He picked it up and took a sip. It tasted like juice, but it was painful. It had this horrible after taste.

Ness: "Y-yep. It's delectable."

Jelonzo: "What, mon?"

Ness: "It's yummy."

Tina: "See, I told ya~"

Ness: "It's not bad."

Tina: "Tastes like juice."

Jelonzo: "So are you guys excited for the Ink-side festival?"

Tina: "Duh, that's why we're here~"

Jelonzo: "I'm also excited. I'm going to get a lot of business."

Tina: "Ness, I can't wait til it gets dark. That's when the ink pool opens."

Ness: "Ink pool?"

Tina: "Ya dude. It's gonna be so fuckin' fun! Also we get to watch a bunch of live bands."

Ness: "Wow, that's amazing!"

Tina: "Isn't it? Alright, well, let's go."

Ness: "But it's not dark yet."

Tina: "We're goin' to the some stores first. We gotta get you dressin' like one of us."

Ness: "New clothes?"

Tina: "Ya dude. It looks like you're dyin' from heat with that sweater and what're you wearing under it?"

Ness: "A buttoned up shirt."

Tina: "Aren't you hot?"

Ness: "No."

Tina: "Bro, it's like ninety degrees."

Ness: "It is? I can't even tell haha…"

Tina: "You're sweating like crazy."

Ness: "I am?"

Tina: "Ya dude."

Ness: "I mean it's a little hot."

She grabbed his hand.

Ness: "!"

Tina: "C'mon, let's get you some summer clothes."

Ness: "I-I… I… Y-yeah ok."

She brought him to one of her favorite clothing stores. She pulled Ness over to the men's section.

Tina: "Oh my god, look at this overshirt~"

It was a light blue overshirt with anchors on it as the design.

Ness: "Think I would look good in it?"

Tina: "Oh yeah, absolutely."

Ness: "I don't know. It's not really my style. I like clothes that aren't that flashy."

Tina: "Oh! How about that one."

She pointed at a plain navy blue overshirt.

Ness: "Yeah that's perfect~!"

Tina: "Now for the tanktop."

Ness: "T-tanktop?!"

Tina: "Ya dude."

Ness: "Oh, no, I really don't feel comfortable."

Tina: "Aww, but you'd look cute~"

Ness: "C-cute?!"

Tina: "I think so."

Ness: "W-well I mean if you think so then… I suppose I could give it a try."

Tina: "Aaah! Yesss!"

She gave him a squeeze and his face flushed red. She pulled away leaving him stunned. She picked out a black tank top with an inkling squid form logo on it. She also grabbed a pair of dark purple shorts for him.

Tina: "Oh my god yes. Us Inklings and Octolings love shorts. It's our style."

Ness: "Shorts huh."

Tina: "Ya dude. Try it on~"

She pushed him over to the fitting room. He nervously went in and tried on his new clothes. He looked at himself in the mirror and cringed. This isn't him at all. He looked like a fuck boy.

He opened the door so that Tina could see and she smiled when she saw him.

Tina: "Whoa, dude. You look cool as fuck."

Ness: *Blushes* "Y-you think so?"

Tina: "Damn…"

She bit her lip and looked him up and down.

Tina: "I'm definitely buying this for you."

Ness: "No, you don't have to do that. I can pay for it."

Tina: "Nah, let me spoil ya."

Ness: "But isn't it supposed to be the other way around?"

Tina: "Pssh! Nah. Actually leave it on, I'mma pay for it right now."

Ness: "Wait, no. You don't have to."

Tina: "Too bad~"

He watched her walk over and grabbed the same clothes but told the cashier that Ness is wearing it out. She paid for it and went back over to the fitting room area.

Tina: "I bought it."

Ness shoved his old clothes inside his rucksack and left the fitting room.

Ness: "Thanks, Tina, but you didn't have to do this for me."

He scratched the back of his head. He grinned and looked to the left avoiding eye contact.

Tina: "It's more for me~"

Ness: "H-huh!"

She grabbed his arm and together they left the shop. The entire time he was freaking out. His crush is holding his arm right now. Wait, are they dating? This is something that couples do. Is this seriously happening?! Does she see him more than a friend?

Ness: "T-Tina, I uh, I-

Tina: "Oh my god! Riley what're you doin' here?"

She let go of his arm and ran up to her friend.

Riley: "Giiirl, why you surprised that I'm here? It's fuckin' ink-side! Of course I'd be here."

Tina: "Oh my god, girl. I'm with Ness right now. Look, he's right over there."

She pulled Riley over to him.

Riley: "Oh hey."

Ness: "H-hi."

Riley: "Whoa, your outfit. You're not dressin' like a snob."

Ness: (Snob?) "Tina wanted me to try something new."

Riley: "Hmm, I mean I guess it suits you a little."

Ness: "Thanks…"

Tina: "A little? Nah! I fuckin' love it."

Ness smiled when she said that.

Riley: "Sure whatever. Anyway, you should totally come over to the ink pool later tonight."

Tina: "Oh I'll be there."

Riley: "Is the human gonna be there too?"

Ness: (The human she says…)

Tina: "Hell yeah he is!"

Riley: "Humans like to be in water. It's gonna be ink. I dunno if he can handle it."

Tina: "It's Ness. He can handle anything."

Riley rolled her eyes.

Riley: "Yeah, suuure."

Ness: "Wait, the pool is just ink?"

Tina: "Ya dude. It's a special kind of ink. It feels like how water would. Well I think. I've never been in a pool of water before."

Ness: "Interesting."

Tina: "It's gonna be so much fun."

Riley: "Right. Well, I'm gonna head to the shop and buy a bathing suit."

Tina: "A bathing suit! Actually I'm gonna do that too. Let's hang out."

Ness: (Ugh, no. Not with Riley.)

Riley gave Ness a disgusted look.

Riley: "Sure."

The three of them went to another shop. The girls were trying on new bathing suits. Tina picked out a teal bikini. It had some yellow on it. When she came out of the fitting room, Ness couldn't stop staring at her. She looked absolutely beautiful.

Tina: "How do I look?"

Ness: "Wow, you look… Wow."

Tina: "Hehe. Thanks. I think I'll buy it."

Ness: "Hm! Actually…"

Tina: "Oh my god, no dude."

Ness: "Too late~"

He walked over to the cashier and did the same as Tina did before. He bought it for her. When he went back over to the fitting room area, she changed back to her old clothes and hugged him.

Tina: "Aww, Ness, you're so sweet~"

Ness: "Y-yeah, of course! I mean you did it for me, so I wanted to return the favor."

The two smiled at each other. However, they pulled their attention to Riley when she approached them.

Riley: "I think I found the one I like. I'm gonna buy it."

Tina: "Cool. You do that while Ness and I walk around some more."

Riley: "Sure…"

Ness and Tina left the shop and saw that the sun started to set. The two found a bench and sat next to each other.

He listened to Tina ramble about music and such until the sun finally came down and they were greeted with the night sky.

Tina: "Oh my god! It's time! We gotta go to the festival."

She got up and together they walked over to the main area. There were light strings webbing from vendor to vendor.

They went and bought some inkling cuisines. He tried some fried balls wrapped in seaweed on a stick. It was so delicious that his eyes sparkled.

Tina: "Pretty good, huh?"

Ness: "It's amazing!"

The two continued to walk around and saw all the cool things that the festival had to offer. There were lots of fair games. One of the games was giving out cute backpacks to whoever was able to throw a bean bag into the hole.

Tina: "Aww, it's so cute. I want it."

Ness: "I can win it for you."

Tina: "Oooh love the confidence."

Ness: "I got this~"

He bought a ticket to play the game. The employee gave him three bean bags. He tossed one in the air a little to look cool in front of his crush. He had a smirk on his face and pitched the bean bag as if it was a baseball. It went straight in like he predicted.

Ness: "Too easy~"

Employee: "Easy, huh? Well I got somethin' tougher for you if you can handle it of course."

Ness: "Try me~"

Tina widened her eyes a little. What's with this confidence? It reminded her of his clone Nate.

The employee pulled a lever and the wall was pushed farther from them. The hole also got smaller.

Employee: "See if you can try this."

Ness: "Hm~! This is nothing."

Tina: "Oh?"

She looked at him and he was smirking at the employee. Damn, he pulled a one eighty. He didn't seem like the same person anymore.

He tossed it a little in the air again for style points then he pitched it. He threw it so fast that a bit of wind whooshed around them causing their hair to fly up. The bean bag made it through the hole.

Ness: "Easy."

Tina: "That was fuckin' sick!"

Inklings and Octolings felt the wind and saw that it came from that human boy. They all turned their attention to him and started cheering.

He looked around and scratched the back of his head nervously.

Ness: "Oh, haha…"

Employee: "Oh you think you're tough shit, huh? Well I have even a harder level for you. No one has been able to make this one."

He pulled the lever to 'intense mode' and suddenly the entire vendor changed. The wall with the hole was pushed not further back but up top. It was so high that it almost reached the height of a drop tower ride.

The crowd's jaws dropped. The employee had crazy eyes as he said, "YEAAAH, WHAT NOW, HUH?!"

Ness continued to look up at the tall corn hole. Tina gave the employee a disappointed look.

Tina: "What the hell, man? This is ridiculous. This isn't fair."

Employee: "Gotta get it in the hole three times or no backpack, sweetie."

Tina: "Ok, but how come it's so intense with us in particular? Do you always do this shit?"

Employee: "That fuckin' whatever he is was bein' a cocky little shit."

Tina: "He's a human…"

Employee: "Whatever! This is what he gets for bein' a dick."

Tina: "What the fuck? He wasn't? Hello?"

Ness put his hand on Tina's shoulder and smiled at her.

Ness: "I got this."

Tina: "W-wha? But he's not bein' fair."

Ness: "He's being lenient."

The crowd: "OOOOOOH."

Employee: "W-WHAT!"

Ness took out his bat that was sticking out of his rucksack. He threw the bean bag high in the air. He jumped up and did an unnecessary flip for style points. As he caught up with the bean bag, he charged up his swing and…

Clunk!

Whoooooosh!

A shockwave of wind blew hard forcing the people around them to brace themselves so they wouldn't fall. The ball flew at the wall fast and went through the hole without actually damaging it.

He landed on the ground like a main shonen character from an anime. He stood up and raised his bat in the air striking a pose.

Tina: "HOLY SHIT, NESS!"

The crowd went wild. They all started screaming and cheering his name. He put his bat back inside his rucksack and walked up to the employee whose eyes were bulging out his eye sockets.

Employee: "I-I… H-how… WHAT HAPPENED?!"

Ness: "I won your game. Now uh, I think you owe us a cute backpack."

Ness put his hand out. The employee whose hands were shaking, handed the brunet his prize.

Ness: "Thank you. It was a good game."

He turned to Tina and put the backpack on her. She looked at him with stars in her eyes.

Tina: "Ness, that was awesome! You were so badass!"

Ness: "Y-you think?"

Tina: "Dude, look around you. You summoned a crowd."

Ness: "Hahaha! I-I guess I did."

After that the two finally decided to go to the ink pool. It was a bit of a walk from the festival, but when they made it, they were greeted with a giant beach with water replaced by ink.

Ness: "Whoa! How far does this ink go?"

Tina: "A while. However, the further you go toward the horizon, you'll see the ocean water."

Ness: "Can't touch it, huh?"

Tina: "Nope. Sea water is a death trap."

Ness: "So, what about like shower water?"

Tina: "No, but small doses of water is fine."

Ness: "So like a tiny glass of water?"

Tina: "Yeah. We can handle a little splash. As long as it ain't salty ocean water."

Ness: "That's interesting. I should borrow a book about inklings in the library."

Tina: "Creep."

Ness: "W-what! N-no I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I just would like to learn more about your culture and-

Tina: "Hahahm! You're good dude. I was messin'."

Ness: "Oh. Haha..."

The crowd started cheering when a band went on the stage. Ness and Tina pulled their attention to the band. They started playing and the crowd went wild.

Tina saw another beach bar and ran over there. Ness followed behind. Tina ordered two shots and gave one to the brunet.

Tina: "Bro, I'm gonna get so smashed. Fuckin let's gooo!" *Chugs shot*

As she was distracted, he poured the liquid on the sand. When she turned around, he chugged 'the alcohol' down.

Tina: "It hurts, doesn't it?"

Ness: "Y-yeah totally." *Fakes a cough*

Tina: "Hell yeah! Let's fuckin' partyyy!"

Tina grabbed onto Ness's arm and pulled him over to the ink pool.

Ness: "W-wait! I don't want to get my new clothes dirty."

Tina: "It's ink proofed."

Ness: "Really?"

Tina: "Ya dude. All our clothes are. The ink will stick for a bit and then slide right off."

Ness: "Oh, ok."

He took off his shoes and dipped his feet into the ink. It was a little too cold for his liking. Tina jumped into the ink and created a splash around her. It got all over the brunet. She took out her gun and started blasting him with ink.

Ness: "Aaah!"

Tina: "C'mon splash me back! We're havin' a splash fight."

He nervously splashed her.

Tina: "C'mon gimme all you got!"

He had a cocky grin on his face. He splashed harder and it got all over her face.

Tina: "FUCK YEAH, DUDE!"

The two were having a fun splash match while enjoying the loud music. Some other inklings and octolings joined in the fun and began splashing them too.

Suddenly Tina and the others turned into their squid form and started swimming around. He stared at them surprised. He didn't notice an octoling tapped Ness's shoulder.

*Tap*

Ness: "Ah!"

Octoling: "Oi, tall dude, turn into your squid form. Let's race!"

Ness: "O-oh! Uh actually-

Octoling: "What? Afraid you'll lose? C'mon let's race and swim around."

Ness: "I can't."

Octoling: "Whatchu mean?"

Ness: "I'm not a… I'm a human."

Octoling: "What's a human?"

Ness: "A different race."

Octoling: "Whoa! That's why you're weird lookin'."

Ness: "Gee, thanks."

Octoling: "Wait, that's crazy. I just thought you were tall and lanky."

Ness: "I'm actually kind of short."

Octoling: "If you're short then I'm a midget."

Ness: "Hahaha!"

Octoling: "What's on your head?"

Ness: "My hat?"

Octoling: "No, the fluffy lookin' stuff."

Ness: "My hair?"

Octoling: "Hair. I just thought you were deformed or somethin'."

Ness: "Gee, thanks."

Octoling: "Weird request, but can I touch it?"

Ness: "S-sure."

The octoling raised his hand and started petting Ness's hair.

Octoling: "Holy shit! It's so soft! I love it."

Ness: "Y-yeah haha…"

Octoling: "GUYS CHECK THIS GUY OUT!"

The other inklings and octolings turned into their kid form and looked over.

Octoling: "It's a human. He got somethin' called hair!"

The inklings and octolings went over to him and started fawning.

Ness: "Hi. Um, h-hey."

Tina swam over to him and turned into her kid form.

Tina: "Whoa, someone got popular."

Ness: "I have no idea what's going on."

Tina: "They like you."

Ness: "Yeah, but why though?"

Tina: "Guys! Give my friend some space. He's new here."

The others backed off a little but continued to stare.

Ness: "They're staring."

Tina: "Don't worry about them. Let's just do our own thing."

She grabbed his hands and pulled him deeper into the pool. She turned back into her squid form and started swimming around him. He happily watched her and tried to splash her, but she was too slippery.

Ness: "You're too fast."

She turned into her kid form and pulled out her ink gun. She blasted him with ink which caused him to fall in there.

Tina: "I got you good!"

He still hasn't gotten up to the surface.

Tina: "Uh, dude?"

Still nothing.

Tina: "Ness?"

She started to panic. Is he drowning in there? She turned back into her squid form and dived underneath. She looked around, but didn't spot him anywhere. W-where did he go?!

She went back up to the surface to ask the others to help her look for him. However as she was about to call someone a huge splash of ink crashed into her.

SPLASH!

Ness: "Haha! I got you!"

She turned around and saw Ness laughing at her.

Tina: "Y-you're ok!"

Ness: "Uh, yeah?"

She went over and gave him a hug.

Tina: "I thought you died."

Ness: "What?"

Tina: "I thought you drowned. I couldn't find you."

Ness: "I was over there."

He pointed in a direction.

Tina: "When did you get over there?"

Ness: "I swam underneath. At first I was going to scare you, but you dived."

She lightly punched his chest.

Tina: "Don't scare me like that."

Ness: "S-sorry. I thought it was funny."

Tina: "Well it is now, but at the time I was freakin' out."

Ness: "Haha… Sorry."

Tina: "Alright, c'mon let's meet up with Riley."

She motioned him to follow her out of the pool. The two were able to spot Riley dancing to the music on the beach.

Tina: "Sup, girl."

Riley: "Oh hey!"

Ness: "Hi again."

Riley: "So like ready to get wasted?"

Tina: "Hell yeah."

The two went to the beach bar and ordered drinks. They started chugging that shit down like it was nothing.

Tina: "C'mon, Ness, you gotta get drunk with us."

Ness: "I-I'm not much of a drinker."

Tina: "C'mon driiiink with meeee."

Riley: "Don't bother. He's lame."

Ness: "I'm not lame!"

Riley: "Then fuckin' drink."

Ness: "I just… I don't like the taste."

Tina: "Nobody likes the taste. It's what it does to ya that's fun."

Ness: "But what if I make a fool of myself?"

Tina: "Ya gotta let go. The people here don't judge."

He looked around and saw some inklings and octolings staring at him.

Ness: "Right…"

Riley: "Ugh, don't bother."

Tina put a shot on his hand.

Tina: "C'mon, drink it. This one's real strong. It's already got me *hiccups* fucked up."

Ness: "Uh…"

He noticed that she had a difficult time balancing.

Ness: "Are you ok?"

Tina: "I'm fantastic!"

Riley: "She's fine."

Ness: "She doesn't look ok."

Riley: "Don't be a wet blanket. She's always like this. We *hiccups* all are."

Ness: "You don't look ok either."

As Tina was walking toward him, she tripped. Luckily he has fast reflexes and was able to catch her.

Ness: "Tina, oh my god, are you ok?"

Tina: *Hiccups* "Damn, I fuckin' fell."

Ness: "Let's get you some water."

Riley: "We don't drink water, idiot."

Ness: "Right… Um, well, what's your guys' equivalent of water?"

Riley: "Ink."

Ness: "Like from the pool?"

Riley: "Oh my god, why're you so stupid?"

Ness: "Excuse me?"

Riley: "That's dirty ink."

Ness sighed and walked Tina back to the area where they met Jelonzo.

Jelonzo: "Ah, you two lovebirds. How's it goin', mon?"

Ness: "Hi, Jelonzo, um things are... Uh..."

Jelonzo: "What's wrong, mon?"

Ness: "Tina is heavily intoxicated and-

Tina: "Jelonzo… Hahahahm!"

Ness: "She needs water. Wait, no! Ink. A glass of ink."

Jelonzo: "A fresh glass of ink comin' up, mon."

He poured Tina a glass and set it on the counter in front of her. She started laughing like crazy and slapped it away causing the glass to fall on the sand.

Ness: "Tina!"

Tina: "I don't need *hiccups* ink. I need vodka."

Jelonzo: "Alright! Vodka comin' up!"

Ness: "What? No! Don't give her more."

Tina: "Aww, c'mon, Ness, what're you? My mom?"

Ness: "You're not ok right now."

Tina: "Sure I am! I do this shit all the tiiiiime."

Jelonzo: "Ness is that your name? No need to be all worried. This is our culture. Gettin' drunk like this is normal, mon."

Ness: "B-but-

Jelonzo: "It'll be fine. Most of us go until blackout."

Ness: "What! That's dangerous."

Tina: "Ness, shhh, you need to chiiilll."

Ness: "Chill? This is…"

She got really close to his face.

Ness: "T-Tina?"

Tina: "Your lips are lookin' tasty~"

Ness: "Huh?"

She suddenly grabbed the back of his head and forced him into kissing her on the lips.