Chapter 8:
(TEAM NINJA ONE SPLATOWEEN! WOOP WOOP! I'm excited for the Frosty Fest later, and I hope the themes are based around what decorations u like setting up during "Squidmas" like Lights vs Trees vs Ornaments, and the colors would be white, green & red. Anyways, let's focus on the chapter. Enjoy!)
Eight began selecting the 12th Floor, and looked through the difficulties and rewards. "Let's do this one. Pearl should have her artillery expanded." Eight suggested. Pearl looked at the Color Chip and it showed she could equip Splat Bombs. "And it's Easy too, yo! I get to blow up some fools and get a cool upgrade!" Pearl said, excitedly. Acht and Marina smiled, it was clear these two were becoming used to how the Memverse was operating. "Good luck, you guys." Acht said, watching the two of them get out of the elevator.
(12F)
Eight watched as the floor gained its form. "Yo, Eight! Check this fish out!" She said, throwing a Splat Bomb at a test dummy. "See that? I'm a NATURAL!" Pearl said, confidently. Eight smiled, "Never doubtful for a second." He said, before getting ready to hit the platform.
They landed on a platform resembling to Eight the ramps of Moray Towers, with the objective of taking down 4 Panicking Alla Mambo.
"I have an idea, follower my leadership." Eight said; landing at the middle ramp and scared the first enemy further up the ramp. Eight inked a path toward the top to scare them both off, "Got 'em!" When they reached the top, Pearl threw a Splat Bomb their way. The two Jelletons leaped off the top ramp and went down.
Eight dodge rolled to the next floor and shot at them again.
Pearl noticed the coming Jelletons that were going to try and stop Eight, "I'll hold them back, Eight. Keep going, yo!" Pearl threw another bomb and launched a Killer Wail laser their wa. The bomb had stunned the bigger targets and blew up the few within range. The Killer Wail's job was to finished off the big guys.
Eight kept going and scared the third Panicking Alla Mambo down to the fourth, and finally he made it.
Eight's gauge had finished filling and he activated the Reefslider, "Pearl, come on!" Eight said, riding the inflatable and destroying the targets. The floor had cleared! "Yeah-hah!" Pearl said, dancing in her drone form as she hovered to the elevator with Eight.
(Back in da elevator)
Eight was given a notebook to write in while he waited for everything else to settle. "What are you writing there?" Acht had asked him. Eight instinctively took a step into the corner. "N-Nothing of…of concernment…" Eight had said, nervously. "What's up? Something on your mind?" Acht had asked the younger Octoling.
"N-No…I-I am fine." Eight looked to his side, not looking Acht in the eyes. He then turned back and tried to look directly at Acht. "I-It's a poem about the Panicking Alla Mambo Jelletons we vanquishes…" Eight said. "Oh, that sounds cool, I guess." Acht had said, "Can I see? Or am I making you too uncomfortable?" Acht had asked. "N-No, y-you are…fine, Acht." Eight said, feeling his heart pound and him taking deep breaths. He didn't want to remember those days back in Deep Sea Metro, but whenever he looked at Acht, all he could think of was…
"If you don't want to talk, that's fine, Eight." Acht said, "Ah…Acht, I…I'm sorry." Eight said. "D-Do you still want to see the poem?" He asked the other Octoling. "Shoot." Acht had said.
"When you are seen, you choose to run.
Hurrying, all you know to do is scurrying.
Just so you know, I do not chase you for fun."
Eight had finished his poem. "Not bad, not bad. Honestly, those guys ARE pretty annoying." Acht had said. Eight smiled, half-heartedly. Acht could begin to see right through it. "Eight listen, if something's wrong you don't have to hide it from me, you know? I know we're not friends on the same length as those two, but…" Eight looked up at her. "It's not that…I..I'm sorry. Every time I look at you, I'm reminded of…a scary time." Acht understood what he was talking about. "I'm a horrible person…I'm sorry…" Eight had said, "No, you're not." Acht said, "I understand, Eight. Best not to let the past haunt you like that." Acht said, Eight had nodded, "I know…" Eight had said. "We'll work on…THIS later." Acht gestured to the two of them. "For now, let's focus on stopping Order, and then you can make a poem about it." Acht had said, encouraging the writing aspect.
Eight nodded, still feeling ashamed of himself. He didn't mean to hurt Acht's feelings if that's what happened, and he hopes he can fix their friendship to where they can open their communication and strengthen their bond.
(A few hours later)
"Huh? Something funky's up with the next floor." Pearl said, Eight looked at the third floor choice and saw that there was an added "Danger" tag in the corner of it. "Yeah, there's danger there. Whatever happens on a floor like that, you're not going to like." Acht explained, "No kidding? Well, we know what not to pick!" Pearl said, while Eight looked at the choices. "The thing is…if you don't, Danger floors will show up more and more until you go for one." Marina explained.
"Seriously?! Maybe we oughta bite the bullet. Don't want to be faced with three bad options later." Pearl said. "Might as well. If it's too much, you can always spend some @Membux to return to the elevator. It's still Eight's decision. What're you gonna pick?" Acht asked.
"Well…It would have to be between the special charge rate or my main Inkling—I-ink coverage." Eight thought of what to do. "What do I need most…" Eight asked himself, before clicking on a floor. Eight placed the orange color chip into the Palette. "Let's brave the Danger." Eight said. "Yeah, that's my homie!" Pearl said, high-fiving Eight. Eight smiled and then looked at Acht. She gave him a small thumbs up and mouthed "You got this."
(Outside)
Eight walked outside and watched the floor find its form. He then saw a warning sign of the Danger and it read:
"No Drone."
"H-Hey, what the?!" Pearl had said, trying to move. "Pearl!" Eight ran back to her and tried to help, "So the danger condition is you can't have Pearl's help this round…" Acht had brought up. "Eight, if this is too much, you can come back to the elevator." Marina explained, trying to calm her friend down. "There has to be a loophole, no?" Eight had asked. "Eight, don't freak out. You can still win this." Pearl took a look at the objective.
"Yeah, all you have to do is destroy a couple of portals. That ain't fish, yo!" Pearl said, trying to keep Eight confident. "But Pearl, I don't want you to be—" Eight tried to say, but he was interrupted. "It's okay, Eight. The console's showing me that after you beat the level, Pearl will be able to move." Marina explained, "Are you sure? What if Order is plotting something with the—
"Chillax, homie! You heard 'Rina, I'll be able to move again when you beat it. Marina always knows what she's talking about…"Pearl explained, "I hate that I gotta let you handle this yourself, but I know you got this!" Pearl said, winking at her friend. Eight shut his eyes and took another breath. He nodded, "I won't let you downplay…er, I meant down." Eight said, trying to walk back to the platform.
"You got this, yo!" Pearl said, confidently.
Eight ran to the platform and walked along as his feet hit the ground fast. Eight knew where he needed to go first, and he started making a path to swim through. Eight swam past a few of the Jelletons, and then jumped onto the platform thanks to a boost. "Careful, Eight. The Jelletons can follow you and can jump on that boost." Marina had said, Eight nodded and went to destroy the first portal.
"Okay, first one's down! I'm moving onwards!" Eight had said, looking at the coming Jelletons coming at him.
The young Octoling looked down at the floor beneath him and then saw that a few Jelletons were still on the floor. Eight thought about this steadily and use his dodge rolls to avoid both factions of enemies.
"Not worth the effort!" Eight planted a bomb down for the Jelletons following behind him and ran towards the next portal. "Nice job Eight, the second portal's down!" Marina had said, "We got one more. Be careful, they're gonna triple the spawning." Acht explained.
Eight made sure to look around, his heart began beating super fast. "I-I will get through this…" Eight started to panic, since there were still many Jelletons coming after him. "I just have to make it to the pad." The Octoling thought to himself and had to figure out a new plan. Eight ran, the groups circling around him. "Now!" Eight shouted, getting on the pad and almost making it, but then, he got hit by a Jelleton and was pushed down. "No! Come on, just one more…" Eight thought to himself, grabbing his Dualies to fire at the Jelletons.
More Jelletons began to show up and Eight got hit again. Eight could see his vision was beginning to get covered by black ink, and before he knew it, he was splatted.
Eight had watched as he saw yellow light and bits of numbers and code surround him. He then watched as he materialized into the air and was back on feet. "Eight, you okay?" Pearl asked. Eight had been hyperventilating a little bit. "Easy, easy. Take it slow and steady." Marina said, noting that Eight hasn't been splatted and this had been the first time. "Take a minute to breathe." Acht said, which Eight took the advice of. The Octoling huffed, "I-I'm sorry…" Eight apologized. "Don't apologize, yo. Just take your breaths." Pearl said, wanting to move so she could comfort him. "Remember something that calms you down?" Acht asked, "Like your poetry or something?"
"Poetry…" Eight tried to recall a good memory and remembered something. Eight could then feel the beating slowing down.
"In battle, panicking makes me think too hard…
…Father's law, "Don't fall into fear's maw"
So I deepen my breath, then play my card." Eight had said, thinking of a poem. "Th-Thank you, Acht. I…I'm fine, now." Eight had said, getting up. "No problem. We don't need you to act hasty, okay?" Acht had said. Eight nodded,"You still have a life left, Eight. We can still clear it!" Marina told her friend.
Eight looked at the platform carefully this time, and then ran to the cage once he had an idea! "Be prepared, Eight! Here they come!" Acht said, Eight landed in a platform and shot at the portal. All kinds of Jelletons had spawned out of that remaining portal.
He saw some Springing Spiccato coming his way. "Now!" Eight then shot at the Jelletons and used the spring to shoot himself into the air. He put all the firing power he had left to shoot the final portal! "You didn't stand a chance against me!" Eight had said, confidently. Watching the portal blow up in blue explosion, Eight had done it! The mission was clear for this floor!
(Back at the elevator)
Eight walked back to his side of the elevator and then looked at the sanitized Octoling. "Acht…" Eight said, feeling a fear within him creep in. "What's up?" Eight remembered his poem and calmed himself down. "Thank you, once against…er…again." Eight said, Acht smiled a tad, and folded her arms. "Not a problem. I'm just glad you're alright." She said to her. Marina and Pearl looked on as the two began to truly form a bond. Marina was so excited, and Pearl smirked happily for her homie.
"So, where do you get your inspiration to write poetry?" Acht asked. "Um…well…mostly from Father…" Eight had said. "Wait, your father?" Acht asked.
"I-Iso Padre." Eight said, stuttering his words a little. "Oh, yeah, I remember that guy." Acht said, "He used to be on every train. Still, he's your dad?" Acht asked. Eight looked a little sheepish, "He's the closest to being one…I just hope he isn't here." Eight said. "If he is, we'll save him." Acht said, placing a hand on Eight's shoulder. Eight had smiled a bit, "Right." Eight said, "I…remember your music playing through the tests…Could you…tell me more?" Eight asked. Acht straightened up her glasses and nodded, "Sure. I don't mind, we've got a bit of time." She said to him.
Marina and Pearl continued to watch their friends bond, "I saw him shaking before. But I'm happy he's starting to talk to her now." Marina whispered to Pearl. "For 'eel, yo. Start drawing them, 'Rina." Pearl turned to her bestie, "No! I'm not invading their privacy." Marina said.
(Okay, we're done! I was planning to get this done way earlier in the month, but yeah, work, tiredness, other things I'm writing, it can wear a guy out. Anyways, let me tell you that I hope to write more of these bonds with Eight. I figured that Eight wouldn't want past trauma to get in the way of talking to Acht, and I figured that's a good starting foundation for their eventual bond. Anyways, stay strong and awesome!)
Philippians 2:7-8 KJV:
7. but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8. and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(This is talking about how Jesus started his Gospel on Earth, people expected him to come as a general or as maybe a Pharisee. But Jesus came in His most humble form, and people didn't expect that. He followed His Father's Will and continued to go through His Path for our sakes! To show us that death was defeated at The Cross. It's something to behold and revere, no? Just food for thought)