It’s A Splatastic Life! Chapter 1: Be Careful What You Wish For

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╰► Link to previous chapter!

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Welcome back folks! The story officially starts now. I looked at the feedback of the prologue which actually got featured and... Wow? Thanks so much for the positivity! Now without further ado... Let’s see what Agent 3 got themselves into... And remember one thing before we proceed.

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“Ouch... My head... Huh?! Inkopolis?”

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Agent 3 had... Woken up in Inkopolis Square? That was logically impossible, after bumping into the manhole... They basically fell back down into Octo Canyon. Well whatever happened somebody like Marie or Cap’n Cuttlefish could have picked them up. Right?

“Hello?” The inkling got up and brushed themselves off. Inkopolis seemed a bit different too?

Firstly, there was a bit of trash lying around, some stores but not all were boarded up with wooden planks. And the entire area seemed foggy and dusty? Maybe it was just them. But in the end, Agent 3 concluded that they must have been unconscious for the whole day. No no no. It didn’t feel right. Did it? And so the squid decided to start investigating the scene.

A food truck was the first notable sight noticed. It belonged to Crusty Sean! The tiger prawn usually selling a bunch of food and drinks. Who knows what they are really made of? The inkling did remember eating a few times from the food truck... The inside was a bit wrecked, the grease traps were basically empty and hollow, and there were tickets everywhere.

“The prawn isn’t there...” Agent 3 left the scene as soon as possible as they went into some deep thoughts.

Another sight was a huge box... Amiibo? What on Earth is an Amiibo? But 3 did see that in Inkopolis Plaza and Square. It was left untouched with dust collecting it though. Next!

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So it went on, location after location was empty or broken. The Off The Hook studio pop icons Pearl and Marina used? Broken into. The alleyway and stairs leading to the DeepSea Metro? Vandalized and blocked off by debris. Deca Tower’s lobby? Closed. Basically everything was closed. The inkling thought this was all some silly dream. How did they end up like this? Were they the only one there? That’s another question left answered... For now.

“I guess something happened while I was knocked out. But who could have done this?” Agent 3’s mind spoke up. The agent generally thought some terrible thing just happened while being unconscious. But why didn’t Callie or Marie or anyone in the Squidbeak Splatoon bring it up?

Suddenly without warning. A group of both inklings and octolings came out of the shadows! Almost like they came out of nowhere. Thing is... They were dressed like punks? Oh boy... Street gang. That’s what 3 thought.

“Look fellas. We got a lost soul.” An inkling with a fish skull hat was approaching.

“They seem so mysterious!” Another member remarked.

“Could be apart of our own gang...” Yet another member remarked.

Agent 3 looked rather scared. But kept their cool attitude and immediately drew out their hero shot! Pointing at the group and raising an eyebrow.

“Hey! Who are you and what happened to Inkopolis Square?” Agent 3 threatened.

“Easy with that thing... Don’t you know? Inkopolis is in a bunch of debt and ruins now. Have you been living under a rock or something...” The inkling with the fish scroll put the hero shot down.

“WHAT?!” Agent 3’s ears suddenly went up.

“Yeah yeah yeah! It’s quite a long story pal. But basically the DJ took away our power source. Our own Zapfish... And I had just left his army all those years ago.” An octoling pushed the other members and leaned in close to the agent.

It suddenly dawned on them... Octavio?! But he was in the snow globe? Sure we haven’t checked up on him before this whole incident. But 3 safely knew that DJ Octavio, leader of the Octarian Menace was contained in a snow globe manufactured by the Squidbeak Splatoon. There was no way.

“This has got to be a sick joke... It’s a dream.” The caped inkling tried to slap themselves.

“Well if your dreaming then I must be a dream come true to you.” The fish skull inkling winked.

All of the wreckage. It made sense? Octavio definitely most certainly had attacked Inkopolis. But this quick? That was a new record. And impossible!

“The Great Zapfish... It’s... It’s...” Agent 3 shivered before looking at Deca Tower.

“Mhm. This ain’t no dream.” Fish skull inkling chuckled.

”GONE!”

Agent 3 was sweating! Sure stealing the Great Zapfish yet again was too cliched. But looking at the damage around Inkopolis... Things definitely took a turn for the worse. And Agent 3 was going to get to the bottom of this.

“What happened? Since when did all this start?” Agent 3 grabbed onto fish skull inkling’s shirt and accidentally ripped some fabric away.

“Oi! That was my new shirt! Listen. This all started around 5 or so years ago. One day the Great Zapfish suddenly disappeared... Poof and vanished. The Squid Sisters reported the news as fast as possible, to get the word out. On that same day there were a lot of new inkling folk visiting Inkopolis Plaza, but there was also this shady creepy old dude. He had a white beard, a captains hat, some medals, and it looked like a curtain was the clothing he was wearing. He peeped from a manhole, peeking out looking for someone or something. I was there in that square and noticed him!” Fish skull inkling started to explain his story.

“Cap’n Cuttlefish...” Agent 3 mumbled from under their breath.

“Whatever. Alas I looked at the dude the whole day... And nobody even approached him. I guess they got the memo that he was creepy! I remember the last time I saw him, he sunk back into the manhole... Looking sad, and he never rose up again.” Fish skull inkling huffed.

“But I was there! I approached him!” Agent 3 pointed to themselves.

“Sorry cupcake. I don’t remember seeing a green squid like you approaching the dude. I remember the whole day very well! And you just want to brag don’t ya?” The orange squid glanced and squinted an eye before pushing Agent 3 to the ground.

“Right... But one last question. Where did you get that shirt?” Agent 3 asked.

“From working at Grizzco Industries hard! I scooped up enough cash to purchase this shirt, thank goodness 5 years later we have fresh clothes from that jellyfish. Some of us still wear the same gear after years! Survival of the fittest. Come on gang.” Fish skull inkling commanded the group he was with to follow him away.

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And so once again. Agent 3 was left alone to walk around Inkopolis and glanced around. Taking a closer look, some skyscrapers and buildings were leveled. Some like Deca Tower were lucky to be standing! But unfortunately Inkopolis Tower from Inkopolis Plaza had a worse fate... Inkopolis Square was around 20 minutes away from the plaza, but you can get a good view of Inkopolis Tower from this angle. But that was gone... Inkopolis Tower was completely gone. Most likely in shambles.

“Can’t believe this happened... How did Octavio rise up so quickly... But wait. 5 years?” Agent 3 quickly came to a conclusion. A reason.

Remember when Agent 3 was falling down after being knocked unconscious by the manhole blocking? Well rewind back a few seconds. They specifically thought something... They specifically wished they were never Agent 3. They never protected Inkopolis.

“...This is all.” Agent 3 couldn’t do it. They just wrapped themselves in their cape and ran to the alleyway.

Agent 3 was convinced that their wish in their thoughts was the reason for all of this. Their wish definitely came true. But this was only a guess Agent 3 had. That was it! But for now... Alone again... Naturally.

They shouldn’t be hanging round... But when the world’s turned upside down. They abandoned it and fell down the pipes to the wet and lonely crowd... Inkopolis is in ruins. City torn in two. How could have they foresee that their wish wasn’t such a bright one? Now there’s only strife and their role has lost all meaning. Alone again... Naturally. Until 3 stumbled upon another figure... They looked... Familiar?

“Marie? Marie!” 3 recognized them right away. It was Marie herself! Standing in her usual spot in the square, on top of the manhole to Octo Canyon.

“...” Marie quickly dropped herself down the hatch that even 3 couldn’t fully see her.

“Ah. Now I see how it is. It’s now or never...” 3 took a deep breath before quickly submerging into the manhole via squid form.

The pathway down was exactly the same as the green squid remembered it! Long pipe way down... Although it was a bit clanky and felt like there were drops of something leaking out. But it was still the long way down!

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After the shaky ride, 3 found themselves in Octo Canyon! Though this time 3 knew well they definitely messed up. Octo Canyon was crowded in tents and citizens, they were mostly inkling though. Boxes were being shipped out, which contained food, new weapons, and even new clothes. Dozens gathered and cheered as they received fresh new clothes!

Marie was also there! Wearing the same kimono as she usually did, though she was wearing a captain’s hat. The same as Cap’n Cuttlefish of course... Though 3 couldn’t tell if it was actually Cuttlefish’s original hat or a replica. But other than that, Marie turned her head to 3’s location. Spotted!

“Avast there bucko. That was a long fall... And how did you find us?” Marie was mimicking a pirates voice... But then quickly reverted back to her normal calming voice.

“Marie! It’s me! 3...” 3 was overwhelmed to see Marie.

“3? Sorry, I’ve never heard of a 3 before. Are you one of my lost fans? I don’t blame you if you came all the way here to seek shelter here.” Marie shrugged with an emotionless look.

“Oh boy...” Agent 3 facepalmed.

“You seem special. Is it your attire? Reminds me of the Squidbeak’s... Are you one of us?” Marie pointed out 3’s attire and even lifted up the cape.

Agent 3 just reminded themselves to remain silent... And that was that. No hard feelings.

“...I’ll take your awkward silence as a YES!” Marie snickered.

“Uh yeah. Know that. Okay so Marie... I’m 3. Agent 3.” 3 had no choice but to reintroduce themselves, as it was clear Marie had no clue who they were in this place.

“Agent 3? No. That doesn’t make sense... I may have been apart of Squidbeak back then. But there was no Agent 3.” Marie sighed.

“What...” Agent 3 mumbled.

“You see kid... When the Great Zapfish was stolen 5 years ago, my grandpa Cap’n Craig Cuttlefish. Leader of the legendary Squidbeak Splatoon went up to the plaza in search of help. Someone to help find the Great Zapfish. My cousin Callie and I, actually you know Callie obviously. Were agents. I was Agent 2 and Callie was Agent 1, but we had a pop star life too. So we went scouting in a different area underground... But eventually hours passed the same day the Great Zapfish went missing, gramps came back up to the surface and said that everyone just ignored him and found him as a creep. Instead we just decided to continue without another agent.” Marie cleared her throat and started talking.

“And then Octavio caused all of this right.” 3 adjusted their cape.

“Right! That slimy creep took the Great Zapfish and the rest of the zapfish... Barely had anymore electricity. He build up his army and basically attacked Inkopolis... Many were lost, and so the rebelling began. Unfortunately for I, Callie was taken away by DJ Octavio one fateful day... And I never saw her again. Not long after, gramps went on a mission all by himself. But he was ambushed by a rogue octoling! I never saw him again afterwards either... I stepped up and made my own resistance with the help of some allies. Converted old Octo Canyon into a shelter for others, as well as our own members! It’s a long story with detail...” Marie looked like she was about to cry. But kept a forced and confident grin.

“I’m sorry... I should have been there. But I was out roaming around the... Land?” 3 had to lie, knowing full well that if they told the truth about the wish made... Marie would definitely krill them on the spot plus the fact that Marie wouldn’t even believe them.

“Yes... But it was for a good cause right? Materials are scarce yet vital to all of us.” Marie huffed.

“I couldn’t find anything worth the matter.” 3 lied again.

“Sorry then. Why don’t you talk to Sheldon? We are planning a new raid on Beaker’s Depot, sector 3 of Octo Canyon in a few hours. It’s midnight and we have to be prepared.” Marie explained.

“Sheldon?! What’s he like?” 3 gasped. Sheldon was here?

“Can you stop asking questions and follow the orders? Sheldon... You know him, a big weapon nerd and expert. Though he has seemed to toughen up. Now off you go! For Inkopolis.” Marie scooted 3 away.

Now what the shell was 3 even thinking... This was a hodgepodge! Connecting the dots together, 3 eventually realized this was an alternate universe where they never became Agent 3 of the Squidbeak Splatoon. But why didn’t anyone else step up? There could have been one! Did all of them think Cuttlefish was such a creep? Must be writers block... But for now, 3 has to pretend that they are apart of this resistance Marie was leading. Though in reality they were lost and confused... Time to look for Sheldon!

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It’s going to take a bit to figure out what happened to everyone else in Inkopolis. But for now, this current raid on Beaker’s Depot can solve more mysteries! It’s time to begin the journey to at least improve this version of Inkopolis!

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Okay we got that out of the way! Chapter 2 here we come! Hope you’ve been enjoying this so far. I’m hoping I can actually finish this story. And remember that I’ll try my best to get through all of the characters of the Splatoon world! Not everything will be accurate and can easily be disproven. It’s just a story. Now stay fresh out there!

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GMOD: Luke!

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Cover art by me!