An Octoling's Tale

Chapter 20

Azalea stood in her living room looking out her window as rain poured down outside. A newspaper laid on a nearby table dated back to four years prior. The headline read: “16 YEAR OLD INKLING GONE MISSING”. Next to the newspaper was a picture of two inklings sitting in a photobooth with a goofy face. She picked up the picture and looked at it with a couple tears rolling down her cheeks. A voice rang through her head.

“Promise me you’ll protect the innocent Zaly. Promise me you’ll do what it takes to protect them.”

“I’m sorry,” Azalea said to herself. “I’m sorry I broke your promise Starla.” She sighed. “What do I do?” She looked back at the window and her late friend materialized.

“You can still save them Zaly,” the apparition said to her. “It’s never too late to do the right thing.” The apparition smiled and vanished, leaving Azalea alone looking at her reflection. She looked back at the picture in her hand and smiled.

“You’re right, it’s never too late.” She put the picture into her pocket and ran out of her home to the training yard.

In the Squidbeak Splatoon’s base, Azalea ran into the weapons room. She strapped a rifle to her back along with a bomb belt and did her best to tie a large knife to what was left of her left arm. Once she had geared up, she left the base to head underground.

In the prison cell, Desti was busy keeping Kate occupied while Sam went over to Meggy.

“Hey uh sis?” Sam asked.

“Yes?” Meggy replied.

“Listen, if we ever get out of here alive, I promise I’ll teach you how to cook.”

“Thanks Sam,” Meggy said as she hugged her brother. She sighed as she looked out the cell bars. “So what now?”

“I guess wait until we’re either rescued or killed.” Sam sighed and sat down against the wall

Meanwhile, Azalea had made it beneath the surface and was making her way to the prison cells. As she traveled through the prison level, a pair of octolings approached her. The two stopped in front of her and aimed their weapons.

“Drop your weapons inkling,” one of them ordered. Azalea just stood looking at them. “I said drop them.”

“No, you drop yours.” Azalea grabbed the rifle from her back and fired at the two octolings, killing both. She ran through the area, shooting down any octarians that threatened her until she came across one that just stood frozen in place. She approached the octoling carefully.

“P-Please d-don’t hurt me,” the octoling stuttered as she dropped her pistol. She backed up to a wall and slid down to the floor.

“Where is Desti Octari being held?” Azalea ordered as she picked up the pistol.

“She’s being held in a prison cell. She’s to be executed soon.”

“Take me to her.”

“Y-Yes ma’am.” The octoling stood up and started to lead Azalea to the cell.

Back at the prison cell, Stacy walked up to it followed by a couple octolings. She opened the cell door and walked in with the octolings guarding the entrance. She grabbed Desti by the back of the jacket and started to drag her out.

Kate ran over and held on tight to Desti. “Let my mom go!”

“Get back you stupid kid!” Stacy continued to drag Desti as one of the octolings went over to pry Kate off. She screamed and kicked at the octoling handling her only to get thrown to the ground. She got up and ran for the cell bars and clung onto them as she cried. She could do nothing but watch as Desti was being dragged away.