Once Akashi-yaki dropped down from her spot, I dodged a wave of Octarian ink that was flung by an Octobrush. The brush I used to fight with and was thought to have been stolen by me. It was back with its rightful owner, but I couldn't leave her like this.
Akashi-yaki was still under Octavio's influence. I knew I couldn't fight her straight on.
"Jeez, what a fighter!" Josh gasped over the line. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
The answer was yes.
"Akashi-yaki, you have to stop." I said, adding some strength in my tone to hide the fear. "This isn't you."
"This was always me." Akashi-yaki growled, advancing towards me. "I was made to free the Octarian civilization from the undergrounds, to take back the land that belongs to us. The land you squids greedily stole!"
She sent another large wave of ink, and once again, I had to evade. She seemed a lot more experienced and stronger than I was with the Octobrush.
"But what about Nozomi?" I quickly asked.
I was answered. "Nozomi is nothing!"
"She's your friend! Your sister! You told me that yourself. What happened to that?"
Another voice, from Akashi-yaki's own earpiece, shouted in anger. It was from General Octavio. "Don't just stand there, splat her!"
The commander went silent for a while before speaking again. "She killed me after she pleaded for mercy and stole my brush. And she didn't want to even look at me when I returned. How can I still call her a friend?"
"She didn't want to face the mistake of ruining your friendship again." I responded sadly. "This war has devastated you both in the first place... Deep inside, don't you want Inklings and Octarians to coexist? Don't you want this war to end, and this time, with winners on both ends?"
Akashi-yaki staggered in her words, as she slowly dropped her brush. "I-I..."
I set my grandfather's bamboozler on my side to show I had no intentions of attacking. Josh and Mack were warning me on the line, but I ignored. "This dam is proof that we once lived together in peace. You helped built this with Nozomi. We can share this future and leave this strife behind. So let's end this conflict, you and I."
I seemed to have gotten her full attention. I knew she was fighting off Octavio's influence on the inside, it could be seen in her eyes as they flickered to her normal colours.
"I SAID SPLAT HER!"
Following Octavio's screaming demand, the low surrounding beat increased in volume. The terrible noise rang in my ears and in Akashi-yaki's. The commander's threatening appearance returned to her as Octavio was able to fully control her once more.
The Akashi-yaki I knew was now gone and out of reach, and I was left to the puppet of the general. "This dam must be destroyed!"
I was pushed away by a bomb that was snuck below me. My legs went completely numb from the strong impact. The next thing I saw was Akashi-yaki charging towards me with her brush ready. I rolled out of the way just in time to evade the deadly ink, then forced myself up to run.
It wasn't easy to escape, however. Feeling returned to my legs and I struggled to run as they ached with an indescribable pain.
Where would I run to? Why should I run? I finally had the chance to free Akashi-yaki.
Free her... From music.
I looked around frantically. Where could the source be?
The answer was given as I realized the low beat was originating from where the lower dam wall stood. Looking down, I saw something I had never seen before. Another mech, twice as larger than the other fallen mechs back at the hallway, accompanied by two enormous flying Octarians with eye visors that displayed maps of their surroundings. The mech looked like a C.A.S., but much more improved in terms of design. There were speakers all over its armour plates that gave off a constant rhythm, too low for me to handle.
"I see you're still alive, criminal!" Laughed a voice, augmented by stereos, belonging to the little inventor Nakji. "But you and your precious city won't be once this dam's dead n' done! By the new and improved C.A.S. 2.0!"
The mech reared back, then full-on thrusted a right fist into the dam wall. It didn't completely break the wall, but it did cause some damage, cracking the concrete. The mech fist, however, was broken due to the impact.
"Agh, got too excited there... But I still have my cannons!" Nakji laughed as the upper arms began to charge up with electricity.
I couldn't reach Nakji. Not with this weapon. And before I could react, Akashi-yaki kicked me down, keeping me pinned onto the concrete with her boot on my chest, nearly choking me and making me unable to respond to Josh and Macks' calls. I dropped Jiichan's bamboozler, which left me defenseless.
The female commander raised the Octobrush. "I've had enough of you Inklings... But most of all, I've had it with you Hotaru kinsfolk. Knowing that I can kill off the beloved granddaughter of my main target will at least give me a good laugh."
"No..." I mouthed as I gasped to breathe. "Wait..."
"Enjoy your last moments."
YOU ARE READING
Splatoon: The Brush Thief (COMPLETED)
Fanfiction[A Splatoon Fanfiction] There have been many stories about the Great Turf War - all about the victories and heroes that played their part. Though, one tale about an Inkling hero who had fought with an Octarian brush is known by only a few. The first...
