Into the Light (A Splatoon Story)

The Lesson

The next morning, as I sit down at the table, I know something's different. The plates aren't out yet, and I don't smell pancakes like I usually do at this time. Is something wrong?

"Morning, Rosa!" Callie calls cheerfully from the kitchen. "Come on in!"

I slowly enter the kitchen, wondering what's going on. Callie turns to me, holding plates.

"Sorry it's not ready yet!" She says, giving me a bright smile. "Marie wanted waffles for a change, so it took a little longer to make!"

What are waffles? I wonder, looking at her quizzically.

She leaves the kitchen, smiling over her shoulder at me. I take that as an invitation to follow, and go after her.

"Oh, that's right. You probably don't know what waffles are." She says, her face falling.

I nod, inching closer to see what she's carrying. She smiles and leans down, allowing me to see what's on the plates. 

"See? These are waffles! They're kinda like pancakes!" She explains.

I stare at them, trying to form an opinion. They're circles, like the pancakes, but there are squares in the big circle. How is it like that? What made that happen?

"Anyway, why don't you try one?" Callie says, setting one of the plates at the table in my usual place. "Marie and I will eat when she gets back!"

I nod again, taking the fork she's offered. Then it hits me.

Where's Marie? I write.

Callie smiles. "She went to get some things for your writing lesson today!"

Writing lesson... I'd completely forgotten! Excitement shoots through me like a lightning bolt, followed by nerves.

What if I don't do it right? Will I be able to do it?

"Come on, writing's fun!" Callie says, taking my hands and squeezing them. "Besides, Marie's a great teacher! She helped me when I was first learning. I wasn't very good at sitting still and paying attention."

I can't imagine her as a kid. It just doesn't seem to make sense to me. She's grown up in a totally different world from the one I have.

"Go on! Try the waffles!" She says.

I glance down, realizing I'd completely forgotten about eating. I clumsily cut a piece with the fork and knife, still unused to such utensils, and take a small bite.

She's right, it does taste quite similar to pancakes. The sweetness is still there, just differently shaped. Do pancakes and waffles know how similar they are? Are they like Octolings and Inklings, very similar except for a few physical traits? Does that mean they hate each other like we seem to, or can they not think at all? Perhaps someday, one of them will be decided as the 'better' one.

"Well?" Callie asks, smiling.

I smile, taking another bite. That's all Callie needs. She beams, then runs to get something from the kitchen.

"Try it with the syrup!" She says, upending the container over my waffles.

I spring back in alarm. What if she uses too much? Will she drown the waffles? Can they swim?

"Don't look so worried! See? There's nothing to worry about."

To my great relief, she didn't drown the waffles. They look exactly the same as before, just with the syrup on it. I imagine syrup on waffles tastes very similar to syrup on pancakes, so it seems relatively safe.