[ABANDONED] Another Series of Oneshots

The Aftermath (Splatoon 2: Color Responsibly)

We waited together for both the news and Clem's half of the team to arrive. Comet, Saph, Pinky, and I hadn't pulled another table to our spot, but I didn't think the others would mind. Our hair was still Golden from the night before, and we all had our basic tees on. Saph still wore the Fierce Fishskull on his head.

"Hey, don't be so worried, sis," Saph said to me. Was it so obvious? "I'm sure they'll get here in time for our victory."

That was what I was afraid of. He looked closer, "And your scars are fading pretty well, especially around your eye."

I smiled and said thanks. I had a feeling there would always be at least a tinge of green around my right eye, but at least the surgery scars were going away.

Saph's phone buzzed, and he checked it. He frowned and informed us that Leif had to stay home. Apparently she was out too late during splatfest and got in trouble.

"Hey, I think that's them," Comet said and pointed to a gaggle of kids coming toward us.

"Ugh, finally, the news is gonna start soon," Pinky said.

The kids had silver hair and strange outfits. Clem was the easiest to spot, as he was in the front, in a yellow t-shirt, zombie high-horses, and... a snorkel? I couldn't help smiling at that.

Zinnia and Vio were a little scarier. Zinnia had her favorite Octoleet goggles and the friendship bracelet around her ankle, and Vio wore the painters mask and red shoes.

"Azu!" Kelly yelled and darted out from behind the group. She ran up to me and gave me a hug. I didn't know if I should have stood up to return it, but she settled for hugging my head. "Did you see that last shifty station? How Pearl came down in that sweet pink sweatshirt and booyah'd so hard it made me and Vio explode?"

"So that was you guys, huh?" Saph said, laughing as the rest of the group approached us. "Figures. I'd recognize those Mini skills anywhere."

"Yep," Clem said, standing next to the table with his arms crossed. "Gotta say, those tentamissiles and the hyper bombs? Deadly combination. Good job, Comet."

"I was just using my best weapon," Comet looked down so the rim of his black hat shielded his eyes. He always did like the Slosher.

"Didn't we fight you guys twice?" I asked. "Because I'm pretty sure Zinnia picked up the N-Zap because of the tentamissiles and laid waste to our entire team. Multiple times."

"Kensa Splattershot," Zinnia replied. I nodded.

"You guys kept me busy," Vio said. "I couldn't get a shot off."

"Well you did tap shot me to death at some point," I said.

Kelly spun her pink visor around so she could see everyone better, and Comet decided to stop hiding under his hat, and Clem adjusted his snorkel.

"Oh yea, nice outfit," Saph said, barely concealing a snicker.

"It's called fashion, look it up," Clem retorted.

"I'll bet that we won 2-1," Kelly said. "Because chaos won popularity, but Marina's team usually wins the battles."

I didn't want to crush her hopes, especially since splatfests have been changed within the last year. But I didn't have to; the Square's TV turned on at that moment.

The Square quieted as Pearl and Marina announced who won each of the categories, and then the moment of truth:

Bam!

Blam!

Buh-blam!

Chaos won! 3-0! My jaw dropped and I looked at my brother.

Saph shrugged, "I guess that 100x battle at the end really did count."

The half of our team on Team Order were silent. I saw Clem's expression darken. I swallowed. Was this the end of Team Crash? Saph stood and walked up to Clem. He held out his hand, and after a moments hesitation, Clem took it.

"Good job," Clem said, smiling around his snorkel. "Whatever the future may bring, just know that you earned it."

"Thanks," Saph grinned, but I sensed something darker under those words. "You earned it"? I hoped he didn't mean anything by that. Saph didn't seem fazed by that phrase.

"Anyway, since Leif couldn't come, all eight of us could fit in a private battle and do whatever," Clem continued. We agreed on that and headed toward the lobby.
...
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Zinnia asked Clem as he was picking which Splatling to use.

"With turf war? Yea, it's simple and—"

"No! With us losing the splatfest and the world losing any sense of order!"

Clem sighed and chose the Zink Mini, "Zinnia, it'll be fine. I realized that people know how to control themselves, and they don't need society to control their impulses. The world won't go insane. Besides, there's nothing we can do about it so whatever happens, happens. Just try not to worry about it."

Zinnia frowned behind her goggles and hoped he was right.
...
Things didn't go crazy immediately. It started with little things, with modifying weapons. Maybe there was a Clash Blaster that shot a little too fast, or a Splat Charger with a little too much range. Occasionally, there would be someone who would bring a weapon into the Square, citing the splatfest law. That didn't work, until several people brought Splattershots and splatted the jellies who tried to stop them. After that, the flood gates were opened.

Inklings and Octolings alike were walking around with their favorite weapons and modifying them to one hit splat potential. Someone even snuck the Grizzco Charger into ranked.

Saph happily modified his roller until it was unrecognizable, with Pinky's help. Even the rest of us had to make some adjustments to our weapons to keep up with everyone, although Clem, Zinnia, and Leif refused to join the band wagon. They were made fun of for that, but they never seemed to let their defeats get to them.

Incidents of people getting splatted and respawning in an ongoing game became common, and a tally board of who got the most splats was put up in the lobby in front of the elevator, and Saph quickly made the top five, right in front of someone named Blue. Someone put up a lifesized clay statue of Pearl next to the board, and some Inklings and Octolings started worshipping it.

Pearl even had to go on air to tell everyone to stop, but nobody heard her. They were too busy piling their shackles of society in the middle of the Square and lighting it on fire.
...
"...And that's where you come in," I said to the person in front of me. They stared back blankly. I looked back at the crew, consisting of Pearl, Marina, Marie, Clem, and Zinnia. Marie nodded to reassure me.

"I know you're new to Inkopolis, but it wasn't always like this, and we need your help to fix it."

I reached out my hand to the person, "so, are you in?"