Intro:

---

(Azazel's POV)

I was shifting around in my sleeping bag, barely able to move due to all five of the girls surrounding me.

I sat up, feeling my stomach growl a bit. I stood up, and carefully avoided the others as I entered the kitchen. I was searching through the cabinets.

I was talking to myself, quietly.

Azazel: Come on. Were are the snacks? Callie lives here. They've gotta be aro- Wait! Here they are.

I started chowing down on the snacks.

Suddenly, I heard someone... sniffing?

Through the doorway came Callie.

Azazel: Callie? What're you doing up?

Callie:

She then looked over and started trying to get her snacks.

Azazel: Ah! Callie, stop!

Callie: No! Give me my snacks!

Azazel: Alright, alright. Here.

I handed her the bag, and she started eating.

I just grabbed another bag out of the cabinet.

We decided since we were already up, we should just stay up, but we didn't want to wake the others.

However, since the rest were still asleep, we couldn't be loud, which was asking a lot from the two of us.

We were both bored so we decided just a tiny bit of mischief wouldn't hurt.

So, we placed Marie's hand in a bowl of warm water. We did the good ol' whip cream in the hand trick on Pearl. We doodled on Juvia's face with permeant markers. For Marina, we decided to use her as an alarm clock. We placed her headphones on her, set an alarm, and set the volume at maximum. [And the alarm was Through The Fire And Flames, i.e. the intense part of the song at the beginning]

We were both barely holding in our laughter.

Callie: This is going to be great.

Azazel: Yep, now all we have to do is wait.

---

So Callie and I were both asleep on the couch, I was primarily sleeping on the middle of the couch, whereas Callie was resting her head on my shoulder and hugging me.

Suddenly...

Marina: AAAAH!

Marina quickly jumped up and threw off her headphones.

Marie, Pearl, and Juvia were slowly getting up, after being woken up by Marina's loud scream. Callie and I however, were still fast asleep.

Marie was confused over why her hand was wet until she looked over at her side, and saw a bowl of water. She then started blushing as she tried to hide the lower half of her sleeping bag, realizing what she had done. [For those who don't understand what happened, she basically wet herself.]

Marie held onto the sleeping bag and ran into the bathroom.

Pearl: Jeez, what's up with her?

Pearl said, pointing towards the direction Marie just left.

Marina looked over at Pearl and covered her mouth, to hold the laughter in and out of shock.

Pearl's face was covered in whipped cream.

Pearl: What?

Marina: Pearl, *Snicker* you've got *Snicker* you've got something on your face.

Pearl: Huh?

Pearl touched her face and was surprised.

Pearl: What the-?!

Pearl ran out of the room, but when she tried opening the bathroom door, Marie cried out.

Marie: Not now! Give me a second!

Juvia woke up from what was going on.

Juvia: What's going on?

Marina: I don't want to be rude, but you should look in a mirror.

Juvia: Wha?

She walked over to a mirror, and was shocked by what she saw on her face.

Juvia: Who drew on me?!

Marina was trying so hard to contain the laughter, but Juvia noticed this.

Juvia: Stop laughing at me!

---

(Marina's POV)

Marina looked over at the two lovesquids sleeping on the couch.

She roughly shook us both awake.

Callie & Azazel: Agh!

Marina: Now... Do either of you want to explain what the hell is going on?!

Azazel: Ugh. Did we miss it?

I asked Callie, as I was rubbing my eyes.

Callie: No, it seems like it worked great.

They could hear Pearl, Marie, and Juvia arguing a few rooms away.

Callie: I told you Marina would work as an alarm clock.

Azazel: No, she woke us up.

Callie: Exactly, just as I planned.

Azazel: You're just taking credit for this because we slept through it all.

Callie: No I'm not!

Marina: What did you two do?!

Azazel: Okay, Marina, before you get anymore mad-

I stopped to see Marina's eyes filled with fire. She's really pissed off.

Azazel: Let us explain.

Callie: We got bored in the middle of the night, so we had to keep ourselves busy somehow.

Callie then stood up and started walking towards the bathroom door.

Callie: Marie! Hurry up! You can't be taking that long. It's not like you have to use the bathroom or anything.

Marie opened the door and tackled Callie. Pearl and Juvia then rushed into the bathroom, and a scream was heard.

Marina: You see what you've caused, Azazel?

She turned back over to see me lying there with my arms behind my head, with a satisfied look on my face.

Azazel: You bet your ass I did. Worked like a charm.

Marina gave me an upset look.

Azazel: What?

---

Now that everything was cleaned up, and they were finished beating the shit out of me and Callie, everything calmed down.

We were all just watching TV at first. Then, Marie received a reminder on her phone.

Marie: Oh! The concert is after the Splatoween Splatfest!

Callie, Pearl, & Marina: What?!

Azazel & Juvia: Cool.

Marina: You're telling us this, now?!

Marie: Oops?

Callie: Marie! You can't just wait until the last minute to tell us these things.

Marie: You really shouldn't be surprised.

After a bit of calming down, Pearl and Marina though they should head home and practice.

Marie: You've still got your backstage pass, right, Azazel?

Azazel: Yeah, I do. Somewhere... In my room.

Marie: Good, because I'm not giving you another if you lost it.

Azazel: You bet. (Fuck! How am I supposed to tell her that I lost it?!)

Azazel: Well, see you two later.

I gave Marie a hug, causing her to blush in shock. Then Callie joined in, wrapping her arms around Marie and my necks.

Callie: Aw! Now isn't this sweet.

Pearl then grabbed me, and started leading me away.

Pearl: Well, we've got to get going. Much work, little time. See ya!

Azazel: Hold on for a moment, I gotta talk to Callie.

Pearl: Fine, but only for a little bit.

Azazel: Thanks.

I walked over to Callie.

Azazel: Hey, can we talk in the kitchen?

Callie: Sure. Why not?

We walked over to the kitchen.

Callie: So, what do you want to talk about?

Azazel: Do you think you can get me another backstage pass?

Callie: What, why?

Azazel: I, may have... lost it.

Callie: Aw, isn't that sad. Don't worry, I got you covered.

I then hugged Callie, and she responded with hugging me back.

Azazel: Thanks for the aid, Callie.

Callie: Aw, it's nothing.

She gave me a peck on my cheek.

Callie: Don't worry, if you need someone to talk to, call me.

She said in a sly voice.

Azazel: Okay then...

We broke the hug.

Azazel: Anyways, I gotta get going. See ya!

Callie: Stay fresh!

I walked out of the kitchen, then the four of us were now gone, leaving just Callie and Marie in their apartment.

Callie walked out of the kitchen and looked over at Marie, who was just sitting there dazed.

Callie waved her hand in front of Marie.

Callie: Uh... Marie? Are you okay?

---

(Pearl's POV)

We arrived back home. We took a second to relax before Pearl and Marina had to get working.

Marina went to check her computer, leaving Pearl, myself, and Juvia just sitting on the couch, but when Marina came back, she seemed a little worried.

Pearl: Yo, Marina, what's wrong?

Marina: Uh, Pearlie? We've got a little problem.

Pearl: What kind of problem?

Marina leaned in close to Pearl, to whisper it, so me and Juvia wouldn't hear it. Although she made sure that I couldn't hear it, I managed to pick up what they were saying, though it was barely audible.

Marina: It's an 8 problem.

Pearl: Ugh, fine! Go help 'em out, Marina.

Marina: On it.

Marina then left the room.

Azazel: What was that about?

I decided to play dumb.

Pearl: Nothing. It's fine, but it looks like we aren't practicing today.

Juvia: Then what now?

Pearl: I don't know. What do you want to do?

Azazel: I don't know. I thought the rest of the day was going to be a lazy day for me.

Pearl: Hmm...

We were thinking of what we could do.

Pearl: Ah! I've got it.

---

Pearl: Tada!

Azazel: Now that's what I call a ship! [If you couldn't tell, I'm a little boat crazy. And by a little, I mean to the point of insanity. Please send help]

Pearl: Yep! The Manta Maria to be specific.

Azazel: So what're we doing here?

We were now walking onto the ship.

Pearl: Just checking it out. This thing is sweet. Trust me, it's the same one I got for my sixth birthday.

I looked over at her astonished.

Azazel: Daddy's little girl.

She nudged me with her elbow.

Pearl: Hey!

We were walking around the ship, checking out everything it has to offer. I was actually reading the signs, while Pearl would just look at me and pretend she already knew what they were. She wasn't fooling me, but didn't say anything.

Pearl: You know, Marina and I threw a concert on a ship before. It was pretty fresh.

Juvia: Really? How'd it go?

She didn't respond, but in her eyes, you could see the fire and hear the screams of many Inklings.

War... war never changes

Pearl: It was great!

She sounded cheerful.

Azazel: Sweet.

We were up at the steering wheel.

Pearl: Do you think she's seaworthy?

Azazel: I don't know, she's probably inefficient.

Pearl walked over to the wheel, but her holding it was like a child trying to reach the top shelf, so I grabbed a nearby box for her to stand on.

Pearl just looked at the box, annoyed, then stood on top of it.

Pearl: Yo, I think I still got it. Hard to starboard!

Azazel: If we went starboard, we'd crash right into this dock right here.

Pearl: I knew that!

She said as she started getting off the box, crossing her arms.

I gave her a "Really" look, as I know a thing or two about ships, and how to operate one.

We continued walking around the ship.

Azazel: This makes absolutely no sense. Why would anyone design a ship like this? It's so impractical. (Darkling ships are the way to go.)

Pearl: Who knows, but it makes a killer turf stage.

Azazel: I bet-

Pearl: And when I roll off of the top deck, I just light 'em up with my dualies. It's all about that agility!

Azazel: Eh, it's not all about speed.

I looked over at Pearl and saw her mouth was scrunched up, and her eyes were serious.

I chuckled at this.

Azazel: Okay, okay. I got it. You gotta go fast.

Pearl: Hm. That's better.

Juvia walks up to me and whispers something to me.

Juvia: I bet she's using the dualies to compensate for something she lacks in.

Azazel: *Snicker* I know, right?

We both snickered at the joke.

We reached the front of the ship, and Pearl ran ahead of us. She went to the bow of the ship. She stood up on the first railing so she could reach over it, slightly.

Pearl: Yes! This is my favorite part.

I walked up and Pearl saw that I was still standing above her.

Pearl went up a couple more railings until she was above me.

Azazel: Woah! Careful, Pearl.

I held onto her to make sure she didn't fall,

Pearl: Perfect!

Pearl held her arms wide open.

Pearl: I'm the king of the world, baby!

I was just chuckling at this.

Azazel: Well, you've already got the crown.

Pearl: That's because everything the light touches is my kingdom.

I was left, once again, laughing.

---

It was getting kind of late. Pearl and I were just leaning on the rails, looking out at the water. Juvia had gone home by now.

Pearl: I love the sound of the water.

Azazel: Yeah, just the sounds of the waves crashing together, but gently.

Pearl: It reminds me of when I was younger... It reminds me of the times with my dad.

Azazel: What happened to your dad?

I was looking over her.

Pearl waved the question off.

Pearl: That's a story for another time.

Pearl: The lights from the city reflecting on the water always looks so beautiful.

Azazel: Yeah, it truly is a work of art. You know, you can be real sweet when you want to.

Pearl looked away, with a tiny amount of blush on her face.

Pearl: Y-You really mean that?

Azazel: Of course I do, you really can be a sweetheart when you put your mind to it.

Pearl: T-Thank you... Azazel?

Azazel: Yeah?

She leaned towards me and gave me a surprise kiss. After a bit, she broke the kiss and spoke up.

Pearl: I.. I love you.

Azazel: I.. love you too, Pearl.

I pulled her in for another kiss, to which she accepted it.

We stood there for a while longer. Just enjoying the soothing silence and the love between us.

---

Pearl and I arrived back at the house.

I grabbed some food out of the kitchen, then relaxed over on the couch.

Juvia also walked over to the couch, and sat down next to me.

Juvia: So, how was the view of the city?

Azazel: Honestly, it was quite something.

Juvia: I wish I could've been there, but Marina had to call me back home.

Azazel: Kinda sad, if you think about it. Don't worry, I'll take you next time.

Juvia: You really mean it?

Azazel: Yep.

She pulled me on for a hug.

Juvia: Thank you, Azazel!

Azazel: Aw, it's nothing.

Pearl went to go check on Marina.

When she got there, Marina was just sitting at her desk. When Marina saw Pearl enter the room, she turned her chair around.

Marina: Oh! Hey, Pearlie. You're back

Pearl: Yep. Were you able to help Agent 8 out?

Marina: Yeah, nothing I couldn't handle.

Pearl: Of course. So, how're they doing?

Marina: They're still doing well, but where they're at doesn't make any sense, according to all my data.

Pearl: Yo, chill, Marina. It'll be fine. We'll get 8 and the Cap'n out of there.

Marina: Yeah, you're right.

Marina got up and hugged Pearl.

Marina: Thanks, Pearlie.

Pearl was hugging her back.

Pearl: No problem.

Pearl broke the hug.

Pearl: Now, we should get some rest, we've got a big day after the Splatfest.

They walked away, and when they got to the living room, they saw me asleep on the couch, holding a place of grilled fish in my mouth.

They cleaned up my mess and covered me with a blanket.

Then, we all went to sleep, in preparation for the big day, after the Splatfest.

???: But what lies ahead in the next chapter? Find out tomorrow!

An evil laugh can be heard.

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY...

Looks like the haunting is among us tomorrow, so stayed tune. Mwahahahahaha. Anyways, if you guys enjoy this chapter and enjoy this story, be sure to show me some love, hit that vote button, follow me to receive news on Into the Light. The Halloween special is in development and is coming out tomorrow. As always, I'm RaveDogg, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

October 30th, 2020