Disclaimer: I know I said that I was going to release this chapter on Thursday, but I decided to release it today. Don't worry, I went out of my way to make this chapter longer than the first, and who knows, maybe I'll start making chapters as long as this one.

Intro:

https://youtu.be/EL-D9LrFJd4

---

(Azazel's POV)

After I cleared the first mission, I jumped out of the grate, looking quite exhausted.

Marie: Oh! You did a great job on your first mission, and quite fast.

At this point, I was just staring at her, while trying to catch my breath.

Azazel: (Damn, who would've thought that these missions would be that tough on me.)

Marie: Now I think we should get at least a handful of these missions done a day.

I sighed, knowing that this is going to be a long day for me.

Azazel: Alright, let's get this over with. But can I take a quick break, so I can rest?

Marie: Go ahead. You'll need your strength to take on the Octarians.

Azazel: Thanks, I really need it.

After a 5 minute break, I got back up and I went back to doing the missions that Marie gave out to me for the day.

---

After a few hours, I finally completely the missions, and I looked like a total wreck, like I was about to pass out. I was completely out of breath, and I even received a burn on my abdomen from fighting the Octo Oven.

Azazel: Finally *pants* it is done.

Marie: Hey, you actually did really well out there!

She expressed a smile.

Azazel: I thought I was gonna be turned into calamari for sure.

I proceeded to lift my shirt up a bit to show the burn mark on my abdomen. Marie gave a slight blush as I was lifting my shirt, but her expression changed into being a little concerned.

Azazel: That bastard left a bad mark on my abdomen, I don't know if it's going to heal, or if it's permanent.

Marie: Well, you deserve a break after all of that. Here's your reward.

She handed me 10,000 coins for completing the missions, and she also handed me a... phone? I thought it was a little weird that she handed me a phone, until I realized that the phone looked familiar to me.

Azazel: Wait a minute, that's my phone!

Marie chuckled

Marie: Well, of course, it's not mine. I left mine at home... Sooooo, I borrowed your phone without your permission.

Azazel: Can you explain what the hell did you do on my phone?!

Marie proceeded to change the subject.

Marie: Well would you look at the time. It's getting pretty late. You should probably head home before you fall asleep where you're standing.

I noticed that the sun was setting.

Azazel: Oh shit, I got to get home. I'll see you tomorrow Marie, and we'll continue this conversation.

Marie waved goodbye to me, as I headed back to the Square.

Marie: I expect you're not going to remember this conversation tomorrow.

Marie smirked as she giggled to herself.

---

I made it back to the Square. It is already dark outside, most people have gone home, especially with the gangs that frequently commit all sorts of organized crime, from squidnapping, drug smuggling, to Inkling trafficking. The chancellor has been trying so hard to crackdown on these gangs, but it is been proven difficult. Most of it has to do with the influence of the Inkling Mafia.

I walked through the Square for some time, but it feels like that my fatigue is going to get the best of me.

Azazel: Time to get back home, and... and....

I collapsed onto the pavement, and I saw two figure slowly approaching me. I couldn't identify who they were, but one of them spoke up.

??1: Hey! Are you okay?

After that, I fell unconscious.

??1: Oh thank goodness. He's still breathing.

??2: That's good. So let's head home now.

??1: We can't leave him in the middle of the Square!

??2: Why not?

??1: Don't you feel bad for him? What if he gets robbed, or worse, killed?!

??2: Uuuggghhh... fine, 'Rina. You win.

"'Rina": Thank you Pearlie!

"Pearlie": Let's put him in the back of the car.

---

I slowly began to open my eyes, but I wanted to close them immediately as soon as the sun started pounding my eyes. It was made worse by the fact that the wall east of where the bed is entirely windows, with no curtains whatsoever.

Azazel: God dammit! Why is it so fucking bright in here?!

A thought raced through my head.

Azazel: Please don't tell me that I've been captured by the Octarians.

When I thought that I've been squidnapped by the Octarians, it was made much worse when I heard footsteps from outside the bedroom door, getting closer.

Azazel: (Shit! I got to hide myself, but where?)

I decided to hide myself under the bed. As the figure walked into the room, I heard a gasp that sounded feminine, so I knew that the figure was a girl. The sheets have been shuffled, then she walks over to a door across the room and knocks on the door. The door revealed to go into a bathroom that was a part of this room. It just baffles me as to how large this room is.

She walked out of the room, and I got a good glimpse of what she looked like. And what I saw truly horrified me.

Azazel: (An Octoling?! I was right, I have been captured by the Octarians! Shit, what am I going to do?!)

The Octoling walked out of the room a little frantically. After she left, I crawled myself out from underneath the bed. I saw that she left me a bowl of cereal on the nightstand.

Azazel: This is probably a bad idea... *my stomach starts growling* but I haven't anything to eat yesterday.

After some thinking, I've made up my mind.

Azazel:

https://youtu.be/YL4bjCyk_54

I started wolfing down the cereal. After I was done, I began my escape plan.

Azazel: Time to get the hell out of here.

I walked out of the room as quietly as I can, same thing for opening and closing the bedroom door. As I walked through the corridor, I appreciated how nice this house is, wait, did I say house? I meant mansion.

Azazel: (So this is how all those famous actors in Squiddywood live like.)

I started picking up some voices as I sneaked throughout the mansion, soon they begin to increase in volume.

Azazel: Now, am I getting closer to them, or is it the opposite? That, or it could be an echo coming from another room.

It's only that I got closer that I started picking up what they were saying.

??2: Slow down yo, what is it?

??1: He's gone!

??2: What?!

??1: He's gone! Come look for yourself.

When I heard that, I knew that I had to quickly had to find a place to hide and wait it out until they left. I went into a room nearby and proceeded to play the waiting game.

??1: See? I came in here to bring him some cereal an-

??2: Cereal? Seriously? I thought that we agreed on warm breakfast as the better breakfast choice.

??1: That's not the point! Wait... the cereal is gone.

My heart sunk when I heard that.

Azazel: (Fuck! How can I be so careless?!)

Their conversation got back on track when they left the bedroom.

??1: Pearlie, we have to find him.

"Pearlie": What, why?

??1: Do you not remember why we brought him here? He just randomly collapsed on the street. What if there is something wrong with him? What if he can't remember who he is, and we didn't try to help him?!

"Pearlie": Jeez... I hate it when you are right.

??1: Thanks, Pearlie!

"Pearlie": Let go of me! It's no big deal, Marina!

Marina: Oops! Sorry. Here, I'll go check outside around the pool and the rest of the house.

"Pearlie": Fine, I'll go check the storage room, the recording room, and the gaming room.

"Pearlie" literally after a couple of seconds.

"Pearlie": What?! I'll check for him too, but if he's not there, then I'm going to play some video games.

Marina: Honestly, Pearlie...

They soon left the corridor and went to the other parts of the mansion, trying to find me.

Azazel: It appears that they do not sound like they are part of the Octarian Army, they're just trying to help me and... now I feel bad for avoiding them. Now, where could the refrigerator be at? I think you all know where this is going, readers.

---

After what seems like a couple of minutes of searching, I finally made it to the kitchen and I didn't ran into them, which is surprising given the size of this kitchen. They must be cooking a feast fit for a king when they have guests here.

When I opened up the refrigerator, it felt like I died and went to heaven. There was food everywhere to the point where I just wanted to cry at the sight of it all. Hallelujah!

https://youtu.be/nsBByTiKfyY

Marina: Pearlie? I thought you were going to check the-

We just stared at each other as I slowly closed the refrigerator. It was made a little more awkward by the fact that I had a large piece of grilled fish stuffed in my mouth.

Azazel: Oh, hahro dere.

She just stood there, until she walked over to the counter and picked up the phone. When she picked up the phone, I heard ringing from across the mansion.

Marina: Yeah, it's fine.

She put down the phone after she hung up.

Marina: Are you hungry?

All I can do is shake my head side-to-side, telling her no as I was swallowing the fish.

Marina: Wha-

Azazel: The name's Azazel.

Marina simply walked out of the kitchen slowly and I swear I heard her mumble "What a cute name". This in return made the situation a little more awkward than it already is.

Azazel: I apologize, where am I?

Marina: It's fine. Come with me.

I walked out of the room, following Marina.

Azazel: So how did I end up here, and why?

Marina: You collapsed in the middle of Inkopolis Square, so we took you here to make sure you were okay... Are you okay?

Azazel: I feel much better now, honestly. At first when I woke up, I thought that I had been squidnapped by the Octarians.

Marina jumped for a second when I said that.

Marina: Wh-Why would you think that?

I noticed that she was sounding worried, like something that has come back to haunt her.

Azazel: I don't mean to sound offensive, but when I noticed that you were an Octoling, I got worried for a moment.

She quickly turned around and looked at me.

Marina: How did you know I was an Octoling?!

I moved back a little bit, as her outburst got me a bit startled.

Azazel: W-well, once again, I don't mean to sound offensive, but I saw how you looked.

Marina: Please! You can't tell anyone! Especially not Pearlie!

Azazel: How come?

Marina: No one can know! Imagine what people would think, what would they say, what would our fans think?

Azazel: Your fans?

Marina: Yeah, you know, our fans?

I was just silent.

Marina: Pearlie and I are an idol group... Off the Hook?

Azazel: I've only heard about you guys when I moved to Inkopolis about a month ago, not to be rude or anything.

Marina: I see, then. But really, you can't tell anyone! Please promise me!

I saw that she was about to cry. It would've pained my heart to see a girl cry right in front of me.

Azazel: Don't worry, I solemnly swear that I will not anybody that you are an Octoling. I don't want to see you cry, Marina.

She pulled me in for a hug.

Marina: Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me.

I couldn't say no to the moment, so I hugged her back, while also wiping the tears away from her eyes. After we broke the hug, we then continued through the mansion.

---

It must've taken us a few minutes to get to the end of this corridor and we entered a room to see who Marina calls Pearlie.

Marina: What're you doing, Pearlie?

"Pearlie": I'm chatting online.

Marina: Of course you are. Well anyway, this is... I'm sorry what did you say you're name was again?

Azazel: It's Azazel, by the way.

Marina: Right, thank you, this is Azazel.

"Pearlie" held up her finger for a few seconds before shutting her computer off.

Pearl: Hey yo! I'm Pearl, aka MC Princess.

Azazel: Huh, and all this time I thought your name was "Pearlie"

She grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me down to her eye level. She's really pissed off now.

Pearl: Don't you ever. Ever! Call me "Pearlie"! You got that?! I'll gut you like a salmonid! You got that, smartass?!

All I can do is rapidly nod yes, as I am sweating bullets like crazy. How can someone so small make me feel like I'm trying to fight a landshark with a yo-yo? It makes no sense!

Pearl: Okay. Good.

She lets go of my shirt collar. She throws her hands up into the air

Pearl: Welcome to the Pygmy Mansion!

I looked over to see Marina giving jazz hands.

Azazel: I have one question.

Pearl: What?

Azazel: What the hell is a pygmy?

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY...

https://youtu.be/Ru_H5PiyfSA

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, to where I must've spent hours trying to get this chapter down for you guys to enjoy my love for the series and Splatoon as a whole. Next chapter is coming out on Friday, if you guys enjoy this chapter and if you guys enjoy this story, be sure to show me some love, hit the vote button, follow me to receive more information on the story. As always, I'm RaveDogg, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

October 14, 2020