First off, I have made a new Splatoon book. No, this doesn't mean this book is done, and no, I in no way plan on quitting writing on this book. But due to the fact that Splatoon 2 is done and Splatoon 3 is still a ways away, I decided to write a new book. Chapters for this story will still release, but since this new story isn't tied directly to the games (despite having the characters from here, and more in the future) I can do things that I wanted to do with this story, but were too big and too unknown for me to actually commit to.

Second off... THIS BOOK REACHED 500,000 READS!!!! That's half a million! I can never thank any of you readers enough for getting me to this point that I didn't even consider as a possibility when I first started this book and for putting up with the slow points in my updates. I'm just so grateful to every last reader; it's because of y'all that this happened. I'll let y'all decide what I should do to celebrate it.

Marina POV

Pearl and Marina were in the helicopter, performing their song just as they did when they helped Agent 8 stop the N.I.L.S. Statue.

Pearl: You know, Marina?

Marina looked over to hear her better since the helicopter and the speakers were pretty loud.

Pearl: I think this Shifty Station may be your best one yet.

Marina: Thanks, Pearl. Also, I wanted to tell you something I've been thinking about for a while now.

Pearl: Oh! Hold that thought, Marina. It's just about the one minute mark.

Marina noticed the helicopter was floating over the center of the stage and nodded.

Marina: I'll tell you later.

Pearl smiled then hopped out the side of the statue as she graciously floated down.

Marina sighed now that Pearl was on her way down.

Marina: (I don't want this to end...)

(Y/N) POV

(Y/N) was inking the turf, his teammates were pushing forward while he held the center of the stage, inking the straggling sections of the stage when the center started glowing. When he looked at the glowing beam of light, he saw Pearl descending down upon the upper center area, so he swam through the ink to get to her.

Pearl: Heyo. I was hoping I'd get to help you use this.

He was confused.

(Y/N): Use what?

Pearl smirked, cocked her head, then seemingly pulled out her Killer Wail. (Y/N)'s face had a mix of shock and excitement as he looked from the Killer Wail to Pearl.

Pearl: Just tell me where to set this off and I'll do the rest.

He nodded as he understood what she said then pointed her in the direction where to set it off, to which Pearl nodded with her smug expression as she leaned back to use the Killer Wail to blow the entire half of the stage away.

~~~

Marina POV

It all came down to this. Marina never got around to telling Pearl what she wanted to tell her. She was too afraid to do it. She couldn't imagine her life without Pearl. They were family; Pearl even said so herself.

Marina was watching the screen flash while looking over to Pearl, afraid what may happen.

Pearl: Okay, y'all. It's time...

Marina: The final results!

Pearl: The winner of this Splatfest is...

Marina gulped.

Marina: (This is it...)

The results of the votes, normal battles, and pro battles flashed on the screen in that order.

Pearl: BLAM!

Marina: BUH-BAM!

Marina's eyes widened a bit as her heart sank to the floor... Three to zero.

Pearl: CHAOS REIGNS!

Marina: NOOOOOOOOO! INKOPOLIS IS DOOMED!

Pearl: MUAHAHAHAHA! It's time for everything to change... And it starts with Off the Hook.

Marina: ...

Marina put her hands up to her face, staring at Pearl, unable to look away.

Marina: (This can't happen. It's not possible!)

Marina was fighting an inner emotional battle. Everything she feared was right in front of her.

Pearl: Marina, these last few years have been amazing... Easily the best years of my life. But I can't shake the feeling that we're missing out on other experiences.

Marina: Pearl. You don't have to do this.

Pearl: Let me finish, Marina. I thought about this for the entire Splatfest. And I've made up my mind.

Marina: ...

By this point, Marina could barely hold back her own tears. Ever since she arrived at Inkopolis, Pearl has been there for her. She idolized Pearl. She was the one that Marina always turned to when anything was wrong. But now, this was something she felt that she had to make the decision on her own. She couldn't hold back. She couldn't just sit by and let her Off the Hook, her livelihood, her family, fall apart.

Pearl: It's time for Off the Hook to break--

Marina: NO! Don't say it!

Marina couldn't hear Pearl say the words. Hearing the words, processing them, would break her.

Pearl: It's time for Off the Hook to break... into new genres of music. 

Pearl threw her arms up in excitement.

Pearl: Flip hop. Cuddlecore. You name it! WE GONNA TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

Marina: WHAT?!

Marina took a figurative step back after she heard this.

Marina: So Off the Hook isn't breaking up?!

Pearl: What?! HECK NO!

Pearl sat up in her seat, shaking her head before throwing her arms back up in the cheerful motion.

Pearl: You and me are gonna rock the mic together until the end of time! 

All the sadness and fear that had been residing inside of Marina was no dissipating and turning into happiness. It was such a fast change, her tears she was holding back almost came rushing out, out of pure shocked glee.

Pearl: Or at least until I can get my solo career off the ground.

Marina: ...

Marina drew back and glared at Pearl.

Pearl: BAHAHA! I'm just playin', Marina. You know I love you.

Marina drooped her head forward, unable how to accept this emotional rollercoaster going on throughout her mind.

Marina: Pearl... I... I... I'm so happy right now...

Marina had actually begun to start sobbing. It was all too much to control.

Pearl: It's you and me against the universe, 'Rina! Let's wake the sleepin' giants with our sloppy sonic science!

Marina sniffled.

Marina: Yeah...

She sniffled again trying to control the tears falling out before quickly shaking it off and turning to a happy vibe.

Marina: Let's bring our bumpin' beats to the oceans and the streets! Big ups to the fans for sticking with us through thick and thin.

Pearl: And big ups to Team Chaos for sticking it to those orderly guppies! Splatfests may be coming to an end, but Off the Hook is just getting started!

Marina: If you participated in the Splatfest, your prizes are waiting in the Square!

When everyone in Inkopolis watching Inkopolis News and hearing the announcement had made some slightly bummed over the end of the Splatfests, but it couldn't overturn the excitement about what may be coming from Off the Hook in the future.

~~~

(Y/N) POV

(Y/N) was watching the news with Liz and Veronica, and after seeing how Off the Hook would be fine, and Marina's worries were shown to be untrue, he smiled.

(Y/N): Okay, can I get up now?

He was laying on his side on the couch earlier when Liz just came in and sat on him, then Veronica took to sitting in front of the couch on the floor.

Liz: Nope.

(Y/N): Come on, I need to get up eventually.

Liz: Then you shouldn't be taking up the whole couch.

(Y/N) sighed, knowing how stubborn Liz could be, he knew it would be a while, but he laughed it off anyway.

~~~

Marina POV

Marie: So, congratulations on your last Splatfest.

Everyone was over at Pearl's mansion to celebrate the ending of the final Splatfest.

Pearl: Of course yo! You know we had to throw a killer concert for the last one.

She smiled wide while Marina giggled a bit.

Marina: Thank you. It was a total defeat, but it was fun, which is all that matters. And Off the Hook has so much installed for the future.

Callie: Yeah, our careers boomed after the Splatfests ended.

Marie: I do miss them though. I may not have one this time, but at least I won the important one.

Marie smirked over towards Callie while raising her hand to cover her smirk. Callie pouted and crossed her arms, remembering her loss in the Callie vs Marie Splatfest.

Marie: You can't complain, Callie. I did win fair and square.

Callie: Yeah, yeah.

Marina: And now I'll be broadening the horizons of music genres when I write some songs.

Pearl: Same here! I've got so many ideas ready to blow the fans' minds!

Marie: Once the Splatfests end, it seems to open whole new doors that can make all those happen.

Callie: Like how I became an actress on TV.

Marie: Yeah, and I was able to gloat about Team Marie winning.

Callie: That's it! I'm gonna go ask (Y/N) if he prefers Callie or Marie.

Callie started walking off and Marie was following after her.

Marie: Come on, Cal, it was just a joke!

Pearl: Count me in! Let's get a game going, yo.

Marina smiles and follows after them, wanting to join in on the game Pearl was going to set up.

~~~

Everyone had left after a couple of hours of playing games and just, in general, enjoying each other's company.

Pearl fell back onto the couch.

Pearl: Ugh. I'm exhausted.

Marina walked over and sat down next to her on the couch. She smiled looking at Pearl and surprised her by hugging her.

Pearl: Woah, what's happening?

Marina: I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated having you here for me.

Pearl: I know, 'Rina.

Marina: I was just so scared.

Pearl: I know, 'Rina.

Marina hugs a bit tighter.

Marina: You're what inspires me to keep going, Pearl.

Pearl raised her eyebrows a bit at this.

Marina: Always hoping that when I made a song, I thought about how you would praise me for doing a good job. That I'd always have you to be there for me to confirm that I belong here, in Inkopolis.

Pearl hugs Marina, surprising her.

Pearl: Yo, didn't you say you could always come to talk to me when you needed me? Why didn't you talk to me if you were feeling so bad?

Marina: I couldn't because I already felt like you wanted this to end. I talked to (Y/N) about it, which he said I should talk to you about it, so I was going to on the helicopter, but I backed out.

Pearl: Yo. Don't you ever feel like you can't talk to me, Marina. We're gonna rock this universe to the end of time.

Marina smiles.

Marina: I know. And I'll gladly be by your side the whole way.

The two were still hugging, sitting on the couch.

Pearl: Don't get cooked.

Pearl & Marina: Stay off the hook...

1878 Words

August 15, 2019 - 1:38 AM