#nocchan

Riza finds herself unable to sleep, once again Something stirs in the back of her mind, a menagerie of memories, visions, voices, and…something that she can’t quite describe, or maybe hesitates to…

She looks up to the stars and the full moon, the quiet twinkling lights offer her a moment of peace as she lets out an exhausted sigh

“Just…just a minute, only for a minute” Riza whispers to herself A cold gust rolls by, as if to answer her, as she feels her eyelids become heavy…

[SHATTER]

The sound of broken glass fills the silence Riza’s eyes widen as the stars begin to fade from the sky, one by one I’m the moment, the thunderous sound of her own heartbeat overtakes everything and a sharp pain envelopes her right hand, suddenly covered in small wounds

An low haze creeps in, bringing with it an image that haunts the former soldier… A familiar figure, dressed in octarian battle armor, and a gas mask with eerie cyan light glowing in the lenses and fog billowing from the vents

It slowly walks towards Riza, each step carries the echo of hundreds, even thousands, as its gaze is fixed on her…

Riza watches, with a cold sweat, as the haze rises and, one by one, an army of silhouettes appear, standing at attention, their eyes glow with that same haunting cyan glow

As the figure marches closer, memories flash through Riza’s mind Visions of battles fought in the underground The sounds of weapon fire and rallying cries from the forces standing against her The rush, the drive of putting her life on the line with each mission The unnerving sights of the many sanitized experiments The feeling of fighting for control when she was caught in Tartar’s trap The feeling of being watched ever since, by something she refuses to explain… Beneath that thing’s mask, the phantom that haunted her for years, the macabre culmination smiles

With each step closer, Riza’s heart beats faster The phantom mimic extends its hand, an offering for her to join it as she staggers to her feet, struggling to catch her breath

Mustering all the strength she can, Riza draws her charger, takes aim…and coughs as the ghost clenches its fist and pulls back, snatching the breath from her lungs

“Not…not yet” she weakly calls out as her vision begins to fade

“I…left..you behind” she whispers as she raises her weapon one more time

The phantom lunges forward, hand outstretched towards Riza’s face

“HEY!!”

A voice calls out, silencing all else Riza turns as she feels a hand clasp her shoulder

To her relief…she saw a familiar bandana, a skull bandana wrapped around Nocchan’s neck

“What’s happening? Who are you talkin’ too?”

Riza turns back and sees…nothing No ghosts, no haze…no army Just the crater, the wind, and the midnight sky… She looks down at her hand, wrapped in a bandage… She leans her charger against the wall as she takes a second to collect herself, though she can’t hide that she is visibly shaken

“N-nobody, it’s…”

Riza stops herself, glancing over at Nocchan, who she knows is quick to see through the lie

The bags under eyes, her bandaged hand, the sweat on her forehead, the cyan tint in her right eye…

“I couldn’t sleep…”

Riza can’t help but follow Nocchan’s eyes as she looks around the room, especially taking note of a shattered mirror, the pieces forming a trail to the steps where Riza had been sitting

Taking a deep breath, Nocchan gently puts her hard on Riza’s shoulder one more time as they both walk back to the outpost steps, Riza rests against the railings as Nocchan looks towards the horizon and the first signs of dawn

“Take it easy, I can handle things”

*Both teams of Chaos and Order have dispersed and the night life of Inkopolis returns to it’s usual midnight bustle. But, in the distance, on the MC Princess Diaries station, floating next to the ruins of the NILS Statue, Doppel quietly looks up to the full moon and braces herself. Thoughts of her last encounter with her skull faced counterpart flash through her mind. What Nocchan said about her pursuits, her fight to prove her strength despite the fact that it almost lead to her demise, twice, it haunts her... Doppel knows all too well what dwells in Nocchan’s mind, hopefully she can show her reason, but such a thing is far easier said than done, and their last battle was a clear sign of that. Before she can contemplate further, the sound of approaching footsteps breaks the silence.* *With her inkbrush resting on her shoulder, Nocchan slowly makes her way to Doppel’s side, all while keeping her eyes on the ruined statue* “Ya know, not gonna lie, it feels kinda weird, seeing this thing again... Kinda surprised it’s still here, for the most part” *Doppel can’t help but smile and shake her head* “You still did quite a number on it. And this is only the outside, I bet whatever is, or WAS, on the inside is nothing but scrap now.” “You know what sucks though? I can’t tell anybody about this thing. Pretty sure no one wants to know that they came pretty close to being destroyed, and they didn’t even know about it!” “And yet, here we are. A lot of people were in this same spot not that long ago, looking at this thing. I’m sure there’s a few people out there who have some idea of what this thing REALLY is” *Nocchan lowers her bandana, revealing a rather confident smirk* “But I don’t think they’d know about how it got trashed so badly~!” *For a moment, Nocchan and Doppel couldn’t help but laugh. Before a familiar silence, accompanied by that same tension from their last chat, slowly began to sink in. Doppel turns to Nocchan, who’s looking over her right hand. After a deep breath, and a moment of hesitation, Doppel speaks up* “I know you’re very proud of your strength...and you have every right to be. You’ve fought pretty hard to get where you are...but-” *Nocchan clenches her fist and turns away* “Yeah yeah, I know. You’ll never let that go, will ya? I meant what I said though, I’m strong enough to handle things.” *With a slight dramatic flare, she points her inkbrush towards the wreckage* “If I can handle that, I don’t think there’s much I CAN’T handle. I saw some crazy things in there, some things I’m still not too sure about. But, none of that stopped me. I mean, c’mon, look at that, and look at me~! I’m still kickin, and it’s, well, I think I’ve made my point~” “You have, and I’m sure you’re better off not thinking about some of those things too much. Honestly, I’m not sure if I want to know what you saw down there. It just makes me think...what if this is a sign? This could just be part of something bigger, and this thing, alone, almost wiped out inkopolis, and then some...What would we do then?” “Well, if there IS somethin’ bigger than this, I’m pretty sure I can take it down too. It’ll be some time before whatever’s next shows up, so I’ll use that time to stay ready! By the time it’s here, I’ll be around to handle it.” *With a slightly stressed sigh, Doppel tightens her grip on her dynamo roller and looks up to the moon one more time. Gritting her teeth, she prepares herself.* “And that’s what worries me...You’re strong, yes. But, we both know that you almost didn’t walk away from that last moment. I’ve been thinking about this and, I’ve made my choice. Someone needs to keep you in check. Nocchan, and I’ll be the one to do it. While I was out there, during the Fest, it hit me that I can’t just let you run wild, not anymore. Left unchecked, you might do something reckless again, and you might not be so lucky next time.” *Adjusting her bandana, Nocchan locks eyes with Doppel before gesturing towards the statue ruins* “Then...let’s get moving. You already know I’m not gonna let anything stop me, not even you. If you’re serious about this, then you better bring everything you’ve got. No ‘going easy’ on this one.” *For a few moments, the tension nearly becomes tangible. In the past, their battles have been fierce and destructive but, this fight? This fight already promises to be different, and both sides have yet to make a move. Nocchan simply makes her way towards the massive statue, while Doppel stays behind to gather her thoughts, steel herself, and follow suit.* *Upon landing, both combatants step away from each other, allowing for a few more moments to reflect and assure themselves of what this fight means. Nocchan’s freedom to fight and test her strength against Doppel’s plea for her to consider how risky her actions can be. Beneath the light of a full moon, the only sounds are the waves crashing against the destroyed structure...* *Without a word between them, Nocchan and Doppel charge at each other, weapons in hand, and begin swinging at one another. Clash after clash shakes the stone beneath their feet, each strike more driven than the last. Nocchan’s flurry of Inkbrush attacks keeps Doppel locked in place, but the size of her Dynamo alone is enough to act as a shield.* *Unable to find time for an opening, Doppel jumps backwards with a quick spin, coating a portion of the area with enough purple ink to sink into and dodge a rush from her skull-faced counterpart. Nocchan wastes no time, frantically searching for her opponent without much luck. For a moment, she pauses, taking time to rely on sound rather than sight, which pays off when she hears the sound of something massive being brought down towards her from her blindside. With only an instant to spare, a quick roll saves Nocchan from, what would have been, a devastating attack that would’ve rendered most cephalopods unconscious.* *A  turquoise spark dances across Nocchan’s eyes as she darts forward for a counter attack, flailing wildly against Doppel’s weapon. in the midst of her rush, she uses Doppel’s guarded stance as an opportunity to jump on top of the dynamo and launch herself into the air. While airborne, she grabs a splatbomb and kicks it back down, aiming right for Doppel’s face. The explosion nearly knocks the dynamo out of her hands and causes enough of a distraction for Nocchan to mimic Doppel’s earlier “hideaway” tactic.* *Shaking off the splatbomb attack, Doppel uses the moment to catch her breath and focus. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she’s able to gain some insight on Nocchan’s erratic movements just in time to react to, and counter, a frontal attack with enough force to send the masked squid back a few feet, enough space for Doppel to lunge forward and slam her dynamo down with enough force to put a small crater into the statue, only to miss by a few critical inches.* *As the duel rages on, both sides show no signs of backing down as their blows start hitting their marks. Wild brush swings and calculated dynamo attacks leave the two battered and bruised, but more determined than ever to put an end to the fight. Things reach a fever pitch when Doppel manages to sweep Nocchan off her feet and follows up with a mighty overhead swing that leaves the skull-faced squid on the edge of unconsciousness in a small cloud of ink and dust.* *The sounds of waves and wind are muffled, the sight of the moon and stars are blurred as Nocchan struggles to stay in the fight.* ”Hell......no..... Not like...this..” *A growl through gritted teeth, a vow with a clenched fist, Nocchan staggers to her feet. Sparks of energy begin to jolt across her faintly glowing body as her eyes turn pure white.* ”I..won’t....” *Bracing herself, Doppel calls upon her own energy. An ethereal aura surrounds her and collects in the palm of her right hand, marking the beginning of a booyah bomb’s formation as Nocchan howls at the top of her lungs* ”I WON’T LOSE TO YOU!!” *Turquoise energy quickly builds up and wraps around Nocchan’s arm as she dashes forward, right hand outstretched towards Doppel, only to stopped short by a booyah bomb, slammed into her chest, as Doppel lifts it, and Nocchan, higher and higher into the air, preparing to detonate it* *Temporarily stunned by the impact, Nocchan tries to collect herself as she’s brought further up, into the air. Doppel’s voice, though slightly muted, is the only thing she can hear as she laments* ”I’m sorry about this....I really am...This’ll only keep you down for a while but...still, I hope you can-” *Doppel’s apologies are cut short when Nocchan’s eyes suddenly open, and her energized hand quickly grabs Doppel by the face. Was it instinct? Fear? or Rage? An answer that was lost when both Doppel’s Booyah Bomb and Nocchan’s Splashdown detonate, high above the ruins. A marvelous, multi-color explosion that can be seen for miles, shakes the area as both plummet to the ground...* *A finger twitches, a sudden gasp for air, and the sound of one struggling to pick themselves up. Nocchan rises with enough strength to kneel as she tries to catch her breath and come back to her senses. She drags herself over to her inkbrush and uses it to keep herself on her feet. A sense of shock and dread slowly washes over her as she turns around to see a badly wounded Doppel, her hand reaching towards the sky as small wisps of violet light leave her body, drifting toward the bright, pale, full moon. Her hand manages to grab something as she falls limp and the color fades from her. ”Hey...” *Nocchan slowly walks over, as a tear builds up in her eye* ”Wait...” *Doppel’s vision slowly fades to white as she hears Nocchan’s voice growing more and more distant* ”................Doppel?” *Before Nocchan can reach her fallen counterpart, a flash of blinding light catches her off guard, accompanied by the sound of a helicopter. A silhouette drops in front of her and a slightly distorted voice sends a chill through Nocchan’s body* ”Well...I’ll give you this, that was a rather impressive show. When i heard a report of trespassers, I had a feeling it might’ve been you. Thankfully, that light show was all the confirmation I needed”

*Riza, aka: Agent 3. Once a Turf War celebrity, she grew bored of the spotlight. Fame and fortune were nothing compared to the rush of a fight. A brief encounter with a group of octarians and their commander landed her an Agent position in the New Squidbeak Splatoon, and lead her to a new kind of battle, one where she puts her life on the line. Riza has also earned the title of Nocchan’s nemesis, having faced her twice before. Their first battle still weighs heavily on Nocchan’s mind, as it was her first, and most devastating, loss. Now, after witnessing what she’s truly capable of, Nocchan has earned something both respectable and dangerous...Riza’s attention.” *Riza paces around the battlefield, taking note of the damages to both the statue and the two fighters* ”An off-limits area, a perfect place for a scuffle, I must say. Shame about your...”other” though. I had hopes for them. I suppose you were right, you really won’t let anything, or anyone stop you...” *Nocchan grips her inkbrush and takes a few steps forward* ”Is this all you came here for? Just to gloat or whatever? Get on with it already! ...Or do I have to-” ”Oh drop the attitude, for once. You can barely stand. Save your strength, or whatever’s left of it. From what I saw, I’m surprised you’re even talking, gotta give you credit for that” *Despite Nocchan’s best efforts, she can’t help but drop to one knee as she tries to stay awake. She looks back to Doppel, one more time, as the shock begins to take hold again* *Meanwhile, a bright light gives way to darkness. the sounds of voices fades, eventually replaced by the sound of...bubbles. Beneath a sea of black, something slowly rises to the surface. A hand breaks through, reaching towards the sky, dragging themselves up and standing on the water, as if it were solid ground. Doppel coughs, trying to get the water out of her lungs as she struggles to breathe.* *She finds herself in a monochrome world...The sea, a seemingly endless void that stretches as far as she can see. The sky, a dull grey, with small white stars that just hang in the air. The moon, what was once bright and glowing, now shares the same darkness as the sea she stands on.Even Doppel herself has lost her color and blends in with this...lifeless place.* *Taking in her new surroundings, she sighs and begins to walk forward with nothing but the sound of her own footsteps to keep the silence at bay. Despite walking, for what feels like hours, the scenery remains the same, it’s only then that Doppel realizes something, something her hand has been keeping a tight grip on...something with a faint purple glow...* *Doppel stares at the light in her hand, the glow steadily getting stronger as the small wisp hover just in front of her. it begins to pulse, like a heartbeat. Doppel puts her hand over her chest, and feels nothing. The wisp gently moves onward, almost fading out of view, when something stirs in the back of Doppel’s mind..” ”Move...I...have to move. I can’t stay...here?” *Before she realizes it, she’s walking after the wisp, and she’s picking up the pace. Thoughts start to fade into her mind, thoughts of friends,and past battles and challenges.* ”No...I...wait, I think I...I know?” *Looking towards the sky, the dull stars begins to twinkle, softly, one by one, as more thoughts and memories spring forth. Memories that feel familiar, but also unfamiliar. Memories of Nocchan’s perspective. How she became the fighter she is today and those she met along the way.* ”I can’t stop either...” *Now chasing after the wisp, running as fast as she can, even the moon’s begun to change and regain its luster. Memories of the day Nocchan and Doppel split, the booyah bomb that separated them and gave Doppel her own form, rush to the front of her mind. The many days she spent wandering around in a haze, trying to figure out her own life, the many questions she has yet to find an answer to, her encounters with Nocchan, and something that still weighs on her heart, even now, Nocchan’s words after their first fight “You make a good other...”* ”I’m...I’M NOT DONE YET! I CAN’T LOSE NOW EITHER!” *She reaches out and grabs the wisp again, holding it close to her heart. The faint light now glowing with a brilliant radiance. The waters beneath her feet begin to spiral as the stars fall into the whirlpool below. Doppel floats above it all, regaining her colors and feeling air rush into her lungs. Holding her breath, she dives down into the whirlpool, towards the blinding, swirling, star light as a voice starts to reverberate around her* *Riza continues to pace as Nocchan quietly begins to grieve* ”You know, for what it’s worth, you honestly surprise me. When we first met, I never would have guessed that a rookie would reach a level of power like this. I thought you were just another wannabe but, here we are. Look at what you can do! I’m actually, and I don’t throw this around lightly, I’m quite...interested, in what you can really do.” *Nocchan lowers her head, gritting her teeth while a tear rolls down her face. She struggles to get back on her feet while keeping a firm grip on her weapon* ”Just...shut up. Before I shut you up, dammit. Unless you’re that hellbent...” *A familiar spark darts around Nocchans hands* ”Remember this place? I kicked your ass and showed you what I can do once....I’ll be more than happy to do it again!” *Beneath her gas mask, a sadistic smirk creeps across Riza’s face. A sinister green aura begins to emanate from her body* ”All this, and you can still fight? Like I said, you surprise me. Maybe it’s time I return the favor?” *Riza and Nocchan take a single step towards one another when both of them are suddenly distracted by a loud “BANG” accompanied by a flash of purple light enveloping Doppel’s body as she slams her fist into the statue. Wisps fly down from the midnight sky, descending into Doppel’s body and lifting her to her feet before she opens her eyes that glow with renewed vigor. Her dynamo seems to spring to life and is drawn to back to its wielder’s hands. Nocchan takes a moment to brush the tears out of her eyes as Riza steps forward* ”Wait...Doppel? But...you-” ”Huh, now that’s new. And here I thought you were down and out! Will wonders never cease~?” *Doppel leans her dynamo on her shoulder with a smile and walks over to Nocchan. A pale aura coats her hand as she rests it on Nocchan’s shoulder. The energy soothes and revitalizes her.* ”Wait wait wait, what the hell’s happening here?” *Doppel just smirks, takes a few steps back and readies herself* ”Let’s just say, for now, I figured something out. But, there’s something more important to take care of. C’mon, you’re not quitting on me now, right?” *Still in disbelief, Nocchan shakes her head and fixes her bandana while keeping an eye on Doppel and Riza. The agent simply nods and offers a short applause* ”And so, here we are. I must say, this was a bit more than I expected but, I’m certainly impressed, nonetheless~!” *Riza puts her hand to the side of her mask, answering a call from the helicopter above* ”Have a team on standby but. don’t have them move until I say so...Now, give us some space” *As ordered, the helicopter moves away, about a mile from the makeshift battlefield* ”Right then, back to business, yes?” *With her Inkbrush at the ready, and a glint in her eye, Nocchan looks between Doppel and Riza.” ”I said it once, and I’ll say it again. Don’t pull punches, got it?” *In an instant, all three rush to the center of the field, weapons ready, auras blazing, and ready to give it this fight every bit of power they have*

*The sun sets on Moray Towers. Nocchan, having finished her solo training for the day, lays back to watch the helicopters fly by with her Inkbrush at her side. However, as she slowly drifts off for a nap, she senses a presence nearby that quickly catches her attention*

*Doppel, a squid who came to be after a fateful incident involving a powerful identity crisis, the charged energy of a booyah bomb, and Nocchan’s, at the time, distorted mind. The two have clashed once before in the past, when Doppel’s desperate search for answers, to questions that surround her very existence. lead to an all-out fight between the two that practically destroyed a section of Wahoo World in the middle of the night. Although the battle ended in a stalemate, Nocchan’s words “You make a good *other*” have stuck with her since then.*

*The skull-faced squid takes a deep breath as thoughts of their last encounter float through her mind.* “Ya know, I probably don’t have to say this but, I know you’re there. C’mon, no sense in hidin’ Don’t worry though, I’m not really in the mood to fight right now.”