Fresh Developments

It was a sunny day in Inkopolis plaza. Callie stood on the main stage of the Inkopolis News room, occasionally waving to fans who stopped by. She was starting to get VERY annoyed. Marie was nearly thirty minutes late, and she wasn't answering her phone. Flopping down in her chair, she looked over to the colossal Great Zapfish, now serenely placed on Inkopolis Tower.  Even after all the time that had passed, no squid or other aquatic animal in the city truly knew who rescued the Zapfish.

"Well, Callie, Marie, Gramps, and Agent 3 know the truth..." she mused, breaking the rules of the story at the same time, but at that moment, her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was Marie. She growled and answered the phone.

"MARIE! Where are..."

"No time cousin! Gramps needs to see us in the Octo valley STAT!" Marie's normally calm voice was now filled with excitement.

"What about the news?!" Callie replied. "We're thirty minutes late!"

"Gramps says this takes triple priority! And I kinda sorta may have used our sick leave to not have to broadcast today."

"WHAT? You know what, FINE! Be there in a few!"

After putting up a status message on InkBook for he fans, she walked out of the building towards the grate that led to the Octo Valley. Surprisingly, Agent 3, and three more Inklings were also there. Carson was light blue, One was Pink, one orange, one Lime green. They were all chatting among themselves.

"Agent 3? Who are these squiddos?" Callie asked.

"Okay, Callie, this is Alesa, Bri, and Leo. I recruited them for the Squidbeak Splatoon. And my name's Carson, not Agent 3." Carson said sheepishly.

"It's just easier to call you that." she giggled. After introductions went around, they morphed into their squid forms and entered the grate to Octo Valley.

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Arriving in the Octo Valley, the Inklings popped out in their Hero gear, apart from Callie. True to her word, Marie was helping Captain Cuttlefish with a huge radio set. Carson, Leo, Alesa, and Bri sat themselves down, setting their weapons beside them. Soon, the rumbling of the transfer kettle was heard, and none other than Sheldon came out, carrying a toolbox and an InkStrike map tablet.

"Well, Whippersnappers. I guess you're all wondering why we called you here." Cuttelfish said, and the Inklings nodded. Sheldon had begun to work on the radio set, occasionally popping a thumbs up or shaking his head.

"It has to do with the...STRANGE EVENTS that have been going down around Inkpolis. That Aurora Borealis in the middle of the day? The mysterious radio message? All connected!" Cuttlefish said, and Alesa raised her hand.

"Nearly every Inkling in Inkpolis knows that or thinks that, so why are we here?"

"Because of two things. One, they're all, like I said, connected. Two, I found something in the Sunken Scrolls."

Cuttlefish rummaged around through a stack of papers and pulled out a black-colored Sunken Scroll. Pulling out a UV light, he scanned the back, revealing letters.

"Stay in the east, the outlook is in the least. Go to the west, things will go to the best." Bri read out, her pink inked hair glistening in the sunshine. "What does that mean?"

"Means we have an exploration mission for you whippersnappers!" Cuttlefish said eagerly. "I've already prepped a long-range go-fast boat and supplies for all you. Food, water, spare weapons, armor, a few Inkzookas, your Sunken Scroll collection (Nodding towards Carson), the whole nine yards. Sheldon here has agreed to assist us, so I'll let him take over."

Sheldon looked towards the seated Inklings with a smile.

"I've set up a long range Inkstrike Silo in the testing range. This map will allow you to launch an ICIM, inter-continental Ink Missile, to your current location. You only have one, so use it carefully. Also, it packs a bigger payload of Ink. A standard Inkstrike has about a 500 gallon capacity of ink. This baby has 5000! It's very dangerous, so use it well, as I said."  Sheldon walked over and handed the tablet to Carson, who put it in his backpack."And one more thing. I was able to synthesize my own copy of the Technology behind the Hero Shot and Charger, so I was able to make this baby!" Sheldon pulled out a hero weapon-Esq Splatling gun. "The Hero Splatling. New tech means new sub and special. It's running Splat bombs and the Kraken. Treat it well!" He handed the Splatling to Leo, who grinned like a mad squid.

"And one last thing. Carson, I was able to make you a second Hero Shot. It's a but more modular than the old one, so you can dual-wield it." After handing the second Hero Shot to Carson, he returned to work on the radio.

"What's the radio for?" Carson asked.

"Long range communications. So you'll be able to stay in touch with us." Marie said.

"Sounds fine. Anything else?" Carson asked.

"Just stay safe. We can replace the weapons. We can't replace you." Cuttlefish said, and the Splatoon nodded.

"So, where are we heading out from?" Leo asked, shouldering his new Splatling.

"From Saltspray rig. Got it reserved this morning!" Marie said.

"How'd you do that? I thought...the ones from...on high controlled the stages!" Callie said, pouting at her cousin.

"I sent a fax. And I pulled a few strings." Marie said with an playful and evil grin.

Marie rolled her eyes and punched her cousin in the shoulder.

"We gonna get going?" Carson asked Cuttlefish, who nodded and pointed to a separate grate next to the Inkopolis grate.

"I've set up a transport system that will take you to the Rig. See ya around!" Cuttlefish said, and as the Squidbeak Splatoon headed back to Inkopolis, The Squid Sisters looked to each other.

"Think they'll be okay?" Callie asked Marie, who shrugged.

"They're fresh enough. They'll be fine."

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True to his word, Captain Cuttlefish's grate led them straight to the underbelly of Saltspray Rig. After about five minutes of searching, they found a hero-styled large speedboat. As the Inklings investigated the three decks, Carson walked up to the bridge. As he familiarized himself with the controls, Bri popped in.

"Hey Bri. What's up?"

"Cap'n really went overboard with supplies. He packed us a bunch of Inkzookas, a Killer Wail or two, three sets of armor for each of us, you name it, it's down there. Totally amazing."

"Sweet. I already know how to drive this thing, so, we should get going."

"I'll get everybody up here."

After a few minutes, the Inklings assembled in the bridge. Carson stepped up to the wheel. Pressing the gas, he guided the boat out and into the water. As he grinned, he smiled. As the Inklings settled themselves at their stations, Carson punched the gas. As the boat sped out of the Rig, the open ocean awaited them.

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It had been a day or so since the Splatoon departed from Inkpolis. As the boat sped along the open ocean, Carson peered through the mounted binoculars. He smiled, and he turned on the intercom.

"Guys. We've got land incoming."

In no time whatsoever, the whole Splatoon was on the bridge. As Bri radioed Cap'n Cuttlefish with the news, Carson guided the boat towards a small inlet. While Carson settled the boat on a sandbar, the Inklings jumped off the boat and onto the ground. Bri started unloading crates of food and water, While Leo and Alesa loaded the Inkzookas. Carson jumped down and drew his Hero Shots.

"I'll be going on recon. Radio me if there's any trouble. If I don't respond in thirty minutes, come after me."

As Carson left, the Inklings continued their work. Bri frowned, then she turned to Leo.

"Think he'll be okay."

"I sure hope so."

As they continued, they failed to notice Rainbow Dash watching them from a cloud. As she frowned, she spread her wings.

"Time to tell the girls. We've got trouble brewing."

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After around thirty minutes of walking, Carson arrived at the edge of the forest. Looking through the trees, he noticed a large barn in the distance, surrounded by trees. He shrugged and continued to walk. Shaking his head, he heard footsteps incoming. As he looked around, he noticed a bridge nearby. Painting a section near the riverbed a bright blue, he morphed into his squid form and dived into the Ink. As he did so, he began to hear feminine voices.

"Are you SURE Twi that Rainbow saw those...things coming off that boat?"

"Dead sure. I know Rainbow, and she wouldn't lie. Not to a princess at least."

"PRINCESS?" Carson gulped silently.

"Twi, you know I'm the element of honesty. I think there's something more to this."

"I have to agree with Applejack, dear. This just seems odd, in a way."

"Hold up. Is this paint?"

Carson looked and saw six pastel colored equine creatures looking at the footprints, clearly set in bright blue Inkling Ink. He swore under his breath. As they turned the corner, they gasped.

"Graffiti! Such despicable behavior!" A white one, with a sophisticated voice, said angrily. "I bet it's Snips and Snails."

"I don't think so. It's not reacting to a scouring spell, which means it's not paint." the lead one said, which was purple with a horn and wings.

Then what is it?" a pale yellow one with wings said. Carson watched as the purple one took out a test tube and scooped some up. Her horn glowed a bright blue, and nothing happened."

"Girls, it's Ink."

"Ink? Like ink you use for writing?" a cyan one with a crazy rainbow mane said.

"No. Like Ink from a squid." the lead one said.

"A squid? What would squids be doing out of the ocean?" the pale yellow one said.

"I don't know. Maybe it's in the river." the purple one said, and as they walked over to the river's edge, Carson made up his mind that he had enough. Marking Bri's position on his wristpad, he prepared to super jump.

"OH! BIG BUBBLE!"

A bright pink one, somehow coming out of nowhere, was now reaching towards his body. Readying the massive buildup of ink, he released it in a powerful Super Jump. He launched himself into the air, alerting the creatures. One, an orange with a cowboy hat, threw a lasso that snagged his left tentacle. Pulling him to the ground, the impact morphed him back into his bipedal form. Turning himself over, he heard the lasso-creature yell "I got somethin'"

Carson growled and bared his teeth, causing the pale yellow one to flinch. Putting his hand behind his back, he reached for his Hero Shot. Grasping the grip, he prepared himself for the worst.

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Twilight stared at the creature. It was bipedal, with blue hair tied back with a hair-clip. It was wearing a black jacket with green highlights, black shoes with blue highlights, and some sort of headset. It was reaching behind his back, which Twilight assumed it was just hurt. Moving towards it, it suddenly spoke in fluent Equestrian.

"Don't you inking dare!" it growled, causing Fluttershy to whimper in fright.

"HEY! That's one of the beings that arrived in the inlet!" Rainbow Dash interjected.

"So you were spying on us?" it said, even more angry.

"I WAS taking a nap, but you woke me up! You here to invade?"

"Explore, actually." It said matter-of-factually.

"Whadda mean explore? What even are you?' Rainbow said, but a dull "CLICK!" from behind them alerted them. They turned and saw three more creatures similar to the first, only in different colors, with one green, one orange, one pink, holding strange objects and wearing clothes similar to what the first was wearing. One of them was carrying an object that was spinning rapidly.

"That is QUITE enough." the pink one said. "You let Carson go...NOW!"

"Or what?" Rainbow said sarcastically, and the orange one smiled.

"Or this!" the orange one smiled, and a massive barrage of the ink substance slammed into Rainbow at a very fast speed from the object. The barrage slammed her into a tree. Eventually, the barrage stopped, and a now orange-stained Rainbow struggled to get up, slipping in the paint. Twilight realized at that moment they were carrying weapons. She backed off, and the rest of them did the same. Applejack cautiously undid the lasso, and the being stood up. After smiling at Applejack, he walked over to the orange one and promptly slapped him in the face.

"WHAT THE INKING HECK WAS THAT FOR? A FULL BLAST WAS NOT NECESSARY!" "Carson" said angrily.

"You were the one tied up! What should I have done?" the orange one said.

"SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT, YOU INKING IDIOT!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Twilight roared, and the creatures looked at her with surprise, along with the ponies.

"I don't care what happened here. I think it's for the best that we start over."

"WHAT?" Rainbow yelled, pointing at her stained coat. "NOT FAIR! How am I supposed to get this off..."

Then, the stains vanished. her eyes turned to the one called "Carson", who had a black object in his hand.

"InkAway. Gets rid of any Ink in a fink!" he said while throwing a smile. The pink one suddenly began to laugh her guts out.

"Tell me you did NOT just quote the ad right now!" she guffawed.

"I just did. And, whatever you are, sorry about that. Name's Carson. Agent 3 and leader of the New Squidbeak Splatoon. This is Bri, Agent 3.1, Leo, Agent 3.2, and Alesa, Agent 3.3"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle. These are my friends, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Flutteshy, and Rarity. First things first, we're Ponies of Equestria. What are you then?"

"We're Inklings. Think of us as highly evolved squids that have existed for a few million years."

"So you're squids? That makes sense...wait, that was YOUR ink we found on the bridge? I thought squid ink was black!" Twilight said, shocked.

"We've evolved to be able to produce multiple colors of ink at any moment. We have our preferences though. Mine just happens to be light blue." Carson said.

"Okay, we need to sit down and talk." Twilight said, and Carson nodded.

"Just relax then. I'll get us to my castle in a sec." she smiled, and before the Inklings could do anything, her horn glowed, and there was a bright flash. Then, the group of Inklings and Ponies were now in the entrance hall of Twilight's castle. As the Inklings stood up, gathering their gear, Carson walked over to Twilight.

"Wanna get started?"

"Sure." Twilight led the way into the map room. As the Inklings sat themselves down, Twilight pulled out a notepad and pencil.

"So, let's talk, shall we?"