I had made an utter and complete fool of myself. Not only was I unable to comprehend how I was supposed to transform into a squid, but I had also let my team down by being splatted one too many times and not covering enough ground with ink. I still couldn't figure out why I had become an Inkling, and my nonexistent knowledge regarding that didn't assist me in tolerating my bitter defeat in the slightest.

After having consulted our teammates about promising to brush up my skills, Todd escorted me back into the plaza of Inkopolis and paused right in front of the Booyah Base.

"What are we doing here?" I questioned, looking at him with much curiosity.

With an expression on his face that boasted confidence and reassurance, he replied, "I'm taking you to the Ammo Knights shop to meet with Sheldon and get some practice for Turf Wars."

"Who's Sheldon?"

"You'll see," he said with a smile.

So Todd and I subsequently proceeded to enter Ammo Knights, which, judging by its name, appeared to be a weapons shop. As soon as we entered those doors, a bell jingled and alerted the shopkeeper of our presence.

Suddenly, a horseshoe crab with a child-like appearance sprung out from behind a register and exclaimed, "Oh, hello! If it isn't my good friend Todd! What sort of business do you have here?"

"Hey there, Sheldon!" my blue-haired companion greeted. "I actually have a favor I need to ask."

"Sure! What is it?"

Todd gently placed a hand on my shoulder and replied, "My friend Taylor here is new to Turf Wars, so we were wondering if you could assist us in getting her trained for battle."

"Is that this fine lass right here? Sure, I'll help get her up to speed!" He extended his hand and offered a handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Taylor!"

"Hey, Sheldon. Nice uniform. Are you in the Boy Scouts?" I inquired, instantly asking myself why my first question to him regarded his clothes.

At once, the little horseshoe crab frowned, and the "actions speak louder than words" quote came into play once Sheldon's expression told me that he was either exasperated or annoyed.

"Hmph! I'll have you know that I specialize in weaponry and am quite the military fanatic! My late grandpappy, who is such an inspiration to me, had served in the Great War between the Inklings and Octarians, and I have an intelligence that is slightly above average. So, to answer your question: no, I am not in the Boy Scouts. Now, let me see what kind of assistance I can provide for you…"

Sheldon quickly examined me from head to toe, turned towards his shelves of ink guns and placed a hand on his chin, giving the impression that the cogs in his head were turning. Todd and I exchanged glances and shrugged.

"Taylor, I'm sorry to say this…but at your current level, it appears that you are not fresh enough for me to provide you with any new weapons."

After having just been scolded by my teammates in that last Turf War, I was not about to let this buck-toothed, snobby horseshoe crab talk down about my "freshness" and insist that I keep my pathetic Splattershot Jr.

"Not fresh enough?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "Why you little-"

"Easy, Taylor… No need to lose your temper." Todd coaxed.

"Whoa, didn't mean to upset you there. Let's try not to get on each other's bad side, alright? Anyway… There's not much I can do for you in terms of being prepped for Turf Wars, but I can let you get some practice with what equipment you do have in this alley behind my shop."

Before I could say anything more, Todd promptly grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed towards the aforementioned alley as my feet skidded across the floor. "That's great! Thanks, Sheldon!"

"OK, Taylor, let's go over the basics. Since you already know how to ink the ground, we'll focus on inking opponents and using your special and sub weapon for now."

An array of inflatable squid-like mannequins stood before me, and as much as I didn't want to, I charged and shot at them with my pathetic weaponry as they continuously popped and re-inflated. Todd subsequently suggested that I dig through my pockets in which I discovered a Splat Bomb, which then got me scratching my head wondering how something at that size could fit in such a small space. I immediately tossed the bomb into the midst of the mannequins and watched as the impact of the burst emerged victorious.

"Very good, Taylor," Todd commented appraisingly. "Now let's try replenishing your ink supply. It seems like it's running low."

One of the very things I couldn't wrap my head around doing physically suddenly became a menacing, towering wall in my path once more. How was I supposed to get the point regarding my lack of kid-to-squid transformation knowledge across?

"Um… I don't know how to do that."

"It's simple! All you have to do is become a squid in your own ink!"

"That's what I'm getting at. I don't know how to undergo that transformation."

Todd's subsequent response to me was an expression that appeared as if he had just witnessed a giant blemish grow onto my face. What followed in conjunction to his raised-eyebrow response was a very prolonged silence; something that was eventually broken once the door separating the alley and Ammo Knights swung open to reveal Sheldon.

"Hey, guys. I'm about to close up shop, so wrap up whatever you're doing and head out."

After snapping out of what seemed like a daze, Todd finally managed to say, "Right… Taylor, I think that's enough training for today. Let's get going."

"It's been quite an eventful day, hasn't it?" Todd asked after the two of us exited the shop.

"If only you knew…" I spoke internally, reminiscing about what had occurred in the hours before. "It sure was."

My friendly, blue-haired companion and I gazed at the star-blanketed night sky for a few minutes until Todd yawned, "Well, I need to start heading home. The folks are probably expecting me. Where are you heading off to for the night?"

Suddenly, the realization sunk in like a rock in a fish tank. Where was I going to go? What was I going to do? After experiencing what I could only assume was somehow getting absorbed into my Splatoon game, I didn't have a clue as to how I was going to find my way out and get home!

"Um… Nowhere. I'm not heading anywhere."

"W-What are you talking about?"

"I don't have anywhere to go. I don't have a place where I can retreat to."

Immediately, I was met with a look from Todd that emerged dramatically different from the expression I had seen earlier; appearing more concerned and sympathetic to my misfortune.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Taylor. Is that why you don't know how to change into a squid? You're lost and confused and without a home?"

"N-No, that's not where I'm getting at. I've been meaning to tell you this since we've met, but I-"

"Say no more. You really need a place to stay, so let me be of assistance." He gently grabbed me by the hand. "Come with me."

Just moments after having caught a ride from the train just outside Inkopolis, I was escorted to what Todd clarified as his humble abode; a nice, two-story house with a dark-blue roof and a few hedges by the walkway to the front door.

"My parents are just inside." Todd stated. "I'll see if I can negotiate with them to help you find a place."

Upon entering, I was immediately introduced to Todd's mother Priscilla; an Inkling with pink hair and fair skin, and his father, Brian; an Inkling with a muscular build and hair that shared the same color as Todd's.

"So you're one of Todd's friends, Taylor? How come I've never seen you around here before?" Brian inquired.

All I could mutter was "Um…" before Todd intervened, "Poor Taylor here is homeless, and is even unsure how to transform into a squid at will. I found her unconscious in the plaza of Inkopolis, and that's when I decided to offer my assistance. She told me herself that she has nowhere to go."

"Hmm… That's quite unfortunate."

"Is there anything we can do for her?" Priscilla asked her husband.

Appearing as if he was assessing the situation in his mind, Brian became silent for a minute before replying, "Well, I have an idea, and it may seem crazy, but I would be more than willing to purchase an apartment for her at Flounder Heights."

"Flounder Heights?!" mother and son sputtered in unison.

"Honey, Flounder Heights is expensive! Are you sure you want to go ahead with such an expenditure?"

"Well, if it means that Taylor will be able to have a roof over her head tonight, then yes."

I didn't know much about Flounder Heights, but Todd filled in for me on the way over there that it was a luxurious apartment complex with a Turf War arena built right on top of it and had a playground right on the premises. He even stated that the people of Inkopolis always raved about this place and would give anything to live there, which made me blush in embarrassment considering that his father was willing to give up so much money for such a place for a friend of his son that he barely knew. After making the purchase and filling out the necessary paperwork, Brian was handed a room key and led us to the room the key was meant for. He unlocked and opened the door, revealing an apartment that was the very definition of complex. It had a full-sized kitchen, a living room with a wall-mounted TV, a bedroom containing a queen-sized bed and a walk-in closet, and, as an added bonus, it was on the highest floor of the complex.

"Wow! This is incredible!" I finally managed to say.

"Looks like you really hit the jackpot on this one!" Todd laughed.

"We're glad you like it, Taylor," Priscilla commented with a big grin on her face.

"Alright, everyone, let's let Taylor settle into her new home. It's getting late anyway."

"Thank you, guys, for everything," I spoke just as the family was heading out the door.

"It's no problem at all," was Brian's response.

"See you around, Taylor!" Todd called as he waved goodbye.

As soon as they had left, I decided to check the view from my balcony (another bonus) before hitting the sack. What the bright, full moon illuminated for me was the aforementioned Turf War map, the playground which awaited a mob of eager children the next morning, and an array of the remaining apartments and their balconies which held clothes and towels that seemed left hung out dry. What my pointed, sensitive ears could hear were the sounds of cars driving by, the muffled conversations my neighboring Inklings were having, and the chirps of nearby cicadas. As I stood there and took all of this in, I began to reflect on what had happened that day, eventually realizing that perhaps becoming an Inkling in the world of Splatoon was the answer to my once-average and dull life. Earlier in the day, I had been reflecting on the lack of substance that my life contained, and within the next few, short hours that followed, I had taken on the form of an Inkling, made a new friend, physically took part in a Turf War, and to top it all off, received an all-expense-paid luxurious apartment complete with a balcony and a flat-screen TV. I smiled to myself, returned to my bedroom and instantly hopped into bed to sleep the night away, curious to discover what the new day would have in store for me…

Author Notes: Yes, I'm back! After having gone through months of college since the last update, I have finally finished my first semester and am now free to provide more fanfic goodness! Expect many updates for my fanfics in the coming weeks!

Since I'm uploading this chapter days before Christmas, consider this my gift to you! :)

It really seems like Taylor's life has taken an interesting turn, hasn't it? I wonder what other things she'll get herself into...?