I've made a lot of mistakes (splatoon fanfiction) (completed)

Chapter 3

The light blue stained sweater marina wore was barely enough to keep the cold out of the room. Something in the venting units broke and now the room was freezing. This happened sometimes, and usually the kids would be complaining as they wrapped the thin cloths that were lousy excuses for blankets around them. But today, everyone was excited. A lot of octolings had turned 14 today. Some were already past that age. But once a month, two octoling generals and an Octarian scientist came in. They would take the octolings and octarians that were ready, and be off with them to training. Marina was currently in her usual corner of the room, only Cloud, Mizuta, and Terra were accompanying her as they watched her frantically finish the last blueprint.
Cod If only I hadn't broken down last night. Then I might have had these all done.
She had to prove she could be an inventor. There weren't many of them in the Octarian society, since it was a dangerous job for multiple reasons. Your ideas had to work. If not, someone could get killed on the battlefield. Soldiers could not be spared. If you were going to be an inventor, you had to prove you were ready to commit. And marina was.
"And done." She whispered to her friends, holding it up. This one was an idea she had brainstormed last week. A metal fish that could absorb ink. Imagine how useful that could be! If they made big enough ones, and planted them all around inkopolis, they could splat enough inklings to outnumber them. Mizuta gave the drawing an approving nod. "Looking good." Cloud grinned at her. "Oh this is going to be great! Now that your 14 like the rest of us, besides Mizuta, we'll all get to explore the Octarian world together! Staying in these houses is so boring! What do you think the army's like?" Marina had read plenty of autobiography's about octoling and octarian's soldiers experiences. But every book was different in a way. It was hard to say for sure. There was only one word she could think of to describe it.
"Probably scary.." terra nodded. "B-But still..! We'll probably be trained so um.. we won't be as afraid.." everyone knew Terra would need that, with how cowardly and shy she was. Mizuta grinned as she opened her mouth to speak. "And I'll join you guys in a few weeks. My coming of age day isn't that far." She proceeded to wrap an arm around marina, who only gave her a shy grin in response.
"Marina!"
Everyone turned around to see Brian racing towards her, something on his right tentacle. "Hey dude, you got the thing?" Cloud asked, and the Octarian nodded. "What thing?" Marina asked, curious as Terra gave the three a knowing look.
"You'll see."
Marina nearly jumped out of Mizuta's grip as she turned around to see Austin, smiling cheekily at her. "Guyyyyysss you know I hate secrets." Marina pouted. Cloud laughed, using his fake propeller hat to scoop out what looks to be a locket of some sort, made out of string and some old metal. "It's a gift! Brian and Austin found the string and metal, and were able to turn it into a necklace. Open it up!" Marina hesitantly grabbed it and opened the locket, her teal eyes widening. Inside was a small drawing of her, cloud, Brian, Terra, Austin, and a rushed Mizuta." "Ya like it?" Mizuta asked, smiling slightly as she adjusted her hat. "We each drew ourselves, and then we all worked together to draw you!" Austin exclaimed. Marina gave a warm grin at her friend group. "I.. I love it so much. Thank you guys." She stuffed it in her pocket, and everyone came in for a group hug.

"They're here!"

The shrill squeak of a female octoling looking out the window rang through the place, as the group let go. Marina looked at the door to see it swing open, and three people walked in. The first two were octolings, with dark black tentacles edged with magenta, and pale green strips of seaweed flowing from their metal goggles. They had metal chest plates over short black crop tops, and black army boots. The last one walking in was an octotroop scientist, his single tentacle hanging in front of his eyes as he strutted in. Mrs summers approached them and saluted slightly. "Please line up the octolings and octarians we need." The first octoling instructed, her voice low and rough. "Right away." Her caretaker murmured, and everyone backed against the wall as Mrs summers dragged marina, Austin, cloud, Brian, Terra, and a few other octarians and octolings into a line. Marina had her drawings stuffed into her other pocket.
It's now or never
The octoling generals stepped forwards, looking them all over. Austin had a hopeful look in his eyes. The second octoling pointed to Terra. "You. Your to be put in army training." Terra nodded, obviously doing her best not to shake. They proceeded to point and say the same things to cloud, Brian, and a few other octarians and female octolings.
"What about me?" Austin dared to speak up. The octolings looked over at him. "Sorry kid. Your a male. Army only accepts females." Austin narrowed his eyes. "But I'm tough! I've trained! I can fight! I have scars to prove it! Give me a chance, please!" Mrs summers looked frightened and embarrassed. Everyone knew you were never supposed to argue with a general. Suddenly, both octoling generals straightened their stances, their goggles making small noises. They finally returned to normal after a few seconds. "Ya know what kid? We'll give you a chance. But if you die it's not on us." Austin looked starstruck, and marina stood there shocked.
If his dream could come true.. if this was happening to him..
Maybe this meant her's could as well. The octoling general began to point to marina, but she quickly dug out her stack of drawings, throwing a brave face on. "Actually.. I don't wanna be in the army. And I know it's not a choice, but I think I would be much more suited at being an inventor." The Octarian scientist raised an eyebrow at her. "But we haven't had a new inventor in ages. It's a lot of responsibility, and the army really needs soldiers kid." Marina nodded. "I know, but I have good ideas! Trust me, look!" The crowd's gazes practically burned into her as she held up the glove drawing. "Look! I've thought a lot about this one. What if a soldier looses they're weapon in the field? They could easily wear the goggle and fistfight instead!" The octoling generals just stared at each other, obviously having some kind of mental exchange as marina shifted to her next blueprint. "and what about this one? The name is still a work in progress, but a mini robot that sucks up ink! Think of how difficult it would be for inklings to swim through our gates, if the robot just absorbs they're ink! And I've also had an idea of a platform that could unroll when hit with ink-"
Her enthusiastic rambling was cut off by the first octoling general talking.
"The glove would make it difficult to carry weapons and pull the triggers because it adds extra weight and more difficult handling, the robots wouldn't just absorb inkling ink, it would absorb Octarian ink too since the properties are the same. Your unfurling platform idea, would be useless since over time they would curl back. Making it difficult to set an ambush there. Your ideas aren't good enough mam. Your going to the army like the rest of the female octolings."
Those words felt like they physically stung marina.
Your ideas aren't good enough
Your ideas aren't good enough
Your ideas aren't good enough
Y o u r  I d e a s
A r e n t
G o o d   E n o u g h
"Hey!"
Eyes were on Terra, who looked furious. "Marina's ideas are amazing! She works day and night studying Octarian life and all the science stuff about it, to make ideas that could help the army and scientist. Yeah there's stuff wrong with some of them, but the ideas can be fixed! There's no book I could find where a soldier gets through training on the first try. But in every book I read the Octarian army doesn't give up, until they do get through training. What makes Marina's inventions any different?"
"Yeah!" This time Austin spoke up. "If I can get into the army, marina can be an inventor. She's the smartest out of all of us!"
Some octarians in the group mumbled something at that statement.
"Marina's always supporting us and doing her best." Cloud argued as well.
"So I think you should let her!" Brian chimed in. Marina's now watery eyes drifted towards Mizuta, who stood up. "There hasn't been a new inventor in a long time. We need new octo weapons and ideas. Even us kids are smart enough to realize that." The octoling generals looked furious, and the Octarian scientist took a few paces back. The remaining octarians he had picked to help mass produce goggles and weapons were beside him. "Fine." The first general hissed, bending down to stare at marina. Even if she couldn't see her eyes she could tell she was glaring. "But if you disappoint, it's on your tomb stone. We'll enroll you in the elementary training program at slimeskin garrison. After training there, we will inform King Ocatavio of the idea of a new inventor. We will see what happens next." Marina nodded frantically, and the door was opened. "Grab anything you all need before we leave." The octolings and octarians all scurried to their cubbies, looking through their keepsakes. Marina was practically shaking with fear and excitement. It happened. Oh dear cod she was going to be an inventor. She knew there was nothing that wasn't already on her to take, so all she did was approach Mizuta, and give her a giant hug. She hugged back, stroking her tentacles as marina felt herself tearing up again. "I'll miss you." Those were words she never thought she'd speak to her. "I'll miss you to marina." Mizuta smiled as she looked her in the eye. "Your gonna do great things marina. I believe in you. We all do." Marina gently punched her shoulder, using the other hand to wipe her tears. "You say that, but just don't forget me when your a famous DJ working with Octavio." She only laughed. "I won't. Now go hug all your other friends and invent already ya dork." Marina giggled, giving her one last hug before walking towards Brian, cloud, Austin, and Terra. "We're so proud of you!" Austin yelled, picking her up slightly as he hugged her. Marina hugged him back, and everyone joined in. "Your gonna do great guys. Remember the plan? We're all gonna take back the surface together." Cloud nodded. "Yeah. Together." Brian grinned as well. Marina turned to terra. "Thanks for sticking up for me. All of you." Terra shrugged. "Anything for you marina. Your our friend." Marina smiled at them, the Octarian generals motioning for them to leave as most other kids were already out the door.

"Let's go."

(YEET! Finally this chapter is out of the way. I'm excited for the next chapters cus it's writing about the Octarian villages and society! Which I have so many head cannons and theories on. I hope you all are enjoying this story so far
Stay fresh!