Splat Force: The Gifted; Chapter 17

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W E L C O M E ! ! !

This is Nomad! Welcome back to yet another chapter of, take a guess...Splat Force: The Gifted!

This chapter is the end of the arc going on from the end of Chapter 14.

You may need to bring tissues for this one folks...

Find out now as the show must go on!

(This Chapter has been Remastered)

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(Previous Chapter) (Chapter Hub)

C H A P T E R  1 7 :  T H E  R A I N M A K E R

After a long few weeks of traveling, the team finally made it. They stumbled across a massive structure. It looked abandoned, the stone walls covered with moss. There was a small staircase leading up to the entrance.

"This is it."

Frederick said out loud. He walked up the staircase, to which the team followed. They all stood at the front entrance. Frederick turned to them and gave them a heads-up.

"Be aware that there are traps in this temple, if a sound is heard that none of you have made, it'll be a trap. They aren't lethal, they are only there to scare you out. They should be easy for you all to avoid, but be on the lookout regardless."

"Aye-Aye, Captain!"

The trio replied jokingly in unison. They were full of energy, excited that the quest was almost over.

"How long have you guys waited to say that?"

Cosmo asked as she started to laugh a little at the joke.

"Too long to even imagine!"

Ami replied with a cheesy smile on her face.

Frederick just simply rolled his eyes and smirked, not wanting to ruin their excited energy. He turned around, opened up the entrance, and walked inside. It was a wide octagon room. straight ahead was a door with two keyholes. To the side of it were two entrances to hallways, each presumably leading to a room with a key. The floors and walls were made of stone, and the area in the middle was highlighted.

"There are two separate paths, both contain a key for the door. Drift, you and Cosmo will go through the right entrance. Sounds good?"

Frederick asked.

"Sounds good, Dad!"

Drift replied as he and Alyssa ran to the hallway with the Octoling woman taking the lead.

Frederick turned to Zane and Ami.

"That leaves you two with the left hallway."

The pair of them nodded. Zane stepped forward, ascending into the leadership role.

"You got it!"

Zane said before turning to Ami.

"Let's go!"

As Zane and Ami disappeared down the hallway, Frederick was left alone. He was staying on guard in case Bolton were to show up. He walked to the entrance of the temple and looked outside. In the distance, the sun was beginning to rise. Frederick breathed in the fresh morning air before walking back inside.

Meanwhile, both Ami and Zane walked down the left hallway, arriving at the door at the end of the hallway. They opened up the door to see a small, squared room. Moss covered the walls with the only light coming from gaps in the walls.

On the other side of the room was a stand with a red pillow on top. On the pillow was the key.

"Okay, Ami, make sure you watch your step, you don't know if any traps could be lying around in here."

Zane warned, however, in the end, it didn't even matter. Ami had already stepped on a pressure plate that had blended into the floor seamlessly.

All of a sudden, holes started opening up all around the walls. Something was now peaking out the holes, Zane wasn't able to make out what it was until...

T C K ,  T C K . . .

"Ami, get down!"

Zane yelled as he transformed into his swim form. Ami had a sudden fright after hearing Zane yell and went into her swim form immediately without a second thought.

B A N G ,  B A N G ,  B A N G ! ! !

Bullets started flying across the room. Luckily both Ami and Zane managed to avoid all of it thanks to their swim forms. Eventually, the trap weapons ran out of ammo and fled back into the wall.

"Ami!"

Zane called out, turning back into his Inkling form and running over to Ami, who was just getting into her Inkling form.

Ami was curled up into a small ball. She was panting heavily. She was still in shock.

"Hey Ami, it's all over now, the firing is over."

Zane assured. Ami looked at Zane's smiling face as he offered her his hand. She didn't take the hand but instead jumped and launched at him for a hug. Zane's face turned bright red, not expecting the sudden hug but accepting it nonetheless.

After hugging for what felt like five years, the pair of them finally stood back up. Zane walked to the key at the end of the room, with Ami holding onto his shoulders from behind just in case any other traps were activated. He grabbed the key.

M E A N W H I L E  W I T H  D R I F T A N D A L Y S S A . . .

As the pair of them reached their door, Drift looked to Alyssa.

"Hey... Cosmo?"

"Yes?"

She asked. Alyssa stopped walking and looked at the young boy.

"Also, you can call me Alyssa if you want. That's my real name."

"Oh... Alyssa, can I talk to you about something?"

Drift asked.

"Of course! What's on your mind?"

Drift sighed before leaning his body against the circular wall.

"It's Dad."

He answered.

"Earlier today... well, yesterday, we found this old village that Dad fought at during the war and-"

"Baxter Village?"

Alyssa asked.

Drift was surprised but also curious.

"Wait... how do you-"

"I lived there once."

She explained.

"It was my home for a few years. One day, the Splat Force showed up and a battle broke out. After the fight was done, Rex Allen found me and took me under his wing."

"Were you innocent?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"In the Gifted Wars, were you innocent?"

Drift asked.

Alyssa smiled and nodded.

"Yes."

"Why would you go with a team who ruined your home?"

Drift asked. In his eyes, he could not see how anyone would make that decision.

"There were a lot more guilty people there to begin with. Terrador, Kamala Sabrina, the list goes on."

She explained.

"Unfortunately, that's the thing about war: whenever good and evil fight, innocent lives are always caught in the crossfire. That's what makes war as tragic as it is."

Drift began to have a clear understanding, but he still had questions.

"Wait, Dad told me that he hated the gifted and that the attack was out of rage... was he just after the bad guys?"

"Yes."

She answered. Alyssa approached Drift and held his left shoulder.

"Your father is a complicated man, believe me, he's had his down moments. He didn't trust me at first, but once I proved I was good, he trusted me. His rage clouded his judgment that day, but he still went in with the intention of doing good. Obviously, things didn't go well, but I still did what he thought was the right thing to do. And with me being around, it shows that he's changed, he's not that man. He's better now, he's a hero!"

Drift took in all of Alyssa's comforting words. He looked up at her and smiled.

"I needed to hear that. Thank you."

"No problem! I'm always here if you need anything!"

She said before getting back to what was important.

"Now, where were we?"

Alyssa opened the door. The pair of them entered the much larger, but still squared room. After closing the door, Drift noticed some small writing on the door which he was just able to make out:

'Survive the stone guard, find the code, get the key. Good Luck!'

"H-Hey Alyssa, you might want to see this..."

He suggested but was cut off by the sound of something moving.

In the center of the room rested a stone statue, holding a stone blade. It started to move on its own. At first, it was moving very slowly, but it got faster, and faster. After fifteen seconds of moving it got into a fighting position and started to approach the two of them.

"What do we do?!"

Drift asked as the statue slowly approached.

As Drift spoke, Alyssa looked at the statue unfazed. She grabbed a Splat Bomb from her utility belt and threw it and the statue. Using her right hand, she fired an energy beam at the Bomb, pushing it forward and increasing the damage.

B O O M ! ! !

The statue was launched to the back walls of the room. It fell to the ground, body slumped forward. Drift looked to the unfazed Alyssa.

"That was easy..."

He told her.

"You know I helped set this whole thing up, right?"

She said as she walked to the stone giant.

"Wait, what?"

Alyssa giggled.

"Yeah, I helped set this temple up after the Gifted Wars along with the surviving of the team."

"Was that how you were able to beat 'em so fast?"

"More or less."

She answered as she opened up the chest of the stone statue.

"Then again, it's not the first time I've beaten a massive stone giant. I've beaten much bigger."

Drift ran up to Alyssa and stood by her side to her left as she pulled out a key from the statue's chest.

"That's one down, right?"

"Correct."

Alyssa said, throwing the key in the air lightly and catching it before facing the front door.

"Let's hope the others have found their key."

M E A N W H I L E  E L S E W H E R E . . .

Though the Once Great Symbol hadn't changed much in the past month, the place became the primary base, and home, of Bolton's followers. Led walked into the throne room and saw Jason. The shape-shifter's natural hair was now shorter and slick, he wore a sennyu suit.

"Hey Led, it's been some time since you were last here. How's things going?"

He asked. Greeting him with a small wave.

"Just got back from Inkopolis, I've got no luck from anywhere I've been to, and I've been across the whole city. I have no clue what makes Bolton think they're in the woods. That would be ridiculous."

Led answered.

"I see... I've not been up to much, kinda just ready for Bolton's next lesson in shape-shifting."

He replied. He closed his eyes and morphed into a female police officer, the only thing that stayed the same was the clothing that he wore and his gifted white pupils. Other than that, down to the last detail.

Led tilted his head sideways.

"You don't know how to control your gifts?"

"I don't. Isn't that the case with most gifted people?"

Jason asked as he turned back into his normal self.

"I mean, yeah, but you're on a mission and you're working for Bolton. Surely you must have some grasp of your gifts by now."

Led told him before putting Jason through another test.

"Transform into an Octoling."

"Right now?!"

"Yup!"

"Well, they're harder to morph into, mainly because it's a different species. But, I've managed to make some quick progress on it because they have loads of similarities to Inklings."

He said as he closed his eyes once more and started to morph. His body started to shift into the form of a female Octoling. However, he was only half successful. Although he had the face of an Octoling, he had the hair of an Inkling.

Led looked at whatever monstrosity Jason had become and sighed.

"This is gonna take a while..."

"Well, it's a start at least!"

Jason replied as he turned back into his natural self.

"True."

Led replied. He then picked up on a minor detail.

"Also, why do you like transforming into girls? I've noticed that a lot with you."

Jason's face went red, almost as if he was embarrassed.

"Uhh..."

He said as he thought of a good, reasonable answer.

"I just like being a girl... I think they're cute."

"Uh huh..."

Led said with his arms crossed. It was clear he was not buying it.

"You're weird."

M E A N W H I L E  W I T H  F R E D E R I C K . . .

Frederick was standing alone in the main room. He paced back and forth between both hallways, hoping for something, but only getting nothing. He let out a sigh before heading to the front entrance for some air. However, he stopped the moment he saw a silhouette at the door.

Frederick got his N-Zap ready in his hands. He pointed it at the silhouette. He was face-to-face with none other than Bolton himself.

"Hello Frederick Evans..."

He greeted coldly. He didn't have his blade in hand yet. He didn't have any sort of emotion on his face. He walked slowly towards Frederick.

"Stay back!"

Frederick yelled. He was aiming his N-Zap at Bolton's head as he took small steps back.

"Before I kill you, I need to know why?"

He asked. He wasn't using this question as a quick distraction. He was being genuine.

Frederick remained silent, taking more small steps back, aiming his weapon at Bolton's head, ready to pull the trigger at any sudden moment.

"Why...?"

Bolton whispered, this time with more aggression. There was an angry frown on his face as Frederick remained silent.

"WHY?! TELL ME!"

"Because I was a terrible man back then! I was a self-centered idiot who just wanted to get revenge! I never thought about them, I-I just thought about myself!"

He answered back. Stuttering his words.

"I know you won't believe me when I say this, but I'm not the same person I was back then, I've moved on with my life... I'm sorry for all the damage I have caused you and everyone around you. There is not a day in my life where I don't think about it all!"

"Yet you still did nothing about it! Instead of trying to make amends, you ran away and raised a kid who lived a false life, you pretended that you could live without war!"

Bolton snarled.

"What do you want me to do?!"

Frederick asked. He was willing to do whatever it takes to make amends.

"I don't want you to do anything. Do you wonder why all this has been happening? Why I've been after you all? Why your kid and his friends got dragged into all of this? Why you have made the long journey here? I was never after your kid, or his friends, or the traitor. I was only ever after you. It was always you, Frederick Evans."

He explained. His voice, although softer than before, was still filled with aggression.

"So... if I die, then..."

Frederick spoke but then stopped speaking. He wanted Bolton to say it himself.

"As long as they stay out of my way, everyone around you will be spared."

Bolton told him. Somehow, none of this sounded like a lie.

Frederick didn't say anything. He looked to the ground debating in his mind about what to do. Would it be worth it? Would Drift be okay without him? Eventually, he looked back at Bolton. He opened his mouth, about to speak until he was interrupted, not by Bolton.

"Dad!"

Drift yelled as he saw the both of them. Alyssa, without a second thought, raised both of her arms and fired at Bolton. The energy beams were deflected by his blade.

Drift took the opportunity to run over to his father, key in hand.

"Let's go!"

He exclaimed out loud, running to the locked door and putting the key in the keyhole.

Both Zane and Ami walked into the main room.

"Ami, stay behind me!"

Zane yelled as he ran over to Frederick and Drift, key in hand. Ami followed closely, frightened by Bolton's presence. Zane put the key in the keyhole.

Both keys were turned by both Zane and Drift. The door was unlocked. Frederick and the trio ran through the door as Alyssa kept Bolton busy. Once she was at a safe distance, she ran past the open door and closed it. She then ran past the circular hallway on the other side. Once at the end, she pressed the button on the wall to set several higher secured doors to keep him busy.

They were now in a much larger room. The walls were still stone but much stronger. In front of them was a large staircase and at the top was a massive yellow barrier, surrounding what looked like something golden. Cosmo raised her arms once more and fired at the yellow barrier. She put more and more pressure on the beams, causing her to start screaming.

B O O M ! ! !

The yellow barrier blew up. Alyssa fell to her knees to catch her breath.

"This is it son, the Rainmaker!"

Frederick said in awe. He traveled all this way, and now, all of it will be worth it. Drift helped Alyssa up. The pair ran up the stairs to secure the powerful weapon.

Zane was about to walk up the stairs until he looked back and saw a still shaken-up Ami. He offered his hand.

"I'll protect you, Ami Stewart."

Zane assured. He then followed up his promise by attempting to say something to her, but ultimately failing.

"I-I..."

"Me too."

Ami said with a smile. She took Zane's hand as the pair of them began to walk up the stairs. This was it, they were finally about to be free, and all of this was coming to an end...

S L A S H ! ! !

Bolton's blade slashed through the final door, he now had access to the room. He walked through and stood at the front. Without thinking twice, Alyssa readied the Rainmaker, aimed it, and finally fired at him twice. However it was no use, Bolton simply slashed the attack aside with his Blade, one to his left and the other to his right.

B O O M ! ! !

B O O M ! ! !

"It's no use, you need to retreat! You all need to live!"

Frederick called out at them. It wasn't a normal command, it was him begging them to live.

Cosmo looked up to the roof and blasted a hole through it with an energy beam. The morning sun shined through the hole and lit up the room.

"Ami, Zane, you two go first!"

She said as she took a step back to allow them to super jump out of there. Before they could go, Alyssa handed Zane the Rainmaker.

"Get it out of here!"

Zane nodded. The pair turned into their swim forms and super jumped out of there. Drift was firing at Bolton with his Splatterscope, but was ultimately doing no damage to Bolton, who was slashing up all the bullets with his blade.

"Drift, you need to leave, now!"

Frederick begged.

"Go without me! Save yourself!"

"Dad, I'm not leaving without you!"

He replied. However, what he didn't know was that his father had already made up his mind.

"If that's the case, then I guess you aren't leaving at all..."

Frederick replied to him somberly. All the gunfiring in the room stopped. Bolton stood still and watched from afar.

"W-What?!"

Drift asked, walking down the stairs to his father.

"I'm not leaving. You have to leave. You need to live out your life! You have to right all the wrongs I have made!"

Frederick said to him.

"No! No, no, no, please no!"

Drift said to his father. Each no sounding more painful than the last. At this point, he knew what was about to happen.

"If I keep running away, he'll keep coming after us, and eventually, you will either get hurt or die! You have to leave!"

Frederick said softly. He knew that Drift wouldn't take this lightly.

"Please, son... it's going to be okay."

"No, Dad! Please... DON'T GO!"

Drift begged, bursting into tears.

Frederick didn't say anything. He wrapped his arms around Drift and gave him one last hug. His son cried into his arms.

"I love you, son..."

He whispered. Frederick grabbed a syringe from his utility belt and injected Drift with it, putting him to sleep.

"F-Fre-Frederick..."

Cosmo muttered walking down the stairs, her eyes tearing up as she picked up Drift.

"Make sure my son is safe. Look after him for me."

Frederick requested. Giving her one final wish.

"It's been an honor fighting alongside you, Alyssa."

Cosmo nodded at him as tears streamed down her face. She carried Drift in her arms and made it to the top of the stairs. She super jumped out of the room with Drift.

It was now just Frederick and Bolton.

"You could've fled with them. You could've lived to see another day."

Bolton said to him. He was surprised by the act Frederick was performing.

"Why didn't you?"

"I've spent that last couple of decades running from my past... it's about damn that time I face it!"

Frederick said to him. He threw his N-Zap aside, now clenching his fists.

After one final stare-off, Frederick and Bolton charged at each other. Every step felt like it was going in slow motion. Each of them had been expecting this moment for a long time, but now, it was finally here. Only one of them was leaving this fight alive... unfortunately, it wasn't going to be Frederick...

S L A M ! ! !

Frederick withdrew his fists at the last second. His eyes widened as his body went numb. Bolton had done it. He had successfully stabbed Frederick through the chest with his blade. Bolton looked into Frederick's dying eyes, feeling nothing but satisfaction as he slowly removed the blade from the chest, returning it to its scabbard.

Frederick managed to stand still for only a few seconds. A small tear dripped from his face, his mouth formed one last smile before he succumbed to Bolton's attack. He fell to the ground. He was gone...

Bolton looked down at Frederick's deceased body. He had finally done it. After sixteen long years, it was finally over. He turned over his corpse and looked into his deceased dark green eyes. He closed them.

Bolton grabbed his blade once again, he turned around and created another flame gateway. He took one last look at Frederick's body before stepping to the other side. Now, all that was left was the body of his long-time enemy.

T O  B E  C O N T I N U E D . . .

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T H X  F O R  R E A D I N G ! ! !

Thx for reading probably my best and most emotional chapter of Splat Force: The Gifted. Frederick may be gone, but everything he stood for will live on. Looks like the new force will have to continue without him... until next time, stay fresh! ^^

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