Third Person

It took Cody a hour to finally work up the courage to even get to the prison on the first place. It took almost another one to get to KrakenKid's cell and open it up.

Guilt was not a fun thing to deal with.

His footsteps were heavy, barely even lifting off the ground as they made a scraping sound when he neared. KrakenKid was at first slouching on the edge of his bed, holding his head up with both tentacles and either deep in thought, or bored. Knowing him, being both at the same time wouldn't be out of the question.

However, when Cody first opened the door, his head perked towards the sound, then after a moment, relaxed slightly, pivoting himself to be somewhat facing the door.

"Hello, penguin." He greeted plainly, like Cody was just another face around the block. Cody's emotions went out of control when he did. Could he see him? Was his sight returning?

"You can see me?" He asked hopefully, but was brought down when KrakenKid let out a low chuckle.

"Yeah, no. Sorry bud, but I doubt that's happening. No, I could smell you." His mouth twitched in amusement. "I wasn't kidding when I called you a smelly penguin. I could pick you out of a crowd with just my nose."

He has a nose? Where? Cody resisted asking and instead, asked a different but still not important question. "But I have new cologne--the good stuff! How could you-"

"Please, it's not something you can cover up with that cheap stuff. Or at all. You can't get rid of what you are, and what you are, is a smelly penguin." For the first time in a long time, KrakenKid smiled. "I rest my case."

Cody decided against arguing with him and just sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine, I get it. I'm a good for nothing, smelly penguin who couldn't run the city if my life depended on it, which it kinda does."

KrakenKid's eyebrow raised but said nothing. Cody noticed. "What?" He asked, exasperated.

"You're offly irritable today," He noted. "I haven't even tried to piss you off and you already sound like you're going to go beat up some poor defenseless pillow."

Cody just let out a breathless laugh in response before the room went quiet. They both suffered in silence before Cody finally let out what he came there to say. "I'm so sorry, KrakenKid."

"You already said that." He replied.

"Doesn't mean I shouldn't repeat it."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it but shouldn't you be celebrating something? The big bad KrakenKid is locked up and probably won't be able to steal or harm anyone again given his current condition, isn't that an achievement or something?"

Cody gave him a long look, a little speechless but found the will to say something. "Of course not! I blinded you, why would I be celebrating? Why would you want me to be?"

"Because all of this pity is making me kinda sick." He gagged just thinking about it. "Just stop it, cut the act and go have a party for my defeat!"

"What- no! Sheesh, I'm not going to celebrate that I just ruined your life! I want to help you!"

"Oh gosh, you're making it worse!" KrakenKid groaned.

"What, do you not like dealing with feeling or something?" Cody asked, arching his eyebrows in response.

He just scoffed. "Not feelings that have to do with you at least. Why are you here again?"

"I just-..." Cody's voice failed him for a moment and he wasn't sure what was going to come out of his mouth next. "I want to just check up on you. You..." He searched for the right words. "Okay? Comfortable?"

KrakenKid's yellow eyes rolled. "I'm in a prison, take a guess at how comfortable it is. You should know, you've been in one before."

Cody let out a light snicker. "I remember that, you were so frustrated with me. I kept trying to make attempts to escape, running away, stealing a sword and attempting to attack you... Good old days, am I right? Before everything got so... Complicated."

KrakenKid shared his snicker. "I was so confused, none of my prisoners ever acted like you did. They were all scared to death of me, you just kept making jokes and insisting I wasn't a bad person. I got most annoyed that took my name so literary. I know my name's KrakenKID and all, but no one ever treated me like one. Not in a long time at least."

Cody locked onto his eyes, though he knew he couldn't see that, he had to anyways. "I still believe that you know." KrakenKid looked up and tilted his head slightly. "That you're a good person. And that you're a kid. I know that krakens live a long time and all, but you're still a kid, right? Something like that?"

KrakenKid paused but decided to add in, "Technically yes, but that's only because krakens have less phases than everybody else. We have baby, kid, adult and elder. No teenager or young adult or anything like that. I am your age but still a kid, get what I mean?"

Cody thought on that for a moment, That never even occurred to him before, but he still pushed it aside. "But you're still just a kid, like me. A kid who..." Cody couldn't find the strength to say it out loud, but KrakenKid knew what he was going to say and took lead.

"A kid who grew up too fast."

Both fell silent but Cody broke it first.

"I'll make arrangements to make this place more comfortable and homelike. More pillows and blankets? We got you. Music? I'll pull some strings. Weapons, no. Definitely not... Want special chicken? I'll get that, I'll get you that- GUARD!" He rushed out of the room, trying not to have any more confrontation, leaving the kraken alone to chuckle at him. He knew what he was doing, but found it kind of... Funny to say the least.

Look who's uncomfortable with emotions now.

"Guard!" Cody dashed outside of KrakenKid's cell to the Atlantean Guard standing there, who stiffened up. He had short, brown hair that was curly and baby blue eyes. He was thin looking, shrinking a bit under Cody's gaze but still nodded all the same. His skin was quite pale, making Cody wonder if he ever went outside.

"I need you to go get KrakenKid some cala- I mean SPECIAL CHICKEN!" The king said loudly before adding something in a lower tone. "It's calamari but don't tell him. Not like he'll listen anyways. Got that-" He paused and looked down at the guard's name tag fitted on his armor. "Damian."

Damian nodded before rushing off.

The guard got out of the building and looked back to see if the penguin was still watching him, but sighed in relief when he wasn't. His first time being in direct contact with the king of Atlantis, and it was frightening. He had to get that under control in case it happened again. He went ahead, walking further away from Atlantis and casually stripping off his guard uniform to reveal more normal clothing under it. Then, it didn't take him long to slip into the shadows, unnoticed.

The farmlands was quite busy today, the residents in it started to gossip. Even from the distance he was away, Damian could hear them. Atlanteans always were so loud.

"Did you hear about KrakenKid? They say he's held captive by Atlantis! They have him!"

"Really? I heard they blinded him!"

"No, no! He's dead! Or at least now he is, why wouldn't they kill him by now?"

"Donna! Didn't you hear about King Cody's nightmares and trouble sleeping after he killed him? Of course he's not dead!"

"Who even started that rumor anyways? Why would he be troubled about killing the bad guy?"

"Beth's son is a guard, he knew about it! Besides, you know the king! He hates to cause more damage than necessary!"

Damian, finding this conversation not useful, decided to stop eavesdropping and just slipped out of the farmlands and closer to the edge of the fourth sector. There, as discussed at the crystals waiting, was a familiar figure. A ram with long horns and black beady eyes, who locked onto Damian as soon as he saw them. However, unlike planned, a large, red and orange crab and a small purple kraken were waiting there as well.

Damian made his way forward before questioning it. "Ramrod, I thought it would be just us..." His voice trailed off as he gazed at the two newcomers.

CannibalCrab was one of them, which Damian new to be the top general of the Tide Changers, and now currently in charge now with the lack of their leader. His eyes looked to have bags forming under him and looked utterly exhausted and stared at Damian with desperation deep within them.

The other was Baby Blooper, KrakenKid's son and heir. Though he might have taken over, Blooper simply wasn't in the right place, or skill level, to take over everything that KrakenKid would normally do. He gave him the same look of desperation, but also one of hidden anger, most likely towards Atlantis rather than him. Basically everyone in the Conch Command was doing their best to stop the small kraken from doing something reckless to find his father.

Ramrod's eyes rolled. "I thought so too but these two followed me. No point in getting them to leave so let's just do this quick. How is spying on Atlantis going? Have you located KrakenKid? What is his condition?"

Damian gulped before giving the report. "He's... Alive at least. Atlantis has him in the biggest and most secure jail cell they have, but he's pretty okay. However, he's not..." Damian's words failed him as he attempted to say it.

"What? Not what? Spit it out!" CannibalCrab demanded, eyes narrowing.

"HE'S BLIND, OKAY?" He screamed before quieting down after the others were taken aback. He probably could have said that better, he realized. "Sorry, but it's not the kind of news I wanted to deliver."

Ramrod's eyes widened while CannibalCrab growled. "They did WHAT? THAT LITTLE- WHO DID IT?"

Damian gulped. "P-Professor Pikalus."

"OH THAT FREAKING- GAH! He's going to pay for this! Could we lead a raid and get him out? Get him back to the Conch Command and heal his eyesight?"

The spy shook his head. "Sorry but it's pretty secure. Maybe if they move him... I'll keep you updated."

"Plus," Ramrod put in. "Harold is a mad scientist, not a miracle worker. Healing his sight will be difficult, even for him. Our armies are still recovering from the slaughter that Atlantis did to them, so we'll need a long time before we can do anything in response. Not even a sneak attack would be advised."

"But KrakenKid-"

CannibalCrab was cut off by the ram. "Will be fine. He's been captured by Atlantis in the past, it's not like he won't live through it. We'll rescue him, but for now we need to lay low. He'll understand. We can't lose another leader." His eyes bore into the crab's.

CannibalCrab's eyes lowered in defeat but Blooper couldn't let it slide. "What? Lay low? Wait for it? This is my father we're talking about! I don't care what you say, I'm getting him out of there!"

Blooper attempted to move past them but a claw launched out and gripped his arm. Blooper's hateful gaze whipped around and simmered onto the general, but CannibalCrab didn't even flinch under his gaze. "No, I know you're worried but you are not risking yourself for him! This isn't what he would want! You'll get caught, it doesn't matter how sneaky you are!"

Blooper's teeth clenched. "HE'S MY FATHER!"

CannibalCrab couldn't contain his anger. "AND HE'S MY BEST FRIEND!"

Blooper's mouth shut abruptly as he continued. "I know you're suffering, but I am too. We have to stay together."

Blooper paused for a long moment before saying one word. "Fine..." He looked away. "I just... I miss him so much, okay? I've never seen him captured before..." A tear fell from his eyes.

CannibalCrab did something unexpected. He hugged him. "Me too, kiddo."

"Don't call me kiddo."

"Yeah, that felt wrong."

Damian and Ramrod who were watching the scene unfold, turned to each other. "Go back to your place and spy some more. Report back next week. If something huge comes up, you know what to do."

Damian nodded, sparing a glance at the crab and kraken and noticed tears leaving the general's eyes as well. He nodded firmly. "Alright." Was all he said before leaving to do his job.

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I DID IT!

Dang, I didn't think I could finish this fast but here it is! Enjoy it!

Obviously KrakenKid and Cody needed to talk about the previous events that happened in the last few days and Cody once again says sorry. Emotions, fun times, all that stuff!

That second half with the spy wasn't planned until a couple days ago where I realized it would fit well into the plot, so I added it in! Welcome, Damian the spy! More of a background character, but he'll make a couple appearances given he's the one telling the Tide Changers what's going on with their leader, because of course they miss him and want him back.

Anyways, I hope you liked this! Be sure to comment your thoughts, and I'll hopefully be back sooner with the next chapter! See ya!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter