Professor Pikalus

People always talk about what they would do for people.

It's just a natural thing. When you befriend someone, both of you start to ask: What would I do for this person? Lose my job, sacrifice my night or date, choose your happiness over mine, all things that come in due time.

However, it get to the point where you could endlessly list it.

I'd go to the moon and back for you!

I'd take a bullet for you!

I'm willing to slap you if you get a bad idea!

You get the point.

Once you get to a certain point, you then have to answer one question. Most people don't know this question, but here it is:

What wouldn't you do for them?

Cody was my best friend. I wasn't really close to anyone else so not like there was competition or anything, but we were still really close.

Were... Was... I wish I didn't have to use past tense...

I thought I would do anything for Cody. I was willing to give up my job, my life, sacrifice relationships, but you never realize what you aren't willing to do for them, until it's too late.

And it was much too late for me.

Atlantis was at war with a race of vicious creatures. Utterly merciless, resembling eels, and best known for attacking quickly and strangling people.

The war was tied, but not in a good way. It went on for nearly three years, both sides losing great amounts of soldiers. We were getting desperate to win, Cody most of all. It was his city, so if he failed to protect it, that was on him. More importantly, he had a legacy to protect. Poseidon kept the city safe at all costs, so Cody had to do the same.

People, Cody most of all, used to tell me how lucky I was. I came from a poorer family and I had nothing to live up to but myself. I set my own limits, others had to either follow them or get even higher. They were pressured by all of it, and people make rash decisions when they're under pressure.

Both Cody and I made a rash decision under pressure.

Cody had a plan that would have ended the war, but I saw faults to it.

"Cody, if we bomb them like this the innocent could get hurt! Atlanteans too! Children Cody, children!" I tried to reason with him, but he was too far gone.

"I'm sorry Professor, but there's no other way. It's a couple thousand people vs all of Atlantis, over a million people! I have to do this!" I looked away from him but he put a hand on my shoulder, catching my attention again. "Professor, I know this is a hard thing to do, but war does this. What choice do we have? Do you want to let Atlantis fall? Do you want to see our people be killed or enslaved?"

"No..." I muttered.

Cody's form relaxed. "Then we have to do this. I wish it didn't have to be this way."

My mind spun as he started to leave, and I called out. "Cody! There has to be another way! We could make peace! Give up some of our land! Anything! I don't want to do this!"

Cody paused and turned around, emotion lingering in his eyes. I soon found it to be a form of sadness, regret maybe? "Pikalus, none of those things have a guarantee of working like this does. I can't take this risk."

Cody was gone soon, barely breathing out a 'Goodbye' as he did. I was alone, but I still said one last thing.

"And I can't stand by as you do this."

I have no idea how long I stood outside of the dark, long and endless cave system that made my mind start to collapse on itself, but it took me a while to gather my courage to face it. Finally, I strode inside and as expected, a while in, I was stopped by a patrol.

The Illithid's surrounded me, taking an intimidating stance but I shrugged it off. "I demand to speak with KrakenKid!" I spoke up, eyes narrowing at all of them as they started to drag me away. They started to talk in a language I didn't understand, almost in bubbling sounds. Some sort of squid talk, no doubt about it.

Either way, I found myself in a cell as soon as we got there. I let them take what was on me, which honestly wasn't much and they placed it in a chest right by the entrance. I eyed it as I waited.

"What do you mean he demands to speak with me?" I recognized the voice to be the head of the Tide Changers himself in an instant. He always did sound unique. "What does that annoying, little, monstrous-"

"Uh, s-sir!" The Illithid guiding him over spoke up, getting a little glare from the kraken. "He's- uh- standing right over there..."

The kraken's head snapped in my direction and groaned slightly. "Oh that's just perfect..." He murmured under his breath before dismissing the soldier back to their station. He strode over and flashed a quick but clearly forced smile. "Pickles, it's... Great to see you." He was choosing his words carefully.

I rolled my eyes slightly in response. "Kraken, don't pretend that you like me. It really doesn't suit you."

He let out a chuckle as he came to a stop, right outside my cell. "Glad we can agree on something. What do you want?" KrakenKid crossed his arms.

"Who says I wanted anything?" I challenged, wanting to put it off as much as possible.

"Please, you didn't come here for tea and cookies or just for a nice chat. It's not like we're even close to friends and you used the word, "Demand" when asking for my presence. Unless you want more cherries, what else would you be here for? Is it the war?"

I hesitated before nodding. "I need your help."

"No."

I blinked. "W-... You didn't even hear what I was going to say!"

"But yeah, no. I'm not getting involved in a war I don't need to fight in. Cody and I have a deal: I don't help the eels and I can stay out of it. No having to deal with that penguin, so yeah, I'm out." He answered, almost smugly.

I sighed. "Yeah, I know about that treaty and all, but could you change your mind? Aren't the eels a threat to you too? They hate Atlantis!"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." He smirked. "Besides, we talked. They liked krakens. Something about them being long time allies when it came to misunderstood creatures." I had to bite my tongue at the word, 'Misunderstood' to keep something bad from coming out. "So yeah, I'm safe. Good day, Pickles." He opened up the cell door and gestured towards the exit.

I left the cell, but stopped to turn to the kraken. "What..." Just thinking about it made my heart feel heavy. "What if I want something else?"

KrakenKid gave me a look. "Like what?"

"Cody... Cody's not listening to reason. He wants to do something that I heavily disagree with and I need to stop him. I'm asking you to help me stop him."

The yellow eyes widened and a full grin appeared on KrakenKid's face. "Well, well, well! The right hand man is going off the rails? Betraying his leader? That's going on my list of things I didn't anticipate." So badly I wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off of his face but I held back.

"Maybe... Are you in or not?"

KrakenKid paused for a moment, but held out his right tentacle. "I'm always down for messing with the penguin. What did you have in mind?"

I ran a hand through my hair for the seventh time that night, glancing around and began to circle around one more time. I had called up Cody, saying I wanted to talk to him in private- which was true- and had our meeting place be the graveyards. The one place I was sure would be empty at the time we set it at.

Nobody ever went to the graveyard at midnight.

I pressed the small communicator in my ear and began to speak under my breath. "You in position?"

"'Course! I don't want to mess this opportunity up! The real question is: Do you really have the nerve to do this, Pickles? Betraying your own king? Your "Friend"?"

I let out a long sigh. "I... Yeah. It's for the best."

"Whatever makes you feel better, Pickles."

"While we have time, why do you keep calling me-"

"Professor!" I froze.

"He's here." I said, before switching the communicator off. I didn't need him making snide comments while I attempt to talk to the king one last time. "Cody! Glad you could make it."

Cody smiled a bit before anxiously looking around. "Graveyard? Really? At this time at night? I feel like I'm in a zombie movie right now..."

I let out a short laugh. "Yeah, sorry but I needed privacy. We need to talk."

Cody's smile dropped, he knew what this was about. "Professor, it's the only way."

"But it's not! We have so many options!" I argued.

"None of them will work! Look, I've been doing this for a long time, don't you think I know what's best?"

I fell silent for a while, but finally replied. "You'd think that..."

The brown eyes narrowed on me. "You're doubting me? When have I ever shown you that you shouldn't trust me?"

"Right now!" I shot back.

I could have sworn he growled. "I am doing my best for my city! Why do you have any right to judge me? I know what I'm doing and I'm going to do it." He swiftly turned around and started to walk out.

"I can't let you do that."

"Oh really?" Cody restored, fists clenching. "What are you going to do?"

"Heya penguin!" Cody whipped around but was met with the butt end of a sword. He passed out almost instantly, dropping to the soil. KrakenKid just grinned. "So nice to see you again."

In the Conch Command, I leaned against the wall, opposite to the cell they were holding Cody in. KrakenKid on the other hand, he stood right in front of the cell, knowing the king would wake up any moment now. I could barely even look at Cody, even while he was sleeping.

Seconds later, he stirred and began to process where he was.

"K... Kraken? What..? Wait..." He looked around slowly, dead tired and trying to understand it all. "What... What am I doing here?" He snapped out of it and got up quickly.

"And he's awake! Welcome to my prison. I doubt I have to give you a tour, you've been here before!"

Cody blinked a couple times before his eyes narrowed. "This doesn't answer my question: Why am I here?" His voice raising.

KrakenKid paused before standing off to the side and gestured towards me. "Hey, don't ask me, ask the man who set this whole thing up."

Even though I wasn't looking at him, I could feel his gaze burning into my soul. "Professor?" Cody questioned.

"I'll leave you two to it." Was all the Tide Changer said before leaving.

Silence passed through the room but Cody broke it. "Why? Why would you do this?"

I didn't answer right away, instead moving forward until I was in front of the cell. Only then, did I look up. Cody's face was filled with utter shock and hurt, and it broke my heart. "I told you." I croaked out. "I can't let you sacrifice Atlanteans. My Mother's in that sector, I can't let her get hurt."

Cody's eyes widened. "P.... Professor, I didn't know."

"Would it have made a difference to you?" Cody didn't answer, but he told me what I suspected. "That's what I thought... Sorry, but you're staying here. KrakenKid will do what he wants." I started to get out, not wanting to face him anymore but he still cried out to me.

"Professor? Professor! Wait! Come back! You can't just leave me here!" But I couldn't look back, not now at least. "I thought we were friends! I thought I could trust you! Please! D-don't do this!" His voice cracked, which put a dent in my heart. "Professor! WHY? I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS! I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!" His hands slammed against the bars repeatedly, and a sob escaped his throat.

But I couldn't go back.

There's a million things I would do for Cody, but only then I realized what I wouldn't do.

***************************************************************

I came up with this idea and then I just had to put it down.

Not exactly "I'm gonna cry right now" but more like "Wow my heart" kinda feels here. Unless that did make you cry... But here it is regardless!

I was going to update yesterday but then I was really busy and by the time I got home I was basically dead tired, sooooooo yeah. Sorry 'bout that.

Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter! Be sure to comment what you think of it, and I'll see ya! Might have another update today butttttt who knows, I'll see what I can do!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter