KrakenKid
"Guard Dog" was a nickname for CannibalCrab that really spread around the Conch Command.

Whenever I spoke to people about him, normally the lower tiered men, they might slip up and call CannibalCrab a guard dog by accident, or just because they were so used to calling him that in private. It was more of a slang term really, so they tried to avoid it in reports and such so people reading them wouldn't get confused about a real guard dog using a shotgun.

There was another reason why me and the other Tide Changers avoided it: CannibalCrab absolutely hated the name. He'd sometimes freak out whenever someone called him it, especially if that someone was me.

As funny as it is to piss him off, he holds grudges over people who call him that, and it's really hard to get him to cooperate when he's offended and refuses to do anything I say, so I have to refrain from it.

However, no one, not even CannibalCrab himself, can deny that it's true.

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but CannibalCrab developed a habit of always guarding my every move. He's always had my back and never hesitates to chose to my safety over his.

I think that was the problem.
Because war spares no one, and especially not the self sacrificing type.

The day of our final push against Atlantis was chaotic to say the least.

Both sides were utterly exhausted and just wanted it all to end. Who would win was a mystery to all, so I decided to give us an advantage by attacking swiftly and without much warning.

This battle would be all or nothing. Everything I held dear was on the line.

When telling everyone my plan, I appeared confident to convince them to agree and go along with it, and though it worked, there was one person who saw past my facade.

I was preparing myself in my tent when they confronted me. I loaded my bandoleer with ammo for my gun as well as packing some explosives to stir up some extra chaos for Atlantis. I didn't hear them come in until they made themselves known.

"KrakenKid-" I let out a short scream and whipped around to come face to face with a confused but amused crab.

"A little warning next time!" I said, catching my breath from the sudden scare and trying not to show that I was embarrassed by his sudden appearance.

"Sorry." He held back a snicker but was failing miserably at doing so. He collected himself and spoke again. "So... How are you doing?"

"Fine." I told him, still trying to figure out what else I needed and dug through my stuff.

"Are you sure?" He pressed on. "Because this battle's kinda big."

I could tell he was hinting at something, but I still couldn't place my finger on it. "So?" I answered.

CannibalCrab eventually huffed and gave it to me straight. "Don't tell me you're not nervous, I saw you when you were talking about it."

I tensed for a second, but relaxed the next. This was CannibalCrab I was talking to, I could admit it. I turned to him and let the words slip out of my mouth. "I'm scared." I barely even processed it but I kept going. "I am! Really! It's all or nothing, and if we fail, everything goes to Atlantis. My life, my home..." The deeper I went, the more breathless I got. "Darrel, you, Blooper... Atlantis will take us all and I won't be able to do a thing."

I closed my eyes lightly and slid down the wall until I was sitting. "Chances are that if we lose, I won't even see the outcome because I'll already be dead."

CannibalCrab didn't say anything but I heard him sit next to me. A long silence passed before more thoughts came to me. I opened an eye and locked onto his. "Is it crazy that I don't want to kill more than I have to to end this? I've seen so much death, Cannibal, I don't want to see too much more. Atlantean or otherwise."

He shook his head. "No, I understand. At this point, I think everyone would understand." He grinned. "You could spare the penguin and people wouldn't question you!"

I laughed, rolling my eyes as I did. "It'll have to take something big to get me to do that."

Nothing seems to pass by quicker than a battle. You can barely think, and all you have time for is actions.

I made many actions in the final push. "ATTACK!" I screamed at the beginning, starting the whole thing and pushing my army forward. I shot all around me, catching at least ten guards off guard before they began to fight back. When some got close, I pulled out my sword and defended myself.

The plan was while some of the other generals attacked all around the city, I would head straight for the penguin, who according to our spies, was in his palace, too wounded to fight. There, I would dethrone him, one way or another, and Atlantis would be ours.

Plans never go perfectly. Sometimes, they go horribly wrong.

My squad of elite soldiers and I burst into the market place. I gave them the go-ahead on splitting off and creating more distractions while I headed for the palace, and began my march to confront the penguin.

Something I wouldn't learn until later was that one of the groups was struggling and got pushed off course, and I ran into someone who wasn't suppose to be there. They stumbled into the middle of the road, and I stopped dead in my tracks and blinked. "Cannibal?"

The crab whipped towards me, holding his arm which was bleeding heavily but otherwise looked fine. He gave a toothy grin and staggered over. "Hey! What are the odds, huh?"

I just raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be taking on Pickles and the lab right now?" I asked, perplexed.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "He put up a lot of defenses, I tried to take the back way in but he was waiting for that." He must have seen I was worried so he quickly added, "Some of us had to retreat but other than that, it's going well!"

I let out a sigh in relief. "So we are winning?" He nodded. "Great. I'm going to go finish it off then. You..." I trailed off as my eyes laid on his wound. I winched and tried to avoid it. "See someone about that before going back in. Doc should be in the same place as planned."

He gave one final nod before we set off for separate paths.

However, my back was turned to something very important, and I didn't notice. CannibalCrab however, did and he nearly froze, but quickly broke out of his trance and acted. Both of us made a lot of actions that day, but this one would determine how the battle ended.

"KRAKENKID, WATCH OUT!" As soon as he said it, a gunshot rang out and I nearly choked. I patted down my chest, but felt no pain and sighed in relief.

I began to turn around. "I think they missed but what-" My mouth hung open when I saw it.

Blood blossomed in CannibalCrab's heart as he stood there in a protective stance over me. His eyes were wide and shocked, and he couldn't move. My eyes shot up to see a soldier standing in the shadows, not too far from me. Anger boiled inside of me and without a second thought, I whipped out my gun and shot him dead center of his chest. The soldier fell to the ground the second I did, and I returned my focus to my best friend, who was starting to fall over.

"Whoa! Easy, easy!" I caught him before he did and gently helped him sit down. I put a hand on his back but instantly regretted it as I felt his blood. "L-let's get you to Doc, he'll fix you up in no time!" I gave a weak smile, but CannibalCrab snickered.

"Shouldn't you know by now that I can see through your act you put on?" My fake smile faded in an instant. "Plus, I can feel the bullet you know. I'm not going to make it."

Stress built up inside of me. I couldn't lose him, not my best friend of all people! "Don't say that!" I snapped, narrowing my eyes. I stood up, trying to get him to do the same "You're strong, we just need to-"

"Kraken," He said softly.

"-There has to be some medical supplies somewhere-"

"Kraken-"

"-I mean, I'm not doctor but I know some basic-"

"KRAKENKID!" He shouted, and I shut my mouth. He huffed, slouching down. "Don't. I'm going to die no matter what so... Can we just stop for a moment? I have some things I need to say."

I nodded, gulping. The least I could do was honor whatever request he made. He paused for a while before finding the strength to speak. "You know how everyone calls me your guard dog?" I nodded. "And how I hated it?" Another nod. "Well, that's because it's true." He smiled weakly. "I'm your guard dog. I'm the one who watches your back and tries to keep you safe. Apparently, I was a lot more loyal to the role than I thought- I mean look at me! I just took a bullet for you!"

I could feel tears threatening to form, but I did what I could to hold them back. "But you know what?" He locked eyes with me. "The only reason I ended up being your guard dog was because you needed one. You're so reckless and insist on doing things your way, even if that means you have to do it alone. So here's what I'm asking:"

I took in a breath, expecting a request, and though I was right, I wasn't prepared for what he said.

"Take care of yourself when I'm gone. Don't give anyone else a reason to be your guard dog."

That's when I couldn't hold it in any longer. I sobbed, tears falling faster than I wanted to, and for what seemed like eternity, I just wanted everything to end. But I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up. CannibalCrab gave one last smile. "Don't you have a kingdom to take over? Go take down that penguin for me."

CannibalCrab never said another word and just fell forward. I caught him and gently laid him down. I shed a couple more tears, but wiped them away and stood up. "I will." I told him, and made a mad dash for the palace.

There were guards in the palace, but none of them received mercy. I shot them down left and right, and when I ran out of ammo, I attacked them head on with my sword.

Cody was near the stairs when I came in, and by the time I finished everyone else, he was a few feet away from his throne. He raised his spear, threatening to shock me but I swatted it away. I kicked him, making him slam against the wall and reopening his old wounds. He slumped against the wall, and I approached slowly until I stopped and hovered over him.

He glanced up, his brown eyes mixing with my yellow. "Let's talk about this- we can make a peace treaty and end all of this!"

But my eyes only narrowed. "No." I told him, and kicked his face. I started to walk away and picked up his crown from off of the throne.

The penguin, as stubborn as ever, decided to ask one last question. "True Atlanteans will always fight against you- why not just make a peace treaty and end all of this fighting? Why take the throne when you can end all of this?"

I locked onto his eyes and said one thing as I slipped the crown upon my head.

"Because my best friend told me to."

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This one shot can technically fit as a prequel to my really old book "To Die In Battle" but otherwise, just enjoy it as it is.

I had an idea for this the other day and then it just sorta happened, so hopefully it turned out well!

I hope all of you liked this! Be sure to comment what you thought of it, and I'll see all of you later!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter