CannibalCrab was always by my side.

When I first started out and started the group of the Tide Changers, there were some people who joined early on.

The first ever was Darrel. The blue bird heard about my cause and what I was going to do and advised me on it. Darrel never really liked Atlantis or felt at home there and saw through the lies told. He helped with the technical stuff while also being one of my go to guys. Darrel was like a father to me and even treated me like one. Without him, the Tide Changers might not even exist! I could always trust him.

Soon after was Harold. Harold was an amazing scientist who wanted to create thing that Atlantis would never allow. He was a mad scientist at heart, one even crazier than Professor Pikalus ever was. Atlantis didn't really like what he was doing. After a chat with me and Darrel, he was happy to join us and actually helped with the Illithids I have today. I never put much restrictions other than 'Don't kill us all' and he loved that. He was truly amazing.

Larsa came to me soon after and show me what he could do. He said he never felt welcomed in Atlantis and it always was so fake to him. Apparently, he came here to look for a new life but people were afraid of him and he was an outcast. I took him in and he grew to be one of my greatest generals and friends. I was devastated when he died.

CrankyCrab was both a great cook and fighter. He joined us because, like Larsa, it was all too fake for him. Too goody two shoes and full of lies. He was always trusted and cooked the best things I ever tasted.

Gnash was a friend of Larsa and had very similar intentions for joining. He was always great at fighting and commanding. I could always trust him, though he wasn't exactly the smartest of them all.

Bruce was a thug and was too aggressive for Atlantis to handle so they put him in jail. I broke him out in exchange for his services, which once I told him the job of being a villain and beating people up as well as training my army, he was very happy to. He was honestly one of the dullest tools in the shed but he was strong.

Hunchback Herbert was a bit of an odd ball and we picked him up during a raid. He actually joined us in destroying Atlantis and followed us back. It was weird, but we accepted him anyways. He was a great fighter after all.

Finally came him, CannibalCrab himself. His story went like this: He lived with other crabs in Atlantis and even had a wife. When he was young, he accidentally ate crab meat from a shop in Atlantis. Not a large walking and talking crab like himself and the people he lived with but the smaller ones that you find everywhere. Upon tasting it, he loved it and only wanted to eat more.

 However, when other crabs found out, they were disgusted and forced him to stop. For so long, he tried to live a normal life but no matter what he did, he had trouble suppressing the hunger. Eventually, on a very bad day where everything that could go wrong did, he snapped. His wife approached him at a bad time and he devoured her. CannibalCrab was left with nothing but her necklace and was horrified at himself. Once the other crabs and the rest of the Atlanteans found out, he was driven out of his home.

The poor guy was distressed. Furious at himself for killing his wife like that and even more for Atlantis for suppressing him instead of helping him through it. His hatred for Atlantis only grew as he traveled.

And then he stumbled into the outskirts of sector four.

Cannibalcrab was trekking through our lands when a small group came across him. I was in that group that day and I still remember it. I remember when I came across the tired crab and interrogated him. All he replied with was "Why won't you Atlanteans leave me alone? Haven't you done enough to me?" The cannibal screamed that at me.

After pausing for a moment, I led him into the Conch Command and told him about us. He was more than happy to join us, especially after I told him he could eat all the crab he wanted.

I remember I had to train him because he had no idea how to fight. He learned quickly and soon was one of my top warriors. Eventually, he became a general and after that, my right hand man. I trusted him with my life and I knew he felt the same. He was certainly an crazy one but I didn't care much. We all were a bit insane.

CannibalCrab was always by my side.

Much time passed and no matter what, through thick or thin, CannibalCrab was always by my side and happy to assist me. But as time dragged on, I began to notice something. He was aging. Of course I was too but he was aging and much faster than I was. Every day he looked older and every day I gave him the the option of retiring. He turned it down, day after day after day.

Until one day he accepted it.

The old man would still help out but no one could deny that he was nearing the end of his time. As a kraken, I could live for much longer than anyone else could. Krakens can live for thousands of years, but to my dismay, 

Crabs could not.

Time was moving much faster than I wanted it to and soon I found myself in the one place I didn't want to be the most.

By his bed in a hospital with the doctors all telling me there is nothing they can do because he is dying of old age. But there I was, holding his claw as the beeping of the heart monitor growing ever so slower. Every second was like a nightmare and I was stuck in agony. There was nothing I could do. I felt so helpless.

However, even as he was on the brink of death, he still chuckled. "So we're finally here." He spoke, his voice low. He sighed and shook his head. "After all this time, I was never sure if I'd make it. I always thought I'd die in battle." His laughter turned to rough coughing. My heart skipped a beat. "Whoa there buddy! You should really rest up and not work yourself so much." A weak smile appeared on his face. His head shook side to side.

"Nah. My time is coming soon anyways so why waste the energy I have on sleeping when I can be talking to you!" Cannibal laughed more. I shook my head, rubbing my forehead as if trying to make the stress go away. "You're going to be just fine. If you just rest up and-" The retired general cut me off. "KrakenKid. Be real with me. We both know I won't last for much longer."

My heart felt like lead. I gulped and tried to say something but nothing came out. "See? You can't even deny it." It was killing me that no words could get me out of this. I couldn't deny something that was so spot on that it hurt. I just stared into his eyes and sighed. "You've gotten so old..."

"And you've barely aged."

I rubbed the back of my head. "Krakens can live a long time. Actually, I've only just become a true adult." He started to crack up. "Does this mean we can now call you KrakenMAN?" A grin never left his lips. Finally, I smiled too, finding it contagious. "Yeah. I suppose if you really wanted to you could."

His laughter eventually died down and he turned to me, his smile was more sad and remorseful. "I'm sorry I won't get to be with you fighting out there anymore." I could feel all of my insides drop. A frown found itself forming once again. "It's okay. I- WE knew that eventually, this day would come."

I sighed and looked away. He grabbed my arm and tugged back, getting my attention. His face was different. This time he was more happy, but in a different way. Almost like he was at peace. "After all this time, I'm just glad I spent my life with you, old friend. Can you do me a favor?" The question confused me, but I nodded. "Of course. Anything you want."

"Promise me that you'll live a full life. Even if I'm not there, live the life I would have wanted you to have."

I hesitated but agreed to it. Somehow, he was even calmer. "Thank you." His heartbeat dropped causing mine to fly into a frenzy. "I needed to hear that. You better keep that promise." I watched his hand fall and lose its power. "WAIT! NO STOP THAT!" I cried out as the line went flat and a single prolonged beep echoed through my mind.

"DOC! DOCTOR!" I screamed to them who came running. "DO SOMETHING!" I frantically pointed at him but they didn't move. They sighed and shook their head. "I'm sorry but he died of old age. There's nothing we can do. There is no cure for it."

Tears blurred my vision as I fell to the floor. Sobs broke out from my mouth and for hours I stayed there, by his side. I barely stopped cry and refused to do anything else. The others were getting concerned but I couldn't do this anymore.

I would have to lead the Tide Changers, fight the Cody Maverick and command my many legions of troops, and I would have to do it all alone.

CannibalCrab was always by my side. But now I had to go on without him.

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Okay this might seem confusing but I promise, in the next chapter, the last chapter, everything will be explained. This one I found not exactly cry-your-heart-out sad but I did find it rip-your-heart-out sad where you're just left with this terrible gut wrenching feeling in your soul.
Which is what I was going for.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the following chapter! Be sure to comment and tell me how I did on a scale from 1, I felt no sadness to 10, MY HEARTTTTTTT!!!!1!1!!!

Bye!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter