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Standing on the side of the stage, watching Team Blue graciously accept their trophy, Emperor feels a kind of pride he’s never felt before.
He walks over, shakes all of their hands, and congratulates them, remembering just how he got to where he is now.
Years ago, he remembers Pearl (back when she owned the team) sitting on the grate in the training arena, her slosher laying on the ground below her and her coat tightly buttoned up. She was deep in thought and hardly noticed Emperor come over and sit at her side, discarding his own ink tank and dual squelcher on the ramp.
When he spoke to her, she nearly fell- but she saved it at the last second, making her little brother smile and laugh to himself.
“Are you alright?”
Pearl thought about that for a second and pulls Emperor into a hug.. but he noticed her ears pin back for a moment.
“Yeah. I think so, anyhow.”
“... do you wanna talk about it?”
She laughed and Emperor laughed too when she hugged him a little tighter so she could hide her worry.
“Maybe when I figure it out. Oh- speaking of, uh, I’ve been thinking about something. Involving you and me and... and the team.”
His smile faded a bit, but Pearl’s was small and sad while she began to explain.
“I’ve decided I need to think about... things. So I’m quitting for the time being, and then you’ll be the captain of the team until I decide to come back. Prince’s been wanting to join. I know that’s a bit of a bombshell but I know you’ll do great.”
Emperor hummed, because he wasn’t sure what to do, but he nodded and promised his sister he’d make her proud.
But before he could ask her for advice, she unbuttoned her coat, draped it over Emperor’s shoulders, and left the small arena, forlornly picking up her weapon and ignoring her little brother while he called for her asking what to do. All of a sudden, he felt alone, but that was alright because he’d figure it out. It’d just take a while.
When he met her outside, Pearl knelt in front of him and buttoned up the coat once his arms were in the sleeves.
“I’ve gotta talk to our dads about something whenever we get back home. You can come with me if you’re worried, but I’m okay.”
When she stepped back, Emperor simply hugged her for a moment.
“I’m sure you’ll excel someday, Emperor.”
“... thank you.”
Pearl patted his shoulder and smiled at him while she turned to head toward home.
“You have your things, right? It’s alright if not, Sheldon’s good at making sure it doesn’t get lost.”
And now, for the first time since that year, Emperor had once more been dethroned. Or, at the very least, it isn’t his anymore. He’s brought back to the present by Goggles hugging him, very much out of nowhere, but he embraces the younger squid.
“It was an honor, Mr. Houzuki,
” he says, shaking Emperor’s hand once he let go.
Later, he sits in the square, absently scrolling through social media on his phone while he reminisces on his past. The day Pearl gave him the team and encouraged him, the day he won his first tournament the next year and Pearl had run up to hug him and congratulate him and tell him how proud of him she was.
The memories make Emperor smile, because he realizes he’d never be able to ask for a more amazing sister.
He recalls the day she came out to him, explaining she was happier this way, and how Emperor didn’t mind having an older sister, so long as she promised to stick around with him.
She never broke that promise.
And he smiles even wider, realizing he wouldn’t be here without Pearl.