Chapter Text
“Hey, Pearlie?” Marina asked while lying in bed one evening. “Can I ask you something?”
Pearl looked up from her phone. “Hm? What’s up, Rina?”
Marina fidgeted the corner of her book between her claws. “This might sound like a weird question, but do you believe in alternate universes?”
Pearl furrowed her brow. “What do you mean? Like, alternate universes, like those sci fi movies?”
Marina glanced away, unsure of how to put her question into words. “Not quite. I mean, do you think we were destined to meet each other? Like, the chances of us finding each other were so slim, and yet, it happened. Do you think that was just dumb luck? Or where we meant to find each other?”
Pearl didn’t answer for a moment, looking as though she was giving the question serious thought.
“I don’t think so.” She finally answered. “I mean, I’m not a big fan of the whole destiny idea. I like to think the only ones in control of our fate is us, you know? I don’t want anything else decidin’ it for me.”
Marina nodded. “I guess I can understand that. I don’t know, I guess I was just thinking; I like the idea that no matter what the world might look like, we’re always going to find each other.”
Pearl shrugged. “Well, we found each other here. Isn’t that all that matters?”
Marina felt one of her tentacles curl around itself. “But what if we were something else, Pearl? What if you were an Octoling, like me? Or what if I was born here, as an Inkling, like you? And I wasn’t there that day on Mount Nanti, the day we met?”
She paused, sighing. “Or what if neither of us were Inkfish? What if we were both salmonids? Or what if we were born in another time? What if we were both humans, or dinosaurs, or–”
She paused, laughing at herself at how absurd it sounded. “What if we were both worms?”
Pearl stared at her for a moment. “Have you been reading that fanfiction shit again? Because I’ve seen some of it myself–”
“No, no.” Marina stopped that thought before Pearl could expand too far on it. “That’s not what I mean. I mean, I guess I just like the idea that no matter what, we’re always meant to find each other. I feel so lucky that I got the chance to meet you in the first place, I guess I just like to think luck had nothing to do with it. That no matter how different our lives could have been, we’d always meet in one way or another.”
That seemed to strike something in Pearl. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I do feel crazy lucky I got the chance to meet you.” She paused. “I think, even if you were an Inkling, we’d have stumbled across each other at some point. I still don’t like the idea that some higher power is forcin’ me and you to do anything, but I do think we would have still became friends, one way or another.”
Marina smiled. “Even if we were both worms?”
Pearl chuckled. “Sure, Rina, even if we were both worms.”
~~~
And that was the end of it. For Pearl, at least. But Marina couldn’t stop thinking. What if we were both worms? Would they really still have fallen for each other, even if they were entirely different beings?
She pulled out her laptop, opening up a new squoogle doc, and began typing.
Marina, February 13th, 12024:
Somewhere, in the largest garden in Calamari County, a small pink and white worm petroles her turf. Making her daily rounds, assuring herself everything was as it should be. Checking that all the dirt around her flowers was properly watered, confirming that there were no harmful insects chewing through her stems. And, most importantly, making sure that no other worms dare to wiggle their way into her garden.
She took great pride that she’d managed to secure the garden of the wealthiest family this side of the county. Her soil contained the largest variety of colorful flowers, fruit trees, and bushes. Her garden was one of the few to contain an actual pond, and not just any dinky little koi pond, either. No, hers was complete with a functioning waterfall, wooden bridge, and lily pads.
A safe haven, clean water and food always only a few wiggles away. No house cats, snakes, or locusts to worry about. And she wasn’t willing to risk sharing this paradise with anyone.
That is, until a particular teal and purple worm wriggled her way into her life.
While checking to make sure no wasps had decided to try chewing their way into the wood of her bridge, the little pink worm caught the scent of something alarming. The unmistakable smell of another worm in her garden.
Who dare– she thought to herself. Who did this other worm think they were? Could they not tell this garden was taken?
No matter. She’d beaten up other punk worms who thought they could take over her turf, she could do it again.
Right before she made her presence known to this intruder, she stopped. There, a few worm feet in front of her, was the most beautiful worm she’d ever seen.
Gorgeous teal and purple fur, with a long, muscular tail to match. Large, cherry blossom eyes darting side to side nervously.
Her worm body language, she didn’t look like she was here to pick a fight. She didn’t carry herself with the confidence and swagger of the other worms she’d encountered trying to run her out of her garden. This worm looked… scared?
She made a decision that she never thought she would–
Clearing her worm through, the pink worm wiggled out from behind the Azalea bush she’d been using as cover.
“Pardon me, beautiful, but what's a gorgeous worm like you doin’ in these parts?” She asked.
The newcomer jumped, curling her tail around herself defensively. “Oh! Sorry, I didn’t realize this garden was already taken–”
“No worries, sunshine, I don’t mind sharing my soil with someone as cute as you.” She wasn’t sure what came over her. But being in the presence of this new worm, she suddenly found herself in complete awe of the worman before her.
The beautiful teal worm blushed. “Oh– t-thank you–”
She wiggled closer, puffing out her worm chest, showing off her well groomed fur. “And what might your name be, if you don’t mind me asking?”
The teal worm dipped her head. “Oh, uh, Marina.” She replied. “And what should I call you?”
“Marina.” She repeated, moving in closer. She lifted the newcomer's chin with the pink tip of her tail, looking deep into those cherry blossom eyes. “Such a pretty name. A pretty name for a pretty girl.”
Marina sucked in a breath.
The pink worm dropped her tail, wriggling away in the direction from which she came. “You can call me Pearl, by the way.” She turned her head away, motioning for the newcomer to follow. “I could show you around, if you’d like.”
Marina perked up. “You’d really be ok with me staying?”
Pearl raised an eyebrow. “Of course, sweetheart. Now come on, I’ll give you a tour.”
~~~
Pearl proceeded to show her new garden mate around, showing off every perfectly trimmed shrub, every brightly colored flower with pride. Before, she’d always been proud to say that this garden was hers and only hers. She loved that she’d been able to keep this paradise all to herself. She wanted all the other worms to look at what she had and be jealous.
But now, a different feeling had taken over her. She didn’t want Marina to be jealous, she wanted Marina to be impressed.
She showed Marina all the hot spots, the best place to drink from the pond, where to find the flowers with the strongest stems to eat from, and where the best places to take shelter from the hot midday sun could be found.
“Your garden is amazing, Pearl.” Marina said, gazing out across the shimmering pond.
Pearl’s chest welled up with pride. “Thanks, gorgeous. Don’t you know where you are?”
Marina blinked. “What do you mean, Pearl?”
Pearl raised an eyebrow. Does she really not know who’s garden she’s in right now?
“You’re sittin’ in the garden of Houzuki manor, the most sought after piece of turf for any worm this side of Mount Nanti.”
Marina’s eyes widened. “Oh– I didn’t– I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how important this place was.”
Pearl laughed. “You really must not be from around here, huh?”
Marina shook her head.
“Hm.” How far away must she have come from to not know about Houzuki manor? “Well, feel free to make yourself at home.”
Pearl turned away suddenly, wiggling back in the direction of her nest. “You can stay as long as you like. I hope to see you around some time.”
“Oh, you’re going?” Marina asked, as Pearl began to leave.
Pearl glanced back over her worm shoulder. “I won’t be far. Just got some things to attend to. Don’t be shy, just give me a holler if you need anything”
Marina nodded. “Alright then. I hope to see you around, too.”