Smallfry

Smallfry is the deuteragonist of Splatoon 3's story mode Return of the Mammalians. It is the companion of New Agent 3, assisting them in their ventures through Alterna, although this does put it at odds with Deep Cut, who mistakenly believe the New Squidbeak Splatoon are attempting to trespass on their looting territory. It also plays a major role in stopping Mr. Grizz from covering the world in Fuzzy Ooze, forcefully transforming all sea life into mammals.
== Appearance ==
Smallfry, as its name suggests, is a Smallfry-type Salmonid, being no taller than New Agent 3's shins. Unlike other Smallfry, this Smallfry has completely gray scales unlike the reddish-tinted ones others have, as well as wearing a dark green onesie instead of a yellow one. Smallfry's hairstyle is also customisable, having several different cuts differing from the standard Smallfry haircut.
As Hugefry, Smallfry retains its haircut. However, it now resembles a humongous spawning salmon with a hooked jaw and sharp teeth, although unlike spawning salmon it retains its grey scales.
== Biography ==
=== Background ===
Smallfry's past and how it came to meet New Agent 3 is unknown, but according to Sunken Scroll 8, it is implied that during a Salmon Run back to the sea, Smallfry was separated from its school and left alone in the desert, fortunately to be found by New Agent 3 and adopted as a companion. This also explains its ability to consume hundreds of Power Eggs at a time as the same Sunken Scroll states that Smallfry have an insatiable appetite as they grow up.
=== Return of the Mammalians ===
Smallfry accompanies New Agent 3 into the manhole in Splatsville, where they encounter the retired Cap'n Cuttlefish. Cuttlefish enlists the two into the Squidbeak Splatoon in hopes of finding the recently disappeared Great Zapfish, which he suspects is the doing of DJ Octavio once again. The two venture through the Crater, with Smallfry eating the Oozeballs which seem to be spreading the Fuzzy Ooze in the area. Suddenly, when they reach the Crater's base, DJ Octavio arrives in his mech, suspecting Cuttlefish as the one who stole a large number of his troops and engages New Agent 3 and Smallfry in battle. With Smallfry clogging his mech's ink vacuum, New Agent 3 defeats Octavio, where he reveals that this time, the Zapfish's disappearance wasn't his doing. The battle causes the crater floor to destabilise however, and the four plummet into the depths below, with Cuttlefish being kidnapped by a mysterious lump of Ooze.
Awakening in the ancient human haven of Alterna, Smallfry and Agent 3 meet Agents 1 and 2/ the Squid Sisters and the original Agent 3 who has since been appointed Captain. They explore the first isle, with Smallfry eating more Oozeballs along the way until they encounter Deep Cut, who, mistakenly believing the Squidbeak to be trespassers, warn them to back off their looting grounds. However, they refuse, having picked up signals from the isles of Alterna which they believe are distress signals from Cuttlefish.
Following the signals, Smallfry and Agent 3 defeat the members of Deep Cut, discovering that the source of the signals were in fact pieces of scrap. Shortly after defeating Shiver, New Agent 3 and the Squidbeak Splatoon receive a radio signal from Cuttlefish revealing he has been kidnapped by the enigmatic Mr. Grizz. Reaching the space station at the centre of Alterna, the Squidbeak Splatoon assemble the scrap into a bizarre contraption that the Captain uses to remove the Ooze surrounding the station, although they are injured in the process. Deep Cut arrive, demanding for the machine to be returned, to which Callie and Marie agree to. Shocked by the Squid Sisters' generosity, Deep Cut thank them, explaining their motives for stealing scrap to sell for the poor, leading the Squid Sisters to respect them and hire them as per their request. 
Ascending to the top of the tower, Smallfry and Agent 3 listen to Mr. Grizz attacking the Captain, and at the top they come across the seemingly dead body of Cuttlefish, who has been dehydrated into his squid form. Mr. Grizz arrives, revealing himself to be a giant bear. He reveals that he is the one responsible for the Ooze and the disappearance of Octavio's troops, and that he plans to use the rocket in the space station to spread the Ooze all over the world, turning all sea life into mammals. Taking off on his rocket, Agent 3 and Smallfry give chase, with Frye using her eels to form an ink column reaching into outer space, Shiver lending Master Mega for the two to ride and Big Man supplying a space helmet for Agent 3 to use (though for some reason Smallfry doesn't need a space helmet). Cuttlefish is also revived by the Captain after one of their tears rehydrates him as they mourn for him.
Landing on Mr. Grizz's rocket, Agent 3 and Smallfry battle their way through hordes of Octarian troops, with Smallfry using the Golden Eggs scattered around to boost itself, eating the Oozeballs growing on the rocket and on Mr. Grizz himself. However, the bear manages to knock them into space, empowering himself with the Ooze and sets the rocket on a collision course into Earth. Fortunately, DJ Octavio shows up in his newly upgraded space mech, saving Agent 3. Deep Cut, the Squid Sisters and Octavio all perform the Calamari Inkantation 3MIX, causing marine life energy to flood into Smallfry, transforming it into the gigantic Hugefry. Hugefry battles Mr. Grizz head on, allowing Agent 3 and Octavio to use his ink vacuum to suck up the Oozeballs growing on him, before finally launching the Fuzzy Ooze back at the bear. Defeated, Mr. Grizz realises that the time of mammals on Earth is over, and the only way is forwards into the future. The rocket explodes, sending him into outer space, while Smallfry, returning to its normal form, returns to the hands of Agent 3, who, along with Octavio, make their way back to Earth.
With the threat of Mr. Grizz gone, Smallfry and Agent 3 enjoy their happy and ooze-free lives in Splatsville, with the Zapfish being returned as well (albeit with a single strand of hair on its head).
== Trivia ==
* During normal gameplay, Smallfry can be found in the Splatsville plaza in the following locations:
** On the stool outside of Crush Station
** On the metal crate to the left of the Ammo Knights entrance and right of the main stairs
** Behind the player's spawn on a square drain
** In front of the waterfall river garden in the northern quad
** Next to Murch, lying down
** On the concrete ledge next to the manhole
** High up inside of the cafe above Deep Cut's studio
** High up on top of a sign attached above Hotlantis
** On top of the sidewalk pole in front of Hotlantis
* If the player remains idle for long enough, Smallfry can be heard humming the Calamari Inkantation. Alternatively, once the player defeats Mr. Grizz it can be heard humming Happy Little Workers.
*Smallfry's various haircuts reference different Salmonids:
**The default haircut references other Smallfry and Smallfry-related boss Salmonids, as well as the Big Shot.
**The Mohawk likely references the two other Lesser Salmonids, Chum and Cohocks, as well as the Cohozuna.
**The Pompadour could reference the Drizzler and Scrapper, with their hair being rectangular and flatter than most other Salmonids.
**The Swept hairstyle likely references the Slammin' Lid's helmet, which appears to be a large bowl.
**The Bun hairstyle likely references the Steelhead, with the bun appearing like the Steelhead's bomb.
**The Spiky hairstyle could reference the Steel Eel and Stinger, which both have haircuts split into multiple parts.
**It is unknown which Salmonids the Pineapple hairstyle references as the Flipper-Flopper and Goldie lack hair and the Maws has a default haircut similar to normal lesser Salmonid.
*Smallfry is the only Salmonid capable of super-jumping.
*As Smallfry returns to the player in a burst of ink after being attacked a sufficient amount of times, some have theorised that this is Smallfry respawning, which may imply that other Salmonids can respawn and that they are even more advanced than they seem, possibly making their own respawn stations.
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