Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sasha and Marcy stepped through, hand in hand, to a damaged Los Angelous. They turned back, looking for Anne to come through.

Anne came through a moment later. Tears were rolling rapidly down her cheeks. Her eyes were watery, as she cried harder. “Oh Anne,” Sasha rushed over to her, wrapping her arms around her shoulder.
Marcy quickly joined the hug.

*Insert Amphibia Theme Song*

“What now?” Marcy asked quietly.
“We go home.” Anne replied quietly, as their embrace ended.

“Sash, can I borrow your phone?” Anne asked in the most morose tone they’d ever heard from her.

“Ye… yeah” Sasha replied with a slight stutter. She slid her hands into her pocket. Marcy saw the panicked look on Sashas face. “I must’ve lost it some time between our sneak invasion of the castle and that insane sword fight.” Sasha responded, turning her pockets inside out.

“Marcy?” Anne asked. Marcy knew exactly what she meant. “Sorry, Darcy kind of dissected my phone a few weeks ago.” Marcy replied. “I was gonna tell my parents we were back, but I guess they’ll find when I get home.” Anne said, wiping her eye with her hand.

“Anne,” Sasha began, but stopped for a second.
“Yeah Sasha?” Anne mumbled, tears still flowing down her cheeks.
“I… I wanna go home with you. My parents could pick me up. I just… don’t know which house to go to.” Sasha’s tone shifted as she spoke, slowly sounding more melancholy.

“Of course,” Anne replied, trying to cover the sadness in her tone. “Anne,” Anne looked toward Marcy. “Can I come to?” Marcy asked. “Yes!” Anne answered, laughing through the tears. That was the best feeling – laughing through tears.
It was a short break from sadness. A glimmer of happiness within a sea of despair.

Anne grabbed Sasha’s hand, then Marcy’s. They’d reappeared on the side of the freeway, luckily not on top of a car this time.
A few cars were passing by. One of the drivers heads turned toward them, and their car screeched to a halt. The driver began to exit the car walk over to them. Several others followed Anne froze in place, without taking a step. She quickly realized what was going on.

“we need to run.” Anne whispered. “Agreed.” Sasha replied. She took off into a sprint, pulling Anne behind her, and Marcy being pulled along with them from holding on to Anne. Anne let go of Sasha’s hand, but continued to pull Marcy’s along with her.

Sasha could feel a stinging pain in her leg as she ran. She gasped for breath as she sprinted, her back had a beating pain on it.
Marcy felt a stinging pulling pain through her chest, worse with the rapid rise and fall of her lungs. She held tightly to Anne’s hand, refusing to let go. It was almost as if she was afraid of falling behind.

More people seemed to notice the girls running down the side of the freeway. Anne didn’t intend on letting go of Marcy. Sasha was a few feet ahead of them, but slowing down. Marcy was about a foot behind Anne, but still linked. Anne was breathing heavily, but wouldn’t stop.
She didn’t want all these people to be noticing them, she honestly didn’t even know where they were running to, or how running was going to help them escape the press.

Sasha almost came to a stop, but forced herself to keep going, now side by side with Anne. An FBI van rapidly pulled up beside them, squealing to a sudden and uneven stop. Mr. X popped out from the passenger side window.

“Get in.” He said quickly and firmly.

Anne tore open the back door, stepping in and holding the door opened for Sasha and Marcy. Both climbed in without hesitation. Anne found the door shut and leaned against the wall. Sasha did the same on the opposite side, as did Marcy.

“We were looking for you three to pop back up again.” Mr. X said from the passengers seat. Jenny was driving.
“Sorry Mr. X, none of us have our phones and we didn’t really know what to do. It happened pretty fast.” Anne explained.

“Don’t worry Anne, we’ve got it all figured out. Jenny and I are taking you back to our facility, where your parents are waiting. From there we’ll do some basic examinations and hopefully get you girls home as soon as possible.” Mr. X informed them.
“Thanks Mr.X” Anne replied.

There was silence for a moment. The only thing that could be heard was the girls heavy breathing and the subtle sound of tires.

“Hi, I’m Marcy. I don’t believe we’ve been formerly introduced.” Marcy said, breaking the quiet.
“Yes, I know all about you.” Mr. X responded. “I’m Sasha. Thought I should introduce myself more than just as Anne’s friend. Cuz that’s what you called me when you told us to do recon yesterday – before the real madness started.” Sasha introduced herself.

“Yeah, sorry about that. There wasn’t time for formal introductions then.” Mr. X began. “I’m Mr. X, a government agent specializing in extraterrestrials, that’s how I wound up in this case. We’d found a picture of Anne and…” Mr. X hesitated. “The Plantars.” Anne finished, knowing Mr. X had forgotten their last name.

“Thanks for saving us back there.” Anne continued. “Yeah, we can’t let all these people find out about what happened, nor do we want anything to happen to you three.” Mr. X replied.

There was another minute of awkward silence.

“We’re here.” Mr. X said, watching as the van passed through the security gates. “Ready for a reunion?” He asked. Sasha, Anne, and Marcy didn’t answer. Once the van had come to a complete stop, Anne stood up.

Marcy and Sasha had remained seated. Mr. X and Jenny got out of the van, their doors slamming shut. Anne held out her hand to help Sasha up. Sasha took it and silently stood up. Anne turned to Marcy, extending her hand out to her. Marcy reluctantly took it.
“Hey, it’s gonna be ok.” Anne said, carefully pulling her up. Marcy silently nodded, taking a deep breath in and out.
Mr.X and Jenny opened the car doors. Anne stepped out first, examining the area. They were standing just outside the building. It was the same building Anne had broken the Plantars out of. They were surrounded by tall barbed wire fences.

Anne immediately noticed her parents standing just across from her by a few meters. Marcy parents stood to the left, and Sashas to the right. “Mom! Dad!” Anne ran froward toward them, immediately embracing them. “Anne!” They exclaimed. A few tears trickled down her cheeks, landing on their clothes. This was one of the tightest hugs shed ever been enclosed in, third to the day at the aquarium with the Plantars and the hug goodbye shed just given them only a little over an hour ago.

Marcy stumbled out of the back of the van, lightly stroking her hair. She gazed around, fascinated by the fact that she was standing in a secret government facility. Her eyes wandered down toward her parents. She nervously smiled and began to walk over.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered after coming to a stop. Marcy was trying her hardest not to cry again. Her mom immediately embraced her. Her dad rested his had on her shoulder. “No Marcy. We’re sorry.” Her mom replied, stroking her hand through Marcys short hair. It was longer than it had been six months ago, that was easily noticeable.

Sasha was last to exit the van. She didn’t pay much attention what so ever to their surroundings. She steadily walked over toward her parents. She stopped in front of them, looking down at her feet.
“Hey,” She said quietly and tensely. “Sasha,” Her mom pulled her tightly into a hug. Once her mom had let go her dad pulled her into a hug. “We missed you,” He said quietly. “Yeah, I missed you guys to.” Sasha mumbled.

“I hate to break this up, but we do have a few things we need to discuss, and its probably best that we get these three checked out sooner than later.” Mr. X said.
Anne turned in Mr. X’s direction, as did Marcy and Sasha. Mr. X gestured for them to follow him. The group went inside, multiple others meeting them at the doors.

“This is one of the best doctors in the city, Dr. Catrise Daniels.” Mr. X explained.
“Hi girls, I’m just here to give you a quick examination. After everything that I saw on the news yesterday, I’m sure you three need it.” She said with a smile. Dr. Daniels looked rather young for being one of the best doctors, but they weren’t going to judge.

***
They’d gone to a smaller room where each of the girls had sat down. Their parents waited outside, having there own discussion quietly. The main door was opened, so they could easily hear in and out.
Dr. Daniels was carefully sliding plastic gloves over her hands.

The girls were sitting just along the wall, but they couldn’t quite hear the conversation going on between the adults.

“Do you think they’re talking about us?” Marcy whispered. “Yeah.” Anne whispered back.

“Ok, lets start with Anne,” Dr. Daniels said motioning towards the examination table that sat against the other wall. Anne flashed a nervous smile towards Sasha and Marcy, then proceeded to hop up onto the examination table.

“Ok, look at my eyes ok, I’m gonna shine this in your eyes, it’s important that you just look at me though.” Dr. Daniels instructed. Anne nodded. She switched on the small light and shined it into Annes eyes.

“Ok, looks pretty normal.” Using the light, she then glanced into her ears. “Could you open your mouth, tongue down, please?” Dr. Daniels asked.
Anne opened her mouth as widely as possible. Dr. Daniels shined her her light into her mouth, examining it carefully.

“You did a lot of screaming the past few days huh?” She asked. “Yeah,” Anne responded quietly. “I can tell.” Dr. Daniels smiled. She took her stethoscope, “Can you lay down for me?” Dr. Daniels asked.

Anne laid down flat, she knew how this went. You were supposed to breath as steadily and normally as possible, so that’s what Anne did. Dr. Daniels held the step the scope to her chest, carefully moving it and listening in the silence. “Your heart rate seems normal, which is a good sign. I can tell you’ve overworked yourself and are exhausted though.” Dr. Daniels said. She managed to smile the whole time.

“Can you describe to me how you feel? If anything hurts or feels off?” Dr. Daniels asked. “Yeah, um. I’m kind of sore everywhere. Feels like I have a few pulled muscles.” Anne began. She paused for a moment to take a breath. “I’ve had off and on headaches since…” Anne trailed off. “Ok. Right now I’m going to guess it’s a concussion, but I can’t diagnose you for sure. I am going to go ahead and have you take an impact cognitive test while I examine your friends, ok?” Dr. Daniels explained.

Anne nodded and took a seat. Marcy was next. Marcy sat at the examination table, nervously looking back at Sasha and Anne who was taking an impact cognitive test.

“Alright, Marcy, I’m going to have you do the same things as Anne. I’ll start with eyes, then ears, then mouth.” Dr. Daniels continued. Marcy nodded.
“Eyes and Ears look fine so far,” Marcy opened her mouth, knowing that’s what came next. “You were yelling a lot to.” She said, somehow still smiling. As Dr. Daniels brought her stethoscope up to her ears Marcy laid down. “You’re really on top of it,” Dr. Daniels laughed, moving her stethoscope across Marcy’s chest.

“You’re heart rate is slightly elevated, can you do four square breathing for me?” She asked. Marcy clenched her fist out of nerves, but proceeded to count to four in her head and breath in, then do the same but breathe out. She continued to do that for a few minutes. “Ok, you can sit back up.” Dr. Daniels informed her, putting the stethoscope down.

“How are you feeling, physically? Sore? Pain anywhere?” Dr. Daniels asked. “Well, I have this scar from like a month and a half ago, it still stings pretty bad when I move around certain ways, and I get out of breath a lot faster because of it.” Marcy explained.
“Ok, where’s this scar?” Dr. Daniels asked.

Marcy drew a line with her fingers down her chest where Andrias had impaled her. “Oh, my goodness. How uh… how’d that happen?” Dr. Daniels asked.
“I got stabbed, well more like impaled. But, it’s ok. They did some stuff to fix me up back in Amphibia with like this magic rejuvenation tank thing, I was unconscious for it though.” Marcy answered quickly.
“As soon as I can, I am going to have you X-rayed just to check that out. Is there anything else?” Dr. Daniels questioned.

“No I don’t think…” Marcy began, but was interrupted. “Her blood was green.” Sasha said from across the room. Dr. Daniels turned toward Sasha. “She got a cut on her cheek and her blood was green.” Sasha repeated.
Marcy looked back and fourth between Sasha and the doctor.
“Ok, I’d have to do a blood test for sure, but I believe it’s Sulfhemoglobinemia. A rare condition caused by high sulfur levels. If whatever this other worldly treatment you had involved sulfur, that would explain the high sulfur levels causing blood to appear green.” She informed her.
“What… what would we do about it?” Marcy asked. She was clearly nervous about the whole situation. “We’d just have to get some fluids in you, make sure you don’t consume much sulfur. Maybe a diet for a while to avoid increase in sulfur intake. Nothing serious.” Dr. Daniels explained. Marcy nodded again, silently.

“And finally, Sasha’s turn.” Dr. Daniels said. Sasha took a deep breath and slowly walked over. Taking a seat at the examination table, as Marcy took a seat back next to Anne. Anne took a moment to smile at Marcy reassuringly. Marcy leaned her head against Annes shoulder, as Anne went back to her test.
Sasha didn’t say anything, nor did Dr. Daniels. She followed same procedure shed done with Anne and Marcy. Dr. Daniels seemed to listen to Sashas heart for longer than the others. “Ok, you can sit up now.” She said. Sasha sat up, and twisted her legs around in front of her. “Same question to you now, Anything hurt or feel off?” Dr. Daniels asked.

Sasha hesitated but did indeed answer. “My right ankle hurts, extending into my upper leg. My other leg feels bruised everywhere. My core area is sore. My arms feel heavy and achy. Iv’e been loosing my breath quicker and easier. When I run quickly I start to feel kind of light headed. Oh, and there’s a painful sharp feeling down my entire back, but it also feels hot like a burning sensation that constantly goes away and comes back.” She explained.
“Wow, that’s a lot. Ok, Can you take off your boots. I want to have a look at your ankle.” Dr. Daniels replied. Sasha fiddled with the boots for a moment before slowly taking them both off. “Let me know if this hurts.” Dr. Daniels instructed. She gently pressed on Sashas right ankle and moving up her leg. Sasha groaned, muscles tensing, she quickly reached for her leg. “I’ll take that as it does hurt.” Dr. Daniels replied.
“Your arms seem pretty scratched up and bruised, which is expected. Can I take a look at your back?” She added. “Yeah,” Sasha mumbled.

She glanced over at Anne and Marcy, hoping they weren’t looking, but they were. Sasha took a shaky breath in and slowly brought her hands up to her shoulders. She carefully undid the clasp, her cap falling to the ground. Sasha only looked toward the floor. That way she couldn’t see Anne and Marcys reaction, or the doctors for that matter.

“Ok, I’m going to go ahead and say the light headedness and slight shortness of breath is from blood loss. It’s not to serious as of now, but if it gets worse in the future wed be looking into a blood transplant. As for the hurt ankle I can tell there’s a mark there. The soreness and achy feeling is expected. You definitely need to drink lots to hopefully get your fluids back to normal, and eat enough food to help this heal and your muscles recover. I need all three of you to stay hydrated and eat well. Marcy, we’ll look at putting you two on a diet to get your sulfur levels down, and Sasha for a more steady recovery. I can also recommend you three to a physical therapist to help recovery from injuries and strengthen muscles.” Dr. Daniels explained.

Dr. Daniels contained “I know this isn’t exactly what any of you want to hear, but you all got pretty lucky considering the physical effects that could have come from this. I mean, all of you survived the impossible. You should be proud of that.”

Sasha sat back down on the other side of Anne. Anne grabbed Sashas hand, giving it a light squeeze. Sasha looked at Anne, unable to force a smile. After everything, she was still trying to process everything. All three of them were still trying to process everything. These past six months had been the craziest months of their lives. The craziest yet still some of the best.

Chapter Text

*Insert Shortened Amphibia Theme Song*

Sasha and Marcy were sitting quietly in a room with their parents and Annes. Mr. X was also in the room. It was mostly awkward silence. No one really knew what to say.
“How are you two holding up?” Annes mom asked, trying to break the silence.
“Oh, um. Ok I guess. It’s just been a really long week, and past few months.” Sasha answered, forcing a slight laugh at the end.

“Marcy?” She asked. Marcy head turned towards everyone in confusion. She had been silently looking at the floor. “Sorry, I just got kind of lost in my thoughts. I’m alright I guess.” Marcy responded.

Anne walked in a moment later. It was written all over her face that she didn’t have good news. “Guess who has a concussion.” Anne smiled her way through telling them. “me.” She added.

“Oh Anne,” Sasha began sympathetically. “No, its fine. I guess that explains the headaches, and the slight dizziness, and the slight nausea, and kind of everything being sore.” Anne replied. “How are you smiling through this?” Marcy asked.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just thinking that were lucky to be alive. I’m lucky to be alive after…” Anne trailed off. She took a a breath in and out steadily.

“I guess we have some explaining to do.” Sasha said.

“I think were all a bit interested in hearing the full story.” Marcys mom said, looking towards the girls. “I would like to know what happened the past month after you went back to Amphibia, Anne.” Mr. Boonchuy said.

Marcy and Sasha both looked at Anne. “Why are you both looking at me, its just as much up to you if we’re ready to talk about it.” Anne laughed.

“Ok, I’ll start. Annes already explained this first part once.” Sasha began. “Six months ago, in august,” “my birthday,” Anne interrupted quietly. “Annes birthday,” Sasha added before continuing.

“We snuck out of school, well, technically I pushed Anne into sneaking out of school. But, anyway, We ran around the city kind of just doing whatever I wanted all afternoon.” Anne interrupted Sasha again.
“To specify, Sasha is making herself sound a lot worse. I willingly kind of went along with whatever she wanted. So, may fault to.” Now Anne was interrupted by Marcy.

“And I kind of pushed both of them into stealing the music box from a thrift store. But before you say anything, I know stealing is wrong. I was just desperate. After I ran out of the house I came across this store and it had the music box there and I recognized it from this weird book I’d been reading. So, I tricked Sasha into pushing Anne into stealing it.” Marcy explained.

Marcy had been expecting her parents to scold her for stealing but instead they didn’t say anything, they just listened.

“When we opened the music box there were some weird lights and next thing I knew I woke up in this mud puddle outside some weird tower and bunch of giant talking toads were taking me prisoner. I spent the next month locked up in a dungeon. They only had bugs to eat. It was the same repetitive interrogation from Captain Grime, the leader of the toads of the west tower. He didn’t believe a word I said, and he was really rude. So I retaliated by manipulating his soldiers into quitting, one by one.”Sasha explained.

“Why am I not surprised?” Anne asked. Sasha shot Anne a look of sarcastic anger.
“You and Grime didn’t get along at first?” Marcy asked.
“Yeah. We’re two stubborn manipulative controlling idiots, what‘d you expect?” Sasha actually managed to laugh.

“Anyway. Things didn’t change at toad tower until the herons attacked us. I, Who was still chained up in a dungeon, took matters into my own hands. The herons broke in through my window, so being the cheerleader I am I naturally took to fighting. Grime saw my potential and we defeated the herons together. After that I became his first lieutenant. We made deal. I’d teach him a few things about controlling his troops and keeping the frogs in line, then he would help me search for Anne and Marcy as well as a way to get home.” Sasha stopped, glancing at Anne and Marcy to see if they had anything to say or wanted to jump in yet.

Anne and Marcy just continued to look at Sasha, intently waiting for her to continue.

“The next couple months Grime taught me a lot about how Amphibia worked. The political structure, and our part in it. He taught me how to sword fight. That was one of the best feelings in the world – gripping onto this tight medal, feeling its cold slippery surface. It was even better to actually practice. There was this brilliant exhilarating feeling about it, just blocking a hit or striking forward. I immediately took to it. Any second I wasn’t doing something with Grime, or practicing with Grime, I was practicing sword fighting someone else.”

Sasha’s parents turned to each other. “Should we be worried about that?” Mr. Waybright whispered into his ex wife’s ear. She shrugged in response. No one else had heard this short quiet interaction.

“I took over training the toad army and assisted Grime in almost any and all planning. I was making a name for myself in Amphibia, though it may not have been a good one but the toads knew who I was. I hadn’t been away from toad tower much at all. I’d been to the area around it, but never far from it. There were toads that left to collect the taxes from the towns around the valley, as the west tower ruled over the valley. That’s how I found out where Anne was.” Sasha finished.

“Guess that’s where I come in.” Anne laughed.

“I woke up somewhere in a forest near a town called Wartwood, lived in cave for a few days. Then Sprig found me and we defeated this crazy bug monster together and Sprig stopped the townsfolk from chasing me out and or killing me. After that the Plantars took me in and we got into a bunch of random crazy nonsense, monster fight of the week and so on. The Planters and I got really close. The Plantars excepted me, but the rest of the town didn’t. Not for a long time. Anyway, I didn’t learn about the historic rivalry between the frogs and toads until a few came to town to supposedly collect taxes.”

Anne paused and glanced at Sasha, as if hesitating on if she should say the next part.

“The toads that came were awful. They took peoples things under the claim that they hadn’t paid their taxes, when I knew they had. When they got to the Plantars I’d had enough. The toads didn’t like that I stood up for them. They tried to kill me but, I bashed one of their faces with a tennis racket and picked up a sword for the first time. I broke my arm in the process, but I defeated the toads. They didn’t come back to town for a long time after that.” Anne explained.

“Bog, Fenze, and Mire, the toads that had gone to Wartwood, came back with news of a creature that looked like me. They had this long angry story about it, and I knew it was Anne immediately. So Grime and I devised a plan to get to Wartwood, get Anne, and take care of an issue we had with a particular citizen of Wartwood, Hopediah Planatar. He was becoming a bit of a revolutionary, inspiring other frogs of the valley to rebel.” Sasha was interrupted again.

“No he wasn’t, toads just assumed he was since he ran for mayor against a toad.” Anne mumbled. “Agree to disagree.” Sasha stated flatly, then continued.

“Anyway, I came up with the brilliant idea to throw a banquet and trick all of Wartwood into coming, through Anne. As usual Anne trusted what I said and all of Wartwood came. Our plan was to execute Hop Pop at this banquet. Then Sprig decided to ruin it all.” Anne interrupted Sasha again, but Sasha didn’t seem to care.

“Sprig stood up for me. He showed me real friendship and proved that’s not what Sasha and I had.” Anne looked back towards Sasha.

“From there, Grime decided that this should be settled in a traditional toad manner. Fight. Me being trained in the art of sword fighting, and Anne having used a sword maybe twice, you’d think I’d have had the advantage, which I did but she still won.” Sasha smiled.

“That’s how I got this little scar right here.” Sasha lightly slid her pointer finger alongside the scar in her cheek. “yeah, I’m still sorry about that.” Anne whispered. “Don’t be, It’s fine. Looks kinda cool anyway.” Sasha replied. “After our fight the tower started to crumble after a friend of mine had planted boom shrooms, they’re like explosives, all over the sewer system under the tower during our attempted escape. With the tower exploding and falling to pieces we couldn’t all get off the roof.” Anne explained.

She took a deep breath in, struggling to tell the next part.
Sasha grabbed Anne’s hand and winked at her. It was like a small signal from Sasha to Anne that it was ok. Sasha understood some things would be hard for Anne to talk about just as they’d be hard for herself.

“I slid off the edge of the tower.” Sasha said quickly. Everyone looked at her rather concerned.

“I was fine. I mean, Anne raced over to grab me. She managed to grab my hand but couldn’t stay up. The Plantars ended up trying to pull her up by her feet and I was still holding tightly to Anne’s wrist. The weight was to much though, my hand was slipping, so I let go. Grime caught me, but I blacked out after that. When I woke up Grime and I were camped out in this little cabin just outside the valley. Some of our soldiers had stayed, but more leaving everyday. That was life for us for the next few weeks. I used all the free time to train even harder. The only thing I thought about was that dumb fight we’d had. Grime was being hunted by bounty hunters and I was one of the only people that stuck around.” Sasha explained.

She’d told the whole story so calmly. Anne was almost surprised she could tell it that way.

“After Sasha had let go, the Plantars managed to save me and we returned to Wartwood, determined to find Marcy and a way home. After that We set off to Newtopia, the capital of Amphibia, hoping to find some kind of clue there. That’s where we found Marcy.” Anne added.

“I appeared inside the city of Newtonian, immediately falling down a massive flight of stairs and breaking my leg. It was fine though because Newtonian had public free healthcare are, and I used that time to learn as much as possible about Amphibia. I became the best at Flipwart, Its Amphibian game similar to chess. I even beat the king, who was said to be the greatest Flipwart player of all time.” Marcy stopped for a moment at the mention of Andrias but continued.

“King Andrias and I were pretty close, or that’s what I thought… Anyway, I worked for him on projects. I reheld the sewer system, redesigned the bridge, defeataed a killer cobra, fought a cult, and a bunch of other stuff. At first I was role playing, pretending I was in my favorite games, and that seemed to work. I was the Kings adviser and chief of the royal Newtopian night guard. It was great at first.” Marcy paused again.

“If I’m being entirely honest, I wasn’t in a rush to get home. I was having a fantasy adventure just like I’d wanted, and it was meant to be an escape. Then, I rescued a family at the gates of Newtopia.” Marcy actually smiled about that part. She looked over toward Anne.

“That was me and the Plantars. We were attacked by some barbari-ants and were a little ambitious about defeating them. The thing was Marcy had this cape that was always watching on fire, so I didn’t even know it was her at first.” Anne laughed.

“After getting rid of the barbari-ant problem, Anne and I ran around Newtopia for a while and then I started searching for information about the music box. Andrias and found lots of information rather suddenly, little did I know he already knew exactly what he was doing. I said goodbye to Anne, for a while. I was preparing for an expedition to the first temple. There were three temples that the stones needed to be charged at for us to be able to go home.” Marcy explained.

“I went back to Wartwood with the Plantars to get the music box. I later found out Hop Pop barried it and then lost it. We got it back, but that caused tension between us for a while,” Anne explained.

“That explains what happened at the first temple,” Marcy mumbled quietly.

“Anne, the Plantars, and I went to the first temple together. I was unaware until after the first temple that each one was designed for one of us. The first temple, just happened to be mine. It was designed to test Wit and Humility after the stone I was connected to. After struggling to beat multiple challenges specifically designed toward the person that temple was for, you’d ‘charge the stone’ which really meant draining the power from our stone out of us.” Marcy explained.

“That’s the reason I had powers. I never finished charging the stone when we were at my temple, heart and responsibility, so some of its energy was still in me.” Anne explained.

“While these two were having a blast working together without me, aiding the king, Grime and I had our own plan. We wanted to take over Amphibia. We got the other three towers to agree to joining us, by myself acquiring Barrels war-hammer, making me the destined leader of toads.” Sasha explained.

“We didn’t run into Sasha until the third temple, which was conveniently hers.” Anne finished. “Grime and I had tracked them down there. Long story short, I charged my stone and we all went back to Wartwood together. Anne and I had made up, but she and Marcy had no idea I was faking.” Sasha explained.

“And Sasha sun Anne didn’t know that I was faking. I knew how we got here and I was stalling on opening the portal back. I wanted to stay. Andrias and I had a plan. If I got Anne and Sasha there, he would take us with him, to all the other worlds and we could have adventures like this forever.” Marcy explained, but was interrupted.

“I thought we were going back to Andrias to finally have the portal opened and go home. I didn’t know Sasha had this secret plan to take over all of Amphibia and I didn’t know that Marcy had this plan to trick us into not going home. By the time we got to the castle, everything fell apart.” Anne explained.

“My, and Grimes, plan was perfectly working itself out. Only, I’d underestimated Anne. We got into a shouting match almost immediately after. Anne said I was horrible person and she was done being my friend. I responded by having her and the Plantars and Marcy sent to the dungeon. Only I continued to underestimate her from there.” Sasha continued.

“It wasn’t hard to get away from Sasha’s toads. The Plantars, Olivia and Yunan, Marcy, Frobo, and I managed to put a stop to Sasha’s rebellion.” Anne explained.

“And it was only to find out Andrias’s intentions were worse. He wanted to invade Earth, and destroy it. He exposed me for sending us there and my plans to keep us there. After that he…” Marcy began but turned to Anne. “Maybe you should tell this part,” Marcy whispered.

Anne silently nodded. “I… We tried to stand up to Andrias. None of us were getting along, but we were untied against Andrias. I was furious with Sasha and mad at Marcy, but defeating Andrias is what mattered. We were winning, for minute, then everything turned upside down.” Anne’s voice grew shaky.

“He killed Frobo, almost succeeded in killing Polly. Then, he grabbed Sprig.” Anne breathed heavily. “I begged, on my knees for him to let Sprig go, I’d give up. I’d give him anything. Sprig was my best friend in this world or any other.” Anne’s eyes started to feel wet.

“Still stings.” Sasha mumbled. Anne didn’t seem to hear, but everyone else did.

“We gave him the box back, along with any chance of going home. But Andrias just replied with ‘that’s the thing about friends isn’t it? the more you love them, the more it hurts when they go.’ Then he proceeded to throw Sprig out the window of the castle, which was floating at least 100ft into the air.” Anne was clearly getting more and more emotional about it.

“I barely remember what happened let alone how. It was the first time I’d ever used my powers. I didn’t even know I had powers, it was just this overwhelming emotion poring out of me. It just happened…” Anne trailed off again.

Sasha saw this and took over. “You all saw her powers on the news. It was sudden. Anne kept screaming ‘Give him back!’ and went crazy on Andrias when he was least expecting it. None of us knew what to think. Marcy had vanished and Anne used up all her energy. She fell to the ground.” Marcy interrupted Sasha this time.

“I jumped out the window and onto Joe Sparrow, catching Sprig and flying back up to the castle. Sprig rushed to Anne, passed out on the floor. I rushed to the box, before Andrias knew I was there. The little amount of information I had on the music box didn’t fail me. I managed to open the portal, and get Anne and the Plantars in. Then…” Marcy abruptly stopped stopped.

Anne was biting her lip. “I’d stayed back to let them get through the portal and escape. Andrias had flung me across the room into a wall, and when I looked up, I saw his sword through Marcy’s back. The portal closed around Anne and the Plantars, and Marcy falling to the floor.”

Sasha’s voice was far from calm. She was trying her best to make it sound that way.

“Next thing, Grime threw me out the window. He jumped behind me, that being our only escape. We landed in Joe Sparrow, who flew us back to Wartwood. Upon arriving there I had a complete and total breakdown. I was without Anne and Marcy and all the townspeople wanted to treat me like some hero. I refused to sleep at the Plantars for the first few days because I kept telling myself I belonged with the rest of the trash. Grime convinced me to actually step inside and I fell apart. Anne inspired me to start a resistance against the king. And I started with her beloved Wartwood.” Sasha explained.

There was quiet for a moment. “I was back home. It felt amazing at first. I think everything sank in slowly. I wanted to go back to Amphibia to save my friends and get the Plantars home, but I didn’t want to leave here again. I was being actively hunted here. The King had sent robots after me and even a virtual version of himself. We’d figured out how to build a portal, but that ended up getting the FBI involved more. I had to use my powers again three times while I was here, but I managed to get back to Amphibia.” Anne said, her voice slightly having recovered.

“I found Anne in Wartwood, and immediately made her commander of the rebellion.” Sasha added.

“That didn’t go very well, considering Amphibia had changed a lot. Andrias has almost completely destroyed it. I also didn’t have the experience Sasha had in the area of leading rebellions or fighting. But Sasha refused to take back the helmet and just be commander.” Anne continued, she ever so slightly smiled at the end.

“We ended up being co-commanders. We spent the next several weeks preparing for an attack. We untied Frog Newt and Toad forces, technically Anne did by intimidating them with her powers, but it worked.” Sasha explained. Anne noticeably smiled at that.

Sasha saw and looked over, smiling back at Anne with a slight laugh, not understanding what Anne was smiling about. Sounding slightly peppier, Sasha continued.

“We had a plan to get Marcy back, and to get the box, and defeat Andrias. It sounds to good to be true, and it was.” Marcy decided this was the time to come in.

“I’d been unconscious in some kind of rejuvenation tank that Andrias had in the basement. Olivia and Yunan had tried to rescue me, but Andrias caught them. He hooked me up to this machine. It pretty much connected me to the core, a compilation of the greatest minds of Newtopia. It let them have full control of my body, while I was trapped back in a little room in my head. They called themselves Darcy, meaning Dark Marcy.”

“Darcy confronted us and our little plan and captured us, supposedly shutting down our resistance. They immediately grabbed Anne and,” Sasha stopped for a moment.

“They tried to kill me, like fire knife to my throat, kill me. They said as long as I was connected to the box they couldn’t let me live. That’s when it hit me that they knew as much about the music box as we did. I managed to talk them into thinking that killing me might make the box stop working all together, and Darcy decided that the better solution would be dissecting me alive. They locked us all up, and began their invasion on Earth.” Anne continued.

It was obvious how each of them was effected more by different things that happened. “We broke out of the dungeon and found ourselves falling from the sky in LA. The rest was on TV. Well, Anne was. While Anne was battling Andrias, I was fighting Darcy. It was intense emotional manipulation and physical effort. Got in my head pretty bad, but there was a reason I was strength and persistence. Almost gave up a couple times but that wasn’t an option. I had to do this and succeeded for Marcy and Anne and all of Amphibia, all of Earth.” Sasha stopped for a moment.

Anne reached for Sashas hand, shooting her a reassuring smile.

“That’s how Grime lost his arm. He pushed me out of the way. I’d been hit in the leg, and was on the ground, Darcys weapon quickly coming towards and Grime ran over, shoving me out of the way. Instead of Me getting hit, and most likely bleeding out, Grime lost his arm. Of course I had to keep fighting for both our lives, for everyone’s lives, Darcy struck my back and I ended up landing hard on the floor, almost completely unable to move. By then Darcy was yelling at Andrias to start fighting again, and saying how as a fellow control freak I’d appreciate this manipulation. It was long and difficult, but I managed to sever the cores connection to Marcy. ” Sasha stopped and took a breath.

“I had been stuck in my own mind interacting with the core, who I later realized was manipulating me into wanting what it wanted and using my emotions against me. I confronted it, realizing that everything it was trying to convince me I had was fake and unreal. It left me in the darkness of my own mind until I woke up in Sasha’s arms, both Anne and Sasha looming over me.” Marcy explained.

“After we all went back to Amphibia, to make sure everything was fine, we learned everything was not fine.” Anne continued.

“The core had a fail plan, the moon. The Amphibian moon was really just its backup. It would crash into Amphibia and destroy everything. I had to figure out how to restore Sasha and Marcys calamity powers. We did that, and Mother olm told me about our backup, if all else failed. I could ask the gems to wield the power of all three, but I’d have to trade my life to do so.” Anne slowly took a breath in.

Sasha took that as a sign for her to continue.

“Marcy and I didn’t last very long. Our bodies weren’t used to having or using these powers. So, Anne…” Sasha stooped again.

She thought she had the strength to say it but she didn’t Sasha didn’t want to admit to herself that she was just as phased by all of this as the rest of them.

Someone had to be strong and say it. Anne and Sasha had already tried, so this made it Marcys turn.

“Sasha and I landed safely back on land, but Anne… she sacrificed herself to save everyone by using all the power. The box, along with Anne, was destroyed.” Marcy made it as short as possible.

The whole rooms attention was directed towards Anne. “They saw me die. I don’t know if it was real. If I was just dreaming or really dead. Everything is kinda fuzzy from those few minutes. Its all so complicated and I barely understand enough to talk about it. It was like I was there, then gone, then back again. Supposedly the box’s power was able to copy me in order to save my life, and the calamity power is why I’m still here.” Anne explained, trying her best to sound more upbeat about it. She was alive, and that was amazing.

“For us, it just looked like shed slowly disappeared. A few minutes later there was a voice next to us, and we looked up, it was Anne.” Sasha specified.

“Anne had a small piece of each calamity stone left, that’s how we got back here. It was stay in Amphibia forever or stay on Earth forever. We had to choose. So, here we are.” Marcy finished.

“We can never go back. There’s no way. Without the music box, or our powers, a portal back to Amphibia can’t be opened.” Sasha finally finished.

Everyone blankly stared for a minute. Tears started to fill Anne’s eyes and roll down her cheeks. The crying was quiet yet noticeable. Sasha wrapped her arms around Anne, in a tight embrace. Her head was face down on Annes left shoulder. Marcys head leaned against Annes other shoulder. There they sat, three girls who had faced more than one world. It was over, all over.

Chapter Text

*Insert Amphibia Theme Song*

The sun was setting and the sky was almost completely dark. The girls parents were finishing a conversation with Mr. X about moving forward with this situation.
Anne, Sasha, and Marcy were standing next to each other, plainly looking at the sky.

“Sasha, It’s about time to go” Mrs. Waybright said, holding up her car keys. Sasha glanced toward her mom, then back at Anne and Marcy. She was silent for a moment. “Yeah,” She replied quietly.

Marcy hugged Sasha, carefully avoiding her wound. Marcy let go and Sasha turned to Anne. Anne tightly hugged Sasha, their embrace lasting longer. Sasha began to walk over to her mom, looking back at Anne and Marcy the whole way. Sasha said goodbye to her Dad and began the walk to her moms car. Sashas mom put her arm over Sasha’s shoulder as they walked.

“Marcy, we should be heading home to.” Marcy’s dad called.

Marcy smiled at Anne, and gave her a quick goodbye hug. Anne watched as both Sasha and Marcy’s cars pulled away. She stood silently gazing as the cars pulled away in the darkness. Her parents stood next to her.

“Anne, ready to go home?”

***

Sasha sat in the passengers side of her mothers car, her head leaning against the cold glass of the window. The only sound was the low rolling of tires on pavement.

They arrived rather quickly to her Moms apartment. Upon stepping inside it looked the same as before. It was cleaner though. No dirty dishes sitting on the counter, no laundry baskets of clothes waiting to be put away. The family pictures on the side of the refrigerator had significantly multiplied. Sasha took a moment to stand in the entryway and gaze across the area.

“I… Im pretty tired, I think I’m gonna go to bed.” Sasha said quietly. “Ok, we’ll talk in the morning. Sleep well.” Her mom replied, setting her purse down in the table with her car keys.

Sasha walked back to her bedroom door, hesitating to open it, but proceeded to do so. She didn’t bother flicking the light on, nor did she bother pulling the curtains shut.

Sasha threw herself down lopsided onto her bed. She’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be curled up on top of her fluffy comforter, wrapping her arms tightly around a fuzzy pillow.

The city lights twinkled through the window, which Sasha hadn’t seen in a long while. Her gaze was fixed in the window, entirely ignoring the rest of her bedroom.
It didn’t feel like she was really back. The adventure still didn’t feel like it was over. It felt like it never would.

***

Marcy sat, bucked into the back seat of her parents car. Her dad was driving.Marcy didn’t like the silence, yet for some reason she didn’t immediately break it. It seemed to her like her parents thought the quiet was soothing to her.

“What did Mr. X say about… our situation?” Marcy asked, her voice still kind of quiet. It was better than the awful lingering silence. The silence reminded her of being stuck back in her own head, in the darkness, as the core controlled her body.

“Not, much. You don’t have anything to worry about, ok Marcy?” Her mom replied. “What about school?” Marcy asked. “The three of you aren’t going back until the end of the week. From there, it depends on how it goes.” Her mom responded.
The car fell silent again, and Marcy didn’t know how to break the silence. Luckily, it ended soon.

Marcy sighed of relief when they pulled into the driveway. The driveway of her house. The same way as it was before. The same house. Normally that wouldn’t have been a big deal, but after everything, it felt like one.

The inside of the house was the same as she remembered. “Marcy, why don’t you get some sleep?” Her father suggested, as they walked through the hall and into the house. “Actually, I was gonna get a shower. Then maybe go to sleep.” Marcy responded, trying to sound like her normal self.
She failed at that. Her voice was slightly horse and quieter than usual.
“Ok, just make sure you get lots of rest.” Her mom replied.

***

Annes ride home was rather different then Marcy and Sashas. The moment the Boonchuy had stepped into the car a conversation began.

“Anne, is everything ok? You’ve been quiet all day.” Mr. Boonchuy asked. “Yeah, I guess everything is finally sinking in. I mean, explaining everything to Sasha and Marcys parents, plus catching you guys up to speed, I think it just made me realize its over. Even when I had the Plantars here in LA, trying to get them back home, it never really hit me that it would end. Especially not like this.” Anne answered.

“Are you doing ok after saying goodbye the Plantars?” Her mom asked.

“To be honest, I don’t really know. I never thought I get so close with them. I mean, we’re like family. They even called me a Plantar. And… and Hop Pop said that we were family, and family always finds each other. And.. and I want that to be true. I really really want that to be true, but its not. There’s no way we can find each other again. And its barely been a little over a day since I’ve seen them, and all I want is to be able to see them again.” Annes eyes were filling with tears as she spoke.

“Anne, it’ll be ok.” Mrs. Boonchuy reassured her. “I know. I know.” Anne sniffled. “It’s just hard. It’s hard to think about ht old normal, because things will never be the same as before. It’s hard to think that I may never see the Plantars again. It’s hard to even sort of comprehend everything that’s happened in the past five months.” Anne responded.

She’d stopped for a moment, more tears filling her eyes, slipping down her cheeks. “And I’m scared. I’m scared of the future. I’m scared that everything will change again. I don’t… I don’t want to loose anyone else.” Anne continued. “Anne, it’s ok. Being afraid of what could come in the future is entirely rational. But, you can count on one thing for sure. We’ll always be here for you, and I’m sure Sasha and Marcy will be to.” Mrs. Boonchuy responded enduringly.

Anne nodded quietly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

The car came to a stop, causing Anne to look out the window. They’d already reached her house. Annes Dad opened her car door. Anne slowly got out, being pulled into another tight hug.

They walked inside. Anne had been here only a month ago, but it felt like so much longer. “Anne, do you want anything to eat?” Her mom asked, once they’d entered. “Do you happen to have any left overs of the food you brought for us during the invasion? “ Anne asked quietly.

“ใช่, In the refrigerator.” Mrs. Boonchuy replied. Anne heated up some Khao Pad, and grabbed a bottled water from the fridge. Upon taking it out of the microwave she turned toward the living room. Her dad was turning on the television.

Anne walked in with her food and sat down on the couch. “What do you want to watch?” He asked, looking towards Anne. Anne hesitated to respond, as usually she wasn’t supposed to be awake watching television past 9:00pm. “Um.. I don’t know. I already watched the new season of Suspicion Island with the Plantars, but I didn’t get to watch it with you guys.” Anne replied. “Whatever you want.” Anne’s mom replied.

They sat and watched television for over an hour. After, Anne took a much needed shower. From there she changed into a comfy pair of pajamas, and tidied up her room a bit. She laid in bed silently for a few minutes, but in her head there was no silence.

“Maybe you’re better off without me” “I did it for us” “That’s the thing about friends isn’t it? The more you love them, the more it hurts when they go” everything echoing through her mind.
Her headache had returned. The memories of everything refusing to leave her head. The darkness felt darker than it was.

Anne snatched a pillow up from her bed and grabbed a sleeping bag from her closet. She slowly walked through the dark hallway and to her parents bedroom door. She carefully knocked and opened it.
“Anne? Come in.” Her mom answered. Anne stood in the doorway. “Could I um… sleep on the floor in here tonight?” Anne asked, tightly clutching onto her pillow. “Of course,” Her dad replied.

Anne set up her sleeping bag on the floor at the foot of their bed. Domino squeezed through the crack left in the doorway. She circled around Anne for a moment, then curled up at Annes side. After a while, she actually managed to fall asleep. For the first time in days, she was peacefully asleep.

***

Marcy walked into her bedroom. It was dark, but she didn’t want to turn on the light and wake anyone up. Marcy stood just in front of the closed door, gazing across her dark room. It felt unreal that she was standing here.
Her Parents had clearly been going through her things while she was gone. The entire room was neat and organized, but her posters still remained messily taped along the wall.

Marcy sat down on the edge of her bed, staring at the walls, the window, the door. She glanced at the Alarm clock, 10:03pm. Her wet hair dripped down her neck and onto her pajamas.
Marcy didn’t mind it. She almost liked the feeling of cold wet water droplets hitting her neck. It reminded her she was alive. She was herself. She combed through her cold wet hair with her fingers.

Marcy couldn’t stop her mind from wandering. It drifted across her memory, refusing to stop.

Marcy laid down flat, lookin gulp at the ceiling. After what felt like an eternity of silence in the dark, she glanced back over at her alarm clock – 11:39pm.

Marcy let our a sigh and rolled over, face down on the bed, pulling her pillow over her head. Still I unable to fall asleep, she looked back at the alarm clock – 12:51am.

The time was slowly ticking by. Marcy kept glancing back at the clock. 1:27am, 2:56am, 3:33am, 4:57am, 5:48am. She’d drifted off to sleep a few short times, but never for long, and never seemed to get any real rest. The sun was rising now, any hope of actually getting sleep was lost.

Marcy quietly opened her bedroom door and walked downstairs. She was as silent as possible. Marcy crept toward the front door. The door loudly squeaked upon opening. Marcy took a deep breath in, making sure the noise wasn’t loud enough to wake anyone up. She exhaled slowly in relief, carefully shutting the door behind her.
Marcy quietly sat down on the coarse concrete. She ran her fingers along it, the scratchy texture leaving little marks on her skin. She sat there watching the sun slowly rise, just breathing.

The sun rising over Los Angeles was something that happened everyday. But it wasn’t something that anyone really thought about. The sun would rise every morning, and set every night. So why did it feel so significant now, when almost any other day before it didn’t?

Chapter Text

*Insert Amphibia Theme song*

Everyone began to head back to their towns, their homes, or at least what was left.
The three army’s parted, going their separate ways. After everything, it was a rather solemn sight, Newtopia in ruin along with most of Amphibia. After Anne had worked so hard to unite the armies, it was over. None of their hard work was in vain, that is what had to be remembered.

Anne smiled back at the Plantars, at everyone, then proceeded to step through the portal. The portal came to a quick close after that. Everyone stood there, saying nothing.
That was the image stuck in everyone’s heads.

Polly broke the silence. “We just got Anne back and now we loose her again?!” She exclaimed.
Sprig didn’t say anything. He just stared down at Anne’s tennis racket. “I know, Polly.” Hop responded.

Everyone was thinking the same thing and it was rather obvious.

“Today should be a joyous day, the core has been defeated, and we emerged victorious. So why does it feel so… melancholy?” Yunan said.

Yunan, Olivia, Andrias, Grime, Frodo, Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig all stood in a circular type formation along the cliff side, Newtopia stood in ruin behind them. They stood around several objects. Sasha’s sword, stuck halfway into the mud. Then Anne’s tennis racket, leaning up against the swords. Finally, Marcy’s cross bow laid against the opposite side of Sasha’s swords.

“You’d think this was a funeral, the way we’re all standing here.” Polly stated. “It kind of is.” Sprig responded quietly. Polly just looked up at her brother, who was clearly taking this harder than the rest of them.

“Funny how this whole time, we were trying to get them home, and now that we’ve succeeded and they’re back in their world, none of us know what to do with ourselves.” Grime remarked.
“I guess none of us ever really thought about what it would be like after we got them home.” Hop Pop replied.

“Do you… do you think they’re thinking about us right now to?” Sprig asked quietly. “I don’t know Sprig, but it’s a nice thought.” Hop Pop answered.

“I wonder what their lives are going to be like now, what our lives are gonna be like.” Sprig continued. “They’ll be just fine, after everything. I think the girls can handle themselves in their world just fine. As for us, we’ll head back to Wartwood and figure the rest out as we go.” Hop Pop responded.

“Grime, what will you do now?” Olivia asked. “Probably find some small town and figure out how to recover from my injury, readjust to life.” Grime explained. “Wartwood would be glad to have you.” Hop Pop said, somehow with a smile. “We would?” Polly questioned sarcastically. “Of course we would, Polly.” Hop Pop insisted.

“What about you two?” Grime asked Olivia and Yunan. “We’ll stay and help rebuild Newtopia. I promised my mother I’d look after this land and I intend on keeping that promise for the better of Amphibia.” Olivia replied.
“A short trip to Wartwood every once and a while does sound nice though.” Yunan added.

Andrias had sat there silently and not said a thing. He was careful not to overstep, and was undergoing quite a bit of self reflection.

“Andrias, what about you?” Yunan asked. Andrias looked up, almost questioning that they were even speaking to him after everything.
“I don’t know.” He responded, seeming uncertain I’m every word. “Why don’t you join us in Wartwood, while you figure it out?” Hop Pop suggested. “Ok, that actually sounds… nice.” Andrias answered.

Both Sprig and Polly looked at Hop Pop in uncertainty and shock. “Kids, we’re all in this together. We can’t hold our pasts against each other. Anne would want it that way, don’t you think?” Hop Pop said. “That does sound a lot like Anne, second chances and all” Sprig answered, with the slightest smile.

“What are we gonna do with their stuff?” Polly asked, gesturing towards the neat pile of each of their weapons. Everyone was quiet for a moment. “Leave them here.” Olivia responded. “As a remembrance.” She added.

“I guess that means this is goodbye.” Hop Pop replied. “It’s not really goodbye, it’s only a farewell for now.” Yunan answered. “We’ll see each other again, soon. We’re all we have left of the girls now.” Olivia added.
“Goodbye, for now.”

***

The journey back to Wartwood was strangely calm. They’d ridden Domino 2 back to Wartwood. Andrias had stayed behind, but was supposedly meeting them in Wartwood in a few days. While Sprig, Polly, and Grime were suspicious of that, Hop Pop claimed it wasn’t something to worry about yet.

Just seeing Wartwood again was a nice feeling for the Plantars. The town seemed empty, but there was a logical explanation. Many of the townsfolk houses were in bad condition, so most likely everyone had gone to the resistances hide out. Domino 2 landed just outside the Plantars home.

The group made their way inside, stopping at the fireplace, the entry to the Plantar family tunnels. Going into inside hit different.
Usually Anne or Sasha lead them in after a mission, this time they weren’t even there.

Sprig was the one to open the passageway, being first to enter as well.

At first glance, it appeared empty. But, once the Plantars and Grime had reached the main area that changed. Everyone jumped out shouting “Surprise!”

“Wait… What?” Sprig exclaimed. “Who’s party is this?!” Polly questioned loudly. They all glanced around the area.
Streamers hung from every entryway, confetti covered the floors.

“We thought after everything that we should throw a party!” Wally exclaimed. “in honor of the girls, and celebrating our victory over the king!” Ivy added. “A party should raise all of our spirits.” Mrs. Croaker finished.

“We don’t have any music though,” Maddie specified. Sprig pulled Anne’s phone out of his pocket and stared down at it. “Actually, I think we do,” He replied.

“Yes! Now the world can see our amazing couples dances!” Ivy exclaimed.

***

Everyone seemed to be having fun, or at least distracted. The volume on Annes phone was turned all the way up, and it echoed loudly through their underground hide out.

Ivy and Sprig were doing their couples dances, and continued to make a big deal of it, soaking up a lot of attention. Polly was showing off her legs to Rosemary, Lavender, and Ginger, as the three of them were desperately full of excitement to get their legs. Then, of course, as usual Mrs. Croaker was drinking all of the punch they’d set out.

A loud noise came from above, a screeching of some sort. Everyone froze at the sound, dead silence filling the room as Hop Pop clicked off the music.
After a moment of standing in the silence, listening, the townspeople rushed outside to figure out what this was. Upon rushing out, a very familiar beast stood before them – the Chicka-lisk.

It had been wanting around the already destroyed town, furthering the damage. It saw the crowd of people now and immediately screeched at them, saying “There you guys are, I’m back for revenge, since you were so rude to me last time!” Unfortunately for the frogs, the Chicka-lisk language was still lost. No one knew what it was a saying.

“Oh no! Not this thing again!” Wally yelled. “Again?! You’ve fought this beast before?!” Grime questioned. “Yeah, a few months ago the Plantars summoned it.” Mrs. Croaker answered.

Everyone turned toward the Plantars. “It wasn’t us!” Polly shouted. “Yeah, we may have summoned it last time but to cover up we didn’t bring anything back for you on our trip, but we didn’t summon it this time?” Hop Pop exclaimed.

“It must be back for revenge!” Ivy yelled. The Chicka-lisk screeched again. “Wow, its almost like I just said that” but the Chicka-lisk was still not understandable.

“Everyone, Chicka-lisk formation!” Mayor Toadstool yelled. The townsfolk quickly climbed into the same formation as the last time the Chicka-lisk had attacked them, only this time Anne wasn’t there to stand on the top. One of the frogs had taken her position this time.

“Oh come one, that’s even more offensive now.” The Chicka-Lisk responded with a loud screech once again.

“It’s not working!” Felicia yelled. “Did you really expect it to?!” Grime questioned. “Well, it worked last time!” Ivy replied. “What do we do now?!” Loggle asked as the formation disbanded.

“Everyone Quiet! I have an idea!” Sprig shouted. The townspeople silenced themselves. “Maddie, Ivy, Polly! You’re with me, everyone else, keep it distracted!”he continued.

Sprig took off running, motioning for Maddie, Ivy, and Polly to follow. “The plan is to get as far from Wartwood as possible in the next few minutes, so we can summon the Chicka-lisk there. Polly, you’ll stand guard, in case everyone in town can’t stop it from chasing us. Ivy, I need you to help summon the Chicka-lisk. Then once we do, Maddie can use her magic to poof us all back to Wartwood. Got it?” Sprig explained. “Got it!” They yelled back. “Now Go!” Sprig explained.

Deeper within the forests surrounding Wartwood, they began the ritual, the Chicka-lisk’s screeching in the distance. They were rushing as fast as they could to summon the Chicka-lisk here.

Sprig’s plan had appeared to work, as Maddie threw a small bag down against the ground and smoke engulfed them. Upon opening their eyes they were back within Wartwood, and the Chicka-lisk was no where to be found.

“We did it!” Ivy began to celebrate with the rest of the town. Everyone was rushing around and cheering, but Sprig just stood there watching. Polly took notice of this. She quietly walked over to her brother.

“You ok Sprig?” She asked. Sprig looked down at her. “Oh, um, yeah. It’s just…” He began. “You’re thinking about Anne aren’t you?” Polly questioned. “Yeah.” Sprig paused. “She should’ve been here, helping us defeat the Chicka-lisk. But she’s not, she can’t even come back. And we can’t even go see her in LA.” Sprig continued.

“Sprig, I’m your sister, I know you well enough to know that that’s not all this is about.” Polly replied. “It’s just… I don’t know if I can do this without her.” Sprig responded quietly.
“Are you kidding?!” Polly began. “Sprig, you just defeated the Chicka-lisk, not us. You. Sprig, you don’t need Anne to be a hero, you already are, and you’re already the best older brother anyone could ask for.” Polly continued.

Sprig looked at his sister blankly for a moment. “You really mean that?” He asked quietly. “Yeah, but if you tell anyone I said it then you’re dead.” Polly laughed, lightly punching him in the shoulder.
“Just because Anne’s not here doesn’t mean things have to really change.” Polly added.
“Thanks Polly. You’re a good sister.” Sprig replied. Polly smiled. “What can I say? I am pretty great.” She laughed.

With that the sun had set. The night time darkness filled the air, with the absence of the moon the night was darker than any of then had seen before. The stars still glistened in the sky, fireflies buzzed, and the crickets crippled. It was starting to feel like the old Amphibia again, but different. Everything was different.

Chapter Text

Pt. 1

Sasha stood in front of the full length mirror in the corner of her bedroom. She just looked at her reflection. She was wearing her SJMS school uniform, the grey polo style shirt with the school logo on it, then the pink skirt, and the tall white socks. Sasha had yet to put on shoes.

This didn’t look right. She tugged at the skirt a bit, but that didn’t change anything. Sasha took her hair out of the high ponytail she’d tied it up in. She slid the hairband onto her wrist and ran her fingers through her hair.

Sasha tore open her closet door and snatched a pair of boots off the floor. She carefully slid them over her feet, and zipped them up. Her boots were brown and went about half way up to her knee.
She threw her jean jacket down to the closet floor. And glanced back into the mirror.

She barely even resembled her old self. Sasha glanced at the scar on her cheek, then at the bruises and scrapes on her arms and legs. She didn’t want to bother covering them up with makeup. Sasha took a deep breath in, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead.

*Insert Amphibia Theme song*

Anne sat in the back of her parents car, watching out the window as they pulled up to her school. Her parents were both sitting in the front. Anne took a deep breath.

“Good luck today, Anne.” Mrs. Boonchuy said, as Anne grabbed her back pack off the car floor. “you can text us any time, keep us updated, ok?” Her mom added. “Ok,” Anne replied, taking another breath. She glanced down at her new phone before sliding it into her pocket. “And remember, You, Marcy, and Sasha, go to Mrs. Murphy’s office instead of your first class.” Her Dad reminded her. “Thanks. I’ll see you after school.” Anne answered, nerves filling her voice.

Anne stepped out of the car and onto the sidewalk. The school was busy as she’d remembered it each morning. It was almost exactly the same as she always remembered. There was a line of cars dropping students off along the sidewalk and down the parking lot.

She tightly clutched the straps of her bag that sat over her shoulders. She just stood there glancing around for a moment. In all the chaos of the morning she had yet to be noticed.

***

“Good Morning Saint James Middle School, first I’d like to remind everyone that your lockers are NOT for hiding in to avoid going to class. These lockers are NOT made to store humans or any other living thing. In other news, this weeks cafeteria special is Chicken Sandwich. And Finally, outdoor sports teams are scheduled to resume practices within the next few weeks. Thank you,”Principle Murphy’s voice came over the intercom, finishing the morning announcements.

Sasha, Anne, and Marcy were sitting in the same three chairs they had six months ago after getting in trouble for the prank they’d pulled a day before their disappearance. Anne was holding tightly to Marcys hand. Sasha was sitting on the opposite side of Anne.

A moment later the door opened. Principle Murphy stood there holding the door opened. “You three can come in now. Thanks for waiting so patiently.” She said.

Anne immediately stood up, ignoring her nerves. She’d pulled Marcy up with her. Sasha grabbed her bag and followed behind Anne and Marcy. That was the opposite of how it would’ve been before.. Before Amphibia Sasha would have immediately gone first, confidently and without worry, then Marcy, then Anne following as she always did. That wasn’t the case anymore.

Principle Murphy closed the door behind them and took a seat at her desk. The three girls all sat down across from her. “Alright, it’s nice to see you three again.” She began. Anne awkwardly smiled. “I’ll get to it then, the goal is not to have to hold any of you back a year. So, assuming the next few weeks go well, then you’ll be able to stay in the 8th grade.” Principle Murphy explained.

“In other words, we have like two weeks to prove we can catch up to everyone else or we have to repeat 8th grade?” Sasha repeated. Her voice was rather flat, but it still contained slight attitude. “No one wants for that to happen, but yes. We’ve never had a situation like this before. So, for now, you’ll go back to your prior schedules and we’ll see how it goes.” Principle Murphy replied.

“I… kind of forgot… my schedule.” Anne said, followed by another awkward smile. “I figured as much. You three haven’t been to school in six months. I printed a copy of each of your schedules.” Principle Murphy responded, opening her desk drawer and pulling out three pieces of small rectangular paper. She handed them out to each of them.

“What about, like, everyday stuff?” Marcy asked. This was the first time shed spoken in this meeting. “meaning?” “like, gym class, and after school stuff, and anything else” Marcy clarified.
“Ok, so, I have been in contact with a Mr. X, who caught us up on some physical health records and any other necessary information. As for gym class it’s been concluded that you three will be exempt from physical activity in that class, but be given alternative assignments instead, for however long needed. After school activities are more up to you. Most of the sports teams have been temporarily stopped, while repairs are made to any damage done outside of the building. Anything else is still up and running.” Principle Murphy answered.

“What about my spot on the Tennis team?” Anne asked. “I really haven’t lost anything, you’d be surprised how much practice I’ve gotten.” She added. “Same question, but about the cheer team.” Sasha continued. “I’m afraid I can’t promise anything. You’ll have to talk to the teams coaches.” Principle Murphy replied.

“Now, I think I’ve taken up enough time from your first period. If there are no further questions, you three are free to go… to class. And, I’m here anytime if you need me.” Principle Murphy said, handing them each a pass to give to their teachers. Marcy stood up, sliding her messenger bag over her shoulder. Sasha snatched up her bag and flung it over her shoulder, Anne doing the same. “Thanks, Principle Murphy.” Sasha replied.

Both Sasha and Marcy were standing in the doorway. Anne started to follow, but stopped. She quickly unzipped her bag, carefully pulling out a piece of paper. “I wrote that essay.” She said quietly placing it on Principle Murphys desk.

The three girls proceeded to the hallway. Just as the girls were parting ways they told each other a quick goodbye. Sasha had turned to walk the opposite direction. She’d only taken a few steps before Anne grabbed her. She gave her a quick and tight hug. “Aw, Anne, watch the scar.” Sasha slightly laughed. “Good luck today girl,” She added, with a smile. “See you at lunch Sash.” Anne responded. Sasha turned back to wave at Anne and Marcy, then continued to her first class.
Anne gave Marcy a quick hug. “I’ll see you in English later.” Marcy smiled. “See you later.” Anne replied quietly, making her way to class.

Anne looked over the classroom door and glanced at the plate on the side of the door, making sure she was really in the right place. “Pre-algebra” Anne mumbled to herself silently. She’d opened the door and stepped inside the classroom.

Her teacher had seemed to have started the lesson for the day already, as it was about fifteen minutes into first period. The door felt like it had screeched upon opening. The teacher immediately looked over at her. Anne walked over to the teacher, standing in front of the white board, as quickly and quietly as possible.

She handed them the the pass from Mrs. Murphy. “Anne, go ahead and sit right back there, I’ll be with you in a minute.” They responded. Anne silently walked to the seat in the back, near the teachers desk. The seating arrangement had changed since the last time she was in class.

Everyone’s eyes followed her, and Anne could feel the stares. “Attention up here,” their teacher began. She sat down and then placed her back pack beside her. Though her teacher had continued the lesson, students attention remained fixed on her. Anne took a breath in and pretended she didn’t notice, pretended she was paying attention to anything else.

Class couldn’t seem to end quickly enough. The whole class period Anne felt watched and uncomfortable. She wanted to know how it was going for Sasha and Marcy. Then the Plantars were on her mind as usual, but focusing on the people watching her was a bit of a distraction from that.

Her teacher had discussed a plan to get her caught up, and given her plenty of worksheet packets. Anne immediately began working on that for the remainder of class. After what felt like forever the bell finally rang, dismissing them to second period.

Anne set off down the crowded hallway. People still glanced at her, the looks didn’t seem to stop. It was easier to blend in in the crowd. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long.

“Hey, Boonchuy!” Anne didn’t have to turn around to know who’s voice was shouting at her. Anne sped up, continuing to her locker. “Boonchuy!” She heard it again, “Not now Maggie.” Anne answered firmly. She would have sped up but had reached her locker by now. Anne really hoped that she wouldn’t be followed to her locker. “Anne.” Maggie said, proceeding to stop next to Annes locker.

Anne didn’t respond, instead she placed some things from her bag into her locker. “I saw you, fighting those robots or whatever.” Maggie continued. “Yeah, everyone did.” Anne responded frustratedly. She slammed her locker door shut, taking out some of her agitation on it. “You, uh, kicked butt.” Maggie continued.

Anne started to walk away rather quickly. “Anne, wait.” Maggie followed Anne, quickly catching up with her. “Look Maggie, I really don’t want to talk right now, especially about whatever everyone saw of me on TV or whatever.” Anne replied.

“I just, wanted to apologize, for, uh, how I treated you before.” Maggie said. Anne stopped for a moment. Her tone shifting. “Um, thanks, I guess.” She mumbled. Anne continued walking, this time Maggie didn’t follow or try to catch up.

Anne didn’t know what she thought of that. Maggie had never been nice to her before, it was hard to believe she meant it now. She’d just have to wait and see.

The day didn’t seem to go any better. The next few class periods slowly drifted by, and they were all the same. Each of her teachers had given her a new seat, as all of the seating arrangements had changed.

Third period Anne and Marcy both had English, so at least they were together then. The two saw Sasha again at lunch, then in fifth period gym.

The looks didn’t stop. It was almost as if none of them knew what to say. The entire situation was out of the ordinary. All three girls were kind of keeping to themselves.

School was going to be different now. That was obvious.

Principle Murphy silently read over Anne’s essay. She hadn’t expected Anne to write it, not after what she’d seen on TV, not after the girls had gone missing for six months.
The whole essay sounded like a different person, yet it was impossible not to hear Anne’s voice reading it.

“Who am I? I set out to find that answer six months ago, just before my thirteenth birthday. Little did I know, my quest for that answer would take me further than I ever imagined.
Before now, I never really thought about who I was, who I wanted to be. Not until then.
I was caught up in the moment. I had my friends and that was all that mattered. The easy path was just easy. My friends could guide me through everything. School didn’t seem to matter because I was messing around with my friends. I didn’t think about the real consequences. I didn’t even recognize that my friendship wasn’t healthy.
I guess it was all because I didn’t really value myself. Sure, every person my age has self esteem and confidence issues, because we’re all figuring ourselves out, but I let it control me.
Maybe that’s why I always took the easy path and why I always went along with whatever my friends wanted.
The past six months changed everything for me. Really it was the people I met during them. This family, the Plantars, took me in for a while. It’s complicated. But, they became my family. It wasn’t until after I met them that I really learned to love myself.
They stood by me. They showed me the truth about my friendships, and set me on a path to fixing them.
Through everything they were there. The Plantars are the reason I was really able to answer the question Who am I?
I’m Anne Boonchuy, Thirteen year old Thai-American girl. But it goes so much deeper than that.
I’m a teenage girl who saved the world while dealing with the emotional baggage of loosing my friends time and time again, trying to resolve everything, and worried about loosing my families.
But that made me learn a lot about myself. It showed me that I could be a leader, and I could be all these things I never even thought about. If you’d have asked me six months ago who I wanted to be, I’d have answered anything else than what I was.
Now, I think the only person I want to be is me – goofy, messy, caring, wild, weird, fun-loving, Anne. Me. Just me. It’s weird how when you’re alone, away from everyone you’ve know, how much you discover yourself.
Without anyone there to guide me, anyone to fall back on for instruction, it was kind of up to me to figure things out. Maybe you learn a lot about yourself based on how you react in situations when it’s truly just your reaction, when there’s no one else to push you one way. It’s just you and truly you.
I never REALLY loved myself before. Maybe that was because I didn’t know who I was supposed to be loving. I never really understood before why who I was mattered or why who I wanted to be mattered. But knowing yourself unlocks so many doors.
I’m gonna admit that when I was assigned this essay, I thought it was stupid. I didn’t see a point in writing it. I keep thinking that I was a different person back then. That’s how my friends and I had always talked about it. But the more I think about it, maybe it was something else.
Maybe I was always the same person, I just didn’t know who she was before.”

———————————
Pt. 2

It was a Thursday afternoon. School had just got out for the afternoon. Marcy was seated in the back of the Boonchuys car, next to Anne. Marcy’s parents had returned to usual work schedule, so Marcy had to find another way to get home.

Before Amphibia she either went with Sasha or Anne, or she’d stay at the library, something’s watched after school practices, or walk home.

But now, her parents didn’t want her walking home or staying at the library. Marcy understood why. They were worried and didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. Marcy got that, she didn’t necessarily like it, but she understood.

There weren’t any after school activities she found worth watching or taking part in. They’d only be back at school since Monday, four days.

So here she was, getting a ride home with Anne. The car stopped in front of her house. Marcy stared out the window for a moment. Hero parents green SUV was parked in the driveway. That was extremely unusual, as it was only 3:45ish in the afternoon, and her parents never got home from work that early.

She shook her mind out of her thoughts. “Thanks for the ride Mrs. Boonchuy” Marcy said, grabbing her bag off the floor. “Anytime Marcy,” Mrs. Boonchuy smiled.

“Bye Mar-mar.” Anne exclaimed, giving her a quick hug from the seat next to her. “See ya tomorrow AnnaBanana.” Marcy answered.

She opened the car door and slipped out. Marcy slowly walked up the driveway and over the sidewalk. She placed her hand on the front door knob, twisting it to make sure it was unlocked.
Marcy turned back and waved at Anne and her mom, as the car drove off.

She turned facing the door and silently took a breath. Marcy twisted the knob opened silently walking through. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. Sure, the situation was out of the ordinary but not to wild.

Marcy stepped inside, hearing her parents discussing something in the kitchen. Marcy quietly walked further into the house, hearing their conversation.

“We’re going to have to tell her eventually. She’s not stupid. Marcy WILL notice that something’s going on.” Her mothers voice said. “Yes, but you know how it went last time we tried to tell her.” Mr. Wu answered.

Marcy was standing in the Kitchens entryway by now. “Tell me what?” She asked, almost hesitantly.
Both her parents heads turned toward her. It was obvious no ether of them were expecting her to be standing just outside the room.

“Marcy, I didn’t realize what time it was.” Mrs. Wu smiled. Marcy didn’t move. “What… What were you talking about?” She questioned, afraid she already knew the answer.
Her parents exchanged glances.

Marcys mom sighed. “Come in, sit down. We’ll talk.” She answered. Marcy slowly walked into the kitchen. She took a deep shaky breath in, and sat down at the kitchen table.
Her parents both took a seat across from her.

“Ok, Marcy, we have something to tell you, but it’s important you remain calm and listen.” Her father began. Marcy took another anxious breath in. She was so afraid she knew what was coming. Marcy silently nodded, muscles tensing.

“Do you remember six months ago, before the three of you went missing, we’d just told you we were going to move?” Her mother asked. Marcys fists clenched, her nails digging into her skin. Her breathing became even heavier.
“The job is still opened. Due to the family emergency, they gave us some extra time to figure everything out while you were gone. So, we’ve decided that it’d be best for our family if I took the job and we go through with moving.” Mr. Wu explained.

Marcys heart shattered. That’s exactly what she was afraid of hearing. Every part of her mind was rejecting the mere thought of moving away. She sat there, her shaky breathing being the only felling she had. That and the tightening of her fists, trying to squeeze the anxiety and misery out. She stared at the table, her eyes didn’t movie, they barely blinked.

“Why?” Marcy mumbled quietly, practically under her breath. She knew her parents hadn’t heard her. Marcy could barely summon the strength to speak loud enough to be heard. “Why is this what’s better for the family?” Marcy asked, her voice quiet and rather Whitney sounding.

She wasn’t whining. She was trying to hold back the tears that wanted to spill out of her eyes.

“Well, with everything going on, it’d be good for you and for all of us to get away from the publicity that follows you because of this invasion situation. We’d be living in a smaller town in the Midwest, it would be nice. The new job would make more money. It would just be a good fit.” Her mother explained calmly.

Marcy didn’t know how they could be calm like this. Both her parents were watching her for a reaction. Marcy was trying especially hard now not to burst into tears. She could hear her thoughts beating loudly into her brain all at once. How did they know what would be good for her?The overlayed voices in her head refused to cease.

Marcy stood up, her legs feeling like jelly, and her stomach turning. “I… I need some air.” Marcy panted. She forced herself int o a walk, which began to shakily pick up speed.

“Marcy wait,” Her mother began. Instead of running out the door, as she had before, Marcy ran up the stairs. She turned into her bedroom, shutting the door as she ran inside.

Marcy Stumbled over to the window, prying it opened. She then threw herself down into the bed. The tears that had wanted to flood her eyes finally escaped in a tidal wave of emotion.

After everything, her parents were going through with it? This was everything Marcy had tried to avoid for the past six months and now, it was happening. She grabbed her pillow pulling it over her face. She had come a long way over the past six months. That was something no one could deny.
Though she had thought herself ready to face everything waiting for her at home, Marcy had let go of that when she came home to things seeming relatively normal.
Maybe it wasn’t moving that she wanted to avoid so desperately, it was leaving. Leaving her hometown, leaving everything she knew, leaving Sasha and Anne. That one pulled at her. “How am I gonna tell them?” She whispered through the tears that refused to leave her eyes.

“Marcy?” Her mothers voice came from the bedroom door. Marcy didn’t respond, she didn’t even move. Her mother opened the door and stepped inside anyway. “Marcy can we talk?” Mrs. Wu asked, sitting at the foot of Marcys bed. “Yeah” Marcy whimpered, her voice muffled by her pillow.

“I know this is upsetting. I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to tell you like this.” Her mother began. Marcy didn’t sit up, she remained face down to her pillow. “Then when, how, were you going to tell me?” She moaned.
“I guess we were waiting for the right time, but there didn’t seem to be one.” Mrs. Wu answered.

She seemed so calm about the whole situation. Marcy didn’t understand how that was even possible.

When Marcy didn’t respond her mother continued. “I just wanted to let you know nothing is immediately changing. We’re not going to move until after the school year ends. So, you have some time. And, if you need anyone to talk to during that time, I’m here. I’m always here.” Mrs. Wu finished. “Thanks” Marcy mumbled through her pillow.

Mrs. Wu left the room, leaving Marcy alone again with her thoughts. Marcy sat up, wiping her eyes. The afternoon faded out evening and evening to night. She had barely left her room.

Marcy silently grabbed for her new phone. She saw her puffy-eyed morose expression in the reflection of the dark screen. Marcy just stared at it for a moment. Finally she unlocked her phone and began to scroll through contacts. She stopped on a group chat with Anne and Sasha.

Marcy flatly stared at it for a moment, then sent her message.

Marcy: 💚

Anne immediately responded, as she seemed to do every time Marcy or Sasha messaged her. Sasha responded rather quickly but after Anne.

Anne: Love you Marbles, goodnight! 💙🌙

Sasha: see you tomorrow Mar-Mar! Sleep well! ❤️

Marcy somehow managed to cry harder. Sasha and Anne had no idea she was lying here crying herself sick. Marcy hated that they didn’t know. She hated that those messages made it feel worse. How did messaging them make her feel worse?

Every second she had with them was a countdown. Her moving was a ticking time bomb about to explode. How?! How could she tell them that after everything they’d been through she was still moving. She didn’t know how she could ever tell them.

There were so many things Anne and Sasha didn’t know about her, and Marcy hated that. They didn’t know she had barely been sleeping the past week, ever since they got back. They didn’t know about how anytime she was away from them she was unintentionally thinking about the core. And now, Anne and Sasha didn’t know that she was moving away at the end of the school year.

The window was still cracked open, so that the fresher air could get into her room. Marcy sat down her phone and tightly hugged her pillow, staring into the darkness.

Chapter Text

Sasha was laying sideways, head against the cushion, feet on the arm rest of the Boonchuys couch. She kicked her shoes off on the floor next to the couch.

Marcy was sitting, legs crossed, in the armchair next to the couch.

Then, Anne was seated on the floor on the opposite end of the couch from Sasha. Domino was curled up next to her, and Anne gently stroked her fur.

The girls were rather quiet. It was the first time they had a chance to hang out since returning from Amphibia. No one really knew what to say, or that’s what it seemed like.

“Did you hear them at school trying to figure out how I got the scar on my face?” Sasha asked. “Yeah! The theories are kinda crazy.” Anne exclaimed. “I know right!” Sasha replied. Marcy laughed.

“It’s honestly been so hard not to just turn around and say something. Like, everyone knows we’re right there and hearing everything they’re saying.” Sasha continued.

“Literally! The amount of people who have walked up to me and asked me to use my cool anime powers is insane.” Anne replied. “What do you tell them?” Marcy asked.
“Depends on my mood. Some times I just say I can’t talk right now, or pretend I didn’t hear and walk away quickly. Then it’s kind of fun to make them feel crazy and answer with what anime powers?” Anne laughed.

“That’s genius! If people ask me about my scars I just tell them to mind their own business.” Sasha responded with a smile.

“What about you Marce?” Anne asked. “Oh, uh, I do a pretty good job of blending in, but usually I’ll awkwardly stand there until someone notices or the bell rings, that or attempt to change the subject.” Marcy replied.

“Do you think it’ll always be like this?” She asked. “Nah, I think the second something else relatively interesting happens in LA people will start obsessing over that and forget about us.” Sasha answered.

“No, I mean us.” Marcy clarified. “Oh, um…” Sasha trailed off. “No. Things are gonna change, it’s inevitable at this point. But we’ll face it together. After everything, there’s no way Im loosing you two again. You’re stuck with me. Forever.” Anne replied.

“That was extremely sappy,” Sasha laughed. “I already lost one best friend, I’m not gonna loose the other two!” Anne exclaimed in her defense.

“Don’t worry Boonchuy, we’re not going anywhere.” Sasha answered, slipping off the couch and onto the floor next to Anne. She gave Anne a tight hug from the side. She slightly shook Anne, held tight within her embrace.

Marcy frowned to herself, but quickly covered it up.

“Ok, so first actual weekend back, what are we gonna do?” Anne asked, having finally been released from Sasha’s hug.

“Um, anything and everything!” Marcy exclaimed. Sasha laughed. “I don’t think we can fit anything and everything into one weekend, Mars.” She smiled.

Sasha looked to Anne, sitting beside her on the ground against the couch. “Anne, what do you think we should do?” Sasha asked.

“I don’t know, anything and everything sounds pretty good to me.” Anne answered with a smile. Marcy’s smile immediately grew.

“Ok, and what exactly does anything and everything include?” Sasha questioned.
“Whatever we did before. Like, old times.” Marcy responded.

“You know what we used to do all the time? The mall.” Sasha smiled.
“YES!” Marcy exclaimed, full of excitement.

“We should sleep over at my house after!” Anne replied. “I’ll go ask my parents!” She added. “K, sounds good.” Sasha answered. Anne ran off further into the house, leaving Sasha and Marcy sitting in the living room.

“Ok, spill it Marce, what’s going on?” Sasha asked, the second she knew Anne was far enough to not hear the conversation. “What?” Marcy asked, acting as if she had no idea what Sasha was talking about.

“Come on Mar-mar, I saw that little frown or whatever.” Sasha continued. “Oh, um,” Marcy began, but trailed off. Sasha would have continued to ask about it if Anne hadn’t run back in. Marcy sighed in relief, feeling lucky to have gotten out of the conversation.

“My parents said we could have a sleepover tonight!” She exclaimed excitedly slipping back to her spot on the floor next to Sasha. “Yay!” Marcy replied. There was an immediate shift in Marcys emotions from seconds ago. “Perfect, then the sleepover is on” Sasha responded, standing up and pulling her phone out of her pocket.

Anne hopped up to her feet, pulling Marcy up from the chair. “Ready to go to the mall?” Anne asked.

*Insert Amphibia Theme Song*

The three girls stood on the second floor of the mall looking across. The three of them were silent for a moment. The only noise was the loud chatter of everyone at the mall.

“It is so much like I remembered.” Marcy mumbled. “Yeah.” Sasha answered.
“Come on!” Anne grabbed Marcy by the hand and pulled her forward. Marcy grabbed Sasha’s hand, dragging her along with them onto the escalator.

They’d reached the lower level, and Anne continued forward. Sasha was just going along with it, happy to let Anne and Marcy pull her around all day.

They quickly reached their favorite clothing store. It wasn’t hard to find, the location was drilled into their brains by now.

“Whats the plan? Split up and meet back up at the fitting rooms like old times?” Sasha asked. “No, lets shop together.” Anne whined playfully. Marcy laughed. “I want to do whatever you guys want to do.” Sasha answered. “Yes!” Marcy exclaimed. “Wow Sash,” Anne added.
Sasha visibly blushed. “K, come on!” Marcy smiled.

The three of them spent the next hour at least shopping, trying on clothes, trying to just have fun and ignore everything else.
“Ok, Anne’s getting the blue dress top with the leaves. Marcy’s getting the black sweater with the embroidered design edges…” Sasha began.
“And the matching sun dresses!” Marcy interrupted excitedly. “Yeah, we have to get the dresses! They’re in each of our colors!” Anne added.
“Of course we’re getting the dresses.” Sasha answered, grabbing the three dresses from the rack in the fitting room. “Here, let me take your stuff and go check out, meet me up front.” Sasha continued.

“No, Sash. I couldn’t let you do that.” Anne responded. “It’s no problem Anne. I want to pay” Sasha laughed.
“Ok, I guess if your sure. But, lunch is on me.” Anne answered.

“Sounds good.” Sasha smiled. “I’m gonna put some stuff back real quick. But, I’ll meet you up front.” Anne replied. “I’m gonna tag along with Sasha, help carry stuff.” Marcy said, linking arms with Sasha.

Sasha and Marcy set off to the checkout. That left Anne by herself. She carefully hung the clothes hangers up on the rack outside the fitting room.
She turned to walk through a few isles for the quick lest route to meet up with Marcy and Sasha.

“Hey you’re that girl from the news!” A voice came loudly from behind her. Anne slowly turned around. There were two girls standing a few feet away from her. They were clearly older than Anne, but still in school, maybe sixteen or seventeen.

“Umm,” Anne didn’t really know what to say or what to do. It was one thing at school, because she knew those people, but this was a random stranger. “I knew it!” The other girl began. One of them turned to tell their friends, calling more attention to Anne.

Anne wasn’t listening, she turned and quickly began to walk away. She felt like she was being followed.
She turned to look back behind her, checking to make sure no one was actually following her. It appeared for now she had escaped the attention that followed her.

Before she had time to look forward she crashed into something, or someone. “Anne?” She backed up to see that luckily she’d only ran into Sasha. “Sorry Sasha,” Anne replied, glancing behind her one more time. “What’s going on? Is everything ok?” Marcy asked, clearly noticing that something was bothering Anne.

“Uh, yeah. Lets just get out of here.” Anne answered. She almost sounded dazed. It was as though Anne’s mind was in a different place.

“Ok,” Sasha responded, clearly sounding suspicious of Anne. “Come on, let’s go get lunch.” Marcy said, grabbing Anne’s hand.

“Yeah.” Anne forced a rather convincing smile. “K, let’s go.” Sasha replied. She tossed the shopping bag to her other hand and grabbed Marcy’s hand. Marcy smiled at Sasha, then turned toward Anne.

As the three walked away, Sasha glanced back, still wondering what Anne was so riled up about.

***

Anne quickly seemed to snap back once they gotten to the food court and bought lunch. The three of them were seated at a four seater table in the far left corner.
Marcy was sitting next to Anne, and across from Sasha. The bag of their new clothes was placed on the chair next to Sasha.

Marcy took the paper that had been under her fries and crumpled it up. She smoothly tossed it into the trash can sitting a few feet from the table. “Yes! Made it!” Marcy exclaimed. Both Anne and Sasha laughed.

There was a second of silence between the three of them. “I wanna get my ears wanna get my ears pierced.” Anne stated, completely shifting the conversation. It seemed rather out of the blue.

“What?” Sasha asked sounding slightly confused as she took a final sip of her strawberry milkshake. “I want to get my ears pierced” Anne repeated, still sounding light airy and happy.
“I heard, but how come? You never really seemed interested before.” Sasha questioned.

“I don’t know. I guess after everything, it just doesn’t seem so scary anymore. Besides, new me right? Anyway, I texted my parents earlier and they’re fine with it, so.” Anne answered. “I think it’s a nice idea, if that what you want.” Marcy replied. Sasha smiled “ok then,” Sasha laughed.

***

Anne pushed her hair back behind ears. As always, it didn’t want to cooperate. She lightly brushed her fingers over her newly pierced ears, feeling the small round silver flower shaped earrings.

“What do you think?” Anne asked. “I think you look beautiful as always AnnaBanana.” Marcy smiled. Anne somehow smiled even bigger. Sasha laughed.

The three of them were back at the Boonchuys house. They were sitting in Anne’s bedroom.

Sasha was seated on the bed, leaning against the backboard. Marcy was leaning against the wall on the end of the bed and Anne was seated between Sasha and Marcy, also leaning against the wall.

The shopping bags had appeared to multiply from earlier. They were all piled on the floor at the foot of the bed.

The three of them were messing around with new accessories they’d bought from the ear piercing place. It was one of those stores that almost always had crazy sales in everything, but really it was just a ploy to get customers to spend more money. They sold cute stuff though, lots of jewelry, hair stuff, purses, makeup, and small décor.

Sasha had purchased a headband that reminded her of the red heron head-piece she had worn in Amphibia.

Marcy had purchased a number of things, having somehow gotten sucked into the Buy 3 Get 3 free sale.
She had purchased a new keychain, which she intended to clip to her messenger bag. Marcy also had purchased a new phone case, it was a shiny metallic green and reminded her of her calamity gem. It was funny, she was proud of it but at the same time didn’t want to think to hard about it. Then, she’d also purchased a new lip gloss, it smelled nice and tasted sweet to. It was kind of soothing actually, just to feel it on her lips.

Marcy was trying her best to conceal her other purchases from Anne and Sasha.
Anne had bought a few different hair accessories, mostly cute hairpins to hold the hair over her ears back.
There was a common trend in the jewelry and the hair accessories she had purchased, they were almost all nature themed.

The sun was shining through the window, not quite ready to set. It Was just a bit passed 7:00pm.

“Ok, Movie time!” Anne sprung up. “What already?” Marcy asked, as usually at their sleepovers they didn’t start a movie until late at night, that or they watched a movie of Sasha’s choice first then Marcy turned on War of the Warlocks because they weren’t doing anything else.

“Yeah, we’re gonna need to start this movie earlier, just to make sure no one falls asleep before it’s over.” Sasha replied.
“Ok, what are we watching?” Marcy asked.

Anne and Sasha exchanged glances. Marcy looked back and fourth between the two of them, with a confused smile. “We were thinking, maybe, War of The Warlocks.” Anne smiled.

Marcy practically burst with excitement. “Wait really?!” She exclaimed loudly, springing up. “Of course really. It wouldn’t be an official sleepover without it.” Sasha answered, smiling.

“And you can have the remote to pause it talk about the movie as much as you want.” Anne added. “Also, Anne and I promise to stay awake the whole movie, and actually watch.” Sasha finished, placing her phone down on Annes desk so it wasn’t a distraction. Marcy quickly pulled both Anne and Sasha into a tight hug.
“I love you guys! Thank You!” Marcy exclaimed. “Love you two Marbles!” Anne laughed.

***

Anne’s room was dark, but some light shined in through the window. The alarm clock read 12:59a.m. She had been asleep, but only for a little over an hour. Now she was awake again.
She hadn’t been sleeping much the past week and a half.

Marcy glanced over at Anne, who was sound asleep on the floor to her left. Then, Sasha was on her right, tightly squeezing the pillow that was half under her head. For some reason, Sasha was also clinging to a pen. Marcy noticed something at Sasha’s feet, that hadn’t been there when she’d fallen asleep.

Marcy quietly and cautiously snatched it up. It was a black composition notebook with three words written in red ink across the front, Book of Losers.
Marcy noticed a fold in a page toward the end, which she didn’t remember putting there the last time. Marcy flipped opened to that page. She smiled as she read over the page.
Sasha had written it. She must have done it within the hour her and Anne were asleep. That explained the pen in her hand.
It was the page after the one that had Sprig, Polly, Anne, and her own name.

There was a note written across the next page over, reading…

I was never as brave as you thought. you give me strength and you’re the reason I never give up, the reason I’m persistent. ❤️, Sasha.

Pt. 2

“I can’t believe this!” Anne began. She was leaning against the counter of the Thai Go, her homework spread out across it. Her mom was standing on the other side of the counter, her dad was working in the kitchen. Ned wasn’t working today, as delivery orders were rare as of the Thai Go’s reopening.

“We’ve been open for three days now, and we’ve hardly had a single customer!” Anne finished. “I know Anne, it’ll sort out. People are probably still recovering from the invasion. Business will pick up again.” Mrs. Boonchuy answered.

“Anne, why don’t you gather your homework while we close up.” Her mom continued. “K, on it!” Anne exclaimed, springing up and snatching her backpack.
Mrs. Boonchuy quietly walked into the kitchen.

As Anne was gathering her worksheets, writing supplies, and any other article of homework she heard her parents talking in the kitchen. They were whispering in Thai. She knew that was probably a sign that they didn’t want her to hear the conversation, but it wasn’t exactly avoidable. Anne froze, listening to their conversation.

“จะทำอะไรกับร้านอาหารดีล่ะ? ถ้าธุรกิจไม่ดีขึ้นเราอาจต้องปิดตัวลง
” Mrs. Boonchuy whispered. “ฉันรู้ที่รัก. เราจะต้องคิดออก เรามีพอที่จะเก็บไว้อีกสองสามเดือน มีเวลาเหลือเฟือ”Mr. Boonchuy replied, also at a whisper.

“สำหรับตอนนี้เราจะต้องดูเกี่ยวกับการโฆษณา แต่ที่มีความเสี่ยงเพราะ สัตว์ครึ่งบกครึ่ง สถานการณ์. เราไม่ต้องการที่จะดึงความสนใจเชิงลบใด ๆ ให้กับแอนน์ สิ่งนี้ยากพอสำหรับเธอแล้ว” Mrs. Boonchuy continued, whispering. “เธอไม่รู้ว่ามีความเป็นไปได้ที่ร้านอาหารจะปิด เธอมีพอที่จะกังวลเกี่ยวกับ” Mr. Boonchuy finished.

It was quiet for a moment. Anne took a deep breath in and continued to push the last few things into her backpack, zipping it shut. Her parents entered the main room. “Ready to go Anne?” Her dad asked.

Anne took a deep breath in, disguising the frown on her face and pushing down her worry. “Yeah,” She replied, forcing a cheerful tone, continuing to pretend what she had just heard never happened.

***

“Are you sure you wanna do this Anne?” Sasha asked, glancing at the phone in her hand. “Yeah… I have to.” Anne answered. She didn’t however sound so sure of that. “If your sure AnnaBanana.” Marcy replied.

The three of them were standing in the living room of Mrs. Waybright’s apartment. Sasha was staying with her mom again this week, as she had been living with her dad last week. Her mom wasn’t home from work yet, since it was still early afternoon.

Anne brushed her fingers through her hair, took a deep breath in, and stood up as strait as possible “Ok, I’m ready.” She said. She was standing in front of the glass sliding door to the balcony. Marcy sprang up from the couch and stood next to Sasha, across from Anne. Marcy leaned her head on Sashas shoulder.

Sasha slowly lowered her finger down onto the record button on her phones camera. “Ok, recording in 3, 2, 1” she stated, giving a thumbs up to Anne as soon as the recording had begun.

Anne took one more breath and began speaking. “สวัสดีคะ, I’m Anne Boonchuy. I just wanted to take a moment to talk about my family’s restaurant, the Thai Go. We reopened this week, and haven’t had many customers. The Thai Go means so much to my family. My parents came here from Thailand and opened the restaurant. I’ve grown up there and it’s a big part of our culture and our lives. My parents have worked so hard, this year we had finally made it into the Christma-Palooza parade and everything. The point is, I cant imagine loosing the Thai Go. So, if anyone has extra time or is looking for good food stop by the Thai Go. I promise you wont regret it.” Anne smiled when she finished talking.

Sasha stopped the recording. “Anne! That was great!” Marcy exclaimed, giving her another tight hug. Sasha handed Anne’s phone back to her. “Thanks guys.” She responded, sitting down on the couch.

Anne opened her social media account and and cautiously posted the video, with the caption “Please and thanks for watching, liking, and sharing”

Marcy pulled out her phone, opening her social media, and liked the video. She then shared it to her story. Marcy didn’t have many followers, just some kids from school before Amphibia, but any and all support helped.

Sasha reposted the video to her own account with the caption “Share it up!”
Then, following that she posted a selfie of herself, Anne, and Marcy in front of the Thai Go, prior to Amphibia, with the message “Please share and help! I can’t even begin to explain how much this means to so many people, including myself! #SaveTheThaiGo”
Sasha had more followers, a lot actually. It was a prop of formerly being the toxic yet popular girl who everyone knew. The hope was that that would work to their advantage and their message would spread like wildfire.

“Now we wait.” Anne said, letting out a sigh of both relief and worry. It was quiet between the girls for a minute. All three of them were sitting on the couch now.

“You really think there’s a chance your parents loose the restaurant?” Sasha asked.
“I don’t know for sure, but, I heard them talking about it. They don’t think I know.” Anne answered.
“Don’t worry AnnaBanana, it’ll be fine. It’s always worked out before.”

***

Anne was sitting on the couch scrolling on her phone when the front door opened. It was evening now, about 5:30ish.
She heard the front door open and sprang up. Her parents had just gotten home. “Hi, how’d it go at the restaurant? I was kinda worried when you texted me not to come after school.” Anne said, smiling.

“The restaurant was pretty crowded today.” Mrs. Boonchuy answered. “Some people showed up asking about you. You want to explain what this had to do with you?” Mr. Boonchuy asked.

“Oh, um, I made a video of me talking about the Thai Go yesterday and posted it online. Sasha and Marcy shared it on their accounts too, and it kind of spread from their. People probably saw it and recognized me or my name or something. But that was the point, they’d come to the restaurant.” Anne replied, the smile on her face refusing to fade.

“Anne, why did you do that? You knew it would bring more attention to you.” Her Dad asked.

“Because this is kind of my fault.” Her voice started out in the same happy tone as before, but it faded into an emotional mess.
“If I would’ve just not taken the easy way out for once and stood up to Sasha for once then we never would have gone to Amphibia. Even in Amphibia, if I would’ve just woken up and stopped being so naïve and seen Andrias for who he was then the invasion never would have happened. If I would’ve just been ok with saying goodbye to the Plantars and bringing Sasha and Marcy home, and leaving Amphibia to deal with Andrias after Christmas this wouldn’t have happened.” Anne took a sharp breath in, tears in her eyes beginning to roll down her cheeks.
“But I just couldn’t let go, and I couldn’t see how stupid I was, and All my dumb mistakes shouldn’t be effecting everyone else but they are! Because of my mistake Marcy and Sasha got hurt and they still are and it’s my fault. And now my stupid mistakes were gonna cost you guys the restaurant and I couldn’t let it ruin anyone else’s lives, because that’s all I can seem to do.” Anne sniffed.

“Anne, you haven’t ruined anyones life. Sasha and Marcy are ok, and they would tell you if something was wrong. None of this is your fault. Everyone is just happy to have you all back and safe. Does that sound like anyones life is ruined?” Mrs. Boonchuy answered.

Anne wiped the tears from her eye “What about the Plantars? I got their home destroyed and then left with no way to come back?” She continued. “Anne, think about it. Does it sound like the Plantars to resent you for everything you did? You four are like family.” Mr. Boonchuy replied. “No.” Anne answered, smiling through the tears.
“I think they would laugh and Hop Pop would tell me that’s what family does, mess up each others lives but make them better at the same time. And then Sprig would say that I was his best friend and I’d smile and say you to dude. Then Polly would act like we were ignoring her and we’d all laugh.” Anne smiled, slightly laughing, the tears from her eyes slowing.
She tightly embraced her parents.

Anne liked the idea of talking to the Plantars. She hoped they knew she was always thinking about them. They were in her heart, forever and always. She wished they knew that.

Chapter Text

*Insert Amphibia Theme*

It was only a few days after the invasion. Wartwood was still a wreck along with every other city and town in Amphibia.

The people of Wartwood were still living in the Plantar family tunnels, the former rebellion base.

It would be that way for a while, until the town was rebuilt. It was actually kind of luck that the Chick-a-lisk had attacked before the towns people began to rebuild.

“Ok everyone we need to figure out how to rebuild the town!” Sprig shouted over the crowd. The townspeople of Wartwood were still staying in their underground hide away. The town had to be rebuilt still, and that’s what they were trying to accomplish.
Worth Anne and Sasha absent, Sprig and Grime had taken over for now. That seemed best, as Sprig was closest to Anne and Grime was closest to Sasha.

“We have Marcy’s calculation for how much weight the swamp can hold so it doesn’t sink like the last time when Marcy and Mayor Toadstool tried to improve it. That being said, anyone have any ideas?” Sprig shouted over the crowd.

A roar of answers came over the crowd as the citizens of Wartwood shouted back. “Ok, anyone who has an idea, line up behind Polly.” A am Grime shouted. “Why me?!” Polly shouted angrily. “It had to be someone, at least heir organized now. Your welcome.” Grime answered.

It was a long day of listening to countless peoples suggestions for the town.

Some of them were actually good ideas, but there were so many that they conflicted with eachother. Another problem was that everything could only weigh so much before the town would start to sink into the swamp.

The drama over how the town would be rebuilt and the layout and anything else the townsfolk had found a way to disagree about.

Then there were also the people that were trying to prevent the disagreements. That didn’t go very well either because they would end up getting sucked in.

It was funny how after everything that they’d all just been through how this was such a problem.
This was supposed to be rebuilding Amphibia together, so why couldn’t they just do it together? Why was rebuilding everything together proving to be such a challenge?

The Plantars and Grime had retreated back into the former war room, the room Anne and Sasha had used to plan missions.

Ivy range in, immediately addressing Sprig. “It’s a mess out there,” she began. “Oh really, we had no idea.” Polly responded sarcastically.

“Anne would be able to figure this out. What would Anne do?” Sprig said. “I don’t know Sprig.” Hop Pop began.

“Maybe we just need to stop trying to think like Anne and just think like ourselves.” Ivy replied.
“Yeah!” Polly yelled back.

“Ok, um…” Sprig began. It was silent for a few moments as everyone thought. “Well, everyone was happy with the town before, so, why don’t we just build it the same way as before.” Sprig finished.

“I would’ve gone with my idea of making the town more of a mid evil war theme, but that works to.” Polly shrugged.

***

Rebuilding the town took about a month, which seemed rather quick. With everyone in town helping out, it just went quicker.

It had been about a month since Sasha, Anne, and Marcy had left. Amphibia had began its recovery.

One month after everything and Wartwood was already almost completely recovered.

“Gotta admit, it’s nice to have our house back and not be living underground with the entire town.” Polly exclaimed, taking a seat on the couch.

“Right!” Sprig laughed bouncing onto the couch next to her. Hop Pop was seated in the other side of Sprig.

There was a moment of silence between the three, but it was interrupted. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

“I got it!” Sprig exclaimed jumping up. He pulled opened the door to find that no one was standing there. Instead, a few pieces of paper were sitting on the dirt ground.

Sprig scooped them up, shutting the door, and returned to his seat on the couch. “Someone left these at the door and ran away.” He said.

Polly snatched one of the notes from her brother. “To the Plantars, we found this note addressed to you when the town was moving out of the tunnels. Signed, Mrs. Croaker and Wally and Toadie.” Polly read aloud.

Sprig glanced down at the envelope in his hands. That was the other piece of paper. The back of the envelope had clearly written on it, To the Plantars from Anne.

“It’s from Anne.” Sprig muttered quietly. “What are you waitin for boy, read it.” Hop Pop replied.

Sprig carefully unfolded the envelope, and slid the letter out, reading it aloud. It sounded like Anne.

“Dear Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop,
Thanks… for everything. When I got stuck here, I never imagined I’d end up with an amazing family like you.
I’m proud to call myself a Plantar, even if it’s not by blood. We have a bond thicker than blood.
I’ve been trying to figure out how things are going to work after all of this ends. Every time I think about it I end up pushing it away, because the truth is, I don’t know.
I don’t know what comes next for us. I keep telling myself that whatever it is, we’ll face it together.
We’ll always face it together, even if we’re apart.
I mean, no matter what goes down in this battle tomorrow, we can never really loose each other.
As long as I’m me, as long as I know myself, I’ll always know you.
I started writing this as a goodbye, in case something goes wrong, or in case something goes right. It doesn’t feel much like a goodbye, more like a hi, to what’s ahead.
Because I may be scared out of my mind over all of this, but I know it’ll be ok as long as I have my family by my side. As long as I have you.”

Pt. 2

Things were finally getting back to normal in Wartwood. Well, as normal as they could be with Andrias living on the outskirts of town and repairs still being made to the town.

It had been a few weeks since the invasion, and every second since was a countdown. A painful and unstopping stopwatch of how long the calamity trio had been gone.

Andrias had shown up about a week after, and kept to himself mostly. The reasoning for that was mostly because of the townspeople. The people of Wartwood were not ready to openly accept Andrias living nearby. Why should they be?

Andrias completely betrayed all of Amphibia. He had put up the façade of a wise and deserving ruler to hide his true tyrannical self. While in the end Andrias had switched sides, no one seemed to really trust, nor did they want him anywhere near town. But here they were, living in the new Wartwood which apparently Andrias was a slight part of.

A month could never make that much progress. Andrias had quickly become subject to town gossip. Gossip that Andrias had yet to hear much of.

The Plantars and Grime had told the townsfolk about what had happened in Earth, in La.

Hop Pop was trying to encourage people to be more positive, since Andrias was technically a Plantar family friend. Hop Pop had roped Sprig and Polly into it as well. Neither Polly nor Sprig were trusting of Andrias. He had tried to kill them both multiple times. It wasn’t that Hop Pop trusted Andrias either, no one really did.
It seemed as though Andrias sort understood that. He came into town minimally, which was exactly what roused more suspicion.

“What do you think Andrias is up to?” Polly inquired, sitting across from Sprig at the kitchen table. “I don’t know. He hasn’t been in town for at least a week and a half.” Sprig replied. “That seems awfully suspicious don’t you think.” Polly remarked. Sprig nodded and began to respond but Hop Pop interrupted.

“Now kids, Andrias hasn’t done anything to warrant this much suspicion since he got here. Besides, I don’t want you two meddlin in things you shouldn’t be. We’re still winding down from our last adventure.” Hop Pop stated. Polly glanced from side to side. “Sure.” She responded quietly, her usual self.

“Now, I’m gonna go finish fixin up the study and you two are going to finish your pillbug pancakes and?” Hop Pop asked, not as a question. “Not go snooping about Andrias.” Sprig responded in a slightly sarcastic, upset, and melancholy tone.
“Right.” Hop Pop replied.
“Right,” Polly continued.
“Right.” Sprig said.
“Right.” Hop Pop stated, more firmly.
“Right.” Sprig repeated, only sounding more suspicious.
“Righhhhttttttt.” Polly finished, somehow sounding more suspicious.
“Ok, then you two better not disobey me.” Hop Pop responded, slowly backing out of the room as suspenseful as possible, eyes squinted and all. Sprig and Polly watched, expressionless and most definitely not amused, as Hop Pop tried to be suspenseful and intimidating.

Sprig and Polly sat in silence for a moment. “We’re totally going to go snooping about Andrias, aren’t we?” Sprig said quickly. “Oh, Yes. Definitely.” Polly answered.

***

Sprig and Polly were running to town, having just snuck out of their house. “Sprig, you did this kind of stuff with Anne all the time, what do we do first?” Polly asked. “We go into town and talk to anyone who last saw Andrias. Good Cop Bad Cop style. I’m Bad cop, you’re Good cop.” Sprig explained.

“What?! No fair! I wanna be Bad cop!” Polly exclaimed. “Sorry Polly but you’ve never been Bad cop before and I have.” Sprig replied. “I’d be super good at it!” Polly protested. “And that was when you and Anne did it. Now it’s just you and me.” She continued.

Sprig suddenly came to a halt. Polly stopped next to him. “You’re right Polly.” Sprig stated flatly. “Things are different….” Sprig started to trail off, his voice shifting slightly more melancholy. “So, Maybe we need a different plan.” Sprig smiled, tone quickly shifting back to a happy confidence.

“What are you saying?” Polly asked excitedly. “This town has already seen good cop bad cop, but are they ready for…” Sprig paused for suspense. “Bad cop and Worse cop?!” He exclaimed.
“Heck no! They won’t know what hit them!” Polly exclaimed loudly and bouncing with excitement.

Sprig and Polly ran into town, and proceeded to interrogate anyone they could about Andrias. At this point there was one place left.

Their quest had brought them deep into the forest surrounding Wartwood. On their way to find Andrias.

“It’s kinda creepy out here, now that at least half of everything is destroyed.” Polly exclaimed as they carefully navigated the forest.

“This must be it.” Sprig said, pointing forward. They were coming up on some type of shack, shielded by the dark shade of the trees.
It was rather large compared to any averagely sized Wartwood building it was large. But, compared to the size of Andrias’s former castle it was tiny.

“Is Andrias even here?” Polly questioned, as it looked abandoned. Anyone who happened to stumble across would assume that it had been damaged during Darcy’s reign. That may have been true, but it was indeed abandoned.
“I don’t think anyone is here. This is definitely where Andrias was hiding out though.” Sprig replied.

“Andrias has been trying to rebuild himself.” Polly stated glancing around.
“What?” Sprig asked, more out of concern. “This place has scrap metal and tools scattered everywhere. Andrias had been trying to repair the damage Anne caused when she punched with her calamity powers.” Polly continued.
“And by the looks of it he’s failing horribly.” She added, glancing around.

Sprig cautiously walked up to the door, twisting the knob slowly. The knob loudly screeched, but the door refused to open. “It’s locked.” Sprig exclaimed.

“Go away.” A voice inside echoed quietly outside. Sprig and Polly exchanged glances. “Andrias, I can help.” Polly began. She stopped talking listening for a response but there wasn’t one.

“I learned a lot about robotics back on Earth. I could help.” Polly continued. “Polly what are you doing?” Sprig questioned in a concerned whisper.
“Trust me.” Polly said quickly and sharply.

“I have conditions though. If you want my help, then you need to apologize to publicly apologize to the town.” Polly continued. Still no response came from inside.
“Ok then. If you change your mind you know where to find me.” She shouted back.
Polly turned to Sprig. “Let’s go.” She stated.

The two of them walked off, back through the forest, back to the farm. “Polly you really think that was a good idea?” Sprig asked.

“Yeah. It’s like… a test. If Andrias can get over himself already and apologize, then we know he’s actually changed.” Polly explained.

“And Hop Pop will never have to know.” Sprig smiled.
“Right.” Polly laughed.
“Right.” Sprig added.

Chapter Text

“Good morning Saint James Middle School. This is another reminder that pencils should be used for writing. Not for throwing into the ceiling, not for constructing things out of, and not for meticulously placing to make teachers slip.
This weeks lunch special will be Grilled Cheese Pretzel Roll.
Outdoor sports teams will be having an informational meeting after school this Wednesday regarding when they’ll resume.
And finally, the annual Valentines dance will be held this Friday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Tickets will be $5 a piece at lunches this week. Thank you.” Principle Murphy’s voice rang over the intercom.

Anne quickly scribbled down a note to herself in her notebook. It read “one week back at school - meeting with Principle Murphy : today after school.
Tennis meeting! Talk to coach! – Wednesday after school.
Valentines dance - Friday?”

*Insert Amphibia Theme song*

Sasha, Anne, and Marcy all sat at their usual lunch table, as secluded as possible in the corner of the cafeteria.

Marcy was multitasking by eating her lunch while working on a algebra worksheet. Sasha was on her phone while picking at the salad she’d bought from school. Anne was eating her lunch of food from the Thai Go, as usual.

Sasha sat her phone firmly down onto the table. “So,” she began. Anne and Marcy both turned towards her. “Are we going to this Valentines dance on Friday?” Sasha asked.

All three of them exchanged glances, as if silently having a conversation that no one else could understand.

“Ok. Would we have gone to this dance before Amphibia?” Sasha asked, more trying to prove a point than ask a question. “Well, yeah.” Anne answered.
“Then what’s stopping us from going now? We’ve been trying to prove to everyone that we’re still normal teens. We’ve been trying to prove that to ourselves, so should we go?” Sasha continued.

“I think Sasha has a point.” Marcy responded. Anne smiled. “Ok. Then I guess we have to go.” She laughed.

“We don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Marcy immediately replied. “I do want to.” Anne answered. “Are you sure? I don’t want to push you into anything.” Sasha continued, having shifted tones.
“No, Seriously. You’re not pushing me into anything.” Anne continued. Sasha nodded, still seemingly unsure.

“Look, Sash, I get that you’re worried about falling back into old habits or whatever, but you’ve been really good about it ok. Besides, you’re not the old you and I’m not the old me. If you get a little to pushy, I’ll let you know.” Anne replied.
“Thanks Anne.” Sasha smiled.
“So it’s decided then. The calamity trio is going to the Valentines dance!” Marcy exclaimed with a smile.

***

Marcy carefully applied a subtle but sparkly lip stick as she gazed into the mirror set against her bedroom desk.

She took a breath and sat the lipstick down on the desk. Marcy stood up, glancing back at her dress in the mirror.

She spun around letting the dress twirl with her. Her dress was about knee length and off shoulder. It was sequined from top to bottom, the sequins faded downward from magenta to black.
Her earrings were small dangle stars. As for makeup, she hadn’t done much. She had light magenta eyeshadow with a touch of black mascara.

Marcy took another breath, gazing at herself in the mirror, and then finally turned to walk out the door and into the hallway.

She ran down the stairs, her short heels clicking loudly against the flooring.
“There she is.” Mrs. Wu exclaimed as Marcy reached the bottom of the stairs. “You ready to go?” Her father asked.

“Yeah,” Marcy answered kind of quietly. Her mother grabbed her purse as her and the car keys.

They approached the front door, Marcy being first to walk out. Just before they reached the car, her mother stopped her.
“Marcy,” she began, sitting her hand on Marcy’s bare shoulder.

Marcy turned her towards her mom. “I can see your… scar.” Mrs. Wu whispered. Marcy actually smiled.
“I know. No matter what I wear people are going to see it. Sasha’s scar is showing to, so it’s not a big deal. Besides, it is kind of cool. Like, no one else has one. And, people can keep wondering how it happened. Anyway, Sasha has this weird thing about embracing it, so,” Marcy replied.

“You look very pretty.” Mrs. Wu responded with a smile. “Thanks.” Marcy laughed, then getting into the car.

She quickly buckled her seatbelt. “Real quick before you drop me off at Anne’s house.” Marcy began. She had her mothers attention at the moment.
“I haven’t told Anne and Sasha.” Marcy paused, struggling to say the next part. “I haven’t told them we’re moving yet,” Marcy took a breath. “and I don’t want to ruin their night. Please, just don’t say anything. They need to find out from me.” Marcy finished.

“Of course.” Her mother replied.

***

Anne was just done getting ready. She was actually excited for tonight.

Anne was wearing a wild-berry pink dress high-low dress. It was sleeveless, but connected around the neck instead. It had a boysenberry purple stripe around the bottom of the dress and the neck.
Her shoes were short heals, a similar color to Wild-berry pink. There was a heart bead on the center of the the strap.
Then, her small silver flower stud earrings remained in her pierced ears, as she couldn’t take them out for five more weeks.

Anne turned to snatch her phone off the foot of her bed.
She turned back towards the door, but something caught her eye.

A pile of things was sitting in the corner of her room. It was composed of multiple familiar things – the Plantars former disguises, her chest plate, old beat up school uniform, yellow converse shoe, and anything else that had actually made it back from Amphibia. Then, resting on top of it all was her blue flower crown.

Her entire mood changed at the sight.
She stopped and stared down at it for a moment, letting out a sigh.
Her eyes began to water, tears slowly starting to drip down her cheeks.
Anne took a shaky breath in.

“Anne, Marcy’s here.” Mrs. Boonchuy yelled up the stairs.

Anne rushed over to her dresser, scrambling to grab makeup wipes. She quickly rubbed the runny mascara off her face, getting rid of the dark marks her tears had left under her eyes. She threw the make wipes back down onto her dresser and glanced back up at her, now makeup less, face in the mirror.

“Get yourself together Boonchuy.” She whispered to herself.

Anne snatched her phone up and ran down the stairs. She ran strait over to Marcy, without slowing down, and threw her arms around her tightly.

“Annabanana, what’s this for?” Marcy asked, happily hugging Anne back.
Marcy seemed happy on the outside, and she was. But her mind was still ever thinking. Thoughts echoing through her mind.

“I just wanted a hug.” Anne answered, her voice starting to recover from the breakdown she’d had in her room.
“Oh.” Marcy replied, sighing in relief. She hugged tighter. Anne hadn’t found out about Marcy moving yet, which was what Marcy had been afraid of. Anne was clearly upset by something, Marcy easily Ickes that up.

Anne let go after another few seconds. Marcy smiled back at her.
The doorbell rang and Anne seemed to immediately forget whatever was bothering her.

Mr. Boonchuy answered the door, revealing Sasha and her mother standing just outside. “Sasha!” Anne exclaimed loudly, running over to the doorway.

Sasha was wearing a short maroon dress, with tank length straps. The back was mesh, leading into the sides, with a tear drop shape cut out. The dress was an elegant square neck, lower cut.
Sasha’s blonde hair was neatly tied into a braid that sat along her left shoulder and draped half way down her upper arm.
Sasha’s earrings were dangle chains with a dark red heart charm on the end.
Her shoes were a warm tan color and at least two inches tall. They had dark red accents around her ankles and up her lower leg.

“Thanks for offering to give her a ride,” Mrs. Waybright smiled. “Oh, no problem. It’s our pleasure.” Mr. Boonchuy replied. Mrs. Waybright smiled, then turned towards Sasha.

“Your dads gonna pick you up tonight, alright.” She said. “Yeah.” Sasha answered. “Ok, bye. Have fun.” Mrs. Waybright replied. She gave Sasha a quick hug and kissed her on the four head. “I’ll see you next week. Love you, bye.” She finished as she walked off to her car. “Bye.” Sasha responded rather flatly.

Before Sasha had time to look back, Anne immediately pulled Sasha inside, giving her a tight hug. “Um… ok…” Sasha said suspiciously with a laugh, lightly hugging back, mostly out of confusion. Anne pulled out much quicker than she had with Marcy.

Sasha glanced over at Marcy, silently asking what that was about. Marcy got the message and shrugged in response.

Anne however had bounced back pretty quickly. From what, Marcy nor Sasha knew.

“Ok. Tonight’s supposed to be a normal fun night, right? So, I was thinking, maybe we should try to not talk about Amphibia. I know we don’t just purposely talk about Amphibia all the time, but it kind of comes up a lot, and you know. Maybe if we try to avoid it then we’ll have more fun and things will just be normal.” Anne said quickly.

Marcy and Sasha exchanged glances. “Yeah, that shouldn’t be too hard.” Marcy replied, emphasis on the too.
“Ok. If that’s what you want, then I wont say a thing.” Sasha answered.

***

The three girls stood just through the the entrance. It was a typical middle school party. The decorations were simple, and obviously rushed to be put up after school had gotten out. Most of the decorations were poorly hung streamers, but there were some occasional balloons hung up.

It was a middle school dance, they couldn’t say they expected much more from their school. After last years dance confetti was banned due to the amount of students who decided it was fun to shove as much confetti as possible into their mouths and spit it out at people.

Even though it was only 7:15pm and the dance had only started 15 minutes earlier, it was already pretty loud.
There was a DJ in the gym, and pizza and soda in the commons/cafeteria area. The rest of the school was closed off.

15 minutes in and there were already rowdy students running around screaming.

Anne, Sasha, and Marcy stood just in the entrance of the commons for a moment.

A few people coming in walked around them, heads turning no to look back.

“So, we’re here. What do we do now?” Marcy asked quietly. “Anything we would’ve done before.” Sasha answered quietly.

They continued to stand there another second, blankly starring out at the party.

“Ok, Um,” Anne began “I guess I’m gonna go request as many BlackPink songs as possible.” She finished, still talking quietly. “I’m going to go get a soda. I’ll meet you in the gym later, Anne.” Marcy answered.

Marcy slowly stepped away, as did Anne but not in the same direction. That left Sasha standing there. She watched them both walk away for a moment.

Before Amphibia Sasha would have been using this as another chance to socialize, which it was. Pre-Amphibia Sasha was super popular and used it to her advantage.
This was different. She was different.

Sasha pointlessly walked around for a while, but didn’t really want to talk to anyone.
“So this is what it feels like to be an introvert.” She mumbled.

“Hey, cool scar.” A voice came from behind her. Sasha whirled around, her braided hair landing on her other shoulder. Cheyenne and Vince were standing behind her.

They had been having some kind of conversation before Sasha had walked by. “Um, thanks.” Sasha responded. “I’m gonna pretend I know which one your talking about.” Sasha laughed.

The group exchanged glances. “That was a bad joke. Sorry.” She added.
“Oh.” Vince laughed. “So, how did you get the scars?” Cheyenne asked as casually as possible.

“I kind of promised I wouldn’t talk about it tonight.” Sasha replied in an awkward but jokingly way. There was an awkward silence for a moment.

“So, um, sorry I haven’t talked to you guys in a while. With the whole being gone for six months thing and then coming back to school was kind of crazy with all the rumors going around and months of makeup work. anyway.” Sasha continued.

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” Cheyenne answered. “It’s cool.” Vince added.
Suddenly a loud commotion arose from the other side of the gym. Their heads turned toward it in curiosity. “I gotta go.” Sasha exclaimed, quickly walking towards it before they could respond.

***

Anne had just finished scribbling down the name of more BlackPink songs, and a few other artists, that she could think of at the moment onto the slip of paper that the DJ was using to take requests. It had been a while since she’d requested a few songs the first time. They’d gotten lost in the shuffle with everything else written down on the paper. The list of requests was already pretty full, but not so much considering several that had been made were non-school appropriate songs.
That was another thing about having a piece of paper for requests. People tended to use it not how intended, as they seemed to do with anything else around school.

Anne proceeded to look around the gym, something catching her eye. It was Maggie with a rather large group of students huddled in a semi-circle around her.
She had some streamers in her hand that had already been torn down.

“Look I’m Anne Boonchuy.” Maggie said mockingly and in a rude voice, also rather loud. She threw some streamers out, clearly trying to impersonate Anne’s calamity powers, which had been seen by practically everyone, on the news or in person during the invasion.

Maggie had continued, but Anne was to frustrated to hear it or let it sink in. Anne proceeded to walk over, immediately being noticed by the group. Maggie was still facing the other way. “What are you looking at?” She questioned, noticing that their attention was no longer focused on her. One of the students slightly pointed behind her.

Maggie turned around to see Anne standing right behind her. Annes arms were crossed, and an angry smile was across her face.

“Oh, Anne.” Maggie said, trying to act like nothing had happened. “Yeah. Anne.” Anne answered in a frustrated tone. “Hey Margot, Leave her alone.” Sasha had quickly ran over, standing next to Anne, hands on hips and looking as intimidating as she could.

“Thanks Sash, but I got this.” Anne said without losing the angry tone in her voice. “Maggie, why are you so obsessed with me?” Anne asked firmly, still keeping her tone. “what?” Maggie continued.

“You know exactly what I mean.” Anne responded. “I…” Maggie began but Anne continued. “And you actually had the guts to apologize to me, but of course you didn’t mean it. I think I kind of believed you did. And maybe that’s just because I’m the kind of person who believes in second chances, who tries to look for the best in people. But I’m done looking for the best in you and I’m done letting you treat me like this. That’s not ok. I shouldn’t be tolerating this kind of treatment, and I never should have been before. I’m done with this. Leave me alone Maggie. And you can leave Sasha and Marcy out of this. Your problems with me not them.” Anne stopped as if she was done talking but then continued. “Oh, and since you probably only apologized hoping to see my calamity powers, just know, I couldn’t use them again if I wanted to. So there. Maybe that’ll give you enough motivation to stop bothering me.” Anne finished.

Maggie stood there staring a moment as did the group of student who had been listening. That was one of the last things someone would have expected from Anne. No one had any idea what the three of them had been through, how they’d changed. Anne and Sasha and Marcy were still the same people to everyone, but obviously not.

“Come on Sash, lets go” Anne said quietly, beginning to walk off. Sasha turned toward Maggie, shooting a quick glare at her, catching up with Anne. “Ahh Anne! That was awesome! You literally left her speechless!” Sasha exclaimed. ‘“Thanks.” Anne answered sounding kind of melancholy. Marcy quickly ran over, meeting them in the commons. “I saw the whole thing, are you ok Anne?” She asked. “yeah, I’m fine.” Anne responded, still in a quiet voice.

Sasha and Marcy exchanged concerned glances. They proceeded outside, and sat down on the curb. Anne was still quiet. “Anne, are you ok? You’ve seemed kind of off, all night.” Marcy asked, breaking the silence. “I’m fine. Its complicated. I just feel like I’m supposed to keep both worlds separate, you know? And its just impossible.” Anne took a breath. “When the Plantars and I were here, it was just so different. No one knew about any of this and we were in hiding. Going out of our way to make sure that people didn’t see the giant robot that tried to attack me. Everything was this big secret that no one could know.” Anne took another breath in, struggling with her words.

Sasha grabbed Anne’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. “now… It’s like everyone knows, but at the same time they don’t. That’s why I wanted to not talk about Amphibia for a night, because maybe… just maybe it would make all the voices in my head stop thinking about it, stop tormenting me over it… And we could just have a normal fun night, the three of us, together, one world.” Anne finished, taking in another breath.

“Anne, its gonna be ok. It might just take a while for everyone to cool down. Sure, what Maggie did was uncalled for, but we have to remember that what happened, what we went through is unthinkable to sooo many people.” Marcy replied. Anne leaned her head on Marcys shoulder.
“Anne, Amphibia is always going to be apart of us, No matter what. And yeah, people here know the tip of the iceberg, but everything else, is ours. The people we met, the memories we made, they don’t have to know.” Sasha continued, giving Annes hand another enduring squeeze.

“I think that’s part of what I’m so afraid of. Loosing that. I lost the Plantars once already and all I have left of them are my memories and a pile of random junk I managed to bring back with me. I don’t want to loose anymore of them. Because thinking about them just reminds me that I lost them in the first place, and it’s like loosing them all over again.” Anne whimpered.

“Anne, your never going to really loose them.” Marcy replied. “Anne, the Plantars are apart of who you are, right? You even call yourself Anne Boonchuy / Plantar sometimes. Does that sound like someone who could possibly loose her memories of them.” Sasha asked.
“No.” Anne answered smiling through the sad tone in her voice and the emotions overwhelming her mind.

“But what if they forget me? What if they all move on without me?” Anne continued. “Anne, the Plantars are NEVER going to forget you. You are such an impossible person to forget. You know that right?” Marcy laughed, leaning her head against Annes. Anne laughed “Thanks Mar-mar.” Anne smiled.

“And Anne, its good if they move on. We don’t want everyone back in Amphibia to stuck in a destroyed world. And, personally, I don’t want Grime to to have to deal with the mess I made of everything. Ultimately, I want the best for everyone there. And them moving on from all this is what’s best for them.They can rebuild everything together, and they’re not moving on without us. Just like how were not moving on without them. Were apart of each other.” Sasha explained.

Anne squeezed Sashas hand. “Thank you.” She whispered. “So, we made it what? An hour and a half without talking about Amphibia.” Anne laughed. “I think that’s ok.” Sasha answered. Anne, Sahsa, and Marcy sat there on the curb. Sasha’s hand grasping Annes. Anne’s head leaning against Marcys shoulder, and Marcy’s head against Anne’s.

***

The night passed quickly, All three girls had gotten home safely. Anne had gone strait upstairs to her bedroom. She quickly changed into pajamas. She was practically exhausted from their long night. But, she had one more thing to do before she could go to sleep.

Anne pulled an empty cardboard box out of her closet. She knelt down on the floor next to the pile of Amphibia stuff. Anne carefully placed every object inside the box, one by one.

She stopped when she got to a particular object – her flower crown. Anne cautiously picked it up and slowly walked over to her dresser. She placed it down carefully down onto the white wood desk top. She stood and stared at it for a moment.

Anne then crawled into bed, falling asleep with a smile on her face, looking at the precious blue flowers that sat peacefully on the dresser. Things finally felt like they just might be ok.

Chapter Text

*Insert Amphibia Theme*

Sasha was quickly digging through her closet, trying to find something. She clearly couldn’t find what she was looking for.

Sasha jumped up, making her way to the door. She pulled it opened and pooped her head out the doorway. “Dad, do you know if my magenta swim suit cover up is here, or at Moms?” She yelled.

Her father walked into the hallway from the kitchen. “If you can’t find it, I’m going to guess it’s not here.” He replied. “K, thanks.” Sasha answered, shutting the door and going back over to her closet.

She grabbed her black swimsuit coverup, and slid it in over her shoulders.
Sasha was wearing a hot pink bikini with a bright green flower platters across it. The bottoms tied at the side. Her black swimsuit coverup was shirt-dress style.
She had turquoise flip flops on as well.

The doorbell rang. It was muffled through Sasha’s closed door and the hallway.
Sasha rushed to tie the belt on her swimsuit coverup then emerged into the hall.
Her dad had already answered the door, as she could hear voices talking.

She took a right turn into the hallway, across into the living room / kitchen area, and went strait to the door.

Anne was standing just outside the door. Anne was standing just outside the door, holding her bike with her left hand. “Mr. Waybright, would it be alright if I left my bike outside?” Anne asked. “Yeah, that’s fine.” He answered.

“Anne!” Sasha exclaimed. “Hey Sasha.” Anne replied. “Did you bike over here?” Sasha asked, a large smile across her face.
“Yeah.” Anne answered. “Wearing slides?” Sasha questioned, glancing down at Anne’s shoes. “Yeah.” Anne laughed.

Anne was wearing an oversized dark ginger orange hoodie with the words Los Angeles California printed across it in white lettering.
She was wearing her two piece swimsuit under it, however, it was covered almost completely by her sweatshirt.

Sasha laughed. “So are you ready to have an awesome beach day?!” Sasha questioned excitedly. “You know it!” Anne exclaimed excitedly.

***

Marcy was ready to go. She was sitting on the couch waiting for a noise to come from the door.
Sasha and her dad were coming to pick her up before they go to the beach.

Her mom was seated on the other end of the couch, going through papers on the coffee table. Her dad wasn’t home.

Marcy had resorted to playing games her phone while she impatiently waited.

Marcy was wearing a teal swimsuit with a bold navy stripe across it. She was wearing longer black shorts over it. She had dark navy blue water shoes, slid over her feet.

“You should tell them today.” Her mom said, pulling Marcy out of her game. Marcy looked over at her mom, hesitating to respond.
“I can’t.” Marcy answered quietly.

“Marcy, I know this is hard, but the longer you drag it out the harder it’s going to be to tell them.” Mrs. Wu replied.

“There’s never an ok time. It’s like, what am I supposed to say? Hey, not to ruin our beach day or anything, but you know the reason I got us all sent to Amphibia in the first place? Yeah, still happening. I sent us to Amphibia for no reason, even though technically it was prophesied hundreds of years ago that we would be there. Oh and, we only have until the end of the school year together, and I’m about to fall apart after I promised I was ready to face everything. After I let you keep saying we were never going to loose each other. After I pretended nothing was wrong, for the past two weeks!” Marcy exclaimed loudly and quickly, taking multiple deep breaths after.

“Marcy, I know this is hard for you. And I can’t imagine what you’ve been through with them. But wouldn’t it be better to tell them sooner than later.” Mrs. Wu answered.

“That’s the thing. I can’t. I can’t tell them. because telling them makes it real, and I don’t want it to be real.” Marcy whimpered.
“I know Marcy. But not telling them isn’t going to make it disappear. If you never tell them won’t that be harder for all of you?” Her mother asked.

Marcy didn’t have time to respond yet. She hesitated with words, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.
She glanced down at her phone. A text from Sasha was displayed in the Lock Screen. It simply held the word “here” followed by many emojis 🏝🐚😁.

“Sasha’s here. I gotta go.” Marcy said, standing up and snatching her bag off the coffee table. “Ok, have a good day! Call if you need anything. Have fun!” Mrs. Wu exclaimed as Marcy walked over to the door. “Bye!” Marcy smiled, taking a breath and once again replacing her façade.

She opened the door, and slipped out to find Sasha waiting outside. “Hey Girlfriend!” Sasha exclaimed, immediately placing her arm around Marcy’s shoulder.

“Hey Sash.” Marcy smiled. Her smile wasn’t fake. Anytime she was with Sasha and Anne it was hard not to smile. Her act, that everything was normal and fine, was very fake.

Sasha and Marcy walked over to Mr. Waybrights car, which was waiting at the end of the driveway.
Sasha opened the back right door of the car, for Marcy to get in. Sasha hopped into the passenger seat, as there wasn’t enough room in the back for all three of them.

Anne was sitting on the left, in back behind the drivers seat. “Marbles!” Anne exclaimed loudly the second Marcy had gotten in and shut the door. “Hi Annabanana!” Marcy laughed.

“Thanks again for the last minute ride Mr. Waybright. My dad had to run into work for a while today, and took the car. Then my Moms working on stuff at home, and she didn’t want me to walk or bike or take a bus by myself.” Marcy said, buckling her seatbelt.

“No problem.” Sasha’s father answered, the car starting to drive forward. “So where am I dropping you three off?” He asked. Sasha smiled and glanced back at Anne and Marcy.
“Just drop us at the first Santa Monica beach entrance.” Sasha answered.

“We’re gonna hang at the beach and maybe walk up to the pier later.” Anne continued, smiling as well.
Anne wasn’t the kind of person who found it conversations like this awkward. She was fine with talking to her friends parents. They actually rather liked her because if that.
It was strange to compare the girls now to them before, impossible to.

Marcy smiled at Anne and continued. “I packed us sandwiches.” She said.
“Yeah, because Sasha rudely told me I wasn’t aloud to bring lunch us this time.” Anne playfully rolled her eyes.

“Not true!” Sasha exclaimed, turning back to face Anne. “It wasn’t rude! All I did was ask Marcy to bring lunch today. And I asked through the group chat!” Sasha argued. “Mhm” Anne replied, still sarcastically and playfully.
“Anne, you know I love your family and the restaurant…” Sasha began. “Relax Sash, I’m just messing with you.” Anne replied.

“K.” Sasha answered quietly and almost sort of timidly, turning towards the front. The car ride wasn’t to long, and seemed like it went rather quickly.
They’d arrived at the beach by now.

“Sash,” Anne began practically the second the car door was shut. They started walking down to the beach. Sasha looked back at her, but didn’t answer. “Sash, come on.” Anne continued, but Sasha still didn’t respond. “You know I was joking.” Anne said, pausing to try to read Sasha’s face. Her tone having shifted. “Sash, you know I was joking, right?” Anne asked.

“Yeah, I know.” Sasha responded, still not sounding like herself. “I just, I really was a horrible person. I pushed you around and forced you to do things you didn’t want to, all because I needed to feel like I had control in my life. I was manipulative, and completely ignored your needs. It was always about me, because that’s how I wanted it.
And I’ve been waiting for you to tell me I’ve gone to far, that I’m being toxic again, because I know sooner or later it’s going to happen. And, I don’t want to loose either of you to the person I used to be.
So when I heard you say that in the car, I just thought that… it was happening.” Sasha explained.

“I’m so sorry Sash, I wasn’t really thinking.” Anne began. “Maybe I’m just getting passed everything. Sasha, part of me is always going to see you the same way as before. You’ve come so far from then though. And I see that to.” Anne continued. “Im sorry.” She added.

“And Sash, you weren’t the only one who contributed to our unhealthy friendship. I got distracted, easily, and let my interests control me. I didn’t pay attention to the real world, and I was obsessed with projecting all my interests onto both of you.” Marcy replied, in an attempt to make Sasha feel a bit better.

“I wasn’t innocent either, I hardly thought for myself anytime I was with you. I thought I had to ‘protect’ Marcy, but when it came down to it, I wasn’t really helping. And, Sasha, I LET you push me around. You weren’t the problem before, we all were.” Anne added.

Sasha glanced down at the ground and back up, looking at Marcy and then Anne. “I know. And Anne, you have no reason to be sorry. I’m just,” Sasha paused. “I’m trying to be a better person and all the time I’m worried about falling back into that, because I don’t want to hurt either of you anymore than I already have.” Sasha continued and took a breath.

“And I keep thinking about how it’s my fault. It’s my fault Anne had to deal with all this stuff on Earth while trying to get the Plantars home, it’s my fault Marcy almost died, And it’s my fault that we can never go back to Amphibia ever again. All because I was only thinking of myself, and had this secret plan to take over Amphibia” Sasha finished, taking in another breath.

“Sasha. Stop. If anything, it’s my fault ok.” Marcy began. “I’m the one who got us sent there in the first place because I was afraid to tell you…” Marcy trailed off, but Anne was busy trying to make Sasha feel better. They had reached the beach by now.

“Sasha, we could sit here and keep blaming people, I’m the one who opened the box, but trust me that’s not a good road to go down. Its all of our faults ok, but think about it. Things were going to happen that way anyway. It was literally prophesied like a thousand years ago. So stop blaming yourself ok?” Anne replied.

“Yeah,” Sasha smiled, that actually had made her feel a lot better. Anne smiled and grabbed Sasha’s hand. Sasha laughed. “And you are never going to loose us. The Three of us, friends forever, together. Remember?” Anne smiled. Marcy took a shaky breath in.

“I’m moving!” She blurted out quickly and loudly. Anne and Sasha both turned towards her. Marcy felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She had no time to stop them. The second the word moving had come out of her mouth.

“W-what?” Anne asked taking a sharp breath in. “I’m moving.” Marcy whimpered, the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

Anne and Sasha exchanged quick concerned glances. Anne immediately embraced Marcy tightly, her head digging into Marcy’s shoulder. Sasha immediately went in for hug, her left arm was wound around Marcy’s neck, and her forehead nuzzled against Marcy’s shoulder. Marcy wrapped her arms around Anne and Sasha tightly, more tears rapidly falling from her eyes.

Marcy embraced them tightly. Sasha could feel a sharp stinging over the scar on her back where Marcy’s hand was, but she didn’t care right now.

The three of them sat down in the sand, silently. Anne was twisting her hand around the sand in front of her, looking down as it slid through her fingers. Sasha was a few feet away, but still next to Anne. She was combing her fingers through her hair. Marcy sat in between them, but back a few feet. She was staring out at the ocean, the loud sound of crashing waves filling the air

“You said out of state. Back in Amphibia, you said you were moving out of state. Where?” Anne asked. Her voice sounded almost as heartbroken as Marcy’s had upon first telling them. “I don’t know for sure, I haven’t talked about it with my parents very much. At least a two hour flight away.” Marcy answered, extremely melancholy.

“When?” Sasha asked quietly. Marcy looked towards Sasha. “Um, June.” Marcy answered quietly. “There’s not a set date yet, but my parents say it’s going to be early June.” She explained, still quietly.

“I meant when did you find out.” Sasha corrected. Marcy didn’t answer, she just looked at the sand beneath her finger tips.
“When Marcy? When?!” Sasha questioned. Her voice sounded like there were tears behind it, like she was holding them back.

“About a week and half after we got back.” Marcy mumbled. Sasha’s hands tightened into fists around the sand next to her. “Marcy, you’ve known for almost two weeks now and haven’t told us?!” Sasha asked slightly frustrated and maybe a little shocked.

Marcy silently nodded, feeling more tears building in her eyes. “You’re mad.” Marcy whimpered. “I’m not mad, I just hate that you had to deal with this alone for the past two weeks. This is what we’re here for.” Sasha replied.

“I just, really didn’t want to tell you that after everything I was still moving. When we first came back, and my parents drove me home it was just normal, the same house I’d lived in for like ever. So I guess, I had hope that nothing was changing. After how much our lives had changed in the past six months, it felt like maybe something would be the same. And if I had hope I didn’t want to destroy yours. And every time I hear you guys say we won’t loose each other or were together forever, it just reminds me that every second we have together is a countdown.” Marcy explained.

“Mar-mar, I’m not loosing you. We’ll call, we’ll text, and we’ll visit each other. I don’t care how far away we are. I’m not loosing you, and you are NOT loosing me.” Anne finally spoke up. Marcy smiled at that, through her teary eyes.

“So, are we gonna make the best of the time we have left here in Los Angeles, together? Or be depressed and waste all the time we have left together?” Sasha asked, with a smile, her voice sounding happier.

Marcy smiled and quickly hopped up. “Come on, stand up!” Marcy said happily, and almost excitedly. Anne smiled, knowing exactly what Marcy was thinking. She stood up and smiled excitedly toward Marcy. Anne and Marcy both exchanged excited glances.

“Um, What is happening?” She asked. “Come on Sash, let me see that power pose!” Marcy exclaimed. Sasha stood up, glancing at Anne, who had her hands on her hips and her head held high. Then glancing toward Marcy, who was holding her hand up as if her crossbow was secured around it.
Sasha more just stood there, mostly out of confusion.

“I’m Marcy Wu!” Marcy exclaimed loudly. “And I’m Anne Boonchuy!” Anne yelled. “Plantar” she added quickly. There was a silence for a moment. Both Anne and Marcy looked toward Sasha. “Um, And I’m Sasha Waybright!” Sasha said loudly, trying to match Anne and Marcy’s excitement but still in confusion of what was going on.
Marcy grabbed Anne and Sasha’s hands “And together, we’re gonna have new adventures like nothing changed!” Marcy exclaimed.

Anne laughed. “What just happened?” Sasha asked laughing. Anne laughed at that, causing Marcy to as well, not giving Sasha an answer. Sasha didn’t really expect one. This was Marcy being fun lovable Marcy.

While Anne and Marcy were busy laughing, Sasha noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Something was shining down by the shore, as though it had just washed up. She stared at it for a moment. This, Marcy and Anne noticed.

“What is it Sash?”Anne asked, looking over at Sasha. “I don’t know.” Sasha replied, starting to walk forward. Anne immediately followed as did Marcy.

The reached the shallow spot where the sand was wet, waves slowly coming up to their feet. Sasha stood flatly looking at the object for a moment. It was as though Sasha had frozen in place. “Sasha?” Anne began. “Sasha what’s wrong?” She asked.

Marcy bent down and picked it up, holding it in her hands. It was a chunk of metal, with a few wires sticking out the jagged ends. Marcy held it close to her face, carefully examining it.

“That was from…” Sasha trailed off. “That was a piece of the wire the connected the core to Marcy.” Sasha said quietly, her mind clearly elsewhere. Marcy looked over to Sasha, almost in disbelief.

“How do you know?” Anne questioned. “It’s the same as the cord that Darcy first caught us in, back in Newtopia.” Sasha started, her voice a little shaky. “You can see where my sword cut it.” Sasha stated quietly. Blankly staring at it. She continued “I… I could barely walk, but I forced myself up and swung. I sliced the cord off. It’s smooth on one side from where my sword hit it, and the other side is jagged from when the core separated the helmet from the wire.” Sasha muttered. Her blank stare and quiet voice were rather concerning.

Marcy sprung forward and wrapped her arms around Sasha, this time carefully avoiding the scar on her back, the metal piece still in her hand. “It must have fallen from the castle before we could get back to Amphibia.” Anne thought aloud.

“I’m sorry for everything I did as Darcy.” Marcy whispered, now letting go of Sasha. “Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t you.” Sasha responded, the same tone as before.

***

Sasha was fast asleep after a long day. She was snuggled into bed, seemingly peacefully asleep. Sasha was in her bedroom at her Dads house, her bedroom door shut and her closet doors shut, but the blinds were opened.

That was new. She found it comforting to see the city lights shining in the darkness as she fell asleep. It wasn’t that way before Amphibia.

The piece of metal they’d found earlier sat across from her bed on her vanity. Sasha had brought it back with her, refusing to leave it out in the open. Anne had offered to take it, since Sasha had clearly been bothered by it, but Sasha insisted.

So there it was, sitting in her bedroom, on her vanity. Seemingly harmless.

A little spark came out of one of the severed wires, releasing a small zap sound. But the sound was to quiet to notice.
To quiet to make a difference, yet it made all the difference.

Chapter Text

*Insert Amphibia Theme*

“Ok ok ok,” Sasha said loudly trying to shush Anne and Marcy’s laughter. “Shhhhhhhh!” Sasha placed her finger over her mouth.

The girls were having a sleepover at Marcy’s house. It was just barely still sunset. The city lights taking over the sky and the sun receding.

“Ok, What do you call a sad frog?” Sasha questioned. “What?!” Anne asked, bursting with excited energy. “UnHoppy!” Sasha yelled, bursting out in laughter. Anne laughed rather hard and tried to stop. “I…” she began, chuckling in between words. “I… have a good one…” she said, laughing loudly again at the end.

“What kind of shoe do Amphibians wear?” Anne asked, still laughing in anticipation of giving the answer. “Open-Toad” she burst out laughing once again. “That’s so bad” Sasha chuckled. “That’s why it’s good.” Marcy laughed.

This had been going on for the past ten minutes at least. The three of them had been sitting there laughing for a while.

“Marcy…” a voice deep voice echoed from around her. She looked back, but no one was there. Anne and Sasha didn’t seem to notice. They just kept laughing, almost in a fake way.

Marcy had stopped laughing now. Her eyes glanced across her bedroom, searching for this voice.

“I have a better one!” Sasha exclaimed, still smiling. Anne and Sasha clearly hadn’t heard the voice, nor had they noticed Marcy.

Ringing slowly started to take over her ears.
“What did the frog order from McDonald’s?” Sasha questioned. “Oh I know!” Anne yelled. Talking began to become unclear as timing in attempted to overthrow Marcy’s hearing. “Diet Croak, wait no…” Anne began. The walls felt like they were closing in on them, as the lights seemed to feel like they were dimming out.
“French Flies!” Anne answered. It was almost impossible for Marcy to hear. “Hoppy Meal!” Sasha replied, laughing again. “That one’s even worse!” Anne exclaimed laughing as well.

The room felt like it was dimming. Darkness was slowly filling the area. The sound fading out, until it seemed like it was just Anne and Sasha left around her. They too faded away, and there was nothing left but her sitting in the blackness that filled everything. The laughter that felt like it was on an auto loop, seemed to fade.

Marcy stood up quickly, spinning in a quick circle around her. The noise around her silenced itself quickly in the darkness leaving nothing.

“Anne!? Sash?!” She yelled, panicked.

“Marcy” the voice said once again going into a quiet echo. It remained, lingering in the air. She took a few nervous steps around, once again searching for the deep gravely voice. Nothing but blackness as far as could be seen.

Her breathing rapidly increased, as she hopelessly looked through the darkness for the voice.

She wandered through the darkness. Seemingly pointlessly walking forward through infinite darkness. There was some kind of noise that echoed across the room. It sounded like footsteps, footsteps that echoed along stone flooring.

She gasped, almost as if she had just emerged from the waters surface. In fact, she was. She was coughing up ominous green liquid. Her eyes just opening. “Sashy? Anne?” She questioned, feeling dizzy and hazed, darkness finally coming into focus.

She was in the basement of the castle, back in Newtopia, Olivia and Yunan looming over her.

She took a sharp breath in, nothing felt right.

Marcy blinked, hard, zipping her eyes shut. She took a breath in and slowly opened her eyes again.

When she opened them, she was tied down to some kind of chair, still in the basement of the castle.

Marcy knew how this went. She vividly remembered how this went. Only some of it was fuzzy, this part however, was extremely familiar.

She looked up at the helmet falling over her head, groaning trying to get free.

Her throat sore, as she screamed loudly, no longer seeing anything but darkness once more.

Everything was still.

For one moment.

It was still.

Then suddenly, it was like every noise reversed itself in her mind, the screams loudly ringing through her head, eyes snapping opened again.

Marcy was standing in the center of the basement. A gasp came from beside her. Mary’s head jolted toward the noise. Olivia and Yunan were standing to her side.

“The time has finally come for the core to lead us to our destiny,” a familiar voice came from behind her, Andrias’s voice. She quickly turned, facing him. Though it seemed as though no one could see her.
Not Olivia, not Yunan, nor Andrias.

She looked down at herself. It was like she was ghost. Invisible to the eye, but still there.

“But what destiny you ask? Well, I suppose I should just let it speak for itself.” Andrias said walking across, revealing…

Her. That was her sitting in that chair. Her body at least. Marcy stared. Her eyes locked in position.

She watched as the core took control of her body, snapping into place. It’s eyes opened, like they were all fixed in her.

Marcy only stared in horror. It was like the core was looking directing at her. Like no one could see her, no one but the core.

The core, Darcy, Darcy’s voice echoed in a haunting way. “Why, hello there.” Darcy said, giving a small smile.

Marcy felt herself jolt upward, taking a sharp breath in, eyes snapping opened. Her dark bedroom wall was all she saw in front of her. She was sitting up in her bed, she could feel her fingers clutching the sheets.

Marcy turned her head to see Anne and Sasha sleeping on the floor of her room.

Marcy calmly took a breath in looking forward again. She laid back down, pulling the blanket over her again. She wrapped her arms around her pillow.

The only sound left in the room was her breathing, and Anne’s soft snore. “It was just a dream.” Marcy whispered quietly, to herself. Repeating it a few times. “It was just a dream.”

Pt. 2

The girls were walking down the stairs, into the Wu’s kitchen. Anne was riding on Sasha’s back, her arms holding onto Sasha’s shoulders. Sasha was tightly holding onto Anne’s legs, her arms wrapped around them. Marcy followed behind.

“So, did you solve the mystery of if the three of you could handle having a sleepover on a school night?” Mrs. Wu asked from the kitchen.

“I think we did. I got a full 8 hours for sure.” Anne replied. “Yeah, I got at least 7 so. I think I slept better than I normally would lol” Sasha answered. The three of them walked into the kitchen. “I slept fine.” Marcy added.

“As many sleepovers as we can possibly fit in before June is the goal.” Sasha laughed, carefully placing Anne down now that they were in the kitchen. “Well, hopefully you three will make it through school without feeling the consequences of having a Sunday night sleepover.” Mrs. Wu replied.

“We didn’t stay up that late!” Marcy exclaimed. “Yeah, we’ve all survived with A LOT less sleep.” Anne began. “I should know, I totally burnt myself out and didn’t sleep for multiple nights in a row over getting back to Amphibia the first time.” Anne laughed.

Sasha turned toward Anne. “I didn’t know that.” She said in concern. “Cuz I didn’t tell you. It didn’t end well, but I survived so…” Anne answered. “We were like sleep deprived because of missions and stuff all the time.” Sasha laughed. “Ha! Yes!” Anne exclaimed.

This was a situation where Marcy didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t relate because she was busy being trapped inside her own mind as Darcy.

“I made you girls toast for breakfast.” Mrs. Wu said, ending the first conversation, to Marcy’s relief. “Thanks Mom.” Marcy said snatching a plate from the counter, and sitting down in her usual seat. “Sasha!” Anne exclaimed.

Sasha playfully rolled her eyes and picked up Anne, then same way as before, once again carefully placing her next to a chair. Anne sat down, as Sasha ran up to the counter grabbed both the other plates. She raced back and sat one plate in front of Anne. Sasha then sat down and placed her own plate in front of her.

“May I ask why Sasha is giving Anne piggy back rides?” Mrs. Wu questioned. Anne laughed, “Tennis tryouts!” She exclaimed loudly.
“Anne lost her spot on the tennis team and now the coach is making her tryout again. I’m preventing her from hurting herself or LOOSING A SHOE, before she gets a chance to prove she should still be on the team.” Sasha answered.

“I am not gonna loose a shoe!” Anne exclaimed. “But yeah, any precautions necessary. There is no way I’m getting hurt before this afternoon.” Anne laughed. “I don’t trust that.” Sasha responded. She then turned back towards Mrs. Wu, “So, basically I’m carrying her around until we get to school.” Sasha finished.

“And how are you three feeling about your meeting with Principle Murphy today?” Mrs. Wu asked. Marcy looked up, glancing toward Sasha. Sasha glanced toward Anne, Marcy’s eyes followed.

Anne just smiled, then replied “It’s gonna be fine. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about.”
***
“I spoke to soon.” Anne muttered, the three girls sitting in principal Murphy’s office. It was the very beginning of the day, first class period. School had just started.

“What do you mean we’re gonna have to be held back?! We had three weeks to learn an entire semesters material!” Sasha exclaimed, her teeth practically gritted.

“Breath Sash,” Anne said quietly, placing her hand on Sasha’s hand under the desk.
“Principal Murphy, I think we’re just a little confused and all.” Marcy began. “I know this comes as a bit of a shock, but at this rate, you’d still be at least a quarter behind, if not more, by the end of the school year.” Principle Murphy explained.

“So what!? We’re expected to just repeat 7th grade because we’re victim to a situation we had little to no control over?! It’s not like we planned to be involved in this! We got sucked into it! We didn’t ask for any of this!” Sasha responded, clearly upset.
Anne gave Sasha’s hand a light squeeze, just as Sasha had done for her when she was upset.

“I’m moving after this school year ends. And, if I get held back, it may look like one thing here, where people know, but anywhere else, being held back is going to look like something entirely different.” Marcy said. She hated saying that she was moving. “I don’t want to start off at a new school in a new state with a bunch of kids that are younger than me, looking like someone who wasn’t smart enough to pass 7th grade, when really I am smart and circumstances were just stacked against me.” Marcy finished taking a breath, her voice sounding rather melancholy.

“I’m sure whatever school you end up at would be understanding of the situation.” Principal Murphy answered.
“No offense, but I politely disagree.” Sasha began, having slightly calmed down. “We read the articles. We know the things they’re saying about us. Do you really think that if people here in LA still don’t understand it, people halfway across the country will?” She questioned.

“Alright,” Principal Murphy responded. “How about this, do you think you’d be able to take last semester mid terms by this Friday?” Principal Murphy asked. Anne and Sasha both looked at Marcy. Marcy didn’t understand why. “Um, yeah. We can do that.” She replied.

“Ok, if you can do that, then you’d have about two or three weeks to learn the rest of the material you missed on top of current material. You’d be taking first semester finals two weeks before current semester mid-terms. That would mean you’d be learning both on top of each other, and taking mid terms and finals all within 5-6 weeks. It would require complete focus on school and a lot of hard work.” Principal Murphy responded.

“I can do that.” Marcy exclaimed, almost immediately after Principal Murphy had finished talking.
It took Sasha a moment to respond. “Um yeah, yeah that works.” She answered.

This just left Anne. Anne stared blankly for a moment. All eyes were on her, but Anne not looking back at any of them.
“That works,” she muttered quietly, just barely at an audible volume.

“Ok, then I’ll notify all your teachers that you’ll be exempt from class on Friday to take last semesters mid terms. When you three get to school on Friday morning, come straight to the office. As for now, you can go ahead to class.” Principle Murphy answered.

“Thank you.” Marcy exclaimed again as they walked out. The second they were out in the hallway Anne took a deep breath in. “AnnaBanana, what’s going on?” Marcy asked, as they began walking down the now empty halls. “Nothing. It’s stupid.” Anne answered.

“Anne, we know you well enough to know when something’s wrong. What’s going on?” Sasha questioned.
“I can’t go to tennis try outs after school.” Anne said quietly, as the three of them very slowly walked in the direction of their classes.
“What?” Sasha asked.

“She said complete focus. And me playing tennis isn’t complete focus on school. There’s no way I could pull off tennis practice and passing mid terms, and finals. And I know it sounds stupid but for second I was actually considering tennis over not being held back. And, it’s because I’ve always had Tennis to fall back on. Even in Amphibia when I didn’t have you guys, I had tennis. It was the one thing that sort of stayed the same. And it’s like, I don’t even have that anymore.” Anne continued.

“Anne, Tennis is just a sport, and I know you love it, and completely understand wanting something to stay the same, but one thing I learned from Amphibia was that change happens and I’m still learning to deal with it. But I can say it’s gonna be ok.” Sasha replied.

“Besides, I know one thing that’s never going to change. You said it yourself Anne, even after I move away, we’ll call and we’ll text all the time. Nothing between us is changing.” Marcy added.

Anne silently nodded. They came to a stamp as the hallway parted. “This is where I go the other direction to class. You gonna be ok Anne?” Sasha asked. “Yeah.” Anne ever so slightly smiled. “Ok, I’ll see you at lunch.” Sasha said, her head turned back as she walked away. Her arm reached out towards them, until she turned around to look where she was going.

“You promise?” Anne asked quietly as her and Marcy went down the hall. “Hmm?” Marcy questioned, looking at Anne.
“You promise we’ll still talk all the time?” Repeated.

“I’m not gonna promise because last time I promised something like that look where we ended up. But you get the gesture, right?” Marcy laughed, still in sort of a sappy way.
“Yeah.” Anne smiled, as they were now stopped in front of her classroom. Anne gave Marcy a quick hug before she walked into her class.
***
Anne took a breath and walked outside to the tennis court. She checked the time on her phone. It was about 3:25. The current tennis team had already started practice, as school had ended about ten minutes ago. Anne walked up, trying to seem like she had confidence.

“Boonchuy, was wondering when you were going to show up.” The coach said noticing her walk up. “About that, I um, can’t try out.” Anne began.
“And why is that?” The coach, who doubled as the gym teacher, asked.

“I’ve had to sort out my priorities a bit, and unfortunately school just had to come first. I’ll be in the stands at every game I can be, because this is still my team and I wanna support them. But, I’ll catch you next year.” Anne explained.
“I’m sorry to hear that. See you next year.” Coach responded.

“In eighth grade.” Anne whispered to herself, walking away. She was doing the right thing. At least that’s what she hoped she was doing.

Chapter Text

*insert Amphibia theme*

“We did it!” Sasha screamed, throwing her arms up in the air the second her, Anne, and Marcy stepped out of school.
Marcy laughed.
Sasha threw her arms around Anne and Marcy’s shoulders as they walked out. “We are free! Mid terms are over!” She exclaimed. “You wanna get ice cream? I kinda want ice cream.” Sasha asked excitedly.

“Where is all this random energy coming from?” Anne smiled. “Anne, I have been cooped up in a room taking long testes all day. I have so much energy!” Sasha replied, still loudly and excitedly.

“Ice cream sounds good.” Marcy said, getting back in topic and the three walked down the sidewalk. Sasha’s arms were still draped over Anne and Marcy’s shoulders.

“Yes! Marcy’s on board! AnnaBanana?” Sasha inquired.

“Ok, since when can you have ice cream Marcy?” Anne questioned. “I thought you were on a low sulfur diet.” She added.

“Since when do you know that I’ve cream is higher in sulfur levels?” Marcy responded with a question. “I was worried about you. Plus I know how to use Google.”Anne replied.
“Fine. Fine. It’s ok though cuz it’s just this once. And I’ve been really good about it. Besides, you can’t die of Sulfhemoglobinemia, not unless you have some other severe medical condition or are on certain medications – which I’m not so… I’ve cream?” Marcy continued.

“If you say so,” Anne replied. “Is that a yes or no?” Sasha asked. “Sure.” Anne responded. “Stop being frustrating! That’s still not an answer!” Sasha exclaimed.

Anne laughed. “Yeah, let me just text my mom not to pick us up.” She added. “Yes!” Sasha yelled loudly, full of excitement.

***

“Ok, was I the only one who thought those were actually really hard?” Anne questioned. The three girls were sitting in Anne’s bedroom, having gotten back from their ice cream less than a quarter of an hour ago.

Anne was draped over the edge of her bed, her head almost coming off the side and her feet up against the wall.
Sasha was laying on the rug in Anne’s bedroom floor.
Then Marcy was spinning around in the desk chair.

“It was kinda difficult I guess, but it wasn’t to bad since I actually studied for it.” Sasha answered. “I’ve happily maintained my B average even after we missed all that school.” She added.

“I thought it was pretty easy, but that’s just me.” Marcy responded. “Great. I’m lucky if my grades don’t fall further. I already barely had a C average before Amphibia. Uhhhh, why’d I have to not care so much before Amphibia.” Anne groaned.

“Anne, you’ve changed, and that’s what matters. I’m sure it’ll work out.” Marcy began. “And, I hate to say this, but middle school grades honestly don’t matter that much. As long as you pass the classes, high school grades are the grades that matter.” Marcy added.

“Then why is it so important that we catch up on all this school?” Anne questioned. “I don’t know, because we have to.” Sasha answered. “Because, if we didn’t make up the work and learn the material, our grades wouldn’t be high enough to pass.” Marcy replied.

Anne sat there in silence for a moment. All three of them did.

“You know, Sometimes I don’t feel like myself anymore.” Anne said quietly. Marcy stopped spinning and was facing Anne. Sasha sat up and looked toward Anne.

“Don’t look at me like that.” She began. “You can understand right? I mean, I died. Or, I guess I did. It’s all kinda fuzzy. But sometimes I just don’t feel like me anymore. That’s not crazy is it? I’m not crazy.
Every time I think about it I just can’t help but think, maybe I’m not me. Then, I don’t even know what that means. Because obviously I’m me, I look the same, I act the same, I think the same, so how could I not be myself. And, its all to much for me to start to understand, how I’m even still here let alone how I’m still me, if I even am.
I know. I know I’m probably making absolutely no sense, but that’s how it feels in my head – like nothing makes sense about it.” Anne stopped, taking a breath and looking back at Sasha and Marcy.

Sasha and Marcy were practically expressionless, just staring back, trying to comprehend all the words that had just come out of Anne’s mouth.

“Sorry. Just forget it.” Anne said, not originally intending to dump all of that on them.

“No, Anne. Its ok. Don’t just forget it.” Marcy began.
“Were all feeling… weird, different. We went through a traumatic experience and no one else has experienced the same thing. Its tough you know.
I… I kinda struggle with the same thing. Its not like we had even close to the same experience, but I kinda get it. I get what it feels like to doubt if your yourself. I get what its like not to feel like you. I actually, um, think about it a lot.
And, I totally get the ‘its fuzzy’ thing because it is. A lot of times I feel like pieces of the core, Darcy, are still in my head.
And I’m scared. That maybe, I am Darcy. Part of me any way.” Marcy responded.

Anne hopped up, stepping over Sasha to give Marcy a tight hug. That stopped Marcy from spinning around in circles in Anne’s desk chair.
Marcy slid out of the chair and sat down in the ground. Anne did the same, giving Marcy another hug as they were now both sitting down next to each other.

“Marcy, I’m sorry if this is a weird question, and you don’t have to answer, but um, do you remember anything you did as Darcy?” Sasha asked quietly, having sat up to face Anne and Marcy.

Anne’s arms were still wrapped around Marcy’s shoulders. “No its ok, I, uh, don’t really remember any of it. I remember what was going on in my head, sort of. But it got really nonsensical, nothing made much sense, fantasy kind of stuff and all.” Marcy answered.

“So, no recollection of anything besides that?” Sasha questioned. “Sasha!” Anne exclaimed, almost as though she was shocked Sasha was even asking. “Anne, it’s fine.” Marcy said, looking over at Anne. She directed her attention back to Sasha. “Nope. Nothing” Marcy replied.

“Mhm.” Sasha responded. “Ok, Anne, your turn.” She said inching closer toward Anne. “What?” Anne asked, not expecting Sasha to change the subject so quickly.
“What happened when you…” Sasha paused, searching for the right words “died?” Sasha asked.

“Ummm, like I said, it’s fuzzy. I woke up in this, on this, island. I guess that’s what it was, I don’t really know honestly. It looked kinda like that poster that used to be hanging up over there.” Anne pointed toward the now empty space on her wall, where the poster used to be.

“Um, and there was this, well it was an old computer, then it was Domino, they um, said something about creating the calamity gems and how I was the only person who had ever tried to use the calamity powers for good. Then they pretty much asked me to take their place and watch over the entire universe or something. Obviously I said no and then they said they’d made a copy of me and could send me back here, and told me to consider their offer in 78 hears or something.” Anne explained.

She received another moment of blank stares from Marcy and Sasha.

“What.” Sasha stated flatly, less of a question. “Yup. So that’s the trauma I’ve dealing with.” Anne responded.

“Anne, you could have told us!” Marcy exclaimed. “Well, yeah but I didn’t wanna make you have to deal with it to. Its my problem, not yours.” Anne replied.
“Anne, we went through all of together. Your problem is my problem. Same goes to you Marcy.” Sasha responded.

Marcy didn’t answer, she just stared at the floor a minute.

“How um, what, what was” Anne stumbled over her words. “What was it like when I… died.” She asked quietly.

Marcy and Sasha exchanged glances. “Oh, ummm,” Sasha began, but trialed off. “It’s ok guys, I wanna know.” Anne responded.

“Ok.” Marcy took a breath. “It just looked like, you were gone. You turned unto dust and blew away. There was this horrible moment of silence between everyone, like all of Wartwood and the whole army was in shock. I think a lot of them cried, the Plantars were sobbing, and then, you walked back over.” Marcy answered quietly.

Anne had been so focused on Marcy speaking, that she hadn’t looked over at Sasha. Marcy had been focusing on telling Anne, that she hadn’t looked over at Sasha. But now, Anne finally turned to Sasha.

Sasha’s head was pointed toward the ground, staring at the bedroom floor. Tears slowly drizzling down her face, rolling off her cheeks and falling to the ground.

“Sasha!” Anne quickly threw her arms around Sasha. “Sash, what wrong?” Marcy asked, sounding kind of worried.

Sasha hugged Anne back, staying silent for a moment.
Anne released Sasha, waiting for her to say something. But when Sasha spoke, it wasn’t what Anne was expecting to hear.

“Sorry,” Sasha sniffed, trying to wipe her eye with her wrist. “What? What do you have to be sorry for?” Anne asked, in sympathy and confusion.
“You guys both have this actual emotional trauma stuff going on and I’m making a big deal out of nothing. I’m sorry.” Sasha said, tears still steadily rolling down her cheeks.

“Sash, your not making a big deal out of anything. Now, what wrong?” Marcy replied.

Sasha’s voice sounded as though she was holding in tears. She stroked her hair as she spoke. “Its just, I had just gotten you both back. And then, it was like I’d lost Anne again. Now its like, I’m loosing Marcy to. And, I don’t want to loose both of you again. And I feel stupid, because I’ve been thinking about it almost ever since you told us you were moving. But I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to make you upset.” Sasha whimpered.
“And I wasn’t going to tell you but the tears kind of just came out when we were talking about Anne, and I’m sorry.” She finished, still trying to hold back tears.

“Hey, hey, hey. Its ok.” Anne responded, grabbing Sasha’s hand. Marcy took Sasha’s other hand. “Sash, as long as I don’t loose myself, you’re not loosing me.” Anne said, smiling at Sasha, still a lingering melancholy look across her face.

“I wish I could say I wasn’t afraid of us drifting apart after I move. And I wish I could say that we weren’t gonna loose each other. But, no matter many times we all say it, I just don’t know if any of us really believe it.” Marcy answered.

“I don’t think we need to believe it right now. I think maybe if we just keep saying it, eventually we will believe it. I think the more we say your moving, the closer we’ll be to accepting it. I think the more we try to trick our minds into thinking it’ll be alright, maybe it will be alright.” Anne responded.

“I’m moving in about three and half months.” Marcy stated quietly. “And were gonna get through it together” Anne added. Sasha smiled, her eyes still puffy and wet. “Yeah”

Pt. 2

A creepily familiar sound echoed through the dark air. Marcy knew it, only she didn’t. It sounded like her own voice, her voice laughing. Only, it wasn’t her laugh.

The cold sharp laugh lingered in the blackness surrounding every centimeter of space around her.

Colors slowly faded in, shapes slowly becoming more visible. She was standing in the in the throne room of the castle in Newtopia. Andrias was standing, looming over some kind of controlled. It was a mangled burnt piece of metal, you could barely even tell it looked like a controller.

Marcy bent down to examine the object, her curiosity taking control. The thoughts in her mind were there and then gone, moving quickly. Before she got a chance to see what she was really looking at, a voice tore her short attention away.

“That, was pathetic. And you call yourself a king.” Darcy smiled, twirling a purple dice around in their hand. Marcy knew that dice. It was hers. It had been hers. She remembered it well from the Creatures and Caverns pieces she happened to have in her bag upon being transported to Amphibia.

“It doesn’t matter.” Andrias refuted. He walked out onto the balcony. The balcony that Marcy knew as the one Sasha tried to throw the box over. The balcony that Grime threatened to kill Andrias whilst Sasha was threatening to throw the box over. The balcony where Anne declared she no longer wanted to be friends with Sasha.

“Against the full force of our army, none shall stand, not Anne, not Earth, not anyone!” Andrias explained.
Marcy took a sharp breath in, but it felt like nothing.
Her hands brushed against the ground, where she was now kneeling. She ran them across the burn marks on the floor from Andrias little tantrum earlier.

The course marks turned to ash in her fingers. The black substance spread across her finger tips. Marcy head snapped upward, as the air felt like it had changed.

She was kneeling on the dirt ground outside in a practically destroyed Amphibia. The green trees and plants wilting away, ashes drifting down across the clouded sky. The world around her feeling dirtier than it ever was.
The cores laughter echoed through t the air.

Marcy’s eyes snapped opened. She was looking across the floor of her dark bedroom. A few lights managed to twinkle through the closed blinds.

She sat up, flinging her legs around the side of her bed. Now sitting up, Marcy took a deep breath in and out.

She raked her hands up through her hair, but as her hands reached her forehead something felt strange.

Marcy slowly took her hands down and just looked at them. There was a dark black powder substance across her fingers. Marcy jolted upward, quickly walking to the bathroom closest to her bedroom, passing by her alarm clock reading 3:25am as she went.

Marcy shut the door as quickly and silently as possible, flicking on the light just after she did. In the light, she could clearly see the ash on her fingers that had rubbed off onto her forehead.

Marcy turned the faucet on and quickly rinsed the ash off her hands. She then grabbed a wash cloth, let the water drip onto it, and scrubbed the ash off her face. She threw the wash cloth down on the counter next to the sink, the ash leaving dark marks across the fabric.

Marcy flicked off the light, glancing back at herself in the mirror. She took a breath, before continuing.

Marcy curled up in bed and tightly hugged her pillow. She glanced toward her night stand at her phone silently sitting there.

Marcy almost picked up her phone, she almost texted Anne and Sasha. But she didn’t want to worry them. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. But something inside her told not to. Something deep inside her wouldn’t let her tell Anne and Sasha. Lack of sleep, that had to be lack of sleep. Right?

Chapter Text

It was a rather quiet day. Quiet. Peaceful. One of those days that just felt like nothing was going on.
In fact, that’s what it was. That’s how it had been for the past few weeks in Amphibia. Quiet. No monster of the week kind of thing. No crazy adventures. Wartwood was just normal, quiet, town, for now.

Things had slowly but surely gone back to normal, now that it had been almost two and half months since Anne had left.

Today in particular, the sun was hiding behind a clouded sky. Rain would be a nice relief. Unfortunately not for the Plantars.

Clouded sky’s meant rains, rains that would soon turn into thunderstorms. And Hop Pop was hellbent on protecting his new California avocado crops.

So this meant that the Plantars had been toiling away trying to cover and protect the crops before the storms blew in. Grime was helping out, due to the whole ‘adjusting to life with one arm’ thing. It was kind of funny how the Plantars had befriended Grime. To think, less than a year ago he was their enemy.

They’d finally finished, and were now chilling inside as the thunder rolled in. Its low rumble just barely audible in the distance.

Sprig had Anne’s old phone in his hands, staring at some of the photos shed taken of all of them.
“What do you think Anne’s doing right now?” He wondered allowed.

“I bet she’s board to death with out us.” Polly snickered. “Now Polly, that wasn’t very nice.” Hop Pop corrected. “Well, she made it kinda clear her life was boring before us.” Polly argued. “Polly, I didnt say you were wrong, I just said that wasn’t very nice.” Hop Pop corrected again.

Sprig rolled his eyes with a slight laugh. “But seriously though. What do you think Anne, and Marcy, and Sasha are doing back in Los Angeles?” Sprig questioned.
“You heard my guess, being board.” Polly laughed.
And she wasnt completely wrong.

***

Anne sat in her usual place on the couch, scrolling her phone. Her parents were getting ready to go open the restaurant.

As they were about to leave, “I thought Sasha and Marcy were supposed to be coming over.” Mr. Boonchuy said, having noticed Anne mindlessly playing with her phone.

“They’re not coming over.” Anne answered flatly, not looking up from her phone. “And why’s that?” Mrs. Boonchuy asked.
Anne say her phone down and looked up. “Sasha and Marcy and I don’t have to be together 24/7 all the time. We are our own individual people. Who know how to be apart from each other and still happy.” Anne replied.

Her parents looked at her for a moment, not buying a word Anne had just said. Anne sighed, “fine. Sasha and I are in a fight.” Anne responded, her tone having shifted.

Her parents sat down next to her. “Awe Anne, what happened?” Her mother asked. “O thought you guys had to go open the restaurant.” Anne said.
“The restaurant can wait, no ones gonna care if it opens a few minutes late.” Mr. Boonchuy answered.

Anne smiled. “Ok, so, we were at Marcy’s house, and I don’t even know how we got to talking about this, but we were talking about Amphibia stuff and somehow it spiraled into talking about toad tower. And then all of the sudden Sasha just blows up it, and then I’m yelling because I wasn’t gonna let her treat me like that. And Marcy’s just sitting there watching, trying to get us to stop fighting. It sucked.” Anne explained.

Anne took another breath. “Its like she acknowledges that what she did was wrong and says she feels bad about it and is sorry, but then she gets all mad about the fact that Wartwood blew it up. I thought we were past this, and then she got made and I got mad. And basically screamed back about how they were only standing up for themselves and me. It was a last resort. So Sasha grabbed her jacket and stormed out. Then Marcy looked at me with this awful expression on her face, it just made me sick. I could tell she was upset, but I couldn’t really do anything about it. And that’s what happened.” Anne finished.

There was quiet in the room for a moment. “Anne, when do you think things went wrong in Amphibia?” Her mother asked. “I… what?” Anne said, confused.
“When do you think things started to really go down hill in Amphibia?” Mrs. Boonchuy rephrased.

“Um, the first time we fought Andrias. When Sasha betrayed me again and I found out Marcy sent us here on purpose, Frobo was destroyed, and Andrias almost killed Sprig.” Anne answered.

“Maybe that point, for Sasha, is toad tower.” Her mother responded.

“Oh my frog.” Anne mumbled quietly, her face still almost shocked thinking it all through.

It made sense. The place she’d been living was destroyed. She lost her friendship with Anne. Almost died falling off the edge of the exploding tower. Was forced to live as an outlaw in hiding. And it sent her down another spiral of schemes and manipulation.

“I have to text her. Thanks.” Anne said, standing up and proceeding to her bedroom.

She sat down on her bed and typed a message to Sasha, which she then read aloud just before sending it.
“Hey, Sash. About yesterday, I’m sorry, I’m here if you feel like talking about it. Your bff, and I mean best friend forever literally, you are stuck with me. Love ya Sash, Annabanana.” Sent.

Anne took a breath, knowing Sasha likely wouldn’t respond right away.

She stopped and stared at her phone for a moment. Thoughts were whirling through her head. She slowly began to type. She typed her old phone number into the contacts, then slowly began to write her message.

“Hi. I know there’s no way you receive this, but if by some miracle you do, I miss you. I think about you guys all the time, I promise. While I’m living out life as normally as possible, I don’t think there will ever be a normal like I knew with you. Monster of the week and that junk.

Anyway, life’s been good. Good-ish. I’ve had to keep my distance from A LOT of places. This includes the restaurant, lately people have been showing up there looking for me (mostly reporters and newspaper writers, journalist, whatever you call them)

I mostly just go to school, but even then I duck away from people. You know, this one girl, Maggie, she’s always been trouble for me. Never really very nice to me, honestly a bit of a bully. So earlier, when I came back to school, she apologized to me. What. I was kinda sus of the whole situation at first. Then I caught her literally mocking me. As if I’d even believe her apology in the first place. But now, she came up to me in the bathroom at school, while I was washing my hands, and said she just thinks I’m cool and didn’t mean to make fun of me. Idk if I trust her. Then again, we all know I have trust issues after Amphibia. Maybe I should give her another chance? I mean, the saying is, 3 strikes your out, and 3rd times the charm. Idk.

In other news, I went to visit Dr. Jan at the museum the other day. She let me duck into her office to work on school work. It was kinda nice. Her office was quiet, and cool. I got to talk with Dr. Jan for a while. That was nice to. It was just casual, which was nice for a change. Besides, I think my parents were glad I was focused on school at the moment.

Speaking of being focused on school, I’m not in tennis anymore. I lost my spot on the team while I was in Amphibia, which makes sense because they couldn’t just save my spot forever. Things had to change. Time just kept moving on while I was in Amphibia, away from it all. I don’t think I REALLY realized that for a long time.
People have been telling me about when Sasha and Marcy and I were gone. I asked my parents what they had thought happened to us, they didn’t really want to talk about it at first. Basically everyone thought we were runaways. The police investigated it fir a while but had to drop it eventually.

Anyway, I was writing this to say I missed you, and I wish I could talk to you. Sasha and I are in a fight. The first one we’ve had since Amphibia. I hate it. Its over absolutely nothing important to. I just texted her to ask about it. Uhhh, we lasted like a month without fighting. It just kinda sucks ya know?

What else do I have to say, ummmm. Marcy’s moving. Yeah. At the end of the school year, early June.
Im gonna be honest. I don’t want her to. I’m afraid that when she’s gone everything will fall apart again. But at the same time, I know my Mar-mar.
I know she’ll text me all the time and call me all the time. And I know she’s taking this harder than I am.

The other day, we were all hanging out in my room, and all of us just completely broke down. That was the first time Sasha relatively talked about how she was doing since Amphibia.
I actually talked about… dying. I’d been holding all that in for a while. It honestly felt kinda good.

It felt kinda good to say how I don’t know how I’m still here. To finally confide in someone that I don’t understand my own existence. To finally tell someone that I’m afraid of not being me and I’m afraid of loosing myself. Not loosing myself, I’m afraid I already have lost myself.
I’m still me right?
Please, just tell me I’m still myself, tell me that I’m still me even after everything that happened.

I don’t know how all of this works, I dint know how I’m alive.
I don’t know if I’m a clone of myself or if I’m the same high spirited Anne, in a perfect copy of my body.

I don’t like thinking about it. I don’t like that I feel like I have to know, like I need to figure out how it all works.

All I know is however I am, whoever I am, I miss you.
I miss you all so much. I think about you all the time. Frog, I hope you don’t think about me all the time. I hope your moving on and the world is better for you. I hope every second your not busy with something that you don’t let you mind wander to me.
And if you ever do happen to think about me, I hope its only good thoughts, because that’s all I have of you. Memories and good thoughts.”

Yes, the message was long. And Yes, there’s no way it would send. But, this was just the tip of the iceberg of things Anne wanted to say to the Plantars.

She hit send. She knew it probably wouldn’t go through, there was no way. But something in her desperately wanted it to. So, she hit send.

***

Day turned to night and time went by. It was dark across Amphibia that night. The rain still going, but slightly coming to an ease. Amphibians across the land, falling asleep to the hazy sound of the storm.

Sprig was fast asleep, in his bedroom. Anne’s old phone sitting next to him, only on the floor.

It silent until a small ding echoed through the room, followed by a light that exploded across the room.

Sprig sleepily rubbed his eye and grabbed for Anne’s phone. The device the noise had come from. There on the phone a message was waiting.
The message was from a contact that was very familiar. Mar-mar.
Sprigs eyes widened, jaw dropping, gaze focused on it.

“S̷̨̘̰͇͔̞̬̔̀̈́̍̍̔̄̓͊̅̀͘͜͠ͅh̸̜̦̭̮̝͓̔̂̅͆̉͂̏͂̅̃̿ĕ̶̩͈͚̠̰̺̲̓̄͌̑̀̚͝’̴̻͖̮̈́̔̉̑͋͂̑̐͝s̴̬̼̤͕̬̙͉̫̤̳̼͎̬͓̪̟͍̄̽͊̽͋̓̀̈́̿̍̃̂ͅ ̸̧̹̲͚̲͔̜̗͎̘͍̞̰͔̪̾̉̅̆̉̑͜͝b̸̨͈̟͇̭̥͔͕̟̎͊̇̃̈́̒͊̂̈́̔̈́̾̆͆̀̽̇͝è̸̢̛̤̹̣̋̋̀̆͆̔̿͆̑̓͑́̃̃̅̕̚t̵̢̨̛̖͖͔͗͛̔͂͂̄̏͝͠t̵̡̧͖͚͇̞̮̅̉̑̓̌̕͜ē̴̹̤̝̯̮̮̤͍̭̯̪͔̺͊͌̀͒͜r̴̡̨̼̦͙͍̙̤̫̖͇̖̬̼͇͔̗̘̮͊ͅ ̸̡̢̮̼̳̦̱̩̳͎̈́̄̔̄̌̓͂̏́̎͌̚͘͝o̵͖͓̭̼͈̺̜̺̖̦͕̓͗̏͜f̷̥̱̺̰̼͉̖͓̬̼̼͈̙̠̻̺̌̓̀̓̔̇͐f̶̢̘̫͙͈̦͖̺̺̖͇̙̌̍̉̈́͆́̿́ͅ ̸̨̧̦̥̗̬͕̮̝̞̭̝͆̈́̄̽̒̆̈́̈́̓̓̓͋̔̽͘͠͠w̴̨̤̼̙̫̥͍͕̭̻͇͍̱̮͒̔͑ǐ̷͖̫̣̩̯̫̮̠̿̐̑͒͋͛̋͆̄̄͌͂͘͜ͅṫ̵̡̛̙̠͓͔͇͈̟̌̈́̀͂̌̆͗̓͑̓̄̕h̷͉̣̙̣͙̭̙̩̋̓̂̿͌́̒̊̆̀̎͒͛̾̍͠ǫ̵͚͇͓̬̲͖́̓͋̓́͌̉͒̈́͠ū̶̧̧̨͈̝̜̬͈͔͚̥̱̗͕̅͒̌̊̈́̚͝ͅt̶̟̥͔̣̀̊͜ ̵̧̢̤̪̠̬͔͔̟̯̞̯̭́̄́̀͐͛̄̑̎͗̋͋̆̑̇͘͠ỷ̵̠̮̘̖͋̊͋͌̍͐̈́̽̃̊̎͂̏͆͘̚ͅȏ̸̧̫̠͖̺̠̗̪̻̦͈̼̻̞̦̦͓̣̫͇̏̈̆͋̀̕͘u̵̢̢̡̯̟̥̪̖̰̩̩̗͉̣̤̲͎͍̰̭̿͒͑̋̀̋́̈́̈́̒̌̏͊̏͋̚”

***
Anne was laying down in her bed. It was late, but she wasn’t tired enough to be asleep. Not after the long day she’d had. Anne biked over to Sasha’s moms apartment, knowing that Sasha would be there, and talked things over with Sasha.

They were ok now. On better terms. Actually, it was like nothing happened.

As of now, Anne simply just couldn’t sleep. Her phone released a loud ding, which would prevent her from sleeping a while longer.

The message was from an unknown number, only it wasn’t.

Ÿ̶͚̣̗̭̣́͆͑͑̃͛͜͝o̸̗̤̣̖͋̋̌u̴͕̬̬͍̜͑͘’̶̡̲̫͚̂͘r̶̞̞̖͖̓̉̈́̕e̶̱̦̭̩̯̽̐͠ ̸̀̈͜a̵̧͖̓͗͂̕l̵̛̬̭͌̇̑̿̚l̴̛̜̱̮͍̗̓̽͜͠ͅ ̷̡̡̲̈͌́a̷͕̠̜͖͔̩͇̿́̈́͐͛̓̂ĺ̶̺͚̥̺̙̗͕̂̇͗̕o̸̙͔̟͇͊͊̂̄͑̚ņ̶͖͓̞̗͍͚̓͑̔e̸̲̽̅͋̓̇.̴̧̞͔͑̿̌̆̆͝ͅ ̵̬̰̪͓̼̈̌́E̷̘̓̒͋v̵̀̅̒ͅȩ̴͕͓̭̤͂͂r̸͚̈́͆ỷ̴͕̳͕̗̼͈̄t̶̝̰̲̜̊̏h̴̺̬̩͎͖͔̜̔̓̀̾ĭ̴͕̠̫̩̰̳̩̊̈́͗̐͂ǹ̵͍̻̗ḡ̶̤̮̮̣̬̱̏̽̓͝ ̸̢͚̙̑̈̾̄͂i̵̛̹̩͕̺͗̎͛͂̃ṡ̷̲͍̤̰̼̯̟̍́̀ ̶̻͖̫̥̤̯̻͑͋͐̄ç̷̫̞̫̋̀̏̌͌̀h̷͎̻̞̱̯͗̂̀̓ͅä̴̢̛͉̘̌̋̅̃n̷̜̲̪̋̕g̴͉̠̎̍̈́͋ĭ̷̫͔̪̹͉̖̇̅̕n̶̜̗̘̟̳͇̅̕g̶̭̻͓͆̈́͂̎̑͘,̷̳̟͎͑̊͂̊͗̀ ̴̨̢̤͕͉̟͍̆̓̽͝ȧ̷̰͈̙̩̱͑͋̀͝͝͝n̷̪͗d̶̖̝͘ ̷̫͚̈́̔̊̾Ẏ̷̧͍̯̘͖̈́̌͐̽͗̕ͅÖ̵͓̗̳́̀̃̆̇́̏͜U̴͓̔̓̓̅͘ ̷̧̡͈͂͋̿̑͘͝͝å̷̛̻̯͈͗̔̍r̸̛̩̂͊̑̄̓̌ę̶̢͙̬͔͕̏̕͜ ̵͓̯̺̥̅ͅǎ̵̢̳̘̐̐̀̌͊͋l̸͇̐o̸̡̝̦͇̰̙̲͑̽͌̅̕ņ̷̡͍̱͉̈̊̈́̐͘͝e̷̩͊̄.̷͓͉̠͇̾̇̊̏̾͠͝ ̶̧̬̗̫͎̈́̚Õ̵͇̗̜͊̿͂̄h̵͍̯̐͆̄́̒,̴̛̫͐̿̒͑̚ ̶̯͖̒̋̊̈́ä̷͖̻̺́͂͜͝͝͝n̷͇͔͆̅͠d̵̥̉̐̐̎̏͌̚ ̶̡̛͉̇̊͝ͅs̴̡͓̖̥̦͇̎͂̆̄͆̍á̶̡̢͕̼̳̦̔y̵̰̲̳͍͗͋ ̴͙͘͠h̸̢̖̗̺̜̣̺̏͌͊̋̿̐į̷̹͚͈͚͋̇͊̚̕ ̵̝͆͗t̷͎̞͌͛̈́o̸̩͖͑̐̆ ̵͓͔͉̲̎̓̑̄̕y̵̨͖̳̟͚̽͗̽͜ǫ̴̳̮̰̘̺̏̃͑̀͛ŭ̵͍̜̦̮̪̦͛̾͛̿͘͝r̶͖̼͓͂̍͝͠ ̵̣͖͈̘̌f̶͍͆̽̅̕r̶̝̱̎̒̏i̵̛͈̾̇͝ẻ̴͙̘̿̐̍͑ṋ̴̭͍͎́͂d̸̢͔̐͐̕s̵̢̊̒̈́̇̈́̑ ̴̢̝̖̝̖̖̃͐͆̈́̾f̶̜̦̪̖̓͜ỏ̶̼̠͚̊̆̃̋͋͝ṛ̵̛̪̪̺̻͠ ̶̨̱̞̦̮̅̉͗͋̄m̵̛̝̘̗̭̠͓̻̈́͗̑̏͊̎ę̸̺̥͓̭̫̲̓̉̀̕

Chapter Text

Anne stood, staring at the store in front of her. That was it. Nothing but a grocery store. That’s what she told herself again and again. Just a grocery store.

How’d she get here, nervously staring at what appears to be a generic grocery which she had visited countless times in her life? That wasn’t a long story.

It was as simple as a regular trip to the store, to purchase some ingredients for food, some extra supplies, and replenish on anything they’d run out of. Nothing big.

Anne had been helping out at the restaurant at the moment. Sasha and Marcy were hanging out there to, once again as part of the ‘spend as much time together before June’ philosophy.
It was the usual weekly time for a trip to the grocery store. Anne hadn’t been back to the market since. Sasha and Marcy had offered to come and help out, so here they were.

Now.

Anne standing in the parking lot of the market. Staring nervously at the place ahead of her.

She took a deep breath in and ran ahead to meet Sasha, Marcy, and her mom at the door.

The automatic doors slid open. Standing there in the doorway, Anne could see it all again.
Racing through her mind, she could see it.
Like a distant memory, ghosts of what was, a tape on replay.

The Plantars running inside with her, Sprig immediately questioning that everything was a robot, Hop Pop in awe of Anne’s supposed world yet again, and Polly already back to her chaotic self, requesting money for a lottery ticket.

She stood in the entrance for a moment, watching the vision of them fade.

“Annabanana,” Marcy turned around, having been a few feet ahead of her. “You coming?” She asked playfully, with a smile. “Yeah,” Anne responded kind of flatly.

Marcy held out her hand for Anne to grab. The second Anne grabbed her hand, Marcy yanked her forward, her grasp on Anne’s hand only tightening.

Marcy had pulled her toward Sasha and Mrs. Boonchuy, who had been talking about the list. Sasha pulled out her phone snapped a photo of it, stopped to thank Mrs. Boonchuy, them turned to Anne and Marcy.

“Were taking the bottom half of the list, and meeting your Mom at checkout.” Sasha said, showing them her phone. The picture of the list was displayed across the screen.

Anne turned glancing back at the door. “Anne.” Sasha began, noticing Anne’s attention had been diverted.
Anne was still in her haze to much to hear. “Anne Savisa” Sasha exclaimed.

That caught Anne’s attention. Her head whirled around toward Sasha. “I knew that would get you attention” Sasha laughed. “Whatever, Elizabeth.” Anne teased playfully.

“Seriously though, you good?” Sasha asked. “Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” Anne answered with a smile. The three strayed to walk, Anne barely behind Sasha and Marcy, “totally fine.” She mumbled.

Anne’s head turned as they past a particular part of the market. Noodles. She thought herself.

The shadow of the figures that once were, dancing through her mind, playing themselves out just as they had before.

She had placed the three bowls of noodles down in the table “all right, dig in everyone!” Her voice faintly echoing through her head. “Hmmm,” Hop Pop began, shoving his face into the noodles. “Hey, these worms are pretty good, and they’re not even fighting back.” He exclaimed.
“Pretty good? They’re delicious!” Sprig yelled.
“Actually, they’re not worms, they’re noodles”

Anne watched as it all faded away again before her eyes. Only it didn’t. The visions stayed, stayed imprinted in her mind, projecting themselves before her.

Anne looked up, seeing Sasha and Marcy continuing to walk ahead, having a muffled conversation amping themselves. Anne turned her head back to the memory in front of her.

She ripped herself away from it, quickly catching up with Sasha and Marcy. Anne glanced back as she walked. The murmurs following her.
“Robot!” Echoed quietly through her head. A glimpse of before, of the last time she was here.

Suddenly she remembered what it felt like to be pulled tightly into the robots grasp. Tightly suffocated within it, practically impossible to move at all.
That was the feeling that had washed over her.

Anne blinked, and took a hard heavy breath in. And then, the sensation was gone.

She’d been following Sasha and Marcy around as they collected the items on the list. Luckily, it appeared as though they hadn’t noticed.

Thank frog they hadn’t noticed. That’s what Anne thought.

Every time they turned down an aisle Anne felt like that robot was going to jump out and grab her. Jump out and attempt, yet again, to kill her. Only this time, the Plantars wouldn’t be there to help her get out of its grasp.

“Hey Anne?” a voice came from behind her. Anne jumped, not anticipating anyone to speak to her, as she was so lost in her mind. She was pulled from her thoughts and false reality back to the world. The hallucinations, the vision, receding gone at last.
It was Sasha. Sasha had said her name. “Woah, are you ok?” She asked, startled by the way Anne had jumped.

“Yeah, just zoned out.” Anne answered. “Um, what were you gonna ask me?” Anne questioned. “Right, yeah. I was just gonna ask if you wanted to help at all.” Sasha laughed.
“Oh, uh, sure. Sorry.” Anne answered.

Sasha pointed her phone toward Anne, showing her the picture of the list. Conveniently the next thing on the list was a mackerel from the seafood counter. Of course.
Anne blankly stared at it for a moment.

Just as she had thought she’d gotten rid of it, they were back again. Just thoughts passing through. That’s all.
Thoughts that seemed to manifest themselves within her mind.

She slowly took a breath in, trying to cast away the memories haunting her head. The feeling that tingled in her fingers, causing them to twist and turn around each other.
The feeling of sparks within her tingling fingers, all coming back to her mind. Anne glanced down at them. She knew it was all in her head. Glancing down at her finger tips only confirmed that this was all in her head.

She didn’t know if that made it feel worse or better.

Anne shook the feeling away as much as she could and tried to proceed shopping as though this was just another day.

Maybe that was part of the problem, no day was just a normal day. Normal was a foreign concept by now. This was the new normal.
A normal they’d have to get used to, yet again.

“I’ll, um, go get that fish, brb.” Anne finally spit out, walking away quickly. Sasha and Marcy exchanged glances and watched as Anne walked away.
Making sure Anne was out of sight and hearing range.

“Something’s up with Anne.” Sasha stated, knowing she was stating the obvious. “I know. The second we got out of the car it was like she got all quiet.” Marcy replied.
“Do you think everything’s ok?” Marcy asked, sounding concerned. “I think she’s just worked up about something. She’ll be ok.” Sasha answered.

“Do you think we should talk to her about it?” Marcy questioned. “I don’t know. Anne might just want us to leave her alone. But, might wanna talk about it. It could kinda go either way with her.” Sasha responded.
“Yeah. There’s gotta be something we can do though.” Marcy replied. Sasha kind of smiled at that, clearly havinn some sort of idea.

***

The trio to the market didnt change much. It seemed to go on with the same tone. Anne didn’t know if she wanted it to or not. That May have been the worst part.

At least the trip was almost over now.

The automatic doors slid opened, making way for them to emerge. The group made their way to the car.
Mrs. Boonchuy opened the trunk of the car.

As the grocery bags were carefully placed in the car, the cart now empty, Sasha snatched it.

Sasha grasped the carts handles, one foot on the bottom railing and one firmly held to ground. Marcy jumped in and sot down Criss Cross applesauce. “Come on Annabanana,” Sasha exclaimed.
Sasha leaned back and extended her arm out to Anne.

Anne, who was still being unusually quiet and dazed, looked at Sasha for a moment but grabbed her hand. She climed up onto the carts rail and grasped the handle. Sasha linked arms with Anne, her hands wrapped firmly around the carts handle.

There was barely enough room for both Anne and Sasha to fit along the end of the cart.

Sasha pushed her foot off the ground and the cart slid down the parking lot.

Marcy happily had her hands raised up in the air, as if riding a roller coaster, feeling the wind hit her face.
Sasha’s hair blew wildly behind her face, the shorter strands blowing in front of her eyes and over her face. Her pink salmon striped skirt flowing along in the breeze.

As for Anne, the flaps of her unzipped jacket flew in the rush of air. Her shoulder length curly hair blowing crazily around her face. She could tell she was going to have a heck of a time brushing the tangles from this out. Nevertheless, she smiled at the sight of Sasha and Marcy having fun beside her. That made everything better. She wanted things to stay this way, and as far as she was concerned, as of now, they would.

Pt. 2

Marcy opened her eyes. She was standing in a dim room, some light shining in through the open doorway.
The room was familiar. To familiar. Marcy recognized it as one of the main rooms in the castle, back in Newtopia.

In the center was a pedestal, which held the music box in the center. Anne was carefully reaching for it. “I can’t believe it. It’s over. We won.” She exclaimed. Sasha was just barely behind her, the Plantars and Grime weeny much further back.
Anne grabbed for the box, but her fingers slid right through it, it was only a hologram. Strategically placed in the darkness.

Everything went black.

A voice emerged as the light began to return. “Hello girls, nice for you to fall into our trap.” Darcy laughed.

Marcy barely knew the voice that echoed as her own. She knew the cores voice well, it haunted her, but Darcy’s voice was different. It was like hear her own twisted past echoing and tormenting her each time she heard it. Shrill and awful, every time a sound came from it.

Darcy stepped out from the darkness, revealing themselves to Anne and Sasha. “Marcy? What are you wearing? What’s going on?” Anne questioned.

She didnt realize it wasn’t her. Marcy wanted to scream to Anne that it wasnt her. She wanted to yell, but something inside was preventing her from doing so, she was a bystander unable to speak out.

Darcy motioned for the cords spread along the ground toward them. The thick dark wires shot up from the ground, entangling themselves around them, forming a tight practically inescapable grasp.

“We’re not Marcy, not anymore. We are a collection of Amphibias greatest minds, Uploaded into a unified consciousness.” Darcy smiled.

This was when Marcy saw it. The heart shattered looks on Anne and Sasha’s faces.
“What have you done with Marcy?!” Anne questioned, through gritted teeth.

Darcy just smiled back, without a care in the world, as happy as they could be. They pointed to the helmet that sat on their head. “She’s up here, with us. Its how we recognized your little ruse. War of the Warlocks? Very cute.” Darcy laughed.

“Give us back our friend, or I will rip that helmet off and take her back!” Sasha shouted loudly, all of her frustration coming out in her voice.
“You’re friend? Don't be silly. You're not friends. Not anymore. And examining Marcy's memories, it's doubtful you ever were.” Darcy laughed casually.

Sasha’s mouth moved like she was trying to say something but didn’t have words. Anne immediately noticed this. “Sasha, don’t listen to this thing!” Anne exclaimed, her turned toward Sasha.

“Ah, the famous Anne,” Darcy began.
Marcy fwy her fists clenching. She didn’t like this. She didn’t like this at all.

“Dumber than a bag of rocks, yet somehow, this rebellions last hope.” Darcy smiled. “Oh which reminds me…” Darcy walked toward the balcony, the source that was providing the little amount of light in the room had been the balcony’s entrance.

Marcy watched as Darcy pulled them all out onto the balcony with her. Marcy stood for a moment, watching, almost as if petrified by everything she was seeing.

“Frogs, toads, and newts of the resistance!” Darcy projected. It wasn’t a yell of much emotion, more just speaking loudly.

It was that awful sound of her voice again. Marcy ran forward to the balcony, almost flying over the edge as she grabbed the railing to stop herself.
“You’re leaders have been captured. Your rebellion is over.” Darcy finished.

Marcy couldn’t hear the muttering of the Amphibians if the resistance. The resistance which failed to know hardly anything about. Her mind was to clouded by the small world around her. The small world, which at the moment, contained Anne, Sasha, Lady Olivia, General Yunan, the Plantars, and maybe even Grime.
That was her little world, and right now, it was falling to pieces.

Marcy stared down at the rebellion retreating. Her mind almost blank, hardly able to process any of this.

“Everything is ready my lord. The rebellion is in shambles and Earth is ripe for the taking.” Andrias said. Marcy turned her attention toward the room.
“Then all that's left is for us to do what you could not: Kill Anne.” Darcy sneered, glancing back at Anne, still struggling to escape the grasps of the wiring holding her tightly prisoner. “It's been risky enough using the box up until now. We don't know what will happen as long as she holds a piece of it power.” Darcy said to Andrias.

Anne mumbled something, but Marcy couldn’t hear it.

Anne was thrown down against the ground with a loud thud. Marcy ran over, but as usual no one could see her. She slid down onto her knees next to Anne.

Darcy slowly approached, a smile across their face. Marcy’s eyes drifted up to Sasha, who was still held righting. She was desperately trying to squirm free, which only allowed the cords to squeeze tighter. Marcy could Sasha want to scream, buy her mouth was covered by a wire almost the second she started attempting to squirm free.

“Lets make this quick.” Darcy began, slowly and dramatically as possible drawing a small firey blade up above Anne’s head.

Tears were starting to well up in Marcys eyes, she leaned her head against Anne’s shoulder. “Anne, Anne, Anne, do something.” She exclaimed. Darcy’s eyes almost seemed to drift over to Marcy for a single millisecond, but quickly back to Anne. As Darcy started to quickly lower the knife to Anne’s head, Marcy sprung up and whirled around. “I cant watch.” She mumbled frantically and out of breath.

“Its just a dream. just a dream.” Marcy thought again and again, on repeat, yet she couldn’t stop herself from listening.

“Wait!” Anne screeched.

Marcy slowly turned around taking a breath if slight relief. “Amusing. You wish to beg?” Darcy responded. “Just a quick question. Are you sure this will return the stone's power to the box? What if killing me somehow extinguishes the box's power altogether? Poof!” Anne replied frantically. Marcy could tell she was coming up with this in the spot. Almost anyone could tell that, but somehow that managed to get into Darcy’s head.

Andrias had immediately began a comeback to Anne’s remark. “Don't be ridiculous. You think the Core hasn't considered…” “Shut up, Andrias!” Darcy cut him off. Darcy took a moment to think.
“Unprecedented. We cannot reach a consensus. Therefore, we must confirm the energy can be safely extracted before killing her.” Darcy informed Andrias.

“Wait. Did I seriously just outsmart you?” Anne mumbled. Marcy smiled at this, quickly whipping the tears off her cheeks, and slightly smiling. “You only bought enough time to watch your planet fall. We look forward to dissecting you. Alive.” Marcy deeply inhaled as Darcy spoke.
“Guards, have the rest of them fitted for collars immediately. Andrias. Portal. Now. It's time.” Darcy demanded.

Marcy watched as one of Andrias’s robots dragged them all away.
Marcy watched as Darcy invaded the world she knew as hers.
Marcy watched as Darcy destroyed her world.

Chapter Text

*insert Amphibia theme*

Anne was walking alongside Sasha, down the sidewalk. She was on her way to her house. They’d just left Sasha’s Moms apartment about ten minutes ago.

Marcy wasn’t with them, only because she had revived a text from her parents asking her to come home to talk about something. Marcy had gotten all stressed about whatever that was about, but managed to collect herself enough to go.

So here they were. Sasha walking Anne home, and talking about who knows what at this point. They’d been having a lot of brainless conversations lately. One had to admit, it was kind of nice.

Anne could see her house within distance. She quickly turned to Sasha, uttering only two words, “race ya,” before taking off.
Sasha laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. “Anne!” She yelled, sprinting after her.

Anne stopped at her front porch, waiting for Sasha, who reached the same point only seconds later.

“You only won because you randomly took off sprinting, before you even said race you.” Sasha stated.
“Are sure it wasn’t just because I’m faster than you?” Anne questioned jokingly.

She reached for the door, opening and beginning to enter. “That’s not true.” Sasha answered firmly. “But what if it is.” Anne argued with a laugh, closing the door behind Sasha.
Sasha playfully rolled her eyes and laughed.

Anne walked into the living room and threw herself down onto the couch. Sasha slid over the arm of the chair, her head landing against the other arm and her feet hanging over the edge.

Anne’s parents weren’t home from the restaurant yet, as it was only late afternoon.

“Hey Anne, do you think Marcy’s ok?” Sasha asked, her fingertips brushing lightly against the floor as one arm remained draped over the edge of the chair.

“I mean I guess, why wouldn’t she be?” Anne responded. “I don’t know, she seemed pretty nervous before she left.” Sasha answered. “Well, yeah, but that’s kinda just Marcy. It was probably because the last time she got a text from her parents saying they need to talk they told her they were moving.” Anne replied. “Yeah,” Sasha said, not sounding very sure of that. “Trust me Sash, it’s nothing.” Anne reassured her.

Sasha silently nodded, as her eyes drifted back to her fingertips grazing the floor. “You wanna know a secret?” Anne asked playfully after a moment. Sasha sat up, her attention back toward Anne. “Spill.” Sasha said immediately.

Anne laughed. “Ok. I know what Marcys parents are gonna tell her.” Anne stated, an excited, but closed mouth smile spread across her face. “What?!” Sasha exclaimed. Anne just laughed again. “Oh come on Anne, you have to tell me!” Sasha complained.

“Ok ok ok. Marcy’s staying at my house for the next four days. Something about her parents going out of town on a business trip or something blah blah blah. Anyway.” Anne replied. “What?! Why is she staying with you, Marcy could have stayed with me.” Sasha exclaimed.

Anne laughed again. “Sash, my house is closer, and we’ve been giving Marcy rides home almost everyday. Also, you switch between your Moms apartment and your Dads house every Friday. Marcy’s staying until Saterday morning, so it just works better.” Anne explained.

“Yeah, I guess. I’m staying here as late as my mom will let me though.” Sasha replied. “Fine with me.” Anne smiled.

There was another moment of silence between them. It took a few moments to be broken, as they were both lost in thought.

“I don’t want Marcy to move away.” Anne said quietly. “I don’t either.” Sasha answered. “I keep trying to pretend I’m ok with it, but still upset but not to upset, because I don’t want Marcy to be upset.” Anne exclaimed.
“I know,” Sasha replied enduringly in agreement.

There was another minute of silence.

“Do you think this ‘Business trip’ her parents are suddenly taking is about the move?” Sasha asked.
“I know it seems like that, but Marcy’s parents have been busy with work stuff. Why should we think any different about this?” Anne responded.
“because now we know she’s moving away.” Sasha answered.

“I know Sash, Im worried about it to. But we can’t let Marcy know that. We don’t need to make things worse for her.” Anne stated after a moment.
“Yeah. That’s something we can agree on.” Sasha said quietly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Anne questioned, a noticeable tone shift in her voice.
“Anne, you know what I meant. You know we weren’t exactly the closest and we don’t always get along. These past few months have been amazing. I don’t want to loose the friendship we have now, and I’m afraid if Marcy leaves, I will.” Sasha explained.
“Sasha, listen to me. Marcy leaving isn’t going to change anything between us. We were friends during the resistance, without Marcy.” Anne answered.

“Well, yeah I guess so, but we we’re technically trying to save Marcy that while time.” Sasha refuted.

“Sasha, do you remember the first time I saw you again after I got sent back home?” Anne asked. “Yeah.” Sasha answered quietly.
“So you remember how tightly I hugged you.” Anne added. “Yeah.” Sasha responded again. “I never wanted to let you go then. Not now. Not ever.” Anne replied.

“Thanks annabanana.” Sasha smiled. “You know, I was actually really afraid you were gonna yell at me.” Sasha laughed.

“What?” Anne asked. “I was worried you were gonna yell at me again. I mean, the last time I’d seen you we had gotten into a big fight and we’d both said some things, then we never really made up after that, and suddenly you were gone. I felt like everything was my fault and could only imagine you were stuck back ho… here, resenting me the whole time. So yeah, when I saw you back in Amphibia, I was scared you were gonna yell at me.” Sasha explained.

Anne paused for a moment. “I’m scary?” She asked mostly jokingly. Sasha laughed, “that’s not what I meant, but yeah I guess so. It was scary when you jumped into that serpents mouth so that I’d have to save you all. It was scary when the core tried to kill you. It was scary when we had to split up and fight off that whole invasion situation. It was scary when you sacrificed yourself to save Amphibia. I guess, it’s scary to think about loosing you. That’s what’s scary.” Sasha answered, somehow smiling through the whole conversation.

“Sash, do you know how scared I was of loosing you and Marcy? The thing is, you just have to keep going. If you let fear take over all your decisions, you’ll never actually live. you know?” Anne responded.

“When did you become all wise?” Sasha questioned jokingly. “The same time you became all openly emotional I guess.” Anne laughed. Sasha laughed to.

Marcy was sitting in Anne’s bedroom. Sasha and Anne were there to. It was early Friday evening.

The girls had been laughing and talking all afternoon after school which was usual.

Something felt off this time.

Marcy had this… feeling. It was hard to describe. Thinking about it almost made it worse.

Like her head was full yet entirely empty. That horrid ringing sensation began to subdue her. The world around closing in, to darkness. Only darkness.

***

Anne, who was sitting in her desk chair, had been talking about the newest trend at their school, which was writing notes on post it’s and then folding them into little paper airplanes and proceeding to throw them down the hallways and through classrooms.

Sasha, who was sitting on top of Anne’s dresser, had been laughing about it.

They’d immediately noticed something seemed off about Marcy, but it happened so fast.

Marcy had been sitting on the floor, in the center of the room, where the fuzzy rug was.

First she had seemed to go quiet. Marcy appeared almost in a haze at first. Then all of the sudden, she collapsed.

Sasha sprang up, just in time to catch her head and neck from hitting the ground. Anne hopped up and slid onto the ground next to Marcy. She grabbed her wrist. “She has a pulse.” Anne informed Sasha frantically. Sasha still carefully held Marcy’s head.
Anne jumped up and broke into a run. She frantically tossed Sasha a pillow off her bed and sprinted down the stairs.

Anne glanced out the window. Her parents car was preparing to turn into the driveway. She sprinted through the kitchen and out to the garage. Anne then ran through into the driveway, causing her parents car to halt.

Mrs. Boonchuy, who was driving could immediately tell something was wrong by the way Anne had sprinted outside and her panicked face.
Anne’s parents quickly got out of the car. “Marcy… passed out… help.” Anne exclaimed at a complete loss for words. Before anyone had anytime to react or respond she sprinted back up to her room, and took her place by Marcy.

Chapter Text

*insert Amphibia shortened theme*

“This must be it. The shield generator.” Sasha’s voice echoed through the dark room. The dark room That was starting to come into focus. Sasha and Grime rushed over to the control panel in the rooms center, “look out!” Grime shouted, only to be knocked away by the wirey tentacles that waited for them.

A laugh came from the depths of the dim room. “Dropping by without calling? So rude. Then again, we’re not surprised. Marcy always thought you were kind of a brute.” Darcy said, stepping closer to Sasha and Grime.

Sasha stood there with the confidence and lack of fear Marcy had always known her to have. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work.” She stated firmly, drawing her swords.
“Yeah, you really think you can manipulate the queen of manipulation?” Grime continued.

Sasha’s eyes quickly drifted back towards Grime. “Thank you, Grime.”Sasha responded Sharply, rather annoyed. Grime quickly realized why she was vexed. “Sorry.” He grumbled quietly.

“Awe… don’t you wanna know what she really thinks of you?” Darcy questioned. Sasha was quick to snap back this time. “It doesn’t matter what she thinks of me. I’m here to save her and stop you.” Sasha stated, her anger and annoyance clearly building quickly. It was no wonder. No one had tried to use Sasha’s own tricks on her before.

“Well then,” Darcy crakes their neck, rolling their head around in a circle, and drawing out a gigantic firey scythe “let’s rumble girlfriend.” Darcy smiled.

Marcy attention drifted to the rooms opening, the one source of light from the outside. A certain familiar voice echoed through.

“You know, I think I finally figured out why the stones picked you as their champion, Boonchuy. From the moment you walked into my throne room I underestimated you. A scruffy little girl with one shoe and leaves in her hair. Yet underneath it all, a true warrior. Such a brilliant deception.” Andrias voice echoed from somewhere just below the castle.

“Speak for yourself. You went from Santa Claus to supervillain pretty quick there.” Anne’s voice drifted up, less loudly.
“Touche. Oh! And I know about the time limit on your precious powers. Do you really think you can beat me before you pass out?” Andrias continued.
“Only one way to find out.” Anne stated with even less volume.

Marcy’s attention was grabbed again by Darcy, as they began to speak. “Such a shame she doesn’t stand a chance either.” Darcy smiled, flinging their scythe at Sasha. Sasha was more focused on blocking the scythe strike than responding.

“It was her that gave you that scar on your cheek, wasn’t it?” Darcy continued, pulling away from Sasha’s dodge to strike again from the other direction. “You’re sword fighting has improved since then, hasn’t it?” Darcy laughed, just as Sasha blocked yet another attempted hit.
Grime came at Darcy from behind, causing Darcy to spin around and block Grime.

Darcy twisted back around to attempt yet another strike upon Sasha. “You know, when Marcy saw you again, the first thing she thought was how you got that scar. Just imagine her face upon finding it was your very own Anne that gave it to you.” Darcy smirked.

Marcy froze in place for a moment. It had gone over her head the first time Darcy had said that, this time it didn’t. She stood there and waited for Sasha to respond.

“Marcy doesn’t need to know. And I’ve gotten better because I’ve practiced. I’ve practiced beating you and Andrias over and over.” Sasha exclaimed, a clear struggle as she tried to hold off Darcy’s Scythe with her swords.
Sasha carefully squirmed one of her swords away, pushing extra hard against the other. She flung the remaining sword around behind Darcy’s neck. This trapped Darcy between swords.

“That’s where you’re wrong. You’ve trained with an intent to harm, to hurt, and to kill. But that, that’s what’s so brilliant about this. You can’t. You’re to afraid to hurt you’re friend. Or should I say your former friend.” Darcy laughed.

The room held at a stand still for a moment. Barely a moment. Darcy spun the firey scythe around motioning for the wires.
The mechanical tentacles shot forward and threw Grime and Sasha against the wall.

“I have an idea.” Grime began. “You go for the generator, while I…” Grime hopped up and ran at Darcy “DISTRACT HER!”
“YOU CALL THAT AN IDEA?!” Sasha shouted, watching Grime dodge wires. She took a break for the generator, sprinting as quickly as she could in the moment.

“Oh no you don’t!” Darcy shouted, quickly snatching a small firey dagger and hurtling it toward Sasha.

“Sasha!” Marcy shouted rushing toward her, perfectly aware that nothing she did actually happened. The dagger hit Sasha just above her ankle, she yelped in pain falling to the ground with a hard thud. Marcy ran over and slid onto the ground, over to Sasha on her knees. Marcy couldn’t help but think about what Dr. Daniels had said about Sasha’s ankle after the invasion and everything was over.
“NOOO!” Grime shouted.

“Gotcha!” Darcy smiled, slowly preparing her scythe as though it was a baseball bat to Sasha’s head.
Sasha paralyzed from the pain shooting through her leg that sprouted from her ankle, took a horrified gasp in.

Tears were forming in Marcys eyes, as she thrust her head onto the ground, in that awful tornado/earthquake safety position they taught in school, knowing she couldn’t do a thing to change what was happening.

“SASHA!!!” Grime shouted desperately sprinting forward to push Sasha out of the way. He managed to push her away from Darcy’s deadly grasp, but not without consequence.

Marcy turned back, as the room went silent.

Sasha, suddenly with the weak energy to move forward, moved toward Grime, who’s arm had been swiped clean off. “Grime, you big dummy!” She exclaimed, holding back as many tears as she possibly could. Tears still managed to escape her sore eyes, as she carefully wrapped her cape around his wound.

“Listen to me, Sasha.” Grime began, with visable pain and weakness in his voice. “Before I met you, I was nothing. Just a bully in a tower. But you... You inspired me to be so much more. And if you can do that, you can do anything. You... can do this..” Grime fell unconscious from pain, weakness, and likely blood loss.

A loud voice drifted up through the air, the same voice as before once again snatching Marcy’s attention.
“Why fight it, Anne? Everything you love will eventually crumble. Your world, your friendships...” Andrias said.

Marcy sprinted over to the opening to the outside, facing down at Anne and Andrias, still battling atop a skyscraper. “So what? I'm supposed to give up? Stop feeling things? Like you? Honestly, I pity you! You shut yourself off from the rest of the world, didn't you? A thousand years of suffering. Of burying your feelings. Of hating yourself. That must have been hard.” Anne exclaimed.
“Enough!” Andrias yelled, furiously punching Anne down against another building.

Anne landed with a hard thud, her powers fading away, head against the ground, almost unable to move.
Anne’s voice echoed through Marcy’s head “guess who has a concussion.” From their first day back, after the invasion, after everything.

Marcy’s attention once again drifted back to Sasha, as she could no longer find strength to watch what was going on outside. Inside was no better.

Darcy laughed standing a few feet in front of them. “Oops! Looks like he's ‘disarmed’. Get it? Dis’armed’?” They laughed. Sasha yelled and charged forward at Darcy viciously, fueled by rage and and a desperate want for vengeance.
Sasha managed to swipe Darcy’s cheek, just barely enough for a drop of green blood to spill out. “That was for Grime!” She shouted.

Darcy flicked the blood off with their hand.

Suddenly Marcy heard a familiar sound. Not a sound, music. Music she knew as Anne’s favorite song, As If It’s Your Last – by BlackPink. Marcy glanced back out the window, to see Anne back at it again, only almost winning this time.

Darcy smiled. Smiled another horrible Darcy smile. A cloud of green smoke spread across the room, so thick it couldn’t clear, it couldn’t be seen through.

The room filled with projections of Anne and Marcy, all murmuring the same thing. “Hey Sash.” “Hey Sasha.”

Marcy watched, nothing able to go through her head at the moment.

Sasha slashed through the projections, forcing them to disappear. “You think these cheap tricks will work on me?” She questioned loudly and practically just as furiously as before.
“Yup!” A, once again, smiling Darcy responded, as they came from Sasha blind spot, behind her, in the distraction of the fog.

Darcy quickly swung the scythe across Sasha’s back.
The force of the scythe lifted her up and threw her back down easily. Sasha screeched in pain, landing on the floor, on her side.

“Oh, to easy.” Darcy laughed. Sasha just layed there, trying to breath, little droplets of tears forming in her eyes from the horrible cut in her back.
She managed to force herself to sit up.

“Well Sash, it’s been fun!” Darcy smiled, looming over Sasha. “Do your worst.” Sasha said, her voice weak from screaming and her gasp for air. “Sure” Darcy answered, thrilled to fulfill this request.
Darcy drew back the scythe, preparing for a deadly blow.

Just as the swing began Marcy couldn’t handle any of this anymore. “Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop hurting my friends!” Marcy yelled. It was as though time froze. Everything froze, and for a single second everything froze. And Darcy slowly looked up at her. “Don’t you see, you’re the one who did this. You’re the one, who’s hurting your friends.” They let out a slow sly grin.

Marcy took a deep sharp inhale in. Tears in her eyes, she knew it was true. She knew everything, all of this, was her fault.

Time snapped back into place, Darcy’s Scythe quickly traveling toward Sasha’s head.
Just before it would’ve hit her, the scythe came to a halt.

This time it was Darcy attention the was captured by the outside. A certain noise in particular. Andrias was crying. Openly crying in front of the entire city of Los Angeles, in defeat from the wrath of a teenage girl.

“Aldrich, your son is losing the will to fight. That weakling!” Darcy shouted, as though talking to themself.
They glanced over at Sasha, sitting on the ground, unable to move. “Hey Sasha, as a fellow control freak, you'll probably really appreciate this!” Darcy laughed.

“Andrias! Stand up and fight, you pathetic excuse for a king! We are all you need. We are all you will ever have!” Darcy commanded, outraged.

With Darcy’s attention diverted, Grime managed to kick Sasha’s red heron sword. It slid across the room and over to Sasha. Sasha took a breath and grabbed the sword. She quietly groaned in pain as she scoped it up.

Sasha forced herself up, and full on charges at Darcy, suddenly with the strength she couldn’t find before. “I’M NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE!” She shouted, taking a violent swing at Darcy.

Darcy’s scythe is knocked away. Sasha stood, breathing heavily trying to catch her breath.

Darcy frantically and in complete checked to make sure they hadn’t been hit. Darcy smiled at the realization they hadn’t been hit. “Pfft, you missed.” They laughed.
A smirk spread across Sasha’s face. “Wanna bet?” Sasha said, as closely to her normal sarcastic self she could be.

The cord connecting Darcy’s helmet had been severed in one clean severed slice. The cord fell to the ground, preparing to take Darcy down with it.

Sasha’s voice echoed through Marcy’s head. Back from their day at the beach. “I… I could barely walk, but I forced myself up and swung. I sliced the cord off. It’s smooth on one side from where my sword hit it, and the other side is jagged from when the core separated the helmet from the wire.” It all flashed quickly through her head.

Darcy screeched in terror. “My connection! You FOOL! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!? NOOOOO!!!” Darcy screamed as the generator and metal tentacles spiraled out of control in a rabid power surge. Darcy fell onto the ground with a loud thud and everything went silent.

The was only Darkness. Marcy couldn’t see anything, feel anything, hear anything. Nothing.
That’s when her senses slowly started to return.

Sasha’s voice quietly echoed. “Marcy! Marcy, wake up! Marcy!” This was familiar. “Come on Marcy, please.” Sasha’s voice said again, tears clearly behind her voice.

Footsteps were loudly approached. Marcy could feel another person sit down next to her. “Marcy. We love you,” it was Anne’s voice this time, horrified tears behind it as well. “Please Marcy,” Sasha continued.

“Anne? Sasha?” She questioned, eyes hardly opened. A blurry Anne and Sasha were leaning over her. She could hear more footsteps steadily getting louder, closer.
It was like she was seeing them for the first time after the invasion, finally escaping her possessed mind.

She blinked away the vision before, revealing the real, present Anne and Sasha looming over her.
“Marcy?” Anne questioned.
She realized exactly where she was. Anne’s bedroom. Marcy didn’t know how long she’d been out, but none of that mattered.

Tears were in Marcys eyes. “I’m so sorry.” She cried.
Sasha and Anne exchanged glances.

“I ruined everything, and I hurt you. And it’s all my fault! I’m so sorry.” Tears we’re streaming from Marcy’s eyes.

Anne’s parents appeared in the doorway. “Everything ok?” Mr. Boonchuy questioned. Sasha turned and nodded. “Ok if you’re sure, we’re downstairs if you need anything.” Mrs, Boonchuy responded, as they disappeared down the hallway.

“Marcy what are you talking about?” Anne questioned. “It’s just all my fault. I’m s sorry.” Marcy repeated, gasping for air through the tears covering her eyes.

“Here, sit up slowly.” Sasha said, helping Marcy up carefully.
Marcy was leaning up against Anne’s bed. “Better?” Sasha asked, clearly concerned.

Marcy nodded, as her quiet crying continued. Sasha sat down next to her, grasping her hand, and taking a sigh of relief. And scooted over to her other side. “Ok Marcy. What’s going on?“ she asked calmly.

Marcy took another deep, sharp, breath in. “I… I’ve been having these dreams.” Marcy began. She took a deep breath. “Well, not really dreams. More like memories.” She sniffled.

“Its been going on ever since we found that stupid shard from that cord at the beach.” Marcy explained.
“What are these dream about?” Anne asked.
“About… about everything I did to you. Everything I did as Darcy.” Marcy answered, her voice shaky.

Sasha and Anne exchanged glances. “So um, you saw everything?” Sasha questioned quietly.

“Yeah. I think I did.” Marcy mumbled back. “So you, um, saw the live dissection attempt Darcy took at me?” Anne questioned.
Marcy attempted to wipe the tears from her eyes with her sleeve. “Yeah.” She answered quietly, trying her best not to cry any harder, but to no avail. “Last week.” She added, sniffling.

After another few more moments of quiet, Marcy turned her head toward Sasha, on her left.
“Don’t say anything.” Sasha whispered. Her eyes getting watery. “I know you wanna say sorry again. Don’t.” Sasha continued. Her tone wasn’t angry, but enduring. “Sorry isn’t going to change anything.” She explained.

“Yeah, I know. But, I hurt you. And I hate it. I hate thinking that it was me who did it.” Marcy whimpered through tears.
“Marce, it wasn’t you. It was the core. Ok? I know you’d never mean to hurt me. Just like Anne. Anne gave me this, didn’t she?” Sasha pointed at the scar on her cheek. Marcy nodded.

“Besides, everything that happened to me that day, was worth it. It was worth it to have you and Anne here with me right now. I’d do it all again anytime for you two.” Sasha finished.

Marcy leaned her head against Sasha’s shoulder. “Love you Sash.” She said quietly. Sasha wrapped one hand around Marcy’s shoulder. Marcy reached out and pulled Anne closer. “Love ya, Annabanana.”

They stayed like that for a moment. All three of them, leaning against the foot of Anne’s bed.

A light knock came from the doorway. All three of their heads turned toward it. “Marcy, your parents are on the phone. They said they couldn’t reach your cell.” Mr. Boonchuy, who was standing in the doorway, informed them.

Marcy stood up, wiping the leftover tears off her cheeks and taking the phone from Anne’s dad. “Thanks.” She said quietly.

Marcy held the phone up to her ear, and began to pace back and fourth across Anne’s bedroom. Anne and Sasha’s eyes followed as she did so.

“Hello?” Marcy asked quietly, upon first holding the phone up to her ear. “Hi Marcy!” She heard her father respond. “Is everything ok? You didn’t answer your sell.” Her mother asked. “Oh, um, yeah. Everything’s fine.” Marcy answered. She immediately noticed that it sounded like her parents were in the car, driving somewhere.

“Look Marcy, we have some news, ok?” Mr. Wu began. “Um, ok.” Marcy replied, still quietly. She was trying her best to hide the fact that she was just crying from her parents.
“So, that new job new job that your father is taking, it turns out they want him down here a little sooner than we’d anticipated.” Mrs. Wu began. “Um, how much sooner?” Marcy asked nervously.

“The first week of April.” Her father responded. “April?!” Marcy’s voice immediately shifted to panic.
“We found this great house not to far away from his work, and there’s several job openings for me in the area. We could officially move in there on the 29th.” Her mother explained.

Marcy’s heart sank somehow lower. “Mom that’s in a week!” She exclaimed loudly. “I know Marcy, I know. But I’ve already called up to your school and Principle Murphy says your on course to take final the Friday before anyway, and then they can transfer everything over smoothly. And, you could start school out here as soon as April 1st.” Mrs. Wu continued.

“That doesn’t change the fact that that’s in one week! I was supposed to have until June!” Marcy remarked. She was a mixture of emotions, frustrated, upset, and to much more.
“Marcy we’re sorry, but that’s just how it has to be. You can understand that, right?” Mr. Wu responded.

Marcy had no words to respond with. It took a moment, but she finally managed to spit out some words “I… I gotta go.” She muttered, trying to cover up all the emotions in her voice.

“Ok Marcy, we’ll see you tomorrow. Take care. Love you.” Her mother exclaimed, just before Marcy hung up the phone.

One week. She had one week.

Chapter Text

*insert Amphibia theme*

“One week?!” Sasha questioned, as Marcy stood in front of them. Anne and Sasha were still leaned up against the bed, seated on the floor.

“One week?” Anne repeated in shock, standing up. Marcy nodded, on the verge of more tears.
Anne saw this and immediately embraced Marcy tightly. Sasha jumped up, and Anne let her into the hug without hesitation.

“Can I just…” Marcy sniffled, as a few tears began to slip from her eyes. “Can I just stay here and and live with you forever?” Marcy asked, crying a little harder.

She knew that wasn’t an option, but desperately wished it was. “Awe, Marcy.” Anne continued, sounding as though she was about to start crying to.

“Can at least one of us not cry?” Sasha whined, revealing the tears down her cheeks.

Anne laughed, as did Marcy. After all, that was the best feeling – laughing through the tears.

***

Marcy’s room was covered in boxes. Dumb, stupid, terrible boxes. She hated them all.

The posters were still on the walls, for now. Every little inch of furniture that remained in her bedroom was covered in stuff, whether it was boxes or things in the process of being packed.

Marcy grabbed a few shirts and tossed them into a box, about as carelessly as possible. She snatched a thick sharpie off the corner of her desk, scribbling ‘Shirts – Marcy’ onto the box in large lettering.

She heard noise downstairs, talking and footsteps, but knew it was just her parents packing up the kitchen / Dining Room area.

Marcy turned to grab a few more shirts out of her closet. She scoped up a few shirts but before she could turn around, someone was hugging her from behind. Marcy dropped the cloths she had picked up moments ago.

“Hi Anne.” Marcy said quietly, carefully picking up Anne’s hands from around her. “Hi Mar-mar.” Anne responded quietly.

Marcy turned around, holding Anne’s hands lightly, now face to face. She glanced over and saw Sasha in the doorway. Marcy let go of one of Anne’s hands and held hers out for Sasha. Sasha took it.

“We came to help you pack.” Sasha stated. “Thanks.” Marcy replied, swinging her hand gently.

She pulled away, to grab back up the shirts she’d dropped. “I’ve been working on packing up clothes.” Marcy stated, tossing the shirts into the box she had just labeled.

“I’ve never seen your room this messy before.” Anne laughed, glancing around at the chaos.
“Yup.” Marcy replied, kind of flatly.

“Anything we can help with Mars?” Sasha asked. Anne and Sasha were clearly trying to have a positive attitude about the whole situation.

“Um, yeah.” Marcy began, grabbing some more clothes from her dresser. “Sash, could you put all the stuff on my desk in one of the empty boxes?” She asked. “Yeah, no problem.” Sasha replied, snatching an empty box off the floor. Marcy grabbed the sharpie off her bed and tossed it at Sasha. “If you could also write ‘Desk stuff’ on it to that’d be good.” Sasha caught the Sharpie and immediately got to work.

Marcy glanced around the room. “And, um, Anne, if you could start packing up my books, that would be helpful.” Marcy said, turning back to grab some more clothes.

“On it!” Anne exclaimed, stealing the Sharpie from Sasha’s hand as she walked by with a grin.

“You’re just lucky I was done with that, and knew you’d steal it.” Sasha replied.
That made Marcy laugh. There was a silence that lingered in the room. A silence that left them all thinking the same things.

This was one of the last times they’d all be together.

“So um, Marcy, any idea when you’ll be able to come back and visit?” Anne asked, trying to make some sort of positive conversation.
“I’ve already been looking into flights back here, but they’re pretty expensive so, I don’t know yet. It all depends on the circumstances when we get there.” Marcy responded.

“So, how come your driving there and everything if it’s far enough for a flight?” Sasha questioned. “Because we can’t fly all our stuff there, and the car has to get there somehow.” Marcy explained. “Oh.” Sasha remarked quietly.

“So, we have two more days. What are we gonna do?” Anne questioned, hardly a hint of melancholy in her voice.
“Well, I take finals tomorrow. Then, we leave Saturday night. So, what do you wanna do?” Marcy asked.

“Well, the old me would’ve said ditch school and do whatever we want all day, but that’s clearly not an option.” Sasha replied. Anne laughed, “yeah, look where ditching school got us last time.”

Marcy chuckled, “I’m gonna miss this.” She smiled, in a sappy tone.
“Me to.” Anne sighed, still with a smile.
“Me to.” Sasha said, glancing up to smile at Anne and Marcy. All three had the same melancholy but happy tone.

***

Marcy was seated in principle Murphy’s office, having just finished taking finals less than an hour ago.
“Alright Marcy, you did great on finals,” Principle Murphy began, grabbing a few papers from around the office and different files.
“I can’t say I expected any different from you. You’re a smart girl Marcy. You’ll do just fine wherever you end up, and, SJMS has been lucky to have you.” Principal Murphy continued, sitting down at the desk and placing the stack of papers.
“Thanks.” Marcy replied quietly.

Sitting here, having this discussion, made it feel real. All to real.

“This is everything left that you’ll need to give to your new school, everything else can be transferred digitally. Gotta love technology.” Principle Murphy stated, sliding the papers, now clipped together, across the desk toward Marcy.

“Thanks again.” Marcy responded, still quietly, for the same reason as before.

***

The loud sound of tape being ripped off it’s roll and placed carefully onto a box was what filled Marcy’s bedroom. She slid her fingers over the tape, making sure it was pressed tightly to the box.

Then Marcy carefully scoped it up. She pushed her bedroom door opened with her foot. Marcy made her way down the stairs and to the living room, tightly grasping this box.

The last box. Nothing remained of her things anymore, just an empty bedroom. A practically empty house.

“Last Box.” Marcy stated setting down on the couch, which had yet to be removed. “Thanks Marcy,” her mother smiled.

Marcy nodded and ran back up the stairs. She froze in her open doorway.

Nothing was left. It was only now truly hitting her.

The walls stripped bear of the posters that used to cover them.
The rough, yet somehow comforting, carpeting was clear of anything that had rested on the floor.
Her bed was just a mattress, plain dull white mattress, which sat on a lonely bed frame.
The remaining furniture was but an empty memory now. The bones remaining of what used to be her room. Only a desk and a nightstand, nothing left on or in them, sitting there with no longer any purpose.
It was all tied together by her empty closet, the doors slid slightly opened, longing for use.

That was when it hit, how it hit.

Just the remains of a room that was no longer hers. What was left of a life she was leaving behind. All she was loosing, there in front of her.

Marcy felt this deep longing to stay, to put everything back exactly the way it was before.
She felt her eyes holding back tears.
Marcy hated this feeling, honestly.

She sat down on the carpeting, a few feet within the doorway, and laid down in the floor.

She very well knew this was the last time. The last time she’d see her room, the last time she’d be in it.

The last box.
The last time.

***

The moving van had already driven away. Gone like her life in Los Angeles.
Marcy had watched it go, until it wasn’t visible any longer.

She watched as her parents loaded the last few boxes of necessities into the trunk of their car.

Marcy then turned back to Sasha and Anne, standing behind her.
“I’m gonna miss you.” Marcy sniffed, a few tears drizzling down her cheeks.

“I’m gonna miss you to, ya nerd.” Sasha said, close to tears herself.
Marcy laughed, but this time it wasn’t the best feeling in the world. It was one of the worst, knowing this would be the last time she laughed through tears with them.

Anne sniffled, and began “Marcy, it’s been great knowing you… and having you as a best friend… and… and… you’re gonna call me tonight right?” She questioned, feeling seconds away from breaking down.

“Yeah, I’ll call you as soon as I get there, and I’ll message as long as I have service for.” Marcy answered, her crying increasing.

“Marcy, um, thanks for being my friend, through all the horrible person and control freak stuff. I… I really appreciate it, and you.” Sasha whined, a few tears starting to escape her eyes.

“Of course Sash. Our friendship may not have been perfect, but I love you girls.” Marcy replied, pulling them into a tight hug.

This. This was the tightest hug Anne had ever known.

“Marcy,” Mrs. Wu called. “It’s time to wrap up goodbyes.” Mr. Wu added, shutting the cars trunk.

Marcy slowly released Anne and Sasha from their embrace.
“I… I gotta go.” Marcy cried. “Bye Marce.” Sasha sniffed, managing to force an enduring smile. “Bye, Mar-mar.” Anne smiled, tears building in the corner of her eyes.

“Goodbye Sash.”
“Goodbye Annabana.”

The words she never wanted to say, the words that scared her so much to say.
The words that drove her every action for the past eight months.

Marcy began to step forward, her back to Anne and Sasha. “Marcy wait!” Anne exclaimed, tears in the corner of her eyes.

Marcy turned around, once again facing Anne and Sasha. Tears were streaming down her face.
Anne took off her yellow sweatshirt and handed it to Marcy. “To remember me by.” Anne smiled, wiping her eye with her hand. “But Anne, you love this jacket.” Marcy sniffed. “Just take it. For me.” Anne said through sniffles. Marcy ran forward and embraced Anne. She squeezed tightly before pulling away.

Marcy carefully attempted one step at a time to walk forward.
Sasha and Anne watched the car door shut.

They watched Marcy force a smile through the tears rushing down her cheeks, and give a slight wave as the car pulled out of view.

And just like that, she was gone.

Sasha let out a whimper, beginning to fully cry. “Hey,” Anne said, tears running from her eyes down her cheeks. “Look at me.” Anne continued through tears. Sasha looked up at Anne, taking both her hands, crying harder. “Everything’s gonna be totally fine.”

Chapter Text

Sasha’s alarm clock went off in a loud annoying repetitive beep. One thought was in her head in particular.

Day one. No Marcy.

From then on, everyday, it was the same.

Day two. No Marcy.

Wake up. Get ready for school. Glance at the photo of the three girls on her desk. Breakfast. Leave.

Day three. No Marcy.

Come home from school. Do homework. Dinner. Get ready for bed. Glance at the photo. Go to sleep.

Day four.

Same as before.

Day five.
Day six.
Day seven.
Day eight.

All the same.

Day fourteen.
Twenty.
Thirty six.
Forty nine.
Fifty one.
Sixty.
Ninety seven.

She changed just a bit every day, as any person would. Time shifting and turning in the ever unending cycle that it was.

Day One hundred seventy two.
Two hundred thirteen.
Four hundred twenty six.
Seven hundred thirty four.

Day by day by day.
Year by year.

The glances stopped, the thoughts that wouldn’t leave stopped.

Three thousand seven hundred ninety seven days.
Maybe more.

No Marcy.

She stopped counting days a long time ago. Everyone did.

Until today.

A non-stop sharp sound continued blaring through the small room. The unending consistent almost rhythmical beep was like being stabbed in the ear with cold needles, pulling one out of sleep violently. Sasha’s eyes opened toward the ceiling.

She dragged her pillow over her head, now face down against the mattress, trying to ignore the sound. When that didn’t work, she released a dramatic sigh and hit the alarm clock on the nightstand beside her bed, without looking at it.

When it failed to turn off she barely sat up and looked toward it hitting it a few more times, until it’s incessant noise ceased. Once the alarm clocks shrill shrieking had finally ended she groaned, preparing herself to get up for the day that awaited her.

Sasha dragged herself out of bed, lazily and half consciously making her way to the bathroom attached to her room.

She glanced in the mirror.

Sasha’s short, blonde, shoulder length hair was in a very messy state. Her eyes looked tired, but still full of life just as they always had. Her scar lay perfectly on her cheek, forever leaving a dark pink tint on her face.

Anyone who were to look at her would be able to tell she was a fiery soul.

Her pajamas were a slightly tight tank top, combined with her old gym shorts, which were looser shorter shorts.

Sasha stared at the sight of herself in the mirror. She took a deep breath in and out, then proceeded to go about her usual morning routine.

Brush teeth. Get dressed. Hair. Makeup.

Sasha had chosen a periwinkle colored top, with a dark magenta skirt. She wore ankle high black boots with light purple socks, almost matching the shirt. Her socks barely poked out the top of her boots. She had small gold hope earrings hanging nicely from her ears, peaking out of her combed hair. Then, she had red framed sun glasses sitting atop her head. The look was topped off with a black leather jacket covering her shoulders and arms.

“Ok Sasha. You got this. It’s only been like nine and a half years.” She said aloud to herself. “Yeah, that’s not helping. What kind of a pep talk even is this?” Sasha questioned. “It’s fine. Todays gonna be great.”

She began to walk away, out of her bedroom and into the small kitchen/living area. “Gonna be great.” She mumbled, grabbing her car keys off the counter, and walking out the door.