34. The Sleepover to End All Sleepovers

Chapter 33 - The Sleepover to end all Sleepovers

While the group enjoyed the sights of Newtopia, Marcy and King Andrias were trying to find more information about the music box. Eventually, they come across important information that the whole group should hear. So, Marcy invited Anne, Darrel, Tint, Sprig, and Polly to spend the night at the castle before the big meeting, which they all agreed to.

Night time arrives in Amphibia, and Marcy was getting her place ready for her friends. As she watered her plants, a knock on the door was heard. She rushed over with excitement and opened her door. Standing on the other side was Lady Olivia.

"Good evening, Master Marcy," she said. "Anne Boonchuy, Darrel Loyalitat, Tint Tormak, and the Plantars have arrived for your-" "Sleepover!" cried the kids as they rushed in wearing their night gear. All hopped up with excitement, they were all over Marcy's bedroom.

"Sleepover," finished Lady Olivia. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the kitchen drinking...juice." "Thank you, Lady Olivia," said Darrel. Lady Olivia hid a smile as she walked out of the room.

Anne rushes in to hug Marcy. "This is going to be," "Awesome!" said Anne and Marcy. "It's the perfect way to spend the night before we hear from the king," said Sprig. "I wonder what he learned about the music box," said Anne.

"I hope it's enough to know how to get you guys back home," said Tint. "I don't want to give anything away," said Marcy. "But it's going to be pretty cool." Tint nods in agreement.

Hop pop and Cronaxx appear from outside the door. "Okay kids," said Hop pop. "We'll be back in the morning for our meeting with the king." "You all enjoy yourselves," said Cronaxx. "Me and Hop pop will be having some much needed, us time."

Cronaxx walks out just as Hop pop spoke up. "And by me time, I mean a full body-" Not wanting to hear anymore, Sprig and Polly slam the door on their grandfather. "Woo-hoo!" Polly cried. "Me and Sprig's first sleepover!" "Hey, don't forget this is probably Tint's first sleepover too," said Sprig. "Well, I'm a traveling salamander," said Tint. "But, I'll consider this my first one. Let's make it good." "These will be formative memories," said Sprig in a haunting tone.

"Woah," said Anne. "I just realized, we've never done a sleepover without Sasha." "Oh, you're right," said Marcy. "You think we can pull it off? Sasha's the sleepover queen. Not us." "Hey, you guys are the best of friends," said Darrel. "I believe that you can pull it off. Who says there has to be one queen?"

"Everyone, that's sort of how the whole system works Darrel," said Marcy. "Marcy, you, Anne, and Sasha have done tons of sleepovers," said Darrel. "As far as I'm concerned you guys know everything."

Anne and Marcy smiled at each other and said in sync, "Pajamas, junk food and gossip galore. Pillow fights, movies and tearing up the dance floor. And listen up 'cause this I won't repeat, never ever go to sleep."

Darrel smiled, "What did I tell you? We're gonna be just fine." "Sensing some missing context here," said Sprig. "Oh sorry, Sasha always said falling asleep early means total failure," said Marcy. "A true sleepover goes until sunrise."

"That sounds like a challenge," said Tint. "Enough setup," said Anne. "Let's get this sleepover on baby. The kids cheer and get their party on.

Throughout the night, the kids were all over the castle. They surfed down the stairs on mattresses crashing into knight armor. They dressed up in the king's clothing in his wardrobe, angering Lady Olivia for being fooled. Then they sprayed silly string on her in the study.

Lady Olivia couldn't take much of it, so she knocked them down with her surprising martial arts skills. "While I'm glad you kids are having fun. Let me remind you that some castle rooms are off limits, namely the basement."

"Hear you loud and clear, Lady Olivia," said Darrel. "In the meantime," he immediately sprays her with a hidden silly string. "Montage is back on!"

Soon the gang had a pillow fight, raided the castle kitchen, and painted mustaches on paintings in the hall gallery. The gang never had this much fun in a long time. Later that night, the group laid on their sleeping bags. Exhausted from all the running, laughing, and feasting.

"Whew, that was awesome," said Tint. "Best sleepover ever," said Sprig. "Told you you guys could pull this off without Sasha," said Darrel. "You were right," said Anne. "What time is it anyway? 5:00 am? 6:00am?"

Marcy takes out her phone revealing the time to be 9:00 pm. "Only 9:00 pm?!" "What?!" Anne and Darrel perked up hearing that fact. "I had no idea we'd done so much, in so little time," said Darrel. "But I'm still tired," said Polly.

Anne gathers their amphibian friends and shakes them awake. "Alright! I'm up!" said Tint. "Don't you guys do anything else at these sleepovers?" Darrel asked. "Well, there is one thing," said Marcy. "Anne, I think it's time."

"Do you think they're ready?" she asked. "Is anyone ever really ready, Anne?" "Ready for what?" the group asked. Darrel was concerned with what they were planning on doing, but mostly terrified.

His fears suddenly perked when the lights went out and Anne and Marcy shined a light under their faces. "The Scare Dare Challenge," they said. Darrel and Tint perk up hearing the term scare in this event. 'Who would have a hard time sleeping with fear in control of your mind?' they thought.

"Okay, the rules are simple," said Marcy. "One of us comes up with a scary dare and we all have to do it." Anne announced the catch, "But, whoever bails first gets their name added to," "The Book of Losers!" Marcy finished.

The four friends gasped. Anne continues her rule, "And once your name is in the Book of Losers, it'll be there forever." "Woah," gasped Darrel. He didn't know that his three friends do this every time they get together for the night. Now that he got a taste of what to expect, he grins with excitement. "I'm in," he said. He was followed by Tint and the Plantars, "Let's do this!" "I'm sold." "Count me in too."

"Okay," said Marcy. "All we need is a scary dare." The group gets down to thinking of coming up with a scary dare. They took their time, but they haven't come up with anything. "Yeah, I got nada," said Sprig.

"I don't remember being this difficult," said Anne. "That's because Sasha's always came up with the best scare dares," said Marcy. Suddenly, Darrel got an idea.

"I may not be Sasha, but I think I got the best Sacre Dare Challenge." He walks over to the map of the castle, staff in hand. "Every time I visit my cousins, we play hide and seek in the basement with the lights out. And when I'm it, my cousins and sisters never felt more scared in their lives."

Marcy grew anxious about where Darrel was going with his challenge. "I don't know Darrel, the basement is off limits for a reason. This may not be a smart idea."

"Maybe, but I know for a fact that it sounds like something Sasha would do," said Darrel. "That is true," said Anne. "Therefore, I hereby announce that the Scare Dare Challenge is to explore the basement of the Newtopian Castle!" Darrel announced. "Do you five accept the challenge?"

"I hereby accept the scare dare challenge," said Marcy. "We also accept the scare dare challenge," said Sprig, Tint, and Polly. "Anne, you in?" Darrel asked. Anne smiled, "I accept!" "The challenge is accepted and official!"

The group sneaks past Lady Olivia sleeping with a glass in her hand. Polly, however, takes a marker and prepares to draw a mustache on her. The group head downstairs into the cellar, and find a trapdoor leading to the basement. "Woah," the group exclaimed.

The group sees another stairway leading deeper into the dark. "So, who wants to go first?" Sprig asked in a minor scared tone. "I vote for Darrel," Polly said immediately. "Hey!" Darrel exclaimed. "It was your idea," said Marcy.

Darrel grew a bit anxious, but then took a deep breath. "Alright, stay close and don't hold up. Cause I'm not stopping." Darrel takes his staff and the gem gives off a tint glow to see in the dark.

As the group descend into the dark, Marcy trips and falls down the stairs. She stops at the bottom and gets scared seeing a moth. She gets up then gets scared by the group, who get scared back.

"Okay that's enough," said Anne. The group looks in the hallway to find a bunch of mirrors. "Woah, that's a lot of mirrors," said Sprig. The group grows anxious at the scenery. "You know, we can always turn back," said Darrel. "Insert our names in the Book of Losers." The group however didn't want to be losers, "Nah."

The group ventures deeper into the hall. Slowly, but surely, they started to question their choice of ever accepting this challenge. "You know," said Tint. "I read in books that mirrors can ward off ancient spirits, and summon them." This statement gave Marcy the opportunity to laugh maniacally.

Eventually, the kids reach a dead end. A door boarded up with Amphibian language. "Uh, what does it say?" Anne asked. "Allow me," said Darrel. He takes his staff, and the language glows. It rewrites itself in the English language saying 'Keep Out.' "Nice work Darrel," said Marcy. "You're really getting the hang of this magic training." "What can I say, I'm a natural listener," said Darrel.

Hearing a creak on the other side, everyone jumped. "So, does anyone still want to turn back?" Tint asked. Sprig and Polly shivered in fear, "I ain't going in no Book of Losers." "Me neither."

"Guess we'll go a bit further then," said Marcy. "Living our best lives right now," said Anne. "Well, if you all insist," said Darrel. He takes his staff and telepathically removes the wood from the door. Before he could reach for it, Anne grasps his hand. The two look and nod to keep going. Aware that they really don't want to.

The door opens revealing a flooded crypt, with tombstones floating in the water. "Anne, Darrel, we shouldn't be here," said Marcy. "This feels all sorts of wrong." "I agree," said Darrel. "Me too," said Anne. "Guys.I'm calling it. The challenge is over. Let's get out of here."

Sprig and Polly took this as an opportunity to win the challenge. "Oh I see," said Sprig. "I guess you four are okay with going in…" "The Book of Losers!" The two siblings mocked.

"I am not a loser," said Tint. "I can last longer than these humans." "Oh those are fighting words," said Darrel. "Anyone else want in?" "Uh, sure," said Anne. "It's just that this place isn't our style."

"Okay, prove it," said Sprig. "Take a selfie by that coffin." Sprig points to the coffin by the end of the room. "If I know Sasha, I know she would always jump at the chance," said Darrel.

The three humans approach the crypt with caution and prepare their selfie. They take the photo and view it. "Nailed it," said Anne. "Wait. The photo looks kinda jank."

Suddenly, they watch as their photo glows. Then, a strange ghost like creature appears in front of them. The three humans scream their heads off. Then, the crypt started glowing below them. And more of the ghost like creatures appear before them, in many shapes and sizes.

"What are these things?" Anne asked. "They look kinda cute," said Sprig. "Sprig! Don't touch them!" Tint cried. He points to one of the creatures with a frog skeleton inside. Indicating that these creatures eat amphibians.

The amphibian kids scream and make their way out of the crypt, surrendering the challenge. "I don't get it," said Anne. "Are they aliens? Ghosts?" "Does it matter?" Marcy asked. "Let's get out of here Scoob and Shag!"

"Wait, what did you call us?" Darrel asked. His question was interrupted when their entrance was blocked by one of the creatures. "Guys!" Tint cried. "This way! We found another exit!"

The kids rush out with all their speed, and the creatures slowly behind them. They rushed through hallways filled with mirrors, however the creatures didn't follow them directly. Instead they phase through the floor.

The kids then come across a room filled with plants, they were shown to be fresh and alive. "How are these plants growing without sunlight?" Marcy asked. Anne took her hand and said, "Mar-Mar, we don't have time for this. Come on!"

Then they pass a discarded portrait, which catches Sprig, Tint, and Polly's attention. "Woah, someone really hated this painting," said Sprig. Tint looks closely at the portrait and spots something familiar. He fixes a part of the painting and sees a younger version of Cronaxx. "Uncle Cronaxx?"

"Hurry up!" Polly cried as she dragged both the frog and salamander away from the creatures. The group reach another stairwell and open a trapdoor at the top. The group reach the other side, only to reveal they return to Marcy's quarters.

"My room?" Marcy asked. "Don't question it!" Sprig cried as he closed the door. Darrel kept his guard up with his staff, "Don't ease up guys, they're still behind us."

And he was right, the creatures phase through the trap door. Darrel blasts them with a light beam, but the spell phases through the creatures. Tint shoots fire from them, but to no avail. Sprig blocks the fire with a mirror, and somehow, the mirror reflects on one of the creatures.

The creature suddenly loses its glow and falls flat on the ground. Marcy takes her pillow and hits the creature. "It's physical, but how?" Marcy asked. "The mirror!" Tint exclaimed. Darrel instantly remembered when they were being chased, and got an idea. "Grab a mirror guys!" He throws a few mirrors to his friends and they start pointing them at the creatures.

Anne looks to a mirror and is surprised, "Hey, was anyone going to tell me I have leaves in my hair?" Darrel looks at her reflection, then looks at his own. "You have leaves. But I've got twigs in my hair? I look like a deer with these on."

"Not now you two!" Their friends cried. "Right!" After that, the group fights off the creatures and seals them away. Blocking the door from them entering again. "So, does anyone think they're going to sleep after that terrifying experience?" Marcy asked. The whole group agreed that they wouldn't.

Darrel looks to the time and learns that it's almost 3:00 am. "Oh boy, 3 am!" He takes out a sack of mushrooms and snacks on some. "Want any, guys?" "No thanks," his friends said. "We still have a few hours left until sunrise," said Polly. "What should we do next?"

Suddenly, Darrel got an idea. "Hey Marcy, I think now would it be a good idea to play Creatures and Caverns, this time in real life." Marcy gasped with excitement. "I'll get ready!" Just as the game was set, Darrel used his magic to transport them to the world she created.

The group enjoyed the fantasy world, up until they finished in record time. Which of course, was three hours. Marcy's phone went off as the sun began to rise. The group grew tired, but they felt accomplished. "We did it," said Sprig. "We stayed awake all night," said Polly.

"I still have so many questions," said Marcy. "Like what were those things? What's the deal with the basement? And if those were really ghosts, is there actually an afterlife?" "I didn't even think about that," said Anne. "Some things are best left unanswered," said Darrel.

"Well one thing's for sure," said Tint. "This sleepover was amazing!" Darrel smiled with Tint's cheerfulness. "Hey Darrel," said Marcy. "What did you think?" "Definitely amazing," replied Darrel.

Sprig reaches over to grab the Book of Losers, "I just wish I didn't have to add my name to the Book of Losers." Darrel looks glum, until, "Make room for my name Sprig. I was just as scared as you were." Eventually, Polly, Tint, Anne, and Marcy signed in their names too. "It's not the first time I signed in," said Marcy.

"For real?" Polly asked. Sprig flips over to previous pages, revealing Anne and Marcy's names, signed in from previous challenges. "The only one brave enough to not get in the books was Sasha," said Marcy.

Not seeing her name made Darrel sigh, "I can't help but think back what I said to her. I broke up with her in front of a crowd, and that has to be embarrassing." "We have to make things right with Sasha," said Anne. "And we will, guys," said Marcy. "I just know it."

Suddenly they hear a knock on the door, and the group, except for Darrel, hide in the covers. He opens the door with little suspense until he sees Lady Olivia hopping with anger, and hair all messed up. "Lady Olivia, Good morning," said Darrel.

"Is it good?" Lady Olivia asked. She reveals a mustache and chin strap drawn on her face, and the statement, 'Polly Wuz Here' on her eyelids. "Because of you kids, I barely slept a wink last night. Well whatever, it's go time!"

"For what?" Darrel asked. "Your audience with King Andrias is about to begin," replied Lady Olivia. "Get ready!" Then she slams the doors, leaving Darrel stunned. Then, the rest of the group started to laugh.

"You guys should've seen her face when she's mad," said Darrel. Then out of nowhere, a small ghost-like creature appeared in front of them, scaring them in the sunrise.