15. S1: Blue Flashes
Anne is back. I'm still hungry. Thank you for reviews. Personal life is still shitty but I'm still alive. Also, happy 2021! :D
It was a quiet day at the Plantars. That's usually how this story starts. A quiet day, then some hijinks and everyone learns a lesson. Sprig even coined a term for it: Sasha-Karma or Karma-Sasha, depending on which one you'd prefer.
Thankfully, by the will of the frog gods, the Sasha-Karma cascade won't occur today. Instead, something far less interesting was taking place.
"Sasha, Sprig, Polly! Come down here quick! You won't believe what I got from town today!" Hop Pop, the patriarch of the Plantar family, shouted.
Running towards the living room, Sprig Plantar, the boy frog, then gasped dramatically once arrived. "Gasp! It's a box!"
"I'm pretty sure what he meant was what's inside the box." Sasha, the lone human girl with an attitude, stated.
Exactly as they said, there was indeed a large box in the living room, roughly half the size of their couch. It was a surprise how Hop Pop was even able to lift the box here, considering his old age. Using a pair of scissors, he cut off the tape and pulled out a few papers from within.
"Ta-da!" He exclaimed, showing the papers — an instruction manual — to the youngsters. It was written in an alphabet Sasha wasn't familiar with but there was drawing on the cover.
Sasha inspected closer. "… Is that a bed?"
Hop Pop nodded. "H-hm! Since you've been sleeping in a bag this whole time, I thought it's high time that you got yourself your own furniture."
Truth was, he actually ordered one from a magazine a week or so ago. It never bothered him before but after the basement got flooded, he realized how Sasha's basic needs were barely being met. Being a farmer, it was natural how important comfortable oak bed was for his tiring body.
Sprig awed. "Woah! A bed but in a box?! How do you sleep in it?!" He asked, looking at the contents inside.
"You have to build the bed, Sprig. It's a new trend nowadays." Hop Pop explained.
Sasha then grabbed the instruction manual and looked through it, flipping page by page. Building your own bed? This felt oddly innovative for a place where electricity doesn't exist. Also, somewhat familiar. "Huh, I guess this world isn't so different after all."
Impatiently, Polly snatched the manual from Sasha and screamed. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get building!"
Meanwhile, as Sasha and co. took the time to build their new furniture, something far more interesting was taking place far, far away. At the edge of Frog Valley, situated between a deathly cliff with jagged rocks at the bottom and a dark accursed forest full of monstrous beasts, stood the infamous Toad Tower, a bastion of military authority.
Despite its current destroyed state, the fortress was still ever-impressive. The attack from giant ants did quite a number on it but repairs were already ongoing. A testament to the toads' efficiency.
Anne Boonchuy, one of the three human girls transported to this other world, took a deep and satisfying breath. After being stuck in a jail cell for so long, she was grateful to have her own room now, especially after being nominated as vice-captain. She even had her own fitted armour and everything.
Still, Anne was pretty sure the only reason she was in that position was so the boss of this place could keep an eye on her. But hey, at least she didn't have to share beds with toads. Not that there's anything wrong with toads! She just wasn't fond of slimy icky amphibians in general.
Entering the courtyard, the first person in view was a female toad soldier with blonde hair tied into a bun, currently tending to some planter boxes. Anne waved her hand to greet. "Hey there, Braddock! How's it going? Ooo, I see those flower patches are looking good."
The toad known as Braddock turned, greeting her back with a smile. She blushed at the compliment. "Haha, thanks! Staple's really good with flowers."
"Well, he did say his folks were florists. I'm surprised that you like gardening too." Anne noted.
"Yeah, well, you're supposed to leave your old life behind when going to Toad Tower. It's a lifetime commitment."
Yep, she heard that before. Working as a soldier for life? She could never imagine herself in that position, or anything even remotely that long. It still irked her a lot but who was she to judge? Maybe they had retirement benefits.
"You know, I'm so glad you're here. Captain Grime would never have let me put these up. He would've just said it was a waste of resources or something." Braddock exclaimed.
"Well, I've played a few games and one thing I learned is that morale is super important. You want people to be happy so that they work better." Anne replied. For once, Marcy's hobby taught her something. Who knew video games could be educational?
"Huh, I never really thought about that," Braddock noted.
"I don't think anyone did." Anne then looked around, watching the soldiers all doing their part in restoring the fortress to its former glory. Everyone had a part, either breaking up some rocks into gravel, placing the scaffolding or even just preparing lunch. No one had the time to do military training, not when their base was in such a horrible state.
"Hmm, this place is surprisingly peaceful when no one is running around with weapons. How often do you guys fix this place up?"
"We haven't had an attack like that for ages. So... Not a lot?" Braddock answered with a shrug.
Anne nodded. "Makes sense. Well, I gotta go. See you later, then?"
"Oh, definitely! See ya, Anne!" Braddock exclaimed, waving goodbye.
On her own once again, Anne continued her stroll within Toad Tower's premises. Since her position was just honorary, she basically had nothing to do but laze around all day. She kinda wished she had some responsibility but it only made sense that an outsider like her wasn't given any real power.
Still, it was somewhat boring.
Thankfully while on her way, she spotted a familiar face nearby – one of her first friends here. Smiling, she headed straight to say hello.
Entering an unfinished workshop, Anne walked by at a safe distance, whilst everyone continued work. The workshop was similar to the one she went to in school and if it's one thing the teachers successfully drilled into her head, it would be safety lessons.
There, by the non-existent wall, Anne politely greeted. "Yo there, Wright! How's it hanging?"
"Grr...!" A reddish toad named Wright growled angrily at her, refusing to greet back as he sawed a plank of wood with a forceful hand. Noticing the aggression, Anne took a step back and nervously laughed.
"Hehe, I feel like you're mad at me."
He turned to her, scowling. "Why wouldn't I? I left my parents' place to become a soldier and here I am, doing carpentry exactly the same way I did before!"
Anne scratched the back of her head, looking somewhat sorry. Wright did say that he despised doing carpentry, despite coming from a long line of carpenters. She bet he didn't expect to do that again. "Look, it can't be helped. Toad Tower's a mess and we need as much help as possible to fix it."
"Well, ain't that just supposed to make me feel better?!" He hissed before continuing his work. "Hng, what do you want?"
"Just looking around. What? Can't I check up on my friends?" she answered, her hands deep in her skirt pockets.
"We're not friends. We're temporary allies in arms."
"What's the difference?"
"If you got stabbed, I'd be laughing."
"Oh..."
Well, that ended badly. One would think the toad was more thankful, considering she did save his life. But just like on Earth, not all good deeds were appreciated. Anne kicked a small pebble, a bit disappointed.
While Anne was moping, Wright felt a sharp stare emanating nearby. Looking behind her at the fortress's main building, he noticed Captain Grime, commander of Toad Tower, staring from his office. Usually, that wasn't weird. After all, he oversaw everything so this was normal. However, Wright could tell who exactly it was directed at.
"You know that the captain's been looking at you from his office this entire time, right?" He told. Anne's whole body stiffened.
"U-uh..." she stuttered. "N-no?"
"Well, you should go. He hasn't called you yet but I bet he wants to talk."
Anne gulped, her throat tightening. "I-I'd rather stay here and, uh, help. I m-mean, it's probably not urgent, r-right?"
Probably, yes. It was a good assumption. After all, who could tell whether someone wanted to meet them or not just by how their eyes shifted? Not unless you're a mind reader, no.
But considering his stare was intensifying, he'd rather not bet against that.
"He's glaring."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Now he's showing teeth."
"Oh god..."
She really didn't want to go. Captain Grime was the reason she was stuck in this place, to begin with. Sure, he technically did save her from the wilderness but who knows? Maybe there was a chance she'd be found by a loving family of farmers.
Wright then noticed that his captain had shifted attention to him. His breath hitched. "Okay, now he's glaring at me. Time for you to get going."
"You're kicking me out?!" Anne cried, baulking in horror. "But I helped build this workshop!"
"Yeah, after I told you I didn't want to be a carpenter. Now we're both disappointed!" He argued back. Pointing at the exit, which was just two logs without any walls, he shouted. "Out!"
If there was one person she didn't want to meet, it would be Captain Grime, the commander of Toad Tower. First name Captain Grime, last name apparently none of her business. With his scarred exterior and serious attitude, he was not the kind of person anyone would want to be friends with, not even his fellow soldiers. Especially Anne since neither of them trust each other outside of their promise.
Captain Grime's office was located in one of the towers. It has a balcony overlooking the courtyard and main entrance of the castle. The office wasn't too high off the ground either, allowing him to observe the cadets and officers as they train their physical skills out in the open. At least when he's watching, everyone would train their hardest since he'd definitely call them out if they slack off.
Outside of the office, Anne inhaled and exhaled, steeling her nerves. "Keep your cool, Anne. You can do this. Believe in yourself!"
She then reached out for the doorknob but before she could even touch it, the sole resident called her from within.
"Come in," Grime said, his voice muffled by the walls. Hesitantly, Anne opened the door and inside, the battle-hardened toad shad been staring outside. He then turned to her and waited as she walked closer.
"How did you know I was here?" Anne questioned in surprise, pushing the door close.
"I could hear you shout motivational mantras at yourself outside the door." He then glanced at the free chair in front of him and calmly spoke. "Sit."
With that one word, Anne took the chair and sat down. Legs crossed, lips puckered inwards and back straighter than a ruler, Anne felt her heart racing.
"So... You called?" she asked.
Grime looked at her and grinned. "No, I didn't but how lucky of you to come here anyway."
Oh, so he wasn't calling for her. Not only was Wright wrong, but he might also have sent her to her doom. Under her breath, Anne silently cursed. "Heck."
Grime raised a brow at such foul language but then ignored it. There were far more important things to take care of, one of which revolved entirely around Anne Boonchuy. Clearing his throat, Grime began the conversation. "Tell me, vice-captain. Have you experienced anything odd with your body?"
…
…
…
Anne blinked, confused. "What?"
"You know, changes in your physical form in ways that you cannot explain. Maybe a sudden unexpected growth?"
... Was he serious? Oh god, he was serious! Anne quickly cupped her ears, an old memory slowly resurfacing without her consent. Back! Back to the deep dark depth with you!
"P-please stop! I've had this conversation with my mom before! I don't need to know about the birds and the bees again!"
Raising his brow again, Grime stared at her, baffled. "What?" It took him a moment to realize what she meant. Briefly, he blushed, not from embarrassment but from pure irritation. "What did you think I was going to talk about?!"
"W-what were you going to talk about?!"
"Definitely not what you're insinuating!" Enraged, he then slammed the table, shocking the poor girl out of her stupor. "By the toad gods, are you a juvenile?!"
"Hey, I take offence to that word! I'm 14! In a year or so, I'd legally be able to get a job!" She argued, though missing the actual point.
Exasperated, Grime slapped his own forehead, dragging his hand down with a groan. While he did treat everyone with the respect they deserved, children like her were always a bit more difficult. Then again, full-grown adults showed the same level of intelligence as well, so maybe his standards were too high.
"I don't care about your age! I'm talking about magic!" He yelled in return.
Puzzled, Anne tilted her head slightly. "Magic?"
"Yes, magic! Curses and the mystical arts! Have you experienced a feeling that's out of place? One that was caused by magic?"
That… didn't really answer her question. Reminded of the level of technology this world had, Anne gave out a sigh of relief. Even though Captain Grime was a tough-as-nails kind of person, superstition still ran rampant when formal science-focused education probably didn't exist. That was the same case on Earth too.
Anne stifled a laugh. "Look, I get that this world doesn't have the Internet but magic isn't real. It's just a bunch of tricks for kids and optical illusions." She then pulled out her phone, quickly swiping the screen. "Look, I even have a video about it. Watch!"
He snarled, slapping her hand from him. "Get that blasted thing out of my face!"
"Sheesh, calm down, dude. I'm just saying that magic isn't real." Anne insisted, pocketing her phone away.
"It might not be real from wherever you came from but it is real here and is a real threat."
Being an experienced warrior, Grime had seen what magic could do. Hexes, curses and even voodoo. Under Newtopian law, it wasn't illegal to practice it but generally, it was frowned upon unless you're really trustworthy and knew what you were doing. One mistake, no matter how small, could end up killing someone or worse.
Grime walked around the table, circling Anne. "Back during the battle with the buillotine ants, you showed an act of incredible strength, unlike anything I've ever seen."
"Aww..." Anne cooed happily.
"Physically, I mean. Your spine is just as flabby as these sorry excuse for recruits."
"Aww..." She cooed sadly.
Ignoring her, he continued. "You were as strong as ten toads, maybe even more. The only explanation I could think of is that you've been branded by magic."
Also, the fact that he saw her eyes glow blue. Now, he wasn't a human expert by any means but it didn't take a genius to tell whether it was magic or not.
Anne, though, was still not convinced. "I mean, I'm pretty strong myself." She said, showing off her biceps. Despite looking lanky as a stick, her arm did have some visible toning. "You sure it's not just my natural strength? Maybe this world has a lower gravity or something?"
"I assure you, it was not. Or else you would've broken out of your cell immediately." He countered.
"… Fair point. But that's doesn't mean magic is a thing!"
Still not convinced, eh? Grime had a feeling something like this would've happened. Thankfully, he had just the backup he needed to change her mind. From a drawer of his table, he revealed a fragment of a mandible, one that belonged to the matriarch of those insectoid beasts.
"You stopped a queen ant from tearing you apart like a wet tissue with your bare hands. That itself is proof enough." He claimed, placing the mandible onto the table, a solid reminder of what transpired. "Since then, I've been keeping an eye and so far, you have yet to show any progress regarding your powers."
Seeing the familiar mouthpiece up close, it was hard to dispute. While she didn't break it herself, she might as well have caused it. Anne shook her head, reorganizing her thoughts.
"Okay, let's say I do believe you and I do have powers. So..." Anne wiggled her hands. "What? I'm like the chosen one?"
Grime scoffed. "Far from it. You wouldn't survive 5 minutes outside these walls." He exclaimed without a hint of remorse. "No, you told me you had no idea how you got here."
That was a lie.
She did know how she got here. How could she not? It was in her hands when it happened. An ornate music box with frog symbols engraved on top and three colourful jewels slotted in it. With how traumatizing it was, it was pretty much burned in her memory.
But that was an important piece of information, not one she was willing to share so easily.
"Yep," Anne replied after a short pause.
"If that's the case, then whatever it was that sent you here most likely supplied you with that magic."
… Oh, so the music box was magic. Now that she thought about it, it seemed kinda obvious, as ridiculous as it may be. However, she did catch one tiny unspoken detail.
"Wait, wait, wait! That means all my friends have powers!" She exclaimed.
Grime nodded. "Indeed. Which means they're a danger and finding them has become an even bigger priority." He looked out onto the horizon, the sun just barely passing its peak. "Until Toad Tower is completely repaired, I cannot send any of my troops to scout the valley. There's a chance your friends would be dead by then."
Ba-dup!
Anne's eyes widened, her heart skipped a beat. "W-what?! No! You told me that could take weeks!"
"Even with the materials at hand, I still require the manpower. With tax season coming up, it complicates matters even more." He stated with frustration.
Toad Tower might have materials on standby for simple repairs but nothing this big. He needed the money to purchase more materials from nearby towns which meant this particular tax season was even more important. Not even a single soldier could be wasted on duty; every instant of Toad Tower in shambles was a security risk. If another attack ever occurred at this state, Toad Tower would be utterly decimated.
Anne hummed deeply, thinking of a solution. Seconds later, an idea flashed in her mind and Anne snapped her fingers. "That's it! You said I had the strength of ten men, right?"
"Ten toads. You're at least 40 newts or maybe 20 frogs, give or take a couple." He iterated.
"That's gross." She pointed out. "But let's say I could use this magic power of mine. That means I could do ten toads worth of work by myself, which means you get ten toads free."
"Are you saying that if you're able to harness your strength, you want me to send my men on a scouting mission while you do their part of the work?"
Anne pouted. "Was I being a bit obtuse?"
Scratching his chin, Grime gave it a thought. It was a good deal. Not only would Anne and her strength be able to substitute the manpower but she could even do heavy lifting that would usually require large machinery. Plus, he could even train her to become a true lieutenant and not a 'vice-captain', an honorary title that didn't even exist.
"Hm... That could work. It'll also give us the opportunity to test out these abilities of yours." Grime exclaimed. Pulling out his hand, the two shook on it, a deed similar to their previous agreement. "Fine. It's a deal then. After lunch, that is."
Lunch was... something, to say the least. Really, Anne thought that the prison food they gave her was just a method of torture, hoping to pry her head open by letting her slowly stew in stress induced by unnatural meals. But once she got out of that jail cell, she learned the horrible truth; everyone was eating it.
Never in her life did she see so many ways of cooking ant meat. To her utter disgust, the toads were completely okay with it, some even cheering in delight. She should've known that the diet of humanoid amphibians was different than a human being. That was her own fault.
After attempting to eat at least one plate of an ant's thorax, Anne and Grime head straight towards an indoor training room meant for high-ranking officers. Not everyone trained in the courtyard and Grime, being the leader, had to sharpen his skills somehow.
"Since your powers are not active at the moment, I assume it requires a certain trigger." He deduced. "You'll need to find out what that is."
Walking away, Grime grabbed hold of a few items – weights, poles and sandbags. "How confident are you with physical challenges?"
"You mean like sports?" Anne asked. "I wouldn't brag but..."
Anne tilted her head left and right, lifting her shoulders simultaneously and then stretched her arms forward with her hands interlocked. The bones in her collar and fingers popped and cracked, releasing any and all tension in those areas.
"I'm the best back in middle school."
Grime smiled. So she was confident with her skills. That was excellent.
Stepping aside, he showed the objects to her. Seeing how confident she was, he was going to put her through the most heavy-duty trial ever made. "Good. Then you'll love this."
She did not.
Look, Anne had no problem with a little bit of sports. Back in middle school and even elementary school, she was, in Sasha's words, a 'sports freak'. No matter the game, from football to rugby, tennis to swimming, she dominated the field. She was basically a super jock. Most coaches would beg for her to stay.
And she did, for a few of them. Any game that she could play on her own, it worked well. But when it came to team stuff, let's just say they learned a hard lesson of how well she worked with others.
She remembered back when she was younger, how she could've applied for a scholarship. Her family wasn't poor or anything but it didn't hurt to ease up their financial stress. With the extra funds, they could even buy a new oven to replace the piece of junk her mom brought from Thailand.
But if she accepted it, then she'd go to a different school, away from Sasha and Marcy.
After several minutes of intense workouts, Anne was left lying on the ground and unable to move. Her breathing was ragged and uneven while her muscles ached all over. It wouldn't last though. In a day or two, she'd be back in tip-top shape.
Grime, however, was not satisfied. "Ggh, nothing's changed!" He barked.
"C-can we like, hah, take a b-break?" Anne croaked, her body twitching. "K-kinda need, oh, a breather."
Captain Grime was perplexed. He thought that some extreme exercises would trigger her powers. They were physical so it wasn't a bad guess. But what was he missing?
"What's different from then and now?" He mumbled, thinking back at the queen ant and the toad dogpile. Both events had her use her powers under extreme stress. So what was wrong?
Anne, feeling her body heal enough, raised her torso and shrugged. "I don't know. Motivation? Positive reinforcement? You know, the works."
Positive reinforcement? How was the assistance of additional allied troops 'positive'? Then again, there was a sense of hope when they do come.
Before he could think any further, knocks interrupted his thoughts, coming from the door. It then swung open, revealing Percy, a toad soldier. Other than the usual armour everyone wore, he had a leather sling bag around him, full of scrolls, papers and other reports. Anne never talked to him much but she recalled him liking music.
"Uh, s-sir? T-there's a message f-for you." Percy exclaimed, his words cracking like an old radio.
"What is it?!" Grime shouted angrily.
"W-well, you see—"
"Speak up, soldier! I haven't got all day!"
Anne frowned. Even among his own troops, he did not make it easier for them. "Woah, dude. Chill out. He can't speak with you interrupting him like that." She said, stepping in.
Grime growled before waving at Percy to continue. The younger toad then retrieved a scroll from his bag and began reading. "Um, well, I've got a report that some beast had been terrorising the town of Wartwood. They say that there's a lot of damage so they might not be able to pay their taxes completely this season."
Grime's eyes widened in shock. Immediately, he snarled, stomping his foot in rage. "Blast! With the repairs, every single silver counts!" Turning towards Percy, he issued a task. "Send an order to the tax collection unit en-route to find a way to meet the quota."
"U-uh, right away, s-sir!" Percy replied with a salute and immediately headed off.
After Percy left the two alone again, Anne stared at her company worriedly. She might not know him that long but he was surprisingly impatient recently, a contrast to keeping her in a jail cell for weeks.
"Dude, are you okay? You seem grumpier than usual." Anne asked, hearing him grumble.
"I am not 'okay'. I am, in fact, quite furious! Not only will we be lacking resources to fix Toad Tower in a reasonable timeframe, but you also have no idea how to activate your abilities! In the end, our deal is moot!" He replied with a hiss.
Ann lifted both hands and shrugged. "Hey, don't blame me about this! I didn't even know I had any until you told me!"
"How could you not have known when you literally lifted several of my men off the ground in a moment of—!"
Danger. She was in danger. She was stressed out, desperate and in need.
"Wait, that's it!" Quickly, Grime ran off and headed towards a weapons rack. Looking through the dangerous armaments, he picked out a rather crude-looking sword, its dark metallic blade dented and its edge chipped.
It wasn't much but this will have to do.
"Here, catch." Grime said, throwing the blade at Anne. The girl yelped, jumping back and away from it as it clattered across the floor.
"Hey, watch it! You shouldn't throw swords around!" she chastised.
Grime, however, ignored her and pulled out his own personal blade. Unlike the one he gave to Anne, his was silvery, top-quality and was properly maintained. Through his blade, he pointed at the thrown weapon. "Grab that sword."
Anne raised a brow, confused, but did so anyway. Leaning down, she took hold of the blade's handle, inspecting its weight. To her surprise, it was actually well-balanced despite its flaws.
"Okay, now wha—?" Before she could finish her sentence, Grime swiped at her with his weapon, surprising Anne.
CLANK! She lifted her own vertically, blocking it but was pushed back by sheer strength.
"AHHH!" she screamed, falling over onto the ground, her sword almost leaving her hand. "WHAT THE HECK, DUDE?! I thought we were done with the whole 'trying to kill me'!"
"Protect yourself, Ms Anne. Or you'll face the consequences." He said cryptically.
Anne was utterly confounded. She had no idea what he was talking about but nonetheless, his threats were genuine. Captain Grime was not the kind of person to lie. He was cunning but honourable. If he said to protect herself, he really meant it.
Grasping her sword, Anne stood back up and readied herself. "I don't know what you're on about but if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you get!"
Quickly, she lunged at him with a downward slash. Lacking any training, her moves were sloppy and full of opening. But that wasn't why they were here.
Grime took a step to the left, easily dodging her attack and calmly lifted his blade to her neck, just inches away from the skin. Any further and she would've lost her head.
"Again."
Putting some distance between them, Anne attempted to hit him with a lunge attack, hopefully forcing him back if he blocked. "RAAAAAHHH!"
The attack did push him somewhat but with only one hand, he shoved her lunging blade to angle down, causing Anne to lose her balance. Anne wobbled past him, almost falling over again. Luckily, she successfully stabilized herself and quickly spun back around.
"Again!" He shouted.
Without a word, Anne went on for a third try, focusing on her balance this time and making sure she didn't overreach. She was learning quickly but unfortunately, her attacks became weaker as she began conserving her movement and avoiding any risks. Grime noticed it, feeling the blades clash with one another but lacking the oomph.
CLANK! CLANK!
She was starting to take in flaws. This was unacceptable. Without warning, he slashed her on the upper arm, cutting through her school uniform and creating a shallow cut.
SCHWING!
"ARGH THAT HURTS!" Anne shrieked, placing a hand over the wound. Endorphins quickly suppressing any pain, she glanced at her hand and to her shock, her palm stained red.
Immediately, her heart dropped.
"Again." Grime ordered, brandishing his sword.
In fear, Anne dropped her blade, the metal clattering loudly. "Woah Woah, time out, man! I'm feeling really unsafe here!"
"You should be. I'm wielding a sword and I am very intent on killing you. Now grab your blade and defend yourself."
Anne froze in place, her body refusing to move. Her mind was wracked all over and her thoughts flew everywhere. She didn't want to grab the sword, knowing that she'd have to fight but Grime was serious. She'd seen it first hand.
With shaking hands, she took up her weapon and braced herself.
Just like she feared, he didn't hold back.
CLANK! "Again."
TINGSH! "Again!"
SCHWING! "AGAIN!"
"WILL YOU KNOCK IT OFF?!" Anne screamed angrily. Fuming, she threw her sword away, tired of this whole ordeal. "I don't know what you're trying to do but it's not going to work!"
Without another word, Anne stormed off. She slammed the door open and close, almost shaking the very walls. The frame cracked slightly and dust fell from the ceiling. Grime, startled by what happened, was left speechless.
Several minutes later, Anne was found standing on a balcony, her arms crossed on top of the stone railings and her shoulder slumped miserably. Behind her, Grime peeked from the entryway, the door partially opened. He couldn't see her face but he could guess that she was not in a good mood.
"Hello, sir!"
"GAH!" Grime shrieked. Quickly turning, he faced the voice behind him and to his surprise, it was a soldier he recognised.
"What are you doing here, private Staple?" he asked.
Staple chuckled. "Sorry about that, sir. I was just around when I saw Anne storm off. I didn't realize you were here."
Ah, so he was worried about her. How sentimental of him, a rare trait amongst hardened toad warriors. Then again, Staple was anything but hardened. He was basically a boiled egg without its shell — soft, bouncy and perfect in making egg sandwiches.
Grime grumbled, shifting back to the human girl. "Tch, she's mad at me." He said, clicking his tongue in bother. "Not the first one nor the last."
Staple nodded, having heard the outburst. "Well, you did sound like you were being really tough on her, sir. Maybe you should just... apologize?"
Apologize? Just like that? Captain Grime, commander of the infamous Toad Tower, champion of the Newtopian coliseum, lowering his head to a homesick girl? He mentally scoffed at the thought. How would an apology fix anything?
Yet, the idea nagged him. It was ridiculous... but plausible.
"What an odd thing to say, private. When did you become an expert on beasts?" Grime replied with a question.
Although, Staple looked confused. "Anne's not a beast. Anne's just Anne." He answered in frank.
Well, as much as he despised the idea, it might just work. Stepping out of the door, he slowly walked towards Anne, her head hung lower than before. His boots scrunched up with each step while the sand beneath shifted against stone.
"A-hem." He coughed, hoping to garner her attention. Getting no response, he coughed again. "A-hem!"
"... What?"
Grime cleared his throat. "Following the... advice of another, I have come to state my sincerest apologies. As you can guess, I am quite stressed at the moment, more so than usual."
Anne sighed. It wasn't the apology she was hoping for but knowing, it'll have to do. "Thanks, I guess..." She replied without looking. "Sorry I got mad at you. It's just, you remind me so much about Sasha!"
Grime blinked. "Sasha? Who's Sasha?"
"One of my friends that got sent here with me." Anne answered. "Sasha's, like, one of my oldest friends. I've known her since kindergarten. And yet, she's so...! UGH!"
At the last syllable, she literally started grasping the air, her fingers twitching in frustration. Afterwards, both hands curled up and slammed into the stone railings.
"I didn't want the stupid box! But she just had to push, saying it was my birthday present!" Anne exclaimed, livid. "Guess that's karma for ya! I followed her lead and stole a music box that I didn't like and now, here I am in some messed up world full of giant bugs and talking frogs!"
For some odd reason, hearing how upset she was, Grime couldn't help but feel sympathy for the girl. Even his brows furled down sadly, an expression of pity.
"This Sasha of yours doesn't sound very friendly to me." He stated bluntly, prompting Anne to turn with her mouth agape.
"S-she is! She helped me out so many times already! It's just..." Anne paused, thinking of her words. Whilst standing, she looked down to her feet, the sun's orange glow covering her in her own shadow. "She's so controlling and always goes around telling people what to do! Telling me what to do! And then I mess up and she has to bail me out!"
The more she let her mind flow, the more negative it became. Bit by bit, her mind was filled with images of her friend, all scrambled in a sea of emotions. Her fists tightened strongly till even her knuckles whitened.
"It's so FRUSTRATING!" She shouted harshly as if it hurt to say those words.
For a moment, her eyes glowed blue, something Grime noticed. Instantly, he realized his mistake. He knew what he did wrong.
"Come." He said, inviting her for one last try.
Back in the training room, Grime handed Anne her discarded weapon, the one she threw away in her tantrum.
"Here. Grab your sword."
Anne looked at him sceptically. Did he really not understand her earlier? "I don't want to fight you anymore."
"I'm not telling you to fight me." He replied. "All you have to do is hit this training dummy."
Right there, by the wall, was a training dummy, a reliable partner for combat practice. Made of hay tightly woven together in cloth, it wasn't much to look at; a single sword strike or a stab of a spear was enough to damage it. However, it was reinforced with thick pieces of iron armour, protecting it from harm.
Anne wasn't sure what he was trying to do but complied. Maybe hitting this fake opponent was the best way to vent. Lifting her blade, she hit the dummy at its side, only for the sword to bounce off. It was very sharp either and against this kind armour, it wouldn't even scratch it.
CLANK!
"You know, that relationship you have with that girl sounds dubious." Grime quipped, standing at a safe distance.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, she tells you to do something and you get in trouble for it. Sounds to me like she was just using you."
CLANK! Ba-dup!
"N-no, it's just what friends do. Friends help each other. Plus, she's like the leader of our group. Of course, we follow her around." Anne stated, though more to herself than the captain.
"Really? Well, I disagree." Grime swiftly argued. "I've had soldiers going on missions under my orders. Orders that I didn't know would've sent them marching to their graves. I remember every single one of them."
CLANK!
Anne began sweating nervously. "T-they were just following orders. You can't blame yourself for that."
"But I can. That's what it means to be a leader. The sacrifices that my soldiers make, the blood that they've spilt, I alone carry that burden. I am responsible for every single toad in this fortress. Should anything happen to them, it is because of my own weakness."
Grime strolled around her while Anne continued hitting her full blade onto the hard metal. Each strike grew weaker as if something inside slowly cracked.
"Yet, this Sasha doesn't take responsibility. She should be the one punished for all the mistakes she had you cause, intentionally or not. But she didn't." He stated without pause. "She simply cowers behind you, afraid of the consequences while you suffer. You are not her friend. You're just a tool to her."
At this point, Anne couldn't even lift the sword. She felt tired and anxious. She didn't want to believe it. She couldn't.
"B-but—"
She couldn't.
In the end, Grime stood behind the dummy, his hands firmly on its shoulders. "If you ever do meet her again, what do you want to say to her?"
Deep inside her, her fragile heart cracked from the cold hard truth and for the first time, a small piece finally broke off. Slowly, her strength returned and her grip became tighter than ever.
"Sasha, I..." she hesitated, yet didn't stop. "I don't like it when we skipped class."
CLANK!
It was strong but not strong enough. "Is that it? Come on, there has to be more!"
"I-I also hate it when you make me do your homework!"
CLANK!
"Also, I have preferences! Like that time I saw this really cute scrunchie but you said it was hideous and you gave me a pink one instead. I don't like pink!" CLANK! "Or that other time you told me not to put chilli in my noodle soup because I can't handle the spiciness. You don't know that! I'm Thai-American! It's in my blood to eat spicy food!" CLANK!
Grime raised a brow. "A bit weird but okay..."
"I just want to do my own thing and I wanted you to be there for me, not push me to do something else. Something you want to do, not me!"
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
"Why can't you just respect that?!"
With each hit, more pieces inside fell. Slowly, her view of their friendship shifted. Each memory, even the good ones, was overtaken by the ones she despised or had forgotten. The time Sasha saved her from some bullies, the time Sasha pushed her into sports after seeing her competitive spirit; the tower of praises, care and love, all wrapped into an unrecognisable mess.
Tears flowed from her eyes. Feeling a shiver, Grime hastily stepped back.
"It was my birthday and mom made a party for me. It wasn't perfect but I was so looking forward to it. I thought I'd be able to have fun with my parents. And now..."
"Forget the sick room. Forget school! Let's get out of here and celebrate your birthday in style."
"Marcy said she found the perfect gift for you downtown. Aha! A frog music box for the frog lover."
"You're a good little girl who has to go home to her mommy and daddy. Come on! Hang out with your friends who love you."
"This isn't cute anymore. We're meeting up with Marcy right now. End. Of. Discussion."
Again, the blue in her eyes returned. But unlike before, it was dark and clouded, nothing like bright blue.
"I can never see them again and IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"
SCHWING!
In one stroke, less than a second, her dull blade scraped through the thick metal plating, tearing across with a force beyond what it could handle. The blade cracked under pressure but it did not break; it was too quick and decisive. Within moments, her arm bulldozed through and finally, the sword reached the other side, only to snap in two immediately after.
The dummy fell apart, its top half collapsing uselessly while the bottom stood still. Had this been a person, it would've been graphic.
"Hah... Hah..." Anne huffed, exhausted and ashamed. Even after all that was said, a small piece in her heart still remained, clinging for dear life. A part of their friendship that she couldn't throw away.
Anne let go of her broken weapon and dropped onto her knees. Her arms dangled by her side and simultaneously, tears continued to flow down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and when she reopened, the blue glow disappeared.
This was the truth and she couldn't deny it.
Meanwhile, Grime, who had stood from afar, blinked with a dumb look on his face.
"I think," he began. "we finally found your trigger."
"Well, there you have it! It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears but your bed is finally complete!" Hop Pop congratulated.
Next to him, Sprig looked at the manual where an illustration of the bed was drawn. "And it looks exactly like the picture."
Meanwhile back in the Plantar household, roughly the same time period, the farmers, both frog and human, have finally finished putting together their new furniture. It wasn't as simple as Sasha thought, forcing them to take the whole day just for this endeavour.
The bed wasn't much either; just a simple wooden frame. However, the headrest had an image of two flamingos carved on it – a predatory bird which, much like every other animal in Amphibia, was gigantic. At least according to Hop Pop. The bed was also painted with a light tint of pink, not enough to hide the natural brown wood but it did stand out.
Sasha liked pink. It was her favourite colour, stereotypes be damned.
"Kinda weird that nothing bad happened this time. I was sure we'd go through like some kind of a montage of us failing to build a bed." She exclaimed, being so used to it.
"Sasha, not everything we do has to end with disaster." Hop Pop countered. "I've had years of experience of fixing things up and Sprig's a natural."
"AND I HELPED!"
"And Polly helped."
Well, he got her there. It was still odd nothing bad happened but even in rainy seasons, there were sunny days. This could just be one of them.
"Well, in any case," Sasha said, patting on the headrest. "I think the bed looks good. Maybe things are finally looking up for us."
Upon hearing that, Hop Pop frowned. "Let's not jinx it. We've seen it before and it's never good."
She couldn't deny that.