29. S2: Ms Pinky
Three stars burning bright,
Come from beyond to expel the night.
Whether they fight or embrace the fall,
Their choice shall determine all.
At the centre of the continent, a castle of great renown stood. Taller than the tallest mountains, wider than the widest fields, its street lined with gold, with building made of coral and an impenetrable wall surrounding the city — this magnificent locale has stood against the test of time for many millennia.
Generations of great people from all corners of the world have visited this capital, all in the sliver of hopes that even a glimmer of its majesty would be shared upon them. Countless have entered these walls and countless more came out as noble heroes, powerful lords, wise sages and even humble craftsmen. It was not at all ridiculous to assume that such a great place would continue to exist throughout one's lifetime.
Yet, it finally happened. For the first time in all of Amphibia's history, Newtopia has fallen.
On the throne where one mighty king has sat for centuries, someone else has taken his place. On a coral throne larger than her, a young girl — a human — resided. Despite sitting on the seat of the world, she looked tired. Determined but utterly exhausted.
And in her hand was an ornate music box, the source of her grief.
"Can't believe this little thing was the whole reason we got sent here. I wonder how it even got to Earth." Anne Boonchuy, Barrel's Successor, mused. In her distinct blue armour made of crude iron and hard leather, she had somehow united the toads under a single cause and as the flag bearer, led the march. Their purpose: revolution.
Yet, she sighed, her armour dull even in the sunlight. "Though, I don't care."
Anne turned to her best friend, or at least, she hoped still was, and smiled. "How about it, Marcy? Ready to send us home?"
Marcy Wu, Chief Ranger of the Newtopian Royal Army, stood before her. Once equals, she now felt small and feeble compared to the girl on the throne. This wasn't how she wanted things to go; they were supposed to be a team – three girls against the world. Yet now, one of her best friends deposed the ruler of this nation while the other stood beside her, an arm hung over her shoulder.
"I—I..." Her mouth felt dry. So paralyzed by shock and betrayal, she'd forgotten how to speak.
So her other friend spoke for her.
Anne's eyes widened. "Sasha..."
In the middle of the room, a collection of unfortunate misfits, armed with nothing but their scraggly fists and the tools on the belts, stood their ground. At the very front, Sasha Waybright, Hero of Wartwood, dragged her feet forward. Wearing a silver chest plate and carrying a mighty shield, her appearance was that of a guardian, although her stature was anything but.
Sasha looked sickly. Her usual fair complexion was deathly pale with blue veins, akin to fractured glass, visible under her skin, faint but clear. She could barely stand on her own, being supported by Marcy. Yet, despite her weakened state, her eyes were focused, leaking heavy intent.
Sasha breathed raggedly and then spoke. "I can't believe it. I gave you everything and this is how you pay it back? A toad revolution?" She then scoffed. "I was so stupid to trust you; to think we were friends again."
Anne's lips quivered and her fist clenched. She looked away, unable to match her gaze. "I... I didn't mean to do this to you. You guys weren't even supposed to be here." She closed her eyes, her heart feeling heavier by the second. "I'm... sorry. To both of you. And you guys can hate me as much as you want. But this had to be done."
Sasha bared her teeth. "I don't want your excuses, Boonchuy. If you hurt even a single hair on the Plantars—" Sasha glared and for a brief moment, her eyes glowed an uncommon blue. "—I'll kill you like how you killed me."
Even from ten feet away, Anne could feel the pressure of her words. The tension in the air was so sharp, even her own magical sword seemed blunt in comparison. Anne had known Sasha her whole life. She was familiar with her peculiarities. And she was certain of one thing; Sasha may be a venomous snake but she would never lie so blatantly.
She was serious. Anne could tell that if the blonde girl wasn't dying at the moment, the toad commander would be the one her head off her shoulders. A certainty in any other circumstance. Anne was, without a doubt, lucky that her former friend was the exact opposite.
Nonetheless, it was for sure; their fantasy was over.
SHREEECH-KEK!
Suddenly, following the sound of a record's scratch, time paused. The world was frozen still with not a sound or limbs coming to form. The reason? Well, someone had something to say, of course.
"Hey, there! How are you doing? Yeah, sorry for the whole freeze-frame situation here. It's just that I feel you're lacking a lot of context and the current, eh, predicament kinda needs it. And I mean a lot." A popular-teenager voice said. It was none other than the main character of this narration, Sasha Waybright. "So, uh, let's begin!"
"You see that blonde girl over there who looks as if even a breeze could kill her? Yeah, that's me. The name's Sasha Waybright – cheerleading captain, favourite colour pink and self-proclaimed Best Girl." She introduced herself, her static form appearing as if hell itself broke loose. The narrator hissed. "Yeah, I don't look the best at the moment..."
"The girl on the throne who looks like she can camouflage in the middle of a park just by standing still? That's Anne, former goody-two-shoes and my EX-best friend. Emphasis on the ex." She said as the scene showed the Queen of Blue, a slight bitterness in her tone.
The scene shifted once more, now focusing on a black-haired girl in green, part of the crowd and looking somewhat distressed. "Meanwhile, the girl propping me up beside me whose fragile reality is breaking apart? That's Mar-Mar, my (only) human best friend and the smartest girl I know!"
"As for the frog family?" She mused, revealing three anthropomorphic frogs among them: an orange elderly, a pink, almost purplish pollywog and a purely pink frog with a slingshot. "Well, the orange old man is Hopadiah Papaya, the living basketball is Polly Wallaby and the last one is the Sprigster, or just Sprig. They're, like, super cool and awesome. Well… most of the time!"
"Sometimes."
...
...
"... A f-few times?"
She coughed. "Anyway, this scene looks super confusing and don't worry! It'll make sense. It's just… You might be wondering how I got here. Well, it all started a few months ago…"
The Story So Far: Abridged Version
Sasha Waybright, the 14-year-old pop star from another world, stood obsessively in front of a random unnamed store. Her school uniform with its jacket's folded sleeves was beautifully unblemished.
But not for long.
"Oh. My. God. It's a BOX!" Sasha shrieked, smooching her face across the display window. She pulled off her puckered lips and turned to her slave/best friend, the ever-so honest birthday girl, Anne Boonchuy. Seeing her friend looking at her, Anne crossed her arms and grumped like a grumpy person.
"Anne, get the box."
"No."
"Do it."
"No."
"Do it."
"No."
"Do it."
"… Okay."
Out of nowhere, a third girl, Marsupial Wu, slid in unannounced. She looked like she was up to no good. After illegally claiming rights over the ugly box, they ran into a playground, tripped and immediately exploded.
Suddenly, it was a new world! One where dinosaurs roamed the Earth except it wasn't Earth and they weren't dinosaurs. Instead, they were half-naked frog people wearing random bits of cloth they called 'fashion'. This particular one — a pink boy frog — has an aviator's cap.
Sasha raised her hand and greeted. "Hey there, I'm Sasha."
"I'm Sprig!" He replied. "I'm also your new BFF!"
"Based."
After some sick BFF-level handshaking, they travelled back to the boy frog's residence where two other frogs — an old man and a baby — lived. Being a guest, she was immediately treated to their finest of delicacies.
Sasha took a bite and immediately puked blood. "Your food sucks."
"We're having a potluck!" The elderly frog known as Hopadiah 'Hop Pop' Plantar screamed. He threw a bunch of things into a pot and then shoved in a comically large tomato. A giant rotund toad, also known as Mayor Toadstool, appeared and took a sip.
He died. Everyone was thankful.
"We lost!" Hop Pop shouted, oddly smiling.
"I'll take these scones made of poop bugs instead," Sasha stated, showing a takeout box. "Also, my bag got stolen by a bird and I now have a driver's license." Just to prove her point, she showed the card bearing her license. It had her picture of her mid-sneeze.
"WE'RE RICH!" Polly screamed, covered in bling that they rescued from a bird.
While Polly and Hop Pop played with the gold, the basement ended up getting flooded for no reason. During that period, Sasha barged into Spring's room and slapped everything off of every shelf like a manic cat on a rampage.
As penance, a jovial and snappily dressed frog appeared by the name of Barry Goodness appeared and threw a bag of mystery dust in her face, turning her into a newt.
Hop Pop and Polly stopped. "Oh my frog, Sasha's no longer ugly!" The old frog shouted in shock.
Almost as quickly, Sasha poofed back into her normal which Polly scoffed. "Eh, she's back to ugly."
To celebrate her de-uglification-uglification, the frog family plus a human teen began dancing. However, Sprig, being the wild party-goer he was, climbed onto the fireplace, only to reveal a hidden tunnel behind it. The kids blinked, followed by thunderous applause.
"Mystery dungeon! Yay!" They cheered, waltzing into the deathtrap. They got even richer.
Still, with every day being such an adventure, it's important for one to relax and unwind. Everyone deserved a breather and so, our main cast was sitting in a random unnamed café, drinking tea and eating cookies and enjoying their time.
"So, Sasha, how was your day?" Hop Pop asked, taking a small sip from his cup.
Sasha also took a sip from her own and exhaled. "I tried to sell fake miracle potions and accidentally committed several crimes, including first-degree fraud and attempted manslaughter." She replied. "Now the town hates me."
Hop Pop stared at her worriedly. "Oh, that sounds bad."
"The emotions hurt the most."
"But then, we visited a cool night market and hitched Sprig with a girl!" Polly added positively.
Sasha turned to her BFF. "Wait, which girl is that? Maddie or Ivy?"
Sprig smiled. "Yes."
"Well, you know what? I know how to fix this!" Hop Pop yelled, jumping onto the table. He then ripped his shirt off, revealing a leotard underneath. "I'm running for mayor!"
And he did. He literally ran for mayor, heading straight to the ribbon at the finishing line.
From just out of view, a rather large urn of ashes wheeled in on its wheelchair. This jar was the current mayor Toadstool, as evident by its mayoral sash. Sasha then rudely grabbed the wheelchair, pushed it out of the café and dropped it into a gorge. Somehow, it still managed to pass the finishing line first.
"I lost!" Hop Pop shouted with a smile.
Tired from eating at the unnamed café, they headed out to a named one, famously known as Stumpy's Diner. Because, you know, that's its name. They entered through the front door and the diner, disgusted by Sasha's existence, chose to explode.
"Huh, I accidentally committed attempted manslaughter again." Sasha mused, somewhat surprised. She then smirked evilly, twiddling her fingers like a villain. "But no one knows it this time, hehehehe...!"
The owner of the diner, Stumpy Of No Hands, strolled to her side. "Hey, wanna work with me?"
"No." She said. "But yes. But also no."
Just then, out of the blue, a group of toads appeared, their cart pulled by a giant tarantula. That's way cooler than a snail, no doubt. They kicked down every door in town, including the Plantars' homestead, and began shoving valuables into their burlap sack. Grabbing a nearby shield, Sasha began swatting them away like flies and the townsfolk cheered!
"Too bad we're no longer rich," Polly interjected, ruining the mood.
To make matters worse, the toads returned briefly and smashed their hammer at Sasha, snapping her fragile teenager bones in two. Sasha took a deep breath.
"... AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH—!"
Oh, what a tragedy. Sasha was unfairly beaten in dishonourable combat and was now left a broken self. Physically, that is. Her mental and emotional self actually improved substantially, much to her delight. Mayor Urnstool appeared once more, only for Sprig to grab the vase and throw it away, stealing the wheelchair.
Until her leg healed, she was confined to the metal moving chair. She was more machine than girl now.
For no explicit reason, an ethereal pink frog popped out of her like a genie in a human-shaped bottle. Despite her basic appearance, she looked especially important.
The pink frog opened her mouth, ready to speak.
"He—"
"WE'RE GOING FISHING!" The Plantars yelled in tandem with joy and cheer. And they did, and it was a blast. They lost the boat though.
Unfortunately, a cold chill suddenly flew into town and everyone froze in the middle of their dance sequence. They then unfroze but it was obvious that an undetermined amount of time had passed.
Also, Sasha was nearby, traumatized and was rocking herself back and forth. She looked so horrible that no amount of makeup and conditioner could fix it.
"Howdy, Sasha! Merry Post-Christmas! Except we don't celebrate Christmas because we don't have a Christ figure nor can we survive the winter." Hop Pop exclaimed, slapping her in the back. "How's the weather?"
"Not only did I have to survive through a harsh and cruel winter, all while being crippled in a world without modern medicine, but I was also surrounded by the bodies of my acquaintances and loved ones, all of whom were frozen solid in thick transparent ice. There was no indication that they were still alive. All I knew at the moment was that they froze during painful moments, their faces terrified and screaming. For a week, I slowly lose my sanity, my health taking a drastic toll and all I can do is wait for the sweet embrace of death…"
...
...
Hop Pop sharply breathed in and nervously whistled. "O-okay..."
Polly then broke a chair and screamed. "LET'S PARTY!"
It was a great party. One could even say it was the greatest of parties. Everyone had a great time. There were plenty of delicious drinks and food, all sorts of entertainment, a variety of conversation topics and very tasteful décor. Full of new faces popped in alongside old ones, each with their own little or grand tale.
It was the Frog of the Year Party, organized by Sasha's cradling form.
And what a party it was, where nothing bad ever happened.
"And... That's about it!" The disembodied voice of a teenage girl exclaimed. "Definitely nothing dramatic happened on the same night. Nope! It's all good."
...
...
"Anyway, that's as much as I can summarise in this short period. The rest needs a bit more explanation. Don't worry! We'll get to the present."
"It all started a few months ago, right after where I left off..."
The Plantar residence. Carved out of an old gigantic tree trunk, it was then made into the home of several generations of proud Plantars. Known primarily for their crops, the Plantars were a family of great frogs, all with unique traits and tales to tell. Some were scientists, others were warriors, but all were farmers, cultivating plants, glory and knowledge.
And here, in this trunk of aged history, soundly slept the most recent addition of the Plantar family. She was not the youngest nor the oldest, neither frog, toad nor newt. She was, in every conceivable way, different. But that difference was her charm and in the end, she fit just right in.
Sasha Waybright, a 14-year-old human girl, snored lightly. Her blanket curled around her like a lovable bear, hugging her and providing her warmth. Her soft pillow supported her fragile neck and head, keeping it level while also adding comfort. Even her bed, just the right ratio of stiff and springy, gave her relief.
For what felt like ages, she slept peacefully with not a worry nor wart in sight.
Sunlight pierced through a small crack in the basement door, shedding light into her underground room. Originally a storage area, the basement has undergone a few renovations and now, was far more fitting to be called home. A shelf and chest to put her belongings, a crude training dummy out of corn stalks for exercise, several books stacked on top of one another, and of course, a table and chair just to sit around and gather her thoughts – all of this finished with a chic dark pink carpet and a few decorations.
Sasha opened her eyes slowly, a smile adorned her face. She could hear the birds chirping, the buzzing of the bees and even the pained gurgles of a neighbouring frog being beaten up by a gang of mushrooms with legs. Oh, what a wonderful morning and Sasha could feel it.
For spring was finally here.
"Good morning, sunshine!"
Faster than the speed of light, Sasha's smile turned upside down.
"Oh my frog, you're still here." She said with only distaste in her mouth. She grabbed her pillow and swung it at the newcomer, only for the fluffiness to phase through its figure. "Go away, evil dream ghost!"
The evil dream ghost — a pink frog lady — clicked her tongue disappointedly. "Oof, that's not very nice to say at someone, you know? Like, I have feelings too."
"Do you? Do you have feelings? Because it sure didn't feel like it when I told everyone about it."
For the third time in this chapter, these magical words were uttered: it all started about a week ago...
SLAAAMM!
"SPRIG! HOP POP! I'M BEING HAUNTED!" Sasha screamed, kicking the door open until its hinges almost popped off.
Polly Plantar, who was among the group, blinked. "Wait, what about me?"
"Haunted?" Hop Pop Plantar, the old man, repeated. "Pssh, nonsense. There's no such thing as ghosts, Sasha. That's all make-belief used to scare young frogs to go to sleep."
Sprig Plantar, the boy frog, nodded. "Yep. I used to believe in ghosts too but then I grew out of it. I'm a big boy now."
"Yeah, I never believed in ghosts," Polly said with a shrug.
Hearing the responses, Sasha's eye twitched. "ARE YOU GUYS SERIOUSLY NOT SEEING THIS?! SHE'S RIGHT THERE, FLOATING MENACINGLY!" She yelled, gesturing at the apparition beside her.
The pink frog ghost floated over like a leaf and waved. "Hello!"
Hop Pop stared at the empty space next to Sasha and blinked. He made a funny-looking thinking face, trying his best to really look at it. All he saw, however, was just some dust flowing in the wind. "Nope, not seeing anything."
Sasha stared at the frog family in disbelief. How was it possible? The ghost was right there, as clear as daylight. "W-what is going on...?" She muttered under her breath.
Seeing her in distress, Sprig felt worried. Walking up to her, he placed a hand on her arm, still bandaged from the night before. Underneath her clothes, Sasha was covered in white strips of cloth, more than necessary. The stress on her injured body must've also wracked her head a bit, creating hallucinations. At least, that's what he assumed.
"Hey, Sasha? You still seem tired. Maybe you should get some more rest. Let your body and mind heal." Sprig advised, caressing her arm kindly.
Polly nodded, however that was. "Don't worry! We'll make sure the ghost won't harm you! That slimy overweight pus-filled toad won't know what hit 'em!"
"The ghost is a pink frog lady."
"Wow, okay, did not see that coming," Polly said, silently shocked. She then turned to Hop Pop, expressing guilt. "Did I do a stereotype?"
"Yes, you did but I don't blame you." Hop Pop assured. "Sasha's just a bit coo-coo over what happened."
"I am not crazy!"
"Didn't imply you were. I'm just saying that you probably hurt your noggin, so you're a tad out of touch at the moment. That's all."
"I AM NOT CRAZY!"
For the rest of the morning, she attempted to convince them that the ghost was real and not just a creation of her imagination. Unfortunately, the more she tried, the less convincing it sounded. It vexed her so, and that only ended up making things worse.
Not like the apparition was helping, however.
Back in the near present...
"I don't know — screaming out loud like that about ghosts kinda makes you look crazy." The floating frog exclaimed.
Sasha scowled. "That's your fault!"
"Pfft, I'm a part of your psyche. I'm harmless." She said with a chuckle. "Well, outside of having access to all of your memories but that's a different issue."
Sasha baulked. The frog lady could read her memories? That's where she kept her stuff! "T-that's a violation of my privacy!"
"Oh please, and who am I supposed to expose your dark secrets to? Your other imaginary friend, Bimbo Baggins?" The frog jokingly mocked. "If it makes you feel better, just imagine me as your personal talk buddy. I'll always be there for you."
"That does not make me feel better."
The pink frog shrugged. "Eh, I tried."
Just then from the floor above, a scraggly old voice spoke from beyond the basement door. "Sasha, you awake yet? I'm heading to town and I need your help!" Hop Pop exclaimed.
The pink frog whistled, chuckling to herself. "Looks like the old man is calling you. Wouldn't want to keep him waiting, right?" She asked, winking playfully.
Sasha growled and with a piercing glare, she got out of bed and headed up the stairs before turning towards her new forever companion. "We are not done here."
"Oh, don't worry. It's not like I'm going anywhere."
Sasha hoped she wasn't being serious. She really cannot handle this right now. Climbing up the stairs to the living room, she exited her little underground haven and met up with Hopadiah Plantar. He was just standing outside by the gate, readying Bessie the snail for a drive.
Sasha strolled up to him and waved. "Hey, Hop Pop. You called?"
Hop Pop tightened the buckles holding the seats as best as he could. Satisfied, he clapped his hands free of dust and turned around. "Yep, sure did. Though, I heard you were talking all by your lonesome down there. The 'ghost' still bothering you?"
"I'm not crazy." She quickly stated. "And yes, she's not leaving me alone."
"Okay then! If that's the case—" Hop Pop began clearing his throat and then entered a crab-like pose. "—Oh, ye olde ghost person! I want you to know that Sasha is a good girl! Please bless her with your ancient ghost energy! She'll need it!"
He clapped his hands frantically and screeched. "AWOOGA-AWOOGA!"
"She's not here."
"Well, I tried." He said, immediately giving up. "Anyway, with the snow melted and the mountain path cleared out, we can finally leave the valley, which is why I'm heading to town to pick up something special. Since you don't have much to pack, I thought it'd be best to bring you along."
Sasha scrunched her face and popped her mouth. "Eh, why not?"
"Righty-o!" He said, throwing his arm to the sound of success. Looking at the house, he called the rest of the family. "Kids, I'm leaving for a bit. Pack our things! We're going on a long trip!"
From his 2nd floor bedroom, Sprig gave a thumbs up out the window. "Got it, Hop Pop!"
~Do-do do do-do doooo do! Loggle's... Carpentry Store!~ Now termite-free!
If you're wondering what that horrible murder-inducing noise was, that happened to be Leopold Loggle's new jingle. An axolotl living in Wartwood, he was also the resident woodsmith, making and repairing chairs, doors, tables, and literally anything made of wood. He could even make a statue of you out of wood if you pay him well enough.
Heck, you don't even have to pay him. He'd make a statue of you anyway. He'd do it without you even knowing. It would be pretty awkward to find a perfect replica of yourself in his store, albeit with abs for some reason, but you'd be soo awestruck that you'd immediately buy it at an exorbitant price. You'd also donate a large sum just so he'd stop doing it, you know, to maintain the statue's uniqueness.
So far, it worked. Mayor Toadstool seemed to like it.
Entering the overly packed store, Hop Pop waved with a smile. "Hey there, Loggle! You're looking fine and dandy today."
From behind the counter, Loggle blushed. "Oh, Hopadiah. Flattery will get you everywhere. Except here because I'm always fine and dandy." He replied. Seeing a third person, he waved back. "Hello there, Sasha! How're the bandages?"
Sasha scratched the white cloth underneath her sleeves, feeling a slight itch. "Hey, Logs. And it's... good, I guess?"
She wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"Now, what can I do for you two today?" The regenerating wood carver asked.
"We're here to pick up the commission. Hopefully, you're done by now."
"Oh, Hopadiah! I was done weeks ago. Never had the chance to tell ya." Loggle replied. Grabbing a jingle of keys from a drawer, he stepped out of the counter and headed to the door. "Well, come on." He called.
As the group left his woodworking shop, they walked for a short distance. After a minute or two, they arrived at an old barn, its large doors shut by chains and locks. Loggle pulled out his keys and fumbled a bit before finally picking one and shoving it into the padlock.
The heavy piece of iron clicked open and fell to the dry dirt, pulling the thick chains with it. The doors opened with a creak and as the sunlight flooded in, its contents were finally revealed.
Loggle pat Hop Pop in the back, looking a tad proud. "Welp, here it is. It's a beaut, ain't it?"
Sasha, however, had the opposite reaction. "It's a... carriage?" She said, raising a brow.
Hop Pop nodded, all smug-like. "It's an all-terrain custom-modelled family wagon. Or as I like to call: fwagon."
"Yeah, I'm not calling it that."
"It's got all the essentials needed for long-distance travel. Storage for food and supplies, a bed for sleeping, a small kitchen and even a toilet. You know, to do your business."
Sasha snapped her finger. "Oh, so it's an RV!"
Hop Pop stared at her, confused. "What's an RV?"
"Basically the same thing but on Earth. It stands for 'recreational vehicle'."
The old frog frowned. "Sounds weird. I think fwagon sounds better." He concluded. "I'll go get Bessie. You can check it out if you want."
Without further ado, Hop Pop left the barn to fetch his beloved snail, leaving the abnormal axolotl and abnormal human child on their own without parental supervision. Out of view, hurried pitter-patter could be heard, as well as the wheezing coughs of a not-yet-dying old man as he raced against time before something could catch on fire.
Sasha coughed. No flames yet.
Suddenly, the pink frog lady reappeared, floating gracefully behind her. "Wow, so this is what counts as high-end these days? Frog oh frog, that's kinda sad. Back in my day, our fwagons could fly."
"Please don't call it that."
Loggle turned. "Did you say something?"
Sasha sighed. "Sorry, sorry. Just telling the ghost that's haunting me to shut up."
"Huh... Neat."
Being alone together, it dawned on her. Given the opportunity, Sasha turned to the not-frog person, a request in mind.
"Say, Loggle? Do you think you can do me a solid?"
"Are you talking solid oak or solid pine?" Loggle asked. "I also do acacia from time to time but if it's mahogany, it's gonna cost you extra."
"I... What?"
"What?"
"You know what? Let's start over." Sasha muttered, shaking her head. Her arm over her shoulder, she then pulled off the plate of distorted steel from behind her, all bent out of shape. The said plate was her shield, emphasis on the past tense. Considering its half-destroyed state, it wasn't exactly usable. "I need a favour. Do you think you can fix up this shield for me?"
As Sasha handed over the dented steel, allowing Loggle to inspect closer. He lowered his examination goggles and twisted the knob, magnifying his vision. For a few moments, he hummed inquisitively before raising his goggles back up. "I have come to the conclusion; I can positively—"
Sasha's ears perked up.
"—NOT fix the shield." He concluded, causing her to frown. "It's just scrap metal at this point."
Well, that was a bummer. Sure, the shield wasn't much but she liked having it. It was like a piece of herself, a symbol of her being accepted into the community after so many wrongs. It hurt to see it this way, even though it was just a common iron shield with the emblem chiselled off.
"Still, that does give me an idea!" Loggle said. Without warning, he took off his goggles and ripped out its left side from the straps – the one with the magnifying lenses. "Here, take this."
Sasha blinked. Warily, she took the part and examined it. The now-monocle had a simple round brass frame and a set of magnifying lenses inside. It was a craftsman's tool, designed to allow them to see closer and with better detail. Even without the straps, it was still useful.
"If you ever visit Newtopia, find a woman named Gerda. Give her these lenses and tell her ol' Loggle sent ya!"
"Um... Okay...?" Sasha drawled, slipping the lenses into her pocket. "I'll keep a note of that. And who's Gerda exactly?"
Loggle opened his mouth to answer but before he could, Hop Pop returned just as quickly as he left, although looking a tad winded. Following him was Bessie the snail, cheerfully chirping along with a leash around her snail neck.
"Hoh... hoh..." Hop Pop breathed, his knees shaking and hands trembling. "Hah... I am getting too old for this..." Straightening his back — more like craking really — he loosened his body a bit before continuing. "Alright. Sorry for the delay. Bessie's here so Sasha, help me load up the fwagon."
"I'm still not calling it that."
"Now, driving a fwagon is different than just driving an ordinary wagon. You need to know how to use the stick."
On cue, as if he's prepared for this his entire life, Hop Pop pulled out a comically large stick. It was more accurate to call it a log or at least the thick part of a branch. He then snapped the stick half, only for its core — which happened to be made of some kind of rubbery substance — to keep it in one piece.
"See, when you're going in reverse, you'll need to keep this in mind; turn left to turn right, and turn right to turn left." He explained, all while using the stick-turned-nunchucks as an example. "Got it?"
Sasha, who was driving and wasn't going to look away, made a noise. "No."
"Eh, we'll figure it out." He shrugged. "In the meantime, I'm going to go check on the compartments. Ooo, all those knicks and crannies!"
Hop Pop gleefully entered the fwagon, leaving Sasha by her lonesome in the driver's seat. That was if you could say that the ghost was not a person. Popping into existence once more, the pink lady frog settled down on the seat next to her, patting the cushion beneath her.
She hummed delightfully. "I take it back. This fwagon isn't so bad. It's surprisingly comfortable."
"GAH!" Sasha screamed, almost losing her balance. "What the heck?! How about some warning next time? Also, how would you even know that? You're a ghost. You can't feel anything."
The pink frog smirked. "Ah, but you can. And whatever you feel, I can feel it too."
"So like this?" Sasha lifted her hand and slapped herself in the face. Pain flared from her cheek, leaving a red bruise on her right side. That felt quite painful, more so than usual. She must not know her own strength.
The frog laughed. "Hah! Nice try. I can choose whether I want to feel that." She clarified. "Part of the perks of being part of your subconscious."
Part of her subconscious? Okay, now she was getting tired. Sasha glared at the ghost and growled.
"Alright, spill it; what are you?" She demanded.
The pink frog sighed wistfully. "I already told you. I'm a creation of your mind. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yeah, it is. A weird creature I made up wouldn't be talking to me. What am I — 5?"
"Alright, you get points for that." The frog congratulated, snapping her finger. Clearing her throat, she carefully thought out her words.
"Okay, imagine on some random beach, there was a pile of different mindless and possibly colourful rocks. Some red, some blue, maybe a dash of green and a recent addition, a lot of pink. It's all messy and all over the place."
"Suddenly and without warning, something came and knocked some sense into the rocks! These rocks then knocked the other rocks and so on and eventually, all the rocks get knocked. And rocks that get knocked kinda wake up."
She placed her hand on her chest, right over her heart. "That's me. I'm that pile of rocks, stranded on a beach for frog knows how long. And you, little girl, woke me up."
She woke her up? But... how? Sasha didn't remember doing anything special to wake her up. Heck, she could barely remember what had transpired that night at the tower. What could she have done to cause this? The Plantars did say about her hair turning pink at one point but that has got to be a coincidence.
Right?
"Look, you don't have to think too deeply. All you need to know is that I'm here and I'll always help you out." The ghost assured.
Sasha stared at her with an uncomfortable look and sighed. She didn't have much of a choice. "Alright, fine. But if you start possessing me, I will find a way to end you. I don't care if you're dead. I'm making you meet the Grim Reaper twice."
She giggled. "I look forward to that."
Sasha rolled her eyes. She still wasn't sure whether she could trust her but so far, the ghost frog hasn't done much harm. And if what she said was true, then she was basically born yesterday. Or something like that.
From below the decks, Hop Pop croaked. "Sasha, are you okay? Are you still talking to yourself?"
"I'm not talking to myself! I'm talking to the ghost frog lady!"
"Did you at least ask for her name?"
Sasha blinked. "Good point." She said, turning her head to the pink frog jumping on the cushions like a trampoline. "Hey, what should I call you?"
The frog immediately halted in mid-air and clicked her tongue with a seductive wink. "You can call me anything you want, sugar."
"Ms Pinky then," Sasha exclaimed, before returning to Hop Pop. "I'm calling her Ms Pinky!"
"Is it because she's pink?" He asked with a disappointed frown. "Sasha, don'tcha know it's rude to call frogs by the colour of their skin? It's a sensitive topic!"
"I don't mind."
"She doesn't mind!"
"Well, if you— I mean, she says so." Hop Pop said with a sigh. What was he going to do with her?
While continuing to inspect the drawers, he whispered to himself. "Maybe I should start looking for a doctor. Or an exorcist." Not like an exorcist would work but it'd probably make Sasha feel better. Placebo treatments and all that.
A short while later, the duo (or trio if you count the apparition that only Sasha may bear witness) finally arrived back at their homestead. Bessie chirped in her usual delight, pulling the newly-purchased fwagon with ease. With Sasha's direction, they parked the snail and load right in front of the stone fence, the front door lying beyond that.
"We're back!" Hop Pop hailed from the fwagon, opening its side door. On cue, the house's front door also opened, revealing Sprig and Polly and several bags tucked behind them. "How's the packing, kids?"
Sprig dropped a briefcase on the porch, the piece of luggage having seen much use during its time. "We got all the essentials. Toothbrushes, spices, emergency rations, and some other stuff. Also, I put in your cyan ascot instead of teal. Y'know, because it's a special occasion."
Hop Pop smiled, placing a proud hand on his shoulder. "Sprig, you know me so well."
Gathering everyone together, Hop Pop began giving out orders. "Sasha, you should head on down to pack your things. I'll do a double check on the luggage while you kids can go and get yourself acquainted with the fwagon."
"I'm still gonna call it an RV."
"Well, I'm still going to call it a 'fwagon'."
After Sasha finished rolling her eyes, the group dispersed for some last-minute preparations. Sprig and Polly raced into the fwagon, instantly enamoured by the high-quality craftsmanship. Sure, Loggle might be a bit coo-coo in the head himself but he was darn good at his job.
Walking downstairs to the basement, Sasha began packing her things. Or at least, she would've if she didn't actively avoid them like the plague. Sensing her deep distress, Ms Pinky reappeared in a pop, almost cartoonishly at that. She glided her way beside the teenager, casually laying on this air with her head propped up by her forearm.
"Why the long face?" She asked, waving her free hand. "I assume that's the phrase you humans use."
Oddly, Sasha didn't respond, instead placing her undivided attention on the torn blue bag in front of her. The backpack had seen better days but it was still functional, a testament to commercialised human engineering.
"That's your friend's bag, isn't it?" Ms Pinky hummed, seeing the bag untouched and its contents left sprawled out. "You've been using it this long, so I don't see why you're stopping now."
"It's just—" Sasha paused, biting her lip. "I'm not sure that I should. Not anymore."
Gently placing the bag aside, Sasha sat back and sighed. "Anne's my best friend. Well, she was my best friend. She's got a good heart but after that night..."
Truth be told, she didn't remember much about what happened. Everything she could recall from that night was from Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly's retelling. And she has a feeling they're not telling her everything either. Her last memory was just before she began the challenge against Anne. Everything after that was just a blur.
But if what they said was true, then she really did fight Anne till bruises. Anne was the one that broke her shield with her bare hands and in return, she scarred Anne's left arm with the sharp tip of her damaged weapon.
Sasha couldn't believe that but the Plantars weren't liars. Really, she couldn't accept it. She would never hurt Anne that way, at least she hoped.
The frog lady slithered next to her, pouting quizzically. "You're angry at her, aren't you?"
Sasha turned, baffled. "What? No! Why would I be angry at her?"
"Well, she did ki— I mean, tried to kill you. Also, she tried to kill your froggy family bunch. She pretty much drugged you to do that and lied to your face." Ms Pinky stated, counting with her fingers. "She's really racking up those 'I am a cold-hearted jerkface' points. A few more and she gets a free sundae."
"She would never have done this back home..." Sasha insisted, although her voice cracked with uncertainty.
Ms Pinky shrugged. "Well, she's not back home. You and her are here in Amphibia, doing crazy Amphibia stuff. And this world, like yours, has its fair share of crazies. You can't expect to act the same way in another world, kid. That's just fantasy talk. You can barely act the same in a neighbouring town."
Sasha frowned. She didn't appreciate the accusation. "Anne's a good person!"
"She was a good person." Ms Pinky stressed. "Believe me when I say this and I'm pretty sure the frog whose form I'm copying right now would say the same, but sometimes, you just can't help people. Sometimes, for the greater good, you have to take drastic actions, even at the cost of your friendship."
Why? Why would she say that? Despite existing for only a few days, this mysterious ghostly frog that haunted her talked as if she had known about it all along. Maybe she even experienced it once as well? What life did the 'previous host' – as she claimed – go through?
Whatever it was, Sasha was having none of it.
"Screw. That. If she's going to do something stupid again, then I'll beat some sense into her. I'm not going to listen to advice from a ghost." Sasha dismissed with an irritated huff.
"Again, not a ghost. I'm a figment—"
"—of my consciousness, yada yada yada. Yeah, I heard you, and I still call malarkey on that."
Ms Pinky rolled her eyes but smirked amusingly. "Whatever you say, sweet cheeks."
Suddenly, from the floor above, a craggy voice called out for her. "Sasha, are you done packing?"
"Oh, crud." Sasha cursed. Hastily, she grabbed all of her human items and shoved them into the bag. She pushed them all deep inside, causing the backpack to puff like a scrunched-up chocolate wrapper. Sasha attempted to zip the bag but her unused organization skills made it a tad hard. "I-I'm just about!"
With her backpack finally shoved full, she quickly raced to the front door. Unfortunately for her, a familiar music box twinkled underneath her bed, forgotten for now.
Just outside of the Plantar residence, Hop Pop watched as his wards readied themselves in front of him. "Alright, everyone got their things packed?" Hop Pop asked. There was no response which meant 'yes'. "Great! We just got one thing left to do before we can start."
"Where are we heading, Hop Pop?" Sprig asked, his own travel case next to him. It was, amusingly enough, the same size as he was and was full of his personal belongings, including a few choices of slingshots, one for different occasions. You know, just in case.
Gathering inside the fwagon along with their luggage, Hop Pop unveiled an old map, placing it on the table. "We're heading to Newtopia." He stated with awe. "The beating heart of Amphibia — a bustling metropolis full of ancient knowledge and run by the wisest of newts. It's technically the capital city of Amphibia, where the old and wise King Andrias Leviathan resides."
Polly's eyes lit up. "Woah..."
Sprig's eyes also did the same. "So mystical!"
Hop Pop hummed in agreement. "There's no greater source of knowledge than Newtopia. If anyone knows how to get you back home, it's them."
Sasha smiled widely. Finally, for the first time since she got here, there was a lead! This 'Newtopia' sounded too good to be true but hey, this world continued to surprise her. If she's lucky, she'll find a way to activate the dumb box. Oh, how she missed drinking boba tea and frappuccinos and consuming red velvet cakes. She reminisced of going to the mall to get the latest fashion pieces, or heading to the beaches of California.
She did miss those, right?
Sasha's expression slowly turned conflicted. Why was she like this? "Right, home..."
"We'll find a way. In fact, we might even find your other friend on the way! The one with the black hair." Sprig evoked.
Other friend? Oh, he meant Marcy. That's right; she was here too.
…
…
Holy guacamole, did she forget about Marcy?! How?!
"Y-yeah, you're right! You're totally right!" Sasha caught herself. "A place full of dusty books and boring nerds? That sounds like a place Marcy would be at! I'm betting on it!"
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"YEAH!"
Hop Pop clicked his tongue. "Tsk-tsk-tsk. Now, hold on. We got to wait for Chuck."
Sasha and Sprig momentarily stopped celebrating, the former looking at the old frog. "Who the heck is Chuck?"
"He plants tulips." Hop Pop answered.
The teenager blinked. "... A'ight, okay."
And so, they waited. Thankfully, it wasn't that long and Sasha finally remembered who Chuck was; the frog who planted tulips. She only ever met him during the Frog of the Year party but she had a nagging feeling that she could've met him more in other formal events. It was a wonder how she missed him for so long.
Then she remembered she was barred from many town activities due to her mischief. That probably explained it.
"I plant tulips," Chuck said, finally having arrived and grabbing the keys to the house. Oh, Chuck. Where would we be without you?
With Chuck now handling the house, everyone got themselves ready. Hop Pop, being the main driver, held the leash with Sasha as his second-frog. "Everyone comfortable down there?" Hop Pop asked, shouting down to the hatch on the fwagon's roof.
Inside the fwagon, Polly gave a thumbs up. "Yo!"
"You heard them, Bessie?" Hop Pop said, followed by the snail's joyful chirps. "It's time to head out. Newtopia, here we come!"
Whipping the leash, the snail and fwagon included began moving and thus, their journey to the Coral City started with nothing short of a hopeful stance and thunderous applause.
Butterfly Boucher feat. David Bowie - Changes
Sasha choked. "W-w-what the heck is that? Is that music? Why am I suddenly hearing music?!"
Behind her, Ms Pinky snorted. "Gehehe, yeah, that's also a thing I can do! You know, to set the mood." She claimed ever so nonchalantly. "Too bad I can't make anything original. That would've been baller. Also, spoiler alert: you're going to hear it a lot."
"... Oh my god, I really am going crazy."
Meanwhile, Hop Pop frowned worriedly. "We really should get you to a doctor."
I still don't know what I was looking for,And my time was running wild,A million dead-end streets;
Every time I thought I'd got it made,It seemed the taste was not so sweet,
So I turned myself to face me,But I've never caught a glimpse,Of how the others must see the faker,I'm much too fast to take that test;
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes!(Turn and face the stranger)Ch-ch-Changes!Don't want to be a richer one.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes!(Turn and face the stranger)Ch-ch-Changes!Just gonna have to be a different one.
Time may change me,But I can't trace time...