Chapter Text
Dinner was grasshopper soup and chocopede cookies.
During the time they had been visiting Amphibia, Sasha had tried to get used to the food. The insects didn't make it any easier for her, but eventually she was able to get her stomach to eat. So the fact that she wasn't hungry that night had nothing to do with it.
"Sure you don't want soup, Sasha? The grasshoppers today are really fresh."
"Thanks HP. I'm not that hungry today."
She smiled forcefully as she tried to finish one of the cookies. She had a headache, but she wasn't going to say anything. The last thing she wanted at that moment was to be a burden to anyone. It seemed best to change the subject.
"You were just talking about being attacked." She turned to Polly. The young frog frowned. Her fingers beat a rhythm on the table.
"You know there is a group of people who are defending the old administration and that's why they are causing problems."
Sasha shook her head. Rebel factions had been gaining more power than average over the last year. Olivia has taken various measures to address this, including expanding the duties of the knight guards, but it doesn't seem to be actively working.
"The underground organization that runs the rebels has put a bounty on the heads of the Rebellion's leaders."
"What!?"
Anne's eyes opened wide. Her hands were shaking.
"How could they do that? As long as Olivia's in charge, they can't give direct orders."
"It's not an official announcement. I heard it from a knight guard who infiltrated the organization."
Her brother raised his head. "That's what you and Liam talk about at lunch? Even though you have very few dates—"
"Sprig!" Seeing Polly's red face, Sasha smiled. How quickly time passes. Even Polly has reached that age.
"You'd better be careful around," Hop Pop concluded. "There's been a spate of surprise attacks in the town recently. I didn't see it, but I heard Mrs. Croaker knocked someone over."
"Mrs. Croaker is amazing!"
"Surely."
"Nevertheless, I think we need to be careful too." The pink frog turned his eyes on the blonde. "After all, one of the victims may cooperate with those who want their head to save himself."
"Sprig, all three of them, including Grime, would never do such a thing."
"Dunno, just a reminder."
Sasha averted her eyes. His piercing gaze was disturbing. But she knew why. Even if no one else understood, Sasha knew why he said it. Once you have sinned, you have sinned. There's no going back. It sticks to you.
She got up from her chair.
"Thank you for dinner, Hop Pop." Half of the cookie was still on her plate. "I'm gonna stop by the tea shop. I could really use a cup of tea right now. And I'll get to see Ivy and Felicia."
"I'll come with you if you—"
"Anne." She walked up to his girlfriend and took her hand. "I know you want to spend time with your family."
"But we came here for you and—"
"And I'm so happy that you think so much of me. I won't be offended if you take some time for yourself." She winked. Brunette's cheeks were flushed. She let go of his hands and opened the door.
"I'll be back before it's too late."
Sasha loved Amphibia at night.
Accompanied by the sounds of cicadas, the mushrooms scattered their colorful dust and offered a beautiful view. Wartwood was no exception too and Sasha was delighted. But as she passed Anne's statue, she couldn't stop the thoughts that flooded her mind.
If Anne and Sprig wanted to spend time together, Sasha had to get away. She wasn't sure what Sprig's effect of her was, but it certainly wasn't good. Sprig didn't trust him. Sprig saw him as a danger. And he was right. Sasha was very dangerous. Being a general meant you had to be dangerous. But worse, Sprig didn't want her. After all she'd done, it wasn't enough for him.
Nothing she did was ever enough for Sprig.
Tell me what you're good for! I haven't had a useful person around me in years! You've done nothing but make my job harder!
She bit her lip harshly. Not only her mother but Sprig must have thought so too. Maybe Sasha hadn't changed at all. Maybe her manipulation skills were so advanced that even she didn't realize—
"Sash?"
Startled, she turned in front of herself. An orange-haired frog was running towards her. She jumped at her.
"Oh Frog, welcome! I didn't know you were coming. Would you like some tea? Mom will be so happy to see you too."
"Hi Ivy. Yes please." She forced herself to smile again, but unlike the others, except Anne, it didn't escape Ivy's notice.
"Hey, you okay? You look a little hurt. Did you and Anne have a fight?" She let her in and closed the door.
"No, no, not at all." She sat down on a chair and clasped her hands. "We're good."
She was silent, but Ivy understood.
"It's Sprig, isn't it?" She averted her gaze but it was no use. Ivy sat in the chair opposite and took her hand.
"I apologize on his behalf. I don't know why he's so stubborn. He must see your hard work better than me."
"You shouldn't expect that from him. He's right."
"Sash..."
"I tried to kill his grandfather, I was going to take over and ruin Amphibia, the place he called home. I unwittingly helped a senile and psychologically disturbed cyborg who was trying to destroy his home. The box was passed to her because of me. Marcy was injured, captured and cognitively tortured because of me. The world is damaged because of me. Because of me, Anne, whom she considered her sister, almost died."
She tried to take a deep breath. Her chest was tightening.
"No, Ivy. He has every right not to forgive me. You can't and shouldn't force him to do this. This is my punishment. A punishment that will always remind me of my sin. A punishment that will always remind me how easily Anne forgives and how cruel and selfish my actions were."
"Sasha? What a surprise!" Felicia was waving to the two of them from the stairs upstairs. She was wearing her nightgown, probably because the day had been busy and she had put it on earlier to relax. She went downstairs and walked into the kitchen. "Would you like a drink, dear?"
"Hello Felicia. Jasmine tea would be really nice. I need to clear my head."
Sasha sighed as the sound of boiling water filled the downstairs.
"Maybe it's for the best. That worst Sasha inside me won't come out as long as this goes on and no one gets hurt."
"That's not true!" Ivy jumped up beside her and put her hands on her lap. "Even if Sprig has taken a stand because of the things you mentioned, that's not all you are. You saved Amphibia. You gave everyone hope and purpose when Wartwood was destroyed and everyone gave up. You led an entire army at very young age. You destroyed Core's body and saved Marcy. You've done incredible things. You give yourself no credit."
"That's right." Felicia had the tea ready. She handed it to the girl and put her hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes we need frogs to remind us of the things we've done. Good or bad, it doesn't matter. An outside eye can tell you a lot. Don't judge yourself too harshly, Sasha. There are no frogs without mistakes. I realized that even more as I got older."
She headed for the stairs again. "Ivy, when you go to sleep, you bolt the door. Good night to you."
Ivy lifted her head up and stared at Sasha as her mother went to bed, whose eyes were blank.
"So I'm– I'm not useless?"
"Of course you're not. Where the hell did that come from? You're a hero Sash. A strong, stubborn, reliable leader. Please don't let negative thoughts affect you."
Sasha turned to the hot mug in her hand. As her hand trembled, so did the golden liquid she knew was tea. She raised the mug to mouth level and sloshed down the tea. It burned her mouth, but not so much that she couldn't stand it. She smiled as a warm feeling began to spread through her stomach.
"I think I feel ready to go to the house now."
Ivy dragged her friend outside and locked the door. Just like her mother wanted. Except she wasn't inside. They passed the statue and started running towards the Plantar farm.
"Good. As you can see, I'm coming too. Since mom's asleep, I'm not gonna miss this opportunity. Besides, I'm not sending you out alone at night when there are a million men out there who want your head."
"Wow, I'm honored. I'm delighted to have your company, Miss. Sundew. Please don't bother with—"
The sound of footsteps running through the forest pinned Sasha in place. Ivy was looking around too. Her gaze darted around in sudden shifts, her brow furrowed. Sasha looked in the direction of the footsteps. They must have come from...
Her breath caught in her throat.
"You think what I'm thinking?"
"Probably."
They hurried through the farm gate. Ivy flinched and stepped back. Sasha froze. Half the house she had left intact a few hours ago was now gone.
"Sash!" Polly ran towards them. She didn't look hurt. Oh, thank Guardian!
"Were you able to identify the escapees?"
"We know they ran into the woods. They were gone when we arrived."
"Oh, I see. At least you weren't hurt."
"Where's Anne? Is she okay?" Sasha began to scan the area anxiously. She was breathing heavily. Polly took her by the arm.
"Hey, calm down. No one is injured badly. A few abrasions can be treated with a band-aid. We all know how to fight."
"Yeah, I know. I just thought—"
"YOU!"
Sasha jumped up. Sprig was approaching them through the door. He had ice in his eyes. She ignored Anne, who was running after her behind her, and pressed her finger hard against Sasha's chest.
"It was an incredible show, wasn't it? Wasn't it thoughtful of you not to ask Anne to go with you? Bullshit!"
"Sprig—" The pink frog wasn't listening to Polly. His fiery eyes were locked on the blonde girl and his mouth opened and closed. The words came out easily, but each one stabbed into the uninjured Sasha's body like a sword.
"Did you think no one would notice? You've been so tense all night, it was impossible not to notice. Your innocent act doesn't work on me, Sasha Waybright. I can't believe Anne fell for you so quickly. It's so obvious. Putting Anne on the line to save your own skin? Yeah, that must be right up your alley. It's what you've been doing all along, so I wouldn't be surprised. You're still a lying, selfish, self-centered piece of shit who doesn't care about others, who revels in the tears of those you deceive!"
"SPRIG!"
When the pink frog was pulled hard by his stepsister, he looked at her in surprise. Her eyes were full of hot and anger. I was right about everything I said. When he turned around, he was startled by the gaze he was locked in. Right?
Sasha had a broken look on her face. She was unresponsive, as if she had been torn to pieces. Her whole body was trembling. Her eyes were red. Sprig felt something stab him in the heart.
Even she couldn't have acted that well.
Then the girl was suddenly startled and shaken like a new toy.
"Y-yeah I'm..." Tears began to fall from her eyes. Huge droplets soaked the path.
"T-they went to the w-woods, d-didn't they?" She hit a tree while backing up. "I s-should go. I'll be useful if I get a clue, w-won't I?" When her gaze shifted to Anne, it became even more painful. "I-if I stay away, I w-won't be a bad influence on anyone, r-right?"
She shook her head harshly.
"Y-yeah, I've gotta go..."
She turned around and ran into the forest. Not a peep from the crew outside until Hop Pop came out. Realizing the heaviness of the air, he decided he should keep his mouth shut and started watching the children.
Ann was about to go crazy. She grabbed Sprig by the shoulders and shook him.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing? Do you realize what you're saying?"
Sprig didn't want to believe he had a mistake.
"Everything I said is true. She's been acting very tense since this evening. We know what a dangerous actress Sasha is. And she didn't want you to come. It was all a trap Anne and she's just—"
"DON'T you dare!"
Sprig was startled. Anne started to cry. She leaned against Sprig's chest and sobbed.
"She had a fight with her mother. Ms. Swarowski isn't the best mother, you know? She was trying not to tell any of us, not to reflect it. She was so broken, hurt and tired that I thought if we came here you could restore her joy and confidence. She needed this. But now..."
Anne stepped back and looked around as if seeing him for the first time. It was clear that she was trying to pull herself together.
"Oh Guardian, Sasha is... I have to–"
"No." Everyone turned towards the frog with the orange braid. "Not you. Him."
She put her index finger on her boyfriend's chest. She had tears in her eyes too.
"She actually came to the tea shop. And you know what? Your behavior hurt her so much. But she didn't say anything because she thought she deserved it. After everything she'd done, she'd come to the conclusion that she deserved every bit of torture you put her through."
Sprig couldn't breathe.
"You'll go to her. You owe her a really genuine apology."
"I just..."
"She came to think of you as her brother. Like Anne. She never deserved this treatment, Sprig."
"I'm... I'm a fool."
"No, you're not."
Ivy locked her hands in his and smiled.
"You're just a flawed frog. And believe me, Sasha will understand that feeling the best."
"I..."
He returned to the entrance of the forest. I may feel fine. But not Sasha. And it's because of me. Anne and Ivy are right. I'm not supposed to interpret things I don't know about. Come on, Sprig!
He let go of his girlfriend's hands and started jumping into the darkness. He had a determined expression on his face that had not been there all evening.