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Reunion Pt. II - Angstphibia
Set before The Day at the Aquarium. In an alternate universe.
The Plantars had only been in Newtopia for a couple of days, but it was already an amazing, unforgettable experience. First of all, Anne got to reunite with Marcy. Two childhood best friends, knew each other all their lives, they were as close as it gets. They could hardly let go of each other after that, it was like they were conjoined at the hip. They were just so ecstatic to see each other after months of worrying. Marcy was especially clingy.
Second of all, they actually got to meet The King of Amphibia. It was a huge honour come and on top of that he was so super nice; a kind smile, a warm voice, a goofy and jokey personality. A bunch of strangers just waltzed into his house, and he was just kind enough to give them The Royal Credit Card. The Plantars lived like kings themselves. ‘Anything for the friends of Marcy Wu.’ He said. Marcy then proceeded to show them around Newtopia; they went shopping, tried foods at the marketplace, they participated in a parade, they had a sleepover, just the two of them, without Sasha, and it was great. Anne even helped Marcy out on some of her Ranger missions, she didn't mind the work, she liked helping people. She’d do anything as long as they stayed together.
And thirdly, Marcy and King Andrias apparently found some new news about The Music Box that they were excited to share. Anne asked what it was, but Marcy said she didn't want to spoil the surprise. So, when Marcy knocked onto the Plantars’ hotel door Anne thought she changed her mind.
“Heh, hey guys.” Marcy waved her hand awkwardly with a tiny smile as the doors opened.
“What’s up, MarMar? Back so soon? We just got back from that bowling slash ice-rink slash roller-blading place.” Anne recollected.
“And not to mention it’s getting pretty late.” Hop Pop remarked in a worried manner as he read a book on one of the beds with his comfy bath robe on, “Lady Olivia let you out this late in the evening? *GASP* Have they kicked you out?!”
“Oh my frog! Marcy, do you want to stay with us for the night?! Is that why you’re here?” Anne offered.
“Do you want to stay forever?” Hop Pop exclaimed jokingly.
“Guys, guys, chillax, nobody kicked me out.” She said with a little giggle as she shook her hands in protest. “I’m actually just here to ask you guys if I could borrow Anne for a little bit.” She sounded a little awkward and unsure when she said that. The slightest hint of a blush surfaced on her cheeks.
“She’s not in trouble, is she?” Sprig asked with a giggle.
“You would tell us if she was in trouble, right? Give us a head start to bail from the cops?” Polly added seriously.
“No, no, no it's nothing serious, hehe. Just, you know, girl stuff.” Marcy assured them.
“Hmm, I don't know, it is getting pretty late in the evening.” Hop Pop mused to himself.
“It'll be fine, Hop Pop. I promise I'll be super responsible and safe and junk. I mean, come on I got the Chief Ranger of The Newtopia Knight Guard with me to protect me.” Anne nudged Marcy and gave her a playful wink. Marcy's blush deepened as she rubbed her neck in embarassement.
“We're not going anywhere dangerous, Hop Pop. We’ll stay around here.” Marcy assured the worried frog.
Hop Pop sighed, “Alright, but don't stay up too late.”
“Okay, you got it HP, see ya bye!” Anne rushed out and slammed the door behind her.
He sighed again, “Good girl that Marcy.”
The girls made their way down to the hotel lobby, Anne was giddy, she was just so excited to spend time with Marcy again. For the past couple of months it used to be just her and Sasha, Marcy always seemed to go her own way. They didn't hang out as much anymore. And wanted to change that. “So, MarMar, where we eloping to now?” There was that Marcy blush again.
“Actually, what I wanted to show you is right here at the hotel.”
“Oh yeah? Whatcha got in mind?”
Marcy then pointed up above their heads, “They say that the view at the top of the indoor Ferris wheel will change your life... I- I thought maybe we could ride it together.” Marcy played and fidgeted with her pointing fingers. “How does that sound?”
“Sure, I'd love that, dude.” Anne shrugged, she placed her hands in her skirt pockets and the two stars waltzed to the Ferris wheel. Anne got into the cart first. Marcy paid for the ride, she also gave the operator an extra tip and whispered some instructions into his ear which told him to stop the ride once they got to the top for a little bit. The operator gave them a thumbs up and Marcy swiftly joined Anne.
They slowly began to ascend upwards to the top. Marcy was sweating. She was shaking, she couldn't help it. They sat next to each other in awkward silence for a little bit, Marcy coughed and broke the quiet, “Soooo, uh Anne I- [clears throat] The real reason why I wanted to talk to you- well, I wanted to spend time with you, obviously. But also because... I... I wanted to tell you something.”
Anne's brow raised, a warm smile on her beautiful perfect face, “Yeah? What?”
“I...” Marcy flipped up her hood in an attempt to hide her deep red blush, which ran from cheek to cheek across her little nose. She groaned in annoyance at her inability to talk like a normal person, Anne looked slightly concerned at that. Marcy continued, “It's kind of hard to talk about.”
“That's okay.” Anne comforted Marcy by placing her hand onto Marcy’s, and squeezing it a little. They held hands hundreds of times before, it was just their thing, it was a friend thing, it didn't mean anything. But the thing was; it did mean something to Marcy. She loved it. And she was definitely freaking out in the moment. She never realised when it happened, when all their friendly intimacy began to make her feel strange feelings; the warmth she felt when Anne was around her, when their skin touched. Soon she realised that what she felt was not just simply friendship; it was something more, something that made her a little nervous. Anne continued, “I know how it feels. So much has happened recently, there's so much in my head. Sometimes I wish I could just break out into song. I know it sounds corny and silly, but maybe we could try out that Sasha and The Sharps thing again.”
“It's not corny or silly. I bet you'd have a gorgeous singing voice, heh.”
“Thanks dude.” That smile, that damn beautiful smile.
Their cart reached the top. It shook slightly for a second and then slowed to a stop at the top. The girls didn't even notice because the view was truly spectacular. They actually audibly wowed. The girls marvelled at the sight of the setting sun bathing the city and the castle in its final lights. The sky was a beautiful collage of pinks, blues, and oranges. Anne just took it in, it reminded her of the hot air balloon rides her parents would take her on when she was younger, “Look at that, it's gorgeous.”
Marcy turned from the scene and faced Anne who was still hypnotised by the sight, “Yeah, I agree.” The evening sun illuminated Anne's beautiful brown face, she looked otherworldly, she looked like a goddess.
Then Anne turned back to Marcy. Marcy almost jumped once they made eye contact, “So? What did you want to tell me?”
The moment was now. Marcy reached into her pocket, in it was a piece of paper, on it were all of Marcy's feelings for Anne detailed out. She had ripped it out of her journal out of embarrassment and fear of Anne ever finding out. But now, she wanted to share them, she wanted to say that special L word. She wanted Anne... But... What if Anne didn't feel the same way? Would it ruin their friendship? Would it make Anne feel uncomfortable around Marcy?
She spoke to the only person who she trusted with these feelings, Andrias of course listened intently, he was always happy to listen. He urged Marcy to tell Anne her true feelings. ‘Be brave, Marcy.’ He said. ‘Bottling up those feelings will cost you. Tell her now, before it's too late.’ He sounded like he spoke from experience. The way there was no goofiness or glee in his voice suggested to Marcy that he had been acting around her all this time. Perhaps he wasn't as happy as he pretended to be. She ultimately heeded his advice, put on a brave face, and set up a plan. But now she was getting cold feet.
Just say it! Say it! You idiot, come on! Just say ‘I like you’. It's Anne, she'll understand, even if she doesn't feel the same way.
“I uhm… I just wanted to invite you and the Plantars to the castle party that King Andrias is throwing for us.” Marcy, you coward, she thought.
“Wow, really for us? Ann asked in surprise.
“Heh, yep. ‘Drias said he wanted to celebrate our reunion, and us finding The Music Box. Apparently, it's an ancient artefact that belonged to his people, and has been lost for a thousand years. Uhm, anyway, the party is tomorrow evening, maybe wear something nice, but don't worry about it, I'm sure anything would look nice on you, heh. There will be snacks, dancing, the whole shebang. It’ll be real fun.”
Anne’s eyes lit up like stars in the night sky, “Gee, Marbles, I don't know what to say. You just keep on giving, so many gifts. I feel bad, I don't have anything for you.”
“Just say that you’ll come.”
“I will.”
“And I don't need anything from you Anne, just being with you is enough. Having a friend like you is greater than any gift, all this is is just me trying to make it up to you, to say thank you, for being with me.”
Tears of joy welled up in Anne's eyes, she and Marcy embraced one last time for the day. They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Marcy waved her friend away as she returned to her hotel room. Under her breath, shakingly, she proclaimed, “I love you.”