Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Anne Savisa Boonchuy woke up in a cave. Alone.

Last thing she remembers, she was in a park with marmalade and sashimi; or Sasha and Marcy. but she never calls them their actual names anyways. Why? Because it's fun.

"Hello?" She calls out. Bugs scatter at that, and she jumps. A scream tries to escape, but she holds it in. She grabs at her backpack straps- wait. 

"My backpack!" She shouts happily and opens it. To her dismay, it didn't have a map of this place. Not like she knew how to use one, anyways...

Anne sat down harshly, and rolled onto her back, hitting her head against the wall of the cave.

"Owww…" Anne rubbed the back of her head to try to numb the pain - to no avail, so she started crying. The bugs around her scatter again, this time leaving for real.

After half an hour, Anne calmed down. She took an extra 10 to stop shaking. Another 5 to get her breathing in check. Eventually, she opens her eyes to see a shadow looming over her. She looks up, but the figure's face is all dark.

"What… are ya'?" It asked. Anne's eyes went wide and her irises went to the size of pinpricks. And then, she screamed. She started breathing funny and unevenly again. No tears, this time though.

"A-ah! Sorry, kid, I didn't mean to frighten you!" It spoke again. Anne lets out a squeak, but talks.

"W-where am I?" 

"Ah, you're lost? Well, let me show you around, little newt!" 

"...newt?" Anne echoed, emphasising the 't'.

"You're not a newt? Weird. What are you?" 

"I'm a human? You aren't?" Anne asked, looking up again. She hadn't realised her gaze drifted to the cave's floor.

"I'm a frog! My name's Aloe. Aloe Plantar." Aloe introduced herself.

"A… frog?! But you're talking!" Anne jumped up - literally - and almost hit the poor woman in the… face.?

"Oh, simmer down, sweet child. What's your name?" Aloe smiled. Anne still couldn't see it, but she could hear it in the frog's voice.

"O-oh. I'm… K- Anne. I'm Anne." Don't tell her your real name! This is a new world where you can be seen as a girl! 

"Ah. Nice to meet you, Anne! Now, where are your parents?" Aloe asked.

"Oh… I don't know." Anne held back tears.

"Awh, kiddo, I'm sorry…," She paused. "I have an idea. I know about stranger danger, but… would you like to stay with me until we find your parents?" Aloe suggested. Anne blinked a few times, the imaginary gears in her mind turning.

"Okay!" Anne smiled and held out her hand.

Aloe smiled. 

"Cool! Ooh. Your legs look beat. Can you walk?" 

"Mmm… no" Anne considered.

"Okay, hop on." Aloe turned around and kneeled, leaving Anne some space to get on her back.

They walked for about 15 minutes before arriving in a town called Wartwood. According to Aloe, there were three species living in this cool world: Frogs, Newts and Toads. Aloe also introduced this world as 'Amphibia'. Anne struggled to say that for a while, but she got it eventually.

"Well, this is my home! Welcome!" Aloe smiled.

"Woahhh.. is pretty!" Anne gawked.

"Awh. Wanna meet my family?" 

"You have a family?" Anne looked at Aloe from on her back.

"Yep! My husband Pine, my father Hopediah, and my children, Sprig and Polly!" Aloe exclaimed.

"Ooooh, I love those names! Have they met a human before?" Anne said in awe.

"Not yet, they haven't!"

They walked into the house, and Aloe was greeted by her husband, Pine.

"Hi honey!" Pine paused. "What is that?" He asked, with a bit of sourness in his voice.

"Honey, this is Anne, a human! She's lost, and I offered to let her stay with us." Aloe smiled.

"Hello!" Anne said, trying to hide her fear.

"Oh… well you're a curious little one, aren't ya?" Pine smiled.

"Mmmm…. am I?" Anne looked to Aloe. Aloe just laughed.

"Well then, shall we introduce you to Hopediah?" Pine asked.

" 'Opedia?" Anne echoed, not pronouncing his name right at all.

"Sure. C'mon." Aloe chuckled.

"Father? Come here for a sec'!" Aloe called out, and the adults flinched as they heard a quiet bang from upstairs. Soon enough, an old orange frog came from the stairs. Anne looked in awe. She whispered to be let down, and she was.

"What's the matter- OH MY FROG what is that?!" The frog yelled. Anne jumped and covered her ears at the noise.

"Oh dear. Hopediah, quiet please." Pine said, and the mentioned nodded suspiciously.

"This is Anne, a human." Aloe said.

"Hello." Anne nervously removed her hands from her ears and held one out for a handshake. Hopediah took it, both impressed at her manners, but scared of her. Anne recoiled once she felt slime cover her hand.

"Ookay let's go meet the kids?" Aloe asked.

2 years later

"Anne, Anne! Catch!" A pink frog yells to the human, throwing a disc made of bugs. Anne successfully catches it, and pounds her free fist in the air as a victory pose.

"Okay, your turn, Sprig!" Anne shouts back, and throws the disc in Sprig's direction. Sprig catches the disc, and hops over to Anne.

"Let's go see Polly! Please please please?" He hops excitedly.

"Fine, but I get to hold her." Anne sticks her tongue out.

"No fair!" Sprig crosses his arms.

"Sprig, you're three. You will end up dropping her." Anne teases and walks forward.

"Yeah, and your head will drop! Off your body!" Sprig shouts as he throws the disc at Anne's neck.

"Ow! Hey, I'm telling Hop Pop!" Anne shouts as she starts running.

"Noo! Sore loser!" Sprig yells, following suit. The two laugh before bursting into the house.

"Ah-! Kids, you're gonna give your poor mother a heart attack!" Aloe jumps, but smiles at the children's antics.

"Mommm, Sprig threw the bug-disc at my head!" Anne complained.

"It was at your neck, you tattletail!" Sprig reiterated.

"Kids, quiet down or we aren't having pillbug pancakes tomorrow!" Pine said from the kitchen.

"Awwww!" Sprig and Anne groaned at the same time.

"Oh yeah! Mom, can I hold Polly?? Pleassee??" Anne begged.

Aloe sighed. 

"Yeah, okay. Just, be careful. Come with me." Aloe guided the two to Polly's bedroom, where the baby was "playing" with stuffed animals.

"Polly." Aloe whispered to the one-year-old. Polly looked up and cooed as she saw her family. Anne sat on the chair beside the crib with a smile.

"Okay hon, you ready?" Aloe smiled at Anne, holding Polly.

"Mhm!" Anne hummed, holding her arms out. Polly was placed in her arms, and Anne smiled at her as she cooed and squirmed. Sprig carefully jumped onto Anne's shoulders to get a view of his sister.

"Aww! Hi Polly!" Anne said sweetly as she planted gentle kisses on her younger sister's forehead.

"Ne! Nne! Ane!" Polly babbled. A gasp from the older kids.

"Eeee I think she said my name!" Anne squealed.

"No fair! Mom, why didn't she say mine?" Sprig asked with a frown.

"Anne's name is easier to say for babies, darling. One day, though!" Aloe smiled. Sprig sighed and nodded.

3 years later...

"Sprig! Anne! Come here!" Pine shouted, fear layering his voice. All sorts of bells and alarms were ringing at the same time, which was torture for the kids, but they ignored it and rushed downstairs.

"What's wrong?!" Anne asked.

"Herons. They're coming from the west. Your mother and I will protect the house. You guys hide in Anne's room, okay?" Pine said, and the two frogs agreed. Anne, however.

"But- I can help you! I'm bigger than both of you, I promise I can help!" Tears threatened to spill.

"Anne, honey, please? You're the oldest, protect your siblings." Aloe said.

"M-mom, please!" Anne begged, Polly and Sprig wrapped on either of her legs.

"Anne, my love. Please? We will be back, I promise." Pine whispered. Anne was silently sobbing, and wrapped her froggy parents in a hug. Sprig and Polly joined in, crying just as much, if not more.

"We love you three." Aloe said, and they rushed out the door. Anne wiped her face, and grabbed her siblings. She opened the basement trapdoor, and let her siblings in. She made sure her siblings were inside before running out, and shutting the door.

She never agreed.

Anne burst open the door, and was bombarded with loud sounds and fire.

“MOM! DAD!” She screamed, running out.

As she ran towards the central fountain, fire licked her arms and legs, sure to leave scars if the fire got worse. And then she saw them. Her mother in the left heron’s mouth, and her father beating on the right’s face.

“M-MOM! DAD!” Anne cried again, her heart feeling like fire.

She felt static in her head as the left heron fully closed its mouth, biting her mother in half. Everything froze. Her pulse quickened, and her stomach did gymnastics as she fought the urge to vomit.

Blue enveloped her vision, and she felt a sudden surge of power. As if she’d been blessed by frog, she ran at speeds she herself knew she couldn’t achieve, and body slammed into the mother-killer heron. Said bird stumbled at the contact, and aimed to bite Anne as well. She speedily dodged the attack, only earning a large gash on her right arm - unable to feel the pain through her power high. She quickly punched the left heron’s face with extreme strength, and leaped for the other one, where her father was just flung off of, landing on the sharper end of a statue, and getting impaled.

Anne glowed brighter with her newfound fury, and dug her hand into one of the father-flinger heron’s eyes. It wailed in pain, and fell to the ground as blue shocks traveled through its entire body.

Just then, a spear was thrown at the mother-killer’s under-wing. It was thrown once again a couple seconds later, making an obvious X-shaped scar. Anne jumped off of the paralyzed heron, and ran for the other’s legs, but it - somehow - picked up the father-flinger and flew away. Anne stumbled slightly as her power faded, and her vision un-tinted.

Then, the weight of the situation settled on Anne’s 9 year old shoulders. She just watched her parents die.

Her breath trembled, as did her body. Her eyes widened, irises the size of a small marble. Tears rimmed her eyes as she took fearful steps backwards, and slowly descended down the spiral that led to a panic attack. She was lightheaded, and her arm was throbbing.

Everything went dark.

One year later…

"Happy birthday, Anne!" Polly smiled.

"Yeah! Happy birthday! I can't believe you're 10!" Sprig exclaimed from on Anne's shoulders.

"So proud of my granddaughter." Hop Pop said, wiping a fake tear from his eye. Anne scoffed.

"HP, I know you're an actor, but that's a bit dramatic. It's just a birthday!" Anne laughed. She pretended she didn't cry every year on her friend's birthdays.

"It's an important one too! You're a pre-teen now." Polly hopped in place.

"What even is the meaning of that??" Anne asked rhetorically

"What’s the meaning of you?" Polly laughed.

"I will punt you.." Anne snickered.

"Don’t. Put on your mud crown, Anne." Hop Pop rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, okay." Anne smiled and placed the crown on her head. She wandered to the window and stared out at it. 

After 10 minutes, she turned around.

"Wow. My life is a swamp-show. Even if I don't remember anything before age 4." She said flatly.

"Anne Plantar, watch your language!" Hop Pop scolded, but smiled at her joke.

"But I'm 10 now!"

"Ah bub ba! No excuses, young lady." 

"Booooo!" Anne groaned.

"Guys guys! Let's go shopping!" Polly interrupted.

"Ooh, yeah!" Sprig agreed.

"Kids, we went shopping yesterday! For Anne's… PRESENTS!" Hop Pop smiled.

"Wait, you got me presents? Aww thanks! I thought we only did the song and the crown, though?" Anne smiled.

"Yep! But we heard from a little birdie-" Hop Pop started.

"You. Mumbling about it in your room a couple months ago." Sprig interrupted.

"Ahem. Yes. We heard from you that before, you would get presents!" Hop Pop finished.

"Oh. I- Thanks!" Anne shook off any sadness. It was her birthday.

After opening presents, the family sat and ate pillbug pancakes until bedtime.

"Thanks, HP! They were so good." Anne smiled.

"No worries, Anne. Anything for my granddaughter." Hop Pop smiled back.

"Anne, Anne, can we sleep in your bed tonight?!" Polly asked, Sprig bouncing beside her.

"Hmmmm…." Anne fake-thought.

"Duh! Get your pajamas on! I'll meet you downstairs." Anne's froggy siblings smiled and rushed upstairs.

"Anne, could we talk?" Hop Pop asked.

"Oh, uh. Sure?"

"So, based on what you told me about your friends, they are girls, yeah?" 

Anne knew where this was going.

"Okay, I know what you're asking. Please don't hate me when I tell you." Hopediah tilted his head.

"So, I was born a boy. But, I identify as transgender. So, I was a boy, but now I'm a girl." Anne summarized.

"Oh." Hop Pop paused. Anne grew super nervous. "That's really cool! We all just thought you were born a girl." 

"Woah, really?" Anne was shocked.

"Yep!" Hop Pop responded simply.

"Thanks." Anne smiled.

"It's no trouble. Now off to bed." Anne nodded, and went downstairs. She changed at record speed, and prepared her bed.

"Goodnight, you guys."

"G'night, Anne."

"Night, sis."

The trio was unaware of the extra pair of ears listening from outside.

Chapter Text

Two figures loomed over Anne. Their faces were blurry, but yet somehow showed fear. They were calling for her in an accent she couldn't recognise.

"Hello? Who are you?" Anne paused. "For the love of frog, Anne, this isn't a horror movie."

Screaming. Loud screaming. Anne may as well have given herself whiplash by how fast she turned around.

Giant herons. And her parents.

"Mom, Dad! Watch out!" She screamed.

It was too late. She couldn't close her eyes as she watched the birds rip the frogs apart violently.

The room shifted into a playground. But not the one she played at last week with Sprig and Polly. 

Three figures morphed from the air. 4 year old her, Sasha and Marcy. But their faces were blurred.

'Marmar! Come back!'

'Never!'

The little Anne was panting, but running just as fast as the other three. They ran into the forest.

'Got you!' 

'Nooo! You cheated!"

Little Sasha turned around, walking backwards.

'Anne's not a cheater!'

'Yeah!' Little Anne grabbed Little Sasha's arm, and Little Marcy grabbed Little Anne's hand.

Little children's laughter turned into screaming as the three fell into a hole. It was glowing bright white.

Anne's eyes flew open as she woke up. She was covered in sweat, yet the breeze coming from her slightly open door to the house made her shiver. Sprig and Polly weren't glued to her - Polly actually shoved Sprig off the bed earlier, - so she got up and wandered outside.

Full moon tonight.

Anne still couldn't get the events of her dream out of her head. She eventually wandered to the small stone wall her and Sprig would frequently read at, and she sat criss-cross against it.

Getting little to no sleep wasn’t rare for Anne. In fact, she barely got much sleep since her parents died when she was 9. Of course, she had to deal with the side effects of so little sleep, such as increased anxiety, or worse performance while farming, but she didn’t think hallucinating was a symptom of insomnia. So, naturally, she was very confused when she saw Sasha standing right in front of her. 

She blinked once, twice, three times.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands.

She blinked four times.

“Anne?”

Anne’s eyes widened at the voice. There’s no way hallucinations can talk, right? 

“Anne?!”

Okay, maybe they can.

“Anne, is that actually you?!”

“Sasha?” It barely was a breath. Anne’s eyes stung as tears formed.

“Holy toad.” Sasha swore, his eyes widening as well. He had super short hair, armour that reassembled that of the toad armour the tax collectors wore, and a sword sheathed on his waist. Anne could swear one of his eyes were magenta, instead of the regular brown that she remembered, but she didn’t pay attention to that yet.

“Sasha!” Anne jumped up, her legs shaky, yet desperate to run towards the blonde in front of her. And so, she did. Sasha mirrored Anne, tears running down his face. Once they reached one another, they hugged. For the first time since the age of 4, they hugged each other. It made them realise just how much they missed hugging warm-blooded beings. Let alone their friends.

“I can’t believe it’s actually you.” Sasha muttered, his head buried in Anne’s shoulder.

“Me either.” Anne whispered in response.

“Is Marcy with you? She’s not with me.” Sasha asked, turning his head to face Anne’s neck so that she could hear him better.

“...no.” Anne sighed, her hopes dwindling.

“Oh…” Sasha’s hopes dwindled as well.

Sasha pulled away, and brought his hand up to Anne’s cheek. He rubbed her cheek, wiping away a tear in its travels. It soaked into his glove, and he smiled softly.

“I missed you so much, Anne.”

“I missed you too.”

Anne guided Sasha to sit down beside her in front of the stone wall.

“Y’know, this is my favorite place to sit when I can’t sleep.” Anne smiled softly, looking at the grass.

“Really? What made it your favorite?” Sasha inquired, genuinely interested.

“Uhm… I came here a lot after…” Anne froze, memories flooding back.

“You okay?” Sasha asked, his hand resting on Anne’s.

“Y-yeah, sorry. Uh, you really wanna know the story? It’s pretty long.” Anne mumbled self-consciously.

“Yeah! We haven’t seen each other for 6, 7 years, after all!”

“...okay.”

Anne stayed silent for a minute, before taking a breath.

“I can’t remember anything from before I was 4. So, I woke up in a cave, and mo- I mean, a frog named Aloe brought me to her house, and I became… good friends, you could say.”

“Your mom?” Sasha interrupted, knowing what Anne meant.

“Yeah. She took me in, and eventually, I became part of the family. My dad, Pine, my mom’s grandpa, Hop Pop, my younger brother, Sprig and my sister Polly became some of the most important people to me. But, just about two years ago, herons attacked Wartwood. They destroyed pretty much everything… including my parents. My siblings were hiding in the basement. I was stupid enough to go fight them. That's where I got this sc.... uh. Sprig and Polly fell asleep, but I couldn’t even dream of it.. I’ve had a really hard time falling asleep, and staying asleep. I think HP called it… insomnia? Anyways, I came here super often ever since that, so… yeah.” Anne explained. Sasha listened intently, providing all the comfort he could during.

“I- I’m… so sorry, Anne.”

“...It’s okay, Sash. It’s a sensitive subject, though, so let’s, uh, change it?” Anne smiled weakly.

“Oh, uh, sure. Sorry.” Sasha smiled back.

“So… what have you been up to?” Anne asked, tilting her head.

“Ah, nothing much. Grime, my grandfather, has been training me for years. That’s pretty much it.” Sasha said, smiling fondly.

Grime? Anne thought to herself. Isn’t that the toad lord that HP told me about? Isn’t he really rude? Also, training? Is Sasha in an army?

“Are you in the army?” Anne asked.

“That’s a good way to describe it, yeah.” Sasha replied, his eyes shining.

“Cool..!” Anne smiled.

“Toad, it’s cold out here.” Sasha shivered after a moment of silence, and Anne chuckled.

“Would you like me to grab a blanket?” Anne suggested, and Sasha nodded. Anne smiled, and got up to go to the Plantar home.

Anne ran to the back door, and quietly climbed down the ladder, grabbed two blankets from the corner of her room, near a slightly lit fireplace, and climbed back up the ladder.

Once she arrived back to where Sasha was, he smiled and accepted the blanket gratefully.

“It’s really warm,” Sasha remarked, “Was it sat near a fire?”

“Yeah. It’s how I keep myself warm in the basement.” Anne responded, and the two fell into a comfortable silence.

Anne heard a deep, relaxed breath come from beside her. It startles her a bit, but as she looked over, she saw Sasha asleep, and she relaxed as well. Wow. Talking about things like that is tiring. Anne thought to herself, yawning. Might as well try to sleep. Why did things have to be so bad? Why did I have to fall into that… stupid… hole? Was it even a hole? Yeesh, am I downplaying the severity of this all? Eh, whatever. Sleep first, Anne. 

And so, Anne got the best sleep she’d gotten in years beside her friend, but she still longed for one more. But, this was just fine for now.

Chapter Text

Anne woke up with a pounding headache. She tried to lift her arm, but something was weighing on it. Now that all her senses had returned, she realised that there was something weighing both her hands down. Her left hand was still, and her left was being shaken.

“Huh?” She quietly hummed as she opened her eyes.

“Anne!”

“Sis!”

Sprig and Polly’s voice came at the same time. A chill went down Anne’s spine at the panic ringing in their voices, and she shot up, her left hand still pinned down.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Who is that? ” Sprig asked, pointing to the left of Anne.

“Who?” Anne looked to the left, and saw Sasha, seemingly asleep.

“Ah- right. Uh, let’s talk inside. Get HP, please? I’ll wake her up.”

As Sprig and Polly hopped to the house, a voice from beside Anne made her jump.

“I go by he now.” Sasha tiredly smiled.

“Oh- I’m so sorry. I’ll make sure to remember that.” Anne apologised quickly, and Sasha nodded happily.

“Who were they?” He asked, sitting up carefully.

“They were Sprig and Polly, my siblings.” Anne answered, rubbing her eyes.

“Ah.” Sasha yawned.

A beat of silence.

“So…” Sasha started, unsure of what to say.

“ANNE! HOP POP SAYS COME HERE NOW!” Sprig yelled from across the field. Anne jumped up, and grabbed Sasha’s wrist in a hurry.

“He’s MAD when he’s mad, be prepared.” Anne stated, dragging Sasha along while running.

“Oh?” Sasha hummed, smirking slightly. Can’t be worse than Grime.

As the duo arrived at the house, Anne braced herself for the worst. She was used to Hop Pop overreacting, but she didn’t blame him. He did lose his children, after all, she thought.

“Anne Savisa Plantar! I told you to wake me up if you were going out! At night, too! And now your siblings come and say you’re asleep with a stranger?! ” Hopediah scolded, his arms flailing.

“Apologies, Hop Pop.” Anne said respectfully. Sasha, however, was deep in thought.

He is worse than Grime. And, I don’t remember Anne’s last name being Plantar? Why does she look so… resigned? His thoughts paused for a second, a memory playing in his head.

“Anne Savisa -—----! Come here this instant!” A blurry figure resembling Anne, but taller yelled from across the playground. Anne’s head snapped up immediately. The trio wasn’t supposed to be here.

“Yes, mother!” 1st grade Anne yelled back, a hint of fear in her voice.

Anne ran without a word.

“Weird… she usually says something to us.” 1st grade Marcy said, looking up from the rocks they were piling.

“Yeah.” Sasha said, worry tainting his voice.

“...o say that you can’t hang out for 3 weeks, understood?” The figure said sternly.

“Yes.” Anne replied timidly, and walked to her friends.

“M-my mom says we can’t hang out for a w-while.” Anne echoed, tears forming in her eyes. Sasha and Marcy looked at her with twin expressions of worry, before standing up and embracing Anne in a hug.

“Sorry.” Anne whispered, hugging back.

“It’s okay, Anna-banana. We get it.” Marcy reassured, smiling.

“We’ll be here. Plus, we'll still be at school.” Sasha smiled.

“Yeah.” Anne sighed, and pulled away as her mom cleared her throat.

“Come on, before they convince you to do drugs, or something.”

And with that, Anne and the figure walked away. Sasha stuck his tongue out at her as her back was turned, and Marcy did the same, after a glance at the blonde.

“...n’t leave the house for a week, do you understand? This was so irresponsible of you, I hope you know that! And, you have to clean Bessie for two weeks !” The old frog was still rambling.

“Yes, grandpa. I’ll lead him to a guest place, and come back immediately.” Anne frowned, her grip strong on her baggy pants, fit for a human.

“Good.” Hop Pop crossed his arms, and watched as the two left the house, and shut the door.

“I’m sorry, Sasha. I’ll get you a guest room at Felicia’s, and we’ll see eachother in a week.” Anne sighed as the duo made their way to the mentioned tea shoppe.

“It’s okay.” Sasha paused, before hesitantly asking, “Do you have to deal with strictness like that a lot?”

“...yeah. It’s been hard for him since my parents died, so I don’t hold a grudge.” Anne explained.

“Okay, I understand grieving, but, to my knowledge, it’s been almost two years! I personally think he should be over it by now.” Sasha ranted.

“...there’s nothing we can do.” Anne stopped suddenly, looking up at the pink building in front of her.

“Here, take 19 coppers. This should cover for two weeks or less, depending on how long you plan on staying.” Anne rummaged through her pocket, and pulled out the exact amount she said.

“...okay. Thanks, Anne.” Sasha muttered, accepting the money. He was about to enter, before he was wrapped in a hug. He was confused for a split second, but Anne’s shoulders shaking quickly made him connect the dots.

“Hey, it’ll be okay. Don’t worry.” He whispered, returning the hug. Anne muttered something into his shoulder, but Sasha couldn’t make it out.

“Did you say something, Annie?” He asked, rubbing his hand along the opposite’s back.

“...ve me.” 

“Hm?”

“Please don’t leave me again!” Anne pulled away, tears streaming down her face. “I just got you back! I don’t want to lose you again! Please, stay with me!”

Sasha’s eyes widened and his heart shattered. Anne moved her grip to Sasha’s sleeves, gripping them tightly as her head fell towards his chest.

“Please…”

Anne was suddenly off the ground.

“Ah-!” 

In Sasha’s arms.

“We’re talking with that dumb old frog.” Sasha smirked, his eyes reflecting anger.

“Wait, what? N-no, he’ll get more upset!” Anne cried, gripping Sasha’s shoulders so as not to fall, and to further prove her point.

“Okay, cool. Good to know. I don’t want to leave you either, Anne. The only way we’re gonna see each other at all in the next week is to convince orange grandpa-”

“His name is Hop Pop.” Anne interrupted.

“Is to convince him to let you… be a person, and go outside! And see your friend that you just met after 6 years apart! ” He explained, looking Anne in the eyes momentarily.

Anne stayed silent. The duo eventually reached the Plantar home, where Sasha set Anne down, and repeatedly knocked on the door.

“ What? ” Hop Pop growled as he opened the door.

“We need to chat, Hop Pop .” Sasha spat, saying the frog’s name with so much venom.

“Heh, feel free, stranger. I’d love an explanation as to why you were sleeping with my granddaughter.” Hopediah responded, his anger growing.

“U-uh, why don’t you two calm down?” Anne shakily asked, holding her hands up. Her suggestion fell to deaf ears as Sasha grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the house with him, Hop Pop swiftly following behind.

“Please, you two- Agh-!” Anne was shoved onto the couch harshly, and forced to watch as Sasha and Hop Pop fought.

Normally, Anne would stand up and stop the conflict. But this situation was far from normal. Anne had never seen Sasha so mad. Anne would love to stop the fight, but she was scared. So, so scared.

“It’s so unfair that when things don’t go your way, you make her isolate herself!”
“At least I didn't just appear out of nowhere!”

“Can you just let her be a person? We haven’t seen each other in 6 years! years! ”

“This is what happens when she doesn’t tell me what she’s doing!”

“I understand that you lost your kids, but Anne is strong! ”

Anne was getting so overwhelmed. Sprig and Polly were nowhere to be seen, so that’s just all happy and jolly.

“You- how do you know that?!”

“Anne told me!”

“Anne told you?!”

Hop Pop turned to Anne, but Sasha stopped him.

“Their deaths aren’t only affecting you!”
“I don’t care!”

Sasha took a breath, calming himself down.

“This isn’t working. Could you listen to my reasoning?”

Hop Pop froze.

“Fine.”

Through her pounding migraine, the pain on her chest and wrist, and the stinging of her eyes, Anne gestured for the two to sit down on either side of her.

“Okay, look. Me and Anne… we haven’t seen each other in 6 years. That, I’ve said, but do you realise just how much that would affect the both of us? Finally reuniting after that long, only to be- yelled at, and separated again? And isolated?” Sasha gestured to Anne, who stayed scarily silent.

“That is fair, but you need to understand that the only things we know about you are very outdated, and we don’t want Anne getting hurt.” Hop Pop explained, his voice slightly resigned.

“That is fair. But, I can prove myself to you guys.” Sasha gave his warmest smile.

“Forgive my skepticism, but that would be lovely.” Hopediah returned the warm smile. Anne had been zoned out the whole time.

This is all my fault, if I had saved Mom and Dad, Sasha wouldn’t have to prove himself to HP, and I’d still be getting sleep, and maybe it’d just be better if I wasn’t ever h-

“Anne?” Sasha asked, leaning in front of her. Anne jumped, but relaxed after a second.

“Oh, uh, sorry. I’m… gonna go to my room. For a sec.”

Anne sat on the side of her bed, just processing everything.

I really shouldn’t make Sasha mad… that was terrifying.

Anne was fidgeting.

When did he even get so… mean?

Shaking.

Was it my fault?

"Anne?" A voice came from behind the basement door.

"Uh, yeah?" Anne called out, hiding the shakiness in her voice.

"Could we come in?" Another asked.

"Sure."

When the door creaked open, Sprig hopped down, Polly behind him, shutting it.

"What's up?" Anne asked, turning so that her siblings could sit on her shoulders and head.

"Was that Marcy?" Sprig asked.

"That was Sasha." Anne replied.

"Oh."

…

"What happened?" Polly questioned.

"Him and HP fought, but they worked it out." Anne sighed, crossing her legs.

"Oh, ouch."

…

"Are you hurt?" Sprig asked, worry tainting his voice.

"...not especially."

"What does that mean?" Polly asked, defensively. Almost angry.

"Just… confused. And, I got shoved violently onto the couch, but whatever."

"What?!" Sprig leaned forwards, "Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine, don't worry! It'll leave a bruise, though." Anne chuckled, making light of what she could.

"...okay."

"You sure? You're shaking." Polly pointed out.

"Oh. Uh, I don't know-" Anne looked to her siblings, searching for a sign to stop, but they nodded, a sign to continue. "I've just… I don't remember Sasha being so… mean, and violent. I'm scared if I do the wrong thing, I'll get hurt, or yelled at."

Sprig and Polly were silent for a few seconds.

"Yeah, we get it." Polly finally admitted.

Anne stared blankly at the two.

"Hop Pop has always been harsh on us. Especially since… you came, " Anne internally scolded herself. "and.. since mom and dad." Sprig explained, and Anne nodded along. 

"I'm sorry." Anne merely whispered, holding out her arms slightly, inviting her siblings into a hug, which they gladly accepted.

"Thank you both for listening." Anne muttered.

"Anytime, Anne." Polly smiled. It was rare to see Polly not… violent, so Anne cherished every moment of it. She loved her tadpole sibling in every way, though. Sprig was a mix of everything all at once, and it reminded Anne of herself. It made her happy, to not be the only one that stuck out. The two could stick out together!

Sasha walked down the steps just as Sprig and Polly walked out. He smiled at Anne, and Anne invited him to sit on her bed.

" 'Sup, Sash?" Anne smiled.

"Came to hang out." Sasha said, scanning the room. "Your room is a mess."

"Hah, yeah." Anne laughed. "Results of… insomnia, I think."

"Ah. Oh! Speaking of, would I be able to crash here for… like a week?" Sasha asked.

"Uh, sure. If you don't mind me messing around in my room if I can't sleep."

Sasha grinned for a moment, before nodding.

"No worries. I don't mind at all."

-... / .-. / .. / -. / --. // - / .... / . / -- // .... / --- / -- / .

Chapter Text

Anne picked at the mold growing on the wall of her room, zoning out. It seemed so stupid to Anne, but she was still hung up on Hop Pop and Sasha’s fight.

Of course, Hop Pop was being protective. Anne was used to that. But, Sasha had changed so much, which was obvious. They’d been separated for 6 years, of course he’s changed. But, Anne knew he was a kind, gentle person. His fight with HP was a complete turnover from that. Sure, it could’ve just been from the moment of tension, but Anne knew that 6 years ago, he would have stopped the fight way before he did then.

A bout of shuffling from behind her snapped her out of her thoughts, and she whipped her head around. It was just Sasha. Frog, I forgot he was there.

“Did I scare you?” Sasha asked with a chuckle. His eyes were open???

“Yes, a lot.” Anne laughed.

“Hah. I seem to have that effect on people.” Sasha said, sitting up. “Why are you picking at that moss? Kinda weird.”

“Oh, just zoned out.” Anne glanced to the side.

“Did you get any sleep, Anne?” Hopediah asked, serving breakfast.

“A bit, yeah. Ooh, centibacon! Thank you!” Anne smiled at her grandfather, who smiled back.

“Gotta treat our… guest well. Also, this was about to go bad.” Hop Pop chuckled, tapping the bits of food in the pan with the spatula.

Anne shoveled a slice of her food into her mouth, savoring the salty yet sweet taste. Of course, fancy stuff like centibacon and chocopede pancakes were rare in the Plantar household. As is stuff like a shower, which Anne had forgotten existed until Sasha brought it up while waiting for the rest of the family. Speaking of, Anne’s siblings were not yet at the table. 

“Huh. Sprig and Polly aren’t here yet?” Anne echoed her thoughts, and Hop Pop seemed to reach the same conclusion.

“Yeah. Could you go find them, hon?” Hopediah asked. Anne smiled at the frequent nickname used by her grandfather, and nodded her agreement.

“Sure! Lemme just…” She stuffed all but one piece of centibacon into her mouth, and stood up. She gave Sasha a look saying ‘be right back’, and ran off upstairs.

She finished chewing just as she got to Sprig’s door. She then began to bang on the door loudly and repeatedly.

“Sprig SprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprigSprig WAKE UP!” She repeated, growing louder. Anne then turned around to Polly’s room, and did the same thing.

“Mmm…… PollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPollyPolly WAKE UP YOU’RE MISSING BREAKFAST.” 

Sprig and Polly’s doors opened simultaneously, and Anne was tackled to the ground.

“Aeugh-” She groaned, winded.

“You are so annoying sometimes.” Polly whined. Sprig was now pushing at Anne’s feet.

“Sprig. What the muck are you… OH FROG NOT THE STAIRS!” Anne cried as her head descended one step, and the rest of her body followed. She was being used as a sled, sliding down the stairs with her siblings on her stomach.

“Son of a swamp…” Anne groaned as she finally reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Oh my- Anne, are you okay?!” Sasha asked, sitting up straight in his chair.

“Sprig and Polly Plantar! How many times do I have to tell you to not do that with your sister? Also, Anne. Don’t do that to wake them up, especially when we have guests.” Hop Pop scolded.

“Sorry, Hop Pop.” All three siblings said in sync, surprising Sasha.

“Oh, my lungs.” Anne said, slowly getting up.

“Sorry, Anne!” Sprig said, high-fiving Polly.

“Cut that out.” Anne glared at her siblings.

“...You okay, Anne?” Sasha repeated as Anne sat in her seat.

“Mhm. Gonna leave a scab, for sure.” She said, looking at the singular droplet of blood on her finger. Sasha hissed. Anne looked over, confused.

“That’s gotta sting.”

“Ah, not really.”

“Sprig, eat your centibacon.” Hop Pop said, picking at his own food.

“Sorry!” Sprig smiled sheepishly.

“Hey, wait. My last piece of centibacon is gone because of you!” Anne said, pointing at her froggy siblings and sticking her tongue out.

“Mleh!” Sprig mirrored his sister, but ended up whacking Anne in the face with his tongue.

Anne groaned as she fell face down onto her bed, exhausted. Why was caring for your siblings while your grandfather and friend have a staring battle to see who got scared first be so tiring?

“Long day?” Sasha asked, returning from changing in the washroom. Anne whined in response.

“How was the staring contest with HP?”

Anne could feel Sasha frown.

“We were talking, you moron.”

“Mmmm. Sure you were.” Anne muttered into the pillow. Sasha lightly slapped Anne’s back in return.

“Aagh- not there, not there-!” Anne cried, shoulders jerking in pain.

“Oh- sorry!” Sasha squeaked, and sat on the bed.

“...do you want me to check it for you?” Sasha whispered.

“What?” Anne muttered.

“The… scrape.” 

“Oh. Yeah, that’d be great, actually. Thank you.” Anne said, positioning herself so that it was easier for Sasha to lift her shirt.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

Anne nodded. Sasha carefully lifted Anne’s shirt, and made a noise once he saw the damage.

“Frog, what the muck are those stairs made of?”

“Wood. And some metal to keep it intact.” Anne said, shifting slightly.

“Girl, you have like 70 splinters.” Sasha grimaced, standing up.

“Wait, what?!” Anne cried, trying her best not to twist herself to see them. Because she can’t. “Okay, I was exaggerating… but there are a good handful. Where are those old tweezers?” Sasha rummaged through his bag.

“Aha! Wait.” Sasha cheered, and held up a pair of magenta tweezers. But he paused as he picked something up. Paper, by the sounds of it.

“Holy toad, Anne!” Sasha cried, practically running to the bed, and shoving the square of paper in Anne’s face.

Turns out, it wasn’t paper. It was a really old polaroid picture. The actual picture part was clear. On the far left, young Marcy. The middle, young Sasha. The far right, young Anne. 

“Why was I so small?” Anne asked, chuckling.

“You are the youngest of all of us.” Sasha responded, sitting back where he was before, and picking at all of Anne’s splinters.

“Ow. Isn’t Marcy the youngest?” Anne asked.

“No? She’s the oldest.” Sasha snickered.

“I - ow. - thought you were, S - ow - asha.”

“Nope.” Sasha laughed at Anne’s pain.

“Ow. My perception of - ow - time is a lie! Ow.” Anne laughed.

“Are you gonna say ow every time I pluck a splinter?”

“Yes. Ow.” Sasha rolled his eyes, and continued.

“Ow. Sash, ow isn’t a word anymore. Are we done? Ow.” Anne whined.

“Yes, we're done -” Sasha yawned as he threw the tweezers into his bag from the bed, and flopped down right beside Anne.

“How do you live like this? Not sleeping often?” Sasha asked. Anne smiled and got up to turn the light off.

“Not sure, Sasha. No clue.” Anne responded, and layed back down right where she was before. Sasha was out for the count as soon as he wrapped his arms around Anne, so Anne just stared at the roof. And then, she remembered the picture she shoved under her pillow whilst chips of wood were being extracted from her back. She reached carefully under the pillow, and pulled out the picture.

If Sasha’s here, we can hopefully find Marcy. I think.

“Hey, HP?” Anne suddenly asked, looking at him.

“Sup, hon?” Hopediah asked, looking up from his newspaper.

“Would we all be able to go to the lake sometime today? Like a family trip?” Anne smiled.

Hop Pop thought for a moment.

“Sure! Not now - it’s…” Anne looked at the clock.

“7:45 AM.” Anne read out.

“Yeah. We’ll go at noon, say?”

“That sounds awesome! Thank you, grandpa.” Anne smiled wider, and Hop Pop smiled back. Hopediah looked back at his newspaper, and eventually got lost in the ridiculous stories.

Will frogs take over Newtopia? Percentage of farmers in today’s society, and more! What’s the best solution to back pain? Hop Pop was interested in that one, but his thinking came to a halt after reading the next headline.

South Toad Tower fallen - what happened?

Below was a very real picture of said tower.

“Anne, didn’t Sasha say he was from the South Tower?” Hop Pop asked, looking at the aforementioned. His heart warmed at the sight of her sleeping. Her arm hung over the edge of the couch, and her long, lanky legs made a hook type shape. She was gently snoring. Sasha walked up the stairs just the elderly frog thought of carrying Anne down to her basement.

“Morning, Mr. Plantar.” He said, rubbing his eyes.

“Good morning, Sasha. I apologise for making you do this so early, but this is one of the rare times she sleeps. Could you carry Anne to her bed for me? My back is gonna fail on me.”

“...Sure.” Sasha smiled softly, and walked over to the couch, and picked his friend up carefully.

Sasha pulled the blankets over his friend, and smiled. And then, he remembered the events of the previous night.

“That was a frog ton of splinters. Remind me to not get on those kid’s bad sides.”

And then he walked back upstairs, ready to get through another day.