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Chapter Text

Anne Marcy and Sasha let out a sigh of pure relief. It was done they were safe. They saved the world and now they could finally go home. Back where they belonged

Of course the three teenagers would not leave without trauma and bad memories.

Sasha was scarred across her cheek and badly on her back. She still couldn’t walk entirely properly for more than about two minutes at a time and Olivia, Yunan or her friends had to help her get places or carry her up stairs.

Marcy’s mind was in scrambles after being possessed by the Core and her back from her wounds hurt more than anything. She kept referring to herself in the plural and having to be corrected. It was myself not ourself and I not we. Although her emotions had calmed even the mention of the word Core was enough to set her off as well as certain phrases “we/I want what you want” , “only want what you want” and “always and forever” and nobody understood why it made her so upset.

Anne’s body was bruised and scarred and her left foot was badly fractured from her fight with Andrias. Black and blue lesions lined her arms and hips and on her back wounds from shattered glass. The extreme mental strength it had taken to fight such a thing at a mere 13 years old had taken such a toll on her that she’d cried and cried all the way up to the castle and both her friends had joined in with her until they had no more tears left and simply let themselves know they were safe now.

Lady Olivia gave Marcy a loving pat on the back, as she’d basically become the girl’s mother during her time in Amphibia and she did indeed view her as her child. But alas she had a job to do so she walked toward the front of the balcony looking down at the resistance and smiling.

“King Andrias and Darcy have been defeated, we are victorious”.

At that the crowd below them cheered at clapped and called their names. The three humans hugged each other tight none wanting to let go.

“Go Sasha!!”.

“We love you Marcy”.

“You’re our hero Anne”.

They heard from the crowd and smiled and looked at each other and laughed the kind of laughter that was once heard at their sleepovers back on earth before any of this had happened. They were finally free. Bruised and broken and traumatised but free nonetheless.

The hug quickly subsided and they ran to their respective adoptive families. Yunan grabbed Marcy and swung her upon her shoulders. Grime and Sasha talked about the crazy day they had and Anne went over to The Plantars and watched silently onward reflecting on this whole adventure.

Sprig Plantar however was not so excited he felt something in the pit of his stomach clawing wildly at him. Like a warning. Something deep inside his mind told him to look upwards towards the sky.

He almost wished he hadn’t.

“Hey uh, is it just me or is the moon getting closer?”

Sprig asked pointing at it nervously as Anne stood at his side.

The citizens of Amphibia (and the three humans) looked up towards the sky and gasped. A child cried into his mother’s arms and a few teenage frogs huddled up together shaking with fear and bracing themselves for the worst.

For there in the sky where the moon used to lay was a metallic abomination of 13 glowing orange eyes on an ominous spherical thing, plummeting straight towards them. It was nearly enough to set Poor Marcy into her third panic attack today as she half jumped half fell of Yunans shoulders in shock but forced herself to push her emotions far far down inside of her.

“Oh Crud”

And winced as she saw it instantly recognising this thing as Darcy. As The Core

Without hesitation she whistled for her trusty pet Kill-a-moth and climbed up on her back with her family joining. The Moth cat seemed blissfully unaware of how much danger she was in and stopped when they landed for a treat receiving a quiet and panicked

“Good Moth”

And a pat, before sitting next to her human proudly looking up at the moon and only then letting out a panicked meow.

Next to them flew Olivia ,Yunan , Grime Sasha and Marcy on the back of her beloved pet bird Joe Sparrow. In the short time they were in the air Sasha had managed one small

“You ok?”

And Marcy just shook her head solemnly, knowing this would make the whole referring to oursel- she meant herself as we thing so much worse.

Sasha, the great friend she was comfortingly pulled Marcy into a hug the second they landed whispering little “it’s ok”’s and “I’m here for you”’s into her ear as she laid her head on her shoulder.

Behind them flew King Andrias in in Robot Mech suit and Frobo who rubbed the Giant newts back soothingly for a brief moment. Andrias didn’t even feel he deserved that little moment of comfort. Not after all he’d done

“Is that the moon”.

“It’s coming right towards us“.

“What’s going on!?”.

Cried Mrs Croaker Wally and Loggle respectively.

Marcy and Sasha Swiftly jumped off the birds back and Marcy gave him a quick pat as she did. They all started up at the moon, terrified.

Behind them however Andrias gave a chuckle not one of warmth he had when he first met Marcy, not one of Malicious intent as he had when he invaded earth, no one masking his fear, his guilt. One that said he knew this would happen, and he wasn’t allowed to show he was scared.

“It seems the Core has activated its final gambit”.

He began trying to keep his voice steady and calm… but Marcy who had lived as his charge and as he called her his ‘adopted niece’ heard the ever so slight shakiness and fear in his voice. Something that anyone who didn’t know him well wouldn’t notice

“IT'S WHAT!?”

Hop Pop screeched fearfully, flailing his arms in the air in a panic as his daughter stood next to him staring daggers at the disgraced king. If looks could kill she could have directed at the moon and the problem would have fixed itself.

But alas the small child could do nothing to stop it, so he merely continued to warn them. They deserved to know this at least.

“When our civilisation was at its peak the moon became home to some of the cores pet projects. Among them a plan to educate all life as we know it by ramming the moon into Amphibia’s surface”

While Sasha and Anne looked furious and Sprig like he were about to attack him his attention was drawn to Marcy, his surrogate niece holding back her tears like the fierce little girl she was. But he could read her emotions he’d learned to pick up on the signs. She wasn’t angry like her friends. She was scared

“EXUSE ME WHY!?”

Anne demanded scowling at him as she spread her arms out in frustration, her eyebrows furrowing looking almost inhuman with her anger. She looked like a provoked wild hybeena ready to attack … which he fully deserved.

“Fear”

Marcy piped up behind her, shuffling her feet nervously along the pavement and grabbing her friends arm to stop her attack. Staring in her eyes with a mix of anxiety and comfort toward her trying to reason that this time… this time it wasn’t Andriases fault.

“I’ve been in that things head, I know that more than anything it’s afraid of being destroyed of being irrelevant. It will do whatever it takes to defeat us and claim the stones as its own, if that means destroying an entire civilisation then so be it”

She commented sadly. She once again pushed back her tears and stared at the floor in defeat… wondering if this was it… it had been a good 14 years at least right?

Sasha (ignoring the overwhelming sense of pride she had for Marcy using the word I’ve instead of we’ve unprompted for the first time in hours.) let her anger overpower her and rushed between her friends slightly startling them both and pointing angrily at the giant blue newt. Throwing her hands up in fury

“So what you’re saying is this things a giant sore loser”

She practically screeched not notching Marcy’s slight flinch as the noise.

“Hmmm more or less”

Andrias answered, uncaring if it could hear him anymore. It’s not like it mattered now did it?

“We have to do something!!”

Sprig said in a panic holding his hands to his head in fear and looking around frantically like a lost little Killa-Pillar.

“Anyone have any ideas on how to stop an entire moon!?”

He fretted, shaking his arms about wildly trying desperately to calm himself to no avail.

Suddenly, and without warning the earth began to shake a horrible screech came from below and making Anne jump with freight, nearly bringing Poor Marcy to the point of tears before she stopped herself just before they flowed and putting Sasha into overprotective friendship mode, prepared to fight anything that came near the other two humans.

“AN EARTHQUAKE”

Polly complained Before promptly ‘pulling a Marcy’ and falling flat on her face, which only fueled her anger.

“Don’t we have enough going on!?”.

Before anyone could comment on that, from the ground rose up a tall and wrinkly purple Axolotl like thing. Sasha and Anne both instantly recognised it and Marcy just stood there in disbelief.

“Mother Olm”

The two humans half asked in unison, confusion lining both their faces.

Marcy who on account of being possessed for so long had not met her and let out a surprised (but slightly excited at meeting a new creature)

“Who is this now!?”

and looked to her friends for an answer but they two were in pure shock.

“So? how did it go?”

She mused somewhat casually as Marcy cursed herself for not having her journal with her right now.

“Well we stopped the invasion”

Sprig Began, before gesturing to the doomsday device descending on to them at this very moment.

“Buuut now it looks like the moon is about to kill us all sooo mixed bag?”.

He attempted to joke to make the situation even somewhat lighter

Mother Olm turned to face the thing as it started down at her, determined to win its goal no matter what perhaps they’d try to keep Andrias around Maybe even Marcy if they could make her join them. She had been good company; they had to admit and she was entertaining to them; they'd keep her around if needed . But for now only one thing mattered.

Victory.

“I see”

Mother Olm said determined to not let this thing win.

“Then it seems the prophecy has come to pass”.

Marcy’s eyes grew wide with excitement and sparkled as she jumped up on her feet like a happy child.

“Sasha mentioned this, what'd it say what’d it say?”.

Anne placed a hand on Marcy’s shoulder and looked at her with a determined smile.

“It said the three of us would save the world”.

Marcy joined her friends in there battle stance and looked to Sasha with determination in her eyes as Anne stared up at Mother Olm.

“So let’s go save the world!!”.

“Yeah!!”.

Mother Olm felt a sense of awkwardness. Frog she really should have told them this part sooner. Uhhh better late than never right?.

“Well just a minute the prophecy doesn’t necessarily say you’ll succeed”.

“Wh-wha?”.

The girls all vocalised one after the other in confusion.

Ok frog so she REALLY should have told them this sooner huh?.

“You see the prophecy isn’t so much a prediction, as it is a humble request for help…”.

She leant down the to them to say this next part … knowing it would hurt to hear.

“And know this you have to tap into the energy that remains in the stones in order to get the energy you need however if you do that”.

The girls' hearts simultaneously sunk in their chests, as the realisation hit. Marcy couldn’t bear to say it nor Sasha … so Anne did.

“There might not be enough energy left for us to get home…”.

“We could be stuck in Amphibia forever”

Sasha added solemnly as the girls looked at each other in dismay.

“Yeah, so now that all cards are on the table, what will you do?. The choice is yours”.

Except there was no choice, and each one of them knew that well. So with determination in the hearts they looked at each other once more, but this time with a look of courage and trust and absolute resolve.

“You call that a Choice?”

Sasha asked rhetorically, her smile full of teen stubbornness. She would not stop until her friends were safe

“Of course we’ll help”

added Marcy Pumping her fists in the air, as Andrias Yunan and Olivia’s hearts swelled with pride for their charge and adopted child.

“There’s no way we’d leave you hanging in your hour of need”

Anne commented prompting a giant cheer from the crowd around them.

“Whew I wasn’t worried”

Mayor toadstool said despite the beads of sweat on his forehead and the way he squeezed poor Toadie like a dog toy.

“Were you worried toadie? because I sure wasn’t”.

Ignoring … whatever the frog that was the three teens stood on the stones beneath the castle, as ready as they’d ever be to fight this thing.

“Now let’s get powered up ladies to the music box!”

Anne shouted and the girls instantly ran off towards victory. Yunan flung Marcy up to her shoulders once more chanting Marcy’s name as the raven haired teen giggled and Grime ran alongside Sasha screaming about victory.

Mother Olm went to tell Anne something more but quickly she stopped herself, allowing her to join her friends and her family. Still she had an overwhelming feeling that in a timeline far similar to this one she had told her about how to fuse them gems powers, but in this one where she lived right now. it wasn’t necessary. They’d defeat The Core together. All three of them.

So the three girls ran to Andrias’s old throne room, after a quick transfer of Marcy from Yunans shoulders to the ground, and in the middle by the music box stood none other than Valeriana.

“Well that’s pretty creepy if you ask me”

Sasha commented as Marcy got all excited jumping around and clapping happily.

“You're waiting for us!?”

She exclaimed and Valeriana softly smiled at her.

“Hello you three, are you ready for your final battle?”

She quizzed at them.

“Oh heck yeah!”

Anne said, slamming her fist to her palm.

“Good now the three of you close your eyes focus. Think of your memories of Amphibia, of how much this world means to you. This will allow the stones to resonate with your hearts once again”

She explained tapping her cane on again,as a bright warm comforting light shone through the girls very souls.

For Sasha she thought of Grime, the adventures they’d gone on together in toad valley, how she’d trained the toad army, made merch of herself and gone out to hunt for food with him. She remembered the battle of the bands and the dinner beforehand, how she’d fought alongside her friends and enjoyed chocolate covered wasps afterwards, how the sung there hearts out. There were even times in the resistance that made her smile. Little Maddie had been beyond enthusiastic to teach her magic and When Sasha finally begrudgingly obliged she’d kicked herself for not saying yes sooner. It was rather fun to learn about potion making, and she had even conjured up a few sleeping spells to help with her stress induced insomnia.

For Marcy it was of course her adventures as a Newtopian ranger. How Olivia had found the ‘strange injured wild beast’ she’d almost kept as a pet before she realised Marcy was as sentient as an Amphibian and how they laugh at that story now. How she’d (near single-handedly) fought a creepy cult of newts and saved countless people along the way. How she was regarded as a hero when she saved even more Newts by taking down a killer cobra with the catapult she had built all by herself. How she lived on a warship with General Yunan for two months learning about the sea, won the all star flipwart torment and played lots of C&C. She’d even thought about her early interactions with Andrias, where she’d sit up on his shoulder or in his pocket and they’d talk for hours on end.

And for Anne it was of course the Plantars, her adventures with Polly and Sprig and all kinds of things like that. The snake they’d fought when they snuck out that one time against Hop Pops demands. A memory they had all laughed at when they got home from that aquarium. Visiting the cheese museum which actually had been pretty fun, seeing the little spiders they used for the milk which were absolutely adorable, and then seeing the newts that actually made it was fascinating as well, especially since it was relatively the same way they made it on earth. The time she got voted Frog of The year and though her first party was ruined, she had in fact had an awesome party after that, meeting Marcy in Newtopia, the Christmas float with the Plantars.

All the girls' good memories radiated with the stones' power as the light from the music box reunited with their rightful champions. The gems energy merging it’s way into their very souls with an energy blast so strong it cracked open the glass.

“Warriors of Amphibia ARISE”

Valeriana cried as the three girls began to float and their appearance changed to that of superheroes. Sasha a dark pink dress adorned with spikes on her armour and fire for her hair.

Marcy a light green dress with a fluffy cape on her back and gold armour on her shoulders and glowing green ombré hair.

And Anne a blue dress with rose gold armour and sticks and leaves radiating from her blue hair.

“Woah”

The all marvelled in Unison.

“Swanky Duds”

Anne commented checking out her cool new cape with a smile.

Sasha had energy blasts she could radiate from her finger tips and she used it to blow the top off the building with a beautiful explosion that took the form of a love dove before it went boom.

“Anne you could do THAT the whole time!?”

She marvelled, but the now blue haired girl merely shook her head.

“Uhhh nope these powers feel way more intense than before”.

“The powers must stack when used in tandem classic synergy bluff”

Marcy commented, floating past them casually.

“Ok then let’s go punch that moon in its big ugly face!”.

Anne said as the other girls stood beside her ready to save the world… for a second time.

From the top of the building the shot off in a whirl of pink green and blue. Sprig stood on the roof cheering them on

“Yes yes! Get it girl”

He shouted after them.

“I know her!”

Polly added as she watched them go.

“She lives in my basement”

Said Hop Pop which in any other circumstance would have ruined the mood. Not this one though not this one

Above Amphibia the girls soared up to the monstrous looking thing. Marcy was so full of determination it didn’t even make her cry.

“Incoming targets deploy defences”

The thing growled at nobody in particular before setting off a series of robots and drones and other obstacles to try and deter them.

Unfortunately for the core the three targets were three very stubborn 13 year old teenagers a very dangerous threat indeed.

“Game on you stinky space bugs”

Anne yelled as the girls flew to fight them.

Anne summoned a giant tennis ball of energy and flung it at them. Along the way it transformed into beams of energy resembling cats which exploded at least a good five of them.

Another five faced Sasha Waybright who was more than ready to attack. She summoned a pair of mystical cheer pom poms and sported a pair of wings flying at them and punching the things like the Pom Pom’s were boxing gloves of pure power, splitting through some and even defeating one about 10x the size of her before exploding the Pom Pom’s into the shape of a heron deactivating at least 10 more.

“Ah this is the coolest most Anime thing that’s ever happened to me”

Marcy commented summoning a giant D20 in her hands.

“I’m so happy to fight by your side!”

She exclaimed as she rolled the dice at once of the bots exploding it almost immediately and then three more. One of them briefly caught it but it bore no worry to her.

“Nat 20 baby”

She called before the dice exploded in another three of the things metallic faces. The girls ran in for a hug in the sky, instantly destroying the rest of them as a team.

From the ground below Andrias looked on in fear for all of them. While he was proud of them he worried for their safety, especially his precious ‘niece’. It wasn’t fair to her. She’d never get to hear him tell her how sorry he was and offer to do anything she wanted to make it up to her. She wanted a new sword, done. A new outfit?, it would be tailor made by morning. The very kingdom he ruled, it was hers. Anything she desired he would go to the ends of Amphibia and back to retrieve. She deserved that at least. They all did.

“Andrias”

He heard his father’s unmistakable voice whisper from the crown.

“Father?”.

“Help us Save Us and you can finally join us forever”

It promised. Andrias felt knots tie in his stomach and just for a moment he didn’t know what to do… but then as fast as his confusion came it went. He knew what had to be done

“HEY”

Grime shouted baring his hammer at him.

“What are you doing!!?.

Andrias sighed

“What I must… Frobots engage”.

The broken pieces of metal obeyed and flew up toward the girls and grime felt his heart sink. Sasha wouldn’t make it at this rate would she.

Meanwhile Sasha had just pushed the last obstacle out of their way and they looked up at each other smiling.

“Enough with the small fry let’s take care of that moon”

Anne ordered. The three flew over to it pushing at it and straining with all their might to try and get it to budge. Marcy let out a yelp of fear when she saw the army of frobots approach but quickly dusted herself off.

“Leave em to me”

She said soaring at them furiously.

And then in true Marcy Wu fashion… tripping… In space.

No nononono she was so close to close.

Her head swirled with fear and confusion and guilt and she nearly let out a sob of pain. And then a very unwelcome familiar voice tried to comfort her

“There There Marcy it’s alright why don’t you just stop fighting us. You’re tired, relax you know you can’t stop us”

Something whispered in her head

“tell you what call the frobots t off and we’ll let you and your friends join us as our little travel companions. You'll be pampered for the rest of your life, would you like that?”

She knew that voice … The Core. It wasn’t trying to comfort her but manipulate her. Something snapped inside her and she boiled with rage. She was done being this stupid things puppet.

Perhaps in a different timeline it hadn’t tried that trick. Perhaps in another timeline it had won or one of them had died but in this timeline that attempt to make her give up was going to prove to be its one fatal mistake. She’d make sure of it.

And so then She did something that was not in true Marcy Wu fashion. Something she’d never done before not once in her life. She swore at the thing. Well kind of

“I’m not a vessel I’m not your pet I’m not your pawn or puppet frog you”

And she flew back up to them trusting Andrias this time and this time alone as the frobots helped them push it back.

“No way Andriases robots!?”

Sasha questioned.

“There helping us”

Anne said as Marcy joined back in the fight.

“FROBOTS”

She called and they all turned to look at her recognising her as one of their primary users.

“Destroy that moon now!”

She ordered with a sudden fire she didn’t know she had buried within her finally finding a way out. A fire that in some other universe wouldn’t be released for The Core would never have tried to make its deal, but right here right now it had and Marcy was furious at it.

“I don’t believe this”.

Grime said from the ground below as she watched the spectacle

“You’re?”

“Finally doing something useful?”.

Andrias smiled up at the girls, knowing he’d done the right thing.

“You fool”

The core snarled.

“You could have been immortal, what are you doing!?”

It cried as he crushed his crown in his hands.

“Something I should have done a long time ago”

He answered as his crown turned to little more than dust.

“STANDING UP TO YOU”.

the crown broke beneath him.

“FULL THROTTLE ENAGED”

He ordered and the frobots flew more furiously with all their power.

“There Marcy it’s all alright now Uncle Andrias will protect you, or he’ll die trying”.

He half smiled looking up at the fight ahead of him knowing his niece could do it.

“Fools”

The Core hissed its attention back to the girls. Time for plan B. Get Marcy to join it.

“You cannot stop A GOD come on wit Join us become what you were always destined to it’s a far kinder fate than this”.

It looked to Marcy and a hum of voices erupted in her brain

“Join us Marcy”

“This is where you belong”

“You’re far too smart to stay here”

“You must be tired give up and join us it’s ok”

She paused and looked between her friends and The Core. Just like that her mind was made up

“Fine… I’ll be your travel companion…I’ll join you”

It stopped at that unmoving buying Amphibia time. Buying Anne and Sasha time. But Marcy wasn’t seriously going through with this… was she?.

“Smart girl, that wasn't so hard was it?. Now come here we wouldn’t want our new companion getting hurt”

She flew over to it and sat on top of the thing eyes looking down in shame.

“I’m sorry”.

“MAR-MAR NO”

Anne screamed but it was too late. Marcy was clearly terrified and had chosen to resign to her fate.

But Marcy simply smiled at her and winked a mischievous wink that said she was up to something… something that would help them. Thank frog. She was playing along to trick them

“Now Marcy, what do you say to us for saving you?”.

“I-I say…I can’t believe you fell for that act i thought my acting was terrible”.

“Good- Wait what?”.

She quickly summoned a second dice and hit its helmet with it. Aiming straight for its main circuits and sensors causing a small explosion on it which seemed to weaken it greatly.

Marcy had tricked it of course she had; she was the gem of wit after all. How could they fall for something like this!.

“I was you, I was a part of you. You can’t possess someone without expecting they know all your weak spots”

She said smugly as she floated back over to her REAL companions, her best friends in this world or any other Anne Savisa Boonchuy and Sasha Elizabeth Waybright.

“NO YOU STUPID CHILD YOU COULD HAVE HAD EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED”.

“Eh I can live without that”.

With the moon greatly weakened from Marcy’s attack the frobots and teens managed to push it father back… The Core had no power now.

“NO NO NO MARCY WAIT FORGET THE COMPANION THING YOU'LL BE OUR EQUAL WE-“.

“Frobots imitate self destruct girls out of the way NOW!”.

“NOOO!!”.

And with a final boom a final explosion from all the frobots all at once in its already weakened state the helmet and thus the moon finally exploded into a million pieces… The Core was dead.

“How’s that for killing a god hm?”

She taunted. And with no response, no voices in her head. she knew at last She was free.

But she couldn’t relish in that feeling just yet. Not over the fact she was tired… so very very tired. She’d close her eyes for just a min-.

—————————————————————————

Three days had passed since the girls had defeated the Core and they were all given the best private suites in the (very much damaged) palace in order to rest.

The gems were fully destroyed and none of them could ever return home… but they had each other at least.

Marcy due to her final blast of power had been asleep for days on end, much to her friend's concern who themselves had only woken up a day prior. To make matters worse nobody could actually ask Marcy about a very pressing matter Andrias’s wil. The giant newt was of course still alive but instantly dethroned, and as it turned out he had for some stupid reason decided it would be a great idea for a 14 year old child to inherit the entire kingdom of Amphibia, clearly written before the whole Darcy plan was put into place. With no way to ask Marcy considering her Coma, Olivia had been forced to make a decision for her. She and Yunan would rule Newtopia Until Marcy came of Age and in the meantime train her in ruling a kingdom.

Andrias himself was locked in the dungeons until Marcy woke up and all three girls plus the two newts could collectively decide what to do with him, but Olivia, despite herself would give him daily updates on the girls and he was near in tears of happiness when he learned that two of them had woken up seemingly fine.

Sasha had refused to leave Marcy’s side. Self appointing herself her new bodyguard. She insisted her meals be brought to Marcy’s room and resigned herself to sleep on Marcy’s floor. From now on she trusted nobody but Olivia Yunan and Anne around her and would watch anyone else like a hawk.

Anne was recovering nicely and intended to go back with the Plantars a day or two after Marcy woke up. According to the technology her condition seemed stable enough to live and she was simply in a Coma. If the technology was correct she should be waking up soon.

And soon she did. Another three days passed of Anne’s hourly check ins and of Sasha refusing to leave Marcy’s room and of Andrias fearing for his surrogate neice passed, before one day, in the middle of the night. Now Crowded Princess Marcy Regina Wu softly opened her eyes.

“Mmmphh huh?”

She said as she adjusted to her surroundings blinking slowly. She stared up the bright glowing green star stickers above her seeing a night light emitting a soft yellow shine to her right peripheral. She was confused for a good few moments …. and then her fear struck in.

Marcy had no idea where she was. She had vague memories of their fight but only bits and none of them were good.

She tried to wrack her brain to come up with a story of how she got into this oddly familiar room but she could come up with nothing. Maybe she was taken as a companion (more like a pet) by the Core, but they wouldn’t be kind enough to give her the glowing stars or night light to soothe her fear of the dark would they?. Maybe she was dead but why could she still breathe and think and feel.

With no way for her to know what was going on she simply, after all this time allowed herself to cry… softly into her pillow at first but quickly turned into desperate confused sobs of pain.

“Mar-Mar? You’re awake?”

She heard a soft familiar voice whisper behind her. Sasha… Sashy… her Sashy.

She instinctively gripped onto the girl for dear life and cried into her shoulder as the blonde soothingly rubbed circles on her back and ran her fingers through her hair and cuddled her real tight, not forcing her to talk if she didn’t wish.

“Hey Hey it’s alright Mar-Mar your safe now I promise”.

The two just stayed there for a while, with Sasha whispering comforting words into her ear and wiping away her tears and Marcy’s sobs slowly, very slowly but surely settling.

“S-Sashy where am I”

She asked worriedly as Sasha looked downtear stained cheeks and stinging eyes still producing the occasional tear she’d gently wipe away.

“Firstly, well done on saying I and not we… I’m proud of you. Secondly Newtopia, we’re in Newtopia. The palace specifically”.

Marcy started to calm at that and she laid back down staring at the glowing star stickers on her roof. A faint green glow comforting her as Sasha slumped back down to the floor.

“So we won then right?”

She asked just staring aimlessly at the ceiling. Snuggling into her soft duvet and grabbing for the little stuffed animal they’d apparently given her hugging it tight.

“Yes Marcy. The Core is dead. You’re safe now”.

She couldn’t help but smile at that. Knowing she was safe she allowed herself to shut her eyes and sleep.

Well sleep for about five minutes until she heard her bedroom door frantically swing open and sat up in a freight, throwing her covers over her head to hide from the intruder.

“HALT INTRUDER FOR IT IS I GENERAL YUNAN SCOURGE OF THE SAND WARS DEFEATER OF-“

“YUNAN!. … Yunan for the fourth time this week it is me Sasha, Sasha Waybright”.

The pink newt awkwardly rubbed the back of her head as Sasha started at her unimpressed gesturing to the poor frightened girl under her covers.

“And on top of that you scared her”.

She growled crawling up to the girls side and rubbing her back gently. Carefully she unwrapped Marcy from her cocoon of bed sheets and smiled at her softly.

“There there Marcy, don't be frightened. Look, it's just General Yunan, you remember her don’t you?”.

And before Sasha could receive an answer her friend was up out of bed and in the pink newts arms for a hug and, much to Sasha’s annoyance, seconds later an impromptu piggy back ride to which Marcy actually laughed, and though it warmed Sasha’s heart she was not impressed with Yunan. In fact she was mildly frustrated. Ok fine Majorly frustrated.

“Yunan she’s been out for six days she needs rest”

She scolded at the newt folding her arms disapprovingly. Giving her a stern look that made Yunan stop in her tracks and slowly set Marcy down.

“Yeah i forgot how scary you can be kid”

Yunan said, slightly frightened of this 13 year old child in front of her, that she honestly wasn’t sure she could take on in a fight.

Sasha however wasn’t the one in the castle that scared her most when they were mad. Oh no far from it that award would go to her extremely beautiful (but terrifying when she got angry) girlfriend Lady Olivia. Which is why hers was the last voice she wanted to hear screaming

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE”.

so loudly down the hallway that Both the humans flinched instivically, and Yunan as much as she adored her Olivia to no end jumped so high she nearly touched the roof, that had literally been built for giant newts twice the size of Andrias.

Sasha however was far braver when it came to her, and if if she wasn’t her overwhelming drive to protect Marcy overrode her fear anyway. So as she held a shaking Marcy Sasha put a finger to her lips and spat a harsh

“Shhh”

At Olivia who was almost offended … until she noticed Marcy was awake and Sasha was only trying to keep her calm… no thanks to her. Oops?

“Oh Master Marcy you're awake, how are you feeling? Do you want some tea?”

Olivia asked, greatly softening her voice and speaking as soothing as she could to the girl as Sasha continued to rub little circles on her back.

Marcy simply whispered something in Sasha’s ear and she nodded to her.

“She says yes please”.

Olivia looked at her smiling brightly.

“Of course Master Marcy give me a moment Yunan darling will you come help me please”.

“Of course dearest”.

Yunan replied half trying to make up for her previous mistake as she followed her to the kitchen, leaving only the two teens in the room as Marcy once again slowly calmed.

“Do you want me to get Anne?”

She asked, trying to think of ways to comfort her and make her feel safe.

She felt a nod on her shoulder.

“A-Anne”

She confirmed trying to hold back her tears as she snuggled up against Sasha’s shoulder.

The blonde waited a moment for her friend to calm some more, waiting for her to be ready go, and after a few minutes she had calmed down enough to slowly make her way to Anne’s room, helping Sasha to walk as she helped her to stay in her somewhat peaceful state.

She softly gave a knock on Anne’s door and called out to her. Holding Marcy close as not to startle her with any loud noises as the raven haired girl clung onto her tightly like she were the only thing keeping her safe.

“Hey Annie Mar-Mars awake. She wants to see you, are you up?”

She called wrapping her free arm around Marcy’s shoulders which she grabbed and held close to her as if fearing none of this were real.

Anne’s door opened to a very sleepy but smiling Anne, her grin from ear to ear as she saw Marcy who cautiously let herself slip from Sasha’s grip and slump into Anne’s arms, hugging her and smiling as she felt the comforting soft warmth of another human, and of one of her best friends. She motioned Sasha over to join her and they stayed there for a good thirty minutes. Just hugging each other and feeling each others warmth and safety.

Eventually tiredness threatened Marcy with sleep and she made grabby hands to Sasha who scooped her up said something inaudible to Anne and before she knew it she was back safely in bed with Sasha asleep protectively guarding the door.

Chapter Text

“-Mar Mar-Mar MAR-MAR”

Marcy sleepily heard someone (probably Sasha since they shared a room) call out at her. She begrudgingly opened one eye and checked her alarm clock, through her blurry vision it read a simple 6:55. That was far too early she thought, so knowing Sasha would understand she sleepily mumbled.

“Fvvve Mrrre mntes (Five more minutes)”

And rolledback over to her comfortable bed, hugging her stuffie and letting herself be taken back to dreamland. She was quickly brought back to reality however when Sasha ripped the covers of off her and turned on her light prompting a hiss from her as she buried her face in her pillow to avoid it.

Sasha couldn’t help but giggle at that. Marcy was never a morning person; she was a night owl through and through. But with her coronation as queen of Newtopia rapidly approaching the very next week, Sasha knew preparations must be attended to and thus unfortunately for the half asleep raven haired teen she’d just woken up it required early mornings.

“Sorry Mar-Mar I’ll just stop time for five minutes so you can sleep”

Sasha joked. Her voice dripping with cheeky teenaged sarcasm and laughing as she heard Marcy’s annoyed groan at having to get up.

“Can you actually do that please?”

She joked back as she forced herself to roll out of bed, and landed with a thump on the floor, which did indeed wake her up. She reached her hand up in a thumbs up from the other side of her bed and gave an

“I’m okay!”

To Sasha to assure her she wasn’t hurt. Fortunately Sasha had gotten use to Marcy straight up falling out of her bed and down thankfully smaller flights of stairs… and over her own two feet. These were all to them just simply unavoidable fairly common occurrences, and often nowadays just prompting a series of laughs from both of them.

She pulled herself up and dusted her nightdresses off of the fluff it had been covered in on account of her falling, as Sasha poured her some tea from the little pot that Olivia always delivered her in the mornings. Although it did feel rather early for that to happen right now. Perhaps something important was happening today.

“Mar-Mar It’s the week before your coronation. Anne Sprig and Polly are coming over for our sleepover So they can help us plan remember?”

Sasha reminded her as if reading her mind. Laughing softly as she gave her the teacup with Olivia’s famous family tea blend Marcy enjoyed and playfully nudging her arm in a way only she was allowed.

“Oh nooo that’s today. I was wondering why you woke me up at the crack of dawn”

She complained while sipping at the tea. Sasha gave her a mock look of annoyance, before a mischievous smirk lined her face and she got the glint in her eyes that told Marcy she was up to something.

She bowed to her very overdramtatically both to further the joke she was making and tell Marcy she wasn’t being serious, and looked up. Playfully extending a hand out.

“Oh I’m so sorry your Royal Sleepy Headness, however shall I make up for my grievances towards you?”

She managed between her laughter at the situation. In the worst British accent Marcy had ever heard. Between her own giggles Marcy stood before her taking her hand and trying (yet falling) to give a serious expression.

“Sasha Elizabeth Waybright for your crime of waking me up early I hereby sentence thee to take the first truth or dare of tonight’s sleepover”

She said with authority in her voice, for about three seconds until both of them lost their composure and laughed at each other for a good five minutes before Sasha decided to continue the little game.

She put her hand to her forehead in false shock fanning herself as if she were about to faint.

“But Princess Marcy no. How could you confine me to- AHAHA” she wheezed with laughter for a moment clutching her stomach as her sides began to burn from how much she was giggling at their little game.

“How could you confine me to such a fate”.

Marcy caught Sasha in her arms as the blonde fake fainted. A smile from ear to ear plastered on her face as she, for a moment felt right at home. A feeling she feared was stolen from her long ago.

She dipped Sasha as if the two were dancing and raised her arm in the air waving it as if she were in a carriage.

“Also I herby royally sentence you to be the best bodyguard ever see look your already doing perfect”.

Sasha hoisted herself up and they both collapsed on the floor in a pile of genuine giggles, laying on the floor and howling with laughter until their sides felt they would explode.

After the giggles died down, Marcy shuffled her way to Sasha and wrapped her arms around her and laid her head on Sasha's shoulder.

“We’re weirdos Sasha, but I love that about us”

She said smiling at her with her eyes sparkling with happiness as The blond ran her fingers through the royals hair and ruffled it up.

“Yes we are Mar-Mar but your my weirdo and I’m your weirdo”.

—————————————————————————

Anne held Domino 2’s reins as Sprig rode Bessie, with a very concerned Hop Pop guiding him as if he were teaching his son to drive a car.

“Sprig that’s way past the speed limit, slow down… check your peripheral… SPRIG NO THATS THE WRONG WAY”.

Anne couldn’t help but give a slight chuckle at the sight. She remembered how she’d gone through the exact same thing with the old frog when she’d first learned to drive Bessie. That was the exact reason why she mostly flew on her Baby Precious (Domino 2) these days, well that and Killa-moths apparently needed lots of exercise.

Sprig was clearly growing increasingly annoyed with his Grandpa, but Polly was loving it. The wind in her hair as she dangled her feet off of Bessie’s shell waving up to Anne in the sky and giving the occasional chuckle
at her brother being yelled at in a true little sister fashion. She was probably the one most excited for this sleepover. Polly hadn’t seen Marcy or Sasha since she was a mere tadpole. Anne went to Newtopia almost Monthly to meet with them and Sprig would often accompany her but being The Royals chief of agriculture and Sprig her assistant it was normally to discuss what she called ‘boring business stuff’ with her friends.

On occasion of course she and Sprig would stay there for a few days to hang out with their friends but normally no more than three or four. This time however Lady Olivia and General Yunan as a gift for Marcy after she single handily found and freed a trapped group of 19 Killa-Pillars 4 snails and 5 Hybeenas from the old mind control collars (that were banished) and the facility they were trapped in had permitted her to have a week long sleepover with Her Anne and Sprig to help plan her coronation together which was happening the very next week. According to her letter Marcy had sent Anne she’d given Sasha the entire week off as well. Though Polly suspected she’d still find a way to perform her duties to her princess and to her best friend.

“WAHHH SPRIG NO”.

“BRRR BRRR!”.

CRASH!!.

Bessie, freighting herself quickly tucked into her shell as Sprig Grimaced and Hop Pop braced for impact. Anne swooped her moth down and checked on all of them for injuries and tried to coax Bessie out, but the poor snail was much too frightened and only made noises of fear.

Anne petted Domino 2 as she sensing her owners stress levels nuzzled against her neck and meowed at the frogs trying to signal something.

“What is it girl?”

Anne asked curiously, climbing back up onto Domino 2.

“Do ya see something girl?”.

Domino 2’s temperament near instantly shifted. She hissed at something taking a protective stance against it, trying to keep her owner and her frog family safe from the threat.

“What’s that girl, a heron, a love dove!?”.

Through the mist and fog stood a creature that Domino 2 seemed angry with. It didn’t look hostile, it seemed to be tending to something, perhaps its young?. Anne reached over and scratched behind the moth cats ear and whispered a soft

“It’s ok stand down”

At her to which she sat on the ground as Anne slowly unsheathed her sword just in case. She slowly approached the figure only to see him…farming?. Tending to crops carefully as he gently uprooted vegetables and placed them in a basket. Anne recognised him instantly and her eyes widened in shock and in fear. It almost lmost made her cautious but she slowly approached anyway.

“Andrias?”.

The giant blue newt glanced up at her smiling. His arm and leg were still missing and he used a cane to keep himself upright. He was wrapped in a big purple cloak and metal chains wrapped around him in order to keep his cybernetics in place as they had been damaged during the fight all those years ago (and possibly as some sort of punishment for his crimes?). His eyes were faded now and it was obvious his vision was on the way out.

“Why Anne is that you?”

He questioned as a little refurbished robot rushed over to water his little crops. He gave it a little pet on its head, smiling brightly.

“Are you out here all by yourself?. Where’s your family?”

He asked as a frobot helped him up to his feet and he offered her a hand kindly, which she only batted away still cautious of him.

“My family crashed our snail Bessie on our way to Newtopia”

She told him, eyeing him suspiciously. Though she’d never admit it deep down, she was terrified of him. At that the king merely let out a joyful laugh and snapped for one of the larger helper Frobots to come over.

“I’m not allowed in the walls of Newtopia I’m afraid. Yunan said she’d hunt me down if I quote on quote “stepped a foot into Newtopias walls after all I did to her daughter”. Olivia is the one that visits me for crop collection. She and I both still believe Marcy’s far to kind a princess to give me a punishment this light”.

Anne looked at him with a mixture of anger, hurt, betrayal as flashes of all this tyrant did to her Mar-Mar flashed in her mind. She’d manipulated her for months almost let her die and then had her possessed for months. She did not forgive him.

“Olivia is right”.

She said. Anne expected Andrias to grow upset at that, to leave her stranded here or to in the worst case lash out at her or Domino 2. Instead he merely stared at his feet in shame and mumbled a soft

“I know”.

Andrias looked up to The Frobot and then gestured to Anne.

“Refurbished Frobot #87, you are to take Anne Boonchuy and her family to Newtopia safely and guard their pet snail, Anne is now your primary user”.

Anne gasped in disbelief… he was helping her?. The Frobot made a metallic noise of approval and turned to the girl blinking softly.

“Primary user identified- Anne Savisa Boonchuy”.

“I uhh .. thank you?”

Anne stuttered, still in slight shock at his sudden kindness towards her. Another smaller watering can frobot buzzed from the other end of the crop yard.

“Ah time to water my turnips. Do take care of my niece for me won’t you?”

He asked rhetorically as he happily bounced off leaving Anne alone with her moth and her new frobot.

“Well then… frobot #87. Let's go get us to Newtopia.

Chapter Text

When the Plantars had arrived in Newtopia not on Domino 2 or Bessie, but carried by one of Andrias’s Frobots it’s safe to say they had a lot of questions.

Sasha much to Marcy protests had led her back to the castle almost immediately and given both their condolences to Anne and her family as Olivia and Yunan stayed back to question them.

As Anne petted Domino 2 and gave her lengthy explanation of the events. Olivia and Yunan felt a sense of worry and unease that Andrias was up to something, that he was back to his old ways, that he would manipulate their darling daughter all over again.

Anne however, though she hated the giant blue newt, felt as if he was actually trying to change. He had seemed so happy farming out there and although she wouldn’t trust him properly not ever the way he’d smiled as he’d called Marcy his niece seemed genuine and friendly. Still she’d be cautious just in case.

“Right well I shall speak with him about this the next time I meet with him. Fear not by Marcy’s own request she’s not allowed to leave the castle without either Sasha or Yunan for her own protection”

Olivia assured them in an effort to calm the human and two frog children down.

And that in fact did calm the Plantars down…slightly. Sasha’s feats of her defending Marcy from danger were told by mothers to their tadpoles throughout the kingdom as bedtime stories. They were told by theatre troupes wandering the towns. The two girls had amassed, quite accidentally, a fan base of loyal Amphibians waiting eagerly for their next adventure and making plays and writing books about their feats of courage and heroism.

Marcy had truly been living up to her role as the princess of Amphibia and peacekeeper of the land. She’d gone on several missions as the lead in command to free the mind controlled animals that hadn’t been found years prior. To save citizens from the dangers of herons and giant mantises and all the other dangers they may face.

Within a mere few weeks of Marcy inheriting the throne from Andrias she was revered and praised as the best royal Amphibia had ever had and entire towns would pitch in to help with her heroic quests. Unfortunately this meant Marcy got into danger a lot and Sasha, heron swords in tow would always be by her side ready to fight and protect her both from the dangers of the animals she faced and any frog newt or toad who dared to try and hurt her Mar-Mar. Criminals grew to fear Sasha Elizabeth Waybright and common folk came to love her as Much as they loved their princess. A few citizens of Newtopia. Mainly teenagers who hoped to one day be authors wrote stories shipping the two together and sold them to the theatre troupes to perform. Both Marcy and Sasha noticed the slight blush on eachothers faces whenever they would watch one.

“You three should probably run along with Yunan to the palace, Marcy is beyond excited. Hopidiah please come with me we have arranged a hotel for you tonight”.

The frogs and human went with their respective newts. The youngest of the group Polly jumped up onto Anne’s shoulder. After all these years she still liked for Anne to carry her around as she did when she was a little tadpole.

“What fancy food do they have at the castle Anne? Will we play that fear game again do you think? Does Sasha have an awesome battle sword to protect Marcy that I borrow?”.

The inquisitive little froglet asked her human sister. Swinging her feet as she let her imagination run wild with all the fun they were going to have during the week, especially since she’d loved her stay so much the last time she was here five or six years ago.

Anne laughed at the small froglets enthusiasm giving her hair a playful ruffle as she carried her.

“I’m not sure heck no and yes but you are 12 and will absolutely not be borrowing it”.

“Awww cmon please”.

She looked to Anne with big shiny puppy dog eyes hoping to get her to relent, but the human stood her ground.

“Polly I said no”.

“Awww you’re no Fun Anne”

She teased. When they reached the gates to the castle within seconds Anne got tackled by a giant bear hug from her two besties.

“ANNIEEEEE”

Marcy shouted pulling her into a tight hug which Anne happily returned as Sasha stood guard surveying their surroundings. She of course wanted to join her friends but to her Marcy’s own rule of not leaving the palace unguarded had now increased tenfold considering that disgraced former kings suspicious behaviour. Her main goal was to protect Marcy.

“Sup Boonchuy, Plantars”.

She simply greeted offering them a smile and wave as Polly jumped on Marcy’s back and Sprig on Anne’s nearly breaking it.

“MAR-MAR Can I call you Mar-Mar? I’m gonna call you Mar-Mar do you remember me? Is it true you defeated that toad pirate ship all by yourself? Can you order Sasha to let me borrow her cool sword”.

Marcy laughed at the little pink froglets enthusiasm as she picked her up by the shoulders and twirled her up in the sky. Polly reminded her of the little 13 year old she had been when she landed here.

“I see you haven’t changed a bit little Polly”
She chuckled. “yes of course we remember you but look how big you are now you’ve grown into a very pretty young frog. Secondly not entirely we did have help from Sashy here but we took down the captain yes and thirdly No we cannot and even if we did she wouldn’t listen to us”.

“No I can’t Mar-Mar not we. And it’s me not us”.

Sasha corrected gently. Now growing increasingly more concerned about Andrias. Although Marcy did still often refer to herself in the plural, even five years later, it always got worse when any of what the castle called her ‘panic words’ were uttered, or if she was stressed about something. Did that mean Marcy herself was worried about Andrias as well? If she did Sasha had nothing she could do to relieve that pain. Except for maybe a distraction l.

“Right no I cannot Sorry and even if I did she wouldn’t listen to ME… sorry Sasha”.

Sasha shook her head and lifted Marcy and Anne up to their feet

“Don’t apologise it wasn’t your fault MarcyMallow ok?”.

She nodded slowly and flinched just slightly as she was jumpscared by Polly leaping onto her back. She wasn’t too heavy at least, it was like giving a small child a piggy back ride. Is that how Yunan felt whenever she’d Yunan would just scoop her up and place her on her shoulders. It’s Marcy never minded considering the fact she’d been doing it since basically the second they’d met.

“Right now I have an idea for a game if you’ll all please follow me inside”.

She half-lied turning as she instivially grabbed Marcy’s hand and pulled her, and by extension Polly along as Anne and Sprig followed behind.

While Sasha did in fact have a plan to play a game of a little truth or dare to distract Marcy from her fears. Her real intention was to get Marcy inside. She did not want her outside for too long even with her at her side. Not until the whole Andrias situation was taken care of at least.

Marcy however practically bounced behind her with her usual upbeat demeanour. Talking to the Plantars and Anne about her adventures and their farming, how much Polly had grown and changed and her upcoming coronation. Fortunately it seemed Marcy was none the wiser to Sasha’s concerns happily chatting away to their friends.

“MARCY MARCY IS IT TRUE YOU DEFEATED A HERON WITH NOTHING BUT YOUR CROSSBOW”

Polly asked excitedly. Posing like a superhero up on her shoulders and mimicking how Marcy used her trusty crossbow pretending to shoot her fake arrows from it to defeat the nonexistent enemies.

“It is true! But I had some help from Sashy here of course!”

Marcy replied, happily nudging her. Blissfully unaware of how concerned she was and Sasha was determined to not let her find that out, so she simply turned back and forced a smile to line her face as she ruffled up Marcy’s hair as she often did … to calm her down.

“Alright we’re here, please do head inside and take a complimentary sleeping mask and blanket I’ll arrange for tea and-“.

“No you won’t”

Marcy interrupted, wrapping her arms around her and resting her head upon her shoulder.

“You have the week off Sashy remember I’m not letting you work”

She added with slightly more authority in her voice. She knew Sasha was just looking out for her, she’d barely ever left since their fight against the C.. against the Co- against that thing five years ago, and though she was grateful for her assistance and guarding skills Sasha, much like herself needed rest and relaxation too. She’d done so much for her to much

Sasha sighed and looked over to Marcy. Her job was to protect her and she felt it her very purpose to protect her. It was her fault Anne had gotten hurt the first time and she would not allow Marcy to succumb to the same fate.

Marcy had risked her very life for them in that battle, risked becoming the Cores' pet just to save them. If Sasha were to make up for the years before Amphibia she’d manipulated the poor thing to her will, and thrown her in a dungeon where she had fully intended to futurer brainwash her to be at her side forever as her fellow queen. She would guard her with her life and ensure her eternal happiness. If she had to do that sneakily well then so be it she guessed. It was no longer Ensuring Marcy never left her side, it was ensuring she never left Marcy’s.

“Of course Marcy. I’m sorry, force of habit. Everyone please sit in a circle. I thought we could play truth or dare!!”.

Sasha gave a smile as Marcy made a happy noise and clapped her hands. Practically running to get to the circle and sitting patiently but excitement lined her face and her inability to sit still told Sasha she’d made the right choice. Also she did have very unofficial and probably not even serious ’orders’ from Marcy to take the first dare of the night.

“Since a certain someone was rudely awoken from her beauty sleep this morning”.

She eyed a very curious Marcy who soon realised what was happening gave a giggle at their silly morning shenanigans, as Sasha very over exaggeratedly curtsied to her. Trying to hold back her own giggles.

“I shall as ordered by her royal sleepy head over here and take the first truth or dare“.

The two girls looked at each other for a brief moment and that was all they needed to erupt into further fits of laughter. Anne though confused at what they meant joined in as both their laughs had always been near contagious to her. In that moment the stresses of the three humans lives melted away as the princess, guard and farmer girl, though completely different, though their lives had been upturned. For just a mere moment felt as if they were back home at a sleepover and they were all 13 year olds again. With no crowns or swords or shovels adorning them and their only fret in life being the maths test the next day at school.

That life had been taken from them now however, for the good of an entire universe… at the expense of them never returning home. Marcy feeling responsible for an entire kingdom's eternal happiness and safety. Sasha feeling responsible for Marcy’s eternal Happiness and safety and Anne feeling guilty for not spending more time with both of them.

Sensing something was terribly wrong, Sprig gently tiptoed over and sat with them. He decided to break the silence with a question. Something to distract them.

“So… Sasha’s taking the first truth or dare then?”.

He asked grabbing his human sister’s hand to attempt to comfort her.

“Uhhh… yeah I am …”.

She looked to Marcy for comfort and Marcy looked to her. They grabbed each others hands and Anne still holding Sprig’s, rested her head on Marcy’s shoulder instead. Wrapping her arms around her in a hug that Marcy reciprocated with her free arm.

“So Sashy truth or dare?”.

—————————————————————————

”Truth”

Anne said in response to Polly’s question, who was sitting in what she definitely considered her rightful place on Anne’s shoulder.

“Where’s the worst place you’ve snuck out of the house on Domino 2 when Hop Pop was asleep. Don’t pretend you haven’t I know you have”.

She confidently asked, giving a look of pure childish mischief to her sister. Folding her arms in victory at Anne’s shocked expression.

“Wha-? How do you know about that!?”.

The little froglet merely shot her a cheeky smile and replied

“I have my ways”.

Anne sighed and shook her head. Giving a slight smile at the young frogs' detective work.

“Ok look when I was 16 I snuck out of the house ONE TIME on Domino 2 to go see a concert with Ivy”.

She turned to her brother and pointed accusingly

“And Sprig”.

Sprig just shrugged and gave her a little snicker of a laugh.

“Fun times… but very irresponsible and Polly should not copy it”.

Polly only gave him that specific smirk that told him she was in fact absolutely going to copy that and he smacked his hand to his forehead realising how he’d effectively just doomed himself.

“Polly Petunia Plantar if you sneak out I will personally-“

“Truth or Dare Sasha”

Polly very quickly interrupted, desperately trying to change the subject and distract both Sprig and Anne from the matter.

“Alright I’ll switch things up and say truth”.

Sasha for one was really enjoying this game. She’d clap when someone completed a dare, laugh at the memories they looked back on and give the best questions any of them had ever heard … until.

“Ok what was it like fighting The Core. What were those cool calamity powers like? Do you still have them?”

That…

Sasha at That Word instantly turned her attention to Marcy, who was stiff and frozen up and unable to move. Oh frog it was happening again wasn’t it?.

“MARCY!”

Sasha screamed and pulled her into a tight hug stroking and ruffling up her hair, gently whispering sweet nothings to her. Marcy just sobbed, unable to stop her tears as she clung onto Sasha as if letting her go would mean the end of the world. Perhaps in her mind it did seem that way.

“S-Sashy?”.

She nodded as she held her and Anne Sprig and Polly looked on, concerned but silent, not knowing what to say or do. Just thinking it was best to let Sasha do her thing.

“Shhhh Mar-Mar it’s me. It’s me Sasha, you're safe”.

Marcy looked up at her tears flowing eyes red and puffy a look of terror replacing her normal smile

“Sashy my Sashy”

She said, trying to focus on her to make the bad memories go away. To rid herself of the vivid hallucination of Darcy smirking at her evilly one of those terrifying mind control collars in her hand, the thing she’d saved countless creatures and even a few poor newts from, the thing that she’d had countless nightmares about wearing after she was freed from The Core. Being held by Darcy who was calling her over.

(“Here now girl”)

She cooed snickering as she beckoned for her.

(“We had a deal didn’t we? Join us. It took us five years but we finally found you. Now come here”).

That only set Marcy off again. Her attention turned from Sasha and over to that thing. She shook like a leaf in a harsh autumn wind as she snuggled further into Sasha’s arms, as if trying to hide from it. Looking frantically from the collar to her and back in absolute fear.

(“Did you not hear us? We said here girl. Do you not remember five years ago you said you’d join us and you WILL. If you’re worried about the collar you’ll only have to wear it until we reach the new world and you can’t run from us anymore, our little companion. Now come here!”)

Marcy was frozen, stuck staring at the thing and it’s 10 glowing eyes. Smirking at her with malicious intent. As if to ask her for help Marcy looked at Sasha and remembered what she’d said. Darcy and The Core were gone. Her and her friends had defeated them. This was not real. This was just was a hallucination

‘No it’s not real. Darcy’s not real. you escaped them they’re gone they won’t take you from your moms. They won’t take you from Sashy or Anne your safe. They can’t take you from them if they don’t exist.

She thought to herself. And then she once again began to sob.

Noticing Marcy staring at nothing over in the corner and cowering from it, she quickly realised what was going on and covered up Marcy’s eyes. Her hand pulling her ever closer, rocking her back and forth gently running her fingers through her pretty raven hair.

“They can’t hurt you Mar-Mar they’re not real it’s just a hallucination, that’s all they are. Now do you remember what I told you?”.

Marcy sighed took some deep deep breaths and nodded into Sasha’s hand.

“Good now three things you can feel”.

“The ground, My dress on my back, you”.

“Smell?”.

“The cold winter air, Anne’s perfume, you”.

“Taste?”.

“The mint from my toothpaste, the taste of my mouthwash, the flavour of my floss”.

“Hear?”.

“Some bugs outside, the fan, you”.

She unsheathed her hand from her eye and turned her head gently away from the corner.

“See?, Really see, not Darcy what’s real?”.

“Anne, Sprig Polly”.

“Good now what do you say to her”.

Marcy took a breath, turned to the corner and stared the thing down waving hand at it. It simply went through her like a hologram. She wasn’t real. Marcy was safe

“You’re not real, you're a manifestation of my trauma but you don’t exist. I am safe here with Sasha Olivia and Yunan now leave Darcy, get out!!”.

‘Darcy’ sniggered at her mencaniclingly but gave a small bow and vanished into thin air leaving a poor shaking Marcy to drop to the floor.

“Sashy ?”

She asked softly.

“Shhh yes it’s me. You go to sleep now, want a potion?”.

“….nu-uh”.

Sasha scooped her up and placed her on the bed tucking her in as she hummed to her soothingly until she was sure Marcy was securely in dreamland.

Then she motioned for the others to follow and went off to find General Yunan to guard her for a few minutes as she explained what had happened to the three very confused and worried Plantars.

She knocked softly on her door in case Olivia was asleep and to her relief they both stood at the door. Yunans arm wrapped around her now Fiancés waist and Olivia rested her head on her beloved knight's shoulder.

“Captain Sasha how can we help you”.

“Yunan it’s … happening again just… go be with her she’s asleep”.

Yunan gasped at that and the two love newts separated from eachothers touch as without so much as a word. Yunan sprinted quickly and quietly as she could to Marcy’s bedroom.

Polly for being such a tough frog looked as if guilt would consume her whole, fretting that she was the reason this was happening and she’d be kicked out of the sleepover or worse be put to trial for this. Of course the last one was a stretch but what hyperactive 12 year old doesn't have an overactive imagination.

Noticing this Olivia knelt down to her level and offered a kind hand which Polly took and Olivia held to make her feel better.

“Fear not young one. It’s not your fault. Please know you are not in trouble”.

Polly let out a breath of relief she had no idea she was holding in her tiny still growing lungs.

“You see there are certain phrases that … set Marcy off to put it simply, make her like that”.

Sasha added also kneeling to Polly’s position and Anne and Sprig joining her.

“It’s gotten better, but she used to do this a lot. She'd think Darcy was after her sometimes Aldrich, whoever that is sometimes the moon itself to capture her as their pet…or companion. That’s how she tricked it into letting her attack it, remember Anne?”.

Anne starting to understand, nodded and felt a pit in her stomach at her realisation.

“And she thinks it’s coming back to make her fulfill that deal?”

She asked, wishing for Sasha to say it wasn’t true hoping that she was wrong. She wasn’t

“Yes… there are rules regarding it. I should have told you all sooner. I’m sorry I didn’t”.

She took a Shaky breath and forced herself to not cry tears of pain over her precious Mar-Mar.

“Firstly you don’t ever Say Darcy or Core around her”.

Polly let out a guilty gasp and tears welled in her eyes … for as tough a froglet as she was Polly was still a child… and she felt terrible.

“No Polly it’s not your fault I didn’t tell you”.

She nodded and slumped into her sister’s arms as Anne hugged her telling her it was alright. Lying to both of them

“Secondly, don't say the word want around her, it's just better to avoid it. Wish works or desire but never want. There’s no telling what phrases to do with that might affect her”.

The three Plantars nodded solemnly and each made a mental note to remove that word from their vocabulary around her.

“And thirdly this is the one none of us can understand. Marcy refuses to elaborate. Is never say forever and always or always and forever understand?”.

“We understand”

They all stated in unison and then they just sat solemnly for a moment in shared shock and sadness and confusion. Anne hugging her sister and brother Sasha hugging her knees to her chest. Olivia trying, and only barely succeeding to be the adult in the situation, taking a moment before she finally spoke.

“To bed please you three. I’d like to have a private word with Sasha off you go now lights out”.

They left silently without a word, not even speaking to each other as they trailed off to Marcy's room trying to not burst into tears.

Sasha watched them just as silently and quietly promised herself she would never leave Marcy’s side… not ever again.

“Sasha I understand you must be worried and tired so I’ll make this quick. I believe you are now old enough to accompany me to visit Andrias for crop collection. I know you three need closure but I do not trust him with Anne let alone my daughter Marcy but you… I know you’ll defend yourself and perhaps you can help me understand the whole frobot situation, so what will it be?”.

Correction she would never leave Marcy’s side again right after she gave that giant blue salamander a peice of her frogging mind.

“I accept”.

So she took Lady Olivia’s hand with confidence looked her in the eye and shook her hand firmly.

“For My Mar-Mar I accept”.