Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The vast silence of space stretched endlessly beyond the reinforced windows of the Justice League Watchtower. It was a place of vigilance, where the most powerful heroes on Earth monitored threats both planetary and extraterrestrial.

Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz, sat in front of the Watchtower’s primary observation monitors. His red eyes scanned through live data feeds, atmospheric readings, and traffic surveillance cameras across the planet. He barely required rest, his mind an ever-active sentinel watching for anomalies.

Something caught his attention.

One of the traffic cams in Los Angeles displayed a bizarre sight—a red van speeding down a highway, its trunk ajar. A young Thai-American girl was hanging onto the open back, her expression one of sheer panic. Next to her, several frog-like creatures—large eyes wide with terror—huddled inside.

But what stood out the most was what was chasing them.

A tall, menacing robot with an angular, futuristic design was in pursuit, moving at an unnatural speed. The machine’s limbs moved with precise efficiency, unlike anything J’onn had seen before.

J’onn’s brow furrowed. This was not normal.

The soft hum of the Watchtower’s automated doors sliding open barely registered in his mind as John Stewart, the Green Lantern, strode into the command center.

“J’onn, you’re supposed to be off-duty,” John said, folding his arms. “What’s got you glued to the monitor?”

J’onn remained focused on the screen. “An anomaly.”

John raised an eyebrow and stepped closer. The second his eyes landed on the footage, his expression shifted from casual curiosity to serious concern.

“What the hell am I looking at?” he muttered.

J’onn’s fingers glided over the console, activating a facial recognition scan. The results appeared almost instantly.

Anne Boonchuy.
Status: Missing Person
Last Seen: Five months ago
Investigation Status: Ongoing

John frowned. “Five months? What happened to her?”

J’onn’s voice remained steady. “Unknown. However, the Watchtower detected a temporal-spatial disturbance in Earth’s upper atmosphere five months ago, centered over Los Angeles. Shortly after, Anne Boonchuy and two other girls—Sasha Waybright and Marcy Wu—vanished without a trace.”

John exhaled sharply. “And now she’s back… being chased by a killer robot?” His emerald gaze flicked to the frog-like creatures in the trunk. “And whatever those are.”

J’onn nodded. “They do not match any known extraterrestrial species in our database.”

John scratched his chin. “Okay. That’s weird. But what about the robot?” He tapped into the Watchtower’s interface, running a comparative analysis through global defense networks—STAR Labs, WayneTech, LexCorp, even international agencies like China’s Z-Tech and North Korea’s black ops divisions.

The result? No matches.

John let out a low whistle. “So we’ve got a missing girl, alien frogs, and a murder bot with unknown origins. That’s a hell of a combo.”

J’onn’s red eyes narrowed. “It may be interdimensional in origin, much like the creatures in the vehicle.”

John shook his head. “Alright, this is above my pay grade. We need to bring in the others.” He turned, activating the League’s emergency beacon. “I’m calling a meeting. If there’s something not of this world running around L.A., we need to get ahead of it.”

Hours Later

The Watchtower’s primary conference room was filled with Earth’s greatest heroes. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (John Stewart), Aquaman, Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol), Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Martian Manhunter stood around the holographic table as John brought up the footage.

“This was taken earlier today in Los Angeles,” John explained, enlarging the image of Anne, the frog-like creatures, and the pursuing robot. “The girl you’re seeing here is Anne Boonchuy, who was reported missing five months ago. Around the same time, the Watchtower detected an unknown energy surge in L.A.”

Batman, arms crossed, studied the footage intently. “And now she’s back—being chased by something not of this world.”

Superman folded his arms. “The frogs… do we have any data on their species?”

J’onn shook his head. “No known match within our database. They are neither Martian nor any species I am familiar with.”

Wonder Woman leaned in. “So, we have a missing girl, alien creatures, and a foreign machine chasing them… The question is, what does it want?”

Barry tapped his foot impatiently. “And let me guess, this thing is not made on Earth?”

John sighed. “Bingo. I ran a full analysis—this tech doesn’t belong to any country, corporation, or known alien faction.”

Aquaman exhaled. “So what’s the plan?”

John smirked. “I ran a trace on the van’s license plate.” He brought up a new screen, displaying a home address:

301 Lee Street, West Los Angeles, California, USA, Earth.
The Boonchuy Residence.

There was a beat of silence before Superman finally spoke.

“Well then,” he said, his voice steady. “I think it’s time we paid this Anne Boonchuy a visit.”

Batman nodded. “Agreed. If she’s back on Earth, she may have valuable intel. And if that robot is still hunting her, it means who or whatever brought her here isn’t finished.”

Wonder Woman cracked her knuckles. “Then let’s move.”

Hawkgirl smirked, gripping her mace. “Sounds like fun.”

Green Arrow glanced at Black Canary. “Road trip?”

She smirked. “More like an intervention.”

The Justice League mobilized, setting course for Los Angeles.

Something big was happening, and they were about to get some answers.

Chapter Text

The scent of stir-fried vegetables, jasmine rice, and freshly grilled fish filled the Boonchuy household, mixing with the warmth of home-cooked food.

Inside the modest West Los Angeles home, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy worked in the kitchen together, the hum of the stove and soft clatter of utensils making for a peaceful evening. Mr. Boonchuy chopped vegetables, while Mrs. Boonchuy stirred a simmering pot of curry. The house had finally felt whole again after Anne’s return from Amphibia after she had been trapped there for five months, but brought back what she calls her frog family who took her in when she first arrived there and they have been letting the Plantars stay ever since but they had a few close calls recently as such the destruction of the robot Andrias sent to kill her, an FBI agent Mr X tracking them down and Sprigs little Frog man stunt. Anne is right now with the Plantars following up on a lead thanks to Dr Jan giving her the address to one of her colleagues.

Just as Mr. Boonchuy set the knife down, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Wiping his hands on a towel, he picked it up and saw a new text message from Anne.

Anne: We found a scientist named Terri, she’s helping build a portal back to Amphibia. She’s giving me and the Plantars a ride home.

Mr. Boonchuy smiled at the text then he quickly typed back:

Dad: That’s great, sweetie! Dinner will be ready soon. Drive safe!

He set his phone down, returning to the stove. “Anne and the Plantars are on their way home,” he told his wife.

Mrs. Boonchuy nodded, focused on adjusting the heat under the pot. “Good. They have been running around all day—they need a proper meal.”

The peaceful evening didn’t last long.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

A firm, rhythmic knock sounded at the door.

Mr. Boonchuy raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? Anne’s not supposed to be home yet…”

Mrs. Boonchuy, still stirring the curry, barely looked up. “Maybe it’s a neighbor?”

Curious, Mr. Boonchuy walked toward the front door. As soon as he opened it, his jaw nearly hit the floor.

Standing at their doorstep was the Justice League.

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Green Lantern. Aquaman. Hawkgirl. Martian Manhunter. Green Arrow and Black Canary.

The greatest superheroes in the world were all standing outside their house.

Mr. Boonchuy’s brain short-circuited.

Before he could even process what was happening, Superman took a step forward, his cape flowing behind him as he spoke with a calm, authoritative voice.

“Is Anne Boonchuy home?”

Mr. Boonchuy’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. He could barely believe what he was seeing.

Finally, after a long, stunned silence, he turned his head and called back to the kitchen.

“Uh… honey? We have guests.”

Mrs. Boonchuy, still focused on the curry, didn’t look up. “Who is it? I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

She walked toward the door, still holding the pot of curry, as she spoke.

“Whoever it is, I hope they’re hungry, because I made extra—”

She stepped into the doorway.

She saw the Justice League.

Flash speaks up to lighten the mood.

“Hello”. He gives a polite wave.

Her eyes went wide.

Her hands went slack.

The pot of curry slipped from her grip and hit the floor, spilling its contents everywhere.

Meanwhile the rumble of an engine echoed through the quiet streets of West Los Angeles as a small, slightly beat-up sedan pulled up in front of 301 Lee Street—the Boonchuy residence. The vehicle came to a smooth stop, and the driver, a young scientist with striking blue hair, leaned slightly toward the passenger seat.

Terri, adjusting her lab coat, turned her head toward her passengers—Anne Boonchuy and the Plantar family—and gave them a confident nod.

“Well, here we are,” Terri said, putting the car in park. She glanced at Anne, giving her an encouraging smile. “I’ll keep working on the portal. I just need more time to get everything calibrated—interdimensional physics isn’t exactly an easy field, you know?”

Anne chuckled, her nerves still buzzing from the events of the day. “No worries, Terri. You’re our best shot at getting back to Amphibia and stopping Andrias before he—” she hesitated, her mind flashing back to her last moments in Amphibia. Marcy. Sasha. Andrias announcing his plan to invade Earth.

She took a deep breath. “—before he comes and brings his army here.”

Terri nodded, her expression briefly shifting to concern. She didn’t fully understand everything Anne had been through, but she knew one thing: whatever was happening wasn’t just some teenage adventure. This was war.

“I’ll call you the second I have something solid,” Terri assured her, adjusting the ID badge clipped to her coat. “Until then, keep a low profile. Besides the FBI we still don’t know who or what else might be tracking you.”

Anne and the Plantars exchanged glances. If Andrias would send another killer robot could track them down in broad daylight, they weren’t exactly subtle targets.

“Thanks, Terri,” Anne said sincerely, gripping the strap of her backpack.

With a final wave, Terri shifted the car into gear and pulled away from the house, disappearing into the dimming Los Angeles skyline.

Anne let out a breath and turned to Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly.

“Well,” she said with a grin, “at least we’re one step closer to getting back.”

Sprig hopped onto the sidewalk, adjusting his blue hoodie. “And stopping Andrias! Just think, we’re gonna be heroes! People are gonna tell stories about us for generations!”

Polly, still adjusting to her newly grown froggy legs, rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, let’s just get inside first before something else tries to kill us. I had enough mad scientists for one day.”

Hop Pop smoothed out his button-up shirt, standing up straighter. “Alright, crew, let’s head home.”

As she stepped onto the porch and pushed open the front door and entered the living room, she froze.

Seated around the dining table and on the couch were several of Earth’s most powerful superheroes.

Some of them sat politely sipping tea, while others leaned against the walls, observing the room. Batman stood near the window, arms crossed, watching everything with sharp, calculating eyes. Green Lantern sipped his tea calmly, though his expression was unreadable. Hawkgirl had her arms crossed, her mace resting against her chair.

Meanwhile, Anne’s parents, sitting across from the League, looked like they were seconds away from having a heart attack.

Mrs. Boonchuy’s hands were still trembling from having dropped an entire pot of curry earlier. Mr. Boonchuy tried to maintain a nervous smile but was failing miserably.

The tension was suffocating.

And that’s when Anne walked right into the room.

All eyes turned to her.

The Justice League immediately focused on the doorway, scanning her and the three frog-like creatures standing beside her.

The silence stretched painfully until Mrs. Boonchuy, her voice shaky, finally spoke up.

“T-That’s our daughter,” she stammered, gesturing to Anne. “And… and those are—”

“The frogs,” Batman finished for her, his piercing gaze locked onto the Plantars.

Anne didn’t speak. She couldn’t.

Her brain was short-circuiting.

The freaking Justice League was in her house.

Sitting at her dining table and on the couch.

Drinking her mom’s tea.

Anne then broke the silence.

“Oh. My. Frog.”

Polly then spoke up next. “Uh… is this normal for Earth people?”

Anne blinked. No. No, this was not normal.

Superman was the first to step forward. “Anne Boonchuy,” he said in that calm, unshakable tone of his, “we need to talk.”

Anne swallowed hard.

Chapter Text

Anne stood frozen, her wide brown eyes darting between the Justice League and her parents, who gave her an uneasy but reassuring look. The Plantars, however, were far from calm.

Sprig, standing slightly behind Anne, leaned in close, whispering frantically, “Anne, who are these guys? Are they with those agents that were after us?! Are we in trouble?!”

Polly clung to Hop Pop’s leg, her little fists clenched. “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted that scientist lady! I bet she ratted us out! We’re gonna be dissected, I just know it!”

Hop Pop, eyes darting back and forth between the costumed figures, looked on the verge of passing out. “Oh, newt legs! They finally caught up to us!”

Anne immediately turned to them, waving her hands. “Guys! GUYS! Chill out, okay?” she whispered sharply. “They’re not FBI. They’re—” She took a deep breath. “—the Justice League.”

The Plantars blinked.

Polly furrowed her brow. “What’s a Justice League?”

Hop Pop scratched his head. “Is it a band? It sounds like a band.”

Anne sighed. Oh boy. Where do I even start?

It suddenly hit her—during her entire time in Amphibia, she had never once mentioned the Justice League. Not to Hop Pop, not to Sprig or Polly.

And honestly? She wasn’t surprised. Marcy was the superhero geek in their friend group. Anne liked superheroes, sure, but she wasn’t the one obsessing over comic books or memorizing powers or rouges galleries. She also went to the Hall of Justice a year ago.

Still, she knew enough to admire Superman. The guy was basically the gold standard of what a hero should be.

She also knew that Batman was super scary and Wonder Woman is a daughter of Zeus.

And now, they were all in her freaking house.

Anne turned back to the Plantars, took a steadying breath, and began pointing at each of the costumed heroes in the room.

“Okay, listen up, because I’m only gonna say this once.”

She gestured to the man in red and blue with the cape.

“That’s Superman. He’s basically an alien from a planet called Krypton that can fly, shoot lasers from his eyes, and faster than a speeding bullet but I think Flash would disagree with him on that part.”

Superman gave her a polite nod.

Next, she pointed to the tall, dark, and brooding figure standing silently near the window.

“That’s Batman. He’s—uh, really smart, skilled fighter, and scary.”

Batman’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Anne moved on quickly.

“That’s Wonder Woman—Amazon demi goddess from a hidden island of Themyscira. Skilled warrior and wields a magic lasso that can force you tell the truth.”

Wonder Woman gave a small, approving nod.

Anne continued, pointing toward the red blur near the dining table.

“That’s The Flash—he’s the fastest man alive. He can run across water, create a cyclone, and probably eat an entire buffet in under five minutes.”

Flash grinned. “Not probably. Definitely.”

Next was the green-suited man with the glowing ring.

“That’s Green Lantern. He’s got this super-powerful ring that lets him make, like, anything he can think of. It’s space magic but science-y.”

John Stewart raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

Anne pointed to the hulking blonde guy in armor.

“That’s Aquaman. He’s like a king of the ocean or something. Talks to fish.”

Aquaman sighed. “Why is that the first thing people say when they bring me up in conversations?”

Anne ignored him and moved on to the winged warrior with a mace.

“That’s Hawkgirl. She flies and smashes things.”

Hawkgirl smirked. “Not wrong.”

Then, Anne pointed to the red-eyed, serious-looking alien.

“That’s Martian Manhunter. He’s literally a mind-reading alien from Mars.”

J’onn J’onzz dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment.

Finally, she gestured to the two street-level heroes in green and black.

“That’s Green Arrow—he’s got, like, a billion arrows—and that’s Black Canary. She screams really loud.”

Black Canary chuckled. “Good enough.”

The Plantars took it all in, eyes wide.

Sprig scratched his chin. “So, they’re like Tarantulad?”

Superman’s brow furrowed deeply. “That movie franchise is terrible.”

Mr. Boonchuy gasped audibly, looking personally offended. “Excuse me?! Tarantulad is a cinematic masterpiece!”

Superman shook his head. “It’s a mess of bad writing and ridiculous CGI.”

Anne groaned. “Not the Tarantulad debate again…”

Once the mini-argument over bad superhero movies settled, Anne cleared her throat.

“Okay, moving on! Since you guys obviously know who I am, I guess I should introduce myself properly.”

She straightened up. “I’m Anne Boonchuy, and these are my friends—the Plantars.”

She gestured to each of them in turn.

“This is Hop Pop—he’s basically our grandpa and knows way too much about farming.”

Hop Pop tipped his hat. “Pleasure to meet ya, big shots.”

“This is Sprig—he’s a hyperactive goofball, but also my best friend.”

Sprig gave an awkward salute. “Uh—hi?”

“And this is Polly—she used to be a tiny ball of chaos, but now she’s got legs.”

Polly flexed. “And I fully intend to use them!”

Anne then turned back to the League, putting on a serious face.

“They’re my frog family. So, like… don’t do anything weird.”

Once introductions were done, Anne crossed her arms.

“Alright. Now that that’s out of the way—how the hell do you guys know my name? How’d you even find out about me and the Plantars?”

Green Lantern (John Stewart) stepped forward. “Martian Manhunter saw a traffic cam photo of you and your friends… being chased by a robot.”

Anne’s stomach dropped.

“God froggin damnit.” She groaned, rubbing her temples. “Here I thought the FBI was the only problem—I didn’t even think about the freaking Justice League.”

Superman stepped forward, hands open in a non-threatening manner. “We’re not here to take your friends away. We just want to talk.”

Batman’s eyes narrowed. “We want answers especially on how this all happened to you.”

Anne looked at them, each hero standing in her living room, waiting for an explanation and then she looked at her parents as they gave her a gesture.

Which sees as the okay for her to tell them everything.

She took a deep breath.

“Okay, okay, okay, okay.”

She exhaled, steadying herself.

“Since you guys found out about us… you all deserve the truth.”

Chapter Text

“Alright let’s start from the beginning,” Anne began, her voice steadying as she delved into her memories. “It all started on my 13th birthday…”

“Back then, my best friends were Sasha Waybright and Marcy Wu. Sasha was the confident, persuasive one, always leading the charge. Marcy was the brains, lost in her books and video games. And me? I guess I was the glue that held us together.”

Anne’s eyes softened as she recalled that day.

“On my birthday, Sasha convinced me to skip school. She said we celebrate it in style. So, we ditched and spent the day goofing off, getting slushies, and just… being kids.”

She paused, her expression darkening slightly.

“Later, Marcy sent Sasha a picture of this old, ornate box she found at a thrift store—the Calamity Box. Sasha was intrigued and dragged me along to check it out.”

Anne reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. After a few taps, she turned the screen toward the League, displaying a photo of the Calamity Box. The image showed an ornate, ancient-looking chest adorned with three colored gems.

“This is the Calamity Box,” she explained. “When we got to the thrift store, Marcy was already obsessing over it and Sasha, always up for an adventure, wanted it. The problem? None of us had any money.”

Anne’s voice grew quieter.

“Sasha and Marcy convinced me to… steal it.”

A heavy silence filled the room. Batman’s eyes narrowed, and Superman’s disapproving gaze bore into her.

Feeling the weight of their judgment, Anne quickly added, “I know it was wrong. A huge mistake. But at the time, I just wanted to make my friends happy.”

“That night, we gathered at a park and opened the box together. There was a bright flash, and the next thing I knew, I was alone, waking up in a swamp. No sign of Sasha or Marcy.”

Anne’s voice wavered as she recounted those initial moments.

“I was terrified. I had no idea where I was or how to get home. I ended up living in a cave for weeks, scavenging for food and trying to survive.”

Sprig chimed in, his voice lightening the mood slightly. “When I first saw Anne, I thought she was some kind of beast come to eat me!”

Anne chuckled softly. “Yeah, I must’ve looked pretty wild back then.”

She continued, “One day, Sprig found me and, despite his initial fear, he reached out. Not long after, some townsfolk captured me, thinking I was a threat. They tied me up, and just when things seemed bleak, a giant mantis attacked.”

Anne’s eyes met Sprig’s, gratitude evident. “Sprig and I teamed up to fight it off. After that, the Plantars took me in. They became my family in this strange new world.”

“As time went on, I adapted to life in Amphibia gained the trust of the townsfolk of Wartwood and stopped some tax payers. But I never stopped thinking about Sasha and Marcy. Eventually, I found Sasha. She had allied herself with the toads, under Captain Grime’s command.”

Anne’s expression hardened. “Sasha and Grime organized a party for the townsfolk, but it was a trap. They wanted to eliminate Hop Pop, seeing him as a revolutionary threat.”

Hop Pop interjected, “I was just tryin’ to stand up for what’s right.”

Anne nodded. “When I realized their plan, Sasha and I confronted each other atop Toad Tower. For the first time, I stood up to her, refusing to let her control me anymore.”

Her voice grew softer. “The tower collapsed during our fight. I tried to save her, but she… she let herself fall. Grime caught her, and I didn’t see her again for a long time.”

Anne paused, the weight of her story hanging in the air. The Justice League listened intently, their expressions a mix of concern and contemplation.

“That’s… the beginning of my journey,” Anne concluded. “A series of mistakes, lessons, and growth. And it’s far from over.”

The Justice League sat in rapt silence as Anne continued her story, each word painting a clearer picture of the trials she had faced. The Plantars listened intently, even though they had lived through much of it, while Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy remained quiet, already knowing the pain their daughter had endured but still feeling its weight anew.

Anne took a deep breath and pushed forward.

“After everything that happened in Wartwood, we knew we needed answers. So, we set out for Newtopia, the capital of Amphibia,” Anne explained, pacing slightly as she spoke. “We had no idea what to expect, but when we got there… I finally found Marcy again.”

She paused, a small but wistful smile appearing.

“She was the same as ever—super smart, super excitable, and totally nerdy. She had already become an important advisor to King Andrias, the ruler of Newtopia. And with her help, we actually managed to get an audience with him.”

The League absorbed this, their eyes narrowing slightly at the mention of Andrias.

“Andrias told us that the Music Box was an ancient artifact used by his ancestors to visit other worlds. He made it sound like they were explorers, venturing into different dimensions to share knowledge and culture.”

At this, Anne let out a bitter laugh.

“But we’d later find out that was a lie.”

Anne continued. “I didn’t know the full truth at the time. Andrias told us the box had three gemstones that had lost their power. If we wanted to use it again, we had to recharge them by passing trials in three temples.”

She folded her arms, looking down for a moment before continuing.

“The third temple was where I saw Sasha again.”

The name hung in the air for a moment, the memory of their last encounter still raw.

“Tensions were high. I mean, the last time I saw her, we fought, and she fell off a collapsing tower. So, yeah… awkward reunion.”

Some of the League exchanged glances.

“But for a moment, I thought… maybe things could be different.” Anne’s voice grew quieter. “During The Battle of the Bands, she actually seemed like she changed. Like, we could fix things between us.”

She clenched her fists.

“I was wrong.”

Anne took a deep breath before continuing, her expression darkening.

“When we got back to Newtopia, Sasha and Grime led a rebellion against Andrias. I thought she had changed, but all she wanted was to overthrow him and take over. She was still the same manipulative, power-hungry person she had been before.”

She looked down, guilt creeping into her voice.

“I… I was done with her. I told her we were through. We fought again, and I let my anger get the best of me.”

Anne hesitated, gripping her arms as regret filled her face.

“But the thing is… she was trying to warn me about Andrias. And I didn’t listen. I was so mad at her, so blinded by everything she had done before, that I didn’t even stop to consider that she might actually be telling the truth.”

She sighed. “I regret that fight more than anything.”

“After the rebellion, we handed over the Calamity Box to King Andrias.” Anne’s tone became serious. “That’s when he dropped the biggest bombshell of them all.”

She turned to the Justice League, her expression grim.

“He wasn’t an explorer. His ancestors weren’t adventurers.”

She clenched her fists.

“They were conquerors.”

The room went silent.

Superman’s eyes narrowed slightly, while Batman’s expression remained unreadable but intense.

“Andrias had been waiting for a thousand years to get the box back, and the second he had it in his hands, he used it to activate his floating castle and reveal his robot army.”

Flash let out a low whistle. “That’s a hell of a plot twist.”

Anne nodded. “Yeah. He told us his plan. He wasn’t just going to invade Earth. He was going to conquer the whole universe.”

Anne’s face grew pained. “And just when we were about to fight back… Marcy dropped the biggest bomb of them all.”

She inhaled deeply.

“She had made a deal with Andrias.”

Flash blinked. “Wait, what?”

Anne nodded grimly. “She begged him to take us to other worlds so we could have endless adventures together.”

The room fell into a stunned silence.

Green Arrow frowned. “Why would she do that?”

Anne hesitated, then spoke carefully.

“Because… Marcy was the reason we ended up in Amphibia in the first place.”

Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy remained silent, their expressions sad but unsurprised. They already knew this part.

“She knew what the box could do. And she still tricked me and Sasha into stealing it.”

Hawkgirl looked irritated. “She set you two up?”

Anne nodded. “Her dad got a new job out of state. She was going to have to move away. And she couldn’t handle the idea of us being separated.”

Green Lantern sighed. “Damn. That’s rough.”

Anne shook her head. “Despite everything, we still fought Andrias together.”

Polly grinned. “I got new legs during that whole thing!”

Anne managed a small chuckle, but it faded quickly.

“Andrias got his hands on Sprig. He used him as leverage, forcing us to surrender.”

Sprig frowned. “It sucked.”

Anne’s expression darkened. “But he didn’t just stop there. He wanted to teach me a lesson.”

Her hands tightened into fists.

“He dropped Sprig off the side of his castle.”

Gasps filled the room.

Anne’s voice trembled. “I thought he was dead, and that’s when your powers awakened.”

Superman’s face perked with curiosity “Powers?”

Anne nodded. “Yeah. The Calamity Box’s energy is connected to me somehow. I think I might have charged the blue gem halfway during that moment. I fought Andrias, but…”

She exhaled. “Using those powers exhausts me. I can’t hold them for long.”

Batman’s voice cut through the air. “How long?”

Anne shrugged. “A couple of minutes, max.”

Green Arrow asked, “Okay, but if Sprig got dropped from a floating castle… how is he alive?”

Anne smiled softly. “Marcy saved him.”

Anne took a deep breath. “Marcy then got the box and opened a portal. We were about to escape.”

She swallowed hard.

“Sasha and Grime held off Andrias to buy us time.”

Anne’s face darkened.

“And then, as me and the Plantars were getting through the portal…”

Her voice cracked slightly.

“…we saw Andrias stab Marcy with a laser sword.”

Gasps filled the room again.

Her eyes grew misty. “She looked at me, and her last words before the portal closed were—”

Anne’s voice broke.

“—‘that she was sorry for everything.’”

Silence.

Anne wiped her eyes, steadying herself.

“When we woke up… we were here. And ever since, we’ve been trying to find a way back so we can stop Andrias, save my friends and bring them home.”

She took a deep breath and looked at the Justice League.

“And that’s my story.”

The room was silent, the weight of Anne’s story still lingering in the air. The Justice League had seen a lot—alien invasions, cosmic threats, magical disasters—but hearing about Andrias and the Calamity Box left them deep in thought but this was nothing new to them anyway.

It was Flash who broke the silence.

“So… do Marcy and Sasha’s parents even know about any of this?”

Anne looked at her parents, who both sighed, their expressions a mixture of guilt and regret.

“No,” Mr. Boonchuy answered, shaking his head. “We haven’t told them. And honestly… we don’t think we can.”

Mrs. Boonchuy’s voice was softer, more solemn. “If they knew their daughters were missing in another dimension, they would be terrified. They’d alert the authorities.

She trailed off, glancing at Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly, who all looked back nervously.

“We couldn’t take that chance,” Mr. Boonchuy finished.

Green Arrow frowned. “So, they think their kids just… vanished?”

Anne nodded. “Yeah. It’s messed up, but we couldn’t take that chance.”

The League exchanged glances. They had dealt with classified government agencies before, and none of them were eager to get entangled in that mess.

Green Arrow then asks another question. “Do you think Marcy survived?”

Anne then looks up at him and replies “I don’t know but I’m not losing hope.”

“So,” Wonder Woman spoke up, “this King Andrias has an army?”

Anne nodded grimly. “Yeah. His Frobots—these freaky frog-shaped killer robots—are his main foot soldiers. And then there’s the lanky one that was after me. That thing was sent specifically to hunt me down.”

Aquaman crossed his arms. “Looks like this Andrias really wants you dead.”

Anne let out a humorless chuckle. “You have no idea but anyway the robot is destroyed so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

That’s when Batman spoke up, his voice sharp and focused. “Do you know when he’ll arrive?”

Anne sighed, running a hand through her hair.

“I don’t know.”

A flicker of frustration crossed Batman’s face, but he remained silent, waiting for more.

“But I do know this—” Anne looked at all of them, determination in her eyes. “Andrias will be building an army to conquer Earth, so you guys need to start preparing right now.”

Superman, his expression serious, gave her a firm nod.

“And we will. Tell us what you need, and we’ll help you get back to Amphibia.”

Anne froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat.

They were actually willing to help her.

After everything she’d been through—fighting to survive, losing her friends, carrying the weight of an entire war—the most powerful heroes on Earth were offering their help.

It was almost overwhelming.

Anne took a breath, regaining her composure. “We actually have a lead. There’s a scientist working on a way to build a portal for me and the Plantars.”

Flash raised an eyebrow. “A scientist? Sounds convenient.”

Anne smirked. “Yeah, she’s one of a kind.”

“She has a name?” Green Lantern asked.

“Her name is Terri. And if you guys help her, maybe with your resources, she can get the stuff she needs to finish the portal.”

John Stewart exchanged a glance with Martian Manhunter before nodding. “Where is she based?”

Anne pulled out her phone and opened up the address Terri had given her on the ride home. She turned the screen toward the League.

“She’s working out of a warehouse downtown.”

Superman glanced at Batman, then back at Anne. “Then we should pay this Terri a visit.”

Anne let out a relieved breath. Things were finally moving in the right direction.

“One more thing,” Anne said, hesitating slightly. “I have to mention this.”

The League turned their attention back to her.

“The FBI is after the Plantars.”

That got their attention.

“We’ve had two close calls already,” Anne explained. “And we almost had a third when Sprig tried to play hero as Frog Man.”

Sprig chuckled nervously. “Yeah, that wasn’t my best idea.”

Superman, arms crossed, glanced toward the door.

“Lets worry about that later, right now… shall we pay this Terri a visit?”

Anne smirked. “Sure. I like staying up late anyway.”

Chapter Text

Andrias’s Floating Castle, Above Amphibia

The vast halls of Andrias’s floating castle were eerily silent, save for the occasional hum of energy coursing through its ancient technology. Outside, massive airships of the Flying Fortress Fleet hovered over the ruined landscape below.

Deep within the castle’s control chamber, the glow of blue-green monitors cast elongated shadows against the stone walls. Suspended in the center of the chamber, a wire embedded in they’re helmet, Darcy—the twisted fusion of Marcy Wu and the Core—floated in place, they’re mechanical eyes flickering as data streamed into her mind.

They were digging through Marcy’s memories again.

And what they had just discovered was far more interesting than they anticipated.

A deep, echoing chuckle filled the chamber as Darcy’s multiple voices overlapped, they’re tone laced with amusement.

“Well, well, well… isn’t this a surprise?”

Andrias stood a few feet away, his massive frame looming over the console. He folded his hands behind his back, his once regal expression replaced with something colder—calculating. “What have you found?”

Darcy’s mechanical fingers twitched as more memories flickered through they’re visor. Images of Earth’s defenders, its military, and—most importantly—its Metahumans.

“Oh, Andrias…” Darcy purred, they’re many voices blending together. “You never told me just how fascinating these Earthlings are.”

Andrias raised an eyebrow. “Elaborate.”

Darcy grinned, they’re visor flashing as she pulled up a holographic projection of the Justice League.

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Green Lantern. Martian Manhunter. Aquaman. Hawkgirl. Green Arrow and Black Canary.

Each of their bios, as Marcy remembered them, floated in front of Andrias.

“She talked a lot about them,” Andrias muttered, stroking his chin. “When I had her under my guidance, she often spoke of Earth’s greatest heroes. I thought it was just childish admiration… but I see now there’s more to it.”

Darcy nodded. “Oh, far more.”

The Core’s voice crackled slightly, their mechanical tone deepening.

“We underestimated Earth and humans. We thought their militaries were pathetic, that their governments were too weak to stand against us. And in many ways, they are. But…”

A sharp smile curled across they’re lips.

“These Metahumans, as Marcy knows them… they change the equation.”

Andrias stepped forward, analyzing the holograms. “Explain.”

Darcy pointed at Superman’s profile first.

“This one—Superman—the so-called Man of Steel. Marcy’s memories indicate that he’s the most powerful being on Earth. Last of his kind, strength beyond comprehension, speed surpassing light, and nigh-invulnerability.”

Andrias’s eyes narrowed. “So he’s their strongest warrior.”

Darcy smirked. “Yes. And also…next to Anne Boonchuy the biggest threat to our conquest.”

She then gestured to the others.

“Wonder Woman—a demigoddess, warrior trained for battle. Dangerous.”

“The Flash—fast enough to bend time itself. Potential problem.”

“Martian Manhunter—last of his kind. Marcy’s memories suggest he possesses telepathy, shapeshifting, and near-Superman levels of strength. Very dangerous.”

“Green Lantern—and not just one.” Darcy’s tone sharpened. “There are four stationed on Earth. And we already have history with the Green Lantern Corps.”

Andrias’s face darkened. “Yes… we do.”

Darcy turned to him, intrigued. “You recall, don’t you? The war between your ancestors and the Green Lantern Corps when the Newtopian Empire was at its peak?”

Andrias let out a low growl, his hands clenching into fists. “We had a certain planet within our sights… but I heard the Green Lanterns were relentless. We could never defeat them.”

Darcy’s eyes gleamed. “Then perhaps we should try again.”

Andrias scoffed. “First, we take Earth.”

Darcy nodded. “Naturally.”

then they focused on Batman’s profile, they’re expression shifting.

“And this one…”

They chuckled. “Oh, Marcy had so much to say about him.”

Andrias arched a brow. “Batman?”

Darcy’s fingers drummed against the air as she leaned forward, they’re eyes flickering with interest.

“One of the few among them without powers. Yet, Marcy highly respected him.”

Her expression darkened.

“She saw him as a brilliant strategist, a tactical genius, capable of outthinking even the most powerful beings on Earth.”

Andrias frowned. “He is but a man.”

Darcy’s smile widened.

“And men are the easiest to break.”

They’re eyes flickered as they highlighted Batman’s profile. “If we succeed in defeating the League, he may be useful for assimilation into the Core.”

Andrias hummed in thought. “Another brilliant mind under our control…”

“Yes,” Darcy purred. “He would make a fine addition.”

Darcy tapped the air, shifting the hologram to another page of data.

“But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. If we are to defeat this League… we must learn their weaknesses.”

Andrias’s eyes gleamed with interest. “And have you found any?”

Darcy’s smirk widened.

“Oh, I found plenty.”

She gestured toward Superman’s bio.

“The Man of Steel has one true weakness: Kryptonite.”

She moved to Martian Manhunter.

“The Martian’s greatest weakness? Fire.”

She turned to Green Lantern.

“Their rings cannot function against the color yellow.”

Aquaman’s profile appeared next.

“Arthur Curry—strong, but weakened by extreme dryness.”

Andrias studied the data carefully. “And the others?”

Darcy frowned slightly. “Some of them… do not have specific weaknesses.”

She tapped on Wonder Woman’s profile.

“She’s a skilled warrior, her only vulnerabilities being certain divine weapons.”

She then hovered over Batman’s profile.

“This one… has no physical weaknesses. But as I said… men are easy to break.”

Andrias smirked. “Then we shall break him.”

Darcy’s multiple eyes flickered as they pulled up more data.

“Besides Anne now our primary concern is Superman. If we are to have any hope of conquering Earth, we must first remove its strongest warrior.”

Andrias folded his arms. “Then we need this Kryptonite.”

Darcy’s grin widened. “And we know just where to get it.”

She highlighted an image of a bald man in a suit.

Lex Luthor.

“A man who has spent his entire life trying to kill Superman. And he has a personal supply of Kryptonite at his company LexCorp.”

Andrias’s expression darkened. “Then we take it.”

Darcy turned to him, they’re cybernetic eyes glowing.

“Use the Calamity Box to send another Cloak-Bot to Earth.”

Andrias arched a brow. “To go after Anne again?”

Darcy shook they’re head.

“No.”

they’re grin widened.

“Send it to Metropolis.”

Chapter Text

Los Angeles – Terri’s Warehouse

The industrial district of Los Angeles was quiet this time of night, the usual hustle and bustle of the city fading into distant echoes. The streetlights flickered softly, casting long shadows against the brick walls of the warehouses that lined the road. Crickets chirped in the distance, filling the silence with their steady rhythm.

Inside one of these aging warehouses, Terri wiped the sweat from her brow, stepping back from her workstation. The lab equipment hummed as it idled in the background, reflecting off the scattered blueprints, toolboxes, and tangled wires that lay across the floor.

She had spent the last few hours setting up what would soon become a functional interdimensional portal—one that could send Anne and the Plantars back to Amphibia.

After everything that had happened earlier that day—meeting Anne, rescuing the Plantars from Dr. Frakes, and realizing she had just stepped into a full-blown sci-fi adventure—Terri barely had time to process it all.

She exhaled and checked the time on her phone. It was late.

“Alright,” she muttered, stretching her arms. “I think that’s enough for one night.”

She reached for the power switch to shut everything down when—

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

The loud knocking against the garage door echoed through the warehouse, making Terri jolt.

She froze, blinking at the door.

Her brain quickly went into panic mode.

It was late—too late for random visitors. And considering what had happened earlier with Dr. Frakes, the last thing she wanted was another confrontation with people who wanted to experiment on the Plantars.

Heart racing, she quickly grabbed a wrench from her nearby tool table—just in case—and cautiously made her way to the door.

She hesitated.

Then, with a deep breath, she pulled the door open.

Her eyes widened at the sight in front of her.

Standing outside was Anne, her parents, and the Plantars.

Terri blinked. “Anne?”

She looked at the group, noting their nervous yet excited expressions. Then her gaze shifted slightly and—

She froze.

Standing right behind them, illuminated by the dim streetlights, were ten of the most famous heroes in the world.

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Green Lantern(John Stewart). Aquaman. Hawkgirl. Martian Manhunter. Green Arrow. Black Canary.

Terri’s brain completely short-circuited.

There was a long silence.

She blinked again.

Then slowly turned back to Anne, her voice barely above a whisper.

“…Anne. Why is the Justice League at my warehouse?”

Anne rubbed the back of her neck, looking at the League, then back at Terri.

“Sooo… funny story…”

Superman stepped forward, his presence radiating an almost regal authority.

His voice was calm, yet firm. “Are you an expert in portal technology?”

Terri’s jaw dropped.

Her mind scrambled for words.

“…Uh.”

Another beat of silence.

Terri glanced between the Plantars, Anne’s slightly awkward grin, and the Justice League’s serious expressions.

She swallowed hard.

Then slowly, almost hesitantly, she nodded.

“Y-Yeah. I am.”

Anne, The Plantars and the Justice League stepped inside while Anne’s parents wait and guard the entrance, their presence almost surreal against the backdrop of wires, screens, and half-built technology.

The metallic clang of the warehouse door shutting echoed through the large industrial space as Terri secured the lock behind them. The dim glow of the fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting shadows over the scattered equipment, toolboxes, and unfinished devices lining the walls.

Terri turned to Anne, still gripping her wrench, and let out a sharp exhale.

“Okay,” she said, rubbing her temples. “I’m going to ask again. What. The. Hell. is the Justice League doing in my warehouse?”

Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.

Anne scratched the back of her head, glancing between Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman before turning back to Terri.

“They… kinda know everything now.”

Terri’s eyes widened. “Everything?”

Anne nodded. “Yep. Amphibia. Andrias. The invasion. The whole ‘potential planetary war’ thing.”

Terri blinked, mouth opening and closing as she tried to process that. She motioned wildly toward the League.

“And they just—just believed you?”

Superman nodded. “We’ve seen enough to know it’s real.”

Wonder Woman crossed her arms. “There is a war coming Terri. And we need to help these people get back to Amphibia if they ever have a chance to stop it.”

Batman, his deep voice cutting through the air like a knife, added, “And we don’t take threats lightly.”

Terri swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She turned back to Anne, who gave her a small but encouraging nod.

Taking a deep breath, Terri ran her hands down her coat, steadying herself.

“Okay. Alright. Let me just—let me just take a second to fully process this.”

She turned away, pacing in quick circles, muttering to herself.

“Right. So. Not only am I secretly building an interdimensional portal in my warehouse, but now THE Justice League knows about it. And instead of shutting me down, they’re actually here to HELP.”

Terri paused, realization hitting her all at once.

She turned back to them, eyes wide with excitement.

“…You guys are actually going to help me? Like, real government-level, ‘unlimited resources and funding’ help?”

Anne smirked. “Yep.”

Terri let out a breathless laugh, looking almost overwhelmed with pure scientific glee.

“Oh my GOD, I’m gonna have UNLIMITED RESOURCES. Do you even KNOW what this means?!?!”

She turned toward her half-built portal device, her mind already racing with possibilities.

“Oh, I am gonna build the BEST portal you have EVER seen—no, scratch that—the most ADVANCED portal in HUMAN HISTORY!”

She spun back to Anne. “Anne. You genius.”

Anne chuckled. “Glad you’re on board.”

Terri clapped her hands together. “Alright. So here’s the deal. With the stuff I have right now, we’re looking at roughly a year before I can even get this thing to function.”

Superman frowned. “And with our help?”

Terri grinned. “A month. Maybe two.”

The League exchanged glances.

“That’s doable,” Green Lantern said with a nod. “We’ll make sure you get what you need.”

Batman’s voice remained sharp and controlled. “We’ll arrange for secure shipments. Some materials will need to be off-the-record, but that won’t be a problem.”

Anne, still trying to wrap her head around the fact that literal superheroes were getting involved, felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

But before Anne could fully relax, Batman turned to her, eyes narrowing slightly.

“In the meantime,” he said, “You need to keep a low profile.”

Anne sighed, already knowing where this was going.

“I know,” she groaned. “No getting caught, no running around playing hero, no ‘accidental public frog sightings’—”

The Flash smirked. “No Frog-Man sequels.”

Sprig pouted dramatically. “Come on! I was just getting started—”

Anne nudged him. “Sprig, no.”

Batman pulled something from his utility belt—a small, black device with a red bat symbol on it.

He handed it to Anne.

“Take this. The second the portal is operational, contact us.”

Anne stared at the Bat-phone in her hand, her brain short-circuiting for a moment.

“…You are seriously giving me a direct line to the freaking Justice League?”

Batman gave her a single, sharp nod.

Polly elbowed Sprig. “Okay, that’s gotta be the coolest thing we’ve ever seen.”

Anne, still in mild shock, tucked the device into her jacket pocket.

Superman turned back to Terri, his expression calm but firm.

“If anything goes wrong—if you run into any complications—call us immediately.”

Terri gave a mock salute, smirking. “Yes, sir, Mr. Man of Steel, sir.”

Superman smiled.

Anne crossed her arms. “So what now?”

Superman glanced toward the door. “Now, we let Terri get to work.”

(Few minutes later)

Everyone stood around Terri’s makeshift workstation, listening intently as she rattled off the technical specifics—some of which went straight over Anne’s head.

“Alright,” Terri began, flipping through her notes, “I need a quantum field stabilizer, a high-energy particle emitter, and—oh!—a dimensional harmonizer, preferably one that can handle at least a few terawatts of energy.”

The Flash blinked. “I have no idea what half of that means.”

Green Lantern smirked. “Translation: ‘We need a lot of really expensive and classified tech.’”

Terri grinned. “Ding ding ding, you win a prize.”

Superman nodded. “We’ll arrange for everything you need. Some of these materials might be difficult to acquire, but we’ll handle it.”

Terri gave him a mock salute. “Appreciate it, Big Blue.”

Batman, who had been standing slightly apart from the group, checked something on his gauntlet.

“I have work to attend to in Gotham,” he stated, his voice as cold and business-like as ever.

Before anyone could respond, he pressed a concealed button on his wrist, sending out a silent command.

A few moments later, a distant mechanical hum filled the air.

Anne looked up, her eyes widening as she saw a sleek black aircraft descending toward the warehouse.

It was the Batwing.

As soon as it hovered overhead, Batman fired his grapple, the cord snapping taut as he was lifted effortlessly into the cockpit.

Without another word, the Batwing tilted upward and shot into the night sky, disappearing into the dark horizon.

Polly stared. “Okay, that was cool.”

Anne let out a low whistle. “Dude doesn’t waste any time.”

Wonder Woman, arms crossed, turned to the others. “Batman’s right. We each have matters to attend to in our own cities.”

Green Arrow nodded. “Yeah. I got Star City to watch.”

Aquaman smirked. “And I have an ocean to look after.”

Hawkgirl cracked her knuckles. “And I’ve been itching to break some bones.”

Superman, turning to Anne, gave her a firm look. “Anne, I mean it—stay out of trouble.”

Anne rolled her eyes but nodded. “Yeah, yeah. No public frog sightings. No playing hero. Got it.”

The Flash grinned. “Hey, if the FBI does catch you, just call us.”

Anne chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry. If that happens, you’ll probably hear me screaming first.”

Superman’s expression softened just slightly. “In all seriousness, though… if you need us, call. We’ll come.”

Anne nodded, touched by the offer.

Green Lantern glanced at Superman. “What about the kid’s powers? If she’s got that much energy in her, we should figure out how it works.”

Superman agreed. “We should run some tests. See what you’re capable of, how much energy you’re storing, and how to control it. But for now—”

He turned toward the others.

“Right now, we all have work to do. Get some rest Anne.”

Anne watched as the remaining Justice League members began departing, each heading off to their own cities.

Superman lifted off into the sky, disappearing in a blur.

The Flash vanished in a streak of lightning-tinged red.

Green Lantern flew up into the air and he soared away.

One by one, the world’s greatest heroes disappeared into the night.

And soon, it was just Anne, her parents, the Plantars, and Terri standing outside the warehouse.

A silence lingered for a moment before Terri clapped her hands together.

“Well,” she said, grinning. “I guess tomorrow it’s time to build a portal to another world!”

Anne exhaled, rubbing her temples.

“Yeah. No pressure.”

Chapter Text

(Metropolis – The Next Morning)

The city of Metropolis was waking up.

Sunlight gleamed off towering skyscrapers, casting long shadows over the bustling streets below. Cars honked, people hurried along the sidewalks, and the morning rush was in full swing. Overhead, electric billboards advertising LexCorp’s sat on buildings and other platforms, while also broadcasting the latest headlines.

Despite the peaceful morning, something unnatural stirred in the shadows.

A sudden distortion rippled in the air within a dark alleyway nestled between two towering buildings. The air shimmered for a moment before, with a faint blue flash, a large metallic figure materialized—a Cloak-Bot.

The machine hunched forward, its mechanical joints whirring softly as it adjusted to its new environment. Its metallic body glistened.

Its glowing red eyes flickered as its processors activated, scanning its surroundings.

The Cloak-Bot’s systems ran a quick assessment:

Current Location: Metropolis, Earth

Primary Target: Kryptonite Sample

Objective: Recover Kryptonite, transmit coordinates for retrieval, return to base.

The machine twitched, then engaged its cloaking mechanism.

Its entire body flickered and blurred before vanishing from sight.

Only the faintest shimmer remained in the air, barely visible as it moved silently through the alley.

Target in Sight: LexCorp Tower

The Cloak-Bot jumped effortlessly to the nearest rooftop, its powerful mechanical limbs absorbing the impact without a sound. From its elevated vantage point, it turned its head toward the skyline.

There, in the distance, stood LexCorp Tower.

A beacon of power and influence, the massive corporate skyscraper dominated the Metropolis skyline, its sharp green-and-black architecture a clear symbol of Lex Luthor’s grip on the city.

The Cloak-Bot’s internal database accessed an image, displaying an image in its HUD of its true target—Kryptonite.

Mission Parameters Updated.
Approach LexCorp Tower. Locate Kryptonite. Signal HQ for Retrieval.

Its clawed fingers twitched, recalibrating its trajectory.

Then, with inhuman agility, it leaped forward, bounding across rooftops with calculated precision.

(Metropolis – The Daily Planet)

The buzz of newsroom activity filled the air inside The Daily Planet. Phones rang, keyboards clacked, and reporters bustled about, chasing the next big scoop. Sunlight poured in through the massive windows, offering a breathtaking view of Metropolis’s skyline, where the unmistakable LexCorp Tower loomed in the distance.

At one of the desks near the center of the newsroom, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen sat engaged in an animated conversation.

Jimmy, as usual, was excitedly flipping through his camera, scanning the latest photos he’d captured across the city.

“I’m telling you, Lois,” he said, leaning in, “this is weird, even for Metropolis.”

Lois raised an eyebrow. “You mean weirder than the usual alien invasions, supervillain fights, or time travelers?”

Jimmy grinned. “Exactly!” He tapped the screen of his camera. “Look at this—eyewitness reports blurry phone footage, even some street cam stills—all pointing to the same thing. A teenage girl in Los Angeles running around with what looks like FROG ALIENS.”

Lois frowned, leaning in to look at the images. “Huh.”

She studied one of the blurry street cam stills, which showed a faint silhouette of a girl sprinting through an alleyway, followed by three small, frog-like creatures. A mechanical figure could be seen behind them—its frame distorted and barely visible and seems to have parts missing.

“Well,” Lois said, crossing her arms, “I’ll give you this—it’s definitely weird.”

Jimmy nodded enthusiastically. “Right?! And get this—some people even claim they saw a robot chasing them. A big one.”

Before Lois could respond, a familiar voice cut through the conversation.

“Talking about aliens again, Jimmy?”

They both turned to see Clark Kent, standing just a few feet away, his usual warm, easygoing smile on his face.

Clark adjusted his glasses as he approached the desk, a cup of coffee in one hand and a notepad in the other.

Lois smirked. “You’re late.”

Clark shrugged. “Busy morning.”

Jimmy waved his hands dramatically. “Clark, man, listen—there’s a story here! In Los Angeles a girl, frog aliens, a robot—we could be looking at some kind of government experiment gone rogue!”

Clark chuckled lightly. “Or, more likely, we’re looking at a few people with overactive imaginations.”

Jimmy pouted. “Come on, Clark. Look at these pictures. There’s something going on.”

Clark adjusted his glasses and glanced at the images Jimmy had pulled up. He already knew the truth, but he had to play along.

Lois, arms still crossed, narrowed her eyes at Clark. “You know something.”

Clark sighed, setting his coffee down on the desk. “It’s Justice League business.”

Jimmy blinked. “Wait, so—so you’re saying it’s real?”

Clark nodded. “And classified. Which means…” He gave Jimmy a pointed look. “You’re not running that story.”

Jimmy groaned. “Awww, man.”

Lois smirked. “Well, if it’s Justice League business, I take it we don’t have to worry about it?”

Clark shook his head. “No. It’s being handled. Her name is Anne. And right now, the League is making sure she stays under the radar.”

Lois raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sure she’s not a threat?”

Clark nodded. “She’s just a kid caught in something bigger than she ever expected.”

Jimmy sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair. “Fine. No article. But if something else happens, I’m calling dibs.”

Lois smirked. “You always call dibs.”

Clark chuckled, shaking his head.

As the conversation continued, Clark’s expression suddenly shifted.

His posture straightened slightly, his head tilting to the side just a fraction.

Lois and Jimmy immediately recognized the change.

Lois’s smirk faded. “You’re listening to something, aren’t you?”

Clark didn’t respond right away.

His super-hearing had just picked up something unusual.

Faint, but distinct— metallic clanking.

The sound of something moving across rooftops, its footsteps unnaturally precise.

Clark’s brow furrowed slightly. The rhythmic clanking wasn’t coming from any construction site. It was too deliberate—too controlled.

Something—or someone—was moving through Metropolis.

Lois leaned in. “Clark?”

He focused, listening more closely.

The sound was heading toward LexCorp Tower.

Clark’s jaw tightened.

“…I need to go.”

Lois sighed, picking up her coffee. “Figures.”

Jimmy leaned forward. “So… what’s the official excuse this time?”

Clark adjusted his glasses. “Uh—important meeting with Perry.”

Lois smirked. “Try to make that one sound believable next time, Smallville.”

Clark gave them a small smile before quickly making his way toward the exit.

Lois watched him go, shaking her head with amusement. “He’s not even trying anymore.”

Jimmy grinned. “Wanna bet he’s already in the sky?”

Lois glanced out the window, watching as a faint blur of red and blue streaked through the air.

She smirked.

“…Already gone.”

Metropolis – Near LexCorp Tower

High above the gleaming cityscape of Metropolis, Superman soared, the air rippling around him as he flew toward the towering LexCorp building. His cape billowed in the wind, the early morning sun casting a golden glow across the city’s futuristic skyline.

But Clark’s focus was elsewhere.

The metallic clanking he had heard from the Daily Planet was growing louder. Whatever was making that noise was moving with deliberate precision, leaping across rooftops in a near-perfect rhythm.

Superman’s brow furrowed. This wasn’t some random drone or rogue piece of construction equipment—this was something intelligent.

He slowed down, hovering above one of the mid-rise buildings just a few blocks from LexCorp.

That’s when he noticed something odd.

A cluster of pigeons sat along the ledge of a rooftop, idly pecking at bits of food. Suddenly, they scattered in a panic, fluttering away as if something had startled them.

But there was nothing visible.

Clark narrowed his eyes.

Then, activating his X-ray vision, he scanned the rooftop.

And there it was.

A mechanical figure—humanoid in shape but twisted in its design—clung to the rooftop.

Its elongated limbs and clawed fingers twitched slightly as it analyzed its surroundings. Its plating was dark and body was amphibian-like.

The machine’s red eyes glowed faintly beneath its active cloaking field, making it nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.

Superman’s eyes hardened.

Not on my watch.

Without hesitation, he descended, landing softly on the rooftop behind it.

The force of his landing sent a small ripple of wind outward, enough to stir the dust around them.

The Cloak-Bot froze.

Slowly, its head tilted to the side, as if registering the unexpected presence behind it.

Superman crossed his arms.

“Going somewhere?”

The bot remained motionless for half a second.

Then—

It bolted.

The Cloak-Bot lunged forward, leaping across the rooftops with inhuman agility. Its metallic joints moved fluidly, barely making a sound beyond the rhythmic clank-clank-clank as it hopped toward LexCorp Tower.

Superman followed immediately, flying just overhead, his heat vision glowing faintly as he studied the machine’s movements.

It was fast. But not faster than him.

With a sudden burst of speed, Superman flew forward—ramming into the bot from behind.

The impact knocked it off balance, sending it skidding across the rooftop.

But before he could grab it—

The Cloak-Bot’s body shimmered as it released a pulse of electric energy.

BZZZT!

A sudden electric field erupted around it, enveloping Superman in a shockwave of energy.

Clark’s muscles tensed involuntarily as the current surged through him, forcing him to release his grip.

The Cloak-Bot took advantage of the moment, flipping upright and springing away, once again hopping across the city in a desperate attempt to escape.

Superman shook off the effects, his brow furrowing.

Alright. No more playing around.

The chase continued for several blocks, the Cloak-Bot weaving through the skyline, trying to lose the Kryptonian. It dove between buildings, bounding off billboards, ledges, and fire escapes, anything to break Superman’s pursuit.

But it didn’t matter.

Superman was always right behind it.

Finally, as the bot turned a corner, Superman anticipated its next move.

He sped ahead, circling around and landing at the next rooftop—directly in its path.

The Cloak-Bot skidded to a halt, its glowing red eyes flickering in calculation.

It had nowhere to go.

Superman smirked. “End of the line.”

The bot hesitated.

Then, its right arm shifted—metal plating sliding apart to reveal a drill-like appendage, which extended outward at high velocity—straight at Superman.

CLANG!

The drill-arm struck Superman directly in the chest—

And bounced off harmlessly.

Superman raised an eyebrow. “Huh. Almost felt that.”

Before the bot could react, he grabbed the extended drill-arm and yanked, pulling the machine forward—

Then, with a single punch, he sent it flying backward, slamming it into a concrete wall.

As cracks formed around the impact site, the bot let out a deep, distorted chuckle.

Superman’s eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?”

Then he heard it.

A beeping noise.

Superman’s eyes flashed blue as he activated his X-ray vision.

Inside the Cloak-Bot’s chest cavity, a small but powerful transmitter was sending out a distress signal.

His eyes widened slightly.

“Transmitter.”

Without hesitation, Superman lunged forward and punched the bot straight in the chest—hard.

“Nuh-uh. No phoning home!”

The Cloak-Bot’s laughter abruptly cut off.

Superman pulled his fist back, ripping out a chunk of the bot’s internal components.

Sparks erupted from the exposed wiring as the bot twitched violently. The Cloak-Bot’s red eyes flickered, its body convulsing before it collapsed, its systems shutting down.

Superman looks down at the destroyed bot with curiosity.

(Meanwhile)

Back in Amphibia, deep within Andrias’s floating castle, the scene unfolded on a massive screen.

Both Andrias and Darcy watched in silence as their Cloak-Bot’s feed cut to static.

Andrias’s fingers tightened into a fist. “We… underestimated him.”

Darcy grinned.

“Ohhh, Superman’s good—just like Marcy’s memories say.”

Andrias scowled. “This means we can’t use LexCorp’s Kryptonite. He’s already on high alert.”

Darcy sighed dramatically. “A real shame. But honestly?” They grinned wider. “I love a good challenge.”

They spun slightly in place, her orange eyes on her helmet flickering.

“We’ll just have to wing it.”

Chapter Text

Los Angeles – The Boonchuy Residence

The morning sun shone through the windows of the Boonchuy home, casting a soft golden light over the living room. Anne sat on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone while Sprig and Polly sat on the floor, playing with a deck of trading cards Mr. Boonchuy had picked up for them.

Hop Pop sat at the dining table, sipping on his morning tea while reading through a travel brochure that Mrs. Boonchuy had given him—though he still found human customs incredibly odd.

The peaceful morning was interrupted by a faint humming sound outside.

Then—a sudden flash of green light illuminated the front yard.

Anne’s head snapped up, her instincts on high alert.

She immediately recognized the source.

The Plantars jumped up, startled, as a green projection flickered just beyond the front door.

Then—a firm knock.

Mrs. Boonchuy peeked out from the kitchen, raising an eyebrow. “Anne, I think you’ve got company.”

Anne, already expecting this, sighed and got up to answer the door.

She swung it open—

Standing right in front of her, bathed in a glowing green aura, was Green Lantern, John Stewart.

His arms were crossed, and his expression was unreadable, though there was the faintest hint of a smirk.

“Morning, kid,” he greeted.

Anne raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me this is just a social visit.”

John’s smirk grew slightly. “Nope.”

Anne groaned, running a hand through her hair. “Lemme guess—Batman wants to run those tests now?”

John nodded. “We talked about this before. We need to know how your powers work.”

Anne hesitated. The whole ‘analyzing my weird magic powers’ thing still made her feel a bit nervous, but deep down, she knew the League wouldn’t have brought it up again if it wasn’t important.

She turned back toward her parents.

Mrs. Boonchuy sighed, wiping her hands on a towel. “Are they gonna poke her with needles?”

John chuckled. “Nah. Just a few controlled tests. We want to understand what she’s capable of.”

Anne looked at her dad. “You sure this is safe?”

John nodded. “We’ll make sure she’s fine.”

Anne’s parents exchanged a glance, then finally nodded.

Mrs. Boonchuy crossed her arms. “Alright. Just bring her back in one piece.”

Anne grinned. “You guys worry too much.”

Mr. Boonchuy stepped in. “Anne we have a right to worry, you were trapped in another world for five months.”

Anne chuckled “point taken.”

Sprig hopped onto the couch. “Uh, what about us?”

John turned to them. “You’re coming too. Wouldn’t want to separate you guys now, would we?”

Sprig pumped a fist. “YES! I always wanted to go to space!”

Polly’s eyes lit up. “Wait, SPACE? We’re going to SPACE!?”

John smirked. “Yeah, kid. You’re gonna love the view.”

Hop Pop visibly paled. “Oh, dear.”

Anne cracked her knuckles. “Alright, let’s do this.”

John raised his Green Lantern ring, and a glowing green bubble formed around Anne and the Plantars.

Anne took a deep breath as she felt the familiar weightless sensation lift her feet off the ground.

John turned toward her parents. “She’ll be back soon.”

And with that, the green energy carried them into the sky.

Anne watched in awe as they left Earth’s atmosphere, the sky fading from blue to black as they ascended into the vastness of space.

Sprig and Polly were pressing their faces against the green barrier, eyes wide as they looked down at Earth.

“Duuuude,” Sprig whispered. “This is INSANE.”

Polly grinned. “I CAN SEE THE WHOLE PLANET!”

Hop Pop, however, was curled up in a fetal position, mumbling, “Oh, no. Oh, NO. Frogs were not meant for this!”

Anne chuckled, reaching out to steady him. “Hey, relax, Hop Pop. We’re in good hands.”

John, floating beside them, smirked. “This your first time in space?”

Hop Pop glared. “How’d you guess?”

John chuckled.

As they moved further, Anne finally saw it—a massive space station hovering in orbit.

The Watchtower.

It was unlike anything Anne had ever seen—a colossal structure, its sleek metallic exterior glinting under the light of the sun, floating majestically above Earth.

“WHOA,” Sprig breathed. “That’s so cool.”

John adjusted the trajectory of the bubble, guiding them toward the station’s hangar bay.

As they approached, Anne could see the Javelin—the League’s primary spacecraft—parked inside.

The hangar doors slid open, allowing them entry.

As soon as they were inside, John gently lowered them onto the solid metal flooring before dispelling the green energy field.

Anne and the Plantars’ feet touched down, the sudden return of gravity making them slightly wobble.

Polly grinned. “I WANNA DO THAT AGAIN.”

Anne chuckled. “Maybe later, Pols.”

As they regained their balance, they turned to see a small group waiting for them.

Standing near the Javelin, arms crossed, was Batman. His expression, as usual, was unreadable.

Beside him was Wonder Woman, looking regal and composed.

Martian Manhunter stood just slightly behind them, his red eyes observing Anne curiously.

And leaning casually against a control panel was The Flash, who immediately waved when he saw them.

“Hey, there’s our little interdimensional traveler!” Flash grinned. “Welcome to the Watchtower, kid.”

Anne exhaled. “Okay. This is actually pretty cool.”

John smirked as he landed beside them. “Get used to it. You’re in the big leagues now. Follow us.”

Anne and the Plantars begin following the leaguers deep into Watchtower through its halls eventually arriving to a large door.

The doors to the Justice League’s high-tech laboratory slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a pristine, futuristic workspace filled with cutting-edge technology, glowing consoles, and diagnostic equipment. The walls were lined with holographic displays, each showing data on various projects, energy readings, and interdimensional anomalies.

Standing near the center of the room, waiting for them, was Superman.

Anne immediately perked up at the sight of him. Despite everything that had happened, there was still a part of her that was excited to be in the presence of one of her favorite heroes.

Superman turned, offering her a warm smile. “Anne. Good to see you again.”

Anne gave a small, awkward wave. “Uh, hey, Supes. Still weird seeing you up close.” She walks up and shakes the Man of Steels hand.

Superman nodded toward Anne and the Plantars as he shakes the formers hand. “We appreciate you coming in for this. We want to understand your powers, how they work, and how we can help you control them.”

Anne scratched the back of her head. “Yeah, that last part would be great.”

Hop Pop stepped forward, crossing his arms. “Now, hold on a minute—y’all ain’t gonna poke her with needles or zap her with anything, are ya?”

Martian Manhunter, his voice as calm and composed as ever, answered, “Nothing invasive. We simply wish to observe how Anne’s abilities function on a biological and energy-based level.”

Hop Pop narrowed his eyes. “That still sounds science-y.”

Anne chuckled. “Relax, Hop Pop. I think I can handle a little science.”

Batman turned to her. “Then let’s begin.”

Anne was led to a circular examination platform in the center of the lab, where holographic sensors flickered to life around her. The platform was equipped with motion trackers, biometric scanners, and energy analyzers, all designed to observe and catalog any abnormalities in her physiology.

Batman stood behind one of the control panels, adjusting the settings. Martian Manhunter and Superman observed closely while Flash casually leaned against a wall, arms crossed.

“Alright,” Batman said, his voice steady and professional, “we’re going to run a few basic scans first. Just stand still.”

Anne shrugged. “Easy enough.”

The platform hummed softly as a thin blue light moved up and down her body, scanning her internal structure, energy signatures, and neural activity.

Anne glanced around as it scanned her. “Kinda tickles.”

Polly hopped up on a nearby countertop, watching intently. “Ooooh, I wanna go next!”

Sprig elbowed her. “Pretty sure that’s not how it works, Polly.”

After a few moments, Batman studied the results. His eyes narrowed slightly as he analyzed the readings on the console.

Martian Manhunter stepped forward, his red eyes flickering. “Curious…”

Superman turned to Batman. “What do we have?”

Batman’s voice remained neutral. “Her physiology is completely human. No abnormalities.”

Anne blinked. “Uh, duh?”

Batman continued, “More importantly—there is no trace of the Meta-gene.”

The League exchanged glances.

Flash scratched his head. “Sooo… she’s not a metahuman?”

Batman shook his head. “No.”

Wonder Woman crossed her arms. “Then what she said is true, the source of her abilities must be entirely external.”

Martian Manhunter turned to Anne. “You mentioned before that your powers originated from a gemstone on the Calamity Box.”

Anne nodded. “Yeah. It was… weird. I didn’t even know I had powers at first. But when I got really mad, or scared, something inside me just… snapped.”

She sighed, looking down at her hands. “The power just—erupts. I get stronger, faster, and my whole body glows blue.”

Superman nodded thoughtfully. “And you said it leaves you exhausted afterward?”

Anne exhaled. “Yeah. At first, I could barely even stand after using it. But over time, I kinda figured out how to manage it. I’ve gotten better at controlling it, but it still takes a lot out of me.”

Batman studied her for a moment. “Activate your powers.”

Anne blinked. “Wait, right now?”

Batman nodded. “We need to measure its energy output. Try to activate it under controlled conditions.”

Anne hesitated. “I… don’t really activate it on command. It usually just—happens when I need it.”

Martian Manhunter’s voice was calm. “Try to focus. Think about a time when you needed your power the most. Channel that same energy.”

Anne closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

She thought back to Amphibia—to when Sprig was falling, when she fought Andrias, and finally the Cloak Bot.

Her hands clenched into fists.

Then—a soft blue light began to flicker around her.

The energy built up slowly, faint at first, but steadily growing stronger.

The League watched as her veins pulsed with glowing blue energy, her body becoming lighter, her hair beginning to float slightly from the energy surge.

The scanners went wild.

Batman’s eyes narrowed. “Fascinating.”

Anne gritted her teeth. It took effort. Holding the power back, keeping it stable—it was like balancing on a razor’s edge.

Superman observed the data. “Her body is absorbing the energy, but not generating it. The gemstone must act as a conduit.”

Martian Manhunter nodded. “The energy is being forced through her rather than produced naturally.”

Anne exhaled sharply, the blue aura flickering before vanishing.

Her knees buckled slightly. She felt drained.

Superman immediately stepped forward, steadying her. “Easy.”

Anne huffed. “Told you. Takes a lot out of me.”

Batman studied the data, his mind already forming theories. “Your body isn’t designed to channel this much power. It’s straining under the pressure.”

Flash let out a low whistle. “Man, it’s like plugging a phone charger into a nuclear reactor.”

Superman turned to Anne. “If you ever feel any unusual side effects, let us know immediately.”

Anne saluted. “You got it, Big Blue.”

Superman chuckled.

Batman shut down the diagnostic table. “That’s all for now.”

Anne exhaled. “Well, that was… surprisingly painless.”

Sprig grinned. “So, uh… can we look around now?”

The Flash smirked. “I might be able to give you guys a tour…follow me.”

Anne watched as the Flash led the Plantars out of the lab, promising them a personal tour of the Watchtower.

“Alright, froggy friends,” Flash grinned, “ever wonder what an intergalactic space station looks like up close?”

Sprig practically bounced in excitement. “HECK YEAH!”

Polly, perched on his shoulder, raised a fist. “If there’s a weapons room, I CALL DIBS.”

Flash chuckled. “I like your energy, kid but don’t touch anything.”

“Aw” Polly said disappointed.

Hop Pop, however, looked far less excited. “Do y’all at least have a garden? I need solid ground beneath my feet.”

“Eh, no actual ground, but we do have an oxygen garden,” Flash offered.

“…I’ll take it.”

As they left, Anne turned to see Superman watching her.

He gave a small nod, gesturing for her to follow. “Anne, come with me. There’s something you need to see.”

Anne frowned but nodded. “Uh, sure. Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

She followed him out of the main lab, walking beside the towering Kryptonian as they moved deeper into the Watchtower.

Superman led Anne into a secured section of the laboratory, where the lighting was dimmer, the hum of machinery constant, and the air filled with the subtle scent of metal and circuits.

As they entered, Anne’s eyes widened as she saw it

Lying motionless on a reinforced examination table was the remains of a familiar-looking robot.

Its armor plating was dented, its left claw severed, and its glowing red eyes were dark. Various diagnostic screens surrounded it, projecting blueprints and data from the bot’s internal systems.

Anne immediately recognized it.

Her stomach dropped.

“That’s—” she started, taking a step forward.

Superman watched her carefully. “You’ve seen one of these before.”

Anne nodded, her jaw clenching. “Yeah. That’s the same type of robot that Andrias sent after me and the Plantars when we first got back to Earth.”

Her fingers curled into fists. “It nearly killed us.”

Superman’s expression remained calm but serious. “I encountered this one in Metropolis.”

Anne’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, what?”

Superman nodded. “It was trying to break into LexCorp Tower.”

Anne’s brow furrowed. “Why would Andrias send a robot to Metropolis instead of after me?”

Superman glanced at the diagnostic screens. “That’s what I wanted to ask you.”

Anne frowned, running through possibilities.

Then, suddenly—it clicked.

Her stomach sank.

“…Oh, crap.”

Superman raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Anne turned to him, face pale. “Marcy.”

Superman tilted his head slightly. “Your friend?”

Anne nodded, swallowing hard. “She was… Andrias’s advisor for months. She didn’t know what his real plans were, but she was constantly talking. She info-dumps everything.”

She gestured toward the damaged robot. “She must’ve told Andrias about you. About the entire Justice League. About Earth’s defenses.”

Anne ran a hand down her face, groaning. “Ugh, I love Marcy, but she seriously did not know when to shut up.”

Superman crossed his arms. “You’re saying Andrias has intelligence on Earth’s strongest defenders.”

Anne nodded grimly. “Yeah. And knowing Marcy, she probably gave him a full-on history lesson on you guys. Your powers. Probably even your weaknesses.”

Superman exhaled, his expression hardening. “Then it’s possible he sent this Cloak-Bot to gather more data. Maybe even acquire something to use against us.”

Anne bit her lip. “Andrias was already planning an invasion—if he’s actively studying Earth’s heroes now, then we’re officially running out of time.”

She turned to Superman, eyes determined. “We need to get back to Amphibia. Now.”

Superman held her gaze for a long moment.

Then, he nodded. “And we will.”

Anne exhaled in relief.

“But first,” he added, “you need to properly control your powers.”

Anne blinked. “What?”

Superman turned to face her directly. “You’ve already told us that using your abilities drains you. That means you don’t have full control over them yet.”

Anne hesitated but didn’t deny it.

Superman’s voice was calm but firm. “If you’re going to stand against Andrias, you need to be at your best.”

Anne raised an eyebrow. “And you’re saying you can help me do that?”

Superman smiled slightly. “That’s the idea.”

Anne crossed her arms. “Okay, but how? Do you have a magic-training boot camp I don’t know about?”

Superman chuckled. “Not quite.”

He gestured for her to follow. “Come with me. If you’re free for a few more hours, I think I know how to help.”

Anne hesitated for just a second before finally nodding. “Alright, Big Blue. Lead the way.”

She followed him out of the lab, determined.

If Superman was offering to help, then maybe—just maybe—she had a real chance at mastering her powers before it was too late.

Chapter Text

The Watchtower – Hallways

Anne walked alongside Superman as they moved through the gleaming corridors of the Watchtower. The towering space station had a quiet hum of energy, the metal floors smooth beneath her sneakers.

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her—Andrias, the looming invasion, Marcy and Sasha’s betrayal, her own regrets. It had been a wild past few months, and now, she was walking side by side with Superman himself.

If she had told her past self this would happen, she would’ve called it insane.

Anne let out a small chuckle.

Superman glanced at her. “Something funny?”

Anne shrugged. “Just thinking about how ridiculous my life has become.”

Superman smiled slightly. “I can imagine.”

She let out a long sigh, looking out a nearby window. Through it, she could see Earth below, its blue and green surface serene and distant.

“Y’know, you’ve always been an inspiration to me,” Anne admitted, her voice softer now.

Superman raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh?”

Anne nodded, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets. “Yeah. I mean, when I was a kid, I wasn’t huge into superheroes—Marcy was the big superhero geek, not me—but I still thought you were cool as heck.”

Superman chuckled. “That’s nice to hear.”

Anne smirked. “Marcy, though? She worshiped you. She always went on about how you were the ‘paragon of heroism,’ the ‘ideal superhero,’ the ‘gold standard for morality,’ blah blah blah.”

Superman chuckled. “She sounds like quite the fan.”

“Oh, you have no idea.” Anne shook her head, smiling slightly. “She had posters, figures, the works. And whenever she’d info-dump about Justice League adventures or your powers or even the Flash’s powers, I kinda just nodded along like I understood what she was talking about.”

Superman gave her a knowing look. “But you listened anyway.”

Anne shrugged. “Yeah, well… Marcy’s my friend. Even when I didn’t understand half of what she was saying, I liked listening to her talk.”

Her expression softened.

“…I miss her.”

Superman’s expression turned more serious. “I know you do.”

Anne let out a deep breath. “Thing is, I should be mad at her.” She shook her head. “She lied to me and Sasha. She knew the Calamity Box was magic. She deliberately took us to Amphibia—tore us away from our families—because she didn’t want to move away from us.”

Superman was silent, listening.

Anne clenched her fists. “And yet… I can’t bring myself to hate her.”

She exhaled slowly, loosening her grip. “Because… I get it. I really do. She was scared of losing us, and instead of talking about it, she made a dumb decision.”

Anne’s voice grew softer. “And if I’m being honest… I wasn’t exactly a great friend to her either.”

Superman raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

Anne looked down at her feet as they walked. “Back home, before all this… I let Sasha make a lot of decisions for me. And when it came to Marcy? We kinda just… ignored what she wanted too. We never really stopped to think about what she wanted.”

Superman watched her carefully.

Anne let out a small, bitter chuckle. “Y’know what’s funny? I think that’s why I never questioned Sasha’s decisions in the first place. I just… went along with it. I didn’t think for myself. I didn’t question anything. And look where that got us.”

Superman nodded thoughtfully. “You blame yourself.”

Anne sighed. “Not for everything, but yeah. A little.”

Superman stopped walking. Anne paused beside him, looking up as he turned to face her.

“You know,” he said, “I heard how you described Sasha and Marcy in your story.”

Anne looked away. “Yeah?”

Superman nodded. “You said they betrayed you.”

Anne tensed slightly.

Superman continued, “Do you want to forgive them?”

Anne sighed, rubbing her arm. “Yeah. It’s… complicated.”

Superman’s expression softened. “Anne, forgiveness takes time.”

Anne looked at him, listening.

Superman crossed his arms. “You were hurt. Betrayal cuts deep. And it’s okay to feel angry about it. It’s okay to need time before you can forgive someone.”

Anne was silent for a moment.

“…I just wish I could’ve seen what was happening sooner,” she admitted. “I wish I had… I dunno, been more involved. Maybe if I had been paying attention, I could’ve stopped Marcy before she made that decision.”

Superman shook his head. “No one can predict the choices of others. We can only choose how we respond to them.”

Anne bit her lip. “Yeah… I guess.”

Superman’s voice was steady. “You’re not responsible for Marcy’s choices. And you’re not responsible for Sasha’s either.”

Anne slowly nodded.

“…But you are responsible for your own.”

Anne blinked, looking up at him.

Superman continued, “You’ve already made the choice to protect the people you love. And whether you realize it or not, that’s exactly what a hero does.”

Anne exhaled, letting the words sink in.

A small, genuine smile appeared on her face. “…Thanks, Supes.”

Superman smiled back. “Anytime.”

After a moment, Anne tilted her head. “So… does that mean you’ve forgiven every bad guy who’s ever done you wrong?”

Superman let out a small chuckle. “Not every single one.”

Anne smirked. “Knew it.”

Superman gestured ahead. “Come on. We’ve got training to do.”

Anne nodded, following him once more.

Chapter Text

As Anne and Superman continued walking through the high-tech halls of the Watchtower, Anne couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of anticipation.

Superman had told her he was going to help her control her powers, but she had no idea how.

When they finally reached a large set of doors, Superman placed his hand on a nearby control panel, causing them to slide open with a soft hiss.

Anne stepped inside—

And immediately paused.

Her brow furrowed as she looked around. The space was massive—a large, open circular room with metallic flooring and tall, reinforced walls. The ceiling was lined with emitters, and there were various platforms and holographic projectors embedded in the walls.

Anne blinked. “Huh.”

Superman walked ahead, standing in the center of the room. “Welcome to the Justice League Holographic Training Simulator.”

Anne tilted her head.

Then, she noticed something on a nearby sign.

In bold letters, it read:

J.L.H.T.S. – The Kitchen

Anne squinted. “…Wait. The Kitchen?”

Superman smirked. “That’s what some of us call it.”

Anne raised an eyebrow. “Okay, hold up—why do you guys call it the Kitchen? This does not look like a kitchen.”

Superman chuckled. “It’s because we ‘cook up’ strategies and train here.”

Anne blinked slowly.

“…Seriously?”

Superman nodded.

Anne crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Wow. I expected something a lot cooler. That is just cheesy.”

Superman shrugged. “Batman came up with it.”

Anne rolled her eyes. “Of course he did.”

Superman smiled before pressing his hand to his ear, activating a built-in comms link.

“This is Superman,” he said. “I need all available League members in the Kitchen. Flash, bring the Plantars.”

A few seconds later, Flash’s voice crackled through the speaker.

“Got it, Big Guy. Bringing the froggos your way now.”

Superman turned to Anne. “Before we send you back to Amphibia, we need to make sure you’re ready for whatever Andrias throws at you.”

Anne exhaled, nodding. “Makes sense. I mean, I did beat him once, but…”

Superman gave her a serious look. “That was before. He knows what you’re capable of now. If he’s smart—which he clearly is—he’ll be prepared for you next time.”

Anne’s expression hardened. She knew Superman was right. Andrias wasn’t just a ruler. He most likely has centuries of knowledge at his disposal. If she thought she could beat him the same way twice, she was fooling herself.

Superman crossed his arms. “You have potential, Anne. But you need to be better than you were before. You need to be stronger, faster, and—most importantly—more in control.”

Anne took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

Superman smiled approvingly.

Just then, the doors slid open again.

The Flash zoomed in, skidding to a stop beside them. “Alright, I got your frogs! Fresh delivery, no charge!”

Behind him, Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop stumbled in, still adjusting to the sudden movement.

Sprig blinked. “Okay, whoa. That was fast.”

Polly grinned. “DO IT AGAIN!”

Hop Pop groaned, placing a hand on his stomach. “No! No more super-speed rides!”

Anne snickered. “Welcome to the Kitchen, guys.”

Sprig looked around, intrigued. “This is a kitchen? Where’s the food?”

Anne smirked. “Oh, you’re gonna love this.”

Anne stood at the center of the expansive training room, known colloquially among the Justice League members as “The Kitchen.” The metallic floor beneath her feet gleamed under the overhead lights, and the walls were lined with advanced holographic projectors. Above, an observation deck allowed others to watch the training sessions.

The Plantars—Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop—stood alongside members of the Justice League, including Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash, observing from the elevated platform. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to concern as they prepared to witness Anne’s capabilities.

Batman approached a nearby control panel, his fingers gliding over the interface with practiced precision. The room hummed to life, and the ambient lighting shifted, signaling the activation of the simulator.

“Anne,” Batman’s voice was steady and authoritative, “we’re initiating a training sequence to assess and enhance your combat abilities. Activate your powers and engage the targets presented.”

Anne took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of energy within her. Her eyes shimmered with a blue glow as she tapped into the powers granted by the blue Calamity Gem.

Before the simulation commenced, Anne glanced up at the observation deck. “Just so you know,” she called out, “I have some training in Muay Thai.” 

The Flash leaned over the railing, grinning. “Muay Thai, huh? The art of eight limbs. Impressive.”  

Wonder Woman nodded appreciatively. “A disciplined and formidable martial art.” 

Batman adjusted a setting on the control panel. “Noted. We’ll incorporate that into the simulation parameters.”

The room’s atmosphere shifted as holographic constructs materialized around Anne. Instead of familiar foes or specific scenarios, a series of generic combat drones appeared, each designed to test different aspects of her abilities. They varied in size and weaponry, some equipped with melee capabilities, others with ranged attacks.

Without hesitation, Anne sprang into action. Drawing upon her Muay Thai training, she delivered a swift teep—a push kick—to the nearest drone, sending it skidding backward. She followed up with a series of rapid punches, elbows, and knee strikes, each movement fluid and precise. 

One drone lunged at her with a metallic arm, but Anne deftly sidestepped, using a clinch sweep to unbalance it before delivering a powerful knee strike to its midsection. Another drone fired projectiles in her direction, but she anticipated the attack, weaving through the onslaught and closing the distance to disable it with a spinning elbow strike.

As the simulation intensified, Anne’s blue aura flared brighter. She combined her martial arts techniques with her enhanced abilities, moving with increased speed and strength. With a final surge of energy, she leaped into the air, executing a flying knee that shattered the last drone into fragments.

The room fell silent as the holograms dissipated. Anne stood amidst the remnants of the simulation, her breathing steady, the blue glow in her eyes gradually fading.

Up on the observation deck, the Plantars erupted into cheers.

“That’s our Anne!” Sprig shouted, pumping his fist into the air.

“She smashed those tin cans good!” Polly added, her eyes gleaming with excitement. 

Hop Pop wiped a tear from his eye. “Proud of that girl.”

The Justice League members exchanged nods of approval.

“Impressive display,” Wonder Woman remarked. 

Superman smiled. “She’s got potential.”

Batman approached Anne as she stepped off the training floor. “Your integration of Muay Thai techniques with your enhanced abilities is commendable.”

Anne nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “Thanks. But I know there’s still room for improvement.”

Batman placed a hand on her shoulder. “That’s the right mindset. We’ll continue to refine your skills and ensure you’re prepared for any challenges ahead.”

Anne nodded. “Alright let’s do this.”

After Anne had spent some more time refining her combat skills—integrating her Muay Thai expertise with her superhuman abilities—Superman stepped forward, his red cape gently swaying behind him.

Anne wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, still catching her breath from the intense rounds of training she’d gone through. Even with the enhanced strength and speed granted by the blue gem’s power, she could feel the strain of continuous combat.

Superman, however, looked as composed as ever.

“You’ve improved,” he noted, arms crossed.

Anne let out a dry chuckle, rolling her shoulders. “Well, I should hope so. Otherwise, this has all been for nothing.”

Superman smiled slightly. “Then let’s take this a step further.”

Anne’s expression shifted slightly, a mix of curiosity and caution. “What do you mean?”

Superman turned to Batman, who stood at the control panel. “Initiate advanced-level simulation—North Pole setting.”

Batman gave him a knowing look. “You’re really doing this?”

Superman nodded. “She needs to know how to push herself beyond her limits.”

Anne’s eyes widened slightly. “Wait… what’s happening?”

Batman simply pressed a few keys, and the Kitchen whirred to life.

The room shifted, the metallic floors transforming into a vast snowy expanse, stretching out in all directions. A bitter wind howled through the frozen tundra—though, oddly enough, Anne didn’t feel cold.

She looked around in amazement.

The holographic simulation had completely recreated the Arctic. Icebergs towered in the distance, and thick sheets of snow crunched beneath her boots. The sky above was a dark shade of blue, streaked with shifting auroras.

Sprig and Polly leaned over the observation deck railing above.

“Whoa,” Sprig breathed. “This looks so real.”

Polly squinted. “Kinda disappointed it’s not actually cold. I wanted to see Anne shiver.”

Anne turned back toward Superman, who now stood several feet away from her, hands on his hips.

Her stomach dropped slightly.

“…Wait a second. Are you saying—”

Superman’s eyes narrowed slightly in challenge.

“You’re going to spar with me, Anne.”

Silence.

Anne blinked. Once. Twice.

Then she let out a nervous laugh. “HAHAHAHA—oh wow, you’re actually serious.”

Superman simply nodded.

Anne stared at him. “Okay. I don’t know if you noticed, but you’re, like, Superman. You do realize that if you don’t hold back, you could literally punch me into space, right?”

Superman chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be holding back just enough to make it a fair fight.”

Anne sighed dramatically. “Oh gee, that makes me feel so much better.”

Hop Pop shouted from the viewing deck. “Anne, honey, are you sure about this?!?”

Anne exhaled sharply and cracked her knuckles.

“…Nope. But let’s do it anyway.”

Superman smiled. “Good answer.”

Then his expression hardened.

“Show me how far you can go.”

Anne inhaled deeply—then activated her powers.

Her entire body surged with brilliant blue light, energy coursing through her veins. Her feet hovered slightly off the ground, hair lifting gently as the aura surrounded her.

Superman took his fighting stance.

Anne clenched her fists. Then she lunged.

Anne closed the distance instantly, moving faster than she ever had before.

She aimed a fierce right hook—but Superman sidestepped effortlessly, the wind pressure alone kicking up a burst of snow behind him.

Anne pivoted, delivering a rapid series of Muay Thai strikes—sharp elbows, quick knee jabs, and a spinning kick aimed at his ribs.

Superman blocked with minimal effort, his movements smooth and controlled.

“You’ve got speed,” he acknowledged, dodging another strike. “But your footwork needs work.”

Anne gritted her teeth and adjusted, trying to outmaneuver him.

Then, Superman threw his first punch.

Anne barely dodged—his fist grazed her shoulder, but even that small impact sent a shockwave through the ice, splitting the ground beneath them.

“OKAY—” Anne yelped, leaping backward to regain distance. “Yep! Yep, you definitely still have strength to spare!”

Superman smirked. “Then push yourself further.”

Anne growled in determination.

Then she charged again.

This time, she faked left, forcing Superman to block—then pivoted into a brutal knee strike to his midsection.

It actually made him slide back slightly.

Anne’s eyes widened. “HOLY CRAP—I actually moved him!”

Superman chuckled, shaking off the hit. “You’re getting better.”

Then he caught her next punch.

Anne froze.

She tried to pull away—but his grip was like solid steel.

Then Superman counterattacked.

He twisted her wrist slightly, throwing off her balance before launching a precise strike to her core.

The impact sent her flying back across the frozen wasteland.

Anne tumbled through the air but managed to recover mid-flight.

She landed in a crouch, skidding across the icy ground before launching back at him

Anne’s blue aura flared as she flew directly at Superman, fists glowing with energy.

Superman took to the air as well, and suddenly—they were exchanging rapid-fire blows mid-flight.

Fists collided. Shockwaves rippled through the frozen terrain.

Anne twisted through the air, narrowly dodging one of Superman’s held-back strikes before delivering a spinning kick to his chest.

Superman actually staggered slightly.

Sprig’s jaw dropped. “DID SHE JUST HIT SUPERMAN?!”

Polly screamed. “I KNEW SHE WAS AWESOME!!”

Anne, heart pounding, took advantage of the moment.

She reeled back, gathering every ounce of energy into a single, powerful punch.

Then she swung forward, connecting directly with Superman’s face.

BOOM!

Superman was sent flying downward, smashing into the ice with a massive crater impact.

Anne hovered, panting heavily.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then—Superman sat up, shaking loose bits of ice off his suit.

Anne groaned. “Of course you’re fine.”

Superman smirked. “Nice hit.”

Anne smiled slightly—

But then—her aura flickered.

Her limbs suddenly felt heavy.

The last thing she saw was the world spinning—

Then darkness.

Anne collapsed, unconscious.

Anne slowly stirred, her body aching all over as she drifted back to consciousness. The world around her felt hazy at first, her vision blurred as she blinked a few times, adjusting to the bright overhead lights.

She felt something cool and metallic beneath her—a medical table. Her arms and legs felt like lead, the aftereffects of using her powers to the absolute limit.

Then, a familiar voice broke through the fog.

“You did well, Anne.”

Anne tilted her head slightly, eyes adjusting to see Superman standing beside her. His blue and red suit was slightly scuffed from their sparring match, but other than that, he looked completely fine.

She let out a weak groan. “Ugh… please tell me I at least bruised you.”

Superman chuckled. “Not quite, but you did manage to knock me down.”

Anne blinked. “Wait, seriously?”

Superman nodded. “And that’s not something just anyone can do.”

Anne exhaled, smiling slightly. “…Nice.”

Superman crossed his arms, his tone growing serious. “You’ve come a long way, Anne. Your abilities are powerful, but more importantly—your instincts, your skill, and your determination are what truly make you a fighter.”

Anne, still regaining her strength, managed to push herself up slightly. “Sooo… what’s the verdict? Am I Justice League material yet?”

Superman smirked. “Let’s just say… I think you might just be able to stop Andrias.”

Anne’s smile faltered slightly. That was the goal, wasn’t it? Stopping Andrias before he could bring war to Earth.

The weight of that responsibility settled heavily on her chest.

Superman noticed her expression and softened his tone. “You don’t have to do it alone, Anne. You have your friends, your family… and you have us.”

Anne took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. Thanks, Supes.”

A few moments later, the doors to the lab slid open, and Wonder Woman, Flash, and Batman entered.

Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly rushed to Anne’s side.

Sprig grinned. “Dude! You fought Superman! That was INSANE!”

Polly pumped a fist. “Yeah, and you actually landed a hit!”

Hop Pop sighed with relief. “Oh, thank goodness you’re awake. I was worried sick, young lady!”

Anne chuckled. “Relax, Hop Pop, I’m good.”

Wonder Woman stepped forward. “Now that you’ve recovered, we’ll be sending you and the Plantars back to Los Angeles via the teleporter.”

Anne blinked. “Wait, teleporter? Since when do you guys have a teleporter?”

The Flash smirked. “Since always. What, you think we take a bus to get around?”

Anne snorted. “I dunno, I figured you all just ran or flew everywhere.”

Superman gestured for her to stand, offering a hand to help her off the table. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

Anne took a deep breath, hopping off the table with slightly shaky legs. Her body still felt sore, but at least she was standing again.

As they walked toward the Watchtower’s teleportation chamber, Wonder Woman placed a hand on Anne’s shoulder.

“Remember, Anne,” she said, “keep us updated on Terri’s portal project. If anything changes, we need to know.”

Anne nodded. “Got it.”

They arrived at the teleportation room, where a circular pad with glowing energy awaited them.

Batman tapped a few controls. “Destination: Los Angeles.”

Anne turned to Superman one last time. “Thanks for the training. And… y’know, for believing in me.”

Superman nodded. “You’ve earned it.”

Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop huddled around Anne as the teleportation pad activated.

Then—a bright flash of light.

And they were gone.

As the teleportation pad powered down, Batman turned toward Superman.

“She’s strong,” Batman stated.

Superman nodded. “She is.”

Batman’s expression remained unreadable. “…But will she be strong enough?”

Superman’s gaze drifted toward Earth outside the Watchtower window. “I hope so.”

Batman folded his arms. “And if she’s not?”

Superman exhaled. “Then we’ll be ready.”

Chapter Text

In the dimly lit expanse of the Batcave, the soft hum of the Batcomputer resonated, casting a bluish glow on the cavernous walls. Bruce Wayne sat before the massive console, his cowl removed, revealing a face etched with contemplation. The central monitor displayed a live news broadcast from Los Angeles, capturing a chaotic scene: a colossal robotic Santa Claus wreaking havoc during the city’s Christmas parade. Among the images were photos of a teenage girl and three anthropomorphic frogs valiantly confronting the mechanical menace atop a Thai-themed parade float.

Bruce’s keen eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the footage. With a resigned sigh, he murmured, “So much for maintaining a low profile.”

Behind him, the soft footfalls of Alfred Pennyworth approached, accompanied by the mechanical hum of Barbara Gordon’s wheelchair.

“Master Bruce,” Alfred began, his voice tinged with concern, “the news reports are… quite extraordinary this evening.”

Barbara, peering over Bruce’s shoulder at the footage, raised an eyebrow. “Is that… Santa Claus attacking a teenage girl and some… frogs?”

Barbara adjusted her glasses, zooming in on the images. “This is beyond bizarre, even by our standards.”

she crossed her arms, her detective instincts kicking in. “Who is she, Bruce? And why is she on the receiving end of a homicidal holiday icon?”

Bruce exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation evident. “It’s complicated.”

Barbara exchanged a glance with Alfred before pressing further. “We’ve handled complicated before. What’s going on?”

Instead of answering directly, Bruce reached for a secure line on the Batcomputer, initiating a call. The line connected, emitting a series of encrypted tones before a young female voice answered.

“Hello?” 

“It’s Batman,” Bruce stated, his voice adopting the deep, authoritative timbre associated with his alter ego.

On the other end, Anne Boonchuy straightened up, recognizing the gravity in his tone. “Oh, hey! Uh, what’s up?”

Bruce’s eyes remained fixed on the chaotic scenes unfolding on the screen. “I saw the news. Care to explain why a giant robotic Santa Claus was trying to kill you in the middle of Los Angeles?”

Anne sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Yeah, that. So, that was Andrias’s doing. He somehow used a drone to possess the Santa robot and attacked us during the parade.”

Bruce’s brow furrowed. “The parade? You were participating?”

“It was supposed to be a surprise for my mom,” Anne explained. “We built a float for her restaurant, Thai Go. Everything was going great until Andrias crashed the party.”

Bruce’s voice softened slightly. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah,” Anne replied. “We managed to take down the Santa-bot using the fireworks from our float. But it’s clear Andrias is still gunning for me.”

Bruce nodded, though Anne couldn’t see him. “Understood. Rest up for now. But I need you to check in with Terri soon. This incident will undoubtedly attract unwanted attention.”

“Got it,” Anne affirmed. “I’ll touch base with her tomorrow.”

“Stay vigilant,” Bruce advised before ending the call.

As the line disconnected, Tim and Barbara exchanged puzzled looks.

“Bruce,” Barbara began, her analytical mind racing, “who exactly is Anne? And who’s Andrias’?”

Alfred leaned in, his curiosity piqued. “And how do giant robotic Santas fit into all of this sir?”

Bruce leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, his voice grave. “A war is coming to Earth.”

Alfred, ever the pillar of calm, inquired, “And this war involves the young lady and her amphibian companions?”

Bruce nodded. “It’s Justice League business. Anne is at the center of it.”

Barbara’s eyes widened. “So, she’s… an ally?”

“Yes,” Bruce replied. “But for now, we monitor and prepare. The safety of our world may depend on it.”

Chapter Text

Weeks had passed since the harrowing Christmas events in Los Angeles. Anne Boonchuy, her parents, and the Plantar family were now en route to SpendCo, a vast warehouse-style store reminiscent of Costco, to procure essential supplies for Terri’s interdimensional portal project. The goal was to amplify the portal’s size, facilitating a return to Amphibia. 

As the family vehicle cruised through the city streets, Anne sat in the backseat, her mind racing with thoughts of their progress and the challenges ahead. She suddenly realized the importance of updating the Justice League on their advancements. Reaching into her backpack, she retrieved the Bat-phone—a sleek, high-tech device entrusted to her for direct communication with the League.

With a deep breath, Anne dialed the frequency that connected her to the Watchtower, the Justice League’s orbital headquarters. After a few moments, a calm and measured voice resonated from the device.

“This is Martian Manhunter.”

Anne straightened up, speaking with a mix of urgency and respect. “Hey, it’s Anne Boonchuy. I wanted to give you an update on our portal project. We’ve managed to get it working, but there’s a hitch—the portal isn’t large enough for us to pass through. We’re on our way to a store called SpendCo to gather supplies to help expand it.”

Martian Manhunter’s voice remained steady. “I understand your predicament. Expanding a portal requires substantial energy. Have you considered alternative power sources?”

Anne pondered for a moment before responding. “We’ve been focusing on conventional means, but energy has been a limiting factor.”

The Martian continued, “The Flash’s Speed Force could be harnessed to generate the necessary energy. By connecting an advanced treadmill to your portal’s power system, The Flash can use his speed to provide a significant energy boost.”

Anne’s eyes widened at the suggestion. “That’s… actually a brilliant idea. It could solve our power issues without the need for additional equipment.”

Martian Manhunter’s tone conveyed a hint of approval. “I will relay this proposal to The Flash and the rest of the League. Coordination will be essential.”

As their vehicle approached the sprawling facade of SpendCo, Anne noticed the bustling parking lot filled with shoppers. She realized the conversation needed to conclude. “Thank you for the suggestion. We’re arriving at SpendCo now, so I need to go. Please keep me posted on what the League decides.”

“Understood. Stay vigilant, Anne.”

The call ended, leaving Anne with a renewed sense of hope. She turned to her parents and the Plantars, who had been listening attentively.

“Change of plans,” Anne announced. “Let’s grab what we need here, but we might have a more efficient solution soon.”

Mrs. Boonchuy placed a reassuring hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Whatever it takes to get you and the Plantars back Amphibia safely.”

With that, the group exited the vehicle and made their way into SpendCo, ready to gather the necessary supplies while awaiting further instructions from their allies in the Justice League.

Hours later Martian Manhunter contacted the league members for a meeting to discuss the process of Terri’s portal.

“I’ve gathered you all to discuss Anne Boonchuy’s recent progress with the interdimensional portal,” he began, his voice resonating in the minds of those present. “They’ve managed to activate it but face challenges in amplifying its size. Anne is currently procuring supplies to address this.”

The Flash leaned forward. “If it’s an energy issue, I can assist. Running on a specialized treadmill could generate the necessary power to stabilize and expand the portal.”

Superman nodded in agreement. “Indeed Barry, your speed might provide the surge they need.”

As the team deliberated, the room’s communication console emitted a series of urgent beeps. Martian Manhunter pressed a control, and Anne’s distressed face appeared on the holographic display.

“Anne, what’s wrong?” Superman inquired, concern evident in his tone.

Anne’s voice trembled as she spoke. “The FBI captured the Plantars. My parents, our allies, and I tried to rescue them, but now we’ve all been detained. We need your help.”

Superman’s jaw tightened. “Stay put, Anne. We’ll devise a plan.”

As the transmission ended, the room fell into a contemplative silence. The gravity of the situation was palpable.

“The treadmill plan is off the table,” Superman stated, breaking the silence. “Rescuing Anne and the Plantars is now our top priority.”

John Stewart exchanged a glance with Green Arrow. “We can’t just storm a federal facility,” John voiced, his military background informing his caution.

Green Arrow nodded. “An overt assault could have severe repercussions.”

Batman, who had been silently analyzing the data, finally spoke. “I’ll handle the extraction. The rest of you if your not busy proceed to Terri’s warehouse. Ensure the portal is operational for immediate departure once I’ve secured Anne and the Plantars.”

Wonder Woman’s brow furrowed. “Are you certain you can manage this alone?”

Batman met her gaze, his expression unwavering. “Stealth is imperative. A solo approach minimizes risk.”

Without awaiting further debate, Batman moved to the Watchtower’s central computer. His fingers danced over the keys, initiating a trace on the Bat-phone he had provided Anne. A blinking dot appeared on the map, indicating a remote FBI compound nestled in the desert outskirts of Los Angeles.

“Found them,” he murmured.

Turning on his heel, Batman strode towards the teleporter bay and activated his communicator within his cowl. “I’m returning to the Batcave. Alfred, prepare the Batwing for immediate departure to Los Angeles.”

Alfred’s voice, ever composed, responded through the comms. “Understood, sir. The Batwing will be ready upon your arrival.”

Moments later, Batman materialized in the Batcave. True to his word, Alfred had the Batwing primed and ready. With a nod of gratitude, Batman ascended into the cockpit. The sleek aircraft roared to life, emerging from its concealed exit and slicing through the night sky towards Los Angeles at breakneck speed.

Back at the Watchtower, the remaining members exchanged determined glances. Superman took the lead. “Let’s move. Terri’s warehouse awaits.”

In a synchronized motion, the heroes departed.

Chapter Text

The Batwing soared over the desert outside Los Angeles, its silhouette cutting through the moonlit sky like a knife. Inside the cockpit, Batman sat in silent focus, gloved hands steady on the controls as the compound came into view in the distance—an isolated facility nestled in the arid scrublands, camouflaged by the barren surroundings.

Suddenly, the speaker crackled to life.

Alfred’s voice came through, calm but edged with tension.
“Master Bruce, you’re nearly there. I’m reading a sharp drop in the compound’s power grid. Someone has disabled the primary systems.”

Batman narrowed his eyes behind the cowl. “Then I’m not the only one here. I assume Anne’s friends have made their move and got out of their cells.”

“That would be my guess as well,” Alfred replied smoothly. “I took the liberty of recalibrating the Batwing’s landing trajectory. Shall I keep it in autopilot?”

“Affirmative,” Bruce said, flipping a switch overhead. “I’m going in now.”

With mechanical precision, Batman engaged the autopilot, then rose from his seat and walked to the floor hatch of the Batwing. The night air hissed through as the hatch opened beneath him, revealing the dusty terrain below.

Without hesitation, Batman dove.

The wind howled around him as he plummeted, his body angled perfectly. At just the right moment, he extended his arms and unfurled his cape, its rigid memory fibers snapping into glider formation. Like a predator from the sky, Batman glided silently toward the compound’s roof.

He landed with a whisper of movement on the rooftop, rolling to absorb the impact. His gauntlet interface blinked to life, displaying a blip on the tracker—the Batphone he had given Anne was moving inside the facility.

“She’s on the move,” he muttered.

His eyes scanned the rooftop. Near the ventilation system, he spotted an air vent just large enough to accommodate him. Without a word, he pulled out a multitool, removed the grate, and slipped inside.

The interior of the compound was dark, the emergency lights barely flickering on the walls. Batman crawled silently through the ducts, following the signal on his gauntlet. The rhythmic pounding of boots echoed faintly below—agents searching for intruders.

As he inched closer to the signal’s origin, he heard struggling—a commotion unfolding just beneath his position. Batman peered through a thin vent grate and spotted a dimly lit lab where a man in a hazmat suit was facing off against Anne.

To the side, the Planters were restrained, shouting in protest as the hazmat figure knocked Frobo’s head aside and advanced toward Anne.

Batman didn’t wait. He kicked the vent panel open and dropped down in complete silence, landing behind the attacker. With lightning speed, he reached up and grabbed the hazmat guy by the mask, twisting and yanking it free—then delivered a swift pressure point strike to the neck. The man collapsed instantly.

The Planters gasped in relief.

Sprig: “Anne! Batman! Boy, are we glad to see you!”

Anne, catching her breath, smirked slightly. “Glad you could make it, Bats.”

Batman’s voice was clipped and professional. “Are you hurt?”

Anne shook her head. “I’m fine.”

She turned to the others. “Are you guys okay?”

Hop Pop, brushing dust off his jacket, muttered: “Mostly. My dignity is admittedly in shambles.”

Polly looked around, tail twitching. “So, uh… what’s the plan on getting outta here?”

Anne opened her mouth—

—when the wall behind them exploded in a thunderous crash.

Chunks of concrete scattered across the floor as a large FBI truck rammed through the side of the building. A makeshift generator was strapped to its rear, buzzing with energy.

The van skidded to a halt. The back doors burst open, and standing in the cargo hold was—

Mrs. Boonchuy, holding a crowbar.
Terri, grinning and waving.
Behind them, their allies—Ally, Jess, Humphrey Westwood, and Molly Jo—all ready for action.

Mrs. Boonchuy: “Surprise!”

Terri: “Hey! Need a ride?”

Anne blinked, stunned. “Yes! Yes, we really do.”

Hop Pop, eyes wide: “It’s you! You’re back!”

As the Planters rushed toward their friends, Sprig tackled Molly Jo in a hug, Polly gleefully reunited with Terri and Jess, and Hop Pop respectfully nodded to Ally and Humphrey.

Batman turned to Anne.

Batman: “Get them out of here. I’ll hold off the agents.”

Anne’s eyes widened. “Wait—by yourself?”

Batman narrowed his eyes behind the cowl. “They’ll be looking for you. They won’t expect me.”

Anne hesitated, but then nodded. “Okay. Be careful.”

Batman gave a nod, already moving toward the shadows. “Go.”

High above the chaos, Batman crouched atop the edge of the compound’s roof, his cape rippling lightly in the desert wind. His eyes, narrowed beneath the cowl, tracked the FBI van as it roared out through the breach in the compound wall, kicking up dust and gravel in its wake.

Inside that van were Anne, her parents, the Plantars, Terri, and their allies. His mission was complete.

But it wasn’t over.

As the Van carrying Anne, The Planters and the generator speed off, a second FBI vehicle appeared , driven by Jenny, barreled through the wreckage, headlights blazing. Two additional tactical vans followed closely, Mr. X then gets in the van and their engines howling with acceleration as they prepared to give chase.

Batman then reached into his belt and pulled out three batarangs that glowed blue in the center.

With a flick of his wrist, he hurled three EMP batarangs, each one spiraling like a blade through the air. The first hit the front grille of the lead van—Mr. X’s vehicle. The second and third hit the other two trucks just behind.

BZZZRT!

The effect was immediate. The engines whined, crackled, and died, causing the vans to lurch and grind to a halt. One skidded into a barrel roll and clipped the other, sending both sideways into the sand.

Mr. X, gripping the steering wheel, looked around in complete confusion as his dashboard went black. “What the—?!”

Before he could climb out, the dark silhouette of Batman landed beside the smoking vehicle with a heavy thud, his cape sweeping behind him as he stood up.

Mr. X’s jaw dropped. “YOU?!”

Several FBI agents in tactical armor immediately swarmed around Batman, rifles raised. They moved with military precision, forming a semi-circle around him under the blinking red lights of the emergency compound.

Mr. X stepped forward, visibly rattled but hiding it beneath sarcasm. “I don’t know what you’re doing all the way out here, Bat, but you’ve got yourself surrounded.” He gave a dry laugh. “So unless you’ve got Superman stuffed into your utility belt, I’d suggest you surrender.”

Batman said nothing.

He calmly pressed a hidden command button on his gauntlet. A soft beep emitted from it—almost inaudible.

“Don’t test me,” Mr. X warned. “This isn’t Gotham. I’ve got protocols, armed personnel, and federal authority. You’re not walking out of here.”

The agents raised their rifles.

Batman reached for his belt.

Mr. X’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t even—”

Batman’s fingers flicked forward. He threw down three smoke pellets.

BOOM! HSSSHHH!

The area was immediately engulfed in thick, black smoke, shrouding Batman in a curtain of shadows. Agents shouted in confusion, blinded and disoriented. One tripped over the side of the van, another fired a warning shot into the smoke, missing entirely.

From above, a low whine of jet engines filled the air.

The Batwing, sleek and ghostlike, emerged from the cloud cover overhead, engines glowing with blue light.

Batman’s grapple fired upward and latched onto the undercarriage of the jet as it swept over him. With flawless timing, he was yanked up into the air, disappearing into the smoke just as bullets began to fly.

“TAKE HIM DOWN!” one of the agents barked.

A barrage of gunfire erupted—but the rounds simply pinged off the Batwing’s armored hull, harmless against its advanced plating. The jet angled sharply and accelerated, disappearing over the ridge into the desert sky, cloaked by distance and shadow.

As the thick smoke finally began to clear, a few FBI agents stood frozen, still gripping their weapons tightly. Some coughed, others waved at the smoky air, squinting through the haze. A few stared upward, mouths slightly agape.

One of them finally muttered in disbelief, “…Was that Batman?”

Another nodded slowly, almost dazed. “That was definitely Batman.”

The remaining agents looked around, shaken by what just happened—not by force, but by precision. No casualties. No destruction—just a clean, strategic infiltration and escape.

A silence hung in the air for a few seconds more.

The smoke then fully clears and Mr. X stood in the dust, blinking in disbelief. Jenny, as usual, stood silently beside him, her arms crossed.

“Of all the people I expected tonight,” Mr. X muttered, brushing soot off his jacket, “Batman was not on the list.”

He turned toward destroyed gat that Anne and her group had destroyed earlier with the van they stole.

“…We may have lost the element of surprise,” he muttered. Then, to Jenny, “Get one of these vans running. We’re not finished yet.”

Jenny gave no response—just a curt nod. She immediately moved to the second van, working quietly, methodically, to restore power.

Mr. X walked toward the back of the now-lifeless vehicle, eyes cold and calculating.

“They think this is over,” he muttered to himself. “But they don’t know that their is a tracker on that van they used.”

He looked up toward the sky, where the Batwing had vanished.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Dark Knight…” he murmured, “but you’ve just joined the board.”

Chapter Text

Terri’s Warehouse – Late Night

The moon hung low over Los Angeles, casting a pale glow over the rooftops. Inside Terri’s warehouse, however, it was a whirlwind of activity, urgency, and quiet hope. The cold cement floor trembled slightly beneath boots and sneakers and clawed amphibian feet as people worked together to accomplish what once seemed impossible: opening a portal to Amphibia.

Long tables had been pushed aside, replaced with a web of cables, high-voltage generators, and the shimmering remains of a massive interdimensional gate—its arching metal frame crackling faintly with blue energy.

Anne Boonchuy stood at the center of it all, wearing her school uniform beneath her chest plate as she watched the Justice League, Terri, and her allies moving across the warehouse floor.

She turned slowly in place, her voice full of disbelief.

“I don’t believe it. We… we actually did it.”

Terri, working beside a stack of power cells, glanced up.
“Grab the other generators! We’ve got one shot at this!”

Anne gave a determined nod and ran to help.

On the far side of the warehouse, The Flash worked quickly to hook up wiring to the final generator. Nearby, Green Lantern (John Stewart) constructed protective brackets from his ring to secure the equipment, while Wonder Woman helped slide crates of cooling gel packs toward the base of the machines. Terri, Ally, Thai women and Jess moved between stations, running diagnostics and shouting readings across the room.

Batman stood at a side terminal, conferring with Dr. Jan, eyes locked on complex data streams while occasionally inputting calculations.

Large blocks of ice were being hauled into position and placed on the generators—makeshift cooling to prevent meltdowns during ignition.

In the corner, Superman floated, surveying the activity. He lowered himself just enough to join Wonder Woman, Terri, and Flash at the next checkpoint.

Superman then spoke up “We had another idea before… involving the Flash and a high-speed treadmill. The Speed Force could’ve powered the portal directly.”

Flash gave a small smirk. “Would’ve been fun.”

Superman’s tone hardened. “But we had to abandon it. Anne and the others were captured. We couldn’t afford to risk waiting.”

Wonder Woman placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’re here now. Let’s make sure this works.”

Anne turned from the portal and approached her parents, who stood by a long table with a small, carefully packed backpack resting on top.

Mrs. Boonchuy held it out with a warm, but tearful smile.

“Here. For your trip.”

Anne blinked, a lump forming in her throat as she took the pack and opened it. Inside were carefully selected supplies: snacks, water, first-aid, clothes, a blanket, and… a laminated photo of their family.

“Guys… this is amazing.”

Mrs. Boonchuy’s smile deepened.
“We’ve had your care package ready for a while now. Just waiting for the right moment.”

Anne didn’t hesitate—she pulled both her parents into a tight hug. She closed her eyes, resting her head against them as they held her close.

Mr. Boonchuy spoke up “We are so proud of you, Anne.”

He gently cupped her cheek.
“Now go finish this. And bring your friends home.”

As Anne stepped back, Sprig, Hop Pop, and Polly approached her parents and they began saying their own goodbyes as Anne approached the League members as they finished configuring the generators.

Anne stood in front of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, and Green Lantern—her voice steady, but hopeful.

“So… are any of you coming with me?”

They paused, glancing at one another. Anne pressed on.

“I could really use all the help I can get. Andrias isn’t just some guy with a big sword—he’s got tech, an army, and who knows what else now. I know I’m strong, but… I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

Superman placed a hand on her shoulder, gently.

“You’ve got more strength in you than you realize. But we can’t leave Earth unprotected. Not when we don’t know what Andrias is fully capable of.”

Green Lantern added “If he manages to get here before you stop him, someone needs to be ready.”

Anne swallowed but nodded slowly.

Batman continued: “But we’ll be ready. We’ll hold the line here… you hold it there.”

Wonder Woman smiled. “And remember—you’re not alone. You carry your friends with you… and our faith in you as well.”

Flash gave her a thumbs-up. “Go kick his amphibian butt.”

Later, Anne and the Plantars stood at the threshold, facing the dormant arch with determined eyes. Anne’s school uniform was pressed under the shimmer of her enchanted chest plate, and her grip on her backpack was tight. The weight of everything was finally crashing down—her homecoming, the friends they’d left behind, the battle ahead.

Terri, standing near the master console, called out, “Everyone ready? Got everything?”

Anne turned, nodding. “We’re ready.”

Hop Pop adjusted his satchel and smiled. “I’m set. Got one avocado left to seed my avocado dynasty.”

Terri grinned. “Alright. Here we go!”

She pressed a large enter key on the keyboard. Instantly, a surge of energy bolted through the floor. The lights flickered, the humming grew louder, and a burst of electrical shockwave pulsed outward from the portal’s core.

Anne gasped. “Oh no…”

The energy rippled outward—but the portal remained the same.

It didn’t expand.

Hop Pop stepped forward. “It doesn’t look any bigger.”

Sprig hopped up, squinting. “We still can’t fit through.”

Anne’s chest tightened. “Guys, what can we do?”

Dr. Jan looked over her readings. “All those generators weren’t enough.”

Terri’s voice was grim. “That was twice the power we estimated it would need. If that didn’t work… I’m afraid nothing will.”

A wave of quiet gasps moved through the room.

Batman clenched his jaw. “Damn it.”

Flash crossed his arms, clearly frustrated. “I told you we should’ve brought the treadmill just in case!”

Suddenly—glass shattered overhead.

From above, heavily armed FBI agents dropped through the warehouse windows, weapons raised.

“EVERYBODY FREEZE!” one of them barked.

“NOBODY MOVE!”

Anne’s allies—Terri, Dr. Jan, the Boonchuys, and the Justice League—all stood tense, the League slowly moving into battle-ready positions.

The main entrance was kicked open, and in marched Jenny leading a second wave of agents. They spread out fast, surrounding Anne, the Plantars, and the five League members at the center of the room.

Anne’s heart pounded. “No… we were so close.”

Then, deliberate footsteps echoed across the warehouse floor.
Mr. X entered slowly, clapping his gloved hands with theatrical amusement.

“Not bad, Anne. Not bad at all,” he said, his tone cocky. “Turns out you were more capable than I gave you credit for. But in the end… you still failed. Because no matter what you do…” He smirked. “You’re still just a kid.”

He extended his hand with mock sympathy.

But Anne didn’t flinch—she slapped it away.

Her voice was firm. “You’re right, X. I am just a kid…”
Her eyes narrowed.
“But today reminded me that with the right people by my side—”

Her voice distorted—energy pulsing from her throat and chest.
“—I can do anything.”

A surge of blue energy burst outward. Her powers exploded to life, crackling around her arms and legs. The floor beneath her feet cracked as she stomped down—sending a shockwave through the warehouse.

FBI agents were launched off their feet, crashing into crates and equipment.

Mr. X’s eyes went wide. “What the…?!”

Sprig pointed. “Anne, look! The portal!”

The arch behind them began to shudder, glow, and then expand, opening wider and taller than ever before. Energy surged wildly around it, and at the heart of the swirling light—Amphibia.

Anne smiled through the glow, then raised her hand. The energy around her body spiraled outward and channeled into the portal, stabilizing and expanding it further.

Dr. Jan’s jaw dropped. “The portal…”

Terri blinked. “How is that possible?!”

Ally: “She’s powering it like some kind of—”

Jess: “—Human battery.”

John Stewart narrowed his eyes in awe. “Remarkable…”

Wonder Woman whispered, “Hera…”

Even Mr. X was stunned, staring into the swirling dimensional vortex. “What is that place…?”

And then—from the other side—a giant praying mantis screeched into view, stomping past the portal.

Mr. X stepped back. “And—Whoa! Is that a giant praying mantis?!”

He snapped out of it. “Men! Seize them! This is it!”

Agents began charging toward the Plantars.

Hop Pop stumbled back. “Oh no!”

But before they could get close, the League stepped forward, forming a wall between the agents and their targets.

Green Lantern raised his ring-hand.
“You want the girl and the frogs?”
His tone turned to steel.
“You’ll have to go through us.”

Superman floated upward, eyes glowing.
Wonder Woman readied her lasso.
Flash cracked his knuckles.
Batman went charging head on.
The fight was on.

Mr. X growled. “Fine! Take them down!!”

The warehouse exploded into chaos. The League fought with restraint but overwhelming power—Flash disarmed agents before they could blink, Wonder Woman deflected stun blasts, Batman used his martial arts and gadgets, and Green Lantern built barriers and traps with his ring.

Anne turned to the others. “Now’s our chance! Come on!”

The Plantars ran for the portal, leaping in one by one.

Anne paused at the portal’s edge. Behind her, she saw her parents—Mrs. Boonchuy clutching her husband’s hand, tears welling in her eyes.

Mrs. Boonchuy: “Anne… take care.”

Mr. Boonchuy: “We love you.”

Anne pressed her finger to her chest over her heart. A silent vow.
Then she turned and leapt into the portal.

A final surge of light—then the portal snapped shut.

With the Plantars and Anne gone, the League moved in quickly, disabling the remaining agents.

Jenny tried to fight, but Wonder Woman caught her in a lasso and yanked her down effortlessly. “You’re done.”

Superman floated back down, giving Batman a nod. Batman walked calmly to the terminal, took out three explosive batarangs, and launched them at the base of the arch.

BOOM.

The portal frame exploded in a burst of fire and sparks, reducing the dimensional gate to molten debris.

Across the warehouse, Mr. X stood breathing heavily, his pride and plans in ruins. He turned sharply toward Anne’s parents, Dr. Jan, Terri—and the League.

He pointed an accusatory finger.

Mr. X: “You! I hope you’re all ready to explain yourselves—!”

But Mr. Boonchuy slapped the hand away.

Mr. Boonchuy: “And we hope you’re ready to listen.”

Mrs. Boonchuy stepped forward. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

Mr. X glanced around—at the wreckage, the subdued agents, the League surrounding him. His face paled just slightly.

Mr. X: “Oh… goody.”

Chapter Text

Terri’s Warehouse – One Hour Later

The chaos had long since settled. The last of the FBI agents, previously subdued or restrained, had been released and disarmed—many of them still shaken, confused, and whispering about the girl with powers, the portal to another world, and the Justice League’s unexpected interference.

The warehouse was quiet now, filled only with the soft humming of damaged tech and the distant sound of sirens fading into the distance. Mr. X, arms folded, stood near the scorched remains of the portal. His his glasses hung low on the bridge of his nose as he eyed the group now gathered before him: the Boonchuys, Dr. Jan, Terri, Molly Jo, Humphrey Westwood women from the Thai community and the 5 core members of the Justice League—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), and The Flash.

Mr. Boonchuy began the story, his voice steady but calm.

“Our daughter Anne didn’t run away. She and her friends—Sasha and Marcy—they found a box in a thrift store. It transported them to another dimension. A place called Amphibia.”

Mrs. Boonchuy added, “She survived there for months, fought for her life. And when she returned—she didn’t come alone. The Plantars, the frogs, they’re not monsters. They’re family.”

Mr. X furrowed his brow, arms crossed. “Frogs? Family?”

Superman stepped in.
“They’re sentient. Intelligent. Kind. Amphibia is a parallel world. And what’s more important…” he glanced at Batman, who gave a slight nod, “…there’s a threat coming from that world. A newt king named Andrias.”

Dr. Jan spoke up from the computer station. “And the portal that just opened? That was the first successful bridge between Earth and Amphibia. The League helped us because they believe in the threat. We all do.”

Mr. X’s skeptical expression hadn’t entirely faded. “So let me get this straight: There’s a warlord from a frog-dimension trying to conquer our planet?”

Wonder Woman nodded. “And if Anne doesn’t stop him there, he will come here.”

Mr. X’s face shifted slightly. He looked… thoughtful.

He took a few steps back, muttering to himself.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of weird things in my career… aliens, metahumans, rogue tech, government coverups… but this?” He exhaled, tugging off his gloves. “I’ll admit… it fits.”

He turned toward Superman.
“You’re an alien. Everyone knows that. And you’ve saved the planet more times than I can count.”
He gestured toward Batman. “And you always seem ten steps ahead of everyone.”

He looked around.
“Earth gets attacked every few years. Darkseid, Starro, Brainiac… now this Andrias guy? It’s exhausting.”

He adjusted his tie.

“Alright. I’m not saying I believe everything… but I’ve seen enough to know when something’s real. You’ve got my attention.”

Superman stepped forward. “Then here’s what we need.”

Batman’s voice was sharp. “You have two choices: Help us stop Andrias—or stay out of our way.”

Mr. X raised a brow. “Help you?”

Superman nodded. “The U.S. government won’t listen to us without corroboration. But they’ll listen to you.”

Mr. X turned to the Boonchuys. “And you’re just okay with all of this?”

Mr. Boonchuy met his eyes. “We’ve seen the truth. It’s time the world did too.”

Mrs. Boonchuy placed a hand on her husband’s. “We’ll go with you. We’ll tell them what Anne’s been through and convince the military we are not insane.”

Mr. X was quiet. For once, the sarcasm had drained from his voice.

“…If I’m gonna convince the government to prep the military for a war with a newt king, I’m gonna need proof. I’ll need all the files, data, anything your portal team has.”

Terri raised her hand. “Already uploading it to a secure drive.”

Mr. X nodded once. “Good. I’ll set up a meeting with the Department of Defense. No guarantees. But I’ll try.”

Wonder Woman asked him, “And what will you do if they refuse?”

Mr. X shrugged. “What I always do. Go off-script.”

He glanced back at the League.

“And what will you do in the meantime?”

Batman spoke with steel in his tone.
“Gather our ranks. Prepare the Watchtower. Coordinate with allies. If Anne fails, and Andrias comes here… we’ll be ready.”

Mr. X looked around the room. His gaze swept across the League, the Boonchuys, Terri and Jan. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t the smartest person in the room—and he knew it.

He slid his glasses back on. “Well then… it’s going to be a long few weeks.”

Chapter Text

The Watchtower – Observation Deck

A Few Weeks Later

The quiet hum of the Watchtower’s systems filled the air like white noise. From this high above the planet, it was hard to imagine there was ever anything wrong with the world. The Earth below looked peaceful, a swirling orb of blue, green, and cloud-white serenity, unbothered by politics, war, or interdimensional threats.

And yet, the man standing at the wide observation window knew better.

Superman stood with his hands behind his back, cape falling in sharp red folds, his eyes trained on the slowly rotating Earth. His brow was creased in thought, his usual calm replaced with quiet unease.

From behind, the soft, deliberate footfalls of Batman echoed across the metal floor.

“Clark,” Bruce said simply, voice calm but edged with something heavier. “You’ve been standing here for twenty minutes.”

Superman didn’t turn. His voice was low. “I’m just thinking.”

Batman came to a stop beside him, arms crossed, cowl pulled back just enough to show his face. His eyes glanced once at Earth… then at Clark.

“You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?”

Superman didn’t answer immediately. He exhaled, the breath fogging the glass for a split second before fading.

“Yes,” he said finally. “Anne.”

The Kryptonian’s blue eyes stayed fixed on the planet below, but his thoughts were clearly a million miles—or rather, a whole dimension—away.

“She’s thirteen, Bruce. Just a kid. She should be going to school, worrying about tests, friends, books, maybe a school dance…” He frowned. “Not fighting a tyrant in another world.”

Batman remained quiet, his expression unreadable. He let Clark speak.

“I keep thinking about what it must be like over there,” Superman continued. “Amphibia. A world she knows, but one we don’t. She told us about King Andrias, the music box, his robots, his castle… the technology he’s using. The scale of his ambitions.”

He paused, eyes narrowing.

“She’s probably in the middle of it right now. Trying to rally people. Trying to stop him. Trying to survive.”

“Not just her,” Batman said finally. “The Plantars too. Her family in that world.”

Superman gave a faint nod. “They’re loyal. Brave. But they don’t have our training. They don’t have our strength.”

“They have her,” Batman said simply.

That made Clark smile. Just a little.

Superman moved closer to the window, placing a hand gently against the reinforced glass as if he could reach across dimensions with just his will.

“She asked us to come with her,” he said. “And we said no.”

“We couldn’t leave Earth undefended,” Batman reminded him.

“I know,” Superman replied. “But I wonder if we made the right choice. She went in alone.”

Batman didn’t reply right away. He looked out the window as well.

“She didn’t go alone,” he finally said. “She went with people who love and support her. And she went because she had to. You said it yourself—she’s just a kid. But she chose to fight anyway.”

Clark turned his head, thoughtful. “She’s more than we gave her credit for.”

“She always was,” Batman agreed. “But she’s going to have to become more.”

Another beat of silence.

“Do you think she’ll make it?” Clark asked softly.

Batman’s jaw clenched slightly. “…She has to.”

As the two stand I watching the Earth a sudden, piercing alarm ripped through the silence of the Watchtower, echoing off the walls like a declaration of war. Red emergency lights bathed the orbital station in a flashing pulse, drawing every Justice League member’s attention from their respective posts.

Superman’s head snapped toward the sound, his eyes narrowing instantly. Beside him, Batman’s fingers were already moving, summoning an alert window from the Watchtower’s primary console.

Across the observation deck, the rest of the core League team rushed into the central command chamber—Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), The Flash, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Black Canary.

Superman spoke first, his voice sharp and commanding.
“J’onn, talk to me. What’s happening?”

Martian Manhunter’s fingers moved across the holographic control console, a distant look in his eyes as he interfaced with Watchtower systems—and, for a moment, extended his mind outward across Earth’s surface.

“It’s Los Angeles,” he said. “Something is happening—massive dimensional energy, on a large scale.”

He brought up the monitors.

Everyone fell silent.

The image that filled the screen was straight out of a nightmare.

Los Angeles was blanketed in shadow.

Above it loomed a massive, jagged floating fortress—Newtopia Castle, torn from Amphibia and brought to hover above Earth. Around it swarmed a fleet of smaller Flying Fortresses, like an alien navy descending on the world’s most unsuspecting city.

And then, the screen shifted to reveal a broadcast.

A giant face filled the view: King Andrias.

His expression was smug, eyes gleaming with malicious pride, voice booming over hijacked communications networks across the entire state.

“Primates of Earth! We have arrived!”

His grin widened.

Flash’s jaw dropped.
“Whoa… is that thing flying? That whole castle?!”

Hawkgirl narrowed her eyes. “He brought an entire kingdom with him.”

“Hello, Earth. Congratulations… on being conquered.”

Behind him, the throne room of Newtopia Castle crackled with eerie blue energy.

“I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news? Your planet is rich in the resources we need to conquer other, more… impressive worlds. The bad news? We need to destroy your civilization to get those resources.”

He gave a dramatic shrug.

“Omelets, broken eggs—you get it.”

The screen suddenly shifted again. The floating fortress fired two massive, egg-shaped pods toward the city below.

The League watched in horror as the pods impacted the streets with explosive force—out of each one burst a towering Heron, mechanical and monstrous, each easily the size of a skyscraper. They let out deafening screeches, tearing through concrete and glass with razor-sharp limbs.

Within seconds, U.S. military forces arrived—armored vehicles, tanks, helicopters, and jet fighters swarming in from all directions. They opened fire on the Herons and Flying Fortresses, shells and missiles filling the air. But the herons use their wings to push them all back.

They open fire on Newtopia Castle but it remained untouched.

A shield surrounded the fortress, deflecting the barrage with ease.

And then—Frobots descended, slamming into the streets. Metal soldiers, hundreds of them, marching in formation and engaging the military.

For a moment, it looked as though the soldiers were holding their own—high-caliber weapons and explosives tore through waves of Frobots. But more just kept coming.

The Herons tore into tanks like paper. One picked up a group of soldiers and—before the feed cut—devoured them.

The Flash flinched. “That’s… horrifying.”

Hawkgirl’s wings bristled. “Flying castles. Giant mantises. And now giant birds.”

Green Lantern John Stewart raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. “I’ll admit… this Andrias guy has a weird sort of charm.”

Superman’s expression turned grim. “Alright everyone… this is what we’ve been waiting for. Let’s get down there.”

As the others turned toward the teleport bay, Wonder Woman paused.

Her voice was quiet, tinged with concern.
“If Andrias is here… what about Anne? Could she—”

Martian Manhunter closed his eyes, his brow furrowing as he extended his telepathy to Anne’s mind.

“She’s alive,” he said, opening his eyes. “I can sense her. Faint… but strong. She’s in the castle. Imprisoned.”

Green Arrow scowled, gesturing toward the monitor. “That shield over the castle? It’s not letting anything in. If she’s trapped in there, we won’t be able to get her out.”

Batman stepped forward, voice cold and calm.
“Then we find another way. But first… we defend the city.”

Superman nodded. “Exactly. We take the fight to the streets—protect civilians, support the military. And once we push back the robots and Herons…”

Wonder Woman finished his thought. “We find a way to reach Anne.”

The Flash cracked his neck. “Alright, let’s punch some robots.”

Hawkgirl lifted her mace. “Finally, I get to smash something.”

Aquaman summoned his trident. “Let’s show them what Earth’s defenders are made of.”

Batman turned, already walking. “To the teleporters.”

The League followed.

The team arrived at the Watchtower’s teleportation chamber, each member preparing for battle. The air inside was electric—they have faced invasions before and this won’t be any different.

The Justice League was ready.

With a final look at the Earth below, Superman led the team into the teleporters—destination: downtown Los Angeles.

The battle for Earth… had begun.

Chapter Text

Los Angeles – Midday Chaos

The streets of Los Angeles were a warzone. Sirens blared, smoke billowed into the sky, and the metallic screech of Frobots echoed through the air. Civilians scrambled for cover as the combined might of the police and military struggled to hold the line against the mechanized invasion.

Amid the chaos, a towering Frobot—easily twice the size of the others—stomped down a major boulevard, its chest panel humming with a fiery orange glow. The cannon was building power, preparing to fire on a packed line of retreating vehicles and pinned-down officers.

Before the shot could be unleashed, a sonic boom ripped through the air. A red-and-blue blur rocketed into the Frobot, tearing straight through its core with incredible speed and force. The machine staggered, then exploded in a fiery burst, raining debris across the street.

Hovering above the wreckage was Superman, eyes glowing slightly as he surveyed the battlefield. Police and soldiers looked up, stunned.

“Is that—?” one officer muttered.

“No way…” said another. “It’s him.”

Superman didn’t stop. Turning mid-air, he spotted a horde of smaller Frobots tearing through a nearby block. He shot forward again, barreling through them with clean, calculated strikes, sending robotic limbs flying in all directions.

Meanwhile – a few blocks away

In a more compact part of the city, another battle raged on. Black Canary, Green Arrow, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman had carved out a perimeter near a collapsed freeway.

Black Canary dropped into a slide under a Frobot swipe and countered with a shattering Canary Cry, blowing it into a storefront. Beside her, Green Arrow let loose an electrified arrow that burst into sparks on impact, short-circuiting two more.

“Try not to destroy all the cool ones before I get a shot,” he quipped to Canary.

“No promises,” she shot back, smirking.

Batman moved like a shadow, his cape billowing as he hurled explosive batarangs into a cluster of Frobots. The blasts ripped through their joints, collapsing the machines in pieces. Aquaman slammed the butt of his trident into the pavement, cracking open a nearby fire hydrant. He spun the trident, controlling the surge of water and blasting it like a pressure cannon into another Frobot, shorting it out instantly.

Wonder Woman flew in from above, lasso in hand. She snagged one of the larger Frobots and yanked it off its feet, swinging it overhead and slamming it into two others.

“Push them back! They’re targeting civilians!” she called out.

In the skies above

Green Lantern John Stewart, Martian Manhunter, and Hawkgirl dominated the aerial front. Stewart created massive green energy constructs—shields, jets, and spike-covered battering rams—to bash and scatter flying Frobots. His face was focused, teeth clenched.

Hawkgirl tore through them with her mace, striking like a comet with every swing. Sparks flew each time her weapon connected, and she didn’t stop moving, dodging blasts and retaliating mid-spin.

Martian Manhunter shifted into a half-phased state, letting some attacks pass through while countering others with precise telekinetic strikes. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the battlefield.

On the ground, the Flash blurred between collapsing buildings and panicked civilians. Frobots fired wildly, trying to track him, but he was too fast. Barry scooped up people and zipped them to safety, then darted back to take down Frobots with concentrated strikes to their joints and power cores.

“Priority One is civilians,” Superman’s voice rang out across the comms.

“Affirmative,” Batman responded. “We hold the line. Get them out.”

Back in the sky, Green Lantern noticed a platoon of soldiers cornered behind a flipped APC, surrounded by advancing Frobots.

“Damn it,” John muttered. He dove down, landing in front of them hard enough to crack the pavement. He raised his ring hand, constructing twin Gatling guns on either side.

“Come get some!” he shouted, opening fire with green energy rounds that shredded through the enemy ranks.

The soldiers stared in awe for a moment before their sergeant barked, “What are you waiting for—an invitation? Move!”

That was enough. The soldiers emerged from cover, rallying behind him and opening fire in coordination.

Meanwhile – Amphibia Castle, Control Room

High above the fray, in the cold metallic chambers of the former Amphibia castle—now retrofitted with alien-tech surveillance gear—Darcy and King Andrias watched the battle unfold on dozens of monitors.

Darcy’s many cables shimmered with energy as they reviewed the footage. The League’s movements were tight, coordinated, relentless. Darcy gave a small grin.

“They’re every bit as good as Marcy’s memories said,” Darcy mused, almost admiringly.

Andrias, arms folded behind his back, scowled.

“They’re powerful, yes. But not invincible. Take out the ones who don’t have powers. The rest will crumble.”

Darcy nodded, fingers dancing over a touch screen. One monitor zoomed in on Martian Manhunter.

“I remember you,” Darcy said. “Fire… not your friend.”

They tapped a few more keys, and a section of the castle’s lower hangar opened. Within, specialized fire-based Frobots—sleeker, faster, armed with flamethrowers and napalm—powered up and began their descent toward the battlefield.

“Deploying Fire Class Units,” Darcy said. “Let’s see how you like this, J’onn J’onzz.”

Back in the city, Martian Manhunter paused, mid-hover, eyes narrowing as he felt a heat signature unlike the others approaching. His instincts flared. He turned—and saw a wave of flame-spewing Frobots launching from rooftops and descending directly toward him, he then flys off to getaway from the flames.

Beneath the grand throne room of the castle, far below the cold floors and buzzing war monitors, the dungeon was a cavern of silence pierced only by the distant rumble of explosions echoing through the walls. The air was thick with tension and stale with recycled air. The stone cell they were in pulsed with a soft, eerie pink light—cast from the laser restraints locking them all in place.

Anne, the Plantars, Sasha, Grime, Frobo, Domino 2.0, Lady Olivia, and General Yunan were trapped in a tight circle, arms and legs bound together in glowing bands of light that anchored them to the circle.

They sat in silence, listening. Above them, faint but unmistakable, the sounds of a city under siege—sirens, crashes, the roar of strange beasts, and the high-pitched whine of laser fire.

Sasha sat upright, straining against her binds, her eyes wide. “We’re out of time!” she hissed, glancing at Anne across the circle.

Anne, still breathing steady despite the situation, narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. A soft blue glow began to pulse around her body, her fists beginning to spark with Calamity energy. “Alright, I got this,” she muttered, powering up.

“Wait, Anne! Don’t!” Sprig called out, his voice rising over the hum of the restraints.

Anne blinked, startled. “Huh?” She paused, the glow fading as she looked to him.

Sprig met her eyes. “Every time you use those powers, it wipes you out.”

“Sprig’s right,” Hop Pop added gently. “We need you in fighting shape.”

Anne looked down, exhaling slowly. “…Good point.” Her shoulders sank a little. “So what do we do?”

“Let’s give Frobo a shot,” Polly piped up confidently, eyes lighting up. “Maybe one of the upgrades I gave him can help us out.”

Still hanging upside down from the ceiling restraints, Frobo twisted his head 180 degrees with a mechanical whirrrk, then scanned the chamber.

Frobo: “Analyzing environment… structural weakness detected.”

His eyes glowed bright red, and twin beams of laser light shot out, slicing an outline into the floor beneath them in a clean circle.

Hop Pop blinked, looking nervously down. “Uh… was that supposed to—”

Before he could finish, the floor gave way with a loud KRRAAK! and the entire group screamed as they plummeted downward, still bound in their circle.

CRASH!

They landed hard in a lower chamber, the remnants of the glowing restraints sparking as they hit the ground. Then—crack!—one by one, the restraints snapped apart, falling off their arms and legs with a hiss.

General Yunan groaned, flipping onto her feet. “Okay, now how do we escape… our escape?”

Polly leaned over Frobo, who had landed awkwardly but was already recalibrating. “Whoa! Darcy’s RSSI signal must’ve dropped below negative seventy dBms!”

Sprig looked at her, confused. “Still not used to you being smart.”

“Yeah, well,” Polly said with a shrug. “I’m adjusting.”

Suddenly, they heard a mechanical screech overhead. Domino 2.0 fluttered down from a ventilation shaft, followed by Joe Sparrow, landing with a heavy whump beside them.

Sasha turned quickly. “Everyone, on Domino and Joe—now!”

The group broke up fast. Sprig, Anne, Polly, Olivia, and Yunan jumped onto Joe Sparrow, who flapped heavily but caught the air. Sasha, Grime, and Hop Pop scrambled onto Domino 2.0, who snarled eagerly.

“Phew, just made it,” Anne muttered.

CRASH!

Suddenly, both birds crashed out of a broken wall and hit water hard. It was a large rooftop pool, glittering under the sunlight.

“SPLAAASH!!”

As they all surfaced, sputtering, Sasha groaned, soaked and glaring. “We need to work on our timing.”

They dragged themselves to the edge of the pool. Panting, they looked over the ledge—and froze.

Below them was the battlefield: Los Angeles, burning in the daylight. Frobots marched through the streets. Tanks fired back. Screams and alarms filled the air.

Grime’s jaw dropped. “I don’t believe it.”

General Yunan, standing tall and dripping wet, nodded slowly. “So this… is Earth.”

Lady Olivia, clutching her soaked skirts, muttered, “It’s very… geometric.”

Then a massive heron’s shriek pierced the air.

Everyone looked up—and saw one of the giant herons swoop low through the city, talons slicing through cars, its blood-red eyes scanning for prey.

Anne groaned. “Oh, great. Andrias brought the giant herons.”

Hop Pop’s face went pale. “Those aren’t just any herons…”

Sprig and Polly turned to him in unison. “You mean… those two?”

Hop Pop nodded gravely. “I’d recognize them anywhere.”

FLASHBACK

Hop Pop stood at the edge of Wartwood Valley, a younger version of himself watching in horror as two monstrous herons swooped down, eyes glowing red, their talons ripping into homes.

“They’ve been terrorizing the valley for years,” Hop Pop’s voice echoed over the memory. “I arrived too late to save your parents… but not too late to fight back.”

Young Hop Pop hurled a spear at one of the herons, embedding it in the beast’s neck.

BACK TO PRESENT

That same heron now bore a deep scar on its neck. It shrieked again, causing Sprig and Polly to freeze, their faces pale with shock.

“Meet ‘em,” Hop Pop said grimly. “The monsters that took your parents.”

Then, in the distance—a scream. A woman and her young daughter were cornered in a parking lot, four Frobots raising their cannons to fire.

Anne’s eyes sharpened. “We need to get down there and help people!”

“Right behind you,” Sasha replied.

The two girls leapt from the rooftop and landed hard in the street, taking out two Frobots instantly with Anne and Sasha using perfectly-timed sword slash. The mother clutched her daughter and ran.

Domino 2.0 and Joe Sparrow swooped down, Frobo launching blasts from his chest while Grime, Sprig, and Yunan took down the other two.

But before they could regroup, a dozen more Frobots surrounded them. They all raised their arms, ready to fire.

Then—

VROOOOOM!

A black military-grade truck skidded into the intersection, smashing into two of the bots. The back doors burst open, and two figures in body armor and visors stepped out, wielding laser rifles. In a blur of coordinated motion, they shot down the Frobots with expert aim.

The last one exploded as the figures stepped closer, pulling off their helmets.

Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy.

“Anne!” her mother cried, rushing forward.

Anne’s eyes widened in shock. “Mom?! Dad?!”

“Whoa-a…” Sasha blinked. “Boonchuys?!”

“Hi, Sasha,” Mrs. Boonchuy said with a warm smile, hugging her. “Long time no see.”

Anne laughed and ran to her father. He lifted her off the ground in a spinning hug.

Hop Pop waved from behind Domino. “Hiya, Boonchuys. Bet you weren’t expecting to see us again so soon.”

“Actually,” Mr. Boonchuy said with a smirk. “We kind of were.”

The front passenger window rolled down. Inside, leaning out casually, was none other than Mr. X, grinning like a cat with a laser pointer.

“Okay okay okay,” Mr. X said, snapping his fingers. “Let’s take this party on the road!”

Anne gaped. “Mr. X?! What are you doing here?!”

Mr. Boonchuy smiled. “Don’t worry, Anne. He’s with us now.”

“Come on!” Mrs. Boonchuy added, holding open the truck door.

As they all climbed in, the city behind them shook with the roar of war—and the rebellion had just begun.

The group barely had a second to breathe.

Anne was still wrapped in her dad’s arms, Sasha exchanging stunned hellos with Mrs. Boonchuy, and Mr. X was theatrically motioning everyone toward the back of the high-tech black van—its sides armored, its tires massive, clearly built for more than a road trip—when the familiar mechanical whine returned.

The air vibrated as several Frobots descended from above, their wings beating with a harsh metallic buzz. Unlike the clunky ground units, these ones were sleek, fast, and clearly built for aerial assault. Their eyes glowed crimson, targeting the group below.

Frobo raised his arms, but he was still recovering from the last skirmish. Joe Sparrow and Domino 2.0 let out aggressive screeches, ready to defend, but the Frobots were closing in fast.

And then—

WHAM!

The chest of the lead flying Frobot exploded outward, not from gunfire—but from a fist. A glowing red blur ripped straight through its frame. The machine spiraled out of control and smashed into the pavement in a heap of sparks and smoke.

A second later, a massive green buzzsaw construct materialized midair, slicing clean through the remaining machines like paper. The saw dissipated into energy as two figures descended in a rush of wind and light.

Superman and Green Lantern John Stewart landed hard in front of the group, smoke and debris whirling around their boots. Superman’s cape flared in the wind, his eyes scanning the group before locking onto one person.

“Anne!” he called, relief plain in his voice.

Anne’s face lit up, surprised but visibly happy to see him. “Superman!”

She ran to him without hesitation. Superman placed a hand gently on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod.

Green Lantern gave a half-smile as he walked up beside him. “Good to see you again, kid,” he said, nodding at Anne.

Sasha, standing just a few feet away, took a step forward, her jaw nearly on the pavement. She looked from Superman to Green Lantern and then to Anne, blinking rapidly.

“Wait… wait… what?!”

Anne turned, confused. “What?”

Sasha threw both hands up. “You made contact with the Justice League while you were stuck on Earth with the Plantars and just… didn’t mention it?”

Anne scratched the back of her head sheepishly. “It didn’t exactly come up?”

Sasha stared at her. “Didn’t come up?! It’s Superman!”

“Also Green Lantern,” John said, holding up a hand. “Little credit.”

“Sorry,” Sasha muttered, still reeling.

“Is Wonder Woman here too?” she asked hopefully, turning to Superman.

Before he could answer, Mr. X popped his head out the van window and clapped loudly, drawing all eyes to him.

“Okay, okay! Love this whole reunion-slash-info-dump, but we don’t have time for this right now.”

He looked at Superman and GL with narrowed eyes, all business now. “You two? Back to the skies. Anne and Sasha? Get in the van. Frogs, toad, newts—on the birds. We’re mobile now.”

Domino 2.0 growled softly as Grime, Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly with Frobo climbed on. Joe Sparrow flapped once and crouched low as Olivia and Yunan boarded.

Mr. Boonchuy opened the van doors, guiding Anne, Sasha and his wife inside while Mr. X leaned toward Superman.

“She’s here,” he said quietly, but urgently. “Anne’s in the clear. We’ll call when we’ve got a plan. Until then—hold the line.”

Superman nodded once. “Understood.”

John Stewart looked back at Anne. “Stay safe.”

“You too,” Anne replied, then climbed into the van. The doors slammed shut behind her.

As the birds took off and the van roared down a side road, disappearing into the smoke-filled cityscape, Superman activated his comm.

“This is Superman to all units. Scratch the Anne rescue op. She’s safe.”

“Repeat,” Superman added over the League-wide frequency. “Continue fighting. Protect civilians. Await further instructions. Superman out.”

Green Lantern floated up beside him, scanning the skyline. “Focus everything on defense. Hold back the army. We’ll regroup once we hear from them.”

With that, the two leaguers shot into the sky—one a red-and-blue streak, the other a trail of green energy—returning to the front lines as the battle for Los Angeles raged on.

Chapter Text

Above Downtown Los Angeles

The skies were thick with smoke and fire, as Martian Manhunter twisted and weaved through the burning ruins of the city skyline. Behind him, fire Frobots gave chase—specially designed with napalm cannons and heat-seeking tech, zeroing in on his every move. Red-hot flames licked the air around him, forcing him to keep high and fast.

But J’onn J’onzz had something else in mind.

He suddenly pulled up and dove toward a half-demolished office tower, then—just before impact—phased through the wall, disappearing into the steel and glass structure like a ghost.

The fire Frobots shrieked, banking hard. One of them tried to follow—and smashed into the side of the building in a fiery burst. The others hovered, scanning.

Too late.

From the other side of the building, Martian Manhunter emerged, no longer humanoid—but in the form of a giant, green-scaled dragon, his wings tearing through clouds as he spotted two enormous Flying Fortresses unleashing waves of reinforcements from above.

He let out a guttural, otherworldly roar and charged. His massive claws and tail smashed into the underbelly of one fortress, tearing through metal like paper, ripping it open and sending chunks of it raining down into the city.

⸻

Meanwhile, in the battered remains of an open plaza, Batman and Green Arrow were in the middle of a tense skirmish. Dozens of Frobots had them partially surrounded, and both were doing what they did best—holding their ground.

Green Arrow ducked behind a flipped food truck, his quiver nearly empty. He reached over his shoulder and pulled out a basic arrow—no gadgets, no explosives. Just steel-tipped accuracy.

He popped up, loosed three arrows in rapid succession—all went through the heads and dropped three Frobots in seconds.

Then another wave appeared.

“Oh, come on!” he shouted in frustration, ducking as a laser scorched past his head.

Just then, the air shifted.

From above, Domino 2.0 swooped down, wings spread wide and talons extended. Anne was riding point, Sprig just behind her with a gleam in his eye and a Boomshroom loaded in his slingshot.

“Let’s give ‘em a surprise, buddy!” Sprig called, and fired.

The mushroom bomb sailed through the air and landed directly between the incoming Frobots. BOOM! A burst of smoke and concussive force threw several of them off balance, clearing the path.

Frobo, now fully upgraded and painted in a splash of bold, mismatched colors from Polly’s Earth tinkering, leapt off the bird and landed beside Batman with a loud clang. He raised his arm, which rotated into a plasma cannon.

“Frobo: Back online. Engaging enemies.”

A moment later, a slick black FBI van rolled onto the scene, tires screeching. The doors flung open, and out stepped Mr. X, flanked by Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy, and—surprisingly—Jenny, Anne’s old classmate, now in tactical gear with a headset.

Mr. X threw on his shades. “Alright, folks. Time to turn this nightmare into a strategy.”

Batman approached quickly. “You’ve got a plan?”

“Better,” Mr. X smirked. “We’ve got a team.”

Anne hopped off Domino 2 and walked into the center of the group as Domino landed and the Plantars, Frobo, and her parents gathered close. The chaos of the city thundered behind them.

Anne looked at everyone, her voice steady and focused. “Alright, here’s how we play this.”

She pointed toward the distant castle, visible even through the haze.

“Sasha, Grime, Olivia, and Yunan are heading into the castle to shut down the shield. Our job is to hold the line, rescue as many people as we can, and keep the pressure off them.”

Superman and Green Lantern arrived overhead, flanking the group and landing beside Batman.

Superman nodded. “Sounds like a solid plan.”

Batman turned to his comm and activated it.

“All Justice League units: regroup on our position immediately.”

Within minutes, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, Black Canary, Hawkgirl, and a slightly-scorched Martian Manhunter—now back in his original form—arrived in a staggered formation, weapons and fists ready.

Batman stepped forward and relayed the plan in his precise tone:

“Primary objective: containment. Civilians come first. Frobot numbers are increasing, and the Flying Fortresses need to be taken down.”

He pointed around.

“Green Arrow—get to the rooftop. I want eyes on everything.”

Green Arrow tipped his head. “On it.”

Anne smirked. “Need a lift, Legolas?”

He raised a brow but gave a short grin. “Only if you promise not to crash.”

Hop Pop and Polly hopped off Domino 2 to make room, and Green Arrow climbed on behind Anne, securing his bow. Domino leapt into the air, flapping her wings.

As they lifted off, Anne called over her shoulder, “Hold on tight!”

Back on the ground, Batman gestured to the rest of the team.

“Superman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl—you’re our air support. Fortresses and sky units are your responsibility.”

Superman nodded. “We’ll keep the skies clear.”

Green Lantern smirked. “Time to clip some wings.”

Batman continued.

“Black Canary, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash—you’re with me. We stay on the ground with Anne, Mr. X, the Boonchuys, Frobo, Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly. We keep the fighting in the streets. Push them back. Protect civilians. No ground given.”

“Let’s move!” Flash called, stretching. “There’s still a whole city that needs saving!”

Batman pulled a trio of explosive batarangs from his belt and tossed them into the next wave of approaching Frobots. They exploded on impact, creating a wall of fire and smoke.

The League split into their new formation. The sky lit up with green energy and red laser beams as Superman and Green Lantern surged into the air, followed by Hawkgirl’s war cry and J’onn’s silent flight. Above them, the Flying Fortresses began to respond, unleashing swarms of Frobots and more fire.

Below, Batman, and the rest of the team sprinted toward the heart of the city, the streets alive with battle cries, falling metal, and the roar of war.

Meanwhile deep within the ominous stone walls of the repurposed Amphibia castle, the command chamber buzzed with an eerie mechanical hum. Screens lined the walls, broadcasting the chaos that had engulfed Los Angeles: buildings on fire, Frobots battling military and League members, and aerial battles raging between the Flying Fortresses and the heroes.

At the center of it all, illuminated by the flickering red emergency lights, stood Darcy—a twisted amalgamation of Amphibia’s greatest minds and Marcy’s stolen mind—calmly surveying the battlefield with a smug, almost gleeful expression.

Behind them, King Andrias loomed, arms folded tightly behind his back, his jaw tense. The glow of the screens reflected in his heavy, tired eyes.

Darcy turned, the tangle of cables around their body shifting with a mechanical rustle. Their voice dripped with mocking sweetness.

“Congratulations, big guy. After a thousand years, you finally made amends. Oh, isn’t it grand?”
They spread their arms wide dramatically, laughing softly. “Who needs friends… when they have everlasting power?”

Andrias stared ahead, his face unreadable, shoulders rigid.

“Yes… it’s… everything I’ve ever wanted.”

But even he didn’t sound convinced. The words fell from his mouth with the weight of a man trying to convince himself. His massive hands curled into fists behind his back, unseen.

Suddenly—WEEEOOOWWW!!!

A shrill alarm blared through the chamber, bathing everything in flashing crimson light. The screens shifted. A new feed appeared—camera footage from one of the external towers.

Darcy’s eyes widened, and they leaned forward in disbelief.

There, clear as day on the monitors: Anne and Sprig, riding atop Domino 2.0, soaring through the smoke-filled sky. Anne’s hair whipped in the wind, her gaze fierce and determined.

Darcy snapped around to face Andrias, eyes blazing.

“You’re kidding us. They escaped?!”

Andrias’ eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, studying the screen carefully. His face remained stoic, but there was a flash of irritation beneath the surface.

“Don’t worry.” He turned slightly, his deep voice echoing through the chamber. “They’ll never get by the herons.”

On another monitor, the giant herons could be seen causing chaos in the city, The monstrous birds screeched, as they continued to eat up civilians that got unlucky.

Chapter Text

The sky over downtown was a twisted, broken maze of ruined buildings and burning debris. Anne, Sprig, and Domino 2.0 zipped through it at breakneck speed, the air screaming past them. Behind them, a squadron of flying Frobots pursued in tight formation, laser blasts slicing through the air and lighting up the smoke clouds around them.

Anne gritted her teeth, keeping Domino steady, ducking between crumbling skyscrapers and battered streetlights, weaving through the madness to keep the enemy off the streets where civilians were still trapped.

Above them, perched on the rooftop of a partially collapsed building, Green Arrow had taken up a sniper’s nest shooting Frobots in the air with dozens of regular and trick arrows. His sharp eyes tracked Anne’s every move as he loaded a fresh arrow.

Green Arrow then talks to Anne in the comms

“Heads up, Anne—you’ve got bogeys on your tail!”

Anne glanced back, wincing at the sight of half a dozen Frobots zeroing in on them.

“I’m trying to keep them off the streets! Not a lotta room to work with here!”

Oliver adjusted his stance, drawing another arrow. He smirked under his breath.

Green Arrow:
“Yeah, well, they can’t bank for a damn(fires another arrow at a flying Frobot, kid. Bring ’em to me!”

Anne steeled herself and yanked Domino 2.0 into a hard arc, angling toward Oliver’s rooftop. Sprig, clinging tight behind her, loaded a Boomshroom into his slingshot.

“I got a surprise for ‘em!”

Green Arrow watched them close in, calm and focused. He drew a trick arrow—a specialized shot that, when fired, split into three separate warheads midair. He let it loose.

THWIP—THWIP—THWIP!

The truck arrow split perfectly, the three mini-arrows slamming into three Frobots at once. The machines exploded into smoking shards, raining metal onto the street below.

Anne:
“Woo! Nice shot, Legolas!”

Green Arrow chuckled. “Hold on, kid, we’re just getting started.”

The chase wasn’t over. As Domino darted through the broken avenues of Los Angeles, more Frobots closed in from the side streets. Sprig twisted and fired his Boomshrooms expertly, detonating the enemies one by one. Each explosion echoed off the shattered glass of the city.

Then—a huge Frobot lumbered out from behind a half-destroyed skyscraper, blocking their path. This one was different: reinforced armor, massive missile racks on its shoulders, and a pair of glowing red eyes locked onto them.

Anne didn’t hesitate.

She leapt from Domino’s back mid-flight, her sword drawn. With a ferocious shout, she landed on the Frobot’s head, dug her sword into its armored skull, and sliced clean through the main wiring.

The massive machine toppled, crashing onto the pavement in a heap of sparks.

As the camera panned to a nearby side street, two men huddled behind a wrecked car, trapped as another Frobot stalked toward them, laser arms charging up to fire.

Before it could pull the trigger—

CRASH!!

A black van barreled into the Frobot at full speed, knocking it through a storefront window.

The side door of the van slid open, revealing Terri behind the wheel, frantic but determined.

“Get in, quick!”

A second Frobot staggered onto the scene, disoriented—and was promptly run over by a speeding truck that had been tailing the van.

The camera shifted to the front, where Dr. Jan leaned out the passenger window, grinning widely.

“Ooh, baby. That never gets old!”

The rescued civilians clambered into the van, and it tore away into the smoke once again.

Anne, Sprig, and Domino 2.0, still dodging aerial attacks, guided a new wave of Frobots directly into an ambush point.

Waiting for them, hidden among the rubble, were Polly and Frobo. Frobo’s upgraded systems locked onto the targets, his robot limbs clicking into combat mode.

Polly sat atop a mounted gun turret, rigged to Frobo’s back. She tapped the seat casually, then found a hidden compartment.

“Oh, wait a second…”
She pulled out a full minigun, twice her size.
“That’s better.”

Grinning like a maniac, Polly opened fire, the minigun roaring to life. Bullets riddled the incoming Frobots, tearing through armor and circuits alike.

Frobo added to the carnage, launching a barrage of rocket blasters into the crowd of machines. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Fire and smoke filled the street as metal debris clattered to the pavement.

Hop Pop, watching from nearby, wiped a tear from his eye.

(proud sigh)
“They grow up so fast.”
He glanced to his side—and saw a Frobot raising its weapon at him.
“Oh!”

Without thinking, Hop Pop punched it square in the gut. It stumbled backward, sensors glitching.

Hop Pop (inflating his vocal sac and shouting):
“You think my grandbaby’s the only one who can fight?!”

The Frobot, sensors blaring, turned and ran.

Hop Pop dusted his hands off.
“Hey, this is going pretty well!”

But then—

A terrible screech split the air.

Hop Pop froze. Polly stopped firing. Frobo’s cannons powered down as everyone looked toward the source of the sound.

From the smoggy skyline, two massive shapes emerged—the giant herons, their monstrous forms swooping low over the city. Below them, a military tank opened fire in desperation.

One heron snatched the tank midair, its talons crunching through steel like cardboard. With a flick of its grotesque beak, it tossed the tank to the other heron, who caught it and crushed it down further with a chilling CRUNCH.

Hop Pop’s face went pale.

(horrified whisper)
“It’s them. The herons.”

Polly gasped, her tiny hands trembling on the minigun’s grip.

“Those things… got Mom and Dad?”

Frobo stood frozen too, his sensors focusing on the monstrous birds.

Still riding high on Domino 2.0, Anne saw it happen.

“Guys, snap out of it or you’re toast!”

Sprig shook himself, blinking in horror.

“Oh, I only have one memory of that day…”
His voice shook.
“It’s the horrible sound the herons made.”

Anne pushed Domino harder, flying low over the wreckage.

“Frobo! Lantern! Get them out of there, right now!”

From above, Green Lantern John Stewart, hearing Anne’s distress call over the comms, peeled away from his sky battle and swooped down, forming a giant green energy net around Hop Pop, Polly, and Frobo. He lifted them clear of the approaching herons just as the ground shook beneath their landing zone.

The herons screamed in frustration, their red eyes blazing. As Lantern and Domino 2.0 flew away from the giant birds.

Above The skies thundered with the roar of jet engines. A formation of fighter planes screeched across the clouds, raining missiles and heavy fire down on the looming fortress. Explosions rippled across the stone walls and metallic structures—but the castle remained untouched, shimmering beneath a glowing forcefield that deflected every blast like ripples on a pond.

Missiles detonated harmlessly against the invisible barrier. Machine gun fire sparked and scattered, leaving the pilots frustrated and pulling away for another pass.

Meanwhile, just below the raging aerial battle, Joe Sparrow, wings slicing through the smoke and crossfire, carried a very different payload: Sasha, Grime, Lady Olivia, and General Yunan, clinging tight to his armored back.

The group approached fast, the giant fortress dominating the horizon like a jagged mountain. As they neared the main structure, Olivia pointed forward sharply, her voice crisp over the roar of battle.

“There’s our only way in!”

A small opening—an exposed underlayer beneath the forcefield—was visible where the barrier flickered and bent around the castle’s foundation. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

Joe Sparrow dived low, banking under the forcefield edge with a tight, powerful wingbeat. As they swooped in, two flying Frobots lunged from the side to intercept them.

Joe didn’t hesitate.

With a mighty flap of his wings, he blew the Frobots back into the stone wall, smashing them apart in a shower of sparks and smoke.

Joe landed hard on a stone courtyard near the side of the castle. His talons clanged against the metal-plated floor. Sasha, Grime, Olivia, and Yunan quickly dismounted, each immediately drawing their weapons.

Sasha planted her sword into the ground and took a deep breath.

“All right. We get in, take down the forcefield, and get out. Quick and clean.”

Lady Olivia gave a curt nod, adjusting the sword strapped to her side.

“Follow me, everyone. And stay close.”

Yunan, grinning her usual battle-hungry grin, cracked her knuckles.
“Ready to carve a path straight through!”

Sasha tapped her comms device, opening the League channel.

“This is Sasha. We’re in. Beginning infiltration now.”

Batman’s voice crackled back through the static.
“Acknowledged. Good luck. We’ll keep the pressure on.”

Sasha smirked slightly. “No such thing as luck,” she muttered, turning to follow Olivia.

The group pushed through a heavy iron door, slipping into the winding corridors of the fortress. The interior was dark and cavernous, lit only by harsh overhead lights and the occasional flickering monitor embedded in the walls. The halls were filled with the cold hum of machinery and the faint sounds of the battle outside.

They moved fast but carefully—Olivia leading, Sasha and Grime flanking, Yunan bringing up the rear. The castle’s inner defenses were no joke and they knew it was only a matter of time before they were spotted.

As they rounded a corner, three Cloak-Bots uncloaked and they are on the ceiling, their sleek black armor glinting under the pale light. These were different from standard Frobots—faster, smarter, armed with energy blades and stealth cloaking tech. Their red visors flared to life as they scanned the intruders.

Lady Olivia led them deeper into the castle. With the immediate threat neutralized, they moved swiftly toward their objective—the castle’s shield generator, the one thing keeping the Justice League and their allies from tearing the fortress apart.

Chapter Text

The sky was an inferno of clashing powers and burning metal.

Superman and Martian Manhunter flew through the thick smoke, side-by-side, their bodies cutting like knives through the chaos. Below them, the city sprawled in a fractured sprawl of crumbling skyscrapers and blocked-off streets.

Clusters of Frobots tried to meet them in the air, firing volleys of plasma and rockets. But they were no match.

Superman’s eyes blazed red, twin beams of heat vision cutting through the robots with brutal precision. Each burst of focused energy shredded through metal, melting Frobots midair before they could even react.

Beside him, Martian Manhunter shifted forms with liquid grace, sometimes elongating his arms into spears, sometimes using sheer telekinesis to hurl the bots into each other.

Above them, Hawkgirl was a living hurricane.

With a primal scream, she swooped down through a formation of enemy fliers, her Nth metal mace smashing Frobots left and right. Every swing shattered armor plating, sending bots spiraling into the streets below like broken toys.

She flipped midair, bringing her mace down in a brutal overhead strike that split one particularly large Frobot clean in two.

“Come on!” she roared into the wind, her voice carrying above the destruction. “Is that all you’ve got?!”

The air trembled under her fury.

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman faced her own battle.

A towering giant-class Frobot, nearly as large as a building, charged at her with heavy stomping steps, tearing apart the street below. Wonder Woman didn’t flinch.

With a roar of her own, she caught the Frobot by its mechanical arm, braced herself, and flung it upward with a massive surge of strength. The behemoth flew through the air like a missile, slamming straight into the side engine of a Flying Fortress.

The explosion was immediate. Fire bloomed outward as the Fortress shook violently, losing altitude and listing to the side.

But the victory was short-lived.

More Frobots swarmed Wonder Woman, descending from above like locusts. They fired relentlessly, dozens of red-hot blasts converging on her.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Wonder Woman crossed her silver bracelets, and the laser fire ricocheted off them in brilliant sparks. She pushed forward against the hail of fire, unyielding, her eyes blazing with fierce determination. Every step she took shattered the ground beneath her feet.

In the battered ruins of the city, The Flash became a red-and-gold blur weaving through the wreckage.

Barry darted through alleyways, open streets, collapsed buildings—wherever there were civilians trapped, he was there. One moment, he was pulling a family from a crushed bus; the next, he was extinguishing fires with twirling speed, creating whirlwinds to blow flames aside.

He delivered civilians to Black Canary and Aquaman, who were coordinating with police officers and military units at an improvised triage zone set up in a parking garage.

Black Canary was barking orders sharply, directing soldiers to set up barricades while Aquaman helped move fallen rubble with sheer brute strength, his trident digging into concrete as easily as wet clay.

A few soldiers, seeing him work, gave him wary glances—but Aquaman simply nodded grimly and kept moving, tossing aside half a bus to clear a path for the medics.

The Flash skidded to a halt beside them just long enough to call out:

“Two more coming your way! Watch the north alley!”

He was gone before the words had fully landed, a streak of red lightning trailing behind him.

As Barry zipped around another corner, he caught sight of two kids, no older than six or seven, huddled behind an overturned taxi. Their tiny faces were twisted with fear as four Frobots closed in, energy weapons whirring as they locked onto the easy targets.

Barry’s heart kicked into overdrive.

“Not today!”

In a blur of motion, he sprinted toward them.

The first Frobot turned to track him, but Barry was faster. He slammed his foot into the robot’s leg, crumpling its joint and sending it toppling.

In a second move, he grabbed the second Frobot by its arm and spun it in a dizzying arc, hurling it into the third one like a bowling ball.

The fourth fired a blast at him—but Flash ducked, slid under the beam, and delivered a speed-boosted punch that shattered its chest plate.

The kids gasped, clutching each other.

Barry knelt in front of them, giving them a wide, reassuring grin.

“Hey there, you guys okay? Let’s get you someplace safe.”

One of the little kids, still wide-eyed but trusting, reached out. Barry gently scooped both of them up in his arms.

Before running them back, he gave one of them a quick, playful pat on the head. The kid giggled nervously, the tension breaking for just a second.

Barry smiled warmly back, feeling a fierce sense of purpose settle over him.

No matter how bad it got—no matter how many enemies came their way—saving lives came first.

Anne vaulted off Domino 2, cradling a visibly shaken Sprig in her arms. She rushed toward Frobo, Hop Pop, and Polly, who were regrouping near the wreckage of a crushed Frobot. The sound of laser fire, collapsing buildings, and shrieking herons filled the air.

Anne knelt down quickly.

“Are you guys okay? I’ve never seen you like this.”

Hop Pop, his hands trembling slightly, looked at her with wide, glassy eyes.

“Sorry, Anne. I think we may have a tiny bit of trauma left over from WHEN THESE HERONS DESTROYED OUR FAMILY!”
He shouted the last part, causing Frobo to twitch in surprise.

Sprig lowered his head, voice small.

“Sorry, Anne…”

Polly, for once quiet, muttered:

“We’re letting you down, girl.”

Anne shook her head fiercely and set Sprig down carefully.

“Stop! I totally get it. But I can’t do this without you.”

She looked at each of them, her voice steady but urgent.

“I’ve seen this family overcome so much. I know we can get through this too. Together.”

Hop Pop opened his mouth to respond but stuttered badly.

“The… the Boo… the… Buh… Uh, the Chuh—”
(He smacked the side of his head.)

Anne blinked.

Anne (scratching her head):
“Yeah, wow, that trauma’s really messing with your head, HP.”

Hop Pop, now pointing frantically, shook his head.

“No, LOOK! The Boonchuys!”

Anne turned in time to see her parents—Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy—along with Batman, struggling near a wrecked city bus.

One of the giant herons was stalking toward them, monstrous beak gleaming. Mrs. Boonchuy grabbed her husband and pulled him inside the gutted bus just as a heron’s massive claw slammed into it, crushing the roof.

Batman vaulted into the bus right after them, throwing an explosive Batarang at the heron’s face—but it barely slowed the beast.

The heron used its beak to slice through the bus roof, peering inside hungrily. It tore apart the side panels with terrifying strength, ignoring Batman’s batarang detonations like they were fireworks.

Anne’s heart dropped.

“Mom! Dad! Batman! Oh, no—”
(She started to rush forward, but suddenly, the Plantars and Frobo flew past her on Domino 2.)

“CHARGE!”

“What? Guys?!”

But it was already too late to stop them.

Hop Pop, Sprig, Polly, and Frobo hurled themselves into the open mouth of the heron like they were storming a castle.

An explosion shook the heron’s head from inside, light flashing from its beak and eyes. The massive bird stumbled, screeched in confusion, and collapsed onto the pavement.

Out of the smoke, Frobo buzzed upright, carrying the Plantars on his back, their faces set with grim determination.

“If you think we’re gonna sit here for another second…”

“While you try to take away the only family we have left…”

“You got another thing coming!”

Meanwhile, Batman and the Boonchuys scrambled onto Domino 2, flying out of the collapsing wreck of the bus.

Another heron charged toward the group, screeching in rage.

Batman, quick to act, hurled another batarang—but it only briefly stunned the beast.

From Domino’s back, the Boonchuys and Batman steered toward a nearby parking garage, narrowly dodging a heron’s snapping beak. The monstrous bird crashed through the building after them, chunks of concrete raining down.

Meanwhile, the second heron pursued the Plantars and Frobo.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

(gasp) “The bigger they are…”*

”…The harder they fall!”

Frobo, responding instantly, fired a grappling hook from his mechanical arm. Polly, sitting on his shoulder, aimed it expertly.

The hook latched around the heron’s legs, tightening.

Frobo flew a tight circle around the bird’s ankles, wrapping its legs together in heavy steel cord.

The heron screeched, losing balance, flapping its wings desperately to stay airborne.

“It’s working!”

But then the heron lifted off, dragging Frobo and the Plantars upward.

“Totally forgot birds have wings!”

“Wings! Boy, that’s it! Frobo—TURN BACK! Fast!”

Frobo, using sudden G-force speed, whipped around the heron’s wing, tying it down tight.

The heron’s flight collapsed instantly. It spiraled downward, the Plantars screaming as they hung on tight.

At the last second, Polly sliced the rope with a hidden dagger, freeing themselves.

The heron smashed into the second heron by the parking garage in a titanic collision. Both creatures crashed to the ground, sending dust clouds rising high into the air.

Domino 2, carrying Batman and the Boonchuys, flew clear just in time.

The metal collars around the herons’ necks shattered as they hit the ground—broken, sparking, and dead.

The two giant herons blinked groggily, their glowing red eyes fading to a more natural yellow.

They looked up at the Plantars standing proudly before them.

“HEY!”

The Plantars marched up, fearless, filled with burning resolve.

“You may have taken something important from us…”

”…But you’re not gonna take anything else!”

He cracked his knuckles.

“Well kids, what do you say we teach these monsters some manners?”

In perfect unison, Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly dropped into a rhythmic stance.

They began the Plantar Family Hunting Dance.

Their legs shuffled, their arms waved, and their bodies moved in a strange hypnotic pattern—part ritual, part battle dance. Despite the absurdity, the herons stared, completely entranced.

Across the battlefield, the Boonchuys and Batman dismounted Domino 2, watching the bizarre dance unfold.

“Uh… Anne? What are they doing?”

“No way! The Plantar Family Hunting Dance!”

The Plantars finished the dance with a dramatic snap of their fingers.

The herons sat obediently like trained puppies.

“Now SIT!”

The herons dropped onto their haunches.

“Claw.”

Both birds lifted a claw awkwardly.

Hop Pop tossed a few treats—small bits of foraged jerky from his pouch—which the herons gobbled up happily.

“Now DESTROY those robots!”

Without hesitation, the freed herons spread their massive wings and took off, shrieking—not at the heroes—but at the Frobots.

They swooped down, talons raking through entire squads of enemy machines, snapping them like twigs, tossing them into buildings, sending chaos through the Core’s ranks.

Anne, the Plantars, and the Boonchuys stood watching in awe. With Batman only having a stoic expression.

“Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”

Above the city, Superman witnessed the giant birds flipping the battle upside down. Frobots were being torn apart midair, Flying Fortresses were being battered from above.

He tapped his comms, contacting Anne.

“Anne? Superman here. Uh… care to explain why the herons are fighting for us now?”

Anne, breathless but exhilarated, answered quickly:

“Long story short—family dance routine, deep-seated trauma healing, and treats. Don’t question it.”

Green Lantern’s voice cut in, sounding amused:

“Hey, whatever works. At least now we don’t have to worry about the birds anymore.”

Superman chuckled lightly—a rare sound in the middle of war.

“Copy that. Let’s mop this up.”

And with renewed strength, the League, Anne, the Plantars, and their newfound giant allies turned the tide of battle for good.

Inside the cold, mechanical heart of the Newtopia Castle, the atmosphere grew tense.

The once gleeful Darcy stared grimly at the battle monitors. One by one, they watched as the Frobot forces were decimated. Flying fortresses fell from the sky like smoking meteorites. Hordes of ground units were crushed beneath the assault of giant freed herons and the Justice League.

Darcy’s cables writhed and twisted around them, their glowing eyes narrowing into a dangerous glare. Their voice, usually dripping with mockery, now turned hard and cold.

“This has gone on long enough.”

They turned sharply to King Andrias, who stood beside them like a statue, his face unreadable, his massive form rigid under the weight of responsibility he could no longer avoid.

“Get out there and bring me that Boonchuy girl. Break her legs if you have to.”

King Andrias’s massive fists clenched at his sides. He bowed his head slightly, his face shadowed.

Without another word, he began to turn toward the exit of the control room.

But Darcy wasn’t done.

As Andrias reached the door, Darcy’s voice cut through the tension like a razor.

“Oh, and Andrias…”

Andrias stopped, glancing back over his shoulder.

Darcy (smiling darkly, tapping their helmet)
“If you fail, you can forget about ever joining your father and the rest of us up here.”

The Core—the true Core, the mass consciousness of Amphibia’s dead kings—waited, and Darcy reminded him cruelly that failure meant eternal separation from their ghostly embrace.

Andrias said nothing. His fists trembled slightly—whether from rage, shame, or fear, even he wasn’t sure. His gaze hardened.

Turning to a nearby Frobot commander, he barked:

“Ready the Dyoplosaurus.”

The Frobot saluted with mechanical efficiency and rolled out of the room to prepare the Dyoplosaurus unit—one of their deadliest assets: a gigantic, bio-mechanical dinosaur hybrid designed for siege warfare and urban destruction.

Andrias left the control room, his heavy footsteps thudding down the hall.

Darcy turned back toward the monitors.

As they flicked through surveillance feeds, a warning klaxon suddenly blared. One monitor flashed red, displaying moving figures deep inside the castle.

Darcy leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

The feed showed Sasha, Grime, Lady Olivia, and General Yunan fighting their way deeper toward the shield generator.

Darcy gives off a growl of irritation

As he strode through the dark halls toward the main gates, King Andrias brooded silently.

His mind churned.

Even if he succeeded in capturing Anne—even if he crushed her—the Justice League remained.

(Andrias’ Inner Monologue)
“Even if I defeat Boonchuy… what then? Superman is still out there. So is Wonder Woman. Hawkgirl. The Lantern. The Martian. Batman and the Flash. We couldn’t even get our hands on Kryptonite…”

He scowled deeply, his pace quickening.

The Core had underestimated Earth’s champions. Their arrogance—their assumption that technology alone would dominate—had blinded them.

And now, unless Andrias somehow achieved a decisive, immediate victory, this war would be lost. Not just for their domination plans—but for him personally.

He gripped his sword hilt tighter as he pushed through the final gates toward the arming bay, where the Dyoplosaurus was being prepared for deployment.

King Andrias whispering bitterly to himself
“This was supposed to be my redemption… not my final disgrace.”

Above him, the sounds of the castle’s walls shaking under aerial bombardment filled the air.

Time was running out—for all of them.

Chapter Text

The streets of Los Angeles were still alive with the chaos of battle. Fires raged, smoke choked the skies, and the sounds of combat echoed between the broken buildings.

Mrs. Boonchuy ducked behind a crumbling wall, firing precise blasts from her blaster, taking down Frobot after Frobot with the precision of someone who had clearly been training hard behind the scenes. But as she reloaded, a Frobot dropped from above, aiming a laser cannon at her.

Before she could react, Mr. Boonchuy stormed in from the side, slamming his hand into the bot. It triggered a powerful EMP pulse, knocking the Frobot offline instantly, its systems sparking and collapsing.

Mr. Boonchuy grinning as he dusted his hands

“Hey X, when the battle’s over, can we keep this stuff?”

Mr. X, standing nearby, blasted a Frobot behind him with casual precision—without even looking.

Mr. X snapping back

“That is proprietary government property, Mr. B!”

“So… that’s a maybe.”

Nearby, Batman moved with brutal efficiency, fighting alongside X. He fired his grapple gun into a Frobot’s chest, yanking it off its feet and pulling it into a brutal knee strike, disabling it.

Mr. X, adjusting his shades slightly, called out mid-battle:

“Problem?”

Batman without missing a beat
“I’m out.”

Mr. X tossed a spare laser gun toward him.

“Take my extra.”

Batman caught it, inspecting it briefly, before handing it back.

“Not my style.”

Mr. X shrugged, blasting another Frobot behind him.

“Suit yourself. I’m planning to live through this.”

Green Arrow kept firing precise shots from his rooftop perch. His arrows struck down Frobots left and right, exploding midair or pinning them to walls.

But as he loosed another shot, a Frobot landed heavily right next to him, the rooftop cracking beneath its weight. Green Arrow didn’t panic—he drew and fired point-blank, nailing it through its optic sensors. The bot collapsed in a heap.

Green Arrow reached for another arrow—
—and found his quiver empty.

“Out. Figures.”

Without hesitation, he flipped his bow around and used it like a quarterstaff, jamming the Frobot’s servo-joints and smashing it backward.

More Frobots flew toward him, lasers lighting up the air. Thinking quickly, Oliver dove to the ground, yanking an arrow from the corpse of a nearby Frobot, jamming it into his quiver.

With quick fingers, he toggled a hidden switch on his bow, setting the recovered arrow to grappling mode.

As lasers scorched the rooftop, Green Arrow sprinted to the edge—and jumped off.

He fired the grappling hook into a nearby building, swinging with breathtaking precision. He crashed through a window, landing hard inside an abandoned office space.

Coughing and dusting himself off, he muttered:

“Okay… maybe time to regroup.”

The battle shifted as the Justice League regrouped near the Boonchuys, Mr. X, Jenny, and Batman. Working in perfect synch, they quickly subdued the remaining Frobot forces in the area, forming a tight defensive perimeter.

From a nearby rooftop, two Frobots prepared an aerial strike against them.

Before they could fire, Anne’s sword slashed through both, severing their energy cores in one clean motion. Anne, breathing heavily, landed beside the League.

She exchanged quick nods with the Plantars, who took their ready stances.

Suddenly, a massive shadow overcame all of Los Angeles.

From Newtopia castle, a monstrous figure emerged—the Dyoplosaurus mech suit, gleaming black and steel, colossal and terrifying. Piloted by none other than King Andrias himself.

He landed heavily atop a skyscraper, his mechanical limbs digging into the concrete like claws.

King Andrias then speaks up in a mocking tone
“What’s good, primates?”

He let out a low chuckle.

Anne gritting her teeth

“Andrias…”

Sprig, aiming his slingshot from Anne’s shoulder:

“Ten coppers I can snipe him from here.”

King Andrias spoke, his voice booming across the city.

“I’ve got to be honest—you’ve put up a pretty good fight. For a race as primitive as yours, that is.”

“And even though we could easily wipe you out… I’m willing to strike a little bargain.”

The League tensed.

“I’ll call off this whole invasion if Anne Boonchuy beats me… in single combat. No gimmicks. One life for thousands.”

He paused, voice darkening.

“And if she doesn’t…”

The castle’s primary weapon charged. A bright beam fired, striking and obliterating the Hollywood sign in a single, horrifying blast.

Everyone stared in horror at the distant hill, now smoking ruins.

King Andrias then shouted for Anne

“You hear me, Anne? It’s time for a rematch!”

On a nearby rooftop, Anne stood still.

Sprig grabbed her arm.

“No, Anne! Don’t do it!”

“It’s a trap, for sure!”

Anne pulled something from her pocket—her incomplete “Who Am I?” essay, now worn and smudged from her travels.

She read it silently, then looked at the Plantars.

“You know… before Amphibia, I didn’t care about right or wrong. I just did what was easy. I let people walk all over me. And I think that’s because… I didn’t love myself. Not really.”

She smiled sadly.

“But meeting you three changed all that. These months we’ve spent together showed me the person I want to be.”

She tucked the essay back into her pocket.

“Trap or not, I have to do this.”

The Plantars rushed in, wrapping her in a fierce group hug.

“Then you better kick his big stupid butt!”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“You’ve got this!”

Anne hugged them back tightly—and then Frobo clanked up and wrapped his arms around all of them, completing the hug with a crushing grip.

Superman arrived at the rooftop and floated down, cape billowing.

He hovered a few feet from Anne, his expression serious.

“Are you really going to do this?”

Anne nodding

“This is my fight. I made it the League’s when I needed help… but this is my war to finish.”

Superman studied her for a long moment, then gave a small, respectful nod.

Anne hesitated, then added

“If I lose… I need you and the League to stop Andrias. And save Marcy. Do what you do best.”
She smiled faintly.

“Save the world.”

Superman nodded firmly.

“We will.”

He turned and flew back down to the others, landing beside Batman and Wonder Woman.

The Justice League clustered together, watching anxiously.

Wonder Woman folded her arms, frowning.

Hawkgirl looked ready to jump into the fight.

Green Lantern muttered
“We’re just going to let her fight him alone?”

Flash was visibly agitated.

Batman, as usual, stayed silent—but his jaw tightened.

Superman raised a hand.

“This is Anne’s fight. We have to trust her.”

The League exchanged glances, uneasy—but they stood down.

Anne whistled sharply.

Domino 2 swept down from the sky.

Anne mounted up and soared toward King Andrias, fearless.

From below, her family and friends shouted out:

“Go, Anne! Go!” Mr Boonchuy shouted

“Take him down!” Mrs Boonchuy said with encouragement

Sprig, thinking silently
“You can do it, Anne. We believe in you.”

As she flew toward the giant mech, the world seemed to hold its breath.

The final battle was about to begin.
And this time—Anne was ready.

Chapter Text

The winds howled between the shattered skyscrapers, carrying the lingering smoke of burning metal and ruined machinery. On the crumbling rooftop of a Bank tower, King Andrias, looming inside his monstrous Dyoplosaurus Mech Suit, waited with grim anticipation.

The giant mech shifted its weight, creaking with mechanical menace.

Then, in a swift dive, Domino 2 soared overhead. Anne Boonchuy leapt from her trusted mounts back, landing solidly on the rooftop. She dusted her shirt off casually, brushing her shoulder as if the apocalyptic scene around her was just another Tuesday.

“You rang?”

King Andrias chuckled lowly, his voice magnified by the mech’s speakers, echoing across the battered cityscape.

“You know, I think I finally figured out why the stones picked you as their champion, Boonchuy.”

“From the moment you stumbled into my throne room, I underestimated you. A scruffy little girl with one shoe and leaves in her hair.”

“Yet underneath it all… a true warrior. Such a brilliant deception.”

Anne narrowed her eyes, setting her stance.

“Speak for yourself. You went from Santa Claus to supervillain pretty quick there.”

Andrias let out a genuine, hearty laugh.

“Touché!” Then, with a more calculating tone.
“Oh, and I know about the time limit on your precious powers. Do you really think you can beat me before you pass out?”

Anne’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her eyes flashed brilliant blue, calamity energy sparking around her.

“Only one way to find out.”

News helicopters circled the rooftop, cameras zooming in on the confrontation. Their footage was broadcasted live across countless screens.

“It appears the hopes of Earth now rest on… a disheveled teenage girl?!?”

Across Los Angeles, the battle played out in real-time.

Crowds gathered around shattered storefronts and public squares where emergency feeds broadcasted the fight.

In a local donut shop, Maggie, Anne’s old school bully, stared at the TV in disbelief, powdered sugar falling from her mouth.

“No way! Is that Boobchuy?”

In a quiet suburban basement, Principal Murphy watched the live stream on an old TV. When Anne’s face filled the screen, she spit out her coffee all over her desk.

“Anne?! I just wanted an essay!”

Anne and Andrias stared each other down, the weight of two worlds pressing on their shoulders.

Then, in a flash, Anne shot forward, calamity energy blazing around her, trailing blue lightning. Her fist cocked back, aiming straight for Andrias’ core.

But Andrias was faster than she expected.

With a deafening roar, the Dyoplosaurus Mech swung a massive fist and caught Anne mid-air, sending shockwaves across the rooftop. She was slammed hard into the ground, but before she could recover, the mech’s tail whipped around, smashing Anne backward.

Anne tumbled end over end, slamming into the side of a nearby ventilation shaft.

Alarms blared inside the mech and a Robot Voice speaks up

“Target Locked.”

The mech’s shoulder compartments opened, launching a volley of rocket missiles toward Anne’s crumpled form.

Anne, gritting her teeth, rolled to her feet and dodged—barely. Each missile exploded behind her, throwing up massive walls of fire and debris, making it impossible to see Andrias’ next move.

Through the smoke, a giant mechanical arm pulled back for another devastating punch.

Anne (grimacing)
“Oh no…”

The fist collided with her midsection, launching her like a cannonball across the skyline. She crashed into the base of a skyscraper, the ground shaking from the impact. Cracks spiderwebbed across the building’s foundation.

At street level, the Justice League, the Boonchuys, Mr. X, Jenny, and the Plantars watched from a distance, clustered behind the wreckage of a collapsed building.

Green Lantern John Stewart clenched his fists, the green aura around him flaring uncontrollably.

Green Lantern angrily speaks up

“That’s enough. We can’t just stand here. She needs help!”

Flash shifted uneasily from foot to foot, clearly itching to run to Anne’s side.

Hawkgirl gripped her mace tighter, wings ruffling in agitation.

But Superman raised a hand, his face tight with restrained emotion.

Superman spoke firm but pained
“No. We have to trust her.”
(He turned his head slightly toward the sky, hearing Anne’s heartbeat still thudding strongly.)
“She’s not down yet.”

He said it more to reassure himself than the others. Every instinct in Superman screamed at him to intervene—to end this brutal fight immediately—but he knew… this wasn’t his battle to finish.

Not this time.

The League exchanged glances, their bodies tense, poised to spring into action—but they held their ground.

Batman spoke quietly, almost to himself:

Batman:
“Her fight. Her terms.”

Anne wiped a smear of blood from her mouth, her blue energy flaring back to life.

She stared up at the towering mech, her resolve hardening.

Anne (muttering to herself):
“I’ve come too far to lose now.”

She charged forward again, calamity energy blazing around her like a living storm.

Chapter Text

The sky above L.A. cracked and burned with the clash of titans.

Anne Boonchuy, cloaked in fading blue calamity energy, traded furious blows with King Andrias inside his colossal Dyoplosaurus mech suit. Each hit shook the skyscrapers, rattled the broken streets, and made the city itself seem to tremble with the force of their battle.

King Andrias pressed forward, his massive mechanical fists striking with inhuman speed and strength.

“Why fight it, Anne? Everything you love will eventually crumble. Your world… your friendships… everything fades.”

Anne, breathing hard, skidded across broken concrete before planting her foot firmly, glaring up at him.

“So what? I’m supposed to just give up? Stop feeling things? Be like you?”

She launched herself forward with a roar, landing a massive punch directly into the mech’s chestplate. The impact sent Andrias staggering back several steps, the metal groaning and denting under her fury.

Snarling, Andrias unleashed plasma olms from his suit’s gauntlets—writhing, glowing serpent-like constructs of pure energy that raced toward her.

Anne didn’t even blink.

She summoned her sword, calamity power coursing through it, the blade igniting with brilliant blue light.

“Honestly? I pity you!”

She threw the sword like a boomerang, the glowing blade slicing through the air, severing all the plasma olms in a single, perfect arc. Sparks and scraps of energy fell like broken stars.

The sword spun back, and Anne caught it seamlessly, ready for more.

“You shut yourself off from the rest of the world, didn’t you? A thousand years of suffering. Of burying your feelings. Of hating yourself.”

“That must have been hard.”

“ENOOOOOUGH!!!”

With a roar, Andrias lashed out with a devastating punch, his fist slamming into Anne mid-sentence. She was hurled through the air, crashing into a nearby skyscraper rooftop with a shuddering BOOM.

The entire building quivered under the impact.

Anne groaned, crumpled in a broken mess of glass and steel. Her calamity powers flickered and died, leaving her lying there—small, battered, vulnerable.

The citizens watching on screens all over the city gasped. People froze in the streets. First responders, shopkeepers, families—everyone felt their hearts sink.

The news feeds updated ominously

ALL HOPE LOST?

On a giant billboard, the Plantars, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy, Mr. X, and Jenny stared at the broadcast, faces stricken.

Sprig, hands clutched to his chest, shouted:

“Come on, Anne! If only we could let her know we’re all behind her!”

Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy exchanged determined looks and nodded.

“Hit it, Mr. X!”

Mr. X, grinning like a cat with a secret, whipped out a chunky remote.

“Behold! Your tax dollars at work!”

He smashed a big red button.

Across Los Angeles, hidden speakers crackled to life and As If It's Your Last" by Blackpink starts to play.

Music blasted into the city air vibrant and energetic, cutting through the despair like a blade of hope.

Over the loudspeakers, Mr. X’s voice rang out

“Hey Anne! Looks like you could use a little mood music!”

He quickly filmed a video of the Plantars and Boonchuys, uploading it directly to the hacked billboards.

“And a little birdie told me this was your jam!”

Across all the giant screens, Anne’s family appeared.

The Plantars & the Boonchuys shouting together
“KICK HIS BUTT!”

“We love you!”

“You got this, girl!”

“We believe in you!”

The sound was deafening.

Then, something amazing happened.

Across the city, thousands of citizens, soldiers, and civilians alike, and members of the League Flash, Black Canary and Green Arrow chanting:

“ANNE! ANNE! ANNE! ANNE!”

It roared across the city like an unstoppable wave.

It thundered through every street, every rooftop, every broken alleyway.

Anne’s fingers twitched.

Her eyes fluttered open.

And when she heard the music—the chant—the voices of her family and friends across the city—a smile spread across her battered face.

She planted her hand on the ground and slowly, powerfully, pushed herself to her feet.

“Well hello there, sweet life-giving K-Pop.”

Her body ignited once again with brilliant blue calamity energy, brighter than ever before.

With a roar, Anne shot into the air like a rocket, her sword crackling with fresh power.

Andrias barely had time to react.

Anne landed a crushing blow to the mech’s head, then followed it with a spinning kick that dented its armor. She launched into a flurry of attacks, raining down hits from every direction, faster than the eye could track.

Chapter Text

The battle raged, but the tide had turned.

Anne, calamity powers flaring wildly, dealt one devastating blow after another into Andrias’ Dyoplosaurus mech. Each strike reverberated across Los Angeles like a drumbeat of resistance.
Finally, with a surge of strength and a roar that echoed into the heavens, Anne slammed her sword down on the mech’s chestplate.

The force was massive.

Andrias stumbled back, unable to counter the raw power, and the sheer momentum hurled him through the air. He crashed onto the top of a nearby skyscraper, tearing through its steel and concrete with a monstrous impact.

Anne floated in the air, crossing her arms, energy crackling off her body.

“It’s over, Andrias! Call off the invasion!”

For a moment, the massive figure of King Andrias was still. His mech cracked and sparking.

Inside the cockpit, Andrias snarled.

Suddenly, Anne gasped. Her body flickered. Her energy pulsed weakly—then sputtered.

She began to slowly descend, her powers fading away.

“No! No, no, no, NO!”

King Andrias’ eyes gleamed in triumph.

“Time’s up. Looks like your powers are finally running out.”

Anne fell to the rooftop, her sword dim and her body weakened.

“Oh no…”

“It’s over! And you were so close, too.”

Anne struggled to rise, her hands trembling.

“Like heck it is.”

Summoning her last reserves, she tried to power back up—but she was too weak.
Andrias sneered and threw her backward effortlessly with a swipe of his giant arm.

Anne crashed to the ground, groaning in pain.

Across Los Angeles, the people gasped, some crying out. Every screen, every broadcast, showed Anne lying still on the rooftop.

Superman and the Justice League watched, horrified. Even Batman’s stoicism cracked into a shocked expression.

“Anne! Oh no!”

“We have to help her!”

Sprig rummaged frantically through his pockets, heart pounding.

“C’mon… C’mon… Boom shrooms… A-ha!”

He pulled out a boom shroom—but a red piece of paper slipped from his pocket.

Mr. X picked it up curiously.

“Hey, little man. You dropped your—”

He froze as his spy glasses picked up something invisible to the naked eye.

“Huh? A letter to Andrias?”

He tapped his glasses, enhancing the hidden ink.

“This letter is encoded with special ink that’s only visible with red lenses.”

The Plantars blinked in confusion.

“And you know this how, exactly?”

“Spy glasses? Secret messages? Kinda my job.”

Before he could explain further, Sprig snatched the letter and the glasses.

“I have to get up there!”

He sprinted toward Superman.

“Superman! I need a lift!”

Superman, seeing the fire in Sprig’s eyes, nodded without hesitation.

“Sprig, wait!”

“It’s too dangerous!”

But Sprig was undeterred.

Superman scooped Sprig up and rocketed into the sky, flying like a comet toward the rooftop where Anne lay prone—and Andrias loomed for the finishing blow.

Andrias raised his giant metal fist, ready to smash Anne into oblivion.

But Superman slammed into him like a missile, knocking Andrias backward, buying precious seconds.

Superman hovered above the rooftop protectively as Sprig jumped down to Anne’s side.

“Hey, Andrias!”

And with a sharp pull on his slingshot, Sprig fired a boom shroom straight into the mech’s damaged chest.
BOOM!
Sparks and smoke erupted.

Sprig knelt by Anne, whose eyes fluttered open weakly.

“Get out of here, Sprig. He’s too much… I’m useless now…”

Superman landed beside them, looking grimly at the towering mech ready to fight.

“Three for one, eh? Why not!”

He pulled back for a killing blow.

But Sprig held up the red paper, shouting:

“STOP! I have a message from Leif!”

Andrias froze mid-swing.

The mech’s view screen began decoding the letter automatically, translating the hidden script.

“How…? How do you know that name?!”

“I found this letter in my family’s basement. She was the one who betrayed you, wasn’t she?”

“So what if she was?!”

“She still had something to say to you.”

He pulled the glasses over his eyes and began to read.

Sprig’s voice transitioned into a gentle, familiar voice—Leif’s voice—as images filled Andrias’ mind.

“My dearest Andrias… This message may never reach you. But I hope it does. I know you must hate me, but please hear me out…”

(Images of Leif, older and wiser, standing before a swamp with a single tree stump — the beginning of Wartwood.)

“After hiding the music box on Earth, I knew I could never return to the kingdom. Change was scary, and it was hard for me to open my heart to others again. But I’m glad I did.”

(Leif laughing with new friends, the early Plantars tending to a new home.)

“We spend our lives afraid of change. But after many years, I realized… the beauty of life is the change.”

(Flashbacks of young Marcy smiling, overlapping faintly.)

“And through it all, I had such wonderful memories of you. For even though you, Barrel, and I were no longer together… you never left my heart.”

(Scenes of Barrel, Andrias, and Leif.)

“In the end, my only remaining wish is that somehow, someday, my love reaches you. So I’m begging you, my dearest friend… don’t close yourself off. Open your heart, and follow it.”

Sprig’s voice returned, closing the letter

”…With love always… Your Leif.”

A gust of wind caught the letter, pulling it from Sprig’s hands.

Andrias reached out instinctively and caught it.

His mech’s helmet peeled back, revealing Andrias’ face, raw and broken. Tears welled up in his enormous eyes and streamed down his face.

“All this time… I thought you had forgotten me. Like I tried to forget you…”

“My dear friend…”

He pounded the ground once—twice—his grief shaking the very building.

“BUT YOU’RE TOO LATE!!! The things I’ve done… the pain I caused… THERE’S NO GOING BACK!!!”

Anne tried to push herself upright, trembling.

“C’mon… C’mon…”

Superman stepped closer, crouching beside her.

“Come on, kid.”

The voices of the city, the chanting citizens, the Justice League, her family—all of it filled Anne’s heart with strength.

And slowly… Anne’s energy began to rise again.

Meanwhile in the castle Sasha was slammed hard onto the floor, gasping for breath, her body bruised and battered. Above her, Darcy—or rather the Core—hovered menacingly, twirling their scythe, its razor-sharp blade inches from Sasha’s face.

“Well, Sash, it’s been fun!”

Sasha gritting her teeth, defiant

“Do your worst…”

Darcy cackled and swung the scythe up for the final strike—but they paused, sensing something strange.

“Huh? It can’t be…”

Darcy flicked their hand, summoning a projection screen.

On the screen, they saw King Andrias openly crying, the letter from Leif clutched to his massive hands, his mech shaking not with rage, but with sorrow.

“Aldrich, your son is losing the will to fight. That weakling!”

They turned to Sasha, delighted.

“Hey, Sasha, as a fellow control freak, you’ll probably appreciate this!”

With a twisted grin, Darcy fired a wave of energy at Andrias, the magic surging through the psychic link via the crown on his head.

Andrias groaned in pain, his willpower faltering under the Core’s renewed assault.

Outside, Anne, Sprig and Superman watched in horror as Andrias’ mech suddenly reactivated, the eyes glowing red again.

“Andrias! Stand up and fight, you pathetic excuse for a king! We are all you need. We are all you will ever have!”

Darcy, utterly focused on controlling Andrias, didn’t notice Grime crawling forward. With a grunt of effort, Grime kicked Sasha’s pink heron sword across the floor toward her.

Sasha, her body screaming in protest, reached out, grabbed the sword, and used it to pull herself up, staggering.

Anne’s earlier words echoed in her mind:

“It’s not who we were that matters, Sash. It’s who we are now that counts.”

With a roar fueled by determination, Sasha charged Darcy.

Darcy, sensing movement too late, turned—only to be struck full force by Sasha’s blade.

“I AM NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE!”

Darcy’s scythe was knocked away, clattering across the room.

They staggered back, blinking in confusion. At first, they laughed, brushing off their armor.

“Pfft… You missed.”

Sasha grinning

“Wanna bet?”

Suddenly, Darcy’s smile faltered.

The cord connecting Darcy’s helmet to the Core’s mainframe—severed.

Darcy screamed in rage and horror as the connection was violently ripped apart.

“MY CONNECTION! YOU FOOL! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’VE DONE?!?”

The room shuddered, and red warning lights blared.

Power surged, sparking across every console.
The red Core eyes on the walls and screens shattered, their glass falling like rain.

Darcy let out a final, haunting scream as their body went limp, the helmet cracking and falling away, revealing an unconscious Marcy, her face peaceful at last.

Sasha dropped her sword and sprinted forward.

“Marcy! Marcy, wake up! Marcy!”

Anne, now fully powered up, floated beside Superman.

They exchanged a quick, firm nod—and charged at Andrias together.

Andrias looked up at them, then at the letter from Leif still in his hand.

Leif’s voice echoed in his mind:

“Don’t close yourself off. Open your heart, and follow it.”

With a heavy, broken sigh, Andrias deactivated his mech, the red lights dimming.

He opened the cockpit, his massive form exposed, kneeling atop the skyscraper.

Anne and Superman tried to halt mid-air, but it was too late.

They slammed into the mech at full speed, crashing through it in a brilliant explosion of sparks and shattered metal.

Debris rained down across the rooftop.
Anne’s powers flickered out again, and she slumped—only for Superman to catch her before she could fall.

Watching on giant billboards, the city held its breath.

When the dust settled, a cheer broke out.

Polly raising a fist, screaming
“She… DID IT!!!”

Crowds erupted into celebration: civilians hugging, soldiers cheering, families crying with joy.

Mr. X and Jenny exchanging a victorious high-five. Dr. Jan, Ally and Jess, Humphrey, and Molly Jo cheering and crying. Terri dancing awkwardly in the street.Maggie, watching on a busted TV in a corner market, offering a tearful thumbs up. Principal Murphy, screaming in triumph, spiking a roll of toilet paper like a football.

“WOO!! YEAH!!!”

Wonder Woman, arms crossed but smiling warmly:

“She actually did it.”

“I never doubted her.”

Batman states with a smile

Sprig hugged Anne tightly.

“You won, Anne! You did it! You won!”

“No, Sprig. We won.”

She turned her head up to Superman, who smiled at her.

“You did good, Anne.”

Then came the coughing.

They turned and saw King Andrias, crumpled amidst the wreckage.

His left side was shredded, revealing cybernetic implants intertwined with flesh. He struggled to sit up.

“Andrias? What…?”

Andrias weakly answers

“Living for a thousand years was… not without sacrifice…”

Above them, the shimmering blue forcefield surrounding the castle collapsed, disintegrating into dust.

Anne’s eyes widened.

“The forcefield’s down! Sasha must have won!”

Andrias, coughing, gripped the broken letter tightly.

“Marcy… You… You must save Marcy…”

Through the smoke, Domino 2 and Frobo soared in, carrying Polly and Hop Pop.

Domino 2 flapped heavily as she landed near the group.

“We’re going to the castle!”

Anne turns to Superman, urgently

“Will you come with us?”

Superman nodded firmly.

“Lead the way.”

They were going to the castle.

They were going to save Marcy.

Chapter Text

Domino 2 and Frobo flew through the broken opening in the castle walls, carrying Anne, Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop, with Superman flying alongside them, his cape rippling behind him in the smoky air.

Their eyes immediately locked on a heartbreaking scene.

Sasha, bruised and battered but standing tall, was cradling an unconscious Marcy in her arms.
Nearby, Olivia, Yunan, and Grime all stood tense and worried, watching the scene unfold.

Superman, using his enhanced hearing, focused carefully on Marcy. For a brief, agonizing second, no one moved.

Then —Superman smiled slightly, relieved.

“Heartbeat’s steady. She’s alive.”

Anne didn’t wait another second.

She leapt from Domino 2’s back, hitting the ground running, her boots slapping against the cracked stone floor as she raced to Sasha’s side.

Sasha glanced up as Anne knelt down next to her.
Both girls cradled Marcy’s small frame between them, tears already welling up in their eyes.

Anne voice trembling, breaking

“Oh, Marcy. We love you, and…”

Sasha choking back sobs

“We forgive you. Please… come back to us…”

Their tears, real and raw, fell freely onto Marcy’s still face, soaking into her dark green tunic.

Seconds stretched into what felt like eternity.

Then —Marcy’s eyelids fluttered.

She blinked groggily, her voice tiny but full of stunned recognition.

“Anne? Sasha?”

Both Anne and Sasha gasped, tears falling harder.

Anne started crying and her voice cracking
“Marcy? Marcy!”

Sasha (laughing through her sobs):
“You’re alive!”

Without hesitation, the three of them threw their arms around each other, holding each other so tightly it seemed they would never let go.

Behind them, Olivia pulled Yunan into a tight hug of her own, the hardened general pretending to resist for a moment before giving in, sagging into it.

The Plantars, Grime, and Frobo all looked on, eyes wide and hearts full, their expressions ranging from awe to pure happiness.

Marcy, still crying, leaned into her friends.

“Anne. Sasha… I’m sorry. I was so scared about moving away. The thought of losing you guys was just… so big. I was terrified that if we weren’t together… we wouldn’t be friends anymore.”

Anne, tears streaming down her cheeks, pulled back slightly to look Marcy in the eyes.

Anne soft and wise spoke up

“I know it’s hard, Marcy. But no matter how much we fight it or deny it… things change.”

She smiled through her tears.

“We can’t stop it. But nothing—no distance, no time—can break the bond we share.”

She pressed her forehead to Marcy’s.

“Nothing can ever take away the memories of the time we spent together.”

From afar, Sprig watched Anne speak, his own heart tightening with worry and something uncertain.

Anne, feeling the weight lifting from her chest, suddenly laughed.

“Now come here!”

She tackle-hugged Marcy and Sasha, pulling them into a messy, tearful, giggling pile.

“Can you believe we just defeated an ancient invading empire?”

“That’s gonna look real good on future job applications.”

“And we’ll have videos to prove it!”

All three girls laughed together, the sound full of life, full of healing.

Anne turned back to the others, eyes bright.

“The rest of you! Get over here!”

The Plantars, Grime, and Frobo sprinted forward without hesitation.

Sasha jogged over to where Olivia and Yunan stood, awkwardly hovering.

“Come on, you guys.”

Olivia, smiling gently, grabbed Yunan’s sleeve and dragged her forward.

“Uh… I don’t do… group hugs…”

Sasha just smirked and pulled them in anyway.

Grime, standing off to the side, tried to play it cool.

“Grimesy…”

Sasha said with a grin

“Oh, okay!”
He stomped over and wrapped his remaining arm around the group.

Then—Frobo came barreling forward.

Everyone shouted for him to slow down, but he leapt into the air and crashed onto the group with a heavy thud, causing everyone to groan and laugh at once.

From a short distance away, Superman crossed his arms and chuckled, genuine sound from the Man of Steel.

Meanwhile…Unseen by anyone, a faint whirring sound came from the rubble.

Darcy’s helmet, still partially intact, twitched…
It scuttled slowly away into the shadows—undetected.

As the laughter settled, Marcy finally glanced up—
—and her eyes widened as she saw Superman for the first time.

Marcy blinking, stunned

“Uh… guys? Why is Superman here?”

The entire group laughed again, a much-needed release after everything they’d been through. Anne then grins and speaks.

“Long story. You’re gonna love it.”

Sometime Later in Downtown Los Angeles

The battle was over, but the aftermath still weighed heavy on the city.

Buildings smoldered, streets were cracked and cratered, debris scattered for miles. But among the chaos, a different kind of sight unfolded—one of rebuilding and hope.

The Justice League was everywhere, working alongside military, police, and emergency responders to clean up the destruction.
• Superman is back down in the city begins helping civilians who are trapped in rubble and destroyed buildings and brining the injured to EMTs
• Wonder Woman gently lifted overturned vehicles with ease.
• Green Lantern John Stewart used intricate green constructs to stabilize broken structures and repairing Mount Lee and the Hollywood sign.
• Flash darted around, moving supplies and clearing rubble at speeds that made him a blur.
• Martian Manhunter phased through wreckage, searching for any trapped survivors.
• Hawkgirl directed traffic from above, keeping helicopters and drones coordinated.
• Batman was on the ground, coordinating with local law enforcement with his usual gruff authority. The other leaguers like Green Arrow, Canary and Aquaman helped Batman with helping local law enforcement.

Above all of it, the freed giant herons, now allies, soared through the skies helping to clear large debris, carefully moving destroyed Frobots to designated piles for disposal.

On the ground, Mr. X stood proudly with a megaphone, watching one of the herons gently place a downed Frobot into a containment unit.

Mr. X grinning, speaking into the megaphone

“Good birdie!”

Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy stood beside a makeshift command center, speaking to their daughter via phone.

On the screen, Anne, Sasha, and Marcy (now back in her sleek Newtopia Ranger outfit) appeared together.

Anne’s face was lit with an exhausted but happy smile.

“Now we just need to see everyone back safely to Amphibia and make sure everything’s okay on the other side.”

Mrs. Boonchuy and Mr. Boonchuy smiled warmly, adjusting the communicator.

“We’ll hold down the fort here.”

“Just until you get back home.”

Marcy shifted nervously, then leaned closer to the screen.

“Mr. and Mrs. B? Could you… let our parents know we’re okay?”

“And that we’ll be back soon?”

Mrs. Boonchuy chuckled lightly.

“Sure thing. Now that the robot attack was all over TV, it’ll be way easier to explain everything.”

Before they could wrap up, a shadow fell across the communicator.

Superman stepped into view, cape fluttering, his expression serious but kind.

He leaned slightly closer to the screen, addressing the girls.

“Anne. Marcy. Sasha. Before you head back… when you return to Earth, the League would like to have a word with you.” He looked specifically at Marcy and Sasha, his gaze firm. “Especially you two.”

Marcy wincing

“See you soon!” nervous giggle

Anne smiling, waving
“Love you!”

Sasha grimacing slightly
“Bye!”

The screen blinked off.

Marcy and Sasha turned toward Anne, looking both sheepish and concerned.

“Uh… Anne? What exactly does he mean by… ‘especially you two’?”

Anne shrugged, a little too casually then spoke in an innocent voice.

“Oh… I may have told the League about… you know… the betrayals, the whole you Sasha taking over an entire kingdom and Marcy-stranding-us-in-Amphibia thing…”

Marcy and Sasha both paled, the realization hitting like a truck.

Marcy starts panicking slightly

“You told Superman and Batman?!”

Sasha began groaning
“Dude! Getting scolded by Batman sounds worse than getting grounded by my parents or getting detention from Principal Murphy!”

Anne laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head.

Anne:
“Well… honesty’s important, right?”

Sasha and Marcy exchanged looks of pure dread.

Anne turned toward the Music Box, cradling it gently.

With a deep breath, she activated it.

A brilliant blue portal ignited in the sky above the ruins of Los Angeles, swirling like a giant, shining vortex.

Citizens of L.A., emergency workers, the Justice League, and even the Boonchuys and Mr. X paused to watch.

High above, the castle began to shift and hum
Slowly, the entire castle, went through the portal

Civilians captured the moment on phones, news anchors narrated it live, and the final image burned into the memory of Los Angeles

And just like that the castle vanishes and they were gone.

Chapter Text

Hours Later — The Remnants of the City

The sun had risen higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the battered city of Los Angeles. Despite the destruction, there was movement everywhere—organized, determined, relentless. The work of rebuilding had begun, even with the dust of battle still fresh in the air.

Across the ruins, the Justice League continued their tireless efforts. Superman was high above, using his strength to lift sections of collapsed buildings, moving debris as though it weighed nothing. Wonder Woman worked side by side with heavy machinery, using her power to set structural reinforcements into place where damaged hospitals and shelters were being rebuilt. Batman coordinated with city officials and emergency crews, his tactical mind turning chaos into order with clipped commands and sharp gestures.

Green Lantern, his ring flaring bright, created support struts and barriers, replacing what had been lost with sheer willpower, while Hawkgirl patrolled the skies, sweeping through the air to spot any lingering threats or unstable structures. Martian Manhunter moved among the ruins quietly, using his phasing ability to reach civilians still trapped in wreckage that human rescue teams couldn’t access yet.

Closer to the ground, Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Aquaman worked amongst the civilians. Green Arrow used his agility to scale shattered buildings, helping trapped residents out of precarious places and giving them to Barry to take to tents, offering them calm encouragement and the occasional dry joke to keep their spirits up. Black Canary, voice powerful even without her Canary Cry, directed evacuees through the wreckage with precision, her steady tone keeping panic at bay. She knelt beside frightened children and injured adults, ushering them toward the emergency tents with a warm hand on the shoulder, keeping everything moving.

Aquaman, less familiar with the chaos of a city, still made himself invaluable. He used his strength to lift heavy wreckage off of crumpled vehicles and smashed storefronts, carrying people to safety with surprising gentleness for someone who had once commanded the seas themselves. Children stared up at him in awe as he passed, some clutching at his green gauntlets like he was a living legend.

The League’s presence was a beacon for the city. Wherever they went, hope seemed to gather.

In the heart of the effort, A.R.G.U.S. had set up mobile command centers. Their armored personnel and recovery teams worked swiftly, hauling away the remains of Frobots and the wreckage of the Flying Fortresses. Specialized containment vehicles were loaded with broken cores, cracked armor plating, and still-glowing pieces of amphibian technology. Some ARGUS teams had cordoned off major sectors for deeper investigation, preparing to study the alien tech under the highest security protocols.

Near one of the loading zones, the Boonchuys stood with the Wu family and the Waybrights, talking in hushed, worried tones.

Mrs. Wu clutched her husband’s arm tightly, her eyes flickering toward the towering remains of the castle in the distance.

“When will they be back?” she asked, her voice wavering with worry.

Mrs. Waybright rubbed her hands together anxiously, echoing the sentiment. “Sasha’s always been away this long without contacting us. We just want to know they’re safe.”

Standing with calm certainty, Mrs. Boonchuy offered a small but reassuring smile. “They’ll be back soon. They’re strong. Stronger than I think even they realize.”

Mr. Boonchuy nodded firmly. “After everything that happened—and everything that was broadcast all over TV—I think it’s safe to say our girls are more than just okay.” He chuckled under his breath. “Anne and Sasha basically world-saving superheroes now.”

The group shared a small, uncertain laugh, the tension between them easing just slightly under the weight of hope.

Not far from them, Mr. X stood by one of the ARGUS recovery trucks, speaking with Superman. The two had been deep in conversation for several minutes, casually observing the giant herons helping the cleanup effort. One of the herons, carefully trained by the Plantars and Anne during the final battle, gently picked up a slab of ruined Frobot and carried it over to an ARGUS containment pod.

Mr. X clapped his hands and called out, “Good birdie!” with a broad grin.

Superman watched the scene, arms folded across his chest, his cape catching the afternoon breeze. He turned slightly to Mr. X.

“Are you planning to keep them here?” Superman asked, his tone light but serious.

Mr. X, wearing his signature sunglasses despite the dust and haze, shrugged. “Tempting. But even I know these majestic, slightly terrifying monsters deserve better than this concrete zoo.”

Superman gave a small nod, thinking. After a pause, he added, more to himself than to anyone else, “I’ll take them somewhere safe. Somewhere they can thrive.”

He whispered almost inaudibly, “Most likely the Fortress.”

Mr. X caught just enough of the whisper to raise an eyebrow curiously, but didn’t press it.

Instead, he leaned back against the side of the truck and crossed his arms.

“Thinking about leaving the FBI,” Mr. X said casually.

Superman glanced at him, surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Mr. X continued. “After everything that’s happened… working with ARGUS just makes more sense. They’re better equipped for… well, the weirder side of things.” He tilted his sunglasses down slightly, giving Superman a knowing look. “Fits my expertise a little better, don’t you think?”

Superman smiled—a rare, genuine smile reserved for moments he truly respected. He extended his hand.

“You’d be an great asset, X,” Superman said.

Mr. X shook his hand firmly, grinning wide. “You’re darn right I would.” His hands moving animatedly as he described his next moves. “I mean, seriously, Argus is practically begging for someone with my charm and genius,” he said with a grin, adjusting his sunglasses. “Honestly, it’s about time.”

But as the words left his mouth, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble—subtle at first, then growing, a thrumming in the air that set teeth on edge.

Eyes snapped toward the center of the street where, with a deep, resonating hum, a massive portal tore itself open. Bright, swirling light spiraled outward, bathing the wreckage of downtown Los Angeles in a glow so fierce even the League immediately dropped what they were doing.

Superman’s eyes narrowed, his body instinctively moving into a defensive stance.

Green Lantern’s ring flared to life.

Wonder Woman drew her sword.

Batman clenched a batarang in hand, already calculating strategies.

Flash, Black Canary, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, and Green Arrow moved swiftly to cover the civilians behind them.

For a brief, terrifying second, everyone thought the nightmare wasn’t over—that some new force had come through to finish what Andrias had started.

But then, through the swirling portal, three familiar figures emerged, stepping carefully onto the cracked pavement.

Anne Boonchuy,
Sasha Waybright,
Marcy Wu.

Their faces were still wet with tears, their bodies weary from what must have been an emotional farewell.

Anne’s hair fluttered in the portal’s breeze, Sasha’s sword hung sheathed at her back, and Marcy clutched a satchel over her Newtopian Ranger uniform, her eyes wide and shimmering.

As the portal closed behind them with a soft whoosh, silence gripped the street.

Then—

From across the barricades, the Boonchuys, the Wus, and the Waybrights sprinted forward.

Mrs. Boonchuy was the first to reach Anne, wrapping her daughter in a tight, desperate hug, tears streaming down her cheeks. Mr. Boonchuy followed immediately, grabbing both of them in his arms.

Behind them, Mr. and Mrs. Wu rushed to Marcy, enveloping her in a crushing embrace, while Mr. and Mrs. Waybright pulled Sasha into a hug so tight she nearly suffocated.

None of them cared about the tears or the grime or the way their knees buckled under relief. Their children were home. That was all that mattered.

Mrs. Wu clutched Marcy’s face between her hands, whispering tearful apologies and promises.

Mrs. Waybright kissed Sasha’s forehead repeatedly, muttering, “You’re safe, you’re safe, you’re safe” like a mantra.

Mrs. Boonchuy stroked Anne’s hair, sobbing openly. “We love you, sweetie.”

Marcy begins apologizing to her parents tearfully for running away from home and that she was selfish to do so. To make them worry.

Mr. Wu, voice thick with emotion, added, “none of that matters sweetie all that matters is that you are home and safe. I delayed my new job, Marcy. We’ve been waiting. Nothing—not time, not anything—was going to make us move on without you.”

The girls cried harder, overwhelmed by the unconditional love pouring over them.

The Justice League gathered nearby, watching the scene unfold with quiet reverence. Superman, still standing beside Mr. X, allowed himself a smile. Even Batman’s stern features softened slightly.

After several minutes, as the tears slowed and the hugs loosened slightly, the Boonchuys, the Wus, the Waybrights, and the League clustered around the girls, questions burning in their minds.

It was Wonder Woman who finally broke the silence, stepping forward, her brow furrowed with concern.

“What happened?” she asked gently. “You were gone a long time.”

Anne wiped her face with her sleeve and took a shaky breath, gathering herself.

“Well…” she started, exchanging a look with Sasha and Marcy, who nodded for her to continue, “…after we came back to Amphibia, we found out the Core wasn’t done yet. They tried to… they tried to ram the moon into Amphibia. To wipe everything out.”

The crowd gasped and exchanged shocked looks.

“And,” Marcy chimed in, her voice still a little unsteady but steady enough, “Anne… Anne sacrificed herself to stop it.”

Anne looked down at her shoes, half-embarrassed, half-uncomfortable.

“She absorbed the energy from the gems in the Music Box and used it to destroy the moon before it could crash,” Sasha finished, her voice trembling with pride and sorrow.

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Superman stepped forward slightly, his jaw tightening.

“You… died?” he said quietly, disbelief flashing in his blue eyes.

Anne nodded once, solemnly.

Mrs. Boonchuy squeezed Anne tighter, her hands trembling.

“How are you even alive?” Mr. Boonchuy choked out.

Anne smiled weakly. “That’s… an even longer story,” she said. “Short version? The cosmic being who gave the gems their power brought me back. Gave me another chance.”

She tried to keep it light, but the weight of it still hung heavy on her shoulders.

“And uh,” Anne added, trying to shift the subject, “I’m gonna need a new phone. I gave mine to Sprig before we left.”

A small ripple of laughter passed through the crowd, easing some of the tension.

Batman, always practical, stepped closer.

“And the Music Box? Do you still have it?” he asked.

Anne shook her head.

“The interdimensional being who brought me back,” Anne explained, “gave us shards. Enough magic for one last trip home. But that’s it. We can’t go back now.”

The words hit the girls hard, but they understood. The portal was closed. Amphibia was beyond their reach.

But they were home. Safe. Alive.

And that was all they could have ever hoped for. Yet, in the midst of the happy reunions and relieved laughter, there was a weight still hanging in the air, one that hadn’t yet been addressed.

Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman exchanged glances—a silent conversation between seasoned heroes. It was time.

Superman stepped forward first, his shadow falling over Anne, Marcy, and Sasha. His expression was kind, but serious, and there was a strength in his voice that made even the hardened ARGUS agents pause in their tracks.

“Anne. Marcy. Sasha,” Superman said, folding his arms across his chest. “If we could have a word.”

The girls stiffened immediately, exchanging nervous looks. The parents gave them encouraging nods, stepping back slightly to give them space.
The League members nearby—Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter—watched quietly, knowing this was important.

Anne, standing between Sasha and Marcy, gave a small nod. “Of course.”

Wonder Woman approached next, her lasso at her hip, her bearing noble and warm. She smiled softly at the three girls, her eyes shining with respect.

“You should all be proud,” she said, voice steady. “You faced impossible odds, and you fought for what was right. Anne…” She turned specifically to Anne, who straightened instinctively under the Amazon’s gaze. “Your courage in sacrificing yourself to save the world is something most could only dream of. You showed the very best of what it means to be a hero.”

Anne blushed, ducking her head, unsure how to handle praise from Wonder Woman herself.

Superman added, voice firm but filled with warmth, “You saved two worlds, Anne. You didn’t just protect your friends—you protected people you didn’t even know. That’s true heroism.”

Batman, standing a few steps behind them, he smiled at her and nodded. That alone felt like a mountain of approval coming from him.

Anne smiled bashfully, feeling her heart swell.

But then the tone shifted. Superman’s expression sobered. Wonder Woman crossed her arms. Batman’s eyes sharpened beneath the cowl.

“And now,” Batman said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade, “we need to address everything.”

The girls tensed. Anne looked over at Sasha and Marcy, who were suddenly very focused on their shoes.

Superman’s tone grew heavier, more disappointed than angry. “Marcy. Sasha. You both have some serious things to answer for.”

Marcy bit her lip and looked down. Sasha clenched her fists at her sides.

“You,” Superman continued, nodding toward Sasha, “manipulated Anne. You convinced her to steal something powerful—something dangerous—because it was convenient for you. You skipped school. You broke trust. You missed Anne’s birthday and from what Anne told us, you took over an entire kingdom without even thinking about how it would hurt her.”

Sasha looked like she wanted to disappear. Her voice, when it came, was barely a whisper. “I… I know.”

Wonder Woman turned her gaze to Marcy, whose shoulders shrank under the weight of it.

“And you,” Wonder Woman said, “used the Music Box to strand yourself and your friends in another dimension. You didn’t just risk your friends’ lives—you started a chain of events that you indirectly led to an inter-dimensional invasion of Earth.”

Marcy’s knees almost buckled. She opened her mouth, but at first, no words came out. She looked around at the broken city—the shattered windows, the scorched earth, the wounded buildings—and the guilt hit her like a punch to the gut.

“I didn’t know…” Marcy finally choked out, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t know about Andrias’ plan. I swear. I just… I didn’t want to lose them.” She glanced at Anne and Sasha helplessly. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”

The weight of the destruction pressed harder. Her chest hurt with it.

Batman’s voice cut in, cool and firm, but not without a thread of understanding.

“Intentions don’t erase consequences,” he said.
“But,” he added, softening ever so slightly, “you made the right choice in the end. You stood against what you unleashed. That counts for something.”

Marcy wiped at her eyes quickly, trying to pull herself together.

“But don’t ever pull a stunt like that again,” Batman finished, his voice lowering into something even heavier, something personal. “Manipulating friends—betraying trust—these things destroy people, trust me I know. You’re lucky you had someone as strong as Anne to bring you all back together.”

Sasha swallowed thickly and nodded.

Marcy nodded too, tears falling freely now, but she didn’t shy away. She accepted it.

“And despite everything,” Superman said, stepping forward, his expression kinder again, “you helped save the world. In the end, you fought for what was right, and you stood together. You turned back from your mistakes. That is what matters most.”

Wonder Woman smiled, laying a hand gently on Sasha’s shoulder and then Marcy’s.

“From the looks of it, you redeemed yourselves,” she said. “And redemption, hard-won, is one of the greatest victories there is.”

The three girls stood quietly, absorbing the weight of it all—the praise and the reprimand both. It was not the scolding of angry parents or disappointed teachers. It was something deeper. Something more real.

It was the recognition of heroes who understood that sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones fought inside yourself.

Anne, unable to help herself, pulled Sasha and Marcy into a fierce hug.

And this time, they hugged her back without hesitation, without pride, without fear.

They were home.
They had made mistakes.
And they had made things right.

And now, surrounded by family and the greatest heroes the world had ever known, they could finally start to heal.

Chapter Text

The sun now sat comfortably in the west, casting golden streaks across the recovering skyline of Los Angeles. The worst was behind them, but there was still much to sort out. Recovery wasn’t just about buildings—it was about people, knowledge, consequences, and what came next.

As the Justice League and ARGUS continued coordinating cleanup, Mr. X gathered Anne, Sasha, and Marcy to a nearby mobile command vehicle for a debriefing. The colorful, ever-charismatic agent now wore a more subdued version of his usual wardrobe—still stylish, but marked by authority.

He offered the girls water bottles and motioned for them to sit across from him on fold-out chairs. Around them, ARGUS agents worked quietly, monitoring recovery of tech remnants and cataloging the debris.

“All right, girls,” Mr. X said, folding his hands on the table. “We’re tying a bow on this crisis, but I want it on record—where you’ve been, what you saw, what happened in Amphibia. The whole nine yards.”

Anne glanced at Sasha and Marcy, who both nodded slightly. Then she spoke. “We’ll tell you everything. Just… give us time. It’s been a lot.”

Mr. X smiled gently, understanding flickering in his usually animated face. “Of course. We’ve got time.”

⸻

Nearby, Green Lantern stood at the edge of a wide, reinforced landing pad with two giant herons, gently bound in reinforced, ARGUS-approved containment harnesses. They looked calm, their piercing eyes scanning the city one last time before departure.

Floating beside them in a glowing green transport construct, Green Lantern raised a brow at Superman, who hovered next to him midair.

“You sure the Fortress is the right place?” John asked.

Superman nodded. “It’s isolated, secure, and it has more than enough space for them to roam. They’ll be safe—and they’ll be free.”

John gave a slight smirk. “Sounds like a paradise… for birds.”

Superman offered a small smile. “After what they’ve been through, they deserve it.”

With a final nod between them, Green Lantern turned back to the birds, and with a soft glow, the construct rose into the sky, carrying the herons north toward the frozen sanctuary of Superman’s hidden refuge.

The League watched the herons vanish over the horizon.

Batman, arms crossed, spoke without turning. “They’ve got it from here.”

The others turned to him.

“I’ve got business back in Gotham,” he said simply, checking something on a wrist-mounted device. “But you’ve got my number.”

Moments later, the dark shape of the Batwing roared into view, descending above the ruined plaza like a silent shadow. Dust and wind spiraled from its engines.

Before he could move, Anne jogged up to him.

“Hey,” she said, a little breathless. “Before you go… thank you.”

Batman turned slightly to face her, his expression mostly hidden, but not unreadable.

“You didn’t have to help us,” she continued. “But you did. And… well, I know you’re Batman and all, but that meant a lot.”

For a beat, Batman said nothing. Then he tilted his head slightly and, in a rare, unexpected moment of warmth, gave her a faint but unmistakable smile.

“Stay safe,” he said. “And stay out of trouble.”

Then, almost as an afterthought, he added something softly, in fluent Thai—a language Anne hadn’t heard spoken since her earliest childhood.

It was simple, but meaningful.

“อย่าลืมว่าคนเก่งก็ต้องพักบ้างนะ”
(Don’t forget even the strong need rest.)

Anne blinked, startled. Her heart caught in her throat.

Before she could respond, Batman fired his grapple line, the cord zipping him skyward into the open Batwing. With a smooth transition, the ship veered upward and vanished into the clouds, the roaring wind trailing in its wake.

Anne stood there, stunned for a moment, the words echoing in her chest. Behind her, Sasha and Marcy joined her side, watching the Batwing disappear.

“He actually smiled,” Sasha said in disbelief.

Anne exhaled. “And spoke Thai.”

Marcy blinked. “Do you think he’s… part-Thai?”

“No,” Anne said. “But I think he knows how to make things personal.”

They stood in silence a moment longer before a familiar voice called out from behind them.

“Anne!” came the excited shout. “Anne Boonchuy! You better not be skipping out on introducing your friends!”

They turned to see Terri, arms out, lab coat flapping behind her, a giant smile spread across her face. She practically jogged over, laptop slung around her side, goggles perched on her forehead.

Anne beamed. “Terri!”

Terri grinned as she reached them, then gasped theatrically as she spotted Sasha and Marcy. “You must be the infamous Sasha and Marcy! The girl squad’s finally united in the flesh! It’s like seeing a crossover episode live.”

Sasha raised an eyebrow. “I think I like her.”

Marcy nodded. “I definitely do.”

“Terri,” Anne said proudly, “this is Marcy and Sasha. Girls, meet Terri—one of the best minds on Earth, no exaggeration.”

Terri flipped her goggles down playfully. “Flattery accepted. And listen, Anne—I really want to talk to you and Mr. X about that portal tech later. You and that music box? You’ve got something that shouldn’t just be a fluke. If we figure this out properly, we could change the game for multiversal transit.”

She paused, then added more thoughtfully, “I’m thinking of applying to S.T.A.R. Labs. With what we’ve been through, I’ll need serious resources. Maybe even talk to ARGUS about funding. We’ve got dimensional anomalies, collapsed realms, and fragmentary crystal tech. This is beyond anything anyone’s seen.”

Marcy’s eyes lit up. “You’re talking about dimensional field stabilization and quantum continuity—YES.”

Terri and Marcy immediately launched into technobabble, and Anne laughed as Sasha just leaned over and muttered, “Oh great, now there are two of them.”

Anne grinned, feeling something settle in her chest.

The world had been cracked open. Realities had collided. Tears had been shed. But in this moment—this sliver of golden light at the end of everything—she stood beside her friends, her family, and people she could trust.

And for the first time in a long time, Anne Boonchuy felt ready for what came next.

The End