Stand By Me Part 2: What Lies Ahead

by Monster1000

Picking up where part one left off. Charlie is starting to become more of a confident boy now. He's dating Anne, the girl of his dreams, starting to get over his daddy issues and more. But both Anne, Charlie, Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly take on new challenges when they journey to Newtopia in order to get Anne and Charlie home. It won't be easy as they deal with new dangers.

40. Chapter 40

Days passed by since Jacinda's visit to Wartwood and after what Anne told Jacinda off and warned her to keep herself away from Charlie, it left Jacinda visibly afraid of Anne but also feeling like a huge blow to her ego when she found out that Charlie wasn't into her but has a protective girl friend that scared Jacinda off.

"That girl is an aggressive one. I'm just glad she's way over there and far away from me." said Jacinda shaking in fear.

During one of the days that passed. Toadstool felt like he was accomplishing something as he finally came out as bisexual by telling Charlie who was more than supportive in his feelings. Toadstool felt like a huge weight was lifted off his back.

Wartwood's residence were taking time to get used to the fact that Toadstool was attracted to both male and female genders but Charlie advised them to be supportive of him about his feelings in those terms since it took him a lot of courage to admit it out loud. He actually felt happy that he'd still be mayor of Wartwood and stay in the town as well as Toadie. Toadstool was even one day dancing to some of the music that Charlie once played on his phone which was Japanese pop music as his singing in Japanese was much more beautiful than singing in English.

Even the female's of Wartwood were feeling a little bit more serenaded by his Japanese singing, even if they didn't know or understand the language, it sounded so beautiful.

Charlie assisted Maggie and Marcy when Maddie and her sisters had a falling out which led to Maddie's sisters growing gigantic and were in peril. After Marcy helped create the antidotes to shrink both Maddie and her sisters back to their normal sizes, that's when the sisters reconciled and forgiven a remorseful Maddie.

"So you got sisters? No to sound rude or anything but I kind of suspected you were an only child." said Charlie with a nervous blush.

"I probably should've something. These are my sisters. Rosemary, Lavender and Ginger. They're triplets." Maddie introduced them.

Charlie let out a cough as if trying to hide a chuckle of surprise or was trying not to laugh at anyone.

"Triplets? I only knew one pair of identical siblings. They were twin boys with long, thick, curly red hair. Both of them were identical twins and were only seconds apart from birth. The only way people could tell them apart was one of their wore glasses." said Charlie blushing deeper.

Rosemary, Lavender and Ginger looked at Charlie wide eyed as they liked how beautiful he looks.

"Maddie, is this Charlie, that human you said was once a sad a little boy?" asked Rosemary.

"This is Charlie and he's not a sad boy. He had some emotional issues that he was going through but he's kind of gotten over them from what Anne and Sprig told me." Maddie corrected.

"Is Charlie dating Marcy or Maddie?" asked Lavender giggling.

"No!" said both Marcy, Charlie and Maddie in unison.

"Charlie's dating Anne. You know, that tall, dark and slender girl with the messy brown hair?" Maddie described.

"Oh her! Anne's got a big butt. It bounces a little." said Lavender giggling.

"Lavender, that there sounds like an adult topic to talk about. Especially among couples. You'd probably feel the same way about if someone talked about couples kissing." Charlie kindly reminded them to not talk about something inappropriate.

The triplets of polliwogs thought for a moment and shuddered briefly as they understood that was a subject they're too young to talk about right now.

"Understood!" said the triplets in unison.

"Maddie, I know you and your sisters have reconciled and Marcy convinced you to make time for your sisters at times. I know this is not my place but regardless of what goes on in your life, you need to make time for your sisters. They're your younger sisters for frog's sake, they're the only sisters you'll have and you're the only sister they've got. Sometimes siblings annoy each other and it's normal but I'll admit. It was heart breaking to me when you got harsh with them. You love your sisters?" said Charlie getting compassionate.

"I do." answered Maddie.

"I know you do and I know you'll be making time for them here and there. But promise me you'll never get harsh with them again. Even if you and your sisters annoy each other, still, try to keep a level head as best as possible, for their sake?" Charlie kindly advised.

Maddie could tell that Charlie was giving her advice while trying not to rude which Maddie pulled him in for a hug and kissed him on his forehead, causing him him to blush a bit.

"I can always try to." said Maddie kindly.

"Charlie, do you have any siblings back at home?" asked Ginger curiously.

Charlie's smile faded a little and he knew that they didn't know.

"I'm an only child back at home. Growing up in a house full of eight women. My mom, my aunt, and six of their closest friends." Charlie told them.

"Wow! Your the only boy in a house full of women? That's cool!" said the triplets in unison.

Charlie knew they wouldn't make jokes out of his living situation back at home since they were really young children at Polly's age. That's when Charlie changed the subject to something light hearted.

"Hey girls, you know anyone who can do voices?" asked Charlie.

The triplets shook their heads as an answer and Charlie began to mimic different voices that sounded completely different from his own. The first voice he mimicked was that of southern male that could've been from the state of Georgia.

"We're facing a long, hard journey. But it can't be any harder than the journey's been so far, can it?" Charlie mimicked a deep male southerner's voice.

"Wow! He sounds completely different." said Rosemary wide eyed.

"Oh Mr. Sheffield! I think your son is finally ready to start shaving. He's got a beard so long you could braid it." said Charlie mimicking a nasally voiced woman with a heavy Queens accent. "It's like sheering sheepflies with his beard."

The triplets burst out laughing as Charlie was perfectly mimicking that voice and sounded just like an adult woman.

"That's funny!" laughed the triplets.

Charlie began to mimic the sound of a grumpy old man and he was spot on about it.

"With all these kids around here. I feel like I'm at kids house with my grandchildren. Although my grown up son told me don't give any of his kids any sugar when ever I was babysitting them." said Charlie mimicking the voice of a grumpy old man.

"How'd it go?" asked Marcy giggling.

"Well, after spending an hour with them. I found out why kids shouldn't have massive quantities of sugar in the form of candy in any sort. I gave them fruity flavored candy that was kind of like a taffy bar and I felt like I was at the play area of the local mall. They say in space, no one can hear you scream but at the play area at the local mall full of four and five year olds, that's all you can hear." joked Charlie. "I had a friend of mine there who was hard of hearing and he couldn't hear what I heard. Kids screaming at the top of their lungs while they're climbing on everything like a spider, jumping around like frogs and running around faster than a track runner."

"What did you learn that day?" asked Maddie chuckling.

"Listen to my kids next time." said Charlie as he was good at mimicking the voice he was imitating.

This left them all laughing so hard that they all were rolling around on the ground in laughter. Charlie was seeing he made the kids laugh, especially Maddie's sisters.

Later on, Maddie confronted Charlie about how she heard he slain some monsters along the journey to Newtopia which she shown an interest in how he did it. All Charlie told her was "don't tell your sisters or any of the other kids" and when Charlie told Maddie how he slain the Scorpileo, a maned-komodo, some giant ants and the Magpie beetles. She was wide eyed at first but gave a little grin.

"That's kind of dark. Well, dark for you, that is." said Maddie trying not to be creepy. "Does anyone else know how you slain them two monsters?"

"No, but Anne, Marcy, Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly did see how I slain a few giant ants but even they don't want to tell the kids or anyone whose mind can't take it. So Maggie, don't tell any of the kids, especially don't tell your sisters." Charlie advised.

Maddie gave a salute to show she understood as she sees Charlie doesn't want to traumatize any children. She hugged Charlie and patted him on his head.

"If you ever have kids. You'd make a great dad." Maddie complimented.

This left Charlie smiling and blushing as he knew that he never thought about the day he'd be married with children since that was far off from now. But he knew that if he was to have a future wife, he was hoping it was Anne.

During the week. Both Anne, Charlie, Marcy, and the Plantars packed up for the next trip as they were headed to the second temple. Marcy was able to prepare for the trip so they'd be ready for anything that came their way. Marcy did remember that Charlie told her not to zone out like last time since it did result in the near destruction of everyone.

They all dressed warmly for the occasion, even Joe Sparrow and Charlie dressed warmly. Charlie was wearing a white T-shirt underneath the long sleeved black shirt, black winter pants, his black boots, black silk made gloves and a black hoodie jacket. They were flying on top of giant bird while Hop Pop ridden in a huge pocket that was sewn into the jacket that Joe was wearing as it was Hop Pop's way of riding safely with them

"Charlie, you sure you don't want to wear a hat to keep your head warm?" said Marcy showing concern.

"Not to worry, my full of head long, thick hair will keep my entire head warm like I was laying my head down on a pillow. But in case I'm proven wrong, keep a spare hat with ya." Charlie advised.

Anne placed a hand on Charlie's chest as if to show affection or a romantic physical display of affection as her hand was rubbing against the area where Charlie's heart is located which caused him to blush and grin.

"You know Charlie, seeing you wearing all that black winter clothing looks slimming on you." complimented Anne. "I'd tickle ya for fun but that might be a bad idea while we're flying high up here."

"Anne! Not in front Marcy, Sprig and Polly." said Charlie sheepishly.

"Annie and Charlie are getting snuggly!" laughed Polly.

"Hey look, Wooly Mantises." Sprig pointed out.

As they flew overhead some Wooly Mantises that Sprig pointed out. They were large mantises with hair and each have two large tusks. It was like seeing a hybrid species of a pray mantis and a wooly mammoth. One of them let out a loud roar that sounded nothing like what the human teenagers expected to hear. The roar one of them let out sounded loud but deafening but kind of beautiful.

They were flying over the arctic regions of Amphibia as it had icy mountains covered in snow and rocks from the looks of it. Joe was about to land somewhere on the ice where the water was already crystalized.

"Joe, land on the snow, not the ice!" Charlie commanded.

Joe gave a loud chirp in response as it flew towards the snow covered ground and when he did land there. The giant bird didn't fall or slip. Charlie was the first to get off Joe's back while he landed on the ground.

"Oritekuru!" instructed Charlie. "Ichido ni hitotsu no!"

"One at a time, guys." Anne translated.

The next person to jump down was Anne as Charlie caught her in his big, strong arms to lift her down safely.

"Tsugini!" called Charlie motioning his hands for the next one.

The next to come down was Marcy, than Sprig and Polly.

"Carry Polly for a moment." Charlie instructed.

Anne took hold of Polly and he walked over to pulled Hop Pop out of the large pocket that was on Joe's sweater.

"We appreciate all the passengers for riding air Sparrow. Hope you enjoyed your flight as we hope you enjoy your trip to Amphibian Arctic regions. We recommend no smoking, no drinking alcohol and no drugs passengers as it is prohibited. Stick together on your trip to the Amphibian Arctic like you do at the Canadian Rockies. So take in the beautiful sights and have some fun, don't have too much fun, we can handle enough craziness from youthful high spirits." said Charlie mimicking a thick Irish accent.

"Oh Charlie!" everyone laughed.

"Welcome to the Amphibian Arctic everyone!" said Marcy.

They all looked on at the sights of the location and reacted with an amazed "Whoa" as their surroundings looked very beautiful. Marcy pulled out what looked like a purple pencil bag with pictures of hamburgers and hotdogs with smiley faces on them and pulled the zipper on it to pull out the green gem that had a green light like beam pointing in the direction they should go.

"I triangulated the tracking beam from the green stone." said Marcy.

The beam was pointing in the direction their eyes were looking in and Hop Pop was accidentally blocking the beam.

"Hop Pop, a little to the right." instructed Marcy.

"Oh, uh, sorry." said Hop Pop apologetically.

The older male frog stepped three feet to his right and the beam pointed in the direction of what looked like a nearby forest.

"The second temple must be right through there." Anne pointed out.

"Machi! I'll go first and scope out the place." said Charlie taking the lead.

Charlie had his sword with him as he walked forwards to where the beam pointed while he motioned for the rest of them to follow him. Anne was feeling like Charlie was showing off how cool he appears to be like an action movie hero. They moved passed some pine trees and they stopped once Charlie raised a hand to signal them and he pointed in the direction where the beam was leading them.

Fog was clearing up as they saw the beam was now touching the top of what looked like icy blue colored arches. That's when some blue ancient Amphibian text was glowing all around the upper parts of the arches.

"Just beyond these snowy gates. The grueling, perilous temple awaits." Marcy read out loud.

As Marcy put the green gem away. They saw the arches but all they saw from there was snowy land but no temple, no buildings, no signs of old structures, not even a pebbles that remotely shown any signs of a temple once being there. Sprig was the first to go through the arches.

"Could it be invisible?" said Sprig trying to feel around in the air for the walls.

"Sprig, I wouldn't do that." Charlie advised.

Sprig placed his hand on what he thought was the wall and tried to lean against it like a mime leaning on an invisible wall but he only fell forwards in to the snow, face first.

"You okay, Sprig?" called Charlie.

Sprig got up on his feet and spat out the snow that filled his mouth. The young male frog nodded and shown he was still in one piece and not pieces. Marcy was showing to be thinking hard as if scanning the area for any signs of the temple or at least one little clue that could lead them to where the temple is located.

"Marcy, any update?" asked Charlie.

"All the ancient texts about this temple were super vague. They just mentioned the word heart a lot." explained Marcy.

"Okay, are we looking for something heart shaped?" said Hop Pop forming his thumbs and index fingers into a heart.

"Maybe we need to rip someone's heart out?" guessed Polly.

"Polly, that's dark." said Sprig.

"Maybe they mean heart as in compassion and love for others? Kind of like how my heart beats faster when Anne kisses and hugs me?" guessed Charlie nervously chuckling.

Anne came over towards Charlie to hug him in her arms and kissed his cheeks and forehead. Charlie blushed and let out a happy squeal.

"Hey, soul brotha." said Anne in a sing song voice.

"Hey, soul sista." said Charlie in a sing song voice.

After a moment of the two love struck human teenagers chuckling. That's when Charlie's senses came back to him and he sensed something or someone was near and approaching fast. Charlie called for them all to duck as they heard a loud bird cawing loudly. The bird they saw had the appearance of a parrot from Earth, with many fly-like features, such as compound eyes similar to that of a fly and short pink wings with a gold chain around it's neck with a red gem attached to it. It had no feathers on the body except on the wings. They looked up and saw it fly off which Anne recognized it on sight.

"Hey wait, I know that crazy bird." said Anne.

They followed the bird like creature which Charlie kept himself at the front while that bird repeated the word "Bird" as it had a parrot like personality with the habit of repeating words and sentences from others. They followed it to what looked like a large cabin. When the approached the cabin. Sprig read out the name on the nearby sign that read in yellow lettering. The sign read "Valeriana's Mysterious Goods"

"Valeriana. Anne, didn't we meet her in the Bizarre Bazaar?" said Sprig.

"You guys told me about her and the Bizarre Bazaar. And Hop Pop made sure that Anne and Sprig didn't lose the music box. Was that place as hijōshiki as you guys said it was?" asked Charlie.

"Yeah! Oh! and She says she's been all over Amphibia, right? Maybe she's seen the temple." said Anne.

They saw the bird like creature that was now perched on top of a part of the stand of the cabin. There were various items that looked like treasures of some sort that were gathered over the years. The bird cawed at them for a moment till Charlie had an idea to calm the bird.

"I think that bird is a little wound up." said Anne taking notice.

Charlie started to whistle at the bird like creature as his whistling was sounding like an actual bird chirping which seemed to calm the bird down.

"Charlie, what are you about to do?" asked Marcy.

Charlie ignored Marcy as he started to sing beautifully in acapella to the bird which the bird himself appeared to be enjoying it and calming himself because of it.

"Cause every time I breathe I take you in. And my heart beats again. Baby I can't help it. You keep me drowning in your love. And every time I try to rise above, I'm swept away by love. Baby I can't help it. You keep drowning in your love"

The bird apparently shown to have calmed himself from how beautiful Charlie's voice sounded when he sang out to a pop song in acapella form. He had the voice of an angel. That's when Charlie pulled out a strawberry and held out his hand for the bird to eat it which the bird devoured it piece by piece, it was careful not to cut Charlie's hand with it's beak which it only took a minute for the bird like creature to eat the entire strawberry. Everyone was wide eyed by this.

"Charlie, you said you sang out to birds at the zoo to pop songs in acapella form?" said Marcy.

"You know it." said Charlie. "I wonder where Valeriana is? I never met this lady before yet Anne and Sprig have crossed paths with her."

"We have crossed paths with her, yes." said Sprig.

Charlie tried to look around inside the cabin from standing outside but didn't see any signs of people in there nor did he hear anyone's presence in there.

"Valeriana! Are you in there? Daredemo-ka?" called Charlie.

Anne looked to see a sign nearby that hung from somewhere in the front of the cabin that read "Out To Lunch" in gold lettering. She let out a groan in frustration as Charlie saw the sign she spotted.

"I wish I could swear right now but this bird like creature repeats words and sentences and Valeriana wouldn't be too happy if her bird learned a new word from me that kids shouldn't repeat out loud." said Charlie with a sigh.

"Why is she always out to lunch?" said Anne annoyed.

"Because it's the most important meal of the day!" came a ladies voice.

They turned to meet an elderly looking female newt. It was Valeriana, She had dark brown skin with a yellow underbelly, and yellow spots along her tail. She had light red eyes, with slits, dark shaded red pupils, and medium length, grayish-blonde hair. One of her eyes appears slightly out of shape and possibly damaged. Her tongue was slightly light tone of teal and her mouth lined with short teeth. She was missing her right arm, but used her prehensile tail as a replacement from the looks of it. She had reddish-brown "crests" over her eyes, which resemble eyelashes similar to a gecko. However, she looked most likely a salamander. She wore a stitched black hood loose over her body, with beige armbands. She also had a hanging red and black pendant and gold rings on her neck.

She looked right at them as she was holding what looked like a wooden stick with a purple bug on it like a shish kabob. She spoke in a Slavic like accent.

"It's been a while creature. What brings you here?" asked Valeriana.

She suddenly eaten the bug on the stick quickly and tossed it up into the air as it spun around and grew larger until it took the form of a staff and she pointed it at Anne.

"Do you by chance seek an ancient temple to charge a stone?" Valeriana finished in a powerful tone.

Their conversation was interrupted by a thud to the ground and they all turned to see that Charlie was laying on the ground, it appeared as though he fainted out of fear of the older female newt. That's when Valeriana shown a compassionate expression on her face as she rushed over to Charlie's side to help him up as he immediately came to. Charlie was showing a fearful expression on his face of her.

"Is she a witch? Like casting spells and whatnot? We were not trespassing, we were just looking for you when we were looking for an ancient temple to do like you've described." said Charlie quickly with a sheepishly fearful tone.

"Dawwww, calm down, little creature. I don't harm the innocent. Especially when the creature has such a cute, baby face." said Valeriana in a motherly tone.

She proceeded to kiss Charlie on his forehead over and over for a moment and used her tail to tickle Charlie's stomach briefly. Charlie laughed and blushed as the newt woman was apparently coddling him as if he were a baby.

"You're laughing." Valeriana playfully teased.

"Ma'am, not in front of the girls." chuckled Charlie.

She kissed him on his cheeks and Charlie was up on his feet. To Anne, Marcy and the Plantars, this was a bit hard to take in. She was getting strict and no nonsense like but motherly and coddling towards Charlie the next. Why she was being like this was a mystery to them.

"Valeriana! Are you in there? Daredemo-ka?" the bird repeated with a squawk.

"Just like the parrot like birds back in our home. Repeating words and sentences others have said. They love pop music to acapella." chuckled Charlie.

"You sang to my bird, Leander." guessed Valeriana.

Charlie turned to her a bit bewildered and nodded. He decided to prove it to her as he sang to a song in acapella.

"I still hear your voice, when you sleep next to me. I still feel your touch in my dream, in my dream. Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why, without you, it's hard to su-urvi-i-ive. 'Cause every time we touch, I get this feeling. And every time we kiss, I swear I could fly. Can't you feel my heart beat fast? I want this to last. Need you by my side. 'Cause every time we touch, I feel the static. And every time we kiss, I reach for the sky. Can't you hear my heart beat so? I can't let you go. Want you in my life"

Hearing Charlie sing beautifully in acapella left Valeriana surprised and wide eyed, or at least wide eyed in the eye that wasn't damaged.

"Sing's like the voice of an angel and yet the ladies feel serenaded by your voice but they know you're dating one you call soul sister." Valeriana predicted. "You are dating the female creature with the darker skin tone and messy brown hair as she's a better girl friend than your first who was controlling, bossy, cruel, abusive and kept telling you what to do. She was a blonde."

Charlie was wide eyed as he knew this was too good of a guess for someone like her. She knew about Sasha being a cruel girl friend towards him, that he sings beautifully and many ladies across Amphibia are finding him very popular and that Anne is his current girl friend who treats him better with love.

"Anne wasn't kidding when she said you've seen and heard it all. She told me about how you met her." said Charlie bewildered.

"To answer your question, you know about the stones?" asked Anne.

"Indeed. But do you really think you're worthy?" said Valeriana as if skeptical.

"Well, yeah." said Anne.

"Totally!" chimed in Marcy.

"We shall see." said Valeriana sounding cryptic.

"Ma'am, you said your name is Valeriana? Hope I said it right." asked Charlie.

"You got that correct, little man." said Valeriana showing compassion towards Charlie.

She approached Charlie once more and gave him a brief tickle to his stomach which caused him to laugh as the older female newt adorably uttered "coochie coo" which she was apparently still mothering and coddling Charlie but showing to be strict and cryptic with the rest of them.

They walked inside her cabin as there was a fire going like a fireplace inside a house. They all sat down at the table as while Valeriana hugged Charlie for a moment and kissed him on his forehead and cheeks. This caused him to blush while they were getting some familiar vibes from this and they were not good vibes ether.

"Anything you want to tell me before we get started?" asked Valeriana.

"I do." said Charlie as he managed to stop blushing and regained his composure. "The spunky girl with the messy brown hair, she's Anne Bonnchuy, my girl friend whose the most beautiful girl in the world to me. The other young human is Marcy Wu, very intelligent for her age, a little clumsy and funny at times, but she's a sweet girl. The elder male frog is Hopediah Plantar, we call him Hop Pop, sometimes I call him Otōsan which is Japanese for father, the younger male frog is Sprig Plantar, quite a big ball of energy he is but he's a good kid and the little polliwog is Sprig's younger sister Polly Plantar, she's quite the tomboyish spark plug but she's a real sweetie when you get to know her. And I'm Charlie Matsuda. We may be in your house and you have rules, we get it, but what ever you do, please do not let anything bad happen to any of us. You treat us kindly and we'll do the same for you."

"Nice meeting you all." said Valeriana.

That's when Valeriana used her tail to wrap around Charlie as if to use it to hug him with it and it lightly patted his back as it felt comforting to him for some reason. That's when Hop Pop's papa bear instincts were kicking in as he knew some females showing this behavior towards Charlie were at times lusting for him, some by force.

"Just so you know, we're a little alarmed about you being that way with Charlie." warned Hop Pop kindly. "Some ladies tried to, you know."

"No worries, I don't steal another lady's man. Just being affectionate towards the little one because he needs a little love. I know about his hardships and how it at times made him cry like a child who needs his mama." assured Valeriana.

They were silent for a moment as they looked at her, feeling curious.

"What do you know about my hardships?" asked Charlie with a raised eyebrow. "No offense but I never met nor saw you before. I was told about you a little bit but that's all."

"I know that your first girl friend was not a very good girl friend to you. The toad army used you, lied to you, bullied you, you had a hard time with talking about your problems to anyone because you were afraid of being stigmatized, had daddy issues because you felt unloved by your father who disappointed you once too often, had some childhood trauma, raised in a house full of women back at home, no matter how cruel life had been to you, you've been pure of heart and mind and did a lot of good for others who needed it." Valeriana listed off. "I see you might be ready to start shaving."

They were all wide eyed by how good of a guess that Valeriana had made as they knew there was a possibility she was psychic but there was a possibility she wasn't.

"Not to worry, I'm like this with many people I've met." said Valeriana.

As she hugged Charlie once more with her tail firmly. Charlie felt a strange sense of comfort around her as if she was treating him with love like his own mother. She placed a rolled up paper on the table which she unwrapped it as it shown pictograms of the Calamity Box, the gems, three newts with hoods over their heads and some ancient Amphibia text.

"I am the last of an ancient order. Our purpose was to study the sacred stones and temples." Valeriana explained.

"So you know where the temple is?" asked Marcy after the looked at the scroll.

"Indeed. And you possess the music box?" asked Valeriana.

"Sure do." said Anne.

She reached inside her backpack and pulled the Calamity Box out of her bag which Valeriana saw the box but it left her wide eyed as the Calamity Box shined in her eyes like the reflection in a mirror.

"After all these years. It has returned. I would very much like to hold it." said Valeriana with a grin and glint in her eyes.

Anne had shown a hesitant expression and placed the box back into her bag.

"Uhhh, I'd like to hold onto to it." said Anne hesitantly.

"Valeriana, it's nothing personal against you or anything. It's just that the last time Anne nearly lost it was at the Bizarre Bazaar and when we were dealing with an incident with Magpie Beetles and this is our only way home and we're afraid of losing our only way home." said Charlie showing hesitancy as well with a tinge of fear in his eyes.

"You're afraid someone's going to steal it again?" said Valeriana guessing more of the truth. "You killed these Magpie Beetles so they wouldn't cause a problem in the future, yes?"

Charlie looked down at the floor as everyone was wide eyed. Marcy had no idea that Charlie used that grenade from the Newtopian armory to kill the bug problem, even though Anne and the Plantars knew. Charlie nodded to respond to her.

"The decision I made when I exterminated those Magpie Beetles. That's my sin to bear." Charlie admitted. "Especially when I slain some giant ants, the maned-komodo and the Scorpileo. I may have done that to prevent them from killing anyone else or anyone I love, but it's my sin to bear."

Valeriana saw Charlie look right at her afterwards as she could see he was admitting his actions with no hesitancy as if he was ready to be punished by her which Valeriana placed her tail upon Charlie as she placed the tip of it on his cheek which the tip of her tail had a glove on it. It was like a hand was placed on his cheek.

"I can tell you are pure of heart, even when others are not. You admitted your actions and I know you deserve to be forgiven, buppy." Valeriana showing him compassion and forgiveness. "It's alright, buppy."

Charlie felt kindness radiating from the older female newt who apparently was showing kindness and love to Charlie but she was being mysterious and secretive and strict with the others. Anne felt like something was up as she sensed that there was a reason for this. That's when Charlie got up from his feet.

"Valeriana, maybe I should offer a hand to assist. No rude puns intended to the fact that your, well, your arm, maybe I should offer some assistance." said Charlie kindly suggesting help.

"If you're willing to assist me than I shall give some instructions and rules for all of you to follow. Charlie, in the dresser drawer over there. There's some caterpillar wool coats that I'm bringing for the rest of you on this journey." Valeriana instructed.

"Hai madamu!" Charlie obeyed.

The newt lady pointed with the fingers on her left hand to a dresser drawer nearby that was made of wood. Charlie pulled the drawer open and saw at least seven of the coats she spoke of which were black and felt fuzzy and silk to the touch.

"Too get to the temple. We must climb the freezing cliffs of mount moo-two. Leave your flimsy jackets and where these caterpillar wool coats instead." instructed Valeriana.

"Heads up guys." called Charlie.

Charlie tossed Anne, Marcy, and the Plantars each a coat which he only tossed each one for them but he placed the one that was for him back in the drawer which the elder female newt saw him placing the one for himself back in there.

"Forgive me, Valeriana. But I'd like to wear what I got on if that's alright with you?" asked Charlie.

"That's alright with me. You're wearing the appropriate clothing for the cold weather we'll be facing. Wearing black will keep someone warmer in the winter. But are you sure you want to make that decision?" said Valeriana raising an eyebrow.

"Yes ma'am I am." Charlie told her.

"Alright buppy." said Valeriana. "As for the rest of you. Since this temple is my responsibility. You all must do exactly as I say or else you can say good bye to ever finding it. Are we clear?" instructed Valeriana while warning them.

"Clear." said the kids in unison.

"Clear and comfy." Hop Pop responded.

"Clear. But I'm going to take our spare winter clothing just in case we need a spare. Having a spare is a good idea to me. As my grandparents said when ever they used to do their part in fighting the war and they fought in the Vietnam war, or at least they volunteered. It's like they've said: Fought the last five years of that war and when someone asked them what they'll use their guns for. They said they don't plan on using it and they wanted to know why have it with you and they said it's the same principle of a spare tire in case your car breaks down on the side of the road. I'd rather have one and not need it, than need it and not have one." said Charlie quoting his grandparents.

As Charlie faced them. They never knew that Charlie's grandparents fought in the Vietnam war. Not even Valeriana knew this since she wasn't aware of what went on in the world that Anne, Marcy and Charlie are from.

"You're grandparents fought in that war?" asked Marcy wide eyed.

"They met during their service when it was their first year. Even love can bloom on a battlefield. If they didn't do their part in fighting it. I wouldn't be here." said Charlie.

"Ooohhh!" said Anne and Marcy in adored tones.

"Good, follow me, and Charlie, I want you to stick close to me. I saw you grab some straps as you're suggesting to strap me to your body in case I fall." Valeriana told him.

"I've done this before and since you're the one who knows where it is. We need you alive in one piece and not pieces." said Charlie suddenly realizing what he just said. "I mean not more pieces since your right arm, well, it's none of my business and I apologize."

"Calm down buppy. Now strap me to your back." instructed Valeriana.

Charlie was the first to follow her as he took the straps with him and they took a minute to get situated as Charlie was going to used the straps to strap the older female newt to his back while they heard clicking sounds like buckling a car's seat belt and velcro-strap rips that was probably them securing more straps on them. Anne, Marcy, Hop Pop and Polly followed them outside. Anne pulled Sprig aside as she felt suspicious of Valeriana.

"Sprig, something's not right about this lady." said Anne looking suspicious.

"What makes you say that?" asked Sprig.

"Didn't you see how she looked at the music box? Plus, she owns a parrot. Only bad guys own parrots. And why is she being so nice to Charlie and being so cold to us? I'm alright with coddling Charlie when ever he needs me to comfort him when someone hurt inside or when ever he's sad but she's practically being nicer to him than any of us. Also, where in the world does she get the nickname buppy? She may say she doesn't steal another lady's man and she's just being affectionate because he needs a little love because she knows others out there have hurt him. I'm Charlie's girl, I should show him affection and love when he needs it. If she steals my man or so much tries to hurt him." Anne ranted a little at first.

"Oh come on. That's ridiculous Anne. You know Charlie would never leave you for another woman. Maybe she just feels sorry for him and doesn't want him to be upset. That could be why she's kind of treating him like an adorable baby. We can explain things to her later on. Let's go forwards or they'll leave us behind." reassured Sprig.

Sprig walked out of the cabin and Anne wasn't convinced as she groaned in frustration. Than she followed after them which they were barely six feet away.

"Charlie's my man." said Anne under her breath.

Later Up The Mountain

The climb up the mountain wasn't easy and it was cold out. Anne, Marcy, Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly while Polly was strapped to Sprig's back as Charlie fastened a spare bit of straps on him so that way Polly wouldn't fall. But it appeared that Charlie was faster and more flexible when climbed up the mountain while Valeriana was strapped to Charlie's back as she had her back facing his so it was like she was strapped to his back as their backs faced each others backs. Leander was perched on top of Valeriana's head as Charlie faced the mountain while Valeriana faced Anne, Marcy and the Plantars. She didn't look pleased with them but she was practically mothering Charlie the whole time. Anne was starting to get annoyed that Valeriana was treating Charlie better than them and she felt a little jealous as if she felt as though the older female newt was going to steal Charlie from her.

"Everyone alright?" called Charlie.

"We're getting there?" the other kids said in unison.

"Valeriana, are the straps still intact?" asked Charlie curiously.

"I'm strapped tight to your back, buppy. I have my eyes on them." Valeriana told Charlie in a motherly tone yet she spoke in disapproval towards the rest of them. "Quickly, you three! I like to reach the temple in this century. How could adventurers so lazy expect to conquer the temple."

"Ma'am, show a little respect to them. We're doing our best. It's been a while since we last climbed a mountain. It's like trying to climb Mount Everest." said Charlie in their defense.

"I'm just pointing out the reality of the situation, buppy. Also, is Mount Everest a mountain from back in your world?" she asked.

"Tallest mountain in our world at eight thousand and eight hundred in fifty meters which is twenty-nine thousand in thirty-one point seven feet high. The higher you go up that mountain, you start to lose oxygen which is why people have to oxygen masks when climbing up that mountain as the air gets thinner the higher you go up as there's less air pressure and therefore less oxygen the higher into the atmosphere. Without oxygen masks as you climb higher, it takes a toll on the body and without any oxygen, well, without it as you climb higher, you might as well be breathing in poisonous gas as it's just as harmful." Charlie explained. "Please, treat them with respect and they'll treat you with respect."

She figured that Charlie was trying to be nice to her and trying not to upset her as her tail patted him on the back.

"I'll do my best, buppy." said Valeriana sweetly to him. "If we weren't on this mountain, I'd tickle you just so you'd laugh."

Anne let out a groan in annoyance. as she was helping Marcy, Sprig, Polly and Hop Pop up as she was the first to reach one of the mountain's ledges. They were probably about ten feet down from Charlie and Valeriana.

"Don't listen to her guys. We're almost there." Anne advised.

"Isn't it a weird that she's being nice to Charlie and being strict with us? It's just a little weird." Polly pointed out.

"If she steals my man. That's gonna suck if some older lady steals my man. She probably thinks that older women are hot when they're with some younger man." said Anne looking mad.

"Calm down Anne. Remember when some other lady was trying to flirt with Charlie and he got uncomfortable. He only wants you, no older lady can replace you as Charlie's soul sista." reassured Sprig.

"Let's hope so." said Anne hopefully.

Without anyone knowing and without warning, that's when Valeriana looked around left and right with her eyes and she whistled out loud. That's when a gust of wind was heard and a large shadow appeared over Anne, Marcy and the Plantars and Charlie turned to see that they also saw what looked like a giant cardinal bird, it looked like a normal bird of it's species but it was big as Joe Sparrow with four eyes.

"Tawagoto!" cried Charlie.

The huge bird let out a loud shriek while Anne and the Plantars screamed in wide eyed terror but Marcy appeared to be smiling at it.

"Oh relax everyone. It's just a cardinal." said Marcy walking over to it.

"Marcy, I wouldn't go anywhere near that bird. It's not like Joe." Charlie advised.

"Relax, they don't eat frogs. She's just saying hello." said Marcy with an adored face.

Marcy's optimism was short lived when the huge cardinal's beak slammed down onto the part of the ground where she stood and Marcy was now in between the huge bird's upper and lower beak, practically almost in it's mouth. That's when it used it's beak to grab Marcy as it attempted to fly away with her as she screamed. Anne ran towards her and jumped up, grabbing her as she used her weight to pull Marcy out of it's mouth while it worked as the bird let go of her. Both human girls landing on the ground of the ledge. The bird was about to go and attack Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly which Charlie was looking on in terror but he had and idea.

"You said it doesn't eat frogs!" said Anne wide eyed and panicking.

"I was sure of that." said Marcy suddenly wide eyed with a realization. "Wait! Cardinals eat caterpillars. It wants our coats."

The huge bird was about to attack Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly till it heard a loud whistling sound that got it's attention. Looking up, the bird saw Charlie as it looked like the bird was about to go for him instead but Charlie shown no fear on his face as he began to sing opera which he was singing in beautiful Japanese opera but this time, his singing was so hauntingly beautiful that it was almost sad to hear as if the beautiful melody of his voice could break someone's heart.

This stopped the huge cardinal and distracted the large bird which Valeriana heard his beautiful singing melody. She knew that since no one else saw her face at the moment and she smiled from hearing such a beautiful melody that came from Charlie's voice.

"Rock your heart out, buppy." Valeriana thought to herself.

After Charlie stopped singing in his operatic tone. That's when the huge bird looked as though it was touched by his voice for a moment till it let out a loud shriek and it charged at Charlie which he was bewildered that it only worked for a moment but quick to think on his feet. Charlie raised his left hand up and the huge gold transparent shield popped up in front of him, the bird tried to peck it's way through the shield but the gold shield was too strong for it's beak to penetrate through it. It was like trying to fire a bullet at a wall that was made bullet proof.

The bird appeared to be learning that the force field was impenetrable which turned it's attention back to Anne, Marcy and the Plantars which Charlie was faster than the bird's movements as Charlie suddenly raised his right hand up and another gold force field popped up around Anne, Marcy and the Plantars but this force field was much bigger than the one he had covering himself which was covering the rest of them in one huge force field. The bird tried to peck at the force field but it too was impenetrable but it wasn't giving up.

"Marcy, what do we do!" cried Hop Pop.

"Let me think." said a scared Marcy.

"There's no time!" Anne chimed in.

What Anne did was ether really smart or really dumb. She took off her caterpillar wool coat and tossed it down the mountain which the huge cardinal bird flew after it. The bird was gone and Charlie snapped his fingers while giving a clap with his hands. The force fields disappeared.

"Now let's get out of here." said Anne.

Before any of them could do another thing. That's when they saw a rope being dropped down to them which they looked up and saw the one holding onto the other end was Charlie.

"Grab hold!" called Charlie.

Without hesitation or question. Anne, Marcy, Sprig, Polly and Hop Pop grabbed onto the rope and made sure they had a good, firm grip on it.

"Ready!" called Anne.

"Going up!" cried Charlie.

With all of Charlie's powerful strength. He pulled the rope up but the way he did it shown he gave it one good heave which launched the five up into the air at breakneck speed which was like seeing a model rocket being launched into the air. Charlie was also quick to act as he dropped the rope from his end and once the rest of them made it to the top, he grabbed hold of each one by the hand and pulled them up. First it was Anne, than Marcy, Sprig, Polly and Hop Pop.

Charlie pulled the entire rope up and rolled it up like a rope was suppose to be when in a package before a customer purchases it. He put the rope away as Anne felt the harsh, cold chill of the wind brush against her, leaving her to shake from the cold, her teeth shaking and making a clicking sound.

"You saved us Anne and Charlie. Anne, here, take my coat." said Hop Pop offering his coat.

"No! You frogs will turn to ice without protection." said Anne shaking all over.

"Anne." said Charlie.

Charlie had gotten Anne's attention as he given Anne the warm clothing she had worn on the way to the region they're in. Anne knew that Charlie kept her warm clothes in case she lost her coat. Just like he stated about his grandparents when they talked about the principles of having a spare on them. Anne smiled and placed her warm clothing on. First she placed her jacket on, than her hat and gloves. The warmth returning to Anne's body.

"Better?" asked Charlie.

"Loads better. I'll be okay as we'll reach the temple soon." said Anne shaking.

"It won't be soon!" said Valeriana sharply towards Anne.

They saw that Valeriana was now standing next to Anne which Charlie checked his back with his hands and arms. She must have slipped out of the straps or undid them herself.

"You think it wise that you abandoned your coat." Valeriana continued.

"Well I had to do something." argued Anne.

"Impulsive, stupid and defensive! Very unworthy qualities I must say." insulted Valeriana.

She was about to hit Anne with her staff but her hand stopped as she couldn't pull it. She turned to see it was Charlie holding onto the other end of it. She was a bit wide eyed that Charlie took hold of her staff. Charlie gave her a disapproving face while shaking his head at her.

"Use your staff for walking, self defense or anything else you use it for but don't use it to whack people with it when they didn't do anything to harm you physically." warned Charlie.

"But." Valeriana argued.

"Want me to take away your staff?" Charlie threatened. "Don't ever hit Anne with your staff. Use your words, not your fist or staff, unless it's for self defense like if someone is about to kill you or do I have to take away your staff till you calm down. I really don't want to do this, I really do not but if I have to, I will. Hit Anne with it one more time and I'll take it away from you and you'll get it back after you've calmed down."

This put a visibly wide eyed look on Valeriana's face. Charlie appeared to be kindly warning her not to use her staff to hit people with unless it's for self defense. Something about Charlie's stoic expression made the older female newt yield. Seeing Charlie talking to her like this was just like seeing someone talk to a child who overreacted with anger and advised them to use their words, not their fists unless they had a reason to. Charlie let go of the staff and Valeriana took her staff back.

"And avoid talking to my girl like that or I'll have us all sit down for five minutes and wait. That includes you. I really don't want to be this way but I don't like how you talk to my girl that way. I'm sorry to argue and get this way but behavior like that is something I won't tolerate." said Charlie sounding calm but authoritative.

"Alright buppy." said Valeriana submitting to him but she looked at Anne with an irate expression.

Charlie let out a sigh of relief and his face became calm.

"Ikimashou!" Charlie told everyone.

They all continued to press on forwards while Anne was impressed that Charlie managed to have Valeriana under control when she was being harsh on Anne or even if she got physical with her for that matter. She saw Valeriana walking next to Charlie as the older female newt used her tail to briefly tickle Charlie's sides and stomach again which made him squirm and chuckle as if Valeriana was trying to make him laugh to lighten the mood. Anne was annoyed by seeing this as she didn't like what she saw. This newt woman was being nice to Charlie, practically treating him like a cute five year old, mothering him but she was treating Anne like she was a trouble maker.

Anne wasn't showing it but she felt as though Valeriana was slowly attempting to steal Charlie from her. She felt a tinge of fear and jealousy at the possible reality as she was imagining how Valeriana would attempt to steal Charlie away from her and she shook her head to get the images of how she'd do that out of her head.

"If she thinks a hot, older woman can have my man. She's in for a world of problems." Anne thought to herself.

The ground got leveled and they were able to walk a little better this time. Charlie offered Valeriana to be strapped to her back once again as he was wondering if it would be easier for her but she kindly denied the offer.

"I can take it from here, buppy." Valeriana told him. "But I appreciate the help."

As they pressed on. Charlie stopped and uttered the word "Machi" to everyone which he raised a hand, signalling them to stop. He walked forwards ahead of them a few feet with his hand on the sheath of his sword. He looked around him in his surroundings as if on the alert for vicious predators or hostile locals.

They could see that Charlie's ears briefly moved like a wolf listening for any signs of enemies nearby. He stood there for a few minutes, still like a statue, than stopped afterwards when he removed his hand from the sword's sheath.

"Okay, let's move on." Charlie instructed.

Just when they were going to move forwards was when Charlie tripped and fell forwards, landing on the snow covered ground, face first. He dropped his sword in the process.

"Charlie, you okay dude?" asked Anne.

She was going to check on Charlie for any injuries but Valeriana beat her to it as she ran towards him. She shown alarm as if afraid Charlie was hurt. Charlie wasn't moving.

"Buppy, if you can hear me speaking to you or if you have any feeling in your body. Make any movements or sounds." Valeriana advised almost frantic.

Charlie was at first unresponsive but later moved his hands and arms up to push himself up off the ground as he got up on his feet. There was some snow on his face and some of it in his hair. He appeared stoic as he shook his entire head like a dog which knocked the snow off his head and out of his hair. Afterwards, he spat out what was probably melted snow onto the ground which was a large amount. The melted snow he spat out onto the snow covered ground started to crystalize into snow.

"Charlie, phūd xarị h̄ǹxy." said Anne alarmed.

"Ow." said Charlie with no emotion in his voice. "What did I trip over?"

They looked down and saw that Charlie tripped over what looked like a ball of ice but now was smashed into pieces by Charlie's boots. Charlie shook his head in annoyance.

"I'd really like to scream in anger right now." said Charlie not amused. "I'm alright."

This time, they continued on forwards and Charlie was the first to be at the front of the group as he was on the alert for any possible obstacles, predators or hostile locals.

"It's so fortunate that the music box fell into such average hands. How exactly did it come into your possession?" asked Valeriana sounding slightly condescending.

As they stopped. Anne and Marcy became very tense. They knew that the Calamity Box came into their possession because Marcy had sent a picture of it to them by texting them on their phones and that both Sasha and Marcy influenced her to steal it. Marcy looked at Anne in alarm and signaled her with a hand gesture to keep quiet about it.

"You know, I don't remember how we got it." lied Anne.

"What about your boyfriend? Does he know?" asked Valeriana.

Charlie stopped and turned to see that Valeriana wanted to know if he had any knowledge of how Anne and Marcy got the Calamity Box. Charlie wasn't showing it but he was hesitant. He knew how they got the box as he remembered seeing that Sasha and Marcy influenced Anne to steal it. He remembered Sasha talk about Marcy sending a text of a picture to Sasha about it for Anne's birthday but he felt like he blamed Sasha for pushing Anne into stealing it but he knew that Marcy was an accessory to the situation but they pushed Anne into stealing it from the thrift shop.

He really didn't want to lie to this lady, mainly because she's been so nice to him, even if he did have to law down the law with her earlier about her cruel treatment towards Anne, but he also felt like the fact that she "seen and heard it all" he suspected that she had her own way of telling if someone is lying. He suspected she was ether psychic, a mind reader or both which they had no evidence of that. He kept his face stoic and he shook his head as he lied to her.

"I never found out but someone must of had it and sent us here to Amphibia. The person must have snuck up behind us and sent us here but whoever this person was, we didn't see who it was. That's all I know, I'm sorry ma'am." lied Charlie sadly.

Before anyone else could respond to anything else. They heard the ground shake loudly as the shaking felt like it was all around them but it quickly stopped afterwards. Everyone was feeling alarmed but Charlie faced them all and signaled them to stay quiet with his finger to his lips, than he pointed to his eyes and pointed at them, than pointed down at the ground as he knelt down and used his gloved finger to trace letters in the snow.

They watched as he traced out a word in the snow which the word read "Avalanche" and that's when he pointed up to what looked like the top of a nearby mountain as he got up on his feet. That's when they were alarmed and wide eyed but Charlie managed to keep them from making any sounds verbally as he silently worded to them "don't make a sound" which they understood and nodded. Charlie turned to spot an igloo nearby and he didn't think it was wise to in a hut on a mountain but he couldn't do anything about convincing the inhabitants to move elsewhere but their little moment of optimism for keeping silent was cut short when Charlie and Anne suddenly let out a loud sneeze.

This sent an alarm to them as Charlie began to silently pray with a hand sign briefly but than they saw that the ground shook again but they looked up to see that a huge amount of ice from the top of the mountain cracked and broke off, sending a huge wave of snow down the mountain's right side, going away from them.

"Valeriana, I'm so sorry." said Charlie.

"That's alright, buppy. It looks like it's headed away from us." said Valeriana with some subtle hope.

"Uh guys, what about that?" called Charlie.

They saw Charlie point at the nearby igloo which Anne was the first to worry about the people that were living in there as she saw there was still light in there.

"Wait a second, look. What about that little hut? It looks like someone's inside. We have to save them." Anne told her.

"How? By running towards an avalanche? They are lost child. i say we press on." said Valeriana coldly.

Anne was panicking as she knew that if she ran to help them, she could get hurt, but if she didn't help them, someone could die. But that's when both Anne and Charlie knew what they should do.

"Fuck it! Anne, we're saving whoever is in there and madame Valeriana, don't you dare argue with me. Look after Marcy and the Plantars. Anne, lets punch it!" Charlie sharply instructed.

Charlie knelt down and let Anne climb onto his back to hold onto him as he ran towards the igloo as fast as he could which Valeriana was shocked at how fast Charlie could run as Charlie ran at his fastest that anyone could see him run like he was super human. The snow was rapidly getting closer and that's when they burst the door to the igloo open and just as soon as the both of them were about to warn whoever was in there. They saw another sign that was on a table in there that read "out to lunch" which this left them exasperated.

"How is everyone out to lunch right now?" Anne said exasperated.

"No time!" said Charlie grabbing a hold of her arm.

Charlie and Anne made it out of the igloo and Anne held onto Charlie as she was riding on his back while the snow covered.

"Hold onto something!" cried Charlie.

Charlie ran for the ledge and pushed off the ground in a powerful jump and it was surprising that he jumped so high just from his feet all the way up to the top of the ledge which the ledge itself had to be ten or twelve feet high up. Charlie actually jumped that high up with Anne holding onto him from his back as they missed the wave of snow. Anne slid off Charlie's back as Marcy and the Plantars made to to them.

"You two okay?" asked Hop Pop looking worried.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Charlie got me out in time. Let's just hurry and get to the temple." reassured Anne.

"Oh, that won't be happening. I've learned all I need to know about you lot." said Valeriana raising her tail up as her glove on the tip listed off what she said. "Disobedient! Foolish! Impulsive! None of these qualities are worthy of the sacred stone! You don't deserve my help! The only one out of you lot that's shown any sign or reason deserving of my help and trust is the tall muscular sweetheart but after everything I know of you lot, you might as well turn back. Good luck finding that temple... On. Your. Own." ranted Valeriana as she told them all off.

She was about to walk off and leave them but Anne was fed up with this as she was very irate.

"You are full of such frog spit!" snapped Anne.

Everyone but Charlie gasped as even Charlie was looking on at the older female newt with a rage but he really didn't want to be mad at her but now he too was fed up with how she treated Anne, Marcy and the Plantars. She stamped her staff down and turned to face Anne. She wasn't amused.

"Oh come on! You barely gave us a chance. Not only that, you're going to stand us out here! All you've done is criticize and insult us. You treated Charlie a lot nicer than us and practically were hostile towards us. If you think your some hot older lady whose going to steal my man than you're a snow man short of a carrot for a nose." ranted Anne.

"And she purposely whistled for that huge cardinal bird to attack us. Yeah, that's right! I saw you do it! Why am I snapping at this lady?" said Charlie as he too snapped at her but questioned himself. "Also, you've been on Anne's case since the second we've arrived and what has she done to to offend you? Nothing!"

Hearing what Charlie said he knew what she did made them all wide eyed with shock. That's when Anne got so angry that she couldn't hold back her rage.

"You're just digging your scaly heels in deeper, aren't you, old lady. We may be unworthy but you and your order are even worse. You're nothing but a cruel, judgmental, snob!" Anne snapped with her voice echoing. "And you stay away from soul brotha. He's my soul brotha and no old lady is stealing him away from me!"

Hearing this sent the older female newt into a rage. Charlie was feeling a bit surprised that Anne admitted her jealousy or possible fear that she would lose him to this older female newt. That's when Valeriana turned to face Anne and charged at her while screaming the word "Brat!" towards her. Her cane was pressed at Anne's chest as she got in her face.

"You dare insult the order I've dedicated my entire life to?" Valeriana spat.

"Yeah? What are you going to do about it?" shot Anne.

That's when the newt woman wrapped her tail around Anne's right wrist. Charlie sensed something was about to get worse as he charged at them while Valeriana used her staff to move it in a circle around them which the second that Charlie took hold of Anne's left hand was when the three of them looked as though they melted into the ground and disappeared.

When Anne and Charlie opened their eyes. They saw they were on top of a huge tower like top that was wide as a convenience store roof. They looked up and saw different colored lights in the sky that were an aurora of sorts. It was like seeing the northern lights in the sky.

"Where are we?" said Anne. "What'd you do? Just show me, my friends and my man where the temple is already."

"Never! You are not worthy. In fact, none are worthy!" said Valeriana powerfully. "And now that I finally have you alone. I can return the box to it's rightful guardian. Me."

That's when her eyes turned a slightly brighter shade of the color they were and Anne's bag unzipped itself only to see that Valeriana's bird came out of it and flew off with the box. This now made both the teenagers go wide eyed.

"No! We need that to get home!" cried Anne.

"Wait! Please have some compassion, please!" cried Charlie almost on the verge of tears.

Valeriana scooped up the box with her staff after it landed on the stone ground.

"Aha, still only thinking about yourself!" said Valeriana with an evil grin.

That's when Anne used her tennis racket to catch it before she took it away from them.

"You're wrong. I'm not that selfish! Charlie's never been selfish!" argued Anne,

"This isn't about buppy." argued Valeriana.

"Stop calling him that! You're not stealing him from me! I'm not that selfish!" Anne argued back.

That's when Valeriana went for Anne and tried to use her staff to strike Anne with while she dodged it and Charlie didn't know who he should stop. Anne or Valeriana as he didn't want to hurt ether of them.

"Oh no? Didn't you lie to the Plantars to get out of a day of work?" guessed Valeriana.

"How do you know that?" asked Anne shocked.

"Didn't you drive the family snail when you were told not to? And pushed Charlie into learning how to drive the family snail even though he was scared of getting into an accident like the time he mentioned when he was nine?" guessed Valeriana.

"Okay, this is getting weird. What else do you know and leave Charlie out of this." said Anne warning her.

"I know that you snore but that's irrelevant." answered Valeriana.

"Could've kept that one to yourself." said Anne blushing.

"But it's the cutest snore I've ever heard." Charlie chimed in.

Hearing Charlie defend Anne was somewhat helping her feel less embarrassed about her snoring but she kept her attention on the older female newt. That's when Valeriana used her staff to trip Anne and she fell but Charlie came to her side to help her up which the older newt lady used her tail to grab the box and she looked at them with a sly grin.

"Didn't you steal Hopediah's wallet for girls day on the town?" asked Valeriana.

Anne jumped for the box and rolled on the ground to try and catch it but Valeriana tossed it up but Anne jumped into the air and caught it, landing back on the ground.

"Okay, that is definitely not how that happened." argued Anne.

"But you did steal the music box, did you not? And your boyfriend tried to stop you and your friends." said Valeriana guessing the truth in a sharp tone. "Also, I know about the recent lies you, your boyfriend and the other human girl have told me while we were back at the spot of the mountain."

Anne stopped and knew she guessed the truth while Charlie ran to her side. She remembered the day that she stole the Calamity Box as even though Sasha pushed her into doing it while Marcy only stood and watched, she actually went through with it and stole the box when she could've said no. She looked down for a bit and back at Valeriana after a moment.

"I..I...I did steal it." said Anne taking responsibility. "But please, leave Charlie out of this. He didn't steal it. I did."

"She was pressured into doing it! She didn't want to steal it but she was pressured into it!" Charlie defended.

"So it is! You are liar and a thief. And now the box will be mine!" cried Valeriana charging at Anne and Charlie.

As Valeriana charged at them, both the kids dodged her but she saw she was about to fall off the edge which she didn't count on them being athletic or to dodge her this time. She nearly fell but she used her left hand to grab hold of the edge while she dropped her staff but Anne picked it up while the two teenagers walked over to her while she laughed crazily.

"Why are you laughing?" asked a confused Anne.

"Isn't it obvious? We can't get down the mountain without her." Charlie guessed the truth.

"Your boyfriend is a smart cookie. I'll admit, I respect him for it." admitted Valeriana.

"But we can wave the staff up and down to get back down the mountain, right?" said Anne and Charlie in unison.

That's when Valeriana was wide eyed with shock and disbelief. This was something she didn't expect from them. Learning how to get down the mountain by themselves without her assistance.

"You weren't suppose to figure that OOOUUUT!" screamed Valeriana.

Part of the ledge that she held onto crumbled and broken off, sending her falling down as she screamed but when she was most likely to fall to her death, she stopped. She saw that Anne was laying over the edge while using the staff hook to grab hold of the hood. It was like seeing a fish hook catching a fish while the fisher holds onto a fishing rod.

She even saw that Charlie had a hand up which she saw a gold force field around her, surrounding Valeriana in a force field all around her. Anne pulled her up with the staff and once she was up on top again, the force field around her disappeared and Charlie pulled both Anne and Valeriana into his arms and away from the edge, pulling them off close to the center. Charlie stopped as Anne was panting to catch her breath a little while Charlie sucked in a big amount of air and roared his loudest, realistic lion like roar. Valeriana was showing a shaken expression at what they just did while a bit shocked that Charlie was roaring like a real lion so powerfully.

"You risk your lives to save me? But why?" asked a shocked Valeriana.

"You were right. I did lie and steal. If that makes me unworthy, fine! Those bad choices were mine and I'll own them. But making them taught me it's always better to do the right thing. So that's what I did. Regardless how much I didn't want to." said Anne taking responsibility. "But just so you know, Charlie had nothing to do with it. He didn't steal the music box, I did, there might've been times when he lied but he never meant to lie, he at least confessed his lies later on. So don't blame him for anything. Also, please don't steal my man away from me. I know he'd be broken if I wasn't around in his life and I'd be the same if he wasn't in my life at all ether. I love Charlie and I'd never do anything to hurt him."

Hearing this had Charlie see that Anne was afraid of losing him to Valeriana which had been confirmed before while Valeriana looked on, wide eyed at first, but than a smile formed on her face.

"We have been waiting for someone like you two for such a long time." said Valeriana her tone now calm and soft.

The two humans looked on at her in confusion at first as they wondered if she knew more than she told them or more than she let on. Charlie had an idea on what she knew or how much she knows but it was only a mere inkling about what knowledge was inside the older female newt's mind.

"Don't worry, this will only take a moment." Valeriana informed.

She raised two fingers up from her left hand and traced them around in a circle. The staff and the Calamity Box that Anne was holding flew out of her hands and over towards Valeriana who used her left hand and the tail that had a glove on it to catch them. Cloud like smoke surrounded her entire body like a tornado engulfing a tall sky scraper building. But once the smoke cleared, her clothing was now white. The two teenager looked on wide eyed.

"Whoa! Mama, you clean up nice." said a wide eyed Anne.

"Why am I suddenly reminded of some fantasy film that involved a white wizard?" said Charlie bewildered.

Valeriana walked over to them and she was appearing calm and kind as she used her tail to lightly pat Anne on her head as if to reassure or comfort Anne, than she placed her tail tip on Anne's cheek which the glove on the tail served as a comforting hand which Anne was blushing a bit from this, it felt oddly comforting to her.

"You have sacrificed your warmth for your friends. Your safety for a stranger in need. You even risked your life for an enemy. You've helped a saddened boy get over his personal fears, taken part in helping him get over his daddy issues when it looked like he blamed himself for why his dad was never around to see him, you've rescued him from anyone or anything that would cause him harm, you've defended him when someone bullied him, even when some other lady was about to force themselves on him, you were there to stop them, you changed him from a sad little boy with a broken heart to a confident young man and he fell in love with you as you fell in love with him, despite the fact that his previous girl friend was very controlling and mean to him. But empathy alone isn't enough for what is heart without responsibility." said Valeriana.

Valeriana walked over to the center of the stone top they were on and she placed the bottom of her staff in the center as there was a hole the size of a golf hole into it and blue light was glowing all around the entire top of the stone floor they stood upon.

"In the name of the temple. I declare you worthy." said Valeriana.

"Wha-a-a-at!" said Charlie excited.

"Wait! No way! So the cardinal, the avalanche. All this was-"

"A trial." Valeriana finished for Anne. "You see, we've been making our way through the temple this whole time. And I have been testing you. No gonna lie, I know I was babying your boyfriend but from knowing about his hardships, I felt like maybe he deserves to be pampered and spoiled for a change but as I've said before. I don't steal another lady's man."

Anne felt relieved to hear this. Knowing that Valeriana wasn't going to steal Charlie away from her yet felt a little odd that Valeriana was babying Charlie but knows now that it was only to make Charlie feel better and to show she truly cares about him and Anne.

"Just so you know. I didn't mean to use your boy during this trial but I apologize if I did. And I apologize for how I treated you and your friends. Yet your boyfriend laying down the law with me? I'll admit, his heart is big as Amphibia for doing that and I do respect that but I also admire how you've grown in your time here along with how you've help Charlie grow in his time here too. I know that he'll never leave you, he doesn't want a hot, older lady. He only wants you as much as you only want him. Yet I do know you two kissed a number of times but it was out of romantic love which that's your business and no one else." Valeriana continued as she was showing remorse and compassion for the two.

She reached out her tail to tickle Anne and Charlie's stomachs briefly which made them chuckle and shake, than used her tail to pat both of them on the heads, even felt their hearts by placing her hand on their chests for a minute to show compassion. She was treating Anne the same way she treated Charlie but Anne didn't expect her to kiss both of them on the cheeks and foreheads which caused both of them to blush and smile a bit.

"Yet I do know that you both are curious about Charlie's abilities and how they came to be?" said Valeriana guessing the truth.

The two of them looked at one another and back at her with a nod. Valeriana shown she knew how Charlie's powers became to be or their origins for that matter.

"Your boyfriends abilities are brought on from extraterrestrial origin." she told them.

Both were wide eyed and surprised. Charlie's powers were that of extraterrestrial origins? This wasn't what they expected. They expected it to be a mutation or that the toad army had something to do with it.

"From what I know. A mysterious being whose not from your home world but from a now destroyed world may have found his way to Charlie when he was probably small baby and was dying as the last of his race. He possessed a power he's showing signs of that the order calls "Lion's Fury" that power involves the unusual strength, running speed, creation of force fields, ability to jump higher. breathing fire, and when enraged or empowered, their hair and eyes turn gold along with a gold energy forming around them, and their strength, speed, reflexes and agility is greatly enhanced, they'd possess the ability to roar like a lion yet one who possesses such power will have them developing once they've reached puberty and it develops from there. But there will be a time when their powers stop showing more new abilities which by than, their power will be controlled at will by the one who possesses it. But when in full power, they're unstoppable, when in their normal form, their strength, speed, reflexes, agility, balance are still intact. Yet your boyfriend's abilities are still developing." explained Valeriana.

This left them both wide eyed. Anne looked at Charlie and he was looking at the two in disbelief. He snapped one of his fingers and a ball of fire appeared to float in his hand, than he snapped his fingers again and it disappeared. He looked up at the sky and let out another loud lion roar and breathed fire out of his mouth like a dragon for a moment, after he stopped, he knew that Valeriana was telling the truth.

"I didn't hit puberty till a month after my thirteenth birthday but my mom told me that one night. She thought she saw me glowing a gold light when I was sleeping in a baby crib as a baby but she thought that she was hallucinating from a long day." said Charlie now looking at the newt woman. "Madame Valeriana, I..."

"I know, you're afraid but not to worry. Those who possess this power are pure of heart and only use it for good, that, and I know you too lied at times but you later admitted them or you just didn't want Anne to get into trouble when Anne made choices that were not good ones but I know now that the bad choices Anne has made were choices she didn't want to make because she knew those choices were wrong and she didn't want to cause trouble or harm." Valeriana reassured. "As for you Anne, I do hope you can forgive me for how coldly I've treated you. Despite the fact it was all part of the trial. You two are good children and I know Charlie would never leave you, he only wants you as you only want him. I've seen and heard how much in love you two are. Just take a look at him."

That's when Anne turned to see Charlie but what she saw left her blushing and grinning as Charlie was playing dance hall hip hop music on his phone while he began to dance and do some form of flirting with Anne as he began to sing out what sounded like hip pop.

"Hey mama, this that beat that make you groove, mama. Get on the floor and move your booty, mama. We the blast mastas blastin' out the ja, REEEEEEEWIIIIIIND. Cutie, cutie, make sure your booty. Shake that thing in all the city of sin. Hey sporty, I know ya wanna party, and the way your body looking got me really feeling naughty"

The way Charlie was dancing and rapping out the words as not only leaving Anne blushing and smiling but she knew this meant that Charlie was only into her and not some older woman. He only found Anne hot and beautiful and no other woman could compare to her.

"I got a naughty, naughty style, and a naughty, naughty crew. But everything I do, I do just for you. I'm a little bit of old and a bigger bit of new. The true people know that my soul sista come through, we never cease, no. We never die, no, we never decease. We multiply like we mathematics and then drop love bombs 'cuz we shake it to beat. The Boonchuy, the big new story"

That's when the music stopped and so did Charlie as he came over to Anne and pulled her in his arms not just to hug him but he planted a kiss to her soft lips. She was wide eyed and closed her eyes afterwards as the two kissed each other in a romantic gesture while hugging each other. Valeriana looked on with a blushing grin.

"There's a lot of fire in these two." she chuckled.

As the two teenagers pulled their lips off each other in a loud pop. Anne was left squealing in joy as her fears of losing Charlie to some older female vanished.

"I only want you, Anne. I don't want some Marilyn Monroe, or Mrs. Robinson, or some steamy, older lady. I only want you." said Charlie proudly.

Anne was jumping for joy at the sounds of this while Charlie could tell she was on cloud nine right now.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I knew my soul brotha would never leave me!" cheered Anne.

After the two calmed down and hugged each other. That's when Leander flew towards Valeriana and landed on her right shoulder and let out a squawk as he repeated the words "testing you" which the two kids chuckled at the birds response.

"I gotta say. Your bird is funny like a comedian." chuckled Anne.

Before anyone said or did anything else. Charlie saw that the older female newt's right arm being missing and her left eye was possibly damaged which after everything they've been through on their journey to the second temple, seeing Valeriana apologize to Anne and him, showing her compassion towards them and even how she shown that she'd never steal another lady's man. He knew that this meant one thing. He pulled out a golden apple which Valeriana was wide eyed at the sight of it.

"The golden all healing miracle apple." Valeriana gasped.

Charlie held it out for her as he pressed it to her lips which Valeriana took a large bite out of it while she chewed, she devoured the entire apple till it was nothing. After chewing it up and swallowing down all she chewed up. She suddenly felt like all pain and discomfort from her body had disappeared. She felt weightless and that's when her left eye was glowing a gold light and where her right arms was suppose to be shown to rapidly and almost instantly regrown which seeing this left the two kids watching wide eyed as Valeriana's body was glowing a gold light all around. Her entire right arm looked like it instantly regrown.

Once the gold light eventually stopped glowing. That's when they saw Valeriana's left eye was opened the same way her right eye is and her entire right arm had regrown back. She looked at her right arm and both saw and felt it, moved it up and down and her vision was as clear as it should be. She looked at Charlie with wide eyed joy.

"Have a little faith." said Charlie.

Valeriana shed a tear as she placed her right hand on Charlie's cheek as she now could use her right hand again while her tail wagged with joy.

"I knew about the actions of you finding them golden apples from a trip you went on with your friend Wally and what he told you about them apples. And I know you've been using them to heal others of any and all afflictions, going around Amphibia to heal others and use the seeds to plant and grow trees that'll grow more of those golden apples so others can put them to good use." said Valeriana warmly.

She went in to kiss Charlie and Anne on their foreheads once more which both of them knew she was happy to have her left eye and her right arm back.

"So? What is it you two want?" asked Valeriana.

"To charge the stone and return home!" said Anne and Charlie in unison.

"So be it!" said Valeriana happily.

Valeriana had taken the box and this time, she used her right hand to carry it. She placed her tail near it to levitate one of the stones off it while the box played the musical tune from before but this time, it was played backwards. She placed the stone in the center of the staff's hook and it began to form a blue light all around it as it flashed the blue light so brightly that they all had to shield their eyes for a moment. A blue light from Anne's eye that was still open shown to be draining half way and more lights were glowing all over the entire floor this time and even the entire staff.

The stone however started to charge as a blue light was glowing from the bottom of the gem but it was slowly going up higher while making a small beeping sound as it would go up.

"It's a lot slower than the last time when we charged the first stone. Is that how it works in general? Because I'm okay with it since everything is alright and there's so danger around." said Anne taking notice.

"I apologize. This thing is pretty old like the trees." said Valeriana.

"I get it. No problem." said Anne accepting it.

As the gem kept slowly charging and the gem shown more blue light covering it. That's when Charlie suddenly felt dizziness slowly coming over him as his vision was blurring slightly like his vision was showing signs of fading, his stomach started to feel mild discomfort while his breathing was starting to slowly become heavy. It was as if he felt a sickness coming over him till he saw on the floor what looked like small droplets of red liquid and than he saw one of them in a trail that led up to him.

"Guys." said Charlie his heart pumping from gradual panic.

"Want something to read or something?" suggested Valeriana kindly.

"Seriously, it's fine. But thanks for the offer." Anne politely declined.

They suddenly heard a loud scream coming from nearby and Anne ran towards the ledge of the top which she knew that meant the screams were coming from Marcy and the Plantars. When Anne wasn't looking, Charlie walked over towards Valeriana took hold of her right hand as she was believing he was about to hug her back.

"Otōsan!" said Charlie alarmed.

"Oh no! They're in trouble. What if it's another avalanche?" said Anne alarmed.

"Kibungawarui!" said Charlie his breathing slowly growing faster.

Anne ran towards the stone and grabbed it but what she didn't know was the stone wasn't fully charged but only the majority of the stone was.

"Hey, that looks charged enough." said Anne.

She put the box and the gem back in her bag while Charlie felt like he was growing sick without knowing why.

"Let's go!" cried Anne as she rapidly told her "send us back!" over and over.

Valeriana grabbed her staff, spun it around rapidly and waved it once to send Anne and Charlie back with her magic but she suddenly looked down at Charlie and as she saw there was blood on the floor and he saw that Charlie was looking like he might pass out as he was shaking and struggling to stand.

"Tasukete!" said Charlie with a cough as his face was showing some discoloration.

When Anne and Charlie were sent back to where Marcy and the Plantars are, even Valeriana and her bird were inadvertently sent back with him.

Anne saw herself now back on the mountain and she heard the screams again, running it the direction that it came from.

"Hang on guys! I got you!" cried Anne.

She moved passed some pine trees and saw that there was no danger but only Marcy and the Plantars which Marcy had her phone out. It looked like she was showing them something on her cell phone. They turned to face Anne and shown to be unharmed.

"Anne! Marcy's showing us ridiculously cute animal videos on her phone." said Polly really fast.

"We looked for you but now we're taking a break. But we figured ether we'd find you and Charlie and you two would find us. But we were worried about you two." explained Sprig.

"Anne! Your alright." said Marcy gladly.

"And that's not all fam." said Anne approaching them.

She pulled out the Calamity Box from her bag and shown them the gem was charged and was now blue.

"Wapow!" uttered Anne.

They let out a "Woo" while they applauded for her.

"But how?" asked Sprig.

"I'll explain later. Let's all of us get out of this cold." said Anne.

They were cheering for Anne but once they were about to leave. They stopped as Marcy got their attention by snapping her fingers twice.

"Anne. Where's Charlie?" asked Marcy.

They stopped and looked around. Charlie was nowhere to be seen.

"That's weird. I thought he was right behind me." said Anne taking notice. "Charlie!"

"Charlie!" cried Hop Pop.

They saw no sign of Charlie but suddenly heard a loud scream of agony from nearby.

"I got it out! It's going to be alright, buppy!" came Valeriana's voice in a reassuring yet alarmed tone.

They heard her voice and it wasn't far. They ran into the direction their voices came in and when they found Charlie and Valeriana. They were wide eyed with panic.

Charlie was laying on the ground to his back, breathing rapidly as there was blood leaking from his right leg as Valeriana looked like she pulled out a small icicle from Charlie's right leg as the icicle was two in a half inches, barely wide as Charlie's thumb and it had a sharp end covered in his blood while Valeriana used her tail to rub Charlie's stomach to reassure him and she appeared to be tying a tourniquet to the location of his right leg that was bleeding. Charlie was leaking tears from his eyes as he was showing fear.

"What happened to Charlie!" cried Anne.

They rushed over to his side as Anne was placing her hand on his chest and another hand to help him look right at her.

"He's bleeding. Remember when he tripped? He tripped over some hardened, strong ice but when smashed to pieces, a shard of ice stabbed him in his leg and he's been bleeding slowly since than. He was about to follow you but he fell when his vision got so blurry. He's probably lost quite a bit of blood." said Valeriana looking calm but sounding grim. "I've tied tourniquet on his leg to stop the bleeding. I don't have my medicine or anything to treat his leg with but it's back at my cabin."

"Are you expecting he walks from here?" asked Hop Pop alarmed.

"If he moves on foot than he won't make it. He has to lay still." Valeriana warned.

They looked down at Charlie who had a panic stricken face, tears leaking out of his eyes as his face was getting paler slowly. His breathing was rapid from the panic and fear rushing through his mind and body. This was breaking their hearts to see Charlie so afraid of death. The location of the wound on his right leg still had his pants over it but there was now a hole or two from the pants leg length, the entire leg from near the side below the knee going down was wet from blood and apparently the socks he was wearing on his right foot was red and stained with his blood, some of it even got on his boot. He had probably been bleeding for a while without knowing it till now.

"Kowaidesu." said Charlie in a heavy sigh.

"Can you get us to your cabin by using your staff to teleport us all there? We can't walk him or carry him from here and he can't just hop on one leg." Anne suggested.

"Good thinking, honey." said Valeriana with a wink.

She used her staff to spin around rapidly and than stopped as she waved the staff around and they all teleported from there in a puff of snowy white smoke.

When they reappeared at Valeriana's cabin. They saw Charlie was laying down near the table while the older female newt reached inside a nearby bag and pulled out what looked like three large green leaves and a purple bottle. She hurried her way over to Charlie as Anne had Charlie's head resting on something soft, rubbing his chest to comfort him while Marcy placed her hand on his chest as well.

The older female newt poured the contents of the purple bottle on the three large leaves and they stuck together like glue. She poured a little more of it on the three large leaves and her tail had to be very strong since she used it to pull up the pants leg length of Charlie's right leg and there they saw his wound was a gash that was still bleeding and they could see a little bit of the inside of his leg which meant the icicle had stabbed him deeper in his leg than they thought.

"Hold him still. This might sting a little." instructed Valeriana.

"Matte!" cried Charlie alarmed.

Valeriana pressed the leaves on his gash which luckily for him it covered the entire wound but unfortunately, the purple liquid touched his wound and it stung with pain like it was burning on fire. This caused Charlie to scream in pain.

"That hurts like a son of-ahhhhh!" screamed Charlie.

"It's alright, buppy. Just look at your girl friend. Don't look at your leg. Focus on your girl for something positive." Valeriana instructed.

"Charlie, look at me!" Anne cried.

As Charlie felt the stinging pain from the liquid medicine penetrating his wound. He looked up at Anne who was giving him a reassuring look. Anne used one free hand to wipe away his tears while both Anne and Marcy had a hand placed on his chest as a form of reassuring comfort.

"Everything's going to be fine. Just look at me, don't look at your leg. Remember what Wally said when you hurt your leg before? He told you to just look at him and don't look at your leg, just think of happy thoughts and it'll be over soon." Anne told him.

The stinging pain in his leg was slowly stinging less and less but it left a strong tingling sensation in his leg as the pain felt like it was rapidly disappearing. He kept his attention on Anne and thought back to the day he received his first kiss from Anne. His breathing started to become slow and steady, his vision was clearing, the color to his face returned and the sickly feeling in his stomach was fading along with the pain in his leg and the stinging feeling from the medicine which turned into a relaxing tingling sensation.

"Valeriana, how we doing on his leg?" asked Anne.

She removed the leaves from his leg and his gash shown to be completely gone, the bleeding had stop and it looked like the damages to his leg wound from both the first time he hurt it and the second time had completely healed from inside and out. That's when Valeriana looked at the two love struck teenagers with a warm smile.

"I apologize for the stinging. I used what is called liquid healing nettle. You place it on large green leaves and press it to the wound and while the feeling of it touching boo boos stings for a minute, it rapidly heals the wound inside and out within minutes to seconds. It can be used in more than one way. Ingesting it, placing on something and pressing it to the wounded areas or pour it on the wound but it depends on the wound to how you use the liquid. It even heals wounds both old and new inside and out, it heals any wound." explained Valeriana. "Buppy, can you feel your leg?"

Charlie looked down at his leg and moved it slowly while he felt it at the same time. He had feeling in it but the only thing bothering now was his mouth was dry and his stomach rumbled loudly enough for all to hear.

"Shokumotsu." said Charlie in a dry voice.

"Translation?" asked Valeriana.

"He said food." Anne translated.

Marcy pulled something out of her bag and it turned out to be a few strawberries which she taken out from a compartment of her bag, she gave three of them to Charlie as she was about to give them to him but he gently taken them from her hand and stuffed them in his mouth, chewing on them as he was showing to be hungry while he loved the juicy taste to them which helped with his dry mouth and throat. Marcy chuckled at the sight.

"Yǒurén èle." chuckled Marcy.

After he chewed up the strawberries, he swallowed them down whole and sat up straight which he reached for his water canteen, unscrewed the lid and placed it to his lips as he was chugging down the water to cure the dryness in his mouth and throat more. He stopped after swallowing half the canteen down. Than he put the canteen away, placing the lid back on. He let out a loud burp that left everyone laughing.

"I think the doctor told me I'll keep the leg." said Charlie making a small joke.

Anne and Marcy chuckled as everyone was glad he was alright. Charlie looked down and saw that Anne and Marcy's hands were still pressed to his chest where his heart pounded. He blushed from seeing this which the girls both saw this and instantly removed their hands from his chest, blushing.

"Miss Valeriana, thank you for my leg." said Charlie instantly changing the subject.

"No worries, buppy. I have to admit, Anne. He's quite the catch for you." complimented Valeriana.

Anne smiled and when she turned to look at Charlie, she was met with a kiss to her lips by him. The two of them were kissing each other while afterwards, Anne informed them that the gem got charged and after they made sure Charlie was alright, which he was perfectly fine, they departed from Valeriana's cabin but she did hug the two love struck teenage humans, even kissed them on their cheeks and forehead, briefly tickling their stomachs and underneath their chins which made them laugh and squirm.

Once Anne, Charlie, Marcy and the Plantars departed. Valeriana bid them farewell for that time. She looked on with a warm expression.

"Sweet little children. Such cute baby faces. I'd probably spoil those two love birds till one of them gets Buddha belly if they were children." said Valeriana kindly. "Conquer the world you two crazy love birds."

Little did they all know was that the stone that just got charged flickered two times like a light bulb on the verge of burning out. Charlie reached out to hold Anne's hand and she smiled as she held his hand.