Anne was finally home. While the Plantars were introduced to her parents in a...less than ideal way...she was able to get them to understand the situation she was in...at least somewhat. There was still a lot she couldn't tell them yet, like how she planned on going back to get Sasha...and Marcy...

Anne had reassured the Plantars that Marcy had to be alive...but she was having a hard time convincing herself. She felt she had to at least try to hold onto hope though that, somehow, Marcy got out of there and is recovering.

She has to be alive...she has to be...

"Hey, Anne, something bothering you?"

Anne was brought back down to Earth by Sprig, who was sitting next to her along with Polly.

"Oh, no, nothing much is bothering me...I'm just trying to figure out how to get back to Amphibia."

"Are you sure you're not worried about Marcy?"

Anne took pause. "I know she's okay. She's gotten so much tougher since we arrived in Amphibia. I...guess we all did...I just...need to get her and Sasha back, but...without the Calamity Box, I have no idea how to get back to Amphibia."

It was about a quarter to 9, and Anne was in her room along with Sprig and Polly, while Hop Pop was getting to know Anne's parents. While Anne's parents were still a little freaked out about the talking frogs, they were grateful that they got Anne back in one piece. But Anne's mom was still concerned about her two friends that went missing at the same time Anne did, and she was sure that there was something Anne wasn't telling her. She decided to go upstairs to check up on her.

"Hey, Anne, can we talk?"

"Um, sure..."

Sprig and Polly both felt it was best to give them a moment alone. Once they left the room, Anne's mom sat on the bed by her.

"What is wrong Anne? I know something is bothering you."

"I...I'm not sure what you're talking about..."

"I'm talking about your friends...they end up in that world, too?"

Anne lowered her face, unable to look her mom in the eyes. "Yes...they're still there..."

"Well, what happened? Why are they not here?"

Anne suddenly found herself struggling to hold back the tears. "They were supposed to come home with me...but...there wasn't any time...King Andrias betrayed us...and Marcy...she..."

The realization suddenly came over her. Marcy couldn't be alive. There was no way Anne could think of that Marcy could've survived, and Anne realizing this caused the tears to finally start falling. Anne's mom held her as she started to break down crying.

"Shh, it's okay...I'm here now..."

"I just...can't believe she's really gone...and Sasha's still there...and I can't do anything about it...I want to go back and get them, but I don't know how..."

Anne's mom held her tighter. "I know...but Anne, you can't go back to that place. It is too dangerous."

"No, you don't understand! Sasha's still there!"

"I know you are upset, but...what if you get hurt? Or worse?" Anne's mom started tearing up.

Anne sighed. "I know you're worried about me, but I'll be fine. Once I figure out a way to go back to Amphibia, I promise I will come back to you. You have my word." Anne gently wiped the tears from her mom's eyes. "Now, stop crying, please...I'll be alright."

Anne's mom held her daughter tighter. "I don't like this at all...but...if that is what you feel you must do, then...please be careful."

"I will, mom..."

"Should I tell Marcy's parents?"

Anne lowered her head. "If you feel you need to...but I don't think they would understand the whole "frog world" thing...and I can't imagine how they'll react to knowing their daughter...you know..."

"I understand..."

After talking for a few more minutes, Anne's mom grabbed her jacket and left with Hop Pop to go see Marcy's parents. As Anne looked out the window towards the car, she could feel a pit in her stomach. How are they gonna take the news?

Sprig and Polly came back into the room and sat by Anne.

"So, Anne...how are you holding out?"

Anne sighed, the tears returning to her face. "Not good...I should've been honest with you from the beginning...I'm...just having a hard time accepting that she might actually be gone..."

Sprig hugged Anne. "It's okay...I get it. You weren't ready to talk about it."

"There's one more thing though..." Anne pulled out a piece of paper. "I was...gonna tell Marcy something, but I got way too nervous, so...I wrote it down...I was gonna give it to her when we got back home..."

Sprig hesitantly took the piece of paper. As he was reading, he held his hand over his mouth as he started to tear up.

"Anne...you were gonna confess to her..."

"Yea, ever since we found Marcy at the gates of Newtopia, I guess I fell for her pretty hard...but, I don't know, I've always had a bad habit of falling for my friends...I doubt she would've felt the same way, but...I thought maybe if I wrote it down and gave it to her...maybe I could get it off my chest...but...I guess I'll never know now..."

"Actually," Polly said, "Marcy told me she always had a crush on you..."

"What?" Anne's eyes widened. Please tell me this is some kind of sick joke...no, Polly would never lie about something like that...

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but...Marcy made me swear not to say anything just yet..."

Anne hugged Polly and Sprig, finally unable to hold back her grief as she started bawling her eyes out, making them start to weep as well.

I'd give anything to hear your voice right now, Marcy...to hear you laugh...to hear you ramble on about those RPGs I'll probably never play because I don't have the attention span that you did...to hear your cute nicknames for me, like Anna Banana...

...please Marcy...I need you...

Meanwhile, back in Amphibia, King Andrias was planning something big. His army was growing at an incredible rate, and the date for the invasion of Earth was fast approaching. He wandered around the castle until he arrived in his lair and looked upon the glass case in front of him, filled with liquid. Inside was a humanoid shape...

"Hello, Marcy..."