SPOILERS for Amphibia's finale
Ten years have gone by since that fateful departure. Ten years of separation from the other world. Two bonds that may never cross paths again.
As the years went by, others have gone their separate ways, living out their own lives. But this does not mean that some paths can connect again. It could be for a brief moment, a long period or time.
Or in this case, a chance to cross occasionally; but are heading towards the horizon, side by side.
That path is what we see now. Three friends; one moved far away, and the two other who slowly found their own paths. But the bond they shared will never extinguish.
"Sash, I can still change real quick. My apartment isn't far from here."
"Relax, Anne. This place has the best food, the best drinks, and nobody cares what you wear. …. As long as it's decent."
"Sir, your outfit is not acceptable here!" a guard shouted as he dragged away a troublemaker.
"Oh just you wait! Soon, fossil fuel powered sweatpants will be the most revolutioni-" The trouble maker was then tossed out.
"Really wish Global Warming fuel can be replaced easily." One of the three girls said as she walked besides her friends. "I think I might be able to fix that right up if I get that new job!"
"Mar-Mar, that's 'when' you get that new job." The Thai woman said. "I hope you guys didn't spend too much on those reserves."
"Too much?!" Sasha, the blonde woman turned to her friend. "Anne, we haven't been together since Marcy moved. And this is YOUR special night." Sasha looked a bit concerned. "But this place is OK with you, right?"
Anne gave a heartful laugh. "Sasha, it's OK. and I am so happy you two are here."
"Us too, Anne-banana, us too!" Marcy smiled as they sat right at their seats.
The restaurant was a beautiful rooftop location with a great view of the dusk-covered city, with strands of light around the edges, a bar decorated with real vines around the shelves, and live entertainment.
"Hey, did you hear about the girl who thankfully decided to do this comedy gig as a weekend-only thing?"
After their waiter took their drink order, it was finally time for the three friends to catch up after ten full years.
"I'm really sorry I haven't gotten in contact in a while." Marcy rubbed her thumbs together. "I've been busy with clubs, college, and the best thing that ever happened to me; I just haven't gotten around to calling back. Especially since Nolifebook got shut down for giving all those people's info to King Andrias."
Sasha groaned. "They believed Nolifebook wussing out, but the whole invasion? Nope, never happened!" She clutched her fist. "I just want to punch that Mr. X guy for trying to keep that literal city wrecking inva-"
"Easy there, girl." Anne calmed her friend with a pat on the shoulder. "I was angry too, but you know we can't 'legally' talk about that in public. Even though it's an open secret to the literal city."
"Hey, Hero Anne." Greeted someone passing by.
"Hey random stranger." Anne waved back. "At least I wasn't getting bombarded with creepy people, and the friends I made growing up are great. Not a single 'hey can you give me a hairbrush to auction on the internet' kind of person."
"Yeah, Sasha told me about that." Marcy spoke. "You guys kind of …. Well grew apart."
"We did…." Sasha said, looking at Anne. "But we still had each other back. Remember when you introduced me to that cute boy?"
"And then I purposely 'accidentally' set you two up at 'Spin the Bottle?'"
"And then that backfired by having that bottle point at a girl and, my frog, was that a wakeup call for me." Sasha said, confusing Marcy.
"Wakeup call, what do you …. Wait a minute?" Marcy waved her fingers. "You do straight line, and zigzag?"
"Yes, Straight line and Zigzag." Sasha said. "Those two still fight over me to this day, even though I rejected both of them. They can't even get the hint! They should be the ones dating each other instead!" the once warrior rubbed her temples.
"Speaking of romance." Marcy blushed. "I got myself a highschool swwweetheaaaaarrrrt!"
"Woah!" Anne and Sasha smiled. "Who's the lucky boy?"
Marcy took out her phone with a shy smile. "His looks don't matter too much. All that matters is the bond we shared till this day."
"Oh, you two are still dating?" Anne smiled as she slowly looked at the photo. "Let's see who's the lucky hu-hu-HUBBA HUBBA?!"
Both Anne and Sasha's jaws dropped when they saw the photo of Marcy's boyfriend. A supermodel-looking Latino with tank-like arms and a strong looking jawbone. All that's missing was the long hair flowing in the air.
And yes, Marcy herself was in the photo too.
"Well, you two thought I wasn't going to date someone gross and desperate?" Marcy gave a sly smile, knowing full well the two were not expecting that.
"Reeeallly sorry about that?" Sasha said as Anne felt just as guilty. "But seriously, how'd you score that?"
Marcy chuckled. "He was captain of my new Highschool's football team, and a secret member of my Creatures and Caverns club."
"We're in the twilight zone." Anne laughed.
Marcy looked at the photo and smiled. "He always wore a disguise when we played, until I caught him with his face revealed." She held her hands together. "He grabbed my hand and begged me to keep it a secret."
"He didn't threaten you, did he?" Sasha asked with a cold and ready to kill stare.
"He didn't, Sasha." Marcy laughed. "I promised, and after that we started hanging out more. We talked, we laughed. We saw the final 'Fast Rat' movie together!" The grip on her hands tightened as her red face scrunched up with pure joy. "The movie where they finally defeated Alloy Rat, and Fast Rat and Lucy Magnolia had enough character development to truly love each other and kiss!" It was as if Marcy was ready to blow up. "Then Leon and me suddenly grabbed each other's hands and we gazed deep into our eyes just like in 'Legend of Korelda Breathing into the Wilderness 2' when Chain broke his vow of silence to confess his love for Korelda and we …. We kissed! Eeeeeh!"
"Woah, there. Woah!" Both Anne and Sasha calmed the energetic girl.
"And I thought I had a hard time controlling myself." Sasha shook her head. "So what happened next?"
Marcy continued to speak, still feeling embarrassed. "After a while of dating, Leon, that's his name by the way, finally told everyone about his secret. Mixed results." Marcy rubbed her head. "And that bravely actually helped me open up to more people. I haven't had so many friends since Newtopia."
Anne grinned. "I wished I could have seen all that." Then she put on a mischievous look. "Any wedding bells soon?"
And that's when Marcy's face found a way to turn even redder. "No no no no! Not yet, not yet! I mean I would say yes immediately but-oops!" She covered her mouth as her two friends leaned closer. "Sorry, I mean I know for a fact I would say yes if he ever proposed." She looked away. "But that is something I do not want to rush. Even then, I never want to push Leon into something he's not ready for."
"You really grew up." Sasha held Marcy's hand. "Wish my parents did the same."
Both Anne and Marcy lit up.
"Your drink, ma'ams." The waiter delivered their drinks, all colored the same as the gems they once represented.
"Thank you, dude." Sasha took a sip, looking completely calm. "Don't worry. After we finally came back home from Amphibia, they've been better with each other. Still separated by the way." She took another sip. "And I got some awesome half-siblings later on, and I will crush anyone that makes them cry."
Marcy smiled. "That's good. Now then." She took a sip from her drink. "What about your love-life, Anne?"
Anne blushed. "During highschool I dated a total of three boys."
"Oh boy…." Sasha did not sound happy about this.
"What's wrong, Sasha?" Marcy asked, before coming up with a hypothesis. "No, did you start liking Anne!?"
"No." Sasha said sternly. "If I liked Anne, we would not have grown that far apart." Sasha looked at the two friends. "You girls are my besties, not … in that way."
"No problem, even if I do go zigzag." Anne sighs. "But I did have a problem with the second one. Lowlife was cheating on me."
"WHAT?!" Marcy held in her shout to not alert anyone. "Someone cheated on YOU?! Why and how!?"
"I know, right?" Anne held her arms up. "Literally every single kid in school knows I'm a hero, yet that boy thought he could go smooching that other girl behind the bleachers. You think nobody ever looks there! Thank Frog we were only dating for like two months."
"And I dragged that boy and other girl off school property so I wouldn't get expelled for what I did to their faces" Sasha took another sip. "Girls, let's have these as our 'only' drinks."
"...Naw."
Anne took a sip while looking at her menu. "The other two were alright. Didn't really last long, but we're on good terms."
"Anyone on your mind right now?" Marcy asked, which she caught a slight blush on her face. "You turned red, I'm right!"
"You're way too smart." Anne answered.
"So who's the new boy, now?" Sasha asked before coming up with a guess. "Wait, it's not that freaky co-worker of yours from before?"
(Flashback)
"See ya, Jake! I'm off partying for my birthday with my childhood BFFS!" Anne waved to a tall guy around her age with black hair.
"Bye Anne, have fun!" Jake waved as he turned his attention to the anaconda he was carrying. "And you my dear will devour that rat I was fattening up. Who wanna strangle the life out of its natural prey? You do! You do!"
(End Flashback)
"Three things!" Anne spoke up. "One, No! Two, that's literally the only freaky thing about him! Three, he's married to my other co–worker and they are completely perfect for each other!"
(Flashback)
A shorter and wider woman with blonde hair caught up with Jake. "The anaconda will wait quietly beneath the water edge, waiting for the right moment to pounce and strangle the prey with its own body. Suffocating it to allow an easy devouring. Its slow metabolism will allow the anaconda to not eat again for another week."
"I am so blessed to have you, Stephanie."
"Likewise, my soulmate, likewise." The two lean in close to each other in their lovey-dovey state, the snake looks like it wants to puke as it points its tail to its mouth.
(End Flashback)
"Also they're my friends too. So don't go talking about them like that."
"Got it." Sasha said with a smile. "So who is it?"
Anne blushed. "His name's Tyler. We know each other from the Thai Temple during Market Day. He's mostly there to play Kick Volleyball.
"Also known as Sepak takraw." Marcy added.
"That too." Anne smiled. "He even got along with Sprig after they all found out he and the Planters were frogs." She still felt embarrassed sharing this. "We actually went to the same highschool together, you remember him, Sash?"
"Actually, I do." Sasha said. "Wasn't he on the basketball team?" Sasha then snapped her finger. "Cute choice."
Anne smiled as she gave one more crucial detail. "Aaaaaand he was also the reason why I took up herpetology."
"Seriously?" Marcy asked as Sasha also looked confused. "Not our big ol' adventure in the land of amphibians?"
"That was the main reason, but let me explain."
(Flashback)
In the school library, we see Anne studying from a history book. "Welp, that's another new record for me." Anne said as another Thai teen sat down across from her. "Hi, Anne."
"Hey, Tyler." Anne greeted her friend.
He was a bit taller than Anne and has quite the build from playing kick volleyball and basketball. "Never saw you study here before."
Anne gave him a smirk. "Had a lot of growing up over at Amphibia."
Tyler's face grew excited from the mention of that world. "I wished I could have been there. Buuuuut at least I never had the chance of getting eaten by some dino-snail or whatever you faced ….. Still kind of 'illegal' to talk about that?"
Anne placed her finger in front of her mouth. "Yeah ….. Keep talking." Finishing her response off with a wink.
The two give a joyful grin to each other as they talk about Anne's life in Amphibia; from the predators, the ruins, and even the slice of life moments.
"Then it turned out those friendly toads turned out to be cannibals. Then Polly saved us from being cooked and I used my volcano project knowledge to blow the whole joint up!"
Tyler was in complete awe from Anne's story. "Amazing, and you didn't get hurt at all? Also what kind of toads were they?" Tyler looked through the book he brought over. "Maybe I can find them here?"
"What's that?" Anne asked, looking at the book.
"It's a book on frogs and toads." Tyler slightly blushed. "I just had this sudden idea of getting myself a pet frog and-" Before the boy knew it, Anne rushed from the other side of the table and sat right next to him, face to face.
"I NOW WANT A PET FROG TO NAME EITHER SPRIG, POLLY, OR HOP POP!"
The sudden extreme closeup of Anne's face would be a disturbance to most people. Tyler on the other hand glanced the opposite direction and blushed. "Y-Yeah, you can rent it out first. No prob!"
The two spend the rest of their library time looking through the book and Anne even rented it out too. She still asked again if Tyler was O.K. with it, but he insisted. She spent the rest of her free time looking in that book and learning about the mere handful of species it documented and how similar and different each one was to each other.
(End Flashback)
"After that, I pretty much turned into you, Marcy." Anne blushed. "I spent so much time looking in that book that I nearly fell into an open sewer hole before Sasha grabbed my arm."
"And I also turned into Anne." Sasha said, remembering the close calls. "I gave you way too little credit on watching Marcy!"
"Daw, you too!" Marcy chuckled as Anne continued her story.
"Never gotten around to getting a pet frog, I just kept learning about amphibians and their natural environment."
"Who are you and what have you done with Anne?" Marcy jokes.
"You sound just like my mom." Anne laughed. "And when the thought of college came around, I just knew what I wanted my life to be about." Anne smiled softly as she sipped her drink. "I thought real hard about this and what jobs were available, and a herpetologist at the Aquarium sounds perfect." She gave the two a deep smile. "Also, I 'might' and I repeat, 'might', get the chance to go on a little out-of-country trip to the Amazon."
"No way!" Sasha and Marcy grinned. "Like an actual expedition?!"
"Mmmn, not quite that." Anne took out her phone and showed them the program she may be joining. "It's an environmental study on the amphibian population. They're posting it online to educate people about the usual bad news. Global warming, pollution, the works." She scrolled down some more. "But at least we get to show off the local species."
"Who knows." Marcy smiled. "If you do make it, you might find a new species. You know the best time to search for one?"
"At night, Marcy." Anne answered. "So enough about me, what about your Mar?"
Marcy grinned. "First off, thank you for introducing me to Terri, who now works with the government tech department, who's helping me get into that laboratory back home in Oregon." Marcy started clenching her fists in excitement. "All the improvements I did in Newtopia will help shape this world for the better! Plus I think I can figure out a new green energy source that can run twenty-four seven and won't kill any birds."
"Is it running on those treadmills?" Sasha asked. "Like, do they actually work good? Seriously, I only saw them used for energy on some cartoons."
"Good question." Marcy answered, before their waiter returned.
"Are you three ready to order?" the waiter asked.
The three took a short break to tell their food order. Sasha ordered the steak with extra veggies on the side. Marcy ordered a craisin salad with light dressing, and Anne ordered a bean quesadilla.
"Looks like we all decided on more healthy choices." Anne smiled. "Really missed eating bugs though."
"Eww, Anne!" Sasha joked as Marcy chuckled.
"I actually enjoyed some insects back there." Marcy responded. "What did you eat?"
"After the prison sludge, I taught the toad warriors how to cook. Taking down that tomato plant monster was a sitch." Sasha said proudly.
"Lucky you." Anne said as she turned to Marcy. "Speaking of bugs, how about we bring up your web comic."
"Did you read it yet?" Marcy asked with excitement.
"Sure did." Anne gave a sly smile. "But it sounds so familiar, now let me think." She tapped her lip twice. "What does the title, 'Woke up in Reptilia' remind me of…."
Marcy blushed. "At least I didn't make a self-insert."
"Not yet you didn't." Anne squinted her eyes at Marcy. "Not till after little miss 'Annabelle' and her found family leave Lizard Valley and travel to Monitor Monument City to meet the sincerely friendly King Komodo."
"Anne, quit it. Spoilers!" The three girls shared a laugh together. "I promise it won't be a copy n paste story."
"At least you're going easy on my character." Sasha laughed.
"And Sasha….." Marcy and Anne looked at their blonde friend. "I know psychologists are forbidden to share information with other people, but is there anything you can talk to us about?"
"Well you're right about that." Sasha said as he leaned on her arm. "Nothing at all specific, but I did have time when I'm looking through a mirror." Sasha looked into her drink to see her reflection. "Separated parents, anger issues, and just wanting something to stay together. Even if they think they need to be …. tough, to keep it that way." Sasha looked at her drink for a while until Marcy and Anne placed their hands on her shoulders.
"You must have helped a lot of kids, Sash."
"Oh come on…" It was Sasha's turn to blush. "We still didn't finish talking about Tyler."
"Oh boy." Anne sighed as her two friends looked directly at her again. "Well after highschool, we still remain close friends. In fact, us two along with Jake and Stephanie are my best friends." Anne took out her phone to show the four taking a selfie. "You two will always have a place in my heart, but I feel so connected with them." Anne showed them a quick montage of them hanging out at public places and even at the aquarium during work time and special events.
"Tyler works for a carpeting company, but he always finds time to help out at the aquarium. He even got himself a year-pass to visit us."
"'Us' you said?" Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Or just you?"
"Sash…." Anne couldn't even keep a straight face. "He's always been helpful around the city. Picking up trash, having his carpenting job help in putting up signs for fundraisers, he even helped out my parents at their restaurant when things get too busy." She looked away, as her mind drifts. "So much to like."
"Earth to lovesick Anne." Sasha caught Anne's attention. "So what are you waiting for, ask him out?" Sasha tilted her head. "Or do you want to be traditional and have the boy ask? If you want him to work for it, I can give you some tips on light, subconscious flirting."
Both Anne and Marcy gave her a weird look.
"Yeah, my psychology class went over everything besides the mind of a child."
Anne shook her head lightly. "After Amphibia, I changed myself for the better." Anne thought back on how her adventures made her spread out. "To stand up for myself and not take the easy path only, but….." She sighed and looked at her friends. "If my dating life taught me anything, it's that love is more complicated than that." She looked at her phone again and swiped to a photo of just her and Tyler, now grown up. "I don't know if he sees me more than a friend, and I don't want to ruin the friendship we have."
"Friendzoned." Sasha said to herself.
Anne looked back at her friends. "And who knows where this will go. We can fall in love, separate, or this crush can just go away. But there is something I want out of a relationship." Anne showed the two girls a picture of two very important people. "I want something my parents have."
Mr. and Mrs Boonchoy; the two that brought Anne into this world, the two that weeped when she disappeared, and the two that housed the Planters and helped them save the world.
"After everything they went through, they did it together. No cranky old-couple ranting. No hidden arguments, just them loving each other." Anne couldn't help but feel guilty about bringing this up in front of Sasha again.
The once soldier understood. "I want that too." Sasha leaned back. "Going zigzag leaves more opportunities, but that still doesn't make it easy unlike Marcy here."
Marcy rubbed the back of her head. "Come one, we have issues like …. Like … O.K. you got me on that one."
Their food arrived and the three chowed down. They still talked briefly about the food, their jobs, and even some things about high school, Marcy's life outside of California and her relationship with her parents and how much progress her dad made over at his new job.
After their meal, something was happening right at a clear spot at the restaurant.
"Sasha, Marcy ….. Are they gonna sing 'you know what?'" Anne asked sternly.
"Nope, not even on my mortal enemy." Sasha smiled. "Another great thing about this restaurant, dance party!"
Anne's eyes glew up. "Heck yeah!"
The music started playing and soon multiple people stood up and started dancing. Anne also stood right up and turned to her friends. "Like old times?"
"Like old times!" The three ran to the dance floor and danced along with everyone else. Their party felt like it lasted hours until things began to die down. The sun had already set and people started to leave slowly.
It was a Friday night, but Anne's schedule only allowed a few weekdays off, not the weekend. "Too bad I can't have more drinks."
"Don't forget, I'm driving." Sasha said as Marcy took another drink. She looked at the time and sighed with a hint of sadness. She looked to the side and noticed the gifts. "Well, time for the birthday girl to open up some presents."
"Hope you didn't go crazy on this one."
Anne opened up each gift and was just as amazed. Marcy had given her a plush frog, similar to Sprig. "I made it myself." Marcy smiled. "Not as good as an official product, but I hope you like it."
Anne started to tear up before looking at Sasha's gift, a music box.
"I know you probably have some mixed feelings about this one." Sasha said. "And yet it was bought for. You had no idea how hard it was to find a frog-themed …. Oh Anne.."
The two girls looked at the birthday girl, holding onto the gifts to her chest. "I love it, I love this day." She should barely hold back her tears. "I … I love you guys so much!"
"Well then, let's get this mushy stuff out of the way and hug." Sasha would have lied if they asked if she was tearing up, just like Marcy as well.
The three embraced each other in a tight hug, a hug that felt like it could go on for an eternity.
Marcy was the first to break out of the hug. "We need a picture of this." She dug through her bag and took out an old camera. "Still got it."
Marcy asked an employee to take their photo. Anne stood between her friends as they each took a hand. "Happy Birthday, Anne."
Anne could barely look at the camera, and neither could they. Anne closed her eyes and began to tear up with pure happiness as the friends smiled peacefully for their dear friend.
Snap
The three looked at their photo, one final gift for Anne on her special day.
"So what now?" Marcy asked as Anne wiped away a tear.
"I really need to be home. I have a family funday thing tomorrow." Anne looked at Marcy. "How long are you in town for?"
"Till Monday, so I got plenty of time to catch up." Marcy smiled as he turned to Sasha.
"Got some papers to sort out before Monday and I'm free of patients tomorrow and Sunday." Sasha grinned and turned back to Anne. "How about we see you at the aquarium?"
"That sounds great!" Anne smiled. "You can even meet Tyler, Stephanie, and Jake. …. Don't pull a 'me' when I try hooking up Sprig and Ivy."
"Agreed." Marcy and Sasha said in union.
"But….." Marcy pounded her palm. "If that Tyler guy does anything I don't like, you can't stop me."
Anne laughed as the two friends paid for the dinner, that's when she got an idea. "I know we're full grown adults, but what about a sleepover?"
Sasha smirked. "What are we, thirteen? …. Let's do it!"
"Yes!" Marcy grinned. "I want to talk more about your job, Anne." Marcy got close to Anne's face. "You're a scientist now! We need to talk! Your daily routine. The species you care for! The yadda and yabba and whatever!"
She didn't really say those last parts, it's just that Anne was hearing too much coming from Marcy with her eyes like an innocent child seeing the world.
And so they spend the night together talking about their lives, friends and family, and anything in between. They even watched a movie Marcy really liked, and then pointed out all the loopholes they found, which Marcy did not notice.
"I'm changing my top ten list." Marcy said as she lay on a sleeping bag next to Anne and Sasha.
"Why did I ask you guys to sleep over, it's late." Anne said, looking at the clock going for midnight.
"Not that late." Sasha answered. "You said you need to be there at ten tomorrow, that's more than 8 hours." Sasha yawned. "Heh, only ten? I …." she continued to yawn. "Looks like I'm losing this sleepover for once, I'm hitting the hay."
Marcy rubbed her eyes. "Not making it either. See you in the morning."
"And see you all at the aquarium?" Anne yawned as she snuggled up in her sleeping bag. "Mom did say I might need these bags … if you guys come back. We …. We need to eat at their restaurant, they would want to ….. Hm." Anne looked up to see their friends already asleep.
"I won." Anne smiled as her eyes began to drift to sleep, but before that. She turned to her side and grabbed the hand-made Sprig plush and held it tight like a child with a teddy bear, before closing her eyes.
Another day has passed for the life of Anne Boonchuy. A life she once gave up to save her second home. A life that is still filled with the unknown, and the possibilities to grow. She may find new friends, new discoveries, and maybe even love; but she will always head down her own path and see what's on the horizon.
With loved ones by her side.
But this was not the only birthday celebration for her. There is another that she cannot reach, but the bond the once crossed path grew for a short time will live on.
"Happy Birthday, Anne." Nighttime fell over in Wortwood, and one more celebration took place at the statue of the hero. A large, candle lit cake facing the Plantars and the rest of Wortwood. Sprig was the one to blow out the candle as they all cheered. "Have a happy life, and so will I."
The End
Happy Anniversary to Amphibia
A/N: To those who follow me for 'Until Next Summer,' sorry. I am not taking the same approach with Amphibia. The least you might get is a continuation of their aquarium trip and a stop at Anne's parents' restaurant.
