Forced to stick together to escape the newtopian guards and General Yunan, Leo and Sasha seek the hidden exit in a surprisingly lively mining town, conflicting with each other at every turn.

...

...

Having finally escaped the raging waters, Yunan didn't bother to dry herself off, scaling up and trudging back into the town she originally come from. They were all going to run away, no doubt. But it hadn't been too long since she fell from the cliffside, so she could possibly cut them off.

However, when she returned to the streets, she found no frogs or toads that had been bustling around it earlier. Instead, they had been replaced with an entire army of newts all on their guard.

"What...What's going on here?" She questioned, eyeing up one of the soldiers, who quickly began to shake right there on the spot.

"W-We were requested to join you on this mission, King Andrias was interested when he heard that Captain Grime was with mysterious two creatures.."

Yunan did her absolute best not to split the newt all over the streets right then and there, she respected the mentality of 'Don't shoot the Messager'. So instead, she dropped him without much restraint, drawing her broken claws and the other that was still intact.

She hadn't been trusted to finish the task herself, these were the direct orders of the king. He had no faith that she would be able to handle it, even though she proved time and time again that she was worthy of his trust.

Working herself to the bone had been meaningless, she'd been bested by a slob of a captain and two creatures from another world. How could she name herself as the youngest and greatest newt general, when she was bested by three criminals?

There was no way her pride would let that stand.

"Don't bother waiting, they won't show up. As predictable as they seem, they must've realized by now that you've surrounded the town. Where there going is my only question.."

Spotting a frog that was trying to pass by discretely as possible, Yunan lunged for him, picking him up so they were at eye level, "You! Do you have any information on whether there is any kind of town nearby!?"

Slowly bringing her claws up to his face, the pink newt smiled, baring her fangs, "I hope you'll be useful."

"T-T-There is a town! On the outskirts of the forest, near the mountains, there's an old mining town that frogs use for transporting food across this valley...B-But I swear that's all I know..."

Dropping him onto the concrete with a moment's notice, Yunan was already on her way, preparing to cleave not on the forest this time.

Neither the creatures nor the captain was going to be coming back with her, alive.

Dawn was steadily falling, they'd wasted a fair bit of time traveling to the small village itself, making it through the dense forest without many words being exchanged between any of them. Even Sasha and Grime hadn't spoken with one another.

Leo didn't seem all too bothered, picking at some dirt on his cheek, awkwardly taking a sniff at it. He'd been filthy since being separated from Anne and the Planters. Say what he would about the f'wagon at least he kept him clean and comfortable.

At least, relatively it did.

According to the green toad, Leo either had forgotten or hadn't learned his name yet and had told them of an apparent secret exit from the small valley they'd found themselves in.

"Percy, I know you said this town was far but my frog! We've been walking for all most two flipping hours!" Grime groaned, the weeks of being a couch potato had left his legs much worse for wear.

"I-I swear it's just over this hill, and I mean it this time," Percy stammered, praying that they'd seen some form of life soon.

Sasha was the quietest, which itself was worrying, she treated herself as the Queen Bee and more the likely always had something to say. Yet she was walking ahead of Percy, despite not having any real idea where she was going.

It was unbelievable, that she'd been put into a situation like this, having to pile up with the very person he had caused an ending to a friendship, the one thing she felt like she had actual control over, was ruined.

He didn't even seem to pay it any mind, walking with nothing more than a blank stare on his face. One with piercing red eyes that she still found unnerving, if only slightly. And snow-white hair that gave him the appearance of a ghost.

Someone like him had ruined everything.

"There."

Saying one of his first words since they'd begun walking, Leo's robotic voice pointed at the village ahead. It almost looked abandoned, yet the lanky frogs and newts walking about spoke of something completely different.

"It's like a bustling little night market," Leo pointed out, somewhat intrigued by their way of life. No money was being transacted between one another; they were all trading an item for whatever they wanted.

Immediately he reached for the small pocket journal he'd started writing in since they'd begun their journey. He hadn't fit too much about his own little setback throughout the horrific marvels of Amphibia, so now seemed like the perfect time to-

Without a moment's notice, the book was snatched away from him. Before he could even get into the first chapter.

"What's this? Never would've guessed that some stoic loner like you would have a diary...no, this makes much more sense, I wonder if you've written anything about Anne."

"Give it back," Leo said sternly, his voice still nothing more than a murmur.

"What? Afraid I'll read something you won't like..."

This time, he spoke much more darkly, "Hand it over," Leo stepped forward about to grab her wrist and his book.

There wasn't much that had that was really his in Amphibia, something he truly owned. A journal on his life and thoughts was about all he wanted. Sasha felt slightly taken aback by his aggressive tone, she got the idea pretty easily who he was when they first met.

Still, even if was what she was expecting she was still slightly taken aback. With some reluctance, she threw it back at him, not without throwing him a nasty look, returning to Grime he could only shake his head.

"Right, so where's the way out of here, let's get it done quickly people!" Sasha announced trotting about the village as if she owned the place. Leo was meekly wandering about, sagging at every frog that stepped away from him after getting one look at his face.

Percy and Braddock were the most off to the side, not sure what to do entirely sure what to do. They'd gotten them both to the village, now they just needed to get out.

Grime still hadn't moved, eyeing up every one of the frogs he could spot. He might have been a little out of his depth as a captain, but that didn't mean he'd totally lost all of the skills he'd honed at Toad Tower.

One of them in particular was picking out a frog who stood out from the rest. And one was a beady-eyed one lurking about in the biggest crowd that had circulated in the village. In truth, it wasn't a very big one, so it wasn't all too difficult.

But still, with his grey and white eyes, it was easy to pick him out as someone who could help them, "You!" He shouted with absolutely no restraint, "What do you know about the 'secret' way out of this town."

Pulling a dagger out from the back of his heel, Grime held it forward to emphasize his words, "And don't bother to skimp out on any possible details."

Surprisingly, the frog wasn't put off in the slightest, in fact, he looked much more interested now than he ever had, "Easy, easy. Try not to start something so blatantly, I can be of some help to you, buts that's only if you stop acting so hostile. The frogs of this town tend to look after their own, which includes me."

Speaking with a smooth yet still scraggily voice, the frog nonchalantly wrapped his arms around Grime in a friendly manner, "I'm listening."

"If you're looking to use the tunnel so you and your lackeys can get out of here, then you'll have to wait till nightfall, we don't much mind wanderers, as long as they don't go around touching what isn't there's.."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The eerie-sounding frog lost all of his composure upon hearing Leo's dominating voice lowly talking down to him, even if he hadn't meant to, granted the white-haired boy was slightly wary of the suspicious-looking frog.

"O-Oh. Y-You've got yourself a pretty good guard. Scary and intimidating, the perfect mesh," The frog spoke nervously, clearing his throat awkwardly.

For once, Leo took note of his words, purposefully staring him down with his cold, red eyes, "How can we get out of here then?" Putting a darker tone onto his voice, Leo kept his face stiff; even with how much he didn't want to.

"R-Right. I was just getting to that, if you can just wait until it's close to midnight, then I can help you get through the passage. It's only because around that time no one will be around to see you sneaking through it."

Although skeptical, Grime accepted, he didn't have any reason not to. This was their only way out and denying his request even if it was slightly sketchy would ruin any chance they had.

"By the way frog, what should we call you? Considering your helping us out and all, the names Grime" Grime questioned, trying to act nice much like Sasha had taught him, throwing the lanky frog a poor smile.

"Sly," The frog responded casually, not noticing the irony in his own name, "What?"

Although not on purpose, both Sasha and Leo dropped their brows in unison, as if disappointed in such a cliché in front of them.

Leo was slightly starting to curse the fact that Anne had taught him so much about the human world and all of its customs, there wasn't much else he needed to remember so all of her information stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Look, we'll follow you and wait till midnight, but don't think that means we're stupid enough to fall for whatever scam you're trying to pull here. I invented scams like these! Just take us somewhere we can rest for the night and then take us to the passage...got it!"

Sly crept back, both put off by the two lanky creatures threatening him, but also by the fact that some random toad as such a wide array of creatures in his group.

That was until he put two and two together, he knew that he recognized that scar and name somewhere, right about now he was standing before the one and only Captain Grime, the horrific leader of Toad Tower.

Not only was he more intrigued than ever now, but his goals had just shifted slightly.

Ever so slightly.

Percy and Braddock stirred the broth before them, they didn't have any real idea what the ingredients were, they were only focusing on the smell and watering over the possibility of the taste.

Sasha took it with caution, she too couldn't deny the tantalizing smell, but watching Grime wolf it down without much restraint did give her an unwanted feeling of hunger, after all, she hadn't eaten anything other than the plants and bugs for the better half of two weeks.

'If I die at least I'll be spared from any of this..'

Bringing the spoon to her lips, the blonde timidly put it into her mouth, marveling at the surprising taste. Whatever had been put in there, it tasted good.

What only soured the meal was him. Sat up in tree writing, acting as if he was above sharing a meal with them, granted she wouldn't want to either but that was beside the point. He hadn't even come down to grab a bowl.

"Why are you so fussed about this? Leave him be, he's not supposed to be our problem, the only reason he's even here is that he's got no way out. What's the point in trying to rile him up?"

"I don't know. Maybe the fact that he ruined everything! You should be angrier at him than I am, he's part of the reason you lost everything!"

Grime sighed, admittedly she did have a point, "That might be true, and I do resent him, Anne, and the wretched frog Hopediah. But I can't do much about that now, we have a new goal, taking over not just frog valley, but the entirety of Amphibia."

Sasha could at least smile at that, seeing the before downtrodden captain now lively and determined, it did make her feel a little better.

Still, she couldn't shake the overbearing disgust she felt whenever Leo was involved. It only served to remind her of the fact that Anne chose to fight back, she chose to stand up to her. Then again, Anne chose to save her, extending her hand over a collapsing tower.

And, even though it was blurry, she knew Grime had arrived to save her in time, he was already on the floor by then. All she could remember was an image of white clouding her vision as she prepared for the inevitable.

Only she hadn't died, her last moments hadn't been on top of the crumbling foundation, tearily looking up at Anne. She'd been spared, and she'd still been questioning whether or not it had been.

Her only answer was something she wasn't quite ready to unpack just yet.

"Dammit.." Sasha groaned taking up a bowl and trotting over to the tree, "Are you planning on sitting there until we leave, seriously it's annoying.."

Leo looked down confused as to why she was here, he'd wanted to say something else to Sasha sure, but he'd decided it would be best to leave well enough alone. But now she had shown up, he knew she didn't back away from a confrontation, he understood that much when she'd thrown him into a wall.

Instead, he didn't respond sneaking her a glance, showing he was uninterested.

"Seriously. What's your problem? I was just offering you some food, I couldn't care less if you starve.."

"No. What's your problem?" Leo bit back, having a bit more emotion in his voice, "You're supposed to hate me, and yet you're offering me food. I don't get you."

Sasha's eyes bugged out like golf balls, "What's there not to get? I hate you, everything you do is frustrating to me!"

Leo dropped down from the tree, he was only an inch or two taller than Sasha, so he was still able to meet her eye level, "Frustrating? How, because I was the one who apparently ruined your friendship with Anne? Why don't you stop pinning that on me, Anne's a better person than you, she helped me become better, you really hate me because of that."

It was one of the first times Leo was really getting to lay into her, he'd heard back when they were running from Yunan and got the idea of it when they were fighting at Toad Tower. He was angry, that she refused to take any responsibility for her actions.

Maybe it was because he'd been coming out of his shell, even if it was gradually. He wanted to express how he felt more and could feel himself raising his voice.

That was why Sasha irked him more than anyone, Anne had been the one to teach him that, Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop, and been there for him when no one else had.

Yet, Sasha had no remorse for what she'd done to any of them, and if she did, she was refusing to admit that.

"What does that matter, you're a better person, you don't sound like a complete robot anymore, you're slightly more like a person, so what! Do you think that'll matter down the line?"

Confused, Leo watched Sasha smugly grin back at him, "What's your endgame in Amphibia? To go back home with Anne? If talking frogs are scared to look at you, how do you think humans will act, even Anne was freaked out by you at first, right?"

"That...that doesn't matter. If the frogs in Wartwood can accept me, then I'm sure people on Earth can.."

"I mean, will they? You still don't know how you ended up here, you might've been shunned by your own family, and then ran away to get sent here with us. Maybe that's the whole reason you forgot your memory because you didn't have anything to remember?" Sasha finished, expecting to see Leo with a morbid look on his face.

Instead, he only had eyes of pity, "If trying to hurt me is your only way to make yourself feel better. Then you're always going to be a horrible person...you can't change."

He spoke assuredly and quickly, taking the bowl that had now been placed on the ground and wandering off into the forest.

Sasha stood still, even with how much she tore into him, she was at least expecting some kind of reaction. Instead, she ended up standing alone, without a word to say.

An hour or two had passed. With that had been an uncomfortable silence of the group, one Percy had tried lightening, only to get shot down by both Grime and Braddock.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, I had some other frogs to deal with down at the village. We should be good to the guy," Sly called out from the forest, which was now pitch-black and barely visible, "Whenever you're ready we can get going."

Leo dropped down from the tree, having already put away his journal and already brandishing his katana. It didn't matter that Sly was helping them, he was still a suspicious character.

Leo might've been trying to see the best in people but that didn't mean he couldn't be on his guard. Especially with who he was currently working.

Like before, he might've been slightly harsh on Sasha, but he didn't care, if he said nothing then she'd just ignore it, "How far away is the end of town, exactly?" He asked, only to end up with no response.

"Thanks for that," He quipped robotically.

Without walking for too long, eventually, a giant crack appeared over the mountainside. It had been hidden under the canvas of trees, "Where did it come from?" Percy asked aloud.

"No one knows, some say it was made around the time that even larger creatures than the ones that lurk on this land. But, to make it easier, the frogs of this town created a minecart passage through the crack to transport food and...food just food."

Ignoring the clearly illegal goings on, Leo and the others followed Sly into the carved-out cave, none the wiser on the slithering above them.

Sasha stuck close to Grime at the front of the group, only second to Sly who was leading the way, "Unfortunately, the best way to travel through to the other side of this mountain is via minecart, there is two so you should all be able to fit in," Sly explained, sounding weirdly standoffish, as if he wanted the conversation to end.

"Well, I suppose me, Percy, and Braddock can fit in one. Sasha and Leo, you two should be able to fit into one.." Grime said a tad reluctant; he was well aware of the bad blood between them both, but there wasn't much he could do with it now.

"Oh, you won't need to worry about who gets in. After all, you won't be going anywhere.."

Leo's blood ran cold, whirring his head up to the ceiling, a drop of sweat dripping down his forehead as he did. There he spotted Yunan, stuck to the sharp roof of the cave like a bat, "There you are, it'll take more than a little water to stop me, the great General Yunan!"

"At least she shortened it," Grime commented, trying to lighten the mood. Or maybe keep himself from buckling right then and there.

Percy and Braddock were already hobbling into one of the carts activating them as they did, "Shit," Sasha cursed under her breath, "Get into the cart Grime, I suggest you do it as well, or we're leaving you behind!"

Not wasting any time, Leo hopped into the same cart as Sasha, riding it down at breakneck speed, "Later Yunan! Better luck on your third attempt in trying to kill us!"

"Why are you antagonizing her, someone like her isn't going to give up.." Leo sighed, struggling to keep his balance on the cart that seemed to be moving a mile a minute.

"That damn frog! He set us up, I should've known something was up, my senses were supposed to be sharp.."

Once again, both Sasha and Leo wore the same expression, "Really, Grime? What tipped you off to that? His beady eyes and suspicious grin, or was it the name?" Sasha's words were oozing with sarcasm, having to raise her voice as they blurred down the mineshaft.

Something clanked against the metal tracks as if a mass was starting to catch up with them, "Bad omen. Knew it."

"We get it!" Sasha groaned, holding a dagger at the ready. She'd busted two swords now and was gearing for a third, "C'mon you, half-wit general."

Snaking through the darkness, Yunan popped out from within it. Her claws now fine-tuned and at the ready, "I had that beady-eyed frog sort me out with a better pair, let's test them out on your skin!"

Leo blocked one of her incoming swipes, only managing to divert the blades to the first few layers of flesh over his skin, quickly drawing blood. He didn't falter though, pushing his katana back at her, forcing her onto Grime's minecart.

"Dude, that's a lot of blood!" Sasha remarked, flashing back to his image at Toad Tower for a brief second, as much as she hated him, she didn't want to see that sight again.

Ever.

"It's fine...I'm fine," Leo grunted, trying to stop the bleeding with his hand. Sasha quickly shoved a torn cloth into his, "Hurry and wrap that up, we still need to fight back."

For once, Leo agreed, "Fine."

"C'mon Captain Grime, why don't you fight back a little? What happened to the fiercest warrior of the valley!"

"I'm still working on it, doesn't mean I'm completely useless!" Thrusting the body weight he'd accumulated over the passing weeks into the cart, jerking Yunan off without much trouble.

She was back just as quickly, skidding her metal boots along the track as she held onto both carts at one, using it as leverage to pick herself back up, "That all you got? Or are we dumping you in the mines just like the river?"

"Oh, I like your fire, all the better to burn!" Yunan put all the force she could into the front of the minecart, bumping the back wheels right off the track and Leo and Sasha forward, slamming into it.

Acting on pure impulse, Sasha swept the dagger right in between the two claws, catching them right before they could cut into her eyes.

Leo intercepted, all the same, bashing the claws right out of the field of few, following it up with a swift kick to her stomach, and then with another bash to her chin with the hilt of his katana, knocking some blood out from the newt's gum, "It's been a while since I've tasted my own blood, I like it!"

Percy worriedly stood to the side, watching the chaos as they continued fighting over their treacherous position. He took his moment to act, swinging his accordion over the entire mine, bonking straight into Yunan.

They all stood in shock for a moment, until Sasha seized the opportunity, getting onto the side of the small cart, spinning her dagger around with some flourish slicing right into Yunan's armor, cutting through it until she could see her clothing beginning to peak through.

"I will not be embarrassed again, I am General Yunan for a reason!" Standing her ground, Yunan swatted her hand straight into Sasha, peeling back her claws, now dripping with blood.

"Sasha!" Grime yelled out, unable to do anything.

"Hah!" Yunan grinned, her veins practically about to pop right out of her skull.

Moving in the blink of an eye, Leo swung his blade down before Yunan could even think to react, sinking even more blood down her cheek and an even larger impact in her armor.

The tunnel above began to close in, the carts inching closer together. Dragging the twin knives through the roof, dropping the earth down onto them.

Rearing his red eyes upward, Leo paid no mind to it diving at Yunan with direct force, clashing with her claws, scraping the metal apart and the claws in two. Leaving her with only one set yet again, "You're fast! Especially considering the type of creature you are, I almost don't want to kill you!"

"Neither did I. Right now, though I'm about 50/50 on it.." Leo growled back; his voice wasn't coming out timid or emotionless.

It was coming out as his raw feelings, everything he felt at that moment could be heard in his voice.

Sasha leaned against the minecart, fighting back against her body that was willing to slump over and quit, she wouldn't let it though, she wasn't out of the fight just yet.

As she struggled to stand against the sheer velocity of the cart, she leant back to notice a lever, stuck out like a sore thumb. It most likely changed the cart they were on into the second tunnel instead of following the first.

'Get up...Sasha Waybright won't give in to some tired newt!'

So, holding out her dagger Sasha forcefully shifted the lever, an audible click being heard below them, "What was that?" Yunan questioned, "One of your tricks again, you won't fool me."

"Not trying to," Leo droned back, throwing a fist right at her, only to be met with hers, intercepting his punch and meeting it with her own, first bashing him into the jaw and then tossing him to the flooring of the cart.

Another set of clicks followed suit, Leo watched Sasha, now standing lunge forward straight into Yunan. Pushing them both into the other cart, all he could see afterward was the wall of the other side of the mine.

'No way...Sasha. Put me out of the fight..'

Not too long after, his cart met with what seemed to be a closed barrier stopping it entirely, flinging both Leo and his sword right out of the passage, flailing about until he hit the ground roughly, worsening the horrible state his body was in.

Looking around, a bit dazed, Leo took notice of the new trees and fauna all around him, he'd successfully escaped the valley, and it had been due to Sasha's aid.

He wanted to go back and fight, make sure Yunan was dealt with properly. But he couldn't. They would be far gone by now and that was if he could even climb back up the mountain and get into the cave.

There was nothing he could do now; all he could do was walk. Find a way back to Anne and the Plantars as much as he might've wanted to turn back, he couldn't, and he refused to.

Wincing a little at his still bleeding wound, although most of it was dried. Leo tightened it back up with the cloth he'd been given, grunting a little as he did, "Excuse me, young boy are you alright? You're quite lanky for a frog.."

Leo heard a voice steadily approaching, instantly resorting to hiding his appearance, pulling the baggy clothes over his head, he didn't know why, but that was his first action upon hearing another frog.

"I'm fine. Just a little banged up, just wondering. Do you know the next town to Newtopia?" He questioned lowly, doing his best to stare at the ground, not making a note to show off his eyes or his hair.

"Next town? I believe that Fungi Flourish? It's a tourism town you see, the best I can do is take you halfway if you'd like?" The old frog offered, gesturing to her beetle-driven carriage, "It's not much but it gets me around."

All he could do was nod in response, sheepishly make it over to the cart seating himself at the back with luggage, "Are you sure you're alright at the back, there's plenty of room up here."

"No. I'm fine here," Leo didn't say much else, he knew that if he showed even a glimpse of his appearance, she'd never let him stay. Sasha's word had rung a little true for him, and on his travel back to where Anne was, he'd seen first-hand how other frogs, toads, and newts reacted to him.

He looked different from even how Sasha and Anne were perceived in Amphibia. And he wasn't sure how to change that, or even if he could, not for an entire world.

Or even himself.

With his mind, a mess, jumbling about altogether. He pulled out his journal and poured those thoughts into it, watching daybreak start to show through the tree line.

It was the start of a new day.

...

That's another chapter finished, really like how this turned out character-wise. Both to flesh out Leo and Sasha's dynamic with how it started in Reunion and how it will end up, and also just to work on Sasha's remorse and her unwillingness to change from the show that I'm trying to show a little bit more of.

Leo's is a little different, cause I have two sorts of main goals for his character development, one that has the idea of change from Amphibia and his obvious shame and self-consciousness in how he looks, his memory, and who he really is.

Don't really know why I write these, everyone's probably done with the chapter at this point XD. I just like to give a quick dive into my thoughts on the chapter. The next one will actually be focused on Anne and the Plantars, with the one after finally getting to Marcy. Until then though, see yah!