Whilst traveling through a seemingly boring town, Anne takes notice of a seer who tells her of soon to be reunion with Leo, due to her eagerness she is blind to their ulterior motives.

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"Up and at em' kids, the morning doesn't wait for the lazy!" Hop Pop's southern accent called down to all three of the Plantars still tucked snuggly in their sheets.

That was until a much larger bang shook them all out of their beds and to the ground of the carriage, Sprig fell headfirst, a hard thud waking him up for a short second before he fell back into a daze. Polly rolled straight out of her tipped-over bucket, bouncing around the lower floor as if she was a pinball.

Anne lazily awoke to the rustling; her lanky figure made it much easier to stay inside of the bed amongst the chaos. Without much effort, she hopped down to their level helping the Plantar sibling up on their feet.

More banging came from the roof, with Hop Pop lifting the latch to it open, "You kids alright I heard a lot of noise. Ah, well it doesn't matter your all up now, hurry and get up here, we're nearing the next town."

Rubbing her tired eyes, Anne splashed the water from Polly's bucket into her face, wetting her and bushing her whilst giving her the wake-up call, she desperately needed.

Admittedly, she hadn't been sleeping in the best condition for the past two weeks. She'd got enough where she could feel fresh in the morning, but the bags under her eyes were apparent.

It wasn't as if she thought Leo was in trouble, it was just the idea that he was stranded somewhere in Amphibia. Possibly one of the most treacherous worlds to be lost in, especially if he had no idea how to navigate it.

He was just as lost as she was.

She had no way of knowing whether or not he was safe, or what he was up to. They agreed to meet back up at some point during their destination to Newtopia, but so far there'd been no sign of him, and she was starting to question whether she would.

Even if it was just a little, she wanted some confirmation that he was safe, and making his way back to them, to her.

With some reluctance, Anne crawled up to the top of the f'wagon. Seating herself next to Hop Pop, letting her legs dangle over the carriage. Ahead of them was what looked like a charred building, they were black to the very core.

"This is a town?" A questioned, taking a serious look at the orange frog beside her, "Was there a fire here?"

"Dunno, but I don't like it. If there are frogs here, then they might mean trouble," Hop Pop forewarned, drawing Bessie to a quicker pace as they entered the center of the town, there they spotted a broken fountain spouting a weird black substance.

Anne's face twisted up at it, briefly turning away, before looking back to the town where lanky newts stepped out from the building, all cloaked with yellow ink dotted all along their body.

"Hey, Anne do you know why there's a giant bruise on my- oh my frog! What are those!" Almost on reflex, Sprig reached for his slingshot, getting stopped by Anne.

"Dude! What do you think newts like these are gonna do if they see you raising a weapon!" She spoke in a harsh whisper, the pink frog nodding as he put it away.

Soon enough, they were no longer able to traverse any further, a crowd had formed around both Bessie and the f'wagon, "We did nothing and now they've formed an army," Sprig yelped back, paranoid.

Polly was already down below, prepping their storage of weapons, swinging a mace around as a tester.

Hop Pop was much more level-headed, reigning the snail back into her shell, "Um, how can I help you...gentleman?" He spoke unsurely, not sure who to direct them as, "If yah wouldn't mind, we'll be on our way."

The cloaked newts seeming wary of that decision, "No, you must stay. We haven't had visitors in such a while, you must let us accommodate you.."

Still not sure, Hop Pop shrugged and slid down Bessie warmly extending his hand out to the group, "Hopediah Plantar, it's a pleasure to meet you," Rather excitedly, the seeming to be the leader of the group gave a just as friendly shake.

"Alright, who's going first?" Polly remarked, hopping her bucket atop the roof, wielding a rolling pin.

Both Anne and Hop Pop shook their heads, not wanting to offend the already off-putting newts, "You do realize we've been put in a situation several times. It would be stupid if we fell for this again.."

The older frog agreed, nodding as he pulled his hand back, "We appreciate your kindness, but we must be going-"

Now seeming much more eager, starting to become creepy the newts objected, "You really must stay, even if it is a little while, the sun will draw to a close soon. It would be dangerous to travel at that time!"

Anne was about to bat him off, Sprig leaping on her shoulder at the ready. That was until her eyes drew towards a black tent, it was the only structure that seemed like it was breathing any kind of life.

Spotting her, the newt grinned underneath its shadowy mask, "Oh, creature. I see our town's main attraction has caught your eye. Come, come if you're curious then you must have a look.."

She wasn't sure why, but she did feel the slightest bit intrigued towards it even if leaving was still her top priority, "Anne! You just said that it'd be stupid to get into situations like this, what could possibly be in there that you want to know."

"Hop Pop's right Anne, these guys seem creepy enough. Who knows what they've got in the only place they live!"

Turning away, Anne wriggled her hand away from both, "It is stupid, and I'll call for you guys and get out of there if they seem sketchy. But, if there's a chance they can find Leo, then I'll take it."

Keeping quiet both of them nodded, they weren't as vocal as Anne, but they were worried for his safety as well, and they were well aware of how worried she was.

"Just make sure you call; we'll be there in a second," Hop Pop said softly, the Thai girl nodding in return.

Upon entering the tent, Anne spotted an array of purple fire, which was somehow not setting alight to the clearly flammable. It didn't matter she was here in case of the smallest chance that she could see Leo.

In truth, she was definitely a little desperate. Entering a newt that could apparently see the future, she'd read the slightest bit on newts when they'd been trapped in the library, and they had some form of affinity with spells, even if she'd been too bored to read onwards.

"Come no further creature, I've been aware of your presence in this town the moment you entered," The newt spoke sagely, already putting Anne off from the conversation, "You're skeptical I see, perhaps I should prove my talents to you."

"Sure. Let's get this over with," The small speck of faith she harbored toward the newt was slowly dwindling.

"You arrived with a family of frogs, one just a pollywog, the other young and naïve, with the final old and wise...to a certain degree," The seer finalized, placing their hands over a pitch-black crystal ball.

'Ok...much more interested than before.'

Sitting down on the much comfier than expected chair, "Alright then...if you can see into the future, then where is Leo, when is he meeting back up with us."

Twiddling with her fingers awkwardly, Anne awaited the answer, nervous if she would even get one.

"Ah, so he is a creature much like yourself. White hair and red eyes, certainly a strange look, even for someone like yourselves," The seer commented, even if it wasn't needed.

They raised an eyebrow before grinning to themselves, going completely unnoticed by Anne, "For your question, it's fuzzy and clouded, I'll need a clearer vision when it's not so bright outside. Midnight should be a perfect time...when the moon is bright."

"I'm out.." Anne interrupted the seer, "You might not believe me, but I've had my fair share of close calls with cannibals and frogs with mushrooms attached to them. Meeting you at midnight does not sound safe."

Anne sat up abruptly, not bothering to wave the seer off. She was desperate to see Leo safe and to maybe know when she would see him again. But not enough to get her killed.

"Oh, so you really don't want to know when you'll be reunited? It's much sooner than you think. Of course, that could change your future if you were to leave.."

They were baiting her; she knew that it wasn't as if they were doing a good job of hiding it. But they knew how he looked, so there had to be some truth to what there were saying, 'I shouldn't be thinking about this, this is so obviously a trap..'

Sighing, Anne made her way out of the tent, her fears getting the best of her, "I'll think about what you said. About coming back, but if you even think about trying anything, especially when it involves Leo!"

Without her own knowledge, Anne's eyes flashed a piercing blue, emphasizing her words even further. The seer's enthusiasm only grew beneath its regal posture, "Of course, I wouldn't dream of it."

With that, Anne left not looking back or talking to any of the intruding newts outside.

Arriving back to the f'wagon, which had moved a few ways down the town, where it seemed that Hop Pop was setting up shop, bunkering down for the night.

"We're staying? What happened to these newts being 'too' creepy?" Anne questioned, keeping her voice low to not bring attention to herself.

"Well, we thought so as well. But they were pretty insistent.." The older frog responded, sounding tired from denying all of the newt's requests, eventually giving in and deciding to stay. Sprig and Polly looked just as wiped out.

"So, how'd it go? Did they know anything about Leo? Considering you didn't have to fight any of them off it must have gone well. Or you did and none of them were able to call out for help," Sprig muttered to his best friend, quickly taking notice of her downcast expression.

"So...it didn't go well?" Sprig spoke much more softly, looking up at her.

Slumping onto the steps of the f'wagon, Anne was at a loss for words, "I don't know dude. They weren't lying, not exactly anyway. I could get answers on Leo, but for all, I know they'll kill me the second I go back.."

Playing with his feet a little, Sprig swayed them from side to side, "We all miss him too Anne, you might be more worried than us, but that doesn't mean we aren't either..."

Nodding lightly, Anne sighed in defeat. She didn't know why she felt so compelled to make sure Leo was safe, to see him again so that they could chat late into the night, even if he'd wanted to sleep.

She wanted to show him even more things from Earth that he was absolutely fascinated by, maybe one day if she found a way back then she could properly show them in person.

Yet, she could quite put together why she felt so strongly about that.

"I think I'll turn in, night Sprig," Patting his hat, Anne opened the door to the f'wagon about to close it behind her.

Suddenly intervening, Sprig tugged on her leg, "Anne, you're not thinking of doing anything with those newts. You said yourself that their bad news, you were the first person to bring it up!"

"Don't worry Sprig, I'll be fine I promise.."

Neither one of them said anything else as they turned in for the night.

Ignoring all warnings that she had told herself, knowing that it was painfully obvious just how dangerous of a situation, Sprig had given his own worries at, yet they were all falling under deaf ears.

An uncomfortable number of newts awaited her return, it had been a drastic change from how empty it seemed earlier in the day, "We're delighted to that you've returned creature, we'd be happy to show you the future you desire."

Still suspicious, Anne batted them up as she wielded her tennis racket, "I'm here for one thing, don't think about trying anything."

With some trepidation, Anne made her way into the darkly lit tent, where a suspicious number of cloaked amphibians were lined up on the inside, 'Gradually starting to think this was a bad idea...'

Even with all of it in mind, with the slimmest chance she'd be shown where Leo was, she pressed onwards.

"You've returned. I won't waste your time, whenever you're ready I'll read the fortune you most desire.."

Anne took a step back, slightly surprised. She'd expected that this was where the situation would turn south, yet this newt seemed to want to get everything over with as quickly as she did, "Just tell me, when will I get to see Leo?"

Placing the three-fingered hand onto the black crystal ball, she wasn't able to see it a few hours prior but now, the ball gave showed her images of Leo, one of him in the forest, others of him sneaking on carriages, and hiding in towns.

Through all of it, it eventually led up to her and Leo reuniting on their way to Newtopia, where they got to travel the rest of the way together.

It was strange, even if she hadn't realized it. The supposed fortunes of Leo meeting back up with them seemed like what she wanted to see.

She was being shown her desires.

From the outside, just as everyone had expected, Anne was lost in a trance, the brown color from her eyes now a blinding white, in a daze as she stared emptily at the pitch-black orb, a strange purple string being drawn from her forehead, pouring back into the seer.

She was slowly tugging it out, gradually bringing most of it into the orb, "Perfect, she ignored her own worries about us, her desires were that strong..." The seer cackled lowly, enjoying every second of this.

Anne was looking more and more lifeless by the second, the string becoming thicker as it reached its end.

"Just a little more... then you won't be able to reconnect it!" Screaming out in delight, the newt was blind to the pink frog leaping directly at them.

"Like I'd let you!" Hopping atop the table, Sprig fired three shots simultaneously, one to the newt's face, startling them back. The second at Anne to know her out of whatever daze he'd found her in and the last to the black orb in front of him, shattering it in tiny pieces all at once.

"NO! Look what you've done, you ignorant child!"

Amongst all the noise, the purple thread snapped back much like measuring tape would, filling back into her head and snapping her awake in the span of a second, "Gah, what happened? I probably should've guessed this would happen.."

"Then why are you here, c'mon Anne! Hop Pop was planning to during the night anyway, then we found you gone and came looking for you! These guys were bad news the second we saw them!"

"..I know," Anne said defeatedly, slowly rising from the chair and breaking it in two with her racket, "Let's go, now!"

She was done with holding her hopes up, she'd waited two weeks to see Leo, and nothing was going to give her comfort on whether she'd see him again.

All she'd wanted was to calm whatever the swelling was in her chest.

Emitting a slight blue glow around her irises, Anne swung at every newt she saw, batting away the cloaks to reveal their dark purple skin. Sprig fired at whoever ran at them, the two of the pushing their way out of the tent and back into the desolate and abandoned street.

"We made it out!" Sprig cheered, "Seriously though Anne, why would you believe something those newts would tell you? I wanna see Leo too, I mean we are almost at Newtopia, so I wonder where he is."

"I don't know why I went. I just wanted the slightest chance that they'd have an answer. When it comes to Leo, my chest swells up and I feel stupid for no reason!"

Sprig blinked, suddenly coming to a realization, both having a smug grin and sympathetic one all the same.

"Anne do you, like Leo?" The pink frog questioned plainly, watching his best friend burst bright red stuttering and stumbling back.

"W-W-What!? Dude, c'mon of course I...don't," Even Anne wasn't believing her own words, starting to recall every magazine she'd read, every cheesy rom-com film she'd watched with Sasha and Marcy.

There was denying it, she had somehow, in all the time she'd known Leo, she'd managed to catch feelings for him.

'No...of all people it had to be Leo. I don't think he even gets the idea of love..'

Right on cue, Hop Pop and Polly pulled up with the f'wagon, both confused by Anne's flushed expression, "Did we interrupt something?" The tadpole queried, having returned inside her bucket.

"I'm glad you're alright though Anne, when Sprig said that you'd gone off to those newts a feared the worst. Let's get moving though, times a waste!"

Nodding meekly, Anne climbed aboard, still running through her own realization in her head, trying to make some sense of her own emotions.

The carriage was already on the move, Hop Pop lightly slapping away at Bessie's reigns. That was until, from a sharp treeline, a figure clumsily fell from out of it, slumping right out in front of the road forcing him to calm to a sudden halt.

"Hey! Yah should watch where you're going, I could've killed yo-"

Dusting himself off, wiping away at his dirt-covered hair, and his already filthy clothes, "Leo!" Polly was the first to shout out, quickly catching the attention of the rest of the family.

Staring up the f'wagon, Leo's crimson eyes practically lit up at the sight of all of them, "You guys," He murmured weakly, his voice was the same but sounded full of emotion.

Anne had seemingly forgotten about the conversation from ten minutes ago, pulling him into a tight hug, "You're back, you actually managed to make it!"

"We agreed right? Although I won't lie it's definitely been a rough two weeks, I now share your pain with sleeping in caves," Speaking dryly, Leo sluggishly walked over to f'wagon, Anne helping him along the way.

Sprig jumped atop both his shoulders, too excited for words, "You made it, you made it! But-" He held his breath, coughing as he did, "You really stink...Hop Pop we might need to stop by a bathhouse, maybe two!"

"That's fair," said Leo, his fine creasing inwards as he smelt himself, "Maybe I shouldn't go inside."

Anne ignored his words, becoming much more persistent as she shoved him into one of the spare beds, "Sleep, I'm sure you haven't had a nice one in the last two weeks! That's all, I have no other ulterior motives," In less than ten seconds, Anne had got him under the covers and had clambered back on top of the f'wagon.

Leo was going to question it, but sleep ultimately got the better of him, putting him under before he even realized it. Anne could only drift off into an array of thoughts, her thoughts not even close to Newtopia at the moment.

She was just glad that everything was back to normal, even if there was now a new problem she would have to deal with.

Far behind them all, clunking about against the dirt, dragging his metallic limbs alongside it. Was a mechanical marvel, lost for the purpose only of knowing that it should follow whatever was always moving

It had been brought to life via means that should have been impossible, its system had been shut down centuries ago, long after a thriving city had fallen. All it was cognitive of was who had brought him to life, a frog that was pink in color and another that was lanky and unknown to it.

Forcing itself through the mud, not bothered by the searing heat on its tin-like body it continued marching on. For a purpose, one that he wasn't sure of just yet.

...

I hope you enjoyed it. This is a slightly rushed and scuffed chapter I know, it's mainly just supposed to tie the loose thread between the last chapter and the next as well as just to set up a continuing relationship with Anne and Leo.

The next chapter will finally be covering Marcy at the Gates, very excited to write her interactions with Leo. Until the next chapter, see yah!