Hey everyone!

We're getting close to the 'Reunion' episode, but we're not there yet. This story takes place after the events of the last chapter, focusing on the aftermath of Ethan's encounter with the Flesh Skinner, and how Grime deals with it.

Enjoy the chapter!

The Rise of Lieutenant Day

Once a week, Ethan shadowed Captain Grime so he could learn something about being a leader. They were boring at first, sitting at a small desk while Grime went through scout reports and met with other top-level toads to discuss tactics and so on. It was getting more bearable as the weeks passed, and the teen was surprised to realize that he was learning some things, and that Grime was not super evil all the time. He was still bad most of the time, but there were rare moments that he did not act like a cruel dictator.

One such Wednesday happened to fall on the day after Bog had taken the human into the swamp to teach him about survival tips. They had come back early, and the teen had gone straight to bed, skipping afternoon drills and dinner. The toad captain called in Bog, Fens and Mire, and all gave him the same story about the Flesh Skinner. Captain Grime did not talk to Ethan, deciding to wait until the next day to talk to hear his side of the story. He figured that the teen would be upset, and the last thing he needed to deal with was a dramatic human. So, wanting to keep things under control, he went to the barracks the next morning when Ethan failed to show up at the war room.

The teen was laying on his bunk, staring at the small magic box he had brought from his world. Captain Grime approached stealthily, looking to see what the strange device did. He saw the human was looking at a picture of three other humans, all of them female. They looked similar to Ethan, and the captain could only assume that they were his family. The toad was impressed, wondering how these creatures could store an image on a small device with such detail, but he had other issues to deal with.

"Care to explain why you're fifteen minutes late," Grime asked, causing Ethan to yelp with surprise and fall off his bunk. The teen said nothing, looking up at him with a surly expression on his face as he got up off the floor. "I heard you had an interesting day in the swamp," the toad continued.

Ethan's face went red, and an angry expression took over his features.

"Are you just here to tell me that I screwed up," he asked, getting to his feet and pocketing his device. "Bog already did so I'll save you the trouble, sir… And it won't happen again."

"I should hope not," Captain Grime said evenly. "We would hate to lose any soldiers to a Flesh Skinner; it's not a pleasant way to die."

"Yes, sir," the human said hollowly, turning towards his footlocker to grab his armor. "I'll stay later to make up for being late-"

"We are not done talking about this, soldier," the toad captain snapped. The teen stopped, but did not turn back towards Grime. "And now you turn your back and disrespect me? Are you trying to do everything wrong, Creature?"

Ethan snapped, yelling and slamming his fist into the wall, and to the captain's surprise, the stone actually cracked a little. Such a feat was possible for a toad, but it was the last thing the captain expected the human to do. He turned towards Grime, his face so angry and furious that the captain could have sworn that he saw a flash of red in his eyes.

"I DIDN'T KNOW," the human yelled at him. "I had no idea what a Flesh Skinner was until yesterday afternoon, and I didn't know that I was putting myself or anyone else in danger! I was doing everything I was told to do, and I still screwed up! And I'm sorry; is that what you want me to say?! I already said it to Bog and the others, and know that I will never make that mistake again!"

"You are to lower your voice, soldier," the toad said, though his own voice was getting louder. "Need I remind you who you're talking to?"

"I don't care! Throw me back into prison if you want!" He stormed towards the toad, stopping when their faces were inches apart. "Throw me into the Hole again; we both know I probably deserve it!"

Ethan's face was red and his eyes were teary as he glared at the toad, waiting for him to do or say something. Captain Grime simply stared back with a calm and neutral expression, though a million thoughts were racing through his mind. After a few moments of tense silence, the toad made a snap decision, turning away from the human.

"Follow me," he ordered, walking towards the door. The teen froze, wondering if the captain was about to take up his offer and throw him in the Hole. Noticing the human wasn't following, Grime turned back to him, the look in his eye down-right dangerous. "Now." Knowing he had little choice in the matter, the teen followed him, making their way into the courtyard and towards the stable.

And now I'm spider food, Ethan thought, wondering how far he would get if he tried to make a break for it. However, the captain simply led a spider by the reigns outside, hitching a cart to it.

"Where are we going," the teen couldn't help but ask, more confused rather than scared.

"You'll see," Captain Grime said soberly, climbing into the front of the cart. "Get in." Still worried, the human got into the back of the cart, a sense of foreboding as they left Toad Tower.

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They road the cart through the swamp for a few minutes before turning onto a path that led to the nearby mountains. Ethan's family had once gone to Pike's Peak in Colorado, and had driven up the twisting, narrow road that led to the top. He was reminded of this as the toad captain steered the spider up the mountain path.

Where are we going, the human thought, his worry and apprehension growing with every passing minute. Is he going to kill me? Leave me for dead? Force me to survive on my own in the wildness of Amphibia? His hand hurt from where he punched the wall, and his knuckles were scarred and bleeding.

Finally, they stopped at a large plateau that offered an impressive view of the surrounding mountains. Toad Tower was even visible in the distance, looking like a speck of dirt in the distance. Captain Grime stopped the cart, getting out without a word. The teen followed him, wary to not go anywhere near the edge, which ended in a long drop to nowhere good. The toad walked over to the side that faced Toad Tower, staring out at it. Ethan stood a few feet back, waiting for him to say something. Eventually, after a few minutes of nothing being said, the captain spoke.

"I am not going to admonish or punish you," he said, sounding a lot calmer than the teen thought he would be. "Nor am I going to ask for your apology. You have already had enough punishment, brooding over this by yourself since you came back to the Tower, and you have already apologized to those you inadvertently put in danger." Grime motioned for him to join him, and the teen did so nervously.

"You learned a very important lesson yesterday," Captain Grime continued, sounding [if Ethan dare think it] almost kind. "We both know that there is fault on your part, but the majority is on Bog and myself. We should have better informed you of the dangers out in the marsh, though I have no doubt that Bog gave you a thorough rundown of the basic rules of survival." The human nodded a little, not looking the toad in the eye, instead looking at the wooden grain of the desk. "Sometimes I forget that you're not a toad and don't know any better."

"Am… Am I still in trouble, Sir," Ethan risked asking, figuring that even if the toad was mad at him for nearly getting his fellow soldiers killed, he might still be mad because of the yelling. He took a step back from the ledge, nearly jumping then the toad stopped him.

"No. It was a rookie mistake, and one I know you will not repeat. But now you know why we train you; Amphibia is not a kind place, especially for those who are not prepared to face its challenges." The human looked at him on that statement, a little embarrassed and no longer upset. "And as for Bog… I will admit that he went too far with yelling at you like that; I will be having a talk with him, I guarantee that."

"... Yes, sir," the teen said, his voice a lot quieter than it had been a minute before. He looked out at the panoramic view in front of him, momentarily amazed by the beauty of this alien world. He also thought about Grime's response; it seemed very strange for the toad to not be upset with him, and to admit guilt. Could it just be mind games, or was the captain actually being sincere.

"Are you still scared of spiders," the toad suddenly asked after a minute or two of silence, taking the human's attention away from the surrounding scenery.

"Why," Ethan asked suspiciously. "Please tell me that you're not gonna feed me to the giant spider."

"Are all humans as paranoid as you," Captain Grime asked, smirking at his frightened expression.

"I just don't like spiders," Ethan said, looking at the giant tarantula. "The biggest ones where I'm from are about the size of my hand, and… I dunno. I just find them creepy." He shuddered. "Nothing should have that many legs, in my opinion."

"Your world sounds boring," Grime said bluntly, walking towards the spider and patting it on the head. "Spiders here are harmless unless you give them a reason to attack. Maybe I ought to assign you to a week of stable duty."

"NO," the teen yelped, his voice echoing across the plateau. "I… I mean, no thank you, sir."

"Fine… but you need to overcome this fear of yours." The captain stepped aside, pointing to the spider. "Pet her."

"It's a her," Ethan asked, noticing the arachnid's large mouth that could bite his hand off.

"Yes, it is a her, and you're not getting out of this; it's an order, soldier."

The human sighed, cautiously approaching the spider. "So… you promise she's not gonna eat me?"

Captain Grime shook his head. "I cannot guarantee what she may or may not do. All I'll say is that the calmer and less-threatening you are, the less likely you are to lose a limb."

"That's very reassuring," the teen said sarcastically, stopping a few feet in front of the spider. It stared at him with its multiple eyes, and Ethan could see his reflection in them. He looked at the toad, who only nodded at him to proceed, and the human cautiously reached out his hand, flinching when the creature hissed a little.

"Stay still," the captain warned him, petting the spider's head until it seemed to calm down. "Now try again… slowly." Ethan once again reached out, his mind racing as his hand came closer to the hairy spider's head.

I will not fear, I will not fear, he repeated in his head. His hand finally touched the creature, and his hand was tickled by the hair. It was not hot or cold to the touch, and after a few seconds with the spider not doing anything, the teen smiled, rubbing his hand over the hairy head. It purred a little as he did so, and Ethan figured that he was not getting eaten anytime soon.

"Not bad," Grime said, smiling a little as well. "Gertrude likes you."

"Her name is Gertrude," the human asked, trying not to laugh. "It sounds so normal compared to most of the names I've heard here."

"Are you insinuating to anyone in particular," the captain asked.

"I'm sensing a trap, so I'm gonna play it safe and say no, sir."

"Wise answer." The toad stepped away from Gertrude, looking back at the view of the mountains surrounding the Valley. "My father used to take me up here, sometimes," he said. "He told me a leader needed to have a clear head, and this place was perfect for being alone with one's thoughts."

"A little high up for my taste," Ethan confessed. "But I can see why you like it."

Captain Grime turned back to face him. "I've been watching your progress since you joined my army. You have progressed through your training faster than any toad I have ever seen, despite your struggles in the beginning. While you are still far from becoming a lieutenant, you're on the right track."

The teen was surprised, not used to the toad giving anyone a compliment, much less him, the creature from another world.

"Uh… Thank you, sir," he said, not looking a gift horse [or toad] in the mouth. "Wait… Did you bring me up here to teach me some important lesson about being a leader?"

"No," the captain said bluntly. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to get emotional and let that interfere with your training." He walked back towards the cart. "Now, you will stay later today to make up for the time we lost, organizing all the scout reports in the war room's files. And if you are late to training again, you will be put on stable duty."

Ethan sighed, somewhat relieved to see that Captain Grime was still his old self, and knew that he was not going to complain about the punishment he deserved.

"Yes, Sir," he said, climbing into the cart. Soon, they were heading back down the path towards Toad Tower. And for once, Ethan was glad to be going back, and excited to go back to training.

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One Month Later

Ethan stared at his reflection in the grimy mirror, observing how much he had changed in the past three months since arriving in Amphibia.

His hair had grown a lot; it was already long when he first got here, but now it was getting close to touching his shoulders. He probably should consider cutting it, but it gave him a 'warrior' look that made him look more rugged. The tiny bite marks from his time in the Pain Room still dotted his face, arms and legs, making his skin bumpy and scarred in most areas; it was a good thing he lived with warty toads, or else he would have felt self-conscious about his appearance. Besides, according to Bog, it looked like he had won many fights, and anything that earned him more respect was good in his book. He had grown half an inch, he had bulked up a bit, and he could now bench fifty more pounds than he used to.

Now, however, Ethan was taking a few moments to be himself, acting very differently from the tough and calloused soldier he had become. Right now, he was nervous, scared, and fearful of the future. And he had every right to be; today was the day that Captain Grime officially made him the second-in-command of the Toad Army. It shouldn't be anything to worry about, just a ceremony and then he was a Lieutenant, but there was still so much about the future that he was uncertain about.

"I must not fear," he muttered, pushing away the worry and replacing his sad expression with a determined one. "Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration."

There was a knock at the door, startling him from his thoughts. He turned around in time to see Braddock and Percy poke their heads into the room.

"They're ready for you," Percy said, his usual joking tone sounding much more subdued. Ethan nodded, fiddling with the straps of his arm guards as he walked towards them.

"Thanks," he said, trying to sound authoritative, since he would be giving them and the other soldiers orders from no on. "Let's go, then."

"Wait," Braddock said, taking a small wrapped package from her pocket, holding it out to the teen. "I wanted to give you this." He accepted the gift, opening it and taking out a small figurine. It looked like a wooden toad soldier, and easily fit in the palm of his hand.

"It was my brother's," she explained. "He died a few years ago in a heron attack, and this was his good luck token. He always carried it with him, save the day he died, but… I think you should have it."

"I got something for you too," Percy added. He took a package out from under his arm, unfolding it to reveal a dark green cloak. "Made it myself; I know you've always wanted one, and I know green's your favorite color."

"... Wow." Ethan silently took the cloak, seeing that it was the perfect size for him and wondered how the toad had gotten the measurements. He put it on, and turned back to the mirror. He looked like Grime in his armor and cloak, and while the comparison would have made him sick months ago, he felt a sense of pride in his chest that he could not keep calm.

"I...Thank you," the human finally said, turning back to the first friends he made in Amphibia. He wanted to hug them, but he decided not to, figuring that he had to start acting like a Lieutenant; the Captain had told him that playing favorites was not a good idea. He straightened up instead. "Well… no sense in waiting around. The ceremony's about to start."

The two toads nodded. "Of course," Braddock agreed, smiling a little. "See you soon!"

Ten minutes later, Ethan walked alone towards the main hall of the Tower, steeling himself for what was to come. The feeling of the cloak fluttering behind him made him feel strong, but he could only hope that he was strong enough to be the leader that everyone expected him to be. It was hard to believe that he had been a prisoner in this place three months ago, and now he was about to become the second-in-command.

"I will face my fear," he whispered, approaching the tall wooden doors as the two guards standing there moved to open them. "I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

The doors opened to the Main Hall, which was a large, high-ceilinged room where Captain Grime usually talked to the entire army at once. All the toads were there now, lined up in perfect rows with a path in the middle for the human to walk up. At the other end of the hall on a slightly raised platform stood Captain Grime, looking as stoic and serious as he always did, along with a few other upper-level toads. The teen walked up to him, stopping and kneeling in front of him.

"Ethan Day," the captain said, the name sounding almost foreign and strange coming from the toad's mouth. "You have proven yourself to be an exceptional soldier and leader in the Toad Army. We are prepared to offer you the position of Lieutenant, my second-in-command. Do you accept the command and all the responsibilities that come with it?"

"I do," the human said, the rest of the hall so quiet that he could have heard a pin drop.

"Do you swear by your life to uphold the values and virtues of this army, and to maintain and enforce the laws of Amphibia?"

"I do."

Grime motioned with his hand, and a small toad brought a sheathed sword forward. Taking it, he unsheathed it to reveal a new sword with a green blade that almost glowed in the light. He laid the flat edge on each of Ethan's shoulders, then asked him to rise.

"Take this weapon, Lieutenant Day," the toad said, handing the sword to him hilt-first. The human accepted the sword, testing the balance in his hand. It was perfect, and a lot better than the sword he had been using. Captain Grime then took a gold pin with the Toad Army insignia [which looked like a webbed foot], pinning it to the collar of his cloak before both turned back towards the assembly.

"Toads of Toad Tower," Grime yelled, his voice echoing through the hall. "May I present Lieutenant Day of the Valley!" All the toads lifted a fist at the same time, yelling a quick battle cry that made the Tower ring with noise. It was scary to Ethan as he realized the seriousness of what had just happened, but he showed no fear.

The toad captain had already told him about what would be his first task as lieutenant; along with Grime, they would lead a battalion to the southern part of the Valley to a place called Wartwood. There, they were to arrest a traitor who was inspiring the residents to not pay taxes and other similar crimes. A simple task, really, but there was no telling what kind of resistance they would face on the way. But Ethan was not daunted by the task, and was ready to face Hopodiah Plantar and whatever else lay in Wartwood. The time for fear was gone.

He will not fear.

What an awesome chapter! A bit of bonding between Ethan and Grime, plus Ethan is finally a Lieutenant! Now he's second-in-command of the Toad Army, so Amphibia better watch out!

Follow/Favorite if you want, and feel free to drop a review! I hope you all have a great day!

-aggiefrogger