The intro opens with Anne's hands on the Calamity Box, opening it. Light from inside the box shines brightly before it switches to a scene that shows Kenji, Anne, Sasha, and Marcy, looking inside. Suddenly there was a white light and everything when blank.
Kenji was on the ground when the light faded, covered in mud with Anne next to him. When he woke up, he looked shocked to see he was in Amphibia with Anne. The two friends stood up and looked at their surroundings in awe.
The camera then zoomed out and showed the entire world of Amphibia.
Tenohira ni kizama re teru
Tsugihagi no yona sono sen ni furete
The scene then changed to the town of Wartwood as the frog inhabitants go about their daily lives. As a pair of dragonflies fly past the camera, it followed them until stopping at the Plantar farmhouse while the sun was starting to rise in the sky.
When the camera changed to show the house's front door, Kenji and Anne stepped out from inside and out into the world. Ready to take on the day. But first, they ducked their heads under some dragonflies that passed them.
Hibiware sona atama to
Gurasu ga sasata kokoro de mae hashiru
The camera moves up to a window on the side of the house. Sprig opened the window with a telescope in hand. He looked through it at the horizon before slipping off the windowsill and started falling. Inside the house, Hop Pop was reading one of his books in his study when Sprig's falling and screaming made him look at his window. Down on the ground, Sprig had landed in Polly's bucket. His little sister responded by punching her brother in the butt. Sending him flying out of the bucket. She then dove back into her bucket of water.
Sprig landed on Anne's head, and the three of them smiled at one another. Then Sprig pointed at something. Kenji pulled out one of his Class Cards, and the friends rushed off into the unknown.
The scene changed to show Kenji, Anne, and Sprig hopping across multiple mushrooms that lit up when one of them landed on it.
Koware kake no sekai
Kuzure so o de memai
The next scene showed Anne, Sprig, and Kenji running for their lives from a giant chicken monster. Kenji summons a black steed from his Rider Card then gets the others on and gallops away faster from the giant poultry. The scene begins to break apart as red line spread across the screen.
The next scene showed Sprig, Anne, Kenji, Polly, and Hop Pop fishing together on a lily pad before it suddenly rose into the air. Underneath it was a giant fish that started swimming around as everyone started screaming. Kenji, however, started stabbing it with a white curved short sword. The scene to break apart like the scene before.
Another scene showed Sprig in a temple looking at something before Kenji and Anne came rushing down the stairs beside him. Anne picked him up as they ran away from a giant boulder that came crashing into the temple. And just like the last two scenes, it begins to break apart in red lines.
Karappo na karada de
Ibtsuna shikai
The next scene showed a red, dark area. Anne and Kenji had their backs together, and both having looks of determination. Anne raised her tennis racket, and Kenji raised his cards: Saber as it begins to glow.
Still, in the same scene, the viewer is suddenly pulled back to reveal that they were surrounded by dozens of twisted frog/toad/newt-like creatures and a giant snake crawling up from behind them. Towering over them and hissing.
Zokkuri to myako o utsu inochi no sen
Naifu de nazotte nobashite shimaetara
ne dareka oshiete Tsuki ga mierunara
The amphibian-like abominations started attacking as Kenji now armed with Balmung/Gram and Anne rushed towards the viewer. Smashing, slicing, and killing any twisted being that came at them. Just as the viewer watched them go past the camera on both sides, the Giant Snake lunged at the fleeing kids. Its mouth opens as it comes towards the camera before the viewer is in the blackness of the snake's mouth, but it didn't last long as Kenji swung his sword and cuts down the snake with one strike.
Kesenai de
mada kesenai de
The scene changed again to a split screen with the left side show Anne's photo of herself, Kenji, Sasha, and Marcy together being held in a gloved hand and on the right is an older man in his fifties with a grin on his face. A flash of light showed the man's face more and the infamous Toad Tower in the background.
Kienaide mada Kienaide
The final scene of the intro showed Kenji standing in the middle of a road looking at the Class Cards he has. He looked to his left and saw Anne walking over to him with a smile. Then Sprig came over to his right and jumped on Kenji's shoulders while Fou jumps on his head with a content smile on his face. Hop Pop and Polly walked/hopped over and joined the trio. The screen begins to pan downwards as it shows reflections not of the group but of legendary heroes of Earth's history.
The intro ends with the title of the story.
FATE / CALAMITY
Book 1: Amphibia
Chapter 7: Fate Theft Auto
On another sunny day in Amphibia, the gang decided to go out of the farm for a while. They were out on the road with their snail companion, Bessie. Hop pop was driving her, while the kids were sitting by his sides. Polly was sitting on Hop pop's head while Fou was doing the same with his caretaker. Kenji lets out a yawn as he rubs his right eye.
"Woah dude. Rough night?" Anne asked in a concern tone in her voice.
"Fou?" Fou asked as he looks down to check on Kenji who had a small smile, even though he looked like he hasn't got enough rest lately.
"Yeah, but it's ok. It was due to the Install of the Rider Card that I didn't get enough rest." Kenji said in a tired tone. Over the past few nights, he had dreams that showed all of Alexander's life before his end.
He was the young prince of the small kingdom of Macedonia in the 4th Century BC, said to have been the son of Zeus in many stories despite absence of clear evidence. He was known as a "peerless pretty boy" who was noticed by many sages, such as Aristotle, as a prodigy. During this period of his life, he spent much of his time training as a soldier, studying philosophy and political sciences, and reading great legends. While he bloomed with many talents, he approved of every and all possibilities, able to be called the "personification of possibilities" itself. He possessed a close friend, an "amazing man" who truly began to show his talents after Alexander's death. Though considered beautiful, his self-recognition in being the child of Zeus granted him strength, reducing his boyish looks over time. He later encountered the Gordian Knot, cleaving the rope with his sword and taking the divine bulls offered to Zeus by King Gordius as his own for use with his chariot.
Starting with succeeding the throne of Macedonia in Greece at the age of twenty, his conquest quickly subdued the neighboring countries and became the leader of Corinth. His eventually eyed his ambitions towards the straits, seeking to extend his reign into Persia. Sweeping through from the far west with his army, none underestimated it, rumors of it might spreading through countries long before the army's arrival. As his army's great morale overwhelmed even the most devoted of warriors, they were even more shocked when he spared them, told them of his goal, and returned dominion of the lands to the nobles. He exclaimed to them that: "My goal is the end of the world. My destination is the furthest border of the East. I want to behold Oceanus with my own two eyes. I want to leave my footprints at the beach beside that endless sea." Though they thought his words folly, many were rekindled to the dreams of their youth, setting off after Alexander to join his conquest. During the conquest of Persia, Alexander came to view Darius III and his Athanaton Ten Thousand as a worthy rival, blocking Alexander's path numerous times. The name Iskandar was given to him by the Arabs and the Persians. Due to Darius' immense height, after finally conquering the Persian Empire, Alexander required the footstool of Darius' throne to be swapped with a table to properly sit on it despite his own great height. This played a part in history recording Alexander as being short.
After Persia and with a goal of the most extreme eastern edge of Asia, they marched through Egypt and through western India during the "great eastern campaigns." Marching without end, they crossed boiling deserts, passed over chilling, snow-capped mountains, and forded billowing rivers. They fought savage beasts and fought for their lives through numerous unknown foreign tribes displaying alien weapons and battle strategies. Although an innumerable number of soldiers died, they kept their great morale to the end, holding proud smiles and listening to the sounds of the ocean they sought in their hearts, despite never reaching it. In the end, he brought about the largest empire in history to date and became the "great king who built the era known as the Hellenistic civilization." He reached the success of a great hero in just ten years after beginning his conquest, but soon died after living only a period of thirty-three years. His dying words, "Leave everything to the strongest." ended up splitting it apart instead. His campaign to the East went as far as India. There, his troops, and generals complained of fatigue, and so he turned back to Babylon, where he suddenly passed away. Following his death, the empire split into four warring factions that "quickly disappeared into the sands of history."
Due to his great exploits in life, some say he was chosen by the twelve historical Gods of Olympus, but that is a story for another day.
"Man. That sounds like a hassle to deal with." Anne said as she places her elbow on the arm of the snail-seat and places her hand underneath her chin and uses her other hand to reach into her backpack that she has with her and pulls out her cards. "Not looking forward to that when it happens."
"You don't have to worry about that. It will only last for a few nights and it will pass by. Trust me." Kenji reassured as Anne smiled and places her cards back into her backpack. "Besides it's a good day relax with a good outing."
"Fou!" Fou said with a smile on his face.
"Indeed, and with Bessie here," said Hop Pop as he pats the snail's head, which makes her purr in affection. "We could really go anywhere, do anything."
That's when Sprig got an idea, "Oh oh, can we get swamp slushies? They have new flavors." Hop pop just laughed it off and said no, causing Sprig to deflate at the answer that was given to him.
Then, Polly decided on something else, "Can we go off roads? Do some crazy stunts?" She asked while pulling on Hop Pop eye lids, pretending that she was driving. Hop pop also had to say no to that.
"Double no." The old frog said as Polly lets go of his eyelids and pouts that off-roading is now off the table. Suddenly, Anne asked Hop pop as she raised her hand.
"Oh, can I drive?" She asked with a smile, causing Kenji rolled his eyes at this question,
'Come on, Anne. You really think Hop pop's going to say yes?' Kenji thought. But, Hop Pop said something that surprised him.
"Sure."
"Wait, what?"
"Fou?"
Anne didn't listen to his response and said, "Oh, come on Hop pop."
However, Kenji snapped her out of it. "Anne, Hop Pop just said yes." He said as Anne looked towards him in confusion.
"Wait really?" Anne asked as she looked towards the old frog who nodded.
"Absolutely. I've been trying to teach this guy for years." Hop said as he points to Sprig, and the young frog boy nods
"It's true."
"Even you can learn to drive Bessie, Kenji," said Hop pop. Now Kenji really was surprised.
"You really mean it, Hop pop?" Kenji asked as Hop pop nodded at Kenji's question,
"Of course. I've seen how you tend to Bessie when you prepare for farm work every day. If Bessie trusts you, then so should I." The old frog said with a grin.
Kenji smiled, and so did Anne. "What do you say Anne?" Kenji asked with a grin on his face. "Want to learn how to drive Bessie?"
"You bet," said Anne with confidence. "Give us those reins, Hop pop. We're ready to drive."
However, their lesson was to be far more complicated than that. As they got back to the farm, Hop Pop plops a large book on a tree stump. "Not before reading this, you both aren't," he said.
"Wha?" Anne said as Kenji walks up to the tree stump.
"What is that?" Kenji asked as he picks up the book.
"This is Bessie's history, Kenji." replied Hop pop. "Before touching a snail's reins, you got to know them. Feel their heartbeat next to yours and become one."
Kenji opens the book and flips through a section. "Wow, I didn't know Bessie had history. This could be very useful." he said in amazement.
"Fou." The little creature said as he looks though the book with Kenji as well. Anne, however, wasn't having any of it.
"Hop Pop, it's just a vehicle. We have a family car back home, it's no biggie." That's when Kenji sighed and hands the book back to Hop Pop and turned to Anne.
"Anne, owning a snail that big is like owning a horse on a ranch. You can't treat an animal like it's an inanimate object." Kenji said as Hop Pop nodded at his explanation, even though he didn't know fully what the heck a horse was.
"He's right Anne," said Hop Pop said as he hands her the book. "So, unless you want to end up caught in a slimy situation, I would suggest taking my advice and read Bessie's history. Cover to Cover."
Anne felt nervous for having to read a whole book. "Are there pictures?" Anne asked in a hopeful tone, really hoping that's the case.
"Well yes there are…and there are also diagrams," Hop pop replied with a grin on his face. Anne shouted at the top of her lungs.
"NOOO!"
"Dramatic much?" Hop pop asked with a deadpan look on his face. "Now if you all would excuse me, Polly's due for a wash." He finishes as he takes Polly out of a mud puddle and makes his way back to the house. Polly shouts the whole way,
"I'll just get dirty again. You can't stop me! I learned this from watching you, Anne!"
As Hop Pop left with Polly, Anne groaned and sulked with the book in her hands. "I'll be old before I finish reading this thing."
"Depends on how much you want to drive Bessie," said Kenji with his arms crossed as Fou jumped onto his head. He really likes that spot.
"Fou!"
"Yeah, page five is as far as I got," said Sprig as a small fly landed on his finger for a moment before it flies off. "So much description, not enough plot."
Anne decided not to read the book and put it in Bessie's satchel. "This is ridiculous. I don't need history, I need experience." She gets on Bessie's saddle and comes up with a devious idea.
"Hey, what do you guys say we take this for a harmless test drive? Prove to Hop Pop we're fast learners?" Anne said as reaches out to the two boys, but Kenji wants no part of it.
"No no no no no no. I'm not running before I'm walking." Kenji said with his arms crossed.
"Kenji's right," said Sprig. "This could be a situation that we'll look back and say, 'ooh boy, we probably shouldn't have done that?'"
Anne was able to convince Sprig with his weakness. "We'll get swamp slushies while we're out." She said in a sing song like voice.
Sprig hops onto Bessie's shell and says, "No regrets!"
Now all that's left was Kenji who stood with his arms crossed and Fou looked at him with a curious glance. He looks to the two with smiles on their faces. He knows in his gut that they're going to get into trouble. He smiles and sighs in defeat. "If we get into trouble, I'll do what I can to help get us out." He climbs up Bessie's shell and sits next to Anne.
"That's what I like to hear," said Anne. She whips the reins and Bessie starts to move towards the road for a trip around town.
The three cheered down the road, passing other drivers. Sprig tried his hand at a bit of road raging against Mrs. Croaker who is driving a ladybug. The results were exhilarating. As for Kenji, he starts reading Bessie's history just in case they run into trouble.
"Are you actually reading that phonebook?" Anne asked.
"I want to, but I thinks some of Alexander's influence for reading books have rubbed off me. The guy always wanted to learn as much as he can during his growing conquest of his life." said Kenji as he flips a page to read more about Bessie's history. "I like to see how Bessie joined the Plantars in the first place."
Anne gave off a light scoff and smile at his friend's choice, but she didn't judge him for it. "Bookworm." She said in a joking manner.
Kenji ignored her criticism and dove back into the book. The kids get swamp slushies, as Anne promised. The group was now riding down a quite road as Sprig was enjoying his slushie, Anne removing the bugs to enjoy hers, and Fou taking some of Kenji's slushie while he was reading Bessie's biography within her book.
"Man, you were right. We didn't need to read some silly book. You drive just fine." Sprig said as Anne scoffs at that.
"'Just fine?' Boy, I'm a natural. Ooh, ooh! Want to take this baby off-road?" Anne said as she lifts the reins and Sprig nods his head in excitement.
"Yup." Sprig said as Anne decided takes Bessie off road. Anne and Sprig were laughing all the way as Kenji was nose deep in the book, he didn't pay attention to what was going on and Fou was hanging on for dear life. Eventually, the group arrived in a middle of a clearing with weird giant bushes surrounding them.
"So, off-roading. Fun. But how about we go back to on-roading?" Anne aske Sprig, who sat up with leaves in cloths, hat, and mouth with a thumbs up.
"Good old reliable on-roading, yes, please." Sprig said as she shakes off the leaves on him and joins Anne on the seat.
"All right, Bessie. Let's move." Anne said as she snaps the reins, however nothing happened. This caused Anne and Sprig to each other in confusion at the inaction from Bessie.
"One more time. Let's move." The girl said as she snaps the reins one more time. Again, like before nothing happened.
"Um, Bessie?" Anne asked as she looked towards Bessie, who wasn't moving, instead she was hiding in her shell and Fou was standing in attention as if something was about to happened. The stillness grabbed Kenji's attention at last.
"What's going on? Is Bessie okay?" Kenji asked as the group looks around Bessie to see if anything was wrong with her. Fou only lets off a small grow at the area around him.
"That's what we're trying to figure out, Kenji," said Sprig as Anne looked around the snail to see if anything was wrong with Bessie.
"Yeah, I mean is there no fuel in the tank? Is the oil low?" Anne asked, causing Kenji to chuckle at her lack of knowledge of why Bessie won't move.
"You seriously think a snail needs fuel and oil? She's not a car Anne." The young man asked with a smirk on his face, causing Anne to give him a stink-eye for his trouble.
"Hold on, I got something. Here, Bessie. I got them good leaves, girl." Sprig said as he shakes
"Maybe we can push her? Give her a jump start?" Anne asked as she got behind the snail with Sprig doing the same.
"Maybe we can. Let's give it a try." said Sprig as Kenji joined them. The three places their hands on Bessie's shell and try pushing her. But the shell wouldn't budge an inch.
"Whew! That snail is strong," said Kenji as he swipes the sweat off his brow.
"Can't you see what's wrong with Bessie, Kenji?" Anne asked as Kenji walks towards the front of Bessie.
"I can try," Kenji replied as he places his hand on her Bessie's shell and closes his eyes. The others were confused at the action that Kenji was doing, but they stayed silent and let Kenji do his thing. Eventually, Kenji takes his hand off and looks towards Anne and Sprig with a serious look on his face.
"She's afraid," he said causing the two to look at him in concern at was told to them by Kenji.
"What do you mean?" Sprig asked as Kenji looked back towards Bessie.
"Something around her got her spooked and she is hiding in her shell to defend herself." said Kenji as he pats her shell. "Bessie's instincts is not letting her run in the likely case that she would get attacked. So, she's not going anywhere."
"What are we going to do?" Sprig asked as he begins to panic. "We're stuck here."
Anne sighed in defeat, "We have no choice, I'll stay here with Bessie while you guys hitch a ride back to the farm. And...ugh. Go get Hop pop." She finished as Sprig nodded
"Good idea. It's the right thing to do, even if we get an earful." Sprig said with a cringe.
Kenji looked at his friend and said, "I'll stay here too, in case something goes wrong."
"You sure Ken?" Anne asked as Kenji nodded.
"Who else is going to keep you from going nuts, being all alone?" Kenji smirked. This gave Anne a few chuckles.
"Fou!"
"Oh and don't forget Fou is here." Kenji said as he scratches Fou's chin, causing the little creature to sigh in content.
"I'll be back in a flash," said Sprig as he launches his tongue to a tree and hops off.
Now only the two humans and Fou remain with the hidden snail. As the three waited, they watched ants marching by, clouds floating in and out of their eyesight, but they soon got really bored so quickly. Playing with Fou was able to pass the time, but it was not for long till boredom kicked in. Kenji soon realized that Anne is at a point to read anything. He immediately came up with an idea.
"You know, there may be a reason Bessie is hiding in her shell." Kenji said as Anne perked up from his question.
"There is?" Anne asked as Kenji nodded takes out Bessie's history, making Anne groan.
"I found the answer while we were driving Bessie. But I forgot what page it was on. Perhaps if we could read this together, maybe it'll help us get home." Kenji said as Fou nodded.
Anne grew hesitant, she still didn't want to read Hop pop's phone book. However, Kenji wanted to help her get rid of her boredom. "Do you remember when we first met?" Anne perked up, "Yeah. It was shortly after you met Sasha in the first grade."
Kenji nodded, "It was recess, and I was trying to read my favorite book…"
(Flashback)
It was recess time, one of the kids favorite times of the day during school. Kids were playing four-square, swinging on the swing sets, climbing on the jungle gym, even playing ball on the fields. During all the physical fun, Kenji was sitting by himself under a tree.
He was trying to read his favorite book but was struggling to focus on the words. He was more mesmerized with the images. And because he struggled with reading, he hardly ever spoke.
While he tried to read, Sasha came up to him. "Hey Kenny!" she said. Kenji looked up with a shy smile, even though he hated being called Kenny. He waved hello to the Sasha and noticed another girl with her. She's a Taiwanese American with a white shirt with a light purple strip going across the center of it, a blue pair of shorts, and yellow shoes. "There's someone I like you to meet. I think she could help you learn how to read."
Kenji looked confused, then Sasha brought Anne to her side. "Kenji, this is Anne Boonchuy. Anne, this is Kenji Richards. The boy I helped from a couple of bullies." Kenji smiled shyly and waved hi.
"Hi Kenji," said Anne with a smile on her face. "Whatcha reading?" Kenji closed his book and showed her the title: The Tale of Wandering Heroes.
"Woah! I never seen a book that has such great pictures," said Anne. Kenji nodded, as Anne and Sasha sat down by his sides. Anne starts to read from the book, and Kenji listens. "a legendary warrior known as the Blademaster traveled far and wide, looking for worthy opponent to fight in this world. Through dark tunnels and steep hills, always searching for a challenge, but never could find one that's worthy of praise. Until one day, the Blademaster meets another wandering warrior known as the Strider and says-"
Before Anne could say anymore, Sasha stopped her and pointed to what the Blademaster said to Kenji.
"Read what the Blademaster said, Kenny." said Sasha as Kenji looked at the words Sasha was pointing. Ignoring the urge to tell her not call him Kenny, He looked at the words as if they looked like strange symbols. Anne gestured to him to breathe slowly. He did that and saw the words clearly. He started to put the words together, and slowly said,
" 'I've heard you're fast on your feet Strider, I have come to see if you are quick enough to dodge my blades!' He said as he draws his blades towards his next opponent." Kenji said in a 'deep' voice filled with pride as much as he can with his younger voice, even though it wasn't very good.
Eh, kids will be kids.
Anne smiled, "That's it. Now what does this say?" Anne points to another set of words and Kenji slowly reads out loud. Sasha smiled at Anne helping Kenji. And smiled at Kenji for making progress. For the rest of recess, the three kept reading Kenji's favorite book.
(Flashback ends)
"If it weren't for you, I would've failed reading and English class," said Kenji. The two sat side by side, next to Bessie's shell. Anne smiled,
"I'm amazed you remember that day." Anne said as Kenji smiled at her statement.
"It was the day you helped me," said Kenji with warmth in his voice. "And now I want to help you, by reading that phone book."
Anne knew that Kenji wanted to help her out, "You sure you know that the answer is in that book?" Kenji nodded.
"You know what I do with books that have no pictures? I visualize the words in my head as an actual movie. Give it a try." Kenji opens the book to the very first page and the two started reading.
Later in the day, the two got into Bessie's history. One chapter shows that Bessie was no ordinary snail, but a kind, clear soul who would help others at a drop of a hat. Hop Pop raised his bid to 400 copper pieces, winning the auction, and in the process, saving Bessie from the nefarious Jim Snapes.
"Yes! In your face, Snapes." Anne said as she ate another leaf on instinct. "Man. This is actually pretty good. And I need to stop eating leaves."
"Then stop eating them." Kenji said as Fou nodded causing Anne to spit out the leaves.
Another went into detail how both Hop Pop and Bessie in a dreaded snowstorm as the cold swirled around them and the old frog knew we were doomed. Hop Pop could feel the strength leaving my body bit by bit. The sweet embrace of eternity crept closer and closer. Until suddenly Hop Pop heard a sound pulling him back. It was Bessie... Bessie was singing to him! Anne stared to tear up a little at Bessie's loyalty towards Hop Pop.
"You go, girl. You noble, noble creature." Anne said as she hugs the shell and wipes away her tears that was dripping from her eyes "Man. This is messing me up."
"You ok, Anne?" Kenji asked with Fou showing concern for the young girl as Anne nodded.
"Yeah, I'm good." Anne said as she picks up the book once again to read.
Overtime, they started to understand Bessie. There were times, each unaware, that they looked at each other while they were reading.
Eventually, they read something important. "The reason Bessie had hidden in her shell, was now clear to me," Anne read. "A predator was close,"
"That's it!" cried Kenji. "And not just any predator, a natural enemy of snails."
Then, out of nowhere, they hear rustling not far from where they were sitting. "Uhh, hello?" Anne called.
"Sprig? Is that you?" Kenji asked. The two looked to the book for more information on snail predators. They find a diagram of what looks like a hedgehog. A well drawn one too.
"Aw, it's actually pretty cute," she finished as Kenji nodded.
"What's so scary about that?" Kenji asked. Suddenly, a vicious looking hedgehog scared them, just as they put the book down. The Hedgehog bear a resemblance like that of an earth-hedgehog, but was the size of a large dog with more aggressive features and act like that of a wolf. It has a pair of glowing orange eyes and a dog-like snout lined with sharp teeth. As they looked around, they realized they're not alone. More hedgehogs came out of hiding and started circling around the two humans. Anne and Kenji climb on top of Bessie's shell, trying to fend off the hedgehogs. Kenji uses his knife to cut a few of the hedgehogs.
"Is there any way to get her moving again?" Kenji asked. Anne flipped through the pages and found out what to do.
"Kenji, hold on," she said. Not bothering to ask questions, Kenji held onto Bessie's shell. Then, Anne cried, "Bessie! Things are getting MESSY!"
Bessie pops out of her shell and zooms out of the hedgehog's circle. The two humans cheer as they ride back to the main road. However, the hedgehogs weren't going to let them go so easily. "Eat our dust, hedgehogs!" Anne shouted. Kenji saw one of them about to shoot their quills.
"Get down!" he cried as he grabs Anne's arm and pulls her down just as the quills hit the seat.
"Woah, thanks Kenji," she said.
"Don't celebrate until we're out of here," he replied. The chase lasted a while longer, until Anne read more on how to escape the hedgehogs. She opened Bessie's front shell and grabbed a sack.
"Kenji. On my go, grab those quills and start throwing them at the hedgehogs." said Anne. Kenji nodded as he grabs the quills that was lodged into the seat.
"Alright. I'm ready." Kenji said as Anne climbed on Bessie's neck, as Kenji climbed on the back of her shell.
"Let's do this thing, Bessie!" Anne cried. Bessie chirped in response and ate the berries. As she did, Bessie spewed out pink slime, causing the hedgehog to started slipping out of control.
"Kenji, now!" Anne said as Kenji nodded and started throwing the quills back towards the slipping hedgehogs. The quills impaled most the creatures in non-vital areas while some did hit fatal areas. Bessie turned onto the main road and the hedgehogs slipped out of sight, most wounded and some dead.
Kenji and Anne cheered, "Yeah! We sure showed them!"
"Fou!" The little creature said with a jump of happiness.
"Way to go, Bessie! You are the Queen of the Road." Anne said as Bessie chirped when the young girl hugged their snail companion.
"You too, Anne," said Kenji said with a smile as Anne looked at him with surprise. "If you hadn't read more of Bessie's history, then all three of us would've been hedgehog chow." He strokes Bessie's neck, making her purr. "It was your quick thinking, and devotion to riding Bessie that saved us. Me? I just did what you told me to do. You are amazing, Anne."
Anne blushed with glee, "Aww, thanks Kenji."
Kenji smiled and replied, "You're welcome. Now let's find Sprig and get back to the farm." Kenji climbed onto Bessie's shell and sat next to Anne. She gave a whip on the reins and the group was about to set off on the main road.
Until…
*BOOM*
Their leaving the area was short-lived as another hedgehog showed up, bursting though the wood. However, unlike the other hedgehogs, this one was charcoal grey and is twice the size of it's fallen brothers. This is the Alpha of the Hedgehog and it was angry. The creature lets out a gut retching howl as the less hedgehogs who were wounded joined in for the attack.
"Oh c'mon! Bessie things are getting messy!" Anne said as Bessie punched into high gear as she zooms away from the area as the hedgehogs begin their chase after the group and they were getting closer. "Dang it! I wish I saved some of the berries for this!"
"Fou..." the little creature said as he held on for dear life at the high-speed chase.
'Damnit… I have to get Anne, Fou, Bessie and myself out of here!' Kenji thought as the instinctual fear of all humans sprang up, the desire to run.
'So, you're going to run?' A voice spoke. It was male, soft yet strong, addressing Kenji from his mind. It was none of the other Servants that he knows of, so he assumes it was one of the other Servants that he hasn't used yet.
'I…' Kenji paused… If they ran, the group may be able to survive… But it would also lure the beasts to Wartwood that they were heading towards. A lot of frog people may die if they did that, and he couldn't allow someone to die because his choice.
'Will you run and die?' The voice asked again. 'Or will you stand and fight?'
'I…' Kenji gripped his fist as he stands on top on the shell and looked towards the hedgehogs with a look of courage. 'I will fight! I will not run away! With all my strength, I will stand and fight!'
'You have the heart of someone who would do the right thing… I acknowledge you as my Master. Use my card and stand your ground!'
Kenji jumps off Bessie to the shock of Anne, Fou and Bessie as they turned around to get him back, But the young man reached into his coat pocket and pulled out one of the class cards… The Caster card and he knew what to say.
"Install: Caster!"
A light filled the forest causing to hedgehogs to cry out at the brightness as Anne blocks her eyes so that she doesn't go blind…
And when it cleared Anne reopens her eyes was surprised when she saw Kenji Richards now wears a black waistcoat, white shirt, black slacks, and a pair of black leather penny loafers. A gilded shortsword in his right hand and a symbol of a black dragon on the back of his left hand. His eyes are a deep, dark red like that of polished, perfect rubies.
"Ken? Is that you?" Anne asked in awe at what happened to her friend, causing the young man to her and smile towards her causing the poor girl to blush, but that didn't last long as the giant hedgehog and its underlings started charging towards the group with the intent to eat them and the snail.
'Kenji' turns back to the charging creatures with a frown on his face and raises the gilded blade into the sky as azure-like aura that looked like that of flames surrounded his whole body and instinctively, he knew what was happening. This was the Dead Count Shapeshifter: By using the Command Spells he owns, he makes use of the inserted heart of Siegfried although temporarily and can transform into Siegfried completely or partly. A super-unique skill that is impossible to be possessed by others that aren't the homunculus: Sieg. However, he decided to do another kind of transformation…to something more.
"Under the sky that is the beginning of all things, there are no walls, no castles, no nations. The primordial planet dazzles from the bottom of the earth. I'll show you the domain of the soul." 'Kenji' said in a soft yet strong voice as the area begins to be surrounded by the azure flame and shifts to another area entirely. Now the group along the giant hedgehog and its underlings are now standing in a massive field surrounded by azure flowers with mountains in the distance and above them is a night like sky with stars shining brightly. Anne, Fou, and Bessie were in awe at the beauty of what they were seeing with their own eyes, but they turned to Kenji to see what was going to happen next. They got their answer as 'Kenji' started to float as an azure light was glowing from his chest.
"Commence transformation. a pilgrimage to the beyond... I am the evil dragon that flies away holding the Grail of Heaven…" 'Kenji' chanted as he transformed into an entirely new creature which resembled a lizard but nothing like anything the Hedgehogs had seen before, but Anne knew what this creature was: it's a giant dragon. Its entire upper body covered in black, spiked, scales. His lower body, specifically his chin, chest, stomach, and inner tail, are gray in color, and appear to be rather smooth with a glowing symbol on the chest of the beast. The creature's eyes are like that of snakes with a green coloring, and his head was long and narrow with four, large, curved horns jutting from the back. Its mouth is full of razor-sharp teeth, and, attached underneath his chin, is protrusions that resembles spikes. His large wings are leathery in appearance, akin to a bat's. The scales disappear at the end of the creature's tail, which looked like it could crush boulders with a single swipe.
This is the Legendary Dragon of Germanic and Nordic Lore: Fafnir, the Evil Dragon Phenomenon.
"K-Ken? Is that you?" Anne as the dragon turned towards to the group, causing Anne to flinch and Bessie to hide in her shell again, but stopped as Fou was patting the young woman's cheek with his paw to calm her, showing that this dragon was not going to harm. Fafnir turned back to the Alpha Hedgehog and its lesser kin who were tremble at the sight of this new alpha predator standing before them. The dragon snorts out a puff of smoke though is nose area as it begins to float as more smoke begins to seep through its maw, signaling an attack that's about to happen.
"Disintegrate all! Akafiloga All-Grið!" 'Kenji's' voice spoke out though Fafnir as it opens its mouth and unleashes a stream of azure flames towards the giant hedgehog. Anne had to cover her eyes from the brightness of the flames, but she could still hear the hedgehogs' dying screams. After a few moments, Anne lowered her arm to see that they were back on the road again with 'Kenji' retuning beck to the form that he was in before turning into Fafnir and the piles of ashes that was once the hedgehog. 'Kenji' turned towards the group and walk towards them. Anne was a little nervous at him at what he did and what he was going to do next, but that ended as 'Kenji' askes her a simple question.
"Are you ok?"
Anne blinked as she nodded slowly, causing the young man to nod with a small smile on his face. Fou jumped off Anne's shoulder and sniffs 'Kenji's' face, confusion is shown on the young man's face. That stopped as Fou rubbed his face on 'Kenji's' face causing the young man to smile as he scratches the little creature's chin. 'Kenji' turns to Bessie, who was still in her shell from the event that happened and kneels towards the gentle snail and raises a hand towards her. Bessie sticks her head out a bit and the young man pets the neck of the snail, causing her to purr in content and fully comes out of her shell. Anne, now finally catching up mentally from the events that just happened, now decided to ask the question that was on her mind.
"Hey…Are you Kenji or one of those Servants? I need to know before things get wierder." Anne asked as 'Kenji' turns to her and nodded, deciding to tell her who he is now.
"I am Sieg. The Caster to that my Master, Kenji. I know that you still seek answers but I'm afraid my time is short." The Servant now known as Sieg said as his body begins to glow a bright light, signaling Anne that he was about return back to the Caster Card. "Don't worry. He's alright right now, but he'll need to rest for the moment. Until we see each other again."
Anne could only nod as Sieg surrounded by a sphere of light. After a few moments, the sphere dissipates, revealing Kenji in his normal clothes again and holding the Caster card in his hand. After a few moments Kenji landed on his back with a resounding thud but groaned signaling that he was conscious this time.
"You ok Kenji?" Anne asked in concern as she help him up but had to place one of his arms over her shoulders because she notices that he was very stiff as he was locked up.
"I'm ok, I just can't move right now. Can you please place me on Bessie's shell and I will just lay there until I can move again." Kenji said as Anne nodded and laid him on the top of Bessie's shell as he gave off a groan, but he could handle it. After that was taken care of, Anne takes her seat again and gave a whip on the reins and the group set off on the main road once again.
As they journey back, they find that Sprig found help and were given a lift back as well. But as it turns out, he was stuck on the same ladybug being driven by the same elderly frog, Ms. Croaker, they drove past. She finished singing a song and almost drove Sprig insane.
Anne drives Bessie alongside them, "Hey kid, need a lift?"
"Fou!"
"Guys! Thank goodness." Sprig cried as he hops up and hugs Anne tightly, finally free from Mrs. Croaker's slow-moving vehicle and notices that Kenji was on Bessie's shell like a sack of potatoes. "Woah what happen to you?"
"I'm fine, just a little numb right now. I'll tell you later." Kenji said with a groan. Sprig knows that perhaps it's not the best time to ask so he turned back to Mrs. Croaker.
"Thanks for giving me a lift, Mrs. Croaker," Sprig said as the old frog lady nodded.
"You're welcome, sonny." she replied as she points towards the young frog. "But next time, try to keep that road rage in check." Then she whipped her reins and the ladybug zoomed past the group at a very fast speed, leaving them shocked at what just happened.
"Guess she played you good," said Kenji causing Sprig to groan.
"That woman is everything I want to be," said Anne.
"Fou?"
The four ride back to the Plantar farm, completely exhausted from today's long trip.
"We made it!" Sprig cheered. "And it looks like Hop pop is still washing Polly." He looks though the window watching Polly escaping Hop pop and getting filthy again. Sprig then prepare to turn in for the night, but notices that Anne and Kenji who can finally move again were staying next to Bessie.
"You guys coming?" Sprig asked the two humans who looked back towards the young frog with smiles on their faces.
"I think I'm going to spend a little more time with ol' Bessie, here," replied Anne.
"Make that both of us, we'll see you in the morning Sprig." said Kenji as Sprig shrugged.
"Suit yourselves," said Sprig as he makes his way back to the stable. Anne and Kenji had Bessie all to themselves. Kenji looks to Anne as she takes out Bessie's History with a grin on his face.
"Have I told you I read the whole thing?" asked Kenji causing the girl to look at his in shock.
"You what?" Anne asked surprisingly as Kenji nodded.
"I told you, if it weren't for you, I would've failed reading and English," said Kenji with a smirk, causing Anne to giggle at the young man.
"You cheeky bookworm," said Anne as Kenji sits on Bessie's side while Anne sits on top, ready to read more of Bessie's History.
"Now where were we?" Anne said as she begins to read the book as Kenji looks to the stars with a content smile until Anne spoke up.
"Hey Ken, thanks for motivating me to read more of this," said Anne said with a smile on her face. "You're awesome."
Kenji smiled as he leans back on Bessie's shell. 'You really are amazing in many ways, Anne Boonchuy, Don't lose sight of it.' he thought.
As Kenji and Anne finally decided to go to sleep after a couple of hours of reading, they both seemed to finally believe that they can have a good night's rest. However, Kenji was having another weird dream, but what he was really going though is the memories of Sieg, A Homunculus who first turned Human then to a Detached and Kind Dragon:
From another timeline from the one Kenji knows of, Sieg was created by Yggdmillennia as one of their many homunculi suited to various purposes. Initially kept in a magical energy supply tank devised by Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia to grant energy for Servants and was originally known as Homunculus, he was one of many allowed to be used by Caster of Black for usage as harvesting materials for his golems. Due to his unexpectedly high-quality Magic Circuits, he was thought to be a good choice for Caster's Golem Keter Malkuth.
Sieg, originally just an unnamed homunculus, first begins to gain sentience around the time the Black Faction has summoned all its Servants. Originally, he is conscious without the ability to form thoughts, only a weak "instinct" reacting to pain. Without the ability to form thoughts or have recognition of anything, he could not assert himself or truly be called "alive." However, he still possessed the senses of his body, and over time he received and processed "information", leading to the acquisition of "knowledge" within him. He becomes conscious, and he can realize the simple fact that he is a living creature. The cycle of learning begins to repeat at a great speed, bolstered by his Magic Circuits. He recognizes many beings, including humans, homunculi, and Servants. The humans ignore him, the homunculi, his comrades, view him with faint emotions, and the Servants, monsters, display a wide variety of expressions.
There is no great change in his situation with the acquisition of knowledge, but he slowly begins to organize it within himself and begins to feel strange with the more information he obtains. He does not yet realize it to be fear, the desire to turn away from that which is in front of him, and he cannot even understand the emotion being one of cowardice because he has yet to understand the idea of courage. After the scouting of Kairi Sisigou and Saber of Red leads to battle with several of Caster's golems, Caster and Roche Frain Yggdmillennia appear before Sieg, discussing the process of inserting Magic Circuits into the golems. Identifying them by their "codes", names, Sieg can recognize that they have appeared before him numerous times, and using his information, he is able to determine the insertion of Magic
Circuits equates to the destruction of that which is consumed to supply them. Having not previously understood death, he becomes scared upon drawing the conclusion that destruction equals death.
As he is selected along with two others for Caster's usage, the conscious part of him that had been scared notes that he will soon die. Though he initially believes that there is no recourse, he decides to act due to being able to do what the other homunculi cannot, obtain information, think, and fear the conclusion. With the coincidence of obtaining an identity along with the coincidence of being chosen to die, his fate begins to move as he moves his arm for the first time in his life. Affirming his situation as he attempts to move, he makes both his hands move to beat against the reinforced glass. Realizing the futility in trying to break it physically, he scans his Magic Circuits to work a spell that weakens the glass enough for him to escape, breaking it and allowing him into the world from which he had been isolated. Injured from the glass, he removes his breathing apparatus and takes his first breath.
He quickly reminds himself that escape from the glass was only his initial goal, quickly seeking to escape. The ability to stand was not imbedded into his functions, so he can only fall and feebly craw along the floor. Slowly managing to stand, he is filled with great pain as he begins his first steps. He does not know his path, only knowing that he will die if he stays, and he can only walk forward with great trepidation of further pain as he ignores the "whispers" of the homunculi behind him. With skin as soft as that of a newborn, simply walking is enough to bloody his feet as he searches for a destination. Thinking himself to be a meaningless existence as his weak body struggles along, he can only believe that he will die without meaning in the same way he was born without meaning.
He pauses in confusion as he realizes Rider of Black has come before him, unable to move out of fear. Soothed by Rider's concern, he recognizes Rider and unconsciously mutters for Rider to help him before fainting. Before fading out, he only wishes that he will continue to be alive. Rider decides to help him, bringing him Archer of Black's room to hide him from Caster's pursuit. Archer realizes the situation, letting them in and preparing to look him over due to his expertise on medicine. He states that Sieg overused his circuits and tore through his veins in destroying the glass and further collapsed from exhaustion. He tells Rider of Sieg's physical condition and short lifespan, and Rider affirms that he will keep helping him until the end, as he would not be able to survive on his own.
Sieg awakens during their conversation, so he gets up at Rider's prodding. Extremely nervous, he is unable to understand Rider's meaning as he asks about helping to grant Sieg's wish. As he thinks about it, he believes a powerless being with no history has no right to have a wish in the first place, having given up such a right in the first place. Although he believes he does not deserve such a thing or that it will be granted, he asks Rider to save him. He is shocked when Rider agrees immediately but becomes moved enough by Rider's innocence to have no doubt in his words.
After escaping and receiving the hero Siegfried's heart, he becomes notably more selfless and braver as he gradually continues to develop as a person. Of his own volition, he decides to forsake a life of happiness, and instead aims to fulfill the desperate wishes of freedom his brother and sister homunculi who would die if nothing was done to save them. Eventually, he even willingly becomes a participant of the Great Holy Grail War in return for their promised freedom and safety as well as for the sake of both Astolfo (who had previously saved him) and Jeanne (who protected him). Due to his young age, he is initially very much naive and clueless about things such as common sense, basic human behavior, and how the world works though he can pass as an eccentric but otherwise normal, if slightly clumsy, human with a calm and logical personality in a very short amount of time. While typically very polite and humble, Sieg can at times display a blunt attitude during the rare instances he feels annoyed or frustrated. He also tends to blurt out slightly rude observations without really meaning to which occasionally gets him into trouble with others.
He seems to have a high capacity for forgiveness as shown when goes as far as to unhesitatingly throw himself in harm's way to save both Caules and Fiore when their lives are in peril despite the Yggdimillenia's treatment of his brethren. At the same time, however, Sieg is extremely vengeful when those he cherishes have been harmed before him, not caring whether his enemy is a magus or a Servant, the only thing that matters in his mind is the fact that he will kill them.
He clashes with Saber of Red during a large battle. She calls him a fake Heroic Spirit, and he acknowledges that he cannot match up to a proper Heroic Spirit. To save his comrades who were left behind, he decides to utilize his Saber's Noble Phantasm, Balmung, clashing with her Clarent. He does not care about winning or losing, only that it is a necessary action. He who does not have a life in the first place thus cannot be said to be risking his life. Red Saber comes out victorious, but only due to the special properties of the weapons and the distance from which they attacked. It is possible utilizing Balmung even a few steps closer may have changed the outcome. She is infuriated because he still lives and moves to finish him., but was called by her master at the last moment
After their final encounter with Assassin of Black and witnessing her, along with the children of Scotland Yard's horrific pasts, Sieg's innocent belief of humans being slightly flawed but inherently good creatures' crumbles, leading him to begin to question humanity's true nature. While he takes Jeanne's advice on not giving up on humans to heart and ponders over the opinions of several other heroes on the matter, Sieg ultimately seeks his own answer to how he views humans and life.
Like Siegfried, he places little value on his own life and comes to view himself as something that can be used to save and help those around him, causing him to make reckless choices simply for the sake of what he believes 'he should do' instead of what he wants to do. He claims to have no interest in the normal, peaceful life Astolfo spoke of before, but it is revealed during a conversation with Jeanne that deep down, he does have a longing for it but willingly overlooks this fact for what he feels is a more worthwhile purpose that grants meaning to his life, as well as honors the hero Siegfried who died for Sieg. Thankfully, both Jeanne and Laeticia eventually encourage him to start considering his own value more, and he comes to realize that just worrying about the value of humans and his tendency to sacrifice himself for others would leave him truly empty in the end no matter what he ends up doing with his life.
While Sieg had his own reasons for opposing his enemy: Shirou Kotomine's wish for salvation, the main reason Sieg chose to trap himself on the Reverse Side, which would have come about from the priest's use of the Third Magic, was not entirely motivated by "saving humanity". Sieg himself admits he hadn't experienced enough of the world to completely believe in humanity, though he accepts their nature of striving for good but containing evil. Based on his few experiences, he simply chose to believe in the good humans are innately capable of. However, the main reason for his decision was because he witnessed Jeanne D'Arc's struggles and came to understand her. For her, who had everything taken from her due to a betrayal in life, who received the worst treatment conceivably possible for a human, and yet never cursed anyone in the end and even gave up her life to protect their future, Sieg wanted to 'become her strength' and thus carried out her will, acting for the first time on his own personal desire rather just giving himself for someone else's sake.
So, with one wish from the Greater Grail, he uses the Holy Grail to accelerate the process and take on Fafnir's form. He, in Fafnir's form, then takes the Grail to the Reverse Side of the World, where there are no humans for it to affect with the curse of immortality.
Kenji wakes ups from the dream/memory and looks around to see if anything was happening. He turned towards Anne who was sleeping without a care in the world, which caused Kenji to smile, However, he stops when he notices two humanoid silhouettes next to Anne.
The first one is a beautiful woman with long braided blonde hair, amethyst-colored eyes and they were completely pure. She didn't have the precise and moulded beauty of a homunculus or the kind of cuteness that made one's heart flutter just by being nearby. She possessed a wondrous beauty that scarcely felt real. Her attire is that of a battle dress with bits of metal and a battle flag was next to her. She looked very familiar to Kenji but he did not know why.
The second one is another beautiful woman with a delicate body and mystical long white hair with a teal accent reminiscent of the night sky. Her gorgeous mythril armor shines beautifully on the woman's figure. Her huge lance looked heavy and huge to an impossible point, and yet it was being lightly carried in her hands. The woman shows a weakly smile. An ordinary man would've been a goner from that smile. It was a beautiful smile that the woman expressed, despite one feeling the end of that sorrow and grief in that smile. When she opens her bound eyelids, her long eyelashes vibrates. When she exposes her eyes, they were like amethysts. She was a woman who suited the silence of the night, even now, and she was a woman whose body was drenched by the night itself. Just like the first woman she is familiar to Kenji as well.
The two women turned towards Kenji and smiled to him as he rubs his eyes to clear them to see who the two were fully. However, as he looks back, the women disappeared before he could fully see them or ask them who they are. He looked around to see if there still here but could not find them. After a few minutes he turns in to sleep again.
The very next morning, the two enter Hop pop's bedroom all tired from reading Bessie's History. Anne throws the book onto Hop pop, waking him up.
"What the heck-" Hop pop looked at the very tired humans.
"Good morning Hopediah," said Anne in a tired tone as she rubs her right eye a little.
"Anne? Kenji?" Hop Pop said in concern for the two humans.
"We did it, Hop Pop," said Kenji in the same tone as Anne. "We both read the whole thing all in one day. Anne read it in one night,"
"Impressive," said Hop Pop a little spooked at how these two were able to read the whole book in one day and night. "Kind of scary, but impressive."
Anne slouched back onto Hop Pop's chair as Kenji leaned into it from behind. "I was wrong about Bessie. She's not just a vehicle, She's a noble beautiful creature." Anne said as Kenji nodded.
"Like that of a noble steed." He said as Anne nodded.
"And now that you both read this," said Hop Pop as looks though the book before looking toward the two humans. "All you two need now, is experience."
Kenji and Anne shot their eyes wide open when he said that as if something broke within their minds. The old frog man had no idea what they went through, and they agreed not to tell him anything about what happened. Anne laughed insanely away while Kenji was silent as he walked out next. But not before turning his head and telling Hop Pop.
"Watch your back, old man." Kenji said in an empty tone as he left the room. Hop Pop stares at the entrance to his closed bedroom door, taking Kenji's warning to heart.
"I don't feel safe."