Author's Notes: Unlike my previous fanfic, which was a direct follow-up to the series finale, this one makes some key changes to the final epilogue scenes starting when Anne, Sasha, and Marcy are saying their goodbyes.

I got some great feedback on my last fic, including a lot more bookmarks than I expected, and plenty of comments, which I really appreciate; I like to engage with my readers. It's the main reason I write fanfiction, to engage with people who are passionate about these shows as I am... and also to unload my various headcanons and ideas. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!


Anne knew that when Marcy told them the crystal shards would only work once, she would have to make a choice... and that she had precious little time to make it.

Marcy and Sasha each said their goodbyes to Olivia, Yunnan, Andrias, and Grime as the wreaths of colored flowers were bestowed upon their heads. Anne said nothing as Hop-Pop place a blue wreath atop her head, secretly wrestling with her own conscience as she pondered the repercussions of the choices before her.

When Valeriana approached her with the music box, Anne realized there was no going back. Marcy and Sasha both stepped forward as Valeriana inserted the crystal shards into the lid of the box... but Anne hung back.

"Anne?" Sasha called out. "What's wrong?"

Anne took a deep breath.

"I'm not going."

Sasha didn't appear the least bit surprised. Why would she be, after Anne had nearly sacrificed her life for this world?

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," Sasha mused. "Sure I can't change your mind?"

"My mind's made up, Sash," Anne assured her. "This world and these people are everything to me. I can't just leave."

"But what am I supposed to tell your parents?" Sasha inquired.

"Tell them..." Anne began. "Tell them that I'm sorry, and that I'll miss them... and that I'll love them, always."

"You wouldn't rather I told them you died?" Sasha suggested. "It wouldn't be a total lie."

"All the same, they're my parents... and they deserve to know the truth," Anne insisted. "I wish it could be different, but Amphibia... it's my home."

Sasha nodded in understanding, throwing her arms around Anne's neck in a fierce bear hug. Marcy followed suite, tears streaming down her face as she choked back a sob.

"You take care of yourself, Anne," said Sasha, grasping Anne's shoulders firmly.

"You too, Sasha," Anne replied.

Sasha and Marcy broke away, turning to face the edge of the cliff. Valeriana opened the music box, conjuring a brilliant blue-white portal at the edge. Sasha and Marcy cast one final look back at Anne and all their friends... they joined hands and took a bow before stepping through, vanishing into the ether.

Within seconds, the portal collapsed and disappeared, taking Anne's last chance of returning to Earth with it. The music box began to clatter and shake in Valeriana's hands, and the casing cracked before crumbling into ash, the ashes being blown away by the wind.

"So... what now?" Hop-Pop asked no one in particular.

"Now we build a better world," Olivia replied.

"Together!" Grime added, clenching his fist.

"I'm with you," said Anne. Sprig hugged her around her skirt, and Anne bent down to hug him back.

She held no illusions of what she'd just done. Anne knew that she would never see her mom and dad again, having willing given up her last ticket home. What bitter irony... from the moment Anne set foot in Amphibia, all she'd thought of was getting back home to her family and her life. But after everything she'd been through with the Plantars, the people of Wartwood, and everyone she'd come to know and love in Amphibia, she found she couldn't leave.

She'd asked the stones to help her save the world she loved... and she had. And now, Anne Boonchuy would help rebuild her home, and make a new life for herself here, with her friends and family.


Months passed. In that time, the landscape that'd been devastated by Andrias's war machine came back to life. The plains of grass became lush and green once more. The pollution cleared from the rivers and the air, giving way to clear waters and blue skies. At times, Anne caught sight of the fallen King Andrias planting seeds in the grass. He was followed closely by a tiny frobot dressed as a watering can, and leaning on Barrel's Warhammer like a cane. Anne hadn't though it possible, but maybe Andrias was worthy of forgiveness... like her, he'd been manipulated by a couple of overbearing bullies, his father and the core both. But in the end, he stood up to them, and aided Anne and her friends in their hour of need as best as he was able.

As for Anne... she returned to her old room in the Plantar's basement. As Polly grew up, transitioning from a pollywog to a fully-grown frog, Hop-Pop decided that Polly should have Sprig's old room, forcing Sprig to move in with Anne.

It wasn't so bad. Anne and Sprig had been through so much together... and they'd learned to be more respectful of each other's boundaries since the last time they shared a room.

The basement was a little more cluttered now, with Sprig's desk, his handmade action figures, and a bulletin board laden with maps, drawings, and mementos from their past adventures taking up a lot of the space. But it was by no means uncomfortable. Anne had hung her sword up on the wall and stashed her breastplate in a trunk at the foot of her bed, reverting back to her old Saint James uniform and tennis racket. Although, for the life of her, she still couldn't locate her missing shoe.

Wartwood, for the most part, was back to normal. The frogs had rebuilt their homes and the businesses. Toadie had somehow managed to win the latest election for mayor (with a little help from Toadstool) and Maddie had set up her own stall in the town square to sell her spells and potions.

Sylvie was now a regular guest at the Plantar's farm, which was flourishing thanks to avocados Hop-Pop had brought back from California. Anne proved helpful in showing him how to raise them properly, insuring that her adopted family would continue to prosper for generations to come.

Unfortunately, not all was well in Wartwood. Sprig and Ivy had broken up not long after Anne decided to stay. Turns out that the little yellow frog was jealous of all the time Sprig and Anne spent together, and she'd become even more suspicious of them since they started sharing the basement.

There was a fight. It was bad... but in the end, Anne managed to convince the former lovers to reconcile. It wasn't what she'd hoped for, but at least they could still be friends.

All that aside, today was to be a very special day, marking the one-year anniversary of Anne coming to Wartwood... which also happened to be Anne's 14th birthday. The town had a big ceremony planned for her and everything, along with a "special surprise" that Sprig and Polly were keeping quiet about.

That day found Anne and Sprig in the basement. Sprig was at his drawing desk, copying a photo of the mossman from Anne's phone into his sketchbook, while Anne lie in bed, scribbling in her journal.

They were to be interrupted by Polly as she flung the door open. She was longer the little pollywog from when Anne had first known, but had grown into a young frog in dirty overalls, with a full head of wild, flaming-orange hair like her brother, but topped with her signature bow.

"Anne, Sprig, c'mon! It's time for the unveiling ceremony!" She shouted eagerly before hopping away.

"Finally!" Sprig replied. "I can't wait to see how it turned out!"

"How what turned out?" Anne begged. "When are guys gonna stop keeping secrets from me?"

"I told you; it's a surprise!" Sprig insisted. "Now come on, we don't wanna be late!"


When the trio arrived at the town square, they saw Loggle standing atop a ladder next to a massive object under a tarp, right where the old town founder's statue used to. Anne, Sprig, and Polly pushed their way through the crowd just in time to see Loggle pull the tarp down... revealing a statue of Anne, clad in her breastplate, a sword in one hand and the music box in the other.

At the base of the statue was a golden plague with a dedication to Anne herself:

Anne Boonchuy

Savior of Amphibia!

"What do you think?" Sprig asked Anne. "Do you like it?"

Anne was beyond flattered. To think that this town, which had once hated and feared, had not only come to accept her as one of their but, but worship her as their hero and even carve this statue in her honor. She had never felt so loved in her entire life. It was truly humbling.

"Yeah..." said Anne. "It's perfect, Sprig. Thank you... thank all of you!"

"We should be thanking you, Anne," said the former mayor Toadstool. "You've changed all of our lives for the better. And may I say, a very Happy 14th Birthday to you as well!"

Anne's face turned redder than a tomato as everyone cheered, and several frogs began chanting her name. A small part of her felt guilty, knowing what she'd sacrificed to be here on this day... while all of Wartwood celebrated her as the town hero, her mom and dad were back in Los Angeles, no doubt heartbroken knowing their daughter was never coming home. That she'd chosen her surrogate family in Wartwood over those who'd made her, raised her, and cared for her all their adult lives.

It was a choice that Anne could never take back, and as happy as she was to be here, she would carry the guilt of that decision for the rest of her life. Anne only wished she could've told her parents goodbye one last time...

"Anne? Might I borrow you for a moment?" Asked a familiar gruff voice. Anne and Sprig turned to see Grime clad in white-and-gold Newtopian regalia, sporting a beard that was tied in braid.

"What's up, Grime?" Anne inquired.

"I was just about to say..." said Grime. "You see, General Yunnan and I have recently discovered another continent, far across the sea. A land untouched by frogs, toads, or newts."

"I know it's only been a few months, and this is your special day," Grime recollected. "But I was hoping that you and Sprig might accompany us on expedition to this uncharted land."

"So what do you say?" He asked. "Are you up for another adventure."

Anne and Sprig took another look up at the statue, remembering all the adventures they'd had when Anne first came to Amphibia. It wasn't all fun and games, and they'd nearly gotten themselves killed on more than one occasion. But after spending the last few months resting on the laurels, Anne had to admit she was becoming a little bit restless... and the prospect of a new land to explore was too good to pass up.

Anne took one look at Sprig to make sure they were on the same page. Both nodded.

"Sure, let's do it!" Anne and Sprig said in unison.


It was 9:13 in the morning when Sasha's red corvette pulled up to the airport. Her phone buzzed as a pair of texts popped up on the screen mounted to her dashboard, announcing Marcy's arrival.

It's had been so long since they'd seen each other. After returning home ten years prior, Marcy had moved out of state with her parents, leaving Sasha all alone. Sasha had spent the last ten years working hard, gotten her high school diploma, and then on to college to get a degree in psychology. But none of that mattered now; she was here to pick up Marcy for a very special day.

"SASHA!" A familiar voice called out from the terminal. Sasha looked up from her phone to see Marcy, all grown up, waving at her from across the pavement.

"Mars!" Sasha greeted as Marcy sprinted towards her. In trademark Marcy fashion, she slipped and fell down. Sasha was about to bend down to help her, but Marcy sprung to her feet, only slightly worse for wear.

"I'm okay!" Marcy said confidently.

The two woman climbed into Sasha's car and set off down the freeway.

"Omigosh, it's been a minute!" Sasha proclaimed. "How was the flight?"

"It was pretty good!" Marcy told her. "Can you believe it's been 10 years?"

"It's crazy, right? So what have you been up to?" Sasha asked. "Still doing that web comic? I read a few chapters... it's AWESOME!"

"Oh... thanks," Marcy replied. "It's doing pretty good online..."

"So how about you?" She asked. "Psych degree come in handy?"

"Yup. I really like working with the kids," Sasha affirmed. "Helping them overcome their emotional baggage. I have a lot of experience-"

Just then, a car behind them decide to pass them, interrupting their conversation with the sound of an engine revving and tires skidding across the asphalt. Sasha slammed her palm on the steering wheel, honking her horn angrily.

"Hey! Nice signal, buddy!" She shouted sarcastically as the other car peeled off.

"So... what did you do after I moved?" Marcy asked.

"Oh, you know... I just tried to stay focused on school," Sasha recalled. "I did get a job as Mrs. Boonchuy's restaurant to raise money for college."

"How's she doing?" Marcy asked worriedly.

"Better," Sasha replied. "I think she's made peace with everything that happened, more or less."

Sasha and Marcy's destination was the old Thai Temple that Anne's family belong to. Sasha had been there a few times, helping Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy sell their famous Thai cuisine at the market. Being the bearer of bad news, she felt like she owed it to them... that, and it was partly her fault that Anne wasn't with them anymore.

They arrived at the temple to find it packed. Aside from the usual temple-goers and Anne's family, there were several of Anne's friends from her brief time on Earth prior to the Frogvasion. Terri and Dr. Jan were there, as were Jess and Ally. That girl Molly-Joe was there with her grandfather as well. No sign of those federal agents, though... Sasha guessed they were too busy to pay their respects. Or maybe they just couldn't associate with the Boonchuys to avoid arousing suspicion, having worked so hard to cover up the invasion. Ingrates.

Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy came out to meet them, embracing Sasha and Marcy as though they were their own daughters.

"It's good to see you again, Sasha," said Mrs. Boonchuy. "You too, Marcy; thank you so much for coming."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," said Marcy.

The Boonchuys led Sasha and Marcy into the heart of the temple, where a small shrine had been erected. There were gifts and flowers placed all around, and in the center, a photograph of Anne.

Marcy and Sasha set their own gifts down by the altar before stepping back to take a look at their long-lost friend. Anne would be 23 years old today, assuming she was still alive. Amphibia was a dangerous place after all... Sasha knew that Anne weathered danger well, but still; anything could happen. Not that Sasha would ever say that in front of Anne's parents.

"Happy Birthday, Anne," said Marcy. "We've all missed you, these past ten years. It hasn't been the same without you."

Sasha remembered the day she and Marcy had returned from Amphibia all too well. She'd been the one to deliver the news to Anne's parents... true to her word, she hadn't lied, and delivered Anne's final message to her mom and dad. There was nothing she could say or do as Mrs. Boonchuy collapsed on the street, bawling at the top of her lungs in front of a crowd of onlookers.

"As long as she's happy, wherever she is... that's all that matters," Mrs. Boonchuy had told Sasha after she'd calmed down.

As night fell, all of the attendants stepped out into the temple courtyard, each of them carrying a colored lantern. Sasha held a pink one in her hands, while Marcy carried a green one. The Boonchuys each carried a blue lantern. All the lanterns were tinted in the colors of the Calamity Stones, in honor of their lost sister and friend. Sasha had attended this ceremony every year since Anne had been gone, with this being Marcy's first time.

Anne... wherever you are, I hope you and Sprig are happy, and that you're safe, Sasha thought to herself. I hope that we can see you again someday.

And with that, she let her lantern fly. Marcy imitated her, releasing her lantern into the night, as did the rest of the assembly. A sea of blue, pink, and green lanterns drifted across the inky blackness of the Los Angeles skyline in tribute to Anne Boonchuy, as they had on this every year for the past decade.

Sasha didn't begrudge Anne's decision to stay behind, though she missed her dearly. Anne had inspired her to become a better person... everything Sasha had accomplished in her adult life, she owed to Anne. It was a debt she could never possibly repay.

As the lanterns drifted away and out of sight, Sasha closed her eyes and said one last silent prayer for her long-lost friend.


The following day, Terri and Dr. Jan invited Sasha and Marcy to visit their lab for a special tour. Dr. Jan had long left the museum behind her to assist in Terri's research into portal technology.

Sasha had followed Terri's work closely over the years in the hope that she would one day find a way for them to return to Amphibia. To see Anne again. But to Sasha's knowledge, the test portal in her lab was no more powerful than the one Anne used to return to Amphibia all those years ago.

Terri seemed more excited than usual to show them what she'd been working on today, though. Seemed she'd stayed up all night after Anne's birthday working on the project. Sasha made sure to temper her expectations, knowing full well that the portal wouldn't be big enough for her and Anne so much as exchange a handshake... if they managed to pinpoint Anne's location at all.

But then Terri showed Sasha her research notes. According to the notes, the only reason the portals were so small was a lack of power. Terri theorized that could open a portal large enough for Sasha and Marcy to walk through... at the expense of plunging all of California into a blackout. Terri would be risking more than her job if she went through with this, but she didn't care.

That night, all of California was plunged into darkness as Terri threw the switch. The portal opened, and Sasha, for the first time in ten years, beheld Wartwood.

The portal had open just on the edge of the Plantar's far, and threw it, Sasha and Marcy could a young Thai woman, not a day over 23 years old, with bushy brown hair tied back into a ponytail... and a little pink frog boy dancing around her ankles.

The woman looked up as both Sasha and Marcy stepped through the portal. Up until a moment, she'd been dragging a hoe through the dirt of the Plantar's front garden plot, seemingly content. Now she was staring up in awe as she laid eyes on the first two human beings she'd seen in the last decade. Her childhood friends.

The woman smiled, and her eyes began to water.

"Sasha... Marcy!?" Anne exclaimed.

Anne dropped the hoe and sprinted across the field and flung her arms around their necks in a fierce hug.


"Change can be difficult... but it's how we grow. It can be the hardest thing, to know you can't hold onto something forever. Sometimes... you have to let it go. But of the things you let go, you'd be surprised what makes it's way back to you."

THE END


Author's Notes: So yeah, that's it... basically what might happen if Anne had chosen to stay in Amphibia. The way it should have ended, in my not-so-humble opinion. I already ranted a fair bit about how unfair and cruel it was to have Anne and Sprig be separated permanently, not to mention how easily Anne abandoned the world she loved and everyone in it for no good reason.

With this one-shot, I tried to stay as close to the actual finale as possible while incorporating Anne into Sprig and Polly's final scenes, and re-working Sasha and Marcy's epilogue to factor in that Anne is no longer with them. Let me know how I did.