Author's Notes: Yup. I wrote another one. I couldn't help it. I got the idea in my head, and I had to write it. I feel like Matt Braly left this door open on purpose so that fans could easily come up with their own perfect endings if they wished. Anyway, if either of my previous fics didn't heal the hole in your heart after watching "The Hardest Thing", then maybe this one will. You let me know.


Anne had waited 78 years for this.

At first, Anne was quick to turn down the Guardian's offer. She was only 13 years old at the time, and the prospect of becoming the immortal cosmic guardian of the sacred stones was too much for her... and at 13, she didn't feel qualified to take on such a demanding role. Not after all the mistakes she'd made.

In truth, Anne hadn't changed much in 78 years. But it'd also been that long since she'd seen Sprig.

So it was that on the day of her 91st birthday, Anne made a promise to herself... a promise that she would do whatever it took to see her friend again.

Anne didn't know how long it was after her birthday that she passed. A few months, maybe...? All she knew was that one night, she went to bed a little old lady, squat and wrinkled, her hair wispy and grey, her joints aching as she climbed into bed.

The next moment she woke on the little island amid the stars. Anne was her 13-year old self again, looking just as she had when she left Amphibia for the final time. She wore her gold breastplate over her dirty old Saint James Middle School Uniform, leaves and twigs were tangled in her hair just like before, and she was missing one shoe.

Realizing where she was, Anne stood up and turned to face the cozy little cottage once more. Stepping inside, everything was just as she remembered it, with all the framed photos and mementos from her childhood adventures. Sitting on the table in the middle of the room was the Guardian of the Stones in the guise of her old cat Domino, who'd died so long ago... and sitting in front of it, the gems glowing brilliant hues of blue, pink, and green, was the music.

"It is time," said the Guardian.

Anne nodded.

"You have reconsidered my offer?"

"I have," said Anne. "So... how does this work?"

"No need to worry," the deity assured her. "You needn't fill out an application. The stones are yours, to do with as you see fit. Use them well."

"Wait!" Anne said. "Before you go, tell me... can I go back? Can I see them again?"

The cat smiled, and nodded. "Of course. All of time and space is yours to command. If you would only use this power to return to the ones you love, that is your decision to make."

"And Sasha and Marcy?" Anne inquired further.

"That's not for me to say," the Guardian replied, shaking it's head. "Perhaps you should ask them..."

"We're with you," came a voice from behind her.

Anne whirled around to see for the first time in what felt like an eternity, her friends. Sasha... Marcy... Like her, they'd reverted back to their 13-year old selves, and were dressed as they'd been in Amphibia all those years ago. Sasha with her leather armor and fur cape, her dual heron swords secured to her waist. Marcy in her ranger outfit and cloak, a miniature crossbow secured to her wrist.

The last time Anne had seen them, it was at their funerals. Eight years ago for Marcy, three for Sasha. It seemed they'd been waiting for her.

"Sasha... Marcy..." Anne said breathlessly, her eyes tearing up the sight of them. "What are you doing here!?"

"Waiting for you," said Sasha. "That thing- Domino, or the Guardian, whatever it is- told us everything. And we figured, that if you took the deal, you'd want to go back to Amphibia... and we want to go with you."

"You're sure?" Anne asked.

"We're sure, Marcy affirmed. "We've had a lot of time to think about this, Anne. Whatever you want to do, we'll follow your lead.

Anne had no words. She enveloped her old friends in a group hug, happier than she'd been in years to be held be by her friends again. Being apart from Sasha and Marcy in the last years of her life had been hard, and she'd been slowly counting down the days to when she'd see them again... and now that she was finally here, the feeling was indescribable.

The cosmic guardian smiled at the three girls one last time. It was glad that the day had finally come when it could retire... but it was even happier to see that it'd finally done something good with all of it's power, bringing these three girls back together, and knowing that they would use it's gifts not for conquest, but to be reunited with their loved ones.

"I chose well, Anne Boonchuy," it said. "Good luck... and thank you."

And with that, it disappeared, never to be seen again.

Anne stepped over to the table and picked up the music box. Until now, she had no idea how to operate it... but the cosmic guardian had left her with all of it's knowledge on how to wield the stones and the power contained within. This box could do so much more than open portals to other worlds or imbue them with cool anime superpowers. Indeed, it was terrifying to think of what the ancient newts or the Core might've used this for if they'd ever realized the stones full and unlimited potential.

But Anne only had one use for it... and she would see to it that it would serve no other purpose but hers. Anne closed her eyes, deftly manipulating the stones with but a thought so that they would only answer to her, and those she deemed worthy.

"I hope you're not planning on letting Polly use that thing, or this could fall apart in a hurry," Sasha warned.

"Even Polly's not that crazy," Anne assured her. "But don't worry; the stones and the music box are mine now. I control who can and can't use them, and I change that whenever I want."

"Good to know," said Sasha.

Anne wound up the box and opened it, conjuring a portal that would take them back to the cliff overlooking Newtopia, choosing the day after they'd left Amphibia 78 years ago. It would be as if they never left... but Anne would refrain from telling Sprig about her newfound power for the time being. She didn't want him to see her as anything more or less than his best friend, back to stay and ready for a new adventure, wherever that might take them.

Anne grabbed her old pink school bag, stuffing the music box inside and slinging it over her shoulder before joining hands with Sasha and Marcy.

"Let's go home," Anne beckoned.

Sasha and Marcy nodded in agreement, and together, they stepped through the void.


Author's Notes: I think I've exhausted all of the possible ways that Anne could be reunited with Sprig by now. But I don't think I'm done writing Amphibia fanfiction just yet. I did write a sequel to me alternate ending fic, "A Choice To Make", focusing on Anne and Sprig's journey to the new continent mentioned by Ivy in the finale, which I may upload either today or tomorrow. Most likely tomorrow, so keep an eye out.