Episode Two: The Music Competition
"So you came here through this 'Calamity Box'?" asked Ashla. "Yeah," said Marcy, "And I kinda got me, Sasha, and Anne stranded here on purpose…" "Por qué?" asked Ash. "My dad got a job offer out of state!" exclaimed Marcy, "Him and my mom were gonna tear us apart!" "But that doesn't seem like a reason to keep them away from their parents for who knows how long," said Ash, "They probably miss them so much, especially your parents. Judging by the way you said you left, they probably feel like absolute jerks right now. They lost their daughter and their sanity all in one day… most likely. They miss you, Mar Mar." "I know," said Marcy, "But they can get over it! They were gonna tear me away from the only friends I ever had!" "But think about Anne and Sasha's parents… your parents aren't the only ones you've hurt by doing this." "Yeah…" sighed Marcy. "Have you told Andrias about any of this?" asked Ash. "Not yet," said Marcy, "But he's always trying to get me to pour my heart out over Flipwart." "I wouldn't tell him," warned Ash, "I just get bad vibes off of him." "Why?" asked Marcy. "I don't know," lied Ash, "It's just… half the time, kings like him just always turn out evil." "I guess you're not wrong," said Marcy, "But he's given me no reason to not trust him." "True," said Ash, "But it's up to you." Marcy smiled and moved her Flipwart piece. "I win," said Marcy, "Again." "Lo juro-" groaned Ash, "You're way too good at this game." "I know," said Marcy, "One day, I'll be even better than King Andrias." "Master Marcy!" called Lady Olivia, "The king has summoned you! And bring Miss Moltono with you!" Marcy smiled and got up, running out the door. Ash groaned and followed. The pair bolted into the throne room, out of breath and sweating a bit. "I won!" bragged Marcy. "¡Nunca estuvimos compitiendo!" argued Ash. "That's what you think," said Marcy. "Entiendes española?" asked Ash. "Sí," replied Marcy. "Ahem," announced Andrias, "Thank you for rushing. Now, there is some news I have for you two." "What's up King Andrias?" asked Marcy. "There is the annual Newtopian music competition," said Andrias, "Normally, I enter myself, but I have too much to do this year. I was hoping that you two could enter this year for me." "I don't know," said Marcy. "Well I think it's a good opportunity for the two of us to have a little fun," said Ash, "And to get to know each other a little better by our musical tastes." "I guess we could," relented Marcy. "Splendid!" said Andrias, "Now, this is a multi stage musical challenge that starts with eight contestants. The six best contestants move on to the next round, then the next four, and then, finally, the last two. I wish you two the best of luck." "Thank you," said Ash, "I already have a few songs in mind." "Great," said Marcy, "Because I had nothing!"
Marcy and Ash walked into their room, ready to jot down ideas for songs they could sing in the competition. "You know," said Marcy, "Sasha, Anne, and I were in a band back home." "Really?" asked Ash. "Sasha and the Sharps," said Marcy. "Sounds like Sasha took most of the credit," said Ash. "Yeah," sighed Marcy, "She always had to be in control of everything." "Well not anymore!" said Ash, "This is the perfect chance for you to learn how to be in a band where you're listened to, and your opinions are acknowledged!" "Yay!" exclaimed Marcy. Ash smiled. "Okay," she said, "You play drums, right?" "Yep," replied Marcy. "Well I got guitar," said Ash, "So all you need to do is put in a beat that you get to choose." "Really?" asked Marcy, "But what song doesn't have a beat?" "The one I wrote last night," replied Ashla, "Now, we have a competition to win."
The lights shone all around the stage, newts all gathered around, gazing up at the stage. There had already been a few acts, leaving only two more for this round. "And now," said the host, "May I present… Marcy and Moltono!" Marcy and Ash walked out on the stage, smiling wide. Marcy pushed a cart with a drum set on it out with them. Ash grabbed her guitar, pausing for a moment. She put it on a stand and grabbed a banjo from offstage. She smiled, noticing a few newts coming up behind them with fiddles. "Here we go," said Ash.
The lights dimmed and the music started.
watch?v=OuMysCU98dQ
Originally by Celica Gray, not by Ashla Moltono actually
Ash: Now I find myself in the wild unknown, with the frogs and toads, and I'm far from home.
Marcy: But there's so much here to discover, one leap after another. Hop into the adventure, gotta ribbit, ribbit, jump on in it!
Marcy and Ash: Welcome to Amphibia! Life don't get much crazier, when you're a normal girl living in another world! What you gonna do? You gotta ribbit, ribbit, jump on in it! Welcome to Amphibia! Life don't get much crazier! So ribbit, ribbit live it, in Amphibia!
The crowd cheered. Despite the song not being too long, the judges gave it a perfect ten! The two then walked off the stage and watched the curtain close. Marcy and Ash ran to each other and hugged tight. "We did it!" exclaimed Marcy, "We're moving on!" "Yeah," said Ash, "I figured the people of Amphibia would like a song written about them. Also, I had no idea I could play the banjo." Marcy laughed and looked at some of the other contestants, who were walking up to them. "Oi!" said one of them, "You two think you can flatter the judges just by singing a fancy song about our world?" "I found nothing fancy about a banjo and a few fiddles," stated Marcy. "Relax Mar Mar," said Ash, "I deal with haters like this all the time. You guys are probably just jealous that you couldn't come up with your own song, huh?" The newts said nothing. "That's what I thought," said Ash, taking Marcy's hand and walking away.
"So what do you think we're gonna do for the next one?" asked Marcy. "No sé," said Ash, "What do you wanna do?" "Sasha never asked me that," said Marcy, "Uhm- Have you ever heard the song… what was it..? Lean on me?"
Ash started playing soft piano music, waiting for Marcy to start on the vocals.
Marcy: Some… times in our lives… we all have pain… we all have sorrow. But... if we are wise… we know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me… When you're not strong… And I'll be your friend… I'll help you carry on… For… it won't be long… till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on. Please… swallow your pride… if I have things you need to borrow… for no one can fill… those of your needs that you won't let show. You just call on me sister when you need a hand, we all need somebody to lean on. I just might have a problem that you'll understand, we all need somebody to lean on…
Ash and Marcy: Lean on me… when you're not strong… and I'll be your friend… I'll help you carry on… For… it won't be long… till I'm gonna need… somebody to lean on.
Ash smiled at Marcy, but that smile didn't last long. During the song… Ash had a flashback of an event that had happened at the exact same time… watch?v=xebPYQHaBag
"You okay?" asked Marcy, looking at her new friend. "Sí," replied Ash, "I'm fine. It's just…" "What is it?" asked Marcy, "You know you can tell me." "I just thought about something bad…" said Ash, "I've been thinking about it since our performance tonight." "Well," said Marcy, "Could you describe it?" "I saw your friends…" said Ash, "Sasha and Anne. They were fighting… with swords. The toad tower was collapsing… and- and- Sasha fell. Anne tried to catch her- but she slipped. A few frogs tried to help her… but Sasha knew it wouldn't work and let go." "Oh my frog," gasped Marcy, "But it was just a thought, right?" "I think it was a vision," said Ash, "I've been having a lot of them since I got here." "Is- is Sash okay?" asked Marcy. "A toad caught her," said Ash, "But- just seeing it- and not being able to help was just… it was sad. It made me cry!" Marcy then hugged her friend. "It'll be okay," she assured, "I promise, I'll get all four of us home." If only it were that simple, thought Ash, And if only Mar Mar knew what was gonna happen to her… "Let's just get some sleep," said Marcy, "We have a lot to do tomorrow before the next round." "Yeah," agreed Ash, "Yeah you're right."
"General Yunnan," said Andrias, "I want you to go investigate the events that occurred at Toad Tower tonight." "What about the humans?" asked Yunnan. "They'll be fine. I'll keep my eye on them. But there were rumors of two more humans at that tower. I want you to find them." Yunnan bowed and began to leave. "Oh," said Andrias, "One more thing. Put out a reward for whoever's responsible for these events. Nine thousand coppers." "Yes sire," said Yunnan.
"Wake up!" exclaimed Marcy. "Bah!" screamed Ash, "Nunca me acostumbraré a despertarme así." Or waking up in Newtopia! Ash added mentally. "Rise and shine!" laughed Marcy, "We have a full day of adventure ahead of us!" "Five more minutes," groaned Ash. "Come on," said Marcy, "We still have to choose a song for the contest tonight!" "Watermelon Sugar," muttered Ash. "That's just repeating lyrics over and over!" exclaimed Marcy, "We need something with pizzazz!" "Fine," groaned Ash, "What about-" Okay. She went missing in twenty nineteen, she thought, so I have to come up with good songs from that year. None from twenty twenty or twenty twenty-one! "Old Town Road?" asked Ash. "Definitely not," said Marcy, "It's just-" "Fair," said Ash, "What about High Hopes?" "Pass," said Marcy, "Panic! at the Disco isn't really my jam- except for The Greatest Show." "I'll come up with one," said Ash, "But for now… I think I have an idea for an adventure."
