Episode Twelve: TRUE COLORS
THIS EPISODE HAS SOME INTENSE FINAL SCENES. IT MIGHT BE SCARY FOR YOUNGER READERS.
Ash laid on the floor of a cold, dark cell, curled up in a ball. She was in a restless sleep, seeing, once again, a vision of the past.
Ash watched her past self walk out of her school. Her grandfather texted her and told her that he was parked outside. Ash followed her past self and got in the van with her. "I remember this," said Ash, "This was my last day before I came to Amphibia." She watched herself go through the motions of that day. "Doing her homework", watching Amphibia, and finally… getting transported- out of her dream?
"Wakey wakey," said a taunting voice Ash's eyes shot open and she saw King Andrias standing outside her cell. Across the way, she saw Grime in another cell. "I'm glad you're here," said Andrias, "Now we can discuss how this is gonna go. I know who you are, I know where you came from. I also know you've been lying about it all." "Can you really blame me?" asked Ash, "How would you feel if you knew that your only friends' world was just a show in your world?" "Oh I'd lie away," said Andrias, "But that's not my point. Since you've watched all of the 'episodes' you know how all of this will end… and I need you to tell me what will happen so I can ensure my victory." "I'd die first," said Ash, "Even though this all may be a show to the rest of my world, it's real to me!" "That's funny," said Andrias, "The dying part. Because I believe, at the end of this episode… someone is supposed to die." "Don't you touch her!" screamed Ash, punching the bars with her power powers, purple light erupting from the impact, "Don't you dare touch her!" Nothing happened when she used her powers. "You think I didn't infinity proof the cell?" asked Andrias, "And none of that will happen if you just cooperate." "You won't win," said Ash, "I'm not telling you anything. And I will make sure Marcy comes home with us." "Tell me," said Andrias, "After you go 'home' with them, how do you plan on explaining that you have no home. That you have no family. That you have nothing." "That's for me to figure out," said Ash. "Okay," said Andrias, "Nice talk, I'll make sure to make Marcy's death long and painful." Ash clenched her fists and cried. She felt something in her. She felt enraged. Ashla Moltono's eyes shot open, her eyes becoming bright orange. Her hair followed the color scheme and she charged at the bars, knocking them over. She found Grime, who was seemingly dying in his cell. "Why?" she asked him. "They told me they'd keep me alive," coughed Grime, "They lied…" Ash looked at him and placed a hand on his wound. It glowed orange and instantly healed. "If I let you out, can I trust you?" asked Ash. "You saved my life," said Grime, "I am in your debt." Ash nodded and tore the bars out of the wall and Grime stepped out. Ash then ran out of the dungeon and into the castle. Grime didn't hesitate to follow, even though he knew he probably shouldn't.
Marcy, Anne, Sasha, Hop Pop, Sprig, Polly, and Frobo all flew over the wall of Newtopia on Joe Sparrow. "We're coming for you Ash," said Marcy. Anne was decked out in the best gold armor- and by that I mean a single chestplate. On her back, she wore her signature backpack which held both the Infinity Box and the Calamity Box, along with the journal and diary that Ash kept on her. Because they were in the bag, they didn't notice that the final stone on the first box had turned orange. Sasha was wearing her regular, now repainted, armor. "I get you're upset," said Hop Pop to Marcy, "But are you sure that rushing into danger like this is wise, Marcy." "I actually agree with Hop Pop," said Polly. Marcy said nothing and landed Joe Sparrow. She pushed open the doors to the castle and stepped inside. She readied her crossbow arm and cautiously stepped through. "Marcy!" exclaimed Andrias, "It's so good to see you, did you bring the boxes? It's the key to you getting home!" "Where is she!?" questioned Marcy. "What are you talking about?" asked Andrias. "Where is she!?" Marcy screamed, shooting an arrow at Andrias' crown. "Oh, Moltono?" asked Andrias, "She's-" "Right here," said a voice from behind the group. "With reinforcements!" exclaimed another. "You're not reinforcements, you're a stowaway," said the first voice. Everyone turned to see Ash and Grime standing in the doorway. "Marcy, don't turn your back on him!" exclaimed Ash, who's hair had gone back to its new normal. Her left eye was yellow again, her pupils blue, and her right eye was orange. Marcy turned back around and faced Andrias. "So you were threatening Grime!" accused Marcy. "Actually," said Andrias, "I was offering to keep him alive." "But he broke our deal," said Grime, "Now let's kick some salamander tail!" "I wouldn't," said Andrias. General Yunnan then stood in front of Sasha and held her claws to her throat. "I'll do it!" she exclaimed, "Don't you come any closer!" "Yunnan?" asked Marcy, "What are you doing?" "Staying loyal to my king, which is something you are apparently not capable of," said Yunnan. "Anne!" stressed Sasha. Anne stared in horror. "Okay!" she exclaimed, grabbing the boxes out of her bag, "Take them! Just please! Let her go!" Yunnan kept her hold on Sasha, lowering her claws. Andrias' guards took the boxes and gave them to Andrias. Andrias put the Calamity Box on a pedestal and the castle started flying. The windows shattered and the castle went higher up. "Say," said Andrias, "Has it ever seemed like one of you humans knew a bit more about everything than she let on? Like that one… has lied to you about where she came from and what you all mean to her?" "What are you talking about?" questioned Sasha, still being restrained by Yunnan. "You better tell them Ash, or I will," said Andrias. Ash felt a tear fall from her eye. "Okay…" she sighed. "Ash?" questioned Marcy. "I've been lying okay!?" admitted Ash, "I lied about where I came from! I'm not from your world- I'm not even from California! In my world… this- this is-" "A TV show," interrupted Andrias, "And that's all you are to her." "Is- is this true?" asked Marcy. "Yes- I mean- no- I mean- I don't know!" Ash stuttered, "But- But how would you have reacted if you found out that you were from a TV show!? I was protecting you all- And what he said about you just being a show to me- he's lying! I care about you all!" Ash broke down crying. "I just didn't want you to hate me…" Anne knelt down beside her otherworldly friend. "Everyone makes mistakes," she said, turning her gaze to Andrias, "But you. You're evil! And I'm going to take you down!" Everyone prepared their weapons. Suddenly, a bunch of Frobots burst through the walls and surrounded them. Frobo then punched Andrias' leg. "One of my frobots?" gasped Andrias, "Must be defective." He then bent down and crushed him. Frobo's head rolled over to Polly. "FROBO!" she screamed, "You- you monster!" Polly rolled over to him, sliding Frobo's head to her family. "You're next," said Andrias, crushing Polly under his hand. He lifted it up and found that nothing was there. "Over here you big bozo!" The dust cleared to reveal Polly standing there unharmed. "Guess who just got her legs!" Andrias swatted at her, scaring the ever loving heck out of her. Polly then ran back to her family and hugged Frobo's head. "Stop this," demanded Andrias, "NOW." Yunnan handed Sasha to Andrias. "What are you going to do to her!?" stressed Anne. Andrias said nothing. "Answer me!" screamed Anne, "What are you going to do to my best friend!? Tell me! She means so much-" "That's the thing about friends, isn't it?" Andrias asked, "The more you love them, the more it hurts when they go. Allow me to demonstrate…" He then tossed Sasha out of the window. Everything went silent. The only thing Anne could hear was the ringing in her ears. Anne saw Ash run to the window and jump out after her friend, but she couldn't respond. Anne fell to her knees and cried. She then felt rage swell in her body. Her eyes turned bright blue. The blue stone on the Calamity Box started flickering, and the power of it flowed into Anne. "It can't be…" gasped Andrias, "She's still connected to the stone! But that's impossible!" Her hair turned bright blue, leaves and sticks appearing in it. "What's going on!?" questioned Hop Pop. "I don't know!" replied Grime, "Maybe it's a human thing?!" Anne's power glowed brighter. "This is not a human thing," stated Marcy. "Give her back…" demanded Anne, "Give. Her. BACK!"
Ash dove down farther and grabbed Sasha. "Hang on Sash!" she said, "I got you!" Ash then made a portal appear under them, and they were spit out back into the throne room. Sasha gasped as she saw Anne going full super say-anne. "Anne?" she gasped. Ash ran at Andrias, her powers exploding when she made impact with his face. Her and Anne proceeded to blast and beat the giant newt, not giving him a chance to fight back. "GIVE HER BACK!" screamed Anne, her power diminishing, "Give her… back…" Anne fell to the ground. "Anne!" exclaimed Sasha. "Sasha!" screamed Anne. Sasha knelt down beside her friend and hugged her. "Ash saved me!" said Sasha. "Ash?" asked Anne. Ash was still blasting Andrias with her powers, constantly attacking swiftly and persistently. "Why do you still fight for them?" asked Andrias, "You know they hate you!" "Though they may hate me," said Ash, "Though Marcy may hate me… I still love them… I still love her!" She then blasted him with everything she had. Marcy heard this and gasped.
"M-Marcy?" Ash stuttered. "How do you know my name?" Marcy asked, "How did you get here? Where are you from? What's your name?"
"Ashla Moltono."
"So where are you taking me?" asked Ash. "I'm taking you to… the aquarium!" replied Marcy.
"Hey, you did good tonight." "So did you," replied Marcy.
"I STILL LOVE HER!"
Marcy then ran at the pedestal that held the Calamity Box, grabbing the Infinity Box on the way. Marcy then knelt down and opened the box, making a portal appear. "Go!" exclaimed Sasha, "Me and Grime'll hold him off!" Ash nodded and grabbed Anne and the Plantars, taking the Infinity Box from Marcy. "The box!" screamed Andrias as he brushed Sasha and Grime away. "Marcy hurry!" stressed Ash. "I just need to-!" Marcy was cut off by a loud sound… and an orange sword being plunged through her back. "Now look what you've made me do…" sighed Andrias. "Ashla…" gasped Marcy, "I love you… more than anything…" "MARCY!" screamed Ash and Anne in unison. Marcy then fell to the ground, dropping the Calamity Box and sending Anne, Ash, and the Plantars away.
The group woke up in a strange place with loud noises. "Oh my Frog!" gasped Sprig. "What is this place?" asked Hop Pop. Anne and Ash both looked around. "Home."
The End of Part One
