Minute-girls

News that Wartwood, a town of peaceful peasant frogs, had rebelled against the authority of Toad Tower spread quickly throughout Frog Valley, fueling discussion and controversy. In Lily Paddington, Bog Bottom and Swamp Shiro, the other main towns of the Valley, the toad mayors at first believed they could ignore and scoff at the matter, expecting a quick intervention by Toad Tower that would put things back to normal. However, when they realized with the passage of time that no further attempts to suppress the revolt had been made, they tried to change tactics and said that Wartwood was in chaos, that the frogs living there were starving and fighting each other for what little food was left.

These stories found little credence, however. Rumors of a town that had dared to challenge the tyranny of the toads, and had repulsed their troops while going unpunished, circulated in various and sometimes contradictory forms, finding fertile ground wherever the frogs were tired of being exploited and abused by the toads. In Swamp Shiro, the toad mayor had been forced to accede to the rebels' demands and repeal some particularly hated taxes while in Bog Bottom, an attempt to disperse them had forced the mayor to run for his life, and a local axolotl had taken over the reins of the town. In their revolt, the rebels were aided by the terrible conditions in which soldiers from Toad Tower found themselves, which effectively prevented Grime or any of his subordinates from attempting any offensive action, forcing them to ignore, almost tolerate, the growing insurrection.

It was during these days that an old frog, wise but also brave and very spry, decided to return to her town and see her family again...

(…)

"So, James's healed already?"

"I guess that's one of the advantages of knowing a couple of wizards," Sasha replied, eyeing Ivy "Truth to be said, I was skeptical when Marcy told me at first, but after seeing the results…"

"I wonder why Maddie never told anyone else before. Do you know how many frogs could use a way to fast-heal in their everyday lives?"

"Hey, can you blame the poor kid? Before Marcy befriended her, everyone though she was a weird at best. You included!"

"I…learned from my mistakes, just like you did" Ivy retorted, looking away and pouting, "I even apologized to Maddie…"

Before Sasha could reply, however, someone opened the door of the teashop, and full voice announced: "I'm ba-aack~!"

"Grandma?"

"Grandma?" Sasha repeated, her eyes moving between Ivy and the latest arrival, an old frog with light green skin, wearing a pinkish dress and glasses. Is that… Felicia's mother?

"What's happening in there?" The shop-owner's voice foreshadowed her arrival, "Sasha, Ivy, I told you to- Mom?"

"Felicia, my little girl, how are you? It has been a while since we last saw each other, isn't it?"

"W-what are you doing here? You moved away a couple years ago!"

"Yeah, but I'm back in town now. Aren't you happy? Now you and my granddaughter can see me every day!"

Felicia grumbled, slightly embarrassed, and Sasha noticed it. "So, you're Felicia's mother and Ivy's grandmother?"

"Yes, name's Sylvia. What about you? Wow, I've never seen something like you before."

"She's Sasha, my new big, cool and awesome sister!" Ivy rushed as the human's side.

"Sister? Felicia, you adopted her? How could you not tell me before I got such a splendid granddaughter?

You called me splendid? Sasha thought, amazed by the old frog's acceptance of her.

"I see you've got some nice muscles, young lady." Sylvia spoke, coming closer to Sasha and looking at her from different angles. "You keep yourself trained?"

"Huh, yeah? Ivy and I practice under Felicia's guidance-"

"Guidance? My sweet child, you came clean with your daughters about your past? I never thought I'd see that day."

"Well, I wasn't planning it this soon." Felicia replied. "Turns out Sasha knows martial arts as well, and she caught me and asked me to teach her. Then-"

Ok, Sylvia. You just got my respect for making Felicia embarrassed, Sasha thought with a chuckle. For the blonde human, whose view of "adults are boring spoil-fun" had already been severely damaged during her time with Felicia, this was another eye-opening moment she would treasure for her life.

"You practice martial arts as well? Ivy, would you and your new sister like to show me?"

"Sure thing, grandma!"

"Now, wait a moment young lady-"

"Come on, Felì. It's been a long time since I saw you practice. By the way, Sasha and Ivy, do you know that at her first lesson she was so excited she ended up peeing?"

"Mom!" Felicia protested, her face turning orange due to the embarrassment, as Ivy and Sasha chuckled together.

"It's official, Ivy. Your grandma is the coolest frog I ever met."

(…)

"Hop Pop, we're going to the market!" Anne announced, walking past Amelia and James, both of them sitting on the couch and looking at the lesson on the boy's phone. "We're taking Bessie; don't worry, Marcy's driving."

"Ok kids. And remember-"

"Yes," Jacob anticipated what the old frog was going to say, "We'll ask for discounts, whenever we can." I don't understand why we have to. Sure we are a lot less wealthy since we no longer have Alfred's stash, but we're far from broke.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Sprig jerked from the door. "You're a celebrity now, Hop Pop. Remember last time, they were basically giving you things for free?"

"Sprig Plantar, I didn't act that way to support such thinking. We can't simply take advantage of everyone's generosity in an unscrupulous manner."

"Ehehehe!" Polly laughed, taking another sweets from the ones she was gifted "Schmucks!"

"We'll be back in an hour at most. Amelia, James, you sure don't want to come?"

"Absolutely, I don't feel like going outside today." The wannabe-samurai replied, "Besides, James is helping me refine my Japanese, and I'm doing well."

"I guess we have very different ideas of "going well" James chuckled, showing her latest results.

"Wha- how did I get a mere 17%?"

"So…" Marcy asked as Jacob, Anne, and Sprig climbed aboard Bessie, "Are we ready to?"

"Yup, Marbles. Hit the road!"

"You know what? I'm actually sad Hop Pop is not coming with us." Anne said as she leaned on Bessie's shell, enjoining the fresh air, "Every time we go into town with him, I feel like a rock star. Don't you think, Mar-Mar?"

"I'm actually happy people are finally accepting everyone of us," the driver girl replied, as she saluted some frogs on the road, the frogs replying in kind. "We had to work a lot, but in the end, everyone came to accept us. Just like in Vagabondia."

"You know what the only downside is? Ever since the Toads left, Hop Pop has become quite… gloomy, when he thinks back to it."

"Jacob, what do you mean?" Sprig asked, teasing the boy for answers. "Hop Pop is not gloomy."

"Usually, he isn't. Yet, yesterday night, while you were watching Love Choice, I had a small chat with him. He's worried about those toads returning."

"Classic HP," Anne mumbled. "If the Toads do decide to return, we'll kick them out again!"

"Yes! Spranne against the World!"

Marcy chuckled as Sprig and Anne did their comradery thing, and yet, there was a small hint of sadness in her eyes, unseen by everyone as Bessie kept moving onto the road and to Wartwood.

(…)

When the group arrived in town, they quickly realized something was wrong. The town-frogs were gathering as usual, but instead of having their usual expression of happy everyday work, everyone was showing worried, melancholic expressions, acting like they had lost their regular energy and motivation.

"What's happening here?" Anne asked, the first of them to speak. "Is the Weeping contest today?"

"Nah, that was the week before," Sprig jumped down, while Marcy and Anne took care of parking Bessie. "Hey, guys? What's happening in here? Why so serious? Guys, guys?"

"Sprig?" Sheriff Leatherleaf said, noticing him, "Sprig Plantar? Is everything ok, boy?"

"Sheriff, why is everyone so sad and weepy?" The frog boy started to ask, Jacob just behind him. "Did something bad happen?"

"No, at least not yet. Only…people are worried about what happened with the Toads."

"The Toads?" Jacob asked, dumbfounded. "Why? We kicked their butts out of the town!"

"Yeah, why is everyone that worried?" Anne said, arriving in that moment alongside Marcy, getting a sarcastic glaze from the sheriff in return.

"That was a small group of them," Leatherleaf continued, his tone turning sulking as well. "You kids may not realize this, but just because Toad Tower has not sent anyone else so far, doesn't mean that we're definitively free. When they were in charge of "protecting" the city, we could at least be safe that they would never try to attack us. Yet, now…"

Jacob's eyes widened as he realized the implications that Leatherleaf was showing at them. It was worse, as the town sheriff had not finished his explanation as well.

"Come on, dude!" Anne tried to reply, "Why shouldn't we be able to repel them, again and again? We did already, twice in a row!"

"Oh yeah? And tell me, young lady, how many of those fearless toads warriors did you face this time? Five? Ten? Twenty? The day they decide to return, thousands of toad soldiers will march to destroy Wartwood and make us pay for our disobedience with utmost brutality. A whole army with heavy armor and siege engines!"

Marcy gasped, as the words "siege engines" reached her ears. As founder, and so far only member of "Saint James Middle School Young Architects Fellowship" she had deep knowledge of historical constructions, up and including middle-age fantasy-like castles and fortifications… and the weapons used to attack them. Ballistae, catapults, battering rams, siege towers, weapons armed with incendiary projectiles to burn the enemy's wooden fortifications to the ground…

"B-but you were fine with everything so far!" Anne replied in shock, as fear started to creep into her as well. "Why did you get into this thinking all of a sudden?"

"This morning, a couple of travelers brought news from Toad Tower. From what they told us, looks like Captain Grime started to re-train his troops and get back into shape, with the obvious goal to quell the rebellion that has started to spread to other towns in the Valley as well. We don't know how much time he'll need, a month at least. However, once they return…"

It was then that the humans looked at each other, and came to a collective realization. Their actions, which until now they were simply considering as a pleasant memory of something good they had done, now was starting to taunt them as they realized the consequences for them.

Before Amphibia, "responsibility" was not a strong word among the humans: even the most accountable among them lived day by day, not thinking about their future or what every action could lead at. Most of the time (Jacob and Sasha in primis) they didn't even think to the immediate consequence for most of their actions, or too often left their guts to dictate their behavior. Still, they were teens, and thus, they never caused a mess too big to leave them in troubles they couldn't fix (some small cases of shoplifting to be ignored).

But now?

Could we have condemned the whole town out of our own recklessness? Anne thought in horror, looking around.

"Sheriff-"

"Don't feel guilty about your actions, lad." Leatherleaf replied, looking at Jacob with a paternal smile, "You and your friends did the right thing, when you decided to stand up to such bullies. You helped us find out our mayor was a corrupt idiot, and you also taught us again what our dignity and the pride of being Wartwoodians is. It's just that… what are we supposed to do now? If we can't trust the toads anymore, how can we expect to defend ourselves?"

"I guess that's a problem." Sprig nodded, "I mean, it's a shame we can't make our own defenses and a group to protect us."

Sprig's unchecked talking, unfiltered and unsupervised, had a chaotic potential as high as his habit to pull unchecked levers. As they heard his words, all the frogs in the square stopped whatever they were doing and looked at him, rushing and surrounding him, the humans and Leatherleaf.

"A defense group?"

"To protect all of Wartwood?"

"You're talking for real, kid?"

"That…that is actually not a bad idea."

"Huh, what's happening?" Anne looked at Jacob, the boy witnessing the events unfolding out of their control just all around them

"Anne, I have no idea."

"Maybe, not only against the toads!" Mrs. Croaker suggested, "Do you remember those nasty bugs that keep bothering us? The Toads were the one supposed to protect us against those, but they never cared in the first place!"

"Yes! People we can look toward, that we can trust with our own safety and protection."

"But…who can we trust for such a role? Who does everyone trust enough to accept as our protectors?"

It was then, that the eyes of everyone focused on the humans. Marcy, feeling the glazes of everyone on her, had knee-jerk blush reaction and tried to hide behind Anne

And then, everyone started shouting, at the same time:

"The Humans! The humans as our protectors!"

"Hey, guys! Calm down!"

"Put us down! Put us down!"

"OK being popular, but isn't this a little bit too much?"

"She's my best friend! Anne, I'm your best friend, can I tell everyone?"

"Create a militia?" Sasha asked with widened eyes, as Anne ended up narrating the events of before.

"Yup. Apparently, the whole town wants to entrust us with their defense, both against the Toads and other upcoming menaces."

"Is that a joke? Do they really think we'd accept?"

"Actually, Jacob was totally into it, and he brought Amelia and Marcy into it already?"

"What?"

"I'm here!" The Viking-fan human teen opened the basement's hatch, a large piece of paper and a couple of pencils in his hands. "Ready to plan the establishment of our militia."

"Militia?" Sasha asked with badly hidden sarcasm, "Jacob, are you seriously planning to create an army?"

"That would be good, but since we are just six, I guess we can be content with a defense group to protect Wartwood's citizens."

"Six? Jacob, I don't think-"

"It will be so amazing!" Amelia jumped in, mimicking a martial fight on the couch. "Like in 5th my favorite movie, Kay-Hiro the Defender, where the hero decides to train the peaceful villagers in order to resist to the attacks of the brutes and bandits and-"

"Amelia!" Sasha called her out, "This is not one of your anime! Do you realize that creating a militia is not a joke? And we would be the ones to make it? That means we would be the ones facing every danger!"

"You'll not be alone!" Sprig jumped in, a wooden stick in his hand, with Polly on his side, "We'll join you in protecting Wartwood and his citizens!"

"Huh?"

"And we can invite others as well!" His pollywog sister added, flexing her flippers like he was getting ready for battle, "We can start with Maddie and her sisters, plus Ivy and her mom, if she feels like it. Then-"

"Guys!" Sasha said once again, her exasperation reaching a critical level. "You're letting the enthusiasm go to your head! Look, I am on board with the idea that the people here would need protecting, especially if this can help us cement our newfound respect. Yet, the issue I'm pointing is, making a militia is not an easy issue. We don't even have an idea of what we could need!"

"Actually, Jacob and I already thought about that, Sash!" Marcy smiled, starting to write on one paper sheet Jacob brought. Anne glanced over, noticing how Marcy had divided the paper in two columns, titled "needs" and "solutions".

"First thing we need, to make a militia, is weapons we can use, but we already have someplace we can get them from."

"Pollianna's room!" Amelia smiled with a smug grin, "There're a lot of weapons we can gather from it."

"Indeed, I think we have more than enough. Marcy, let's pass to the next point of discussion: what is the next second important thing we'd need?"

"Someplace we can use as a barracks, James." The dark-haired girl replied, "We need a place large enough to host our quarters; an area where we can train and become more efficient with our weapons; a testing area for new-"

"Wait a minute, our quarters?" Anne asked in puzzlement, "Don't we already have a place to sleep and rest…here?"

"That's true! Marcy, why would we need quarters?"

"Because we do not know when new enemies are going to endanger Wartwood. And with the distance between the farm and the rest of the city? Even if we assume we could count on Bessie on a regular basis, we can't stay this far if there's a threat to the town. This is why we need a place to stay, in case of…dire situations."

"She's got a point."

"I suggest another thing we could need: uniforms."

"Uniforms?" Everyone repeated at the same time.

"Yep, uniforms," Jacob replied, looking at his friends. "Guys, I didn't want to point this out, but…how long have we wearing the same clothes we had since we arrived here? Sasha, Marcy, Anne, do you realize you've been wearing your school uniforms since a month, at least? And Anne, you're also walking barefoot on one foot?"

The girls looked at their clothes, and realized Jacob's words were true. Their school uniforms, after this much time, were considerably more dirty and stinky than they were on Earth, due to Amphibia's climate and nature, and their numerous adventures.

"And?"

"Anne, seriously? You've been walking barefoot among mud and dirt for months, with nothing but a worn-out sock for protection?"

"I have to agree with Jacob, this is not healthy Anne," James nodded. "I'm surprised you hadn't had a case of trench foot or similar."

"Trench foot?" Sasha and Sprig looked at him.

"I had a great-grandfather who…it's a long story." The British kid hurried to conclude, "Anyway, yes, I agree with Jacob on this point. It would be a good chance to work on a new look for everyone of us, a new, more Amphibian look."

"Hold up. Did you just say… a "new look"?"

"Huh, yeah? Is something wrong?"

"Anna-Banana, are you ok?"

"Boonchuy, what's happening?"

Anne moved back, a strange panic in her eyes. "Oh, no. No! Not again!"

"Anne, what's happening to you?" Sprig hurried to her side, everyone looking at her with a worried expression.

"You don't want to start wearing two shoes again?" Amelia looked at her, "I for one could never do any other way."

"I don't understand why you look so scared, Anna-Banana. We had a lot of fun trying new looks in the past."

"I-I am sorry Marbles, but…I didn't have fun like you two." The Thai-American girl admitted, letting some hidden confession escape from her lips, "To tell the truth, I still have some bad memories of the last times you and Sasha tried to convince me to adopt a new look…"

(…)

Anne could still remember the dreadful days and horrible hairstyles Marcy and Sasha pushed her into; on the last occasion, Mar-Mar ended up going so overboard that she made her bald.

"Ooooh!"

"Too short?"

(…)

Sasha chuckled, as she started to remember those days as well, "I guess we can't blame you. Anyway, now your hair is back and Mar-Mar is banned from touching a razor ever again due to her… accident."

"Oh, come on!" The aforementioned nerd protested "It wasn't that bad, right?"

"Dud," Sasha looked back at her, a stern expression on her face. "You're literally the one who ended up shaving her bald!"

"Ehehehehe!" Marcy started to laugh in her classic nervous laugh that she used every time she did (or remembered doing) something bad. "I guess I forgot because I didn't want to remember my horrible mistake in the core of my memories…I'm so sorry, Anne!" The girl then hugged Anne tightly, her mood making a 180° inversion and becoming sad and teary "I really didn't mean to!"

"Mar-Mar, it's ok," the victim in question replied. "Besides my hair grew back in a few days, even if for a week everyone at school looked at me...weirdly."

"Wait a minute!" Jacob rushed to grab his phone, scrolling through the photos before showing the image of an unidentified individual with short, curly hair. "You mean that…this one-"

"Yes, Jacob: that was me." Anne shrugged, while Polly, Sprig, James and Amelia struggled to see the image as well, "I guess I should have told you earlier, but…it was quite embarrassing, as you can imagine.

Embarrassing?, the boy though in consternation. He too, like Sasha and Marcy, was a student at Saint James Middle School, and he remembered that day. The cute short-haired girl walking in the school's hallway, all the guys in the school discussing who she was and what was the best way to ask her out, Marcy and Sasha repelling every boy who came too close with cold, murderous glares…

Does that mean the girl that managed to captivate the whole male student body for three days was…Anne?

"Huh, ok," the boy said, trying to get back to the topic in a vain attempt to not think about the new revelation. "Look, Anne, I can understand your reluctance to change your appearance, after all you had to endure. Yet, you cannot expect to stay in those same, identical clothes for five months or more. Plus, we could use something more apt to this place."

"But-but-"

"Come on, at least consider some options. And we promise no one will touch your hair, anymore! Right guys?"

Sasha nodded, and so did everyone else. For a moment, Anne felt comforted, reassured that her friends were going to help her.

"Then, returning to the topic of the militia," James said, looking back at the paper. "We need to find a place which we can use as headquarters, and we need some clothes and armor that we can use to protect ourselves. Anyone have an idea?"

"Huh, now that you make me think about it," Amelia raised her hand. "There may be someone we could ask for support. He is not someone I should call a friend, but maybe we can strike a deal if we're…convincing."

"Girlie, you're talking with a Middle School Queen Bee," Sasha grabbed her shoulder as she used to do with Anne. "Let me do the talking, and I'll have him wrapped around my fingers in no time!"

Anne and Amelia walked out, with James, Sprig and Polly coming right behind them. Jacob was going to follow them, before he felt two hands, belonging to two separate people, grabbing him by the back.

"Jacob, can you show us the photo of short hair Anne?" Marcy said, looking at him with puppy eyes, "Just once? Or even batter, can you make me a copy?"

"Make two!" Sasha smiled at her side.

(…)

"Well, if it isn't the humans. What brings you here? Do you want to mock me personally, after exposing and humiliating me?"

"Toadstool, just drop your tough façade." Sasha looked at him with a glaze filled with boredom and annoyance. "The reason why you and your acolyte are behind these bars is because you stole the money of the whole town, you kept increasing local taxes and rents to cover your embezzlement, and you left an open tab at several shops in town, including Felicia's teashop."

"I didn't leave an open tab. Those were free samples!"

"No, they weren't. I know because I work there!"

Behind the blonde girl, the various humans (and Leatherleaf) looked at the currently suspended mayor with different expressions. Among them, Jacob was the most amused, as the sentence "how the mighty has fallen" kept repeating in his mind.

"Toadstool, we didn't come to you because we are in the mood to hear your pleas," Anne said, "With the Toads chased away, Wartwood is now left without any protection. We were planning to make our own defense group to protect the city, but we need a place we can use as base and better uniforms or equipment more fit for combat. So Amelia suggested asking you."

"She did?" The toad laughed, "Do I look like an armorer or a builder to you, kid? What makes you think I can help you with that?"

"Because," Amelia replied, unfazed, "You were Wartwood's mayor for a long time before we arrived here. You know this town inside out, and therefore I guess you know which abandoned buildings are left, after many businesses collapsed or citizens left, and which one is the most apt to our necessities. Plus, since you were basically the town's boss and Toadie was your "assistant", you had chances for contacting many businesses outside of Wartwood. Who better could know where we can find the nearest and most trustworthy frog in the business of armors and clothes for adventurers?"

The focus moved back to Toadstool. Amelia's reasoning was not that dumb. In fact, it looked quite logical and sound.

"I see your point." Toadstool replied, acknowledging the way of thought, "So let me rephrase: why in frog's name would I help you?"

"Because," this was Marcy, "If you don't, your career and life in Wartwood, as well as your freedom, is over. The pass is now blocked, and since the Toads mistakenly believe we are "rebelling", Leatherleaf has no better option than to let you stay in his prison for now. However, this will not last forever: as soon as the snow melts, you will probably be sent to Newtopia, where you will be forced to face the accusations for the crimes you've committed. From what our local sheriff told us, they're not very lenient in such cases. And the Toads would have treated you even worse!"

"Indeed they would have," Leatherleaf replied coldly.

"And in exchange for my help, what can you give us back in return?"

"Quite simple? We can count that as a reduction of your sentence, and you can go back to being the mayor."

"What?" Toadstool asked in surprise. Even Toadie, who until then was silently counting the days on the wall nearby, broke the chalk in shock.

"We talked with Leatherleaf, and with some other people around. You would be back to the City hollow, but this time, you wouldn't have any more chances for stealing the people's money, or to act in defiance of the laws you're supposed to uphold. You would be forced to actually do you job as a mayor, and that means all the things you were supposed to do, but you never cared to bother until now. Above everything, if we find out you're starting to do shady things behind our back, and I mean anything against us or anyone else in Wartwood… we won't give you any more chance."

Toadstool pondered about it: he didn't like the idea of having to give up about his embezzling practices, considering that it was thanks to them that he was able to keep financing his campaigns and remain mayor until now. Above everything, the idea of being forced to do actual mayoring…

Still, he knew his people needed him and his leadership. Plus, it was better than the alternative.

"I'm in." He finally said. "I'll give you a place you can set up as your base for protecting the town, and I'll refer you to a contact of mine, who I think is the best frog for this job."

"And, for the clothes-"

"I'll pay for them." The now-reinstated mayor said with a nonplussed look, "You may not believe this, but I didn't get my money just from illegal activities. Anyway, how much can some new clothes and armor cost?"

Jacob and James exchanged a glance: clearly, Toadstool had never seen the shopping powers of human teenagers before.

(…)

The building Toadstool ended up directing the six humans (plus Sprig and Polly) was a run-down building, built from a large mushroom of turquoise color with four smaller mushrooms around that gave it the look of a small castle. It was abandoned, and yet, it looked sturdy, large and (hopefully) spacious inside, enough to contain everything the humans might have needed.

"So, this is the place?" Sprig asked, looking at the place, "The former snail farm?"

"Hop Pop told us this place had been abandoned since he was a tadpole," Polly noted. "From what he said, the last owner ended up going bankrupt one day after all the snails were eaten by herons."

"It's the biggest and most spacious abandoned place that had not been used for anything else yet," Anne started to explain, "it's located close to Wartwood and we're on the path that connects to the main road, so even if a toad army arrives we can move to help in short time. According to what Toadie told us, there's an internal well, and a large courtyard we can use both for training or to test some of Marcy's new inventions, as well as Jacob's gunpowder."

"Hop Pop was quite happy, and I'm too! Now I have a proper place to test and upgrade my powder. Soon, Amphibia will tremble to the roar of my guns!"

"Jacob, you're over-dramatic," James walked to his side, "Let's explore the inside and see if is better or worse than-"

"Guys!" A voice called them. Turning around, they were surprised to see Ivy, Maddie, Felicia and Sylvia on Liptea, arriving right at that moment.

"Ivy!" Sasha went to welcome her little adoptive frog sister, "Why are you here?"

"We heard about your militia project and that you were given this place," Felicia simply said, like it was obvious. "So we came to help."

"So, these are the other ones, honey?" Sylvia said, looking at the other humans in front of her, "Your friends?"

"Huh, Sash? Who is she?"

"Right, I guess I should present you to each other: guys, this is Sylvia. She's Felicia's mother and Ivy's grandmother. Sylvia, these are my friends Anne and Marcy, that one is Jacob, that is his cousin Amelia, and that one is James."

"Happy to meet you all."

"Greetings, Mrs. Sundew."

"So, you're Sasha's adoptive grandmother?"

"Jacob!" The blonde girl blushed in irritation, striving to keep her real emotions hidden.

"Indeed, I am!" The light green old frog replied with a smile, making Marcy and Anne smile with heartfelt expression (and making Sasha blush even harder). "And you're the creatures I heard about. I am quite surprised to see such amazing and curious beings like you can exist in a world different from ours."

"Wha- Ivy, you told her?" Sprig looked at his contemporary.

"Was that supposed to be a secret?" She replied with an estranged look, while Marcy moved to greet Maddie.

"Master, why did you bring your spell book and the ingredients to make more potions?"

"You and your friend plan to take over the defense of the whole city, don't you?" Maddie replied, unloading a spare cauldron she had managed to buy recently, "If you want to protect our people, you can count on me and on the magic I taught you. Plus, let's say that those movies of yours inspired me to try this "combat mage" thing…"

Marcy nervously smirked, thinking back at all those anime and magic-themed movies she shared with her master. Originally, she only wanted to show her that magic was something everyone was excited about in her world, to boost her self-confidence, but after the first two movies…

"We still need to see the interior and decide how to organize it, master. Would you like to come with me and check which better suits your needs?"

"It would be my pleasure," Maddie smiled in pride.

"There you are!" Another voice called from behind, and the group looked as Hop Pop arrived in that moment, all tired and sweating like he had run without stopping

"Hop Pop?"

"Are you ok?"

"What's wrong HP?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" The old frog repeated in a rhetorical way, "I just found out that you are planning to make up a whole militia for Wartwood behind my back, without telling me anything!"

"Actually, it was the other frogs that asked us-"

"Hoppy?"

Hearing that voice saying that nickname in that tone, Hop Pop stopped, just a moment before he could start giving the kids the scolding that he planned on his way there. The old frog turned around and saw a female frog around his age among them, looking at him with a happy expression.

The frog he never stopped loving, even after she left Wartwood.

"S-Sylvia?" Hop Pop said, his mouth agape, his skin sweating and turning red tomato. Everyone, noticing this, started to pay attention at them.

"Hoppy?" Sasha, Anne and Jacob asked at the same time

"Come here, you sweet potato." She hugged him, "You have no idea how long I missed you!"

"M-me too Sylvia, but- I thought you had moved away!"

"I thought that too." Felicia grumbled undertone, looking away."

"I decided to return after hearing some rumors about a brave old frog who used a secret inheritance to pay off the whole debt of the market, that he took six unknown creatures his grandson found in the woods under his care, and whose action helped Wartwood shake off the chains of toad oppression."

Hop Pop blush even harder, as she heard all those nice words Sylvia was saying about him. "You-you know?"

"Of course I know, Hoppy. Did you forget? I'm always informed on what happens, always. And I always knew you had a big heart under this."

"Huh, Anne?" Jacob leaned to her friend's side, "What's happening?"

"If I have to guess, I'd say Sylvia is teasing him?"

"I didn't do anything that worthy," Hop Pop took a step back in embarrassment, "The kids were angry about the recent rent raise, so…"

"Hopediah Plantar, don't you dare underscore what you have done." Sylvia looked at him with prideful expression, grabbing him by his hands, "You may have done it just because you were trying to protect your children, but that does not change the fact that what you did was a wonderful thing. I cannot even try to imagine how many lives your generosity might have saved that day. And this is why I think you should let these kids keep their work going."

"B-but…"

"I know that you're worried about them, hoppy." Felicia continued, giving Hop Pop no opening to express his fears and worries, "And I understand why you're acting like this. Yet, let them continue, please. From what I heard, they proved so many times they were reliable, and we have no reason to doubt them. Plus, even if they do make mistakes, we can step up then, but not before. Please, Hoppy, do it for me."

She looked at Hop Pop's eyes, and the pale green frog said something in his ear, words that could be heard only by him.

"I was there on that day too. I know why you are so scared of leaving them in danger. Do you think I have forgotten about Sally? Believe me, if it was Felicia and not her who disappeared on that day…I can't even imagine how would I feel by now."

Hop Pop looked at his long-lost love, her words falling right into him and bringing an unfamiliar warmth to his heart. Now, he remembered why he had fallen in love with her in the first place.

"Fine, I guess." Hop Pop shrugged, "I don't trust that something will not go wrong, but… I'll do it, if you ask me."

Sylvia smiled, before turning to the others, "Felicia, can you take care of them while we're gone?"

"Gone? Mom, what are you-"

"Hoppy had just invited me for a snail ride. I wish to see how much Wartwood has changed while I was away, and I want to see Bessie again. Can you take care of the children while I'm away?"

"Of course I can!" Felicia replied, unamused by the fact her mom was treating her like she was still Ivy's age.

"Then I suppose I can place my trust in you. Come on, Hoppy."

"S-sure Sylvia…"

As Hop Pop and Sylvia walked away, the focus of everyone turned to the question that everyone thought, but no one even dared to ask.

"Ivy, is that an impression of mine, or is there something between your grandma and Hop Pop?"

"I feel weirded out just by thinking about it."

"What?"

"I didn't think such a thing was possible."

"Wow, it's just like the plot of that old drama Hop Pop and I liked discussing a couple of days earlier," James smirked, remembering his drama lessons with the old frog. "The only difference is they do not have their grandchildren in love as well."

No one noticed, but as James said those words, Sprig and Ivy took a step further from each other, trying not to look at each other.

"Careful with those, Marcy," Maddie admonished her friend and student, "Those are Napshrooms; if you let them fall on the ground, they release a smell that makes you sleep."

"So, they're like sleeping grenades?"

"Huh, I guess so? Anyway, they are a very important ingredients for some potions I would like to teach you in future. Some of them-"

The room they were in, one they managed to get to implant their potion-making laboratory and to stock them if they ever need to use it, shook all of a sudden, Marcy falling on her back but managing to avoid the sleepy mushrooms dropped on the ground, while Maddie rushed to protect the most sensitive items.

"…your friend has been quite loudly. Couldn't he get a place further?"

"He already located his workshop in the furthest tower from us." Marcy fatigued to get back on her feet, still feeling the ache of the fall, "I guess his latest attempt to make a more stable gunpowder didn't succeed."

"Just like the one earlier, and the one before. Seriously, I am surprised that the boy is still unscathed after being blown up so many times."

"I….guess so? I mean, nothing had happened to him already…"

"That reminds me, we should make a new batch of fast-healing potion. The one we have so far is good to heal small scratches and wounds, but I think we are going to make a breakthrough if we change some ingredients. Considering how bad James was with his broken arm, I'd say…"

However, Maddie stopped as she realized Marcy was no longer paying attention to her. Rather, the dark-haired girl was holding her head down, with her face in her hands.

"Marcy?"

The girl turned around, and Maddie realized her eyes were leaking with tears. Her apprentice, the one creature she could consider her first friend, the one who helped her solve the issues with her family, was actually crying.

"Marcy? What happened?"

"Master… no, Maddie..." the girl said, her voice filled with sadness, "It's...kinda my fault that James got hurt..."

Maddie approached her student, her friend. Her own expression showing bewilderment. Since when had Marcy, the most enthusiast and positive person she ever met, having such thoughts?

"Marcy, you need not blame yourself for not being there..."

"Maddie..." Marcy's sighs were now growing even more gloomy and miserable, "that's not what I meant. I...had an inkling that the Box would send us to another world..."

Silence. Marcy looked down, waiting for Maddie's response, for her to yell at her, to disown her as her student, or for some other scenario her mind had forced her to face earlier. Maddie, for her own part, looked at the human with widened eyes, as her mind went back to the strange box that they showed her and the others on that evening. She could still remember the strange feeling she had as she held that in her hands, as she realized the magic powering it could be nothing like she knew…

Marcy told her there wasn't real magic in the world where she and the others come from, so how could she know about it?

"Huh, can you…explain?"

In response, Marcy's hands moved back to her phone, her fingers checking through her photos, until she reached the archive. She had hidden those in here, to avoid anyone else seeing them.

Maddie's eyes widened even more as she looked at the image on the girl's phone: most of the text was too little to be read, and yet, she could clearly recognize the image of the Box on the side.

"I found this on the day of Anne's birthday," Marcy sighed. "It was just an old, weird book of urban legends, things that no one would even take seriously. I didn't take it seriously too at first; I simply thought it was cool, and I wanted to give it a backstory to use for one of my roleplaying games and such. But th-then, my parents told me that, that…"

Maddie was now even more alarmed; since she had met her, Marcy had never talked often about her family. Even when she slipped up, she always immediately changed the focus, almost as she didn't like to talk about them.

"Were they bad parents?"

"N-no! I wasn't mistreated, but they had their own lives, and as did I. They liked to listen about my grades or my achievements, but their jobs took so much of their time they barely had any left for me. We didn't talk much, and I didn't need to because I had my friends for that."

"And then? What happened?"

"They...they told me we were moving. My dad got a new job in another state, so we would be leaving everything behind, including…Anne and Sasha…I tried talking to my dad about it, but he wouldn't budge! So, I ran away and I ended up in front of a nearby shop…and it was there that I found it."

"The Box?"

"Yes. I didn't know it would work, but I was so desperate to keep us together that I hatched a plan, right then and there. I called Sasha and showed it to her, and I convinced her that it would be quite a nice gift for Anne's birthday. I knew she would pressure Anne into getting it, and then we went to the park, and we met Jacob and Amelia, and…and…"

Marcy looked down, new tears made of shame and sorrow dripping from her eyes.

"I just wanted a place where we would never have to grow apart, where the three of us could be friends forever together! I never wanted to involve any of the others in all of this! But it's because of me that we ended up being in a place this scary!"

"Scary?"

"From the very moment we ended up in this world, we risked being killed by those giant mantes; and-and barely a day after Hop Pop accepted us under his roof, we were almost devoured by a water snake; then, by a sticky leg; then, by giant carnivorous tomatoes; then-"

Marcy broke down. "I didn't, I…I…I never wanted to put any of them into danger! But…I did. I kidnapped them. I kidnapped all of them! Because I couldn't accept losing Anne and Sasha, so much so that I'd rather rip them from their families..."

She looked down, the weight of her guilt feeling heavy on her chest. "This…this isn't how I wanted things to go! I wanted us to be in a world of adventure, and have only happy times! B-but now…if they ever find out?"

Marcy fell to her knees, her body no longer able to cope with all the pent-up emotions the girl was experiencing at once. It was lucky that Marcy was covering both eyes with her hands; if she hadn't, Maddie would have noticed by now that a strange, green light was glowing into them.

"It wasn't your fault."

Marcy stopped, feeling Maddie hugging her from behind. Was this how Anne felt with Sprig, or Sasha with Ivy? Was this how it felt…to have someone consider a brother or a sister?

"That feeling of being left alone again…I too experienced that feeling, once. All the other kids thought I was weird and frightening , and even the adults were too scared to approach me. I didn't know if it was because of my passion for magic, or because people were taken aback by my appearance but…it still hurt to see everyone around me treating me like a freak." Maddie smiles. "Yet...that all changed recently..."

Marcy's natural curiosity emerged once again. "Wh-what was the reason?"

"You." The frog replied, "The day you and I met...you weren't afraid of me, and you actually wanted to learn magic from me and to be my friend. Every day you went to study with me, I started to realize that I was actually looking forward to seeing you next time. The book you shared with me, ended up becoming something that helped me restore the bond I had with my sisters. And the recipes and assistance you provided us...Dad was overjoyed after the first day you started working with us. Many of the good things in my life right now...are because of you."

Marcy got up back on her feet, the green glow in her eyes no longer visible.

"What you did to your friends…it wasn't right, I understand that." Maddie continued, her voice now filled with determination, "Yet, it doesn't make you a bad person. You were scared, because you didn't want to lose your friends. Sure, how you handled it was a total disaster…but you're not defined by the mistakes you make. It's what you learn from them, and how you plan to make up for them!"

"You-you think I can seriously fix this?"

"You're the smartest person I've ever met, Marcy. You managed to memorize years' worth of spells in less than a month, you taught my father so many detailed recipes, which you knew by heart, and you also built all those contraptions at the Plantars' farm. Someone like you should be able to surmount any obstacle that comes your way if you think about it rationally and don't let yourself fall into panic."

"You-you really think that?" Marcy questioned, as new tears of joy started to leak out of her eyes.

"Sure. In fact, you showed something we can maybe use to help us figure out how to get you back home."

"I...I did?", Marcy asked questioningly.

"Yeah, that book! There may be information in there about how to get the box working again!"

"Huh, I hadn't thought about that, actually." The human girl replied, shyly. "In retrospect, I was too interested in the fact it could 'supposedly' send people into other worlds to pay attention to the other details. I did take a couple of photos, but…"

"Yeah, maybe we shouldn't hold our breath on what you have. Yet, it's still a trail to follow; and with your friends…"

Marcy retreated again, and Maddie realized the biggest issue, the one who had probably caused her disciple countless nightmares so far. How would Sasha, Anne, and the others react if they found out Marcy was the one behind their presence here?

"You don't have to worry about me, Marcy." Maddie hurried to say, "I'll keep your secret, at least for now."

"Thanks, Mas-Maddie! I mean, it's quite comforting to have someone who at least knows about this. If I ever told Sash, Anne, or the others… they would hate me."

"Marcy!" Maddie grabbed her, looking at the human sternly in the eyes. "It's not an easy situation, I get it. You don't want to keep deceiving them, but you can't bear to tell them, out of fear of what their reaction will be. Yet, you have to tell them eventually…if someone else were to find out, and reveal it before you are ready…I think they would be hurt more rather than if you came clean about it on your own."

Marcy stopped, a dark hand gripping her heart. Telling the truth was not a good idea...for now. But she would need to do it, sooner or later.

"Marcy, remember this: secrets like this always end up backstabbing you at your worst moment. You may try to keep them hidden as long as you can, but no matter what you do, they always end up being revealed and hurting the people around you. I know this by direct experience!"

"So, what can I do? I can't tell them! I don't want to lose them…"

"Yeah, but maybe we can try to work out something so they can understand. Perhaps after we find a way to help you back home, or figure out how the box works? I can't imagine they'll be happy about it, but I doubt your friendship will be beyond repair..."

"T-that is not such a bad idea…"

"Plus, there is something else you have to consider, Marbles. A true friendwill always be there for you, no matter what. Sure, they may not approve of your choices...they may sometimes be disappointed or even ashamed of the ones you make, and maybe even not like you after they find out you did something bad…but regardless, they'll always be there for the moment when you need them the most. And as long as you can explain the reason why you acted the way you did, and prove you really want to make amends...they will never turn their back on you."

Marcy sighed, as she enveloped Maddie in another hug. Sure, she still had to face the same problem as before, but now she had someone who could help her hold such a weight. Someone who trusted her, and that she could trust in return.

"Besides, you have more urgent things to worry about now. Have you already decided on your uniform, Marbles?"

"Uniform?"

(…)

The frog Toadstool talked to them about was called Ezra Cutensew. Her shop, like many others, was set on a wagon that she kept moving between Wartwood and other towns. The reason for that was simple: in the farmer-dominated Valley, requests for new clothes and garments were rare, as people tended to keep the very minimum of clothes for their everyday lives and the (few) social events.

Even less for the clothes and armors Ezra dealt with, aimed for adventurers and people who were used to spending days and weeks among mud and nature.

"Boys, are you ready?" Amelia asked from outside, "There are four ladies here, all waiting for you to get a move!"

"We're done, we're done!" Her cousin replied from inside "Give us a minute!"

"Ah, so many memories of the past. Do you remember when you were the ones coming to my shop almost every month for a new adventurer's dress, Felicia?"

"I had to get replacements, Ezra," The former adventurer replied. "Plus, I never tried to take advantage of you; I always strived to pay what I owed to you."

"Yeah, yeah, Perks of being an adventurer, I can say. When you decided to retire and open your teashop I was devastated, you know.?"

"I had…better things to focus on." She glanced over at her daughter, who alongside Sprig, Polly and Maddie, was glancing over the other adventurer's dresses on display.

"Wow, I never knew such dresses existed before."

"Look, Maddie, that looks perfect for a wizard like you. Additional space to hide spell bags and ingredients, reinforced goggles to cover your eyes, hidden dagger to either gather ingredients and fight-"

"Are you interested?" Ezra was quick to notice their interest, "I can make you a good price, for old time's sake and the friendship I had with…your mother."

"For last time, Ezra, I was not your friend! You remember the numerous times you almost left me to die because of all those particulars you forgot to mention?"

"Oh, come on! I never planned to send you into a pit full of Hybeena…"

"I'm talking about the Black Weasel! And the Green Peacock! And-"

"Ta-dah!" Jacob announced, as he and James walked out of the shop. The British boy was now wearing a black and red dress that made him look like a rogue, boots on his feet, a cowl on his shoulders and a hood covering his hair. He had a knife strapped to one of his boots, an utility belt on his basin and several other items, including a place for the sextant Loggle made for him.

However, Jacob was the most eye-catching. The former Saint James rebel was now donning heavy armor, complete with boots, large armored shoulder pads, a cowl covering his back and reinforcements everywhere, giving him the look of a real Viking warrior. Of course, if a Viking warrior would have been wearing blue armor.

"Jacob, seriously? Blue?"

"What's wrong with the color of my armor, Sash?" The boy pouted, "It's a good color, and it's sturdy!"

"Do you realize it makes you look like Darth Vader?"

"For your information, putting aside the unnecessary needs of building Death Stars, I've always been an Empire man!"

"Traitor of the Rebel Alliance!" Marcy mock-accused him, as she led Sasha and Amelia inside to get their own clothes, leaving the two boys to face Anne and the others.

"Ezra, can you tell me why you have such armor in your shop?"

"Huh, it's due to some ingredients used in its making, that make the armor sturdier and more resistant but also less heavy, Felicia. I did try to sell it before, but apparently every toad I met before found it to be ridiculous!"

"I don't think so; in fact, I love it!" Jacob said, showing off some fight moves with his hammer. "Now I'm like a ravager barbarian!"

"Really? I'd say you look more like a paladin, or a blackguard!"

"James, you're not in position to comment. You do realize you're again wearing a red coat?"

"I'm not afraid of showing off the colours of the Empire, just like you!"

"Anne, are you ok?"

"Yes, I…suppose so Sprig. I mean, Marcy and Sasha promised to make me go last, but…I'm still feeling unsafe about getting a new look."

"Don't worry, we are here to help you. Plus, I wonder what kind of clothes Sasha, Amelia and Marcy will…"

"Boonchuy, it's amazing!" Sasha's voice called from inside. As the blonde girl came out, Anne noticed her friend was now wearing a reddish armor, covering her chest, sides, and shoulders. She wore a short red cape, and she had a red heron-themed tiara that helped her keeping her hair on check. "Look at how cool is this!"

"Wow, Sash!" Anne ogled all over her friend's new armor, "You're like… an Amazon warrior queen or something!"

"Sash!" Ivy jumped at her with a prideful look "You're marvelous! I always thought you were cool, but now you're even cooler!"

"If you think I'm cool, wait until you see how Marbles."

It was then that the dark-haired girl made her reappearance. Gone were the tattered school uniform, now she was wearing a ranger uniform with a greenish metallically armor protecting her chest, gray winter snow boots wrapped with studded straps, fingerless gloves on her hands and a blue hooded cape with a white-furred collar held together by a pink small shell. AS soon as she saw it, Anne recognized what kind of dress it was.

"Mar-Mar! You-is this a ranger outfit?"

"Indeed!" Ezra intervened, "I had to redo some uniform for some members of the Night Guard, on mission here on behalf of Newtopia a long time ago, and I still had this. From the very moment she saw this, your friend instantly wanted it."

"I know, it's incredible, right? It's nuts! Can you believe it was also outfitted already? Check this out: this is real!"

It was then that Anne noticed that Marcy was now wearing a hand-mounted crossbow, fitted on her right forearm, already loaded and with the dart now dangerously pointed at her.

"Yeah, very real. Point it somewhere else!"

"Ezra, since when you deal in used weapons as well?" Felicia asked in interrogative tone.

"I don't…usually. I had still left, and the kid seemed to like it, so…why ruin her fun?"

"I can cross-class now! I'm a ranger, and a mage! This is so epic!"

"For once I agree with you!" Amelia walked out too from the shop. The girl was now wearing proper samurai attire, black with purple trim and details (even the boots!), which fit quite nicely with Yamato, her new sword, and the cone-hat she always wore over her head. But apparently she too, like Marcy, took the chance for a small "plus ultra" on her outfit.

"Amelia? What's that thing?"

"You noticed it, Felicia, You like it?"

"But what is it?"

"It's a Blue Oni mask! With this I can really be…a Master of War!"

"Amelia, you're not a Master of War, no matter what you think that means. And second, where did you find that? I doubt Ezra had it with her too!"

"I didn't, she brought it herself."

"You what?"

"I had Loggle make it for me!" She confessed, "I wanted a cool mask to wear to appear scarier to my enemies, and so…"

She chuckled, while Jacob grumbled, trying to imagine how she managed to pay for it.

"Then, there is only one of us who still needs her makeover," Sasha concluded, as the eyes of everyone focused on Anne.

"Huh, I am still not sure about it," she said, walking backward, "I mean, what if I take more time to think about it and-"

"Come on, Boonchuy!" Sasha, Amelia and Marcy grabbed her and walked her into the shop, "Don't tell me you're ok with walking barefooted!"

"We have a surprise for you!"

"A-a surprise? What do you…?"

Surprisingly, the "surprise" the other girls were talking about turned out to be much nicer than Anne feared. It was a golden armor, with Amphibian symbols over it, which Ezra modified under their indications to give it a more "Thai" look. And since she had two boots now, she could now feel the pleasure of having both feet covered once again.

"So, what do you think of this, Boonchuy?" Sasha looked at her friend, currently busy looking at her boots, " I think it fits you quite nicely!"

"You're a paladin now, Anne!" Marcy chirped on her side, "Rather, you're a Palad-Anne!"

"That was a terrible pun, Mar-Mar! Yet, I have to admit it, this is not too bad…"

"Pfff, please! Don't be a killjoy, Boonchuy: that doesn't fit you!"

"Alright, alright! Ok, I like it a lot!" She gave up to her friends' teasing. "Wow, it does feel nice to be able to walk in two shoes once again. And it kind off remind me of home…"

Nobody saw it, but for a split second, a sad expression emerged on her face, before she managed to reject it and will herself back to happiness.

"Come on, girls!" She went to hug both of her best friends, while Jacob, James and Amelia looked at each other's new outfits, "We now have awesome cool fantasy clothes, and we're going to find our way home!"

"Yeah!"

"Huzzah!"

"Banzai!"

"Hey, Sprig!" James looked back at him, "What do you think of Anne's new clothes? They're better, right?"

"Well, you actually look silly, Anne. I mean, you were ugly already, but now you're an ugly hero in armour so…"

Sprig did not notice the vein on Anne's face as he kept on talking with raw, unfiltered, brutal honesty until she smiled.

"Ok, that's it! I'm going to eat you now!"

"You need to catch me first!"

"Come here, you pink talking snack!

"Help! An armoured monster wants to eat me…!" Sprig jumped away in laugh, as Anne run behind him and everyone else laughed as well.

Thus the day ended in happiness for the humans, as well for their frog friends. It ended worse for Toadstool, who had just got used to being the mayor once again, only to find herself saddled with the bill for the armours and various items the humans had purchased.

Sadly, it would not be the last time someone underestimated the shopping powers of human teens, as a giant salamander king would find out in future at his own expenses…

P.S.: Who has seen Owl House's Season 3 finale? What impression you had of it?

P.P.S: My fic reached 3000 hits! You're awesome, people!