The Power of the Weak

Amelia Matthews was always a girl who preferred action to words. Whether it was contending for the last chip with her cousin, or facing an opponent, Amelia never backed down. Even when all the odds were against her, she never refused confrontation.

Unfortunately for her, such proud and combative conduct was not counterbalanced by experience, especially in comparison with a certain cheerleading captain Sasha Waybright, who, unlike the girl with the wooden katana, had learned real martial arts.

Just as day has its dawn, so too does every great warrior have a moment that sets them in the direction of their future.

For Amelia, it all began the moment she was guilty of a violent, horrible betrayal...

(…)

"I still can't believe that you could have betrayed me like this!" Jacob said angrily, looking at his cousin by blood, but his sister by adoption.

"Jacob, I assure you, I can explain!"

"No! There is no need to explain this horrible betrayal of yours! I cannot believe that my own flesh and blood could commit such treachery! You have dishonored me! Take her away! I never want to see her again!"

"Guys!" Anne tapped her foot on the ground in annoyance, appreciating for a moment that her new armor came with a new pair of shoes, "That's the third time I've told you this week, you're too dramatic for your own good. I can make some new pudding tonight."

"But that was the last portion! My portion!" Retorted the boy with an injured air, "I saved it last night for today. And she stole it from me!"

"I thought you didn't finish it! And I need energy for my daily workout, too."

"What training?" Sasha, who up to that point was punching the punching bag, "The one where you move randomly, thinking you're a martial arts master?"

"Hey! I've grown a lot since we got here!"

"Oh yeah? Then why until now, when Boonchuy and I invite you to train with us, you always refuse?"

"Waybright, I have already told you: I will accept your challenge when I am sure I can beat you!"

"In that case it will never happen! You talk so much about honor and glory, but in fact you are just a parody of a samurai!"

"What?!"

The two girls began to glare at each other, prompting Anne and Jacob, as well as Ivy and Sprig, to stand between them in an attempt to act as peacemakers, and also to prevent the two girls from words fight to something more physical.

"Sash, calm down!"

"It's not worth it!"

"Girls, need I remind you that this all started because of my pudding?"

"Jacob, this is not the time!"

"For you, it's never the time when I'm the one paying the price!"

"Oh, you listen to me-"

"Enough!" Amelia suddenly blurted out, exasperated that she had been reprimanded again. Sasha had never felt excessive sympathy for her, even before Amphibia, but for some time now she had...changed. More intolerant, more unable to keep quiet, more aggressive... What had happened to her?

Why did she always have to ruin what made her happy?

"Listen to me, Sasha. If you are bothered by my presence, you may as well say so now. I'm going for a walk!"

"Wait, Amelia!" Sprig grabbed her by the leg, trying to stop her, "You can't leave! You promised Polly and Maddie's little sisters to oversee their training later, remember?"

"Sasha can take care of it for me!" The brown-haired girl replied, in an angry, venomous tone. "Since I'm just a parody, she can replace me without any problems!"

"What?" Said the blonde girl in an irritated tone, "But I can't! I have to-"

Too late, as Sasha came to understand, when Amelia, having shrugged Sprig off, disappeared into the vegetation.

"Well done, Sash." Anne said, covering her forehead with one hand, "I understand that Amelia can be irritating at times, but...don't you think you've gone too far?"

"I'm tired of dealing with a person who thinks she's a real samurai but can't even comprehend half of the concepts she claims to represent. Seriously, I wonder how I can still listen to her."

"Story of my life," Jacob nodded laconically.

"Regardless, you will now have to deal with Polly and Amelia's other students. Do you think you can handle it?"

"What do you want it to be, taking care of four hyperactive tadpoles? May I remind you that I am now the adopted sister of the local expert in ambushes, surprise attacks and other sudden assaults?"

As used to be the case in Amphibia, this time a person underestimated the situation in front of them and the fatigue they would face. And like every time, by the end of the day they would learn, despite themselves, the irony and sardonic mockery in their own words…

"Stupid Sasha and her attitude!" Amelia grumbled, walking among trees and wild nature, not actually going anywhere but just trying to vent her anger. "Just because she practiced martial arts and I didn't, she expects to keep using that arrogant attitude? And Anne? She never says anything against her! Does that girl have no backbone? What's the point of studying Muay Thai if all she ever does is submit to Sasha like a pet?"

She kicked around, sending some small pebbles away, the sword Yamato resting on her side. For a moment, she considered unsheathing it and hitting some of the nearby trees, to vent out more of the anger still inside her. In the end, she decided not to: Yamato was her sword, after all, and it would have been a waste to use it to hit some trees like it was a crude woodcutter ax.

Amelia was so focused on her thinking, that she almost didn't notice that she was now in the middle of the road, and that a small snail-drawn carriage was going right into her.

"What-" the human girl had barely any time to react, seeing the carriage almost on her "Hey!"

The carriage's driver, a tall, slender figure with a cowl covering her face, tried to rein the snail when she heard Amelia's voice. Unfortunately, she was too close to the human, and at the speed the snail was going, there wasn't enough time for a safe stop.

As the human jumped back, the carriage suddenly turned to the left, the turn too narrow making it fall on its side, the snail breaking out of her reins while the driver fell on the ground.

"Oh frog!" Amelia jerked in horror, seeing the disaster unfold in front of her eyes, "Don't fear, I'll help you!"

She ran to the carriage's driver, noticing a short dried-up tail emerging from her back. Amelia realized that she wasn't a frog, nor a toad. Rather, she was an axolotl.

"Are you ok, miss?"

"I…I don't think I have any broken bones, yet." The axolotl replied, getting herself back on her feet. "What about my carriage? And my items?"

"Huh…" Amelia looked around, noticing several opened crates on the ground and their content scattered around, irremediably ruined. "I hope it wasn't anything important."

"Please, young one…can you tell me what happened?"

Amelia was going to ask for clarification, before the axolotl removed her cowl, and the human noticed her blank, damaged eyes, realizing she was blind.

"The goods scattered all over the ground."

"What? Oh no, that's no good!" The old axolotls replied, her voice showing distress. "What am I going to do now?"

"Miss, please-"

Something changed as Amelia's hand grabbed the axolotl, as she immediately stopped worrying, and instead, she turned around to face her. Even with those lifeless eyes of her, Amelia felt like she could stare straight through her.

"You…you do not feel like a frog," The axolotl said in puzzlement. "And your voice, it doesn't sound like you're a toad? Who are you, young one? Are you a newt, or an axolotl like myself?"

"Actually, I'm neither." Amelia admitted, her mind having already forgotten the reason why she was wandering among the woods now. "I am a being called…human. You see, some friends of mine and I ended up here in Wartwood, some time ago, and we have been staying there. I'm Amelia, by the way."

Amelia didn't notice it, but when she said her name, the axolotls grinned, before resuming her previous grimace.

"Amelia, huh? I can't even imagine what you look like, and yet…you look like a formal proper girl by your actions alone. Name's Aspine."

Wow, I'm getting more respect from this old axolotl who I ended up making her carriage swerve off-road with than I ever received from Sasha or my cousin.

"What's wrong, young one? Your silence tells me you have something you need to express."

"Huh? Oh no actually, sorry. It's just that I'm still getting used to seeing that you're…"

"What? Tall? Rugged? Handsome?"

"Blind."

"Oh, right." She chuckled, her voice turning sarcastic. "You know, I always forget that one."

"I'm just surprised: I've never seen anyone blind driving a vehicle before." Mrs. Croaker doesn't count, she still has one good eye.

"Oh, I'm used to it by now, more by necessity than virtue. Pumpkin here may not look like it, but she's quite a dutiful snail since the very first day we ever met. Plus, I usually listen to the sounds around me to direct her; I guess the reason why I didn't notice you earlier was because you were too silent for me to hear you."

Wasn't I making enough noise? Amelia wondered with a smile slowly turning smug and full of confidence, Did I successfully manage to walk nearby someone undetected? Did I succeed in my life goal to move like a ninja?

"I'm…I'm sorry for everything that happened," The human girl spoke, trying to hide her enthusiasm. "I don't have money with me right now, but if there is something I can do to help you in return-"

"Actually, I accept."

"What."

"I accept your offer for help. You see, many of my goods have been ruined, from what you told me, but you can help me gather some. I know you're not forced to help me, but if you do, I'll give you a reward for your helpfulness."

Oh I'm getting a reward, she says? Amelia's eyes shined. I doubt she will ask me to do something too dangerous or difficult. I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

"Very well, then I promise to help you regain your lost goods." Amelia mocked a reverence. "Which one is the first?"

"These ones. These are dried petals of the Flowers of the Ever-Sugar Nectar. They're mostly used to prepare high-quality tea, but they're very difficult to gather during most of the year."

"Why? Do such flowers bloom just once a year?"

"No, they're always in full bloom. The problem lies with the humming-wasps who like to feed on them."

Humming-wasps? Why do I feel like I'm not safe, all of a sudden?

(…)

"So, what do you think of the whole situation, Mar-Mar? Is Wartwood safe enough in your opinion?"

"To tell you the truth, Jacob…I'd say the whole town is hopelessly defenseless." The dark-haired girl replied with a sight, looking at the map of Wartwood and its surrounding areas. "Should the toads return, we would have basically a front too wide to cover it all, and limitless ways our numerically-superior enemy could use to encircle us. Plus, the current dispersion of many houses and farms expose them to the risk of runaway bugs coming out of the wilderness."

"I see. What's worse, we can't afford to scatter around. Together we may be able to defeat those large bugs, but…I'm still not feeling safe about having no one to cover my back."

"I can relate. I can't even dare to face the idea of fighting alone, without Anna-Banana or Sashy helping me."

"Well, you surely are still tripping a lot, aren't you?"

"Don't remind me! It's like a curse or something!"

I bet she would trip even somewhere where it's logically impossible, like underwater or in space. "Maybe we could use some time we currently have to develop something good to help us? I actually have an idea-"

"Please, tell me you're not suggesting about making cannons already. You still haven't stabilized the gunpowder preparation yet."

"Actually, it's just an idea to help you trip less and look cooler at the same time."

"What is it? If you're suggesting an anti-gravity belt, I doubt even if I could-"

"Better!" Jacob smirked, showing the girl some sketches he had crudely drawn a couple of days earlier. Marcy looked all over them, and quickly realized it was the idea for…a grappling gun to slide down…

The dark-haired human smile grew, her brain starting to think on the research and development of such an item. Quickly, a plan started to form in her mind.

"Let's do this!"

(…)

"So, let me get this straight: I just need to go in there, grab as many flowers as I can and return here? All that while avoiding the humming-wasps that try to sting me?"

"Indeed. They look cute and innocuous, but they are very fast and can get pretty vicious if you disturb them while they're feeding."

Amelia looked forward to the dark-green bushes and the flowers blowing all over them, where thousands, maybe millions of hummingbird-like wasps were busy fighting each other for the right to eat. She knew little about hummingbirds, but not enough to be useful for her right now.

"I'll be so fast they won't even realize I was there in the first place!"

The girl rushed forward, as the old axolotl stood in her place, listening to the sound around her, as the human went onward at full speed…and retreated just as fast a few seconds later.

"Ahhh!" Amelia cried, as hundreds of humming-waps attacked her like Marine fighter planes against a giant Japanese battleship, "They sting! They sting!"

"Of course they do," the blind amphibian replied with a sarcastic, almost chuckling voice. "This is why everyone waits for a day when the humming-wasps are hibernating to gather as many of the few remaining petals."

"And when's the next good day for that?"

"Three months from now."

"Ugh!" Amelia groaned, her skin itching from all the stings she received.

"I understand you; after all, this is something only the best and most skilled could do. It's not something everyone can do."

"W-what are you saying?" The human replied, still striving to avoid the humming-wasps flying around her, now feeling irked in her pride too by that comment.

"Well at least you're realistic in admitting you cannot do this. I mean, sure, doing it is not easy, but after all almost everyone-"

"Just stay here, old lady!" Amelia replied in anger, as she realized the axolotl was assuming she was less skilled than she was. "My first attempt didn't go well, but I will redo it! Right here, right now! Banzai!"

Once again, Amelia leaped into assault, this time holding Yamato with both hands. The humming-wasps buzzed once more and renewed their assault against the human invader, but this time, the girl was a bit more prepared, and the fight slightly went a bit more in her favor. As the wasps attacked, she slashed forward, using Yamato to fend through the swarm of humming-wasps to create openings for her to push forward.

She savvied up, Aspine thought as she silently listened to the new battle, and yet, she still pushed on, too many emotions in the fight to notice what's happening around her. She focuses too much on the wasps she can see, and by the time she repels one, ten have already stung her from the side or the back because she was too focused on the offense to notice.

A laugh rose to her lips, as her own analysis brought her back to happier times, before she went blind, when she was training under Leif with Pietari and Unna. She still remembered the heavy reprimand words the former gardener gave her on the first days of her training.

"You're too brash! You were barely looking to your sides; if Pietari and Unna weren't covering for you-"

"You're supposed to be the incarnation of Respect, not of Recklessness."

"Patience is one of the most precious virtues. Rushing will do you no good at all!"

"You missed your lesson, again…"

Was history repeating itself? That was the question she asked herself as she heard the sound of shuffling footsteps and realized Amelia was back.

Better, but still not enough.

"I-I didn't manage to get the flowers yet."

"But this time, you managed to get close enough to see them. I'm jealous of you, young one, to be able to gaze upon such wonderful creations of Nature."

"Well, I sure don't feel great," The girl replied back, feeling her arms and face stings even more than before. "At least, if I could avoid those wasps to sting me-"

Before Amelia could continue, however, Aspine realized it was the time to give her apprentice a chance for some visual lessons. Her tail moved back to a pocket on her pack, and got out a small instrument, similar to a rattle. An instrument that she knew the humming-wasps hated its sound.

Amelia had barely any time to react before the axolotl played the rattle, and she could sense some of the nearing wasps, hearing the sound, dashed at them. Amelia moved aside, preparing to use Yamato to fight them, but in less time than her eyes needed to blink, the axolotl had grabbed a branch from the ground and used it to defend both of them, countering the wasps attacks almost as she instinctively knew where they were going to attack and when.

"W-what was that?" The human asked, once the wasps retreated and returned to their nesting flowers.

"When you fight with your mind, rather than with your emotions, you can defend yourself much easier, controlling the battle rather than simply letting yourself be absorbed by it. This is something I learned based on my own experiences, a long time ago."

"But you…you didn't have any eyes, and yet, you were fighting like you had super-sense or something! I can't- I can't believe it!"

"That is why you fail." The axolotl released a genuine smile, "When one sense is gone, the others are heightened. I don't need to see the wasps to know where they are. Now, would you like to try it yourself?"

(…)

"Ok guys," James said, looking at the various Amphibians in front of him. Everyone wanted to help with Wartwood's defenses, directly or with their own work. "I think we have sorted this out. First, Mrs. Croaker, you're in charge of our intelligence. The moment you learn something is threatening Wartwood, we need you to inform us."

"Huh, James, are you sure this is a good idea?" Sprig asked with worry, "I mean, nothing against you Mrs. Croaker but…how good are you at knowing what happens in Wartwood and around it?"

"Believe me, lad, you'd be surprised." The old frog replied, sharing a complicit nod with James, who knew about her former spy past.

"Passing over, Loggle!" The boy looked at the local wood-maker, once his bro's boss. "You don't look like a warrior."

"I'm willing to do it if that means no more suffering under the Toads! Plus, you may not believe it but I could surprise you in a couple of months. I just need to start my training."

Ok, I don't want to disrespect your wish to help, but surely aren't you exaggerating? The boy looked at him with a dubious glaze, I mean, I doubt you can become a buff mass of muscles due to some magic genetic of yours. "Anyway, there is something I'd like to ask you. If we need some wooden items to better protect Wartwood, can we ask you?"

"Huh? Sure, my shop is always ready for everything you would need! It's just that…only because I'm part of Wartwood's defense militia it does not mean I can afford to work for free. And I can't give discounts, as well."

"That's not an issue. After all, Toadstool's the one that's paying, right?"

A short collective laugh spread among those present as they heard James' words and realized it was the truth.

"Ok, let's keep going forward. Sprig, Ivy, you're the scouts!"

"Wo-ho! Amazing! Wait, what do you mean with "scouts?"

"It means you two are supposed to explore areas, find the enemies and come back to report!" Mrs. Croaker simply said. "That means when you find the enemy you're supposed to return to us, not to attack on your own!"

"Aww…"

"Ivy, while I appreciate your skills, I doubt your mother would be enthusiastic about you being put right on the front lines. Besides, exploration is NOT the only thing you guys will be in charge of."

"Oh, yeah? And what else will we have to focus on?"

"Ambushes…"

(…)

"I'm quite impressed by your determination, young one. You did manage to gather enough petals to replenish my stocks."

"Y-yeah. It just cost me…a trillion wasp stings or more." The human girl replied, almost unbelieving she had survived that face-off. It was only at the fourth attempt that she managed to get one of those petals and carry it back to safety, and only by her eleventh she brought back enough petals for the axolotl to stop her.

Yet, she wasn't angry, nor sad, because in exchange for that terrific experience, she had learned a new skill that Amelia had to admit, it looked extremely cool, like the skill of a veteran samurai.

"Just to ask… that skill you taught me…"

"Taught you?" The blind axolotl replied with a laugh, "No, no, no, no, young one. What you learned before is barely the surface of the skill. You saw me dodge a couple of wasps, but back in my days…I could do much more."

Much more? Amelia gasped, who the frog was this lady? Another ex-spy like Mrs. Croaker?

"So, what's the next item you have to replenish?"

"The next good I'd like for you to help me collect is a special mushroom known as the Rubyshroom. It's not that rare, but it's difficult to gather since…"

"Let me guess: every day but one of the year, some nasty creatures feed on it?"

"No, actually, this mushroom has a technique of its own to protect itself. Oh, can you smell this? There must be one close by."

Amelia looked forward, and saw it. It was a mushroom of ruby red color, bigger than any other mushrooms she had seen so far, apparently laying defenseless in the middle of a clearing. She immediately jumped to grab it, thinking it would be the fastest gig ever…only to realize in shock the mushroom had, somehow, disappeared.

"What?"

"I did tell you this mushroom was difficult to gather, didn't I?" The axolotl replied, "The Rubyshroom is very sensible, and can detect when a living creature approaches it, and can deep-hide in the ground to avoid getting hurt. And once it hides, it's very difficult for it to uncloak itself."

"Y-you mean I made a big mistake?" Amelia looked at the ground where the mushroom (supposedly) was hiding "It will be days before it comes out again?"

"Possible, but that's not certain. Like I said, it's the movement that scares it; thus, absence of movement could speed up its return."

"Sounds like you have a plan to get it."

"There is a strategy we could use. Right now, you're exactly in the spot where the mushroom was. If you can stand still without moving, the mushroom will be tricked into believing all danger has now passed, and will reappear. Then, we can take it."

"So…I have to stay still and silent for I do not know how much time, waiting for the mushroom to reappear so I can grab it in one swift go?"

"Indeed, that's right."

Ok that seriously sounds like some old training I saw in a martial art movie. Yet, it didn't sound that boring there…

The would-be samurai looked at the spot where the mushroom was supposed to reappear, her body stiffening as she tried to stop every movement, and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Frog, how long will I actually have to wait?

(…)

"Ok, girlies!" Sasha announced, looking at the four pollywogs in front of her. "Are you ready for today's training?"

"Hey, where's our master?" One of Maddie's triplet sisters, the one in gray color, spoke.

"Yeah! Why are you here, and Amelia is not in charge today? Has something happened?"

"Huh, well, let's see…"

"Sasha?" Polly looked at her with an inquisitive look.

"Amelia went into the forest in order to undergo a special martial art training that she will then teach to you as well!" Jacob rushed to the blonde girl's side. "Don't worry, she is fine."

At least, I hope so…

"A special training?" All the pollywogs said simultaneously, their eyes gleaming in excitation.

"Huh, yeah!" Sasha decided to play along with Jacob's cover, "Once she will return, she will teach it to you so you can become even better fighters than you are. However, since she couldn't supervise your training, she asked me to oversee you…until she returns."

This lie will give me some time to think of an exit option, I hope.

"Ok, but…who are we going to fight?" Polly asked, "Amelia told us we were ready to face her in direct duel and-"

"We'll take her place" Sasha replied, "volunteering" Jacob as well as herself.

"What?"

"Oh, come on Jacob. It's just until Amelia returns. Plus, they're supposed to be trained by them: how dangerous do you think they're ever going to be?"

"You heard them: charge!" Polly chanted, as the Flour triplets rushed behind her.

Sasha put herself into a fighting position, waiting for the tadpoles to rush on her, for her chance to counterattack. The numbers were against her, but she wasn't worried.

Until Polly jumped toward her. The human girl extended her arm to grab her, and stop her attack back on its roots, but Polly, with an unexpected move, moved aside before grabbing Sasha's arm, using it as a launch pad to project herself on her face and hit Sasha with a hit from her tail.

Around them, the Flour triples were acting just as good, with Rosemary, Ginger and Lavender cooperating with each other to take Jacob down. While one of them acted as distraction, forcing the human to focus on her, the other two moved aside and hit the boy in his hip and his back, the added force just enough to make him lose his equilibrium and fall on the ground.

"Jacob! What are you doing? Get back on your feet and-"

Sasha realized too late that the boy was now neutralized, and thus, the four pollywogs were now focusing exclusively on her, jumping around her with unexpected agility, avoiding her attempted hits while making her feel more tired and unfocused as the fight went on.

The final knockdown happened when Polly, with Rosemary's help, jumped right onto Sasha's chest, pushing her back a few centimeters and making her trip on Ginger and Lavender (who had previously placed themselves behind the human's knees), thus making Sasha fall right on Jacob's back.

"Ow! You're a heavy girl!"

"In other circumstances, I'd punch you for saying something like this." The girl replied, unable to get up, "Anyway, if someone asks, when we return to Earth…they were fifty, and they were rattlesnakes."

"Noted."

"Gosh, what a disappointment, guys!" Polly jumped back on their field of view, "You lasted barely more than a few minutes!"

"Yeah, you're nothing like Amelia-san."

"Amelia-san?" Jacob asked, looking at Rosemary with a confused look, "Why? How do you usually train with my cousin?"

"She taught us how to fight together against bigger foes."

"And she helped us face our flaws and how to resolve them!"

"And she convinced Polly to join us!"

"And when she trains with us, we have so much fun!"

Jacob and Sasha listened with astonished looks as the triplets went on describing the "amazing" training sessions they had since Amelia started to take care of them. Sure, the whole thing started as a practical joke, and to give Amelia something to do to keep her away from the farm…but why did it now sound like she actually did a good job?

Could it be that I was wrong about my cousin the whole time? Jacob asked in his mind, was she more competent that I gave her credit for?

"Hey, guys?" Anne's voice interrupted the session "Did you- whoa, what happened in here?"

"We were, huh, taking over Amelia's training for them, Boonchuy."

""Ok, Sash. Something tells me it didn't go as you planned at all…"

(…)

For countless minutes Amelia stood in that spot, her eyes unblinking, her muscles sore due to the long inactivity, not even reacting when smaller bugs landed on her, focused on the spot where the red mushroom had to reappear.

Luckily for her, in the end her effort paid off, as she heard something grumble under her, and slowly, the mysterious evasive mushroom re-emerged from the ground, almost "peeking" like to make sure no one was around anymore. It couldn't see, and this is why he didn't react to Amelia towering over it, her eyes shot with blood, as she kept on motionlessly waiting for the mushroom to emerge and then…

With a quick snap, her hands moved to the mushroom, grabbing it before it could hide underground again and ripping it.

"D-done!" The girl said, her throat sore and her lips dry due to the long wait.

"You surely showed patience worthy of a herder, young one." The blind axolotl said while resting on a fallen tree trunk, snapping some kind of dried bug she kept as a snack. "Many people can't do it on their first attempt, and they end up moving too soon, or growing impatient so when the mushroom show itself again, they end up missing it."

"I knew this could have happened," Amelia retorted, a part of her wanting to get angry at the old axolotl for forcing her to being subjected to such a torture. "This is why I strive to do it right the first time! This is the only reason I did not move, until that froggish mushroom decided to show itself! Because I wouldn't have accepted to redo it all over again!"

Frog, I wish that the reward she spoke about will be really worth it…

"Anyway, thank you for your help. Now, I just need one more thing…"

"Please tell me at least this is something harmless and easy to gather."

"Yes, it is." The axolotl said, unable to see the smile of happiness flourishing on the human girl's eyes. "The next and last item I need your help with is Amphibian blue moss. It can be found easily in every cave and cavern of the continent, and it's not something that local species fiercely compete for. In fact, no animals ever eat it, due to its smell."

"Then, what's the issue?"

"The issue is that, apart from its color, it's not very different from any other kind of moss. And of course…" she moved her hand in front of her lifeless eyes, to underscore her lack of sight.

"I can help with that!" Amelia triumphantly said, "Just tell me where the nearest cave is!"

"Oh, there is one right to your left." The old axolotl pointed to a thick layer on rock, in which opened a large tunnel. It was one of the many natural caverns scattered all through Amphibia (like the one where she and the other spent their first traumatic days after meeting in the park). sometimes used by large bugs or other animals as refuges.

"I guess we must be careful. How can we-"

"No large predator has inhabited this cave for many days already." Aspine replied with a smirk, "I feel no smell."

"Oh, I guess that's good? Do you need help?"

"Actually, I would appreciate it. These places have rough terrain and with no ability to see where I am walking, I could risk tripping and hurting myself."

Amelia smiled, grabbing the blind axolotl and helping her hold on her back. She was heavy, and yet, she didn't weigh that much. In fact, the wannabe samurai was quite surprised how easily she was managing her.

"Alright!" The human girl smiled, looking at the axolotl on her back "Hold tight!"

As the improbable duo walked into the cave, Aspine kept thinking about everything she had sensed, ever since she met the one who was supposed to be her replacement. Her skills were raw, but she had the good attitude to learn and become better; she accepted to help a stranger, out of duty, or maybe out of the supposed "reward" she promised her, but she didn't balk out, no matter how bothersome or difficult the task ended up revealing itself to be.

She could bend, like the grass, and adapt herself to any new situation; yet, her resolve was strong and unbreakable, like an iron sword of Newtopia, or made by one of the best toad blacksmiths. She was familiar with conflict, and yet, she knew how to face it.

Thus, there was only one test left to check what kind of personality the newest incarnation of Respect did have. The most important passage.

And this cave would be the place for it.

"You ok, back there?"

"Yes, young one. Keep moving, we have to reach a place where no sunlight ever goes."

Amelia nodded, moving deeper and deeper into the cave, leaving behind the entrance and the first floors, going deeper and deeper until they reached a large natural chamber, badly illuminated by the usual phosphorescent mushrooms, the smell of stale water and lichen mingling together.

"This is the place." The axolotl said, giving a sign to the girl for letting her down "I can smell the moss in here. Do you see it, young one?"

"Not yet, let me look."

Amelia rushed around, checking the cave's walls looking for the aforementioned blue moss, her eyes moving quickly to inspect the cave.

"There!" The human girl said, noticing the moss on a corner. "I found it!"

"Good thing, young one. You found it quite easily, after all."

"Hey, I think it's because this must be the easiest of the task you gave me to do," The girl wearing the cone hat smiled, using Yamato to scratch as much moss as she could and place it in a small bag, "At least this time, I didn't had to face some enemy guarding the moss or stopping me from returning outside."

"Actually, this may not be true."

Amelia stopped, turning around to ask the axolotl the meaning of her words, before she realized she was no longer looking grouchy and weak as before. Rather, now the axolotl looked much more energetic and vigorous than before, and she stood between her and the path outside, a wooden cane in her hands, looking like she was ready to fight some enemy.

The enemy, judging by her position and the direction she was pointed at, being Amelia herself.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, young one, but if you want to return to your friends…"

She pushed back the hood covering her face, fully showing the human her eyes with pupils filled with cataracts. A nasty scar ran on her left cheek, a silent proof or a battle, or an incident, happened a long time ago.

"…you will have to get past me."

Amelia shuddered, her mind wondering what was happening? Has she been tricked? Was the old axolotl lady, who until a while ago looked so cool and enigmatic, actually a bad person? Was she planning to kidnap her? Did she plan to use her as ingredients for one of her own goods? Or worse?

Maybe, she could intimidate her into backing down?

"You're blind." Amelia replied, trying to look as brave as she could "I won't fight you. It wouldn't be fair!"

In response, the axolotl's arm swung aside, her cane hitting one of the bioluminescent mushrooms. The mushroom's light flickered, before shutting down entirely, every other light mushroom doing the same. In less than a minute, all the light in the cave disappeared, leaving the place in complete obscurity.

"Now the fight is even." Amelia heard the axolotl say in the darkness, "Neither of us can see."

(…)

"Jacob, can I talk with you for a couple of minutes?"

"What do you need James?"

"Just some "guy talk". Girlies, can I take him for a while? Mar-Mar? Anne?"

"Huh, sure?"

"All yours James!" Marcy said, her eyes focused on her journal where she was busy drawing sketches and projects for machines and equipment to protect Wartwood and help the others.

James smiled back, grabbing Jacob by one of his arms and walking outside, passing in front of an eyes-opened sleeping Hop-Pop, until they were both out of ear range of everyone else.

"James, what's happening?"

"It's about your cousin!" The British boy replied back, his voice betraying nervousness. "I can't find her anywhere else. She's been away for long, so I'm starting to get worried."

"That is the reason why you wanted to talk to me?" Jacob asked, almost offended by the topic. "When you said you wanted to have a "Guy talk" with me, I thought you meant something different!"

"Aren't you worried? I mean…"

"Amelia is a grown-up person, she can take care of herself. Frankly, she would be more offended if she thinks we repute her in need of our help. Plus, Sasha did make her angry. Giving time to cool off is the best strategy."

"Jacob, tell me one thing: why do you hate your cousin that much?"

"Wha- I don't hate her!"

"Oh yes, you do!" James said, looking at Jacob like he was a younger misbehaving little brother. "Seriously, Jacob, sibling rivalry I could understand, but what's between you and Amelia is much worse! You're basically neglecting her!"

"I'm not neglecting her!"

"When is her next birthday?"

Jacob stopped cold on his track, as he realized he couldn't reply. "T-that doesn't prove anything!"

"Did you know Amelia was seriously self-teaching herself Japanese? For two years? Apparently, she did it all with the help of an app from her phone, but she was quite good the first time I heard her speak."

"The first time?"

"Do you remember when you got drenched by that giant flower and the girls ended up going yandere on you? Remember that she was with me when we went looking for the ingredients for the clean-up spell? She spoke to me in Japanese, and I replied in kind. I even assisted her in learning, if you try to remember."

"Oh, that."

"She also told me that something happened in the past between you two. Sometime after she started living with you and your parents, after she started going into Japanese stuff. I asked her if you did laugh at her, and she told me you didn't, but-"

Jacob suddenly hit the ground with his hammer, strong enough to leave some cracks, and look back at James with hurt eyes. "What happened is no issue of yours. Please, I don't want to talk about it now."

"Jacob, I can understand that it is a difficult issue to face. Yet, if you keep on ignoring it…"

"I said I don't want to talk about it now!"

James stopped, realizing it would be useless to further press on the question now. Jacob was now withdrawing in on itself, acting like every word he heard had hit a sore point on his mind. James wanted to help him, almost push him to face the issue once and for all, and yet, he couldn't.

If he forced him or Amelia to face whatever issue they had with each other before they were ready to face it themselves, it would do them no good. For their connection to heal, they both needed to want it to heal.

"Fine." James said, turning around, "I guess…I'm sorry for bothering you."

"James, you know nothing of what happened among us. If you did, you wouldn't treat me this way. I'm not the jerk here!"

James nodded, walking back inside, and leaving Jacob alone. The boy grumbled, walking up to a dry wood abandoned, and violently hit it with his hammer.

"I'm not a jerk!"

The wood broke, pieces falling to the ground. A strange wind gushed around.

"…or am I?"

(…)

Amelia backed up warily, trying to orient herself in the unlit cave. Hearing a brush to her left side, she immediately went for attack, only to hit another rock. She then heard a hiss behind her, and moved to strike again, but once more, she only hit harmless stones.

"It seems that I have the advantage here."

"You don't scare me, old axolotl!" Amelia replied, struggling, "I faced many enemies before, I can defeat you too!"

Yet, so far facts disproved the human's claims, as her attacks only made her feel more tired and pained every time she hit rocks. The axolotl had not attacked her yet, but judging by her voice and from where she could hear it, she was much more used to moving in the darkness-filled cave than she actually claimed before.

"Not if you cannot see me. You only see what is right in front of you. You focus so much on your eyesight, but you neglect your other senses. If you really want to leave this cave, you must go beyond what you see."

Amelia stopped moving, as she heard the impromptu lecture. Why did it sound more like a sentence from one of her professors when she did homework wrong?

"You cannot trust your eyes."

Something slimy and fast, most probably the axolotl's tail, hit Amelia on her right.

"You cannot trust your ears."

Again the tail struck her, hitting the human on her left flank.

"I could be anywhere."

It was then that something clicked on Amelia's mind, as if she finally got the missing piece to complete a puzzle, or found the right formula for a math test. Suddenly, the whole situation around her made sense.

The human closed her eyes, and instead focused on her inner self. She could feel every part of her body, her breath, her heart beating, the blood flowing in her veins. Her ears focused on her surroundings, her nose analyzed the aromas she could sense, her feet warned her of every vibration.

Suddenly, the axolotl went on full offensive, her cane swinging just above her head. Yet, before she could hit Amelia, the cane impacted on her sword, the recoil effect being strong enough to repel away the old axolotl, her cane, now broken in two.

"I got you!" Amelia smirked, realizing her success. Immediately after the bioluminescent mushrooms lightened up again.

On one end of the cave, Amelia stood, tired and distressed, but triumphant; on the other, the blind axolotl stood on the ground, repelled and defeated, and yet smiling.

"Do you need a hand to get back on your feet?"

The axolotl looked at her "Aren't you worried that I'll try to attack you again? Aren't you puzzled by the reason why I attacked you in the first place?"

"I admit it, I was. Yet, something tells me you did not do that out of spite or profit. Even when the fight started, you were not trying to hurt me seriously. Actually, it looked more as if you were testing me.

The axolotl's smile grew, a solemn expression forming on her face "Congratulations, young one. You used the hints I was dropping at you during the fight to come up for a strategy to win. Not only that, you grasped the truth without any further help."

So, I was right? Is she… a mentor? Amelia barely restrained her inner enthusiasm in front of the situation.

"So, tell me, Aspine, who are you?"

"My real name is not Aspine." The blind axolotl replied "That is just one of the many names I used to live among the others, to keep my real identity a secret. What I can tell you about me is, I know who you are, and who your friends are. I knew about you from the very first day the Box brought you here."

"Wait, you know about the Box? How?"

"That is a question you will learn, whenever you're ready. The reason why we met today is that you and your friends have a long path in front of you. Moreover, a menace looms over you, and for this reason, I wanted to check who my successor was."

"Successor?" Amelia gasped, "Then, the petals of the humming-wasps, and the hiding mushroom…they were tests, right?"

"Indeed. Gathering the petals taught you the Art of Flowing in the battle, rather than simply rush into it, and controlling your emotions rather than let them controlling you; the mushroom taught you the Art of Patience, the ability to wait without losing hope or control; lastly, facing me taught you the Art of Inner Control, so you learned not to base yourself on what you already knew, and you learned how to see even without your eyes. Moreover, even after beating me, you didn't try to take revenge, nor you went on accusing me. And that means you already hold the Art of Respect inside of you."

Amelia smiled, looking at her friend, no, her master as she genuinely praised her. Was this how Luke Skywalker felt when he met Yoda for the first time? Was this the feeling of knowing that someone respected your skills and abilities, and wanted to help you attune them?

Her body acted on its own, as the human dropped to the ground, unsheathing her katana and laying it in front of her, both her knees bent, in a scene she had seen playing millions of times in movies, tv series, anime and videogames, whenever a samurai warrior addressed his own master and feudal lord.

"Master," the girl said, not even looking up. "Would you take me as your…disciple?"

The axolotl chuckled, surprised at hearing her successor kneel in front of her and calling her with such a term. Well, she looked so enthusiastic, so why not play along?

"Rise." She said, as Amelia jerked back on her feet, Yamato was still lying in front of her.

"You have great skills, young one, and while you still have a long path before you, I have seen enough to realize you've taken the good read. It'll be my duty to educate you and train you to forge your mind and body in a powerful weapon of Justice and Respect."

Amelia stood unmoving, but inside, she was jumping in joy. This was the beginning of her hero path, of the road to become a real honor warrior, bonded to protect the innocents from evil tyrants and conquerors. Best of all, finally she could stick it to Sasha and her cousin.

"However," the axolotl continued, "This is a path I cannot accompany you with. I will be present whenever you will need me, but for the most part of your journey you'll have to walk on your own."

"Master," the girl said while recovering her sword, "aren't you going to settle with me?"

"I'm sorry, young one, but other duties request my presence. You, however, will not face this path alone, for the reward for helping an old lady will be…a companion, someone you can trust and rely on even in your darkest hour."

Amelia's eyes widened, as the former Aspine (she had to remember that was not her real name) led her out of the cave and back to her carriage, setting the blue moss back in its box and fixing the remaining troubles in the carriage, before walking inside. And when she walked out again, she was holding a large bucket in wood, filled a little more than halfway with water, and in the water…

"Bri! Bri!" A small aquatic bug emerged from the bucket, "clapping" his six limbs. Amelia quickly noticed that the bug was white, with bright red eyes, and an elongated abdomen that it could also propel through the water.

"This is your companion. She's a baby dragonfly. You'll have to take care of her for when she'll grow-"

"She's so ugly! How cute!" Amelia jumped forward, grabbing the bucket and looking at the small nymph with loving eyes, "Master, she's so adorable! Who is my little girl? Who's my little girl?"

"While it's good you're already starting to bond with her," the axolotl replied with a nonplussed expression, "Don't misunderstand this action. She is not supposed to be your property, but your ally and your friend. Treat her with as much respect as you hold for yourself, heal her whenever she gets hurt and your bond will never break!"

"Don't worry, master, I'll always treasure her! By the way, what does she eat?"

"She's vegetarian, but she prefers apples."

"Bri!"

"Uh, you're so delightful! What's her name?"

"She doesn't have one…yet. That's the first duty you have toward her."

"I can choose your name? Let's see, what can I call you? Mistubishi? No, too industrial. Akiko? Already taken, and it was a dog… wait, I got this! Akitsu! What do you think, you like it?"

"Bri! Bri! Bri!"

"Sold then! Welcome, Akitsu!"

The axolotl walked back on her carriage, stopping for a couple more of seconds as she listened to her disciple taking care of her future companion, before moving her reins and making Pumpkin resume their travel.

"Have care, master! Welp, what a day! I quarreled with Sasha, I met a mentor, I faced trials and now I even got a cute companion! Hey Akitsu, want to see your new home?"

"Bri!"

"Aww, you're just the cutest!"

(…)

"I'm home!"

"Amelia!" James reacted first, looking back from the Flipwart he was playing against Jacob, "Where have you been? WE had no news, so I feared something happened."

"Something did happen," the girl struggled to contain her enthusiasm, "but nothing too bad. Simply I helped an old lady gather some items she needed."

"She didn't need you to worry about her" Jacob quickly sniped. "Told you so."

"Also, I have an announcement!"

"What kind of announcements?" Sasha looked from her phone, realizing that Amelia looked… a little too happy than normal. Even if she and Jacob were fine now, the bruises they got from the fight against Polly and the Flour triplets hadn't disappeared yet, nor did the humiliation for suffering such a loss.

Next time we train, I'm going to kick you harder.

"I want you all to meet…our new family member!"

"Say what?"

"Huh?"

"Amelia, what are you saying?"

"Guys, girls, frogs, meet…Akitsu!" Amelia ended her announcement, bringing inside the large bucket, the little bug nymph emerging and moving as she was greeting them.

"Bri! Bri!"

"Amelia, have you gone crazy?" Sasha yelled in horror, as Marcy and Anne held onto her tightly out of surprise. "You can't bring another wild creature inside!"

"Yes, have you forgotten about…Domino II?" Anne came to Sasha's support, still feeling guilty for her own actions in the mentioned mess.

"I have not forgotten about that!" Amelia replied, visibly hurt. "First, Akitsu is not a wild animal, I received her as a reward from the old lady who helped me."

"She gave you a pet as a reward?" Marcy asked in puzzlement, walking closer now that her surprise was gone. "Did she tell you what kind of creature she is?"

"Oh, she's a baby dragonfly."

"Say what?!" Hop Pop exclaimed "A dragonfly? No way, dragonflies are large predators who often feast on frogs!"

"You hear that Amelia, we cannot take it with us." Sprig said, "I for one still have flashbacks from Domino II…"

"She's vegetarian, she doesn't eat frogs! Maybe I can show it to you…" Amelia replied, grabbing a small apple and throwing it at Akitsu. The little dragonfly nymph quickly grabbed it with her jaws and began munching it, to the shock of Marcy and Hop Pop.

"Huh, guy? I've never seen a dragonfly eat vegetables before…"

"Mar-Mar, what do you mean? Isn't there any change it may be simply a wider diet?"

"Anne, no dragonfly ever eats vegetables, nor in this world nor in ours! She's not a dragonfly like others; she must be a different species, something we never-"

"Sprig, can you go into my study and grab a book of mine? The big yellow one!"

"Sure thing, Hop Pop!"

When the young frog returned, the humans noticed a large title on the cover with the words "Amphibia's Mysterious Creatures of Equivocal Existence". Quickly, Hop Pop grabbed the book and started to look through it.

"There it is…no way! Amelia, she is a White Skies Dragonfly! They're a legendary species; I for one have heard about them, but I've never seen one before!"

Marcy and the others rushed to see with their own eyes. Yep, there she was, a depiction of the species Akitsu belonged to: giant white dragonflies, with red eyes and wings, who eat only vegetables were also rumored to be excellent mounts for Amphibians lucky enough to tame one.

"No way…she's a legendary bug?"

"Ivy's going to be so jealous!"

"The book confirms that White Skies Dragonflies would never hurt a frog, so I guess…"

"Hop Pop, what happened to your "no pets in the house" rule?"

"Well, Jacob, the thing is…maybe it is a good time to get rid of that rule. After all, we already have tomatoes in our garden and a giant pumpkin creature."

Jacob looked again at Amelia, his nervousness quickly mellowing down. "Fine, you can keep it. But you're in charge of taking care of her!"

"Seconded." James said, "What do you say guys?"

"She's soo interesting! I'm willing to give her a chance too!"

"What do you say Polly? Polly?"

The small pollywog had left her own bucket and jumped in Akitsu, and now was riding the small dragonfly nymph as she swam around "Yipeee!"

"I guess that's a yes."

"Guys, I'm still not convinced." Anne replied, the last holdout, "I mean, I know that she may look cute and good and everything now, but…" she stopped her guilt over the events of Domino II still pushing a huge weight on her soul.

"I already showed her to Bessie, and she looks good!" Amelia added, "Looks like the family snail likes her new adoptive younger sister."

Anne stood silent for a second, dumbfounded. Then, she smiled.

"Ok, then. If Bessie approves, I approve!"

"Yoo-hoo!" Amelia exclaimed to the top of her lungs, grabbing the baby dragonfly's bucket and walking back outside, toward Bessie's stable "Come on Akitsu! I'm going to show you where you are going to live from now on. You like Bessie too, don't you? We're going to have sooo much fun!"

The others smiled in silence, until they were sure she was gone. Then, the talking resumed.

"Soo…Amelia now has one of Amphibia most mystical creature as a pet?"

"Sound like it, James. I wonder where the frog did she found it."

"Ok this is weird, even by Amphibian standards."

"I'm more worried about how Amelia is going to stick to her promise before she grows bored. Frankly…I doubt that small bug is going to last long."

"Jacob!" Everyone called him out.

(…)

Far away from the farm, a now familiar carriage road on the lonely road, its snail leading it with almost no input from its driver. Considering the driver's obvious deficiency that was certainly a good thing.

"Looks like Fate has been generous with me," the blind axolotl said, his noise still picking the smell of Wartwood, where her disciple and successor currently resided. "Comparing to what I feared, my successor is not that bad."

"Oh yeah? And tell me, Noc: what was your fear?"

Hearing that voice, Noc stopped. She was already old when she was little, and even without her eyes, she could tell she hadn't aged a single day. Just like her.

"Valeriana," the axolotl replied, her face instinctively turning to the elderly newt. "I knew you would contact me sooner or later. How's life with the Bizarre Bazaar? Leander, long time we don't see."

"Long time we don't see. Long time we don't see."

"Noc, this is not the time for idle chat. From what I can guess, the stars have arrived. All and three?"

"No, old friend. All and six!"

Hearing those words, Valeriana took a step behind, taking by surprise "Six? Don't you mean-"

Noc nodded, her lips twitching into a smug smile. "Looks like even our stones have returned. And every of them has a new bearer with it."

"That's…unexpected. And these new bearers…how are they?"

"I can only tell you about my successor, the newest embodiment of Respect. She is raw, but sharp, and she has a lot of potential. I even left her someone to properly check and control her growth."

Valeriana didn't reply at first, thinking about the intel she received. "Then I guess I should prepare something as well. I'll need the cooperation of Wise Flower."

"Do you plan to give them a warning?"

"More like… a gift."