A few days had passed since they received the prophecy from Mother Olm, but even though they now knew how to possibly defeat The Night and Andrias, it was still a matter of getting to the flying castle and getting the Calamity Box back. Which was why Anne and Sasha were currently in the War Room going over their next course of action.
"According to Mother Olm, if we want to defeat Andrias, we need to get the Calamity Box back. And then I have to somehow figure out how use my own powers to make the box give you back your full powers," said Anne.
Sasha nodded. "Once we've done that, I'll be able to use my full power like you can, and together we can take that lizard and his boss down and save Marcy. But if we're going to undertake a big operation like that, we're going to need more troops than we currently have. So, to that end, we're going to need some allies. And I know just who to start with first."
The blonde resistance leader took out a sticker and slapped it over the small bit of territory they controlled. The sticker resembled a toad.
"Grime's sister, Beatrix, built a secret army of toads. I've already asked her to meet with us, and she's on her way," Sasha informed.
"But do you think she'll go for it? I've noticed toads and frogs don't always get along," Anne said.
Sasha chuckled as she replied, "And that's why I sent Sprig and Grime to be the welcome wagon. She'll see firsthand that toads and frogs can work together."
Anne shook her head at the notion.
"But Sprig and Grime can't work together. Ever since Sprig beat Grime one-on-one back in Newtopia, things have been really tense between them. Like, close to throttling kind of tense," Anne elaborated.
Sasha blinked.
"Oh…really? I thought he hated just my guts?" Sasha asked.
"I mean…ugh," Anne couldn't deny it, Sprig still had a twinge of animosity towards Sasha, but he had been better about it. "Yeah, he's not really fond of Grime either."
"I see…WE GOTTA GET UP THERE! NOW!"
Anne quickly used her powers to bolt towards Sasha, scooping her up in one go. The Thai teen ran straight out of the War Room, passed several frogs, went up the walkways, and out through a tunnel that led topside. Anne kept running until she finally spotted Grime and Sprig, both of which looked as if they were in the middle of an argument already. Anne came to a skidding halt a couple of feet away from them, making some dust kick up into the air as she did.
"Phew…made it," Anne sighed.
"Uh…B-Boonchuy, I-I didn't know you could carry me like this," Sasha stuttered with a blush.
"Uh…"
Anne just realized that she was carrying Sasha on pure adrenaline, and once they reached their destination, that boost in physical strength left her, quick.
"Muscles…! Armor…! So…! Heavy…!" Anne gasped.
Anne eventually collapsed with Sasha falling on top of her. Sasha had a frown on her face as she crossed her arms and huffed.
"Sorry I'm so dang heavy, Anne," Sasha griped.
"Dude, you're wearing heavy barbarian style armor, and you're swol. Cut me some slack!"
After managing to get back up, Anne, Sasha, Sprig, and Grime watched as a giant rhinoceros beetle with some fur, a spikey collar, and spike riddled shell, came dropping out of the sky. Atop the back of the beetle was a carrier that had Beatrix and a couple of her toad guards. Upon touching down, Beatrix leaped out of the carrier and straight down towards Grime.
"Oh boy…"
Grime was immediately thrown to the ground as both he and Beatrix rolled around before his older sister managed to pin him on his stomach and began applying noogies to his head.
"Get off me!" Grime complained.
"What's the matter, Grimothy? All toads love a good wrastle! Or has livin' with these frogs made ya soft?" Beatrix teased. "But, seriously, Sasha, what do ya want?"
Sasha smiled as she said, "Anne, drumroll please."
Anne happily took out her cellphone, swiped through her apps, and pressed on the "Drumroll App".
"Ahem. As the commander of the Wartwood Resistance, I propose you join our frog army and together we take down Andrias!" Sasha proclaimed.
Beatrix blinked, and then laughed loudly into the air as she got off of Grime.
"Oh, wait, you're serious?" Beatrix asked.
"Uh, yeah," Sasha confirmed.
Beatrix furrowed her brow as she walked closer until she was practically in Sasha's face. "Toads, servin' inna frog army?! That doesn't even make any sense! No offense to you and yer friend here. I saw firsthand what you two are capable of, and I know yer more than strong enough to fight off Andrias' robots, monsters, robot-monsters, and mind-controlled creatures. But these frogs? Ha! Last time I checked, frogs couldn't even fight!"
Sprig smirked as he walked up to Beatrix.
"Can't fight, eh?"
"Shh! Shh! No! Nooooo!" Grime hissed in protest.
"If we can't fight, then how'd I beat Grime in a one-on-one duel? Huh?" Sprig asked, smugly.
"…YOU WHAT?! AHAHA! That only proves my point. Livin' with frogs has made my brother laughably weak." Beatrix mocked as she noogied her little brother again. "Thanks for wastin' my time. Sasha, other humus, if ya feel like join' a real army, ya know where to find us."
As Beatrix walked away, Grime growled, turned around, and shouted out, "Not so fast!"
Grime hopped into the air until he landed a few feet in front of Beatrix. The former gladiator began beating his chest as he grunted and chanted in a nonsensical manner. Grime reached over to his left, grabbed the hilt of the toad guard's sword, and gave him a strong punch, sending the guard flying off and at the same time unsheathed the sword. With the "borrowed" sword, Grime drew a large circle around Beatrix, before stabbing the sword into the ground and waiting for her response.
"Uh…what is happening right now?" Sasha asked, completely confused.
"Grime has invoked the sacred law of Toad Challenge," said the guard as he took back his sword.
Beatrix crossed her arms over her chest as she sighed with annoyance. "And I am honor bound to accept it. State yer terms, brother."
"Standard one-on-one arena combat. Loser's army joins the winner's," Grime stated.
"Deal, but it won't you who I fight," Beatrix countered.
Grime shook his head in confusion and asked, "Uh, excuse me?"
"Wartime Law states: I may choose any one of your allies to fight in your stead."
"WHAT?!" Anne and Sasha exclaimed.
Beatrix cracked her knuckles as she smirked and began pointing between Anne and Sasha, "And I chooooose…Eenie meenie miney…" her finger swiftly landed directly on Sprig, "frog! If this little runt wins, we'll join your army. But if I win, you'll have to join our army…AS CANNON FODDER! HAHAHAHA!"
"This is not happening right now," Sasha whispered.
"Unfortunately, it is," Anne confirmed, reluctantly.
Beatrix and her guards mounted the beetle as the toad warrior said, "I'll return at dawn for our battle. Later soon-to-be losers!"
With the declaration given, Beatrix took off into the air, leaving Anne and Sasha stunned by everything that went down.
Grime nervously glanced at his ward and Anne as he apologetically said, "Guess I should've brushed up on Toad Law…heh-heh…"
"You just bet…the whole rebellion…ON A FREAKIN' CAGE MATCH?!" Sasha bellowed as flames leaped up around her.
"AND YOU PUT SPRIG'S LIFE DOWN AS COLLATERAL?!" Anne bellowed.
"Eh, pretty sure I can take her," said Sprig, nonchalantly.
Sasha, Anne, and Grime gave a collective, "WHAT?!"
"I beat Grime, so I'm sure I can take his sister."
"You BARELY beat me amidst a chaotic siege! Arena matches are a different beast altogether. You won't have the luxury of Anne swooping in to save your pink hide when things go bad," Grime shot back.
Sasha, despite how this turned out, knew that they had no choice but to ensure that Sprig could win.
"Grime, you were gladiator once. Could you show Sprig the ropes?"
"I don't need fighting lessons from Grime! He can't even stop Beatrix from giving him noogies!" Sprig argued.
"FINE WITH ME!" Grime exclaimed. "Good luck fighting the toughest toad in Amphibia!"
"ENOUGH!" Sasha stamped her foot, causing a mini-quake that stopped the two's argument. "I'm making a degree. Anne?"
"On it."
Anne broke out a pencil and paper, ready to write.
"I hereby order Sprig and Grime to go spend the night training. If they decide to pout like babies instead, then they'll be banished…FOREVER! Or at least until the war starts," Sasha decreed.
"Tough but fair," Anne agreed. "You're co-signature."
Anne turned the paper around and Sasha put her signature on it.
"It's official! Now, go and start, and happy training you two," Anne urged.
"Boooooo," Grime moaned.
"This is so unfair," Sprig retorted.
Anne and Sasha watched as the two walked off to begin their training. As they did, Sasha noticed how worried Anne was looking.
"Hey, it'll be alright," Sasha assured.
"But what if…what if Sprig gets really hurt fighting Beatrix?" Anne asked, concerned.
Sasha brought Anne into a half hug as she assured her, "They're going to be fine, Anne. Grime's a good instructor, and Sprig's a fast learner. He'll get Sprig ready to beat Beatrix. But I could use some help with something to give moral support."
"Oh, what do you need?"
Sasha smirked as she whispered into Anne's ear, "I'd like it if you could sew me a cheerleading uniform? And maybe a few others to form a five-person squad."
Anne blushed.
"Y-You want m-me to make y-you a-a cheerleader uniform?!"
"You heard me right, Boonchuy. C'mon, you need to take my measurements and get started before tomorrow."
Anne blushed up to her ears.
Oh, Frog help me!
Grime and Sprig were walking in the woods for quite some time, neither one of them bothering to say a word to the other. The sun was setting, turning day into twilight, and the most communication they had was just some grunting and huffing back and forth between them. Finally, Grime couldn't take it anymore.
"AAAUGH! Okay, Sasha and Anne have pretty much forced us into this. Now, I don't like you and you don't like me. But for the sake of this rebellion, could we at least try and let bygones be bygones?" Grime asked, extending an olive branch.
"…NO!"
Said olive branch was just snapped in half and crushed.
"Oh, c'mon!" Grime complained.
Sprig jumped back away from Grime as he ranted, "You extorted my town for years–!"
"I was doing my duty of collecting taxes! Take it up with Andrias!"
"–Imprisoned us when we fought back–!"
"By all accounts it was an uprising! Well within my purview to tamp down!"
"And last but not least, you tried to KILL MY HOP POP!" Sprig yelled.
"Oh yeah?!" Grime retorted as he moved closer to Sprig. "Well, you haven't exactly been fair to me either! I know it was you who put poison ivy in my codpiece! And I know it was you who kept pranking Sasha almost relentlessly!"
"Okay, I'll own up to that, and I'm still on the fence about her…a little." Sprig folded his arms over his chest. "Maybe leaning towards…trusting her – I dunno." Sprig unfolded his arm as he jumped forward and jammed a finger in Grime's face. "But YOU! TRIED TO KILL! MY! HOP POP!"
"HE…WAS…A POLITICAL LIABILITY!" Grime growled as he pushed back with his face.
Sprig released a frustrated sigh as he climbed atop Grime's head.
"Ugh, this is getting us nowhere. You might as well teach me your 'special toad tactics' or whatever."
Grime smirked as he crossed his arms and remarked, "We actually do call them 'special toad tactics', so, sarcasm denied!"
"Dang it!"
Grime started a rigorous training course. In order to get Sprig ready for his fight with Beatrix, he first needed to toughen up the little frog child. Starting with strength training. Grime had filled two large buckets of water and ran a pole through the handles, basically creating a makeshift dumbbell. The former gladiator managed to slip under the makeshift dumbbell and lifted it up with a loud grunt. Once he was done, he invited Sprig to do the same. Sprig, with great confidence approached the makeshift dumbbell and began lifting it, only for him to lose balance as the buckets of water flopped off and landed on him, drenching the frog child.
Grime rolled his eyes at the incident and decided to move on. After that was over, he decided to test Sprig's tongue strength. It was a commonly known fact that a toad's tongue was incredibly strong. So, it came as no surprise when Grime showed his tongue strength by launching it straight at a boulder and smashed it to pieces in one shot. When it was Sprig's turn, he aimed at another of the many boulders and launched his green tongue at it. However, instead of breaking through the rock, it merely latched onto it, and unfortunately reeled him in to crash into the rock.
The training was going poorly, but Grime tried to preserver, considering what was on the line, he really had little choice but to at least try and make Sprig something close to combat ready. Grime's next lesson was mitigating damage. The toad warrior tensed his abs as he invited Sprig to strike him. Sprig obliged, delighting in the chance to strike Grime, even if it was in the stomach. The pink frog child cocked back and punched with his left hand, but upon contact, he immediately regretted it.
Sprig's eyes watered as his entire left hand throbbed in pain, it felt like he just punched a steel wall. But now it was Sprig's turn. The frog took a deep breath and tensed up his abs to the best of his ability. But it ended about how you'd expect it to. Grime lightly punched him and sent Sprig flying across the clearing and into a tree.
"I told you, tense your abs! Tense them!" Grime criticized.
"Ugh! This isn't working!" Sprig complained.
"Ya think?! Your small frog body is too frail for traditional toad conditioning."
Sprig fell off the tree as he groaned with annoyance.
"Well then maybe I don't need to fight like a dumb toad!"
Grime glared down at the pink frog child as he said, "Say 'dumb toad' one more time. I dare you – no – I double dare you! Say 'dumb toad' one more dang time! Do it!"
Sprig glared back at Grime, not showing any fear of the former gladiator's intimidation.
"Dumb…Toad!"
Grime shoulder checked Sprig, sending him, once again, flying into the distance as he landed face first into the dirt. Sprig growled indignantly as he threw his arms into the air.
"That's it! I've had it! I'm outta here! I'll figure out how to beat Beatrix! ON MY OWN!" Sprig declared as he hopped away.
"NO, YOU WON'T!" Grime retorted as he shook his fist at the frog boy.
After a few moments, Grime crossed his arms over his chest and nodded.
"Now it won't be my fault when you get maimed." Grime walked over to a stump and sat down. Not a sound could be heard for several seconds. "HOW DID I LOSE THAT BRAT?!"
"Anne, you put this off for long enough. Now, it's my turn," said Sasha.
The Thai teen gulped as she looked upon her girlfriend, currently she was just wearing her pants, tank top, and standing barefoot in her room. Anne had managed to make a few cheerleading outfits already, nothing overly complicated, just a simple design. She had made at least four of them. One for Hop Pop, Fern, former Constable Elliot Samuel, and the very buff frog who sold jams.
However, Anne had been intentionally putting off making Sasha's. For the sole reason that doing so meant that she was going to have to take Sasha's measurements, and that would require her girlfriend to…well…
"I'm not ready for this!" Anne exclaimed.
"Boonchuy, would you relax. It's not like you haven't seen me in the locker room during gym class. It's not like I have anything you don't have," Sasha retorted.
"Context, dude! Back then, we weren't an item! But now we are! Seeing you…like…like that is way different now!" she explained. "How are you not nervous about this?!"
Sasha crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, despite that, a small blush appeared on her face.
"Well…'cause I trust you, Anne. And…If there was anyone I wouldn't mind seeing me like that, it'd be you and Marcy," Sasha confessed. "Don't get me wrong, my heart's kinda pounding a bit about this, too."
Anne blushed as she looked at Sasha, she really looked vulnerable right now. Nervous even. It's not like we're going to do anything inappropriate. I'm just going to take her measurements and then make her an outfit. Just gotta be professional!
"O-Okay, just tell me if you don't feel comfortable and I'll stop, okay?"
Sasha smiled and nodded.
"Then, I guess, you need to, uh, take off your shirt," said Anne.
"Y-Yeah…"
Sasha grabbed at the hem of her tank top slowly pulling it up and exposing her midriff as Anne's face began to change colors. Same could be said of Sasha, with every inch of her top rising.
"Hey, Anne! Hey, Sash!" Ivy voice rang out.
"EEEP!" Anne and Sasha yelped.
The yellow frog girl threw the door open to Anne's room, and that's where she spotted Anne sitting on a makeshift workbench, while Sasha pretended to read a book that was on Anne's bed, said book being upside down.
"I-Ivy, what's up?" Sasha asked.
"I just heard that Sprig is going to fight Grime's sister! Is that true?!" Ivy asked.
"Oh, uh, yeah, that's true Ivy. But Sprig is with Grime right now, and he's training him so he can beat her," Anne informed.
"Wait, Grime? But Sprig and Grime hate each other!"
Sasha groaned as she said, "Does everyone except me know that Sprig hated Grime?"
"Well, I'd say Grime ranks below you in terms of who he hates the most," Ivy informed. "I guess it stems more from…well…"
Anne rubbed the back of her head as Sasha sighed heavily. Both teens knew exactly what she meant, and to a degree, they couldn't blame him for it.
"Anyway, you sure Sprig will be alright?" Ivy asked.
"Look, despite the grief Sprig used to give me, he's a tough little guy," said Sasha. "Have faith in your man, Ivy. He'll pull through for us."
Ivy sighed and nodded her head with a smile.
"Okay, yeah, you're right. I should have faith in Sprig. We have been on a lot of missions, and he's been through a lot of crazy things between here and your guys' world," said Ivy.
"Oh, that's a fact," Anne commented.
"Sorry for interrupting you guys. I'll see ya later."
Ivy closed the door behind her, and once she was gone, Anne and Sasha released a tension filled sigh.
"Okay, now that Ivy's gone…" Sasha posed for Anne. "Should we continue where we left off?"
"You know, saying and doing things like that, does not make this any easier for me!" Anne complained.
"Just get over here, Boonchuy."
Anne grumbled under her breath as her face tinted red. Once she was standing in front of the bed, Sasha went back to slowly taking off her top again. And that's when the door swung open.
"Hey, I just heard that Sprig is fighting Beatrix tomorrow morning. Is that…uh…"
Sasha and Anne turned their heads in the direction of the door, this time seeing Maddie there. Unlike Ivy, she just opened the door, allowing her to catch Anne and Sasha in a bit of a questionable state. Sasha with her hands on the hem of her shirt, with said shirt's hem stopping above her midriff, and Anne holding a tape measure that made it look like she was about to tie her up.
"…I'll just, uh…I-I'll just come back later…much later…"
Maddie slowly closed the door without another word spoken, leaving the two teens alone.
"…"
"…"
"…Should we be making out at this point?" Sasha asked.
"DUDE!"
Meanwhile, Sprig was taking out his frustrations out on a dead tree. While he had begrudgingly agreed to allow Sasha and Anne's relationship to start up again, and for their sake, not be such a butt to her moving forward, Grime was where he drew the line. Considering Sasha had only been here for a short amount of time, whereas Grime had done plenty of things to make him a very disliked person among not only Wartwood, but himself. Did he understand that they needed to work together to beat Andrias? Yes. But that didn't mean he had to like the guy.
Sprig finished his assault of the dead tree and wiped his brow. That's when something yellow and viscous leaked out from a crack in the tree. Sprig, without a care, extended his finger and took some onto it. He then put it in his mouth and smacked his lips.
"Ah, it's honey," Sprig said.
That's when the tree began to shake as the air was filled with the sound of buzzing wings. Something came out of the tree and stared down at Sprig. It was a hybrid creature. It had a canine-like head, with red compound insect eyes. Its head, shoulders, and some of its back and chest were covered in brown fur, its forelimbs were also canine in appearance and were covered in yellow fur. The fur transitioned back to brown when it reached its hind legs, which were insect legs with a black exoskeleton. Along the spine of this creature were exoskeletal plates that were colored yellow and black and led all the way to its hind end. Where a tail should be was instead a thorax with a long black stinger. More of this creature's kind began to emerge from the tree and surrounded him, all of them cackling as they did.
"Oh crud! I'm smack dab in the middle of a hybeena nest!" Sprig exclaimed.
The hybeenas started to close in, licking their chops as they readied to kill the intruder. However, before any of them could attack, Grime dropped down from the air and landed in front of Sprig. Without hesitation, he punched the two closest hybeenas, sending them flying into their comrades.
"Grime?! How did you find me?!" Sprig asked.
"I heard your shrill, annoying yell from across the forest," he informed.
"Hurtful, but okay!"
Another of the hybeenas attacked, lunging straight for Grime. The former toad gladiator stepped to the left, allowing it to pass by him just enough for Grime to wrap his muscular right arm around its midsection. A second hybeena attacked, aiming for Sprig. But the nimble frog child heard it coming, and back flipped just in time to miss it and land on its back.
Sprig rode on its back for a bit before breaking out his slingshot, scooped up a handful of mud, and fired it at the head of the head of the hybeena he was riding. The creature yelped, suddenly blinded as it fell to the ground, headfirst. Sprig quickly jumped off, scooping up some more mud as he backflipped through the air, landed on another hybeena, and fired his mud shot at its head. After he jumped off it, the hybeena ran into a tree, knocking itself out. Sprig rolled on the ground, scooping up more mud as he jumped and landed on another hybeena's back. Another hybeena lunged at him, but Sprig ducked, allowing it to pass over him.
The pink frog child fired his mudball at the hybeena he was riding, completely blinding it. The hybeena continued to run, but Sprig backflipped off of it, just as it entered the long grass. Unfortunately for the hybeena, it ran into a patch of wild boom-shrooms, which set them all off and resulted in a huge explosion that completely destroyed the hybeena.
"That speed, that agility! It's actually quite impressive," said Grime, genuinely impressed by Sprig's prowess.
Suddenly, a hybeena flew in from behind and stung him in the back of his head. At that same time, he released the hybeena he was holding onto as several more of its kind came in and stung him from different directions. Thankfully, his thick armor and thick toad hide made it hard for them to penetrate too deep, but that did not diminish the pain. However, Grime wasn't about to let these mangy things have their way. The former gladiator growled louder and louder as his face turned red. Veins bulged around his head and neck as he concentrated, building him his rage. With an explosive show of strength, Grime roared and knocked back all the hybeenas that still had their stingers in him.
The hybeenas flew like ragdolls through the air, getting sprawled out onto the ground and thrown against trees. Sprig watched all this and gawked with complete amazement at how Grime managed to do that. But he would ask about it later, they were still in danger. Sprig hopped over and stood next to Grime. Together the frog and toad fought, with Grime smashing his fists into the hybeenas, while Sprig fired more mudballs at the ones that were about to attack Grime from behind, and Grime in turn took out the ones that were approaching Sprig. The hybeena pack had had enough and quickly ran away, abandoning their nest. When it was over, Sprig and Grime released cheers of victory before plopping onto their rears against a tree.
"Whew, good battle," said Grime.
"Yeah, we whipped their little bee booties!" Sprig added.
"I've gotta say, you pack a lot of speed and accuracy in that tiny body."
"And you! You took those hits and gave it back to them two-fold! How'd you do that?!" Sprig asked.
"Toads are trained from a very young age to let rage give you strength!" Grime informed as he flexed his muscles. "If funneled correctly, it can be a secret weapon."
Sprig thought over what Grime said as he remarked, "Wow, that's pretty cool."
The frog and toad sat in silence for a few moments before Sprig broke the silence.
"Maybe…I could learn a thing or two from you," Sprig admitted.
"Yes, I think I've been training you all wrong. Instead of molding you into the perfect toad, I should be focusing on your strengths as a frog. Speed, agility, being annoying!"
Sprig hopped to his feet as he extended his hand for a shake. "Well, Grimothy, wanna give this whole thing another shot?"
Grime smirked and shook Sprig's hand as he said, "Indeed…" the toad warrior then pulled Sprig close as he added, "But call me 'Grimothy' again, and I'll eat you alive."
"Heh…wow."
Now with a new game plan, Grime, instead of focusing on building up Sprig's physical strength, decided to work on his speed. If Sprig could build up enough speed, then even with his lean and scrawny physique, the built-up momentum would deliver the same amount, if not more, damage to his opponent.
Case in point, Grime had Sprig sidestep back and forth rapidly, building up said momentum, before he delivered a punch to Grime's open left palm. Grime would admit, the punch was a bit stronger than Sprig's previous attempts, made evident by the way he made a wavy gesture with his hand. The toad warrior began thinking of ways to help Sprig build up more speed. As he looked around their makeshift training area, his eye fell on a dead tree and an idea struck him.
"Sprig, c'mere for a second." Grime leaned down and whispered to the frog child.
"You think that'll work?" he asked.
"Trust me."
Sprig nodded and ran to the dead tree that Grime had indicated. He hopped onto one branch to the next until he was at the top of the tree. Once there, Sprig dove off, but not before shooting out his tongue and wrapping it around the closest branch. Once attached, Sprig began swinging himself around and around in a circle, building up a greater amount of speed and momentum. After about six spins, Sprig launched himself. He shot out his tongue again, grabbing the makeshift water bucket dumbbell with his tongue, using that same speed and momentum to toss the dumbbell with greater ease than before. The dumbbell sailed through the air and struck a rock, smashing it to pieces.
"Hachi machi!" Grime exclaimed.
Sprig continued to sail through the air as he extended both his fists forward. The pink frog boy eventually crashed into Grime, sending the toad warrior flying until he crashed into a tree, shattering the upper half into splinters as he now laid sprawled out on the stump.
When Sprig landed, his eyes widened with shock at what he managed to do.
"Grime! Are you okay?!" Sprig asked.
"WOOOO!" Grime exclaimed as he sat up. "That was fantastic!"
"Does this mean I can beat Beatrix?"
Grime stroked his chin as he thought about this.
"Hmm, I'd say your odds are far better than they were when we started. But it would help if you had something to give yourself an edge. Something that Beatrix has never encountered before," said Grime.
Sprig rubbed the back of his head as he sheepishly remarked, "I might know something that could work…but…it's not exactly like I know how to do it perfectly. But…"
"Show me," said Grime.
Sprig sighed and nodded his head.
Grime hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched Sprig's demonstration.
Wait a minute, I've seen this before. Ah, now I get it, Grime thought.
After about two minutes, Sprig stopped and looked at the toad warrior.
"So…what do you think?" Sprig asked.
"I think we can make it work. I won't pretend that I know all about it, but I think I can give you a solid foundation to work with. So long as you're willing to put in the work," said Grime.
"Let's do it!"
Ivy was trekking through the woods, despite being told by Anne and Sasha that Sprig would be okay with Grime, she was still a little worried about him. Grime was a tough instructor, but considering that Sprig hates him, and Grime disliked Sprig, really disliked Sprig, checking up on them couldn't hurt.
"Maybe it's better if I was there to be a buffer or something. Help cool things down if they get too heated," Ivy thought aloud.
As the yellow frog girl made her way through the bushes, she paused when she heard something else moving about. Ivy got on guard as she readied herself to fight whatever was skulking around. The source of the rustling finally made itself known.
"Maddie?"
"Ivy?!" Maddie squawked.
"Uh, what are you doing out here?" Ivy asked.
"Um, I, uh…I thought Sprig could use this." Maddie reached behind her back and pulled out a flask filled with a strange liquid. "It's a strength boosting potion. Figured he could use it to make himself strong enough to at least match a toad's strength."
"I mean, that's cool, but isn't that cheating?"
"Do you want Sprig to get hurt," said Maddie.
"I mean, no, but doesn't it make the whole fight meaningless? What if it wears off during the match? Or what if Beatrix finds out? The whole alliance could be messed up," Ivy said.
Maddie looked at the potion as she sighed.
"I just…we'll just let Sprig decide."
The girls continued walking along until they were at the edge of the clearing, hearing grunting and noises of battle. Ivy and Maddie quickened their pace until they poked their heads through the bushes, and that's when they saw Sprig and Grime, fighting, but not in an aggressive manner. It looked more akin to when Ivy saw her mother train Anne.
"Whoa, they look like they're working together," said Maddie.
"Yeah, they are. You know, I think Sprig is going to be okay," Ivy said.
Maddie glanced at Ivy and asked, "How can you be sure?"
"Just like Sasha told me. I just have to have faith in Sprig. And I do." Ivy now glanced at Maddie and asked, "Can I ask you something, Maddie?"
"What?"
"Do you like Sprig?"
Maddie looked at Ivy in confusion.
"Uh, yeah, I do. He's my friend…my first ever friend."
"No, Maddie, I mean, do you like Sprig like I do?" Ivy asked.
Maddie's face tinted red as she exclaimed, "W-W-Why would you ask me something like that?! Of course, I don't! He's just a-a-a friend to me! B-Besides, I know you two are together."
"I'm just curious, because I remember Sprig telling me that you two were engaged at one point, but then you broke it off. And it got me wondering, why did your dad make a deal like that? Seems kind of random, trading dough for Sprig marrying you," Ivy pondered aloud.
Maddie's small tint of red began to grow.
"Frog dang it, Dad…Ugh…" Maddie glanced between Ivy and the training Sprig. She then turned around and walked away, putting both of them behind her.
"Maddie, wait!" Ivy called out as she followed after the goth frog girl. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you or anything or make you feel uncomfortable."
"…" Maddie stopped walking as her shoulders slumped. "I…I did like Sprig. Or…I guess…I kinda still do."
Ivy stayed where she was and waited for Maddie to explain.
"I…I liked how Sprig was nice to me. I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea, and I know other people find me creepy. But Sprig, he didn't exactly see me that way, I mean, he kinda did, but after that whole thing with Barry, he saw me in a different light. My Dad knew about my feelings, and I think that's why he made that deal," Maddie explained.
Maddie walked over to a tree and sat down with her back against it, and Ivy joined her, sitting next to her friend.
"I was so embarrassed on the inside, and kind of happy, too. But I kept my composure so that he wouldn't notice. I knew he didn't like me like that, but I thought he would someday. Then I heard you and Sprig were hitting it off, and then…well…I was okay with him breaking off the engagement. You two are good together," said Maddie.
Ivy blushed a bit.
"Of course, it's been a bit hard. Especially when you kissed me during that little stage show way back when," Maddie remarked as she shot a little glare at Ivy.
Now it was Ivy's turn to look embarrassed.
"Heh…yeah, I mean, I may've gotten carried away there a bit."
Maddie raised an eyebrow.
"Sure." The goth frog girl sighed as she looked down at the ground. "Sorry, Ivy. I promise, I won't do anything to mess with you and Sprig. I'm fine with just being friends."
Ivy rubbed the back of her head as she shyly asked, "Well…I mean…what if I said it was okay to like Sprig like I do? Would you be okay with it?"
Maddie's eye widened as she shifted her gaze to the yellow frog girl next to her.
"What are you saying?!" Maddie asked.
"I'm saying…maybe we could try what Anne and Sasha and Marcy did? You know, be together, all three of us," Ivy clarified.
Maddie's face was now bright red at the implications. Ivy was proposing that the three of them enter into a three-way relationship, just like Anne, Sasha, and Marcy once were. It wasn't as if the idea was off putting, at least not that much. Ivy was a cute girl, and Sprig was cute, too. And both frogs were brave, adventurous, and pranksters to a degree.
"…You'd…You'd really be okay with me and Sprig and you, together? I mean…do you even like me like that?" Maddie asked.
Ivy shrugged and said, "I think you're cute, and you're fun to be around. I don't see why we can't be together, too. But getting Sprig to notice and be onboard, eh, that might take some work."
"He is a little thick headed," Maddie agreed.
"Well, I think I know how to possibly get it into his head, or at least make it a bit more obvious," said Ivy.
"And what exactly did you have in mind?"
"Heh-heh, we just need to pay Anne a visit first."
The dawn finally came, and with it, the time for the battle. Just as she promised, Beatrix had arrived back in Wartwood. The site of the battle was at the center of Wartwood's ruins, Beatrix had also brought some of her toads as both witnesses and as spectators for the – in her mind – humiliation she was going to inflict on the frogs. There were three bleachers sections that were erected for the battle, the ones on the left and right were filled with the Wartwood residents, while the center was filled with the toads that Beatrix brought with her. And of course, what was any good sporting event without a cheer squad.
Sasha, along with Elliot Samuel, Hop Pop, Fern, and Jam Seller (Sasha forgot his name) acting as her squad mates. Sasha was dressed in a tan, sleeveless top with green fringe around where the arm holes were and around the collar, and at the center of the uniform was a green colored "W". Her skirt was dual colored green and tan, and in both of her hands she held some makeshift pompoms out of leaves and flowers. The outfits were the same for the other four, with the only differences being that Jam Seller and Fern had skirts on, while Elliot Samuel kept his original brown pants, and Hop Pop wore some shorts that matched the uniform. Sasha, getting back into her old cheerleading groove, led her cohorts in a simple cheer and routine for the occasion.
"KICKING BUTT AND TAKING NAMES! WE'RE THE SCHOOL THEY CALL SAINT JAMES!" Sasha cheered.
The other four members of the cheer squad mimicked her movements, and on cue, the five of them formed a pyramid, with Sasha at the top.
"Ya didn't even rewrite the song?" Hop Pop complained.
"I have strategy meetings, supply lists to approve, training! I'm VERY BUSY, Hop Pop!"
Just then, Sasha lost her balance, and the entire pyramid collapsed.
Meanwhile, at the shambled ruins of the Grub & Go, Anne and Grime were getting Sprig ready for combat. Anne slipped on some leather armor for Sprig as she patted his pauldrons.
"There ya go, bud. Lookin' intimidating," Anne commented.
"What do you think big guy? Do I have a chance here?" Sprig asked.
"Realistically? No. But you frogs always surprise me. Now go out there and give her heck," Grime encouraged as he patted Sprig on the back.
Sprig got up and began walking towards the door, but then turned around and asked, "So, like a five percent chance then?"
Grime made a wavy motion with his hand and answered, "Meh."
"Good enough for me!"
Sprig walked towards the makeshift arena, he was nervous, but confident he would win. He had to, for the sake of the rebellion and stopping Andrias and The Night, he needed to pull through for Anne and everyone. The pink frog child could her the simultaneous cheers and jeers coming from the Wartwood frogs and the toads respectively as they echoed against the corridor between the stands.
As Sprig was about to exit the corridor, he stopped, eyes widening in a bit of shock. Standing on either side of the opening was Ivy and Maddie. Both were wearing the same cheerleading outfits as Sasha and the others, with Ivy looking excited and peppy, and Maddie looking embarrassed and hiding her face behind the pompoms.
"Ivy, Maddie?" Sprig questioned.
"We're here to cheer you on, Sprig!" Ivy exclaimed.
"…Y-Yeah," Maddie confirmed.
"Wow, thanks you two," said Sprig happily.
"Go out there and kick her butt! We know you can do it! Right, Maddie?"
Maddie peeked from behind her pompoms and gave a shy nod.
Sprig, invigorated by his girlfriend and friend's confidence in him, began to walk past them, but not before Maddie reached out and stopped him by placing her hand on his shoulder.
"S-Sprig," said Maddie.
The pink frog boy turned around and looked directly at her.
"Um…B-Be careful, and…good luck," said Maddie with a red tinted cheek.
Sprig smiled at Maddie and replied, "I will, don't you guys worry!"
As Sprig walked on towards the cage that had been dropped down by Beatrix's beetle steed, Grime and Anne came in behind him. Anne had made the two frog girls' uniforms, originally thinking that they were going to join Sasha's cheer squad, but it seemed like they designated themselves as Sprig's personal cheer squad. It wasn't until now that she noticed something different about Maddie. She was acting shy, which wasn't like her, and she was blushing a lot.
The old Anne would've just attributed this to Maddie being uncomfortable in an outfit that she normally didn't wear and wasn't her style. But the current Anne, after being in love and dating two different girls, was able to pick up on the subtle/not so subtle hints.
"Aaaah, now I see," said Anne.
"S-See what?" Maddie asked.
"No need to say anything, dude. I gotcha," said Anne with a wink.
Maddie placed her face into the pompoms and groaned.
"C'mon, Maddie, let's get a little closer so Sprig can hear us!" Ivy suggested as she grabbed Maddie's arm and dragged her along closer to the cage.
Sprig walked through one of the gaps in the cage and stopped when he was at least three feet away from Beatrix. The toad warrior had come sporting two bronze colored battle axes, decorated with a moth molded onto the flats of the axes that also had a skull on them.
Beatrix flipped her weapons in her hands as she said, "Don't worry, little frog, I'll make this quick."
Sprig widened his stance as he retorted, "We'll see who's quick."
Polly, who was standing next to Anne with R/C Frobo, raised a mallet and struck him on the head as a bell sound echoed.
"BEGIN MATCH!" Anne cried out.
Beatrix wasted no time in making the first move as she raised both axes into the air and came down on Sprig. The pink frog boy quickly ran towards her and slid under her open legs before the axes could hit him. Beatrix was a little surprised, but not unfazed by his dodge. She swiftly turned around and began slashing with her axes, but Sprig managed to dodge them yet again as he jumped to his left. Beatrix was getting a little frustrated as she began slashing at him again, going for two horizontal slashes that made Sprig have to jump and flatten his body as the blades passed under him. When he hit the ground, Beatrix saw this as her opportunity to cut him down as she raised her axes. But as soon as she brought them down, Sprig rolled out of the way before springing to his feet and shooting his tongue up towards the highest bar and ascending to it.
"UGH! Ya can't dodge forever, ya little runt!" Beatrix exclaimed.
Sprig broke out his slingshot, grabbed a few rocks he had in his pocket, and fired a barrage at Beatrix. The battle-hardened toad lord didn't even flinch as the rocks pelted her body. In fact, she just laughed.
"Hahahaha! All that speed, but no strength behind it," Beatrix mocked.
Sprig figured that this was how it was going to turn out, but this was also what Grime told him he should expect.
"Beatrix is like how I used to be. I thought you frogs were nothing to worry about, that you were unimpressive. And that will be one of your advantages against her. If my dear sister was up against a toad warrior, she would have her guard up, even if she didn't consider her opponent much of a threat. But since she thinks so little of frogs, she won't bother keeping her guard up. Especially if you just dodge her attacks. She'll just consider you weak. And that's when you need to strike, fast and hard!"
Alright, it's go time! Sprig thought.
Sprig began shooting his tongue out in different directions, using it to swing and zigzag above the cage. All the while, Beatrix looked on, not even remotely worried about his seemingly erratic movements.
"Just give it up, you don't stand a chance," said Beatrix in a smug tone.
However, when Sprig made a pass, he swung on his tongue, extended both of his feet, and kicked Beatrix right in the side of her head. When he did, Beatrix stumbled forward as pain radiated from the point of impact.
Wha! That…That actually hurt!
"What the?!"
Beatrix finally paid attention to Sprig's movements, but by now it was too late. Sprig was moving faster and faster around the arena, zigging and zagging in random directions, making it hard for Beatrix to determine where he was going or where he was going to strike from.
"I've never seen anythin' like this, from frog or toad!" Beatrix gasped.
Sprig catapulted himself above the arena, where he hovered in the air for a moment as he replied, "That's because its frog AND toad!"
The pink frog boy zoomed down as he kicked and punched Beatrix repeatedly with each pass he made. And with each blow landed, Beatrix was taking more and more damage, becoming bruised, and even started to taste some blood in her mouth. She couldn't believe this was happening to her, she was getting beaten up by a frog, a wimpy, weak little frog. She couldn't – no – wouldn't let this stand.
"Impressive…but you fergot one…thing!" Beatrix warned.
Sprig latched his tone around a bar before spinning himself in a circle, quickly building up both speed and momentum with each rotation. Finally, Sprig released his hold on the bar and launched himself straight at Beatrix, extending both his fists out with the intention of ending this fight right here and now.
Unfortunately, that's not what happened. Beatrix discarded her axes and held out her arms. Before Sprig made contact, Beatrix closed her arms, wrapping them around Sprig's body and absorbing the impact before it could do any damage. This also allowed her to grab Sprig, and hold him close to her body, making any escape impossible for him.
"WE TOADS LOVE A GOOD RASTLE!" Beatrix yelled.
The Wartwood frogs gasped when they saw this, along with Anne, Ivy, and Maddie. Sasha gritted her teeth upon seeing this, and Hop Pop looked on worriedly.
"SPRIG!" Anne cried out.
"No!" Ivy exclaimed.
"Sprig! Don't give up!" Maddie shouted.
Beatrix cackled mockingly as she squeezed her arms tighter around Sprig, intending to crush his little body.
"Looks like ya let yer friends down, frog! Surprising no one!"
Sprig looked around; he saw the worried expressions of the crowd. Then he looked at Polly and Anne who looked like they were wanting to jump into the cage and stop the fight. Ivy and Maddie looked on with expressions that were a mixture of both worry, and confidence that Sprig would pull through. Finally, his eyes fell on Grime, holding a stoic expression, and that's when his trainer's words resonated in his mind.
"Let rage give you strength. If you funnel it correctly, it can be a secret weapon."
Sprig looked upon Beatrix as he furrowed his brow. He called upon all the anger he had inside of him, all the bad that's happened thanks to Andrias and The Night, the thought of letting down his town, Anne, and even Sasha. He funneled all that frustration and rage, making his face turn bright red from anger. Sprig suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through his little body, and that's when he started to push himself off of Beatrix.
"W-What's this?!"
Sprig reared back his head, released a loud battle cry, and he threw his head forward, headbutting Beatrix right in her face. The toad warrior, not expecting such a strike, was caught off guard yet again as she let go of Sprig, letting him land on the ground, crying out in pain, and cupping her face as she stumbled backwards.
Once on the ground, Sprig took a deep breath and focused.
"What's he doing?" Maddie asked.
Sprig raised his fists up and positioned his legs and a very familiar way.
"Wait…" Anne looked more closely at his stance and that's when it hit her. "No way!"
"Is he?" Ivy asked.
"Boonchuy, is that–?"
"Oh yeah, it is!"
Grime simply crossed his arms and smirked, this fight was about to end.
Beatrix's eyes blinked as the pain started to recede a bit, but it wasn't long before she was assaulted again. The toad lord released a painful grunt as she felt something strike her in the gut. When she looked down, she saw that Sprig had hit her with a knee strike. The little frog dropped low to the ground, funneled his rage again, and jumped straight up into a flying uppercut right to Beatrix's chin.
The toad lord was knocked back yet again, becoming disoriented. Sprig used his tongue to latch onto a bar, as he zigzagged around the arena again, and this time came in with a flying roundhouse to the back of Beatrix's head, making her stumble forward this time. Sprig came at her again from the front, but Beatrix threw a punch to intercept him. In an amazing display of agility and reaction time, Sprig rolled around her punch and into a spinning elbow right into her face.
"AUGH!" Beatrix grunted.
"WOOOOO! C'MON, SPRIG! KICK HER BUTT!" Maddie yelled with enthusiasm.
Sasha, Ivy, Anne, Hop Pop, Polly, and R/C Frobo looked at her with surprise. That was the first time they had ever seen or heard Maddie yell with such excitement.
Sprig kept up his assault, this was his secret weapon, a fighting style that no frog, toad, or even newt had ever seen before, a fighting style that came from another world, a fighting style used by the person that Sprig not only admired but saw as a hero.
Beatrix was huffing and panting, she had received multiple blows from almost every direction, and she was getting winded. This…This is impossible! I'm…I'm losing to a FROG!
"Let's end this, Beatrix!" Sprig exclaimed.
A gust of wind blew through the arena, strangely enough, the wind started to kick up a little tornado around Sprig. The pink frog boy widened his stance as he brought his left arm forward and raised his right up just a bit. Sprig quickly looked up, and shot his tongue up to the highest bar, wrapping around it as he flung himself high into the air, the wind seemingly giving the frog child a boost to his ascension. Sprig released his tongue as he passed through the bars of the arena cage, going higher and higher into the air as he began spinning around, building up his momentum as he did so.
Beatrix wasn't about to get blindsided like that again, so she quickly grabbed her axes, ready to cut down the pink frog once he was in range. Just then, something happened. As Sprig kept spinning, the smog clouds parted, the parting of the clouds allowed the sun to shine through, bathing the arena in natural sunlight that had not been filtered by the clouds of pollution. It was at this same time, Sprig allowed himself to fall down towards Beatrix just as he extended his right leg forward and descended into a flying kick.
The toad lord looked right in Sprig's direction, unfortunately, in doing so, she got an eye full of the bright shining sun, and for a moment, it seemed as if Sprig was engulfed in a fireball that was coming straight at her. That blinding light made her have to close her eye, and in doing, made it impossible to defend against the incoming attack. Sprig finally descended and struck Beatrix right in the chest, bouncing off her, and sending the toad warrior flying to the other side of the cage where she impacted hard against the bars.
Sprig panted as he kept his fists raised, but everyone else held their breath as they waited to see if that was the decisive blow. Beatrix grunted as she took a step away from the cage, and then another step, and a third. The Wartwood frogs couldn't believe that Beatrix was still standing after that kick, even Sprig looked shocked. The toads were cheering for Beatrix, confident that their leader would never lose to a frog.
However, when Beatrix took her fourth step, she let go of her axes, and fell backwards. The toad lord of the west tower collapsed, falling unconscious onto the ground. Silence reigned over everyone in the area, it took a moment for it to register in their heads that Beatrix fell, and Sprig was still standing.
"SPRIG WINS! SPRIG WINS!" Polly yelled as she rang the bell.
The cage was lifted, allowing the Wartwood frogs to rush out of the stands and down to where Sprig was. Toadstool and another frog hoisted onto their shoulders and began victoriously holding him high above them.
"WOOO! Sprig! That was badass!" Sasha praised as she approached, applauding the whole way.
"Sprig, since when did you learn Muay Thai?!" Anne exclaimed.
"I kind of just been practicing whenever I got a moment alone. I wanted to surprise you one day when I got the moves down," Sprig explained.
"Dude, you freakin' nailed it! You were amazing!"
"Well, I couldn't have done it without Grime's training," Sprig remarked.
"Humph, dang right you couldn't." Grime replied, but then broke out into laugher. "Hahahahahaha! No, I'm totally kidding." The former gladiator reached out brought Sprig into a headlock as he gave him a playful noogie. "Great job, Sprig."
"AHEM!"
All eyes shifted towards Beatrix, having just regained consciousness as she got back to her feet.
"I have to admit, that, uh, frog-toad fightin' style was impressive," Beatrix admitted.
Grime let go of Sprig as he the frog child corrected, "It's actually, frog, toad, and human."
Anne smiled at her surrogate little brother, feeling pride swell in her chest from hearing him include her in his new fighting style.
"Perhaps our armies, together, will be stronger as well." Beatrix turned her gaze to Sasha. "Commander Sasha, I hereby pledge my troops to fight for the resistance!"
Sasha was stunned but bowed her head gratefully. "Beatrix, it'll be an honor to have your forces and ours fighting side-by-side against Andrias and his forces."
Beatrix walked up to Sasha and held out her right hand, Sasha smiled and shook Beatrix's hand, cementing their alliance.
"Wow, who woulda thought. Frogs and toads on equal footin'," said Hop Pop.
Once the hand shaking was over, Grime stepped forward and said, "I know this undercuts the lesson, but it's too good to pass up."
Grime quickly jumped next to his sister and began dancing around her as he sang in a childish manner.
"You got beat a frog~! Beatrix lost to a frog~! A puny little–!"
Beatrix then swiftly raised her left fist and struck Grime atop his head, instantly knocking him out and ending his annoying song.
"Okay, see ya when the war starts," said Beatrix as she and her toads headed out.
Once they had left, Maddie and Ivy approached Sprig, making him turn around to look at them.
"Sprig, that was amazing! Utterly amazing!" Maddie gushed.
Sprig blushed a little from the praise as he rubbed the back of his head.
"T-Thanks, I'm just glad I could help make the alliance possible," Sprig replied.
Ivy smirked a little and said, "Well, you sure did. And I think that deserves a reward."
Sprig wasn't sure what Ivy meant by a reward, but he quickly found out what it was when she closed the distance and kissed him on the cheek.
"Uh…Sprig," Maddie shyly called out.
"Yeah, Maddie?"
"Um…good job!"
The goth frog girl quickly leaned forward and kissed Sprig on his opposite cheek.
Sasha's jaw dropped. Anne smirked like a cat. Polly threw her arms into the air and mouthed the word, "Finally!" Hop Pop's mouth also dropped. And R/C Frobo's eyes turned into question marks.
Maddie quickly stepped back, pulled out a curse pouch, and threw it at the ground in front of her. A cloud of purple sparkling smoke wrapped around her, and in the next moment she was gone.
"Uh, what the hell?! When did THAT happen?!" Sasha asked.
"Kinda happened last night," Ivy answered.
"Thank Frog! I was not about to deal with that forever," said Polly.
Anne moved closer to Sprig as she got down on one knee and playfully punched him in the arm.
"Heh-heh, dude, you're taking after your big sis, huh? Dude? Sprig? You, okay buddy?" Anne asked.
Sprig had been silent this whole time, in fact, he hadn't moved an inch since Maddie kissed him. Anne lightly tapped him on the head, and Sprig fell onto his side like a frozen statue.
Polly sighed and said, "Whelp, he's broken."
A/N: If it wasn't obvious, yes, Sprig did just perform Ryuki's Final Vent.