This may be the last chapter for 2022.

Yesterday was something. Sprig wanted to go on the annual fishing trip with Hop Pop, but Hop Pop decided to spice things up by going on a date with Sylvia Sundew. Jealous, Sprig did everything he could to get rid of her, even stranding her on a small island...which turned out to be the shell of a giant crab. Sprig successfully rescued Sylvia while she furiously kicked the crab in the face, severely harming it. After saving her, Sprig confessed he was jealous of Sylvia and apologized for his behavior around her and that he was happy that Hop Pop was lucky to have someone like her around. Oh, and Anne and Johan went hang gliding (which ended badly) and then the two of them killed the crab and ate it. So, yeah. That happened.

Today was another trip to the archives, one that wasn't hindered by Sprig deliberately putting the family in danger. However, their visit to the underground library was more or less a disappointment.

"Well, that was a waste of time," said Hop Pop as he drove Bessie.

"Ugh, you said it," said Anne. "Can't believe there was nothing in the archives about my music box." She looked down at the music box sitting in her lap.

"Maybe they did have it somewhere," said Johan. "But what if it was purposely removed from history?"

"What do you mean?" asked Anne.

"Like, what if someone took the time to erase all traces of the music box from the archives? Keep anyone from finding out about it."

"That's creepy," said Hop Pop.

Sprig and Polly looked at the music box still in Anne's lap. "So, you really think this is your key to getting home?"

"Well, it zapped me and JoJo here, so, yeah. It's pretty much my only lead. Really looking forward to finding someone who can help me fix this thing." Anne repeatedly opened and close, as if hoping it will work again, but nothing happened. "Bleh!"

"Well, at least we know this part works," said Johan as he turned the crank. Music began to play, an eerie, yet beautiful tune. But other than that, nothing happened. "And I'm still curious as to know what these words carved on the lid mean."

"Don't worry, Anne, JoJo," said Hop Pop. "We'll figure it out eventually."

Johan scoffed. "How long is eventually?"

Then all of a sudden, Bessie came to a screeching halt on the road. What was walking across the road in front of her were very strange and—ironically—cartoonishly looking, tiny creatures. They looked like fruits or fuzzballs with legs and eyes. "Hey, get outta the way, you... Whatever the heck you are," shouted Hop Pop.

"Questo posto diventa sempre più strano."

"I don't know what you said, JoJo," said Anne. "But I agree with you."

Sprig saw that the little creatures were coming from a hole in a tree. "Oh, hey. What's that? Man, these things are cute." He took a peek in the hole.

"Sprig, Sprig, don't put your hand in there," Anne warned.

He ignored her and stuck his hand in. Then he pulled out something from it: it looked like a red and gold egg with an hourglass symbol on it. "Guys, look what I found! I think it's an entry ticket for the Bizarre Bazaar!"

"The what now?"

"The Bizarre Bazaar. I've never been, but I've heard stories. It's a mysterious night market that passes through once a year. Exotic foods, games, mysterious treasures."

That filled Anne with hope. "Really? Maybe someone there will know how my music box works."

"Hold up! From what I've heard, that bazaar is full of greedy degenerates. Wave that thing around, and it'll get stolen for sure."

Johan thought it over. "Sounds risky, but it's our only lead," he said. "It's a risk we're going to have to take."

"JoJo, there are some risks that you can't take! Especially when children," Hop Pop gestured to Sprig and Polly. "Are involved. Tell you what. I'll reach out to some frogs I knoW and see if they know a thing about your music chest."

"Box." said Anne.

"That, too."

Frustrated, Anne sighed and leaned back in her seat. "All right, fine," she said with a frown.

Hop Pop turned to Johan. "Fine. We won't go. We'll do it your way."

When the little beings finally finished crossing the road, Hop Pop smiled happily. "Finally. Let's go. Hyah! Hyah!"

As Bessie drove forward, Sprig sat with Anne and Johan silently for a moment. Polly was just reading a book, not paying any attention. They sat silently for a moment before Sprig asked, "We're going to the Bizarre Bazaar tonight, aren't we?"

"Sì."

"Obvi."

That night, while everyone in Felicia's Tea Shoppe was asleep, Johan silently slipped out of his pajamas and put on his casual clothes. Then he tiptoed downstairs and was about to reach for the door when... "JoJo?" He froze and turned to see Ivy. "Where are you going?"

"Nunya."

"What's Nunya?"

"None ya business."

Johan grabbed the doorknob only for Ivy to stop him. "All I need to do is scream and Mom and Grandma will wake up," she warned.

Johan seethed then grunted in frustration. Finally he gave in. "Fine. I'm going to the Bizarre Bazaar with Anne and Sprig."

Ivy gasped with excitement. "THE BIZARRE BAZAAR?!"

"SHHH!"

"Sorry. The Bizarre Bazaar?" Ivy asked, a little softer this time. "Can I come, I've never been there!"

"I don't know. It might be a bit dangerous."

"Please, I get into dangerous stuff all the time. Besides," Ivy said with a warning. "If you don't, I'll tell Mom and she'll tell Hop Pop where you guys are going. It's called the parental ring."

Johan remained silent. Then he said, "Fine. But you have to stay by Sprig's side."

"Deal."

They left the Tea Shoppe and waited just at the edge of town for Anne and Sprig. Finally they saw them coming. "It's about time," said Ivy. "Oh, hi Sprig."

Sprig started to blush. "I-I-Ivy..."

"Wait, what is she doing here?" asked Anne.

"I didn't have a choice," said Johan. "If I didn't bring her with me, she'll tell on us."

Anne gasped. "Dude, that's the number one rule in Sasha's book: don't squeal!" Then she said, "Fine! She can come!"

"Yipee!" Ivy held Sprig close and he continued to babble and blush.

"Okay, which way?" Anne asked him. He remained kept babbling. "SPRIG!"

"Huh? Oh! I don't know. I think the egg is supposed to show us." He dropped the egg and it broke. "Whoops."

"DUDE!" screamed Anne.

"Guys?" Johan pointed to the broken egg and what was sitting in it: a creature similar to the small, fluffy cartoon beings they saw earlier on the road. It got up onto its legs and ran off into the forest. "After it!" he shouted.

The kids chased it into the forest until it came to a dead end. Not that that stopped it as it began to bury itself into the ground. Anne tried to catch it, but it was too late. "NOOOO! WE WERE SO CLOSE!"

Johan was about to try to comfort her when something strange happened: the mushrooms growing out the ground started to light up and glow like a lightbulb, forming a path deeper into the woods. The kids followed the mushrooms until they came across an archway made from the base of a giant tree. Above the archway was a giant hourglass that matched the symbol on the egg. The kids walked through the archway and that's when they found what they were looking for.

The night market was much larger than the kids were expecting, filled with stands and shops, and was bustling with many amphibians and more of those small cartoonish creatures. Orange lanterns hanging from ropes across the bazaar lit up the area. Several artifacts, like pottery, ancient calendars, sundials, beads, metals, minerals, plants, exotic animals, and other strange objects were being sold across the many stands, including many strange foods. There were also games and other activities for participants to join in on. Oh, and there was also the occasional pickpocket. What shady market would be complete without a pickpocket?

"Whoa," said Anne as she, Johan, Sprig and Ivy began to explore the market. "Hop Pop was right. This place is intense."

Suddenly, she bumped into a long, lanky frog. "Hey, watch it, string bean."

"Hey, we're walkin' here!" shouted Johan, scaring him off. He chuckled and said, "This is my kind of place."

Anne saw something that immediately grabbed her attention. It was an artifact stand with the sign next to it that read "Valeriana's Mysterious Goods". On display were treasures and weapons and armor, but only one stood out the most to Anne and Johan. It was a golden shield with three gems on it: blue, green and pink.

"That looks just like the ones on the music box," said Johan.

"Suspiciously so," said Sprig.

"Where's the vendor," asked Anne.

"According to that sign," said Ivy, pointing to an "Out To Lunch" sign sitting on the display case. "They won't be back for a while."

"RRRRH! Are you kidding me?" Anne groaned in frustration.

Johan fell flat on his back. "Non avrebbe mai dovuto esserlo. Il destino ha cospirato contro di noi."

"Say it in English!"

"I said, it was never meant to be. Fate has conspired against us."

"Hey, hey. It's fine. They'll be back," said Ivy. "And in the meantime," she said as she grabbed Sprig's hand. "Might as well check out the rest of the bazaar."

"You said it," said Sprig as the two of them walked toward the closest food stand.

"Okay," said Anne. "But we gotta come right back here. I don't wanna mess this up."

Sprig and Ivy approached a food stand selling hot xiaolongbaos. "Four please," said the former. The vendor handed them four xiaolongbaos. Johan payed for them as he and Anne took their buns from Sprig.

"Hey, this actually looks pretty good," said Anne. They were about to take a bite when Sprig and Ivy took a bite of theirs, revealing the bugs inside them. "Or not."

"You know what?" said Johan as he took a bite. "I don't give a damn anymore." Anne gagged.

Sprig and Ivy shared bug shish-kabobs, only for one of the bugs to bite him on the tongue, making him scream. Ivy grabbed a stick and smacked the bug until it was dead.

The quartet played poker with a pair of frogs. One of them cheered. "Yes! I win! Now I can buy my house back. Hooray!"

"Ah, ah." Johan said as he laid down his cards. "A straight flush."

The frog screamed and cried as he slammed his head on the table.

"Should have folded," Johan said as he collected his winnings. He felt a hand in his pocket and grabbed the perp. He glared at the little masked frog and said, "If you don't take your hand out of my pocket, I'LL CHOP IT OFF!" The masked frog ran away screaming.

Ivy rode on a rodeo rhinoceros beetle only to be flung off and landed Sprig's arms. The two of them blushed.

Anne and Johan drank some bubble tea...only for it to be revealed that the boba was actually spider eggs which proceeded to hatch. Anne yelled as she dropped her glass while Johan kept drinking. "I'm not surprised anymore," he said.

"Wow. It's amazing how far removed this place is from Wartwood," said Anne. "There's absolutely nothing familiar here."

"Oh, hey, there's Wally," said Sprig.

The local kook was playing dice with some frogs. "Come on. Wally needs a new pair of shoes." He rolled the dice and got himself a pair of sixes. "Whoo-hoo!" One of those cartoon creatures appeared and kicked the dice, giving him snake eyes instead. "What? This is larceny! I want my money back!"

Suddenly, a pair of cloaked guards appeared and grabbed him by the shoulders. "You know the rules."

"No refunds at the Bizarre Bazaar."

"You're coming with us."

The pair of them lifted Wally up and proceeded to drag him out. "Ah! Get your hands off me. Help!"

BANG! BANG!

The two guards dropped to the ground, unconscious. Anne had used her Ripple to send rocks flying at the guards' heads. Johan gave Wally the winnings he got from the poker game.

"Th-Thanks, mate," Wally said as he ran off.

"I didn't know I had it in me," said Anne.

"You did the right thing. No one cheats a friend of Passione like that," said Johan. "Now if you excuse me, I have enough money left to pay off the manager of the bazaar to keep quiet."

The quartet returned to the table just in front of the artifact stand and ate their snacks as they waited. Suddenly, a waitress walked up to them and handed them four glasses of root beers. "Here you go, ladies and gentlemen," she said.

"We didn't order these," said Anne.

"Compliments of that gentleman over there," the waitress said, pointing over her shoulder. Sitting at a table was a blue newt with long blonde hair and wearing a pink suit. He was watching them intently.

As the waitress left, Johan leaned in and whispered to Anne and the frog kids, "I don't like this. That guy has been following us and watching us from a distance the whole time we were here."

"Is that so," asked Anne. She stood up and shouted, "HEY! YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO US, SAY IT TO OUR FACES!"

"Oh, yeah, that'll scare him off," snarked Ivy.

At last, the moment they had waited for arrived. A hand reached out from inside the artifact stand and turned the sign to open. Anne gasped with excitement. "Finally!" She led Johan and the frog kids to the stand.

Inside, a figure was shuffling around and muttering in what sounded like a female Romanian accent, "Now where did I put my incense burner?"

"Ahem," said Johan. "Excuse me?"

"Huh? Oh! Customers!" The figure stepped out of the shadows and revealed herself to be a fire salamander with silver hair and wearing a brown and black cloak and a glove on her tail. She had light red eyes, slit, dark-shaded red pupils, and medium-length grayish-blonde hair. One of her eyes appeared slightly out of shape and possibly damaged.

She greeted them, "Ah, velcome. Velcome to Valeriana's Antiques."

It was then Sprig saw the reason she had a glove on her tail. "Anne, JoJo, I think she's missing an arm," he whispered.

"I heard that."

"Oh!" Sprig laughed nervously before picking up a small cauldron from the stand. "Hey. What is this thing?"

"Just one of my many treasures collected from my years of travel," Valeriana said as her tail grabbed a tea kettle and poured a liquid into the cauldron. The kids watched in amazement as a bonsai tree popped out. "I've seen and heard it all."

Her pet parrot fly hybrid squawked. "Seen it all. Heard it all."

"Betcha haven't seen anything like us, though," Anne said, pulling Johan close to her.

Valeriana inspected the two of them with a three-lensed magnifying glass. "No, not exactly," she said.

"Uh, there's something I'd like you to take a look at," said Anne as she unzipped her backpack.

"Uh, you sure about this?" asked Sprig. "Maybe Hop Pop was right."

"You heard her. She's seen it all," said Anne. "If anyone knows anything about the music box-"

YOINK!

A small frog wearing a mask and hood ran by and snatched the backpack right out of her hand. "Oh, no you don't!" Johan pulled out his gun and was about to fire when the hooded frog jumped up spun around like a drill and dove into the ground. "Okay, I didn't expect that," said Johan as he holstered his gun.

"FIND HIM!" shouted Anne.

As the kids took off to search for the thief, Valeriana drummed her fingers on the stand while her tail rested on her chin. "Could it be, Leander? Could she be the one we've been searching for?" Instead of responding, the parrot-fly began coughing and hacking. "No, Leander! Not on the carpet!"

"Where's that tiny thief," grumbled Anne.

"There he is!" Ivy pointed to the thief, who ran into a game vendor stand. The quartet chased after him and caught him hanging the backpack alongside other stolen goods. Panting, the thief took off his disguise, revealing himself to be a small green frog with beady eyes and wearing a brown suit. Gulping, the vendor quickly tried to play innocent, despite knowing that these kids would have killed him. "Greetings. Come to try your luck at my fun and exciting game?"

Johan pointed his gun in the vendor's face and said, "Give me the backpack and I won't kill you."

"Backpack?"

BANG!

"Whoo!" The vendor, whose name is Marnie by the way, ducked. "Uh...please go before I call security!"

"Security's unconscious. They'll be out for a while."

Marnie squeaked. Then he recomposed himself and said seriously, "Listen, I know who you are, JoJo of Passione." That caught even Johan by surprise. "We here at the Bizarre Bazar are much like your little gang. We have our own rules, we keep our own secrets, we have our own creed." As he spoke, the kids realized several of the vendors were watching them intently. This was a den of thieves after all and they had their own version of honor. "Besides, once something is on my prize wall, the only way to get it back is to win it. Bizarre Bazaar rules."

The backpack started to move on its own, only for Marnie to snap at it, "Don't even think about it, Stand user." Ivy squeaked as Invisible Touch deactivated, revealing her. "Most of the merchants here are Stand users. It's how we make money around here."

Johan saw that they didn't have a choice. If they didn't do things the bazaar's way, they'll most likely get beat up and then kicked out. "Fine," said Johan. He holstered the gun. "What do we need to do to get the backpack back? Poker? Liar's dice? Backgammon? A surface tension coin game?""

"Or is it the dunk tank? Whack-a-mole? Whack-a-tank-a-dunk-a-mole?" asked Anne.

Johan gave her a strange look. "'Whack-a-tank-a-dunk-a-mole'?"

"I don't know. I'm desperate, okay?!"

Marnie chuckled. "Oh, it's a little more involved than that."

"Behold!" Marnie exclaimed as he showed them a race track/obstacle course, with the racers riding on the backs of giant cockroaches moving as fast as go-carts. "That's right, folks. Thrills! Chills! Spills! The best cockroach racing this bazaar has to offer!"

"Giant cockroaches," deadpanned Anne. "Of course."

"Now then, who has the guts to challenge this strange-looking biped couple, and their little pink and yellow children?" Marnie said, pointing his cane to Anne and Johan.

Hearing this, the two human children gagged. "WOAH! WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!" shouted Anne.

"Yeah, he's way too old for her," said Ivy.

"Exactly," said Johan. Then he said, "Hey! I'm about the same age as her!"

Suddenly, a deep, booming voice said, "I will take this challenge." Approaching the humans and frog kids was a tall, muscular, scarred up, red frog wearing an eye patch, a green cloak, a brown tunic and black boots.

The people in the crowd gasped. "The Wrecker!"

"He hasn't been seen in years."

The racers took one look at him and paled. "The Wrecker? The legend says he'll wreck yourself if you don't check yourself."

"Let's get outta here."

The two racers hopped off their cockroaches and took off running.

"Oh, boy," said Anne.

"The race is on," shouted Marnie.

Anne and Johan hopped on the blue cockroach while the Wrecker sat on the red. Meanwhile, Sprig and Ivy sat in the stands with the rest of the audience.

"On your marks. Get set. Go!"

The racers charged forward and already people in the audience were taking bets, mostly for the Wrecker.

"I've got 20 on The Wrecker."

"I've got 25."

"I've got a rash." said Wally.

The racers were neck and neck and at that moment, the Wrecker smacked his roach into Anne and Johan's crashing them into a wall. "Hey! That's cheating!" shouted Anne.

"Anything goes in the Bizaare Bazaar," the people in the audience chanted.

Sprig gasped. "Oh, no. They have signs. It must be true!" he said to Ivy.

This did not discourage Johan though. "Good. Anne, get us closer to him!"

"You got it!" Anne got her roach closer to the Wrecker's. Johan summoned DARE who proceeded to pummel the Wrecker.

"MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA, MUDA!"

With one last "MUDA!" DARE managed to knock the Wrecker off his saddle, but he held onto the pommel. Anne and Johan cheered along with Ivy and Sprig. "We're gonna win! We're gonna win! We're gonna win!"

At that moment, however, the newt in the pink suit from before appeared. He whispered something into Marnie's ear and handed him a large bag of money.

Anne and Johan's roach crossed the finish line and the two of them cheered. "WINNER, WINNER, CRICKET DINNER!"

Marnie blew his whistle and shouted, "DISQUALIFIED!"

Anne and Johan's hearts sank. "WHAT?!" they shouted.

"Improper use of a Stand!" Marnie pointed at Johan. "And so, by default, the winner is the Wrecker!" He pulled the backpack off the prize wall and handed it to the Wrecker. "You look fantastic."

"Wait!" Johan called out, quickly standing to his feet. "We want a rematch! I promise I won't use my Stand this time!" However, a gong began to clang. Everyone looked at the giant hourglass and saw that the sand had run out.

"Oh, no. The bazaar's closing!" Anne exclaimed in horror.

With that, all the vendors packed up their things, got onto their wagons while the customers grabbed all their belongings. Everyone grabbed everything that wasn't nailed down and left, leaving Anne, Johan, Sprig and Ivy alone and stunned.

Johan fell to his knees and hands. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOOOOOO!" he screamed and pounded his fist. "It's gone! The music box is gone!"

"And our only way home!" screamed Anne. She looked like she was about to have a panic attack.

"Maybe, uh, we can find someone who knows The Wrecker," suggested Sprig, trying his best to comfort them.

"I mean, someone has to know his whereabouts," said Ivy.

"HOW, EDERA?! HOW?!" shouted Johan in anger. "YOU HEARD THEM! HE HASN'T BEEN SEEN IN YEARS!" He pounded his fist again and said, "He's probably long gone by now."

"Hey."

"AAAHHH!" Everyone screamed and pointed. "THE WRECKER!"

Seeing a chance to get her backpack back, Anne approached the giant frog. "Look, I know you won my backpack, but there's something inside I really need. You gotta give it back. I'll do anything," Anne pleaded with him with all the desperation she felt.

But instead of talking, the giant frog took off his cloak, eyepatch and...mask?! And guess who it was underneath? It was Hopediah Plantar wearing a pair of stilts.

"HOP POP?!" exclaimed Anne, Sprig and Ivy.

Johan slapped himself in the face. "Non ho capito bene."

"I don't know what you said," said Hop Pop. "But if you're wondering why I'm here, it's pretty obvious. I knew you three couldn't resist the Bizarre Bazaar, so I decided to keep watch in case you got yourselves in a pickle! Which you did. A big, fat pickle. And JoJo," he said to the boy. "I expected better from you. Dragging Ivy into a dangerous place like this where she could have gotten hurt! I bet her mother and grandmother don't know about this!"

"I... Hopediah..."

"Wait, Mr. Plantar," said Ivy. "JoJo didn't want to bring me. I wanted to come so badly, I threatened to tell on him, Anne and Sprig if he didn't. Please don't blame him for my mistake."

Hop Pop looked at her then said, "While I appreciate your honesty, we're going to have a talk with Felicia and Sylvia when we get back. Anyways, here you go." He handed Anne the backpack.

She gasped with happiness as she held it. However, when she did, she realized something dreadful. "This...this feels light!" She quickly unzipped it and to her horror, she found it was empty. "It's gone," she whispered with dread. Hearing that, Johan's heart nearly stopped.

"What do you mean it's gone?" asked Sprig.

"IT'S GONE! THE MUSIC BOX IS GONE!" She dropped the backpack, fell onto her posterior and began hyperventilating.

Johan grabbed Hop Pop and shouted, "HOP POP! TELL ME YOU HAVE IT!"

"I...I don't! I only had the backpack!"

"But where could it have-"

"Dojyaaan." Everyone turned around. There stood the newt in the pink suit. In his left hand was the music box. "That little thief dropped this while you were chasing him." Anne reached for the box but he held it back. "The world's fate is dependent on this box, little girl. For you to carelessly lose it..."

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about," Anne said. "I just want it back!" The newt handed it to her. She looked at it with realization as she said to Hop Pop, "You were right. I was too impatient for answers." She handed it to him. "Here. Go through your trusted channels. I'm okay with waiting a little longer."

Hop Pop took it with hesitation as he said, "I'll do my best, Anne. I know how important this is to you and JoJo."

"My work is done," said the newt as he turned to leave.

"Hey!" Johan shouted. "Who are you? Why were you stalking us like that and what were you doing here?"

The newt stopped. "I'm just a fellow Bizarre Bazaar patron. Truth be told, I was in the market for flesh-eating bacteria repellent. As for why I was stalking you... Forgive me for being too curious. Now if you excuse me, my wife is expecting me." And with that, he left.

Johan narrowed his eyes. "I don't like that guy."

"Neither do I," said Hop Pop.

Suddenly, Sprig jumped onto Hop Pop's back and exclaimed, "Okay, back up. You're The Wrecker, Hop Pop? How many games have you beaten? Did it ever get dangerous, Hop Pop? Have you killed a man, Hop Pop?"

Hop Pop took the boy off and said, "Whatever happens in the Bizarre Bazaar stays in the Bizarre Bazaar."

"Aw, man!"

Anne chuckled. "Just like Vegas."

"Sure, Anne. Just like Vegas," said Hop Pop.

"You didn't answer his question," said Johan.

Hop Pop gestured to himself. "Look at me, JoJo. Do you really think I'm capable of killing someone?"

"Uh..."

"Please don't answer that."

"You know, I feel like this actually worked pretty well," said Ivy. "I had some fun, I got to hang out with Anne, Sprig, Polly and JoJo..."

"...I got grounded," said Ivy as she lied in bed. "But you know what? It was worth it. What do you think, JoJo?"

Johan frowned and turned away from her. "Non sto parlando con te."

"Aw, come on, at least we're grounded together!" Johan threw a pillow at her.

At the Plantar house, Sprig called out, "Night, you guys."

"Night, kiddos," called out Hop Pop.

All the lights went out. A few minutes later, a single light turned on. Hop Pop stepped out of the house with the music box in one hand and a shovel in the other. He walked to a tree in the backyard, dug a hole next to it and threw the music box in it. With a look of guilt and regret, he said, "Sorry, Anne, JoJo, but I can't have you showing this thing around. Too dangerous for all of us." He filled up the hole and patted it down. "Now it's where it belongs. Where no one can find it." He walked back into the house, knowing he was breaking Anne and Johan's trust, but if it meant keeping his grandchildren safe, so be it.

Back in his office, the mayor of Swamp Shiro laid down a map of Amphibia and circled three spots. "In the morning, I have to make a call for the best demolition team I can find. And three crates full of boom shrooms for extra measure." He glanced over at the music box sitting on a pedestal in the corner of his office. "I wonder how long it will take for them to realize I did the old switcheroo?"

"You must be desperate," said a Romanian voice. The mayor looked up to see the one-armed fire salamander.

"Valeriana," he acknowledged.

"I won't allow you to do this," she said. "Not only will you destroy ancient Amphibia history, you will also destroy the only way that girl and her friends will ever get home!"

The mayor glared at her. "You know that's a lie."

"I know you've been trying for years to defy the prophecy the Olms envisioned, but what you're doing is wrong. The girls have to be the one to make the decision to save Amphibia or let it be destroyed. It is not up to me and it's certainly not up to you to decide how it plays out!"

"Destiny can change just as quickly as the love in one's heart can fade. Nothing is set in stone. I thought you realized that when you created the box in the first place and gave it to the first king."

A look of guilt formed on Valeriana's face before her expression hardened. "I can't let you do this." She reached for the music box, only to stop when a light-colored hand blocked her. She looked up to see a large humanoid creature with large, upright horns that resembled a rabbit's ears, a masked mandible, and a light-colored body lined by an almost unbroken seam or trim. It looked like it was stitched together like a baseball. Under its brow, its eyes appeared to emote a cold gaze. "You would dare use your Stand on me?" she asked.

"You know what Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap can do." The mayor stood up in his seat. "I have claimed the first napkin. From now on, the prophecy will follow how I want it and Amphibia will be saved." He dismissed his Stand. "Now leave, or I will have to call security."

Valeriana shook her head. "In your haste to save the world, Valentine, you might end up destroying it." She walked into the shadows and disappeared.

Valentine glanced down at the map and exhaled. "It's a risk I'm willing to take, for the sake of my home." He glanced up at the mural again. "It has to be worth it."

To Be Continued...