A/N: Now this is where things start to get darker and more foreboding. And the release of this chapter is in celebration of the 1-year Anniversary of the Amphibia Series Finale (I only wish I did it 2 days ago...). I did like the Calamity Girls' super forms. :)
Amphibia: Secrets of Newtopia
Chapter 16: The Second Temple
In the Archives, Melkor and Azog met up with each other to convey a meeting.
"My lord. We have found one of the original frobots in Wartwood.", Azog reported.
"This is but a defect. But it is no matter. We still only have two more stones left to charge. And once the second stone is charged, we can begin preparing our ambush.", Melkor sneered, worrying Aruman and Maltheal as they saw.
"It appears we'll have to split up between the two remaining temples and stop the ambush at whatever one is present, old friend.", Aruman advised.
"Yes. But once the ambush is thwarted, we shall meet again.", Maltheal grinned.
"And we'll be one step closer to thwarting Andrias and Melkor's plans.", Aruman agreed.
Meanwhile, Joe Sparrow was seen flying through the sky. Hop Pop and Marcy (being more cheerful than on the last temple trip) were sitting in a sling called the "Hop Pocket" while everyone else was in the saddle seat, all of them wearing winter wear while she, Anne, Sasha, and their siblings and triplets in human form.
"Hey. Look. Wooly Mantises!", Sprig pointed.
The group observed them and were amazed. Joe Sparrow landed but slipped on the icy path causing the group to gasp from the pressure before they ended up in a mound of snow and came out of it, but not before Marcy spoke with a muffle.
"Well, that was fun.", Marcy muffled before she and Hop Pop popped out first as did the rest of the temple explorers.
"Welcome to the Amphibian Arctic, everyone!", Marcy introduced.
"Whoooa...", everyone spoke in awe.
"I triangulated the tracking beam from the green stone and...", Marcy began as she took the green stone out of its case and its beam appeared, pointing at a part, but it was cut off by Hop Pop.
"Hop Pop, move.", Polly spoke.
"Oh! Sorry.", Hop Pop apologized with a chuckle as he bent down on the snow and thus cleared the way of the beam.
"Well, it looks like the second temple's right through there.", Sasha said, pointing toward the direction from which the beam is shining toward.
From there, everyone followed the green tracking beam and after passing a group of trees, they came across an arch, which they assumed is the entrance to the Second Temple. But the whole area was covered in thick, cloud-like fog. Just then, a phrase appears in blue in an ancient language.
"'Just beyond these snowy gates, a grueling perilous temple awaits'.", Marcy read, keeping the green calamity stone in a pocket as Anne, Sasha, their siblings, and the Plantars, sundews, and toads reunite with her.
"Uuumm... no, it doesn't.", Polly said due to the fog covering the place beyond.
"Well, maybe that big fog is covering the whole thing up.", Ivy guessed.
"That makes sense. But what doesn't make sense is why that fog is here, let alone what it's even doing here in the first place.", Jackie responded.
"Hmm... That is weird.", Marcy admitted.
"Well, all I know is that it must be here for a reason. What I don't get is what reason could that be.", Max responded.
"Could it be invisible?", Sprig asked, looking for the temple with his hand.
But when he chose to lean on it, he fell and landed in the snow.
"Nope. Definitely not there.", Allison said.
"All the ancient texts about this temple were super vauge. They just mentioned the word 'heart' a lot.", Marcy said.
"Are you sure you read this right?", Grime asked.
"Yes, I'm sure. I haven't been off the mark with translations before. Why would I start now?", Marcy asked.
"OK. Are we looking for something heart-shaped?", Hop Pop asked, making a heart with his hands.
"Maybe we have to rip someone's heart out!", Polly suggested.
"Entertaining idea, but no. Maybe we have to get to the heart of this area.", Grime suggested before suddenly, a loud, mechanical roar sounded, shaking the ground.
"Uh... what was that?", Polly asked.
"I don't know. But I don't think we should stick around here too long to find out.", Bombina suggested.
"To the heart of the area, it is.", Grime agreed.
Just then, a bird passed by the group while cackling, if not cawing. Most of the group screamed in fright and ducked to avoid it as the bird flew through the arch. Then, Anne began to piece together what the bird was.
"Hey, wait! I know that crazy bird!", Anne realized.
"Wait... Me, too!", Jackie realized.
"Me, three!", Rose realized.
"Me, four!", Ivy added before she, Anne, Jackie, Rose, and Sprig followed the bird and crossed the arch deeper into the fog, focused on the bird before it could get too far away to be seen, even amidst the fog.
"Bird!", Liander cawed.
Sure enough, everyone ended up in a store as the bird walked, or rather, flew, into it. Anne, Jackie, Rose, Ivy, and Sprig saw the sign.
"'Valeriana'? Guys, didn't we meet her in the Bizarre Bazaar?", Sprig asked.
"That's right, we did!", Jackie realized.
"And she said she's been all over Amphibia, right? Maybe she's seen the temple.", Rose guessed as she and the others approached the store.
But when they did, all they saw was an "Out to Lunch" sign. In response, they groaned in frustration.
"Why is she always out to lunch?", Anne asked.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Because it's the most important meal of the day!", Valeriana responded, making the group gasp in surprise as they turned to see her and a younger lizard come out from behind a tree.
"Valeriana. It's you!", Jackie said in surprise.
"It's been a while, creature.", Valeriana responded, eating the last piece of meat from her stick.
"Who's that?", Rose asked.
"Oh, yes. This is my daughter, Cor.", Valeriana introduced as she threw the stick in the air and revealed that it was her cane.
"What brings you here? Do you by chance... seek a temple to charge an ancient stone?", Cor asked.
"Oh, yes! You know about the stones?", Anne asked.
"Cor and I talk.", Valeriana explained.
"But do you really think you are worthy?", Cor asked.
"Well..., yeah!", Anne responded.
"Totally!", Jackie agreed.
"Uh-huh.", Rose nodded.
"We shall see.", Cor spoke.
"Cor! Please forgive my daughter. Anyway, it's been a long day for all of you. So, please spend the night and we will begin our trek to the temple.", Valeriana offered.
"Uh..., okay.", Jackie responded.
"Oh, I'm Marcy, and those are my sibs, bt-dubs.", Marcy greeted, giving Valeriana a hand.
"And I'm Sasha. And those are my sibs.", Sasha greeted.
"Uh... nice to meet you.", Cor greeted, giving Marcy her hand first and then Sasha.
"I'm Felicia.", Felicia greeted.
"Sylvia.", Sylvia added.
"I'm Ivy.", Ivy added.
"I am Captain Grime. And this is Bombina, Percy, and Braddock.", Grime introduced as Percy waved.
"Princess Olivia at your service.", Olivia bowed.
"I am General Yunan: Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched, aaaaaand... the youngest newt to ever achieve the rank of General in the great Newtopian army!", Yunan spoke.
"I know very well who you are.", Cor glared, making Yunan shudder in a bit of uneasiness.
"And I'm Hop Pop.", Hop Pop added.
"Uh... hi.", Cor spoke, a bit surprised.
"Polly here.", Polly added.
"Sure.", Cor responded.
Soon, Anne, Sasha, Marcy, their siblings, the Plantars, the Sundews, Olivia, Yunan, and the toads met with Valeriana inside the store with the others already having soup with only Anne, Jackie, Rose, and the triplets not having any as of yet.
"My three daughters and I are the last of an ancient order. Our purpose was to study the sacred stones and temples.", Valeriana explained, showing them a scroll.
"So, you know where the second temple is?", Olivia asked.
"Indeed.", Valeriana replied.
"And do you possess the music box?", Cor asked.
"Sure do.", Anne responded, taking out the Calamity Box from her backpack.
Cor looked attracted to the Calamity Box.
"After all these years, it has returned. I should very much like to hold it.", Cor spoke in awe.
"Uh... I'd rather hold on to it.", Anne said, putting the Calamity Box in her backpack.
"Suit yourself... I'll go get more soup ready. And this time, Anne, I'll be making the soup special for you and your family.", Cor spoke with a glare toward Anne, heading into the kitchen.
Valeriana gave a disapproving glare of her own, too. But it wasn't toward Anne. It was toward her daughter. She walked toward the way Cor went to the kitchen.
"What's wrong?", Anne asked.
"Do you need us to help in the kitchen?", Jackie asked.
"Perhaps some help would be appreciated, yes.", Valeriana responded.
"Well, say no more.", Anne agreed as she and Jackie went in the kitchen with Valeriana.
"Can you tell her the soup's great?", Hop Pop asked.
"Sure thing, Hop Pop. Will do.", Jackie grinned.
Once they went inside the kitchen with Valeriana, though, Cor, upon noticing them, grew testy.
"What are they doing here?", Cor asked testily.
"Cor, be nice. They're just here to help with the soup.", Valeriana urged as Anne and Jackie saw a spice cabinet.
"We got the sense that something was wrong, so we'd thought we'd help.", Jackie explained.
Before Cor could argue, she stopped herself and gave a bit of a grin in realization.
"Well, if you really want to help, it would be nice if one of you can get this spice up on the cabinet for me. I will do the rest.", assured Cor.
"Okay. You're the boss.", Anne agreed before picking up said spice and handing it to Cor.
She simply opened the spice and grabbed a small amount with her hand.
"Just three pinches of this special ingredient will do.", Cor stated before placing said three pinches of a sprinkle of magic into the soup one at a time before stirring, causing the soup to appear blue and glittery.
"Here. Your soup is ready.", Cor spoke, pouring the soup into 6 bowls before giving 3 to Anne and another 3 to Jackie.
"Okay. Thanks.", Anne thanked.
"Yeah, thanks for the soup. It's great.", Jackie agreed, the two siblings leaving with the 6 bowls.
"Oh, no. Thank you.", Cor glared with a grin.
Meanwhile, Anne, Jackie, Rose, and the triplets caught up to the rest of the group and sat down.
"That soup looks different. Special ingredient?", Hop Pop guessed.
"Uh, yeah, actually.", Anne responded before slurping some soup and swallowing it.
"Hm. Not bad. Tastes funny, but not bad.", Anne said before Jackie, Rose, and the triplets tried theirs.
"Yeah. I know what you mean.", Jackie agreed.
"It tastes delicious.", Rose concurred, having finished hers already.
Suddenly, the group heard voices from the kitchen.
"Why must you always be so reprehensive, daughter?", Valeriana asked to Cor.
"Whoa. Are you guys hearing this?", Anne asked.
"How could we not hear it?", Jackie asked.
"The kitchen isn't too far away.", Rose agreed.
"Yeah.", Lily, Andy, and Danny agreed.
The conversation continued as Anne and the others listened in.
"You know very well why. When I was asked to come here, I thought we'd finally meet the chosen ones. But all they seem to be doing is desecrating those sacred grounds with their unworthy presence.", Cor glared, making the 6 gasp in shock from overhearing this.
"Do you believe they'll ever be worthy?", Cor asked.
"We'll simply have to wait until first light tomorrow. And you are not to push them too far in any way. After all, you never know what would happen if they break. Do you understand.", Valeriana spoke.
"I do know. I've seen more than enough behavior from them to predict how their story ends. There are no mysteries to them.", Cor responded judgingly.
As soon as the 6 moved away, they voiced their shock, if not their frustration.
"Are you kidding me with this?! They totally don't have any faith in us whatsoever!", Anne shouted.
"Sure, we've made some mistakes, but what right does they have to judge us, let alone so quickly!", Jackie agreed.
"Cor never even gave us a chance!", Rose added before the triplets "hmph'd" in agreement.
"Well, forget that! I say we prove Cor and Valeriana wrong tomorrow!", Anne vowed.
"Yeah!", the 5 siblings agreed before they, and Anne, suddenly yawned, getting tired.
"Right after we... get some sleep. I'm tired all of a sudden...", Anne yawned.
"Me, too...", Jackie agreed.
"Uh-huh...", Rose agreed before she and her siblings fell soundly asleep.
From seeing this, the others grew curious.
"Well, that's odd. They never get tired at this hour.", Sprig pondered.
"Yeah. I thought they'd stay up at least a bit longer than that.", Polly agreed.
"That may be so, Polly. But they do have the right idea. We need all the energy we can get if we're going to get to findin' the second temple tomorrow.", Hop Pop spoke before yawning.
"So, good night, everyone.", Hop Pop spoke before falling asleep.
"Good night.", everyone else said before falling asleep as well.
The only ones who didn't were Sprig and Polly, their eyes looking at Anne and the others in worry.
The next morning, Anne, Jackie, Rose, Lily, Danny, and Andy woke up. But when they sat up, something felt off.
"Huh? Wait... Does something feel... off to you?", Anne asked.
"Yeah... But what?", Jackie puzzled.
At one point, though, Rose looked at her reflection in the gem on the mantelpiece to notice one crucial detail: her eyes are now frog eyes again.
"Lookit! My eyes are froggy again!", Rose shouted.
"What?", Anne puzzled before she and Jackie saw this and their own froggy eyes as well and the triplets'.
"Uh-oh.", Anne said.
"Our eyes, too? But how?", Jackie puzzled.
"I think we're getting a bit of Deja Vu, here.", Anne said before Hop Pop called out.
"Wake up, everybody! It's time for breakfast!", Hop Pop called.
"Coming, Hop Pop!", Anne, Jackie, Rose, and the triplets shouted back.
Later, everyone was eating Chocopede pancakes.
"So, how was breakfast?", Valeriana asked.
"They're a little burnt.", Polly spoke before Sprig bumped her in the arm gently.
"Polly...!", Sprig glared.
"What?", Polly asked.
"I understand. I'm not very good at cooking myself.", Valeriana admitted.
"Maybe I could help give you some pointers about makin' breakfast sometime if you want.", Hop Pop offered.
"I'll even pitch in as well.", Olivia added.
"That would be nice.", Valeriana grinned.
"Yes. Perhaps for another day. There is a more pressing matter at hand.", Cor said before going in a closet and taking out warm clothes.
"To get to the temple, we must climb the freezing cliffs of Mount Mutu. The best way to get started is to leave your flimsy jackets and wear these caterpilar-wool coats instead.", Cor advised, passing the group some said coats.
"Woo.", Sprig said in awe.
"So fuzzy.", Polly added.
"And so warm, too.", Percy added.
"Who knew?", Braddock asked.
"Since this temple is my responsibility, you all must do exactly as I say. Or else you can say goodbye to ever finding it.", Cor spoke.
"Wait. Why are YOU in charge?", Anne glared.
"And what if someone got hurt?", Jackie added.
"Yeah. And needed help?", Rose added.
"NO EXCEPTIONS! You either do as I say or say goodbye to charging the stone and going home. Are we clear?", Cor asked.
"Crystal.", the Boonchuys glared bitterly.
"Clear!", the rest of the group agreed.
"Clear and comfy.", Hop Pop added.
"Good. Follow me.", Cor responded, starting to leave the store.
The rest followed her, but Anne, Jackie, and Rose stopped Sprig to talk to him in private.
"Something's not right about this lady.", Anne said.
"Didn't you see how she looked at the music box? She's definitely going crazy for it.", Jackie explained.
"Plus, she owns a parrot. Only bad guys own parrots.", Rose added, Anne nodding in agreement.
"That's ridiculous, guys. Now come on or they'll leave us behind!", Sprig urged before leaving the store to follow Valeriana and Cor as Anne and her siblings groaned suspiciously.
Minutes later, Anne, her siblings, the Waybrights, the Wus, the Plantars, the Sundews, the toads, Olivia, and Yunan were now climbing Mount Mutu.
"Quickly, everyone! We'd like to reach the temple in this century.", Valeriana urged.
"Honestly, how could adventurers so lazy ever expect to conquer the temple?", Cor jeered, earning Anne's groans as well as Jackie and Rose's growls of detest.
"Don't listen to her, guys. We're almost there.", Anne assured.
However, Cor inconspicuously started whistling, which prompted some unknown, mechanical thing to grab a large, red-feathered passerine bird with four eyes and move it toward the group, allowing it to hover above them and shriek down, causing everyone but Marcy and Alexis to scream.
"Ah, crud!", Sasha shouted.
"Get away! Get away!", Polly shouted.
"Oh, relax, everyone. It's just a cardinal. They don't eat frogs, toads, or newts. She's just saying 'hello'!", assured Marcy.
However, the cardinal suddenly picked up Marcy in its beak.
"Marcy!", Anne, Sasha, Jackie, Allison, Rose, Pat, Max, and Alexis gasped.
Quickly, Anne caught Marcy off the cardinal's beak. The cardinal then averted its attention to the Plantars, Sundews, Toads, and Newts with Hop Pop holding onto the snowy ledge.
"What the heck, Mar-Mar!", Sasha shouted.
"You said it doesn't eat frogs, toads, or newts!", Anne added.
"I-I was sure that- Wait! Cardinals eat caterpillars. It wants our coats!", Marcy realized.
"And you didn't think to mention that before?!", Sasha shouted incredulously.
Most of the Amphibians tried to pull Hop Pop up, but narrowly avoided the cardinal's beak.
"Guys! You have to take your coats off quick! It's making you bait!", Rose urged.
"No! We need these coats to stay warm.", Sprig shouted.
"And look good!", Polly added.
"These coats are not worth being eaten alive!", Olivia shouted.
"I don't know. I bet I can take that thing.", Yunan smirked before the cardinal only bit off the serated blades from Yunan's glove.
"Well, I've been wrong before.", Yunan said casually.
"Marcy! What do we do?!", Hop Pop shouted.
"Let me think! Let me think!", Marcy spoke in worry.
"No time!", Jackie shouted before she and Anne immediately took off their coats and threw them down the mountain. In response, the cardinal flew down after them.
"Now let's get outta here!", Anne urged before she frantically climbed up to a safe floor on the mountain with the group following her.
When they got there, Anne and Jackie started shivering terribly without their coats.
"You saved us, guys! Here, take my coat.", Hop Pop thanked.
"No! You frogs will turn into ice without protection.", Jackie refused.
"Jackie, are you and Anne okay?", Rose asked.
"We will be, as long as we reach the temple soon.", Anne grinned.
But then, as she and Valeriana arrived, Cor suddenly berated Anne and Jackie.
"It won't be soon! Did you really think it wise to abandon your coats?", Cor berated.
"Well, we had to do something.", Anne responded.
"Yeah, they would've died because of those coats!", Jackie added, Marcy beginning to widen her eyes as if touched.
"Impulsive, defensive, AND quick to blame! Very unworthy qualities, I must say.", Cor jeered as she hit Anne with her staff and poked Jackie in the belly as well before walking away (though not without giving a smirk), Valeriana glaring at Cor with a grunt of disapproval as she continued onward.
"Aw...", Rose groaned.
"Wait. Was Valeriana like that to us? Or Cor?", Jackie puzzled.
"Don't worry, guys. We'll huddle around you for warmth.", Sprig assured before the Plantars and Sundews huddled on Anne and her siblings' legs, especially the triplets, Sasha, Marcy, their siblings, the newts, and 3 out of 4 toads as Grime was just off to the side.
"Grimesy...", Sasha spoke.
"Oh, OK!", Grime responded before he joined the group hug.
Then, Anne and the others followed to catch up with Valeriana and Cor, but struggled to walk on the way.
"Hop Pop, I don't mean to be impolite, but did you gain weight?", Jackie asked.
"It IS impolite to ask, Jackie, but thanks for being considerate.", Hop Pop responded.
Later, they had already made it down Mt. Mutu.
"It's so fortunate that the music box fell into such... average hands. Tell me. How exactly did it come into you possession?", Cor asked.
This made Anne and the others freeze up before Marcy spoke in worry, moving her hand across her neck, telling her not to tell. If some circumstances were different, Marcy would've agreed that she needed to know the truth. But with how Cor had been behaving towards Anne and her siblings recently, all bets were off.
"You know? I don't remember how we got it.", Anne fibbed.
Suddenly, the sound of a loud, mechanical roar from earlier sounded again.
"Ah! There it is again.", Grime said.
"It's the same roar as earlier yesterday.", Bombina added.
"Everyone, we have to stay on guard.", Cor warned before the area started rumbling.
"What's going on this time?", Rose asked.
"Nothing much. Just an avalanche.", Valeriana responded.
"What?!", Everyone shouted in unison.
"Everybody run!", Sprig shouted.
"Shush, you loud little frog! I wasn't finished. It is an avalanche, but not one that is headed towards us.", assured Valeriana.
On cue, the snow fell off the mountain, but not toward their path.
"See? It's heading away from us.", Valeriana stated.
"Wait a second. Look!", Jackie said, pointing toward an igloo hut with a light on inside and a fire left on.
"What about that little hut? It looks like someone inside. We have to save them!", Jackie shouted.
"How? By running towards an avalanche? They are lost, Jacquelin. I say we press on.", Cor advised.
"Cor! At least show some compassion!", Valeriana scolded.
All the same, thinking about what could happen to someone in there was more than Jackie could handle.
"Nuts to that!", Jackie shouted as she dashed off toward the igloo.
"Jackie!", the group shouted.
Soon, as Jackie ran, she noticed her human hands turning webby again.
"What? What's going on?", Jackie puzzled.
Worried as she was, that's for another time. Soon, she had arrived at the igloo and burst the door open.
"Hey! You guys gotta get outta- Huh?", Jackie puzzled before seeing an "Out to Lunch" sign.
"Again with the sign?! How is everyone out to lunch right now?", Jackie puzzled.
Suddenly, the avalanche loomed closer, prompting Jackie to dash off and jump to the ledge, seeing the snow rush out below her.
"Jackie! We gotcha!", Anne urged before she and Anne grabbed Jackie with her noticing that their hands are just as webby as hers.
"You okay?", Rose asked as Jackie panted while Valeriana watched, giving a smile.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. The sooner we hurry and get to the temple, the better.", Jackie responded.
"I hope you're happy. Now, because of you, we are further delayed from reaching the temple.", Cor sneered.
"Do you mind, dude?!", Anne snapped.
"Yeah! She just wanted to make sure they were safe!", Rose added.
"Yes, I do...! We are wasting valuable time!", Cor retorted.
"Cor! Enough.", Valeriana scolded.
Then, Cor simply turned away with a scoff and walked off, muttering to herself which left the Boonchuys looking sour toward Cor.
Moments later, Rose eventually saw a wounded bunny in trouble and gasped in worry.
"Oh, no! A bunny! It's hurt!", Rose shouted in worry.
Suddenly, a wolf with blank blue eyes and two heads emerged, revealed to have been the bunny's assailant.
"Leave it. There's nothing we can do for the little creature.", Cor advised.
But Rose couldn't stand what happens to smaller creatures, so she dashed off and shouted at the predator.
"Hey! You leave that poor bunny alone!", Rose shouted.
The 2-headed wolf only growled at Rose, who suddenly croaked with the bottom of her chin growing puffy and then bigger before deflating back to normal, her neck now expanded in width, scaring off the 2-headed wolf, much to Rose's surprise as she gasped.
"Okay, what just happeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeened?", Anne puzzled as she and Jackie suddenly croaked, going through the same stage.
"What...?", Anne puzzled.
"Us, too? What's going on here?", Jackie puzzled.
"What's going on is that she blatantly ignored my warnings, and for what?! A little bunny!", Cor shouted, earning Rose's glare and a growl.
"Cor! What have I told you about this behavior?", Valeriana glared with her eyebrow raised.
Cor just growled again as she stormed off. And when she did, she noticed the triplets heading over to a few lost puppies.
"No! Stay away! It isn't our place to help them!", Cor shouted.
But the triplets only turned to Cor and gave raspberries at her, stunning her before they went to the little pups, unknowingly turning blue.
"It okay, puppies. We'ww hewp you out.", assured Lily before she, Andy, and Danny led each of the 3 puppies forward, eventually leading them back to their pack.
The pups whined in joy once reunited, earning the triplets' cute smiles. Disgusted as she initially was, unbeknownst to anyone, or simply gave a fond smile at this.
"Aw. That was nice of you three.", Jackie grinned as her skin and Anne's started turning blue again, much to their puzzlement upon noticing.
"Wait, what? Now our skin's turning blue?", Anne puzzled.
"Hold on... Does this mean..., we're slowly turning back into frogs?", Anne asked.
"Don't know. If we are, we'd better hurry and get to the temple or else we'll freeze to death.", Jackie replied.
"So, what do you think about them now?", Valeriana asked.
"I've learned all I need to know about this lot. They just may be the most... disobedient, foolish, poorly prepared, impulsive excuse for chosen ones it has ever been my displeasure to have brought along those sacred grounds! None of these qualities are worthy of the sacred stones and neither of you deserve my help! Good luck finding that temple on your own until you die an early and well-deserved grave!", Cor harshly ridiculed, making Anne and her siblings gasp in shock.
"Oh, snap.", Polly winced.
This only made them angrier than ever.
"You know what...? You are full of such FROG SPIT!", Anne snapped, making Cor turn with a glare to her as everyone else gasped.
"Oh, come on. You barely even gave us a chance! Not only that, now you're gonna strand us out here?", Anne began.
"What kind of a monster are you?!", Jackie added.
"You're a meanie!", Rose added.
"Yeah!", the triplets agreed before giving a raspberry.
Then, Valeriana began to get nervous as she chuckled nervously.
"Okay, everyone. Why don't we all calm down and...", Valeriana began.
"Well, we may be unworthy, but you and your order are even worse! You're nothing but a cruel, judgmental, SNOB!", Anne shouted, her last word echoing in the air.
This was enough to make Cor angry as she then rushed toward Anne and grab her by the arm.
"You insipid brats! You dare insult the order I have dedicated my entire life to?!", Cor sneered.
"Cor, we'd dare to insult everything that's rotten to the core. Especially if the order is run by someone like you.", Jackie glared.
"Yeah. So, what're you gonna do about it?", Anne agreed.
Just then, Cor clutched onto Anne's arm tightly, making her wince.
"I'll show you what happens when worthless beings speak down to a guardian!", Cor spoke angrily, raising her staff.
"Cor, stop this!", Valeriana urged before Cor only swung her staff, causing her, Anne, Jackie, Rose, and the triplets to disappear, puddle-style.
Play Sonic Frontiers Music: "Titan: Giganto"
"Did you guys see that?", Sprig asked.
"Oh, daughter. You have no idea what you are wreaking upon yourself...", Valeriana spoke in worry as elsewhere, a sort of giant, mechanical titan activated on the snowy mountain, its eyes glowing red.
Meanwhile, Anne and the Boonchuys found themselves in a mystic arena of sorts above Amphibia.
"Huh? Whoa!", Rose spoke in awe.
"Where are we? What did you do?", Jackie asked.
"Can we stay here?", Rose asked.
"Actually, can you please show us where the temple is?", Jackie asked.
"Never. You are not worthy. And more than that, none are worthy! So, to answer your question, Rose, you can all stay here.", Cor responded.
"Yes!", Rose spoke eagerly, earning worried glances from Anne and Jackie.
"What? It just looks so cool.", Rose responded.
"It doesn't matter. Now that I finally have you all alone, I can return the box to its rightful guardian... ME!", Cor sneered as her eyes glowed blue.
"What...?!", Jackie puzzled in shock.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Anne felt the Calamity box suddenly popping out from Anne's backpack and floating away.
"Hey, wait! No! Give that back!", Jackie shouted before the blue aura surrounding the Calamity Box disappeared, causing it to crash into the ground, luckily unscathed,
"Careful with that!", Rose urged.
"Yeah! We need that to get home!", Anne added.
"You see? You're still only thinking of yourselves! That kind of behavior is not to be tolerated in the ancient order!", Cor spoke angrily, about to grab the box when Anne grabbed it back.
"You're wrong!", Anne snapped.
"Yeah. We're not THAT selfish!", Rose agreed.
"Oh, no? Didn't you put Anne's life in danger from the Red Leg disease by using infected herbs?", Cor sneered as she attacked her and the others, but missed as they dodged.
"That was one time!", Rose shouted before Jackie gasped.
"How do you know that...?!", Jackie asked, horrified about the fact that Cor knew about it before being forced to dodge again.
"Didn't you drive the family snail even though you were told not to, especially against Jackie's advice?", Cor added accusingly, attacking, but missing again.
"You know about that, too?!", Anne exclaimed.
"Tell me! What else do you know?!", Jackie shouted.
"I know that you snore.", Cor smirked.
"Okay, that came out more weird than scary.", Jackie commented.
"Yep. Could've kept that one to yourself.", Anne agreed before Cor tripped Anne into the ground, taking the box away again.
"Didn't you steal Hopediah's wallet for a girls' day on the town?", Cor accused.
Suddenly, Rose dashed toward Cor and hit her in the chest as she shrunk to Polly's size (as did the triplets as they cheered), making her let go of the box before Anne caught it while she and Jackie shrank to Sprig's size.
"Okay. That is definitely not how that happened.", Anne retorted.
"Yeah. It didn't even have any money in it.", Jackie added.
"But you did steal the music box. Did you not?", Cor asked to Anne, making her remember when Anne stole the music box.
"I... I... I did steal it.", Anne spoke in defeat.
"And YOU lied to Rose about it to cover for her stealing said box, did you not?", Cor asked accusingly.
Then, Jackie sighed in defeat, too.
"It's true... I did lie...", Jackie sighed.
"So it is. You are all liars AND thieves! Now, it's time for you to reap what you sow...!", Cor spoke before raising her arm and activating a wristwatch like a communicator of sorts.
"Make them suffer...!", Cor ordered before ending the call and laughing, making Anne and Jackie gasp.
"What did you do? What did you do?!", Jackie asked.
But Cor only laughed louder.
"STOP LAUGHING! ANSWER ME!", Jackie shouted.
"You'll all see.", Cor smirked as she then used the wristwatch to show the hologram of the mechanical giant roaring before firing at the mountain, causing an avalanche to fall straight down towards Sprig and the rest of the group, making Rose and the triplets gasp.
"Oh, no..! Sasha! Marcy!", Anne shouted.
"Ally! Max! Get out of the way!", Jackie added.
"The avalanche! It's headed for us this time!", Valeriana shouted.
"Everyone, run! For real this time!", Sprig shouted before he and the others ran, following Valeriana.
Unfortunately, as they ran from an incoming avalanche, it was getting much closer to them. And what's worse, it was only a matter of time before the avalanche seemingly swept them all away.
Stop Sonic Frontiers Music: "Titan: Giganto"
When it did, horror became etched in Anne and Jackie's faces, their eyes widened with shock, while Rose just gasped in worry.
"Awe they okay?', the triplets asked.
Sadly, Anne and Jackie just dropped to their knees and lowered their heads, unable to answer.
"You killed them all...!", Anne spoke in shock, starting to tear up.
"They were our friends... and you just killed them...!", Jackie added, just as horrified, making Rose gasp.
Cor, however, only smirked.
"Now you understand.. The more you take, the more you lie, the less you all have. And now, the box will be mine!", Cor proclaimed, raising her cane in order to strike them and sweep them off the arena.
But suddenly, Anne sullenly caught the staff, tears still being shed from her eyes, shocking Cor. The arena was now starting to shake beneath them, blue volts flickering from Anne and Jackie's bodies. Only these blue volts were darker on the inside with light blue outlines. Even worse, their aura started to flicker, too, and when they did, each flashed showed a darker blue flame instead of the usual light blue, which truly shocked Cor the most.
"No...! This can't be...!", Cor gasped.
Play Sonic Frontiers Music: "Undefeatable"
Their hair began to rise and fall, flashing a darker shade of blue than normal.
"No...", Anne and Jackie spoke sullenly before standing up, the former still firmly grasping Cor's staff.
Then, their hair finally stood up and turned a darker blue of shade while their glowing blue eyes, once opened, now had coal black sclera.
"No...!", Anne and Jackie spoke demonically, making Cor, Rose, and the triplets gasp in fright before Cor's staff finally cracked apart in dark blue magic and broke apart.
I'm hanging on to the other side
I won't give up 'til the end of me
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!", Anne and Jackie wailed like banshees as their bodies flared with dark blue energy, which erupted like a column of lightning, completely breaking apart the arena until it shattered into pieces and fell to Amphibia.
(Go!)
"Anne! Jackie!", Rose shouted before she, Lily, Andy, and Danny powered up to their blue calamity forms and dashed after them.
Back in Amphibia. the mechanical giant turned up to the sky to see a streak of dark blue lightning shooting down toward it. At the center of the streak were none other than Anne and Jackie, who both yelled furiously before launching Cor straight toward the giant. Upon impact, the titan gave the same loud, mechanical roar as before right before the giant crashed into the snowy ground, which shook enough for the amount of avalanche snow just as Rose, Lily, Andy, and Danny arrived back on Amphibia in the air in time to see a blast coming from the snow, revealing Valeriana safe and sound.
"It's Valeriana!", Rose beamed in joy before she and the triplets dashed down towards her.
Meanwhile, the titan growled as it recovered and stood up, its face (and Cor's as she is now inside the main controls for it) met with the furious, hateful, tearful gazes of Anne and Jackie. Like Rose and the triplets, Anne and Jackie once had immense capacity for Love. Only now, all the love that was in Anne and Jackie's hearts had now been shattered. And where Love once burned like a flame, had now frozen over into a new emotion: HATE! And a Loving Heart twisted with Hatred...was something very, VERY dangerous.
(Yeah!)
Welcome to the mind of a different kind
Where we've been growing slowly
Think I'm on eleven, but I'm on a nine
Guess you don't really know me
Running from the past is a losing game
It never brings you glory
Been down this road before
Already know this story
"YOU JUST MADE ONE FATAL MISTAKE: YOU PUSHED US TOO FAR! AND NOW, YOU WON'T MAKE IT OUT IN ONE PIECE!", Jackie threatened.
"FOR THE SAKE OF ALL OUR FRIENDS YOU KILLED, WE WILL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!", Anne vengefully declared.
(Face your fear!)
(Face your fear!)
"No...! NO! I WON'T LET YOU!", Cor shouted fearfully, trying to pilot the titan in an attempt to fight back.
In response, the mechanical titan roared and then attempted to slash at them. But when it did, the two only vanished and then shredded at the titan's face, leaving a big scar on its face before they flew up, stretched out their right legs as dark aura clones of them appeared above them, and then kicked straight down toward the titan, causing it to crash to the ground with a strike of lightning, shaking it all over again, this time attracting the attention of the orcs nearby, who smirked as they saw the titan already being brought to its knees.
"Good. The fight has already started. Now, we begin the ambush.", Azog smirked.
But the orcs weren't the only ones who noticed. In fact, Aruman and Maltheal noticed, too.
"Where is all this shaking coming from?", Maltheal asked.
It's time to face your fear
'Cause when your time has come and gone
I'll be the one to carry on (carry on)
And you can throw me to the wolves (throw me to the wolves)
Cause I am undefeatable
"It must be the fight against the titan of the 2nd temple. But I fear that darkness has finally touched the chosen ones' hearts. We must act quickly!", Aruman urged, earning Maltheal's nod.
Back in the area, Rose and the triplets finally caught up to Valeriana.
"Valeriana, are you okay?", Rose asked.
"Yes. But it's not just me.", Valeriana assured before Hop Pop, Sprig, Polly, Ivy, Felicia, Sylvia, the Waybrights, the Wus, Olivia, Yunan, and the toads all emerged.
"Yay!", the 3 triplets cheered.
"You're all okay! But how?", Rose grinned.
"We managed to find a cave and dove in at the last minute.", Sprig responded casually.
"Good call, Valeriana!", Polly added.
"Who knew?", Grime asked.
"Cor did, but the chosen ones haven't. I warned her she could push them too far, and right now, it's costing her dearly...", Valeriana spoke worriedly.
"What do you mean?", Rose asked.
"Their grief over our supposed deaths gave way to their anger, their hatred toward Cor, allowing the darkness to take over. And I'm afraid it will corrupt absolutely...!", Valeriana replied as Anne and Jackie mercilessly pummeled the titan without remorse, even zig-zagging toward the machine's face before bashing into it right before the titan growled, clenched its fists and then leaned to the ground with the top of its back facing the sky as cylinders popped up from it with the top of each one firing lasers into the sly before then powering down, the titan growling as it looked back up again at Dark Anne and Dark Jackie, both of which roared as they charged toward the Titan, who charged toward them, leading to a clash.
I'm hanging on to the other side
I won't give up 'til the end of me
I'm what you get when the stars collide
Now face it, you're just an enemy
(Woah, woah) You're crossing the line
(Woah, woah) Now we've run out of time
(Woah, woah) I'll take what is mine
Hrmm (Go!)
"Corrupts absolutely? What do you mean?", Sasha asked.
"As soon as the titan is defeated, we must let them know you all survived! It is the only way to help them revert back to normal, because if they don't, that power would corrupt them completely and then there would be no hope of stopping the orcs, let alone Melkor and his reign of terror!", Valeriana urged in reply.
"Now, that you mention it, I never once saw Anne and Jackie that angry before. And after what you told us just now, I'm scared...!", Hop Pop shuddered.
Sprig began to tear up before he stomped in the snow.
"No. No, no, no, no, no! We can't let them! We have to get to Jackie and Anne! NOW!", Sprig urged.
And when the story ends
It becomes a part of me
I've given what it takes
I'll find another way
I used to never know
But now it's crystal clear
This feeling's just a ghost
It's time to face your fear
'Cause when your time has come and gone
I'll be the one to carry on (carry on)
And you can throw me to the wolves (throw me to the wolves)
Cause I am undefeatable
Before they could, however, Aruman and Maltheal caught up.
"Valeriana!", Maltheal shouted, catching her attention.
She turned and saw the two witches running up to her.
"Aruman! Maltheal! Have you seen what is going on?", Valeriana asked.
"Undoubtedly. And it gets worse. The fight attracted the orcs here.", Maltheal reported.
"I was afraid of this.. Now, we have two problems to deal with!", Valeriana spoke in worry.
"You leave those orcs to us! You two try and get through to Anne and Jackie and hurry!", Grime urged.
"It's unwise to give us orders, but very well.", Aruman responded.
I'm hanging on to the other side
I won't give up 'til the end of me
I'm what you get when the stars collide
Now face it, you're just an enemy
Meanwhile, the titan moved back and opened its mouth. Quickly, the titan fired a red laser blast toward Dark Anne and Dark Jackie, who both held the blast back.
"YOU KILLED ALL OUR FRIENDS! RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!", Dark Anne shouted.
"WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! NEVEEEEER!", Dark Jackie added before both launched the red laser blast upward and away from them before it exploded.
With that, the two dashed toward the titan and flew around it, forming a loop and causing it to be lifted up in the air, and Cor along with it.
"What...?! No!", Cor shouted in panic before Dark Anne and Dark Jackie each struck severe blows to the machine, getting visions of the death and destruction that befell the entire area, right before smashing the titan to the ground.
I'm hanging on to the other side (to the other side)
I won't give up 'til the end of me (end of me)
I'm what you get when the stars collide (stars collide)
Now face it, you're just an enemy
Then, as Cor gasped in horror from seeing this, Dark Anne and Dark Jackie roared angrily, a vision of Melkor in his beastly, monstrous form, roaring in victory in the war from the past appearing, as they charged. When it went back to the present, the two pierced right through the mechanical titan's chest, causing it to fizz out as the two stared spitefully before it became engulfed in a red light and then exploded, leaving only raining pieces of debris falling down.
Welcome to the mind of a different kind
We've been growing slowly
Think I'm on eleven, but I'm on a nine
Guess you don't really know me
Running from the past is a losing game
It never brings you glory
Been down this road before
Already know this story
End Sonic Frontiers Music: "Undefeatable"
"Valeriana!", Azog called before she and everyone else turned to see the orcs.
"Go ahead. We'll keep 'em busy for you.", Rose whispered, earning Maltheal and Aruman's nods before they left just as Rose and the triplets turned back to human form, albeit still powered up.
"Hey. We're back to normal now! That was weird.", Rose beamed, turning to the triplets, who nodded in agreement.
"You're just in time, Valeriana.", Azog smirked.
"To what? Watch as you pervert and twist Anne and Jackie into murderous menaces to the multiverse?!", Valeriana retorted.
Then, Azog drew his weapon of choice in response.
"No... To die.", Azog smirked before swinging it toward Valeriana.
But before it could strike, Rose got in the mace's way and caught it with her bare hands the way she would start off a patty cake, surprising him.
"If you wanna get to her, you'll have to go through us!", Rose shouted before she kicked it back to him, knocking him back, and Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly all charged in.
"CHARGE!", Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig shouted as they, the Sundews, Olivia, Yunan, the Waybrights, the Wus, and the toads all fought the other orcs.
While Sprig hopped around the orc, making him get confused as he spun around, Rose appeared in front of Azog, who swung his axe to the ground, causing the ground to break apart and lift up as pieces of debris with Rose jumping across then and then hitting Azog in the cheek into the snowy ground before he charged in and attempted to strike back. While this was happening, though, Alexis grew fascinated with the snow.
"This should be the last ingredient we need.", Alexis grinned before scooping up some snow and closing the jar.
"Got it!", Alexis grinned.
Just then, Polly and the Boonchuy triplets appeared in front of an orc soldier.
"Step right up, Onis and gentle-demons! Try your luck!", Polly grinned, prompting an orc to try and attack them only to miss.
"Missed me!", Lily shouted before an orc swung his mace, but missed.
"Close, but no roasted gwasshopper!", Andy added, prompting the orc to swing, and miss, again.
"Not even with wadybiwd sauce.", Danny added, making the orc strike and miss once more.
"Thanks for playing!", Polly shouted as she hopped before smacking the orc's face with tail and taking off.
"Do they have to be annoying?!", an orc shouted.
Suddenly, Azog gasped and realized what it could mean as he saw Aruman and Maltheal making their way to Anne and Jackie, who were slowly landing near Cor at the moment.
"Not annoying...! DISTRACTING!", Azog shouted before he and the orcs then assaulted the rest of the group that were keeping them busy.
Meanwhile, smoke cleared with the weakened Cor, crushed under the weight of one of the fragmented pieces of the titan just near the calamity box, looking up, horrified at Dark Anne and Dark Jackie, both of which are now back in human form.
"IT'S OVER, COR.", Dark Jackie began.
"GIVE... THEM... BACK.", Dark Anne threatened demonically.
"Why...? I do not see a reason to...", Cor refused weakly.
"THEN, YOU... WILL... DIE.", Dark Anne spoke darkly before both stretched out their palms, preparing a dark blue energy blast in front of Cor, making her cringe in fear of what their current bodies are like.
"IF ANYONE'S NOT WORTHY OF EXISTING... IT'S YOU!", Dark Jackie glared, the blasts combining and forming into one fatal blast, making Cor gasp and cringe, whimpering in fear.
"Anne! Jacquelin! Stay this madness at once!", Aruman shouted before he and Maltheal showed up.
This earned a vicious, dark glare toward the two, especially relentless.
"You may have every right to be angry at what sorrow Cor has put you through, but I'm afraid there is a more pressing matter at hand.", Aruman began.
"All the orcs have arrived for an ambush! They're already in the area as we speak.", Maltheal urged.
"LIES! OUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF HER, AND YOU JUST WANT US TO SHOW MERCY TO HER?!", Dark Anne snapped.
Suddenly, Rose screamed, preventing Dark Anne and Dark Jackie from finishing Cor off.
"WAIT A MINUTE. CAN YOU HEAR THAT?", Dark Anne puzzled.
"I HEARD IT, TOO.", Dark Jackie agreed before both gasped in not only shock that Rose and her triplets in danger as they were held hostage by orcs with knifes placed on their necks, but also in surprise and relief that everyone turned out to be alive.
The joyful sight replaced all of Anne and Jackie's fury with joyful wonder, their black coal sclerae turning back to a normal white and the dark blue color turning back to a light blue, the energy becoming less erratic and blossoming.
"Guys?! They're... alive! Oh, thank goodness.", Anne spoke in relief.
However, Cor only laughed.
"Why are you laughing?", Jackie asked.
"You can't get to the orcs and save them in time without me. Ha! You have to save me.", Cor smirked.
That was yet another last straw for Anne and Jackie.
"Save you...?! SAVE YOU?! YOU'VE CAUSED US NOTHING BUT GRIEF AND HEARTACHE SINCE WE MET YOU!", Anne snapped, turning dark again and making Cor very afraid once again.
"WHY SHOULD WE SAVE A CRUEL, JUDGMENTAL, INSUFFERABLE SNOB LIKE YOU?!", Jackie snapped, also turning dark again, before she and Dark Anne blasted Cor once again, seemingly disintegrating her, much to Aruman and Maltheal's shock.
"What have you done...?! How could you...?!", Aruman spoke in shock.
"How could we what? Launch her up into the sky?", Anne asked, she and Jackie dropping the dark boost again and pointing to Cor screaming as she was going up with Aruman and Maltheal noticing.
"Yeah, she'll be up for a while. At least a minute, tops. More than enough time to save them.", Jackie added.
Meanwhile, Azog spoke to the group in discouragement.
"Enough! Hand over the box or the little ones will get cut up!", Azog threatened.
"Rose!", Alexis shouted.
"Please! Don't hurt them!", Pat urged.
"Don't worry about us! Just save...!", Rose began before the daggers cut a bit deeper, causing blood to start seeping down.
"I swear, if you kill them...! I'll! I'LL...!", Sasha began, angrily.
"Leave that to us, Sasha!", Jackie shouted, surprising everyone, including Azog, who turned and saw Anne and Jackie hurtling right toward him.
But he barely had time to react before he got kicked in the gut by both Jackie and Anne, making the demon general groan in pain. Jackie and Anne then roared before they launched Azog toward the snow, which splashed down on the other orcs as well before Azog resurfaced in time to see Anne and Jackie staring him down.
"It's over, Azog! Call off the ambush!", Anne discouraged.
Then, Azog growled before raising his mace.
"Retreat!", Azog called before he then led the way for everyone to escape with their lives.
"Rose! Are you and the trips okay?", Jackie asked.
"Uh-huh. Our necks just fell a bit sore, though.", Rose responded, rubbing her neck where it hurt for a bit.
"Anne! Anne!", Sprig shouted, running up to Anne and hugging her.
"Sprig...! You're actually okay.", Anne grinned before everyone hugged her and Jackie again.
Just then, they overheard screaming.
"Wait. Does anyone else hear screaming?", Hop Pop asked before Anne and Jackie widened their eyes.
"Oh, crubs! We totally forgot!", Anne and Jackie spoke in unison before vanishing and then reappearing near Cor and grabbing her by the hood before she could land hard.
"No thanks necessary.", Jackie spoke before she and Anne set Cor down and turned back to normal.
"You... risked your lives to save me? After all I did to you...? To your friends? But why?", Cor asked.
"Let's not beat around the bush. You may've caused us nothing but grief and heartache, but... you were right. We did lie and steal.", Anne responded.
"And what's worse? We nearly let our anger take over. If that makes us unworthy, fine. Those bad choices were ours and we'll own them.", Jackie began.
"But making them taught me that it's always better to do the right thing. Just like Jackie said back home. So that's what we did, regardless of how much we didn't want to.", Anne finished.
Then, both Valeriana and Cor smiled.
"Mother and I have been waiting for someone like you for such a long time.", Cor responded.
"Um... excuse me?", Anne puzzled.
"What do you mean by that?", Jackie asked.
Just then, Cor raised her hand and traced a circle with two fingers, causing the box and the staff to fly to her with Cor using it to rebuild the titan through piece by piece, fragment by fragment, until it was rebuilt. When it was, it reactivated and did not attack, but instead, bowed in respect to them with a majestic growl.
"Say whaaa?", Jackie puzzled.
"Whoa, mama. You clean up nice.
"You have sacrificed your warmth for your friends, your safety for a stranger in need, your own time for innocent creatures in danger. You even risked your life for an enemy who has done you great harm. But empathy alone isn't enough, for what is heart without responsibility?", Valeriana asked before the spire on top of the titan's head glowed brightly, causing one of the two pale stones from the box to move toward the light, removing itself from the box in the process.
"What the...?", Anne puzzled before she, Jackie, Rose, and the triplets powered up again and flew toward the stone, carrying Valeriana and Cor and following it all the way to the head of the mechanical Titan.
"In the name of the temple, I declare you 6 worthy.", Cor spoke.
"Wait! No way! So the cardinal...", Anne began.
"The avalanche...", Jackie added.
"The animals...", Rose added.
"And the giant wobot...", the triplets spoke in unison.
"All this was...", the 6 Boonchuys began.
"A trial. You see, we've been making our way through the 'temple' this whole time. And I have been testing you all.", Cor responded.
"Testing you!", Liander squawked.
"You were testing us? So, that means you knew that our friends would be able to find a cave to hide in before the avalanche could get to them?", Jackie asked.
"Well, with Mother's help, yes.", Cor responded.
"Ooooh.", Rose grinned.
"By the way, I don't get it. What did you mean by, 'we can't get to the orcs and save our friends in time'?", Anne asked.
"Well, do you know what this thing is?", Cor asked.
"Isn't it kinda like the one Marcy and her sibs fought at the first temple?", Anne asked.
"Come to think of it, yeah.", Jackie realized.
"It's called a titan. It was the only thing that could battle back the orcs from destroying us all, but because of the darkness that crept into your hearts, you destroyed it. Everything would've been gone. Nothing would've been left. Or so I thought. I was worried I wouldn't have any time to rebuild it.", Cor said.
"Huh. Good to know.", Jackie grinned.
Then, Valeriana cleared her throat.
"So, what is it you want?", Valeriana asked.
"Oh, right. To charge the stone and return home!", Anne responded.
"So be it!", Valeriana spoke, placing the pale stone into the spire, which spun the stone around before a bright blue light rose up like a column from the spire, its light blinding Anne and her siblings for a bit before they lost half of the blue in their eyes.
When they did, they were beset with the same visions that Marcy and her siblings had before. But this time, it showed Andrias, Nechros, and Melkor stabbing someone together and then Anne, Sasha, and Marcy being possessed with a few dark helmets, one placed on each of their heads, before exclaiming in alarm upon coming to before sighing after seeing that they're back in the real world.
Frankly, the stone was only a quarter charged.
"It's a lot slower than last time.", Anne said.
"Sorry. This thing's pretty old.", Valeriana stated.
"Ah! No, no, no. I get it. No problem.", Jackie assured.
"So, do you want, uh, something to read or...", Cor began.
"Nah, it's fine.", Rose responded.
Then, Jackie took a look at the blue stone, which is now half charged.
"Okay, I think it looks charged enough.", Jackie spoke, picking the stone out of the spire.
"Thank you, Valeriana, Cor. For everything. Although, you could stand to be more open with us next time.", Jackie responded before she, Anne, Rose, and the triplets flew down off the titan.
"No, Anne. Thank you and your siblings.", Valeriana grinned.
Meanwhile, the Boonchuys landed on the ground safely and turned back to normal.
"Way to kick butt, Boonchuy.", Sasha grinned.
"And that's not all, fam. Wha-pow!", Anne grinned, holding the blue stone.
"Ooh! Whoo!", the rest of the group spoke in awe.
"Well, you guys sure did it, huh?", Marcy asked.
"Yeah. But no way are we gonna go berserk mad like that again.", Anne stated.
"Why not? When you were fighting that thing, you kicked massive butt.", Allison grinned.
Then, Jackie took a deep breath.
"Yeah... Our most powerful power boost for our powers... But it isn't worth the price...", Jackie responded as she and the others all walked back home before it darkened to show both the green and blue gems glowing, both of which flickered off and on.
A/N: And that finally concludes Chapter 16 of "Amphibia: Secrets of Newtopia"! Oh, and before I forget, the voice actress for Cor, one of Valeriana's daughters, is Claudia Black. Well, gotta get started on Chapter 17 of "The Owl House: Coven of Rings and Darkness", finally. :)