Bit of a different chapter, hope you enjoy it!
Journal Entry #1
...
I'm not entirely sure what exactly I'm supposed to be writing here, Anne suggested it since she's been documenting her own thoughts into a journal of her own and suggested I could do it since we'll be on the road to Newtopia for a while.
Where exactly should I start? I suppose Toad Tower would probably be best, that's a night I can't stop remembering, it felt as if everything changed in just a span of a few hours.
One of Anne's best friends or so she'd said, Sasha had introduced themselves to me and the Plantars. I at least attempted to trust her, at least for Anne, but that only went on for as long as she wanted it to.
I'm still not sure if it was wrong of me to enjoy the moment I shared with Anne, the two of us had been locked in a cage presumably to wait out Hop Pop's execution, although it wasn't as if either one of us were willing to let that happen.
It all seemed to just cascade from that point onwards, I haven't exactly mentioned it to Anne or anyone else for that matter, but when Sasha fought me, I felt something.
I can't exactly explain it, but after almost winning our duel, it seemed as if something boiled up inside of Sasha, it wasn't just the fiery look in her eyes, the air itself seemed to thicken as she wrestled back against me with her blade.
All I could feel was an immense swell of power suffocating me. It honestly makes me wonder whether or not it was similar to the display Anne apparently burst from her body, breaking down the foundation of the tower with her own might.
It might even be close to how Sprig and Polly described whatever blue power erupted from Anne that night, which was apparently enough to bring the tower to its knees, destroying it entirely.
Personally, I'm not entirely certain how I survived, not only based on the shock on everyone's face when I sprang up from the ground to save Sasha, no matter what she'd done I'd learned more than enough times it wasn't right to just leave her to fall.
I don't know what dream I was having, what fragments of my memory had pieced together on the brink of death, but my body had just reacted and sprung out before I could think.
All of it still seems so surreal.
I guess I know fairly well how to jot my own thoughts down, but Anne's commented that it reads too much like a story than an actual journal, although I only let her read a few sentences.
Anymore would just be embarrassing, I wouldn't want her to see what I'd written about her.
Me and Anne both spent the entirety of the day prior rigging up the Plantar household, so it could stand against any of Amphibia's terror that would more or likely bring the whole place down.
Part of it was mainly due to how guilty we felt due to Hop Pop and everyone else having to leave their home behind, but I reckon it was just the two of us burying our own thoughts with something to do.
Most of that was probably because of me, or at least in part. I'm not sure I understand friendship, or it's better to say I don't understand the long-term and hurtful relationship Anne and Sasha share with one another.
Was it wrong for me to stand up to her so viciously? When I'd first found myself in Amphibia, I didn't think I'd ever want to fight for someone, knowing my case I might've stood by Sasha if I'd found myself with her.
But I don't regret what happened, I'm not sure I regret any of it.
I truly am glad to be here with everyone, and whatever the road has on our way to Amphibia I'm honestly glad to be spending it with them all.
Journal Entry #3
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The desert was a blank landscape with no in-between, We've been riding along Bessie for the past few days, honestly, I could've done without the hot weather, I never did well in the cold let alone the heat.
Anne was a good enough companion to spend a prolonged amount of time with, especially considering the cramped spaces of the f'wagon. To note, the name came from the oldest among us Hop Pop.
To be perfectly honest, I didn't see a problem with the name, but Anne and Sprig had voiced their concerns so I couldn't argue.
Now and then I wonder how different I am from those two.
Doesn't really matter now. As long as I'm with them all then I don't see why I can't act just a little normal, I do end up tuning out to whatever debacle the two of them get themselves in. I mean just yesterday they got locked in some old ruins-
I'm not entirely sure if I should just restart or not. I was cut off previously, it took my mind off writing but not from the scorching heat that travelled through our entire time in the desert.
Not too soon after though, we came across a small rural town, emphasis on the small, it was bit-sized compared to us at least. Small frogs congregated throughout the town; it was odd how nonchalant they really were so much smaller than us.
Although considering the crooks that had been terrorizing for an unknown number of time, it really was a surprise that weren't more frightened. Apparently, a group of toads known as the Hasselback Gang had been harassing long, none of us had taken the time to actually work out for how long.
We'd thought Hop Pop had managed to scurry them off, and even if they returned, we were more than ready to deal with them.
Of course...that wasn't exactly how the situation transpired, as it always seemed to turn out, there was an even bigger cliff waiting on the other side of what seemed like just a small gap, luckily enough though the small townsfolk seemed to have finally had enough, retaliating against the Hasselback Gang.
Now that I think back on it though, there is a very high likelihood those frogs were murdered, I think at one point I saw one of the bitties bursting from their chest.
All of it had helped me to stop being so stupidly worried about myself, not as if I haven't been doing a lot of that enough lately. It just seems as if every situation only drudges even more of my insecurities, ones that I wasn't even aware I had. But I want to at least try to do better.
Maybe more for others than myself.
Journal Entry #6
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In the span of just a few days into our trek to Newtopia, and a few more troubles along the road, including fighting something called a Scorpileo, Polly accidentally leaving a giant chicken egg in the f'wagon, and I'd just so happened to find myself falling off a cliff, separating myself from Anne and everyone else.
To me though, what seems much unluckier is how my situation played out afterwards. Of course, I wouldn't expect myself to travel all the way to Newtopia on foot, but I've been managing to hitch rides from all sorts of people.
And right about now I was hunkering with a group of people I wouldn't be seeing for a while, or more a certain individual I didn't think I'd be crossing paths with.
It had been totally accidental, I was minding my own business, planning to set up for the rest of the day in the thick undergrowth of trees, but then I'd heard that familiar tone, chatting from outside a seemingly abandoned windmill, I can't exactly remember.
It was Sasha, and the former captain of Toad Tower, Grime, although now he's looking a lot a worse for wear.
There was a heavy awkwardness between the two of us, one I intended to keep. It doesn't seem like she shows any regret for her own actions on that night or even everything she'd done to Anne previously.
She wouldn't accept how she was the one who had ruined her friendship with her.
I would've had nothing more to do with her but all of that was put to a stop when a bounty hunter, cut down the treeline and introduced herself, not intimidated in the slightest.
In fact, the only reason I can remember her is because of how she introduced herself announcing herself with a list of her own deeds, General Yunan.
As much as I would've liked to run, the General quickly labelled me to be in cahoots with Grime and was planning to take me along with him and Sasha, and even after dealing with her due to a somewhat reluctant truce with Sasha at least for the time being.
Overall, that brings us to the present time, the two other toads that were still with Sasha and Grime seem to have an idea of how to sneak us away from Yunan without being caught by the guards seemingly ordered out by the king of Newtopia.
I was honestly more surprised to hear that Amphibia even had a king, I suppose it made sense, but it didn't mean I wasn't any more shocked.
Right about now, we're setting up for the night, or at least until the frog we'd met comes back with the path to the mine.
Yet, Sasha only continues to confuse me. We've only really interacted twice now and yet I can't exactly grasp what kind of person she really is. By all means I know how she is manipulative, scheming, and has little regard for anyone she isn't interested in.
And yet, just like at Toad Tower, she cracked, when I pushed on her now shattered relationship with Anne, that she had no one to control anymore she just looked lost, no argument was made in return.
Even after that, she brought me food despite constantly saying she wanted nothing to do with me and picked and prodded at insecurities I hadn't put any real thought into.
Some part of what she said was right, I had no idea what life after Amphibia would really be like, or where someone like me would really fit, it only opened up the still fresh wound of my memories, I really don't have a clue where I was before all of this or even how I could've possibly ended up in Amphibia.
And what did any of that mean afterward...?
Journal Entry #7
...
I've gotten used to the thick smell of open air musked in the sweet pine and nature cusped along the land.
Despite everything that has transpired in just a matter of days, I'm only now writing in this, due to the small window of time I've had to myself, after everything it's been nothing but a long trek through Amphibia and there isn't really much of a chance to write when I'm much more focused on surviving.
Although that isn't to say I haven't had any help, I've had plenty to note, the frogs, newts, and even some toads have spared their time. Efforts to help me across valleys, towns, and places I would've had no access if not a lot of trouble getting through.
All of that came with the pretense that I would have to hide my face. It made me a tad sick in my stomach knowing Sasha might've been right, no one was willing to help someone who looked like me, I hadn't tested to see if they would accept me, it was this worrying pit that I couldn't help but open whenever I had the thought to do so.
No matter how kind, supportive, or talkative any of them were to me, I couldn't risk it, a lot could change when it came to appearances.
Speaking of, I've actually been worried about Sasha. We'd been intercepted by Yunan as we were travelling through the mine, she'd been tipped off by the frog who'd supposedly agreed to help us.
As we were fighting though, and as the paths just began to diverge from one another Sasha shoved me entirely out of the way, I didn't have any time to react and was thrown onto another cart and out of the mountain.
Again and again, I just didn't understand Sasha. Why would someone as selfish and self-centred as her even think to save him of all people, someone she'd vehemently voiced that she hated, and blamed for ruining everything she had control of? Yet she had done something so selfless for no real reward to herself, why?
It was without warning or any real reason, that she took me out of the fight and left Yunan for Grime and herself, I seriously couldn't think of any real reason she would. I was grateful of course even I'd wanted to fight as well; it only made it harder for me to wrap my head around her.
I've been travelling for the better half of a week since then, hitchhiking wherever I can, surprisingly though I've actually been able to follow the unseen footsteps that Anne's been leaving behind.
Whilst I'm still not entirely sure where they are, it at least gives me some idea of the path they're taking even if we are meeting at the same place.
It's nice to know that the more I travel, it isn't as if I'm far off from them, and we may meet up sooner than I think, I can't exactly explain it to myself I just see it as oddly comforting.
Still, throughout each town I've visited I've shoved a hood over my face, whilst other frogs might be put off by my taller figure, it was mainly my face that unsettled them, some were even put off by Anne's face and that seemed just fine to me, it quite pretty in my opinion.
I hope Anne doesn't see that, she'll never let me live that down.
Journal Entry #9
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The air has been a lot clearer the closer we get to Newtopia, I can't exactly put my reasoning as to why, the distant horizon peaks just over the massive city elapsed in water, and we've finally made it to Newtopia.
It was only a few days ago that I'd met back up with Anne and everyone else, they'd skirted in front of me and the muddied and dried road almost on complete accident-
Hey! Anne Boonchuy herself here, Leo won't let me look through too much of this journal he gets embarrassed way more than usually would have, I've only managed to get him to give me a few spare pages!
I took it from him but now I'm not too sure what I should even write, I know if I put anything too personal, he'll just hang it over me as well, Leo you think your above that, but I know you ain't!
From what I've managed to peak into on this and the last page, Leo was having plenty of a hard time going through Amphibia, but now that he's here I'm glad, mainly because I was worried about him, (which you better not take out of context).
I do wanna read more though, if only he wouldn't stop being so stingy, seriously man I'm glad he's back, but after we all told him what we'd been up to he's being surprisingly secretive about it, it's not as if there's anything he can really hide...
Meh, I'll bug him about it later, Leo's eyes are glaring right through me now and if I don't give him this journal back, he's probably gonna kick me out of the f'wagon.
Not like he's gonna be writing in it, we can finally see Newtopia! Anne out!
Journal Entry #12
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Newtopia's night seemed just as lively as it was in the day. The towering buildings blow up in a sea of lights, leaving the city as something else entirely, it was honestly a sight I couldn't take my eyes off.
By now Anne and Sprig were asleep, so it was just me, sat alone on the balcony overseeing the glowing nightlife of Newtopia.
It really does make me feel at ease. Typically I'd want to sleep by now I tend to get tired very easily, but right about now I'd much sit back and write.
Although there's no real difference between it, writing each word feels better and more personal when I do so with the pen Anne gave me, its small golden textured engravements that ran alongside it, by all accounts the pen really did look special.
But in all honesty, she could've me something not nearly as eye-catching or noteworthy and I still would've taken it with stride and used it proudly. It means way more to me knowing it came from Anne.
For the entirety of today, when Hop Pop had given all of us the idea to get souvenirs for ourselves from Newtopia, or even someone else, I just couldn't.
I didn't want anything for myself, I didn't feel as if I deserved it, and wasn't as if I believed anyone would take anything from me.
Yet again, because of my appearance, I just don't see why there would be any real value in anyone getting anything from me, and I don't feel as if I have the right to treasure anything myself, but that's just my own insecurities talking.
Anne gave me something because she sees me as worthy of something, and even if there's a lot I don't understand, how to properly read people like she can, how to express myself, and how to stop comparing myself to a possible person I could be with my memories.
It might be because I'm in Newtopia or possibly something else, but all of my brewing feelings, my emotions feel completely overturned, I sucked myself into it almost to the point that I didn't really understand what I was doing.
Honestly, I think I was just pushing the fact I couldn't think of a reason to get myself a souvenir, so I strived to get Anne hers to cope with that.
But with this pen, I feel as if I can move past that and feel like I belong with everyone.
Journal Entry #15
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For now, at least I've recounted up to about everything throughout our journey both to, in, and back to Newtopia. This was the only real reason I'd begun writing in this journal, to begin with, as something to do throughout the travel.
We've met up with Marcy, who I've already reocunted in previous entries, an overall much more pleasant first meeting than Sasha. I even played and enjoyed a game with her whilst we were in Newtopia, it was a roleplaying game that she was more than enthused about when I'd agreed to play.
So, I'm not sure what else there is to recount. Maybe I'll do so whenever there are any thoughts or feelings I want to write out, to explain them more to myself, to understand them.
Right about now we're nearing Wartwood, after a long drive through the night and a possible spirit chasing us down just to steer us the right way, that or we were both incredibly sleep deprived, but knowing Amphibia it was probably the former.
So, I'll be doing my best for now. It'll be nice to see everyone in Wartwood again and finally have some downtime after everything we've been through in the past few weeks.
Honestly, bit of a different chapter. At this point I think it's just best to expect these chapters to come out when they do, I prefer writing at my own pace and even if these chapters aren't that long I still enjoy what they do for the story.
This is mainly just a chapter I had the idea for and wanting to flesh, it mainly just gives way more context to Leo's thoughts and feelings during certain events.
It's also me thinking back to a chapter idea I had similar to Zuko Alone from Avatar, but it was recount Leo travelling through Amphibia during his time broken away from Anne and the plantars and I still regret not making it.
The next one will be After the Rain! Until then See yah!
