Disclaimer: This fanfic features the main characters from Amphibia, Steven Universe, Owl House, The Ghost and Molly McGee, etc., thrust into a surreal post-apocalyptic world plagued by eldritch frogmen, psychotic bandits, posthuman super-soldiers, and Lovecraftian demigods. Please offer your thoughts. AU up the wahzoo. MC is an OC.

Chapter 1

Now

Theodore had stood on the concrete roof for almost an hour, leaning on the edge ever vigilant. His scouring glance darted from one end of campus to the other—no need for binoculars with vision beyond 20/20. There was no movement in the vicinity, neither bandit nor any otherworldly horror lurking. That was expected of the Badlands, where he surveyed was no exception. Theo picked up and tossed a concrete clump over the ledge. The rap it made hitting the pavement below was loud, shattering on impact as he listened to any other noise that followed. Complete silence from a few blocks away, much to his own relief.

At the same time, he couldn't help but admire the horizon of St. Denis University, a majestic marvel blended with Gothic Architecture and modern wonder. However, no sign of life was present. A shining beacon of the Midwest, or so the pamphlets keep bragging. The dorms and department buildings were dark, with no glimmer of light beaming out the window. Slowly, Theo found himself alone with his thoughts. He turned to a metal chimney, drifting at his reflection, shoulders relaxing.

Theodore was in his early twenties, so there was no fear of a heart attack. A solid six feet tall with calm blue eyes. Like any soldier of his caliber, he was lean and toned, having a body conditioned for combat than anything else. He had short and spikey white hair that contrasted his fair skin tone. It made him stand out like an albino; he was aware, but it didn't put him at risk as he basked in the sunlight. However, his black and blue bodysuit, adorned with a silver breastplate, matching boots and gauntlets, and black mouth-covering attached to the neck, made him stand out. Lastly, a red torch was etched on the front of his breastplate, a symbol he wore once he awoke from cryo-sleep.

The solitude ended, and Theo jolted up when his walk-talky went off, a young woman's voice on the other line, snapping him out of his hyperfocus daze.

He reached to his side and grabbed the communicator. His attention shifted away from the dilapidated university campus and the roaring mist closing in (the decaying dust of the dead), moving in to answer the call. The young man didn't answer for a few seconds, quickly thinking up a good response. Half of the reason was that he was still on duty and needed to maintain some level of professionalism. Another was because he was socially awkward, so he needed to be careful about conversing with others. Theo took a deep breath, raised the device to his ear, and pressed the button on the side. The walky-talky beeped in his ear as he finally spoke to whoever was on the line.

"Prome…" He began but flinched, stopping himself. "Theo, here. If you're calling to ask for a status report, Anne, there appears to be no sign of trouble, so we're in the clear up here," Theo answered with the kind of monotonous tone that was both calming and serious, concealing his nervousness. "Any problems on your end?"

"Sorry, dude. Nothing here but utter emptiness, despair, and tons of weed buds," Anne addressed, a tone bordering sardonic.

Theo huffed. "How's the scavenging going along, though? Anything useful you found on your end, or is it another lost cause?"

She chuckled. "Funny you should ask. Me and Molly found a couple of supplies that could last us for a while. Food, water, meds, some hygiene products, we're just gonna do a couple more rounds till we find else, that's all."

"You want me to come down and give you a hand? I got nothing else to do up here and it might make the search go faster."

"It's your call, handsome. You've got unlimited options when it's the end of the world," Anne says before ending the call, Theo reflecting on that little remark. It was indeed the end, but could it be any worse?

The door of a minifridge opened as Anne Boonchuy peered inside, scanning inside while Molly McGee was busy checking the cabinets (some opening by themselves). The two were the only ones in the rec room, empty and untouched for years. The pool table and posters looked straight out of an 80s horror flick, which befitted the ambiance. The girls try not to let it get on their nerves.

Anne was a woman of seemingly unprecedented beauty in her late teens, with a wholly developed body. She stood around 5'7, a few inches taller than the other girl, and had olive brown skin with bushy brunette hair, hair tied back with a red scrunchy, standard features among women of Thai descent. Her elegantly hazel eyes, though, were almost overshadowed by bags. From the white cotton V-neck shirt with blue sleeves covering her bosom to the teal skirt that hugged her legs underneath a pair of yellow sneakers, her attire complimented her womanly figure nicely. On her back was a medieval scabbard containing a broadsword behind her yellow backpack, both oddly working together.

On the other hand, despite being the same age and being Thai herself, Molly was shorter, and there wasn't much to brag about in the chest department. Her wide hips made up for that, though. She had straightened chestnut hair that stretched to her back and, like her friend, had hazel eyes. Molly was dressed in a long white shirt with a black collar, a blue sleeveless jacket, and tight lavender shorts with long ripped black stockings and matching sneakers.

"Jackpot!" Anne cheered, pulling out the contents with sheer excitement. In one hand, she held an intact six-pack of beer, the other family-size box of steaks and burgers, her face smiling. "It's been a while since we hit a cache this good, huh, Mols? Actual booze and freshly frozen meat, and not the brown crap in a can. This calls for a celebration."

Molly shut the cabinet and turned, surprised to see a can fly over as Anne tossed a cold one, her clumsy hands catching the beer with luck. "You sure we should be drinking on the job?"

Anne rolled her eyes as she rested on the sink counter, her manicured fingers snapping the lid open.

"Oh, lighten up, Mols. A little alcohol not going to hurt you."

Molly shook her head. "Even though we're not technically old enough? And it's not me, it's Theo. You know how much of a stickler is his about this kind of stuff."

"It's only one drink."

"One's enough to send him into drill sergeant mode."

"True. The guy can be a boy scout, which is kind of hot in a way."

Molly stared at her, brows arched.

"…yeah, I guess."

Though, she was starting to think again. Molly then glanced over to the open windows and the vacant grassy grounds. She counted the lawn chairs and stands on the cobblestone streets. No life, no nothing. It was as lifeless as a cemetery, and just stepping into the dorm sent chills, enough for the usually ecstatic Molly to try and beg Theo and Anne to leave and find some other place to scavenge and avoid the horrid aura that plagued the grounds.

"On second thought, a little sip never did any harm, and we can always explain ourselves and/or get reprimanded later," Molly nervously smiled as she took a swig, much to a particular celestial companion's chagrin.

"~Yeah. That's what I'm talking about, girl. Hanging out in this abandon university will totes get to you, and taking the edge off is what we need," she shimmered before taking a long and satisfying sip, the nutty and dry taste hitting her tongue. "Besides, you keep going on about talking to 'ghosts', so forgive me if I need some liquid courage." At that last part, Anne murmured while adding air quotes, which unintentionally irritated Molly as she slammed the can on the table.

Molly huffed. "First off, Anne. there is only one ghost. Scratch, and he is real. Secondly, He just doesn't want to make his presence known because he doesn't trust you or Theo yet," she clarified, the floating invisible blob that was her friend hovered closely.

Yeah, and not without a good reason, Mols. We've only known these two for, like, what? A week? And we can't just open them up to our little club without being entirely sure they don't have ulterior motives, especially the one who looks like he stepped out of a Comicon convention. I mean, how can his hair be that silver? It must be fake! And another thing, Mols, you weren't supposed to tell anyone I exist. Libby was one thing, but these two… Scratch prattled on, but Molly sighed and tuned him out. The pursed lips and shaking head showed her distress, looking like she was having an internal conflict. Anne watched the display, unable to hear the one-sided conversation, and felt sorry for the girl.

At first, Anne was a tad miffed. Hand at the hip sort of mad, lips pouting and all. However, remembering what Theo had said before, she tried not to get angry and engage. The apocalypse was a lot to handle as Anne and her silver-haired friend encountered all sorts of people, living in a deluded daydream to cope while wandering the badlands. To the two, Molly was no exception (they couldn't be more wrong, though).

Anne smiled, shaking her head. "You know what, Mols? Forget it. It was just a stupid slip of the tongue and I'm sorry I brought it up," she apologized and reached around to her backpack, struggling to stuff the box of meats inside as Molly approached and offered some assistance. "I think we've got enough supplies for now, so once Theo gets here, we'll meet him by the fire escape, and we can finally leave this godforsaken place and head back to camp."

Reaching for the backpack placed on the ground, Molly threw it over her shoulders. The straps adjusted as the worrisome young woman followed Anne out the door, strolling down the hallway with the lights flickering on the ceiling. The deeper down, the eerier the atmosphere grew.

"You sure we have enough, Anne? It's going to be a long trip on this cross-country tour, and we have a lot of mouths to feed," Molly stated matter-of-factly, receiving a wink from Anne.

"Positive. With the haul we've collected, we're good for another three days, or so," said Anne with a reassuring edge.

"But what about our new addition? You know, the girl we stumbled while traveling all the way here?"

"There's enough for her, too, and with whatever kind of crap she went through, the meds and gauze we've recovered will be a godsend," Anne confirmed with a nod. She then crossed both arms against her bosom, shuttering unnervingly. "Now, let's get the hell out of here. I don't know about you, but I can't shake off the feeling we're being watched."

Unbeknownst to Anne and Molly, such suspicions wouldn't be chalked up as simple paranoia. As the duo made their way down the corridor, taking a right past a myriad of doors, a single eye peered through the peephole. The jaundiced yellow orb blinked and observed hungrily, watching the girls walk on past the wooden door without notice. The door gingerly opened as a wet, slimy hand protruded through the crack. Sharp claws dragged against the frame, followed by a rumbling growl that sounded like a single, inhuman bellow.

"Female!"

Theodore was about ready to head inside. His companions were presumably in the lobby, and he didn't want to keep the duo waiting too long. Theo grabbed the handle and effortlessly opened the thick, metal door. As his foot was halfway through the doorway, he stopped and turned around, giving the rooftop view one last look.

The young man smiled, deeply inhaling the air. It was pretty intoxicating, being outside. Most people took such sensations for granted, though none ever got trapped in an ice box for a long time. Theo appreciated the sights and smells of the world, the peace and tranquility as well. He wanted to stay on the roof a little longer but couldn't. He had duties to complete. Friends to protect, and vice versa. And, finally, a campsite that's left unattended.

It was time to head back and reunite with his companions. Theodore pressed onward but noticed something wicked caught in the corner of his eye. He detected movement in one of the rooms on the fourth floor from the other side of the dorm. He recognized the form instantly, a large and menacing silhouette slithering out. More activity started popping up at the same time as the other. How could he have not noticed that? He pondered. Sadly, his concerns only grew worse. At the same time, he spotted Anne and Molly making their way through that same corridor, blissfully unaware of what was approaching behind them.

His eyes widened, gasping in fright.

Oh, God! No!

Taking out his walky-talky, Theodore tried to get in touch with his friends, his voice sounding stern yet fastidious. "Anne! Come in! This is Theodore! Do you read me? Over!"

Unfortunately, there was no response, only static. Theodore assumed Anne must have turned off her comm or, as usual, got buried in her backpack. Whatever the reason for the radio silence, it could wait. The young man immediately sprang into action and prepared to save the girls. Reprimand them later, making a mental note.

Theodore didn't run to the staircase. Instead, he took a few steps back, stopping at the ledge. As he crouched down with a hand on the asphalt, the determined young man sprinted forward and leaped right off the rooftop without fear on his face.

His body repositioned as he performed a stunning exhibition of acrobatic descent into the large gap, falling into the grassy lawn and cobblestone walkway of a parkway, the kind connecting the entrances down below. That's when gravity seemed to have slowed around him, his plummet decreasing, and with precise aim, Theodore evaded getting flattened like a pancake. At the same time, his mind drifted, and the girls in mortal peril began plaguing his waking thoughts.

Rookie mistake, Prometheus! How could you have not noticed those things were hiding within the building? You were trained and tested to detect suspicious activity about two miles away! Was taking a break and admiring the horizon of the outside world more important than doing your job? Theodore mentally chastised himself, feeling like he had failed before landing on his target. No! These kinds of creatures hibernate in a deathlike sleep and are coldblooded, so it would be easy to mistake them for furniture or a corpse!

A quick push from the top of a lamppost fixed his trajectory, and Theo flew back into the air. He reached for the fourth floor on par for the course in less than three seconds. All the while, he tried calming his troubled mind, reassuring himself that everything would be okay.

Theodore sighed, glaring. It's going to be okay. Even though you haven't known those two for quite a while, you know they can handle themselves, especially Anne, with what she's been through. I mean, how much trouble could those two get into?

"We are in so much trouble that I can't even begin to describe it!" Anne failed to fight the urge to scream, the lobby's walls reverberating the echoes. She drew her sword as a giant frog man leered aggressively, uttering a paralyzing roar of a croak that sent chills down Anne's spine.

Out of all the horrors in the Badlands, those creatures were the last Anne wanted to face. Standing closely at seven feet, the frog man was almost human in stature, its slimy, greenish skin and neckless head hunching the ultimate distinguishment. Its nude, muscular body was on full display, not a single article of clothing present whatsoever. The creature charged with its razor-sharp teeth flashing, swinging its claws as the frantic young woman ducked with quick speed.

Anne raised her sword as it took many blows, sparks of hot steel festering off the blade. She had to admit that the piece of antique metal held up pretty well for a medieval broadsword from a dilapidated history museum she scavenged, and her time on the tennis team in middle school contributed to the fight, too, muscle memory resurfacing with each bob and weave.

Molly wasn't doing so hot, running around the lobby room while a group of more frog men pursued, trying to catch her with hunger in their glassy eyes. If it weren't for Scratch brandishing the ectoplasmic whips produced from his being, pushing and slapping the enormous amphibians away, Molly would have been at the mercy of their webbed hands.

What gives, Mol? Your friend over there said that Captain Stickler's spot reassured you there wouldn't be any problems! Scratch growled as an orange frog man pounced, only to slam onto the ground as the ghost moved his friend on time.

Making a beeline, Molly flashed a frustrated glower, looking at her living party member. "Yeah, Scratch's right, Anne! Theo said there weren't any threats nearby, but look what we have here. These look like threats to me," Molly gave an admonished remark that bordered on sardonic.

"I don't know what happened! He must have hit a blind spot, or something!" Anne replied, defending the absent young man.

"Oh, sweet baby corn, how is this a blind spot?!" Molly countered, waving both arms out in emphasis.

"I don't know, and yelling at me isn't going to get us anywhere!" Anne snapped, shifting a glower to her companion.

Her opponent didn't give her a break fighting with feral ferocity. The young woman's temper was at a boiling point, and she made sure to let the frog man have it.

Anne growled furiously as the frog man landed one last strike and immediately sliced the monster's arms clean off. The amphibian lurched away and fell on its back, twisting and turning while emitting an inhuman scream as the young woman kept her guard up, others approaching forward.

The sword's blade was soaked in blood, and Anne held it tightly. Much to her dismay, though, a few droplets got on her skirt. That stuff was hard to get out, and soap was hard to come by, but that was beside the point.

Anne wiped the sweat from her forehead, her determined eyes focused on all directions while Molly got closer. The frog men slowly advanced, each path blocked on all sides, ensuring their prey didn't escape.

"You better call Theo down here and quick, Anne. I don't think the two of us are going to hold out much longer," Molly trembled and raised her fists, poorly making a battle stance.

Anne nodded. "Good thinking, Molly G. If we're going to keep standing our ground, might as well bring in the extra muscle that can easily tear these guys a new asshole with his bare hands."

Anne reached for her walky-talky; all the color in her face drained, and her hopeful expression screamed bloody murder.

"Uh-oh…"

"What do you mean 'uh-oh'?" Molly asked. She noticed her friend freezing up, growing just as upset when Anne spoke up.

"Right when I was stuffing my bag, I left my walky-talky in the lounge, on the other side of the building, behind," Anne remembered, still rummaging her backpack pointlessly. Her eyes looked down as a dark shadow loomed over her.

Anne let her guard down briefly, and the monsters seized the opportunity. Pouncing forward with its right arm extended, a frog man with orange skin pinned Anne by the neck. It slammed her against the eggshell-colored wall, stopping her from clawing at his arm. She gasped and cried, the air almost knocked from her lungs as Molly rushed over.

"Anne! Hold on! I'm coming!"

Molly tried to help, but it was fruitless. The other frogmen quickly restrained the panicking young woman, easily overpowering her. She desperately flailed her limbs to no avail, and not even Scratch could free her from their clutches. All they could do was watch as the frog man grabbed Anne's right leg and lifted it, getting her into position. Anne felt it releasing her neck. It moved her hands and pinned her instead.

"Female."

The creature spoke in a low, subtle tone. The way the frog man said it, though, made the young woman's blood turn cold. Licking a long tongue against its large, froggy lips, Anne saw the look of hunger emerge from the frog man's gaze, staring at her. The kind of lascivious hunger that inhabit all animals, hot or cold-blooded, and just the thought made Anne sick to her stomach.

That's when she spotted a long, pinkish worm protruding from her captor's groin, hard and ribbed. When she first encountered the frog men, Anne wondered how they reproduced or if they could traditionally. Or if they were all asexual or too alien. An innocent bit of curiosity, nothing more. Anne knew very little of their biology despite fighting them and avoiding them. Sadly, she was going to find out the hard way.

"Oh, God. No. please." Anne attempted to break free again, the frog man gripping harder.

Tears formed in her eyes, but Anne's sobbing was disregarded, crying as the creature motioned a few inches closer. The tip rubbed violently against the front of her panties, and Anne was disgusted by its cold touch. Seeing this, Molly refused to give up, kicking and punching with all her might to save her friend. That only enticed the amphibians more. The frogmen tore at her clothes, ripping the fabric apart as her firm breasts and hips were exposed. Ashamed, Scratch couldn't bear to look while screams of despair grew louder, engulfing the whole lobby.

Suddenly, the screams disappeared. Molly became silent and turned, watching as Anne started laughing maddeningly. The frogmen were also taken aback, the one holding Anne the most anxious. As if stricken with fear, the orange frogman lifted and shook the girl, making her stop.

"Why you laughing?! Speak!" It demanded, fuming while growing limp.

"Alright. I will." Anne tilted her head and glanced past the creature. "What took you so long, handsome?"

The confused frogman turned around when the window behind exploded, debris flying all around, letting go of Anne while his kin got into the defensive.

The dust cleared, and Theodore had landed right through the wall. In front of the group, he knelt at three points (the superhero landing) and rose to meet his opponents face-to-face. Everyone in the room was gob-smacked sans Anne, who merely smiled and left unphased.

Even more bizarre was that Theodore was unscathed, with not a scratch on him in sight. Still, that didn't intimidate the frogs. Not wanting to give this new threat a chance, the orange frogman charged at the silver-haired man, snarling with sharp claws raised on both sides. Biding his time, he cocked his arm and delivered an uppercut, sending the frogman flying as a gaping hole in the ceiling was made, the cavity dripping with blood and ooze.

Dusting off his gloves, the soldier huffed. "Didn't your mother ever teach you never to growl at people? The same goes for laying a hands on a lady too." He questioned rhetorically.

That riled the frogmen up. Dropping Molly on her rear, the hulking amphibians wailed inhumanly at the unimpressed young man. Theodore shrugged and fought as the frogmen sprinted forward, claws and teeth at the ready.

"Huh. I guess not."

Theodore didn't try to dodge. He let the frogman come at him. One slashed across his face, and another jumped and bit down on his neck. Hard. It sent him back a little, his legs staggering before regaining footing. Luckily, as the blade-like claws touched his skin, the frogman's wrist broke on impact. Its compatriot had no success either. Each of its' fangs shattered, the fragments falling onto the floor. And with the frogmen too focused on their predicament, Theodore retaliated quickly. He grabbed the toothless frog, twisting its body around for a judo flip, threw it straight at the other, and slammed the two into a splattering mess on the floor, nearly shaking the whole room.

The frogmen screamed. A few ran out of the room and into the corridor, and the entire ceiling collapsed on top as they did. The frogmen were trapped underneath the rubble, leaving behind the biggest of the bunch, a toad.

Molly and Anne's jaws dropped. Their eyes shifted from the fallen roof to the stoic young man, unsure how to comprehend what had happened.

It didn't take calculating and logistics to spot how worn out the infrastructure was. All Theodore needed was the right push and timing. Suffice it to say, he would admit it was all dumb luck. Regardless, the young man had one problem left as the toad approached, muscles flexing and fists clenching. The monster still feigns dominance even after watching Theo kill its friends after watching the devastation unfold.

The toad dashed and swung its right arm. As Theo tried to intercept, the blow sent the young man falling, staggering back as the toad launched another assault with a right hook. The befuddled young man retook it, getting slammed against the wall as Molly and Anne moved out of the way. His body crashed into another wall, drywall and wood scattered all over. The duo moved in and checked to see if Theodore wasn't hurt, concern written on their faces.

It was unnecessary as the sturdy soldier got back on his feet, brushing off debris and cracking his neck before returning to the fight.

The toad didn't hesitate to attack as Theo trotted forward. This time, he made sure to dodge and duck at each swing. The creature was more robust than it appeared and seemed to have distinct combat knowledge. Probably from watching its victims fight, Theo assumed, which meant the young man needed to change his tactic. With each slash and haymaker, Theodore analyzed and formulated his next counter, his opponent unable to see it coming.

Right when the juggernaut of a toad cocked back and swung one more haymaker, Theo quickly blocked his attack and landed a finishing blow to the abdomen. The sheer force of his fist punctured through the stomach, tearing straight through until it poked out of the toad's back. Standing still, all that came from the toad were coughs and wheezes. And as the young man removed his arm, the monster fell to its knees, blood, and entrails on the floor. Its colossal body was left lifeless as Theodore wandered to his companions, who rushed over, worried.

"Oh, my God, Theo! Are you okay? Well, obvi, you're okay, but are you okay, okay?" Anne asked frantically. She checked him from top to bottom, pinching his body with care. "I've seen you take a beating before, but that fight was intense."

Molly did the same and tilted her head, spotting the superficial cuts and bruises on Theo's face, which turned red. "Forget all of that! How are you standing? Not only did you basically fly right through a window, but you just got punched through a wall, and you're moving as if you just tripped and landed face-first on a sidewalk!" She pointed out, dramatically motioning her arms. She scratched the back of her head, trying to comprehend the young man's durability, taking a deep, calming breath before continuing: "Since I'm technically the baby of the group and don't know you guys well, I just want to ask: Are you even human?"

Theo motioned past the two, reaching into Molly's backpack and pulling out her clothes. He handed them to her, and it was at that moment Molly realized she was naked, blushing and immediately taking them as the young man looked away, giving her some privacy to change.

"I'll explain everything when we get back to camp, Molly. But right now, to get you two out safely, we must get out of here before more arrive," Theo announced, trying his best not to look as Molly put on the last article of clothing.

Molly's eyes widened, scared.

"More?"

"The Frogmen always commute in greater numbers, and I wouldn't rule out this dorm being a nest for them. With the noise we've been making, more will definitely come and in greater numbers," Theodore stated, Anne, giving a half-nod while Molly turned pale in fright. "It's common among pack animals to regroup and form a counterstrike. How are you not aware of such crucial knowledge?"

"I just had a good friend by my side," Molly remarked, nudging at Scratch.

"Well, I can't argue with that," Theo shrugged. Moseying to the stairwell, he opened the door, gesturing the girls over. "Ladies first, if that's alright?"

Anne went first down the stairs, and Molly followed suit out of the lobby as both didn't want to waste a single second. Theodore closed the door and walked close by. The sounds of ribbits and croaks were heard throughout the building, and with every fast step, the trio's nerves grew unsettled as it got louder and louder until it finally ended once out the double doors, meeting windy breeze and cloudy skies looking more ethereal by the day.

"Welcome to the apocalypse, I guess," Molly sighed, and the trio headed side-by-side into the Badlands.

A/N: Hey, everyone. This is Kman134. I'm here with the first chapter of Calamity Rising. Ever since I posted the preview, not only did I get good feedback, but I was amazed at the comments, answering specific questions without revealing too many spoilers. That kept me going, the same with my other story. However, since then, I have finished the chapter and made some changes. I know you will have a lot of concerns, especially with Anne and Molly's characters, but it's part of the story. As for the scene with the frogmen, I wanted to do a Goblin Slayer tribute as it was my favorite anime, and it would make sense to have feral amphibious monsters either killing and/or violating their victims. Also, if you're wondering why the title is called "Now," it's meant to give the time frame of the setting (the next chapter being an interlude with "then"), and I got the idea from Peter Cline's Ex-Heroes. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, and please feel free to ask questions and leave comments.