When Anne woke up, she looked around and saw that she was in her room, with bandages covering almost all of her body. She tried to stand up, but fell to the ground. She dragged herself to the stairs, managing to see her reflection in a metal cauldron. She reached up and touched the scars on her face, unable to look at her clouded eye. She was now blind in one eye.
"Oh god." She said, before noticing one thing.
She wasn't wearing a shirt! She covered her chest and looked around, seeing it on the makeshift table that's in there. She grabbed it and looked at it, seeing it the areas that were cut were loosely stitched back up.
'At least I don't need new clothes for now.' Anne thought as she winced while putting her shirt back in.
Anne slowly crawled up the stairs and opened the hatch. She looked around for anyone around before crawling up to couch to sit a bit.
'How long was I out this time?' Anne thought.
She reached for a calendar, only to miss. Having no depth perception is going to take some getting used to.
'How am I going to explain the whole half-blind thing to my parents?' She thought.
After a few more tries, Anne managed to grab the calendar and look at how much time has passed since Sprig seemed to label it.
'Day 7, so I've been out for a week.' Anne thought, thinking it wasn't so bad compared to the month prior.
"Now where is everyone?" Anne asked.
Luckily, the door was opened and the Plantars came into the house from the market.
"Alright, so when Anne is awake, then we can-"
"We can what?" Anne asked.
Everyone turned to see Anne on the couch, placing the calendar on the coffee table.
"Anne!" They called out, dropping some things they were carrying.
"Hey." Anne said, "So, what happened while I was asleep this time? I still feel numerous injuries, most of which were probably still recovering from before my last coma."
"Nothing much…..aside from making another statue for you." Hop Pop said before pulling out a small pouch. "Maddie also whipped up something to help you heal faster too."
"Great." Anne said, "Anyone have a cane? I might need one with my vision now."
The family went to help Anne, picking up their dropped items and going to her. Sprig helped her stand and guided her to her cane before Hop Pop gave Polly the sack of healing medicine from Maddie to give to Anne.
"So, what were you guys talking about?" Anne asked.
"Oh, we were just talking about how we're going to get you home." Hop Pop said, "We bought a new wagon for it. Now that you're up, we're one step closer to leaving."
"Leaving? You mean the exit out of the valley has finally melted?" Anne asked.
"Exactly." Hop Pop said with a nod.
"Now we can leave and explore outside of frog valley!" Polly said.
"Yes!" Anne said raising her arms, "Ow!"
"Easy, at least wait until you get the medicine." Polly said as she threw the sack at Anne.
It exploded in a close of white powder, covering Anne from head to toe before her injuries began glowing and healing faster.
"Oh wow, that's good... smells nice too."
"She added some lilacs for scent. Maddie said not to do anything strenuous for 45 minutes and your injuries will be mostly fixed up." Hop Pop said as he pointed to the couch.
"I'm going to have a lot of scars, won't I?" Anne asked.
"Sadly, yes."
"Now come on, get back to the couch." Sprig said, as he held Anne back to the couch.
"I'm coming." Anne said, sitting on the couch.
"To make the time fly, we can tell you everything that you missed." Polly said as she hopped to the couch. "Like how Sprig and Ivy had their first date!"
"It wasn't a date!" Sprig quickly said as he blushed.
"Yes it was!" Polly shouted with a smirk.
Anne let out a high-pitched squeal.
"Tell. Me. EVERYTHING!" Anne said, looking towards Polly!
"They went on a picnic at the lake at night when the fireflies were out."
"That's a PERFECT romantic setting." Anne said with a nod.
"You said you wouldn't follow us!" Sprig shouted at Polly.
"I lied. Moving on." Polly said quickly.
"Get this... they had their first kiss."
"No!" Anne said in shock.
"Yes!" Polly replied.
It's a good thing Sprig is already pink, because he was blushing more than he ever has before.
"Can you just stop?" Sprig asked as he pulled his hat over his face.
"Don't worry, I'm almost finished." Polly said to him.
"And they totally messed it up!" Polly said, "A fish jumped between them before they could kiss!"
"What? They kissed a fish?!" Anne shouted in shock.
Polly was struggling to breath at this point. Just retelling it was as funny as watching it.
"Okay, enough of this, Polly, Sprig, go get ready, while I make sure Anne is ready for travel." Hop Pop said.
"Okay, Hop Pop." They said as they left Anne as Hop Pop sat next to her.
"So, aside from getting a wagon ready to travel, what else has been going on since toad tower?" Anne asked.
"Well... that... girl you know managed to escape with the Toads, I have no idea what will happen to them." Hop Pop said.
"Sasha." Anne said with some distain on her voice, moving a hand to her eye.
"Anne, calm down, they're gone now." Hop Pop said, "There's no need to get angry over what has happened."
"Speak for yourself. What happened actually had it coming for a long time." Anne said as she moved her hand away. "I just didn't know it until I met all of you. I... don't know what I'm going to do if I see her again, I may try and kill her."
"But isn't she your friend?" Hop Pop asked her.
"Not anymore, I'll help get her home with Marcy, but I won't call myself her friend anytime soon." Anne said, "Not after everything that happened."
"I can see that." Hop Pop said with a nod, "Now, just stay here, I'll get you something to eat."
Anne nodded to him as she rested against the couch again, taking a breath to calm herself down and fell her injuries still healing quickly.
"Oh, Maddie's a miracle worker."
Magic was a miracle in this world, good or bad. Even if Anne was cursed once, it was still amazing.
'Marcy would love to learn magic.' Anne thought.
Anne closed her eyes.
'I'm coming Marcy... stay safe.'
She just sat and breathes with her eyes closed, taking in her senses, before Hop Pop returned with some food.
"Here you go, Anne." He said, offering Anne a bowl of beef and bug stew.
"Thanks." Anne said, trying to reach the bowl, but missing, "Okay, this is getting annoying."
"If you need help, maybe Wally can give you some advice before we go. He's dealt with tone eye for his whole life." Hop Pop said as he set the bowl in Anne's lap.
"Maybe."
Anne focused back on the stew and ate some with ease since it was right in her lap. After that, and her body healing, Anne was back up and moving. Enough so Anne could help with the last bits of packing for the family wagon or "Fwagon" as Hop Pop likes to call it. Once they were all packed, Anne got happy.
"Alright, let's go!" Anne said.
"Anne, are you sure about this?" Hop Pop asked.
"Yes, I've waited long enough." Anne said.
With the help of her cane and Sprig, Anne got up front to sit next to Hop Pop as someone came towards the farm.
"Hey, who's that?" Anne asked.
"That's Chuck. He is the best carpenter in Wartwood. He'll be looking after the farm and making any repairs while we're gone." Hop Pop explained.
"Howdy." Chuck said with a tip of the hat.
"Hi." Anne said.
Hop Pop threw Chuck a key, which he caught, before cracking the reins on Bessie to get her moving with the Fwagon. And off they went, on a journey out of the valley.
'So long, Wartwood. I'll see you soon.' Anne thought.
It wasn't long before they left the valley, coming up upon the Ruins of Despair. Instantly, Anne felt amazed yet cautious at the same time. The sight of these frog like buildings gave off an ominous feeling and her instincts were telling her of danger dwelling inside of them.
"Hop Pop, what are these?" Anne asked.
"These? They're the Ruins of Despair, these been around even longer than Wartwood. Nobody knows why they were made or what lies inside but what we do know is that a great danger is held within." Hop Pop said as they passed one.
"We should check it out!" Sprig said.
"What? Did you not hear what I just said, boy?!" Hop Pop asked in shock of his grandson!
"Come on, what could go wrong?"
Anne gave him a blank look while shaking her head at him.
"Never say that out loud, things will always find a way to go wrong." Anne said before the Fwagon shook and became slanted! "Case in point."
Looking over the side, everyone could see a wheel had broken and fell off from its pegs.
"Ah, dang it!" Hop Pop said, "That's what I get for buying something that someone died it. You kids stay put while I fix this."
"Wait someone died in this?" Anne asked as Hop Pop got down and went into the Fwagon for the spare wheel.
Sprig knew this was his best chance to get to see the Ruins.
"Just a little peak won't hurt." Sprig mumbled as he hopped off, gaining Anne's and Polly's attention.
"Hey!" Polly called out.
Hop Pop looked at Sprig running off.
"Dang it, boy!"
"Don't worry, Hop Pop, I'll get him." Anne said.
Still holding her cane, Anne rushed after Sprig as he approached one of the Ruins of Despair.
"Uh, are you going to go after them?" Polly asked.
"This wheel ain't going to fix itself." Hop Pop said.
"So I should?" Polly asked, gesturing to herself.
"Frog no! You're just a pollywog, it's dangerous!" Hop Pop said to her.
"Anne can handle this herself." Hop Pop said.
"You mean with her multiple injuries that just healed and her now blind eye?" Polly asked with a blank tone.
Hop Pop froze for a moment before continuing to work, a bit faster than before.
'She'll be fine. She'll be fine!' Hop Pop thought to himself.
Anne slide down the incline into one of the Ruins.
"Sprig, enough messing around!"
"It's fine, Anne! Get down here, you gotta see this!" Sprig shouted, having reached the bottom.
Anne landed on the bottom and looked around.
"Woah, are those... computers?"
"I think. What are computers again?" Sprig asked as he looked around, seeing a factory set up with large computer screens and keyboards in front of glass windows.
Beyond said windows, appeared to be some sort of assembly line with covered belts.
"Sprig, I think this is a factory." Anne said, "What did it make though?"
"There's one way to find-"
"Pull that lever, and I will bite your arm off." Anne said.
"Please, we both know you would never do that." Sprig said.
Anne just crossed her arms.
"Don't test me." Anne said as her hood right eye flashed wolf like.
Sprig and Anne stared at each other a moment, not moving from their spots to see who would make good on their promise. Anne would bite his arm off or Sprig would flip the lever.
"Hey, what's that!?" Sprig said, pointing behind Anne.
"You really think I'm going to fall for that?" Anne asked him.
"Anne, I am serious! Something is behind you!" Sprig shouted, still pointing.
He... wasn't wrong. Something was behind her, something... big. Sprig tackled Anne out of the way as an axe landed on the spot Anne was standing. They looked up and saw what looked like a robot, with an axe instead of a hand. It was in major disrepair, looking like it hasn't been repaired in centuries.
"Intruder alert, intruder alert!" It said in a deep voice!
"A robot?! This is a robot factory?!" Anne shouted in shock!
"What's a robot!?" Sprig asked.
"The thing currently blocking the ONLY exit!"
"Destroy intruders! Destroy intruders!" The robot shouted as it held up the axe arm!
"Sprig, run!"
The duo jumped to both sides as the axe hit the ground, rushing back to the entrance to climb out of the factory!
"Destroy intruders!" The robot repeated!
The robot reached its other arm out and grabbed Sprig.
"Sprig!" Anne said.
The robot pulled him back and raised its axe. Anne's eyes flashed blue for a second and she attacked. The robot dropped Sprig when the scared wolf bit down on it. Sprig was surprised as Anne attacked the robot, biting through it!
'Don't touch him!' Anne thought as she ripped out the metal and began biting into the wires!
"Errors! Error! Error!" The robot said as it began flailing around.
Anne jumped off and picked Sprig up by the back of his jacket. She ran out of the ruins, just as the robot blew up.
"HOLY FROG!" Sprig shouted as Anne set him in the ground and slammed the door shut!
She panted like a dog before she changed back, putting a hand against the door as she still panted.
"And….THAT…is why…..YOU DON'T RUN OFF IN DANGEROUS RUINS!" Anne shouted at him before realizing she left her cane. "And you owe me a new cane, Sprig!"
"Sorry." Sprig said.
"What in transition happened down there?!" Hop Pop asked as he and Polly rushed over to them.
"Turns out the ruins weren't as abandoned as you think because something big, metallic, and deadly just tried to kill us before I destroyed it!" Anne said, "Get in, we're leaving before something else happens!"
Anne didn't give them any chance to reply as she grabbed them all, despite her adjusting to her new one eyed depth perception, and rushed to the repaired fwagon! She threw them inside before jumping to the front and snapping the reigns!
"HIYAH, BESSIE!" Anne shouted as the large snail took off speeding away from the ruins!
Hope you like the long chapter, because I have to take the rest of the week off because of an emergency. Follow, Favorite, and Review for more.