How Did We Get Here?

Grime and Troy were setting up camp as Polly poured over a map. She ran her fingers through her hair distractedly. How were they supposed to search all of Amphibia for Anne's kids? She groaned and closed her eyes. She wished Sprig was here.

"Well, good thing I had all the stuff I needed for summer camp." Troy said, trying to be optimistic as he rolled out his sleeping bag. He glanced over at Polly. He appreciated her concern for his safety but didn't want to be treated like a child. He sighed and felt guilty. At least she had the sense to consider what could have happened if his sisters had been sent here as well. He shook his head. This couldn't actually be real, could it? Yet everything felt real. He closed his eyes and tried to think back to everything that had happened before he woke up here. Andria and Athena were arguing again. They had come to him because Athena had found a strange box. Neither he nor Andria could get it open. However, Athena seemed to manipulate it into opening. There was a flash of light and…

"Lieutenant." Grime said, putting a clawed hand on his shoulder. Troy turned to him and Grime cleared his throat. "I think we should have a talk."

"Uh, what's up?" Troy asked, curiously. He wondered what Grime was going to share this time. He seemed to be struggling with remembering when and where he was half the time. He had ended up inadvertently sharing a lot about whoever this Lieutenant person was. At first he thought she was a jerk but it sounded like she had a lot going on.

"I," Grime started and frowned. He scratched his beard and squinted at Troy. "I'm getting old." There was a pause. Troy laughed and patted him on the arm.

"It's okay." He said, smiling reassuringly. He was worried Grime had something serious to say.

"Please, Lieutenant." Grime continued and Troy fell silent. "I need you to be patient with me." He put a clawed hand to his head and rubbed his temples. "I can't recall things like I used to." Troy grimaced and felt guilty. Grime looked to Polly and pointed. "I need to speak with her next."

"Why? What's wrong?" Troy asked quickly. Grime shook his head.

"Later." He said, closing his eyes as he strained to remember something. "I'm sorry." He said finally as tears started to roll down his face. "It's important but I can't-" He gritted his teeth. "I had something to tell you." He shook his head as he tried to focus. Troy pulled the old toad into a hug as Grime sobbed.

"It's okay. Take your time." Troy said sympathetically. Grime seemed so sad, scared, and frustrated. "Polly?" Troy called over. Polly looked up distractedly. She bit her lip and strode over.

"Grime." Polly said gently. She felt bad for him and his failing memory. She looked at Troy. "Could you go check on MicroAngelo for me?" Troy nodded and let go of Grime. He quickly wiped his own eyes and left them. As soon as he was out of earshot Polly turned back to Grime and crossed her arms. "I know your vision isn't great and your memory-" She trailed off and glanced over at Troy. "-But I know you're not being completely honest."

"What do you mean?" Grime asked slowly.

"Who am I?" Polly said tapping her foot as she tested a theory. Grime blinked and looked at the blurry outline of the pink frog before him.

"You're Polly." He said frowning. "Am I wrong?"

"No. You're right." Polly replied.

"So what is your question?" Grime asked, stroking his beard.

"How do you know it's me?" Polly said, raising her eyebrows.

"You're a pink frog."

"So is Sprig."

"I don't understand."

"How do you know I'm Polly and not Sprig?" Polly continued to push.

"Because I know your voice." Grime said furrowing his brow. Polly waited. When he didn't continue she pointed to Troy.

"And he is?"

"Why that's the Lieu-"

"Who is he?" Polly said, raising her voice slightly while still keeping it a whisper.

"That's… That's…" Grime's lip quivered and he squeezed his eyes shut. He snarled.

"Who is he Grime?" Polly demanded.

"That's her son." Grime admitted as he broke down again. "That's the little foot soldier." Polly ran a hand through her hair.

"Why do you keep calling him Lieutenant?"

"He looks just like her." He said looking at Troy fondly. "I keep seeing her and forgetting-"

"And why aren't you being honest with him?"

"I want to remember." Grime growled sadly. "I want to relive those memories. I want him to hear some of his mother's adventures and accomplishments."

"Then why not tell him?" Polly asked.

"Why haven't you?" Grime countered. She blanched at the question.

"I'm scared." Polly said, rubbing her arms. "I know I shouldn't be but the last time Sprig and I talked… He brought up some fears I didn't have before." She glanced at Troy. "And now I'm afraid it's too late to come clean."

"You and I both." Grime agreed before looking confused again. "Why are we here?" Polly laughed helplessly. She felt so much pressure to hold everything together.

"I don't know." Polly said, clenching her fists. "I really don't know." She closed her eyes and took a deep calming breath. "We'll keep heading to Newtopia. We'll listen in for rumors along the way. If we think it may be his sisters we'll investigate."

"Sounds like a solid plan." Grime said approvingly. He scratched his beard absently. Polly stared off into the distance lost in thought. She narrowed her eyes momentarily.

"Wait. Why did you call him a foot soldier?" Polly asked curiously. Grime blinked.

"Because that's what I called him when he was born." Grime said simply.

"What do you mean when he was born?" Polly frowned. "We never saw any of them when they were born. Anne-"

"I saw him with Sasha." Grime said with a small smile. "We were overlooking the-"

"You've seen them!?" Polly half shouted. Troy looked over with a worried expression.

"Yes, haven't you?"

"Of course not. They never came back." Polly said, running a hand through her hair. "I mean Hop Pop thought he-" She froze. "Hop Pop said Anne had three kids…" Her eyes started to water and she put a hand to her mouth as she remembered. She thought Hop Pop was simply getting old and senile. "I saw Anne." Polly whispered. Troy hurried over when he saw Polly start to cry.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Troy asked quickly. Polly shook her head and cried quietly. He looked over at Grime for some sort of explanation. Grime had a guarded expression and stroked his beard.

"Little foot soldier…" He started slowly and Polly frantically shook her head. Troy looked confused. "Did your mother ever tell you about her time in the Toad Army?"

"Grime!" Polly hissed.

"What?" Troy asked as his heart started to race for some unknown reason. Grime smiled weakly. "What do you mean, my mother?"

"That's her old armor." Grime said letting out a choked laugh. "You look just like her. Blonde hair and everyth-"

"You know my Mom?" Troy said, frowning as his eyes widened. Grime nodded. "That's impossible."

"It's not." Polly said with a guilty expression.

"No. It is." Troy argued. "This-" He gestured around. "This can't be real. None of it can be." He clenched his fists. "And if it is there's no way you would know my moms."

"We do." Polly said apologetically.

"No you don't." Troy said, putting his foot down as his eyes started to water. "Because if you did you would have told me before now. You won't have lied or tried to cover it up."

"Kid, I'm sorry-" Polly began. Troy turned away to rub his eyes. Polly reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. "It was so hard when Anne left. When-"

"You knew my Mæ̀?" Troy said desperately. He turned around and Polly flinched. "How did-?"

"She was our friend. She was a Plantar." Polly jumped in quickly. Troy shook his head and backed away. He glanced at Grime.

"Sasha was the best lieutenant I've ever had." Grime said full of pride and sorrow. Troy shook his head again.

"No. You're lying." He said looking between them. "This is a messed up joke or something."

"I'm so sorry." Polly said, taking a step forward. Troy took a step back. "It was years ago! I was going to ask - to tell you the first time we met but Sprig-" She said getting frustrated with herself. Troy took one last look at them before bolting. "Wait!" Polly shouted and ran after him. Grime closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh as he sat down.