Carvings of wailing faces lit up as music played and someone started speaking. "Many are the grim tales told of the Shadow Isles and the Black Mist that shrouds her." He spoke in a warning tone. "And while all good folk shun this cursed land…" A hand carrying a match with an ominous flame lit a series of candles.
"Sometimes its darkness comes for you. Ever more so than five years past, of a dragon in wolf's clothing pulling a false prince's strings from within." A shrouded man slunk behind a small performer's cart as he continued narrating. "The Black Mist ebbs and flows like the tide, yet now and then, on a night much like tonight, it reaches far across the sea, searching, seeking, killing."
The cart's curtains opened to show a puppet stage showing a boat on the high seas, manned by a neat helmsman and carrying a frog couple, strangely looking like Shadow and Anne. The rays of the Sun contract as black ichor swept from stage left. "This time is known as the Harrowing." He said, the wife pointing ahead as the husband sheathes his toy sword as thunder crashed and ghosts float in on invisible strings.
"During the Harrowing, the spirits of the Shadow Isles, the undying ghosts of the massacred salamander people, go forth within the Black Mist, preying on the living, feeding the darkness." Two flew past them as a centaur-like creature jumped onto the ship and impaled the helmsman, throwing him down like refuse before turning to the pair.
The two puppets squared off each other, the frog barely able to hold his own against the beast as the ghosts move toward the wife, throwing off his focus and being pushed against the railing, the monster jumping overboard as the ghosts took away his beloved toward a rendition of what remained of the salamander city.
The ship ran aground as the man was thrown off it. The man wandered through a twisted tree line before finding his wife slumped against a dead trunk, a mortal wound bleeding out from her stomach.
The puppet was horrified as he ran to her, warding off the ghosts. "There's no coming back, once you're claimed by the Harrowing or the Risen that emerge from those dark places." The narrator said, the wife's eyes glowing the same color as the isles, twitching and spasming up to her feet.
"You're cursed." The wife puppet attacked her husband, clutching his throat and squeezing as he struggled to stop her. "Condemned to haunt the Black Mist. Forever." A pair of tuned scissors loomed over the puppet's strings before cutting them. A ghost puppet rose as the curtains close, and an audience of toads clamored in disapproval at the narrator.
Their Captain had recently left for a summit with the other captains to the Northern Tower, leaving a considerably sized skeleton crew to man the West Tower overlooking the sea. The storms beyond the horizon had grown worse as of late, and just today, it had reached a breaking point, nearly breaking the annual cycle that the warriors have come to expect.
"Well, what were you expecting?" The storyteller remarked annoyingly, "There ain't no happy endings when the Harrowing comes for you." An alarm bell sounded as he looked in its direction, slowly grinning as the crowd began to panic. "Heh. Right on cue."
Black Mist enveloped the stage as the curtains opened up again. "Prepare yourselves, friends." He encouraged the toads, his tone darkening and his voice changing. The husband puppet, now looking more human than before, righted itself up and looked at the camera. His eyes now glowing a much darker and golden hue than compared to its fellow cast members.
"The Harrowing is here."
Amphibia: Calamity Warriors
Chapter Fifty-Four: Barrel's Warhammer
Toad Tower North, the largest tower out of all four. Inside, toads of all shapes and sizes sat in a chamber on raised bleachers and facing a central stage. On one side of the room sat the three Tower Captains; Captain Bufo, Captain Beatrix, and Captain Aldo, with Aldo sitting over behind the two, while Bufo and Beatrix sat next to each other. The room was filled with quiet chatter as everyone waited for something to happen.
"So, the disgraced Captain Grime called this council meeting? Does anyone have any idea why?" Bufo, the lord of the eastern tower, asked. He was a grayish-green toad with yellow sclera eyes, his long black hair held up in a modern rendition of the chonmage and an evenly cut goatee. He was dressed in a loose set of gray o-yoroi, an early form of samurai plated armor. The spaulders on each arm were segmented in three pieces tied to the dark gray breast plate with yellow ropes.
"Maybe he wants to be surrounded by friends when he gets arrested." Beatrix, the lord of the western tower, said. She was a short, middle-aged toad with swamp green skin and a light green underbelly with dark green spots on her, as well as a few pointy grey teeth in her mouth. She had deep green hair tied up in a braid with a dark brain hair tie. Her right eyes had a green pupil, no iris and green sclera, and the left had a lavender sclera, a light pink iris and no pupil and a scar around it. She wore a stained purple uniform with ochre buttons, spiked, flat, round shoulders with bristles and a belt with a gold death's head moth buckle. "What do you think, Aldo?"
Sitting behind the east and west lords was the lord or the northern tower, Captain Aldo, an extremely old toad with pale skin and wearing a brown robe as well as a brown cape with a spider shaped clasp. He didn't respond, or even move, his body covered in vines. In fact, it was hard to tell if he was alive, let alone breathing, a beetle crawling in one of the empty eye sockets and out the other.
Both lords looked at the oldest captain with uncertainty before Bufo asked, "Uh, is he asleep or dead?"
"Definitely smells dead." Beatrix jabbed, making herself and Bufo laugh.
Up on the stage, Braddock pulled apart the curtains and peeked through nervously. She closed the curtains and turned back to her companions.
"Not exactly a welcoming crowd." She remarked to Sasha, Percy and Damien, the newt having cut his hair, giving it a spiked hairdo.
"Yeah, you can say that again." The toad-raised newt nodded. "Especially that Captain Beatrix."
"Like, yeesh, what's her problem?" Percy asked.
"Her problem is that she's my sister." Grime said, he and Siwang approaching them. "And I may have teased her quite a bit when we were tadpoles."
"What?!" Braddock gasped.
"Get out!" Percy said.
"And don't even get me started on her racism." Damien added. "Unless you're a toad, she will treat you like garbage."
"Even you?" Sasha questioned.
"Like I said, if you're a newt or frog, forget about it." Damien nodded. "I even tried earning her favor; martial arts, archery, even music! She was not impressed!" As he listed off the methods he used to try to win the favor of Beatrix, a thought bubble appeared over his head, showing Beatrix kicking the poor newt after the first two attempts, and while it seemed to please her at first, it didn't last long before she kicked him.
"Not only that, but ever since Charon was killed, she's been on a warpath." Grime said. "I forgot to mention, but Charon was her daughter."
Sasha seemed surprised by this, but the shock on both Percy's and Braddock's faces were something else.
"That's it! Stick a fork in us. We're done." Braddock said, throwing her hands up, while Percy started hyperventilating.
Sasha stood behind the couple and put her hands on each of their shoulders. "Enough loser talk. We can do this. Just remember what we practiced and keep your eye on the prize."
"See, why can't you be more like Sasha, you two?" Siwang spoke up, clearly disapproving of the panic from Percy and Braddock. "At least she knows what's at stake here."
"Ooh! That reminds me..." Percy said, running off before returning with a white paint bucket, a brush and some capes. "I have one last touch for our outfits." He then proceeded to paint an eye symbol on the cloaks of each of his teammates. The symbol was a circle with two lines poking out of opposite ends and a single dot in the middle. "Now we really are a team."
"One eye. I see what you did there." Grime said in approval.
"I like it!" Damien declared with a smile.
"Pointless, but eye catching." Siwang said with an uncaring shrug, his remaining men wearing similar cloaks with the eye symbol.
"Nice one, Perce!" Sasha said with a smile. "Now, come on everyone." She and her team put their hands in, even Siwang joined in. "Let's get out there and impress some toads... or we die!"
They all cheered, throwing their hands up, while Siwang stayed silent. This was their one chance to get the toads on their side.
And he intended to make it work, no matter the cost.
Back in the council chamber, the toads were getting impatient, especially Bufo and Beatrix.
"Dang it, Beatrix! What's your brother waiting for?"
Suddenly, the curtains over the windows closed, prompting the two captains to look up as a drumroll sounded, the crowd looking on with intrigue as the curtains pulled open, revealing Sasha, Percy and Damien, a spotlight flickering, Braddock using Sasha's phone for the light and music playing pop, Damien and Percy busting dance moves as Sasha set up an easel. The toads gasped in awe, before Braddock shifts the light on Grime, who was standing above the stage with a rope in hand before he swung down and flipped, landing on a loose floorboard and catapulting Percy into the air, the jester toad using a t-shirt cannon to shoot t-shirts reading 'Toadz Rule!' into the crowd.
Grime cleared his throat before addressing the crowd. "My fellow toads." He declared, Sasha beginning to flip pages on the easel as he spoke, with Damien standing at attention next to his captain. "For years, we have kept the kingdom's servants in line. But are we not just servants ourselves? I propose a future where toads overthrow King Andrias, and take our rightful place as rulers of all Amphibia!"
"Psst! Drop the mic!" Sasha whispered to him.
"Oh! Uh, right!" Grime dropped the mic, crickets chirping in the sudden silence, the crowd waiting for the captains to give their verdicts.
Bufo was the first to speak with narrowed eyes. "You all took a huge risk coming here to gain support for your rebellion."
"And it paid off. We frogging loved it!" Beatrix exclaimed.
The toads cheered loudly, the toad wearing the 'Toadz Rule!' t-shirt howling. Sasha and her companions smiled at this, while Siwang and his crew watched from the darkness.
"Nicely done, Grimothy." Beatrix said teasingly.
Grime turned red as Sasha, Percy, Braddock, and Damien looked at him.
"No way! Is your real name..." Sasha made to say, but Grime was quick to cut her off.
"You're not talking about this!"
"Hey, you knew about that, Damien?" Percy asked the newt.
"Yeah, but I chose not to say anything." He said with a shrug. "I kinda value being on his good side, you see."
"So, tell us, tell us, who's leading this revolution?" Bufo asked eagerly.
"I was thinking... us?" Grime said invitingly, gesturing to himself and his group.
A bit surprised at first, Bufo and Beatrix whispered to each other before turning their attention back to the group.
"Yeah, I don't think so." Bufo denied. "We love your vision, but no toad is going to follow the command of a fugitive and his hummus."
"Humans. We're called 'humans'." Sasha corrected him.
"Bufo's right. Just because King Andrias is working with a couple of hummuses doesn't mean us toads will go for it." Beatrix chimed, ignoring the correction. "And we're definitely not working with a newt," She pointed at Damien. "who most likely is a spy."
"Seriously?" Damien frowned. "I've served the toad army ever since Grime took me in!"
"And don't even get me started with the events of the Shadow Isles!" Beatrix went on, ignoring the newts complaint. "The Risen have gotten even more restless as of late!"
Sasha felt the shock within herself at this information. "Wait, other humans? They must be talking about Anne and Marcy." Suddenly, the image of her friends flashed in her mind, along with the wolf that turned Anne against her. "I don't believe it. They're working together? With the Wolf? Without me?" She began to shake with anger, her fists clenched, and her teeth gritted.
"And apparently aiding the crown." Grime added.
"And don't think I've forgotten the death of my daughter, Grime." Beatrix shouted, venom in her voice. "I trusted you to look after Charon and you went and got her killed!"
"Speaking of which, this whole thing is beginning to sound too risky." Bufo said dismissively. "Guards! Arrest them!"
Suddenly, the hawk-moth cawed and flew in the room, flying around a couple of times, before landing on the arm of Siwang, as he revealed himself before the Tower Lords.
The crowd of toads gasped in shock at the sight of the barbarian. Bufo and Beatrix, on the other hand, seemed more than outraged, the eastern tower lord shooting up from his seat.
"Siwang! How dare you intrude in this meeting!" He shouted angrily.
"Oh, come now, Bufo. My remaining men and I are toads, same as you all." Siwang spoke as his soldiers emerged from the shadows.
"Same as us? Ha!" Bufo scoffed. "You are a barbaric rebel, a disgrace to toad-kind! Get out!"
"Not before I make the case, for Grime and his cause." Siwang countered, standing before the crowd. "Yes, I chose to desert the army here, and the two times of trying to conquer Amphibia lead to the King tightening his grip on you. However, under the leadership of us, we can bring him to his knees."
"And how are you planning to do that? With the Prince being gifted with his magical mumbo jumbo?" Beatrix demanded.
"Oh... we have our ways." Siwang said with a confident grin. "But, even with that, it's not enough. For too long, the royal family had been lording their power over us, making us the arm that bends the wrist of all who oppose them, including us. Well, I say you should allow us to guide you, to what we always wanted; a toad-ruled Amphibia." He then looked up to Aldo and said with a challenging grin. "Unless you would like us to, perhaps, prove ourselves?"
Suddenly, the body of Aldo came to life, leaning forward and snapping the vines off, before he raised his head up and spoke in a zombie-like tone.
"Barrel's Warhammer."
"Barrel's hammer?" Bufo repeated, looking up at the Tower Lord above him. "You've finally gone senile, Aldo."
"Yeah, that's a suicide mission." Beatrix agreed.
The zombie-like toad raised a hand to silence them before he continued. "It is said, that the one who wields the hammer, is the true leader of all toads." Aldo informed all who listened. "It is the one thing, the only thing, that'll prove we should follow you."
Siwang, looked at him for a moment, and said with a toothy grin.
"Perfect..."
"Great! Done!" Sasha spoke up with confidence and determination, completely ignoring the looks of fear in the eyes of her companions. "You'll have it in your Crypt-keeper hands by morning."
Bufo and Beatrix both gasped before laughing.
"No toad has ever gone after the hammer and made it back alive." Bufo said. "This I've gotta see."
While all this was going on, a cloaked toad watched from the sides, his eyes watching Sasha with interest. He wasn't the only one watching, however, as a cloak Eliza watched from the shadows, her dark magenta eyes watching Sasha with glee.
Time for her to begin her game.
"So, what's this hammer, and why are y'all so scared of it?"
After the meeting, the group reconvened outside the tower at the entrance, the whole time Grime and his soldiers were terrified of the idea on venturing out to find the legendary weapon of a toad hero. Meanwhile, Siwang was making the preparations with his troops.
"A little late to be asking that, don't you think, Sasha?" Damien asked, almost sarcastically.
"It's the weapon of the legendary toad warrior, Barrel the Brave!" Percy exclaimed.
"Barrel gave his life defending a helpless village from a terrifying beast!" Braddock added.
"Legend has it that this same beast guards his hammer to this very day." Percy said in a fearful tone.
"Enough whimpering!" Grime snapped, pushing past them. "We don't even know if this tadpole tale is real."
Percy started to shiver in fear, looking as though he was about to wet himself. Seeing this, Damien approached him and Braddock with a sympathetic look.
"Listen, you don't have to feel like you're being forced to go through with this, guys." He said.
"Yeah, he's right." Sasha said with sympathy. "If things get too wild out there, just give a signal and we'll call the whole thing off."
"A signal? What kind of signal?" Percy asked.
Sasha thought for a moment before an idea sprung to mind. "How about this? Do your best kawaii pose. It's something we do for photos in my world. Like this." She then demonstrated, spinning and throwing up two peace signs, giving the cutest face she could muster with the pose.
Damien blushed at the sight, utterly amazed from how cute she looked.
"What's a photo?" Braddock asked, she and Percy confused.
"Just try it."
Braddock and Percy both tried to strike the same pose Sasha made, looking even more adorable, the four laughing.
"Okay, my turn!" Damien declared before striking the pose, giving a toothy grin and devil horns.
"Oh my gosh, dude, that's cute!" Sasha laughed, making Damien blush again.
"If you lot are done goofing off," Siwang spoke up as he approached. "My men and I are ready to move out."
Just then, they saw Bufo approach them.
"First, I must remark how brave you are, or foolish, to undertake this mission." He said. "No one has ever returned from a quest like this."
"Yeah, I figured." Sasha said, rolling her eyes.
"Still, I figured you could use some help finding your way around." Bufo continued. "And I couldn't recommend anyone besides Milo."
"Milo?" Sasha repeated.
"He's one of the greatest warriors among toads." Percy explained in awe. "He comes from a family of warriors with tales of their great exploits, all the monsters they'd slain and the people they saved!"
"He was called the Bloodlusted Hero." Bufo added. "Not only that, but he knows the swamp like the back of his hand. Definitely someone you want on your side."
"But why are you telling us this?" Sasha gave a questioning look.
"Because I want this revolution to succeed." Bufo explained himself. "For too long, the toads have been nothing but glorified attack dogs for the newts and we've had enough. So it's time for the toads to take charge for once." He turned away. "Do with it as you will. Either way, I wish you luck."
Sasha watched the tower lord walk away. "Glad we at least have one ally amongst them." She said before turning to the group. "Well, let's go find this Milo guy!"
"From what I heard, Milo visits the tavern, looking for job opportunities." Damien said. "And if there aren't any, he sits and drinks."
"How do you know?" Sasha asked.
"When Grime brought me to the northern tower, I'd catch a glimpse of the guy a few times." Damien told her. "He was taller than Charon and pretty muscular, with a massive warhammer of his own. Can't miss him, I bet."
"Well, we'd better go find him then." Grime said. "Still, there's no guarantee that he'd agree."
As Grime walked ahead with Braddock, Damien and Siwang, Sasha made to follow, but Percy tugged on her cape to stop.
"Hey, Sash. Thanks for that." He said with a thankful smile. "I feel better already."
Sasha smiled tenderly. "Hey, my pleasure. And don't forget, just strike a pose and we'll leave."
The group walked until they reached a tavern, Siwang and his men deciding to wait outside as to avoid drawing attention, while Sasha and her group entered. Inside were various toads sat drinking or partying.
"Okay, so where could this guy be…" Sasha said, scanning the crowd.
"He's over there."
Looking to where Damien was pointing, Sasha saw the toad they were looking for. As Damien said before, he was tall and muscular, and he seemed to be an eastern American toad by the look of him with a bright shade of red with a dark underbelly. He had sharp and fierce eyes and red hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing red and iron armor. Resting by his side was a large Warhammer.
"Wow, he makes Charon seem tiny." Sasha remarked.
"Remember, Sasha, this guy is a living legend." Damien warned. "Try not to make him angry. We need allies, now more than ever."
"Don't worry, I've got this."
The group walked over, with Sasha taking the lead, now standing before the large toad. Taking notice, Milos looked down at them with averted eyes.
"Can I help you?" He asked in a bored tone.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Sasha said confidently. "We have a job that you might be interested in and we could use your expertise."
After Sasha took the time to explain, Milo grunted.
"So, let me get this straight," He said. "The council of toads isn't going to take you guys seriously unless you get them their hammer."
"Yup, and I heard you're able to pick it up with ease." Sasha remarked with a smirk.
Looking at the blonde human for a moment, Milo took a big swig of his drink before setting it down. "Listen, kid; I'm not some nanny. And I'm not interested in some extra's dumb quest for a hammer just to prove yourself to a weak council."
"Hey, who are you calling extras?!" Damien demanded, clearly offended by the 'extras' comment.
"You lot, runt." Milo said condescendingly. "You lost to a kid with magical powers, a normal human and a small frog. That's pathetic."
"Some of that might not be true…" Percy said, a bit intimidated by the large toad.
"Like you could handle them better!" Damien challenged. "You can't even help us!"
"I can help you." Milo stated. "I'm just choosing not to guide a suicide mission." He made to get up and leave. "Now if that's all…"
"Wait!" Grime stopped him. "What if we made you a deal?"
Milo let out a laugh. "And what would this deal be exactly, Captain? Need I remind you that you have nothing to offer?"
"What about a trip to Newtopia?" Sasha chimed in with a smirk. "To fight the people who humiliated the toad name. Sounds like a good deal, right?"
This piqued Milo's interest. "Crush them like bugs?! HA! Kid, you know how to speak my language. Fine, we leave in 10 minutes. But if you're not out by then, I'm getting the hammer on my own."
Picking up his hammer, Milo walked off, and once he was certain he was out of sight, he pulled out a sheet of paper and jotted something down. Once he finished, he turned to a messenger.
"You. Deliver this to the Maelstrom in Newtopia." He said, handing him the message. "Make sure he gets it."
"Yes sir!"
Once the messenger left, Milo looked beyond the swamp. He knew that when he first got the message from his contact in Newtopia, that something was up. He was asked to keep an eye out for a blonde human female and assess her potential. What potential? He wasn't sure.
Only time would tell.
After making sure they were prepared, the group departed on a small boat Percy had rented. After some time sailing, the group arrived at their destination in the swamp and parked their boat before going on foot, with Milo leading the way.
"Alright, we're getting close to where the hammer was last seen." He said.
"This is insane!" Grime groaned. "Even if it exists, we'll never find it."
"He's found it."
Seeing Siwang point up at the sky, the toad captain saw the hawk-moth flying overhead, circling over what might be where they needed to be.
"Looks like he's found the location." Damien remarked.
But just as the hawk-moth made to fly back to them, an arrow shot from the trees and struck the bird right through the torso, much to the shock of the group as it let out a pained shriek before falling to the ground before them, landing right at Siwang's feet.
Looking up, they saw the assailant; a dark archer, holding an equally dark bow, staring at the group with bright voids before he pointed to his right, then disappearing into a portal behind him, vanishing from sight.
"What the heck was that?!" Percy exclaimed, shivering behind Milo.
"It looked like Varus, the Arrow of Retribution." The large toad explained. "A warrior of great skill in ancient times. Now, a corrupted Risen of the undead legion."
Remembering how he was pointing to the left, Sasha turned in that direction, seeing a massive volcano in the distance, with fire spewing from the top.
"Death's Eye Mountain." Grime said, looking in the direction Sasha was looking. "Why would it point in that direction?"
Sasha was also thinking the same thing. What significance would there be in an unstable volcano?
Putting that to the side for now, she turned her attention to Siwang, who had picked up his dead bird, a blank expression on his face, as he put the body in a bag.
"He's served his purpose." He said, pointing in the direction in which the bird was flying. "The hammer is that way."
The group moved on, and surely enough, they saw the hammer on the horizon, the weapon partially buried in the ground.
"I don't believe it. It's real!" Grime said, letting out a laugh. "Our ticket to revolution!"
"And no beast in sight!" Percy added. "Could life actually be this easy…for a…change?"
He trailed off as, when they drew closer, a camp came into view, filled with Risen on patrol, and among them was a cloaked character, flanked by an Empyrean with six wings. And next to the camp was a serpentine worm with a large horn on its head similar to that of a narwhal's tusk. Its body was covered in several rock-like stumps and moss on its back which was covered by a shell. It had yellow glowing eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth.
"Is that…the beast?" Sasha asked in a shocked whisper.
"A narwhal worm. And the Risen have beaten us to the punch." Milo remarked. "It seems they're trying to corrupt the beast and steal the hammer for themselves."
Grime was grinning like a madman, trying to keep himself from laughing. "What a great way to go!"
Sasha looked behind her to see Percy and Braddock desperately making kawaii poses. They wanted out, that much was clear, and she gave her word that they would leave if the two said so. But she turned back to the beast and saw Barrel's Warhammer lodged in the scales on top of its head, the beast roaring, trying to break free from captivity.
"Not planning on quitting, are you?"
She looked to Siwang staring up at her, a glare on his face. "Didn't you come all this way to get your friends to see your strength? That they shouldn't talk back to you?" The next thing he said hit the nail on the head. "To make the Black Wolf pay for getting in your way?"
That last sentence reminded Sasha the events from toad tower, how Shadow not only stood up to her, but also turned Anne against her. How he had stolen her best friend from her.
That reminder strengthened her resolve.
"Sorry, guys, but we're way too close to bail." She said. "I am not going back empty-handed."
Percy looked at her in dismay. "But..."
"You said..." Braddock spoke up.
"We'll sneak through the camp and nab the hammer." The human said. "And if we're lucky, they won't detect us, and we'll sneak out without a fight." She looked at Percy and Braddock. "Trust me on this."
Percy and Braddock looked to Damien, hoping the first lieutenant would speak against this.
But he didn't. "If this is the only way to get the hammer, then I'm all in." He said with determination.
The group snuck through the camp, avoiding detection by the guards, some standing vigil while others ate 'meat' around campfires; what kind, Sasha dreaded to guess.
"Remember the events of toad tower?"
She paused when she heard that from one of the Risen say. Hearing the walking dead speak was shocking enough, but Sasha was more focused on what they were talking about.
"You mean when Grime was chased out of his own tower by the Black Wolf?" Another Risen asked.
"Yes, and about the creature that was supposed to be his second in command." The first said. "From what I heard through the darkness, the Wolf instilled fear into her heart."
"She was weak." A third said. "It's no wonder that she lost, and her friends left her."
Sasha felt her blood boil from their words. The reminder of how she lost the dual, how Anne had turned against her, and how the Black Wolf was taking everything from her; essentially replacing her.
Damien couldn't help but feel suspicious about the way the Risen was speaking so loudly. Almost as if they wanted to be heard.
'Could they already know we're here and are trying to rile up Sasha?' He thought with concern.
The group soon snuck their way closer to the chained beast and climbed up on its back, the hammer within sight, stuck atop the beast's head.
"This seems a little too easy." Damien remarked. "Does anyone else suspect that maybe the Risen are onto us?"
"Unlikely." Siwang rebutted. "If they did, why let us get this far into their camp?"
Approaching the hammer, Sasha turned to Grime. "Quick, Grimesy! Yank that thing out already." She whispered.
Grime took hold of the hammer, attempting to pull it out, to no avail.
"A little help here."
Chuckling, Milo approached and grabbed hold of the hammer's handle. "This should be easy." He said before pulling on it, hoping to pull it out with one hand…
…but it barely budged an inch. And to make matters worse, the beast roared in pain, drawing the attention of the Risen.
"Uh, guys?" Percy spoke up. "I think they've discovered us!"
Suddenly, Sasha saw a humanoid figure sitting in front of the hammer, it appeared to be the size of an adult male, his body covered in a dark stone like material. a form of armguard around the right elbow. His torso appeared to have been hollowed out, flowing with blue cosmic energy, trailing behind him like scarves. It's head with sharp-teethed is flat and streamlined, shaped to a strange 'V' symbol. The entity's left was glowing blue, enveloped by dark energy ending in a bow-like weapon. He looked up at Sasha, who got ready to fight, and shook his head, seemingly disappointed.
Varus got up and by creating a strand of energy as a weapon, raised the bow high and fired it. The Ruined down below all saw this and began heading their way up the worm. Sasha saw this and when she turned back, he was gone.
"This isn't looking good." Damien said, readying himself for a fight. "They're gonna swarm us at this rate!"
"We must get the hammer to the tower somehow!" Siwang said.
Seeing the Risen approach, Sasha quickly started formulating a plan. "Milo, break the chains! NOW!"
Pulling out his hammer, Milo held it against the chains, the hammer seeming to absorb the element of the chain before turning into solid steel. Rearing his weapon back, he swung it down and broke the chains with the swing of his hammer, freeing the beast and allowing it to crawl forward at fast speeds. On the beasts back, the group help on as best they could, the Risen and Empyrean giving chase, some even holding on to the worm.
"What's with the small group?" Damien remarked. "You'd think more would follow!"
Looking down, Percy saw the wreck of his boat, no doubt from the beasts rampage. "Aw man, that was my mom's boat."
"Hope that thing was insured." Damien said.
The Risen slowed down for now, Sasha and the group ran to the head. Sasha grabbed and yanked on the hammer, but it was still stuck in place, Grime, Damien, Siwang, Milo, Percy, and Braddock following suit and grabbing hold, trying their best to pull it out.
"Damn, it's stuck something good in there!" Milo groaned.
"This thing's never coming loose!" Sasha yelled.
Sasha let go of the hammer and ran to the narwhal worm's horn. She threw her cape aside and pulled out a lasso. She swung the lasso around and threw it up at the horn, then yanked on the rope, forcing the beast to lean back, sending a terrified Percy and Braddock tumbling down its side, screaming as Milo grabbed hold of them to keep them from falling off the beasts back.
Sasha pulled the rope and managed to turn the beast around, sending it barreling straight for the North Tower.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Grime demanded.
"What's it look like?" Sasha replied with a smirk. "I'm getting the Warhammer back to the tower!"
"You're insane and I love it!" Grime yelled.
"And hot!" Damien added with a blush.
Sasha did a double take, unsure she heard the newt right. "What?"
"What?" Grime repeated, sharing the blonde human's confusion.
"What?" Damien said, feigning confusion and trying to hide his blush.
From afar, Eliza watched the scene, her magenta eyes gleaming with joy, that crazed smile never leaving her face.
Meanwhile, back at the tower, the toads were witnessing a demonstration of new armor.
"Last Toad Summit was all about improvements to Toad armor durability." The toad scientist declared, the toad model standing next to him. "This year, the R & D team gives you... armor customization!"
The model turned around, displaying armor with a picture of a duck and the words 'Toad Up'. This made the room erupt with cheers.
"Ooh, that ducky looks nice." Bufo remarked.
A female toad cheered when she heard a roar in the distance, looking out the window and elbowing her friend.
"Hey, Greg, what do you think that is?" She asked.
Greg looked out, peering outside through binoculars. "Hmm, that's clearly a narwhal-worm being ridden by a hummus being chased by Risen. Heading straight for us."
Greg and the female toad exchanged glances, then both screamed.
Back on the narwhal-worm, Sasha was steering the beast as her friends bounced up and down behind her, Percy and Braddock holding on for dear life, the whole while Milo and Siwang were fighting off the Risen that got close.
"Sasha... please... stop this!" Percy begged.
"But we're almost there!" Sasha rejected.
Looking up, Damien gasped when he saw the tower come into view so soon. "The tower! It's coming up too fast. We're going to crash into it. Go left! Go left!"
Sasha gasped, then grunted as she tried to steer the worm to the side. The narwhal-worm growled and a whistle blew, it rushing forward even faster.
"I can't! I've lost control of it!" She cried out.
Grime and Damien rushed to help Sasha, both grabbing on the rope to pull the beast to the side, to no avail.
"There must be another way to stop it!" Grime yelled.
Sasha looked back at the hammer. "The Warhammer! It's the only weapon big enough to dent this thing's armor!"
The trio rushed over and tried to pull it out once more, all three straining to pull it out, once again to no avail.
"It's no use! Sasha, we've got to get out of here or we'll all die!" Grime said.
"Sasha! Please! You can't pull it out!" Damien shouted, trying to dissuade her.
"No! I can do this! I am not gonna fail!" Sasha yelled, determination in her voice, images of Anne and Marcy appearing in her mind, moving forward without her. "Not while Anne and Marcy are getting by without me!" More images appeared, this time it was Shadow standing before her, a wicked smile on his face. "Not while the Black Wolf is taking EVERYTHING FROM ME!"
Eyes glowing pink, the blonde grunted as she got in a good position, adjusting her stance and gritting her teeth and pulling at the hammer with all her might, veins popping around her hands and face. Fueled by her anger, by the thought of Marcy and Anne managing without her, by the thought of Shadow taking her place, her eyes blazed with pink, her hair turning into a pink flame.
"I WILL NOT BE REPLACED!"
And then, much to the amazement of Damien and Grime, she pulled the hammer out of the worm, screaming at the top of her lungs, holding the hammer over her head. The Calamity power within faded, the blonde nearly losing her balance when Grime and Damien rushed in and helped her out. The hammer lit up with pink runes, and electricity sparked on its head before jet flames activated in the back, pushing the three forward. They used the extra momentum to slam the Warhammer into the head of the narwhal-worm, knocking it unconscious and crashing into the dirt and drawing closer to the tower.
Greg and the female toad screamed as the worm drew nearer. It slid forward, its horn smashing into the window just above the Toad Council's table. The room filled with gasps, and Bufo and Beatrix turn to look at the interruption, shocked. Standing above them was Sasha with the hammer slung over her shoulder, followed by Grime and Damien, standing in the broken window.
"One Warhammer, as promised." Sasha said, tossed the Warhammer, the weapon landing with a thud in the center of the room.
The trio jumped down from the tusk of the narwhal-worm, and Grime rushed forward and picked up the hammer, holding it over his head, the room erupting with cheers.
Aldo raised his hand for silence before speaking. "We hereby grant you the support of all three towers for your rebellion."
Sasha's face lit up before she did a victory dance. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"
"Sweet father of frogs, we actually did it!" Damien declared, jumping at Sasha with a hug.
Siwang and Milo soon joined them, the barbarian stepping forward with a smile. "I knew I made the right choice following you. I knew you had it in you, Sasha."
"I admit, I had my doubts, kid." Milo said with a smile. "But I'm glad you proved me wrong."
"Indeed, Lieutenant." Grime spoke up, nudging Sasha. "I, too, had my doubts, but we did it."
"Of course, we did." Sasha declared proudly. "After all, we're the best team in this or any other world. Right, Braddock? Percy?" She glanced behind her in time to see Braddock and Percy scream and topple to the ground. "Woah, you guys okay?"
The two were covered in bruises, cuts and dirt, and frankly, fed up. "'Okay'? Sasha, we almost died back there." Percy exclaimed.
"We trusted you, and you didn't care one bit about what happened to us as long as you got what you wanted." Braddock added, equally disappointed and angry at Sasha's actions.
"That's not true." Sasha denied. "Besides, we did it."
"No, Sasha, you did it. And I think me and Braddock are done with this. With all of it." Percy said before he and Braddock began walking towards the exit.
"Guys, hold up!" Damien spoke up. "I know things seem rough-"
Percy, however, wasn't even in the mood. "And don't even get me started with you!" He shouted. "We trusted you, Damien, to rein Sasha back, but you did nothing as she made us march through an army of Risen!"
"But-" Damien tried to speak up, but Percy wouldn't let him.
"Save it. We've had enough."
The two toads resumed walking to the exit, Damien watching in shock before his face fell in shame.
Sasha, however, didn't want them to leave.
"Guys, come back." She pleaded. "You're not actually gonna throw this all away, are you? We are so close. I can feel it."
Percy looked back at her, a sad smile on his face. "Goodbye, Sash. We hope you pull it off. We really do."
Sasha watched them leave for the exit, before trying to follow them, but Grime blocked her path.
"That's enough, Lieutenant." He said.
"Get out of my way, Grime." Sasha growled.
"Just let them go, Sasha." Grime told her. "We all have our limits." He looked back to see Percy and Braddock make their exit. "It looks like they finally hit theirs."
"But-"
"I know it hurts. But remember, every dream has its price, and not everyone's willing to pay it." He told her before turning away. "Now come on, soldier. We've got a world to conquer."
As Grime stepped away, Sasha looked towards the door that Percy and Braddock had left through. Besides Damien, those two toads were one of the few first friends she made upon first dropping into this world. Those two were the best friends they could ask for.
And now they were gone, because of her pride.
"Goodbye, Percy. Goodbye, Braddock." She said sadly.
Suddenly, the moment was interrupted when something was thrown above the captain's head before it crashed into the council chamber, drawing everyone's attention. Once the smoke cleared, it was revealed to be a giant mace, at least a third larger than the one Sasha threw down. The only thing shown on the hammer's cheek was a large black hole shaped orb.
"What the-?!" Grime gasped. "What is this?!"
"A test."
From the shadows, a figure emerged, tall and muscular, cladded in dark spiked armor and pale skin, ghostly green eyes, white hair and a triangular hole in her chest, which emitted wisps of Black Mist.
A figure Beatrix recognized in shock. "Charon?!"
"Surprised, mother?" Charon grinned wickedly. "For a moment, I felt death's embrace, but something puled me back. Something grand, a higher power with a much greater purpose." She then pointed a finger at Grime. "You, however, are not worthy of wielding Barrel's hammer. I demand a challenge by champions!"
"As if you have any right!" Damien snapped, stepping forward. "But hey, if it's a fight you want, I'll gladly answer your request."
"Already jumping for a fight, kid?" Milo remarked. "Your kahones must be quite large."
"They don't call me Big B for nothing!" Damien boasted.
"If only you ran your fighting as well as you run your mouth, boy." Siwang scoffed, Damien shooting a glare at the barbarian.
"I'm not interesting in weaklings like you." The Ruined Charon sneered before turning her attention to Sasha. "You are who I'm after."
"Me?" Sasha questioned.
"My new master has interest in you." The Ruined toad said. "I'm here to see if he's right."
"Well, whoever your master is, he's gonna regret it." Sasha said with confidence, stepping forward. "I accept your challenge! Who's you're champion?"
"Not her." The North Captain bellowed, louder than before, much to the surprise of the toads in the room. "Him."
A shadow grew from the throne, slinking down from his bleacher and headed straight to the mace. A set of armored fingers, followed by a palm, wrist, forearm, wreathed in a gauntlet, elbow, ethereal upper arm, shoulder, crystalline pauldron, more of that dark stone from the archer before forming a spine and incomplete ribs. The left arm grew, along with the spaulder and waist, armored legs, knees, ankles, feet, toes and a helmed face. Two golden horns jutted from its head with a four-pronged on his forehead.
Sasha stared at the toad that seemed to match Charon in height, the female toad standing next to him.
"Try not to be too harsh, Mordekaiser." She said to her champion, caressing his arm. "We need her alive."
Sasha pulled out her sword and readied herself, cautiously circling the Risen, while the toad just stood there, motionless, not even looking at Sasha as she circled back to his front. She studied her opponent for any sudden moves, but so far, he stood as still as a lifeless statue.
Throwing caution to the wind, she charged, sword reared back to bring down upon his head…
…only for him to move faster than light, grabbing the blade with one hand, much to her shock. She tried pushing forward, but it didn't budge. She looked up to see the toad staring down at her, those cold, dead eyes piercing her soul.
"You believed you had been replaced by a wolf in sheep's clothing, but you never knew of the dragon hiding in wolves' clothing. Welcome to oblivion."
Suddenly, there was a dark light emitting from his chest and Black Mist spewed from it, the light growing bright, as Sasha's vision went dark.
Darkness was the only thing that filled her vision, even as she blinked several times, feeling herself free fall through the dark, empty space.
"What…What is this?" She stammered.
Suddenly, she had hit the ground with a hard thud, groaning as she pushed herself up to her knees. Looking up, she gasped when she saw the environment change around her. Suddenly, she was back in the halls of Saint James Middle School, her old stomping grounds. Here, she was the Queen Bee, the Alpha. No one dared to speak up against her, talk behind her back, or stand against her. Looking down, she smiled at being back in her old school.
But something wasn't right. Noticed in her reflection off the metal of the locker that her scar was gone, and she was back in her SJMS uniform.
"What's going on…?" She question, genuine confusion on her face.
"Sasha, I was hoping we could talk about your behavior lately." Said a familiar voice.
Sasha's eyes widened. "Principal Murphy?"
Suddenly, the scene changed once again, causing her to scream as she free fell before landing hard on the ground. Pushing herself up, to her feet this time, she saw an event that led to her and her friends predicament in the first place.
Before her was herself and Anne, three months ago, just when Marcy sent the text about the music box.
"Anne, this isn't cute anymore," Sasha watched herself say in an authoritative tone. "We are meeting up with Marcy right now. End. Of. Discussion."
Sasha winced at every word, having used that phrase to get Anne and Marcy to do what she wanted. It gave her a sense of control, something she had picked up, growing up.
Once again, the scene changed again, and this time, she was back at the top of Toad Tower, cladded in her armor and Anne on the floor, having been slapped by someone who was supposed to be her best friend.
Sasha's face turned to dread, remembering the events that took place that day; the day that haunted her dreams since then.
"Anne, I…I didn't mean…"
Suddenly, a black flame lit up like a bonfire exploded in front of her, sending her falling on her back, the blonde looking up and her eyes widen in fear. Standing before her was the Black Wolf that haunted her dreams, those dark eyes staring at her with rage and bloodlust.
The beast that came close to killing her.
"You will never be forgiven."
With a snarl, the Black Wolf lunged at her, his maw wide open to bite her whole head off…
Sasha let out a terrified scream, her eyes shooting open before she broke into panted breathing. Finally taking the time to calm down, she saw that she was in a completely new space. Rather than back at the northern tower, she was in a cavern-like chamber, where before her were two statues of Karlia stood. In between the statues was a dark-cladded figure wrapped in chains, seemingly unaware of the blonde, or not paying her any mind.
Confused, Sasha stood up and looked around.
"Where am I?" She said out loud.
"Welcome to our humble abode."
Spinning around, she was standing before someone new, cloaked in red and magenta eyes shining from the darkness of her hood.
"Who are you? What is this place?!" Sasha demanded, reaching for her sword, only to find it missing from its usual place on her hip.
"You are in the Threshold of the Black." The stranger answered with a smile. "And you may consider me…a friend."
"Or a foe." Sasha retorted.
"That's for you to decide." The stranger said. "And why I've invited you here."
"Some invitation." Sasha scoffed.
"Then perhaps this one will be more to your liking." The stranger walked up to her. "I've a proposal for you."
"And what makes you think I want to hear it?" Sasha demanded.
"Be reasonable, Sasha."
Sasha's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then narrowed in suspicion. "How do you know my name? And why do you sound like me?"
"I know a great deal about you." She stranger said, that smile never leaving her face. "As for why? Well, it's simple, really…"
The stranger removed her hood, Sasha's eyes widened shock and disbelief at the sight; it was like looking in a mirror, only her eyes and hair were magenta in color, her hair flickering like a flame and her face covered in splotches of blood and a seemingly permanent grin on her face that radiated malicious glee.
"I'm YOU."
Sasha felt her heart beat fast at this, almost stumbling back in shock, taking one, two steps back from the look-a-like.
"But…how?!" She demanded, although her tone was more terrified and confused rather than demanding. "You can't be me!"
"And yet here I am. The omniverse is full of possibilities."
Eliza stepped forward, a hand outstretched in a friendly manner, offering Sasha a helping hand.
"What harm could come from listening?"
Looking at the armored hand and up at the face of the look-a-like, then grabbed the hand and allowed her to pull her up to her feet.
"What do you want?" Sasha demanded, finally regaining her composure.
"What people like us always want; power." Eliza stated, walking around Sasha. "You crave power, control. It's understandable, given the circumstances. Remember how your parent -our parents- split up? That moment affected you greatly, I should know."
Sasha froze at the mention of her parents' divorce. It was the moment that made her so controlling, never wanting to lose control again, even if it meant dictating everything that went on in her friend group.
"It is also what my master needs as well." Eliza went on.
"Your master?" Sasha repeated.
"Satanael, the Dragon of the Cataclysm." Eliza declared with reverence. "But right now, he remains in chains, weakened by the Guardian's will."
Sasha looked around, seeing the various Risen around them, all watching the human blonde, as though daring her to make a move.
"You're not worried they're going to tell him you said that?" Sasha said, gesturing to the undead.
"They are loyal to me." Eliza said, her gaze turning to the Risen, said undead shrinking back in fear and obedience. "They obey me because I am strong. They fear me, and therefore do not dare to question my authority." She turned to Sasha. "That is leadership, Sasha. That is how Anne and Marcy should treat you. Maybe then they would give you the respect you deserve." She smiled wickedly. "The Dark Horde is countless, Sasha. They feel the weakness of their king's voice."
"I trust my friends to..." Sasha tried to retort, only to feel her words die on her lips, as though she was in doubt.
"To do what? Hold you back? To hide behind the Wolf when you assert your dominance?" Eliza questioned. "They're not worthy of a leader like you. Which is why I've brought you here." She extended a hand. "Join us, Sasha. Join us and you will have your friends back at your beck and call, and the Wolf will pay for getting in your way. All you need to do is lead those who will obey you properly."
Sasha was heavily conflicted. On one hand she was solely focused on surviving and finding her friends, and then find a way to return home. But now, this otherworldly creature just made her the biggest offer she could ever hear!
And yet…another part of her found it too good to be true. Wrong, even.
She remembered when she first brought the town to the tower, she saw how close Anne was to the boy in black, how much her best friend smiled in his presence. A part of her was envious, and yet she was happy that Anne found love.
How would she react if Sasha took that from her over a grudge?
"I...I don't know." Sasha said with hesitation, stepping back.
"I understand your reluctance. You require proof." Eliza said before turning towards the Risen. "Throw yourselves off the edge."
At the command of the corrupted Sasha, the Risen threw themselves off the edge without hesitation, much to the shock of Sasha.
"Obedience. This is but the first of many lessons I can teach you." Eliza told her. She then conjured the images of several locations that seemed familiar to Sasha; the East and Western Towers, captured and corrupted and littering with Risen, and the Southern Tower rebuilt and twisted into a shadow of what it was when she first came to this world. "And with the capture of the East and West towers, the rebirth of the South Tower, and the veil between Amphibia and the Transcendence running thin in the North Tower, the Master is only growing stronger. All we ask is this; Kill the Leviathan and Plantar lines, destroy the Calamity Box, and my master and I will help you master your Calamity powers and ensure that your friends will never abandon you again."
At this, Sasha grinned. If it meant finally getting her revenge against the Wolf that haunted her dreams, she was more than willing to take that risk, despite every fiber of her consciousness screaming at her not to.
"You've got a deal."
Eliza's wicked smile never left her face. "Excellent. With this, our minds are linked together. Remember; we are always watching."
And with that, she brought a hand over Sasha's eyes, her vision and consciousness instantly fading.
"…S…sha…as…Sa…a"
"Sash…Sa…sha…"
"Sasha, please, wake up!"
Sasha groaned as her eyes slowly opened, the face of Damien coming into view, along with the dark walls of what seemed like an infirmary.
"Damien…?" She spoke, her mouth a bit dry.
"Oh, thank the Olms you're alright!" Damien exclaimed, hugging the blonde, before turning to the door. "Guys! She's up!"
At the call, Grime entered the room, along with Milo and Siwang, although the latter seemed more annoyed, as though he didn't want to be here. Milo, on the other hand, seemed very concerned.
"Good to see you're awake, Lieutenant." Grime said, offering her a glass of water, the blonde taking it.
"I told you she'd be fine." Siwang scoffed. "I swear, you're getting soft."
"Having compassion doesn't make us weak, barbarian." Milo countered.
Sasha quickly downed the water, the newt sitting on the bed next to her. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Dizzy, dying of thirst, and pretty confused, to be honest." Sasha admitted, rubbing the side of her head. "How long was I out?"
"For several hours, give or take." Grime told her. "After the black smoke faded, that Risen form of Charon and her giant champion were gone and you were unconscious."
"So, what happened?" Milo asked.
Sasha thought for a minute, considering if she should tell them about the parallel version of herself that she had just made a deal with. Even now, she was still having doubts, but she quickly pushed them to the back of her head. As long as she can take down to Wolf, it was a means to an end.
"I'm not sure, honestly." She said, choosing to keep it a secret. "I saw some weird images that involved some spiritual beings."
"Curious." Grime mused. "I've never been one to dabble in religion, but this is certainly something."
"Hopefully, whatever you saw was just a bad dream." Milo said.
"Yeah…a bad dream…" Sasha said, slightly unsure.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Damien asked, placing a hand on hers. "You look pretty pale."
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sasha insisted. "I'm just really, really thirsty and could use a bite to eat."
"I can handle that!" Damien exclaimed before running out of the room.
"Well, I'd better go with him," Grime said, walking to the door. "Get well rested, Lieutenant. We've got a lot planned, moving forward."
With the captain and first lieutenant having left, Sasha was left with the mercenary and barbarian.
"I admit, this something else." Milo spoke up. "I've got a lot of preparations to make myself."
Once Milo left the room and after making sure he was alone, he pulled out some paper and began writing things down, aiming to inform his friend in Newtopia before it was too late.
Back in the room, Sasha was left with Siwang, the barbarian looking quite pleased.
"First, I'd like to give you my thanks for allowing me to join your party." He said. "Thanks to you, I've been reinstated into the Toad Army, and have my own battalion."
"Glad to see you happy." Sasha smirked. "After all, an enemy of my enemy…"
"…is a friend." Siwang finished before holding up a case. "In fact, I have something for you."
Setting it on the table, Siwang opened the case and showed Sasha the contents; inside were four technological collars, something that surprised the blonde.
"And what are these?" She asked.
"I've spent my time traveling, rebuilding my army and searching ways to deal with the powers of the Leviathan's Calamity Warriors." Siwang told her. "And I've discovered that they are weak to a certain frequency that assaults their equilibrium."
Sasha looked at the collars, taking in Siwang's information. After the events of Toad Tower South, she had been going over many ideas in her head on how she would take down Shadow, but his Calamity powers made each idea null and void. However, now she has the perfect tool to finally take him down a peg.
"A generous gift, Siwang." She said with a dark smile. "I appreciate it."
"Consider it a gift, in honor of our new friendship." Siwang said with a toothy grin, face riddled with something malicious. "I only ask that you make the Wolf suffer."
With a brand-new perspective and newfound knowledge, Sasha got up from the bed and walked over to the window, staring outside towards the horizon, a dark determination on her face.
"Trust me, he will know suffering beyond his darkest nightmares." She said with a wicked grin. "This, I promise you."
It was a long and painful journey, but she was close to her goal. After losing the tower and two of her friends, she gained an army in exchange. And now, a means to cripple the Wolf that had haunted her dreams and turned her best friend against her. Finally, payback was just within reach.
And she intended to make it hurt.
Outside and keeping a safe distance from the tower, Skye the roc flew overhead, watching everything with a critical eye. She saw everything happen from Sasha's group arriving at the Northern Tower, all the way down to the Narwhal Worm being knocked out outside the tower and the Risen approaching Sasha. While she wasn't able to discern exactly what they were talking about within the tower, the roc could guess that it had to do with a possible call to war.
Regardless, she needed to let papa know that trouble was brewing, and it had the blonde human at the center.
Turning away, Skye flew away from the tower, aiming to fly back to Wartwood to let papa know, all the while not noticing a written message attached to her leg, and Varus watching from a distance.
Yup, trouble is brewing and Sasha is getting closer to achieving her vengeance. Can she be brought around to see that Shadow isn't a bad guy before it's too late? Only time will tell.
Also, are you surprised to see Charon return? This is an idea pitched by Unity, and given the nature of the Harrowing and the Black Mist, it made sense for her to come back from the dead to seek revenge. Also, I hope you don't mind her connection to Beatrix. Another idea of Unity's and I thought it'd play a role later on down the line.
And we have another Bionicle movie reference! Sasha being tempted by the forces of darkness to further her quest for revenge. Hopefully, it won't be too late for her and she won't end up being beyond redemption. And of course, more Damisha!
And here we meet Milo, the Bloodlusted Hero. An OC created by my friend DJ, he's also gonna play a big role later on in the story.
Alright, next up, before we reach the Third Temple chapter, is another original chapter, that takes place during the Bessie and Microangelo episode. This time, it reveals more about Karlia and how much she meant to Shadow and Apollo. This will no doubt be a fun chapter to write.
And with that, I hope you stay tuned for more! Reviews are greatly appreciated!
