Calamity Returns:
A Couple Of "Little" Surprises

"Are we there yet?! Are we there yet?! Sprig Plantar exclaimed, bouncing in place excitedly.

Hopediah " Hop Pop" Plantar chuckled at his grandson's energy but kept his eyes on the road. The two male frogs and Polly Plantar were heading to where they would meet Anne and her friend in the Fwagon.

"Wa're be there soon, boy," the elder frog replied, "Now settled down before you fell off."

The pink frog sat down but kept tipping his foot impatiently. Polly looked over at her big brother and rolled her eyes. She then went back to working on the upgrade for Frobo.

It didn't take long for Sprig to give in to his impatience and jump to his feet. He took out his telescope, the one his best friend had given him on his birthday. He looked into it and tried to see if you could see his best friend.

"Boy!" Hop Pop said, his voice slightly scolded. "You being more jumpy than a pollywog on coffee isn't going to get us there any sooner."

Sprig sighed impatiently and sat down. He looked at the telescope with a nostalgic smile and gently rubbed the writing engraved on the item.

"I can't wait to see her again," the young male frog mused nostalgically.

Polly looked up from her project and retorted, "Hey, you're not the only one who's excited to see Anne! I can't wait for her to carry me around again."

Sprig gave his little sister a look. "Polly, ain't you a little big for that?" he asked skeptically.

The young frog shrugged and replied, "Hey, Anne carried you on her shoulders a few times, and I know I'm not as heavy as you are."

"Hey!" Sprig shouted, glaring at his sister. "Are you calling me fat?"

The young frog just smiled slyly at her brother and went back to the machine she was working on. Sprig glared at Polly for a few seconds and then tried to settle as the family made their way to the pickup point.

It took about twenty more minutes to reach the portal entry point, and what they found was disturbing.

"What in Barrel's hammer happened here?" Grime asked as he stepped out of the Fwagon.

Yunan Longclaw, the former general of the Newtopian army, helped her wife, Lady Olivia, out while looking at the area.

The area was a mess. The ground had been dug up, and there were various burn marks around it. There was even a tree that had been split in half and smoking.

"Look like a fight went down here," the former Newtopian soldier observed, wrists flexing out of instincts.

The former toad captain glared at the newt. It looked like he was about to retort something when Olivia got in between the retired officers.

"Dear, Grime," she said firmly. "Now isn't the time. We need to figure out what happened here. And to find out if Master Marcy and her friends are unharmed."

"Perhaps," a familiar voice said warily, "I can help with that."

The Plantar family, the Longclaws, and Grime looked to their right and saw none other than the former King of Amphibia, Andrias Leviathan. The Chinese Salamander Newt was sitting on a rock, looking at the group calmly.

"Andrias!" Yunan screamed, stepping forward and bringing her fists up. "Did you do this?"

Andrias looked at the former general as he brought his hand close to his mouth. "Shhh, they just got to sleep," the former king said softly, pointing to his lap.

Yunan blinked and looked where Andrias was pointing. The others also looked and were confused at what they saw.

In the former king's lap were two human toddlers, roughly four years old and wearing nothing but oversized shirts. The lightly tan, brown hair girl was holding the hand of the light skin blonde girl and sucking her thumb.

At the salamander's foot were two other toddlers, one with light skin and black hair. The toddler next to her was a strange mix of the other three toddlers; she had the face of the toddler, tan skin, and blonde hair.

Hop Pop focused on the tan toddler and stared at her for a few seconds. He suddenly gasped and pointed at the toddler.

"WHAT IN TA NATION!" the elderly frog screamed. "THAT'S ANNE!"

The scream startled the sleeping toddlers slightly but not enough to wake them fully. They stirred, repositioned themselves, and quickly fell back to sleep. Andrias glared at the farmer, and Hop Pop smiled sheepishly.

"...How do you know what the human looked like?" Yunan asked skeptically.

"We stayed with Anne's family for months," Sprig replied, getting nostalgic. "We had peaked at the Boonchuy's family album a few times."

Grime stared at the frog family for a second, then looked at the toddlers. He focused on the blonde girl with the light skin and realized she was Sasha. He then looked at the toddler next to Marcy and frowned.

"Who's the other human?" he asked curiously.

Andrias looked down at the fourth toddler and sighed. He looked at the group of frogs, toad, and newts with guilt.

"That…Darcy," the former king replied shamefully.

"SAY WH-" Hop Pop was about to scream when Olivia shoved her finger into the elderly frog's mouth.

The aristocrat glared at the farmer for a few seconds, then turned her attention to the giant newt.

"Maybe it's best you explained what happened," Olivia suggested.

Andrias nodded and began to explain. "I happened to be passing by the area and saw the flash of the opening portal…"

(SC)

"...Okay, see you soon, guys," Anne said, speaking into the walkie-talkie Mr. X gave her. "And Hop Pop, it's nice to hear your voice again."

Sasha smiled as she watched Anne laugh at something that was said to her. She sighed lovingly and looked at Marcy. She noticed her friend giving her a soft smile and frowned.

"What?" the ex-resistance leader asked, "Do I have something on my face."

"It's just…you and Anne seem to have gotten closer since I moved," the ex-ranger stated. "It's almost like you're more than friends."

Sasha stared at her friend for a second, then sighed. She looked at Anne for a second, a light glare highlighting her face.

"...Boonchuy," she grunted in dissatisfaction and looked at Marcy. "I guess it slipped her mind when she was talking to you, but Anne and I are dating."

Marcy squealed and jumped in place. Sasha watched this, feeling a hint of nostalgia hitting her from seeing her friend's familiar quirk. Sasha nearly screamed when Marcy rushed her and grabbed her arm.

"Tell me everything!" the ex-ranger exclaimed eagerly. "How long have you been dating? When did it happen? How did it happen?"

Sasha was slightly overwhelmed for only a second and then laughed. She was about to tell her tale when an eerily familiar voice spoke out.

"Yes, I would like to know how two of my "mamas" hooked up."

Sasha gasped and grabbed Marcy, pushing the girl behind her. She raised fists, ready for a fight. Before she could act, metal tentacles shot from the ground and wrapped around Sasha's wrists and ankles.

With a cry, the blonde was forced to the ground. Sasha looked to her right and saw tentacles wrapped around Marcy, bending her arms to her sides. The former soldier heard another noise and looked up to see Anne, also wrapped in metal tentacles, being dragged to her by a familiar helmeted figure.

Sasha glared at the Dacry as she walked in front of the two other girls. The Core-created entity looked at the girls with a smile that reminded Sasha so much of Marcy it made her sick.

"Sasha," the entity said in a mockingly sweet tone. "It's so nice running into you again. And Marcy, I think this is our first meeting. How'd you been doing, girlfriend."

Sasha growled as she tried to push herself back to her feet. Darcy saw this and grinned maliciously, snapping her fingers. The blonde screamed as a small charge went through the tentacles, shocking her.

"SASHA!" Anne and Marcy screamed in horror.

Darcy snapped her fingers, and the electricity stopped. Sasha fell to the ground, panting as she glared at the entity. Darcy returned the gesture and snapped her fingers again. Sasha bit her lip to keep herself from screaming.

Darcy kept shocking Sasha for 10 seconds before she stopped. Sasha was breathing heavily as she tried to lift her head to glare at the entity, but she was in just enough pain that her body wouldn't obey her.

Anne watched as her girlfriend twitched on the ground and felt her anger soar. She began struggling to break free, but the tentacles were just too strong to break.

Still, the Thai-American continued her struggles.

Darcy couldn't help but laugh when she noticed what was happening.

"Try all you like, Mommy Anny," the Core-created entity said mockingly, shoving Anne forward. "But even if you still have those powers of yours, you can't "Sasha" your way out of this."

Anne grunted as she stumbled forward but managed to keep herself upright. She turned around and glared at the monster with the heat of two hundred suns.

'Why do you keep calling me that?" the Thia girl asked angrily. "And how are you even back? I blew you up!"

Dacry's grin grew into a smug smile, and she got within arm's reach of Anne.

"Simple," Dacry replied condescendingly, "I took Marcy's rant about "smart" movie villains not taking their defeat into account to heart."

"What one?" Marcy asked something absent-mindedly. "I have about 16 and a half rants about that trope."

"Not now, Marcy!' Anne snapped.

Darcy wasn't phased by the exchange between the two humans and continued where she left off.

"I wasn't going to take a chance that I might be, no matter how small, defeated. So, I created a back of my mind minus old people's smell lingering in the back of my mind. And for your first question: you three are the first known living beings to have the energy of the stones in you."

Darcy raised her hands to the back of her helmet and, with a small dramatic pause, took off the piece of equipment. The humans gasped as they got a good look at the new and improved Darcy.

Darcy had Marcy's body and face but Anne's skin and Sasha's hair. The Core-created entity looked at the trio with yellow eyes in a condescending manner.

"I sliced all your DNA patterns into my cloned body," Darcy explained, then sighed. "Sadly, all I got was this sweet beach girl look."

(SC)

"Wait!" Sprig said, interrupting Andrias. "How did Darcy get Anne, Sasha, and Marcy's DNA? And what's DNA anywhere?"

Polly gave her brother a look and, ignoring the last part of his question, replied sarcastically, "Duh-O, Darcy held us prisoner for a while. She probably got our DNA during that time."

Sprig looked at her sister, glaring, and was about to retort when a yawn got his attention. The group looked at the toddlers as they slowly woke up. The group got closer but kept enough distance so they didn't startle the young humans.

The frogs, Newt, and one toad were unaware of a strange blue glow coming off Anne as the toddlers slowly worked their way to the waking world.

Anne was the first one up, yawning as she set up. She rubbed her eyes and blinked them a few times to get them to focus. The Thai girl looked around and smiled once she looked at Sprig.

"Spwiggy!" Anne exclaimed happily, smiling and holding out her hands.

A big smile exploded on Sprig's lip, and he rushed forward. He gently grabbed his sister-figure up and hugged her tightly. Anne eagerly returned the hug, wrapping her arms around her best friend's neck.

"Ahh!" the young frog exclaimed happily, "You remember me!"

Anne giggled happily as the other members of the Plantars gathered around the two. Olivia and Yunan also went over to Marcy as Grime cautiously approached Sasha.

"Well, how'd you're doing, youngling?" Hop Pop asked kindly, then grinned playfully, "You seem to have shrunk a little since I last saw yah."

"Gwand-Pop!" Anne whined cutely, burying her head into Spring's shoulder.

Hop Pop couldn't help but gosh at the sight, and a big smile blossomed on his face. He held out his hands, and his grandson got the message. Sprig gently handed his adopted sister over to his grandfather, and Hop Pop hugged Anne.

"Ain't you just the cutest!" the elderly frog gushed.

Anne giggled at her "grandfather's" antics and then looked at the last member of her found family. The human's eyes snapped open, and her mouth fell as she got a good look at the former pollywog.

"Polly…big!" Anne proclaimed in awe.

Polly grinned as she ruffled the human's head. "Nope, squirt," she said playfully, "You got small."

Anne giggled as she basked in the warmth of her found family. She wrapped her arms around Hop Pop's neck in a hug, and the elderly frog gushed again. Soon, Sprig and Polly joined the hug.

Meanwhile, Grime glared commandingly at the young, blond human. Sasha, in turn, returned the gesture. Her glare, however, came off more cute than fierce.

"Lieutenant?" Grime asked professionally

"Captain," Sasha replied with a stiff upper lip.

Suddenly, the two broke down crying, and Grime leaned down. Sasha ran into the toad's arm, and Grime hugged the girl tight to her chest.

"I mi-mi-missed you so ve-ve-very much," Grime sobbed heartfully.

"I missed you too, Gwime-Daddy!" Sasha replied, sobbing just as much as the newly named toad.

Grime couldn't help but gush at his daughter-figure's cute voice, hugging her closer and kissing her forehead. Sasha scowled cutely and rubbed the spot where she was kissed. Grime couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Even at this age, you're tough as nails!" Grime commented lightheartedly.

Sasha glared at her frog father with a cute glare, which caused Grime to laugh. The human kept her glare for about 15 seconds, then joined in on the laughter.

While Sasha and Grime were busy reconnecting, Olivia and Yunan looked at Marcy uncertainly. The black-haired toddler returned the gesture as she tilted her head slightly to the right.

The married newts exchanged looks before they looked back at Marcy. Olivia cautiously took a step towards the toddler.

"Hello, Dear Master Marcy," the refined Newt said slowly. "Do you remember me?"

Marcy suddenly turned shy, a faint blush on her cheeks, and she nodded shyly. Olivia couldn't help but smile at this scene and got within arm's reach. She opened her arms in a welcoming gesture.

Marcy stared at the newt for a few seconds, then slowly slid over to Olivia. The lady newt's smile grew a little, and she carefully picked up the black-haired toddler.

"It seems you were quite shy when you're this age, weren't you, Little Master Marcy?" Olivia mused softly.

Marcy blushed again and nodded slyly. Olivia's smile turned motherly, and she couldn't help but lean down and kiss the girl's forehead. Marcy became more shy from the gesture and buried her face in her hands.

Olivia couldn't help but laugh at the sight and hugged the human.

Yunan watched this entire scene with a small smile. She and Olivia had been considering having a child, and now, watching her wife tenderly holding the former ranger made her decide that she did want to have one.

Motherhood fitted the refined newt quite well.

Yunan looked down when she heard a noise and saw Darcy trying to make a break for it. The former general quickly got in front of the Core-created Entity and grabbed her by the back of her suit.

Yunan lifted Darcy so she could look the entity right in the eyes.

"Put me dorn," Darcy screamed angrily, "You poow exewcise of a wolider!"

Yunan cocked an eyebrow as Darcy tried to punch her. The tall newt held her arm out slightly, and Darcy's fist missed her. The Core-Created Entity tried again, and the results were the same.

Yunan just shook her head and placed Darcy under her arm as she made her way back to her wife.

It took a few minutes for everyone to calm down from their surprisingly cute reunion, and then everyone looked at Andrias.

"I still don't understand," Olivia said, holding Marcy on her hip. "Why are Master Marcy and her friends toddlers?"

Andrias sighed and leaned forward, putting his weight on his friend's hammer. He looked at the group with a wary eye.

"...It was something Darcy did," the former king said warily. "But I think it's best if you hear the rest of what I have to say to fully understand what happened."

Olivia, Grime, and Hop Pop exchanged looks before the group looked at the ex-king. They took seats in front of Andrias, with Anne sitting between Sprig's legs, Sasha on Grime's shoulder, and Marcy on Olivia's lap.

Yunan was the only one remaining standing, holding a squirming Darcy tight.

Andrias looked at the gathering with his good eye, then continued telling how things reached this point.

(G Corner)

This will be fully addressed in later parts of the story, but here are some light spoilers: Anne and Sasha were dating for less than a month before they returned to Amphibia. Also, the light coming off Anne will be addressed in the next chapter, so look forward to that!