Chapter 1: Three of Hearts.

Anne

"Put the box back, or this little twerp learns to fly"

Anne could hardly breathe. Andrias clutched Sprig tightly and held him out of the window. No no no! She couldn't let him go. Not now! Not EVER!

"Anne! Don't!" Sprig yelled before groaning as if in pain. Anne couldn't do it. She had to put the box back. She had to keep Sprig alive.

"Polly! Do what he says!" Anne yelled. Polly carefully put the box back on its pedestal. Anne felt only the slightest bit of relief. "Okay, you have what you want. Now please put him down. He's my best friend... In this world or any other."

"Anne…" Sprig said as a small smile formed on his face. Then the look on the king's face made Anne's heart turn to literal ice.

"That's the thing about friends. The more you love them the more it hurts when they go." Anne's breath was caught in her throat. She didn't like where this was going. And she definitely didn't like the fact that Andrias hadn't put Sprig down yet. "Allow me to demonstrate," Andrias finished. And just like that, as easy as opening a fist, Sprig was out of the window. Time seemed to slow. Sprig didn't even have time to scream.

And just like that, Sprig was gone.

The frog who had let her in when no one else would. The frog that found her when she was living in the wilderness alone. Who stood up for her in front of the town. Who went on wacky adventures with her. Who always got in trouble with her. Who always had her back. Who made her time in Amphibia the time of her life.

Her best friend. The one that never left her. Never betrayed her. Cared about her.

Gone.

No more Spranne against the world. Just the world against Anne. They were supposed to stay together forever. Stay by each other's side. But he was gone. Never to be by her side again. She would never be by his side. He was taken away. Gone gone gone gone gone.

Memories flash by in a blur. Their first meeting. Them fighting off that big lake monster. Backing her with her fight against Sasha. Comforting her after the aftermath. Reading late into the night, only for Sprig to fall asleep on her. The weeks of being cooped up in the f'wagon.

And that's all of what was left of him. Memories.

And no more would be made.

And who was to blame?

Who cut his time short?

Took him away from her?

Andrias.

That terrible, backstabbing, MURDERING TYRANT!

He caused this.

He took Sprig away.

He didn't even care.

It was almost…amusing to him.

To take one's life.

To create all of this pain and suffering.

It.

Was.

All.

His.

Fault.

He needed to give back Sprig.

Give back Spranne.

Give back the one thing that made sense to Anne in this messed up world.

And all at once every emotion left Anne's whole life except for one- PURE HATRED.

SHE HATED THE FATE THE WORLD HAD GIVEN SPRIG!

SHE HATED HERSELF FOR BEING UNABLE TO PROTECT HIM!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE HATED ANDRIAS!

She didn't know that she had stood up. All she knew was Andrias was going to pay.

"Give him back." She said as tears rolled down her face. She didn't notice how eerily her voice was layered or how her hair was glowing blue. All she was focused on was Sprig. And how the world was ending without him. "GIVE. HIM. BACK!" She screeched.

Her mind screamed in anger, while Anne couldn't tell what was happening. All she knew for certain was that Andrias needed to bring Sprig back! Her pure hatred for this corrupt murdering newt channeled throughout her. All she wanted was to punch him and force him to bring Sprig back!

And just like that her fist was colliding hard with Andrias' smug face.

She stared at him as he fell, his crown gone and his face in utter shock. She looked at him, still feeling her pain. She would make him give Sprig back. Bring him back…bring him back.

She was faintly aware of Andrias attacking her, but she didn't care. Small inconveniences to her goal. Red flew all around her, angering her more. Anne screamed an angry cry. She striked again, being held back by what seemed to be a shield. She felt anger rising in her again. Coward, he needed to bring Sprig back! He took him away, he needed to give him back! And just like that, she struck him again, the king flying back.

Anne had always been taught to associate anger with the color red. It was the color of the mad face on those emotion wheels in elementary school. It just seemed to make sense at the time. The time she found she felt the most fury, though, is when she was wreathed in blue. The color of sadness, the ocean, of the eyes of her old best friend enveloped her like a cloak. When her own adopted brother was dropped out of the window, supposedly to his demise, something snapped. She remembered screaming, her voice cracking and hissing with the effort.

The unbridled rage that coursed through the girl's body made her feel like a forest fire. Flames at the highest heat are blue.

She saw blue.

Blue wasn't what she used to think about when it came to this emotion. If you'd asked her before, she would've told you blue is the hue of sadness, or maybe even peace. It's the color of the sky on a cloudless day, the color of soft ocean waves lapping at the shore.

What happens to the sky when the sun sets? What happens to the calm surface of the sea when the storm brews? Tsunami level waves crashing into the sand, taking away anything it holds in its grasp.

She floated to the floor, Andrias covered with cuts and bruises. This brought her little joy. Andiras hadn't given back what he had taken.

"Give him back!"

Her strength seemed to evaporate and she was having trouble keeping her balance. But she still needed Sprig back.

"Give him… back"

At that, Anne collapsed.

Everything was dark and black. Noises were being made, but she wasn't sure what they meant. She still felt pain, but now also emptiness, A large void.

She wanted to sink into it. The nothingness felt nice. Comforting. Soothing. Maybe it'd take away her pain.

"Anne!"

No… it couldn't be. The voice had cut through the darkness that threatened to swallow her. She knew that voice.

Sprig.

Anne opened her eyes, painfully moving her body towards the direction of the voice. It was hard, but when she saw the pink frog running at her, yelling her name, it felt as if all of the pain went away.

"Sprig?!" She cried in surprise and amazement.

"You're-" Anne said with tears rimming her eyes. "Alive!"

There he was, hugging her, alive and well.

He was safe. He was back.

She had her best friend back.

"Oh thank goodness."

She felt like a huge storm was lifted from her. She felt lighter, more free. Clear headed.

For the second time in the entire situation, everything felt like it was going to be ok. What mattered most was back. The biggest situation was over, and they could do it.

The rest of the Planters joined in on the hug. Everything was ok.

"Marcy caught me just in time!" Sprig said, pulling back from the long hug. "Can you walk?"

"Marcy?" Anne said in confusion. Marcy saved him? But how? When?

That was when loud footsteps came close, and a shadow loomed over the family.

"I'll have to admit," said a voice from above, dripping in distaste. "Even I'm surprised. Somehow you still got the gift kid. Which means…". Andrias brought is blazing sword up, murder in his eyes. "I can't let you live."

What did that mean?

Anne didn't even have time to process when the floor jerked, and the sound of the castle powering down rang through the hall. Andrias was stopped dead in his tracks.

"What?" Andrias asked in surprised confusion, turning around to where the box's pedestal was.

The box was not there.

Instead, there was Marcy across the castle, holding it in her hands, a colorful portal in front of her.

"No!" Andrias shouted in a panic, running towards the girl.

Anne and the Planters didn't even have time to react before Sasha and Grime ran in front of him, stopping his pursuit.

"Me and Grime will hold him!" Sasha yelled at the Planters. "Just go!". Sasha pointed to the portal with her heron sword before refocusing on the giant in front of her.

Anne knew those two couldn't hold Andrias off for long, but they should have long enough.

She tried to get up, but couldn't. She felt so weak and tired she couldn't even stand.

Luckily Hop-pop and Sprig were able to help her get off the ground, and support her as they speed walked to Marcy. Every step was hard. It felt like she had concrete on her feet. Anne breathed heavily, her body wanting to collapse. But she kept going.

"Quick, into the portal everyone! Hurry!" Marcy said in fear as the family made it. The portal had many colors, it was quite beautiful. But the electricity around it showed great power. The Planters scrambled in, sticking their heads out waiting for Sasha to make it back to the portal so they could all get to safety.

She could see that Sasha and Grime were not doing well. They were avoiding fatal blows, and keeping Andrias occupied, but they had not thrown any good hits on him either. However, their time was up and the king knocked both of them out. He ran to the portal shouting, "The box!". Panic and anger were in his eyes. Those were the eyes of someone that was desperate. Would do anything to get what he wanted. Anne had Marcy run into the portal and Marcy gave Anne the box. Anne needed a little more speed but that was almost impossible for someone with her amount of exhaustion. Sprig called out for her to get in the portal. Anne was almost there.

"I know! I just need to-"

Pain. Sharp burning pain in her chest. The blue flames she had felt in her chest a second ago were real now. She could barely move her head. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She at least wanted to gasp in pain. But she was unable to. What had happened? Her eyes flicked to her chest. The tip of Andrias' sword. But where was the back of the blade? Her brain was moving slower than it had ever before. She then felt sick to her pained stomach as her brain finally caught up to speed.

She had been stabbed.

Every blink seemed to get harder. Tears blurred her vision as she only slightly heard the King says, "Now look what you made me do." The taste of Iron filled her mouth as warm blood gurgled up. She looked at the Plantars and Marcy who were in the portal. Her gaze seemed to be stuck on Sprig as his face looked like one of absolute loss. Was that how she had looked? She felt darkness enclosing her vision. Her balance was wobbly.

"G-Guys… I'll miss you…" Was all she got out before she let darkness overtake her.

Sprig

"Put back the box or this twerp learns how to fly."

Sprig had been separated from the rest of the group, making him perfect for the taking when the rest was distracted. He was so surprised when a large blue hand closed around him, he couldn't even make a sound.

The view from Andrias's height was amazing. He could see the entire throne room. Everyone looked so small. No wonder Andrias didn't think much of them. From where he was, everyone looked like colorful flies.

Sprig snapped out of his trance when Andrias began to speak though. He realized how heavy this situation was. Finally, they had the box in their grasps. Polly held it above the pedestal with her tiny fingers, though her face was full of horror.

Andrias brought him out the window into the open red sky. He refused to look down so he focused on a familiar face from down below. Anne's face was one of absolute loss. He knew Anne.

"Anne, don't!"

The hand around Sprig closed in, squeezing him. He pressed his eyes shut, grunting in pain. He could barely breath as his lungs struggled to fill with air.

"Sprig! Polly, do what he says."

Sprig opened his eyes to see Polly gently putting the box back in its place. The castle powered up and the clouds started moving down instead of up.

He looked down sadly, but there was nothing he could do on the matter. Though he tried not to think of it, he was terrified of the consequences of disobeying Andrias.

Andrias. Sprig had looked up at him, not just because of his height. He was his king, a king that had brought peace to Amphibia for a thousand years. However, once Sprig meant the old king, Sprig respected him even more. He was so kind and helpful. He was truly a bringer of peace.

But it was all lies.

He was a power hungry ruler that wanted to destroy worlds, including the one Anne came from. He couldn't let that happen.

"Okay dude, you have what you want." Anne's voice projected up. Sprig refocused on her. "Now please, put him down. He's my best friend. In this world, or any other world."

Sprig felt his eyes water as a smile spread on his face. He wanted so bad to run up to her and give her the biggest hug ever. His heart grew at her kind words. She couldn't say what he felt, and all he could muster out was "Anne.."

For a moment, Sprig forgot about the harrowing danger. For a moment, it was just Spranne against the world.

"That's the thing about friends isn't it? The more you love them the more it hurts when they go. Allow me to demonstrate."

It took a split second for Sprig's brain to register what those words meant. And a split second for Andrias to open his hand, leaving Sprig defenseless to the merciless force of gravity.

He didn't even see his family's expression. It was just an endless sky and clouds.

Sprig couldn't even think. He screamed as tears flew past his face. He squeezed his eyes shut as he fell hundred of miles to the ground. The speed hurt. The wind was harsh and cold against his slime coat.

It felt like he had been falling for hours until his throat hurt and his body acclimated enough where he could think, think about his life. Hop-pop. Polly. Anne. Even his crush, Ivy.

"You got it Hop-pop! I'll defend this cart with my LIIIIFE!"

"You're the best sister I could ask for."

"You're a hero! An ugly ugly ugly hero!"

"She didn't just steal the shell, she stole my heart."

"You… You mean it? I have to admit, most of my ideas were pretty terrible. I think we even caused permanent damage to the ecosystem."

"Us? Are you kidding? We're way too good of a team."

"Spranne against the world!"

Sprig was so caught up in these memories he didn't hear the flap of wings or see a small spec coming closer and closer until he heard the grunts of a familiar voice. He opened his eyes to see Marcy with the wind blowing through her cloak, desperately reaching out for him on Joe Sparrow's back. He reached out, his eyes squinting from the wind. He didn't dare look below him, but he could tell by Marcy's urgency he didn't have much time.

Suddenly Joe's claws jumped in front of him, circling around his shoulders. Just like that he jerked upwards, the clouds slowly moving down.

"Sprig?!" Marcy's frantic voice came from above.

"Marcy!" Sprig called weakly back up to her. She leaned over and Sprig saw her scared but soon relieved face.

Sprig smiled, tears spilling out of his eyes.

As Sprig was brought up into the sky, his hopes were lifted too. He was going to see Anne and his family again! This wasn't the end.

When they reached the window, Marcy hopped off inside the castle, and helped Sprig in. He was still quite shaky from his fall. However his strength returned immediately when he saw Anne passed out on the floor with his family surrounding her.

"Anne!" he cried, running to her.

His eyes teared up again as his heart widened, wanting to embrace her.

Anne slowly got up and Sprig called her name again, embracing her. It felt good. More than good. Sprig thought he'd never touch, let alone hug his best friend again. The one that changed his life forever.

"Sprig? You're…alive!" Anne said finally, wrapping her arms around him, joining in on the hug. "Oh thank goodness."

And all was right in the world. Hop-pop and Polly followed suit and everyone was in one big embrace. Sprig wanted it to be like this forever. To keep hugging, enjoying his family's presence. But all good things needed to come to an end.

He pulled away, giving an explanation to Anne.

"Marcy caught me just in time! Can you walk?"

Anne looked tired and weak. He didn't know what happened, but she was hurt.

"Marcy…?" Anne asked, confused. Before she could say more, they were interrupted with thunderous steps coming to the group.

Sprig looked up and gulped. There was Andrias, shrouded in shadows with his sword providing a weak yet eerie glow. Something had happened to him though. The king was bruised and cut all over, and he was in pain. Despite that, Sprig couldn't help but be absolutely terrified of the giant. In that moment he wanted to bolt out of the room before the newt could pick him up and take care of him for good. However, his attention was not on Sprig, but on Anne.

"I'll admit, even you surprised me. Somehow you still got the gift kid."

Sprig did not like these implications, though he had no idea what Andrias was talking about.

Then Andrias's tone turned dark as he positioned to strike. "Which means I can't let you live."

Sprig realized Andrias was about to kill Anne when the floor jerked beneath him. He fell on his back but was able to catch himself with his arms. He grunted, not in pain, but simply in surprise. Sprig heard the familiar sound of the castle powering down. He looked out a window to see the clouds moving upwards. The castle was falling, which means the box must have been removed.

"What?" Andrias said in surprise, looking away.

Marcy! Sprig realized. With the attention diverted away from her, she could grab the box. Sprig heard a strange noise. coming from the other side of the room that sounded powerful.

"No!" Andrias cried, running to the source of the noise.

He was quickly stopped by a human and a toad running in front of him. Sasha held up her two heron swords with a face of anger while Grime held his hammer, powered up. The two were ready to battle the tyrant. Sprig looked at the duo in surprise.

"Me and Grime will hold him, just go!" Sasha called at the group, pointing her sword at the now visible portal.

Sprig couldn't believe it. Sasha and Grime. The two that had wanted to kill Hop-pop and nearly killed him. They had lied and tricked them. They had started a toad rebellion. Now the two were now going to fight a battle they were sure to lose to save the Planters.

Anne nodded in determination, struggling to get up. Hop-pop helped her up as they speed walked. Sprig kept a close eye on his friend, still worried about her health.

The interdimensional door was breathtaking. It was filled with all the colors of the rainbow with sparks of lightning coming from it. It was powerful, and slightly scary as Sprig got closer to it. This was the thing that brought Anne to Amphibia, and he didn't know how he felt about it. What Sprig did know was that the portal would bring him, his family, and Anne to safety. And with Marcy manning it, they were sure to end up somewhere safe.

Anne had Marcy get in first and took the box from her. Anne was still walking a little slow while her breathing was a little quick.

"Anne! Faster!" Sprig called out, worried that Anne wouldn't be able to make it in time.

"The Box!" Sprig heard Andrias yell but his eyes were fixed on Anne.

"I know! I just need to-"

SHINK!

Sprig's eyes widened as he saw the fire sword in Anne's chest. Her eyes went to her chest as well. Total loss filled Sprig. Was this truly how Anne had felt when Sprig was dropped. He could hardly believe his eyes. He wanted desperately to wake up in his bed and realize it was all a dream- a nightmare- but he knew that this was real. Anne was impaled right in front of his eyes. And he was unable to help her.

"Now look what you made me do." Sprig heard Andrias say behind Anne.

Sprig felt bile rising up in his throat but he kept it in. The king was getting rid of his best friend. No. Andrias was getting rid of his big sister. He wanted so badly to look away. But he was frozen. Looking at his one true friend and hero, as her life was ending in the most excruciating way possible.

"G-Guys… I'll miss you…" Anne's voice came out in barely a whisper as Andrias pulled the sword out from her back. Anne's eyes rolled back into her head as she collapsed.

"ANNE!" Marcy screamed as a flash of white light overtook them and they were forced into a strange white limbo-like place.

Sprig squeezed his eyes shut, unable to move beyond that. Bile rose in his throat but he pushed it down. Then he felt a world form around him. Sounds became louder, a breeze blew, and a hard but slick surface formed below him. He groaned, slowly getting up and opening his eyes.

All around him were metallic boxes with windows. Everywhere was simply loud. With the rumbling of thunder despite clear skies and snail sounds but much, much louder. The air was thick and gross and made Sprig's eyes sting. Beyond the metallic boxes was rectangular buildings, some towering high into the clouds.

"Oh my frog…" Sprig started.

"What is this place?" Hop Pop finished.

Sprig could hardly comprehend the world around him.

Finally Marcy spoke up.

"Home."

Marcy

"Put back the box, or this twerp learns how to fly." Andrias said, his voice cold and menacing.

Marcy shivered. This was not a tone she had heard Andrias use.

Calculating, yes. As king he needed to make decisions that would affect society, for better or worse. He needed to be calculated. Calm. The entire world rested on his shoulders, he needed to be smart.

His voice had always been calm or excited. Happy and kind. Not the kind of king many back on Earth would imagine.

But he was a liar.

A fake.

The entire time the king had used Marcy. She was simply a Flipwart pawn.

All of the exchanges between the two, the laughs and respect, were fake. Andrias never even liked her. He was simply biding his time to strike.

"Anne, don't!" Sprig cried, interrupting Marcy's thoughts.

Sprig, poor Sprig. Caught in the tyrant's grasp, facing his death. She calculated from the amount of time it had been, and the speed, subtracting the time with the castle powered down, it would take 37.62 seconds to hit the ground below.

Marcy looked over at Anne, her panic crystal clear. Anne needed to stay calm. When playing Flipwart you don't want to show any sign of uncertainty. Keep a poker face as people say.

"Sprig! Polly do what he says." Anne called out quickly.

Marcy felt a little unsure. They needed to think about this decision. By putting back the box, the group was giving back the power to destroy dimensions. Starting with Earth. Marcy may have not wanted to return there, but she still cared. She wasn't heartless like another newt she knew.

The pollywog did as Anne commanded, placing the box on the pedestal sadly. Marcy frowned as the box came into contact, tightness forming in her chest. She worked on controlling her breathing, like she did with video games. Even in the face of death, she needed to be calm if she had any chance of making it out of the situation.

The sound of the castle repowering echoed through the tense room as Andrias smiled deviously. He knew he won. Marcy narrowed her eyes. She beat Andrias once, she could beat him again. She knew him better than anything in the room. She could beat him. She just needed to think.

Time skipped as suddenly she heard Anne again.

"Okay dude, you have what you want. Now please put him down, he's my best friend. In this world or any other world."

At this moment something felt wrong. A pit fell in her stomach as she became pale.

She knew what was going to happen.

This happened in one of her games. This was a trope in every movie.

Andrias has no reason to spare Sprig.

That small frog was going to die.

Marcy wanted to shout, but her throat had caved in on itself. She wanted to run at Andrias, but her feet had been cemented in place. All she could do was watch as Andrias dropped Sprig hundreds of miles to the hard ground below.

"That's the thing about friends isn't it? The more you love them the more it hurts when they go. Allow me to demonstrate".

Nothing could prepare Marcy for that moment. Not the video games. The movies. Not even the total realization about what was going to happen.

Her eyes became wet as she stared out the window where Sprig disappeared into.

Anne's friend.

A small innocent frog that did nothing to deserve that fate.

And a thought hit her.

This was her fault.

She caused this.

If she never used the music box, it wouldn't be in Andrias's hands.

Sprig would be alive.

Blood was on her hands because she was selfish. Stupid.

More blood would be on her hands soon. Full dimensions worth.

She had to fix this. The game was still going. She could still flip Andrias's pawn.

Sprig's fate wasn't final. If she learned anything from her movies and games, it was that fate could be changed.

Just like in "War of the Warlocks", good could win even in the most impossible situation.

She was going to save Sprig. She just needed a plan. And fast. Marcy calculated she had 31.3 seconds at this point.

She needed a distraction of some kind. But what could work? Andrias was smart, he'd know if something was up.

And that's when a miracle happened.

Marcy snapped back to reality to see Anne on all fours, a glowing blue substance flowing around her. Andrias's eyes were fixated on her, full of shock and fear.

Marcy looked at the window to her right. This was her chance. She looked back at Anne. She didn't know what was happening to her friend, but it was exactly what Marcy needed.

She needed to start to make up for her mistakes.

With adrenaline pulsing through her veins, she ran to the window. Behind her, a frobot shot a red laser, narrowly missing her. Marcy didn't stop though. She jumped out the window, into the open red sky. The wind rushed through her cloak. Marcy wanted to scream, but she refocused. Determination flowing through her she whistled for Joe Sparrow, hoping he'd hear.

The loyal steed came a split second later and she landed safely on his saddle. She steered downwards, shooting towards the ground at a speed faster then she had ever traveled. Marcy had lost track of time at this point, but she just hoped she'd make it in time.

Finally she saw a tiny pink blob down below. Sprig!

"C'mon Joe! Faster!" Marcy said, gritting her teeth.

Tears streamed down her face at the speed. The small frog was getting closer and closer to her, but he was also getting much closer to the ground.

She couldn't let him just die like this. There would be no one to blame but herself.

Sprig's eyes were shut, but the sound of Joe's caw unlatched them. He opened his mouth, but no sound left it. He reached his arm out, fear in his eyes. Sprig was mere seconds away from his death.

The ground was so close, they weren't going to make it…

That was when Joe surprised her.

The sparrow suddenly swooped up away from the ground.

Marcy cried out. "Joe what are you doing-!"

She looked below frantically and saw…Sprig wasn't there.

"Sprig?!" Marcy called out, looking around, confused where the pink frog disappeared to.

"Marcy!" a weak yet surprised voice cried from below her.

She looked down to see Sprig safely in Joe's claws. Joe had extended his claws, grabbing Sprig at the last second.

"Joe Sparrow! You amazing, amazing steed!" Marcy cried, hugging Joe's neck as they flew back up to the castle.

Marcy couldn't help but grin for a moment. It was just like in the movies. The character was saved, and now was a moment of glory.

It wasn't until the trio reached the window that reality hit her like a train.

The room was quiet, but some of the castle's infrastructure was destroyed. Anne was laying on the floor passed out, and Andiras's had bruises and scratches everywhere, crown removed. He was limping over to Anne, sword in hand. The rest of the group was several feet away, clearly in shock.

Marcy jumped off Joe and helped Sprig back inside. Everyone was still distracted. This was the perfect chance to snatch the box and get everyone to safety.

She nodded in determination before quickly sneaking over to the box. She took a moment to make sure attention was diverted away before grabbing the box from its pedestal.

The castle jerked and Marcy nearly lost her balance. She was amazed that she was able to stay up. But she needed to stay focused. She ran to the edge of the hall, as far away from Andrias as she could before focusing on the box.

Her hands trembled and sweat as she started the commands to activate a portal. The box was warm from its power, but she didn't mind.

She felt a strong need to throw up as she worked. Opening a portal to Earth was easy.

Soon she opened the box and a blue glow appeared in front of her. The portal was open. However, that portal could send her friends anywhere. South America. Antarctica. The middle of the ocean. She needed to make sure the portal landed in a safe spot, close to home.

Creating the coordinates however was quite complicated. One wrong tap and she'd send everyone to the North Pole instead of America.

She closed the box so she could continue to insert commands.

"C'mon, c'mon. Please work!" she squeaked.

Everything disappeared and it was just her and the box. She got the coordinates to the continent of North America and was working on getting it to the area of California.

As soon as she got that she heard Anne and the Planter's tired pants, snapping her back into reality. They were running over, and Andrias was fighting Sasha and Grime. Marcy knew those two couldn't hold the king off for long. Anne and the rest of the family needed to get in the dimensional door.

"Hurry, into the portal everyone!" she cried, pointing to the energy driven doorway.

Anne grabbed the box from Marcy and had her go in.

Marcy put on Anne's backpack

Marcy was worried. Anne wasn't going that fast and she didn't think Andrias had any intention of sparing her.

"Anne! Hurry!" Sprig yelled in fear.

"I know! I just need to-"

Marcy felt the complete lack of hope. Of an answer. Of even a simple way to say something. Exactly what she had never wanted to feel. And it was all because of what she was witnessing.

Anne was stabbed in the back, literally.

If Marcy had never convinced Anne to steal the box, this wouldn't have happened. But she did. It was all Marcy's fault.

"G-Guys…" Anne choked out. "I'll miss you…" Anne collapsed as a bright light flashed. Marcy opened her eyes and saw everything she had thought she had left behind. Earth.

"Oh my frog…" Sprig started with Hop Pop finishing, "What is this place?"

Marcy looked at them and answered, "Home."

End of Chapter One.