Sasha kept her hand gripped onto her sheaved sword as she, Grime, Percy and Braddock
trekked down a dirt path from a forest of long dead, almost skeletal trees.
She felt VERY uneasy. Like being on the wrong side of a slasher movie.
She couldn't even hear the sounds of any animals. Just nothing but DEAD Silence.
"I don't remember this place being on our map of The Valley." spoke Sasha.
"It's been excluded for good reason." spoke Grime, his tone low.
"Though *I* once had control over most of The Valley, My Brother is LORD of these lands."
"Strange that you never mentioned him until now.." mused Sasha.
Grime growled in his throat. "me and Grunge...we don't see Eye to Eye."
Sasha snickered at the irony of that statement. "you don't say."
"We both desired power, just in different ways." spoke Grime.
"The only thing we ever agreed on was to stay out of each other's way.
Which is why his Castle wasn't listed on our map. I have no desire to claim these cursed lands."
This caught Sasha's attention. "Castle?...He has a CASTLE!?" exclaimed Sasha.
"Hot Damn!, that's even BETTER than a decrepit old tower!"
"Oh, you think so, DO YOU?" spoke Grime, as the group approached a ridge.
"Then, have a look at Castle Grudge, and tell me if you want to live there.."
As the group climbed the hill...they were greeted by a castle built over a cliff.
And, it was without a doubt the most horrific looking structure anyone had ever set eyes upon.
Sasha herself had her jaw slacked open, feeling like she just found Count Dracula's Lair.
(it sure didn't help that the BLOOD RED colored lightning was striking against the starless sky.)
"I f-f-forgot how s-s-scary this p-place is..." stuttered Percy.
"suck it up, soldier.." growled Grime, who walked forward.
As the group approached the castle...the ground beneath them began to shift.
Suddenly, it ruptured...and to their astonishment, the muddy earth formed a monstrous hand.
Sasha's eyes widened in shock as a towering beast formed from the very mud,
Followed by another...and yet Another, until they were met with small squad of Mud Monsters.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" exclaimed Sasha, brandishing her blades.
Grime just sighed. "typical..."
One of the Mud Monsters attacked, launching an extended fist at the group.
They quickly scattered, and while Sasha and Grime engaged in combat...
...Percy and Braddock ran for cover.
Sasha slashed at one of the monsters, dismembering it's arm.
However, it quickly regenerated and re-engaged Sasha furiously.
"OH, COME ON!" exclaimed Sasha, who continued to evade the Mud Monster.
Grime, however...Was growing annoyed that the creatures failed to recognize him.
"I am CAPTAIN GRIME of the GRAND TOAD ARMY, YOU STUPID BEASTS!" shouted Grime, angrily.
"Your master, *MY* BROTHER, is expecting all of us. So, STAND ASIDE!"
It didn't look as if The Mud Monsters were going to listen.
But then all of a sudden...they froze like statues.
"Huh!?" exclaimed Sasha, confused.
Grime looked around, wondering why the battle suddenly stopped.
Then both he, and Sasha saw the Castle drawbridge drop down.
And then someone casually walked across the bridge, and approached them.
Their mysterious host was a dark green Toad dressed in a mossy robe,
with horn-shaped ridges upon his brow that made him look like a Devil to Sasha.
"Grunge?" asked Sasha.
"No." replied Grime. "This is MOSS. My brother's Toady stooge."
Moss smiled wide as he finally walked up, and faced Grime. "Welcome, Captain Grime." spoke Moss.
"Sorry for the harsh welcoming committee...but, my master values his privacy."
"oh, you'd BETTER be sorry!" snapped Sasha, ready to cut Moss down to size.
Moss just eyed the human with keen interest. "I see...so the rumors are TRUE."
"What rumors?" spoke Grime, curious.
"That you are harboring a DANGEROUS alien creature." answered Moss.
"THAT...is my business." spoke Grime, sternly.
Moss scowled. "Then you best have a good reason for being here.
My Master HATES to have his time wasted, and being his brother won't spare you his wrath."
As Moss turned, and walked off with the Mud Creatures, Grime clenched his fists,
Resisting the urge to snap the horned toad's neck right there.
Grumbling under his breath, Grime and Sasha took what remained of their army and entered the castle.
Inside the Castle, Sasha couldn't suppress her grin as she examined the interior,
Which indeed looked like something out of a classic Horror Movie (Marcy would just LOVE this place.)
All that was missing was the creepy Pipe Organ music.
"Walk this way, Please." spoke Moss.
Sasha and the Toads followed Moss into a much larger room that resembled a ballroom,
with a scary looking throne at the other end of the round room where *someone* was sitting.
Squinting her eyes, Sasha could just barely make out a 'Grime-like' shape shrouded in shadow.
though she felt chill run down her spine when the Toad started to look right at her.
...it's eyes appearing to glow bright red like a Demon in the darkness.
Moss approached, and bowed before the sitting Toad as if he were a King.
"Lord Grunge. Your brother, Captain Grime has arrived...with Guests."
Grime didn't even wait for permission, and stepped forward.
Shoving Moss out of the way as he faced his very scary brother.
"brother...I apologize for any inconvenience that my visit has brought,
But there is something of grave importance that we must discuss."
Grunge said nothing...he just slowly rose up with the sound of creaking bone.
He slowly approached Grime, Finally stepping into the dim light.
It was then that Sasha got a better look at Grimes' brother.
Grunge was almost the spitting image of Grime, except he was dressed more like a Mage, than a soldier.
with a fur skin cloak draped over a dark tunic, and a bird skull tied around his neck.
Another distinction from grime was the long, dark eyebrows that almost resembled horns as they stood erect in a V-shape.
Lastly, his eyes was the greatest clue that Grunge wasn't any normal Toad,
having black orbs with bright red irises that still seemed to glow.
From Sasha's perspective, Grunge almost resembled one of those "Dot-EXE" Creepypasta characters
that Marcy liked to play around with on the computer every Halloween night back home.
(All Grunge was missing was bloody tears...which Sasha was thankful for.)
Grunge glared at Grime, looking as if he were staring into his very soul.
Grime stood his ground...and, Grunge smiled wide.
"welcome, brother...it's been quite some time." spoke Grunge, his voice heavily echoed.
Percy and Braddock both sighed with relief, glad they Grunge wasn't angry with them being here.
Sasha just smirked, feeling hopeful that her Revenge would be close at hand.
[Meanwhile]
It was sundown, and Anne and Sprig had just finished with the chores
that Hop Pop had arranged for them, and both felt pretty tired.
"Man, I am Frog Tired." spoke Sprig. "I'm not sure if I'll even make it to bed."
Sprig then hopped ahead of Anne. "Hey!, you wanna spend the night at our favorite place?"
Anne looked to an old log sitting atop a hill.
a place that she and Sprig liked to hang out at night to star gaze.
Anne almost said yes...Until she saw Olivier walking around at a distance.
"Um...You go ahead, Sprig. I'll catch up with you in a minute." said Anne.
"Okie-Dokie!, see you there, Anne!" said Sprig, as he hopped away.
Anne smiled at Sprig...Then, she returned her attention to Olivier.
she breathed out, and proceeded to walked towards him at a fast pace.
Despite their prior friendly interaction...Anne couldn't help but feel nervous.
Oliver was the first boy of her own species that she had seen in MONTHS.
and there was a part of herself that wanted to get close to him for some reason.
Anne was very much aware that she wasn't the best when it came to talking to boys
(hence why back home, she spent most of her social life with other girls like Sasha and Marcy.)
but with Marcy STILL missing, and Sasha...also missing.
Anne was desperate to have at least one other human friend to hang out with in this strange world.
(Even if Oliver himself came off as bit *strange* himself.)
"H-Hey, there." spoke Anne, as she approached Olivier.
"OH!...Hi, Anne." spoke Olivier. "What are you doing out here?"
Anne smirked. "I could ask you the same thing."
"Just looking for a good place to make a house." answered Olivier.
Anne looked puzzled. "make...a house?!"
"Yeah. I don't know how long I'll be stranded in this strange world." explained Olivier.
"True...But, you can always stay with the Plantars-"
"I don't want to intrude." spoke Olivier. "While it is a nice cottage, and Hop Pop is very generous.
Space is limited, and I can't just make their family den my own room."
Anne looked away, and blushed. "you could...always...stay with me in the basement."
Now both Olivier and Anne were blushing...then Olivier laughed. "heh-heh..Good one, Anne."
Anne blushed even harder, as even she couldn't believe what she had just suggested.
"no-no, I think I'll just keep looking for a-"
((*THUNDER!*))
Olivier winced in fright at the sound of distant thunder.
Anne chuckled at this. "What's wrong?, You afraid of a little-"
As it began to rain, Olivier quickly raised his hand
and formed a yellow energy shield shaped vaguely like an umbrella.
He then tried to grab Anne's hand, and pull her close to him. "What are you-!?"
"QUICK, get under the shield!" exclaimed Olivier. "It's starting to rain!"
"GOOD, I could use a refreshing shower after today!" said Anne, who pulled away from Olivier.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" exclaimed Olivier, reacting as if Anne had a death wish.
As it rained, Anne danced around with her arms spread out like wings.
She twirled around, and looked to be enjoying herself.
Olivier, however...was confused at this. Why wasn't the rain hurting Anne?
Curious, Olivier reached out his hand in an attempt to feel the rain drops.
...and, to the Witch Boy's surprise. He felt no pain at all.
"The rain...It isn't Boiling?!"
Anne stopped to stare at Olivier. "Boiling Rain!?, of COURSE not!"
Anne then approached Olivier, and pulled him into the rain.
Olivier gasped at first...but he eventually relaxed as he felt the cool raindrops fall upon his head.
no...the rain DIDN'T boil like it did back home in the Boiling Isles.
The rain actually felt good as it splashed against his hair and skin.
Olivier stared up at the sky as the rain dropped down upon him.
He then closed his eyes, and allowed himself to really FEEL it.
The rain felt so...Soothing. So refreshing (as Anne had described it earlier.)
Just then, Anne grabbed both his hands and spun themselves around in a circle.
"Dance with me..." said Anne, smiling cheerfully.
Olivier stared blankly as Anne began to laugh like a child would.
Olivier stared blankly as Anne began to laugh like a child would.
This Boonchuy girl was strange...But it was a kind of strange that kind of reminded him of his mother, Eda.
..and, He too eventually smiled and laughed along with Anne.
Once they stopped spinning, Anne noticed some water puddles forming at the ground.
So, she hopped, and SPLASHED onto one. sending water flying around.
Intrigued, Olivier proceeded to do the same thing...and quickly found that he liked it.
The pair then began to hop around like frogs, laughing like young children
as they splashed into every puddle they could find as it continued to rain.
Both Olivier, and Anne may be stranded in a world very far from their own homes.
But, right now...Amphibia didn't feel like the worst place they could be.
In fact...It felt like a Paradise.
[End of Part Three]