After close to Thirty Minutes of pushing the aging turnstile, the Rotunda carrying Anne, Maddie and Olivier Finally reached its destination as the light of the surface breached the once shrouding darkness of the cave.
"WE MADE IT!!" exclaimed Maddie, pointing at an opening that now lay before them.
Anne and Olivier released the Turnstile and looked to see daylight gleaming from afar.
Anne was only too happy to run out the exit, with a concerned Olivier chasing after her.
"Anne, WAIT!" called Olivier. "It may not be safe yet!!"
The trio then all left the cave, and walked out onto a cliffside.
Before them was a bowl shaped quarry of some kind carved from the mountain peak. Ancient construction equipment lay untouched, frozen in a state of work that would never be finished.
"Wow... look at all of that!" spoke Anne.
"yeah." spoke Olivier, also amazed to his own surprise. "This must've been the entrance to the mine where they loaded and unloaded everything."
Maddie then hopped over. "If that is true, then there must be a safe way down from here."
"sound logic, Maddie." said Olivier. "Let's hurry and find a way down before that King Zapapede finds us again."
"Wait!, what about all those Thunder Stones we collected!?" spoke Anne, pointing back to the cave they came from.
"We'll come back for it later, " said Olivier. "It's been here for centuries now, so it isn't going anywhere."
"Olivier's right, Anne." said Maddie. "Exit First, Treasure Later. Besides, We still haven't done what we came here for."
Anne slapped her head lightly, realizing that Maddie was right about that. In all the recent excitement, the whole point of this trip really had slipped her mind. "oh, right... DUH."
The three began to walk right towards a smoothed out slope that went right into the quarry. It was almost like one big ramp, which Anne found was very convenient for getting down from the high up cliff.
Once in the Quarry, Anne and Maddie took some time to examine the ancient machines.
"weird. these things are ancient, yet they almost resemble the construction vehicles in my world." mused Anne.
Olivier proceeded to examine what looked like Excavator.
"I've seen similar machines in my world too. Usually used exclusively by the Emperor's Coven." Olivier spoke. "But these machines indeed look too modern for what should've been possible centuries ago."
Anne tilted her head like a cat. "What do you suppose that means??"
Olivier shrugged. "I don't know... and I don't think we'll ever know for sure."
"Not unless one of us knows a Time Travel spell!" exclaimed Maddie, excitedly.
"eh, the closest thing to that are Time Pools." remarked Olivier.
"But those are rare even in my world... and I doubt such things exist in this one."
"I don't think I've ever heard of anything like that before." spoke Maddie. "Then again, I've never left the Frog Valley. So I don't really know what is beyond the mountains."
Anne was about to ask a series of follow-up questions, but decided to save those for later.
Olivier began to walk off and approached the edge of the Quarry where a scenic view could be seen. The Witch Boy's mismatched eyes widened as he gazed out at the vast Landscape before him once again.
True to Maddie's words, they were indeed in a valley that appeared to be surrounded by tall mountains. As he scanned the distant landscape, it appeared that the mountains circled the valley like a great wall.
"those mountains... do they enclose this Entire valley??!" spoke Olivier with curiosity.
Anne approached and looked at Olivier with a soft, knowing expression.
"yeah... and they were impossible to travel through in the past couple of months since I first came to this world. It's why I've stayed here in the Frog Valley for as long as I have. I've been kinda... trapped here."
Olivier looked at Anne, raising an eyebrow. "Were?"
"well... they still kinda are. But it won't be long until the Mountain Pass is clear like Hop Pop said." explained Anne. "Then we can travel to Newtopia to hopefully get some answers from Amphibia's king."
Olivier made an incredulous expression, his personal experiences in his own world not giving him very much optimism in betting everything on another ruling monarch.
"I hope you have a backup plan in case this King can't or won't help you." spoke Olivier.
Anne looked down, an awkward look on her face. "well... yeah. I do: YOU."
Now it was Olivier's turn to feel awkward as he remembered the promise he made to Anne prior. He then felt an overwhelming feeling as it dawned on him that this human girl really was counting on him to help her.
letting out a deep sigh, he looked at Anne again. "I'll do what I can... but I can't make you any promises."
Anne felt some disappointment, but forced herself to smile. "It's alright, Ollie. I get it: We're both in the same boat.
We're just a pair of teenagers trapped in a strange frog world, wanting to return home to our families, but having no idea HOW to even do that. I won't blame you if you can't help me any more than you would blame me for the same thing."
Olivier's body shook, feeling a strange feeling as he looked into Anne's hazel brown eyes. She had a sincerity to her that shocked the boy (though he did well to hide this from her.)
"I am sorry you ended up in this situation, Olivier." continued Anne. "I personally know how much this sucks, and wouldn't wish such a thing on anyone."
Olivier made a dismissive reaction. "eh, it's like my mom would say: "sh*t happens". and it is pretty much my own fault for trusting a scammer when I should've known better."
"well, I'm not exactly guiltless..." said Anne. "I ended up here because I shoplifted."
"heh, makes you wonder if some higher power is punishing us for being stupid kids." half joked Olivier.
"My mom would call it Karma." added Anne, also chuckling.
Maddie silently watched as Anne and Olivier socialized. She smiled, finding their interactions interesting (and maybe a tad cute.)
Was this how human courtships work?? If so, it seemed better than how Frogs apparently did it.
"Look, Anne. I meant what I said before: I promise I'll find a way to get you back home." said Olivier.
Anne looked at Olivier. "With your mom's magic portal?"
"yeah... though FIRST I need to get back to my mom to use her portal." said Olivier.
Anne approached Olivier. "Will it really get me back home??"
"trust me, it works." said Olivier.
Anne smiled... and then gave Olivier a hug (which he tensed up at.) "thank you, Ollie... you're an awesome dude."
Olivier gently pushed Anne away from him, a look of discomfort on his face "...thaaanks."
Anne once again felt disappointed at Olivier rejecting her attempt at friendship, but she again put that in the back of her mind, reminding herself that she still needed to earn his trust.
((*rumble, rumble, rumble...*))
The trio froze as they felt the ground beneath them start to shake.
"oh no..." spoke Anne, horrified. "please don't tell me-"
Suddenly, something very big arose from a trench and quite literally towered over the three.
Anne and Maddie's mouths gaped open, their eyes unblinking as the King Zapapede bent forward... and looked right at them.
(("HSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!")) hissed the Colossal beast, its Positive/Negative eyes focused right on them.(("SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"))
As the King Zapapede struck, Olivier acted quickly and repelled Anne and Maddie upwards with his magic. Anne screamed as she flew up with Maddie, and then dropped back down onto the high cliff where they were previously.
The two girls immediately ran to the edge and looked down in shock as Olivier was now running at a normal pace.
Shock however turned to horror as the King Zapapede swooped around, enclosing Olivier with its own body.
Olivier froze, staring up at the giant insect as he just stared down at him. At first, he was confused. The King Zapapede had the opportunity to make a killing strike, so he should be dead!
But then it suddenly dawned on him as he looked into the beast's eyes... it's ANGRYeyes directed AT HIM.
This wasn't about food. It just wanted REVENGE.
((*SWAP!!*)) The King Zapapede swung it's tail end, literally swatting Olivier like a fly.
The Witch Boy was flung across the Quarry, his body colliding into one of ancient construction vehicles.
"OLIVIEEERR!!" exclaimed Anne, scared and anxious.
Olivier groaned as he tried to get up, Only to be swatted again by the King Zapapede once again flinging his ragdolled body across what was pretty a gladiator arena.
Anne's body shook, feeling dread as she watched the King Zapapede slowly circle Olivier.
Being a Cat Owner, she knew when a predatory animal was 'toying' with its prey when she saw it. And while not a "Kill-a-Moth", this Zapapede was clearly taking pleasure in what it was doing to Olivier.
But while insidious, this was somewhat a blessing in disguise. If the King Zapapede was taking its time... then THEY had time to stop it.
"whaddawedo-whaddawedo!!?"exclaimed Maddie, rapidly.
The King Zapapede then lunged, wrapping its coiled body TIGHTLY around Olivier.
It then began to discharge electricity, zapping Olivier continuously.
(("AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGHH!!!"))screamed Olivier, as powerful volts coursed through his body.
"NOO!!" exclaimed Anne, horrified. The Thai girl then frantically looked around for something, ANYTHING.
(("AAAAAAHHH!!!")) continued Olivier, as he was shocked again and again.
The King Zapapede then made a sound that almost sounded like laughing.
It actually was enjoying this.
Anne's head darted back and forth in a panic... and then she spotted something.
High above them all was a large crane hanging over the quarry, with the claw end right above the King Zapapede.
"THERE!" called out Anne, pointing at the overhead crane. "We need to drop that on that thing!!"
"HOW!??" exclaimed Maddie, genuinely confused at how they were going to accomplish such a task.
"The Thunder Stones!!" answered Anne. " Quick!,back to the Minecart!!"
Anne ran faster than she ever had before back to the cave.
Maddie hesitated for a moment, her eye back on Olivier. She didn't want to leave him, but she had to if she was going to help him.
Maddie huffed sharply as she finally followed Anne back in the cave.
While this was going on, Olivier was clenching his teeth so hard it was a miracle they hadn't cracked. He growled loudly in his throat, using every ounce of his willpower to endure the unrelenting pain he was feeling.
The Witch Boy then glared at the King Zapapede as it too locked eyes with him. Olivier gave an angry glare that almost matched that of the King Zapapede itself.
"gonna... KILLYOU." growled Olivier, Venom in his voice.
Perhaps it was delirium from the intense pain, but Olivier could almost swear that the King Zapapede was... SMIRKING?!
Meanwhile, Anne and Maddie managed to push the Minecart full of Thunder Stone out of the cave.
"Now what!!?" exclaimed Maddie.
Anne didn't answer. She just dumped everything out of her satchel and began to fill it up with Thunder Stones.
"Can you get up there, Maddie?!" said Anne.
Maddie looked up at the Crane. It was pretty high up, But nothing that a Frog Leap and a Tongue Lash couldn't do. "No problem!" said Maddie.
"Then get up there! I'll toss the satchel up for you to catch." said Anne.
Maddie's eyes lit up in realization. "OH!, I see where you're going with this..."
Maddie wasted no time and began to crouch down low, flexing her leg muscles. She then sprung up with a snap, propelling herself higher than any human could.
Once she reached as high as her jump would take her, she shot her elongated tongue out with another snap. It was close, but the sticky end attached to the arm of the crane and she propelled herself upwards.
Clinging to the Crane, she scaled it and stood up, looking down to Anne. "READY!!" called out Maddie.
Anne glanced back to Olivier one more time, seeing that the King Zapapede was now constricting its body around Olivier not unlike a Python would.
Her Hazel eyes flashed Cyan for a moment as she gripped the straps of her satchel.
(("time to see if all that gym practice back home paid off...")) thought Anne to herself.
Anne began to swing her satchel by its straps, and toss it up high like she were in the Olympics.
Maddie shot out her tongue... and managed to catch the satchel full of crystals (the weight of which put enough strain on her tongue, she was surprised it didn't rip out of her head.)
"YES!" exclaimed Anne, shooting her arms fists in the air. "PERFECT TEN!!"
Maddie pulled the satchel up, and quickly sprinted down the long arm of the crane. She placed it down at the joint of the claw part, and spat out mucus to stick it in place.
Maddie then took out one of her curse bombs, threw it against the satchel.
This one Detonated upon impact... which caused an even bigger explosion as the Thunder Stones all detonated as well.
The shockwave of the blast sent Maddie flying backwards (and fortunately, right towards Anne who caught her.)
The two then watched as the Giant Claw of the old crane broke off... and dropped down upon the King Zapapede.
((*SQUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!*))The King Zapapede let out a shrill cry as the fallen claw pierced its body.
It didn't kill it... BUT it was forced to release Olivier as it focused on getting the foreign object off of it.
After destroying the rusty claw, the now injured beast looked to Anne and Maddie... and HISSEDin anger.
"uh-oh." said Anne, meekly.
((*SKREEEEEEEEEE!!!!*))The King Zapapede shot a powerful lightning blast at Anne and Maddie.
The girls managed to evade the lightning bolt, but tumbled down into the Quarry by doing so. Thankfully, Maddie was unharmed due to Anne using her body as a shield (the latter having gotten bruised up as a result.)
They looked up... and their hearts stopped as the massive creature bore down on them.
"crap...we are so dead." said Anne, scared beyond belief.
"at least it'll be painless." said Maddie.
" HOWwill this be painless?!"
"JUST LET ME HAVE THIS LIE!!" exclaimed Maddie, freaking out.
((*RAAAAAWWWRR!!*)) The King Zapapede lunged, and Anne and Maddie shrieked and hugged each other.
...but nothing happened.
The two opened their eyes, and saw that the King Zapapede was frozen mid-strike.
Not only that, but its entire body was enveloped in a dark blue glow that was pulsing.
The two looked, and saw Olivier now standing. His hands extended, glowing and making very Wizard-like gestures. His own body was sparking with blue volts, and the colored irises of his eyes glowing like hot coals.
In that moment, the blue sparks turned gold as Olivier suddenly raced towards Anne and Maddie like a literal bolt of lightning. In one swift move, he scooped up Anne (who was holding Maddie) and streaked along a smooth wall and back onto the cliffside.
Putting them down, the Time Freezing spell Olivier had cast finally wore off, causing the King Zapapede's head to impact a stone wall, which briefly dazed the beast.
Olivier turned and looked to the King Zapapede... and his body surged with anger.
"Ollie??" spoke Anne, trying to reach out to Olivier... only to get briefly shocked by a stray volt when she reached out her hand.
"stay... here." growled Olivier, barely able to hold back his rage.
As the King Zapapede recovered, it turned its head... but Olivier suddenly disappeared in a crackle of blue lightning.
Anne and Maddie looked to see a flash, and saw Olivier now clinging to a far off stone wall of the Quarry. His body still surging with similar volts as the King Zapapede itself.
As the King Zapapede looked to him, the Witch Boy then suddenly moved like a golden bolt of lightning again. Only this time, he was circling around the smooth walls, almost like a particle accelerator centrifuge.
Anne and Maddie were awestruck as they stared at the golden lighting that kept circling around the King Zapapede. The Beast remained still, confused at what was happening (as well as tempted to try and feed on this new energy.)
But then the lightning bolt shot out and struck the King Zapapede like an electrically charged cannonball, before bounding away and then shooting back out and striking the King Zapapede again like a bouncy wrecking ball.
Again, and again, the King Zapapede was struck without any mercy. Olivier's attack was moving so fast, that from Anne and Maddie's perspective, the King Zapapede was being attacked by a star of lightning bolts.
Olivier then finally appeared as he flung himself towards the King Zapapede's head at a normal pace.
He then cast a familiar spell, once again freezing time around the massive beast specifically.
Olivier then proceeded to rapidly punch and kick the King Zapapede's head with literally lightning fast movements. His final strike came as the Time Freezing spell ended, inflicting massive damage in a matter of seconds.
((*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!*))shrieked the King Zapapede as it collapsed with a thundering thud.
"whoooaa..." said Anne, her mouth gaped open in awe.
Olivier breathed out heavily, his body still sparking as he stared down at his fallen foe.
Eventually his anger started to fade... and his apparent power boost along with it as the gold and blue sparks dancing all over his body slowly began to fizzle out.
Olivier finally let out a deep exhale, forcing all the stress out of his body. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm his hyperactive nerves.
As he turned around and began to walk away... a voice suddenly rang out:"OLLIE, LOOK OUT!!"
Olivier turned just in time to see the King Zapapede lunge forward... and actually swallow him whole.
"NOOOOO!!!"shrieked Maddie, genuinely horrified.
Anne's reaction to this shocking event was a bit different than Maddie's.
Without even thinking about it, the Thai Girl leaped from the cliff and dropped down onto the King Zapapede's head. The Beast thrashed around, trying to get the small creature off of it . But Anne somehow clung onto it.
Her eyes burning blue, Anne drew out her pickaxe and swung it into one of the King Zapapede's eyes. The giant insect let out a shrill screech as its eye burst apart... yet Anne continued to hold on.
Anne bore a grim expression as she swung the pickaxe again, destroying the King Zapapede's other eye. Now blind, the King Zapapede thrashed violently, finally managing to throw Anne off of it.
Anne looked up, and saw the King Zapapede writhing in pain... but NOTfrom what she had done.
The giant insect's body was pulsing, and... seeming to be inflating like a balloon. It screeched again as light rays burst from tears that gradually appeared over its body.
and then-
((*SHRIIING!!, KRA-KOOOOOM!!!*))
a blinding light burst from within the King Zapapede, causing its body to explode.
brightly colored blood and guts splattered everywhere, leaving only the lifeless head, some legs and bits of the tail end of the obviously now dead King Zapapede remaining.
Anne and Maddie gazed in shock, confused at what just happened.
They then spotted something else at the blast zone: a lone boy laying motionless in the ground.
"OLLIE!" exclaimed Anne, running over to the down Witch Boy.
Maddie finally hopped down from the cliff and joined Anne as they knelt down to the still downed boy.
Anne propped him up and wiped some transparent mucus off his face. She then placed two fingers against his neck, hoping to 'frog god' that Olivier still had a pulse.
Fortunately, he did. but it felt very weak.
"come on ollie, wake up." spoke Anne, softly. "please... this wasn't supposed to happen this way!"
Anne frowned, on the verge of tears. "I just-, I only wanted us to have a good time together. This was supposed to be fun!"
Anne then hugged Olivier, not caring about the gooey substance getting on her clothes.
"I'm sorry... this is all my fault. we never shouldn't come here."
Anne then felt a weak breath, followed by a low groan. Pulling away, she saw Olivier's eyes slowly open.
"Ollie!" Anne hugged Olivier once more. "YOU'RE ALIVE!!"
This time, Olivier didn't push Anne away and let her have her hug (he was too tired anyway.)
Once Anne finally did release him, Maddie then tightly hugged the Witch Boy next.
"...okay, I think that's enoughhugging." grumbled Olivier, as he sat up.
"What even was all that?!" spoke Maddie, with intrigue.
"got me... I've never felt that much power before." said Olivier, finally.
"hmm... Maybe it was from when the King Zapapede was zapping you earlier." mused Maddie. "Somehow it must've charged up your magic, and gave you an incredible boost of power!"
Anne made an incredulous expression at this, finding that theory to be pretty 'out there'.
BUT with a 'Magic' proving to be a real thing now, who was she to question the outlandish??
"eh, whatever. if it works, it works." said Olivier, not really caring about the 'How' or 'Why'.
As Olivier moved his now tired body, something finally dropped from his pouch.
Looking down, he spied the old human phone that his mother gifted to him on his birthday.
However as he picked it up... he widened his eyes to see that the screen was now turned on.
"hey... this thing is working now." said Olivier.
"Really?, AWESOME!!" exclaimed Anne, happily. "Here, lemme show you how it works!"
Anne scooted closer and touched the front screen, bringing up a menu with various icons.
The pair then glanced at the battery percentage that read: [100,000%]
"whoa, that's a lotta percent's." commented Olivier.
"When we get home, I'll copy everything on my phone onto yours," said Anne."This'll be SO COOL!"
Olivier stared at Anne, not quite getting why she was so excited over something so simple.
But he shrugged it off, and put his now new phone away while Anne and Maddie helped him stand up.
The three then turned and stared at the bloody remains of the King Zapapede.
"Soo... Maddie." spoke Olivier.
"yeah?"
"What's "Zap-O-Rade" made from again??"
[End of Part 12]