Situated in the northwest of the continent, the Amphibian Arctic was unlike any place Frank and Anne had explored during their numerous adventures in this strange world. Its tundra landscape was both wild and beautiful, featuring icy mountains blanketed in snow and frozen plains stretching as far as the eye could see. Few would ever dare to inhabit this harsh environment, and even fewer would venture there without understanding what they were getting into.
This was it, Anne thought to herself as she packed the Calamity Box into her backpack. Today was the end of their little break since finding and charging the green stone at the First Temple. It was supposed to be time for them to relax. Instead, they had to deal with the arrival of a radical FLA faction and then Frobo.
So much for having a relaxing week, now it was time to go and find the Second Temple.
Joe Sparrow glided through the sky over the wintery scene of the Arctic. After what happened last time, Hop Pop was sitting in a specially made sling called the "Hop Pocket" while everyone else is in the saddle seat, all of them wearing their winter gear, and all looking out over the frosted lands in awe and wonder.
"Hey, look. It's the Elephant Beetles!" Sprig said, pointing to the herd marching through the snow.
Frank looked down and was amazed. It was the same herd from their first month in Amphibia, and he could make out the same Patriarch at the head of the group.
The Patriarch, seeing the shadow on the ground, looked up at Joe Sparrow. Frank waved down at him. The Elephant Beetle let out a trumpeting roar in return.
"Wow, I can't believe he recognized me," he said with a smile. However, looking to his right, he saw Marcy looking over the poncho he'd made from the beetle he and Anne hunted. "Uh, what are you doing?"
"Oh, sorry, but this is just so cool!" Marcy squealed in excitement. "How did you learn how to make fur coats? What kind of fur is that? Did you have to kill the beast to get it?"
"Learn it from my abuelo when we went on camping trips. It's actually from an Elephant beetle Anne and I hunted a long while ago, which...also led the herd to come to the home," Frank said, rubbing the back of his head.
"And they almost killed us till we gave them the horn of their fallen family member," Anne said.
"I'm still traumatized." Sprig said with a smile on his face.
Soon, Joe Sparrow descended from the sky and landed on an icy path. Unfortunately, the bird slipped on the ice. Tweeting frantically, he tried standing up again, only to slide around, causing the group to gasp from the pressure. Soon, he crashed into a mound of snowbank, upside down.
With his bottom sticking out at the top, Joe poked his head out at the bottom. Then Marcy emerged from the snow mound, completely unfazed.
"Welcome to the Amphibian Arctic, everyone!" she said before Frank, Anne, Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop emerged from the snow.
"Whoooa.."
"I triangulated the tracking beam from the green stone," Marcy said to the group.
Frank pulled himself and his girlfriend out of the snow. "By the way, where's the stone?" he said, holding Anne.
"Right here!" Marcy said, pulling out a purple pencil case with smiling hamburgers and hot dogs. Unzipping it, she removed the green stone from the case, and its beam pointed to a specific area the group needed to go.
Unfortunately, Hop Pop was standing in front of the beam, blocking her way.
"Hop Pop, move," commanded Polly.
"Oh! Hehe, sorry," he said, bending down on the snow and thus clearing the way of the beam.
Anne pointed in the direction where the beam was shining. "The second temple must be right through there," she said.
Frank dusted the snow off himself. "Then that's where we're going," he said, offering his hand to Anne. She smiled lovingly, grabbing it. Something that made Marcy beam.
The group walked through the snowy Arctic lands, following the green tracking beam.
"Man, I really hope this wouldn't be as intense as the last one," Anne said, dreading what they would find at the second temple.
After passing a cluster of trees, the group came across an archway featuring a blue stone. Frank noticed that the beam from the green stone was shining on the blue stone, indicating to him that this structure must be the entrance to the Second Temple.
As they stepped closer, a phrase appeared in blue in an ancient language.
"Marbles," Frank said.
"On it," Marcy said, slipping the green stone into her pocket. She pulled out her journal and turned to the page where she had written the old Amphibian language. "'Just beyond these snowy gates, a grueling, perilous temple awaits.'"
"Uuumm... no, it doesn't," said Polly, sitting on Sprig's head. The group looked past the archway, and saw that there was nothing but flat land of snow and whistling winds.
"Could it be invisible?" Sprig suggested, stretching out his hands to see if he could feel for the temple. Believing there was a wall in front of him, he leaned on it but fell face-first into the snow.
"Hmm... Weird," observed Marcy. "All the ancient texts about this temple were super vague. They just mentioned the word 'heart' a lot."
"OK. Are we looking for something heart-shaped," asked Hop Pop, making a heart with his hands.
"Maybe we have to rip someone's heart out!" Polly suggested a little too enthusiastically.
"No," Frank said, deadpanning.
Suddenly, just as he said that, a loud, squawking bird passed over the group. It flew low and snatched Frank's hat. The group screamed in fright and ducked to avoid being hit.
"The fuck!? My hat!" Frank yelled at the bird as it flew through the arch.
Getting a good look at it, Anne gasped when she saw that it was a fly-parrot. And she began to recognize it. "Hey, wait! I know that crazy bird!"
"And it's getting turned into dinner if it doesn't give me back that hat!" Frank yelled, running ahead to follow the bird. The other followed behind him.
They followed the bird as it crossed the arch. It wasn't long before they found out where it was going: a very familiar tent store to Frank and Anne. The fly-parrot dropped the hat on the ground before landing on the counter.
Frank ran over, swiped his hat off the ground, brushed it off, and placed it back on his head. "Asshole," he called the bird.
The others reunited with him at the stores. Looking at the sign, Sprig immediately remembered who owned this store.
"Valeriana? Anne, Frank, didn't we meet her in the Bizarre Bazaar," asked Sprig.
"Yeah!" Anne said.
"What is she doing here," Frank asked.
"Oh! And she said she's been all over Amphibia, right? Maybe she's seen the temple," Anne said, feeling happy at first, but then was annoyed to find a sign that said 'Out to Lunch'.
Frank asked with a glare, "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"I know right? Why is everyone always out to lunch?"
After she said that, she and the others notice a large shadow looming over them.
"That's weird," Marcy said as she cupped her chin to ponder. "It's too early for the Sun to go down."
A growl was heard from behind, causing them to stiffen in fear. They slowly lift their heads to see what was growling.
Standing over them was a hulking bipedal ape-like creature between seven and eight feet tall. It had fiery orange eyes, a grey and white body, long bangs on its arms, and huge canine teeth. The creature stared down at them, glaring at the intruders on its domain. The humans and frogs gawked with widened eyes, their jaws dropping in shock.
The creature raised its left arm to swipe at them.
"Guys, watch out!" Frank shouted, shaking off his shock as he pushed them aside and deployed his shield to absorb the blow.
Frank was then knocked into the air, falling back to the ground away from the tent. Despite the blanket of snow cushioning his landing, he groaned in pain as he lifted himself up to see the hulking ape charging at him. It roared and raised its massive fists to strike the boy, but he rolled out of the way just before it could smash him.
The ape was about to attack again, but two arrows hit it in the arm. One a bow's arrow and the other a crossbow's bolt.
"What is that thing?!" Anne loudly asked, notching another arrow.
"An ice ape!" Marcy said, pulling back the string of her arm crossbow. "They're known to live snowy areas like this!"
"You're bringing this up now?" Polly asked, waving her tiny arms. A loud bang was heard, causing them to look and see Frank trying to escape its large fists.
"Well, what do we do?!" Sprig asked. "Frank's gonna get crushed!"
Marcy's first instinct was to fire another bolt at the beast, but she knew it wouldn't do anything. "Come on, Marcy! Think! Think, think, think!" the clever girl said, smacking her forehead to spark an idea. She then glanced over at the tent and suddenly had a thought.
Frank jumped away from yet another smashing fist, his eyes widening at the sight of the ape about to crush him with its foot. He leapt to dodge the impending blow and then glared at it.
"Alright, screw this!" Frank grabbed the Hellcat's Claw from his strap and readied his shield, getting into his battle stance.
The massive ape swiped at the human boy with its sharp claws, but Frank blocked the attack with his shield. The ape attacked again, and again, the Latino boy countered with his scythe, slicing its finger.
The Ice Ape screamed in pain, becoming more enraged and attacking once more. Frank blocked another attack with his shield. However, his defense didn't last long, as the ape roared angrily again.
Just then, as it raised its fist in the air to bring down on him, it got caught by a lasso.
Confused and angry, the Ice Ape turned to see Marcy smirking as she pulled the rope, dragging the beast's arm along with it. It lifted its free arm to attack, but it became entangled by another lasso used by Anne. As the beast attempted to pull its arms back, Sprig went to help Anne, while Hop Pop assisted Marcy, pulling with all their combined strength to keep it restrained.
"It's all yours, Franky!" Marcy yelled at him, giving him the go-ahead to finish it.
Not wanting to miss his chance, Frank charged, holding the scythe with both hands. He let out a battle cry, jumped up, and spun around, slicing the ape's head off.
First, its snarling expression fell from its face. Then, its head tipped over and plopped to the ground. The body fell to its knees before leaning forward to land with a loud thud. After the fight, Frank, along with the girls and frogs who released the two ropes, let out a few heavy breaths.
"Wow, what a way to start a temple trip, am I right?" Marcy said with a grin, which caused Hop Pop to look at her like she was crazy.
"Frank!" Anne exclaims with concern as she rushes over to him to check on him. Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm all right, thanks to you guys." He then realizes something and asks, "Wait a second. Where did you get those lassos?"
"From the tent there," Marcy said, pointing at it. "Though I wonder why she even keeps them?"
"Because, you never know when you need them," said a voice from behind them. They all turned around in shock to see Valeriana appearing behind them from behind a tree, with a kabob in her hand.
"Valeriana," Frank said.
"It's been a while, creatures. I see that the scythe of kings is serving you well, boy," she said to Frank.
The Latino smiled and spun the handle of the Hellcat. "It's truly fit for a king. I certainly feel like one," he said.
"Indeed," Valeriana said before eating the meat on the stick. "So, what brings you here? Do you by chance…"
The salamander threw the stick in the air, where it transformed and revealed that it was her cane. She then pointed at Anne's face with it. "...seek a temple to charge an ancient stone?"
Anne, Frank, and Marcy shared a look at each other before the Thai girl pushed the cane away from her face. "Oh, yes! You know about the stones?"
"Indeed," Valeriana said, adjusting her cane to a normal position. "But do you truly believe you are worthy?"
Anne looked away with a nervous smile. "Well... Yeah!
"Totally!" said Marcy.
"Wouldn't be here if we weren't," said Frank.
But the salamander wasn't convicted. Valeriana looked at them hard and said, "We shall see."
The tension ended when Marcy extended a hand to the mystical amphibian. "Oh, I'm Marcy, bt-dubs."
"Uh…" Valeriana turned and shook her hand with her hand-tail. "Nice to meet you."
"And I'm Hop Pop," said Hop Pop
"Uh... hi."
Polly said, "Polly here."
"Sure."
Valeriana invited the cautious travelers into her tent store. It was dark inside, with only a fire burning in the chimney and dimly lit firefly lanterns providing light. The center of the store was a circular rug with a table. Scrolls were on the floor, and shelves were filled with them and books. There were many more magical items in the store, but as Frank, Anne, the Plantars, and Marcy gathered around the table, winter gear off.
"I am the last of an ancient order. Our purpose was to study sacred stones and temples," she told the group, placing a scroll down and opening it.
Marcy was immediately intrigued. "Ooh! So, you know where the temple is?"
"Indeed. And you possess the music box?"
"Sure do," said Anne, taking out the Calamity Box from her backpack and placing it on the table.
The moment Valeriana saw it, her eyes immediately lit up, and she seemed drawn to it. "After all these years... it has returned. I would very much like to hold it," she said, already raising her hand and tail to take it."
Frank and Anne saw the look in Valeriana's eyes and immediately became uneasy. "Yeah, no," Anne said, putting the box back into her backpack. "I'd rather Anne hold on to it."
"Suit yourself," said Valeriana. "I will say, however, that it's so fortunate that the music box fell into such hands. How exactly did it come into your possession?"
Anne and Marcy froze up and looked at each other. The smart girl quickly made a motion with her hand so as not to say anything. They then looked at Frank, who first looked at them curiously, before crossing his arms and looking at them in a mixture of disapproval and disappointment that they weren't going to admit they stole it from his grandmother's shop.
"That's a very good question," Frank said, narrowing his eyes. "How exactly did you get the box?"
She and Marcy became very uncomfortable and motioned for Frank to stop talking. Frank continued to glare at them, making them know they had better answer.
"Uh... Uh-uh…" Anne struggled to come up with an answer. "You know? I don't remember how we got it."
Frank continued to glare at them. "Uh huh."
"Well, in any case," said Valeriana, standing up and walking to a closet. From it, she took out warm clothes. "To get to the temple, we must climb the freezing cliffs of Mount Mutu. Leave your flimsy jackets and wear these caterpillar-wool coats instead."
Everyone began putting on their coats, but Frank said, "Wouldn't it be better just to wear what we already have?"
Valeriana's staff pointed at him, inches away from hitting him. "Since this temple is my responsibility, you all must do exactly as I say," she said, pulling her staff away and pointing at the others. "Or else you can say goodbye to ever finding it. Are we clear?"
Frank, Anne, Sprig, Polly and Marcy quickly put on their coats. , "Clear!"
Hop Pop was already wearing his coat when he said, "Clear and comfy."
"Good. Follow me," Valeriana said, leaving the store as the Plantars and Marcy followed her.
However, before Frank could go, Anne stopped him to talk to her in private.
"Something's not right about this lady," she said. "Didn't you see how she looked at the music box? Plus, she owns a parrot. Only bad guys own parrots."
"Anne, but we don't have a choice," Frank said, taking her hand. "I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. Now come on or they'll leave us behind!"
His words didn't help reassure her, but holding his hand calmed her. Knowing the boy she loved was going to be with her calmed Anne, even if she didn't trust Valeriana at all.
Frank grabbed the next ledge and pulled himself up, panting hard as hot air puffed out of his mouth. He fought back against both exhaustion and the elements. Minutes passed since they started the climb on Mount Mutu, and while Valeriana climbed up to a cliff and waited for them, the group struggled. The cold air brushed against his skin like razors, their muscles felt ready to tear, and their lungs burned.
"Hurry up, you three! I want to reach the temple in this century," Valeriana called, rolling her eyes. "How could such lazy adventurers ever expect to conquer the temple?"
This enraged Anne, who glared up at the old salamander. It had been like this from the bottom until now. The mocking was getting on her nerves, and the urge to tell her off was strong. But she stopped herself, knowing that Valeriana could turn around and walk away if she did.
Anne groaned and pulled Frank up to the ledge with her. "Don't listen to her, guys. We're almost there," she said.
She might think that, but Valeriana wasn't going to let that be so easy. She inconspicuously started whistling, allowing the wind to carry it far. From her ledge, the salamander watched as her wishing attracted a large red-feathered passerine bird with four eyes.
It hovered above Frank, Anne, Marcy, and the Plantars, shrieking down at them and causing everyone but Marcy to scream.
"Get away! Get away!" Polly screamed.
Marcy walked in front of them and approached the bird as it landed. "Oh, relax, everyone. It's just a cardinal. They don't eat frogs. She's just saying 'hello'!" she said…
…before the cardinal suddenly leaned down and picked up Marcy in its beak.
"Wahh!"
"Marcy!" Frank and Anne screamed, jumping into action to save their friend.
Frank hit the bird in the back with his scythe. He didn't break it, but it was enough to make the bird let go of his best friend. Anne caught Marcy as she fell. The cardinal shifted its focus to the Plantars, with Hop Pop clinging to the snowy ledge.
"Oh no!" Frank yelled, ready to cut the bird down before it took off and flew toward the frogs. "You said it doesn't eat frogs!"
"I-I was sure that—" Marcy paused when she finally made a realization. "Wait! Cardinals eat caterpillars. It wants our coats!"
Sprig and Polly tried to pull Hop Pop up, but narrowly avoided the cardinal's beak. "No! We need these coats to stay warm."
"And look good!" Polly added.
"Marcy! What do we do?!" Anne asked frantically.
The smart girl rattled her brain, trying to devise a plan. "Let me think! Let me think!"
"There's no time!" Frank yelled, dropping his scythe and immediately taking off his coat. "Hey, ugly!"
The bird looked at him, and Frank threw the coat down the mountain. Sensing the scent of the caterpillar, the cardinal soared down after it.
"Now let's get outta here!" Frank yelled, frantically climbing up to a safe floor on the mountain with Anne, Marcy, and the Plantars following him.
Now to safety, Frank looked back at his sacrificed caterpillar coat. Watching as his fur coat was ripped in the beak of the cardinal as it flew away. The sight of it made the terrible shivering he was experiencing even worse.
"Damn it! I knew I should've brought my jacket," he said.
Anne looked at her boyfriend with empathy. He had given up his warmth to save them. Not one to allow her boyfriend to get cold, the girl took off her coat and placed it over his shoulders. The moment he felt the coat heating his body, Frank saw the coat on him and looked at Anne, who was now shivering.
"Anne, don't—"
"It's okay, Frank. You need it more than I do," Anne said, crossing her arms. Just like her boyfriend, she was trembling. But it was worth it. "Plus, without their coats, the Plantars will turn to ice. I'll be okay; we'll reach the temple soon."
"It will not be soon!" Valeriana shouted, starting the group. She walked up and pointed a judgemental finger at Anne. "You think it wise, to give up a coat for someone who made a foolish mistake? Such unworthy choice."
The furious salamander turned and went on ahead of them. Her words cutting deep into her as Anne doubted herself. That feeling, and the feeling of being frozen to death, were replaced by something on her shoulder. She looked up and found Frank. Smiling, he'd wrapped his arm around her, allowing the two of them to share the coat. She smiled back and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I love you, Frank," she said, wrapping her arm around him.
"I love you too, honeybun," Frank said. They moved forward with the rest of the gang away from the mountain and followed Valeriana through the snow-covered lands.
Suddenly, as they made their way towards a forest, the earth started rumbling.
"Huh... What was that," asked Polly.
Valeriana waved her tail hand dismissively. "Nothing much. Just an avalanche."
"WHAT?" The humans and frogs yelled.
"Everybody run!" Sprig yelled, running before Valeriana appeared in front of him and clamped his lips shut.
"Shush, you loud little frog baby!"
But it was too late. They all looked back at Mount Mutu and saw the side of its peak coming down, creating an avalanche that built up more snow and speed as it came down the slope.
"Whew. Looks like it's heading away from us," said the salamander.
"Then let's get out of here," Frank said, turning his body to get a move on. However, Anne pulled him back.
"Wait a second. Look!" she yelled, pointing down to a little igloo with the lights on and a smoke coming out of the chimney.
And it was right in the path of the avalanche.
"What about that little hut? It looks like someone inside," Anne said, her gut telling her the residents don't know about the oncoming disaster. "We have to save them!"
"How? By running towards an avalanche," Valeriana asked, appalling the group, which looked at her in a mixture of shock and anger. They are lost, child. I say we press on."
"Nuts to that!" Anne snapped, throwing off Frank's arm and jacket.
"Anne!" Frank yelled when Anne bolted for the igloo as fast as she could. Ignoring the cold air and the incoming avalanche. All that mattered was saving those amphibians.
Grabbing the top of the doorway, she kicked the door open and swung into the igloo. "Hey! You guys gotta get outta—Huh?"
No one was in the hut. The fire was going, but there was an "Out for Lunch" sign on the table.
"How is everyone out to lunch right now?!" She yelled.
"Anne, get out of there!" Frank yelled from outside before the rumbling became stronger.
Knowing she had to escape, Anne dashed out of the igloo and hurried back to the ledge where the others stood. Everyone, except Valeriana, shouted for her to run faster and make it. Despite her exhaustion, Anne pushed her legs harder than ever as the igloo crumbled. She leaped high and grabbed the edge of the ledge, narrowly evading the avalanche.
Frank pulled her up from the ledge, helping her to her feet, and asked with concern, "Mi amor, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks, babe," Anne said with a reassuring smile as she caught her breath. Let's just hurry to the temple."
They would have, if Valeriana hadn't stepped towards them and dashed their hopes away.
"Oh, that won't be happening," she said to them.
Silence befell on them, before Frank asked suspiciously, "Why the hell not?"
"Because, I've learned everything I need to know about you all," she said, counting off all of Anne's flaws. "Disobedient, foolish, impulsive—none of these qualities are worthy of a sacred stone. You don't deserve my help. Good luck finding the temple on your own."
The salamander turned and began walking away. This greatly shocked the group, especially Anne. After what she had just barely endured and Frank sacrificing his warmth, it was unthinkable that Valeriana would stop helping them just because she didn't like her. For four and a half months, she had been forced to survive in this hostile world. They finally had the answer to go home. They had the first piece of the puzzle, and now, just as they were so close to being halfway home, this judgmental salamander was really going to leave them in the snow.
This was unfair. None of this was fair to the Plantars, Marcy, Fank, or herself. Anne shook with anger and frustration. If Valeriana were no longer going to help them, she wouldn't stay quiet this time.
"You're full of such FROG SHIT!" Anne shouted
Her friends gasped at that, and Valeriana stopped. She turned to look over her shoulder with a silent glare.
"Yeah, you heard me, you snob! You barely even gave us a chance! Not only that, you're just going to leave us stranded out here?! Well, we may be unworthy, but you and your order are even worse! You're nothing but cruel, judgmental BITCH!" The last word echoed across the land.
After a moment of silence, the one-armed salamander dashed at Anne, placed her staff on her chest, and said, "Brat! You dare insult the order I dedicated my life to?!"
"Oh, I insult more than your order," Anne snapped, slapping the staff away from her. "Life may mean so little to you, but it doesn't to me! I would rather die and never go home than not help a person in trouble. Something that you would never understand."
"Be silent, child!"
"Yeah, what are you gonna do about it?!" Anne pointed at Valeriana, who suddenly wrapped her gloved tail around Anne's arm, surprising the Thai girl. "Eh?"
Then, with a wave of Valeriana staff, the two become magical entities before vanishing into thin air, making Anne let out a yell of surprise. Leaving the rest of the group in shock, with Frank looking like he just witnessed the murder of a loved one.
"Did... you guys see that?" Sprig asked
"ANNE...!" Frank screamed.
When she opened her eyes, Anne saw the stars. The galaxy was all around her, with the northern lights dancing overhead. Looking down at the ground, Anne saw that she was standing on top of a very large stone podium tall enough to pass the clouds.
She would have been amazed by it all if Valeriana wasn't standing a few feet away from her.
"Where are we?" asked Anne, glaring at the salamander. "What did you do? Just show me and my friends where the temple is already."
"Never! You are not worthy. In fact, none are worthy!" Valeriana yelled, holding her staff over her head with her hand and tail. She placed it back down and continued, "And now that I finally have you alone, I can return the box to its rightful guardian... ME!"
"Huh?" Anne asked, confused. Suddenly, she heard a squawking coming from behind. She looked back and gasped seeing the Valeriana's parrot emerging from her backpack. "Hey, wait! No!"
But she was too late. The parrot flew out of Anne's reach before she could catch it. She watched in dread as it flew to its owner and dropped it in front of her master.
"No! I need that to get home!" Anne yeld.
"Aha! See? Still only thinking of yourself!" yelled Valeriana as she used her staff to recover the box.
Anne, however, pulled out her bow and quickly notched an arrow. She drew back on the string and fired, causing Valeriana to jump back and drop the box.
Running over, Anne picked up the box. "You're wrong! I'm not... that selfish!"
"Oh no? Didn't that bow of yours come from convincing your beloved and friends to do hardcore camping? Which almost got them killed by the man bats and the mega spider?" accused Valeriana as she started swinging at Anne with her staff, making the girl dodge her.
"How—How do you know that?" Anne asked, before ducking under another swing. "Whoa!"
"Didn't you refuse to help Frank after you two fought? Was it all because you were too lazy to help him carry the elephant beetle meat home, which led to him getting attacked by ants?"
"Okay," Anne said after dodging another swing at her head. "This is getting weird. What else do you know?"
"I know that you fart. Loudly!"
"Could've kept that one to yourself," mumbled Anne.
Using her staff, Valeriana quickly tripped Anne's foot and caused her to fall to the ground. Sending the box flying out of her hand before the salamander caught it with her tail.
"Didn't you bring home a kill-a-pillar into the Plantar's home? Putting all of them in danger!" Anne fired an arrow at her, but Valeriana dodged it and then asked, "Didn't you force Frank to reveal his past to you?"
Anne fired another arrow, with Valeriana using her staff to swat it away. "You keep his name out of your filthy mouth," she growled, notching another arrow and pulling it back on the string.
"Why," asked Valeriana. "Why do you believe that you're worthy of him? Of his love? When you've broken his heart in the past."
That comment upset Anne, causing her to falter in her resolve. "No…I…I…"
"Didn't you lie to your parents over and over again, skipping school, making them feel like they were failures?"
"No! They're not!" Anne yelled, but hearing that made her rethink everything she had done for her parents and realize how much grief she'd caused them. "They're great parents. I just…I wasn't…"
"You weren't what? A liar? A breaker of oaths and friendship?" Valeriana asked harshly. "How can you say anything good about yourself after stealing the music box from your beloved's grandmother? Did you not?"
Anne lowered her head in that moment, thinking about everything Valeriana had just accused her of. It was true. It was all true. She was a heartbreaker, constantly lying to her parents and teachers to avoid trouble. She had deceived her friends and Frank so many times. Had Anne been the way she used to be, she would have brushed it off, but now, looking back at the person she was, Anne can't say she is proud. She hated the kind of person she had become. If Frank hadn't been there to set her on the right path, she wasn't sure what type of person she'd be now.
"I... I... I did steal it," she finally admitted. "I did all those things."
"So it is! You are a liar and a thief!" Valeriana yelled, pointing her staff at Anne. "And now, the box will be mine!" The salamander rushed at the girl.
Anne saw her coming and instinctively moved out of the way. At the same time, Valeriana swung her staff at her, but missed when Anne got out of the way. And the human was right in front of the pillar's edge. Seeing she was going over the edge, Valeriana dropped her staff before she passed over and started falling. Her hand quickly grabbed the edge.
Dropping the bow, Anne grabbed her magic staff and walked over to Valeriana. Looking down at the old woman as she laughed up at her. Cackling as if she knew what Anne was going to do.
"Why are you laughing," Anne asked, glaring at her.
"Because you're a stupid girl! You can't get back down the mountain without me," she said, still laughing. "You have to save me."
"Don't I just wave the stick up and down to get back?"
Valeriana's good eye widened at her miscalculation. "You weren't supposed to figure that out!"
The piece of edge she was holding onto cracked, and Anne gasped as it broke off, sending the salamander woman screaming and plummeting to her death. In that moment, Valeriana knew she was going to die. At least, she would have, if Anne hadn't reacted quickly. Dropping down and hanging off the edge herself, Anne reached her staff down and used its hooked end to grab the hood of Valeriana's cloak, much to her enemy's shock.
Grunting, Anne moved her knees under Valeriana and pushed her off the ground. Then, moving to her feet, Anne stood up. She pulled Valeriana's full weight back up and onto the pillar, lying on her back before falling back and panting.
Seeing that she was safe, and it was all thanks to the Thai girl, Valeriana looked at her with shock. "You risked your life to save me," she asked, still not able to believe it. "But why?"
Slowly, Anne got up and dropped the staff. "You were right. I am a liar and a thief. If that makes me unworthy, fine. I've made a lot of mistakes in the past. I've lied to get out of work or prove something, lied to avoid getting in trouble with Mom and Dad, I did steal the music box, and I…" Anne hesitated, looking at the stars as tears formed in her eyes. The thought of how she'd hurt the boy she loved so much pained her greatly.
"...I did abandon Frank," she said with heavy regret. "Those bad choices were mine and I'll own them. But there's still one oath I didn't break. I made a promise to Frank before we fell in love: to prove to him that I'm worthy of being his friend again. I'm not worthy of Frank. But he's my inspiration to be a better person, and even if it hurts remembering my mistakes, I wouldn't have been able to keep my promise without them."
As Anne finished, silence enveloped the pillar. Realizing it was over and that she wouldn't be able to charge the stone, she walked over to her bow and picked it up.
"Alright, you've proved your point. Go ahead and send me back," Anne said, turning back to Valeriana.
But instead of judging her, Valeriana smiled kindly at her. "We have been waiting for someone like you for such a long time," she said, puzzling Anne.
"Um... excuse me?"
Valeriana gestured with her hand, raising her index and middle fingers. She magically lifted her staff off the ground and pulled the box from Anne's hand. As they returned to her, the salamander was shrouded in smoke. When the smoke cleared, her attire transformed: her cloak and armbands turned white, while yellow markings emerged on her left armband, her hoodie, and at the hem of her dress. The hourglass emblem on her pendant also changed to blue.
"Whoa, mama. You clean up nice," Anne exclaimed.
"Indeed she does," said a familiar voice. Turning around, she saw Teshin walking towards them.
"You?"
"Hello, star-child," said the salamander as he approached Valeriana. "I see my partner finally understands what I did."
"Did you just come to say 'I told you so'," asked Valeriana.
"But I did."
Anne glanced between the two of them, as she finally understood. "Wait…you're part of the same order," she asked.
Teshin looked at her critically. "I've been watching you and your friends for a while now, wanting to see if you were ready for the trials that await you here," he said.
"Here?"
"You have sacrificed your warmth for your beloved," began Valeriana, walking towards Anne. "You have sacrificed your safety for a stranger in need. You even risked your life for an enemy. But empathy alone isn't enough. For what is a heart without…responsibility?"
Valeriana slammed the butt of her staff into a small hole in the center of the pillar. Making all the markings etched into the stone platform glow blue.
"In the name of the temple, I declare you worthy."
"Wait! No way!" Anne said, waving her hands. "So the cardinal, the avalanche…All this was—"
"A trial," said Valeriana as her parrot returned to perch itself on her shoulder. "You see, we've been making our way through the 'temple' this whole time. And I have been testing you."
"But…I thought…."
"Not all temples are as they seem, and each one is meant to test all four of you," Teshin told Anne, gaining her attention. "A test of your brain, a test of your compassion, a test of your body, and a test of your will. Mind, heart, strength, and courage. Marcy's trial tested her mind. You tested here was of your heart."
As Anne took in what he'd said, the more she came to a realization. There were four temples for all four of them. Marcy and she finished their trials. That means that up next would be Frank's trial and…
"Sasha," Anne said in a voice that spoke of hope and dread.
"You'll need her to complete the next temple," said Teshin, nodding to the girl.
Anne didn't truly know how to feel about that. On the one hand, it meant finding Sasha after two months apart. Reuniting with all her friends and getting out of Amphibia together. But at the same time, it meant having to confront her best friend about what she did not only to her and Marcy but also to Frank. How was she going to get them to work together after Sasha ruined Frank's life?
A throat clearing snapped Anne out of her thoughts, and she looked at Valeriana. "Worry about that later. For now, Anne, what is it you want?"
"Oh, right. To charge the stone and return home!" Anne declared.
"So be it!"
And so it was. Valeriana pulled the gray stone out of the box and placed it in the space between her hooked cane. As it floated freely, a bright flash of blue light consumed it. Anne shielded her eyes, closing one of them when this happened. However, the eye that remained open glowed blue.
Just like with Marcy, the blue glow began to draw from her eye. But not completely.
As it stood, sticking out of the hole it had been inserted into, the cane lit up with the same markings as the floor. Then, the stone started to charge.
And it charged slowly.
"Huh, it's a lot slower than last time," she said.
"Sorry. This thing's pretty old."
"I told you to upgrade," Teshin said.
"I know, I know, I've been meaning to. This might take a little bit, Anne."
"No, no, no. I get it. No problem," said Anne, waving her hands.
"Do you want, uh, something to read or…"
"Seriously, it's fine."
Suddenly, no sooner had she said that, Anne was startled by the sound of the Plantars screaming from back at the bottom.
"Oh, no!" Anne said, looking down off the pillar. "They're in trouble. What if it's another avalanche?"
She looked back at the gem floating in the hook of the cane, and saw that it was still charging. But it was now over half-way down.
"Uh, that looks charged enough. Let's go!" Anne said, grabbing the gem and slamming it back into the box. Throwing it into her backpack, she placed it on, and frantically ran in place. "Send me back! Send me back! Send me back! Send me back!"
Valeriana nodded and waved her staff, making her disappear.
"Send me back! Oh!" Anne landed face-first in the snow when she reappeared on the side of the mountain. Picking herself back up, she heard the screams again.
"Hang on, guys!" yelled Anne as she charged through the trees toward the sounds of the screams. I got you! Huh?" When she emerged into the clearing, though, what she saw left her confused yet relieved. Her friends were fine and unharmed, and they gathered around Marcy's phone as she held it for them.
"Anne!" Polly greeted the girl. "Marcy is showing us ridiculously cute animal videos on her phone."
"We looked for you, but now we're taking a break," Sprig added.
"Glad to see you're okay," Marcy said.
"Uh, yeah." Anne looked around and realized that someone from their group was missing. "Wait, where's Frank?" She asked with concern.
That seemed to summon her boyfriend, who came marching back over with an angry expression. "Are you guys seriously still looking at cat videos?!" Frank said, not yet noticing Anne. "I told you, we can't stop until we find Anne! I swear to Frog, if that armless bitch touches even one strand of my girl's beautiful bushy hair, I'm gonna rip her other arm off and beat her to death with it!"
"Whoa there, babe," Anne said to calm him down. "Don't you think that's a bit extreme?"
"Of course not, Anne! Not when it comes to your safety—" Frank stopped and his eyes widened. He turned his head to her, and looked at Anne in shock.
"Hey, dude."
"ANNE!" Frank yelled with a big smile after finally realizing her presence. Giving her a big hug and said, "Oh, thank you, Frog. You're okay."
He then let her go and yelled, "WHERE WERE YOU?! Do you have any idea how much you scared me?!"
Frank hugged her again. "Oh, I'm so happy to see you again," he said, then yelled, "Don't ever scare me like that again!" He reverted to hugging and kissing her face. "I love you much."
After he stopped kissing her, Anne hugged him back, feeling the warmth from not only the coat but also his love. She kissed him on the lips, calming him down. Pulling away, she said, "I'm here, I'm here. Take a deep breath in."
The boy pulled away and inhaled as much cold air as possible. Then Anne held up her finger to him.
"Now blow out the candle," said Anne, smiling as her boyfriend blew on her finger. "Better?"
"Yeah," Frank said, calmed down. "But seriously, what happened to you and Valeriana? She didn't hurt you, did she?"
"No, I'm fine; in fact, I'm better than fine, because..." She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out the box containing the charged blue stone. "Wha-pow!"
The group cheered and clapped at Anne's success. Frank himself was curious. "But how?"
"I'll explain later. But for now, can we please get out of this cold," asked Anne, shivering. That was until Frank came over and wrapped himself and Anne in the fur coat.
"Better," he asked.
"Ahhh, yeah," Anne said, feeling he warmth of her boyfriend and the coat.
"Maybe Frobo can make us hot chocolate when we get back," Hop Pop suggested as Joe Sparrow landed on the ground and everyone got aboard. The giant bird then took off and started flying back to Wartwood.
"Well, don't keep us in the dark, Anne," Polly said. "Let's hear what happened."
Anne shared what happened to her when Valeriana took her to the pillar. The fight they had and all the flaws the salamander pointed out, with Sprig and Polyl pointing out some more before Frank shushed them. Then Anne told them how she was able to win the test and how Teshin appeared. Explaining how each of the temples was meant to test all four of them based on mind, heart, strength, and courage. How Marcy's temple was the mind temple, and how this temple was the heart temple.
Frank then said with a slight chuckle. "You know Anne, I just realized something."
"What?" Anne asked, curious about his thoughts.
"The temple was all about heart, and you did everything connected to it. From giving me your coat to saving Valeriana, it all led up to you charging the stone. I should've figured it out much sooner, but who better than you to accomplish all that—the girl with the biggest heart I know and love."
Anne looked at him for a moment before she spoke again, her smile growing. "Oh... come here, you!" She pulled him in to kiss his cheek and then rubbed it with her own, making him chuckle even more.
"Ugh! Marcy, can you get Joe to go faster so these two can find a room?" Polly complained, prompting a good old-fashioned group laugh.
However, when no one was looking, Marcy turned away and pulled out her journal, turning it to a specific page that contained a secret she hadn't even told Anne.
It contained her thoughts and hopes about Sasha and a photo booth strip. Marcy smiled lovingly as she looked at it. The strip also included the usual four small photos taken on a special day when Anne wasn't with them.
The first one was of them side hugging and looking at the camera with bright smiles and peace signs. The second was of them posing as the Thinker. The thirst was of them making silly faces.
And the final photo was of them lovingly kissing each other. Their first kiss as girlfriends.
According to Anne, each of the four humans was necessary to complete the temples. Each would be tested by one temple, and two had already passed their tests. This means that if Marcy's prediction is correct, Sasha's temple will be next. Therefore, they would finally need to find her blonde girlfriend, whom the smart girl had been trying to find for a long time (when she wasn't swept up in the fantasy adventure).
"We're going to find you, Sashy," she said in a whisper, and closed the journal.