"BARREL'S WARHAMMER!?" exclaimed Grime, looking at his brother like he was Insane.
Sasha, however...was just puzzled. "Whose Barrel?"
Grime sighed. "well...According to legend, Barrel was a mighty Toad Warrior
who lived over a century ago, and died defending a village from a horrible beast."
Grunge's eyes glowed red as he approached his brother, and Sasha.
"Yesss. and, his signature weapon was a great Warhammer forged of metal from another world."
Grime crossed his arms. "IF the hammer even exists."
Grunge eyed his older brother. "TRUST ME, brother: The hammer is as real as the Calamity Box.
And if you can present it to the Toad Lords, they will HAVE to follow your lead."
Grime looked at Grunge...and then exhaled deeply.
"very well..." spoke Grime. "if you say that the hammer exists, then I will claim it."
Grunge grinned, and then snapped his fingers.
In a puff of darkly colored smoke, the horned toad, Moss appeared.
"You summoned me, Master Grunge?"
"Yes. My brother has agreed to go on an expedition for Barrel's Warhammer." spoke Grunge.
"Provide Captain Grime with all the weapons and armor that he needs for his quest."
"As you command, milord." spoke Moss, who walked away...and then Disappeared.
Grime raised a brow. "Weapons?, Armor?, since when do you have such things!?"
Grunge grinned. "ALL Toads are born warriors, even ME. The only difference is that I specialize in *Enchanted* equipment."
"and, what about ME!?" spoke Sasha. "Don't I get new weapons!?"
Grunge glanced over at Sasha. "I already gave you one, Child...and it is ALL that you need."
Sasha stared at the gem encrusted ring that Grunge had recently given her.
The ring that (according to the Toad Wizard) would allow her to control her Calamity powers more easily.
"Here is a tip: Magic can be channeled into any object to make it stronger." began Grunge.
"So, if you use that ring properly...you can Enchant the weapons and armor that you already have."
Sasha breathed out sharply. "okay...that sounds reasonable."
"Excellent." spoke Grunge, as he departed. "Now...will there be anything else?"
"Just one more thing to discuss..." spoke Grime. "That SECOND Calamity Storm. the one that happened earlier today."
Grunge looked at Grime. "Yes...That was quite peculiar."
"How is it even possible for such a thing to transpire if Sasha, and her friends
are the current Bearers of the Calamity Gems' power?" inquired Grim.
Grunge stroked his massive chin. "I have a theory, or two...but Nothing that I am certain of.
Regardless, I will look into this strange phenomenon while you are on your quest."
Grime grumbled in his throat. "very well...you do your task, and we will do ours."
"SPLENDID..." said Grunge, with a grin. "now, go down to the Armory.
I am certain that Moss will have all the equipment that you need Ready by now."
Grime did a Toad Salute to his brother (as did Sasha)
and as the two left the room, Grunge's eyes glowed bright red as he grinned.
The Toad Wizard then turned back his work table and approached his crystal ball.
Waving his hands billowing with dark energy, the crystal ball began to glow.
"show me...THE BOY." spoke Grunge.
The Crystal Ball flashed...and, then an image appeared within the orb.
Grunge smiled as he set his eyes on an auburn haired teenage with eyes that were Gold and Blue.
"Yessss...Excellent."
It was Nightfall at the Plantar Homestead in Wartwood Village.
Inside the house, Anne and Olivier sat at the dinner table with the Plantar family.
The elderly Hop Pop was serving them dinner from 'The Old Plantar Recipe',
and while Sprig, Polly (and, surprisingly Olivier) were having an easy time eating...
...Anne was struggling just a tad.
"Aren't you hungry, Anne?" spoke Sprig. "You haven't touched your food."
Anne was currently busy trying to smack a beetle with her spoon. "because the little bugger won't HOLD STILL!" said Anne.
Olivier took a clean fork, and slammed it down upon the wooden table. Skewering the Beetle.
"There you go, Anne." said Olivier, handing Anne the forked Beetle. "Enjoy."
Anne grimaced, and shuddered. "I'll try to."
"Eat the head first." spoke Olivier, again. "That's the most healthy part."
Olivier then used his own fork, and picked up a still living Millipede.
The bug wriggled around a bit before Olivier opened his mouth wide, and ate it.
Anne grimaced even harder at this. "How can you EAT that without gagging!?"
Olivier shrugged. "It's not that bad...Pretty tame compared to my mom's cooking.
Have you ever tried Boiled Squid?, It's delicious once the squid stops moving."
Anne was at a loss for words...Polly wasn't.
"Awesome.." said Polly.
"WELL..." spoke Hop Pop. "since you like mah' cooking so good, I'll get'ya a second helpin!"
As Hop Pop got up, and walked off. Anne leaned closer to Olivier.
*I will pay you TEN COPPERS to finish the rest of my plate for me.* whispered Anne.
[Later That Night]
In the Plantar's basement, Anne was in her Pajamas on her floor mattress.
She was reading from her Teen Magazine (for lord knows how many times by now...)
...When the door on the left then opened suddenly.
"...why can't I just sleep on the couch!?" spoked Olivier's voice.
"Because I have some late night housework ta' do, An' I can't do any of it with a kid in mah' way!" Argued Hop Pop.
Anne watched as the orange frog tossed another Mattress down into the basement.
"HOP POP!?" exclaimed Anne, bewildered.
"Oh...Hey, Anne! Sorry, but ya' hafta share yer' room with Oliver for the night." said Hop Pop.
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Anne, blushing redder than Amphibia's moon.
"Let me state for the record: I am not a fan of this, either!" spoke Olivier.
"It's JUST fer' the night, you two." continued Hop Pop.
"This won't be like the time that Anne and Sprig had to share a room."
Olivier eyed the frog. "Do I even want to know?"
"Best ya' don't...Now, give ma a second while I rustle up some Blankets and Pillows for ya."
As Hop Pop left, Anne and Olivier stared at each other for an awkward amount of time.
Both blushing, Olivier tried to distract himself by climbing up a ladder and looking out the window.
and, of course, what had started as a mild rain shower had NOW become a brutal storm.
Rain was coming down hard outside with strong winds blowing it everywhere.
...So, NOT a good time for Olivier to go find his own shelter.
"never have I been so glad that rain doesn't boil in this world." spoke Olivier.
Olivier then extended his finger, and made his fingertip glow bright yellow.
Anne watched as Olivier drew his glowing finger along the edges of the window.
Once he finished, the window flashed and projected a different environment from the glass.
Curious, Anne got up and approached Olivier to look at the window. "What's that?" asked Anne.
"An Illusion spell." answered Olivier. "I want this place to feel a little like home,
So I enchanted this window to project an image of the view I remember from my own home."
Anne looked into the enchanted window, and instead of seeing the marshland of Wartwood.
She instead saw a woodland forest with an ethereal night sky that looked like something out of a Dream.
"Your world looks so beautiful." spoke Anne.
Olivier nodded. "It can be at times...But, it isn't without it's dangers.
It took a long time before mom let me leave the Owl House, and explore the Boiling Isles on my own."
Anne looked at Olivier. "Owl House?"
"That's what she calls our home." said Olivier, as he and Anne dropped down.
"Strange name for a house." said Anne.
Olivier frowned. "she has a good reason for it."
Anne noted the change in Olivier's mood. "Oliver?...is something wrong?"
"It's my mom..." spoke Olivier. "I'm worried about her."
Anne nodded. "yeah, I miss my mom too. Don't know how she is running our family restaurant without me."
"It's different with me. My mother, she's...she is Unwell." continued Olivier.
Anne widened her eyes at this. "oh...I see. How bad is it?"
"She needs to take special Elixirs that she can only get at the Night Market." continued Olivier.
"If she doesn't...she transforms into a savage beast. She's been this since she was a child."
Anne was at a loss for words.
"I promised myself that I would find a cure...that I would Undo her curse somehow." continued Olivier.
"THAT is how I ended up in this place to begin with. I thought that Music Box would help me,
Instead it just stranded me here in another realm, with no way to get back to my mother who needs me."
Anne looked down, feeling a little guilty now.
Olivier apparently ended up in Amphibia while trying to help his mother.
while SHE ended up here doing a stupid stunt while AVOIDING her own parents.
Anne frowned, feeling worst than pond scum. "I'm sorry, Olivier."
Olivier looked at Anne. "It's okay...It's my own fault anyway.
I never should've trusted that merchant. "Nothing is FREE", my mother would say (weak chuckle.)"
"Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Anne.
"We just need to stick to the plan." said Olivier. "Then, we can ALL go to the Boiling Isles so *I* can get home,
and mom will use her Portal Door to then send you and your friends back home to the Human Realm."
Anne smiled. "I hope this all works out for us."
Olivier nodded. "me, too."
Just then, Hop Hop returned...carrying a LOAD of stuff.
"OKAY, I got some Spare Blankets, Pillows..." began Hop Pop,
as he tossed the items down onto the floor. "And Oliver's bag of stuff, too."
With that, an old looking satchel dropped down with a THUD.
"Al'ight, Kids! Sleep tight!, don't let the Bed Bugs bite...and, NO MATING DANCES!"
Hop Pop closed the door, leaving Anne and Olivier in awkward silence.
...Then, the door opened again. "seriously, watch out for those be bugs. they'll eat you alive."
When Hop Pop finally left, Olivier sighed as he began to pick up the items on the floor.
"Want me to help?" asked Anne, who picked up a blanket.
"I would appreciate it." said Olivier, who picked up his satchel.
Anne quickly scooped up the pillows, and sprinted to Olivier's mattress.
After moving the Mattress in a proper place, she began to fix up the bed so it was comfortable.
Olivier place his satchel on the bedding once Anne finished with the blanket,
and proceeded to open it up, and reach his arm down inside.
After Anne finished fluffing a pillow, she glanced over as Olivier pulled out some items.
a few were some old looking books (One looked like a Journal with the number *2*
painted on a six fingered hand symbol upon the cover)
As well as some other random items. Some looked strange, while others Anne recognized.
"Cool!, you have a Phone, too!?" spoke Anne.
Olivier looked at the device that Anne was pointing to. "Is that what this is?
Mom salvaged it one day, and gave it to me when she couldn't get it to work...I couldn't, either."
"Must be out of juice." mused Anne.
"Juice?"
"Power!, you now...Electricity." explained Anne.
"oh."
Anne reached into her skirt pocket. "I have one right here...SEE!?"
Olivier looked at the strange looking device in Anne's hand. "yeah..."
"I know a place where we can charge yours up." said Anne. "I'll take you there Tomorrow."
"Um...Thanks?"
Anne looked at the rest of Olivier's stuff. "What's that thing?"
"a Penstagram Tablet. All young Witches have them in Bonesborough have them." explained Olivier.
"Is it anything like Instagram?" asked Anne.
Olivier stared at Anne. "I...don't know what that is.
Anyway, it doesn't work right now since I'm not in the Demon Realm anymore."
"I hear you." spoke Anne. "I have no more service on my phone, either.
Just stuff that I already downloaded onto my phone's Micro SD Card."
Olivier stared blankly. *must be painful to make so little sense all the time.* muttered Olivier.
Anne then took something else from her pocket. "Wanna listen to some music?
I have a song that's really good! We can listen together with my ear buds."
Olivier looked alarmed. "Uh, n-no...that's okay."
"But, you'll LOVE IT!" continued Anne. "Here, let me show how to put the buds on!"
As Anne tried to reach for Olivier's ear, Olivier tried to push her back. "Anne, NO. I don't want to-!"
"Don't be such a baby!, This will only ta-OHMYGOSH!"
Anne dropped her ear buds, and stepped back in shock. "oh-Oliver...your-Your ears."
Olivier looked away, feeling embarrassed.
Anne then took a closer look, parting Olivier's hair that concealed his ears.
...only, he had no visible ears to be seen.
His inner ears were intact, but his outer ears were gone. with just long, jagged scars present where they SHOULD be.
Anne looked at Olivier. "what...what happened to you?"
Olivier didn't look at Anne. "i don't want to talk about it."
"Did someone do that to-"
"I SAID: I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!"snapped Olivier, a tear present in his eyes.
Anne stepped back, startled at Olivier's sudden rage...which Olivier instantly regretted.
"i'm sorry...I didn't mean to yell at you." said Olivier, calmer now.
"it's okay..." said Anne, still shaken. "I'm sorry for prying."
"n-no, I'm sorry. I should've have snapped at you like that." said Olivier.
"I realize you have many questions for me. but I can't answer ALL of them...not yet."
Anne nodded. "okay...Sure, I get it. Sorry."
Olivier looked down at the dropped ear buds on the floor.
He reached down, picked them up and then looked at Anne.
With a soft breath, he placed one of the buds into his ear hole.
He then offered Anne the other one, which she took and placed in her own ear.
The two then sat down on the bed, and Anne proceeded to connect the ear buds to her phone.
After a brief moment, Anne selected a song from her library and pressed PLAY.
The two then sat in silence as a song played in both their ears.
*You would not believe your eyes, If ten million fireflies, Lit up the world as I fell asleep.
Cause they'd fill the open air, And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude, But I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly.
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep...
Cause everything is never as it seems
Cause I'd get a thousand hugs, From ten thousand lightning bugs, As they tried to teach me how to dance.
A foxtrot above my head, A sock hop beneath my bed A disco ball is just hanging by a thread...
(Thread, thread...)
I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly.
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep)*
Olivier's eyes became heavy as he listened to the song.
It wasn't long before he eventually drifted off to sleep, still sitting in place.
and, interestingly enough...So did Anne. who ended up leaning against him,
both sleeping soundly as the music continued to play unheard in their ears.
*Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here)
Cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep? (Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep (Ha-ha)
I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
...Because my dreams are bursting at the seams.*
[End of Part Five]