After traveling for weeks, we were almost to Newtopia, although, Anne and I were excited, we were also pretty bummed. "Newtopia, I can't believe it!" Sprig exclaimed. "It's been a long journey, but we're finally almost there!" I put my arm around Anne, who was frowning at the Polaroid photo of her, Sasha, and Marcy. "Guys, thought you'd be more excited?" Sprig asked. "Of course we're excited, buddy." I replied. "But we've been traveling Amphibia for weeks, we thought there would be some sign of Marcy by now, but nothing." Anne added. "Maybe that's a good thing, your last friend was kinda, totally evil." Sprig said, pointing at Sasha's photo, but was slapped away by Anne. "Look, Sasha and I might be going through a rough patch, but that doesn't mean I don't care about her." Anne explains. "And since her and Rowena both got zapped here, it must mean that Marcy did too." "You wouldn't have to worry about Marcy, she's completely different from Sasha, she's also a friend of mine, she's harmless." I added. "She was so smart, but super oblivious, and insanely clumsy, like maybe the clumsiest person alive." "Wow, that must be horrible." Sprig said as he dropped a glass cup. "Back home, we were there to protect her, but here, she's alone, and instead of kickballs..." Anne sighed. "She could get mauled by an elephant scare up, or crushed to death by a heron, or worse, flayed alive by a..." Sprig continued before I shut his mouth. "Not helping." I said as Polly opened the roof of the fwagon. "Guys, come, it's, not gonna believe, just get out here!" Polly shouts speechless. We came outside to see what she was yapping about, and it was Newtopia. "There she is, gang, Newtopia!" Hop Pop announced. If there's a way to get you two home, it's in that city." "Well then, let's get down there." Anne said as we walked into the water.

"Well, my feet are soaked." I complained. "Now this is the life." Polly smiled, relaxing in the water, until she bumped into a hole. "What do you think made these holes?" "Better not to ask, c'mon." Hop Pop replied, grabbing Polly and followed us to the gates. "We're finally here." I sighed in relief. "Yo, anyone home?" Anne asked. A newt opened a small door at the top of the gate. "You can't come in here, Newtopia is closed." He said. "Seriously?!" We shouted. "Closed?" I asked. "Like closed closed, or like closed for lunch?" "The city is closed closed to all outsiders." He replied. "What the hey hey, why, till when?" Sprig asked. "Until the Barbariants are gone, of course, good luck out there." He explains as he closed his door and left us. "What's a Barbariant?" Anne asked. "Beats me, we don't got them in the valley." Hop Pop replied. "They closed the whole city because of a few little ants?" Sprig asked as one ant snuck up behind us and started to attack. It took Anne and I to throw Hop Pop to scare it off. "In your face ant!" I shouted. Suddenly, the ground started shaking and more Barbariants came to the surface, surrounding the fwagon. "Starting to feel a bit antsy." Anne said as some mud was thrown from the top of the gates and was later set on fire, scaring away those ants. We were all confused. The mysterious figure shot their crossbow at one of the fwagon wheels. "Hop Pop, can I get a crossbow for my birthday, please?" Polly begged. "Eh, we'll talk." Hop Pop replied. The figure who saved us came down on a zip line. "That's one cool newt." It was cool, until the zip line collapsed and the figure fell in the water. "Ooh, didn't really stick the landing." Polly said. But something was off about this newt. It had no sign of a tail and looked like it had human flesh. "Wait a second." The person coughed up some water and pulled out a journal. "Okay, so, Newtopian rope can hold and average human girl for 2.3 seconds." She said. Yes she was a female, who sounded oddly familiar. "Maybe I can reinforce the rope with iron spider silk to increase the tensile strength." I can't believe it, that's her. "Marcy?" Anne gasped. She turned around and put down her hood. "Anne?" Marcy asked. "Marcy!" We shouted as we ran toward her. "Anne!" Marcy shouted as both of us hugged her, tackling her to the ground. "Omg, Anne and Rowena, are you two really here, together?!" "Yes it's us!" I cried. "You, me, here?!" Marcy asked. "We know, we know, we missed you so much!" Anne and I cried. "Aw, I've missed you both too." Marcy giggled. Sprig wasn't convinced. "Look at this outfit." Anne said. "You're like an Amazon Warrior Queen or something." "I know, right, it's nuts, this is real!" Marcy replied, showing us her crossbow, which was pointed at both of us. "Yeah, very real." I panicked, signaling her to put it away. "Ah, sorry." Marcy apologized. "Isn't this place wild, what an adventure, I've really grown out here, guys, no more clumsy, klutzy Marcy, can you believe it?" "Your cloak's on fire." I said. Marcy panicked. "Don't swing it around!" Anne shouted as I walked into the fwagon to grab my bag and also pull out my fire extinguisher. "Hold still, Marcy." I said as I used the fire extinguisher on Marcy's cloak. "Rowena, you had a fire extinguisher the whole time?" Anne asked. "I always bring one, you never know when a fire is active, whether it's my dad when he's cooking, or when Marcy is around a fire, no offense, Marcy." I explained. "None taken." Marcy smiled. "So, girls, who's your friend?" Hop Pop asked. "Note to self, non flammable cloak preferable." Marcy said. "You guys, meet Marcy!" Anne introduced. "Oh my gosh, who are these cuties?" Marcy gasped. "Are they your surrogate frog family, did they find you guys and take you in, oh, I love the found family trope, man, this is just like the character in my favorite game." "You mean Vagabondia Chronicles?" I asked. "Only the greatest jrpg of all time, have you played it, do you wanna play it, do you wanna borrow it, just say the word and I'll lend you my copy, man it'll change your lives!" Marcy exclaimed, fangirling. "Uh, guys?" Sprig asked. "Yup, the Plantars here took us both in, the only you got there is Hop Pop." Anne replied as Marcy started measuring Hop Pop's head. "Just as I thought, 62 centimeters." Marcy said. "Yup, all brain." Hop Pop replied. "Judging from the size of your cranium and flecks of sediment, you're from frog valley, right?" "You can tell all that from my head?" Hop Pop gasped. "Oh, guys, I'm so jealous that you guys found a farming community." Marcy said. "I've been studying Amphibia history and farm culture is super under appreciated in my opinion, you're the backbone of society and do not get enough credit for it." "GET OFF OF ME!" Polly yelled. "Thank you, thank you!" Hop Pop gasped. "Hey, pollywog." Marcy said as she picked up Polly to examine her. "I'd say those legs should be coming in in about two months give or take." "Can I get that in writing?" Polly asked. "Oh yeah, absolutely." Marcy replied as she gave Polly a piece of paper, then walked over to Sprig. "Oh, and hi there, wow, I've never seen a frog your color before, you're not poisonous are you?" "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not." Sprig replied glaring at her. "Wait, really?" Marcy asked. "Yeah, I literally actually don't know." Sprig explains. "Sprig, if you were poisonous, Anne and I would be dead by now, I'm pretty sure you're fine." I said. "I will iodine that later." Marcy said. "So, what about you, MarMar, have you been in Newtopia this whole time?" Anne asked. "Here and there, but mostly here, I actually warped here right inside the city walls." Marcy explains. "Oh my gosh, remember that game I got Sasha and you guys to play, Creatures and Caverns?" I nodded. "No." Anne replied. "Well it turns out newts are just like cephalons from shadows of Zelnoff, anyway, I just roleplayed like your typical artificer rogue and the next thing I know I'm the chief ranger of the Newtopian night guard." "So, Marcy, can you get us into the city, we tried the gate, but they won't let us in?" I asked. "Unfortunately, those gates will stay closed until the Barbariants are defeated, luckily, we've got a plan, c'mon!" Marcy replied as she uses her crossbow to make an exit. "Hop Pop. Birthday. Make it happen." Polly said.

Marcy directed the Newtopian night guard to set up camp outside of the gates. Marcy led us to their tent. "Sup, triple B?" Marcy greeted three newts. "Ah, Master Marcy." One of the newts said. "Oh, are you lost?" "No, they're with me, the Plantars travelled here all the way from the valley." Marcy explains. "And these are my friends, Anne and Rowena." Anne playfully poked Marcy. "Sorry, just can't believe you're here." Anne apologized as she continued. "Anne quit it." Marcy giggled. I also giggled a little bit. "You'll be glad to hear we've agreed on a battle strategy." The second newt explains. "What?!" The other two newts exclaimed. "We've agreed on nothing!" "Well, no worries, I think I've got it figured out, Anne, Rowena, do you guys remember when we studied insect migration patterns in biology class?" Marcy asked. "Yeah." I replied. "Nope." Anne added, playing with the tip of Marcy's hood. "Well, since the weather warmed up, those ants have been sending scouting parties deeper into our territory, in fact, I predict a full-scale invasion is just around the corner, the king has asked me to stop them before they turn Newtopia into a giant ant hill." Marcy explains. "Wait, YOU work directly for the king of Amphibia?" Sprig asked sarcastically. I could tell that Sprig was suspicious of Marcy, since the whole incident with Sasha. Marcy nodded. "Sprig, behave yourself." Hop Pop whispers. "You guys have a king?" I asked. "Well, duh, we're not anarchists, Rowena!" Hop Pop scoffed. "Speak for yourself." Polly said. "Okay, the plan is we're gonna sneak behind enemy lines and drive the ant queen away, with her gone, the rest should retreat." Marcy explains. "Oh yeah, and how are we doing that?" Sprig sassed. "Check it out." Marcy said as she shows us some mushrooms. "Boom shrooms?" Polly asked. "Not quite, these are stink shrooms." Marcy replied as Polly lost interest. "They're designed to release pheromones that should drive the queen away instantly, but we will have to fight our way through a bloodthirsty hoard of ants." "My interest has been restored." Polly said. "We'll have to be extra careful, if one thing goes wrong..." Marcy continued as she almost tipped the table over. "Uh, Marbles, this sounds pretty dangerous, why don't you leave the mission to me, Rowena, and the Plantars?" Anne suggested. "We did stuff like this all the time in the valley." "Come on, Anna Banana, I'll be fine, I've changed, remember?" Marcy begged. "Yeah, your cloak's on fire again." Anne said as she removed the cloak to put out the fire. "Guys, I can handle this, let's get going, mission engage!" Marcy exclaimed as Anne and I followed her.

We followed Marcy to one of the habitats the ants created. "Okay, we should be arriving there shortly!" Marcy said as she tripped down the hatch. We all followed her down. "Alright, let's go!" Marcy exclaimed. "Hold up, stay behind me." Anne said as she moved her beside me. "Behind eh, just where a maybe backstabber would want to be." Sprig muttered. "Okay, if we could just stay in this formation." Anne said as Marcy went ahead of her. "Wait!" "This is gonna be a cinch, guys, Trust me, I know these tunnels better than any..." Marcy explains as she fell down a hole, but I luckily grabbed her before she could possibly plummet to her death. "Thanks, Rowboat." Marcy giggled. "Okay, note to self, do not step in holes." "Seriously, let us handle this, you'll be safer in the back." Anne said. "I gotta say, I do feel pretty safe back here." Sprig commented before a Barbariant grabbed him. "Sprig!" We shouted as more ants surrounded us. "Alright guys, fight mode!" I shouted as I pulled out my driver. "On it!" They shouted. "Yeah, on it." Sprig added surprisingly. "Oh, Sprig, you survived." Polly said. "Okay, Marcy, stay close." Anne said, but she was already gone. Marcy was examining some flowers. "Marcy, what are you doing?!" We continued to fight off the ants until we heard an explosion. "Guys, this way!" Marcy shouted as we slid down a path. As soon as we escaped, she got some vines to slow them down. "Uh, guys, a little help?" Polly asked, from the other side of the vines. "Oopsies." Marcy said. "NOT THE BABY!" We shouted as we freed Polly and Marcy created some more vines. "Marcy!" Anne exclaimed. "Sorry, but it all turned out okay, right, anyway, isn't vegetation in Amphibia just the coolest?" Marcy asked. "You think vegetables are cool?" Hop Pop gasped. "Marcy, how would you like to be adopted?"

We walked into the queen's habitat while Hop Pop was rambling on and on about the farm. "Wait, get down, it's the queen." Marcy warned. "Holy frog abuse." I whispered. "She's huge." "Well, at least she's a good mother." Sprig said. "Here's the plan, we're gonna have to plant these around the room, that way she gets a nose full." Marcy explains. "They're set to go off in 5 minutes, so move quickly, also, the queen is nearly blind, but hears really well, so be very, very, quiet." We nodded as she handed us the mushrooms. We decided to split up in order to plant the mushrooms. The Plantars went one way and I went with Anne and Marcy. As Marcy was planting the mushrooms, part of the habitat was cracking above her, so Anne pushed her out of the way. The queen heard the rock come down, but didn't see us. "Anne, what are you doing?" I whispered. "Um, saving Marcy from a giant rock that was about to crush her." Anne whispers. "Well, you didn't have to, I was about to get out of the way myself." Marcy explains. "No, you weren't, I have to protect you like I always do, just like back home!" Anne snapped with a whisper. "But we're not back home, Anne." Marcy said. "And I've been doing just fine by myself." Anne frowned. In the distance, I saw Sprig getting attacked by a newly hatched baby ant. "He screamed as he was swallowed up by the queen and more ants surrounded her. "Sprig!" We shouted. "He's still alive, these bugs take a while to digest their food, I can still save him." "No, me and Rowena will do it, you just stay put!" Anne exclaimed. "Anne, only I studied Barbariants biology, it has to be me!" Marcy explains. "She's right, none of us know what they are capable of, it's gotta be her." I said. "No it doesn't, we can handle it!" Anne shouted. "Why won't you just let me go?!" Marcy asked. "Because I just got you back okay!" Anne cried. Marcy and I gasped. "And I don't want to lose you again." Marcy smiled. "You won't, I promise." I grabbed Anne's hand as she let go of Marcy. "Now go, you got this." "See you guys on the other side." Marcy said as she bounced off the ants. "Who knew these ants were so bouncy?" Hop Pop asked. "I did, because I studied them!" Marcy replied as the queen swallows her whole. "I can't watch." Hop Pop whispers. "Dibs on the crossbow." Polly said. "Come on, come on." Anne and I whispered as the queen spit out both Marcy and Sprig, causing them to land on top of us. More ants surrounded us as Marcy's timer went off, causing the mushrooms to stink up the place and the queen to leave with the other ants. "You know what, it actually smells kinda nice." Sprig commented. "Yeah, I mean it'll liquify your lungs if you breathe too much of it." "Well, time to go!" I exclaimed as we ran out of the cave.

"Mission success!" Marcy exclaimed as we escaped. "Hey, Marcy, sorry for all the suspicion earlier, I was wrong about you, you're no backstabber." Sprig apologized. "Hey, I'm just glad you're okay." Marcy replied. "It's obvious you mean a lot to Anne and Rowena." Suddenly, Sprig coughed up some of the queen's acid and disintegrated Hop Pop's shirt. "Dang it, Sprig!" Hop Pop exclaimed as we all laughed and the gates began to open. "Now, come on, who's ready to go to Newtopia, and write up a detailed report?" Marcy asked as Sprig and Polly followed her inside. "Wow, Marcy hasn't just changed, she's flourished." Anne said. "I've never seen her so happy." I added. "Always impressive what people are capable of, isn't it?" Hop Pop asked as he tried to put on a spare sweater. "A little help, please?"

Inside the city, Marcy showed us around a bit. We were all amazed. "This is like a city city." Anne said when suddenly, we were surrounded by some guards. "What's going on?" Hop Pop asked as a beautiful newt came to greet us. "Well met, Lady Olivia." Marcy bowed. "The king sends his greetings, Marcy, he trusts you have succeeded?" Lady Olivia asked as Marcy showed her the head of a Barbariant. "Ah, still fresh, I see, excellent work, as expected of the great Marcy Wu, I see you have company." "Lady Olivia, meet Anne and Rowena, two of the friends I was telling you about." Marcy introduced. "Turns out they both got transported to frog valley, a little town called Wartwood." "It's a pleasure to meet you, Anne and Rowena." Lady Olivia said. "You too, dude." Anne replied as I nudged her. "I mean, m'lady." "Oh, and these are the Plantars." Marcy continued as they bowed. "Yes, well, welcome to Newtopia, Plantars, Anne, and Rowena." Lady Olivia said. "This is an old city but one rich in history and splendor, please don't touch anything that looks important." Sprig accidentally broke a statue and Lady Olivia left with the guards. "She seems friendly-ish." Hop Pop said. "So, are you like a big deal here or something?" I asked. "Let's just say I have a perfect record when it comes to missions." Marcy replied. "Okay, Marcy, I've got a couple of questions." Sprig explains. "How'd you get so smart? What's your cloak made out of? "What's in this pouch? Where'd you get this wrist thing? What was Anne and Rowena like back home?" "Kids, will you help me get the fwagon unloaded, let's give Anne, Rowena, and Marcy some space." Hop Pop ordered as Sprig and Polly followed him.

We sat by a fountain to catch up with each other. "So, you guys haven't found a way home either, huh?" Marcy asked as Anne tossed some stones in the water. "Nope." We replied. "You know, it's funny." Anne said. "We've been hoping to find you for so long, but now that we actually found you, I have no idea what to do next." "I know what you mean, but first thing's first, we have to find Sasha." Marcy replied. "Uh, actually we did find Sasha, her and Anne had a fight." I explained. "No!" Marcy gasped. "Was it bad?" "There were maybe some swords, minor explosions, and Rowena got her arm sliced up, anyways, we don't know where she is now." Anne replied. "Well, even if we find a way home, it's pointless without Sasha." Marcy explains. "So, what now?" Anne asked. "I don't know, back home, Sasha always decided the plan." Marcy replied. "Maybe it's time we start making our own decisions." I said. "Yeah, I mean, it's worked out for us so far, right?" Marcy asked. "C'mon, guys, stand up." Anne and I stood up. "Now let me see that power pose." I did a heroic pose, but Anne just held her breath. "This good?" Anne asked muffled. "Good enough for me." Marcy replied. "I'm Marcy Wu!" "I'm Rowena Warbler!" I shouted. "And I'm Anne Boonchuy!" Anne exclaimed muffled. "And together, we're gonna find Sasha, and find a way home!" We all shouted as we all did funny heroic poses. "Oh my gosh, so I wanna know everything that's happened to you guys since you got here, you got any photos?" Marcy asked. "Do we?!" Anne and I exclaimed as we showed Marcy the photos of our adventures.

Finally, Marcy has been introduced in my story. I hope you guys enjoyed this extended chapter. -Mal.