The Road to Newtopia (The Calamity Girls Book 2)

The Second Temple

It was finally time to go to the next temple. Marcy told us to bring warm clothes. Joe Sparrow flew to this cold climate. "Snow." I groaned. "Why did it have to be snow?" Joe Sparrow landed on some ice, and then he slipped, tossing us in the snow. I swear that bird will be the death of me. "Welcome to the Amphibian Arctic, everyone!" Marcy announced. "I triangulated the tracking beam from the green stone, and..." The beam shone in front of Hop Pop's face. "Hop Pop, move." Polly said. "Oh, sorry." Hop Pop chuckled, falling on his face. "The second temple must be right through there." Anne said. The green beam showed an arch, but no temple was in sight. "Just beyond these snowy gates, a grueling, perilous, temple awaits." Marcy translated. "Uh, no, it doesn't." Polly said. "Huh, that's weird." I wondered. "Could it be invisible?" Sprig asked. "All the ancient texts about this temple were vague, they just mentioned the word heart a lot." Marcy explains. "Okay, are we looking for something heart-shaped?" Hop Pop asked. "Maybe we have to rip someone's heart out." Polly suggested. All of a sudden, a bird flew through the gates, but it looked pretty familiar. "Hey, wait, I know that bird!" Anne exclaimed. The bird flew over to a tent, that also looked familiar. "Valeriana, Anne, Rowena, didn't we meet her at the Bizarre Bazaar?" Sprig asked. "Yeah, wait, if I remember correctly, she said that she's been all over Amphibia." I replied. "Maybe she's seen the temple." When we walked up to her tent, she had a sign that read: Out to Lunch. "Why is she always out to lunch?!" Anne complained. "Because it's the most important meal of the day!" Valeriana shouted behind us. "It's been a while, creatures, what brings you here? Do you, by chance, seek a temple to charge an ancient stone?" "Oh, yes, you know about the stones?" Anne asked. "Indeed, but do you really think you are worthy?" Valeriana asked. "Well, yeah!" I exclaimed. "Totally!" Marcy added. "We shall see." She said. "Oh, I'm Marcy, BT-Dubs." Marcy introduced. "Nice to meet you." Valeriana said. "I'm Hop Pop." Hop Pop replied. "Uh, hi." She greeted. "Polly, here!" Polly announced. "Sure." Valeriana replied.

Valeriana invited us inside her tent to give us some helpful information. "I am the last of an ancient order, our purpose was to study the sacred stones and temples." Valeriana explains. "So, you know where the temple is?" Marcy asked. "Indeed." Valeriana replied. "And you possess the music box?" "Sure do." Anne said, pulling the music box out of her backpack. "After all these years, it has returned." She gasped. "I would very much like to hold it." "Uh, I'd rather hold onto it." Anne explains. "Suit yourself." Valeriana said. "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." "So fuzzy." Polly comments. "Since this temple is my responsibility, you all must do exactly as I say, or else you can say goodbye to ever finding it, are we clear?" Valeriana asked. "Clear!" We replied. "Clear and comfy." Hop Pop added. "Good, follow me." She said. As Marcy, Hop Pop, and Polly followed her, Anne pulled me and Sprig back. "Something's not right about this lady." Anne explains. "You mean like how she looked at the music box?" I asked. "Because that's pretty sus." "And, she owns a parrot, only bad guys own parrots." Anne added. "That's ridiculous, guys, now, c'mon, or they'll leave us behind." Sprig replied.

We began climbing the mountain. "Quickly!" Valeriana exclaims. "I'd like to reach the temple in this century. How could adventurers so lazy expect to conquer a temple?" Anne groaned. "Don't worry, guys, we're almost there." I said. All of a sudden, a giant bird flew over to the mountain, basically looking like a cardinal. I happen to have a sister who loves photography. Everyone screamed except for Marcy. "Oh, relax, everyone, it's just a cardinal." Marcy explains. "They don't eat frogs, she's just saying hello." The bird grabbed Marcy, about to eat her. "Marcy!" Anne and I shouted. After we grabbed her from it's clutches, the bird flew over to the Plantars. "You said it doesn't eat frogs!" Anne exclaimed. "I was sure, wait, cardinals eat caterpillars, it wants our coats!" Marcy explains. "No, we need these coats to stay warm." Sprig said. "And look good." Polly added. "Marcy, what do we do?" Hop Pop asked. "Let me think, let me think!" Marcy panicked. "There's no time!" I shouted, throwing my coat down the mountain and the bird followed. "Now, let's get outta here!" We continued to climb up the mountain, but I was shivering. "You saved us, Rowena, here, take my coat." Hop Pop offered. "No, you frogs will turn to ice without protection, I'll be okay, as long as we reach the temple soon." I refused, still shaking. "It won't be soon, you think it wise that you abandoned your coat?" Valeriana asked. "I had to do something." I replied. "Impulsive, and defensive, very unworthy qualities, I must say." She said, hitting me with her staff. "Here, we can share my coat." Anne explains as we both covered up with her coat.