The Road to Newtopia (The Calamity Girls Book 2)

Battle of the Bands

We were told to gather into town for another one of Mayor Toadstool's speeches. "Simmer down, everyone, simmer down." Mayor Toadstool said. "Now, I know that we've all been a little on edge since Sasha and Captain Grime came to stay in Wartwood." "What? Why, because we invaded the town?" Sasha asked. "Yeah, it was just one time!" Grime added. "Point is, we could all use some levity, so let's consult the Wheel of Fun." Mayor Toadstool announced, spinning the wheel, landing on Battle of the Bands. "Alright, everyone, get your teams together and start rehearsing, Wartwood is having a Battle of the Bands." "You think Wartwood is ready for a Sasha and the Sharps reunion?" Anne questions. "The what and the Who?" Sprig asked. "It's a garage band the four of us had back home." Marcy explains. "We used to slay at talent shows." Sasha added. "Why is everything you say so aggro?" Hop Pop asked. "Hopediah, Sprig, you guys wanna join me and Loggle's jug band?" Wally asked. They agreed as they left. "Come on, we can practice in our room." I said as we headed back to the house.

In the basement, we put together some instruments to use for tonight's battle. "Whatcha got there, Sash?" Anne asked. "A dope ax-beetle from Toad Tower, check this out." Sasha replied, playing a chord on her guitar and we all started practicing. "Dope." I said. "Sasha and the Sharps are back, baby!" Anne exclaimed. "So, what song should we play for the battle?" Marcy asked. "We should definitely play my song, Heartstomper." Sasha replied. "It was always a hit back home." "I admit, even though we didn't always get along, I've always loved that one." I replied. "I'm into that." Marcy said. "Anne, Anne?" "Actually, I wrote a song about Amphibia, and I was hoping we could play it together." Anne explains. "You didn't tell me you were writing a song." Marcy said, turning to me. "Don't look at me, I lived with her for months and I didn't know either." I said. "Let's do it, I mean, if that's okay with you, Sasha?" Marcy asked. "For sure." Sasha replied sarcastically. "Teach it to us, Anne."

After going through the song once, Anne discussed some notes with us. "And here's where Rowena and Sasha play a killer guitar duet, we sing the refrain one more time, and then we're done." Anne explains. "Nice work, Anna Banana, fun to play too." Marcy complimented. I kinda blushed. I've had Anne on my mind a lot lately, but since we were eventually going home soon, I came up with an idea, to confess my true feelings to Anne. "Sasha, what do you think? Anne asked. "It's good, I just have a few tiny notes to make it better." Sasha replied. "Great, these lyrics are all over the place, they'll have to change, are these bug suits? MarMar, the drumming is a little too dense, let's strip some of this down, Warbler, I think you're volume is a little too loud, and you, we definitely need more lights, Frobo, too much fog, and yet, not enough fog, you feel me? Boom! Fixed it." "It does seem simpler." I commented. "These are solid ideas, but it's just not my song anymore." Anne said. "The lyrics are different, the melody is different, it's just different." "That's called collaboration, Anne." Sasha scoffed. "This isn't collaboration, it's a hostile takeover." Anne explains. "Why do things always have to be your way?" "So, now, once again, I'm forcing you to do things my way." Sasha sighed. "You know, maybe I should just leave and join a different band." "What?" Marcy and I gasped. "No, Sasha." Anne said. "It'll be more fun if you're with us." "Listen, if I leave, you guys can have all the fun you want, I can have all the control I want, and we can all get what we want." Sasha explains. "Well, I guess that makes sense." Anne sighed. "Yeah, and don't worry, I'll still be rooting for you guys, this is just how it goes sometimes, I'll see you tonight." Sasha said, leaving the basement. "So much for Sasha and the Sharps." Anne said. "I guess I'll do my best to make that duet into a solo." I explained. "I'm sure we'll be fine, probably." Marcy replied. "You guys done moping, because Frobes and I charge by the hour." Polly said.

After hours of practicing and costume design, it was finally time for the battle. "Welcome to the Battle of the Bands." Mayor Toadstool announced. "Goose-lily and I will be your judges for this evening, so, what do you say we get things started?" "My name is Duckweed." Albus corrected. "Don't sass me, Goose-lily." Mayor Toadstool said. "Hit the lights." As many acts were performing, we made our preparations backstage. While we were backstage, we ran into Sasha, who has teamed up with Toadie. "Hey Sasha." Anne greeted. "Oh, hey guys, those costumes are, something else." Sasha commented. "I'm a Drag-Anne-Fly." Anne explains. "I'm a wasp, ready to cause some frog abuse, by that I mean metaphorically crush the competition." I said. "But good luck." "And I'm the personification of metamorphosis." Marcy added. "Cool, well, have fun out there." Sasha said. "Thanks, Sash." We replied, going onstage to set up. "Ladies and gentlefrogs, I give you The Sharps!" Mayor Toadstool shouted.

Anne: Took a leap through a box, super weird, to a swamp where frogs talk.

Me and Marcy: Oh!

Anne: Now I'm stuck, got no plans, just my luck, I'll do the best that I can.

Me and Marcy: Whoa!

Me and Anne: Making friends and enemies, it's weird, but hey, it's grown on me.

All: Bugs, frogs, newts, and toads, gonna be a bumpy road, flies for snacks, worms for lunch,

Anne: I think I actually like this swamp.

All: It's no big deal, yeah, no big deal, find a way to start again, brush off the dirt and make some friends, it's no big deal, yeah, no big deal, I feel at home at a place that shouldn't be real, crazy strange, but it's no big deal.

"Well, it's certainly charming, I just hope that there's a very cool guitar solo or duet about to drop." Mayor Toadstool commented. "Here goes." I took a deep breath and began the solo, but I heard a second guitar playing, but it wasn't coming from Anne. I turned around to see Sasha playing along with me. I smiled at her as she did to me. Maybe, just maybe, she's finally changed.

All: Oh, it's no big deal, yeah, no big deal, I feel at home in a place that shouldn't be real.

Me: Killer birds,

All: But it's no big deal.

Sasha: Riding snails,

All: But it's no big deal.

Marcy: Eating flies,

All: But it's no big deal.

Anne: Finally me and it's no big deal.

As our song finished, the crowd cheered for us. "Sasha, that was awesome!" I cheered. "I'm psyched you joined us." "Me too." Sasha replied. "Sorry it took so long." "I've just been informed that the next act has been cancelled, so give it up for your final contestant, Grimetime!" Mayor Toadstool shouted as Grime came up onstage. He brings out this golden harp. "This piece is dedicated to the serenity of nature." Grime explains as he played his beautiful harp solo.

3 hours later

"Well, I've seen enough, Grime wins!" Mayor Toadstool announced. "That was the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard." I gasped. "Sorry we lost Sash." Marcy apologized. "You know, as much as it pains me to lose, it was worth it to have so much fun with you guys." Sasha explains. "Alright, folks, gather around, I have one more announcement." Mayor Toadstool announced. "Now, as I understand it, you four girls will be leaving us soon?" "Yep, with the box charged, we'll be heading back to Newtopia tomorrow for the king to send us home." Anne explains. "Everyone, you've all done so much for both me and Rowena, and we'll miss you more than you could ever know." "Wait, before we go, do you think we could take a group photo?" I asked. "Heck yeah, everybody line up!" He replied. We set up Anne's phone as a picture of all of us was captured. Before everyone left, I realized that it was time. "Wait, Anne." I said as she turned to me. "I, I just wanted to say that, well, I've felt this way for a few months, maybe even before we arrived in Amphibia, and I, I just can't hold it in any longer, I... I love you!" Anne walked up to me and pulled her lips closer to mine. "I love you too." Anne replied as the townspeople clapped for us.

If you weren't prepared for this chapter, good luck with true colors. -Mal.