The Fourth Friend (An Amphibia Story)

Part 11: Fort in the Road

Skylar's P.O.V
I could feel the Fwagon rolling forward from my place inside it. I was sitting comfortably on the bed, phone in hand when I felt the Fwagon slow down.

'Yo Skylar! We're officially out of the valley! Get out here!' Anne said, poking her head into the Fwagon.

'This is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to anyone!' Sprig says as I hop into the seat next to Anne and Polly. 'Aren't you excited? I'm excited. You should be more excited!'

'We are excited Sprig. Y'know it's just, there's a lot riding on this trip and I just wanna keep my expectations in check- WHOA!'

We all stop and are met with one of the best views any of us have ever seen.

'It's amazing! It's majestic! It's-'

'Hurting my eyes' I finished.

'It's better than I could have ever dreamed!' Sprig said before hopping onto Bessie. 'Full speed ahead Hop Pop! Keep driving and never look back!'

'Hold on Sprig, look back here for a second. Now that we're out of the valley, things can get dangerous fast. Sooooo........' Hop Pop took us all back inside the Fwagon and pulled out a giant book. 'From now on we're gonna follow Hop Pop's Rules of the road. By me, Hop Pop'

'Uuurrrrhggg' all of us groan.

'Another huge book? Seriously?'

'You kids got a problem with books? Why, without books...'

'Our civilisation would crumble into nothingness' the four of us say in sync. I've only been with the Plantars for about a week and I've already memorised all of Hop Pop's mini lectures.

'The only way we'll get to Newtopia in one piece is if we follow these rules. Like this one here. Rule number 98: Never strike a heroic pose on the Fwagon. It's a sign of hubris that invites disaster'

'Nooooooooo, strict rules suck' I complain as I slide down in my chair.

'Rule number 345: no complaining' Hop Pop cut me off.

Hop Pop then pulled out a bunch of colouring in books, closed the blind and found a booster seat for Sprig.

'There that should keep your sense of adventure in check. All right kids, let's stick to the rules, and we should have a safe and completely uneventful trips. Okay thanks bye!'

'Man this stinks! All those adventures out there, and we're stuck in here with these dumb rules!' Sprig complains.

'Not much we can do. My dad was the same way back home. One time we drove to the Grand Canyon and didn't stop once!'

'Well, if anyone can figure out a way to have fun with these rules, it's us!'

'Newtopia here we come!' The four of us yell.

'Road rule number 29: no shouting! Marauders will follow the sound and steal your skin!'

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'A rainbow waterfall! We gotta pull over!' Sprig exclaims.

'Hub bup bup. Road rule number 243: all natural phenomena lead to an unnatural death'

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'Zoom dunes?!' Spring gets excited again.