Eyes | Amphibia

Chapter 24

TW: This chapter contains mentions of violence. Proceed at your own risk.

🔥🔥🔥

CRASH.

Slowly opening their eyes, Anise's heart sank at the realization of what they had done.
The gun had hit the side wall, and the force of her throw was enough for the gun to eject the Ultra Stone.
Anise had to force herself to shift her gaze to Darcy, who had dropped its dagger and was staring at the sight with horror.
The Ultra Stone had shattered.
"NO!" Darcy shrieked, quickly scrambling over to the fragmented pieces of the stone and dropping down to pick them up. "NONONONONO!"
"Holy shit..." Sasha muttered as he glanced at Anne, whose jaw was basically on the floor.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!" Darcy hissed at Anise as it hopped back onto its feet, holding the shards that were once the Ultra Stone tightly in its trembling grasp. "YOU DESTROYED THE STONE! YOU DESTROYED OUR LEGACY! THIS WAS ALL WE HAD LEFT AND YOU DESTROYED IT!"
The shouting caused Anise to tense up all over again, but before long she had regained her composure and stared at Darcy with unforgiving, cold eyes. "That was the plan," was all she said.
"You ready to surrender now, Darcy?" Grime asked as he cautiously approached the grieving being, who looked like it was about to combust at any moment.
"NO! NEVER! THIS ISN'T OVER!" It roared as it shoved the shards into its pocket. "WE'LL KILL YOU! WE'LL KILL YOU ALL WITH OUR BARE HANDS IF WE HAVE TO! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
Before Darcy could do anything, though, Yunan came up behind it and grabbed its wrists. "The only one who will be paying is you." She growled as she tried to handcuff Darcy, but the being made it difficult with its squirming and writhing.
"LET US GO! LET US GO THIS INSTANT!" Darcy screeched as it kicked and flailed in Yunan's grip, but eventually the newt was able to secure the handcuffs around its wrists.
"What should we do with it, sire?" Yunan asked Grime once Darcy had finally been detained.
"Take it down to the dungeon for now," Grime replied. "and carefully guard its cell. Keep it down there until the spell arrives, and then we'll figure out what to do from there."
"Yes, sir." Yunan nodded. Olivia walked over to her and followed along as she guided Darcy out of the throne room.
"THIS ISN'T OVER! YOU HEAR US, YOU MORTAL FOOLS?!" Darcy shouted as it dissapeared outside the throne room doors. "THIS ISN'T OVER!"

...

Once Darcy was gone, everyone left in the throne room let out a heavy exhale and sat down. Finally, after what felt like ages, they could relax.
"You guys were amazing!" Sprig exclaimed after a short while of silence. "I mean, shattering the stone? That was crazy!"
Anise let out a small chuckle. "Well, I really didn't mean to.... but it worked out in my favor, I guess!"
"Well done, everyone. We extinguished The Core's power." Grime chimed in with a smile across his lips. "Now all we have to do is wait for the spell to arrive, and then we can finish this once and for all."
Sasha looked up at Grime with tired eyes and gave the toad a small smile before her gaze shifted to Anne, pulling the brunette into a hug with her good arm. "Anne... I'm so glad you're okay. I've missed you so much." She whispered weakly.
Anne hugged Sasha back, as warmly as she could. For the first time since this whole ordeal began, she felt safe. "I've missed you too, Sasha." She whispered back, gently planting a small kiss on her cheek.
A light blush adorning her cheeks, Sasha pulled away from the embrace and glanced down at the ground. "So, uh... what happened with Darcy on the way here that caused you guys to split up with the rest of the group?"
"Well..." Anne breathed out, "Sprig and I were collecting ingredients for the spell when suddenly we heard a loud explosion nearby. We were about to leave when Darcy appeared. It was on its way to Wartwood... I couldn't let it hurt those innocent frogs. So a fight broke out. And..." she glanced sympathetically in Sprig's direction, "it got Sprig. In the same way it got you, Sasha. After that, Darcy decided that it no longer wanted to go for Wartwood and would be going for Newtopia instead, so we followed it here. We were hoping to arrive here before it did, but then something else happened, and... ugh." Anne's head fell into her hands at the memory of their second altercation with Darcy on the way here, and how it resulted in her basically breaking down. Seeming to realize what was troubling her, Sprig wrapped his arms around Anne comfortingly.
Sasha frowned. "Oh, geez... I'm sorry. I was so sure Darcy would be headed straight for Newtopia, I didn't even think that it might go for Wartwood too..."
"It's not your fault." Anne sighed as she lifted her head up from her palms. "A-Anyways, what's been going on here? Did you get your arm checked out?"
"Yeah, I did. The doctor said he'd never seen anything like it before and that it didn't look good, but don't worry: They're working on an antidote." Sasha refrained from telling Anne what the doctors actually found about her arm and that the most likely case scenario would be that it would have to be amputated, only because she didn't want to give the brunette anything else to worry about right now, especially when Sprig was suffering the same fate.
Anne reached a hand out and placed it on Sasha's cheek, gently caressing it as she gazed into the blonde's blue eyes. "They'll find a cure, Sash... I just know it."
A soft smile upturned the corners of Sasha's lips, and she leaned a bit closer to Anne. Anne noticed and leaned in as well, her face reddening.
"Get a room, you two!" Anise interrupted lightheartedly, causing both Sasha and Anne to jump.
"Seriously!" Sprig added with a laugh. "I may approve of this relationship, but that doesn't mean I wanna see you guys smooching and stuff!" 
"Sorry..." Anne chuckled bashfully, but Sasha didn't look so amused. With a slight pout, he scooted closer to Anne and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Anyways, how've you been, Anise?" Anne asked as she wrapped an arm around Sasha.
"As good as I can be after... all that." Anise shivered at the remembrance of the way Darcy had them pinned to wall with its dagger against their neck; they could've sworn their life flashed before their eyes in that moment. "I'm exhausted, though. I could really use a nap."
"You can say that again." Sasha yawned.
"Go on and rest if you're tired," Grime chimed in, having overheard from where he had settled atop his throne. "It'll likely be some time before the spell arrives, and we've nothing else to do now that Darcy has been imprisoned. I will come and wake you when the others get here."
"Thanks, Grime!" Anise smiled as she stood up. "Come on, guys. I'll take you to the guest rooms."
On that account, Anise, Sasha, and Anne left the throne room and went to get some rest. Sprig had decided to stay back with Grime and wait for the rest of his family to arrive.

As Anne laid down beside Sasha (who had fallen asleep almost immediately), she stared up at the ceiling in thought.
Of course, she had missed the majority of the battle with Darcy, but she feared that was the easiest part of this whole undertaking. They still had to restore Marcy's memories, get her back, and make sure The Core would never bother her again.

She couldn't help but wonder, would it really be possible, or were they just playing a losing game?

...

In the mindscape

It had been a few days since Aldrich had sent Marcy out on her quest, and she was finally on her way back to the kingdom. She had a broad smile on her lips as she traveled through the forest, her eyes lighting up when she saw the king's giant frame in the distance.
"I did it! I did it, Grandfather!" She called out as she made it out of the woods, running across the plains to the king. "The unity between our two kingdoms has been restored! We—" Her smile promptly fell as she was able to get a good look at Aldrich, noticing the wrathful expression he wore and the many orange eyes ablaze across his forehead.
"Our plans! They're all ruined!" Aldrich snarled to himself, clenching his fists with frustration. "Those nitwits have bested us again! How could this be?!"
Marcy listened to the king's angry muttering for a moment, but it only heightened her confusion. What was he talking about? Surely it wasn't about their rivalry with the South Kingdom, right? She had just solved that!
She waited for Aldrich to be finished mumbling to himself before making her presence known. "Grandfather?..." she asked meekly, "Wh-What's going on?..."
Aldrich gasped at the sound of Marcy's voice, quickly turning around to face her and lowering his brow to hide the collection of eyes that lived underneath it. "Marcy! You've returned!" The king forced a smile. "I take it you were successful?"
"Yeah, I was, but..." Marcy hesitated. "What did you mean when you said our plans were ruined? Who 'bested us again'?"
Aldrich sighed. There was no denying his words; Marcy had overheard too much.
He lowered down into a kneel and patted his lap, beckoning Marcy over. Marcy obliged, climbing up onto Aldrich's lap and taking a seat, looking up at the large newt with eyes full of concern as she waited for his explanation.
"Marcy... the kingdom of the south isn't the only threat we've been facing."
"What?!" Marcy's eyes widened. "What other threats are there? I-I can make peace with them too! I'll go right now!"
Aldrich couldn't help but chuckle at Marcy's enthusiasm. "Oh, child, unfortunately this threat is... different. We cannot make peace with them." He shook his head solemnly. "There is a group of otherworldly rogues roaming our land who are able to shapeshift and portray themselves as your friends, when really they only want your blood. If these rogues find you, they will tell you that they are your friends and they have come to save you, but they will be lying. If you trust them, you will doom yourself and our kingdom. Do you understand?"
Marcy's fear was clearly exhibited on her face as Aldrich expressed the threat of the rogues to her. What kind of despicable creatures would do such a thing?! "Y-Yes," She nodded, "I understand."
"Very well." Aldrich dipped his head. "Now, go on back to the castle and get some rest. You need it after such a long journey. I will be out here if you need anything."
Marcy simply nodded in response before she slid down from Aldrich's lap. Before going back to the castle, she turned toward the large newt and offered him a small smile. "Thanks for telling me about that, Grandfather. I'm glad I have you to keep me safe."
Aldrich smiled back. "Of course, young one."
With that, Marcy began making her way to the castle. As she walked, she pondered over the danger Aldrich had shared with her, and she made a vow to herself that she would not let herself fall victim to those reprehensible rogues.

She would not let them take her from her home.

🔥🔥🔥