A week had passed since the events that transpired at Toad Tower, and things in Wartwood seem to have gone back to mostly normal, except for the one frog still being carried by dragonflies whizzing overhead. "Yep, it's been three months. Still up here." He called.
Down below, Kaemon and Sprig had just left Mrs. Croakers shop, both newt and frog carrying what looked like sizable parcels.
"Thanks again, Mrs. Croaker!" Sprig called, waving goodbye.
"No need to thank me, sonny." The old lady frog said. "Just don't go dying on us."
The two friends walked down the road, taking note of the falling leaves, signifying the change of the seasons.
"Fall is almost here." Sprig said with a sigh.
"Yup, which means time for a new season, new possibilities!" Kaemon declared. "And I'm ready to blossom into my best self!"
"Hopefully, Anne's doing better." Sprig said with a worried expression. "I can only imagine having to fight my best friend like that."
"Anyways, let's hope she and Master like the outfits Sadie made for them." Kaemon said with a smile.
"Hey, look!" Sprig pointed.
The two looked and saw a large wagon parked outside and hooked up to Bessie, the wagon itself looking like a miniature version of the Plantar farmhouse, along with a second large wagon that could be mistaken for an army garrison, and soon enough, out came Hop Pop with Polly in one arm while he pulled a suitcase in the other.
"Hey, you two!" Hop Pop called, setting the suitcase down.
"Whoa, Hop Pop. What is this thing?" Sprig asked.
"Impressive, huh? This here's an all-terrain, custom-modeled family wagon. Calling it the fwagon." Hop Pop said with pride.
Sprig stared at it in awe, while Kaemon's face scrunched up from a terrible smell. "Care to explain what that smell is?" He asked.
"We got it pretty cheap too." Hop Pop admitted.
"The previous owners died in it." Polly declared.
Pushing aside that disturbing fact, Kaemon asked, "So why do we need a new wagon?"
"Fwagon."
"I refuse to call it that." Kaemon said.
"Well, with the snow melted and the mountain pass open, we can finally travel outside the valley to Newtopia!" Hop Pop declared.
Both Frog and newt let out excited gasps. "Oh, my frog! We're going to Newtopia?!" Sprig said.
"No way!" Kaemon said. "This is my first time going to the great city of newts!"
"You've never been to Newtopia before?" Polly asked with a raised brow.
"Nope; Swamp Shiro's always been my home, before I got here." Kaemon replied.
"At any rate, we're almost ready, even got a fwagon for Ironhide." Hop Pop said. "Just need to grab a few more things. Would you two mind getting Shadow and Anne for us?"
"Won't be a problem," Kaemon nodded.
As the two boys left, with Polly in tow, Hop Pop continued loading stuff onto the fwagon, when he was approached by three cloaked figures, the old frog seeing human faces under the hoods.
"Hello there, good sir." The leader said. "I hope the days has been going well!"
Hop Pop blinked, unsure what to think of the three humans standing before him, completely surprised.
"Can I help you?" The old frog asked, slightly unsure.
"We just have several questions in regard to several things." The leader told him, revealing to be an older man in his forties.
The young newt and frog walked on down the road, both still holding the parcels, and Polly on her brother's head, but as they were approaching the hut, the sounds of metal clanging could be heard coming from the training ground. Curious, the trio went in that direction before seeing Shadow and Anne sparring, Shadow shirtless and not wearing his boots, while Anne was dressed in her swimsuit one-piece and pink trunks as well as not wearing any footwear.
Although sparring would be putting it lightly, as they looked like they were actually fighting, Black Hope clashing with Azura's Tear, Anne defending herself from the vicious strikes from the boy, before he kicked her legs out from under, making her tumble to the ground.
"Your movements are too easy to anticipate." He said as he circled her. "You cannot rely on old tactics. Think and adapt! Again!"
Anne got up, readying her stance, before lunging for him, only for Shadow to easily block the blade before flipping her overhead, slamming her on her back.
"Why are you holding back?" Shadow demanded, visibly angry. "We're here to fight, so fight like your life depends on it!"
The trio off to the side were slightly put off by how Shadow was being so hostile, having never shown this level of aggression.
"We're just sparring, dude." Anne said, trying to reason with her boyfriend. "What's gotten into you?"
Shadow didn't wait for her to act before rushing in, Anne narrowly rolling away from a slash of his katana, and while she was able to block several sword strikes, she was unable to react in time for a punch from him to the chest, knocking the wind out of her and sending her to the dirt.
"I could have killed you a hundred times over, Anne." Shadoe said, pacing back and forth before her like a caged beast. "You cannot afford to get lazy and sloppy. It doesn't matter who the enemy is, you must strike hard, fast, and without hesitation! Do you understand? I am your enemy, and I'm going to kill you. What are you going to do about it?"
Feeling the anger flaring up inside her, Anne quickly got to her feet, her grip tightening around the handle of her sword. If her teacher wanted a fight, she was going to give him one.
Their fight was short, both exchanging sword strikes before Anne charged forward with a stab, Shadow blocking the attack, but the force pushed him back, Anne forcing him to one knee, the Thai girl certain of her victory, before noticing a look on Shadow's face. Once where there was an expression of merciless brutality, replaced by a primal look of attraction, that gentle, charming smile catching her off guard.
That lapse was enough for Shadow to throw her to the ground, falling on top and pinning her arms down, the Thai girl staring up at him, their noses mere inches from one another, his legs pinning hers down, and brown eyes staring into green.
"Better." He said, but made no move to get up.
Anne felt her heart beat fast, feeling his breath against her face.
"Shadow, I—"
She was silenced when his lips met hers, kissing passionately, which she returned, before breaking it off, their foreheads pressing against another and gazing into the eyes of the other before looking over to see the trio watching the whole thing.
"Uhhh…should we give you two some alone time?" Kaemon finally asked.
Finally, the two humans got up and collected their swords. "Sorry you had to see that." Shadow said, sheathing his sword.
"Geez, it looked like you were trying to get her to kill you." Polly pointed out.
"Yeah, what's all that about?" Anne asked, watching the boy dust his feet off as he sat on a log.
"Going over everything I taught you." He explained, putting his boots on and wrapping his favorite scarf around his neck. "I wanted to make sure you were ready for when we make for the journey."
"You mean we're finally leaving the valley?" Anne inquired. "Like Hop Pop said?"
"That's right." Shadow nodded. "If we're gonna get answers to get you home, we need to go beyond the valley. In other words, to Newtopia."
"Hey, we were planning the same thing!" Sprig declared.
"You mean this could actually be my ticket home?" Anne said, pulling out her photo. "Not only that, but maybe out on the road we'll find Marcy."
"It's very likely, yes." Shadow nodded. "Now, I suggest getting ready. We leave tonight."
"Whoo-hoo!" Everyone cheered, excited about the idea.
"By the way, Mrs. Croaker finished those requests for you." Kaemon said, he and Sprig presenting the parcels for him and Anne.
"Thanks." Shadow nodded, he and his girlfriend accepting the parcels. "Now, I need to take care of something. You go ahead and get changed and I'll be back."
Shadow then took off to the skies, leaving Anne to get changed in the privacy of the hut.
Shadow flew through the skies before arriving at the standing stone, the boy standing before it and looking at the names before getting on his knees.
"Hey, Karlia. I hope you've been doing well." He said with a smile. "I've been doing pretty good myself, living amongst the frogs." He then chuckled a bit, a warm feeling in his chest. "And remember Anne, that girl I've been looking after? We just became official, during the Frog of the Year celebration. I've truly come to love her with all my heart."
He then frowned. "But now we're about to head out to Newtopia; where it all began for me. And where it all fell apart." That warm feeling he had was replaced with doubt and fear. "What should I do? Karlia, Anne isn't ready to make the trip there. And quite frankly, neither am I." He sighed, looking up at the clouds. "I don't know how I'm supposed to do this without you. Without Apollo."
He watched the clouds pass by, before closing his eyes. "But I know we cannot stay here. Right now, we must go back to where it started." He then stood up, a look of determination on his face. "And no matter what, I will do everything in my power to make sure that she reaches her destination. I might have failed to save you, but I won't fail this time."
His resolve strengthened, he picked up his parcel and went into the forest, all the while the white-cloaked stranger watched from the trees before flying off into the sky.
Back at the hut, Anne looked at herself in the mirror as she wore her new outfit. The new outfit consisted of a light blue tunic over chainmail, with a white gambeson underneath, bandage wrappings around her wrists, along with beige pants and light brown boots. She also had a blue scarf wrapped around her neck, which included pink, green and black colors, and her hair was finally cleaned of leaves and sticks.
"Wow, I'm digging this!" Anne said, posing in the mirror.
"And here's something to go along with your sword." Kaemon said, presenting her a shield with a frog's foot on the front. "A parting gift from Toad Tower."
"Now, I really feel like a hero!" Anne declared, taking the shield.
"And don't forget these!" Polly exclaimed, holding up a bow with a quiver full of arrows.
"Nice!" Anne grinned, accepting the weapon and ammunition.
"So, you're feeling better about the whole Sasha incident?" Sprig asked.
At that moment, Anne's face morphed into a haunted expression, remembering the fight, Shadow going berserk, and finally Sasha's unconscious face before she was carried off.
"Yep. Totally fine." She said, trying to hide the effect the fight had on her.
"Oh, cool. 'Cause if I had to fight like that, I'd be devastated." Sprig said, clearly not seeing the annoyed look on Anne's face. "Heck, I'd be upset just hearing someone talk about it."
"Master's back!" Kaemon shouted, sticking his head out the doorway.
Stepping outside, everyone saw the boy return, flying, before setting on the ground, cladded in his new outfit. Gone were the rags, and now he wore ebony-silver armored pants and boots, a black shirt with armored padding and shorter sleaves with silver vambraces with furred lining, a silver shoulder guard with furred lining and a hood connected with a furred cape. And of course, he still had on that scarf with the wolf prints on it, wrapped around his neck.
"Wow, looking sharp, Teach." Anne said, admiring her boyfriend's new look.
"Same to you, Anne." Shadow nodded, returning the admiration. "You look ready for battle in that outfit."
"Thanks." Anne beamed with a blush.
"Well, we should probably head off to the Plantar house." Kaemon declared. "Time to get this show on the road!"
As everyone stepped outside, Shadow stopped for a moment and looked back at the inside of his hut, everything he had built over the past five years, before Anne stood at his side.
"Nervous?" She asked him.
"A little, admittedly." Shadow nodded. "I haven't left the Valley, nor Wartwood, for five years, neither have I been in Newtopia in that time. I don't know what to expect when I return."
"I understand how scary that can be, but you won't have to worry too much." Anne said to him, taking his hand. "Besides, you got me by your side. And don't forget Kaemon and the Plantars too."
Shadow smiled at her kind words. "Thank you, Anne."
The two proceeded to gather their things, mostly their gear and weapons, Shadow strapping his odachi to his back and his Black Hope katana to his hip, Anne strapping her shield and Azura's Tear sword to her back, along with her bow and arrows, the quiver holstered on her waist on her right side, and her backpack before they stepped outside and walked down the path with the others. When the Plantar homestead came into view, they stopped when they noticed a cloaked individual witting with Hop Pop.
"What the—" Anne gasped, noticing the older man was clearly human.
"Whoa, another human?!" Polly exclaimed.
"I don't know who he is, but if he hurts Hop Pop," Sprig said, pulling out his slingshot and getting ready to shoot.
"Hold up!" Kaemon said, holding a hand up. "It doesn't seem to be hostile. In fact, they look…friendly?"
Approaching closer, the kids and teenagers saw that the two seemed to be engaged in friendly conversation, the old frog telling the older human what seemed like a funny story, said human seeming to laugh.
"…and then Loggle accidentally chopped the statue down right on poor Stumpy's head," Hop Pop said. "But ole' Stumpy just shouted 'Crickey!'"
The older human laughed, "Timber!" He declared, both older men laughing.
The kids watched, utterly confused, while Shadow stepped closer, recognizing the older man.
"Cody?"
Upon Shadow saying that, the older human looked up, his eyes widening a bit at the sight of the boy, before a smile settled on his face before he stood up.
"Well, if it isn't my old student!" He said with arms wide. "It's been so long since I last saw you!"
"Master Cody, what're you doing here?" Shadow questioned, still perplexed.
"Now, is that how you greet someone you haven't seen in a while?" Cody chuckled, mock offended. "Especially after five years?"
"Shadow, you know this guy?" Anne asked.
"He's my old mentor from Newtopia." Shadow told her before turning back to the older man. "But, if you're here, then that means…"
"Azazel!"
Suddenly, Shadow was tackled to the ground by two red and blue blurs, both were teenagers older than him, and both Shadow recognized.
"Valor! Ina!" He declared, laughing as they both pulled him to his feet and hugging him.
"Bro, it's been years, man!" The red-headed boy said loudly.
"No kidding!" The blue-haired girl said with a smile. "I thought we'd never see you again!"
Anne and the others were utterly confused by what was happening, seeing perfect strangers dogpile Shadow like this, and their teacher seemed perfectly fine with it.
"What the hay hay is going on here?" Polly exclaimed her question.
"And why did they call you 'Azazel'?" Anne asked.
"Guys, these are my teachers and fellow students." Shadow explained as he introduced his old friends, starting with Cody. "This is Cody, my old instructor." He then gestured to Valor and Ina. "And these are Valor and Ina, my closest friends from childhood."
"Nice to meet you all." Cody stated with a bow. "It's nice to see my student has made such vast friends so far from home."
"You see, guys?" Valor chuckled. "Our teacher is not afraid to weep openly in front of others."
"Don't worry, I won't make a habit of it." Cody returned with a chuckle of his own.
Kaemon looked Cody up and down, specifically at the two swords at the older human's waist, as well as the lightning yellow gemstone of his amulet.
"You're the one I look up to." The newt said. "Lightning Bolt Maelstrom."
"Ah, I see my name reaches quite far, even here." Cody chuckled. "And it's nice to meet the Demon of the Four Sword."
"Th-Thank you, sir." Kaemon said with a bow.
"But what're you doing out here?" Shadow asked. "How did you find me?"
"We didn't, actually." Valor spoke up. "We were out doing some errands when we saw a massive fire explode at the top of Toad Tower."
"Yeah, but everyone was gone by the time we arrived." Ina chimed in. "So, we came here to investigate, but no one wanted to talk to us."
"Yeah, Wartwood can be pretty cautious around strangers." Anne nodded. "Take it from me."
After a quick talk recounting what happened, the human trio were in complete shock.
"Holy crap!" Valor exclaimed. "All that happened?!"
"Yeah, all because of a rebellion Hop Pop had nothing to do with." Anne nodded. "And because some toad jerk wouldn't bother checking the facts!"
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that, my boy." Cody said with a sad frown. "Had I known…"
"Don't be sorry, Master." Shadow said. "Despite everything, we've been getting by."
"And now we're on our way to Newtopia." Hop Pop declared. "With the pass clear of snow, now's as good a time as any!"
"Is it alright if we tag along?" Valor asked. "We were just on our way back when the Toad Tower stuff happened and I really don't feel like doing anymore walking than I already have today."
"Yeah, my feet hurt." Ina whined.
"Wouldn't mind the extra help." Shadow shrugged. "Plus, it'd be fun to catch up on the old times and what's been going on so far."
"Please, Cody?" Both Valor and Ina looked to their mentor with pleading looks.
Cody sighed in response, "Eh, I suppose we could use a break, alright."
"YEAH!" Both older teens cheering before jumping at Shadow, the boy laughing at their antics.
"Wait, there's two things I want to know," Anne said. "Number one; how are there more humans here?"
"It's a crazy story, actually." Cody said, rubbing the back of his head. "I was approached by the king, and he offered me a job of training his son, as well as Azazel here."
"Okay, now second, why are you calling his Azaza…Asakura…whatever it is?" Anne asked, completely butchering the name.
"Azazel, actually." Shadow corrected. "And it's my real name, before I left."
"But why did you leave, Aza?" Valor asked.
Shadow was silent, turning his head away, a downcast look on his face.
"I'm sorry." Valor quickly said. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
"It's fine. I just don't wish to talk about it now." Shadow said.
"Well, with all the craziness aside, and having already given Chuck the keys," Hop Pop spoke up. "What say we get this show on the road? It's a two-week journey to Newtopia so we better get going."
"Whoo-hoo! Yeah!" Sprig declared.
"Let's a-go!" Polly exclaimed as she and her brother got onto the Plantar fwagon.
"Well, time to head out." Anne said before turning to Shadow. "Hey Shadow. I was thinking... wouldn't it be a good idea to bring the music box with us on the trip?"
Shadow was silent, looking over at the tree near the house. The tree where he buried the Calamity Box.
He then turned back to Anne, as calm as ever with a smile. "No need. It'll be safe with my contacts for the time being."
"All right, Teach, I trust your judgement." Anne said, believing him, kissing his cheek before getting on the garrison fwagon.
As he watched the others get on board, the Plantars getting in the family fwagon while Cody and his students, along with Kaemon, get on the garrison one, Shadow felt his heart ache, as his smile disappeared. He was keeping the box, that was the key to Anne getting home, from her, and that's what hurt the most. She trusted him, gave him her love, and he was willingly betraying that trust. But then he remembered why he was doing it. Remembering the vision he saw from the box, the destruction it was capable of, he was willing to risk everything he built with Anne if it meant keeping the world safe.
With that reassurance, he closed the door and got on top the garrison. "Alright, let's get going."
"Yup, let's get this fwagon on the road." Hop Pop declared, both he and Shadow whipping the reigns to make their respective snails start crawling, the wagons jolting as they moved. "No turnin' back now."
"Wait, Shadow, did we give the key to Chuck?" Anne asked from inside the fwagon.
Realizing the key was still very much in his pocket, Shadow pulled Ironhide to a halt. "We're turning back now!"
After making sure their houses were secure, the two fwagons were finally making their way out of town, both unaware of two unseen guests just under the fwagons.
From afar, however, watched the white-cloaked stranger, a red eye watching from behind the mask.
"So, you finally decided to come home, brother. Good."