Chapter 4:Reunion

Wartwood 11:00 PM

Grimes soldiers crashed the party, gathering each of the citizens of Wartwood. Maggie tried fighting them off but was grabbed by the behind by one of the toads until Maddie saved her. Maddie used some of her curses to slow them down a bit, but they were to many off them and they overwhelmed her. Maggie grabbed her along with Sarah who was trying to take one of them out. Anne and Sam saw the toads go into town, not knowing what was happening.

"Sasha, the toads! I got to go help my friends!" She said. Sasha grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"What the hell dude? Are you trying to take us over?" Sam asked Jack.

"Look it's not what it looks like." Jack answered.

"Yeah guys. Chill out. They're with me." She explained.

"What?"

"So you're an empress now. Because if you are, is the old looking toad guy your king?"

"What? Ew no! Of course not!"

"Anne, Anne, Anne, Anne!" Sprig yelled as he got to the group along with Maddie, Maggie, Hop Pop, Polly, and Sarah. "Toads! They're everywhere! We barely snuck out when the guards were-"

"Holy toot! Another human!" Polly interrupted.

"Oh. Guys, meet my beastie from back home, Sasha!" Anne introduced.

"And this Jack. Another one of my friends." Sam introduced.

"Hey there."

"Heya."

"Sasha meet the Plantars. This is Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly. Along with Maddie and Sarah. You already know Maggie." Maggie just nervously waved to Sasha as Sprig hopped to her as Sarah walked to Jack.

"Hi there. I'm Sarah. Nice to meet another one of Sam's friends." She said.

"Well it's nice to meet you too little girl. And must I say, you look so cute tonight. " Jack complimented.

"Interesting." Maddie said, startling Jack a bit. "Are you a fellow magic user?" she asked while holding a picture of him in a wizard outfit. He blushed with embarrassment and took it back.

"Please don't look through my stuff." Jack told her.

"Hey! I'm her bestie too! I guess that makes me your bestie in law." Sprig laughed.

"Does it?" Sasha asked unamused. Sprig started to feel as if something was wrong. He coughed and chocked a bit. "Did you all feel that?" He asked. Hop Pop came and push him away.

"Walk it off boy." He told him. "Yes. Hi. Nice to meet ya. Now come either one of you please tell me why there's a toad army, invading Wartwood?!" he asked.

"You're Hop Pop?" Sasha asked. "Thought you'd be taller."

"Huh?"

"Listen there's nothing to worry about." Jack said calmingly. "We're not here to hurt anyone. Come on, Grime will explain."

"Captain Grime?"

"The cruelest toad soldier of all time?"

"Here?"

"Nah. He's not so bad once you get used to him. Now hurry up nerds." Sasha ordered.

"Heh. She's persuasive right?" Anne asked. The citizens were surrounded by guards on all sides, leaving them no chance to escape. Grime then got up the place where the statue of Anne used to be to have their attention.

"Frogs of Wartwood! We toads have come here to-" Everyone was in suspense on what Grime was going to say. He then put his hand in his cape and threw out confetti saying "Invite you to a banquet!". One guard blew a party blower and threw confetti on a tadpole that was next to him. "The moment we heard that Anne was here, we rushed over to reunite these two friends and hold a celebration for them."

"Ah come here." Sasha said as she hugged Anne, making the audience aw though Hop Pop didn't buy it.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes. Despite my rough exterior I really am just an, 'old softie'." Sasha singled him to give a smile. When he did, it showed all his sharp teeth, scaring the audience and making a baby cry so Sasha had to push him away.

"Uh, so what do you say Wartwood?" she asked the citizens. "Are you ready to party back at the tower?" nobody said a single word. All that could be heard were the sounds of crickets chirping and one frog croaking.

"What does Anne think?" Mrs. Croaker asked.

"Uh. Well, Sasha has been my friend since kindergarten. So if she says it's fine, it's fine." Anne assumed. Sasha then pushed Anne a bit and cheered.

"All aboard the Party Barge!" Everyone soon boarded the Party Barge which had two carriages, banners with the first one saying 'Party' and the second saying 'Barge', purple and blue lights at the top, and a giant tarantula at the front with a toad guard playing music from an old record player.

"Two parties in one night? Woo hoo!" Wally cheered. As Anne, Maggie, and Sam were about to board the Party Barge, Jack and Sasha stopped them.

"Psst. Guys, you're with us." Sasha pointed to a carriage with gold in some parts and was being pulled by a tarantula with sunglasses on.

"Wow. Cool." Anne said impressed.

"Say, you don't mind if the Plantars, Sarah, and her friend come along do you?" Sam asked.

"Sure they can." Jack said.

"Yeah. The more the merrier." The gang cheered with excitement as they got into the carriage.

"I call window seat."

"No me, me!"

"I want to sit there."

"Does this place have a bathroom?"

"Kids stop pushing!" Everyone banged on the inside of the carriage possibly breaking something as a shattering was heard from the inside. Anne, Jack, and Sam just laughed though Sasha was a little peeved.

"They're fun." Anne said making Sasha smile a bit. They got in the carriage and headed off for Toad Tower.

Toad Tower 12:25 AM

The Party Barge continued along the path to Toad Tower, still playing music as it road along with the frogs partied along the way. Finally, they arrived at the Tower as the gates closed. The carriage that had Anne and the gang stopped with Anne and Sasha getting out first.

"Here we are." She said.

"Ominous."

"Oh Percy!" she called. Percy came by out of tower and saluted to Sasha.

"Yes commander?" he asked.

"Me and Jack are goanna give Anne, Maggie, and Sam the grand tour. Escort these frogs to the banquet hall." She ordered.

"Hey! I wanna go on the tour too."

"Me two."

"Me three!"

"Come on now kids. Give Anne, Sam, and their friends a chance to catch up." Hop Pop said.

"Don't worry, we'll find you guys later. Go have fun in there." Anne told them.

"Yeah it's a banquet. Have some fun in there." Sam said.

"Ugh. We'll try." Sprig groaned. Sasha was surprised with how close Anne was to the Plantars.

"You seem awfully close to those four. What ever happened to 'Ew! Frogs are the worst!' Anne?" she asked, mimicking Anne a bit mockingly.

"They're actually pretty great once you get to know them." She admitted.

"Yeah. They're pretty cool. They let us sleep in their basement for a while." Maggie mentioned.

"A basement? Yuck!" Sasha complained in disgust. "Follow me you two. I'm goanna show you something crazy."

"Really? Even after bullying Anne a while back?" Maggie asked.

"Everyone deserves forgiveness." Jack said. "No matter how bad they've been." They all went into the Tower to see what Sasha and Jack had to offer while Jack headed for the jail cells to guard the prisoners.

Commander Sasha's Room 12:50 AM

Sasha opened the doors to where she was at for a while. "This, is where I've been living."

"Hoop badda boopa!"

"Sick!"

"Wicked!"

Anne, Maggie, and Sam looked in amazement as they looked around the room. Showing a fancy couch, giant stuffed animals, a statue of Sasha skating, and a desk where she sat.

"Yo! Brenton." She snapped her fingers for him to come by.

"Oui, commander?" he asked in a french accent.

"Bring us the usual." Just then plates were brought out showing Pizza, hot dogs, pancakes, and all other kinds of human food from the human world.

"Pizza? Tacos?"

"Chicken wings? Banana splits?"

"Hamburgers?"

"French fries?"

"You guys even have ketchup? It just occurred to me that I've been eating bugs for a month."

"Anything else commander?" Brenton asked while Anne dipped a handful of fries into the ketchup, Maggie eating the banana split, and Sam eating the chicken wings.

"Run the hot water, for the shower please?"

"Shower?" Anne and Maggie asked.

"I'll pass on that shower." Sam said. "I only shower and brush my teeth in the morning. I don't see the point of doing either of those things at night." As he said that he burped out a stink cloud so bad that it turned some fireflies nearby into ashes.

"Make sure you find some toothpaste for him." Sasha ordered.

Dining Room 1:00 AM

Everyone was talking and eating in the room with all the food the toads offered them. Polly was drinking a liquid while near a toad guard with spikey shoulder plates, a spear in his hand, scars on his chin, and beige armor.

"so do you experiment with other weapons or are you just a spear guy?" she asked. Mrs. Croaker was taking some of the drinks while Sprig and Sarah were having a strange feeling inside of them so they went to Hop Pop to ask him if anything feels wrong to him.

"Hey Hop Pop? Something's not right here."

"Right here yeah sure. Here guys, load up on crab legs. These babies go fast."

"Sprig's right Hop Pop. Something feels wrong here."

"Yeah, don't the toads seem a little, on edge." Sprig asked. The toads did seem to be on edge as if they were worrying about something. One of them was even sweating nervously.

"Eh, they're a militarized culture Sprig. I'm not surprised that they don't know how to cut lose." He said.

"Eh forget this. I'm goanna go find Anne." Sprig said.

"Good idea. She can carry more crab legs." Hop Pop suggested. Sprig went to the guard blocking the exit so he can go and find Anne who was still sweating.

"Hey pal. I'm just goanna go get some fresh air if you don't mind."

"Nope. Sorry. Uh, you frogs aren't allowed to leave this room." The guard said.

"Why not?" Sprig asked.

"Uh. I've said to much. Please just return to the party and remain calm." The guard said.

"Remain calm. You got it buddy."

"Phew. Thanks kid." Sprig then headed back to the party as he jumped on the table, giving the guard a thumbs up while he did, who gave him a thumbs up back. Sprig then grabbed a crab leg and a plate and started banging them together.

"Hey everyone! This is a sham! We're not guest, we're prisoners!" he yelled. Everyone started panicking as food was thrown and guards were trying to calm them down. One was even tackled by Polly until she was caught in a wooden bucket.

Prison cells 1:05 AM

Jack was pacing around, thinking about his family and how he would do to get back home. Tritonio saw him and wondered what was up.

"I know this is none of my business, but is something that matter?" he asked. "You seem to be thinking about something."

"It's my family. They've always been with me and came to help me whenever I needed them. They must be worried sick about me." He said. Tritonio could see that he was a bit depressed and felt a bit bad for him.

"Listen, there's only one way out of here and that's if you leave the Valley. The icy passage that leads there should melt when spring starts. There might be someone who can help get you home. Once you're outside the Valley however, there'll be all sorts of dangers you'll have to face if you wish to leave." Jack started to get excited. There was a way home after all. He could finally leave this world along with Sam and Maggie.

"Oh this is great!" he shouted. "There is a way out after all! I need to tell the others but first, I'll let you out to go free." Jack took out the keys and let Tritonio out while giving back his clothes.

"Thank you young one. I wish the best of luck to you!" He yelled as he left into the night. Jack ran to the door to stop the toads plan but was stopped when Grime came in, looking very upset.

"Where do you think you're going?" he growled. In the back of the hallway, a shadowy figure looked at Jack as he faced Grime.

"Perfect."

Commander Sasha's Room 1:05 AM

Anne and Sasha were on the couch in pink bathrobes drinking hot chocolate while Sam was looking out the window throwing out chicken wings and Maggie was resting on the giant bunny plushie also wearing a pink bathrobe. "Wow Sasha, this is all so surreal. I can't believe you're really here." She told her as she took a sip of her hot chocolate.

"I know right? Ah, and once this is over, we can finally find a way out of this crummy gross world." Anne stopped drinking her hot chocolate and Maggie got up from the bunny. "Once what's over?" Anne asked.

"Oh you know, the rebellion." Sasha answered stirring her chocolate.

"Wait there's a rebellion?" Maggie asked.

"Well two actually. I'll explain it to you guys. Just, promise not to freak out ok?" Sasha asked while putting down her chocolate. Anne and Maggie had promised and Sasha started to explain the what the two rebellions. "So you probably notice that the toads in this valley have one job. To rule over the frogs. And lately, those frogs have been stepping out of line. Some ex-toad soldiers have also been attacking villages with some strange magical powers and have been influencing other frogs to join them. Turns out that most of these 'rebels' have been inspired by a certain frog. You might just know him. Stood up to some tax collectors even ran for mayor against the local toad." Sasha opened the scroll she had in her hand showing Hop Pop in a confident pose with the words 'Freedom Frog' on it. Anne took a sip of her chocolate and spit it out as soon as she saw Hop Pops picture.

"What? Hop Pop's not a revolutionary!" Anne rejected. Sasha then put down a pile of newspapers all talking about how Hop Pop has become an inspiring figure across the Valley and parts of the Valley being put under mind control.

"Doesn't matter. Word about it has traveled like wildfire and we have to make an example out of him. Like what we're going to do with the leader of the Newtopia Rebellion."

"I guess that explains the giant Venus Flytrap down there." Sam said pointing to Grime and some other soldiers holding the Venus Flytrap in place with some rope.

"Hold her steady boys!" Grime ordered as the Flytrap roared. Anne and Maggie gasped in horror at what they saw.

"Ok here's the thing. Me and Jack struck a deal with Grime. We'd help capture Hop Pop and crush the rebellion and Grime and his army will help us find a way home. The whole banquet trick, my idea. Obviously, now we've got those slimy frogs right where we want them. Isn't this great?"

Before Anne or Maggie could answer, Sam grabbed their shoulders and pulled them with him to the door. "Yeah pretty good plan kid. If I was in your shoes though I'd probably just kill them all on the spot once they were in the room though." He suggested nonchalantly. "But you do you I guess. So we'll just be heading to the restroom and be right back." He opened the door and they left as Sasha took a sip of her hot chocolate.

"Huh. Man that Sam guy isn't freaking out a bit."

Dining Room 1:35 AM

"I'm totally freaking out!" Wally yelled. Everyone was still panicking about being held captive as prisoners. Bog still tried to calm everyone down but it was no use.

"Settle down you frogs!" He yelled only to be pelted by tomatoes. "Knock it off!"

"They're goanna eat us!"

"Not on my watch! Take that! And that!" Mrs. Croaker yelled as she threw more food at the toads. Polly saw this and decided to join in.

"Ooh. I wanna to riot too!" she exclaimed as she picked up a crab leg only for Hop Pop to take it back.

"Polly, don't throw that! Throw this potato instead." He handed her a potato to throw. Wally tried to jump over the toads but was easily caught by one.

"Let me out! Let me out!" he was then thrown back into the crowd. Ivy dropped her food and threw her plate at one of the guards, nearly knocking one down but was soon caught by Bog. Sarah punched Bog when he was distracted, causing him to scream in pain.

"All right, that does it!" he took out his mace to teach these frogs a lesson when what everyone assumed to be Sasha came in through the door with Sam and Maggie having rope wrapped around their arms.

"Enough! Guards, leave us!" she ordered. "I'll get these frogs to fall in line." Bog smiled deviously.

"You've all made a huge mistake."

"Enjoy your time with Commander Sasha." The toads closed the door so Sasha could take care of them. But when she lowered her hood, it turned out to be Anne. The citizens were relieved to know that their Frog of the Year was here to save them.

"Anne!" Sprig yelled as he jumped to Anne, giving her a hug. Sam and Maggie broke free from the rope so they can move their arms freely. "Boy are we glad to see you. We got a situation. We're not guest, we're-"

"Prisoners. We know." Sam informed. "They're also planning to kill Hop Pop." Everyone gasped as they heard. Hop Pop spit out his loaf of bread and dropped all his food.

"Say what? But why?" he asked.

"Turns out, Hop Pops been inspiring rebellions all across the Valley. Blah blah, some political nonsense." Anne took out the poster showing Hop Pop and showed it to him. He took the poster and looked at it.

"Well, it's a good looking poster though." He admitted. "I'm goanna die!"

"Don't worry youngster, we won't let them get ya." Mrs. Croaker reassured.

"So what do we do?" Felicia asked.

"Nobody panic. We're goanna get you out of here, somehow."

"Any ideas? We're open for suggestions."

"I dooooon't. I don't." Loggle said. "Come on!" Everyone yelled.

"Damn it!"

"Geeze Loggle."

"I've got one!" Wally then opened his shirt to show boomshrooms that he brought. "What say we plant these boomshrooms around the joint, and blow the place sky-high?"

"With all of us still inside? Yeah we're not doing that."

"Right we're 'not' doing it." Wally intended to do a wink but due to his one eye, no one knew he was winking.

"Seriously. No boomshrooms."

"Loud and clear." Maggie walked around a bit and smelled a gut retching smell that came from sewage lid that lead to the sewer lines of the castle. She opened the lid and got an idea.

"Hey guys. We can through sewer line." She suggested. Felicia smelled the stench the sewer created and didn't like this idea at all.

"Oh yuck. Do we really have to go down there?" she complained. Poly set her straight when she jumped on her head.

"Deal with it lady! It's time to get dirty!" she jumped down the hole into the sewer. With everyone else following along.

Sewers 2:00 AM

Everyone walked down the stairs into the sewers with Anne leading the way. As they went to a tunnel, a large worm like creature comes out of it as everyone ran the other way. Toadie got covered in sewage, Mrs. Croaker fought off a rat, Sam carrying Sarah on his back, and despite Anne telling him not to, Wally was planting boomshrooms along the path.

"Just a little gift for our, generous host." He said as he set the boomshrooms ready to blow Toad Tower 'sky-high' in his words. Hop Pop looked at Sam as they walked and decided to ask him something.

"Hey kid. Why haven't you told Anne about the box?"

"I want to try and take your word for it. I can see you mean well and I just want to be sure you have some good points to justify your actions." After walking for a while, Anne saw a light straight above her head.

"Finally! I think we made it!" Anne opened the lid, free of the rotten stench the sewers offered. "Ah! Fresh air!" she then had weapons pointed at by toad soldiers.

"Boy those toads really stink!" Sprig insulted. The toads heard the insult loud and clear as more of them came up to them. "Did I say stink? I meant are very handsome." Jack and Sasha came by to see Anne and Sprig in the hole.

"Anne, Anne, Anne. Very disappointing. Now let's move. Grime's waiting for us."

Top of Toad Tower 2:39 AM

Grime walked over to the flytrap as it roared and snapped its jaws from below. He tossed a crab leg down to it as it chomped on it, leaving some pieces off it as he chuckled. Jack was near him, his head down, silent and still. He had bruises on his face, a black eye, and his right arm was completely broken. Sasha and the other toads brought Anne and everyone else to the top, to execute Hop Pop.

"Caught these prisoners trying to escape Grime. Even the prison guard decided to help them, though I we were able to catch them." She said.

"Dude, are you crazy?" Anne asked.

"And what the hell did you do too Jack?!" Sam yelled.

"Shh. I'm trying to get us home." She shushed. "And I didn't do anything to him. But he got what he deserved."

"Very impressive Sasha. Always playing Flipwart when everyone is playing Bog Jump." Anne, Maggie, Jack, Sam, and Sasha were confused on the metaphor Grime gave. "Well see Flipwart and Big Jump are both games. Though Flipwart is far more complicated and- I'm trying to say you're smart!"

"Oh. Hehehe. Thanks Grimsey! What can I say? Just how I do. Up top."

"Uh. Yes." Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig groaned angrily at them while, Anne tried to convince Sasha not to do this. Jack just knelt on the floor, not saying a single word.

"Sasha! Please! There has to be another way!"

"Yeah! Jack always told me that there's always another way." Maggie exclaimed.

"Come on. There's got to be at least something we can do." Two guards then put their spears in front of Anne, Maggie, and Sam to keep them back.

"There is no other way creatures. Our very way of life is at stake. I don't expect outsiders like you too understand. Sieve the traitor, Hoppidia Plantar!" he ordered. Two guards grabbed Hop Pop by the arms as Sprig and Polly tried to fight back, only to be pushed aside by them.

"No!" Anne then pushed the guards away and grabbed one of their swords. She took out one of the guards, while Sam punched the other. "Stay back!"

"Or you're really not goanna like what happens next." More guards moved up to Anne and Sam to stop them. Maddie growled at them, Maggie cracked her knuckles, Sarah got in a karate stance, Sprig got his slingshot, Hop Pop got out some crab legs and Polly got her mace. Wally got into a fighting position as Mrs. Croaker put her cane up high.

"Do your worst!"

"Oh, if you're goanna bring it, then bring it!" Felicia growled as she grabbed a nearby rock, Ivy raised her fist, and the sheriff rolled up his sleeve.

"In retrospect, we really should have tied them up."

"Enough!" The toads moved out of the way for Sasha, who was looking very annoyed. "Anne, what are you doing? Are you and the girl that bullied you and this weirdo really goanna risk your lives for these talking frogs? We don't even belong here. Don't you want to get back home? See your family's?" Anne was starting to fall for Sasha's manipulation while Maggie and Sam weren't buying it.

"Yeah but-"

"Then put your sword down now! End. Of. Discussion." Anne was starting to think about this. If she put the sword down, she could get back home. But if she didn't, Hop Pop would be executed. Leaving her no choice, she decided to put it down.

"There we go. That's my girl." Sprig saw how Sasha treated Anne and thought that she wasn't her friend. "There, now that wasn't so hard no was it?" Sasha then received some mud to the face, ticking her off.

"What the hell?" Everyone gasped when they saw that Sasha had been hit by mud. Anne looked down to see that Sprig was the one who did it.

"For someone who's supposed to be Anne's best friend, you sure don't know her very well! She's brave! She's smart! And most of all, she's not goanna pushed by a bully like you!" Anne smiled happily for Sprig while Sasha wailed the mud off her face. She was not happy at all.

"Ugh. I think I've had enough of this filthy dog toy." She took out her sword and swung it when Anne came in and blocked it with her sword, pushing Sasha back.

"Anne, what are you doing?"

"Something I should've done a long time ago, standing up to you!" Anne pushed Sasha back causing her to lose some balance. "Thanks for believing in me Sprig."

"Spranne against the world!" Grime chuckled at the scene.

"What are you laughing at?" Sasha asked.

"Looks like you've got a rebellious scene of your own. You've given me plenty of advice now let give some to you. Snap her out. Make her yield! Fail, and nothing will ever be the same again."

"Not goanna happen." Sasha lifted her sword high, preparing for combat.

"This should be fun. My friends! Instead of a messy free for all, I have a splendid idea! How about we settle this," Grime jumped onto a rock. The toad-fashioned way!" He snapped his fingers having his guards surrounding Sasha and Anne. "Trial by combat! If your champion wins, you all go home, no harm, no foul. But if our champion wins, well." Grime turned to the flytrap, which roared in response. "Baby's hungry."

"Anne. You don't have to do this." Hop Pop said.

"Yes I do." Anne and Sasha walked around in circles, dragging their swords on the ground as everyone watched. They stopped and stared each other down. Sam and Maggie in the meantime were helping Jack get back up. They put him down in a sitting position so he can rest.

"Thanks guys." He said.

"Begin!" Grime yelled. Sasha charged first leading in with her sword. Anne blocked it as the two swung their swords at each other. Anne barely dodged Sasha's attack as she clashed her sword against Sasha's.

"What's gotten into you Anne? You were never like this back home."

"Do you ever stop talking?" Anne then flung Sasha's sword out of her hand, causing everyone to gasp. Anne swung her sword only for Sasha to dodge it with her new capoeira skills, kicking Anne's sword out of her hand, hitting one of the toads shields. Anne came in with a roadhouse kick as Sasha dodged it with a cartwheel. Sasha kicked Anne's left side of her face, causing a tooth and a bit of blood to fall out. Sasha pulled the dagger that was behind her back.

'Sorry Anne. I didn't want to do this.' She thought. Anne got a kick in but was nearly stabbed in the leg as Sasha nearly hit it. Anne quickly punched Sasha in the nose so she'd drop it.

"Oh come on, a dagger?" Sasha threw her cape at Anne and drop kicked her, giving her the chance to pick up her sword while Anne grabbed her and threw the cape off only to see Sasha's sword right in her face.

"They're just slimy little frogs Anne! They don't matter!"

"They're not just frogs. They're my friends!" Anne then slashed her sword causing Sasha's sword to fly a bit into the air and fall back down as she fell, leaving a scar on her left cheek. The citizens of Wartwood cheered for Anne's victory as Sam smiled proud and silently and Maggie gave her a nod.

"It's over Sash. You're not goanna push me around anymore." Sasha gave a complete surprised look which turned into an angry glare. "So how about it big guy? We're free right?"

"Yeah I don't think so." Grime then fired his tongue at Hop Pop bringing him towards him.

"Hop Pop!" Sprig and Polly yelled.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Grime boasted. "This ends now." Suddenly the tower started to rumble and shake. Back in the sewers, Wally's boomshrooms started to explode, causing the tower to collapse.

"Wally, what did you do?" Anne asked.

"What? I thought we agreed." Wally replied. "What you couldn't tell I was winking? Ah, curse you one eye!" more parts of the tower were falling off causing the frogs to move up. Even the toads were getting a bit frightened.

"We gotta get out of here!" one toad said.

"Hey, wait! Where are you going you cowards?" Grime yelled before falling of the part of the tower he was on. That gave Hop Pop the chance to escape his grasp.

"Eh. Never liked that guy." He then hopped away and to the door out of there as more parts started to fall. "Everyone! Come on! Get off the roof quick!" One piece fell on the flytrap, killing it. More of the Tower began breaking, getting closer to Sasha and Jack.

"Anne!" she yelled as she fell.

"Sasha!" Anne grabbed her before she could fall any further. "I've got you Sash! You're goanna be ok!" Anne started getting dragged with Sasha until her feet caught a bit of rock. Sam grabbed Jack as soon as he could as Sarah grabbed the back of his sweatshirt.

"Hold on Jack!" Sam yelled.

"We're not letting go!" Sarah strained.

"Ok I think that's everyone!" Hop Pop said. Maddie then came back up, panting heavily.

"Sarah wasn't with us!" she exclaimed. That's when she, Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig heard Anne yell.

"Anne!" Sprig then came by to help her.

"Can't hold on much longer." Anne said.

"We're slipping Anne! We're slipping!" Sam was still holding on but the combined weight of Anne and Sasha was making him slip. He fell on his stomach causing Sarah to grab his shoes.

"I can't hold on!" she yelled. Maddie came in to grab Sarah's chest to help.

"We got you guys!" Maddie yelled. But it still wasn't enough to keep them all from falling. Maggie came up to see what was happening and quickly grabbed Maddie. Sprig then came in and grabbed her sweatshirt as Hop grabbed his chest and Polly grabbed his leg.

"Hey hey! Look at me! Look at me! Everything's goanna be totally fine!" She yelled. "Just hang on!"

"I'm not letting any of you guys die!" Maggie yelled.

"We got you Anne! No matter what!" Hop Pop yelled. Polly noticed however that the ledge they were on was starting to break apart.

"Uh guys? I think we have a situation!" she exclaimed. Sasha and Jack knew that they had to do something. If they kept holding on, they would bring everyone down with them. There was only one thing they could do now.

"Hey Anne? Maybe you're better off without me." Slight tears built up in her eyes as she let go, falling to her demise. Jack stream some tears down his face he let go as well.

"No!" Anne, Maggie, and Sam yelled. As they fell further off the tower, Grime grabbed Sasha, plunged a dagger into the side of the tower, and slid down the side of the tower. This gave Jack an idea. He took his sword, plunged it into the tower like, and slid down it like Grime. It didn't last long as it broke halfway down the tower but luckily, it wouldn't be enough to kill him. Everyone ran out the door as more parts fell off. One of the tarantulas getting crushed as it ran. Mrs. Croaker's speed didn't help much due to her age. She was then picked up Toadstool who had Felicia, Ivy, Loggle, Toadie on Felicia's foot, and Wally on his back.

"Hi Mrs. Croaker." Wally greeted.

"Mayo Toadstool?"

"Uh huh. If you all die, who would I invectively money from huh?"

"Shut up and run!" Mrs. Croaker yelled as more piles of stone fell onto the ground. Toadstool ran as fast as he could due to all the weight he had on him. They all made it out just in time as the rubble stopped. Sam could see Jack's body on the ground, as a little pool of blood came from him. He and Maggie hurried down the stairs to see if he was still alive with Maddie and Sarah following. Maggie and Sam opened the doors and ran to Jack's body hoping that he would be alive. His left arm was crushed under a piece of stone.

"Help me lift it!" Sam yelled as he took one side and Maggie took another. Sam and Maggie lifted with all their strength but it wasn't enough. It wasn't until Sam's eyes started glowing blue as he threw the stone off into the mountainous range. Jack's arm was completely crushed to pieces. He slightly opened his eyes to Sam in front of his face.

"You're alive!" He bawled his eyes out. Maggie, and Sarah came in for a group hug.

"Heh. Really a hugger aren't ya?" Jack asked.

"Don't you ever scare us like that again!" Maggie yelled. Sarah awed at the scene while Maddie just smiled. Back at the top, Anne saw Grime take Sasha's unconscious body with him. He looked up, growled angrily, and left with what was left of his army.

Sprig saw that Anne was upset about Sasha's betrayal as he went over to comfort her.

"Anne, are you goanna be ok?" Sprig asked.

"Oh yeah." She answered. "Never felt be-be-" she couldn't put her words together as she started sniffing and crying. Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig came in and hugged Anne. This would be an event they wouldn't forget.

Wartwood 7:30 AM

Mrs. Croaker rode everyone back to Wartwood as she stopped the tarantula from going further. "Woah girl!" she yelled. "Easy now. All right everybody, we're home." Everyone was exhausted from the way back as they went to rest through the experience they had.

"Think you can carry me again sir?" Toadie asked.

"Never again Toadie. Never again." Toadstool answered. Anne, Hop Pop, Jack, Maddie, Maggie, Polly, Sarah, and Sprig sat by the water fountain.

"I know that was hard for ya Anne. Thanks for everything Anne. And you guys, really helped out back there." Hop Pop said.

"Hop Pop. You guys are like family to me. I'd never let anyone hurt you. And thanks for teaching me those skills Sam. They really helped in the fight." Anne said. Sam smiled proudly at her. "And Maggie, if you haven't thought of escaping through the sewer, we wouldn't have gotten out alive." Maggie blushed a bit and rubbed the back of her head.

"Aw shucks it was nothing." She said modestly.

"So you guys want to get breakfast and come up with a way to get Anne and her new friends home?"

"It's goanna be dangerous. Perilous even."

"Understatement."

"Hey. You only live once." Sam replied.

"And whatever happens next, one thing's for sure. With all of us together, I know we can do this." Anne said as she hugged the Plantar gang. Sam and Maggie grabbed Maddie and Sarah for their own little group hug.

"Hugging a little tight there Anne."

"No I'm not."

"Still goanna need to explain to my parents about my arm being gone." Jack said.

To be Continued in Chapter 5: Handy Crew