Chapter Text
Sasha owed Grime an apology. Leading a military coup was a shit job.
Give the toads some credit. They were idiots for sure, but at least they kept their damn mouths shut and stayed in their place as good little soldiers. These newts were nothing more than opinionated, pompous know it all‘s -- always putting in their two cents, even when it wasn’t warranted (and it was never warranted). What was worse is that their idea of war and conquest was completely backward. Unsurprising given they had the worse excuse for a tyrant. Disregarding his over-the-top cliche villain act, Andrias was a bonafide idiot when it came to battle tactics.
Despite her age, the teenager was an expert on effective war strategies. Grime had thought it essential to have the newest commander be a key part of making all battle decisions. Sasha had once voiced (rather boldly, I may add) her feelings about being the lead officiator for the Toad army.
The old toad’s voice hung in her mind like a recurring tumor, rearing its ugly head when she was alone with her thoughts. It happened too much nowadays.
“Patience Lieutenant. Your climb to rank will come in time, but be warned, leading a group such as this one, will leave you bald.”
Now she really wished he was here with her. One scowl from Grime’s stone face and these bitches would pipe down in an instant. Together they had made an infallible team with Sasha’s manipulative influence and Grime’s threats. She wondered about him from time to time. It only came as a relief that no one mentioned finding the seasoned captain. The knowledge that her best friend was still in hiding was the one thing in this world that gave her peace of mind.
“Hold it right there.”
Sasha’s gaze turned to a speckled newt strapped in bulbous armor. It hung loose on him and his limbs fell limply out the sides. He glowered at her through a pair of glasses, craning his neck to see over the table. It was pathetic.
“Why are we only keeping to the surface? Wouldn’t it be more practical to attack from above?”
She dragged a hand down her face for the millionth time that day. The dry, pimply skin was already peeling and her previous love of moisturizer became a long-past necessity.
“As already stated, airborne attacks are compromised. We have plenty of militaries invading the skies. They do not come on giant ravenous birds with bows and arrows. They have thick metal bullets that will tear into your flesh. A more subtle attack will ensure victory.”
The room voiced their objections. And eventually, after a millennium of this bullshit, Sasha left to patrol the castle halls.
Back at Grime's Tower, she learned the ins and outs of every corner to the point she could map out the entire area in her sleep - and that only took her two weeks. She had been in this palace for months and still got lost. But this room she knew quite well, for she had visited it every single night, on her knees praying to some deity that the person inside was still alive. So it was no surprise that her footsteps had subconsciously brought her here. If only her brain had told them its former resident wasn’t there anymore.
She stared inside, taking in an invisible scene: an empty bed with sheets splayed across. They had been repeatedly stained with blood and needed changing. A body, a limp body, the only remnants of life coming from the staggering rise and fall of their chest. And in a small instance, (so slight, she wondered if she had dreamt it) dim brown eyes gazing up at her, a single cry from their lips, before closing again. The moment when she had truly felt weak in the knees.
She pulled away when she came face to face with a deep scowl. The prestigious woman Sasha had come to know as Lady Olivia, was ironing out the wrinkles in her skirt.
Sasha crossed her arms. “So, is stalking and standing awkwardly in doorways part of your duties now?”
The steward did not react to the teenager’s crude tone and raised her head proudly. “If you proceed to treat her as a prisoner, she won't have reason to trust you,” she said plainly.
Sasha scoffed, turning away to face the empty infirmary. “I don’t need advice from my friend’s patronizing newt mother. I know what I’m doing.”
The newt tilted her head to the side. “Is that so?”
“Lest you forget, Marcy is my responsibility. I’m only looking out for her.”
A hum. “And you’re certain this is the best way to go about that?”
Sasha sucked in a heavy breath of air, her voice tapering. “Whatever it takes...”
Lady Olivia nodded and turned on her heel. “Follow me.”
Sasha definitely did not want to follow her, but the stern calmness in the elder’s tone left no room for discussion. Plus, if she refused, she’d have to go back to those imbecilic soldiers and she'd rather eat roach eggs than deal with them again. So she swallowed her pride and followed suit.
Aviation in Amphibia was a prominent skill that required extensive knowledge of aerodynamics, ornithology, and practical training. Fortunately for her, Marcy’s high marks in her AP physics and biology classes made her a perfect candidate for the position. Although flight craft was initially modeled after a bird’s wing structure, the art of piloting one was a vastly different concept.
During the first few weeks of her training, Marcy had flown every species of bird imaginable, ranging from brants to swallows. But songbirds had specific flight patterns that did not allow for delays or detours. Being a veteran bird, Joe was quite adept at long-distance flights. Once Marcy flew him fifteen hundred miles in the span of three days. That journey had demonstrated to her the importance of pit stops and breaks, both for herself and Joe. And she made sure to remember that as they were running for their lives.
Fleeing the castle unscathed was a bit of a hassle. Andrias’s robots had nearly intercepted them, but Joe’s swift dives and wing strokes had won them a narrow escape. Marcy’s crossbow and phone, as well as her essential belongings, were still in the palace. And with such a long journey in front of them, she would need to gather some emergency supplies. She hadn’t expected the emergency would involve being a fugitive and committing treason, but she supposed that was all hearsay now.
Given her complicated history with the King, her line of trust was limited. Most were far too loyal to the crown to lend a traitor refuge, but she knew a couple who would not hesitate to do so.
The sparrow ducked under the sliver of moonlight, touching down at the edge of a glade near a little ma and pa shop. Marcy had come across the mercantile village on one of her missions. Since it lay directly on the outskirts of Newtopia, it was the perfect place to hunker down without fear of being caught.
She instructed Joe to hide in the bushes. “Back in a jiffy, boy.”
She walked around back and rapped softly on the door. After a second of silence, she knocked a bit harder, this time eliciting a response from inside. There was a patter of feet, mumbled protests, and a collection of soft clangs and dings from objects being shuffled about, followed by a tired, nasally voice.
“Coming, coming.”
The door creaked open, revealing a speckled newt with a tweed waistcoat and spectacles at the tip of his muzzle, complete with disheveled hair tucked into a cap.
“You know we’re not open until..." His drowsy eyes widened. "Marcy?!”
The newt was struck silent, mouth slowly falling open and eyes blinking rapidly.
“Hi, Caius. Sorry to bug you at this hour, but I didn’t know where else to turn.”
The shop owner had stopped listening and was shaking his head while muttering, “No, no, no, Marcy. I don’t want no trouble, hear me? Don’t want it, don’t need it. I don’t do confrontations or complications.” He finished with an adamant stamp of his foot that gave off no sound.
Marcy waited until the salamander had retreated into the dark shop before slipping in after him. The door carefully shut behind her. She rose her palms as a sign of truce. “Easy, I’m not here to cause trouble. I need a few supplies for our journey and then I’ll get out of your hair.”
The skittish newt looked about to retort when a small squeak was heard from one of the shelves. Marcy’s eyes darted to the corner, where a tuft of green hair peaked out and then disappeared behind the bookcase.
Caius crossed his arms. “Ellie, you’re supposed to be asleep.”
Another newt in twin braids crawled out, shuffling her tiny feet. She was young, around the age of six, and wore a lilac pinstripe dress with high stockings. Thick bangs fell over her eyes as she stared at her feet.
“Sorry, Papa,” she lamented. “I heard the noise and came to investigate.” When she looked up her jaw dropped to the floor, soon replaced by the biggest smile.
“Oh my gosh, it’s you, Chief Ranger Marcy Wu! You’re a hero!”
A pang shot through Marcy’s chest. It had always been her dream to be hailed a hero in a far-off land, like those in her isikai novels - praised and showered with endless adoration. But now that adoration merely comprised beestings and thorns.
Marcy pawed at the back of her neck, shifting her eyes away. “Uh thanks, but I wouldn’t say that.”
“Why not?” Large, innocent pupils stared up in confusion.
She bit her lower lip, fingers twisting the hem of her dress, and whispered, “I’m not much of a hero…”
Elouise’s perplexed frown shifted. “Are you kidding? You’re Newtopia’s best! You saved our village from an angry stampede of rhino beetles.”
“Yes, but…”
“And you devised a new irrigation system during that drought. Just look, look!”
The little newt scampered out and returned, cradling a miniature contraption in her spindly arms. She raised it in the air, beaming proudly.
“I modeled it after yours.”
Marcy ran her fingers over the wood varnish. The craftsmanship was decent with no visible chips or cracks. It was sturdy, with two limbs that folded inward for storage purposes. Although its size resembled a toy, the intricate design displayed a weapon.
“Wow.” Marcy breathed. “This is an exact replica. Is there a spring-based firing mechanism in here?”
“Yep, and it takes real arrows.”
“Impressive.”
A mock cough piercing the air halted their menial conversation. Caius glared down at his daughter with arms crossed before setting his attention on the human.
“Elouise, please. Now, Master Marcy, I know we’ve been on good terms in the past, but I don’t think I can aid you anymore.”
Marcy gripped his hands and pleaded with him. “Please Caius, I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t urgent.”
“You’re with the king’s army. Do you know what he’s done?”
Marcy slowly shook her head, afraid of the answer. She could guess, but she was certain that any assumptions would be leagues different from what had been enacted. If Sasha's behavior was any indication, Andrias had caused severe harm to the peaceful inhabitants of this world.
“He is drafting people into the military. Anyone who refuses or is not fit to fight is hauled away to work camps where they either die from exhaustion or starvation. Even humble shop owners are forced to supply weapons for the war. Elouise and I have had to sell everything to get by. Thanks to this tyrant, our entire lives have been upended.”
The pain in Marcy’s chest returned tenfold, and it placed a clamp around her heart.
“I… I didn’t know. I’m truly sorry, Caius. Please, believe me, I don’t support what Andrias is doing anymore, but I swear I intend to stop him.”
The newt bowed his head in contemplation before another, harsher knock sounded on the door. Elouise ran to the boarded window and peeked out before turning back to her father with fear.
“Papa, it’s them again.”
The store clerk gasped and shuffled her away. “Quick now, hide.” He killed the lights and guarded the entrance while Eloise dragged Marcy across the room.
“C’mon, Ms. Wu, don’t let them see you.”
The small hand gripped Marcy’s own and pulled her behind the service desk. A swinging door sealed them in as the two crammed together in the hallowed area. For Elouise, it was easy to fit in the small crevice, but Marcy had to squeeze her body between the narrow walls to stay hidden. Thankfully, the heavy shadows kept her hidden in the dark. There was a small eye slot in the center, created by a nail that was conveniently large enough to see through.
Caius sighed in relief when he saw the two girls were safe until another knock rattled the door. “Open up by order of his majesty.”
Caius complied and found himself staring at a group of robots. The one leading was significantly larger and crafted of copper plating rather than the usual smog-colored metal. Marcy sucked in air and swallowed the hailstorm of fear swirling in her stomach.
“Sorry guys closed ‘till six.” He tried to shut the door, but a metal foot wedged itself in the entryway, preventing it from closing.
“We are seeking the whereabouts of the human, Marcy Wu.” the lead robot explained, allowing itself passage.
Marcy’s breath quickened. Andrias had eyes and ears everywhere; it would not be easy to escape.
“A human, you say? Well, sorry fellas, but I’ve seen no trace of this, Marcy .”
Caius feigned ignorance. His voice sounded steady and well-assured, but behind his back, his hands were shaking at the speed of a hummingbird’s wings.
“Insufficient response. We have insight she was seen flying overhead.”
The store clerk faked a cough in order to subside his nerves. “I mean, she’s not here. I saw her flying westbound. I believe she’s heading to the Sonder lakes.”
The robots turned to each other with an ugly mechanical clink of their heads. “Affirmative, We will check for her there.”
They funneled outside, but the tall one turned back, narrowing its slitted eyes. “If you see the human, you must inform King Andrias immediately. Harboring a traitor is a criminal offense. Punishable by death.” He added a beat later with a deep voice that reverberated through the walls.
The newt gulped. “Of course, I would never betray my king.” He bowed respectfully and the robots departed in toe. Marcy crawled out from the desk and approached the clerk, who was facing away.
“Caius, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have come here. I promise you’ll never have to hear from me again.”
Caius remained silent, staring at the doorframe with an unreadable expression, and she turned to leave.
“That story won’t hold them for long. We need to act fast.”
“What…?”
“Elouise go collect food and supplies for our guests. They have a daunting journey ahead of them.”
“Yes, papa.” She said and darted to the kitchen.
Caius went into the back room, gathering glass bottles. “I take it you still make potions, yes? Here, these vials should suffice.” He emptied the bottles into her open arms. Marcy looked on in bewilderment.
“You’re still helping me, even after--?”
“Master Marcy, I owe you my life. Your loyalties may have been askew, but the help you’ve provided our little village cannot be undermined. If you are sincere in stripping Andrias of power, I wish to serve you in any way I can.”
Marcy’s heart melted and she gave a humble bow. “Thank you, Caius. I promise not to disappoint you.”
He nodded. “Now, let’s get you stocked.”
Marcy followed the newts to the far side of the store, a basket of food on her arm and a heavy satchel slung across her shoulder filled to the brim with many supplies such as twine and parchment. Her waist donned a leather belt containing potion vials filled with liquid concoctions, powders, and herbal pouches. Elouise trailed behind, carrying a big burlap sack of sunflower seeds for Joe.
Caius removed the crochet rug and lifted the thick wood door to the cellar. Only the top of the stairway was lit with the back shrouded in darkness. It displayed an ominous ambiance about it.
“There is a set of stairs that leads outside, he informed. “Elouise and I will make sure you are not followed, and once we are able to flee this town, we’ll join you on your quest.”
Marcy shook his hand. “It’s been a pleasure.”
“It certainly has.”
Without warning, Elouise lept into her arms, nearly throwing Marcy down the stairs. “Don’t forget us,” she whispered fiercely.
Marcy squeezed back just as hard. “Never.” She looked back before exiting and saw globs of tears welling in the little one’s eyes. Once again, her thick bangs were obstructing her vision.
“Hey, I’ve got something for you.” She pulled out her signature green barrette and tucked the loose strands of hair behind the girl’s head, clipping them in place. “Can’t be a ranger with hair in your eyes.”
Ellie’s face slowly changed from the frozen shock, with inflated cheeks and a smile inching, growing wider by the millisecond. The bones in her legs rattled. Caius quickly slapped a palm over her mouth before she alerted the entire village.
“See ya on the other side.” Marcy snickered and dropped into the cellar before her body tumbled over itself and a mess of loose limbs clattered to the floor. “I’m okay!”
Joe was still waiting for her on the other end, so she mounted him and took for the sky, keeping low in case some robots were to survey the area.
Together, they fled the village with no problem.
……
Or they would have.
Unbeknown to the duo, a lone archer hid cleverly in the trees. It all happened In a single breath.
Joe let out a gut-wrenching shriek as he started plummeting to the ground, his balance abruptly thrown off. Marcy quickly steered him towards the treetops, cushioning the crash.
“Woah, Joe, you okay?” She asked, hopping down to inspect the damage.
She examined his feathers and immediately found the offending object, an arrow planted within the primaries. The tip was plunged so deep, that it prevented any blood from spilling. Joe closed his eyes with a whine and turned his limp head to the side. The poor thing appeared in so much pain.
“Don’t worry, bud. We’ll get you fixed right...” she trailed off as a sharp whistle echoed through the treetops. Fine leather stamped against wood as a nimble figure could be heard swinging through the branches. He had the suaveness of Yunan and cheered each time he made a landing. The forest was lively with dark shadows darting about so the swashbuckling ninja only became visible when they were directly in the moon’s light. In that split second, she saw a slender green newt, dressed in fine attire and donning a dark cloak with the royal insignia.
“At last, I heard rumors of the king’s traitor. But never thought I’d be the one to find them. I must admit, you were not as difficult to catch as I initially expected.”
The cylindrical position of the trees caused the newt’s thunderous voice to be heard everywhere, and yet, Marcy could barely make him out amongst the shadows. She decided to take this opportunity to slink around the tree and formulate a plan. Reaching into her belt, she worked diligently, mixing chemicals until they bubbled into a blue solution.
The newt grew closer, his voice increasing with each advancing step. “No more will I be known as a petty thief. With you as my prize, the king will reinstate me into his army.”
His bow cracked and another arrow whizzed by, planting itself in the bark inches from her shoulder. Marcy carefully added one more drop, steady and focused on the amount needed. The newt stalked toward Joe with his weapon ready. Too tired to move, the aforementioned sparrow could only stare up with glazed-over eyes.
“And this steed I will bring back as a trophy for my acclaimed victory.”
That’s when Marcy pounced. She tackled the newt from behind and snaked an arm around his neck. With her free arm, she pushed the potion-soaked cloth onto his muzzle until he was forced to breathe in. The newt beneath her flailed and fought, but even with her small body, he could not throw her off of him. Eventually, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed in her arms. Marcy took a few calming breaths, the rush of adrenaline from their last escapade dying, and looked down at the form slumped against the branches. Even in a soporose state, he looked dramatic, swooping red hair splayed against the branch and his legs dangling over the side.
The ranger quickly checked his pulse, relieved he was still breathing. She removed the cloak and wrapped it around herself, both as another layer of warmth and protection. The king’s cloth would make a suitable guise until they found reinforcements. She also took his bow and quiver, gathering gear and weaponry, before turning to Joe.
“His call will draw others. We must hide out until it’s safe.”
Marcy harbored out in the trees, listening for the trample of metal soles. Her breath hitched at some movement in the brush, and she pressed herself against the tree, slipping into one of the large cracks that concealed her body from sight. Joe Sparrow was already an instrument of the wild, and his brown body camouflaged well against the bark.
A few whispers were heard and a shot of an arrow, and then the footsteps started again drifting to the west side. Marcy released the breath she was holding and pried herself away from the crack.
“Okay, we’re clear.”
The tree came to life, and Joe chirped, hopping over to her. His earthly hues were so convincing that even Marcy lost sight of him for a few seconds.
“Alright, let me take a look at that wing.”
Joe outstretched the limp wing to the best of his ability. Marcy gripped the arrow with both hands and felt the bird flinch beneath her. She placed one foot on his lower body, counting steadily in her head.
“Alright Joe, I’m gonna need you to stay very still. If I do this fast, it should be swift and painless.”
Marcy took three breaths, curling her fingers around the rod. When she exhaled the third time, she tugged. Joe let out a mighty squawk, and she wrenched the arrow free from his flesh. With the first aid supplies she had obtained from Batrachia, she tended to the wound. She was not a medical expert in delivering stitches, but due to the excessive amount of accidents, she had experience patching her ripped clothing. Sewing a wound was inherently different, but the technique was similar so she mimicked the motions as she threaded the needle and closed up the hole. She finished, tying off the excess bandage and wrapping the wing to keep it immobilized.
“Okay, we need to make some distance between us and the castle. The ground’s still too dangerous. We’ll be better if we keep to the trees. There’s enough foliage for us to at least get a good set of miles in.”
She gazed up at the stars, charting their direction. After locating the tadpole star at the end of the large skipper, she hopped on Joe and set a course to the north.
Lady Olivia and Sasha finally exited into the courtyard. The warm weather was inviting in contrast to the damp walls. A crisp breeze swept through carrying an aroma of seawater and herbs. It was fresh against her hot, sweaty face. Being outdoors was almost an anomaly to her. Having spent countless months tucked inside the dreary old castle, she’d desperately needed some fresh air.
The light blue coral gates led into a lush garden overflowing with floral oddities and aquatic shrubs. Sasha could definitely see Marcy’s imprint on this place. Each species was labeled with the common name followed by its scientific title in parentheticals. There were even info cards below each variant containing obscure facts and details.
What a nerd! Gets isekaied to another world and all she can think about is plants.
A stone walkway curved around the garden, leading over a bridge that arched a stream. They passed under an arbor framed with wisteria, clusters of petals marking the path.
Unlike the rest of the palace, which was only permitted to the royal clan, the garden was open to all. The day hours would see laughing children tugging one another through the rows of flowers and locals enjoying the rare beauty of the garden. Yet at this time of the night, it was quiet and the only sounds Sasha could make out were the peaceful hum of the crickets and the rigid beating of her own heart.
Lady Olivia extended an arm and gestured to the surrounding area. “This was a gift from Master Marcy. She wanted a place where the humbled citizens could retreat after a long day. In addition, she remodeled the bridges and roads. Newtopia owes her a great service.”
Sasha huffed. “If you’re trying to tell me how smart Marcy is, save your breath. Girl’s a genius, but she severely lacks people skills.”
“I didn’t say she was the brightest in all fashions,” Lady Olivia countered. She focused on a perky dahlia and gently stroked the edges of its petals. “Yes, she’s naïve and trusting, maybe too much, but she is also kind and diligent. She’s experienced her fair share of dangerous predicaments and been quite victorious.”
Sasha scowled. “What are you trying to say?”
Lady Olivia looked the teenager in the eyes and spoke with the same sincerity adults often did during a lecture. “You think you are doing her a service by keeping her close. But how long until she breaks away?”
The idea of losing Marcy again, albeit willingly, haunted Sasha, so she shook it off with a laugh.
“You must be dense. Marcy wouldn’t ditch me. She needs me.”
Seriously, who did this bitch think she was? Pretending to be in Marcy’s best interest. Sasha knew Marcy inside and out. She’s a girl who trips over the cracks in the sidewalk, forges fake doctor's notes to get out of gym class, and will ramble for days on her favorite book series and the latest edition of a video game. They were privy to the skeletons in each other's closets.
When Marcy revealed her intentions with the box, Sasha wasn’t that surprised. This was Marcy. She always got so stuck in her own world that she could barely recognize the surrounding danger. It only proved to Sasha how gullible she was. And why she should never be left to her own devices.
Unamused, Lady Olivia raised her chin, and the next words she uttered struck Sasha to her core. “Are you certain it is she who needs you?”
The general’s jaw fell. She searched for retorts, but they died in her throat. Her head snapped back as the wind slapped it. Lady Olivia appeared graceful. The breeze tousled her lilac curls over her shoulders and twirled the teacup skirt around her feet. For a moment, even General Sasha was intimidated bby her immortal beauty. Her abrupt silence had ended the conversation, and Lady Olivia rose.
“I must retire for the evening. I wish you a pleasant night, general. “ She said with a curtesy before those dang heels clattered down the stone path and out of earshot.
Now alone in the garden, Sasha ran her fingers through her sweat-matted hair, seated at the edge of the bridge with her legs slung across the side. A calming sensation as brief as it was, spread up her fingertips. For a passing moment, the numbness she’d been experiencing these past weeks drifted away. She breathed in the fresh air, a waft of salty seawater and barnacle. Bright streaks skidded through the stream, much bigger than the ones she had come to know but still as elegant. A nostalgic feeling washed over her, heavy enough to bring tears to her eyes.
You’ve got to be shitting me.
Sasha forced back the bitter remark as the cloth was removed from her eyes. After being tugged halfway around town for almost an hour straight, her patience was wearing paper thin and she was inches away from grabbing the smaller girl and shaking her roughly by the shoulders for wasting her time. Marcy had promised her a “special surprise” and insisted the blindfold was necessary to exemplify the illusion. Regardless of her attempts to steady her balance, her whole world felt tilted with her vision obstructed, and the person leading her through the maze of obstacles was anything but graceful.
But now that the offending fabric was removed and her eyes had adjusted to the light, Sasha finally got to see the amazing place Marcy was raving about. Her sore wrist, blisters on her feet, and burning pupils were all a result of...
A turtle pond.
Seriously? Marcy dragged her all this way to a fricking turtle pond?!
It lay at the bottom of a steep hill near an abandoned amphitheater, which explained all the uneven ground.
Being an old campus, there was discarded litter and cans strewn about. The grass was mostly dry, with several dead patches in the dirt, typical for California. The only sprint of color came from the pond itself, which was fenced by a stone wall. Red-eared sliders were laying on flat rocks and bathing in the sun.
Marcy loved reptiles so it was understandable that this was a frequent recreational spot for her. But out of all the places she could think of, what on earth led Marcy to believe this is the one she should bring Sasha to?
Marcy was clutching her hands, knees shaking in anxious excitement. Sasha smiled hard through grit teeth, hard enough to break them. “Wow, cool a koi pond!”
Marcy pulled her to the edge. “C’mon take a closer look. Aren’t they magnificent?”
Sasha squinted her eyes but cast her gaze on the multicolored fish swirling through the waters. They were fine… Their scales reflected off the surface and glimmered in the sun’s rays. The sight was pretty if she were honest, and it carried some serenity. But that still begged the question of why they were wasting a perfectly good Saturday watching mindless gilled creatures.
“See that black one?”
Apparently, Marcy did not share the same sediment. She pointed at an ebony-colored fish, its dark scales in stark contrast with the radiated hues of the others. “It’s called Sumi. Many believe they possess good luck.”
Sasha pursed her lips together. “Okay…” Her grandmother had a water garden with koi and was a fan of the black variety. Sasha never understood why, but now the obsession made sense. Old woman was always into superstitious nonsense, obajaki, darum dolls and now black koi. Still it didn’t explain why she was there.
Marcy extended her arms wildly as if it was the most obvious thing. “Don’t you get it?” I know how nervous you’ve been with regionals coming up.”
Sasha scoffed, “I’m not nervous,” she dismissed with a flick of her wrist, but Marcy only grinned wider.
“Your locker is stalked with cases of Red Bull, you arrive at school an hour early every day so you can practice in the gym, and have been staying up till 2 am doing drills.”
Sasha blinked. “How’d you know that?”
Marcy held up her phone. “Because that’s when you text me.”
A series of text messages soon flooded the screen. Marcy’s were highlighted in green while Sasha’s were in magenta. There was a crazy difference in the ratio of responses to texts. But everything had been marked as “read” with a tiny icon of Sasha’s face beside it.
Sasha cursed herself for being programmed to look at every message. Sleep deprivation is a key factor in a slip of the tongue. Marcy had simply figured out the reason she was staying up based on her replies. Damn, that girl was freaky smart sometimes.
“So I thought you could use a little extra luck.” Marcy continued.
Sasha studied her fake nails “What, like throwing coins in the wishing Fountain?”
Her tone could not be any more sarcastic; it was practically dripping with insincerity. Any person would see the question as rhetorical.
“Yeah!”
She stood corrected.
Marcy grabbed her chin in thought. “Except we shouldn’t throw foreign objects in here. The copper could disintegrate and damage the fish’s digestive tracts through asphyxiation.”
Sasha restrained from face-palming. “Marmar, you really believe that junk? I thought you were the facts and logic nerd, not the superstition type.”
Well, there is an historic basis to these idealizations, so there may be some truth to them. And even if there isn’t, we still got to see some pretty cool fish.
Again with the fucking fish.
Sasha rubbed the bridge of her nose, officially done trying to reason with this girl. “Fine. Not like I have anything better to do.”
Marcy cheered, “That's the spirit! Now close your eyes and absorb all that positive energy.”
Positive energy, yeah right.
Still, despite her initial dismissal, Sasha complied and breathed in the calming aura. The water rippled around her while the air was filled with birdsong. It was nice, peaceful even. She didn’t hate it.
“Wanna know what else makes koi so fascinating?” Asked Marcy softly.
“...Enlighten me.” Sasha hummed.
“They’re derived from this ancient tale. According to legend, each day the carp would try to swim up the river to pass through the Golden Gate at the top of a large waterfall. Unfortunately, it was a perilous activity and few survived."
“Jumping over a waterfall is a perilous activity?”
“For fish.”
Sasha shrugged and leaned back, her mind 100% focused on this richly investing tale.
“Those that didn’t perish were immediately welcomed into the heavens where they were transformed into magnificent dragons.”
“Hmm, dragons are cool,” the cheerleader agreed.
“Aren’t they?! Reminds me of you.”
She cocked her head to the side. “It does?”
“Yeah, koi are seen as emblems for their perseverance and bravery, and you’re the bravest person I know. So the koi is kinda your fish, you know.”
Sasha’s cheeks flared with heat and the back of her throat grew dry. Marcy’s eyes were still on the fish, mesmerized by their movements as if she didn’t even realize what she said. But Sasha’s eyes were on Marcy. The way her face reflected in the shimmering, silver waters, the glow of the sun on her cheeks, the smile she wore that was as wide as the rim of the moon. It was precious beyond belief and Sash’s heart skipped a beat.
The raven-haired looked up with concern. “Hey, are you okay?”
Sasha’s eyes widened and she attempted to pat down her cheeks. Two hands came to rest on the sides of her face and she found herself staring into a set of curious eyes.
“Your face is red. Are you sick?”
Sasha masked a scoff. “Yeah, of this boring-ass place. C’mon nerd, let’s do something fun.”
Marcy didn’t complain as her arm was tugged away from the pond and up the hillside.
Sasha blinked as her mind was thrust back into the present. She thanked Marcy after that, didn’t she? She remembered seeing her in the front row of the bleachers, cheering Sasha’s name at the top of her lungs. Saint James left that day with a shiny first-place trophy, credited to the best performer on their team. Sasha saw little of Anne and Marcy afterward, too focused on her winnings.
Whenever she'd bring up the competition during lunch, Marcy grew uncharacteristically quiet. Sasha figured she was jealous. Now it seemed maybe it was something else.
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out the polaroid she had kept on her person since day one. It was hardly visible with all the wrinkles, had faded edges, and was taped back together in an area that had severed the connection between her and Marcy, but it was still in one piece.
She glanced up, taking notice of how dark the sky had grown. The moon was high above the horizon and the entire garden became blanketed in shadows. It was too late to get Marcy now. She really hadn’t had much time to properly sleep outside of a medically induced coma. Waiting until the upcoming morning would give her time to rehearse what to say.
Sasha knew the conversation awaiting them would be long and serious, and as much as she hated to admit it, she wasn’t emotionally prepared as of yet. There were so many things she needed to say. Certain things that she had buried into the deepest crevices of her mind, hoping to never face. But that was how Amphibia worked, wasn’t it? It brought to light revelations about herself she had never thought to question.
With a determined look, she rose to her feet and called for the nearest guard. Despite the hour of the night, a salamander in royal armor stood to attention.
“Inform the staff. I am meeting with someone special tomorrow and I need the following preparations to be made,” she said, handing him a designated list.
The soldier bowed and made his exit.
Sasha sighed and gazed up at the half-moon hovering over the canopy of stars. Marcy was obsessed with astronomy. Back on earth, she would text Sasha at 3:00 in the morning with pictures of every constellation she could see from her bedroom window. Sasha never cared to look at them in Amphibia, but her eyes locked on those twinkling dots, and the world fell away.
Beautiful, isn’t it?
She looked to her left and there was Marcy, dressed in her school uniform, knees knocking back and forth with her head craned upward, as she did when they were kids. Large cinnamon eyes full of wonder and awe, reflecting the starlight. The girl beside her did not cast a reflection on the water and when she blinked they were gone. Nothing more than a memory.
A sad smile played on her lips. Since childhood, Marcy and Sasha were on the same page. There was a mutual understanding between the two of them that few could relate to. An understanding of empty houses and late-night sleepovers, staying at school or roaming the streets so they’d have an excuse not to go home. Anne didn’t have the same understanding. Her home was warm and friendly. Always filled with this inviting presence, displayed by the welcome mat on the front step. For Sasha and Marcy that presence was absent. So they found comfort in each other, always turning to the other to heal that vacant hole in their life. Like the photo, they had been torn asunder, but Sasha wasn't ready to let it all go. Not yet.
Come dawn, she would explain everything. But she needed the night.
Just one night.