After the events with the basilisk, the group continued their way, riding through the forest path before coming to a stop off to the side.
"Why're we stopping?" Valor asked.
"We're about to leave the forest and enter the mountains." Hop Pop said. "Before that, why don't we take one more moment to relax and have an actual camping experience?"
"Without killer monsters trying to kill us?" Anne inquired.
"Here's hopin'." The old frog said.
"Just sitting by the fire and roasting smores?" Ina added.
"I'm down for that." Shadow spoke up, holding up the ingredients for smores.
"Well, let's get started!" Kaemon declared, hopping off the wagon.
A few minutes later, the two had already started getting the camp together, setting up a table and getting a fire going. Once the camp was set up, Shadow and Hop Pop chopped down a few trees to create a clearing for training, which Cody promised the old frog and the boy requested himself. Meanwhile, Anne sat with the girls at the picnic table and going over gossip, while Valor, Kaemon and Sprig went hunting and gathering wood.
"So, your friends dared you to steal a magical music box from this antique store?" Ina asked the Thai girl.
"Yes." Anne nodded, almost ashamed.
"And when you opened it, you were transported here?" Ina asked further.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." Anne nodded once more.
Without warning, Ina shot up from her seat and got up in Anne's face, her face alight with excitement. "So, what's the weirdest creature you ever saw? Oh, how does your powers work? Can you summon a lion? How about weapons, can you create those? If not, Valor can show you the ropes, he's great at making weapons!"
"Whoa, slow down," Anne said, backing up a bit.
"Cool photo. When was this taken?" Ina suddenly asked, now holding up Anne's photo of herself, Sasha and Marcy.
Confused, Anne reached for her bag and looked, before looking up at the blue-haired girl. "When did you…?"
"Oh, I found it in your bag and I couldn't resist." Ina shrugged before giving it back. "It's a nice photo."
"You don't have that many friends, do you?" Ivy inquired.
"Ivy, you don't ask stuff like that." Maddie admonished her friend.
"No, it's cool." Ina waved it off. "I mean, back then, it was just Valor; he and I could go on hours just about this world and all the crazy stuff we've seen." She then counted off on one hand. "Murderous families, Titans. Oh, we even saw a demon one time. But you can't start a conversation like that, so I just ask loads of questions hoping it'll move a conversation."
"Okay dude, first off, you don't need to do that" Anne assured. "I'll understand you, no matter what."
"And second," Polly said before all the girls shouted. "YOU MET A DEMON AND DIDNT START WITH THAT?!"
Chuckling, Ina rubbed the back of her head. "it's a long story."
Meanwhile, Cody was sparring with Shadow in hand-to-hand combat, the two exchanging punches and kicks, while Hop Pop sat and watched from the side, as Shadow threw a kick aimed for his teacher's head, only for the older man to raise a hand to block before taking hold and throwing him to the ground.
"You still have some skill, even after five years." Cody said. "Still, you've gotten sloppy, it seems. Guess that time out in the woods will do that to you."
"Yeah, even with my improvised training methods has its limits to keep the edge." Shadow admitted.
"You sure taught him a lot, Cody." Hop Pop spoke up.
"I taught all my students to fight in top form." Cody declared. "For Azazel, however, there were specifications, I guess. So, after extensive research, I taught him ninjutsu, specifically kenjutsu and shurikenjutsu; the way of the sword and shuriken."
"What's a shuriken?" Hop Pop asked.
"Basically, a ninja star." Shadow chimed in. "Small projectiles for tactical effect."
"Wow, all this ninjaku stuff sounds fascinating." The old frog said.
"Ninjutsu, and yeah, it's definitely worth the time and effort." The boy said. "Now, get up here, HP. It's your turn."
"Alright, I can't wait to fight like them kung fu masters!" Hop Pop declared, clearly excited.
Shadow sat off to the side, watching his teacher give the old frog basic instructions before they began, hopeful that this would give Hop Pop skills to help in combat.
'As much as I'd hate to put Hop Pop in danger, this would be good for him.' He thought to himself. 'Even with age, Cody still knows how to kick butt. Perhaps the same could apply for Hop Pop.'
Meanwhile, in the forest, the three boys consisting of Valor, Kaemon and Sprig were gathering firewood and hunting, all the while engaging in their own talks.
"And here's my entire slingshot collection!" Sprig declared proudly, holding up a bag filled with a large variety of slingshots.
"Okay, that's a lot of slingshots." Valor remarked, noting the different designs. "There's no way you use all of them."
"Actually, you'd be surprised with how creative spring gets with his slingers." Kaemon replied. "And not to brag, but I'm got weapons even cooler. Check this out."
He then pulled out a large collection of swords he had collected over the years over wondering.
"Whoa, that's quite the collection." Valor said in awe, before gasping at the sight of a rather large sword with a massive blade. "Whoa, is that the Ax Buster?!"
"Yup, the one and only." Kaemon nodded with a proud smile. "The toad was just as massive, able to use it with one hand! But, where he had strength, he lacked speed!"
"No way, that's freakin' dope!" Valor declared before slumping. "Yup, it's official; I'm the lamest here."
"Hey, come on, man. You're selling yourself short." Kaemon frowned.
"Yeah. I mean that fire stuff is pretty hot." Sprig chimed in.
Both Kaemon and Valor gave deadpanned stares, clearly unamused by the pun.
"Four outta ten, there's better fire puns one could make." Valor shrugged.
"Seriously, a four?! That's a two at best!" Kaemon retorted.
"Not the point," Valor waved it off. "However, I do have this one trick, but it's pretty lame."
"Well, you gotta show it off now." Sprig said.
"No, no, I couldn't." Valor tried to refuse.
Undetered, both Kaemon and Sprig started chanting, "Show it off! Show if off! SHOW IT OFF!"
Chuckling, Valor gave in. "Alright, alright. But just a fair warning, this is pretty lame."
Valor then closed his eyes and focused on his power, visualizing the weapon he wanted to wield before holding a fist out, then moving an open free hand from the fist, creating a fiery buster sword.
Both Sprig and Kaemon were amazed, gazing at the size of the burning blade.
"What the Frog, man? You called that lame? That's amazing!" Kaemon declared, daring to hold a hand up to the side of the weapon. "You can even feel the weapons heat."
"Yeah, why are you selling yourself short? That's amazing!" Sprig asked.
"Yeah, well, compared to Hawkeye Sprig and Roronoa Kaemon, making fire weapons isn't too impressive." Valor shrugged.
Both amphibian blinked in confusion. "What's a Roronona?" The newt asked.
"And what's a Hawkeye?" The frog bot asked.
"Anne told me, so go ask her, but that's besides the point." Valor said. "I always just felt overshadowed by everyone else and thought my talents were lame by comparison."
"Ha! Please, in our book, you're cool!" Kaemon declared.
"I think you mean he's smoking." Sprig interjected.
"I prefer the term turning up the heat." Valor said.
"I will strike you both down, so help me." Kaemon said, pointing at them both.
"Ha! You and what army?" Valor challenged with a challenging smirk.
"You wanna find out?" Kaemon returned the smirk.
"Let's do this!" Valor declared.
"Mass destruction, here we come!" Sprig exclaimed.
Four hours later…
"Boys, care to explain why half the forest is on fire?" Cody said, deadpanning as Shadow and Hop Pop stood next to him, sporting disapproving frowns.
Kaemon, Sprig and Valor were all covered in soot, smoke emitting from them as the fire was burning the forest behind them, the girls nearby watching in shock before quickly gathering buckets and rushing to put the fire out.
"Maelstrom, my man. Would you believe me if I said it wasn't my fault?" Valor asked with a nervous chuckle.
"No." Cody deadpanned.
"Sprig." Hop Pop said with a stern stare.
"Hey, I didn't cause any of this!" Sprig protested.
"You wanted to see how fast the sword could burn the forest." Kaemon pointed out.
"You can't prove that." Sprig quickly countered.
"Dude, I'm literally a witness." Valor retorted.
Cody sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Remind me to never leave you in charge of firewood."
"Oh, come on, this is only my second time burning a forest down!" Valor protested.
"Well, three if you count the time when you discovered your powers." Ina said.
"Hey, that was an accident, and no one got hurt." Valor said.
"Tell that to the old froggers house." Ina said.
After putting a stop to the forest fire and moving to a new camping spot, the group was sat around a campfire, telling stories from the past, enjoying smores, playing music and occasionally dancing. Overall, they were having a grand time.
As night fell, everyone had fallen asleep in sleeping bags around the campfire, all snoring peacefully as the embers of the flame flickered. All except for Shadow, who was leaning against the wagon wheel, writing down some things in his journal before putting it away and looking up at the night sky, the stars shining bright like diamonds.
As said before, Shadow was dreading the idea of returning to Newtopia. The very thought of seeing the faces of the king and many others again wasn't something he had planned in a long time since he left. Still, a part of him missed the people he became so close with and longed to see their faces.
And yet, that fear still festered.
"Hey, Shadow?"
He turned his head to see Ivy approach.
"Ivy? What're you doing up?" The boy asked.
"Couldn't sleep." She shrugged. "What about you?"
"About the same." Shadow returned a shrug. "I'm still worried about what to expect when we reach Newtopia."
"I can only imagine." Ivy said. "I mean, being away from home for so many years and just now returning can do things."
"I'm more worried about how the king or Apollo would react." Shadow sighed. "For the longest time, they were family."
"What made you leave?" Ivy asked.
"Let's just say things fell out." Shadow replied vaguely. "We had a falling out over some things and I left."
"Okay." Ivy said, deciding not to press. "Can you read a story?"
"Sure." Shadow nodded. "Good thing I brought some books from the Archives."
Pulling a book out, Shadow opened it and began to read.