Sasha never felt more fueled by anger more than she was now.
Deep in the forest, the blonde ran through the forest, still cladded in her Toad Tower armor, jumping over a trench and evading a large centipede, grabbing the branch of a tree and doing some pullups before continuing her run. All the while with a look of angry determination on her face.
She hadn't forgotten the events that occurred at Toad Tower. She hadn't forgotten how she was humiliated before everyone, both frog and toad. And she certainly hadn't forgotten how the mangy mutt had turned her best friend against her.
And she was hellbent to make that dog pay.
Jumping off several tree stumps and mushrooms, she landed with a crouch before facing five mannequins that resembled Anne, Shadow and the Plantars. Growling in anger, she headbutted the head of the Sprig mannequin, splattering the head, karate chopping the Hop Pop one, splitting it in half, and kicking the Polly one like a football, before turning to the Shadow and Anne mannequins.
The memories from that dreaded day as she looked at them.
"Trial by combat!"
"You need to sort things out with your bestie."
"It's over, Sash. You're not gonna push me around anymore."
"You did the whole 'turned against me' thing all on your own."
"Hey, Anne, maybe you're better off without me."
Her anger rising, she roared before drawing out her sword and swung, cutting the Shadow mannequin down before kicking the Anne one, pointing her sword at it, as though about to finish it off. Taking in a breath and her temper finally getting back under control, she took out the photo of herself and her BFF's, staring at it. The wind blew, folding the part with Anne so it only left Sasha and Marcy.
She stared at the photo before pocketing it. She then looked over at the remains of the Shadow mannequin, the events still haunting her mind. She remembered looking into the eyes of a monster; those pitch-black eyes, those teeth that could tear through flesh, and that horrifying roar. Sasha wouldn't tell anyone, but she remembered having nightmares because of that…she can't even consider that boy human after that day.
How could she, after seeing something like that?
"Yo, Grime! How was my form on that last kick?" She called, but soon took notice that her captain wasn't present. "Grime?"
Sheathing her sword, Sasha approached the hut with a water wheel, ignoring the wanted poster of Grime on the door before pulling it open. "Are you in here? Oh my gosh!"
One would have a similar reaction, given the sorry state Grime was currently in right now. The former captain had gained a considerable amount of weight and grown a long, unkempt beard since the Toad Tower incident. He was sat on a sack of what seemed to be potatoes, Sasha's phone propped on a barrel while he ate a bowl of stir fried beetles in his lap and a can of beetle beer in one hand, watching Suspicion Island.
"Next time on Suspicion Island..."
"But Randy, I think YOU'RE suspicious."
"Noooo!"
"Wow. Randy too?" Grime chuckled. "Everyone really is suspicious." He looked up to see Sasha standing before him, her arms crossed and an angry look on her face. "Hey, what's up, Sash?"
"Oh, I'll tell you what's up." She said, snatching her cell phone away. "You're sitting here binge-watching trash TV all day when we're supposed to be training." She then showed the wanted poster. "What are you gonna do when someone comes to collect the big, fat price on your big, fat head?"
Suddenly, a pair of hooded figures broke through the boarded-up windows, one holding a sword while the other had an ax. Reacting quickly, Sasha drew out her sword and pushed back the one with the sword, the ax wielder charging in, the blonde blocking the attack before pushing the bounty hunter back.
"Bounty hunters! Grime, help me take these guys down!" Sasha yelled, raising her sword to block an ax swing from the other hooded figure.
Grime tried reaching for his sword, but gave up after a rather pathetic attempt. "Nah, you got this."
Sasha groaned exasperatedly. "Okay, guys, that's enough."
The two bounty hunters tripped over each other, removing their hoods to reveal Percy and Braddock.
"Aw, man, I landed on my favorite horn." Percy said, taking out his bent bike horn and squeezing it.
"Percy? Braddock? Why were you...?" Grime questioned in confusion.
"Sasha thought a little action might help you get out of your rut." Braddock explained.
"So, you staged this attack?" Grime said in a menacing tone, raising from his seat. "Sounds like you two belong..."
Sasha smiled hopefully, while Percy and Braddock seemed concerned.
"...on Suspicion Island!" He said, pointing at Sasha before laughing, both Braddock and Percy joining in laughter. Sasha, on the other hand, groaned in frustration before facepalming.
"Hey, you guys wanna join me? Season's just getting good." He said, taking them both by the shoulders.
But before they could reply, Sasha grabbed them both and pushed them towards the door. "Ah, heck nah. You two," She then puts a small bag of money in Braddock's hand. "go into town and get some food or whatever. I need a word with Captain Grime." She then gave a deadly stare. "Alone!"
"M'okay."
"Suits us."
The toad couple then leave, but they got stuck in the door for a moment, but broke free and they run off happily. Sasha then turned back to Grime with a glare.
"Whaaat?" Grime said, raising a hand before noticing it covered in juice. "Oop! Beetle fingers." He then quickly licked it clean. "You were saying?"
"Look at you! You're a mess." Sasha said, pointing out how dirty and out of shape the captain looked. "What happened to the Grime I used to know?"
Grime groaned before sitting down. "He's gone. Ever since Newtopia branded me a traitor, I don't see the point anymore." He said that last part as he laid back.
"So, you lost control of the valley and abandoned your post and now you're a fugitive." Sasha said, trying to get her mentor's spirit back up. "That doesn't mean we should give up. We can still put those frogs back in their place and reclaim what's ours."
Grime scoffed in response before sitting up. "Us and what army? All but three of my soldiers have abandoned us. We can't possibly retake the valley."
"Oh, so that's it then? You're just gonna sit here and do nothing?" Sasha frowned, crossing her arms.
"Do nothing? Hello. I've been growing a beard." Grime gestured to his messy beard.
"Yeah, don't remind me."
Grime groaned before pulling another drink from his beard. "Look, Sasha, don't worry about it. I may be a little out of shape..." He then drank the drink in one gulp before crushing the can. "But I'm sure I can still lick whoever Newtopia sends after me." He then ate the can before burping loudly, the wave from the burp nearly knocking Sasha off her feet.
"You better be right about that." She said before taking notice that they were short a certain newt. "Say, where'd Damien run off to? I haven't seen him all morning."
"Said he wanted to train alone." Grime shrugged. "Admittedly, he had this determined look in his eyes."
Sasha couldn't help but worry for her friend. Usually, he'd always be there to help her train. But being on his own? That's new.
"I hope he's okay, and not letting this get to him."
Damien was definitely letting it get to him, as the blue newt dashed through the forest at high speeds, ducking around one tree after another, his eyes focused on the path before him. He soon came to a stop before what looked like his own Shadow mannequin, the newt staring at it with determined eyes.
"You're pretty good, but you still need to learn."
Sure, it seemed like Shadow was trying to compliment him, maybe encourage him to train some more, but all he heard was condescension, the same kind he grew up with on the streets.
"Pretty good…"
With a battle cry, he rushed forward, throwing a kick that shattered the mannequin to pieces, but he found himself unable to stop himself before crashing through what felt like wood, the newt finally catching himself and landing on his feet, looking back at the hole he made.
"What the…"
Walking back to it and examining It closely, he saw that it was a large wooden door. Looking back into the room he had landed in, he noticed it was quite spacious, composed of cobblestone, having an entrance to a deep tunnel across the room. Curious, the blue newt went down the tunnel, then went down several steps before entering another room, even more spacious and containing five statues, all holding their hands out that seemed to contain something at one point, but four of the five statues were empty.
There was one that held something in both hands, the item being an amulet with a light green gemstone inside. In awe at the beauty of the amulet, Damien approached and pulled the accessory free from the statues grip, examining the stone inside.
"Wow, that's a pretty gem."
His curiosity getting the better of him, Damien pulled the amulet up to his neck before clasping it around his neck.
"Wow, the perfect fit too!"
That's when he realized something.
"Oh crap, I was out longer than expected!" He gasped. "I better head back!"
Quickly, he ran out of the strange temple and outside, running his way back to the hideout, unaware of the gemstone around his neck glowing faintly.
Meanwhile, on a cliff overlooking the town, a tall pink newt stood on the cliff, staring down at the town. She had a slender build and white blonde hair that protruded from the back of her head. She had a lightly shaded underbelly and a long tail with darker pink spots. Her eyes were yellow with black pupils. She wore a Newtopian issued armor made of silver, two pauldrons pattered with intricate swirling designs, similar to the rest of her armor. Her cape depicted the Newtopian flag. She also had a military insignia pinned to her chest, boasting her rank of general. She also wore high-heeled boots with white fringes on the top.
Looking down at the town, the newt gave a wicked grin.
Within the city, inside a restaurant, the customers were being served, a bartender cleaning some cutlery, a frog playing while another was singing yodeling, all just having a good time.
All went silent, however, when the pink newt swung the doors open, everyone looking to see who had just entered. The pianist frog played a suspenseful tone as customers fall silent and watch her, the mysterious newt walking up to the bartender.
"I suppose you're wondering who I am?" She asked.
"Not especially." The bartender replied, not even looking up. But the sight of the plate he was cleaning being sliced in two made him look up, the newt in question retracting two long blade claws back into her gauntlet.
"My name is General Yunan!" The newt declared before posing. "Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched," After another pose, she jumped, did a backflip before standing on the counter. "aaaand..." She then did one final pose. "The youngest newt to ever achieve the rank of General in the great Newtopian army!"
General Yunan was only met with an awkward silence, no one making a sound as they stared at her, the only sound being a large, chirping cricket before a frog ate it.
Opening her eyes and looking around, she sighed in annoyance at the lack of fanfare. "And this is why I hate coming out to the boonies. Anyway," She then stepped back down to the floor before pulling out a wanted poster of Grime. "I am here to hunt the fugitive, Captain Grime."
"Hey, ain't that the toad warrior that started out as a gladiator?" Another newt whispered to a toad sitting next to her.
As though she had heard her, Yunan walked up to the newt and toad before holding them by the shoulders. "So, you know of my quarry? Tell me, where has he last been seen?" She asked with a toothy grin and eager eyes.
"Whoo... Do you think Captain Grime's gonna be okay?"
"I don't know but talk about a workout. I'm starving."
Yunan looked up to see Percy and Braddock enter before taking a seat at one of the booths.
"Hey, let's get the cheesy flies!" Percy suggested.
"Okay. Hey, Gertrude..." Braddock called.
Suddenly, General Yunan walked over to their booth, placing two bowls of cheesy flies on the table.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked with a toothy smile.
"Uh, well..." Percy said, unsure.
"Kind of 'party for two' thing here." Braddock said with a chuckle. "Wait. Who are you? Our server?"
Yunan growled in annoyance before repeating her whole introduction. "I am General Yunan, Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched, the youngest newt to ever achieve the rank of General in the great Newtopian army."
The toad couple was quiet for a moment, both staring at her awkwardly, Percy munching on his cheese flies.
"Okay." Braddock said.
"I am here searching for a certain toad." Yunan pulled out the wanted poster. "Perhaps you know of him?"
Upon seeing their captain's face on the poster, the couple started sweating nervously.
"Uh, nope. Sorry. Never seen him before." Braddock quickly said.
"Really? I could have sworn you were just talking about someone named Grime." Yunan questioned with a raised brow.
"That's not what I said." Braddock quickly denied, still sweating.
"That's not what you said?" Yunan repeated.
"That's not what I said." Braddock repeated, sweating some more.
"Then why are you sweating?" Yunan asked.
"'Cause it's hot." Braddock answered, sweating even more.
Yunan leaned in close, staring intently at the female toad, before finally backing off and shrugging. "Well, I've done all I can here. I will continue my search elsewhere. General Yunan, away!" She then proceeded to cartwheel out the front door.
Braddock and Percy exhaled in relief. "Phew, that was close! Good thing we're such good actors, huh?" The former said.
"Yeah, now she'll never find them at the old mill, which is on the edge of town." Percy declared.
Unbeknownst to them, however, somehow, Yunan was hidden on the ceiling over their very heads, the newt general grinning wickedly. She finally found her answer.
Back at the cabin, Sasha was setting up the mannequins while Grime sat relaxed nearby, all the while Sasha was ranting at Grime about his behavior.
"Okay, so first of all, this beard and burping situation? Unacceptable. Secondly..." Before Sasha could rant further, Damien emerged from the brush.
"Hey, guys!" The male newt waved.
"Damien! There you are!" Sasha exclaimed, glaring at the newt. "Care to explain where you've been?"
"I was off on my morning run, maybe longer than I thought." He shrugged. "I can't stand being stressed, so I went running until I saw something to kick."
"Told you." Grime spoke up.
"Oh, and I found this!" Damien pointed at the amulet around his neck.
Sasha looked at the amulet, specifically the gem embedded in it.
"That's some jewelry." She said. "Where'd you get it?"
"Found it in some temple, during my run." Damien said. "There were several statues too, and they looked like they held something at some point."
Before Sasha could question further, she heard someone whistling. "Wait. Do you hear that?" She said, a hand on her sword.
Looking outward, they saw General Yunan approach the mill, hands behind her back and whistling as she walked.
"Who's that?" Sasha asked.
"Oh, crud. That armor... She's Newtopian military for sure." Grime said, slightly concerned.
Yunan stopped before opening her eyes and smiling. "I found you at last."
"Mega crud." Damien said, gulping with fear. "Guys we need to leave now!"
"Why? Who is she?" Sasha asked, not seeming intimidated.
"That's General Yunnan!" Damien exclaimed in panic. "Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched, and the youngest newt to ever achieve the rank of General in the Newtopian Army! Basically, a one-woman army who could kill us, without us knowing it!"
Yunnan blinked several times, standing in astonishment at someone actually knowing who she was.
"Huh. I didn't think anyone in this area wou-" Before Yunan could finish, she immediately regained her confidence. "I mean, yes! My reputation precedes me once more." She then pointed at the blue newt. "And I know who you are, Damien Fausta; student of the legs-only technique, the Blue Blur of the Valley, and the first lieutenant of the once great Captain Gri-" She stopped when she looked at Grime, unable to believe that this dirty-looking toad was the one she was looking for. "Wait! You're Grime? The fierce champion of the Colosseum?"
"Yep, that's me." Grime confirmed after chugging what seemed to be his umpteenth drink for the day. "You're here for my autograph?"
"Nope, I'm here for your head!" She declared, extending her claws.
"Well, that took a dark turn." Grime said with a scared look.
"Guys, I'm telling you, even if it's just her, we can't take her." Damien warned his friend and commander.
"Ha, please." Sasha scoffed. "If you're such a great general, where's your army?"
"I had an army once." Yunnan said, before slicing the practice dummies, and the trees behind her. "They slowed me down!" She said with a deranged look on her face as another tree fell behind her.
"O...kay, let's go!" Sasha said before grabbing Grime by the shirt and running, Damien following behind.
General Yunan, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered. "Eh, I'll give them a head start." She said before taking off her cape. "Keeps things interesting."
Sasha, Grime and Damien ran as fast as they could, desperate to gain some distance between them and the assailant.
"Just my luck! They sent some psychotic glory hound after us." Grime said before letting out a burp.
"Not just that, but one willing to do whatever it takes to prove herself!" Damien shouted. "We'll never escape her!"
"Like heck we won't! Follow me!" Sasha yelled, before jumping down and bouncing off three mushrooms and jumped across the ravine.
Damien took a running start, about to follow Sasha's example, however, the gemstone of the amulet began to glow, the newt launching from a powerful gust of wind into the air before landing on the other side.
"Whoa, what was that?" Sasha asked in shock, surprised by what had just happened. "Were you always able to do that?"
"Not that high." Damien admitted, just as confused.
Putting that to the side for now, the two looked over, seeing Grime struggling to grab a vine hanging overhead.
"Just give me a minute." The toad captain panted.
Sasha grunted before she and Damien went back across and helped Grime before resuming their escape.
"Couldn't we take an easier route?" Grime complained.
"Maybe if you had trained with us once in a while, you'd be prepared for a situation like this." Sasha yelled, ducking under a tree branch, Damien following suit, but Grime ran into it and fell down.
"Okay, what's the big deal?" Damien demanded, Grime getting back up and following. "Would it kill you to be honest about it?"
"What're you talking about?" Sasha asked, flipping off a log and landing in a crouched position.
"It's obviously a distraction." Damien stated, jumping off the log and flipping forward three times before landing on his feet, Grime falling on his face. "You're using training to keep your mind off the real reason you're upset."
They looked back when they heard more slashing sounds, seeing another tree fall down before the trio started running again.
"Look, don't try to preach from your soap box!" Sasha said. "You're doing the same thing!"
"At least I know why I'm upset, and I don't try to hide it." Damien retorted. "You're the one trying to hide it!"
"Lieutenants, as much as I adore working out our problems," Grime spoke up. "But we should really-"
"Look, I know why I'm upset, okay?" Sasha snapped back. "I'm upset because I lost the duel at Toad Tower. A.K.A., the biggest fight of my life."
"Oh, give me a break! You're not upset because you lost some stupid fight!" Damien retorted. "You're upset because you lost your friend!" This made Sasha stop, her eyes widening at his words. "You're upset that Anne stood up to you, that the Black Wolf turned her against you, and that things between you will never be the same again."
Sasha still remembered that day. Anne's look of defiance, refusing to let Sasha have her way, followed by Shadow's condescending gaze, and then that transformation into that wolf monster that haunted her dreams.
Sasha shook her head. "You don't know what you're talking about!" She shouted defiantly, running forward.
"Sasha, look out!"
Damien managed to grab her by her arm before she could run blindly right off a cliff, a steep ravine flowing below.
"Ooh, that's a long way down." Grime said.
Sasha turned around towards the woods with a hand on her weapon. "Looks like our only option is to make a stand."
"I was afraid of that." Damien gulped, readying a stance.
"No, our only option is for you two to get out of here." Grime rejected.
"What?" Both human and newt gasped.
"She only wants me. Go! Save yourselves. Now!" Grime commanded.
"Nuts to that! I ain't abandoning you!" Damien rejected. "No matter what, my place is by your side! Besides, she seems to have an interest in me too!" He turned to Sasha. "Get going and save yourself, Sasha, before it's too late."
Sasha, however, refused to move.
"What are you waiting for? Get going!" Damien snapped.
"No!" Sasha refused, before sighing. "Listen, there's another reason why I've been training so hard. To protect the only two people I know I can count on right now." She moved in and took hold of the newts hands, much to his surprise. "You guys..."
Both Grime and Damien looked back in surprise, the latter blushing from Sasha's touch. "You're right. I already lost one friend." Sasha said, her grip tightening. "I'm not about to lose another."
Damien stared back in surprise, his heart beating fast from her touch and face turning red, touched by her words.
"Wow. I did not see that coming." Grime said, flattered by her words.
"Sasha…I had no idea…" Damien said, touched by this. "I…really don't wanna lose you too."
Suddenly, Yunan jumped in before standing up.
"Ah! I see you have decided to submit to the great General Yunan," The pink newt declared with a confident look. "Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched, the youngest newt ever..."
"Oh, will you shut up already!" Damien snapped, having had enough of the general repeating such a title.
"Yeah, do you have to do this every single time?" Sasha added.
"Honestly, yes. Repetition helps it stick." Yunan claimed.
"More like makes you come off as a wannabe try-hard." Damien retorted with crossed arms.
"And a desperate blowhard." Sasha added, holding her hand out for Damien to high five her.
Yunan felt her eye twitch before taking in a breath and sighing. "Whatever." She directed her gaze to Grime. "All right, you washed-up slob. Time to go."
"Hey! Only I can call him that!" Sasha yelled before drawing her sword and charging, only for Yunan to swing her tail, sending the blonde flying.
"Lieutenant!" Grime yelled.
Damien managed to catch her, digging his heels into the dirt to stop their momentum.
"You good?" He asked, setting Sasha on her feet.
"Yeah, thanks." Sasha nodded, hiding her blush.
Damien then pulled out a spare sword before throwing it to Grime, the toad catching it.
"If you want me, General, you'll have to fight all three of us." The captain declared with determination, Damien and Sasha by his side.
"Why not? After all, three heads are better than one." Yunan said, extending her blade claws.
"Welcome back, Captain." Sasha said to Grime with a smile.
"Yeah, good to have you back, sir." Damien smiled.
"Thank you, Lieutenants, for reminding me that I've still got something worth fighting for." Grime declared, returning the smile. "I'm talking about our friendship. Not sure if you got that."
"Yeah, we got it." Damien said.
"Now come on!" Sasha declared.
The three charged to attack, but Yunan jumped and landed behind them, blocking a sword swing from Sasha before kicking her away, ducked under a high kick from Damien before knocking him away with her tail, and blocking a sword swing from Grime. The captain swung several times, all of which Yunan blocked with her blade claws before swinging upward, knocking the sword from his hands.
"Oh, nuts..."
The general then kicked him, sending him falling on his hide, now standing over him.
"You are gonna look good stuffed..." She said, raising a claw.
"Hey, Yu-Ass!"
Yunnan turned just in time to block a bladed foot from Damien, the blue newt pushing his armored limb against hers.
"Heh, you think those legs of yours were made for fighting?" She said with a condescending tone and smirk.
"Yes, and that's just what they'll do!" Damien shouted before swinging his other leg upward, kicking her under her chin.
When the attack landed, however, the gemstone on the amulet glowed once more, Damien's attack unleashing a powerful gust of wind that threw the general back some distance.
Sasha helped Grime to his feet, watching her newt friend push the general back in amazement. "Okay, how did you do that?" She asked.
"I have no idea!" Damien declared before jumping back into the fray.
Getting back up, Yunan jumped back in, swinging her claws at the boy, said newt raising a bladed leg to block, the general feeling a sudden gust of wind pushing her back before the blue newt rushed in and jump, spinning forward in the air before sticking his leg out for an ax kick, the general raising a claw to block…
…only for said claw to break upon impact.
"Well, that can't be good." Yunan said, looking at the shattered claws of her hand glove in surprise.
Damien pressed the attack, collapsing into a roll before kicking her in the gut before jumping up and delivering several lightning-fast kicks, pushing her back.
"Ha! Are you struggling? That's what happens when you underestimate me!" Damien boasted.
"Don't push your luck just yet, boy!" Yunan growled, wrapping her tail around his leg before throwing him far, the boy landing on his feet close to the edge, the general approaching with her only remaining claw blades.
Damien readied himself but raised a brow when he saw Sasha and Grime creeping up behind Yunan, both human and toad bringing fingers to their lips for his silence.
That's when he got the idea.
"Shoot, what did you say your name was again? I already forgot." The blue newt said mockingly.
Yunan growled before declaring, "I am General Yunan, Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched and the youngest newt ever to be made-" Before she could finish, both Grime and Sasha pushed her forward, allowing Damien to grab her by the shoulders and falling backwards, pushing the pink newt over himself with both feet and sending her screaming into the ravine.
"Hope you can swim!" Grime shouted to her.
"THIS CANNOT BE! I AM THE GENERAL YUNAAAAAN!" The pink newt yelled as she plummeted into the river with a splash.
"Oh, yeah! Well, I'm Damien Fausta! Student of the legs-only technique, the Blue Blur of the Valley, and the First Lieutenant to Captain Grime!" Damien declared.
"And I'm Sasha Waybright, captain of the cheerleaders, top scorer in Super Dance Fusion, and Second Lieutenant to Captain Grime!" Sasha followed.
"And I am Captain Grime, drinker of Bog Grog, grower of beards, and watcher of Suspicion Island!" Grime joined in.
"WHAAAT? THOSE TITLES ARE WEAK!" Yunan yelled as she was carried away by the river.
"YOUR TITLES ARE WEAK AND IRRELAVANT!" Damien retorted loudly, sticking his hand out for Sasha to high five him.
As the general drifted out of sight, the trio laughed and chest bumped each other, Grime letting out a roar/burp of triumph.
"I am fired up! Forget retaking the valley, forget serving the kingdom at all." Grime declared with newfound purpose. "How about you two and I raise a frog dang army and storm the capitol? It's high time a toad ruled this world for a change."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Sasha declared.
"Now that's the Grime we know!" Damien added.
"But before we take over the world..." Grime said with a stroke of his beard.
"You totally want to binge the rest of Suspicion Island." Sasha said with a roll of her eyes.
"I really do!" The captain declared, laughing in delight before running off to the mill.
As Sasha put away her sword, Damien stood at her side.
"Thanks for helping me get him out of his rut." Damien said. "I've never seen him this hyped up."
"Eh, just how I do." Sasha shrugged. "Consider it my thanks for your hospitality before."
"Well, now I gotta thank you somehow." Damien chuckled.
"I'm sure you'll think of something." Sasha smiled.
Damien smirked, "How about this?"
The blue newt then did something bold; he leaned forward and planted his lips against Sasha's right cheek, the blonde blushing madly at this before the newt pulled away, a smirk on his face.
"Now, I gotta get back to some training." He said. "I'm so hype for this!"
The newt ran off for the mill, Sasha standing there in surprise. A boy had just kissed her, a newt, no less!
Sasha remembered having quite a number of boyfriends, and some girlfriends, back home, and all of which she broke it off with for different reasons, through Anne, of course, but something told her that Damien was different from the rest. He was loyal, determined, kind, and always willing to lend a hand. And if something was wrong, he wouldn't stop until he got to the source, and if possible, fix it. He had proven to be the closest thing to a better friend.
And perhaps, something more?
The blonde quickly shook the thoughts from her head, trying to dismiss this idea. How could they make a relationship like that work, given they were two different species? And how would they make it work once Sasha returns home? That last thought made her heart ache.
Pushing those thoughts to the far back of her mind, Sasha sheathed her blade before looking off to the horizon, the sun setting.
"Looks like I've got my own path now, Anne. But it's not over between us..." She said, raising a hand to her scar before grinning. "Not even close."
Down in the river, the general managed to swim her way to shore, despite her armor, crawling to land and coughing out water, an angry look in her eyes.
"How utterly humiliating." She growled. "I, General Yunan, bested by some scrawny creature and a child? Disgraceful!"
Getting to her feet, the pink newt walked over to a tree stump and sat down, removing her gauntlets and chest plate, water dumping out.
"Those kids proved more skilled than I thought." She said aloud. "They will prove to be worthy adversaries, no doubt!"
"Didn't think you'd meet your match out here, did you?"
Nearly jumping, Yunan turned her head to someone she loathed to see. The newt was similar in color to her, the difference being that he was quite tall, standing over ten feet tall and having buzz cut blonde hair, wearing Newtopian issued armor with a pink feathered cape, and finally a pair of tinted sunglasses with light pink lens. And around his neck was an amulet with a dark brown gemstone attached, similar to the one Damien had found, as well as to that of Cody, Ina and Valor.
Yunan stared up at him before her face turned soar, glaring with jealous eyes. "Hemlock Longclaw."
"Why the long face, dear sister?" Hemlock said with a toothy grin. "I thought you'd be glad to see your big bro."
Yunan growled in response, still angry at her supposed brother. She still had memories how her brother teased her, how he always put her through hell during training. Not to mention how he achieved the rank of General of the Army, a higher rank than General. As well as how much her brother rubbed every victory in her face.
"But wow. The Great Yuyan, losing to a couple of kids and an old man out of shape." The older sibling said, chuckling. "Pathetic, really."
Yunan sighed. "You make it sound like it shouldn't have been a challenge." She said. "Make no mistake, Grime has trained them well."
"Ha! Please, that old geezer would be dead if you had that killer instinct." Hemlock said with a laugh before crushing a red mantis skull under his boot. "Honestly, if I was there, those kids would be nothing but blood and bones."
"And yet, you didn't bother to tag along," Yunan retorted. "You place more priority over these other bounties than the mission!"
"Because unlike you, I tend to go back home with results, and don't bother with small fry." Hemlock replied with a toothy smile. "And besides, I know how desperate you have been to restore our family name. Haven't I told you to let me handle all the complicated stuff?"
Yunan remained silent as her brother turned away.
"From this point onward, let me deal with the 'restoring our family name' stuff. Your brain can't handle it." Hemlock said. "Anyways, good luck explaining to Andrias how you failed."
The older brother began walking, Yunan watching her brother walk with that funny walk, his legs spread apart and swinging one leg forward, the female pink newt feeling anger build up in her heart.
'I will not stop, Hemlock.' She thought to herself. 'I will surpass you.'