Chapter Text
The first thing they did was make sure that the core was really defeated. They entered the castle to find most of it was gutted. Thankfully it was mostly abandoned due to the battle. They make their way to the core’s chamber, stopping to free the mossmen and the shadow fish along the way.
When they found the core’s chamber it was completely sealed off by rubble.
“So it’s dead, we won?” Godfrey says
“What even was that thing?” Barrel asks
“No it’s not dead” Zhuli says
“What?” Anong asks
Zhuli shivers “I was a part of that thing for weeks. It pretends it is superior to us all. But really it is terrified of being forgotten and obsolete. It would destroy amphibia before it allowed that to happen.”
“My vision” Leif says “It wasn’t of the gems destroying Amphibia, but the Core.”
Zhuli nods “It has a thousand ways to cheat death and a thousand ways to destroy amphibia. It is trapped, but it can’t die, if it ever escapes it will not hesitate to destroy everything for revenge.”
“I won’t allow that to happen” Andiras says, everyone looks at him “When I was made king I was given information that only royalty was privileged to see. I know what the core will do if it escapes, but I think I know how to keep it trapped.”
“Then we should kill it” Godfrey says “This is like the Fenrir legend. Best kill it now before it becomes too dangerous at Ragnarok.”
Everyone looks at Godfrey confused except Leif “I remember that legend. Andrias, is there a way to kill the Core?”
“No” Andrias says “The only thing powerful enough to kill it is the gems. And their power is on earth in a tree according to you.”
“That's right” Zhuli says “Only the gems are powerful enough, which is why the Core is so terrified of the Prophecy.”
“But who knows when that will happen” Leif says “The prophecy could take ten, a hundred or even a thousand years.”
Andiras looks nervous but serious “There might be a way. There were other plans to cheat death that the royal family had, but none of them were as favored as the Core. Or so they believed. I can make it so I live long enough to see the prophecy through. But it will require great sacrifice.”
Leif hugs Andrias’ leg “Drias you can’t do that. I can’t let you live through that alone. Please let me do it!”
Andiras pats Leif on the head “Only my species of newt can do it. Besides, both me and my family have a lot to make up for. After all, the people trust me enough to keep leading them. This is the least I can do to protect them. It’s a… fitting punishment.”
The heroes are all sombered with Andiras’ decision but accept it. Andrias immediately gets to work reinforcing the catacombs to make sure the Core can’t escape. As well as rebuilding the castle so that someone could always keep an eye on it.
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Amphibia was at peace but there still was a lot of work to be done. Amphibia was used to a much higher standard of living and technology had been failing. Thanks to the core’s mad desperation to hold onto power the decline was hastened.
Surprisingly the salvation of Amphibia came from the humans. They came from a world considered to be much more primitive, but humans were good at survival, and while not as advanced they also had innovations that helped ease the transition of Amphibia.
Amphibia looked to their heroes to get them through this hard time. Leif, Barrel, Godfey, Anong, Zhuli, and now Andiras.
Andiras offered for his friends to stay in Newtopia even offered them ranks in nobility. But they all turned him down. They would gladly visit, but there was too much going on for them to all stay in one place.
Leif returned to the valley to be greeted by an ecstatic Herb. Before the season ended the two of them were wed. With the humans, Andiras, Barrel and most of the rebellion in attendance. Even mother olm came and attended with the help of a really big umbrella.
Leif then turned her efforts into turning the Valley truly habitable, planting a farm with the help of her husband, building Wartwood and several other towns, as well as starting a family.
She started going by Lilly more often because too many hero worshipers were trying to hunt down the legendary Leif. She was happy to help but ultimately she just wanted a quiet life with her husband and kids.
Anong spent a lot of time with Leif in the Valley, but she also traveled around making sure frog settlements were safe and helped them find the best places to put farms. She taught survival skills, how to forage, and how to domesticate pants to turn into farm crops. She was beloved by all the laborers in amphibia.
Andrias and his new counsel decided to keep the new toad towers. But this time service was optional as opposed to enforced by a caste system. Many toads signed up to protect Amphibia from the wild monsters that they could no longer control with robots. But many Newts and Frogs also joined. Grimoteo, Aldo the third and Barrel were chosen to be among the first leaders of the towers. Barrel especially was given power and authority to travel between the towers to make sure they all ran efficiently.
Godfrey spent a lot of time with the toads and the towers. Teaching them how to craft weapons without the aid of the gem’s power. As well as how to survive in hostile environments. He also taught them how to make viking ships that the toads really loved. When he told them it usually only worked on water, toads solved that problem by adding wheels on it. Godfrey was beloved by all warriors in amphibian and helped create a brotherhood of protectors.
Zhuli worked with the brightest minds of the newts to keep technology from falling below a certain level. They were at least able to keep their medical science from falling due to the cooperation of the mossmen and shadowfish. In exchange for freedom they were happy to help the amphibians.
Many newts worked night and day to adjust technology to run without the gems' infinite power. It took a lot more manual labor but it was worth it. And thanks to Zhuli they were able to make things like printing press, bridges, mills, and other useful developments to help amphibia.
Zhuli was loved by all innovators and inventors. She was also considered Andrias’ top adviser, after Leif of course. However, being possessed by the Core had really hurt her. Her body felt perpetually tired. She would have constant nightmares. And sometimes when she looked in the mirror she swore her eyes were orange. Thankfully her friends were there to support her. She refused to live in Newtopia because it was too close to the Core. But Andrias made her a house outside the wall where doctors and friends constantly visited as she came up with inventions using her knowledge from earth and the knowledge of amphibia to make inventions that were a mix of the two. Sometimes she would think of weapons she could invent but then would look at the hole shaped scars on her arms and feel her short hair. She then would bury those ideas.
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Godfrey and Anong kept pretty busy. But they loved to visit each other and their friends. They visited many unexplored spots in amphibia just to be alone and go on adventures. From hunting bandit gangs to taking down a heron.
Godfrey especially liked to visit the amphibia arctic where the snow and cold reminded him of home. It always took some persuading for Anong to come along, but after putting on several fur coats she agreed to come. They even made friends with a hermit newt named Valerian who always welcomed them into her home.
One day while watching the sunset turn the snow into a sea of flaming colors and the grazing wolly mantis Godfrey holds Anong’s hand. He then whispers to her “I love you.”
Anong blushes in shock. She turns to the viking. “Really scars and all?”
Godfrey’s answer is to lean down and kiss her.
From a distance Valerina watches and smiles, "It's moments like that that reminds me why I can stand this long existence.”
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The heroes of calamity spent five years rebuilding amphibia. There were still a lot of amphibians that weren't happy with the changes but amphibia was rebuilding and was safe.
One day while Anong and Godfrey were visiting Leif they got a message from Andiras to come to the castle. They rode on Muninn and Mowgli, reaching the castle at the same time that Zhuli and Barrel arrived on Yeji.
They come to the throne room where Andrias sat with a new crown on his head. “What’s going on Drias?” Leif asks
In response Andiras pull out the calamity box with the gems lightly colored. Red, Blue, and Green
“The box is recharged?!” Leif’s eyes almost pop out in shock
“No” Andira says “I've been guarding the box since the day the Core was sealed. About a week ago the color returned. It’s just a spark, all I can figure is something has happened to the trees on earth… it might be just enough to open a portal.”
The humans are shocked. They honestly thought they would be trapped in amphibia for the rest of these days. But now there was a chance to go back.
“What do you think? I’ll leave it up to you” Andrias says
The humans look at each other. Finally Godfrey sighs “I guess it's time to go home”
“What why?” Barrel says tears forming in his eyes
Leif gives a sad smile “For the same reason I came back to Amphibia, it’s where they belong.”
The humans kneel down to hug Leif with Barrel and Andrias join from behind. After a moment Andiras lets go. I won’t open it right now of course. There are still a few things I want to do before you leave, plus the people will oust me if I let you leave without saying goodbye.”
“What do you need to do?” Leif asks
Andrias pulled out a painting of Leif, Barrel and himself that was slashed through “I was hoping to get a new one of these made with my new friends.
“Drias” Leif says looking at the ripped painting.
“I should get rid of this reminder” Andrias starts to take the portrait ways
“No” Leif says, grabbing it from Andiras “I'll take it. I can try to restore it. Like how our friendship was restored.”
Andiras smiles and nods
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After the portrait was finished they all admired it. Andrias being the largest stood in the back, his hands on a chair’s backend in his full king robes. In front of him to the right, arm in arm was Anong and Godfey. Godfrey in his full viking armor, Anong in her vest and tiger head band. In the center sitting in a chair with green robes was Zhuli with Leif sitting on her lap and Barrel standing to the left.
After it was down they said goodby to the citizens. Many were outraged that their heroes were leaving while others bid their heroes a tear full goodby their exploits already in legend.
The humans bid farewell to their beloved pets. The birds and butter-wolf cry knowing that their masters were leaving. The humans make sure that the amphibious promise to take care of their pets. Leif and her friends immediately agree.
Leif’s tadpoles and Herb were bawling to see their “aunts and uncle” leave.
Andiras then takes them into the throne room where he opens the box. A small portal opens. Zhuli turns to her friends. “You ready?”
Anong starts to cry “What if it sends us to someplace we don't know, what if it sends us apart from each other?”
Godfrey hugs her and kisses her “Then we’ll find each other.”
They then turn to their amphibian friends. They start to wave, but then break down crying running into their friends arms. They hug each other for several movement till finally they are ready to leave
“Earth here we come” Godfrey says as the three humans step through the portal.
Andrias looks at the box it’s gems are grey as stone “That's the end of that”
Leif sighs “Next time humans come here it will most likely be to fulfill the prophecy.”
Barrel gives a big grin while his eyes are filled with tears “Then we best make sure this world gives them a warm welcome when they get here.
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End chapter