At the Crossroads

Anne and Olivier turned back and were started to find that the fractured hallway where they came from had disappeared.

Instead, they saw a long, dark tunnel with a distant light ahead.

Anne gazed with unblinking eyes. "where did-"

"Remember, we are in Sasha's dreamscape." spoke Olivier. "and like any dream, the environment is constantly shifting.

There is no way to properly chart where we are going, or where he have been."

"Then, how do we find Sasha?" inquired Anne. "It is only a matter of time before we wake up."

"Unfortunately, we have only one option: Keep moving forward." answered Olivier.

With much reluctance, Anne grasped Olivier's hand and the two began to walk down the dark tunnel.

though the tunnel didn't stay dark for long, as bio-luminescent mushrooms began to appear, lighting the way.

gradually, the dark tunnel became lit...and became marsh trees.

Before long, the environment started to look familiar to both Anne, and Olivier.

"hey." spoke Anne. "if I didn't know any better, I'd swear we were-"

The two then reached the end of the tunnel, and exited...into the Wartwood Swamp.

In fact, the pair saw none other than the Plantar's farm up ahead of them.

"oh my gosh...we're home!" exclaimed Anne. "I mean...We're at Hop Pop's-"

"It's okay, Annie...I understand." said Olivier.

Anne stared at the far off homestead, her eyes getting wet. "I know it isn't real...but It's great to see the old place again."

Olivier placed his hand upon Anne's shoulder. "I've missed it, too."

"You really think Sasha is in there?" asked Anne.

"we WERE led in this direction, so maybe." mused Olivier.

As the pair approached the dream-like Plantar Homestead,

Anne briefly stopped to look at the stone fence remnant with an unlit candle.

She frowned as she stared at her favorite spot.

The place where she would spend hours star-gazing with Sprig at night.

She also had fond memories of this spot that she shared with Olivier, too.

Before they found their own special place, they sometimes spent time together here.

"I really miss this place." said Anne. "I'd give anything to see it again...FOR REAL."

Olivier looked at Anne...and then put his arm around her. "yeah...me too."

The pair finally left the tranquil spot, and walked in the direction of the Plantar Home.

Once they arrived, the two paused. Despite the familiar surroundings, something felt off.

They couldn't describe it, they had an uneasy feeling in a place that should give comfort.

Anne tried to open the front door...but the knob refused to turn.

"locked." said Anne.

Olivier looked into the windows...but saw nothing. Literally.

"The inside of the house is pitch black...Almost as if literally 'nothing' is in there."

"Maybe there isn't." spoke Anne. "Like you said: All of this is an illusion.

It may look like the Plantar's house, but it isn't really...Just Sasha's memory of it."

"We were obviously meant to come this way." mused Olivier.

"This can't be a dead end. If the House isn't where we are suppose to be, then wher-"

"Hey!" exclaimed Anne. "I see a light coming from the barn where Bessie is kept."

Olivier looked, and noted that Anne was right: There was a strange light shining

from the cracks and windows of the barn where Hop Pop's giant snail was kept in.

"Good work, Anne." said Olivier. "I bet that is where we're suppose to go."

Anne smiled, feeling a little proud of herself.

As the pair approached the barn, Anne reached out and grasped Olivier's hand tight.

Olivier looked at the Thai Girl, and gave her a smile. "whatever is on the other side of that door-"

"-we face it TOGETHER." finished Anne.

"yeah..." said Olivier, tightening his grip. "Together."

The pair faced forward, both burying whatever fears they had.

After a deep breath, Olivier reached for the barn door and opened it.

Anne did a double take upon seeing the interior of the Barn didn't match the exterior at all.

Rather than the stable that she was, she instead saw a stone staircases lit by burning torches.

"oh-kaaay...That's different." spoke Anne, her eyebrow raised.

"Looks like we're going down." said Olivier.

Still holding hands, Anne and Olivier carefully walked down the staircase

with they soon found went into a tight, winding spiral deep down underground.

"This almost reminds me of the secret bunker underneath the farm." spoke Anne.

"a little." spoke Olivier. "But, if that's where we're going then...Does that mean Sasha found it?"

Anne shrugged. "wouldn't surprise me if she did."

Eventually, the pair made it down the end of the stairs.

They stood still in the dark room...Until more burning torches ignited, and lit the way.

As they continued, they noted the surroundings almost resembled a medieval dungeon.

(although from Olivier's perspective, It resembled the infamous 'Conformitorium' back home in the Boiling Isles.)

"I don't think I like where this is going...Literally." said Anne, as she walked with Olivier.

"neither do I...but I expected as much in someone's Nightmare." said Olivier.

"so whether we like it or not, we have to ride this out until the end."

Anne exhaled, dreading things would only get worse before they got better.

But she felt confident that whatever dangers waited them both...THEY could handle it together.

Anne and Olivier walked down the long tunnel, passing by darkened jail cells.

Eventually though, they saw an iron door at the end of the hall and raced towards it.

"here we go, ag-" Suddenly, the door opened. Spilling out a blinding light. "-GAIN!?"

Anne and Olivier momentarily lost their vision.

Once it returned, they found themselves in a new, yet familiar location.

King Andrias' Throne Room.

And once the pair spotted none other than Sasha sitting on the giant throne,

with the Calamity Box in her hand...Olivier groaned upon realizing what this was.

"Titan, NO...not this." grumbled Olivier.

"What?" spoke Anne, puzzled.

"I think this is one of Sasha's memories...and one I remember, too." answered Olivier.

"It's when Sasha took over Newtopia, and had you and the others locked up...(*scowls*) and I was her captive."

Anne thought back, and then remembered the event Olivier was referring to.

She then looked back to the apparent Past Version of Sasha as she played with the Music Box.

Anne remembered how Sasha tried to use the music box on her to send her back to Earth...ALONE.

Yet, it failed to work due to the Blue Gem (Anne's Gem) not being fully charged at the time.

Sasha looked bored as she toyed with the inactive music box.

Just then, some Toad Soliders entered the throne...carrying someone with a tarp draped over them.

"He is ready, Lieutenant Waybright." spoke a Toad.

"As you requested." added another.

Sasha grinned wide. "show me."

The Toads removed the tarp...and Anne gasped upon seeing the past version of Olivier.

His neck and wrists were shackled and chained, and he was wearing baggy pants made of silk,

and a shiny vest over his shirtless torso that almost made him resemble 'Aladdin'

(Olivier himself averted his gaze, VERY embarrassed at what his past self was wearing.)

"Nice..." said Sasha, smiling wide. "Set him down beside me."

The Toads carried the still unconscious Witch Boy over to Sasha.

They then tossed him onto the throne's cushion, while Sasha grabbed the end of his chain.

"Good work...NOW, LEAVE US."

The Toads bowed like Sasha were their queen, and turned around and left.

Anne and Olivier had no choice but to watch as Sasha loomed over the Other Olivier.

Sasha grinned wide as she examined Olivier, an almost predatory look in her eyes.

Needless to say, BOTH Anne and Olivier didn't like this at all.

Anne mostly, as she remembered how angry she felt when she was imprisoned when this happened.

And how her thoughts, even THEN, were on Olivier and what Sasha was doing to him.

Anne was beginning to wish she didn't know about...THIS.

Sasha then grinned as she traced her fingers over the Other Olivier's bare chest,

drawing her fingertips along his oddly firm abs, and the occasional scars.

"damn...you look great." spoke Sasha. "Anne sure struck gold when she snagged you."

Anne growled at Sasha's remark.

"but you are WAAAY out of her league." Sasha then grasped the Other Olivier's cheeks,

moving his head towards her own. "you belong to ME, Magic Boy...End of Discussion."

Sasha then leaned forward, and gave the passed out Olivier a deep, aggressive kiss.

Anne's eyes began to burn bright blue at this.

"i'm gonna kill her." said Anne. "I know we're here to help her, but swear I'm gonna kill her."

Olivier said nothing as he watched this scene, Waiting for what he knew would come next...

...and sure enough, the Olivier of the past began to awake.

And his reaction to what Sasha was doing was instantaneous.

((*SLAP!*))

Sasha's head jerked to the side from the swift slap to her cheek.

Though, instead of being angry...she just grinned as she looked at Olivier.

"What the HELL is going on here!?" spoke the Other Olivier.

"Where is Anne, Where's Maddie (pauses, then shouts) AND WHAT THE HELLZAPOPPIN AM I WEARING!?"

Sasha grinned. "Well, to make a long story short: Me and Grimesy took over the Kingdom."

"WHAT!?" exclaimed Other Olivier.

"Grunge may had been a major a scumbag...but that doesn't mean he wrong." continued Sasha.

"The Toads deserve so much more than what those prissy newts had given them."

Other Olivier glared at Sasha. he then looked around the Throne Room.

"Looking for Anne?" spoke Sasha (as if reading Olivier's mind.)

Other Olivier glared at Sasha again. "Waybright, I swear if you've done anything-"

"RELAX...she's okay. Marcy and those Frogs, too." said Sasha. "I have them safely locked up so they won't get in the way."

Other Olivier briefly examined his own situation.

While he was chained up (and, feeling weaker than usual, for some odd reason)

He was also sitting upon the cushioned seat of the colossal throne next to Sasha.

(Almost as if he were that princess in that movie Marcy had him watch with her on her phone.)

"And, why aren't *I* locked up with the others!?"

Sasha smirked. "a precaution. can't have you pull some magic trick, and set them free.

No. I want you right where I can keep an eye on you, magic boy."

Other Olivier glared at Sasha...who smirked as she pulled him over to her.

"what did you...d-do to me?!" spoke Other Olivier, his voice shaky.

"not much...juuust hit you with an anti-charm that I snatched from Grudge's place." said Sasha.

"he was probably planning on using against you, considering it was designed to drain your magic."

"crazy b*tch!" exclaimed Other Olivier. "My magic is tied to my life-force, THAT COULD'VE KILLED ME!"

"Which is why I was careful with the dosage that I used." said Sasha.

"I don't want you dead, Ollie. I've grown quite fond you...But I can't have you beyond my control."

Other Olivier scoffed at this. "wow. Anne really wasn't kidding when she said you were a Control Freak."

(*SLAP!*)

Sasha slapped Other Olivier hard (which REALLY pissed off Anne.)

"do your worse." growled Other Olivier. "there is nothing you can do that hasn't been done to me already."

Sasha was about to slap Other Olivier again...when she caught a glimpse of the deep scars over his missing ears.

She then frowned as she recalled what Anne had told her prior about how that happened to Olivier.

Sasha then pulled her hand away.

"i'm sorry." said Sasha, her voice softer. "but this has to be done.

You know that the way Andrias is running things here isn't right. things need to change."

"Somehow I doubt your idea of "change" will be any better." said Other Olivier.

"I promise the Toads will treat the Frogs more fairly." said Sasha.

"What they were doing before...they were under orders from the Newts."

Other Olivier looked away, not buying what Sasha was selling.

"I've been lied to once already." spoke Other Olivier. "I am in no mood to be lied to again."

"Understandable. but I am afraid you have no choice but to trust me." said Sasha.

"I hold your chain (*tugs chain*) and I can TIGHTEN it...or, remove it if you behave yourself."

Other Olivier scowled at Sasha.

"there it is...that FIRE. that fighting spirit of yours." spoke Sasha, grinning.

"It is something that I find attractive. No wonder Anne fell for you like she did."

"she's stronger than you give her credit for." said Other Olivier, still glaring.

"Is she, now?" Sasha had a sly grin as she tugged Other Olivier's chain further.

"what are you-HMPH!" Other Olivier was silenced by Sasha kissing him forcefully.

Other Olivier tried to resist, but he was too weak and Sasha literally had him on a short leash.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU, SASHA!" exclaimed Anne, shaking her arms.

"I'm gonna kill you, and then I'll BURY you. Then dig you up, and CLONE You. AND KILL ALL YOUR CLONES!"

Olivier grabbed Anne. "Anne, ANNE!...Calm. Down. It's all in the past...Literally."

Anne exhaled. "right...sorry. Guess I'm still pretty mad at her."

"As am I, but we can't forget why we are here." said Olivier.

Anne exhaled as she and Olivier (TRIED) to continue watching the memory play out.

"NGHHH!, GRRRR...UGH. HMMMM-HMM!" Other Olivier screamed in his throat as Sasha deepened her kiss.

This wasn't at all like when Anne kissed him.

When Anne kissed him, it felt soft...tender. it made him feel at peace.

Sasha, however...was forceful, rough. and it just felt wrong to him.

When Sasha finally broke her kiss, she looked at Other Olivier with a smug expression.

"how was that?" spoke Sasha. "bet Anne never kissed you quite like that."

Other Olivier responded with a swift kick to Sasha's well armored gut.

"yeah...she doesn't." said Other Olivier. "and if you do that again, I'll bite your lips off."

Sasha just snickered as she wiped her mouth. "feisty...my kinda guy."

Other Olivier glared at Sasha. "oh, don't be that way. you KNOW you liked that."

"don't flatter yourself." snarled Other Olivier.

"Well, you'd better START liking it." said Sasha, her tone more strict.

"Because like it or not, you're the only human boy in this Frog world with like THREE other human girls.

You like Anne better?, Fine. I can share you with my girls. we'll have to if we want to survive."

"We won't need to if you just let us go home!" snapped Other Olivier.

Sasha grinned. "We *ARE* home, Oliver...BESIDES, I already tried sending Anne back with the music box."

To prove her point, Sasha opened the Calamity Box...and nothing happened. "stupid thing must be broken."

"that's...strange." mused Other Olivier.

"doesn't matter. I like living here now." continued Sasha.

"Like I told Anne: "Why 'rule the school?', when I can rule an entire world!"

Other Olivier was about to say something...when Toad Captain Grime came in.

[End of Part Thirty-Six]