26. Bizarre Bazaar

Disclaimer I don't own Amphibia. Also if anyone would like to help me beta this that be great. But if not I'll try my best. I try to get chapter out as I can.

Thanks to all the all follower and favorite so far. And thanks to Jss2141, redflare5000, Smoking Wrecker, drake wind, Alquimistaarcano77, Kaiju, Nopeknight, TALOS X, Stryker, Mr. Hardcor3, Gojirafan1954, Tearnon, Jason, brentdyedragon, gregorian12, PizzaGuest, Morticon, jjafo2014, schweenieboy, snake screamer, Rodimus973, Pushistaya ten, Shadowcat1083, Liko, Killerbull55858, QuackityFiction, Hamza9236, MarMarFaAnne, Notthenightslayer, Valenthyne, Guest for the comment.

"Dame it! Sally! You can't be so reckless." Hopediah scold his daughter as he was treating her wound. "You shouldn't have gotten involved."

"Dad, didn't you always tell me. You have to stand up for those who can't protect themselves?"

Hop Pop frowned he hated when she throw his words back at him. "You have a son now and another kid on the way. You can't just throw yourself in danger."

"Like you do? I know you sneak off to help people as him." She stops him before he could speak. "Dad I'm not going just stand by and let someone get hurt if I can stop it. You told me that."

"You just make your old man worry that's all."

"I know, just remember that everything will be alright. Because you taught me everything I need to know."

A few weeks later Hop Pop arrived back in Wartwood after a trip. Finding Wartwood in flames and destruction.

"Well, that was a waste of time." Sasha groaned, they were returning from the town archives. Hoping to find whatever they could find any information on the music box. But no such luck, they return with not evening a single scrap of knowledge even remotely connected to the music box, or anything about travelling to another words. "This trip was total bust."

"Ugh," Sprig sighed, "you said it."

"Can't believe there was nothing in the archives about the music box." Anne looked down sadly as she held the box tightly.

"Wow." Polly smiled, eyes gleaming at the box's shinness.

"So, you really think this is your key to getting home?" Sprig asked.

"Well, it zapped us here, so, yeah. It's pretty much our only lead."

"We'll probably find something eventually guys," Marcy tried to chear them.

"Really looking forward to finding someone who can help me fix this thing." Anne sigh defeated.

"Don't worry, girls We'll figure it out eventually." Hop Pop tried offering words of encouragement, as Bessie screeched, "Whoa!" Bessie came to stop as a group of strange little critters they'd ever seen, following each other single file until to a tree. "Hey, get outta the way, you... Whatever the heck you are."

"Man, these things are cute." Anne and Polly awwed, as Marcy took out her notebook and did quick drawing.

"Strange I don't know about this creature?" Marcy said as she puts her notebook away and pulled out a book of Amphibia's Wildlife from large to small.

Sprig poked his head inside a tree and found this gold egg. "Guys, look what I found. I think it's an entry ticket for the Bizarre Bazaar."

"The what now?" Anne asked.

"The Bizarre Bazaar. I've never been, but I've heard stories. It's a mysterious night market that passes through once a year. Exotic foods, games, mysterious treasures."

"Really?" Anne asked.

"Exotic treasures?" Sasha rubbed her chin, and smiled. "Like a magical music box? Sound like our best lead let."

"Hold up!" Hop Pop stopped the wagon and put his foot down firmly. "From what I've heard, that bazaar is full of greedy degenerates. Wave that thing around, and it'll get stolen for sure. Tell you what. I'll reach out to some frogs I know. and see if they know a thing about your music box."

"You can't be freaking seriously?!" Sasha argued back, "After all this we finally have the close thing to a lead single we'd got here!"

"No back talk. That place isn't for children. It the worst place filled with Amphibia most vile."

"HP. Listen." Anne said, "If we have any hope of going home, we have to investigate it, no matter how slim of a lead it is."

"No!"

"All right, fine." Anne sighed.

"We're going to the Bizarre Bazaar tonight, aren't we?"Sprig asked.

"Obvi..."

Back at the house, once they were sure Hop Pop was a sleep, and snuck out to the woods. "Bizarre Bazaar, here we come." They smiled.

"Okay, which way?" Anne asked.

"I don't know." Sprig replied.

"What do you mean? You don't know?" Sasha pitched her nose, "Great are first possible lead, and we don't know where to go." She turned to Marcy. "Marbles? Did you read anything about this place."

"Only a little," Marcy pulls out her notebook, "They gather somewhere in secret once a year. It's a black market so to keep it hidden its in a different place every year. It can be anywhere."

"Great we have one night to find a place that can be anywhere." Sasha groaned, why bother getting your hopes up about anything.

"I think the egg is supposed to show us." Sprig suggested and pulled the egg out of his pocket, he dropped it and it broke. "Whoops."

"Dude!"

One of those little critters from early had popped out and started running off. "After it!" The chase ended when the critter lead them to a cave.

The children gasped. It like some kind of medieval carnival. Food stalls, merchants selling items ranging from weapons, to just creepy. The place was swarming will all sorts of rough and dangerous looking people. They were in aww of the new sights and sound to experience.

"Whoa." Anne said.

"Whoa. is intense." Sprig said.

"Looks like something some game or something." Marcy said.

They ended up exploring for a bit, grabbing a bite to eat while they're at it. Marcy was a kid in candy store, she was almost as bad as Sprig as the two wanted to explore everything, Marcy wanted to tried all the new foods and drawing everything she seen. She and Sprig tried there luck at a game skee ball, which in Amphibia was strange. The balls were mud. Sprig failed badly, Marcy smiled and tried winning a beetle toy. The two went off to go on ride, when they return they were covered with swag, and driving juice.

"I got you guys something to drink as well." Sprig smiled and gave it to Sasha and Anne. The juice had spider eggs inside causing the two to scream. Marcy just shrugged and finished hers.

"Also, guys, I got this cool action figure of this legend The Wrecker. He was some champion and frog rebel hero, and this one is of her name is General Yunan, Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched, and the youngest newt to ever achieve the rank of general in the great Newtopian Army! And this is..."

"Marcy I don't care about your dolls," Sasha sighed, "We are here for something important remember."

"Sorry, Sash," Marcy looked away, hurt when her friends toss her interests away. "Just look at this place. It's so cool."

"Hey, look! Check it out." Anne pointed to a stall full of artifacts that had carvings a lot like the ones on the box. Those look like the markings on my music box."

"Suspiciously so." Sprig replied.

"Now where did I put my incense burner? Huh? Ah, welcome. Welcome to Valeriana's Antiques." The vendor is dark brown with a yellow underbelly, and yellow spots along her tail. She has light red eyes, with slit, dark shaded red pupils, and medium length, grayish-blonde hair. One of her eyes appears slightly out of shape and possibly damaged. Her tongue is a slightly light tone of teal and her mouth is lined with short teeth. She's missing her right arm, but uses her prehensile tail as a replacement. She wears a stitched black hood loose over her body, with beige armbands. She also has a hanging red and black pendant and gold rings on her neck.

"Guys," Sprig whispered, "I think she's missing an arm."

"I heard that," She glared, Sprig tried looking away as she turned to Marcy. The girl was drawing a picture on her. "What our you doing?" Sasha nudged Marcy to get her to stop.

"Oh!" Marcy's laughs nervously, "Hey. What is this thing?" He pointed to golden plate with Frog, a Toad and a Newt on it.

"Just one of my many treasures collected from my years of travel."

"Whoa!" They gasped.

"I've seen and heard it all."

"Betcha haven't seen anything like me," Anne smiled, "though."

"No, not exactly."

The girls smiled and nod, this newt clearly had good eye for mystical type artifacts. "Uh," Anne smiled, "there's something we'd like you to take a look at."

"Uh," Sprig looked unsure about all of this. "you sure about this? Maybe Hop Pop was right. I mean she just looks like some creepy witch."

Back at Wartwood, Maddie was doing so late night reading, and suddenly looked up. "Huh?" She shack her head and went back to reading.

"Sprig?" Marcy's frowned. "Did Maddie teach you, you should judge based on appearances?"

"Beside" Anne said, "you heard her. She's seen it all. If anyone knows anything about the music box. My backpack! Where'd it go?"

Sasha immediately spotted a masked, hooded figure running off into the crowd. "Hey! Stop you little thief!"

Hey! That's my backpack, you little creep. Get back here! Stop that tiny thief!" They chased the little creep down to a stall, where this beady-eyed little frog was running some skeevy carnival game, where he had just stuck it on his prize wall.

"Greetings. Come to try your luck at my fun and exciting game?

"Absolutely not!" Sasha walked over the stall, and was about to pin him against the wall, just before she could grab him. Three large toads with swords and battle axes surrounded her and her friends. "What?!"

"Ah-ah-ah!" The creep smiled, "Once something is on the prize wall, the only way to get it back is to win it. Sorry, hon, Bizarre Bazaar rules."

Sasha hissed through her teeth, she really wanted to kick this little creep's butt, but his bodyguards looked tough. Plus her friends could get hurt.

"Sasha?" Anne called out, "The music box. We can't lose it."

Sasha tightly her fists, glaring with fury at the little frog, "All right, we'll play your game, you little sicko!"

"Cockroach racing?" Sasha sighed, "Why does everything in this place involve bugs"

"Don't worry guys. All the hours played Super Mario kart, Gta have prepared me for this." Marcy smiled.

"I don't know, Marcy." Anne shaked her head, "If we lose then."

"We don't have any other choice Anne," Marcy gently touched her shoulder. "Hey. I got this trust me."

"Okay," Anne smiled, Marcy smiled back.

"Now, then. Who else has the guts to challenge."

This huge guy suddenly stood up in the audience. There were hushed whispers and everything, the other challenger immediately quit at the sight of him.

"The Wrecker!"

"He hasn't been seen in years."

"The Wrecker?"

"The legend says he'll wreck yourself if you don't check yourself."

"Oh, boy..." Marcy gulped, as he glared down coldly at her least it was just her versus him. Unbeaten champion? Marcy grinned well there was first time for everything. She had to win, it was her fault there even here."All right. Let's do this. Really Sprig?"

"Really?"

"The race is on!" The two took off immediately and Marcy was going pretty great. Years of playing racing games, driving Go-Karks at the summer fair had pay off. But determination to win and actually winning are two different things. Marcy would know she sent days trying to defeat a single boss in Cuphead. This guy was using every trick in the book, evening getting physical.

"Hey!" Sasha yelled watching nearby, "That's cheating!"

"Everything goes at the Bizarre Bazaar."

"Everything? Huh," Marcy smiled, "Sprig tongue him!?"

"Tongue him?!"

"Just do it!" Using Sprig's tongue they pulled themselves ahead, and were able to launched themselves ahead of the Wrecker, and the finish was in sight. "Ha, it worked!"

"We're gonna win! We're gonna win! We're gonna win!" Marcy and Sprig cheered.

Wrecker smiled and threw a blue shell it hit Marcy and Sprig. Letting The Wrecker crossed the line. "Winner, winner, cricket dinner! Our reigning champion takes the prize."

"No!" Marcy gasped, this was all her fault.

The sound of bell went off just as hourglass drained. The the merchants began closing down their show and packing up. All heading off in difference directions.

"The bazaar's closing."

The group gasped.

"Look. Pack it up."

The group frozen in place watching as the once busy night market quickly disappear along with everyone else. Remaining was now just empty place in the middle of the forest.

"The music box..." Anne slowly slide down on her knees, covering her faces. "I-It's gone."

Sasha lips twitched, "Now we'll never get home."

"It's all my fault. I thought I had this." Marcy held her tightly.

Sprig offered a kind smiled, as he sat down next to his best friend. Patting her back, hoping to give her comfort. "Hey, it's okay, Marcy."

Marcy turned her head, trying to smile. Gratefully for the small bit of comfort. "How?"

Sprig paused for a minute, trying to think of something that might be of help. "Uh, maybe, we can find someone, who knows The Wrecker. Track him down, you know?"

Sasha scoffed, "Did you hear what the frogs in there said. They hadn't seen him in years. No, he's long gone by now."

"Hey!" A voice called out nearly giving them a heart attack, as the Wrecker appeared, his large figure towering over the, surprising them.

"The Wrecker!"

Sasha stood up, ready for a fight. "Hey, that's ours! Give it back!"

"Yeah, give it," Marcy added for support, although was a little intended by his large size."Umm... Please."

Anne picked herself up, and looked with pleading eyes, "Look, I know you won my backpack, but there's something inside I really need. You gotta give it back." She looked staring directory into his eyes. "I'll do anything."

To their amazement, it worked. Wordlessly, the Wrecker removed the bag and dropped it in front of them. But when the Wrecker ripped off his cloak, revealing an old man on stilts.

"Hop Pop!?" They yelled, baffled.

"Hop Pop, you're the Wrecker!" Marcy was shocked and smiled, "Oh my Frog! The Wrecker was legendary."

"No one cares Marcy!?" Sasha crossed her arms, looking cross. "Old man? What's which the custume?!"

"Yeah, dude?" Anne raised an eyebrow.

Hop Pop crossed his arms, looking annoyed. "I thinks It obvious. I knew you kids wouldn't stay away from the Bizarre Bazaar. So I came in case you got yourselves in a pickle! Which you did. A big, fat pickle." The kids starred at their feet, "Hmm?"

"Are mad at us?" Marcy questioned.

"Of course I'm not. Disappointed yes. But I knew you wouldn't have gone here without a good reason."

Anne picked up her bag, "You're the best. Thanks for having my back... pack. You were right. I was too impatient for answers." Anne unzipped her bag and revealed the music box, she past it to him "Here. Go through your trusted channels. I'm okay with waiting a little longer."

Hop Pop was shocked at this action he had a grim expression as he held the box, something she didn't notice. I'll do my best, Anne. I know how important this is to you."

Scratching the back of her head, Sasha looked up impressed. Unlike her parents, and despite how much she fought against the idea. Hop Pop proven to her she had her best interests at heart. "Hey old ma... I mean Hop Pop? Can you teach us how to drive like that."

"Heh, nope."

"Okay," Sprig leaped on to Hop Pop, smiling at his grandpa. "Back up. You're The Wrecker, Hop Pop? How many games have you beaten? Did it ever get dangerous, Hop Pop? Have you killed a man, Hop Pop?"

Marcy as well got into face. "How long were the Wrecker? Did you make this? Is this the original Wrecker custume? Is there tragic origin story? Why do you stop?"

Hop Pop laughs, "Whatever happens in the Bizarre Bazaar stays in the Bizarre Bazaar." He just simply dodge the questions.

"Aw, man!" Sprig and Marcy lowered their heads in disappointment.

Anne chuckles. "Just like Vegas.

Hop Pop seem confused and annoyed by her references, "Sure, Anne. Just like Vegas."

Unknown to them, a tall newt lady watched them leave, her tail resting on her chin in thought. "Leander, I think we've found the new trio." She whispered, paying close attention to the group. "Now, only time will tell if she is truly worthy. We can't make the same mistake again."

Unbeknownst to group, a group of familiar Toads were watching. Flabbergasted, "Bog, do you see that? That old dude is the Wrecker?"

Bog smirked rubbing his chin, "I think we found who been causing us trouble with the frogs."

Mire growled.

"No. For know will let them go. We'll tell the captain." Bog smiled.

Once they return back to the house Hop Pop sneaked outside at night with the box and shovel in hand. He knew he needed to get rid of it. It was the worst thing he could do to them. He would spend the rest of his days trying to make up for it. There were times he truly hated himself. He was brought out of his thoughts by a gasped behind him, turning around he saw Sasha.

"What are you doing..." Her voice was so quiet, she was the shovel and the box and contented the dots. "ANNE! MARCY! GET OUT HERE NOW!"

The two made they way outside, "What is it?"

"He was trying to bury the box!" Sasha pointed at Hop Pop.

"What?" Anne turned and saw the shovel and the box in hand. "How could you, I trust you!"

"Wait... just let me... explain..." his voice is hesitate that as he calls out to the. In that moment, he looks so much older to them, all worry lines and stress-induced gray hairs, looking like a broke man. "This... is hard to talk about... Sprig and Polly's parents." Anne was hesitate to stop, the raw brokeness of his voice. "It was a few years ago... I was a journey when herons attacked Wartwood... they didn't make it..." Tears flowing, it was surprising to them Hop Pop didn't cry. It was like he was holding back this for years, it felt like he was letting go of pain he kept deep inside. "And... when I learn the box was dangerous. I panic... I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry girls, I just so sorry. Please I already lost one child, I can't lose another. I just can't... I'm sorry... I can't lose them, I can't lose any of you." In losing her he lost his greatest blessing and comfort, for he was always that to me. After everything Hop Pop used to force himself to smile. He just wanted to be the brave one, first for his daughter and then later his grandchildren.

Marcy was the first to step forward, part of didn't care that he hid the box, she just wanted endless adventures in this world. Just like Maddie, she was opening her eyes to see that this frogs were more then silly little frogs. But flawed as well as beautiful people each with there own dreams, fears and regret. Despite how he could have just easily flipped blame on her. It's a testament to the depth of Hop Pop's compassion. In spite of easy escape goat, or throw share blame. He would take it all on. The young girl kneel down and hugged him. "It's okay Hop Pop."

The embrace could him off guard, but he accept the warming embrace of his granddaughter. Anne was the next to step up, at first she just doing this for Sprig and Polly. She was very emotional person, and she just wanted to hug someone when they cry. She just wanted to take away their pain. The his actions cut deep, and she knew she'll probably take awhile for things to return back to normal. She also hated herself, feeling like this was just like forgiving Sasha for her toxic behavior. She felt pressure because Marcy hugged him. She kneel down to hug the old man. "I don't trust you... but I get it."

Sasha was not fine and took off. She scowled as the rain hit the ground around her, the cold seeping into her bones. Wrapping her cloak around herself, Sasha cursing the old frog. Who cared about him anyway, she obviously didn't, and he didn't care for her either. The more she thought about it the worse it got, she was surprised she could still feel the cold. Sasha groaned and headed to the only place she trusted. She didn't want them to see her so vulnerable but the storm was getting worse and she'd been far too distracted to make a shelter, and she could probably swallow her pride to avoid death. She could see a light from Sundews house were still on, and continued onwards. She reached the door and tentatively knocked on the door. She could feel herself shivering involuntarily, and reconsided running away before the door opened and she was greeted with a surprised Felicia.

"Sweet Tadpole," Felicia glanced at Sasha's dripping clothes. "you'll check death out here."

"Sasha scoffed, " it's kinda why I came here. I, I, got catch in the storm. And I had a fight..." She failed to repress a shiver and Felicia's smiled at her. "Come in."

Sasha blinked, "Oh, uh, thanks." She sneezed quietly, before following Felicia in the house. It was much warmer, it felt nice. Sasha stood awkwardly in the room, being careful not to drip all over the floor and make it an even bigger mess. Felicia walked over with a change of clothes and began to make some tea.

Only two weeks until our adventures in Amphibia will end. Can't believe were almost at the end of the series. Were entering the beginning of the end.