Skylar's P.O.V

'Get your own food you dumb bug' Sasha says as she squishes a bug with a rock.

'It's still moving, try squishing it again' I say while laying down. Sasha goes to pick pick up the rock but was interrupted by the door opening.

'Huh?' We both say.

'Hey Sasha, hey Skylar, brought you dinner, cricket Thursday's'

'Percy' I sit up with a smile.

'Hey I've been working on my act, do you wanna see it?' He asks.

'Totally, bring it' Sasha says.

'Ok stay right there'

'Not like we have a choice' I hear Sasha mumble.

Percy then comes back in wearing all sorts of instruments. He does his little performance finishing with a bow.

'Tada!' He finishes.

'Go Percy' I cheer.

'Woo get it toad, that was legit Percy' Sasha says. She then looks at me and smirks. 'Honestly you're wasting your time here as a guard'

'You know what you're right' he takes off his helmet. 'thanks Sasha and Skylar, I can't wait to see the look on grime's face when I tell him that-' he ran into grime.

'Oh no' I whisper while rubbing the bridge of my nose.

'Tell me what?' Grime asks while towering over Percy.

'Ummmm... That I quit and I've always hated this job byeeeeee' Percy yells as he runs out of the room.

'Hey there Grimesy, what's that like the fifth toad we've talked into leaving this week' Sasha says to Grime.

'There's plenty more where that came from and far more loyal than Percy' he said Percy's name like it was a bad taste in his mouth.

'Are you sure about that? You're not exactly mister popular around here' Sasha taunts.

'ENOUGH, now who-'

'Sent us? No one' I start.

'How'd we get here? don't know' Sasha continued.

'What do we want? To find our friends and go home' we say in sync like we had many times before.

'Haven't we been through this enough?' I ask.

'It'll be enough once you start giving me real answers, until then-'

'CAPTAIN GRIME SIR!' Braddock yells entering the room. 'Oh hey girls' she says waving at us.

'Braddock, hey girlfriend' Sasha says.

'How's the garden coming along?' I ask.

''Oh it's gorgeous, you should see the squash'

'Did you need something soldier? Grime asks clearly annoyed.

'Oh right yes, we may have a small problem' Grime then follows Braddock to the roof of the tower. Me and Sasha move to the window to see what they're looking at.

'Kill the torches, fast' Grime whisper yells.

'Sir' Braddock follows the order.

'A bird? You guys are scared of a bird' Sasha scoffs.

'Look at the size of those things though' I observe.

'Quite, it's not just a bird, it's a Heron' he starts 'a murderous predator that happens to love the taste of flesh' he explains.

'Cute' Sasha jokes.

'The most important thing right now is that we be very, very quiet'

Everyone's attention was then turned to the entrance of the tower. Percy had just opened the doors and started marching down the path, instruments and all.

'Percy/Percy get back here/Percy stop' everyone whisper yelled at him while trying to wave him back.

'Sorry guys but this toad's gotta follow his dreams' he announces.

'Oh crud' I mutter when I notice the Herons standing over Percy.

Percy starts panicking and running back to the tower. He gets picked up and almost gets eaten but manages to get away.

'Don't lead them here you fool!' Grime yells at him 'close the gates!' He orders.

'Hurry up Percy!' I call out to him. Luckily he manages to get inside just before the doors closed.

'Wow this is serious' Sasha comments.

One of the Herons then crash into the cell.

'OH CRUD' I yell.

'This place is falling apart!' I hear Grime complain.

I have to agree with him though. Every toad was either crying, hiding under a rock or running around like a headless chicken, I want to help out but right now me and Sasha have our own problem to worry about.

'Bring it on bird brain' Sasha yells as she flips over the Heron.

'Eat this!' I scream as I throw my dinner into its face.

I hear metal moving behind us and notice that Grime had bent the bars to let us out. When I wasn't looking, the Heron has recovered and gone to attack Sasha but thankfully Grime blocked the attack.

'Creatures! Fight with me and together we'll- and they're gone' I hear him say as me and Sasha run out.

'Sky help me pick up this barrel' Sasha orders.

'On it' I comply.

'Hey, ugly chicken!' Sasha yells as we throw the barrel at the bird. The bird whines and ducks its head outside.

'Where did you two get moved like that?' Grime laughs.

'Cheerleading believe it or not' Sasha responds.

'Volleyball too' I add on.

'I'm sorry cheer what?'

'Ok listen up, if we help you get rid of these birds, you will give us provisions and release us, deal?' Sasha states.

'Deal, now grab every toad you can and head to the safe room' we were then blown back by a screech from the Heron. 'Quickly' Grime orders and we all run off.

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'You know what would lighten this atmosphere a little bit, a joke' Percy starts. 'How many Herons does it take to storm a castle?' Grime responds by holding his sword at Percy's throat 'too soon?' he nervously asks.

'You lot are without a doubt the most USELESS group of toads I have ever seen!' Every toad sighed sadly at Grime's words. 'Maybe if any of you had a scrap of courage we wouldn't be in here cowering like a bunch of-'

'Hehehe okay, alright let's take five everybody' I announce to the room.

'Grimesy a word in private please' Sasha whispers as we push Grime over to the side. 'Ok if you keep yelling at them like that, they'll keep being useless and we'll all die' Sasha gets straight to the point.

'What do you suggest? I congratulate them? Give them each an award?' Grime spits at his own suggestion.

'Not exactly' I start.

'Just try saying nice things for a change, get them to love you and they'll do anything for you' Sasha continues.

'That actually works?' he questions.

'Oh it works alright, trust me' Sasha finishes.

'Of course it works, positive reinforcement works wonders' I smile.

'I don't know...' Grime mumbles.

'Here we'll give you a head start' I say while nudging Grime.

'Wow Grime, so you think your guards are all amazing but you're afraid to tell them your true feelings?' Sasha makes up.

'What? what are you-' Grime tries to stop her.

'What's that? You think Braddock is the toughest toad in the tower because she doesn't take garbage from anyone' I continue.

'I uhh... YES Braddock is tough, tough as beetle skin' Grime compliments.

'Oh well I do wash with a steel wool brush, it really hurts' Braddock says as she blushes.

'And what were those nice things you said about Garry?' Sasha prompts Grime.

'Oh Gary, Gary, Gary umm' Grime thinks. 'Gary never missed a day, even when he was sick'

'What can I say, I'm dedicated' Gary responds.

'Can't believe he actually likes us' I hear the toads saying.

'And Percy?' I ask Grime.

'I don't want to do Percy' he groans.

'And Percy' I say a little more aggressive.

'Percy's a grubbing idiot!'

Murmurs were heard around the hall. Sasha and I just facepalmed.

'Ehh, but when he makes a mistake he owns it and he doesn't stop until he makes things right and because of that...'

The whole tower was intrigued.

'He has...'

Come on, come on' Me and Sash hope he doesn't screw it up.

'He's earned my respect' Grime declares.

The entire tower gasps in surprise.

'I have?'

'Yes?' Grime says in more of a question then an answer.

'Captain Grime sir, we're taking this tower back even if we have to fight through twenty Herons' Percy then turns to the rest of the toads. 'now come on you toads no one wants to live forever!'

Every toad in the tower cheered and followed Percy out of the room.

'For Grime!' The toads yell as the begin attacking the Herons.

'Up here pheasant!' Grime calls out to the Herons.

Grime, Sasha and I jump down on the giant bin chickens. Using all my strength I hit one of the Herons over the head with a stick as Sasha and Grime did the same to the other. After a few more hits both Herons retreated. All of the toads awed at the three of us.

'Toads of Toad Tower, today was a great victory! If it weren't for your bravery the fortress would be lost' 'YOU'RE ALL HEROES!' Grime announces to the toad army.

'Did Grime'

'Just call us'

'Heroes'

'WOOHOO' all the toads cheered.

Me and Sasha nod at Grime.

'Alright troops listen up'

'SIR YES SIR!' The army saluted.

'Okay wow umm... head down to the mess hall for some food and a round of beetle mead, you've earned it'

'SIR YES SIR' they say in unison again before marching off to the mess hall.

'Unbelievable, this compliment stuff is witchcraft'

'Uh-huh yeah okay anyways, we upheld our end of the deal so give us some rations, a map, maybe a cool cloak or two and we'll be on our way'

Grime draws his sword. 'Not so fast, you're both far too dangerous and manipulative to be left to roam free'

'You wordy little-'

'But we all know I can't stop you' he sheaths his sword. 'So go ahead, be vagabonds wandering alone in the wilderness'

I give Grime a questioning look.

'Or?' I ask.

'Or stay here, help us rebuild the tower perhaps serve as my second and third in command and when we're done here; you, me and the entire garrison will march on the valley, restore order and find your friends. Now, how does that sound?'

'I can live with that, what do you think Sky?'

'I'll follow you Sash' I say.

'Then come lieutenants, we have much to discuss' Grime says as he walks away.

Me and Sasha both pull out our pictures of our friends.

'Hold on for a little longer girls, we're coming for you and when we find you we're gonna get home, but first...' Sasha looks at me and smirks. 'I think we're gonna have some fun with this place'

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