Lone Warrior and the Three Calamities (AmphibiaxRC9GN)

Frog Ninja

It had all happened so fast. The crash, the hurt, the hospital, it all seemed like a bad dream that had passed the night before. But Randy knew better. At the age of six-years-old, he'd become an orphan with nowhere to go and nowhere to belong to. A part of him wanted it all to be a nightmare that he would wake up from in just a second. But the pit in his gut told him differently. This was the truth and he had to face it even if it hurt.

Randy looked at the bag he'd brought with him as he followed one of the nurses to an office. It was his whole life. All he had gotten for six years and all he had to remember his family. Not much, just a bunch of trinkets that he had gotten all over the house. It was probably all he could get before they started taking things away. His hands tightened around the bag as he carried it to the office. Even if it killed him, he would not let go of the bag or what it carried inside.

"Please, wait here." The nurse told him as she went inside.

He took a peek inside the room through a crack, even if it wouldn't mean anything. The nurse was talking to two men, both wearing suits. They didn't look particularly happy or thrilled about the conversation, but he could only guess that was the mood everyone was in. Not that he could blame them.

"We've looked everywhere, gentlemen. But it seems Randy doesn't have any other relatives." The nurse looked down with sadness in her tone. "Both of his parents were only children."

"What about his grandparents?" The first man in a suit asked.

The nurse shook her head.

"Any cousins or friends that could take him in?" The second man asked, though his tone didn't sound very optimistic.

The nurse shook her head once more.

Randy and his parents had only recently moved and had no friends to speak of. Which meant that Randy was alone now in a city that he didn't know anyone or anything. Not the most ideal of circumstances for him.

"That means the kid will have to go into the system. Someone will want him," the first suit said. "It's only a matter of time."

"It's a big world out there, he's bound to find his place. Still, this isn't the kind of news I like to give." The second suit rubbed the back of his neck. "Can we talk to the boy? Randy, right?"

"Yes, I'll bring him in." The nurse turned around and opened the door.

But to their surprise, Randy was long gone.

Randy ran to the park with nothing but the bag on his shoulder and the clothes on his back. He didn't know where they wanted to send him, but he knew he didn't want to go there. Fear and despair gripped his heart like a vice. He didn't know why he ran to the park of all things. Maybe he did it out of a sense of familiarity? Maybe he did it because he couldn't think of any other place where he could go? He couldn't go back to his home, it would be the first place they looked. Randy was alone in the world and had no one by his side.

The park was mostly silent at that time. The lights were just about to turn on and the sun was almost down over the horizon. There were no people around and those that were had started to leave without another thought in mind. It was the time the park was the closest to a graveyard. It was deadly silent with nothing but the bugs and the birds around to keep lost souls company.

"I guess this is as good a place as any." Randy sighed.

Randy sat on a bench as he placed the duffle bag next to him. He was exhausted by all that had happened. But found no tears running down his cheeks. He'd run out of them from all the crying. His body couldn't keep going even if he knew where to go from where he stood. He just dropped down on his bag…

"Ow!" Randy held the side of his head in pain. "What did I pack in here?"

Randy opened the duffle bag, wondering what was so hard that it hurt his head. He peered inside with whatever light was still available to him. Inside the bag, amidst the clothes, toys and trinkets that filled the bag, there was a box. A box small enough that it could barely fit a grown man's fist. Randy had grabbed it because he thought it was his mom's jewelry box, but what if it wasn't? He took it out and examined it with the light.

It was plain and it looked like it was found in a thrift shop somewhere, but it had strange carvings that Randy found interesting. The carvings resembled frogs, toads and newts going in a circle around a strange symbol. To him it looked like a fancy-looking nine or a six depending on how he grabbed it. Curiosity filled him as he opened the small box. Inside he saw a few things, a picture of his family with him, a small blue compass and a strange looking key. It looked like it was meant to be used for a music box of some kind.

"Is this for a door or a music box?" Randy took out the key from the box.

He looked it over, making sure of what it was. The light of the sun hit the key, making it glow slightly with three different colors. Randy narrowed his eyes as the glow grew brighter and brighter. His eyes widened as he could've sworn he heard a melody. But before he could question it, it happened.

His vision was blinded by the bright colors. The lights engulfed him in a warm light before darkness took hold.

In a flash of light, Randy Cunningham had disappeared from the face of the earth.

Randy felt like he was being taken over by a strong current. He flailed and tried to reach out to grab something, anything, but it was no use. He was no better than a leaf being caught in the flow of a river current, dragging him deep and far into an unknown fate. The fruitless effort of fighting against the current only dragged him deeper into its hold. The strength of the bright magical force pulling him along was far too strong for him to defeat or break free from. All he could do was surrender to whatever fate had in store for him.

The lights seized as Randy fell down on the ground with a silent thud. Randy groaned in pain, holding his face before rubbing his eyes. He could see spots all over as he tried to pick himself up.

"What just-?" Randy stumbled, slipping down once more. "Oh please let it be mud." Randy looked at the brown liquid around him before sniffing it with dread. "Phew, it is mud."

With that doubt cleared and overcome, Randy's mind focused as he looked at his surroundings. He knew one thing for sure, he wasn't in the same park he'd been a second ago. The trees were tall and larger than the ones in the park. These were wild stronger than anything he'd ever seen. There were no paths, grass and moss covered the muddy ground as wild flowers and flora sprouted from all corners around him. Up in the sky, stars swirled and flared before his eyes like a frozen 4th of July for only his eyes. The sounds of insects flying and buzzing around him were louder than any car or electric cable he'd ever heard. And yet, there was silence.

There was no other way of saying it, but he was no longer in the park or the city he'd been in just a second ago.

"Where-Where am I?" Randy asked. "Is this even home?" He looked down, spotting his bag, the box and the small key that had brought him there.

He quickly picked it up, shaking it up and down. But it didn't do anything. Swinging it like a videogame weapon didn't work. Turning it like a normal key wasn't doing anything either. And begging it to work gave him a good old pile of nothing. He tried over and over but the key didn't do anything. No lights came from it, and no instant transportation occurred.

"Come on! Come on! Come on!" Randy shook the key but to no avail. "For the love of shoob, work! Where the juice did you sent me?!" Randy tossed the key against a tree.

However, as soon as he did that, he regretted it. He ran towards the key, picking it up along with the box, the picture inside it and the compass.

"I gotta be close to the city. I'll find it as soon as I get out of this… um, forest? Swampy area?" Randy asked himself. "I have no idea, but at best I should start walking. Um, that way!" Randy gathered up his courage and ventured into the dark swamp.

Randy walked down the path before him, stepping over the vines, moss and overgrown roots from the trees. He didn't know where he was going, but it was better than just sit by and wait for help that would never come. Plus, the whole point of running away was not to enter the system and have his life for himself. But what he wanted at that moment was something more concrete, an actual path would've been plenty. Using a flashlight, he made his way through the woods, though every step he took didn't exactly help him feel any better.

His ears picked up strange buzzing noises coming towards him. Then it passed him, making him jump in fear. Randy spun around, looking for the source of the strange buzzing noises. The light of the flashlight gave him some idea of what was going on around him. But he couldn't see what was going on. Holding his bag like a makeshift shield, Randy tried to find what was the source of all the buzzing and strange noises. He'd long gotten over his fear of the monster in the closet, but the eerie night air and the strange sounds were making him relive those nights. It reminded him of how his mother would comfort him whenever he got scared. But now he was on his own. Narrowing his eyes, he chose to confront his fears instead of wallowing in sadness.

"I don't know who or what you are, but come out!" Randy shined a light on the opening between two trees, getting a clear view of what was making that sound.

Hanging on the tree branches were large creatures with large red eyes and sharp tube-like noses and they didn't look happy that Randy had flashed a light on their faces. They screeched in rage, flying like a pack of rabid dogs after him.

Randy ran as fast as he could while the pack of creatures flew after him. He held up his duffle bag, covering his head from their attacks as best as he could. As he saw one of those beasts coming at him, he swung his flashlight at it, hitting it in the face. Another batsquito few towards him from the other side, only to receive another flashlight to the face. Randy felt the needles cutting it a bit close through the duffle bag, with one stink scratching his shoulder.

"Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" Randy screamed, only to fall down a slope into the mud.

Randy rolled down to a stop, hitting something big and scaly. He looked up to see a large blue lizard with yellow spots and green eyes. It stood up looking at Randy as though it didn't recognize what he was. Randy let out a scared chuckle at the creature before him, only for it to stretch its neck flaps and roar at him like a dinosaur from an old movie. Screaming himself as well, he took off running with the frilled lizard chasing after him with its mouth open to chomp down on his head.

The frilled lizard chomped at Randy, making him run faster, jumping to avoid any and all the bites. Its claws and bigger body aided the creature in keeping pace with the little human, forcing Randy to run faster. The swings of the beast's claws cut through the low branches as they reached out to grab Randy. But Randy managed to move through the mud and slip past the attacks, turning around to see a way out. Getting out of the mud, Randy crawled under a fallen tree, getting away from a sharp claw swinging at him. He lost one of his shoes but he kept on running as the frilled lizard roared at him.

Randy kept on running, climbing up a tree for the first time in his life. Hiding himself amongst the clouds, he covered his mouth as the frilled lizard ran past him. The best he could do was stay silent and make sure not to give himself away. Breathing in and out, he calmed himself as his ears focused on any sound that could lead to danger. Nothing. He waited unsure of how long. But he waited. Silently, he turned side to side for any signs of danger.

Randy sighed, finally feeling that he could catch his breath. There was no telling how long he held that breath in, but he was glad that he could let it go at last.

"What was that… thing?" Randy muttered silently. "I know I'm a city kid but I've never seen anything that big. What is this place?" Randy pressed himself against the tree, trying to rest up.

His eyes felt heavy. He couldn't keep them open for long. All his strength had been exhausted but he pushed on until he was certain that he was safe. Looking around once more to make sure he was safe, he kept his eyes and ears open. Whatever creatures were around, they didn't seem to pay him any mind. That was a relief. He was high up and hidden from sight that he could take a quick nap. He wrapped his arms around the duffle bag as he prepared himself to sleep in the wilds. Closing his eyes, he allowed sleep to take him.

The sound of croaking frogs and insects sang him to sleep. It was pleasant. A tranquil noise that he could sleep to. His mind drifted to the land of the Sandman as the rest of the day drifted away from his thoughts. Dreaming, Randy found himself in his bed. He reached out to grab his pillow and bury his face against it.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Randy's eyes snapped open. He looked around as the sounds grew louder. They weren't explosions, but they were loud enough to shake him from his sleep. They were rhythmic and getting closer.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Randy listened closely, trying to figure out what was going on. The booms were the sound of drums beating loudly. They were suddenly growing in intensity with other musical instruments. He could tell what they were playing was like a marching song. His eyes caught lights coming closer to him. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at what was going on. But there was no mistake, it looked like… A parade?

A parade meant people! And people meant a way home!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Randy grabbed his things, climbing down to the ground. Though he slipped on the last bit, falling to the ground. It hurt a little. But it was better to hurt slightly than not and lose his chance. He pulled himself up before running after the marching music. He tried for his flashlight, but it was busted from hitting the batsquitos. Cursing under his breath, he tossed it away. Trusting his ears was his best choice, listening in for the sound of music. He picked up the sound of the booming drums, the sharp strings of a guitar, a sweet melody of a flute and the singing of a caravan of parade members. Making his way through the foliage of the strange land, jumping over some of the roots and rocks, Randy's eyes landed on some strange lights.

The lights looked to be torches made of fire. But it wasn't like any flame he'd ever seen. These looked more ghostly and pleasant, especially with the fireflies following after them like ducklings after mama duck.

Randy didn't care, there were people there and that was all he wanted. He pushed the shrubs away to see who was playing the music in the middle of the night. But he was met with a sight he'd only seen in anime or comics.

Before Randy stood a parade of strange creatures, all monstrous and fantastic in nature. Some resembled ghosts with colorful masks, others resembled large hulking beasts with large weapons hanging on their backs, others looked like normal animals but they walked on two legs as they tossed orbs of fire into the air and then there were some that looked to be half man and half beasts and others didn't even had heads. They all dressed up in robes and Japanese kimonos. Some were playing instruments like they were in the middle of a party while others waved flags and banners with all their might.

It was so colorful and full of mystery that no one would've believed Randy if he'd told another soul. The parade passed slowly as more strange creatures and beings walked before him. It was loud but dignified. It was bright but also pleasant. It was a scene out of a dream that washed away troubles. His body grew warm as he watched the marching creatures make their way deeper and deeper into the swamp. It was a warmth and brightness that drew him. The kind of draw that made slaves to the weak willed and inspired the strong.

Randy didn't know when he started walking with the creatures, monsters and demons. But he no longer bothered hiding his presence from them. Instead, he walked side by side with them as they continued celebrating. All his worries faded away and instead were replaced by the warmth that he had missed so long. He could almost feel like his parents were right beside him. He didn't know if the other creatures had taken an interest in him but at least he could enjoy their music with the feeling his family was next to him.

It was a happy time. It was a joyful time for him and part of him wished that it would never end. Even his tired body found itself renewed by the music and the celebration happening around him. His eyes trailed behind the ghostly flames that lit up their path as they danced to the songs being played by the instruments. It was a fun and wonderful moment that seemed straight from a dream, and yet it was happening. There was no way it was a hallucination or a dream.

The sound of cups and toasts echoed in the air as several creatures and beasts laughed and shared stories. The smell of their drink was sweet and intoxicating. It almost made Randy wonder what it would taste like.

Randy looked ahead as the most imposing of the creatures stood up. It was a creature covered up in fiery black feathers, human-like hands with talons on them, large black wings spreading behind his body, bright red hair, a white mask-like face with red marks above and below its eyes with a sharp dirty golden beak. It had dark eyes that lit up with an intense heat inside the darkness. It wore red and black samurai armor covering its shoulders, legs and forearms on top of bright red samurai robes. Its very presence made everyone look at it like it was their leader or someone to fear.

"Bottoms up everyone! To another year of us Yokai and Oni making these lands fun!" It spoke, holding up its cup. "May our enemies tremble upon our sight and that the world never gets boring! To me, but also us!"

"To the Tengu!" They all cheered, clashing their cups with each other.

As everyone drank up, the one called Tengu caught sight of Randy. A more fearful child would have hid or ran at being discovered by the most intimidating being around. Yet Randy didn't so much as blink at the sight of the yokai looking at him square in the eye. In fact, Randy could've sworn that he saw the demon bird smirk from the corner of its mouth.

"Well, ain't this an interesting turn of events." Tengu drank deeply from his cup. "Show's over." He placed the cup down gently causing all the lights and other beings to disperse.

Randy was left alone amidst the darkness once more. He turned around, looking for the fantastical creatures, the yokai as they called themselves. But he could not find hide nor tail of them. Like a dream, they had all seemed to vanish into thin air as soon as an alarm clock hit them with their wake up time.

"Wait, come back!" Randy called out. "I'm lost! Could you tell me where to go?! Where is everyone?! Come back!"

"What do we have here, brothers?"

Randy looked up to see something out of a nightmare. Six floating heads with sharp teeth, glowing green eyes, sharp knife-like ears and two horns sprouting from their foreheads each. Their hair looked messy and wild, the kind you find lying around in the sink of the shower. And they all had the same look on their faces, a hungry look.

"It looks like some dangly creature."

"It doesn't look like a frog or toad."

"Maybe it's a newt~."

"A newt? It's been a while since one has come to the valley."

"But where is its tail? I thought newts had those."

"Maybe it fell or someone got a chomp out of it before we did."

"Um, before you did what?" Randy shook as the heads swirled around him like vultures.

"Awe, look at the little mouse here finding his voice~." One of the heads mocked.

"You have a good idea what we would do." Another head chuckled.

"I don't…" Randy took a step back.

"Why spoil the-" The first head began.

"Before we ate it!" Only for another head to cut him off.

"Damn it, Jerry! What happened to suspense?!" The heads bickered.

Randy took this chance to run away as the flying heads snapped and bickered at each other. His mind raced as he wondered what to do with all the monsters coming after him. His first thought was to hide in the tree he'd been hiding before. But then two of the heads dropped down, cutting his path.

"Where are you going, dinner?"

"It was rude of you to leave like that!"

Randy rolled out of the way of their chomping jaws, losing a bit of his shirt in the process. Hiding wasn't a choice, they were going to catch him and drop on him easily. He could run and run fast.

"Let's get him a little more scared!"

"That makes them tastier!"

The heads cut him off, headbutting him in the face and then on the side. Their hits made him slip down onto the mud once more. He looked up to see them all laughing at him. Their mocking grins were terrifying. But there was something more terrifying for Randy. Being mocked and played with like a toy.

A fire ignited in his stomach as his eyes landed on a branch. He grabbed it tightly, as he got up. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. He swung the stick as hard as he could, hitting the first head in the face. Their laughter stopped when they saw their brother's nose bleeding before Randy jumped at them with the stick. He swung wildly against them, making them back off slightly. There was no technique in his swings but he was making them back off, even managing to land a blow or two at the creatures. Every step he took, he took it to fight and survive.

But killing the heads was easier said than done. They stopped playing, dodging the attacks with ease as Randy tired himself out. Working in teams, they headbutted Randy on the back, tackled his side and snapped his stick with one loud chomp. The heads ran into Randy over and over, hitting him like a punching bag with their hard as stone heads. It was similar to being in a bumper car that could not move while everyone else just ganged up on him.

Randy fell to the ground, bruised and bleeding as the heads all snarled and growled at him like a pack of wolves. Aches and pains coursed through his body as he tried to get up. He would not give them the satisfaction of killing him so easily.

"Prepare to die, you little brat." The first head showed off its teeth.

"Bring it… you chump," Randy panted as his blood dripped into the mud.

The heads jumped in to finish him off with their large jaws and sharp teeth. Like a pack of starving hyenas they were set to devour the flesh of their prey now that he'd been weakened enough.

Just as they were about to sink their teeth into Randy's flesh, a mighty red circle of flowing water pushed them all back and away from Randy.

"All six of the Devourer Brothers for just one child? Disgraceful."

Randy looked up to see another being clad in a black suit with red armbands, a long red headband and red sandals wielding a katana blade in his hands. The figure wasn't that much taller than Randy, but the figure carried itself with great authority. The blade glowed with red waters flowing through it as if a river came out of it. The figure turned to look at Randy, revealing the figure's dark brown eyes. Even with a quick glance, Randy could feel the strength behind the man or creature's strength.

"Try to keep standing." The figure held his sword tightly. "This won't take long."

"You damn bastard! Don't get cocky!" The Devourer Brothers all roared at once. "There won't be anything left of you both!" They lunged at Randy and the other figure.

But the figure didn't seem at all scared or even worried. It took a step forward, taking in a deep breath as its body glowed bright orange. The figure blitzed at the six heads with his sword swung behind his head, surprising the Devourer Brothers.

"Norushi Style, Fifth Form, Flowing Cut!" The figure called out.

The figure's blade left a trail of bright red water as it struck the first head, cutting it in two. It moved like a mighty river despite its size, going onto the next head with another slice and then the next one and the next. His sword was swung down on the third demon head, before swinging upwards for the fourth head, spinning in a jump it cut the fifth head in a vertical slice before bringing down the blade on the last head. The figure moved his body fluidly, taking every movement without a second to rest or stop amidst his attacks. To any that watched his moves, it would've looked like a red river flowing in mid-air.

The figure landed on the ground softly, gently pulling his blade to the side before swiftly swinging it back. With that single movement, the remains of the six heads fell down to the ground, evaporating into ash before Randy's eyes. Without even looking back at its vanquished foes, the figure lifted its free hand up to its face, closing his eyes.

"May you find peace in the next life," the figure said. "I see that you're still up. You must be made of sterner stock than most yokai I've come across." The figure turned around to see Randy as his eyes were solely focused on him. "It isn't out of the ordinary that some yokai try to cannibalize each other, but you are not a yokai. What are you? A strange gangly creature?" The figure cleaned its sword before sheathing it.

"I… I… I am…" Randy stuttered.

"Speak up! You have the will to fight against those yokai with nothing but a stick and you can't talk now?" The figure demanded. "Speak up."

"My name is Randy Cunningham! And I'm a human!" Randy snapped, letting out the rest of his strength into that defiant roar.

The figure looked at Randy as if it were trying to figure out what he'd just said. It reached over to the end of his red mask pulling it up. The figure revealed his face being that of an elderly frog man with graying brown hair tied in a bun, a short beard, dark green skin and brown eyes.

"A human? I apologize, but I've never heard of any creature being called that let alone claiming that to be what they are." The frog man approached Randy, stroking his beard. "Where did you come from? How did you come upon this valley? Are… you alright?" The frog man got a good look at Randy before looking at the boy's face.

Randy had passed out from all the excitement and all the wounds that he had endured from the different beasts that had chased him. He slowly collapsed down from fatigue in front of the older frog man. But was quickly caught before hitting the ground underneath him.

"Even after traversing many challenges and facing the unknown, you still stood defiant against the yokai that were stronger than you," the frog man said. "I may not know who you are, boy. But you have the spirit of a warrior in you."

Randy slept like a log from exhaustion and all the wounds that he'd received from the flying heads. His eyes slowly opened up to the light of the sun hitting him in the eyes. Lifting his arms, he found himself with bandages and ointments on his wounds. Someone had treated him and fixed him up from all the beatings he'd received.

"I gathered your things for when you woke up." The frog man caught his attention as he cooked a large fish on top of a fire. "Sadly, some critters took a few bites out of them." He pointed to the damaged duffle bag.

Randy raced to the remains of the duffle bag. He didn't care about the clothes or some of the toys he'd brought over from the home he could never return to, but there was something he valued above all else. The box, the music key and the picture of his family were all he needed to see. He found the box with the picture inside it. Pressing it against his chest, he let out a sigh of relief. Feeling it on his body made him feel whole once more. At least he hadn't lost everything that mattered to him. His eyes caught the glint of light coming from the key, though he picked it up with a sad sigh.

"I guess everything did happen like I thought it happened." Randy looked sadly at the picture of his parents.

The old frog man looked at Randy, picking up on the boy's sadness. An emotion he'd dealt with for many years when things got wild and unpredictable. Most people of his hometown would not have spared a strange creature much of a glance, let alone empathy. But something about the young man reminded him of someone he held very close to his heart. He looked down at the flames in thought before turning the fish on the spitroast.

"It'll take the fish a little longer to finish cooking, which gives us plenty of time to talk." The old frog man turned to Randy, kneeling before him. "I think it is time for some introductions, young man. My name is Nobu Norushi, the last member of the Norushi Clan." He bowed, showing his respect to the young man.

Randy didn't know if he should be in awe of the name and title but he felt like it was something that he had to respect. Turning to face the frog man, now named Nobu, he bowed as well.

"My name is Randy Cunningham, I sort of said it before. Before I passed out and all." Randy looked around the strange swamp. "Where am I? I've been walking around the swamp all night and I haven't seen any lights apart from that parade. How far am I from Los Angeles?"

"In that order, you are in Frog Valley about half a day's walk from the town of Wartwood. I'm afraid that I also haven't heard of any place called Los Angeles, Randy." Nobu admitted. "Amphibia has many strange places and parts that many have forgotten, but the place you speak of is not one of them."

"Am-Amphibia? Wait, what is an Amphibia?" Randy asked. "I'm pretty sure the world is called Earth. Kind of a lame name, I know, but that is still my home."

"I hold no prejudice over other realms based on their name. Besides, earth is a basic element that all life depends on. It is vital to farmers and builders that seek to build something of themselves." Nobu stroke his beard. "As for the parade you speak of, were there strange and fantastical creatures like the heads that attacked you last night?"

"Yeah, kinda. Some of them looked a little scary and others looked kinda awesome," Randy replied. "Oh, and there was this big guy with big black wings and a white mask that looked at me and then everyone just disappeared. It was insane, there was music, laughing, I think it was a party." Randy remembered fondly before remembering that the heads appeared afterwards to try to eat him.

"You witnessed the yokai parade and the Tengu spotted you before the end of the parade. And didn't kill you?" Nobu asked only for Randy to nod.

Nobu looked down in thought before taking a look at the musical key in Randy's hand. An idea came to his mind as he remembered his clan speaking of an object that could traverse other realms.

"Why don't you tell me about the last thing you remember before arriving at the swamp. It may help me understand your situation better," Nobu suggested. "Please."

Randy explained everything to the old frog man. From what had happened to his parents to him being forced to take whatever he could from his home, including the music key and the box he had. He told Nobu about how he ran away from the office he was in with the duffle bag and how he pulled out the key and how that led to him being brought over to that swamp. Randy explained all he had survived before meeting the old master. And as the explanation went on, he could tell that Nobu looked at him with pity at his situation.

"And I've tried to get it to do it again, but it's not doing anything." Randy looked at the key with frustration. "Though, I don't know if I want to do it. There's nothing back home for me." He dropped the key.

However, before the key could hit the ground, Nobu's tongue snatched it.

"You shouldn't just discard something so easily, young-Randy. This piece may hold more than what you know. We should keep it safe." Nobu handed it back to Randy. "Something brought you here for a reason. For what I am not sure. But now that you're here, you must play the cards that fate has dealt you. And I'll help you if you want my help."

Randy looked at the old frog with curiosity and awe. Sure, the frog man was a stranger for the most part to him, but he was a stranger in a strange land. The last night of his life was a testament to the new rules his situation was ruled by. He needed help and a guide in this new world, and Nobu was probably the best he was going to get.

The light of the sun cut Randy's thoughts short, making him turn to the sight of the rising sun. He stood up, noticing that they were on top of a hill and they could see far into frog valley. The morning dew caught the light of the rising sun, creating a sight that resembled glowing gems. The ruins that poked out of the green trees casted impressive shadows that ignited the adventurous spirit for the unknown. The clear skies showed the boundless possibilities the world had. All the dangers and all the mysteries that filled the swamp were equaled by the strange beauty that laid before him.

Randy looked down at the picture of his family and the music key. He didn't know what he wanted, but the world was big enough to show him an adventure unlike any other. There wasn't anything to go back to, maybe this place would be his home.

"I have nowhere to go, Mr. Nobu. But I would like to stay here," Randy said.

"That can be arranged, but don't think you'll just be freeloading." Nobu handed Randy a piece of fish. "There will be dangers, but I will do my best to teach you. Now, let us eat. A growing… boy needs a full stomach to reach his full potential."

Randy smirked, taking a bite out of the cooked fish. It was juicy and delicious and his hungry stomach was more than grateful to receive some much needed nourishment.

Unbeknownst to Randy and Nobu, the Tengu watched everything from the sky with an intrigued look in his eyes.

"A bit too sappy for my taste, but the kid did manage to survive the night." Tengu scratched his chin. "Let's see if this is the start of that old olm's prophecy, or something more fun. We'll see each other one day, kid. I can already tell you'll be more entertaining than the last few warriors I've met." Tengu flew far from the spot, leaving a faint trail of fire behind him as his wings flapped in the air.

And thus begins a new adventure…