The Road to Newtopia (The Calamity Girls Book 2)

The First Temple

The big day had finally arrived. We were headed to the first temple to recharge the first stone. Hop Pop decided to make a big breakfast. "Who knew that there was a bug that tastes just like chocolate?" Anne asked. "Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?" "Hop Pop, you never let us have chocopede pancakes, what's going on?" Polly asked. "I thought you kids deserved a treat, after, well." Hop Pop replied. "You lied and buried the music box causing Anne and Rowena to almost leave the family forever?" Sprig asked. We gasped. "Boy, am I glad they forgave you, some people would carry the scars of that betrayal for life, not you guys, though." "Sprig." I muttered, nudging him with my elbow. I'm not mad about it anymore. I decided to give Hop Pop another chance. But, I feel like Anne is having second thoughts. "Hope you like pancakes." Hop Pop said nervously. "I made the batter from scratch, you know, I've been up since the crack of dawn mixing." "Oh, great." Anne replied nervously as a bird call was getting closer to the house. "I'll get it." Hop Pop called. "Oh, thank frog!" Anne whispers. "Marcy's here already?" I asked. "I haven't even finished my breakfast!"

As we went outside, a giant bird landed in the yard wearing Newtopian armor. "Ahh, a monster bird ridden by a pile of books!" Hop Pop screamed. "Wait, huh?" A familiar face popped up from underneath those books, it was Marcy. "Hiya, Plantar family!" Marcy greeted. "Marcy!" The rest of us exclaimed as she fell from the bird. "Big news, everyone, I finished my preparations for the, what?" Marcy announced, gazing at the house. "Is this your house, it's so rustic and cute, when was it built, 3rd century, no, 2nd, yes, of course, when it was..." "Hey, hey, Marbles, big news?" Anne asked. "Oh, right, I finished my prep, guys, we're ready for the first temple!" Marcy explains. "No way, that's awesome!" I cheered. "I just need to see the music box, then it's go time, gang." Marcy said as Anne gave it to her. "Good thing she didn't show up a few days ago, am I right?" Sprig whispered as Polly nudged him this time. Marcy hit some buttons and the stones came out. She grabbed one of the stones. "Here ya go, bud." Marcy said, handing the box to Hop Pop. "Oh, I better not." He replied. "I'll take it!" I snapped as I quickly grabbed the box and put it in Anne's bag. "Well, got a big journey ahead, I'll explain everything on the way." Marcy explains. "C'mon, Joe, Joe? JOE SPARROW, LEAVE THAT SNAIL ALONE!" We hopped onto Joe to take off. "Pretty cramped up here, huh?" I asked. "So, where do I sit?" Hop Pop asked from the ground.

Hop Pop was flying from Joe's legs. "So, according to my research, these three ancient temples are filled with difficult challenges to keep out the unworthy, all we have to do is complete the challenges, and then we can charge the stone." Marcy explains. "Nifty, so, what kind of challenges are we talking?" Anne asked. "This first temple is said to specifically challenge your intelligence, so I'm pretty sure it's full of puzzles, no frog, toad, or newt in history has been able to survive it, but don't worry, because none of them were Marcy Wu, head of the chess club, master RTS player, straight A student, except for gym, but only because I was reading in class, which only proves my point!" Marcy replied. "That's all great, Marcy, but please be careful, when you get this into something, you tend to tune everything else out." I explained. "Remember that time when the snakes escaped the zoo?" "That was the worst Saturday of my life." Anne added. "That's called being in the zone, guys, it's pretty much my superpower." Marcy replied. "Okay, okay, just don't forget about us, this place is gonna be dangerous and we're here to help." Anne said. "Oh, please, like I could forget you guys, Penny, Sprout?" Marcy guessed. "Polly." Polly corrected. "Sprig." Sprig added. "Look, the point is, I'm not gonna let you guys down." Marcy said. "You know, I wouldn't mind being let down." Hop Pop added as Joe made a landing.

As we landed, we stepped foot in a forest."Welcome to amygdala woods, everyone!" Marcy exclaimed. "Home to the first temple." Sprig and Polly were amazed at the trees, which looked like brains. "Little help here?" Hop Pop asked. I walked over to a tree he was stuck on and helped him out. "Whoa, what are these things?" Sprig asked. "Gyrometre escuelenta, also known as brain mushrooms." Marcy explains. "A forest full of brains for the intelligence temple?" I questioned. "Kinda on the nose, don't you think?" "Speaking of temples, I think you way overhyped this place." Polly said, pointing to an outhouse. "No, no, that's the temple." Marcy replied, turning us around to see this beautiful place and we walked up to the temple. "Alright, guys, let's do this thing!" Anne was about to open the door, but so was Hop Pop. They were trying to be polite, but that quickly became a small argument. "Those two seem a bit off, did something happen?" "Don't ask." Sprig, Polly, and I replied.