//------------------------------//
// Zone Two: Everfree Swamp 
// Story: Lazy Days 
// by Art Inspired 
//------------------------------//






~Everfree Swamp~






The Entrance to
the Castle
of the Two Sisters






Shimmering rays of the sun's light reached through many green and vibrant leafs that dangled from high above the grassy ground. Big just sat at the bottom of the stone stairs that led back to the old and crumpling castle, and Froggy sat in front of him. The cage laid next to Big's feet, and he then told his tiny friend, "Yep, I'd say we did pretty good in there. Wouldn't you agree, Froggy?"

Knowing that he was the rescuer of several young, trapped souls made Big laugh gleefully for a few moments.

"Now then... We gotta figure out where we are... and how we're going to get back home."

He took a step forth, and then looked left, and then he did the same thing only this time, he looked to the right.

"I can't see anything... and these woods don't look anything like the ones back in the Mystic Ruins... I wonder what we're going to do, Froggy..."

He took his time as he placed Froggy back inside of the cage, and Big then said, "I guess... we'll just have to keep on going until we find somebody that can help figure out what happened to us."

While getting up, Big also made sure that all of his belongings were securely strapped in place, and he then started walking forth while saying, "This sure is a nice forest, though."

"Ribbit..."

"Hmm..." Big had to give that one a little bit more thought. "I suppose you're right, Froggy. It's so much more dense, like a swamp if anything."

Birds chirped above Big's head as he went along the path. There was water all along the sides of where he walked, and he said, "Better not fall down... I didn't bring along my green life belt this time. I really didn't think I'd need it. Oops..."

The walk was nice, and even as the road confusingly twisted and turned, Big somehow managed to stay on track, and on course nearly the whole way there. In time, however, he came upon something that would stop him and his pet frog completely. It was a fourteen-way fork in the road. All around Big were branching and sandy streets, and right in the middle of the clearing was a lone bench to sit on. Behind it stood a tall lamp post with many nailed signs, but they were all too old to read, and quite a few were missing.

"Umm... Which way, Froggy?" Big asked openly while unlatching the frog from his back. He held onto the black bars that were wrapped with tiny fence wiring, and huffed. "Uhh..."

It was quiet, and even as he sat down, the area around him seemed pleasing to say the least, but there was a feeling of doubt that Big couldn't shake. He just sat there staring blankly at the center of the ground where all the paths made a star. He blinked at the gravel a few times, and breathed slowly. He understood his situation, and knew that he couldn't take any of these paths, so he just waited patiently.

"They say, Froggy," he said shakily. "Whenever you're lost... stay put."

He blinked with worried eyes, and just watched as the leafs fell from a few nearby trees.

"That's... all we can do now." He then gulped, and mentioned, "We're probably a long ways from where we came from, but... this swamp sort of reminds me of home."

A flock of birds flew overhead.

"Although I don't really mind making a new hut all over again, I thought we'd be back by now." He then tapped his thumbs together thoughtfully. "It's getting late..." He blinked nervously. "Wait a minute... W-where am I going to sleep tonight? I don't think I have enough time to make myself a bed!"

Rubbing the wood beneath his gloved hands, he commented, "I guess this'll have to do, but... it's awful rough, and old... Oh, Froggy... What have we gotten ourselves into?"

The sun was finally beginning to go down, and as it does, the street lamp illuminated the purple cat and his green pet, Froggy. That was where they remained for about two and a half hours, waiting while Big dozed periodically. Froggy could be heard croaking every so often, and sometimes, Froggy got to feed on a few glow bugs that somehow found their way into the cage.

The bubble that had formed underneath Big's nose popped, and he awoke with a starling gasp. Raindrops began to fall, and it created a mist all around them. While it continued, the cat just sighed, "I'm just not sure, Froggy... What should I do?"

He didn't get an answer.

"By now..." he yawned before saying, "I thought someone would've showed up..."

Big nodded off again, and for only a moment, he dreamed of a lot of things like Station Square, and Twinkle Park, and most of all, he dreamed about all of his friends. He dreamed about Sonic, Knuckles and Tails, too. Of course there was Amy, Cream and Cheese as well, and just when he envisioned himself being way back on the sunny, coastal beach, Big was awoken by a voice.

It belonged to a girl.

She asked Big the Cat, "Uhm, scuse' me, sir?"

"Huh?"

He blinked his eyes a few times, and looked downwards. Before him stood a somewhat small horse with a blond mane and a gray coat. Her eyes were askew, and she was also accompanied by a Chao who slept on her back. The Chao similarly had gray and yellow colors. 

She stared at the large cat with her right eye for a few seconds before asking him forwardly, "Are you lost?" He stayed silent at first, but the pony seemed to already know the answer to her question. She was now staring at him using her left eye. "My name's Derpy Hooves... It's very nice to meet you! What's your name?"

He spoke up, "Big... I'm... B-Big the Cat. This here... is Froggy, and, uh..." He admitted, "We came from the swamp over there. Do you know which way to go?"

Derpy merely giggled happily, and just as the rain ended momentarily, she said, "Ponyville is this way! We'd better hurry before it pours on us some more!"

She took off, but Derpy then giddily stopped only a few trots away from Big to wait up for her new friend. It only took Big a second or two for him to latch Froggy back onto his rope. Afterwards, the two took off for town.

"So," Derpy voiced. "You're a cat, huh?"