A week had passed since Frobo was living with Anne, Charlie and the Plantars in Wartwood. Many of the town's residence were slowly warming up to the frog like robot as he would show some usefulness and shown to be harmless if people are nice to him.
Anne and Charlie were curious to what Frobo could learn. Frobo would hug Anne from time to time while he slowly would tell her "Sorry" which was probably for hurting her last time. Anne hugged him back as she knew he was showing or expressing remorse.
Even as Anne warmed up to Frobo, even the frog like robot himself was learning to be gentle as he appeared to learn from what he sees around him or from what some instructed him to do. The damages around Wartwood was immediately repaired by Marcy who literally fixed up everything in no time flat.
"Polly, I think it's possible that Frobo may be a learning robot." said Anne.
They would turn to see that Frobo had gotten done with some gardening work and used one of his hands to spray water on Hop Pop to cool him down after he had taken some time to rest and was sweating, the water spraying on the older male frog was cool enough for cold temperatures while he would let some of the water fill up his mouth to drink. Charlie was helping around the farm with Hop Pop at the time.
"Frobo has shown signs of learning from others or from who or what he sees around him." said Polly taking notice.
"How did Hop Pop take it when you told him about the mischief making you told him about that you did and everything?" asked Anne curiously.
"Well, he told me that what I did was wrong after I told him everything. But he did say that my punishment was no playing around outside for a week. That when ever we're not busy with day to day life, that I shouldn't be playing outside during that time. I'll admit, I was bummed out about it but looking after Frobo and how we've kept busy. The time sure flew by fast to where I wasn't too bothered by being punished, even though I was asking for it." Polly told Anne. "By the way, last night, Charlie did have some difficulty in falling asleep and since you were already asleep, I managed to help him fall asleep."
"How'd you do it?" asked Anne.
"Don't get mad or anything but I figured he could use a snuggle buddy that night. But if I kissed him, it was only on the forehead because I know only you're allowed to kiss him on the lips. He's adorable when he's asleep." Polly confessed.
Anne picked up Polly and hugged her while she hugged her back. She knew that Polly was doing her part in caring for Charlie that night.
"Does Charlie ever snore?" asked Anne.
"Nope. But he sometimes farts when asleep. I think it's the spicy food that does it." chuckled Polly.
The two chuckled as they knew that they've all at least had a time when they would fart from eating something spicy or something loaded with protein.
Later On During The Week
Toadstool was thinking about a few things as he was pacing around in his office while Toadie was taking a look at a list of things that were on a clipboard he was noting down.
"Hey Toadie, mind if I ask something." said Toadstool.
"I'm all ears." said Toadie.
Toadstool blushed as he braved to talk to Toadie about something on his mind that's been nagging at his thoughts for a while.
"Toadie, did you ever talk to your folks about something that was nagging at your mind for so long and didn't know who you could talk to about it?" asked Toadstool.
"Well, I do remember talking to my folks about how I may have found out I was the effeminate type. They thought I was telling them about how I might be preferring males in a romantic or physical relationship but that was never the case." explained Toadie.
For a moment, Toadie looked up at Toadstool who was blushing and looking grim. That's when the small male amphibian was suspecting that Toadstool might be discovering his sexuality.
"Sir, are you trying to tell me your gay?" asked Toadie as if surprised.
"No, it's complicated. Ever since Charlie made the first step in making peace with me. I've been feeling weird around him. I've been wanting to talk to him about something that's been on my mind for a while but I just don't know how to go about it." said Toadstool blushing deeper.
"Do you want me to make an appointment for him to see you? Or are you trying to tell me your attracted to him? Maybe some session of therapy would do some good." Toadie suggested rapidly.
"No!" said Toadstool feeling his heart pounding. "I...I want to tell him about what's been on my mind myself. I'm not attracted to him. He's already dating Anne. Besides, what I'm wanting to talk to him about is complicated. I'd talk to you about it but I fear no one will support this thought that's been on my mind for so long. And no amount of therapy can solve this."
This was something Toadie never saw in Toadstool. He was under the impression that he's falling in love with Charlie but sees that's not the case. He did think that Toadstool might've been developing a sexual attraction to him but that also wasn't the case. He figured that Toadstool was trying to admit that he may be gay but that was unknown at this point.
"Toadie, I need to take a stroll around the town to get my mind off this. But please accompany me, I feel like I don't want to be alone doing this." Toadstool told him.
"Right on it, sir." said Toadie.
They walked out of the office, down the hallways and outside of the building. They were taking a stroll around Wartwood while Toadie was jotting down notes and information on his clipboard while Toadstool felt like this might be something that can get his mind off his racing thoughts about his feelings or anything he was feeling that left him in a panic for that matter. The sound of a rooster crowing was heard as it was a sunny morning. Toadstool felt his mind clearing as he plucked a reed from nearby and placed it in his mouth. He took in a deep breath and let it out.
"Just breathe in that country air Toadie. I can't believe I'm saying it. This town is kinda growin' on me." said Toadstool waving to Loggle as he waved back.
Toadstool was walking around white his gold cane. He was taking in the sights around him while Toadie was appearing to have some sort of idea on what he's jotted down on his notes.
"Okay sir, item one. There are some potholes down on six that need filling but only money we have left is suppose to by us that swanky new jacuzzi." informed Toadie while whispering the last part to the oversized male toad.
They stopped walking around and Toadstool felt like if he had any evil in mind, it was as dead as a corpse. He felt his heart was wanting to do something that was for the good, not the evil.
"You know what Toadie? You go ahead and fill those holes. Also, if Charlie starts asking questions about why I've been acting weird around him. I'd rather be the one to tell him why." said Toadstool looking as though his compassion was screaming louder than an air horn.
As Toadstool said those words. Toadie dropped his clipboard in shock. Toadstool wasn't going to use the money for embezzlement? But was using it for helping out a problem in town? Toadie felt his heart was skipping a beat in fear. He jumped up high on his feet and landed on Toadstool's chest as he placed his hands on his large cheeks.
"Who are you and what have you done to my beautiful mayor!" said Toadie looking alarmed.
"Get a hold of yourself Toadie. It's just that ever since we daved a couple of lives at Toad Tower and since Charlie had made the first step in making peace with me. People have been seeing me a little differently and well frog dang it, it's been rubbin' off on me." explained Toadstool looking cheerful. "But lately, I've been wanting to talk to Charlie about something since than but I'm kind of afraid that I've made things weird between me and him. I let it slip that I called him a few cutesy nicknames last week, kept tripping over my words and lately, I've been nervous around him and I think I know why."
Their conversation was interrupted when they turned to see two male frogs pulling on rope that they've been struggling to pull up a tent that would serve as part of their stand. Toadstool rushed to their sides while Toadie followed. Toadstool grabbed hold of one rope that one of the frogs pulled on while he instructed Toadie to do the same on the other end which Toadie obeyed. Charlie saw this from a distance and was about to approach them but saw they pulled the rope and up the tent went.
The tent covered the top of the stand which the sign on it was orange with the words "Fresh Veg" reading upon it. Charlie approached them and saw that his help wasn't needed this time which he was alright with it. He did however help Toadie get to his feet when he saw Toadie was on the ground.
"Toadie, anything broken?" asked Charlie.
Toadie looked up to the muscular male human teenager and he at first wanted to tell him about something with Toadstool but he remembered that Toadstool instructed him that he wanted to tell Charlie. So he obeyed.
"I'm still walking, aren't I?" chuckled Toadie.
Toadie shown proof as he jumped high into the air and did a few flips till he landed on his feet to the ground. Charlie was convinced. One of the frogs that Toadstool assisted wiped his forehead clean patted Toadstool on his back while the other shook his hand.
"Thanks Mayor." said the blue male frog.
"Good ol' Mayor." said the green frog shaking his hand.
Many of the people were muttering good things about Toadstool which left him to blush and grin as if his heart was beating out of a big raise of euphoria. He felt like being in Wartwood along with Charlie making peace with him and saving people's lives back at Toad Tower had changed him somehow and he felt like he wasn't bothered by it ether. But that's when Charlie approached him and Toadstool was feeling like he wanted to brave the attempt to tell Charlie what's been on his mind for so long. he cleared his throat.
Just as soon as Toadstool was about to open his mouth to say something to Charlie was when they were all interrupted and distracted by the sound of a loud horn or the soft sound of an animal making it's usual noise. It sounded like a peaceful horn. They all turned to see the source of it came from.
They saw what looked like a rhino like creature that had the legs and tail of a komodo dragon, the shell of a turtle with sharp white horns on the top of the shell. It had red eyes with yellow scleras. The creature was the size of a huge pick up truck. It looked like it had a golden stick in it's mouth as it led a big and fancy looking carriage behind it. The carriage was having a tall and slim guard steer it from the driver's seat which the entrance to the carriage was having the Newtopian symbol sewn into it. That's when the creature stopped and the carriage was right in front of all who saw this.
"Toadstool, did you happen to contact someone for help with anything and possibly forgot when they'd come?" asked Charlie in a whisper.
"I didn't do anything like that. But I do know who these people are." answered Toadstool with a gulp.
Someone came out of the carriage and it was a female newt. She had a stoic expression and had purple skin. She wore a purple robe with a black matte cap. She appeared to have a slender body and was an adult but her age was difficult to identify as she looked quite young but her face appeared to have no signs of aging. But everyone knew she's an adult. She held up her hands as if to quiet everyone down. She walked over to Toadstool and Charlie who were the first two that stood in front of her as she wasn't very tall but tall enough to reach Toadstool's chin.
"Mayor Toadstool I presume?" said the purple female newt. "I am Jacinda, official emissary of Newtopia. We have come to discuss the events of Toad Tower."
Toadstool felt his heart fill with dread as the look on Jacinda's face was shown to look displeased. Charlie felt the need to step in to help the large male toad in his defense.
"Ma'am, I can assure you that Toadstool is innocent and isn't guilty of anything that occurred during those events." said Charlie in Toadstool's defense.
"Young man, this doesn't concern-oh." Jacinda paused.
The short purple newt saw Charlie and she noticed the tall, male human and his full head of long, thick hair, his muscular body and his chiseled face. She tried to give a grin but only managed to show a visibly small smile and her cheeks slightly blushing.
"Toadstool, is this tall, muscular creature an associate of yours?" asked Jacinda subtly flirting with Charlie. "I hope he's single-I mean I hope he's on the right side."
Charlie was left blushing as he could pick up on Jacinda's subtle flirtation. He only had one little idea to distract her.
"Ma'am, you're here on business with Toadstool?" Charlie pointed out.
"Understood. Toadstool, meet me at your office. And bring your muscular associate with you. He could a handsome." Jacinda paused again. "Bodyguard, a handsome bodyguard to guard the doors in case anyone comes into the office. I don't want anyone interrupting us."
Now Charlie was feeling dread. He knew that Jacinda was flirting with him but he didn't like this female newt as he could tell there was something about her he doesn't like. He knew that he's dating Anne but Toadstool whispered him to go with him as he would explain everything once Jacinda leaves. Charlie could see it in Toadstool's eyes that he was asking for help which the mayor has shown he's changed for the better since the day they made peace. So Charlie went with him.
"Toadstool, this sounds like bad news but maybe we could convince Jacinda otherwise." Charlie whispered to him.
Toadstool seemed to feel a strange sense of comfort with Charlie coming to support him during this. The two followed Jacinda to her carriage but Charlie chose to go there on foot so as to avoid any of Jacinda's advances on him. He took off running towards City Hollow faster than the world's fastest olympic track runner. Jacinda noticed he was a really fast runner on his feet.
"He's fast for a muscular troglodyte. I'll bet he's a good kisser." Jacinda thought to herself.
After they arrived at City Hollow. Toadstool and Jacinda came out of the carriage, the two guards followed as they all saw that Charlie was there before any of them. The large creature that pulled the carriage stopped to rest as Charlie pulled out a golden apple and walked over to the creature.
"Tall creature, I wouldn't." advised one of the guards.
He ignored the guard as Charlie pulled the mouth pole out of the creature's mouth and shown him the apple. The creature opened it's large and wide mouth as Charlie placed the apple in it's mouth and it was chewing the entire apple up in it's mouth, and swallowed it all down piece by piece.
That's when the creature had felt the strange sensation in it's body. The creature felt weightless, no pain, no discomfort while it's body had glowed a gold light around any of it's scars and that's when the scars shown they were disappearing faster than a cut could heal. The gold light did eventually fade and it's entire body shown that any scars, cuts, bruises or anything that looked like physical damages brought on by past battles were completely gone. The creature's body felt no pain at all but looked up at Charlie with what looked like a grin. Charlie patted the creature's head a bit and it wagged it's tail a little which the creature took the time to rest on the ground like a dog sleeping in bed. Jacinda was a bit surprised to see such a display as Charlie made his way to the front door.
"Is he an animal handler?" asked one of the guards.
"I never found out." answered Toadstool.
As they walked inside the building. They made it to Toadstool's office while Charlie stood at the office door inside. Toadstool was showing signs of panic as he was afraid of Jacinda's wrath since she had a stoic, displeased expression. She actually sat down at Toadstool's desk and placed her feet up on the desk as if to lean.
"Well sure, I may have been at Toad Tower but I had nothing to do."
"Enough prattle!" Jacinda interrupted. "Let's get right to...the point!"
That's when she pulled out a dagger and jabbed it on the desk with a face of hostility. But just when they thought she was about to get violent. One of the guards came over to hand her a rolled up paper and she used the dagger to slice the ribbon off and placed the dagger on the desk. She opened it and read it out loud.
"By order of Newtopia. I hereby decree Mayor Frodrick Toadstool has been appointed the new head toad of Toad Tower." Jacinda announced.
Toadstool and Toadie's fear drained out of them while Charlie's battle instincts faded. The two guards pulled on a string from a small confetti cannon they held in their hands, the confetti blasting up into the air.
"With Captain Grime gone. We need someone we can trust and from what we've heard. You're the toad for the job." said Jacinda showing subtle enjoyment. "Before anything, is your muscular associate over there one of your bodyguards?"
"No I am not. Just one of the local residence of the town but why did you want me coming with you here?" said Charlie confused.
"I was assuming you work for or with Toadstool when you were standing near him or whispering something to him. But I can see you might not be. That, and I assume those big muscles your sporting means you've been in quite a few battles against huge beasts, brute thugs and shown off for the ladies. If you're single, maybe I could work with getting you a top position...working with me, you sexy, wild beast." said Jacinda giving him a brief wink and smile.
Charlie blushed deeper at her subtle flirting. He was about to say something in a rebuttal but Jacinda clapped her hands twice. That's when they turned to see the two guards carrying a big chest that they opened and it was filled with gold and treasures of high value. Toadstool was wide eyed at the sight of it.
"Frog in Heaven." gasped Toadstool.
"She's not lying about her words." said Charlie visibly surprised.
"Right? A lot of money. Even has it's odd sum bandits to get it here safe and sound." said Jacinda now standing by Toadstool's side.
One of the guards pulled an arrow from his helmet which shown he was unharmed since the armor the guard was wearing appeared to be strong enough to even stop a bullet.
"Anyway, this money is for rebuilding Toad Tower. But whose to say that's all it's for, hmm." said Jacinda giving a flirtatious smile.
She pulled out a coin and placed it in one of Toadstool's jacket pockets which left him to chuckle while blushing. Charlie felt as though something was up or that there was going to be some bad news coming their way since he felt some bad vibes coming from Jacinda.
"Pack your bags. We leave at sundown." instructed Jacinda.
She walked off one of the guard's bodies that she was standing on that gave her a boost and was about to walk out the door till Toadstool and Toadie turned to face her. Leaving at sundown? Toadstool knew that wasn't far off. This caught him off guard.
"Wait, leave, as in leave Wartwood?" asked Toadstool confused while raising an eyebrow.
"Uhh Cha, you didn't think we were going to build the tower here, did you?" Jacinda remarked sarcastically. "You can even bring your muscular associate with you unless he wants to work with me and rule together."
Jacinda started blowing kisses at Charlie, struck a sexy pose to him while briefly twerking her tail at him which made Charlie wide eyed and feel a sense of great offense as if Jacinda said a prejudice slur against him but he was disgusted by her advances on him.
"Jacinda, leave Charlie alone. He's already dating someone." warned Toadstool.
Jacinda stopped and looked at Charlie as if shocked to find out he's already in a relationship with some other girl.
"Jacinda, don't you have business elsewhere at this moment?" said Charlie trying to distract her.
"He's right." said Jacinda.
"Hypothetically, what would happen if I refuse?" asked Toadstool looking nervous.
"You'd find yourself rotting in one of the deepest, darkest dungeons in all of Amphibia." said Jacinda showing a very scary yet serious face. "Hypothetically."
Both Toadstool and Charlie stared at her with wide eyed shock. Toadstool felt like he was in a trap. He really didn't want to leave Wartwood but this job offer felt like a dream come true to him. It was like being at a crossroads. Charlie on the other hand felt his disliking towards Jacinda increase. Toadstool was speechless.
"Your joking, right?" said Charlie.
"I haven't joked since never." answered Jacinda.
"He accepts! He accepts!" Toadie chimed in.
"Great. The job is yours. Pending in evaluation. Also, what did you say this muscular creature's name was?" said Jacinda.
"Charlie." answered Toadstool.
"Right, if Charlie ever gets board with whom ever he's dating, he knows where to come find me if he wants to cuddle in the carriage...naked." chuckled Jacinda. "Tootles. And see you later, tall, muscular and sexy."
Jacinda left the room and her guards followed but they did bump into one another before exiting the room. Charlie was filled with disgust by Jacinda's advances on him and her behavior. He was never leaving Anne for some other woman. Toadstool on the other hand felt like he was wishing this job offer never came up and that someone else was given the job as he's grown fond of Wartwood.
"Well that was horrifying." said Charlie sarcastically.
"Sir, what in frog name are you doing? A gig like this is all you ever wanted. Just look at our vision board." said Toadie. "Look at it!"
Toadie walked over to a big board that had a cloth over it and pulled it off. The vision board had a series or list of goals that Toadstool had once thought of achieving. Yet Toadstool was hesitant about this.
"I know, I know. It's crazy but wouldn't you miss this place if we left?" asked Toadstool feebly.
"We are not having this conversation. If you'll excuse me. I have to go pack all eight hundred pairs of your silk pajamas." said Toadie in a huff.
The small amphibian male left the room and slammed the door shut. Charlie didn't know what to think about in this situation but he did see that Toadstool had a sadden, big eyed expression as he looked out the window. He saw the residence of Wartwood outside doing their usual day to day things and doing what they normally do. Charlie could see that Toadstool didn't want to leave Wartwood.
"Toadstool? I can tell you don't want to leave." said Charlie showing understanding.
"Charlie, did you ever want something that was so huge and worked so hard for it but than when you finally got it. You weren't happy?" asked Toadstool.
"I'm sorry but I can't relate to that. It's not that I don't want to, no, it's just I never had that experience." said Charlie trying to be supportive.
Toadstool could sense that Charlie was trying to inject some compassion and comfort into the situation but his heart still felt heavy. He turned to face Charlie as if he knew that if there was a time to tell him anything to get off his chest, it might as well be now.
"Charlie, I don't want to leave Wartwood but at the same time I don't want to be in some dungeon, actually, nobody wants that last thing. But I don't wanna leave Wartwood. Ever since you took the first step in putting our conflict to rest, since I did my part in saving lives at Toad Tower, twice, something in me has changed for the better." said Toadstool.
"You're not the person you once were before." stated Charlie.
"Yes, I'm not the toad I once was. Since you and I have made our peace and the horrible person I once was is practically dead and buried. But around the time when you, Anne and the Plantars left for Newtopia for what you journeyed there for. I've been feeling something else that's been gnawing at me since than. I've been trying to rationalize it, I was even in denial of such feelings but they've been growing stronger as time went on since than and I can't ignore them anymore. I've been wanting to admit them but I don't know anyone who'd understand the said feelings. But I know that only you would understand someone who has them." Toadstool explained.
Charlie knew that Toadstool wanted to confess something. He knew he wasn't confessing he was in love with him since he told Jacinda that he's dating Anne. So he must have been confessing something else.
"Your wanting to confess something, are you?" asked Charlie.
"Yes. Charlie, I'm"
They were interrupted by the door bursting open and it was Anne who entered the office. She carried a box that was full of slips of paper and set it down near the door.
"Yo Toadstool. Hop Pop sent me to ask about these parking tickets." said Anne. "He says he wasn't even in town on these days."
The two turned to Anne and she could see that those two were probably talking about something but she had no idea about what.
"Is something going on in here?" asked Anne.
"Anne, something has come up in Toadstool's life and from the sounds of it. Well, I can see that it's bothering him and he needs to talk about it or at the very least, he needs some assistance." said Charlie.
Toadstool looked at Charlie as if knowing that he's trying to get Anne to help him on the current situation. If he was to tell Charlie about him being bisexual, it was going to have to wait for now. Charlie winked at him as if to show a sign of trust or support. He sighed and faced Anne.
"Boonchuy, did you ever work your entire life to fulfill a dream but when it finally comes true, you realize maybe it wasn't your dream?" said Toadstool trying to open up.
Anne was a bit confused as she had no idea what Toadstool was talking about but when Charlie looked at her. He silently mouthed to her "he needs help" while pointing to his heart as he was signalling to Anne that Toadstool needed help with a problem he's facing.
"Anne, I just been appointed the head of toad of Toad Tower. All I have to do is leave this crummy town and never look back. It's everything I ever wanted. But why do I feel so down?" said Toadstool hanging his head down.
Anne now knew and understood what Toadstool was going through as she approached him as Charlie joined her.
"Maybe you've come to love this crummy town more than you thought you would." said Anne. "I certainly relate."
"This feels like the time I wanted to be rodeo clown for a summer job for a while but my daddy talked me out of it." said Toadstool remembering an event from his past.
Charlie turned his head to Toadstool. Did he too have dad issues like he did at one point? This was something Charlie could relate to, this time.
"Why did your dad talk you out of it?" asked Charlie.
"One, he figured it was too dangerous of a job from some of the stories he's heard that some rodeo clowns experienced and two, I think he believed that rodeo clowns were kind of stuck up or that he believed that wasn't a steady job for a summer occupation. I didn't see my daddy all that much, he was in the military and would be gone for months at a time but when ever he was home, he'd be there for months at a time as well. I was looked after by my mother. She was a supportive lady but she usually tried to be neutral on so many things. Yet me and my daddy didn't always see eye to eye but he wasn't some cruel, sadistic monster but he wasn't the best at expressing emotions but he had me focus on goals because like he said: Goals create a future for us." explained Toadstool.
Charlie knew that this meant they had something in common but under different circumstances. He placed a hand on Toadstool's shoulder to show support.
"Toadstool, despite the fact we didn't get along at first when we first met and all. I too had this same problem with my own dad. I can't say if you or me had it worse than the other but I can relate to the whole thing with dad issues. I know I've started to get over them but I know that it's different for everyone. But I know that with every guy whose got dad issues, I know something about each one of them." said Charlie with a word of compassion.
"And what's that?" asked Toadstool.
"They deserve much better than their dads. Some people were better or worse off in many cases. As for this dream job of yours. I'll admit, Jacinda isn't the friendly type at all. Between you and me, she needs a big attitude adjustment or at the very least needs to learn how to treat people better but I doubt she'll learn that. It might be tempting to see her get blasted out of a cannon but somehow, maybe there's a way out of this." said Charlie with a word of comfort.
"I take it this Jacinda was the one that gave Toadstool the job offer I heard she mentioned earlier. I passed by her in the hallway. Kind of short for someone of the power of position she's got." said Anne. "Why didn't you tell her you didn't want the job?"
Charlie and Toadstool looked at Anne with a tense expression of fear that also looked like they tried. Charlie whispered to Anne what Toadstool told her and what Jacinda told them. This left Anne surprised.
"Sounds like Jacinda's overpriced panties are in knots to the point that she yells like a drill sergeant." Anne commented.
"What's worse is Jacinda...well...she tried to put the moves on Charlie and I know Charlie hates that." said Toadstool blushing.
Anne looked at Charlie as panic was setting in her mind but Charlie had a word of comfort, despite the fact he was blushing.
"She didn't touch me I didn't touch her. But she did subtly flirt with me and...twerked her tail at me. It was nasty." said Charlie shuddering. "I managed to distract her by telling her something she needs to do."
"Short, purple and stuck up better stay away from my man or I'll pop her in the chops." said Anne cracking one of her knuckles.
"I just wish there was a way out of this. That, and we need to keep Jacinda away from Charlie." said Toadstool looking depressed.
Anne suddenly thought of something but she wasn't really offering an idea but it was mainly something to tell Toadstool to offer as a word of comfort.
"Well, back at home when ever my mom asked me to do chores. I just did a really bad job so she wouldn't ask me anymore." said Anne. "What about you, Charlie, ever had that experience?"
"With my family back at home? No, I did my chores around the house. Even at my grandparent's farm. But once when I was six, I tried to play sick so I wouldn't go to school because some punk kid was picking on me but Sonya was quick to find out about it. She was pissed at what this kid was doing to me to the point that she brought this up with our principle. The principle immediately caved faster than an avalanche on fast forward." Charlie admitted.
That's when an idea came to Toadstool's mind as he snapped his fingers once.
"That' it! I just gotta convince her I'm the wrong toad for the job! You gotta help me Anne. No one's more incompetent than you." said Toadstool taking hold of Anne's hands.
"Not happening bud." said Anne pulling her hands out of his.
"Toadstool, she's not incompetent, maybe she has some clumsy moments but don't you think this might be a bad idea? Not trying to be a rude here but sometimes your ideas or plans, well, I still remember that day we had to pull a porcupine off your keister, literally, you screamed in agony for a bit and we had to place a bag of ice on you after all the quills were pulled out and lord knows that hurt like hell." said Charlie hesitant about the idea.
"Okay, I'll admit, that idea came back to bite me in the buster browns. I get it, but you heard Jacinda if I was to refuse." said Toadstool admitted a flaw.
"Isn't there another way that won't resort to chaos? Trust me, this doesn't sound like a good idea." said Anne hesitantly.
"You leave me no choice. Prepare yourselves for the cutest thing you ever seen." warned Toadstool.
Toadstool suddenly made a face that looked heart breaking. He gave them a big, cute eyed look as it looked as though he would cry. It was like seeing a cat giving the cutest look in their eyes while he let out a whimper with his lips pouting out. That's when Anne couldn't look at that sort of face because it was ether annoying or she felt it was like looking at a bright light that reflected off a mirror like the sun glaring off a car mirror, she looked away with one of her eyes closed and gave in while Charlie pulled Toadstool in his arms to hug him as if the look worked on him.
"Okay! Okay! We'll help. Just never make that face again." Anne advised.
Toadstool stopped making that face while he blushed at the sight of Charlie hugging him but he also felt a strange sense of comfort by the hug. The two suddenly snapped back to reality with wide eyes and blushed, the immediately removed their arms from each other.
"I think I heard a loud bird outside." lied Charlie awkwardly.
"Must be some bird." chuckled Toadstool awkwardly.
They all walked out of the office, down a few hallways and walked outside as they knew that this idea that Toadstool was suggesting wasn't going to be easy, the fact that it might lead to crazy chaos.
"So your first name is Frodrick? Sounds like a cool name." said Charlie. "But I did figure you had a different name for your first."
"Like what?" asked Toadstool.
"Mikhail." answered Charlie. "I knew a man who used to be in the army by that name. He was truly an honorable man who loves his country and the people in it. A true patriot."
Toadstool blushed deeper at Charlie's compliment. Toadstool seemed to be feeling more comfortable around Charlie and wasn't feeling as nervous around him like he was earlier. But he knew that if he was to tell Charlie about what he wanted to tell him earlier, it'll have to wait but he had no idea if things will work out or if he'll get the chance to tell him.
But little did they know, someone or two was watching them from the bushes nearby.
"First, we're going to need some back up." said Anne.
"Lead the way, kids." Toadstool responded.
"Jacinda talks a big game for someone so short. She probably needs to stand on a pile of books or on someone's shoulders just so people can see her when ever she's opening up her mouth to breathe fire." joked Charlie.
Anne and Toadstool chuckled at the joke loudly as they knew that Charlie was telling the truth but was also making a joke at Jacinda's expense.
At The Plantar's Farm
Anne and Charlie informed Hop Pop, Sprig and Polly about the situation that Toadstool was going through but Charlie also informed them that they need to show some compassion to him about it as he found out that Toadstool at some time had dad issues like he did which they understood. But they did inform them about Jacinda and her inappropriate advances on Charlie which left them wide eyed with shock.
"Did Jacinda, you know, touch him?" asked Hop Pop alarmed.
"No she did not!" said Anne, Charlie and Toadstool in unison.
They let out a sigh of relief knowing that. Anne had a board out that stood on four legs which had large sheets of paper. It was like a notebook the size of a desk you'd find in an office room.
"Alright, we've come up with two ways that this can go. Number one, make Toadstool look like a coward." said Anne pointing at the board.
The board shown a drawing of Toadstool on top but the number one on the center drawn in red while the word "Coward" was written down below it in red. Than she pulled the sheet over and shown her second plan which shown the same drawings as the first but the word "Incompetent" was on there below the number two.
"Number two, make him look incompetent." informed Anne.
"Is there a third option?" asked Toadstool curiously.
Anne lifted the sheet up and saw there was a drawing of a green dragon and a knight fighting each other. She lifted it back down.
"There's no third option. Any questions?" said Anne.
"Kind of." said Sprig.
"Several." Polly said.
"What's the sitch on them parking tickets?" asked Hop Pop.
"Hey, shouldn't we get Frobo and Marcy in on this?" asked Polly with a raised eyebrow.
"No can do. Marcy said she was going to study Frobo all day today." informed Anne. "I wonder how that's going?"
They were all thinking for a moment about Marcy studying Frobo and knew that Marcy is an intelligent girl but she had a few moments of being an absent-minded professor at times. Anne and Charlie remembered she did an experiment back at home that involved using chemicals to make a harmless knock out smoke that would only make people sleep for an hour and they remembered that the experiment blew up in the three human's faces, literally, and they were knocked out for an hour and learned that the experiment worked but they didn't count on an explosion.
"Hopefully, the studying won't blow up in her face." chimed in Charlie.
"But just out of curiosity. If Jacinda flirts with Charlie or tries...put the moves on him?" said Hop Pop shuddering.
"She thinks that Charlie is my associate or bodyguard but so far, I know Charlie reminding her of what she has to do won't distract her all the time. If she lays a hand on him or any part of her body on him, we'll have to improvise." Toadstool informed.
"If Jacinda lays a hand on Charlie. She's gon get it." warned Hop Pop forming a fist.
"Don't worry, we can do this. All it takes is team work and coordination." said Anne looking determined.
"I do have a suggestion in mind. Since Jacinda thinks Charlie is my bodyguard or associate of some sort. I kind of got a uniform for him to wear to look the part. Don't worry, I think it's something he'll like wearing." suggested Toadstool.
"As long as I'm fully covered up. I'll wear anything." said Charlie accepting it.
They cheered and looked like they were all going to slap each others hand with a high five but they tripped and fell to the ground.
"Everyone alright?" asked Charlie.
"We're good!" they all said in unison.
The Farmer's Market
As they were putting their plans into action. Toadstool was showing Jacinda and her guards around the town for an evaluation to see if Toadstool was right for the job that Jacinda was giving him. Toadstool had Charlie wearing a white kimono with black sandals and white socks, even had his hands wearing white gloves and a white silk ninja mask that covered his entire face but only his eyes could be seen. Every inch of his body was covered except his eyes which the sandogasa he was wearing was big enough to cover them and he kept his sword with him. He felt comfortable in the clothing.
"Where too first, Toadstool? And the uniform your bodyguard wears is absolutely slimming. Makes me wonder what he looks like without a shirt." said Jacinda flirting with Charlie a bit.
Jacinda was about to place her hand on Charlie's butt to grope it but Charlie gently slapped her hands away from him.
"Sawaruna!" said Charlie sharply.
"Jacinda, please don't touch him. Charlie doesn't like being touched, especially while on the job as my bodyguard." instructed Toadstool.
"He's got a bit of fire in him. And such a big, tight, sexy bottom." Jacinda thought to herself. "Hold back, Jacinda, you're on the job."
The first place they went to was the farmer's market. Toadstool shown them around and passed by the Plantar's vegetable stand while Hop Pop and Polly flashed the biggest, toothy grin on their faces it almost looked strained. That's when Anne and Sprig jumped out of nowhere, wearing black hooded cloaks. Anne had her racket and Sprig had a large wooden spoon as their weapons.
They threatened Hop Pop to hand over all his copper coins while Hop Pop and Polly put on the act of crying out for Toadstool to help them. While Toadstool put on the act to make himself look like a lowly cowardice toad whose too afraid to fight off bandits while his acting was not very good but not very horrible ether.
"Guard, do something!" said Toadstool sounding mechanical.
Charlie was pulling off his performance a little bit better than they pulled off as he spoke in a deep male voice while rapidly speaking Japanese while Toadstool played like he understood what Charlie said, even though he didn't know the language of Japanese. He remembered Charlie telling him how to say "Hello" or "Good Bye" in Japanese but that was it. Charlie kept his voice deep enough to sound like an adult.
Just as soon as Hop Pop was going to give a large bag of copper coins to Anne and Sprig which was probably filled with fake coins to make the performance look real. That's when Mrs. Croaker tossed her cane at the two and knocked them to ground as she was tossing her cane at them and it flew back to her for her to catch like a boomerang. The older female frog saw Anne and Sprig's faces and was now confused about what was going on.
Charlie hated what he was seeing but he ran over to them to help as he whispered to Mrs. Croaker about what was going on and she immediately understood and decided to play along while two male frog officers were looking like they were about to take Anne and Sprig in was when Charlie whispered to them what was really going on which the officers understood and also decided to play along and pretended to take Anne and Sprig to question them. Charlie wanted so badly to not resort to this as he hated seeing those he cares about going through this, even if they were just playing an act.
Toadstool looked at Jacinda nervously with a grin.
"I can explain." said Toadstool looking nervous.
"No need." said Jacinda with her hand raised. "I get it. You distracted the robbers long enough for the muscle to show up and had your associate calm the situation down so the robbers couldn't get away. You're truly head toad material. Also, if your associate is interested, tell him I might be able to spare an hour at the carriage to get our freak on."
Jacinda walked off with a grin and Toadstool looked on in annoyed disappointment. Their first plan didn't work out like they'd hoped.
"Well, that didn't work and she needs to keep it in her pants. I'm starting to get grossed out." said Toadstool shaking his head.
"Don't worry. We still have the second option." called Anne.
"No talking! I mean please no talking until the questions begin." said the green male frog officer trying to appear tough.
That's when they headed for another part of town in Wartwood where they were headed for the center of town but Toadstool pulled Charlie aside to whisper something to him.
"Charlie, if I say anything to disagree with Jacinda or anything. We may need to make it look like we're arguing or like we're incompetent. Sorry to suggest this but trust me, I don't like this anymore than you do." Toadstool whispered in his ear.
"Understood." whispered Charlie.
"What are you two whispering about?" asked Jacinda.
The two froze and stood up straight while Toadstool pretended he was none the wiser.
"Nothing!" Toadstool lied.
"Nanimonai!" said Charlie speaking in a deep male adult's voice.
"Do you understand what your associate said? I don't know that language." said Jacinda looking clueless with one raised eyebrow.
"It's a foreign language the people where he's from speak. He does that to look more intimidating so people will take him seriously." Toadstool told half a lie and half the truth.
"Kinishinaide!" said Charlie loudly. "Ikimashou!"
Charlie walked forwards to a wooden fence and he signaled for Toadstool, Jacinda and her guards to follow him over to it.
"Subete meikaku!" called Charlie rapidly.
"So commanding." said Jacinda blushing with a grin.
Toadstool, Jacinda and her guards approached the fence that Charlie stood next to as he instructed. Jacinda felt like she really wanted to just jump Charlie for a kiss but she held herself back as she knew she was still on the job.
"And here's the fence I had built to keep them burrowing moles from getting into Wartwood." said Toadstool.
"Fence, but they burrow right?" said Jacinda pointing out a flaw.
"What's your point?" asked Toadstool playing dumb.
Charlie could see Hop Pop, Anne and Sprig riding on what looked like huge flies like they were horses being used to ride around on from a dude ranch. They were herding the moles towards the fence or towards the town for that matter like herding sheep. They had long wooden canes but Hop Pop had a bell on his for the moles to hear and follow.
"I'm just saying a fence might not keep them out." said Jacinda pointing out a fact. "What about your studly associate? What would he suggest?"
Jacinda turned to look at Charlie as she would wait for him to give a suggestion. But she was also giving him a flirtatious expression by giving him a wink, grin and blew a kiss at him. Charlie blushed but kept his face hidden.
"Tawagoto ga okoru?" said Charlie his voice cracking a bit from nervousness.
"Translation?" asked Jacinda.
"He says he doesn't have a clue?" said Toadstool barely able to guess what Charlie said.
That's when the ground suddenly had a hole burst open and a mole the size of Bessie popped out of the ground, making a loud hissing sound. More of them popped out of the ground while it left the residence running around and screaming in terror. Jacinda and her guards rapidly got to higher ground while Charlie rapidly ran around to help the people get to safety as he was suggesting they find higher ground or stand on top of a roof of a nearby building.
Toadstool was suddenly playing along as he tried to appear incompetent as he climbed up on a pile of wooden barrels but after he reached the top, he lost his footing and fell backwards on one side of the wooden trailer side that they once stood on. He fell on his back to right side of it and caused the barrels to launch up into the air like a kid who jumped on one side of a seesaw to launch something up into the air where an object stood on the other side.
Six large wooden barrels flew up into the air and came crashing down on top of the large moles like a game of whack-a-mole as each barrel hit each mole on their heads, knocking them dizzy which after a moment of being stunned, the moles burrowed back into the ground and dug their away from there.
Charlie finished getting everyone down from where he told them to go from the buildings and he was very fast at it. Afterwards, he ran towards Toadstool as he was rubbing his own back to make any of the pain subside from the hard impact.
"You alright?" asked Charlie sounding concerned.
"I've had worse falls." groaned Toadstool.
Jacinda and her guards jumped down from the roof and onto the ground. Jacinda appeared to be elated with a grin.
"Incredible! What a show of strength. And your associate was so fast on his feet. Wouldn't surprise me if he's got super-powered legs. Truly we made the right choice." said Jacinda looking pleased.
Toadstool let out a nervous chuckle and turned to Anne as he wondered if she had any other ideas.
"Any other ideas?" Toadstool whispered.
"Nope. We're sunk." said Anne sadly.
"Sorry Toadstool." said Charlie apologetically.
Toadstool looked down in defeat as they were out of ideas. He really couldn't believe that he was going to be forced to take a job he thought he wanted but realized he never truly wanted and was going to be leaving Wartwood. His heart felt like it sunk like a stone being tossed in the water.
"Well, than it looks like I have no choice. I better finish packing." said Toadstool looking saddened.
They turned to see that Toadie was pushing a cart that had eight large suitcases with labels on them that read which one of them had what was packed in there. Toadie was strong for a little guy.
"No need, sir. All packed and ready to go." said Toadie as he admitted to overhearing him.
"you got a competent assistant here, mayor. Too bad he's about to be out of a job." said Jacinda ruffling Toadie's hair affectionately.
Toadie attempted to fix his hair when Jacinda stopped. He looked at her with confusion while Charlie pulled off his sandogasa hat and pulled his mask off, revealing his face as he pulled his hair out from the inner folds of the uniform so it wasn't stuck in there.
"Excuse me." said Toadie confused.
"What you talkin bout, Jacinda?" said Charlie mimicking an African-American male's voice.
"Did you think you were going to be assistant to the head toad?" said Jacinda with a laugh. "Adorable! But no, I, Jacinda, will be Toadstool's deputy at Toad Tower."
What she told Toadie shocked him to the core. He was wide eyed as his mouth fell open in disbelief. He let out a high pitched sounding shriek of shock that sounded like a dog whining while his voice was whistling at the same time. He was about to fall backwards in a faint but Toadstool caught him and carried him in his arms like a parent carrying their child. Toadstool was now filled with a rage and so was Charlie.
"Toadie!" cried Toadstool.
"Alright! That's it! Jacinda, for once, you're going to shut your damn mouth and listen to what someone else has to say for a change or so help me I'll tape your mouth shut! Understand!" cried Charlie nearly yelling.
Jacinda looked at Charlie with a wide eyed expression. She never seen Charlie get so angry. She was almost offended by how Charlie was giving her an order when she was so used to giving orders to others.
"Now see here." Jacinda began.
"If you want to keep your tail attached to your body. Than I suggest you shut the fuck up and listen! Say one more word, motherfucker! I dare you, I double dare you. You wanna lose your tail? Say one more damn word! Otherwise, I'd suggest you shut up and listen to Toadstool right now!" yelled Charlie.
Jacinda was speechless. Charlie cursed her out, threatened to cut her tail off and ordered her to keep her mouth shut and for once listen to what someone else had to say. She didn't know if she should be turned on or offended. She turned to Toadstool who finally felt like he worked up the courage to say something to Jacinda that he's been wanting to say all day and he gotten the courage to do so because Charlie spoke up for him and defended him and Toadstool was filled with courage and anger now.
"Now see here, Jacinda. Just like Charlie, I got something to say to you and I don't care if I go to prison for it." said Toadstool putting his foot down.
"Oh? I'm all ears." said Jacinda her guards joining her side.
Toadstool gulped and he was just about to open his mouth to speak but got interrupted by the sound of a loud horn being blown nearby. Everyone turned to see who was blowing the loud horn and to their misfortune. They saw toad soldiers come running towards the town like a stampede of buffalo.
Many of the residence tried to run but the toads surrounded them all in an instance while Charlie placed his hand on his sword in case any of the toad soldiers were to attack which he hidden his face with the sandogasa hat in a hurry. Two toads shot their large tongues out to grab hold of the spears and tossed them aside. They saw Bog, Mire and Fens.
"Fens and, uh, uh, uh, the creepy one." said Anne struggling to remember one of the toad soldiers names.
"Mire." Sprig chimed in.
"Right! Him." said Anne finally remembering.
"Oh no. That means." said Hop Pop filled with dread.
Bog shown up by jumping off the roof of one of the buildings as he did a few flips forwards. He landed on the ground with his feet.
"Greetings Wartwood. Miss me?" said Bog with a menacing grin.
There was foul smelling odor coming from Bog and possibly the other soldiers which left many of the town residence to groan in disgust, one or more of them falling over from the stench.
"Oh man. You stink." said Sprig holding his hand over where his nose should be.
"And whose fault is that? Ever since the tower fell twice. We had to live as bandits." argued Bog.
"It's not our fault you were all a bunch of thugging assholes who started the fight first! You lied, you tried to kill an old man, you lied, cheated, used and abused an innocent child, tried to frame him and your the one who put him in a coma and lied to him. We wouldn't of had to do what we had to do if you didn't attack us first or lead us into a trap, motherfucker!" Charlie spoke while perfectly mimicking a Russian accented male's voice. "And you stink like a corpse who took a nasty shit!"
Toadstool approached them with a disapproving look while he carried the unconscious Toadie in his arms.
"What do you want, Bog?" said Toadstool.
"Nothing much. Just everything valuable you frogs got." answered Bog.
"And if we refuse?" challenged Toadstool.
Charlie felt like he was ready to take these toad soldiers town as his mind and body were on high red alert.
"Than we'll have ourselves a little cook out. Burn this whole place to the ground." threatened Bog.
Some of the toad soldiers raised up a flaming arrow to show they were not kidding around. Many of the residence were standing in fear of what's coming for them next. Jacinda looked on with interest as she saw Bog was having everything she's looking for in what could be the job offer.
"So what'll it be, mayor?" said Bog.
Toadstool looked at him and suddenly looked at the town's people. He didn't want anything bad to happen to them or himself ether. He felt like he had to make the one decision he dared not to make as he had a saddened expression. He handed Toadie over to Anne which she took him in her arms.
"Look after Toadie for me. Time for me to do what I do best." instructed Toadstool. "Lie to a fairly large group of people."
Toadstool approached Bog and tried to put on a smile.
"Look at you, Bog. I'm surprised you ain't thinking bigga." said Toadstool.
"What do you mean?" said Bog looking caught off guard.
"I mean, how would you like to be my second in command in the newly rebuild Toad Tower?" lied Toadstool.
Many of the town's residence were confused and shocked at the same time. They were murmuring loudly as they were seeing that Toadstool may be leaving them.
"Huh, I heard you like being mayor now." said a confused Bog.
"Me? Like being mayor of a disgusting, hodump mud-hole town like this. Ha! Not a chance." said Toadstool.
When no one was looking. Toadstool gave the town residence a wink as if to tell them to play along which they caught on quickly to that facial gesture. Bog started to think for a moment and was unaware of Toadstool deceiving him.
"Well, we are tired of living in caves and eating scraps." said Bog oddly agreeing.
"Than you're gonna love this next bid." said Toadstool.
He pulled out the chest like box that had the treasure that Jacinda gave him earlier this morning. With all of his strength, he lifted it up and tossed it at them. Once the box landed on the ground, it was forced open and the toads saw all of the gold coins and treasure that was inside the box. Bog looked at it with disbelief like a man who just won a billion dollars in the lottery.
"Join me and half of this is yours." said Toadstool.
Bog looked at the treasure, drummed his fingers on it as if he couldn't believe what he was just seeing.
"It's beautiful." said Bog his eyes lighting up.
"Oh I agree. Why not take a closer look!" cried Toadstool.
The sizeable toad slammed the chest lid on Bog's head hard. Bog groaned in pain as he slowly got up and that's when they were all about to attack the toads.
"Alright! That's it! Everyone stand back!" cried Charlie.
Charlie approached the toad soldiers which they didn't recognize him in the outfit he was wearing.
"A samurai warrior, huh? Never met one before." said Fens with an evil grin.
"Hey man bitch! Guess who?" cried Charlie now speaking in his normal voice.
Charlie pulled his hat off his head and tossed it aside. Revealing his face to them as the toad soldiers all looked at Charlie in wide eyed horror, some of them almost dropped their weapons to the ground in shock.
"Oh crap!" said one of the toad soldiers in horror.
Charlie let out a loud lion like roar as his hair and eyes turned gold, a gold energy was glowing all around him and his muscles grew bigger as he looked like he was ready to battle them all on his own. The toad soldiers shown visible fear of him as they never seen him in this powerful form.
"Heeere's Charlie!" cried Charlie loudly.
The toad soldiers attempted to defend themselves while Charlie charged at them with his fastest superhuman speed his legs could run. He grabbed hold of a metal pipe nearby and swung it at Mire's head which left a big dent in his helmet, causing it to swing and looking like he had it on backwards.
"Hey Mire! You got your helmet on backwards, so can you see this!" cried Charlie.
Charlie swung his foot at Mire's butt and kicked him in his butt so hard that it caused him to jump up a few feet into the air, screaming in pain from the impact. He made it look like he was going to catch him but he stepped back and let Mire land on his head which caused the helmet to have another dent.
"Whoops! I missed ya!" laughed Charlie.
Charlie ran towards Fens who used her weapon to try and swing it at Charlie in an attempt to hit him but Charlie dodged every move she attempted to use on him.
"Whoa there! This is turning me on but how did you get so fast? You never were this fast and strong before." said Fens looking shocked.
"You'll find out after you kiss my ass! Mister!" insulted Charlie.
Charlie drew his sword out so fast that Fens barely saw it come out of it's sheath as Charlie made four slashes and placed his sword back in it's sheath which Fens saw her KanabÅ get sliced up in four pieces.
That's when Charlie pulled down her headband to cover her eyes and blinded her while he reached inside Fens mouth to forcefully pull her huge and stretchy tongue out as he pulled on it and swung her around in the air around and around.
"Make him stop! Make him stop! Give this monkey a banana or something!" cried Fens.
Hearing Fens call him that word that Charlie hated being referred to only fueled his rage as he let out a loud lion like roar once more.
"That's it, Tinkerbell! Get ready to learn how to fly, motherfucker!" shouted Charlie.
Charlie swung Fens's tongue in one direction and pulled on it as it acted like a bungee cord and it pulled her towards Charlie and when she went flying towards him, she was met with Charlie's fist when he sucker punched her in her face really hard.
"Yeah, fuck you too!" Charlie snapped back.
The punch sent Fens flying at least seven feet away from him and landing on the ground, feeling a bit dizzy.
"Yes, I'll have a beetle burger with everything on it." said Fens dizzily.
Many of the towns people shot out their tongues like whips to fend off more of the toad soldiers while Bog tried to swing a dagger at Toadstool who was successfully dodging his weapon.
"Toadstool, uppercut!" cried Charlie.
"Mama said knock you out!" cried Toadstool.
That's when Toadstool sucker punched Bog by giving him an uppercut punch to his chin which sent him flying in the direction where Fens now lay.
"Hit the road, Jack!" cried Toadstool in triumph.
"Daddy's home, yay." said Bogs dizzily.
Some of the toads got grabbed from behind by the moles that popped out of the ground and got pulled under while Charlie got another idea.
"Mrs. Croaker! Let's web sling this assholes!" cried Charlie.
"You got it! Go get'em Archie!" cheered Mrs. Croaker.
Mrs. Croaker's pet spider jumped forwards and was spraying webs out as he stuck the long webs he used to stick to the toads that he jumped from one soldier to another till he jumped back towards Toadstool to catch him. Than Toadstool pulled on the web like rope as it tied the toad soldiers up together. Charlie joined the town's side as he gave the toads a stoic expression.
"I think one of us broke a nail...ON YOUR FACE!" cried Charlie in triumph.
That's when Charlie laughed his loud, madman like cackling like laugh that made him sound like a madman whose cracked. The crowd cheered in triumph for their efforts as they felt like they've defeat the toad army. Jacinda felt as though she really wanted to chase after Charlie and kiss him but her attempts to resist was weakening as she tried to hold back as best as possible when she approached Toadstool. She cleared her throat to get Toadstool's attention who was feeling his heart grow heavy as he faced the purple female newt.
"I know. I know, it's time to go to Toad Tower." said Toadstool his eyes welling up with tears. "Just give me a minute to say good bye."
"All this time I thought you were the right toad for this job but it looks like I was wrong." said Jacinda.
There was a dead silence and Toadstool looked at Jacinda with confusion. His tears and sadness instantly subsiding.
"You're soft, Toadstool. Way too soft. You love this town and any moron can see it. I'm afraid we need someone cutthroat. Someone ruthless, someone just like him." said Jacinda pointing to Bog.
Bog looked on in bewilderment. Did Jacinda just appoint the job to Bog? Even Bog himself was visibly shaken by Jacinda's words. The town gasped in surprise.
"Uh, you're pointing at the right guy? We just got our asses handed to us by a kid." said Bog still confused.
"You were seconds away from burning this town if you didn't get what you wanted. We can use that kind of resolve, that kind of backbone, that kind of ambition. So how about it, Bog, wanna rule this valley together?" said Jacinda as if excited to offer this job to him.
Bog was silent for a moment till a devious grin curved it's way on his face.
"When can we start?" said Bog.
It wasn't long till the webbing around the toad soldiers got cut by Jacinda's dagger and the toad soldiers got up but they did groan in pain from the smack down that Charlie gave them. Charlie was now seeing this meant bad news which filled him with a rage as he went over to take hold of the chest that had the treasure and with all his strength, he lifted it up like it was light as a feather.
"Hey toad soldiers! If you wanna avoid another smack down. I suggest you leave, right now." called Charlie.
That's when Charlie tossed the chest at the cart that the toad soldiers were using as it landed in there with a loud thud, causing the cart to shake a little.
"You got some choices, ether leave and no one gets hurt or I do the same thing to a Scorpileo to you when it attacked my family!" threatened Charlie as he placed his hand on the sheath of his katana. "And that monster wasn't so lucky."
The toad soldiers looked on at Charlie with wide eyes. He was still in his gold form and they never seen him like this before, to them, it was placing visible fear inside them of him since he's defeated them before, twice, and now this would count as a third time. And the fact he admitted to slaying an evil, dangerous beast only intensified that toad soldiers gulped, put their weapons away and ran towards what they used for transportation and hurried their way out of Wartwood.
"I see they made the right choice." said Charlie with a comeback.
Jacinda couldn't believe that Charlie scared them toads off like that as Charlie's hair and eyes turned back to their original color and his muscular body returned to it's normal size while still being muscular.
"Sorry Frodrick but a heart is the one thing in Toad Tower can't have. But as for an assistant, again, sorry, but I also don't need you as an assistant ether because someone else fit the position." said Jacinda. "I want him!"
Everyone saw that Jacinda pointed at Charlie. She wanted him as her assistant to probably get her rocks off with. Charlie looked on at her in disgust while Anne felt a sense of anger kicking inside her. Jacinda couldn't hold back her lust for Charlie any longer as she ran towards him at such a powerful speed.
"Come rule with me, you steaming hot devil!" cried Jacinda.
She leaped forwards as she went for Charlie by jumping towards him and she was about to place her hands on him by reaching for his shoulders which Charlie was about to try and dodge her but Anne got in front him as she placed her hands up.
"Don't you dare, Mini-Me!" shot Anne.
Anne caught Jacinda with her hands and pushed her away from Charlie which resulted in her landing on her feet, looking back at Anne with wide eyed shock.
"Keep your hands and your lips to yourself! And stay away from my man!" snapped Anne. "Yeah, that's right. Charlie's my man, the only girl whose allowed to kiss him on the lips is his soul sista, and that's me! You may think you can just say and do anything you want and sleep around with any man you want, even if that said man is taken, but you're not sleeping around with this one, sister! You want to go crazy with someone, go ask those moles out on a date, otherwise I'm giving you one last warning to get in your carriage and leave and go do what your job tells you to do. Last warning!"
The way Anne defended Charlie, kept him protected from Jacinda's crazy advances on him and how she ranted at her was enough to make Jacinda wide eyed. That's when Anne turned to Charlie and she pulled him in her arms to hug him and kissed him on his lips which he kissed her back. This was now leaving Jacinda so shocked that her mouth fell open. After the two teenagers pulled their lips off each other, she hugged Charlie while his face was pressed against her noticeably big breasts, causing him to blush with a grin.
Jacinda was feeling as though this was a slap to her face but she also knew that there's no way she can get in Charlie's pants or steal him away from Anne. She was defeated and knew there was one last thing she had to do and it was leave.
"Guards? We're done here." called Jacinda.
Jacinda retreated to the carriage while the two tall and slim bodied guards took off with her. One of them took the reigns of the carriage and lightly slapped them to signal the creature that pulled it to go forwards. The large creature pulled the carriage along and left.
"You okay, Charlie?" asked Hop Pop.
"With my soul sista being with me. I'm still standing." said Charlie with a word of comfort.
"Hate to be the bearer of bad news but with Bog head toad of Toad Tower and Jacinda being his assistant. That can't be good." said Anne looking slightly alarmed.
"Anne, it's going to be alright. Also, to everyone. About what I said back there." said Toadstool with a guilty face.
"Ah shove off, ya big galoot." Mrs. Croaker playfully interrupted.
"We know you were just looking out for the town. You may be a corrupt, no good, money-grubbing louse." said Loggle.
"But you're our money-grubbing louse." said Mrs. Croaker probably saying one of the sweetest things she's ever said about Toadstool.
Toadstool felt tears welling up in his eyes while he wiped them away. He felt so touched by their words that he felt like it was the biggest relief of his life.
"I don't know what to say but there is something I want to admit. But I think Charlie might be the one who'd understand what I'm about to admit." said Toadstool.
Toadstool approached Charlie as Anne released her arms from him. Toadstool felt like the courage in him was screaming, he stood there and without warning, he pulled Charlie into his large and wide arms to hug him which caught him off guard which Toadstool whispered something into the human male's ear. What he whispered into his ear left him surprised after Toadstool released his arms from him.
"Toadstool, you're telling me that you have an attraction to both men and women?" asked Charlie.
Toadstool nodded his head once in a response.
"Around the time when Anne was named Frog of the Year, she had me help out when a disaster struck, and around the time when we fought them toads at Toad Tower, twice, and when you made the first step in making peace with me to toss our conflict sky high. It's changed me for the better somehow. But around the time when you, Anne and the Plantars left for Newtopia, I started feeling this feeling of attraction towards both genders by than. I at first thought my mind was pulling something on me, I tried to rationalize these feelings and was in denial for some time but now these feelings are too strong for me to ignore. So yes, I'm a bisexual." explained Toadstool finally. "I think you may have helped me realize it, even if you didn't know. I knew that you'd understand this if I told you first because you've shown to be one of the nicest people I've ever met just like Anne, despite the fact we didn't get along at first."
This explained everything by now. This explained why Toadstool was acting so awkward around Charlie, why he tripped over his words and called Charlie a few cute nicknames that he accidentally blurted out and why Toadstool was showing some awkwardness around him. He wanted to tell Charlie that he's bisexual not to admit he's in love with him but to talk about it with someone he knows is supportive of such feelings. Charlie suddenly felt philosophical.
"Toadstool, you've grown up a lot in your time since your actions at Toad Tower, both the first time and the last. You were once a greedy, corrupt, arrogant toad who cared only about himself. But since your actions at Toad Tower in those times along with how you've handled me taking the first step in putting out the fire that was our conflict. You've started to show you've tossed away the person you once were because you knew that person was going to lead you down a path of darkness that no one should go through and you've become a better toad for it. You've learned to forgive, you've learned humility, compassion for others, and you've grown so much since than. And I know you admitting this to me wasn't easy because I've known a few people who struggled with coming out about their gender preference in terms of relationships. They've turned out to be good people in the world and if you go both ways, than I accept you for it and no one should tell you different." said Charlie showing full support.
Hearing Charlie tell him this felt as though Toadstool heard the best news of his life. Charlie shown a face of compassion towards him as Toadstool shed a tear and let out a happy little high pitch squeal of excitement.
"Thanks Charlie, I feel like the happiest person alive knowing that. If you've learned this level of compassion from all the ladies in the house back where your from, than a lot of good has come out of it." said Toadstool with a sigh of relief. "Don't mean to change he subject but where's Toadie?"
That's when Toadie jerked awake as Tuti was the one who was carrying Toadie in her arms this time. The small male frog jerked awake like he was startled by the sound of a cannon blast. He squirmed out of Tuti's arms and jumped forwards to Toadstool with tears in his eyes.
"Don't leave me!" cried an emotional Toadie.
Toadstool caught Toadie in his arms and held him like a parent carrying their baby.
"I won't, Toadie. I won't." said Toadstool with a word of comfort.
Toadstool was talking to Toadie like he was a baby who just got reunited with their parents after a lost child situation. The two were hugging each other while some of the people looked on in awkwardness while others looked on in adoration.
"Should we be watching this?" said Anne confused.
"They're just having a warm, comforting moment like a parent to their child, Anne." said Charlie as his voice was breaking.
Anne looked towards Charlie and he was shedding a few tears at the sight of those two. Anne and the Plantars both knew he was touched by the sight of Toadstool and Toadie which caused Anne and the Plantars to hug him as he hugged them back. That was when they heard beautiful music being played nearby as a few of the town's residence were playing what sounded like beautifully played Japanese pop music which left Charlie feeling his spirits sour as he began to sing powerfully beautiful that it caught the attention of everyone. but this time, I was singing in Japanese.
"DAN DAN Kokoro hikarete 'ku. Sono mabushii egao ni. Hatenai yami kara tobidasou Hold my ha-a-a-a-and"
As the music continued to play beautifully. Charlie's singing sounded more beautiful than a Japanese pop singer which left everyone feeling touched by such a beautiful voice.
"Kimi to deatta toki. Kodomo no koro taisetsu ni omotte ita basho wo omoidashita n' da. Boku to odotte kurenai ka. Hikari to kage no Winding road. Ima to demo yatsu ni muchuu na no? Sukoshi dake furimukitaku naru you na toki mo aru kedo. Ai to yuuki to hokori wo motte. Tatakau yo-o-o-o! DAN DAN Kokoro hikarete 'ku. Kono hoshi no kibou no kakera. Kitto dare mo ga eien wo te ni iretai. ZEN ZEN Ki ni shinai furi shite mo. Hora Kimi ni koi shite 'ru. Hatenai yami kara tobidasou Hold your ha-a-a-a-and"
The music eventually faded till it slowly came to a stop and so did Charlie's beautiful singing but suddenly, let out a burp but it suddenly made him do something that everyone hadn't expected. He suddenly breathed fire out of his mouth like a dragon while he roared like a powerful lion. He made sure he was looking up at the sky when he did so no one would get burned or hurt. He breathed fire out of his mouth for a good thirty seconds and eventually stopped, once he looked back at the town residence. They were all surprised yet intrigued at the same time.
"Wow! Charlie, you breathed fire! Did you eat anything spicy?" said Polly looking thrilled.
"Last thing I ate was something cold." said Charlie blushing. "I can breathe fire?"
Anne planted her lips to his cheeks as she seemed to be accepting that Charlie had a new power he's developed, she did wonder how he gained the ability as it seemed like his powers were still developing but she also felt romantically entranced by him. He smiled and blushed deeply.
"I can breathe fire." chuckled Charlie happily.