The Buttercups
In the castle grounds, Sofia, Madeline, Ruby and Jade were dressed in their Buttercup scout uniforms.
"Sofia, show us one more time!" Jade pleaded.
"Over, down, the rabbit pops up..." Sofia smiled, tying some string. "And there. It's a... friendship knot! Here, help me pull it tight."
The other girls tugged at the ends of the string. They pulled too hard and tumbled, giggling to the ground.
"Gather around, Buttercups." Ruby's mother, Helen, declared.
"Hi, mom!" Ruby smiled.
"I want you to meet our troops' newest members." She motioned to a pair of identical blonde girls. "Peg and Meg."
"I'm Meg, she's Peg." Said one of the girls.
"Oh, sorry about that." Helen chuckled.
"it's okay." Meg said. "Our brother gets us mixed up all the time."
"I don't know why." Peg said.
"Me neither." Meg agreed.
"We're so different." They said together.
"You sure are." Helen smiled. "So let's all give Meg and Peg a warm Buttercup welcome."
"Buttercups, Buttercups, make some room!" The other danced. "Buttercups, Buttercups, watch us bloom!"
"So, who wants to present Meg and Peg with their buttercup vests?" Helen asked.
"I will, Mrs. Hanshaw." Madeline offered.
"Thank you, Madeline." Helen nodded.
Madeline put the vests on Meg and Peg.
"Oh, I'm so excited!" Peg smiled.
"I'm more excited!" Meg boasted.
"I'm the most excited ever!" Peg topped her.
"You're Buttercups now!" Madeline announced.
"Thanks." Meg smiled. "I can't believe there's a princess in our Buttercups troop."
"I can't believe we're at the castle." Peg added.
"It was very nice of the queen to have us over." Helen declared.
"It's my pleasure, Helen." Miranda smiled.
"Hey, what are those?" Peg asked, pointing at Madeline's vest.
"And why don't we have any?" Meg added.
"They're badges." Madeline told them. "You have to earn them."
"When you're a Buttercup, you have to explore the great outdoors." Ruby declared. "And learn new things."
"And for every new activity you do, you earn a badge, which you put on your vest." Jade added. "I got this one for swimming, this one for bird calling, and this one for unicorn spotting."
"I wanna spot unicorns." Peg smiled.
"And any Buttercup who fills her entire sash with badges earns a special sunflower medallion." Helen announced, displaying such a medallion.
"Ooohh!" The girls gasped.
"And tomorrow, we'll all get a chance to earn plenty of badges." Helen continued. "Because we're going on a nature hike through the pepper tree forest!"
The girls cheered.
"That's where we go sledding in the winter." Peg smiled. "I love it there!"
"Not as much as me!" Meg added.
"I can't wait for the hike!" Sofia declared. "I only need one more badge to fill up my vest and get my sunflower pin!"
"Me too." Madeline smiled.
"Only one?" Ruby frowned. "I still need three."
"I need two." Jade added.
"We need... a lot." Peg sighed.
"Don't worry." Sofia smiled. "You'll earn a bunch tomorrow on the hike."
"Time to go, girls." Helen announced.
A short time later, a horse-driven cart took the visiting Buttercups home.
"Buttercups, Buttercups, we sure had fun!" They all sang. "Buttercups, Buttercups..."
"Bye, everyone!" Sofia and Madeline waved.
A royal fanfare blared, as the royal carriage return, and king Roland disembarked.
"Baileywick, at the meeting of the knights, let's make it a round table." He declared.
"Dad!" Sofia and Madeline cheered, rushing over to hug him.
"Why, hello there, girls!" He smiled. "My, my, what's this you're wearing?"
"Our buttercup uniforms." Sofia told him.
"The Buttercups are hiking through pepper tree forest tomorrow." Madeline added.
"Now, hold on a moment." Roland gasped. "I don't know if the forest is a proper place for princesses."
"Oh, they'll be fine." Madeline insisted. "You know, the girls were Buttercups before they were princesses."
"And we only need one more badge each to get our sunflower pins." Sofia smiled. "Please, dad?"
"But... what if something happens to you?" Roland suggested.
"Ruby's mother will be there." Miranda told him. "Sofia and Madeline will be perfectly safe."
"But they could fall." Roland protested.
"Well, I guess they'll have to pick themselves up." Miranda replied.
"If I may, your majesty." Baileywick stepped forward. "I was a Groundhog scout when I was a boy. Exploring the great outdoors gave me skills that I use to this very day. I think princess Sofia and princess Madeline would learn a lot by going."
"That's it!" Roland proclaimed.
"What's it?" Miranda asked.
"Baileywick will accompany the girls." Roland announced.
"Me?" Baileywick asked.
"Baileywick, dad?" Madeline gasped.
"Why, with your Groundhog experience, you're the perfect person to make sure Sofia and Madeline don't get a single scratch!" Roland beamed. "And I mean not a single scratch."
"Not one, your majesty." Baileywick nodded.
"Dad, we don't need Baileywick." Sofia suggested. "We'll be fine on our own."
"You'll be more fine with Baileywick." Roland said stubbornly. "I just want to make sure you're safe and sound."
"Okay." Madeline nodded, as both girls hugged their dad.
"You'll barely notice I'm there, princesses." Baileywick declared. "It will be a wonderful hike, I promise. Groundhog's word."
The next morning Sofia and Madeline (Wearing their Buttercups uniforms), walked down the corridor with Miranda, who breathed in deeply.
"Looks like a perfect day for a hike." She noted.
"It sure does." Sofia agreed.
They came across Baileywick, who was wearing an unusual outfit, and carrying a large backpack.
"Tally-ho!" He smiled. "Good morning, princesses."
"Baileywick?" Madeline stared.
"We've never seen you wear an outfit like that before." Sofia noted.
"It's my old Groundhog uniform." Baileywick declared. "Isn't it wonderful? I had to let it out a bit, but it feels just like old times!"
Baileywick performed some marching steps, before breathing in deeply. Suddenly, there was a tearing sound.
"Oops." Baileywick gulped. "Oh, dear. No worries, I have a sewing kit in my backpack."
"From the look of it, you have a whole sewing machine in your backpack." Miranda said drily.
"A Groundhog is always prepared." Baileywick nodded, before hopping backwards into the castle. "I'll be just a moment, your majesties."
"Mom..." Madeline urged.
"Don't worry." Miranda assured her. "Everything will be just fine."
A while later, the Buttercup troop was in the pepper tree forest, waiting for the girls.
"Where's Sofia?" Ruby asked.
Suddenly, a trumpet rang out. From around a corner, Baileywick emerged, playing the trumpet.
"Princess Sofia and princess Madeline of Enchancia." He announced, as Sofia and Madeline rounded the corner.
"Hi, girls!" Ruby and Jade waved.
Baileywick walked ahead of Sofia and Madeline, using a broom to brush away the dirt.
"Hey." Sofia said awkwardly.
"And who do we have here?" Helen asked.
"This is Baileywick." Madeline pointed out.
"I'll be joining you today." Baileywick declared. "On the king's orders."
"Ah, a royal escort." Helen smiled. "Well, as long as you can keep up with the Buttercups, it's fine by me."
"I was once a Groundhog scout, so I'm quite at home in the wild." Baileywick boasted. Suddenly, a butterfly landed on his nose. Emitting a loud gasp, he frightend it off by swinging his hat.
"Alrighty, then." Helen blew her whistle. "Let's move out, Buttercups - and you too, Groundhog. Let's put the 'great' in the great outdoors."
The girls cheered and started singing.
"Buttercups, Buttercups, make some room!" They sang. "Buttercups, Buttercups, watch us bloom!"
"Line up, everybody!" Sofia smiled. "Come on, Meg and Peg!"
The troop marched into the forest, Baileywick wafting away more butterflies as he went.
Girls: Look at me I'm a Buttercup I may be young But I'm growin' up
Make some room And watch us bloom
Look at me Hike through the trees I learn to do New things with ease
Here I go Now watch me grow
We'll sing our song As we go along We're growin' up We're Buttercups
We love to learn For each badge, we earn We're growin' up We're Buttercups
We're all for one and one for all Learning while we have a ball We're young, that's right But brave and bright
Every bird must leave the nest Spread her wings to join the rest Before you fly You've gotta try
We'll sing our song As we go along We're growin' up We're Buttercups Sofia/Madeline: We're Buttercups!
Girls: We love to learn For each badge, we earn We're growin' up Sofia/Madeline: Growin' up! Girls: We're growin' strong Sofia/Madeline: Growin' strong! Girls: And that's our song We're Buttercups
As they reached of stream filled with stepping stones, Baileywick insisted on carrying Sofia and Madeline across.
"Hold up, Buttercups." Helen stopped the group. "Time for a water break."
"Finally." Baileywick grumbled, removing his backpack.
As Sofia and Madeline made to sit down, Baileywick placed them into a pair of thrones.
"Allow me, princesses." He smiled. "They're your thrones away from home."
"It's okay, Baileywick." Sofia told him. "We can sit on the ground like everyone else."
Sofia and Madeline made to sit on the ground.
"I won't hear of it." Baileywick slid the thrones under them. He then took out a platter with two cups on it. "Now, how about some ice water?"
Helen didn't look pleased. Sofia and Madeline laughed nervously.
"Okay Buttercups, here's your first chance to earn a badge." Helen announced, opening a book. "The birdhouse badge."
The Buttercups chattered excitedly.
"What do we have to do?" Jade asked.
"You have to build a birdhouse out of twigs and bark." Helen proclaimed, closing her book. "Alrighty then, go to it. Buttercups, bloom!"
The Buttercups went to work, looking for materials.
"Ow!" Ruby cried.
"Are you okay?" Madeline asked.
"Oh, yeah." Ruby smiled. "It's just a scratch."
"A scratch?!" Baileywick gasped. "Not a single scratch..." He dashed over to Sofia and Madeline. "Princesses! Allow me! Building birdhouses was my specialty when I was a Groundhog!"
"But Baileywick, we can do it ourselves." Sofia protested.
"Yes, but why should you, when I can do it for you?" Baileywick said quickly while measuring a piece of bark.
Sofia and Madeline looked around. All the other girls were putting their birdhouses together themselves.
"I'm gonna make the biggest birdhouse!" Meg boasted.
"I'm gonna make the best birdhouse!" Peg countered.
The twins tied some twine around their birdhouses.
"I'm almost done!" Meg declared.
"Me too!" Peg smiled.
As they both pulled on the twine, the birdhouses came apart; They had both been using the same string.
"Peg!" Meg cried.
"Meg!" Peg said at the same time.
"So, how are we doing, Buttercups?" Helen asked.
"All done!" Baileywick announced, showing off a pair of large, castle-shaped birdhouses.
"That is quite impressive, Sofia and Madeline." Helen noted. "But to earn the badge, each Buttercup must do the project by herself."
"Yes, Miss Hanshaw." Sofia and Madeline sighed.
"But I only helped a little." Baileywick protested. "Sofia and Madeline found the tree bark."
Helen went to examine Ruby and Jade's birdhouses.
"Way to grow, Buttercups!" She smiled. "You two have earned your birdhouse badges!"
"We didn't even get a chance to try." Madeline sighed.
Shortly after, Helen handed out the badges to Ruby and Jade.
"Now I only need one more badge to get my sunflower pin." Jade smiled, turning to Sofia and Madeline. "Just like you!"
"That's... great." Sofia smiled forcefully.
"Really great." Madeline added, a similar smile on her face.
"I know how you feel." Peg comforted them. "We didn't get a badge either."
"You'll get one." Sofia smiled.
"Just keep trying." Madeline added.
"We will." Peg smiled.
"You too." Meg grinned.
"We will." Sofia and Madeline said in unison.
Nearby, Baileywick struggled with his backpack.
"We just have to make sure we do the next project by ourselves." Sofia whispered.
"Definitely." Madeline whispered back.
"Hey there, Groundhog." Helen tapped on Baileywick's backpack. "Remember the Buttercups motto: Buttercups, Buttercups, make some room..."
"Buttercups, Buttercups, watch us bloom!" Baileywick finished.
"That's right." Helen nodded. "Well now it's time to make some room, so your Buttercups can bloom." She pointed to Sofia and Madeline. "We can't do it all for them, or they'll never learn. Back on the trail, Buttercups!"
As they continued their trek, they reached another stream with stepping stones. Most of the girls hopped across, but Baileywick stopped Sofia and Madeline.
"Oh, allow me." He offered.
Baileywick took a roll of red carpet out of his backpack and unfurled it across the stream.
"Hold up there, Groundhog." Helen said sternly, kicking the carpet back over to him. "Red carpets may work back at the castle, but Buttercups can do this by themselves."
"But it's so slippery!" Baileywick protested.
Sofia and Madeline hopped across easily.
"Is it, now?" Helen smirked.
Baileywick clumsily made it half-way across, before slipping on a stone and falling into the water.
"Groundhog overboard!" Helen called. She offered Baileywick her cane. "Need a hand, there?"
"Oh, thank you." Baileywick took the cane, allowing Helen to pull him out.
Helen fished out his hat and returned it to him. When Baileywick put it back on, it started hopping and croaking. He took off the hat and examined it, unaware of the frog on his head, which hopped off.
Later, the group was still walking, when they came across a clearing filled with logs and stones.
"Here we are, Buttercups." Helen opened her book and showing them the page. "Who can tell me what badge this is?"
"Oh, I know!" Ruby spoke up. "Wood gathering!"
"Exactly, Ruby, dear." Helen smiled, handing her daughter her cane. "We need wood for our cookout. Every Buttercup who gathers a pile of wood gets a badge. Alrighty, let's pick up sticks!"
The girls giggled as they fanned out.
"Be careful when you grab them, girls!" Helen called. "Nobody likes a splinter!"
"Splinter!" Baileywick gasped.
In the woods, Sofia and Madeline found a squirrel sitting on a log, eating an acorn.
"Um, we hate to interrupt, Mr. squirrel, but we could really use that log." Sofia said.
"Why, certainly." The squirrel nodded. "Just a moment, while I finish up my lunch."
Baileywick suddenly stepped forward.
"Allow me, princesses." He smiled, lifting up the log, causing the squirrel to fall off. "I'll gather your wood in no time."
"Baileywick..." Madeline moaned, as the girls followed him.
"How rude!" The squirrel declared.
"Wait, Baileywick!" Sofia called. As she reached for another log, Baileywick grabbed it first.
"Allow me." He smiled.
"Oh, not again!" Madeline groaned.
The Buttercups gathered around Helen.
"Okay, Buttercups, what do we have?" She asked.
Most of the girls had a lot of logs in their arms.
"Nice work, girls." Helen smiled.
Sofia and Madeline had a twig each. As Helen stared, Baileywick returned, carrying a large stack of logs.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat. "I'm just holding them for the princesses."
"Mmm-hmm-hmm." Helen shook her head. "It only counts when they do it by themselves."
Baileywick looked with regret and Sofia and Madeline's sad faces.
"Good job, you two." Helen told Meg and Peg. "You've earned your first Buttercup badge."
Helen attached the badges to their vests, and the twins danced with joy.
"Our first badge!" They chorused.
"And here's your badge, Ruby." Helen told her daughter.
"Thanks, mom." Ruby saluted.
"Jade, you've earned your last badge." Helen declared. "And that means you'll get a sunflower pin at the end of the hike. Well done!"
"Jade, you did it!" Sofia cheered. "You earned your sunflower!"
"And now, I only need one more!" Ruby beamed.
"Just like us." Madeline fake-smiled.
"You should talk to Baileywick." Ruby suggested. "Ask him to stop helping you."
"Good idea." Sofia nodded.
"Worth a try." Madeline shrugged.
"Alrighty then, Buttercups." Helen announced over a log fire, holding a plate of hot dogs. "You've got the logs, now cook your dogs!"
The girls took a dog each, skewering them on rods. As Sofia and Madeline made to get theirs, Baileywick took them with a pair of tongs.
"Allow me." He smiled.
"We're going to talk to him." Madeline told Ruby and Jade.
Sofia and Madeline approached Baileywick, who was roasting the hot dogs over the fire.
"You're in luck, girls." He told them. "I was the best hot dog cooker in my Groundhog troop."
"Baileywick, we can do it ourselves." Sofia proclaimed. "We can do all these things if you'd let us!"
"And we have to, if we're going to earn our sunflower pins!" Madeline added.
"I promised your father you wouldn't get a single scratch." Baileywick declared.
"But you promised us we'd have a good time." Sofia reminded him. "You gave your Groundhog word."
"I did, didn't I?" Baileywick sighed. He sat down on a log. "Okay, the next project, by yourselves, no matter what."
"Thanks, Baileywick." The girls smiled, sitting down next to him.
"I suppose you want to cook your own hot dogs too?" Baileywick offered the rods.
"Yes, please." Madeline smiled.
They sat together, roasting their hot dogs.
Later, they all walked into a field of flowers.
"Okay, Buttercups, it's time to find out how well you know your wild flowers." Helen declared. "Everyone must pick a bouquet of daisies and daffodils. But be careful not to touch any meddlesome Myrtle."
"Meddlesome Myrtle?" Baileywick repeated.
"My cousin touched meddlesome Myrtle once, and he got a terrible rash." Ruby cringed. "his hands turned red and itchy, and then his head blew up like a pumpkin!"
"But since you've all seen what meddlesome Myrtle looks like in your Buttercup manuals, you'll all be fine." Helen smiled. "Alrighty then, let's pick some flowers."
The girls went to work, spreading out over the field.
"What if they touch the meddlesome Myrtle?" Baileywick gasped.
"There." Meg smiled. "I've got enough daisies, but what do daffodils look like?"
"There." Peg smiled. "I've got lots of daffodils, but what do daisies look like?"
Both Meg and Peg walked other to the over was, and started picking more flowers.
"Mom!" Ruby dashed over, carrying a bouquet.
"Let's see." Helen examined the bouquet. "Daisies, check. Daffodils, check. Oh, you did it, Ruby! You got your final badge!" She hugged her daughter. "I'm so proud of my girl!"
After sharing a salute with her mother, Ruby dashed over to her friends.
"i'm going to get my sunflower pin!" She squealed. "Eeee!"
"That's great!" Sofia smiled.
"We only need a few more daisies." Madeline declared.
As Sofia and Madeline went to get more daisies, Baileywick threw out a hand to stop them.
"Wait!" He cried. "I know I promised you I wouldn't help, but I can't risk you touching Meddlesome Myrtle, so I'll pick these for you."
Baileywick revealed some red flowers.
"But your flowers..." Sofia pointed.
"I know, aren't they lovely?" Baileywick smiled as he smelled them.
"That's Meddlesome Myrtle!" Madeline yelped.
"What?!" Baileywick cried, dropping the bouquet. His hands turned red
"Look, there's the red rash!" Ruby cringed.
"Oh, dear!" Baileywick screeched as he scratched himself.
"And the itching!" Ruby pointed.
"Oh, my!" Baileywick put his hands to cheeks, which swelled up like balloons.
The girls gasped.
"Yep, he's got the pumpkin head!" Ruby pointed.
"Aah!" Baileywick yelled. "Oh no! Meddlesome Myrtle!"
Baileywick jumped around, scratching himself and holding his face.
"Don't worry!" Helen called. "Help is on the way!"
Helen wrapped one of Baileywick's hands in bandages, while Sofia wrapped the other.
"Oh, it's so itchy!" Baileywick moaned.
"I guess the Groundhogs never learned what Meddlesome Myrtle looks like." Helen noted. "But you're going to be just fine. Itchy, but fine."
"It'll be okay, Baileywick." Sofia comforted him.
"Are you sure Baileywick's going to be alright?" Madeline asked.
"I think so, girls." Helen declared. "But we should be headed back to the castle, just in case. Buttercups, get ready to move out."
"If we go back now, you two won't earn your last badges." Ruby told Sofia and Madeline.
"And you won't get your sunflower pins!" Jade added.
"We know." Sofia sighed.
"But we need to help Baileywick." Madeline declared.
"Uh-oh." Helen said suddenly.
"What is it?" Sofia asked, as she and Madeline joined Helen on the nearby ridge.
"The trail is so twisty and steep, it'll be hard for Baileywick to climb back down." Helen informed them.
"Hmm." Madeline thought. "Maybe there's another way to get down the mountain."
She looked through some nearby bushes, finding a small slope.
"What about this way?" Madeline asked. "It doesn't look nearly as steep."
"Oh-oh-oh!" Meg squealed. "I know that slope. It's where we go sledding in the winter."
"It's so much fun!" Peg added.
"That's it!" Sofia declared. "We can build a sled!"
"But there's no snow." Peg pointed out.
"We don't need snow." Sofia smiled. "We can slide down the grass!"
"Good thinking, sis!" Madeline grinned.
"That's a great idea, Sofia." Helen declared. "But it'll take a long time to build a sled, don't you think?"
"We can do it!" Sofia assured her. "We just need to work together!"
"We can gather big pieces of wood, like we did for the campfire, and tie them together, like we did for the birdhouses!" Madeline realised.
"You're right." Helen chuckled. "Well then, go to it!"
"Great!" Sofia smiled. "Ruby, you and Jade can gather wood."
"Meg, Peg, Sofia and I can gather twine." Madeline added. "Come on!"
Moments later, the Buttercups had gathered all the wood they could.
"Now, let's tie them together." Sofia instructed.
The Buttercups started tying it all together. Peg was having trouble with her twine.
"Here, let me do it." Meg offered.
"No, I can do it!" Peg insisted.
"Guys, I know you're both really excited about doing this." Sofia noted.
"I'm really excited!" Meg cheered.
"I'm even more excited!" Peg added.
"But you'd get more done if you work together." Madeline told them. "That's the Buttercup way. Here, we'll show you."
Sofia and Madeline demonstrated how to tie the twine.
"They's called friendship knots." Sofia declared, as they handed a end to each twin. "Meg, you pull this end, and Peg, you pull this end."
Meg and Peg pulled hard, tightening the knot.
"There, you did it!" Madeline smiled.
"Let's do more!" Peg giggled.
"Looks like Sofia and Madeline are doing just fine on their own, Baileywick." Helen noted.
"They are remarkable princesses." Baileywick admitted.
"They're more then that." Helen smiled. "They're remarkable Buttercups."
The sled was complete.
"All aboard!" Jade called.
Helen, Baileywick and the twins got in, while the others put their hands on the back of the sled.
"We'll push on the count of three." Sofia declared.
"Wait!" Baileywick told them. "In my backpack, I have helmets for everyone. Safety first!"
Everyone donned a helmet.
"You are prepared!" Helen chuckled.
"A good Groundhog always is." Baileywick smiled.
"Okay, Buttercups." Madeline declared, as they put their hands on the back of the sled. "One, two... push!"
As one, the four girls shoved the sled down the slope, jumping on as it picked up speed. They rushed downwards, coming to a stop in another flower field.
"We made it!" Jade beamed.
Back at the castle, Baileywick was being examined by the royal physician.
"Well, how does he look, doctor?" Roland asked.
"Well, that's a nasty case of Meddlesome Myrtle." The doctor declared. "But he'll be alright, your majesty."
"Baileywick, thank you." Roland smiled, pushing Baileywick's wheeled chair along.
"For what, your majesty?" Baileywick asked.
"For going through so much trouble to keep Sofia and Madeline safe." Roland clarified.
"But they didn't need me at all." Baileywick told him.
"Didn't need you?" Roland asked. "What do you mean?"
"I needed them." Baileywick revealed. "If not for their quick thinking, we wouldn't have gotten back so fast. You should have seen the way they took charge and led the other girls. It would have reminded you of, well, yourself."
"Huh." Roland chuckled. "Well I'll be..."
Roland rolled Baileywick over to the Buttercups. Sofia and Madeline ran up to meet them.
"Are you okay, Baileywick?" Sofia asked.
"I'm going to be fine, Sofia smiled." Baileywick smiled, scratching himself. "Itchy, but fine."
"Glad to hear it, Groundhog." Helen smiled. "Now, if you don't mind, we have some sunflower pins to hand out."
Shortly after, the Buttercups were gathered outside a gazebo, the royal family watching.
"Girls, you worked hard to earn these pins." Helen told Ruby and Jade. "And you've made me proud."
Helen placed the pins on Ruby and Jade's vests, electing cheers from the others.
"We're not done yet." Helen smiled. "I have two more badges to present."
"You do?" Ruby asked.
"To who?" Jade inquired.
"Sofia and Madeline." Helen declared.
"Us?" Sofia and Madeline said together.
"Please step forward." Helen instructed.
Sofia and Madeline obeyed.
"Girls, when you found a way to get Baileywick back home, you were true leaders." Helen announced. "So you have earned the leadership badge."
Helen placed the badges on each of their vests.
"That was our last badges." Madeline smiled.
"Which means you've also earned your sunflower pins today." Helen announced, handing out two more pins.
The Buttercups cheered. Sofia and Madeline hugged Miranda.
"Congratulations, all of you." Helen declared, before turning to Meg and Peg. "That'll be you someday."
"Girls, I'm so proud of you." Miranda smiled.
"And so am I." Roland agreed. "I never should have doubted you, girls. And I won't ever again."
"Thanks, dad." The girls said together as he hugged them.
Helen walked over to Baileywick.
"Oh, Baileywick?" She called. "We have something for you. The girls would like to make you an honorary Buttercup troop leader." She unfurled an adult-sized Buttercup vest. "And you've already earned your first badge: The 'being prepared' badge."
"I'm honored, Mrs. Hanshaw." Baileywick smiled. "But I'm afraid I can't put it on."
"Oh, allow me." Sofia chuckled.
"And me." Madeline added, as they put the vest over Baileywick's shoulders.
"I guess I'm not a Groundhog anymore." Baileywick noted.
"Nope." Sofia smiled.
"You're a Buttercup!" Madeline cheered.
The rest of the Buttercups joined them as they pushed Baileywick's chair around the garden, all of them laughing merrily.