Over the next few days, Anne was doing her best to be patient.
"Don't worry, Anne the passage will clear up in a couple days, for now, let's get ready for today's announcement." Hop Pop said, "They're going to announce the Frog of the Year."
"Frog of the year? What's that?" Anne asked.
"It's when the whole town gets together and votes for the frog who helped the community the most." Hop Pop, "Don't you remember me talking about it last week?"
Anne thought back to that moment, but mainly remembered how it was the day she got her giant tooth dagger back from Loggle's shop. She was so focused on thinking what she could do with it, she must've forgotten it.
"Oh yeah, you did." Anne said as she felt her tooth dagger on her hip, "Guess I kind of forgot about the whole thing."
"Well, you remember now. So let's go see who won." Sprig said as the family exited the farmhouse. "Even though it's been the same every year, maybe this year will be different."
"Really? So, who's won every year?" Anne asked Sprig.
"Mayor Toadstool." Sprig said, "It's kind of unfair since he really just buys votes."
'American Democracy and Amphibia Democracy don't sound that different.' Anne thought.
Once they arrived at the town square, they saw the last of the votes for Frog of the Year being counted by the most neutral party of the town. Wally.
'Wait, he can read?' Anne thought.
"Alright folks, the votes have been counted and I am glad to reveal that the frog of the year is….." Wally said with a pause for suspense before he pointed to the winner. "Anne Boonchuy!"
Anne shook her head.
"What?"
"A Plantar winning, dreams do come true." Hop Pop said.
Kind of warmed Anne's heart to hear that he saw her as a Plantar, but she was still shocked at this whole thing.
She wasn't the only one as Mayor Toalstool was a bit outraged by these results.
"Huh?! You all voted for her?! Why?!" He asked them.
"Maybe because you hid the town taxes for yourself and almost got all of our stuff taken!" Mrs. Croaker shouted at him.
"You're all crazy, she's not even an Amphibian!" Toadstool said, "She doesn't deserve to throw the party."
"A party? What party?" Anne asked, looking down to Hop Pop for answers.
"Every year, the Frog of the Year throws a party for the whole town, to show how much they care for the people of the town."
"A party every year? Wow." Anne said in awe.
"Wow doesn't even describe it." Toadstool said as he walked up to Anne. "It's the biggest shindig of the year and it takes a LOT of work to put together. You've never known about it until now, so you can't have a party already planned like I and Toadie."
"Right you are sir." Toadie said as he pulled out party plans for if Toadstool had won.
"Well, that doesn't matter." Anne said, "I'm going to throw the best party ever!"
"Yeah!" Polly and Sprig agreed.
"Pfff, I'd like to see that. Let's see what you can cobble together by tonight." Toadstool said as he walked away. "Come on, Toadie. We got business to attend to."
"Right sir!" Toadie said.
"I'll show him." Anne said.
Anne was determined to prove him wrong and make a party that will knock this town's socks off! First, she needed to plan it. Anne headed back to the house and began writing down ideas for the party and who she could ask to help with it. Mainly, the Plantars.
"Okay, I have specific jobs for each of you." Anne said.
"We're ready to help, Anne." Sprig said as he, Polly, and Hop Pop stood before her.
"Good, Hop Pop, you're in charge of entertainment."
"Gotcha, Anne. Any preferences?" Hop Pop asked geez
"Music, catchy." Anne said to him, "Polly, you're in charge of exclusivity."
"Got it….what does that mean?" Polly said.
"Security, you keep order and certain people out of the party." Anne explained quickly.
She handed Polly a velvet rope, except the rope was made from dozens of webs connected to two metal post.
"Made that myself." Anne said.
"Oooh, is it a weapon?" Polly asked.
"No, it's not a weapon." Anne said to her.
"I don't believe you." Polly said as she grabbed one end and began swinging it around over her head. "It's a weapon!"
"It's meant to be used to cut off people from others." Anne said.
"Agree to disagree!" Polly said as Anne turned to Sprig.
"And you... are going to tell Ivy how you feel about her." Anne said.
"I…what?" Sprig asked in surprise. "What does this have to do with the party?"
"You going with a date." Anne said with a smile, "Come on, you two are made for each other."
"We're just friends! Sure, Ivy is pretty cool but we're just friends!" Sprig said in denial.
'I don't need my spider seems to tell me that he's lying to himself.' Anne thought.
"She has a point Sprig." Hop Pop said.
"Even I see it and I'm younger than you!" Polly said to her brother.
"If it makes you feel better, just ask if she's coming to the party. It's not asking her out in a date, just asking if she's going." Anne said.
'And it will give Ivy a chance to ask you out if you can't ask her out.' Anne thought.
Sprig blushed as he looked away, dreading the thought of it but unable to fully hate it as he MIGHT have liked Ivy as more than a friend.
"I'll... do my best."
"That's all I asked." Anne said, jumping to the ceiling, "Now, I need to go plan the rest of this."
"Can't you use the floor?" Hop Pop asked.
"Nope!"
When Anne got her powers, she discovered she did her best thinking upside down. She's been doing it in private ever since. After a few minutes of thinking, she finally got it.
"I've got it!" Anne shouted as she jumped down from the ceiling and rushed out of the house! She had work to do and only a few hours to do it, "Alright, I need to get everything I need."
Anne made her way all over town to get what she needed and ask who she needed for the party. All to be held at the Mayor's manor. First, she needed to go to Loggle.
"Frog of the year! What can I do you for?" Loggle asked as Anne came into his shop.
"Loggle, I need you to carve a statue for tonights party." Anne said, "Think you can do it?"
"Can do! I'm the best carver in Wartwood! You got a design?" Loggle asked her.
"Right here." Anne said as she handed him a design on paper.
It was Anne in a crouched position with one hand in the air.
"Ah, I recognize that. It was your battle stance against the toads!" Loggle said.
"Yeah, made that pose a few years ago, it's kind of been my thing." Anne said.
"Hmm, so there's history behind it. That makes it even more interesting." Loggle said as he turned to his back room. "And I think I have the perfect wood for it."
"Thanks, Loggle!" Anne said.
Anne took her leave as she pulled out a checklist and checked off in "Get statue made". Next in the list was catering for the party, and with the lessons she taught him in cooking, Stumpy was the perfect frog to do it.
'Or is he a toad?' Anne thought, 'I never actually thought about that.'
Toadstool is the only toad Anne knew was in town, but she never realized that Stumpy could be the 2nd raid to live in Wartwood. Maybe it was because of his hands that she didn't notice? She... she tries not to look. Anne could think about that later, for now she needed to her Stumpy to cater the party. She started moving again. Once she reached Stumpy's, Anne went in and greeted the stumpy handed cook.
"Morning Stumpy." Anne said, "I need a little help."
"Anne, nice to see you. What can I do you for?" Stumpy asked from the counter.
"I was wondering if you can cater the party tonight." She said to him with a smile.
"I would be honored."
"Great! You know what I helped you make when I worked here?" Anne asked him.
"I do, you want me to serve that?" Stumpy said.
"Exactly." Anne said with a smile.
"Alright, shouldn't be too hard... hopefully." Stumpy said.
"Thanks Stumpy!" Anne said.
Anne checked Stumpy off the list and exited the restaurant for her next stop. She was planning on getting an outfit for the party, made mostly out of her webs. Later that night, everyone in Wartwood was heading to the gates of the mayor's mansion as the mayor himself was first in line to see how "grand" Anne's party would be. Anne walked out, holding a drink while in a white suit.
"Welcome." She said.
Everyone gasped in awe of the party, it was even better than any of Toadstool's previous parties!
"Tonight, you get to have fun and enjoy yourselves!"
Everyone cheered as they rushed in to enjoy the food, admire the decor, and have some tasty food that Stumpy made.
'Thank frog I made it all on time.' He thought, cutting it close with making the food in time.
Anne was pretty happy that she put this together so quickly.
"If only the other girls were here." Anne said.
Anne looked towards the sky for a moment to wonder exactly where they were right now and hoped they were safe.
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