Birds chirped, as a ship's sails blew in the wind.
Zooming out, it is revealed that Hop Pop was blowing the sails of a small ship. "Well, after five years of work on this gal, I might actually finish." He stated, putting on the final touches to his ship.
The window smashed, and Hop Pop yelped as a ball narrowly missed his project. "MY BABY!" He screeched.
Looking out the window, he saw the children standing around in a circle, all except Flossie, who was reading a book with her new trident beside her. Jean winced as Hop Pop glared at them. He'd agreed to look after them for the next few days, since Pebbs had to run some errands. "Ooh, sorry about that, HP." Anne said, walking toward the window. "We're trying to teach Polly how to play kickball."
"Which is challenging for obvious reasons." Sprig piped up. Hop Pop groaned. "Dang it, kids! What have I told you about roughhousing near the windows?" He complained. "Now come inside and play a quiet game. Hop Pop's working."
"Yeah, I can see that. Nice toy boat." Jean commented, now beside the window with Anne, Sprig and Polly. Hop Pop stared blankly at her. "It's not a "toy boat", Jean. It's a replica of a famous warship." He corrected. Jean waved her hand, backing away from the window. "Potato, tomato."
Sprig reached out to touch the ship, his finger inches away from poking it.
"Scram!"
With that, Sprig slowly backed away from window, keeping his curious gaze on the project. Hop Pop grumbled as he checked over his project, making sure that it was alright.
That's when all the kids burst into his room, rushing around to get away from Sprig. "Tongue tag! If you get tongued, you lose!"
Jean, Anne and Polly ran around the room, trying not to get caught, while Flossie snuck behind Hop Pop, reaching and to touch the ship replica.
Hop Pop quickly grabbed the replica, holding it close. "Wait! No. Kids, cut it out! I said a quiet game! Flossie stop trying to touch it!"
Polly jumped in front of Hop Pop, and before he could react, Sprig had knocked his legs, tripping him over and causing him to drop the ship. The ship crashed to the ground, breaking into several pieces.
He let out a panicked scream, as he knelt beside his project. "Why don't you kids ever listen to me!? Okay. Everything's fine. We can still fix her." Picking up his ship, he stood up, carefully carrying his project outside. "To Loggle's!"
Hop Pop pulled Bessie to a halt outside Loggle's shop. "Okay, I'm going in. Give Bessie these mushroom treats if she acts up." Anne gave him finger guns as she took the bag. "You got it." She assured.
Bessie looked at the treats hungrily, as Jean had an idea. Grabbing the treats from Anne, she handed the human the reins. "You ready?" She asked. Anne read her mind, a grin growing on her face. "Born ready."
Hop Pop carried the ship into the wood shop, panting as he leaned on the counter. "Loggle! You've gotta help me save her!" He cried, plopping the crate that held his project. Loggle's eyes widened, letting out a gasp as he recognised the ship. "Is that a 1/80 scale model of The Green Lady?" He asked curiously. Hop Pop nodded, still panicky. "Yeah! And she's damaged!"
Loggle checked the ship, snapping his fingers as he analysed it. "Wait here. I have just the thing." With that, he made his way to the back of the shop.
Hop Pop fiddled with his hands impatiently. "Excuse me, sir." A voice said from behind him. With a yelp, Hop Pop turned around to face the owner. It was a figure with a large cloak covering his face. He pointed outside. "Is that your snail out there?" He asked.
Anne was driving Bessie around in circles, Jean urging her on while the three other children cheered. Even Flossie who'd been pretty well behaved was enjoying the wild ride. A police snail rode up to them, it's sirens wailing as it put a stop to the wild children.
Hop Pop groaned. "Those kids are driving me insane." He muttered tiredly. The figure rubbed his chin in thought. "Unruly kids, is it? Well, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Apothecary Gary. You can call me Apothe-Gary if you'd like." He said. Hop Pop stared at him blankly. "Yeah, I'm now doin' that." He replied. Apothe-Gary shrugged, reaching into his pocket. "Well, suit yourself. Anyway, I've got just the thing for your troubles." He announced. Apothe-Gary pulled out a small vial, that held a purplish liquid inside. "Just rub a little of this on their foreheads and your kids'll be behaving in a jiffy. See, it has these special enzymes-"
"Enzymes?" Hop Pop let out a chuckle, as he took the vial to take a closer look. "Ol' Hopadiah's not fallin' for no scam." He announced. Apothe-Gary now let out a laugh of his own. It was slightly unnerving. "Oh, it's not a scam. I guarantee, once you'd tried it, you won't be able to live without it."
Hop Pop looked at the vial skeptically. "Eh, I don't know. In my experience, this kind of malarkey never- Apothe-Gary?" looking up, he realised that the strange figure was no where in sight. At that moment, Loggle came back with Hop Pop's things. Hop Pop thanked him, taking his project back outside.
The kids all stood in a line, awaiting Hop Pop's return. "Did you get everything, Hop Pop?" Jean asked. Hop Pop nodded. "Yup. Now all I need is a quiet afternoon to fix this old gal." He stated, giving the ship a small pat. The kids then had a sad expression on their faces. "Well, listen, we'll be on our best behaviour." Anne said. "Yeah. The least we can do is give you time to fix it." Sprig piped up. "Plus, we could help you if you need it." Flossie added.
"We're sorry, Hop Pop." Polly said. "This is yours, by the way." She smiled, lifting a ticket.
Hop Pop sighed. "Thanks, kids. For the apology, not the ticket. And there's no need for help. You promising to be quiet is enough."
The kids cheered, as they fought over the front seat. Anne and Jean were wrestling, while Flossie hopped in the back once more.
Hop Pop brought out the vial. "Guess I won't be needin' this stuff after all." He mumbled. Bessie tried to eat the vial, and the elderly frog pushed her head away. "Hey, shoo, girl. This ain't a snack!"
"I'll be in my study if anyone needs me." Hop Pop announced, opening the front door. The kids walked in behind him. "I'm starving!" Anne groaned. "I think there's one more Beetle Bite left in the kitchen." Sprig smirked. At that, the kids all began to run to the kitchen, Hop Pop yelling at them to stop. It was too late, however, as Jean bumped into him, causing him to drop the ship once more. Hop Pop let out an anguished scream, kneeling beside the ship once again.
Jean stopped, apologising. "I'm sorry, Hop Pop. Here, let me help-"
Hop Pop slapped her hands away, pointing accusingly at her. "Don't you touch her!"
Later that night, Hop Pop went through each of the kids rooms, smearing the purple liquid from the vial onto their foreheads.
Going back to his room, he let out a loud yawn. "Eh. Probably won't do nothin' anyway." He muttered. With that, he went to bed.
A rooster crowed, as the morning shone on the Plantar's home. Hop Pop was in the kitchen, making the kids breakfast. "Kids! Breakfast! Dang kids always take so long to wake up." He muttered. Turning around, he was surprised to find all the kids waiting patiently at the table, eyes wide as they stared at Hop Pop blankly, waiting for a command. Hop Pop let out a yelp at the sight, especially their sudden appearance. "Good morning, Hop Pop." They chanted together.
Hop Pop stared at them. "Okay. Now, I'm gonna start workin' on my ship." He said, giving each of the kids their breakfast. "So I want you kids to finish quickly, then sit on that couch and not say a…" turning back to the kids, he found them gone. "word."
Peeking into the lounge room, the kids were all seated on the couch. "Yes, Hop Pop." They chanted.
"Don't hate that."
Hop Pop was painting the ship. "There you go, Captain Happy." He said. Feeling as if he was being watched, he turned around. All the kids were watching him, their blank stare unsettling him. "Hey, kids." He chuckled, trying to ease his nerves.
"Hey, Hop Pop."
He shuddered, but continued. "Um, why don't you kids go outside and play-" he was cut off as they all stood up, walking outside. "Yes, Hop Pop."
Looking out the window, he watched the kids. Jean was holding Anne's scythe, while Flossie and Anne stood on the side. As Sprig threw the ball, Jean had a late reaction, moving the scythe slowly after the ball struck her head. Sprig and Polly celebrated in a trance.
Hop Pop chuckled once again. "Better close these to cut down the glare." He muttered, closing the blinds so he wouldn't have to watch the creepy kids.
It was now night, and Hop Pop let out a yawn. "Almost done. Still, I shouldn't use any more of that gunk on the kids. Something about it just don't sit right with me." He muttered, looking back at the kids who were now sitting peacefully on the couch.
Anne began to blink, cracking her bones as she let out a yawn. "Man, I feel funky." She said. Sprig patted his body down. "Like I was a prisoner in my own body." He added.
Jean pinched herself, before rubbing her arm uncomfortably. "Why do I feel so violated?" She muttered, as she looked down at Flossie. "Uh…are you alright there Floss?"
Flossie was staring off into the horizon. "I've seen the future."she whispered, holding her hands out in front of her and wiggling her fingers.
Polly began to breath heavily. "I…I have all this anger, and I don't know what to do with it!" She shouted. Anne smirked. "Well, hey! Wanna shake it off with another game of tongue tag?" She asked. Sprig grinned. "Heck yeah!"
"Let's play in Hop Pop's room. I like the obstacles." Polly said. Rushing into his study, Hop Pop held the ship close, as the kids began to create chaos once again.
In final desperation, he shouted, "Go to bed now, and I'll give you ten coppers each!"
The kids all halted in their game, rushing out of the room. "Well, good night. Sleep tight."
"I sure like money!"
Bringing out the vial once again, Hop Pop sighed. "I'll just buy myself a little more time, and then never again." He said to himself.
Sneaking through the kids rooms, he splattered the remaining purple liquid on their foreheads, before making his way to his own bed. "Well, that's that."
Closing his door, the basement door slammed open, a purple glow coming from within. Anne and Jean crawled out, moaning as they headed towards the front door.
Sprig and Polly tripped down the stairs, moaning as they had the same dazed look in their eyes. Flossie got up from the couch, crawling creepily on the wall. Each of the kids had mushrooms growing from their head, all groaning like zombies from a horror movie.
Hearing the commotion, Hop Pop burst his door open. "What's that?"
Seeing the trance-like purple glow in their eyes, he let out a gasp. "Kids! What's gotten into you?"
They opened the door, and Hop Pop tried to stop them from walking out into the dark. "Knock, knock." A singsong voice called. Hop Pop looked up, to see Apothe-Gary standing on his front porch. "Gary? What the heck are you doing here?" He yelled. Gary chuckled, a huge smirk covering his features. "I'm here to witness the birth of my new children." He announced.
Hop Pop was confused, as he struggled to keep the kids inside. "Children?"
Apothe-Gary nodded. "That's right. That potion I gave you was no ordinary elixir. It was made with a special blend of my own spores." He explained.
The elderly frog was even more confused. "Your spores?"
At that, Apothe-Gary removed his hood, revealing a huge mushroom growing out of the frogs brain. Hop Pop gasped.
"Behold! My true beautiful self! You see, I am a rare species of mushroom, able to control the mind of its host. And soon all of Amphibia will be under my command!" He cackled. Hop Pop glared at the deranged frog. "You'll never get away with this!" He cried.
"Silence! Also, eyes up here, buddy." Gary said, pointing to himself. Hop Pop apologised. "Oh, sorry. It's just, you're glowing, he's got the mouth-"
"I know, right? It's totally weird. I completely get it. Now, where was I? Oh, right. To me, my mushroom children!"
With that, many of the townspeople of Wartwood came forth out of the bushes, all with glowing purple mushrooms on their heads. Gary cackled, surveying his creations. "Welcome to the family, Hopadiah- oh, he's gone."
Hop Pop slammed the door shut, barricading a window that one of the townspeople had began to break through. "We have to hold them off. Kids, snap out of it!" He yelled. Anne moaned, as she reached for the door handle. "Anne, no! Don't let them in!" He cried. It was too late, however. The infected Anne opened the door, letting the townspeople in.
Hop Pop backed up into his study. "Stay back!" He whimpered, closing his door. Barricading it, he escaped out the window, grabbing his ship. "Well, I can't just leave her here." He stated.
He panted as he climbed the hill, clutching the ship close as he looked back down at his home. "I gotta get help. But everyone's been infected, except." He gasped, as an idea struck him. "That's it!"
Hop Pop made it to the barn, opening the door and making his way inside. He relaxed a bit, thinking he was safe. That's when he heard a weird clicking noise come from behind him. Turning around, he found no one. Hearing it again, he raised his eyes, letting out a gasp. Flossie was clinging to the ceiling above, staring down at him. The clicking he'd heard was emanating from her throat, like a low growl. Her purple eyes glowed in the dark as she let out a loud, monstrous shriek, alerting the infected townspeople of his where abouts.
Hop Pop backed up, clutching the ship. "Shh! No, no, no. Flossie, darl, stop!"
Anne came up from behind him, grabbing onto his arm. Jean also appeared, grabbing his other free arm. "No! Kids, let me go!" He shouted.
Apothe-Gary let out a villainous laugh. He was being carried by the infected townspeople, who accidentally bumped his head into the barns doorway. "Little lower, please. Ah, there we go. Enough games. Time for your assimilation." Gaary announced, holding a vial. Hop Pop struggled in the kids grip, as he stared up at Gary in determination. "Sorry to disappoint you, you compost-eating fiend, but I've got you right where I want ya." With that, he broke free from the kids grasp. "Goodbye, sweet lady. May you find safe harbour in the beyond." He whispered to the ship, hurling it at a locked gate. The gate unlatched, just as he planned. "Bessie! Snack time!" He shouted.
Gary was confused. "Who's Bessie? Is that your wife?" He asked.
Bessie came zooming out the unlatched gate, and began to munch at the townspeople. Hop Pop punched Gary, causing him to drop his vial. It smashed into the wall, the liquid spilling to the ground. "My spores!"
"Take this, you overgrown vegetable!" Hop Pop shouted. Gary gasped as he fought back. "A vegetable?! How dare you!"
That's when he noticed that Bessie was eating the mushrooms from the townspeople heads. "Stop her! She's eating all the mushrooms!"
Bessie knocked the townspeople down easily. Her eyes began to sparkle when she caught sight Gary, and she zoomed over to him. Gary shrieked, as he held Hop Pop back with one hand and held the hungry snail back with the other. "Ah! No. Stop. Please! Have mercy, I beg of you. I'm the last of my kind. Destroying me would wipe us off the planet forever." He begged, looking at Hop Pop with wide eyes. Hop Pop contemplated it, before shrugging. "I can live with that." He stated, pushing Gary toward Bessie.
Gary let out a loud scream, as Bessie ripped the mushroom from its host.
The infected townspeople all shook their heads, as the mushroom lord was defeated. Coming out of their dazed state, they left the barn, mumbling to themselves.
Gary looked around, facing Hop Pop. "Hey, buddy. Do you know where I live?" He asked. Hop Pop shook his head. "Nope. Sorry, Gary."
The frog gave him a confused look. "Gary? The name's Lloyd." He said, taking off his robe and leaving the barn.
"Ahem."
Hop Pop turned around to find Jean, Anne, Sprig and Polly. He stopped for a moment, pausing as he counted them. "Hey, where's Flossie?"
The clicking sound Hop Pop had heard earlier sounded again, and all the kids and Hop Pop looked up in fear. Flossie was clinging to a railing, glaring down at them. Her eyes were still purple, with the roots of her hair glowing the same colour as well. She let out another monstrous shriek as she lunged at Hop Pop.
He let out a scream as he dove for cover. Flossie landed on the ground, crawling on all fours as she turned to face the terrified kids and elderly frog. Before she could attack once again, Jean jumped on top of her, pinning her to the ground. "Bessie! C'mere girl!" She shouted, ripping the mushrooms from out of Flossie's hair.
Flossie let out a pained shriek, as Bessie came over and ate the remaining mushrooms.
Jean got off the axolotl, breathing heavily. "Flossie?"
Flossie groaned, as she sat up, rubbing her head. "Ow…" she muttered. Jean sighed, giving her a hug.
Hop Pop brushed his hands together. "Well, that's over with." He said. Turning to leave the barn, he felt Anne grab his shoulder, spinning him around. All the children were glaring at him angrily, wanting an explanation.
He sighed, looking at the ground. "I know. No matter how important my ship was, it didn't give me the right to use mind control on you." He apologised.
Anne rolled her eyes. "Uh, no. Ya think?" She spat. "Heck naw."
"It was seriously messed up, mate." Jean added. Anne crossed her arms. "But I guess we're sorry too. Looks like we pushed you pretty far." She said.
"We'll try to be better about listening to you in the future." Sprig added. Hop Pop chuckled. "Yeah. I guess we're even."
The kids stared at the elderly frog blankly. "Hop Pop, we broke a model ship. You crossed all kinds of ethical and moral lines!" Polly pointed out. Hop Pop hugged the kids. "Like I said, even."
The kids grumbled, but didn't say anything more. "Now come on. I'll make ya'll some mushroom soup."
"Alright."
"Sounds good."
"I see what you did there."
"I did too, and that's NOT funny, Hop Pop."
With that, the group headed back to the house, with Jean carrying the tired Flossie on her back. Bessie stayed in the barn, eating the leftover mushrooms.
A small bug flew into the barn, landing on the ground next to the spilt mushroom spores. A tiny drop landed on its head, and immediately a purple, glowing mushroom sprouted, controlling the small bug.
Deep in the woods, a couple of miles away, Pebbs opened the door to her cabin tiredly, dragging in bags of supplies. She let out a loud sigh, placing the bags on her kitchen counter. "This farming stuff is tiring. But in time it'll be worth it." She said. Sitting down in her lounge chair by the fire, the newt caught sight of a portrait beside her. It was of her and Flossie. Flossie was smiling brightly at the artist, while Pebbs stood behind her, wrapping her in a hug.
Picking the portrait up, she stared at it for a moment, tracing her fingers over it. "It's been a while since we've spent time together…" she whispered. Her thoughts trailed to Jean and Flossie, and how they do everything for each other.
The newt's eyes lit up as an idea came to her mind. Smiling, she placed the portrait back on the table. "I'll give the girls a little surprise when I pick them up tomorrow…"
A/N: I've decided to change Jean's age to 15. So if I wrote in previous chapters that her age is 17 could ya'll tell me?
Sorry if some of this is inaccurate or confusing lol.
Also, it is canon in my story that axolotl's can't climb walls (like General Yunan). They kinda can, but they struggle a lot, like humans.
After I'm finished season 1 of this book and wait for Amphibia season 3 to come out (so I can plan), I'll be working on a new The Owl House story! Following my main Oc Hazel and new Oc's who'll interact with the main characters of the show. I'll write a description later (and I might post the prologue on this story as a little boost).
