The Plantars and the girls were outside a Newtopian restaurant that Marcy had suggested to them. "Enjoy, everyone! This place makes the best beetle burger in all of Newtopia!" Marcy says, as her friends dig into their food.
Polly finishes her beetle burger in one bite. Bored, she spots Marcy writing in her journal. "What's that?"
"Oh, just my journal. I like jotting down theories and observations. You know, all about indigenous fauna, medicinal techniques,, customs and nuances of Amphibious species-based caste systems…"
Polly was already zoning out, blocking out Marcy's rambling.
"Sometimes I even do drawings!" The girl shows Polly a picture of the polliwog eating her burger. Polly gasps. "It looks just like me!"
Hop Pop claps. "Wow! Anne, Jean, have you two been keeping a journal too?" He asks the two girls. Jean shakes her head. "No, I hadn't really thought about that. What about you, Anne?"
Anne turns to face the table, two straws sticking out of her nose. "Look, guys! I'm a straw-lrus! Like a walrus, but with straws!"
Flossie, who was still wearing her cloak, giggles, while Sprig slaps his knee in laughter, wiping away a tear. "What's a walrus?"
At that moment, a waiter walks out with their bill. "Now who should I give the bill to?" He looks down at Anne, staring at her a moment. "Probably not you." He points raises her hand.
"Oh! I'll take it! It's, oh, let me guess…28 coppers?"
The waiter shows the bill, proving Marcy right. "Right you are."
All the amphibians and two humans clap. "Wow! Can you do math like that too, Anne? Jean?"
Jean chuckles. "I wish. If I had brains like Marcy, I would be top of my class." Marcy chuckles. "Aw, thanks Jean. But you're smarter than you give yourself credit for." She points out. Jean hums. "I don't think so, but okay."
Anne turns to Hop Pop, removing the straws from her nose. "Uh, you mean like with numbers and stuff?" She asks, unsure.
Polly rolls between them. "Can you imagine if Marcy got stuck with us instead of Anne? We'd be set for life!"
Anne looks hurt at this statement, and Hop Pop doesn't make it any better. "Hush, Polly. Think those thoughts, don't say them."
"Oh, yeah?" Anne starts. "Well…Agh! Look out!" She screams, as an arrow flies through the air above them. All duck as the arrow strikes the wall. "Someone's trying to kill us!" Hop Pop cries out in fear.
Marcy stands up, calming down her friends. "No, no. it's fine! It's just a message from the king!" Pulling off the paper from the arrow, she puts the arrow away and opens up the message. "Oh, correction: It's a puzzle-gram from the king." She chuckles.
The amphibians and two humans were confused, so Mary explained, showing them the message. "He's basically hidden clues around the city and when I collect them all, I get a message. Ah! It's so fun!" The girl squeals.
"Okay, this first symbol is a tree, so we should head towards Coral Park. Now come on, team. It's puzzle time!" She yells. Sprig jumps onto the table. "A puzzle tour of Newtopia? Count me in!" He yells excitedly, hopping ahead with Marcy.
Anne was about to follow, when she spots Jean and Flossie still sitting down. "Hey, you guys coming?" She asks. Jean waves her off. "Maybe later. Flossie and I were actually planning on finding her mum today. She's really excited to meet her." She explained. Anne gave her a thumbs up. "Oh, yeah, no problem dudes! I'll just tell Mar-mar and Sprig." She says, running off as well.
Flossie smiles up at her friend. "Thanks again for helping me, Jean. It really means a lot." She chuckles. Jean grins. "No problem. Now, let's get going. The sooner the better, right?"
"Heck yeah!" Flossie cheers, getting up. "See you later, Hop Pop!"
"Catch ya later, HP!" The two say, giving the elderly frog a wave. Hop Pop seems too engrossed in the menu to notice. But Polly begs them to take her with them.
—
"Excuse me, ma'am. Do you happen to know where a Lilly Bottlebrush lives?" Flossie asks a newt hopefully. The two friends had wandered around Newtopia for a while now, but no one had given them directions yet. That is, until now.
"Oh, you mean that celebrity actor? She lives in Bottlebrush Manor down on that street, one of the biggest ones there. Pretty easy to find. Good luck trying to get an appointment." The newt states, pointing in a direction. The axolotl and human thank them, before heading in that direction.
"Wow, this is so much easier! Maybe I should wear this cloak all the time." Flossie says. Jean frowns at her statement. "Well…I don't think you should hide yourself just to please other people." She points out. Flossie shrugs. "Meh, I'm sure everyone's done it at least once. Besides, it's just for a little while." She states.
The axolotl and human stop in front of a gate. In big, bold letters were the words "Bottlebrush Manor" hanging over the gate. Inside, a long pathway led to a large mansion, just like the newt said.
Flossie grins from ear to ear, practically vibrating on the spot. "Oh-my-frog-oh-my-frog! This is it!" She squeals. Jean only looks up at the mansion, brows furrowing in confusion. If Lillly had succeeded in her dreams…why didn't she come back for Floss? All of a sudden, Jean felt a sinking feeling in her gut.
Flossie looks around, noticing a flower-looking phone with a pipe connected to it that lead into the earth (y'know those cup things kids in the movies make to communicate? With the plastic cups and wire? Like that). Clearing her throat, she spoke into it. "Uh, hello? Anyone home?"
There was a moment of silence, before a muffled, female voice says from the other end. "Hello, this is Lilly's assistant speaking. How may I help you?"
"So formal." Jean snickers, as Flossie giggles along quietly. Hushing the teen, she clears her throat once more.
"Uh, hi! I'm Flossie Harveston! I came here to visit Lilly Bottlebrush?" She asks hopefully. The voice hums, as a pen scratching on paper could be heard. "Do you have an appointment? I don't see your name anywhere." She says blankly from the other end. Flossie chuckles nervously at this. "Oh! I'm sorry about the confusion, but we haven't made an appointment. You see, I'm actually her daughter? And I came by to visit her?" Flossie says questioningly, hoping that that might ring a bell for the lady.
There was silence on the other end, before a loud, shrill laughter filled the phone. Flossie was stunned, and Jean glared at it in confusion. What was so funny?
"Oh, you kids! We've had a few prank calls every now and again, but by frog this has to be the best one yet!" She cackles.
"B-but this isn't a prank, I swear! If you just ask Miss Bottlebrush, maybe she can confirm it?" Flossie stammered for a reply. The lady's laughter died down, but they could still hear her catching her breath.
"Alright, kid. I'll humour you." Clearing her throat, she talks into another phone. "Miss Bottlebrush. There's a child here by the name "Flossie Harveston" here to see you. She claims she's your daughter." She chuckles the last part, to which Flossie's cheeks flare red for a brief moment.
The lady's laughter was cut short as a muffled voice talked to her, cutting her off. "A-are you serious, ma'am?" The lady asks in a hushed voice, but the two could still pick up on it. There was a moment of silence, as the two waiting outside heard a muffled voice, but couldn't make out what she was saying.
"O-of course, I'll let them in!" The receptionist answers the voice. Speaking clearly into the phone, she talks to Flossie and Jean. "I'll be there in a moment."
Jean and Flossie look at one another. "M-maybe it was all just a misunderstanding! Surely the lady had forgotten that my mum had a child, right?" She asks Jean, unsure of her own statement. Jean looks back up at the gate, spotting a newt walking hurriedly to the gate. "I don't know, Floss. But I think we're about to find out."
The newt finally reaches the gate, opening it for the hooded axolotl and her human friend. The newt gives Jean an odd look, but lets them in. "Right this way."
—
The lady newt led them into the Bottlebrush Manor, and they were currently walking down a long hall. Flossie stared in wonder at all the intricate designs and souvenirs from the celebrity actor's travels. Jean only stares at it in confusion. "This is a LOT of money for an actor." She mutters. The newt overhears her.
"That's because Miss Bottlebrush has excelled in many talents. Singing, acting, and all kinds of arts. Many amphibians have come far and wide to see her and buy her pieces."
Jean frowns. "This just raises more questions than answers."
The newt stopped in front of a door. "Miss Bottlebrush will be waiting in here for you. Please, mind your manners." With that, she opens the doors. Inside was a large lounge room. Jean and Flossie could see a blue axolotl with auburn hair sitting at one of the many lounges, pouring herself some tea.
"Miss Bottlebrush, I've brought you Flossie Harveston." The newt says. The axolotl hums. "Yes, yes, you can go now, Erica." The axolotl mutters. The newt quickly leaves, closing the door behind her.
With that, the blue axolotl turns to them. Flossie grins excitedly. "Oh my frog! Miss Lilly! I'm so excited to finally meet you!" The young axolotl squeals, pulling off her hood as she hurriedly sits opposite Lilly, Jean quietly sitting beside her. "I'm so sorry about all that. I'm Flossie! And I-"
"Stop right there, kid." Lilly cuts Flossie off, raising her hand. Flossie hurriedly shuts her mouth, confused.
"Alright, why are you here? Did Pebbs send you? Does she need something? Money?" She asks in a tired manner. "Well, you can tell her…"
Flossie waves her hands, smiling awkwardly. "Oh, no, no, no, no! This is all just a misunderstanding. My mum didn't send me. I actually came here to meet you!" The axolotl explains. Lilly raises a brow, scoffing at that statement. "Well, you wasted your time, then." She mutters mostly to herself.
The young axolotl tilts her head, not sure if she heard her correctly. "Uh, wha-what do you mean?" She asks, chuckling nervously. Lilly continues to stir her tea, not bothering to make eye contact.
"Oh, you know. A young axolotl has to live her dreams, right? But after I got pregnant with you, I realised that kids would just slow me down! So, I left you with my ex. I knew she'd take you in. Pebbs always had a soft heart. And she always wanted kids. So, win-win." She chuckles the last part, taking a sip of her drink.
Flossie stared at the blue axolotl in front of her. "Wait…you left me there? On purpose? B-but weren't you gonna come back for me?" She asks, voice cracking. This all had to be a joke, right? A misunderstanding? Surely, her own mother hadn't meant….
The blue axolotl chuckles. "Come back for you? No. I'd forgotten you existed, honestly." She says matter-of-factly. "This whole thing is pathetic. I only let you in because I thought Pebbs sent you, and I have a few comments to say to her. Who's living their best life now…"
Her words started fading as Flossie zoned out. She completely shuts down. Her cheeks heat up from embarrassment, and tears prick at her eyes, as she tries so hard not to cry in front of the blue axolotl she waited so long to meet. Twisting her tail like a cloth, the axolotl looks down, ashamed.
Jean had been sitting quietly as she listened to their conversation. The whole time the two axolotls spoke, Jean was praying to herself that it wasn't the kind of situation she thought it was. But now, the human was bubbling with rage. Standing up, she slams her hands on the table.
"THAT'S IT! All this time, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. But you just crossed the frogging line, lady! You must be one sick amphibian to not care about your own kid! Flossie came all this way to meet you, and how do you treat her? Like some low-life? Well, you're a stupid piece of snail vomit if you can't see the sweet, loving, trusting child that is my best friend right here. And you know what? She has a beautiful, caring, and loving mother back home who is living her best life and they don't. Need. You."
Turning around, she helps Flossie to her feet. "Come on, Floss. We're leaving. We don't need this snobby piece of slug-crap."
Lilly watches them go, unfazed by the outburst. "Erica, make sure these weirdos get back on the streets."
—
The newt that had guided them through Bottlebrush Manor earlier was now leading them out. Neither say anything, but Jean could see the newt glancing at them sympathetically.
Right now, Jean was hugging Flossie as they walked. The axolotl hadn't said a word.
Finally, Erica had led them to the gates. She turns to Jean, handing her a timetable. "Here. This is a timetable of where Miss Bottlebrush's sister will be working, with times and places. She's… much more kinder, and she lives here in the city." She says gently. Jean takes it bitterly. "Thanks…"
Erica leaves, and Jean turns to Flossie. "Hey, are you okay?"
The axolotl finally snaps out of her trance. Standing up straight, she wipes at her eyes, putting on a strained smile. "Y-yeah, I'm fine! I'm fine, I'm-pssht, I'm totally fine." She lets out a pained whimper as she nods, but doesn't let her smile fade.
The human hugs her once more, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly. "I don't believe that one bit. C'mere." With that, Jean gave the small axolotl a full hug. At first, Flossie didn't embrace it, but she soon melted to the touch.
They stood there, not caring that the world was still moving around them. Right now, Flossie needed reassurance from her big sister.
They finally let go, and Flossie wiped her eyes. "Thanks, Jean. I needed that." She sniffles. Jean ruffles her hair. "I know. Alright, the newt lady handed me this." She says, showing the young axolotl the timetable. "Apparently that snob has a sister, but she's nicer. She lives in the city too. So, do you wanna give it a shot? We don't have to do it if you don't want to." She explains.
Flossie takes the timetable, looking down at it. With a sigh, she nods. "Sure, why not? How much worse can it be?"
—
The two were once again walking down the crowded streets, asking for directions to the big bridge downtown.
They finally reached their destination….to find a bunch of amphibians huddled around a sewer drain, Marcy's, Anne's and Sprig's screams of terror coming from down below.
"GUYS!? COME ON WE LEFT YOU FOR LIKE AN HOUR!" Jean yells, running over to the sewer drain. There was a young axolotl child holding a caterpillar, an elderly newt lady, and a purple axolotl wearing a white apron, who held out an arm for Anne to grab. Just as Jean and Flossie approached, they spot Hop Pop and Polly arriving too. The elderly frog was wearing a suit of armour, the chest plate saying "best burger boy". But now was not the time to question it.
"What in the frog is happening?" Hop Pop asks, but Jean cuts him off. "No time! Let's save them from whatever typical danger they've gotten themselves into!"
Jean and the amphibians link together to make a chain. Together, they haul Anne, Sprig and Marcy out of danger. The danger, a giant alligator, getting it snout trapped in the sewer drain.
"Anne, what happened? Are you okay? Can't you go ten minutes on your own without getting into some kind of crazy danger?!" Hop Pop yells at his human grand-daughter. Anne looks down, very upset about something.
Jean lets out a sigh, relieved that her friends were okay. Getting up to brush herself off, she turns back to Flossie. She's looking around, searching for something. Or someone.
"Are you two okay?"
Jean looks over to see the purple axolotl wearing the white apron. She was talking to the human, glancing every so often to the hooded axolotl. Jean smiles at her. "Yeah, we're okay, thanks. Just had a tiring day." She explains. The axolotl nods.
"That's understandable. Gosh, you two seem hungry. Would you like some nachos?"
"Yes, please. That would be much appreciated."
—
After buying some nachos, the two sit a fair bit away from the cart and the gang. Anne and the gang walk over to them. "So, did you guys get any luck finding Flossie's mom?" Anne asks. Jean nods, giving Flossie yet another hug. "Yeah…didn't go so well. She was a snob."
"Oh…I'm sorry, Flossie…"
"That sucks." Sprig adds. Polly pulls out a pair of spectacles, followed by a long list and a pen. "May I know where she lives?" The polliwog inquires.
Flossie shrugs, ignoring Polly's statement. "Well, I should've known. That was on me." She says, nibbling on the nachos. She shows the gang the timetable. "But now, we're trying to look for her sister. Marcy, do you know anyone by the name Gertie Bottlebrush?"
Anne grins, chuckling. "Oh, ho, ho my frog. I don't believe it!" The gang stare at her in confusion as she skips over to the purple axolotl, still at the nacho stand. "Gertie! Gertie, get over here! I want you to meet someone!"
The confused purple axolotl lets the excited Anne guide her over to Flossie. "Gertie, I'd like you to meet Flossie Harveston, your niece!"
Jean and Flossie's eyes widen, and so do Gertie's. The look of surprise turns to excitement, as a grin covers her features. "Well, I'll be! I knew you looked familiar! I'm so excited to meet you!" She greets, shaking Flossie's hand.
Flossie perks up, feeling giddy herself. "Oh my- you're my aunt? I can't believe it! You're SO much better than miss Lilly!"
Gertie giggles. "I'm glad you like me too. Who'd like some nachos? This is a special occasion!"
Everyone cheers, and Gertie hands out the nachos. As Anne takes one, she lets out a gasp. "Whoa! Wait a sec, it's…look! The symbol! Its a nacho! Sprig, empty that tray!"
Sprig eats the rest of the nachos, but no one minded. They hold up the bottom of the tray to reveal the last message.
"That means the message is… "Bring me the Plantars". Oh, guys, we've been summoned! And you solved the puzzle gram, Anne!"
"Self-esteem boost and an audience with the ruler of this world? Win-win, baby!" Anne cheers.
Jean smiles. Maybe the day hadn't started out the greatest, but it sure did get better in the end.
'It doesn't always end this way.'
The voice nagged. Jean shoved it to the back of her mind. She didn't want the voice to ruin the mood for her right now.
So, as the gang fed the alligator nachos and Flossie excitedly talked to her newfound aunt, Jean leaned against the bridge wall, watching her family be happy.
A/n: like Hop Pop once said: fame changes people. And I hate/love what's gonna happen in season 3. I have so much planned for Lilly specifically :3
Also how has nobody mentioned how HARD it is to insult someone without swearing. Especially in a kids show. I now understand why kids get very creative when it comes to name calling. Even now my insults look like weird skits babies would come up with. It sounds so stupid oof
I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME WRITE COMFORT OMFG- DONT EVER COUNT ON ME IF YOU NEED REASSURANCE/COMFORT OF ANY KIND ILL PROBS JUST MAKE IT WORSE
