The following chapter will be short and that episode that inspired the movie, but apparently I don't watch it because I can tell that it was pretty scary. Not a big fan, but that episode is! As always, please enjoy.
Amphibia: Calamity War
Chapter 55: The Root of Evil
During that fateful day, the whole village was left in ruins, destroyed by Frobots when forcing everyone to flee so that they could gather all of the resources to build more army under the king's name. The castle floats above when firing their laser cannon to destroy everything in its path.
From the very distance, the whole townsfolks are homeless. They were all completely devastated that they lost their homes. They've packed their stuff with their snails and tarantula, women and children were heartbroken.
While they passed by, some folks were standing in front of Anne and the Plantars by Bessie that's been carrying the Fwagon that they used for the rest stop. Loggle has volunteered to help out by recruiting the civilians to join the resistance.
"Okay, guys. Listen up. We are here today to recruit volunteers to join the Resistance." said Anne when she made an announcement.
"Join us today and give Amphibia a fighting chance." said Sprig when he passes the flyer to a frog, but looked confused.
"Are there any perks?" The frog asked.
"Besides saving your world? Well..." Anne's words were cut off when Hop Pop interjected.
"There sure are! And allow me to tell you all about 'em." said Hop Pop, smiling.
"Oh, frog, no."
"This plant was grown underground in our very own hydroponics-based resistance garden. Join us, and you, too, can take part in a horticultural revolution!" Hop Pop presented the flowerpot to the civilians, but it was silent for a second until a tadpole starts crying, making everyone to leave when looking uninterested.
"Oh, no. We're losing 'em." Sprig started to look worries.
"Anne, code blue!" Polly cried just as Anne pushes Hop Pop off.
"Wait a second, everyone. If you join today, you could eventually look like this." said Anne, when showing the villagers to Loggle who took off his apron to show off his muscular body. Everyone was all impressed and quickly sign up for the resistance.
"All right! Sign me up!"
Hop Pop turns and sighed sadly that no one was interested with his farming anymore. With everyone was signing up, Timon and Pumbaa shows up as the meerkat only wears a hat and a red bow tie like salesman when holding his cane.
"Step right up, folks. We've got plenty of food, weapons, and every supply we have!" said Timon.
"And together we can stand against the king and we can save the world as we know it!" Pumbaa added just as the crowds cheering.
After they passes the flyers to the civilians, they left the area with Bessie while pulling the fwagon that they used for their trip. However when they didn't take noticed, there was a dragonfly drone that they've been delt with when it picks up the scanner to our heroes.
"Resistance forces detected. Tracking device activated."
The dragonfly drone zooms closer to the wagon and hooked itself to the back of the fwagon as a tracking to device in order to find the resistance headquarters. Up in front, Anne and her friends were smiling except for Hop Pop.
"Wowza. Almost half the caravan signed up. Here's to another successful recruitment." said Anne when she and her friends cheers.
"Hakuna Matata!" Pumbaa smiles.
"Baa." Hop Pop sadly cheer.
"What's wrong, Hop Pop?" Sprig asked.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who actually appreciates cultivating nature. I mean, farming is cool." replied Hop Pop.
"Totally." said Anne.
"Of course." Polly added.
"Super cool." Sprig commented.
"I know how that feels back in my day when I used to do farming." said Pumbaa.
"You do?" Hop Pop asked.
"Yeah, me and Timon went to Kansas to do farming and we work together as a team."
"Then those farm animals don't do well with us. I mean it's not like those chickens mistaken me as a weasel. I am not the weasel, I'm a meerkat. You know the difference, don't you?" said Timon when he remembers back in his old days.
"Well-"
"Don't answer that."
"I just wish I could be surrounded by people who love what I love for a change." said Hop Pop as he wished to have anyone to share their interest, but then the wind blew for all of sudden as they took the wrong turn.
"You know, you should be careful what you wished for." Pumbaa advised him.
"Don't over think it." replied Timon..
"Did we take a wrong turn somewhere? I have no idea where we even are." Anne looks at the map when they thought they were lost.
Then suddenly, they felt a thud at first. But until they fell down the mudslide as everyone on the fwagon were screaming. Bessie was screaming too. Even Loggle was screaming while sitting at the table with his deck of cards. As they keep screaming until they fell off from the hill and went down to the bottom of the fog until they hit the ground.
Few minutes later, Hop Pop first perks up after gaining conscious. He remembers where he and his family fell through the mist and then gets unconscious. He started to look a bit panic with all of sudden.
"What happened? Am I dead? Where are the kids? What in the-" Hop Pop paused for a moment when he looks around the room that looked fancy. He was sitting in a bed and sees the others that were sleeping next between him. He got off the bed and went approach to Anne. "Kids, wake up!"
Anne first woke up until she sees what's happening.
"Huh? Where are we?" Anne asked, then so were the others as they woke up too.
"And why are we all wearing dresses?" Sprig noticed that he's wearing a fancy shirt and so were they.
"Eh?!" Timon perks up when he woke up. "Oh, man. This is the worst experience of my entire life!"
"Were you dreaming about farming again?" Pumbaa asked after he woke up, but his best friend gives him that stern look. "Sorry, rhetorical question."
They got off the bed and went outside, but they stood staring at as they find themselves in the secret town where all frogs are farming with the same shirts they were wearing. The adults were farming their vegetables while the children were playing around with the ribbons.
Just then, they've turned their attention to our heroes and walk towards them to welcome them so kindly to the outsiders until a friendly and charismatic frog has approached. He is wearing his attires that has some decorative flowers on his coat.
"What ho, friends. So you're awake. Name's Horace. Welcome to the hidden village of Gardenton." said Horace as he clap his hands twice along with the townsfolks.
"Gardenton?" Anne repeated. "That wasn't on any map."
"We don't like drawing attention to our little slice of paradise. A place were every frog is a highly-skilled horticulturist. Our plants are treated with the love and respect they deserve." Horace explains to them.
"I don't believe it. This place is full of frogs just like me!" Hop Pop smiles.
"Oh, do I sense a fellow plantophile?" Horace asked.
"Guess who has two green thumbs and loves the smell of fertilizer? This guy!" Hop Pop thumbs himself, making everyone laughs with impressed.
"Ooh! Clever, clever. You do have the thumbs." said Horace.
"A village of horticulturalists? Now we're talking." Hop Pop looked more happier than ever. No one can understand him until now. "Let's recruit 'em. I'll take point!"
"I don't know, HP. Does the Resistance really need plant people?" Anne looks concerned about it.
"Yeah, the last village made catapults." Sprig added.
"I don't exactly think horticult-"
"I'm doing it." Hop Pop cuts off Polly's words. "Horace, my friend, we've got a proposal and as head of this town, I think you're gonna wanna hear it."
"Oh, I'm afraid I'm not the head of this community." said Horace.
"Oh, well, can you take us to your leader?" Hop Pop asked kindly.
"But of course. Follow me to the greenhouse." Horace replied as he escort Hop Pop and the others except Anne who was still staning.
"Say, Horace, have you seen our snail or wagon?" Anne asked.
"They've been stored safely. Now come along." replied Horace as they walks off to the greenhouse.
Just then, Anne felt her hands hold when there were two frog kids that hold their hands very kindly as they giggled. However, she felts a little uncomfortable around the kids.
"I'm officially creeped out." said Anne.
Later on, Horace gives them a tour around the garden much to Hop Pop's delighted as they made their trek to the greenhouse.
"Horace, this place is incredible! These parsnips are prodigious!" Hop Pop smiles and looked amazed at the garden. "Ghost orchids? The balance of heat and humidity must be perfect! And this… this is just a big cucumber!"
"I'm glad you like it, but it wasn't always like this. In fact, the land before you used to be barred and lifeless. But then he appeared. And with his guidance, we were able to become one with nature." Horace explain his story to him. Then suddenly, Loggle accidentally steps on a small flower.
"Whoopsie daisy." said Loggle.
With the flower being crushed, but then the farmers stops working as one of the frog lady screams. Then they started to cry as they rushed over to their precious flower, left in ruins. While everyone cries, some were in panic as one of the frog picks up the rock, hitting himself while the other one is screaming.
"Uh, is it insensitive id I say this feels like an overreaction?" Anne was confused after the small frog runs past her and Sprig, screaming.
"Please, guests, be careful. These plants are as much members of our community as we are." Horace warns them to be more careful.
"My apologies, Horace. Some of us don't respect nature." Hop Pop shows his stern to the others.
"Hey!" Timon glares at him.
"No, not you two. Just them." Hop Pop corrects him.
"Oh, right."
Loggle felt really embarrassed in front them as he carefully steps out of the way and went to catchup with them while the farmers still crying until they stop and started to chanting together to regrow the flower until it magically came back to life as our heroes didn't take noticed.
And so, they have arrived at the greenhouse, but didn't noticed that the greenhouse was nearly left in ruins and covered with vines, some window glass were shattered, and it looks pretty old like it was nothing, but a ghost town to them.
"We have arrived." said Horace.
Then they open the door and sees the interior that it was all covered with plants and mushrooms as they walked inside to see the mayor of Gardenton.
"Hey, Timon? Did you know that this place was inspired by-"
"I don't want to hear another pop-culture reference while were on our mission." Timon cuts off Pumbaa's words as he doesn't want to hear another word.
Just then Hop Pop approached to the mayor as he thought he was sitting in front of them.
"You must be the mayor. Put her there!" Hop Pop offered his hand, but the mayor didn't reply. "(ahem) Not a toucher, eh? That's okay. Not everyone is. (ahem) Uh, we'd be mighty obliged if you and your green- fingered friends joined our little resistance. We've got hydroponics like you wouldn't believe."
Hop Pop waited for the reply, but it didn't happen or so as he thought.
"Uh, we also have casual Fridays and bagel Tuesdays..." He paused before he turn his head at them. "Kids, am I forgettin' anything?"
Anne uses her phone to turn on the flashlight.
"Hey, is this guy asleep or some-" Her words cut off when it turns out that the mayor was actually a skeleton covered in mushrooms! They all just freaked out.
"Oh, my frog!" Hop Pop exclaims.
"AAAHHHH!" Timon and Pumbaa screams as they hold onto each other.
Then all of sudden, the whole room was now turned into darkness with all mushrooms started to glow purple until they heard an evil cackle and then the corpse pushes itself towards them.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Hopediah Plantar."
That is as it turns out that the leader of Gardenton was actually a beetle, but it can talk because it has a huge mushroom fungus on top of its head!
"(gasps) Jeremy the Beetle!" Hop Pop gasps.
"Hey! Our friend name was Jeremy too!" Pumbaa claims it, despite being freaked out.
"Wait, did that beetle just talk?" Timon asked, looking more surprised.
"No, up here, you idiot." They looked up and sees even more shocking that the mushroom is actually talking to them. "It's me, Apothecary Gary!"
"Apothecary Gary?!" Anne and the Plantars said together with unison.
"Who?" Timon and Pumbaa said together with unison when puzzled.
Just then, they heard some groaning until all of the farmers comes out as it turns out that their eyes were glowing. All five of them remembers that Apothecary Gary was behind all of this scheme to mind control the Wartwood citizens. As for the two of them that they just freaked out.
"WHAT THE- WHAT IS THIS?!" Timon freaks out.
"ZOMBIES!" Loggle screams as he runs off, but then gets tackled by the farmers to prevent him from escaping.
"Ha ha! Guess those muscles were just for show." said The farmer frog.
"I-I don't understand. You're extinct! I saw to it myself!" Hop Pop exclaims.
"I nearly was, but thanks to Jeremy here…"
(Flashbacks starts)
We looked to the past when Apothecary Gary explain his backstory to them like how it all happened when Jeremy the Beetle takes a sip from the remaining fungus spores by accident until the mushroom grows on top of his head.
"I was able to survive and make my way out of Wartwood. Problem was, I was weak and needed to find a place to regrow my strength. It's a harsh world out there for a little spore and his beetle host."
It took days for him to survive as he was lost in the middle of the desert due to the dry heat, then he was sitting under the leaf while it was raining, and then fell exhausted and almost got eaten by birds until they flew away and found by Horace and the farmers.
"Then I was taken in by these folks, and together, we formed a true symbiotic relationship. You see, these frogs wanted my spores because it made them better gardeners. It wasn't mind control. Not this time, really. And with this power, we turned Gardenton into a paradise."
With him and the farmers working together by using the spores to turn Gardenton into a paradise, thanks to their gardening skills and promotes Apothecary Gary as their new leader.
(Flashback ends)
"I've never had willing subjects before. And let me tell you, it makes a big difference." He finished his story as the Horace and the farmers approached next to him until they took off their hats and reveals that they have fungus on their heads.
"AHHH!" All six of them screams. Not just the adults, but most children as well and even the tadpole that has one fungus on his head.
"Goo."
"NOT THE BABY!" They screams.
"With Gary's spores, we can feel the very needs of the plants we cultivate. We're one with nature! It's perfect harmony." said Horace.
"Perfect harmony." said The farmers altogether. With Hop Pop and the others being surrounded by the farmers, he needs to act fast until he had an idea.
"Well, this has all been very educational. Kids, now!" Hop Pop stomps the flower to make all the farmers felt in pain, then Loggle pushes them off and pushes them out of the way as he and the others have their chance to escape.
"After them! We can't let them escape and lead others to Gardenton!" Apothecary Gary commends them.
With our heroes have escaped from the greenhouse, the whole place was turned to darkness thanks to the fungus glows like the background switches its theme. They hide themselves behind the building when all the farmers are chasing after them until the coast is clear.
"I told you this place is not safe!" said Pumbaa.
"We need to find Bessie." said Anne.
Then suddenly, they heard a chirping. It sound like Bessie was in there. They open door, but what shocking them that Bessie was all tangled up with the fwagon. Her mouth was covered to prevent her from eating the fungus with flower crown on her head.
"Hang on, girl!" said Hop Pop as they rushed towards to get the vines off, but then they heard Gary's voice.
"Not so fast."
They turned and gasp that the beetle with Horace has found them with the farmers behind him. Out of nowhere when the vines just grabbed all seven them and ties them up, screaming. However, Hop Pop looks impressed for all of sudden.
"You have to admit this is all pretty cool. See how versatile plants can be?" Hop Pop asked.
"Not the time, Hop Pop!" Anne, Sprig, and Polly chided at him.
"Well, Plantars, are you ready to be fertilizer?" Apothecary Gary asked when prepares to finished them off, but suddenly they heard a beeping sound. "Hold on, can anyone hear that? Kind of an obnoxious beeping sound?"
It turns out that the beeping sound was actually from the dragonfly drone that was attached to the fwagon as a tracking device.
"Resistance base located. Extermination team deployed."
"Oh, hey. When did that get there?" Sprig puzzled as he spits his tongue to shattered the drone into pieces.
"Hey, isn't that the drone that we just dealt with back home?" Pumbaa asked.
"Uh, yeah. I remember that." replied Timon.
"Extermination team? What the heck is that?" Apothecary Gary looked confused.
"Oh, it means that the robots must've tracked us with a tracking device and tried to destroy our location, but luckily we ended up in the wrong place." Pumbaa explains.
Just as the warthog predicted when they heard a rumble. The farmers rushed outside to see what it is until there were Frobots, but has red scheme of color, blue eyes, and has flamethrower on their right arm as they start throwing some flames to the garden.
"AHHH! It burns us!" One of the farmer yells with distorted voice.
Chaos spread when the Flamethrower Frobots mistakenly thought that the garden was the resistance headquarters. The citizens were in complete panic and running for their life. Apothecary Gary was shocked and devastated that their utopian paradise were burning.
"Our precious plants! No!" Horace cried.
When the town grows weak, Anne and her friends were just dropped to the ground after the vines releasing them.
"I know a golden opportunity when I see one. Come on, guys!" said Anne as they all climbed onto the fwagon and have Bessie to pull faster and made their getaway from all the destruction into the forest. "Well, that worked out."
"Yeah, sure did." replied Hop Pop sadly.
Pumbaa noticed that look and he turn his head at Gardenton that was all covered with fire. All the crops, the flowers, the beloved town was nearly burning to the ground. It triggers them as he and his meerkat friend, both know how all the environments left in ruins back in the savannah. They looked at each other sadly.
Anne and the others noticed Hop Pop's looks as they looked back and have that feeling when something tells them that they should turn around and save the frogs and their home, but other options do they have left after everything they've been through.
"You wanna go back and help them, don't you?" Anne asked.
"Yes please." Hop Pop answered much to Anne annoyance.
"I'm sorry. Is there a problem?" Timon looks up at her.
"Our problem? That guy is responsible for mind controlling us and tries to take over Wartwood!" Sprig exclaims.
"But what choice do we have? It's either that or we would be lectured by leaving the whole town burning!" replied Anne.
"You know, she has a point." Loggle commented.
"It's not my fault that none of us respect the nature." Sprig muttered, but then when Anne just pulls the strains when Bessie came to a halt, causing them to startled.
"You're right. It was selfish of us. If we did leave the town now, then we are no better than being a bad guy. I will not be that person like she used to be. You better buck up or we can kiss the swamp goodbye! Capiche?" Anne gives him a stern look just as Sprig gulps and then nodded.
"Okay." replied Sprig.
Back at the village, the whole town was still burning as all frogs are still running and screaming while Flamethrower Frobots are still burning to the ground. Apothecary Gary was being cordoned by the Frobots as they stomp closer.
"Don't hurt me. I'm just a cute little beetle!" Apothecary Gary begged for mercy.
Just as the Frobots are about to finish him off, but all of sudden when Bessie burst out of nowhere when pushes them out of the way. Then Anne picks Hop Pop and tosses him to knock out the robot by saving the bug's life.
"Plantars?! You're back?!" Apothecary Gary looked surprised when another one just got sliced by Anne, using her rusty sword.
"Yes." Sprig answered after he jumps off and caught the flamethrower. "Burn!"
He throw some flames towards at the robot when it's on fire. Pumbaa charged towards the Frobots and then smashes, falling backwards. Timon jumps onto the head and then pulls the wires to shut it down. This give Apothecary Gary his opportunity to fight back.
"We'll help too! Charge!" He commands the farmers to charge towards the robot as they all jumped onto this one.
Then more came when the farmers jumps onto to flamethrower robot to tear them apart with some dust clouds until they put the robot into a garden, then they tore off another one by framing them, and finally they finished off the last one by turning the robot into a scarecrow as their replacement.
At last, the farmers gathered all of water to put out the fire to prevent more wildfire until it was all over. Their garden was save, well most of it. Anne and her friends were all panted after they took out some flamethrowing robots with some help.
"Dang, Gary. That was some incredible coordination." Hop Pop was impressed.
"Thanks. It comes with the whole hive mind situation. You and your kids fight well too." replied Apothecary Gary.
"What can I say? We've had a lot of practice."
It all went silent for a second until the beetle breaks the silence.
"Okay, well, I think, um...We're still going to try and kill you guys. Yeah, let's just go with that. Attack!"
Under his command, the farmers were about to go back to attacking them, but the eldest frog intervenes.
"Gary, wait! I know we've had some bad history. You tried to enslave my hometown, and I violently murdered you that one time." said Hop Pop as he realized that they all made mistakes.
"Yes. Yes, you did." Apothecary Gary lowered his voice.
"But your skills as a botanist and farmer are undeniable!
"(chuckles) Oh, stop. You're making me blush!"
"My whole life, I've been lookin' for folks who care about farming as much as I do. And, well, here you are! Won't you join our Resistance and help us take down King Andrias?" Hop Pop asked.
"Well, I don't know..." Apothecary Gary looks concerned about this at first.
"Gary, if we don't do something, the village will always be under threat." said Horace when Anne gently pushes them out of the way to go through.
"That's right! They know the location of your village now." Anne agrees.
"That's a good point. And Gardenton is so isolated, I had no idea how bad it was out there." replied Apothecary Gary until he decided to accept bygones and joins with the resistance. "Well, Hopediah, you can count on us! Let us know when and where to be, and we will be there."
As the two former enemies shake their hands, however both Sprig and Polly looked disbelief that this is happening.
"I cannot believe this is happening." said Sprig.
"Ditto." Polly added.
"Hey, Gary, one more thing. Andrias has been using these mind-control collars, and we think they're utilizing spores similar to yours." Anne shows her phone to Apothecary Gary to have him look at the photo of a giant snake with its mind control collor around its neck.
"Huh? Then that means there must be at least one more of me out there. Oh, that's amazing!" Apothecary Gary smiles.
"And who knows? Maybe it's a lady mushroom."
"That's not a thing."
"Yes. (chuckles) Well, everyone knows that."
As they all climbed aboard on the fwagon, Hop Pop took a hold of the strains before he waved goodbye to them.
"Okay, see ya around!" Hop Pop bids them a farewell and went off as Bessie pulls the fwagon as they all left Gardenton to have all the farmers to rebuild their garden.
"You know, it is a very right thing to do by helping these folks back there." said Pumbaa.
"Yeah, back in our days, Pumbaa and I wanted to help people after we saw how everyone from around the world truly cared about the environment. Well, most of them." Timon added.
"Thanks, fellas. Without you, I would never really appreciated how you folks willin' to step up and showing respect to nature." Hop Pop thanked them.
"(ahem) So, anyone else lovin' the feel of these dresses?" Loggle asked.
"Oh, yeah, absolutely." replied Sprig.
"Heck yeah!" Polly added.
"Mm-hmm." Anne hummed when replied.
"A guy can really breathe in these." Hop Pop commented.
Now that's out of the way. Up next is where how the king used to have friends back from the past and how it all changed because of his father's legacy. Hope you enjoyed reading and stay tuned for the next chapter!
Amphibia and Lion King (c) Disney
