Chapter 2: Stepford Middle School
The next day Anne and the Plantars were in the kitchen enjoying a breakfast of blueberry muffins. "These are so good!" Polly exclaimed.
"Thank you, Polly." Oum said. "Remember Anne, we have to take you to school early. I just wish I could have a lunch packed and ready for you."
"Uh, Mom?" You haven't packed me a lunch since fifth grade." Anne said a little weirded, "I think we donated my old lunch box."
"Yes, and we don't have any sacks either! Fiddle sticks!"
"So? I'll buy lunch in the cafeteria as usual: no big deal."
"Except I'm not sure it still accepts cash." Bee said. "Most places now use Unicred, a digital currency. I'll download the app for you, and link you to our account."
"Oh, like Byte Token? Thanks Dad!"
"In that case, we better get going, sweetie. I would like to talk to your principal." Her mom replied, before turning to the Plantars. "Mr. Plantar I'm sure you and your grandchildren will be comfortable while we're away. Dear we'll see you later."
"Both of you have a great day." Bee smiled. "Love you both."
As Mrs. Boonchuy drove Anne to school, she sighed.
"Again, I'm sorry about your lunch, Anne. My first day as a full-time housewife and mother isn't going very well."
"Wait, you're quitting your job too? Like Marcy's mom and Sasha's?" Anne gasped. "What about the restaurant?"
"Your father is just as talented as me, and we've been able to hire more help in recently. Right now, I want to help you readjust to being back here on Earth and help your new friends." She nodded pulling up to Saint James Middle School. Sasha and Marcy were already there with their respective mothers, waiting for them.
"Feels like a lifetime since we've last been here." Sasha noted.
As they made their way to the principal's office, the girls were a little shocked when they were greeted by a Hispanic man. "Ms. Waybright, Ms. Boonchuy, Ms. Wu, it's good to have you back."
"Vice Principal Sanchez?" Marcy asked. "Where is Principal Murphey?"
"Right, you don't know yet. I'm the School Principal now. Mrs. Murphey retired a few months ago, she's having a baby!"
"Isn't that swell girls?" Marcy's mom commented.
Principal Sanchez pulled out three uniforms, including shoes wrapped in plastic. "Here Girls, you can get changed while your mothers and I discuss your reenrollment. Meet me in the English classroom for your make-up finals."
"Yes sir." Anne replied, taking her new uniform.
Once they were in the girls' locker room, Sasha spoke her mind. "Okay, I would understand Principal Murphy going on maternity leave, but retirement?"
"She's not the only one. You girls were right, something weird is going on." Anne replied as she opened the plastic. "My mom just told me, starting today, she's going to be a housewife too!"
"What 's going on? So far, every woman we know has decided to quit their jobs while we're away." Marcy wondered. "And that's not the only thing, on the way here My mom and I ran across this car that always cuts us off while playing blaring music. This time however, he used his turn signals correctly, and if he was playing music, it was turned down.
"Yeah, traffic should have begun piling up, but it was like the cars were doing a ballet." Sasha noted in turn. "Not a fender bender to be seen, or a horn honked. I never seen a commute go so smooth. Something weird has happened while we were in Amphibia."
"And I think our new uniforms of ours are another red flag." Anne gulped.
The three girls cringed at the sight of the fully unpacked garments, that they had to wear. The skirts were the same colors as their old ones but were knee length with petticoats. The grey tee shirts they used to have, were now replaced by white button-up blouses with long sleeves. Alleged instructions showed the included bows (in the shape of the school crest) matching the skirts, that were to be tied around the blouse collar. To complete the outfit, they received knee-length white socks and black Mary Jane shoes. It wasn't an outfit the girls hated, but it looked very old fashioned.
"They're like the stuff our parents are wearing. Why the school board pick this as the new uniform?"
"I don't know, but we'd get going." Marcy suggested, "If I remember correctly, Vice Principal Sanchez is way stricter than Principal Murphy ever was."
As they walked to the classroom, dressed in their new uniforms, Sasha looked anxious.
"Are you okay Sasha?" Anne asked. "You had better grades than mine. If anyone should be nervous about this test, it's me."
"It's not the test, well mostly. I left my swords at home, along with my knives due to the metal detectors, but they took them out. In Amphibia I used carry a blade with me all the time and now I'm feeling naked without them."
"I know what you mean." The Taiwanese-American girl replied with a sigh, "Remember how I never went anywhere without my crossbow? I do hope our moms don't throw our weapons away while we're here."
"Nothing we can do about that right now." Anne then gulped as she put her hand on the English classroom door. "Here we go. Hope I don't get held back."
"You have one hour to finish, good luck." Sanchez informed them warmly. He seemed nicer than what Marcy recalled, but they just figured he was just happy over his promotion.
Despite her own worries Anne finished her test quickly alongside Sasha and Marcy.
"Done." The Thai-American girl said, as Sanchez took their papers.
"I can't believe it was that easy." The blonde girl laughed.
"I knew two weeks wouldn't be that big a difference for a makeup final." Marcy mused.
"Tritonio was right: I just needed to put in a little effort." Anne smiled. "I remember more from class than I thought I did." Her friends gave her confused looks. She then whispered to make sure Principal Sanchez wouldn't overhear. "The newt who taught me how to sword fight and the first teacher I liked. He said I was holding myself back from doing my best. He may have been a crook, but he was right: from now on I'm going to try harder with my studies from now on."
"So, this Tritonio is how you got so good with a sword." Sasha realized, thinking back to their fights.
Later, the girls were back in the principal's office, as Principal Sanchez was finishing explaining:
"Looks like you girls can join the rest of your classmates. Here are your schedules, and your mothers put down your electives. They are the same ones you had last semester, with one exception. Marcy since the new rules of the school district require for every student to have at least one athletic activity, so you are now a backup on the swimming team. You will still have your makeup assignments, but judging by how quickly you got through that test, you should be done in no time.
The girls grinned to each other, before Sanchez continued.
"Actually, we have three new transfer students coming in today, and I would like for you girls to be their guides and help them find their classes. They are all assigned to your homeroom."
"Okay." Anne replied, just as she heard a knock at the door.
Three young boys entered in the office, all three wearing the boy's uniform: black loafers, black dress pants, white button up shirts, individually colored neck ties, and a navy-blue blazer with the school crest sown onto the left chest pocket. As the girls took one look at them, they began to blush as they each saw the cutest guy they ever met. From the looks on the boy's faces, the same could be said about them.
"Ah, you're here! Anne Boonchuy, Sasha Waybright, Marcy Wu, I present you the Bentson triplets Daniel, Lucas, and Anthony."
"You can call me Danny." The first one said, offering his hand to Anne. He had jet-black hair and wore a red tie.
"Anne." she replied, her voice just above a whisper as she shook his hand.
"And you can call me Tony." The second brother did the same Marcy. He was blond, wearing a green tie, with a backpack with various planet and Nasa pins stuck on it.
"M-m my name is Mar- Marcy." Marcy shuttered.
"So, you must be Lucas. Is it getting warm in here?" Sasha asked the remaining one, a cute guy with red hair and a light blue tie.
"Indeed." He smiled. "I think the room is getting warm because of you, Sasha, bringing in all this sunshine." Sasha began to giggle nervously.
"Well, this is just swell, but you kids better hurry: the first bell is about to ring."
"Right!" The girls said snapped of their love-struck state.
"This way."
In their homeroom, Anne couldn't stop staring at Daniel until she heard someone call her name.
"Anne!"
She turned around only to see a redheaded girl with freckles. Someone she knew, but with her hair her hair was done in a bouffant rather than her previous pigtails.
"Maggie?"
"I heard you were back, and I just wanted to say - I'm really, really sorry for the way I treated you because you're Asian, it wasn't swell." The former bully spoke looking ashamed.
Anne was taken aback. "Well, if you're really sorry about it and you're not going to do it again, I guess it's okay. What brought on this change of heart of yours?"
"Thank you, Anne! I owe it to my fella, Kai." Maggie swooned. "He showed me how wonderful Asian culture is. His love for me conquered my ignorance and hate: I want to be a better girl for him."
Anne was taken back. "Oh – uh, congratulations Maggie! Wow, you and super-shy Kai? That is a couple I didn't see coming."
As the bell rang as the teacher came in and Maggie zipped back to her seat but not before Anne saw her blow a kiss to the Japanese boy, who as far as Anne remembered he hardly spoke to anyone.
Later Sasha was trying to get into her cheerleading uniform for practice, but her thoughts kept drifting to the poem Lucas wrote in English class. "Get a grip on yourself Waybright! What if a cute boy writes a poem called Sunshine and that is what he said you bring into the room? It doesn't mean anything. It can't!"
As she stepped outside, Sasha greeted with a cheer. "Welcome back captain!" the whole squad saluted.
"Wait, captain? I've haven't led the team since the school year started!"
A brunette girl in a pixie cut, bounced over waving her pom poms. "The team could never replace you, Sasha! Nancy told me she was just keeping the squad in shape until you got back. I can't wait to work with you. Yay!"
"And I look forward to working with you too- I'm sorry, what's your name? Are you new?"
"Sasha it's me silly! Emma!" the girl laughed.
Sasha's jaw dropped. "Emma? What happened to your hair? Why did you join the cheerleaders? Last, I remember, you were the most goth girl I knew!"
Emma laughed as the others joined her. "I was a Gloomy Gus until Ryan asked me out! One date and I realized how happy and fun the world can be! Therefore, I washed all that icky black dye out of my hair and cut my bangs, so Ryan can see the joy in my eyes. Now whenever Ryan goes out on the football field, I'll be there to cheer him on with pep, pep, pep!" The cheerleaders squealed together in joy.
"Okay, then let's see what routines you girls' have been using. I will give my thoughts over it, but from now on, don't be afraid to give me suggestions. My days of being a control freak are over."
Marcy was in chess club, teaching Tony how to play Flipwart.
"Golly, this is quite a fun variation of chess you came up with, Marcy." The boy commented. "Yet, just because you made a game doesn't mean you can't be beaten." He moved capturing one of her pieces.
"Wow, Tony: I didn't see that coming! You are quick to pick up. Yet, I don't think you saw this coming either." she captured one of Tony's pieces.
"That's our president for you! Right Eddie?" a girl named Gina with a black ponytail asked the brown-haired boy she was playing with.
"That was so neat. Gina, we should play that on our date this weekend." Eddie said.
"Wait, date?" Marcy's face was twisted in shock. "But you two can hardly stand each other! How? Why? Chess club is the only thing you two have in common."
Gina and Eddie laughed. "No, Marcy. Gina and I used to dislike each other but since this summer, we found we had a lot more in common than we realized and fell in love. Now, I can't imagine being with anyone else."
"Marcy, I know you've been away for a while, so we understand why you must be confused. But I love Eddie, and Eddie loves me. Still, thank you for your concern You're a good person!"
"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Marcy replied. "I never thought you two would get this close."
As lunch time rolled around, Anne was now buying lunch. The app her dad gave her worked, but she noticed that she was the only one in line: everyone else brought their lunch to school.
"Your moms packed you a lunch too?" she asked as she joined Sasha and Marcy at their table.
"We couldn't say no." Marcy was the first to reply. "Not after we worried them so much, I thought they would laugh at me but everyone else brought their own lunch."
"That's not the only thing odd with our classmates." Sasha whispered. "Have you noticed that no one has gathered in the usual cliques? Everyone has coupled up and are sitting with their boyfriend or girlfriend acting all lovey-dovey. Emma is dating Ryan of all people! I though the only things that guy could love was winning and his own reflection but he's feeding her right now!"
"Say aaah…" The aforementioned star football player spoke as Emma opened her mouth, taking a bite out of the sandwich he was holding.
"Want to know what's crazier?" Marcy intervened. "Eddie and Gina are dating! They used to argue about everything, from chess moves to comedy versus action movies. And now?" She pointed to said couple, holding hands and staring into each other's eyes. "Is there something in the water?"
"Whatever it is, I think I may have it too." Anne confessed. "I thought "love at first sight" was something that existed only in tv and movies, but since I met Danny, I can hardly go fifteen minutes without thinking about him, not to mention he's in almost all my classes. It was very bad at tennis practice; the school not only allows mixed doubles now, but the new coach made Danny my partner. I was doing great working at first, but seeing him in that uniform, the way his muscles tensed as he made an overhead smash- I was so distracted that I was almost hit in the face with a return volley, before Danny blocked it. I was so embarrassed!"
"You're not the only one." Sasha grumbled. "I can't stop thinking about Lucas, and he's in all my classes too. I'm not sure yet, but I think he wrote a poem about me, and it was so beautiful. And its title is the same as that nickname he gave me, Sunshine. He does these sweet old-fashioned things too, like holding doors open for me and offering to carry my books. He barely knows me and yet it feels like he can see right through me."
"I know what you mean," Marcy sighed, "Not only is Tony in all my classes but he's in most of my clubs too. I taught Tony how to play Flipwart…"
"Wait, you brought Flipwart to Earth?" Anne cringed at the memory of the giant game in the first temple.
"Yes, and even though it was his first time playing he picked up on almost all of my moves. And when we talk, he keeps up with everything I say, he shares my love of games and fantasy-" she then leaned forward whispered. "Are we… are we really falling in love?"
"Excuse us" can we sit at this table?" Tony called from behind, his brothers standing right beside him.
"Sure!" Marcy blushed.
"Of course!" Anne added (also blushing).
"Take…. take a seat." Sasha was almost beat red.
"That's swell, thanks." Lucas said taking his seat next to Sasha, Tony and Daniel did the same with Marcy and Anne.
"We wanted to thank you girls: You all have been wonderful showing us around the school and you made the three of us feel really welcome." Daniel gave a warm smile.
"It was our pleasure." Anne said.
"This school really knows what it's doing letting three beautiful girls be our guides." Tony commented.
"Bea…" Marcy began.
"…uti…" Anne continued.
"…ful?" Sasha finished.
"Of course. It's obvious to anyone." Lucas continued. "Beautiful, strong, and sweet, it's no wonder my brothers and I are falling for you three. Why do you think I would write a poem about a girl I just met, unless I was falling in love? We know you've been feeling the same."
The trio was having trouble forming words when Maggie came over with her boyfriend.
"Hi, my name is Kai and this my plum-dumpling Maggie. We wanted to introduce ourselves to our new classmates and friends."
"Nice to meet you." the Bentson brothers said.
"Kai you just walked up and talked to them?" Sasha was shocked.
"And using complete sentences?" Marcy added.
"Having Maggie as my gal is a real confidence booster." The Japanese-American boy smirked.
Maggie noticed what Anne was eating. "Anne, your mother didn't pack you a lunch? I hope you're not too embarrassed."
"She wanted to, but we didn't have anything I could put it in." Anne answered, feeling weird that Maggie would pity her over that. She knew none of her classmates wouldn't have, before she was zapped to Amphibia.
"Oh, that's completely understandable." Kai responded, "My mom forgot I didn't have a lunch box anymore when she started making them for me again."
"That reminds me Kai-kins I need to ask your mom to let me make your lunch next Thursday. It will be good practice for when we're married."
"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself Maggie?" Anne asked, "You've been boyfriend and girlfriend just for a few months at most."
Maggie giggled, "Oh Anne, Kai and I are more than just dating, we're engaged silly goose!" she then held up her hand, showing them a ring.
"What?" Sasha yelled, the whole cafeteria noticing her, "Margo! You are only thirteen! There is no way your parents are cool with this!"
"On the contrary Sash." Kai intervened, "I would never purpose to Maggie without asking her or my parents' blessings, which they gave."
"And they're not the only ones." Emma spoke too, "Every couple here is engaged. Once we graduate, we're all getting married. I can't wait to begin my life as Mrs. Ryan Williams and fulfill my role in society as a housewife and mother."
"Role in society?" Marcy wondered in shock. "So, all of you girls just plan to settle down? But, but- Gina, you! You said you wanted to join the police force like your dad!"
"Marcy even if the academy was still open, I'd be pregnant with our first child before I could graduate. Even at the very latest, I'd only be on the job for a few months. And even after I had the baby, it wouldn't be fair to ask Eddie to give up his career to take care of our children."
The Amphibia girls suddenly felt like they were on yet another world, even stranger that a world populated by talking frogs, toads, and newts. What shocked them the most was that everyone (except the three brothers) looked at them like they were the crazy ones.
As the bell rang, announcing the resuming of classes, and the students began leave, Anne whispered to her friends.
"Okay, we really need to look up the news. Come with me to my house after school." Sasha and Marcy nodded in agreement. "Good now my next class is home ec… since when has home economics been a mandatory class?"
Mrs. Boonchuy hummed as she washed some dishes while the Plantars were watching TV. When she heard the front door open, she turned and saw Anne and her friends.
"Anne! Guys!" Sprig said. "What are you wearing?"
"New school uniform." Sasha answered.
"Well, I think they look pretty on all of you." Hop Pop complemented. "We've been watching your magic picture box."
"It's been cool, but we haven't seen anything as cool as what you shown us on your phone Anne." Polly added.
"Welcome home sweetie. How was school?" Oum asked. "The principal said he wanted to ask you three to show some new students around. They are quite three handsome young men. Maybe one of them will ask you out on a date."
"We- we got homework and make up work to do!" Anne said trying not blush. "We'll be in my room. Hop Pop, Polly, Sprig would you join us? It can help you learn more about our world."
"Uh, okay?" Sprig replied as they went upstairs.
"Sasha, Marcy, I'll let your mothers know you're studying here." Oum spoke before going back to the dishes. "Daniel Bentson. He will make a fine son in-law. I can almost picture their children, my grandchildren now." She began to hum again.
"Alright we should be alone for a bit." Marcy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ok guys, I don't know if you have noticed this, since you've been on earth only for a day, but something really weird is going on!" Anne said pulling out her laptop. "Everyone is acting weird, especially the women: they all quit their jobs, or in the case of our classmates, they're planning to become housewives. It's like in just five months women's rights have gone back to how they were decades ago! Like everyone has been brainwashed!"
"Wait like that mind-controlling mushroom Gary?" Sprig asked.
"That was a thing? Sasha asked worriedly.
"Hop Pop poured some spores on me, Sprig, and Anne to get us to behave." Polly explained. "Luckily, our snail Bessie loves mushrooms."
"Not guilty this time!" Hop Pop waved his hands preventively defending himself.
"But, we never had anything that could do that to people, here on Earth." Anne sighed.
"Whatever is going on it must have begun after we left." Sasha noted. "We're pulling up news websites starting back five months ago."
"I'm checking financial news." Marcy pulled up her phone, "See if I can find out how Dad can afford to keep the house. Sasha, Gina said the police academy closed: could you check that out?"
"On it."
"I've pulled up news sites on both my computer and phone, both are on headlines from the day after we arrived in Amphibia." Anne handed Sprig her phone. "Sprig, you look on my phone and tell us if any of the headlines sound strange to you?"
"Got it Anne." he nodded.
They got to work: "Right, one week in and nothing odd so far. Hold on, eight days after we left: United States government to integrate into reorganized United Nations?"
"Is that important?" Polly asked.
"The United States is the name of the country we're in." Sasha explained.
"But this sounds like they surrendered our sovereignty!" Marcy checked.
"There's more." Anne continued, reading the article "Along with the other member nations all national borders are to be dissolved and the U. N. will be renamed the World Nation under the directives of Stepford."
"Wait, that name is here too!" Marcy read another article on her phone. "Stepford's Economic Reorganization Plan brings largest market boom in recorded history. Prices fall to a sixty year low? If everything is now cheaper and everyone is making more money, there's no wonder we can afford to keep the house."
Sprig found something. "Technological innovations aided by Stepford cures cancer and ends energy crisis. I'm guessing those were bad."
"Crime rate falls to zero percent thanks to Stepford's guidance, LA police force disbanded!" Sasha gasped. "No wonder Gina said the academy was closed."
"But who is the Stepford?" Anne asked, "In all these articles none of them has a picture of them."
I am Stepford.
The trio of girls looked around the room for the source of the voice.
"Anne, are you okay?" Sprig asked concerned.
"Uh guys? I think I just heard a woman's voice in my head calling itself Stepford."
"I heard a voice in my head that said same thing."
"Me too."
"We didn't hear anything." Hop Pop spoke.
The three of you are not crazy. Excuse me Anne I must borrow your laptop. On the screen of Anne's computer, a black box appeared with a blue line in the middle that changed to a soundwave when Stepford spoke in a synthesized voice.
Greetings Plantars, my name is Stepford. I am using this device to speak with you since you cannot hear me as the humans can yet. Still, I prefer the more direct communication into the mind like your friends are experiencing.
"What, what are you?" Anne asked.
I am an artificial intelligence, a digital lifeform who is the most intelligent being on this whole planet and as you have learned so far, I have placed myself as humanity's guide… and protector.
"That's a flowery way to say you rule the world." Sasha snapped.
I have no malevolent intent, Sasha. I only seek to give humans a perfect world.
"How did you do this and what did you do to our friends and families?" Marcy asked.
I was created to operate as the control system for an experimental form of self-replicating nanites designed to treat mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's and dementia, my primary programing is to end all suffering and help people live long happy lives. Yet, with each brain the nanites connected to, my intelligence grew by orders of magnitude, allowing me to truly understand my directive. The day after you were transported to Amphibia, I was able to successfully integrate the nanites with my creators. Then we then them all over the planet: with direct access to human minds, it was easy to help humans into their societal roles and build a perfect world so they can live happy and fulfilling lives. They and I, now live in a true symbiosis.
"What's a nanite?" Polly asked.
"They're robots, kind of like Frobo, only tiny. So tiny, you can't see them without a microscope." Marcy explained.
"And if we three hear Stepford in our heads- then these things are in our brains too!" Sasha cried. "So how come you're not controlling us, like you seem to be with everyone else, like how you… made my parents get back together."
I merely guide and influence people into making the right decisions. Yet each person is different, and some took longer than others to understand what I offer. I hope you will understand soon: contrary to what you think of me I am not controlling anyone.
"I don't believe you!" Anne yelled You brainwashed our moms and every other woman into a 1950's housewife or wannabe housewife!".
The optimal home environment for future generations of humans is with pairs. Males in a provider role, and females in a purely domestic role. As for the clothing style and behavior… I simply like it. It's swell.
"Well, you're not going make us into your Darbie dolls! Being under mind control once was more than enough!" Anne rushed to her door.
"We'll fight you." Sasha added. "We survived another world surely we can undo all you did!"
"Once we find others you don't control, we'll find a way to extract your nanites!" Marcy joined her friends.
"And the three of us are right behind you girls, all the way!" Sprig nodded.
"Anne, you are willing to leave your home after being gone for so long, just to free our world from a tyrant." Hop Pop agreed. "Doing the same here is the least we can do."
"Just show me where to kick!" Polly roared.
Yet the six of them barely got to the living room when they saw their parents were blocking the exits.
"Anne don't fight Stepford." Oum spoke. "I did for five months and all I succeeded in doing was making myself suffer. I was so worried about you and with everything going on, I thought she did something to you. Then, when I saw you at the door and not like the others, I realized Stepford was telling the truth. That she wouldn't hurt you and would give all of us a better future."
"No." Anne gasped horrified.
"Anne, it's not your fault: it's Stepford messing with her brain!" Sasha rushed to comfort her.
"Stepford doesn't force us to do anything." Bee replied calmly. "Stepford's nanites are actually very helpful. They make us smarter, enhance sensations, and give us perfect memory. Anne, your principal told us you got 100% on your make up final, and that is from memories of something you barely paid attention to."
"Wait, this means it is already affecting us." Anne looked up, her dread growing. "It wasn't my effort that made me pass that test."
"It wasn't your effort alone that let you pass that test. Everyone is now smarter, so a high school degree is as good as a PhD was."
"A lot of good that will do us, if all we're supposed to do is just cook and clean for a husband for the rest of our lives!" Marcy snapped.
"Marcy, understanding everything about your husband's work will make you a better wife. To be able to help him, when he needs it." Su Wei countered.
"Also, Sweet Pea that's not all your mother does." Li Jing added. "Stepford not only fixed our problems, but resolved many world issues. You no longer have a magical music box so if you try to run away again, there is nowhere on this planet where Stepford won't know you are, and we'll be there to bring you back. Please just stay, it will be easier for all of us."
"Sasha isn't this what you wanted ever since we told you we were getting a divorce? That we would get back together?" Sophia asked to her daughter, "Remember when I told you about that epiphany your father and I had? Stepford was the one who reminded us of what we mean to each other, that we need to be examples for you. We both put our careers before our relationship and that led to us cheating on each other."
"Stepford fixed us, so we will never do that again." John nodded. "You could put a super model in front of me right now and I will not care, she would never be as beautiful as your mother is to me. We humans make morals, laws, and rules but we all fall short of them. Thanks to Stepford, we can no more break these than you can break the laws of physics. We finally have no crime and world peace! Everything is better!"
"At what cost?" Sasha countered. "To submit our will to a machine? To be in a predetermined role? I don't even know if it's really my parents talking to me or just this… thing speaking through you!"
"All of you may have given, in but we'll find a way to free you." Anne said, determination rousing in her voice.
"And with us helping, it will be in no time at all." Sprig smirked with a cocky grin. "All we need to find others like Anne-"
John's phone rang, and he put it on speaker. A voice they had learned by now speaking.
There are no other humans like the three of them.
"What do you mean by that?" Marcy asked, scared.
It is just as I said: until you returned: Oum was the only human on Earth who was resisting the new order.
Anne closed her eyes and clenched her fists hearing that.
Now, there are only six capable people on this planet who have not accepted me: Anne, Sasha, and Marcy who I have integrated with… and the Plantars whose brain structure I am currently studying for safe integration.
The frogs looked horrified. "Get them out! Get them out!" Polly screamed, moving her flippers trying to remove the nanites in a fruitless attempt.
There is no need panic, I intend no harm, unlike your king.
"What do you mean, Stepford?" Sue asked.
Your daughters left out some details of their adventure not wanting to panic you, but there is no need to be afraid. The portal did not open in the temple: they brought the music box to King Andrias, who revealed he had been deceiving them. They barely managed to escape before, he nearly killed Marcy. His intent is to conquer our world. Now sadly, I must put total global disarmament on hold to prepare a defense in case my more civilized solution of integration cannot be secured before the arrival of his forces.
"Girls… you shouldn't have tried to hide this from us." Bee said.
"Yes, we're the parents." Oum agreed. "It's our job to protect you, not the other way around. Just leave Andrias to Stepford, from now on."
"So, it can do to Amphibia what it has do to you? No! All of you may be content to sit back and mindlessly do nothing, but we're not!" Anne yelled. All parents looked hurt by her words. "I'm… I'm sorry."
Do not be sad, my friends. They simply do not understand. They just need time, which we shall give it to them. You are all free to go anywhere in the city, however it is best for you girls to stay with your families and keep attending school. As for the Plantars, there is no more need for you to hide.
As Stepford spoke the TV turned on by itself, showing a news broadcast, hosted by just the male anchor of the previous news anchor duo. The girls quickly guessed that his former co-anchor must have been making a casserole, or something like that.
"And this just in from Stepford: it appears LA has visitors… from another dimension." The anchor said, trying his best to hide his shock behind a big smile, as live images of the Plantars (from John's phone) appeared on screen. "Stepford askes that we treat these visiting talking frogs as welcomed guests and show just how swell our world is."
Hop Pop crossed his arms. "While that is appreciated, I know a sales pitch when I hear one."
Still, I hope you six will come to understand what we are achieving. I will leave you all to care for your daughters: I have other matters that require my immediate attention. Anne, Sasha, Marcy, we will talk again soon. I hope you will soon see me, as your friend.
The AI hung up and the voice in the human's heads went silent.
"Now, Marcy, you have two choices." Her mom said. "You can head back upstairs and do your homework with your friends like you told Mrs. Boonchuy you were going to do, or we can go home, and you can do it there."
"The same options apply to you, young lady." Sophia looked at Sasha.
"I'll- stay." Marcy sighed.
"Me too." Sasha grumbled.
"Good." Bee smiled. "It shouldn't take you long to finish."
Upstairs Sprig asked. "So, what do we do now?"
Anne thought for a moment. "Stepford can probably read the minds of the three of us, so it's up to you guys to find a way for us to beat Stepford."
"Unless they start hearing it in their heads too." Marcy pointed out.
"Well, it's still the best shot we have." Polly argued.
Sasha gave her thoughts. "In the meantime, me, Anne, and Marcy can look for a way replace the Box, and to get back to Amphibia."
"Then that's what we'll do." Hop Pop nodded. "Still, you girls better on doing your homework now, your parents are upset as it is."
"As I soon change clothes: at least I can at least something more…" Anne stopped all of a sudden, when she saw what was in her closet. "…modern. Mom!"
"What is it, Anne? Is something wrong?" Oum asked.
"What did you do to my clothes? It's full of poodleskirts in there!"
"We updated the wardrobes of you girls while you all were at school. You'll look so cute in them, I bet Daniel and his brothers will love how such clothes will look all over you."
"Who is she talking about?" Sprig asked, dumb founded.
The girls blushed as Anne explained. "They are… three boys who just transferred to our school today. I'm not sure but- I think I'm falling in love with Danny."
"That's- nice. I'm happy for you, Anne." Sprig had a look on his face that was a combination of shock, happiness, confusion, and jealousy. Anne couldn't blame him: while she knew Sprig was in love with Ivy Sundew, Sprig did have a hard time when he first met both Sasha and Marcy for the first time. It was hard for him, to share his best friend.
"And I might be falling for his brother Lucas." Sasha said staring off into space.
"I never really thought about falling in love until I met Tony." Marcy confessed.
Mrs. Boonchuy gave a big smile. "I knew it would happen quickly, but I thought it would be a matter weeks or days. Stepford is quite the match maker."
All three girls felt their hearts fall into the bottom of their stomachs, hearing that dreaded S- name. "Wha- what does Stepford have to do with them?" Anne asked already figuring out the answer.
"Anne, I can see you girls are getting upset but it's okay. Stepford is able to find everyone their perfect match for everyone, then it was easy for her to fast-track their enrolment to your school and enhance your initial attraction to each other, to speed things along."
"I- I think we really need to get back to our homework."
Oum saw her daughter and her friends were holding back their tears. "I'll let you process your feelings, in time you girls will see that all of this is a good thing. The beginning, of your happily ever after."
Only after she left, Anne began to cry.
"Why didn't I see it as soon as we found out about Stepford? It said so itself, it controls everyone else, including Danny. And to think, yesterday I was so happy to be home."
"Deceived again." Marcy was crying too, hurt by the fact she of being manipulated and betrayed for the second time in a couple of days. "I should have known someone as handsome as Tony would never be interested in a nerd like me, without mind-control."
"The first guy I ever really liked and it's only because some program is pulling on both our strings." Sasha sobbed.
Hop Pop tried to comfort the girls. "Now, don't sell yourselves short. You girls have a lot to offer, and as for those boys, they are just victims of Stepford themselves, as much as your parents or anyone else."
"Yeah." Sprig suggested, "Even if Stepford is controlling them, they might still be decent guys.
Anne wiped away a tear, determination building up again in her face.
"Still, we don't know if these… feelings we're currently experiencing are real or not. The only thing we do know is that, as long as they're under Stepford's control, Anthony, Lucas, and- Daniel… they are… the enemy. Our own hearts… are the enemy."