I am very sorry that I never get a chance to publish the next chapter last week because I was so busy to keep the whole theater clean when new movies comes out. Right now, we are back to Marcy's arc story where she'll learn how to ride a snail that I based off of "Anne Theft Auto". Enjoy your reading while you still can!
Marcy and the Frog
Chapter 11: Go Bessie, Go!
The next day in Wartwood, Hop Pop is riding on Bessie with Marcy and Sprig sitting in between him while Polly is on top of his head. They're heading their way home as they passed by two signs. One for Stumpy's diner and the big one that says 'Vote Toadstool, please?'. Ridiculous, doesn't it?
Anyway, Marcy is writing down her journal about her experience and Sprig is more relaxing like the usual. Hop Pop looks really calm when holding on to the reins that can only trust Bessie, the most precious snail that lives with him and his family name.
"Ah, a leisurely outing with Bessie. Why, we could really go anywhere. Do anything." said Hop Pop.
"Ooh, ooh! Can we get Swamp Slushies? They have new flavors." Sprig asked.
"Nope." Hop Pop chuckles.
"Can we go off-road? Do some crazy stunts?" Polly asked so eagerly.
"Double nope."
Sprig and Polly were frowning that Hop Pop declines their request. For Marcy, however steps in for his permission.
"Can I drive?" Marcy asked politely.
"Sure!" replied Hop Pop.
"Aw, man- Wait, what?"
"Absolutely. I've been trying to teach this guy for years." Hop Pop points his thumb at Sprig.
"It's true." said Sprig.
"And since you saved us from those zapapede yesterday, perhaps it's time you to learn how to ride a snail."
"Really?!" Marcy smiles.
"Yep!"
"Wow! It's like driving a go kart."
"Driving a go kart?" Sprig puzzled.
"I'll explain to you later." replied Marcy.
"Now, before you get started, you have to read this book." said Hop Pop.
Once they got back home, Hop Pop went to get his book and show this to Marcy for which she's curious when looking at the front cover with Bessie as golden decorations.
"Is that Bessie?" Marcy asked.
"This is Bessie's History. Before touching a snail's reins, you gotta know them. Feel their heartbeat next to yours and become one." Hop Pop explains.
"So, if I read this book, will it teach me how to ride a snail?" Marcy is rephrasing her questions.
"That's right, but it'll take time to practice. You have to trust Bessie, because she's a living creature like us. You need to work together."
"Okay, I won't let you down."
"That's what I like to hear. Now if you'll excuse me, Polly's due for a wash." Hop Pop went to pick up Polly that's been playing in the mud.
"No, no! Wait! No! I'll just get dirty again! You can't stop me! I learned this from watching you, Marcy!" Polly cries when trying to reach her flippers.
Hop Pop is carrying her all the way inside of their house to wash her off from the mud and then close the door behind him. That only leaves Marcy and Sprig outside with Bessie that's been eating some haystack.
"Welp. Time to start reading." said Marcy.
"Yeah, page five is as far as I got. Too much description, not enough plot." Sprig remarked.
"You haven't read the whole thing?" Marcy blinked.
"Nah, it's takes way too long when you're reading it."
"Well, I wouldn't say taking too long. Besides, I need to read this so that I can learn to ride a snail. Right Bessie?"
Bessie looked at her when she can only replied when chirped. Sprig started to pondering with his finger rubbing under his chin, but then he got an idea.
"Hey, I have an idea! Why don't we get some Swamp Slushies?" Sprig suggested.
"Wait, what if Hop Pop finds out that about this?" Marcy asked when concerned.
"No, I mean, while you're practicing riding a snail. We'll go get something for slushies while you'll learn enough to practice."
"Are you sure? I'm not sure if I could do that without reading it."
"Don't worry. You can still read while you're at it. Trust me."
Marcy did trust him. She really wanted to learn to ride a snail by reading the book. She doesn't want to say no to Sprig. But if Hop Pop finds out what they've been up to, what would he say? Marcy took her glance at Bessie that's still munching on the haystack. She started to think if she's ready.
Meanwhile in the middle of the road, Mrs. Croaker is riding on her giant ladybug, sitting next to Archie. They're having relaxation as the elder frog was riding her ladybug peacefully, but then she heard something until she looked closer to the rear mirror where something is coming from the dust.
"Huh? What in tarnation?" Sadie exclaimed.
Without a warning, it turns out that it was both Marcy and Sprig riding on Bessie as they zipped by her with her ladybug. Sadie was all startled at first, but she could see Sprig taunted her by flipping himself upside down.
"Out of the way, slowpoke!" Sprig taunted.
"Hooligans! Ruffians! Swamp suckers!" Sadie yells.
Sprig hops down next to Marcy that's taking hold of the reins when she noticed this.
"What was that?" Marcy asked.
"I've always wanted to try road rage." replied Sprig.
"Wasn't that a little harsh?"
"Maybe?"
Later on, they have arrived at the Swamp Slushy where two frog kids that were already receiving their slushies. Marcy got off from Bessie and walk towards to the stand. She asked politely if she can take two slushies, then the vendor hands over two slushies to her, and then she pays copper to him.
She walks back to Bessie and climbs up next to Sprig and hands him over his slushie as he happily drink his slushies. Marcy take the reins and kick it up when Bessie droves off as they left the area. It only takes like a few minutes when they're on the road.
"Thanks for getting me some slushies." said Sprig.
"No problem, Sprig. Now let's take a rest so I can read Bessie's History." replied Marcy.
Sprig nodded. Then he spotted something that there's an empty path that no one has ever been to.
"Hey, wanna go off-road?" Sprig asked.
"Off-road? Don't you think it's a little dangerous?" Marcy asked.
"Pshh. Don't worry. It's not like there's any dangerous creatures out there, except that it wasn't my fault."
"Hmm... Okay!"
Marcy jerked the reins to Bessie when the snail started to sped off fast from the right path like driving a vehicle into the forest. Both kids were cheering that they're having so much fun until Bessie flies up high in the sky.
"Whoa." Marcy and Sprig said it with unison.
Then they fall to the ground in the middle of the forest as Bessie slide down on the slope hill until they reached up through the log ramp and flew over until she has landed.
"Whoa! Oof!"
Marcy was all surprised. Sprig spits out some leaves before they burst into laughter.
"Man, that was fun!" Marcy laughs.
"Haha! It sure was." replied Sprig.
"So, wanna head back on road?" Marcy asked.
"Good old reliable on-roading, yes, please."
"All right Bessie, let's go." Marcy yanked the reins up gently, but Bessie hasn't respond. "Hmm?"
She yanked it up again, but Bessie didn't move.
"Come on, come on..." Marcy muttered.
"What's wrong?" Sprig asked.
"I don't know, but she's not responding."
Then they got off of her shell and it turns out that Bessie is hiding inside of her shell.
"You all right, girl?" Sprig asked when comforting her.
"What's going on?" Marcy asked when concern.
"Maybe she seems tired?" Sprig shrugged then picks up some green leaves. "Here, Bessie. I got dem good leaves, girl."
Bessie purrs when she refused to come out.
"Hmm. Maybe we can push her?" Macy suggested.
"Good idea, Marcy." replied Sprig.
"Okay. Now, push."
Marcy and Sprig tried to push Bessie, but she won't bulge until the gave up pushing.
"Man, she's way heavier than I thought." Marcy panted.
"What are we gonna do? We're stuck!" Sprig looks worried.
"Not to worry. There's only one way that we can solve this."
Marcy went over to the satchel that's been hooked up on Bessie, then takes the book out to read.
"Really? Our solution is to read this book?" Sprig exclaimed.
"Yes, Sprig. It's the only way to understand about Bessie. If I had a nickel for this one, I wonder how this story turns out." said Marcy.
With no other options, Sprig went groan when annoyed that he thinks it looks boring.
"Ugh, fine! Let's just start reading." Sprig groaned.
"Come on, Sprig. It wasn't that bad." said Marcy when smiling.
They were sitting on the ground so that Marcy can read while Sprig was listening, but looking bored. She opens the front page where it all begins here.
"Okay, let's see here. "It was an especially cold morning the day Bessie was brought into this world"…"
Then we can hear Hop Pop's narration about Bessie.
"The leaves had just changed color, and now I shall describe those leaves to you in great detail-"
"Lame." Sprig interrupted.
"Sprig, please. I'm trying to focus." Marcy hushing him.
"Fine." Sprig sighed.
"Where was I? Oh, yeah." Marcy continues to read. "In great details..."
Few minutes later...
In a flashback where it shows Hop Pop as young adult was at the auction and trying to win to save Bessie from his competitor.
"And it was at that moment I realized Bessie was no ordinary snail, but a kind, clear soul who would help others at a drop of a hat. I raised my bid to 400 copper pieces, winning the auction, and in the process, saving Bessie from the nefarious Jim Snapes."
"Yes! In your face, Snapes." said Sprig.
"Way to go, Hop Pop!" Marcy chimes.
Then it shows Hop Pop and Bessie were caught in the middle of the snow storm and he was struggle to keep up.
"The snow swirled around us and I knew we were doomed. I could feel the strength leaving my body bit by bit. The sweet embrace of eternity crept closer and closer. Until suddenly I heard a sound pulling me back."
Just then, when he heard Bessie that was starting to sing.
"Bessie... Bessie was singing!"
"You go, girl. You noble, noble creature." Sprig dramatically cries.
"That was beautiful." Marcy sniffled, then resume reading where she's at now. "Where was I? The reason Bessie had hidden in her shell was now very clear to me. A predator was close. And not just any predator. A natural enemy of snails."
Sprig perks up that she mentioned.
"Oh! Now I get it!" Sprig realized. "Marcy, do you knw the reason why Bessie is hiding?"
"Well, according to this from my world, any natural enemy of snails are birds, hedgehogs, meerkats, lizards, or any kind of animals that only eat bugs." Marcy explained.
"Okay, but what us amphibians? Do we eat smaller snails?"
Bessie purrs at Sprig that she's right here.
"Oh, no offense Bessie." Sprig apologize.
Then suddenly, they heard a twig snaps and went froze. It appears that the three of them are not alone in the forest. No one dared to move a muscle.
"Sprig, do you hear that?" Marcy whispered.
"I think so." Sprig nervously whispered.
When the bush started to rustle, Marcy quickly turn to page and see that there was a picture of hedgehog, but she thought that it look so cute at first.
"Aw, it looks kinda cute." said Marcy.
When she lowered the book down, then she spoke too soon that there was a hedgehog. An ugly looking hedgehog with sharp teeth, eyes that are glowing yellow, and snarls like wolves.
"AAAHHH!" Marcy and Sprig screams.
Then more hedgehogs comes out from the bush, reveal themselves after unrolled from slumber. Marcy and Sprig went up against the shell on their back and they looked panic. Now they know why Bessie is hiding because the hedgehogs are very hungry.
"I thought all hedgehogs were cute?!" Marcy frantic.
"You call this cute?!" Sprig exclaimed.
Then one of the hedgehogs growls, causing them to climb up on Bessie's shells. Marcy quickly turns to page in frantic when the hedgehogs tried to reach up to bite them.
"Come on, come on, come on!" Marcy frantic.
"Wait! Find the page what Hop Pop has taught you!" said Sprig.
"He didn't taught me anything just yet!"
"No, no! I mean the one that you saved us from yesterday!"
"Oh! You're right!" Marcy understand what Sprig says until she reach to the next page. "It says here, "When Bessie senses danger, you gotta sit on her shell and yell at the top of your lungs, 'Bessie, things are getting messy!'"
Suddenly as of cue, Bessie pops out from her shell and quickly sped off from the hedgehogs that they fell off. Marcy forms her smile that she actually did it.
"Yes! I did it!" Marcy cheers.
"Don't celebrate yet. Look!" Sprig point his finger where the hedgehogs are gaining up to them.
Marcy formed her firm look when taking serious. She picks up the reins to get herself with Sprig and Bessie to safety.
"Hang on!"
She jerks the reins to go faster and faster. Marcy held fast to the reins, feeling more and more confident. She only needed to gently guide Bessie one way or the other to avoid trees or logs on the road.
"Watch out!" Sprig yells.
They dive their heads down when the hedgehogs are firing their quills, but hit on the back of the passenger seat. Marcy was awestruck.
"Seriously?! They're shooting quills?!" Marcy exclaimed.
"Marcy! Focus!" said Sprig snapping her out of it.
"Right, sorry. How do we loose them?" Marcy turns another page and then reads where it says. "If you still haven't escaped, give Bessie some berries from the secret compartment in the front of her shell."
"(gasp) Berries! That's it!" Sprig snap his finger.
Marcy reach up to open the trunk door on Bessie's shell and pick up some berries, and then closes it.
"Huh. That was weird." said Marcy, the leans forward to feed the berries to Bessie from the palms of her hand. "C'mon, girl. Let's do this."
Bessie slurp up some berries from the girl's hand until she let out some pink slime on the trail. Marcy and Sprig looked back when the hedgehogs tried to reach up to them, but then they slipped and fall.
Marcy leaned forward in the saddle to make a maneuver when Bessie gave a slide for pink slime trail and make a halt when they see some hedgehogs keep sliding until they crashed against the tree, defeated.
"Woo hoo! We made it!" Sprig cheers.
"Way to go, Bessie!" Marcy gave a warm hug to Bessie that lets out a purr softy. "Alright, girl. Let's go home."
Bessie nodded and proceed to move on as Marcy and Sprig riding their way out back to the right path and went straight home before the sun goes down.
It wasn't that long when it take less than an hour by the time Bessie parked by the house. Marcy and Sprig jumps off of her as they looked really exhausted. It take some time for Marcy to practice by riding Bessie as they learn to work together as a team.
"We made it. And it looks like Hop Pop's still washing Polly." said Sprig.
When they looked through the window, Polly was still dirty when being chased by Hop Pop that was trying to wash her off all day.
"You'll never take me alive!" Polly yells.
"Dang it, Polly. You're getting filth everywhere!" Hop Pop scolded.
Marcy and Sprig share glances when they just shrugged. Then he went to the front door, but he looked back Marcy when she took the book out.
"Hey. You coming?" Sprig asked.
"You go ahead. I'm gonna stick around with ol' Bessie here." replied Marcy when petting the snail.
"Suit yourself."
Sprig went inside and close the door. That leaves Marcy and Bessie as they walked over to the barn where she sleeps. Marcy turns the candles on so that she can read all night as Bessie is sleeping peacefully. She leaned up against the shell and start reading where she lefts off.
"Bessie, I believe this is the beginning of our beautiful friendship." said Marcy.
The next morning when it's dawn, Hop Pop came over to the barn just to check on Bessie. When he opens the door, he was very quite surprised when Marcy fell asleep with Bessie that's been snuggled to her.
He doesn't know what to say, but staring at the Taiwanese girl sleeping with the book in her arms until he formed his parental smiles. He walked over to pick up the rag and walked over to her until he wrapped a blanket on her to give herself warm.
The way he looked at her, she reminded him how he used to raise his late daughter when he was young back in his old day. Marcy look so warm, breathing through her nose softly. He wish he could see his daughter again when raising his grandkids and to meet Marcy in person.
"Oh, Sally. I wish you were here to see this."
Hop Pop turns around and walks out through the door. He take a quick last glance at Marcy one last time before he walks back to the house. Marcy forms her small smile while sleeping that she was dreaming about where she used to be with the people she truly cared the most.
And that's a wrap! Up next, is where Marcy was trying to make the people of Wartwood to love her like from the actual canon episode on season two. In the meantime, stay tuned for the next chapter!
Amphibia (c) Disney