What's up, guys? Sorry for taking too long because I was so, so busy at work or helping family to keep the house clean or what not. Anyway, this chapter will takes place when Hop Pop and Felicia tried to put Sprig and Ivy together for the ritual, but Marcy and Polly are hatching their schemes is to have those two is to be remain friends. Now, without further ado, enjoy your reading!

Marcy and the Frogs

Chapter 14: Dating Season

During that day, Marcy, and Sprig are walking through the forests to get some nice fresh air. She really loves to sightseeing of all the environment while sketching and writing down her own journal. Sprig seems to enjoy to have her company as long as they stay in the middle of the track.

"Golly, you seem to enjoy strolling through the 100 acres of woods like I do." said Marcy.

"Where's the fun in that? This place is full of nature. Whoo-hoo!" Sprig cheers.

"You said it, partner!" Marcy agrees when she looked at a bug that gets eaten by another big bug. "Well, it's worth a shot."

Just then, a rustling in the bushes drew their attention when Sprig picked up a branch in his free hand.

"Stay back. It could be a bloodsucking predator." said Sprig.

"You mean like lions, tigers, or bears?" Marcy braced herself ready to jump in to protect Sprig.

"A what now-"

"Ambush!" Suddenly, a yellow blur jumped down and tackled Sprig to the ground before springing away.

"I'm hit! Sprig down! Sprig dooown!" he said dramatically, flailing his arms.

Marcy shifted into smile that it was Ivy who's been making an ambush to Sprig just for fun. He turns his head at Ivy's laughing and then smiling at her.

"Hey, Ivy. Nice ambush. Gourd in a wig? Classic." said Sprig.

"Can't take all the credit. You're really easy to trick." Ivy chuckled.

"Well, guilty as charge." Sprig shrugged before she got off him and then he gets up.

"Oh, hey Marcy." Ivy greeted.

"Hi, Ivy." Marcy waved. "Whatcha doin?"

"Just having a little fun. What are you been up to?" Ivy asked.

"Strolling in the woods with Sprig." Marcy answered.

"Great. See you later, Sprig. But you won't see me." said Ivy with a mischievous smile before hopping away, from stump to stump and then branch to branch back out of the forest. Sprig watched her hop off with stars in his eyes and Marcy got a sly smile on her face.

"You and Ivy seem pretty friendly, huh?" Marcy asked in a teasing tone.

Sprig seemed to catch himself staring out after Ivy.

"What about it?" Sprig puzzled.

"Oh, nothing, I was just curious about you two" Marcy prodded innocently.

"Listen Marcy, me and Ivy are just friends." said Sprig as if closing the matter.

"Are you sure?"

"Seriously! Me and Ivy are just friends."

"I heard you the first time."

Sprig groaned when he felt that his best friend is embarrassing him. Marcy just love teasing him, but she knew that won't pushed him too much pressure. Later on, they made it back to the Plantars farm as they got inside where Hop Pop was standing by the stairs, waiting for them.

"What have you two been doin'? I've been lookin' for you all morning." said Hop Pop, skeptically.

"Oh, we were just strolling through the woods until Ivy showed up." Marcy shrugged obviously.

"Ivy Sundew?" Hop Pop gasp before he turned around heading back up the stairs. "Nobody move! I'm gettin' the courtship kit."

"Ugh! Hop Pop is gonna make a big deal out of all of this." Sprig groaned like he wanted to fade out of existence.

Hop Pop came back with the book he's holding with Polly follows behind.

"Here we go. The Firefly Formal is tonight. It's the perfect opportunity to begin the ritual." said Hop Pop as he opens the book.

"Ritual?" Marcy puzzled.

"Uh-huh. Only frogs who have performed the ceremonial dance in the ceremonial garb are allowed to be wed."

"I don't care." said Polly dryly.

"Wait, didn't I ever tell you that they're too young to get married? I've already convinced Maddie once." Marcy looked concerned.

"She's right. We're just friends." Sprig agrees with her.

"Nonsense. The Sundews have secret proprietary crops. Do you have any idea what that means?" said Hop Pop smiling at his grandson.

"Uh..."

"If our families merge, we'll be rich!"

"Wow. So romantic." Polly rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Could Ivy be my eternal love, my soul mate, the cat to my bat?" Sprig asked when feeling uncomfortable.

"Well, we're about to find out 'cause I already asked her family." replied Hop Pop while looking through the letter that he received from the mosquito. "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. They agreed to a date!"

The mosquito messenger buzzes at him for a moment.

"What do you want? Oh, your tip. All right, here you go. But don't take too much, though. I have chores to do later." said Hop Pop handing the bug over the tip.

"Well, missing out on eternal love does sound bad. I guess one date couldn't hurt." said Sprig.

"That's my boy!"

"Oh c'mon, how bad could it be?" Marcy consoled him.

"Okay, this's pretty bad." Marcy admitted, looking at Sprig.

"Stop strugglin'." Hop Pop grunted.

He already put him into an ugly old timey outfit. A massive ruffled collar above striped poofy shirt and pants. Polly was now looking sympathetically towards Sprig. She doesn't look very too much fond of all that kind of nonsense.

"My boy, you look incredible." Hop Pop smiles.

"Uh... I don't know about this. Ivy's gonna think I look stupid. I think I look stupid." said Sprig feeling more uncomfortable.

"Oh, pish posh. Ivy would love this! Now, let me go grab something before we leave." said Hop Pop as he went to fetch something, leaving just three kids alone in the room.

"Is there a way we can call this all off?" Marcy asked with a regretful tilt of her head.

"We can't do that. Ivy already accepted. Even if it's all a misunderstanding, I don't want to hurt her feelings." Sprig said, miserably

"I don't know about that. That reply came awfully quick. I don't think Ivy was consulted any more than you were." Marcy theorized.

"You think?" Sprig asked hopefully, waddling in his outfit to face Marcy.

"That would be my guess. But I'll go ask to be sure." Then she looked down at Polly. "Polly, you want to come with me to the Sundews? I got a plan in the works I think you'll appreciate."

"Of course," Polly responded, jumping into the hood of Marcy's Hoodie so she could ride along.

"You'd really do that for me?" Sprig asked Polly, looking touched.

"Sprig, you're my brother. I just want you to be happy." Polly assured him with a smile.

"We'll get you out of this Sprig, just play along for now." said Marcy.

"Okay, but be careful." replied Sprig.

"We will." She walks out through the door and closed behind her before Marcy tilted her head back to Polly. "So what's the real reason"

"Is it so hard to believe I would want to help my brother out of the goodness of my own heart?" Marcy just paused in her walk to look back at Polly. "Fine, if I let this happen, then one day it's gonna be me on the chopping block."

Marcy chuckled before starting the trek towards town.

"Mom! I don't want to marry Sprig!" Ivy whined when she is wearing her goofy dress.

"I thought you liked Sprig, you always glow talking about the times you run into him." said Felicia when setting up the dress after she had to shut down the café to prepare for the firefly formal tonight.

"I was just proud my ambushes worked!" Ivy explained.

"Sure, sure. Now wait here, I'll go get the makeup." Felicia excitedly jogging up towards the stairs to where their living quarters were.

Ivy groaned when she was not looking forward to tonight. Sprig was one of her best friends in the village, but she didn't want to break his heart. She tried to tell her mother that it was all just misunderstanding, but she didn't listen.

"Pst."

Then she heard a voice from the window and turned to see Marcy and Polly that were waving through the window before Ivy turning to face the two of them.

"Hey, Ivy." Polly whispered.

"Oh, hey guys. Do you know what drove Sprig to this?" Ivy asked.

"It's a misunderstanding." Marcy explained.

"Hop Pop got carried away." Polly added, rolling her eyes.

"From what we overheard, sounds like something similar happened over here?" Marcy guessed.

"Yes! Mom's been going on and on about Sprig helping out in the café." Ivy said, shaking her head. "So... Sprig doesn't want to get married?"

"Nope!" Polly responded bluntly.

"Oh, that's good, right?" Ivy felt relief.

"Yep, but he was nervous about doing anything to stop it. He was worried about hurting your feelings." Marcy explained.

"Shoulda known. Dork." said Ivy, trying to act casually.

"So, if I had a plan to get you two out of this, would you go along with it?".

"Found it!" Ivy heard her mother call out and started coming downstairs again.

"Yes!" Ivy quickly agrees.

"Got it, I'll fill Sprig in, so follow his lead." Marcy gave her a thumbs up and ducked below the window sill as Felicia Sundew came back into the room.

Ivy returned to being dressed up like a doll. She distracted herself by wondering what plan Marcy had in store.

Later that evening, the party has already been setup since the word has spread. Everyone was very delighted to see Sprig and Ivy that they're on the ritual courtship, but frankly that nobody knew that it was big misunderstanding. Just then, Marcy and the Plantars were waiting for Ivy and her mother until they have arrived.

"Ah, there's Felicia" said Hop Pop looking back at Sprig who was waddling in his unwieldy courtship outfit. "Are ya ready, Sprig?"

Sprig is now wearing a thick layer of pale makeup that made him look a little ill. He gave an awkward thumbs up, and Hop Pop went off to greet the Sundews.

"My little girl's a woman." said Felicia smiling.

"Mom!" Ivy whines when embarrassed.

"Good evening, Felicia." Hop Pop greeted.

"Hello, Hopadiah. I would like to thank your grandson for dating my daughter." said Felicia.

"Aw, it was nothing."

As soon as Hop Pop was out of earshot Sprig turned to Marcy and Polly.

"Is everything ready?" Sprig asked.

Marcy gave a thumbs up and Polly nodded with confidence.

"Just don't head in that direction and you should be fine." She pointed to a place where two trees bent to create an archway into the forest.

Sprig nodded, looking reassured. Marcy excused herself when Hop Pop returned.

"Alright, Sprig, go get that business- I mean romantic relationship." Hop Pop chuckled with his greedy grin. "Saved it."

As of cue, both Marcy and Polly nodded at each other before she began to she clambered up to a low rooftop nearby to get a better look at things. Sprig and Ivy were introduced as a couple to a crowd of cooing adults. Both looking uncomfortable as the center of attention, which Marcy could relate to.

"Hey." Sprig greeted with squeaky voice.

"Hi." Ivy greeted back.

"Uh... these are for you." Sprig held out some flowers for her.

"Oh. Thanks." Ivy thanked him.

"So...you're looking like a... girl frog."

"Oh, okay. I like your, uh, collar."

Hop Pop and Felicia were so happy that Sprig and Ivy are in love, obviously.

"(sigh) I'm so happy we agreed on this merger, Hopadiah. That Sprig of yours looks like a hard worker." said Felicia.

"Like we agreed, you'll get Sprig to work at your restaurant, and I'll get the seeds to those Sundew vegetables." replied Hop Pop.

"Agreed." She shook her hand with him.

Marcy and Polly were watching from above where they can see their friends that were about to dance.

"You know, I think it would be more cute when Sprig and Maddie are having their own date." Marcy suggested.

"What makes you think you say that?" Polly asked skeptically.

"For no reason." Marcy shrugged.

Just then, Albus Duckweed, a newt came in when he prepared for the announcement after the frogs has paused their dancing.

"Excuse me, everybody, but I hear we have a couple of love doves here tonight. Ivy Sundew and Sprig Plantar. Whoo! A big hand for them. Come on, let me hear it." He applaud along with the others while Sprig and Ivy felt a little nervous. "Hopadiah Plantar says, "Sprig, don't mess this up for us." And Felicia Sundew would like Ivy to "have a great courtship. Wink." It says "wink" here. "Love, Mom." All right, then. Hit it, boys!"

Soon the music started and the would-be couple started awkwardly tottering from side to side.

"There we go." said Sprig.

"I had no idea you felt this way about me, Sprig." replied Ivy.

"Oh, sure. Didn't you know two-thirds of all mates start with souls? Ah! I mean, two-thirds of all souls start with..." He pause for moment when he tried to say something before he continues. "I can't do this. I'm really sorry, Ivy. I-I don't want to date you. Everyone just convinced me this was a good idea."

"Oh, thank goodness! I only went along because I didn't want to hurt you. Also 'cause my mom forced me." said Ivy.

"Ha! Parents, am I right? What do you say we ditch this thing and go watch some fireflies? They're in season." Sprig suggested.

"After you, friend." Ivy laughs.

"Why, thank you, friend."

As of cue, Marcy and Polly were waiting for the right moment when the signal is ready.

"Everything's ready, right?" Polly questioned excitedly.

Marcy nodded, pulling out a few tightly bound packets she had securely wrapped and sealed in leaves. She let out a bird chirp and gave a waving of fingers to alert Sprig, he nodded and whispered something to Ivy. Giving it a couple of seconds and then tossed the two packets into the middle of the crowd.

As they made contact they burst open, massive clouds of black smoke filling, spreading, and lingering in the area. Marcy allowed herself a fist pump, the smoke bombs worked perfectly!

Sprig and Ivy capitalized on the distraction, fleeing while everyone else coughed and yelled in surprise and confusion. It had worked, they had gotten away and the ritual was off. It would be months before a party suitable enough for another engagement could happen.

"Alright, let's go and lead them off the wrong way." said Marcy when slipping down from the roof and then sprinting through the archway she had pointed out to Sprig earlier.

Hop Pop heaved out a cough as the smoke cleared.

"How could this happened?!" Hop Pop coughed.

"They're abandoning the ritual!" Felicia exclaims. "If those two don't finish that dance..."

"Then this courtship will be ruined! Along with my financial security!" Hop Pop finished that sentence.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Marcy running off with Polly into the forest. Felicia saw her too and scowled at him.

"Hopadiah, I swear to frog if that spirit of yours has done something to Ivy, so help me I-"

"Can we save that argue later? Right now, we need to find these kids and fast." said Hop Pop.

"(sigh) Fine." Felicia exhaled before she ran off to follow the trail with Hop Pop follows behind.

Meanwhile, Sprig and Ivy went near to a small pond, ditching the puffy uncomfortable clothes in favor of their usual duds. As Sprig pulled his collar off with some help from Ivy. They both let out a sigh of relief. As they caught their breath, they both took in the beautiful sight before them.

A horde of fireflies crowded the pond, milling about in an ever moving light show. Constellations forming and collapsing in moments. Sprig sat down taking in the sight.

"Wow, this is beautiful, huh Ivy?" said Sprig with a smile, looking over to Ivy for agreement, but only to find the girl missing. "Ivy?"

"Ambush!" Ivy shouted before jumping onto him.

"Oh, no you don't." Sprig said as he got out his stick sword with her blocking it up to a point where the two fenced.

"Come back here! This'll be your grave!" Ivy said.

"That's, uh...That's pretty dark." Sprig commented.

Back where Hop Pop and Felicia were searching until they having found that the two had already taken off their dresses. They looked so disappointed that the ritual is ruined.

"Hmm. Where are those dang kids?" Hop Pop muttered.

When he just take a step, but then suddenly they just fell for through the facade of leaves and sticks with a quick yelp and made a huge thud. Luckily, no one was injured as they fell through the pit. Just then, Marcy and Polly come out from the bushes and they gave each other a high five.

"Nice work!" Polly smiles.

"Thanks." replied Marcy.

This had been the first time she had the chance to cause mischief in Amphibia thanks to her childhood friends back home. As they both approached to the edge of the pit, Hop Pop and Felicia looks up to them.

"Marcy?! Polly?! What is the meaning of this?!" Hop Pop exclaimed.

"Sorry, Hop Pop. It's for reason that you two should understand." said Marcy.

"Where have you taken my daughter, spirit?!" Felicia demands to ask.

"Now Felicia, lets calm down-" Hop Pop tried to diffuse the situation.

"Zip it!" Felicia snapped when Hop Pop shut his mouth before she asked her again. "Where's my daughter?!"

"Ma'am, I didn't use any magic. It's a little alchemy, but I didn't take her anywhere. The smoke just gave her and Sprig time to escape." Marcy explained.

Felicia paused at that, not looking entirely convinced, but also not as confident as before.

"Why would she ask you for help? If she really didn't want to go through with all this-"

"She didn't!" Marcy interrupted. "You just weren't listening to her!"

"It's just..." Felicia paused. "It's what's best for her."

"Why do parents always say that like it excuses everything?"

"Marcy, sometimes parents need to make decisions for their kids. They don't know everything yet and need someone to look out for them." said Hop Pop.

"This is one of those times? You sure? Neither of you have ulterior motives?" Marcy asked skeptically before he looked guilty and felt ashamed. Then she looked back at Felicia. "Sometimes parents need to make decisions, I get that, but they shouldn't hide behind that excuse whenever their kid objects to it. If you have a good reason, then explain it. And if you can't, consider it might not be that good a reason after all."

Felicia frowned in thought considering Marcy's words for a moment. Before she could apologize, but suddenly they heard wings flapping and some birds screeching.

"What's that?" Hop Pop asked.

They all looked up and see that there were couple of love doves. A two headed doves that just coos at them.

"They're beautiful." Felicia grinned.

"Just look at them." Polly added.

"Love doves. Don't move or we're dead." Hop Pop whispered.

"What? I thought they were all romantic and mate for life." Marcy puzzled.

"Yeah, and they spend that life massacring all living things." Hop Pop responded.

As of cue, the two love doves then shrieked as they noticed the group. They let out their shout with fear before Marcy and Polly quickly jumps down to the pit before the doves catches them with their beaks. They took step back against the wall so that they won't get eaten.

"Okay, this is a very bad idea!" Marcy frantic.

Back to the pond, Sprig and Ivy were laying against the grass after all the fun they were playing. Right now, they are watching some fireflies and it looked so beautiful to watch the majestic moments.

"Look! Purple ones!" Sprig spotted a group of purple ones flying by, playfully dipping and diving through the slower yellow fireflies.

"Oh, yeah, those are babies. I read that they're purple so the moms can find them if they get lost." Ivy explained.

"What? That's adorable." Sprig grinned.

"I know right?" replied Ivy before she closed her eyes while Sprig stuck out his tongue.

"Bleh." Then suddenly, they heard some screams. "What the...?"

"That sounded like..." Ivy paused as she and Sprig picked up those hearings again until they recognized those voice.

"Our families! We gotta help them!" Sprig shouted.

"Way ahead of you. Come on, let's go!" Ivy handed Sprig a stick sword before they ran out after the love doves.

Back to the group where they're in a corner of the trap pit. The love doves tried to reached them, but their necks were too shorts to reach them. Marcy is holding Polly in her arms while Hop Pop is shielding Felicia in defense.

"At least we're safe down here, right?" Marcy asked hopefully.

"Not right away. Love doves prefer to let their prey marinate in fear first." Hop Pop explains.

"Can it, Plantar! This is all your fault! If you taught your grandson proper courtship technique-"

"My fault?! It's obviously yours." Hop Pop retorts.

"ENOUGH!" Polly shouted as the two of them stops bickering. "It's obviously yours!"

"Say what?!" Hop Pop exclaims.

"Excuse me?!" Felicia gives her a scowl.

"Zip it! The only reason we're here marinating is because you all had to play matchmaker! You two were greedy, plain and simple!" Polly lectured them.

"Maybe a little." Hop Pop realized for his error.

"It's nuanced." Felicia added.

Just then, a pebble hit one of the doves head as it turn its head at Sprig and Ivy who came to rescue their family.

"Hey! We're here to rescue you." Sprig hollers.

"Sprig! Ivy! Get us out of here!" Marcy hollers when smiling.

"I always tell them, 'Save the heartfelt apologies for when we get to safety.'" Polly commented.

"Don't worry, guys. Sprig and I are ready for combat. Right?" Ivy asked.

"Right." replied Sprig.

"On the count of three. One, two..." Ivy began counting before noticing that Sprig was missing. "Sprig?"

"Ambush! Ha ha!" Sprig shouted before ambushing one of the love doves and striking it. Take that, you beautiful creature!"

He was striking up the dove until it passed out with another love dove then forcing him off by tossing him aside and lands next to him.

"Nice ambush!" Ivy smiles.

"Well, I learned from the best. Now let's finish this up." Sprig grinned before he and Ivy then struck the other love dove, knocking it out cold as well.

Marcy, Polly, Hop Pop, and Felicia climbs out from the pit trap as they rush towards the kids.

"Whoo! Way to go Sprig!" Marcy cheers.

"Amazing. Even in defeat, they're majestic." Hop Pop impressed as he gestured to the doves when sleeping.

"Ivy, are you alright?" Felicia asked when checking on her daughter. "I thought you had been spirited away."

"Mooom!" Ivy looked embarrassed at the affection.

Then she gave her daughter a warm hug before she turns back at Marcy.

"Marcy, is it? I'm really sorry for accusing you." Felicia apologize.

"It's okay. All is forgiven. I hadn't considered what that all would have looked like from your perspective." replied Marcy.

"Well, you gave me a lot to think about, so, thank you for that." said Felicia before she takes Ivy's hand. "Come along now, Ivy. Let's get you home so I can apologize safely."

"Okay. That was fun. See ya, Sprig!" Ivy waved when she walked off with her mother.

"See ya, Ivy!" Sprig waved back to Ivy as they both strolling off back to the village.

"Sprig, next time we won't get the courtship kit out until you're good and ready." said Hop Pop before he picks up Polly. "Now I can focus on finding love for Polly."

"No!" Polly shout with defeat.

"Welp, looks like our work here is done." said Marcy.

"Thanks for the bail, Marbles." Sprig thanked her.

"Aw, shucks. You're making me blush and you called me nicknames." Marcy smiles.

"Well, it was just a thought." Sprig shrugged.

"Alright, who do you love the most? Ivy or Maddie?"

"Hmm..." Sprig was thinking if he could choose until he smiling at her. "Yeah, I just fell in love with her."

"Who?"

"Ivy."

"Dang it."

Well, that took me long enough until I figured it out. It was a short chapter and some dialogues I used are from "A Witch In Wartwood" by Disect. Hope you enjoyed reading and stay tuned for the next chapter!

Amphibia (c) Disney