AMPHIBIA-BOTS
a fan-fiction by Slogokonnor99
Chapter 3: Quite the introduction!
The sun rose up on the lowlands below the mountains, shining the rusty colored body of a large robot whose vision was aimed at the horizon; he then let out a signal and hoped to see if anyone responded, but accidentally woke up the human girl by accident. -Ugh, who set the clock to 5 in the morning?- asked Anne, still trying to fully come to her senses; as her vision cleared, she spotted Optimus on a small hill a few meters from the camp. Anne made her way up to him, and to her surprise, Optimus was much tame than she expected, -Using the same noise to see if any of your companions makes contact?- asked Anne, -My apologies if that woke you up from your slumber Boonchuy- Optimus replied -but I am indeed trying to make contact with them; however, I am afraid that I cannot recognize the landscape at all-. Anne felt bad for Optimus; after all, her situation is almost similar to his, with the only exception being that she was trying to go home while he… well… she didn't exactly know what he was going to do after he found his comrades. -So… where do you exactly think your friends are headed to?- asked Anne, -The last time we grouped together was here, in this exact spot- Optimus replied -before we were attacked, we all planned on getting out of this planet and try to establish a home in another world… But fate seemed to have divided us once again-, -I… feel sorry for what they've done to you- Anne replied in a low tone -you said yesterday that you've fled from your planet that was destroyed by war and… hearing that this was the place of your last stand… what happened?-. Optimus turned to her, crouched and opened his hand for her to get on, Anne was a bit hesitant to do so, but in the end, she climbed into it and Optimus placed her in his shoulder. As Anne then stared into the horizon and saw the sunrise, Optimus began to tell her what happened that day.
-The tyrant king came with his army of frog drones, and once he spotted us he launched them all at once- he told her -we fought the best we could, but eventually our strength wasn't enough, and I commanded them to head up the mountains to try and lose the enemy-, -And then what happened?- asked Anne, -We thought we would lose them in the rocky terrain, but it turned out to be a trap- Optimus replied -a group of drones were already waiting for us at a selected corner, and once we arrived there we tried to double back, and that's when we realized it was an ambush-. -I guess… that's where you got split up- Anne stated, -With my comrades tired and partly wounded, I had to try and take them all on; giving them the opportunity to escape- said Optimus -That was when I got hit in the chest; but before they could finish me off, they all suddenly abandoned me, and went down the mountain-. -So they injured you and left you there to die- Anne concluded -why?-, -To this day I feel like I will never know- Optimus replied -but thinking they would come back to finish me off, I decided to hide myself and power down. The years passed and I thought I was never going to be found… until you found me-. Anne saw an expression of annoyance as Prime said that last sentence and felt guilt, but Optimus noticed her reaction. -I'm sorry Boonchuy if that offended you- Optimus apologized -forgiving the damage someone has done to you is never easy, and I once again apologize if you felt…-, -It's ok Prime- Anne replied as she looked down to her shoulder -I… well… I've kinda gone through the same experience-. Before Optimus could ask however, Anne turned around and saw that the Plantars were waking up, meaning that this conversation had to be postponed for another moment.
As the Plantars began to stretch up, Optimus and Anne went down the hill to assess if they were fine. Hop Pop still had his leg broken, so climbing back into Bessie's saddle was going to be tricky; but before he could try and do that Anne wanted to discuss some things with him. -So… Hop Pop, is there any map of Amphibia?- asked Anne, -You know that we used a map to get here in the first place, right?- Hop Pop replied sarcastically, -Yeah… but we used a map to get here- Anne stated -what I want is a map of all Amphibia-. Hop Pop now was a bit suspicious of whatever Anne was trying to achieve, -And why do you want such a map?- Hop Pop asked, -Well…- Anne tried to quickly thinking of something to hide her intentions -I just need to know what route to take when the valley passage melts-. Hop Pop wasn't buying it, but since she did indeed need a way out of the valley if she wanted to find her friends, he tried his best to remember if he had one. -Well, I had one back in my studio at home- he stated -but of course we need to get home, and with… well, Optimus with us, I believe the townsfolk may be too scared with his presence-. Hop Pop was right: When Anne first stumbled into Wartwood, the townsfolk nearly killed her, so if Optimus just simply shows up… Anne didn't want to imagine what could happen. -Can he make himself smaller?- Asked Sprig, who came into the carriage to place the sleeping bags inside, -I am not sure if he can do that- Hop Pop replied -also thank you for placing the sleeping bags back-.
While the others kept the discussion inside the caravan, Polly wanted to ask something about Optimus' weapons. -So… Prime- Polly asked as she came closer to Optimus -Can those swords that come out of your hands cut through anything?-, -What's it you want to try and slice?- Optimus asked back, thinking Polly was up to something, -Oh it's nothing- Polly replied -it's just that the way you sliced those bugs was EPIC!-. Optimus once again was surprised at this reaction, but also felt admired, -They're built-in weapons- he told her -I only use them when necessary-, -Do you have any other weapons besides that and your gun?- Polly asked, but before she could get an answer, Hop Pop called her to help him get stuff in the caravan to go home. As Polly went to the caravan, with Optimus in toe, none of them realized that they were being watched by something.
After a day of driving Bessie from the mountain all the way back to Wartwood, Hop Pop signaled everyone that they were near home; he once again was carried down from the saddle by Optimus and with the help of the Plantar kids and Anne he made his way to the door, however, there was still one problem. -Hop Pop, how are we supposed to hide Optimus?- asked Sprig, -well… He could stay on the forest edge and lie down- Hop Pop suggested -unless he can manage to transform into something -. As he finished that sentence, Optimus had already headed to the forest to find a hiding spot; Anne and the Plantars then made their way to the front door, but before they could enter Sprig spotted a letter on the doorway. -Hop Pop, we got a message from Toadie- Sprig told Hop Pop, -Give it to me, boy- Hop Pop ordered him. As he opened the letter, he quickly noticed some red words with bold font; Hop Pop knew what they meant, and it wasn't something good. -Kids, we got a situation- He stated -the tax collection is coming soon and we need to start doing the counting, or else…-, -Else what?- asked Anne, -Or else… there will be a pillage like last year- Sprig replied -a few people didn't manage to pay their taxes, and all of their things were stolen because of it!-. Anne feared what it could happen as she heard that last part, and with much reason. -How long until we need to pay them?- asked Anne, -According to this letter, the tax collection will be… IN TWO WEEKS?!- Hop Pop replied, worried, -Well, we must hurry then- Anne stated -where did you leave those maps again?-. As Anne asked that, someone began to knock on the door; Sprig went to open it and noticed that the woodsmith of the town came to visit.
-Oh hey there Loggle- said Sprig as he opened the door, outside was a blue axolotl with a pair of goggles on and holding a package for Hop Pop. -Oh hey there Sprig Plantar- He answered -Is Hopadiah in the house right now?-, -Oh hello there Loggle- Hop Pop answered as he heard his name -did you bring the cane I sent to fix?-, -Right here Hop Pop- He replied -I must say: this would've been much easier if it wasn't destroyed to bits!- -You don't say- Hop Pop stated as he looked at Anne, after all: She was the one who broke it… somehow. -Oh, also- Loggle interrupted his thoughts -what's that huge thing on your barn?-, Hop Pop's expression changed from annoyed to scared: why, out of all the spots to hide in or near the bloody forest, did Optimus choose his barn?!. -Uh… what thing?- He asked back, -Oh, I'm surprised I forgot about the massive piece of obsidian you found in your basement the other day- Loggle replied –you must be trying to do something with it!-. Hop Pop let out a small breath of relief as soon as it was a false alarm, -Well… I was actually planning on selling it to you- He replied -I thought you can use it on one of your projects-, -Sounds like you don't remember the incident with the anvil and the metal pipe- Loggle replied, and indeed Hop Pop didn't remember at all. Suddenly, a small quake took them by surprise; at the back of the house, Optimus tried to see what was going on, but instead knocked the family boat over by accident. -Um… Do you have some new creature on your backyard?- asked Loggle as he tried to look behind Hop Pop, -What? No- He replied -you know the kids cause so much mess behind a parent's back-, -Oh, I guess you're right- Loggle agreed. With that stated, he gave the package to Hop Pop and peacefully headed back to the town… If it wasn't for a metallic noise he ended up hearing in the backyard of the house.
As he carefully moved to the other side, he heard Hop Pop telling the kids to "bring the maps to him". -I wonder what Hopadiah plans this time- He thought. From the forest, Optimus saw the blue axolotl spying on the Plantars and assumed he was an intruder. This now placed him in a dilemma: Does he risk exposing himself to try and figure out what was gonna happen? Or simply stay and let whatever happens happen?. In the end, he tried his best to slowly approach the axolotl to inspect his intentions. -I assume spying on others is something common in this household- Prime stated as Loggle fell backwards in fear, -WHAT THE FROG?!- Loggle asked in panic, after all, the metallic giant was almost five times his size. -Easy there you amphibian- said Optimus -I am not going to hurt you-, -HOP POP!- yelled Loggle -WHY DO YOU HAVE A ROBOT ON YOUR BACKYARD?!-. Anne simply opened the window and pulled Loggle inside to give him a talk, -Listen, before you complain and alert the whole town, he is not a threat- She stated -if he was, he would've hurt us back when we found him-, Loggle nodded quickly and tried to exit the room but Sprig stopped him in his tracks. -Listen, I have a lot of projects to finish at my studio- Loggle stated -and I am totally gonna tell the mayor about this; so if you're gonna keep my mouth shut, I want a good bribe for it-.
Optimus wanted to grab that axolotl and squish it until his insides came out because of his attempt to bribe, but a sudden move among the trees put him on his guard. As he turned around, he saw a pair of red glowing eyes. He knew what those red eyes meant, and as he saw them disappear in an instant, he immediately left for the open as silently as possible. Meanwhile, as Loggle kept threatening to sell them out, Anne simply decided to give him a small stick as a bribe. -You think this stick is gonna hold… - Loggle attempted to reply, but Sprig started to press the top of it repeatedly. -Huh, why is this noise so… entertaining?- said Loggle, he couldn't look away from the action nor ignore the noise the stick was making; he was fully hypnotized. Loggle then tried to grab the stick, but Anne stopped him in his tracks, -You want this, Loggle?- asked Anne -then you must promise me that you won't tell anyone about Optimus, got it?-. Loggle nodded in excitement, still hypnotized by the pen, and Anne gave it to him; he then left for the town in excitement as he kept on playing with the stick. -You really outdone yourself there Anne- said Sprig as he closed the door, -See Optimus, the pen is mightier than the sword- Anne stated as he looked in the direction of Optimus; but he wasn't outside the window anymore. -Uhm… Anne- Polly called her as she found something in the backyard -I think he left a trail-; large footprints were imprinted all over the soil, and they all took direction towards the town
Anne, Sprig and Polly rushed out of the house and followed the footprints, desperate to try and find Optimus before he could reach Wartwood and do who knows what to the residents of the town; to their surprise however, the footprints cut short before reaching the town entrance and marked the way back to the forest. -I think he may or may not have gone off to kill someone else- said Sprig with a sarcastic tone, Anne was more than worried if this was true however: if they noticed it was them who brought Optimus to their town, their reactions would definitely not be the best. With no other choice, she decided that they should follow the footprints to find him, but Sprig and Polly began to feel like this was a bad idea. As the group followed the tracks, they ventured into the forest once more, and it was there where they noticed a second pair of footprints; these ones however were bigger and wider, and it seemed like this thing had a thumb, meaning it could grab anything as a tool. -This doesn't look like a creature we've seen- claimed Anne, -What do you mean?- asked Sprig nervously, -I don't think any wild animal that isn't a frog has a thumb- Anne replied -which means whatever this thing is, it definitely isn't something from here-. Questions invaded their heads with Anne's statement, but all those thoughts went away as they heard a noise; however, it did not sound like if it was from an animal, but rather from a machine. -Anne, I think we should leave- Polly whispered, fearful that whatever was making that noise could detect them, -Don't worry Polly- Anne stated -We must slowly walk backwards without making any noise-. As she said that, Polly accidentally crushed a small twig. Everyone then stood quiet, hoping that the beast quickly forgets the noise; but it was in vain, as it already had a lock on them. From the darkness of the forest, a metallic leg tried to squish them; Anne pulled the Plantar kids out of the way and that's where they saw it: a large, rusty and metallic toad-like robot. -WHAT THE FROG IS THAT?!- Sprig yelled as the robot's foot lifted upwards; it then attempted to stomp on them once again but this time Prime, who came out of his ambush spot, tackled him from the side, preventing the robot from squishing them. Optimus then deployed his energon sword and aimed at the robot's face, but the robot noticed the move and quickly grabbed him by the arm and threw him aside; for such a rusty robot it was surely strong and fast. -RUN AWAY PLANTARS!- yelled Optimus -I'LL HOLD HIM OFF!-.
Anne and the Plantars immediately booked it out of the forest and into the town. Optimus tried his best at slowing the robot down but it was persistent, almost as if it wanted to only hurt them rather than him. He tried to use a hook to blind him to try and flip it on its back; but having let down his guard in doing so, the robot used Prime's momentum to bite down his left arm and throw him towards the Plantars. Anne saw his body flying towards them and stopped in her tracks just as he landed in front of her; she then kept running along with the Plantars towards Wartwood, shouting out loud to warn them about the incoming danger. -EVERYONE! LEAVE THE TOWN NOW!- She yelled as they reached the main plaza; meanwhile, Optimus shot at one of the front legs of the robot, causing it to tumble. Seizing the opportunity, he then attempted to aim for the head; but the robot recovered quickly and grabbed his head and threw him against the ground. The robot then tried to squish him under his weight while also trying to rip his head off with its paws, Prime used is gun to shoot at the robot's throat, making him loose his grip on him. Optimus then backflipped as the robot attempted to squish him once again and punched him directly in his right side, breaking his left eye. Blinded, the robot charged forwards, hoping to hit Optimus; however, Prime dodged to the left and in turn made the robot crash into a town building. All the residents ran in panic as soon as this happened, having no idea of what was happening. Anne tried to guide them towards the edge of the town; but as the robot recovered and got a lock on her, she quickly ran in the opposite direction. Sprig noticed that the robot was about to charge towards Anne and thinking quickly he pulled out his slingshot and aimed at his left eye; he then let go of the rubber band and the pebble hit the target, breaking its remaining eye. With the robot blinded, Optimus saw an opportunity, and by deploying an energon axe, he stabbed the back of the robot; making it flop to the ground. The robot attempted to lunge at Prime as he dragged out his sword, but this time Optimus quickly moved to the right; and with a swift move he decapitated the robot, ending his misery.
The townsfolk slowly came to the scene to see what happened. Anne and the Plantars stood back as Optimus turned to face the Wartwood inhabitants; not much was destroyed except for a couple of houses, as well as the town center statue and a few market stands, which were crushed by the head of the robot. -What in the absolute frog was that?!- asked a large toad with fashionable clothes, -Um… I can explain- said Anne as she stepped out of her hiding spot -I found him on a mountain and brought him to the Plantars' home because…-, -Enough said Boonchuy- the toad replied -I want to hear the version of this… giant… thing… what is it supposed to be?-. -My apologies for the destruction of your plaza- Optimus replied -I was only trying to protect the Plantars-, -Oh, so you're like their new guardian- the toad replied -I didn't knew the Plantars were this rich-, -Well… we didn't buy him- said Hop Pop as he came out of the crowd -we found him in the mountains-. Everyone then gasped at that statement: Among the townsfolk, no one dared to go to those mountains due to the presence of the Zapapedes, and for them to hear the Plantars have brought something back from that forbidden area is a huge achievement. -Well, if you went all the way over that side, then we shall all then see if you're correct on the matter- a one-eyed frog spoke from among the crowd -Why don't you go over there and document what's over there?-, -Well…- Hop Pop tried to reply, but he was interrupted by an excited Anne; -We'll gladly do that!- Anne quickly replied, but was quickly pulled aside by the Plantars. -Anne, we have to start doing the count for the tax payment- Hop Pop stated -we can't go out there now-, -But what about Optimus?- She asked -we promised him we were gonna help him find his other companions-, -What do you mean by companions, Anne?- Hop Pop asked back. Anne had messed up there: all this time and she forgot to tell him and the others about what Optimus was looking for. -Uhh… well- Anne replied -Optimus isn't the only Autobot left in Amphibia-, -He isn't?- Hop Pop questioned her statement -so that's why you were asking for the maps-, -ok, maybe there are a few things I may not have told you about Optimus- Anne replied -but… can we still help him? Pleaaaase?-. Hop Pop was a bit unsure, given his condition and that Anne can't drive Bessie yet, it was unlikely for them to help; Optimus however noticed the situation and did something that amazed everyone: In a matter of seconds, his whole body rearranged and transformed into a Cybertronian vehicle. -YOU CAN TRANSFORM INTO A CAR?!- Anne asked out loud as she was amazed at what Optimus just did, -I didn't trust you that well Boonchuy- Optimus replied -but given your will to help, I guess we're now in this together-. Optimus then opened a door from his front side and allowed Anne and the Plantars to step inside, -Well Hop Pop, you still got that map?- Asked Anne, -I sure do Anne- Hop Pop replied -I sure do-. Prime then drove back towards the Plantars house, leaving the townsfolk to talk among themselves about what happened; if that robot was found in that mountainous region…
What else would be lying there awaiting to be discovered?