Author's Note: Well, the majority vote has spoken, and everyone wants to see Sprig vs Hop Pop in this fanfic. So congratulations. It's here. Thank you for the suggestion, everyone. Enjoy the chapter. Any and all comments are welcome.
T'Challa joined Anne, Sprig, and Polly in pulling weeds out of the vegetable garden while Hop Pop relaxed from his seat. It was a hot, sunny day which started to exhaust the young boy frog.
Sprig wiped sweat from his brow when he looked over at the farm's cow-like caterpillars. That's when an idea popped in his head which he then brought to his grandfather.
"Hop Pop! Hop Pop! Great idea! What if we trained the cowapillars to eat these weeds? Then we wouldn't have to…"
"Hup, bup, bup!" Hop Pop interrupted. "Suggestion barrel's over there." He pointed over at an unclean barrel with a letter slot.
Sprig excitedly leaped to the barrel and ate all the flies that were flying around there before writing down on a piece of paper. T'Challa, Anne, and Polly followed.
"Hey, think he actually reads these?" Anne asked.
"Doubt it." Polly answered. "I suggested a swimming pool months ago, and that never happened."
"It does seem like Hop Pop doesn't listen to anything we say." T'Challa noticed.
"Oh, come on, guys. Have a bit more faith in Hop Pop." Sprig said as he finished his suggestion. He placed it firmly into the letter slot only to have his hand stuck in it. "Oops. Hand's stuck." He shook himself to free his hand so much, he caused the barrel to tip over. That's when the secret was revealed.
The bottom of the barrel was open leading to a hole right beneath it. The hole itself was filled with flames which burned Sprig's suggestion instantly.
"A fire pit?!" Polly asked surprised. "That's the opposite of a swimming pool!"
"Why, Hop Pop?" Sprig cried out in an outrage. "Whyyyyyyy?!"
"Because your suggestions were ridiculous." Hop Pop answered. "You can't just dig swimming pools anywhere. It attracts pests."
"But aren't you being too dismissive?" T'Challa asked. "You're not even considering their ideas."
"You haven't known them as long as I have. Trust me, I know best." Hop Pop said. "Running a farm ain't easy, kids."
Sprig narrowed his eyes at him. "Maybe. But if I were in charge, I'd listen to other people's suggestions, not burn them!"
"You? Run the farm? Run it into the ground maybe."
Hop Pop enlarged his voal sac at his grandson's face. Sprig gritted his teeth and did the same thing to Hop Pop.
"Is that an official challenge?" Polly asked.
"A challenge for what?" T'Challa asked.
Sprig ran to a tall pole with a large bell at the top. He hollered loudly as he rang it repeatedly.
"Sprig Plantar, you have rung the Planter Family Challenge bell!" Polly declared. "What is your challenge?"
"I want to replace Hop Pop and run the farm my way." Sprig answered.
"Hop Pop?" Polly asked.
"I do formally accept this challenge."
"What is going on?" T'Challa asked.
"I don't know," Anne answered, "But I'm sure this will make sense in a moment."
"Never mind. What the heck's going on?!"
Anne, T'Challa, and Polly were sitting on a log next to a small bell. They watched Hop Pop and Sprig wear nothing but loincloths while standing on a large lily pad surrounded by mud. They scooped handfuls of mud and slathered them all over themselves.
"That Plantar Family Challenge." Hop Pop answered Anne's question.
"An artful test of skill where the winner takes all." Sprig said.
"They push each other until someone falls off a lily pad." Polly summarized. "It's dumb, but it's fun to watch."
"Oh, I think I get it." T'Challa said.
"You do?" Anne asked.
"Yeah. We actually have a similar thing in Wakanda. Those of royal blood can challenge the current king to a trial by combat for the throne."
"Seems a little old-school for an advanced civilization." Anne commented.
"Shuri pretty much said the same thing, but the elders call it tradition. But you know, no one had any reason to challenge my father for a long time… except perhaps for the Jibari tribe. But I'll get to that later."
"Wait!" Sprig called out. He moved closer to the spectators. "Hey, T'Challa, if you have something like this back in your world, then would you have any advice to give me?"
"I don't know, Sprig." T'Challa said unsure of himself. "This doesn't seem like something I should get myself involved in."
"Makes no difference to me." Hop Pop said. "I already know my way is right."
"Please?" Sprig asked with his eyes widening.
"Well… I do hate being ignored. All right." T'Challa said as he leaned in to whisper into Sprig's ear. "Hop Pop has the experience and size advantage. You can't fight that. But you can use it against him."
"Oh. I get it." Sprig said as he returned to his original position.
"Enough chit chat!" Polly said before striking the bell with her tail. "Let the challenge begin!"
Hop Pop and Sprig began by charging towards each other. As soon as they made contact, Sprig tried to push Hop Pop away, but the older frog picked him up and threw him to the edge of the lily pad. He then leaned on Sprig pushing him back, but Sprig wrestled to stay in place.
"Give it up, boy!" Hop Pop said. "I've got the experience and the upper body strength!"
"Oh, yeah? Well, I've got the moral high ground!" Sprig responded.
Sprig lied down onto his back and used his legs to lift Hop Pop off his feet. He managed to throw Hop Pop behind him letting him fall right into the mud.
T'Challa, Anne, and Polly gasped in amazement. The challenge was over, and…
"Sprig won?"
"I won?" Sprig asked just as surprised as their friends were. Anne picked him up by his leg and held him up. "I don't believe it! I'm head of the farm!"
Sprig and the girls cheered and carried the victor home. T'Challa was about to follow, but he looked back and saw Hop Pop laying in the mud with a sullen look on his face.
"Are you coming, Hop Pop?" T'Challa asked.
"Nah." Hop Pop responded in a defeated tone. "Looks like my time is over. I'd better be leaving."
"What?" T'Challa asked out of surprise. "Hop Pop, you don't have to leave. Just because you're no longer in charge, it doesn't mean you're no longer welcome at the farm."
"You don't understand, T'Challa." Hop Pop said. "At my age, the only purpose I had left was taking care of my family and running the farm. Now, all those responsibilities fall onto Sprig, and I'm not needed anymore. So if you need me—which I doubt—I'll be at the cemetery where I'm due."
Hop Pop hung his head down and walked away. T'Challa watched him disappear into the bushes and felt completely sorry for him.
"Did I make a mistake?"
Once T'Challa returned to the farm, he caught up to the rest of the gang back in the living room. Anne noticed him approached.
"Hey, why so glum, chum?" Anne asked.
"It's Hop Pop." T'Challa said. "He said he was leaving the farm."
"Oh, he's just being dramatic. He'll be back once he finishes licking his wounds. And when he does, he'll see just how much better the farm is under my watch." Sprig said. "Now, first order of business. As long as I'm in charge, no suggestions are bad."
"Swimming pools?" Polly asked.
"You betcha."
"Dance parties?" Anne asked.
"Let's have one right now, baby!"
Just as Sprig promised, he made every last suggestion he was given come true. A swimming pool was built. The cowakillers were being trained to pluck the weeds from the garden. A party with a clown was thrown (even though the clown terrified Polly). After a while, the house was added with a large slide that circled around it. It was like an attraction at a water park. While everyone else was celebrating however, T'Challa couldn't help but think about Hop Pop and the sad state he saw him in last.
After a long day of relaxation, Anne's stomach began to growl. "Is anyone else, like, starving?"
"Dinner. Great suggestion." Sprig said.
"One problem with that." T'Challa said as he exited the house. "There is no food."
"What? No food?" Polly gasped.
"Yeah. I checked all the cupboards. They're all empty."
"Huh. Guess today's the day Hop Pop goes to the grocery store." Sprig said.
"What are we going to do?" Anne asked. "I'm… getting… hangry!"
"I got it!" Sprig declared before heading outside. He returned shortly after with a bunch of beetroots which he placed before everyone. "Fresh from mother nature's garden of delights. Dig in, everyone."
Suddenly, a small, bug-beast emerged from the beetroots and tried to attack the family. T'Challa picked up a bucket and slammed it onto the bug trapping it.
"Whoops. Forgot to check for pests." Sprig said.
"I'm beginning to think there's a few things we don't know about running a farm." Anne said.
"We've got some kinks to work out, sure." Sprig said. "But isn't it better to live in a place where you're listened to?"
"Sprig, is this really how you plan to sustain us?" T'Challa asked. "With handfuls of beetroots that have a high chance of hiding a hungry bug?"
"Look. I'm sure all this will blow over by tomorrow morning." Sprig said.
He was wrong. The next morning, everything got much, much worse. Giant mosquitos dirtied the pool and layed eggs in it. Cowakillers were attacking the clown. And the garden was infested with many bugs. The farm had never looked worse.
After seeing the situation, Sprig called for the others to meet him inside the house in front of a blank chalkboard. "I've called this meeting for obvious reasons."
"The farm is ruined." Anne said.
"Wild pests are tearing the place apart." T'Challa said.
"We have no food and we'll die." Polly said.
"Luckily for us, we have the power of great suggestions and management that listens." Sprig said. He turned to the chalkboard and began to write on it. "So have at it, guys. What should we do? Remember, there are no bad suggestions."
"Let's find Hop Pop and put him back in charge." said Anne, T'Challa, and Polly at the same time.
Sprig's chalk snapped at the sound of that suggestion. He turned to the others furiously. "Hopediah Plantar was a tyrant!"
"A tyrant who knew how to run a farm." Anne said.
"And more importantly, cook." Polly said.
"Let's face it, Sprig. We have no idea how to run this farm on our own." T'Challa said. "Hop Pop may have been rude, but at least he knew what he was doing. We need to give him back control of the farm."
Sprig scowled. "I will not go back to that life! Don't you like being listened to?"
"I don't exactly feel listened to right now." Anne said uncomfortably.
"Ditto. You're kinda freaking me out, bro." Polly said.
"Sprig, listening to others is good, but it's not enough. We also need someone who knows what's best for the farm." T'Challa said. "That's what a leader is for."
Sprig still refused to listen. He took a deep breath before calmy responding. "Let's take 15 minutes and start the meeting over. And next time, bring a GOOD suggestion!" He turned and hopped away.
"So he clearly went mad with power, right?" T'Challa asked.
"Oh, yeah." Polly answered.
"Let's get Hop Pop back." Anne said.
T'Challa lead the girls to the Wartwood Cemetery. They looked around until they found Hop Pop, who was dressed like a caveman exchanging mushrooms with a swarm of beetles. Though it was disturbing to see, they did not hesitate to run up to him.
"Hop Pop!"
"Kids?" Hop Pop asked seeing the three approach. "You here to help us scavenge? It's gonna be a long, cold winter. More bodies means more warmth for everyone."
"Uh, no. Sprig is ruining the farm." Anne said.
"We've been eating nothing but raw potatoes." Polly said. "I'm having digestive strife, Hop Pop. Digestive… strife!"
"You need to come back, Hop Pop." T'Challa said. "You're right. It is your purpose. And it's rightfully yours. Sprig's messing everything up. I'm sorry I helped him win your duel. So please, come back."
"I appreciate the thought, but I just can't." Hop Pop said. "I've grown since the last time you saw me. How long's it been now?"
"A day and a half." Polly answered.
"Thanks to my new pal, Jeremy, I've got me a new life among the beetles." Hop Pop said holding up a blue beetle. "They've taught me about community, equality, listening."
"Now that you know all that, maybe you can be a better leader." T'Challa said. "We need a good balance of listening to others and doing what's best despite it. A true leader knows how to do that. So please, come back, Hop Pop."
"Sorry, but there's absolutely nothing you can say that will change my mind."
"Sprig sleeps in your bed now." Anne said abruptly.
"HE WHAT?!"
While the farm continued to decay, Sprig waited angrily at the meeting place. "Now, where did those ungrateful kids get off to?"
All of a sudden, Hop Pop landed in front of Sprig surprising him. Anne, T'Challa, and Polly approached from behind the old frog.
"I have returned!"
Sprig looked over at the other kids and angrily stood up. "I don't believe it! Backstabbers! Conspirators!"
"Sorry, dude." Anne said. "We had a good run, big ambitions…"
"But we didn't know what we were doing!" Polly said.
"You said there were no bad suggestions." T'Challa said. "So why is it that the only exception appears to be the one that you don't like?"
"We had a beautiful dream!" Sprig argued. "But I guess I'm the only one willing to fight for it!"
Hop Pop pulled a tiny bell from behind his back and gave it a ring. "Sprig Plantar, I challenge you to a rematch. Winner gets control of the farm… forever!"
"Sprig, do you accept this challenge?" Polly asked.
"Please, say yes." Anne said.
"I accept." Sprig replied.
Everyone returned to the mud-surrounded lily pad and everyone placed themselves at the same place they started at last time, only this time, Anne, T'Challa, and Polly were joined by Hop Pop's new beetle friend, Jeremy. Sprig and Hop Pop lathered themselves in mud again while narrowing their eyes at one another.
"I beat you once. I can do it again." Sprig vowed. "I'll prove my way is right."
"We'll see." Hop Pop said.
"Let the final challenge begin!" Polly declared as she rang the bell.
Sprig and Hop Pop ran at each other more ferocious than before. They struck each other with their tongues knocking them both over, but they didn't fall over.
"The others told me everything, Sprig." Hop Pop said getting back up. "You're destroying the farm. Don't you see? Even if you win, you lose." He was then kicked down by Sprig.
"So I'm just supposed to go back to the way things were? You never listened to us!"
"And I was wrong!" Hop Pop said slipping behind Sprig and grabbing his arms from behind. "I know now that you can't work together unless everyone has a say. Jeremy taught me that."
Once Sprig was free, he forced Hop Pop to get in front of him locking up against each other. But instead of fighting, Sprig looked at his grandfather with surprise. "You… You mean it. I have to admit, most of my ideas were pretty terrible. I think we even caused permanent damage to the ecosystem."
"Yeah, but some of your ideas could work." Hop Pop said. "We'll never know unless we try. I promise from now on to actually read your suggestions."
Everyone gasped softly with pride and delight.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
That was all Sprig needed to hear. He let go of Hop Pop and let himself fall backwards into the mud. For once in his life, he was happy to lose.
"AND THE WINNER IS HOP POP!" Polly declared.
"Welcome back, old friend." T'Challa said.
The next day, everyone went to work cleaning up all the damages made by the bug critters. Hop Pop took in the fresh morning air first thing after waking up. He headed outside to see everyone close to being done. The first thing he heard was Anne working hard and wiping sweat from her brow.
"Think we could set up some shade here, Hop Pop?"
Hop Pop proceeded by planting a large mushroom to block the sun burning the human girl. "Great suggestion, Anne. And over there, I kept a small version of your swimming hole. And best of all, no more pit of fire."
"Thanks, Hop Pop." Sprig said.
"Looks like running a place isn't so easy, is it?" T'Challa asked. "I wonder if I'll be ready when I officially run Wakanda."
"Let me tell you something, T'Challa." Hop Pop said. "I had doubts on whether I was ready when I first inherited the farm. It was a lot of responsibility, but somehow, I knew that I was the only one who could do it. I thought I knew best, but sometimes, letting other people speak wouldn't hurt. Keep that in mind, and I'm sure that your home country will be thriving under your rule."
T'Challa smiled thankfully. "Thanks, Hop Pop. And again, sorry for helping Sprig win."
"Oh, think nothing of it. If anything, you helped that boy be stronger. So for that, you have my thanks." Hop Pop reached into the suggestion barrel and pulled out a handful of papers. Jeremy crawled up to him while he walked on inside. "Now if you excuse me, Jeremy and I have got notes to consider."
"So is that beetle part of the family now or what?" Anne asked.