Author's Note: Here's the next chapter of the Black Panther of Amphibia.
Now, before we begin, I'd like to take address a certain comment. An unnamed reviewer suggested an idea regarding the Last Stand and Hop Popular episodes. To that reviewer, here is my response.
I understand your point of view and I have considered your idea. But after thinking it through, I'm still skeptical. You suggested that maybe, Stan Leap would announce his retirement before the election. I'm not so sure that Stan would make such an announcement if he knew that if he did, then Toadstool would win the mayoral election. I get that it's important for the Toad to Redemption episode, but perhaps there can be another way to create a redemption story for him. I mean, does he really have to be mayor for that to happen. And I know all this has to lead with Hop Pop being a rebellious symbol and giving the toads a reason to execute him, but I've been doing some brainstorming of my own, and I think I found an alternate way to handle it, but it will involve an original chapter and Hop Pop not being the one the toads plan to execute. I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers. Still though, I will consider your ideas. Thank you for your input.
Anyway, I have one more announcement to make. Next week, instead of a chapter to continue on with the story, I'll be doing a special headcanon chapter before continuing the story the next week. I'm sure you're going to like it.
With all that being said, let's jump into this chapter. Any and all comments are welcome.
"Bleh! Hands are feeling pretty dry. That will not do." Anne said observing her fingers before rummaging through her backpack. "Lotion. Lotion. Did I get zapped here with any lotion? Oh, hey. What's this?"
Anne's jaw dropped when the saw what was hidden deep in her backpack. She gasped before she grabbed it and brought it outside to show the others. It was a sparkling bath bomb with a label that read "Peony Princess".
"Guys! I brought a bath bomb from home and didn't even know it! Oh, yeah! Man, I can't wait to try this baby out!" Her excitement suddenly changed to confusion when she saw Hop Pop, Polly, and Sprig pack camping supplies on Bessie's saddle right alongside T'Challa. "Uh, you guys going somewhere?"
"Sprig, I thought I told you to tell Anne where we were going?" T'Challa asked.
"I was busy, so I told Polly to tell her." Sprig said.
"And then, I forgot." Polly continued.
"Sorry the news came last minute, Anne." Hop Pop apologized.
"The four of us are going to Camp Phlegmington." Sprig said. "Gonna rough it outdoors and get filthy."
"Wait. Why are you taking T'Challa and not me?" Anne asked.
"We figured he'd enjoy it more. When we Plantars camp, we camp hard." Hop Pop said. "No sense in you coming with us and being miserable."
"Sorry, Anne, but we all know how much you're not a fan of dirt and bugs and… Well, anything to do with nature." T'Challa said.
"You're soft, Anne, like a baby." Polly said.
Anne hid a frown before perking up and scoffing. "That's ridiculous? Me, soft?" She placed her bath bomb in her bag. "Just because I'm not like you guys, it doesn't mean I can't have a good time. Take me with you. Please, please, please?"
"Are you sure?" T'Challa asked. "You could barely survive out in the woods before we found Wartwood. Remember?"
"Super sure." Anne said.
"Aw, come on, guys." Sprig said. "If Anne says she can handle it, she can handle it."
"Well… all right, kid. Hop on." Hop Pop invited.
"Whoo, whoo!" Anne expressed as she climbed onto Bessie.
"Well, the way they describe the camp, I suppose you can manage." T'Challa said.
"Dude, after everything we've been through, I think I can handle a couple of nights in a camp." Anne said.
"Then prepare for the honey dipper."
"The what?"
Anne's question was answered when Sprig pressed a large honey dipper onto her skin. It was covered in orange gunk which he lathered over her skin.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Anne asked nearly grossed out.
"Only way to keep the ticks away." Sprig said.
"Totally not regretting this." Anne said trying to hold in her discomfort.
When the Plantars arrived at camp, they took in a deep breath taking in the fresh air while looking around. They took note of all the other campers riding fish, roasting worms, throwing aces, and catching large bugs.
"I can't wait to tell scary stories." Sprig said. "The more teen frogs running from deranged psychopaths, the better."
"I'm just happy to get off the farm." Polly said. "So much fresh air, and it's all mine."
"Me, I'm hoping to sharpen my skills as the Black Panther." T'Challa said. "I may go on some nighttime prowls to keep my senses up to date."
"I personally love the peace and quiet. A frog can really hear themselves think out here." Hop Pop said as he closed his eyes. He listened to his innermost thoughts say "Did you leave the stove on? The front door unlocked? WILL YOU DIE ALONE?!" He opened his eyes speaking aloud again. "Well, that was a mistake."
Anne on the other hand did not have the best first impression of the place. She did her best to avoid any of the bugs that were crawling past her, but she was clearly disgusted. T'Challa approached her out of concern.
"Anne, if you don't want to say, you can just say so." T'Challa said.
"Hey! Here's an idea: how about we stop questioning my decisions and get to camping together already? Who's with me?"
"Yeah!" Sprig agreed.
"Good idea!" Polly cheered.
"Yeah, that sounds good." Hop Pop said.
T'Challa, however, didn't say anything. He still looked at Anne concerned.
Over the next 24 hours, while everyone else was having fun, Anne was having a miserable time. T'Challa and the Plantars caught big fish, but Anne was caught instead. Despite her best efforts to pitch a tent, it collapsed and caught on fire. She was started by a huge spider she found on her back. At night, she tried to sleep, but her bag rolled downhill and fell into a briar patch.
The next day, Sprig used his honey dipper to lather orange gunk on Anne's back which was covered in bug bites.
"Careful. I'm pretty sure those ticks caused internal damage." Anne said.
"So… awkward question," Sprig said, "But are you sure you wouldn't be happier back home?"
"Sprig's right, Anne." T'Challa said. "You look like you've been tormented since we got here. Take Bessie and go home."
"And don't worry about us, 'cause we'll be just fine without you." Hop Pop said.
"No!" Anne denied. "Look, I know it seems like I'm miserable, okay? But I'm not. It's just… Uh…" She looked at a bunch of kids catching butterflies and came up with the perfect excuse. "I'm not used to such easy camping."
"Easy?" Sprig asked.
"What are you playing at?" T'Challa asked skeptically.
"Look around you. Singing. Butterflies. Laughter." Anne said. "I guess I'm used to something a little more… extreme."
All of a sudden, a nearby bush produced a large face. A large, muscular frog hopped out taking everyone by surprise He had a brown hat, a long beard with bones in it, a camo vest, and various tattoos covering his arms.
"So this place ain't extreme enough for ya?" the big frog asked.
"Uh… Dang right, it ain't." Anne replied.
The frog laughed hysterically. "I can take you folks to a real campsite, one where there ain't none of this kiddie stuff, like shelter or potable water."
"I… don't think that's necessary, sir." T'Challa said slightly creeped out by both the frog and the proposal.
"Now, hold on." Hop Pop said. "Would a more extreme experience make you happy, Anne?"
"Uh… Yeah." Anne answered nervously.
"You dragged that 'uh' a little too long, Anne." T'Challa said.
"If Anne wants hardcore, we go hardcore." Sprig said. "Lead the way, Mr… Uh…"
"Name's Joe. Soggy Joe." The big frog introduced himself before laughing hysterically again.
"You don't need to laugh like that." T'Challa said.
"Yeah, dude." Anne agreed. "Could you, like, turn down the creep just a bit?"
"No!"
Later that night, Soggy Joe lead the gang deeper into a darker, scarier part of the forest. Soon enough, everywhere they turned, they find a new reason to turn back. Frog skeletons. Disposed buckets for tadpoles. Snails eaten by predators. Dark omens were all around.
Soggy Joe stopped. He scooped a bit of the ground beneath him with his finger and tasted it. "We're here. We bunk here for the night. And in the morning, if we're still alive…" His menacing tone made everyone extremely nervous. "…I'll take you all out for pancakes."
"Oh, that sounds great." Anne said slightly relieved.
"I do like pancakes." Hop Pop said.
"Give a guy a heart attack, why don't you?" T'Challa said.
After everyone settled down their supplies, they gathered around the campfire. The silence set a creepy tone, and it only got creepier when Soggy Joe broke it.
"Want to hear a tale?"
"No thanks." T'Challa said.
"I'm good." Hop Pop said.
"Hard pass, old man." Polly said.
"Oh, me!" Sprig said excitedly. "I love scary stories!" Everyone groaned over at his direction. "What?"
"Gather 'round and hear ye the tale of the Mud Men." Soggy Joe started his tale. He stood and walked around slowly. "Born in the bowels of the bog itself, the mud creatures stalk the inky night, lusting to devour any frogs that might have wandered into their domain…" When his walking lead him to a mud puddle, she sank slowly into it.
"Ten bucks says he doesn't come back up." Polly whispered.
"JUST LIKE US!" Soggy Joe yelled out just as he suddenly appeared behind the family startling them. "The Mud Men only fear two things: daylight and being clean. HOLY HONEY THISTLE!"
"What? What is it, Joe?" Hop Pop asked fearfully.
"Nature calls. Be right back." Soggy Joe said scampering off into the forest. Once he was gone, everyone sighed in relief, though they still had the story on their minds.
"Is this extreme enough, Anne?" Sprig asked suddenly at Anne.
"AAAHH! Uh, um… What? No. I am loving this." Anne lied.
"You just screamed." T'Challa said.
"In excitement."
"Anne, enough is enough." T'Challa said. "It's obvious you're not having a good time here, and I don't blame you. I'm getting scared of this bog. Me!"
"Well, I don't know what to tell ya." Anne said. "So this place is a little startling. It's not like it's actually dangerous."
Just then, Soggy Joe returned, but he limped around as if he was about to pass out. He groaned out faintly.
"Uh, hey, Sog Man." Sprig greeted. "Everything okay?"
Soggy Joe didn't answer. He fell facedown on the ground so that everyone can see what his problem was: he had an axe lodged in his back. Everyone screamed seeing that just before the campfire was extinguished.
"Don't worry." Hop Pop said as he lit up a blue flame where the campfire should be. "Good thing I brought my copper matches."
All of a sudden, several groaning sounds were heard all around them. They became scared when they found themselves surrounded by about a dozen tall figures covered in mud.
"It's the Mud Men!" Sprig shouted.
"They're real!" Hop Pop yelled.
"And they're here for our delicious souls!" Polly panicked.
"It's official! This has gotten too extreme!" T'Challa shouted.
"Oh, man! This is all my fault!" Anne shouted. "Everyone, grab a torch!"
The family followed Anne's lead and grabbed a torch each. Whenever a Mud Man got too close, they would swing their torches to ward them off. It didn't last long however. The Mud Men were smart enough to throw handfuls of mud at the torches to put them out.
"Well, time for Plan B." T'Challa said as he threw his torch away and tapped his pendant.
Once T'Challa's vibranium panther suit covered him, the prince then leaped up high above. When he returned to the ground, he landed right in the middle of the Mud Men swarm where he circled around kicking them all in the head. When another Mud Man approached, he pounced on it and sank its claws into its chest. However, his claws couldn't get through the muddy coating.
Suddenly, T'Challa was caught by surprise from below him. He didn't realize he was in a mud pit until several Mud Men arms reached out and grabbed him by his wrists. They threw him backwards into another mud puddle. The Mud Men emerged from where he was and pinned him down. He struggled as hard as he could, but to no avail.
"Oh, no!" Polly gasped. "They're gonna eat T'Challa first!"
"Really wish we had some sunlight right about now!" Sprig said.
"Or heck, cleaning products!" Hop Pop added.
Suddenly, Anne gasped. "I have something even better! Hold on, T'Challa!" She reached into her backpack and pulled out the bath bomb she found. "Peony Princess bath bomb! Good-bye, dear friend."
Anne used her teeth to rip the label out of the bath bomb and threw it right at the mud puddle. Everyone watched as it landed, but it didn't do anything.
"Well, he's dead." Polly said.
That's how it looked at first, but, the bath bomb began fizzling. Everyone looked again as a cloud of pink bubbles erupted quickly covering everything around it.
When the bubbles died out, the Mud Men's true forms were revealed: a bunch of tall, skinny frogs. The Mud Men began to panic and scream before running.
"The jig is up, boys!"
"Quickly, before she throws another one of those things!"
"Man, all I wanted to do today was get muddy and eat people!"
As soon as the last Mud Man left the campsite, the gang cheered in celebration. Anne then turned to T'Challa and helped him out of the mud pit he was in.
"Are you okay?" Anne asked.
"Thanks to you." T'Challa replied.
"Guess we were wrong to doubt you, Anne." Hop Pop said. "You really are used to extreme camping."
Anne sighed before sitting on a log. "Guys, I have a confession. This extreme camping stuff is nonsense. I was miserable back there. I was just trying to cover it up."
"So you dragged us to this horror show for no reason?" Polly asked before giving her a proud grin. "Twisted. I love it."
"But if you didn't like camping, why did you go along with it?" T'Challa asked.
"I guess I've been feeling kind of left out lately." Anne said. "I'm not a frog. I'm not a supercharged African warrior. Heck, I wasn't even invited on this trip. I really like you guys and wanted to be with you, miserable or not."
T'Challa frowned, tapped his pendant to retract his vibranium suit, and sat down next to Anne. "Sorry to make you feel this way, Anne. I knew you weren't an outdoors girl, and I thought that if you came with us, we'd just be making you miserable. The last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable."
"I might have been miserable," Anne said, "But at least I had you guys with me."
The Plantars joined in hugging both humans. Sprig was beginning to cry.
"I don't know if it's the sweet-smelling toxins or the overwhelming emotions, but dang it, I'm a mess."
"Next time, we'll include you, Anne," Hop Pop said, "Even if we know you'll hate it."
"Thanks, you guys." Anne said. Suddenly, something happened that made her scream.
A groan came from Soggy Joe's corpse that began to stand up. Everyone was petrified as he returned to his feet. But after the groan, he was revealed to still be alive and the axe in his back popped off. It didn't penetrate through the back of his vest.
"Woo-wee! Good thing I wore my axe-proof vest, eh?" Soggy Joe asked. "So, what'd I miss?"
"Oh, pretty much everything." Anne answered.
"Really?"
"Oh, Joe, there were these crazy cannibals." Sprig said.
"Wow."
"They tried to eat us." Hop Pop said.
"Oh, serious?"
"Yeah, actually, it turned out they were just frogs." Polly said.
"Oh, no way."
"Wimpy little frogs covered in mud."
"Unbelievable."
"And then, we ran, we tried to use torches, it was all a big thing." Anne said.
"Yeah?"
"I tried to stop them, but got caught. They were about to eat me. It was very dramatic" T'Challa said.
"Keep going."
"Anne saved T'Challa with her bath bomb." Sprig said.
"Yeah. I smell it. It's great. Is that peony?"
"Yeah, that is peony."
"Yeah, I have a nose for these things."
"So that's pretty much it." T'Challa said. "You're all caught up."
"Oh. Great. …So, you all want to get pancakes early?"
"Sounds great." Anne said.
"I could eat." T'Challa said.
"I've always been more of a waffle girl, myself." Polly said.
After returning to the farm, Anne and T'Challa gathered the Plantars to the dining room table. The two of them nodded before getting down to business.
"Guys, T'Challa and I have had a little chat." Anne started. "Now that we've been through a lot, we decided that now is the time to share this with you. You got it, T'Challa?"
"Right here. This is how Anne and I got here." T'Challa said. He pulled out the mysterious music box wrapped in a blanket. He set it down on the table and unwrapped it letting Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop gaze at it curiously.
"Wow. Shiny." Sprig said.
"What is it?" Hop Pop asked.
"It's some kind of crazy music box or something." Anne said.
"We opened it up, and suddenly, we were zapped into the middle of the forest." T'Challa said. "My sister, Anne's friends, and this other guy, Erik, are probably in this world too, but we haven't seen them since we got here."
"Have you guys seen anything like this before?" Anne asked.
"May I?" Hop Pop asked.
"Sure. I mean, it's busted." Anne answered.
Hop Pop picked up the box and looked at it from every possible angle. He sniffed at it and opened it up to look inside.
"Nope. Never seen anything like it." Hop Pop said closing the box.
"Well, it was worth a shot." Anne said with a frown.
"Don't worry, Anne." T'Challa said. "If this thing brought us to Amphibia, then it must come from here. Somebody must have an idea what it is and how it works."
"He's right, Anne." Sprig said. "I promise, we're going to find to get the both of you home."
"Thanks." Anne said. "That means a lot to me."
"Well, that's enough excitement for me today." Hop Pop said with a yawn. "I think I'm gonna turn in."
Hop Pop didn't go to his bedroom. The thought of the mysterious box still lingered in his mind. He had a bad feeling ever since he laid eyes on it. To ease himself, he headed to his study with only a candle and the fireplace lighting up the place.
Hop Pop picked out an old book from his shelf and brought to his desk where he proceeded to flip though the pages. He stopped when he found a picture of the music box. After a quick read, he gasped.
"It's just as I feared."
Along with the picture of the box, there were also three gemstones. One was blue, one was green, and the last one was red. There was also a picture of a frog skill.
Several big words also appeared on the pages, including "BEWARE", "DANGER", "DESTROYED", and above all…
"CALAMITY BOX"