Girl Time
Jacob Matthews was tossing and turning in bed, restless in his sleep. Was it perhaps because of the hard work he did for Hop Pop almost every day? Was it his stomach, which had not yet fully adjusted to eating bugs every day? Or was it something else?
Around him, others slept, some quietly, some not. Anne clung to her keeper, snoring; Sasha lying on her side, and Marcy attached to the blonde girl's shoulder, a happy expression on her face. James slept lying on his stomach, breathing almost imperceptibly, while Amelia gasped in her sleep. Each of them intent on dreaming: what were they dreaming on?
For Jacob, memories of the day when his life, had taken a decisive turn...
(…)
"Mom, why do you have to go out?" said Jacob with an air of surprise. He had recently finished his homework, and wanted to have his mother check them for him. As much as he did not feel insecure about the results, he liked to hear comments of approval for his own homework well done.
Unfortunately, he was bound to be disappointed even today.
"I can't Jacob; I have to take your cousin to the dentist today."
"But mom!"
"I'll be back later! If your father comes back, tell him we went out."
Jacob could say no more, and stood watching as his mom left the house, closing behind the door, Amelia smiling at his side.
(...)
"Jacob, you haven't made your bed!"
"I'm going to make it again!" the boy replied sullenly, grabbing the sheets. It was not making the bed that bothered him, but the way such action was noticed by his own family. If he made it seven days out of seven, without a mistake, they wouldn't even notice, barely raising an eyebrow; but if he missed a single day...
"Done, Auntie!" Amelia said from her room, causing her mother to rush in to check.
"Wonderful! Well done, Amelia!"
Why was she so good at receiving praise? Am I not their child, and she not the one adopted?
(...)
"Jacob, did you end up in the principal's office today?" His father said, looking at him.
"It was an accident," the boy replied cynically. "And that idiot needed to learn to keep his big mouth in check."
"I don't want to hear reasons. Your mother and I are very concerned: what happened to the obedient, quiet boy we used to have?"
What has become of him? Thought Jacob angrily. Why don't you ask yourselves? If I don't misbehave, you wouldn't even give me five minutes of your attention by now!
"Maybe I'd better keep an eye on him?" Said a female voice behind him, and Jacob stifled a motion of frustration, as Amelia entered the room.
"Take it from Amelia: why can't you be more like her?"
Because it is because of her, that you no longer give me a glance.
The next day, no heavy farm work was scheduled, fortunately for Jacob and the others, so taking advantage of the vast pond behind the house, while Anne and the others girls were outside, Jacob, James, Polly and Sprig were engaging in free, creative pastime.
"Okay, I'll go!" Said the boy, clutching his rock tightly in his hands, then throwing it with great force. The stone bounced off the water once, before disappearing under the muddy surface of the water.
"10 feet! Not bad, but it can be improved."
"Oh, yeah?'" Replied the boy defiantly, "Then why don't you try to show me what you can do, James?"
The English boy smiled, clutching another smoother, flatter stone in his hands, as he approached the edge of the pier. Then, with a fluid twisting motion of his own arm, he flung his own stone in the same direction Jacob's had sunk: the projectile skipped across the water three, four times, until it hit the other bank.
"Wow, that was incredible!" Said Sprig with amazed eyes.
"James, how did you do that?" Jacob echoed him, seriously surprised.
"It's all about the projectile: with the right shape and enough speed, even an ordinary rock can bounce off the water and hit all the way to the opposite shore. Sprig, do you want to see if you can get there too?"
"Of course, I want to try!"
"Good; so, to begin with, take a rock-"
"I don't need one." Sprig replied, "This one's going all the way, baby!"
The two human boys looked at him strangely, as the young frog opened his mouth and then spat, centering the middle of the pond.
"But...did you just spit over 10 feet away?"
"D-did my eyes really see that just happen?"
"Hey, guys!" Hop Pop made his appearance, opening the door behind them, "What are you doing?"
"We were having a contest to see who could hit the farthest with rocks," James retorted, "But Sprig just beat Jacob's last shot, and with a spit!"
"Really?"
"Yes! Those were at least 10 feet!"
"Heh! You call that a spit? Now watch this, children!"
He started gurgling and spit even further than Sprig; hitting at the edge of the pond and waking up a lonely hermit crab.
"Hey! This is 18 feet!"
"Since when you two can spit that far?" Jacob looked at them with an interrogative look, only to be replied with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean? All frogs can spit at great distances."
"Yeah, in Wartwood, spitting is practically a sport. We even have a town record: whoever breaks the record gets a trophy. And our little Polly here is the current champion."
"W-for real?" both of the humans gasped, looking at the tadpole, who replied with a smirk.
"Move aside, amateurs" she said, starting to gurgle extremely and making both the human recoil as she spit all toward the opposite pond's edge, landing on the hermit crab and out-spitting both his brother and grandfather.
"That's my little spitter!"
"You can spit the frown off a widow"
"Ok, while I think the idea of spitting being a local sport weirds me a little," Jacob replied, as his expression returned jovial, "This is so awesome! I cannot wait to try and teach it to my roommates, when I'm in college."
"Don't you humans have a sport like that?" Polly asked.
"Huh, no sorry! You see, humans are not creatures well-versed in spitting."
"Plus, we can't spit very far, since our tongues are smaller."
"That's a shame. I guess you could never do something…like this!" Hop Pop spit again, barely missing the opposite pond's edge.
It was then that they heard a knocking, and a voice everyone knew called out.
"Guys, are in there? We just returned from the market."
"Thank you, Anne!" Hop Pop replied, "And did you-"
"Yes." Sasha interrupted him, "We did pay attention to prices, and took advantage of every discount."
"The humble seed: so much potential for growth! I had no idea Amphibia could have so many varieties of plants, types of cultivation, planting methods-"
"Marbles: before you fangirl over seeds, can you at least put down your bag?"
"Oh yeah, that's right."
The boys (Hop Pop, Sprig, Jacob, and James) re-entered the house: Anne was slumped on the table all achy, Sasha had dropped onto the couch, Marcy was jotting down (as usual) new information in her Journal, and Amelia was putting away the groceries.
"What were you all doing in the back?" Sasha asked, with an interrogative look.
"We were doing a spitting contest." Sprig replied in his usual voice, like it was no deal.
"What? Gross!"
"Ugh, Sprig, seriously?"
"Hey, spitting is considered a sport here in Wartwood, Anne." Jacob hurried to specify.
"Spitting is a regular sport in Wartwood?" Marcy said, her eyes gleaming with newfound interest.
"Yep," James nodded, looking at her. "Plus, we have a spitting champion under this roof: little Polly here won a prize for breaking the local record."
"Etch, that's disgusting!"
"For once, I have to agree with you, Sash: seriously, you two are not gross already on your own?"
"Hey, I stink just like you, and everyone else!" Jacob pointed out, "How long has it been that you've been wearing that same exact uniform?"
"Don't ask: I feel all tired, and dirty and sore. I could really use a perfumed bath and a massage."
"You're not the only one, Boonchuy. What I would give for an afternoon at the spa."
"Spa?" Hop asked, "We have one in Wartwood-"
Hop Pop had not yet finished speaking, that the girls' eyes lit up, and they leapt to their feet, their fatigue suddenly forgotten.
"What?"
"There is a spa in this place?"
"Why haven't you told us anything so far, HP?"
"Huh, you never asked before?" The old frog answered, explaining himself, "Was it that important?"
"Hop Pop," Jacob came to his rescue, "For human girls, the spa is like a temple for their own health and physical beauty."
"We definitely need to go there!" Sasha declared, taking control as her usual, "I can't wait to get all this dirt off me!"
"And I'm coming with you," Anne promptly declared. "Marbles, you're joining us?"
Marcy reflected for a brief moment. Indeed, a day at the spa and a few treatments would have done her just fine: her hair, without regular cuts, had visibly grown out, and her hairstyle had become messy; her school uniform was dirty and cut in several places, and her skin would have so enjoyed a good traditional bath. It also excited her to see from the inside what beauty or body care treatments existed in Amphibia, whether and how different they were from those on Earth or how they were produced. So far, from what she had learned, Wartwood frogs had a very different concept of personal hygiene than humans, but...how far?
Plus, Sasha and Anne were so well-bent, and friends - had to stay together, no matter what, right?
"- I think that's an amazing idea, Anna-Banana!"
"Great, girls!" Sasha reached out to her friends, and enveloped them in a group hug, "A day at the girls-only spa. Marcy, how are we doing on funds? I have Felicia's salary and brownie earnings. You?"
"I have what Mr. Flour gives me for his work at his store, plus a little extra for all the ideas I've pitched him so far. And you, Anna-Banana..."
"Well, the thing is-" said Anne with a nervous laugh full of embarrassment. There was something humiliating into be the only one in the trio who could not pay for herself.
"Don't worry, Anna-Banana: Sash and I have more than enough to cover your share, too."
"Really?"
"Boonchuy, we're friends, remember? And friends always have each other's backs: consider it a refund, for all the shoes you lent me." Plus, an excellent way to get back at Sprig and force you to spend time with me instead of him.
"Huh, what's going on?" asked Sprig to Jacob with a confused look.
"It's a girl thing. Take it easy, it's normal that you don't understand anything of it."
"Well, have fun!" echoed Amelia, finishing sorting out the seeds and miscellaneous groceries "While you're away-"
"Oh no, you don't! Don't even think about it!" Anne said, reaching behind her and grabbing her by the shoulder. "You're coming with us, and Polly too."
"What?"
"Why?"
"Because Polly, you have lived surrounded by dudes all your life, and Amelia, you live together with Jacob. Clearly, such a toxic environment has drastically affected your mindset: you behave too much like boys!"
"Anne, I'm not that bad!" spoke Jacob, feeling offended.
"It's not too late. I can fix this. We can fix this! You two need a proper girl time!"
"Heh?"
"No way!" Amelia protested, a rare blush appearing on her face, "I don't need Girl Time! I like myself the way I am!"
"And that's exactly why you need it more than ever!" Said Sasha, in a more authoritative tone, coming to assist Anne. "You don't realize it yet, but you don't act like a normal girl! You need to spend more time with your peers."
I would actually prefer to not bring you along, Sasha thought, but Anne's right when she says you behave more like a guy than a lady. Anne is my friend, so I guess I will make her a favor and convince you. Moreover, if this bothers you, even better.
"Hey, I remind you that you and I do duels together. I don't think all those martial arts-"
"I'm not going to argue on this point!" Sasha retorted, in a tone that basically said, "shut up" "This is a girls' outing, for all girls: you and Polly come with us!"
"But-"
"You are coming with us. End. Of. Discussion!"
Amelia took a step back, irritated by the blonde girl's words. Did Sasha seriously think she could subdue her, just with a tyrannical look and emotional blackmail?
A frontal attack is useless; she is not the kind of girl to back down. I guess I'll have to get creative with my ninja skills-
"All right, Sash," Amelia, said, feigning surrender, "You're the boss."
"I knew you would agree with me!" Sasha smirked, happy to have reaffirmed her own authority.
"Don't be sad, Amelia." Anne ran to her side, almost like she was trying to comfort her "You'll have fun, I promise you!"
I'll have fun, and you don't have to promise me. Yet, I don't think it will be your kind of fun.
The girls quickly left the house, Sasha and Anne respectively pushing on Amelia and holding a very reluctant Polly, and closed the door behind themselves, leaving the boys alone.
"So… did that really happen, Jacob?" Hop Pop asked.
"Yup."
"Are Polly and Amelia really going to be fine, James?" Sprig murmured.
"Huh, I guess, maybe? They are not going to die, if that's what you're asking. Unless you're asking about dying of humiliation-"
"I'm going to be honest: I'm not too sad about Amelia being someone else's responsibility for once."
"Jacob, are you thinking what I am thinking?"
"I think I am Hop Pop, but… where I can find in Wartwood a duck and a hose here?"
"No, Jacob! What I am thinking is… if the girls all left, then we are the only ones who remain. And you know what that means, Sprig?"
"Plantar Boys Adventure Time!"
"Plantar Boys Adventure Time?" Jacob and James asked, almost at the same time, "What is it?"
"It's an old tradition of the Plantar family, we have been practicing it since I was a little tadpole," Hop Pop explained, quickly grabbing a book and opening it. "Once a year, all male member of the Plantar family gather and have fun together, practicing small activities and events, while the Plantars ladies do the same in a different place."
"Sounds like a bachelor party, but more fun. And you say it happens once a year?"
"Yep, the date is not always the same, since it's difficult to gather all the Plantars in the same place at once. However – I guess you kids would like to participate in some family event?"
Jacob smiled. Until now, he had not realized why Anne was so proactive in showing her part as being a member of the Plantars family: they were just hosts, until they had the chance to leave and go back to earth, weren't they?
Now, he understood.
"Can you tell us more… Pop?"
"Whoo! Girl time. It's time for giiiirrrrl time." Anne, Sasha and Marcy chanted at the same time, while Amelia and Polly exchanged a dubious glance.
"Okay, you three," Polly jumped on Amelia's hands, looking at the trio with suspicious, "What the heck's going on?"
"Look, Polly" Anne started to explain, "Hanging out too much with Sprig, Hop Pop and the boys is dangerous. If we aren't careful, we'll wake crusty and storing our boogers in jars!"
"Huh, Anna-Banana? Spitting is already a sport here in Wartwood."
"Yeah, I even won a trophy for breaking that record!" Polly pointed to a golden trophy on a rod in the middle of Wartwood's square, depicting the spitting pollywog "Don't try to do this at home," she smiled, remembering her achievement.
"It's worse than we thought!" Sasha murmured, her eyes moving between the trophy and the tadpole in the flesh, "Polly, Anne's right! Just because your world is gross, slimy, disgusting and filthy, it doesn't mean we have to be too. We need a day to reset. A day to remember what we are and what are our roots. A day that's - ladies' only." She smirked, putting on her sunglasses.
"That doesn't sound like something good." The pollywog replied, still suspicious. Amelia, still holding her, could not help but feel admiration for the would-be frog in her hands: Polly was a determinate, fighter-born lady, and she would never allow for Sasha to turn her into something like her.
"Trust me, when we're done with you, you are going to feel like a new brand Polly!"
"Plus," this one was Mar-Mar, "It's going to be a day only for girls: It will surely be fun, don't you think?"
Polly exchanged glances to all three of the girls in front of her. Their words sounded nice, and their expression were friendly, so… why she still felt like they were pushing her into a trap?
Before he could reply, however, the last human girl spoke in her place.
"Huh, Anne, Sasha, Marcy? Can you give me a few minutes to speak with Polly, alone? I understand that you just want to help her, but pressuring her is just making her nervous and unwilling to agree. Let me speak to her: since we are both newbies, I can convince her quite easily?"
Sasha, Anne and Marcy looked at each other for a few seconds, before the blonde girl finally replied. "Fine. Just don't take too much time."
Amelia nodded, and walked away for a few steps, her back turned.
"So, is this girl time a good thing? What does it involve? What are we doing? Toad rustling? Snake punching?"
"Nothing like that, Polly," Amelia's eyes grew weary of frustration, "What they are planning to do with us…is nothing else but trying us to be what we are not supposed to be, just because they think every girl must be a Valley-like teenager who likes gossips, cosmetics and mall quests!"
"Huh, what?" Polly asked, unsure about the meaning of the girl's words.
"Like Ivy's mom."
Polly's eyes widened, as she realized the meaning, "What."
"Yep. Look, I too like to wash myself and take care of my body, but not to such ridiculous extremes! And we should not be afraid of being tomboys!"
"Tomboys?"
"It's a term we use on Earth, to indicate girls with strong determination, who are not afraid of facing off with their enemies, and who don't like things other girls like. In short, people like you… and me."
"But then, why did you accept to go with them earlier, when Sasha told you?"
"I accepted because I know Sasha, and she refuses to take no as an answer. Whenever we were on Earth, she often blackmails Anne and Marcy in doing what she wants, with no care of what they want. Do you remember the words she said when I tried to refuse?"
"She said that you were coming with them, and that was the end of the discussion."
"Yes, those are the words she uses every time with Anne or Marbles, the words that means that you will do what she wants, and that she expects you to quietly submit and not stand up for her. Luckily, I am not like them."
"What do you-"
Polly noticed a strange smirk was now flourishing on Amelia's face, a smile full of planning… and malice.
"Polly, I'm planning to ditch them as soon as I have a chance, and go have a real adventure. You want to come with me?"
Polly smirked in turn, already imagining the dangerous insects they could end up facing, "I'm in."
"Good, now, just don't blow our cover too soon," the would-be samurai replied, turning around and walking back to the girls, "OK, I guess we have decided."
"Good! Now, let's go check out the spa…"
(…)
As the humans walked inside, they were quite amazed to see the spa's fancy entrance. It was quite fab and glamorous, with several statues-carved fountains on both sides, replenishing a couple of waterways on both sides with small lily pads growing in them. Strategically placed pink crystal gems provided both as light sources and as decorations, up to the reception desk, placed in front of an elaborate painting that Marcy recognized the similarities to artwork in a book she once owned.
Anne was actually somewhat surprised that a small town like Wartwood even had such a fancy spa.
"Wow" Anne said with her mouth agape, looking around, "This place looks wonderful."
"I need to sketch all of this in my journal-"
"Boonchuy, Mars" Sasha said, taking advantage of the situation to play the cool big sister leader, "Try not to get overwhelmed: we are here to have a Girl time together and relax, not to put on a show."
The trio walked toward the reception, too busy looking around and mesmerized by the decorations around, to notice what was happening just behind them.
"How much for your fanciest spa treatment?" Sasha asked the receptionist, a green frog wearing a white robe and headgear.
"That will be..." she played a xylophone, before ringing a bell, "ten coppers... each. Thus, thirty coppers for you all."
"We've got more than enough!" Marcy smirked, counting the coppers she and Sasha had put together, "Thus – wait, thirty? Shouldn't they be, like, fifty?"
"Why, you want to pay more?" the receptionist asked, with a puzzled look.
"No, but, you said ten coppers each. Since we are five, shouldn't that be fifty coppers?"
"But you are three."
"What the-" Anne said, turning around, before noticing the issue. Amelia and Polly (the tadpole in the girl's hands) were nowhere to be seen, the spa's main door closing in that instant.
"Amelia?"
"Polly!"
"What the frog did they do now?"
(…)
While the trio realized too late that the duo had escaped, the aforementioned human girl with a cone hat and wood katana on her side, and the purple-colored pollywog with an amazing talent for fighting and causing violence, were laughing aloud as Amelia rushed toward the woods, holding Polly on her hands.
"Gosh, I wish I could see their faces when they realized we were no longer there."
"Don't jinx yourself, little one: you want for them to catch us and bring us back in there?"
"No! I know that place, it's where Hop Pop and Sprig go-"
"Wait, they go to that place too? They didn't seem like the kind of frogs to go in such a place."
"I guess you can never judge a vegetable from its peel. So, what are we going to do now? Are you going to return to the farm with Hop Pop and the others?"
"No way!" Amelia replied with a scowl, "Now that we have a chance to have our own adventure, you want for Jacob and HP to stop us? You know how hyper-protective your grandfather gets!" And how obnoxious and uncaring my cousin gets.
"That's usually due to what Sprig does." Polly replied.
"Plus, there is a thing I want to try out with you: Polly, have you ever wanted to go on an adventuring mission with me? I…have an idea about how to bring you with me all the time, without keeping my hands busy."
"You do?" The Pollywog replied, her eyes gleaming with excitation.
Amelia looked at Polly, a strange feeling growing into her. Was that pride? Satisfaction at the youngest Plantar family member looking at her like she was the cool, older sister?
"Tell me, Polly Plantar" Amelia said with her voice full of smugness, "Have you ever heard how the people of India protected themselves from tigers?"
(Back to the Plantar's Farm, or rather, in a nearby area.)
"Quite strong, this stuff," Jacob said, sniffing the boiling liquid in the cauldron.
"This is not any kind of stuff," Hop Pop proudly said, continuing to sit it, "This is the Plantar's family heirloom drink! Secret recipe that only the Plantar's householder is supposed to know, and that is transmitted from father to son, from generation to generation."
"I assume 90% of the ingredients are bugs, aren't they?"
"No, James" Hop Pop continued, "Actually, 98% of it is."
"You know, there was a time when I felt disgusted at the idea of eating bugs and such… but that time has long since passed!"
"I guess it's the same for me," Jacob added, sniffing the coming-up beverage and its strong smell "Wow, when we return home, it will be awkward to readapt."
"How long until the drink is ready, Hop Pop? Five minutes, ten? How much?"
"Sprig, don't be impatient. Doing things in a hurry can lead to disastrous results. James, check the color: is it still yellowish or more orange-like?"
"Uh, it looks pretty orange by now, and somewhat tending to reddish."
"Red? It's more than ready! Put out the fire and pass the ladle, boys!"
James and Jacob quickly grabbed the cauldron and placed it in a resting position, as Hop Pop walked toward it with a large ladle and some wood-carved cups, one for each of them. The old frog sniffled the content of the pot with a hungry look, before dropping several drops in each cup and passing it along.
"Hey, it's bubbling!" Jacob said, noticing the liquid acting like a soda beverage.
"That means the liquid cooked up to optimal temperature," Hop Pop laughed, "Sprig, want to do the honors?"
"Sure!" The young frog gleamed, drinking his own cup in one breath. James and Jacob looked as he looked normal for a couple of seconds, before seeing his cheeks inflating, his eyes widening, before letting out a loud, explosive burping that was the loudest both of them ever heard in the life.
"What a blow, kid!" Hop Pop went and congratulated him.
"What the frog was that?" James asked, as soon as he came back to his senses.
"Since when you can burp like a typhoon?" Jacob murmured in turn, amazed by what he had just experienced.
"That's just the main feature of the Plantar's Family Drink!" Hop Pop smirked, sniffing his own cup, "One sip, and you can burp loud enough to be heard from all your neighbors; two-"
"Let me guess," James asked, with an amused look, "Burping is another national sport here in Wartwood?"
"Sure it is!" Sprig said, "There is even a contest, every beginning of autumn: the winner gets a drawing of him, a nice trophy and fifty coppers."
"Fifty coppers just for who makes the loudest burp? Who is that mad to-"
"That prize will be mine!" Jacob suddenly yelled, gulping all of his grog in one go. Five seconds, ten at most, before he released a burp of his own, way louder and stronger than any Sprig ever had.
"How was that?" he said, panting, once he was done.
"I'd say…you sure got the skill for it, Jacob," Hop Pop said, before gulping on its own. "Yet, you're still far from a trained professional."
Before Jacob could even ask what he meant, Hop Pop's loud, powerful burp knocked him flat on his back, more powerful than a shockwave.
"Hop Pop is a former champion," Sprig explained to him, as he went to help him get back on his feet, "Participated in and won seven editions in a row."
"For real?" the Viking-hatted boy said with a look full of disbelief.
"Yup. I saw you, kid: you have good beginner skills and qualities, but obviously you're not trained into generating a more powerful release."
"I guess it's like every sport." James nodded, "No matter how skilled you are, you can't keep up with a trained professional if it's your first day."
"Then, how can I train myself to become better?" Jacob asked. As Hop Pop started to explain things to him, James walked next to Sprig.
"Hey, I have to admit: this is quite fun, don't you think? Do you ever did something like this with Hop Pop?"
"Actually, no," Sprig confessed. "Hop Pop often talked about it, but we never did one until now. I guess it's because, before you and Jacob arrived here, he and me were the only Plantar boys left. And Polly, well, she was the only Plantar girl."
James looked at the frog boy, a small note of sadness in his eyes, "You…you don't have any other parents or relatives close by?"
"No, regretfully," Sprig explained "From what Hop Pop always told me, the Plantars were native to Wartwood, and never settled anywhere else. I guess mom and dad could have told us more, but-"
As he spoke those words, James realized the issue. One that, maybe, he had known since a long time, from the very moment he asked himself why Sprig and Polly were living with their grandfather, rather than with their parents. The reason why he decided not to deepen his own understanding of the whole situation? Because he realized that doing that, would surely generate pain in Sprig and the whole Plantar family. Moreover, he realized he did not want to find out what exactly had happened…yet.
"Anyway, kids," Hop Pop said, as Jacob stopped for a second, to assimilate every suggestion the frog had just given to him, "Would you like to learn some more Plantar traditional events?"
"Sure thing, HP" James grinned.
(Back at Wartwood's Spa)
"I can't believe that Amelia took advantage of our distraction to run. And that she took Polly with her!"
"Well, I can, Boonchuy."
The three girls were now sitting around a small pool of water, covered in towels, their eyes covered with cucumber slices, while soothing music filled the air. In the calm pool of water, where they had dipped their feet, some fishes (similar to Japanese Koi) kissed their skin, removing the ruined skin in a slow, continuous manner.
"I must admit that this place is fabulous!" said Marcy to their right, "I wish I could note the system by which-"
"Marbles," he said putting a hand on her shoulder, "This is the time to relax and be together, not to take notes. Don't tell me you don't like it."
"Well, sure, of course I like it-"
"Then don't complain: simply enjoy the moment."
"I wonder if we should have looked for Amelia and Polly after they ran away. I mean, Sash, they're the ones who need a girl's moment the most, right?"
"That's for sure," hissed the blonde in a venomous voice, "Amelia is far too wild for her own good, and Polly is overly aggressive and bloodthirsty. However, if they didn't want to come, too bad for them: this is Heaven."
"But, they are out there, alone and with no one left to supervise on them. Don't you think that-"
"Oh, come on, Boonchuy. They must have gone back to the farm, right? Polly's a tadpole, and Amelia's a cheap imitation of a samurai: what do you think they can get up to, those two, together?"
"Tell everybody I'm on my way, New fiends and new battles to face; With endless adventure ahead, Yes, I'm on my way; And there's nowhere else that I'd rather be!"
"Amelia, you're a genius!" Polly exclaimed from the girl's back. "How did you ever have such an idea?"
"I told you earlier, Polly: this is a trick people use in India to protect themselves against tigers. Were you listening when I explained it before?"
"Huh, maybe?" The pollywog replied, her tone of voice betraying that she had not listened at all.
The ronin-girl shrugged, "I guess I'll have to explain it to you again: you see, in my world there is a very large nation, who is called India. In that nations, when people usually go in the forest to chop wood, gather fruits or other reasons, they end up risking their lives being attacked by tigers, who are one of the most powerful predators in our world-"
"Are they like mantis, or more like herons?"
"Huh, I do not know exactly. The thing is, when a tiger targets a man, it attacks him from the same direction every time: in the back, with a sudden assault, to defeat its prey before they can ever see the tiger, in one swift, powerful attack. Thus, to protect themselves and avoid becoming the prey of tigers, humans who go in the forest often carve powerful angry masks, that they call Thugs, and they wear it behind to give the illusion they have two faces, one in the front and the other in the back. So the tiger, seeing their prey apparently looking at them and thus with no chance for a surprise attack, chooses another target."
"But I'm not a mask!"
"I know, and this is why my idea works better: by securing you on top of my backpack, while I keep moving forward, you can look behind me, and tell me if you see something strange or dangerous, and alert me to it. Plus, assuming something attacks us…"
"I can fight with you!"
"Yep: even if we'd be surrounded, we can still fight back-to-back like two martial arts champions against a horde of enemy mooks. Do you still have the slingshot Loggle made for you?"
"I've got it here! And ol' Doris too!"
"Perfect: we are now Polly and Amelia, the ever-fighting duo! Who's ever gonna come to try and stop us?"
"No one!" both girls shouted at the same time. It was lucky for both of them that no large and serious predator was nearby, otherwise all that shouting and noise would have attracted them.
Still, the fact that there were no predators nearby didn't mean there weren't less dangerous but still impressive creatures.
Polly had just stopped laughing, that she saw a shadow running behind the closest tree.
"What was that?"
"Polly, everything ok?"
"I just saw something, behind you!"
Amelia (without even thinking) turned around all of a sudden, unsheathing her wooden katana, looking around for any possible menace. But she didn't see any.
"Polly, where did you see it, where?"
"In that direction," The pollywog huffed. "Of course, if you hadn't turned around all of a sudden, I could have told you where-"
The shadow reappeared, moving forward. This time, both of them saw it.
"Was that-"
"Yep: whatever it is, it must be big!"
"Ok, so we can do what Hop Pop always suggest us to do and retreat, to not get in unnecessary danger. Or-" Amelia said, as her smile turned into a full-blown grin.
"I vote for the "or"!" Polly grinned in turn, as Amelia rushed forward, following the unidentified creature. She jumped and ran, until she reached some large bushes, and while keeping her katana in her right hands, moved apart the bushes' branches to see better.
It was then, that Amelia's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened, staring at the creature in front of her.
"Amelia, what's happening? Do you see it? What-"
Amelia didn't say a word, merely taking off her backpack and allowing Polly to see in turn. Like Amelia a few seconds before, her mouth jaw dropped, and her eyes widened in shock.
In front of them in the misty glade, surrounded by white glowing butterflies, they saw a large creature, at least fifteen feet tall, with a humanoid form, but completely made of moss. Out of both sides of its head, two little bushes stuck out, both covered with leaves and flowers. Other flowers grew at random, all over his body, and his eyes glowed of a strange blue light, devoid of pupils. A small brush of moss grew under his eyes, giving the impression of it having "mustaches."
Yet, the most amazing thing about the creature was not what Amelia and Polly saw about it, but instead what they felt about it: the more they looked at him, the more they felt calm, peacefulness, a strange mindset devoid of violence and aggressiveness taking over them.
As Amelia kept watching, unable to avert her gaze, her mind rushed to guess what she was experiencing right now: it was a magical moment, like the ones she saw in numerous movies back home? Was she hallucinating, or her eyes were showing her something real?
She moved her foot, and she felt a crack under his feet, as she realized she stepped on a dry twig. Hearing the sound, the large moss creature turned, its eyes meeting Amelia's and Polly's. Yet, instead of running away, like Amelia feared for a second it would do, the large being did something neither she nor Polly expected.
The creature moved on all his four arts, and walked toward them. Polly stood motionless, her eyes not blinking even once, as the large moss being walked to Amelia, until its "face" and Amelia's were right in front of each other.
"Wha-what is-what is th-"
"It's the Moss Man." Polly finally said, her voice low, as astonishment had overcome all her other emotions, "It-it exist. It exists for real!"
"You knew about this?" Amelia asked, her eyes unmoving, as The Moss Man leaned toward her.
"Well, I did know, but…it was a legend! The Moss man is a known myth around here, but no one believes it for real: only crazy people and gullible tadpoles believe it is real."
"Then, I guess I am very crazy, and you're very gullible, Polly Plantar" Amelia smiled, the halo relaxing effect of the Moss Man strengthening "Do you-do you have a name, Mr. Moss Man?"
The Moss Man did not reply, simply sitting down, one of its "hands" moving forward, touching Amelia's and making her feel empathy with it.
"I don't think he speaks our language."
"Maybe he can understand us?"
Amelia's hands felt the creature body, and realized it felt like real moss. Yet, the more she looked at it, the more she felt peaceful and unwilling to fight unless attacked. Was this – was this creature having an effect on her mind?
"Polly, just to ask, do you feel less vicious and warmongering than usual just by looking at it?"
"Yes. I do not know why, but somehow, I do not want to fight anything now. I feel strangely…peaceful."
"It's it," Amelia nodded, walking closer to the Moss man and petting him, "Somehow, just looking at it or being nearby to it makes you feel less aggressive and more peaceful. It's like it's emitting a non-violence halo."
"Ok, I should feel angry for that, and yet, all I can feel is mellow."
The Moss Man had done the impossible. As Amelia and Polly kept looking, and it stood there, attracted by Amelia's innocence and lighthearted approach, both the human and the pollywog forgot, for a short time, their aggressive personalities and their violent approach, as wonder and amazement took over their thoughts.
For a short time, Amelia and Polly were back to acting like children.
"Ok, Jacob, James, are you ready to face off each other?" Hop Pop announced. Both the human boys were now dressed in a sumo wrestler-like uniform, and stood against each other atop a large lily pad in the water.
"Huh, before we start, Hop Pop, can you remind us what this thing is supposed to be?"
"This is the Plantar Family Challenge!"
"An artful test of skill where the winner takes all!" Sprig yelled, holding a bell in his hands.
"You push each other until someone falls off the lily pad. Usually we do this only to resolve issues among family members, but during the Plantar Boys Adventure Time, you're also allowed to do this challenge for small, friendly wages."
"Wages, huh?" Jacob thought with a grin, "Very well! James, once you lose, I take your watering chores, and you take my Bessie's stable cleaning ones!"
"Huh, that's a promising match!" Sprig muttered, his grandfather nodding silently.
"Oh, yeah?" James replied, his challenger spirit rising, "Well, once I win, you must let me borrow your skateboard."
"You wish, Briton!"
"I'm making you yield, French-menace!"
"Boys, before we start the challenge, I want both of you to confirm it. Jacob?"
"Hoi! Hah! Hai!" He shouted, stomping his feet.
"James?"
"According to the mass of my muscles, victory is mine!" He stomped once.
"Ok, boys. Let the Plantar's family challenge..." Sprig struck the bell with his hand, "BEGIN!"
As soon as the bell rang, James and Jacob charge towards each other, yelling as they make contact. Each one trying to push their adversary and hold their ground, as Sprig and Hop Pop cheered."
"You're gaining the upper hand! Keep pushing!"
"Don't yield: hold your ground and push him back!"
"Hey, who are you cheering for?" James muttered, as Jacob kept pushing on him.
"Who cares?" Hop Pop admitted, "It's fun to watch!"
The two boys kept pushing each other, with no visible result.
"Give up, Jacob! I've got handball experience and upper arm strength."
"Maybe, but I've got the downer legs strength and durability, and the strategic ground smarts."
"Wha-"
Before James could even finish her sentence, Jacob moved aside, and pushed him toward the lily pad's edge. As James desperately tried to regain his equilibrium, his "upper body muscular mass", already subjected to his own impetus and Jacob's push, drove him out of the lily pad and into the water.
"Jacob wins!" Hop Pop announced.
"Yes! Go Jacob!"
"I won?" The boy took a second to realize, before smirking. "I won! I won the challenge! Bow down to the king, babies!"
James re-emerged, spitting water out of his mouth, only to see Jacob grinning to him from above the lily pad.
"That's not fair! You cheated!"
"Huh-uh! Is that some loser talk? There is no rule who said I couldn't move out of your path, stars-lover. To win, I simply had to make you fall out of the lily pad, that you did."
"He's right, James! There is no rule who says that counts as cheating."
"Well, I'm brassed off!"
"Well, haters gonna hate, James. Now I'll take care of watering the plants while you clean up Bessie's stable!"
"I demand a rematch!"
"Huh, Sasha, what are we doing?"
"It's simple, Boonchuy; after the spa, we are getting a proper haircut. Maybe you two haven't noticed it, but your hairs are growing messy."
"Well, now that you have pointed it out…" Marcy said, checking her own hair. At first sight, they didn't look too much different from the day they ended up stranded in Amphibia. Yet, the more she checked, the more she realized that Sasha was right: her hair had lengthened considerably, and numerous strands now hung even ever closer to her eyes, a few leaves trapped among them.
Yet, it was still better than what Anne was experiencing.
As the frog brought a mirror to them, Anne noticed something odd in her hair.
"Hey," The Thai-American girl called out to them, "Was anyone going to tell me that I have leaves and twigs in my hair?"
"Well, you never seemed to notice before, plus it looks somehow…attracted to your hair."
"What does that mean, Marbles?"
"I mean, Anne-Banana, that even since we came here, we did have ways to wash our hair. Yet, every time, your hair ends up getting a lot more leaves and twigs than Sash and me combined. Plus, the longer they were in there, the harder it is to get them out. It almost looks like they're magnetized to go into you, or something like that."
"If I have to guess, Boonchuy, I would simply say that your hair are quite sticky for any leaves and twigs of Amphibia."
"Sasha!" The girl replied, while the blonde girl started to chuckle. "That's not helping!"
"Come on, Boonchuy: I'm paying for your haircut to remove any leaves and twigs out of that hairball of yours."
"How much did that-"
"Seven coppers."
"What? Seven coppers? Yours and Mar-Mar were just three! My hair do not require much more skill than yours"
"Nope, but you surely got way more hair to take care of." Sasha and Marcy laughed at the same time, while Anne groaned.
Yet, getting a proper haircut and shampoo was not something that Anne disliked: could there be something more relaxing than this?
"Could there be something more relaxing than this?" Polly murmured, as Amelia kept petting the Moss Man, both of them still unable to look away.
"Nope. No way. Nah." The wannabe samurai replied, completely mesmerized, her wooden katana thrown aside, to demonstrate to the Moss Man her intention not to harm him. The large moss creature seemed to understand this, and kept empathizing with them, its heads moving, as to reply to the questions Amelia kept asking.
"So, you're alone?"
The Moss Man nodded, "yes."
"And…there is no one else like you?"
The Moss Man did not reply. It did know of his many surviving brethren, but he hadn't seen them for a thousand years by now, and he could not know what happened to them.
"I guess that's very sad," Polly said, words she would have never said in her normal mindset now flowing out of her mouth almost naturally. "You…you never had someone taking care of yourself? Never had a friend?"
The Moss Man looked at the small pollywog, something in her was reminding the Moss Man of someone, a friend, from the past. A young and energetic frog with reddish-pink epidermis and short orange hairs, who was very skilled in taking care of all vegetable lifeforms, and who ended up freeing it before escaping here, as far as possible from the Great Palace and her friends. What could have happened on that day, the Moss Man did not know, but as it kept looking at Polly, she resembled more and more their longtime lost friend.
"You did have someone." Amelia gasped, almost feeling the thoughts of the Moss Man through sheer empathy.
The Moss Man emitted a deep, guttural sound, reminding Amelia of some sounds she heard once in a documentary about whales, as it moved a finger to the ground, writing a name with the index.
An "L". An "E". A "I". Last, an "F".
"Leif?" Amelia read aloud, looking back at the Moss Man, "Was-was that the name of your friend?"
The Moss man nodded.
"Do you know - you know what happened to him? Or to her?"
The Moss Man shook their head. A long time had passed, since the last day they saw their friend.
"Polly, do you know if there is a Leif in Wartwood?"
"Sorry, I have no idea: I never heard that name before."
So, the little one did not know, the Moss Man realized. His old friend was closer than he had guessed, but she didn't know. It was no problem, as every Moss Man had a long life, and an even longer patience. They could wait.
"You want for us to…look out for your friend?" Amelia asked, her voice full of kindness.
The Moss Man shook their head. There was no need for that: they already found it.
"Wow, I meet you just today, but- I really wish I could help you somehow. Can we be friends? Can we…keep you safe? We won't tell anyone about you, I promise."
The human girl said those words, and for a brief second, unseen by everyone else, the Moss Man saw a purple light shine through her eyes, burning bright before disappearing once again. A light the Moss Man had already seen, over a thousand years ago.
Before Amelia could say something else, however, she heard a bell rang in the distance, a sound that, for a few seconds, broke the magic moment she was living and returned her to her current place and time.
"Shoot!" Amelia gasped, as she noticed the time on her phone, "Polly, we have to go back. If the girls are back to the farm already, and they notice we are not there, we would be in trouble."
"Do we really have to?" Polly protested, looking at the Moss Man. "Do we have to…leave it?"
"I'm just as sad as you are Polly," the cone-hatted girl replied, before turning to the Moss Man once last time, "I'm sorry Mr. Moss Man, but now, Polly and I have to return home. I wish we could see you again in the future, and that we can be friends, if you would like it of course."
The Moss Man said nothing, but it moved his right-hand open toward Amelia, and in the palm of his hand, something began to grow. First, it was a small shrub, but after a few seconds, it flourished until it became a beautiful ethereal flower, purple and a little glowing, somehow resembling a rose or a geranium.
"Is-is this…?"
"He made it grow in a few seconds? And at will too?"
Wow, I bet Marcy would love to note this in her journal.
The Moss Man kept his hands and the flower toward Amelia and Polly, waiting.
"Does it…?"
"I think he wants to gift it to us."
Amelia nodded, her hands moving to the flower and gently picking it. The Moss Man's hands retreated as Amelia looked at the flower in her hands. There was something…magical into it, in how the flower looked, how it glowed in her hands. She could feel a tear of emotion, roll down on her cheek.
"I'll treasure it for the rest of my life," Amelia said, sighing, placing the flower among her hair and gently smiling toward the Moss Man "Even if we were not to meet again, even if our destinies will never cross anymore, I'll treasure this memento of our meeting, and the memory of this day."
The Moss man seemed to have understood every word, as he lowered his head for a second, almost "thanking" her, before it turned around, walking on his four legs like a deer, quickly disappearing from both Amelia's and Polly's sight.
The duo kept looking, until the Moss man was nowhere to be seen.
"That-that was-"
"The most magical moment of your whole life, Polly?" Amelia guessed, putting her katana back in her pouch. "Yep, mine too."
"I guess it's time to head back home, don't you think? Too bad we hadn't any chance for our small adventure-"
"What are you saying, Polly. We did have an adventure today, and we even meet a new friend. And this will be our special private adventure that no one else will ever know about."
"Oh, for real? I was hoping to tell Sprig-"
"Would he believe us? Or Hop Pop would? Would anyone else? You said it yourself: a myth that only crazy people and gullible tadpoles believe. If you had not seen it alongside me, before, would you believe if someone saw it for real?"
Polly pondered about it, "Huh, I guess not?"
"That's my point. Besides, why should we ever need to tell the others? This is our secret, for our private adventure. Something that is ours alone, forever and ever!"
"I like the way you're thinking."
"Plus, I didn't take a photo to prove its existence."
"What? Why?"
"Huh, I forgot?" She smirked awkwardly.
"Oh, hello girls!" Hop Pop smirked as Sasha, Anne and Marcy returned, "How was your day?"
"Tiring, but satisfying," Sasha hummed, feeling the effect of the spa and the hairdresser, "I guess this place is not so bad after all."
"Huh, is she ok?" The old frog asked Marcy, noticing Sasha's unnatural peacefulness.
"She's fine," Marcy happily purred, "It's just the effect of the spa on our mental health."
"Wait, you did go to the spa? Without us?" Sprig asked, coming out of the kitchen
"Wait, you go there too?" Anne asked, checking her now clean and leaf-less hair.
"Oh, Anne, we love the spa. Did you get that fishy pedicure?"
"Yeah, it was amazing."
"Oh, I agree. You know they're actually eating the dead skin off the bottom of your feet?"
"Huh, yeah? We have them in our world too."
"Sound like you had a fun day, girls" James said, as he and Jacob leaned from the couch they were lazing on, "We did too."
"Oh yeah? What did you do?"
"Well, Sasha, first Hop Pop invited us to participate in a Plantar Family event called "Plantar Boys Adventure Time". Thenwe got to taste the Plantar's heirloom drink; Then-"
"I'm an Amphibia Sumo Champion!"
"What."
"For real?"
"You're not an Amphibia Sumo Champion, Jacob!" The other boy protested with an angry scowl on his face, "First, Sprig said it's called Plantar Family Challenge, and second, you cheated!"
"No, I didn't. I even accepted your rematch challenge, and I won again!"
"You stinky treacherous-"
"Wait a minute, where are Polly and Amelia?" Hop Pop asked, noticing the duo's absence.
"Well, Hop Pop, the thing is-" Marcy started to say, just before the farm's door opened once again and the last two girls appeared, a relaxed and calm expression on both of their faces.
"Girls, where have you been?" Sasha walked toward them, "What the frog did you-"
"It doesn't matter, Sash,"
"You…what?" Sasha stopped all of a sudden, as she noticed that Amelia and Polly looked somehow even more relaxed and stress-free than she and her friends were.
"Polly and I went to do something on our own," The wannabe samurai kept talking, "and we had more than enough adventures for Today. Petunia, I'm going to change a little, I hope we can talk again at dinner."
"Sure thing, Priscilla,"
As Polly hopped back to her room, and Amelia walked silently back into the basement, the remaining Plantars (plus the human teens) were left shocked and in disbelief.
"Petunia?" Sprig almost shouted, "Polly never allows anyone to call her by her middle name: she hates it!"
"The same for Amelia, "Jacob murmured, unbelieving his own eyes and ears, "The last time I called her Priscilla, she sucker-punched me instantly."
"Did they find something even more relaxing than a spa? Sash, you think they can tell us what it is?"
"I doubt it, Boonchuy. Yet, we can try, later."
"Ok, I don't know what happened, and yet I feel like I should report it in my journal."
"What the frog happened to them?"
Meanwhile, far from the Plantar Farm's, far from Wartwood, the Moss Man kept running, moving on all his four legs, dodging trees and other large rocks on his path. No bug or other predator tried to stop him, or even tried to attack him. Usually, the Moss Man never moved that far from the forest surrounding Wartwood, ever since it started to live there. Today, however, it was different: it knew that he had to warn the last of its friend's disciple.
It didn't take long to locate her: even after a thousand years, the Moss man could still remember the disciple's sparkling voice, her gentle face, her friendly manners. Above all, it could still recognize her aura, so peculiar, yet so familiar.
The Moss Man reached a large tree, under which a small carriage was parked for the night. The pack snail was freely eating the grass around, while a tall, slender figure, her front covered by a cowl, was sitting around a campfire, waiting for some centipede sticks to be properly cooked and grilled.
The Moss man walked closer, returning to its erect posture, as the tailed figure smiled.
"Wise Flower," the axolotl spoke up, raising to her feet, her right hand quickly grabbing her cane "It's been a long time since we last met, wasn't it?"
The Moss Man made more guttural sounds, to express her own content and happiness.
"Yes, I'm happy to see you again too. Frog, never expected you would come out and look for me. I wish Pietari would still be there, just for this happy moment."
The cowl fell, and the axolotl's free hand moved to touch the Moss Man, small tears leaking out of her blind eyes.
"So, the time for the prophecy has begun, hasn't it? I felt it, from the day it all began. You did too, lucky girl?"
The Moss Man (now revealed a Moss Woman) made more sounds, her head moving.
"I felt the energy flow, and my dreams have become clearer too. The Box is back in Amphibia, and her untold power is once again within reach of the enemies. With it, the current incarnations of Wit, Heart and Strength have now arrived; and I guess they're not alone, right?" she kept speaking, as the Moss Woman simply sat, waiting for her.
"Courage, such a burning, powerful one. Imagination, an ocean of dreams and creativity that only waits to be tapped into. But, what about… Respect?"
The Moss Woman tilted his head, as the Axolotl gasped.
"You met her? Today?"
The Moss Woman nodded, making more sounds, as the former disciple listened in silence.
"So I see. She may be the one I was waiting for, but she still has a long way to go. Her sight has barely awakened, her strength is raw and untrained, her focus is lacking, while she can barely comprehend the notions and concepts she pretends to dominate and assimilate. She is too irresponsible and driven by emotions, for the challenge ahead of her," she stopped from a moment, as she smiled, "Just like me, when Leif found me."
The axolotl looked above, feeling the sky's gentle touch on her skin.
"We do not have much time: Andrias will find out soon, if he hasn't discovered it already. Plus, if Andrias knows…so does Aiden. Two enemies are readying themselves for war, for the Box and the new bearers of the gems: their conflict is our only hope to act before it's too late. The gems haven't awakened the power inside them yet, and our enemies are moving already."
The Moss Woman emitted another sound, looking at the Axolotl with a hurt look.
"No, I'm not having little hope in them. True, our enemies are marching already, but I foresaw it." She foresaw it. "Everything I could have done in a thousand years to help them, I have already done. The path has been laid, their chance is now prepared. We can only hope they don't squander it."
The Moss Woman moved a little, as she drew the letters on her hand.
"Amelia, huh? I suppose this is the name of my successor?"
The Moss Woman nodded as the axolotl kept looking at the name, millions of thoughts rushing together at the same time.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check on her personally. I can't control her growth, nor I can choose her path: but I guess I can simply point her in the right direction."
She walked back to the fireplace, the centipede sticks now properly cooked and releasing a tasteful smell.
"Tsk, I guess I can make do with some half-burned food for today. Wise Flower, I guess I should thank you for coming to meet me today. You can return to your forest, but I need you to stay on watch: Andrias is unlikely to force his hand before the Valley's passage thaws, but Aiden probably will."
She felt something round and hard in her pocket, and instinctively she grabbed and opened it, just as the Moss Woman started to run away, leaving her alone once again. Her eyes could no longer see it, but she could remember the drawing that used to be there. A small, beautiful portrait of a frog, a toad and an axolotl, once friends of adventures and protectors of a secret.
Now, she was the only one left standing.
"Pietari, Unna, I'll do my best. For you. For Leif. And for the fulfillment of the prophecy."
Hello, you amazing readers! How are you?
I have some questions I would like to ask you all:
- What do you hope for a certain's character development arc?
- What kind of scenes or events you hope to see more in the future updates? And what instead you prefer to see reduced?
- What are your big questions about the story?