Good evening, everyone! For this chapter when Hershel had unexpectedly reunited with his old friends while Skye was introduced to our heroes. There were some plots that I borrowed to mashed it up as long as I gave credits to my friends. Thank you all for your patience and enjoy reading. Now, on with the show!
Amphibia: Living In A Frog World
Plantar's Last Standing
During that day in middle of the forest, Hershel was off collecting berries with Skye on the edge of the forest with a bored look on his face. He's been living with Skye's family for at least a month since then and the only thing he can survive is eat some healthy food and drink plenty of water.
"So you and your parents have lived here your whole life?" Skye asked, as she put the berries in her bag.
"Yup." replied Hershel looked beyond the shrubbery. "Have you ever been beyond the forest?"
"No, though I have thought about it." Skye replied as she moved to another bush.
"Well, how about we ask them?" He suggested, making the small frog looked up at him with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Really?"
"Yeah! We can go have some adventures somewhere and it would be safer than here. You don't want to stay in the forest forever, do you?"
"Hmmm, I guess you're right. Let's go ask my parents, maybe they'll say yes!" Skye jumps on Hershel's shoulder as they walked back to her parents after tying up the bags.
As they got back home and approached her parents, Hershel gave the two bags of berries to Skye's mother so it can be used for their dinner later. She walked pass where her egg is, sitting in bucket of water to keep it wet. Skye bet one day when the egg is ready to hatch.
"Hey dad... So uh, Hershel and I were thinking of going into town. You know, just to explore, can we? Pretty please? I promise we'll be careful!" Skye convinced her parents with Hershel sat down next to her, so he could speak on their level.
"Yeah, we want to go out and see more of the world." Hershel added, hopefully.
"Hmm... I don't know. What do you think, Daisy?" Bush looked between the both of them with his wife stood next to him.
"Well, I think it sounds good to me. We can't control their freedom, Bush. If they want to explore, then let them explore." said Daisy. The older blue frog let out a sigh as he looked at the pair again.
"Okay, fine. You two can go." He approved.
"Yay!" Hershel and Skye cheer as the boy picked up his little friend and the two began to run off to the edge of the forest yet again.
"Don't worry, we'll be careful and we'll back by dinner, byyyyye!" Hershel shouted as he rushed off too far from the distance.
"You don't think the whole town will freaked out?" Bush asked.
"No idea." replied Daisy.
Later on, both Hershel and Skye have found their way to the gates of Wartwood, wanting to take in the sight of this old country town. Hershel then noticed something about the Wartwood citizens watching him walk around the town.
"Huh, I wonder why no one's freaking out. I am the first human here, right?" Hershel asked, only for Skye to shrugged.
"You should be the only one. You're the first one I've ever seen." said Skye.
"Great, just what we need. More outsiders." Mrs. Croaker muttered as she walks passed them.
"What's up with her?" Hershel asked.
"I have no idea." replied Skye, then they heard stomach growling that came from her. "Did you happen to bring some of those berries with you?"
"No, I gave both bags to your mom. But don't worry, there could be a marketplace nearby." Hershel ushered as they walked into the marketplace, but little they didn't notice that he's the only human in this town.
"Ah, the Wartwood Farmer's Market." said Sprig as Frank walked over to him with a crate of corn. Together they looked at the market. "Where salt of the earth frogs come to sell stuff and fill up on free samples."
Sprig just open a jar of Gentle Jon's Expensive Jellies. He then hit its bottom with his knee, sending the jelly flying up and landing in his mouth. But as Sprig was about to swallow it, Gentle Jon leaned towards him with an angry look.
"That wasn't a sample." He grumbled, making Sprig spat the jelly back out into the jar.
"Now it's like nothing happened." said Sprig, nervously. But Gentle Jon still wasn't happy and wasn't going to be so gentle. He pulled out a giant mace. "I- I can pay for that."
Frank walked away and headed for the Plantar's fruit stand, leaving Sprig to try and find the money in his pocket. He set down a crate of vegetables next to the Plantar's stand. Anne was there too, reading a magazine, and Polly sat on the counter.
Sasha went over to Ivy by selling shells she collected from the lake. Sasha was looking them over, she was pretty impress. Arts and crafts was something she didn't really care for much. It was basically the only subject she failed at as she didn't have Marcy to cheat off of, but the little frog's child artwork was pretty nice.
"So, you found and made them ourself?" Sasha asked, pointing at the shell with painting on them, small shells were made into bracelets and necklaces.
"Yep, it's not one of my favorite hobbies. But I do enjoy it, if it's stormy outside. Plus, I get to keep some of the money. I'm saving up to get this new bug net." replied Ivy as she explains.
"Huh, that's interesting." Sasha looked a bit surprised.
"Okay so you have to match the colors up to the same color." Over by the Flour table, Marcy was showing Lavender, Rosemary, and Ginger to her phone for kid's game app.
The triplets were fighting over who was to play first, even Maddie who was busy making basic cold medical potion turn to look over. Mr. Flour was happy that his daughters were getting along with Marcy since the Taiwan girl was been kind to them.
Just then, Clipper has landed after KJ, Darrel, and Tint managed to delivered some supplies for the markets with Cronaxx very much pleased to work together as a team. That's when Mrs. Croaker approached to the Plantars stand.
"Good morning, Mrs. Croaker." Anne, Frank, and Polly all greeted together with unison.
"I'll take this here gangly gourd, Hopadiah." said Mrs. Croaker grabbing one of the gourds from the basket on the ground.
"Oh, I sense a batch of Croaker stew coming on." commented with a friendly attitude. However, as he looked at the fruit, he grew concerned. "Hmm... Hang on there, Sadie. You don't want that one."
He walked around the stand and approached the elder frog as she gave him the gourd. First, he inspected it, then he knocked on it until heard that it was hollow, and he placed the fruit to his ear and heard something in it. Something slimy.
"Frank, if you'd please!" Hop Pop tossed the gourd to him.
Seeing that fruit coming at him, Frank grabbed his mantis scythe and used it to cut the gourd in half mid-air. The two halves fell to the ground, relieving a giant maggot the size of a small cat inside.
"A-ha! It's a gourd maggot. These guys taste terrible." said Hop Pop as the maggot jumped out.
It made its way over to the Plantar's stand where it climbed onto it and crawled onto Anne's arm. This caused her to freak out and scream before it jumped into her hair.
"It's in my hair! It's in my hair!" She yelled, slipping and falling onto the ground. Frank rushed over to help her as Hop Pop talked to Mrs. Croaker.
"Here, take this one, instead. It's maggot-free." said Hop Pop, offering a new gourd, which she gladly accepted.
"Classic Plantar honesty. I've been buying from this stand since your father was running it. And y'all have never steered me wrong." said Mrs. Croaker, gratefully before she left.
"Very impressive, Hop Pop." Anne commented. The maggot was out of her hair, and its carcass was being pulled off Frank's knife.
"Impressive? Selling stuff to old people is easy money, but you owe us money." said Sasha as she approached to them.
"That is the Plantar difference, Anne. You can't taste honesty. But if you could–"
"...it'd taste like a Plantar stand vegetable." Sprig and Polly droned, rolling their eyes.
"This stand is the heart and soul of our family. I don't know what I'd do if we ever lost it." Hop Pop stared up at the sign of the stand.
"Not to worry, my friend. With your sign still standing, what could possibly go wrong?" said Cronaxx. ,but all of sudden when Toadie running up to Hop Pop and handing him a rolled-up scroll.
"Bad news, everyone! Bad news! Gonna run away before you read it!" He then started backflipping away from Hop Pop before he could protest.
"That Toadie…" He grumbled while taking out his glasses and opened the scroll to read it. "Say what?!"
"What? What is it?" Frank asked, before the old frog handed him the scroll. Frank took it and saw what it had to say. "What the hell? Mayor Toadstool is quadrupling the rent! And he wants it in three days!"
And it wasn't just the Plantars that were shocked by the news. Everyone in the farmer's market including the Sundews and the Flour's were all stunned by the news. Calling the mayor crazy and the demand outrageous. Even Darrel and the Salamanders were shocked as well.
"He wants what?!" Darrel baffled.
"Of course, the mayor wants to rent the stand. Corrupted by greed and his arrogant pride." Cronaxx frowns.
"Oh, dear." Marcy slightly clenched her jacket.
"Mind if I put a curse on him?" Maddie suggested.
"How about we kick the fat toad out of town!" Sasha suggested, as few towns folks agreed. Polly was totally ready to throw down.
"Heck Yeah! Up top!" Polly jumped and high-five Sasha with her tail. "Let's do this!"
"That's my girl!" Sasha smiled, she pat her hand.
"I'm with ya!" Ivy agrees.
"If we do something like that, the Toad army will be at our doorsteps." Felicia advised them.
"Boo!" Polly frowns while Ivy blew a raspberry.
As they didn't take too notice when it was crowded, Hershel and Skye approached next to the Plantars' stand, thinking if he could actually take one of the gourd rather than buying it.
"Oh, this is perfect. Okay, I'm going to take one of these gourds for us while you just talk to the pink frog and that tadpole so they won't see me." Hershel whispered.
"Uh, Hershel, are you sure? I think that's called stealing." Skye looked concerned.
"It's okay, Skye. We need food but we don't have any money. Besides, if we get in trouble, I'll take the blame for it." replied Hershel as he kept his smile.
Without other choices, Skye walked over to the group and was about to start a conversation with the smaller frog, but she noticed there were six other humans standing over her. All confused on what she was trying to say as Hershel continued to slip his hand closer to the gourd.
"Oh, hey there, stranger? What brings you here?" Sprig greeted kindly.
"Uhhhh….." Skye looked nervous at first, staring at Hershel reaching his hand on one of the gourds, carefully until Hop Pop suddenly swung his cane towards one of his gourds.
"OW!" Hershel yelped.
"Ha! Take that you little thieving... Human?" Hop Pop puzzled, making Anne turned her attention until her eyes went wide with shocked.
"Guys, look! It's that kid who spray painted the lockers during our dance party prank!" Anne exclaimed, pointing her finger when her friends were shocked.
"Wait, is that…" Darrel began to recognize him.
"Hershel! Dude, you're here too?" KJ stood there, shocked to see his friend was here.
"Wait, Anne? KJ, Darrel, Sasha, and Marcy too?" Hershel looked surprised that he's not the human here in this town before taking glanced at Frank. "And I think you're... Frank, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. But I'm not too fond of thieves, you know." Frank stood in between Hershel and Hop Pop, pointed his scythe at the darker haired boy.
"Okay, okay, geez. Heard loud and clear. I only tried to steal from you guys because me and my friend here were hungry." Hershel put his hands up defensively, with Skye shyly hid behind Hershel, waving to the group.
"Hi." Skye waved, nervously.
"How do I know that you're not lying?" Frank asked, skeptically.
"I've been living out in a forest with her family for over a month." Hershel answered as they looked dumbfounded. Marcy stepped closer to him.
"Seriously?! I mean, why are you here? Actually, how? We got teleported here when the box was opened." Marcy looked straight at him, feeling curious.
"I'm not too sure myself. I was carving something on a tree at the playground until I heard some conversation and then I got blinded by a flash of light. Next thing I know is I'm in a middle of the forest and I have no place to go until I met this kid who helped me in order to survive. Like how most people do when stranded on the island sometimes." Hershel explains.
"Like the time when the dinosaurs are on the loose?" Frank teased.
"Don't get me started."
"Hmm, you must have been close enough for the box where it takes you with us." Marcy theorized as the Taiwan girl shrugged.
"I guess the box wanted you to be here for a reason." Sasha came to a conclusion.
"Well, if Hershel is here, that definitely means the others have to be here as well" KJ smiles with Sasha in agreement.
"Others?" Hershel puzzled.
"Yeah, Andy, Ivan, Ethan, and Tyler. Are they with you?" KJ asked hopefully and so were the others.
"Nope. Just me." He answered, much to their dismayed.
"Well, at least you're here in one piece." said Darrel.
"So, you must be one of Anne's friend?" Sprig asked as he took closer to Hershel until he smiles when shaking hands with him. "Then it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Sprig, and this is Polly, my sister…"
"What's up." Polly greeted.
"…and Hop Pop, my grandfather."
"Uh, hey." Hop Pop waved.
"And I'm Skye, Hershel's best friend." Skye pops up, claiming herself.
"Since I'm here now, but what are you all doing here?" Hershel asked.
"Oh, we all managed to find each other and we've been living with the Plantars ever since they found us. But right now, Mayor Toadstool is quadrupling the rent and he wants it in three days or else we lose the stand." KJ explains.
"Yikes, that sucks." Hershel winced.
"Hmm…" Frank thought for a moment before coming up with an idea. "Got it! If selling fruits and vegetables isn't what's going to get us the money for the rent, then we need a new flashy product to sell at a high price."
"Oh! You mean like Snugaroos?" Anne asked.
"Exactly!"
"What the–" Hop Pop pulled his head out of a basket he was throwing up in. "Frank! Anne! We're a vegetable stand!"
"Seriously, guys?" Sasha crossed her arms.
"Oh no, Anne does have the right idea. My dad is the CEO of his own company and he knows how to sell. How about we help you guys out?" said Hershel, smiling.
"Really? How?" Sasha puzzled.
"Yeah, I'm not sure if we even want your help." Frank frowns that he couldn't trust him. But Skye step towards him, showing her puppy face.
"Mister, I'm really sorry he tried to steal from you guys. I promise if you let us help, I won't let him do it again!" said Skye, trying to convince him.
"That sounds good. C'mon Frank, don't be like that. He can help." said KJ.
Okay, I know you've known him longer than we have, but come on. He tried to steal from Hop Pop earlier." Frank wasn't still convinced.
"But he only tried to steal because he and his friend were hungry. They live in the forest, who knows what they have to eat there." said Anne.
"Well, if KJ vouches for him, then I think we can hear him out." Marcy smiles.
"I think I'm okay with that. What do you think, Tint?" Darrel asked his best friend.
"Sounds fair to me." replied Tint.
"Any help could be appreciated." said Cronaxx.
"Sure. If he thinks he can help, then whatever." Sasha shrugged while standing next to Marcy. Then the group looked at Anne as she gave her answer.
"Well, I think we'll need all the help we can get, gang. Right, Frank?" Anne smiles as Franks sighs in defeat.
"Okay, it's fine. But I'm keeping my eye on him." said Frank, squinting his eyes towards him.
"Wow. Thanks, guys." Hershel smiles a bit.
"No problem." replied Anne before glances at him. "Frank, continue."
"I know, so we'll have to come up with our new product using what we've got. Here, I'll show you." Frank walked over to the gout he sliced and grabbed one of the halves off the ground. He then took a glass jar and squeezed the gourd juice into it.
"What are you doing?" KJ looked puzzled.
"A little bit of this, shake it up and…" after shaking it up, Frank presented the juice to Hop Pop. "Introducing Plantar's Potion. A hearty mix of vitamins and minerals that'll extend your life and keep you regular."
"Nice thinking, Frank! This drink is the best thing you've come up with." said Anne, giving him a high five.
"Wowza. All that in one jar?" Hop Pop asked.
"Heck if I know, I just made all that up. I remember Grandma used to be all about health drinks back home. They charged high prices for them, and people just ate the stuff up." replied Anne.
"That's true, my dad drinks then every day." Marcy replied, writing down through her notes. Thinking of another ways she could help.
"But health drinks are all the rage back home. The best part, we can charge through the nose for them! Nice job, Anne!" Sasha smiles towards her.
"Yeah! That's an excellent idea, guys!" Marcy smiled.
"You guys are genius!" said Darrel, smiling.
"Heh. I don't know much about your grandmother, but it's worth a shot." Hop Pop walked over to the crowd of frogs and cleared his throat while raising the jar over his head. "New product! New product, everyone. This here is a freshly made bottle of...What was it again? Plantar's Potion!"
"Good thinking, Frank. This plan might actually work." said Anne as she leaned towards him. In the crowd, Wally raised his hand.
"Yes, you in the front, Wally." said Hop Pop.
"Does it taste good." Wally asked.
"Wouldn't know. Haven't tried it yet." He replied.
"Oh." Wally lowered his hand, and a random frog coughed.
"Hey, Hop Pop! Can we chat for a second?" Anne asked before turning to her pink frog friend. "Sprig, work the crowd."
"Yes, ma'am." Sprig hopped over to the crowd as his grandfather walked back to Anne and the others. He cleared his throat to get the attention of everyone. "Spring Plantar, ten years old."
He then played Beethoven's Fur Elise with his armpit. When he stopped, the crowd cheered and applauded him. Ivy even threw a flower at him, which he caught.
"Wow. That kid's a genius." Frank commented.
"Dude, if you wanna sell this stuff, you gotta sell this stuff! Make promises you can't keep and junk." said Anne, giving him a nudge on the arm.
"Did you forget this stand was built on honesty?" Hop Pop asked.
"Anne's right, Hop Pop. Think about it: in three days, there won't be a stand." Frank agrees with her.
"Agree. Better butter them up. Make them feel good about themselves and they do whatever it is you tell them. Just try saying nice things for a change. Get them to love you and they'll do anything for you." said Sasha.
"Mmm. I don't know." said Hop Pop, looking uncomfortable.
"Look, either you do this or we lose the stand. Next the farm, then we'll be homeless, you'll be homeless, and your grandchildren will be homeless." Her tone wasn't as comforting as Anne.
Hop Pop glanced at them before looking up at the Plantar stand sign. It consisted of a big P in the middle with vegetables on both sides at the bottom. Right under the P were the words 'Honesty First.' This was the stand that made the Plantars who they were.
It's been in the family for generations, and it's continued to be a beacon of honest business making in the Wartwood farming community. But now, he could very well lose it forever. Knowing that the kids were right as he sighed sadly.
"I'll give it a try." He walked over to the crowd and Sprig. "Take five, boy. I'll take it from here."
"You got it, Hop Pop! Hop, hop!" Sprig hopped away as Hop Pop then turned to the crowd and held up the jar of Plantar's Potion.
"Folks, I'd really appreciate it if you bought this drink. Uh…" He turned back to the kids. Anne face-palmed before making a circular motion with her hands. Trying to tell him to add more to his presentation and make the potion more enticing to buy. "Because it'll make you, I don't know... stronger?"
That statement got the crowd's attention as they all began murmuring in wonderment.
" And uh... smarter, too!"
"Smarter? Smarter, too?" Wally exclaimed as the crowd showed an even greater interest in the potion.
Hop Pop smiled, knowing that this plan could actually work. He took a wide brim hat from a little tadpole and set it on his head.
"Folks, one sip of Plantar's Potion…" he stopped to gulp down the entire potion, before smashing the jar onto the ground, shattering it. "...and you may very well live forever!"
The crowd clapped and cheered for Hop Pop.
"I'll take ten!" Wally shouted, tossing his copper coins at the old frog.
"I'll take a hundred!" Felicia screamed.
The whole gang watched with eyes wide as the coins came raining down on them for the crowd of frogs. Seeing that their plan was working, Frank and Anne high-fived. However, they were pelted by copper coins, which didn't hurt too much but was still annoying. Sprig and Polly loved all the money they were receiving. The two kids rolled themselves on the ground and all over the coins.
Her friends smiles that their plan is working. If they earned enough money, then the Plantar's stand will be saved and no one in this town is gonna stop them. Not even the Mayor of Wartwood can stop them. When his hat was all filled up with coins, Hop Pop picked it up and looked at it all with wide eyes filled with amazement.
"Suffering swamp gas! We gotta step up production on this stuff. Fast!" said Hop Pop as a giant grin stretched across his face.
The next day, the Plantar's stand was the most popular stand in the Wartwood farmer's market. A massive crowd gathered in front of the stand, with balloons floating off into the air. They all were cheering for Hop Pop and his family's new potion that promised the work miracles.
Frank carried a crate of freshly picked beets from the cart to Anne as the crowd waited. She was standing next to a ladder against a giant barrel with a water spigot. Anne grabbed a handful of beets and walked up the ladder. She opened the top of it and peered down to see Sprig, Polly, Tint, and Skye were all standing at the bottom, up to their feet in juice.
"Incoming!" Anne called down to them and tossed the beets down to the kids.
"Fresh beet juice, coming up!" Sprig grunted as he and the other three started stumping and smashing the beets into juice.
Due to throwing a fuss about getting messy in the barrel, Sasha is in charge of passing out the potions to the people that buy them, alongside Frank, but still watching Hershel during his job and growing less suspicious of him.
Marcy is counting the money that they're getting from the sales while KJ and Hershel are filling up jars. Outside, Anne filled jar after jar of Plantar's Potion and placed them in a crate that Darrel carried over to the stand. Sitting it on the counter, Hop Pop started setting out the jars in two rounds.
"All right, who's next?" Hop Pop asked.
Me, me!" everyone yelled, wanting to get their hands on a bottle of potion.
"There he is!" One villager exclaimed.
"Look, Daddy, the potion man," said a child as Hop Pop walked out on top of the stand's roof.
"Folks! Say, any of you been losing the stick on your tongue?" He asked, exaggerating by sticking out his tongue and letting it hang limply.
"One sip of Plantar's Potion…." Pulling out a jar, Hop Pop gulped it all down in one go. "...and my tongue has never felt stickier."
Frank threw him an apple, and Hop Pop caught out on the end of his tongue. They cheered and applauded the old frog.
"Feeling dry? Plantar's Potion will have you moist and smooth." Hop Pop drank some more and then proceeded to rip off his shirt and show off his slimy chest. "Just look at the sheen on me!"
The clouds moved away, and the sun's rays shone down on him. The light reflected off his body as everyone stared in amazement.
"Oooh!"
"I did not need to see Hop Pop shirtless." said Frank, but that didn't stop Hop Pop at all. He just kept on rolling and didn't quit making promises that he couldn't make with his potion.
"It'll make your warts bigger."
"It'll make your kids talk back less."
"It'll erase all the regrets that keep you up at night."
Everyone in the crowd cheered and applauded the old frog as they threw their money at him. Hop Pop bowed with his eyes closed and smiled happily. In lying and being dishonest, he would save the stand that his family built on honesty. Or does he?
Later that night, they've made a massive profit on their potion. With the market closed while everyone went home for the night, Hop Pop counted up their sales and saw they were 80% close to saving the stand by tomorrow. He laughed to himself before turning to Frank and Anne, who were both carrying crates of empty jars.
"I know I doubted you, kids, but this is really working." said Hop Pop.
"Thanks, but it's all thanks to you, Hop Pop." replied Frank, placing the crate down.
"You've gotten really good at this." said Anne, placing her crate next to him.
"Why, thank you." said Hop Pop, with a smile, taking his hat off to them with a wink.
"Is there something you're hiding?" Sasha asked, curious.
"I'm just a very good actor." replied Hop Pop.
"I might say, this potion really turns out swell." said Tint.
"Indeed, but there is something that you should know that being honesty is the best policy. Not telling lies." Cronaxx advised them.
"Not to worry, Cronaxx. How bad can it be?" Hop Pop brushed off.
"Guys, guys!" Sprig suddenly yelled as he slid down the ladder with Polly on his head.
"Big problem!" Polly exclaimed.
The group walked back to the cart, only to gasp in shock and horror at what they saw. Nothing. Absolutely nothing but a few bits and scraps of fruit. They've entirely run out of all their produces making the Plantar's Potion.
"Uh, where are the potions?" Marcy asked, nervously.
"We used up all our produce. There's nothing left." replied Sprig.
"No! We're so close. We can't fall short now!" Hop Pop cried, slamming fists on the bed of the cart.
"Okay, this looks bad, but maybe we can think of something else." said Frank trying to think of something else that would save the stand. That's when he got an idea. "I've got it! We still got corn. I can make some Elotes, and we can serve those–"
"Are you mad!? That's a horrible idea!" Hop Pop yelled at him.
"Hey, I'm just trying to help out!" Frank retorted.
"Then help me figure out how to make more Plantar's Potion! That's the only thing that'll save the stand! Let's see…." Hop Pop looked around, trying to find a suitable substitute for the potion. Looking to his left, his eyes lit up when he spotted what he thought would be perfect. "A-ha! Jackpot!"
That jackpot was in reality, the compost. Consisting of trash and rotting fruits and vegetables. All pile of garbage as the kids winced and cringed.
"Uh... Yeah, uh... Yeah, that's literally garbage." Anne cringed, thinking that Hop Pop was either kidding or lost his mind.
"More worse than Hop Pop's cooking." Sasha commented.
"Garbage? Or Plantar Potion's new secret ingredient?" Hop Pop rushed over to her and shoved an armful of garbage into her arms. Disguised, Anne dropped it to the ground as it stained her uniform. "Still need a bit more, though."
"I think I'm gonna be sick." said Darrel, feeling uncomfortable.
"If you need me, I'll be in his office." Cronaxx walks off and went inside to the house. Hershel looks up at the moon as he realized how late this is.
"So, it's getting really late, I think Skye and I should really head back now." said Hershel as Skye jumps on her partner's head, completely covering him with vegetable juice.
"Oh frog, you're right! My parents are going to be worried. We didn't come back by dinner time like we said. We'll be back tomorrow guys, I promise." Skye promised.
"Ugh, don't mention dinner. I am starving after today." Hershel groans.
"Well, hope you two traveled safe." said KJ.
"See you tomorrow." Tint waved.
"Wait! Before you guys leave…" Frank stops the two of them as they begin to leave, not seeing Hop Pop start to fill the giant barrel with garbage. He tosses two beets he had been hiding to them. "Thanks for your work today. Just don't try and steal from him again."
"Hey, no worries, dude." Hershel gives them a thumbs up.
"Thank you, Frank!" Skye waves at him as Hershel began to leave, then she takes a bite out of the beet, earning a groan from Hershel since he was already messy to begin with.
"So, what now?" KJ asked after watching the two of them walks back to the forest.
"We're going to try to convince him that this is really a bad idea." Frank answered.
"Well, in that case. I'm going to make some potion." said Marcy as she walks back inside.
"Hey, where are you going?" Sasha asked, raising her eyebrow.
"To make something that is not garbage. You're welcome to join me if you want." Marcy offered, then suddenly they heard Hop Pop's yelling.
"Come on, you kids! You wanna help out or what?!" Hop Pop hollered with an echo.
"You guys go. Tint and I are gonna help her out before he takes noticed." said Darrel.
"(sighs) Alright, come on guys." Anne sighed.
"You three be careful." said KJ.
"We will." replied Marcy as she and her dungeon buddies walks inside to make their fresh products while the others went to join with the eldest frog.
Later on, Frank amd the others watched helplessly as the old frog went sneaking around the farmer's market, gathering everything from broken eggshells, dead bugs, and even other people's garbage. Crawling into their dump buckets and carrying the waste away.
Hop Pop has collected every old and rotting fruit around, even an old rotting boot. He brought it all back to the barrel and dumped it all down into it, laughing like a madman….or mad-frog. He is completely gone raving mad.
"Hop Pop, this is crazy! You can't just feed everyone garbage." Frank called up to him.
"Oh, yes I can! Everyone's hooked. They'll buy anything I sell them. Now get in there, stompers." said Hop Pop with confidence.
"Aye, aye!" Polly hopped down into the barrel.
"Right." Sprig was about to climb in when a giant fly flew over and landed on the barrel. He kicked it in the face, knocking it off. But then another one came.
"Go on. Get, get." He waved his arms at them before jumping in and closing the lid.
"Ew. Are you sure that's even safe. It could make someone sick?" KJ asked, feeling uneased.
"Nonsense! As soon as we get enough amount of coppers, our stand will be saved. Now get to it!" Hop Pop ordered.
"That can't be good." Anne commented as the flies hovered over the barrel.
Hop Pop didn't notice and turned on the spigot. Out of it came a sickly black sludge that he quickly filled into each of his jars.
"Yes! Yes! Let it flow! Come to Hop Poppa!" Hop Pop went with an insane grin on his face. All while Anne, Sasha, Frank, and KJ watched nervously.
"This does not end well." Frank muttered.
The next day, the barrel now had three giant flies on top of it. They were scared off when Polly opened the hatch and hopped out. She was wearing a gas mask, but Sprig wasn't when he emerged from the barrel and felt queasy as he almost threw up. But he held it in and just blurted out black smoke that turned into a skull before dissipating.
Sprig couldn't keep his balance and fell off the barrel when he climbed out. Luckily Frank was there to catch him, then carrying the letting frog as he walked over to Anne where she was cleaning a jar until he friend approached her.
"Anne, this is really bad. I wanted to save the stand, but we ended up creating a monster." said Frank.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. I'm sure it's going to be okay." Anne brushed off his concerns.
"Hey, guys." They heard a voice as they turn and sees Hershel who greeted them as he and Skye approached to them as promised to come back and visit. "What's cooking?"
"Hershel, I think Hop Pop might've went a little overboard." replied Frank as he thumbs towards where Hop Pop stood next to Sasha and KJ while wearing his business attire.
"Really? He looks like a normal business man to me- Wait, why is the juice black?" Hershel asked as he noticed.
"(sighs) Ask him?" Anne sighed.
"Friends and frog folk, step right up! New limited edition Plantar's Potion." He held up one of the garbage potions and tapped it with his cane. "Only 20 coppers a bottle!"
"Twenty coppers? No one's gonna buy that–" Anne was interrupted when a massive crowd ran over her. Frank, Hershel, and Skye were out of the way when they came, so when the frogs passed, they looked over to Anne, who was sprawled on the ground. "Ow…"
Hop Pop was having the time of his life. Handing out potion after potion and taking all the money the people were offering. Soon, almost all of the garbage potion was off the stand's counter and in its place were piles and piles of coppers and riches.
"Thank you for your patronage." said Hop Pop after handed the last person the potion and took his money.
"I'm gonna feed this to my baby." said The villager and walks away.
"Uh…I wouldn't do that!" Franlk called out to the villager, but he was already long gone. So he sighed. "So, did we make it? Did we save the stand?"
"Just about it. We gotta sell to one more sucker, and we'll be home free." said Hop Pop, happily holding up the sales chart.
"I'll take a bottle, Hopadiah."
They twirled their heads at the very last person that turns out to be Sadie D. Croaker. She took one step, and it was enough to get Hop Pop's attention, as well as the other frogs. Everyone knew just how much respect she had for the Plantar family. That's why the crowd around her parted and allowed her to pass.
"Sadie Croaker, the stand's oldest and most loyal customer." Hop Pop gasped.
Mrs. Croaker started walking towards the stand as everyone watched. Luckily, no one had taken a sip of their potion.
"Usually, I find potions and the like to be a bunch of malarkey, but if Hopadiah Plantar says it works, then it must." said Mrs. Croaker.
The confidence that Hop Pop had once shown was now breaking down as his most loyal customer approached him. He quickly hid the sales chart, sweating nervously.
"Been saving this gold farthing for a while now. Waiting for something special to spend it on. One bottle, please." Mrs. Croaker pulled out a coin from her purse. As she held it out with a shaky hand, Hop Pop looked away, trying to come up with a lie.
"Uh... we're all sold out." Hop Pop lied.
"No, we're not!" Polly came over with one bottle of potion.
"Polly!" Sasha scolded while Frank face-palmed.
"Oh, thank you, deary." Mrs. Croaker took the bottle from her and handed Hop Pop the coin, all while the eldest frog started stammering anxiously. His anxiety only increased when Sadie turned to the crowd and held up the bottle. "To Hop Pop and the Plantars, the most honest folks in the business."
"Oof, even I felt that one." Anne cringed, holding her hand to her chest.
"You think?" Sasha gives her a stern look.
"How could you not?" Frank added.
"Guys! Guys!" They shift their heads where Marcy, Darrel, and Tint approaches to them with a fresh potion, but they could see their bags under their eyes. "We figured this out! Darrel and I came to conclusion that we made the best potions ever!"
"Uh, how long have you been up until morning?" Anne asked.
"Almost twelve hours. Yay…." Darrel cheered, but yawned.
"Uh, I hate to break the good news, but you're already too late." said Hershel, pointing his finger towards the crowd.
"To the Plantars!" Everyone in the crowd cheered and opened their mouths to drink the potion.
That was the moment when he snapped back to reality and realized that he had gone too far. As he started breathing heavily in a panic, he looked back at the stand's sign. Staring at the 'honesty first' words on it, Hop Pop knew that this had to stop. If he let them drink that potion, it was game over. If he came clean and told the truth, it was game over. In all circumstances, he'll still end up losing the stand.
"NO!" Hop Pop yelled, slapping the potion out of Mrs. Croaker's hand. Everyone stopped and stared at him in shock.
"What has gotten into you, Hopediah?" Mrs. Croaker asked.
"That was no health potion!" Hop Pop fell to his knees. "It's GARBAGE!"
At that moment, everyone spat out the potion. All disgusted and horrified by the taste of the potion, as well as the revelation of what it actually was. The only amphibian didn't drink when Cronaxx shaking his head. All of townsfolk then turned to Hop Pop, who took off his hat in shame.
"Folks, I'm so sorry. I never meant any harm. All I was trying to do was save my stand." said Hop Pop, sadly.
However, everyone gasped in terror. Confused, Hop Pop turned around and gasped when he saw a swarm of flies descending on the farmers market. One of them had Sprig and Polly in their arms. Both kids were covered in the garbage potion.
"Hop Pop!" Polly screamed.
"They want the garbage potion!" Sprig yelled.
"SPRIG! POLLY!" Tint cried.
"I've got this!" Darrel uses his staff to cast a fireball spell towards at the flies, but he missed his shot.
Then the two flies flew towards the barrel and bashed against it until it was knocked over, slipping out all of its contents. The flies started eating up the garbage potion. And then turned their attention to the frog crowd. The crowd quickly turned and ran away.
Some dropped their garbage potion, but some still carried them. Making them prime targets for the flies, and the giant insects chased them around. Sasha throws a rock at the one carrying Loggle away, saving him before he becomes their dinner. Marcy attempts to lasso the flies to save Sprig and Polly, but trips and fall to the ground on her face.
"Don't worry! I'll get you down from there!" Hershel shouted as he climbs on the roof of the stand, trying to attack the flies with his knife to no avail. One of them was Wally, who tried to hold onto the ground, but it was futile.
"Eaten by flies? Oh, the irony!" Wally screamed.
Frank grabbed his scythe and swung at the flies that flew low enough, but wasn't able to kill any of them. Anne was with him, throwing what jars of garbage potion they had left at the insects.
"Hey, let go of my bumpkin frog family!" She yelled, before being picked up herself.
"ANNE!" Frank yelled and tried to grab her, but she was too high up.
Seeing that he was now completely surrounded and open for attack, he quickly rushed over to the Plantar's stand and jumped over the counter. Getting behind the vegetable stand to try and come up with a plan. That was where he found Hop Pop hiding too, panicking.
"Oh, what have I done. What have I done…." Hop Pop rocked back and forth with his hands on his head.
"Hop Pop!" Frank yelled, startling the old frog. "The flies have Anne and the kids. We've got to help them."
Taking a deep breath, Hop Pop calmed down and gave Frank a look of determination.
"Right!"
They both gathered the jars of garbage potion and brought them over to the barrel.
"Hey! Ain't this what you want?" Hop Pop yelled, before he and Frank threw them into the barrel and slammed the hack shut. The flies charged at them.
Hop Pop quickly jumped on top of the barrel and started logrolling it as Frank pushed it. Together, they rolled the barrel out of the farm's market and into the woods. All while the flies were right behind them, with Anne, Sprig, and Polly screamed in their six legs. Together, they rolled the barrel out of the farm's market and into the woods until the old frog saw that they were heading for a cliff.
"Stop!" Hop Pop cried, looking over the side of the barrel until Frank saw the cliff.
He quickly ran over to the front of the barrel. As Hop Pop tried to stop the barrel with his feet, Frank used his hands to push back on the barrel. Just before the young boy's feet went over the edge, they successfully managed to stop the barrel.
Frank ran around as Hop Pop jumped off. The flies were in front of them, and they still had the kids in their arms.
"You really want this so bad?" Hop Pop asked with a scowl. "Then drop the kids and go get it!"
And with that, Frank back kicked the barrel and sent it rolling off the cliff and falling to the ground. The flies released Anne, Sprig, and Polly and charged at them. Marcy manages to catch Sprig, though the speed of which he was falling makes her fall over as well. Sasha holds her hands out, catching Polly effortlessly. Darrel and KJ manage to catch Anne, luckily none of them were hurt during the catch.
Frank and Hop Pop ducked down, but the flies flew over the two and dived down towards the barrel. Hop Pop crawled towards the edge and looked down, only to jump back when the flies came flying back up the side of the cliff. All of them grabbed onto the barrel. Together, they flew off into the sunset with their prize. He sighed in relief as the kids gathered with him at the cliff. All of them bruised in some way.
"Everyone okay?" Hop Pop asked.
"Not really." replied Sprig.
"Kids, I messed up big. I was so desperate to save the stand, I forgot what the stand was even about." said Hop Pop, sincerely before turning around and sitting down on the edge of the cliff. Frank walked over with Marcy and Sasha who carried Sprig and Polly in their arms.
"I'm sorry too, Hop Pop." Frank apologized, sitting down on his left as Anne sat on his right. "I was the one that gave you the idea for the potion."
"So, what now?" Anne asked.
"We go make things right. That's the Plantar way." Hop Pop answered.
And so, they returned to the market where they met an angry crowd waiting for them. Hop Pop apologized again to the people of Wartwood, before offering everyone a full refund for all the potion that they paid for. It wouldn't take long before a line formed in front of the stand.
"Apologies." Hop Pop apologized to the next person in line, handing them their money. They snatched the coppers and matched away with a scoff. Hop Pop did the same thing with the next customer. "Here you go, sir. I hope you'll give Plantar's another chance, someday."
"This is so stupid. We were in the green. We won't make money being honest." Sasha muttered that they were making the big bucks, but why would he ruin a gold mind like this?
"Dishonest money, never feels earned." Hop Pop replied.
"I know things are bad, Hop Pop, but if it makes you feel any better, you were a crazy good salesman." said Anne.
"Does this mean it's too late to sell some good potions that we made last night?" Marcy asked, sadly.
"I'm afraid so, Marcy. The damaged cannot be undone." replied Hop Pop, as he handed the next person in line their money, Hop Pop laughed light-heartedly. "I was good, wasn't I?"
Then came the last person in line. Mrs. Croaker walked up to the stand's counter, and Hop Pop handed her special coin back to her. All his life, he never made such lie towards her until now. All because of his eagerness and anxiety to protect the stand.
"Well, Hopadiah, looks like you're going to have to earn our trust back. That being said, I think your father would be proud that you did the right thing today." said Mrs. Croaker.
"Thanks, Sadie. I'll work hard to earn your trust back." replied Hop Pop, but that's when Toadie showed up.
"Not at this stand, you won't! No coin, no stand. Time to clear out!" said Toadie, throwing an eviction notice that landed on Hop Pop's face.
And so, generations of the Plantars owning the stand came to an end. The kids helped the old frog gather all of their produces and supplies before loading everything into the cart hooked up to Bessie. The last thing to take was the sign, which Frank grabbed, cutting the ropes, and then handing it to Hop Pop.
Darrel, Tint, and Cronaxx were standing next to Clipper as they watched their friends packing up their stuff after the Plantars stand was closed down. He felt really bad at Hop Pop for having bad luck. If he would've convinced him to let his friends came up a solutions, then none of this happened.
"Poor, Hop Pop." said Tint.
"I hope he's okay." Darrel added.
"If we don't succeed, try, try, again." said Cronaxx, lowered his eyes.
"Sorry we couldn't save the stand, Hop Pop." Frank apologized as the old frog placed it on the pile.
"Don't worry, Hop Pop. We'll help you get the stand back." said Sprig, trying to be supportive.
"You want me to…" Polly clicked her tongue and swiped her flipper to the left. "...off Toadie? I'll do it. You know I will."
"I know a few places to dump the body." Sasha teased with a smirk.
"Thanks, kids. Let's just get home and relax a little." said Hop Pop, then he spotted Hershel and Skye start to leave until he stops them. "And thanks for your help too. You two are welcome to visit whenever you like."
"It's no problem, Mr. P. And um… I'm sorry I tried to steal from you guys yesterday." Hershel apologize for his action.
"Aw, you softie! Hehe, you're welcome Mr. Plantar." Skye chimed in from Hershel's shoulder.
"You sure you don't want to sleep with us? There's more room down there in the basement." Darrel offered them kindly.
"Nah, I've already found my place to bunk in. Besides, I kinda like hanging out at the outdoor." replied Hershel.
"Okay, you take care of yourself." said KJ.
"Thanks, dude." Hershel gave a high-five to KJ and then fist bumps Frank. "We'll keep in touch."
"Well, it sure was nice meeting with you." said Skye as she waved her hands.
"Bye, Skye. See ya tomorrow." Sprig waved his hand.
"Don't be a stranger!" Polly hollered as the pair start to walk off to the forest yet again, waving to them.
Together, Anne, Frank, KJ, and the Plantars all hopped onto the sail as the old frog started driving them away from the stand while Darrel, Sasha, Marcy, and the Salamanders were riding on Clipper as the dragonfly flew up in the sky. Although, Marcy sadly sighed making Darrel turn his head at her.
"You okay back there?" Darrel asked.
"Yeah. I wish could've saved the stand." replied Marcy, softly.
"Don't worry. We'll find a way to get the stand back. If we don't sell some potions to some folks down there, then we'll use it for ourselves whenever we get lost or injured." Darrel assured to her.
"Really?"
"Yeah, dungeon buddies for life?"
"Dungeon buddies for life." Marcy smiled, giving him a fist bump. However, Sasha rolled her eyes, knowing that tomorrow it could be better or worse. Back down to the land as Hop Pop drove Bessie, he smiled lightly.
"You know, maybe the end of one tradition means the start of another. Maybe I ought to start over the Hop Pop way, experiment with those new seed varieties I always wanted to try." said Hop Pop.
"That's the spirit, Hop Pop." Anne smiled, nudging him with her fist.
"No matter what happens, we'll be there for you." said Frank.
"Yeah, we're gonna make it after all!" Sprig cheered before the kids started laughing together.
"The future is ours!" Polly chimes. There was then a moment of silence before Frank speaks.
"You know, you're taking this rather well, Hop Pop. I was for sure you were going to…"
"Oh, frog! I'm unemployed!"
"There it is."
Meanwhile, Hershel and Skye were walking through the forest as they traveled back home. The black haired boy couldn't believe that he is not the only human in this place when his friends were stranded while the other four were separated.
"I have a feeling we'll be meeting again soon." said Hershel.
"Ooooh, I can't wait to go on another adventure with them! How about you, Hershel?" Skye asked as Hershel gave her a smile with his eyes briefly flashed gold.
"Oh yeah! We can go on another adventure with them for sure!"
Welp, that's all folks! Now before I get some rest, I would like to let you know that the next chapter, "Toad Tax" will be there as we speak meaning that could be some changes and a bit of violent. In other words, I still haven't continued the rest of my fanfic stories where I left off because I soooo busy at work or keeping my house cleaned.
For guests as in unidentified users, please patience because I might be needed elsewhere. I will do what I can to do the next chapter before July ends. Hope you enjoyed reading and stay tuned for the next chapter! Goodnight y'all!
Amphibia (c) Disney
Darrel Loyalitat, Tint Tormak, and Cronaxx Tormak (c) admiralDT8
Frank Ramirez (c) Cowboy-Alchemist
KJ Loud (c) KevinToons915
Hershel Hughes-Thornburn and the Lilys Family (c) Amano404
