Amphibia: Living In A Frog World

by Disneydude94

What if there more than three stars? A young girl, Anne Boonchuy finds a music box that sends her and her friends to Amphibia, a world full of frogs, toads, and newts. With a help from Sprig, her new best friend must adjust to life in Amphibia and discover her first true friendship in her life. Meanwhile, her other friends are in their own path as they dared across their journey.

27. Toad Tax

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight our next chapter has arrived! The moment you have been waiting for where it took place during the Toad Tax with a little bit of change and with a bit of violence. Just to let you know that I made some plots as long as I give credits to my friends. Thank you for your patience and enjoy reading! And now, BEGIN!

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Amphibia: Living In A Frog World

Toad Tax

One morning at the Plantar's house, Darrel is seen in the basement writing in a makeshift journal that Tint gave him a few days ago. After everything he went through, he thought it would be a good idea to document his time in Amphibia without using a camcorder. Darrel opened up his journal to see his written progress in the first few pages.

"Today, Tint gave me this journal. Seeing that I don't have my video equipment, this will be my only option to document my journeys in the world of Amphibia. I arrived in this strange new world one day after Anne opened up a strange music box back home. I stumbled into strange marshlands you'd find in a Creatures and Caverns scenario that Marcy would make up."

"I survived on my own for a few days, until I met a couple of salamanders. Tint and Cronaxx are known as Salamander wizards. Who'd have thought?Ever since I took possession of this magical staff, I have gained magical abilities. I've kept them under control under the watch of my mentors, the salamanders. It even helped me reunite with my best friend Anne along with my other friends, Sasha, Marcy, KJ, and Frank."

Darrel flips through his pages until he gets to blank pages. He takes his pen and writes down his latest entry while drawing some sketch that he encountered with.

"The last few days were interestingly eventful. Frank and Anne saved Stumpy's restaurant from closure, by a critic named Albus Duckweed. Despite the attack from a Kraken, he was so impressed with the experience that his own food tried to eat him. It was amazing to see a Kraken up close and personal. Anne looked good in Thai attire."

"It was also joyful to see Stumpy regain his passion in what he thought could've been his last days running his restaurant. Now that the fiasco is over, I think he's going to enjoy running his restaurant. As for us, we were just lucky he doesn't need our help anymore. After helping Stumpy out, it was time to return our focus to the farm. The next day, we went to the farmers market to sell vegetable products on Hop Pop's vegetable stand."

"Before we could get started, Toadie came in with a message from Mayor Toadstool. Stating that he's quadrupling the rents of the stands and wants the money in three days. The townsfolk were upset with the sudden change, especially Hop pop. At the rate we sell vegetables, we would lose the stand. Luckily, Anne came up with an idea."

"Anne took some vegetables and crafted a new product called Plantar's Potion. At first Hop Pop was unaware of how to sell the potion. So he took over the sales pitch, and grabbed everyone's attention. As copper coins were falling like raindrops, Hop pop stepped up on production."

"At first we were doing so well. I didn't like telling half-truths all the time, but it helped with selling and we were trying to save the stand. The only thing that kept reminding me of the stand's true purpose was its motto: Honesty First."

"Suddenly, the worst was within our grasp. We ran out of produce to make more potions. Hop Pop didn't want to give up so easily, so he began to dig through garbage cans and compost bins. Thankfully, Marcy and I have managed to create more potion with some a little hocus pocus. It takes hours for us to get it down before down."

"On the third day, we prepared to give our potions to Hop Pop, but we were already too late when he make some more with garbage. That's how it got some huge flies attention and it attracted garbage. Good thing we got rid of it before things could get ugly, but id didn't end well with the customers."

"We gave the money back to them after Hop Pop tells them the truth. Thankfully, Cronaxx and I convinced him to accept the fact that it's over. We are about to lose the vegetable stand. Hop pop grew upset, but he looked back at the Plantar's motto. He looks up to the sky and hopes that his father would understand. With a heavy heart, Hop pop agreed with us."

"We also told them that if they should ever crave for more Plantar's Potion, that they stop by the Plantar's Plantation. As we packed up, Toadie came by to give us the eviction notice. Now that we're unemployed, we'll need to start thinking of new ways to sell our product."

As Darrel closed his journal, he heard Tint calling out his name from the basement door.

"Come on, Darrel. We're about to leave for the store." said Tint.

"I'm coming, Tint." replied Darrel as he grabbed his staff and makes his way outside.

---

Later on, the whole gang has arrived at Grub & Go after they parked Bessie into the snail parking lot. Once they have entered, Anne stops and noticed something that just stocked on the shelves.

"Oh! Pill bugs are on sale." Anne pointed her finger.

"Great! We can have them with the meat from that giant chicken I killed. All I need to do is find the right seasoning for the meat." said Frank with a grin.

"That sounds delicious!" KJ smiles, liking the ideas.

"Great idea, Frank." Marcy agrees.

"I would rather eat chicken without bugs." Sasha disagrees.

"Ooh! I'll come with you. I wanna grab some of that beetle jerky I like." Anne pause for a moment, with Frank even looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, can't believe I just said that, too."

"I'll go check what they have for medical supplies." said Darrel.

"Okay, kiddos. See ya outside." Hop Pop waved as the gang split up into three while Marcy stays behind with him and then just threw all of the pill bugs into the cart.

"So, barbeque tonight?" Hop Pop asked.

"Absolutely!" Marcy answered.

Darrel, Tint, and Cronaxx were on the other end of the general store obtaining mushrooms for medicinal potions. Good thing that he and Marcy have made some potions from nights ago in case anything happens.

"It would seem that the wizards in this world are more like doctors than fighters." said Darrel.

"It's better to give, than to receive." replied Cronaxx.

Darrel grabs the last mushroom off one of the shelves, but then a mother frog approached to him hoping to get the same mushroom.

"Excuse me, scarecrow. I hope that wasn't the last mushroom, because it's my son's birthday and I was hoping to make his favorite soup." said The mother frog.

Darrel looks at the mother frog with guilt. He wanted to help make her son happy, but Cronaxx needed ingredients for his potions. However, Cronaxx arrived and nodded at him.

"It's okay. Let her have it." said Cronaxx. Then Darrel smiled and gave her the last mushroom.

"Oh, thank you, scarecrow." She thanked him.

"You're welcome. And my name is Darrel." He corrected her. "Please give my wishes to your son."

She nodded and walks away with the mushroom. Darrel smiled at his generous actions. Tint approached and patted him gently.

"You did good, Darrel." said Tint.

"Thanks, buddy. Sorry that we didn't get the last mushroom." Darrel apologize.

"Don't feel bad, Darrel. You did the right thing. And besides, they're could be more mushrooms outside in the forest." Tint assured to him.

"I hope so, but be warned when the sun goes down by evening, the monsters lurks in the dark and consumes for hunger." Cronaxx warned them.

"Like alligator or the heron?" He guessed.

"Exactly." replied Cronaxx.

"Don't worry, guys. We'll be more careful. I hope." said Darrel.

Meanwhile from the other side of the store, Anne, Sasha, and Frank were walking in the aisle to find something for dinner. Sasha doesn't seem to be thrilled whenever she comes over to town, the whole town will treated her and the others like monsters. Anne, however looked happy as she looked at Frank and blushed a bit.

"You're really stepping up as the chef of the house, huh?" Anne asked.

"Well, someone's gotta." replied Frank, bashfully as he looked at some of the spices on sale. "Especially with how Hop Pop cooks. We can't always eat fish, so I'm trying to learn how to cook other foods. I wonder if I can make chilaquiles in this world. Oh, score!"

"What is it?" Sasha asked.

"Look! Beef jerky!" He grabbed a single bag of beetle jerky from the shelf. The only one that was on the shelf. "Here you go, Anne. The last of the–"

All of a sudden, Wally shot his tongue out at the bag and grabbed it out of Frank's hand. The three kids looked at the frog as he pulled his tongue back and grabbed the jerky with his hand.

"Hey, what the hell! That was totally our, Wally!" Frank yells in anger.

"Didn't see your names on it, scarecrows!" Wally taunted before guffawing and hopping off.

"Hey! Don't call us scarecrows!" Anne snaps, shaking her fist at him.

"Yeah! Give it back, you bum!" Sasha growls. However, she was hit in the back of her legs. They looked back to see that it was Mrs. Croaker that rammed into her.

"Hey! Move your big behind, scarecrow. Croaker needs her cookies." said Mrs. Croaker repeatedly ramming Anne with her cart.

"You can go around her." Frank frowned at her.

She was going to retort at him, but then she saw it was the boy that said it. Seeing the way that he was staring at her seemed to frighten Mrs. Croaker a little, because she silently took his advice and went around Frank and Anne. With a sigh, Frank grabbed Anne's arm and pulled her along with Sasha.

"Come on, let's just go." Frank suggested, wanting to leave the store and go home.

Even after all this time that he's spent in the village and being around the frogs of Wartwood, it all remains the same. They still feared him, and they still didn't respect him or Anne or any of his friends.

"My behind's not big. I'm big. Technically, it's to scale." Anne grumbled.

"Don't let them get to you, Anne." said Frank trying to calm her down.

However, he didn't notice the water on the floor in front of him. When Frank stepped on it, the water caused him to slip and fall down onto the ground.

"Hey! Didn't you see the sign, scarecrow?" said The teenage frog that was mopping the floor, pointing to the wet floor sign near Frank.

"Classic, clumsy scarecrow." laughed Felicia as the other frogs joined in and laughed at Frank.

"Maybe it can't read. Or can it?" The blue frog rudely commented.

The young man flushed red with embarrassment, but wasn't going to let them get to him. Anne, on the other hand, looked quite embarrassed as she helped Frank on his feet. Unfortunately, Sasha is not having it and she really can't take it anymore.

"HEY!" Sasha yells, making Felicia and the other frogs to shut their mouths. "You don't ever, EVER talk to my friends that way! We're not scarecrows! We're humans! You got that?!"

"What a weird creatures. I wonder if they're house trained?" Duckweed commented.

But the word triggers her when she clenched her fist and ready to strike at the newt critique, but was stopped by Frank who intervened while giving her a stern look.

"That's enough! We're leaving." said Frank.

"But-"

"No buts! We're leaving. Now!"

"FINE!" Sasha snaps and kicks the door open as she stomps outside while Anne and Frank went to follow her, leaving Felicia felt ashamed towards her.

The three of them walked over to Bessie, where the Plantars and the others were waiting for them. When Sprig saw them walking towards them, he greeted them.

"So did you get the beetle jerky–"

"No." Frank simply answered, before grabbing his sword from the side of Bessie's saddle. He left his weapons with the snail as they weren't allowed in the store.

"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Sprig, seeing the frown on their faces.

"(sighs) Well, it's just...We've been here over a month now, and the townspeople still treat me and Frank crappy, even Sasha. I just wish they were a little nicer." Anne replied, sadly.

"Oh, that's just the way these frogs are. Slow to accept, and even slower to respect. It's actually our town motto." Hop Pop explains by pointed over the stone arch gate of the town, which had a wooden sign with the motto edged into it.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, old man." said Sasha, harshly.

"Sasha, please. Control yourself." Anne advised her.

"How can I control my anger when they treated us like jokes?! I mean, look at those three! They weren't even bothered!" Sasha narrowed.

"At least everyone's not afraid of you, guys." said Frank.

"Well, they were afraid of me a little Lucky those two. No offense." said Darrel.

"None taken." replied KJ.

"How are you not bothered how they treat us?" Anne asked.

"Trust me, I am. I just don't let it bother me." replied Frank, even though it was a lie.

"You can't let them get to you, Anne. There will always be people who say mean things because we're different. And sometimes their minds can't be changed. But there are other people who don't judge us with how we look or where we came from. Their words are what should truly matter." said Darrel, places his hand on her shoulder. She smiled and give him a hug.

Why can't everyone be like you?" Anne asked while Darrel returns her hug and remains silent. Frank smiles that his friend is encouraging her.

"You'll find a way to get their respect, in your own way." said Cronaxx.

"Now, who wants pill bug pancakes?"

"Oh, hell yeah!" Frank cheered.

"My favorite!" Anne exclaimed as she and Frank high-fived with big grins.

"Sounds work for me." Marcy agrees, but then they stopped grinning and looked a little disturbed.

"We've been here for too long." Frank whispered before hooked the cart of fruits and vegetables on the back of Bessie before walking over to the side of the snail.

Squatting down, he cupped his hands together and nodded for Anne to come over. The young girl stepped on his hand and Frank helped her up by lifting her foot. In turn, Anne offered him her hand, which Frank grabbed before Anne pulled him up while the others climbed up to the wagon.

They all sat together as Hop Pop drove the snail through the town square. As they started making their way back towards the farm, they passed by a rather bizarre statue of Toadstool kissing a tadpole who was being held up by a young frog. Darrel expressed a disgusted look, concerning his attitude towards everyone.

"Bad taste?" Sprig asked.

"Yeah." Darrel replied.

"Well, that statue's new." said Hop Pop.

"And tasteless." Sprig commented.

"I'll say. Talk about a massive ego for a mayor of a small town. No offense." said Frank.

"No, it's okay. We know what we're about." replied Polly.

"It's almost the sides as his ego." said Sasha.

All of a sudden, Bessie stopped and started chirping in a loud, panic-like manner. Anne and Frank quickly hopped off and came around to the front of the Plantar's snail.

"Whoa, whoa, girl. Easy. What's wrong?" Anne asked the animal as she rubbed Bessie's neck and soothing the snail and calming her down.

Frank looked around as for what might have caused Bessie to freak out. It was then that he looked towards the road leading out of town and he saw his answer. Arriving into town on a tarantula-drawn wagon were a group of unknown frogs. However, these weren't frogs. They were toads.

The one that was driving the wagon was a large toad with red skin and an orange underbelly. He had a crest of horn-like protrusions on the top of his head. He, like his comrades, wore metal armor with leather pauldrons and a silver frog's foot emblem across his right shoulder. The frog's foot was the symbol for all of Amphibia.

Behind him sat a green female toad with a light green underbelly. She had grass-colored hair with a feather tied in a braid with a headband and wore armor like the other toad soldiers. Next to her was a light-green toad with armor, just like his fellow companions. His face was hidden by a large frog-shaped helmet.

But the one that caught Frank's attention the most was a toad that walked alongside the wagon. Compared to the others, this toad was massive! He was much taller than the human kids, with charcoal skin with a lighter underbelly. Just like the red toad, he had a crest of horn-like protrusions.

He was unarmored across his bare chest and stomach, but wore plated pauldrons and bracers on his arms and sported leather armor around his waist to protect his upper legs and hips. In his hand and resting on his shoulder was a large war hammer with a blade on the back of it. When the wagon came to a stop, the smaller toads jumped off as the large toad cracked his neck.

"Ah, that felt good." He said with a satisfied smile, then looked at the mayor's office and growled before he slammed the head of his hammer into the ground and bellowed. "TOADSTOOL! GET OUT HERE!"

The doors to the building quickly opened and Toadstool quickly rushed out with Toadie following behind him.

"Lieutenant Tartarus! You're here! I-I didn't know that they'd send you." said Mayor Toadstool, with a very nervous expression.

"I'm always sent." replied Tartarus, with a raised eyebrow, making the mayor laughed nervously before nudging his assistant.

"Toadie, give 'em the list." He hissed as Toadie then presented the toad with said list.

"Who are those guys?" Anne asked.

"My gut tells me that they're toads." Darrel guessed.

"Indeed, they are." replied Tint.

"They're Toads from Toad Tower. They rule over the entire valley." Hop Pop squinted his eyes, with great distrust aimed towards them. Especially Tartarus.

"Toad what?" Anne puzzled.

"Where is the Toad Tower?" Darrel asked from the back. Luckily for her, Sprig had an answer. He pulled out a map of the valley and showed it to her and Frank.

"It's a big, scary tower deep in the swamp, and the toads that live there are the valley's fiercest warriors." Sprig explains as he pointed to where the tower was on the map.

"Whoa! Cool." Anne commented.

"Cool, yes. But they can be a rough and violent sort." said Hop Pop.

"They kinda look like chumps to me." Sasha replied bluntly.

"That kind of roughness can be unpredictable. That's why we must be cautious of them at all times." Cronaxx advised them not to go near them.

"It's probably for the best that we all stay clear of–" Hop Pop stopped mid-sentence when he saw Frank, Anne, Darrel, Sasha, and Sprig walking off towards the toads. "Oh, dang it. There they go."

"That can't be good." said Tint.

All five of them walked up to Tartarus and his toads as they gathered their weapons. Tartarus didn't pay attention to them, only reading the list that he was given.

"Hey, guys. So, you're from Toad Tower?" Sprig asked the red toad.

"Sure are, runt." He replied.

"(laughs) My name's Sprig, actually." Sprig laughed.

"Uh-huh. Yeah, sure." He replied, looking over his shoulder at Sprig. But when he laid eyes on four human teens when he startled.

"Whoa! What is that?" Bringing the attention of the other toads to them. "It's some kind of gangly new critter I've never seen before."

"Hey!" Frank offended.

"I wonder what they taste like." said The female toad.

"Sorry, lady, but we're not on the menu!" Frank pulled out his shield and sword.

"Yeah! They're not for eating!" Sprig agreed, pulled out his slingshot.

"Don't come any closer." Anne pulled out her own tennis rack as well.

"We'd probably taste terrible." said Darrel, firming his wizard staff.

"You take one step and it'll be your last." Sasha glared, picked up a stick that was on the ground.

"Is that a challenge?" The female toad asked, pulling out a spiked mace from her back. She let out a battle cry and charged at them.

However, Frank was more than ready for her. He waited when she brought her arm back to take the first swing, then he enacted his counterattack. Just as she swung her mace at him, Frank bashed the weapon away with his shield. Caught off guard, she wasn't able to do anything when Frank used the edge of the shield to hit her in the face. Sending her on her back.

He was in surprise for a moment before smiling. However, that brief sense of pride was cut when a dark shadow came over him. With wide eyes, Frank looked up and saw Tartarus standing over him with his war hammer in hand.

The lieutenant growled as he stared down at Frank. The young man gulped, fearing that he might have to fight him. However, to his shock, Tartarus chuckled before letting out bellowing laughs. This was joined by two other toads with her face has a red line across it from the shield.

"Impressive, creature. No one has been able to knock over one of my subordinates like that." said Tartarus, with a giant grin.

"I'll say! That was awesome!" She said it with a smile.

"Well met, creatures. I don't know what you are, but you got fire in ya." The red toad said before he and the others turned and left.

Frank sighed in relief. However, Anne felt a sense of pride when this toad said that about them. It was perhaps the first time that anyone in Wartwood, other than her friends and the Plantars, showed her a sense of respect. Sprig, however, was not a fan of the Toads.

"Okay, kids." said Hop Pop, rolling up to them on Bessie. "That's enough flirting with death. Let's head home."

"Blech, finally. Come on, Anne." Sprig ushered as he walks off along with Frank and Darrel, but for Anne and Sasha as they were staring at the toads, thinking if one of them could ask.

"I was thinking we could hang out with these guys a little longer. They seem pretty cool." said Anne.

"(scoffs) Cool? More like smelly. Not to mention creepy." Sprig gestured when the armored toad, who breathed heavily in his helmet.

"No way, Anne. You're not going anywhere near those guys." said Frank, giving her a stern look.

"I agree with you. There's something about these toads that I don't like." Darrel frowns.

"Excuse me?" Anne raised an eyebrow.

"We don't know a single thing about these guys, Anne. They attacked us, and not to mention that guy's giving me the creeps." Frank pointed to the armored toad.

"Wait a second. Are you jealous I think they're cool?" Anne asked with a smirk.

"What? No!" Frank denies.

"You are! You totally are jelly!" said Anne, pointing at him with a big grin.

"I am not jealous!"

"Jelly!"

"Not jelly! I…I-I peanut butter!"

"Well, if you're jelly, then why not join me?" Anne asked.

"No. Ha! If you wanna hang out with some grody toads, Anne, be my guest. No skin off my skin." replied Sprig as he declines the offer. Both Marcy and KJ shared their glances by moving their eyes before looking back at them.

"Yeah? Well, maybe I will!" Frank yelled at her.

"Great! I'll come with you." said Sasha with a smile of her own, finally someone other than dirt farmer notices she awesome.

Frank looked smugly back at her for a moment. However, the moment was only very believable, as he quickly realized what Anne had just done.

"Wait, I take that back." said Frank.

"Too late. No, take backs." Anne grabbed his arm and pulled him along as she walked over the toads along with Sasha before she looks at Darrel who stood still.

"You coming, Darrel?" Sasha asked.

"If you're going to hang with these toads, I'll stay too. I need to know why they're here." said Darrel when looking mad, but was grabbed by his girlfriend as she yanked him fast.

"Okay. But don't dally too long, kids." said Hop Pop.

"I'm eating your pancakes!" Polly hollered, as she and the others rode off to the farm.

"You better not!" Frank yelled, before following Anne, Sasha, and Darrel as she approached the toads.

"Hey. I didn't get a chance to ask your–" Anne was interrupted when Tartarus shoved a crate of weapons into her chest.

"I am Tartarus, proud lieutenant and second in command of Toad Tower." said Tartarus with a grin that showed off his sharp teeth and then pointed to his subordinates. "This is Bog. The silent one there is Mire. And Fens here you've already met."

"I'm Anne, and these are my friends, Frank, Sasha, and Darrel." Anne replied, still holding up the crate.

"So, what are you guys doing in Wartwood?" Frank asked with his arms crossed.

"Every year, this town sends taxes to the tower." Tartarus answered setting his hammer down on top of its head and pulling out the list Toadstool gave him. "Well, this year, they came up short. So, the Mayor gave us this list of frogs who didn't pay and we're just here to collect."

"Say, we could use someone like you guys." said Bog, pointing at them. All four of them had a surprised look.

"Really?" Frank asked.

"Yeah. You've got inside knowledge of this town. It'll make the whole job go a lot smoother." replied Bog as Tartarus thought for a moment and grinned.

"An excellent idea, Bog. So, what do you say, you too?" He asked, pulling out two badges and offering them to the humans.

"Look, I appreciate the offer, but unfortunately I'm going to have to say no." Darrel politely decline.

"He's right. I'm not sure any of this is our business. Let's go, girls." Frank ushered as he and Darrel walks away. However, before Anne could set the crate she was still holding up and listens what this toad says.

"You know, the best part of wearing this badge is how everyone in this town will have to treat you with respect." said Tartarus.

"Sold!" Sasha jumps in, making Anne instantly dropped the crate and held out her hand.

"Gimme that ding-dang thing!" Anne demands it.

"Wait, what?!" both Darrel and Frank exclaimed in total shock with unison.

"That's my girl! We'll teach these frogs some lessons." Sasha supported her.

"Excellent!" Tartarus exclaimed with a happy smile. He then tossed the two girls the badge, which she and her friend caught in her hands. "Here's your badge. And everything you'll need."

Both girls looked at when Tartarus handed them some metal pauldrons and two swords. Overjoyed and excited, Anne and Sasha rushed off towards the Plantar farm.

"Anne! Wait!" Frank called out, before chasing after her, leaving Darrel behind with the toads.

"You know, we could use a powerful wizard like you on our side." said Fens.

"I'm still going to have to politely refuse." replied Darrel. Before he could turn away, he picked up a strange scent from Fens. Something oddly familiar to him. But he kept his mouth shut, and followed Frank back to the farm.

---

Back at the Plantar's farm, Sprig, Polly, and Tint were watch KJ playing his game switch while Hop Pop and Cronaxx were playing a game of what looked like frog chess called Flipwarts as Marcy was watching them playing. She knows more than anything about chess since she's the queen of all the chess champion. Cronaxx played his final move for checkmate.

"Checkmate." said Cronaxx.

"Wow! You are very good at it! Can I go ask?" Marcy asked, hopefully that she can beat him fair and square.

"Anytime, my dear." He replied.

"That's the last time I underestimate a wizard." Hop Pop kindly shook his hands with him.

Then suddenly, Anne and Sasha burst through the door and entered the home and now wearing their new armor and their rusty old swords.

"What up, nerds!" Sasha greeted them.

"Guess who became a Toad Tower deputy!" Anne guessed them.

"What?!" Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly all exclaimed in shock, as well as being appalled.

"Huh?!" Cronaxx and Tint were puzzled with unisons.

A moment later, Frank and Darrel came rushing in after Anne and Sasha, wheezing and out of their breath.

"That was…fast…" Darrel panted.

"Damn, girl…how are you so fast?" Frank asked in exhaustion.

"Also, check out this cool sword Tartarus gave us." said Anne before drawing her sword. She swung it around and would have almost sliced the coat hanger, if it wasn't for Frank blocking her sword with his own.

"Anne, what the hell are you thinking?" Frank asked, sheathing his long sword. "You can't be serious about going around with those guys."

"Frank's right, Anne. When I said to earn the town's respect, I didn't mean join Tartarus. He's a warmonger and his gang is just as bad as him!" Hop Pop agrees with a disapproving frown.

"I read history about the toads. They're very cruel towards frogs. They're the kind you don't want to hang out with." Marcy advised her closest friends not to go hang out with.

"(scoffs) I don't believe this. They're not a gang. They're just here to do a job. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some respect to enjoy." said Anne.

"I couldn't agree more with you, Anne." Sasha agrees.

"Et tu, Sasha?!" Darrel looked disbelieved.

"So, what? I'm tired of being pushed around by lesser beings. I'm earning the town's respect my way. The Sasha way." Sasha scoffs. Before she and Anne could leave, Frank blocked their path.

"Girls, don't do this. I've seen their kind before. I've dealt with gangs before, and these guys are just like them." said Frank.

"Listen to him. You can't trust those toads. They are brutal, reckless, and small minded. The definition of bad. I've seen plenty of mob movies to know that they're only here to intimidate. Would you want to live with yourself if you were part of it?" Darrel asked with his concerns look.

"Look, guys. I appreciate your concern, but this is a big opportunity for me. I can finally get respect from the people of this town. Not just for me, but also for you. I know what you've…" Anne stopped herself.

She does not wanting Frank to know what she knew. Because she doesn't know the full extent of what he went through. With a sigh, Anne placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"I know what you're feeling. I know that you don't like how people are treating you. They treat you like a monster, and I don't like that. Sure, you're rough around the edges, but you two are the sweetest guys I've ever met. So, please, let me do this. I can take care of myself." said Anne, softly.

Both Frank and Darrel frowned as they looked into her eyes. However, they couldn't help but smile with Anne's concern for the two of them. In the end, Frank sighed in defeat and stepped to the side.

"Just be careful around them, Anne. And don't become like them." Frank warned her.

"Girls, whatever you do. Do not stoop to their level." Darrel added as the Thai girl nodded.

"Whatever you say, sir." replied Sasha, rolling her eyes before turn her heads at Marcy. "You coming, Mar-Mar?"

"Uhh…" Marcy looks back and forth repeatedly, telling people her true feeling about something was hard. She pulled her hoodie over her head. "I don't know from what I read and from what Hop Pop told me, they are bad news."

"Whatever. I'm going off to enjoy getting the respect I deserve." Sasha rolled her eyes and exits through the door first, then followed by Anne before shut the door behind her.

Frank walked over to the couch and sat down on it. In his mind, he was praying that Anne would be smart and not do anything to get herself into trouble. Same goes for Sasha as well. All of a sudden, Sprig jumped onto the back of the couch and opened the doors.

"Uh, Sprig, what are you doing?" Frank asked.

"Come on, Frank. You've got a bad feeling about this, right? We've gotta go follow Anne and Sasha and watch over them." replied Sprig.

"That's all well and good, but can you at least use the front door?" Hop Pop asked with a frown.

"...No." Sprig then crawled up the wall and out of the window.

"Ah, screw it." Frank got up and jumped out of the window to go after Sprig to watch over his friends. That leaves Cronaxx to instruct his nephew.

"Tint, I need you to follow Sprig. Make sure he doesn't get caught." said Cronaxx.

"You got it, uncle." replied Tint.

"I'm going with you." said Darrel.

"Wait! If he goes, I go." Marcy steps in.

"Count me in, too." KJ added.

"Okay. Could you three use the door, unlike Sprig?" Hop Pop asked.

"Will do." She replied before turning her heads at the three boys. "Come on, guys."

"Right." All three boys said together as they all rushed through the door, leaving Polly, Hop Pop, and Cronaxx behind.

While they're following Frank from not too far behind, they took a little noticed when they sped by Hershel and Skye as the pairs are coming over to visit them. however, they looked surprised that the four of their friends were rushed by them.

"Hey, what's the rush?" Hershel asked.

"No time. We'll explain later." replied KJ.

"Come on! We have to follow Frank and Sprig!" Marcy hollered as the Taiwanese girl went up ahead, followed by Tint and KJ.

"What was that all about?" Skye asked.

"Beats me, but there's something fishy is going around here. Come on." He ushered as his partner hops on to his shoulder and sped off to catch up with the others.

---

Meanwhile, the first place that Anne, Sasha, and the toads came across was none other than Wally's small home. As the wagon pulled up to the house, Tartarus walked in front of the others with a grin as they walks up to the front door.

"All right. First name on the list." said Bog, holding up the list just as Anne asked.

"So, how does this work? Do we remind Wally how much he owes or–"

Tartarus pushed her aside and lifted up his war hammer. With a wicked grin and a malevolent chuckle, he swung it with all his strength and slammed into the front door. Destroying it and a large portion of the front wall. Wally, who was taking a bath, screamed when this happened. When the dust settled, Tartarus lowered his head and then stepped into the house with a bloodthirsty grin.

"Jumping June bugs! What's all this about?" Wally yelled as Anne, Sasha, and the toads entered.

"I, uh, guess you owe the town money?" said Anne, still quite startled by the way Tartarus casually just destroyed the kooky frog's home.

"Rubbish. I may live in squalor, but I always pay my taxes." Wally adamantly with his arms crossed. All while chicken bugs scrambled about the house.

"The mayor's list says otherwise. And since you haven't paid, we'll be taking your stuff." said Bog, holding up the list.

"What?! You can't do that!" Wally protested.

"Oh, we can't?" said Tartarus in faux surprise.

The lieutenant's large hand then suddenly grabbed Wally by his neck and pulled him out of the tub. Both Anne and Sasha reacts fast, despite everything for what Wally has treated them back then.

Need I remind you what happened the last time someone refused to pay up!?" He roared, before slamming Wally into the window and forcing him to see what was outside.

Just across from where he lived were the remains of a house that was completely burnt to the ground. And near it was a tree, where the two skeletons of a pair of frogs hung from nooses. Both corpses had multiple bones smashed or missing from the strike of Tartarus' war hammer. Now very much scared, Wally was pulled away and brought up to the warmonger's face.

"You pay us in your stuff…Or you'll be paying us in your blood." Tartarus raised his hammer.

"Y-Yes, yes sir. Take it all if you like." Wally stuttered in a whimpering voice. Satisfied Tartarus dropped him in the tub.

"You heard him, lads! Grab everything!" Tartarus ordered.

And so they did. Together, Bog, Fens, and Mire gathered everything that Wally owned. From the biggest barrels to the smallest papers. Even the beetle jerky that Wally stole from Frank and Anne at the shore. As they ransacked the little cable, Anne could already feel herself regretting her decisions. Stealing people's stuff, killing them, all because they didn't pay? This was going beyond what she was expecting this to be like. Even Sasha already felt bad at this poor fella, regretted for her own decision.

"Here you go, Anne. Little something extra for you." said Bog, handing Anne the bag of beetle jerky.

However, as she looked at it, Anne couldn't help but feel guilt for just taking it. She took a glance at Sasha who is rubbing her arms, regret everything she signed up for.

"Off! Bog, this seems a little extreme." said Anne, feeling unease.

"It's just the way we do things here. Plus, it's not like we enjoy it." replied Bog.

"These frogs understand only one thing; fear. If you want respect from these frogs, you must set an example. Make them understand that they're not only under our protection from hostile tribes, but under our boot. They want to live, they'll pay us what we are owed." said Tartarus.

"But killing them? That's far too–"

"Do you question my leadership, deputy? The ways of Toad Tower?"

"No, sir." Anne replied, as Tartarus pushed his war hammer against her chest.

Forcing her to back up against the wall, with the blade of the hammer pressing against the collar of her uniform. With eyes wide with fear and terror, she looked up at the toad as he leaned down with a terrifying grin. Sasha looked fearfully shocked that her friend was being pressed against the wall.

"You'll understand in time, kid. By the end of this day, they will respect you." said Tartarus, before pulling his hammer away.

"Now who wants to race to the next house?" Bog asked after changing the subjects.

Tartarus and his goons walked out of Wally's home, all while the local kook sighed sadly. Feeling bad for the blue frog, she presented him with the bag of jerky.

"Here, take this." Anne whispered.

"Come on, Anne!" Bog called to her from outside.

"Comin'!" Anne quickly rushed out of the house before calling out her best friend. "Sasha, come on!"

"U-uh, coming!" Sasha sped out as she followed them, leaving Wally a little happier.

"Thanks." He whispered.

Not hearing the small thanks Wally would say. They rushed out to the cart the toads loaded Wally's things onto and hopped on. Not bothering to join them in the front. After what they just saw, Anne and Sasha didn't want to be around them at the moment. After the toads left, Darrel entered Wally's house, seeing Wally in the bathtub with a bag of beetle jerky.

"Wally, are you okay?" Darrel asked.

"A bit better since Anne gave me back the beetle jerky." replied Wally.

Darrel looked around his house and smiled as he waves his staff until Wally's house was magically restored back to its old self.

"Thank you, Darrel." Wally thanked him, saying his name right.

"A good friend once told me it's better to give than to receive. I didn't think you would be on the toad's list." replied Darrel.

"I didn't think so either. I may be a squalor, but I always pay my taxes." said Wally.

"Something's not right." Darrel thought as he looked suspicious.

He squints his eyes in the toad's direction and walks towards where his other friends were as Frank and Sprig were sharing a pair of binoculars, they watched as the wagon drove away. He pulled away from the binoculars with a worried expression on his face.

"Anne, Sasha, what did you two get yourself into?" Frank whispered.

"I've got a really bad feeling about this." said Darrel.

"That's weird. Wally always pays his taxes." Sprig looked confused.

"Wait, he does?" Frank asked in surprise.

"Then why did he show up on that list?" Hershel asked.

"That's a good question." replied KJ, thinking. Then suddenly, there's a voice behind our group.

"Come on."

Frank quickly grabbed Sprig and threw him on his back before jumping up and climbing into the trees, leaving the other fives behind. Going up high enough so as to not be spotted by anyone. Once they were at the right position, Frank remained still as Sprig hid behind his human friend's head and looked over his shoulder. Together, they scanned the area.

"Wait, I see someone!" Sprig whispered, pointing to someone down on the ground.

Frank shushed him and looked. Sure enough, there was someone coming peeking their head out from behind a tree. The frog then came out, revealing themselves to be Mayor Toadstool. Behind the fat toad emerged Toadie, panting as he carried a large bag on his back. Every step he took caused whatever was in the bag to jingle.

"Come on, Toadie. While the townsfolk are preoccupied." said Mayor Toadstool, walking with a cane and carrying a small bag.

"Coming, sir." Toadie replied, in a whisper. Nearly stumbling over.

As the two walked under the tree, Frank and Sprig watched them and so were the others that were watching them from the bush. However, their attention was caught by something shiny that fell out of the bag. Frank and Sprig shared a glance.

They had to get it, without being seen. So, with one free hand, Frank grabbed Sprig and lowered him down. The pink frog held onto Frank's hand and shot his tongue out at the small object, before pulling his tongue back as quickly as he could.

When his tongue returned to his mouth, he felt the object in his mouth. So, he crawled back up Frank's around and pulled it. Even though it was covered in saliva that may or may not be poisonous to humans, it was clear to see it was a copper coin.

"A copper coin? The mayor? A hole? In the bag?" Sprig asked.

"What's the mayor doing with a bag of money?" Frank asked, watching as Toadie disappeared behind a tree. "Something's not right."

"Frank, what did you see?" KJ asked up high for them to hear him.

Frank looked back at where Anne, Sasha, and the toads that they were heading off again to another house. Having just ransacked another home. That's when he came up with the idea.

"Sprig, I need you, Tint, and Marcy to follow the mayor and Toadie. Find out what they're doing with all that money." said Frank, jumping down to the ground.

"What about Anne?" Sprig asked, jumping off his friend's shoulder.

"I'll follow them. Get back to me if you find out what Toadstool's doing." Frank then turned and ran off as he hollered, but lowering his voice. "The rest of you, follow me."

Darrel, KJ, Hershel, and Skye all looked at each other before they went to follow Frank while leaving Marcy, Sprig, and Tint.

"I hope you'll be okay, Anne." said Sprig.

"Well, lead they way, Sprig." said Marcy.

"Time for Team Spricy? Umm Marig? I can't think of a name yet." Sprig couldn't think about of naming for new names.

"Less talking, more following." Tint reminded him.

"Right, come on." Sprig ushered as he hopped off while Marcy and Tint followed him.

---

As the day progressed, all five of group followed Anne, Sasha, and the toads all over Wartwood as they hit almost every single home in the village. When they came to Felicia's tea shop, they took her barrel of Beau-Tea, dishes, and anything they could carry while the girls do nothing.

"Oh, how horrid!" Felicia cried, held Ivy tightly around her.

Sasha felt even worse after seeing what the toads have done by stealing everything that Felicia owns. However, Mire dropped one of their teacups, which said #1 Mom on it. Sasha picked it up and handed it back to Felicia.

"Here, take this." Sasha whispered.

"(gasps) Oh, thank you." Felicia thanked when whispered. Ivy gave her best friend a fist bump, much to Anne's feeling touched towards her.

After they left the tea shop, Darrel rushed inside before he uses his magic spell by fixing her home and moved to the next one along with the others. Next was Loggle's woodshop, and they took a statue of the woodsmith doing a Discobolus pose.

"No, no, no, not the statue! No!" Loggle cried, feeling helpless to stop them, even as he begged them.

"Psst." Anne whispered, behind the toads' backs before returning him one of his cane.

"Oh! (sobbing) Yes! Oh!" Loggle sobbed.

Frank and the others saw this and smiled. They were glad that she was doing something good for the frogs while Darrel came by to fix Loggle's workshop and moving to the next one. Later on, Mrs. Croaker was up next and she tried to put up a fight by making her pet spider Archie attack Tartarus.

"Archie! Sic 'em!" Mrs. Croaker ordered as the little spider barked and leaped at the large toad, only for him to be caught in one hand.

Tartarus grinned sadistically and started crushing Archie, making him whimper and squeal in pain. This made Sadie beg them to stop and to take everything they wanted. So, Tartarus dropped the spider. Mire grabbed Archie's bed and started walking away. But Anne quickly swapped the bed with a vash and gave the bed back to the old frog.

"Here you go." said Anne as Archie squeaks and start rubbing against her leg much to Sadie's being grateful towards her.

Then they stop by at Flour's bakery, Mire gurgling at Rosemary, Lavender, and Ginger as they were hide by Maddie while their father was protecting them. The Toads were confiscating some stuff like furniture and kitchen supplies, even the toys were taken away as well. But at least Maddie kept her potions safe.

"Psst. Hey, this one's for you." Sasha whispered when giving Farine's special apron back to the baker as he smiled and so were his daughters.

After the girls left with the toads, Darrel rushed in and fixes the whole kitchen while comforting the triplets, showing his kindness towards them.

"Don't worry, we'll get your toys back. I promise." said Darrel.

---

As time went by, Anne and Sasha were the last person inside the house when carried out a grandfather clock and a small chest before placed it both on the pile the toads had on the cart. As Darrel and the others watches them closely through the bush.

"I don't know, guys. This whole thing feels wrong." said Anne, very much regretting coming along with the toads.

"The law's the law, Anne. It can be tough, but this kind of work needs to get done." Bog replied.

"Needs to get done. Stuff, gotta get it done." Fens agreed.

"I...guess that makes sense." said Anne, hesitantly.

"What I don't know is why are we stealing their stuff? It's not like they deserved it." Sasha looks concerns.

"Close your heart to their suffering. After this, they'll be sure to pay next time. Who's next on the list?" Tartarus asked as Bog pulled out the list and read it.

"Eh, some nut named Hopadiah Plantar." replied Bog.

"Oh, crap." Frank whispered as he and his friends reacts fast.

Both Anne and Sasha realized that there was something definitely wrong going on here. Thing has gone from bad to worse.

"Oh, crud. Bog, that list has to be wrong. I know that frog. He's totally honest." said Anne, being honest.

"Anne, the tower didn't get any taxes, okay? And if we didn't get the money, then where is it?" Bog raised his eyebrows at her.

"I-I…" Anne couldn't come up with an explanation.

"That's what I thought." Bog turned away and moved on with his comrades. Anne sighed sadly while Sasha comforting her by patting on the back.

"Anne, we have made terrible mistake." said Sasha.

"Yeah, me too." replied Anne.

After they left, all five of other kids just stood and shocked after seeing the disaster that was about to unfold. Frank was mostly started to panic.

"Oh, no! This is terrible! We have to do something!" Skye looked panic.

"We've gotta get back to the farm. We've got to warn them!" Frank told them.

"Right, let's go!" Darrel nodded as he and the others sped off back towards home.

---

Meanwhile in the middle of Wartwood, Marcy, Sprig, and Tint were following both Toadstool and Toadie until they stopped and they watched as the mayor hides the missing taxes inside the new statue, behind a giant curtain that covered the statue without anyone noticed until now.

"It's flawless, Toadie. The perfect plan. Who would think to look for the missing taxes in plain sight?" Mayor Toadstool asked.

"Master stroke, sir." replied Toadie.

"Quickly now. Let's skedaddle before anyone notices—"

"The taxes! You fiends!" Sprig cried as he and Tint caught them in the act while Marcy took snapshot on her phone. "Everyone's gonna be furious when they find out about this."

"Yeah! You'll gonna be sorry when we have that proof." Tint agrees.

"Well, then it's a good thing you'll never get to tell them." said Toadstool before he tried to jump towards them, but the boys bounced out of the way while Marcy uses the pallet to make a smokescreen to cover their escape.

"Well, ya gotta catch us first." Sprig taunted before he blew raspberry at him before he, Marcy, and Tint escapes through the smokescreen.

"Hey! Get after him!" Toadstool barked as he and Toadie chases them.

---

Back at the main group, Frank and his friends ran down the dirt road towards the farm when dark clouds started to form over the skies. Blotting out the sun as thunder was heard. Skye held on to Hershel's shoulder as the boy ran next to his other friends.

"So, those toads are really bad, right?" Hershel asked, trying to catch up the information.

"Yes, and if we don't paying up our taxes, we're dead!" Frank answered.

"That can't be good." said Skye as the four of them went ahead, however KJ was having a hard time to catch up with his friends.

"Hey, wait for me!" KJ hollered, but then he accidentally tripped over the root and fell to the ground.

He moved his head up where he's at and luckily for him, he's not injured. However, when something just glared to his face as the boy move his head until he spotted something that was shiny through the tree from the inside, thanks to the sun before it was covered by the clouds. KJ stood up and wipe off his shirt before he took step closer to the tree until he takes a look what's inside of the tree.

He reached his hand to grab something like handle and then he gently took it out from the tree, until what shocking him that he discovered was an amaterasu sword that has a crimson on the center, inside of its sheath. He examined the sword when remove a sword a bit to see the blade and looked at the reflection of his his face as it shines.

"Cool." KJ smiled, but then he heard Hershel's hollering.

"KJ, come on!" Hershel hollered.

He knew that his friends were waiting. Luckily, there was something like he hung the sword around on his back and runs off to catch up with his friends. As the others reached the farm, they quickly ran to the door and burst through it, finding Cronaxx, Hop Pop, and Polly eating their meal.

"Guys! We've got trouble coming our way!" Darrel cried, startling the three of them.

"Frank? What's wrong?" Hop Pop asked, standing up.

"What is it, Darrel?" Cronaxx asked.

"Are we being attacked by ants?!" Polly yelled.

"It's Tartarus! He's coming here with his goons because they think we didn't pay our taxes!" Frank explains as the three of them gasps with fear.

"I just discovered that we're next on the Toad's list." said Darrel as he told them the truth.

"(gasps) That's ridiculous! I paid my taxes fair and square." Hop Pop closed his eyes and put his fists on his hips.

"I know you did. You... made me watch." said Frank, with a haunted expression as he remembered that day.

"Oh, please. That didn't happen."

"It did in my head."

"Uh, guys." Polly called. They looked over at Polly, who was on the couch and looking out the window. She could see Anne, Sasha, and the toads arriving on the farm. "They're here!"

"What do we do?" Skye asked, looking worried.

"Hop Pop, take Polly and the others. I'll hold them off." Frank grabbed his mantis scythe that was leaning against the wall.

"Right behind you." said Darrel, holding onto his staff.

"No, Frank. If one of us makes a stand, we all make a stand. We've got to tell them I've already paid and get this whole thing sorted out." Hop Pop took determined.

"Then I'll stood by your side." said Cronaxx as he step next to him. Hershel noticed that KJ has a sword in a sheath, hanging on his back.

"Where did you get that sword?" Hershel asked.

"I found it in the tree. Thought I could take that chance." replied KJ.

"That makes eight of us." said Darrel.

Together, all eight of them exited the house. Frank stood with his scythe in hand and Hop Pop stood beside him. Polly sat on top of his head. Darrel stood his ground next to KJ, Hershel, Skye, and Cronaxx. Seeing them all standing before their house made a grin form on Tartarus' lips. This might be interesting.

The tarantula came to a stop, and the toads got off their cart and approached the house. Anne and Sasha quickly got off and rushed around to join the toads. They took glanced at Frank with a look of regret, even when he nodded at them.

"Hopadiah Plantar!" Tartarus yelled, pointing his hammer at the old frog. "The taxes are due!"

"You've got it all wrong, Tartarus! Hop Pop paid his taxes. He shouldn't have been on that list!" Frank trying to reason with the lieutenant.

"And yet he is, kid. Now step aside and let us do our business." said Tartarus.

"Like the boy said, I already paid my dang taxes! You can't come in here, and that's final." Hop Pop gives him a glared with Polly trying to look tough on top of him.

"I don't like your tone, frog. Or did you forget who you're talking to?" Bog growled.

"Bog, I am telling you, he paid his taxes. He... He made me watch." Anne argued.

"They all say they've paid!" Tartarus roared, making her stumble back from him with her hands up. "I don't care what you think. I don't care if you're friends with him. The list doesn't lie. And I will kill everyone on this farm to get what we're owed!"

"Well what about the Mayor? He created that list. Maybe he's lying." said Darrel, glared towards at the toads.

"Do you have any proof that the mayor lied to us?" Fens asked.

"No." He replied.

"Get to work!" Tartarus barked.

"Uh, right boss." replied Bog, nervously before looking around to see what to claim. "Alright, what should we start with?"

"Well, how about those things?" Fens asked, pointing to Bessie next to Clipper.

"You stay away from them!" Hop Pop yelled.

"I'll bite your face off!" Polly screamed in fury.

"Good choice. That snail should cover everything. Mire, Fens, Anne, move out!" Bog ordered as the three toads proceeded towards the snail and the dragonfly to claim as these poor creatures whimpered.

"You monsters!" Hop Pop yells.

But before they could reach out and touch her, Darrel uses his magic spell to force push the three toads as they were sent flying backwards until all three of them landed on the ground. Then Darrel cast an orb of light in front of them.

"Back off!" Darrel yelled.

"Stop!" Anne cried, drew her sword out to them. "You keep your claws off those animals!"

"Better yet...get off our property!" Frank yelled at them standing tall and slamming the butt of his scythe's handle into the ground.

Thunder clapped loudly and light flashed in the sky above. Then the rain started coming down on the valley. Sasha stared at her friends in shock as Anne, Frank, and Darrel stood in front of the Plantars home in defiance.

"Care to repeat that?" said Bog, turning glared at them.

"He said get lost…NOW!" Anne answered, as her shout echoed. Somehow, all of the townsfolk heard about what was going on and all showed up to see it for themselves.

"Oh, she's brave." said Wally.

"What did she just say?" Mrs. Croaker asked.

"All I wanted was this town's respect and so were my friends. But just because these people treated me crummy, doesn't mean I'm going to do the same to them. I'm done with this. I don't care if they've broken the law. You can't treat people like this!" Anne proceeds to remove her toad badge on the ground, thus making her case.

However, her glares turned to horror when Tartarus started marching towards her, Frank, and Darrel. His face contorted into an enraged glare as he dragged the head of his hammer across the dirt. Sasha was shocked that this toad was going to attack her friends, realize her mistake she has signed up for.

"Wait, Tartarus! Don't–"

BASH!

To her friend's shock, Tartarus hit her with a backhanded strike. Sending her flying back into a fence post.

"SASHA!" Darrel cried, almost about to run to her when Tartarus stopped in front of him.

"Do you have any idea what you've just done?" Tartarus snarled as his soldiers got back up.

"You shouldn't have come near my companions." replied Darrel.

"Yeah. I told you to get lost. Now!" Frank yelled, getting into a fighting stance with his scythe. "Or else you want this to be the last thing you toads ever do."

Over where she was at, Sasha groaned in pain as she picked herself up. She then saw her friends confront against the toad and became extremely worried about them. Everyone were all stunned. This was the first time they've ever seen anyone stand up to Tartarus and attack a toad from the tower and they all knew what was going to happen. It's happened to frogs that were brave or stupid enough to stand up against the warmonger. Now it was going to happen again.

"Surrender, boy." Tartarus growled.

"No." Frank refused.

"Good."

SMASH!

Tartarus suddenly swung his hammer and slammed it into Frank's scythe. Shattering the weapon into pieces. The sheer force of the impact forced the boy off his feet and sent him flying into the air before landing on the ground. Hard. The pieces of his former weapon scattered all over the ground around him.

"FRANK!" Anne screamed as everyone else gasped in horror.

"NO!" Darrel cried, but Bog yanked his cloak and grabbed him after dropping the staff.

Then Anne was tangled by Fens pinned her down as Mire grabbed Hop Pop and Polly.

"Hey! Let me go!" Polly yelled.

"Let me go. Let me go!" Hop Pop cried.

"Guys, no!" KJ shouted.

"Leave them alone!" Hershel yelled as he and KJ rushed towards the toads, but Bog bashed them out of the way as the boys flew backwards and fell.

"Hershel!" Skye cried and rushed towards where her human friend was a bit injured. "Are you okay?"

Frank groaned in pain as he sat up. Feeling something stinking on his face, he placed his hand on his left cheek and revealed that he was bleeding. The blade of the hammer had cut into his skin. He was then met with Tartarus' hammer being pressed into his chest and pushing him down.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. How disappointing. I was hoping for more of a challenge. But it looks like you're all talk. Now I'm going to give you another choice. You die here, or watch as I kill the Plantars!" said Tartarus with a sadistic grin.

When he said that, something inside of Frank snapped. Tartarus stared down at him with a wicked grin, but then to his surprise, Frank grabbed the head of the hammer and pushed it aside. Making the toad step back from him. Everyone was stunned by this. With his cheek still bleeding, Frank stood back up. With a newly found determination, Frank glared at Tartarus.

"You want to harm my frog family? Then you're going to have to get through me, Tartarus!" Frank yells.

Tartarus looked at him with a surprised look for a moment, before he started laughing out loud.

"HAHAHAHAHA! You honestly believe that you can fight against me?" He asked the boy in amusement. The other toads laughed with him, finding it funny that the human believed he could defeat the Tower's best warrior.

"Yeah. I do. And make you pay for all the frogs that you hurt in this village!" Frank shot back.

"HA! You would fight for these frogs? They, who treat you like shit and view you as a monster." said Tartarus.

"Yeah. I would. Because they treat me like dirt, but that doesn't mean I'll do the same to them." Frank reached for his sword and drew it. Twirling it around, he then reached behind his back and pulled out his shield. Now with both sword and shield in hand, he got into a fighting stance. "You want to kill my friends? Then you're going to have to go kill me first, you bastard!"

Everyone in Wartwood stared at Frank in surprise. After the way they've treated him and his friends, he was still willing to fight for them? Anne stared at her friend with wide eyes as a sense of admiration grew for him. Darrel, Sasha, and the others were stunned as Frank never gives up.

Tartarus' grin only grew. He wasn't mad that Frank was standing up against him and was willing to fight. This is excited for him. For so long he's been unable to find a worthy challenger, but could this creature be the one to do such a thing? There was only one way to find out.

"So be it." He spread out his arms and turned to everyone watching. "Bear witness, Wartwood, as your hero falls before me! Set a fire in your heart, Frank! Bear your fangs! Fight hard!...die well."

And with that, Tartarus let out a thunderous roar and charged at Frank as he raised his hammer over his head and swung it down at him. Thinking quickly, the boy jumped out of the way. Landing on the ground, launched himself at Tartarus and tried to cut him. However, the lieutenant used his armored arm to block the attack. When Frank swung, the sword couldn't cut through the gauntlet. He then kicked Frank away.

Landing on squishy mud, Frank groaned and sat up. Tartarus pulled his hammer out of the ground and rushed at him again. This time swinging horizontally at Frank before he raised his shield, blocking the hammer. Frank's arm ached from the impact as his whole body felt like it was vibrating. But he dug his feet in and then thrust his sword at his exposed chest. Cutting across it with the tip of his blade, and drawing blood.

Growling, Tartarus took his hammer away and backed up. He swung again, but Frank ducked his head under the hammer and then attacked. But Tartarus used his weapon to block the sword. Again, he tried smashing the young boy into a bloody pulp, but once again, Frank used his shield to block the hammer.

Frank and Tartarus pushed against one another, digging their feet into the mud as they tried pushing the other back. But as he held him off, Frank used his sword to stab into his leg. The toad let out a cry of pain and agony before angrily punching Frank in the face. He stumbled back, letting go of his sword as his nose bled slightly. Now all he had was his shield. Tartarus grabbed it and yanked it out, growling when he did so.

Throwing it down, he charged at Frank and swung down at him. Frank, however, stepped out of the way of the hammer and let it slam into the ground. Then he bashed the edge of his shield into the face of Tartarus, disorientating him and giving him time to rush to his sword. Grabbing it off the ground, Frank turned around and saw Tartarus turning towards him. Now there was a noticeable limp from the toad's injured leg.

"He's…actually losing?" Fens asked in shock. Anne, who was still pinned under her, watched her best friends with a smile. While still concerned, she believed that Frank could actually win.

Stumbling towards Frank, Tartarus swung his hammer again at him. However, when Frank blocked it with his shield, Tartarus twirled around and swung from the opposite side. Frank tried to counter it with his sword, but the hammer knocked the long sword out of his hand.

Once again, Frank was disarmed, and Tartarus took the opportunity to punch him in the face. This knocked him down to the ground, and the lieutenant used that at the perfect moment to disarm him again. And he did so by stomping on the edge of the shield.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Frank let out a horrible scream of agony as the shield dislocated his arm.

Everyone in the crowd, including his friends and especially Anne gasped in shock. Frank was unable to move as Tartarus took that moment to start beating on him. Punching his face and even stomping on him.

"FRANK!" Anne screams.

Now bruised on his body and face, Frank tried to stay in the fight as he was hit multiple times by the strong toad. Thankfully, Tartarus stopped and got off his shield. Unfortunately, it was because he was about to end the fight. And his life. First, Tartarus grabbed his shield and ripped it off his arm. Causing Frank even more pain. Then he stood before him and raised his war hammer high over his head. Read to bring it down onto Frank's face.

Just as all hope seemed lost, but then Frank kicked Tartarus in his injured leg. The lieutenant screamed in agony as he stumbled back and grasped his leg. This gave Frank time to grab his sword and rush at him. Slashing him across the back and then stabbing him in the back!

Tartarus let out a fatal gasp as everyone else gasped in shock. Still alive, the toad lieutenant fell to his knees. The frogs, the other toads, and the human kids stared in disbelief. Frank has just done the impossible. The commander gasped as Frank pulled his sword out and walked around to face him. With the blade still stained with the blood of the toad, Frank raised his arm and pointed the blade of the sword at Tartarus' throat. He prepared to end the toad's life.

But then he looked up at Anne. Staring at him with wide eyes, as if afraid that he'll do it. He then looked around at the townsfolk and then his friends, even Sasha looking at him. All of them were waiting to see what he'll do. And as Frank started to calm down from his adrenaline, he began to lower his sword. After all that he said and standing up to Tartarus, he wasn't going to be the monster they feared him to be.

"He's beaten…" Frank whispered. Then he looked at Bog and Fens. "Now get out of our land."

Frank started walking away from Tartarus. He headed for Anne and Darrel that were still pinned by the two toads. They both smiled at him in relief. However, their expression turned to horror as Anne screamed.

"LOOK OUT!"

Frank looked over his right shoulder and…BASH!

With all the strength he had, Tartarus stood up and swung his war hammer into Frank's head! Slamming it into the right side of his face and head, sending him flying up into the air and slamming back down into the ground. His body remained motionless as his blood leaked onto the ground.

"Frank!" Anne screamed with tears in her eyes.

"NOOO!" Darrel cried.

Bog and Fens were now having a harder time trying to keep them down as she thrashed around. Trying to get out from under them and go to her friend.

"Get off of me! Frank!" Anne sobbed.

"What's with this girl? Is she in love with him?" Fens asked, to which Bog shrugged.

Hearing his name being called out by Anne's voice caused Frank's body to start moving again. But now he was in a worse state than he's ever been in before. He could feel his bones were broken and he was bleeding. His face was all bruised up, and the right side of his face was bleeding. He couldn't open his right eye, which now had a large scar going down his eye that was bleeding badly.

Much to other three kid's shocks, Sasha, Hershel, and KJ were all horrified that Frank was badly injured after witnessing Tartarus striking him down with brutal force. However, Sasha clenched her fist, squeezing the mud through her fingers. This is not the first time since she has seen Frank's injured. Not even after what happened for something she shouldn't have. For that, she roars as her eyes flashes pink.

"NOOO!"

Tartarus looked and watch Sasha charges towards him while drawing her sword as prepares strike him by slicing, but deflected with his hammer repeatedly. Anne and Darrel couldn't believe that Sasha just snapped and grew rages. Everyone including Hershel, KJ, and Skye were all shocked as well.

As the lieutenant toad was about to strike her back, but she dodged as the girl just climbs up the crated and jump towards him before she slashes him across his left eye, leaving him a scar. Once Sasha lands on the ground, she pointed her sword towards him.

"That was for Frank!" Sasha yelled.

Instead, Tartarus just grinned and then swing his arm towards her by making her flew backwards until she crashes through the crate, shattered the wood into pieces with everyone else shocked including her own friends.

"SASHA!" Darrel cried out to her name.

She tried to get up, but she couldn't due to her injuries. For that, Tartarus dropped his hammer to the ground, then he walked over to Frank's sword and picked it up, and then walk towards where Frank lied still.

"I must admit, you are by far the greatest warrior that I've ever faced. But you're sloppy and young. Weak and undisciplined. You'll have no use for this anymore. For you are going to die here, Frank." said Tartarus.

"What!?" Anne screamed as the frogs all gasped in shock and horror. "No, please! Don't do it!"

"No! Stop!" Darrel cried.

"Don't hurt him!" Sasha shouted.

Panting from exhaustion and agony, Frank struggled to sit up. However, every part of his body hurt.

"Look…me in the eye…when you say that." said Frank, panting on his hands and knees.

As you wish." Tartarus walked up to Frank and grabbed him by the back of his head, then lifted Frank up into the air, and aimed the sword at his chest. "My face will be the last thing that you'll ever see."

As he stared into the bloodthirsty eyes of the warmonger, Frank tried to keep his left eye open. However, as the world started to become a blur to him and his hearing became muffled, there was something that he could hear. No, it was a girl.

Past Tartarus' head, Frank could see Anne crying out to him. Crying his name as she sobbed. Begging him not to give up. He never liked it when she was sad. It made him sad. But what could he do? Frank was going to die.

However, maybe it was bravest or stubbornness, but Frank told himself that he couldn't die here. This wasn't his place to die. Frank wouldn't let this monster touch the Plantars, his friends, especially not Anne. Not after he just got her back. Not after they became so close after being apart for so long.

As he struggled to stay conscious, Frank's mind wandered back to when he was a little kid. He was in his parent's house and was playing around the living room with his toys. However, he saw his dad hanging up something on the wall. It was a picture frame, and inside of it was a single, old-looking piece of paper with something written inside of it.

After his dad finished hanging it up, he looked down at Frank and smiled. Stepping back from the wall, he picked up his son and sat him down on his lap. It's strange. Remembering the good moments about his parents, even after their falling out. His dad explained that the words written on the paper were part of a quote that has been special for their family. Remembering those words gave their family the strength and determination to pass any change. At the time, he didn't really understand what the meaning of those words really meant, until today.

"Any last words?" Tartarus asked.

"Once more into the fray…into the last good fight I'll ever know. Live and die on this day…" Frank quoted them.

Tartarus grinned a bloodthirsty was about to deliver the final blow, but then...

"Live…and die…on this day…"

SLAB!

"Gah!" Tartarus let out a gasp when Frank pulled out his knife and stabbed it deep into his neck by dropped Frank and the sword and he tried to pull out the knife.

With what little strength he had left, Frank picked up his sword and stabbed it into the chest of Tartarus. The toad lieutenant let out one final death cry before lifeless falling down onto the ground. Breathing his last breath before death took him. Anne, the toads, her friends, and every frog that was there stared at Frank with wide eyes filled with shock.

Tartarus, the most feared toad in the valley, was finally dead. But victory might just come at a cost. As the rain poured down on him, Frank fell back down onto the ground. Anne twirled her head and shocked that her best friend was injured.

"Frank!" Anne cried forced herself off of Fens while Bog let go of Darrel as both of them too stunned to stop them.

They rushed over to Frank's side and looked down at him. He looked horrible and Anne feared that he might actually be dead. Anne's eyes started to tear up, with some droplets falling down onto his cheek. With one arm, she lifted up his upper body while stroking his blood-soaked cheeks. He did it again. He saved her and her friends from a situation that she believed was her fault. And it was because of her, Frank got himself hurt once again. And this time, she might have just lost him forever.

"Frank, no...I'm so sorry...Please don't leave me..." Anne whispered as she started to sob.

However, Darrel checked for pulse until he felt that its still pumping. He relieved that he's still okay, but it scares him that Frank just got himself injured while protecting him and his other friends. Sasha lift herself out from the broken crate, looking shock that Frank was injured. Believing that it's all her fault.

"Anne! Behind you!" Hop Pop shouted.

Anne looked up and saw Bog and Fens walking towards her with their weapons. Setting Frank back down, she quickly pulled out her sword and got in front of her best friend while Darrel and Sasha stood by her with their own weapon when shielding the boy.

"Don't you dare touch him!" Anne growled threateningly. Raising her said and got ready to fight.

"Out of our way, Anne. We're going to finish what Tartarus started." said Bog, glaring at her.

"Frank won. He defeated Tartarus and now you all have to leave." Anne pointed her sword at them.

"That's not how this works. No such deal was made. And no one kills one of us and lives to tell about it." Bog smirked.

"So that's it, huh? You blaming him after saving us?!" Sasha agrees as she glares back at the toad.

"Sorry, creature. It's just business." replied Bog.

With that word made Darrel flash back to the days when he was bullied. But this time, Darrel had to stand up to them on his own. With his shocked expression turning into hatred, Darrel's staff glowed as bright as the sun. He casts a fireball at the Bog and Fens, pushing them both back.

"She won't ask a second time!" Darrel yells.

"Why you little-" Bog raised his hammer to attack when all of a sudden, he was hit in the face by a ball of mud. "Gah! What the–"

"You leave them alone!"

All of a sudden, Sprig came hopping out of the forest with his slingshot and landed on a nearby rock. However, it wasn't just him that was now standing against the toads. Tint showed up with his fireball spell while Marcy picks up a broken scythe. And that's not all.

"Yeah, you leave our Frank and Anne alone!" Wally cried who was still wearing a bath towel around his body.

"They're one of us!" said Felicia.

"And so were their friends!" Ivy added.

The townsfolk rally behind Sprig, Tint, and Marcy as they start yelling at the toads. Hopping over the fence, they surrounded the humans, toads, and the Plantars. All of them were ready to fight against the tax collectors.

"If you got a problem with him, you got a problem with all of us!" said Mrs. Croaker, putting up her fists as Archie barked angrily at Bog and Fens.

All of the frogs pulled out their farm tools to fight against the three remaining toads. Without Tartarus, they had nothing to fear. Realizing that they were outnumbered and defeated, Bog and Fens dropped their weapons. Mire's helmet opened to reveal his small face as he squealed in fear. He dropped Hop Pop and Polly, who quickly rushed over to the humans.

"Frank! Anne!" Sprig yelled as he a ran towards them.

"Sasha! Darrel! Are you okay?" Marcy asked as she and Tint runs towards them and so were Hershel, KJ, Skye, and Cronaxx.

"Anne…" Anne gasped when she heard that weak voice and looked down to see Frank opening his eyes halfway.

"Frank! You're alive!" Anne dropped to her knees and hugged him as best as she could.

Sprig came to his side and picked up his hat. Polly hopped onto Anne's head and looked down at him, while Hop Pop stood near them. Both Darrel and Sasha sighed with relief. Marcy gasped through her hands after looking at him while Hershel, KJ, and Skye stood by her. Tint and Cronaxx were both relieved.

"I thought I lost you." Anne whispered.

Frank reached up at her face. Whipping away the tears as he placed his hand on the side of her head. Cherishing it as he smiled up at her.

"It's…gonna take…more than that to…kill me…" Frank panted as he tried to sit up. Anne and Sasha helped him as he held his left arm, which was still dislodged. "Where is…"

Frank paused when he saw a toad badge that was left on the ground, then he looked at his knife that was left hanging on the fence pole. He didn't remember what just happened until he realized what he missed.

"Oh…"

"You didn't have any other choice, Frank." said Hop Pop, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"What did we miss?" Marcy asked.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Darrel assured to her.

"So, what took you so long?" Frank asked Sprig.

"Sorry, we got tied up." said Sprig.

Just then, Mayor Toadstool came running out of the bushes. Huffing and puffing from chasing after Sprig, Tint, and Marcy.

"Oh, boy. Gotta cut back on them cricket nuggets. Whoo!" He said, taking a moment to stop and catch his breath while Toadie came running out of the bushes, but tripped and fell face-first into the mud.

"Arrest that toad! He stole the town's money and was keeping it all for himself." Sprig called out, pointing at Toadstool as the whole townsfolks gasps.

"Gosh!" said Wally.

"WHAT?!" Darrel cried.

"This boy is full of lies." Toadstool lied.

"No, he isn't and I have proof. Just look at this." Marcy held out her phone to show a photo to them, but ends up showing a photo of spider much to their shock until she realizes it before she swipes it. "Oops, wrong photo. Look!"

Now it shows the photo of Toadstool pushing the bag inside of the statue as the whole crowd gasps while the toads were shocked.

"See? We're telling the truth." said Sprig.

"Show us, Sprig. AAAAAAAAHHH!" Frank suddenly screamed when Hop Pop relocated his arm.

"Sorry."

---

Later on, the rain stops while the sun shines through the clouds. With the help of Anne and Sasha, Frank was able to make it to the center of town with everyone. Sprig had them gather around the tasteless statue of Toadstool where the money was being hidden. With one foot on the base of the statue, Sprig turned to bog and held out his hands.

"May I?" Sprig asked as Bog obliged and dropped his hammer into his arms. However, the weapon was too heavy and Sprig ended up dropping it onto the ground. "I think you should do the honors."

Bog took back his hammer and smashed the butt of Toadstool's statue. When pulling out the hammer, everyone gasped in surprise as a pool of coins spilled out. All of Wartwood, the toads, and even the human kids grew absolutely furious at Toadstool, who started backing away from them.

"YOU!" Sasha yells as her eyes grew fire.

"Why you treacherous, worthless toad!" Hershel raised his voice.

Frank turned towards the mayor and limped as he walked towards him. Anne helped him over, glaring at Toadstool with her friend.

"So, you're the reason why the toads came to Wartwood? Why everyone had their stuff taken from them? Why I almost died?!" Frank shouted angrily.

"You no-good son of a-"

"Language!" Loggle called out.

"Hey! I was gonna pig." said Mrs. Croaker.

"My friend got hurt because of you!" Darrel accused towards the so-called mayor as his staff began to glow again with flames and lightning.

While the townsfolk started to surround Toadstool, the mayor grew very scared as he stepped back from them.

"People, I needed the extra money for my campaign. Do you have any idea how much it costs to buy your love?"

"Yeah, well you know how much it'll cost for everyone to kick your ass?" Frank growled as the frogs pulled out their tools, weapons, and angry mob supplies. "Not a goddamn thing."

"And how much would it cost to pummel you to the ground? It's called PRICELESS!" Darrel shout and shoots a fireball on Mayor Toadstool's behind him with smokes coming out.

"Uh... As mayor, I hereby pardon myself of any wrongdoing. Thank you. Good day!" He said before running off while everyone else started throwing fruits and vegetables at him.

"So that's it? He screws everyone over and just gets away with it?" Frank asked Hop Pop incredulously.

"I wouldn't say that." Frank turned back to Marcy and saw her noticing an arrow and a bow, pulling it back on the string, and taking aim at Toadstool. She then released the arrow and watched as it stabbed into Toadstool's butt.

"YEEOW!"

"Yes!" Marcy cheered.

"Nice shot!" KJ smiles.

"Wait, where'd you get that?" Frank asked.

"From the secret tunnels." Marcy answered.

"Secret tunnels?! Dang." Hershel was impressed.

---

Later that day, Bog, Fens, and Mire gathered the money from the statue, but not before giving back what they stole. They did so by having the villagers do all the work while they attend to other matters. Their wagon was parked outside the gates of the town, where Frank and Anne were unloading all that was stolen.

Most of the right side of Frank's head was bandaged up, as well as other areas of his body. While still recovering from his fight, he was determined to help Anne. Together, the two friends helped bring down Mrs. Croaker's grandfather clock. When they set it down, they glanced at one another before looking away with bright blushes.

They then heard another cart coming their way and saw it was the toads. They had all the room they needed for the money on the cart. But not for Tartarus. The body was wrapped in whites sheets and laid on a simple wooden cart. He was going to be brought back to the Tower to be given a proper burial. Fens and Mire hooked the cart to the wagon, while Bog placed his war hammer next to him. Then the red toad walked up to the humans with a smile.

"Well, Anne, if it was respect you were looking for…you sure lost mine." said Bog as his smile vanished.

"Good. If your form of respect is through fear and hurting people, then I don't want it. Right, Sash?" Anne asked her if she's still with her, after they've been through together.

"Right. And just for the record… I quit." Sasha ripped the badge they gave her and threw it to the ground.

"(scuffed) You've got a lot of nerves, I'll give you that." Bog smirked before picking up the badge. Then the toad turned to the second human. His expression turned into a glare. "And as for you, Frank. You have no idea what you've just done, do you? Tartarus was the second in command at Toad Tower. One of the best toads in the valley. Believe me when I say that this is far from over, and there will be consequences. We'll be back, Frank, and we won't be alone."

"Yeah?" Frank asked, stepping up to Bog and glaring down at him. "Well tell whoever comes–whoever they are–that they better come in peace. As of now, this village is under Anne's and my protection. And we will protect it. No matter the cost."

"Then we'll be seeing you see, hero." Bog stared up at him before climbing into the driver's seat of the wagon. "Hyah!"

The tarantula started off, carrying their money down the road towards the tower while everyone started to chanted and taunted.

"She don't need your respect." said Hop Pop.

"Yeah. She's got ours!" Wally agrees.

"Go cry to your mommy!" Skye taunted.

"Oh, I like her." Polly was impressed.

"So are we gonna tell the captain about those creatures we found?" Fens asked. "He's gonna know who killed the lieutenant."

"Oh, we're gonna tell the captain everything." Bog replied in a menacing voice.

With his one good eye, Frank watched as the toads disappeared down the road. He sighed in relief, but felt a sense of unease by Bog's threat. Tartarus was unlike any enemy he's fought before, and he was just one of many toads from Toad Tower. And all would be coming down to Wartwood once they return. He could only imagine what they would say when they saw the lieutenant killed.

"Welp, I think we just started a war with the toads." said Frank.

"Are you scared?" Anne asked in a teasing manner.

"Aren't you?" Frank looked at her with a serious expression.

Anne blushed as she grabbed his hand. Grasping his hand tightly as he did the same.

"With you, no."

"It'll be okay you two." said Hop Pop as he and his grandkids gathered around the two humans. "We'll be standing with you when they come back."

"Until then, we'll be ready." said Tint as he and his great uncle approach to them.

"Indeed we shall." Cronaxx added.

"Nothing in this valley can stop us." Marcy looked determined.

"We're right behind you." said Darrel, laying his hand on Frank's shoulder.

"He's right, Frank."

Anne and her friends turned around and were amazed to see everyone in Wartwood gathered in a crowd behind them. All the frogs looked at them with smiles, which surprised the humans.

"They want to mess with you, then they'll have to get through us." said Wally, finally having gotten dressed.

"And, well…We all owe you and Anne a huge apology. Mostly Sasha." Felicia looked shamefully.

"All we ever saw were just weird and skinny creatures." said Mrs. Croaker, walking up to the two humans with a soft smile. "We didn't even bother to get to know you. And yet even after the way we treated you, you were still willing to risk your life for us and stand up for all of us. Now, we frogs aren't too keen about admitting when we're wrong. But I think I speak for everyone when I say we've never been more wrong about someone in our lives. I hope one day you can forgive us."

Frank stared at all the frogs with wide eyes as he felt tears starting to well up in his eyes. It has been so long since he felt accepted by a group of people. People who, while not humans, still showed him so much respect and even admiration.

Even Anne started tearing up as she felt she was finally accepted by the town. Same goes for Darrel, Sasha, Marcy, even KJ and Hershel were smiling back at them. They all looked at one another and then turned back to the crowd.

"We forgive you." Marcy kindly responded.

"How can we say no to you?" Darrel smiled.

"Three cheers for Anne and her friends, defenders of Wartwood!" Wally shouted.

"Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!" They all chanted and cheered for them.

Even though a toad was killed on that day, Frank was badly hurt, and they've gained something more valuable. Something that they would cherish as much as their friendship. The town's acceptance.

"Thanks, you guys." said Frank. "Now, who wants to sign our autographs?"

"Me, me, me! I'm their best friends." Sprig claims it.

"Me! Out of the way, you plebes." said Polly.

"Oi! I can't write." Wally laughed.

---

Later that night, everyone went to their homes and slept in for the night after their long day. At the basement, Darrel was wrapping up his journal entry for the day while Anne, Frank, Sasha, Marcy, and KJ are all sleeping on their own bed.

"Today was not like any other day. And that's coming from a guy who's stuck in a new world. We met some of the residents of Toad Tower who were vandalizing Wartwood all because of Mayor Toadspud's stupid greediness. Frank got hurt, and that made me stand up to bullies for the first time in my life. But it also made me feel like I was an entirely different person. I'll have to be careful with what comes out."

"There's no doubt in my mind that the toads will return to Wartwood and in greater numbers no less. Hopefully it won't be long until we can fight back. As for that Fens toad, she smelled oddly familiar. As if she was wearing the same expensive perfume I gave to Sasha on her birthday. I didn't realize that she must've lend it to her."

"And also I smell something from the helmet that another toad can breathe through and it's probably some air freshener that belongs to Ethan. If there's ever a chance that Ethan is with the toads, and if he's in trouble, we will do whatever it takes to save him. Then we can work together, to hopefully find Andy, Ivan, Tyler, and get back home."

---

TEENS IN A FROG WORLD! #3 by Guest

Anne walks into the living room, wondering where the others went.

"Huh, guess it's just me in the house. But what to do to pass the time?" Anne looks around the house looking for something to do.

"Hmmm. Do do do do do..." Then she looks through the kitchen and sees some vegetables on the table. Her eyes widen, then become sly as she smirks with an idea.

Soap opera music plays as Anne gives a carrot with a face a voice. "Rebecca, you are the prettiest girl in Brooklyn."

"Thank you, Sir Jeffers." She says for a potato with lipstick.

"Will you accompany me to the mysterious wedding today?"

"...No."

"But, but, Rebecca, I love you!"

"I love you too. I loooovvve you!" While Anne acts for the vegetables, Sprig walks by but stops to see what Anne was doing.

"Marry me, Rebecca!" The potato turns away.

"No."

"Why?!"

"I." The potato turns back around "I do not love you. Whoopies.."

"REBECCA!" Anne exclaims for the carrot, raising it in the air. Before sneezing.

"Dang dust." said Anne while blowing her nose with a tissue. Sprig still stands at the kitchen entrance, perplexed by Anne's behavior with the veggies. Frank then leans in from the side wondering what's up while Sasha recorded on her phone.

"Now, where us I?" Anne asks herself "...Oh yeah!" She picks up the potato and carrot.

"I'm in love with another." She says for the potato.

"Who is this man!" She says for the carrot.

"He. Is. You!" Anne happily gasps with her eyes sparkling.

"I love you!"

"Marry me, Rebecca!"

"...No!"

"REBECCA!"

"I'm in love with your brother."

"Chad! I'll kill him when I find him!" Anne puts the carrot between the salt and pepper shakers to keep it standing up, before bringing out the next character of her act.

"Or, he will find you!" Anne says for an ear of corn with a mustache.

"Chad!" The carrot and potato said.

"The mysterious wedding has been our wedding all the long." The corn explains "Rebecca and I are getting wed at the wedding today. You are not invited. Will you be my best man?"

"Of course brother, I hate you so much."

"Goodbye brother, I'll see you at the bachelor party." Anne puts down the corn to pick up the potato and say

"Goodbye Sir Jeffers, I will always love you." She then brings the carrot to her face as though it was to comfort it.

"Rebecca." She whispers for the carrot. Frank, Sasha, and the Plantars, all having seen the whole show, have all become teary-eyed as Hop Pop begins to sob.

"It's just like my life!" Hop Pop cries out, putting his face in his hands. He then calms down a bit to say "In a way."

---

And that, my friends is where our story continues and we move on to the next chapter where it based off of one of Amphibia's fanfiction that has never finished, "Grime and Day", featuring one of its OC, Ethan Day! The boy who took Sasha place since I have read it this one many years ago. I was originally planned to have Sasha being stuck with Ethan at the tower, but it didn't end well when they're can only be one warrior.

And another thing, I was originally have Tartarus to get eaten alive by an alligator right after he was stabbed by Frank, but then again it might ruined the moment. So, I edited this chapter instead. In the mean time, I have other things to do since I have bought Premiere Pro from two nights ago. Hope you enjoyed reading and stay tuned for the next chapter!

Amphibia (c) Disney

Darrel Loyalitat, Tint Tormak, and Cronaxx Tormak (c) admiralDT8

Frank Ramirez and Tartarus (c) Cowboy-Alchemist

KJ Loud (c) KevinToons915

Hershel Hughes-Thornburn and the Lilys Family (c) Amano404