"Thanks for fixing up my glass store," said a frog woman to Johan. "I'll be able to sell more now that those holes are patched. Now, scoot," she said to him, chasing him off with a broom. She slammed the door in his face, and he sighed sadly.

"Hey, JoJo," said Ivy as she and Johan served the customers at the tea shoppe. "I hear you renovated another store."

"Yeah, yeah," he said, as he placed food on a customer's table.

"Hey! I ordered cricket bugs! Not dung beetles!"

Johan slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Well, we don't get what we want in life, do we, bub?" The frog ran off screaming.

"JoJo!" shouted Felicia. "You're scaring away my customers!"

"That's all I'm good for it seems, scaring people," he said as he marched into the back room.

Ivy, Sylvia and Felicia opened the door to find Johan sitting on a barrel, pouting miserably. "JoJo?" the former asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Me! I'm what's wrong! I helped boosted the shop's popularity by introducing absinthe! I killed Blue Oyster Cult! I used their money to improve the town! But no matter what I do, nothing's changed! People still point at me and shout 'Aah! Help! Run! A big, stupid, ugly monster!'" He frowned and folded his arms. "What's it going to take to get these folks to like me?"

"Maybe if you magically changed into a frog," said Sylvia.

"Like that'll ever happen. 'Slow to respect, even slower to accept', remember?"

"Well, you did manage to change a few minds," said Felicia. "Ivy, Sheriff Leatherleaf, the Plantars, Ram Bamboo... Even the Flour girl Maddie has taken a liking to you."

"Maybe he can help change a few more minds," said Ivy. "When we go to the market and sell the absinthe. Like you said, the more people know about it, the more it'll bring them to the tea shoppe."

At the market place, Johan could hear the shouts of frogs selling their wares.

"Fresh crickets, ma'am? Always fresh."

"Worms! We got worms!"

"Are these grubs organic?"

The Sundews set up their stand and placed the absinthe on display. "Alright, let's sell this stuff," said Sylvia. "Uh, JoJo, you may want to stay in the back. I don't want the customers to be scared off."

"Mom," scolded Felicia.

"What? It's true."

A frog walked by, took one look at Johan, then turned the other way. "Nope."

Johan groaned in sadness. "It's okay. Just watch me advertise," said Ivy. "Ahem. Come one, come all! It's the newest beverage everyone's talking about! Absinthe, the green fairy, madness in a bottle! One sip and you'll be sent over the edge!"

A few curious frogs approached the stand and took a sample of it. "Gegh," one of them gagged. "I hate black licorice!"

Another frog said, "Actually it's not that bad."

"Give me more!" a third shouted, waving his coin purse.

Ivy gave Johan a thumbs up. He smiled and nodded. His eyes wandered for a while until he saw Anne and the Plantars at their own stand, selling scream beans. You can probably guess why they're called that.

Sprig carried a tray and began to advertise them. "Come one, come all. Try the beans everybody's screaming about."

Anne, who for some odd reason, was wearing a towel around her face and sunglasses, said in a dead, monotone, uncaring voice, "Beans, everyone. Wow, can you believe it?"

The frogs took one look and avoided her. "Oh, gracious!"

"Like I'd buy beans from a monster."

Anne sighed sadly. "Yup."

"Anne?" When she heard Johan's voice, she immediately turned away. "Why do you have a towel wrapped around your face?"

"Go away," she said.

"Anne? What's wrong?" Anne didn't respond. "Anne? I can't help you if you don't tell me." Anne mumbled something. "Eh?"

Anne pulled him a little closer and whispered, "I have zits."

Johan stared for a moment and then laughed. "That's it?! For God's sake, Anne! You act like you're the Hunchback of Notre Dame or something!"

"JoJo, this is serious! You and I are already treated like monsters because we're not frogs! If they see me with these huge things all over my face, they'll start throwing rocks at me instantly!"

Suddenly, two frog children ran past Anne and bumped into her, knocking off the glasses and towel. The people took one look at her and gasped. "Leapin' larva! Look!"

Anne gasped and buried her face in Johan's chest. "No! No, don't look at me," she said in shame.

The villagers gathered around.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Johan was about to tell them off when another villager said something that caught him by surprise. "They're warts. Beautiful, ruby-red warts."

When Anne heard that, she looked up in confusion. "What?"

The frogs stared at her with awe and wonder.

"Stunning."

"Are they real?"

"I wanna touch them."

"Amazing."

Johan turned to the Sundews and said, "Uh, what's going on here?"

"Warts are a status symbol in amphibian culture," said Felicia. "And ruby-red warts are considered to be meant for the most beautiful of amphibians."

"But...they're not warts," he said. Nobody heard him.

Anne started to feel a little better as she touched her zits and said, "You think I'm beautiful?" As if responding to her question, the frogs pushed Johan to the ground and lifted her up in the air. She giggled a little.

Johan stared, stunned and a little hurt. "Cosa è appena successo?"

In Mayor Toadstool's office, that fat toad was going through the polls in the election, and so far, his track record was pathetic. "Oh, this is bad, Toadie. People hate us!"

"With a passion, sir!" said the Mayor's assistant.

"It's as if embezzling money from the town makes you the bad guy!" Mayor Toadstool groaned. "If we don't fix things soon, we'll lose next month's election for sure. The only thing that can save us now is a miracle." The sound of cheering outside made him look out the window. When he saw the wart-faced Anne being carried by the people, a devious idea formed in his mind. "Oh, my dear Toadie, I do believe our miracle has arrived."

Johan couldn't believe what he was seeing when he and Ivy arrived at the Plantars' house. Stacks upon stacks of gifts, all the with the tag "To Anne" written on them.

"This is awesome," said Sprig. "Just look at all these gifts."

"The townspeople like me," said Anne. "They really, really like me!"

Ivy tore open a gift box and revealed a beret with a clover on it. "No way! These don't come out until next season!" she exclaimed as she put it on.

"Chocolate covered maggots!" exclaimed Polly. "Come to Momma." She shoved the whole box into her mouth.

"Yeah. They really seem to like your human bumps, Anne," said Hop Pop.

Anne said, "I better take care of these moneymakers if I wanna keep this up." She grabbed a stick of butter and slathered it all over her face. "My babies...babies are hungry." Everyone gave her a look of disgust. "Too much?"

"That's...not what I meant, Anne."

The sound of a snail honking made everyone look outside. They saw the Mayor and Toadie riding on a snail with a saddle that looked more like a throne. "Anne, my dear. Care to join me for a joyride?" asked the Mayor.

"We brought the fancy snail," said Toadie.

"Get out!" exclaimed Anne.

"We all get to ride in that?" asked Sprig. "Awesome!"

"Finally, the luxury I deserve," said Hop Pop.

The Mayor chuckled and shook his head. "Nope. I'm afraid only Anne is invited. Just look at those beautiful warts."

"Anne, do you really want to go with this sleazy fat tub?" asked Johan.

"Oh, it's you, JoJo," said the Mayor spitefully. "Spike anyone's drinks with mystic mushrooms lately?"

"Ooh, you're still steamed about that?"

"YES!" He cleared his throat and said, "What do you say, Anne? The offer still stands."

Anne took note of the downhearted looks on the Plantars, Johan and Ivy's faces. "Don't look so glum, guys. It's just a ride. I'll be back in a few." She hopped on the snail and took off with the Mayor and Toadie.

"It begins..." Hop Pop said grimly.

"What do you mean?" asked Ivy.

"Fame changes people, kids. And not in a good way."

Normally, this is the part where Johan would quote Mark Twain, "Fame is a vapor; popularity an accident; the only earthly certainty is oblivion." Instead, his attention was focused on one of Anne's gifts: a makeup kit.

"Whoo! Man, this snail is fast," Anne said as the snail slid along the road.

"Anne, we can help each other," said Toadstool. "I can make sure you stay popular, and in turn, you can help me improve my reputation. How does that sound?"

"Sounds harmless. Can I honk the horn?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Whoo!" Anne squeezed the horn on the side of the saddle.

And cue a montage of Anne signing autographs at meet-and-greets, getting chased by fans, cutting ribbons at orphanages, community centers and statues of herself and the mayor, getting chased by more fans, and all the while, ignoring the Plantars.

"And then Anne offered to be the model for the mascot of our absinthe," said Felicia. "Check it out!" She showed her family a picture of Anne in a green dress, doing a yoga pose. Most of the focus was on her zits. "This is sure to grab people's attention for sure. Where's JoJo? He's going to want to know the good news."

"He's in the bathroom," said Ivy. "He's been in there for fifteen minutes."

"Hey!" Felicia shouted and banged on the door. "Let me in there! Some of us take a long time for us to do our business in-" The door opened and she stopped. "...there."

"What do you think?" asked Johan, smiling with red spots all over his face.

"Uh...wow," was all Ivy could say. "When did you grow those warts?"

"Just now. I gotta show this to Anne." He was just about to leave when Felicia grabbed him.

"Wait a minute." She was about to touch one of the warts when Johan slapped her hand away.

"Hey! I just made this perfect!"

"Are you...wearing makeup?"

Johan looked left, then right, then groaned. "Fine. I am. Is it that obvious?"

"Not if you get really up close," said Sylvia.

"JoJo, are you jealous of Anne?" asked Felicia.

Johan laughed nervously. "Why should I be? I mean, just because she's living the good life for doing absolutely nothing while I've been working my butt off to earn people's respect only to get shooed away by brooms? You're crazy," he said as he left. "You're all crazy!"

Sylvia nodded. "Definitely jealous."

Meanwhile, the Mayor showed Anne's new apartment in City Hollow. "Here we are. From now on, Anne, this is your home."

"Whoa," was all Anne could say. It looked less like an apartment and more like a Greek temple, with her as its goddess. "This is awesome. And to think just yesterday people were treating me like a monster. Look at me now, baby."

"Glad you're enjoying yourself," said Toadstool. "Stick with me and I'll make sure you never go out of style. Now take care of those warts. Toodles." He tossed her a stick of butter as he left.

Before she could apply it on her face, the Plantars came in through the window. "Hey, Anne. Got time for a visit?" asked Sprig.

"Oh. Hey, guys. Just look at this place. Epic, right?"

"Yeah. It's great," said Sprig, tying his best to be happy for Anne.

Anne lounged on a couch and grabbed a drink. "Can you believe I was living in your basement? Ha! It was cold, dusty, not to mention smelly. Oh, no offense."

"None taken," said Hop Pop.

"Oh, Anne?" said Johan as he came in through the window. "Sorry, for barging in. I just wanted to see how you were living the good life."

When the Plantars saw the red spots on Johan's face, Polly shouted, "Oh, come on! What is it with humans growing ruby-red warts all of a sudden?!"

"They're not warts, remember," said Hop Pop. "It's what humans call zits."

Johan whistled. "Gotta say, this is impressive. You have to be a goddess to live in a place like this."

Anne nodded, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You know what is also impressive?" she asked as she approached him. She inhaled, activated her Ripple and used it to send her drink out of the cup and into Johan's face. "That you have skills in makeup!"

Johan sputtered as he wiped his face and made the red spots disappear. The Plantars gasped. "JoJo? What's gotten into ya?" asked Hop Pop.

"Clearly, somebody's jealous," said Anne, smugly.

Johan slammed his fist on the bedside table and shouted, "SO WHAT IF I AM?!" He made a scoff as he vented out his frustrations, "I have had to work hard since day one. I helped renovate the town, improved businesses at the tea shoppe, killed a gang, and what do I have to show for it? Getting chased away by frogs with brooms! And what have you ever done to earn all this? NOTHING! All you did was grow a bunch of blemishes on your face and all of a sudden, you're the most popular person in Wartwood? How fair is that, Anne Boonchuy!?"

"Hey, you should be happy at least one of us is getting treated like royalty," snapped Anne. "I deserve this! For once, I get to walk down the streets without people being afraid of me!" She exhaled and turned her back on him, folding her arms. "If you can't be happy for me, you should just leave."

Johan exhaled and he started to leave, but he paused to say some parting words to Anne. "It's not you they really love. Only those zits. And you and I both know this: the very instant your face clears up, you're going back to being the freak that lives in some old frog's basement. And I'll give you a big, fat 'I told you so!'"

Anne scoffed as he crawled out the window. "Tch. What does he know?" The grandfather clock chimed. "Oh, shoot. We gotta wrap this up. I've gotta sign autographs, kiss tadpoles and do some interviews, all before dinner." She pushed the Plantars out the door. "So good to talk to you guys. Love you, mean it. Mwah."

She was about to change into her new clothes when she heard Sprig shout, "The heck was that? It's like she's a different person."

"Yeah. A crazy person," shouted Polly.

"This stinks."

Hop Pop said, "Hey. None of that. Kids, when one of your own makes it big, you support them. No matter what. Because deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down, they're the same person."

Anne was left in thought when she heard that. Why did she have to treat JoJo and the Plantars differently just because she was living the good life? Or was it BECAUSE she was living the good life that she was treating them differently? "Maybe JoJo was right," she thought out loud. "What have I done to earn all this?"

Her thoughts were interrupted when Toadie came in with a silver-colored dress. "Ma'am, I think I found you the perfect dress for tonight."

"Oh. Yeah, okay." Somehow, this did not make her feel better.

The next morning, Anne, having decided to sleep in, was snoring softly when she heard a knock on the door. "Five more minutes," she muttered as she slowly awoke. A letter slipped under her door. She got out of bed and read it. "'Be at the assembly at noon sharp.'" She went to her bathroom and smiled at her clear, smooth face in the mirror. "Good morning, my greasy babies. Time to get ready for the-"

Wait. Clear, smooth face? Anne's eyes widened with horror. They were gone. "No. No. No, no, no, no, no. My pimples! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?" Anne quickly grabbed a pen and two slips of paper and wrote messages on them. Then she rapped her knuckles on the door. "Uh, hello? Anyone there?"

Toadie burst into the room. "Just me, Toadie." Anne slammed the door on his face before he could get a good look at hers. "Ow."

"Uh, can you deliver these notes to the Plantars and JoJo?" she asked as she slid the notes under the door.

"Of course, ma'am. But before I do, could I get an autograph? I'm a huge fan."

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" She signed her autograph and slid it under the door. "Here. Now go."

"Uh, this is a little hard to read."

"JUST GO!"

"Yes, ma'am."

When the Plantars and Johan arrived at Anne's apartment, Johan took one look at her and burst out laughing. "Questo è karma per te! Your yin kicked your yang's pimples right off your face!"

"Shut up," snapped Anne. "My life is ruined. My zits. They're gone. Without them, I'm...I'm nothing."

"Anne, that's ridiculous," said Sprig. "I'm sick and tired of this and...and..." He remembered what Hop Pop said to him. "We'll do everything we can to help you."

"Why should we?" asked Johan. "All she's ever done is flaunt around her newfound fame and wealth like she's a spoiled little princess. And what has she ever done for any of you?"

"He does have a point," said Polly. "Why should we help her? She doesn't deserve our support!"

"Okay, you're right," said Anne. "I have been acting like a jerk. Look, just help me get my pimples back and I'll talk to the mayor about letting you stay in my apartment any time you want."

"Really? Any time?" asked Sprig.

"Any time."

"Now, what are we going to do about getting you new pimples?" Sprig thought for a while before he got an idea. "I got it! What if we stuck some of these swamp berries to your face? They kinda look like pimples."

"Great. But how can we get to the swamp without me being seen? I have f-Annes everywhere."

"I'm sorry, what did you say, Anne?" asked Johan.

"F-Annes. It's what we're calling my fans."

"Santo cielo."

"I don't want to live on this planet anymore," said Polly.

"Don't worry about the crowds, Anne. I have a pla-Anne," said Hop Pop.

"Non costringermi a farti del male."

"I don't know what you said, JoJo."

Johan and the Plantars pushed a cart full of towels down toward the entrance of City Hollow, where they met a crowd of Anne's fans. "Make way! Plague towels, everyone," Sprig said as they pushed through the crowd. "Plague towels."

The crowd gasped and backed off. "If you don't wanna cough up your organs, stay back!" shouted Polly.

Unfortunately, the cart bumped on a rock, making a towel fall off and revealing Anne's foot. "Hey, everyone, that's Anne's foot," someone in the crowd shouted.

"We've been made," shouted Johan as he pushed the cart faster. "Evadere!"

Out the door the Plantars and Johan ran with a pack of rabid fans at their heels. "We'll never make it," said Anne as she poked her head out the pile of towels and saw them coming closer.

"Not without a diversion, we won't," said Hop Pop. "Anne. Give me one of your shoes."

"Uh... Okay."

Anne gave him the shoe with a hole in it and he held it up high. "Hey, everyone. Lookie. I've got one of Anne's shoes."

"Hop Pop, what are you doing, you crazy old frog?!" shouted Johan.

"Fly, you fools," Hop Pop whispered as he allowed himself to be attacked by the horde.

"Eh, he'll be fine," said Polly nonchalantly.

The group ran into the forest where they found a bush of red berries. Anne stuck them to her face and asked, "How do I look?"

"Like you stuck your face in a salad," Johan said bluntly.

"Ignore him," said Sprig. "You look great! Like your zits never disappeared at all."

"Thanks for helping me, guys," said Anne.

"That's what we're here for," said Sprig.

"Not me," admitted Polly. "I'm here for the drama."

"Even though you don't deserve it," said Johan.

Hearing that made Anne pause for thought.

At the assembly, Mayor Toadstool paced back and forth nervously. He could hear the crowd chanting Anne's name impatiently. "Where is she? I'm losing a point in the polls every minute she's late."

"I'm here. I'm here," she said as she ran up to him.

"There you are, my dear. I was so worried."

"Sorry, I was caught up in this whole mob situation. Luckily the Plantars and JoJo were there to help me and-"

"The Plantars and JoJo? Anne, honey, I thought we talked about this. Hanging out with those bumpkins and that gangster-"

"It's Gang-Star."

"Whatever. Hanging out with the riffraff will only pull you down to their level. I think it's for the best that you not be seen with them anymore. Understand?"

Anne looked at her phone, at the picture of herself with the Plantars and Johan. Then she looked at one of the banners that said, "Everyone loves Anne!". Johan was right, Anne realized. They didn't love her the same way the Plantars did. She didn't deserve any of this. She knew what to do. "Understood."

"Good. Now get out there. Your public awaits."

Anne stepped out onto the stage and approached the podium. She took a look at the crowd of cheering fans, but she ignored them all to focus her vision on the family of frogs and Johan, who were sitting way in the back. She smiled at them before she spoke into the microphone. "Crazy week, huh? Couple days ago, I was a monster. And now I'm the pride and joy of Wartwood. I've got a nice apartment, f-Annes, fame. But you know what I'm missing? The people who'll stick with me whether I'm a monster or not." And with that, she wiped the berries off.

The crowd gasped in horror. "She's hideous again!"

Toadstool stepped on stage and shouted, "Anne, what are you doing? You're throwing it all away? Now how am I supposed to convince these idiots to vote for me?"

"Uh, sir?"

"What is it, Toadie?! I-" It was at that moment Toadstool realized the microphone was still on. "Oh. Uh... Did I say 'idiots'? I meant lovely, lovely townspeople, eh?" The townspeople readied their eggs and vegetables. "Uh, simmer down now. Simmer-" And began throwing them at him. "Whoa. This is an outrage! Stop that!"

After Mayor Toadstool was chased off the stage by the angry crowd, Anne met up with the people that meant to her the most. "Hey guys. JoJo."

"Ciao, Anne," said JoJo.

Sprig held up an Anne doll. "These are horrifying."

"Thanks for sticking with me, even when the attention got to my head."

"Just remember to do the same when I'm rich and famous," said Hop Pop.

"Never happening," said Polly.

"Fame is fleeting Anne," said Johan. "Familia is forever. You're part of a familia that sticks out for you."

"Any chance I can go back to being the monster that lives in your basement?" the girl asked humbly.

"Of course," said Sprig.

"Thanks, you guys. Hey, you know what? I still have the key to the apartment. You guys wanna try out the hot tub before they change the locks?"

The kids cheered while Hop Pop said, "Can't wait to feel those bubbles in my pants."

Sprig and Polly hopped on the bed while Hop Pop helped himself to all the food.

"This is nice," said Johan as he looked out the window, leaning out. "My room in Napoli is not as fancy as this place, but it certainly has its perks."

"Mm-hmm," said Anne as she joined him. Johan chuckled. "What's so funny, JoJo?"

"Late at night, I would always look out the window to see the view of the city. I loved it. The smell of the harbor, the sight of city lights, the taste of oranges growing in groves." He exhaled sadly. "I never thought I'd miss the littlest things in my life."

"I miss the littlest things too," said Anne. "City lights, Mom's cooking, anime, hanging out with Sasha and Marcy under the bleachers at school. We'll get the littlest things back, right?"

"Right."

"Hey!" Toadie shouted. "You're not supposed to be in here!"

"And that's our cue to leave," said Anne. "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

Somewhere in Swamp Shiro, a blonde-haired blue newt garbed in a pink and purple suit sat in his office, reading the newspaper. He took a sip of his coffee, before he stopped when he saw an article that caught his eye. "Red-ruby wart girl is a fraud! Mayor Toadstool exposed for using phony girl to increase popularity in the polls!" His eyes focused on the picture of Anne Boonchuy wiping the berries off her face.

He reached for an intercom and pressed a button. "Madame Secretary?"

"Yes, Mr. Mayor?"

"Would you mind clearing up my schedule? I'd like to make an appointment with the mayor of Wartwood."

"Uh...not possible, sir. You're booked solid."

The mayor sighed in irritation. "Fine. Just find me a date that is open. This is important."

"Yes, Mr. Mayor."

The mayor stood up from his desk and looked up at a mural hanging on a wall. It depicted three human girls, dressed as Roman goddesses and glowing with blue, green and pink auras, fighting a demonic frog with multiple glowing orange eyes on random spots of its body. "Now, we will see who will take the first napkin. I look forward to meeting you and your friends, Anne Boonchuy."

To Be Continued...