Johan splashed some water onto Hop Pop and he let out a scream. "Halifax!" He looked up to see Johan holding a bucket and alongside him were Anne, Sprig and Polly. "What's going on?"
"Consider this an intervention," said Johan as he set the bucket down. "Sprig and the girls told me everything. You've been doing nothing but sit on this couch for a week. And it's really starting to show." He gestured to Hop Pop's five-o-clock shadow, pot belly and sweat-stained clothes. "You have to get off your ass and do something! Didn't you get your food vending license back from Ram Bamboo?"
Hop Pop sighed sadly. "What's the point? Ever since we lost the vegetable stand I've just felt, well, lost. I was fine the first couple of days, but it's really starting to catch up with me."
"If you ask me, you need a new purpose in life."
"And I have just the thing. BA BAM!" Anne held up a job pamphlet from Grub-&-Go.
"The Grub-N-Go's hiring greeters!" exclaimed Sprig. "All you gotta do is smile and be friendly."
Hop Pop sunk further into the couch. "Ehh... Just another job for me to lose."
Johan inhaled, then exhaled. "Okay. I didn't want to have to do this. MUDA!" He punched into the side of Hop Pop's head, knocking him out. "Alright, help me drag him into the shower and get him dressed."
"Thank you, Mr. Plantar. Don't call us, we'll call you," the manager of Grub-&-Go called out as Hop Pop left. The interview didn't go so well. Apparently, he wasn't smily and friendly enough to be a greeter. He was just about to go home when he saw a crowd of people gathering around something.
"What's all this rabble?" he asked.
"Sign-ups for the election!" Wally shouted as he appeared out of nowhere. "You been living under a rock? 'Cause I have and even I knew that."
"Election?" Hop Pop asked, confused.
Mayor Toadstool placed his name in the ballad box. "Vote Mayor Toadstool! If reelected, I will always look out for the little guy." Then he hopped into his snail and rode off with Toadie. A cloud of dust flew into a child's face as he drove, making her cough.
Hop Pop scoffed. "Some mayor. That guy keeps raising our taxes, and what do we got to show for it? Our snail-ways are a mess. Our buildings are falling apart. Heck, we ain't even replaced the schoolhouse after last year's millipede incident! In fact, the only reason this town is being renovated at all is because of Passione! This place is becoming a mob town!"
"Am I crazy, or is he making sense?" asked a nearby Felicia.
"Maybe we need a mayor who looks out for the people he's mayoring. 'Cause ours, well... Heh, heh. He's only looking out for himself. Anyway, good afternoon, everybody."
Wally grabbed Hop Pop and shouted, "I nominate Hopediah Plantar for mayor!"
"WHAT?!"
"I second that!" Felicia exclaimed, writing down his name and slipping it into the ballad box. This started a chain reaction from everyone else, as they all started to cheer for the old frog. "Hop Pop for mayor, everyone!"
Everyone cheered, Wally started playing "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" on his accordion. Hop Pop blushed and smiled.
Hop Pop returned to the farm with more pep in his step. "Guess what kids?"
"You passed the interview?" asked Anne.
"You got the job?" Sprig added.
"You fell off the wagon?" added Johan.
"Nope! I'm running for mayor!"
Anne, Sprig and Polly gave him a strange look. Then they exclaimed, "WHAT?!"
"Don't you see, kids? If I win this election, I'll prove once and for all that Hopediah Plantar ain't no loser!" He went over to a mirror hanging on a wall and began brushing the tufts of hair on the side of his head.
Johan thought to himself out loud, "This could work. Hopediah is a good speaker, he knows the town, what it needs and people know him. Besides, with a member of Passione in the mayor's office, our gang could grow stronger in influence." Then he thought, "Wait, what am I saying? He's a poor farmer who knows nothing of politics."
When Anne heard that, a feeling of dread came over her. "Oh, no. If he loses, he'll be more down than ever."
"And we just got the couch cleaned," said Polly.
"But if he wins maybe we'll get the old Hop Pop back!" said Sprig.
"True that."
"Fair point," said Anne. "Hop Pop, we're all in!"
"And I'll be your campaign manager," said Johan.
"Really?" asked Hop Pop with glee. "Aw, kids. I won't let you down. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom practicing my distinguished expression!" He went in and shut the door behind him.
Johan shuddered. "I hope is not going to use that face for when he gets his self-portrait."
Anne groaned. "Ugh. Politics are the worst."
"Yeah," said Polly. "The monster fights are pretty cool, though."
"The what now?" asked Anne and Johan at the same time.
It turns out there was more to the elections than just voting. There were physical trials as well. Leave it to Amphibia to subvert their expectations. The people all stood in front of a large cave entrance, cheering for either Hop Pop or Toadstool, who were both in leotards. Duckweed was there as well, in charge of the elections.
"You've made a powerful enemy today, Hopediah," Toadstool said as he and Hop Pop did warmup stretches. "Toads have run uncontested for decades. This is a disgrace."
"The only disgrace is you as mayor," replied Hop Pop.
"Oh, I like this Hopediah," said an impressed Sadie Croaker.
"I don't know. Toadstool is tried and true," said a random villager.
"Ahem," said Albus Duckweed, getting everyone's attention. "Welcome to the official mayoral trials, where the candidates try to win your vote."
"I'm suddenly very interested in politics," said Anne before she blew a vuvuzela into Sprig's ear.
"Okay, Anne. That's enough," he said.
"Fai esplodere quella cosa fastidiosa ancora una volta e te la infilerò nel culo."
"I don't know what you said, JoJo," said Anne.
"Our first trial is all about strength," said Duckweed. "The first candidate to mount the beetle wins!" He blew a whistle, summoning a Hercules beetle the size of a rhinoceros. "Ready, set, go!" he shouted as he and the spectators ran off.
The beetle chased after the two candidates. "Oh, my giblets," muttered Toadstool. He tried to hop on the beetle only to get knocked to the side. Hop Pop jumped into the air, but the beetle smacked him to the ground with its horn. He got up and looked at the stump behind him, forming an idea. He picked up a rock and threw it at the beetle. "Hey!" He laughed at the beetle and shook his rear end at it. "Come and get it!"
Enraged, the beetle charged at him like a bull. Hop Pop jumped out of the way and the beetle got its horn stuck in the stump, allowing Hop Pop to jump onto its back. Everyone cheered, but not Toadstool.
The next test took place at a giant bird's nest at the edge of a cliff. "The second trial is about sensitivity," said Duckweed. "Can you figure out what these hatchlings need? A good mayor would."
"I know what these dumb birds want. Money," said Toadstool as he took out a money bag. He approached the nest and said, "All right, all right. Here's your handout." He threw a handful of coins at the hatchlings. They all shrieked with anger and began pecking him. He ran off and curled in a ball.
"There, there, sir," said Toadie as he patted Toadstool's head.
"L'ho visto arrivare," said Johan to Ivy.
Meanwhile, Hop Pop looked around until he spotted a log. He lifted it up, revealing some giant worms. He grabbed them, put them in his mouth and chewed them up before he opened his mouth and allowed the hatchlings to eat the chewed worm mush. When they were finished, the hatchlings rubbed their heads against his cheek. Everyone cheered.
"That's how he fed us when we were babies," said Sprig to Anne.
Suddenly, the mother bird returned and landed on the nest. Everyone ran off screaming as she screeched at them.
"Being mayor is a lot like being dropped in the woods naked and forced to find your way home," said Duckweed. "So that's what we did!"
To everyone's astonishment, Hop Pop came out of a bush, wearing nothing but a loincloth and accompanied by burying beetles. "Thanks for showing me the way, Jeremy," he said to the blue beetle. He placed a "Vote For Hopediah!" pin on the beetle, who chirped in happiness before flying away with his brethren. "Safe travels, brother."
The people cheered and lifted Hop Pop up in the air and chanted his name. As his chances of winning grew higher and the love of the people turned in his favor, Hop Pop felt like he was on top of the world. And no one bothered to ask what happened to Toadstool.
Nighttime fell and it started to rain. Toadstool came out of the woods, stark naked, covered in bruises and with a large rat biting on his butt. Toadie chased the rat away and placed a towel around Toadstool's body. "This is getting out of hand, Toadie. I could actually lose! Looks like we'll have to stop him the old-fashioned way. Illegally."
At the Plantar Farm, Hop Pop was at his table, reading a book titled "Public Speaking 101". Anne placed a tray of hot cocoa in front of him. "Excited for the final trial tomorrow, Hop Pop?" asked Sprig.
"Not really. I know I've been doing well, but if I mess up tomorrow, it could cost us the election."
"Uh, Hopediah," called out Johan. "As your campaign manager, I have some good news. You're gonna win by a landslide!" Hop Pop let out a sigh of relief and the kids cheered. "Unfortunately, there's something else you should know."
Before he could say anything more, there was a knock at the door. They opened it to find a hooded Toadie. "Mr. Plantar, an anonymous associate would like to speak with you," he said.
"You mean the mayor?" snarked Anne.
"No comment."
"Come on, dude, you only know like one person!"
"And his snail's right there," Johan said, pointing to the snail with the luxurious tent on its shell.
"I SAID NO COMMENT!"
Hop Pop entered the tent to find the mayor drinking mead from a chalice. "Ah, so glad you could join me, Plantar. I'll give it to you straight. I want you to lose tomorrow's trial."
"Well, yeah. I figured," said Hop Pop as he sat next to him.
"No, you dimwit! Lose on purpose! In return, I'll give you a new vegetable stand. Heck, I'll put it in the center of the market, tax free! You'll make tons of money!"
When he heard that, Hop Pop didn't deny that the offer was tempting. On the one hand, he'll let down all the people who believed in him, but on the other hand, he'll get back his most prized possession and be set for life. "That's, uh...hard to say no to."
"Well, then, don't."
Hop Pop walked back into the house, his mind still thinking about what the mayor offered. "Hey, Hop Pop," called out Anne. He ignored her and sat in his chair in front of the fireplace. "So, uh, what did the mayor want?" she asked.
"If I lose on purpose, Toadstool will give us the stand back," he replied.
Anne, Sprig and Polly gasped.
"What? No! You've got a real chance to win," said Anne.
"He'll also make us rich. We'd be set for life."
"Oh, in that case, take the deal," said Polly.
"POLLY!" snapped Sprig and Anne.
"We were all thinking it!"
"You might as well take the offer," said Johan. "You will lose either way."
"Hey! That's quitter talk!" snapped Sprig.
"Wait a minute, you said Hop Pop will win by a landslide," said Anne.
"Actually, there's more to it than that. According to this book," said Johan as he held up a book titled "So You Wanna Be Mayor?". "Hop Pop not only has to get the votes from the people of Wartwood but from all of Frog Valley!" He was met with silence. "And according to the polls, by the time Hop Pop challenged Toadstool, he already got all the other villages' votes since he ran unopposed at the time."
Anne stammered and sputtered before shouting, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
"Yep. Apparently, all the villages vote for all the mayors. It doesn't make any sense in the slightest."
Hearing this, Hop Pop fell into despair. "I...never had a chance?"
Sprig grabbed Johan by the neck and growled, "Look what you've done! We're trying to prevent THIS from happening in the first place because he lost his sense of purpose! We do not want to live with an empty shell of Hop Pop's former self sitting on the couch for the remainder of his days!"
Johan stammered and said, "B-B-Bene! Lo risolverò!"
"I don't know what you said!"
"I said I'll fix this!" Sprig let him go and he dusted himself off. "Okay. There's still some time before the final challenge. I'll gather Ram Bamboo, Joan Jett and Felicia and tell them to begin campaigning in Lily Paddington, Bog Bottom and Swamp Shiro. Hop Pop will need a new campaign slogan." He grabbed a piece of paper and began drawing something on it. "Done!"
Anne looked at the slogan. "'Vote for Hopediah Plantar or we'll kill you!'?"
"Dammi una pausa! We're literally out of time, it's the best I could come up with on such short notice! Now if you'll excuse me..." He grabbed a whole stack of papers and began carrying them out the door. "I gotta make thousands of copies!" He ran out the door and slammed it behind him.
Hop Pop sank further into his chair. "I don't know why he's even trying. Maybe I should just take the offer and get the stand back."
"Dude," said Anne. "I see two problems with that. One: we all know Toadstool is not a toad of his word. And two: you gave the people of Wartwood hope! If they found out you just quit on them, they might never forgive you."
"How can I give them hope when the rest of Frog Valley doesn't give a damn about us? Heck, they don't even know my name!"
Anne then placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well, whatever you pick, we'll be behind you, dude," she said, smiling with the others.
"All the way," Sprig said, showing his grandfather the support he and the others had for him.
"Thanks, kids," Hop Pop said, appreciating their kind words of support. "Guess I've got some thinking to do." The kids left him to his thoughts and he stared into the fireplace, thinking long and hard about what he should do next.
The final trial took place in City Hollow, which, conveniently enough, had a boxing ring. It was a full house; no one was going to miss this. "Ladies and gentlephibians, you know the candidates, you've seen 'em fight monsters," said Duckweed. "But for the final challenge, you'll see them fight...each other!"
Everyone in the audience cheered. Johan sat next to Anne. "Dude, where have you been?" she asked, taking note of his disheveled self.
"Campaigning," he panted. "Passione was up all night campaigning for Hopediah in all those cities and everyone who didn't get a chance to vote yet voted for Hop Pop. Voting is a lot easier when you have a gun pointed to your head."
"I like the way you think," said Ivy.
"Ditto," said Polly, fist bumping her.
Meanwhile, Hop Pop and Toadstool stepped into the ring and glared at each other. "Now you both know the rules. Fight starts as soon as the bell rings," said Duckweed.
This had the effect of waking up the official and very old bell ringer, who was sitting high up next to the bell. "What? Ring the bell?" he asked, before hitting it with his tongue, starting the fight.
Toadstool threw the first punch but Hop Pop jumped out of the way and clotheslined him in the gut. Then he jumped up and began rapidly punching him in the face. "Ow! Okay, Plantar! You've put on a good show but... that's enough!"
Toadstool threw the old frog up into the air. "This can't be good."
Toadstool slammed Hop Pop with his gut, sending him falling flat on his face. The crowd groaned. "Like we talked about," Toadstool said softly. "Stay down, Plantar."
With the sound of his heart thumping in his chest, Hop Pop lifted up his head. He felt so tired and weak. His aging body wasn't used to this. The old frog was just about to throw in the towel. But then he saw all the people of Wartwood cheering for him to get up. Anne, his grandkids, Johan, Mr. Flour, Felicia, Ivy, Loggle, Wally, and basically everyone in town were begging him to get back up and fight.
"Stay down!" Toadstool yelled over the shouting.
But he didn't. He controlled his breathing, took a big breath and activated his Ripple, causing his body's energy to reignite and make him get back up.
"What are you, crazy?" Toadstool shouted as he repeatedly punched Hop Pop in the face. "You could have been rich! You could've had your stand back! All you had to do was give up!" Hop Pop didn't even feel the punches while Toadstool's energy was exhausted. "Why?"
"Because this is about more than just me! Zoom Punch!"
"Oh, shoot."
The Ripple Effect in Hop Pop's fist caused Toadstool to be sent flying into the ceiling and out the building. Hop Pop fell flat on his back with a big smile.
"That's a knockout!" shouted Duckweed.
"Huh? Ring the bell!" babbled the bellringer before he rung the bell, declaring Hop Pop's victory. Everyone cheered again, louder this time. Hop Pop's smile grew wider as he raised his fist in the air.
Outside the building, Duckweed counted the votes. "Well, folks, that wraps up the trials. Now it's time to tally the votes! With the combined votes of both Wartwood and the rest of Frog Valley, Hopediah Plantar has 10,000 votes!"
Hop Pop was elated to hear that. "What? I won?"
"And with 10,001 votes, Mayor Toadstool!"
Everyone was silent. Hop Pop broke it by saying one word. "What?"
Duckweed placed a red sash around Toadstool. "Congratulations, sir."
"Thank you. Thank you all. You're all too kind. Democracy wins again!" Toadstool said victoriously as confetti was shot into the air from the building's statues.
No one was cheering. Instead, they all groaned in disappointment as they left. Hop Pop remained where he was, dumbfounded. He lost by one lousy vote. Toadstool brushed the confetti off him as he said smugly, "Well, you certainly gave this toad a run for his money. Good thing you didn't win though, huh? Heh, heh. A frog beating a toad. That would have made headlines! Just be proud some people in the valley loved ya. Too bad one more person loved me more than you."
"The victory piñata is all set up in the lobby, sir," Toadie called out.
"Wahoo! Piñata! I'm gonna hit it," Toadstool cheered.
Later, Anne, Sprig, Polly and Johan found Hop Pop sitting on the front steps of City Hollow. "Hopediah, I'm sorry my campaign didn't guarantee your victory," Johan said. "You must be disappointed in me."
Hop Pop looked up...and smiled. "I'm not disappointed. In fact, I've never felt better!"
The kids gave him a confused look. "Really? You know you lost, right?" asked Anne. "Are you in shock? Is he in shock?"
"I may have lost, but I stood my ground and fought for something important. And that feels good."
"Hopediah?" Hop Pop turned to see Wally, Felicia, Ivy, Mr. Flour, Sadie, Loggle, Ram Bamboo and Joan Jett, all smiling warmly at him. "Uh, may we have a word?"
They all walked to the farmer's market where Hop Pop got perhaps the greatest gift he could have ever receive. "We all pitched in and built you a new stand," said Felicia. "For giving us something better than produce."
"Hope," said Wally.
Hop Pop was so happy, he about to cry.
"You've made us all proud," said Sadie.
"It's the least we can do to say thanks to the frog who raised our spirits," said Ram Bamboo.
Hop Pop looked at his grandkids and Anne and Johan, who all gave him a thumbs up. He ran his hand over the smoothly sanded counter. He looked up at the banner that read, "Grandson, Granddaughter and Human. Sponsored and funded by Passione Della Rana." "I may have lost the race, but I'm back at the market with all of you. And that makes me a winner. This is perfect." Then he said, "I wouldn't have put the root vegetables with the tubers, though."
"Yare yare daze," grumbled Joan Jett.
"It's not important. I'll fix it later."
In City Hollow of Swamp Shiro, the mayor read the newspaper. "'Local farmer Hopediah Plantar challenges Frodrick Toadstool for the position of Mayor of Wartwood, Plantar loses by one vote.'" He put down the paper. "Shame. I would have liked to see the old frog win."
"Really?" said a slim red newt with dark hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a dark bodysuit partially quilted on the legs and bearing several crown symbols on the arms and a short sleeveless dress with a multi-layered heart motif on the chest. She sat on his lap and said, "I'm surprised you would want a lowly frog peasant to be given a higher power."
"My dear Scarlet, everyone has to earn their right to be placed at the head of the table," he said as he gave her a kiss. "Besides, I would have considered it the perfect revenge especially after the way that fat toad touched you during one of his parties when I said you were off limits."
Scarlet nuzzled her snout in his face. "Do you remember when you were elected?"
"I still do," the mayor said as he caressed her shoulders. "I only won by default because my opponent, the previous mayor, died of a fatal heart attack."
Flashback to when the mayor was giving a speech only to let out a gasp, grab his chest, then fall to the ground dead.
"Everyone didn't really think I earned my spot in the mayor's office. But I proved them wrong when I undid everything the previous mayor did that made Swamp Shiro no better than Bog Bottom and Wartwood. And in no less than three months, I turned it into the prosperous town it is now."
"And I believed in you every moment," Scarlet said. "By the way, what was that creature that was shouting 'Vote for Hopediah Plantar or die!' in the streets?"
The mayor looked at the painting of the three goddesses again. "He comes from the same world as those girls."
"You don't think he might have something to do with the prophecy you're always talking about?"
"He's just a minor character in those girls' story. Still, even minor characters have important roles to play."
To Be Continued...