Twins Missing in Dual Worlds chapter 19: The Toads Are Going Down.
BETA'd by Omega Galaxy.
Mabel and the Plantars were in town doing some shopping. "Should I get the yellow and blue yarn, or pink and red?" Mabel asked.
"Pink and red party time." Polly said.
There was a loud thud, "Here we go again." Hop Pop said, "Listen kid I needed you to NOT cause trouble."
They turn to see a squadron of Toad soldiers arriving in town.
"It's the Toad Guards! Don't look them in the eye and stay upwind of them, they can smell fear!" Hop Pop warned.
"Are they really that bad?" Mabel asked.
"They're the worst, but they normally leave people along if they pay their taxes." Hop Pop answered.
"Well we already got that done."
"It's nice knowing they won't be coming our way, my days of dealing with them are over."
"What do you mean?" Mabel leaned forward in confusion.
"I know this is hard to believe, but your Hop Pop is old, and might not be the best in a fight."
"You used to fight?" She suppressed a chuckle.
"You don't last long in Amphibia if you don't know how to defend yourself."
"Fair enough."
"Nice having someone older than Sprig to talk to."
"I can imagine."
Hop Pop turned to his other two children, "How you two doing?"
"Fine, Hop Pop." Polly said.
"Never better." Sprig gave a thumbs up.
"Great to hear, and I'm glad the two of you didn't leap off the wagon when I wasn't looking."
They gave a small laugh before continuing what they were doing: playing a game of Jack's using bugs as the pieces.
He parked the cart, "Okay so does anyone know the one snack you want to buy today?"
"Choco grubs!" Mabel cheered, before shivering at the thought. "I've been here too long."
"Nothing wrong with getting local delicacies." Hop Pop reassured her.
"I guess so."
He hopped off, and help her down. "There you go."
"Thanks Hop Pop." Mabel smiled at him. No matter how many times she rode her, she has always had a hard time climbing on and off of Bessie's shell. And yes, she has landed face-first multiple times.
"Don't mention It."
"Maybe I should see if we can get you hopping lessons." Sprig spoke up.
"They have those?" tilted her head in curiosity
"Yes, though, we don't have many teachers since the school got destroyed."
"Yeah that's bad." Mabel said, while Sprig whistled in response.
"I've got some heavy groceries to get. Can you get those choco bugs by yourself?"
"Can do! This girl's got it."
"Off you go." Hop Pop pointed away, prompting the trio of kids to run off.
Wally bumped into her, "Oh the human."
"Oh. hey Wally."
"So you're one of the Plantars right?"
"That's right!" She answered in a friendly voice
"So, you're still in our world?"
"Yeah..." She looked away, wondering once again why she hadn't been rescued yet.
"Well, I better not be keeping you." Before he walked away
"Bye." Mabel waved him off.
Miss Croaker walked passed her next.
"Howdy miss Croaker!"
"Hello there." She said, "You're the girl who made those rolls."
"That's me! I hope you liked them."
"They were good." She said.
"I'm glad!"
"Well I best not be keeping you." As she continued on her way.
"See ya around!"
Behind her was a seafoam tad pole, it had a few hairs on their head, and black eyes looking into Mabel's.
"Umm, what are you doing?"
Rosemary answered, "Shush, I'm hiding from the toad."
"What?"
"The toads! They always take from the town!"
"I thought that they were just here to collect taxes?"
"What do you think they take if they can't pay?"
"I don't know, what?"
"I don't know, my dad used to handle those..."
"O… k?" Mabel scratched her head
"I'll find somewhere else to hide." She said, rolling away.
"Umm… good luck!" Just when she thought she understood this place it threw a curve ball.
"There you are!" Hop Pop went.
"Everyone seems uneasy."
"That's taxes for you."
"It's that bad huh? No wonder Grunkle Stan doesn't pay them."
"Usually not, but things been getting worse as of late."
"What happened?"
He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Fair enough."
"Something isn't right here." The eldest Plantar child went.
"What's on your mind, pinkie?" Mabel asked.
"The mayor is up to something; we should keep an eye on him."
"Wanna spy on him?" Mabel asked.
"Do I?!" He said, "I'll take the mayor, you keep an eye on the grunts."
"How are you going to do it?"
"I am the best spy in Amphibia, in fact I'm not even in front of you." He said.
"Good, wait that doesn't answer my question." Mabel told him.
"I am just going to stalk him."
She just laughed at him and went on her way.
He followed Toadie and the mayor as they carried a cartoonishly big bag of money.
While Mabel went where she could see the goons. They were harassing poor Wally. She decided to distract them by unscrewing a wheel on their wagon.
Immediately they moved to investigate, forcing Mabel to hide, taking the change to leave some of Wally's belongings behind.
"Thank you." He whispered.
"No problem."
"I'll remember this, Scarecrow."
"Why were they stealing from you?"
"They claim I didn't do my taxes. Hog wash, I may live in squalor, but I always pay my taxes."
"Hey I believe you."
"That would be a first." For some reason people didn't take the vagabond at his word.
"What do you mean?"
"I have no history of backing down, those darn toads always looking to get a piece of someone else's pie, it's like my old man always said. I said to much." He then jumped into a nearby bush.
Mabel decided to leave him be.
Next was Miss Croaker, the kind, but strange old lady.
Mabel felt awful for her. This time to distract them, she dropped a branch on them.
They jumped back trying to see what happened.
The old lady thanked her.
"You're welcome. What was happening?"
"I never broken any laws, that can be proven in a court of law." She mumbled the last part under her breath.
"I believe you."
"In fact almost no one in town would be willing to mess with the toads. Though they probably should."
Mabel was caught off guard by this, "Huh?"
"Wouldn't you want to throw them out of town, or at least off a cliff?"
"It is true I would."
Mabel decided to play along, "Yeah can't say I blame you."
"Shame there aren't more people like you deary."
"I'm just doing my best."
"I'll go try to calm Archie down, thank you again deary."
Mabel waved her off and went to follow those goons.
The next victims were the sundews.
She decided this time they were gonna get extra destruction. She released their giant tarantula!
Their giant spider immediately ran and climbed up a tree. Then, while they were trying to get it to come down, she pushed the wagon down a hill.
She smiled as she watched them search for it fruitlessly. She had done it. She had saved the town! Nothing could go wrong!.
"That decides it, we're burning this town to the ground."
"Uh oh." So this is why Stan commits tax fraud…
"Oh no you don't." Mabel rushed forward, she wouldn't let these strange but good people get hurt. Not on her watch.
The big female toad spoke. "Well what do we have here? This creature wants to be a hero. Go home before you get hurt, kid."
"No way." She readied herself.
"Listen Fens, I am not in the mood for this. Can you and mire deal with this for me?" An old red toad spoke up.
Mire and her play some version of rock paper scissors.
"Hey, I am over here!"
"Looks like it my turn." The green one said, "You're still here? You really are as dumb as you look."
"And no one can be as dumb as you look!" She countered with a smirk.
"Oh we've got a fighter here, shame those are your last words."
She instantly charged, swinging her mace at Mabel.
In turn, the girl tried to catch the weapon.
A moment passed as a soft flash of blue filled her eyes giving her the ability to stop the weapon.
"Oh?" The Pink Toad raised an eyebrow in shock, only for Mabel to grip the weapon and twist, sending the weapon and its wielder into a nearby wall.
Bog was impressed, "Mire go deal with her." Without hesitation he charged as well, only for Mabel to side-step him and kick his rear, sending him flying into the green toad.
Without warning, the glow started to fade just as Bog came from behind, nailing her with his war hammer. "You're tougher than you look. I'll admit that much." He raised his hammer over her. "End of the line, kid."
"Leave Mabel alone you big bully!"
The town swarmed them, "If you have a problem with Mabel you have a problem with all of us."
"You better bring it." Ms. Croaker said, readying herself for a fight.
"Thank you." Mabel said, "But you should go, your just one frog."
"No she not." Wally declare at this.
Everyone arrived and Sprig revealed that the mayor had stolen everyone's money.
"I am really glad that I did not help him with the election." Mabel quipped.
The toads took the money and left, keeping an eye on Mabel.
The townsfolk chastised the mayor, though, he managed to find a way to weasel himself out of the mess.
"Well at least they didn't come to our place." Sprig said, leaping next to the human.
"How'd you find out about the mayor anyways?" Mabel asked.
"I saw Toadie carrying a big bag of money, and a cooper came out. So I followed them like you did the toads."
"You actually listened, pinkie?" She asked.
"Anytime Peachy." Sprig said.
Hop pop decided now was a good time for everyone to come home.
To Be Continued…
Reviews:
RonaldM40196867 chapter 18 . Feb 3
My Response: That is true.
Mabel Pines: Just one more thing.
Happy March!
I think Hop Pop for Amphibia, Soos for Gravity Falls.
You axolotl of questions.
Maybe it Mabel.