The airwagon was, once again, running low on food; and a loud noise akin to a baby was erupting from the cabin.

"Why won't he shush?!" Asked sprig loudly, only making the screaming louder.

"He's a baby, sprig! And he's hungry!"

"He's a robot! He shouldn't be hungry!"

"He likes oil!"

Anne continued cradling the robot head. "There, lil' guy," she cooed. "Frog, i'm not ready to be a single mom."

————————————

As they landed, the screaming began to subside and the robot began to fall asleep.

"Soo… when's he gonna grow up?" Asked polly.

Anne rolled her eyes. "He's a baby, polly, and we've had him for 2 days. It's gonna take a little longer than that."

Hop-pop walked out of the now grounded wagon. "I'm not really an expert in the matter, seeing as it's been about 40 years since i had my own child, but isn't it a bit wrong that he doesn't have a name?"

Anne thought for a second. "Hmmm…"

"How about frobo?" Asked polly. He kinda looks like a frog."

Anne hummed appreciatively. "I like it, but i was thinking something a little cuter."

She thought. "How about fro-bab?"

The robot squealed in delight.

"You like it, buddy? Yes you do yes you-"

She looked at the plantars. "You saw nothing."

Sprig whispered to polly, "you think Anne's been acting a little weird?"

"Yeah. She almost seems to be distracting herself from something."

————————————

They stopped at the nearest town; a small village called stony gulch.

"Looks like we're fresh outta copper's, kids," said hop-pop, looking at his wallet. "Just window shoppin'."

"Aaaaawwww!"

"Boy, is it hot here," anne said, taking off her hood, to be met with gasps.

"Oh yeah. Forgot about the whole 'i'm a creep in this world' thing."

"You're just like the other one!"

Anne took another take at that.

"I'm sorry- the other one?"

"Yeah," said the little frog, who was wearing a sweater. "I think she was called margo or something. She took my nerd brother away on a journey!" The frog stuck out a hand. "You can call me frabel."

Anne looked at her suspiciously. "You… met… another human."

"Yeah. I can bring you to my uncle! He knows more."

"Great! We should spend the whole day checking this out!" And Anne followed her.

"So, you kids noticing it too?" Asked Hop-pop.

————————————

"That nerd?"

"Her name," anne growled, her eyes flashing blue, "is marcy."

"Yeah, whatever," said Mr. ponds. "She was here a few days ago, whisked my nephew off with the promise of adventure. Not exactly sure what i'm supposed to tell his parents. She left some interesting stuff, though."

"Interesting stuff?" Anne perked up. "What stuff?"

Mr. Ponds and Frabel took them to the back.

"She left a bunch of little gizmos!" Frabel said. "Something she called a lightsaber," she took out a miniature green lightsaber,

"Some failed experiment she told us not to interact with," she pointed to a machine labeled 'flurby' making disturbing noises and moving it's eyes around in unnatural ways, "and an improved waxing machine!"

"Any more information?"

"That'll cost ya!" Said mr. Ponds.

"How much?" Asked anne, taking out money.

"That funny little head thing."

Anne immediately punched him and ran away. "NOT THE BABY!"

———————————————

"Well, Anne, you abandoned our only lead, and punched him in the face," said Hop-pop, an hour later, around a campfire, "I appreciate that it's difficult for you, but you really gotta stop overreacting."

"But he was threatening my babyyy!" Pleaded Anne, tickling the robot head on the head, while it… giggled?

"Anne, i think this is an unhealthy relationship you have with this robot."

"What a bunch of frog-spit!" Said Anne, "I'm just being a responsible mother!"

"punching a museum curator in the face is not being a responsible mother!"

"Don't you lecture me on how i raise my child!"

"It's a robot! And you're a child!"

Sprig and polly were tired of this incessant bickering. "Gee, we should go back to that quarrellers pass place again," said polly. "Bunch of hypocrites."

"Tell me about it."

———————————————

It was the next day, and they were trying to run away from a giant mantis sprig had somehow angered.

"HOW DO WE EVEN DO THIS STUFF?" Shouted polly.

"I DONT KNOW!" Shouted Anne.

"ANNE, LOOK OUT!"

Anne nearly ran into a tree, and used herself to shield fro-bab in her arms. She got back up, considerably more bruised.

"DON'T WORRY, THE BABY'S FINE!"

Sprig sighed. "Ugh."

————————————

Anne and the plantars were sitting around a campfire.

"So who's gonna ask?" Asked sprig.

"You. She trusts you the most." Said Hop-pop.

Sprig walked up to Anne.

"Hey, Anne, we've noticed you've been absorbing yourself into this 'child', like, a lot. And yet you don't really seem to-"

"Enjoy it?" Anne finished. "I do enjoy it. He's my baby."

"But Anne, something's up." Sprig waited for Anne to say something, and when she didn't, he continued. "Anne, be honest. You've been using this as a distraction, haven't you?"

Anne stayed silent, but her head came up.

"Anne?"

"Today is my birthday."

Sprig sat there, unsure of how to respond. He didn't know much about human culture, but Anne had told him that birthdays were really important.

"Anne, i'm so sorry, we didn't know. Why didn't you tell us-"

"Because today isn't a happy day, really. It's my birthday. But i arrived here, on my birthday. It's been a year, sprig. I miss my parents." And she just stopped holding it in. It all came out, her past regrets in life, the little things she used to enjoy, and the plantar family just sat and listened.

"Tomorrow," sprig thought, "i'm gonna make her the biggest mud crown she could ever imagine.

————————————

A tired yunan walked into the throne room.

"Sire, I failed to capture the traitor grime. Why i have failed may interest you."

Andrias perked up. "I'm listening."

She paused. "He was being protected by one of the creatures you are investigating, Split up from the others. I believe we could use this to out advantage. We could-"

"I see where you're going, Yunan. Very good plan. Now, excuse me for a second, i need some space to think."

"Of course, sire." She left.

After he was sure she was gone, he began to speak.

"My lord, a vital point in our plan has come. We have a chance to reclaim what's ours and destroy the prophesy."

"--. -- -- -.. .-.-.- / .. ..-. / - ... . -.-- / .- .-. .-. .. ...- . / .. -. / - .-- -- --..-- / -.. . -.-. .. . ...- . .-.-.- / .--. .-. . - . -. -.. / - -- / -... . / - ... . .. .-. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. .-.-.- / .. ..-. / .. -. / -- -. . --..-- / - .- -.- . / - ... . -- / ..-. -- .-. / -.-- -- ..- .-. / -- .-- -. .-.-.-".

"Of course, my lord. I will not disappoint you."