Leopold Loggle liked to think he had a pretty good life. He had a stable job that he loved, his injury wasn't in constant pain anymore, and he was part of a community. So when the Plantar's beasts walked into his store, he figured it had been a good run. Imagine his surprise when rather than eat him, the beasts asked him to fix a cane! He inspected the broken halves closely, mumbling to himself. "So, can you fix it?" The bush headed one asked. "As a matter of fact I can!- not." He replied. Dang injury was acting up again. "Could you maybe make a replacement?" asked the short, round beast. "Absolutely!- No way." "So you have one we could buy?" asked the youngest Plantar, clearly annoyed. "Of course I do!- Not. I don't." "Why do you keep doing that?" the bush headed beast asked, also annoyed. "Old smithing accident. You don't want to know." Loggle replied. "Well then, can we-" the pale beast began, before Loggle cut her off. "Tripped on an anvil. Landed neck first on a metal pipe. Pierced my voice box clean through!" He showed the hole in his neck for emphasis. The purple gem chuckled and said "Woah, gnarly dude!" The others all showed varying levels of disgust. "Switched over to wood after that. Anyway, I'm afraid I can't do much for you. That cane is made with wood from the incredibly rare and extremely dangerous doom tree!" "Oh please, how dangerous can a tree be?" scoffed the pale beast. "You'd be surprised. Few have made it to the doom tree, alive, and fewer yet return. It holds many secrets that mortals dare not-" "Dude, Pearls right. It's a tree. Just tell us where it is." the bush headed beast interrupted. "Yeah Loggle, cut the chit chat!!" Added the Planter boy, slamming his fist on the table. "You're bald!" finished the youngest Plantar. "Ok, ok. I got a map for the doom tree right here. But it'll cost ya-" Loggle started, before the bush headed beast pulled it a strange object and seemed to instantly create a copy of the map. "Or you could do that. For free." he said in defeat. "We should get going you guys! Who knows how long Garnet can stall Hop Pop!" the beast in a dress exclaimed. As they all ran off, Loggle called after them. "Be careful you kids! It's cursed I tell ya! Cuuuuuuuursed!"
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Hop Pop woke up from his nap feeling much calmer. He sort of regretted what he had said at breakfast, so he headed out to attempt to apologize. But when he tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge. "Frog dang door is stuck again. Kids? Gems? Anyone?" he called through the door. On the other side, Garnet simply continued to stand directly in front of the door, a small smirk on her face.
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After following the map for about an hour, the group arrived at the doom tree. "Alright!" Pearl exclaimed with a clap. "Let's get the wood and quickly get back!" They approached the tree. Noticing a frog skull, Polly giggled. "Frogs died here." "Look! That branch is perfect!" Anne exclaimed. "I'll get it!" Steven called out, before jumping all the way up to it with seemingly no effort. He pulled it out just as easily. As he did, the tree roared. Steven quickly jumped down. "Whoa, cool, a screaming tree!" Amethyst exclaimed. The tree began to transform in a way. Before long, they were looking at a giant, angry bug. The gems all summoned their weapons, as Anne and Connie grapes sticks from nearby and Sprig pulled out his slingshot. "Of all the days to leave my weapons at home!" Polly exclaimed in annoyance. The big swung its sharp arm at Amethyst, who quickly turned into a bird and flew out of the way. She then transformed back to normal and whipped the bug in the eyes. It reared back, screeching in pain and covering its eyes. Pearl used this opportunity to stab at its leg, causing it to stumble.Sprig, Connie, and Anne then worked together to throw Steven up into the air, who then slammed his shield into the bug's head, knocking it out. "That is the single coolest thing I've ever been a part of." Anne said in awe. "Yes, yes, it was very cool, but let's go before it wakes up!" Pearl said frantically, storing the stick they had retrieved in her gem. And so the group went back to Loggle. They arrived back around sundown, just as Loggle was closing up. After some quick "bartering" (which may or may not have involved some candy), they got the replacement cane and headed home. They arrived, and Garnet nodded and finally stepped out from in front of the door. Hop Pop burst out. "Finally! Took you all long enough-" He stopped, noticing how dirty all the humans and frogs were. "What did you do?" "Wemaybebrokeyourfamilycanebutwegotanidenticalonesoitsfinepleasedontmakeusleave." Steven stammered out. "What are you on about boy?" Hop Pop asked. "You said you would throw us out if we messed up again." Anne said. Hop Pop sighed and smiled. "Truth be told, I was never gonna throw y'all out. I was just talking tough so that you'd show a little more respect." "That's kinda messed up man." Anne said with a smile. Hop Pop chuckled. "Yeah. It probably was a little too harsh. But I only did it cause you remind me of myself when I was your age. Rough around the edges. Well, Anne does anyway. The rest of you just kinda, got lumped in I guess." "So we aren't in trouble about the cane?" Connie asked tentatively. "You aren't dear. Anne on the other hand… Dish duty for a month!" "Yes sir!" Anne replied with a salute. "Now that that's settled, I wrote a long list of comebacks to get you back for this morning." Hop Pop said, pulling a list out of his jacket. He proceeded to say a few lackluster comebacks, before realizing the moment had passed and giving up.