A New Plan

Sprig trudged back into town on his way towards Felicia's Tea Shop. He glanced around at the faint glow coming from the various homes. How was he going to explain everything to Ivy? He hesitated before knocking at the front door.

"Ambush!" Ivy shouted as she leapt from the shadows and pounced on Sprig, pulling him into a tight bear hug. He hardly reacted and Ivy quickly let go of him to search his face. "What happened?" She asked with sudden worry.

"I…" He trailed off and wiped his eyes. Ivy reached out to hold his hands.

"Please Sprig. I want to know what's wrong so I can help." She said gently. Sprig sniffed and nodded. He opened his mouth to try again when they heard an explosion in the distance.

"What was that?" Sprig exclaimed as he and Ivy spun around.

"Isn't that in the same direction as-?" Ivy said as they could see a pillar of fire in the distance.

"The house!" Sprig shouted in a panic as he grabbed Ivy's hand. They ran forward and stopped as a frobot suddenly emerged from around a house.

"Frobots here?" Ivy said in shock and pushed Sprig behind her. "I've got this one." She said with a half smile as she charged it head-on. Another explosion tore through the air and Sprig glanced away. "Sprig! Behind you!" Ivy called as she fought off the frobot before them. Sprig spun around and aimed his slingshot at the frobot's face. He shot a wad of mud directly into its eyes. It stumbled forward into the one Ivy was fighting. She jumped out of harm's way as they collided. "I'll warn the townsfolk if you want to go check on your sister." She said quickly.

"Ivy I-" Sprig started to argue as he felt conflicted. A third explosion made them lose their balance. They looked over and saw Frobo in the distance fighting with a swarm of frobots. A flock of snirds flew overhead frantically chirping in a panic.

"It looks like Polly must have gotten to the barn. She'll probably meet us here. We have to warn everyone." Ivy said, pulling Sprig back to his feet.

"No! I have to go!" Sprig said suddenly.

"Do you think Polly's in danger?" Ivy asked seriously.

"No, she can handle her own but-"

"Then let's go Sprig!" She said tugging on his arm as he remained rooted to the spot.

"Anne's son is with her!" He shouted.

"What?" Ivy asked in surprise as she let go of him. A fire erupted in the center of town and they rushed forward. "Go home Sprig! I'll handle this." Ivy said as they ran. A frobot landed between them and looked down at Sprig. "Go!" Ivy shouted as she leapt onto the frobot's back and covered its eyes. He nodded before he turned and ran.

Frogs started poking their heads outside of their homes to see what all the commotion was about. Frobots were marching through the town as they tried to collect the townsfolk. Sprig fired several shots from his slingshot as he ran in an attempt to blind the frobots. Some frogs were grabbing supplies and starting to fight back. Once at the edge of town Sprig pulled his telescope out and looked up the road leading to their home. He saw Polly and Troy riding for town on MicroAngelo. He was suddenly lifted into the air as a frobot grabbed him from behind.

"Target acquired." It started to say before Wally struck at its ankles with his accordion. It turned to face him and Sprig wriggled free of its grip. He landed and glanced back up the road. Polly had pulled on the reins and they were headed in a different direction.

"Oy! Sprig!" Wally called as the frobot had lifted him up by the ankles. Sprig loaded another ball of mud into his slingshot and took aim. A moment later the frobot dropped Wally as it wandered off while trying to wipe its eyes. Sprig bit his lip and turned back to Wally.

"We need to tell as many frogs as we can that we need to evacuate now." Sprig said, slipping his telescope away.

"An' where are we supposed to tell 'em to evacuate too exactly?" Wally asked as they looked around the chaos in and around the town.

"Send them to the old resistance headquarters." Sprig said and spotted a few snirds still circling overhead, "I'll see if I can't find a way to get families and tadpoles over there faster." Wally looked up and saw the snirds too. He nodded and ran back into town. Sprig put his fingers to his mouth and let out a high pitched whistle. A handful of the snirds dove down to meet him. He hopped on one and motioned for the others to follow him back into town. The majority of the townsfolk were in the streets now as some of the buildings had caught fire.

"Head to the resistance headquarters!" He called as he flew through town. Families were rushing forward with tadpoles in their arms. Sprig whistled again and the snirds landed. He hopped off and started helping families and their tadpoles climb onto the snirds. Once every family seemed to be accounted for they took off into the air and headed for the farm. Sprig looked around at the remaining frogs and raised his slingshot.

"We're taking back the town!" He called and the others rallied behind him. They charged into the center of town where the majority of the frobots seemed to be gathered. General Yunan and Lady Olivia were engaging in combat with several of them.

"Ah! Sprig!" Yunan said, happily as she spotted him. "Any idea what's going on?" She asked before stabbing a frobot through the chest with her double bladed gauntlet.

"No idea." Sprig said, firing his slingshot. "You don't think Andrias-?" He started as Olivia deftly took out another.

"He had better not have." Olivia said detested.

"Hadn't he left the valley though?" Yunan asked as she tried to recall. Sprig looked around the town. What was left of the townsfolk were gathered around him, Yunan, and Olivia. He searched for Ivy. She wasn't too far off, holding her own alongside her mom.

"Yunan, can you clear a path so the rest of the town can escape to the resistance headquarters?" Sprig asked quickly. Yunan grinned.

"No problem." She said charging forward. Olivia furrowed her brow as she watched her recklessly tear through the frobots.

"Everyone to me!" Olivia called as she ushered them through the opening Yunan had created. The townsfolk followed and Sprig hung back to catch up with Ivy. She spotted him and rushed forward.

"Sprig!" Ivy cried as she hugged him. "Let's get out of here." She grabbed his hand and they ran behind the rest of the group. They had almost made it out of town when a large frobot stepped out and blocked their path, separating them. Sprig raised his slingshot.

"Sprig Plantar." It said in a loud distorted voice. He hesitated and it grabbed him. Ivy leapt onto it and began pummeling it with her bare fists.

"Let go of him you-" Ivy cursed. In one swift movement it slapped her away.

"Ivy!" Sprig yelled as she hit the ground hard. He fought to free himself from its grasp. The frobot raised its foot. "Ivy, get up!" He pleaded as he struggled. There was an explosion behind them and the frobot spun around. Maddie tossed a bag up in the air.

"Drop him." She said with a scowl. Ivy started to stir and pulled herself out of the way. The frobot advanced and Maddie threw the bag at it. Vines erupted and wrapped themselves around the frobot. Sprig managed to free himself and jumped down. Maddie hurried over to help him grab Ivy.

"Maddie I-" Sprig started.

"Don't thank me until we get somewhere safe." She said urgently.