Twins Missing in Dual worlds chapter 23: Mrs. Sadie Croaker for the people.
I am a fan of Schmoyoho, why you asked?
Happy Pride month everyone.
How is this the longest chapter yet?
The kindly old lady Mrs. Sadie Croaker walked over to the Plantar fruit stand. "Good Morning Hopadiah."
"Ah good morning," Hop pop smiled. "Having a good day?"
"Pretty good, election day is coming up." The elderly frog said she hadn't enjoyed it since Toadstool started to take control.
"Hardly an election. He always wins." Hop Pop said the Toads could at least pretend it wasn't corrupt.
"Would help if someone else ran against him."
"I guess so. But everyone is too scared I think."
"Against Toadstool, I have bunions tougher than him." She said. Hop Pop found that funny. "If only someone would run against him." She said, in hearing range of Mabel.
"I will run against him!" Mabel declared. She was posing on a box. 'Mabel 4 Mayor' went through her head.
"Are you sure?" She asked, not wanting to humiliate the young lady.
"Of course! Someone has to stand up to that big bully!"
"Good plan sweetie, but I am afraid you have two problems. One you're way too young, and two you technically not a citizen." She said.
Mabel comically fell off the box. "Oof."
Polly gave her two cents, "Don't you just hate it when reality gets in the way of a good plan." Mabel whine. "IF only we knew a natural leader..." She stopped Sprig before he could open his mouth, "Not you!"
"Sorry Sprig," Mabel said, with a bit of joy in her voice.
"Preferably someone without a job to keep them busy," Polly said, while Sprig just blinked.
"Someone wise. Who is good with people." Mabel said.
"Well Wally is a repulsive Vagabond, we need someone completely different. We need the anti-Wally." Mrs. Croaker said.
"You know I can hear you right?" Wally said.
A lot of them say, "We don't care.
Wally pouted, "Oh." He plays a sad song on his accordion.
"Wow, Mrs. Croaker you communicated that very well. Hint hint."
"Mabel, Mister Hint got eaten a couple of years ago." She said, upset by how rude the young people were.
"No way. Come on Mrs. Croaker! You'd be an amazing mayor!" When in doubt be as blunt as a sledgehammer.
"I suppose, I will be honest with you Mabel, I never really gave it a thought before." She wasn't in the political business when younger.
"Oooh I could be your campaign manager!" Her and Dipper's run with Grunkle Stan came back to her memory.
Hop Pop looked at her, "You have any experience in that particular career?"
"You know it," Mabel said.
Polly's mouth was open, "You had lived a very interesting life."
"You don't know the half of it."
"Tell me!"
"Maybe later deary. Some people prefer not to share their life story." The old lady said.
"Exactly!" Mabel said.
"I think we can help you any way we can." Hop Pop volunteers his family.
"I'll make fliers!" Mabel was happy to have a project.
"I'll get mud, it isn't going to sling itself." Sprig said.
"I love mud," Polly said, wanting to get dirty.
"We got this fam!" Mabel declare
"I'll help you after hours." He still has work to do.
Everyone in town was shocked to learn Sadie Croaker was running.
"Remember if you're a winner, vote for Sadie Croaker," Polly said out loud. Soon enough the town was excited, glad for an honest race.
"Hey Mabel, can you believe Hop Pop is wasting his time reading some old books about the laws of the land?" Spring asked
"That's great! Maybe we can learn something about how to win?" Mabel said she wasn't going to let Sadie lose on a stupid technicality like Grunkle Stan.
"Seems like a waste of time, we should be going out to the people." Sprig is dismissive of the idea of doing actual research.
"Ignore him, he a dumb dumb," Polly said.
Mabel thought about it. "How about we split into two teams? One for research while the other connects with the people?"
"I'll go help Hop Pop, kinda hard to move without legs." She said.
"And I'll go to Mrs. Croaker." Mabel would be the best campaign manager she could be.
"Guess I get to pass out these flyers, and these buttons." He shows a button that says 'Buy Crocker'.
Polly was annoyed by this, "It's supposed to say 'vote Croaker'."
"It was the closest thing they had, they couldn't make any new buttons for some reason." Sprig scratched his head at this.
"I wonder why?" Polly asked.
Toadie shouted, "Get your vote Toadstool button, fresh, shiny, brand new buttons straight from the button store to your clothes."
Polly's mouth formed in an 'O' shape, "That explains why."
"What a jerk." Mabel raises her fist in the air in response.
"Patient girl, your time will come." Mabel would get a chance to show off her stuff if they can.
"Right. Gotta stay focused." She won't go off into Mabel's land this time.
"I'm sure we can find something to tip the scales." Polly plans to do that even if she has to brute force it.
"Ya, we will!" Mabel getting herself pumped for this. She didn't want to lose on a technicality. Mabel followed Mrs. Croaker as she did her campaign speeches.
Maddie came up and asked a question. "What are your thoughts on magic being allowed in town?" She wanted to be able to have more people get into her passion with her.
"I not only support it but, well my granny once told me about how we had mage users who were used as a form of guards from the creatures of the wilds, I say we bring the tradition back." How true to reality that was, no one could be sure but it was politics.
Maddie cheered for that. "Yes! My dreams of opening up a witch school might come true!" She just had to get old enough for people to take her seriously, and get some money.
"I think we could use more education, try not to destroy this one deary." Yeah, word of why the millipedes came into the town and only attacked the old school came to light and everyone in town finally knew. Most people didn't judge her, but she would be ribbed with that fact for a good long while.
Maddie gave a sheepish grin and a chuckle.
"No problem honey." She said patting her head, "WE all done stupid things while were young." She said, she found the girl weird but she knew her place and didn't bug the older lady, so no harm no foul.
"Oh, I am so voting for her." A random frog said Mabel had no idea what he was called. She smiled waving at the public, she knew how people acted so it was easy for her to read a crowd. The town was started
An older town folk went up to her with a question. "What will you do about the extreme taxes just for being elderly?"
"Well mister, I believe that we should be able to enjoy our remaining years, decrease them, and put the misused funds to improve the living conditions of the whole town." Everyone cheered for her. There was no one in town not on her side. Well, except the current mayor.
"This is bad sir." The small toad said, he knew that the mayor had a hard time winning with this, "She got the town support." They might be able to play dirty, but they had to. "What do we do?"
"Well, Toadie she may have the town. But I doubt she knows the whole Valley gets to vote."
"Agree, although that human seems to be a good pretty good pusher." He said as she was yelling at a town folk who said that Toadstool was tested and true. Easily scaring off the stupid person.
"Then let's keep our campaign outside of the town."
"Can do...wait, you have to appear for the debates." He said, "I will keep an eye on anything that could be a problem outside of town."
"Excellent. Try to find blackmail on her in the meantime." The large toad rubbed his hands together.
"Can do sir." He said, his long elongated before going to his forehead saluting the large toad. He went off to do that very thing. Sadie Croaker was going down, and Frodrick Toadstool would win.
Once Toadie was gone, the mayor was mentally panicking. This was starting to look bad.
Her campaign was more about making the town defensible against the wildlife and toad forces. A few promises about rebuilding some fallen buildings. There had to be a weakness that he could export for his purposes.
Maybe if he looked into her past. She knew so many things an old lady shouldn't know about defenses.
Toadie thought about this, it might very well be her Achilles heel. He would prove to the mayor Toadie would be able to be the perfect assistant.
They had to move quickly before word spread and ruined his reputation.
The two political candidates appear behind two podiums, "Okay everyone on the right representing the Toads the seven-time Mayor, Frodrick Toadstool, and his competitor representing the frogs, Sadie Croaker. Now before we begin I just want to say as a newt I am disappointed in this showing. Anyways let's begin." Duckweed said to everyone in annoyance.
Mrs. Croaker kept her face neutral, while Toadstool looked angry at Albus.
A choir of children started to sing, "Rana, sapos y tritón"
"Why should you run the show, tell us because we want to know." He said in a singing voice, to everyone's confusion.
"Is singing normal for this?" Mabel asked, not believing what she was hearing.
"Not in the slightest." Hop Pop answered.
Mrs. Croaker decided just to go with it. "Look at this town, right now so full of frowns," She did her best singing voice. "My town looks old and strange. Everywhere, everything changes. We have the world to blame. But we can make it. We can make it better if we try."
Mayor Toadstool just rubbed his temple, oh good frog. "Okay, I am not doing that. Listen, I know how to run this town, more than I can say for granny here."
"With all our taxes should we give it to the toads, or should we finally get to fixing the road." Duckweed sang.
"This town has been through enough. We don't need to pay for the toads' protection. What we need is to fix things up around here." She pointed out.
"The toads are also the ones with the big weapons, the ones they use on the Cranes." He said, "I would rather Grimm and his forces deal with them instead of any of you good people." He said.
"Except they never actually show up when there is trouble now do they?" She rebuffs.
"Don't act like the attacks are less frequent." Less frequently compared to when he doesn't mention it.
"If we had an actual town guard they'd be done with." She believes that.
"Our children claim the older generation isn't cool, how do we get them back in school?" He kept the singing going.
"School isn't just a place for learning, it's a place for growing," Mrs. Croaker kept in tune. "Let's bring in teachers who enjoy their craft, that will keep the kids from wanting to take a nap."
"What these kids need is money, I will invest in the education sector of the town."
"That's what you have said for the last ten years and haven't done it."
"These things take time, and unlike my opponent, I'll live to see it come to fruition." Pointing out her age.
"I'll outlive you. Since you spend all the money on statues of yourself that will probably come crashing down."
"I might add that statues are a common occurrence in all towns in the valley."
Duckweed thought this was a good point, "Well that is something to talk about on the stage, could your mayorship be compromised by your age?"
"I can walk and talk and think better than most. I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
"Ha, you'll be lucky to get off the stage without that human girl to help you."
"Don't you have your assistant carry you around?" Toadie started to whistle at what she just said.
"Now that's just tradition at this point." He lied.
"No. That's abuse."
"Let's talk about my pay, now how will you deal with trade?" duckweed is the mediator.
"We need to increase trade with nearby towns to strengthen our local economy."
"WE need direct trade with the Toad Tower."
"They have nothing worth trading for."
"They are the ones that deal with funds from Newtopia." The current mayor pointed out an honest-to-goodness fact.
"And yet whenever we trade with them the things we get are damaged or rotting." She had a few bad eggs by those bad eggs.
"Coppers do not rot." He pointed out.
"I mean food genius."
"We will just have to trade from other places for that."
"Toad Tower can't offer us anything." She said, slamming her hand on the podium.
"I think that anyone with actual expertise on trade would disagree."
"Except I happen to have a trade expert on my cabinet." Sadie claim.
"Who is the tadpole?" He laughs calling her bluff.
"I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Polly yelled.
"No, she's my enforcer." That might not be a good call from the older candidate.
"I will break you for Mother Amphibia." She said, in a deadpan voice. Mabel could have sworn she spoke with a Russian accent somehow.
"Lady gentleman, it's time for the topic to get back, and this debate needs to be on track." He said, to everyone announce.
"We hate you now:" Ivy said.
"Okay, I am having a hard time rhyming. So how will you deal with wild animals that wander into town?" Dismissing the very thing he started.
"The dangerous ones need to be redirected away from town. But the calmer ones we should domesticate and use to help around town and in farms."
"Can't argue with you there," Duckweed said, holding his thumb up and pointing in Mabel's direction.
Mabel's face went red but she kept her mouth shut so as not to jeopardize their campaign.
The big toad spoke, "I say we have regular hunts to find the creatures and remove them from our borders beforehand."
"I think you forget how much good some of those have done." She shows her gratitude to Mabel.
"I'll concede it didn't keep the human out." He said.
"And snails."
"Most of which takes decades to domestic." He pointed out.
"And that proves that we can improve our lives that way."
"And can be very expensive when dealing with wilds one." Toadstool is prettywish and pound foolish in response.
"We can allocate some resources we will save not dealing with the Toad Tower." Not aware how hard that would be.
"May I remind you that Toad Tower is the representative of Newtopia itself, and has its fighting force." Which they could use against them if they weren't careful.
"And yet they never help us." The crowd mutters to themselves at this.
"May I remind the opponent that the Toads watch over the entire valley, and usually deal with the local wildlife."
"And how many times do you see them around?"
"Never," Mabel yelled out.
"And how many times do you want to see them?" He said, trying to remind them that the toads could turn against them if they did not tread carefully. How did they not get the point?
"My point exactly." Croaker finished.
"Now what about the impurity in the water, it seems to not affect bugs and us Amphibians, but has been known to be slightly poisonous to mammals." Duckweed pointed out the problem.
"Wait, wait what?" Mabel asked, spitting out a cup of water in Sprig's face.
"Why me?" Sprig asked.
"I have been speaking with a local witch on how to clean up the water." Maddie knew she was being talked about.
"You will be fine Mabel, just don't eat any glowing mushrooms." Maddie gave instructions. Mabel did a nervous chuckle.
"Next question, how will you deal with a Crane attack."
"Next question," Toadstool said, clearly nervous.
"I agree with my opponent on this." Mrs. Croaker agrees.
Duckweed was ready for the last question, "Well time for one more question, what will you do if you win?"
"I will do everything in my power to improve this town." She promises.
Toadstool claims, "I know that I can do so."
As the two left the stage, Mrs. Croaker thought that went very well.
Mabel ran over and gave her a high five. She slowly hived five her, not fully understanding what the young girl wanted. "Umm, Thanks."
"You were great up there. The town loved you."
"Thanks, although I have the feeling if I got someone smarter I wouldn't have done as well." She said, not being modest.
"I don't believe that for one second. You care and people can tell."
"Aren't you sweet, have some hard candy?" She said, pulling some hard candy out from her pocket. It was probably older than Mabel was.
"Yay, old people candy is the best!" She started trying to chew the hard candy.
"Hey guys, guess who just got two hundred letters sent out with two thumbs. This guy." Hop Pop said pointing his two thumbs in his direction.
"Nice going Hop pop! That will help spread the word."
"I did not even know the rest of the Valley got to vote." This was confusing.
"Me neither. We're lucky Mrs. Croaker did." Mabel didn't know how or why she knew that.
"I am glad she was willing to try it."
"Same. Someone needs to help this town." Mabel helped out Gravity Falls so she could Wartwood.
"Glad to see that someone her age can try new things, there is hope for this old frog." He said, referring to himself.
"How long do frogs live anyway?" Mabel never did study them in her home world.
"80 or so years." He said, "Assuming nothing gets ya first."
"Really? That's amazing." She asked with a smile.
"That is true." He said.
"Humans are about the same." She said, meaning she might want to hurry to get home if she wants to see her super old grunkle again.
"Just we have more in common than I thought." Hop Pop said.
"How long does it take frogs to become adults? Humans it's forever and a half, so twenty years." She said
"More or less the same." He said. "although I think with my grandchildren it might take a decade longer."
Mabel laughed at that. "Burn!"
"Not insulting them, just stating facts."
"Still a sick burn."
"Fair enough, I hope she can do the physical work as well." She was an adult when Hopediah was a child.
"I'm sure she will!" Mabel only saw the best with her.
"Good, the first challenge is tomorrow. I'll have to find a book to give to Mrs. Croaker about mounting beasts." To Mabel's confusion.
"Wait, wait, wait what, why?"
"The first physical challenge is mounting a rhino Beetle." He said.
"To be mayor?" She sometimes forgot how weird this world was, and it was a fact to remind her that it was weird.
"Yes, since according to the town constitution 'to be mayor is to control a massive beast way beyond you and anything like you'."
"But she's so old!" She did not have the 'I'm sure she will' attitude she had a minute ago.
"I know, why do you think I am looking about Mounting? It is either that or putting Sprig in a dress and hope that people fall for it." Hop Pop points out.
"I like that plan," Polly yelled.
"I don't!" Sprig response.
"We need to warn Mrs. Croaker!" Mabel panics.
Hop Pop just chuckles at Mabel concerned, "Who do you think I told first? She already knows. She must have researched it when she was running."
"And no other reasons." Sprig said.
Mabel ran off to talk to Mrs. Croaker. Mrs. Croaker was walking home. She ran there, out of breath. "Can you help me deary?" She asked.
"However I can!" She promised.
"That is sweet to hear." Croaker was impressed.
"I don't want you getting hurt!"
"That is sweet deary. I think I might have a few tricks up my sleeves."
Mabel tilted her head, "Like what?"
"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise."
"I guess so."
"Although I am happy to hear of your concern, I am sure this will work out."
"I'm gonna trust you." Mabel felt she should give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Thank you, I am going to be well rested for tomorrow."
Mabel decided to make her way home.
The morning:
Polly got Mabel up for the first challenge. Mabel was getting worried despite herself.
"Ow my eyes." Polly cried out seeing Mrs. Croaker and the Mayor in leotards.
"Polly that body shaming, even if it is correct." Hop Pop tries to teach her manners. Mabel snickered.
"Our first trial is all about strength. The first candidate to mount the beetle wins!" He jumped back seeing the Beatles roar, " Ready, set, go!" He said running away from the beast to safety. Mabel was watching, at the edge of her seat. The beast roars out and charges at the two of them. Toadstool, predictably, ran in fear.
She waited until it was right next to her and used her tongue to get out of the way, causing the rhino Beatle to get its horn stuck in the tree, easier to mount.
The whole town roared with cheers. Duckweed clap, "Trial one goes to Mrs. Croaker." He held up Mrs Croaker's arm, "Now to trial two." The mayor was in total shock, the toads had run unopposed for decades.
They rush over to the next one. Mabel was feeling a lot more confident, after the first trial.
They saw a giant bird nest.
"What are they gonna do here?" Mabel asked.
"The second trial is about sensitivity. Can you figure out what these hatchlings need? A good mayor would." Duckweed said, pointing out the big bird.
"I know what these dumb birds want. Money. All right, all right. Here's your handout." He threw some money in a bag, which they rejected and screeched at him for it.
They boo at the poor show. They went quiet when It was Mrs Croaker's turn.
Mrs. Croaker got an idea and had Archie help. The town waited as they watched her approach calmly but confidently. She had Archie put some worms in a bag of webs, she placed them in the bird's mouth forcing them to eat.
The birds happily gobbled the food down. The crowd cheers, "Croaker, Croaker, Croaker." Toadstool was panicking.
The next day the third trial was revealed.
"Being mayor is a lot like being dropped in the woods naked and forced to find your way home. So that's what we did!" The town didn't want to see either of them in that state.
Hop pop covered the kid's eyes immediately.
She came over in a dress of spider webs, "I am now the queen of giant spiders." She proudly declared. "This is so itchy." She said about her dress.
Everyone celebrated. Eventually leaving the place even though Toadstool wasn't back.
When he showed up only Toadie was left. "This is getting out of hand, Toadie. I could lose! Looks like we'll have to stop her... Ow! the old-fashioned way. Illegally."
Toadie then asked, "But what can we possibly do?"
"That human seems to be her strength, take that out, and we will win." The large toad rubs his hands together.
"But how will we get rid of her?" Toadie asked.
"Toadie, everybody has their price, and this human is no exception." He started to chuckle.
A few hours later the Plantar's house.
There was a knock on the door and Mabel went to answer.
"Miss Pines, an anonymous associate would like to speak with you." The small blue frog said.
"Oh, you mean Toadstool?" She said with a smile.
"My associates wish to remain anonymous." He was keeping up the act.
"Toadie. You don't spend time with anyone but him. But ok." She called out to the Planters, "If I'm not back, call the cops."
He leads him to the snail-drawn carriage.
Mabel stepped in. "What do you want, Toadfool?"
"Toadstool and I want to talk business with you." Pointing at her.
"What kind of business?" She had flashbacks of when she made deals with Grunkle Stan that don't work out.
"I heard you were planning on going to Newtopia is that true Pines?" He knew how to use the grapevine for his purposes.
"Ya. Hop pop thinks that they'll know how to get me home." She was starting to get worried for his Grunkles.
"It is a very dangerous trip, many beasts much larger than in the Valley."
"I'm aware. I've been training." She could now outrun almost everything she came across.
"I can assure you, what you are facing is far larger than almost anything in the valley, in fact with one exception there are animals bigger than anything in the valley, and far larger than anything you have seen."
"So your point is?" She asked not liking the direction this was going.
"The point is, if I win I will use my connection to ensure you and the Plantars will get a personal Toad escort. Think about it ten warriors at any given time between you and danger, I'll even commission them so you guys won't have to spend a cooper on even feeding them." A bit pricey but worth it in the long run.
She had to admit it was a little tempting. The trip would be so easy.
"You don't have to decide now, take your time and think about it." He said, "Just decided before the final trial ended." He said, "In fact why don't you go back and think about it." He said, trying not to frighten her.
"Ya, I'm going back now."
He opens the door for her. Playing the role of a gentleman for her.
"Thanks." She said on impulse.
"Off you go. Feel free to talk with the Plantars about the offer." He said.
As soon as Mabel was through the door she called everyone to the living room and told them what happened. "Hey guys, mind coming?"
"Wait, we are getting an army?" Polly asked, eyes widening.
"If we accept." Mabel not making a choice.
"I don't know how I feel about it." Easy way out, doing what was right.
"Hop pop. I feel so conflicted." She said, laying down on the couch, causing Polly to hop off it.
"Mabel whatever choice you make you will have all full backing."
"But this isn't just a choice for me. It would affect everyone. This is so much pressure."
"Most choices, I be lying if I told you I wasn't tempted. I know you will do what is right, so take your time and think about the decision." Hop Pop's words only made Mabel feel more pressure.
Sprig went to hold her hand, "We got your back. Sprabel for life."
Polly held the other one, "Molly for life ya." She said.
Mabel hugged her friends, all hiding their worries.
In the Morning:
Mabel went to talk to Mrs. Croaker.
"Greetings deary?" She asked putting on the glass orbs which were supposed to be boxing gloves, she was surprised to see her there.
She told her about what Toadstool said, doing what was right.
"I should have known that rattlesnake would try that."
"I know." She said, the die was cast and she would choose what she had to.
"Well if he thinks gone down easily he has another thing coming." She said, raising her glass jars.
"You got this." She said with a big smile.
"These old bones might not take much beating but they sure can give them out." She said, shadowboxing a little to show her point.
Mabel gave her a high five and then went to the stands to watch.
She just looked at her since her hands were in jars. They got into a boxing ring.
Mabel gulped. What if the nice old lady gets hurt?
"Die Toadstool." She said leaping on him and punching him to the ground. The town was shocked by her speed and strength. She leaped in the air and did an elbow drop.
"Most of those moves aren't even legal but all the referees are too afraid to stop her." Duckweed cried out.
"You go, girl!" Mabel cheered.
She somehow uppercut him off his feet. He went down! She won, it was amazing. The next day everyone gathered to hear the results.
"Winner of the town by 100 percent of the town vote, Sadie Croaker, winner of the rest of the Valley Frodrick Toadstool, by .2 percent, meaning the big winner of the election by two whole votes." Toadstool and Croaker were on edge by this, "Is Sadie Croaker!" The town cheered.
"You did it!" She ran over.
"I couldn't have done it without your help." Now Mayor Croaker said.
"Don't sell yourself short. You won fair and square."
"Thanks, and I owe it all to you."
Mabel hugged her, squeezing the old toad hard. Mabel was confident she had made the right choice. Toadie was upset that he couldn't find blackmail.
Mabel then said, "I wonder who the winning two votes were."
At Toad Tower:
We see a blonde toad talking to a toad in a jester hat. "Hey Percy who did you vote for."
The one in Jester's behatted told her, "OH I felt bad for the little frog lady after getting a mail to vote for her, so I do so."
"Me too, don't tell Grimes."
"Agree Braddock."
To be continued…
Edited by braxace1960
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RonaldM40196867 chapter 22 . May 25:
What's so civil about war anyway.
Me Tarzan, you Ronald.
Salt N Pepper, that little bug is fun to write for.