Welcome back to the stage of history...

I got nothing. Let's just hop right in.

Chapter 7: Sprig vs Hop Pop

(It Began with a Letter - Kingdom Hearts)

The next day later that afternoon, Anne wanted to show Akira that she had the box. Akira complied, also bringing in the Four Cae-Sillies to see. It also relieved him that she had the one thing that brought them to Amphibia in the first place. Akira lifted the trapdoor and went into the basement, the four caecilians slithering behind him.

"Oh, hey Akira," Anne greeted, "Hey, Anne!" Akira chirped. He sat on the floor, "So, you said you had the box?" Akira asked. Anne nodded. She took out the box out from her backpack and showed it to the caecilians and Akira. As Akira remembered, the box was black and golden, with a frog and the marshlands engraved in gold on the box. On the lid were five gemstones as he remembered. The caecilians were amazed at this, the thought that a certain treasure from Amphibia having somehow ended up on Earth.

"So, that's what the box looks like that you wanted to show us," Zeppy said, examining the box, "Fascinating. A treasure that's from this world somehow ended up in yours," Skittles analyzed, "Yeah. Unfortunately, I haven't the foggiest on how to work this thing like last time," Anne replied, "Didn't you just open it and then it zapped us here?" Akira asked, "Yeah. But I'm not sure if it's one way or something," she answered. Akira frowned. It seems unless answers are found, they were stuck, "Well this stinks. It seems that unless answers are found, there's nothing we can do at this time," he sighed, frowning.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Anne agreed. Akira then took out his phone and took a picture of it, "This is so that once I get back to Murkwell, I can show this to the mayor to show the artifact that we'll need to get us home somehow. You hold on to it til then," he instructed. Anne smiled, "Yes sir."

Later, the group were called to by Hop Pop to do some chores. Anne, Akira, Sprig, and Polly were assigned to pulling out the crops. Zeppy, Barry, and Loofy had business to attend to as part of their work to make sure that preparations for their comedy act as part of one of Wartwood's upcoming events would go underway smoothly. So for the day, Skittles decided to stay with Akira. Skittles' job was to take care of the cowapillars, which were cows but caterpillars with black spots. It was a hard job, but Akira was having fun with it. Hop Pop was sitting comfortably, keeping an eye on them.

Sprig stood up and sighed. He was sweating from the hard work, "Huh?" he said, noticing the cowapillars that Skittles was looking after. He gasped and looked at the pulled crop in his hand and got an idea, "Hop Pop, great idea! What if we trained the cowapillars to eat these weeds? Then we wouldn't have t-" Before Sprig could finish, Hop Pop interrupted, "Hup bup bup. Suggestion barrel's over there," he said, pointing to a barrel with flies buzzing around it. Sprig eagerly walked over to it and used his tongue to catch and devour the flies before taking out a piece of paper and a writing utensil, "Suggestion 89..." he began.

Akira, Skittles, and Anne, holding Polly, "Hey, think he actually reads these?" Anne asked, "Doubt it. I suggested a swimming pool months ago and that never happened," Polly addressed. Sprig turned to them, "Oh, come on, guys. Have a little more faith in Hop Pop," he praised, inserting the paper into the suggestion battel. However, he got his hand stuck in the slot and was struggling to free himself, "Hand's stuck," Sprig chuckled. He strained to free himself and then frees himself, but this causes him to topple the barrel over. He then sees a fire pit that was underneath the barrel, "What the..." he said.

He saw that underneath the barrel was a fire pit and they saw the suggestion burn to ashes, "Huh? A fire pit? That's the opposite of a swimming pool," Polly complained, "Wow. Talk about a million frowns on this act," Skittles commented, "Why, Hop Pop? Why?" Sprig cried out in outrage before marching over to Hop Pop, "Because your suggestions were ridiculous. You can't just dig swimming pools anywhere. It attracts pests. Running a farm ain't easy, kids," Hop Pop answered, crossing his arms, "Swimming pools attracting pests in a farm? Somehow I can believe that. I mean, I can imagine the consequences," Skittles considered.

Akira thought for a moment. Then he responded with, "Yep!" This in turn earned the both of them a glare from Sprig before turning back to Hop Pop, "Maybe. But if I were in charge, I'd listen to other people's suggestions, not burn them," Sprig countered. As much as I agree with Hop Pop about a pool attracting pests, he has a point of listening and considering the suggestions instead of burning them. I mean a teacher should take a student's suggestion into consideration and think things over, Akira thought.

"You? Run the farm? Ha! Run it into the ground, maybe," Hop Pop ridiculed before the two started to croak at each other and then looking each other in the eyes, "Is that an official challenge?" Polly gasped. This caused Sprig to leap over to the pole where a bell was, rings it, and warbles a battle cry. The group walked over to Sprig, "Sprig Plantar, you have rung the Plantar Family Challenge bell! What is your challenge?" Polly challenged, "I want to replace Hop Pop and run the farm my way," Sprig answered. Polly turned to Hop Pop, "Hop Pop?" she asked, "I do formally accept this challenge," he acknowledged.

"I'm sure this will make sense in a moment," Anne said, "Maybe?" Akira asked.

Moments later...it didn't.

"Never mind. What the heck's going on?" Anne shouted in confusion, "Yeah, what is this? Mud wrestling?" Akira replied. The two humans, Polly, and Skittles were sitting on a log and watched the challenge unfold in a swamp area near the farm. Hop Pop and Sprig were splattering mud on themselves. The wrestling mat was a lily pad on top of mud, "The Plantar Family Challenge," Hop Pop answered the question, "An artful test of skill where the winner takes all!" Sprig added, "They push each other until someone falls off a lily pad. It's dumb, but fun to watch," Polly explained the challenge, "So it's a form of mud wrestling then?" Akira asked. Polly shrugged, "I guess you can call it that,"

"Has Sprig ever won?" Anne asked, "I've won in spirit," Sprig answered cheerfully. This had answered Anne's question. "So no," she concluded. "This outta be exciting," Akira chirped. He made himself some fried worms earlier and was happily munching on them as if it were popcorn. Anne looked at the boy with a strange look on her face, "What?" Akira asked, "Enough chit chat. Let the challenge begin!" she hollered before using her tail to ring the bell.

Both frogs yelled and charged at each other almost immediately. As soon as they were close enough, they grappled with each other. They engaged in a brief slap fight before Sprig gave Hop Pop a push, which didn't have much force before the old frog lifted Sprig into the air and then threw him near the edge of the lily pad. Hop Pop grappled with Sprig and had him on the ropes with his strength, "Give it up, boy. I've got the experience and the upper body strength," Hop Pop boasted. Sprig grabbed both of Hop Pop's arms, "Oh, yeah? Well, I've got the moral high ground," Sprig declared before he moved his arms aside, gripped his stomach, with his feet, and then tossed him off the lily pad

"What?" he yelled before he was thrown off into the mud behind Sprig. This surprised Akira, Skittles, Anne, and Polly were surprised that Sprig somehow managed to overpower Hop Pop. They gasped, "Sprig won?!"

"I won?" Sprig repeated their question. He couldn't believe that he had somehow beaten Hop Pop. Anne went over and grabbed Sprig by the leg, "Nice work, dude," Anne congratulated, "I don't believe it. I'm head of the farm!" Sprig cheered. Nearby, Hop Pop stirred and noticed the group cheering for Sprig's victory over him chanting, "Sprig's head of the farm! Sprig's head of the farm!" before heading back to the farm, "Looks like my time is over," he mumbled before heading out. Akira noticed Hop Pop was heading the opposite direction. He was worried that there would be consequences and hoped he'd be okay and return later.

As they headed back, Skittles was the first to notice that Akira wasn't joining on the cheering of Sprig's unexpected victory, "You okay, Akira?" he asked, "I don't know. Somehow I have a bad feeling about this. I mean I hope Hop Pop comes back. I have a gut feeling that things will start ending up in a disaster. But I hope I'm wrong," Akira answered. Skittles understood, "I hope so too. I mean I never was good at farming other than the easy tasks," he said.

The gang made it back to the farm, chanting, "Sprig! Sprig! Sprig!" Sprig hopped onto the table, "All right, all right, that's enough," he said. The kids and Skittles were trying to contain their excitement, "Okay, maybe a few more," he approved. And once again, the group chanted Sprig's name again, "Love it!" he crowed, "First order of business. As long as I'm in charge, no suggestions are bad," Sprig declared, "Swimming pools?" Polly begged, "You betcha!" Sprig agreed, "Dance parties?" Anne beseeched, her teeth gritting, "Let's have one right now, baby!" Sprig cheered.

On cue, Anne played a song on her phone and they began to the dance party.

As the day went on, things were going smoothly thanks to Sprig. First, they set up a flag that read A Farm that Listens. The kids and Skittles were proud of the flag. Next, they began making suggestions, all of which Sprig approved. Polly's was a party patio, Anne's was clowns, and Akira's was more fried worms. Skittles didn't really have one and wanted to see how this would go. Then, they began making a swimming pool for Polly with help from Bessie. Then they implemented a banner that said that a party patio was coming soon. Though of course, this caused the wall to crumble. Anne shrugged as Polly came in with drinks for the group.

Akira was sharing some fried worms with the group, except Anne, to which she was feeling disgusted. Sprig, Polly, and Skittles were the ones to accept the share. Next, they taught the cowapillars to eat the crops that weren't needed. And then they got the clown. However, Polly revealed herself to hate clowns, "I! Hate! Clowns!" she shouted, beating up the clown. Anne and Sprig ran to stop Polly from assaulting the clown further, "Whoa, whoa! Polly!" Anne cried, "Whoa! We paid him for this!" Sprig concurred. Akira went over the help the clown frog up.

They continued to do their dance party. They then saw the hard work they put into renovating the farm, "Soak it in, gang. This is what good leadership looks like," Sprig praised. Akira had to admit that the farm looked better than ever. Skittles then began jotting down ideas. Perhaps with something like this, this would be perfect for their slapstick comedy act. He was even mumbling the ideas to himself. Anne looked around, "Uh, anybody worried about Hop Pop? I haven't seen him since we got back," Anne asked, "Eh, he's probably off licking his wounds," Sprig shrugged. Akira was worried. He didn't like that Hop Pop hadn't returned, "We should probably go look for him later," Akira whispered to Skittles, "I know the feeling," Skittles agreed.

Where Hop Pop was actually was in Wartwood's own cemetery. He believed his time at the farm has ended and was depressed, "Might as well get comfortable here with all the other frogs nobody needs anymore," he sighed. He noticed that a blue beetle was on its back struggling to get up, "Need some help little fella?" Hop Pop asked before flipped the beetle back on its feet, "There you go," he said. The beetle chippered happily at being back on its feet, "Where was I? Oh, right...Crippling sadness," he resumed as he continued walking.

As he walked, he began to notice the beetle following him as if it were a friend to Hop Pop, "Hey, you're more loyal than my own family," he chuckled, picking up the beetle, "I'm gonna call you Jeremy," Hop Pop declared as he took Jeremy. Little did he know that back at the farm, things would begin to fall apart under Sprig's leadership.

Back at the farm, the kids have been enjoying the time of their life with the new swimming pool. Sprig was at the top of the water slide, preparing to slide down it, "Incoming!" he shouted as he began sliding down the slide and into the pool. Polly was on a lily pad and the impact of Sprig entering the water created a wave, which Polly surfed on. Skittles was seen performing a caecilian's own way of water ballet. Akira had his bare feet in the water while Anne was sunbathing in her swimming attire when her stomach began to rumble.

"Is anyone else, like, starving?" she asked. Akira felt it too. Sprig surfaced near them, "Dinner. Great suggestion," he chirped. Anne and Akira began to check cupboards for any food. But they had so far found nothing to eat, "Huh. No food in here either," Anne noted, "None here either," Akira reported, "Guess today's the day Hop Pop goes to the grocery store," Sprig replied. Polly was dumping contents from a bucket for any food. Skittles was double checking the fridge. He had no such luck either. Akira shuddered. It was just as he feared. Without Hop Pop to do the grocery shopping, they had no food.

"What are we gonna do? I'm getting hangry!" Anne seethed. Akira looked scared at seeing Anne act like this. She began panting and calming down. Sprig was thinking. He then gasped and brings a handful of potatoes, "Fresh from mother nature's garden of delights. Dig in, everyone," Sprig announced. Before they could do so, a centipede burst from the pile and screeched at them. The kids screamed and back up against the wall. Akira took a stick and began to try and swat at it. But it dodged and bit into the stick, attempting to reach Akira. Skittles used a hammer to swat it off and Anne put a bucket over it and proceeded to sit on the bucket to prevent it from escaping.

"Whoops, didn't check for pests," Sprig verified, "I'm beginning to think there's a few things we don't know about running a farm," Anne hypothesized, "I do concur," Skittles agreed, "We've got some kinks to work out, sure. But isn't it better to live in a place where you're listened to?" Sprig asked, "I guess so," Anne agreed, "Yeah, it is," Polly agreed. Akira and Skittles on the other hand were beginning to doubt it all, "As much as I agree with being listened to, I think this whole farming thing is completely out of our league," Akira countered.

The centipede burst from under the bucket and screeched, lunging at Sprig. Akira went for the stick to try to drive the centipede out as Anne and Polly screamed, "Don't let him touch me! Don't let him touch me!" Sprig screamed.

The next day, Sprig was sleeping in Hop Pop's bed, a bag of chips next to him. Anne suddenly rushed into the room, "Sprig, we have a situation!" she panicked. Sprig gasped upon being woken up, "Situation?" he asked. The group rushed outside to see the farm in ruins: mosquitoes are seen grazing on the pool, which looked infected, cows were going crazy as it seems to have gone for the clown that was perched on the house's tree branch as it played a jack-in-the-box, and worst of all, crops were destroyed, and it was on fire. Akira had his whip and began to go after the pests, with Anne, Skittles, Sprig, and Polly looking at each other and cringing at the sight.

A meeting was then set up in front of a chalkboard, "I've called this meeting today for obvious reasons," Sprig announced, "The farm is ruined," Anne said matter-of-factly, "We have no food and we'll die!" Polly pointed out, "The animals are going crazy and pests have invaded and destroyed our crops. Heck, my weapons that I have handcrafted aren't doing anything in driving them away," Akira testified, "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Luckily for us, we have the power of great suggestions and management that listens," Sprig reminded, "So have at it, guys. What should we do? Remember, there are no bad suggestions," he added, jotting down the word suggestions on the chalkboard.

"Let's find Hop Pop and put him back in charge," the four all answered. Upon hearing their answer, Sprig's chalk snapped upon pressing down on it, "Hopediah Plantar was a tyrant!" he condemned, "A tyrant who knew how to run a farm," Anne countered, "And more importantly, cook," Polly agreed, "Listen Sprig, we are in over our heads on this one. I thought this was a good idea, but now things are falling apart," Skittles noted, "I will not go back to that life. Don't you like being listened to?" Sprig fumed, crushing the chalk and pointing at them, "I don't exactly feel listened to right now," Anne replied, "Ditto. You're kinda freakin' me out, bro," Polly cringed, "Sprig, you intolerant hypocrite. Right now, you're acting like a tyrant!" Akira snarled.

Sprig growled with anger. And then he exhaled, "Let's take 15 minutes and start this meeting over. And next time, bring a good suggestion," he finished, glaring at the group. Akira's right eye twitched in annoyance, "Son of a leapin' lizard, Sprig's lost it!" Akira shouted. Anne saw this, nodded, and looked at Polly, "You thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked, "Oh, yeah," Polly agreed, "We gotta get Hop Pop back," Skittles declared. They then snuck away to begin looking for Hop Pop so that he could fix this.

Back at the cemetery, Hop Pop among a group of beetles picking at vegetation. He picked a mushroom off the ground, "Jeremy, I can't thank you enough for letting me into your community. I feel like I'm really part of something now," Hop Pop beamed.

Then Anne, Polly, Akira, and Skittles showed up at the cemetery, "There he is! Hop Pop!" Polly called to him, "Dude, we've been looking all over for you," Anne said worriedly. Akira must've figured that this was where he was all this time. In the cemetery. So this is where you were this whole time, he thought.

"Hello, boys and girls. You here to help us scavenge? It's gonna be a long, cold winter. More bodies means more warmth for everyone," Hop Pop said, the beetles skittering and crawling onto the old frog. Anne had a look that was weirded out. Then again, for how long she had been in Amphibia, it was no longer new, "Uh, no," Anne deadpanned, "Sprig is ruining the farm. You've gotta come back," she pleaded, "Yes. And he's acting like a jerk. We had to sneak out to come find you," Skittles explained.

"We've been eating nothing but raw potatoes. I'm having digestive strife, Hop Pop. Digestive strife!" Polly hollered. Hop Pop looked at his beetle friends, "Give me a minute, boys," he instructed. The beetles crawled away to allow Hop Pop a minute with the boys and girls. He sighed, I've grown since the last time you saw me. How long's it been now?" Hop Pop asked, "A day and a half," Polly answered dryly, "I've got me a new life among the beetles. They've taught me about community, equality, listening..."

Before Hop Pop could finish and Akira to protest, Anne cut in, "Sprig sleeps in your bed now," Anne told the old frog. This snapped Hop Pop back, "He what?" he gasped. began to explain what has happened since Hop Pop was here the whole time. Afterwards, the gang began to race back to the farm in order to fix the damage Sprig has caused. And of course, hopefully to have dinner ready soon.

Back at the farm, Sprig was waiting on the group, now knowing that the kids have run off, "Now where did those ungrateful kids get off to?" he wondered, his eyes looking side to side for them. Just then, a figure landed to confront Sprig. Hop Pop had returned, "I have returned," Hop Pop announced. The kids ran back to the farm, "I don't believe it. Backstabbers! Conspirators!" Sprig accused, pointing at them, "Sorry, dude. We had a good run, big ambitions..." Anne began. Polly hopped onto Hop Pop's head, "But we didn't know what we were doing," Polly added, "Precisely. Farming isn't as easy as one makes it out to be. It requires experience. And we were most unexperienced," Skittles agreed.

Sprig on the other hand wasn't going to listen, "We had a beautiful dream, but I guess I'm the only one willing to fight for it," Sprig reprimanded. This angered Akira, "Oh, would you just give it a rest already?! The only reason you're fighting for it is because you let this whole ambition go to your head, and when we suggested we bring Hop Pop back, you went all tyrant on us!" Akira ranted, a vein throbbed in his neck. Skittles calmed him down.

Hop Pop took out a bell and shook it, chiming it, "Sprig Plantar, I challenge you to a rematch. Winner gets control of the farm...forever!" he challenged, "Sprig, do you accept this challenge?" Polly asked, "Please say yes," Anne and Akira pleaded through their teeth. Luckily for them, "I accept," Sprig accepted, his eyes narrowing.

The group were back at the swamp area, where they got in their attire again and began splattering mud on themselves to prepare for combat, "I beat you once, I can do it again. I'll prove my way is right," Sprig challenged, "We'll see," Hop Pop said. On the log, Akira and Skittles were on the log. This time, Zeppy, Berry, and Loofy joined in, having heard about the situation and wanted to see the challenge, "You know, this would make a good addition to our gags," Berry told the others, "Well, let's see how it's done," Zeppy suggested. Skittles began to take notes, "Let the final challenge begin!" Polly announced before using her tail to ring the bell, signaling the match. Akira played a song on his phone, which seems to be Strongest Alive by Brandon Yates

Now with them on the lilypad, both Sprig and Hop Pop charged at each other, leaving ripples in the mud behind them, screaming at the top of their lungs. Both of them then used their tongues to score hits. Both the combatants were hit from each of their respective tongues as the mud cascaded around them. The force of their tongues sending them on the ground, "The boys and girls told me everything, Sprig," Hop Pop told the young frog, "What?" Sprig asked before Hop Pop used his tongue to force him to the ground again, "You're destroying the farm. Don't you see? Even if you win, you lose," Hop Pop educated him.

But Sprig wasn't done yet and kicked him away, "Ow!" the old frog grunted, "So I'm just supposed to go back to the way things were? You never listened to us," Sprig countered. He was right now too frustrated to listen to anything Hop Pop had to say. As he said this, Hop Pop performed a full nelson wrestling move on Sprig, "And I was wrong. I know now that you can't work together unless everyone has a say. Jeremy taught me that," the old frog lamented. The two frogs were back to grappling each other. But now it seemed that Hop Pop's words were finally beginning to reach the young frog.

"You... You mean it? I have to admit, most of my ideas were pretty terrible. I think we even caused permanent damage to the ecosystem," Sprig admitted. He had come to realize that in his pursuit of being listened to, he had grown too ambitious and went too far, "Yeah, but some of your ideas could work. We'll never know unless we try. I promise from now on to actually read your suggestions," Hop Pop affirmed. This caused the kids and the Four Cae-Sillies to gasp, with Jeremy skittering. Heck, even Akira stopped playing the music in response.

"Promise?" Sprig asked, "Promise," Hop Pop reaffirmed with a smile. Sprig smiled back and then let go, letting himself fall out of the lilypad ring, exhaling. He landed in the mud. Polly wasted no time in ringing the bell, "And the winner is Hop Pop!" she yelled.

At the farm, thanks to help from Hop Pop, the farm was then restored back to the way it was. Akira and Anne were shoveling dirt. Both of them were sweating from not only the heat, but also from the hard work, "Phew. We're definitely hot," Akira noted, "Phew. Think we could set up some shade out here, Hop Pop?" Anne suggested. As if on cue, Hop Pop had brought in a giant mushroom to provide shade to the two humans, "Great suggestion, Anne," Hop Pop praised, "Thanks, Hop Pop," Anne praised back.

"And over there, I kept a small version of your swimming hole," Hop Pop announced. A dragonfly flew over the small water hole, in which Polly burst from it and devoured the insect. This caused the group to utter a hearty laugh. "Oh, and best of all, no more pit of fire," Hop Pop promised, showing that there was no fire pit underneath the barrel, "Thanks, Hop Pop," Sprig said, eyes watery as he hugged the old frog. The old frog smiled and hugged him back.

Later that night, Hop Pop was on the couch going through the suggestions that were made. With each one, he put on his glasses and either saved them, burned them, or considered a maybe. One of them was ridiculous that hen burned it in the fireplace. All of the suggestions brought out by Jeremy. He then read another suggestion and smiled, "This one's a maybe,"

The next day, Akira had to return to Murkwell for the brief moment. He had to show Jansen the picture of the music box that sent him and Anne hear and most likely his brother and his other two friends. The guards marched him to the office, where the mayor was looking over paperwork. He beamed as he saw Akira enter, "Ah, my boy. What brings you hear?" he beamed. Akira smiled, "Oh you wouldn't believe the day we had yesterday, but that's a story for another time. I came here because we now know how we got here in the first place. Or at least now I remember. I have a picture," Akira said, showing Jansen the picture of the music box.

Jansen studied it. He seemed to be intrigued by it, "My word. It does look like a valuable kind of treasure. But how did it end up in your world?" he asked. Akira shrugged, "That I don't have the answer to. All I know is that this music box is the key to hopefully getting us home. We just don't know how this thing works," he said, "For the time being, I have Anne hold on to it until we figure this out,"

"Wise choice my friend," Jansen nodded. For the rest of the day, Akira, Anne, the Four-Caesillies, and the Plantars begin going over notes for the comedian's slapstick routine. Hopefully soon there would be answers as to how the box really worked. But that's a story for another time.

Well that's it for now. And after Anne vs Wild, I get to finally write the chapter I'm looking forward to writing: Family Shrub, where Akira will be getting a new weapon. What weapon? You'll just have to wait to find out. Peace out everyone, and remember.

Til all are one and may your heart be your guiding key.