Welcome back to the stage of history. So I decided for this month to get back to writing Amphibia. At least for this month and next. I really want to get to the Family Shrub episode. I have so many things I'd like to expand. So...let's go!
Chapter 8: Dating Season
*phone turns to a video recording*
Akira: Okay, is this thing on. Okay. Hi there. My name is Akira Feidragon. I thought I'd make this vlog to showcase what's happened ever since I appeared in this strange new world. Wouldn't you believe it. It's a world of humanoid amphibians. And appropriately it's called Amphibia. I've been staying a comedy group of caecilians and have made adventures with Anne and the Plantars. So just recently, to avoid becoming like Sprig and Hop Pop, Anne had decided to give Polly a long-overdue girl time. But unfortunately, she was not on board with it. So, when she ran off and Anne found her, she accidentally called Polly a slob, which me and my pals took offense to.
Also, I was exploring the town and noticed the drama unfolding. I didn't like what had happened. But it got worse when the pedicure lady came and revealed that Anne had been paying with IOUs. Dang it, Hop Pop. You shouldn't make Anne run up an enormous debt with them. So, to pay off the debt, Polly had to break the spit record, which she did. Which leads to now. More to come as soon as the news break. Akira out.
*vlog ends*
One day, Sprig, Anne, Akira, and Zeppy were taking a stroll in the woods. It seemed to be another adventure for them.
"Why do we always hang out in the woods? You have a perfectly good living room," Anne asked.
"Where's the fun in that? This place is full of nature. Whoo-hoo!" Sprig whooped. Anne and Akira watched a ladybug getting devoured by a large spider. The kids flinched as the spider then dragged its prey away.
"Yeah, exactly," she cringed.
"I'll say one thing. Nature is as beautiful as it is scary," Akira commented.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Zeppy concurred.
As the kids and caecilian followed Sprig, who was humming as they continued their stroll, they heard something in the bushes rustling, "Stay back. It could be a bloodsucking predator," Sprig gasped, suddenly on edge. He armed himself with a stick.
"You are really not selling me on this place," Anne said matter-of-factly.
Akira was on guard though, he was clutching his wooden club. Sprig lowered the bush down and saw a gourd with a drawn smiley face and small twigs and branches for hair.
"Uh...what is this?" Akira asked befuddled.
Sprig was then in shock, "Oh, no. It's an-"
"Ambush!" a voice called out. Sprig looked up just in time to see a yellow frog jump down from the top of the tree and catch the pink frog in a tussle. Sprig managed to get her off as she got into a bush. Sprig started to play dead.
"I'm hit! Sprig down! Sprig down!" Sprig grunted.
"Who the heck is that?" Zeppy quizzed.
The yellow frog emerged from the bush. She wore a turquoise hat with rigged patched, frayed overalls, and light green farming clothes. Orange tufts of hair were visible. The girl frog laughed.
Sprig got up as if the ambush wasn't a big deal, which surprised Akira, "Hey, Ivy. Nice ambush. Gourd in a wig? Classic," the pink frog complimented.
"Can't take all the credit. You're really easy to trick," Ivy complimented.
"Well, guilty as charged," Sprig admitted. Both frogs laughed until Anne's forceful cough interrupted them.
"Friend of yours, Sprig?" Akira asked.
"Oh, Ivy, meet Anne and Akira. Oddities from another world. And Zeppy, the embodiement of slapstick. Anne, Akira, and Zeppy, meet Ivy. Childhood acquaintance and occasional sparring partner," Sprig introduced. He threw a punch which Ivy blocked. Then she kicked him in the face. He grunted from the kick, but he recovered and laugh.
"Ooh, I have just found another inspiration for our comedy act," Zeppy announced.
"Hey, Ivy," Anne greeted.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," Akira greeted also.
"Hey, I've seen you two around. Nice to officially meet," Ivy said, shaking both their hands, "Do you like being randomly attacked?" she asked them.
"Not at all," Anne answered.
"Only if it's for comedy," Zeppy concurred.
"Sometimes a little danger is all I need," Akira chirped.
The yellow frog walked away to face Sprig, "Well, too bad," she teased, "See you later, Sprig. But you won't see me," she ribbed playfully. Ivy jumped back on a log and leaped away out of Sprig's sight. The pink frog laughed.
"Well, well, well. She's kinda cute, huh?" Anne teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, do I sense a ship soon to set sail?" Akira cheered.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sprig snarked, walking on ahead. As he did so, Anne continued to tease him.
"Well, well, well, well, well, well, well," Anne ribbed.
"You're being weird, Anne," Sprig commented.
The group arrived back at the Plantar residence, "We're home!" Anne singsonged.
Hop Pop walked down the stairs, "What have you four been doin'? I've been lookin' for you all morning," he scolded.
"Oh, nothing. Except Sprig was totally flirting with a cute girl!" announced.
Hop Pop gasped in surprise, "No kiddin'?"
"Anne, it's not like that. Ivy Sundew and I are just friends," Sprig protested.
"Ivy Sundew? Nobody move! I'm gettin' the courtship kit," Hop Pop ordered, running up the stairs.
"This is so exciting! I'm gonna go get my dating magazines. BRB!" Anne said excitedly. She ran to her basement room.
Sprig stared at Polly in a silent pause, "I actually don't care," Polly commented, "I don't know. I'm totally on board with this," Zeppy said. He then realized something, "Oh that reminds me, I need to get back to my pals for slapstick practice," he said before slithering away.
"Uh, let Hop Pop that I went back. I'll be back later," Akira said, following Zeppy, "Oh and uh, good luck with Ivy," he added before leaving.
Sprig groaned.
Upstairs, Hop Pop opened a small chest containing a ceremonial hat, neck ruff and a bouquet of tall mushrooms, "Here we go. The Firefly Formal is tonight. It's the perfect opportunity to begin the ritual," Hop Pop declared.
Anne emerged from the basement trapdoor, holding her magazines, "Ritual?" she questioned.
"Uh-huh. Only frogs who have performed the ceremonial dance in the ceremonial garb are allowed to be wed," the elder frog explained. He presented an illustration of two frogs in the ceremonial garb with the words, "True Love," written on it. Hop Pop handed the illustration to Anne.
She examined the picture, "Huh. Kitschy. I like it," she said.
"Guys! We're just friends. Besides, I'm already engaged to Maddie, right? She gave me this nifty ring," Sprig insisted, showing them the ring, which was designed with an eerie skull with glowing eye sockets.
The elder frog grabbed Sprig's shoulders, "Forget her! The Sundews have secret proprietary crops. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS?!" he exulted.
Sprig struggled to find an answer, "Uh..."
Hop Pop was beginning to be overly greedy, "IF OUR FAMILIES MERGE, WE'LL BE RICH!" he declared.
"Wow. Sooo romantic," Polly snarked in a bored tone.
"Uhh! I love these magazines," Anne said, showing Sprig her magazine, "Look, Sprig. It says here two-thirds of all soul mates start out as "just friends."
Sprig decided to take a look at the magazine, puzzled, "Wait, what? Really? And you trust these things?" he asked.
"Definitely. Magazines never lie," Anne assured. She showed him an article that red, "Bat & Cat Have Baby?"
Sprig wondered if Ivy could his potential love of his life, "Could Ivy be my eternal love, my soul mate, the cat to my bat?" Sprig wondered.
"Well, we're about to find out 'cause I already asked her family," Hop Pop said. A large mosquito arrived on an open window, carrying a letter. Hop Pop took the letter and began to read it, "They agreed to a date!" he announced.
The elder frog noticed that the mosquito was still at the window, "What do you want?" he asked. The mosquito buzzed its wing in answer and the elder frog seemed to understand what it meant, "Oh, your tip. All right, here you go. But don't take too much, though. I have chores to do later," he advised, tugging on his collar, implying the tip was in blood.
"Well, missing out on eternal love does sound bad. I guess one date couldn't hurt," Sprig shrugged.
"Hey!" Anne cheered.
"That's my boy!" Hop Pop agreed.
It was the night of the Firefly Formal. Lanterns were adorned and frog couples were dancing the night away. Akira, Anne, and Hop Pop were trying to fit Sprig with the ceremonial garb for the tradition. Akira was a bit out of the loop with what was happening, so it fell to Hop Pop and Anne to explain what was going on.
"Stop strugglin'," Hop Pop said.
"Just a little more," Anne said, applying the makeup on Sprig.
"All righty. Cool," Anne said, proud of her work.
The two stepped back and looked at Sprig, who was in his ceremonial garb for the event. Akira looked at him. Hmm...is it me or does it look a bit much? he thought.
"My boy, you look incredible," Hop Pop complimented.
"Uh... I don't know about this. Ivy's gonna think I look stupid," the pink frog vacillated. He turned to look at the window which showed his reflection, "I think I look stupid."
"Great! You'll have something in common," Anne cheered. She tried putting his arms down, but it seemed to stick out again, "It's fine," she said as she began to walk Sprig. Her head was then banging on the lanterns, and she said, "Ow," over and over as this happened.
"So, you're folks won't be joining this time?" Hop Pop asked.
"Unfortunately, not tonight. They're still practicing their comedy act. It's in preparation for when they go on tour around Amphibia. So it's just me with you guys unless they decide they need help," Akira explained.
"I see. Maybe that way you and Anne will find your friends that way," Hop Pop replied.
Ivy was escorted by her mother, who was another yellow frog. This one had red hair that was braided, had green flowers wrapped around her head, had red lipstick, and was in a green dress.
"My little girl's a woman," she chirped.
Akira even saw that Ivy was in a ceremonial garb of her own.
"Mom!" Ivy grumbled. Akira could see that this was a stark contrast to when he saw Ivy yesterday.
The boy introduced himself to the yellow mother frog. The frog's name was Felicia.
Sprig gulped
"All right, boy, go get that lucrative business relationship. I mean, romantic relationship," Hop Pop instructed, handing the bouquet of mushrooms to Sprig, "Saved it,"
Holding the bouquet, Sprig awkwardly waddled over to Ivy, "Hey," Ivy greeted awkwardly.
"Hi," Sprig greeted back. He turned his body so that he was able to give the bouquet to her, "Uh... these are for you."
"Oh," Ivy responded, taking the mushroom bouquet, "Thanks."
Sprig tried to find the right words to keep the conversation going, "So... you're looking like a... girl frog," he stammered.
"Oh, okay. I like your, uh, collar," Ivy said. She chuckled mirthlessly.
"I'm so happy we agreed on this merger, Hopadiah. That Sprig of yours looks like a hard worker," Felicia sighed.
"Like we agreed, you'll get Sprig to work at your restaurant, and I'll get the seeds to those Sundew vegetables," Hop Pop declared, offering her hand.
Felicia put her hand under a rag and then shook his hand, "Agreed," she concurred.
"This is so exciting. I wonder what their ship name will be. Ivig? Sprigivy?" Anne wondered.
"What are you even saying?" Polly hollered.
"Yeah, I don't know. Something about this is a bit sketchy. No offense to the both of you, Hop Pop, but this feels...kinda forced," Akira hesitated
"Shh! Let's watch our little love doves fly. Love doves are birds that mate for life," the elder frog said.
"I got it," Anne dismissed.
"That's an actual animal here?" Akira asked, flipping through the beast handbook.
On the stage, a green newt, something Akira didn't expect to see in Wartwood, came to make an announcement. The newt had teal hair and wore a purple overcoat with golden clover-like buttons, black pants, purple shoes, and a black tricorn hat.
"Excuse me, everybody, but I hear we have a couple of love doves here tonight. Ivy Sundew and Sprig Plantar. Whoo! A big hand for them. Come on, let me hear it," he announced. The audience began to applaud them. The two frogs were embarrassed at what was happening. The newt looked at some cards,"Hopadiah Plantar says, "Sprig, don't mess this up for us." And Felicia Sundew would like Ivy to "have a great courtship. Wink." It says "wink" here. "Love, Mom." All right, then. Hit it, boys!"
Three frogs began to play orchestral music to put on a display of romance. Ivy and Sprig chuckled nervously. They both tried to grasp their hands to dance but were having trouble due to the dress limiting the movement of their arms.
They eventually were able to grasp their hands, "There we go," Sprig said.
They began to dance despite the limits of their garbs, "I had no idea you felt this way about me, Sprig," she said uncomfortably.
"Oh, sure. Didn't you know two-thirds of all mates start with souls?" Sprig asked before realizing what he said, "Ah! I mean, two-thirds of all souls start with..."
Ivy raised her eyebrow. Sprig sighed, "I can't do this. I'm really sorry, Ivy. I- I don't want to date you. Everyone just convinced me this was a good idea," he confessed.
"Oh, thank goodness! I only went along because I didn't want to hurt you. Also 'cause my mom forced me," Ivy concurred as well.
"Ha! Parents, am I right?" the pink frog chuckled, "What do you say we ditch this thing and go watch some fireflies? They're in season," he offered in a sing song voice.
"After you, friend," Ivy laughed.
"Why, thank you, friend," Sprig said, bowing like a gentleman. Both frogs started laughing.
On the roof of a house, Anne eyed them through binoculars as she watched them sneak off into the woods, "Ooh-la-la. The little love doves are sneaking off into the woods. You know what that means," Anne said.
Polly had a look of disgust on her face. Akira began to frown and facepalmed.
"It means they're abandoning the ritual! If those two don't finish that dance..." Felicia panicked.
"Then this courtship will be ruined! Along with my financial security!" Hop Pop whined.
This caught Anne by surprise, "Wait, what? We cannot let them waste this chance," she then took out her magazine, "They say nine out of ten people stay up at night regretting missed romantic opportunities. Nine out of ten!"
"Come on, gang. Let's get this merger back on track," Hop Pop instructed.
Akira groaned in frustration.
"Uh, counterpoint. Why don't we just leave them alone?" Polly suggested.
"Ridiculous," Felicia said.
"Not a chance," Hop Pop declined.
"I'm way too invested right now," Anne responded.
This is gonna be a long night, Akira thought.
In the woods, Ivy and Sprig were back in their regular clothing that was underneath their ceremonial garbs. Sprig had shedded the last of it and they were watching the fireflies, "Wow," Sprig was in awe at such a sight.
"Man, this is way better than that stuffy old dance. Right, Ivy?" he asked. He turned to find Ivy was missing. He began looking for her, "Ivy? Ivy?"
"Ambush!" the yellow frog suddenly shouted, leaping onto Sprig. Ivy had a stick in her hand and she raised it like a sword.
"Oh, no, you don't," Sprig said playfully, grabbing another stick. They began laughing and clashing their sticks as if they were swords.
"Come back here! This'll be your grave!" she crowed.
"That's, uh...That's pretty dark," Sprig said.
Meanwhile, Hop Pop, Felicia, Anne, and Akira were looking for the two and found their shedded garbs they had discarded, "Hmm. Where are those dang kids?" he asked.
They trekked to find them. Suddenly, they heard the flapping of wings and two shadows enveloped the ground in the shape of two birds. They screeched.
"What's that?" Hop Pop asked.
"Huh?" Anne said.
They looked up to see two beautiful looking birds. The male bird was courting the female as if they were dancing. They made cooing sounds.
"They're beautiful," Felicia said.
"Just look at them," Polly replied.
Hop Pop on the other hand had a look of worry. Akira saw this and was looking through the handbook and saw the creature on it they were seeing. It was then he read about it, "Uh, guys...those are..."
"Love doves. Don't move or we're dead," the elder frog cautioned quietly.
"What? I thought they were all romantic and mate for life," Anne said, raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah, and they spend that life massacring all living things," Hop Pop explained. And as he said, Akira saw that it was true. He put it away and took out his wooden club to defend himself.
The love doves cooed and then shrieked, as they have found their prey. The group screamed as the birds squawked and flew at them. The love doves then showed their graceful flight as they did this, "Beautiful," Hop Pop admitted.
The doves then grabbed the group to carry them to their nest for food.
Back with Sprig and Ivy, they were laying on the grass and admiring the fireflies. Sprig saw purple ones fly by, "Hey, purple ones," Sprig pointed out.
"Oh, yeah, those are babies. I read that they're purple so the moms can find them if they get lost," Ivy informed.
"What? That's adorable," Sprig said.
"I know, right?" Ivy agreed.
Sprig saw how cute Ivy looked and had a cute face with part of his tongue sticking out. Suddenly, they heard screaming, "What the..."
The two frogs got up, "That sounded like..." Ivy then looked up. So did Sprig. They saw the love doves carrying their family and friends away.
"Our families! We gotta help them!" Sprig said in a panic. Ivy threw him a stick.
"Way ahead of you. Come on, let's go!" Ivy said, determined. The two frogs went into the forest to rescue their families.
The two love doves threw their intended prey into their nest, which was decorated as if it were a Valentine's Day decorated nest. After doing so, the doves spat a green gooey saliva before flying off. Anne and Akira tried to move, but found that they were stuck.
"We're stuck!" Anne cried.
Upon seeing them fly off, Akira was confused, "Where are they going?"
"Uh, so they're not gonna eat us?" Anne asked, hoping that they wouldn't.
"Not right away. Love doves prefer to let their prey marinate in fear first," Hop Pop explained.
"That's a colorful image," Akira snarked
Felicia groaned in frustration, "Can it, Plantar. This is all your fault. If you taught your grandson proper courtship technique-"
"My fault? It's obviously yours," the elder frog shot back. The two began to argue.
Akira rolled his eyes and groaned, "Are we seriously arguing about this right now? We need to find a way out of here!"
Anne took out the magazine from her shirt and spat it on the ground, "Guys, it says here that our relationships define us, and nothing else. Nothing else!"
Akira just shook his head, baffled that of all the times, she decides to look up about this from her magazine. Anne continued to read out from her magazine while Hop Pop and Felicia continued arguing. Finally, the pollywog has had it.
"Enough! It's all your faults," Polly shouted.
"Say what?" Hop Pop said in shock.
"Impossible," Felicia denied.
"Me? What did I do?" Akira sputtered.
"Zip it!" Polly snapped, "The only reason we're here marinating is because you all had to play matchmaker. You two were greedy, plain and simple."
Hop Pop and Felicia looked at each other, finally realizing they went too far in their greedy matchmaking scheme. They looked ashamed of themselves.
"Maybe a little," Hop Pop admitted.
"It's nuanced," Felicia agreed.
"Nice. Totally innocent for once. You two should be ashamed," Anne said.
"Uh Anne, this kind of your fault too," Akira reprimanded.
"Are you kidding? Sprig only went through with this because of you and this dumb magazine!" Polly snarled. Growling like crazy, she snatched the magazine with her mouth and began tearing it to shreds. She began panting heavily.
"Wow. I feel lighter somehow, more... free," Anne said.
"Any you," Polly said to Akira.
"Oh dear," Akira moaned.
"Well, I can't scold you too much, but you could've done something about it instead of letting it happen," Polly scolded.
"Yeah, maybe I should've talked to either one of them. But at the very least I didn't force the ship," Akira protested and admitted.
Polly shrugged.
Just in the nick of time, Sprig and Ivy came to their rescue, "Hey! We're here to rescue you," Sprig assured. The two frogs used their sticks to cut the saliva mucus open, freeing them. The group then came out of the nest.
The group sighed in relief, "Oh, thank frog," Felicia sighed.
"We're also here to tell you we don't want to date each other, and we never will," Ivy told the.
"We know. Polly set us straight," the old frog told them.
"Look, kids, we-" Felicia tried to apologize, but Anne beat her to the punch.
"Sprig, I'm so sorry," she apologized.
"And I should've known this would get uncomfortable and yet I did nothing. That's something I should be ashamed of," Akira admitted.
Suddenly, they heard shrieking, which caused a gust to blow. The love doves returned, "Uh-oh! Mom and Dad are home!" Akira cried. He then took out his whip.
"I always tell them, "Save the heartfelt apologies for when we get to safety."," Polly snarked.
"Don't worry, guys. Sprig and I are ready for combat. Right?" Ivy asked.
"Right," Sprig agreed.
"On the count of three. One, two..." she stopped counting when she saw Sprig was no longer next to her, "Sprig?"
The doves eyed them hungrily, but heard a voice, causing them to look up to see Sprig on a tree, "Ambush!" he whooped before leaping at the male dove and smacking it in the head with his stick. He began to wrangle the creature.
Akira decided to let them handle this as this was Sprig and Ivy's fight, "Go get em," he said under his breath.
"Take that, you beautiful creature!" Sprig shouted, smacking it on the back of its neck. This knocked the dove unconscious after squawking. The female lifted Sprig from his hat and then threw him away to console the knocked-out dove, cradling it bridle style and cooing.
Sprig landed next to Ivy, "Nice ambush," she congratulated.
"Well, I learned from the best," Sprig grinned.
"Now let's finish this up," Ivy said before throwing her stick at the female, knocking her out as well. In defeat, the love doves were collapsed next to each other. The group creeped onto the nest and saw this. Akira decided to take a photo from his cellphone, "Say, this would make a good icon," he said.
"Amazing. Even in defeat, they're majestic," Hop Pop whispered. The female dove was cuddling the male one, her talon grasping the male's. It seemed now the doves were simply falling asleep.
"Aww. Nature can be scary yet wholesome," Akira half-joked. He did admit it was a wholesome thing to see.
"Come along now, Ivy. Let's get you home so I can apologize safely," Felicia said, taking her hand as they began to head out.
"Okay. That was fun. See ya, Sprig!" Ivy waved.
"See ya, Ivy!" Sprig waved back.
Hop Pop wrapped his arm around the boy,
"Sprig, next time we won't get the courtship kit out until you're good and ready. Now I can focus on finding love for Polly," he said.
Polly was struck with horror, "Noooooo!" she cried.
"Well, that's the end of that. Now you and Ivy can go back to being just friends," Anne said.
"And hey, even as friends, make sure that ship is ready when the time comes," Akira grinned.
"Yep," Sprig agreed, watching Ivy go.
As they walked out of the forest, Ivy turned to give Sprig a smile and waved cheerily as they disappeared from view. Sprig smiled back.
"Oh, you just fell in love with her, didn't you?" Anne asked.
"Yeah, I just fell in love with her," Sprig acknowledged.
"Well, hope that ship sails," Akira said.
(Friends in our Hearts - Kingdom Hearts)
Later that night, back at the village in Murkwell, Akira was given a sort of bath. It didn't feel all that surprising since Murkwell was an aquatic city. But the baths and spa, it felt really good. Afterwards, late at night, Akira stayed up above the surface and watched the red moon in the sky. Then, with a carving knife and a piece of wood, he began to carve out a wooden sculpture of a mini sword and shield. For him, it symbolizes both him and Marcy. The only one he admitted it too was Jansen, but everyone else he hadn't.
He decided when they find their friends, that this would be a perfect gift for Marcy.
Well, that's it for now. Now we can finally get to Anne vs Wild and then we work on Family Shrub. It's been six years since Amphibia had aired in 2019. Time flies doesn't it? And this time, I will get to the weapon that Akira will wield throughout the series of the Amphibia: The Hero series. Which if you don't know, will be three separate fanfics that follow the seasons. Albeit in different ways.
Amphibia: The Hero and the Knight, which is the story you're reading.
Amphibia: The Hero and the King, which follows Season 2 but has an original plot for the first half up until they arrive at Newtopia
Amphibia: The Hero Forevermore, which is the last story of the saga and follows Season 3.
Also latter two stories will use the stuff mentioned in Marcy's Journal: The Guide to Amphibia. and if I read the whole thing, I may consider adding Marcy's former friends for the final battle. I just need to read it more first.
With all this said and done, till all are one and may your hearts be your guiding key.