Author's Note: Here we are at the conclusion of the season 1 events of Amphibia. I hope you all enjoy it.
At the bottom of this chapter is a fancast followed by what can be considered a post credits scene. Everyone suggested good ideas for voice actors for the characters, and I hope you all like my selection.
One more thing to note: As you all know, everyone's been asking me to update some of my older fanfics such as my She-Ra/Transformers, Sly Cooper/Carmen Sadiego, Blue Beetle/Transformers Animated, and more. I have a limit of fanfics I can do each week, and either half or most of it includes two fanfics that I HAVE to work on: fanfics from my Young Avengers series and Spider-Nick series. I want to work on older fanfics, so I came up with a solution.
After this week, there are just about five chapters left in my current Spider-Nick fanfic, the Web Tech. So until I'm finished with the season one events in that fanfic, I will be holding off from the Young Avengers series. This will give me more time to work on older fanfics. And once those five weeks are up, I'll move onto my next fanfic in my Young Avengers series: Iron Hero 7.
That's about all I have. Enjoy the season 1 finale. Any and all comments are welcome.
In memory of Chadwick Boseman
The night was certainly eventful for the Frog of the Year party. Anne's attempts to make it an unforgettable extravaganza became too much to control, and everyone was nearly killed. Thankfully, with the help of her friends, she was able to save the party, and the whole affair looked like it was over…
That is, until an unexpected visit crashed the party.
One second, everyone was having the time of their lives. But the very next second, from out of nowhere, armored toads sprang up from out of nowhere and began surrounding the frogs. They tried to run, but the toads all blocked their means of escape.
Among the panicking crowd, Ivy saw a means of escape and ran for it. Unfortunately, her path was blocked by Klaw, who raised his metal hand to her as she stopped.
"Now, now, little one. Do yourself a favor and join the rest of your tiny townsfolk. We wouldn't want things to get messy."
Ivy gulped at Klaw's threat and returned to her mother.
Outside of town, the last toad ran into town right past Anne, T'Challa, Sasha, and Erik. The former two watched in worry.
"Sasha, the toads!" Anne yelled. "I gotta go help my fr…"
"Chill out, Anne." Sasha said preventing Anne from running. "They're with me."
"You mean 'us'." Erik corrected causing Sasha to groan in annoyance.
"What? With you?" T'Challa asked in shock. "But they're attacking Wartwood!"
"Chill, man." Erik said. "We ain't here to hurt anybody."
"Guys!" Sprig cried out as he, Polly, and Hop Pop managed to escape the ambush in town and join their human friends by the bridge. "Toads! They're everywhere! We barely slipped out while the guards were…" He stopped when he noticed Sasha and Erik.
"Holy toot! Another Anne and another T'Challa!" Polly pointed.
"Oh." Anne chuckled. "Guys, meet my bestie from back home, Sasha."
"Hey!" Sasha greeted.
"And this here is Erik." T'Challa introduced the other new human.
"Is he your bestie too?" Sprig asked.
"Well, we're not really that close." T'Challa answered. "I've only known him for a total of twenty minutes."
"Sasha, Erik, meet the Plantars." Anne introduced. "This is Hop Pop, Sprig, and Polly."
"Hey, I'm Anne's bestie too." Sprig said. "I guess that makes me your bestie-in-law."
"Does it?" Sasha asked blankly making Sprig frown.
"Little frog dude, trust me, you're dodging a bullet." Erik said earning an elbow to his stomach from Sasha.
"Yes, hi, nice to meet you." Hop Pop said. "Now, can someone please tell me why there's a toad army invading Wartwood?!"
"Relax. We're not invading anything." Sasha said. "Come on, Anne. You too, T'Challa and frogs. We don't want to keep Grime waiting."
"Captain Grime?!" Hop Pop gasped.
"The cruelest toad soldier of all time?!" Sprig asked.
"Here?!" Polly asked.
"Ah, he's not so bad once you get used to him." Sasha said. "Now, hurry up, nerds."
Anne chuckled. "She's persuasive, right?"
"Anne, I don't know." T'Challa said uneasily. "I have a bad feeling about all this."
"Dude, don't worry." Anne said. "I know we don't have the best history with the toads, but if Sasha says they're okay, then I trust her."
Reluctantly, T'Challa and the others followed Anne as she stayed behind Sasha and Erik heading to the town square where all the toads were keeping the Wartwood citizens. Towering above them, Captain Grime stood and presented himself.
"Frogs of Wartwood! We toads have come here to…" He paused making everyone nervous. He then reached into his cloak and threw out a handful of confetti. "…invite you to a banquet!"
Everyone in Wartwood was both surprised and confused at Grime's announcement. Mostly, they were speechless.
"The moment we heard that Anne and T'Challa was here, we rushed over to reunite these four friends and hold a celebration."
"Really?" Mayor Leap asked. "Because as I recall, there was a certain fight that was instigated by one of your men: Klaw."
"And I do apologize for my actions." Klaw said. "I was deceived by Toadstool and merely doing my job."
"Hey, I apologized too." Toadstool admitted.
"Look. I say that all is forgiven." Grime said. "Despite my rough exterior, I really am just an 'old softy'." He turned to Sasha, who encouraged him to smile. He then flashed a smile to the citizens, but it was terrifying to look at.
"So what do you say, Wartwood?" Sasha asked. "You ready to party back at the tower?"
…
"What does Anne and T'Challa think?" Mrs. Croaker asked.
"Uh… Sasha's been my friend since kindergarten." Anne said. "If she says it's fine, it's fine."
"And I suppose I agree with Anne." T'Challa said still a little unsure.
"WOO!" Sasha cheered. "All aboard the party barge!"
A barge appeared just outside of town, and every frog was lining up to enter. One of the toads was playing DJ music on a record player as they boarded.
Just outside of the crowd, Captain Grime pulled Klaw aside. "Is this everyone? Did you find…"
Klaw shook his head. "Afraid not, captain. We sent scouts all over the surrounding forest. No sign of the creature."
"Looks like we'll have to rely on these country bumpkins like Sasha and Erik suggested." Grime said. "Take all these frogs to the banquet hall and keep them there until we're ready to interrogate them."
"Yes, sir." Klaw said with a salute.
Meanwhile, Anne and T'Challa were about to get on the barge with the Plantars, but Sasha and Erik stopped them.
"Anne, you're with me." Sasha said. She gestured to two chariots set up side by side with each other. "T'Challa, you can go with Erik on the other carriage."
"Why are there two?" Anne asked. "I'm sure we can all fit in one."
Without a word being said, Erik and Sasha looked at each other before turning their heads away.
"I'm pretty sure we found our reason." T'Challa said.
"I'm guessing you two don't like each other very much." Anne said.
"I'm surprised you like her." Erik said.
"Not now, Erik." Sasha growled before recomposing herself. "Anywho, Anne…"
"Yeah, totally." Anne said. "Mind if the Plantars come along?"
Sasha looked blankly at the frogs before smiling. "Of course, I don't mind. The more the merrier."
"Come on, T'Challa." Erik said heading to his own carriage. "We've got a bit of time until we reach Toad Tower. Gives us a chance to know each other a little better."
"I guess." T'Challa said following Erik. "See you at the tower, Anne."
"See ya!" Anne said.
As soon as T'Challa entered the chariot and closed the door, it started to ride off. T'Challa took one last look at Anne through his window, which Erik noticed.
"Ah. I get ya. So you and Anne are, like, a thing now?"
T'Challa blushed. "What? No. What gives you an idea like that?" He cleared his throat for a bit. "It's just… I got kind of a weird feeling about this whole thing. You and Sasha coming back and working with the toads. Not really sure how to feel about that."
"I see." Erik said. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, when Sasha and I woke up in this strange world, we weren't exactly friends with the toads. They captured us and locked us in their dungeon. Grime actually thought we were a threat. Well, he wasn't wrong, but still… Anyway, after we bonded over defeating a couple of giant bird monsters, Sasha and I were given positions in command, and just like that, we got power. The toads here respect us enough to know what's what."
"That sounds intense."
Erik shrugged staring out into the forest as they passed. "What can I say? I'm a tough one. Just like my daddy."
The party barge and both carriages stopped at the front entrance of Toad Tower. While the frogs were all guided into the banquet hall inside, the humans and the Plantars stepped out of their carriages.
"So here we are." Sasha gestured to Toad Tower.
"Ominous." Anne commented.
"And that's sugarcoating it." T'Challa said.
"Oh, Percy!" Sasha called.
"Yes, commander?" Percy asked.
"Erik and I are going to give Anne and T'Challa a quick tour. Escort the Plantars to the banquet hall."
"Hey, I wanna go on the tour too." Sprig said eagerly.
"Me three!" Polly cried out.
"Come on, kids." Hop Pop said. "Give these four a chance to catch up."
"Don't worry. We'll find you guys later." Anne promised. "Go have fun in there."
Sprig groaned walking into the tower with his family. "We'll try."
As soon as the Plantars were gone, Sasha turned to Anne. "You certainly seem close with those three. What happened to, 'ew, frogs are the worst'?"
"What's that about?" T'Challa asked.
Anne chuckled in embarrassment. "I may have said that back at school before we had to dissect frogs. Pretty ironic if you think about it. One minute, I'm against touching frogs. And now, they're letting us live in their basement."
"A basement? Yuck!" Sasha exclaimed.
"Certainly better than how I was living." Erik said.
"What are you talking about?" Sasha asked. "The toads gave you a premium suite that could put the Ritz to shame."
"Yeah, but it's right next to YOUR room."
Sasha sighed. "I can't believe I walked into that one. Look, just follow me, and I'm gonna show you how to really live."
"This is where I've been living!" Sasha said showing everyone into her room, which was bright and fancy in every way, shape, and form.
"Hoopa de boopa!" Anne exclaimed.
"Yo, Brunton!" Sasha called for her chef.
"Oui, commander?"
"Bring us the usual."
A short while later, the toad chefs returned bringing large dishes of actual food that both Anne and T'Challa have been missing, including pizza, hot dogs, pancakes, and much more.
"Wow!" T'Challa cried out. "How did you get all this stuff?"
"The real challenge is teaching the toads what this stuff is." Erik said.
"WHOA! You've got ketchup?!" Anne asked loudly. "It just occurred to me I've been eating bugs for a month."
"Anything else, commander?" Brunton asked.
"Run the hot water please. For the shower."
"SHOWER?!"
"Take your time, girls." T'Challa said scarfing down a big slice of pizza.
Down below, the citizens of Wartwood were laughing in merriment helping themselves to all the food that surrounded them along with the toads who watched them. Among the crowd, Sprig couldn't help but notice something strange.
Suspicious, Sprig headed over to Hop Pop, who was filling his plate with crab legs. "Hop Pop, something's not right here."
"Not right. Yeah. Sure." Hop Pop wasn't listening very much. "Here, Sprig, load up on crab legs. These babies go fast."
"No, I mean it." Sprig said. "Don't the toads seem a little… on edge?"
"They're a militarized culture, Sprig." Hop Pop said. "I'm not surprised they don't know how to let loose."
"Ah, forget this." Sprig said. "I'm gonna go find Anne and T'Challa."
"Good idea. They can carry more crab legs."
Sprig headed to the nearest door, which had a big, nervous-looking toad standing in front of it. "Hey, pal. I'm just gonna go for a walk. Get some fresh air—"
"No! Sorry!" the toad said sweating from his helmet. "Uh, you frogs aren't allowed to leave this room!"
"We're not allowed to leave?" Sprig asked. "Why's that?"
"Because Klaw needs to interrogate… I mean… AH! I've said too much! Please, return to the party and remain calm!"
"Remain calm. You got it, buddy." Sprig assured making the toad relieved.
Sprig hopped to the top of the nearest table. He then gave a thumbs up to the toad he was just talking to, who then returned his thumbs up. After that, Sprig picked up a crab leg and a plate before beating them together to make noise.
"Hey, everyone! This is a sham! We're not guests! We're prisoners!"
At that, all the frogs started to panic and scream in terror. They tried to fight back, which instigated the rest of the toads into containing the riot.
"So how's everything going?" T'Challa asked as he and Erik returned to Sasha's room with fresh plates of pancakes.
"It's pretty surreal." Anne said. "Sash, I can't believe you and Erik are here."
"It's just a temporary thing." Erik said. "Once we return home, Sasha and I will never have to see each other again."
"Believe me, no one wants that better than I." Sasha said rolling her eyes.
Erik picked up an empty glass and headed out of the room again. "I'm gonna get a refill."
As soon as he was gone, Sasha groaned.
"I take it you two don't exactly get along." Anne summised.
"He just drives me crazy." Sasha said. "You remember last year, when Mr. Gomez assigned me to work with Byron Lattimer for our mid-semester project? Ugh! He always drove me nuts!"
"I seem to recall you deciding to go out with Byron after the project." Anne said right before gasping in realization. "Hold the phone! Could it be that you actually LIKE Erik?"
"What? Ew!" Sasha exclaimed. "Me and that hater! Not a chance!"
"If you say so." Anne said with a teasing smile.
Sasha sighed. "Well, let's just enjoy this night. Once this is over, we can finally find a way out o this crummy, gross world."
T'Challa looked at Sasha confusingly. "Once what's over?"
"Oh, the rebellion."
"The what-now?" Anne asked.
"You don't know about the rebellion?" Sasha asked.
Before anyone could answer, Erik returned with a full glass of punch. "What'd I miss, other than Sasha's valley girl talk?"
Sasha narrowed her eyes at him. "For your information, jerk, it turns out, Anne and T'Challa don't even know about the rebellion."
"Is that so?" Erik asked. "So I take it you haven't even told them the real reason behind inviting Wartwood here?"
"I was getting there." Sasha said.
"Okay then." Erik said passing his glass over to T'Challa. "Here. You may need a drink."
"Um… all right." T'Challa said before taking a long sip of the punch.
"Well, I guess I should explain." Sasha said. "Just promise not to freak out or anything."
"O… kay?" Anne asked nervously.
"So you've probably already noticed that the toads in this valley have one job: to rule over the frogs. And lately, those frogs have been stepping out of line."
"What, like a protest?" T'Challa asked.
"If only." Erik said. "See, many frog towns have been setting things up for a rebellion. And as it turns out, they were inspired by a certain creature who lives somewhere around Wartwood, a creature that according to the toads, has been fighting back against tax collectors with intense speed and agility. It even showed up the frogs preventing a train heist a week ago. They described it as a tall cat creature standing on two legs and swinging its claws around. It's covered head to paw with black fur and goes by the name…"
Anne gasped almost as surprised as T'Challa. "The Black Panther."
"Oh, so you DO know it." Sasha said. "Not surprised. Klaw said that you fought with the creature during his visit to Wartwood. You wouldn't happen to know where to find it, do you?"
"What?" T'Challa asked in confusion. "You mean you don't know anything about the Black Panther?"
"Only what we were told, which is basically everything we just told you." Erik said.
"Anywho, word of the Black Panther traveled like wildfire." Sasha said. "And we've got to make an example out of it. We tried searching the forest for the Black Panther, but no such luck, which is why we came up with this whole plan to bring the frogs in Wartwood to one place so Klaw can interrogate them."
"Interrogate?" Anne asked. "But they're innocent frogs, Sash! They have nothing to do with this revolution!"
"Doesn't matter." Sasha said. "Surely, one of them knows where the Black Panther can be found, so we'll have to squeeze the info out of them. And if any of them tries to protect it… Well, they get fed to that thing."
Sasha and Erik pointed out the window for Anne and T'Challa to look. They both looked in horror as they spotted a very large plant that roared out in hunger. It waved itself around like a wild animal that had to be restrained by three frogs with rope, including Captain Grime.
"Okay, here's the thing." Sasha said. "Erik and I struck a deal with Grime. I'd help him find the Black Panther and crush the rebellion, and Grime and his army will help us find a way home. The whole banquet trick; my idea, obvi. Now, we've got those slimy frogs right where we want them. Isn't this great?"
Anne stared in horror at Sasha. T'Challa looked scared too, which is why he took another long sip of his drink until the glass was empty.
"Um…" T'Challa said nervously. "You said you needed to 'make an example' out of the Black Panther and 'crush the rebellion'. What exactly do you mean by that? What do you plan to do with the Black Panther once you find him?"
"What else?" Sasha asked. "We're going to kill it in its sleep, skin it alive, and Grime really wants to wear it as his new cloak."
Somehow, Anne and T'Challa were even more frightened.
"Uh… I have to, uh… go out for some more punch." Anne stammered. "Hey, T'Challa, you want to come with."
"Suddenly, that sounds like a splendid idea." T'Challa said walking backwards to the door with Anne. "Me and Anne are just going to leave for a bit. Don't worry. We'll be right back. Just, uh… Just hang in there!" Like a bullet, he and Anne disappeared from the room.
Sasha stared for a moment. "Oh, they're totally freaking out."
Behind Sasha, Erik gave an evil smile while thinking to himself, "Perfect. Everything is in place. Now, all I gotta do is wait. Don't worry, Dad. You will have justice."
"I'M TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!" Wally screamed while the rest of the citizens were screaming in terror.
This went on until Klaw showed up. When he threw a brick into the air and smashed it to pieces with his metal fist, everyone went silent watching in horror.
"That's more like it." Klaw said. "Now, listen, frogs! The real reason you're here is to provide us with very useful information. Cooperate, and you'll return to your homes in the morning. But if you withhold it from us…"
"Enough!" cried a girl's voice. All the toads turned and saw a hooded human girl open the doors behind him. She was accompanied by a hooded human boy. "Klaw, take the guards and leave us. I'll get these frogs to talk."
"Commander Sasha?" Klaw asked. "I thought the plan was that I would be the one to interrogate them."
"Do we have a problem, Klaw?" the hooded girl asked drawing out her sword.
Klaw stayed silent for a moment before lowering his hands. "No. I guess we don't. Guards, clear the room."
Once the guards were gone, Anne and T'Challa dropped her disguises revealing themselves to the citizens of Wartwood, who smiled hopefully.
"Boy, are we glad to see you!" Sprig shouted. "We've got a situation. We're not guests. We're—"
"Prisoners. We know." Anne said. "And it's worse than that. They're planning to execute T'Challa."
Everyone gasped.
"Say whaaaaaat?!" Hop Pop gasped. "Why would they do that?"
"Well, it's not ME they want to kill. It's the Black Panther." T'Challa said pointing at his pendant. "They don't like how I was standing up to them, and as it turns out, my persona has been inspiring rebellions all over the valley."
"Don't they already know you're the Black Panther?" Stan Leap asked.
"I don't think they do." T'Challa said. "They never saw me change into my costume. They just seem to think that the Black Panther is a mysterious cat creature that lives around Wartwood, and the toads are planning to kill you all until one of you tells them where I am."
"Maybe… we should tell them you're the Black Panther." Anne said. "I know Sasha. She may have been okay with killing off a cat creature, but surely, she wouldn't be okay with killing an actual human being."
"Maybe not, but what about Grime?" T'Challa asked. "He's dead-set on doing whatever it takes to stop the rebellion. Even with Sasha and Erik's influence, that may not stop him. The only surefire way we can all get out of this alive is if we bust our own way out."
"All right." Anne said. "Anyone got any ideas?"
"I doooooooon't. I don't." Loggle replied in his usual way of extending certain syllables in inappropriate times.
"I've got one!" Wally said. He opened up his jacket revealing a hidden arsenal of blue mushrooms. "What say we plan these boom shrooms around the joint? Blow the place sky high."
"With us still inside?" Anne asked. "We're not doing that."
"…Right. We're 'not' doing that." Wally said trying to insinuate a wink with his bad eye.
"Wally, we're serious. No boom shrooms." T'Challa said.
"Loud and clear."
"Okay. Gotta figure a way out. There's only one door, and the toads are outside it." Anne said pacing around in deep thought. She stopped when she discovered a powerful, raw stench coming from a sewer gate beside her. "Aha! That's it! The sewer!"
"Oh, yuck. Really?" Felicia Sundew asked in disgust.
"Deal with it, lady!" Polly shouted before being the first to jump into the sewer.
"We're going to have to deal with it." T'Challa said. "Once we make it out of the toad grounds, we'll exit and be on our way back to Wartwood in no time."
The frogs followed Anne and T'Challa through the sewer being careful with the narrow stairs and the underground worm monsters that roamed the tunnels. While they traveled, One-Eye Wally was planting boom shrooms and set them to explode soon without anyone else noticing.
Anne stopped when she found a light coming from a sewer grate above her. "Finally! I think we made it!" She climbed up and poked her head up, but immediately, she found herself surrounded by the toads who all pointed their weapons at her. "Oh, crud!"
"What's wrong?" T'Challa asked as he raised his head from the grate as well. He stopped to look around and see the toads and their weapons. "Oh. Never mind."
"Boy, those toads really stink." Sprig laughed climbing out of the sewer as well. His cocky attitude immediately fell when he saw the toads. "Did I say 'stink'? I meant 'are very handsome'."
"Told you so." Klaw said emerging from the rest of the toads with Sasha and Erik behind him. "They thought they could escape, but I wasn't fooled by their silly disguise for one second."
"You called it." Erik said.
Sasha sighed shaking her head. "Anne, Anne, Anne. Very disappointing. Now, let's move. Grime's waiting for us."
Anne, T'Challa, and all the frogs were taken to the very top of Toad Tower where Grime was waiting. He stood over a stone ledge that was positioned high above the monster plant he was ready to feed.
"Caught these prisoners trying to escape, Grime." Sasha said.
"Dude, are you crazy?" Anne asked.
"Shh! I'm trying to get us home." Sasha argued.
"But you don't understand what you're going." T'Challa said. "You don't understand anything about the Black Panther. If you did, you wouldn't want to kill him."
"I think we'll be the judge of that." Erik said. "That is, unless there's something you'd like to say."
T'Challa opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped knowing that even if he said anything, the toads would kill him on the spot. Anne saw his internal dilemma and felt bad for him.
"Very impressive, you two." Grime complimented his human allies. "Always playing Flipwart when everyone else is playing Bog Jump."
"What?" all the humans basically said at once.
"Well, see, Flipwart and Bog Jump are games, but Flipwart, of course, is far more complicated and… I'm trying to say you're smart!"
"Oh. Thanks, Grimsy." Sasha said joining the toad leader's side along with Erik. "What can I say? Just how I do. Up top." She offered a high five, which Grime returned.
"Sasha, please!" Anne pleaded. "There has to be another way!"
"There IS no other way, creature." Grime said. "Our very way of life is at stake. I don't expect a couple of outsiders like you to understand. Klaw…"
"Right." Klaw said pacing around the front of the frogs. "Let me clarify something pretty important. The last time I confronted you all, I was holding back because I was doing something menial like collecting taxes. But now, things are getting hardcore. So I'm going to ask a simple question. Just one. And for every time I am denied an answer, there'll be one less citizen of your pathetic little town." Everyone gulped. "My question is this… Where is the Black Panther?!"
Nobody dared speak up. T'Challa looked back and was touched by the fact that no one was willing to give him up.
"No one's talking, huh?" Klaw asked with an eager smile. "Fine by me. Let's see how many of you need to die before I get an answer. Guards, start with… Hopediah Plantar!"
Two guards grabbed Hop Pop by his arms and shoved his grandkids away.
"NO!" Anne took one of the guards' swords and swung it at the toads that were holding Hop Pop freeing him from their clutches. "Stay back!"
The toads closed in on them with their weapons drawn. The frogs then readied for a fight themselves ready to protect their secret, which touched T'Challa even more.
"In retrospect," one of the toads said, "We really should have tied them up."
"ENOUGH!" Sasha's cry echoed as she stepped forward to confront Anne. "Anne, what are you doing? Are you really going to risk your life for these talking frogs protecting some wild cat? We don't even belong here. Don't you wanna get back home? See your family?" She then turned to T'Challa. "And you. You're a prince, aren't you? Don't you want to get back to Wakanda?"
"You don't know what you're doing." T'Challa said. "The Black Panther isn't some 'wild cat' as you call him."
"I don't care what kind of cat he is." Sasha said. "Anne, put the sword down now. End… of… discussion."
Hearing that, Anne's confidence began to slip at a drastic rate. She lowered her sword, which worried both T'Challa and Sprig.
"There we go. That's my girl." Sasha said. "There. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"
SPLAT!
Sasha immediately got a faceful of mud that took her by surprise. Erik held back his laughter when she got hit by it.
"What the heck?!" she exclaimed looking at the shooter of the mud: Sprig.
"For someone who's Anne's best friend, you sure don't know her very well." Sprig said. "She's brave. She's smart."
"And she's certainly strong enough to not be your puppet!" T'Challa added. "Anne always talked about you so highly, but now I see your relationship for what it really is. You don't really see her as a friend. You're merely a manipulator who sees her as nothing more than a puppet. And guess what… This puppet is going to lose her strings!" He then turned to Anne. "Anne, you don't have to be afraid of Sasha. You're your own girl. It takes a lot to stand up for yourself, but it takes a lot more to stand up for others, even the ones you love. So Anne, prove how strong you are, and stand up!"
"Yeah! Stand up!" Sprig agreed.
Sasha groaned wiping the mud off her face. "I think I've had enough of you, squeaky toy." She raised her red sword and swung it down at Sprig.
CLANG!
Sasha was surprised to see her sword prevented from hitting Sprig. Anne stepped in front of her blocking her strike with her own sword.
"Anne, what are you doing?" Sasha asked.
"Something I should have done a long time ago: standing up to you!" Anne answered pushing back at Sasha. She then looked back at T'Challa and Sprig. "Thanks for believing in me, you guys."
"I meant every word." T'Challa said.
"Spranne against the world." Sprig assured.
"Well, this just got interesting." Erik said. "Well, as much as I love to see Sasha broken, we got a job to do. So let's just…"
"Hold on a moment, my newest Killmonger." Grime said. "Sasha, you've given me plenty of advice. Now, let me give you some. Stamp this out. Make her yield. Fail, and nothing will ever be the same."
"Not gonna happen." Sasha said prepared to fight.
"This should be fun." Grime said. "My friends! Instead of a messy free-for-all, I have a splendid idea. How about we settle this the toad-fashioned way?" With a snap of his fingers, the toad guards formed a circle around Anne and Sasha. "Trial by combat! If your champion wins, you all go home. No harm, no foul. But if our champion wins, then we proceed to interrogate you all until you bring us the Black Panther."
"Anne, you don't have to do this." Hop Pop said.
"Yes, I do." Anne said.
Polly looked over at T'Challa. "Are we really going to let this happen? You can easily stop all this yourself, you know."
"Perhaps," T'Challa said keeping his vision locked at Anne, who prepared for her duel, "But she's right. She really does need this. Until this feud is settled, the best thing I can do for her is to hope for the best."
Meanwhile, Erik leaned in close to Grime. "Uh, hey. So we're not really just going to gamble their freedom like this, are we? I mean, what if Anne wins?"
"Trust me. I never gamble." Grime assured. "Even if Sasha loses, I'm still going to make the frogs tell us where to find the Black Panther."
"Okay. Just wanted to be sure."
Anne and Sasha circled each other with their swords up ready to begin their duel. Everyone watched in worry as Grime waved his arm down.
"BEGIN!"
Sasha began the duel by going on the offensive. She threw several swings at Anne, who could only raise her sword to defend herself. Once Anne finally threw her first strike, her sword interlocked with Sasha's and they fought for the advantage.
"What's gotten into you, Anne? You were never like this back home."
"Do you ever stop talking?!" Anne shouted quickly knocking the red sword out of Sasha's hand. She laughed in triumph until Sasha surprised her with a dagger which she barely dodged. "Oh, come on! A dagger?"
Sasha quickly recovered her sword and continued her duel with Anne. She then surprised Anne by throwing her cloak at her. While she was blinded, Sasha proceeded to knock her down with a sweep kick. Anne managed to remove the cloak, but she looked up to find Sasha pointing the sword down at her.
"They're just slimy frogs, Anne. And you're protecting a wild panther." Sasha said. "They don't matter!"
"They're not just frogs. They are my FRIENDS!" Anne shouted swinging her sword up at Sasha, who defended herself with her own blades. This time, it was Anne who swung her sword while Sasha was staying on the defensive. "And the Black Panther is not just some wild cat. He's kind and strong and noble. He's basically the greatest person I have ever MET!"
With one strong strike, Anne managed to knock the sword and the dagger out of Sasha's hands. The blonde fell on her back with Anne looking down at her while everyone else cheered.
"It's over, Sash. You're not gonna push me around anymore." Anne said to the defeated Sasha. She then looked over at Grime. "So how about it, big guy? We're free, right?"
"Yeah… I don't think so."
In an instant, Grime shot his tongue out and grabbed Hop Pop. He yanked him away from his family and brought him right into his clutches, with which he hung over the tower's edge right over the plant monster.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Grime asked.
"You can't do this!" T'Challa protested. "If Anne won, we all go home! That was the deal!"
"Did you not hear the part about our way of life in jeopardy?" Grime asked. "Last chance! Tell me where the Black Panther is or this little frog is plant food!"
That was the last straw for T'Challa. With clenched teeth, he leaped over the toads and ran over to Grime at inhuman speed. Grime didn't have time to react before the human boy shot a kick up his arm making him throw Hop Pop into the air. T'Challa then grabbed the elder Plantar and gently set him down. He then looked at all the toads seriously.
"I already told you all once before, back when you sent your goons to Wartwood. I don't care if you are the official protectors of the valley. That doesn't give you the right to pick on those you believe are lesser than you."
Klaw's eyes widened recognizing those words. "Wait a minute. Are you…"
T'Challa nodded. "You wanted the Black Panther? Well, here you go!" He tapped on his pendant and extended his limbs so everyone could see his vibranium-lined costume grow over his body. In an instant, he was in his Black Panther costume. "I AM the Black Panther!"
Sasha stared with wide eyes. "Wait. The Black Panther's… a person?"
Erik let out a devilish grin. "Finally."
"Well, this is an interesting development." Grime said. "Still, this saves a trip back to Wartwood. Guards! Seize him!"
The toads raised their spears and ran ahead to attack the Black Panther, but the Wakandan was too fast for them. He dodged them all and countered with strike and throws. A wave of them charged at him, but he ran to the edge and jumped right off. He landed right behind the wave of toads and picked one of them up. He threw them at one side of the guards while knocking the others down with one kick like a line of dominos.
Meanwhile, Anne joined the rest of the frogs as they backed away. They watched and cheered as the Black Panther was singlehandedly taking on all the toads at once. All those cheers began to fade once they notice that their superpowered champion was taking heavy breaths.
"T'Challa, what's wrong?" Anne asked. "You're never this out of breath!"
"I… I don't know." T'Challa answered heavily. "I'm sweating… I have trouble breathing… My heart's beating rapidly. I can't… OOF!"
He was open to a toad to pushed him down. Just then, a whole bunch of toads gathered around the Black Panther ready to finish the job.
"T'Challa!" Anne shouted.
"Whoa! Grime, hold up!" Sasha shouted. "We can't kill him! He's a human being like me!"
"Why do you care?" Erik asked. "You were onboard with killing the Black Panther just a minute ago."
"That was before I knew he was a human being, not a wild animal!" Sasha argued. "This changes things!"
"This changes nothing." Erik said indifferent. He looked and smiled in delight seeing T'Challa's predicament.
"Dude, what's with you?!" Sasha asked angrily. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say…"
BOOM!
All of a sudden, a distant sound of explosions was heard, and the whole tower began to shake. Everyone was fighting to keep their balance while looking just outside of Toad Tower, where several blue explosions erupted from the sewers blowing up every square inch around the area.
"Wally, what did you do?!" Anne asked.
"What? I thought we agreed." Wally said. "Wait, could you not tell I was winking? Ah, curse you, one eye!"
The tower began to fall apart brick by brick. The frogs had to move closer to the center while the toads were all running away. Grime tried to order them to stay in line, but he was shaken off the edge of the tower. Erik fell over too, but he struck the dagger to the side of the tower and slid all the way down to its base. After that, he just watched and waited with an irritated expression.
"T'Challa!" Anne shouted. She rushed over to her friend and helped him up by placing his arm over her shoulders.
"Thanks, Anne." T'Challa groaned.
"No prob."
"Everyone!" Hop Pop shouted opening up the door on the rooftop with Sprig. "Come on! Get off the roof quick!"
While the Wartwood citizens were running down, the tower continued to shake and fall apart, even the bricks that were holding up Sasha. She screamed as she fell, but Anne and T'Challa reached out to her and grabbed her by her hand.
"Gotcha!" Anne yelled. "I've got you, Sash! You're gonna be okay!"
"Please, hang on!" the Black Panther yelled. "I don't know what's going on with my strength, but I can't support everyone!"
"Then let us help!" Sprig yelled. He, Hop Pop, and Polly grabbed the humans by their legs and pulled to keep them from falling.
Anne saw the frightened expression on Sasha's face. "Hey! Look at me! Look at me! Everything's gonna be totally fine!"
"Just hang on!" T'Challa advised feeling the strain in his body.
"We got you, kids, no matter what!" Hop Pop shouted.
Polly struggled to pull too, but then noticed a crack starting to form behind her. "Uh, guys? I think we have a situation!"
Sasha saw the cracks getting bigger quickly. She knew that if Anne and T'Challa held on any longer, then the ground beneath them would fall apart, and they'd all plummet to their deaths.
"Hey, Anne?" she asked regretfully looking up. "Maybe you're better off without me."
With tears in her eyes, Sasha released her grip on Anne's hand and slipped out of it.
"NO!" Anne shouted watching Sasha fall.
The blonde girl fell unconscious seemingly accepting her fate. Thankfully, her live was saved by Captain Grime, who caught her in his arms and carried her to the rest of his toad army at the edge of the nearby forest. He gave the Plantars a threatening growl before leaving with her. The toads all disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Meanwhile, Anne was kneeling on the stable edge of the tower. She saw the toads save Sasha, but she didn't feel any better as she knew that nothing would ever be the same again. T'Challa, Sprig, Hop Pop, and Polly joined her in an act of comfort.
"Anne, are you okay?" Sprig asked.
"Oh, yeah. Never felt…" Her act fell apart as she began to cry. Everyone leaned in close to her allowing her let out her sadness.
"Come on, everyone." T'Challa said unequipping his helmet. "Let's head back to Wartwood."
Anne sniffed. "Yeah. Yeah, let's."
Everyone got up and turned to head to the door. They were just about ready to leave when suddenly…
"AAAAAHHH!"
Everyone was surprised to hear an angry yell from the other end of the tower. Suddenly, Erik Stevens jumped right past Anne and the frogs and tackled T'Challa. They both slid across until they were at the edge. With a furious face, Erik pulled out a dagger and attempted to thrust it into T'Challa's chest. Thankfully, he was able to grab his wrists and push back. But with his weakened strength, the two of them were now at a stalemate.
"Dude, what are you doing?!" Anne shouted. "Get off him!"
"Oh, don't worry! I will!" Erik said still trying to stab T'Challa. "Just as soon as I snuff the light out of this poisoned kitty!"
"Why are you…" T'Challa started to ask before noticing something. "Wait, poisoned?"
Anne and the Plantars managed to save their friend by grabbing Erik from behind and pushing him away. Hop Pop then helped T'Challa back up to his feet.
"Oh, you haven't figured it out?" Erik asked. "Well, do you remember that punch I had you drink earlier? Well, I may have slipped in a special little potion that quickly drains your strength, but only when your adrenaline rises. Like say, a fight to protect yourself from a bunch of toads?"
"You… You poisoned him?" Anne asked in surprise. "Dude, you've got to stop! The Black Panther isn't some wild animal! He's a living, breathing human being! We all know that now!"
"I don't care!" Erik shouted. "I'm doing what I almost did back at Los Angeles!"
T'Challa's eyes widened. "What?"
"Back at LA, the day we were zapped into this world, I was about to kill both you and your sister." Erik said. "I had a knife concealed in my sleeve. The both of you were distracted by the music box. I was just about ready to end you two then and there, but the literal second before I could, that bright flash lit up and zapped us here in Amphibia! I've been waiting weeks for another chance at you, and now, I have it! And I won't let some naïve girl and a bunch of frog bumpkins get in my way!"
"So wait!" Anne exclaimed. "You were about to kill both T'Challa and his sister right in front of us?!"
"Dude, you've got serious issues?" Polly asked.
"Why would you want to do that?" T'Challa asked. "Why would you want to kill me that day? I never even met you before."
"I'm surprised your daddy, the King of Wakanda, never told you about me." Erik said. "But you know, I know everything about you. Like the fact that Wakanda isn't some half-dead nation, but a highly advanced civilization that puts Tokyo to shame!"
"How do you know about that?" T'Challa asked.
"My own dad told me," Erik said, "The same day he told me of my Wakandan heritage along with my true, Wakandan name. You all know me as Erik Stevens, but my real name is… N'Jadaka, son of Prince N'Jobu!"
At the sound of those words, T'Challa's eyes widened. He lost his breath again, but it was out of surprise.
"It can't be." T'Challa said. "You're N'Jobu's son?"
"What?" Anne asked. "T'Challa, what's going on? Who is that?"
"N'Jobu was a War Dog, a sleeper agent sent by Wakanda to keep on eye on the state of things out in the world." T'Challa explained. "But more than that… he was my father's brother. My uncle."
"Say whaaaaaaaat?!" Hop Pop explained.
"No way!" Anne shouted looking back at Erik. "So then, that must make Erik…"
"My cousin." T'Challa said. "Yes, if his claims are true."
"Oh, they're very true." Erik said. "My daddy fell in love with an American and had me. When I was old enough, he told me everything about our homeland, Wakanda, and that I would one day go there and live like royalty."
"So what happened?" Anne asked.
"From what my father told me," T'Challa said, "N'Jobu died in the line of duty a year ago."
"YOUR FATHER IS A LIAR!" Erik roared out angrily. "The truth is, your father murdered mine in cold blood!"
T'Challa widened his eyes bigger than before. "No! You're wrong! That can't be true! My father would never murder anyone in cold blood, least of all his family!"
"I was there! Over a year ago, back at Los Angeles, I saw it with my own two eyes!" Erik shouted. "Since then, I've trained to the limits for the very day I can finally have revenge on your father! And it starts by killing his own kids!"
Erik kicked a spear at his feet and threw it up to his own hands. He then charged ahead thrusting the spear forward. Anne pulled T'Challa to the side while the Planters jumped the other way to avoid it.
"Erik, wait! Stop!" Anne shouted. "You don't have to do this!"
"Oh, I'm pretty sure I do." Erik said. He reached behind him and pulled out his Killmonger mask, which he then wore over his own face.
"Wait, was that in his pocket the whole time?" Sprig asked.
"Nothing's stopping me from my revenge!" Erik vowed. "This means too much to me!"
He charged again. This time, Anne picked up her sword and swung it to deflect the spear. She then set T'Challa down in a sitting position behind her and raised her sword at Erik.
"This doesn't concern you, Anne." Erik said. "Stand aside, or else, what happens next is your own fault."
"Dude, I just stood up to my own best friend and nearly lost her!" Anne shouted. "I am NOT in the best mood for this!"
Erik attacked with his spear, but Anne deflected it and went for a counterattack, which he blocked. She kept on fighting until Erik shot a sharp kick to her midsection. He then ran past her toward T'Challa, but he got struck by a rock which was shot at him from Sprig's slingshot. Hop Pop then stretched out his tongue and wrapped it around Erik's spear.
Hop Pop tried to pull his tongue and yank the spear from Erik's hands, but he held on too tightly. Erik then gave one hard tug that threw Hop Pop off his feet letting go of the spear.
"Is that all you got?" he asked.
"Not quite!" Polly shouted hopping up in front of Erik. "This is your last chance, bozo! Go away!"
Erik chuckled. "Aww. And what are you going to do if I—OOF!" He was cut off when Polly hopped over to his face and gave him a sharp punch that knocked him on his back.
"I warned ya."
Erik groaned realizing he wasn't holding onto the spear anymore. He reached for it, but Anne kicked it away.
"That's enough!" Anne shouted. "No more sacrificing frogs! No more trying to kill people! Erik, you and T'Challa are cousins. You're family. You need to talk it out."
Erik huffed heavy air from his nostrils as he slipped his hand to his boot. "I guess you've made your choice." In an instant, he pulled out a dagger and leaped ahead in a furious rage intending to stab Anne. The Thai girl closed her eyes awaiting the blow.
"AAAHH!"
That cry of pain didn't come from Anne. She opened her eyes and saw T'Challa in front of her. He had already swung his claws across Erik's chest leaving scratch marks on his shirt. He dropped his dagger and left himself vulnerable to T'Challa, who delivered a strong punch to Erik with a flash of blue in his eyes.
When the fist made contact, to sent out a small, blue wave from the impact, and Erik was launched away from him. He rolled all the way across the top of the tower and stopped right when he was near the edge. Erik groaned trying to get back up, but he stopped halfway when he saw T'Challa, Anne, Sprig, Hop Pop, and Polly surrounding him.
Erik sighed. "I guess this is it, huh? Man, and I thought I had you with that poison." He took a breath. "Well, what are you waiting for? Finish me off."
T'Challa exchanged look with everyone before looking back at Erik. "No. I can't do that."
"Sure, you can." Erik said. "You're your father's son, you know, and he's a cold-blooded brother-killer."
"Stop. I don't want to hear it." T'Challa said. "Look, Erik, I don't know what really happened between your father and mine. But I do know one thing: if what you said is true, then we can't continue this vicious cycle by killing each other. We don't need to draw any more blood. It's like Anne said. We're family. We're the only ones who can end this."
"So why aren't you finishing it right now?" Erik asked.
"Because there's more than one way to end a feud." T'Challa said offering his hand. "Come with us. Let us find the truth of our fathers together. And no matter what, we can end this without having to draw any more blood. Please, N'Jadaka. Let's be a family, not enemies."
Erik looked closely at T'Challa's face and stopped to notice the sincerity in his eyes. He could tell that he was genuine, which makes his hatred even harder to hold onto. He clenched his teeth trying to hold in his tears. He removed his mask to show his conflicted face to everyone.
"I… I don't know." Erik said. "I don't know what to… How can I… When I was…"
Just then, a cracking sound made everyone be on edge. Erik looked down and saw the bricks under him quickly fall apart.
"ERIK!" T'Challa shouted.
He ran ahead hoping to use his speed to catch up to him, but the poison in his body made him slow down. He was too late to catch Erik's hand as he fell off the tower. T'Challa and the others had to only watch below as Erik fell into the foggy chasm that surrounded Toad Tower. His screams died out after he disappeared.
This time, it was T'Challa who fell to his knees fighting off his grief, and everyone else gathered around him.
"You okay?" Anne asked.
"Are you?" T'Challa returned taking in a big hug with her. The Plantars joined in right after comforting them both on this disastrous morning.
Once the citizens of Wartwood returned to their home, everyone was tired and groggy from the life-threatening experience they went through. Among them, Anne, T'Challa, and the Plantars sat beside the water fountain still processing everything they went through.
During their sit-down, T'Challa was approached by Maddie. "Hey, big guy."
"Oh. Hello, Maddie."
"So I hear you got poisoned." Maddie said. "How are you feeling?"
"Pretty much in pain in every way imaginable."
"Sorry to hear that. Well, if it makes you feel any better, I can whip up an antidote for that poison, and you'll be back to normal in no time."
"That'd be great, Maddie. Thanks." His expression wasn't very enthusiastic.
After Maddie left, Anne leaned in close to her friend. "So… Nothing that happened was easy for either of us, huh?"
T'Challa nodded. "You had to fight your best friend and nearly lost her. I found out that I had a cousin who I then lost. Not only that, but according to him, my own father killed his brother."
"Yeah. That kinda stings." Anne said sadly. "Still, something about this still bothers me. Erik said that what happened between your dad and uncle took place back in LA a year ago. If that's true, then why did your dad sent you and your sister to that same city?"
"I don't know." T'Challa shrugged. "I guess that's something I'll have to ask my father when I return to Wakanda. Still, it's going to be very hard. Almost as hard as what happened."
"I know that was hard, kids." Hop Pop said. "Still, thank you. You know, for everything."
"Hop Pop, you people are my family." Anne assured. "I'd never let anyone hurt you. Especially you, T'Challa." She held onto his hand and held it tightly.
T'Challa smiled back and held back. "Nor would I let anyone hurt you."
Anne and T'Challa shared a look and a smile for a long moment before Sprig spoke up.
"So, you guys wanna get breakfast and come up with some kind of plan to get Anne and T'Challa home?" Sprig asked.
"Right. The mountains." T'Challa said. "They should be cleared up by now, right?"
"Oh, yes. We just need to prepare." Hop Pop said. "It's gonna be dangerous. Perilous even."
"Understatement." Polly added.
"Well, whatever happens next, one thing's for sure." Anne said pulling everyone in close. "If we're together, I know we'll be all right."
CAST:
T'Challa/The Black Panther—Caleb McLaughlin
Shuri—Keke Palmere
Erik Stevens/Killmonger—Charles DeWayne
Klaw—Clancy Brown
King T'Chaka—Khary Peyton
Queen Ramonda—Yvette Nicole Brown
Okoye—Cree Summer
Azzuri—Kevin Michael Richardson
At the bottom of the chasm beneath the fogs of Toad Tower, a river flowed through the dark forest beneath. That is where Erik Stevens ended up. The poor boy was knocked unconscious and half-dead once he hit the water.
He drifted along the river until he washed up on a shore where a certain woman waited for him. It was the same elderly, one-armed newt woman who Anne, T'Challa, and Sprig met at the Bizarre Bazaar, Valeriana. She looked down at Erik and tapped him with her stick hearing his feint groan.
"Oh, good. He still lives." Valeriana said turning to her pet bird. "Help me with the body, Leander. This boy needs much healing if he is to fulfill his destiny."