Loyalty Among Worlds (Amphibia AU)

A new day dawns in Amphibia, but it isn't like any other day. Today is a rainy day. The clouds were dark, and rain came pouring down like waterfalls. Clipper was taking rest in a hand made shelter Darrel and the Salamanders made earlier. Darrel took one last look before he closed the front door, and made his way to the basement.

"Clipper is looking comfortable in the shelter, so long as it holds up," he told Anne. Anne looks out the basement window, feeling relaxed. Darrel smiles and looks out with her. They watch the rain falling from the sky, water droplets appear on the windowsill.

Anne returns to her bunk and closes her eyes. "Nothing like sleeping to the sound of rain," she said. "Does it work?" Darrel asks. "If you allow it," Anne replied. Darrel climbs to his bunk and closes his eyes as well.

As he listened to the rain with his eyes closed, he fell into a bliss-like state. He could see himself in a cave, glowing with algae. He danced to the water droplets, leaping and spinning to the rhythm. Before he knew, he started dancing on water.

Soon that water started to take the form of a faceless dancing figure. The two dance in harmony and in synchronization. Just as Darrel was about to touch its hand, he was interrupted by a noise.

"ANNE, DARREL, MOVE!" Hop pop shouted as he opened up the basement door. Darrel and Anne woke up in shock. Darrel fell out of his bunk and landed flat face on the floor.

"This is the third time I called you," said Hop pop. "What? No it isn't," said Anne. "No?" Hop pop asked. "Okay then, this is the first time I'm calling you." Darrel lifts his face up to Hop pop as he says, "LET'S GO! We've got work to do!"

Darrel and Anne were about to leave until Darrel said, "You were right Anne, listening to rain is fascinating." Anne smiled and the two enter the living room with the rest of the group.

"Okay, we got a full day of hard work ahead of us." He gives the group rain gear that consists of ponchos and plastic bags to keep their feet dry. "How can we have another hard day of work in a rainstorm Hop pop?" Tint asked.

"This here ain't no ordinary rainstorm," said Hop pop. He points to the window, showing that the winds have kicked up to the point that anyone can be blown away. They see Wally get hit by a tree and fly away.

"We've got to cover up the crops before they're destroyed," said Hop pop. "It'll be hours of back breaking work." "Maybe," said Cronaxx. "But there are a good number of us. Could be shorter than expected depending on our cooperation."

"Now that you mention it, you're right Cronaxx," said Sprig. "We can even use magic to calm the storm." Tint shook his head, "We can't Sprig. I tried calming a storm last time, it just came down twice as hard." "Magic can't be the answer to everything," said Cronaxx.

Darrel nodded, "Whatever it takes to save the farm. Let's get to work." But all that talk was interrupted by a coughing sound coming from Anne. "Anne, are you okay?" Darrel asked. "No," Anne replied all stuffy. "I think I'm sick."

Hop pop looked closely at Anne, seeing no signs of sickness. But he was shocked knowing her tongue is very short. Darrel was concerned about her sudden behavior. He knows that Anne isn't sick, but he didn't say anything.

"I've got human stuff going on that you don't know anything about," said Anne. "Oh no, sounds like I've got a bad case of the mocha lattes." "That sounds horrible," said Hop pop. "Come on everyone, let's stay away from Anne and her illness."

The group prepares to venture out in the rain, and they wish Anne to get well soon. Darrel was the last to leave the house. But before he did he said, "Get well soon Anne. I don't know what I'd do without you." This made Anne blush lightly, and feel a little guilty.

Outside, the group went straight to work. They started with covering up the crops. Thankfully, the group pulled together and tied down the tarp over the fields. Darrel was looking a little gloomy, which caught Cronaxx's attention.

"Are you okay, Darrel?" Cronaxx asked. "I know that she's faking it," replied Darrel. "Mocha Lattes? That's just the name of a drink from back home." Cronaxx nodded and said, "I knew that too. Whatever happens to our health will be her responsibility."

Darrel looks to his hand made shelter, which is shaking violently next to the stables. Darrel rushes to Clipper and unties the roof of his shelter, causing it to fly away. "Go on, Clipper. Get clear of the storm," said Darrel. Clipper starts flapping his wings and flies off to find stronger shelter, not too far from the farm.

For the rest of the day, the group endured the hard rainstorm. But they covered the crops without wasting any more time. "Well done everyone, we completed much quicker than we did before," said Hop pop.

Just then, Darrel sneezed, "AH CHOO!" "Bless you, Darrel," said Sprig. "Let's get inside." The group heads inside the house with their ponchos losing their hoods. Anne looks to the group, wrapped in a blanket. "Oh you're back," she said weakly.

Darrel sneezed again, grabbing Anne's attention. "Woah, are you okay, Darrel?" Anne asked. "I don't think so, Anne." Darrel said in a stuffy tone. "I think I've come down with something. But it looks like I'm not the only one."

Anne looks to see Hop pop covered in sticky goo oozing out of his skin, Polly unable to see, Sprig's tongue extending out of his mouth, Tint feeling cold, and Cronaxx feeling hot.

"You're all sick?" Anne asked. Darrel nodded, "It was brutal out there. But at least we got all the work done, and you're not sicker than before." Anne realized that her lie made her friends sick, and felt more guilty than before.

"There is a way to make us feel better," said Cronaxx. "However, this spiritual healing only works on salamanders." The two salamanders retreat to the study, leaving Anne with the Plantars and Darrel.

"Now, who's going to take care of us?" Polly asked. Knowing she made a selfish choice, Anne decided to make things right. "Me. I'm going to take care of you guys," she declared. "But Anne, you're sick too," said Sprig. "*coughs* Sure am buddy. But you all are way important to me," said Anne.

Darrel and Hop pop smile at her decision. "That's uncharacteristically generous of you," said Hop pop. "Aw you know, I do what I can," said Anne. "Now let's get you all better!" Just then, Polly sneezed, causing her to fly across the living room.

Darrel stayed in the basement while Anne started taking care of the Plantars. He didn't mind waiting for Anne to take care of her. All he knew was that she was going to help her friends get better. Meanwhile, in Hop pop's study, the salamanders were being protected in a magically encased bubble. They sat in a meditative state in order for the magic to work.

Darrel looks back to the times when he got sick when he was 11 years old. His mother would usually feed him soup, and his father would read his fantasy books to make him sleep. His sisters would check up on him from time to time after school. His friends, both Anne and Marcy would show up to his house, and bring him his homework so that he doesn't fall behind on school.

His trip to memory lane comes to a halt when he hears Anne enter the basement. "Hey Darrel, how are you doing?" Anne asked calmly. Darrel groaned, "Anne? Is that you? You can put my homework on my desk."

Anne chuckled slightly, "There's no homework today, Darrel." She takes a washcloth and places it on Darrel's forehead. Darrel smiles at her actions and she smiles back. "Thanks Anne, I don't know what I'd do without you," said Darrel.

"Just get some rest, I'll be making my special soup soon. You'll feel better in no time," said Anne. As Darrel prepared to rest up, he said, "Sasha didn't come to see me when I'm sick right?" Anne shook her head, "She just didn't want to get sick."

As Anne leaves, Darrel starts to talk to himself, "If Sasha was your friend, she would've checked up on you. She didn't come because she cared about her health. I thought she cared for me. Ever asked her what you wanted? I don't even know what I want anymore. I know what you want. You want to write songs, be artistic, and have friends that care about you. I didn't want to be stuck in this world, but here I am and I feel excited. I'm free from doing pathetic favors that people wanted me to do. I can just watch pretty lights while I dance to their movements. And she can join me and we can dance the night away. Because I love you, Anne."

Anne eavesdropped on his delusion as she came down to check up on him. "What did you just say?" Anne asked. Darrel turns over facing Anne, but eyes closed. "Huh? What?" He mumbled to sleep. Anne smiled with her cheeks blushing, then returned to making her soup.

Darrel wakes up, feeling rested but still stuffy from the rainy day. He looks over to the nightstand to see a glass of water with a note that says, "Stay hydrated. -Anne." Darrel takes a sip, 'Thanks Anne, you're a good friend,' he thought.

Then, he heard Anne calling out, "Soups On!" Darrel smiled, for he knew that soup could help him feel better. He started to slowly climb out and make his way to the kitchen. He finds the Plantars sitting at the table, and Anne preparing her soup.

"Hey Anne," he said calmly. "Hey Darrel, how are you feeling?" Anne asked. "A bit better," Darrel replied. "What's on the menu tonight?" "My famous broccoli kale super soup," said Anne. "Now with cricket and mushroom."

She gives Darrel his bowl and the four sick workers eat up. As Darrel finishes his soup, he takes a deep breath. "So, feeling any better?" Darrel smiles and says, "I think it's working Anne. I'll just need a bit more rest, and plenty of water."

However, Sprig's tongue sticks out. Spilling Hop pop and Polly's soup bowls on their heads. "Eh, nope," said Polly and Hop pop. "Maybe, it doesn't work on frogs," said Darrel.

Suddenly, Darrel spots something on Hop pop. "Uh Hop pop, your legs are turning red," he said. Hop pop looks down to see his legs instantly turned red. "This can't be good," he said.

The group enters the study and finds Tint and Cronaxx out of their health bubbles. "Hey guys," said Tint. "We've just recovered from our colds." Cronaxx looked at Hop pop's red legs and said, "Oh no, is it what I think it is?"

The group get the book of ailments and find the page that describes Red Leg. "Yep, it's Red Leg alright," said Hop pop. "Is that a bad thing?" Anne asked. "Yeah Anne," said Polly. "The red leg works its way up your body. And when it finally covers you completely, you… you…"

"You depart from this ungrateful world," finished Hop pop. Darrel gasped and Anne cried out, "WHAT?!" "What do we do?" Tint asked. "Just find me a corner for me to pass away in," replied Hop pop. He points to a corner in the study. "That one will do."

Anne cries out, "No! We are not picking a corner. There's gotta be something that can fix this. There has to be." "Actually, there is," said Cronaxx. He pulls out the treatment page of Red Leg and shows it to the group. "Red Leg can be cured by waiting in a mineral pond, high in the mountains."

"The mountains?" Hop pop teased. "Heh, the journey alone will do me in." He goes to pick his corner and waits for his time. But Anne would not allow it, "Stop it, Hop pop. Sorry, but you're going to live to see another day. I am going to take you to that mineral pond!"

The group cheered, until Darrel sneezed. "ACHOO! I think I'll sit this one out. I'm still not a hundred percent." Then Sprig shoots his tongue out at Hop pop. "Dang it, boy!"

"So, Darrel, can we borrow Clipper for the journey?" Anne asked. "Sorry Anne," said Darrel. "Clipper flew off to escape the storm. If he's taking shelter in the trees, then he won't leave until the storm passes. You'll have to take Bessie."

"Tint, you'll have to stay here with Darrel in case he needs something," said Cronaxx. "You can count on me, Uncle," said Tint. The two wave goodbye as the rest venture to the mineral pond.

"So, what do you want to do Tint?" Darrel asked. "What I want to do is get you back into bed and make sure you rest up," said Tint. So he takes his human friend back down to the basement and Darrel climbs into his bunk to rest up.

"Thanks Tint," said Darrel. "It's the least I could do," he replied. "Would you like anything else?" "Just some water to keep myself hydrated," said Darrel. Tint leaves for the kitchen as Darrel takes some time to rest.

While Darrel sleeps, the storm eventually calms down and Clipper returns to the farm. Tint returns a few minutes to check up on Darrel. He touched his forehead and felt his temperature going down. 'You'll feel better before you know it,' he thought.

Darrel eventually wakes up again and decides to watch Anne and the Plantar's progress. He casts a vision spell and sees Anne and the group riding on a mosquito all the way to the top. 'Wow Anne, good thinking,' he thought.

He hears the basement door open and looks to see Tint enter with a fresh cup of water. "Oh, hey Darrel," said Tint. "How are you feeling?" "Much better when I'm resting," replied Darrel. "Anne and the others just reached the mineral pond. Want to watch?" Tint nodded, "Sure."

The two watch as the group splashes on top of the mountain and soak up the mineral water. "They made it," said Darrel. "Looks like Polly and Sprig are infected too." Tint looks to see the Plantars all covered in red. "Will this mineral pond work?" Darrel asked. "It should work," Tint replied. He gets the book from the study and reads the information about Red Leg.

"The book says that the pond should cure them instantly," said Tint. "But how come they're still red?" Darrel asked. "That shouldn't happen," replied Tint. "Unless…" He looks at the book again and finds new information. "Huh, turns out that Red Leg isn't the only thing that can turn an amphibian red."

Darrel looks at the book and sees a red mushroom illustrated on the page. "There's a certain mushroom that shows the exact same symptoms," said Tint. "Anne said she added that mushroom to her soup. It must've been what caused the Plantars to turn red."

The two sigh in relief, then Tint realizes something. "Uh, Darrel," "Yeah?" Darrel asked. "Hop pop didn't use that mushroom for eating," said Tint. "He used it to wash pots, clean the bathroom floors, and Bessie's stable."

Darrel widens his eyes, realizing that he ate the mushroom along with the Plantars. He looks to his stomach and realizes that he's not feeling any worse than before. He shrugs it off and just drinks more water.

After his drink, Darrel looked to his friend. "So Tint, how long have you had magical powers?" he asked. "For as long as I can remember," replied Tint. "Great Uncle Cronaxx said that our powers run in the family for years. My Great Aunt Alexphia, Cronaxx's sister, fell in love with a soldier. Ever since then, my family had magical abilities from elemental powers, to healing spells. Sometimes, my family wants to try something else other than magic. So, Cronaxx helps teach them how to control their abilities to avoid hurting anyone. As for me, I started learning my abilities when Cronaxx told me of my heritage. I was excited, but cautious. I want to learn as much as I can, but I don't want to learn everything. There are dark forbidden spells that no one should learn." Darrel took his words to heart and prepared to rest again.

After the sunset, the group returns to the farm. They find Clipper sleeping by the stable again. "Looks like it's safe to uncover the crops," said Cronaxx. "We'll get to it first thing tomorrow," said Hop pop.

They enter the house and find Tint and Darrel drinking tea. "Hey guys, how'd it go?" Tint asked. "Apparently, the Plantars are going to be just fine," said Cronaxx. "How's our new apprentice doing?" "Much better, Cronaxx," said Darrel. "Thanks to Tint's herbal tea, I'll be fit as a fiddle tomorrow."

"That's good," said Anne. "Cause we're going to uncover the crops for the Plantars tomorrow." "Alright everyone," said Hop pop. "Let's get some rest. We'll need to conserve our energy if we're going to do anything." Everyone nodded in agreement and all went to bed.

Down in the basement, Anne and Darrel climb in their bunks. "Hey Darrel, I've got a question," said Anne. "What is it?" Darrel said. "Do you remember anything when you were sick?" Anne asked.

Darrel thought long and hard, and he said, "Vaguely, all I remember was I was half asleep from the fever. I tend to say things when I hallucinate. Why? Did I say anything weird?"

Anne looked down, not wanting to repeat what he said to her. So she decided to tell him a half truth. "You were just saying a lot of gibberish nonsense," said Anne. "Even I didn't know what you were saying." "Okay, Anne," said Darrel. "I'll see you in the morning." "Goodnight, Darrel," said Anne.

She looks up to Darrel's bunk and blushes quietly. She whispers, "You told me you love me. If you love me as a friend that's fine. But I sometimes think maybe, we could be more than friends." She slowly closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.