Loyalty Among Worlds (Amphibia AU)

After their encounter with the toads, Anne took it easy resting her arm. Darrel continued his magic training, and helped Hop pop with the farm. Tint kept watch on Darrel's training and tended to Clipper's needs from time to time. Sprig and Polly continued working on tending the fields. Hop pop and Cronaxx kept watch on the kids to make sure they work hard. Eventually, Anne's arm makes a miraculous recovery.

One day, the group prepares to leave the farm to sell more produce in Wartwood. Ever since they lost the stand, they had to find new ways to make money. They take their produce in a shifty wheelbarrow, and hide in an alleyway.

"This feels so shifty," said Darrel. "I know, isn't it exciting?" Sprig asked. "I suppose it is, since we're trying to sell vegetables," said Polly. "Now everyone," said Hop pop. "Just cause we lost the family stand doesn't mean we can't sell our produce out of a janky wheelbarrow."

"This is pretty sad," said Anne. "Agreed," nodded Polly. "Like I said," said Sprig as he put on a ski mask. "Excitement." Hop pop immediately removes it, "Take that off! This is perfectly legal." "So, why are we hiding in an alley?" Anne asked. "Stop asking questions and follow my lead," said Hop pop. "Salamanders, Darrel, you take the south side of the village. We'll handle things here."

Darrel and the salamanders prepare to sneak off and venture to the south side. But before they could, they turned to see a potential customer approaching the wheelbarrow. An old female frog picks up a weird looking gourd. Hop pop's skin sweats and turns tomato red. Darrel smiles, recognizing that feeling.

"Hey, Hop pop, who was that?" Darrel asked. "Uh, that was Silvia Sundew," replied Hop pop. "We met a long time ago until she moved out of the valley. But now she's back." "Given your emotional expressions, I can safely assume you're in love?" Darrel asked. "Well, maybe just a little," he replied.

"Aww, you should tell her how you feel," said Anne. "I wish I could," said Hop pop. "But you saw how I was back there. I have trouble even putting sentences together. I wish there was another way to let Sylvia know I feel."

Suddenly, Hop pop hears pounding outside the alley. He goes over to investigate, and leaves the group with the produce. Curious himself, Darrel peeks out to see the town gather around the message board.

He finds a poster on the messenger board stating that a Dance Fever is coming to Wartwood. Tint looks over his shoulder and smiles. "This is awesome," he said. "You like dances?" Darrel asked. "Not that, this is the perfect opportunity," replied Tint. "You could ask Anne to go with you."

Darrel perked up and blushed, "What? No, Tint, I can't." "Why not? I thought you liked her," said Tint. "I do, but I'm with Sasha. Even Anne knows that." "But you both don't know where she is," said Tint. "Even if we did, we have a code," said Darrel. "If I go behind Sasha's back, I'll be betraying her and ruining the girls' friendship. Besides she chose to be my girlfriend, and Anne and Marcy chose to respect it."

Suddenly, they hear a whistle and see that the cops are on their way. "Hop pop! The cops are coming!" Tint cried. "Everyone scatter!" Sprig shouted. The group split up, losing the cops.

Back at the Plantar farm, Darrel tends to Bessie, cleaning her shell. After completing his job, he looks at his photo of his friends. Darrel expresses a gloom look, 'I can't betray her trust. She made her choice,' he thought.

"What should I do Bessie?" Darrel asked. Bessie only chirped, and Darrel rolled his eyes. He exits the stable and sees Clipper land from his daily flight. "Hey buddy, I've got a predicament," said Darrel. "There's a dance tonight, and nights like these make me think about Sasha. Which makes me think about our time together. And makes me insane, because why am I talking to a dragonfly?"

Clipper claps his jaws in a sense he was laughing at his friend. "I wonder what Hop pop would think?" Darrel asked. He knocks on the door to Hop pop's study. "Don't come in," said Hop pop. "I'm in need of some study time."

With nowhere to go, Darrel returns to the basement. "Oh, hey Darrel," said Anne. Darrel suddenly perked up in surprise. "Oh, Anne. I didn't know you were still down here." "Where else would I go?" she asked. "Are you okay? You look glum."

"I'm okay, Anne," said Darrel. "I just got a lot of stress on my mind." "I know the feeling," said Anne. "Better yet, I know the cure," Anne takes out her phone and plays some music. "Just dance it off, you'll feel better."

Darrel shrugged and danced to the music as well. Darrel goes with the flow and dances like nothing else matters to him. Anne watched Darrel having fun dancing around and smiled. But then, Hop pop appears and surprises the two. Anne stops the music and asks what's going on. "I need your help, guys."

Hop pop shows them the dance flier he took from town square and explained his situation. "That's why I'm begging you two. Teach me your ways," he said. "I can't tell Silvia how I feel. But maybe I can show her, by dancing with her."

"Huh, didn't figure you for a hopeless romantic, Hop pop," said Anne. "Of course we'll help you," said Darrel. "Hey, uh think we could keep this between us?" Hop pop asked. "Sure, Hop pop. Our lips are sealed," said Anne.

Later that day, the rest of the group arrived where Darrel and Anne were prepared to train Hop pop how to dance. They cheered for Hop pop to prepare for the dance. Hop pop was disappointed knowing his secret went out the moment they found out.

"What happened to the zipped lips?" he asked. "Ask Anne that, she likes juicy gossip," said Darrel. "Besides when I'm done with you, you and Silvia will be locking lips by the end of the night," said Anne. This made the group, sans Hop pop and Cronaxx, groan in disgust.

Anne turned on her training montage music and the two prepared to give Hop pop dancing lectures. "The first lesson of dancing: Footwork," said Darrel. "Dancing always starts by moving to the music." Darrel tapped his foot and then bounced to the music. Hop pop did the same thing, only for him to roll in a fire anthill.

"Lesson 2 of dancing: Rhythm," said Darrel. "It's always important to stay in tune to the music. If you're in sync, the audience will be impressed. Especially Silvia." Darrel taps on a metal bucket with a hammer. Then gives it to Hop pop, for him to miss a swing and hit his foot.

"And the final lesson of dancing: Freestyle," said Darrel. "Freestyle is expressing yourself in your own unique way," said Anne. The kids show their freestyle skills to Hop pop and Cronaxx. Cronaxx sits out on dancing because of his age. But when Hop pop tried freestyle, he looked like a fish flopping out of water.

He finishes with a bird call, "Ta da!" With only a little breath, Hop pop stopped feeling impressed with himself. "I gotta say, that's the first lesson I actually felt go-" Anne grabs his cheeks and pulls him up to her face. "Hop pop, if you want to win over Silvia, NEVER DO FREESTYLE AGAIN!" she shouted. "Let's just focus on the two lessons," said Darrel.

Throughout the rest of the day, Darrel and Anne help Hop pop with his footwork and rhythm. Hop pop makes excellent progress even does some dance moves on his own. The rest of the group applaud for his efforts.

"Nice work Hop pop," said Anne. "Or maybe I should call you 'Hip pop'." "That reference means nothing to me," said Hop pop. "Guys!" Sprig called out. "There's only ten minutes till the dance! Come On!" "Oh, we gotta go!" Anne shouted. Then the group dashes off to the dance.

At the dance floor, the Plantars arrive in formal attire. The salamanders were not far behind. Tint and Cronaxx were still in their daily outfits, but Darrel was wearing a black tux with a black tie. His hair is combed back and his twigs are gone.

He wraps his arms around his stomach."I don't know what's going on guys," he said. "It's either watching Hop pop make a fool of himself or something worse is going to happen." "I think it's because you think Anne looks nice," said Tint. "Darrel, it's okay, just join the fun."

Darrel takes a deep breath and the three join the Plantars. Anne turns around and is stunned to see Darrel's attire. "Whoa, hey Darrel. You look nice," she said. "Oh, thanks Anne," said Darrel. "I-we- I mean- You look nice too." Anne smiled, "Thank you Darrel."

Darrel may be flustering his words, but he wasn't the only one. "There she is," said Hop pop. "I feel like I'm going to faint. Can frogs faint? I don't know anything anymore!" "Hop pop, calm down," said Anne. "You are the king of the dance floor. Now walk up to that lovely lady and ask her to dance."

Hop pop walks over to the dance floor where Silvia is standing. Unfortunately Hop pop's rival, Monroe, stepped in and asked Silvia to dance with him. Darrel watched to see if Hop pop would make his move. And he does, "I've been trained by the best and I'm going to take you down." "Is that so," said Monroe. "Then let's settle this."

"Come on, guys," said Darrel. "Hop pop's going to need our support." The group make their way to the edge of the dance floor. The group and the frogs attending, surround the two frogs as they dance it out.

While Hop pop gave off a good start, Monroe happened to give off flashier moves. Unable to beat Monroe, Hop pop prepares to throw in the towel. However, Cronaxx came up with an idea. He whispers into Hop pop's ear.

"I don't know what to do," said Anne. "Monroe's just a better dancer." "That may be true Anne," said Darrel. "Then again, all that should matter is what Silvia thinks of Hop pop." "You're right Darrel," said Hop pop. "That's why I got to express myself in my own unique way."

Darrel was curious, "What does he mean-?" Suddenly, he realized something, "Oh no." "Is he going to?" Tint asked. "Indeed he is," Cronaxx replied. They prepare in horror for Hop pop to do his freestyle dance.

When Hop pop started freestyle, the group shielded their eyes. All they could hear were Hop pop's chants and monkey voices. When he finished his dance, the kids kept their eyes shut, not wanting to know if he's done.

Suddenly, Silvia comes on the dance floor and dances just like Hop pop. Everyone groans in disgust and the Mayor calls off the rest of the dance, "Pack it up, dance is over. Go Home!" Everyone, except the group and Silvia, stay on the dance floor.

"I don't get it," said Hop pop. "Why?" "I have a soft spot for the weird ones," replied Silvia. "That's why I suggested you dance freestyle," said Cronaxx. "Because she liked you for being you." The elders laugh it off.

"It's a shame the dance is over," said Hop pop. "I wish I could dance for hours with you." "Your wish is yours to keep," said Cronaxx. He snaps his fingers and Tint and Sprig play their instruments on cue. The two frogs smile, "May I have this dance, Silvia Sundew?" Hop pop asked. "Why, yes you may, Hopediah Plantar." Silvia replied.

(Right by your Side - Fish Hooks)

Swimming here in circles

Lost in thoughts of you

Picturing a moment

And wishing it were true

I thought that you were mine

But then you slipped away

And now I just want you to hear

These words I have to say

All I ever want to be

Is by your side

As the two dance the night away, Darrel looks over to Anne. He looks down at the photo of him and Sasha. Cronaxx looks to his friend and talks to him. "Darrel, you're not going to find happiness if you dwell on the past. You've come a long way in the past month. And that's coming from someone that's been around much longer than anyone else in this world. You say Sasha makes all the choices. But what choices will you make? Listen to your heart."

Darrel looks down on himself and recalls most of the events that have happened to him. He pulled an ancient staff from eternal slumber, He found his best friend in a strange new world, he trained a large dragonfly, he even tamed a pair of love doves with his soothing music to save his friends. If he could do those things without Sasha, he could do anything.

Caught up in the currents

My heart is sinking fast

Dropping like an anchor

Broken like a glass

Sunlight streams through water

But fades to darkest blue

Cause now I'm left here wondering

Just how I'll make it through

When all I ever want to be

Is by your side

He takes one last look at his photo with Sasha, then stuffs it in his pocket. He walks over to Anne, who was still resting on the cobblestone wall. "Hey Anne," said Darrel. "Oh, hey Darrel," said Anne.

Darrel rubs the back of his head and asks, "Um, you wanna dance? With me?" Anne was most surprised, "You mean it?" Darrel nodded, "Yeah, if you want to-" "Yes." Darrel was surprised by Anne's choice. "I mean, I'd thought you never ask." Darrel and Anne take each other's hands, and sway to the music.

Swimming here in circles

Hold me, oh so tight

There's no place I'd rather be

Than in your arms tonight

As Darrel and Anne continue to sway to the instruments, the two suddenly become lost in thought. They believed that nothing else mattered this very moment. Darrel looks at Anne and smiles as big as he did in his photo with Sasha. Anne smiles back and leans her head to his shoulder. Both humans savored every second of their dance.

Let's leave the past behind

And dance beneath the stars

Then we'll laugh at why we took

So long to come this far

When all I ever want to be

Is by your side

Darrel and Anne take a moment to look at each other. Their eyes began to sparkle, and time suddenly slowed down. Eventually, the two snapped out of their moment and chuckled. "What a night," said Darrel. "Yeah, thanks for the dance anyway," said Anne. "You really made tonight special." Anne hugs Darrel and he returns it instantly.

Right by your side

At the end of the day, the Plantars returned home. The amphibians and Darrel were sound asleep. As for Anne, she was reading one of her books. 'That was an amazing dance, Darrel,' she thought. 'If things don't work out with Sasha, I'll be there for you.'