Loyalty Among Worlds (Amphibia AU)

Another couple days goes by in the Plantar house. Darrel, Tint, and Cronaxx do their fair share at being farm handlers. While at the same time, Cronaxx trains both Tint and Darrel how to channel their magic powers.

Cronaxx once told them that magic grows restless, if remained dormant for long periods of time. But Darrel continued to learn how to handle his newfound abilities. Up to the point that he can perform basic illusions, the elements of earth, wind, and water, and create light and vision orbs in the palm of his hands. Darrel grew happy knowing he can willingly control those spells, but never knew when they could come in handy.

All that changed one day, when the Plantars, Darrel and the Salamanders were playing go fish. "Darrel, got any 3's? Hop pop asked. Darrel drew one card to Hop pop. "I'm surprised you guys play this game," he said. "Because we play Go Fish back home, too."

Then, the group hears Anne coming up from the basement. As she got out she screamed, leaving everyone scared. Her face was covered in red pimples. "Is someone dead?" Hop pop exclaimed. "WHY ARE WE YELLING?!" screamed Polly.

"Just look!" Anne said, pointing to her face. Darrel gave off a disgusted look, but gestured as if he knew something like this would happen. But the amphibians were scared, "Oh my!" "What are those things?" "She's diseased!" "We have to quarantine her!" "Don't struggle, Anne."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, guys," said Darrel. "She's not diseased. Those things on her face are called pimples. It's a human condition that happens in their teenage years."

The amphibians sigh with relief and enter the kitchen. Anne, however, feels worse than before. "Everybody already treats me like a monster," she said as she puts a spoon close to her face. "This is just going to make it ten times worse. Egh."

Darrel hated seeing Anne looking down. "Hey you're not the only one being called a monster in Wartwood, Anne," he said. "I mean, just yesterday…"

(Flashback - just yesterday)

Darrel walks down the street, whistling and twirling his staff. As he walks down, the citizens of Wartwood look in horror and disgust. "Ahh! It's hideous" "Look away Teddy!" "Great, now we have two hideous monsters." "AHH!" Darrel feels hurt from the inside, but then shrugs it off.

(Flashback ends)

"How are you not hurt by them calling you a monster?" Anne asked. "Because I don't know those people. Sure, it hurts, but they don't know me either."

"He's right, Anne," said Sprig. "Who cares what they think? We like you." Sprig gives Anne puppy eyes to try to make her feel better. However, Anne wasn't having any of it.

"Uh huh, I'm just gonna hide in the basement until this clears up." But, Hop pop and his farm had other plans. "Sorry Anne, but nobody's hiding anywhere today."

Hop pop picks up a bucket of what looks like peapods. "I need help with the vegetable stand. We gotta bump a crop of scream beans that need selling." He pinches a scream bean and it lets out a high pitched scream.

Anne slams her face on the table in defeat, groaning in shame. Darrel watched with pity, until he came up with an idea. "Anne, I may have a way to get rid of them," he said.

Anne suddenly shoots her head back up. "You do? What is it?" she asked. "I can cast an illusion spell that can make your pimples disappear. However, it's only temporary and I don't know how long it'll last."

Anne gets out of her seat and gets into his face in desperation. "I'll take anything to get rid of these things."

Darrel enters the living room, and Anne follows him. Darrel sways his arms and creates light sparkling auras in his hands. "Now in order for this to work, my spell has to come in contact with your pimples," said Darrel.

Anne realized what he had to do, "It's okay, Darrel," she said. "Do what you have to do." Darrel nodded and put his hands on her face. The two looked in each other's eyes, giving off a small blush. "Umm, feel anything?" Darrel asked. "Just soft vibrations," replied Anne. The two give off a slight chuckle. "I think it's working."

After a few more seconds, Anne's pimples vanished. "That should do it," said Darrel. Anne takes her spoon and smiles at what he did. She hugs him with glee. "Thank you so much Darrel,"

Darrel returns her hug, "You're welcome Anne. But just remember, this spell is only temporary, and I don't know when it will wear off." "Well now, now that you've helped her, we've got beans to sell," said Hop pop.

At the marketplace, the frogs in Wartwood gathered to sell their products. The Plantars prepare their stand to sell their scream beans. "Alright everyone," said Hop pop. "Get out there and sell like your lives depend on it. Because they do, we really need this." Hop pop wasn't kidding when he realized his stand was empty, and not a single customer in sight.

The kids went out in the marketplace to give samples to potential customers. Anne tried to sell them, but the frogs tried to stray away from her. Darrel felt guilty seeing her down, even when the frogs are straying away from him too.

As he turned to see Anne again, he became surprised. His illusion spell was wearing off. "Anne!" he cried. "What's up Darrel?" "Your face." Suddenly, her pimpled face was exposed to the public.

The frogs gazed at her, making her feel embarrassed. "No! No, don't look at me!" "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" "I think so." "They're warts! Beautiful Ruby Red Warts!" This statement left Darrel and Anne confused. "Wait, what?"

Suddenly, Anne was lifted by the crowd feeling better about her appearance. Darrel was happy to see her smiling, despite her condition. But somewhere in his gut, told him otherwise. He wasn't sure why, but he knows what it'll tell him in due time.

Later, after the town's admiration of Anne's pimples, they gave her gifts and it filled up the Plantar house. "Wow, Anne. This is amazing!" Darrel exclaimed. "Yeah, look at all of these gifts," said Tint. "Yeah, the townspeople like me," said Anne. "They really like me."

"Do they?" Cronaxx asked. "Or do they love you because of those pimples you have on your face?" "They like me, Cronaxx," Anne replied. "Oh, I better take care of these money makers if I'm ever going to keep this up." She takes a stick of butter and rubs it on her face. "Babies, babies are hungry."

Darrel, Cronaxx, Tint, and the Plantars groan in disgust watching her do that. Suddenly, they hear a horn honking outside. They look to see the Mayor of Wartwood, Mayor Toadstool, appear in front of a royal snail.

"Anne, my dear. Care to join me for a joyride?" Toadstool asked. "We brought the fancy snail," said his assistant, Toadie. "Get Out!" Anne cried in excitement. "Woah," gasped Darrel. "That feels too fancy for my taste." "Are you kidding me?" Sprig asked. "This is amazing!"

"Finally the luxury I deserve," said Hop pop as he walks up to the snail. But Toadstool stops him. "I'm afraid only Anne is invited. Just look at those beautiful warts."

Anne climbed up onto the snail, and Mayor Toadstool followed. "Don't look so glum guys," she said. "It's just a ride. I'll be back in a few." Then, the mayor's snail zoomed off.

The rest of the group looked in disappointment, until Hop pop broke the silence. "It begins…" "What begins?" Tint asked. "Fame," replied Hop pop. "Fame changes people, kids. And not in a good way."

Darrel knew that Hop pop was right about that. He looks out to Anne with his concerned expression on his face. 'Don't let those pimples get in your head, Anne. I don't want you to be someone you're not,' he thought.

While Anne was showing off to the citizens of Wartwood, the Plantars, Darrel, and the Salamanders were working hard at the farm. There were times when Anne drove across the farm, and the citizens followed her, destroying the crops. Other times the crowd would destroy their vegetable stand making all the scream beans scream.

There were also times that Darrel would stand in the crowd watching Anne participate in charity benefits for Mayor Toadstool. From opening schools, to unveiling statues. Darrel watches her with a glum look on his face. 'Who knows how long those things are going to be on her face?' he thought.

Then one day, the group sneak into City Hollow to find Anne in her living quarters. Sprig knocks on the window, and the group pours in. "Hey Anne, got time for a visit?" asked Sprig.

"Oh, hey guys," said Anne. "Gotta say Anne, I'm liking the new pad," said Darrel. "I know, epic right?" Anne immediately jumps on her couch, posing like the portrait above her. "Can you believe I was living in your basement? Hah, it was cold, dusty, not to mention smelly. Oh, no offense."

Hop pop tries to hide his anger and simply says, "None taken." Then, the grandfather clock chimes. "Oh shoot, we gotta wrap this up," said Anne. "I've got to sign autographs, kiss tadpoles, and do some interviews all before dinner."

She pushes the group out of her quarters, "So good to talk to you guys. Love you, mean it. Mwah." She closes the door leaving most of the group frazzled by her attitude. Sprig was upset, Polly was shocked, Darrel was glum, and Tint didn't know what to think.

"The heck was that?" Sprig asked. "It's like she's a different person," said Tint. "Yeah, a crazy person," said Polly. Darrel simply kicked the ground with his shoe. "It's those stupid pimples," he mumbled quietly.

However, Hop pop and Cronaxx stood tall. "But she's your best friend right?" Cronaxx asked Darrel. Darrel nodded quietly. "Kids, whenever one of your own makes it big, you support them no matter what. Because deep deep deep down, they're the same person," said Hop pop. Everyone, even Darrel agreed. But what they didn't know was that Anne was listening from the other side.

Back at the farm, Darrel was practicing magic, using the element of water. Tint came by to practice using his fire magic. "You know that when water and fire come together, it evaporates into a cloud?" Tint asked. Darrel was surprised, "No, I didn't."

Tint smiled, "Let's give it a try. Just follow my lead." The two wizards in training perform their elemental powers in sync, mirroring their every move. Then, when Darrel and Tint hit their water ball and flameball together, it evaporated into mist.

"Cool," said Darrel. "Now watch this," said Tint. He creates more mist from his hands, and the cloud condensates into rain. "The more mist that condenses into that cloud," said Tint. "The bigger chances of rain coming from the sky," Darrel finished.

"Exactly," said Cronaxx. "The fire, the water, the soil, they have no pride. Even when they look physically different, they are still what they are on the inside." "Don't worry, Darrel. She'll come around," said Tint. Darrel nodded, "Okay, let's get some sleep." The three went into Bessie's stable and got some shut eye.

The very next morning, the Plantars and the Salamanders had breakfast. Darrel rushed in with a letter in his hand. "Guys! Anne is in trouble! We need to go!" he cried. "Alright!" cried Sprig. The group raced into town, and into City Hollow.

Sprig knocks on the door, and Anne quickly lets them in. "We came as soon as we got your note," said Tint. "What's the trouble?" Polly asked. Anne shows them that her pimples are gone. "My life is ruined! My zits are gone. Without them, I'm nothing!"

Sprig was a bit uneasy with her situation, but Darrel quickly went to Anne's side. He puts his hands on Anne's shoulders, "Anne, calm down. We're here for you, and we'll do anything we can to help you." He looks at Cronaxx and Hop pop who nod at his support.

"Oh thank goodness!" Anne cried. Sprig got to thinking and then pulled out a book. "What if we stuck some of those swamp berries to your face?" He points to a batch of berries to the group. "They kinda look like pimples," said Tint. "And I can cast a color charm to make them look like authentic pimples, like the ones you had before," said Darrel.

"That's a great idea," said Anne. "But how are we going to get into the swamp without me being seen? I have fa-Annes everywhere." "I'm not even going to ask. Otherwise it'll catch on all of us," said Cronaxx. "Don't worry about the crowds Anne, I have a pla-Anne," said Hop pop. "And now it's hooked onto us," said Tint.

Outside the gates, the citizens of Wartwood crowded the gates, hoping to see Anne and her pimples. The group came out with a laundromat filled with towels. "Make way, everyone!" Tint cried. "Plague towels, everyone," said Hop pop. "Plague towels !"

The crowds made way to avoid getting infected. Leaving the group a path to get by. But as they hit a pebble, Anne's shoe pops out of one of the towels. "Hey everyone, that's Anne's foot!" cried one of the frogs. "The jig is up! RUN!" Sprig cried.

The group raced out of the Hollow and into the city streets. The crowd followed not far behind them. "We'll never make it!" Anne cried. "Not without a diversion, we won't," said Cronaxx. "Anne give me and Hop pop your shoe,"

"Alright," said Anne. She gives Hop pop and Cronaxx her shoe and they stop in their tracks. "Hey everyone! We got Anne's shoe!" Surprised at their sudden stop, Anne and Darrel cried out. "Hop pop! NOOOO!" "CRONAAAAAXXXXX!"

The crowd converged on Hop pop and Cronaxx's position. They turned their heads and said, "Fly, you fools." The crowd dog piled on them and the kids disappeared into the swamp. "They'll be fine," said Polly. "I'll second that," said Tint.

The group makes it to the swamp and finds the swamp berries. Anne takes the berries and sticks them onto her face. "How do I look?" she asked. "Like a pepperoni pizza," replied Darrel. "So I say you look right for the public." Anne looks to the water and smiles, "Thanks for helping me guys." Darrel waves his hand and makes the berries look more red. "That's what we're here for," said Sprig. "Not me," said Polly. "I'm just here for the drama."

Later that day, the group takes Anne to the meeting without being seen. They blend into the crowd and see Anne come out to give her speech. Darrel smiled at her with support, but this smile was different. This smile was real and sincere.

"Crazy week, huh?" Anne started. "A couple of days ago, I was a monster. But now, I'm the pride and joy of Wartwood. I've got a nice apartment, fa-Annes, fame…" She looks to Darrel with a genuine smile on her face. "But, you know what I'm missing? The people who will stick with me, whether I'm a monster or not."

She takes the berries off her face and drops them on the ground. The crowd looks in shock and awe. Darrel places his hand on his heart, feeling prideful for his friend's decision. Mayor Toadstool, however, wasn't happy. "Anne! What are you doing? You're throwing it all away? Now how am I supposed to convince these idiots to vote for me?!"

Mayor Toadstool was unaware that the mic was on, and that the crowd was listening. The crowd grew furious that they prepared their fruits and vegetables to throw at him. "Now simmer down now. Simmer do-" The frogs throw their fruit at him and he runs off from the frogs of Wartwood.

After that, the crowd dispersed leaving the group alone. Anne, feeling guilty with how she acted grew anxious. "Uh, hey guys." The group just smiled, and Sprig pulled up an Anne doll. "These are horrifying," he said. The Salamanders nodded in agreement.

"Thanks for sticking with me, even when the attention got to my head," said Anne. "Just remember to do the same thing when I'm rich and famous," said Hop pop. "Might not ever happen," said Tint.

"Any chance I can go back to being the monster that lives in your basement?" Anne asked. Sprig and Polly hug Anne's legs and Darrel places his hand on Anne's shoulder. "We wouldn't have it any other way," he said. "Thanks you guys," said Anne.

Suddenly, Anne just remembered something. "Hey, you know what? I still have the key to the apartment. You guys wanna try out the hot tub before they change the locks?" The group cheered, accepting the offer, and went off to the apartment.

The very next day, the group prepares for another day in the fields. As Darrel got ready for his assignments, Tint noticed something. "Hey Darrel, you got something on your face," he said. "I do?" Darrel asked. He takes out his phone and uses the glass reflection to see his face.

He finds a pimple on his right cheek, and laughs it off. "It appears the universe has put me in Anne's shoes," he said. "What was that, Darrel?" Anne asked. "I just got a pimple on my cheek," replied Darrel. "It's no big deal, it's just the last of its kind." The two laugh it off as they prepare to work in the fields again.