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Finally, I've completed another chapter. As someone with ADHD, even with the extra time I have to write, lord is it difficult to focus. So I apologize for the long wait. Before we start, I just wanna say I won't be writing for every episode of Amphibia. Anne goes on way to many adventures, and if I wrote all of that, my fingers would fall off lmfao. I will be writing for the major episodes, like True Colors, don't worry. I'll only skip fillers that I've seen twenty billion times. As always, here's the next chapter!

Total Word Count: 2580

!𝑻𝑾!: 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑩𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝑰𝒏 𝑨 𝑪𝒂𝒈𝒆

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"There's a place where lovers go

To cry their troubles away

And they call it 'Lonesome Town'

Where the broken hearts stay

You can buy a dream or two

To last you all through the years

And the only price you pay

Is a heart full of tears

Goin' down to Lonesome Town

Where the broken hearts stay

Goin' down to Lonesome Town

To cry my troubles away

In the town of broken dreams

The streets are filled with regret

Maybe down in Lonesome Town

I can learn to forget

Maybe down in Lonesome Town

I can learn to forget."

"Lonesome Town"-Ricky Nelson

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"And this bad boy is my kitty Domino."

A video on Anne's phone shows her cat Domino licking its leg.

"You guys would like her. She's got fire."

You vigorously nod your head, fawning over the small creature immediately.

Sprig grabs the phone from Anne's hand, making a face of interest.

"Aw, she's so tiny! I feel huge!"

You giggle at their comments until you see Sprig pull out a hammer from his vest.

"Hmm. I will... set her free!"

Quickly, you snatch the phone away before he could smash it.

Anne let's put a relieved sigh and you hand the phone back.

A few seconds pass, as you and Anne start to smell something awful.

She covers her nose in disgust. "Ugh! What is that? Did something crawl under the house and die?"

You fight back the urge to gag.

Sprig sniffs the air, looking up with a dark expression. "Worse, Anne. Much worse. Hop Pop is cooking!"

'Oh.'

You all make your way to the front door, as Sprig pulls on the handle.

"Brace yourself."

"Brace myself for what?"

He opens the door, and a wave of stench so powerful, it knocks all of you down and comes rushing out. A green tint was in the air. How gross.

Hop-pop was in the kitchen tasting his food, Sprig bouncing up beside him.

"What's the plan this year, Hop Pop? Poison the competition? Ooh!"

He bonks Sprig on the head with a spoon, "The plan is to win."

You and Anne walk into the kitchen, Anne holding the bucket Polly was currently situated in.

"Win?"

"The annual village potluck. Every year we frogs gather for a great contest. The family who brings the best-tasting dish is showered with love and copper coins. The family with the worst-tasting dish spends the night in..."

(Thunder noises)

"The shame cage!"

You shake your head. "Brutal."

"And guess which family ends up there every year."

Hop-pop, Sprig, and Polly all sigh in unison.

You and Anne frown.

Anne thinks for a moment, before slamming her fist on the table. "If you think I'm gonna let my favorite froggy family end up in a cage, you've got another thing coming. I know I'm not technically a Plantar, but maybe (Y/N) and I can help."

You nod. "Exactly!"

"Anne, (Y/N), we'd sure appreciate it."

Anne walks over to the pot of unknown liquid currently boiling over a fire. "So, what you making over there, Hop Pop? Sock gumbo?"

Hop-pop shakes his head and picks up a large book full of recipes. "No, silly. It's a traditional recipe from my family's cookbook. We been using this baby since I was a pollywog."

Anne picks up the book and skims through it.

"Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I think I found your problem, guys."

The Plantars gasp.

She snaps the book shut and drops it. "Old things are dumb!"

You snort and Hop-pop catches the book with his tongue.

"Oh, that makes sense."

"It's all so clear now."

Hop-pop frowns. "But we Plantars have always cooked these recipes. What would my great-gam-gam say?"

Anne looks at the photo on the wall and then looks back at the Plantars.

"She'd say, "Move on."

You hold back giggles at Anne's bluntness.

Hop-pop sighs, "She was a fierce woman."

Anne pulls out her phone, looks something up and pushes it across the table with her pointer finger. "Look, if we're gonna win this thing, we need something new, something revolutionary, something no one in the swamp has ever seen before. Something like...Pizza!"

Sprig and Polly stare at the phone in astonishment.

"Whoa."

"I don't know what it is, but I love it."

"Pizza is the ultimate dish. You haven't lived until you've shared one with your friends at the mall."

You nod in agreement, remembering the time you shared a pizza at the mall with your friends.

"Now, now, hold on. Before we get carried away, what about this tried-and-true recipe? Swamp mold pot pie!"

Hop-pop flips through the pages of the cookbook, landing on a very disgusting-looking item.

'Wtf.'

Sprig and Polly chant for the pizza, uninterested in the old cookbook.

"Okay, okay. Sheesh."

Sprig shows Hop-pop the photo, "We'll win for sure with this, Hop Pop," sneakily pulling out the same hammer, "Now all we gotta do is..."

Anne snatches the phone away before he could smash it with the tool, clearing her throat. "All we gotta do is get four ingredients-- dough, cheese, basil, and tomatoes. Are you guys ready to make our pizza dreams a pizza reality?"

You grin at the chanting of Polly and Sprig.

"Oh! Oh! Maybe we should put pineapple on it. Seems like a natural fit."

Anne grabs Sprig by the shirt and pins him to the wall. "Don't you dare talk about pineapple on my pizza. Ever."

'Slay queen.'

A grim look was on your face at the mention of pineapple on pizza. Yet your mood changed as quickly as Anne's when she grabbed your hand and began speaking, "Okay. Let's go get those ingredients. Pizza dreams!"

The two of you run out of the house, leaving a slightly traumatized Sprig.

(I'm sorry but pineapple on pizza is the bane of my existence. Anne was so real for that. Rip Sprig.)

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Flies buzz around a roll of flour as Mr. Flour, the baker, stomps on it before throwing it into his oven.

"If you want the dough, the boy has to marry my daughter."

He points at a surprised-looking Sprig, who turned his attention to Maddie, who was lurking creepily in the corner, with a voodoo doll of Sprig.

"Hiiiii, Spriiiiiiig..."

"Ain't she adorable?"

Anne snaps her fingers, "Done."

"You know, if we used a traditional recipe, we wouldn't have to sell Sprig."

"No! That old book is old. Sprig's eternal happiness is a small price to pay for pizza."

You give Anne a confused look, swearing you heard the vine boom noise in the background.

"Agreed."

"Aw, it's not so bad. Maybe we'll learn to love each other. Aah!"

Sprig jumps at the sight of Maddie right next to him.

"I've seen your death in my mind."

Sprig chuckles nervously, "I was kinda hoping it'd be a surprise."

"It will be."

(A slowed, sinister chuckle is played in the background. Lmfaoo.)

"Congratulations on your new son. Now cough up the dough."

The frog tosses the dough into Anne's hands.

"Pleasure doing business with ya."

Anne walks away, her hand still intertwined with yours. The three of you leave, Sprig quickly follows with Polly in his arms, creeped out by Maddie.

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All of you run, screaming as a worm-like monster chases you.

Ms.Croaker shouts, watching as the group of you struggle, "Thanks again for helping me out! I know Brutus can be a handful."

The creature bellows, not letting up on the chase.

At this moment you were thankful for those long years you had played softball, the endurance helping you out.

"What are we here for again?"

"Cheese!"

Hop-pop holds up the recipe book while running, "You know, there's a recipe in here that doesn't need cheese."

"No old recipes!"

Anne runs over to a bush full of large red leaves, and yanks of a leaf. She sprinted over to an open gate and waved the red leaf, "Hey, Brutus! Over here! ¡Toro! ¡Toro!"

The worm roars and goes into the fenced area, Anne falling out of the way just in time. However, right against some compost.

She expresses her disgust as Sprig closes the gate to the fenced-in area with his tongue, and jumps out onto the other side, sitting down and celebrating.

The worm roars, causing Anne and Sprig to jump and scoot back.

"Here you go, deary. A hunk of cheese made fresh from the milk of those ca—"

"Please don't tell me where it comes from."

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You help set the ingredients out, as Anne sets the basil down.

Sprig picks it up and puts it into a pouch.

"Hey, careful with that basil, dude. We had to fight off like ten giant aphids to get it."

"Who knew ultimate flavor could be so painful?"

"Almost lost my behind to those things."

"This is the price of progress, Hop Pop."

Anne nods and pulls out a map, "Exactly. And we've only got one ingredient left. Tomatoes. According to this, they should be up ahead."

"Still can't believe I traded my favorite dentures for that map."

"You know, I've never actually tasted a tomato. No one in town really sells them."

Hop-pop flips open the recipe book, "There's a reason for that. They're in the "dangerous vegetables" section. It suggests we go for prunes instead. Can't go wrong with prunes!"

Anne rolls her eyes. "Whoa-whoa. "Dangerous vegetables"? Come on!"

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The large plant monster in front of you roars.

"Ho..."

"ly.."

"...tomato."

The plant roars again.

"You know, this baby's got some great substitutes, all of which are delightfully harmless."

"Couldn't hurt to hear a few options."

You nod, backing away from the monster with the Plantars, before Anne runs behind you, stopping you in your tracks.

"Hold on! Guys, the shame cage isn't just in the town square. It's up here. You're not gonna change the world without taking a few risks. We need to be bold, groundbreaking, brave!"

"Anne, there's a big difference between courage and stupidity!"

A vine from the monster sneaks behind Hop-pop, snatching him away and throwing him into its mouth.

You all scream, "Hop Pop!"

The vines try to grab for the rest of you, unsuccessfully at first.

You grab Anne's hand and begin running.

However, the plant was too fast and caught all of you, throwing you into its mouth.

You fall on top of Anne, and the rest on top of you. The only thing keeping you and everyone else from falling is Anne, as she narrowly keeps the bag from falling into the acid below.

"Holy smokes! Acid!"

"Well, at least the ingredients are safe."

The ingredients fall out of the bag and into the acid below, the bag joining them.

Anne shouts in disappointment. "No!"

You frown, turning your head and laying your face on Anne's chest. At any other time, you would've been in heaven being this close to another female, not to mention one of your friends. (Who may or may not give you butterflies and a giddy feeling in your chest.)

"At least it'll be a quick, painless death."

"Why would this be painless?"

"Just let me have this lie!"

Anne sighs, "My revolutionary ideas were supposed to save you guys, not get you killed. I shouldn't have been so stubborn. I just really wanted to share a pizza with you guys."

"Ah, I didn't care about that pizza stuff anyway. But you were really trying to help this family out, and that's worth something in my book."

"Your book? That's it. Is there anything in the old ways that could help us right now?"

"Well, I don't know. Nothing especially useful. Just that the throat of this giant tomato plant is absolutely delicious eaten raw."

You all chew through the throat of the tomato plant, much to your displeasure.

(I can't stand tomatoes by themselves, I don't know if it's because I'm neurodivergent and the texture makes me want to gag or what.)

The plant roars and growls, and you all get flung onto the ground as the monster dies.

Polly spits, "Know your place, plant!"

A bell in the background rings.

"There isn't much time. Let's go home and make one of your old recipes, Hop Pop."

"Yup. But maybe we can spruce it up with something a little dangerous."

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A line of frogs places their dishes on a long table to be judged.

Anne and Hop-pop place a slice of tomato on top of the dish baked from the cookbook.

"Perfect."

A trumpet plays, as Mayor Toadstool makes an entrance.

"All right! Let the annual potluck begin! Let's get to tastin' those dishes."

The Mayor tries each dish on the table with positive commentary, until he gets to you and the Plantars.

"And last, but not least...the Plantars. What filth have you cooked up this ti-- Hmm? Tomato? That's awfully dangerous."

He sticks his finger in the dish and gets a taste, a drumroll playing in the background.

"Why, I do declare! This is the best dish the Plantar family has ever brought to a potluck!"

Everyone gasps.

"What? Did we do it? Did we actually win?"

"Win? No! No, no, no, no, no, no. Oh, it's better than usual, but it's still terrible. Last place, as usual."

You along with the Plantars sigh.

"You folks should know the way to the shame cage by now. Hurry along. All right, boys, light it up."

You all make your way to the shame cage.

"Cheer up, guys. Sure we came in last. Again. But thanks to Anne's new ideas and Hop Pop's old ones, we've done the best we've ever done."

"You know, he's right."

"We did, didn't we? Uh, this is weird, but... any chance (Y/N) and I could squeeze in there?"

"How 'bout it, Carl?"

"The more the merrier."

Hop-pop chuckles, "Hear that?"

"Get in here, you crazy kids."

The Plantars sit down in the cage, and you and Anne follow. You move closer to Anne, holding her hand and laying your head on her shoulder, sweetly.

"Well, if we can't share a pizza, at least we can share this. And you know, honestly, this isn't so bad..."

Something green hits Anne in the face, "Hey, what the heck? What was that?"

"Ooh, I forgot to mention the shame nuggets"

The newly formed crowd under the cage attempted to throw things at you, Anne, and the Plantars.

"You people should be ashamed!"

"Hey! That's my son-in-law!"

"Tradition is such a beautiful—" Hop-pop begins, before getting hit with a shame nugget, "Son of a slug!"

The whole cage situation honestly didn't bother you as much, as long as you were next to Anne, you figured everything would be okay.

Using your free arm, you shielded Anne's face from the onslaught of the things being thrown.

Her face morphs into an expression of warmth as she looks at you with a smile. She was grateful. Grateful for someone as kind and as caring as you, who constantly put up with her stubbornness when most others couldn't.

Despite being in a cage, and having things thrown at you, you were still thoughtful and patient.

Anne's eyes soften at the sight of you laying against her, with your hand intertwined with hers, an emotion that could only be described as love.

Just as she thought her crush on you couldn't get bigger, you kept proving her wrong.

She sighed and laid her head on top of yours.

You smiled softly when you felt her relax against you, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

Even though you're in a completely different world, separated from your other friends and surrounded by unknown dangers, just for now, you believe everything will be alright.

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"That moment when you burst into tears in your room and you realize that no one knows how unhappy you are."

-Unknown

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