Several days later, Shadow and Anne were working in the field on a sunny day, pulling weeds out from the vegetable field, Anne standing up to stretch, sweating head to toe and exhausted.
"Man, this is tiring." Anne said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Hey, Shadow. Can we get some shade here?"
Suddenly, a sizable mushroom was planted nearby, offering shade.
"Already ahead of you." Shadow declared.
The two humans laid in the shade for their break, basking in the fruits of their labor-or veggies, so to speak-, looking up at the clouds and just enjoying the company of the other.
"Do you think I'll ever get home?" Anne asked.
"That depends how determined you are to reach your goal." Shadow pointed out. "And no matter how difficult it may seem, I'll be there to help you."
Anne smiled at this, feeling grateful that she had such a caring friend, completely unaware that their hands were touching, before he stood up.
"Alright, time for our next lesson." He declared.
"Ooh, what're we going over today?" Anne asked with excitement. "Shoot energy blasts? Going Super Sayain? Create a SPIRIT BOMB?!"
Shadow only tilted his head in confusion, Anne sighing, "We just binged Dragon Ball last night!"
"Well, our powers are nothing like that." Shadow stated. "At least, not to that degree I think."
"Whatever." Anne waved it off. "So, what are we learning?"
"We're gonna do something different today." Shadow said with a smile. "Today, I'm going to teach you how to fly."
Upon hearing the word 'fly', Anne felt her heart skip a beat, her excitement levels raising to high levels, her eyes sparkling with glee and a grin as wide as Texas.
"AW YEAH!" She declared loudly, throwing a fist in the air. "I'm finally gonna be like Goku!"
A sweat dropped down Shadow's head before he spoke, "Oooookaaay. Focus now." Anne stood at attention and listened. "First, focus on the idea of flying. Focus the energy within and imagine yourself being lifted off the ground, as though you were defying gravity itself."
Nodding, Anne closed her eyes and straightened herself a bit, focusing the energy within, trying to imagine flying, but she couldn't even levitate off the ground. She tried to concentrate for several hours, but no matter how hard she tried, nothing changed.
Finally, she let out a frustrated sigh, "Darnit, what am I doing wrong?!"
With a soft hum, Shadow stood up from the log, "No need to get discouraged-"
"How can I not?!" Anne snapped, throwing her hands up. "How can you make it look so easy?!"
"Trust me, it wasn't easy for me when I first started." Shadow stated. "It took me almost a week to get a hang of flying, and even longer to master it."
Anne didn't seem convinced, plopping down on a stump, groaning, Shadow could feel the stress and anxiety from her, before sitting down next to her.
"You're stressed, I understand." He said as he put an arm around her shoulder. "You want to learn what you can and find your friends, and I get that. But you shouldn't try to force yourself to get adjusted so quickly. After all, a wise man once told me, the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over the other."
Anne looked at him before smiling, "You had some good teachers."
"They taught me everything I know." Shadow shrugged. "Now, let's take a break…with some sparring practice."
Nodding, Anne quickly picks up a wooden sword and got into a stance, eager to vent with some combat.
After a week, the two continued, Anne trying to concentrate on flying, but she couldn't get a single foot off the ground, Shadow comforting her as best he could, the two sparring to focus on improving her combat abilities.
The seventh day of the week, however, was the game changer. The two stood in the clearing, Anne concentrating the energy within, and shortly enough, Anne seemed to levitate off the ground a bit, at least two feet off the ground.
"You're making progress, at least." Shadow said with a smile.
"It would be nice if I was actually soaring through the air." Anne frowned.
"Like I said, it takes time." Shadow said. "After all, Newtopia wasn't built in a day."
Anne sighed, Shadow could tell that she was still feeling down, but had an idea, "How about I give you a taste?"
Anne looked up as he offered a hand, before she took it.
"Now, hang on tight and don't let go." Shadow instructed.
Nodding, Anne gripped his hand tightly before he started to float upward, and soon enough taking Anne skyward with him, the Thai girl slightly startled before calming down, her eyes staring in awe at how high above Wartwood the two were, before Shadow took them soaring above, diving downward, flying through the trees, over and under logs before darting upward again, Anne laughing the whole way, before looking up at Shadow once more, the wind flowing through his hair and a smile on his face.
'He looks so happy, not to mention cute.' Anne thought to herself before blushing madly. 'Wait, did I just think that?'
She shook her head quickly, as though to disperse such thoughts, but to no avail. She couldn't deny how handsome the boy was, but she felt she didn't want to overstep her bounds by taking advantage of his hospitality.
"Wanna stop by the Plantars and see how they're doing?" Shadow asked.
"Definitely!" Anne replied with a smile.
Shadow flew downward, pulling Anne along through the sky, going downward before the Plantar Farm came into view, both humans seeing Sprig and Polly in the field, with a massive hole dug out next to the field, the frog kids having Bessie pull a large mushroom to pour water in it. Curious, the two humans landed gently near the hole.
"Hey, guys!" Sprig called. "Nice of you guys to stop by to see true leadership at work!"
The two humans seemed confused, with Shadow speaking up, "Sprig, what's going on? What's with the hole?"
"We were sick of Hop Pop not listening to our suggestions!" Sprig declared. "So, after I defeated him in a Plantar Family Challenge, I took over as head of the farm!"
"We're finally having a swimming pool!" Polly shouted loudly before diving into the makeshift pool.
Both humans look at each other with blank expressions before looking at Sprig before Anne asked, "And where did Hop Pop go?"
"Probably off to lick his wounds." Sprig shrugged, clearly uncaring. "Under my leadership, this farm will be better than ever!" He then smiled. "Wanna join in? Any suggestions you have will be heard!"
Anne looked like she wanted to join in, but a concerned look from Shadow made her think otherwise, "Actually, we're kinda busy. Just wanted to stop by and see what's up."
"Suit yourselves." Sprig shrugged. "Just remember; this farm will listen!"
The two humans began walking away and once they were out of earshot, Anne asked her caretaker, "You wanna go find Hop Pop, don't you?"
"Yes, actually." Shadow replied. "In fact, I know exactly where to find him when he's sad."
The two walked through the marsh until they arrived at the Wartwood Cemetery, before Anne gasped at the sight of what looked like a skull that looked exactly like Hop Pop.
"No, Hop Pop!" She cried as she ran over to the skull, cradling it in her arms. "We're too late!"
"Anne, he's right up there." Shadow deadpanned, pointing upward.
Anne followed the finger to where Shadow was pointing, seeing a very much alive Hop Pop, walking through the graveyard with a depressed look on his face.
"Oh." Anne said before dropping the skull and dusting herself off. "Still, can't blame me for worrying."
The two quickly walked past one grave after another before soon catching up to the old frog.
"Hop Pop!" Anne called, catching his attention.
"Oh, hey, kids." Hop Pop greeted sadly.
"What happened, Hop Pop?" Shadow asked. "How did you lose to Sprig?"
"He was clever and used my own upper body strength against me." The old frog sighed. "Now, I'm getting comfortable here with the other frogs no one needs anymore."
Both humans look at each other, both feeling bad for the elder frog, before Shadow spoke up, "Why don't you stay at my hut? Can't have you suffering out here."
"You'd do that for me?" Hop Pop said.
"Of course." Shadow nodded. "After all, it would be wrong of me to let you beat yourself up given everything you've done for me."
Hop Pop gave up on reminding him that he didn't owe him, before saying, "Shadow, you've got yourself a deal!"
The trio soon turned to leave, but stopped when they saw a blue beetle stuck on its back, struggling to get back on its feet.
"Need some help little fella?" Hop Pop asked before picking it up and sets it on its feet. "There you go."
The three soon made to be on their way, when the beetle started following after them, scuttling beside Hop Pop, which the old frog took notice of.
"Hey, you're more loyal than my own family." He said with a smile before picking up the beetle. "I'm gonna call you…Jeremy."
Soon enough, frog and beetle caught up with the two humans, making way for the hut.
After getting home, Shadow got to work constructing three additional rooms for the hut, one for himself, another for Anne, and the third for Hop Pop, with help from his two friends, of course, so they managed to finish within the day. After that, they got to work, with Hop Pop helping out around the farm, as well as Shadow giving a small colony for Jeremy and his beetle friends a small home nearby, the beetles scavenging for food, such as mushrooms and other items.
Day soon turned to night, Anne was washing the dishes while Hop Pop was tidying the main room, while Shadow was out doing some last-minute hunting.
"I really appreciate you guys letting me stay." The old frog declared.
"Well, what can I say?" Anne chuckled. "Only right to help your neighbors."
Hop Pop laughed, "If only everyone followed that philosophy."
The two continued to work in silence, before Anne asked, "Hey, Hop Pop? What did Shadow mean when he said he owed you?"
"Well, it was five years ago when I first found him." Hop Pop explained. "I was on my way back to town when I found him, washed up on the riverbed, close to dying. I couldn't bring myself to leave him, so I took him home and nursed him back to health." He then placed a stack of neatly folded clothes on a table. "After he got better, he stayed a while, doing chores to pay off his debt, before he moved out here." He then sighed. "He keeps insisting that his debt ain't paid, no matter how many times I insist otherwise."
Anne felt her heart ache at this. A ten-year-old boy near death, no doubt from what must have been a terrible experience. Whatever it was, she knew that he had to have been scarred greatly.
"Did he ever tell you how he got there?" She asked.
"He was pretty vague about it." Hop Pop said with a shake of his head. "That he made a difficult choice."
Anne seemed confused. What choice did Shadow make that resulted in him being close to death near a river?
With their chores finished, the two decided to turn in for the night, Anne thinking about what she was told.
Morning came, and while Hop Pop was working on the farm, the two humans were training in the clearing, Anne swinging her weapon while Shadow blocked or deflected, using his right hand this time, sneaking in several soft hits, before Anne managed to hit his right leg, making him buckle, before she aimed for the head, only for the boy to duck under the swing before swinging upward, Anne leaning back to dodge, only to lose her footing and fall back, landing on her butt before scrambling to her feet, readying a stance.
"That's enough." Shadow said.
Anne relaxed, shoulders slumping before falling to her knees, breathing heavily from the sparring.
"You're getting better." Shadow stated, rubbing the spot on his leg where he was struck. "Managed to hit my leg. Well done."
"Thanks." Anne said with heavy breath. "I have a great teacher."
The two sat on a log to take a break, watching the dragonflies fly overhead, one of them carrying a frog that apparently still hadn't been rescued yet, the two basking in the sunlight of the morning.
"I admit, as deadly as this world can be, it has its perks." Anne said. "Like how beautiful it is despite all that wild nature."
"I'm glad you appreciate it." Shadow smiled. "I too can appreciate the company of others now and again."
Anne raised a brow at that, "Didn't the Plantars visit from time to time?"
"Yeah, but I prefer my privacy." Shadow shrugged. "I prefer not to endanger others."
Before Anne could ask for more details, a distressed Polly bounced through the brush.
"Guys, thank frog I found you!" The pollywog shouted. "The farm is ruined and we have no food and we're gonna die!"
Anne and Shadow blinked before looking at each other with concern, before looking at the young female frog.
"Okay, how bad is it?" Anne dared to ask.
That proved to be a stupid question, as the two humans stared slack-jawed at the ruins that was the Plantar homestead, several large moquitoes drinking from the dirtied swimming pool and laying eggs, a clown sitting atop the house to get away from hungry cowapillars and the vegetable field decaying with flies everywhere.
Both humans winced at the scene, as a burning flag fell down behind them.
"Okay, it's worse than I thought." Anne admitted, cringing hard at the scene.
The three soon found Sprig in the living room through a giant, gaping hole in the house.
"Sprig, what the hell happened?" Anne demanded.
"I leave you alone for a day and this happens!" Shadow scolded the frog boy.
"Okay, I admit we have a few kinks," Sprig tried to defend himself.
"Apparently!" Polly shouted.
"But thankfully, we have the power of great suggestions and management that listens!" Sprig declared ignorantly, before turning to write on a blackboard. "We just need good suggestions and-"
"Here's one," Shadow spoke up. "We put Hop Pop back in charge."
Sprig broke the chalk at that, turning to them with a crazed look, "Hopediah Plantar was a TYRANT!"
"One that knew how to run a farm." Shadow pointed out.
"And most importantly; cook!" Polly added.
"I will not go back to that life!" Sprig rejected volatilely. "Don't you like being listened to?!"
"I don't feel listened to at the moment." Anne said, feeling uncomfortable.
"Ditto." Polly nodded. "You're kinda freakin' me out, bro."
"I'm afraid I agree, given what I've seen." Shadow nodded. "You're still a boy trying to do a man's job."
"I AM A MAN!" Sprig shouted, hyperventilating angrily, before calming down, wiping the chalk dust on his face and hat. "You know what? Let's take fifteen minutes and start this meeting over. And next time, I want to hear a GOOD suggestion!"
With that, Sprig left, Anne and Polly looked up to Shadow secretly.
"Are you thinking the same thing we are?" Anne asked the older boy.
"Most definitely." Shadow nodded. "Let's find Hop Pop."
Back at the hut, Hop Pop was tending to the crops, when Jeremy scuttled up with a glass of bug juice lemonade.
"Thanks, Jeremy." Hop Pop said, taking the glass and taking a sip. "You know, I can't thank Shadow enough for letting me stay. I really feel like I'm part of something."
"There he is!"
The old frog turned to see the three kids run up to him.
"Oh hey, kids." He greeted with a smile. "Shadow, the crops look like they're coming along good. I sense a good harvest coming up!"
"Really? That's great!" Shadow smiled before remembering why they were there. "Hop Pop, we need you to go back to running the farm. Sprig is clearly out of control."
"He has turned the farm into a wasteland for mosquitoes!" Anne said.
"And we've been eating nothing but raw potatoes." Polly added, clearly irritated. "I'm having digestive strife, Hop Pop! DIGESTIVE! STRIFE!"
Hop Pop seemed to consider some things before turning to Jeremy, "Can you give us a minute, Jeremy?" The little blue beetle seemed to obligate, scuttling off to the side before the old frog turned back to the kids. "I've changed since Shadow allowed me to stay. How long has it been?"
"A day and a half." Polly said dryly.
"I've got me a new life out here." Hop Pop said with a look of serenity on his face. "I've learned about community, equality, listening…"
Polly whispered in Shadow's ear before the boy deadpanned, "Did I mention Sprig sleeps in your bed now?"
"HE WHAT?!"
Back at the ruined farm, Sprig sat squatting in a hunched position, as a passing cowapillar crashed into a wall, clearly lost his mind.
"Now where did those ungrateful kids get off to?" He mumbled, his eyes shifting side to side before looking up. "Hm?"
He then spotted something falling from a great height, landing in front of him, startling him, the smoke clearing to reveal Hop Pop.
"I HAVE RETURNED!" The old frog declared, as Shadow and Anne stood at his side, Anne carrying Polly.
"I don't believe this!" Sprig sneered, standing up angrily and pointing an accusing finger at the trio. "Backstabbers! Conspirators!"
"Sorry dude. You had a good run." Anne said, not bothered by the frog's outrage. "Big ambitions…"
"But you're still a boy trying to do a man's job." Shadow stated firmly.
"We didn't know what we were doing!" Polly added.
"We had a beautiful dream!" Sprig declared in defiance, holding up a flag that read 'Listening is Loving'. "But I guess I'm the only one willing to fight for it."
"You're living a dream, boy." Shadow glared, pulling out a small bell and giving it to Hop Pop. "Time to wake up."
Ringing the bell, Hop Pop pointed at his grandson, "Sprig Plantar, I challenge you to a rematch. Winner gets control of the farm…forever!"
"Sprig, do you accept?" Shadow asked.
"Please say yes." Anne said through gritted teeth.
Sprig stared through squinted eyes, "I accept."
They returned to the swamp where Sprig and Hop Pop standing on a lily pad, donning their loincloths, while Polly, Anne and Shadow watched from the sides, with Jeremy sitting next to Shadow, the atmosphere strangely intense.
"I beat you once, I can do it again." Sprig declared, lathering himself with mud. "I'll prove my way is right."
Hop Pop scoffed as he spread mud across his face, "We'll see."
Grandfather and grandson stared each other down, Anne biting her nails before Shadow placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, calming her down.
"Let the final challenge begin!" Polly declared, ringing the bell.
Both frogs young and old screamed as they charged at each other, slamming each other with their tongues, knocking each other to the ground.
"The girls and Shadow told me everything, Sprig." Hop Pop said.
"What?"
Hop Pop pushed the boy back, "You're destroying the farm. Don't you see? Even if you win, you lose."
Sprig grunts as he pushed his feet against the old frog, pushing him back down.
"So, I'm just supposed to go back to the way things were?" Sprig snapped. "You never listened to us!"
Hop Pop got back up and caught Sprig in a grapple, "And I was wrong! I know now that you can't work together unless everyone has a say. Jeremy and Shadow taught me that."
Shadow smiled at this.
"You... You mean it?" Sprig said, stopping his struggle. "I have to admit, most of my ideas were pretty terrible. I think we even caused permanent damage to the ecosystem."
"Yeah, but some of your ideas could work. We'll never know unless we try." Hop Pop admitted. "I promise from now on to actually read your suggestions."
With the exception of Shadow, everyone gasped, Jeremy chirped with excitement.
"Promise?" Sprig asked hopefully.
"Promise." Hop Pop swore.
Sprig smiled at this before letting go, allowing himself to fall back into the mud.
"AND THE WINNER IS HOP POP!" Polly exclaimed, jumping on the bell and ringing it furiously.
After putting Hop Pop back in charge and fixing the farm back up, the old frog was more than willing to listen to any suggestions. Setting up a smaller version of the swimming hole for the kids while setting up the necessary shade. When day soon turned to night, Hop Pop was reading through Sprig's suggestions, the beetles bringing in each one and stacking them on a table, Hop Pop throwing the bad ones in the fire while keeping the good ones. What? At least he wasn't secretly burning them.
Meanwhile, Anne and Shadow were back in the clearing, Shadow pulling Anne up in the air to continue their flying lessons, the boy holding her hands as to not let her fall.
"Alright, remember to concentrate the energy within." Shadow instructed. "Make it feel natural to you, like breathing or walking."
Nodding, Anne takes a breath and concentrates as best she could, feeling herself being held in the air, as though her center of gravity was being held in place.
"Alright, now I'm about to let you go." Shadow told her. "Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll catch you."
Anne nodded, trusting her teacher, as he soon released her, floating back a bit. So far, Anne showed no signs of falling down, which amazed the Thai girl greatly.
"Whoa, am I actually doing it?!" She said in surprise.
"So far, so good." Shadow nodded. "You're making progress, that's for sure."
Anne smiled at this, before she lit up with an idea, "Hey, do you think I could fly beyond the valley?"
"Not without proper preparation." Shadow denied. "We still need to make the needed preparations before we even consider that. Not to mention it's tiring for those just starting."
"Oh, fair point." Anne decided not to argue, knowing better than to argue with her teacher.
"Now, let's head back down." Shadow said. "Think you can manage?"
"Let's find out."
The two then floated downwards, their feet touching solid ground, then returned to the hut, turning in for the night.