It was a bustling day in Wartwood, as Shadow and co. walked through the farmers market. Two days had passed since their encounter with the toads, both Anne and Shadow had to rest to recover from their injuries, with Kaemon taking up responsibilities around the hut, which the newt didn't mind. Thankfully, Anne's arm recovered thanks to the healing factor of her powers, and while Shadow's recovered thanks to his powers, he had to keep the bandage on to keep it from getting infected.
The trio had already bought some fruits and veggies, while also sold some meat before walking past an alley.
"Psst!"
They stopped and looked over, seeing Hop Pop ducked in an alleyway, along with Sprig and Polly, along with a janky wheelbarrow full of guards, with the words 'Inquire Within' drawn on the front.
"Hey, Shadow." Hop Pop whispered before pulling out an eggplant. "Wanna buy an eggplant?"
"Hop Pop?" Anne said. "What're you doin' sneaking around?"
"Hey, just 'cause we lost the family stand doesn't mean we can't sell our produce out of a janky wheelbarrow." Hop Pop declared.
Looking at the sorry state the Plantars had been reduced to, Anne couldn't help but frown, "This... This is pretty sad."
"And pretty shady." Shadow said.
"Agreed." Polly nodded.
"No kidding." Kaemon nodded.
"Ah, criminal activity." Sprig said before donning a ski mask. "Excitement!"
"Take that off!" Hop Pop snapped, snatching the mask off Sprig's head. "This is perfectly legal!"
"Then why are you hiding in an alley?" Kaemon asked, gesturing to said alley.
"Um, stop asking questions and don't give us away." Hop Pop said before sneaking from the alley, fully alert. He then tapped a nearby frog's shoulder. "Psst, lady. Wanna buy an eggplant? Huh?"
Surprised and shocked beyond belief, Hop Pop saw it was an old frog with pink nails and lime green skin, with orange cheeks and pink lipstick. She wore a pink dress with a small pink flower pinned on her chest. She also wore large, oval rimmed blue glasses and had her white hair tied back into a ponytail.
The female frog gasped at the sight of the old frog, exclaiming with joy, "Hoppy!"
"Wha- Sylvia!" Hop Pop exclaimed in shock.
Anne raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "Hoppy?"
"Come here, you sweet potato." The old woman said, giving Hop Pop a warm hug.
Hop Pop was stammering before returning the hug with one arm as the old female frog backed up, "Uh... I thought you had moved away."
"Yep, but I'm back in town." She declared with a smile. "Now, let's take a look at your veggies."
Hop Pop was stammering as his face was blushing red and sweating bullets, struggling to say a word, as Sylvia walked past him and to the wheelbarrow in the alley and picking up a gourd resembling a head.
"Oh, I'll take this one." She said, picking up a guard that looked shaped like a head, turning it around to show it had a face similar to Hop Pop's. "I've always had a soft spot for the weird ones." She said that before winking at the old frog.
Once again, Hop Pop stammered and sweat nervously.
"Well, I better be going." Sylvia said before giving him a copper coin and giving him one last hug before walking away. "Goodbye, Hoppy."
Hop Pop watched her walk away, the blush fading from his cheeks, "Goodbye, Sylvia." He said before sighing.
"Who was that?" Kaemon asked.
"Sylvia Sundew." Hop Pop said, looking back at the old lady frog. "It was a long time ago when we first met, before she left the valley. But now she's back!" He sighed dreamily. "And she's every bit as perfect as she was then."
Anne let out a gasp of excitement, "Hop Pop, you dog!"
"What's a dog?" Kaemon asked in confusion. "He's clearly a frog." He paused before realizing. "Hey, that rhymed."
"What's happening?" Sprig asked, he and Polly returning.
"What's going on?" Polly asked.
"Hop Pop is clearly in love." Anne told them.
"Whaaaat?" Sprig said in surprise.
"I didn't think that was possible." Polly said.
"Am not!" Hop Pop denied, before relenting. "Okay, maybe a little."
"Ohh! You should tell her how you feel." Anne said encouragingly.
"Anne, you shouldn't pressure someone into something they're not ready for." Shadow frowned.
"It's not that I don't want to." Hop Pop said before sighing. "I mean, I wish I could. 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 how I feel."
The teens and kids frowned, feeling sorry for the old frog, before Shadow took notice of a hammering sound coming from the square. Looking out of the alley, they saw a crowd gathering at the town square.
"Hmm. Kids, watch the wheelbarrow for a second." Hop Pop before walking towards the crowd.
"Anne, you and Kaemon stay put." Shadow said before following the old frog.
As it turned out, Toadie was hammering a new flier on the message board. The frogs of the town gathered around, as Hop Pop and Shadow walked over, seeing Toadie turn around to reveal 'Dance Fever on the flier.
"Dance Fever! With family fun! Shenanigans! Romance! Tonight from 6:00 p.m. till, well, however long you want!" He declared before hopping off his stool and walking away.
"Hmm." Hop Pop hummed, pondering for a moment before he saw Sylvia speaking with Felicia, her daughter.
"Been a long time since I've danced with someone." The old frog lady said. "Might be nice to feel the embrace of a man."
"Mom." Felicia chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
Hop Pop stammered once again, but felt someone poke his shoulder, the old frog turning around to see no one there. He then felt someone brush against his hair, turning around to see no one there again. He then turned around and got poked in the face.
"Ha-ha! Classic, gullible Hopediah!" Said the frog that was messing with him. He was a relatively tall, blue frog. He had a large head of gray hair with a brown hat on top, and a small mustache, trimmed in a French-like style. His eyes were buttercup-yellow. He also wore a brown jacket over a pale-brown t-shirt and dark blue pants.
Hop Pop clearly seemed annoyed to see him, "Oh. Hey, Monroe."
Anne, Kaemon and the Plantar kids peek from the alley, "Who's that jerk?" Anne asked.
"That's Monroe. He and Hop Pop have been rivals forever." Sprig told her.
"Monroe wins at pretty much everything. Lawn bowling, shuffleboard, other old man activities." Polly said.
"Seems like a big tool to me." Kaemon frowned.
"You're not seriously thinking of going to this thing, are you?" Monroe asked, moving around him. "Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself like last year's barn dance fiasco. See you around, old-timer." He then walked off laughing.
"Oh, we'll see about that, Monroe. We'll see." Hop Pop squinted his eyes as he watched Monroe leave.
"I'm certain you'll show him, Hop Pop." Shadow assured.
Suddenly, the two heard a loud whistle, seeing the kids run to them.
"Hop Pop, it's the fuzz!" Sprig yelled. "Everyone scatter!"
"Just run for it!" Kaemon yelled, grabbing the old frog and older teen and running, Anne holding Polly as she followed behind.
Upon returning to the hut, Shadow was sat in a chair as Anne stood before him with a pair of scissors.
"Okay, are you ready?" Anne asked.
"I am." Shadow nodded.
Anne then began to gently remove the bandage, starting by cutting the bandage before unraveling it, allowing some of the boys hair to pop out. Soon enough, she removed the last of the bandage before splitting his hair a bit, seeing a cracked scar on the left side of his head through the hair.
"Be honest, Anne." Shadow said. "How bad does it look?"
"Well, ummm…" Anne wasn't really sure what to say before digging through her bag and pulling out a handheld mirror, opening it up and showing him his reflection.
"Huh." Shadow said blandly. "Not too bad."
"You're not bothered by it?" Anne asked with worry.
"I've had worse scars." The boy shrugged, before noticing how Anne seemed sad. "Anne, it's okay."
"No, it's not!" Anne said, feeling the tears in her eyes threatening to fall. "You got hurt because of me! I could have lost you and it would've been my fault!"
Shadow looked at her with a surprised expression, looking away with sadness, realizing just how much that fight affected her. Almost losing a friend could mess anyone up.
Getting up, Shadow surprised Anne by pulling her into a gentle hug. "You won't lose me." He told her, gently rubbing her back as she embraced him back. "You forget that I'm the strongest and oldest Calamity in this world. I'm unbreakable."
Anne practically melted into his embrace, her face going red from being so close. Eventually, they separated, the boy looking out the window.
"I'm still concerned about the toads." Shadow admitted. "Like Bog said, they won't take kindly to Charon's death."
"Are you worried?" Anne asked teasingly.
Shadow faced her with a serious expression, "Aren't you?"
"Nope." Anne replied simply, taking his hand. "With you at my back, I'm not scared of anything."
Shadow smiled, "ShadAnne against the world."
Anne blushed, liking the smile on her mentor's face. She still remembered the kiss she gave on his cheek, the feeling of admiration evolving into something much more. Hoping to relief the awkward tension, she let go and picked up a bucket and laying it on its side on the table. Pulling out her phone, she placed it inside the bucket before playing some dance music, making it into a makeshift boombox.
"What're you doing?" Shadow asked as music blasted throughout the hut.
"Dancing!" Anne declared as she danced to the music. "Come on, join me!"
Shadow seemed perplex, his face turning red at the request, "I…I don't know how."
"Come on, I can teach you!" Anne insisted playfully. "What've you got to lose?"
After some consideration, Shadow got up and walked over. With Anne, Shadow started moving with the music with the girl. As he danced to the beat, Shadow felt at peace, as though nothing else mattered. Taking a glance at her mentor, Anne smiled at the serine look on his face and the smile he was sporting. The two would occasionally steal glances at each other and smiling. Shadow soon took her hand and spun her around, the Thai girl laughing joyfully.
When she stopped twirling, however, she saw Hop Pop peaking through the doorway staring at them.
"AAAaaahh!" Anne yelled, falling back on Shadow, her shoe flying off her foot and hitting the old frog in the face, making him fall over.
Anne quickly got up and paused the music before turning to the old frog, "Hop Pop, what the heck, dude?!"
"Anne, Shadow, I need your help!"
"What?" Anne said in confusion.
Just then, Kaemon walked in, before noticing Hop Pop and Shadow on the floor.
"What happened?"
Hop Pop laid out the Dance Fever poster against the wall, having explained the situation to the teens and newt.
"So, you want to learn how to dance." Shadow summarized.
"That's why I'm begging you." Hop Pop said. "Teach me your ways! I can't tell Sylvia how I feel, but maybe I can show her by dancing with her."
"Huh. Never figured you for a hopeless romantic, Hop Pop." Anne said before smiling. "Let's do this thing."
"Hey, I'm in too!" Kaemon declared. "I've been around Amphibia and learned my fair share of dancing."
"I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I'll do my best." Shadow said.
"Thanks, kids." Hop Pop smiled. "Hey, um, think we could keep this just between us?"
"Our lips are sealed." Shadow assured, Anne and Kaemon nodding in agreement.
Later…
"Whoo! Dance it up, Hop Pop!" Sprig cheered, sitting on a log with Polly next to him.
"Shake that booty!" Polly exclaimed, holding a bag of popcorn.
After Hop Pop asked the teens for help, Anne went outside to prepare things. When Shadow, Hop Pop, and Kaemon came outside, however, there were the Plantar kids, clearly having already known about it.
"What happened to the zipped lips?" Hop Pop asked in a disappointed tone.
Shadow and Kaemon both gave Anne the stink eye, who was dressed differently for this, her hair up in a bun with a green ribbon and a light pink headband, along with a green undershirt with a slightly darker pink t-shirt, dark brown athletic shirts, and fuzzy pink legging cuffs.
"Couldn't help it. This is just too juicy!" Anne said, stretching her limbs, completely ignoring the disapproving stares. "Besides, when I'm done with you, you and Sylvia will be locking lips by the end of the night."
"Oh, come on!" Polly yelled, dropping her popcorn, while her brother groaned in disgust, while Hop Pop blushed.
"Did not need to hear that." Shadow said, while Kaemon seemed indifferent.
Anne then moonwalked over to the bucket, placing her phone inside and playing music.
"Lesson one. Footwork." Anne declared.
Anne then proceeded to show her move, dancing to the beat of the music. When she stopped, she then signaled Hop Pop to try with finger guns. The old frog tried to mimic Anne's movements, only to trip over his feet and fall headfirst into an ant hill.
"It burns! It burns!" Hop Pop yelled in agony, as his grandkids dump water over him, Anne, Shadow, and Kaemon cringe at the sight.
"Lesson two. Rhythm."
Anne then taps rhythmically against a metal bucket, while Hop Pop tried to do the same with a wooden bucket, but he was tapping off beat and swung down in frustration, hitting his foot, causing him to yell in pain.
"Lesson three. Freestyle." Anne said, as she, Kaemon, Polly and Sprig stepped up, while Shadow sat off to the side. "Freestyle is expressing yourself in your own unique way."
Anne went up first, before ending with a pose. Kaemon's style involved leg sweeps before ending with a punch. Sprig did flips with his hands, feet and tongue. Polly just hopped around, laughing, before Anne spun her around and the tadpole did a pose. Hop Pop, however?
The old frog moved like he was a man possessed, flopping around like a fish before finishing with what sounded like a bird's mating call.
"Ta-da!" Hop Pop declared, sweating and breathing heavily. "Whoo! I gotta say, that's the first lesson I actually felt good—"
Anne grabbed him by both sides of his face and held him up, "Hop Pop, if you wanna win over Sylvia..." Her tone got dark and serious. "Never do freestyle again!"
"Right, focus on the first two lessons." Kaemon said.
The lessons continued throughout the rest of the day, this time with Hop Pop doing much better with his dance moves, before the Plantar kids, the newt, and two humans were sat watching Hop Pop finally master the dance moves, before finishing off with a pose.
"Whoa! Yeah, Hop Pop!" Sprig declared as he clapped, along with Shadow, Anne and Kaemon.
"Miracles happen!" Polly added.
"Nice work, Hop Pop." Anne said. "Or maybe I should call you 'Hip Pop'?"
"Boo," Kaemon jeered, holding a thumbs down.
"That reference means nothing to me." Hop Pop said.
"Well, I'm certain you'll impress Sylvia now." Shadow said.
Suddenly, Sprig jumped on Anne's head, "Guys, there's only ten minutes till the dance. Come on!"
"Oh, we gotta go!" Anne exclaimed before the group rushed back to the Plantar house.
Soon enough, the group arrived at the town square where the dance was taking place. Some frogs were already on the dance floor while others were helping themselves to the drinks and food tables, and others were just chatting.
Shadow wore a black tuxedo with a black bowtie.
"Must you always wear black?" Hop Pop asked, dressed in a fancy tuxedo.
"It's my favorite color." Shadow shrugged.
"Nothing wrong with that." Kaemon nodded, wearing a green and yellow kimono.
"I gotta say, as long as you're not being forced to date someone, dances ain't half bad." Sprig said, wearing a tuxedo a size too big for him and his hair combed.
"Sorry I took so long!" Anne called, approaching the group. "Had a hard time picking out a dress!"
Looking at the Thai girl, Shadow felt his heart heat up and his eyes widened. Anne wore a dark marine blue dress with her hair tied onto one side with a blue ribbon. She looked absolutely beautiful; Shadow couldn't help but stare.
"What? Is it bad?" Anne asked, looking at her dress.
"No, not at all." Shadow assured. "If anything, you look gorgeous."
"Aww~ thanks." Anne said with a blush, before going up and adjusting Shadow's tie. "And I have to say, you look dashing yourself."
Shadow felt his face go red from the compliment.
Hop Pop looked through the crowd, before gasping and pointing when he spotted her by the buffet table. "She's here! I feel like I'm gonna faint. Can frogs faint? I don't know anything anymore!" He yelled, already beginning to freak out.
"Hop Pop, calm down." Anne said, hoping to calm the old frog down. "You are the king of this dance floor!"
"That's right, you've already come this far." Shadow said. "Now, you walk right up to that lovely lady and ask her to dance."
"Worst case scenario, she just laughs at you." Kaemon joked, receiving an elbow to the ribs from Shadow. "I joke!"
With newfound courage, Hop Pop walked forward, "I got this."
Anne took a sip of her drink before cheering, "Get it!"
Approaching nervously, Hop Pop cleared his throat, "S-S-Sylvia? Uh..."
"Sylvia Sundew!" To Hop Pop's shock and horror, Monroe cut in front of him, offering his hand. "Would you do me the honor of this dance?"
"What?" Anne gasped.
"That rat!" Shadow exclaimed.
"Why, Monroe. I'd be delighted." Sylvia said, taking his hand before the two began to walk to the dance floor.
At first, Hop Pop was about to panic, but he gain his confidence back and ran up to them, "Sylvia! Dance with me instead!"
"Well, Hopediah." Sylvie said, flattered.
"Him? Ha!" Monroe mockingly laughed. "He can't dance."
"I can dance better than you." Hop Pop retorted with confidence. "I've been trained by the best, and I'm gonna take you down!"
"Is that so?" Monroe asked with confidence. "Then let's settle this."
The humans, newt, and Plantar kids gasped.
"The drama." Sprig said.
"Come on, guys. Hop Pop's gonna need backup." Anne said, finishing her drink before throwing it to the side, the group rushed over.
A crowd of frogs formed around the two, Monroe and Hop Pop standing off with each other, Anne, Shadow, Kaemon, Sprig and Polly sliding behind him, and while some had their arms crossed, Shadow, Anne and Kaemon snapped their fingers while the band played.
"Oh! What's this?" Toadstool said, intrigued by what he was seeing, before reaching up and pulling a microphone from the stage. "It appears two stallions have taken to the floor and are about to battle it out!"
The rhythm built up, before Hop Pop went first, putting in a good effort with his dance moves, applying everything he learned from Anne. When he was done, the other frogs seemed impressed. Even Sylvia was impressed, Shadow, Anne, Kaemon and the kids cheering for the old frog.
"A solid effort by Hopediah Plantar!" Toadstool declared. "But how will Monroe respond?"
Monroe only chuckled before dusting his shoulder off and throwing hit hat away before he began to dance, his moves being miles above Hop Pop's and even Anne's skills. Shadow
Anne and the kids gasped, Shadow knew Hop Pop had already lost, "Oh, no."
Monroe continued with an excellent dance routine before ending it with a breakdance and a pose as a stage light shined on him. The crowd cheered, even Sylvia was very impressed.
"Welp, he's screwed." Kaemon said.
"Well, looks like that's it for Hopediah." Toadstool said. "Unless he has something special or unique to show."
Shadow, Anne, Kaemon, Sprig and Polly seemed defeated, with no idea of how they could beat Monroe.
"Well, we did our best. And isn't that what counts?" Sprig said, trying to lighten everyone's mood.
"What kinda loser talk is that?" Polly shouted.
"Anne, any idea's here?" Kaemon asked the Thai girl. "You're the teacher here."
"I honestly don't know what to do." Anne said in defeat.
"Indeed, Monroe's just a better dancer." Shadow admitted.
Hop Pop, however, wasn't going to admit defeat so easily, "Well, then I guess I'll just have to express myself in my own unique way."
The humans, newt, and kids eyes widened with fear, realizing what he meant.
"Wait, you don't think he's gonna..." Sprig said.
"Oh dear frog, anything but that!" Kaemon said.
Anne gasped, "Oh, no. Hop Pop! Hop Pop!"
"Hop Pop, don't do it!" Shadow yelled, but it was futile.
Hop Pop approached his crush and spoke with confidence, "Sylvia, I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you how I feel about you. But I can show you." He then pointed at the band. "Hit it, boys!"
"Uh, yeah. We've been hitting it, but okay." One of the band players said.
The band played and Hop Pop took in a breath before he began his freestyle, starting by being a crab as he cawed, then he bounced up and down, before doing bird mating calls as he cawed and gagged.
"Unbelievable! I ain't never seen moves like those." Toadstool said before cringing. "It's horrifying."
Hop Pop swung his tongue around, before rooting and hooting his body up and down. Then, to the kids horror, he pulled out a jar of fire ants and emptied the whole jar into his pants, the old frog screaming in agony as the ants started biting, his legs moving so fast, they lit up the dance floor. Literally, the dance floor was on fire. Kaemon quickly grabbed the punch bowl and dumped it onto Hop Pop, killing the ants and putting out some of the flame.
"Ta-da!" Hop Pop exclaimed, Kaemon only cringing at the performance.
Everyone looked shocked and disgusted, never having seen such a dance before, and now never want to see it again.
"Is it safe to look yet?" Anne asked, her hands covering her face.
"No idea." Sprig said, who was also covering his face with his hands.
"Couldn't tell you." Polly said, her face also covered.
"Well, you can look now." Shadow said with a sigh. "And I can safely say that it was like watching a trainwreck I couldn't look away from."
"Oho, yikes. Well, I think it's clear who the winner is." Monroe said with a smug look on his face.
And it seemed the rest of the crowd shared the sentiment, much to Hop Pop's sadness, as his smile fell.
"Come along, Sylvia. No need to waste time with losers." Monroe said, giving Hop Pop a side-eyed glance.
Shadow only gave a glare before helping his friend up, "Don't feel bad, Hop Pop. You did you're best."
"Yeah, you just failed to win, really." Kaemon said to the old frog.
"Kaemon, you can stop now." Anne said, the four about to leave, but someone wanted Hop Pop to stay.
"Oh, Hopediah!"
"Huh?" Hop Pop turned and his eyes widened with shock.
To the shock of everyone present, Sylvia started doing the freestyle Hop Pop did, grunting and humming, even gurgling as the frog lady went nuts.
Everyone looked shock, especially Monroe. "Wha-She's as freaky as he is! The horror!" He said before running away.
"I'm going to be damned for this but…get in there, Hop Pop." Shadow encouraged the old frog.
With new confidence and a big smile, Hop Pop joined her in what could only be described as some sort of mating dance, which sickened the crowd.
"Well, that's cute." Kaemon said, only to cringe before covering his eyes. "Never mind, it's still horrible."
"Why? Whhhhhhyyyyyyy?" Anne yelled, covering her eyes again.
As the dance dragged on, Toadstool had had enough. "Okay! That's enough of that." He yelled into the microphone. "Pack it up. Dance is over! Everyone go home!"
With the exception of the Plantars, Shadow, Anne, and Kaemon, everyone was in agreement before leaving. Soon enough, Sylvia and Hop had stopped dancing, both panting and laughing together.
"I don't get it. Why?" Hop Pop asked in confusion.
Sylvia smiled lovingly at him, "I have a soft spot for the weird ones, remember?"
Hop Pop stammered a bit, his cheeks red before sighing, "Ah, shame the dance is over. I could dance for hours with you."
Just then, Sprig began playing a violin, with Kaemon playing the cello, both boys winking at the old frog.
Knowing what they were doing, the old frog stood up and offered a hand, "Ahem, may I have this dance, Sylvia Sundew?"
"Why, yes you may, Hopediah Plantar." Slyvia smiled, taking his hand, the two returning to the dance floor.
Shadow watched the new lovebird's dance before looking over at Anne, who was leaning against the stage with a satisfied smile. He then walked over to her before leaning against the stage.
"I must say, you did well, Anne." Shadow said. "You helped Hop Pop learn to dance and got him and Sylvia together."
"Aww, thanks, Shadow." Anne blushed at his compliment, a hand over her heart. "Although you and Kaemon did help a bit."
"That was more Kaemon than me." Shadow said. "I merely watched from the side while the master did her magic."
Anne blushed at his words before her mentor pushed himself from the stage.
"Well, the night's still young and the music's still playing." He said before holding a hand out to her. "May I have this dance?"
Anne smiled before taking his hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor, the two engaging in a slow dance.
"You dance pretty good, Shadow." Anne complimented.
"I learned from a different life." Shadow told her.
"Newtopia?" Anne inquired.
"Yup." Shadow nodded.
Deciding to leave the questions to the side for now, the two simply enjoyed the company of the other, all the while Kaemon, Sprig and Polly watched from the stage, Sprig and Kaemon still playing their instruments.
"What do you guys think?" Polly asked the boys.
"That the ships are setting sail…" Sprig began.
"And there's no stopping them." Kaemon finished.
The three bumped with Kaemon and Polly's tails and Sprigs foot, the night going on.
It was a good night.