Two days after the dance, and after an incident involving a literal 'fan war', Anne and Kaemon were in the clearing, the two sparring with swords, while Shadow stood off to the side, watching the action. For this, Shadow decided to have Anne go against Kaemon, while the newt held back by only using the two swords in his hands, though he still struck with fast speeds, but Anne was able to keep up, thanks to her training with Shadow…as well as running from a giant chicken.
Anne defended as best she could, raising her sword to block, before a third sword being held by Kaemon's tail suddenly sprung forward, Anne barely having time to raise her sword to block, the hit sending her on her butt.
"No fair!" Anne complained. "You used a third sword!"
"Rule number three; never expect an enemy to fight fair." Kaemon stated.
"I thought that was number two." Anne gave him a questioning look.
Kaemon only shrugged before helping her up as Shadow approached.
"You're getting fast, but you must keep a tighter hold on your stance." He critiqued. "And heighten your senses to get a better feel of your surroundings."
"Right!" Anne nodded.
Before they could continue, they saw Sprig and Polly emerge from the brush.
"Guys, we need your help." Sprig said.
Hop Pop sat miserably on the couch, sporting a five o-clock shadow, a pot belly and sweat-stained clothes, before cold water was splashed all over him.
"Halifax!" He yelled before calming down, seeing the humans, his grandkids, and the newt standing before him, Kaemon holding a bucket. "What's going on?"
"Consider this an intervention." Kaemon said as he put the bucket down. "The kids told us everything. You've been sitting on the couch and haven't moved an inch."
"Not to mention, getting all gross." Polly added.
"Are you not feeling any better?" Shadow asked with concern.
Hop Pop sighed as he held up a photo of himself standing next to the stand, "No. Ever since we lost the vegetable stand, I've just felt, well, lost. I was fine the first couple of days, but it's really starting to catch up with me."
"Well, maybe this will cheer you up. Pa-pow!" Anne declared, holding up a job application.
"The Grub-N-Go's hiring greeters!" Sprig said. "All you gotta do is smile and be friendly."
Hop Pop only sighed as he slumped in his seat, "Just another job for me to lose."
"Stop whining and get up." Kaemon said as he dragged Hop Pop from the couch. "You need to get back in the game."
"Lemme go! The couch is the only one who understands me!" Hop Pop yelled, as Kaemon and Anne dragged him to the shower.
After basically forcing Hop Pop to get cleaned up and leave for the interview, and cleaning the couch, the humans, newt and kids returned to Shadow's hut to hang out. While Sprig, Polly, and Kaemon sat off to the side and watched, Shadow and Anne traded blows in the clearing.
"So, you wish to know more about my upbringing in Newtopia." The human boy said before taking a swing with his practice sword.
"If you don't mind." Anne replied before raising her sword to block. "I wouldn't mind understanding where you came from."
"Well, I was raised in Newtopia since childhood." Shadow said before lunging forward with a stab, only for Anne to bat the attack away. "It was nice, for a time. Learned everything I know now from there."
"What made you leave?" Anne asked. "I mean, it sounds like you had it pretty good."
"It was nice, yeah, at first." Shadow said. "But over time, I began to feel more like a weapon than a person, so I left."
Anne lunged forward with a downward slash, which Shadow deflected before going for an upward strike, which Anne managed to dodge. She attempted to swing at him in a wide arc, only for him to duck under before swinging upward, hitting her wrist, and making her drop her sword before sweeping her legs out from under her, making her fall to the ground.
"Who did you grow up with?" Anne asked as Shadow helped her to her feet. "Was the Apollo guy there?"
"Apollo and I grew up together under the same roof, pretty much." Shadow told her. "As for who raised us? That's a story for later."
"I won't pester you, if you're not comfortable talking about it." Anne said. "Still, I'd like to know more, when you're ready."
"I appreciate it." Shadow nodded with a smile.
Just then, Hop Pop came running, a bit smile on his face, "Guess what, kids!"
"You passed the interview?" Anne said.
"You got the job?" Sprig said.
"You ran into a gang of marauders?" Kaemon said, earning strange looks from the others. "What? I've been working on some new techniques, and I've been wanting to test them!"
"Nope! I'm running for mayor." Hop Pop declared.
"Huh?" Everyone said in confusion.
"Don't you see, kids?" Hop Pop said, before walking over to a mirror and combing his hair, which became bushy. "If I win this election, I'll prove once and for all that Hopediah Plantar ain't no loser!"
Anne gave a worried look, "This is bad."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that." Shadow said. "Hop Pop knows the town and what it needs, he's a great speaker, and people know him. If he gets into office and boots out Toadstool, living in Wartwood will be a lot better."
"But if he loses, he'll be more down than ever." Anne said.
"And we just got the couch cleaned." Polly said, not wanting to go through that again.
"But if he wins maybe we'll get the old Hop Pop back!" Sprig said, siding with Shadow.
"True that./Fair point." Polly and Anne said in agreement.
"Hop Pop, we're all in!" Kaemon declared.
"Really? Aw, kids. I won't let you down. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom practicing my distinguished expression!" Hop Pop said, trying to put on his best 'mayor face' before running off laughing.
"Ugh. Politics are the worst." Anne said.
"Especially when someone are too into it." Kameon nodded.
"Indeed, but they are necessary." Shadow said.
"Yeah. The monster fights are pretty cool, though." Polly said.
"The what now?" Anne said with a confused looked.
Anne had thought that mayor elections in Wartwood would be similar to the ones on Earth, involving big speeches and all the sort. She never thought that these elections involved trials and physical challenges. But of course, Amphibia had a way of subverting her expectations.
Anne, Kaemon and the kids were among the crowd of Wartwood, standing in front of a large cave entrance, cheering for either Hop Pop or Toadstool, both dressed in leotards. Duckweed was also present, being in charge of the elections.
"You've made a powerful enemy today, Hopediah." Toadstool said, accidentally punching Toadie as he stretched his arms, but didn't seem to care. "Toads have run uncontested for decades. This is a disgrace."
"The only disgrace is you as mayor." Hop Pop retorted as he stretched his legs.
"Oh, I like this Hopediah." Mrs. Croaker said, impressed.
"I don't know. Toadstool is tried and true." One villager said, raising his fist and narrowing his eyes at Hop Pop.
"Ahem!" Albus Duckweed silenced the crowd as he raised his hand. "Welcome to the official mayoral trials, where the candidates try to win your vote."
"I'm suddenly very interested in politics." Anne said, with Polly sitting on her head and eating a hotgrub. Anne then blew into her horn, only for Kaemon to grab it and crush it.
"One more time and I'll shove that horn up where the sun doesn't shine." The young newt said in a warning tone.
"Our first trial is all about strength." Duckweed declared as he pulled out his own horn. "The first candidate to mount the beetle wins!"
He then blew the horn, bringing forth a large beetle with a spiky horn on its head from the cave.
"Ready, set, go!" Duckweed quickly said before he and everyone else made a run for it, the beetle getting on its hind legs and roaring, both Hop Pop and Toadstool making a run for it as the beetle charged after them.
"Oh, my giblets!" Toadstool yelled as he jumped out of the way of the beetle, Hop Pop jumping on a tree stump. "I've got you! No, I don't!" The toad said before he was knocked away, Hop Pop trying to jump on its back before it knocked him away as well, hitting the tree stump, before he got an idea.
"Hey!" He yelled, throwing a rock at the beetle, getting its attention, shaking and smacking his butt at it. "Come and get it."
The beetle shrieked before charging like a freight train, Hop Pop jumping out of the way, the beetle getting its horn stuck in the stump, the old frog jumping on its back, the crowd cheering, while Toadstool growled and stomped his foot in frustration.
"The second trial is about sensitivity." Duckweed declared, standing in front of a giant nest of baby bird, which was right on the edge of a cliff. "Can you figure out what these hatchlings need? A good mayor would."
Toadstool scoffed, "I know what these dumb birds want. Money."
As the mayor walked up to the nest, Kaemon looked at him like he was crazy, "And just what are baby birds gonna do with money?" He asked no one in particular.
"All right, all right. Here's your handout." Toadstool said, throwing the copper coins at them, resulting in the baby birds pecking at him, making him run back, whimpering.
"There, there, sir." Toadie said, trying to comfort the mayor.
"Hmm…" Hop Pop thought for a moment before walking over to a log and lifting it up, picking up several large worms before plopping them into his mouth, chewing them up, then walked up to the baby birds, opening his mouth as wide as he could.
Happily, the baby birds chirped and ate from Hop Pops mouth. Afterwards, the happily tweeted and nuzzled Hop Pop.
"Aww..." the crowd gushed at such an adorable sight before clapping.
"That's how he fed us when we were babies." Sprig said to Anne.
The moment soon ended when the mother bird suddenly returned, landing on her nest and placing her body over her babies, screeching at the frogs before they ran off.
After escaping the bird, Duckweed had everyone return home and brought them to the forest, "Being mayor is a lot like being dropped in the woods naked and forced to find your way home. So that's what we did!"
"That makes no sense." Kaemon exclaimed.
Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes, before Hop Pop popped out, covered in mud and wearing a loincloth, accompanied by Jeremy and several small beetles.
"Thanks for showing me the way, Jeremy." The old frog said before putting a button on the beetle's chest.
Jeremy blushed and chirped happily before flying off with the other beetles, Hop Pop waving them goodbye, "Safe travels, brother."
The crowd cheered as they gathered around Hop Pop, Kaemon even lifted the old frog and put him on his shoulders before everyone went back to town.
As night fell, however, Toadie was the only one remaining, waiting for his boss, if he came back. Fortunately, Toadstool did return, covered in bruises and leaves and had a rat creature biting his butt.
"This is getting out of hand, Toadie." Toadstool said as his assistant threw a blanket over him. "Charon's death was one thing, but I could actually lose! And if that happens, I'll be ruined!" The assistant gave him a look. "Oh yeah, and the toads would destroy the town. Looks like we'll have to stop him..." Toadstool yelped in pain as Toadie ripped the rat off his butt. "Ow! the old-fashioned way." He rubbed his hands together. "Illegally."
That night, the Plantars met the humans at Shadow's hut, the girls working on speeches for Hop Pop, while Shadow was cooking dinner. Sprig brought over a tray with several cups of coco.
"Excited for the final trial tomorrow, Hop Pop?" Sprig asked his grandfather, who was reading a book.
"Not really." Hop Pop sighed, closing his book and setting it down. "I know I've been doing well, but if I mess up tomorrow, it could cost us the election."
Just then, Kaemon barged into the hut, drenched with rainwater.
"Master, Anne," The newt said before shaking the rainwater off. "We need to talk about the last trail tomorrow. Privately."
There was a knock on the door, Anne and Hop Pop opening the door to reveal Toadie on the other side, wearing a cloak.
"Mr. Plantar, an anonymous associate would like to speak with you." The little frog said, trying to act mysterious.
"You mean the mayor?" Anne said, not buying the act.
"No comment." Toadie said.
"Come on, dude, you only know like one person!" Anne stated.
"And that's his snail right there." Kaemon added, pointing to the snail with the luxurious tent on its shell.
"I said no comment!" Toadie yelled.
After Hop Pop left, Kaemon pulled Anne and Shadow to the side, "Alright, Kaemon, what did you want to talk about regarding the election?" Shadow asked.
"Well, it's gonna be a landslide." Kaemon stated. "Almost everyone in Wartwood is voting for Hop Pop, but here's the issue; other people in the other three towns of the valley are voting, which doesn't make sense at all, but a large number of them are voting Toadstool!"
Anne stammered and sputtered before shouting, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
"Hop Pop…had no chance?" Shadow said in disbelief.
"Don't worry, I can fix this!" Kaemon said before pulling out a sheet of paper and drawing something. "Just need a new slogan and spread copies out to the other towns and encourage anyone that hasn't voted yet." He then finished. "And done!"
Anne looked at the slogan, "'Vote for Hopediah Plantar or no future for Wartwood!'?"
"It's the best I could think of!" Kaemon defended before grabbing a whole stack of papers. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta make more copies!"
"Do you need some-" Anne tried to offer, but the newt had already darted off. "-help."
"I'd better go with him." Sprig said, getting up. "Make sure he doesn't get lost and all that."
With Sprig having departed, the two humans sat down. Before Hop Pop walked back inside, drenched with rainwater.
"Hey, Hop Pop." Anne greeted.
The old frog ignored her, sitting in a chair near the stove, watching the flames dance inside the furnace.
"So, uh, what did the mayor want?" Anne asked, knowing it wasn't anything good.
"If I lose on purpose, Toadstool will give us the stand back." Hop Pop told them.
"WHAT?!" Anne, Shadow and Polly gasped in shock.
"Hop Pop, you can't just throw the match!" Shadow denied, shooting up from his chair. "You've got a real chance to win!"
"He'll also make us rich. We'd be set for life." Hop Pop argued.
"Oh, in that case, take the deal." Polly said.
"POLLY!" Anne and Shadow yelled at her.
"We were all thinking it!" Polly exclaimed.
"Polly's right, guys. It's just too good to pass up." Hop Pop said, sighing in defeat.
"And how do you know he'll keep his word?" Shadow said with his arms crossed. "And if you quit now, Wartwood will never forgive you for it!"
Hop Pop seemed conflicted about it, unsure what to think, before Anne placed a hand on the old frog's shoulder.
"Well, whatever you pick, we'll be behind you, dude." She smiled at him.
"All the way." Shadow nodded.
"Thanks, kids." Hop Pop said before sighing. "Guess I've got some thinking to do."
The next day came, the final trail taking place in City Hallow, which, conveniently enough, had a boxing ring. It was a full house, as nobody wanted to miss this.
"Ladies and gentlephibians, you know the candidates, you've seen 'em fight monsters." Duckweed declared. "But for the final challenge, you'll see them fight...each other!"
Everyone in the audience cheered, Kaemon and Sprig sitting next with Shadow and Anne. "Dude, where were you two?" Anne asked, pointing out the two boys disheveled state.
"Campaigning." Sprig panted. "Kaemon and I stayed up all night encouraging people who haven't voted yet to vote for Hop Pop."
"Turns out, voting's easier when someone's pointing a sword at your throat." Kaemon added.
"I like your style." Ivy said.
"Dito." Polly said, fist bumping her.
Hop Pop and Toadstool stepped into the ring and glared at each other, both having mushrooms shoved on their hands to act as boxing gloves.
"Now you both know the rules." Duckweed said. "Fight starts as soon as the bell rings."
The bell ringer woke up to this, the very old frog sputtering a bit, "What? Ring the bell?" He then rang it with his tongue to begin.
Toadstool threw the first punch, Hop Pop jumping away in time to dodge, before going into the rope before launching himself at Toadstool, hitting him square in the face, knocking him down, Hop Pop landing on one of the ring posts.
The crowd cheered loudly as Hop Pop turned around and launched himself at Toadstool again, hitting him in the face, jumping over a punch from Toadstool and hitting him before landing, but Toadstool managed to land a punch, sending the orange frog into the ring post, the old frog gasping as Toadstool threw another punch, only for Hop Pop to jump up, the fist hitting the ring post, Hop Pop landing and running on Toadstools arm and hiiting him in the face, then jumping on his other shoulder and continued throwing one punch after another at his face.
"Ow! Okay, Plantar!" Toadstool said, managing to tank the hits. "You've put on a good show but... that's enough!"
He then threw the old frog upwards.
"This can't be good." Hop Pop said as he came back down, the mayor hitting him with his gut, sending him to the ground, the crowd gasping in horror.
Panting from exhaustion and from the pain of Hop Pop's punches, Toadstool stared at the orange frog, who was laying face down near the ring's edge.
"Like we talked about." He said with a victorious grin. "Stay down, Plantar."
With the sound of his heartbeat and the ringing in his ears, Hop Pop raised his head, he was tired and weak, his aging body not used to this level of physical punishment. He felt the urge to throw in the towel; at least he'd have his stand back.
But when he looked in front of him, he saw everyone cheering for him to get up. Shadow, Anne, Kaemon, his grandkids, Mr. Flour, Felicia, Loggle, Wally, everyone in town were begging him to get back up and fight on.
"Stay down!" Toadstool shouted over the yelling.
However, Hop Pop shut his eyes tight and hooked an arm over the rope, pulling himself up.
"I didn't hear no bell." He said with newfound determination.
Toadstool stared at him with wide eyes in shock. "What are you, crazy?" He demanded. "You could have been rich. You could've had your stand back." He then started punching him over and over again. "All you had to do was give up!" He then stopped, out of breath. "Why?"
"Because this is about more than just me!" Hop Pop yelled.
With all his strength, Hop Pop hit him with the strongest uppercut to the jaw, sending the toad flying up in the air before landing hard on the ground, out cold.
"That's a knockout!" Duckweed declared.
"Huh? Ring the bell!" The old bell ringer said before ringing the bell two times.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause and chanting Hop Pop's name as Shadow placed the old frog on his shoulders while Anne held his right fist up in the air, bringing more cheers from the crowd.
After Toadstool had regain consciousness, the crowd gathered outside City Hollow to see the results. Hop Pop and Toadstool stood apart from each other at the top of the steps, a large election map hanging in front of the building.
"Well, folks, that wraps up the trials." Duckweed declared. "Now it's time to tally the votes! With 10,000 votes, 100% of Wartwood and the rest of Frog Valley, Hopediah Plantar!"
Hop Pop was elated with the numbers, "What? I won?"
"My hard work paid off!" Kaemon boasted.
"And it took me making sure you didn't get lost." Sprig added.
Duckweed, however, wasn't finished, "And with 10,001 votes, Mayor Toadstool!"
Everyone was silent, Hop Pop breaking the silence with only one word.
"What?"
Duckweed placed a red sash around Toadstool, "Congratulations, sir."
"Thank you. Thank you all. You're all too kind. Democracy wins again!" Toadstool said victoriously as confetti rained from the building's statues.
Nobody was cheering, however, only groaning as they left, Hop Pop remaining where he stood in disbelief, utterly dumbfounded. He lost by one lousy vote.
"Well, you certainly gave this toad a run for his money." Toadstool said smugly. "Good thing you didn't win though, huh? Ha! A frog beating a toad. That would have made headlines! Just be proud that some people in the valley loved ya. Too bad one more person loved me more than you."
"The victory piñata is all set up in the lobby, sir." Toadie called.
"Wahoo! Piñata! I'm gonna hit it." Toadstool cheered before running off.
"Bastard! You don't deserve that pinata!" Kaemon shouted angrily, waving a fist.
"Let it go, Kaemon." Shadow said, placing a hand on the newt's shoulder. "All we can do now is comfort Hop Pop."
Hop Pop only sat on the steps in silence as the kids approached him from the side.
"Hey, Hop Pop...You okay?" Sprig asked nervously.
However, to their complete shock, Hop Pop looked…happy?
"Yep! I've never felt better!" He exclaimed with a big smile.
"Huh?" Sprig did a doubletake, the others looking confused.
"Really? You know you lost, right? Are you in shock?" Anne asked before leaning to Shadow. "Is he in shock?"
"It's likely." Shadow shrugged.
"I may have lost, but I stood my ground and fought for something important." Hop Pop said, standing up and looking proud. "And that feels good."
"Hopediah?" The six turned to see Wally, Mrs. Croaker, Felicia and her daughter, Loggle, and Mr. Flour. "Uh, may we have a word?" The local crazy frog asked.
Curious, Hop Pop and the kids followed the group to the farmers market, where they were presented with a brand new Plantar's stand, with the family name hanging high up and lined with many fruits and vegetables.
"We all pitched in and built you a stand." Felicia said. "For giving us something better than produce..."
"Hope." Wally said.
"You've made us all proud." Mrs. Croaker added.
Hop Pop looked teary eyed, as Shadow wrapped an arm around the old frog, "You see, Hop Pop? You might have lost the race, but you're back in the market, and that makes you the true winner."
Hop Pop walked up and ran a hand over the surface of the stand counter.
"This is perfect." Hop Pop said before noticing something. "I wouldn't have put the root vegetables with the tubers, though." He then shrugged. "It's not important. I'll fix it later."
"We also have something for you too, Shadow." Ivy spoke up before presenting the stand right next to the Plantar's, lined with various meat with a sign high above saying 'Shadow's Fine Meats: Two Humans and a Newt'. "After everything you've done fore us, we only found it fitting to give you a stand of your own."
Shadow smiled at this, feeling his eyes water as Anne held his hand.
"Thank you, everyone." Shadow said, facing the frogs. "Now I really feel at home."