For the past few days, after the events with the underground factory, the two wagons moved through a desert landscape, Anne showing off her phone to Valor and Ina.
"Smile!" She said before holding up her phone and snapping a picture and showing it, the picture being of Anne smiling and holding up the peace sign, while the other two just looked back with confused looks.
"So let me get straight, not only can this tiny box take our souls for you to put kawaii stickers on them, but it can answer any question?" Valor asked.
"Yep." Anne said with a nod. "This baby can do it all. ...Except get wet, that will damage it."
"Amazing..." Ina says with sparkling eyes, being awestruck by it.
Anne flipped through her phone before stopping at a photo of Toad Tower after the events that transpired, much to her confusion. "Huh. I don't remember taking this picture of Toad Tower." She said.
"Oh, that was me." Polly said, sitting atop Hop Pop's head. "Wanted a little reminder of how we messed those toads up!" The pollywog pulled on Hop Pop's eyelids.
"Heh, sure did!" Hop Pop said with a chuckle.
"You know, I've actually been working on a song based on the battle." Sprig said, grabbing his fiddle.
"Oh! Am I in it?" Hop Pop asked.
"Maybe." Sprig said before clearing his throat.
Everyone took a seat up front, but before Sprig could play, Ina joined him with flute in hand. "May I join?" She asked with a smile.
"Sure, just follow my lead." Sprig nodded.
"I'm in it." Hop Pop whispered with a chuckle.
As Sprig played his fiddle, Ina blew into her flute and followed the rhythm.
" There was a little frog who stood for revolution. The toads didn't like that, so they tried to execute him. But thankfully, our Anne and Shadow stepped up to take the tower. And they saved Hop Pop, who... "
Hop Pop let out a gasp, expecting praise for his bravery…
" Mostly hid and cowered." Hop Pop's cheery expression fell to that of annoyance and disappointment. "And cowered and cowered and cowered and cowered and cowered and cowered and cowered and cowered. "
"All right, that's enough!" Hop Pop snapped.
Anne, Kaemon and Polly cheered the performance, Valor laughed, while Shadow and Cody gave disapproving frowns. "Sprig, wasn't that a little harsh?" The older man asked.
"Yeah, Hop Pop wasn't really hiding." Shadow said. "In fact, he was ready to smack someone up with those crab legs."
"Seems accurate to me." Kaemon shrugged. "If anything, you were the one doing all the work, master."
"But it made me sound like a coward! It was missing all the context!" Hop Pop protested. "Like what about the time I courageously ran for mayor? Or that time I stood up to those nasty tax collectors?"
"Eh. Boring." Both Anne and Polly waved it off.
"Audiences want clear stakes, Hop Pop. And action." Sprig explained.
"Act‐ion!" The girls shouted.
Hop Pop let out a sad sigh. "Feels like just yesterday, people thought I was a revolutionary hero."
"Trust me, it's not as glamorous as you think, old timer." Kaemon chuckled.
Letting out a huff, Hop Pop looked up to see that they passed a sign that said 'Welcome to Bittyburg'. "Whoop. Heads up, gang!"
Anne couldn't get over her excitement. "My first town outside of Wartwood. I wonder what it'll be like. Will the frogs be friendly? Will they have a bathroom?"
"Don't get too excited, Anne." Cody told her. "It's just your average small town."
"Pssh, how small can it be-‐" Anne gasped when she saw what the older human meant. Before her very eyes, was a town that was akin to a typical western town, but it was literally a small town, with small buildings and just as small frogs.
Anne couldn't help but squeal at how cute they looked. "Just look at the 'wittle' buildings." She then tore the roof off a saloon and looked inside, every little frog inside lookin gup and gasping in shock at the giant staring down at them. Anne needed to keep them from panicking. "Uh, yeehaw. She said with a devil horn with her free hand.
The people inside cheered, before Anne put the roof back on. "Nailed it."
"Real smooth, Anne." Ina chuckled.
Hop Pop picked up a bucket with some feed and started feeding the snails, starting with Bessie. "There you are, girl." He then took another bucket and started feeding Ironhide. "Eat up, big guy."
While Hop Pop was feeding the snails, Kaemon was taking inventory to see what they still had enough of or what needed to be replenished.
"Let's see, we have enough medical supplies," He said, jotting down notes. "Could use some more cowapillar milk, some cheese…"
As he jotted down one item after another, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Turning around, he saw nothing. Shrugging, he returned to jotting notes, before hearing a soft chuckling coming from behind…
"AMBUSH!"
He spun around and caught his would-be assailant and threw them to the floor, moments away from drawing one of his swords, but stopped when he saw who just tried to jump him.
"Hey, Kaemon!" Ivy greeted with a cheery smile.
"Ivy?!" Kaemon exclaimed in surprise. "Wha-When did you-How-"
"Sorry for the surprise entry." Ivy chuckled. "I wasn't sure how to come out without shocking everyone."
"Wait, hold up!" Kaemon said. "How the heck did you get in the wagon without us knowing? Better yet, does your mom know?"
"I made sure to leave a note before I left." Ivy shrugged. "Not sure about Maddie though."
The newt did a double take. "Wait, Maddie? She's here too?" He asked.
"Hey, Kaemon." Maddie said, stepping out from behind, the newt looking over in shock.
"Seriously?" Kaemon said. "Do your folks know you're out here?"
"My dad does, but I don't know about Ivy's mom." Maddie shrugged.
"Hey, I left a note!" Ivy defended.
"But did you tell her?" Kaemon asked with a raised brow.
Ivy hesitated before answering, "No?"
The newt facepalmed. "Of course, you didn't."
"Look, it's not a big deal," Ivy tried to say.
"Actually, it is." Maddie said. "Your mom's gonna freak out the minute she reads that note."
"Psh, don't be ridiculous." Ivy waved it off. "How bad can it be?"
"Uh, hello? This is your MOM we're talking about!" Kaemon argued. "She freaks out over the tiniest cookie crumb on the carpet!"
Suddenly, they heard a commotion outside that drew their attention, the three sticking their heads out to look, the commotion drawing Hop Pop's attention as well.
"What's all the ruckus?" The orange frog wondered aloud. With a closer look, he saw a green toad terrorizing the bitties, said toad wearing an open vest, an eyepatch, a spiked beanie had, a belt with the letter 'H' on the buckle and spurs.
"All right. Y'all know the rules. Pay me, and no one gets hurt." The toad demanded, the bitties reluctantly hand over their money. "That's right, pay up, keep it coming." His hand stop at one bittie, that didn't seem to want give any.
"Sorry, Mr. Judro, sir, but I need the money for my boy Bailey." The bittie said, showing his son, wearing a sailor outfit and looking like he was about to cry. "He's been very sick and, uh‐‐"
Judro, on the other hand, grabbed the father tightly in his hand and lifted him up. "I don't want your excuses. I want your money." He laughed maniacally as he shook him roughly, making coins fall out.
From a distance, the group watched the scene in disgust.
"Those poor Bitties." Anne said, her anger rising.
"No need to stand here, Anne." Shadow declared, gripping his sword. "Let's teach this scoundrel a lesson."
"Wait!" Hop Pop said loudly. "No need to for you to do everything yourself. It's my time to shine!"
"Huh?" Both Anne and Shadow gave the old frog quizzical looks.
"Sprig, get that fiddle ready. You might have a song to write." Hop Pop said as he hoisted his pants up and marched towards the toad.
"Ready and willing." Sprig said, holding up his instrument.
Approaching from behind, Hop Pop pointed at the toad like a cowboy in a western. "Hey there, uh, feller. Who do you think you are, pushing good people around?"
Judro growled before dropping the bittie he was shaking before facing the frog. "I'm Judro Hasselback, and this here's my town. Who in the heck are you?"
"Name's Hopediah Plantar, the frog that's gonna teach you some manners!" Hop Pop declared before distending his vocal sack and pushing Judro to the ground.
"Hey, you better‐‐" Judro got up, only to be pushed down again. "Stop!" And again. "What in the‐‐" And again, until he was pushed out of town and onto the ground. "You'll pay for this!" He yelled before crawling away.
"Nobody's paying you anything anymore." Hop Pop declared, before feeling a small pair of arms wrap around his leg.
"You saved us, mister." Bailey said, hugging the old frog's leg. "Three cheers for Hopediah Plantar!"
The bitties came out of hiding and gathered around, lifting the old frog as they cheered, only to be unable to take his weight before he fell on them. They quickly got back up and carried him back to town just as fast.
"Wow, Hop Pop. Nice work." Anne said, impressed.
"Go, Hop Pop!" Sprig cheered.
Hop Pop waved it off and said, "Why, that was nothing. Judro's just a big blowhard. Not like those tax toads I stood up to."
The bitties gasped upon hearing this. "You stood up to toads?" One of them asked.
"Tell us the story. Please? Please?" Bailey asked, pulling on the old frog's sock and looking up at him with pleading eyes.
"Aw, sweetie, there's not much to tell."
Three hours later…
"And then I lifted not one, not two, but three toads over my head and threw them off Toad Tower!" Hop Pop declared, the bitties cheering.
Nearby, the others sat on rocks, watching the old frog give his version of the events of Toad Tower.
"Threw three toads? I don't remember that." Polly said with a raised brow.
"That's because it didn't happen." Sprig whispered to his sister.
"I have a feeling this is all gonna bite us in the butt real soon." Kaemon said. "More Hop Pop than us, actually."
"Oh, let him have this." Anne said. "He's just juicing up the details a bit. In my world, we call this marketing."
"We also call that 'lying'." Shadow said with a disapproving frown. "He claimed to have beaten Grime with just one punch."
Hop Pop resumed his tale, "And so, using my frog‐given natural strength, I kicked the side of Toad Tower, and it exploded!"
The bitties cheered, Bailey happily declaring, "Hooray for Hopediah Plantar, here to protect us from the ruthless Hasselback Gang!"
The minute Bailey said that, Hop Pop nearly felt his heart stop and his face nearly paled. "I'm sorry, Bailey, did you say 'gang'?"
"Hopediah Plantar!"
Hop Pop turned around, the bitties hiding behind him, and saw that Judro had returned, and he wasn't alone. Accompanying him was a red toad with a goatee, a squat green toad with a handlebar mustache, a female newt with long blue hair, and behind them was a large, fat green toad with silver hair tied in a bun. All of them were dressed like outlaws from and old western flick, and all of them wore belts with the letter H on the buckle.
"Whoo‐whee! You done asked for it, so here it comes." Judro declared with a grin. "This here's the Hasselback Gang. My brother Heathro. Half-sister Ruth. Uncle Talbert. And of course, the matriarch herself, Mama Hasselback!"
The matriarch toad pulled out a rusty metal rolling pin and slammed it into the ground, causing the ground to shake, making the bitties gasp.
"You the frog who dare throw my Judro outta town?" She demanded in a deep voice.
"Damn, she's got a dep voice." Valor commented silently.
"This is gonna end in tears, I tell ya." Ina said.
Hop Pop chuckled nervously. "Well‐‐"
"Yep. And he's gonna run you outta town too." Bailey declared. "Right, Hopediah?"
The bitties cheered, believing the old frog to save them, sending words of encouragement.
"Hop Pop!"
"You show 'em, Hopediah!"
"Go get 'em, Hopediah!"
"This is gonna end so badly." Kaemon cringed.
Mama Hasselback laughed at this. "Now this I gotta see." She then sat down with a heavy thud, arms crossed and waiting for the old frog to make a move.
Despite how internally terrified he was, Hop Pop tried to put on a brave face. "Um, uh, you're‐‐ You're gonna regret this."
With as much effort, he tried pushing the giant toad, but her size made it pretty much next to impossible.
"Think I almost got her." The old frog panted.
The matriarch then hit him on the head with her roller, instantly smacking him into the ground.
The bitties gasped in shock, the kids watching in horror, before quickly getting angry.
"Okay, someone needs to teach these thugs a lesson!" Valor growled, his eyes alight with flame.
"Yeah, let's break their legs!" Polly exclaimed.
But before they could act, however, Cody held a hand up, stopping them.
"I'll handle this." He said before walking towards the scene.
Anne seemed unsure, looking up to her boyfriend for reassurance, the boy giving a smile and nod.
Mama Hasselback laughed. "Looks like you folks chose the wrong frog." She said, holding Hop Pop by his leg before then dropping him. "Or should I say 'fraud'?"
The bitties looked on in shock, the matriarch towering over them, the Hasselback Gang laughing. "Word of advice, folks‐‐ Don't believe everything you're told about heroes. After all, they don't exist."
"Is it true, Hopediah? Are heroes a lie?" Bailey asked.
Hop Pop got to his knees, unable to look the little bittie in the eye, but before he could say anything, he felt a hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze. He looked up to see Cody standing next to him, giving a soft smile.
"You've done the best you can, Hopediah." The human adult said. "Rest now, and let me handle this rabble."
Hop Pop watched him face the gang before pulling his swords from his sash, the blades still in their sheathes, before then sticking the weapons into the dirt, before he started calmly and casually walking up to the gang, confidence in his steps, walking right past the gang members before standing before Mama herself, the matriarch staring down at him with a wicked grin, while that confident smile remained on Cody's face.
The bystanders, bitties, gang members, Anne, Shadow, and the others watched the intense standoff between gang leader and ronin, both giving intense stares, waiting in silence for the other to make the first move.
Finally, after a pregnant silence, Mama Hasselback let out a chuckle. "Aw, does hotshot here think he can fight the Hasselback matriarch?" She asked.
Cody only smiled before giving a chuckle of his own. "Fight you? No, I'm going to kill you if you don't leave this town alone." He declared boldly.
Every bystander present gasped at such boldness, even the matriarch herself seemed taken aback by this before quickly regaining her composure, her eyes narrowed, then bursting into laughter.
"Hah! You, kill me? That's a new one!" She said. "And what makes you think you can even scratch me," She then pointed at Hop Pop. "Where that runt over there couldn't even push me?"
"I've faced bigger threats than you and came out on top." Cody retorted casually, still smiling. "Small fry like you is barely worth my time, but here I am."
Mama scowled before backing up. "Tough talk. Now let's see you back it up." She turned to her family and nodded, the gang members surrounding the human male, all grinning wickedly and ready to attack.
Cody, on the other hand, just stood there with that confident grin, not moving an inch.
Judro was the first to move, charging forward, aiming to tackle the human, only for Cody to backhand him across the face, sending him crashing to the ground.
Heathro was second to charge, throwing a punch aimed for Cody's face, but the human caught the fist with an open hand before he punched him in the face before swinging him around and throwing him overhead, sending him flying into the ground next to his brother.
"His fist feels like iron." The toad groaned, Talbert jumping over him and going straight for the human.
Cody waited with arms crossed until Talbert got close before suddenly crouching down and delivering a judo flip to the jaw, sending the toad flying before crashing into the dirt.
The crowd of bitties cheered loudly for the human, Hop Pop watching in awe and amazement, as Ruth rushed in with her knife, the man catching her wrist, making her drop her knife by twisting her wrist before backhanding her across the face, sending her to the dirt.
"That man is everything I could only dream of being." The old frog said.
Mama stared in astonishment at the beaten forms of her gang before her expression twisted with anger. "So what? You think yer some kinda big shot just cause you got the best of my kids?!" She shouted.
"I think you're outta your league, ma'am." Cody said, as politely as he could. "Now, last chance to leave and never come back."
The bitties looked at the human in awe, before Bailey yelled with joy. "Daddy, look! It's Lightning Bolt Maelstrom! We're saved!"
"It sure looks like it, Bailey." The father said. "The Thunder and Lightning of Amphibia, all this way just to help us! What a hero!"
Anne, the Plantar kids, and Kaemon watched in amazement, Valor, Ina and Shadow watched with smiles, knowing better than to doubt their teacher.
With a huff, Mama spat on the ground. "What do you care anyway?! That old frog there's a fraud, making those stories up to make himself seem like somethin' he ain't! Nothing but a weak coward!"
Cody looked over his shoulder at Hop Pop, the old frog still on his knees and watching the scene unfold, then back to Mama, that smile never leaving his face.
"Maybe you're right; he is a coward." He said. "But he's got heart. And if he's anything like me, he'd put his fears aside and stand up to bullies like you."
Mama growled, her blood boiling with anger. "So, you wanna play hero? Fine!"
She took a stance and stood ready, the human just standing with crossed arms.
Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, Cody made the first move, tripping up Mama before delivering a painful back hand fist to the side of her head, everyone gasping in shock, the matriarch stumbling back before staring at the human with rage in her eyes. But before she could act, once again Cody speeding forward, too fast for Mama to react, before kicking her in the head, sending her skidding back before he jumped behind her.
The matriarch looked back at him with rage-filled eyes and threw a fist, only for the Lightning Bolt to spin around and catch it with one hand, smirking at her kicking her in the chin, sending her reeling back, before proceeding to punch her in the gut, making her double over and spitting out saliva, stumbling back and grabbing her stomach.
"Alright, Master!" Valor cheered, throwing a fist in the air.
"Kick her butt!" Ina cheered along.
Anne watched the scene in awe before looking to Shadow, who watched the scene with a smile. "This was the guy who trained you?" She asked.
"Cody's always had great strength, from what I remember." Shadow told her. "Still amazing to watch him run circles around people who think themselves big enough and bad enough."
Cody watched his opponent flinch from the pain. "What's wrong? Big bad matriarch had enough?" He asked mockingly.
This seemed to set off Mama. "I've had it up to here with you, you cocky little turd!" She screamed before charging at him with a yell, throwing a punch at him, which he easily blocked with one arm before jumping over a second punch before kneeing her in the face, sending her back a bit.
The next thing that happened surprised everyone; the gemstone of his amulet began to glow and Cody's arms were crackling with electricity as he darted forward, hitting Mama with a barrage of lightning induced punches and kicks, leaving her bruised all over. Mama tried shooting her tongue at him, only for the human to grab it before pulling her forward, spinning her around for quite a bit before sending her flying out of town and over the horizon.
The remnants of the gang watched in horror before Cody stood before them, towering over them with a stern and deadly glare.
"Get the picture yet?"
With a scared yelp, the remaining gang members took off running, out of town and out of sight.
The bitties cheered for their savior. "Three cheers for Lightning Bolt Maelstrom; Hero of Amphibia!" Bailey cheered.
The rest of the group approached, Ina and Valor jumping at their mentor with a hug. "That was awesome, Master!" Valor declared.
"Yeah, you showed those thugs whose boss!" Ina added.
"You haven't lost your touch, Cody." Shadow said with a smile. "Even age hasn't stopped you from being a force to be reckoned with."
"I never stopped my training." Cody chuckled.
"Thank you for saving us and Hopediah, Mr. Maelstrom." Bailey said, hugging the older human's leg.
"Ah, it was nothing, little guy." Cody said, patting the little bitties head. "I needed the warmup anyways."
The bittie child turned to Hop Pop. "We still appreciate you, Hopediah. You're a hero too!"
Hop Pop smiled at first, only to frown as he sighed. "Bailey, those thugs were right. I'm a phony. I'm no hero who took down Toad Tower." The bitties gasped as the old frog gestured to Shadow. "If anything, this young man right here's the real hero. When the toads came to kill me, he stood in my defense, where I could do nothing but watch." He dropped to his knees, tears forming in his eyes. "I'm no hero."
Everyone was silent, until Shadow stepped forward. "You're wrong."
Hop Pop looked up as Shadow knelt before him.
"Hop Pop, you saved me where others would have left me to die. I was at my darkest point in my life, and you helped pull me out." The boy told the old frog. "Had it not been for you, I would have ended my life a long time ago. You helped me see the brighter side of life, taught me how to live. Besides Anne, you helped me make my life worth something." He smiled, tears forming in his eyes. "Maybe not to others, but you're still MY hero."
Absorbing those words, Hop Pop smiled with teary eyes before leaning into him, both human and frog embracing in a hug, the spectators awing at the sight.
"I know I said this would end in tears, but not like this." Ina said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Man, this is getting to me." Valor sniffed.
Anne looked at them with water in her eyes. After the events at Toad Tower, she wondered more and more about what happened that nearly pushed Shadow to that point, and why he was so loyal to Hop Pop. She did, however, know that whatever it was, she was glad that the old frog saved the boy she loved.
Hop Pop felt a pair of small arms wrap around his leg, looking down to see Bailey hugging his leg.
"You're still my hero too, Hopediah." He said.
Hop Pop smiled, glad that things went well.
After dealing with the Hasselback Gang, the group decided to be on their way. After resupplying and bidding goodbye, the two wagons were back on the road.
Of course, there was still the elephant in the room to deal with. And one can only imagine the shock on Hop Pop and Shadow's faces when they were told that Ivy and Maddie had stowed away.
"So, care to explain?" Shadow said sternly, standing with arms crossed before the two girls, who were sat on rocks.
"You have any idea how much I wanted to travel outside the valley?" Ivy said. "Plus, I wanted to see how much I've improved in combat!"
"I just wanted to look after Kaemon." Maddie said with a shrug. "Knowing him, he'd be covered in at least five more scars."
"I see them as badges of honor, actually." Kaemon chuckled.
"So, we stowed away, hiding in those chests on the back of your wagons." Ivy said, pointing at said chests.
"You still could have asked." Shadow told them. "And besides, what if they said no?"
"I told my dad and he said I could." Maddie said.
"I left a note." Ivy said.
Shadow facepalmed, Kaemon gently rubbing the boy's back. "Yeah, that's my similar reaction."
"Well, this is quite the predicament." Cody said, rubbing his chin. "What now? Turn back and drop them off?"
Shadow sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, we can't afford any setbacks and we're already far out."
"Look, you don't have to worry too much, honest." Ivy insisted. "We could help out! Maddie with her potions and I could help with maybe hunting and stocking on supplies!"
Shadow seemed unsure, not wanting to get any more children involved than he already has, but at the same time, they could use the help, as menial as it may seem.
"Fine, you can stick around." Shadow said. "But I expect you to listen to what I say and do as you're told. And no unnecessary heroics, understand?"
"You got it, Chief!" Ivy said with a salute.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Sprig said, attempting to tackle his girlfriend, only for Ivy to flip him over her head before wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug.
"This totally won't end horribly." Valor said.
Only time will tell if things will go well from here on now.
"Thanks again for saving my skin back there, Cody." Hop Pop said, the human sitting next to him on the Plantar fwagon as the two wagons drove down the road.
"Happy to help, Hopediah." Cody nodded. "I'm sure that, if given the strength, you would have done the same for me."
"I admit, I really learned something from this." Hop Pop said. "First, being a hero isn't about songs and glory. It's about doing the right thing."
"And the second?" Cody inquired.
"If someone needs help and can't fight back, you stand up and fight for them." Hop Pop said. "And clearly, I couldn't fight back worth a darn."
"If you'd like, I could teach you." Cody offered. "That way, you can fight your own battles with your own strength."
Hop Pop thought it over before saying, "I'd sure appreciate it. It'd be nice to fight like you and the others."
They then heard music behind them, the two looking back to see Sprig sitting atop the fwagon, playing his fiddle, while Ina sat next to him and joined in with her flute.
Oh, Hop Pop stood his ground. In hopes he'd save the day. But then the ruthless gang. Proved too much. And so the Maelstrom chased them away.
As the pink frog sang, the two men looked at each other before chuckling.
"This'll be a long trip." Hop Pop said with a shake of his head.
"Yes, but a necessary one." Cody nodded.
Out in the desert, the two robots were walking through the desert, still following the two wagons.