38. After the Rain

Chapter 37 - After the Rain

Darrel wakes up to a brand new day in Amphibia. Usually, he would feel cheery and excited about his grand adventure with his friends. But this day was different. Darrel felt a chill down his spine, knowing that the truth about the box is going to come out, one way or another.

Darrel figured that Hop pop wasn't going to tell them the truth. That's why he decided that he was going to tell Anne tonight. He knew that at this point of time, it was too late to understand that he knew for so long and kept it quiet. 'I don't want to lose her,' he thought. 'But how else is Anne going to know the dangers of the box?'

Cronaxx and Tint spot Darrel looking out the horizon from the farm and walk up to him. "Still thinking about it, huh?" Tint asked. Darrel nodded, "He's not going to tell them. So I will." Cronaxx closed his eyes and said, "If your heart truly believes you should tell them, then you may."

"It's not going to be easy," said Darrel. "I've known about this for a long time, and if I tell Anne now, she'll be upset." "It's like you said," said Tint. "It's better to know now and be disappointed than to never know and always wonder." Darrel smiled, "Someone is listening to his words of wisdom."

Out by the stables, Darrel finds Anne tending to Bessie. He takes slow steps to tell Anne what he found out about the box. He looks back to the photos of him and his friends. For he knows that once this gets out, he may never see her smile for a long time.

(One Jump Ahead - Reprise 2)

"Fibster," "House rat"

Would she think that

If she looked much closer?

Still, I can't cover this here

No, sirree

(Looks to his hands)

Gotta tell the truth, I can't pretend

Even if it means this dream will end

Even if she walks away from me

Anne looks over to see Darrel approach her. "Hey Darrel, how's it going?" Darrel waved back, "Hey Anne, you got a minute? I have something very important to tell you." Anne was peculiar with his tone of voice. She honestly thought that he would be hyped with their big adventure on the way. But something in his mind made her concerned. "Sure bud, what is it?" Darrel takes a deep breath, "It's not easy to say, but it's about-"

Then, out of nowhere, a fly carrying a letter arrives at the farm. "Oh, hold that thought Darrel. The Plantars have got to see this." Darrel sighed as she ran into the house, "One way or another, she's gonna find out."

Inside, the Plantars were enjoying a hearty breakfast. They were greeted by a hyped up Anne. "Yo guys! Check it out. I got a mail fly message." The fly flies in with the letter, followed by Darrel and the Salamanders. "Look how cute he is."

"Jealous, I never get mail," said Polly. "Open it, open it," said Sprig. Anne opens the letter and everyone gathers around her. Darrel smiles, "That's Marcy's handwriting alright." "She says we're ready to travel to the first temple," said Anne. The group cheers in excitement.

"Ooh, she even included a checklist for things to bring," said Darrel. He leans in to read the supplies. "We'll need food, weapons, potions…" Sprig, Polly, and Tint chek them off with fly stew, a flail, and health potions in hand.

"Okay, next we'll need armor," said Darrel. "Armor?" Anne asked. "Got it covered," said Hop pop. "Believe it or not, I made each of you your very own suit of armor." The kids were excited at first.

Until they were stuffed in giant fluffy sacks of armor. Darrel felt uncomfortable as he and Anne fell down, and were unable to get up again. "Humans down!" Anne cried out.

"Hop pop! This is the exact opposite of a suit of armor," said Polly. "Exactly," said Hop pop. "Less mobility means less trouble." "And makes us easier targets," said Tint. "True that," said Polly. "Hey Anne, anything else on that list?"

Anne takes out the list and says the one thing that made Darrel and the Salamanders frown upon. "Oh yeah, just one more thing: The music box." That item made Hop pop give off a feared look. "Uh yeah. No problem, my contacts will have it ready by tomorrow." "Great, you're the best," said Anne, giving Hop pop a thumbs up. Hop pop smiled shamefully, while Darrel and the salamanders looked at him with disgust.

Later that night, Anne was all packed, and trying to get some sleep. But she was too excited to sleep. Especially when they have a way back home in their grasp. Darrel was looking out the window with a heavy heart. He knew it was now or never. He had to tell her.

"Can't sleep Anne?" Darrel asked. "Nope," she replied. She looked at Darrel who had a serious look on his face. She could tell something was wrong. "Are you okay Darrel?" Darrel shook his head, "We need to talk, Anne. It's about the box."

"What about it?" Anne asked. "Cronaxx told me that the box is a dangerous tool." Anne was shocked when he told her. "How can a box be that dangerous?" she asked in disbelief. "You're asking someone who talked to a wizard that knows more than the average amphibian," said Darrel. "He told me that before we left for Newtopia."

Anne was surprised, "Why didn't you tell me before?" "Because I promised someone I would keep it quiet until we got back from Newtopia," said Darrel. "Apparently, he wouldn't keep his end of the deal." "Who?" Anne asked. Suddenly, they heard a thump from upstairs.

The two humans quietly look out the trap door and find someone leaving through the front door. They climb out and exit the house, only to see Hop pop digging right by the tree. Darrel scowled with disgust, but Anne was curious as to what he's doing.

The two quietly sneak up behind Hop pop, only to listen to what happened next. Hop pop climbs out of his hole and said, "It can't be! The music box! It's gone!" This shocked not only Hop pop, but Anne and Darrel too.

"What?" Anne asked, breaking the silence. Hop pop turns to see the two humans behind him. "Ahh! Anne, Darrel, what are you doing here!?" "Did you say the music box is gone?" Anne asked.

Darrel clenched his fists, "Tell her, now! If you lie to her one more time, we're gone. You will never see us again. But if you tell us the truth, we'll try to understand. No matter what your reasons are."

Hop pop knew he was caught. There was no more denying what he knew. "I CAN'T LIE ANYMORE!" "I buried the box here. And now it's missing!"

"Wait, what?!" Anne gasped. "But your contacts-" "There were no contacts Anne," said Darrel. "Hop pop was just covering it up, weren't you?" "Yes it's true," said Hop pop. "I read the box was dangerous. I didn't know what to do. I panicked!"

"You guys gotta understand, I was just trying to protect Sprig and Polly!" Anne could not believe what she was hearing. "So you've been lying to me? Both of you?!" Darrel was shocked, but kept calm. "I would've told you the moment I found out the box was dangerous. I wanted to respect Hop pop's wishes. But I guess he was just trying to hide the fact that nothing bad is happening."

He turns to Hop pop, "Well look closer Hopediah Plantar! A bad thing has happened! We're stuck here and we need to get home!"

Hop pop stuttered, "My reasons are complicated! Can't you understand?" "Complicated or not, we need the music box to get home!" Anne shouted. "And you buried it under a tree! What are you trying to do? Keep us here forever!?"

"No No!" Hop pop cried. "It's not like that! It's just, I've lost so much already. And-" "Stop!" Darrel cried. "You think you've lost so much? My mom is terminally sick, and if I don't get back, I'm blaming you for keeping me here!"

Darrel and Anne take their leave from the Plantar farm. "Kids," said Hop pop. "Don't follow us!" Anne cried. Darrel used his staff to petrify Hop pop's legs. "What the?" "Don't worry, it'll wear off," he said. "But we'll be gone by the time it does." Hop pop couldn't do anything but watch them walk back into the wilderness.

Darrel and Anne walked very quietly for a while. Darrel knows how upset Anne is, so he didn't think it was a proper time to speak. However, Anne broke the silence. "You know you didn't have to follow me." "Anne, we're in this situation together," said Darrel. "Wherever you go, I go."

"Aren't you scared I might be upset with you?" Anne asked. Darrel nodded, "I am. However, when Hop pop found out, he was thinking about himself. But when I found out from Cronaxx, I was thinking about us. You, me, Sasha, and Marcy."

Losing her anger from his statement, Anne hugged Darrel. "You are so selfless," she said. "Yeah," said Darrel. "There's not a lot of people like me, though. That's the sad part." "Then those people are missing out on all the good you see," said Anne. "People like you, make the world a better place."

Darrel smiled as the two reached a cave to rest up. Darrel was a tad curious about this cave, until he spotted handwriting on the wall. 'Anne Wuz Here.' On the other side of the wall were five lines scratched off. He realized that the box transported Anne around here when they separated.

"You've been here on your first days in Amphibia?" Darrel asked. "Yep," replied Anne. "Never thought I'd be sleeping in this cave again. At least I'll have you and Rocky."

"Rocky?" Darrel asked. He turns around to find a rock decorated with moss hair, and paint for a face. "Hmm, wait here." Darrel exits the cave with another rock and gives it a little face as well. He places the rock next to hers and says, "Rocky, meet Wilson." The two humans laughed.

A storm arrived later in the day, and the two humans were still having fun with their rock mates. Anne and Darrel set up their cave like a wedding altar for their rocks. 'If only I had my bobby pins for Rocky's hair,' she thought. "If anyone knows why these rocks should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace," said Darrel.

Suddenly, lightning strikes outside revealing a silhouette in the cave's entrance. At first the two humans were horrified, but then disgusted when it was revealed to be Hop pop. "Oh, it's you," said Darrel.

"Please kids, just let me explain," said Hop pop. "I am not talking to you right now, Hop pop," said Anne. "I need you guys to know why I hid the music box," said Hop pop. "Then, why is it so complicated to tell us?" Darrel asked. "I was just trying to protect the family," replied Hop pop. "But why would you lie to us?" Anne asked.

Before Hop pop could explain, they hear Sprig, Polly, and Tint screaming in the distance. They make their way to a burrow of bugs. "What the heck is that?" Anne asked. "It's a love-nado," said Cronaxx. The three look to the side and see him on the edge of the burrow.

"The Magpie beetle is a rare breed of insect that lives underground. Every 20 years it burrows to the surface and steals junk to make its shell. It presents that shell to prospective mates in a ritual called the 'love-nado dance.'"

Darrel spots Tint who has grabbed the box off one of the Magpie Beetles. "Guys!" he called out. "Hold on to each other!" Sprig, Polly, and Tint grab onto each other. Tint keeps the box in his hand, making sure he doesn't let go.

Darrel takes his staff and proceeds to lift the three amphibians off the ground and out of the burrow. As they are floating from a safe distance, Tint accidentally drops the box into Anne's arms. "You found it guys!" he cheered.

"Better thank Soggy Joe," said Tint. "He was the one who identified the culprit." Darrel smiled, "I should."

"That was amazing," said Polly. "I can't believe we did it!" Sprig cried. "Yeah, we did," said Anne in an unimpressed tone. Despite getting the box back, she was still upset that Hop pop buried it in the first place. "And now, we're through here."

She turns away from the Plantars and marches off. Darrel follows her from behind. "Anne, Darrel, no," said Sprig. "Where will you go?" Polly asked. "It's clear that Hop pop doesn't want to tell us why he buried the box," said Darrel. "If it's too painful, fine. Don't say anything."

"Kids, wait," said Hop pop. He tried one more time to convince them. "What I did wasn't right. But I didn't do it to trick you?" Anne and Darrel just kept walking away. "Then, why is it so hard to tell the truth?" Darrel asked, not bothering to turn around. Hop pop sighed, and said only four words. "Sprig and Polly's parents."

Those words made Anne and Darrel stop in their own tracks. It even made Sprig and Polly perk up hearing those words. "Hop pop," "That wasn't your fault." Tint and Cronaxx stopped them so Hop pop could explain.

"It was a few years ago," he began. "I was on a journey when the herons attacked Wartwood. Sprig and Polly survived. But their parents weren't so lucky." With tears in his eyes, Hop pop clenched his fists. "If I had just been there, I know things would've been different. Ever since then, I swore I'd never let my family down again. That I would do anything to protect them."

Darrel and Anne turned around as Hop pop continued. "So when I found out the box was dangerous, I lied to you and hid it away. I thought I was protecting my family. But now I realized how foolish it was. You're my family too. And I let you down. I let us all down. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I'M JUST SO SORRY!"

Hop pop was on his knees, crying his heart out. Realizing the weight he had on protecting his family, Darrel and Anne cried too. Mostly Darrel, considering his situation with his mother. The two come back and hug Hop pop with all their hearts."It's okay, Hop pop," said Darrel. "We forgive you," said Anne.

Later the group jumps in for a group hug and later gets out of the rain. Along the way, Cronaxx talks with Hop pop. "I hope you are aware that things can't go back to where they were before." "He's right, Hop pop," said Darrel. "If it's okay with you, me and Anne are going to need time to ourselves. But don't worry, we're not mad at you. It's just one of those things after a situation like this." Hop pop nodded, "Of course, you take as much time as you two need. In fact, before you guys do, I must show you guys something."

Back at the Plantar's house the group arrive at Hop pop's study to see what he had to show them. "This book has been in our family for as long as I can remember," he said. "And look." He opens the book to show the page where he found the box.

The group, mostly the kids, were stunned to see the page on record. "Calamity box?" Anne asked. "Sheesh, that does sound bad." "Especially with bad dreams I have about that thing," said Darrel. "I guess all we can do now is wait for Marcy," said Sprig. "Agreed," said Tint. "As far as I'm concerned, this quest to the temple is more dangerous than we thought."

"Well, kids," said Hop pop. "Think this gang can handle it?" "I don't think," said Cronaxx. "I know we can. All it takes is the will of our group." "You got that right, Cronaxx," said Darrel. The group hugs in preparation for what comes next. "You kids sure you don't want to wear the Puffy suits?" Hop pop asked. "Hop pop," said Sprig and Polly sternly. "Okay okay, just had to ask."

Darrel looks out the window with a serious look on his face. "Whatever it takes, I will get us home," he said. "Even if I had to do it alone." "Don't say that, Darrel," said Anne. "You're not alone, and you never will be." The two hold hands and smile at each other. "Thank you for being there for me Anne," he said. "You're welcome, Darrel," said Anne.