Trip to the Market

[Boonechuy Residence]

In Anne's room, Anne had opened her closet and tossing various clothes out.

"See? You can totally use my childhood clothes as disguises." said Anne.

"You really liked yellow as a kid, huh?" spoke Sprig. "Won't this make us stand out?"

"Sprig, I'm sure Anne knows what she's talking about here." spoke Hop Pop.

Everyone looked at what the older frog was wearing...and immediately screamed in disgust.

"What? If you got it, you gotta flaunt it."

"Actually, let's try something else!" exclaimed Anne (almost panicking.)

Anne then proceeded to put Sprig a long coat, a hat on Polly

and to finish the costume for Hop Pop, she makes him a false nose with a piece of clay.

"There. That outta do it." said Anne.

"I like it. My very own face bump." said Hop Pop.

Sprig then proceeded to stand on top of Polly while wearing the long coat.

"Hey hey! Look at me! I'm a human!" exclaimed the pink frog.

At that moment, the two siblings lost their balance and fell.

"Wait, Polly. You're supposed to be the top half." spoke Anne.

"And not get to use these beautiful legs? NEVER!"

Anne shrugged. "Fair enough. Now, who's ready to see my world?"

The Plantars get excited, so they jump in victory...but they end up causing a disaster in the room.

Anne sighs. "OK, but no more victory jumps."

Just then, a soft knock was heard.

Anne looked to see Olivier standing at the open door. "Everything okay in here?"

Anne smiled at her boyfriend. "so far, so good."

"Great. Your parents told me to tell you that we leave in five minutes."

"We'll be ready in just a few." said Anne.

Olivier smiled. "Okay...I'd better go find Fleetwing before he eats your cat."

Anne laughed nervously. "Don't you mean: Before DOMINO eats Fleetwing."

"I know what I said." with that, Olivier left...leaving Anne speechless.

[SIX Minutes Later..]

Outside the house, The Boonchuys opened up the sliding door of the family van.

"ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY IN!" exclaimed Oum Boonchuy. "Doy thạnthī!"

Anne and the disguised Plantars couldn't get in the vehicle fast enough.

Olivier simply walked, carrying his magic staff via a harness intended for a hockey stick.

The witch boy was hesitant to get into the minivan,

since the last time he encountered a vehicle in this world...a truck hit him.

But he eventually got in after some coaxing from Anne,

and the Boonchuys got both got in and began to drive away from the house.

Olivier (much like the Plantars) just stared out the window,

watching as the world passed by at a steady, yet pretty fast speed.

"so...this really is the Human Realm." spoke Olivier, thinking aloud.

"Human Realm?, Xêy. you really ARE from another world." spoke Bee Boonchuy.

"So, you really DO live in a fantasy world like from my husband's videogames?" inquired Oum.

"Magic Spells, Castles, Giant Monsters and all that?"

"The Boiling Islands isn't EXACTLY like in human works of fiction." explained Olivier.

"in fact, Amphibia wasn't that far removed from it...part of why it wasn't so bad living there."

Olivier then looked out the window again, gazing at the many sights.

"but THIS...This world. It's unlike anything I have ever seen." continued Olivier.

"Only my mother has ever ventured to this world with her magic portal.

I often imagined what it was like, even Dreamed of one day travelling here with her.

but my mother said it was too dangerous. that I wasn't ready.

But someday I would be...and when that day came, she promised to show me this world."

Olivier then frowned. "never imagined my first trip to the Human Realm would be like this."

Anne was about to pat Olivier on the shoulder...when she was suddenly shoved into him by Sprig and Polly.

"HEY!, QUIT IT!"

"STOP KICKING ME!"

"KNOCK IT OFF, KIDS!"

As the Plantars bickered, Anne and Olivier looked at each other.

Both being sandwiched together, they each smiled awkwardly at each other. blushing like mad.

Anne's parents, however...both groaned at the noises behind them.

This was one memory from Anne's childhood that they DID NOT miss in the slightest.

[Later]

The Boonchuys and the Plantars come to market in the minivan.

While Olivier was calm, Anne and the Plantars were getting excited.

but, Bee locked the doors. "Not so fast, you three. I mean...you five."

"We stick together in there, understood?" said Oum, sternly.

"And if anything goes wrong, it's back in the lockdown for all of you." added Bee, just as sternly.

"We got it, We got it." said Anne. "Now let's get shopping!"

Mr. Boonchuy unlocks the doors. Anne and the Plantars get out of the car in a hurry and emotionally.

Then the Boonchuys come out with Olivier, a show of concern on the adult couple's faces.

"This was a bad idea, wasn't it?" spoke Oum, worried.

"Oooooh, yeeeah..." answered Bee, in an equally worried tone.

Olivier, however, was staring at the '99 Ranchers Market' building before him. "This is the Market Place?"

"yes...it is. Why?" asked Oum.

"n-nothing. it's just...it looks different from what I expected is all." said Olivier.

"Khwām dī. you have lived a sheltered life." spoke Oum

Olivier looked down, feeling very Awkward. He then noticed just how far Anne

and the Plantars had gotten, and rushed ahead to catch up with them.

As Anne and the Plantars entered the Supermarket, Sprig immediately jumped over to a strange machine.

"Wow! That thing looks like Frobo! Is that a robot too?" exclaimed Sprig.

"Sort of..." spoke Anne. "it's like a..."robotic wallet."

"Cool. Oh, and is that a robot?" exclaimed Sprig, pointing at a Store Employee.

"Sprig, not everything is a robot." said Anne.

Sprig then points at a literal Toy Robot.

"Ok fine. But nothing else." Anne then turned, and saw Olivier enter the store with her parents close behind.

"dang, you guys are FAST." spoke Olivier, looking winded.

"You okay, Ollie?" spoke Anne with concern.

"ye-yeah...just give me a min-whooooaa..."

Olivier gazed in awe at the interior of the building. "so THIS is a Human Market Place...it's HUGE."

Anne chortled. "Trust me, this is NOTHING compared to the Mall."

Olivier looked at his girlfriend. "what's a Mall?"

This made Anne wince, trying to hold back a laugh.

"Oh no. I left the shopping list at home!" exclaimed Bee, panicking. "Abort mission! Abort mission!"

"No worries, dad." said Anne. "I took a picture of the shopping list before we left."

Anne proceeds to shows said picture of the shopping list on her phon. "you know...Just in case."

Anne's parents stared in amazement. "Oh. Thank you Anne." spoke Oum. "That was...strangely responsible of you."

Before Anne could respond, Polly started kicking Anne's shin. "Psst. Give me a quarter. I wanna buy a lotto ticket."

"You will do no such thing!" spoke Anne, her tone (and expression) like a stern mother.

Polly pouted...and then turned to Olivier. "Give me a-"

"Absolutely not, those things are a Rip-Off." said Olivier (ALSO sounding like a stern parent.)

"But-"

(("NO!")) said Anne and Olivier in perfect unison.

Anne's parents chuckled, finding this scene cute (if somewhat ironic.)

"Heheheh. Such puny vegetables. Huh?" spoke Hop Pop, as he browsed the vegetable isle.

Just then, the orange frog spotted a much larger one. "Whoa mama!, Now that's more like it."

"That's Durian. It's a Thai favorite. Not really my thing since it smells like-"

Hop Pop opened up the Durian...and act he quickly regretted.

"...rotten eggs." winced Anne.

"Smells fine to me." said Olivier, unaffected by the Durian. "Reminds me of my mother's cooking."

Hop Pop exclaims in disgust and tries to mop himself on the floor.

a nearby lady watches him.

"Durian first timer over here." said Anne, laughing nervously.

The lady laughs with Anne for a moment, and soon leaves.

"Okay, C'mon." said Anne, as she picks up Hop Pop. "let's get you something good."

Anne then gasps upon seeing a Noodle shop. "Mom, Dad, can I take the Plantars to try out some noodles?"

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeemmm..." Anne's parents STILL weren't convinced.

"I'll keep the Plantars within arms reach at all times, will avoid any customers,

and I'll keep my phone in my hand in case you guys call." spoke Anne.

"but-"

"And I won't order iced coffee." added Anne. "even though I love it, because I know it makes me jittery and anxious."

"That does sound fair." mused Oum.

"Alright, you can go. but be careful." said Bee.

"Yes. We will be. Thank you!" Anne then noticed The Plantars suddenly separating. "Huh?"

Anne quickly prevents Sprig from touching a live crab. "No, you don't..."

Anne next prevents Hop Pop from entering a door labeled EMPLOYEE'S ONLY. "Oh! No no no no no..."

"Unbelievable. She's like a different person." said Bee, astonished.

Oum looked to Olivier. "I guess you and the old frog were right: Anne HAS come a long way."

Olivier shrugged. "I don't blame you two for having your doubts."

Olivier was about to leave when Oum grabbed his shoulder. "wait...perhaps we HAVE been a bit overprotective.

You don't have to watch Anne if you would rather do something else."

"well...I would like to explore this place for a bit." said Olivier.

"go on ahead, dear." said Oum. "have fun."

Olivier smiled and proceeded to walk off towards the book section.

"sooo...what now?" asked Bee.

Oum linked her arm with her husband. "Come on, Mama needs her Jasmine Tea!"

As the Boonchuys leave, The automatic door opens suddenly...yet no one is there.

a worker notices this, and watches as it closes. "stupid door."

Unknown to anyone, however...the Cloak-Bot has snuck into the market in it's invisible state.

and was stealthily making it's way through the store...

...and towards the Noodle Shop where Anne currently was.

[End of Part Six]