13. A Leap of Love

Chapter 12 - A Leap of Love

As time progresses at the farm, the better the chances are for the group to go beyond the valley of Wartwood. Hop pop was in his study, Polly was in the kitchen, Anne and Sprig were hiking in the wild, and Cronaxx was working on a potion in the stables.

Tint watched his great uncle work on a new potion. Until Darrel walked in with a few strings. He walked behind a haystack to see Darrel crafting something. Tint was curious with delight.

"What are you working on Darrel?" Tint asked. "It's just something to help me get through the days when I'm not training or farming," replied Darrel. He picks up a hollow block of wood that is shown to be poorly crafted.

"It's supposed to be a guitar," he said. He takes the strings and puts them together, creating his first guitar. "The craftsmanship on these instruments are much smoother back home. But this is my first hand made guitar I've ever made."

He plucks the strings and the guitar surprisingly makes wonderful music. "Have you ever played a guitar?" Tint asked. "Only when I was in elementary school," replied Darrel. "Now I just do it for fun."

He plays a melody making Tint sway to it's soothing tune. The music got Cronaxx's attention and put his potion brewing on hold. Darrel played his newly crafted guitar as fine as the wind blowing to the east. Even Bessie and Clipper swayed to his wonderful playing.

As Darrel stopped, he looked at his companions smiling at his talent. "That was amazing," said Tint. "If you thought magic doesn't exist in your world, then you'd be wrong," said Cronaxx. "Music can be quite the charm caster."

Darrel blushed in embarrassment, "Thanks guys, but I don't know if I can ever be a musician." "Why not?" Cronaxx asked. "Because Sasha told me that I would have to compete against other guitarists. She told me that I should save my talents until I know for sure I could outplay competing players. So I kept my head down until I knew for sure I could win a gig."

Cronaxx took a breath and said, "Behind every successful person, there's a lot of unsuccessful years." Darrel looks to the Salamanders. "There's always going to be guitar players as great as you," said Tint. "You can't keep your talents hidden based on the possible fear of losing. If you do that, you could lose your experience."

Darrel took their conversation to heart, and nodded. As he looks out the window, he finds Sprig and Anne returning from the wilderness. "Alright, they're back," he said.

He enters the house after Anne and Sprig just as Hop pop came down the stairs. "What have you two been doing?" Hop pop asked. "I've been looking for you all morning."

"Oh nothing," said Anne. Darrel looks to his friend recognizing her tone of voice. "I know that tone, Anne," he said. "Why do I feel like there's an 'except' in this conversation?" "That's because Sprig was totally flirting with a cute girl," replied Anne.

"A girl?" Cronaxx asked as he and Tint popped their heads through the door. "No kiddin'!" Hop pop exclaimed. "Is it true Sprig?" Darrel asked. "It's not like that," he replied. "Ivy Sundew and I are just friends."

"Ivy Sundew?" Hop pop asked. "Nobody move. I'm getting the courtship kit." He races up the stairs, with everyone else waiting in the living room. "This is so exciting!" Anne cried. "I'm going to go get my dating magazines! Brb!"

She rushes down to the basement to get her magazines, leaving Darrel, the Salamanders, Sprig and Polly together. "I don't actually care," said Polly. "So Ivy's your friend?" Tint asked. "Yeah, she's my childhood acquaintance and occasional sparing partner," he replied.

Hop pop returns with a chest filled with mushrooms and high class outfits. "Here we go," he said. "The firefly formal is tonight. It's the perfect opportunity to begin the ritual." Anne pops out of the basement carrying magazines in her left arm.

"Ritual?" Darrel and Anne asked simultaneously. "Uh huh," replied Hop pop. Only frogs who have performed the ceremonial dance in the ceremonial garb are allowed to be wed." Anne took one of his illustrations and said, "Kitchy, I like it."

Darrel however, took a glance and said, "Blech, too fancy for my taste." "Guys!" Sprig popped up, "We're just friends! Besides, I'm already engaged to Maddie right? She gave me this nifty ring." He shows them a skeleton ring that randomly glows its eyes.

"Wait, Sprig got engaged?" Darrel asked. "How much did I miss?" "To put it simply, we needed to cook something for a competition we ended up losing," Anne replied. "We needed some bread for the recipe and Maddie's father agreed to trade, in exchange for Sprig marrying his daughter Maddie."

"Forget her," said Hop pop. "The Sundews have secret proprietary crops. Do you have any idea what that means?! If our families merge, WE'LL BE RICH!" Darrel stepped back out of fear. "Wow, so romantic," Polly said sarcastically.

Anne opens up one of her dating magazines "Ugh! I love these magazines," she said. She shows Sprig a page and says, "Look, Sprig. It says here that two-thirds of all soul mates start out as 'just friends'."

Sprig looked with shock and snatched the magazine out of her hands. "You trust these things?" Sprig asked. "Definitely. It helped with Darrel and Sasha," replied Anne. "If that worked on my friends, it'll work for you too."

"Could Ivy be my eternal love?" Sprig asked. "My soulmate? The cat to my bat?" "Well, we're about to find out," said Hop pop. "Cause I already asked her family." A mosquito comes in and gives him a note. He reads it and says, "They agreed to a date!"

"I guess one date couldn't hurt," said Sprig. Darrel grew uneasy, "Don't any of you guys think you're rushing this?" "Nope," said Anne in a confident grin. "Well as much as we like to help you out. Darrel is due for magic training," said Cronaxx. "Okay then, good luck to you boys," said Hop pop. "Now let's get going!"

The trio venture into the wilderness where they begin another training session. "Alright Darrel," said Cronaxx. "This time, we're going to learn about one of the most powerful elements of magic."

Cronaxx waves his hands revealing a pink aura. "Love." Darrel was confused, "I thought magic can't interfere with love." "It can't," said Tint. "Love is the most powerful magic of all. We can use love, but it can't be controlled by any wizard."

"That's why in today's lesson, we are watching love in action," said Cronaxx. The group keep venturing into the forest and discover a pack of fireflies near a watering hole. "These fireflies are amazing," said Darrel. "And we're just in time," said Cronaxx. "They are in season."

Tint looks across the lake to find Sprig and another frog sitting beside him. Darrel sees them and waves to the two. The group walked up to them to say hello. "Hey guys." Sprig called out. "Hey Sprig," said Darrel. "Is that Ivy Sundew?" "Oh hey there," said the girl.

"Oh that's right," said Sprig. "Ivy, meet Darrel. The other oddity from another world. Darrel, Salamanders, meet Ivy." Darrel shakes her hand, "Nice to officially meet you too," said Ivy. Then she gets up in his face, "Do you like being randomly attacked?" "Once in a while," replied Darrel. "My sisters attack me all the time, I'm at the point where I'm used to it."

"So what are you guys doing here?" Tint asked. "I thought that the formal was tonight." "It is," replied Ivy. "Our parents forced us into this because they thought it was a good idea." Darrel shook his head and said, "They shouldn't force something like this to you guys."

"Love is not something that you can just instantly claim. Love comes around naturally, whether you want it to or not." Sprig and Ivy listen carefully to Darrel's words. He takes out a photo of him and Sasha, giving him a kissy face. "Take me and Sasha for example. We met many years ago when she stood up for me. I liked her for that, and then we started hanging out. Eventually, that led up to us being boyfriend and girlfriend at the beginning of middle school."

"Wow, it looks like you two are happy," said Ivy. "Well, love is a complicated thing," said Darrel. "Falling in love is easy, but it's the staying in love part that's challenging. As time went on, Sasha and I spent more time with Anne and Marcy than we do ourselves. And when we spend time alone, it's usually when she needs something for herself."

"So, why do you stay with her if you don't think she loves you back?" Ivy asked. "I stayed because Anne said that's what good friends do," replied Darrel. "They stay by their side no matter what." Cronaxx looks to Darrel and says, "Remember what I told you out in the forest. You are in control of your own destiny. You can't let others tell you otherwise."

Sprig looks to Darrel nodding at the elderly salamander. "I guess Darrel's got a pretty great teacher, right Ivy?" Sprig looks around to try and find his friend. When all of a sudden, "AMBUSH!" Ivy attacks Sprig and the two spar with another in the bask of glowing fireflies.

Suddenly out of nowhere, the five hear screaming in the distance. "What's that?" Tint cried. "Sounded like screaming," replied Ivy. They look up to see two doves who have Anne, Hop pop, Polly, and Felicia Sundew in their talons. "Anne!" Darrel cried. "Our families!" Sprig Cried. "We gotta help them." Ivy gives Sprig a stick and the group follows in the bird's direction.

The group peek out from the bushes to find the group marinated in goo. The two birds start snuggling against each other out of love. "Love doves," whispered Cronaxx. "Any more facts on these birds?" Tint asked. "They mate for life and spend it massacring all living things," replied Cronaxx. "But nothing soothes them other than being romantic with each other."

That's when Darrel got an idea. He took out his hand made guitar and said, "I'm going to distract them with a love song. You guys sneak in the nest and rescue our friends. Once you're clear, I'll cast a sleep charm on them." The group nods and moves to the opposite side of the nest.

Darrel hides behind the tree and looks to his guitar. 'It's been too long,' he thought. 'Don't be afraid.' He takes a deep breath and plays his strings. His guitar playing caught the doves, and the group's attention. As he played, he got the dove's attention, putting his plan in place. But what he didn't expect was that Anne was lost in his song.

(I Love you too much - Song from The Book of Life)

I love you too much

To live without you loving me back

I love you too much

Heaven's my witness and this is a fact

I know I belong

When I sing this song

There's love above love and it's ours

'cause I love you too much

I live for your touch

I whisper your name night after night

I love you too much

There's only one feeling and I know it's right

I know I belong

When I sing this song

There's love above love and it's ours

'cause I love you too much

Heaven knows your name I've been praying

To have you come here by my side

Without you a part of me's missing

Just to make you my own, I will fight

I know I belong

When I sing this song

There's love above love and it's ours

'cause I love you too much

I loooooooooove you too much

I love you too much

Heaven's my witness and this is a fact

You live in my soul

Your heart is my goal

There's love above love

But its mine 'cause I love you

There's love above love

And it's yours cause I love you

There's love above love

And it's ours if you love me

As much

As Darrel finished his song, he saw Anne close to his face. Snapped from his own little world, Darrel cried out, "Anne!" Anne snapped out of her trance, falling back. This caused the doves to screech at them. "Get behind me!" Darrel cried to Anne. She listens to him and he prepares to use the staff.

But before he could summon a spell, "AMBUSH!" Sprig cried. He falls onto one of the doves and smacks him unconscious. Ivy throws a stick at the other dove and the two sleep together. "Amazing. Even in defeat, they're majestic," said Hop pop.

The group leaves the nest and Felicia turns to her daughter. "Come along now Ivy, let's get you home so I can apologize safely." Ivy takes her hand and the two return home. "Okay, that was fun," she said. "See ya, Sprig." Sprig waves goodbye to Ivy and watches her leave. "See ya Ivy."

"Come on, everyone," said Cronaxx. "We should do the same before the doves wake up." "Hey Darrel," said Polly. "Yeah?" he asked. "You and the salamanders don't have to worry about the ritual." "Polly's right," said Hop pop. "This little gal set us straight. We won't take out the courtship kit until Sprig is good and ready."

Darrel smiled, "I'm proud of you Hop pop." "Now I can focus on finding love for Polly," said Hop pop as he walked away with her in his arms. "NOOOO!" Polly cried. Darrel shook his head as the salamanders walked out with him.

"Well, that's the end of that," said Anne. "Now you and Ivy can go back to being just friends." "Yep," said Sprig as he saw Ivy waving to him. Looking down on his frog friend, Darrel recognized the look in his eyes. "You just started falling for her, didn't you?" he asked. Sprig replied that he did.

As the three venture back to the farm, Anne decided to break the silence. "Hey Darrel, that was pretty amazing how you played the guitar." Darrel soon realized that Anne had not heard him play guitar in a long time. "It was nothing Anne," he said.

Anne however touched his hand, holding his guitar. "It was not nothing," she said. "That was incredible, and you should keep playing. I saw you smiling while you were singing, and that made me believe that you were happy."

"But what about other guitar players?" Darrel asked. "The only problem with other guitarists, is that there's no one like you. Even if you don't get a gig, I would still love to hear you play." said Anne. That made Darrel smile, "Thanks Anne."

The three reach the farm, but Darrel sits on a cobblestone wall and plays his guitar. Anne takes the time to listen to his soothing notes and falls half asleep by his side. Darrel takes notice and brings her back into the house.

'Thanks for giving me my confidence and my passion back, Anne. I don't think Sasha would've said those things,' he thought. She tiredly goes down the basement, unaware that Darrel held her hand until she was all the way in. Darrel returned to Bessie's stable and played his guitar until he fell asleep.