As all lights in the basement went out, leaving the room pitch black.
Anne broke her kiss with Olivier, and stared out at...Nothing.
"wow, that was some kiss!" spoke Anne.
"I'm pretty sure that wasn't us." spoke Olivier.
"I can't see a thing...well, except for your eyes that is."
Indeed, the only form of light that COULD be seen was the illumination
of Olivier's gold and sapphire eyes that shined in the darkness like a pair of night lights.
"can you actually see?" asked Anne.
"yes." Olivier opened his palm, and formed a golden ball of light.
he waved his hand, making the light ball float upward and illuminated the room.
"That helps...thanks." said Anne.
"no problem." said Olivier, who formed another light ball in his palm. "here...open your hand."
Anne opened her palm, and watched as Olivier placed the still floating orb upon it.
Anne smiled as she 'held' the orb of light in her palm, shielding it with her other hand as if it were a lit candle.
"we'd better go up top and check on everyone else." said Olivier.
"good idea." said Anne, as she began to walk with Olivier.
As the pair emerged upstairs, they found the rest of the house was dark as well.
"Anne?...is that you?!" spoke the voice of Mrs. Boonchuy. "Where are you?!"
"OVER HERE, MOM!" called Anne.
Olivier began to create more light orbs, and sent them floating aimlessly.
It didn't take long for the room to be illuminated like the Basement, and Mrs. Boonchuy to find them.
"There you are...oh!, that's a useful trick." spoke Oum.
"Let me guess: we have a power outage." spoke Anne.
"And it appears to be affecting the whole neighborhood." said Oum.
"Your father is looking for candles...but he can't seem to find any."
"we don't need candles...I can help." said Olivier (as he conjured more light orbs.)
"apparently so." mused Oum. "Okay, Oliver...do what you can."
Oliver walked off, and proceeded to create more balls of light.
It didn't take long for the interior of the whole house to look like it was filled with fireflies.
"NEAT!" exclaimed Sprig.
"Don't eat those, boy!" exclaimed Hop Pop.
"aww..."
The Boonchuys and Plantars eventually joined with Olivier in the family room.
"This is rather...inconvenient." spoke Bee.
"aw, it isn't THAT bad." said Hop Pop. "Reminds me of every night on th' farm."
Anne looked at her parents. "weirdly, he's right. there is NO POWER back at the Plantar Farm."
"Then this shouldn't be too difficult for you." said Oum.
"Hey!, I never said that I liked it." retorted Anne.
Everyone watched as Bee started to talk with someone on his phone.
After a few minutes, he finally hung up and TRIED to force a smile.
"problems?" inquired Olivier.
"a little..." spoke Bee, meekly. "It's the weekend, and the power company won't be able to fix the electricity until tomorrow."
"Well, that sucks!" exclaimed Polly. "I wanted to play that 'Speedy Needlemouse' videogame tonight!"
"We can find something else to do that's fun." spoke Sprig.
"Me and Anne used to stay up late doing all kinds of things, and didn't need "Power" to do it!"
Sprig then hopped over to Anne. "You remember our special spot, Anne?!"
"You mean that old stone fence near the Plantar house?" spoke Anne. "I could never forget it."
"We'd spend HOURS stargazing, reading by candle light and talking about the fun day we had." said Sprig to everyone else.
"I still cannot find any candles." said Bee.
"but Pink Frog does have a point." spoke Oum. "We don't need electricity to have a good time."
"HEY!, I got an idea..." spoke Anne. "Why don't we just camp outside in the backyard!?"
"that...sounds like a GREAT idea, Anne." spoke Oum. "We haven't done that since you were little."
"Now that you mention it..." spoke Olivier. "I did find some sleeping bags and old tents
down in the basement while I was clearing out some space for my room."
"Then it's settled" said Oum. "Backyard Camping it is."
"I'll gather some food and drinks." said Bee, as he walked to the kitchen.
[Later]
In the backyard of the Boonchuy Home, the Boonchuys and Plantars had just finished setting up tents
and sleeping bags around a larger orb of light among smaller light orbs that substituted a campfire.
"Okay, that oughta do it..." said Bee.
"Wish we had a real campfire, though." said Hop Pop. "For the Roasting Food, that is."
"Oliver can take care of that himself." said Anne. "HEY, OLIV-!"
Anne stopped mid-sentence at seeing Olivier standing afar, staring out at the far off horizon.
He was clearly gazing at the far away city. which glowed bright in the darkness of the night.
"OLIVER!?"
"Oh!, ss-sorry...I was jus-" Embarrassed, Olivier walked back to the 'camp'.
"It's okay, Oliver...we understand your curiosity." said Oum.
"I don't mean to come off as childish...it's just I have never seen anything like that before." began Olivier.
"Cities of glass that shine like a jewel, and illuminate the night. Buildings tall enough to reach the sky."
"wow...I've never thought about the city that way." said Bee.
"You should see my homeland of Thailand, Olivier." spoke Oum. "It is also a beautiful place...Especially at night."
"I'd LOVE to go there, too!" spoke up Anne.
"Someday we will." said Anne's mother. "some days...I miss my hometown of Bangkok."
"Why did you leave?" asked Olivier.
"I...WE had our reasons." said Oum, frowning a little (as did Bee.)
Olivier looked down. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to pry."
"It's fine, dear. there is no harm in asking questions."
Olivier finally sat down with the rest of the Boonchuy and Plantars,
as they all gathered around in a circle and got started camping out.
"Oliver..." spoke Bee.
"yeah?"
"Anne says you could help with...This." Bee brought out some food. Mainly meat that needed to be cooked to be edible.
"Oh...of course." said Olivier, taking the food items.
Everyone watched in awe as Olivier ignited a flame from his palm that burned harmlessly.
He then levitated some hot dogs, sausages and beef patties over his flame and cooked them.
"amazing..." spoke Bee, fully impressed.
"That doesn't hurt?" asked Oum.
"not yet." spoke Olivier. "but it used to."
Olivier then levitated the cooked food over to everyone.
"Hmm...Tasty!" said Hop Pop. "Although it's missing some of that flavor you usually give it."
"I left all my potions back in Amphibia, so I need to make some new ones." said Olivier.
"Potions?" inquired Bee.
"Yeah, Potions." said Anne. "Back in Amphibia, Olivier was a GREAT cook.
We even had a stand in the market places where we sold a variety of special Thai dishes that we made!"
"Actually, Anne made them." said Olivier. "I just handled the flavoring with my knowledge of Herbs and Spices."
"Don't be so modest, Ollie. We were a TEAM! It was like running our own restaurant like mom and dad do."
"They did help out at Stumpy's Diner on occasion." added Hop Pop.
"Interesting...I would love to taste a sample some time." said Oum.
"Well, like I said: I need to mix new potions." said Olivier.
"We'll wait with anticipation, then." said Bee.
There was a brief silence that lasted for a very long minute.
"this is boring." said Polly. "Anyone got any cool tunes to play?!"
Anne checked her phone...but was dismayed to see it was low on power. "dang...I forgot to charge it."
Olivier chortled at this.
"What's so funny!?" spoke Anne, annoyed.
"oh, not much...It's just that- well, you kept your phone on one charge for so long while in Amphibia." began Olivier.
"So it's kinda funny how NOW that we are back in your own world, your phone's power is quickly drained."
Hop Pop laughed along with Olivier...as did Sprig and Polly, and even Anne's own parents could suppress their laughter.
Anne scowled...but finally allowed herself to laugh as well. "fair enough."
"We can always make our own music." said Bee, who brought out a string instrument.
"What's that?" asked Olivier.
"it's called a "Krachappi." said Anne. "It's a Thai Musical Instrument."
"It's also called a "Grajabpi." said Bee.
"It kinda resembles my mother's old Bard Lute." said Olivier.
"oh, do you know how to play the strings then?" asked Bee.
Olivier looked away awkwardly. "a little...it's been awhile."
Bee then offered Olivier the Krachappi. "give it a try."
Olivier reluctantly took the string instrument, and laid it on his lap.
He breathed out deeply as he began to pluck at the strings, making a variety of sounds.
"take your time, dear." said Oum. "no pressure."
Olivier smiled meekly, and took another breath again.
Anne then placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a soft look.
Olivier smiled at her...and began to strum a tune.
It started out sloppy at first, but eventually became harmonious.
["Anne's Theme" is played.]
As Olivier played, the Krachappi pulsed with a magical energy channeled from Olivier's hands.
The others watched in awe as a golden energy swept over Olivier's body...and gradually spread.
The camp was then contained within a dome-shaped barrier that slowly altered the environment.
The Boonchuy's mouths gaped as their backyard slowly became a swamp-like meadow teeming with fireflies.
The Plantars recognized it all too well.
"HEY!, it's our home!" exclaimed Sprig.
"wait...THIS is Amphibia?!" spoke Bee, stunned.
"Well, our Farm in Wartwood Village actually." said Hop Pop.
Everyone (sans Olivier) gazed at the environment, each with mixed emotions.
"it looks...Beautiful." said Oum.
Anne smiled. "I know...(frowns) it was home."
Olivier eventually closed his eyes...and started to play a different tune on the Krachappi.
The illusion of the Plantar Farm slowly faded away, and in it's place...was somewhere new.
An ethereal sky hung over everyone's heads as the Boonchuy home became a simple house
with a large window that resembled a large eye that appeared to glow.
"what is...this place?" asked Oum.
"dunno...Whatever it is, it isn't Amphibia." said Hop Pop.
Anne looked at Olivier...whose eyes were still closed.
Just then, a new figure gradually materialized among the group.
It was a pale skinned woman with golden eyes, long silver hair like a lion's mane.
a noticeable fang, pointed ears and dressed in a raggy red dress.
...and in her lap was a young boy about Sprig's age who looked like Olivier.
"wait...is that-"
"Oliver's mom...Eda Clawthorne." said Anne, softly.
tears streamed down Olivier's cheek as he continued to play a melody on the Krachappi.
As he did...the illusion of Eda began to sing, her voice sounding soft and sweet.
(("Time renews tomorrow. When we've used today. It will find the sorrow...And wash it all away.
Love can play a new tune, On this carousel. It may be tomorrow...But only time will tell."))
Eda and the younger Olivier then faded as the environment changed once again.
The Boonchuys and Plantars then found themselves in dark, haunting woodland.
They heard a baby crying...from within an Olive Tree not far away.
Eda Clawthorne then appeared again, and drew out the wailing infant from the hollowed tree.
Anne widened her eyes at seeing the baby had a patch of auburn hair...and eyes that were gold and sapphire.
Eda smiled as she held baby Olivier close to her...ceasing his crying.
(("Somewhere in the darkness, There must...be a Light. Leading us together, Through the misty night."))
The environment changed again...This time to something more frightening.
The Boonchuys and Plantars with inside a house...where a giant creature loomed over them.
It had the body like a lion, massive bird wings and talons.
But it's face resembled Eda's, only with solid black eyes and fangs.
They gasped when the creature in their direction. But they then saw the child version of Olivier again.
The young boy hopped onto the Owl Beast, and jammed a bottle of golden liquid in her mouth.
The Owl Beast then reduced in size...and slowly reverted back into Eda Clawthorne.
Olivier's child self held his passed out mother...and hugged her with tears in his eyes.
(("And maybe in the new dawn...We can break the spell. It may be tomorrow. But only time will tell."))
The environment altered yet again. This time, a golden statue of a robed figure
in a horned mask towered over everyone, while white cloaked figures in bird masked stood menacingly.
The scene pulled away into what looked like a dark alley where Eda and the child version of Olivier
were hiding as the white cloaked guards patrolled the streets of a city like some kind of Dystopia.
Eda took young Olivier's hand as they slipped departed into the shadows
(("There can be a new dream, One for us to hold, Made with peace and hope. And built upon the old."))
The final image showed the interior of a room. The Boonchuy's and Plantars saw another illusion of Olivier
who didn't look that different from how he is now, and had papers scattered everywhere.
That Olivier looked frustrated as he shoved everything off his work desk.
Anne then watched as this other Olivier reached for something...that looked VERY familiar.
a wooden box...with three colored jewels upon the lid.
(("No one has the answer...To give away or sell."))
The illusion of Olivier opened the box...and gasped as a Blue, Pink and Green light shined from inside it.
The light spilled out, casting a flash that blinded everyone for a moment.
And when the flash subsided, the scene changed to show the other Olivier
in a lush, green forest with giant mushrooms, and bugs the side of birds flying by.
(Anne recognized this scene all too well.)
(("Tomorrow holds the secret...But only time will tell."))
[End of Part Nine]