It was 8:25PM, and Anne was currently in her room.
She was sitting up on her bed next to her window, reading a book.
Though, it wasn't just ANY book: it was a journal.
MARCY'S Journal.
Anne didn't know how, but somehow Marcy's journal that she used to document Amphibia
had found it's way into Anne's backpack before that incident with the Calamity Box, and King Andrias.
Anne had skimmed over it on occasion, but right now she was taking the time to seriously read it.
By now, Anne had greater insight at Marcy's mindset during their time in the Frog World
(and was even impressed at the adventures Marcy had before she first reunited with her so long ago.)
And, once Anne worked up the nerve...she began writing her own entries into the blank pages.
(normally she wouldn't had, but as she had forgotten her own "journal" in Wartwood,
she had to write in SOMETHING, and it just felt 'right' to continue Marcy's Chronicles.)
Just then, Anne's phone began to ring. Anne looked at it...and saw Olivier's name pop up.
"Hello?" spoke Anne, answering her phone.
(("Anne, it's me.")) spoke Olivier.
"yeah, I know." said Anne. "What's up, Ollie?"
(("Well, I'm in my room, and have decided to take a break from work.")) began Olivier.
(("Do you still want to go on that date, tonight? I'll understand if you're busy..."))
Anne paused to think about it.
Usually she would always say 'yes' when asked to do things,
But that was the OLD Anne who thought she HAD to do such things to be a good friend.
And while she had since learned how to say 'no'...she kinda did also want a break, too.
"sure. I'd love to." said Anne. "though, at this hour there isn't that much to do."
(("oh, I have something in mind. don't worry.")) said Olivier.
Anne smiled. "okay, then. Give me ten minutes to get ready."
(("okay. see you, soon."))
Anne smiled as she tucked her phone away.
"You going somewhere, Anne?" spoke Sprig (from his 'bed' in Anne's dresser drawer.)
"Yes. me and Oliver are going on a date tonight." said Anne.
"It'll also be our first date in my own world, too."
"Can I come!?"
Before Anne could answer, Polly smacked Sprig with a rolled up magazine.
"That isn't how date's work, dummy!" said Polly. "I am technically still a Polliwog, and even *I* know that!"
"she's right, dude." said Anne. "This isn't a Spranne thing, it's an "Olivanne" thing."
"oh..." said Sprig, a little disappointed.
"hey..." Anne approached Sprig. "it's okay. we'll do something fun together LATER."
Sprig looked and Anne, and eventually smiled. "Okay...I understand."
Anne smiled. "that's my best bud."
"You have something planned for tonight, Anne?" asked Hop Pop.
"not too much. Oliver said he had an idea, though." said Anne.
"Heh! reminds me of when Sprig and Polly's parents went a-courtin." began Hop Pop.
"You would not believe the things that ol' Root would do to impress Lily."
"What kind of things?" asked Sprig, genuinely curious.
"oh, things like Wrestling a giant snake that lived in the lake." said Hop Pop.
"(muttering) in fact, that boy is the reason we had to put up that "No Swimming" sign."
This made Anne and Sprig blush awkwardly (both remembering the time
they went swimming in that same lake, and was nearly eaten by a giant snake.)
"Good thing me and Ollie are well past the 'Show-Off' stage in our relationship." said Anne.
"He doesn't need to impress me...everything that he does makes me glad to have met him."
"and I am happy for you, Anne." said Hop Pop. "Everyone deserves that kind of chance to be happy."
Anne smiled...and then turned away, and set up her foldable privacy screen
that her parents had gotten her ever since the Plantars moved into her room.
Stepping behind the screen, she began to undress and put on some nicer clothes.
Once she was done, she folded the screen back to show the Plantars.
"How do I look?" asked Anne.
Anne was wearing a basic outfit that didn't look that different from her usual one.
Only she now wore a Graphic T-Shirt with a cartoonish image of an Owl on it,
with the a caption under it written in bold lettering that read: [OWL DO YOU DO?]
As well as some hair clips that were shaped like leaves of different colors
(which the Plantars couldn't help but chuckle at, all things considered.)
"You look great, Anne." said Sprig.
"Really? cuz' I think I can do better than-"
"It's FINE, Anne." said Hop Pop.
"yeah, weren't you just saying that you and Oliver don't need to impress each other?!" spoke Polly.
Anne thought for a moment. "I guess I did. STILL, I...just want to look nice for Oliver.
This will be out first date in my world, and I want it to be special."
"There will be OTHER dates, Anne." spoke Hop Pop. "Heck, you HAVE had other dates with him before!
you don't need to act like this will be your last day with him ever. You have your whole lives ahead of you."
Anne blushed as she briefly imagined her and Olivier many years from now.
She didn't know what the future held, but she hoped she would always share it with Olivier.
"yeah...you're right. Maybe I am overthinking things."
Just then, Anne heard a knock on her door.
"COME IN!" called Anne.
The door opened...and Olivier walked in.
He was wearing new casual clothes that looked even more basic than what Anne was wearing.
With the one noteworthy piece being a black T-Shirt that read [MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU] in styled lettering.
(Anne recognized it as a shirt that Marcy once got her, but she never found a reason to wear.)
"You ready?" asked Olivier.
"Sure...you look Great." said Anne.
"you, too." said Olivier, smiling.
As Anne walked with Olivier, Anne waved back to her Frog Family. "Later, guys."
"Have fun, Anne!" said Hop Pop.
Anne smiled once more, and then walked out of her room with Olivier.
The pair then walked into the living room, where Anne's parents were watching a movie.
"You two going out?" inquired Oum.
"Yeah, me and Ollie are going on a date together."
"Well, just be careful you two." spoke Bee, glancing over at them.
"There was a mass murder in the big city, and the police still don't know who did it."
"I doubt it is anything we can't handle." said Olivier, charging his finger with gold energy.
"all the same: BE CAREFUL." said Oum. "I know how dangerous the streets can get after dark."
"We'll be okay, mom." said Anne. "Trust us."
"If I didn't, I wouldn't even allow you to leave at this hour." said Oum.
"look. just be safe and DON'T go into any dark places. and, Oliver...watch your back."
Olivier nodded. "I grew up having to watch my back...we'll be okay."
Oum half frowned at this, but still managed to smile. "have fun, then."
"We will. and, thanks mom...for trusting us." said Anne.
Oum Boonchuy then stood up, approached and hugged Anne. kissing her forehead.
"don't stay out too late, okay?"
"will do, mom."
Oum then looked to Olivier. "keep her safe...and bring her home."
Olivier nodded. "I will...and this time, it won't take me two-in-a-half months to do so.
Oum hugged Olivier. "good boy."
Olivier blushed, while Anne smirked as she lightly punched his shoulder.
"Okay, we're gonna get going. See you guys, later." said Anne.
"Bye, Anne. Have fun!, and remember to check in on us on your phone." said Bee.
"We will!" said Anne, as she and Olivier finally left.
Once the two teenagers walked out the door, Oum sat back down next to her husband.
"I'm still surprised you allowed them to leave at this hour." spoke Bee.
"So am I..." spoke Oum, staring off into nothing. "Truth be told, I would rather Anne stay HERE at home.
After FIVE months without her, I sometimes have panic attacks whenever she DOES leave the house.
like she may disappear again...and I DON'T want to go through not knowing where she is again."
"Sooo...why, then?" asked Bee. "Not judging you, I'm just curious."
"Because I need to learn to trust our daughter more." said Oum.
"She already proven how much she has changed from the lazy, irresponsible girl that she used to be.
And...I guess what my own mother told me years ago was true: "Sometimes parents HAVE to let go of their children."
Oum frowned. "Anne may be my baby girl...but she isn't a baby anymore.
She has GROWN, and I need to let her grow into the woman I know she will be."
Bee eyed his wife. "Does that mean you will finally clean out your..."workout room?"
Oum scowled at her husband. "nevermind...forget I said anything." said Bee.
"At least Anne has a boy like Olivier to protect her." continued Oum.
"I wish I knew she had someone like him with her before. Maybe then, I wouldn't had worried so much."
"The fact that he has actual 'Magic Powers' is definitely a bonus." added Bee.
"I know as a father, I should be wary of Anne having a boyfriend. But I can't help but like Oliver!
He's just...SO COOL! It's like Anne went to the Star Battles Galaxy, and brought home a REAL Jedi Knight!"
"calm down, honey." said Oum. "Don't make me get your medication."
"Okay...I'm fine. I'm CALM." said Bee, calming himself down.
"STILL, though. You gotta admit that he is pretty cool." continued Bee.
"and he is so polite, and good mannered too! Anne really got lucky finding a boy like him."
Oum laid back in her seat. "maybe it wasn't luck...I do remember praying for Anne's safe return.
That wherever she was, she would be SAFE, and protected from whatever might harm her."
Oum paused for a moment. "maybe...Maybe Olivier was the answer to my prayers.
and that Anne meeting him was no accident, but was divinely preordained."
Bee stared at his wife. "well...if you want to believe that, then who am I to question it?"
Oum smiled to herself. "however it all came to be, I am glad that Olivier is here.
I know he will protect her, and keep her safe...far more than I ever could."
The woman then laid back further in the couch. "I can finally...RELAX."
Bee then laid down near his wife. "me, too."
[Earlier..]
Walked out the front door of the Boonshuy home,
Anne and Olivier began to walk across the yard and onto the sidewalk.
"Soo...where we going first?" asked Anne.
Olivier smiled as he snapped his fingers, and summoned his magic staff.
He then dropped the staff, which floated parallel to the ground like a hovercraft.
"Up." answered Olivier.
Anne widened her eyes. "oh...I see."
Anne then approached the floating pole, and gently sat upon it. "heh. this is pretty cool."
Olivier mounted the staff with the pole between his legs like one would the seat of a transport.
Figuring what was about to happen, Anne did the same and wrapped her arms around Olivier's waist.
Fleetwing then spread it's wings and the magic staff flew off into the air with it's two passengers.
Anne held Olivier's waist tight, feeling like she was riding a motorcycle
like in some romance movie from the 1950s (which she only knew about from her parents movie collection.)
...only this would be more akin to an 80s romance movie. Particular one in the Sci-Fi genre,
as despite the mystical nature of this vehicle, Anne was practically riding a Hover Bike.
Eventually Anne relaxed as Olivier wasn't flying them at speed that was too fast.
She looked down as they gained height, gazing at the street below as it passed them by.
Anne then looked up, and saw the complete cityscape of Los Angeles.
She nearly gasped at how beautiful the city looked (especially at night.)
She had lived here nearly all her life...yet, she felt as if she was seeing it for the first time.
As they continued to fly...Anne hugged Olivier, resting herself again him.
She placed her chin onto his shoulder, and allowed herself to relax...and lose herself in the moment.
Olivier looked over to Anne...and she looked at him. They both smiled at each other, and then kissed softly.
Once they broke their kiss, Olivier began to speak in a soothing voice:
"I will show you the world..." sung Olivier, softly.
"Shining, shimmering, splendid. Tell me, Anne, are you glad you finally let your heart decide...
You have open your eyes. Taken wonder, by wonder. Over, sideways and under, On a magical ride.
A whole new world...a New, fantastic point of view.
No one to tell you no, Or where to go. Or say you're only dreaming."
"A whole new world..." sung Anne, softly. "A dazzling place I never knew.
But when I'm way up here, It's crystal clear...That now I'm in a whole new world with you."
"And now I'm in a whole new world with you." sung Olivier, as they flew through the city.
"Unbelievable sights!, Indescribable ("FEELINGS.") sung Anne (and, Olivier.)
"Soaring, tumbling, and freewheeling. Through an endless diamond sky..."
"A whole new world ("Don't you dare close your eyes.") sung Olivier and Anne, as they flew faster.
"A hundred thousand things to see ("Hold your breath, it gets better.")
"I'm like a shooting star, I've come so far. I can't go back to where I used to be."
"A whole new world ("Every turn a surprise.") With new horizons to pursue ("Every moment matters.")
(*Anne/Olivier*) I'll chase them anywhere, There's time to spare: "Let me share this whole new world with you..."
As their scenic thrill ride through the city of Los Angeles began to slow down,
Anne and Olivier leaned against each other, their heads touching as they looked into each other's eyes.
"A whole new world ("A whole new world...") sung the two, together.
"That's where we'll be ("That's where we'll be...")
"A thrilling chase..." sung Olivier.
"A wondrous place..." sung Anne.
"For you, and me..." sung the two together, before kissing one again.
[End of Part Eighteen]