[Earlier..]
Right outside the Thai Go Restaurant, Sprig (now out of disguise, and in his usual outfit)
sneaks out of the restaurant building, and stealthily makes his way to Ned's truck.
Ned doesn't even notice the pink frog boy's approach,
as he is too busy cleaning while he is wearing headphones at high volume.
Sprig crawls up to the window of the truck, and leaves him a note inside.
He then snaps loudly at Ned to get attention (and, SOMEHOW this works.)
Ned takes the note, and reads it...and then begins to smile WIDE.
"OH yes! YES! YES! FINALLY! NED'S GONNA GET AHEAD, BABY!" exclaimed Ned, overjoyed.
As Ned rushes out, Sprig walks into the food truck and takes a toothpick.
"And now to destroy an earth man's livelihood." said Sprig, as he takes more toothpicks
and puts them in his mouth...and to then spit them out.
Meanwhile, Anne walks out of the restaurant from the side door
with a full garbage bag in hand, and approaches a dumpster in the alley.
She is about to dump a garbage bag, when she sees Sprig inside Ned's truck from afar.
Anne stared blankly as she processing what she is seeing...and then drops the garbage bag.
"oh, no..." spoke Anne, dread on her face.
Inside Ned's Food Truck, Sprig grins as he stares at the buttons at the driver's seat.
"Sprig Boonchuy in Three, Two, One-"
Just then, a door opened and Sprig sees an absolutely furious Anne glare at him.
"SPRIGET WEED PLANTAR, WHAT THE FROG HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" exclaimed Anne, angrily.
"Earning my place in your family by SAVING the Restaurant!" exclaimed Sprig, acting 'heroically'
"And since this truck being is causing problems: I AM GOING TO MAKE IT DISAPPEAR!"
Sprig then begins to press all the truck's buttons at random.
"Not on MY watch!" exclaimed Anne, furiously.
Anne then enters the truck, and tries to grab Sprig with all her strength.
but he tries to free himself, he inadvertently flips the drive lever, causing the vehicle to move forward.
As the Food Truck moves down the street, they are eventually noticed by Ned, Mrs. Boonchuy and even Olivier,
who all leave the restaurant in a hurry, and watched as the truck moves further and further.
"MY FOOD TRUCK!" exclaimed Ned
"YOUR FOOD TRUCK!" exclaimed Oum.
"Okay, let's calm down. The truck isn't even moving that fast." spoke Olivier, calmly.
"So, I'll just walk right up there, and-" Just as Olivier was saying this, Anne and Sprig continued fighting,
caused one of them to hit the gas pedal which made the truck sped off...
...right down a steep slope.
Olivier scowled at this swift turn of events. "well, fuc-
"-CRAB APPLES!" exclaimed Anne, upon realizing their situation.
"When did we start moving?!" exclaimed Sprig.
Anne quickly sits in the driver's seat and fastens her seat belt.
"OK. I've never driven a car before..." began Anne, trying to remain calm.
"but but I have rode Bessie, and and played Nine-Hundred Plus hours of "Super Nitro Carts."
"What about that one time we raced-"
"WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT, SPRIG!" exclaimed Anne.
"ANNE, LOOK OUT!" exclaimed Sprig, pointing to an oncoming tree.
Anne quickly makes a hard turn left to avoid the tree. "Uh..Uh...Brakes!, Gotta mash the brakes!"
Anne tries puts on the brakes...but it doesn't work. "The brakes aren't working!?
(Anne and Sprig then looks up at a note taped above, which reads:
['Ned, You rascal, don't forget to fix the breaks. Ned.']
"FROOOOGDAMMIT, NEEEEEED!" exclaimed Anne, angrily.
"It's OK, Anne!" said Sprig. "I've got this!"
Sprig then tries to break the truck's mp3 device. "Whoa, girl. Whoa!"
"DUDE, THAT ONLY WORKS ON SNAILS!" exclaimed Anne.
Just then, then is a shimmer of golden light that makes everything weightless for a brief moment.
There is then a brief flash...and Anne gasped upon seeing Olivier against the windshield.
"WHAT TH-!?"
Olivier looked inside the interior of the vehicle, his expression implying he demanded an answer.
Anne quickly grabbed the note she saw earlier, and showed it to Olivier...who scowled in annoyance.
Anne and Sprig then both start screaming at something. Olivier looks to see an oncoming pile of garbage.
Olivier quickly climbs onto the roof of the van, narrowing getting hit as the truck barrels harmlessly into the trash.
Both Anne and Sprig are relieved to had gotten through that...until they see their next obstacle.
(("OOOH, NOOOO!")) exclaimed Anne (while Sprig screams.)
Olivier (who is clinging to the roof of the food truck like his life literally depends on it)
looked to see what Anne and Sprig were screaming about...which turned out to be just a common turtle.
"oh, you gotta be-"
The Turtle tucks into it's shell upon seeing the speeding truck headed towards it.
Though, SOMEHOW this small animal is sturdier than it looked.
as upon hitting the turtle, the truck is flipped and starts spinning in mid-air.
Now Olivier is screaming as he desperately tries to hold onto the truck and not fly off to lord only knew where.
...At the same time this is happening, two men are passing a giant TV
from the balconies of their respected buildings from across the narrow street.
"Thanks for letting me borrow your TV." said one of the men.
"Just be careful. This thing is like a son for me."
No sooner had the man said that, The food truck shot straight through the TV, smashing it to pieces.
"JUNIOOOR!" screamed the man, horrified.
The food truck eventually returns to the ground with a violent bound,
and continues to speed down the steep slope at an even greater speed than before.
"oh, god..." spoke Anne, rattled. "What happened to-!?"
As if to answer her, the side window of the food truck opens.
and Olivier managed to tumbled into the interior of the vehicle.
The Witch Boy then breathed sharply as he tries to stand.
Grasping whatever he can to steady himself as the truck continues moving.
"if we live through this, sprig..." began Olivier, glaring angrily.
"I swear I am going to 'GRUBHOG-TIE' you with your own tongue!"
Sprig gulps hard...but Anne then smiles. "wait...THAT gives me an idea!"
"oh, no." squeaked Sprig, dreading the worst.
"Sprig, Use that tongue and help me make a hard left!" said Anne.
Olivier watches in bewilderment as Anne holds Sprig at the open driver window.
Sprig then shot out his tongue like a whip, and managed to snag a corner street light.
(a woman sees this, who needless to say...found this rather ODD.)
The frog boy then groans as he manages to make the truck turn hard,
which causes Olivier to get pinned against the side of the truck from the G-Force.
The truck is finally off the slope on on more sturdy ground.
"Alright!" exclaimed Anne. "Now we just gotta wait for this thing to slow down, and-"
"uhh..Anne?" spoke Olivier, approaching his girlfriend.
"yeah, Ollie?"
"What is that coming up at us?!"
Anne looked at what Olivier was pointing at...and gasped.
It was a Skate Park...and it wasn't empty, either.
"HOLY CRAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Anne screamed as the runaway truck entered the Skate Park.
Acting quickly, Olivier's eyes turned white as he ignited his entire body with golden yellow magic.
He then planted his hands upon the dashboard, casting a field of energy over the entire vehicle.
The truck literally jumps over a group of skateboarders and pass through four pools.
Anne and Sprig hug each other and scream, while Olivier struggled to maintain his spell of protection.
The skateboarders all cheer, and record them.
The truck skids on a sidewalk and goes down a ramp with Loop.
It then flies up into the air, before crashing down onto the ground.
Finally coming to rest, the golden aura also fades like dust in the wind.
The Truck is damaged...though not as damaged at it MIGHT'VE been if not for Olivier.
Anne and Sprig stared blankly, almost paralyzed in shock.
"oh...my...god." spoke Anne. "we're still alive."
Anne and Sprig began to laugh at the amazing luck...until they heard a low groan.
The pair looked to see Olivier as he stepped away from the truck's dashboard.
the witch boy began to stagger backwards, holding his head as if he were dizzy.
"OLLIE!" Anne quickly got out of her seat, and caught Olivier before he could fall.
"I-I'm...fine." muttered Olivier, lightheaded. "j-just...give me a m-minute."
As Anne felt Olivier's body began to heavy, she gave Sprig a glare.
It wasn't an angry glare...but one that implied that she was VERY displeased with him.
Sprig looked down in shame. Even HE knew that his actions were wrong. "ah-anne, I-"
Just then, the back doors of the truck opened. And the trio looked to see Ned,
and a VERY angry Mrs. Boonchuy looking at them (though, her gaze was mostly on Sprig.)
"I don't believe this..." spoke the Thai Woman, displeased.
"Me either." spoke Ned. "You send your daughter to destroy my truck?!, Are you people insane!?"
Sprig (having quickly put his disguise back on without Ned noticing)
quickly gets out of the Truck, and faced the two adult humans.
"Anne had NOTHING to do with this, it was ALL me. I was just-"
Sprig looks up at Anne's mother. he sighs and takes off his hat for a moment.
"I just wanted to be a part of the family. But I should've respected your boundaries
instead of pestering you into something that you didn't want...I'm sorry."
Oum stared down at Sprig...but then she thought back to what Olivier had told her earlier.
Whatever anger she was feeling began to subside, and the woman then knelt down to Sprig's level.
"It's OK, pink frog...I mean, Sprig." began Oum, her tone of voice soft.
"I know how much you mean to my daughter...and how much she means to you."
Anne has a content look on her face as she helped a dazed Olivier out of the truck.
"I probably-No. I shouldn't have treated you like such an outsider." continued Anne's mother.
"I know what it feels like...being an immigrant in a strange land, trying to fit in.
And it seems I had forgotten what that felt like, and treated you no better than others once treated me."
Oum placed her hand on Sprig's shoulder. "I am...sorry. I am so sorry."
Sprig looked up at Oum with shiny eyes, while Anne just smiled.
(Olivier however, was completely delirious. a spaced out expression on his face.)
It was then at this point that Ned began to sob like a baby. "I feel like an outsider too!
I love your restaurant so much. I just wanted to be a part of it but...but I was wrong."
Ned falls to the ground in defeat, sobbing some more. "I'm so sorry. I'm done trying to get your recipes.
I just realized this is a gross appropriation of your culture...and I should just show myself out."
Everyone watched as Ned started to crawl away.
Oum looked at Anne...who gave her a shrugging gesture. The woman then let out a deep sigh, and approached Ned.
"Ned, look. I can't give you the recipes because they are for family only." began Oum,
as she helped Ned back onto his feet. "but...we could use some help with deliveries."
Ned stared in disbelief. "D-Deliver?...Me?!"
"I mean, it won't pay much. but you will be part of the restaurant." continued Oum.
"Yes! I'd love to!" exclaimed Ned, overjoyed once again. "Oh, you will not regret it, Mrs. Boonchuy. Not for a second!"
Ned runs back to his (mildly damaged) food truck. "Whoo-hoo! Yay! I'll make you guys proud!"
Ned then attempts to drive off, but has a bit of trouble doing so. "Oh, man. I got to get these brakes fixed."
Once Ned finally leaves, Sprig then takes off his mask. "Welp, I guess we're all done here-"
Sprig is suddenly snatched up by Anne's mother, who holds him up by the hoodie of his coat. "Not so fast!
If you think you're getting out of here without an earful, you've got another thing coming!"
Oum then proceeds to poke at Sprig's chest as she begins scolding him. "Firstly, how dare you disobey me?!
Secondly, how dare you put Anne, yourself and even Oliver in danger?, Thirdly...why are you smiling?"
"You're...You're scolding me." spoke Sprig, happy tears in his eyes. "Which means...
"Yep. You're family now, bud." said Anne, lightly punching Sprig's arm.
"YAAAAY!" Sprig somehow frees himself from Oum's grasp, and hugs her.
"Already having second thoughts about this." said the Thai woman.
(*THUD!*)
Olivier suddenly slips from Anne and drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
"OLIVER!" exclaimed Anne, dropping down to him.
Now even Sprig and Oum are concerned, as they too lower down to check on the downed boy.
"Is he..."
Anne's mother checks Olivier carefully. "he is still breathing...pulse is steady, too."
Olivier then made a sound that sounded like snoring.
"He will be okay. he is only sleeping." said Oum.
Sprig frowned at this. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
Anne looked at Sprig...and then exhaled deeply.
As much as she wanted to me angry, she just couldn't...not at Sprig.
"it's fine, dude." said Anne, softly. "we all make mistakes."
Anne then picked Olivier up, and carried him bridal style as she stood back up.
She took a moment to look at her exhausted boyfriend, and frowned.
Not only did he save her life, and Sprig's just now.
but he has also did half of her chores, along with his own at the Restaurant today.
Anne smiled a little...and then lifted Olivier up enough to kiss his cheek.
"you are so brave, and selfless." spoke Anne. "I am lucky to have you in my life...I love you, oliver."
Anne then looked to her mother. "mom...we should probably close up early, and head on home."
Oum looked at the unconscious witch boy in her daughter's arms. "ye-yes...I agree."
"nghh...m-mom?" muttered Olivier (his eyes still closed.) "m-mom is that you?"
Oum froze, unsure how to answer. Anne looked at her...and the woman understood what she had to do.
"yes, dear...it's me." spoke Oum, her voice soft.
"I'm...sorry, mom. I...used too much magic again." spoke Olivier, sleepily.
"it's okay, Olive-Olivier. you...did a good thing tonight." said Oum.
a smile appeared on Olivier's face. "thank you, mom. all I want is for you to be you proud of me."
Oum's lip quivered for a moment, she forgot Olivier wasn't her son
and spoke what she felt 'Edalyn Clawthorne' probably would say to Olivier.
"i'm always proud of you, son...ALWAYS. you don't need to prove your worth to me."
Olivier made a content sound. "I love you, mom."
Oum reached out, gently stroked Olivier's auburn hair.
she then caressed his cheek with the back of her hand.
"i love you, too...my beautiful boy."
Olivier smiled as he returned to sleep, breathing more steadily.
"i'll...i'm gonna go put him in the van." said Anne, looking around. "oh, there it is."
As Anne walked away with Olivier, Oum looked down at Sprig.
The frog boy was silent, a remorseful look on his face.
Oum breathed out...she then knelt down, and picked Sprig up. "come on...you can sit up front with me."
Sprig looked surprised. "aren't I in trouble?"
"oh, yes. BIG TIME." said Oum, as she walked to the family van.
"But 'Tough Love' is still love. and I have come to realize that you desperately need it."
Sprig looked at the human for a moment...he then relaxed, and snuggled up to her.
Oum looked at the frog boy, and managed to smile.
[End of Part Twenty-Seven]