A half hour later, most of which was spent keeping King and Fleetwing from picking a fight with Domino (the poor cat put in her carrier for now, despite Anne wanting to hold her 'precious baby' for comfort) and waking up Bee, Anne began the very lengthy story of what happened on her birthday….
"ANNE SAVISA BOONCHUY!"
And very nearly did not get to finish!
Her parents were furious she had shoplifted! It also soured their opinions on Sasha and Marcy ever so slightly, although the latter was given some slack:
Evidently, the Wu parents had told the Boonchuys about their ill-timed reveal of Mr. Wu's new job at Xanatos Enterprises while they were out searching for their children those first few days. It turned out that said job could be done remotely for the moment, so the Wus had remained in California, vowing not to leave until they found their daughter, a sentiment Mr. Xanatos apparently supported.
Sasha was not so lucky; while neither Bee or Oum liked her mother, the corporate and social climber that she was, nor her new husband and his two sons (and understood how the very messy divorce would've led Sasha down the path she was apparently on), they had had to try and console Mr. Waybright and poor Mollie Joe, who were devasted by Sasha's disappearance. Mollie was now staying with her grandfather Robert Otto but came by Thai Go every other day to help clean and ask if any news had come up.
Olivier felt for the little girl, recalling her from some of Anne's memories; she had been a sweetheart and had a good head on her shoulders. And judging from what he saw in those memories; letting her sit in on movie nights, doing their hair together and otherwise just playing together, MJ seemed to be one of the few people Sasha unconditionally loved. In a way, their relationship reminded him of Maddie and himself…
Certainly better than Steve's relationship with that egotistical brat, Matt….
After calming Bee and Oum down while promising to never shoplifty against (much to Eda's half disappointment), Anne had regaled them with her adventures up until Toad Tower, and then the day she, Sprig and Maddie met Olivier for the first time.
Her parents, already grateful for Ollie just bringing her home, where even more so when they learnt of how he had protected not just Anne, the Plantars and Maddie, but so many others, regardless of his condition.
Eda was also proud of her son's business skill; using potions to make a small business…and scamming the initially ungrateful townsfolk (save the Plantar and Flour families) brought a proud tear to her eyes. She was also very intrigued at the cooking Oliver and Anne did together and made a note to see if they could replicate those recipes on the Boiling Isles; more snails to be made and some great bonding as well.
Speaking of the Owl lady, she had been delighted to see Bee so enthralled as she described herself:
"I am Eda Clawthorne, the Owl Lady! The most powerful free witch on the Boiling Isles! Respected! Feared! Lusted over!"
"Mooooom/ Edaaaaaa!" Oliver and King whined in embarrassment. Fleetwing just shrugged.
"And the bane of that stupid Coven system which limits your magic!" Eda ended before sitting down. "I'll tell you more later."
Oum was…less than pleased to her that her daughter was dating the son of an outlaw
The bits with their separation and Olivier's training under Grunge while the others prepped for the Temples, as was OIlie's…uncomfortable first encounter with Sasha, were minimal. Eda was grateful the Boonchuys didn't press for details; as talented a teacher Grunge seemed top be for her son, she knew the less he thought of him, the better.
Throuhout all of this, Anne had made diagrams and illustrations.
"Okay…where was I?" She asked.
"Third Temple?" Maddie and Sprig guessed.
"Wait, weren't you talking about a music night?" Oum noted, making the kids tense.
"Don't worry, going to other worlds messes with your memories the first few times." Eda half-lied. "Everything clears up in a day or two. Keep going with what ya know, kids."
Shooting Eda a grateful look, Anne did just that, explaining how at the Third temple, once the stone was charged, a portal opened up.
"BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENED!" She looked at the frogs for emphasis, all of whom nodded. Fangora looked up at Maddie, as if silently asking 'why?', to which her mistress just petted her.
"But, we're guessing because of Ollie's music box…Still no worries, sweetie!" Anne hurriedly added. "…We ended up in the Boiling Isles. Eda and King took care of us until we could leave, since she has a portal door."
Eda pulled out the key from her pair and pressed the eyeball, showcasing her portal for a second before returning to its briefcase form.
"Problem is, my portal only works between the Isles and human realm, so we still need to get the Frogs home." Eda explained. "And no, there are no other portals back home. Trust me, I checked…One of the dumbest decisions of my early runaway days."
"So…any questions?" Anne asked.
The two human parents just sat there, eyes and jaws widened.
"Wait." Bee said, massaging his temple. "Back up a second. You're telling us there's an entire world of talking frogs called 'Amphibiland?'"
"Its actually just Amphiba." Sprig corrected.
"We have an Amphibiland in the Demon realm." Eda remarked, her usual cheerful and teasing demeanour firm and serious. "Not many good memories there. From what I've heard, where the kids were was MUCH better."
"And Eda and Olivier are outlaws from Hell?!" Oum called out in alarm.
"THE DEMON RELAM! NOT! HELL!" Oliver, Eda and King (poking out of Eda's hair) shouted together before recomposing themselves with the decency to look embarrassed. "Sorry. Force of habit. Two very different places."
"We at least have morals, standards and practices!" King retorted.
"Mom, I know it sounds bad, but trust me; Eda and Ollie are the good guys!" Anne tried to placate her mother, who then turned her attention to her daughter.
"You made larb with maggots?!" Oum asked, her face then turning curious. "…Was it good?"
"Well, I haven't had the original, but I thought it was pretty tasty." Olivier said, Maddie nodding in agreement.
"It already sounds tasty!" King salivated.
"Okay, out of my hair!" Eda demanded, pulling the little monster out and placing him between Fleetwing and Fangora. "Whatever you are, your drool does NOT do hair or scalp any wonders!"
"Preach!" Olivier saluted.
"So…you can do real magic?" Bee asked, getting nods. "C-could you show us some tricks, please?"
"Oh please, Mr. Boonchuy! Tricks are for kids!" Olivier smirked, shooting his mother a glance. She smirked.
"And why not let us prove it? Sweetie, remember your training for 'best worst case?"
Olivier and King gasped in delight, as did Maddie.
"'Best worst case?'" Anne asked, confused.
"Oh, I think Ollie told me about this!" Hop-Pop beamed.
Meanwhile, Olivier motioned for Maddie to join him and his mother. The blue frog handed Fangora to Polly, who sat on the spider.
"Um, wait. Are we doing the Movie or Broadway version?" Olivier asked just before he spun a magic circle.
"Movie. Original movie." Eda clarified.
(A/N: Play your favorite cover of 'Never had a friend like Me')
A few familiar opening notes suddenly overtook the room, which suddenly went dark.
"Wait, what is…?" Oum started
"SHUSH!" Anne and Bee hushed.
A spotlight appeared on the backs of Eda, Olivier, Maddie and King, who danced to the music before Eda spun another magic circle. Into existence poofed six child sized bears in various medevil attire and a six armed blue haired woman with butterfly wings and a book in her hands.
Eda: Well, the Gummi bears had that berry juice of theirs and the Butterflies their book of spells…
Ollie: But Boonchuys, you're in luck because up your sleeves, You got a brand of magic never fails!
King shot up and held a sign that read 'unless Ollie's condition acts up!'. He then tossed the sign away and flexed…as much as a tiny monster could.
King: You got some power in your corner now!
Maddie juggled several curses and potions.
Maddie: Some heavy ammunition in your camp!
She tossed some bags onto the other singers; Eda suddenly becoming muscular, Oliver a pretty anime boy version of himself complete with sparkles (which Anne appritated), King a cowboy and Maddie in a wizard's robe.
Eda: You got some punch!
Ollie: pizazz!
King: yahoo!
Maddie: And how?
Maddie tossed antitodes onto the others, returning them to normal.
All: Well, all you gotta do is call our names, and we'll say…!
Another poof filled the room, and the Boonchuys (now with Domino), found themselves at table with Eda and Olivier in fancy suits before menus suddenly plopped in their hands.
Eda: "Mr. and Mrs. B, what will your pleasure be?"
Oliver smiled sweetly as readied pen and paper.
Ollie: "Let me take your order, jot it down!"
Both: You ain't never had friends like we!
Maddie laid down a covered plate with an eager smile on her face.
Maddie: Life is your restaurant…
The cover popped off, revealing an ecstatic King.
King: And we're your maitre d'!
Domino hissed at King, who hissed back before Eda and Anne tossed them aside.
Eda: Come, whisper to me whatever it is you want….
All: You ain't never had friends like we!
A lab suddenly materialized around Maddie as she Eda mixed potions.
Maddie: Yes sir and ma'm! We pride ourselves on service!
Eda: You the boss, the king, the shah!
"TEMPORARILY!" King added.
Olivier: Say what you wish, it's yours! True dish: How about a little more kenube?
"That doesn't really rhyme…" Oum noted, although she, Bee and Anne did enjoy the snack. Just then, Eda presented a plate of potions.
Eda: Have some of column A!
Oliver hurriedly presented a plethora of Amphibia style Thai Dishes.
Oliver: Try all of column B!
King: We're in the mood to help you, dude! You ain't never had friends like we…!
"Now watch us sell it!" Olivier declared, outstretching his hand alongside Eda and Maddie. Fleetwing, Owlbert and Fangora shifted into staff form and came to their masters, who used them as dancing canes for the next bit.
King: WAAH, WAAH, WAAH!
Eda: Oh, my!
King: WAAH, WAAH, WAAH!
Olivier: No, no!
King: WAAH, WAAH, WAAH!
Maddie: My, my, my!
After a dramatic tap dancing finish, the trio leapt apart.
Eda: Can your friends do this?
She popped off her head, making the Boonchuys scream as King caught said head and slapped it back on.
Ollie meanwhile, changed into his light and dark magic forms, blasting out small bits of both magic.
Olivier: Can your friends do that?
Maddie: Can your friends pull this…?
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch that she threw onto a picture Anne had drawn when she was little, bringing the stick figure to life.
Maddie: Out their little hat?
King: Can your friends go…?
"HOOOOOOOT!"
A large Hooty head suddenly burst, startling all but Eda.
"Dang it, Eda! And Hooty!" Hop-Pop gasped.
Eda: Well, lookie here!
She was pointing to Anne and Olivier in an embrace, blushing but sneaking in a nose nuzzle. Maddie and Sprig just blushed and looked away, allowing king to take over.
King: Can your friends go 'abara kababra', LET IT RIP! And then make a sucker disappear?
He then leapt at Hooty, who poofed away as Eda got on her knees in front of the Boonchuys.
Eda: So don't just sit there, slack jawed and buggy-eyed! We're here to answer all your midday prayers!
The blue frog girl then pulled out a paper that showed she was a level 2 necormancer and sorcerer.
Maddie: You got me bona fide, certified!
All: You got three witches for your charge d'affaires!
King: We got a powerful urge to help you out! So what's your wish? We really want to know!
Oliver; You got a list that's three miles long, no doubt;
Maddie: Well, all you gotta do is ask like so and oooh!
Eda: Mister and Missus B! Have a wish or two or three!
Olivier: I'm on the job!
Anne: you big nabob!
King: You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend, you ain't..
Maddie: Never had a friend, never had a friend
Eda: You ain't never ..!
King: never!
Olivier: Had...!
Maddie: had..!
Oliver went all out, letting dark and light magic fill the room like stars in the night as Maddie threw several 'life' curses for additional dancers alongside King, all while Eda hovered on Owlbert.
All: Friends! Like! Weeeeeee!
Eda and Maddie let out cackles of delight
King: Waah, waah, waah!
All: You ain't never had friends like we!
The room then returned to normal, mother and son smiling with their hands outstretched while King held up a sign that read 'Applause.'
OWLPHIBIA
Back in the Boiling Isles
"…Why do I feel that Eda did just did a musical number without me?!" Raine Whispers bolted from their paperwork.
OWLPHIBIA
"…Why do I feel like I missed out on some grand musical?" Both Wally and Grime asked suddenly.
OWLPHIBIA
Bee, Hop-Pop, Polly and Sprig began to clap ecstatically.
"Woohoo! Eat your heart out, Will Smith!" Anne cheered.
However, her cheering was short lived when Olivier began to tremble and stumble forward.
"OLLIE!" Anne and Eda screamed in worry. Luckily. Oum was quick to catch the boy, who now suddenly looked frail.
"T-th-thank you, Mrs. Boonchuy…" Olivier managed, his head starting to spin.
"As amazing as that was, please do not stress yourself!" She demanded softly. "Honey! Get some water or iced tea! And a towel!"
"Wait a second. Have a potion." Maddie said, gently handing her best friend a vial. He uncorked it and gulped it down. Instantly, all signs of exhaustion vanished.
"WOOO! That's some good potion, Mads!" Olivier beamed, messing with Maddie's hair. "You've improved!"
Maddie blushed
"I might've scanned some of Eda's books before we left…and bribed King for a few ingredients."
King was now at his brother's side, hugging him tightly.
"You will never go through those dizzy spells again!" The demon promised desperately.
Bee meanwhile just looked on at Eda in awe.
"So…is your magic like 'Good Witch Azura' or 'Cythina Coven'?" He asked.
"Who and who?" oliver asked.
"Books that Marcy read." Anne explained. "Not really my thing…"
"Azura? That flowery faux Shakespearian baloney?!" Eda asked. "…Magic was, yeah that could be a good comparison. But where Ollie and I come from is DEFINTELTY Cynthia Coven like..minus the free choice and upping the punishments…and if you fused the principal and villains together."
Bee cringed at that.
"No worries." Eda assured him.
"So…can the Plantars and Maddie stay with us until we figure out a way to get them back home?"
A moment of silence before laughter filled the air.
"Oh, wait. You're serious?" Oum asked.
"Actually, Anne?" Maddie said. "I might stick around with Eda and Oliver. You know, learn more magic from them and all that?"
This shocked everyone, and Sprig couldn't help but feel sad at that possibility.
"Anne, this is a lot to take in." Bee said. "I wouldn't believe it if the small one wasn't kicking me."
"New legs. You know how it is." Polly waved.
"Polly, stop kicking Anne's dad!" King snapped, getting some surprised looks. "…What? We're guests! And they're our future…!"
"King, I swear to Titan if you stop talking right here and now I will GET you a real crown!" Oliver begged.
"…Like you haven't thought of it."
'WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT?' Olivier screamed in his mind.
"Anne." Oum said. "The adventure is over. You're back. Eda and Ollie can stay, but the authorities will handle the frogs."
"AUTHORITIES? Like the police?!" Anne gasped. "Mom, the second they see talking frogs, they take them away to probe and dissect them!"
"No, more likely vivisect." Eda noted. "Any halfwit knows their better off more alive."
"Like Hettie did." Hop-Pop said.
"Well, she's an idiot whose butt I kicked." Eda smirked.
"What's the difference?" Sprig asked.
"You're still alive and awake while you're vivisected." Maddie smiled evilly. "Its more entertaining and educational."
At that, the Plantars all BEGGED Anne not to let them be taken away.
"Eda!" Anne begged. "Donesn;t your blanket…bag….thing have like inifinte space?"
"Well, yeah…" Eda admitted, giving it some thought. "It'd be pretty cramped though; all my junk for selling is in there. And its cold too."
"Um, Mr. and Mrs. Boonchuy?" Oliver said. "I-I don't mean any disrespect, but the Plantars did take Anne for three months before I showed up…"
With that tidbit of information, things changed.
"Alright they can stay…" Oum sighed.
"I can bake bread, you know!" Maddie cut in. "Anne says you run a resteruant; give me a bun recipe or whatever I can make it!"
Oum thought about that….Maybe they could do samples?
"If you're staying, no one can see you." Bee said as he locked the door. "So, effective immediately, you're on lockdown!"
"You heard the man, lockdown!" Hop-Pop repeated. "…. what?"
"COUGH kiss up!" Eda and King coughed.
Anne hugged and kissed her parents in thanks before urging everyone to follow her to her room.
"Don't make us grandparents yet!" Eda teased.
"MOOOOM/EDAAA!" Olivier and Anne screamed, scandalized.
OWLPHIBIA
While the kids and frogs had fun, Eda had pulled out a bottle of Apple Blood and was pouring some for Bee and Oum.
"This is my favorite drink in all the Isles. Hope you like it."
The Thai parents took a sip, expecting Apple Juice. What they got instead was the delightful heat of bourbon with a hint of chill and bubbly..all with a delightful apple taste..their respective favorite apple; Granny Smith for Oum and Mcintosh for Bee.
"T-this is alcoholic!" Oum gasped. "And you've been drinking this since you were in school?"
"Witches don't get drunk." Eda said. "Well, not on fruit blood at least. There's Night Market ice cream for that."
"Its not bad at all." Oum reassured the witch as she got up. "I have some leftover appetizers from the resteraunt."
Eda clapped in anticipation. Olivier had mentioned what he and Anne cooked in passing, so this would be a treat!
"…Do you know more than they said?" Bee asked once he was sure his wife was out of earshot, a serious look on his face.
"I do." Eda admitted.
"Is it bad?"
"Define bad." Eda asked.
"Is my little girl still in trouble?"
"…I really think they should tell you this and they do plan to when things settle, but…yeah." Eda confessed. "Nothing I can't protect them from and they can't handle themselves eventually, but…"
"Thank you." Bee said. "All I need to know right now."
Eda was surprised at this but smiled, the two clunking glasses just as Oum returned with a platter.
"So….any favorite or memorable witch duels?" Bee asked, making Eda smirk.
OWLPHIBIA
Later that night, after Pizza dinner, Eda watched as King and Oliver slept on a sleeping bag in the basement. She just watched her son and King sleep; for once she had no prep to do or covens to worry about. The rain here didn't boil and the Boonchuys were kind folk.
She had no idea how long she watched her son sleep before the need for a glass of water overruled her motherly need to watch him. But came the thirst did and she kissed her son's forehead and put heer scarf over King before going to get a drink.
She was surpsied to see Oum coming down, a blush on her face.
"….Checking on the kid?" Eda guessed.
Oum nodded.
"I was trying to fix up Anne's hair and she woke up. You need anything?"
"Just grabbing some water before going back to Ollie. You know? I actually I haven't really had time to just,..watch him." Eda sighed. "The Scouts, my sister, the Coven heads attacking and kidnapping and then the Golden Guard and…"
Oum chuckled.
"Sounds like you need a cup of tea."
"I will never say no to that." Eda said.
As Oum got the tea started, Eda looked around to see all the pictures of the family.
"Anne always been a little crazy?"
"One word for it." Oum mused. "I envy you and Olivier; he seems like a sweet boy."
"He is. Better than I deserve…or have protected."
Oum seemed confused for a second.
"Ever since…that brat cut off his ears, I SWORE I would never let anything, or anyone hurt him. And yet? He wound up in Amphibia because he was trying to help me. The whole popping off my head thing? Not normal. I was cursed as a kid."
Oum's eyes widened.
"Ollie knows as much as I do, not even King knows. And ever since he was little, he's vowed to cure me. And what you've seen is the manageable parts, pray you never see the rest…Titan, I should've…! He's the best thing that happened to me and yet…!"
Oum cupped Eda's hands.
"…Once the tea settles, follow me."
They went upstairs to a room filled with….
"…What am I looking at here?" Eda asked.
The room was filled with a bookshelf and several statues all in Anne's likeness.
"When I thought Anne ran away, I'd come here and destress." Oum explained. "Build statues of her, hang up every scrap of paper she drew on or was connected too…But then….I stopped. I focused on work while trying to figure out where I went wrong. I'm not oblivious, I was firm and tough on her…Maybe too tough, with all the trouble she, Sasha and Marcy got in? But she was my baby, my only child…."
"So is Ollie to me."
"I thought King was your other son?" Oum inquired.
"….I….I have thought of it like that to be honest." Eda admitted. "But his real folks might be out there so…"
The two moms sat down.
"At least you never once gave up and stopped counting the days." Oum noted.
"….I let King turn Ollie's room into a memorial of their time together. The little guy is convinced he's some great overlord reduced to a puppy and that Olivier is destined to keep him in line…..I should've fought against it, but it didn't hurt so much…." Eda then laughed. "I learned about a few of their adventures through that…One time, they got stung by fire-bees trying to make me my favorite breakfast."
Oum chuckled
"Anne nearly burnt all the plates trying to make Bee and I an anniversary lunch."
"Olivier is the reason I'm on speaking terms with my folks."
"Anne's the reason my mom stopped trying to hook me up with other guys."
"…really?"
"Yeah, she never liked Bee; thought he was too soft. Buit, I love him for that. Does,,,Ollie?"
"I do have a certain…special someone…" Eda admitted. "But…its complicated…."
"You know, I have some of Anne's baby pictures around." Oum noted.
"Oh Titan, please! I got some of Ollie's too."
The two clinked their mugs and drank their tea as they looked over Anne's baby pictures. They wouldn't sleep a wink that night, but having a new friend made it all worth it.