Molly Joe Otto-Waybright was a little more than average girl: Her father and grandfather were self-made men, Robert a former cop and his son a successful video game artist and programmer. She had two older brothers who she…tolerated…and a very, very wicked Step-mother. Well, MJ thought so; the woman was proud about climbing the ladders of social and corporate designs, but she also loved her new beau and could get along with the kids…minus her own daughter.
Sasha Waybright was what Molly wanted to be in a few years; pretty, popular and respected. Kinda scary, too…maybe. At least around others.
While the Waybright divorce was messy, Sasha had never once done anything against Molly Joe. Heck, Sasha adored spending time with the kid, sometimes dropping homework (which she'd later hand to Marcy for 'trial run') to watch TV and movies with her, giving her make-overs…and there was that one time a bully had made the decision to pick o n MJ in front of her….
So, when Sasha had disappeared five months ago? Molly Joe had taken it hard. Probaboly the hardest, aside from Sasha's father.
She had scoured all over town, putting up posters, asking the 'friends' she knew Sasha had….and spending more time with the Boonchuy family.
Out of Sasha's friends, Molly Joe was always a fan of Anne a little more than Marcy; nothing against the Wu girl personally! Anne was just funny in her reactions and best able to keep up with Sasha. Plus, her imagination was great!
"Flamingo and Komodoo" could definitely be a hilarious rom-com, change her mind!
She started helping out a bit around Thai Go, mostly little clean up and directing people into the actual restaurant and NOT Ned's truck. In thanks, she had heard some stories of her step-sister from the Boonchuys and gotten some free meals in thanks.
So, now that Anne had returned, Molly was soon getting some answers onto Sasha.
OWLPHIBIA
When we last left, Mollie Joe was having an adorable fangirl reaction to the real life fusion she had just seen.
"Fusion! Is! REAL!" She beamed.
"And they're the only ones!" Eda chimed in, messing with Olivanne's hair. "Been too long kiddo."
"Thanks, Mama." Olivanne responded before they spied Molly Joe was reaching for her phone.
"Sasha is going to be so jeal…! Oh, oh! I-I'm sorry…"
She reached to put her phone away, only for Olivanne to take her into their arms and take a grinning selfie with her.
Molly Joe admired the picture, squinting a bit in confusion.
"Wait…does Olivier have…fangs?" She asked, revealing that the grinning Olivanne had almost vampire like fangs. Eda squealed at this.
"Aw, my baby's fangs get bigger!" Eda beamed, then frowned. "Meh…I kinda like the smaller size."
"Mama!" Olivanne beamed. "You're embarrassing me in front…of..? …Are…are you okay?"
"You called me Mama fused!" Eda beamed, tears in her eyes. "That means…! T-t-that means…!"
She couldn't contain her happiness and hugged the fusion as she sobbed happily; her future daughter in law already considered her mom material! This was a happy day for Eda! Very happy day!
Miraculously, neither Bee nor Robert awoke.
The bell at the door suddenly chimed, signalling business.
"There's the dinner rush." Molly Joe smiled as she wrapped an apron and handkerchief on her head. "I'll get them seated."
And just like that? The familiar glow overtook Olivanne, who shifted back into Anne and Olivier.
"….Aw, man!" Everyone whined. But regardless, they knew what they had to do.
"Wait, MJ! Let me hel…um, Ann?"
Olivier found himself pulled back by his girlfriend.
"When where you going to tell me that Sasha kidnapped you after your fight with Grunge? And dressed you up like a harem girl?" She asked with a far too sweet to be innocent smile on her face. "And forced you to kiss her?"
Unknown to the two teens, Eda literally paused midstride and turned around when she heard that.
The half-witch gulped.
"Oh. Oh, you uh…you saw that…huh?" He managed.
"Yes." Eda said, scaring the two. They looked and saw she had cast an oracle spell that showcased the memory in question….and like Anne, Eda was far, far, FAR too calm.
She simply took out her satchel and pulled out a box labelled 'WAR CRIME/OLLIE'S INNOCENCE PROTECTION', which she opened and drew out several potions and blades.
"Um…M-mom?" Olivier asked. "What're those for?"
"I just want a quick word with her." Eda said, all to calmly.
"Mom, she's in Amphibia…!"
"I just want a quick word with her." Eda said, all to calmly.
"Wait, isn't that the 'Never, ever, ever, ever, ever (Unless Oberon of Avalon himself is right in front of you) use what's in this' box?!" Olivier gasped.
"I just want a quick word with her." Eda said, all to calmly, reaching for the scrying potion. Anne snapped out of her anger and reached for the potion.
"Whoa! Eda, Eda! I'm ticked too! You know I am! But let's…!"
"I just want a quick word with her." Eda said, all to calmly, reaching for the vial still.
"Not letting you have this!" Anne said.
"I just want a quick word with her." Eda said, reaching for the vial and her voice a little angrier.
Olivier searched bhis pockets, finding them empty,
"SLEEP SPELL!" Maddie called out, spinning a spell circle in desperation…and it worked.
Eda fell to the ground, zonked out and landing on top of Robert.
"…Hope the health inspector doesn't come today…" Anne mused.
They didn't, luckily.
OWLPHIBIA
An hour later, the three adults stirred just as the dinner rush ended, finding hot plates of Pad Sew waiting for them.
"Wait, what happened?" Robert asked.
"The last thing I remember was a glow and…me being happy another fantasy was real but also worried Anne was involved?"
"That was me, sorry." Maddie lied, dropping her own glamor and delighting at the shocked look on Robert's face. "Turns out, human mushrooms have some….affects…on me."
"Mine too! Sorry!" Sprig added. He wasn't willing for Maddie to take all the blame!
Eda, half awake but already knowing what happened, smirked. She then spied Anne and Olivier cleaning dishes, which a happy Molly Joe restacked.
…A happy little girl, Eda realized.
The Owl Lady was still BEYOND livid at what Sasha had done to her son; not just as a mother, but from some...experiences when she was younger. But, seeing as this MJ was such a sweet kid and loved her big sister, Eda decided to save any feelings for vengeance for later and enjoy her dinner.
"Here you go, dad." Anne smiled as she handed dinner. "And one mild for Mr. Otto."
"We wanted to wait until you were awake, grandpa." Mollie Joe explained, helping Robert to his feet. The older man smiled and messed with her hair before taking the food.
Once everything was cleaned and everyone had had a bite, they returned to the kitchen and readied a wok.
"Now, Ollie?" Eda smiled, making sure all could see the vial. "Maddie here's come up with what she hopes is an Amphibia exclusive scrying potion. Well, she thinks it will be…"
Olivier looked at a blushing Maddie, looking down at her feet. He smiled proudly and messed up her hair before lifting her up to drop in her creation, while Eda added her Scrying potion…which she noticeable tried to save some of.
The potions mixed inside the wok and soon an image of Wartwood filled the wok; still mostly in tact..but with bits of metal scattered around.
Looked like Andrias HAD attacked….
"Sasha!" Robert and Molly beamed at the sight of the blonde girl, directing villagers somewhere else as she and Grime cleaned up the remains of the robots.
OIivier's eyes widened for a moment:
"Where's the tree?" He asked worriedly.
He'd planted a Palistrom tree before they'd left for the first journey to Newtopia, and it was about the size of Toadstool and Grime on top of each other when they left..
As if responding to his worry, the scene shifted to the tree; still in one piece and firmly planted…underground? There was a light beaming down on it, but it looked like the villagers where recloating underground…
"Huh. Looks like a mall." Anne mused.
Sasha and Grime then wandered in and handed the robot pieces to…
"Rosmary! Lavender! Ginger!" Maddie beamed, elated to see they were doing well. Sprig smiled at her happiness…which was short lived by a shout:
"MOSS?!" Oliver shrieked.
The triplets handed the pieces over to another toad; one who, despite looking like a solider, had an aura of intelligence about him.
"You know that guy?"
"Know him?! He's Grunge's right hand!" Olivier snapped. "He uses Alchemy and is all about logic, but make no mistake, he's just as strong as Grunge."
"Pfft. Alchemy." Eda grumbled. She'd lost all respect for Vytor when it became known he indulged in that…which for some reason, Belos applauded him for.
The triplets then each produced what looked like potions, which they flung onto the robots, each rusting at different accerlated rates. Grung was pleased by this and made some notes for each of them, a smile on his face.
Maddie didn't like it. Not one bit. Okay, that was a lie; she was delighted her sisters were learning something akin to magic, but under someone GRUNGE trusted?! Well, at least they and her father were safe….
Olivier was reminded of his training under Grunge; the Toad wizard was ruthless and a slave driver at times, but he was also a (when the need called for it) warm mentor in his own way. Seemed Moss was following in that…
But why would the intelligent alchemist help the seemingly budding Wartwood resistance?
OWLPHIBIA
After many profuse thanks and promises to keep in touch, Robert and a very sleepy Molly Joe headed home just as Ned returned for the last few deliveries. The older man was carrying his half awake granddaughter to the car as he wishes Ned a good night.
No one was aware of someone lurking, waiting…And then it's moment came.
Sprig and Maddie had snuck into the former food truck turned delivery truck, just wanting to have a peek at what they thought was a bigger 'robo-snail.'
Anne had stepped out not too long after to do the final garbage toss, when she heard a…
SLICE!
CLANG!
Looking over, she spied the food truck beginning to roll away…minus a wheel.
The garbage bag fell out of Anne's hand.
"RUN AWAY FOOD TRUCK!" She shouted, managing to grab on and open the back. "GUYS! What the heck?!"
"When did we start moving?!" exclaimed Sprig.
"I was trying to tell you!" Maddie snapped.
Anne quickly jumped into the driver's seat and fastened her seat belt.
"OK. I've never driven a car before..." began Anne, trying to remain calm. "but but I have rode Bessie, and played Nine-Hundred Plus hours of "Super Nitro Carts."
"What about that one time we raced-" Sprig started.
"WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT, SPRIG!" exclaimed Anne.
"Talk about wha…ANNE, LOOK OUT!" exclaimed Maddie, pointing to an oncoming tree.
Anne quickly made hard turn left to avoid the tree.
"Uh..Uh...Brakes!, Gotta mash the brakes!" Anne tried..but the brakes didn't work. Looking upwards, the three spied a a note taped above, which read:
'NED, YOU RASCAL, DON'T FORGET TO FIX THE BREAKS! NED.'
"NEEEEED!" Anne roared to the heavens as the truck kept racing downwards.
"It's OK, Anne!" said Sprig. "I've got this!"
He then promptly smacked the CD player. "Whoa, girl. Whoa!"
"DUDE, THAT ONLY WORKS ON SNAILS!" exclaimed Anne.
Meanwhile, Eda and Olivier, need for inconspicuousness be damned, where right behind the out of control food truck on Owlbert and Fleetwing, respectively. Ollie had managed to oiutpace his mother and moved to stand on Fleetwing, readying to jump..which he did.
"Ollie!?" Anne gasped at the wheel, both elated and worried to see her boyfriend. Maddie was quick to jump into Olivier's arms and try to apologize, Sprig doing the same over her
"It'll be okay, it'll be okay." Olivier assured them as he made his way to the passenger seat. "Just need to…LOOK OUT!"
A turtle, minding its own business, saw the truck, screamed and ducked inside it shell. Now, one would THINK that not even that would save it….but this IS a family oriented story, so instead of the mess…
The truck was sent flying through the air one it hit the turtle, the four kids screaming as it did so
OWLPHIBIA
"Thanks for letting me burrow your TV!" One man, Tyler, said as he and his neighbor moved a flatscreen between their windows.
"Just be careful. This thing is like a son to me…"
The food truck suddenly crashed through the TV.
"JUN….ior?"
The TV suddenly reformed as if nothing had happened.
"YOU'RE WELCOME!" Eda managed, desperately trying to make Owlbert and a now mobile Fleetwing get ahead of the truck as it landed back down onto the street..and towards a skate park. An emopty one, but still!
With every ounce of magic and maternal instinct she had, Eda willed a magic circle that finally stopped the truck's motion and plopped it down onto the ground. She didn't see her pendant begin to darken slightly….
Inside the truck, the kids realized they weren't moving any more. They opened their eyes to confirm this and that they were alive. They saw Bee and Ned (who luckily didn't see the Palismen and flight or magic), having taken Bee's car, supporting a gasping Eda inside the park.
The kids then stumbled out of the truck, Maddie and Sprig kissing the ground and Olivier racing to help Eda as Anne found herself being hugged by her father, tuni ng out Ned's freak out over the scratches and destroyed wheel…
Mostly because in his worries to help his mother, Olivier hadn't noticed an abandoned skateboard, stepped on it and rolled away right into a ditch.
"OLLIE/OLIVIER!" Anne, Eda, Sprig and Maddie all called out in worry.
"I'm okay!" Olivier called out as the skateboard rolled into the same hole…and fell on top of him. "…Less okay!"
OWLPHIBIA
Elsewhere, someone watched the scene from afar, and they were not pleased.
It had taken Cloak-bot far, far too long to get back on Anne and Olivier's trail: He'd had to deal with costumed and apparently magical humans, Gargoyles and what seemed like human sized turtles before finally leaving New York City and making his way back
It was officially the longest three days of the robot's life and a miracle Andrias hadn't called for a report.
The only damage he had were some scratches and loose armor that was quickly welded back on.
Oh well. This attempt failed. He'd try again soon enough…. Besides, it seemed that the Owl's ladty magic might have been diminuishing ever so slightly….
Luckily for the heroes, the robot had no idea about exlirs.
OWLPHIBIA
Oum was understandably erratic when everyone returned home, peppering Anne with worried kisses and thanking Eda and Olivier for their bravery…as well as getting the poor boy some ice for his embarrassing injury and setting him up on the couch. Hop-Pop had followed in suit, before swearing vengeance on whoever had attack the 'snail' his grandson, granddaughter and future grand-in laws had been on.
King, who'd been preparing a Powerpoint on his and Maddie's discoveries (along with some of Olivier's Titan blood experiments), abandoned the presentation to bodyguard his brother. Eda was a little sluggish, but seemed right as rain after a moment.
Everyone was heading to bed earlier, but Anne was still up, brushing Olivier's hair and nuzzling his nose.
"I should've done something." The Half-witch said.
"And you would've." Anne smiled.
"….You think?"
She pecked his nose.
"I know."
Olivier smiled, but rose an eyebrow when Anne smirked and Eda came in.
"Now, I AM still ticked over what I learnt about Sasha…" The Thai girl clairified. "But after all that happened today? I think you deserve a little !"
The Owl lady spun a magic circle and a POOF overtook the girl. When it cleared….
"Well, Ollie?" Anne cooed, batting her eyes at him. "How do I look?"
There she stood in a belly dancer or slave girl outfit.
Oliver had gone silent, but the dumb smile, slight nosebleed and blush spoke volumes. He didn't even hear his mother and King cackling….probably because he'd fainted