Loyalty Among Worlds (Amphibia AU)

Tonight of all nights in the world of Amphibia is a night of terror, desperation, and monsters. And when the frogs say terror, they mean terror. For tonight is known as their annual shut-in. What seemed like a traditional day for frogs is more like a warning. What is the shut in you say? Let's take a dive and find out.

Our tale begins in the city of Wartwood where the citizens gather supplies needed to make it through the night. Around this time of year, pumpkins were in season. There were pumpkins around every corner of every house.

Darrel, Anne, Sprig, Tint, and Polly were gathering supplies as well. They knock on Felicia's tea house and Felicia opens her door. She was welcomed with a, "Stay inside, hide your eyes. Give us practical supplies."

"Oh you are just in time," she said. "I got one last box of nails. And they're rusty." "Ooh, good stuff," said Sprig as Felicia dumps the nails in Anne's sack. "Thank you," said Anne and Sprig.

"Happy shut in kids," said Felicia as she shut the door. The kids leave with their sacks now practically heavy. "Whew, man this is a workout," said Anne. "Like any help?" Darrel asked. "I could levitate our sacks."

Anne smiled, "That's so sweet, Darrel. But I can handle my own." "Okay," said Darrel. "So Tint, Sprig, tell us again. What is this shut in? Is this like a holiday of some sorts?"

"It's not a holiday, Darrel," Tint replied. "It's the annual blue moon shut in," said Sprig. Polly jumps onto Anne's shoulder, "We need the supplies to survive for the night."

"Well you know," Anne said. "We have a similar thing in my world called Halloween." "It's true," said Darrel. "Kids and adults celebrate the night wearing costumes, carving pumpkins, saying 'Trick-or-Treat' and get free candy."

"Free Candy!" Polly cried. "What's the catch?" "If you don't get your treat, you must trick them." Polly awed at their human holiday. "That is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

"I remember this one time," said Darrel. "Me, Sasha, Anne, and Marcy didn't get a treat from an old woman. She hogged all the sweets in her house, so we tricked her. We glued her to her welcome mat, then sprayed her with a hose. After that, we ransacked her house of her treats and went our way." Darrel sighed, "Good times."

Soon, Hop pop and Cronaxx pulled up with Bessie. "Hey kids," said Hop pop. "What'd y'all get for tonight's shut in?" "Show us the goods," said Cronaxx.

"I got a hatchet," said Polly. "I got a vial of poison," said Tint. "I got a first aid kit," said Tint. "I got a flamethrower," said Anne. "I got a rock," said Darrel blandly. Cronaxx smiled, "Impressive Darrel. Rocks can come in handy as strong projectiles."

Darrel smiles back at the wise salamander, while Anne fires her flamethrower. The gang hops on Bessie and rides back to the farm. Along the way, Anne and Darrel watch the frogs boarding windows and carving pumpkins.

"You guys sure this isn't a holiday?" Anne asked. "They look like Jack-o-Lanterns." "Those are fear gourds, Anne," said Hop pop. "And yes, I'm sure. The shut in is dangerous."

Cronaxx and Tint use their magic to create a dark cloud to show the humans. "For tonight," said Cronaxx. "The moon turns blue, and anyone who gazes upon it becomes a creature of unspeakable horror."

Then a frog screams, seeing their illusion, thinking it's real. "I DON'T WANNA DIE!" Then he jumps through his window breaking his furniture on the other side.

"I have to agree with this, Anne," said Darrel. "If a wizard says it's real, then it has to be real." "No one actually knows, Darrel," said Sprig. "And no one wants to find out!" Hop pop cried. "Ever," said Polly.

The group arrive at the Plantar farm, with boards blocking all the doors and windows. "Wow, you guys went all out here," said Darrel. "It's actually kind of nice," said Sprig. "We sit by the fire…" "And tell spooky stories," said Polly. "And Bessie hides in her shell till morning."

"Cool," said Anne. "Now let's get this holiday started." "It's not a holiday, Anne," said the Plantars, Tint, and Cronaxx. "Alright, fine," said Anne. "Now would you two grab the rest of the decorations from the cart?" Hop pop asked.

"It's totally a holiday," whispered Anne. "I second that," said Darrel. "I heard that!" Hop pop shouted. "Opinions, Hop pop," said Darrel as he grabbed the decorations. "Opinions."

Inside the house, the group gather at the fireplace and prepare to tell stories. Hop pop explains the rules, "Remember kids, the stories have to have actually happened and be scary enough to remind us, NOT TO GO OUTSIDE! Okay kids, who wants to go first?"

"Ooh oh, I do!" Polly cried. "This is the first year I have one that's really scary." She turns off the lights and stands by the fireplace. "I'm telling the story of A night at the Inn!"

Darrel calls timeout on her story, "Are you referring to the story of how we came across the cannibal frogs at that inn the other day?" Polly groaned, "Aww! You know what happens?" "We were all there for that," said Anne.

"Give me a minute to think of another one," said Polly. "Someone else go." Anne suddenly gets an idea of a story. "I've got one. Now this didn't happen to me, but it did happen to my phone! Get ready for the tale of, PHONE MO!"

"What?" Sprig asked. "All will be explained, Sprig," said Darrel. "Onto the story!"

Anne begins to tell her tale about Phone Mo. It all starts at a middle school much like Anne's and Darrel's. But this place was called Saint Joe's School. Her story consists of Anne being called Anna, and Darrel being called Darren.

They come across more of their friends. Most of them are human versions of the frogs they've encountered. There's Twig, Molly, Haddy, Brodie, and Flint. The group was showing videos to each other just for a few laughs.

Haddie and Brodie tell the group about the new trending animal video. And warned them that this video is cursed, and whoever watches it disappears. Anna, Darren, Twig, and Flint were concerned. But Molly wasn't, and proceeded to watch the video.

Later that day, Darren and Anna started to notice their friends disappearing one by shrugged off the fact that the curse was real.

However, as they went home, Anna started to see strange things happening to her phone. Little did Darren and Flint know that Anna watched the video behind their backs. Her video goes on and the cute animal creature climbs out her phone.

It soon grows to become a horrifying monster. Anna tries to escape, but the creature grabs her with its tongue. She was scared out of her life she called it not cute. Which made the creature flinch in response.

It soon became clear how Anna could stop the creature. It was trailing with so many likes, that no one disliked the video. So if there were dislikes and hate comments, the creature would be destroyed.

And that's what Anna did. With one bad comment, the creature exploded freeing Haddie, Brodie, and Molly. Twig, Flint, and Darren enter the house and invite them to a new burger joint across the haunted part of town. As the kids leave, eggs that were splattered across the room started hatching little offspring of the creatures.

"The end," concluded Anne. The group was impressed, until Anne got a notification of Wally's birthday today. "It's such a shame that Wally has to stay inside on his birthday," said Tint. "Maybe next year we should invite him to our farm," said Sprig.

"I'm sure he's fine right now," said Anne. "Alright Polly, back to you." "Okay," said Polly. "Once upon a time an entire town got taken over by zombie mushrooms in a story I like to call, 'Children of the Spore!'"

Only Hop pop and Cronaxx stopped her right there. "That story's no good either," said Hop pop. "We were all there," said Cronaxx. The group nodded in agreement.

"Alright, alright," said Polly. "Someone else go." "Okay, I've got one," said Hop pop. "And it's the scariest one yet. It's called: DEAD END!"

Hop pop begins his story with a young version of himself with a huge flow of thick hair. He took a job as a stagecoach, with Bessie as his snail. He kept on bragging about his hair until Anne told him to move along.

One day, Hop pop was driving along, until he picked up a customer in the middle of nowhere. The customer was very strange wearing a high class suit and a derby hat. Hop pop however didn't protest, he was just a regular customer.

Wanting to keep the journey from getting quiet, he asked his customer what business he's in. His customer replied that he was in the frog business. Hop pop started to feel unease with the reply, but kept going.

They go to the first stop, which happens to be at Old Man Hopkins' house. He grew sick with the red leg, but his customer assured him he wouldn't for much longer. He goes into the house, then Hop pop hears a noise that sounds like furniture crashing. Then, his customer comes out with a malicious grin on his face.

Hop pop begins to question his customer's motives. But he reminds Hop pop he had a schedule to keep. He stops at another house only to find a half snake half scorpion creature enter the window of the house. It was called a slaughter snake. Hop pop turns to find his customer missing.

Hop pop turns to the house as he hears screaming, then turns back to see his customer ready for the next stop. It soon came clear to Hop pop that his customer is none other than Death, in amphibious form.

Soon, they arrive at the Plantar's farm. And Hop pop suddenly realizes that he's next. However, when the reaper struck down with his scythe, he cut off his hair instead of him. Hop pop cried in anguish, while Death took off looking good with Hop pop's hair.

"And that, children, is how I lost my hair," said Hop pop. The kids groaned in disgust. "Hop pop that's messed up," said Anne. "I wasn't that scared," said Sprig. Hop pop leans in and whispers, "Oh you will be."

"So Darrel," said Tint. "Do you have a scary story to tell?" "I do," said Darrel. "But, I want to give Polly a chance if she has a story to tell." "Of course I do," said Polly.

"Okay, there was a time when frogs lived in fear when a monster lurked in the woods." The gang started to get a great feeling about this story. "It had a giant head, spindly legs, and a hideous face bump!" Polly pulls out a small drawing that just reveals itself as Anne.

The gang went back to being unamused. "Polly, does your scary story revolve around Anne?" Darrel asked. "Because it's not scary." "Way to spoil the ending, Darrel!" Polly groaned. "Also, that drawing is insulting," said Anne. "Darrel can draw way better than that."

The gang looked at the viewing audience for a few minutes, until they looked back at each other. "Oh oh, I've got a story," said Sprig. "A few days ago, Ivy and I were playing bug ball on the old court in the woods." "Wait, what's your story called?" Anne asked. "Actually I don't kno-" "SKIN DEEP!"

Sprig's story starts with Sprig and Ivy playing bug ball. And Ivy drops her hat blocking Sprig's shot. She asks Sprig to look away, but Sprig assures her he likes it either way. The two head into the dark parts of the forest heading into an old cottage. It was said that the legendary seamstress lives there, and whoever trespasses on her property, the frogs get robbed of their skin and she wears them.

Ivy kicks the door down and the two search for their ball. Sprig eventually finds it, but inadvertently opens a barrel revealing frog skins. The two run to the door, only for the seamstress to find them in her house. The creature groans, 'Fresh skins,' and the two frogs scream.

After a scuffle, Sprig removes the seamstress' head, revealing it to be a glass frog, who is sensitive to her looks. The two take this as an advantage and burn the hut to the ground. They run off into the forest, ending the story.

"And we never saw her again," concluded Sprig. Everyone gasped, considering the fact that Sprig left them hanging with so many questions. However, Sprig assures them that everything's okay.

Darrel smiled, "Okay, I think it's time to tell a story that's twice as scary as that." "Are you sure?" Tint asked. "I'm sure," replied Darrel. "Unless of course, you have a story planned out, Polly?"

Polly shook her head, "Nope, I'm still bummed," "Okay then," Darrel walks in front of the fireplace and begins his story.

"Something beyond comprehension was happening to a little boy, on this street, in this building…" The story begins with Darrel holding a briefcase standing in front of a hotel, with the moon shining down below him and a light fog breezing through the area. "A man had come as a last resort, because no one else would go near the place."

"THE MESSORCIST"

A knock was made on the door to the front desk. An old man, who resembles much of Cronaxx, opens the door. He is wearing a green robe and is wearing fancy nightgown clothing. He is surprised to see Darrel, dressed in clean clothes, looking down on the old man.

"I hear you've been expecting me," he said. "You are the..?" Asked the old man. "That's right," replied Darrel. "I am….the housekeeper." A flash of lightning is shown followed by a roll of thunder.

Yes, thank goodness you've come," said the old man. He lets Darrel in his lobby with his desk and name tag on top, 'Connor.' "I'm about to lose my business," said Connor. "It's that new guest that arrived a couple days ago. I don't know what's gotten into him. He's trashing not only his room, but the entire motel too."

Darrel wouldn't back down, "Trust me pal, I've got two energetic sisters that leave a trail of mess around my house. This should be a piece of cake." Suddenly they hear loud music coming from the room across the hall on the second floor.

"Is that a rockstar staying here?" Darrel asked. "I swear, he's not like anything I've ever seen," said Connor. The two proceed up the stairs and down the hall. "Oh come on, It's clear this hotel isn't used to a rockstar living here," said Darrel. "It's common that they trash their hotel rooms."

The two approach the door and prepare to open it. "You just got to walk in there, look him in the eye, and remind him who's-"

The two see the entire room a mess from top to bottom. Soda spills on the carpets, the toilets and shower drains clogged with mountains of hair, bags of chips all over the floor, and bed sheets crumpled and ripped up. The walls were painted with red paint displaying satanic symbols and writing.

"Uh oh," said Darrel. "I thought you said hotels deal with rock stars," said Connor. "Yes," said Darrel. "But death metal guitarists are a category ten."

He greets the guitarist, only to be replied with his head spinning around and plays a powerful rift on the guitar. "Oh no," said Darrel. "He recently made a deal with the devil." "What can we do?" Connor asked. "We have to get him to tire out his rock n roll attitude," said Darrel. "Then, we have to shake him out of his deal."

He reapproaches the guitarists and says, "Rock on dude! Who are you?!" "I'm Talon!" The guitarist announced. "And I'm going to bring this building down!"

He shreds his guitar again, making cracks in the wall. "Then I issue a challenge," said Darrel. "Since you're here until tomorrow, I bet I can keep this building in top shape until six in the morning. If you succeed in bringing the hotel down, I'll be your personal steward for all eternity,"

Talon smiled and said in a demonic voice, "Deal!" Then, the two went at it and the night went by fast. Talon kept wrecking the place, but Darrel kept it in top shape. And whatever was messed up or destroyed, he always finds a way to keep it pristine.

As the night withered away, Talon grew frustrated, then decided to make a final move. "Stage Dive!" He cried. But as Talon jumps from the bed, he finds himself jumping out the window as well. The glass shattered and Talon fell until he hit a flight of stairs below. Everytime he hits the ground, he delves deeper below the stairwell.

At the bottom of the stairs Talon falls head first, Connor and Darrel race down the stairs and find the death metal guitarist floating in the air. Dark clouds surround the human as if something was being pulled out of him. Then with a flash of light, Talon drops to the ground and the clouds vanish. Darrel and Connor loom over to the hotel guest as his eyes open.

"The end," concluded Darrel. Hop pop and Cronaxx were impressed with his story. The kids hid behind their seats. Anne, however, feels disbelief. "There's no way that actually happened," she said.

Darrel smiled, "But it's true Anne." "Oh yeah," she replied. "What happened to the quote unquote devil?" Darrel closed his eyes, "It's very simple Anne. He attached himself…" He opens his eyes to reveal a demonic possession. "To a new host!"

Anne screamed just as the entity burst the door open. The group began to scream with fright, until they heard laughter. "Oh my god! I got you guys good!" Darrel laughed. "Wait! Where's the devil?" Hop pop asked. "There is no devil," replied Darrel. "I just couldn't resist telling a scary story."

Darrel was then met with a punch to the arm. "Darrel Loyalitat! You nearly scared me to death! I thought you really were possessed," said Anne. "Okay, I deserved that," said Darrel. "So, I'm not dating a devil?" Anne asked. "Nope," replied Darrel. "It's all me. The real me."

Anne smiled, as she and Darrel held hands and touched foreheads. "Uh, guys," said Tint. "Where's Polly?" "She was just here a second ago," said Sprig. "What if she slipped out while the door was opened and ran off to look at the blue moon?!"

"That's exactly what she did," said Cronaxx. "That's nonsense," said Anne. "I'm looking at her right now," replied Cronaxx.

Polly is shown to be outside looking at the blue moon. The group head outside with an umbrella to protect them from the moon. "Polly! Don't look!" They cried. Polly cackled with villainous glee, only to not feel any side effects.

"It looks like the legend is false," said Hop pop. "I wouldn't be so sure," said Cronaxx. "Usually, the effects run their course in a few minutes."

And Cronaxx wasn't wrong, Polly started to feel the effects of the moon run through her tiny body. Soon she gained massive muscles in her arms and fur and fangs grew as well. The group ran back into the house scared out of their minds. "Anne, can we agree on one thing!?" Darrel asked. "Yes," replied Anne. "THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A HOLIDAY!" They shouted simultaneously.