Firstly we now know he was definitly a soldier at some point in his past given he owns armor that's definitly seen better days, and we can see he lost his helmet at some point, and either wasn't interested in replacing it, or unable to.
And then there is his changed attitude. Whereas everyone has mixed feelings regarding the war, Stumpy is the only one who seems to genuinely be happier now than he was before.
The man who only occasionally smiled over the course of two seasons has become a man with an eternally calm smile, taking things in stride.
This strongly suggests that Stumpy misses his soldiering days, and it is only now that he is at war once again alongside his comrades, that the man is truly able to be genuinely happy.
It's finally here, fellas. The long-awaited conclusion to my very first multi-chapter fanfic. I gotta say, working on this one was a real doozy, but I'm just glad to have gotten this one out before Amphibia returns. With that being said, please enjoy!
Summary: Sasha's attempt to apologize doesn't go as well as she'd hoped...
It’s all Sasha can feel as she’s knocked back against a tree in the forest.
She winces, clutching her stomach, as she looks up, her eyes sighting a Thai teenager with glowing blue eyes and a look of rage unlike anything she’s ever seen before walking towards her, fists clenched and on fire, the teenager being none other than her former best friend, Anne Boonchuy.
It had been about a week since she and the Plantars (and Anne’s parents, surprisingly) had returned to Amphibia, and things had been uneasy between the two. The Plantars, of course, still didn’t trust her, even though they had learned about her helping out on the farm, and she assumed that Anne’s parents weren’t exactly happy with her either, given the fact that their behavior was rather strained around her. She honestly couldn’t blame them; after all she did, it was only fair that she be treated like this. She was lucky that they even let her stay in the barn, the only reason being that Bessie and MicroAngelo had grown attached to her.
She often had to find comfort in the presence of the townsfolk of Wartwood, who assured her that the Plantars and Boonchuys would eventually trust her again before she knew it, and she wanted to believe them, she really did, but she knew better than anyone that someone like her wasn’t worth forgiving.
Today, Sasha had finally decided enough was enough. She needed to get her apology off her chest. So she approached Anne, and attempted to make up with her, holding onto the slightest bit of hope that she would consider giving her another chance.
And now, here she lies, against a tree, holding her stomach in excruciating pain.
How was she this stupid? She should have known better than to hope for what would be nothing more than a mere fantasy, just out of reach.
“YOU,” Anne growls, her voice layered with all the anger and hatred burning within. “YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?! AFTER WHAT YOU’VE DONE?!”
She throws a punch at Sasha’s face, and she recoils in pain, her nose bleeding.
“YOU MIGHT HAVE FOOLED All OF WARTWOOD WITH YOUR SO-CALLED ‘HEROIC’ ACTS,” she continues, making air quotes. “BUT I’M NOT AS STUPID AS YOU THINK. I KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY WANT: TO TAKE CONTROL OVER MY TOWN.”
She leans down, shortening the distance between her and Sasha’s face, causing the latter to whimper, like the pathetic coward she is. “WELL, I WON’T LET THAT STAND. I, ANNE BOONCHUY, DEFENDER OF WARTWOOD, ORDER YOU TO LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK. I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR ALL THE PAIN YOU’VE CAUSED. YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LIAR, AND I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LIKES OF YOU, EVER AGAIN.”
Sasha could try to come up with a snarky response, she could try to defend herself, hell, she could even try to muster the strength to stand back up, but she can’t. No, not can’t, won’t.
Because deep down, she knows that Anne is right.
No matter how much she tries, she can never be able to change for the better.
No matter how much she does, she can never hope to atone for her sins.
No matter how much she wants, she can never, ever try to reconcile with the girl that was once her best friend.
Because a life of pain and loneliness is all someone like her deserves.
It’s all she ever deserves.
Tears begin to fall from Sasha’s eyes, as she slowly begins to sob, and Anne just scoffs. “OH, HERE WE GO. CRYING IN THE HOPES OF MAKING ME FELL GUILTY. WELL, NICE TRY, BUT I WON’T FALL FOR ANYMORE OF YOUR-“
“Anne Boonchuy, that is ENOUGH!”
In confusion, Sasha slowly angles her head to the source of the voice and is beyond disbelief to see the citizens of Wartwood, along with the rest of the rebellion, approaching Anne, who turns towards them, her powers deactivating. Seems like their conversation must have attracted quite the audience.
“Mrs. Croaker? W-what are you doing here?” Anne asks, as though she hadn’t beaten up a teenager.
“Quiet, young lady!” Mrs. Croaker scolds, and Anne, shocked, takes a step back. “We’re here because YOU have been hurting someone very close to us!”
“What? What are you—” the brunette begins, before realizing who she’s referring to, and lets out a laugh. “Oh, I get it. You’re all still under the belief that Sasha is a better person just because she kept you all alive.”
“She is a better person,” another voice speaks up, this one being Loggle. “She’s done us a lotta good while you were away!”
“She repaired my accordion!” Wally pipes up.
“She helped me make the perfect present for Mayor Toadstool!” Toadie includes.
“She put together a crew to help out at my restaurant!” Stumpy adds.
“She saved my dear Archie’s life!” Mrs. Croaker claims.
“She protected my daughter!” Felicia yells.
‘Sasha here has helped us out with our troubles so many times, even when she didn’t have to,” Mayor Toadstool. “Come on, Anne. Why are you being so difficult? This ain’t you!”
“Why? WHY?!” Anne roars, her voice heightening. “Don’t you get it?! It’s all a trick! A coy! A deception! She’s trying to lull you all in by ‘helping’ you so that when you all least expect it, she and Grime can take over Wartwood! I’m the one trying to save you all, and yet you’re going against ME?!”
“If she were trying to take over our town, she would have done it while you were gone!” Ivy counters. “She’s changed so much! She’s kind, compassionate. She’s saved our lives multiple times, way more than you did!” She looks at the blonde and gives her a smile of assurance, and the girl doesn’t know how to respond, except cry even more, because how did someone like her ever deserve them? How did someone like her deserve to be defended?
“Pfft, so she kept you guys safe, so what?” Anne scoffs. “Am I supposed to forgive her now? Trust her again, after what she’s put me through?”
“Now, we’re not saying you should forgive her right away,” Mr. Flour responds. “We’re just asking to at least give her one more chance.”
“Ha! I already gave her one more chance,” Anne sneers. “She doesn’t deserve another. Now, why don’t you let me finish what I was—”
“Anne?” Another voice pipes up, quieter than the others.
Anne turns to the source of the voice, and a look of relief washes over her face upon seeing her best friend, Sprig and the Plantars, as well as her parents, all of them wearing concerned looks. Sasha’s expression turns into a mix of fear and guilt, as she realizes why they’re here.
“Sprig! Oh thank frog you’re here!” Anne exclaims, walking towards him. “These frogs are trying to—”
“Um, no, we…heard everything,” Polly replies, looking away, as though she didn’t ask to be involved in this conversation.
“Oh. Well, that’s great! Now, why don’t you all remind them of what she’s—”
“Anne,” Hop Pop interrupts. “We know you’re upset, but…I think they’re right.”
Anne and Sasha both share a look of shock. There’s no way he of all people could have said that.
“…What?”
“Look, sweetie,” Mrs. Boonchuy joins in. “I know you’ve been through a lot, and I know you’re hurt and angry with Sasha because of what she’s done. And it’s not that you don’t have a right to be, it’s just…maybe it’s time to consider letting go?”
“Your mother’s right, Anne,” Mr. Boonchuy adds. “From what I hear, Sasha’s done nothing but try to protect your friends. And while I may not like what she did in the past, it’s obviously clear that she wants to make it up to you.” He gives a small smile towards the Slavic girl. “Like that frog said, you don’t have to forgive her right away, but I personally think she deserves one final chance. She’s already done enough to prove it.”
Sasha doesn’t even say anything. She just sits there, in shock and disbelief, but with a bit of joy added to it. She figured that Wartwood would try to defend her, but she had never anticipated that Anne’s family would side with her, especially after what she put them through. The very thought almost makes her want to cry, smile, she doesn’t know.
Her thoughts are immediately put aside as she slowly notices Anne clenching her fists in rage.
“You…you can’t be serious!” Anne yells. “After all she’s done, after all the suffering she caused us, you’re just going to side with them?!”
“W-whoa, calm down, Anne! We’re not talking about sides here,” Sprig replies with a stammer, trying to knock some sense into her human friend.
“Really? Because if we weren’t, you’d be helping me get rid of her!” Anne screams, her powers slowly beginning to activate. She turns to her parents, who slowly back away, scared of what their daughter has become.
“AND YOU!” she roars. “YOU’RE GOING TO TURN AGAINST YOUR OWN DAUGHTER FOR THE ONE WHO WAS A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE?!”
“Sweetie, we’re not trying to go against you!” Mrs. Boonchuy begs, desperate to reason with her girl. “We just—”
“NO, YOU KNOW WHAT?! I’VE HAD IT WITH THIS STUPID TOWN! IF YOU ALL LOVE SASHA MORE THAN ME, THEN FINE! I’M LEAVING, AND DON’T EXPECT ME TO COME BACK!”
“Anne, wait!” Hop Pop calls out, trying to reason with her, but it’s no use. She takes off, flying into the distance, until she can no longer be seen. “Frogdangit!”
Sasha doesn’t know how to react to what just transpired. One moment, she’s getting beaten up by her former friend because of her actions, and the next, she finds herself being defended by all of Wartwood, and even Anne’s family as well. She slowly starts to cry again, as the Plantars come over to hug her tightly.
“Why?” She asks through choked sobs. “Why would you defend me? After all I’ve done you should hate me…”
Hop Pop sighs before responding. “We did, at first,” he admits. “But, well, after seeing what you’ve done for our friends, I think hating you at this point wouldn’t be fair.” He pats Sasha’s head with a smile. “From now on, you’ll always be welcome to our home.”
“Thank you,” is how Sasha finally responds, as she hugs them tightly, sobbing and apologizing over and over again, and Anne’s parents soon join in on the hug, comforting her with whispers of assurance that it’s okay, that she doesn’t have to apologize anymore, that she’s forgiven.
And for once, she finally allows herself to believe it.
The rest of the day goes by in a blur, with the rebellion sending out search parties to try and locate Anne while tending to Sasha’s injuries. She spends the evening getting to know the Plantars better, and even becoming best friends with Sprig and Polly, though the latter was more preferable to Sasha.
And as Sasha sits on the back porch of the Plantars’ farm, snuggling next to Sprig and Polly while looking up at the stars she smiles to herself, knowing that no matter how big or small the trouble, she’ll always be there to lend a helping hand.
——————————————————————————
Anne kicks a rock in frustration as she walks through a forest, located far from Wartwood, the very town that had chosen to go against her, along with her own family no less.
Anger runs through her. How could they be willing to trust Sasha, after all the horrible things she’s done? How could her own family, both biological and adopted, go against her, even when they knew of her sins? Was there no one who understood her, no one she could trust? Was this her hell, her own nightmare, being betrayed by everyone?
“It hurts, doesn’t it?”
She freezes, immediately turning around, trying to locate the source of the voice, and soon enough, a figure, wearing black armor with an orange eye on its chest plate, a red cape and a helmet with ten glowing orange eyes on it, walks out of the shadows, a thin smile forming on its face.
“Hello, Heart.”
Anne doesn’t respond. That voice, her smile…could it really be…?
“…Marcy?”
The figure lets out a laugh. “Sadly, no. Your friend isn’t here right now,” she…it replies, craning her head to get a better look at the brunette. “But, rest assured, she’s alive. Now, why don’t we talk?”
“Who are you?” Anne finds herself asking, as the words tumble out of her mouth. “And what did you do to Marcy?”
“Well, we are, first of all, the Core. An amalgamation of all of the greatest minds in Amphibia. As for your other question, your friend was chosen as a host for us to be able to move around and interact with beings like yourself.”
“You’ve possessed her?!” Anne yells, her voice rising in anger as her fists ignite into a blue flame. “Let her go!”
The Core raised their hand. “Patience, Heart. We know how much she means to you, which is why we’re willing to hand her over…on a small condition, that is.”
Anne blinks, a bit confused by what she’s just heard.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, isn’t it obvious?” The Core sighs. “We know about what happened today at Wartwood. How everyone, including your so-called family turned against you. How you, outnumbered, fled, knowing that no one was willing to understand or listen to you.” They stroll closer to the Thai girl and extend their hand. “We, however, know the pain you are in. And we are willing to help you. Join us, Heart. With us, you’ll finally teach them a lesson, make them realize that you’re in the right. Help us squash their rebellion, and in return, not only will you have Wit back, but you’ll also get the chance to prove the others wrong.
“So what do you say, Heart? Will you join us, and prosper in glory among the greatest leaders ever known to Amphibia?”
The Thai girl feels conflicted. On one hand, she doesn’t want to trust them, given that there’s no guarantee they’ll keep their end of the deal and let Marcy live. Plus, it’s not hard for her to guess that they were sent by Andrias.
On the other hand, she doesn’t have anyone left, does she? And if there’s the smallest chance that she’ll get her only friend left back, then she’s willing to go along with it. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to get back at those who had hurt her, right?
She holds her hand out to meet the Core’s and shakes it firmly.
“I’m in.”
——————————————————————————
Cliffhanger ending! Surprised? Well, there's not going to be a follow-up to this because I have no ideas or motivation whatsoever so cry about it. (t-bags)
Also I should probably address this. I know it seems a little unlike Anne to act the way she did in this fic, but I wanted to write her in the sense that her anger was causing her to act on an unreasonable scale, to the point where she couldn't even take the advice of her own family, though I apologize if it felt a bit to out of character. I actually based this chapter off of @sonofrose's take on the Corruptianne theory, so go check that out!
Leave your thoughts in a reblog or reply (constructive criticism is welcome) and I'll see you all soon!
TV ANIMATION: Stumpy Stumpson (Amphibia) - Triple Amputee, Prosthetic Arms/Leg User
Stumpy Stumpson is a supporting character in Amphibia. He resides in Wartwood Swamp and is the cook and owner of the restaurant, Stumpy's Diner which is named after himself.
He is a sizable green frog with yellow colored eyes and a white shirt, stained with grease and other stains, and several scars on his body. He possesses an interchangeable hand, usually with a spatula (carved from the bones of his missing hand) in it, but can be swapped for a battle hammer. One of his legs is missing and has been replaced with a piece of wood. He is also usually seen with a crab's leg in his mouth and a greasy chef's hat. [wiki]
So, looking over the Toads of Amphibia, and their lots in life, I realized that Stumpy is probably a Toad, given his build, his height, strength, and those lines across his chin and throat(which we've only seen on Toads and bullfrogs), and his non parted foot.
He also seems to have been a terrible chef, given how before Anne taught him to make Thai food, he served sub par crap as a matter of course.
Which implies one of two things. 1. He became a chef later in life, or 2. His ability to make food went real downhill after losing his arms, and he simply couldn't make the stuff he used to.
Personally think the first.
More specifically, i think Stumpy used to be a Toad soldier(Mayhaps a chef), and it was during that period of his life he attained all his scars. However, once he lost his limbs, and couldn't fight anymore, he was probably tossed out of his caste.
That would explain his complete apathy to most things, his scars, his missing limbs, and why he was so poor that when he lost his hand, he had to carve his prosthesis out of his own bones.
It paints a pretty sad picture of a man that lost everything, and has barely been scraping by, and once more hammers in the fact that the Toad tower system really sucks, given it doesn't even take care of its own thats crippled in the line of duty.
