The Lemur Who Would Be King

The Lemur Who Would Be King is the seventh episode of the first season of Veggie Animals.

Plot
In a swamp, a whole host of animals have gathered around, meeting up with a wise old toad named Wartsly, who explains that their swamp does not have a king, ever since their previous one passed away. The other swamp animals are worried about this, especially a frog named Speck, before Wartsly comes up with the solution to finding a new king, by explaining that the candidate likely to become the new king will be "patient, wise, understanding, and with great leadership". Larry is next seen taking a walk through the forest, feeling rather pleased with himself, commenting on the sun shining and the birds singing, thinking that nothing can make him think otherwise. However, he walks near the swamp, when Wartsly and the other swamp animals see him, Wartsly deciding that Larry would make a great king for their swamp. However, the other animals, particularly Speck, don't think that Larry would make a good king, but Wartsly assures them that Larry will be the best king of the swamp, reasoning that "it's not what's on the outside that's important but the inside that counts", before telling some of the other animals to bring Larry to him.

Several frogs, muskrats, and lizards approach Larry, who is taking a little rest, when he notices these creatures approaching him, asking them what they're doing in the forest. Not answering, the frogs, muskrats, and lizards grab Larry by the legs, which causes him to fall backwards, before they pick him up and take him away to the swamp, bringing him to Wartsly. Wartsly greets Larry before introducing himself to Larry and when Larry tells Wartsly his name, Wartsly likes the sound of "King Larry", which Larry is shocked to hear, before Wartsly explains that ever since their previous king passed away, their swamp was without a king, which Speck agrees with. This only makes Larry even more flustered, because his friends are waiting for him, while Speck tells Wartsly that Larry would make a lousy king, but Wartsly remains confident. Bob and Petunia have been waiting for Larry to return from his walk through the forest, but don't see any sign of him. Fortunately for them, Aristotle and Isabella come by, explaining that they saw Larry get taken away by a group of swamp animals, because they want him as their new swamp king, which Bob and Petunia are shocked to hear. Larry has now been outfitted with a crown and a cape, protesting that he's not qualified to be a king, but Wartsly remains unconvinced, while Speck isn't so sure. Bob and Petunia have to find Larry, while Aristotle and Isabella explain to them that the previous king of the swamp was King Dimetrius, but he passed away after an accident. Bob wants Aristotle and Isabella to take him and Petunia to the swamp, which Aristotle agrees to, but not without warning that the swamp residents do not take kindly to strangers, before heading to the swamp.

Larry is even more nervous about the prospect of being king, before Speck comes to him, while Larry wonders how he's going to explain the situation to Bob and the others if he ever gets out of the swamp. When Speck asks Larry about who Bob is, Larry explains to Speck that Bob is his best friend, which Specks comments on, before Larry says that he has to leave because he's not good at being king. Speck says that he tried telling Wartsly that, but Wartsly wouldn't listen to him, thinking that Larry has great potential to be king of the swamp. Larry recalls that Wartsly mentioned about the previous king passing away, which Speck confirms, explaining that the previous king of the swamp was Dimetrius, saying that Dimetrius was a great king to them all, but his reign came to an end after he went to the deep parts of the swamp and was done away with by Strikefang, which Larry shudders in fear about. Larry then asks Speck if Wartsly would have picked someone else to be king, like Speck, which Speck is surprised about, saying that he doesn't have the necessary qualifications to be king, which Larry sympathizes with.

Speck admits that he would love to be the new swamp king, but doesn't think that he's good enough for the job. Because of this, Larry comforts Speck by reminding him that God made us and he loves us in each and every way, and he made us special. When Speck wishes that God would help him feel better about himself, Larry tells him that maybe he can if he remembers to believe in God. Wartsly then shows up, telling Larry that it's time because the other swamp residents are waiting to meet their new king. Larry insists that he's no king, but Wartsly is still convinced that Larry has been selected to act as their new king, which Larry has no choice but to go with. Bob, Petunia, Aristotle, and Isabella arrive at the spot near the swamp where Larry was taken away, before they make their way through the swamp. Larry is still nervous about being king, while Wartsly presents Larry to the other swamp residents, which the crowd is excited about. At the same time this is going on, a magpie by the name of Blacky, has been spying on everything, before he flies off deeper within the swamp and enters a cave where he meets up with an anaconda, who is revealed to be Strikefang, telling him about there being a new king of the swamp.

Strikefang is surprised when he hears this news because he was the one who ate Dimetrius a while back before saying that they have to make sure that the swamp does not have another king, because that would prevent him from eating the rest of the swamp residents. Strikefang comes up with a plan dispose of the new swamp king. Bob, Petunia, Aristotle, and Isabella still travel through the swamp, until they find the crowd of swamp animals, with Larry standing before them nervously. When the group sees that Larry is being presented as the new swamp king, they have to do something to get Larry before he permanently becomes the new swamp king. While Bob, Petunia, Aristotle, and Isabella make their way through the crowd, Wartsly is still giving a coronation about Larry as the new king, saying that they won't have to worry about Strikefang menacing them ever again. However, Blacky shows up, claiming to have a speech that tells about how great their new king is. The other swamp animals and Larry do not realize that this is all a distraction, giving Strikefang a chance to snatch up Larry and take him away, but Aristotle is able to notice Larry getting taken away by Strikefang.

After Blacky has finished his fake speech, Wartsly asks for a few words from Larry, before noticing that Larry is nowhere to be found, which he is confused about. Aristotle then informs all of the swamp animals that Larry has been kidnapped, at the same time that Bob, Petunia, and Isabella tell everyone to stop the coronation. When Wartsly asks Bob who he is, Bob introduces himself, before Speck realizes that Bob is the one that Larry was talking about earlier, which Bob confirms. Petunia asks where Larry is, before Aristotle answers that Larry was taken by Strikefang, which Isabella is horrified to hear, before Bob asks who Strikefang is, with Wartsly answering that Strikefang is the meanest anaconda to to ever lurk through the swamp, adding that he even did away with King Dimetrius, showing them a picture of Dimetrius, who is a beaver. Wartsly even fears that Larry might meet the same fate as Dimetrius did, but Speck, remembering what Larry told him earlier, comes up with a plan to stop Strikefang and save Larry, much to Wartsly's surprise. The crowd begins to make their way to where Strikefang lives, before Petunia and Isabella notice Blacky suspiciously trying to leave, so they capture him before he can even escape.

In Strikefang's lair, Strikefang now has Larry tied up, preparing to eat him, even when Larry tries telling him that he didn't even want to be king anyway. Just as Strikefang is about to eat Larry whole in one bite, Aristotle comes to the rescue by striking Strikefang in the face with his talons, before the other swamp animals swarm into the cave and overtake Strikefang while he is distracted. Bob goes over to Larry, which Larry is happy to see, asking Bob how he found him, with Bob explaining that he and Petunia never would have found where Larry was if Aristotle and Isabella hadn't helped them. When Larry asks where Petunia is, Petunia is able to let Larry know where she is, before she and Isabella show up while carrying the captive Blacky. Wartsly is confused about what Blacky is doing in Strikefang's lair, Petunia explains to him that "a little bird told us", while Isabella further explains that Blacky was responsible for helping Strikefang in capturing Larry, and especially when Strikefang ate Dimetrius, which Wartsly is both shocked and angry to hear, blaming Blacky for working for Strikefang. After Larry has been freed from his bonds, thanks to Aristotle, he is able to face off against Strikefang who has already fought off the other swamp animals. Strikefang taunts Larry by calling him a "cowardly king", but Larry tells him that he's brave enough to face him.

Strikefang prepares to eat Larry again, but this time, Larry gets out of the way before jumping onto Strikefang's back, which causes Strikefang to angrily try and buck Larry off his back, before tumbling out of the cave. Blacky breaks himself free from Petunia and Isabella's grip before flying over to Strikefang in an attempt to help, but by this time, Strikefang still tries to buck Larry off, which causes Larry to get swung around, his tail whacking Blacky so hard that Blacky is sent flying across the swamp, until landing in a nearby tar pit, drowning when he lands in the tar. Larry gets bucked off of Strikefang's back, before Strikefang lunges at him again, but this time, Speck is able to save Larry by jumping into Strikefang's face, distracting him once more. Larry comes up with an idea on how to get rid of Strikefang, as he starts to leap up onto the top of the cave. Strikefang gets Speck off of his face, before Larry calls for Strikefang's attention, as Strikefang starts to menacingly slither up the top of the cave after Larry. Larry comes upon a large rock on the top of the cave, as Strikefang still closes in on him, but just as Strikefang gets close, Larry gets out of the way, so Strikefang ends up swallowing the rock, leaving him with a huge lump inside his belly, before the weight of the rock also causes him to get sent tumbling down the other side of the hill before falling off a cliff.

The rest of the group are worried about if Larry survived Strikefang's wrath or not, before becoming happy when they see Larry come back after having defeated Strikefang. Wartsly is even more impressed by Larry's ingenuity, telling him that he has proven his worth as the new king of the swamp, but Larry turns down his offer to be the new swamp king, which Wartsly is surprised to hear, before Larry tells him that the job of king belongs to someone more suited for the position, like Speck, surprising both Wartsly and Speck. Bob is able to remind Speck that he was the one who led the mission to help save Larry from Strikefang, before Isabella adds that one of the strongest traits of a king is self-esteem. Speck recalls that Larry told him that he needed to believe in himself and God if he was to be a great king, before Isabella quotes "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". Aristotle then reminds Speck that God has plans for him, now that he is to be the new king of the swamp, before Speck decides that he'll do it. Everyone has returned to the center of the swamp, where Larry returns the crown and cape that he was outfitted with to Wartsly, before Wartsly appoints Speck as the new king of the swamp, outfitting him with the crown and the cape. Speck then gives a speech to the other swamp animals, telling that he couldn't have done in without Larry, as well as the inspiration that Larry gave him that helped him understand that he needed to believe in the Lord in order to be a good king. Larry congratulates Speck for having self-esteem in his new position. Later, Bob, Larry, Petunia, Aristotle, and Isabella start to leave for home while saying goodbye to all of the swamp animals. When Petunia asks Larry how it felt to be king, Larry admits that he couldn't handle the pressure being weighed down on him and that he's just happy to be with his friends again, which Bob is happy to hear, before the group continues homeward bound.

Fun Facts

 * The verse quoted is "Jeremiah 29:11".
 * This is the first episode where Aristotle does not quote a Bible verse, as Isabella quotes the verse.
 * The episode's title is taken from "The Man Who Would Be King" written by Rudyard Kipling in 1888, which was adapted into a feature film in 1975.