| (A twist on The Frog Prince) by Molly P. Once upon a time in a faraway land, there lived a young girl named Sophia Rochelle Anna Bylivia Quenton -- Sophie for short.  She was a princess. And she was a brat.  Her parents gave her everything -- toys and candy and pretty frocks, the finest in the land. She had no siblings, so she never had to share. Her closest friend in the world was her hired companion and maid, Loretta, a girl about Sophie’s age. Loretta didn’t really care for Sophie, but she performed her duties accordingly. Loretta would often accompany Sophie out-of-doors for walks in the woods just beyond the castle walls. One of the king’s men would follow them on horseback to protect Sophie, in case any harm should befall her. * * * For her tenth birthday, a prince from another kingdom sent Sophie a golden ball. Sophie’s parents admired the ball for its beauty. “May I take it outside and play with it?” Sophie asked. “Play with it, indeed!” her father exclaimed. “The very idea!” said her mother. “But mother, I could toss it in the air and--” “This ball is not a toy,” said her father. “It is an antique, and as such, it will be placed in the royal museum.” “But father--” The king frowned. “Oh, darling, don’t be angry. If it is a ball you seek, I shall send for one. Would you like deerskin or--” “I want a golden ball. That one!” Sophie was used to getting her way, and it did not please her to see her parents denying her this present. But she said no more just then. * * * “Loretta,” she said to her companion, later that evening. “Mother and Father are going to put my ball in the royal museum. You must help me get it!” “But-- but--” Loretta stammered. “I’ll get in trouble!” “Better you than me!” replied Sophie. “You must do it, or I will have you sent away.” That night, under the cloak of darkness, the girls proceeded to make their way to the museum, where the golden ball now resided.  “We really shouldn’t do this!” Loretta whispered. “We’re going to get caught!” “Don’t be such a child, Loretta... that’s my ball, and I want it back. Now pick it up and follow me back to my chambers at once!” With shaking hands, Loretta removed the ball from its velvet-covered pedestal and tiptoed out of the room, close behind Sophie. When they were back in Sophie’s room, Sophie hid the ball under her bed and told Loretta they would take it out in the morning to play with it. “But what about your father’s horseman, the one who always accompanies us outside?" said Loretta. "He’ll surely see the ball, and he’ll tell your father, and--” “We’ll go out at dawn, then,” said Sophie. “If anyone asks, later, I’ll say I couldn’t sleep and that I needed some exercise. I’ll say I didn’t want to wake the horseman so early, so we went without him.” “But it could be dangerous. What if there are bandits in the forest?” “Bandits are not early risers, Loretta! Don’t you know anything?” Loretta, who had never had the luxury of a tutor, had to admit that perhaps Sophie knew more about bandits than she did. * * * As the first rays of sunlight were peeking in Sophie’s window, Sophie jumped out of bed and went to awaken Loretta. “It’s time,” she said. “Help me dress.” When the girls were both dressed, Sophie tucked the ball under her arm and led the way out the door, down the steps, and out one of the side doors. On their way out of the castle, they saw several servants, but managed to sneak past them all without being seen. They made it to the forest in a short time and walked until they found a clearing. “This is just the place!” said Sophie. “Here we can play.” “What are we going to play?” asked Loretta, who had been involved in many strange games with Sophie over the years -- games where Sophie made up the rules and would change them mid-game to ensure a win. “I’ll throw the ball to you, and you throw it back to me,” said Sophie. “The first person who fails to catch it is an ogre!” Sophie threw the ball to Loretta, who caught it easily. Loretta returned it. On her next throw, Sophie purposely threw the ball to Loretta rather wildly. Loretta strained to catch it, but it merely brushed her fingertips. It hit the ground and began to roll down a slope. “Ogre!” Sophie cried, laughing. “Go get the ball, ogre.” Loretta turned and began pursuing the ball, which was picking up speed as it continued down the slope. It wasn’t easy to run in between trees, especially in the shoes she was wearing. Loretta could hear Sophie yelling, “Get it! Get it, before it goes into the brook!” The brook! thought Loretta with dismay. She knew the brook ran along these parts, but she hoped the ball would be stopped by a tree root or a shrub before it reached the water. Loretta wasn't fond of water, yet she had a feeling Sophie would demand that her maid retrieve it from any body of water, lest Sophie get her royal self wet. As luck would have it, the ball did not get stopped by anything, and proceeded to land not only in the brook, but in a particularly deep section of the brook that could best be described as a small pond. It was about twenty feet across, and at least three feet deep. Loretta watched in horror as the ball plopped into the water, bobbed at the surface for a few seconds, and then sank.  She froze. “Loretta, did you get it?” Sophie’s shrieking voice echoed among the trees. “Just a moment!” Loretta called back. She did not want to have to go in after the ball. But what choice did she have? She fervently wished the water to be shallow as she removed her slippers and stepped into the icy, murky water. “You know,” said a voice, “I don’t mind getting my feet wet....” Loretta was so startled, she nearly fell face-first into the water. “Who said that?” “I did. My name’s Leo.” “Where are you?” she asked, looking around her but seeing no one. “Just sitting here on this incredibly comfortably lily pad.” Loretta looked down and finally spotted the speaker. “Oh my... you’re -- a -- frog!” “You’re observant.” “But how --? How can you be talking?” “Voice... brain... they all come together. You didn’t really think ribbit ribbit was the only thing frogs could say, did you? I mean, that gets old after a while.” “I suppose it would,” said Loretta, pressing a hand over her heart to relieve the shock she was feeling. “I beg your pardon -- what were you saying about getting your feet wet?” “Oh,” said Leo, “your ball... I could get it for you. No problem. No problem at all.” “Oh, thank you!” cried Loretta. “Thank you so much.” “I could get it,” Leo continued. “For a price.” “I’m afraid I have no money,” Loretta said. “Surely you jest. A girl with a golden ball -- your family must be quite wealthy.” “The ball isn’t mine,” Loretta admitted. “It belongs to -- well, I guess it belongs to the king and queen. We sort of -- took it.” “Oooh, naughty,” said the frog. “Please,” said Loretta, “you must help me. If I don’t get that ball back, the princess will be angry, and when the king and queen find out the ball is missing from their museum, they’ll -- oh, I don’t know what they’ll do -- but I must get it back!” “The princess, eh?” said Leo. “You mean that girl at the top of the hill who I heard yelling a moment ago?” “Yes.” “Perfect! How about this, then? I will retrieve the ball if you promise to bring me to the princess.” “Bring you -- to her? Are you sure?” “If she’s a princess, then I would love to meet her.” “I’m not sure how well she will take to a frog,” Loretta said, slowly, “but I can certainly keep up my end of the bargain.” “Very well,” said the frog, and he dove into the water. A few seconds later, he emerged, clutching the ball. “Here you are,” he said. “Now please, take me to this princess.” With the ball tucked under one arm and the frog perched on her shoulder, Loretta made her way back up the hill to where Sophie was waiting. “What took you so long?” Sophie demanded, as she caught her first glimpse of Loretta returning. “It’s time to return to the castle. Breakfast will be served any minute, and if mother and father realize that I’ve -- aughh!” she screamed. “What is that!?” “This is a frog. His name’s Leo. Your ball fell into the water, but Leo went in after it and--” “That is the most revolting frog I’ve ever seen in my life!” Sophie cried. “And I’ve met more attractive princesses,” said Leo. “But then, I’ve seen worse.” Sophie gasped. “It -- I -- I heard it speak.” “Now that you two have met,” said Loretta, setting Leo on the ground. “I think we'd best be hurrying back to the castle, Princess.” “Now, wait a minute!” said Leo. “I said I wanted you to bring me to the princess. You’ve done that. But now I want a little something from the princess.” “What?” cried Sophie. “Well, it was your ball I saved, wasn’t it? So by my calculations, you owe me a favor.” “Favor? You’re lucky I don’t have the nerve to step on you and squash you!” “You could very well do that, but then who will retrieve your precious golden ball the next time it rolls into the water?” “There won’t be a next time!” Sophie said. “I’m going to put this ball back in the museum and never touch it again!” “Take me with you,” said the frog. “What? No!” “Do it,” said the frog. “That’s how you can repay me. Take me back to the castle to live with you.” “You are vile!” Sophie yelled. “Please, Leo,” Loretta said. “Haven’t I kept up my end of the bargain? Can’t we just part ways?” “I love living in castles!” “Never!” shrieked Sophie. “Loretta, we must go! Now!” “Leave now,” said the frog, “and I will follow you. I’ll follow you right back into the castle, and I will tell your father that you stole the golden ball from the museum and let it roll into the pond!” “He’d never believe you!” Sophie challenged. “Wouldn’t he? He probably wouldn’t believe a frog could talk, either, but once he sees it with his own eyes, he’ll have to believe.” “No, please -- please, just go away.” “Take me to the castle on your own accord,” said the frog, “and I vow not to tell the king anything I have seen today.” “I don’t take orders -- especially from a frog!” Sophie declared. “Sophie, we must go!” Loretta hissed. “Look how high the sun is in the sky. Surely your parents must know by now that you are gone -- they’ll send out search parties -- they’ll see us with the ball!” “Let us go, then,” said Sophie. “I’ll carry the ball, you carry the creature.” Smiling, Leo let himself be scooped up by Loretta, and the girls made their way back to the castle as quickly as they could. * * * The castle was in an uproar over the missing princess. The girls could sense it before they even approached the doors. Bugles sounded and horses whinnied loudly. Men were shouting. “Here,” said the princess to Loretta, “you take the ball and try to sneak it back up to my room... I’ll enter a few moments before you, and with any luck, they’ll give me all the attention, and they won’t even notice you -- or that ridiculous frog.” The plan did not go according to Sophie’s wishes, however. While more attention was paid to Sophie upon her return, Loretta did not go unnoticed. She had nearly made it to the princess’s chambers when she was stopped by one of the king’s men. “You there!” he cried. “What are you doing with that?” Leo, sensing danger, quickly hopped out of Loretta’s arms and hid among the shadows. Loretta froze in her tracks, trying to conceal the ball... but it was useless. It had been seen. “Is that the golden ball that was stolen from the king’s own museum last night? It is! What on earth are you doing with it? Think you can take the king’s possessions, do you? You’ll regret this, dearie.” With that, the man grabbed the ball with one hand and Loretta’s arm with another.  “You’re the princess’s servant, aren’t you?” the man said. “Might you have had anything to do with her disappearance?” “She has returned,” Loretta said meekly. “Only minutes ago.” “Indeed? Well, you can hope she vouches for you, you little thief... but it isn’t likely. I saw the way she looked at this ball last night... when she finds out you took it, she won’t want you for a servant any longer, I’m sure of that!” “Please -- where are you taking me?” Loretta cried, as the man roughly dragged her down the hall. “Where do you think?” he said. Minutes later, alone in a dank cell in the castle dungeon, Loretta pulled her knees to her chest and began to cry. * * * “I’m so glad you’re safe!” the king told his daughter, as he held her close. “We had no idea what had happened to you. And with the ball being stolen -- we feared you’d been kidnapped by whoever took it!”  “The ball?” Sophie said innocently. “Yes -- I’m sorry, my darling -- the golden ball you received for your birthday -- it has been stolen.” “Oh!” Sophie cried. “You mean more to me than the ball,” said the king. “It brings me great joy to see your safe return. Where were you?” “I went out for a walk,” Sophie answered. “And -- I got a little lost.” “You went out for a walk -- by yourself?” “Yes. I suppose that was rather foolish of me.” “Yes, indeed! You are too young to go out alone!” “I didn’t want to wake--” “Never concern yourself with whether or not your servants want to wake or not. Their job is to serve you when you want to be served. Is that understood?” “Yes, Father.” “We've been unable to find your little maid, Loretta. When we found that you were missing, we went to look for her, and she wasn’t in her room.” “M-maybe she woke and saw that I was gone and went to find me.” “Yes, you’re probably right. I hope she returns soon. You must be hungry... come.” While the princess was having her breakfast, a messenger came to deliver an urgent message to the king: “We have caught the princess’s little servant girl -- with the golden ball. We await your command for how to deal with her.” The king gasped. “That girl has been my daughter’s companion since they were four years old -- surely there has been a mistake!” “It was your man Sterling who caught her, Sire.” “Send Sterling at once!” Sterling was fetched, and he confirmed the message. “I saw the girl myself,” he said. “Holding the ball.” Sophie had not missed a word of this conversation. She looked down at her plate and ate her breakfast in silence. * * * That night, the king had a very strange dream. Someone was speaking to him in the dream, telling him that his daughter was a liar, that Loretta was not a thief, and that frogs were the most miraculous creatures on the face of the earth. His dream may have had something to do with the fact that Leo had made his way into the king’s chambers, had hopped up on the pillow, and was whispering these statements into the king’s ear. And when the king woke up the next morning, Leo was still there. “Great shades of King George the first!” the king cried, nearly falling out of bed. “There’s a frog on my pillow! But frogs are the most miraculous creatures on the face of the earth, so I suppose I shouldn’t mind....” “Good morning,” said the frog. “You can talk!” “Henry, who are you talking to?” the queen mumbled. “Nobody, my dear... nobody. Just -- that is, I’m talking to myself.” “Well, do stop it, please... you sound like a madman.” “Oh yes, of course.” The king threw back the covers, slid out of bed, and made his way into the next room. “I must be going mad!” Leo hopped off the bed and followed the king into the sitting room. “I wouldn’t say that, Sire. But I do hope you’ll have the wisdom to listen to what I have to say.” The king sat down and stared at the frog for a few moments, then closed his eyes. “I’m insane! I knew this day would come.”  “You’re not insane, but if I could just have a few minutes of your time....” “Oh, what do I have to lose?” said the king. “Besides my mind. Go on, then -- say whatever it is you need to say, and be gone with you.” “I vowed I wouldn’t tell you what I’m about to tell you, but I can’t let an innocent girl be punished for a crime she didn’t commit. It’s your daughter, Sire. She hasn’t told you the whole truth about what happened yesterday. Loretta wasn’t trying to steal the ball. Your daughter and Loretta took the ball outside, together. The princess wanted to play with it. It got away from them, and then -- well, that’s where I came in.” “You’ve -- you’ve spoken to my daughter?” “Yes, indeed. Not the nicest of experiences I’ve had lately, if you’ll beg my pardon -- but we did speak. She agreed to bring me here to the castle. I‘d like to live here.” “Why would you want to live in a castle? You’re a frog.” “Yes, but I wasn’t always a frog. I was once a prince.” “Ha!” “It’s true. I was cursed, you see -- and turned into a frog. My only hope is to receive a kiss from a princess.” “No daughter of mine is going to be courting a frog!” the king said, a bit too loudly. In the next room, his wife woke again, and came to see what all the yelling was about. “Henry...?” “That’s my wife!” said the king. “Quick -- hide.” “Will you promise to pardon Loretta? She did no wrong.” “Yes, yes,” said the king. “The ball’s been recovered, no harm there I suppose. Now hide.” “And will you allow me to remain here, as one of your guests?” “Yes, fine, fine. But no kissing my daughter, do you hear?” * * * Later that very morning, Loretta was released from the dungeon. Tear-streaked and dirty, she was escorted to her room. After cleaning herself up, she began to pack up what few possessions she owned. “Loretta?” Sophie had entered the room. “I heard you were released.” “I could have been released yesterday,” said Loretta, “if you’d just told your father what really happened.” “I did!” Sophie lied. “That is why he released you.” “Lies!” cried Loretta. “It was the frog who told your father the truth -- he came to see me right before they let me go, and he told me everything... how you had lied, how he convinced your father of the truth....” “Why are you packing your things?” “I’m leaving, that’s why. I’m going to return to the village to live with my relatives.” “I won’t let you.” “I’ve already asked for permission from your father, and he gave it. Goodbye, Princess.” * * * As soon as Loretta was gone, Sophie went straight to her father. “Father, how could you allow Loretta to go? She was my companion -- who will keep me company, now?” “You’re old enough to amuse yourself,” the king stated. “You’ve proven to me that you don’t deserve to have a companion. If you can not exhibit loyalty to those you call your friends, you deserve to have no friends at all.”  “Please, father -- I’ll get so lonely, I don’t know what I’ll do! I must have someone.” “Well, if you insist -- there is someone who has agreed to be your companion, no matter how disloyal you are.” “Who?” “Sophie, meet Leo.” * * * At her father’s orders, Sophie kept Leo as a pet from that day forward. Leo ate food straight from the castle kitchens, he slept on a pillow at the foot of Sophie’s bed, and at night, while Sophie was trying to fall asleep, Leo would babble about this and that for hours on end until Sophie would get fed up and throw a slipper at him and knock him off the pillow. “Father,” said Sophie one day, when she was just shy of her thirteenth birthday. “How long do frogs live?” “If you’re referring to Leo,” said her father, “I don’t know. He’s very special.” “How special can he possibly be? Loretta found him on a lilypad just like any ordinary frog.” “He can talk, can’t he?” “Perhaps he’s a demon frog.” “Don’t be silly... he’s not a demon.” “Then why can he talk?” “It’s a long story, and I’m sure he’d be happy to enlighten you someday, but for now... don’t let it worry you. Why are you just now asking me how long frogs live?” “Because,” said Sophie, sighing, “I was sure he’d be dead by now.” Dead he was not, and the older Sophie got, the more attached she grew to Leo. He was a bother, but he was also quite interesting and he could be very funny and sweet. And having a talking frog, Sophie decided, was better than having no companion at all. * * * Sophie’s sixteenth birthday was rapidly approaching, and she was to have a party in her honor -- a bigger party than ever before, as this birthday was a milestone of sorts. “Mother,” she asked one day, “Is it true that I can invite anyone to my party?” “So long as it’s not that frog,” said her mother. The queen had never heard the frog speak, and could never understand why her husband had let their daughter keep such a pet. “No, Mother, I don’t mean my frog... I mean someone from the village.” “Who?” “Loretta -- my childhood companion. I haven’t seen her in so long. I know I wronged her when we were children, but I’m sure she has forgiven me by now -- and I do long to see her again.” “Write her a letter,” her mother suggested, “and invite her. We can have it delivered to her this afternoon. The worst she can do is decline.” “I suppose,” said Sophie, and she went off to pen an invitation to her old companion. * * * “So you invited Loretta to the party,” Leo said to Sophie as she was attempting to fall asleep that night. “How did you know?” “I was there,” said Leo. “You eavesdropped?” “More or less.” “Leo, we really need to work on your manners.” “I couldn’t help it! Look, I think it’s really nice that you’ve invited her, but I doubt she’ll come.” “Why wouldn’t she?” “Because of you, Princess, she spent the night in the dungeon!” “How bad could that be, really, I mean...” “There are rats down there.” “Rats?” “Rats, vermin, bugs. And imagine, she was just a little girl, then.” “So was I! And I made a mistake, all right? I was afraid of getting in trouble, so I... but... well, I’m sorry. And what do you care, anyway? You not only got your wish to come to the castle, but you’ve been my pet for the last six years. My pet. A talking frog. You’ve gotten the best food, warmth, every need taken care of... so could you just leave the past alone? I don’t sit around reminding you of all your past mistakes.” The frog was silent. “You don’t even have an inkling of my past mistakes,” he said, finally. “See? You have made mistakes. And how would you feel if someone constantly reminded you of them?” “I think I know exactly how it feels!” he croaked. Sophie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Leo... you sounded... almost like a frog just now.” “Isn’t that what I am?” he said dryly. “Sure, you look like a frog -- but you’ve never sounded like one before.” “I am what I am,” he said, before emitting a loud ribbit. “Leo!” “Rib-what?” “Stop making frog sounds, it’s undignified.” “I can’t help it!” he said. “You always could, before.” “I know. But now... well... I’m tired, that’s all. Goodnight, Sophie.” A few years ago, Sophie had hoped the frog would die -- and now that Leo was starting to sound a little odd, the fear of her frog’s death weighed on her mind like a thousand sacks of rocks. * * * The princess’s sixteenth birthday arrived, and the whole castle was in a stir. There was to be a banquet, and afterwards, dancing. Sophie could hardly wait for the festivities to begin. Loretta had sent back word that she would be delighted to attend the dinner and party. That evening, as Sophie was getting dressed, she noticed that it was very quiet in the next room. Leo was known to chatter on constantly, and yet he wasn’t saying a word. “Leo?” called Sophie. “Are you there?” “Yes, Sophie.” “You’re so quiet tonight. Are you all right?” “I’ll be all right, don’t worry about me.” Just then, Sophie’s maid, Eldra, knocked on the door. She had come to fix Sophie’s hair. After she was finished, Sophie bid good-bye to Leo and made her way to the great hall, where most of the guests had already assembled. “Good evening,” she greeted her guests. She nodded at Loretta, who smiled back. “Thank you for coming.” Dinner seemed to fly by, and soon it was time for dancing. A prince from a neighboring country had made the trek in time for the party, and would be staying at the castle for several weeks. His name was Pierre, and he was five years older than Sophie -- and quite handsome.  “May I have this dance?” Pierre asked, the moment Sophie stepped into the ballroom. He held out his hand, and she took it, smiling. The two of them waltzed across the ballroom floor. Sophie had never had so much fun. She was attracted to Pierre, and as he walked her off the dance floor, she turned to him and smiled. “You know I’m going to be staying here for the next few weeks,” said Pierre. “I hope that in that time you and I can get to know each other better. You are extraordinarily beautiful.” Sophie blushed. “Please forgive me for being so bold,” Pierre continued, “but am I correct that you do not have a -- I mean, that you aren’t engaged or--” “Oh, no!” said Sophie, laughing. “Wonderful.” * * * The weeks passed, and Sophie and Pierre grew closer and closer. On the morning he was to leave, Pierre asked Sophie if he might kiss her. “Yes,” Sophie answered. She closed her eyes. Pierre leaned toward her.  At that instant, there was a loud ribbit as something flew through the air and came between the couple. “What on earth!?” cried Pierre. His eyes flew open. “What was that?” Leo was now standing by Pierre’s boot. “Try and touch her again,” said Leo, “and the -- ribbit -- new delicacy where you -- ribbit -- come from will be Pierre legs!” Pierre, who had never met Leo before, much less a talking frog, proceeded to faint dead away.  “Oh, Leo!” Sophie cried. “How could you?” “How could I!?” Leo shot back. “Ever since he came, you’ve barely spoken two words to me.” “He’s my beau -- you’re my... my pet!” “But I love you!“ Leo cried. Sophie burst into tears. “Leo, I can’t love you. You’re a frog!” “On the outside, maybe -- but that’s not all I am!” Sophie looked down at the lifeless-looking form of Pierre. “Leo, please --” Leo looked at him too. “Do you love him?” he asked. “Leo, I --” “Forget -- ribbit -- it,” he said, sighing. “I’m sorry I disturbed you two. I’ll be going back to the pond.” “Back to the pond!? But why? I thought you liked it here!” “I came here because I needed you. I needed you to help me become more than -- than this. Originally I was going to find some way to trick you into helping me, but the more time I -- ribbit -- spent with you, the more I realized that beneath your spoiled-brat exterior, there was really something special there. Someone who listened. Someone who really cared.” “How can I help you?” Sophie asked. “It doesn’t matter anymore,” Leo said quietly. “It just doesn’t -- ribbit -- matter.” Sadly, Sophie watched Leo hop away. Then she set about trying to revive Pierre. He slowly came to. “What happened?” he asked. “You fell... I think you’ll be all right, though.” “Fell? Fell!? I remember what happened, now. There was a frog! He talked to me. I mean, he actually spoke! What kind of place is this, you allowing reptiles to roam free!?” “He’s not a rep--” “I don’t care what he is, we must find him and destroy him!” “Pierre, calm down!” “He insulted me! I won’t stand for that.” “Pierre, it’s time for you to go... your men are waiting with your coach... please, concern yourself with this matter no more.” Pierre looked around wildly, like he expected hordes of frogs to fling themselves at him from all directions. “Good-bye, Pierre.” Pierre softened. He squeezed Sophie’s hand. “Goodbye, Princess. I look forward to our next meeting.” * * * As soon as Pierre’s convoy was out of sight, Sophie hurried upstairs to her chamber. “Leo!” she called. “Leo, are you here?” But there was no reply from Leo, for he was not there. Back to the pond. He said he’s going back to the pond. Sophie set out to find him. It had been years since Sophie had been to the part of the forest where she’d lost the golden ball that fateful morning. But she vaguely remembered the path she and Loretta had taken, and managed to find a place that looked familiar. Was this where she and Loretta had played with the ball? She made her way down the hill, toward the brook. She’d never been down here before -- Loretta had gone after the ball that day. Twigs snapped beneath her shoes, startling her. She prayed she would not slip and roll down the hill. She came to the water’s edge and stood there for a moment, trying to collect her breath. Then she called out Leo’s name. There was no answer. “Leo, please -- if you’re here, answer me. I’m sorry about everything! I’m sorry for ignoring you these past few weeks, and not appreciating you more. Please, don’t be mad at me -- come back to the castle. You’re my best friend, Leo -- please.” But all she could hear were the birds of the forest chirping and the water gurgling before her. A tear slipped down her cheek as she trudged back up the hill. “Oh, Leo,” she said aloud, “What have I done?” She had just made it to the edge of the forest when she heard a familiar sound. “Leo?” A pathetic ribbit sounded. She looked down and saw Leo lying amongst the dead leaves of the forest floor. She gasped and fell to her knees.  “What happened? Oh, Leo... Leo, are you--” “This body is giving out," he said. "I couldn't even make it to the pond." “Oh, Leo, I’m taking you back to the castle. Perhaps Father’s physician can help you.” “It’s no use,” he said. “I’ve lived much longer than a frog should, as it is.” “But you’re only a frog on the outside,” Sophie argued. “You told me as much. You’re so much more than just a frog. You can’t die!” “I’m afraid you won’t be getting your way this time, Princess,” Leo said quietly. Sophie watched as Leo seemed to relax amongst the leaves. “Oh, Leo,” she sobbed. “Don’t go.” She laid down on the ground, her face just inches from Leo’s body. He looked so peaceful lying there, he just couldn’t be.... Without thinking, she moved her head toward Leo and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. Then she rolled over onto her side, facing away from Leo, and let the leaves absorb her flood of tears. “Sophie?” said a voice. “Leo?” Sophie said. “You’re -- not dead?” “Not hardly,” said Leo. “But uh.. don’t look at me right now -- I’m kind of not wearing anything.”  “Why should you wear anything?” she asked. “You’ve never worn anything bef-- oh, my word! Who are -- what are -- WHAT ON EARTH JUST HAPPENED?” “Your kiss broke the curse,” said Leo. “But please, hand me that fern leaf over there or something.” “Oh, here,” she said, quickly, trying without success not to look at his fine form as she gave him the leaf. “I told you I was more than just a frog,” he said. “You’re a man!” “Yes, though this is all a bit new to me, too... I mean, when I was first cursed, I was only fourteen, and now --” He shook his head. “I went through puberty as an amphibian.” “I don’t believe this,” Sophie said. “You’re a man.” “Not just a man," he said. "I am a prince." “Then you and I can get ma-- I mean, we can --” “We can do this,” said Leo, leaning forward to kiss Sophie.  After they parted, Sophie said, “I must bring you back to the castle to meet my parents -- I mean really meet them... not as a frog.” “Mind if we get me some clothes first?” So she did.  And Leo and Sophie lived happily ever after.  Well, more or less. |