The Frog and The Beast

The Frog Chapter 8

I shared the entire story with Wendy, from what happened at the dance to my unexpected encounter with Erza at school. When she heard everything, her frustration was palpable. She launched into her classic "I told you so" routine. Why do people feel the need to do that?

"I warned you that girl was trouble," Wendy said, her voice rising. "I told you she was some kind of lady predator! But did you listen?"

"Alright, I get it! You were right, and I was wrong! Can we move on already?"

"Sorry, but what are we going to do now?" Wendy replied. "You can't just be a frog! They only live for twelve years, you know?"

"Twelve years?! You mean I'm going to die at 27?!"

"Well, considering you've been transformed into a full-grown frog instead of a tadpole, I'd say you're looking at a lifespan of around 24 or 25."

"I'm way too young to die at that age!"

"No kidding! And how on earth are we going to explain this to Mom and Dad?"

"Oh no! You can't tell them anything about this!"

"But Natsu, they have to know."

"They won't believe you! They can't understand me the way you do. If you tell them or anyone else, they'll think you're crazy. You might end up in a loony bin!"

"Well, what am I supposed to do? I can't just let them think you've gone missing when you really haven't."

"I know it sucks, but there's nothing we can do except... well..."

"Except what?"

"Erza mentioned that the only way I could change back is if I befriend a princess, get her to share her table and her bed with me—whatever the hell that means—and then get her to kiss me when her heart is full of love for me. Or something like that."

"I thought that kind of stuff only happened in fairy tales."

"So did I, but look at me now."

Wendy scooped me up gently in both hands and leaned down, planting a kiss on my slimy head.

"Darn," she murmured, disappointment flickering across her face. "I thought maybe I could change you back, considering I already have a heart full of love for you."

"Thanks, Wendy," I replied, genuinely moved by her gesture. "But it has to be a princess. You wouldn't happen to know one, would you?"

"Not unless you count my princess dolls."

"Erza said she'd try to help me, but I think there's only so much she can do."

"Can we really trust her? You did say she was a witch."

"Yeah, but I think she's a good witch—or at least a reasonable one."

"Well, it looks like I'm heading to the pet store to buy a terrarium."

"A terrarium?" I blinked in disbelief. "I'm not a pet!"

"But you are an amphibian now, and amphibians require specific living conditions. You need water, soil, moss, and... food. Oh dear, what am I going to feed you?"

"What do you mean? Just give me what I usually eat!"

"I'm not sure about that. Can you even handle human food now? Last I checked, frogs primarily feast on flies and insects."

"Look, I may look like a frog on the outside, but inside, I'm still the real me. And the real me doesn't eat flies!"

Wendy sighed, her brows furrowing in thought. "Okay, fine. No flies. But we need to figure something out. What about those gummy worms? They look kind of like flies, right?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "Gummy worms? Really? That's your big plan?"

"Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures! Besides, it's better than nothing.

"Great, so I'm a frog with a sweet tooth living in a glass box now," I said, rolling my eyes. "What a life."

Wendy set me down on the table, her expression shifting from frustration to determination. "Alright, let's brainstorm. If we need to find a princess, we should start looking for places where we might meet one. Maybe there's a local fair or festival coming up?"

"Or a costume party," I suggested, my mind racing. "You know, where people might dress up as royalty. It could be a good opportunity to find someone who fits the bill."

"That's a brilliant idea! We can check the community board at school tomorrow. If there's anything happening, we'll find it."

"But what if we don't find anyone? What if I'm stuck like this forever?" I felt a wave of panic wash over me. The thought of being a frog for the rest of my life was terrifying.

Wendy knelt down beside me, her eyes softening. "Hey, we'll figure this out together. You're not alone in this. We'll find a princess, and I'll make sure you get your kiss. Just think about it—once you're back to normal, you can tell everyone about this wild adventure."

"Yeah, if I survive it," I muttered, feeling a mix of hope and dread.

"Look, let's focus on the positive. You've got me, and we're going to make this work. Plus, you've got some pretty cool frog powers now, right? You can jump really high and—"

"—and I can stick to walls! I guess that's kind of cool," I admitted, trying to find the silver lining.

"Exactly! So, let's use those powers to our advantage. We'll scout out the area for any signs of princesses. And who knows? Maybe one will be enchanted by your froggy charm," she teased, winking at me.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Froggy charm? Is that a thing?"

"Of course! You just have to be yourself—just in a froggy body. And remember, you're still Natsu inside. That's what counts."

"Thanks, Wendy. I really appreciate you standing by me through all this."

"Always," she said, her voice firm. "Now, let's get to work on our plan. We'll start with the community board tomorrow, and in the meantime, I'll get that terrarium and stock up on gummy worms."

As she walked away, a flicker of relief and gratitude washed over me. At least I still had Wendy by my side. I knew she would never abandon me in my time of need; she would do everything in her power to help. Brave kid.

Maybe this whole situation wasn't as hopeless as I thought. With Wendy by my side, I could face whatever challenges lay ahead—even if it meant navigating the strange world of being a frog. And who knows? Maybe I'd find my princess after all.

Oh God did that sound cheesy or what?