The Frog and The Beast

The Frog Chapter 14

Wendy was starting to worry about me again. This time, her concern was that I might slip into a depression, given that all I seemed to do was eat and watch television. I had to admit, it wasn't the healthiest routine, but what else could I do? I'm a frog.

"You want me to join a what?" I asked, bewildered.

"A support group," she replied. "It's an online chat room for people in situations similar to yours."

"Wendy, chat rooms are basically playgrounds for predators."

"Erza recommended it."

"When did you talk to Erza?"

"She called the house last night and suggested a few things that might help you. She sounded really nice."

"And she thinks some online support group will actually help me?"

"You need to talk to someone about this, and they don't have therapists for frogs."

"What else did she suggest?"

"She mentioned using that magic golden ball she gave you to travel around and see new places."

Oh, right! I had forgotten about that. I glanced at the golden sphere resting on my desk, its surface glinting in the soft light of my room. "Traveling, huh? Sounds great, but where exactly would I go? I mean, I'm still a frog. What am I supposed to do, hop around tourist attractions?"

Wendy shrugged, her expression earnest. "You could find places where frogs are celebrated! Maybe there are festivals or events that honor amphibians. You might even meet other frogs who have gone through similar experiences."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You really think there's a festival for frogs? What would that even look like? A bunch of frogs sitting around discussing their existential crises?"

"Okay, maybe that is a bit far-fetched," she admitted. "Ooo... I got it! You know you always wanted to go to Maui. That's where Mom and Dad got married and spent their honeymoon."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. "Maui? A tropical paradise filled with sun, sand, and surf? Sounds ideal."

"You could explore the lush rainforests, hop around the volcanic landscapes, and maybe even find a nice pond to relax in. Plus, you could meet other frogs who might be vacationing there too!"

"Right, because I'm sure there's a thriving frog tourism industry," I replied, half-joking. "But it wouldn't be much fun if I were doing that alone. Sure, I've always wanted to go there, but I wanted to go with you, Mom, Dad, and Happy."

"Natsu, what would Happy do in Maui? Cats hate the ocean, and he'd probably mistake the beach for a giant litter box."

I laughed at the image of Happy trying to navigate the beach, his little paws sinking into the sand. "You're right; he wouldn't last five minutes before trying to dig a hole. But still, it would be nice to have the whole family there, enjoying the sun and the waves together."

"Well, Mom and Dad can't go for obvious reasons, but maybe I could. Can that ball transport two people?"

"I don't know. It did send me and Happy home the first time I used it."

Wendy's eyes lit up with excitement. "Then we should definitely try it! Just think about it—Maui, just the two of us. We could explore, relax, and maybe even find some frog-friendly spots."

"Alright. You've talked me into it. Let's go."

I hopped onto my desk and grabbed the ball.

"Wait! Shouldn't we pack first?" Wendy asked.