The Frog and The Beast

The Frog Chapter 15

That golden ball was one of the best things that had ever happened to me. Every time Wendy left for school, I used that magical ball to travel wherever I desired—within the country, of course. My first adventure took me to the most famous restaurants and fast-food joints across the states. Now, I know what you're thinking: how does a frog enjoy food service? It's simple! I order online, instruct the delivery person to leave the food outside, and place the correct amount of money for them to collect. Once they're gone, I swoop in to grab my delicious haul.

I've savored pizza from Chicago, hot dogs from New York, fried chicken from Tennessee, apple pies from the Midwest, roasted pig from Hawaii, barbecue from Texas, ice cream from Maine, fresh fruit from down South, and fresh fish from up North. It was a lifelong dream come true for my taste buds! Of course, I wasn't greedy with my culinary fortune; I made sure to share my takeout with Wendy and Happy. Granted, Wendy thought I was wasting the ball's potential by using it solely for food, but hey, I'm a food connoisseur, and she's a bit of a picky eater, so she just doesn't understand the joy of a diverse menu!

However, my interests extended beyond just food. I also used the ball as a clever way to sneak into baseball games, basketball games, movie theaters, and rock concerts. I once had the incredible opportunity to witness a stunt show, and it was nothing short of exhilarating. The action, the thrills, the heart-pounding car chases, and the breathtaking explosions captivated me completely. Best of all, I experienced it all without spending a single penny—after all, I was just a frog perched in the corner of the audience, soaking in the excitement!

While it was fantastic to explore wherever I wanted, attend all those shows and games, and indulge in delicious food, doing it all alone wasn't much fun. Occasionally, I managed to sneak Wendy into the movies, but getting her into the games or stunt shows was impossible due to assigned seating. Plus, with the baseball and basketball games broadcasted on TV, I knew that if Mom and Dad spotted Wendy, they would start asking questions.

I reached out to Gray a couple of times, inviting him to join me and use his money to get both himself and Wendy in, but the poor guy was too scared about being seen in public. I couldn't blame him, though. Unlike me, he could end up spending the rest of his life in a government facility, subjected to endless probing with needles. Ugh! I hate needles.

After a long time of feeling isolated, I finally decided to take Wendy's advice and join an online support group. I hoped to connect with someone who could understand my situation and be willing to talk. Gray eventually got involved too, thanks to some gentle persuasion from Ur, but he wasn't exactly eager to be friendly at first.

To my surprise, the chatroom turned out to be incredibly helpful. I discovered that people had been slapped with curses and hexes all over. It was comforting to realize that I wasn't entirely alone in my situation.

But it still wasn't enough.I wanted a friend—someone who I could really talk to, not just a name on the computer screen or someone secluded in a grand mansion. I yearned for companionship to explore the outdoors and embark on adventures together.

"Sounds like you need a princess for more than just breaking the spell," Erza remarked during one of her weekly visits. She had been stopping by regularly to check on my progress and to ensure that Minerva wouldn't interfere with my attempts to break the curse.

"I guess," I replied.

"Well, for once, I come bearing good news. I did a bit of research and discovered a loophole. Minerva misspoke when she cast the spell. The original chant goes: 'Protruding eyes, green skin, webbed feet. Small body, long tongue, ugly face, as wretched as slime and mud. Only release him when he wins the love of she who is blessed with royal blood.' But she mistakenly said 'royal grace' instead of 'royal blood' after 'ugly face.'"

"So?" I asked.

"So, that means the princess doesn't have to be of royal blood. She just needs to hold the honor and title of a princess."

"I don't follow."

"Have you ever heard of the homecoming queen or prom queen?"

"Yes, I have."

"Well, if say, there were a homecoming princess or a prom princess, she could break the spell."

"Does that really count?"

"Absolutely, but only as long as she holds that title."

"But there's no homecoming princess or prom princess."

"True, however, there is a concept of a 'princess for a day.' In Wisconsin, they have the Dairy Princess, and in New Orleans, the daughter of the Mardi Gras king is honored as the princess. We just need to identify someone in our area who fits a similar role."

"Like who?"

"Well if I can recall that dance you went to months ago, wasn't there a voting for a princess of Magnolia?"

I paused for a moment, allowing Erza's words to resonate within me. The dance I had attended was truly unforgettable, brimming with laughter, music, and a palpable sense of community. I could still feel the excitement in the air as everyone cast their votes for the Spring Princess—a title that came with a crown, a sash, and a great deal of pride.

"You're right!" I exclaimed, my heart racing with newfound hope. "There was a Spring Princess! It was Lucy! Lucy Heartfilia!...Oh my God, it was Lucy Heartfilia."

Out of all the girls in the world, it just had to be her.

"Then that couldn't be more perfect." Erza said. "She lives right in this town."

"Yes, but one problem: she hates anything slimy, hairy, gross, or ugly. She's almost worse than my mother!"

I recalled a particular year in science class when our teacher brought in various insects, reptiles, and amphibians for us to observe. Lucy had erupted into a screaming fit. Then I remember how she reacted months ago to that seemingly dead bird found on the sidewalk. She called it the most disgusting and creepy thing she had ever seen. So what would she think of me?

"Hmm... That does present a challenge," Erza mused thoughtfully. "But it's nothing we can't overcome."

"What do you mean?" I asked, furrowing his brow.

"Perhaps I could take some steps to ensure she spends more time with you."

"You can't force someone to be my friend," I replied, skepticism lacing his voice.

"Of course not," Erza said with a reassuring smile. "But you can certainly influence someone to consider the possibility."

"I still don't get it."

"Don't worry, Natsu. I have a plan, but first, I need to do some research on Lucy. I want to see if she's truly the right princess for you and how I can help bring you two together. Do you still have that potion I gave you that allows humans to understand you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Great! Hold on to that; you're going to need it." She opened the window to my room, preparing to leave, but paused. "You should probably do some research on her too. Learn about her interests, her likes and dislikes."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

With a snap of her fingers, a magazine materialized in front of me—one of those glossy teen girl publications.

"Check out the articles about the Princess of Magnolia," Erza instructed.

"I'm not reading a chick magazine," I protested.

"Oh, come on, Natsu! This is important! You need to understand what she likes if you want to win her over," Erza insisted, her eyes narrowing in determination. "Plus, it might give you some insight into how to approach her."

I sighed, looking at the magazine skeptically. The cover featured dazzling photos of girls in elegant dresses, smiling brightly with their crowns. It was definitely not my usual reading material, but the thought of breaking this curse pushed me to reconsider.

"Fine," I grumbled, flipping the magazine open. "But you better not tell anyone I looked at this."

Erza chuckled and waved goodbye as she slipped out the window, leaving me alone with my task.