Plop

It’s true that bringing the golden ball back was nothing more than a strategic move. After all, a frog like him had nothing to lose and everything to gain from the girl who valued nothing.

So he dove, took the ball between webbed hands, and swam back up like his entire life depended on it.

“Take me home,” he said, a royal request to which the girl just groaned.

Then cursed.

Then slipped in an attempt to run away.

The frog had since moved to a different pond.

One that didn’t have a proud princess resting on its chilly bottom.