Welcome to the story of two epic friends who were having an awesome vacation of their lives...while eventually helped saved the city of New Orleans from certain doom.

HELLOOO! This is the story of me, Joshua Sumter, and one of my friends, Dean Hakim. Now before you jump into the story, you had better learn a few things about it first.

You see, this is technically told through the perspectives of Dean and me in the story of The Princess and the Frog through the literary device known as a 'frame story', earlier known as the story within the story, where a supplemental story is used to help tell the main story.

Maybe these definitions can help you understand:
- Frame Story: a story told within a frame or a story constituting a frame for another story or a series of other stories
- Story within a Story: a literary device in which one character within a narrative narrates.

In other words, our 'frame story' existed in the same setting as the main story, is as told by me in a whole new way as presented by me as the primary narrator. You might see that this re-telling illustrates how changing the point of view can significantly alter a story.

To put it simply, the adventures Dean and I were having along the way begin to coincide with the events of The Princess and the Frog at that point.

In the story, you'll see that Dean and I will run into several scenes from the movie, and actually set a few minor events into motion, because what they don't know is how we really were there, even though they didn't know we were there.

I'm pleased to say that's pretty much everything covered...for now. Anyway, let's go way back to before the beginning...

BEFORE THE BEGINNING

...the beginning to when all the colors has gone out of my life...

So, there I was, waking up in my comfy, lounge, facing the same old morning routine.

Have you ever had one of those days when you felt like you've slept and ate it all? This is one of them.

That's when Dean called and texted me. He, too, felt the same thing.

"Joshua," Dean said, "All the color has gone out of our lives."

"So, I've noticed," I replied, then added, "I got a better idea: let's take a...vacation!"

"Vacation?!" Dean agreed. That idea had the both of us finally feel better as the color had got back on our lives.

"Rest and relaxation!" Dean and I shouted in unison.

Now that Dean and I were thinking the same thing, there was so much had to be done.

We did our packing, but one thing remained: Wondering where we're going on vacation.

At first, Hawaii would be fine with some sun, surf, and miles of sparkling, white sand. Then, California would be a blast with Hollywood and all. The next one was that Dean insisted that we should visit his home in Sylvia. Finally, Rio de Janiero would sound like style, with all the samba music and the partying, so I can bust my epic moves.

Well, wherever we're going, it's going to be fun and because it's got to be whatever miles from home.

Only one thing to decide is...Wheel of Destination!

As Dean and I spin the wheel and waited for it to pick a perfect vacation spot for us, I was filled with excitement.

"Don't keep us in suspense," I cried. "Where are we going on our vacation? Hawaii? Rio? Tokyo, Japan? Or will it simply be a luxury cruise?"

I thought it was going to be those places on the Wheel of Destination. Well, guess what? I was wrong!

Because the Wheel stopped spinning and it picked the absolute, utmost guessed answer: NEW ORLEANS.

Dean and I fainted dead away, because we were expecting someplace luxurious and full of epic paradise, but New Orleans?

I would've tried to contain my excitement.

And so, just like that, it was suddenly time to say goodbye. Ho-hum.

Don't get me wrong, New Orleans ain't all that bad. Aside from the jazz music, swampy bayous, second-rate food, riverboats, and a big celebration called "Mardi Gras", it's kinda fun.

Then, I remembered something. I had a penpal who lived there. A penpal named Tiana. I haven't received any letters from her in a very long time. So, I decided that we should go to New Orleans for our vacation, and I kinda want to find out what Tiana's been doing the whole time.

And so, with high spirits, Dean and I boldly ventured off where no one has ever dared to go before.

Later, we find ourselves in the middle of the ocean, where we were caught in a furious rainstorm.

"Keep your eye on the horizon!" I shouted.

"I can't find the horizon," Dean shouted back.

We thought it was over...until a big water splashed us over! Soon, the two of us just couldn't keep our eyes open. Slowly, we feel asleep.

While we slept, our boat drifted with the calm waves making its way to wherever it would take us.

In broad daylight, we woke up at once, for the boat no longer seemed to be rocking. Dean and I lifted our heads.

"Well, too bad we never found the place-," I said as Dean and I looked around, blinked, and then looked again, but then we gazed at what we finally found.

"I think we gave up too soon, bud," Dean cried.

"Is it...?" Joshua cried, "It's..."

"It's...it's...it's NEW ORLEANS!" Dean and I really cried out together, excitedly.

We tumbled out of the boat and began cheering.

"Let's celebrate!" Dean said.

"Well, the next thing to do is to get our luggage," I said.

Before we knew it, we settled down to our own motel room, already unpacked our bags, relaxed on separate beds for a bit, and were ready to explore New Orleans.

"Exploring sounds like fun," Dean replied. "We're really going through with this vacation."

"Yep," I agreed.