I was hoping to finish this story on the day of Mardi Gras. Oh well, this chapter was only really meant for Mardi Gras, anyway, and I really doubted I would finish before the week was over. I've always dreamed of going to New Orleans to see the parade; it's so cool!
Enjoy!
~The Epiphany~
Louis's idea was not as outrageous as everyone thought it would be. They stowed away on a steamboat, which happened to be heading towards the port to New Orleans. At this rate, they would get there by the afternoon.
Firefly 5 (minus Louis at the moment) was already on board, so the gator left the gang to practice with the band. Mimi went with him to see the band play, and the raccoon scurried off after her, leaving Evangeline and the frog alone.
"Who knew," Virgil started. "that that gator actually has great ideas?"
"Well, Lou can be resourceful at times," Evangeline said. She glanced around the sailing vessel in awe. "This is incredible. I've never been on a steamboat before."
"Really?" She nodded. "I guess I'm not the only one missing out on the finer things in life. Come on, Angel. I'll show you around."
"What do you know about steamboats?"
"My dad used to sail these babies around." Virgil's expression turned a bit soft as he reminisced about his past. "He'd bring me with him and let me go around wherever I want when I was lil', just as long as I stayed on the ship."
Evangeline grinned at the frog. "Well then, I'd be happy if you'd give me a tour around then."
Virgil showed her the quirks of being on a steamboat. They watched as Louis and the band played their hearts out. Mimi and the raccoon were among the crowd, but they were out of sight. Then Virgil showed her where they steered, where they danced, dined, eveything. When the tour was over, they were lounging on the top of the steamboat, enjoying the view of the sky. Even though it was still light outside, it was still a gorgeous day.
"Wow, Virg. I didn't know a steamboat could be so exciting!" Evangeline said animatedly.
"Virg?" The frog looked at her dubiously.
"What? I can't give you a nickname?"
"Well... it's kinda weird. You usually insult me, or call me bad names, or-"
"Okay, okay. I get it." she snapped at him. "I'm not necessarily the nicest person on the planet."
"Yeah, I kinda fingured that," Virgil said. She frowned at him. "But people see you a lot differently. Everybody's always talking about you like you're so... perfect: you're so nice, you're descended from a royal line, and that boyfriend of yours... you've basically had everything handed to you."
"I'm not perfect." She propped her elbows on her knees and cupped her face. "I may seem that way, but trust me, I had to work real had to get everybody's respect and I'm as imperfect as the next guy. I'm cranky in the mornings, and I'm very meticulous." Virgil pretended he knew what that meant. "Heck, I've never even had a boyfriend! And there are people who still talk about me behind my back, like how I'm mixed because my mother's black and my father's Maldonian. The girls at my school openly point it out, too. Even Thomas used to do it."
"Who?" he inquired with a very curious tone. He clearly didn't like this Thomas guy.
"You know, that 'boyfriend of mine.' He's just some crush, but I highly doubt that he even likes me in that way. He's such a player. I wouldn't be surprised if those rumors of his philandering ways are true." She sighed deeply. "I'm lucky to have a friend like Lydia who's helped me through those troubling times."
Virgil nodded indulgently. He was also lucky to have a friend that help him through troubled times, like his best friend Maurice. He hadn't been the most appreciative friend to him, though. "Yeah, friends like those... they need to be cherished, otherwise, what kind of future could you have..."
"You could have a bright future ahead of you, Virg. Maybe not now because..." She gestured at his froggy form. "If you'd apply yourself more and use that musical potential you have, like dancing, I bet you could've been able to do more than hussle people on the streets."
"I never really thought about that. I'm also not used to compliments." Evangeline laughed. "Huh, I guess we do have a few things in common, Angel."
She grinned at that. "I guess we do. By the way, why do you call me Angel? Is it out of irony or is there some other reason that I can't even fathom?"
Vigirl shrugged. "Well, you can't spell Evangeline without Angel," he said as a matter of fact. She had to give him credit; that was clever. "Also... you're the first girl who's never walked away from me." By the look on her face, he knew he now had her full attention. "When I asked for your help, you didn't walk away or kick me out. When I was human, if I even looked at a girl, they wouldn't give me the time of day. Compared to them, you're a true angel."
Pure empathy and gratitude was written all over her face. "Thanks, Virg. I'm glad I met you. When we get home, I hope we can be friends."
Now discontentment and confusion was written on his face. "Friends? But you have to kiss me so I can be human-"
"I know, Virgil, but... I don't love you." Ouch. Now that hurt. She didn't love him? Why not? What's not to love? "Don't get me wrong, I like you, but not in that way. If I kiss you, it won't mean anything to me."
"It'll mean something to me!" he exclaimed. "It'll mean a lot to me!"
"I know it'll mean a lot to you. You'll be human again, but I just can't..."
It's means more to me than that, Virgil thought, and he was very hurt that she couldn't think of him more than just a friend. "So that's just it? You won't kiss me at all?"
"Don't put me in this position, Virg. I have enough to deal with." She looked up at the sky, which was already starting to lose its blue hue. "It's getting late; we're just about get back to New Orleans." Evangeline stood from her spot and smoothed out her dress. "Let's collect the others."
"You go ahead," Virgil insisted. "I'll catch up with y'all later."
She looked at the frog indecisively, and then left.
Virgil sighed deeply. His feelings were so jumbled up. At first, he thought Evangeline was a real bitch, now... now, she had never looked so sexy. Her eyes were so sensual, and they caught his attention the most. She was also very comical when she wasn't such a stick-in-the-mud. And she was very generous, selfless...
However, he didn't understand was why she was being so difficult. All she had to do was kiss him; it wasn't like they would go all out. One small, chaste peck, probably on the cheek, it didn't even matter. And now it turned out she didn't even have feelings for him. Don't get him wrong, he was glad she didn't hate him anymore, but how was "being just friends" going to work if he stayed a frog for the rest of his life? Would she really gain any other feelings for him if he ever remained what he was? He didn't want to pressure her into doing something she didn't want to, though.
"AH! This is so damn irritating!" He held his face in his webbed hands.
What are you doing to me, Angel?
"Sis, we didn't get them," Aurorette hung her head low, guiltily. Their Friends held firm on the wall, but they weren't as guilty as Aurorette looked. In fact, they were infuriated by the little firefly assault that happened to them the night before. The sisters were going to have to pay for those losses, too, but that was the least of their problems. "They're going back to New Orleans. That's still good, right? We can get to the girl easily this way."
"I suppose so," Selene said, as if she wasn't mad about this information. "But now she knows!" She knocked over the a nearby table, crossly. "Now she knows she has magical potential!"
"But she doesn't even know if she can use her powers. Hell, she doesn't even know we're after her soul! And she has nothing to protect herself with."
"Well, that doesn't really matter, does it?" she snapped. "As long as she has the power, she'll be able to learn how to use it eventually."
Aurorette persisted her apologies, but Selene ignored her sister as she observed a 3D scale model of a steamboat. She heard Evangeline and Virgil's conversation on top of the steamboat's platform. She also saw the look on the little inept frog's face. He had feelings for the girl; maybe this could work to their advantage.
She turned her attention back to her sister. "Forget it Aurorette. We don't need to track her down anymore."
"W-What?" Aurorette gawked at her sister. She was always so unpredictable. "What are you saying, Sis?"
Selene held a wicked smile. "Looks like our little froggy friend is very useful to us after all..."
When the steamboat had finally stopped, everybody met up at the side of the boat on the port. Virgil was the last to show up, but when they saw the downtrodden look on his face, no one said anything about it. Evangeline was especially ignoring him because of the conversation they had on top of the boat.
She hated how he was making her feel so bad about her decision. She couldn't kiss somebody she didn't love, especially a frog. She loved frogs, but not in that way.
I like you, but not in that way.
Not that she thought about it, she did sound a little harsh. It was just one kiss. No harm would be done, right?
"-va! Eva!"
"Huh?" She broke out of her thoughts when Louis's shouts finally came through. "What is it, Lou?"
"I was sayin' we should get back home. Tiana and Naveen are still waiting for us."
"Oh, right." She turned to her other friends. "You guys can come with us if you want."
Mimi and the raccoon happily obliged. Virgil was the only who didn't say anything, but he didn't deny the offer. Evangeline continued to say nothing to him and walked away. Everybody else began to notice the tension between the two, but they continued not to pry.
As soon as they were near the restaurant, Evangeline could see a hoard of people gathered around what looked like a parade float. She ran up closer to see, forgetting about her friends behind her. Once she was close enough, she was finally about to see what the float's exterior. It looked extremely regal. The float itself was red and gold and on top was a stand for the royal family. Behind it was a crown which had a throne underneath for the king. This float was definitely for the Royal Family of the Mardi Gras parade. It was quite a marvel. At the edge of the float, Evangeline immediately recognized her parents and her uncle among the crowd of people. "Mama!" she called. "Daddy!"
The crowd was nice enough to move out of her way so she could get to her family. "Mama! Daddy! Uncle Lucas!" She was finally able to catch their attention.
Naveen, Tiana, and the crowned prince of Maldonia stopped what they were doing and turned to the young woman who's been MIA for the past two days. Their eyes were the size of dinner plates as they took in her appearance. "Evangeline!" they all cried together. They ran and embraced the girl in a tight group hug. They were all asking many questions at the same time, mainly concerned about her condition.
"Never do that to us again." Tiana said finally.
"Yes, you scared us all to death and back!" Naveen exclaimed. He cupped her daughter's face. "If anything were to happen to you, I don't know what I would do." There were tears streaming from his eyes. He hugged her again and she complied, hugging him tighter than before. Evangeline really hated making the people close to her upset; it brought immense pain to her heart. Seeing the tears in her father's eyes was excruciating.
"I'm so sorry," she cried into her father's chest. "I'm so, so sorry. I was just trying to help the restaurant."
"Oh prutta," Naveen released her and held her delicate face again. "You don't to worry about Tiana's Palace. No health inspector can close that place down."
"That's right!" Tiana said. "And even if the restaurant closes down, we're still a family. You and Ray are more important than all the Tiana's Palaces that could open up across the world."
"And we can't have a Mardi Gras parade without the princess herself!" Lucas said.
More tears of happiness began to shed from Evangeline's eyes. "Thank you." She hugged her parents and her uncle again. Then she realized they were surrounded by a crowd.
Her family faced the crowd and Naveen shouted, "The Royal Family is reunited! Let the parade commence!"
Everyone cheered and immediately began to prepare for the celebration.
Meanwhile, Virgil and the gang watched as Evangeline reunited with her family. It was a touching moment. However, it was making the frog very uncomfortable and more somber than he was before. She looked so happy with her family, and when she mentioned the restaurant... he had never felt more guilty in his life. He continued to watch her as her family led her into their apartment. The others watched him dolefully. They knew why he was sad now. And they had a plan.
"Well," Louis said. "I'd best be going. I have to get with the band so we can get ready for the parade."
"Hey, Lou," Virgil said. "Thanks for your help. You're alright."
He smiled. "Yeah, so are you, Virg. Good luck." And then he left.
"I'm going to see chère off," Mimi announced. And then she flew away, leaving the two rivals.
"So, I'm guessing you're going to have to go back to the Bayou, huh, beast?"
"My name is Bruce, ass."
Virgil's mouth went agape as he stared at the raccoon. "Did... Did you just... talk?"
"What, so you're just going to automatically assume that just because I haven't said a single word to anyone in the past few days I'm incapable of communicating with anyone? Are all frogs ignorant, or is it just you? And by the way, I come to New Orleans every year to see the parade. I'm not as much of a 'beast' as you think I am."
Virgil scowled at him. He liked it better when the vermin kept its mouth shut. "I didn't used to be a frog. I was a man."
"A man without any decent morals from what I see," the raccoon said while studying his claws. "I swear, you humans are all alike: clueless."
"What?" Virgil growled.
"You love Evangeline."
"..."
"Stop pretending, idiot. It's incredibly obvious. Well, not to you two oblivious lovebirds, but it's very obvious to the rest of us. Go to her and confess before it's too late. She won't wait for you, you know, and if you two try to come to an understanding, it could work out in the end."
"Don't you think I know that!" the frog cried. "We did try to reach an understanding. On the steamboat, we talked, we laughed... It turns out we have so many things in common, and yet we're so different. We're just two different people from two different worlds." He didn't know why he was coming clean with the raccoon. He hated Bruce, but he seemed like the kind of animal that listened. He hadn't left or fallen asleep yet. He didn't even look bored, so he continued, "She told me she doesn't love me. She won't love me and she never will. So what the hell's the point in trying? I don't want to force her into doing something she doesn't want to and she obviously doesn't want to kiss this!" He gestured to himself. "I might as well go back to the Bayou and practice catching flies!"
"Then why don't you?" Virgil looked at Bruce quizzically. "If you truly mean what you say, why don't you just go back, run away and live life as a pitiful frog?"
"I...! I don't know. I... I can't leave because... I love her."
The light bulb had finally shone. He finally understood.
I love her. I love Evangeline.
"I love Angel." He turned to Bruce. "Thanks for that. You're not so bad for an overgrown rat."
The raccoon put on a crocked smile. "And you're not as dumb as you look." He turned to leave.
Virgil began to follow Bruce to Evangeline's place when suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of him. "What the...!" The demonic shadow grabbed for him but he hopped away in time. He didn't have enough time to dodge the shadow's companion. Bruce had run away long ago when he heard the outbursts. "Let go of me, you bastards! HEY!"
"I'd hold still if I were you," a sinister voice said. "Our Friends won't hesitate to kill anything too... ungainly."
The frog stopped his struggling. He knew that voice. "You...! What the hell do you want?"
"Long time no see, Prince Virgil..."
"Evangeline, you look so beautiful." Tiana complimented her daughter as she brushed her hair. "But wherever you were, it didn't do any favors to your hair."
Evangeline stayed silent as her mother brushed her hair. She couldn't stop thinking about the look on Virgil's face at the port. She'd never seen him look so sad. She knew she caused him to feel that way, but what could she do? She didn't want to kiss him, so he would just have to accept that. Being a frog the rest of your life couldn't be all bad, could it?
The Frog Prince story suddenly came to mind. Her parents were the frogs who were in trouble and they had to work very hard to get up to this point in their lives. But they didn't get turned back until they were married. It was a truly difficult journey for them, but it ended in love and true happiness. To now. Tonight, she was the princess who controlled the fate of the poor unfortunate frog who wasn't exactly a prince, but he had a surreptitious passion inside of him that was indeed regal. Could the same thing that happened to her parents happen to her and Virgil?
She needed advise. She couldn't openly talk about this with her parents or her uncle, but this dilemma was starting to drive her mentally insane. "Mama," Evangeline started.
"Yes?"
"What would you do if someone you care for is in trouble?"
Tiana stopped brushing her daughter's hair and frowned. "What do you mean? Are you in trouble?"
"No, no! It's a general question." She sighed deeply before clarifying her question. "If someone you knew had a problem, someone close, what would you do?"
Her mother sat on her bed and faced her. "Well, I'd do whatever I can to help. If I truly care about this person like I think I do, I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them. Where'd this question come from?"
She shrugged. "I just thought I needed some guidance, is all."
Tiana couldn't read her daughter's face, but she knew that she had a real purpose for asking something like that. It probably had to do with her little escapade, but she didn't want to put a damper on Evangeline's mood. She didn't seem very comfortable talking about that topic when they got home.
The smile returned to her face. "Alright. I'm done with your hair." She set the brush on the dresser. "We'll be waiting for you when you're ready." And then she left her daughter to her thoughts.
"Hey, chère!" Mimi flew in from the window. "The stories are true: Your mother is real beaut!"
Evangeline chuckled sightly. "Yeah, she is." She looked in the mirror on her dresser and made sure everything was intact. Everything looked magnificent: her lush hair, her shimmering white gown with green satin hemming, even her shoes looked stately. The only thing missing was her crown, which was on top of the dresser ready for her to adorn on her head. As soon placed it on her head, she looked at herself in the mirror again. It didn't fit. This look didn't fit her. Only someone dignified and honorable should've worn this tiara, she thought. And it wasn't her. "I can't do this."
"Do what chère?"
"I can't go on that float! I don't derserve to wear this crown!" She threw it on her bed. "How could I just leave Virgil to willow around in his own sadness like that? I'm such a terrible friend."
"Oh, you're not a terrible friend, chère. Just think about what Mama Odie said."
Stop worrying about what's happening around you and look at what's in front of you.
Virgil was one of a kind. When they first met, he was cheap and basically a bum. But now, she saw him in a new light. He could dance and probably sing, and he was funny. When she rejected him, it twisted her heart to see that gloomy look on his face. But there was more than sorrow behind that look. Disappointment. Yearning.
Love.
Could he possibly...?
"Evangeline!" Suddenly, a ball of fur flew out of the window and at the princess. "Evangeline, something has happened!"
She stared at the raccoon. It shouldn't have been a surprise that he was talking, but he hadn't said a word since they met. "What is it?"
"What happened, Bruce?" Mimi said.
"Virgil was taken by the witches!"
Evangeline gasped. Virgil was captured and she was here preparing for Mardi Gras. She put Bruce on the floor and opened her door ajar. Her family was still waiting for her. She couldn't just up and leave like she did before. They would surely follow her, and she didn't want to get them involved in any voodoo bedlam. "I can't leave."
"You're not going to try to help him?" Mimi said incredulously.
"I don't know what to do!" she cried. "I can't leave my family again, and Mardi Gras is..."
"I can't believe you," Bruce said. "I thought you were better than this, Evangeline. You know better than to leave your friends when they're in danger. I know Virgil wouldn't." Evangeline stared at the raccoon. Why didn't he talk more when they were in the Bayou? He sounded like her mother, but her mother did give her good advice. "So, what do you plan to do?"
Evangeline didn't reply. Tearing her gown, she tied them to her bedsheets and hauled her "rope" out of the window. She securely wrapped the end around her bed post and climbed out the window. Once she was down, she called up to her friends, "What are you guys waiting for? We have to save Virgil!" Her friends exchanged glances of success at each other before following the princess to help the captive frog.
Her face was filled with determination, and she wasn't going to stop until she found the little frog.
I'm coming, Virg.
This story is almost done! It's sad, I know, but I think you guys have been waiting long enough for this story to end.
R&R!
