Okay, we're nearing the end. Finally! Thanks for reviewing, Silver Writer 0927, Alice Queen Of Madness (very true, but the whole point of this story is that she realizes that's not what's important), Bloodylilcorpse (My real argument is that her canon self didn't have any indication that it was a good idea to refuse, whereas the lecture she got earlier is starting to affect her subconsciously) and the guest reviewer.
Back at the wedding, the crowd had dissapated. It was five minutes to midnight, and Tyler had finished telling Lindsay the story of what had happened.
The blonde was still having trouble getting it. "So if I kiss a frog, he'll turn into the prince?" she said slowly.
"Not just any frog." Tyler told her. "But he's escaped from the jar I left him in, so you better find him if you want him to become human. And he said your best friend – was that the dark-haired girl I saw you with on the first night? - is a frog too!"
As if by magic, a voice sounded below the blonde, just on the ground. "Lindsay! First, don't freak when you see me. Second, we have to get this done, like, fast."
"Heather?" Lindsay couldn't see her best friend, but she would know that voice anywhere.
The impatient voice gave a sigh. "Didn't you hear what the guy said? I'm a frog at this moment! I'm standing right next to you. Look down."
Lindsay managed not to get too scared when she realized the frog she saw was Heather, but she still didn't understand. "Okay, I'm so confused."
"What a shocker." Heather muttered under her breath, and then said more loudly "Look, it's very simple. We need to find that idiot who obviously ran off for some reason and you need to kiss him before midnight. As a favour to me? Please?"
Lindsay smiled, understanding. "Ohhhh...he's the frog prince! I get it. His cure is to kiss a princess. And I'm a princess for a few more minutes."
All three of them were ready to search the whole town to find Alejandro. But he found Lindsay first. By the time Tyler and Heather caught up, he was explaining things to her all over again.
And suddenly, Heather couldn't stand it. "Wait!" she called out.
She reached Alejandro and said in a rush "I have to say something to you. Before this."
"Can't it wait?" Alejandro said. "We have one minute left."
"I know, but I'll never say it if I can't say it now!" Heather insisted. "I realized what Leshawna and Dawn meant. It was nothing to do with that bakery. What I really needed..." she gulped, scared to even say it. But she managed it. "It's you. I don't know why, but something happened through these last few days. And now...I can't..." she flinched. "I can't say it."
Alejandro understood though. "May I say it?" he said softly. "I think...no, I know, that I'm in love with you."
And at that minute, the clock chimed midnight.
"Oh no!" Heather exclaimed first. "Maybe that clock's fast. Lindsay, quick!"
But it was too late. Midnight had come, and Lindsay was no longer a princess. She was getting her happily-ever-after with Tyler, but she felt bad. She'd been their only chance, and it was gone.
But, as it was, things were able to change. Just because Heather and Alejandro would be frogs forever didn't change things. They decided that since they couldn't have a real marriage, they might as well have a ceremony at the bayou. Cody and all his many family members came. They even got to meet Sierra, a firefly whose light kept spluttering and fizzling like a firework and wouldn't let go of Cody the whole time. Harold came, too. He was still an alligator for the moment.
Since it was in the bayou, Dawn and Leshawna both showed up, happy to see that while the two frogs hadn't become human, they'd both learned their lessons.
Dawn, quiet as she was, offered to perform the ceremony since she could understand all of the other guests. "By the power of love, this union is officially legal. You may kiss the bride." she said softly.
At that moment, Heather and Alejandro gazed deep into each other's eyes, then they both leaned forward, and exchanged their second kiss.
The moment seemed to go on forever. The bayou lit up as light swirled around, engulfing the two. When the light finally cleared, it was no longer two frogs that stood there.
Both people noticed at the same time. Alejandro saw a slim, dark-haired girl in a slim-fitting light green halter dress. Heather saw an incredibly buff, incredibly handsome guy with green eyes deep enough to drown in.
They both gasped, looking at each other and the clothes that seemed to have come with the transformation. And they both realized, with another shock, that that kiss had not only been magical – but the best kiss they'd ever experienced.
Leshawna laughed at their shock. "We told you," she said, "The only way to break the spell was to kiss a princess!"
There was a pause. "If that was a real marriage..." Alejandro said slowly, "Then that means..."
"I'm a princess now." Heather's expression at that moment was one that few people had seen before – her true smile. She barely ever looked like that, so happy. "I guess we didn't need Lindsay."
"So..." Alejandro said, "What say we go back to the town and get everything sorted?
But things were different now. Heather didn't want the place she'd tried to get before this whole fiasco had begun. They ended up getting a human marriage rather quickly, but this one was much grander than their bayou one.
Heather may not have sought out what she wanted. But she had almost the same thing. Now, she may still have had to work, but she was now Princess of Spain.
And that was enough for her.
PS: Harold did eventually find a way to turn human. It turned out all he'd wanted was to court Leshawna and be appreciated for his true talents. Needless to say, the skinny bespectacled awkward guy he became wasn't exactly princely material, but his devotion was true blue.
Lindsay got her fairytale ending. Tyler may not have been the prince she was waiting for, but he was gentle, sweet and loyal. Young as she was, she knew that they would truly live happily ever after.
Cody, being a firefly, didn't live for very long. But when he died, a star appeared in the sky, right next to Gwen.
Mike had to give up his voodoo business, since his powers had gone with Mal's control. He ended up becoming an actor, and ended up falling in love with a lonely indie filmmaker.
And as for Heather? Well, being a princess, especially one married to the youngest prince, wasn't all it was cracked up to be, but she was still happy. Happier than most would expect. And she was happier than she would have ever expected. Alejandro was possibly even happier than her, finding it surprisingly easy to break his habit of flirting with every pretty girl who passed.
And so, in this universe, at least, everyone had a happy ending. What can you say? As Heather once said, years later, "I guess some dreams do come true...and all you have to do is rely on magic."
And that's the end! I don't think this is my best work, but I'm glad people seem to like it. Don't know when my next one will be out, but I'm working on it. Thanks for your support, everyone!
And please check out my other fic "No More Bailing"! I have one loyal reviewer of the story, but so far, no one else.
