Simba looked around upon hearing the croaking noise. What was that? he asked himself, concentrating on above the trees. Maybe it was a bird or something. But it didn't sound like a bird…

"Who… who is it?" Simba asked, suddenly feeling a little nervous and vulnerable, all alone in this secluded little spot.

There could be monsters out there for all he knew. Maybe this was the home of all the evil lions in the world! Simba, Nala and Haiba could have walked right into a death trap! "I… I'm not scared," he stammered, his breathing becoming heavy.

"Sh-show yourself…"

"Down here," whispered a little voice from below Simba, followed by another loud croak.

Simba's eyes shot downwards, and he found himself staring at a small little frog on the ground, positioned just before his fore paws. "What?" he exclaimed, his auburn eyes glinting with curiosity. "This is… This is weird," he said, feeling a little strange. "Wow. A frog. Talking to me. How odd."

Simba thought he saw the frog smile. "I can talk to anyone," the frog informed him. "It's not that hard – once you figure out how to move your lips and say your words. You seem to be managing well with it."

The frog had a very friendly voice. It was strange, all right, but Simba wasn't nearly as scared as he was a few moments ago.

"It's just that… I don't normally see frogs talking," Simba told him. "Most of the times they kinda… just… stand there, croaking. You know, like this." Simba imitated a frog croaking. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes. I understand what you're saying quite well," replied the frog. "You're the first person I've talked to in a long while. No one's been around here in years. The only other forms of life I've seen around here are flies – and most of them are in my stomach!" he joked with a laugh.

"Haven't you ever thought of finding some other frogs?" Simba asked the small amphibian. "Surely you can't be the only one around here. Haven't you got a family? A mom? A dad? Brother? Sister?"

The frog shook his head. "I'm afraid not. They've been gone a long time now. It's just been me for the past couple of years – all alone in this watery little place. I've never even been outside. Have you? Is it nice out there? Do they have other frogs where you come from?"

This frog liked to talk! How many more other questions was he going to ask? Simba guessed that if you hadn't spoken to anyone in a few years, then you must have had a lot of questions on your mind. Frogs were a lot more intelligent than he thought…

"There's not much around here," Simba answered. "Just a lot of… dirt. And some weeds. And some holes. It's not really all that special. I'm actually surprised all of this is in the middle of nowhere. I thought we were going to be walking for ever."

"They all find it eventually," the frog muttered under his breath, looking down at the ground. "All of them…"

"What did you say?"

The frog looked up. "Nothing. So who are you? What's your name? Where do you live?"

More and more questions. Simba could already feel his head beginning to spin. This frog was going a mile a minute!

"Well, my name is Simba. Prince Simba, to be exact," he declared proudly. "One day I'm gonna be the King of the Pride Lands!"

"A king?" exclaimed the frog, his big eyes growing wide. "Well isn't that interesting? I've never met a prince before. Come to think of it, I've never met anyone before. This is quite an honour."

"So what's your name?" Simba asked, finding himself wanting to know more about this little guy. It was as if the frog was having some kind of weird effect on him. But he just couldn't figure out what it was…

"Froggy," he introduced himself. "Not the most interesting of names, I'll give you that, but it's very easy to remember. Froggy. Yep. It doesn't get more simpler than that."

"Froggy, eh?" Simba smiled. "Well, it's very nice to meet you, Froggy." His eyes darted left and right. "So what are you doing around here? This isn't where you live, is it?"

"Oh, I live wherever I want to," Froggy told Simba. "When you have this whole oasis to yourself, you find there are a lot of places to go to. Caves, trees, rivers, ponds… It seems to go on for ever! Even though I've got no one to talk to, I never ever get bored!"

"Really?" Simba was surprised. "Wow. The Pride Lands – that's where I live, by the way – are pretty big, but it gets boring after a while."

"Big, eh?" said Froggy, a sneaky little smile spreading across his face. "Simba, tell me: how big are the Pride Lands?"

"Huge!" Simba exclaimed. "It's nothing compared to this. It's a massive kingdom, and one day I'm gonna rule it all!"

"Hmm…" Froggy had a thoughtful look on his face. "So do you think there's room for a frog like me in the Pride Lands?"

Upon hearing Froggy's question, Simba wasn't quite sure of what to say. "Um… I'm not really sure about that, Froggy," he said honestly. "I mean, it's a pretty long way back. What if you end up drying to death or something?"

Froggy looked a little offended. "But I thought I was your friend, Simba," he said, his eyes showing a seemingly immense amount of sadness.

Simba gulped nervously, but then shook his head. No. He couldn't do this. Froggy would never survive the trip back home. "Nah, I'm sorry, Froggy. I just can't do it. You wouldn't live. I think you're better off staying here. Maybe when you get a little older we can do it."

"Simba, take me to the Pride Lands," Froggy ordered, a commanding tone in his voice.

"There's no need to speak to me like that," Simba retorted, frowning disapprovingly at Froggy. "I told you why I can't take you with me. You'll just have to deal with it. I'll se ya around."

Simba turned around and proceeded to walk away. I'd b etter get b ack to Nala and Haiba, he thought to himself. Otherwise I'm just going to be running around in circles with this frog.

"Simba, come back," Froggy ordered, sounding even more controlling now.

"Goodbye, Froggy," was all Simba said.

The conversation was closed.

Froggy frowned. "I don't think so!" he snarled, before leaping up into the air, landing on top of Simba's head.

"Hey!" Simba exclaimed, looking upwards. "Froggy, what are you—"

Froggy's long tongue shot out, and it worked its way through Simba's ear.

Suddenly, Simba's eyes glowed green, looking like he was in some kind of hypnotic trance.

"Simba..." said Froggy. "You are feeling very sleepy... very sleepy..."

"I am feeling very sleepy," Simba said, his eyes half closed.

"Now, listen up Simba and listen good," said Froggy, his tongue retracting back into his mouth, all of a sudden appearing to be very menacing. "You're going to do every little thing I say, like a good little prince, aren't you?"

Simba nodded blankly in agreement. He obeyed.

"Now, first of all you're going to take me back to the Pride Lands," the villainous frog instructed. "And once we get there, the fun will begin. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, master," Simba obeyed.

Froggy smiled. "Excellent."