"Boy, I just can't wait until we get to the Pride Lands," said Froggy, as Simba headed away from the forest-like area they were in. Simba was going to take Froggy straight to the Pride Lands – where he would put his ingenious plan into action.

For too long had he sat here, whiling away the hours all by himself. He had nothing to do. It was just so… boring!

Simba was his only chance of escaping. There was no way he would be able to get across the dusty, barren land that surrounded his 'home' on his own. He'd die before the end of the day. And he wouldn't even make it far enough, anyway.

So he was going to hitch a ride. That had been his plan for the last few years. But unfortunately, every time someone stumbled along, something always seemed to go wrong. He just couldn't control his powers. Most times he tried to brainwash someone, it just ended up with their brain exploding into pieces – and that wasn't a very pretty sight.

He was surprised that this little cub was the first person who had survived the brainwashing process. Taking over someone's mind wasn't an easy thing to do – especially for a tiny little frog like him. He would have expected the process to have been a lot tougher on Simba. But it was weird. He didn't even put up a—

"Hey!" Simba exclaimed angrily, batting Froggy off his head with a paw, sending him to the ground. "What gives? I was very friendly to you, and what did you give me in return? You brainwashed me! How could you?"

"What…?" Froggy slowly got to his feet, looking up at Simba confusedly. What was going on? This wasn't supposed to happen… "How did you…? How did you—"

"How did I snap out of it?" Simba finished for the evil amphibian. "Well, you're pretty pathetic at this mind control business. I've been hypnotised before, you know. Generally, the hypnotist is supposed to have a lot more control. Did I ever tell you about Tama? I suppose not, but that isn't the point right now."

"But… but I'm your master now!" Froggy declared, trying to sound threatening, but failing miserably. "You have to obey my every command! Otherwise I'll… I'll—"

"You're not gonna do anything," Simba interrupted, taking on a confident posture.

It was that time of the day again: the time where he gloated to his enemies about how he had triumphed over them. He loved being a hero! "I knew I could always beat you – and it only took me five minutes! Your mind control was far too weak, Froggy. Basically, you made me feel sleepy. That was it." He raised a paw. "Now prepare to be squashed!"

"Wait!" Froggy cried, a pleading look in his eyes. "You can't squash me! I'm just an innocent little frog!"

"Oh, are you?" Simba retorted, a frown on his face. "'Cause from what I've seen, you're far from innocent. You were going to make me take you back to the Pride Lands!"

"Is that such a crime?" Froggy asked. "I only wanted to get away from this awful place. I hate it here! I want to live somewhere else! Why can't you just take me already?"

"Oh, don't give me that!" Simba exclaimed, frowning. "I know exactly what you were up to! You were going to try and take over the kingdom by brainwashing everyone! It's what they all want! Do you think you're the first psycho I've ever had to fight?"

"I am not a psycho!" Froggy argued. "There's nothing wrong with my brain. I just want unlimited power and everlasting control. Is that really too much to ask for?"

"For a frog – yes," said Simba. "Now – because I'm very nice – I'm going to give you a choice: you can either go back home, or I'm going to squash you into a puddle of green slime. You've got five seconds to decide. Better make it quick. Five… four… three…"

"This is quite a tough decision," said Froggy, a thoughtful look on his face. "But I'm afraid I have to decline your friendly gesture. I've got other plans to follow through with. Plans that involve you, Simba."

Simba shook his head, smiling. "I don't think so," he said. The frog had lost. It was all over. "Face it, Froggy. I win. It's not too late to change your mind. I don't exactly want to have your guts between my toes after I squish you."

"Oh, shut up and obey me," Froggy said, before his long tongue shot out again, going inside Simba's ear. He stuck it in even deeper, determined this time to make sure things didn't go wrong. "That's it, Simba," he growled. "You're going to obey me, otherwise I'll squeeze you brain so hard that it won't just be your brain that explodes! Am I making myself clear?"

Simba had his eyes tightly shut, and was desperately trying to resist the acid-like effect of Froggy's tongue. It was as if his mind was on fire… Must… fight… his… powers… Simba was trying with all his might to fight back…

But it just wasn't good enough. In a matter of seconds, his eyes were half-closed once more, and this time, he was completely under Froggy's control.

"It's gotta work this time!" Froggy exclaimed, his tongue shooting back into his mouth. "No one can resist being brainwashed twice! There's something special about this… this Prince Simba. His will is stronger than I first imagined.

Certainly a lot stronger than the other lions and cubs who have come through here. Either that or my powers weren't as good as they were claimed to be. I'd like to make a complaint to that Hago guy for misleading me…"

Froggy looked up at his little slave, and smiled. "Simba, I demand you to take me to the Pride Lands, and I'd like you to avoid those stupid friends of yours."

Froggy had been watching Simba as soon as he and his friends entered his 'home'. He had to get out of here before they noticed what he was up to. They would stop him from getting out of this hellhole. And he wasn't exactly the best in the fighting department, so a speedy escape was necessary.

"Yes, master," Simba obeyed, walking. "I will take you to the Pride Lands, and I will avoid those stupid friends of mine."

Froggy frowned. "Hmm…" he said, thinking for a moment. "You might want to take away that 'zombie slave' tone, Simba," he suggested. "If anyone finds us, then they'll see what we're up to instantly."

"Yes, master." Simba blinked, and then suddenly he felt like he was himself again. He no longer felt like Froggy was brainwashing him. He had control of his free will again!

Well, not really. That was just what Froggy was making him think. "So why do you want to come with me, Froggy?" Simba asked, forgetting that Froggy had even brainwashed him in the first place.

"I'm tired of living here, Simba," Froggy explained. "I want a new kingdom to control – I mean, live in. You'd feel the same way after living here for years on end, with absolutely nothing to do."

"I suppose so," Simba agreed. "I'm always having adventures away from the Pride Lands. I guess when there's a really big world out there, you've got to go and see more of it. You won't believe the things I've seen."

"Then tell me," Froggy ordered, causing Simba's eyes to glow green for a fraction of a second.

Simba shook his head frantically, suddenly feeling very dizzy. But he thought nothing of it. "Well, okay," he agreed, a friendly smile on his face. "It all started when I met the most beautiful cub in the world…"