The chaos of the dance faded into a surreal backdrop as I stared into the compact mirror, disbelief coursing through my tiny, froggy form. My wide eyes bulged in shock, my skin now a vibrant green, slick and moist, with a single streak running down my back that matched the color of my hair. My clothes hung around me like a tarp, oversized and utterly ridiculous. I croaked again, this time in frustration, the sound echoing my astonishment.
Minerva stood before me, her expression a twisted blend of triumph and anger. "Now you know what it feels like to be dismissed, to be overlooked," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "Maybe now you'll think twice before dancing with someone else."
"Ribbit!" I protested, my froggy voice utterly inadequate against her derision. It was infuriating—both the transformation and her overzealous reaction. This wasn't how a dance was supposed to go; this was a nightmare.
"What did you do to me?!"
"Funny thing," she continued, a wicked smile creeping across her face. "You know that rumor about me and my sisters being witches? Well, it's true."
"No way! Don't tell me you actually are—"
"I am, and so are my sisters. We've had enough of being the butt of everyone's joke."
"What joke did I pull? I was nice to you!"
"But you didn't want me! You wanted a princess! Right?"
Dear God, this woman was irrational.
"Now listen here, you psycho! Change me back immediately or else!"
"Or else what?"
"I... I... I don't know what I'll do! But I swear you'll be sorry for this!"
"Now don't get 'hopping' mad," she chuckled at her pun. "There is a way to break the spell. You could find a princess, get her to be your friend, share her table and her bed with you, and maybe, if her heart is full of love for you, she could kiss you."
She cackled, the sound chilling me to the bone.
"But that doesn't sound very likely, does it?"
"You're insane! You're out of your mind! I'll call the police! Or a bunch of puritans, and they'll burn you at the stake!"
"Good luck with that. No one can hear your human voice except those affected by magic. If you say one word to anyone, all they'll hear is ribbit, croak, ribbit. From now on, to the whole world, you're nothing more than a common frog. Well, almost common. At night, you can shed your frog skin and return to your previous form. But if you're ever seen by human eyes in that form, then you'll be mine for good. My own personal pet."
This was not happening! This was so not happening! This was just a dream—a horrible, bad dream! She wasn't really a witch, and I wasn't really a frog. Any minute now, I would wake up in my bed, and this would all be over.
I started pinching myself with my webbed fingers, squeezing as hard as I could. It hurt like hell, but when I opened my eyes, I was still a frog.
"You can't do this!" I cried out desperately. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
She just laughed again and began flapping her arms. Before my eyes, she transformed into a black crow, and I was engulfed by a powerful darkness. I think I passed out because the next time I could see, I was back in my bed, and it was morning.
"It really was a nightmare," I muttered, feeling groggy.
A knock came at the door.
"Natsu, honey?" It was my mother. "Are you dressed? I need to get your laundry."
"Yeah, Mom! I'm wearing pants!" I called out, confident that I had just come home last night, changed into sweatpants, and fallen asleep.
"Natsu? Are you awake?"
"Yeah, Mom," I replied again. Didn't she hear me the first time?
"Natsu?"
She opened the door and looked over at my bed. Suddenly, she dropped the empty laundry basket and screamed.
"Ahhh! A frog!"
"A what?"
I shot up—or at least tried to—but my tiny froggy body was still groggy from whatever spell Minerva had cast. Panic surged through me as I realized my nightmare wasn't over. I looked down at my green, slimy self and then back at my mother, who was now frantically waving her hands as if I were some kind of monster.
"Mom! It's me!" I croaked, feeling utterly helpless. My voice came out as a series of ribbits.
She ran from the room and returned with a broom.
"Get out! Get out of here, you filthy creature!"
She raised the broom high and brought it down toward me. I quickly hopped off my pillow and onto the floor.
"Mom, stop! It's me! It's Natsu! Can't you hear me?!"
But she couldn't. Or rather, she couldn't understand me.
Desperation clawed at my froggy heart as I watched my mother brandish the broom like a weapon. I hopped backward, trying to create some distance, but my tiny legs felt inadequate against the panic radiating from her. "Mom, please!" My mind raced, searching for a way to make her understand. Frustration bubbled within me, and I let out a series of agitated croaks, hoping she'd recognize my voice beneath the ribbits.
"Igneel!" my mother called out. "Come quick! There's a frog in here!"
"Oh, Grandenney," I heard my father scoff. "You and your fear of slimy things."
My dad came into the room and looked down at me.
"Dad! It's Natsu! Help!"
But he didn't understand me either. He just picked me up, went downstairs, and dropped me outside like I was nothing. I couldn't believe it—my own parents didn't recognize me. In their eyes, I was just a frog. I was no longer their son.
For the first time since I was really little, I started to cry.
As the cool morning air enveloped me, I found myself outside, trembling—not just from the chill, but from the sheer weight of despair crashing over me like a tidal wave. My parents, the people who had loved and nurtured me my entire life, had cast me aside, unable to see beyond the slimy green exterior that Minerva had forced upon me.
I hopped aimlessly across the sidewalk, my heart heavy with sorrow. The world around me felt vast and unwelcoming, a maze of grass and stone that seemed to mock my plight. Every croak that escaped my throat felt like a plea for help, but it was met with silence, the only sound being the rustle of leaves in the wind.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, a shadow fell over me. I turned around to see Happy, his yellow eyes gleaming like those of a hunter, his body poised to attack. At this size, he had transformed from house cat to mountain lion.
"No, Happy!" I called out, knowing all too well what cats do to small animals. "No! It's me! Natsu! I feed you! I brush your fur! I let you sleep in my bed! I give you fresh fish from the market every Friday! I'm your best friend!"
He looked at me quizzically, and for a second, I was sure he would pounce and swallow me whole for breakfast. His face came closer, and he sniffed me. I closed my eyes, shivering in fearful anticipation of when he would eat me. But instead, he began nuzzling me all over.
"Oh, thank God! At least someone still recognizes me!"
As Happy's familiar warmth enveloped me, relief washed over my tiny froggy form. His nuzzles were a lifeline in this bewildering nightmare.
"Good boy, Happy! Such a good boy!" I exclaimed, gently patting him on the head. "But I can't stay and play right now. I need to find a way out of this situation, and I can't do that while I'm stuck down here on the ground."
Happy seemed to understand, for he lowered his head for me to climb on. I did so without hesitation.
"I need to find Minerva and get her to change me back!" I exclaimed, channeling the spirit of those characters I had seen galloping on horses through medieval films and classic westerns. "Onward, Happy! To school! Heigh-ho, kitty! Away!"
And off he went, with me riding atop his head.