The Frog Prince

The story

In a faraway kingdom, there lived a princess who loved nothing more than playing with a golden ball.

Near the castle was a deep, dark well.

One warm day, the princess tossed her ball high into the air.

But she did not catch it.

Splash.

The ball rolled into the well and sank into the dark water.

The princess began to cry, because the well was far too deep.

"Why are you crying?" asked a voice.

The princess looked around and saw a large frog poking his head above the water.

"My golden ball fell into the well," she sobbed.

"I will fetch it for you," said the frog. "But what will you give me in return?"

"Anything you want!" cried the princess. "My finest clothes, my jewels!"

"I do not need those," said the frog. "I only want to be your friend: to sit beside you at the table, eat from your plate and live in your home."

The princess promised.

But deep down, she thought: a frog as my friend? Never!

The frog dived into the water and brought the ball back up.

The princess snatched it away and ran home laughing.

And the frog was left all alone.

But the next evening, while the princess was sitting at the table, she heard splash-splash on the stairs.

A little voice called:

"Princess, open the door. You promised!"

The king, her father, asked what was going on.

Ashamed, the princess told him about her promise.

"A promise is a promise," said the king seriously. "Open the door."

Reluctantly, the princess let the frog inside.

He was allowed to sit beside her and eat from her plate.

And when she went to bed, he asked if he could come too.

The princess thought that was going much too far.

She angrily picked up the frog to put him away.

But the moment she touched him and finally kept her promise completely, something wonderful happened.

The frog changed into a kind young prince with warm eyes.

He told her that an evil witch had once turned him into a frog.

And that only someone who kept her promise could break the spell.

The princess was ashamed that she had been so unkind.

The prince smiled and forgave her.

They became true friends.

And later, when they were both grown up, they married.

And they lived happily ever after.