Chapter Text
Long ago, when wishing was still of some use, there was a princess whose favorite pastime was throwing a little golden ball up in the air and catching it. On any occasion she missed, she would follow wherever it fell and toss it again. Usually, this simply brought her on a very thorough tour of the palace and the surrounding gardens. On the day of our story, however, she had wandered far enough into the gardens that the usual bustle of the castle was recognizable as voices, but not words.
Finally, her wandering ball led her to a clearing, where there sat a well. And on her next toss, the ball bounced off the tips of her fingers and into the watery depths below. At this, the princess began to cry, for she did not know how she might be able to retrieve her favorite toy.
Then there came from the well a wet, hop-plop. And over the rim of the well popped the head of a frog.