The Frog Prince
(The Wicked Witch's Curse)
Brothers Grimm

Long before the handsome prince was trapped in the form of a frog, there was a powerful and cunning witch who lived deep in the forest. Her name was Morganna, and she was feared by all. Her dark powers were unmatched, and she took delight in spreading misery to anyone who dared cross her path.
One day, Morganna attended a grand royal ball in disguise. She wore a flowing gown of emerald green, her raven hair cascading down her back, and her eyes gleamed with mischief. No one knew she was a witch; they only saw a mysterious beauty who charmed everyone around her. But Morganna wasn’t there for pleasure. She had her sights set on the crown prince, a kind-hearted and brave young man who would one day become the king.
Prince Alexander was well-loved by his people, and his courage and charm had captured the attention of many, including Morganna. She approached him at the ball, her voice as sweet as honey. “Your Highness,” she said, her eyes locking with his. “Dance with me, and perhaps your destiny will change forever.”
Though the prince was polite, he felt a strange chill run down his spine. Something about this woman was not right. He bowed slightly and responded with grace, “I thank you for the offer, but my heart already belongs to another.”
The witch’s eyes darkened, and her smile twisted into something more sinister. “You dare reject me?” she hissed under her breath, barely audible over the music.
Morganna had never been refused before, and the sting of rejection burned her deeply. She vowed to make him pay. As the night went on, she watched Prince Alexander with hatred bubbling inside her. When he left the ballroom to walk in the royal gardens, Morganna saw her chance.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her dark powers and appeared before him in a swirl of green smoke. Prince Alexander staggered back, startled, as the air around her crackled with energy.
“I offered you a chance to change your fate,” she said, her voice cold as ice. “But you chose to spurn me. Now, you will learn the true meaning of despair.”
Prince Alexander raised his sword defensively. “What are you, sorceress?” he demanded. “Why do you threaten me?”
“I am Morganna, the most powerful witch in the land, and I curse you, Prince Alexander!” She lifted her arms, and dark clouds swirled above them. “From this day forward, you shall live as a frog, trapped in this form until the day a princess willingly gives you her heart.”
The prince’s body began to change. He felt his limbs shrink, his skin turning cold and damp. His voice, once strong and commanding, turned into the croak of a small, helpless creature. He tried to call out, but it was too late. In mere moments, he was transformed into a small green frog, barely able to move.
Morganna laughed cruelly, her voice echoing through the gardens. “Enjoy your new life, little prince! Let’s see how long it takes before someone loves you now!”
As Morganna vanished into the night, Prince Alexander, now no more than a frog, hopped helplessly into the nearby pond, feeling utterly defeated. He had no idea how he would break the curse or whether anyone would even recognize him in his new form. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, as the prince learned to survive in the pond, hoping that one day, his curse would be lifted.
But all hope seemed lost, until the day he encountered the young princess…