Chapter 7

Manny walked across the beach with Zebra Donkey watching the waves fall. For days he had searched the girl who had saved his life but he had zero luck.

"I've searched everywhere boy." He said. "Where could she be?"

Not too far from where they were, Jorge and Davi had successfully carried Frida to the shore. When she woke up she looked down to find her tail gone and a pair of legs in it's place.

"Well look at what the cat dragged in." Chapi said flying in. "There's something different, let me guess. Is it your hair?"

Frida shook her head.

"No? New seashells?" The parrot guessed completely oblivious to Frida's new legs.

She shook her head again.

"No again? I can't put my finger on it but if I just stand here long enough-"

"She's got legs you idiot!" Jorge snapped. "She traded her voice to Sartana and got legs, geez man!"

"No! Not your beautiful set of pipes." Chapi said.

"Frida's been turned into a human." Davi said. "She's got to get the prince to fall in love with her and kiss her."

"And she's only got five days." Jorge said.

"What's the rush?" Chapi asked.

"If she fails then Sartana gets her soul!"

"Well that's not good."

Frida stood up and tried to walk but her legs wobbled and she fell down.

"Just look at her!" Jorge said. "On legs! On human legs! My nerves are shot! What would her father say?! I'll tell you what her father would say, he'd say he gonna kill himself a crab!"

"Aren't you overreacting?" Chapi asked.

"You've never met the sea king, when Emiliano finds out I let his daughter turn into a human he'll show no mercy! He'll turn me into a crab cake before I even have time to say my prayers!" Jorge headed for the water. "I'm going to march down there and-"

Frida picked him up and began shaking her head.

"And don't you shake your head at me young lady! What were you thinking? Giving up your voice! Risking your soul! Leaving your family! And for what? Some human? Maybe we can get her to change you back and give back your voice before times up then you can..."

She looked at him with her blue eyes all sad and cute like.

"Be miserable for the rest of your life." He sighed. "Alright! I know I'm going to regret this but...I'll help you."

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Okay Frida now if you wanna win a human over you gotta dress like one." Chapi said.

Meanwhile Zebra Donkey sniffed the air and caught hold of a familiar scent. He began braying excitedly and followed it.

"Zebra Donkey! Wait! Come back!" Manny said chasing him.

Chapi brought Frida a ragged over sized white shirt to wear but when she tried it on it was too big so he brought her rope which she tied around her waist making it look like some dress but definitely not considered clothing to humans. Then she heard braying and saw Zebra Donkey heading straight for her. Davi dove underwater, Chapi flew away, and Jorge hid in a pocket of the shirt.

Frightened by the strange creature, Frida climbed up a small rock in fear. Zebra Donkey knew right away who she was, he jumped up, and happily licked her face like he had done a few nights before. Frida smiled at his silliness but became shy and nervous when she saw Manny run up.

"Zebra Donkey! They're you are! What's the matter with you?" He then saw her and understood what excited his pet so much. "Are you okay Miss? Sorry if he scared you he just really likes meeting new people but he won't hurt you."

Frida pulled her hair out of her face and gave him her best smile. Manny couldn't help but feel like he had seen her before.

"You look familiar? Have we met?"

She nodded.

"We have? I knew it! What's your name?"

She opened her mouth to answer but not a sound came out.

"What's wrong?"

She put her hand to her throat.

"Oh you can't talk huh? Then you're not who I thought you were."

Zebra Donkey blew in frustration at his master's obliviousness to who the girl was. Realizing she couldn't talk now she decided to make gestures but all that did was cause her to trip. Manny caught her.

"Whoa! Take it easy." He helped her up. "You must've of really been through something, well don't worry." He said scooping up her legs and holding her back. "I'll help you."

With that he carried her back to the castle. King Rodolfo and Queen Maria happily agreed to let Frida stay as their guest. A warm bubble bath was started while the maids and Maria tended to her. Frida was amazed by the scented bubbles and began popping them one at a time.

"Washed up from a shipwreck, oh the poor thing." Maria said as she brought a bathrobe in. "Well don't worry we'll have you feeling better in no time. A scrub in the tub and a new dress then you'll be as fresh as a daisy."

The maids rinsed her off, one of them grabbed the shirt she was wearing with Jorge still inside the pocket.

"I'll just get this washed for you." The maid said.

She threw it to the washer women who began scrubbing the shirt mercilessly which Jorge found most uncomfortable.

"Madames." He coughed.

He managed to slip out and land in the kitchen right when it was dinner time.

"Now Manny be reasonable." Rodolfo smoking his pipe. "Nice young ladies don't just rescue people and then vanish into thin air."

"Father I know she was real and when I find her I'm going to marry her." Manny said.

"But Manny if this woman does turn out to be real you don't even know what this girl looks like, how can you be sure marrying her is a good choice?"

"I don't know. I just-"

"Come on dear don't be shy." He heard his mother say as she entered the dining room with Frida. His eyes lit up when she walked in with her hair brushed wearing a pink dress while smelling like lavender.

"Wow." He said. "You uh...you look nice."

"Well let's all sit down." Rodolfo said. "It's been awhile since we've had such a lovely dinner guest."

"Ahem!" Maria said.

"Other than you darling." Rodolfo corrected.

They sat down at the table, Frida noticed a fork and began brushing her hair with it. The royal family looked at her strangely, she then put it down feeling embarrassed. Rodolfo grabbed a match and started smoking his pipe again. Frida smiled and took it from him.

"You like it? It's an antique very well crafted if I say so my-"

POOF! She blew pipe smoke right in his face. Manny and Maria burst out laughing which Rodolfo joined in once he wiped the smoke from his face.

"Very amusing." He chuckled. "Now any idea on what we're having for dinner Maria?"

"Chakal we'll be making his specialty, stuffed crab."

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