It all started with a conversation that definitely shouldn't have happened.
Sabel leaned over the counter, sipping his triple-shot marshmallow-cinnamon espresso, and asked the parrot, "What if frogs could fly?"
Percival, wise and feathered, narrowed one eye. "Why would you ever ask that?"
Sabel shrugged. "Boredom. Inspiration. And also, I found a basket of frogs behind the café. Someone left them with a note that said 'For Science.'"
The prince—yes, that prince, still hiding as a misfit barista—peeked over the rim of his own drink. "You mean those frogs that keep singing under the table?"
A loud RIBBIT RIBBIT from beneath the floorboards confirmed.
"Exactly," Sabel grinned. "They're gifted, I can feel it."
Operation: Froggy Flight
Sabel, with all the seriousness of a seasoned wizard and none of the caution, gathered the frogs onto the café's rooftop.
Each one wore a tiny leaf like a cape.
"This is the moment you become legends," Sabel whispered, gently fastening acorn helmets to their heads.
Percival, perched nearby, facepalmed with a wing. "This is either going to be adorable or catastrophic."
Probably both.
Sabel tapped the rooftop with his wand. "Levitas Froggius!"
A shimmer ran across the tiles.
The frogs... hovered.
And then—
WHOOSH.
They launched like popcorn in a kettle, bouncing into the air and croaking with delight—or confusion. Maybe both.
Mid-Air Chaos
From below, people saw frogs doing loops, spins, and one incredibly artistic backflip. Kids pointed. Adults gasped. A lady dropped her baguette.
One frog pirouetted so elegantly that a ballerina clapped from three streets down.
But then Sabel added too much magic.
"Maybe a dash more altitude—"
BOOM.
A wave of glitter burst from the roof. Suddenly, the frogs could speak.
"KRRRRAAAK I AM SKY KING!" shouted one as it dive-bombed a pastry tray.
Another screamed, "Toad infinity and beyond!" before vanishing into a barrel of carrots.
Meanwhile Inside...
The prince stood calmly, watching leaves, frog helmets, and broken croissants fall outside.
Rosemary peeked out the back door. "Is Sabel making frogs fly again?"
He nodded. "Worse. They're unionizing."
The Reckoning
The frogs had a meeting mid-air—because yes, they could now hover in perfect circles—and decided they wanted snacks. A frog army swooped down on the café like croaky pirates, demanding crumbs, cake bits, and something called "whipped bug cream."
Sabel, mid-laugh, found himself surrounded.
"I may have... created a monarchy."
The largest frog leapt onto the counter. "WE DEMAND FLAVOURED RAIN."
Percival flapped up in panic. "You turned amphibians into sentient sugar-seeking sky-gremlins!"
"I call that Tuesday."
Resolution (Sort Of)
The prince, with practiced calm, stepped outside and offered a bowl of coffee grounds and banana slices.
The frogs paused. Sniffed.
Then, one by one, they landed, bowed, and licked the bowl.
Sabel cast a soft de-levitation charm and plucked the last frog gently from the air.
He turned to the crowd now gathered outside.
"Free frog shows every Wednesday!" he announced, raising a frog like Simba.
They cheered.
Sort of.
One guy yelled, "Why is my hat croaking?" before realizing it was a frog.
Later That Night
Sabel sat on the roof again, surrounded by sleepy frogs wrapped in teabags.
Percival landed beside him. "So. Flying frogs. How do you top that?"
Sabel smiled. "Next week? Invisible turtles."
The parrot groaned.
The prince chuckled from below, mopping up muddy footprints from the counter. "Just... tell me when the roof stops leaking pond water."
"Deal," Sabel said.
A frog croaked in response.
"Also," he added, "one of them stole your wallet."
"Oof."