Part 26: Chapter Twenty: Frog Ville

Music: 06 – We’re Rangers

Our next stop is Fort Nageur in the middle of the lake, so the party hops on Tapeta’s back as he swims there in giant frog form.



Music: 09 – Fly Pudding



: Ah! It is good to be back home, non?



: Ah, home sweet palace! Welcome, friends and gentleladies, to Fort Nageur!



: The architecture certainly is impressive.

: I owe all of you a deep debt of gratitude! Feel free to enjoy the wonders of my home for as long as you like!

: Hey, prince! Your subjects are looking at you kinda funny.

: Oui, but of course! I have been gone a long time, non?







:…My royal subjects? Is something the matter? Your beloved prince has returned from his captivity in the wilderness! Is this not cause for much screaming for joy?



: Is this the guy?



: It’s the heat, I tell ya. Cook their brains a little and they pull this kinda crap.

The soldiers run forward and grab Tapeta!



: Do you know who it is you are practicing your wrestling moves upon? It is I, your prince! Stop this silly game at once!

: Yeah, and I’m the Queen Mother. Now, hold still for a second…





: Erm, mind you, I would rather not be paraded through the castle in this fashion…



: Well that was strange. Those guards carted him off like he was some sort of criminal. I mean, the guy’s a bit of an airhead, but…

: Wait, someone’s coming this way.



: May I introduce myself? I am Grenouille Hoppe de pe Tapeta, his Royal Highness of Fort Nageur. En chante.



: He is an impostor.

: An impostor, you say? Why would anyone do such a thing?



: But he remains convinced that he, in fact, is me. Tragic, is it not? On behalf of the good name of the royal family, it is my duty to apologize to you for his deception.



:…Hmm.



: In addition, you will find quite a princely compensation for your trials and tribulations on board.



: Of course. We will return to the mainland right away.

: Ryu?



: Bon voyage, my friends!



:…Is he gone? Good. There’s no way I’m turning back now, not when I’m so close to proving Bosch’s innocence.

: So, what’s the plan then? Just look around until we find something?

: No. First we make it look like we’ve left, then we sneak back in after dark.



:…Huh? What’s going on here?



: Stupid thing! So…freakin’…heavy!

: Hey, hey! I don’t like the looks of this!



: Wait, sto-

: Eat this!







: Oh dear, you weren’t supposed to see that…please, hear me out!

:…Sure. Sure, why not? It’s not like we can go back now. Let’s listen to another crazy person’s insane requests. We seem to be making a habit of it anyway.

: I’m really sorry, but this is very important!





: Quick, get in the water!

: Huh?

: No time, just do it!







: Probably just garbage.

: Anyways, where was the real prince all this time? Why didn’t he show up sooner?



: Hey, you’re not saying that the guy upstairs is a fake, are you?

: Damn straight I’m saying it! Not like anybody couldn’t tell the difference!



: The guy who just got locked up is the real prince Tapeta, no question about it. I’d recognise him buried under three feet of rock.





: Get back to work and guard that impostor!



: There’s only one fake, smartass, and you know it! Back to work!





: Poor guy. Maybe I’ll slip him a cake or something later on.



The plot thickens! There’s something rotten in the state of Nageur, with two princes at the centre of it all. Tune in next time to find out more.