The Real Prince Charming!

It turns out, Henry underestimated his talent. In just a single day, he figured out a fire-based Magic Spell all by himself!

He called it Flame Rings. Basically allowing him to conjure rings of flame of different sizes around him.

”Yeah, I’m not jumping there.” Jip decided without a hint of hesitation, his face paler than usual despite the thick fur.

”Oh come on, Jip! Weren’t you the one who kept pestering Henry dear to show you magic? Now’s the chance and you don’t want it all of a sudden?” Polynesia booed the grey Irish Wolfhound dog, much to the latter’s annoyance.

”I said to show me magic not to make me take part in his magic!” The dog argued.

After Polynesia translated what Jip was crying about, Henry chuckled, ”Well, Jip. Whether you like it or not. You’re part of the show. So go ahead and jump. Don’t worry, I adjusted the temperature so the heat would be manageable.”

With a flick of his wrist and a chant with his voice, a ring of fire appeared in front of him. Large enough for someone of Jip’s stature to fit in with ease.

The dog gulped his saliva in nervousness before finally risking it all, ”Alright fine! Here I go!”

With a slight bend of his knees, Jip jumped. His figure flew in the air for a few seconds, his fur was slightly a few inches away from getting licked by the flames.

Before he knew it, he landed back on the ground unscathed, a surprised look appearing on his face as if he couldn’t believe the feat he had just done, ”Woah.”

”Woah indeed. That was good, Jip.” Polynesia, the ever-mother figure of the team, praised the dog.

A big smile appeared on Jip’s face, perhaps the biggest smile he had for years since meeting the doctor.

”Did I just do that?”

”Woah, Jip! You’re so cool!” Gub-Gub made a short oink noise as he cheered for his dog friend.

The others also followed suit, praising and complimenting the dog, who, just a few seconds earlier was hesitant and scared.

’I’m missing out so much, I wonder what they’re talking about. Hopefully, magic can fix it.’ With that in mind, Henry made a small note to himself to study animal language. He remembered that in some versions of Dolittle, he had to study animal language with the help of Polynesia.

Maybe he could do the same with her. After all, without proper communication between one another, they wouldn’t be able to deliver a spectacular performance.

Approaching Polynesia, he spoke to her about it.

”That’ll take time, Henry dear. Are you sure you want to learn?” When Henry nodded his head, Polynesia made a happy noise before flapping her wings.

”Worry not, Henry dear! I shall teach you how to talk to animals like us! Your lesson will start after the show!”

Her words also attracted the gazes of the rest of the pack. ”Oooh! Henry is finally going to understand us!” No doubt it was Gub-Gub being the happiest of them all.

For the reason that he’s always happy all the time.

”We still have a few hours left to practice, everyone. Stick to the script, it’ll be just like the old times.”

———

An afternoon in the capital city of Arendelle was no doubt lively as always. Several men were carrying logs, baskets, and other heavy loads, using their natural strength to do service for the Kingdom and earn a keep.

As for the ladies, during this time and age, the women barely does the work, well most of them. Some, who were either mothers or the only breadwinners in the family were also standing shoulder to shoulder with the men, sweating blood to provide.

Just then, a few figures caught their eyes. Stopping them from their busy work.

”W-What is that!?” One pointed at Chee-Chee the gorilla. No doubt out of everyone, it was the huge and muscular gorilla that caught everyone’s attention.

”A dog, a parrot, an owl, a pig, and even a duck? What’s going on here? Where are the city guards?”

Gasps and pointing fingers were thrown at them. Causing Gub-Gub to pull his neck back and hide from Chee-Chee’s behind, ”T-They’re staring at us.”

Noticing Gub-Gub’s turning meek, Henry comforted him, ”Don’t mind them, little one.”

Amidst the whispers and pointy fingers, a figure who had been standing behind a fruit stall took notice of them, only her soft lips and jaw visible under the hood.

As soon as they got to the middle of the capital, aka a huge fountain. They stopped and the animals spread around Henry.

Holding a cane in his hand, Henry tapped it on the ground, forcing the attention on him. And once the eyes were on him, he spoke loudly.

”Good afternoon, citizens of Arendelle! It is I, Henry the Magician! I have noticed the gloomy faces, desperate expressions, and the lack of smiles on your mouths! Hence today, and from today on! I shall deliver happiness and smiles to your faces!”

”What did he say? He is a magician? Magic is real?”

”Mama! I want to see! Up up!”

”Bah! What a load of nonsense. I’ve had a fair share of so-called magicians. They do nothing but tricks that you can clearly distinguish if you look closely enough!”

”So they’re frauds?”

”That’s right!”

Hearing the disappointed sighs and scummy looks, Henry silently clenched his fists. He swore to himself to punch the instigator if ever he found a chance.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Henry cleared his throat and said, ”If I were a fake. Would I be able to do this?” With a tap of his cane and a whisper that barely anyone would hear, two rings of flame appeared circling around him.

Several gasps and surprised comments flew all over the plaza, the previous man who accused Henry of being a fake turned beet red from embarrassment, and was left with no choice but to turn with his tail tucked behind.

Henry allowed himself to bask in the attention for a brief moment before tapping his cane again and the rings vanished. He had to preserve his reserves for the show itself after all.

”Now, folks. My show is expensive and time-consuming. So I’ll only give you 30 minutes to watch me and my friend’s performance!” With a spread of his arms, Too-Too and Polynesia from his shoulders also spread their wings and took flight, smoothly maneuvering through the crowd before perching back on his shoulders.

At this point, more and more people have gathered, including several knights and some nobles who were simply strolling around.

Of course, thanks to him, some suspicious people would take this opportunity for their own gains, weaving through the crowds to steal coin pouches.

This however, did not escape Henry’s eyes. So he pointed at a certain thief and loudly declared.

”Gentleman over there. Please kindly step forward!” Pointing his finger forward, the crowd in front of him slightly dispersed like how Noah parted the ocean, leaving only the thief who had already pocketed some coin pouches.

Flustered and stunned, the man unconsciously did as told and stepped forward. Henry gave him a smile before pulling him harshly beside him. Not quite hard to be noticeable but no doubt the thief could feel the intense grip on his shoulder.

”This man right here possesses something that he shouldn’t! Everyone, kindly check for your pouches!” With a dramatic flair, Henry raised his hand forward and closed his eyes, as if he was silently casting his magic.

This act immediately drew surprised and scared gasps from the crowd. The knights were quickly alerted and raised an eyebrow at Henry.

”My pouch is missing!”

”No! Where did my pouch go!”

”T-The magician must’ve stolen it!”

Seeing the uproar and hearing the accusations, Henry dramatically raised his hand, ”I, Henry the Magician, shall not steal from the people.”

”Watch!” Drawing the eyes once again on him, Henry slowly lowered his hand towards the thief’s pockets, watching as the said thief uncomfortably shuffled and tried to escape. Unfortunately for him, Henry’s grip simply tightened and he was left paralyzed beside him.

The man could only watch as Henry unraveled his doings, taking out a pouch from his left pocket, ”And who does this belong to?”

Surprised exclamations instantly spread through the crowd, and a certain woman raised her hand.

”Mine! That’s mine!”

With a smile, Henry threw the pouch and it landed exactly in the woman’s palm.

Henry then continued taking out more pouches from the man’s pockets and even from inside his upper shirt. Until finally, Henry was left with one last pouch.

This one looks different from the others. It is purple in colour and has a few golden linings. No doubt the pouch belongs to someone rich and notable.

When Henry scanned his eyes over the crowd, he saw a certain robed figure with a hood, trying to raise her hand while at the same time, shaking her head and putting a finger on her lips.

Henry subtly nodded his head and turned his attention back to the audience, ”My bad, folks. I seemed to have accidentally pulled my own pouch.” With a practiced smile and amidst the laughs, Henry pocketed the pouch before winking back at the hooded woman.

”And that’s the end of the first act!” Henry raised his hands and the people clapped. The previous doubts and comments have turned to praise and excitement bubbling all over.

The thief tried to escape once again. Now that his pockets are empty, he just wants to disappear and maybe bury himself somewhere barren or desolate.

”Where do you think you’re going? There’s still a next act.” Henry whispered from behind, causing the thief to flinch, and slowly turned around just to see Henry staring directly into his eyes.

”You don’t want my show to be ruined, don’t you?” He continued and the man finally broke under the hidden threat and nodded his head.

Shifting his attention back to the crowd, Henry gestured for Chee-Chee from behind, ”Everyone! Please let us applaud for Chee-Chee the gorilla!”

From behind, Chee-Chee stepped forward, trying his best to keep calm.

Whispers were passed around the audience, curious gazes flowing towards the enigmatic animal that they were seeing for the first time.

”So he’s called a Gorilla? Are there more of his kind?”

”What a fascinating creature! Look at those pure muscles!”

”Mommy I want a gorilla!”

”I’m curious how a man would fare against a gorilla?”

”Make it a hundred men and we’ll see.”

Henry cleared his throat and gave Chee-Chee the signal. The gorilla instantly leaped forward and landed in front of the thief, ”GYAAAHH!”

Normally, their plan was supposed to have someone volunteer from the audience but it seems like Heaven pre-ordered one for him.

Without a care for the man, Chee-Chee grabbed the man and threw him on his shoulder with ease, much to the man’s shivering and on the verge of passing out.

As if the trauma wasn’t enough, Henry murmured the chant before tapping his cane on the ground. Three rings of fire appeared in the air, each varying in size and height.

The nearest is the biggest and closest to the ground while the second is just a few meters higher and smaller in radius. Until finally, the last blazing ring appeared much higher and much tighter.

Much to the crowd’s surprise and fear for the thief, Chee-Chee threw the man towards the first ring of fire, the latter screaming at the top of his lungs mid-air.

And when he smoothly slipped through the hole, the crowd burst into cheers and applause. Of course, Chee-Chee was already waiting on the ground to catch him.

The second ring was also easy and another round of applause was heard from the audience.

And then finally, there’s the last ring. Much higher and the smallest holes out of the three. Chee-Chee gulped his saliva hard. Honestly, the gorilla is not sure if he’ll be able to throw the man accurately.

But still, for the sake of winning, his friends and the doctor. Chee-Chee didn’t stay idle for long and soon, he threw the man in the air. At this point, all the blood on the thief’s face had been drained and he was left as nothing but a mumbling mess, praying to whatever religion existed during this era.

Fwoosh!

And the crowd goes wild! Although there was a small lit flame on the thief’s hair, Henry swiftly blew it away.

”Thank you so much for your cooperation.” With a smile, Henry pushed the pale and probably traumatized man who had finally pissed himself slightly towards the knight guards.

Exchanging nods and looks, the armored men pulled the thief and quickly but silently apprehended him from behind the crowd.

”And now, for the final act! Let us give a round of applause to all my friends!”

At this point, the true main dish turned out to be Chee-Chee’s show. He didn’t expect it though. He only wanted to have a volunteer and have Chee-Chee throw the said volunteer to only a single fire ring, not three, just one.

He only made it three rings earlier since the thief annoyed him for attempting to pin the blame of his crime on him.

And so, the last and final act consisted of Jip, Polynesia, Too-Too, Gub-Gub, and Dab-Dab jumping back and forth from several flame rings he made. He even manipulates some rings to move vertically or horizontally.

While the crowd’s eyes were on the show, Henry smoothly went towards the hooded figure, the purple pouch jumping from his hand.

”I believe this is yours?” Henry smiled and offered the pouch.

”Thank you.” To his surprise, the voice that replied to him was feminine.

A familiar meme appeared in his mind, ’Wait a second. Who are you?’

Squinting his eyes, Henry instantly saw through the darkness of the hood. Blue eyes and Auburn coloured hair with a single platinum streak. He suddenly froze.

Of course, the face looks familiar to him.

Not only because of the eye and hair colour but also because of the fact that he’s in Arendelle and he’s been expecting to encounter a notable person from the Kingdom someday, it’s just that he’s not expecting to meet her now.

’Princess Anna?’