Cleo's Puddle Part 1: Frog in a Well

When Cleo opened her eyes, she found herself in the castle courtyard. This is where some noble kids would often play. A man in a white coat and black shirt and pants came and sat next to a small girl sitting on a stone bench who looked sick. He was bald with a clean shaven face and round glasses, sitting next to the girl. The girl wore a pink blouse with black hair and brown eyes. “I know...that girl. That’s me when I was four years old.” Cleo thought. “Hello doctor.” the young Cleo said quietly. “Oh Cleo, you know you can just call me Jargus. Not feeling happy still huh?” Young Cleo shook her head. “My legs still don’t work…” Jargus’ facial features softened and patted her head. “You know Cleo...I have been working on something. But I would need both you and your father’s permission. It should be able to cure you.” her eyes widened, brightening with hope. “Really?!” Jargus smiled and nodded. “Indeed. Let’s go see your father.” Cleo nodded with a wide smile.
Cleo bit her lip. She knew what was going to happen next. The world became black, and she was standing in a new location. A dark room with all kinds of animals in containers of green liquid. She saw her younger self sitting on a chair, nervous but excited. Jargus approached her with a syringe full of green liquid. “This has the essence of a red-eyed tree frog from my world Cleo. Hold out your arm. This should cure you.” The young Cleo had eyes full of determination and held out her arm. Jargus smiled. “Well look at you. Quite the brave young girl aren’t you? Alright, here we go.” he said, sticking the needle in her arm and pressing down on the syringe. After a few moments he pulled away. “Alright. Try standing.” He stepped back, and the young Cleo stood up. She began to hop up and down, excited. “It worked! Thank you!” Jargus smiled gently. However, the small girl fell to her knees, suddenly screaming in pain, her vision began to get blurry. “Don’t worry Cleo. We discussed the side effects, remember? Just power through.” the young Cleo breathed heavily, tears coming from her brown eyes that slowly became bright red. Her hair began to turn a bright green with bright red ends, and her arms and legs began to get orange and blue splotches as if she got sprayed with paint, with yellow lines are her neck. She punched the ground and grabbed her throat. “Absolutely beautiful…” he heard Jargus say before her vision went black, and so did the version of Cleo watching.

Cleo next saw the scene turn into a training yard. She was in leather training armor and now 7 years old. She still had green hair with red ends and bright red eyes, but the other colors on her skin were gone. She had a confident smile. She had a wooden sword in hand with a child her age with the same gear. Cleo smirked and rushed forward, in her opponents face immediately and pointed the practice sword to her opponent’s neck. A man clapped and walked forward “Well done Cleo! Very impressive!” 7-year old Cleo put a hand on her hip and smiled “I think I’m ready to take on the adult knights now.” The man laughed “Well...you are talented. Tell you what. We can have a quick sparring match. You can start whenever you-” the man widened his eyes as Cleo crouched her legs before leaping forward, in front of his face in an instant with a playful grin. Her wooden sword hits his face, and he falls backwards. “I did it!” Cleo jumps in joy. The man grit his teeth and leaned upward “I didn’t say start yet you little brat!” he yelled in anger, a vein appearing on his forehead. But he soon gasped, startled. Other knights around him seem startled, some snickered, and some turned away, embarrassed for him. The young Cleo looked at the man with surprise “Did I do something wrong?” The instructor looked away in irritation. “...No. I’m going to head to the barracks.”

The young Cleo looked around at the strange looks, unsure how to feel. The present Cleo appeared saddened, watching her past. In the corner, she saw three girls glaring in the corner. Clarice and her sisters. The ones who gave her the nickname Frog Girl. Cleo clenched her teeth, knowing what came next. The world would become in darkness again, and the young Cleo now laid peacefully in her bed. Clarice in her sisters glared at the sleeping young Cleo, and Clarice held up a syringe, and injected into her neck. Darkness again, the young Cleo woke up, staring up at the bottom of a well, with the three sisters smiled. Clarice spoke “How does it feel Frog Girl? We know how you won that match. It’s only because Jargus gave you an advantage. You never would have defeated our dad if you were normal. Especially if your legs still didn’t work. Go ahead and rot down here. You should have never challenged an adult. You were too arrogant. And now you’re just a frog in a well.” The young Cleo cried out “Wait! Don’t leave me down here!” she yelled in frustration. Clarice sneered and walked away, Cleo looked down the well to see her younger self upset and crying. She looked over to the young Clarice and her sisters. “Clarice...don’t you think we might have taken it too far?” Carla asked, looking back at the well. “Well maybe you should have said something before we actually did it. Besides, Clarice is right Carla. She embarrassed our dad. Cleo was too coddled due to her past condition. She needs a lesson in humility.” Clarissa said. “Enough. Let’s just go.” Clarice huffed before walking away. The young Cleo kept crying and the present Cleo saw another young girl with dark blue hair approaching the well. She smiled gently “Come on. Let’s get you out of there.” The young Cleo sniffed and looked up at the girl. The current Cleo had small tears form in her eyes and shut them in sadness and fear. “Alice…”