Frog couldn’t move. The King’s words had frozen him to the spot.
“Didn’t you hear me?” said King Kroak. “We are identical in every way. You’re my perfect copy … my duplicate… You’re me!”
“But… But I can’t be you,” Frog said, the colour draining from his cheeks. “I don’t want to be you! You’re all the badness in the universe, plus a million!”
“It’s your destiny!” the King cried, his fists clenched. He took a deep breath and composed himself. “Look, son, I only sent you to this dust-riddled planet because I wanted to give you a chance to have a normal childhood – a chance to do kid’s stuff, like conquering your own planet and bringing about the End of the World! I didn’t even tell your Keeper or General Kurg who you really were – I thought it would be nice to break the news myself, father to clone!”
“No… I’m not you…” muttered Frog weakly. But he was, and he knew it. He stared into King Kroak’s eyes and saw his own eyes staring back at him. Had he not felt as if his world had just ended, Frog might have been pleased about how mighty he was going to look as a grown-up.
“I almost forgot!” cried King Kroak. He reached into his pocket and took out a small cube with a round green button set into one side. “See this? This is the Green Button. I love buttons, especially ones that make noises. Boop beep boop! Well, this one is specially encoded to work only when I press it. But since you’re me, it also works if you press it! Nifty, eh?”
“What does it do?” said Frog, already dreading the answer.
“Oh, nothing much … it just FIRES THE SUPER SUNDER-CANNON! Imagine a gigantically enormous version of a normal sunder-cannon that blasts a super sunder-beam straight into the core of the planet. Instant chain reaction – no more world! Heaps of fun!” The King’s finger hovered over the button. “So, do you want to press it or shall I?”
“Don’t!” Frog cried.
“What’s wrong with you?” said King Kroak. “I’ve just told you, you’re the future ruler of the universe and you’re acting like I got dust in your boots!”
“You can’t destroy the world! I won’t let you!” Frog growled.
King Kroak shook his head. He thought for a moment, tapping his fingers against his chin.
“OK, fine … I’ll make you a deal,” he began. “I’ll spare this planet, since you seem to give so many hoots about it. I’ll leave it alone forever. All you have to do is join me.”
“Join you?” repeated Frog.
“Return with me to Kroakas. Take your place at my side and fulfil your destiny. We can conquer the universe together, father-son style,” the King replied. “But – and here’s the important bit – if you defy me at any point, then I shall return to this planet and wipe it off the face of existence. So, what do you say?”
Frog stared at the Green Button. His choice seemed like no choice at all – doom Kingdomland, or doom the rest of the universe – trillions of lives … maybe even hundreds. But then, wasn’t that his destiny?
“I… I…” he began.
“Take your time, it’s a big decision,” said King Kroak. “But remember, whatever you choose, whatever you decide, what— The … what?”
Frog looked up and saw King Kroak peering out of the window. He turned, slowly.
The blue house was flying towards them at high speed.