Queen Regina's Kingdom - Forest - 69 Years BDC

[Hollywood Heidi]

Queen Regina's Kingdom - Forest

Events occurring 69 years before Dark Curse

[Zizhun]

Jiminy wasn’t sure what had made him think this was a good idea. He was an insect; how was he supposed to find a boy. All he knew was that his name was Gepetto. Would that truly be enough information to find him?


Jiminy was starting to believe it wasn’t. Gepetto had a huge head start on the cricket, and Jiminy had no idea where he was going. He was going to lose the boy, and then …


It was pure luck that allowed him to see the bird in time to fly out of the way. It’s beak closed around open air instead of his body. Jiminy was already zooming away, flying quickly with the influence of adrenaline, as the black bird circled around, and preparing to chomp on him again. He managed to get under a leaf before the bird could spot him, and after searching for a few minutes, it flew away, in look of easier prey.


He came out, trembling slightly. Gepetto was at least safe from black birds.


But, was he safe from bandits? True, he had nothing, but would that matter to cruel men? What if they decided to take what little he had, and leave him lying on the road, injured and alone …


Just the thought made him feel dizzy and sick. He had to find the boy, before robbers did. He had to protect him now, since he’d failed to protect his parents. Jiminy tried to ignore the fear that grew stronger with each wingbeat. A boy alone in the world was easy prey; easier than a lone cricket. Gepetto could easily be in a world of trouble.

[The Jester Of Tortuga]

"Nahaha look at the little wee cricket boy." Oogie clapped as he leaned against a tree looking down at the cricket an overly large black bird perched on his shoulder twisting its head to better see the small creature. "You were nearly Cricket Creme Brulee, though that is still an option though I prefer my insects raw, cooking them ruins that natural crunch."

The bird on his shoulder kawed loudly "Yes yes I know you're hungry but for now Jiminy can't be your dinner he may yet prove useful or maybe he will become a snack while he searches for the puppeteer Gepetto who knows but it is all so exciting." Oogie eyed the cricket up as a bird would a worm.

[Zizhun]

"Nahaha look at the little wee cricket boy." Jiminy turned so quickly that he almost dropped out of the air. He found himself staring at a man whose very appearance could make someone’s heart stop. The black bird on his shoulder, eyeing Jiminy like he was about to become his next meal, only added to his fear. "You were nearly Cricket Creme Brulee, though that is still an option though I prefer my insects raw, cooking them ruins that natural crunch."


An involuntary shudder ran up his back at the words. Perhaps he should have stayed human; then he wouldn’t have to worry about being eaten.


The bird screeched loudly; hungrily. Jiminy backed up, preparing to zoom off if the creature attacked. "Yes yes I know you're hungry but for now Jiminy can't be your dinner he may yet prove useful or maybe he will become a snack while he searches for the puppeteer Gepetto who knows but it is all so exciting."


The fact that the stranger knew his name, and Gepetto’s, didn’t register as something strange. Instead, Jiminy latched onto the realization that he might know where Gepetto was. “Do you know where he is? Can you tell me?”


Jiminy was used to dealing with the Dark One; he knew there would be a price for this information. But, if he could find and help Gepetto, he was willing to pay almost anything.

[The Jester Of Tortuga]

“Do you know where he is? Can you tell me?”

People were so easy to lead along Oogie found with a simple phrase they were more than willing to unleash the raging hounds of the underworld for their own gain. Oogie could smell the fear in air, usually it would proliferate exponentially though with this tiny cricket his curiosity seemly had the better of him allowing fear to take the back seat. Never mind.

"Yes I know where he is, was and always will be. Why on earth would I tell you, how do I know you wont harm the little guy after all one day I will need Pinocchio. But..." Oogie said with a wave of his hand "More importantly what is in it for me?"

[Zizhun]

He waited, holding his breath without even realizing he was doing so, for the man to respond. "Yes I know where he is, was and always will be. Why on earth would I tell you, how do I know you wont harm the little guy after all one day I will need Pinocchio. But..." "More importantly what is in it for me?"



“I could never harm him.” Again. The last word slipped into his head unbidden, and Jiminy did his best to shake it away. He hadn’t meant to harm the boy’s parents. He would never harm Gepetto on purpose. In fact, right now he was focused on making amends for his past mistakes. “I … you said you needed him, right? You need Pinocchio.” Pinocchio must be Gepetto’s future son; this man had to have foresight. Gepetto was going to have a son, and perhaps Jiminy could help him get there. “I … I could help protect him. Him and Pinocchio. If you tell me where he is, I swear I will do my best to help him.”



Would that be enough of a price? Jiminy wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t think of anything else to pay. Hopefully, this stranger would be content with this price. Otherwise, Jiminy would have to find Gepetto by himself. Could the boy really have gotten that far already? No, he was close; he had to be.