TALLTALE

Let me tell you a story. An epic about adventure, friendship and the will to never give up. A tale of a hero sleeping soundly within the heart of a child's toy. this story starts where most begin, arriving at our first destination:

An old sailboat rests at the dock as the water quietly sways back and forth, seagulls crow high above in the sky, and the ocean breeze pushes against the crest of the ocean waves urging it to gently rock the boat, causing the hull to creak and whine. What appears to be a young child is curled upon the boat's deck, asleep amongst the cool summer breeze..

An ogre with red tainted skin and intricate tattoos that run the full length of its arm before ending at the gold and leather decorative cuffs that grip at its wrists, like a period at the end of a sentence, starts slowly approaching the deck as he dusts off his hands. Spying the strange child currently lazing in the sun, he speaks

"Excuse me sir! It uh…. Looks like we have docked, Are you...uh alright there?

This might come off as a spoiler, but... We'll tell you anyway. The child's name is Pine Eye, a friend of mine, though we just called him Pine.

I stand near Pine, just out of sight from the ogre, with my arms relaxed behind my back. Placing one of my four hands over my mouth, I reply in a sort of amateurish attempt at ventriloquism.

"eghem! Yes kind sir! I, the child here, totally not asleep, am fine! I was just distracted by all the wonderful smells in the air from the food at Fantasia port! Yes, yes, I'll be right along!"

The breeze carries a strong aroma down to the docks from the market place just inside the port, of various foods being cooked, cured and roasted. The myriad of tasty smells wraps its scent around the toy child's Nostrils sending a vibration from the top of the child's spine, downward. His eyes open wide, instantly bouncing into the air like a spring and yells

''WERE HERE!!''

He hangs in the air a while, like a feather slowly drifting toward the land, as he holds his arms out wide and greets the large Ogre with a massive grin. the wind starts to blow the child toward the sea, nervously he looks downward his tongue touching the right side of his cheek holding out his arm as it starts to extend rapidly *Click! Click! Click!* with his hand he grasps the pole of the sail and instantly retracts himself downward.*Snap!* he Slides down the sail and back to the Deck he says

''Thank you Mr Boat man! I slipped a 20coin tip in your pockets to pay for the trip!''

The ogre shocked smiles as he responds

''oh wow thanks kiddo! The ogre slips open his side saddle pocket to check for the amount Pine claimed was placed there, only to see his pockets had actually been emptied. Pine jumps out of the ship, landing onto the dock, I walk over ever so pompous with my eyes closed and arms crossed

''looks like I'm finally getting through to you. I seem to be shaping you up to be a real nice lad!'' Cricket says

"Oh! Mr Cricket, how did I forget ya!"

Pine's arm shoots out, extending from the socket *Click! Click! Click!* grabbing the cricket in form and instantly retracting his arm, returning it back into place. *Snap!*

The ogre standing looking extremely puzzled says

''hey kiddo I'm not seeing the-''

He Looks up and notices pine is Goofily running off while waving. Pine rubs his nose and looks backward and says

''THANKS ANYWAYS MR BOAT GUY! I OWE YA ONE!''

The ogre in shock watches the dust bunny in his hand blow away he quickly raises his head and replies "What the hell! Get back here!"

cricket face palms, while resting on the shoulder of pine as they run into the Grand City Fantasia.

"You never learn…do you"

pine chuckles as he rubs his nose. His nose clicks out one notch to insinuate that he's lied *Click!* the sound his nose makes while pine announces

"LETS GO FIND THE TOYMAKER!"

Cricket Replies

"If what we heard was true, the toymaker should indeed be in this town. We should hurry"

Pine extends his arm forward as The sound of his mechanical arm makes a *Click! Click! Click!* after grabbing a pole, he instantaneously retracts himself *Snap!* mid air he replies

"Right!"

<<Episode end>>