Chapter 1- Kidnapped

Since becoming a cricket Jiminy had put up with all manner of things. First of all he had to get over the language barrier. He didn't want to count how many times he'd been whacked with flailing hands when he'd buzzed advice at them. Thankfully, the Blue Fairy had solved that problem when they met for the second time. She had given him a translator that fixed onto his little jacket so he could finally help Gepetto properly. Secondly, bugs weren't very welcome around people and more often than not he had to dodge the angry cursing of the townsfolk. Had he been the only man who loved crickets? Thirdly, the most distressing of the three was the bug knapping. There were the odd crazy individuals who were bug enthusiasts and word had spread of the talking cricket. He had become a sort of legend in the bug world, something that he hadn't expected at all. From then on he had received unwanted attention from people with massive nets and jars with homemade holes punched through the lid.

Unfortunately that was exactly what was happening right now. Both Jiminy and Geopetto had travelled across different lands selling Gepetto's hand carved clocks, in their donkey drawn carriage. They had been incredibly successful and Gepetto had earned enough to purchase new tools at the market that morning. His carpenter friend had insisted that he stay and relax so he had taken his advice and had spent the time alone in the sun. The field had been delightfully silent when he decided to take a nap. The blades of grass bowed underneath him and there weren't many experiences nicer than having the sun warm the skin, well whatever it was now. He was awoken from his dreams however, with the stuff of nightmares. A wooden cage speeding toward him with the face of an old woman behind it smiling. Her wrinkled lips caved in where her teeth should have been.

'Oh it must be my lucky day. Ha! Get it my lucky day? Because you lucky cricket, are lucky and I know someone who needs it by the bucketful.' Her voice rasped but sounded rather cheery and free.

'Uh, wait Madam? Pardon me Madam but I'm a little more than a cricket! Madam!' He tried desperately to plead with her but she didn't seem to take notice. The cage still came toward him. He jumped sporadically as she swung it back and forth trying to capture him. He tapped his translator and shouted pleas that he didn't want to be bug knapped but to no avail.

'Please don't be broken.' He shouted at himself and he stopped for a fraction to catch his breath but in an instant was scooped up inside the cage. The old woman fastened the carved wooden roof of the cage, not a door or escape route in sight. He bashed his umbrella upwards to try and dislodge the roof but there must have been a clip that secured it. There was no way he was getting out of there.

'Come on lucky cricket I'm hoping you can help my granddaughter. Your luck will help the future of our entire family.' She held it up to her face. Her eyes like her smile were full of brimming confidence and frivolity. White hair was secured severely in a neat bun and decorated with a black sash. It was hard to be angry at her no one wanted to be taken against their will.

'Excuse me? Please put me down. I don't think crickets have ever been lucky and this one certainly isn't.' He was surprised at how calm his voice sounded even when being bug knapped in such a manner.

'Crickets sure sound different close up or is it just my ears playing up again?' She stuck a slim bony finger into her ear and dug for goodness knows what. Jiminy sighed. No wonder his translator didn't work. She couldn't hear a word he said because she was half deaf. His hopes of a peaceful morning had slipped from his grasp. She clipped the cage to her white apron string that hung around blue tunic of sorts. Jiminy was surprised that for her age she moved incredibly quickly. She sprang over the grass with no support but that was bad news for him. The cage rocked barbarically making him feel terribly queasy and the beads that were slung around her neck bounced smacking him on the odd occasion.

For too long she walked at this pace before she slowed; the makeshift support he'd made by wedging his umbrella between two bars no longer necessary. The grass turned to sandy stone and they both entered a thriving small market town. The colours were exotic pinks and reds that glimmered from scarves and bouquets of flowers and blossom. The place was alive and the sweet smell of brewing tea perfumed the air. Hand drawn carts busied themselves over the rough stone; the wheels clacking and creaking as they turned. His captor hastened toward a cart that was fastened to a fine black stallion, numerous bags of grain were piled high on top. The woman heaved herself to sit on the ledge of the cart. The rest crammed with various contents such as casks of milk, a bundle of hay and several bags of ripe red apples.

'There you are Grandma I thought I was going to have to pull together a search party again. What do you get up to?' Jiminy searched for the owner of the voice and found a beautiful young woman with hair like black silk. She wore a dress of green and yellow that was simple yet pretty and much a like her supposed Grandma had an inquisitive and charming smile.

'Hello!? Please help I…' He shouted as loud as he could but at that moment a small white dog came yapping behind the young girl and she laughed and put the dog on the cart.

'Come on Little Brother we'd best be getting back. I got a big day ahead of me tomorrow.' She frowned at that and spurred the horse onwards. 'So Grandma what were you up to while I was shopping?'

'Oh you know Mulan the usual just exploring the fields for something new and this time I struck lucky!'

'You mean you found some money?'

'Heck no! I found a lucky cricket and you know what they can do for a family.' Her back was turned to Mulan so she shouted extra loud to be heard over the movement of the cart, which didn't sound very good to Jiminy whose ears were ringing afterwards.

'I'm not sure crickets are lucky Grandma…You should let the poor thing go.' That'd be nice. Thought Jiminy but he wasn't sure he'd know how to even get back to his little napping spot in the field.

'Of course they are lucky! My Great Aunt Kima told me so! So there is no way I'm letting this thing free. You need this cricket for tomorrow if you hope to pass. I won't take no for an answer.' She crossed her arms defiantly although Jiminy didn't know why... Mulan couldn't see her from the front of the cart.

'Whatever you say Grandma. I would take as many crickets as I could if they would help me get through tomorrow. I can't say I'm feeling very lucky.'

'Then worry no longer my dear.' She patted the cage which to Jiminy felt like a battering ram attack. 'This cricket is lucky. I can feel it in my bones!'