Swapped

Let me stop you right there. My name's Ollie.

It might surprise you, but this isn't the worst day of my life.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

That happened a long time ago, when I was a kid.

As long as I can remember,

curiosity has always seemed to get the better of me.

- -

Oh, hey, Dad. Um… Uh…

Thirsty?

Ollie, you never trust any other creature.

My little Ollie-kins!

I made you a new harvest hat.

He went off island.

You went off island?

Mom, you wouldn't believe what I saw.

It was incredible.

There was these leaves with eyes.

Oh, oh, and this giant fish with rainbow scales smiled at me.

Really? Big rainbow fish?

I don't care! You don't go off island.

-But why? -Because it's dangerous, that's why.

We're worried about you.

I don't see what the big deal is. I was just exploring.

Son, the Pookoo aren't supposed to be curious.

What's our motto?

- "Hide today, alive tomorrow." - Exactly.

That's why we're blessed with our Pookoo nose,

so that we can smell threats and stay away.

We smell everything, but not everything is a threat.

That's it. I'm telling him the Tale.

Caloo! No

Wait. The Tale?

As in the Tale the Tale? I want to hear it.

He's too young to hear about the… wolf. He'll have nightmares.

I won't. Lodd's parents told him.

I don't think we should be taking advice from Lodd's parents.

Oh my goodness, come on.

-What the-- -He needs to know!

Grandma?

With the wind whistling eerily through the hallows,

the dark one came on a black and cloudless night.

The great destroyer who ignited hellfire

torched the Valley.

Oh wow. This is gonna be awesome.

You want to dial it back, please?

No!

It all started a long time ago

when the Valley was a very different place.

The Pookoo didn't always live on an island like we do now.

-They lived amongst the other animals … -

…in fear of the ferocious wolf who stalked the Valley.

But then everything changed.

Into the Valley came a creature so huge,

the Dzo, the magnificent walking orchards.

In their vast wisdom and kindness, the Dzo offered the creatures a gift.

From their branches grew a magical glowing pod,

which had the incredible power to transform one creature into another.

The pods gave them the ability to understand each other,

which brought them all together.

But the wolf,

bitter that he had lost control of the Valley,

despised this new way,

so he stole the Dzo's gift to become a monster.

To become the Firewolf!

In order to destroy the pods, he attacked the Dzo!

He slayed the first four!

Then drove the rest away.

Causing a rock slide,

which created a dam.

He banished the remaining Dzo outside the Valley forever.

Without the Dzo, he plunged the creatures of the Valley

back to a life of fear and mistrust.

And the Firewolf still rules the Valley to this very day.

Hmm? Pretty good stuff, huh?

Eh.

"Eh"? What do you mean, "Eh"?

Where's the blood and guts? The gore?

What if the Firewolf rips apart the Pinecone Hedgehogs

and feasts on their entrails?

That would be awesome.

You know what? That's your son.

We love you. We just want you to be safe.

-I know. -Look around, kiddo.

This place, these Pookoo,

it's the one thing you don't have to be afraid of.

That's why we're celebrating,

to give thanks for the piplet harvest.

We are very fortunate to have all of this.

Ready, set, pass the piplet!

A Javan?

I know we're not supposed to be curious.

Ollie!

I can smell you around here somewhere.

Hey, where are you?

Hey, Dad, don't worry. It's not dangerous.

It's smart. Look.

I taught it the trick.

I taught it how to eat.

- -

Ollie.

What have you done?

Yup, that was it. Worst day of my life.

What's that saying? Curiosity killed the cat.

I don't know what a cat is,

but my curiosity definitely doomed the Pookoo.

The Javan, they're eating everything.

There's more every year.

-Take, take, take. That's all they do. -But what about the emergency rations?

They're gone.

The storage is nearly empty.

How are we gonna make it through the winter?

We need to find more piplets or… or…

Or what?

We starve.

Uh, Dad.

Hey, Dad. I was up on the surface with my leaf camo.

And I… And I was able to find this.

Why did I have to feed that Javan?

-Why? Huh? What is wrong with me? -

It works?

Dad, it works!

Everybody, listen!

I found the solution!

Yes, yes, yes, yes!

-Ah, okay. -

Well, look who it is.

A hero.

Come on, let's go.

Big dumb sack of feathers. Come and get me.

What are you waiting for? Come on!

Come on and get me!

Glowing pod?

From… the Tale?

It's true.

No. Nope, nope, nope, nope.

We're not doing this. Nope.

Don't need magic glowing pod thingies.

This is all your fault, you stupid Javan!

Ollie!

Come on.

Ollie! Hello?

Ollie!

My head.

Ollie!

Is that you?

Yeah. I'm down here!

He's here! Guys, I found him.

He's in the hole! He is in a really, really dark hole.

-What are you doing there? -Are you stuck, honey?

What's hurt? Your ankle, leg, arm, ribs, back?

-Don't tell me it's your head! - No, it's not.

I just feel a little weird.

Then come out already.

I'm coming.

Javan!

What? What? Where? Where?

Wait, wait. Whoa, I'm a…

No, no, no. I'm a--

Javan!

No, Mama! Help. Help me!

Ma, it's me!

Ollie?

Help me.

I'm scared, Ma.

Ollie's voice… coming from that bird?