The Metal Pig

An illustrated tales story from Wonder Tales — free to read, with narration.

The Metal Pig — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

The Metal Pig — book cover — Wonder Tales
The Metal Pig — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Page 1

In a reef where sunlight barely touched the ocean floor lived Coralia, a young teacher, and Barnaby, a curious student. Old Captain Redfin, a grizzled sea dog…
In a reef where sunlight barely touched the ocean floor lived Coralia, a young teacher, and Barnaby, a curious student. Old Captain Redfin, a grizzled sea dog, told tales of forgotten treasures, and the metal pig, an enigma, haunted their school built inside a sunken galleon. This school of coral and secrets held whispers of a past where greed met the ocean's vast indifference. Their world, both beautiful and dangerous, would soon face a test of loyalty and avarice.

In a reef where sunlight barely touched the ocean floor lived Coralia, a young teacher, and Barnaby, a curious student. Old Captain Redfin, a grizzled sea dog, told tales of forgotten treasures, and the metal pig, an enigma, haunted their school built inside a sunken galleon. This school of coral and secrets held whispers of a past where greed met the ocean's vast indifference. Their world, both beautiful and dangerous, would soon face a test of loyalty and avarice.

Page 2

Coralia adjusted her seaweed spectacles. 'Barnaby, pay attention,' she chuckled, 'History isn't just dates, it's echoes.' Barnaby, forever the distracted…
Coralia adjusted her seaweed spectacles. 'Barnaby, pay attention,' she chuckled, 'History isn't just dates, it's echoes.' Barnaby, forever the distracted student, pointed. 'But Captain Redfin says the Metal Pig is real! A golden statue that brings riches!' Coralia sighed, 'Legends are often prettier than the truth, Barnaby.'

Coralia adjusted her seaweed spectacles. 'Barnaby, pay attention,' she chuckled, 'History isn't just dates, it's echoes.' Barnaby, forever the distracted student, pointed. 'But Captain Redfin says the Metal Pig is real! A golden statue that brings riches!' Coralia sighed, 'Legends are often prettier than the truth, Barnaby.'

Page 3

Redfin leaned in, his one good eye gleaming. 'Riches, lad? Aye, and ruin! The pig was made for a king, who became obsessed.
Redfin leaned in, his one good eye gleaming. 'Riches, lad? Aye, and ruin! The pig was made for a king, who became obsessed. 'Remember what Seneca said,' he rasped, 'Every new possession is a new worry.' The pig dragged that king, and his ship, down to the depths!' He spat a stream of brine into the water.

Redfin leaned in, his one good eye gleaming. 'Riches, lad? Aye, and ruin! The pig was made for a king, who became obsessed. 'Remember what Seneca said,' he rasped, 'Every new possession is a new worry.' The pig dragged that king, and his ship, down to the depths!' He spat a stream of brine into the water.

Page 4

One morning, a shimmering current brought a scroll to the school's entrance. Coralia unfurled it. 'A map?' she questioned. Barnaby gasped.
One morning, a shimmering current brought a scroll to the school's entrance. Coralia unfurled it. 'A map?' she questioned. Barnaby gasped. 'It shows the Pig's location!'

One morning, a shimmering current brought a scroll to the school's entrance. Coralia unfurled it. 'A map?' she questioned. Barnaby gasped. 'It shows the Pig's location!'

Page 5

'We should leave it be,' Coralia declared, but Barnaby argued. 'But think of the school, the reef! We could fix everything!' Coralia hesitated.
'We should leave it be,' Coralia declared, but Barnaby argued. 'But think of the school, the reef! We could fix everything!' Coralia hesitated. 'Some treasures aren't worth their weight in sorrow, Barnaby,' she warned, her voice low.

'We should leave it be,' Coralia declared, but Barnaby argued. 'But think of the school, the reef! We could fix everything!' Coralia hesitated. 'Some treasures aren't worth their weight in sorrow, Barnaby,' she warned, her voice low.

Page 6

Redfin, overhearing, chuckled. 'Sorrow? Bah! I'll guide you, lad.' That night, under a moonless sky, Barnaby and Redfin slipped away in a small coral-carved…
Redfin, overhearing, chuckled. 'Sorrow? Bah! I'll guide you, lad.' That night, under a moonless sky, Barnaby and Redfin slipped away in a small coral-carved boat. 'Coralia wouldn't understand,' Barnaby muttered, 'what this could do.'

Redfin, overhearing, chuckled. 'Sorrow? Bah! I'll guide you, lad.' That night, under a moonless sky, Barnaby and Redfin slipped away in a small coral-carved boat. 'Coralia wouldn't understand,' Barnaby muttered, 'what this could do.'

Page 7

The map led them to a pitch-black trench. Redfin produced a glowing pearl. 'There she lies.' A massive, rusted gate sealed the entrance to a cave.
The map led them to a pitch-black trench. Redfin produced a glowing pearl. 'There she lies.' A massive, rusted gate sealed the entrance to a cave. Inside, Barnaby saw it: a pig statue crafted from pure gold. Its eyes glowed ominously.

The map led them to a pitch-black trench. Redfin produced a glowing pearl. 'There she lies.' A massive, rusted gate sealed the entrance to a cave. Inside, Barnaby saw it: a pig statue crafted from pure gold. Its eyes glowed ominously.

Page 8

As Barnaby reached for the pig, Redfin grabbed him. 'Mine!' he snarled, shoving Barnaby aside. The cave began to shake. 'Redfin, stop!' Barnaby cried.
As Barnaby reached for the pig, Redfin grabbed him. 'Mine!' he snarled, shoving Barnaby aside. The cave began to shake. 'Redfin, stop!' Barnaby cried. 'This gold is cursed!' Redfin's eyes went wide with greed.

As Barnaby reached for the pig, Redfin grabbed him. 'Mine!' he snarled, shoving Barnaby aside. The cave began to shake. 'Redfin, stop!' Barnaby cried. 'This gold is cursed!' Redfin's eyes went wide with greed.

Page 9

Coralia, having followed them, swam into the cave. 'Barnaby, leave it!' she commanded. As Redfin tried to pry the pig loose, the trench collapsed, burying him.
Coralia, having followed them, swam into the cave. 'Barnaby, leave it!' she commanded. As Redfin tried to pry the pig loose, the trench collapsed, burying him. Barnaby and Coralia escaped, leaving the gold and the captain behind.

Coralia, having followed them, swam into the cave. 'Barnaby, leave it!' she commanded. As Redfin tried to pry the pig loose, the trench collapsed, burying him. Barnaby and Coralia escaped, leaving the gold and the captain behind.

Page 10

Back at the school, Barnaby looked at Coralia. 'Redfin wanted riches so badly, he lost everything.' Coralia nodded. 'The true treasures, Barnaby, are the…
Back at the school, Barnaby looked at Coralia. 'Redfin wanted riches so badly, he lost everything.' Coralia nodded. 'The true treasures, Barnaby, are the lessons we learn, and the people we share them with.' The ocean floor was dark. But above, the reef school shone with a new understanding.

Back at the school, Barnaby looked at Coralia. 'Redfin wanted riches so badly, he lost everything.' Coralia nodded. 'The true treasures, Barnaby, are the lessons we learn, and the people we share them with.' The ocean floor was dark. But above, the reef school shone with a new understanding.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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