It all began a long time ago, in the luxurious Tuscan countryside.
One day, during a thrush hunting trip, the young Fernandel was trapped in the hunters' nets who were not sure what to do with a big black crow and sold him for a cheap price to a mad scientist.
Fernandel was very happy with him, he watched him attentively while he was working on projects for strange flying machines inspired by his wings.
The scientist became very attached to him and spoke to him as if he were a person and asked him for advice.
When the old scientist died, Fernandel was sold for a cheap price to a Florentine craftsman.
This craftsman fell in love with his shiny black feathers and blue reflections.
With his feathers, he started making wonderful writing tools, with a finely chiseled gold and silver stylus, and all kings and queens, doctors and notaries wanted one.
Poor Fernandel soon found himself plucked and sold for a cheap price to an English merchant who offered him as a pet to his little boy.
This child was very kind and took good care of his beloved crow. IThey were always together and Fernandel would tell him stories of ancient kingdoms and noble families.
The child started writing down these stories and as he grew up, he became a very successful writer.
Unfortunately, his wife was very afraid of this big black crow: she finally convinced him to sell the bird for a cheap price to an Italian astronomer.
Fernandel was fascinated by all his knowledge.
He learned with him how to read the signs of the sky, how to observe the stars, how to study the sun and the laws of nature.
But one day, this gentleman was arrested because of his ideas, which were a bit too revolutionary for that time, and Fernandel was sold for a cheap price to French merchants who brought him as a present to the King of France.
The king was so amazed by the beauty of this crow and kept him on his shoulder at all times.
He was never away from him. Fernandel lived for many years in splendor and opulence, he learned about the beauty of art and the rules of etiquette.
When the good king died, Fernandel stayed with his son who, unfortunately, had a wife who was a little too spendthrift. In a short time, the kingdom was on the verge of bankruptcy and there was even a revolution. Fernandel was sold for a cheap price to an Austrian musician.
This musician was a madman, a genius! He played all kinds of instruments and created wonderful masterpieces.
Fernandel learned how to read music and how to sing opera. It was a very inspiring time.
Unfortunately, this great musician died young and Fernandel was sold for a cheap price to a troupe of travelling acrobats who, after travelling for many years, sold him for a cheap price to a Dutch painter who had fallen in love with him at first sight.
Fernandel was very happy with this painter, he learned the secrets and techniques of colors.
He painted beautiful pictures by jumping on the canvas and the young artist was inspired by his style and became famous.
He painted starry nights and fields of sunflowers, he talked with Fernandel and confided his thoughts to him.
They were a truly beautiful couple. Unfortunately, when the painter died, Fernandel was sold for a cheap price to a Catalan architect.
Fernandel had so much fun with him! He felt like he was living in a magical world of statues, animals, gaudy mosaics and the most bizarrely shaped houses.
He learned how to appreciate art and how to see the world beyond the rules and conventions. He felt like he was in a fairy tale.
But when this gentleman had an accident, Fernandel was sold for a cheap price to a young Parisian seamstress.
Despite his old age, Fernandel still had a beautiful, coal-black, shiny plumage.
This seamstress was dazzled by so much beauty and designed a collection of ladies' hats, adorned with his wonderful all-black feathers, which had great success and made her famous.
Poor Fernandel found himself plucked like a chick again.
He was getting a little tired of all this traveling. He became old, hoarse and a bit blind. He was bought for cheap by an old Portuguese barber who was working near the port and cutting the beards of all the sailors passing by.
One day, Gaïa and Fred, on one of their journeys to discover the world, found themselves in front of the barber store and noticed this poor dusty bird sitting on his perch in the corner of the store. He was sad and lonely. Gaïa wanted him immediately. She convinced Fred to have the old barber shave his beard, and while he was looking the other way, she slipped the crow into her bag and run away.
Fernandel was very happy. For the first time in his long life, he was not sold for cheap, but stolen like a precious object, which he really was.
And now he can rest and share his adventures.
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