Disclaimer: I do not own Pinocchio and all things related to it. Pinocchio belongs to Walt Disney Productions
The Curse of Pleasure Island
Prologue
The nerve of that beetle… having the gall to talk to people who could have squished him easily. Lampwick came to Pleasure Island to do things that he would never have been allowed to do at home, not to be bossed around by some measly grasshopper. If he wasn't a friend of Pinoke's, he'd have squished it.
"Ha! Hear that beetle talk…" he downed his beer. "You'd think something' was gonna happen to us."
He spat in the spittoon. He turned to see Pinocchio pushing his beer away with a confused look on his face. Was he chickening out on him?
"Conscience. Ah, phooey!" He potted a ball. What did he need a conscience for anyway. He didn't need one whenever he stole from a shop or vandalised public property or whenever the cops were on his tail. He didn't need his parents, he didn't need school and he sure as heck didn't no conscience. He turned again to see Pinocchio flick his cigar away.
"Where does he get that stuff? 'How do you ever expect to be a real boy?'" he sneered and potted another ball. "What's he think I look like… a jackass?!" He puffed on his cigar proudly.
"You sure do!" cried Pinocchio. He started to laugh… it sounded amazingly like a donkey!
"Hey, you laugh like a donkey!" Lampwick began to laugh, and much to his surprise… it sounded like a donkey braying! "Did that come outta me?"
Pinocchio nodded, a horrified look upon his face. Lampwick felt where his nose should be… it was the muzzle of a donkey! He felt the side of his face… it was furry! This could not be happening! He felt up his ears… they were long… like a donkeys!
"What the… What's goin' on ?" He looked in the mirror. A human with the head and tail of a donkey stared back. "AAARRRGGGHHH! I've been double-crossed! Help! Help! Somebody help! I've been framed! Help!" Pinocchio… the only friend he had left… he had to do something! "Please you've gotta help me! Be a pal! Call that beetle! Call anybody!" He could feel the bones of his fingers and toes sinking into his hands and feet! He felt them harden… they were hooves!
"Mama! M-A-A-A-M-A-A-A-A-A-A!"
His back stiffened! Something was pulling the upper half of his body to the ground! It was agonising! He shouted for his mother, countless times but he could feel the bray leaving his mouth. He flew round the billiard room in a horrified panic, smashing the mirror, sending tables and chairs flying. His clothes flew off. Lampwick kept calling for his mother, even though he knew it would do no good. What could he do…? What could he do…?