Pinocchio's Family - Return to Duckburg
For those readers who have not followed this Saga in its from the start. I feel it is important to have some details of the previous pure Disney story and the two crossover stories that comprise it here.
Summary of all Disney Crossover - The Junior Woodchucks and the Coachman
Our Saga began when the three duck boys Huey, Dewey and Louie made a wish on the wishing star for the Junior Woodchuck uniform items needed to participate in the annual Camporee. As a condition of the wish being granted they were brought into Pinocchio's universe at a time corresponding to a week after the ending of the movie Pinocchio. They are to aid Pinocchio and Lampwick (who is still a donkey at the beginning of this) in putting an end to the donkey curse of Pleasure Island. Once they are brought to Pleasure Island they discover that the donkey curse on the amusement park and Monstro both originated from a red analogue of the Wishing Star kept in a box in the hollow interior of Pleasure Island. The destruction of this box ends the donkey curse on pleasure island but not its affects on Lampwick. However unknown to the ducklings, Pinocchio and Lampwick the red star itself was not destroyed but simply migrated to another similar box in the Coachman's possession. He uses one of the red star's wormholes to escape into the universe of Duckburg and the blue fairy sends the duck boys, Pinocchio and Lampwick after them. (Jiminy cricket starts taking up residence under Pinocchio's hat from here on in). Here the Coachman alters his original Pleasure Island idea to one of selling the anthropomorphic animal youth of the Duckburg universe into slavery as "animals" in his own world. When making his new Pleasure Island in an abandoned amusement park of the Duckburg coast he finds out the source of the red star, the duck woman sorceress Magica De Spell and makes a deal with her to continue to use the star for his original plan. When the attraction in the form of a barrel ride that contains the wormhole to the original Pleasure Island which still serves as the Coachman's shipping station in his own world fails to reel any boys in Magica takes matters into her own hand by using her own magic mixed with that of the red star to join minion and the barrel ride wormhole into a giant flying beast to "swallow" boys onto the original pleasure island. Lampwick shoots this flying monster back to its own world using the Coachman's discarded revolver and the wormhole retakes residence in the barrel ride. The Coachman, John Worthington Fowlfellow and Gideon escape through the barrel ride to the original Pleasure island but in 1971 rather than their home time of 1881.
The full story for this crossover can be found in regular cartoon Disney stories
Under the Title - The Junior Woodchucks and the Coachman.
Summary of Disney / James Bond Crossover - You're a Donkey Twice:
Pinocchio, Geppetto, Lampwick and Jiminy were sent into the year 1971 by the blue fairy to aid super agent James Bond - 007 to end a plot to turn the intelligent boys of Europe into donkeys using scientific DNA manipulation tactics led by SPECTRE which was then under control of the Coachman. Lampwick started his time in 1971 as a donkey as in the timeline involved he was still under Pleasure Island's curse but became a real boy again when he sacrificed himself to save Pinocchio from being changed into a donkey by the Coachman's new method of making such changes.
The full story for this crossover can be found in Disney crossovers under James Bond.
Summary of Disney / Gunsmoke Crossover - The Coachman Comes to Dodge:
Residual Magic from the timeline where SPECTRE island is also Pleasure Island mixed with the explosions on SPECTRE Island send the Coachman, John Worthington Fowlfellow and Gideon into the Dodge City timeline where Matt Dillon is Marshal in the year 1875. Together they determine that the red star is going to change its own timeline trajectory and come to the Coachman in Dodge City rather than Collodi Italy when Magica De Spell loses control of it and it comes back to 1875. The Coachman realizes that this will give the red star a new "clean" history that will allow him to use its magic to bring back Pleasure Island minions and turn boys into donkeys "the same old way" again. John Worthington Fowlfellow and Gideon reform from their criminal ways in this part of the Saga when Fowlfellow is saved by Pinocchio from being shot for his pelt by the wolfer Festus Haggen. The Coachman attempts to turn Pinocchio into a donkey using the red star when it makes its Dodge City landing in the Long Branch Saloon but Pinocchio stops the attempt by poking the box containing the red star out of the Coachman's hands with his growing nose by telling a story which is both a "lie" and the truth (His origin as a puppet who became a real boy which is the TRUTH in 1881 but is a "LIE" six years earlier in 1875). The Coachman is hoist on his own petard and changes into a donkey as a result of a direct exposure to the red star.
The full story for this crossover can be found in Disney Crossovers under Gunsmoke.
The story that follows both concludes the Wishing Star / Wormhole Saga and it is where I would like to have the reviews of the saga as a whole placed as well as reviews of this particular story.
Chapter 1 - Where the Duck Boys Really Live.
Home of Donald Duck, Duckburg, Calisota, 1955
Rather than landing at the Money Bin or the Junior Woodchuck museum the blue transport bubble carrying
Geppetto, Pinocchio, Lampwick, Jiminy, Honest John Worthington (he decided to dump his last name as it didn't fit with the life he was leading now and use his middle name Worthington as his sir name from now on), Gideon and the now donkey Coachman landed and dispersed itself before a simple wood frame house in the Duckburg suburbs, also the true humans in the group were not changed anthropomorphic animals to correspond their appearance to the norms of Duckburg this time for their final destination was still not decided yet.
However they were still known to the little duck boy whose face appeared in one of the windows in the house. "Hay everybody, Pinocchio and Lampwick are back.
Soon all three of the duck boys were running from the house with their uncle running after them. This uncle wore who the duck boys actually lived with wore a navy sailor's shirt and was obviously a member of that branch of the Duckburg America's military service at one time.
"So these boys are those two new Junior Woodchucks you are so excited about." the uncle said.
"Yes, unca Donald the duck boy in the red and black baseball cap said. "Meet the REAL Pinocchio and Lampwick along with Pinocchio's father Geppetto." then Huey saw the fox, the cat and the donkey.
"What in the world are they doing here." Huey asked. "I thought they would certainly wind up in some prison someplace during your travels."
"Don't worry about them." Pinocchio returned. "They received a second chance from the blue fairy and have turned over a new leaf. And the donkey is the Coachman after he got a little of his own medicine."
"Well you missed a great Junior Woodchuck Camporee." Huey said.
"Well maybe we did." said Pinnochio. "But we also got to wipe out an outlaw spy organization in the future of our own world and then go back into the time of the old west where even though I didn't have the fastest gun in the west I did have the fastest and longest NOSE in the west. That is part of the reason the Coachman is a donkey now."
"While Pinocchio and Huey were talking Jiminy was already forming an idea of what their future should be in his mind based on how all these worlds were connected by Pleasure Island. Jiminy came to the idea that even though whey were not related and indeed some of them were even of different species Geppetto, Pinocchio, Lampwick, John Worthington, Gideon and himself were a type of family brought together by common experiences if not blood relationships. Further more Jimminy believed that they had further relationships to two of the worlds their travels brought them to, their home World of Collodi in 1881 and the Duckburg world of 1955. Those relationships were Huey, Dewey and Louie and the Junior Woodchucks in the Duckburg world and Pinocchio's school teacher and classmates back in Collodi.
Jiminy wondered if there were any way this small but unrelated family that he had become a part of could continue their relationships in BOTH worlds. Finally he concluded there was a way. That way was the third feature of all the worlds they had visited, Pleasure Island but Pleasure Island run RIGHT, Not as a place to keep bad boys bad and turn them into donkeys with a red star curse as the Coachman did but a place where orphans and children of abusive parents OF BOTH WORLDS could come and be turned into productive adult citizens by becoming a part of the common experiences of Geppetto's new family. To support this idea the legitimate midway rides and games of both Pleasure Islands could be rehabilitated and run by the older boys at a profit. Many of the ride and game operations would in fact have an educational theme for the boys that would make a return to schooling fun for them. Also since there was nothing really wrong with sweets if they were not taken in excess girl orphans and children of abusive parents could also come to the new Pleasure Islands for the first time and take jobs as their bakers and confectioners. Furthermore one Pleasure Island would be connected to another for those fully in Geppeto's family by way of the barrel ride that the Coachman intended to be a strictly one way connection. Of course all of this would have to be up to Geppetto as the father of Pinocchio and the presumptive adoptive father of Lampwick but even Geppetto would have to know that the experiences of his group were so unique that they could never be a part of a single world again, even their home one. The once donkey factory Pleasure Island, was the only answer for the adults of the group as well as the children."
Pinocchio and Lampwick were not concerned with the future as yet however. They were too buisy sharing their adventures with Huey, Dewey and Louie.
Mount Vesuvius, Italy: 1955
Magica De Spell was awakened by the magical feeling that acted as a kind of signal claxon in her mind. The red star was back in Duckburg. However all of its magical energy was absorbed into a single person currently taking the form of a donkey because of it. It didn't take long for to realize that this newest donkey the red star made from a human was the Coachman she associated herself with during some time ago.
Magica had long wondered what happened to that Coachman who was a man after her own wicked little heart. Now she knew two important things about him. The first was that he was a donkey and the second was that as a donkey he hat brought the red star back to Duckburg as a part of himself.
However there was some things that Magica wondered about. The first was how could the red star change the Coachman into a donkey when it was known to have been destroyed by the good magic of the blue fairy at the end of the Coachman's second pleasure Island project. Magica came to the truth Independently. The red Star must have fallen into the hands of the Coachman in 1875 on a different timeline than the one corresponding to its destruction by the fairy. Probably due to another if his seemingly miraculous escapes from Pinocchio and Lampwick.
It was then that Magica came up with an idea. She was the one that made the magic that changed the Coachman into a donkey. She could reverse it and in doing so bring the red star back and Pleasure Island rises again. Of course there were certain things that she didn't know about relating to the return of the red star in the form of the donkey Coachman. One of these was the reform of John Worthington and Gideon the Coachman associates that were most instrumental in bringing "stupid little boys" to the Island wherever it was located. However the idea of a restored boy to donkey factory somewhere in some world and the profits it could bring in the Coachman's original world were all compelling to Magica. She decided on a quick magical trip to Duckburg this time. No airplanes as she didn't want her trip announced to Geppetto, Pinocchio and Lampwick if they have returned from wherever they disappeared to yet.
Inside the home of Donald Duck, Duckburg, Calisota, 1955:
The three duck boys, Pinocchio and Lampwick were now occupying a bedroom redesigned for five rather than three.
"I want to hear the one about the spies again." Dewey said. "I really like the part about how Lampwick regained his original form as the Island was blowing up with the fairy rescuing him."
"Yes," Louie returned. "My favorite part of it was Pinocchio's dad taking out those battle motorcycles with just an old blunderbuss."
"I like the western part the best." Huey said. "Pinocchio, you may not have been allowed to carry a gun but you certainly had the fastest NOSE in the west. Who was the one who came up with the idea that something that was completely truthful could be untruthful and cause your nose to grow if you tell it before it happened."
"Jiminy gets the credit for that one." Pinocchio returned.
"In his open matchbox on the table of the bedroom Jiminy was still in deep thought. Then he spoke.
"Romeo" Jiminy said using Lampwick's real name. "How did you come to be without ma family?"
"Monstro." Lampwick said sadly. "It was on the last day Pleasure Island was run as a legitimate amusement park in 1875 and presumably the day the red star came to Collodi. My parents went there for what you might call a second honeymoon and their return boat was amongst the first ones attacked. At the time he was still too small to swallow boats but could still attack them with his tail. My Parents' boat was totally destroyed in the attack and there were no survivors. Pleasure Island was closed down due to the navigational hazard presented by Monstro on the very next day."
"Oh, my." Jiminy returned. "If that is your story then why did you ever want to go there."
"I guess the reason that every other boy who became a donkey and "disappeared" did." Lampwick returned.
"John Worthington when his last name was quite legitimately "Fowlfellow" made the place under the rule of the Coachman seem like a safe and fun place free from orphan school rules and gang pecking orders amongst street urchins. In addition to that the Coachman said he had a way to get past Monstro in complete safety.
"Tell me Romeo." Jiminy returned. "What would you think of BOTH Pleasure Islands, the one in this world off the Duckburg coast and the one in your home world off the Tuscan coast being restored again under the rule of Geppetto."
"That would be a great idea." Lampwick said.
"Well just think about it for now." Jiminy said, "Gepetto, the Fairy and I are going to have to work this out but I really think that our future lies in a revived Pleasure Island on BOTH of these worlds run the way Geppetto would run them rather than the way the Coachman did."
"I think the idea is great too." Huey said. "It seems to have all the answers for these two boys. With the arrangement you are proposing they can keep their original forms, stay in the Junior Woodchucks and visit their home world whenever they feel the need to."
"Now. We have to ask Pinocchio if he agrees with this idea." Jiminy said.
"What idea." Pinocchio said as he was pretty much out of the loop.
"Remember I said you had to go to school before you could go off and be an actor and tried you to get you away from Pleasure Island?"
"Yes."
"Well, Pinoke," Jiminy continued. "There is nothing inherently wrong with being an actor and or a song and dance man. It was simply that you were giving your services to the wrong man and your education has to come first. The same thing with Pleasure Island. There is nothing inherently evil about amusement park rides, games and food. What was bad about Pleasure Island was the man and the shadow minions running it at the times you were there."
"What are you getting at Jiminy?" Pinocchio asked.
"How would you like to have your schooling, being an actor and running and enjoying an amusement park all in one place connected to both of the worlds where your friends and organizational duties lie." Jiminy said.
"You're talking about having my father run the two Pleasure Islands instead of the Coachman?"
"Yes Pinocchio." Jiminy said. "I believe that we no longer belong to a single world. Rather I believe that we belong to both the Duckburg and Collodi worlds where we have made friendships and commitments. Pleasure Island connects those two worlds."
"Yes, When the red star is in the barrel ride on the Pleasure Island here and that is strictly a one way jump to the Pleasure Island there until it was altered to lead to James Bond's world." Pinocchio returned.
"But I think we have a source of temporary magical fuel source for the barrel ride of our own and one that IS two way." Jiminy said.
"What could that possibly be." Huey said.
"Your copy of the Junior Woodchucks Guidebook." Jiminy said. "It was modified by the blue fairy when this whole thing started. That magic may just open the wormhole in the barrel ride for us and make it two way since parts of the book come from both worlds. Now if you Can get me to Mr. Geppetto tomorrow I'll
Tell my Pleasure Islands restoration proposal to him and see if he goes along with it."
With all these discussions over all of the boys went to bed and subsequently to sleep with the idea of being a part of two worlds and not just one resting comfortably in their heads.
Donald Duck's back yard, Duckburg, Calisota, 1955:
"This was the right donkey." Magica De Spell thought to her self when she materialized in Donald Duck's back yard in Duckburg. In her hands she held a containment box similar to such boxes that held the red star before. However this time it had an extra power, reversal and extraction. This box could once again capture the red star and restore the Coachman to humanity.
Magica stole the donkey Coachman without too much trouble. It was as if he knew that Magica was going to restore him so he let Magica lead him to a secluded city park not far from Donald Duck's house. It was there that Magica pointed the box's door at the Donkey Coachman. Immediately red laser like beam went from the donkey coachman to the box and as it did the Coachman's ears and tail shortened and his features became more human. His old red coat and short crowned top hat also returned. And with two menaces the Coachman and the red star were back in Duckburg.
"Thank's for the restoration." The Coachman said to Magica. "And now for that former pine block and that former donkey."
"Not, yet." Magica said. "I brought you back to humanity for a more important reason than just getting the red star back while you go on the same donkey making revenge binge that turned you into one in the first place. It seems that that cricket of theirs is going to attempt to have Mr. Geppetto restore the two Pleasure Islands as a goody two shoes operation rather than keeping them abandoned for our use as boy to donkey factories.
"Well, first off even if we get control of the Pleasure Islands we will have to get someone else to sell them to the "stupid little boys". Fowlfellow and Gideon turned goody goody on me." Of course the Coachman avoided talking about their reformation being the result of a deal he made with the wolfer Festus Haggen
In Matt Dillon's world to kill John Worthington and Pinocchio's rescue of him from that same Festus Haggen.
"I've seen them in action." Magica said. "No great loss if you ask me. The Pleasure Islands will be an even greater loss."
"Yes, and I've pretty much given up on turning Pinocchio into a donkey anyway. I have a much better fate for him in mind and one that will get us the Pleasure Islands back that I think your magic alone can handle without the need of the red star."
"What is that plan of yours." Magica asked.
"You see back in the old world I have another mutual friend named Stromboli who would be highly interested in Pinocchio again if we can return him to being a LIVING PUPPET. The Coachman returned. "So here is my little proposal. You turn Pinocchio back into a PUPPET and we will hold his return to humanity hostage in return for no further interference with the Pleasure Islands. If that cricket and Geppetto keep up with their interference then we grab Pinocchio, go through the red star's wormhole resell him to Stromboli and he spends the rest of his life until he is broken down enough to be FIREWOOD performing "Ive got no strings" and living in that bird cage. At least that will be so if Stromboli has a better lock on that thing that that easy pick warded wonder he had on it the last time.
With their conversation ended the Coachman and Magica left the park for the cave outside Duckbirg that Magica was staying in.
Next - Geppetto accepts Jiminy Cricket's idea for the informal family's future as the opperators of the Pleasure Islands. Pinocchio is turned back into a puppet and Stromboli comes to Duckburg by way of the red star to collect his prize.