Pinocchio

Once upon a time there was a man by the name of Erik. He was deformed on the right side of his face and tried to hide it behind a white mask. Due to this tragedy, he was forced to live his life as a hermit. He moved around for most of his life, gathering knowledge and skills and seeing the world for all of its beauty and horror that he longed to be a part of.

Eventually he grew too old to travel as he once did and he settled down in a small cottage in Italy. He loved his private house that was located at the edge of a busy little village.

He would spend his lonely days doing anything he pleased. He would paint, sing, and play any instrument he could get his hands on. However, his favorite hobby was creating music boxes. It combined everything he loved into one thing. The gears inside the machine needed a delicate hand and a sharp wit to put together. The figures on the box were shaped and painted to be beautiful. And, of course, music had to be written for them.

His favorite music box was the one he first created. It was a plain barrel organ with a figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the symbols attached to the top. It played a simple and sweet melody: a waltz of sorts.

Whenever he wound up the music box and listened to its sweet melody, he would imagine himself holding a beautiful young woman close and waltzing around his little home.

While the lonely man owned a goldfish named Cleo and a little tuxedo cat named Figaro, he longed for human companionship.

"I'm losing whatever is left of my sanity, Cleo." Erik said, his finger in the fishbowl, stroking the silky scales of the orange and white fish. "I'm talking to a fish. I need a human friend."

The fish, to his relief, did not respond.

Eventually, the loneliness became unbearable. He need someone.

Anyone.

In an act that marked the end of his sanity, he decided to make himself a bride.

It took him 3 years to finish her.

First, he made the skeleton frame out of metal. He included every joint in the human body and ensured that her movement were realistic. Her spine was immensely difficult because he had to make it able to sway with the movement of her hips. It was a marvel of engineering.

Then he covered the mechanical parts with soft, flesh colored silk. It felt so much like a human's skin that he almost believed that it was.

Then he finished her body. Most of her body was delicate porcelain. At every joint, a new piece of china was added to ensure movement. He felt very uncomfortable when it came to her womanly parts. He debated long and hard on how to handle that particular part of a human female. He eventually decided that he no longer cared about his sanity so his little bride's hips were large and her breasts were pleasing to look at.

He added some additional feature to her towards the end. Her hair was made out of thin brown thread as well as her eyebrows. Her eyelashes were made from midnight black thread with tiny metal insides so he was able to move them at will. Her eyes were designed so that he could open and close them and have them remain that way. Her eyes were made out of bronze that shone beautifully in the candle light. Her red, porcelain lips were able to open and close and shape like a humans'.

"Oh you are so beautiful." Erik said, looking at his completed project. "I love you my little doll. My...Christine. Yes. Christine will be your name, my little bride. Christine. A pure name for a pure woman."

Erik wrapped his arms around his creation. He was holding nothing but stone, fabric and metal but to him she was real.

"I love you, my Christine." He said, adjusting her eyes and mouth to make it appear like a woman's content sigh. "You are so beautiful. You were worth the wait."

It was then that he noticed that his little bride was not clothed.

"Oh dear." Erik said to the doll. "It appears I forgot something, my darling. Have no fear. I will fix it."

He took off his cloak and covered her delicate form with it before going to find something more suited for a beautiful woman.

He came back with a simple white dress made from his bed some spare fabric. He placed it gently in his little bride.

"There. Much better." Erik said, "My love, you look like a Greek goddess in that dress."

If his fish and cat had a higher brain capacity, they would see that their owner had gone completely insane.

He wound up his favorite music box and let the waltz play. He then delicately waltzed his homemade bride across the house.

When the waltz ended, he stared at his creation. His smile faded. The warmness he felt in his heart turned cold.

"I've completely lost my mind." He said in utter despair, "I'm just a crazy old man who made a life size doll out of loneliness. You are not real. As much as I wish you were, you're not alive."

The doll didn't respond.

"If only you could come alive." Erik sighed, "I wish that you would. We would be so happy together."

He then laid his homemade wife on the couch and adjusted her body to be comfortable: as if she was really sleeping.

"Christine, I love you." Erik whispered into her ear. "Good night, my darling."

Erik then went to bed and into a deep dreamless sleep.

The town was quite. No one noticed the sudden bright blue light in Erik's house.

A beautiful blue fairy appeared in the hermit's house.

"Poor Erik," the fairy said. "Always so alone. Such loneliness has driven you so near insanity. I will grant your wish. Little Christine, I give you life, in order to give this lone soul a wife."

The blue fairy gently touched her wand on the doll's head.

Christine opened her eyes. She looked around confused.

"What...where am I. Who am I?" Christine asked, fixated on her index finger which she was now able to move.

"Hello." The blue fairy smiled at the girl's curious nature.

"Hello?" Christine said back. "Um...this is going to sound weird. But do you know who am I? And what I am doing here?"

"You are a doll." The blue fairy explained, a friendly smile on her face. "Up until a few moments ago, you weren't alive. Now you are alive."

"I'm a doll?" Christine said, looking her figure over.

"Were. You now have life."

"Why?"

"See that man asleep?" The fairy pointed to Erik, whose arms were wrapped around a pillow.

"Yes."

"He made you. He spent three years of his life building you. He wanted a wife."

Christine looked at him and thought about what that meant.

"He's not the sanest of people, is he?" Christine finally said.

The fairy laughed.

"He has a sharp mind." The fairy said, still giggling at the childlike bluntness Christine possessed. "But he lacks in social skills. But that's why I brought you to life. You are going to help him."

"How can I help him?"

"Well...he needs someone to listen to him." The fairy decided. "No one ever listens to anything he has to say. If you prove yourself to be a good influence that you change this man's life for the better, then you will become fully human."

"I'll become truly human? All I have to do is make this man happy?"

"It won't be an easy task, my dear." The fairy said. "He has horrors in his past that you couldn't begin to imagine."

"I can do it. I know I can make him truly happy." Christine said, foolishly optimistic.

"I have faith in you. In order to make him a good person you must be good and pure yourself. Don't let temptation tempt you."

"It won't. I promise. But I have one more question."

"Yes, my dear?"

"What is my name?"

"Why don't you wake him and find out?"

The blue fairy then disappeared, leaving Christine to talk to her new...friend.

"Um...sir." Christine poked the man's back. "Could you wake up?"

Erik, having experience of people trying to kill him in his sleep, bolted up and wrapped his hands around his attacker's neck.

"Who are you?!" Erik said, not able to think clearly after being asleep mere moments before.

"I don't know." Christine said honestly and unfazed by his attempt to kill her. "I was hoping you could tell me."

Erik's eyes quickly adjusted to the dark and saw that the figure looked like his doll.

"Oh no." Erik said, removing his hands from her neck and running them through his wispy, grey hair.. "I've finally lost it. I'm completely insane. My mind thinks that you're real but I know you're not."

"No. I'm real." She said. "I'm really here. I'll prove it."

She then walked over to a box of matches and lit one.

"See? I can move objects around." She said, staring contently at the flame. "Whoa. This is pretty."

She then reached out to touch the flame. Erik rushed forward and blew out the match. He then grabbed her wrist and forced her arm upward.

"See? You're not real." He said, forcing her arm in an awkward position. "If you were real you would be in pain."

"Well. I'm not truly real. I'm still made out of metal and fabric and stone, but I am alive."

Erik stared at her for a little while. He then let go of her arm.

"Prove it, you figment of my insane mind. Prove to me that you are alive."

"Well...here." She wrapped her arms around the man. "Can you feel me? Can you feel me move?"

Erik, having never been hugged before, did not know how to react. He just stood there, his arms at his sides and let the woman embrace him.

"You...you are alive." Erik said. "You truly are alive."

"Yes, yes I am."

Erik, a bit in shock, sat back down on his bed. Christine, who was still embracing him, sat down on his lap.

"You're really here."

"I think we've established that."

"But why? How?"

"A blue fairy came and brought me to life so I can make you happy."

"The blue fairy? That old wives tale? She's real?"

"Apparently." Christine said, a bit confused. "I honestly wouldn't know. I wasn't alive a few minutes ago. She said that I wasn't fully human. But if I make you a happy and good person, then I'll be a real girl. She said the best way to do that is by listening to you."

"How marvelous." Erik rather liked the feeling of the woman in his lap: real or not. "So you will listen to anything I say."

"Yes."

"Dance with me."

Erik stood up, the frail girl still in his arms, and walked over to his music box. He wound it up with one hand and held the girl in the other. He then put her down on her feet. One of his hands went to her waist and the other firmly grabbed her hand. Christine's free hand went to his shoulder.

"Follow my lead." Erik whispered into her ear. "1-2-3. 1-2-3."

The couple danced around his house. Christine's silky white dress fanned out beautifully every time Erik spun her around. They waltzed until Erik's feet hurt and Christine grew dizzy.

"That was fun!" Christine said, falling onto the bed.

"Yes, yes it was." Erik said, following her lead and lying beside her.

"Can we dance all the time?"

"Of course, my darling."

Christine laid on her side, her back to Erik's chest. Erik's arm crept underneath Christine's side, his hand right underneath her breasts. His other arm stretched out along her body, his hand laying on her hip. His head buried itself in her shoulder.

Christine, being innocent, did not understand what he was doing.

"Sir?" She asked.

"Yes, my darling?"

"What is your name?"

"Erik." He whispered into her ear. "My name is Erik."

Silence for a few moments as Erik made himself more comfortable on the bed.

"Erik?"

"Yes?"

"What is my name?"

"Christine. Your name is Christine."

Christine turned her body to face him, still in his arms. Erik let out a content sigh.

"So, you made me right?"

"With my own two hands."

"And gave me clothes and shelter."

"I will give you anything if you ask it of me."

"And you named me."

"Christine has always been a name I've favored. It is a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. It suits you."

"So does that mean...you're my father?"

Erik quickly broke his embrace with the girl and sat up. Christine rolled onto her back in a way that made it impossible to look away from her luscious body.

"No. No I am not your father. You are definitely not my daughter and I am definitely not your father."

"That what am I to you?"

"You are my wife." Erik said, turning away from her. Why did he have to make her figure so alluring? "And I am your husband."

"What does that mean?" Christine asked, putting her hand to his face and forcing him to look at her.

"It means that we are deeply in love." Erik said, his hands moving to her shoulders. "And we live together. And that you belong to me. You will follow wherever I lead and obey my every command."

"If I am your wife, will that make you happy?"

"More than you know, Christine."

"Well then I will be your wife."

"Good. Now: kiss me."

"What's a kiss?" Christine asked innocently.

"I'll show you."

Erik crawled over Christine, caging her body with his own. He bent his head down.

"Now close your eyes." He whispered. "Follow my lead."

His lips met hers. Her lips were smooth and soft, but still rather firm. It was porcelain after all.

He pulled away after a minute or two.

"That was...marvelous." Christine said. "If I could blush I would be blushing right down to the roots of my hair."

"It's good to know that I can charm my wife." Erik said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Now. It's time for bed. Tomorrow I will be buying you a dress and showing you off to the town. Now it's time to sleep."

Erik then sang a simple and sweet lullaby which lulled the girl into a deep slumber.

"I can't wait until you are truly human, my dear." Erik told the sleeping girl. "Then we will be a real couple. Then I will claim you as my own."

Erik didn't sleep that night. He was perfectly content on watching his little angel, his little wife, while she slept.

The town was in shock to say the least. They thought the hermit at the edge of the town, who they soon learned was named Erik, was just some insane, hideous man who was unable to relate to any other human.

They were quickly proven wrong.

Christine was beyond beautiful and the town just couldn't stop staring at her. The men wanted to figure out a way to woo her and the women were jealous beyond all reason.

"Hello miss." An enamored young man who ran the bakery said to Christine. "What is your name?"

"My name is Christine Younifi." Christine said. "My husband is Erik."

"Who's Erik?"

"That would be me, young man." Erik said from behind, his face hidden behind bandages.

Christine soon learned that her husband liked to scare any other male who dared to talk to her. She couldn't understand his jealousy.

At some point, Erik had run off to torture a man who had the gall to force Christine against a wall. Christine didn't understand that it was a sexual attack mostly because she hadn't yet heard what the word 'sexual' yet. But Erik knew what the man tried to do and he would make sure he would pay.

Christine sat down by the well and patiently waited for her husband's return. She began to sing the simple and sweet waltz. Erik had taught her the lyrics that morning and was amazed to see how beautiful her voice was. She, of course, did not notice the two men who had taken interest in her.

"She's a beauty." The tall, fox like man told to his mute, much shorter companion. "Javert would pay handsomely for her. Not to mention her voice is lovely."

The mute nodded excitedly.

"Hello miss." The man said. "What are you doing all alone?"

"Waiting for my husband to finish chasing down a man."

"So your husband is occupied at the moment?"

"Unfortunately yes. I wish he would hurry."

"He must be a very lucky man to have you for a wife." The man charmingly put. "You are quite beautiful. Not to mention that beautiful singing I heard. You could be a performer."

"A performer?"

"Yes!" the man said. "I've been looking for a girl as beautiful as yourself with a voice to match to be part of my friend's show. You must say yes."

"But I'm supposed to…"

"Just imagine it! You'd be a celebrity. You'll be rich. I'm sure your husband would love a few extra coins in his pocket, right?"

"Well...I guess so. Ok I will be part of your friend's show."

"Splendid!" this was almost too easy. "Now follow me."

The man linked arms with her and walked her over to the outside of town where there was a gypsy caravan.

Erik soon came back to the well after beating up that man to find his little Christine gone.

Christine was confused why men were always drawn to her. Maybe it was her voice. Or just her pretty face? Or maybe it had something to do with her costume. She had no way of knowing that the garment she wore was incredibly revealing. It consisted of a tight pink corset and that's about it. The garment covering her legs was not doing its job properly. All of the other show girls were wearing similar outfits just in different colors.

Christine was sitting in her dressing room after the performance when her boss came in.

"Hello, Javert." Christine said, cheerily. "Tonight was so much fun! Performing is so wonderful."

"You made me a lot of money tonight." Javert said, taking a seat by her. "You are quite an alluring woman. Irresistible."

"Thank you." Christine said, an innocent smile on her face.

Javert put his hand on her leg. Christine, not being able to feel anything physical did not notice. She also didn't notice when he stood up and began feeling her from behind, his disgusting hands at her waist and hips.

Javert was about to ask Christine to do something unspeakable when someone unwanted burst into her dressing room.

"Erik!" Christine said, smiling happily up at her husband. "I'm a performer now. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Javert." Erik spat at his former 'employer', "Kindly remove your hands from my wife before I remove them from your arms."

Javert did as he was told. Erik then offered his hand to Christine and she took it graciously. Erik then wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his side so that their hips were touching side by side.

"Hm...I remember you." Javert said. "What was your name again…"

"I believe you called me the Devil's Child."

"Oh yes. You were that deformed little…"

"You will refrain from cursing in front of my wife." Erik said, his fists shaking in rage.

"Gone soft, little monster?" Javert sneered. "How you got that pretty little whore to marry you I will never know."

The verbal attack on Christine was too much for Erik to handle. He lunged at Javert, his hands firmly wrapping themselves around his fat neck.

"Christine. Is. Not. A. Whore." Erik tightened his grip with each word.

Erik held him there for a bit before letting the man fall, gasping for air like a fish out of water.

"Come, darling." Erik said, taking Christine under his cape, "It's time to go home."

Erik did not anticipate that his victim would be foolish enough to get up again.

He was proven wrong when Javert threw a punch to the back of his head.

The sudden attack stunned Erik for a split second.

"Christine. Run." Was all Erik said before the fight started.

Erik was winning. Javert, being old, fat and lazy was no match for the lean and able Erik. Erik either dodged every punch or felt no pain when they did reach their target. Every blow Erik inflicted on Javert was enough to knock him off his feet. But the idiot just kept getting back up again. He thought that this battle would soon be over.

And then Javert pulled out a knife.

Erik knew that it was Javert's intent to kill so he had no choice but to try to kill the man. Javert lunged for Erik, trying to stab any body part that he could. Erik grabbed the knife from him and stabbed him in the chest.

Javert fell to the floor: dead or dying.

"Christine." Erik said, walking over to her. "Why didn't you run? I told you to leave."

"I didn't want to leave you." Christine said as he took her under his cape once more and led her out of the camp.

Erik did not talk to her all the way home, fearing that he would lose his temper if he spoke too soon after the incident.

Soon they made it back to Erik's cottage. Erik, a bit more forcefully than he should have, pushed Christine inside. Christine, knowing that it was time for bed, dressed herself in a nightgown and laid on their bed. Erik followed.

"That was very foolish of you." Erik said as they laid in bed, a bit mad at Christine. "Didn't you realize what danger you were in?"

"A knife can't hurt me."

"But your skin can shatter at a punch." Erik reminded her. "You are a delicate little doll. You can't just go off by yourself. I told you to stay put by that well while I handled that disgusting man."

"Why did you chase that man down? I don't know what he did to make you so angry."

"He forced you against a wall, Christine."

"And?"

"He was trying to force himself on you."

"I don't understand."

Erik was not in the mood to explain that topic to a machine but he was forced to.

"Oh…" Christine said, feeling a bit uncomfortable after Erik's explanation. "So that's what that man was trying to do to me? And Javert?"

"Yes. You must understand that you are a very attractive woman and beautiful woman bring out the best and worst in men. With Javert you brought out the worst." Erik explained. "Of course that man was always a monster."

"Is that why you killed him?"

"I was hoping you didn't have to see that. I was hoping that you listened to me and ran." Erik admitted his true reasonings on why he wanted her to leave. "If I didn't kill him he would have killed me and taken you for himself. I couldn't let that happen."

"But I'm a doll. Surely no one would want me once they realized that."

"I'm not so sure, Christine. The world is a dark and disturbing place."

"Do you want me?"

Erik didn't know how to react to that. Of course he wanted her. But not in her current form.

"Yes and no, my darling." Erik said. "As your husband I do have rights to you but I have more sense than to make love to a doll."

"Oh…" Christine looked rather disappointed. "I was just thinking...that it would be nice to have...children."

Erik sat straight up at that suggestion.

"Children?"

"Well...yes." Christine sat up and looked at her husband. "We are husband and wife. I am supposed to make you happy. Children bring happiness. And if that uncomfortable sounding thing is the only way to have a child then I will be willing to do it to give you one."

"Christine...it's impossible for you to have a child in your form." Erik explained. "You have to be human. I don't even want a child."

"You don't?"

"No. It could...it could inherit my deformity."

"Your deformity?"

"Yes. My face is deformed under these bandages."

Christine lifted her hand to unwrap them but Erik grabbed her wrist.

"What do you think you are doing?" Erik said, fiercely.

"I wanted to see. I haven't seen your face yet."

"And you never will. Good night."

Erik soon fell asleep. Christine's curiosity kept her up. She waited until she was sure that he was asleep before removing the bandages. His face was deformed, but Christine having no concept of beauty didn't mind at all. She just wrapped her arms around her husband, kissed his deformed cheek a dozen or so times before falling asleep contenting tucked in between his legs.

Erik was surprised to find his face bare at 3 in the morning. His first thought was that it had fallen off while he slept but then he saw the bandages neatly folded on the bedside table on Christine's side of the bed.

"Darling." Christine said, stretching her arms, her eyes still closed. "Go back to hugging me. I liked it. It was ever so comfortable. It's still night time."

"You removed my bandages you little vixen!" Erik said, grabbing her wrists and forcing her up. "Well look at it now1 glut yourself on it you little lying Delilah!"

"Calm down." Christine said, unfazed, as she kissed his deformed cheek. "I told you I wouldn't mind and I don't. You don't have to hide from me."

Her lips pecked his deformed face a couple more times.

Erik was in shock. He had been tortured because of his face and yet she was tenderly kissing every inch of his deformity.

"Christine. Do you mean that truly? You don't mind my face?"

"I love you, Erik. Every inch of you." Her hand cradling his deformed cheek.

"Oh Christine."

Erik forced his lips onto her own and passionately and hungrily kissed her. Christine responded with the same gusto. The couple was wrapped in each other's embraces and both happier than they have ever been. They were so focused on their kiss that they didn't notice Christine's body slowly changing.

"Oh Christine!" Erik said, finally pulling away after a couple of minutes. "All I ever wanted was for someone to accept my face. Thank you. Thank you! Christine...Christine."

Erik felt skin: he felt flesh. Christine's hand felt like a human's hand.

"Erik. I can feel you. I can feel!"

"Christine. You're real." Erik said, astounded but happy. "When you accepted my deformity and kissed me...you made me happy. Truly happy. Which means."

"I'm real." Christine said, her hands touching her face that was now pale flesh and hard bone. "I'm real!"

"Come, my darling." Erik said standing up. "Forget the fact that it's 3 in the morning. Let's dance to celebrate this joyous night."

Together they waltz around his house to the music of Erik's music box until Christine grew dizzy and toppled onto their bed. Erik soon laid down beside her. He held her close, not being able to get enough of the warmth of her soft, pale flesh.

"You know, since I'm real now..." Christine whispered into his ear, biting it a bit. "I am now able to have children. Would you like one?"

"Of course my darling."

The lovers spent the night in each other's embrace. Christine found out the uncomfortable sounding process of creating a child was rather pleasant and pleasurable. Soon, Christine gave birth to a son and Erik had a family all of his own.

They all live happily ever after.

The end.

Author's note: Isn't are little darling Erik insanely adorable? Or adorably insane. You decide for yourself how to describe what ever uncomfortable thing just happened here. I told you that it would be weird.