Chapter 3 - The Rescue of Pinocchio
Junior Woodchucks Museum, Duckburg, Calisota, 1955:
The kidnapping of one of the newest Junior Woodchucks weighed heavily on Troop 1's G. M. O. J. W. (Grand Master of Junior Woodchucking). Especially with the further shock that Pinocchio was returned to the puppet state and kidnapped by his oldest would be exploiter, Stromboli, presumably to be used in puppet shows for the money a living puppet would bring in again. Lampwick also told the G. M. O. J. W of his plans for Pinocchio's rescue and the connection between Pinocchio's world and Duckburg's that now existed at Pleasure Island.
"And just what do you think you will need to bring rescue this about?" the C. M. O. J. W. asked.
"I think we would need twenty Junior Woodchucks from any troop as long as they know about crewing a steamboat and mountain climbing as I think the doors to the Collodi Pleasure Island are still locked from the outside." Lampwick replied.
"How about ten steam boat operators and ten mountain climbers." returned the C. M. O. J. W. . "According to the latest merit badge rosters that is the best we can do now."
"Then that's what we have to go with." Lampwick returned. "I'll return to my Patrol Commander, Huey Duck on the Duckburg Pleasure Island and tell him everything's on.
After leacing the Museum/Headquarters of the Junior Woodchucks Lampwicj got onto a Junior Woodchucks issue bicycle and made his wobbly way back to the Duckburg Pleasure island as he was completely new to this mode to transportation.
Pleasure Island, Duckburg, Duckburg Calisota, 1955:
Usually such wobbly bicycle riding would have elicited laughter from the duck boys. However that was not to be this time as they knew Lampwick, the Italian boy from the late 19th century was totally unused to bicycle riding.
Lampwick got of the bike and immediately went to the barrel ride where the duck boys, John Worthington and Gideon were waiting. "The C. M. O. J. W. can give us ten steam boat operators and ten mountain climbers according to the current merit badge rosters." Lampwick reported to Huey. "I think we will need the mountain climbers in case the doors to Pleasure Island, Collodi are closed. They lock from the outside to prevent escapes you know."
"We forgot about the doors." Huey said. "Maybe the mountain climbers will be needed to get them open."
"Are you sure we can run the steamboat with only ten operators though." Lampwick said.
"Yes, I'm sure we can run it on the 10." Huey returned. "I basically wanted 20 simply to increase your forces against Stromboli and the Coachman. These mountain climbers can function as the extra ten we need even if the doors are opened.
"Don't worry," Dewey said to Lampwick. "We'll get him back."
"Louie then said to John Worthington and Gideon." You really don't need to come with us. "You are too old for the Junior Woodchucks except in an adult leadership position."
"My wanting to come has nothing to do with the Junior Woodchucks per se." John Worthington said. "I owe Pinocchio and the Blue Fairy my life and this is my way of paying back."
Soon the twenty Junior Woodchucks were arriving at the barrel ride on bicycles and scooters. When everyone had arrived Huey announced, "Everyone through the barrel ride. Next stop Pleasure Island, Collodi.
Pleasure Island, Collodi, Tuscany, Italy, 1881:
Most of the Junior Woodchucks with the exception of Huey, Dewey, Louie and Lmapwick of course were astonished to find themselves an a pool hall and saloon of all places on the other side of the barrel ride. After the astonishment came fear. It was well known in the fairy tale of Pinocchio that the Junior Woodchucks knew that the place they were now in was once used to turn boys into donkeys.
"The donkey thing can't happen anymore." Huey assured the Junior Woodchucks. "That power was removed from this place last some time ago. It still exists but not here."
"Do you think that is what turned Pinoke back into a puppet?" one of the mountain climber Junior Woodchucks asked.
"No, that was done by direct magic from Magica De Spell." Dewey said. "You know the sorceress who is always after unca Scrooge's number one dime.
"You mean Magica is with this Stromboli and Coachman that the C. M. O. J. W. told us about?" The Junior Woodchuck asked.
"Probably," Dewey returned. "But before we can worry about her we have to know where the three of them might be."
"I think I can handle that department." John Worthington interrupted. "As a former crook in these parts I know where all the hangouts are. My guess right now is that they are at the Red Lobster Saloon and Inn."
"Well I certainly don't think Pinocchio will be with then at that place." Louie returned. "You have to remember that even as a puppet he still represents a boy under twenty one years of age who would not be allowed in such a place outside Pleasure Island when it was a boy to donkey factory under the curst of the red star."
"Well then that comes out to be good for us," Lampwick said. "That means that Pinocchio will be in one of Stromboli's caravan wagons and probably unguarded."
"Before we go any further with this we have to see if the doors are open or closed." Huey said. He set the Junior Woodchucks up in orderly ranks and it was in this way they left the 8 Ball saloon and pool hall.
"What a mess." One of the mountain climbers said on seeing the rest of the park outside the 8 Ball saloon in its normal condition of abandonment. "Are you really sure that Geppetto can fix up this side of things."
"I'm sure of it." Lampwick returned. "He is probably the best single mechanical engineer and wood carver in either of the worlds the barrel ride connects and I hope he will also have the Junior Woodchucks' help on restoring this Pleasure Island to REAL rather than temporary cursed functionality."
"That will be a great project for us." Huey said. "Take the roller coaster as a for instance. It is really only weathered in several locations and the cars are rather beaten up. We Junior Woodchucks can restore the track and Gepetto can carve new wooden parts and wheels for the cars. Id say that we can have that up and running in about a week, Same for the carrousel. Just a matter of restoring weathered mechanics and wood carvings. On closer inspection I think we'll see that is all that is needed for the other rides and legitimate games here too."
The Junior Woodchucks marched down the complete midway to see that they needed the mountain climbing Junior Woodchucks after all. The great oak doors of the original Pleasure Island were closed and locked just as they were when the last donkeys were made from boys there.
The mountain climbers soon set about to scale the high rocks which separated the park from the docking causeway and shipping area of the island. Their mountain climbing operations took about a half an hour as
But they were over the doors to the original Pleasure Island came slowly open with several of the mountain climbing Junior Woodchucks pushing them.
The steamboat was tied to the docking causeway just as it was still waiting for donkeys to be brought aboard. It was now time for the steamboat operator Junior Woodchucks to go into action and within another half hour they had built up enough of a head of steam to start the side wheels turning. All of the Junior Woodchucks boarded the boat and it was untied from the causeway. In a way this was a historic launch. With Lampwick on board this would be the first time that this boat ever traveled in the direction of Collodi with a human boy that was still a BOY on it.
The boat came to a stop and was tied up to another causeway on the Tuscany coast. There the Junior Woodchucks assembled for the March to Collodi. The primary plan was to hunt for Stromboli's puppet show caravan but three Junior Woodchucks along with John Worthington and Gideon would be spying out the Red Lobster from the outside to see if either the Coachman, Magica or Stromboli entered or left it. Huey, Dewey and Louie took that particular duty while they Put Lampwick in charge of the hunt for the puppet show caravan.
Lampwick along with six Junior Woodchucks was the first to have some luck. They spotted the puppet show caravan in the village square giving a performance. Pinocchio was in the show singing and dancing his "I've got no strings" number in a professional but still half hearted and often even snappy way that strongly indicated he did not want to perform for Stromboli. Lampwick passed the honor of telling Huey, Dewey and Louie that Pinocchio had been sited with the puppet show caravan in the town square to Doofus McQuack. A Junior Woodchuck duck boy who was rather large, some even would say even a little on the obese side. Many Junior Woodchucks also tended to consider him to be an incompetent member even though he was trying for steam engineering which was considered one of the more complicated merit badges. On the trip to Collodi on the steamboat his large size made him the coal shoveled. However the whole project that Lampwick was a part of had been a project of second chances and redemptions. Maybe it was time for Doofus McQuack to get his chance at one too."
"McQuack," Lampwick said. "I'm giving you a very important duty."
"Even more so than tending the coal furnace on the steamboat." Doofus returned.
"Yes, You are to report that the action is to take place in the town square." Lampwick returned. "Pinocchio has been sighted performing outside of Stromboli's cage in a town square puppet show. Tell them we will also be needing the fox and the cat as they are the only ones in our group that Stromboli woill probably speak to. Got that, Mc Quack".
After receiving his instructions Doofus headed for the Red Lobster while Lampwick and the other Junior Woodchucks waited in an assortment of hiding places in the vicinity of the traveling puppet theatre. Soon afterwords Huey, Dewey, Louie, John Worthington, Gideon and Doofus arrived at the town square and found Lampwick concealing himself from the puppet show behind a decorative bush.
"I see he's out performing." Gideon said getting an opportunity to exercise his new voice. "If Stromboli tries' to put him back in that cage again I'll knock him silly." He said displaying his mallet which he usually kept concealed behind his back.
"Put that back behind your back." John Worthington said. "Remember Giddy, Try civilized behavior first and if that doesn't work THEN knock him silly. Oh, and I hope that kind of planning does not offend yoy Junior Woodchucks."
"No Way," Huey said. "Pinocchio is one of ours no matter what form he is in and if it comes to that you will have the help of all of us in knocking Stromboli silly."
"Well you better let Giddy and I do the talking first." John Worthington said. "This guy is one real first class creep and very dangerous when crossed.
With that John Worthington took himself out of Concealment accompanied by Gideon and Approached the puppet theatre.
"Well, hello Mr Stromboli." John Worthington said. "I see you got your little wooden gold mine back."
"Yes!" Stromboli said. "And you can nota have him back. I'ma quite aware ofa your goody goody change anda there the real reason why you'ra here. Mr. Fowlfellow."
"Sorry, Stromboli" John Worthington returned. "But I no Longer answer to that name. My name now is simply John Worthington."
The next voice was a familiar British Cockney accent. "You will always be Fowlfellow, traitor." The Coachman said as he emerged from behind the puppet theatre.
It was at this time that Pinocchio saw an opportunity to help in his own cause as Stromboli's shinbone became available to a good swift kick from the puppet theatre stage. Pinocchio's wooden foot had the same effect that Gideon's mallet would have had and Stromboli fell to the ground. Pinocchio then jumped off the stage and ran toward John Worthington. "Get out of here." Pinocchio shouted to the fox. "The sorceress is still on this side of the barrel ride!"
It was then that Huey gave his order to the Junior Woodchucks and soon they filled the town square. Magica De Spell's magic still represented a danger for them but Gideon knew how to handle that. When Magica came out of hiding behind the Puppet theatre Gideon snuck up behind her and a whap with the mallet later ended any magical threat from her. He tied her hands behind her so that she couldn't use her magic when she came to. "She would be the bargaining chip for the restoration of for the restoration of Pinocchio's humanity."
Without Magica the Coachman and Stromboli realized they could not handle over twenty antagonists and decided to leave the Puppet theatre. However they left with several dividends. The first was that the Coachman still had the red star and also had Stromboli who was just as goof of a Pitchman as John Worthington ever was. Pleasure Island could rise again as a cursed amusement park to turn boys into donkeys for a profit. However to start his original business again the Coachman will have to regain possession of Pleasure Island from the Junior Woodchucks and Geppetto.
Pleasure Island, Duckburg, Duckburg, Calisota, 1955:
The Junior Woodchucks were back across the Barrel ride into their own world with a few that staid behind on the original Pleasure Island to try to prevent its re establishment by the Coachman. Pinocchio was rescued but that rescue was not complete. He was still a puppet. The transfer back to Duckburg's world did not restore his humanity. There seemed to be only two ways to do this. One was to have Magica De Spell change him back which was hardly likely. The other was that he would have to prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish yet one more time. Little did Pinocchio know that the Coachman and Stromboli were providing the opportunity for his humanity to be restored back in the Collodi world.
Next. The Curse of Pleasure Island is revived on Pleasure Island Collodi and the birth of a REAL second Monstro, The Junior Woodchucks left behind to keep Pleasure Island Collodi secure become DONKEYS in this one.