3 days passed since Pinocchio came home. Everyone at school was happy Pinocchio was back. Even Signora Constantina was glad. She promised to help Pinocchio improve his academics, because of how special a student he was to her. On his way home from school on the third day, Pinocchio and Geppetto stopped by Lampwick's house to tell Lampwick's mother about what happened to her son. She was devastated to know what became of her son.
" I wanted to help him but I didn't know what to do," he confessed.
"It wasn't your fault, Pinocchio," she told him. "Romeo was always a troubled child. I never exactly could control him well. I feel like maybe I should be to blame for it because I was not prepared to take care of him by myself after his father left."
"I felt almost the same when I lost Francesca," Geppetto said. "All I really wanted when Pinocchio was born want to be the best father I could be. But it was Francesca's love for us both that kept me strong. That's why despite my uncertainty I tried to feel as prepared as I could to take care of him."
Mrs. Lampwick wept for her son, but was grateful for being told the truth.
"Pinocchio, thank you for telling me what happened to Romeo. I don't blame you for what happened to him. I know there was nothing you could've done to help. You're a good boy."
As she sat and wept, Geppetto walked over and comforted her.
"It'll be alright. If he's out there," Geppetto said. "I'm sure he'll fine. Even as a donkey."
"but if he comes home then I've got a jackass for a son," she cried.
"I wish there was something I could do to help him. I truly do," Pinocchio said.
Later that evening, back home. after Pinocchio finished his homework just before supper, he and Jiminy had a talk.
"So how did Lampwick's mother take the news?" He asked.
"Very badly," Pinocchio explained. " The good thing is that she doesn't blame me for what happened."
"That is good, Pinoke," Jiminy acknowledged. "I know you wish you could help him. I think you can. But the blue fairy is the only one who really knows."
"But there's one thing that still bothers me Jiminy."
"What is that?"
"Stromboli. Long as he's still out there, I might be in danger still. Same can be said about Honest John."
"Don't you worry about it, Pinoke," Jiminy comforted him. "All the matters right now is that you're safe. And I assure you, your father's not gonna let anything happen to you again. You'll be fine. I know your father never exactly treated you the best over the whole thing with your mother, but one thing is certain. He cares about you, Pinocchio. He wants to help. He wants to prove himself a good parent and make things right with you.
"What about lampwick and the other boys? Lampwick got what he deserved, yes," Pinocchio said. "but I still want to help him. If I can, do you think he's learned his lesson."
"I can't answer that for you, Pinocchio but I will say this," Jiminy told him. "Lamp needs to prove himself if he wants to be helped if you can help him. Just like you're trying to do now. I'm not gonna say his mother is a bad parent, but she obviously couldn't really keep a leash on him and I think that's her problem."
"But, Jiminy, I don't think it's right to be so harsh on his mother like that."
"I don't blame people for their mistakes," Jiminy interjected. "But I do ask that they pay for them."
There was a knock on Pinocchio's bedroom door.
"Come in," said Pinocchio. Geppetto opened the door and walked in and sat on the bed.
"Pinocchio there's so much I want to talk about. I think there's some things I need to get off my chest," Geppetto confessed. "Pinocchio, everything that has happened in the last few months may have been my fault. I have been treating you like a person, but I just got too hard on you whenever you acted like a kid normally. You're still just a boy. I never could completely forgive myself for when I hit you when you were little. Among other things. I was just scared Pinocchio because I didn't know how to raise you alone without your mother. I shouldn't of told you to forget about her. I guess I'm not as good as a father I thought I'd be. The way things have been, I feel like maybe Jiminy would've been a better father to you than me."
"Don't say things like that," Pinocchio said. "You've always been a wonderful father. I know you had a terrible childhood. I just wasn't thankful enough for you. Jiminy was right when he said I never truly appreciated much of what you do for me."
"Pinocchio, everything I said when we were inside the whale, it was True. Everything I said, I meant it. all of it. It's all true," Geppetto confessed. "Especially when I spanked when you were only two, I never called you names or anything, but I still may have treated you badly. Pinocchio, I was wrong. It was guilt of trauma that made me behave the way I did."
"Was it really?" Pinocchio asked.
"Yes, Pinocchio. I know you're just a child and I shouldn't of tried to force you to grow up so fast. Like I did."
"How did you manage to live through it all as a child?" Jiminy asked
"Because of his mother, Jiminy. I'm really sorry I wanted you to forget about her and accept it. I really was wrong to do that, Pinocchio."
"Father, I forgive you. For everything. I know there were people thinking you were an unfit parent. But you aren't. I just wasn't what you wanted me to be because I felt so incomplete without mother."
"listen, Pinocchio. A few nights ago I truly meant what I said when I told you I didn't blame you for your mother's death. And I behaved the way I did as a father because of not only the tragedy of my childhood, but also because of the guilt I felt for not being able to save her. You were never to blame for any of it. I just wanted to let you know that."
"I appreciate you telling me. Despite what people are saying I don't want a better father. I want YOU. Even if Jiminy could have acted like a better and more suitable parent, I know deep down he could never replace you."
"that's a very sweet thing of you to say, Pinocchio. I admit it now I've been a father of very little brain. I lost myself when you were born because your mothers death affected me. Knowing I would have to raise you without her affected me because of my sad childhood memories. The only thing that get kept me going was you," Geppetto confided.
"You are my pride and joy, Pinocchio. I want nothing but the best for you. I promise from now on to be a better father. I only spanked or hit you once when you were very little, but I never could do it again because I couldn't find it in my heart to do so. And I treated you too much like an adult when you're still just a child. I don't want you to go away. I promise I'll read you a bedtime story every night like I used to when you were very little, i'll be a lot more nicer and calmer."
"I may have acted like a better father figure to him, but I won't replace you, Mr. Geppetto. I still want to help you. Both of you," Jiminy said
"I'll do anything I can to make sure I don't lose him again, Jiminy" Geppetto said. "I want to prove that I'm still fit to be a good father. I'll let everybody take anything but Pinocchio ."
"Anything?"Jiminy asked.
Geppetto than sang out,
"You can take my favorite chair
Go on, take it - I don't care
There's no possession I can't spare
Since I gave my heart away
If I had a bank account
You could take the whole amount
Things and riches, what are they?
Since I gave my heart away?"
"Till I felt like this
I could not have understood:
Until you give your heart to someone else
You might as well be made of wood"
"words like that aren't gonna be enough," Jiminy said. "You have to prove that…"
"So take my home – look, here's the key
And all the value you might see.
But if you take my son from me,
That's a price I cannot pay
Since I gave my heart away".
"This is all very touching Geppetto," Jiminy said. "but actions speak louder than words if you want to prove yourself."
"I know Jiminy. and I'm gonna do that. Trust me."
He turned to Pinocchio.
"Pinocchio, everything I tried to do was to give you what I never had but I did everything wrong because I was haunted by my own childhood and the loss of your mother. But you have to believe me when I say that I'm gonna do everything I can to prove that I still can be a great father, even if not perfect. And I wanna prove it to nobody else but you."
"Father," Pinocchio said as he looked up at him. "I trust you."
Pinocchio with some tears welling in his eyes, moved over to his father and hugged him.
"It's OK, son. I'm not gonna tell you not to cry. You can cry if you want. It's only natural," Geppetto said politely as he hugged Pinocchio back.
"I love you, Pinocchio. Now go ahead and wash up and get ready for supper. I'll see you downstairs shortly."
Pinocchio jumped down from the bed and went to do as he was told.
As he did, Jiminy asked Geppetto, " do you ever wonder about whatever happened to your parents even though you only know what you were told?"
"I did when I was a child," Geppetto confessed. "But as time went by, I didn't let it bother me. That's part of why I was so hard on Pinocchio about things, especially his mother. But that was MY mistake. I just wanted to help him grow up as fast as I did. But I didn't consider he's still just a boy. It was even worse that I wanted him to just forget about his mother. Jiminy, listen. You were right and I was wrong. There. did you ever expect to hear me say such a thing?"
Jiminy looked up and said, "It's almost like you two share the same heart when it comes to her. It's almost like deep down you wanted her back as well."
"Of course," Geppetto said. "The whole time I thought I've been looking after Pinocchio, it turns out Francesca's been looking after me in spirit. I had it all screwed on the other way around."
"A common mistake in most folk," Jiminy told him.
"All this time, I don't know what I've been thinking, Jiminy."
"Some people think a great deal too much," Jiminy told him. "of that, I'm certain."
"Jiminy, I am Pinocchio's father. And I just want a chance to make things right with him after all we've been through. But I'm scared to do it alone. Just as I was to raise him alone. Which is why I must ask you this one question. The reason I was too tough on Pinocchio was because I didn't want him to grow up same way I did. But it seems I've just been tearing him apart. I want to free him of the pain he's been feeling. The pain I didn't want him to share that I've felt before myself. I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?"
"Yes. Anything. I'll do it."
"Thank you, Jiminy. I can't do this alone."
"I'm not doing it for just one of you though," Jiminy said. "I'm doing it for both of you."
"I appreciate that. Now, I'm off to go prepare Dinner."
That evening at suppertime, Pinocchio and Geppetto sat next to each other as they ate.
"Son, I just wanna let you know how sorry I am that I wanted you to just let go of your mother and forget about her. It was cruel when I asked for that and it was a terrible mistake and I'm really sorry. I know it was hard for you growing up without her. I promise I'm not gonna treat you that way anymore. I'm also sorry about lying to you about her being dead. I just didn't want it all to be your burden."
"I understand, father. I know losing her was a very hard thing for you to deal with. I know it wasn't your fault. I…I..I know you loved her. I guess to be honest with you I never really didn't realize how lucky I was to at least have a father."
"Pinocchio, I think it's time I told you my whole life story," Geppetto said as he explained it all to Pinocchio.
"So you see, that's why I've always been so hard on you. I don't want you to bear some of the same burdens I did. I've always wanted the best for you, Pinocchio, with or without your mother. There's something I've been wanting to show you in the old forest your mother and I played in. We'll go tomorrow."
The next day, Geppetto took him to the woods and showed him the old house. Pinocchio recognized it. He was here before.
"I was in this place the night I ran away," Pinocchio said.
"This was the old woodcarvers house. The one who adopted me. I learned so much from him, Pinocchio."
"What about the orphanage you and mom lived in?"
"They tore it down long ago. I was told all the orphans there when it happened were at least given good homes. It just wasn't being funded anymore. So for the last several years of the woodcarvers life, your mother and I lived here. And when he died too, we figured it was time to move on. We sold many things that the woodcarver and I made. And your mother and I bought that house in town. Your mother and I had so many memories in this forest. She was the most wonderful friend I could have ever had when we were young."
Pinocchio let out a smile hearing Geppetto say this.
"She would've been proud of you, Pinocchio. I'm sure of it. Your mother. She was so wonderful; she shared my dream to be a parent. I think if she had lived, I might have done better without being so rough with you."
"I don't blame you for doing so. You may not have been the most perfect father, but you're still mine."
"Thank you, Pinocchio. Ready to go home?"
"Yeah. Let's," Pinocchio responded.
Geppetto and Pinocchio took each other's hand and walked home happily together. When they arrived home, they spent the rest of the day playing with the toys in the shop. Later that evening half past supper time, after a nice dinner together when Pinocchio finished getting ready for bed, he looked out the window, gazing up at the sky with Jiminy next to him.
"Thinking about your mother, again, Pinoke?" he asked.
"A little bit, but I do wish I could talk to the blue fairy. There's much more on my mind."
As soon as he said this, the blue fairy's light came sparkling down into the room. Soon, in a radiant sparkle the blue fairy appeared again.
"Why, dear Pinocchio. You called me forth from within your troubled heart. Do you seek guidance?"
"Well, more than that. I just…." Said Pinocchio. "There is much on my mind to speak of."
"Pinocchio, you and Geppetto have taken care and small but steady steps in mending the relationship between you and he. I see you becoming as happy as you once were when you were much smaller, yet there is much that troubles you?" She asked him.
"Blue fairy, I want to do more than just make things right with my father, but help others as well."
"Well, uh, you see, Miss fairy," Jiminy said. "Part of this is that he still seems to wonder about his friend. Never thought I'd be saying that about that hooligan, but I can't blame Pinoke for how he feels about it."
The fairy turned to the boy.
"Tell me, Pinocchio. I know you wish to help Lampwick, but you must answer me this. Is that what you really want most?"
"No," Pinocchio replied. "It's not my hearts most true desire but I thought by doing so it could help me. I mean I do feel bad for him. When I first met him, I never thought of him of someone I could be friends with, but…."
"I know, Pinocchio. Your experience on pleasure island was something of a moral epiphany. But tell me your heart most true desire, do you still wish for that? Do you still wish to see your mother?"
Pinocchio looked up at her with a glimmer of hope. Even though he had come to understand his mother was still with him in his heart and in spirit, there was still a small speck of hope inside of him that maybe he could see her in person at least once.
"I do. More than anything," he said. " but if I really want it I still have much to learn. Risking my own life to save my fathers' was dangerous but heroic. But I feel it's not enough. I want to chance to help others before I can decide if what I really want most is what I want after all."
"Pinocchio, what you ask for, You are proving yourself to be a very good hearted boy without selfishness. But I promise you, if you can find and help Lampwick, I will help him and the other boys."
"But, I don't know where to go to find him. I don't know where to look."
"Listen from within your heart, Pinocchio. And maybe you will find him."
She vanished in a sparkle of light.
"I hope he's out there. If he is, I hope he's alright," Pinocchio said. "Jiminy, I can feel in my heart, Lampwick still has good in him."
"Well, can't argue with this. There's always hope, Pinocchio," Jiminy confided.
Geppetto came into the room and tucked Pinocchio into bed, sang some songs and read a story. As Pinocchio fell into his slumber, Geppetto kissed him good night, fluffed his pillow, and patted him on the head.
"You're doing well in improving yourself as a parent, Mr. Geppetto. Keep it up," said Jiminy.
"Thank you, Jiminy," Geppetto said. "I don't know how to feel about Pinocchio wanting to help Lampwick given the trouble that boy is, but I admire Pinocchio's devotion to wanting to help others."
"He has a strong heart, sir. I'm sure of that."
"Jiminy, if anything were to happen to me, Fredrico is the one who I would trust to take care of him as a guardian. But should that happen will you stay with Pinocchio too?"
"Yes, Mr. Geppetto. If anything ever happens to you, I will stay with Pinocchio and watch over."
"Thank you, Jiminy. I trust you with my life," Geppetto said as he looked at his sleeping son. "It seems on yesterday when I saw him for the first time. That was the last moment I spent with Francesca. Even now I can't help but think things still could've been much better if she had lived. Even though he and I both know Francesca will always be with us to see her again in person at least once, I wish that too. Because my love for her has never died. Neither has her love for me or him. But I can't lose Pinocchio, Jiminy. I may have been a bad parent at times but there's one thing about that will never change. Pinocchio is my son. I took care of him to honor. Francesca's dying wish that I would be the best father I could be. I raised him, and I love him."
"Well, I love him just as much as you do, sir," Jiminy told him.
"Good night, Jiminy. I'm glad we have you around," Geppetto said as he walked off for the night."
"Good night, Mr. Geppetto. I'm glad to be around too," Jiminy said in reply as he went off to bed in his little dollhouse.
About a week later, Pinocchio was walking home from school wondering how he could be able to prove himself by being able to help Lampwick. He didn't realize he was being followed. When he got home, he greeted Geppetto warmly when suddenly the door opened behind them.
"Well, well. So nice to see you again, Pinocchio," Honest John said as he revealed himself stepping in with Gideon at his side.
"You!" Pinocchio shouted.
"I told you never to come near me or my son again, you filthy scoundrel!" Geppetto fumed holding Pinocchio close by. "Leave this house now!"
"Now, now, sir. I only wish to be civilized with you now."
"What do you know about civilized? You sold him off as a circus slave, then you swindled him into a place where he was almost turned into a donkey!"
"What do you want this time, John?" Pinocchio asked in fear.
"Why, Pinocchio," Honest John said. "There's an old friend who wants to see you. He's been dying for a chance to visit with you."
It was then that suddenly Stromboli walked into the house. Pinocchio holding on tighter to his father.
"Pinocchio! We meet again!"
"Stromboli! I'm not going anywhere with you!" Pinocchio shouted.
"You're not talking my son from me! Not this time!" Geppetto growled.
"But alas, sir. He's mine. I paid for him. Therefore, he's no longer your property. He belongs to me! To MY circus!"
"By illegal means you paid for him. And you kidnapped him. He's not yours!"
"I am not about to let my circus die because of a bunch legal hokey. He even has a contract stating as per the terms of payment and ownership, he is mine for life. Now hand him over!"
"I said…never!" Geppetto told him. "You can take anything you want from here! But not Pinocchio!"
"I don't want anything else! I want the boy!" Stromboli yelled as he pushed Geppetto aside and grabbed Pinocchio.
"Daddy! Help me!" Pinocchio screamed as Stromboli carried him away while Honest John and Gideon restrained Geppetto and tied his hands together.
"Pinocchio!" Geppetto screamed. "You monster! How can you actually believe you can save your circus this way?! By kidnapping an innocent child?!"
"I'll kidnap a thousand children before I let my circus die!" Stromboli said. "So long! It was a pleasure doing business with you, Signor Geppetto!"
Honest John and Gideon followed Stromboli out as they left Geppetto in the house.
"Jiminy! Jiminy! Where are you?!"
Jiminy, hearing the commotion from Pinocchio's room ran downstairs and found Geppetto with his hands tied behind his back.
"Oh my goodness! Mr. Geppetto! What happened?!"
"It was Stromboli! They took him! They took Pinocchio!"
"What do we do?! We gotta help him!" Jiminy exclaimed as he untied Geppetto's hands.
"I'm going after them!" Geppetto shouted as he got up and ran out the door. But by the time he reached Stromboli's wagon, it was too late.
Stromboli had already locked Pinocchio in a new cage.
"Now! To me you are belonging! For good!" Stromboli said threateningly.
"You can't do to this me! You can't!"
"Shut up!" Stromboli yelled as he slapped Pinocchio across the face. "Now sit in there and stay quiet, you little brat!"
Stromboli walked off and the carriage started moving. By the time Geppetto caught up to it. It was already out of his reach. Just as he had fallen on his knees, Jiminy zoomed right past riding on top of Figaro.
"Go get the police or something! I'll catch up to the wagon!"
Back in Stromboli's wagon, Pinocchio sat in tears when suddenly he heard a donkey braying. Pinocchio lifted his head and looked to his left and saw the donkey. He could see some kind of humanity in the donkey's eyes. The donkey looked at him too. Pinocchio couldn't shake the feeling. It had to be.
"Lampy!" He shouted. "It's you!" He cried out as he hugged Lampwick around the neck. "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you on pleasure island. I didn't know what to do. I…I just…"
Lampwick couldn't help but bray in forgiveness knowing his friend did at least not mean to abandon him.
"Yeah. I want to help you. I just don't know how. I should have known Stromboli of all people would have bought you."
Pinocchio hung his head in despair. He felt this time, there was no way out.
Suddenly Jiminy and Figaro caught up to the wagon. Figaro jumped onto the foot railing to give Jiminy a boost. Jiminy climbed up inside and slid inside.
"Jiminy!" Pinocchio shouted happily. "You came for me! Where's my father?!"
"He'll be here, Pinocchio! He went to get help."
"Jiminy, look! It's Lampwick. He must have been sold off to Stromboli or something. But we gotta get him out of here!"
"You too, Pinoke!" But how? I bet Stromboli has probably figured he can't leave the key in the open near the cage unlike last time. We'll have to figure this one out."
Just as Jiminy was saying this. A horse pulled up on the side of the carriage and Geppetto climbed over to get in. as soon as he did with Figaro. He ran over to Pinocchio's cage.
"Father!" Shouted Pinocchio. You came!"
"It's gonna be alright, son. I'm getting you out of here."
"Father, what about Lampwick? I can't leave him."
Poor Lampwick sadly looked up at Geppetto and brayed beggingly.
"Alright. But if only I could open the door. There must be a way."
Then suddenly, Jiminy noticed something.
"Wait a minute. These are half pin barrel hinges. We need some kind of leverage to break the door."
Geppetto grabbed a nearby wood bench and with all his strength, applied it to the grate, pulled it up and broke the door free. Pinocchio jumped up and ran to his father.
"It's ok now, Pinocchio. I'm getting you out of here."
Suddenly the carriage stopped. Just as they ran for the door. Stromboli stormed inside.
"I told you, he is mine! My property of MY circus!"
"No! He is not!" Geppetto said angrily. "You can do whatever you want with your pathetic little circus. You can abuse your poor other servants in it if you see fit, but you will NOT take my son from me!"
Stromboli, with fury raging in him, charged towards them to attack, but Pinocchio kicked him in the shin and stomped on his foot.
"You won't get your hands on me again!"
Stromboli charged again, but then Lampwick, stood in between them. Braying with such heroism, he distracted Stromboli long enough for Geppetto and Pinocchio to get out with Jiminy and Figaro. Lampwick followed behind, but Stromboli dove towards him. Grabbing onto his tail, Stromboli tried to prevent Lampwick from escaping. But Lampwick with a bray of pain and anger, used his two hind hoofs to kick Stromboli in the face knocking him back. This startled the horse that he ran so fast, Stromboli's wagon began to speed out of control. Pinocchio and Geppetto watched as the wagon was dragged all the way to a bridge.
The horse managed to break free of the reins, then the carriage turned over on the edge of the bridge falling over and with a scream from Stromboli, plunged into the river below. Pinocchio and everyone else watched as the wreckage floated away.
They all stood together for a moment.
"Father. You came after me! I knew you would somehow."
"I had to, Pinocchio," Geppetto said. "Like I said, I will never let anyone take you from me."
As they both hugged. Lampwick, Jiminy and Figaro watched with happy tears.
Suddenly, the blue fairy appeared.
"Dear kind and brave Pinocchio. You wished to help your friend, Lampwick. But it was he who helped you. In fact, you have helped each other. And so, a reward I grant to him."
Pinocchio watched as the blue fairy waved her wand. Lampwick was floating in the air, magically. As the sparkles surrounded him, everyone watched. Lampwick's face turned to a human and his hoofs became hands again. When he was back on the ground, he was standing on two feet again. He felt himself over and realized what had just happened.
"I'm a…I'm a boy again! I'm human!" He screamed with delight. "Pinocchio! I don't know how you did this, but thank you!"
He ran up to Pinocchio and gave him a big hug.
"Lampwick. I'm so sorry I just watched as you…became a jackass. I…"
"Relax, it's all in the past, buddy. And Mr. Geppetto. Thanks for getting me out of there."
"No, Lampwick. Thank you," Geppetto told him. You just saved my life, as well as Pinocchio's. And for that we owe you. I don't know how we can ever repay you."
"I think," Pinocchio said. "The best way to repay him is to get him home. His mother is going to be happy to see him."
Lampwick turned to the fairy.
"Thank you, Miss Fairy, mam. I'll be forever grateful for this. I'm going to be a good boy from now on just like Pinocchio. And I will stick to that."
"It seems you've learned your lesson well, Lampwick. And Pinocchio, i'm going to find all the other boys from pleasure island and I'm going to help them as a reward for yours and Lampwick good deeds."
"Thank you, Blue fairy. I sure hope they'll be glad to be home if they can get home."
"They'll be fine, Pinocchio. I assure you," she said as she vanished in a sparkle of light.
"Let's go home," Jiminy said.
"Hey, Lampy. Uh, thanks," Pinocchio said. "Thanks for saving us, back there. I knew there was good in you somehow. And I guess you just proved it."
"It was nothing, Pinokie. And I'm sorry I got you in trouble at school that time and picked on you and stuff. Friends?" Lampwick asked as he stuck out his hands.
"Sure. Friends!" Pinocchio said as they shook hands and walked home.
On their way home, Geppetto and the group stopped by the police to report Honest John and Gideon. They accompanied the officers to watch as they were taken into custody.
"John Worthington Foulfellow, you're under arrest for embezzlement, kidnapping, hustling, and child endangerment," they told him. We will see to it you and your partner, Mr. Gideon receive a life sentence."
"Serves you right, you old swindler!" Pinocchio heckled John as they escorted him to the wagon.
"I never thought a boy like you would be my downfall, Pinocchio!" Honest John told him as they hauled him and Gideon away. Never to be seen again.
After that, they took Lampwick to his home, and knocked on the door. Mrs. Lampwick opened the door.
"Romeo! Is it really you?!" She said.
"Yes, mama. It is," Lampwick said
"But they said you were a donkey! How did…?"
"It's kind of a long story," Pinocchio said.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Lampwick was at least happy to have her son back. As Lampwick went and hugged her, Geppetto wrapped his arm around Pinocchio with sentiment.
"Mama. I promise to be good from now on. I'll do as I'm told. I promise!"
"I'll hold you to it, as long as you don't become your father. And thank you, Pinocchio for getting him home."
"Your welcome, Mrs. Lampwick."
"We'll be going now. We'll see you around," Geppetto said.
As Geppetto and Pinocchio walked home Hand in Hand the group broke out in song, with Jiminy starting out.
"There's a lesson learned!", Jiminy sang
"I learned it late but no regrets!" Geppetto sang.
"The more of your heart that you give to someone else," Geppetto and Jiminy sang together.
"The fuller that it gets," Pinocchio sang out with Geppetto together.
They then all sang together,
"So take my home look here is the key and all the value you might see, "
"But never take my son from me!"
"That's a price I cannot pay since I gave my heart away!"
Later that evening as Pinocchio and Jiminy were playing in the living room, a policeman came to the door and spoke with Geppetto. Frederico was with him.
"Signor Geppetto, we searched the entire crash site. We can confirm Stromboli did indeed perish in the crash. Thus putting his circus ring out of business and many of the other boys who were taken to pleasure island have managed to return home. It seems boys from all around are headed home even in neighboring towns"
"Thank you, Officer. So what's gonna happen to pleasure island itself?"
"we're not sure but for the time being we will leave it as it is abandoned. Have a nice evening, sir."
"Good night, officer," Geppetto said as the officer walked off. Frederico came inside.
"I heard about everything," Frederico said. "It's a good thing you went after Pinocchio. And it's relieving you made it back in one piece."
"Truly, it was that boy Lampwick who was the hero too."
Federico and Geppetto shared a hug before Frederico walked over to Pinocchio.
"Pinocchio, that was incredibly brave what you did when you stood up to Stromboli like that and wanting to help your friend."
"Godfather Fredrico, he wasn't really my friend at first but I guess after he and I saved each others lives I guess it is going to be that way."
"Still you were both very brave I hear. I bet if your mother were here right now she would be very proud of how brave and strong you've become. You truly are your father's son."
Hearing that, Pinocchio just smiled. Meanwhile later that night after Geppetto put him to bed, Pinocchio called Jiminy over to the nightstand.
"Hey, Jiminy. my father's birthday is going to be shortly after my last day of school. And there's something I really want to do for him. It would be nice of me to go out and buy him a gift but I want to do something different. Something extra special. Will you help me?"
"Sure, Pinocchio? what do you have in mind?"
Pinocchio whispered his idea to Jiminy.
"Why, Pinoke. I think that's a very swell idea. I think it's going to make him very happy," Jiminy said.
A few months went by and soon around late May to early June, it was the last day of the school year. Lampwick kept true to his word to act like a better student and be a better person thanks to Pinocchio's help as well.
Pinocchio talked to his teacher for a bit before he left.
"I'm gonna really miss you over the summer but I'm sure I might see you around, Signora."
"Pinocchio, you truly are a very kind boy. Your father has certainly raised you well," she told him.
And after they shared a brief hug together, Pinocchio walked off. On their way home, Pinocchio and Lampwick had some good conversation with each other. As expected Lampwick had become human again Pinocchio and him were now great friends.
Both of them still had their moments of getting in trouble but not to the point of acting like completely bad kids. Even though Lampwick still had a bit of his old self in him he was a bit much better behaved that Geppetto wasn't worried about him being a bad influence anymore.
A few days later it was Geppetto's birthday, Pinocchio treated him to a nice breakfast in bed and spent the day doing things with him but later that evening it was time for the real surprise.
After they had finished dinner with Fredrico's family when Frederico had left, Pinocchio brought Geppetto up to his room. Geppetto noticed on top of a chair was something covered in a tarp.
"Pinocchio, what is that?" He asked.
"It's my birthday surprise for you I've been working on it a while with Jiminy's help."
"Let me see," Geppetto said to him eagerly.
Pinocchio pulled off the tarp and what Geppetto saw, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"My…my..my best music box. How did you…?"
I wanted to surprise you for your birthday. So I took a look at it and tried to piece it together and I thought maybe I could try to rebuild it for you."
Geppetto was speechless but tears were welling from his eyes. Tears of happiness.
"Oh, Pinocchio! Thank you so much!" He cried out as he hugged Pinocchio tightly. "This is the best birthday present I've ever gotten from you. It looks just about as beautiful as the day I finished building it with your mother."
"Happy birthday, father," Pinocchio said.
Geppetto played it that night. Happy that now he felt his relationship with Pinocchio had now finally been fully repaired.
Jiminy came and spoke to him that night as well.
"Mr. Geppetto, Pinocchio truly is a good boy. It sure was nice of you to thank him for what he did for you," Jiminy told him.
"He did that for a good reason, Mr. Geppetto. Not simply because he still believes he could bring his mother back even for just once. He did it for you. He loves you."
"I know he does, Jiminy. Thank you for helping him with the music box."
After that short little discussion, Jiminy went to bed in his own little doll house in Pinocchio's room. Inside his room he had hung up a new picture. A new family portrait with him Geppetto, Pinocchio, Figaro, and Cleo. He had placed it right next to his old childhood picture with his parents and sister and as he looked at them both side-by-side he simply smiled. He also turned around smiling as he watched a Pinocchio fast asleep cuddling his old doll from his mother close to him.
As Pinocchio slept comfortably in his bed holding his old doll close by, he smiled in his sleep. Feeling not nothing but happiness about how much better things had become. For the first time in many years, he had truly slept well.