Chapter 16: Pinocchio Part 2
It was shortly after the man passed that Bandit spoke. "Did anyone else catch what his cart said?"
"It said Gepetto, just like the guy who makes Pinocchio in the story…" Thomas mumbled.
"I thought Wilbur said that the book wasn't an alternate dimension," Chilli commented, glancing at the man's back as he continued pulling his wagon.
Thomas turned to Wilbur, "Wilbur, I need you to analyze as much about this dimension as you can. Find out how it's connected to ours and if there's any sort of connections between it and 'Pinocchio'." Thomas held up the book. "When you're done meet me again, use my phone signal to find us."
"Will do!" The drone buzzed as it whizzed off into the air, eventually disappearing from view.
"What are we gonna do?" Bluey asked, looking up at the adults.
Bandit, Chilli, and Thomas exchanged a few glances. None of them were exactly sure what to do. It was after a moment that Bingo spoke.
"We could help the story happen."
"What do you mean?" Bandit asked.
"Well, if we are in a world that's like a storybook, then when the story ends we'll be done here and we should go home." Bingo shrugged.
"That's not a bad idea Bingo," Thomas said, thinking a moment. "Maybe if we help resolve the story we can get sent back." He paused, "But before we can do any of that I say we wait and see what Wilbur says. Maybe he'll find something useful. If not, it's not a waste. If Gepetto's still on his own it means he hasn't made Pinocchio yet, so we should have some time before we need to try and hurry the story along."
"Should we get involved?" Chilli asked, "Or would changing the story make it less likely for us to get home?"
Thomas frowned, he hadn't considered that. "That is a possibility."
"Well, regardless we can't do anything until Wilbur returns, right?" Bandit asked. Thomas nodded in reply. "So, why don't we get camp set up and get something to eat. I imagine you girls are a bit hungry, right?"
"I'm starving! I haven't eaten since tea!" Bluey declared.
"Me too!" Bingo added.
"Alright, let's get camp set and we can make some food…"
It was about an hour later that the Heelers had everything set up. Thankfully Bandit and Chilli had a modest supply of camping gear already due to their annual trips to the campsite with their family. Between that and Thomas' powers-which were still in effect-it made it easy to get everything unloaded and ready.
"Well, it looks like the stream is clean," Thomas commented as he returned with a jug of water, having checked the water quality with the test strips Bandit had packed. "Which makes sense, there doesn't seem to be anything that could be polluting it in the area."
"Good, that means we'll have a source of fresh water for as long as we need it." Bandit commented, turning the food in the pan he had sitting on the fire. He stood up and stretched slightly, frowning a moment as he adjusted his shirt, it having untucked itself in the back.
Thomas chuckled, "Not used to wearing clothes, dad?"
Bandit rolled his eyes, "No, I'm used to having a nice thick coat of fur and only wearing clothes when I had to. It's annoying. How do you humans deal with it?"
"I mean, I had to do it since I was a kid, so it wasn't ever anything I thought much about."
"And what, when these get dirty I can't just cast them off? I need to stay dressed because otherwise there's nothing keeping everything hidden." Bandit griped, having discovered on a bathroom break what exactly Thomas had meant when he'd requested clothes that first night.
"Yup."
"I never realized how lucky we had it being canines."
It was at that moment that Wilbur appeared, dropping out of the sky and hovering at head height. "Hello! I've returned and conducted the analysis you requested. Would you like me to share once everyone's here?"
"Yes Wilbur, let me get mum and Bluey and Bingo," Thomas said, walking over to the tent. He knocked on the flap, ruffling the side.
"We're still in our chrysalis! We aren't ready to come out yet!" Bluey declared. She'd recently learned about butterflies at school with Calypso and had become slightly obsessed with them.
"Wilbur's here and he has news, if you want to hear it, I'd say you butterflies need to get ready."
"Oh! Let's go, I want to hear!" Bingo said, a ruffling sound echoing in the tent as she slipped out of a sleeping bag.
"Okay, but then we go back in," Bluey said, her own ruffling joining her sister's before they both unzipped the tent and appeared.
"He's over by dad, I'm gonna go get mum." Thomas pointed at their mother who was reading through the book the girls had arrived with and making notes in a blank journal. He walked over and gently cleared his throat. Chilli looked up.
"Hey Thomas, is everything okay?"
"Wilbur just got back, he did the analysis. I figured you'd want to hear it."
"Of course." She nodded, placing the book and journal under her arm. "Lead the way."
It was a minute later that all the Heelers were present.
"Okay Wilbur, go ahead," Thomas instructed.
"To begin this is not an independent universe, rather it is a stable pocket dimension." He noted.
"What does that mean?" Bluey asked.
"It means that this universe doesn't exist on its own, it's within another one, right?" Thomas clarified.
"That is what appears to be true," Wilbur replied. "Furthermore, this universe appears to abide by the rules and constraints set forth in the book you arrived with." He turned slightly to Chilli, "And the events I have observed thus far appear to be following those in the plot."
"So, would finishing the plot close the pocket dimension?" Bandit asked, trying to wrap his head around what Wilbur was saying.
"Yes. This dimension is an anomaly. Once the plot concludes it should cease to exist."
"So, we just have to sit around and wait?" Bandit asked.
"I wouldn't recommend that," Chilli said, glancing at the notes she'd taken.
"Why?"
"The book takes place over multiple months. Who knows what may happen in all that time…"
"I concur with Chilli." Wilbur said, "The longer you are present in this world the greater the instability and higher risk of further abnormalities occurring."
"Okay, so what do we do then?" Bandit asked.
"We help Pinocchio be a real boy!" Bluey declared.
"That is the end of the story," Thomas said turning to Wilbur. "Would that work?"
Wilbur hummed for a moment, "That does fulfill the conclusion of the story; it is likely that would satisfy the dimension's stipulations and lead to its closure."
"So all we have to do is make an inanimate hunk of wood into a living human boy?" Bandit rolled his eyes, "How exactly do we do that?"
"Well, we wait for the fair to turn him into a living puppet first, then we work on getting him turned into a real boy," Chilli noted.
"What made him become a real boy in the book? I've only ever seen the movie." Thomas stated.
Chilli flipped a few pages into her notes, "He sacrifices himself to save Gepetto and is rewarded by being returned to life and made a real boy for it and his other valiant deeds."
"So we just make sure he stays on the straight and narrow and he should be rewarded?" Bandit questioned.
"Hypothetically, yes," Wilbur replied. "Though I am uncertain given the parameters of this universe.
"Alright then let's eat and then let's have a look around," Thomas said as he looked at his family. "Sounds good mate," Bandit said as he then started to cook the food that they brought from their universe. "Hey, Wilbur you wouldn't have scanned for a map did you?" Thomas asked, looking at the small drone. "I did indeed!" Wilbur said, now projecting a fully scanned map. "How come these areas are blank?" Bandit asked, looking at the map while also keeping an eye on the food. "These areas are blocked from view because they come into later parts of the story, I couldn't access them," Wilbur explained. "Look! There's a town!"Bluey said, pointing at that part of the map. "Well, then after lunch we'll go and see the town," Chilli said as she stood up and went to help her husband. "Alright Wilbur thanks," Thomas said with a nod. "Certainly," Wilbur said before putting the map away. "Soups up mates," Bandit said as the soup was finished. "Hooray!" The girls said as they stood up and went over to their father. Thomas also joined his family with Wilbur who hovered above them.
"Does this count for going on holiday?" Bingo asked, looking at her parents. "I guess it could," Chilli said with a smile while blowing on her soup to cool it down. "It's not a normal holiday that's for sure," Bandit said while eating his soup. "I remember all the vacations my parents took me on," Thomas said while also eating his soup. "Really? Where did you go?" Bluey asked, now being able to eat her soup from it being cooled down. "We went to Canada once, that was once," Thomas said while continuing to eat his soup. "Really? Your dad and I were thinking about going there sometime," Chilli said before finishing her soup. "It's great! We should go after all this is over," Thomas said now thinking about how things could be normal after taking down Jinx. "Then it's settled! We'll take a trip to Canada after this is all over!" Bandit said with a smile. "Hooray!" The girls said. "And this will be our first Camping trip with Thomas and Wilbur!" Bluey added. "Indeed it is," Chilli also added. After the family had finished their lunch, it was time to explore.
"Alright kids stay close to either us or Thomas," Bandit said looking at his daughters. "And don't talk to any human you don't know," Chilli said, also looking at her daughters. "Yes mum, yes dad," the girls both said. Bandit and Chilli both nodded as the girls then took their hands and the group started to walk to town. "Wilbur, I think you should stay in my backpack just in case people get the wrong idea," Thomas suggested while opening his backpack. "Sure thing!" Wilbur said before landing in Thomas's hand.
Thomas then puts Wilbur away in his backpack before continuing on with his family. It wasn't long before the family had made it to town. Bandit and Chilli felt outside of their comfort zone while walking with other humans besides Thomas that they were used to. Bluey and Bingo however were thrilled to see new things. "Stay close kids," Chilli said nervously while holding on to her husband. Thomas was looking around the shop's windows while also staying close to his family. "How come there's no TVs or Computers or Tablets?" Bingo asked while looking in some windows with Thomas. "Well, it's because this pocket universe is set in an old-time setting," Thomas said, patting the top of his youngest sister's head. "Oh…" Bingo said curiously. "Come! Feast to your heart's desires at this year's blackberry pie eating contest!" said a man in the middle of the town square. This caught the town's people's attention including the Heelers.
The family then walked over to the contest along with others who saw the small stage. "Finish twenty-five in one hour and win seven hundred gold coins!" The man said with a slick smile. "Dad! You do that," Bluey said looking at her father. "Yeah, dad!" Bingo also added while looking at her father. "I don't know kids.." Bandit said, looking down at them. "The money wouldn't be so bad," Chilli said looking at his husband. "You may be human here, but you still have those canine instincts still inside you dad," Thomas said looking at his father. Bandit thought for a moment and then nodded. "You're right!" Bandit said suddenly feeling hungry. "I'll take on the challenge mate!" Bandit called out to the man. "Ah yes!" the man said, looking at Bandit. "Get up here and show these town folk how it's done my friend!" The man said, trying to get Bandit to come up on the stage.
Bandit then walked up on the stage and sat down at the table in front of the whole town. "Alright! Here we have!" The man started to say and then whisper to Bandit. "What's your name?" the man asked. Bandit was about to say his name until he thought how strange it would be if he said his dog name rather than a normal human name. "Herbert Foxworth," Bandit said, hoping that would work. "Herbert Foxworth!" the man cheered. "Good save dad," Thomas whispered. "Now as I said for the rules, finish twenty-five pies in one hour and the prize money is yours!" the man said with a sly smile. The townspeople then started to cheer for Bandit. "Just heads up, no one has ever beaten my game, so good luck," The man whispered to Bandit with a chuckle. Bandit chuckled as this man didn't know Bandit's true identity or knew he was really a dog with a big appetite. "Time starts now!" the man shouted.
Bandit then dug into his first pie and with no time finished it. The town started cheering loudly along with Bandit's family. Chilli cheered loudly as she knew her husband was very competitive as he was with his brothers and even with his own kids. "You got this dad!" Bluey and Bingo shouted to their father. "Go, dad!" Thomas shouted. Bandit was going at it with each pie being taken down one by one. The man who held the contest started to feel nervous since he's never seen such a man eat as many pies as possible. It was only a half an hour in and Bandit was almost time with his pies. The crowd got bigger and louder as they cheered for Bandit. "Stick it to the man Herbert!" Chilli shouted aggressively. The wives of most of the townsmen were smiling seeing how supportive Chilli was to her husband. "Come on dad! Just a few more pies!" Thomas shouted loudly. With only a few pies left Bandit took his time on them before finally finishing them. The man who held the contest was in shock just as Bandit finished the pies and burped upon finishing them.
The town cheered with Bandit's family going up to him and hugging him. "I-I we have a winner!" the man said with a nervous smile. "Here is your prize," the man said before putting a bag of gold coins on the table in front of Bandit. Bandit smiled as he took the bag of gold coins and then shook the man's hand. "Hey mate?" Bandit asked the man. "Yes?" the man asked, looking at Bandit. "Try thirty pies next time so that way it'll be a real challenge," Bandit said with a wink. The man chuckled with a nod while shaking Bandit's hand. After the contest, the family then moved on from the town square and found Geppetto's shop. Bluey and Bingo looked into the shop window and saw various toys and clocks inside. "This must be the place," Chilli said while also looking in the window. "There really are so many beautiful clocks in here," Chilli said while looking. "Hey there's a house for rent just next door," Bandit said looking at the sign. Thomas also looked at the sign with his dad. "Only ninety gold coins a month," Thomas said while looking at the sign. "Gee, these fairytale houses are cheaper than mortgages back home," Bandit said while looking inside the window of the house.
"Well of course! It's a storybook dad, everything is cheap," Bluey said with a smile. "It's the rules!" Bingo added. "Oh yeah? Says Who?" Thomas asked, looking at his sisters. "Well, it worked for Snow White all she had to do was run away to the forest and find a house in the middle of nowhere and stay with the Seven Dwarfs," Bluey explained. "Do you think we'll get to meet her next?!" Bingo asked excitedly while looking at her sister. "Oh! I hope so!" Bluey said also excited. "One universe at a time kids," Bandit said looking at his daughters. "Now, who do we talk to about renting this place," Bandit said while looking around. "What about the mayor," Bluey said while looking at a man with a large hat. "Good Idea Bluey," Chilli said with a smile. "Yeah! Good catch mate," Bandit said as they started to walk over to the mayor. "Excuse me mate, my family and I are pretty brand new to town and we were looking at the house next to that toy shop," Bandit said while pointing at the house. "Oh! You're that gentleman that won that pie contest!" the mayor said with a smile.
"I am indeed mate," Bandit said with a chuckle. "I've been trying to have that place rented out for a while, but no one wanted it since it's next to Geppetto, he's a good lad and keeps to himself with his clocks and toys that he sales but some people just think he strange since he's alone," the mayor said with a frown of sadness for the old man who made the toys great toys. "Well, we would like to rent it," Chilli said with a warm smile. "Would you?! Great! Just ninety gold coins and it's yours!" the mayor said with a cheerful smile. "Here you are, mate," Bandit said, handing the mayor the coins he needed for the house. "Thanks for your business! And enjoy the rest of the town," the mayor said again with a cheerful smile before giving them the keys to the house. "We will sir thank you," Thomas said with a smile. The mayor nodded before moving on. The family then went to the house and went inside.
It was dusty but that wasn't new for Chilli and Bandit as they used to do housework back at home all the time. "I probably should get our camp stuff from that field," Thomas said as he closed the door behind them. "Do you want me to help you mate?" Bandit asked, looking at his son. "It's the alright dad I got it you should stay here with mom and the girls," Thomas suggested. "I could use a strong man to move things," Chilli said with a little Flirtatious in her tone, noting that they are indeed humans in this universe. "Besides with my powers I'll be back in no time," Thomas said with a smile. "Can Wilbur come out now?" Bluey asked her brother. "Of course!" Thomas said getting Wilbur out and turning him on. "Hey Wilbur, can you be of Assistance here while I bring in our camping stuff," Thomas asked while looking at his drone. "Certainly!" Wilbur said with a display of a digital smile on his screen. "Great Help mom and Dad with anything they need and I will be right back," Thomas said, letting Wilbur free to hover from his hand. "Yes Certainly," Wilbur said as he hovered over to the girls. Thomas nodded and then looked at his parents.
"If anything, use this," Thomas said as he made a dagger out of his cosmic energy. Thomas then handed it to his father. "I know things may seem good here, but you guys can't be too careful," Thomas said. Bandit nodded, taking the cosmic dagger. Chilli then gave a kiss on her son's cheek before he set out to grab their stuff. "And you two be good for mom and dad," Thomas said looking at his sisters. "We will," Bluey said as she and Bingo were playing with Wilbur. Thomas nodded before teleported to the spot where their camping stuff was at. Bandit and Chilli both sighed as they then looked around their new place for the time being. "Wilbur, can you do a scan around the place and make sure everything is safe mate?" Bandit asked looking at the drone. "Sure thing!" Wilbur said as he hovered and scanned the house and went into every room and scanned. "Everything is in order besides a small roof leak," Wilbur said, reporting back to Bandit and Chilli. "Oh well that's an easy fix," Bandit said with a smile.
"Will you need some assistance? Wilbur asked, looking at Bandit. "Sure mate! I could always use the help!" Bandit said again with a smile. "Fantastic! I am programmed with the most effective ways to patch up a roof leak," Wilbur said as he hovered up to the attic. "Thomas really thought of everything when making Wilbur," Chilli said with a chuckle. "He sure did, maybe he made him for me!" Bandit said with pride. Chilli rolled her eyes as she started to clean things downstairs.
Meanwhile, Thomas teleported back to the campsite and started to pack things up. Thomas made sure no one was around to see him use his powers as he didn't want to start a panic in this universe as he did in his new home. After Thomas finished packing all the camping stuff up, a flyer landed on his leg. Thomas picked it up and looked at it. "Coming Attractions, come see the Carnival of Century presented by Mr. Blackwood," Thomas read it out loud. "Maybe, the girls might be able to see it since this might take a while," Thomas said, putting the flyer in his pocket. Thomas again ensured no one was around before teleported back to his parents. Without Thomas knowing, Mr. Blackwood was watching from a distance. He smiled darkly as he faded away with the wind in a cloud of black smoke.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey Guys! What do you think about this chapter? Mr. Blackwood and his Carnival huh? I guess we will have to wait and see how this turns out for the Heelers and Pinocchio when the time comes for that! Let us know what you think about this chapter and We will continue to gove you guys more chapters!
The-Suburban-Guy A/N: Well, it looks like the Heelers are stuck here for a while. But at least it seems safe so far, right? Stick around to see what happens next!