A/N:
Sorry guys, had some technical difficulties there. Here they are reuploaded. Hopefully you can read them now. If not let me know.
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Raspberries Challenge Entry #2: Pinocchio
Pinickhio
Once upon a time, there lived a kindly old clockmaker named Emmett Otterton. He lived on his own after the unfortunate passing of his wife some years ago. Having never had any children of his own, the otter passed the time focusing on his life's work - making clocks day in and day out.
A fruitful life financially, but empty without anyone to share it with.
In his loneliness, Emmett turned to carving marionettes. Fashioning most of them to look like children to serve as sort of surrogate children to him. He loved them all so dearly, but if he had to choose his favorite - it had to be a small red fox kit made of pine. The little fox marionette, clad in a pale yellow shirt, red overalls, a blue bowtie, and a yellow hat with a red feather was named Pinickhio by the kind otter.
One night as Emmett went to bed, he made a wish upon the evening star - asking it, praying to it - to please grant Pinickhio life, so that he may become a real fox and a real son to him.
His wish was granted.
For when Emmett fell asleep, a beautiful gazelle fairy with a blonde tuft of hair came to Pinickhio and granted him life. When the little wooden fox opened his brightly painted emerald eyes, the fairy promised him that she would make him into a real fox kit. But!...on one condition, "Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish. And someday you will be a real fox."
To help him achieve this, the gazelle fairy gave the wooden kit a conscience. A conscience in the form of a small fennec fox named Finnick who had snuck into Emmett's home to seek shelter from the bitter cold. Though he did not possess the most admirable life, the gazelle fairy felt that this was the fennec fox's chance to make things right for himself - to learn from his past mistakes and to lead Pinickhio down the right path.
"Now remember Pinickhio, be a good boy. And always let your conscience be your guide," and just like that, the gazelle vanished. Leaving Pinickhio and Finnick to prove themselves worthy.
.
The bell tolled throughout the village, signaling to the children that it was time for school. As boys and girls of all species and sizes said good-bye to their parents and rushed off to the local schoolhouse, Pinickhio eagerly swung open the front door to gaze in amazement at all the children. There were so many different looking ones! There were big ones, there were little ones, there were some that looked like his father Emmett, and there were some fluffy long eared ones.
Speaking of which…...There actually was one of those that immediately caught his eye and made his chest feel funny. A pretty little bunny girl with gray fur and amethyst colored eyes that looked in Pinickhio's direction. She giggled and waved at him with a sweet friendly smile. Pinickhio returned a bashful smile and waved back as she skipped off along with other similar looking rabbits.
After watching her disappear into the distance, Pinickhio's attention turned to another equally amazing sight. There, making their way to school, were a group of mammals that looked just like him. In his excitement, Pinickhio began hopping around the porch, following their every movement with his eyes.
His father, Emmett Otterton, came out the front door to place a formal little black vest on the puppet to make him look presentable for his first day of school. The eager Pinickhio however, was having a difficult time standing still as he hopped around eagerly. "Look father! Look!" the little wooden kit called out in a hop.
Emmett chuckled at the young puppet's eagerness, "Hold still, Pinickhio."
"What are those?" the little wooden kit asked Emmett.
"Huh?" Emmett lifted his gaze to the children making their way to school. "Oh, those. They're foxes and your schoolmates, Pinickhio. Girls and boys-"
"Real boys?" Pinickhio cut him off, finally standing still. Amazed at the revelation.
"Yes," Emmett answered as he finally managed to put the vest on Pinickhio. "And I'm sure they're all eager to become your friends."
"Friends?" Pinickhio beamed at the word.
"Yes, now hurry. You don't want to be late," Emmett gently shooed him down the small steps of their porch. "Oh! Wait my son!" Pinickhio stopped, wondering what his father could want of him. "I almost forgot," Emmett came down the steps with an ABC book and an apple. He breathed on the apple and shined it up nice on the sleeve of his blouse for Pinickhio. "Here's your book and here's a nice apple for your teacher." Pinickhio smiled. "Alright, now turn around and let me look you over," Emmett told him with a proud chuckle.
The little fox puppet obeyed his father and turned only his body around, keeping his head in place.
"Perfect. Run along now." Pinickhio joyfully skipped on toward school, feeling excited and eager to meet real foxes and make dozens of new friends.
"Goodbye father!" he called back to Emmett.
"Goodbye son! Hurry back!"
As the town's children continued to race on toward school, a red fox by the name of John Worthington Foulfellow and his mute feline sidekick, Gideon, made their way about the crowded path. "Ah Gideon, listen. The merry laughter of little innocent children wending their way to school," said the red fox to his companion. "Thirsty little minds rushing to the fountain of knowledge. Haha! School, a noble institution. What would this stupid world be without-" Honest John stopped short, noticing a poster depicting a heavy set ram named Stromboli with a pair of marionettes. "Well, well, well, Stromboli! So that old rascal is back in town, eh? Hahahaha! Remember Giddy the time I tied strings on you and passed you off as a puppet? Hahahaha! We nearly put one over on that old gypsy that time! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
Honest John and Gideon continued on their merry way, laughing boisterously until they came across a most unexpected sight. There, skipping along the same path but heading in the opposite direction as them was… "A little wooden fox. Now who to-" Honest John and Gideon froze. "A wooden fox?!" Honest John gasped as he and Gideon followed after the wooden kit. They hid behind a brick wall to spy on the young kit and ensure their eyes did not deceive them. "Look Giddy! Look! It's amazing! A live puppet without strings! A thing like that ought to be worth a fortune to someone. Now let me see…" Honest John rolled his eyes up in thought, his gaze landing upon the poster he had seen earlier. "That's it! Stromboli! Why that fat old faker would give his-Listen! If we play our cards right, we'll be on easy street. Or my name isn't Honest John. Quick we'll head him off."
Honest John and Gideon made their way behind a brick wall walking along the path Pinickhio was taking - following the young puppet's every move - still amazed at the sight of a moving living puppet. The hustler fox quickened his pace and pulled his mute feline companion by the neck with the crook of his cane until they arrived at the other end of the wall. Now ahead of him, it was the perfect opportunity to catch him!
Honest John and Gid waited and brainstormed on how to go about catching the unsuspecting puppet. "Shh," Honest John shushed to his friend, "Now's our-" Honest John's eyes widened upon noticing his associate lifting a mallet, ready to bop the young puppet on his head. "No, no stupid!" Honest John said, removing the mallet from Gid. "Don't be crude." Honest John uttered, bopping the silent feline over the head with the mallet. Gid gave no reaction, save for a single hiccup. "Let me handle this. Here he comes."
He spun around to face Gideon, pretending to be lost in conversation with the feline. "Ah, yes Giddy. As I was saying to the Duchess only yesterday-" The cunning fox casually slid his cane back, causing the incoming Pinickhio to trip on it.
CLANK!
"Oh! Oh, how clumsy of me," uttered Honest John, feigning concern for the young puppet. "My, my, my. Tsk, tsk, tsk." Honest John clicked his tongue as he and Gideon helped the boy up, messily re-adjusting Pinickhio's bowtie and hat. "Oh I'm terribly sorry. Oh, I do hope you're not injured."
"I'm alright," Pinickhio responded.
Honest John sighed in relief, "Splendid!"
Gideon meanwhile, pulled out a small brush to help dust off the wooden kit clean. In the process of dusting him off, a greedy Gideon tugged at Pinickhio's back pocket, pulling it wide to see if he had any money on him. He apparently did as Gideon reached in only to have Honest John smack him on the head with his cane, pushing the feline's head down below his shoulders and into his shirt.
Pinickhio reached down for his book and apple, but Honest John picked them up first. The older fox rudely took a bite out of the apple and opened up the ABC book. He held it upside down,"Well, well, quite the scholar I see. Look Giddy, a mammal of letters." Honest John lowered the book to his mute associate to see. With a humored chuckle, the fox returned the book to Pinickhio, "Here's your book."
Pinickhio took his book and innocently pointed ahead with a smile, "I'm going to school!" He started to march off on his way again when Honest John pulled him back with his cane.
"School?" Honest John questioned, "Then you haven't heard of the easy road to success."
"Uh-uh," Pinickhio shook his head.
"No? I'm speaking my boy of the theatre!" Honest John exclaimed, draping his cape over himself in a dramatic flare. "Here's your apple." he said placing it back on the wooden kit's palm. Pinickhio grimaced seeing that the older fox had already eaten it and only handed him the core. Taking absolutely no notice to the boy's frown, Honest John continued with his speech, "Bright lights, music, applause! Fame," Honest John said, raising his brows.
"Fame?" Pinickhio repeated, imitating Honest John's brow gesture.
"Yes! You're a fox after all! Just like me! And let me tell you from one fox to another, there's no greater occupation for a fox than the life of an actor!"
"Really?" Pinickhio asked, amazed by such a detail.
"Absolutely my dear boy! And with that personality. That profile! That physique! Why he's a natural born actor. Eh Giddy?" Honest John said with a wink and a jab of his elbow to Gideon. The cat responded in kind with several goofy nods.
"But I'm going to-" Pinickhio tried to argue, attempting to continue on his path toward school.
"Straight to the top!" Honest John interrupted, turning the boy in the opposite direction and leading him on a new path, "Why, I can see your name in lights! Lights six feet high! Uh...What is your name?"
"Pinickhio!"
"Pinickhio! P-I-N-eh-Y-I-uh-P-I-Ohoho!" he chuckled, trailing off after fumbling his name. "How about we just call you Nick for short?"
"Okay! That kinda sounds like how my friend Finnick calls me. Except he calls me Nicky or Nicko."
"Then Nick it is then!" Honest John cheered. He's got him right where he wants him. "Now, on to the theatre!" the older fox declared, breaking into song as he and Gideon lead Pinickhio toward his 'promising career' as an actor.
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee
An actor's life for me
A high silk hat and a silver cane
A watch of gold with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Day
An actor's life is gay
It's great to be a celebrity
An actor's life for me
Ta dum diddle dee dum
Ti dee um dee dum
Ta dum diddle dee dum
Ta dum ta dum
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Di
Ta dee de dum ta dee
Ta dum diddle dee dum
Ta dum ta dum
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dum
An actor's life is fun!
Elsewhere, Finnick raced through the streets while simultaneously attempting to dress himself. "Some conscious I turned out to be. Late on the first day-come on!" he strained between his teeth as he slipped on his black coat. "Oh well, I doubt Nick can get into much trouble on his way to school."
The miniature fennec fox stopped beside a bridge on his path to tuck his nightshirt into his pants when suddenly...
Ta dum diddle dee dum
Ta dum ta dum
The sounds of merry singing caught his ear. This could only mean one thing, "Oh no, a parade," the small fox groaned. "I guess I better move before I get stepped on." Finnick stepped aside, crossing his arms and leaning against the stone to allow the marching mammals to pass.
An actor's life for me
"Ugh finally!" Finnick growled under his breath once the mammals passed by. He made his way back onto the bridge only to hear a young, yet strangely familiar voice sing from behind him.
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee
An actor's life for me!
Finnick glanced back doing a double take, "What the-?" There, marching beside a singing red fox and a brown feline was Pinickhio!
A waxed mustache
And a beaver coat
A pony cart
And a billy goat
"Pinickhio?!" Finnicked gasped confused. The school's on the other side of town, thought the small fennec fox, So where...? Realizing he had no time to waste with questions, Finnick ran after him, "Hey Nicko! Where you goin'!"
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dum
An actor's life is fun
You wear your hair in a pompadour
You ride around in a coach and four
Finnick raced and slid down a stairway rail, desperately trying to reach the young wooden fox, "Wait! Nick!" The fennec fox called to the young puppet but received no answer, the older red fox's singing completely drowned out Finnick's calls.
"Stop!" Finnick called once more only to have a completely distracted Honest John push Finnick away with a flare of his musically wandering paws. Finnick fell tail first with a dazed head. He shook it off to call for Pinickhio once more, "Hold on! Nicko!"
You stop and buy out a candy store
An actor's life for me,
"That does it," Finnick growled. He's had enough.
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee
An actor's life for me
With clothes that come from the finest shop
And lots of peanuts and soda pop
Hi-
He ran after them and whistled as loud as he could, "HEY! PINICKHIO!"
"What was that?" Honest John asked turning every which way until he looked down and spotted the angry Finnick.
"Oh! It's Finnick!" chirped a happy Pinickhio.
"Finnick?" questioned Honest John to the puppet.
"He's my conscious!" Pinickhio replied innocently.
"Ah! So this is your conscious," said Honest John, feigning excitement. "I didn't know one of your schoolmates served as your conscious."
"Schoolmates?" echoed an angry Finnick, "I'm a grown fox!"
"Really?!" Honest John gasped in shock, "Could've fooled me. I thought you were a bit tall for your age!" he snickered, jabbing Gideon with an elbow, eliciting an inaudible chuckle from the silent feline.
"What'd you say?!" Finnick snarled at them, balling his little paws into fists, "You're lucky I have to set a good example for the kid. Otherwise I'd wipe that smirk off your face!"
"My, my, my, what a temper. We must be cautious Giddy. Seems like the grown fox has grown short with us. Hahahahaha!" They threw their heads back, laughing boisterously, while Pinickhio looked on wondering what's so funny... and what's made Finnick so angry?
Speaking of which…
"What are you doing here?" Pinickhio asked his fennec fox conscious.
"I could ask you the same thing kid. Ain't you supposed to be in school? And who are these guys?" asked the miniature fennec with a sour look on his face.
"They're my friends," Pinickhio responded innocently, "This is Gideon," Gideon tipped his hat to Finnick. "And that's Honest John. He's a fox! Just like me and you!" Pinickhio pointed happily at the older red fox.
"Charmed," Honest John responded with a sarcastic bow.
Finnick only glared at him with an angry mumble.
"He's gonna make me an actor!" Pinickhio replied ecstatically.
"An actor?! No, no, no. You're going to school kid."
"But Finnick, Honest John says an actor's life is the only life for a real fox."
"What? This guy told you that?" Finnick gave Honest John a dirty look and took Pinickhio by the paw, pulling him a few feet away from the two deceiving mammals, "Come 'ere kid."
"What's wrong Finn-" Finnick raised a paw, stopping the young fox puppet from finishing his sentence.
"I'll tell you what's wrong. Those two are lyin' to you," Finnick whispered to the little puppet. "Foxes aren't supposta be actors. I'm not an actor and neither are you! You're a kit. You're supposta be in school. Learning how not to end up like that guy!" Finnick pointed to Honest John, who simply placed a dramatic tattered gloved paw at his chest as if saying, 'moi?'
Finnick continued, "Look kid, if you wanna be polite about it that's okay. Just tell 'im thanks all the same but you gotta go to school."
"And he shall!" Honest John cut in, placing an arm around the tiny fennec. "Acting school that is!"
"Wait. Wha-!" Finnick hissed before being so rudely interrupted once again by Honest John.
"Finnick was it? Come with me. Talk with me," Honest John said, guiding Finnick away from Pinickhio's hearing reach. They stopped behind a wall to speak in private, "Now listen my tiny friend. You're a fox, right? I'm sure you know all too well the paths our kind are destined to follow. I'm just looking out for the boy."
"Puh, yeah. Lookin' out how you can exploit 'im to make a profit you mean," Finnick scoffed.
"Exactly!" Honest John admitted without shame. "After all let's face facts, that solo moving puppet is a gold mine! You're his conscious right? Don't you think it would be wrong of you to keep him from a promising future with heavy financial rewards? Hmm?" Honest John lifted his brows, attempting to tempt Finnick into going along with the plan. "Think about it, as his conscious that gives you a right to a heavy cut. If not all of dear Nicky's cut considering he's still too young to utilize his own earnings."
Finnick's eyes widened in amazement. That would be a lot of moola, the fennec thought with a mischievous smirk as he imagined all the money he could make with the little fox puppet. Given all the financial hardships he's gone through his whole life, this could be his big break! He could have anything he's ever wanted! Money, girls, his own place - heck a mansion even!
….Finnick's smile fell and he shook his head as his own conscious returned to him. "No! No! Sorry 'pal', but ain't doin'! I'm not betrayin' the kid and I ain't about to let you ruin his life neither!" Finnick declared bravely and loyally.
"Really? Is that so? Never thought I'd see the day when a fellow fox would turn down such an opportunity."
"Guess there's a first time for everythin' chump. I'm takin' that kid to school and if you don't like it, try an stop me-eeh!"
Honest John snatched Finnick up in the air. Hanging him high by the coattails of his coat, "Hey what the?! Put me down ya no good piece a-"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Temper, temper," Honest John tisked, "We don't want young Nick to hear you say such foul words. But I will tell him you send him your warm regards and the best of luck."
"Wha-!" Finnick yelled before being tossed into a barrel. Honest John slammed the lid hard down on top of the barrel, muffling Finnick's foul ranting.
"You're a heck of a conscious by the way. Not that it did you much good here." With a bump of his hips Honest John sent the barrel rolling down the hill with Finnick still inside.
CRASH!
The barrel crashed against a thick tree. The lid popped open, allowing a dizzy Finnick to waddle his way out of the barrel before collapsing right next to it.
Atop the hill, Honest John laughed boisterously and made his way back to Pinickhio and Gideon.
Pinickhio looked around curiously, unable to spot his conscious anywhere. "Where's Finnick?"
"Finnick?" Honest John asked, "Oh! He went back home, but he told me to tell you that he changed his mind. He wants you to be an actor and wishes you the best of luck!"
"Really?" Pinickhio asked with a big innocent smile.
"Yes! Now come along Nicky! We have to make you a star!"
"Okay!" Though unable to see him, Pinickhio waved good-bye to Finnick in hopes that his conscious would still hear him. "Good-bye Finnick! Good-bye!"
Honest John and Gideon guided Pinickhio back down the path toward Stromboli's. They resumed their song as Finnick regained consciousness and Pinickhio's words at last reached his large ears. "Good-bye? Good-bye?!"
Finnick shook his head, shaking off the dizziness and watched Pinickhio walk off into the distance with Honest John and Gideon. Finnick slapped a frustrated paw to his forehead with a groan, "That kid's dumber and more gullible than a rabbit! Hey Nick! NICK!"
No response. It's hopeless. Honest John's singing completely tuned out any of Finnick's desperate calls. "Great! What do I do now? Should I tell his dad?" Finnick questioned to himself. "Nah, I ain't no snitch. I'll go after 'im myself."
Finnick tipped his hat forward in a determined manner and ran after them, hoping to stop Pinickhio from ruining his young life and his chances of ever becoming a real fox.