ON THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL
A lot of my readers have been very impatient for me to update this thing. I kept getting messages, both here and on deviantART, demanding: "When will you post the next chapter? What happens next?" I'm surprised it's taken me this long to update. Part of the trouble was that I plumb didn't know what to write. I had NO idea of what ought to happen next. But thankfully, the muse has made a comeback, and I am proud to present the latest chapter of my Pinocchio classic. (Okay, I don't know about calling it a classic, but it's undoubtedly one of my most beloved stories.) And there are some characters featured here whom you might know from before.
Read on, friends, read on!
Characters (with exceptions) © Disney
Story © unicorn-skydancer08
All rights reserved.
Chapter 3: Familiar Faces
A week later, Terence had to go to the town market to pick up a few things. They needed flour and eggs, and they were running low on salt as well.
"Would you like to come with me, Pinocchio?" the young man asked grandly as he reached for his black traveling cloak.
Naturally, Pinocchio said yes right away. The boy always looked forward to an outing with Terence; they saw so many interesting people and so many wonderful things, and Terence often bought him a little treat along the way.
Beyond that, Pinocchio simply enjoyed being with his guardian.
Jiminy, however, declined. "That's all right," said the cricket, "I'll just stay here, put my feet up some."
It wasn't far to the market; it only took about fifteen minutes to walk there and back. Jiminy knew Pinocchio would be perfectly safe in Terence's care.
"Suit yourself, Jiminy," was all Terence said while he bound his cloak about his shoulders.
Inwardly, he was glad Jiminy was staying home. The market was often quite crowded this time of day, and Terence didn't want to take the chance of the cricket getting crushed, biffed, or trampled out there.
Furthermore, while Jiminy was Pinocchio's conscience, even he deserved a break every now and again.
Since the weather was fairly mild, Terence kept his hood down, and Pinocchio, as always, donned his feathered cap before bolting out the door.
"We'll be back soon," Terence said before he headed out himself. To the animals, he added meaningfully, "And remember, behave yourselves. That includes you, Duke. Don't go chasing Figaro around and destroying half the house, like you did the last time we left you alone." Duke just lowered his head in chagrin, while Figaro looked on smugly. "As for you, Figaro," Terence continued, "I don't want any monkey business from you, either. Understand?"
"Mrow," was Figaro's rather sullen reply.
"Good," said Terence, now smiling. "See you all later, then."
"So long, Terence," Jiminy called.
With that, Terence was gone, and the door closed firmly after him.
At the market, there was a good number of people, out to buy and sell. The air rang with their incessant chatter, and Pinocchio was obliged to hold Terence's hand so that they wouldn't get separated. Terence, of course, did not mind in the least. He led the way through the pressing crowds, with Pinocchio trying to keep step with him. As the little boy trailed after the tall white-haired youth, he could not help remembering the time when Fabrizio abducted him. It had been on a day quite similar to this one, when they were in the market. Even to this day, Pinocchio sickened to think about how they'd beaten Terence hard enough to knock him out cold.
Though Terence obviously recovered, Pinocchio had been convinced for a time that they'd killed him. As the child's heart was yet tender from the death of his father, such a loss was more than he could bear.
He remembered wishing he could have died himself.
Pinocchio tried to push the ugly memories away, but for some reason he kept seeing Fabrizio's face, with those sunken eyes, those sharp cheekbones, that chalk-white skin—and that hellish smile. Pinocchio shut his eyes tightly and vigorously shook his head to rid himself of the awful image. When Terence saw this, he didn't stop or slacken his pace, but he asked in a worried voice, "Are you all right, Pinocchio?"
"I'm okay," the boy insisted.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing, Terence. I'm fine."
For a time, Pinocchio was fine—until he spotted someone in the crowd, someone very tall and sinewy, who wore a long black jacket and a black top hat.
"Fabrizio!" The name burst from Pinocchio's mouth before he even realized it.
Terence gave quite a start, as did many others. One man who had been carrying a basket of fresh eggs dropped the whole load in his alarm, causing most of the eggs to smash all over the road and creating a remarkable mess.
A donkey got upset and kicked over the wagon it was hitched to, so that the contents went scattering in every direction.
More than one set of eyes rested upon Pinocchio, some of them looking bewildered, others concerned, others angry. The man with the eggs and the owner of the donkey seemed particularly vexed.
The man who'd given Pinocchio such a fright turned around, revealing a face that was—thankfully—not Fabrizio's. His face was fuller, his color was healthier, and he didn't have a mustache.
At once Pinocchio was immensely relieved, and then he felt himself flush from head to toe with intense embarrassment and shame. He ducked his head to avoid everybody's stares. Without a word, Terence went to help the man with the agitated donkey pick up everything and straighten his cart, then he paid for the broken eggs out of his own pocket. Finally he led Pinocchio away, saying apologetically to the onlookers, "We beg your pardon. Please excuse us."
Gradually, one by one, the people returned to their own affairs.
Terence took Pinocchio to a private alcove, where they could be alone for a moment. Pinocchio couldn't bring himself to look at Terence. He kept his gaze on the ground, hoping it would swallow him.
"What was that all about?" he heard Terence ask. While Terence didn't shout—or sound remotely angry—Pinocchio almost wished he would.
"I don't know," said the boy. "I-I thought I saw Fabrizio right there. I thought for a moment that he was coming after me. I couldn't help it; I just panicked."
"Oh," said Terence softly, feeling his heart go out to the child.
Even in death, it seemed Fabrizio maintained the upper hand on them.
"I'm sorry," Pinocchio whispered, his eyes filling with tears.
Slowly, Terence knelt before him, so that they were level with one another. Pinocchio made no resistance as Terence drew him closer and wrapped him in a gentle hug. He rested his forehead against Terence's shoulder, sniffling. "Shh," Terence whispered, rocking the boy idly to and fro, soothing him as best he could. "It's all right, Pinocchio. I promise, it's all right. I'm here, and you're safe. Fabrizio is gone; he can never harm you anymore."
Try as he might, Pinocchio could not hold back a few of the tears. Terence only continued to hold him quietly, telling him to be still, that everything was going to be all right.
When Pinocchio did finally manage to pull himself together, when Terence's arms loosened their hold, Terence lifted his son's chin and asked, "Do you want to go home?"
"N-no," Pinocchio murmured. "I want to stay with you, Terence. I promise, I'll behave."
"Well, all right, then," Terence conceded, and he climbed to his feet once more and dusted off his knees. "Come along."
After that, Pinocchio put forth his most gallant efforts to remain on his very best behavior. A few people watched him warily, but he just smiled at them and tried to act polite. The boy stayed as close to Terence's side as possible, and he helped to carry their purchases. While Terence was in the middle of buying bread, Pinocchio noticed somebody from the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he could see a man approaching them.
This man looked nothing like Fabrizio, and he didn't seem threatening; nevertheless, there was something oddly familiar about him.
Rather than cry out this time, Pinocchio simply tugged on Terence's cloak to get his attention.
"What is it, Pinocchio?"
"Someone's coming this way, Terence."
Then Terence noticed that same man himself. "May I help you, sir?" he asked, somewhat uncertainly, when their visitor had reached them.
The man, who was tall, lean, and rather attractive—with black hair, a small black beard on his chin, and eyes that were almost as blue as Terence's—offered a winsome smile.
"Terence, old friend," he said, "don't you know me?"
At that instant, Terence recognized him.
"Armando?" he gasped. "Is that you?"
"In the flesh!"
Less than a minute later, a beautiful young woman with golden hair and a fair complexion joined the man's side. Terence recognized her, too, as did Pinocchio.
"Arietta!" Pinocchio cried.
The woman smiled at him and greeted him brightly, "Hello, Pinocchio."