The trio soon reached the boat, finding it to be as it was before; untouched. "So, we're really going to go whale hunting in this tiny little thing?", Jiminy asked as Pinocchio nodded.
"I'll swim across the sea if I have to get Father back.", Pinocchio said as Lampwick nodded, "And we don't doubt you, but at least a boat makes things much easier.".
Jiminy nodded, "Indeed. Is the compass still pointing?", and Pinocchio looked, "Yeah, it's still pointing and glowing.".
Lampwick nodded, "Right.", before noticing a fig tree, and went to it, grabbing a slightly cracked bucket from the beach, pulling a lot of figs from the tree, filling the bucket, and then headed back to the boat, seeing the others' curious looks.
"Figs provide both water and food in a way, and we can eat on those while waiting out there. It's not very hot, but best to be careful than nothing.", Lampwick replied.
"Where exactly did you learn all these sorts of things?", Jiminy asked as Lampwick rubbed her head, "To tell you the truth, I'm not fully sure... I mean, a lot of it is more of stuff I learned on the streets, but I don't know why... my mind... feels like I'm sort of remembering things that I'm not sure I actually ever learned.".
Pinocchio blinked in surprise, replying, "I realize that we might need to do our business first before we go out. I...I never did that before, yet I remember how to do it...".
"Maybe a sort of...", Lampwick groaned as she started trying to move the beached boat. "Side effect... from Pleasure Island... you know? We... We obviously didn't end up like the other girls...".
"You nearly did.", Pinocchio admitted as Lampwick stopped for a moment. "He's right...", Jiminy said; he still was a bit confused on how to address the two of them privately since maybe they could quickly fix their curse, in his mind at least. "You were getting very... touchy, with Pinoke before you got slapped out of it."
Lampwick blinked before blushing as now she is remembering it without the lust memory, and Pinocchio blushed, having actually enjoyed that for a moment, liking Lampwick's attention on her.
Jiminy replied, "Either way, you got out in time, and I think you two are starting to be mentally older than you were, before, probably thanks to the rest all night and such as it was a lot yesterday, but it's harmless as far as I know.".
Lampwick nodded, "Right, that actually makes sense...Still, Slats is right...I...since you mentioned it, I actually hadn't used the...ah, facilities since yesterday, and my bladder is rather hurting...", with a sheepish grin.
Pinocchio replied, "I don't want to take too long, to walk back to the cottage and all...especially when we can't waste the rest of the daylight.", and Lampwick replied, "Then we do it naturally. Quickest way there than an outhouse or such...", with a blush.
Jiminy replied, "You go to that little section of trees that way, I will be in the other direction. We might have a long time to wait out there on the water.".
The girls nod, and with the boat latched to a strong rock imbedded in the sand, the trio went their separate ways, to do their business.
It didn't take long, and especially was easy since somehow, they strangely knew how to do it with their new bodies naturally; especially in Pinocchio's case with her being a puppet before. Once the two of them were finished, they got back to the boat before Lampwick gave it another push. "Boy, this thing really dug into the shore...", Lampwick groaned as she continued to push.
Pinocchio smiled, "Let me help, Lampy. I still got a bit of muscle in me.", before joining Lampwick in pushing the boat to the water, and it was quick as the boat moved a bit easier, finally floating back on the water, and with quick steps, they got into the boat, with Jiminy at the bow, "Compass, please.".
Pinocchio checked the compass, and saw that it hadn't moved yet, and replied, "Still the same. Let's row.", as Lampwick tucked the bucket of figs under the seat, and both girls went to row, surprisingly being able to expertly row the oars now than last night, reserving their energy properly without exhausting themselves.
"So... any ideas of how we're going to get Monstro?", Jiminy asked as Lampwick sighed, "No idea... that compass isn't moving so probably safe to assume that whale is keeping steady for now...".
Lampwick glanced around. "But we'll probably get its attention somehow when we get close to it, since Geppetto somehow did.".
Pinocchio frowned, "He had a boat, but not a rowboat as he would have needed room for Figaro and Cleo...", and Jiminy replied, "Probably a humble fisherman's boat with a sail or two, if he's desperate...".
Lampwick then replied, "So, Monstro would think that bigger boats are a threat than smaller boats like this...", and Jiminy nodded, "That makes sense...So, we'd have to show that we're a bigger threat to grab his attention...But how?".
Everyone's mind was reaching a blank as Lampwick and Pinocchio continued to gently paddle; trying to think of what they could be able to do. If they could get Monstro's attention, then it was a matter of getting themselves swallowed to reach Geppetto... after that, well, they would need more time to think about how they'd be able to get out.
After checking the compass an hour and half later, Pinocchio blinked, "Hey, it's not glowing, but it's beaming like a flashing lighthouse lamp..", and Lampwick thought for a moment before widening her eyes, "We're right above the spot where Monstro is resting.".
Jiminy sighed, "So, let's wait, and eat a couple of those figs, Lampwick. Maybe we could get an idea while we're waiting...", and Lampwick nodded as he pulled into the oars, and pulled out the bucket of figs from under the seat, handing a couple of figs to Pinocchio, a fig to Jiminy, and a couple of figs for herself.
"Ever had figs before?", Lampwick asked as she looked to Jiminy since she was sure that Pinocchio hadn't. "Once or twice, but they're always so fairly big that I never finish...", Jiminy replied.
Lampwick chuckled, "That's why that one is the smallest for you, well, as best as it is, anyway.", before looking at Pinocchio, "Not bad, huh?".
Pinocchio replied, "No...It's way different the stew and bread back in the cottage...The stew was savory, meaty, and the bread was warm and fluffy...This is sweet and a bit crunchy with the seeds...", enjoying the first fig in her hands, "I really like knowing things I didn't know before...I think I might be able to read books now...", with a smile.
"That'll be a great help considering you might not be able to go to school.", Jiminy said as Pinocchio looked at him somewhat hurt. "Well, they'd ask questions why a girl your age would need learning stuff...".
"Yeah, they'd probably tell you not to worry about it and that you should be preparing to help your future husband or something...," Lampwick added.
Pinocchio frowned, "I guess...But I would still want to learn, so probably the books would be my teachers...", and Lampwick smiled, "We will have to ask Geppetto to help out with that once we get him out, Pinoky.".
"Yeah...you're right.", Pinocchio nodded before replying, "I still feel a bit childish yet...", and Jiminy replied, "There's a saying...I heard it on my travels. 'I may be old, but I am young at heart!'.".
Lampwick blinked in surprise, "That's actually accurate...I like that saying.", as she nibbled on her first fig, and Pinocchio smiled, "I still want to play in the grass and all.".
"Don't ever change, Slats.", Lampwick chuckled before humming, "So, any ideas yet?", and Pinocchio frowned softly, "Well, we've been talking and moving in this rowboat since we stopped, and nothing happened, so maybe we need to make loud noise...".
"That's not a bad idea... but what on Earth could we use for a noise loud enough to bother that giant?", Jiminy asked as Lampwick glanced around.
Lampwick replied, "Well, we got this bucket.", as she dumped the rest of the figs on the seat. Jiminy shrugged, "It's better than nothing.", as Pinocchio held the compass, "I'll keep an eye on this.".
Lampwick nodded and banged the bucket on the bow and side of the rowboat, and the noise didn't grab the attention of Monstro at first as he was deep asleep, but the noise scared a large swarm of cod, eventually making it to the deep waters to get away from the increasing noise.
Monstro heard the noise and saw the swarm of fish as he slowly awoke, and pretended to be asleep to fool the cod until it was too late.
Pinocchio continued to look at the compass before suddenly the light began to shift once more, indicating there was movement. "He's moving...", Pinocchio whispered. "Wait, that actually worked?", Lampwick questioned. She honestly didn't think it would do anything.
Jiminy replied, "Apparently it is, since the water is getting a bit more active.", hopping into Pinocchio's hat to hold on. Sure enough, the water around the rowboat is stirring, and Pinocchio held on to the side of the boat, peeking over the rim to see a dark shadow approaching with tons of cod coming.
"He's coming fast!", Pinocchio shouted, and Lampwick held on, "Oh, crud! This is going to be rough!", her arm holding into Pinocchio's body as they screamed in fear and such when a huge roar was heard as their rowboat was filled with cod and seawater so quickly, flying up into the air from the huge impact of Monstro as he jumped in an arc, his gigantic mouth opening up, swallowing tons of seawater, cod, and of course, the entire rowboat with the trio in it.
It was practically so quick, which was a good thing since the boat continued to float, albeit on a torrent of rushing water like it was on rapids. It was also good that Monstro didn't truly think to chew or those giant teeth of his would've surely killed the trio in an instant. They hung onto the boat as they were flowing deeper and deeper into the intestines of the great beast.
Finally, they landed in the belly of the whale as the water is now swelling up with cod, almost chaotically but now at level as it felt like Monstro is now basking in the sun, floating along as half of the huge swarm of cod is heading straight to the stomach part while the other half is being wrestled by an ecstatic and hungry Geppetto, using a fishing pole, "Oh, it's the motherlode, Figaro! Look at that! Plenty to last for weeks!", in the near distance on his half-depleted fishing boat.
Of course, while the fish had gotten themselves much deeper into the stomach, the trio and their boat crashed hard into the remains of other ships that Monstro had swallowed. Thankfully the girls were able to get out of the crash unscathed, but they were still a bit of a way's from where Geppetto remained.
Jiminy looked at Pinocchio who looked so relieved yet so nervous to see Geppetto who's focused on wrestling every available cod to the livewell containers, "Hey, Pinoke, it's gonna be alright...".
Lampwick replied, "Jiminy's right. And we will be with you, okay, Slats?", as she smiled reassuringly, patting Pinocchio's shoulder.
"Thank you...", Pinocchio smiled as she took a deep breath with the others taking in the surroundings. "God, this place smells horrible...", Lampwick said. "And so dark... there's little light...".
"Should try to find or make a fire if we want to find Mr. Geppetto.", Jiminy suggested. "Hopefully not all of the wood is so damp to be unable to start something...".
Pinocchio replied, "Maybe we wouldn't have to worry about fire right now.", as she climbed into a wrecked remain of a cart that had gotten into a ship, looking at the brightly lit lantern of Geppetto's ship, and Lampwick followed her, smiling, "Huh, not that far, really. So, how do we get over there? I don't know about you, but I ain't looking to be soaked in guts, walking and swimming through the water.".
Jiminy replied, "Hey, how about those?", pointing to some open barrels off an old fishing trawler, and Lampwick blinked, "Well, we have to test those if they could float.".
"I'll do it...", Pinocchio offered as she moved to climb into one. She obviously wasn't going to wait to get back to Geppetto and if it meant being the first to test the barrels, she would.
To the trio's relief, the first barrel floated, and so, Lampwick tested the second one afterwards, with Jiminy hitching a ride on Lampwick's hat, and with couple of boards to use as oars, they went onwards, heading to Geppetto's boat, getting closer and closer, hearing Geppetto's voice as he was asking Figaro, "What do you think? Should we go for the biggest ones in the bunch?".
Figaro mewed loudly, and Geppetto laughed warmly, "I bet you'd like that, Figaro. I bet it would be delicious over the fire.", as Lampwick got up into the deck, helping Pinocchio upwards, creating a bit of noise that Figaro picked up, mewing, "What got into you, Figaro? Where are you going?".
Figaro walked outside, sniffing and investigating, before he saw the trio, tilting his head, meowing as he warily came closer, and Pinocchio sobbed happily, "Figaro!".
The kitten perked up at the sound of his name, and looked at Pinocchio closely, sniffing as his master's puppet doesn't exist in the smell, but he saw the hat, the familiar bowtie, and then saw her black hair and bright blue eyes, and that smile...He knew those eyes and smile too well before meowing excitedly as he ran to Pinocchio with her dropping down to her knees.
Pinocchio was happy to see that the kitten clearly recognized her, even if she was completely different now. "Oh, Figaro...", she whispered as she petted the kitten.
Figaro purred as he leaped into her knees, nuzzling under her chin, purring happily as he recognized the gentle nature, realizing that even being a young woman, it's still Pinocchio in there, licking her cheek, meowing as he nuzzled, and Pinocchio smiled happily, "I missed you, Figaro...", as she gently hugged her long-missed kitten.
She then heard footsteps, and glanced to see familiar brown shoes with those funny stockings in her view from her position, and she exhaled deeply, looking up at Geppetto who was looking speechless and surprised, and she slowly stood up, holding Figaro who's purring while looking between the silent father and daughter...
Pinocchio spoke, "I'm sorry...It's me...But something happened...I...I don't want to be a puppet boy anymore, I'll have always a part of Pinocchio in me...but I...I love you, Father...I'm really sorry that I didn't come home for supper, and you must be hating me an-", before Geppetto suddenly hugged her tightly, and whispered, "Son or daughter, you'll always be my woodenhead, my special miracle...", pulling back to look at her, "I don't hate you, my daughter...Who do you want to be?".
Pinocchio cried happily, "Perla...I want to be Perla...", and Geppetto smiled softly, gently wiping a tear off his daughter's cheek, "Then welcome home, Perla...I missed you so...", before Perla sobbed as she hugged him again, "I missed you too, Papa!".
They held each other for a few more moments before they finally backed off. "What exactly happened? I got so worried when you never came home.", Geppetto asked as Jiminy loudly sighed.
"It's a long story, sir... Pinochi- er, Perla... was on her way to school that first day you sent her out... but she got intercepted by a scoundrel named Honest John... convinced her that she would be better off being an actor with a cruel puppeteer named Stromboli...", Jiminy began.
Geppetto gasped softly, "Oh, my goodness...", and Perla spoke softly, "It was fun at first, having people clap for me and all, even if I messed up a couple times...But Stromboli, he was wanting to keep me to make money for himself...He threw me in this birdcage, locking me up...He said that a puppet having a father was unnatural... that when I grow old or whatever, he was going to chop me into pieces...", shivering in fright as she rubbed her arms, remembering that brief time of being alone, with the rain and thunder...
"Let's just say that was pretty much a good cue to leave Stromboli... and a little help from the Blue Fairy got him out of there...", Jiminy continued.
"Of course, we were trying to get home... we were almost there... but I ran into Honest John again.", Perla glanced away in shame.
Lampwick spoke, "That scoundrel was the spokesman for the Coachman who was promoting Pleasure Island...", with a scowl, and Geppetto looked at her in confusion yet familiarity...
"I feel like I know you from somewhere...", Geppetto replied, and Lampwick replied, "I was on the streets...You gave me some food and a couple blankets last winter...It's Lampwick, sir...".
Geppetto gasped, "Oh, lord, Lampwick! Goodness, you're a young woman too! Wait, hold on, Pleasure Island, the haunted island of the ghosts?", with a shocked look on his face.