Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Once upon a time a long time ago, in a mostly-sunny country just beyond the Singing Waters, there lived a gentle noble lady merchant, her loyal and loving husband who carved wooden clocks, music boxes, figurines, and toys for their neighbors every Winter Solstice as gifts, and their sweet and kind son whom was as beautiful inside as he was out. Did they have names?? Why, yes, of course-! And they were Constanza, Geppetto, and Pinocchio, respectively.

The little family saw the world as it was, but also as it *COULD be* with just a little bit of magic, and for many happy years, their lives were filled with beauty. -However, life is not always predictable, and sorrow can come to ANY kingdom no matter how happy and loving. Constanza's husband Geppetto took gravely ill one night, and then passed on a few weeks later despite all the doctor tried.
His wife and son were heartbroken- but they knew that he would have told them that it was alright to be sad for a little while, then do their best once more to have courage and be kind; because he would be happy too, looking down on them and watching over them.

So time passed, and soon pain turned to bad memory, Pinocchio every day growing in his father's image- not physically (save for his nose and her being taller, he and his lady mother Constanza were almost twins), but in his unparalleled sweetness and goodness, to his mother's pride, joy, and sadness. In his heart, he stayed more or less the same; but Constanza was much changed- not in her own goodness of temper, but out of loneliness.
She had loved Geppetto very much, and wanted to find that kind of love again with someone. And one day, soon after her son had turned twelve years of age, returning from market with an item that her cook had needed, on accidentally bumping into a gentleman whom she had known briefly in her adolescence, it seemed that love had indeed found her again...

But even starry-eyed as she was, she thought first and foremost of her son's feelings about the matter. So later that night as she and Pinocchio were sitting together reading by the drawing-room fireplace, when she had reached a stopping place herself, she placed the tome down and nervously inquired of her beloved child, "'Carissimo' (her own special heart-name for Pinocchio as Geppetto's had been 'little woodenhead' that meant 'Dearest One' in Italian), ...what would you say if I told you that I would like to marry again?"

Even as his heartbeat seemed to pause and Pinocchio apprehensively ran his teeth over his bottom lip, he only paused for a moment before setting down his own book and crossing over to sit beside Constanza's chair, looking up into her beautiful azure orbs for eyes fringed with long dark tassels of lashes that mirrored his own as he responded with all of the love he possessed for her -but none of the nervousness, as he didn't want to upset her-, "Mamma, I know that you have been lonely. I, too, have thought that it would be nice to have a father's love once more. And if it pleases you to search for a gentleman who will be a companion for the both of us, -then I shall certainly be happy, too!"

Constanza softly smiled and murmured as she tenderly stroked his hair that took after hers' in the color of a raven's wings, thickness, and velvet-softness from birth and near-similar length since he had turned nine, "Spoken like my own unselfish boy..." (Being a good mother, she had noticed her son's apprehensiveness that still showed in his body language and slightly leaked through his loving tone of voice. But in order to not rock the boat unnecessarily, she did not point this out.)

Pinocchio's own great blue eyes looked anxiously into his mother's face as he queried, "-Have you someone in mind, Mamma??'

"Yes, 'Carisimmo', I have. Earlier this afternoon when I fetched the item for dinner that our cook badly needed, I accidentally bumped into a gentleman who turned out to be someone I vaguely knew from my maiden years: a Lord now widowed himself with two sons. -Perhaps, he could be the one to not take your dear father's place, but still be a husband to myself and a parent to you, with two caring brothers to keep you company; so that I will know as far away as I may be in my travels, that you are safe at home: cherished and protected.
"Do you think that- I might be allowed *one more chance*, even though I thought such things were done for good?"

Pinocchio nodded, adding with a smile, "Yes, Mamma; then by all means, you must go! I shall be waiting eagerly to hear- and to welcome all of them into our home if you decide to bring them."

"-Lord Lucius Malfoy, however, lives a good deal from us: in the town nearest Mount Agate. That means it might be a couple of weeks, at least, until I come back home either by myself or with a new family in tow," Constanza said to her son.

"That's alright, Mamma; I kind of expected that."

So it was arranged that Constanza would leave almost immediately. Her 'Carisimmo' lovingly helped her prepare for the journey, and then one bright sunny morning she kissed him 'Goodbye' and left on her way.

The smile he sent her away with quickly died once she was out of sight, and for a little while he stood quite still; across his sweet doll-like face a cold shadow similar to a Dementor passed, paused for a moment, and then somehow lodged in his heart. He well knew that there were kind, caring, and wonderful *STEP-fathers* as well as blood fathers; and besides that, his 'Mamma' was a smart lady, so surely she would not be fooled or blinded by her love for her beau-!

...Try as he would, however, a strange feeling of something unpleasant about to happen clouded his thoughts as the days passed and Pinocchio worked side-by-side with the faithful old housekeeper Leona, the canine cook Medoro whom had helped his Father and Mamma to care for him back when he'd been very sick as a small child, the also-canid (though of a different breed) gardener Alidoro, and a couple more of the 'Jacks-and-Jills-of-all-trades' servants affectionately dubbed the 'Conigli Neri' (Black Rabbits) even though they had names of their own -which were still used, of course-, making sure everything within and without their modest but still beautiful home would be clean, shining, and comfortable for the possible family that he was about to meet.
-And then came a day that Pinocchio was to remember for a long, long time; and not in a positive manner.

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

It was as bright and sunny as the day that his 'Mamma' had left when Pinocchio returned to the cottage with one large basket containing a blend of garden roses and wildflower daisies and violets on his arm, but there was an air of disturbance everywhere that he sensed even before he opened the door. He didn't hear the usual quiet bustling of Leona and the rest of her 'crew', either; were they simply having a cup of tea before going back to their duties? He also couldn't see Alidoro -gruff but kind and funny Alidoro whom he had saved from drowning in the river that he'd tripped and fallen into once since the elder couldn't swim very well- in the garden...

But once he was inside, everything was mostly forgotten as he saw his beloved mother waiting to greet him. With a happy cry, Pinocchio ran quickly to her and threw his arms around her neck, hugging her tight. "Oh, Mamma! 'Cari Mamma' (Dearest Mamma), I'm so glad to see you again!"

"Pinocchio, 'figlio mio' (my son)- 'Carisimmo', I have missed you so much! I'm so happy to see you; so happy to see 'ragazzo mio' (my boy)!" Constanza responded with tears of joy glistening in her eyes as she embraced her son back, kissing the top of his head. "-And you've brought in some flowers, I see, like you always do when I come home. How lovely they look and smell, 'Carisimmo'!"

"'Grazie' (Thank you), Mamma!" Pinocchio chirruped as he kissed her cheek in return. "I know how much you and Father like them!"

Just as Pinocchio had been set back down and before he could question Constanza, the door to the living-room opened with a quiet 'click', and out sailed three other males -one much older, and the other two younger-; well-polished, elegant, and well-dressed as well as rather handsome, but walking as though they had ramrods up their backs with sullen and cross faces. They were fair-skinned, slender, and thin like Pinocchio and his mother, but much taller, with long pointed noses that each seemed to be longer and more pointed than the other. Two of them had silken hair of a platinum-blond shade (the elder male's down to his shoulders, and the younger's short with bangs) and silvery-gray eyes, and the other possessed dark brown curls and sky-blue eyes.
Unlike other finely-clad and polished gentlemen such as Signor Rizzi and Professor Buonragazzo -a couple of good friends of his Father's-, however, there was not even the smallest glimmer or spark of warmth within *THEIR cold handsomeness*; not faintly gleaming in their eyes, not dancing a little around their mouths- most certainly not even one hint of non-iciness in their body language!

Pinocchio's heart stopped beating for a moment as that Dementor-esque shadow seemed to pass over him once more. But being a polite young man, he quickly recovered his poise even though his cheeks were now snow-pale as the rest of his skin rather than rosy as their usual, advancing quietly over to the eldest male and giving him as warm a smile as possible with a bow of his head.
"Welcome to your new home!" he said sincerely. "You're- You're my new father, aren't you?"

As he reached up to affectionately kiss his cheek in welcome, his stepfather drew back sharply and fixed him with a glare that seemed to both root and freeze Pinocchio to the spot, as well as make him feel as though he were only two inches high, if not shorter. "*I have MARRIED YOUR MOTHER*, if that's what you mean," he said coldly, adding with a dismissive wave of his hand, "Please take those flowers in that basket out of here instantly. I do not like flowers outside of properly planted in a garden- meaning *I do not want them around in the house*."

"Y-Yes, sir. I'm- I'msorry..." Pinocchio replied meek and quiet as a mouse, quickly opening the kitchen door and reluctantly yet obediently placing the basket on a bench outside in the garden.

Constanza was unhappy and confused at this cold exchange. "...We didn't know that you *DON'T care for* flowers in the house, Lucius darling. It- It won't happen again if you'd rather not."

Lucius sniffed angrily. "It had *better NOT*, *wife*."

When Pinocchio came back into the living-room sans flowers, Constanza ushered him over, telling him with a sweet smile as she placed a warm arm over his small thin shoulders, "'Carisimmo', I'd like you to also meet your new brothers- this is Draco, and this is Theodore (or, 'Theo', as he prefers)."

Pinocchio smiled warmly at the two young men. "I'm so very happy to have *TWO brothers*!" Then he turned to his stepfather and eagerly happily asked him, "And may I sometimes call you 'Papa', Stepfather?"

Alas, the answer was a disgusted scoffed, "Indeed you *may NOT*! How ridiculous!!", and Pinocchio recoiled with widened eyes as if he had been struck across the face with a whip.

An astonished and horrified Constanza saw the depth of hurt in her son's face and eyes, saying as gently as possible despite feeling a spark of anger within her soul, "Lucius, *what in the world* has come across you all of a sudden?? You're *so COLD* and CROSS. 'Carisimmo Mio' meant no harm to you or your sons...!"

"Whether he did or not, *DEAR Constanza*, he might just as well know now who's in charge," Lucius replied frostily with a sharp tap of his cane.

Then Draco spoke up, sneering with a mean smile crossing his ferrety features, "*You're QUITE RIGHT*, Father!! The next thing, he'll be wanting to call Theo and I 'Brother'!"

Theo joined in as his steel-blue eyes glimmered coldly and wickedly. "It will be *'Monsieur'* (or, 'SIGNOR', I suppose, since you're *Italian*) Draco and 'Monsieur'-or-'Signor' Theodore, 'garcon' (boy)- the same for our father when not 'Stepfather'. And you may help us to dress and wash our clothes amongst other things, but *DON'T think* that we can *EVER* take YOU into our family, you poor ugly little thing!"

What little color there was remaining in Pinocchio's cheeks leeched out, and he felt another whip-lash again as he trembled, hardly feeling the warmth of his mother's love and protection while she pulled him closer and gave him a gentle side-hug as she angrily snapped out, "*Theodore Narcissus Black-Malfoy*!! How can you, your brother, and your father be so CRUEL and *HEARTLESS* to my little Pinocchio?! *SHAME on you*!!
"What's happened??? How can you have changed so?! You were so *sweet, kind, and attentive to me* when we were courting, Lucius- I saw that you had loved your previous wife Lady Narcissa, and still loved your sons... Why are you now *so COLD* toward my own sweet boy rather than at least a little warm?"

Lucius laughed softly. "Well now, *I married you*, didn't I, Constanza? In our marriage vows, however, I made no promises about accepting anyone *OTHER THAN you*...! If you don't like it, then I'm afraid it's a little too late to do anything about it now."

Now Constanza was the one who looked like she'd been struck- with her new husband's ebony cane that concealed his wand. She was upset and confused- more than a bit terrified, even. "*But, Lucius*-!! I don't understand. It- It must be that you and your sons are tired and hot from the long journey; and hungry, too...
"-Come! I will ring for Medoro and the 'Conigli Neri', and they will prepare and serve lunch."

But before Constanza could say anything more in a placifying manner, Lucius spoke once more. "Thank you, dear wife- I and my sons are quite well and refreshed, and your servants have been dismissed."

Constanza stared at her husband, rooted to the spot. "Dis- *Dismissed*??" she near-whispered in shock. "Geppetto's and my faithful 'team' that were dear friends -one or two even *CHILDHOOD 'amici'*- as well as servants?? Wh-Why!?"

"Why, what with THREE OTHER PEOPLE to feed and clothe now, you don't possibly think that you can *afford servants* any longer, do you, my dear?"

"You- YOU had servants-!"

"And when I married you, I had to give them clothes so they could find a new household to take jobs in. That is The Law; and house-elves your own servants may not have been -rather, anthropomorphic animals consisting of two mutt-dogs and some black rabbits led by an old woman-, but since you married me, as I had to let my servants go, so did you yours."

Then, WHO-???

A sudden AWFUL, *HORRIBLE* thought flashed through Constanza's frozen mind, and it was unfortunately confirmed as Draco's harsh voice again cut through her perplexed and clouded mind. "Once more, *you're quite right*, Father! It's *HIGH time* HER son learned his place. So, *he* can do the servants' work and earn his keep if he wants to stay here."

Theo snickered meanly in agreement. "I'm sure he'll *NEVER* be ANYTHING but practically a house-elf, Father- Draco! He's far too ugly and clumsy."

The world seemed to sway and shimmer before her tearing eyes as Constanza placed a hand to her head and dazedly looked at the new hard-hearted editions to hers' and Pinocchio's family. She was bewildered, horrified, and hurt. "This is like a *HORRIBLE dream*; oh, dearest one, I can't- I DON'T understand it!! My poor little Pinocchio-! I'm so sorry, my sweet son..."
She turned to where she'd pulled him to her side, but found that there was no one there- sometime during the barrage of cruel taunting words flung in his and hers' directions, Pinocchio had slipped away as silently as a ghost. Why, she didn't know; did he just want to try and get away? "-Pinocchio, 'Carisimmo', where are you??"

But it was the cruel Lord Malfoy who discovered him first, and this was the sight that met his cold gray eyes: Pinocchio had slipped away to the fireplace and crouched down by it, accidentally bumping into the hearth and hence a light dusting of ash and cinders from the fire the night before now coated his cheeks, nose, partially-bare arms and legs, and simple-yet-fine clothes- a few specks even drifting into his black hair (though you couldn't really see them like you could with his skin). "Why are you sitting- no, crouching by the hearth like a house-elf, simpleton? Do clean yourself up- you'll get cinders in our tea!
"*Look at him*, 'mon fils' (my sons)! *Trying to HIDE*, were you, little Dum- *'Carisimmo'*?"

But even as he scolded Pinocchio, Draco and Theo could tell that their father greatly enjoyed the sight of their new stepson/brother in such a state of disarray, the slightest of smiles now flirting with his lips as his eyes gleamed like a just-cleaned, polished, and finely-sharpened sword; and they wanted to join in on the fun. "*Oh*!! I've got a new name for him: 'Ash-Clod 'Nocchi'!"

"I couldn't BEAR to look or be so dirty; *ooh*!! 'Dirty Pino'!"

"...'*ASH-BOY*'; THAT'S what we'll call you!"

"Oh, my boys, you're just too clever!! -Yes, that shall be your name from now on: 'Garcon de Cendres' (Ash-Boy)."

The room filled with mocking laughter that rang cold and harsh and cruel in Pinocchio's and Constanza's ears and sickeningly eerily echoed throughout the house.

"*EXCELLENT, Father*!!" Draco crowed.

"The *VERY name* for him!" echoed Theo.

"*Stop it*!!! I can't bear it!!" Constanza screamed as she began to cry.

But this only fueled Lucius to cast a curse on his stepson that turned him into a live stringless marionette puppet carved out of white-pinewood from head to toe with 'painted-on' eyes and hair, with grey donkey ears and a matching tail added for 'fun'. He would still age, but grow no taller than he currently was. Spitefully, just before his father cast the curse, Draco chopped Pinocchio's raven-black hair off at the nape of his neck/just below where his earlobes had used to be with another spell; and when he became what he now was, the younger boy's now-short dark locks were as wooden as the rest of him as Theo set fire to the severed tresses until every single piece of hair was gone with a hissed 'Incendio'.
And as Pinocchio would unfortunately discover, he bruised, bled, and received scars the same as he had used to when he was of flesh-and-blood; he was not completely protected.

Then Lucius angrily whirled around on his heel and turned to his new wife. "'*STOP*; I CAN'T *BEAR it*'??" he mocked her. "Oh YES, you *can*, wife! There will be a *GREAT* many things you'll LEARN to bear, my dear Constanza... *You*- Ash-Boy!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Out of the shadows of the hearth, a small quivering voice answered fearfully yet politely as possible, "...'Si, Signor'?"

"Go to the kitchen and prepare the lunch- and see that you don't dawdle over it, either."

"-'Si, Patrigno' (Yes, Stepfather)," Pinocchio nodded before obediently fleeing from the room and into the empty kitchen, desperately chanting in his head, 'I *will NOT* cry- I will *NOT cry*- *I will not CRY*...' as he was near-blinded by tears that he did not let fall while he finished up the luncheon that good Medoro had been preparing before he had been suddenly dismissed along with the rest of the household- then served it to his mother and stepfamily.

When he tried to sit down to join them, however, Lord Malfoy stopped him short. "Who's THIS for?? Is there- someone we've forgotten?"

"I-It's my place, Stepfather."

"Oh, but it just seems too much to expect you to prepare our meals, serve them, and still sit with us. Wouldn't you prefer to eat when ALL the work is done, 'Carisimmo'?? -Or should I say, 'Garcon de Cendres'? Hmm?"

His mother tried to defend her son as she had before, but a spell had stuck her tongue to the roof of her mouth- she could say or do nothing as Pinocchio quietly picked up his own glass, plate, and silverware from the table and carried it back to the kitchen, doing his very best not to let his hands shake.

'I will NOT cry- *I will not CRY* ...*I will not cry*-!!'

But his 'encouraging' mantra did no good. Once he had set them back down on the large wooden table -WOODEN as *HE HIMSELF was* now- Pinocchio fell to his knees and surrendered in the battle of his tears, letting them streak thickly down his dirty, now-white-pine cheeks as he shook violently, covering his mouth with his white-gloved hands so as to muffle his sobs and not be further mocked while his heart cracked and bled, matching his shattered soul.

Chapter Text

Poor Pinocchio...!!

That was only the very beginning of his troubles and heartbreak; shortly after that horrible day, just before Constanza would have had to make another long and dangerous journey on her merchant travels, she suddenly took ill as her husband Geppetto had. And by now that sweet lady was so stricken with grief and hurt due to what she and her beloved son -her 'Carisimmo' (Dearest One)- were horrifically going through, the walls of her immune system were battered and eventually broken down, leaving her with practically no strength to fight the disease, try as she might, had, and did.
And so, one rainy night, as her husband and 'Carisimmo's' father had before her, Constanza fell into a deep sleep from which she never awakened because she had fallen through the Veil.

Thus her sweet beloved son's misery and loneliness only increased with her passing. All day long and often into the evening before they FINALLY fell asleep, he heard without any let-up, "ASH-BOY; *scrub the doorstep*!!" from his stepfather, or "*Ash-Boy*! You lazy, stupid dunderhead; why didn't you wash *MY clothes* at the same time you did Theo's??!" from 'Signorino' Draco- constant sneering taunts and mocking laughter from the lips of 'Signorino' Theodore as well as the other two.

Not only was he now literally cursed, ordered about like a servant or house-elf in his own house, humiliated, abused physically as well as verbally and emotionally, and bereft of his kind gentle mother, but all but one 'suit' of his clothes (the ones he'd been wearing that fateful awful day) from day dress, to nightwear, to underthings had been taken from him and burned as his chopped-off long locks of hair had been, and he was turned out of his bedroom. He tried to sleep in what had once been the servants' quarters when he was ejected from even a guest-room the first night, but was turned out of there, too. It was as though the Malfoy family did not deem 'Garcon de Cendres' worthy of a proper bed and sleeping chamber- EVEN *the ATTIC* and a cupboard under the stairs -the usual living/sleeping spaces for a *house-elf*!!- counted, it turned out ...because they could both be considered 'rooms', even if only roughly and in quote-marks.

So eventually, bone-and-marrow-weary, sad, and heartsore plus newly-wooden, Pinocchio curled up on a nest of blankets in front of the kitchen hearth which henceforth became his new bed (careful as careful not to put his feet too near least they catch on fire). -But although even banked the fire kept him more or less warm, overnight puffs of wind blowing down the chimney and into the fireplace would cause the ashes and cinders to drift across him, making him look dusty and dirty every morning and into the rest of the day- no matter how hard he tried to wash them off of his clothes, 'skin', and sometimes even off of his dark hair now as ligneous as the rest of him.

But it was no use whatsoever- Lucius cruelly used another spell the very next morning at breakfast after the first day in order to make the soot and ashes stay where they were because he and his own sons so enjoyed seeing 'Ash-Boy' in such a state, and his mother's ensuing sadness, upset, and hurt as another lovely result, which he then taught to Draco and Theo so that one of them could renew it every start of the month. They did not want the spell to fade away, after all...!

Despite his conscience berating him for it and telling him that such a thing was fol-de-rol, fiddle-dee-dee, and fiddely-faddely-foddel-foodle -poppycock and twaddle-, Pinocchio still hoped against hope that by being kind, loving, caring, and sweet-natured, his stepfamily would one day begin to change their cold and cruel treatment of him. So through it all, though his broken heart and bruised soul were heavy, he bore everything patiently, remaining ever gentle and kind as the drab and cheerless months passed.

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

#"'Ash-Clod 'Nocchi'!!"

"'Dirty Pino'!"

"...'*Ash-Boy*'; THAT'S what we'll call you-!!"

"*STOP IT*!!! I CAN'T *BEAR it*!!"

"-*'Vicissim Vivere Ligneo Pupa Sine Chordis- Adde Aures et Cauda Asinus'*!!! Oh, YES, *you CAN*!! There will be a *GREAT* many things you will *learn* to bear..."

"Wouldn't you prefer to eat when ALL the work is done, 'Carisimmo'?? Or, should I say, '*Ash-Boy*'? -Hmm?"

"'Cineres, Cineres, Fuligo, Mante Adhaesit Ubi Es Capillis et Pellet Quasi Per Viam Arboris-Succum'! -*THERE, now*!! *MUCH* BETTER...!
"Mind you remember this nifty little charm *EXACTLY*, 'mon fils'; after all, we DON'T want it to *fade away*, now do we??"

Arms cruelly tying his own behind his back and tightening a noose around his throat until he was choking and dim-eyed... The sharp nasty '*CRACK*' of both of his legs caught between the two cutting iron bars of a trap that caused him to become so giddy with pain that stars of every color danced before his eyes and left him on the point of fainting...!!! The many whistles, cracking snaps, and lashes of a whip that felt as though they nearly took off his 'flesh'... Being Imperiuised to leap through a hoop in full-donkey form, the curse being stopped, and his right leg becoming caught in the hoop- breaking with a 'SNAP' as he doubled up in a heap on the ground on his side...! Cursed to dance upon his wooden feet inside their semi-matching shoes so hard and fast that they were set on fire...!!
All this amongst cruel laughter, mocking jeers, and sneered-out taunts as he cried out for his 'Mamma' and Father- for Leona- for Medoro- for Alidoro- for the 'Conigli Neri'... SOMEBODY- *ANY-body* to *PLEASE* *HELP him*...!#

Fearful sobs and heartbroken sniffles and whimpers reached the pointed ears of Cleo first- she opened her soft deep blue eyes and would have nudged her slightly younger litter-mate out of slumber if he too had not already awoken practically after her, their 'pet's' squirming and fidgeting arousing them from their own sleep. Slightly damp little pink and black noses gently nuzzled 'Little Woodenhead's' tear-streaked/stained and ash-dusted pinewood cheeks, as did the longish soft silken respectively light golden-orange/cream and black-and-white fur of their own faces while they mewled in both comfort and sadness- Figaro anxiously pawing and patting at the donkey-eared/tailed puppet-boy's arm with his golden eyes filled with worry and love while Cleo reached up and tenderly licked his forehead.

Slowly but surely, their sweet and kind gestures of affection filtered through the smoky fog of Pinocchio's horrid flashback dream, and with another mewl of his own, a twist, a jerk, a flick and swivel of his ears, and lashing of his tail, he awakened with his big blue orbs for eyes fluttering open like the wings of a butterfly, swallowing hard as he sat up and rubbed them- the very faintest flicker of a sparkle glimmering in his dimmed azure optics and hint of a sweet, thankful smile misting over his lips as he looked down at his two cat companions who were now both laid over his lap and softly purring soothingly while he petted them.
Figaro and Cleo had been the very last gift that he had received from his dear 'Mamma' on his twelfth birthday: one sweet, quiet, and gentle, and the other more boisterous and mischievous- though still very affectionate. (And, yes- Medoro and Alidoro had gotten on along just fine with the then-new feline members of the household and vice-versa, even given some of little Figaro's more impish moments in those much happier and more free days.)

Now that not only had his sweet gentle Father died, but 'Mamma' as well, their faithful and dear team of servants who were like 'zios e zias' (aunts and uncles; though two of them had been younger and therefore had been more akin to older cousins) to him dismissed from the house who knew where exactly, and his new stepfamily nothing but cold-hearted, Figaro and Cleo were the only ones left in the world/universe, it seemed, that still genuinely loved and cared for Pinocchio- giving him affection and companionship as well as helping him to keep warm as he slept at night.
It had to be kept secret, of course, since he did not want his stepfather and/or stepbrothers 'Monsieurs' Lucius, Draco, and Theodore to find out about his feline loved ones and either hurt or kill them (he would be *SHATTERED* if that happened!!), -but it was more than worth it to still have someone whom he loved and was wholeheartedly loved back by close to his side ...not just now only still living on in his heart, soul, and memories.

After experiencing beyond-awful recollections via a nightmare, Pinocchio felt like visiting the sweeter, kinder memoirs down *THAT Memory Lane* before he attempted going back to 'bed'. So, careful not to dislodge especially Figaro, he pulled out three loose bricks from the kitchen wall right beside the hearth -two across- one directly under them- which revealed a secret hiding place for his most treasured possessions that he stored in a small flat-ish wooden box- one of the very last items that Geppetto had carved and painted that still existed in the house. (That very night of THAT *FATEFUL day*, Constanza had gathered up all of her husband's wooden treasures that he had made with his own two hands and took them to the home of Signor Rizzi, where they would be safe and cherished, so that Lucius and his sons would not destroy them either by way of smashing, burning, or both.) Then he took off the lid of the box-

First he pulled out a small snowglobe that doubled as a music-box when wound with a key- within was displayed the figurine of a dapperly-dressed little man with pale green-tinged skin, strangely cricket-esque features, and warm twinkling eyes of a deep/dark shade of violet perched upon the holder of a lit melting tall red candle while holding a red umbrella in both tiny white-gloved hands in front of him, a dreamy wistful expression upon his kindly intense interesting face as he seemed to be singing a lovely song; the stand of the 'two-for-one' carved and painted to look like the clear starry night sky. The music that played from it was very soft and in no danger of waking the other people within the house, so Pinocchio both lightly shook the snowglobe-music box and twisted/turned the little key attached to it, a sweet soothing hopeful-yet-wistful song tinkling quietly from the glass-and-wooden treasure that he placed by his side.
He didn't know the words to the song, and neither had either of his parents- but Pinocchio didn't mind too much (even though he'd still like to know; it sounded so pretty, there surely must be just-as-beautiful lyrics to the melody...!). He still liked to hum the almost lullaby-esque tune to himself whether its accompaniment was playing or not, and had ever since he first heard it when he was very small.

Also within the keepsake box were a bundle of letters tied together with a thin red ribbon -love notes from during the time of Father and 'Mamma' courting each other, and letters from Constanza to her husband and son while on her merchanting travels-, but these, Pinocchio left be for now; gently and lovingly running his small thin fingers over them still, though. Instead, he tenderly picked up and opened the third and final item inside: a golden heart-shaped locket which contained both a photograph of Geppetto and Constanza on their wedding day, and a Christmas family portrait taken when Pinocchio was five years old.

As he and his feline companions looked at the snapshots taken of simpler, happier times before it all went wrong while the soft sweet tune continued to play on the snow-globe music box -when love was but a song, and tomorrow shone as brightly as the sun-, Pinocchio's eyes filled and glistened from another sheen of tears- his sweet heart panging sharply as his soul felt a keen ache ...no, *BURN*. His mouth trembled as he whispered mournfully, "...*I miss you, Father- Mamma*."

Grief-stricken sobs choked his throat as he clutched the 'love necklace' to his chest and curled himself up tight, hardly feeling Figaro and Cleo press themselves against his side as tears overflowed from his now-literal-pools for eyes and leaked down his ash-smeared face, one of them dripping off of his cheek and landing with a soft lightly tinkling 'splat' onto the glass covering of the snowglobe-music box that strangely was in sync with the very last note of its' sweet song.

-Just then, suddenly right after that, the snow-globe flashed, then was surrounded by a sparkling blue-white light; then *the INSIDE* of it!! All this for at least half a minute -plus the banked fire on the hearth *burning a GLOWING BRIGHT BLUE*!!!-, until with another sparkling light blue flare of light, the dapperly-dressed little man with cricket-esque features holding a red umbrella was no longer inside the snowglobe while perched upon the holder of a lit candle or still as stone, -but STANDING *outside of* and atop it, his pale-yet-green-tinged skin *GLOWING* with a soft bright blue shimmer of light, and a pair of baby-blue *wings* a blend of fairy and insect-like attached to the middle of his lean back-!

His deep/dark-violet eyes were still warm as ever, but now there was sadness and concern added to their twinkling depths within his small lightly-freckled face as he looked up at Pinocchio and murmured softly and kindly in a high(ish)-pitched, slightly reedy musical voice with a shake of his head, "*Tsk*; why, Pinoke, you've been cryin'..."

********************************************************************************

It took EVERY *ounce* of discipline for Figaro and Cleo *NOT* to hiss, screech, and yowl, but be quiet as mice as they jumped back with blown-wide eyes, raised fur, and puffed-up tails, just as it did for Pinocchio to swallow down and choke back the astonished and slightly frightened sharp cry that wanted to escape as he backed up a little- his own azure orbs larger than normal in his wooden face seemingly gone white as a freshly-washed sheet.

Once his heart-rate seemed to go back to normal, Pinocchio released a soft gasp of "...Y-You- *You're ALIVE*??!" as he raised a hand to his mouth and shook like a leaf wind-blown in a vicious storm.

The small quasi-cricket gave a genial laugh that went up like three musical notes in succession, then said gently with a slight raise of his eyebrow and shrug of his shoulders, "-Well now, ...would I be TALKING if I *WASN'T alive*, Pinokes??"

"N-No," Pinocchio had to concede with a shake of his head- then inquired apprehensively, "But, who-?? Wh-WHO *ARE you*, 'signor'?"

The quasi-cricket's large heliotrope eyes twinkled kindly as he introduced himself with a warm smile and tip of his deep-yet-bright blue top hat that matched his tailcoat. "'Cricket's' the name: 'Jiminy Cricket'! And to be (more) precise, I'm your fairy godfather, of course-!"

...A *WHAT*??? Pinocchio was dumb-founded. "I... I didn't know I-,"

"Didn't know that you had one, kiddo? *Nonsense*! *EVERYBODY* has a fairy godparent, aunt/uncle, cousin, or sibling, Pinokes- well, *ALMOST everybody*. -Dontcha at least vaguely recall your pops Geppetto tellin' you about 'em?"

Pinocchio was about to say no to this inquiry, but then faintly remembered one sunny day waiting for 'Mamma' to come home...

+"-Father, who looks after us as we do the animals besides 'Dio'??"

"Why, *fairy godmothers and fathers*, of course, Pinocchio my little woodenhead!"

"...You believe in them, even though you're grown-up?"

"*Oh, YES*, 'figlio mio'; I believe in *EVERYTHING*."

"Then *I* believe in *EVERYTHING* too, Father...!"

"-Which is just as it should be, 'carisimmo' of 'carisimma mia' (dearest one of my dearest one)."+

"...'Si'; 'si', I *do* believe in you, 'signor'! I- I'm *AWFUL* SORRY if it seemed like I didn't-,"

For some reason, the warm twinkling smile reaching up to and echoing through those strange yet enchanting deep purple eyes gone a few degrees warmer in assurance caused Pinocchio's heart to thump an extra beat, and he felt like he would blush if he actually still had the ability to outwardly do so.

"You hardly offended or upset me at all, Pinocchio; but thank you for the apology- I appreciate it. -And by the way, I know that you're just being polite as is your usual sweet wont, but you don't *HAVE to* call me 'Signor' ANYTHING, 'stellino' (little star)! I've never really cared for formalities unless ABSOLUTELY *needed*- just plain 'Jiminy' will do fine for me."

Pinocchio couldn't help but giggle at the slight wrinkle of his new friend's nose and twist of his lips as he gave a roll of his eyes- then responded with a smiling nod, "O-Okay; JUST '*Jiminy*' it is, then, since that's what you prefer."
Then he gave a sudden start and gasped softly as he just now noticed the quasi-cricket hovering in the air before him; had he been doing that since telling Pinocchio whom and what he actually was?? "Y-You- *You can FLY*...!"

It was a rather obvious thing to say, but if Jiminy Cricket thought so, then he said not a word about it (even though *Figaro* shot Pinocchio a '*DUH*-!!' Look, and Cleo tilted her head up at him in a near-scolding manner); instead chortling, "Oh, I can do *ALL SORTS of things*, Pinokes- watch!"
So saying, he raised his now-glowing and sparkling umbrella, pointed it towards the rack where most of the pots and pans were hung, and with a flash of blue-white light, *changed them from black and brownish-black to all bright colors of the rainbow*! His audience's jaws dropped and eyes popped wide again- Figaro and Cleo giving a questioning 'mew' and Pinocchio once more clamping a hand over his mouth. Then with another flourish and flare, Jiminy turned them back to their 'proper' hues, turning and giving a sweeping bow once he was done.

Figaro slightly rolled his eyes, but Cleo gave him her seal of approval and appreciation by twirling around twice and then pulling her plumy tail away from her face with a sweet feline smile as she batted her eyes, like an Arabic dancer her veil or a coquettish young maiden her fan.

Both kinds of dramatics made Pinocchio laugh merrily for the first time in a LONG while, his cerulean eyes sparkling like stars in his sweet rounded-heart face from under his 'carved' thick raven bangs of hair. "Oh, Jiminy, I wish you were here *ALL the time*! You're awful funny and so nice like Father was..."

"I am and will continue to be, 'dolce ragazzo' (sweet boy)," Jiminy said kindly, "-b'cause I know *EVERYTHING* that's been goin' on, and know that you could use another friend b'sides feisty little Figaro and sweet gentle Cleo at your side as a result."

The light shining in Pinocchio's eyes seemed to go out, again pooling with hurt heartbroken tears as both his head and wooden donkey ears lowered while he seemed to crouch in on himself and a crushed expression stamped itself onto his pale ligenous features, small white-gloved hands loosely held in his lap. "...Then you know about my 'patrigno' (stepfather) and my 'fratellastri' (stepbrothers)?" he quavered in a thin, small watery voice, stiff yet trembling.

Now a hard light was added to the warmth and kindness of Jiminy's eyes and face at the sight of the sweet boy's emotional pain only worsened by the loss of the last member of his blood family (that he knew of), keenly looking over the angry rope-burn scar laced about Pinocchio's throat and the jagged leftover abrasions 'adorning' his scrawny thin legs- the remains of whip scars, scratches, and purple-black bruises all over his tiny slender body ...soot, ashes, and cinders further smeared upon his cheeks via streams of tears; his BEING transformed- no, *CURSED* from flesh-blood-and-bone to a live stringless marionette puppet 'carved' out of white-pinewood with additional long grey just-as-ligenous donkey ears and tail 'just because' for 'fun'.
His blood boiled hotter than a fiery sea in righteous fury at all of the proof of suffering, abuse, and humiliation that Pinocchio had gone through- Signor Geppetto's 'Little Woodenhead' and Lady Constanza's 'Carisimmo'; *HIS 'Pinoke(s)'*, HIS *godchild*...!!!

"-I promise you here and now, Pinocchio, their deeds *will NOT* go *UN-punished*; *no, sirree*! You have my word, 'mimmo'."

His fairy godfather's solemn vow of love and protection sparked the beginnings of a *HEALING fire* within Pinocchio's being, flickering warm and sweet as it started to heal the jagged cracks of his wounded bleeding heart. The cursed boy's pure soul weighed down so heavily with sorrow began to lighten somewhat, and he gave Jiminy a small trembling but sweet smile as he raised his head and wiped his eyes, 'asino' ears perking up at least halfway if not fully upright. "Th-Thank you, Jiminy. I'm- I'm REAL *glad* you're here, when... when M-'Mamma' can't be..."

"You're *MORE THAN welcome*, 'tesoro'. What's a fairy godfather *for*, after all-??"

Just then, the living-room grandfather clock chimed another late hour throughout the house- and as if it were a signal, it caused Figaro and Cleo to stretch and yawn, and Pinocchio's own eyes began to flutter and feel heavy as he hid his own quiet yawn behind his hand. "Back to bed then, I'd say," Jiminy tisked sternly but benevolently.

"Mm-hmm," Pinocchio murmured agreeably. Then he briefly shook himself awake in order to pay attention to Jiminy as he queried, "-But WHERE will *you* sleep, 'mio amico'??"

Jiminy chuckled gently. "I'll figure it out, Pinoke; there's plenty of makeshift materials for a bed, pillow, and blankets around here. You just get yourself some more rest now- *for SURE* you're gonna NEED it, tomorrow (as usual)."

"Okay, Jiminy."

"-Good; atta boy." The fairy-winged quasi-cricket affectionately placed one of his tiny white-gloved hands on Pinocchio's cheek and gave it a gentle caress as he leaned in closer and up to press a soft sweet kiss to his temple. "'Buono notte' (Goodnight), little woodenhead; sweet dreams, ...and fear no longer."

Further warmth and sweetness flowed through the puppet-boy's soul as a result of his kind new friend's tender gesture and words, and he smiled softly at him before kissing the tip of his index finger and lightly tapping the other's cheek with it as he whispered, "...Goodnight to you, Jiminy; and sweet dreams, 'Fata Padrino' (Fairy Godfather)."

Jiminy wonderingly touched the place where Pinocchio had 'kissed' him, watching his charge settle down and curl up into his nest of blankets before the fireplace once more with shining eyes- 'Pinoke's' own fluttering shut and staying gently closed rather than scrunched up tight in pain, fear, or sadness as a soft sigh blew from between his sweetly-smiling lips while his whole body relaxed. Figaro and Cleo snuggled close beside him- the younger black-and-white 'gattino' at his front (actually gently nudging Pinocchio's hand until it covered and cradled him as he wanted), the elder 'ginger' against his back.

Once he saw that Pinocchio was soundly and sweetly asleep with no horrendous flashbacks lurking to torment him further during a nightmare, Jiminy transformed an empty matchbox into a bed just his size and to his liking a couple of shelves over from his charge's own sleeping-place. Then he took off his hat, shoes, jacket, and waistcoat/vest so as to be more comfortable before bundling up under the covers himself, out like a light the moment he murmured, "-Little man, you've had a *BUSY night*...!" and his head hit the pillow.

Chapter Text

A red-gold beam of light shining from the pinkish-purple sky ever so slowly edging into blue fell warmly across Pinocchio's face, matching the warmth of his sweet dream. His closed eyelids twitched, and he snuggled a little deeper into his bed of blankets, not wanting to awake just yet- to have to open his eyes and venture out into the cold once more as he had ever since 'Mamma' had gone. He wanted to stay a little longer with the kind, caring, funny, and witty winged elder male who possessed *FAINTLY-green* skin (as in, not WHOLLY so like Crown Princess Elphaba- and that more *seafoam* than anything close to emerald) and such beautiful deep violet eyes that looked upon him with all the tenderness in the world as his Father and 'Mamma' had used to...

But even before Figaro and Cleo gently nudged his side and hand with their noses while softly meowing as though telling him (nicely and kindly, at least) to wake up, 'Ash-Boy' knew that he had to rouse himself and come back to the world of the living -not that it softened the ache he felt when reality slowly settled back in. To take his mind off of it at least a little (or try to), he playfully flicked at Figaro's black white-tipped tail and laughed softly from the resulting jump and squeaking meow that led to a slightly sulky expression on his little furry face. "'-Beh, accidenti, *ti serve BENE*: rovinare i migliori sogni delle persone' (-Well, gee, *serves ya RIGHT*: spoilin' people's best dreams)!" he giggled mock-sternly as he sat up.

Figaro knew that, so he showed Pinocchio that he forgave him for the small trick he'd played (besides, it WAS kinda funny!) by lightly trilling and rubbing his small furry head against the puppet-boy's scrawny pale arm as Cleo softly chirped almost like a bird while she beckoned her's and her littermate's 'pet' toward to the window to where the rising-sunlight was coming from.

"'Si, Cleo, lo so che e una bella mattinata' (Yes, Cleo, I know it's a lovely morning), but ...it was a lovely *dream*, too."
Pinocchio sighed softly, rubbing at his eyes and running his other hand over his now-carved-and-'painted' thick black hair and long grey donkey ears as he recalled the soft gentle touch to his cheek and tender sweet kiss to his forehead, big-hearted even though their owner was rather small; the *KIND nicknames* his 'Fairy Godfather' had called him by in his voice as musical as one of the 'Conigli Neri's'. 'Pinoke' and/or 'Pinokes' was certainly new and different -his pseudo 'zios', 'zias', and 'cuginos' along with what childhood friends he'd had had called him 'Nocchi' for short if not his full name; which was fair, since it WAS rather a mouthful at times!- ...but he CERTAINLY preferred them to the cruel things his stepbrothers had called him that first day and sometimes just flung at him for 'fun' when they wanted to be particularly nasty -MOST *definitely* over being called a 'house-elf'!

"*Mmreow*??" queried Figaro, tilting his head questioningly up at his and Cleo's boy as he tapped at his arm with a little white paw.

"'WHAT *kind of* a dream'?" Pinocchio translated before slightly smiling affectionately and stroking Figaro's back. "Uh-uh, Figgy; can't tell."

Now 'Figgy' pouted alongside his sister, the both of them giving Pinocchio big glistening kitten eyes of cobalt-blue and amber-golden. "-*Mew*...?? (*AW*...! -*Why NOT*, 'Nocchi??)"

"-Father told me when I asked him that once was b'cause if ya *TELL a wish*, it WON'T *come true*," murmured 'Little Woodenhead' with a reminiscent gleam in his own azurine orbs for eyes while giving Cleo her own gentle caresses along her silky head and back. "Which ya *DON'T want*, -most 'f all, if you very much want for it t' come true ...b'cause after all, a dream's a wish that your heart makes: especially when you're feelin' small, and you whisper alone in the night, thinkin' no one can hear you at all.

"You can START WITH 'I wish' aloud, but the rest has t' be spoken silently from the depths of your heart, whether you tell of it to a shooting star or the North Star, a birthday candle (or several), dandelion seeds just before you blow on them to puff them away, a well or fountain that you toss a coin into, a 'wishbone' from a turkey right before you break it, a ribbon or a sky lantern that you write what you desire upon them, then either tie to a tree or send up into the air ...or even simply praying to 'Dio'. -But whatever you wish upon, however you choose to do so, and during whichever time of day, whatever y' wish for you keep deep inside you; and you've gotta *have FAITH* in your dreams! If and when you do that, more often than not, in some way, somehow, your rainbow will come smiling through...

"When you're fast asleep, in dreams you lose your heartaches -and by and large, even if it's not the very next day or close to any time soon, you'll wake up with the morning sunlight to find that fortune *has* smiled upon you; that the dream that you wished for really has come true..." Another deeper, though still soft, sigh blew through Pinocchio's lips as he recalled his gentle loving Father's whimsical words- remembered the talented artistic 'don' who was as much a sentimental man as the former king Oscar, nostalgia continuing to shine in his 'painted-on' eyes even as they dimmed and darkened with sadness from beneath his now-carved raven bangs while he softly sang to himself, continuing to pet his beloved feline 'amicos'.

~"-Thinking way back when,
I'm missin' him again;
*Oh*-! What might've been...!

I see him in my dreams-
So perfectly, it seems;
*If only* I could make
These dreams come true...!

-But I know that again I'll *NEVER* find
This vision anywhere, except *in my mind*;
-Maybe memory may hold the key
To feelin' how I felt when he was here with me...

There was so much love, light, and laughter...!
-But we couldn't see
That 'happily-ever-after' was never *ALWAYS meant to be*;
*If only* this could be MORE THAN a memory...

But *memory* will *HAVE to be*
The only way this 'Ash-Boy's' eyes can see-
Just how it Really Was,
When they- were- here- with me..."~

*BONG*!! *BONG*!! *BONG*!!

Figaro growled softly and Cleo spit a little as Pinocchio was roughly pulled out of his wistful slightly sweet reminiscences by the loud chimes of the grandfather clock in the living-room striking seven in the morning. He tried his best to always have a good attitude about things, as Geppetto and Constanza had taught him, but this time, he couldn't help but groan as he sat up further before standing up and brushing off his clothes. "-Oh, *that CLOCK*...! *Old killjoy*; even HE orders me around-!
"Uh-huh- yeah, I hear ya! 'C'mon- GET UP!!', you say. '*Time to start another day*!' 'Least even if stern, Jiminy Cricket'd be *nice* about it..."

His two cats chirruped/trilled sympathetically with completely agreeing looks on their faces, nuzzling and licking his hand or face affectionately before having to dart away to one of their usual hiding places for the day.

One more soft heavy breath of a sigh escaped Pinocchio's mouth- then he went about beginning to prepare and cook his stepfamily's breakfast (which would they choose to do today, he wondered: actually sit at the dining-room table for their meal, or ring for it to be brought to their respective bedrooms on trays??). A *dream*; that's *ALL* it was- *ONLY a dream*, if a very lovely -and loving- one, after he'd fallen asleep again from crying the night before while looking over his most treasured possessions that he kept safely hidden away. By now, that was nothing new, whether following a particularly horrendous nightmare or no. -Some wishes were only just dreams, and those kinds of dreams pretend as a form of science and reason won out in the end; a very lovely thought, but NOT *AT ALL practical* (no offense to his beloved Father)...

Surely, even though his stepfamily were wizards, only in *a DREAM* conjured up by his imagination could one possess wings like those of a blend between an insect and a faerie's-! -But, how very nice and wonderful that would be, though, if it *were* real; if *HE* were real...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He went through and about his daily chores in a sort of dimmed haze- aware and awake, but viewing things as though through a veil or 'wall' of smoke and feeling a similar-yet-different kind of heavy, sighing sadly as he watched Draco and Theo play croquet while drying one of the luncheon dishes (at least this was near to the very last of them). 'Ash-Boy' was right now very glad that even with heightened hearing 'thanks' to his donkey ears, he couldn't hear what his stepbrothers were surely cruelly laughing and saying about him.

"*'Garcon de Cendres*'!"

Pinocchio gasped from shock and fright and whirled around on his heel at the sound of his stepfather's cold irritated voice, loosing his grip on the plate he was drying in the process. 'CRASH'!! It fell to the stone floor and shattered into fragments of porcelain at the boy's feet- their owner whispering fearfully to himself, "-*Oh, no*...!" as he backed away under the looming shadow of Lord Malfoy.

"*STUPID boy*; now look at what you've done!" he sneered.

"I'm- I'm sorry, 'Patrigno'! Y-You- You frightened me...!" Pinocchio stammered as he bent down to pick up the pieces of the broken plate.

"Did I? -Well, be that as it may," Lucius purred nastily while tapping a clean silver spoon with and against his fingers, "when you've finished cleaning up your mess that you made, Ash-Boy, the floor needs to be scrubbed, the curtains cleaned, and the silver polished, amongst other things."

"But- But I just p-polished the silver, 'Signor'-!"

Lucius' gray eyes flashed, as did his ebony and silver cane which concealed his wand, and Pinocchio cried out in pain as the pointed fangs of the silver snake head dug into his arm- as though it was actually a poisonous snake biting him. "Well, simply *do it AGAIN*, you little idiot of a house-elf! I want to *see my face* in *EVERY spoon*...!"

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Jiminy Cricket was by nature a rather deep sleeper; you'd think the clock chiming would have woken him up, but no-! So why had *a plate falling to the floor and breaking* done the trick, instead?? -Maybe it had to do with the sound of his fairy godson Pinocchio's heart fearfully pounding accompanying it, both at the original sound and the sight of an irritated Lucius Malfoy striding angrily towards him...

-Well, which/whatever the case, the sharp sound of porcelain smashing against a stone floor jolted the quasi-cricket Fae out of his slumber like it was a hit of lightning, and for a moment he was unsure as to where exactly he was right now; then it all came back to him in a rush as he heard 'Slippery Lucius' scold Pinoke ...and *HURT him* while telling him to redo a chore that Pinocchio had already finished (and done well)!

His dark violet eyes narrowed and mouth firmed as his glowing pale/green/blue brow furrowed, stretching out his arms while cracking his knuckles before holding on extra tight to his umbrella. "-OKAY; *that settles it*!!" he muttered angrily under his breath. "You've all buttered your bread- now *SLEEP in it* b'fore *EATING* it, Bad-Faith 'Capo' (Senior)! -You and your two sons are about to get a *GOOD taste* of your own disgusting 'medicine' alongside that buttered bed-bread -*yes, sirree*!!- for all of what you've done to such a sweet boy like Pinokes via the beginning of Operation: No More Mister Nice Guy- *starting ...NOW*."

With a furious wave of his magical umbrella and pointed glare, the already-polished silver spoon held in Lucius' 'free' hand glowed, sparkled- and then flew up out of his long gloved fingers up to his face before it attached itself firmly to the end of his nose. The blond male's eyes popped wide in shock, as did Pinocchio's. "*What*??! *What's HAPPENING*!?" Lord Malfoy sputtered before taking a firm hold of the spoon's handle in both of his long-fingered manicured hands and pulling on it as hard as he could in order to dislodge it.

-It did him no good or any use. It was stuck to the point of his nose as though he'd accidentally glued it on! Lucius pulled, and pulled, *and PULLED*, and his nose actually *stretched* like a long piece of hot gooey taffy just beginning to harden- and ooh, it HURT him *HIJUS*...!! "WHAT is *going on*, here??!" Lucius cried out nasally, groaning and grunting from both the pain and the effort of trying to remove the spoon magically stuck to the end of his nose.

A couple of funny-sounding noises burst out from between his lips, which Pinocchio couldn't help but want to laugh at, but didn't dare to as that would DEFINITELY make any further punishment *WORSE* same as any kind of talking-back (whether in quote marks or not); so he clamped his hands over his mouth and bit his lips and tongue.

"It's alright, Pinokes; you can laugh if you want to. I muffled ol' Slippery's hearing and blurred his sight, so he won't detect even the slightest giggle or littlest twitch of a smile, I promise- *no, sirree*!"

Pinocchio gasped again as he looked up and over his struggling stepfather's head, his bright azure orbs for eyes meeting with and locking onto twinkling warm deep/dark violacous ones set within a small rounded-oval lightly-freckled pale face tinged with green yet softly glowing blue attached to a pixie/Doxy-sized nattily-dressed lean form. -An umbrella-carrying form that possessed a pair of wings on his back both insect and fairy-esque, and that up until last night he had every day viewed through a globe of glass...!!
"*Jiminy*! Oh-!! Oh, it WASN'T a dream, after all; it was *REAL*...! *YOU'RE real*! Gee, am I GLAD to see ya, 'Fata Padrino'-!!"

His heart swelled upon seeing Jiminy's kind smile sent his way, knowing that the hard angry light shining in his warm eyes wasn't towards him, but *FOR him*- towards his tormentors. "Real as real can be, 'tesoro'! -Now, if you'll come on over to the kitchen window, you'll see what I'mma 'bout to do with your stepbrothers."

Pinocchio was more than a bit puzzled, but by this point in time, obedience had been pretty much drilled into him despite his already mostly being a rather well-behaved boy. So as Jiminy flashed away to apparently out in the garden, the puppet-boy dashed over to where he had previously been- now clearly hearing Draco and Theo argue about whether or not one of them had cheated, and whose turn it now was, plus Jiminy's tisking while he waved and flicked his red umbrella at the blue croquet ball, "Sorry, boys; you're *BOTH wrong*. -It's MY turn now, I do believe!"

The ball magically zoomed across and over the manicured front lawn much to Draco's and Theo's bewildered astonishment- then it stopped, wiggled a little, and bounced back and forth between a bunch of rocks. It bounced over to and off of the stone fountain, hit Draco hard yet not on the head, and then the same with Theo, knocking the two elder boys out cold flat out on the ground- Pinocchio watching all of this with a dropped jaw and blown-wide eyes (Lucius hadn't seen or heard a thing but himself while trying with all of his might to free the spoon from his nose). He lost the battle with his held-back laughter, however, when not only did Jiminy buff his nails on the front of his jacket then blow on them in a self-satisfied manner, but also blew at the tip of his umbrella-wand like he was blowing away smoke from the end of a gun before muttering with a faux-innocent look on his face, "-*Whoops*; *CLUMSY me*...!"

Pinocchio quickly schooled his expression back, though, when Lucius seemed to finally remove the silver spoon from the end of his nose, which was now looking sore and red. However, the long-haired blond seemed to think that he had a bad headache as he hissed, "*Ooohh*, *my HEAD*-!" and clutched at it while stumbling out of the room and up the stairs to his room. Draco and Theo were still out cold outside, but now arranged on a bench and in a lawn chair as though they were simply taking an afternoon nap.

"-*Well*! There, now; THAT should take care of 'em for a good while, at least!" Jiminy breathed in satisfaction once he'd flashed back inside, dusting off his minute white-gloved hands. Then he flinched and winced when he saw the bleeding 'bite-marks' on Pinocchio's left wooden upper arm. "...That looks like it's *gotta HURT*, kiddo."

Pinocchio didn't want to complain, but had to admit that it did- and *badly*. But before he could move to take care of the wounds with some soap and water, a soothing healing balm, and bandages, Jiminy took a gentle hold of his hand and made him stay put where he was with a soft tug- rather surprising for one his tiny size, but then he *was* a faerie. The 'asino'-featured boy opened his mouth to question what he was doing -then figuratively closed it as he gave a quiet shuddering gasp at the feeling of his fairy godfather's lips tenderly kissing the place where he was hurt -like how Father and 'Mamma' had done so for him when he was much younger for smaller things like scraped knees-, and the resulting tingle and sparkle of magic that wiped away the blood, cleaned out any hint of infection, and knitted the 'skin' back together until there was only a fresh scar left.

"Fae rules, unfortunately," Jiminy shrugged while wiping the blood off of his lips when he saw Pinocchio look confusedly down at the slight abrasion on his arm. "I mean, I COULD and would *like to* heal you until nothin's left- but that'd unfortunately make Stepdaddy Dearest suspicious, so while I can literally kiss it better, a scar's gotta stay as a result."

"I- I understand, Jiminy," Pinocchio responded quietly, running a hand over the newest addition to his 'collection' as though to imprint the press of the other's mouth there. "I was ...I was j-just gonna say 'Thank you'; th-thank you for- for for-real kissing where Stepfather hurt me better, and- a-and for standing up for me."

"More than welcome; s' like I said," Jiminy smiled, gently pressing Pinocchio's small wooden hand, "-what's a fairy godfather for?"

Chapter Text

Days, weeks, and months passed by slowly or quickly after that- and before Pinocchio knew it, three years had gone by since his 'Mamma' had married a certain handsome clever yet cold and cruel widowed Lord with two sons that were just like him. Three years made both bearable and wonderful by not only his two cats Figaro and Cleo, but by the company of his fairy godfather Jiminy Cricket...
He was not only quite intelligent *and KIND*, but rather funny in a wise-cracking way; almost always adding a little whimsical spin to a conversation or deflating an intense situation with a dollop of humor whether Pinocchio was working or resting (of course always making sure to keep out of sight of Lucius, Draco, and Theo as Figaro and Cleo did so that none of them would be grievously hurt). ...He also, the now stringless puppet-boy 'carved' out of white-pinewood with added grey donkey ears and tail found out fairly early on, had a *VERY* STRONG sense of honor and protection; especially when it came to his godchild.

Just as Jiminy was unfortunately NOT able to magic away Pinocchio's 'collection' of scars in case of Lord Malfoy's detecting it and therefore discovering him, so too was he unable to completely stop 'Pinoke's' cruel horrid stepfamily from hurting him. At the most, he could only occasionally stop it here and there for an hour or so whilst Lucius, Draco, and Theo were recovering from one of the quasi-cricket's *VICIOUS* pranks played on them in retaliation for what they had done to such a sweet-natured/kind-hearted innocent person such as the one whom they cruelly dubbed 'Ash-Boy'. -Thankfully, at least, Pinocchio himself was never suspected of or punished for his godfather's magical doings; things were troublesome enough with the Malfoy family, as it was-!

But 'Little Woodenhead' was never once resentful of Jiminy's not being able to *FULLY help* or heal him- he was exceedingly grateful and thankful for what little he *COULD do*, as else-wise, Pinocchio would more than likely right now be in a *VERY* BAD place concerning his state of mind in his grief and hurt; either sinking deep into depression, becoming a little automan, or turning near-to as cold and bitter as his stepfather and stepbrothers, if not all of the above! So he treasured every moment that he and his 'Fata Padrino' had together, whatever they were doing. (...And if either felt a little bit *something MORE* there spark and flicker within their hearts while talking, laughing, or humming/singing/whistling together as one would help the other with his work invisibly, they were currently so content with their deep warm friendship as it was now, that they didn't pay much notice to it.)

-Of course, Jiminy couldn't *ALWAYS be there* all the time, and occasionally he would leave for a couple of days or weeks to spend some time with his family- just himself, his mother Evelyn, and his father Sebastian, but they were still as tight-knit, close, and loving a family as Pinocchio had used to have, and he'd wanted to let them know that they needn't worry that he'd dropped off the face of the earth. Pinocchio more than understood this, and never begrudged him for that either, but he always missed his 'conscience' while he was gone- at least the bright happiness he felt whenever Jiminy returned was *MORE THAN worth it*...!

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

The year Pinocchio turned fifteen, Jiminy had left once more for a couple of weeks to either settle a dispute within his family's Fae court or take care of 'Mom and Pop Business' (he wasn't quite sure which), promising the puppet-boy that he would come straight back to what he now considered his other home as soon as the whole possibly-messy bailiwick was done and over with.
-But this time, in addition to his pet cats Figaro and Cleo, Pinocchio had made some new friends in his 'conscience's' absence when he was suddenly alerted by an unfamiliar seagull (who turned out to be female) that someone *NEEDED* HELP just about an hour after Jiminy had magically flashed away. She had led him to a spot in the woods where a semi-elderly plump white-furred little cat with green eyes was caught in a snare trap and meowing in pain, a younger red-furred and amber-eyed cat anxiously hovering by his side while licking his head along with a sleek red fox and scruffy brown-furred cat -also with green eyes-. A horrified and sympathetic Pinocchio had set the poor 'gatto' free, much to the other animals' vast relief (especially the one who seemed to be the white cat's offspring) and then tended to his sprained paw before having to go back to his chores or be suspected of acting 'lazy' (and with a likely beating on top of that; *NO thank you*!).

From that day, they were all fast friends. They were more wild/stray animals rather than pets as Figaro and Cleo were, but tame enough. When Pinocchio had first petted the white cat and his companions, none of them had tried to scratch or bite him- or the seagull peck at him; rather, they seemed to enjoy his gentle caresses. So he had given them names (that he made sure that they all approved of and liked- possibly even already possessed) on that first day: the seagull he dubbed 'Sofia', the white cat was 'Mr. Coachman', the younger red-furred one that seemed to have tiny spots flecked on his coat rather than stripes was 'Lampwick', the brown-furred one 'Gideon', and the fox who appeared to be Gideon's mate was 'John Worthington Foulfellow' AKA 'Honest John'.

Even though they couldn't quite protect Pinocchio as Jiminy could, they still provided much-needed and wanted company in the faerie-cricket's absence. Pinocchio just hoped that everyone would all more-or-less get along with each other when his godfather came back; he had a funny feeling that Honest John and Lampwick would push Jiminy's buttons in some way, if they happened to clash...

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

One fine but rather warm morning-edging-into-afternoon just as the clock struck twelve, Pinocchio started in on doing the laundry, both his new and old animal friends keeping him company as by-now-usual. Sofia was perched on a clothesline, ready to help the donkey-eared/tailed puppet-boy teen hang up the wet clothes to dry when it was time for that; Mr. Coachman and Lampwick sat beside each other (well, Lampwick sat; Mr. Coachman was curled up, resting his older bones), Honest John and Gideon were snuggled up together, Cleo was sitting very lady-like on the back doorstep with her plume of a tail wrapped around her front paws, and Figaro lay down sprawled on his side beside her. They were all quiet right now, save for a yawn and stretch from Figaro, and a very soft purring emitting from the throat of Gideon as his mate nuzzled him behind his ears; then the purr turned into a louder confused and wary meow as his and the others' ears flicked back-and-forth, catching the sound of light footfalls coming from before them all.

He didn't look quite as frightened or concerned as he would have been had he heard the voices of the Malfoy family, so Pinocchio relaxed a little yet remained cautious as he dunked another shirt into the bucket of soapy water and scrubbed it by way of a washboard. -When he saw familiar black lapine forms clad in both a mixture/blend of Italian and Mexican/Spanish attire, however, he smiled wide with sparkling eyes as he exclaimed happily in a semi-quiet manner, "*Lady LaMuerte- Mr. Xibalba ...Mr. Manolo*!! I'm so glad to see you-!"

'Lady LaMuerte' and 'Mr. Manolo's' soft honey-brown eyes that were golden in certain lights became softer still in their slightly curled/wavy dark furred faces, as did 'Mr. Xibalba's' acid-green ones tinged with red. "And WE are so very happy to *see YOU*, 'Padrona' Constanza's 'Dearest One'...!" Manolo murmured affectionately in his musical voice, adjusting the strap of his ever-present guitar slung over one strong also-black-clad shoulder.

"-Have you all found good employment again??"

"Can anyone *roast a chicken* just as well as or better than Medoro, I ask you? (Whom, by the way, is doing just fine along with Alidoro and Leona, so you know.)" Xibalba playfully rejoined before his red/green eyes hardened yet filled with fatherly sadness and concern as they looked over Pinocchio's worriedly small and thin scarred and bruised wooden form clad in ragged threadbare clothes that only still fit him thanks to a bit of magic and dusted with cinders, soot, and ashes, and his black-gloved hands clenched at his sides. "...*'Ay, caramba'*!! -You don't look well, young master; NOT *at ALL*."

"Little woodenhead, WHY do you *stay here* where they treat you so??!" Manolo demanded to know yet sadly exclaimed. "'Dios Mio', but if *Hector* saw all of this as well, his own heart would *SURELY break*...!" 'And *Maria* would be out *for BLOOD*, to say nothing of Joaquin; even if they don't know you as well as Mama, Papa, my brother, and I did and do, they STILL care about you, "pequeno estrella brilliante" (little bright star)-!'

Pinocchio's own azure orbs dimmed, and he lowered his head as he continued to dunk and scrub shirts, pants, robes, and underwear. "'Killing the bull *is WRONG*', 'si'; I know, 'Signor' Manny, but... It's not just that it was Father's and Mamma's house, and that now they are gone I love and cherish it for them as they no longer can; if I were to try to leave, I'd surely be brought back and hurt worse- not to mention likely Figaro and Cleo...! -I DO *want to* leave and find a better place I can call home, *but I CAN'T*. Not just yet- not right now."

LaMuerte sighed sadly as anger and love flared in her heart, mirroring her mate's angry trembling that matched his glossy crimson-and-verdant eyes and her kit's bitten-back sob of agony while he scuffed at the ground with one footpaw like a bull doing so via his hoof. But they all did their best to give the 'dolce hermoso nino' (sweet beautiful boy) whom they loved like a nephew/cousin a cheerful smile that wasn't fake, the lady rabbit adding while gazing down at him with tender mother eyes, "...Well, you seem to have some *VERY good* friends with you by your side, at least. -Now I remember Figaro and Cleo, but for the LIFE of me, I cannot place whom is who, currently...!"

"'Si, primito' (Yes, little cousin)! Please, tell us: what are the names of yours', Figaro's, and Cleo's new 'amigos' (friends)??"

"The lady seagull is Sofia; the white cat I call 'Mr. Coachman' (I don't know why, but nothing else seemed to fit, and he doesn't appear to mind), his son with red fur and 'freckles' on it goes by 'Lampwick'- the brown cat is 'Gideon', and the fox is Mr. Honest John."

"-'Muchas gracias/Mille Grazie' for taking care of and looking out for 'Nocchi when we couldn't, let alone his parents."

'No problem!' was what they all seemed to squawk, mew, purr, and churr in response to Xibalba's heart-felt thanks that his mate and kit parroted right after him.

But just then- "*Incoming*; we have to go, now-!! '*VAMANOS*'!" LaMuerte suddenly hissed to her husband and son as her long black ears flicked upon detecting the unwanted sound of Draco and Theo pounding down the stairs to play some sort of game outside. She and her family regretfully whispered 'goodbye' to Pinocchio and hopped away while Sofia, Figaro, Cleo, Mr. Coachman, Lampwick, Gideon, and Honest John flew/slunk into the shadows or up in the trees to keep out of the other boys' line of sight, Pinocchio continuing to work as Draco and Theo started to play shuttlecock, which ended hilariously (to Draco) when Theo tripped and stumbled over a rock head-over-heels with a chicken leg stuffed into his mouth like an apple into a roasted whole pig's.

Just as the last of the clothes were finished, Lucius swept into the scene with an unusually wide smile on his face while waving a creamy gold-edged piece of paper in the air, calling his sons over excitedly; which was very *UN-usual* for the rather stoic cool lord. "'Mon fils'- 'mon fils', have you heard the news??! Here- here- I'll read it to you: the King Stromboli and Queen Fabiana hereby invite *EVERY* young or youngish person of courting age to attend three balls for three nights at the Royal Palace in honor of and to celebrate their youngest daughter Princess Sabina's official introduction to society'!
"*THREE balls*- not just one, but THREE!! 'Mon Dieu', but this is QUITE *something*...!"

"This IS *WONDERFUL*, Father! -But I'll need *NEW dress robes* for the occasion."

"Yes- yes; so do I!"

"Not to worry, my dragon and serpent," Lucius soothed his worried offspring. "You shall have WHATEVER you need...!"

Pinocchio tried to bite his tongue and hold himself back, but he eventually couldn't help but ask if he could come along as well; keeping out of the way, of course. Even if he couldn't dance with the Princess, he would still so love to hear the music and see the sights...! He cringed and shrank back almost immediately afterward, thinking *for SURE* that he was going to be mocked and made fun of for his *FOOLISH* assumptions/question.

-But when Lucius slightly smiled at him, it almost seemed ...*kind*. "Well, my dear lad, you ARE still a member of the family- and it *DOES say* by ROYAL COMMAND, *EVERY* eligible young man is to attend; and we cannot disobey the word and law of the King and Queen. I see no reason why you can't go with us, so long as you get all of your work done in time (including helping myself and my sons to dress) and can find something suitable to wear..."

Pinocchio gasped softly as his bright blue eyes sparkled in his face- then a beaming smile followed after. "Oh, I WILL; *I WILL*, I *promise*!! And *I'm SURE* I can... *Oh, THANK YOU*, Stepfather-!!"

Lucius nodded genially. "You are welcome, child. -Now, why don't you run along and see what you can find? Mind you come right back down when any of us calls for you, however, please."

His stepson agreed wholeheartedly and practically flew away up to the attic to look through his father's clothes ...and he never once, even with his cursed enhanced hearing, caught wind of the following conversation.

"...*FATHER*!!! Do you REALIZE *WHAT* you *just said*??!!"

"Of course, dragon ...I said *'if'*."

"-*Oh*... 'IF'- ha-ha-ha!! Should we pile more things on until-??"

"No, no, my sly serpent. ...Let our silly little Ash-Boy believe things are going right and wonderful *up until the last minute*; infinitely more satisfying, wouldn't you think?"

"-Fine. We'll be 'nice' until then..."

"*Good- GOOD*...!"

"-Do you have *ONE extra task* at least??"

"Well, NOW I do, Draco; 'merci boucoup' for the suggestion-! It'll have to be done before the coach arrives and we have to leave..."

Chapter Text

After a bit of rummaging through a trunk in the attic, Pinocchio had managed to find a nice outfit, even if it needed some work, like a hemming of the sleeves and bottom of the pants- maybe a bit of mending. Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to work on it since he was called away; only in snatches and fits here and there while he finished his chores for the day and began to help his stepfamily to get ready themselves. -Oh, well; even if he only looked simply decent by the time he was through, at least his stepfather and stepbrothers would look more elegant than their usual. (Not to mention, Lucius had removed the spell that kept soot and ashes on his clothes and face for tonight; at least he would be *clean*, if not truly handsome, much less 'dashing' or 'charming'.)

Lord Lucius would be resplendent in fine velvet dress robes which were obsidian-black outward, Slytherin-green on the inside, and trimmed with pure silver on the hems, with a 'classic' black-and-white tuxedo underneath and his long platinum-blond hair tied back for the occasion. 'Monsieur' Draco, meanwhile, would be clad in silver satin ones lightly sprinkled with chips of diamond and patterned on the cuffs and edge of the robe with small green snakes and a charcoal-gray suit. And 'Monsieur' Theo wore a black-and-grey suit beneath a pale-gold brocaded dress robe adorned with emeralds.
As he and Draco both wore their hair short, all Pinocchio really had to do after brushing out and tying their father's back was nicely brush it, which he did until Draco's own straight silvery-blond locks and Theo's chestnut curls were as soft and silken as you could please.

When he was all through with their preparations, Pinocchio opened his mouth to compliment them on how handsome they looked- but Lucius interrupted him with a snap of his long fingers and annoyed look towards himself. "*Blast*; I forgot just one more thing that you need to finish before our coach arrives, 'Gardon de Cendres'."

Pinocchio shut his mouth with a snap and looked toward Lord Malfoy. "Yes, Stepfather? What is it?"

"Clumsy me that I *CAN be* sometimes, I accidentally dropped a bowlful of lentils into the ashes earlier. You must pick them all out before our coach arrives- why, you're not ready yourself yet, lad. Does your own outfit need a bit more work?"

"-Just a bit more, 'Patrigno'. I didn't change yet because you can't really do chores in fine clothes."

"True- true. Very practical of you, child. Well, just run along and finish the last thing I asked of you; I'm sure you'll have just enough time for whatever you need. You're a hard worker."

Pinocchio nodded eagerly and said 'thank you' before he darted downstairs to the kitchen, stopping short and biting his lip when he saw that, indeed, the ashes in the fireplace WERE chock-full of lentils. 'Madre Maria', but how would he *EVER* finish this in time, plus his own garments??!

But Despairing and/or Complaining *solved NOTHING*, and as his Father had taught him from a young age- "...'Positive thinking'," Pinocchio murmured to himself through a slight sigh as he began to kneel down before the hearth and prepare to do what he had been told.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

-However, just then, he heard the semi-soft cry of a seagull plus not a bit of chirruping from the kitchen window, and he turned his head to see Sofia ...and his jaw dropped and eyes widened when he saw that she had some more friends with her. Other *FEATHERED friends*: *a flock of woodpeckers*, to be exact! Sofia motioned for him to sit down, and he weakly did so, watching in awe and wonder as the small black-grey-and-red birds along with the female seagull one by one picked the lentils out of the ashes with their beaks and claws, dropping them into a bowl on the kitchen table in what seemed almost no time at all!
Before Pinocchio knew it, the hearth was lentil-free, and every single one of the dried beans was in the bowl. He opened his mouth to thank Sofia and her woodpecker friends profusely, but once more was stopped short- in a more positive manner, this time, apparently.

When she saw the light of her sweet wooden friend's bright blue eyes begin to dim a little as he remembered that he had not quite finished fixing up his own garments for the ball, Sofia motioned with her wing again for Pinocchio to look behind him. Obedient as ever, Pinocchio did- and he gasped softly with a hand to his mouth when he saw his outfit laid over a chair and all completed: any threadbare spots had been sewn over nicely, the small rips and tears were mended, and not only had a new blue ribbon been found for a necktie, there was even a beautiful emerald-and-silver butterfly pin for an additional accessory!

"O-*Oh*! Why, it's- it's my- *It's Father's semi-suit from when he was young*! Why, I *NEVER* dreamed of- of-! *It's SUCH A SURPRISE*...!"

*How on Earth* had all this been done???! And *by WHOM*? -'Little Ash-Boy' soon found out when he saw not only Figaro, Cleo, and Sofia standing by the chair with the finished outfit upon it, but his other new friends Mr. Coachman, Lampwick, Honest John, and Gideon, looking pleased as punch with themselves and at how happy he was while the cats purred or mewed and the fox churred.

"*Ohh- oh*!! H-HOW can I *ever*-???" Pinocchio was so surprised and happy that he didn't know what to say before getting dressed except- "...Oh, *THANK you*!! Thank you ALL *so much*-!"

Yes, he well knew that compared to other young and elder gentlemen at the ball (especially his stepfamily), that he would look quite old-fashioned, and certainly odd with his wooden state plus donkey ears and tail. Perhaps he would be laughed at and whispered about a little with all of this combined, it was only expected, ...but he was ACTUALLY *going to* the ball -the first of three, even!!-, and that was *ALL* that *TRULY mattered*. Once more- 'positive thinking'...!

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Pinocchio saw Lord Lucius and 'Monsieurs' Draco and Theo sweep elegantly down the stairs while his stepfather was giving his stepbrothers some last-minute instructions, and took his chance. "W-WAIT! *Please, wait for me*!" he called out, coming from the kitchen and before his stepfamily. He was so happy he couldn't help but twirl around before them like he had used to with Father before a special occasion. #"Now, turn around, and let me look you over- let me get a look at you! He-he-he! Oh, VERY *handsome*; *VERY handsome*...!"#

"I know it's a little or *a LOT* old-fashioned, especially compared to the three of you, but still... Isn't it awful nice-looking all th' same? D' you like it?? Do -Do you think it will do?"

Lucius could not believe it- didn't want to, but the proof was undeniable, much as he *HATED* to admit it.
Despite his ligenous state from the raven-black hair on his head to the toes in his shoes, additional also-wooden long grey donkey ears and tail, and his old-fashioned garments that were like his original ones in 'shape' but made out of fine satin and silk rather than shabby faded threadbare cotton, wool, and linen (though the breeches were rose-pink rather than cardinal-red -matching the feather in the cap-, the shirt white instead of pale yellow, any detailing on his dungarees or dark vest silver instead of gold [plus the Tyrolean cap, which was also silvery], and the ribbon on the cap and bowtie a deeper shade of blue, plus his shoes being black leather) ...the goody-two-shoes stepson whom he and his sons cruelly called 'Ash-Boy' FAR *outshone* Draco and Theo with his rounded-heart face glowing with excitement and bright blue eyes sparkling both naturally and from happiness. Had he been human still, his pale-as-fresh milk cheeks would have been flushed with joy to match and compliment his outfit.

Draco and Theo were badly stunned too, with the same realizations as their father. Classically/Traditionally handsome like they were HE *was NOT*- and yet even in those odd bright garments, he *surpassed* them in charm and appeal! If *the PRINCESS* saw, she would probably propose on the spot herself...!

"*Ash-Boy*???!! Father, *he CAN'T*-!!"

"'Padre', *you WOULDN'T*-!! You CAN'T let him-!"

"Now, 'mon fils', calm yourselves," said Lucius soothingly, holding out his hands. "After all," he reminded them, "we *DID make a bargain*, did we not, 'beau-fils' (stepson)?"

Pinocchio was starting to feel a bit nervous now, but didn't show it. He simply smiled (if a little weakly and uncertainly) and nodded, "-Uh-huh."

"...And I *NEVER* *go back on* my word."

The younger male's heart pounded fast and hard in his chest as his stepfather stepped closer and closer to him with an intense look in his eyes, and he couldn't help leaning back a little as his eyes widened. What was going on?? Why was he being looked at like that-?? Surely by now, the coach should have arrived...!

Lucius looked long and hard up and down Pinocchio's fine clothes as though inspecting for any flaw. Then- "...Why, dear 'beau-fils', *how very clever of you*; this emerald and silver pin, it gives it all JUST *the RIGHT* touch! -Don't *YOU think so*, Theodore?"

"*Pfft*!! No, of course not, 'Pere'; I *DON'T think* he's-!" Then the curly-haired brunet's jaw dropped and steel-blue eyes narrowed yet widened as he seemed to recognize something, and he lunged forward at Pinocchio with a hissing shriek.
"*Why, you little THIEF*!! How *DARE you*!? That's MOTHER'S broach!! *Give it here*!" And with that, he instantly ripped the jeweled pin off of the front of his hateddespisedloathed stepbrother's shirt.

Aforementioned 'adoptive' brother's heart both froze and fell as he choked out a whispered, "*Oh, no*...!"

"-And THAT'S *MY necktie*, you dirty little house-elf!!" Draco snarled suddenly, reaching out and tearing the bowtie from Pinocchio's neck, almost choking the dazed, frightened boy in the process. "Wear MY tie or anything else either Theo or I own??! *Like bloody hell*, Dobby or Scarhead the Second...!"

"You little *SNEAK*!!!"

"UNGRATEFUL *WRETCH*!!"

*NO*- surely; *surely*, they *COULDN'T have* just laid out/thrown away the items that his friends found to complete his outfit just to-??! *He'd PROMISED*- his stepfather had PROMISED...!!

Pinocchio tried to get away from their grasping, clawing hands, but he was immobilized to the spot with a spell- not that it stopped him from twisting and turning and still attempting to escape with everything he had. "Oh, no! -*No*!! PLEASE; *STOP*!" he cried, fearfully pleadingly looking to Lord Malfoy for *some kind* of Intervention.

-But it was like he'd rammed that cane of his against his heart and smashed it to slivers and bits like a piece of fine china when Lucius, in the starkest contrast to the after all*fakefakeFAKE* warmth and kindness in his tone, face, and body language, coolly said with disgust and hatred in his silver eyes, "*TSK*; why, this thing is SO *old-fashioned*, ...*it's PRACTICALLY FALLING TO PIECES*. Look- the shoulder's frayed; by Salazar, it's *falling to bits*!"

*RRRIPPP*!!! Now HE lunged out and tore at a part of Pinocchio's clothing as well, nearly tearing his right sleeve completely off alongside his sons.
"*And THIS*-! Why, it's *barely* sewn on!" he added cruelly, ripping at the shirt collar until it tore.

"It's a *HIDEOUS* old-fashioned JOKE!" Draco jeered as he snagged a seam on his vest.

"...CLEARLY, your father's taste was quite- *questionable*."

"*No*; DON'T! *PLEASE stop*-!!"

But any and all pleading and begging was to no avail. They pawed and pulled- tugged and wrenched- ripped and tore- scratched and clawed ...until Pinocchio stood frozen and dazed with a look of utmost Betrayal and Sorrow in his big blue eyes while now wearing only tattered and shredded pink, white, black, silver, and blue *RAGS* and battered scuffed-up formally-fine black leather shoes. NEVER had he looked more like a House-Elf than at that very moment... and the pitiful pitiable sight of it warmed the Malfoys' cold hearts. Was a soothing healing balm to their respective souls (if they had any semblance of such)...

'Ash-Boy' shuddered and tightly wrapped his arms around himself, his ears lowered and tail practically between his legs. He wanted to *just CRY*, but even though his quivering eyes were hot, he felt like he'd been numbed from head to foot- as though he'd been Transformed into a block of ice rather than a stringless live white-pinewood puppet. "...*NO*. H-*How could you*??!" Pinocchio near-whispered, his voice trembling as shame, anger, hurt, and sadness coursed through his small wooden frame. "You- *You PROMISED*...!"

"Well, 'how could I' *otherwise*?" Lucius sneered, looking Pinocchio up and down once more. "It would *embarrass my sons' prospects* to be seen with a ragged *WOODEN boy* who's nothing more and nothing less than *a HOUSE-ELF*! Really, now; HOW *did* you think you could *EVER* be anything else- much less *'Prince of the Realm'* as you were clearly aspiring to?"

*What*??!! Once more, Pinocchio felt like he'd been slapped- and even though his clothes were now so torn-up to the point where it was surprising that they still stayed on him, the *VERBAL ripping apart* only continued when his stepbrothers started to nastily tease him as they had used to.

"*Ha-ha*!!! Listen to the servant boy: wanting to go the ball at the castle, no less! Oh, la-la- WHAT a *FUNNY-looking* thing he'd be!! ...But where would you sit?? There aren't any cinders in the palace. You would not feel at home-!"

"Can you IMAGINE *how* the Princess would laugh at your awkwardness??! Why, I can hear her now...!"

Theo roared with laughter at his own nastiness, in which his father and brother soon joined in ...which greatly thawed the ice yet *BROKE* Pinocchio even more.
They'd done all this- raised his hopes, 'helped' to build up his *NON-royal* dreams, only to *DASH them all* to bits and pieces... He KNEW *very well* what they were like; he *SHOULD HAVE known* that something wasn't right when Lucius had so readily, *kindly*, and WARMLY agreed to let him attend, 'bargain' or no! STUPID- *stupid*, *STUPID* little woodenhead...!!!

"*Oh, PLEASE* don't make fun 'f me anymore!" he suddenly cried out, his beautiful eyes filling with tears. "Can't you love me *just a little*?? I do ALL I know to please you...! What did I EVER *do to you*?! Wh-Why d' you *shut me out* 'n PUSH ME AWAY and h-h- *HURT me*???! Wh- *WHY do you*-???
"P-Pl- *Please*, Step-Papa, Draco, 'n Theo- Won't- Won't you *be KIND* t' me...??"

His voice was choked with sobs, but his stepfather was once more *with-OUT* mercy. "*Stop talking and fasten our cloaks*! The coach will soon be here."

Poor Pinocchio's cheeks were streaked with tears as he hastened to obey.

"*Ouch*!!" yelped Theo when it was his turn. "Don't pinch me like that, you stupid ugly thing! -And DON'T spill your tears on my cloak or dress-robes, either!"

"I'm- I-I'm awful sorry, 'Signorino' Theodore...!" 'Garcon de Cendres' sniffled/gulped both miserably and apologetically.

Once his own clasps were put together, Draco slapped the younger teen HARD in the face (steadfastly ignoring the slight sharp pain that came from smacking wood rather than skin) both as Just Punishment and just because he could- coldly sneering "-*Clod*!" afterwards.

Then to add further insult to injury, just as the carriage driven by four pure white prancing Arabian chargers finally rumbled up to the door, Lucius malevolently revealed with an additional flick of his cane-hidden wand that it had only been *a Glamour*, his being clean- he was still as ash and soot-dusted as before ...STILL *and ALWAYS* stupid ugly little *'Ash-Clod 'Nocchi'/'Dirty Pino'/'Garcon de Cendres'*.
"-After that vicious practical joke of a stunt you pulled, don't you DARE look out the window to see us off! You don't deserve even *THAT little*, Ash-Boy; and I won't have you upsetting 'mon fils'. ...Goodnight, replacement of Dobby."

Once they swept out, the key was turned in the lock with a '*click*', and the rumbling of wheels and pounding of horses' hooves began to move away from the house, Pinocchio trembled and shook while he slammed a tattered white-gloved hand over his mouth. Then a heartbroken sob ripped itself from his lungs through his quivering lips, and he whirled around and fled out the kitchen door to the garden, blinded by tears of hurt and betrayal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Far in the land of Fae, Jiminy Cricket suddenly jerked his head up with widened eyes as he was about to head back as promised. Promises...

#'He PROMISED...!! *He PROMISED*-! *WHY*? -WHY *WOULD they*...??!
'I *should've* KNOWN it *wasn't TRUE*-! ...*How could have* I even BEGUN TO- *TRY to think* that it would be *ANY* use of-??
'...*NO use* *at all*! It *ALWAYS* was-!! *Oh, Father* ...I'm sorry; -I said that I'd try to believe in everything and have courage, but *I DON'T* ...I *can't*! N-Not anymore...'#

Jiminy felt as though he'd been stabbed in the heart with a sharp rusty dagger that was then slowly twisted as he distantly heard his 'Pinoke's' heartbroken, SOUL-*SHATTERED* tearful voice that sounded muffled like he'd buried his face in his arms or hands.
WHAT had *HAPPENED* just now, that Pinocchio sounded *BEYOND grief-stricken and hurt*- like it was more than he could stand; than he had already dealt with...??!!

"What's th' matter, laddie?" his father Sebastian J. Cricket inquired of him, his glowing pupil-less pale blue eyes deeply sympathetic and worried in his intense interesting tanzinite/sapphire face. "Y' look verra worried- *UPSET, even*, 'mo chride'. Somethin' t' do wit' yer sweet bonny godson??"

"...*Pinoke's been HURT*- *BADLY*!! He's horribly abused and humiliated enough as it is- WHAT did those *MONSTERS* do *THIS time*, to make him sound so- *so BROKEN* ...so *SHATTERED*??! *Oh, my 'carissimo' little woodenhead*..."

"That poor sweet 'ragazzo' whom you light up like a star about whenever you talk about him- Go and see then what has happened, my son," said his mother Evelyn gently, her own lovely blue eyes sad and concerned in her beauteous face framed by light golden hair naturally streaked with turquoise (both suffused with a pale blue glow). "You were supposed to come back there tonight anyhow, were you not, dearest?"

Even though tears pricked at his own deep violet eyes, Jiminy nodded firmly and disappeared in a light blue cloud of sparkles. 'From the sounds of it, Pinoke's had *MORE THAN enough* promises broken; *like HADES* I'm going to give him cause to believe that another one has been...!!'

Chapter Text

Sofia cawed worriedly, concernedly the cats mewed, and Honest John distressedly gekkered, but an anguished Pinocchio heard none of it, as deaf from the shattering, cracking sound of *his SOUL* breaking as he was blinded by tears while he collapsed under a willow tree, drawing his legs up to his chest and burying his face in his hands as he sorrowfully wept his heart out. TRICKED- *deceived*- *BETRAYED* ...and *for WHAT*??!! WHAT 'reason' did they, especially Lord Malfoy, have to ha- no, *LOATHE* him so??!

"-*Why*??" he cried from the bottom of his shattered heart as tears fell unheeded from his eyes and dripped through his fingers to land on the grass in splats. "WHY are they *so CRUEL* t' me...?"
'-*JIMINY*!! O-Oh, Jiminy- *oh, Jiminy, where are you*? *JIMINY CRICKET, I wish you were here right now*...!'

"I'm here, my sweet Pinoke- I'm *ALWAYS here*. I *promised* ya, didn't I, way back then? Now don't cry anymore, little woodenhead; you'll spoil your pretty eyes...!"

Pinocchio started, gasped sharply, looked up in front of him-

*And there was his fairy godfather hovering right before him* with those warm kind twinkling eyes and his ever-present magical red umbrella, now looking not a little damp from one of Pinocchio's tears falling onto him. *His VERY BEST FRIEND*- his guide- his guardian- his CONSCIENCE, even-

"J-*Jiminy*! Oh, Jiminy- *GEE, I'm glad to see ya*...!" he joyfully exclaimed, a smile blossoming through his tears.

"I'm more than glad to see you too, Pinokes, but WHAT'S *happened*?? *What did they DO TO ya* that you've been cryin' like your heart *AND soul* was breakin'!? OhMYSTARS- *your clothes*...! (*WHAT'S LEFT OF 'em*, that is...) The- *The LOOK* in your eyes..."

The puppet-boy choked up all over again, his smile falling away. He tried to obey what he'd been asked, but he was *so HURT* by what had happened previously that he couldn't help it when a fresh sheen of tears coated his eyes and his mouth trembled again. "I'm- I'm sorry, Jiminy; I KNOW you told me *NOT t' cry*, but-!"

But there was no stern reprimand or sharp reminder. Simply Jiminy's tiny white-gloved hand gently touching his damp ash-smeared wooden cheek as he said sweetlysoothinglytenderly, "*Shhhh*... Pinocchio, it's alright; I understand. Hard to believe, but EVEN *fairy godfathers* cry once in a while, -and *you've been HURT*. *BADLY*. I was mostly just quippin'- y' know what I'm like, by this point...
"Now then, 'tesoro' ...can ya tell me what's happened t' you?"

Pinocchio tried to respond, but it was as though that *HORRID noose* was placed and then pulled taut around his neck again, his throat was so choked up with sobs and whimpers- so he just gave his head a tiny shake that mirrored the rest of him quivering.

"-Is it alright if I look into your mind, then, if y' can't tell me verbally? I mean, I COULD *simply* do that, no questions asked-! ...But I want to make sure that you're okay with it first, 'cuoricino'.
"Wooden you might be right now and have been for a good while, but *you're a person with thoughts and feelings, a heart, soul, and mind of your own* like any other just-as-'real' human bein'."

This time, Pinocchio nodded a bit more freely, a tiny smile peeking through at that last (watery as it still was).

"Alright, then. *'Legilimens'*!"

Jiminy flipped through Pinocchio's memories in his mind like he was turning the pages of a book- but he was as gentle and careful about it as he was precise and professional. Oh, HOW *FURIOUS* he was when he discovered why he'd heard 'Pinoke' sobbing in his mind just as he'd prepared to come back!!! Seeing his awful stepfamily *TRICK him* like they had made his blood boil...!!

But Anger wouldn't help Pinocchio right now, he knew; even *RIGHTEOUS anger*. There was something that the beautiful boy dearly wanted, and Jiminy was going to grant it to him; not only because he'd been working so hard, but as his mother would have said, 'A good heart deserves a good evening'! -Or three.

So Jiminy enlarged one of his handkerchiefs to one usable for someone Pinocchio's size and said cheerfully, "Come now, 'stellino'; dry those tears! Can't go to the ball lookin' *like THAT*; no, sirree!"

Dazedly, Pinocchio took hold of the kerchief offered to him, wiping his eyes and cheeks as he was told. Then the last part of his godfather's statement hit him. "The- *The BALL*?? But- but *I CAN'T*! They'll see me- recognize me...!"

Jiminy kindly gave his signature musical chuckle with his dark violet eyes also characteristically twinkling away in his intense interesting cricket-esque face from beneath the brim of his blue-and-yellow top hat. "Don't tell me you've never heard of a *Fae Glamour*, Pinokes? All they and anybody else'll see is *a DASHING GORGEOUS PRINCE*; nothin' more, nothin' less!"

"...*Me*- a 'Prince'??" DOUBTFUL; maybe a lord or baron at best...

"Well, for this and the next couple of nights, 'si'. -Come along, now! We've got a lot to do, 'trottolino', and not much time to do it!"

"Do- Do you need something, 'Fata Padrino'?"

"I do, yes. Now, with Fae, you CAN make *somethin'* *from NOTHIN'*, and a lot of 'em tend to do that- but, me? I prefer and like t' have a startin' point; easier to remember.
"So, to start with, Pinoke, once you wash your face (you'll feel better for it), could you please fetch me a nice apple and a basket of mushrooms from the kitchen?"

If Pinocchio thought that this was strange, he didn't say so. He just nodded, "-Okay, Jiminy! I'll be right back," and dashed to the washroom to clean his face of cinders and tears before gathering up a round rosy-gold apple and basket of mushrooms.

When he came back with what was apparently needed, he saw that Figaro, Cleo, Sofia, Mr. Coachman, Lampwick, Honest John, and Gideon were all standing/sitting in the garden looking puzzled along with four grey mice, while Jiminy appeared rather pleased. "Oh- very good, Pinoke! Oooh!! And it's a nice rosy and gold one, too; PERFECT!
"Now, if you'll just place the apple and basket of mushrooms down here- yes, that's it! Right there; thank you very much, 'mimmo'."

Then Jiminy brandished the magical umbrella that was his wand, waving it three times and flicking it as he began to sing a magic spell while clouds of blue-white sparkles drifted down and surrounded apple, fungi, and animals.

~"If you're chased around by trouble,
And troubled by a jinx,
I'll jinx your trouble and trouble your jinx
In less than forty winks...!

If your mind is in a dither,
And your heart is in a daze,
I'll haze your dither and dither your haze
With a magic phrase:

-*Salaga-doola, menchika-boola,
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo*!
Put 'em together, and what have you got??
'Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo'!
Salaga-doola, menchika-boola,
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo;
It'll do magic, believe it or not-!
*Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo*...!

Now, 'salaga-doola' means
'Menchika-boolaroo',
But the thingamabob that does the job
Is 'Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo'...!

Oh, salaga-doola, menchika-boola,
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo;
Put 'em together, and what've ya got?
Bibbidi-bobbidi-
Bibbidi-bobbdi-
*Bibbidi-bobbidi-BOO*...!!"~

*POOF*!! Right before Pinocchio's astonished eyes, there was a beautiful round golden and red carriage with white silk curtains trimmed with lace at the windows, its wheels simple spirals that seemed as though they would float on air, drawn by- NOT *horses*, oh no-no-no! Instead, the 'chargers' that would pull the coach were small *donkeys*- one gray, one white, one brindled like pepper and salt, and one even STRIPED *yellow and blue*; all clad finely for the occasion to come with bridles of polished leather with brass buckles and studs, silk ribbons of various bright colors wound through their brushed manes, their tails plaited with amaranth and blue velvet ribbons, a girth of gold and silver round their bodies, and two white camellias on each ear!

Not only that, but an elegant gray/white-haired and dark-eyed middle-aged lady clad in splendid red-and-green livery trimmed with gold appeared in Sofia's place who was panickedly muttering after another sudden squawk, "I CAN'T *drive*- *I'm a SEAGULL*...!"

"No fear, good lady! 'Tis *I* who shall be drivin' tonight!" assured a male voice both jolly and purring; the voice of green-eyed 'Mr. Coachman', who was now a *REAL coachman*, broad and tall with curling thick salt-and-pepper hair that matched his mustache, a stubbled face as round as an orange, and a mouth that seemed to be always laughing, as he was now. He was clad in the same color outfit as Sofia, but with a slightly longer coat and cape combined and a softened whip in one black-gloved hand.
And standing alongside Sofia were Lampwick, Honest John, and Gideon, much changed as well!! Lampwick like Sofia and his father was human himself- tall and lanky with messy red hair and a copious amount of freckles splattered upon his pale-yet-tanned skin, but the same amber eyes as when he was a cat, grinning insolently yet fondly at Pinocchio as he slouched a bit. -Honest John and Gideon, however, were now *ANTHROPOMORPHIC animals*, able to speak as well as walk on two legs! All were clad in the same outfit as Sofia and the Coachman, though Honest John wore a slightly-darker crimson cape, Gideon a longer green coat, and Lampwick had on a fine feathered hat like his father did -though much less broad-brimmed plus possessing a smaller lighter plume- whilst the furry heads of John and Gideon were adorned with elegant top hats (John's black, Gideon's darkish-grey).

"Oh... *Oh*!!" Pinocchio stammered with his hands over his mouth, hardly able to believe what he had just witnessed and now saw. If he trembled at all now, it was from AWE and *WONDER*, and a smile was blossoming behind his palms. "Ohhh... *it's BEAUTIFUL*!"

"Not too shabby, eh Slats?" Lampwick smirked and winked.

The Coachman chortled heartily. "Bless ye, sweet prince! Fer a moment, I thought we'd never get 'ere!"

"Oh! I'm- *I'm* not a 'Prince', Mr. Coachman-,"

"*Nonsense*, our own dear Pinocchio; nonsense!" cried Honest John, waving his white-gloved hand as though to shoo the negative thought away. "A Prince you are, lad, for tonight and the next couple after!"

Gideon didn't speak, since he was apparently mute, but he still smiled and nodded at Pinocchio in agreement with his mate, as did Figaro and Cleo- the former now anthropomorphic himself while Cleo was a lovely golden-haired and peach-complexioned young lady, both also wearing fine livery of red-and-green trimmed with gold.

'Ash-Boy' blushed at his friends' praise and their positive opinions of him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, Mr. Wings! Dontcha think Slats still looks a bit, well...??"

Jiminy came back down to Earth with a *THUMP*; he'd so enjoyed seeing Pinocchio happy again, he'd almost COMPLETELY *forgotten*! LOSE *his HEAD* if it weren't attached to his neck; *that's what*-!
"JUMPIN' JEEPERS, *holey moley*, *AND* *SHUT my mouth*!!" he exclaimed, slapping a hand to his face. "THANK YOU for remindin' me, Lampwick; *good heavens*! You can't go *in THAT*, Pinokes!"

Pinocchio looked down, bit his lip, and invisibly flushed scarlet as he remembered how ragged he currently was- *even more than usual*. (Like a- Well, likeamuchmistreatedHOUSEELF...)

But of course, even though he'd nearly forgotten ('*gamba*'), Jiminy Cricket was on the case. "Close your eyes, Pinocchio, and turn around slowly three times- like you used to do for your Pops when you were younger b'fore a special occasion."

Slowly, gently, his eyes were closed. And just as he was about to turn around the first time, with a whirling wave and flick of his umbrella, Jiminy muttered one last time, "Bibbidi-bobbidi- *bibbidi-bobbidi* ...*Bibbidi-bobbidi-BOO*!"

Swirls of stardust circled around Pinocchio's small slender form, obscuring him for a moment in a sparkling mist before it cleared away. And once he'd turned around the third time, Jiminy's gentle loving voice instructed him, "-Now, open your eyes, 'Carisimmo'."

His lashes fluttered open- *wait*. LASHES?? Pinocchio's cerulean-blue eyes popped wide open as he felt silken tickles of *eyelashes* against *HUMAN SKIN*, felt fine fabric against his flesh as he had used to-!!
...And was it just his imagination, or did he also feel long black waves of hair softly brushing against the sides of his throat, back of his neck, and against the middle of his back?? -Was he also now, at least ...*somewhat TALLER*?

Seeing how stunned and awed he was, Jiminy enchanted a spare glass pane into a tall mirror propped up against the willow tree so that Pinocchio could see himself, smiling fit to beat the band.

"I'm- I'm ...*I'm REAL*! I'm a *REAL* boy again!"

"Notice somethin' else, love?" chuckled the Coachman.

"Yes... I'm wearing an outfit made of shining gold satin- the trim sparkling red velvet that's studded with rubies! A gold chain necklace is around my neck, and my hair's long again, and loosely bound by matching fine golden chains dotted with topazes, citrines, and yellow garnets! My gloves are fingerless, but they were *designed* like that- they're good as new, and a paler shade of gold!"
Pinocchio had never looked or felt so elegant or regal in his life- even when his parents had been alive. #"Oh, VERY *handsome*; *VERY handsome*...!"# he heard Father chuckle approvingly and lovingly in his mind.

"Even though your hair's black as night, you look like a golden ray of sunshine, 'tesoro mio'," Jiminy murmured in almost a whisper with shining eyes. "And now, one thing more: on your feet, crystal slippers quite comfortable as well-worn house shoes."

*Whisk; swish*!! Pinocchio gasped softly as his scuffed black shoes disappeared from his near-tiny feet now stockinged within a fine-yet-sturdy blend of silk and linen, only to be replaced with two shining, sparkling crystal slippers that twinkled entrancingly like the North Star. And indeed, they were comfortable like they'd been lined in satin, cotton, or further silk.

The Coachman clapped his hands briskly. "Off o' the box, Honest John an' Gideon! Carry 'is Highness to the coach- those 'pantofole di cristallo' mustn' touch th' ground!"

"Yes, Chief! *Just as you say, sir*!" John saluted smartly with Gideon following silently. They leaped down and gently picked up Pinocchio, making a chair out of their arms. *Whisk*! Soon he was comfortably seated on the chocolate-brown satin seat of the coach with the door shut.

"*Pinocchio*!! Before I forget AGAIN-!" Jiminy suddenly cried out, flying over to the carriage window. "Remember, 'stellino': go have a good time, dance, be gay, -but, Pinoke, you *MUST remember* to leave the ball BEFORE *midnight*, for once the clock chimes the last stroke of twelve, your carriage will turn back into an apple, the donkeys back into little gray mice, your coachman and footmen back into cats, a fox, and a seagull, your fine garments into ragged clothes- *EVERYTHING* will be as it was before...!"

Pinocchio nodded earnestly, his smile like the brightest star which echoed to his lambent blue eyes. "I'll remember, Jiminy; I *PROMISE*! Oh- this is all more than I ever hoped for-! Midnight? That's *MORE THAN enough* time, when it seemed like I wasn't going at all.
"Thank you, Jiminy Cricket- *THANK YOU so much*, for everything...!"

"Bless you, 'dolce ragazzo'. You are more than *VERY welcome*," Jiminy smiled, tenderly touching his soft now-rosy-again cheek. "Very well, then ...off ya go! Coachman, drive!"

The Coachman picked up the reins, the donkeys pranced and danced with excited brays, all footmen (and women) jumped to hold onto the sides and back of the coach, and the Coachman cried, "*To th' palace*!"

"*To the palace*!" echoed Sofia, Lampwick, and Honest John as one person.

A (gentle) lash of the whip over the donkeys' backs, a "*Gidyapp*!!", and with sparks flying from the small donkeys' shoed hooves, a joyful Pinocchio was on his way as the carriage vanished into the dusk.

Chapter Text

They drove on the highway through the moonlight until they at last saw the towers of the palace, below them a row of lighted windows like a lovely enchanted diamond necklace glowing in the dark. Pinocchio was breathless with anticipation of some (kind of) adventure and excitement that was so very different from what his life now was, anxiously biting his lip and subconsciously smoothing down the smooth sides of his golden satin pants while feeling his hands slightly sweat through his fingerless gloves. His heartbeat only seemed to speed up its thundering when the hoofbeats of the donkeys driving his carriage that Mr. Coachman drove stopped right before the main stairway, so broad and sweeping...

The outside of the palace was mostly gray, but there were splashes of bright or deep color here and there by way of flags; this helped just a little bit. "...*Breathe*. -Just breathe..." Pinocchio whispered to himself as Honest John and Gideon helped him out of the coach. Just as he reached the first step-

"Pinocchio lad, remember what yer 'Fata Padrino' said: ye MUST leave *b'fore* the clock strikes twelve fer th' final time."

Lampwick opened his mouth to protest to his 'pops' that 'Slats' wasn't slow-witted or anything, so why remind him again?? But he was stopped by the younger teen's sweet smile to his father as he nodded and replied with not one hint of annoyance, "'Si', Mr. Coachman- I'll remember! I *did* promise Jiminy I would..."

'Mr. Coachman' nodded back in approval with his own broad smile- then coughed and flushed in chagrined embarrassment as he pulled his hat down over his eyes a bit. "Ah- sorry 'bout that, love! When yer a father, ye can't really 'turn off' givin' that kinda advice t' a youngin; 'specially one y' and yer own children (if ye have any) care about."

Pinocchio's eyes shone in his rounded-heart face that was -faintly, right now- rosy-cheeked once more. "-It's alright, Mr. Coachman. I understand; it- it felt kind of nice, actually, to get a kinda-fatherly reminder like that again."

"-Thank ye, lad. C'mon, now; off y' go..."

Apprehensively yet excitedly, Pinocchio mounted the large stairway, not hearing 'Mr. Coachman' blow his nose with a handkerchief stuffed into one of his coat pockets and then mutter almost fervently to himself and his companions, "'Mio Dio', but BLESS that sweet child's large heart...!"

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

"Sabina, 'carisimma mia' (my dearest one), why are you not joining the dance?? Are you not well?"

"-I am *fatigued*, Papa."

"'*Fatigued*'??? At *YOUR young age*, 'cocca' (sweetie)? Oh, ha-ha; that is VERY *comical*, my girl!"

"-I would NOT say '*comical*', 'caro' (dear). Besides, I do not think that it is *the DANCE* that has fatigued our beloved dance-loving daughter."

"'Oui', 'da', and 'si', Mama; zat eez true. I am DISCOURAGED."

"'Discouraged', trottolina (little spinning top)?? With all of the most dashing young men and fairest young maidens in our beautiful kingdom?? How can this be!?"

"Eet would not be so bad eef I saw zem as 'dashing young men' and 'fair young maidens', Nessa ...but I do not."

"But, then- *how ELSE* do you see them, little sister 'Bina??"

"As *contenders for a prize*, 'sorella maggiore ma di raggazo' (elder-yet-middle sister)- and *I* am ze prize! But I am *NOT a prize to be won*, and zey should not treat me as such...!"

Queen Fabiana sighed deeply, rubbing at one of her temples as well as her still-healing leg. Crown Princess and one-day-heir-to-the-throne Elphaba both looked over at her mother and *just* barely held back an eye-roll and a groan. -Well, at least even though they were looking stunned and hurt, Mama's husband and her father King Stromboli and their middle daughter and Elphaba's younger but not *young-EST* sister were not angry at/with 'Bina' in any way. He DID love her as much as he did his and Queen Fabiana's other two daughters (*NEVER MIND* Elphaba's strange unusual skin-tone *green as grass or ferns or emeralds* or Nessarose's occasionally having to use a wheeled chair in order to get about), but... There were EXPECTATIONS of a third princess- the youngest and most beautiful of her sisters; both in fairy-tales and reality...

*UGH*- She *did NOT* want to think about this *the least little bit* right now, thankyouverymuch!! Maybe some fresh air and walking around a bit would help... (Thankfully, Mother agreed. *Both ways*.)

Both the eldest princess and the queen excused themselves for the moment. The latter slowly got up from her throne, glad that like Sabina's gown, her own royal dress was not cumbersome even though it was beautiful (and also glad there was no further arguing- just some slightly stony and icy silence... though there WAS a bit of *heat* on Nessa's end). The queen stepped away once she was upright, no longer flinching or wincing at the slight metallic scraping of the jointed brace which was helping her injured leg to get better- she was quite used to it, by now. Could she still dance, as she loved to like her youngest daughter?? Yes- she just had to take a couple of rests during, especially if it was vigorous.

"Do you need any help, Mother??"

"No, I'm fine, Fabala. -But 'grazie' for asking and making sure, my black emerald."

(That was another one of Mother's special names for her- both for her skin more GREEN than fair/pale, tanned, swarthy, or even ebon, and her preferring more often than not to wear dark jewel-tones if not plain simply *grey* or *BLACK* rather than brighter or [brrrrr!!!] pastel hues or white like 'Nessa' and 'Bina' did. A shade of Emerald more *exceptional* than COMMON-PLACE...)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Suddenly, a flash of gold, sparkle of red, and a wave of contrasting soft-looking black caught mother's and daughter's attention in a corner just as they were about to step back into the ballroom. Curious, they turned both their dark curly-haired heads to where they had seen all three ...then Queen Fabiana's warm dark eyes and Princess Elphaba's sharper-yet-still kind ones widened in surprise when both 'donnae' saw a particularly beautiful *ADORABLE* young teenage boy clad in golden satin trimmed with rose-red velvet that twinkled with rubies, matching not only the glistening of his crystal shoes (???!) but also the natural sparkle of his large bright blue eyes. His raven-black hair was long, thick, a blend between straight and wavy, and appeared kitten-soft, partially held back with fine golden chains dotted with yellow jewels and framing his sweet doll-like face; he was small of frame for his age and slenderly-thin, his cheeks were as naturally rosy as either Nessa's or 'Bina's, his skin smooth and unblemished as a rose-petal and pale as snow or porcelain or fresh cream, and his mouth sweet-lipped and expressive. Perhaps his nose was a bit odd, being an elongated button shape, but there was a quaint quirky kind of charm to it- *to HIM*, on the whole.

-He also looked more than a bit nervous, looking around the palace as though he was not a little lost while he clasped his fingerlessly-gloved hands tightly in front of him. Queen Fabiana had a soft spot for young ones, as did *ALL hers' and King Stromboli's daughters- especially those who appeared as if they needed a bit of help, whether physically, verbally, or emotionally...! So both she and 'Fabala' ventured quietly over to him ...or rather, would have if not for the creaking of Fabiana's dratted blasted leg brace and the slight yet prominent 'click' of Elphaba's heels.

He flinched a little at both sounds, -and when he saw who exactly they were, almost looked as though he would bolt like a frightened deer or rabbit as he paled further. The poor thing- why was he all alone?? Had he been separated from his 'familia' or some friends? -Or was he here by himself?

(Fabiana, personally, dearly hoped that 'Principe Luce Stellare' would soon catch up/reunite with his friends or family. *Elphaba*, on the other hand, sensed that there was *MORE to the story- and not much of it any more good than the *TRUE one* of Lord Harry James Evans-Potter with eyes as brilliantly-green as her skin.)

Knowing that she could be more than a bit MUCH on first glance, Princess Elphaba took two or three steps back from her mother and *let HER* speak first, as she was warm and kind and radiated sweetness as much as Light and Beauty. "-'Buona serra, tesorino' (Good evening, sweetheart). It's a beautiful place, but SO *easy* to get lost in, isn't it? I've lived in a palace myself all my life, but even *I* was dumbfounded and not a little bit scared when I first came here after marrying my husband! 'Mio Dio', but I think I must have gotten turned around at least three times in a week...!"

He jumped just a little when she first addressed him- understandably did a DOUBLE-TAKE on first seeing Princess Elphaba Margaret Idina Cynthina Theodora Mila Rebecca Mabel Elizabeth Azkadellia Kathleen Nika Thropp-Diggs in the flesh- but slowly relaxed a bit as her mother Queen Fabiana chatted brightly. When she'd finished speaking, he smiled sweetly and shyly up at her and her eldest daughter while making a bow. "B-'Buona serra', Your Majesty- Your Highness," he murmured nervously, his voice as crystal as his slippers- but nowhere near as likely-cold. "Uh- Uh-huh; it- it is kind of a *REALLY big* place... It's still AMAZING, though!"

"'Mille Grazie' (Thank you very much), 'mimmo'. You're a sweet one."

The 'mimmo' blushed at the elder female's praise- even appearing *a little bit discomfited*, actually. Which was STRANGE, even to Elphaba. Wouldn't one be *USED TO sayings like this* from one's parents or siblings or friends?? Maybe he was just modest... but while Elphaba didn't think that was A Lie, she deeply suspected that it wasn't *the WHOLE* truth either. "You're- Y-You're welcome, Queen F-Fabiana. -G-'Grazie' to you, 's well."

"What do they call you, 'tesoro'?"

Now he looked down again, alternately clutching and grasping at one of his arms as he ran his teeth over his pale bottom lip, his lovely eyes seeming to fill with ...*shame* -and HURT??! Which *MOST DEFINITELY* made the Crown Princess suspicious.
Anger toward whomever had psychologically injured this dear sweet little pretty FLARED in her own just-as-large-and-warm heart, but she tried to *not* let it flash in her own dark dark eyes flecked and threaded with hazel-green, not wanting to frighten 'Principe Luce Stellare' (Prince Starlight) again or further. "...'Never mind what they call me', hmm?" she guessed 'casually'.

He nodded ever so slightly in response.

Elphaba FOUGHT not to purse her lips as naturally green as her fingernails and the rest of her flesh. Or grit her white-as-white teeth. Or clench her oft-ink-stained hands into fists. Or *growl* as she next inquired, "Does your family treat you well at all??"

"...Th-They treat me as well as they are able, Your- Your Highness" was what 'Prince Starlight' swallowed in reply while worrying his lip, blinking hard, and both clutching and rubbing his arm.

Translation: 'as well as they *FEEL they are able to*'. SICKENING!! *Disgusting*!! *HORRENDIBLE*!!! *Unadulteratedly LOATHSOME*...!

But as *FURIOUS* as the Crown Princess was, she was also flooded with sadness and sympathy. Meaning she softly kindly said, "-I'm sorry, 'dolce ragazzo' (sweet boy)."

He shook his dark-haired head and smiled faintly. "It's not- It's NOT *YOUR doin'*, Pr- Princess Elphaba."

"*Nor YOURS'*, either, I'll bet, despite what THEY may say and think," rejoined she every now and then coined 'the Wicked Witch of the West' both for her Magic and her sharp tongue.

"Others- Others have it far worse off, 'm sure! My- My father used to say t-that we- we must always try to 'have courage, and be kind'."

Elphaba couldn't help it- now SHE smiled. As bright and warm and sweet and beautiful as her mother and younger sisters. One way or another, he had *SUFFERED* so... and yet he never once lost his Goodness or Warmth or Light. "-*Wise words to live by*, Prince Luce Stellare. My nanny Dulcibear and history tutor Dr. Britten Dillamond would both say the same."

Hers' and Nessa's and 'Bina's mother clearly wanted to say 'You have my condolences'- but she didn't. Forget 'probably'- *it WOULD* sound trite! -So instead, she smiled and chuckled upon seeing 'Principe Luce Stellare's' head turn to where Princess Sabina was standing ...and *what was this*??? She had seen him, too??? King Stromboli hadn't appeared to, yet; funny that, seeing how 'Prince Starlight' so looked like a beautiful wooden doll come to life, like the ones he liked to collect and play with for the little ones occasionally...!

%"You haven't met my daughter/sister Sabina yet, have you?"%

He shook his head in response- hmm, *NOT blushing* this time; just looking in Awe and Wonder at her beauty and grace. Not romantically interested in girls, perhaps??

"I think," said Queen Fabiana, "you two could be friends."

At that, the dark-haired blue-eyed rosy-cheeked possible-prince started and gasped softly with wide-blown eyes. Stuttered, "M-M- *Me*??? Fr-Friends with *a PRINCESS*??"

(*Okay; yeah*. This wasn't just plain simple Shock or mere Shyness and Modesty. There was *DEFINITE Abuse* going on behind the scenes- at least VERBALEPYSCHOLOGICAL if not physical. *EMOTIONAL* Neglect, as well as possibly the usual that (most) people looked for. Elphaba *was NOT* happy about that. AT ALL.)
However, being a *VERY smart* young woman, she didn't allude to this or mention it. Instead, she playfully pouted as she had so often seen her best friend and beloved Marchioness Galinda 'Glinda' Kristin Megan Arianna Upland do and batted her own long dark eyelashes from behind her dark rose-gold-framed glasses shaped like octagons as she shrugged, "Well, *why not* YOU same as anybody else?? You're sweet- you're kind- you're polite- you're modest- *you're BRAVE*, even... Besides, would you not call US 'friends'??? Mother and I, I mean?"

'Principe Luce Stellare' nibbled his lower lip and rubbed his arm again. Rocked a little on his faceted sparkling bluish-white heels made of PURE CRYSTAL as Nessarose's best shoes were spun silver, Sabina's were (rose)gold in both material and color, and Elphaba's own were crafted of the finest rubies. -Then he looked up and smiled BIG AND BRIGHT as much as sweetly. "Y- Ye- 'Si'! *Uh-huh*! I'd- *I WOULD*- *I do* consider th' both 'f you Friends, Pr- Princess Elphaba and Queen Fabiana!"

"*WONDERFUL*!" clapped the latter with bright sparkling eyes.

*The FORMER*, meanwhile, just quirked a slightly smaller but no less genuine smile in response before jerking her head over towards Sabina and casually saying, "Well, then, sweet prince... why don't you go and make *SOME MORE friends*? -Looks like she has *strong legs*, doesn't she?"

'Principe Luce Stellare' nodded in reply, still not blushing or really Looking. "-The Princess Sabina dances a lot?" he then wildly guessed himself.

"*Oh, 'SI'/'DA'*!" chirruped the queen her mother. "Just like *I* used to before- well... You know, *YOUR legs* look pretty sturdy too. Want to give them a spin around the dance floor?"

'Prince Starlight' nervously gulped- stiff with Stage Fright yet clearly ACHING to get a rhythm. "I- I haven't really danced in a long while; I hope I don't make a fool of myself."

Queen Fabiana gave the 'bambola' a gentle pat on the shoulder, and Princess Elphaba affectionately tousled his hair- both of which he FOUGHT *NOT to lean into*, or *purr like a cat* at. *HOW long* had it been since he'd last felt a loving touch??? *How*. LONG...???!! "Well, *Sabina* won't think so, I promise; and neither will I or Fabala or Nessa or 'Boli."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As her mother happily creaked and thumped away back to her throne, Elphaba TRIED and *tried* *NOT TO ask*- but failed. *MISERABLY*. 'Prince Starlight' was a nice and fine and lovely nickname and all, but she *HAD TO know*! She had to know *who exactly* she needed to look up in the Hall of Records first thing tomorrow morning after breakfast...
"*What IS* your name, 'piccolo amico'?? Your *REAL* name?"

'Prince Starlight' gulped. Shook. Turned white. *GNAWED his lip* as his already-large 'baby-blues' blew even wider. -Then he beckoned her closer and closer until she was kneeling beside him rather than standing. And he apprehensively whispered into her ear, "P- P- *'Pinocchio'*. My- My name is 'Pinocchio', y-Your Highness."

"'PINOCCHIO'- hmm... Not a name you hear everyday, that's for certain!" she quipped with a small laugh, her dark hazel eyes twinkling. Then they and her tone of voice and smile softened as she gently took hold of his fingerlessly-gloved hand as near-white as hers' was 'olive' and said warmly, "Nevertheless, it's LOVELY to meet you, Signorino Pinocchio."

"It's- 'S awful nice to meet *you too*, Princess Elphaba," PINOCCHIO | 'Principe Luce Stellare' near-whispered. "And- And yours' 'n Princess Nessarose's and Princess Sabina's m-mother. In- In- ACTUALLY IN PERSON, I mean...!"

*How SHY* and sweet and *ADORABLE* he was...!! HOW, pray tell, could anyone *NOT love* or at least *like* him???!! What were they??? Blind? Deaf? Jealous? *STUPID*???! *All of the above*?!?? "Never thought you *really truly would* one day, did you?"

"Uh- *Uh-uh*!"

"Do you have a *NICK-name* or two, little pretty? *Nice ones*, I mean? Me, I've got *a HOST* of them, good and bad: 'Elphie'- 'Faba'- 'Fabala'- 'Fae' (which is *WEIRD* considering I'm *a WITCH* and not one of The [Un]Seelie)- 'dark emerald'- 'Greenie'- 'String Bean'- 'Steamed Artichoke'- 'Cabbage'- 'Fern'- 'the Frog Princess'- 'the Witch Princess'- 'the Wicked Witch of the West'..."

For one-two-three heartbeats, Pinocchio was silent. Quiet as a mouse or cat or phantom with dark sad lowered eyes. Then he coughed and blinked rapidly as though to clear his throat and blink away tears, smiled small yet sweet and bright and warm up at the Crown Princess, and replied, "'Nocchi'. 'Pin'. 'Pinny'. 'Pinoke(s)'. 'Pino'. 'Little woodenhead'. 'Carissimo mio'. 'Trottolino'. 'Occhioni'. 'Doll'. 'Little doll'. 'Puppet-boy'..."

#"ASH-CLOD 'NOCCHI!!"

"*Dirty Pino*!"

"*ASH-BOY*! *THAT'S what we'll call you*- 'Garcon de Cendres'!!"

"Oh, 'mon fils'- *you're just TOO CLEVER*...!"#

Elphaba ground her teeth and *SNARLED* inwardly at the cruel cold hard male voices she suddenly heard loud and clear in her head- clearly mocking and taunting and LAUGHING AT this little doll of a boy who brought to mind Fiyero's and Boq's future children in both Looks and Personality. How she *itched* to cast a particularly nasty hex or curse on them...!! IF ONLY she had also seen their faces-!!!
But she hadn't. She'd only heard their voices this time... yet MAYBE *she COULD* still suss them out and place them under arrest-!

"Hmm... I think I prefer- 'Nocchi'. Is that alright?"

"It's- 'S *just fine*, Princess E-Elphie."

('Elphie' *LONGED* to give Pinocchio Starlight Ash-Boy a big warm tight yet gentle hug- and she wasn't usually a hugger save for when it came to her family, small circle of friends, her best friend/soulmate, and/or young Animals or Humans. -Once again, *she DIDN'T*. *Not yet*, much as she was sorely tempted to...)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

([-Was there such a thing as *'friend-matchmaking'*, as well as ROMANTICALLY, Queen Fabiana wondered while she and Elphaba and Nessarose watched from their gilt bejeweled chairs of State Sabina step lightly over to their sweet new little friend, curtsy as he bowed to her before shyly taking the small brown hand that she held out to him and kissing it like a gentleman {to Stromboli's dropped-jaw and pop-eyed astonishment and amazement}?? Because it rather seemed like that Prince Luce Stellare of the beautiful bright blue eyes, rosy cheeks, adorable elongated button nose, sweet smile, and intriguing crystal slippers could use a couple of those, the poor dear thing...! And though Sabina did have her lady's maid Twinkle -'Scintillia', really, but the translation had stuck and become a nickname-, a princess especially needed *TRUE friends* that wouldn't give a fig about a throne, crown, or money besides respecting the former two. And so did sweet mysterious brave sad lovely boys with sparkling yet wounded eyes...]

"*Who IS he*, Faba???" whispered the 'tragically beautiful' second-born princess with deep brown eyes, thick ringlets of dark hair, creamy skin, cheeks of rose, and half the time using a wheelchair to get around and about wearing a simple yet beautiful snowy-white silk gown trimmed with red velveteen ribbon and her silver shoes curiously to hers' and Sabina's elder sister. "He's as *BEAUTIFUL* as he's adorable...!"

"*A new friend*, Rosie-Posy- that's all," was all Elphaba would smilingly whisper in return. "I hear he's called 'Prince Luce Stellare'. On account of *those EYES* of his... and possibly also his crystal slippers."

[She would tell NO ONE his *REAL TRUE name*. Save for Dr. Dillamond and Dulcibear- and possibly also Doctor/Auntie Wolfe. It wouldn't be *SAFE*, otherwise; not even concerning *her parents or sisters or other good friends or sweetheart*! Because *something BAD* was happening here in Oz...])

Chapter Text

"You're- Y-You're a *WONDERFUL dancer*, Pr- Princess Sabina."

"*Oh- why, zank you*, Prince Luce de Stellare! And I very much like ze way *you* dance. Eet eez not at all bad for a beginner- or someone starting back up after some years... Are you not wiz your own family?"

"-No, Your Highness. I'm- I'm here by myself."

"Zey deed not want you to come??"

"...No. They- They didn't, even though *he'd PROMISED*; should've known that his w-Word's *NEVER* *worth ANYTHING*...!"

"Zen ze friend -your 'cher ami'- who helped you get here... He or she eez not at ze palace, too?"

"*If only*... But I dunno if a ball would be his- um, th-'thing'. He sings and whistles an awful lot, but I don't know about dancin'."

"Well, you never know! Perhaps 'e wanted to SURPRISE you; maybe he eez here, and *you do not yet know it*... I 'ave to say, eet eez *VERY refreshing* to dance and talk wiz someone who does not see me as a prize to be won!"

"I- I don't blame you for f-feelin' like that, Your Highness... Um- the music's stopped."

"Ahhh- you are right. Prince Luce de Stellare..."

"S- 'Si, principessa'?"

"Much as I would greatly enjoy dancing only wiz you, I must observe ze niceties and dance wiz ze others whom 'ave attended."

"That's alright! I- I understand."

"You will be alright?"

"My- kin doesn't recognize me. I'm safe... But g-'grazie' for askin'."

"Eet eez only right that one does so, 'mon ami'. Zank you most kindly for ze dance."

"You're- You're mostly kindly welcome, Your Highness."

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

As Princess Sabina fairly capered away to dance with the next person, Pinocchio sighed softly and sank down into a cushioned chair, resting his feet for the moment and taking a couple of them to breathe. He smiled a little to himself.

Princess Sabina was an awful nice person- just as nice and sweet and kind as her eldest sister and mama. Not the least bit stuck-up, vainglorious, or stilted despite her royal status. Lovely inside and out... If he were a *FE-male*, then he probably would have been head-over-heels for her!
As he wasn't, plus 'bent', she was simply now someone who could be considered another friend; and THAT was something that he'd thought he'd *NEVER* say: counting *a PRINCESS* and a QUEEN as 'amici'...!

Then the smile left his lips, and his second sigh was more wistful. It was highly doubtful that his second wish would be granted, but it would be *completely WONDERFUL* if it were...

"*Hem*- Pardon me, 'giovane uomo'. I'm lookin' for a rather good friend of mine, but I don't seem to have seen him around. Have you seen a livin' doll in both senses around here?? Dark hair, big blue eyes, rosy cheeks, beautiful smile, wearin' red and gold with crystal slippers? No?
"Well, if you do, please tell him that his old friend's lookin' for him, would ya?"

Pinocchio's heart skipped a beat, then both pounded and fluttered double-time to make up for it. Once more, he looked up to behold ...a much taller/larger 'Fata Padrino' Jiminy H. Cricket standing beside him clad in a golden-yellow suit trimmed with sparkling red, a reddish-orange ribbon wrapped around the brim of his umber/aureate top hat, and a slightly lighter necktie at his throat!! This time, his trusty umbrella-cane that tripled as a wand *MATCHED his outfit*; how strange...

Brilliantly blue eyes sparkled into familiar beloved ones of deep violet. Pinocchio dearly wanted to say his 'conscience's' name, but he didn't know if he dared; what if someone heard him?

That beautiful trademark three-note musical chuckle gently caressed his again-human ears, and he blushed slightly for what reason he didn't know. "It's alright, Pinokes. Anyone happens to hear us talkin', they'll hear the names 'Archie' and 'Seth' instead, and see two very different people; *THEM, included*."

Then he let out a startled and surprised chirping "*Oof*!!" when Pinocchio leapt up from his seat and threw himself at his faerie godfather full-throttle in order to FINALLY, *FINALLY* truly embrace him. Not that he minded in the least- he only more than gladly hugged his beautiful boy back with everything that he had yet all the gentleness in the world, pulling him closer to his breast.

Oh, but it felt *so WONDERFUL*- so RIGHT to be enfolded in those sweet young arms...! To hold him close in comfort and affection, and place his chin over the curve of his raven-haired head while breathing in his scent and rubbing his cheek against the silken-soft thick dark strands-!

Now it was *HAPPY/JOYFUL tears* that lightly stung and burned Pinocchio's eyes as for the first time in three years he was lovingly enclasped and cradled in another's arms- held safe and warm as he nestled against the other's shoulder and chest. He'd never once minded Jiminy's small size, but *oh*!!! HOW he'd *dearly missed* being truly hugged and being able to hug back, no offense to his animal friends...! And to be tenderly held, cradled close, and embraced by the one person whom he'd never thought he'd be able to do this in full to and with... It was something out of his most out-of-reach dreams- one that was now Reality.

The sweet strain of another waltz softly pierced their ears, and they pulled away only to look into each others' eyes and change hands- one pair clasping, the other tenderly placed on a small thin waist while its partner's was gently placed upon its owner's shoulder.

"Lovely lad, will you honor me with this dance?"

"-Y-*YES, my noble lord*. *Of course*! It- It would be my pleasure..."

And with those smilingly-whispered words, they floated out onto the dance floor in one another's arms to step, glide, twirl, turn, and sway with the other guests.

(Some whisper of the heart let Princess Sabina, Queen Fabiana, and Princess Elphaba know who they were, and they only smiled happily at the sweet sight before them.

"Zey are *een LOVE*, 'Maman' and Fabala! But do zey know zat yet, do you think??"

"I'm not sure, 'figlia mia'. Dear friends, most certainly! But I do not know for certain if they truly know one another's heart, or are listening to them in full. We can only wait and see..."

[But Elphaba WELL-KNEW that *THEY knew* they were utterlytrulymadlydeeply in love with one another. As did Nessa and Glinda, who both muffled schoolgirl-ish squeals of delight and joy into their dainty delicate gloved hands.])

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

All through the happy hours that followed, 'Ash-Boy' and his faerie godfather danced with no one else save for each other, lost in their own world yet not adrift in a sparkling pure blue sea mingling and merging with a glistering river of deepest purple. Sometimes they talked of everything and nothing- sometimes they didn't. And *not once* did any of the Malfoys EVER begin to think that Pinocchio was there, where they'd forbidden him to be after literally tearing his hopes and dreams to shreds and tatters and rags!

There was *NO* Panic over their deeper-than-friends feelings- no Worry or Fear. Only acceptance, credence, and a feeling of being blessed as well as the deepest happiness. For hands can only touch, and eyes can only see- but *HEARTS* can UNDERSTAND and whisper '*There's the one for me*' when one listens to them...

Jiminy loved *ALL OF him*, just as he was- whether of flesh-blood-and-bone and fully human, or carved out of white-pinewood from hair to donkey ears and tail and dusted with soot, ashes, and cinders that were magically affixed to his 'skin' and clothes out of sheer cruelty and malice. Scars or no-! And in turn, he'd loved and cared for his 'conscience' from night one of their meeting each other- still did, and *ALWAYS* would...

It was this warm comfortable-yet-ardently glowing acquiescence that led Pinocchio to lean upwards just a little with closed eyes and tenderly press his lips against Jiminy's. There was a sharp intake of breath- and then as the faerie's own eyes fluttered shut, softly, gently, sweetly he was kissed back, the hand holding his now lovingly cupping his petal-soft rosy cheek while the other still clasped his midriff and both of Pinocchio's small 'paws' drifted to Jiminy's lean hips.

Slow, careful- heartfelt; trepid and soulful. A kiss like the sunset- a kiss about chocolate, when you haven't eaten chocolate in a year or more. A kiss about glowing burning stars spangling the night sky, a kiss like the swollen sea spilling like tears all over your legs...

They didn't quite say aloud yet, but their hearts and souls were both whispering and singing to one another "*I love you*..." as lips finally parted but sparkling eyes still locked beneath of a flop of raven bangs and fringe of straw-blond once they slid open. Pinocchio's gentle grip tightened just a little- Jiminy's thumb tenderly caressed his cheek. Their smiles were soft, shy, yet filled with so much love now realized and given into.
After all, who said that one could not fall and be in love with one's godfather/child??

And as they both embraced and kissed and waltzed, Princess Elphaba stepped onto the small stage where the orchestra was playing and crooned a love-song in her beautiful smooth colorful voice rich as plum-cake yet clear as crystal. Seemingly treating EVERYONE, but only truly singing to two.

~"You will find your love SOMEWHERE-
*Someday*
If you just *LISTEN TO YOUR HEART*...

And ohhh- *SWEET LONGED-FOR things*
Will come your way
*If you just
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART*...

For HANDS can only touch,
And *eyes can only see*-
But hearts can *UNDERSTAND* and whisper,
'*THERE'S the one for me*...!'

So *DREAM, dear dreamer*-
But be WISE- be *SMART*;
And ALWAYS
*Listen to your heart*...

For *hands can only touch*,
And EYES can *only SEE*;
But hearts can *UNDERSTAND* and whisper,
'*There's the one for me*...!'

So DREAM, dear dreamer...
But *be WISE*-
Be SMART!
And *ALWAYS* listen
To- your- heart..."~

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Just then, the clock struck- not midnight, but fifteen 'til, and it was enough to make Pinocchio jump and yelp as he came back down to Earth with a 'THUMP', remembering his beloved patron's warning before all this.

"What? What is it, 'amore'? -*Oh*. Oh... that's right."

Neither were ready to leave yet- but they had to. Rules of Magic could not be easily bent without a *MASSIVE price* to pay, and if the Malfoys came back and didn't see 'Garcon de Cendres' where he was supposed to be, after what they had done-!

Pinocchio didn't ask if Jiminy would be there tomorrow night. He only quickly kissed his cheek, felt a return one be sweetly impressed on his forehead, and slipped out of Jiminy's grasp before fleeing the ballroom and palace like a rabbit from a fox. The carriage sped from the courtyard and back onto the roads the same way, and everyone made it home just in time for the magic to unravel at the last stroke of midnight.
The coach turned back into an apple and a basket of mushrooms, the donkeys back into four little grey mice, the Coachman and footmen once more their 'mute' animal selves, and Pinocchio's fine elegant clothes melted away to reveal his usual rags as his rose-touched flesh shifted back to ash-dusted white pinewood from head to foot while a toy-jointed tail sprouted and his ears lengthened.

His *USUAL rags* ...meaning that dear 'tesoro' Jiminy had mended his beloved father's outfit and magically put it away somewhere his stepfamily couldn't find it. He made a mental note to profusely thank his faerie godfather when he next saw him. And *speaking of* Gratitude-

"*Thank you*," he breathed happily to his dear friends as he caressed and petted soft fur and smooth feathers. "*Thank you SO MUCH* for everything! I don't know what I did t' deserve friends like all 'f you, but I'm awful glad that I do have you, plus Jiminy..."

He couldn't blush visibly, but he still felt the warmth building in his cheeks as he gently placed his gloved hand over his lips and smiled tenderly with sparkling eyes.

'*Oooohhhh*...!! SOMEBODY got smooched *and GOOD* by their True Love...!'

'Our little Pinocchio is grown up and '*innamorato*'; oh, I could just CRY-!'

'He's a good man- an' yer a good lad. I wish ye both only nothin' but *th' VERY BEST*...'

'Bein' animals, we could all kinda smell it- your love for each other both as good dear friends and somethin' more, kiddo! I don't usually pay attention to mushy sloshy romantic stuff anymore than Lampy, -but I think that you found your Prince Charming, never mind that he's not actually royalty...'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pinocchio's dreams that night in his own little corner on his nest of blankets were nothing but sweet, not even interrupted by Lord Malfoy, Draco, and Theo returning from the ball themselves since they didn't care to share *THIS bit* of good-yet-bad-news of a handsome mystery Prince dressed in red and gold with xanthous jewels in his hair and crystal slippers on his feet who had captured and kept the Princess' attention. They just stumbled into bed and fell fast asleep, as it was quite late. On his lips was left a kiss as in the arms of his love he flew over mountain and meadow and glen; dancing as they took each other back to the skies once they'd rung out the bells, flung out their arms, and sang out the news for all to hear.

Chapter Text

He knew *MUCH better* than to ask- but a sharp cruel Look plus an 'Imperius' nudge made him do so, anyway. *Just WHY* did they enjoy viscerally and orally tormenting him as well as corporally...??! Would he ever find out the exact reason-???

"Please- I wish to go with you to the festival. May I?"

"*Look at your face*!! Ha!!!"

"*Look at YOUR RAGS*!"

"People would laugh at you!"

"-Nevertheless, I still wish to go to the King's festival and dance before the Princess."

"-*Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha*!!!"

"*The festival*??! The festival?? *THE KING'S festival*!? 'Cheri', *those NAILS*; *look at THOSE CLOTHES*! Lentils are *ONE thing*, but 'cheri', with THOSE you'd make us *the FOOLS* of the festival, and *MORTIFY* the Princess...!"

"The King and Queen are trying to find their daughter *a HUSBAND*, not another scullery boy or house-elf! Much less one *carved out of wood* from head to foot with DONKEY PARTS!"

"Let me give you a little advice, 'Garcon de Cendres': know your place in life, and *stop pretending*. You'll be *MUCH happier*, I promise you..."

And with that, his stepfather and stepbrothers flounced off, arrayed in further splendidness as the night before. His heart hadn't been stomped on and torn to pieces, but it was still bruised with a small wound torn open and bleeding...
He sniffled sharply and wiped at the disheartened tears in his eyes, swallowing down on the lump of salt in his throat. He *would NOT* cry in full- he would not give them that satisfaction even though they weren't here-!

"Excuse me, young sir?"

"*Oh*!"

A startled sound between a sob and a squeak tore itself from Pinocchio's lungs as he whirled around at the sound of the slightly warbling croaky voice behind him- a *FEMALE one*, at that. There, standing against the side of the house (for some reason, the Malfoys had decided to leave for the ball outside rather than via the doorway), was a group of five adults whom he'd never seen before- two men, and three women.

All of them had ragged tangled hair, worn pale faces, and wore weathered clothes on their thin bodies while one or two leaned on walking sticks, every single head some shade of dark save for the elder male's, which was as white as snow- as white as Father's hair had used to be... Two of the women had blue eyes, and the third's were a shade of bright brilliant green like emeralds. The younger male had eyes so dark a shade of brown that they appeared as black as his hair, and the elder man's eyes were the hue of honey.
A scruffy near-skeletal little brown-and-white dog wagged its whippet of a tail by the dark man's side, and both a white and a black cat purred at the green-eyed woman's side.

"Can you help us, please? Just a crust of bread- or a cup of milk?"

Wiping at his tears again, Pinocchio straightened his back and smiled kindly at the strange group, nodding, "Yes- yes. I- I can find something for all of you. Wait here, please."

He darted into the kitchen and filled five small tumblers and three bowls with fresh milk before placing them on a tray along with some slices of bread, cheese, and fruit and carefully carrying it outside. His heart warmed to see that not only had Figaro and Cleo come out from hiding and were now sniffing noses with the other two cats and the dog, but that Sofia had perched herself on the white-haired man's shoulder while Lampwick's ears were gently scritched by the woman with darker/deeper blue eyes and light brown hair who was wearing a torn patchwork quilt as a makeshift cloak while she leaned on a fireplace poker for a cane. Mr. Coachman and Honest John had sidled up to the green-eyed lady and were receiving pets from her, and Gideon was being gently stroked by the dark-haired man with *a TOASTING FORK* sheathed in his belt in place of a dagger or knife.

"Thank you, my dear," came a gentle voice that was almost a whisper from the quilt-cloaked lady, who gladly received the food and drink same as her fellows.

Then the dark man ventured to ask timidly yet kindly once he and his friends had sipped, lapped, and nibbled a good amount, "Wh-Why w-were you cr-crying?"

Pinocchio bit his lower lip and flushed invisibly, clutching at one scrawny sylvan arm. "It's- It's nothin', r-really," he mumbled with his eyes lowered, trying to sound stronger than he felt. "Not- Not compared to- to what all- all 'f you have apparently gone through."

The green-eyed woman raised a dark auburn eyebrow and gave him a peering look. "'Nothing'?? And what is a bowl of milk? 'Nothing', according to many people."

"But *kindness* makes it *EVERYTHING*," the white-haired man added softly with a small smile that just reached his mild eyes and bristled his long silvery mustache. "True genuine kindness is so very rare these days, my lad. You must have your hair fastened on quite tight-!"

"O-Only in the usual way, 'signore'," Pinocchio couldn't help but chuckle faintly, placing a hand to his raven-painted wooden head.

"It didn't used to be usual *THIS way*, however..."

"N-No, ma'am."

"-Thank you, child. Now, I don't mean to hurry you, but we haven't got long, young Pinocchio."

-Wait. WHAT??

"H-How do you *know my name*??"

In answer, he was given a kind twinkling-eyed smile before the darker-haired blue-eyed woman waved her staff. And then, in a literal twinkling of stardust, she and the others all changed- becoming less ragged, less worn, ...more outwardly beautiful!

The tinge of blue prominent on raven-black hair and porcelain skin soon spread and furthered into a warm summer sky and deep sea-blue to match/correspond with azure eyes- a torn white wedding dress and ragged veil became a floaty amethyst gown while violets and moonflowers wove themselves into long curling waves of dark blue locks, the chipped and worn wooden staff became a sparkling crystal wand tipped with a star-shaped flower and engraved with delicate butterflies, and butterfly/cricket-esque shimmering pale blue *WINGS* appeared at her back while her ears became slightly pointed at the tip! An old ragged black-and-white-striped dress turned into one brand-new and bright blue covered by a snowy-white pinafore apron with an Alpha and Omega sign each on the pockets (a silver Omega also hung around her neck)- *the STOCKINGS* were now striped black and white, Mary-Jane-esque shoes became high buckled black boots, sickly-pale skin flushed a healthy light peach and rose, and chopped ragged hair became silky and flowing just below strong slender shoulder-blades...

The white-haired man's gentle face turned younger still, and shining ivory armor now replaced dirty white rags, his hair and whiskers still shaggy but in an endearing and quirky way. The younger male's streak of white in one side of his ebon locks disappeared as did its kinked lengthy state, straightening and fully-black yet still slightly messy; his worn patched suit of faded colors turned into one of charcoal with a pop of blue as his tie and a burst of red for his waist-coat vest, and his ragged top hat vanished completely, though the strange weapon remained. Underneath a makeshift quilt-cloak now washed clean and hemmed, a long striped dark red dress shifted into one of yellow and white with shorter sleeves and a bit more lace; a disheveled bun now completely undone and letting gossamer light-brown locks tumble free even if half-pulled back while black boots became blue laced with pink...!

"*Ah-choo*!! Ahhh- there, now. That's better!" the Faerie trilled with a roll of her head and 'crack' of her neck. Then she giggled, but not unkindly. "Brother Jiminy never mentioned me to you? Well, I suppose not- it must have *HURT* to think about me aloud... I'm his long-lost sister Emily, darling!
"You see, Fae rules are that if *something ROMANTIC* happens between a godparent and godchild, then the godparent is not advised to help them get ready should they be meeting somewhere during the courting period. Usually, it'd be either Papa Sebastian or Mamma Evelyn who would then help you out, in that case- but thanks to you two, *I'M here*, instead!"

Pinocchio rubbed at his eyes again, looking as though he were resisting the urge to pinch himself- or, rather, knock himself against the head. "H-*How* did I or Jiminy help you, M-Miss Emily?? I- I don't understand... And- wh-who are th' rest 'f you??"

The green-eyed woman now dressed in blue and white curtsied with a friendly smirk of a smile. "I'm very sorry- I forgot that it's *VERY* very rude *indeed* to sit down without being invited! My name is Alice- 'Alice Pleasance Liddell' in full, if you are wondering. You semi-know Emily, of course (*HER full name* is 'Emily Helena Merrimack-Cricket')- this is Lady Victoria Elizabeth Ullman. This is Victor Edward Collins, and this is Sir Christopher Lloyd, White Knight of Malmoreal and Wonderland.
"The black cat is 'Dinah', and the white 'Guide'. Scraps is the adorable pup who's as much a cutie as his boy."

"*Alice*!" Victor squeaked, flushing bright pink but then hiding a flattered shy smile behind his long-fingered hands.

Emily giggled, Victoria snorked quietly, and Christopher smiled softly. Then they gave each other plus Alice soft tender glances, and Alice glanced back the same way. -*Ohhhhh*...

Pinocchio coughed and blushed, feeling like he was intruding on a private moment. He'd very vaguely heard about polyamory before (Xibalba and LaMuerte had another mate named 'Turchina', but he'd never met her), -but he'd *NEVER* seen it *in action* before, so to speak! Well, 's long as they all seemed content and happy...

Then Emily went a shade of embarrassed rose herself, sharply remembering where she was, and what she was currently doing- or about to do. "How did you two help me? Well, once more, that's kind of a long story; but the long and short of it is, when you and Jiminy met each other three years ago, somehow or other it freed me from my curse that made me appear dead and able to walk amongst such people, unlocking my powers again! It could have struck and killed my robber and would-be-murderer in place- but since he had crimes that were to be answered for alongside those of Bumby the Awful, those two creeps of crooks were instead flashed into gaol and then given a trial which they *LOST COMPLETELY*, then dropping dead on the spot afterwards- *good riddance*!"

"Not to fiddle-faddle until we're running as late as poor dear Mr. Bunny," Alice interjected again, "but it also *BROUGHT BACK to life* my mother, father, and elder sister alongside her friend and beau, my Dinah, and Victor's Scraps. One way or another, we'd all gotten along quite nicely- and when Emily was set free, well... Everything just seemed to fall into place. We were already friends, one previously engaged and one sort-of-accidentally married- why not just become one another's 'amor', as well?"

From the pained and far-off looks on Victoria's and Victor's faces, their own families hadn't been too enthused by that. Pinocchio dearly hoped that at least one of them had been more-or-less alright with two becoming five...!

As though reading his thoughts, Victor smiled tremblingly as his dark eyes shone weakly while Scraps whined and nuzzled the pale hand petting him. "M-Mr. and Mrs. L-Liddell were- were q-*quite surprised*, to be sure! But- But they're o-open-minded and k-kindhearted people, s-same as L-Lizzie and S-Sam; he- he teases, yes, but- but it's a n-*NICE teasing*. They're- They're more than I could hope for, for- for in-inlaws..."

Victoria nodded in agreement.

"Proper orphan still, -but I'd like to think that Mother and Father would be nothing but kindly and welcoming to dear Alice, Victor, 'Tori, and Emily, even if they did have questions."

"Mama and Papa were definitely shocked (though they didn't care or mind whether I ended up with a man or another girl)- and yet, all they wanted was for me to be happy, however that came about."

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

"Come now- come now! Mustn't let ourselves get into a rabbit stew with no time to say 'Hello- goodbye!'. We must get you ready once more, my dear boy! Ladies and family first..."

"*Oh- yes*! Thank you for the reminder, Chris darling!"

With that, Emily's crystal wand sparkled, circled the air once- twice- three times with a muttered "*Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo*!" -and LO AND BEHOLD! The golden coach with white lace curtains was back (this time transformed out of a basket of mushrooms and a *ripe rosy-gold PEACH*)- four grey mice became small donkeys once more, and the Coachman was a *LITERAL coachman* with Sofia, Lampwick, Figaro, Cleo, Honest John, and Gideon alongside decked out in red-and-green gold-trimmed finery.

Pinocchio clapped his hands in delight as he bounced a little on his heels like a small boy.

"No, no- don't thank us yet, love! Alice, Victor- your turn now, I do believe."

Oh- they could do magic, too?? What about Miss Victoria and Mr. Christopher...?

At the same time, Alice ripped a handkerchief in half while Victor snapped a match in two and clutched the broken pieces tight in his hand. There was a faint blue-white shimmer around Pinocchio, a small burst of ghostly butterflies, and then when both cleared away-

Now he was not only flesh-blood-and-bone plus clean once more with human ears and an absent tail, but tonight his princely outfit was made of white velvet trimmed with ermine and embroidered with gold thread; his stockings were a light golden color, and the chains and jewels half-holding his long black semi-waves of hair back were platinum, pearl, moonstone, opal, and white coral. Once more, the crystal slippers twinkled on his feet. He gasped in pleasure.

"Oh, Miss Emily; Miss Alice- Mr. Victor! *Thank you*!"

"You're quite welcome," Alice said with a true smile. "After all, the beautiful Prince must have an even more lovely set of garments that the night before!"

"We were just here for moral support, in case you are wondering. Can't quite do magic same as those three..."

He was helped into the coach, the Coachman took up the reins while his footmen and women hopped and clung onto the back-

Alice, Victor, and Victoria waved, Christopher smartly saluted and bowed, and Emily blew a sisterly kiss. "Now off you go, child. But remember, be home before the clock strikes twelve- the very last chime of midnight...!"

"I will- I promise! Goodbye! Thank you all so much, however you helped! It- It was nice t' meet you, Miss Emily; I'm- I'm glad that you were freed!"

'Bless your heart, 'Nocchi little one...' "Goodbye, darling- it was *LOVELY* to be able to meet my brother's Mate and godchild. And you are very welcome; more than! Have a good time, Pinocchio sweetheart!"

Off he drove, his heart pounding in anticipation for the pleasant hours ahead.

And *MORE THAN pleasant* they were, indeed! This time, Jiminy was waiting there to greet him with a respectful and reverent kiss to his knuckles and a glowing-eyed smile, and once again they more-or-less matched, though the ribbon-band around his ivory top hat was silvery-gray rather than gold, same with his tie. Everyone praised his white velvet ermine-trimmed apparel and bowed low to do his honor, for all that he was not led in by the (youngest) Princess, who also happily greeted him and his escort.

As was custom and manners, he danced the first dances with Princesses Sabina, Nessarose, and Elphaba, but every other one was saved for Jiminy alone, either one of them saying to another gentleman or lady with a kind look but firm headshake, "This is *MY partner*." (The one exception made besides Their Royal Highnesses was another male/male pair who also just happened to be godfather and godson- both beautiful/handsome with long[ish] black hair, pale complexions, slender lithe frames, thin faces, and long deep wounded scars in their bright kind intelligent eyes, but the elder of the two wearing fine robes of ruby-red trimmed with gold and stamped with a golden lion on the left breast possessing ringlets of curls and stormcloud-grey eyes plus being taller, and the younger one clad in teal/cyan embroidered with cute yet proud little black-and-white badgers, haughty bronze ravens, and diffident silvery-green snakes all over and trimmed with silver on the the hems shorter in height with messy hair that seemed either straight or slightly wavy, large almond-shaped eyes both protected by silver-rimmed glasses and the very same brilliant jewel-green color as Miss Alice's own, and an awful prominent yet slowly-fading reddish scar strangely shaped like a bolt of lightning crowning the right side of his forehead. They both Looked, started, and swallowed hard at Pinocchio's bright sparkling blue eyes and Jiminy's whole self as they flinched and drew back ...but then relaxed, smiled, and readily made polite friendly conversation while dancing when it became quite apparent that neither 'Little Woodenhead' nor his *FAERIE godfather* and beloved meant either elder ebon-haired male any physical, verbal, or emotional harm whatsoever, as did the green-eyed youth's *VERY tall and broad* chaperone/guardian with wild long black hair stippled lightly with threads of silver, a matching beard, and warm twinkling dark eyes dressed in fine-yet-simple robes of sunny yellow trimmed with black and embroidered with dragons and hippogriffs, and the grey-eyed man's small family or group of friends adorned in silver and green.
Their names?? 'Sirius Orion Black' and 'Harry James Evans-Hagrid 'nee Potter'. [They were both lords of a Most Noble and Ancient House, but this was only mentioned offhandedly.])

Any names heard were 'Archie' and 'Seth', so the Malfoys knew nothing any more than the other guests at the ball- even Princess 'Elphie's' 'ragazza' Galina Upland, who squealed, "I just *LOVE* your style!! I may be both beautiful and FABULOUS, but I could *NEVER* *pull THAT* off!" They only saw the handsome mystery Prince dancing with Princess Charming. And keeping her attention. And rapidly winning over *THE REST OF the royal family*...

It *wasn't FAIR*!! WHY would a girl want a frail, fluffy, unusual beauty of a boy- one who was more 'lovely' than 'dashing'?! One with rosy cheeks, delicate and soft skin, a swan-like neck, daisy daintiness, and grace of a bird like *another girl's*??!
It was *SICKENING*, that's what it was!! What was *the MATTER* with the woman, for Merlin's sake??! He was just a frothy little bubble, with a flimsy kind of charm/sort of air- why, with very little trouble, one could *pull out all his hair or break his little arm*! THEY were *much stronger* and more solid than that-!

But their cruelty and jealousy couldn't seem to touch Pinocchio here, Jiminy's warm glance, loving arms, and tender kisses barricading against their chilly envy even when came the time for him to dart away and be gone once the clock had chimed eleven forty-five- though not before he was *THIS time* assured, "I'll be here tomorrow night, Pinoke- I promise."

"I know. Goodnight, Jiminy!"

"Goodnight, 'carisimmo' little woodenhead..."

It was like a dream- no. *BETTER THAN a dream*; so much more than a dream...! It was *REALITY*, the miracle he had been dreaming of- his loving someone and being loved in return. Whether that person was royalty or not didn't matter; not to him...

(And making new *HUMAN friends* didn't hurt in the least, either.)

Chapter Text

#"O-*Oh*!! -OW!"

"*HOW DARE YOU*???!!"

"*Good sir, CONTAIN YOURSELF AT ONCE*!!"

"'Contain myself'??! -Begging your Majesties' and Highness's pardon, but HE is *an IMPOSTER*!"

"*No*!!"

"His TRUE name is 'Garcon de Cendres', and he's been *a servant in my home for the past three years*."

"-A *servant*, Sabina???! Is-a this some kind-a *of JOKE*??! If-a it is, then I am-a NOT AT ALL-a laughing!"

"...Lord Malfoy, you are on *MOST DANGEROUS ground*!"

"*Ask him yourself*, Your Highness! He's a *GRASPING DEVIOUS LITTLE PRETENDER*, and it is MY DUTY to expose him as *the COVETOUS HOAX* that he is!"

"I- He- You- *What*??? Geppy 'cheri', tell zese men who you are. T-*Tell zem*...!"

.....

"'MON DIEU'... *It cannot be true*-!"

"BOW BEFORE ROYALTY, you vile insolent little fraud!"

"G-Geppy??"

"...G-Ge- *'Geppetto Caspari' was MY FATHER*. I- I- *I am what he says*...!"

"-*Ze apple*. That was- *That was YOU*?"

"I- *I can explain*-!"

"Well-a, SOMEONE *had-a BETTER*!!"

"First, *you are ENGAGED*- and now you're A SERVANT???! -*I've 'ad enough*."

"N-NO!! S-*Sabina, PLEASE*!"

"*Do NOT* address me so Informal, 'monsieur'. I am ZE PRINCESS! *And YOU*? Are JUST. *Like. ZEM*. All zose- LECHEROUS FORTUNE-HUNTERS...!"

"N-N- *NO, 'amore mia'*! I'm- *I'm not*...!! I sw- *I SWEAR I'm not*!"

%"'Finate Incantatem'!!"%#

Just before Pinocchio could either try and plead his case further, fully burst into a flood of tears, run away, or do all three, there was a cracking 'SNAP', three voices chanting something he couldn't really make out, the ballroom and royal dance itself faded away into thin air, his fine beautiful clothes and cleaned-up-nicely being became dirty and ragged and WOODEN and *animal-featured* once more... and his *TRUE memories* came back. Hit him HARD like a slap in the face or whip-lash to the back. It was *Jiminy Cricket his faerie godfather whom he loved*; *NOT the Princess Sabina* as THEY supposed/believed/'knew'!! *JIMINY* whom he desired to hold and be held by, kiss, andonedaymarry...!

*All of THAT* had been but a WAKING DREAM. *A very realistic fantasy*. *A very good ILLUSION*- a top-notch *MIRAGE*. *A cruelhorribleawful spell having been cast upon him* once more.

-This time, none of them said a single 'blessed' thing. *THIS time*, they all just LAUGHED. Laughed and laughed and laughed loud, long, and wicked. Cackledhootedwhoopedsnortedshriekedroaredhowled at his crushed anguished 'ugly' face- the hurt heartbroken tears yet again brimming and shimmering in his big blue orbs for eyes- his lowered donkey ears and matching tail- his small scrawny bruised scarred frame- his tattered threadbare clothes- *the soot and ash cruelly magically affixed to his now-wooden hair and skin*...
His apparently being *FAR FROM worthy* of loving 'Princess Charming' or being a Prince himself, in their hard cold meanmeanmean eyes either silvery-gray or steel-blue. Because NO ONE could *EVER* love or *LEARN TO love* a 'worthless dirty little house-elf' or 'homely little puppet' or 'filthy useless ash-clod' anymore than one could a *Beast*...!

They LAUGHED *and LAUGHED* and *didn't stop* laughing even as they once again made for The Ball and left 'Garcon de Cendres' behind. Pinocchio *triedtriedTRIED* to hold the 'waterworks' back- to *have courage and be kind*- to JUST IGNORE IT/THEM ...but once again as on The First Night, 'povere' Little Woodenhead dissolved into tears and wept as though his *heart AND SOUL* would not just break but *SHATTER*. This time right by where part of all the more-than-trouble had begun: the hearth in the living-room, now currently lit with a not-cheery-but-still-awful-nice 'little' fire rather than gone cold and ashy.

"C-Come- '*Come mai*'???! Wh-*WHY*??! Why do they *ALWAYS* d-do this???!" he choked out in a sobbing mewling keen. "Wh-*Why does makin' me cry make them smile 'n laugh*?? Pr-Prac- P-Practically make them- them-!??"

He ALMOST finished that sentence, but Pinocchio was too good and innocent and sweet of a boy to do so- to either spit or choke or sob it out aloud, his simple tender soul as clear and blue as his eyes ...so he just said it deep within his heart and mind as he painfullymiserably sobbed and sobbed on his knees and into his shabbily-gloved hands, tears pouring from his eyes and both oozing and flowing down his literally-ashy cheeks of white pine.

'*Why does causin' me SO MUCH PAIN in any way possible *practically make them CLIMAX/ORGASM*...???!!'

"*Meeei-aow- mrrrow! Purrrr*..."

Suddenly, just then, an awful familiar yet NOT sound pierced and caressed his long grey wooden toy-jointed ears at the same time, jolting and gently nudging him out of his dark miserable thoughts at the same time- just after something small-to-tiny, silken-soft, and slightly bumpy nuzzled his side and hand. It was the attempting-to-be-comfort meow and purr of a cat, 'si',- but *much DEEPER, HOARSER, AND LOUDER* than he'd ever heard *even Figaro at his most cantankerous* concerning the former sound...

This time, though, unlike last night, Pinocchio didn't start- he just gulped and sniffled as he slowly lifted his dark once-fluffy little head and removed his hands from his face. -And then, he couldn't help but STARE at this *BEAUTY* standing right before his eyes and now meowing more softly as well as still purring away. -For 'twas a *very RARE AND SPECIAL* breed of cat known as a 'Siamese cat' or 'Thai cat' the color of fresh cream all over save for all four of his-or-her dainty delicate paws, their long lithe tail from base to tip, and practically all over his/her face that was adorable and elegant at the same time, which were a dark chocolatey brown, a lean lithe *almost otherworldly* gracefulness that made even lovely delicate Cleo look rather clumsy and awkward in comparison, and large almond-shaped vividly strikingly blue eyes! -An awful rare special *NON-STRAY Siamese cat*, he saw, given the *GORGEOUS* gold-and-jeweled collar gracing their refined svelte neck... but then, if that was the case, *what on Earth was he-or-she doing here*???

-Still, as when it came to *ANY cat* who was even just a little bit friendly and sweet, his heart melted and warmed despite its' shattered bleeding state, and he couldn't help but smile just a little. "O-*Ohhh*... H-H-Hello!" he sniffed quaveringly as he (futilely) swiped at his eyes.

He could have SWORN that the lovely lovely foreign lord-or-lady in a fur coat ever so slightly *smiled* at him as they 'nyaahed' a warm affectionate yet regal "*Why, hello*... Good evening!" in return ...and maybe he/she had. Perhaps she was not just a noble or royal pet, but a witch's or faerie's familiar... (Little did he know that to a point he was right!)

"Y-You're- *You're BEAUTIFUL*..." 'Pinoke' murmured near-worshipfully in awe and wonder while gently petting the Thai cat's sleek soft short fur as demanded/asked. (He'd hesitated at first, not wanting to possibly offend, but had instantly caved when those big beautiful enchanted sapphires for eyes blinked, opened extra-wide, and pleaded '*Pleeeeassse*, sweet nice pretty boy?? I WANT YOU to pet me...!') "The prettiest cat I've EVER seen next t' Figaro, Cleo, 'n Giddy-! Are- Are you a lady, or another g-gentleman?? A-Are you *a PRINCESS*, or a KING?"

The *VERY handsome* exotic feline trilled and chirruped at the word 'lady' -PREENING at 'princess'-, which answered his question- his next one of course being a soft shy, "Wh-What's- What's your name, y-Your Majesty?"

In response, the Siamese gently thrust out her creamy furry breast, displayed the small star-shaped tag of pure silver attached to her lovely splendiforous collar, and made it lightly jingle and tinkle almost akin to a tiny silver Yule or fairy bell while 'nyaah'-ing and purring. Pinocchio leaned down to take a closer look, gently took hold of the just-as-pretty little silver name-tag after asking and being granted permission to do so, and read aloud, "A-Y-E-S-H-A... 'Ay-YEH-sha'?? 'Ay-*yee*-sha'?"

She growled a little and fervently shook her 'pointed' queenly head at the first guess, but meowed soft and sweet and raspy and approvingly nodded it on the second one as her lovely eyes lit up and seemed to *sparkle* as much as shine in the firelight and glow in the dark.

"O-Okay- '*Ay-YEE-sha*' it is, th-then...!" Pinocchio laughed softly in already-beginning fondness and affection. "H-H'lo, Miss- Imean, *LADY Ayesha*- it's- it's nice t' meet you. U-Un- *REALLY unexpected*, but- but still awful nice... Wh-What're ya doin' HERE, 'bella dama'?? Are- Are you lost? D- Do you, your- your p-pet, or- *or BOTH* need Help??"

Ayesha first meowed in her signature hoarse deep raspy 'nyaah'-ing way then softer and quieter combined with a purr while nuzzling and rubbing her face and head against Pinocchio's gently caressing hand as if to say, '*No and no and no*, we are Just Fine ...but thank you most kindly for asking, all the same.'

"*Awwww*...!! You are just- so very A-DOR-A-BLE, 'Nocchi 'cheri'! That- That was and is *so SWEET* of you to ask whether or not Erik's lovely precious darling *Ayesha* *and/or HER OWNEE* was alright, when you were crying your 'jolie jolie' eyes and not-just-BROKEN-but-*SHATTERED* heart out just a couple of minutes ago, poor sweet wandering child so lost and helpless with a *VERY SERIOUS problem* and pleading eyes with All the Sadness of The World also as much as 'pauvre merveilleux bien-aime' Erik once so wretched and unhappy...!" a sudden *UN-familiar* male's tenor voice soft as silk and smooth and golden and sweet as the purest most fresh honey cooed from behind the mirror over the mantelpiece, NOW making Pinocchio start, jump, gasp, tremble a-new, and begin to feel a little afraid despite how *genuinely kind and tender and caring* its' owner sounded. The *then-SINGING* helped, yet didn't, same as Ayesha's smiling purring petting-herself company.

~"*Sweet child-
Poor child*...
*So TRAGIC*-
So MISUNDERSTOOD...!

*Dear child*-
SAD child,
Life's looking, shall we say,
*NOT GOOD*...
Tsk- *alas, NO*...

-Who will ease your woes and worries??
Who can further help you *get your man*???
*Ahhh, SWEET CHILD*...
Perhaps LE FANTOME'S LOVER can...!

*He too* knows your Dreams-
He as well will help you GRANT YOUR PRAYER;
He'll cast just *a TINY SPELL*
-A Charm-
WHY *the ALARM*???
There is *NO harm*!
NO ONE will Tell,
*No one will CARE*-
'Tis *YOUR OWN affair*...!

*Sweet child-
Poor child*-
*DEAR child*-
SAD child,
Friend Raoul has come to your aid
Right here and now...!

In but *in an hour and half*,
You and your faerie prince
Will *be RECONCILED*-
Be soon TOGETHER *FOREVER*,

-*Sweet child*..."~

It sounded- *CREEPY*, HYPNOTIZING (as in bespelling/mesmerizing). Silver-tongued both ways... But somehow, Pinocchio could tell that this 'Friend Raoul' *meant what he said/sang*. That despite the strangely weirdly eerie haunting trance-like tone of his sudden song, he was being SINCERE- *GENUINE*. That he too followed The Golden Rule as well as possessed a golden throat...

So he repossessed his courage same as still holding onto Kindness, swallowed hard, licked his lips, coughed to clear his throat, and tried to ekke something out- but couldn't quite manage it. So instead, *he himself* sang soft, sweet, shy, and nervous.

~"Angel or 'innamorato',
*FRIEND* or PHANTOM-
*Who is it there staring*...??"~

"A *friend*, darling- a FRIENDLY 'fantome'. *An ANGEL*..." the other elder male voice half-spoke half-sung assuringly and kindly. "I SWEAR I mean you no Harm or Mischief, 'petit' Pinocchio...!"

With that stolid assurance, NOW Pinocchio was able to speak. "Th-Then, if- if you can come out from wherever you are, w-would you please do so??" he inquired nervously still, not able to then help emitting a soft quiet gasp at the *WARMTH* and SOFTNESS and *sweetness*- *the FEELING* of this 'Raoul's' smile. Like Jiminy's yet not...

~"Flattering child,
*You SHALL know me*-
See where in shadows I hide...

*Look at your face in the mirror*-
*I am THERE INSIDE*..."~

Curiously, bemusedly, Pinocchio both sat and stood up, instantly doing as he was told. But just as his swollen red teary blue eyes met with beautiful slightly deeper darker yet more vivid ones *so softwarmgentlekindfriendly*, their reflections about to *LOCK gazes*-

There was a sudden flash of bright blue-white light so sharp and strong that Pinocchio actually cried out in pain as he HAD TO turn away and shield his eyes so that he wouldn't be blinded either temporarily or permanently paired with a sweet yet semi-loud tinkling ringing chime of ethereal music (Ayesha hissing and spitting and closing her own eyes shut tight as she arched her back and folded/lay flat her ears, poor thing)!! Coming from *the MIRROR*- from *this 'Raoul'*-

Thankfully, the painfully bright flash of 'lumiere' didn't last long (only a couple of seconds)- and true to how he Felt, 'Friend Raoul' began instantly apologizing almost the very moment he was in the room with Pinocchio, Ayesha, and a very worried concerned watchful wary Figaro, Cleo, Sofia, Lampwick, Mr. Coachman, Honest John, and Gideon plus four familiar little grey mice and a couple of friendly lentil-plucking woodpeckers, whom had all heard the sudden unexpected other commotion and had immediately rushed to either the window or from the kitchen where they'd been hiding into the room itself.

"*Oh, 'Mon Dieu'*!! I'm- I'm so very sorry about that, 'mon cher doux petit amis'! A-*AWFUL sorry*, as you say and your own dear beloved warm gentle father used to say, from what Jiminy tells me and Millie and Mamma and Papa! Are- Are you alright, Pinocchio and Ayesha??"

The latter slowly relaxed now that the 'danger' was over and immediately jumped up into 'Friend Raoul's' arms and demanded some making-up cuddles, pettings, and kisses *right here right now* ifyoupleaseandthankyoukindly, and the former little by little ceased to tremble as he let his eyes crack and slide open once more. He didn't quite STARE AT F.R. as he had the Baroness/Duchess/Princess/Queen Ayesha, but he still certainly took a *GOOD LONG look* at him from up to his head from down to his foot.

He was tall, slim, lithely-muscled, fair-skinned, and very very handsome like all of the Malfoys- blond same as Stepfather Lucius and stepbrother Draco, with *LONG hair* like that of 'Patrigno'/Lord Malfoy, and possessed blue eyes as Theodore did... but where they were as hard as stone and frigid as an iceberg, MR. RAOUL was as warm and bright as summer or spring sunshine. A male Persephone or Psyche if not Apollo or his son, with thick lustrous just-below-shoulder-length locks the color of either fresh honey, purest gold, or the sun itself rather than anything close to pale/silvery/platinum, beautiful *warm gentle friendly* eyes more sapphire or the sea instead of steel or ice, and smooth silken skin tenderly lovingly kissed by the sun in three ways (a semi-faint tan all over, a brush of rose at his cheeks, and a dusting of freckles over the bridge of his nose), any edges that he himself possessed solid yet softened...
He looked to be either no younger than eighteen or older than twenty-one... and *he too* had WINGS! Bright blue glowing sparkling wings like both Jiminy's and Emily's, but with a slightly ragged *FEATHER-shaped* edge of his own despite being shaped like those of a butterfly AND a faerie according-to-stereotype- and he also *held a wand*!! This one beautifully crafted of gold and crystal and shaped like the bow of a violin- more than likely owing to the violin-shaped case slung over his slender-yet-strong shoulder on the left...

Not only all of that, but he possessed *slightly glowing* TURQUOISE-BLUE highlights in his longish golden hair and was dressed like- like- Well, a knight in dashing shining *SILVERY armor* of old. Complete with *MASK*, strangely enough...

The kindness and merry companionable twinkle in his eyes- the warmth and sweetness of his smile; they were all *so FAMILIAR*...

Just barely, Pinocchio then remembered his manners. Flushed, coughed, dipped his eyes, and shyly lowered his ears before mumbling just loud enough to be heard, "Y-Yes. 'Si'. I'm- 'm alright. Th-Thank you."

"Oh, Dieu m- *Thank heavens*!" Mr. Raoul sighed in sweet blessed relief- to such a degree that Pinocchio could tell had he not had his arms full of lady cat, he would have actually wiped his forehead. "I DIDN'T want or mean to almost hurt you- God knows you've had *QUITE ENOUGH of* THAT already...! *I didn't mean to SCARE YOU, either*, earlier," he added with a rueful repentant pout. "'Awful' sorry *for THAT*, too! I just- I just- My- My feelings came out *in SONG* instead of regular ordinary speech, and I... *CREEPILY emulated* Erik as either 'O. G.' or 'Musikkens Angel' in trying to be an angel/friend myself despite wanting to be *nice and comforting*, DARN IT-!!"

'Mamma mia', but he was *so like* MR. MANOLO that the two handsome sweet musical young men could have been *TWINS* despite their vastly different hair-colors, eye-colors, complexions, and ethnicities...! It comforted and assured Pinocchio a bit more and made him smile- made him feel more comfortable around the strange-yet-familiar blue-eyed blond Fae. Again, *if NOT* for his arms being full of feline darling, then Pinocchio would have just tossed all caution and wariness to the wind and bounded forward and HUGGED Monsieur Raoul in order to *cheer HIM* up, because right then he dearly looked like HE needed one!
-But he *did NOT* want to disturb or upset Miss Ayesha, so instead he stepped closer, reached out and upward towards Mr. Raoul, and softly gently patted/rubbed his shoulder instead while saying kindly, "It's- It's okay, Mr. Friend Raoul! I- I forgive ya... I know that you didn't m-*MEAN TO scare me*. You were just- You were just tryin' t' be sweet 'n friendly 'n kind, and- and *you WERE*! *You are*! It just- kinda came out differently In Practice..."

Mr. Raoul's smile *SHOULD HAVE been blinding* as a result- but it thankfully wasn't. It just made Pinocchio feel warm as warm, like he was standing in the sunshine on a fine balmy day. "And you *wonder why* I call you 'sweet child'..." Then the sun was clouded over as he pursed his lips and his own blue eyes darkened while he muttered both indignantly and angrily, "*'Quel est leur probleme avec vous'*??!"

Whether the Malfoy family would have eventually come into Pinocchio's life or not, one of his childhood and adolescent lessons had been the French language (courtesy of Senor Xibalba, who was also of Gallian and German descent as well as both Hispanic and Italian), so he well-knew what Monsieur Raoul had just said: 'WHAT *on EARTH* is their problem with you??!' He swallowed hard and blinked against the fresh coat of tears brimming anew- then he gulped, "I... don't know. B-But *I WISH* I knew...!"

Once again, Mr. Raoul's smile was both kind and sad as he stretched out one hand and gently petted 'Little Woodenhead's' currently ligneous dark bangs same as though he were lovingly stroking and caressing Lady Ayesha in an affectionate yet heart-tugging *BROTHERLY way* he had not once ever received from either Draco or Theo- then he used his other plus a nice silken handkerchief to just-as-lovingly and tenderly dry Pinocchio's face and eyes once Ayesha had relocated to the handsome blond's shoulders. "Ahhh, 'mon petit', IF ONLY I could grant *THAT wish* which troubles and torments you so... but, alas, I cannot."

He. Was. SO. *AWFUL nice*!! Felt *so familiar* in a way both Manolo-esque and Jiminy-ish (and a la *Miss Emily*, even)... "That's- 'S alright, M-Mr. Raoul. It's- It's *th' THOUGHT* that counts, wh-when all's said 'n done!"

"*Just so*, 'mon cher' 'Nocchi," Monsieur 'Friend Raoul' nodded in complete agreement. Then he straightened himself upright and adfixed cheerfully with again-sparkling shining eyes, "However, *I AM able* to grant your other wish as Jimmy can't right now because Fae Courting Rules and all that! Like sweet darling 'Dame Papillon' Millie did last night and dear dear Mr. Conscience Jimmy did The Very First Time!"

It finally fully dawned on Pinocchio right then and there, and he felt almost *STUPID* for not having realized it before as he gasped and started with wide-blown eyes and his heart thudding in his chest. "Then you're- You're- Wh-Why, then- *you must be*...!"

"Your beloved-both-ways 'parrain de la fee's' *OTHER long-lost sibling*??" Mr. Raoul finished both brightly and kindly. "*That I am*, Pinocchio 'cheri'! I was once the Viscount and youngest member of the de Chagny family, but I am now 'merely' Raoul Patrick Hadley Cricket, and *much happier* for it. -STILL *the BABY* of the family, though!" he then blithely shrugged and huffily pouted at the same time. "Oh, well...! At least Jiminy's *TRULY nicer* and doesn't mind my being around Little Lotte and vice-versa."

Pinocchio dearly badly wanted to ask who this 'Little Lotte' mentioned just now and 'Erik' earlier were, since they seemed so very near and dear to the sunny in both looks and temperament former noble's heart, but he held his tongue and bit the words back. Mr. Raoul was here *For a Reason*, after all- same as Miss Emily last night since he and his faerie godfather were in the process of COURTSHIP rather than being simply platonically close! And he shouldn't *DISTRACT Jiminy's brother*...
He could ask questions *LATER*, if he was able!

Mr. Raoul seemed to be of the same mindset as he lightly shook his head at himself then said brightly/kindly to 'the practical house-elf', "Shall we adjourn to the garden out back then, 'futur petit frere'?"

"S-'Si per favore, gentile signor'. L-Let's!" Pinocchio readily agreed. "Just- Just lemme grab a fresh new basket 'f mushrooms from the kitchen, first."

"Ahhh, yes- we'll *NEED* THAT, won't we?" the former Vicomte laughed both merrily and abashedly. "*Good heavens*, I almost completely forgot! I do apologize (again)- seems to be a Cricket family trait. Occasional absent-mindedness, that is. NO WONDER Erik once called me an 'ignorant fool' and a 'shallow dim-witted fop'...!"

(That didn't sound very nice or kind at all- but it wasn't [yet] Pinocchio's business to inquire about what Mr. Raoul meant by that, and why he seemed to say it *so FONDLY* rather than bitterly or hurtfully as he briefly reminesced about those cruel jibing epithets.)

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

First an apple, then a peach- *THIS time*, Mr. Raoul requested that Pinocchio cut free and bring over a small(ish) golden orange PUMPKIN from the squash area of the kitchen garden as well as bring out a basket of mushrooms, call over his animal friends both furred and feathered, and 'trap' four little grey mice! (Which he did, of course.) How funny... Was it just the Cricket siblings' own personal choice, or did the such-a-BIG-object to be transformed need to be different each and every time??

Well, whichever it was, Pinocchio obediently obliged before setting it down carefully and gently between the basketful of 'creminis' and two-times/plus-two ash-colored murines (whom all by this point squeaked and wriggled their noses up at him in a friendly manner, and whom Lady Ayesha predatorily eyed but didn't make a move towards). Then he backed up and away, more than ready for The Magic to *LITERALLY happen*...

Monsieur Raoul waved his own magic wand once- twice- three times, his own cheerful song/spell going like this as ONE BY ONE rather than All At Once 'rags' turned to riches, with Pinocchio himself being the last of them all to be transformed:

"The *SENSIBLE people* in the world will say,
~'FOL-DER-ROL and *fiddle-dee-dee*
And *FIDDILY-FADDLELY-FODDEL*!
All the wishes in the world
*Are POPPYCOCK AND TWADDLE*!

*Fol-der-rol and fiddle-dee-dee
And fiddily-faddlely-foodol*;
All *the DREAMERS* in the world
Are DIZZY IN THE NOODLE*...!'

They'll say it's...

*IMPOSSIBLE*
For a plain yellow pumpkin
To become a golden carriage;
IMPOSSIBLE
For a plain country bumpkin
And *a PRINCE* to join in marriage,
And *four grey mice* will *NEVER*
Be *four grey HORSES*!
'Such FOl-DER-ROL and *fiddle-dee-dee* *OF COURSE* is
*IMPOSSIBLE*!
*Impossible*...!'

But the world is full of 'ZANIES' and '*fools*'
Who don't believe in sensible rules,
And *WON'T believe* what Sensible People say-
And because these 'daft and dewy-eyed dopes'
Keep building up *IMPOSSIBLE hopes*,
*Impossible
Things are hap'ning every day*...!

And so, INDEED...

*It's POSSIBLE*
For a plain yellow pumpkin
To become a *golden carriage*!
'Tis POSSIBLE
For a 'plain country bumpkin'
And a *PRINCE* to Join In Marriage;
*And four grey mice
Are easily turned to horses*!
Such 'fol-der-rol' and 'fiddle-dee-dee'
Of COURSE is
*QUITE possible*!
It's *POSSIBLE*...!

For the world is full of 'zanies' and 'fools'
Who *DON'T believe* in Sensible Rules,
And *won't believe what Sensible People say*-
And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes
Keep BUILDING UP *IMPOSSIBLE hopes*,
*Impossible
Things are hap'ning every day*...!

*It's POSSIBLE*- it's possible!
It's POSSIBLE; not *IM-possible*!
*'Tis possible*- it's Possible...

*It's POSSIBLE*...!"~

(Note to self: more than likely *ALL of the Cricket family* were musical [despite Miss Emily not singing HER spell last night, she just gave off That Certain Feeling same as Jiminy since they'd first met and now Mr. Raoul]- and *Mr. Raoul's significant other[s]* were quite [ha] possibly awful tuneful themselves. Not that Pinocchio minded- he'd very much missed being part of a slightly operatic family, and looked forward to doing so once more in the future...)

The moment the very last syllable/note flowed from Mr. Raoul's throat as golden as the rest of him save for his eyes, wings, wand, apparel, and mask, once more there was the beautiful golden carriage, four gayly-'dressed' pretty little donkeys (one as grey as before, and the other three either white as snow or fresh cream, both white and gray-to-black akin to pepper mixed with salt, or *striped BRIGHT YELLOW AND BRILLIANT BLUE*), a jolly tall broad still-whiskered Coachman clad in the finest livery of emerald-green and ruby-red trimmed with gold, and six footmen or women in semi-matching uniforms where before 'merely' a 'plain' light orange pumpkin, a basket of mushrooms, four little grey mice, five cats, a fox, and a seagull had stood before ...and Pinocchio was not only clean as a whistle and flesh-blood-and-bone with no 'asino' parts in sight, but dressed like a prince, this time wearing an outfit of deep sapphire-blue silk studded here and there with a cluster (or *constellation*, rather) of diamond stars. Even more small stars of diamond, quartz, white sapphire, and albite and barite were lightly sprinkled in his raven hair now long and velvety while a larger one shaped like the North/Wishing Star hung from his neck on a thin silver chain and nestled over his heart, a lovely silvery chiffon-and-organza vest seemed to float about his slender torso like a very thin cloud, his stockings glittered very faintly as a result of pure silver thread woven into the snowy-white thinner silk-and-linen, his crystal slippers this time MATCHED AND CORRESPONDED WITH his royal attire rather than charmingly standing out-

*Oh. Hmm*... Apparently this time he was also wearing *a MASK*, he suddenly saw and noticed as he again happily pirouetted before a transfigured mirror. A small satin or velvet sapphirine mask that was also beautifully adorned with diamond or white sapphire stars...

And for the very first time (or maybe he just hadn't really been paying attention before), he noticed a faint shimmering Fae Glamour that transformed him into a taller slightly older very comely young man with a perfect 'normal' nose and a light-yet-prominent dusting of freckles over the bridge of both it and his still-rosy cheeks as he looked at himself in the reflective glass. Saw what everyone else including 'la Malfoy famille' Saw as 'carisimmo amado' Jiminy had intended from the first...

He didn't mention this, of course; it was Obvious already! Instead, he wondered both to himself and aloud as he lightly touched the side of his strange but awful pretty domino, "*Why A MASK* as well this time??"

"When 'not before', you mean??" interjected sweet sunny lovely-inside-and-out Monsieur Raoul. Then he answered brightly and matter-of-factly as he indicated his knightly attire and matching mask with an up-and-down sweep of his hand, "Why, 'tis a MASQUERADE tonight, Jimmy's and our dear darling 'Nocchi, the Third and Final Ball! A *MASKED ball*! You can choose whether or not to wear an actual costume (which is why I am dressed like a dashing noble knight in shining armor rather than simply dressed very nicely), but a mask is REQUIRED. It is a *MUST*, should one wish to attend the King's and Queen's and Princess's fancy dress party tonight! -*Therefore wherefore* I also added a *matching/corresponding SMALL VISOR* to your attire tonight."

"O-Oh..." Pinocchio murmured. "I see. I- I understand, Mr. Raoul. I- I don't mind, either." 'It's kind 'f almost like celebrating Hallowe'en a bit early, which is FUN- and- and I haven't *DRESSED UP dressed up* in *years*! Not since- since Mamma got sick 'n Left, too... I guess- I guess that t'night I REALLY AM "Prince Starlight"...'

"*Oh, COME NOW*!" 'Mr. Raoul' pouted while making puppy-dog eyes. "Please do just call me *'Raoul'*! I know you are only being very sweet and kind and polite as usual and that I am a sort of stranger, but not only do I simply wish to be your friend and therefore DROP all necessary formalities, but we will be *FAMILY* one day- either fairly soon or in the future! It is one thing when Erik occasionally still calls me 'Vicomte' or Nadir 'monsieur' amongst other sweeter heart-names, but *quite another* for you to yet address me as 'Mister'... it almost rather hurts my feelings, 'mon cher'!
"After all, didn't you yourself *NOT EVER ONCE* call Jiminy 'sir' or 'mister' after clearly getting to know him, from what he's told me and Emily??"

*Raoul Cricket 'nee de Chagny* was not at all attempting to manipulate or cruelly influence 'Ash-Boy' a la either Lord Lucius, Jeune Monsieur Draco, or Jeune Monsieur Theodore- he seemed to be genuinely tristful/aggrieved, 'la povere uomo'! And Pinocchio never did like either unintentionally or on purpose hurting someone's feelings; not to mention that the elder male with deeper blue eyes dressed like a knight in a fairytale *WAS right* considering HOWclose he and Jiminy now were with each other...

"O-Okay, M- Sig- Imean, R-Raoul," he relented, struggling to free himself from the stranglehold that Propriety and Manners had had on him from practically birth (or, at least, ever since he was able to actually talk). "I'll- I'll *NOT do that*, if you don't want me to. I'm- 'M awful sorry I h-hurt your feelings," he added softly, dipping his eyes down to his magical slippers of pure crystal that LOOKED spartan to wear but were in fact as comfortable and easy to walk in as a pair of old worn house shoes and clutching and rubbing his arm.

He let out a shocked surprised sound between a squeak and a yelp when Mis- NO, *just Raoul* suddenly reached out, pulled him close, and *HUGGED* him while rubbing his own smooth rose-dusted cheek against Pinocchio's soft thick black hair and *dropping A KISS* onto the side of his head, the Lady Ayesha meanwhile loudly purring proud and affectionate as she licked his other cheek with her little sandpaper tongue from her perch on Raoul's shoulders- all these clear terms of affectionate and fondness causing his 'entourage' to murmur %"*Awwww*...!!"% (the Coachman again weepily blowing his nose)

"You DEAR *SWEET* *beautiful* *WONDERFUL boy*...!" Raoul husked with a small sniff. "*You DARLING little creature* whom OF COURSE my other big brother *fell in love with either At First Sight or over the years*... Thankyouthankyouthankyou for that, little Pine-Eye; I DESPISE formalities when they're not needed! (*ERIK*, of course, was *an EXCEPTION*, poor sublime wretched unhappy man...)"

That last, he'd clearly meant to say *to HIMSELF* but had accidentally spoken aloud instead- which stoked the flames of Pinocchio's burning curiosity even further, but he again didn't yet pay heed to. Instead, he timidly affectionately embraced *JUST Raoul* in return and shyly mumbled, "You'rewelcome, f-fr- 'fratello'..."

He blushed and squeaked at the SECOND *and THIRD* kiss pressed into his hair, being un-used to such sheer warm spontaneous affection after three years of coldness and cruelty, even what with being around Jiminy, Figaro, and Cleo, and then very recently Sofia, Lampwick, Mr. Coachman, Honest John, and Gideon. Clearly, the former 'Vicomte' was the cuddly touchy-feely 'mushy' type when it came to his friends and loved ones same as Father and somewhat Mamma had been-! (Pinocchio was technically like that himself... but a year or three of constant verbal, physical, and magical abuse had not just kind of tamped that down.)

The hug lasted a full minute, Raoul even slightly rocking Pinocchio back and forth in addition. Then Raoul pulled back, smiled as brightly and sweetly as ever, gave Pinocchio a warm gentle pat on the shoulder, and laughed, "Well- *come on then*, lovely boy! Away to the *MASKED ball* we go!"

Once more, 'Ash-Boy' readily obeyed, letting Sofia help him into the coach while Honest John held the door open for him. It was *crystal-clear* that Raoul too was going, given his costume and own mask, but still- It couldn't hurt to ask- to offer HIM help, after the blond former Vicomte had been so awful kind...

"Would- W-Would you like a ride, Monsieur Vicomte Raoul?? Since- Since you're goin' my way?"

Raoul BEAMED in response, his beautiful sapphire-blue eyes sparkling like stars from his handsome face. "Why, I would be *DELIGHTED* to ride with you to 'la Masquerade', Signorino Pinocchio! 'Merci boucoup' for asking! -I hope you do not mind if my lovely lady friend here wearing a fur coat tags along?"

"N-No, 'signore'- of course not!" Pinocchio assured him. "Pl-Please- *BOTH 'F you* come right on in!"

"Don't mind if *WE do*...!" grinned the golden-haired silvery-suited nobleman-still.

This time, it was LAMPWICK who helped *Raoul* in, while Ayesha nimbly independently leaped up onto Pinocchio's lap. Then the door was carefully yet firmly closed shut, 'Lampy', Figaro, Cleo, Sofia, John, and Gideon leapt on and held on tight, Mr. Coachman cracked his whip and called out "*YAAH*!!"- and off they all went driving through the moonlight on the highway once more.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay... NOW if Raoul wished it, he could Ask Questions. It would be a while before they were at the palace, after all...! Unlike the couple of times Before, he wasn't sitting alone- and Raoul seemed to be the readily-chatty type as he'd once been before *THEY had arrived* and caused him to mainly go Speechless.

"Um... R-Raoul?"

"'Oui'? What is it, 'Nocchi love? What is Little Woodenhead thinking of that he wishes to ask about?"

*Phew*- it *WAS okay*!! Well, then- *ladies first*... "Who's-?? Wh-Who's 'Little Lotte'?"

Raoul's smile was sweet and warm and fond- but not Lovestruck as his eyes gently shone with reminiscence. "Ahh- Little Lotte? That is my own special name for my dear little friend from childhood with a Swedish father and French mother... but her *BIRTH name* is 'Christine Daae'. 'Christine Sierra Daae', in full... a rather pretty name, is it not?? We met each other when we were eight-to-nine years old...

"I was visiting my aunt in Lannion, you see- I was taking a walk with my governess, heard her singing (and *ohhhh*, next to the Princesses of Italia, she has *the MOST* beautiful voice I've ever heard from a girl or lady- Erik's, of course, is the loveliest I've ever heard from a MAN, with Nadir coming as a close second!) while her father Herre Gustave played the violin, and wanted to get to know her because she looked like a very nice girl ...and *wouldn't you know it*! We didn't meet in the 'ordinary usual' way, but instead became suddenly acquainted by way of a playful naughty wind tugging Christine's red scarf off of her shoulders and casting it out to sea! She cried out and looked most distraught as she hopelessly reached out for it- of course, I couldn't bear THAT, so I said 'It's alright! I will go and fetch your scarf out of the sea!' and ran fast towards that precious scarf, not in the least heeding the indignant protests and outraged outcries of that worthy lady in black i.e. my nanny. I ran and then dove into the sea ('oui', yes, *dressed as I was*, hence why Nanny was huffing and puffing so!). Boy and scarf were both SOAKED THROUGH- 'tis *VERY LUCKY* that I did not catch a cold as a result...!

"My governess of course made a great fuss, but Christine just laughed and hugged and kissed me while thanking me profusely... and for the rest of my stay at my 'tante's' that summer, I spent every moment that I could with my new 'cher ami' who fast became my *BEST friend*. I called her 'Little Lotte' after the old Swedish fireside tale her beloved warm gentle papa used to tell us because she was very much like the 'petit fille' in the story (save for having hair the color of dark chocolate rather than 'golden as the sun's rays')...

"Alas, we did not see each other again for three years- and then longer still. Daddy Daae sadly died just after I had left again (he had a very bad cough, I'm afraid), and Christine threw herself into her art ...was tutored *by the Angel of Music*, though many would not call him such. A Dark more than Light sad, lonely, tortured Angel whom was rather jealous and possessive of his star pupil and greatly feared that with my fair face and form and our status of 'childhood sweethearts' I would take her away from him, and therefore at first forbade Little Lotte to see me again when we met at the Opera Populaire in Paris, where he lived in an underground home by the lake..."

'The Angel of Music/Little Lotte'... Father had used to tell him that story when he was alive, and sometimes Mamma as well, Pinocchio remembered; Father had even woven further tales of *the adventures of* Little Lotte and the Angel of Music who was her guide, guardian, tutor, and friend! -Well, here was one such adventure In Reality... but apparently much darker and more sad than anything close to light and humorous (or what Jiminy would have laughingly called 'fluffy').

"The- *The Angel of Music*... Is that- Mr. Erik??" he swallowed nervously, still stroking Ayesha's back and rubbing her behind the ears as royally requested as the Queen of Cats purred and purred on his lap.

Raoul nodded, the expression on his face even more loving but now also sad and slightly hurt. "*Yes indeed it is*, 'Pins'," he said quietly. "A secret and strange most notoriously abused angel who also playfully yet professionally called himself *a GHOST* whilst living under the opera house rather than In It Proper by the name of 'Erik'. *JUST 'Erik'*, for the longest time- no family name... *Poor Erik*- *POOR UNHAPPY Erik*; where do I BEGIN with him...?? -Why, From the Beginning, I suppose, 'poupette'...
"Erik was born in a small French town not far from Rouen. Born *DISFIGURED* despite possessing the beauteous voice of a merman, selkie, or angel. His mother FEARED AND HATED him on sight- I'd like to think that *his FATHER* would have been at least a little kind, but he had died in a tragic accident three months before Erik was born, and so we shall never know. His very first scrap of clothing- neither a shirt, nor pants, nor even *a NAPPY*, ...but a MASK.

"She- that- that pretty pretty MONSTER with the *FACE of* an angel or princess- She beat and neglected Erik- *NEVER* even *KISSED him* much less gave him a hug; *not even on his birthday when he asked*! Not even his PRACTICAL SECOND MOTHER Marie Perrault as plain as She was lovely could bring herself to touch or kiss him, despite being *kind to* him ...but at least she also more-or-less taught him Respect towards women, so, pros to cons. (In Erik's words, once: 'It's really very difficult to kill someone when all your inner instincts would oblige you to *take off your hat first*!')

"Eventually, finally, Erik ran away at the age of nine after it all became too much. Then one night, he happened upon a caravan of gypsies and was captured by their leader when he attempted to pet one of their horses before snitching some food. They- They took his mask off. And- And after seeing what he looked like, *WHY he wore a mask* and had BEGGED them not to take it off... he was put on display as a freak exhibit each and every day. In a COFFIN- in *a CAGE*... Such *DISGUSTING* names they used for him, Javert of course starting it if he didn't mockingly call him 'Don Juan'-!! 'The Living Corpse'- 'the Devil's Child'... Javert beat him- the others stoned him and hit him with sticks- everywhere they went, people either laughed, cursed, or screamed at him..."

There was Something Else that Mr. 'Angelo Scuro' Erik had suffered at the hands of this disgusting awful 'Javert' that Raoul *WASN'T talking about*- something that for some reason or other *Pinocchio* had been SPARED (for now???? *Who knew* with the Malfoys...??), yet still vaguely faintly knew about: *CARNAL abuse* i.e. 'rape'. He shivered and swallowed hard, Ayesha softly yet fiercely hissing under his hands with flattened laid-back ears, a slightly twitching tail, and slit narrowed eyes at the sickening mention of how her dear darling 'pet'/ownee had been hurt while Raoul trembled like a leaf in a storm and bit back either vividly-blue curses, a couple of sobs, or both before forcing himself to continue his narrative.

"Erik- fled again after... the last time, so Javert never hurt him again. He traveled around at *HIS OWN pace* after that- to Italy, India, Russia ...and then Manzanderan, Persia. I would say that was where Daroga (the Persian chief of police) Nadir Khan came in, but he actually met Erik in Russia after being sent to find him by the shah-in-shah's mother The Little Sultana or 'Khanum'. Erik, you see, as well as being a *VERY* accomplished musician, singer, and magician, was and is also *a MASTER ARCHITECT*, and the 'shah' much desired a new palace, ...while the 'khanum' -a handsome cruel powerful woman who was feared by all save for her son and Erik- was utterly extremely bored. As in, she- desired amusing deaths. -'How did she accomplish this???' you ask, 'mon petit ami'?? ...Erik designed and created a torture chamber: a mirrored room heated to the temperature of a furnace while displaying horrific illusions that- that *seemed SO REAL* that-! W-Well, let's- let's say they eventually went the way of Romeo and Juliet...

"Nadir was assigned to be Erik's bodyguard, which was a *VERY good* thing since they eventually became friends ...and then lovers. Nadir wasn't alone, however, despite being a widower. He had a child- a beautiful but very sickly boy of ten named 'Reza'. *REZA and Erik* became especial friends, and remained so until that sweet 'garcon' finally- had to be put to sleep. Nadir and Reza- they were the one bright spot in Erik's now even more dark and bloody life. A life that he had *NEVER* wanted, but had one way or another been forced into in order to survive...

"This all lasted three years ...until it was first decided by the 'shah' to have *Erik's eyes cut out*, and then PUT HIM TO DEATH. Why???? So that no one else including the sultan in Constantinople would ever lure him from the 'shah's' and 'khanum's' service and have him build beautiful wonderful palaces and devices *for THEM*. Nadir- Nadir saved him; smuggled him out of Persia ...and from there, Erik went back to France. To PARIS... where he eventually became 'le Fantome de l'Opera'...

"Nadir didn't like that very much- Erik had and has SUCH *GENIUS*, and he was either forced to hide it or *use it to play tricks with* due to His Face! He HELPED TO design the Opera Palais Garnier, for heaven's sake- and yet due to his 'ugliness', he was forced to live *like HADES HIMSELF* rather than Above Ground like just about anyone else...! Was forced to HIDE ...even from his eventual student/my dear little friend from childhood Christine Daae, who referred to him as the Angel of Music sent to her by her late father from Heaven As Promised both every time he finished telling the story of aforementioned being and *on his death-bed*."

...But something had gone *WRONG*. *VERY wrong*. 'Little Woodenhead' knew this for a cold hard solid fact as much as he simply sensed it, causing him to worry and lightly bite his lower lip (and had his arms and hands been free and his lap not full of cat, he would have either clutched at or rubbed one arm alongside) as he apprehensively slightly fearfully queried in a low voice, "Wh-What-?? -*What happened*???"

Raoul sighed deeply, rubbing his sad eyes and now-slightly worn face. Rubbed at the former out of sheer reflex and *in order to try and stem his own tears*. "Well... First Christine and I met up with each other again, re-connecting instantly (though we had occasionally seen one another either onstage or in an opera box beforehand, we each found out later and were a little hurt by) ...all of which made poor Erik wildly jealous and not a bit possessive. Not as a result of *romantic* or LUSTFUL feelings, mind you (since after all, he had *'the Daroga'/'Persian'* still after he too escaped the bloodbath that was the court of Manzanderan)-! but due to those emotions PURE, SIMPLE, and ALONE. Because though he did not call her one aloud, he considered sweet lovely Little Lotte to be a friend- one of *the ONLY* friends he'd ever had besides Nadir, Reza, and later dear darling Ayesha...

"Ohhh, how Erik used to *DESPISE* me back then, constantly calling me a 'foolish little pretty boy', 'ignorant fool', 'insolent fop', and 'dim-witted child' behind my back...! (Nadir did not at all *like THAT*, either- constantly scolded Erik for it as *HIS 'conscience'*!) And yet, I apparently INTRIGUED him with all my- well, all my charms inside and out; *intrigued and fascinated NADIR* the same way... Well, the long and short of things going *WRONG* yet leading to my eventually FINALLY meeting 'the Daroga' and the Opera Ghost in the flesh is that- that- that *Christine took off his mask*. And when I heard/she told me about it, I was not at all happy to hear about what she'd done... Because that was PERSONAL- that was *PRIVATE*! *That was what he'd asked/ordered her not to do, if she loved him at all*!! 'Le Fantome', 'Ange' or 'just poor unhappy wretched Erik', *he was A Person like anyone else, and as such more than deserved that very same respect afforded to most/many others*, disfigured or no...!

"And then, from behind the statue of Apollo's Lyre... Erik- Erik sorrowfully whispered her name. No- SOBBED her name. And I didn't- *I didn't THINK*. I just Reacted. Even when/while *CRYING*, his voice was BEAUTIFUL and lured one in akin to a siren and an ill-fated ship...! and *I immediately followed after that sorrowful hurting pleading hypnotic sound to where it was coming from*... and flat-out ignoring Christine's frightened cries and warnings, I found Erik, reached out to him, and *HUGGED him*. -Hugged NADIR AS WELL, since he'd unexpectedly faithfully also followed after Erik and was standing beside him...! An- *An accident*, that ...but a *VERY HAPPY one*.

"Erik- Erik broke down completely. *Those tears- THOSE TEARS*; they FLOWED from those not-so-horrible sunken dark-circled golden-yellow eyes that both Threaten and Adore as *the Angel cried*- as the Angel *WEPT*...! It- It touched me so, affected me so that *I* cried, too...! (So did Nadir, but only half as much.) And- And- And Erik... *Erik embraced me in return*- didn't snarl or growl or curse or hiss and roughly push me away before fleeing- *did NOT* EVEN THINK to use his legendary Punjab Lasso on me, or lure me into his room of '*Mirrors can KILL*, Daroga- you have My Word on that'... Nadir enclasped and cradled the both of us... First Erik, then Nadir, *then BOTH* were damply whispering through a ghost of a smile, 'Dear boy- darling boy- *SWEET boy*- *BEAUTIFUL* boy... *Raoul- Raoul- RAOUL*...!'

"I tremblingly smiled too and whispered Erik's name and Nadir's title, the latter because I did not yet know 'the Persian's' True Name. (And *how VERY VERY* RUDE, to only call him *that* in the first place!! Just because he was and is FOREIGN...!) 'The name -the *REAL name*- is "Nadir Khan", sweetheart,' said he so warm and tender while suddenly stroking my hair and not-so-suddenly gently rubbing Erik's back and shoulders. I would add 'this with *a KISS*', but ERIK made the first move- after- after *VOLUNTARILY even if still nervously and fearfully and slowly* *removing his mask*...

"I was shocked- I was *GREATLY surprised*- considerably startled; yes, admittedly, a bit afeared and horrified, when I first saw his face Unmasked... But I had seen grievous injuries, livid scars, and even tragic deformities-from-birth before while out at sea; I was not *THAT innocent*, despite what many people thought due to my being raised mainly by my two sisters and aunt! And because they had taught me *Manners*, I *was NOT* going to react as so many others had- as *Christine was clearly expecting me to act* due to his 'monstrousness' and my own much-contrasting handsomeness! Whether he TRULY looked like a corpse come alive or not...! No- *NO*! *'Non'*!!

"Then- Then..." Now Raoul seemed wistful yet so very HAPPY, his eyes twinkling from tears and joy and sweet sweet memories as he leaned back a little... "Erik *KISSED me*. Not on the lips- *not yet*, but on the forehead...! Nadir- Nadir pressed HIS lips to my temple... I-! I-! I-!! *I shyly kissed them both back*- in *the SAME AREAS*, never- NEVER MIND having to lean up a little in order to do so, because *it was more than worth it*! They trailed and peppered more kisses down my cheeks- UP *theirs*, when 'twas their respective turn... *and THEN*, 'o then, dear saint- let *LIPS* do what HANDS do: *they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair*...!'/'*Sin from MY LIPS*?? *O trespass sweetly urged*! Give me my "sin" again...'/'-You kiss by th' book'...! Soft- sweet- GENTLE- *tender*- no... erm, heh- 'Frenching' just yet, as we'd *JUST MET*..."

Raoul sighed through a soft smile and flushed rosy-pink, brushing the tips of his fingers over his lips as he Remembered- Pinocchio started and blushed *rose-RED* by default, he was still such an Innocent as even Raoul had not used to be. HE was still yet *UN-touched*, despite 'le Malfoy famille's' sheer utter cruelty (Jiminy's kisses didn't exactly count, to his mind)...

"-Ah! *We are here AT LAST*, 'petit frere'! *We are at the palace* third time for you, but The First *for ME* plus Nadir and Erik...!"

(Ayesha politely but firmly declined to go in with both boys, instantly curling up and taking a cat-nap on the nice warm comfy carriage cushions instead. Masked or not, balls *were NOT* her 'thing', thankyoumostkindly... Her Erik would find her later, and she him- she much preferred *HEARING ABOUT a fancy-dress dance* rather than attending one! [A small friends-and/or-family gathering was something different altogether...])