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It's over at least the hardest obstacles that have plagued his mind for days…or perhaps weeks, he is unsure since the concept of time was lost the moment he ventured to the Alchemist's Isle. Yet now there is a new dawn shining through the city of Krat as the higher threats are gone and it'll be easier to ease out the rest of the remaining carcasses and frenzy puppets. The bigger worry is the Petrification Disease, but luckily the gold coin tree is the best start on making a full on cure with the help of alchemists who defied Simon's delusions of grandeur.
As for the hotel well…it is still in shambles and now that they don't have a world ending threat looming over everyone, they finally had time to clean and repair the place after the black rabbit brotherhood attack. It's now a sanctuary for survivors who lost their homes when ergo clusters spewed out from the Earth.
Many were wary of the presence of Polendina and Pulcinella for a while until the elephant in the room was finally addressed on how the puppet frenzy even started.
Geppetto
Feeling guilt of lying to Geppetto's close partner Venigni, Pinocchio finally told him the truth of what really happened.
"You know, if I was in your shoes, I would have lied too to protect those I loved, but I thank you for again easing my and this city's conscience."
Venigni gave the young puppet a sad smile to give him reassurance and condolence, knowing well that he was still processing the loss of his father.
It still feels so surreal after everything, Pinocchio tries to grasp that one day his father was here like Lady Antonia and the next just…gone. The only difference is his father died a less peaceful death. He…he saved him and saw in his eyes the love of a father as he utter his regrets in his dying breath. The young puppet tries to not let tears shed as often due to his position of guiding stalkers and other determined citizens fighting to clear the way to regain the city of Krat back.
He usually goes on solo missions to clear his mind and release his emotions, the pain and anger of it all. How his father used him for his own selfish desires to shape him into an ideal version of Carlo. Causing destruction alongside the delusional alchemist and making others suffer like the cowards they are. He let it all release; the aching he gets when hearing the cruel words his father said when controlling that puppet.
"Your freedom is not for you, but for Carlo!!!"
"How dare you! You're just a puppet!!! Nothing more!!!"
Pinocchio yells in anger as he slices a big carcass in half, throwing one of the pieces to the weaker ones that they stumble off the roof. He slams his weapon down on the other half, cutting it to pieces and later mush till all you can hear is the metal clanking against the pavement.
These emotions were all too much to process for the young puppet. He wasn't sure how to even properly express such or perhaps this is how humans do react. He has seen how the Fox Lady acted when he faced her after killing her brother. Grief does things to people for better or for worse and Pinocchio knows this isn't healthy for him to keep hunting down carcasses and puppets for his own grievances. He saw what it had done to Geppetto over Carlo's death, making him blind of his actions until it was too late. Whenever exhaustion or whatever form of exhaustion a puppet like him can get, overwhelms him in hunts, he does his best to keep his mind off of his pain by helping the others on the repairs of the city. Assisting Venigni on tough jobs that would have taken a hundred men to do. Giving Eugenie pointers on what weapons best mix for stalkers and volunteers to have. Tending the hotel alongside the butler puppets to keep their guests comfortable and safe. Just anything to stop that numbing pain and sadness that haunts him every night.
The nightmares don't help either as echoes of his father's words played out as he fights for his life against the nameless puppet; the dreams always end the same with his father's death. He awakes with tears already painting his face as he hugs himself to a ball, saying he is a useless puppet repeatedly. Even in his dreams he failed his father, he couldn't even save him there to ease the aching pain.
The only thing that comforts him in these painful nights is the sound of his heart beating, as if Carlo himself is crying with him. Another form of comfort is always petting and holding Spring, the new owner of the hotel as Eugenie jokes. He didn't understand how a cat could own a huge hotel until he catches the cat sitting tall with pride, especially when he was standing above the receptionist desk. Humans and animals never cease to amaze the young puppet. He wanders throughout the hotel, to find the furry creature in hopes of comfort until he hears an erupt noise at the library. He quickly goes to see if any intruders have sneaked in only to be greeted by Spring stepping over the keys of the piano as if he wanted to play a tune as well. Pinocchio couldn't help but chuckle at the cat's silly antics and goes over to help them down before waking the other's up. Before he could reach him, Spring jumped to the seat with a mrrp sound, looking at the young puppet as an invite to join them.
It has been awhile since he had played, the last time was when Lady Antonia was cured. That painful ache returns and without thinking, sits down beside the cat, and starts to play, uncaring if it’ll awaken the guests.
Closing his eyes, he starts off with laddering the notes to the highest and pauses before continuing the flow. All of his emotions was reflected through the notes he played; the loss of friends and family alike, the betrayal of those he blindly trusts, the weight of decisions that would have either been their doom or salvation for all, all the bloodshed he has caused to gain his father’s approval was all for naught.
Yet he also remembers those he inspired, people he had freed from their imprisonment like Romeo who looked so trapped in his mechanical body and the sound of his gratitude echoes in his mind for ending his suffering. Lady Antonia who loved the world with ferocity till the end and Polendina’s deep love for her that once she left this world, he joined her in a way to forever be beside her. Eugenie’s determination to continue her family’s legacy regardless of the past. Likewise to Venigni who too has experienced loss of family yet never let the grievance consume him and goes beyond to ensure no one ever faces the same traumas he had. Sophia, now at peace from her hell after the accursed alchemist put her through and free to live her new life the way she wants.
And his father…he can’t hate him for what he has done yet that doesn't mean it won't always haunt him. Nevertheless, he knows his father loves him in the end but not as Carlo but as Pinocchio. He can feel the boy’s ergo resonating through him as he hits the keys higher and back to low. Living is so painful yet beautiful in many ways, the young puppet knows his father wouldn’t want him to grieve like he did but to take this wonderful gift of new life and live till the ticking of his heart stops. He’ll live with the ferocity Lady Antonia have, love and compassion as Polendina and Venigni are, continue his father’s and Carlo’s legacy in this chaotic world to free and inspire others out there like Romeo, Sophia and Eugenie.
That is the true power of humanity.
Pinocchio hits the final notes which were another set of ladders before opening his eyes, noticing that he was shedding tears yet he felt lighter, his mind clearer after weeks of being cloudy. He turns to see that the feline has curled up beside him, purring loudly as it was enjoying the young puppet’s performance. Smiling, he gently runs his hand through their soft fur as the cat leans to his touch. Looking up at the ceiling, Pinocchio closes his eyes as he hears his own heartbeat, Carlo’s ergo blanketing him with life.
He feels reborn.