Pinocchio: Book 1 Chapter 3

Verse 1
Pinocchio continued his quest.

A quest for someone to take control.

Pinocchio continued his quest.

For someone to pull his strings.

Princess Kaguya could not.

"S-So who can?"

The weapon in his hand let out a groan.

The strange staff demanded that he follow its orders.

Pinocchio knew the staff was twisted, and yet he still entrusted it with his body and mind.

You're always relying on others.

Don't you have a will of your own?

A will? I used to be a puppet.

Like in the fairy tale?

Yes, but not now! Now you're free!

Free? I'm not sure I like freedom...

Verse 2
Listen to me, boy.

Ya gotta kill whoever ya need to to revive yer author!

So quit yer bitchin'!

Verse 3
The staff struck at his enemies of its own accord. He gripped it tight but had no control of it.

And yet...it felt so good. So...right.

Verse 4
Gah hah hah hah!

Kill every last one of those damn nightmares!

Cry all you want, but you and me?

We both know you're born for this!

Verse 5
It's wrong to kill, especially with such brutality.

But I must obey the staff...

What choice do I have?

Verse 6
Lob off the first one's head, slice the next in two, and give the third a slit throat!

You decide the fourth, boy.

Verse 7
My staff enjoys committing murder.

It burdens me with the grief it causes.

But... Could it really be my fault?

Verse 8
That's right, boy.

You're the one committin' murder.

My orders, but your hands did the dirty work.

You can't stop now, you little shit!

Verse 9
But I'm not the one doing the killing---

my weapon is!

None of this is my fault...

So why do I feel like running?

Verse 10
Pinocchio hoped it would be over soon.

That he would be reunited with his author.

Then he could finally get rid of this staff and instead follow the lead of his author's pen.

Then, at last, he could stop fighting these scary monsters.

He could finally be free!

D-Dragons?!

You know this is a fairy tale world, right?

B-But there are no dragons in my fairy tale!

Too bad. Then again, this isn't your tale.

If it was a shark, I'd at least know what to do!

Pinocchio was grateful to the staff after the dragons were defeated.

"I hate you, but I'm nothing without you."

The staff sneered at Pinocchio's pitiful praise and laughed crudely.

Such a nasty, nasty staff.

"And I can't get rid of you. Without you, I'd have to make my own decisions."

Discordant Poem
All he wanted was for someone to control his every move.

But was that really what would be best for him?

People who rely on others get hurt when it matters most.

But who could ever expect a mere puppet to understand that?

Those who leave decisions to others shun responsibility for their actions.

When the going gets tough, they run the other way. They are cowards.