Pinocchio: Book 2 Chapter 1

Verse 1
Pinocchio was tired.

The Library went on and on.

As did the nightmares.

Each fatigued groan was greeted with

a vicious tongue-lashing by the staff.

And whenever he begged to rest,

that cruel pole jabbed him in the ribs.

"Oh, fairy above...

Why must I

keep fighting?"

Pinocchio:

Why do we all have to fight?

Parrah:

You fight for your desires.

Pinocchio:

Is it less scary if you fight for them?

Noya:

Huh? Make more sense, wannabe boy.

Pinocchio:

I'm...scared...

Verse 2
I know we all seek to revive Them...

but still,

how can everyone fight so calmly?

Verse 3
If you really love your author,

then it's only natural to self-sacrifice.

It's a protagonists duty, isn't it?

Verse 4
If my author wanted,

I would have to slaughter any enemy.

It's a protagonist's duty isn't it?

Verse 5
Everyone else has a mission in life...

I'm the only one

who's a lamb to the slaughter.

Verse 6
Am I spoiled? Is that why I'm afraid?

I guess it's just the way of the world...

And I'm the freak show.

Verse 7
Dumb little stick puppet,

you could never understand real people.

Just dance to the pull of your strings.

Verse 8
The staff urges me to stop thinking,

to keep killing.

That's what feels best.

Verse 9
Fighting is scary.

But what truly scares me is...

Verse 10
Pinocchio felt a wave of relief.

Behind the nightmare

stood another creature,

shaking with fear.

When asked if it wanted to fight,

the dragon shook in terror. "No."

Finally, an ally.

Someone who understands my feelings.

With a happy smile,

Pinocchio stepped forward,

weapon in hand,

ready to kill the dragon.

Dragon:

Why?! Why? Why fight me?!

Pinocchio:

I-It wasn't me! It's the staff!

Parrah:

No. You willed it.

Noya:

The staff and your will are one.

Parrah:

It's all because you willed it!

Noya:

Throw the staff away if you want.

Pinocchio couldn't let the staff go,

even as he begged it to stop.

"If I were to get rid of it,

then who would tell me what to do?

Who would give me my orders?"

Pinocchio himself wasn't slashing and slicing the dragon,

whom he had once seen as a friend.

No...

Pinocchio was merely giving into fear

and letting his staff do all the work.

Discordant Poem
People who search for meaning in battle

have not experienced true fear.

No matter what happens,

no matter how sad I feel,

I'll kill anyone that stands in my way...

I'm terrified by my own actions.

The anxiety and solitude were crushing.

Life was so hard...

But that didn't mean he wanted to die.