・❥・this contains spoilers for the backstory for The king of puppets other than that enjoy

The air in the room crackled with tension as Pinocchio finally stood before the king of puppets, the one who held the fate of this bleak world in his mechanical grasp. It was a critical moment in the wooden puppet's journey, a confrontation that would determine the course of his quest to collect Ergo for Geppetto.

However, this fateful encounter was not a solitary one. Standing beside Pinocchio was you, a formidable Stalker who had crossed paths with the wooden puppet many times before. The animosity between you two was palpable, each harboring a deep-seated disdain for the other.

For Pinocchio, you had become an irksome obstacle in his mission. The Stalker's relentless interference and repeated attempts to thwart him had grown increasingly frustrating. Pinocchio couldn't comprehend your motivations, nor did he have any interest in understanding you. He simply wanted to collect Ergo and fulfill his promise to Geppetto, and anyone who got in his way was an adversary to be dealt with.

You, on the other hand, had your own reasons for despising Pinocchio. Whether it was the puppet's robotic nature, his affiliation with Geppetto, or a personal vendetta, the specifics of your animosity were known only to you. The tension between them had escalated over time, fueled by a mutual desire to outmaneuver and defeat the other.

Romeo, the King of Puppets, watched the unfolding drama from within the towering exoskeleton of his metal suit, a colossal creation that bore testament to the power and influence he held over the kingdom of puppets. The cold, lifeless arms of the suit were crossed, and his mechanical gaze was fixed on the situation at hand.

Romeo's history was entwined with that of both Pinocchio and you. He had shared a deep childhood friendship with Carlo, a bond that transcended time and adversity. Tragedy had struck when both Romeo and Carlo fell victim to the dreaded Petrification Disease, a cruel affliction that had gripped Krat in its relentless grasp. In their darkest hour, Romeo had made the decision to preserve his own life by becoming a puppet, leaving his beloved friend, Carlo, behind.

As he observed the conflict before him, Romeo carried the weight of loss and sacrifice in his mechanical heart. Carlo's passing was a wound that could never fully heal, and Romeo had chosen to become the King of Puppets, a position of power and authority in the puppet realm, in part to ensure that his friend's legacy was remembered. The bond between them was one that transcended death, and it had driven Romeo to act in a way that would honor Carlo's memory.

You, on the other hand, had taken a different path. You had managed to fulfill the shared childhood dream of becoming a Stalker, a feat that required courage and determination. However, the price you had paid was steep, as it had led to a profound loss of sanity. Your journey had taken you to the edge of your own humanity, a transformation that came with consequences.

In the midst of the tense standoff, the perspectives and motivations of Pinocchio, you, and Romeo sharply contrasted, coloring their interactions and actions.

For Pinocchio, the King of Puppets, Romeo, was perceived primarily as a formidable adversary. His mission to collect Ergo for Geppetto required defeating this puppet ruler to achieve his goals. Romeo was seen as an obstacle to be overcome, an opponent whose defeat would bring Pinocchio one step closer to fulfilling his promise and becoming a real boy. While Pinocchio had little interest in the complexities of the puppet world, he understood that he needed to vanquish Romeo to succeed in his quest.

Your perspective was straightforward but vehement. You regarded both Pinocchio and Romeo as malevolent puppets that needed to be eliminated. In your eyes, there was no room for nuance or understanding. Your determination to rid Krat of these supposed threats had driven you to confront and combat them repeatedly. Your mission was rooted in a deep-seated belief that the puppet world could only be saved by purging it of those she deemed sinister. Your view was unwavering, and your actions reflected a resolve to achieve this goal at any cost.

Romeo's outlook was far more complex and rooted in nostalgia. He observed the tense standoff with a sense of confusion and a deep well of melancholy. These two figures before him, Pinocchio and you, were once his closest friends in childhood. However, the Petrification Disease had robbed them of their shared memories, leaving them as strangers to one another and to him. Romeo longed for the companionship of his lost friends but recognized that the circumstances were far from ideal. He saw them as bewildered, perhaps even conflicted, as they faced one another.

Romeo, with a heavy heart, decided to take a different approach. He understood that the situation was fraught with tension and unresolved conflicts, and his hope was to rekindle the bonds of friendship that had once united them. With a sense of nostalgia and a desire to bridge the gap between these estranged friends, he turned on some music and cleared a space in the room, gently pushing aside the tables.

With careful and deliberate movements, Romeo aimed to create an environment where the negative feelings that had built up between Pinocchio and you could be danced away. The music served as a soundtrack to this unconventional reconciliation attempt, a reminder of their shared past and the joy they had once found in each other's company.

Romeo believed that dancing together might serve as a means to reconnect on a human level, to rediscover the camaraderie and understanding they had once shared as friends. It was a gesture of hope, a plea for unity in the midst of discord, and a reminder that beneath their puppet exteriors, there were still fragments of their former selves waiting to be uncovered. The room, once heavy with tension, was now filled with the possibility of reconciliation as the music played on, inviting Pinocchio and you to set aside their animosity and dance away their negative emotions.

Despite Romeo's heartfelt attempt to mend the rift between Pinocchio and you through the healing power of dance, it seemed that their animosity and distrust ran too deep. The two adversaries, locked in a longstanding rivalry, refused to embrace the opportunity for reconciliation. Instead, they pushed each other away and reached for their weapons, ready to continue their confrontation.

Observing their stubbornness and determination to clash, Romeo couldn't help but roll his eyes in exasperation. He had hoped that their shared history as childhood friends might be enough to sway them towards a more peaceful resolution. However, it was clear that the wounds and grievances they carried were too profound to be remedied with a simple dance.

With the patience of an older sibling trying to defuse a quarrel between younger ones, Romeo intervened, disarming both Pinocchio and you. His actions were a symbol of his continued effort to bring them together, despite their resistance. Perhaps, with time and persistence, he could still rekindle the bonds of friendship and understanding that had once united them.

Romeo's intervention took an unexpected turn as he clapped his robotic suit's hand and gestured for Pinocchio and you to dance. With a reluctant but knowing nod, the two adversaries hesitated but eventually walked up to each other. They held hands, a symbol of their tentative cooperation, as they prepared to put on a show to satisfy the King of Puppets.

As Romeo's command echoed, other puppets joined them on the dance floor, forming a circle of dance partners. The puppet dancers in suits graciously bowed to their partners in elegant white dresses, a traditional gesture of respect. In response, the partners wearing the white dresses curtsied in return. The atmosphere was filled with a peculiar blend of tension and formality.

With everyone now paired up, the dance took on a life of its own. Each duo positioned one hand on their partner's shoulder and the other on their partner's hip, creating a close and intimate connection. It was clear that the intricate dance required a level of cooperation and coordination between partners, and the subtle movements and hand placements signified a bond that went beyond mere formality.

Pinocchio and you mirrored the actions of their fellow dancers, hesitantly and with a touch of reluctance. They held each other with one hand on the shoulder and the other intertwined with a free hand, forming a connection that went beyond the surface level. The dance began, and as the circle of partners moved gracefully to the music, an unspoken understanding started to emerge between Pinocchio and you. In this shared dance, a flicker of recognition and a hint of camaraderie began to surface, buried beneath the layers of rivalry and conflict.

The circle of background dancers moved with a grace and fluidity that spoke of their experience and professionalism. As they danced, they slowly rotated in a circle, their movements coordinated and seamless. Each dancer executed precise twirls, adding a touch of elegance to the performance.

Pinocchio and you, who found themselves thrust into this intricate dance, tried their best to mimic the professionals, albeit with some awkwardness. It was clear that neither of them had extensive experience in formal dances, and their attempts at twirling and matching the steps were far from perfect. Amid their clumsy efforts to imitate the background dancers, their eyes remained locked in a fierce glare, radiating the unresolved animosity that had long festered between them.

As the dance continued, the background dancers executed a sequence of moves that included a graceful dip to the side, followed by a turn in the opposite direction, and another dip. The motions flowed seamlessly as the professionals moved in harmony, and it was evident that this dance was a well-practiced routine for them.

Pinocchio and you, although still locked in a bitter rivalry, tried their best to follow suit. The unfamiliar choreography left them puzzled, and yet, they couldn't deny the relief in having some distance between them. While their movements may not have mirrored the grace of the background dancers, the physical separation allowed them a brief respite from their tension.

The puppets in suits continued to lead the dance with precision, and the next part of the choreography involved a graceful twirl of their partner in white under their arm. It was a move that required trust and coordination between the dance partners, and the seamless execution of this maneuver was a testament to the puppets' long-standing partnership.

Before Pinocchio had a chance to lead you through this step, you took the initiative and twirled him under your arm. It was a gesture that mixed both defiance and compliance, an acknowledgment of the dance's requirements as well as a display of your own strength. As Pinocchio spun beneath your arm, his mechanical and freckled hand gripped yours, a momentary connection that transcended their rivalry.

In the next moment, you twirled Pinocchio away to a different partner. Your decision seemed to be guided by chance, as you caught a random puppet in white who was part of the ensemble. The background dancers were skilled enough to adapt to the sudden change in partners, seamlessly continuing the dance without a hitch.

In this fleeting moment, Pinocchio found himself dancing with a stranger, and you did the same. It was a twist of fate that momentarily broke their intense rivalry and allowed them to experience the dance from a different perspective. The dynamics of the dance were shifting, and as they continued to move through the graceful steps, an unspoken tension began to give way to a peculiar sense of cooperation.

The blank puppets, who had now taken charge as the temporary dance partners for Kat and Pinocchio, guided the dance with practiced precision. It was evident that these puppets were accustomed to performing this choreography flawlessly, and the ease with which they executed the steps showcased their expertise.

The next part of the dance involved a swift twirl, catching both you and Pinocchio by surprise. While Pinocchio had become more accustomed to the rhythm of the dance, you was taken aback by the sudden acceleration. Yet, their new partners maintained their composure and continued to lead the intricate steps.

As the dance progressed, the puppets spun their partners, creating an almost dizzying but exhilarating experience. Pinocchio had grown used to the rapid turns, while you struggled to keep up with the swift motions. The dance was evolving, and with each twirl and spin, the tension between the two rivals was slowly being replaced by a growing sense of camaraderie, even if it was just a temporary alliance on the dance floor.

The synchronized movements of the puppets and their dance partners continued to mesmerize the dance floor. The music guided the intricate steps, and it was as though the dance had a life of its own. Pinocchio, while not as graceful as the puppets, gradually adapted to the rhythm, his wooden joints and mechanical arm moving with increasing fluidity.

However, it was clear that you were struggling to keep up with the swift and complex choreography. The constant twirls and spins had left you feeling somewhat dizzy and disoriented. Thankfully, your partner in the long white gown, who had a grace and elegance about her, recognized your difficulty and extended a helping hand.

With a supportive hand on your hip, she guided the human through the steps at a slower pace. Her gentle guidance allowed you to regain some composure, and together, they attempted to synchronize their movements with the other dancers. Although their dance was still somewhat shaky, there was a shared sense of determination to make the best of the situation.

The dance continued with a mesmerizing ebb and flow, its rhythm and pace creating a captivating performance. The dancers, both puppets in suits and those in elegant white gowns, moved in unison, twisting and turning with remarkable grace. It was as though the dance floor had transformed into a realm of elegance and enchantment.

As the music guided them, the dancers began to slow their movements, almost teasingly. Their synchronization was a testament to the precision and skill of the puppeteers. They moved in the opposite direction now, twirling in perfect harmony, creating a breathtaking display.

In an unexpected and exhilarating moment, the pairs hoisted their partners into the air, each puppet holding their partner aloft with seemingly effortless strength. You were lifted high above, your heart racing as you felt the exhilaration of the lift. For a brief moment, you felt weightless, suspended in the air, and a rush of excitement coursed through you.

Pinocchio, on the other hand, experienced the lift with his usual nonchalant demeanor. His puppet body remained rigid as he was effortlessly raised into the air, his expressionless face showing no visible emotion. He accepted the lift with an air of indifference, an inherent trait of his puppet nature.

Despite their differences and animosities, you and Pinocchio found themselves caught up in the captivating dance. The shared experience of being lifted into the air was a unique and unexpected moment, and it left an indelible mark on their memories. The dance floor had become a place of connection and shared experiences, transcending the rivalry that had once defined their relationship.

As the dance continued, the partners rotated once more, and you and Pinocchio found themselves paired up again. This time, their movements were more synchronized, a testament to the experience they had gained throughout the dance.

Pinocchio confidently placed his hand on your waist, his robotic arm providing stability. You, although still somewhat annoyed by the situation, placed your hand on Pinocchio's shoulder and extended your free hand to meet his in the middle.

The two's movements had become more fluid and graceful, and despite their initial reluctance, they had developed a certain chemistry in their dance. The tension between them seemed to have lessened, at least temporarily, as they were drawn into the captivating rhythm of the performance.

As the music began to slow, the dancers gracefully spun in their circles, and each pair took their turns bowing with elegance and poise. The entire performance came to a graceful and harmonious conclusion as the dancers paid their respects to the music and their fellow partners.

You and Pinocchio, who had started the dance with resentment and animosity, now found themselves bowing in unison, acknowledging each other as partners in this unexpected and strangely beautiful experience. For a brief moment, the hostility between them was set aside, replaced by a shared sense of accomplishment and the profound impact of the dance they had just shared.

The final bow marked the end of the performance, leaving both you and Pinocchio with a newfound understanding of one another, albeit one concealed beneath the surface of their complicated relationship.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ this chapter was fun but man ballroom dancing is difficult to explain in words