Poor Unfortunate Souls (5/6)
Poor Unfortunate Souls
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Authors Note:Please read the warnings carefully and the timeline I’m following goes as follows. Jiminy was nearly 30 when he became “The Cricket”. His parents had been working for Rumpelstiltskin all his life. This takes place about 5 years after Pinocchio became a real boy, given Geppetto’s age which is about 55; this makes Jiminy about 85 at this point.
Setting: Enchanted Forest
Rating: PG13
Warnings: language, violence, sensuality, adult concepts and interaction
Genre: Angst/Drama/Bittersweet Romance
Word Count: 1,623
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Rumpelstiltskin, Red Riding Hood, Sea Witch, Prince James, Grumpy
Summary: Jiminy Cricket felt the term "poor unfortunate soul" was a name created for him, all he wanted to do was love, but fate had other plans.
PART FIVE
“You know Princey, you don’t have to follow us,” Rumpelstiltskin said mildly as he trudged through the undergrowth behind Red Riding Hood. James and Grumpy ignored him, following close. “Besides, I don’t think either one of you have the stomach for seeing Red’s rage. She is very devious,” he giggled.
She groaned from up ahead, “I’m not devious…I just have an affinity for skinning things, and you will be next if you don’t shut your mouth,” she warned.
“Well you’d have to get me undressed for that so I may enjoy-OW!” Rumpelstiltskin’s sentence was cut off as Red heaved a rock at his head, “Alright, alright, no need for violence.”
“Sure there’s not,” Grumpy muttered sarcastically, causing James to laugh.
As the four continued around the lake, the three men nearly collided as Red stopped abruptly. They looked to her to see what she was looking at. Across the lake was a small cave, she went to run for the water but Rumpelstiltskin snagged her around the middle.
“Uh-uh, she’ll drown you before you get across,” he told her, holding her firmly against him, “We have to think of another way across and even then, what if that’s just a dead on dear. You cannot rush these things.”
She growled, twisting around in his arms so they were face to face, “I don’t have time! He doesn’t have time! We only have, what? Two days left?” she asked, “I will not let her have him!”
“Shhhh, Pet, shhhh, and we have until tomorrow at sunset,” Rumpelstiltskin reminded her, crushing her to his narrow chest, which made James’s brows shoot up his forehead.
“Would you stop molesting her?” James demanded.
Rumpelstiltskin merely rolled her eyes, “I’m doing no such thing, am I, Red?” he asked.
The Prince was alarmed that Red was sinking into the Imp’s embrace; her body was starting to go limp. She had fallen silent, her body started to buckle under its own weight. James and Grumpy watched as suddenly the woman dropped and Rumpelstiltskin laid her at his feet.
“What did you do?” Grumpy demanded, ready to fight, he did not know Red well but he knew her from the tales Snow and James told of her.
“She needs her rest, she’s exhausted and is going to be no use to us right now. For the first time in years she’s letting her emotions get the best of her. Such a waste,” Rumpelstiltskin replied, seemingly sad as he looked down at her. “It’s a simple spell. She’ll wake when I need her to, it will give me time to think and to see if I can strike a bargain with the Sea Witch.”
“What do you have to possibly give her?” James demanded, watching as the Imp produced a long rose from his jacket.
“A flower? Really?” Grumpy snorted.
Rumpelstiltskin shook his head, “No. This was once a man, a man who lost his love, knowing the Witch; she could effortlessly undo this spell and keep him as a companion,” his eyes were haunted, “Even beings like us get lonely. We do like to be loved too.”
“Is that why you’re so keen on helping Red? Hoping to get her into your debt to keep her close to you?” James asked.
“I don’t need her in my debt to keep her near; unlike you she does not mind my company. But if we had ever let a love grow between us, she would be used against me. I could not let harm come to her because someone was trying to get to me,” Rumpelstiltskin said, his voice was so quiet, “It’s happened more than once in my life, my dear…Red…is more precious than anything I’ve had and lost.”
Grumpy snorted, “You sound like a hopeless romantic, pathetic and weak.”
“We all have our weaknesses, you were this way once, I recall. But like me you lost that too, our pain defines us, drives us. But it never stopped me from loving this woman; it’s why I must help her. For what’s to come to come out the way we need it to, I have to,” Rumpelstiltskin warned.
James looked to Red, then to the Imp, “What?” What’s coming?”
“Something that you can’t even imagine, something so dark, but now is not the time. Keep an eye on her, I have to go talk to a Witch about a bug,” Rumpelstiltskin said, disappearing.
James crossed to Red, lifting her body into his arms. She looked at peace as she slumbered, something he rarely saw in her face. He found a fallen tree, lowering himself to sit, he held onto her, as he looked to Grumpy.
“Guess I’ll go get some firewood,” Grumpy growled, rolling his eyes, ambling off into the forest, muttering something foul about entitled royalty.
When he returned, James had set Red at his feet, pillowing her head with his cloak. Even with all the noise Grumpy was making and he made sure to make a lot, she didn’t wake. The only person he knew who could sleep like that was Sleepy. That kind of sleeping ability always left him jealous.
Hours had passed and night had fallen by the time Rumpelstiltskin came back. He trudged to the fire, looking down at Red who was still sleeping. With a small sigh, they watched as he leaned down and lightly brushed his lips to hers. Both men winced as there was a cracking noise as she slapped him upon opening her eyes, then both became disturbed that he only smiled at the girl.
“Now now, that’s not nice,” he told her, pulling her to her feet.
She merely yawned, “Well don’t put me under that spell again,” she then noted it was nighttime and went to attack again.
“Stop it, Pet,” Rumpelstiltskin said, his eyes narrowing, “After all I’ve done to help you, don’t be ungrateful.”
She immediately froze, “What did you do?” her voice was barely a whisper.
“Well good news, I found her. And more good news, she wanted to trade! Bad news, she didn’t give him. She did however give me a spell instead,” There was another resounding smack, “As much as I love you, you are trying my patience,” he growled, grabbing her wrist, “She said there is one way to get him back, you need to do her a favor.”
Red arched her brow, “What can I do for her?” she broke Rumpelstiltskin’s grip, preparing herself for what he could say.
James stood, reaching out and placing his hand on her shoulder, “This better not be a trick into damning either one of them, Imp,” he growled. Red shot him a gratified look, a small smile flashed on her lips. She wondered if this was what it was like to have a sibling.
“It won’t, I made sure of that. She needs something, a heart of a wolf,” Rumpelstiltskin replied.
Red shook her head, “But I vowed never to slay again,” she insisted, “My truce with them is already shaky, if I betray them…I can’t…”
“You have to dear, and remember, they are beasts that were more than willing to kill you and what you love. Your family, your village, you never did catch that wolf did you?” He asked, “It’s either him or them, you have to make up your mind.” As she sat down abruptly, James watched Rumpelstiltskin frown and squat down side her. He took her face in his hands and for one moment as he spoke, James heard nothing. It was like someone had covered his ears, he looked around to see Grumpy having a similar reaction.
“Did I just go deaf?” Grumpy asked as he waved his hands by his ears, Rumpelstiltskin laughed softly.
“No, I just sealed your ears momentarily,” he said.
James shot him a look, “Why? Why would you do that?”
“Because I needed to speak to Red, I needed to get through to her. The only way I truly can is to say her name,” he said.
“Red isn’t your name?” Grumpy asked, the girl shook her head.
“No.”
He continued to stare at her, “Then what is it?”
“I won’t tell you, no one calls me that anymore. That girl died a long time ago in the jaws of a wolf,” she whispered, Grumpy felt pity as he realized her hands were shaking.
“You’ll be ok, Sister. We’ll help you through this,” he promised her, she nodded, eyes gazing into the flames of the fire.
“No. No more. I do the rest on my own,” she said, she looked to all three of them. “I’m about to break another vow I had sworn on the soul of my departed parents. After this, the forest will no longer be safe, so you should all go. I’ll finish this on my own.”
They watched as she stood, then rushed off into the night. James had gotten one step when Rumpelstiltskin seized his arm with a surprisingly strong grip.
“Sorry Princling, she has to do this on her own,” he said, his voice was grave.
Grumpy snorted, “Even if that breaks her?” he demanded.
“If she wants him back, then yes. You’ve both been in love, doing whatever it takes to keep it,” Rumpelstiltskin replied.
The dwarf shook his head, “This is why it’s never worth it,” he sighed.
“Sometimes it is,” James said, “Red’s strong, she can do this.”
Rumpelstiltskin nodded, “She can and she will. She knows what’s at stake. She is strong and I know she will be able to do this, it will all work out for the best,” he said, then he cast his golden eyes around the forest, “But we should leave the forest, we’ll be safer near the shore.”
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TO BE CONTINUED
---
Feedback is ♥
One more part to go!
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Authors Note:Please read the warnings carefully and the timeline I’m following goes as follows. Jiminy was nearly 30 when he became “The Cricket”. His parents had been working for Rumpelstiltskin all his life. This takes place about 5 years after Pinocchio became a real boy, given Geppetto’s age which is about 55; this makes Jiminy about 85 at this point.
Setting: Enchanted Forest
Rating: PG13
Warnings: language, violence, sensuality, adult concepts and interaction
Genre: Angst/Drama/Bittersweet Romance
Word Count: 1,623
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Rumpelstiltskin, Red Riding Hood, Sea Witch, Prince James, Grumpy
Summary: Jiminy Cricket felt the term "poor unfortunate soul" was a name created for him, all he wanted to do was love, but fate had other plans.
PART FIVE
“You know Princey, you don’t have to follow us,” Rumpelstiltskin said mildly as he trudged through the undergrowth behind Red Riding Hood. James and Grumpy ignored him, following close. “Besides, I don’t think either one of you have the stomach for seeing Red’s rage. She is very devious,” he giggled.
She groaned from up ahead, “I’m not devious…I just have an affinity for skinning things, and you will be next if you don’t shut your mouth,” she warned.
“Well you’d have to get me undressed for that so I may enjoy-OW!” Rumpelstiltskin’s sentence was cut off as Red heaved a rock at his head, “Alright, alright, no need for violence.”
“Sure there’s not,” Grumpy muttered sarcastically, causing James to laugh.
As the four continued around the lake, the three men nearly collided as Red stopped abruptly. They looked to her to see what she was looking at. Across the lake was a small cave, she went to run for the water but Rumpelstiltskin snagged her around the middle.
“Uh-uh, she’ll drown you before you get across,” he told her, holding her firmly against him, “We have to think of another way across and even then, what if that’s just a dead on dear. You cannot rush these things.”
She growled, twisting around in his arms so they were face to face, “I don’t have time! He doesn’t have time! We only have, what? Two days left?” she asked, “I will not let her have him!”
“Shhhh, Pet, shhhh, and we have until tomorrow at sunset,” Rumpelstiltskin reminded her, crushing her to his narrow chest, which made James’s brows shoot up his forehead.
“Would you stop molesting her?” James demanded.
Rumpelstiltskin merely rolled her eyes, “I’m doing no such thing, am I, Red?” he asked.
The Prince was alarmed that Red was sinking into the Imp’s embrace; her body was starting to go limp. She had fallen silent, her body started to buckle under its own weight. James and Grumpy watched as suddenly the woman dropped and Rumpelstiltskin laid her at his feet.
“What did you do?” Grumpy demanded, ready to fight, he did not know Red well but he knew her from the tales Snow and James told of her.
“She needs her rest, she’s exhausted and is going to be no use to us right now. For the first time in years she’s letting her emotions get the best of her. Such a waste,” Rumpelstiltskin replied, seemingly sad as he looked down at her. “It’s a simple spell. She’ll wake when I need her to, it will give me time to think and to see if I can strike a bargain with the Sea Witch.”
“What do you have to possibly give her?” James demanded, watching as the Imp produced a long rose from his jacket.
“A flower? Really?” Grumpy snorted.
Rumpelstiltskin shook his head, “No. This was once a man, a man who lost his love, knowing the Witch; she could effortlessly undo this spell and keep him as a companion,” his eyes were haunted, “Even beings like us get lonely. We do like to be loved too.”
“Is that why you’re so keen on helping Red? Hoping to get her into your debt to keep her close to you?” James asked.
“I don’t need her in my debt to keep her near; unlike you she does not mind my company. But if we had ever let a love grow between us, she would be used against me. I could not let harm come to her because someone was trying to get to me,” Rumpelstiltskin said, his voice was so quiet, “It’s happened more than once in my life, my dear…Red…is more precious than anything I’ve had and lost.”
Grumpy snorted, “You sound like a hopeless romantic, pathetic and weak.”
“We all have our weaknesses, you were this way once, I recall. But like me you lost that too, our pain defines us, drives us. But it never stopped me from loving this woman; it’s why I must help her. For what’s to come to come out the way we need it to, I have to,” Rumpelstiltskin warned.
James looked to Red, then to the Imp, “What?” What’s coming?”
“Something that you can’t even imagine, something so dark, but now is not the time. Keep an eye on her, I have to go talk to a Witch about a bug,” Rumpelstiltskin said, disappearing.
James crossed to Red, lifting her body into his arms. She looked at peace as she slumbered, something he rarely saw in her face. He found a fallen tree, lowering himself to sit, he held onto her, as he looked to Grumpy.
“Guess I’ll go get some firewood,” Grumpy growled, rolling his eyes, ambling off into the forest, muttering something foul about entitled royalty.
When he returned, James had set Red at his feet, pillowing her head with his cloak. Even with all the noise Grumpy was making and he made sure to make a lot, she didn’t wake. The only person he knew who could sleep like that was Sleepy. That kind of sleeping ability always left him jealous.
Hours had passed and night had fallen by the time Rumpelstiltskin came back. He trudged to the fire, looking down at Red who was still sleeping. With a small sigh, they watched as he leaned down and lightly brushed his lips to hers. Both men winced as there was a cracking noise as she slapped him upon opening her eyes, then both became disturbed that he only smiled at the girl.
“Now now, that’s not nice,” he told her, pulling her to her feet.
She merely yawned, “Well don’t put me under that spell again,” she then noted it was nighttime and went to attack again.
“Stop it, Pet,” Rumpelstiltskin said, his eyes narrowing, “After all I’ve done to help you, don’t be ungrateful.”
She immediately froze, “What did you do?” her voice was barely a whisper.
“Well good news, I found her. And more good news, she wanted to trade! Bad news, she didn’t give him. She did however give me a spell instead,” There was another resounding smack, “As much as I love you, you are trying my patience,” he growled, grabbing her wrist, “She said there is one way to get him back, you need to do her a favor.”
Red arched her brow, “What can I do for her?” she broke Rumpelstiltskin’s grip, preparing herself for what he could say.
James stood, reaching out and placing his hand on her shoulder, “This better not be a trick into damning either one of them, Imp,” he growled. Red shot him a gratified look, a small smile flashed on her lips. She wondered if this was what it was like to have a sibling.
“It won’t, I made sure of that. She needs something, a heart of a wolf,” Rumpelstiltskin replied.
Red shook her head, “But I vowed never to slay again,” she insisted, “My truce with them is already shaky, if I betray them…I can’t…”
“You have to dear, and remember, they are beasts that were more than willing to kill you and what you love. Your family, your village, you never did catch that wolf did you?” He asked, “It’s either him or them, you have to make up your mind.” As she sat down abruptly, James watched Rumpelstiltskin frown and squat down side her. He took her face in his hands and for one moment as he spoke, James heard nothing. It was like someone had covered his ears, he looked around to see Grumpy having a similar reaction.
“Did I just go deaf?” Grumpy asked as he waved his hands by his ears, Rumpelstiltskin laughed softly.
“No, I just sealed your ears momentarily,” he said.
James shot him a look, “Why? Why would you do that?”
“Because I needed to speak to Red, I needed to get through to her. The only way I truly can is to say her name,” he said.
“Red isn’t your name?” Grumpy asked, the girl shook her head.
“No.”
He continued to stare at her, “Then what is it?”
“I won’t tell you, no one calls me that anymore. That girl died a long time ago in the jaws of a wolf,” she whispered, Grumpy felt pity as he realized her hands were shaking.
“You’ll be ok, Sister. We’ll help you through this,” he promised her, she nodded, eyes gazing into the flames of the fire.
“No. No more. I do the rest on my own,” she said, she looked to all three of them. “I’m about to break another vow I had sworn on the soul of my departed parents. After this, the forest will no longer be safe, so you should all go. I’ll finish this on my own.”
They watched as she stood, then rushed off into the night. James had gotten one step when Rumpelstiltskin seized his arm with a surprisingly strong grip.
“Sorry Princling, she has to do this on her own,” he said, his voice was grave.
Grumpy snorted, “Even if that breaks her?” he demanded.
“If she wants him back, then yes. You’ve both been in love, doing whatever it takes to keep it,” Rumpelstiltskin replied.
The dwarf shook his head, “This is why it’s never worth it,” he sighed.
“Sometimes it is,” James said, “Red’s strong, she can do this.”
Rumpelstiltskin nodded, “She can and she will. She knows what’s at stake. She is strong and I know she will be able to do this, it will all work out for the best,” he said, then he cast his golden eyes around the forest, “But we should leave the forest, we’ll be safer near the shore.”
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TO BE CONTINUED
---
Feedback is ♥
One more part to go!