Poor Unfortunate Souls (1/6)
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. I also do not own the spell used and a quote that Red Riding Hood states, which comes from "The Adventures Pinocchio".
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
Genre: Angst/Drama/Bittersweet Romance
Word Count: 2,573
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Jiminy Cricket, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood, Geppetto, the Sea Witch
Summary: Jiminy Cricket felt the term "poor unfortunate soul" was a term created for him, all he wanted to do was love, but fate had other plans.
PART ONE
Jiminy Cricket didn’t know if it was the glee on the Imp’s face or the sickening croon of his voice but he felt like he was about to make a deal with the devil. He felt that this would tarnish his soul, but it was his only way. He had no other choice. He looked to the scroll that was unfurled for him, looking it over carefully. Each word was carefully chosen and scrawled out in magic. That last time he dealt with Rumpelstiltskin, two innocent people died at his hand.
He read the words over and over, telling himself that this deal was bound to this contract. The last time, it had been a spell, and an exchange of words. There was nothing sealing that outcome, he had blindly trusted the Imp to keep his word. Jiminy swallowed hard, those deaths were his fault; they would always be his burden and his damnation.
Rumpelstiltskin was watching him, becoming seemingly distracted. By his own foresight or his attention span was truly the question there. “Come on Cricket, I do not have all day. Your voice for humanity, you get your true loves devotion, you get your voice back and the ability to change at will. You don’t…well you’re stuck as you are now.”
Jiminy glared at him as best he could, this caused the Imp to giggle, “I’m trying to be meticulous as I can about this deal. I cannot make the same mistake of trusting you again.”
“But you have to, you poor unfortunate soul, it seems fate truly despises you, doesn’t it?” Rumpelstiltskin asked merrily, “I mean, you try to do the right thing and look what happened? You take two innocent lives and your parents carry on their devious ways for 30 more years. I miss them…” he said idly, “Good business partners. Can’t find help like them anymore. Too bad you’re so pathetic and so nice, being nice gets you nowhere.”
Jiminy shook his tiny head, “I do not mourn them, but as it pains me to agree, you are right on some level. Fate has not been kind to me and though you think me weak, I know I am not. I know I am a good man.”
“You’re a cricket.”
“Rumpelstiltskin,” Jiminy sighed, “Tell me I’m doing the right thing,” he said, looking directly at him.
The Imp studied him; the look on his face was hard to read. Usually Jiminy could read into a person, something he had been able to do since childhood, the empathetic nature he possessed had only increased with the Fairy’s gift. Rumpelstiltskin seemed sympathetic and sad as he considered the Cricket’s words. They had known one another for many years, longer than anyone who knew, neither one willing to admit that it neared 90 years.
Rumpelstiltskin heaved a sigh, “I cannot answer that for you, that would be no fun. I do know how this will play out and as much as I do not want to spoil much, you will gain what you desire but I will not say if yours in true loves way. You will have to learn that on your own. Do you think she is worth this?”
Jiminy closed his eyes, the image of her, standing in the moonlight, cloak blowing all around her came to his mind. “Yes.”
“Then sign, and try to prove fate wrong.”
~*~
THREE YEARS EARLIER
~*~
“Pinocchio! What did I tell you? Stay on the path!” Jiminy cried from the shoulder of the boy. The boy just laughed in response, causing the Cricket to sigh in exasperation. “These woods are dangerous!”
Pinocchio merely laughed again, “Jiminy, you worry too much!” He insisted as he journeyed further from the path.
A loud growl cut off the boy’s laughter immediately, causing him to step dead in his tracks. This was one of the few times that Jiminy regretted becoming a Cricket, he could not physically protect the boy. He heard Pinocchio gulp as a large wolf appeared in front of them. It was emaciated; the desperation in its eyes spoke to Jiminy. Wolves in these parts were hunted; most would not roam free which meant they could not hunt to feed themselves. It must have been nearing three weeks since this one last ate. Its pain touched Jiminy, but the fact it was more than willing to eat the boy, didn’t settle well either.
Suddenly a sweep of Red blocked his vision of the starving creature. He saw two hands, both clutching daggers, ready to strike. He would recognize the woman anywhere. Lady Red Riding Hood, one of the most renowned hunters of all the lands. The title given to her from the King himself, who had once scoffed at the woman’s reputation, sneering that no woman, could beat a man at the skill of Hunting. That was until she saved him on a routine Hunt when he had become lost; from then on she was a valued asset of his War Table. She was one of the few people Prince James counted on when he traveled.
“I will offer you a choice, leave or be skinned alive,” she told the wolf, “I will give you the courtesy that you did not bestow upon me. I do not give you long, turn away or die.” Her voice was cold; the grip on daggers was strong enough that her knuckles were white.
There was a loud snort, then the wolf retreated, she waited until the underbrush stopped rustling to turn to face them. When she did, she was a mix of stunning beauty and total fury. She seized Pinocchio by his collar and dragged him back to the path.
She put her hands on her hips and glared down at the boy, he was shaking beneath Jiminy’s legs. “La-lady R-id-, I-I-“
“I assume you were ignoring Jiminy when he told you to keep on the path? You cannot just do what you want boy, not here in these woods. You leave the path, you die, and you’re in luck that I happen to patrol these parts. Had I not been in earshot, your new little life would have been snuffed out already! You’re a fool!” she shouted, not softening as the boy burst into tears. “Quit crying, your tears will not make me feel sorry for you. I’m living proof that you need to obey parents and parental advice about these woods.”
Pinocchio’s continued to tremble as Red steered him down the path and swiftly back to Geppetto’s cottage. Her fist slammed on the door to the point it rattled.
“Mastro Geppetto!” she called, the door opened with great effort, the man smiled when he saw her but it faded fast with the fury on her face.
“Pinocchio,” the old man said sternly, and the boy flung himself at Geppetto as fast as he could. Jiminy was dislodged at the speed and fluttered to the ground. He shook himself as he flipped over and grabbed his umbrella, he saw the dirt around him move as Red cupped her hands and he climbed into her waiting hands. “What did he do?”
Jiminy climbed from Red’s hands onto her shoulder and both looked at Geppetto. “He went off the path and was almost eaten. He was lucky, I think a good beating would instill the fact he must listen to our dear Jiminy when he tells Pinocchio to do something,” the woman said, Jiminy shook his head.
“Violence will not help, Lady Red, though as you see words do little use,” he watched her try to hide a smile at his honest words.
The Cricket watched as Geppetto’s features softened, “As you know, Jiminy, sometimes words seem useless but they do catch up to him. Come inside, Lady Riding Hood and I will make you supper, in show of my gratitude for saving my boy.”
To Jiminy’s surprise, the woman walked into the Mastro’s home, she was not known for her social nature. He surmised it was due to her long journey that she accepted the offer. She set Jiminy down on Geppetto’s crafting table, looking over his work. He couldn’t help but watch her; she was a sight to behold, her stern face melting to that of wonder at Geppetto’s work. Her fingers gently danced over a detailed frame, tracing the intricate design.
He cleared his throat, gaining her attention, “Thank you for your help, Lady Red. I’m sorry I could not do more to help,” he apologized; she bent down, bringing her face level to his.
“There is no need to ask for forgiveness, dear Jiminy. You have done your share,” she assured him, the warmth in her eyes made him flutter his wings nervously. It had been so many years since he had changed, close to 40 years, he had forgotten how truly beautiful a woman could be. When he had been human, too weak under his parents thumb; he never had the opportunity to get to experience love or relationships. Until now, he never put a thought towards it.
Through the day, he watched the woman, as she assisted Geppetto. Between making their meal and moving heavy supplies from one place to another, she did the tasks with a smile. As they sat to eat, he watched as she picked at what food was given, saving some in a cloth she then tucked into her belt. When night had fallen, the Mastro offered her a place to stay for the night. To Jiminy’s surprise, she accepted, but insisted on patrolling outside first. When she swept from the cottage, he followed her into the night, intrigued as she ventured into the woods. He watched as she, without hesitation, left the path and continued into the dark forest.
He followed close as she stopped, listened then changed direction, he hopped a long behind her. She stopped again, this time she let out a whistle, he heard rustling nearby and she sounded again. He watched as she removed the cloth with the majority of her dinner from her belt as the wolf from earlier appeared.
“Here,” she said, she offered to animal. It watched her close, and then slowly moved forward, suspecting a trap. She placed the cloth on the ground, taking a step back. “Eat,” she urged, “It will keep you away from small children, but I am sorry I could not do more.”
Jiminy felt overwhelmed at the sight. He knew the history of Red and the Wolves well. She hunted them for sport for an amount of time. She was the one who set the King to make a rule that wolves would be hunted. But here she was, freely feeding one, showing no fear. As she turned, offering her back, he heard the wolf whimper softly to her. She turned back, smiled and then looked down to him. Jiminy scaled her quickly and settled onto her shoulder.
“Lady Red…I must say I am surprised,” he admitted, she nodded slowly and careful as not to dislodge him.
Her lips were a thin smile, “I regret the decision I made. With the King gone, the old Hunters will not accept James’s new rule of not hunting the wolves. Their plight is my fault. I know now that I should help them when I can. We must be kind and courteous to others, if we want to find kindness and courtesy in our own days of trouble.”
Jiminy almost lost his grip on her shoulder, “I have spoken those same words,” he said in awe, there was no a twinkle in her eye.
“It’s a good lesson. One I wish I had learned much earlier, I am saddened I did not have you to guide me through my dark days.” She told him, “If I had, maybe things would have been different.”
It was that moment, he realized he had fallen in love with her, but it would be three more years of knowing her and longing to be able to stand beside her on two legs that would drive him to his decision…
~*~
“Why my voice?” Jiminy had to ask, the Imp’s gleeful laughter was starting to grate on his nerves. Mostly because it was making him have seconds thoughts since it wasn’t a lucid sound.
Rumpelstiltskin shrugged, “It’s a stipulation on the spell, ask the Sea Witch, but given your current state, it’s the most powerful thing you have. You’re a conscious, so your endless prattering is all you have in the way of value. It’s what I would have chosen to take from you as well.”
“The Sea Witch? You gained this spell from her? I did not know she could journey onto land after what happened to her,” Jiminy replied, the Imp looked unimpressed and bored with the conversation.
“She can. She just chooses to stay in the sea where her powers are at their utmost peak. The maiden, Vanessa, as she goes by when she is on land, you’ve seen her in these parts. She usually appears as a voluptuous girl about 24 with long dark hair, wandering by the sea, looking for more fools to prey upon.”
Jiminy glared, “I do not like being called a fool. I think there is nothing unwise about my desire to have a human form. You were loved once, you had a son, but I’ve been robbed of even those most precious experiences. Even though it is painful to think of those times, would you give them up?”
Rumpelstiltskin paused, his eyes going vacant as he slipped into his memories, “No. I wouldn’t,” The pain in his voice was clear and strong, Jiminy hoped it was something he could use to ensure his own safety.
“Then let me have the same chance. I had to wait all these years to find her,” Jiminy pleaded, Rumpelstiltskin looked at him, then the rolled scroll in his hand and then back to him. He knew the Imp was toying with the idea of crushing him.
But that look of deviance quickly faded into a twisted smile, “Alright. If that is what you want…” he trailed off, his eyes glowing bright, it was almost like looking into the sun. “Beluga sevruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea…” he began, Jiminy felt power surge through his tiny form, it was burning through him, he felt like he was dying. “Larengix glaucitis, et max laryngitis, la voce to me!” The sensation was too much to take, Jiminy felt himself passing out, Rumpelstiltskin’s laughter following him until he could hear no more.
When he opened his eyes, he found Rumpelstiltskin lying on the floor face to face with him. He let out a silent gasp and backed away, which made the Imp laugh. Rumpelstiltskin propped himself up on his elbows, watching Jiminy flail about for a few moments. But he quickly regained his composure, which made Rumpelstiltskin smirk.
“I see you remember how to use your limbs, good. I was dreading the thought of having to teach you, but once you regain your strength and stability you may leave.”
Jiminy nodded, waiting a few moments before climbing to his feet. He swayed unsteadily for a few moments, but regained his bearings. He tested a few steps before heading for the door.
“Good luck!” Rumpelstiltskin giggled as Jiminy headed out the door and into the day, but not before he heard, “You’re going to need it!”
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To be Continued
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