Being in a bit of a Thumbelina mood, I've explored different versions of the story in movies and fanfictions and decided to make my own. The catch: it's gender reversed crossover (sort of)! You'll see what I mean ;). Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen.
Once upon a time, in a country far away, there lived a humble village. At the end of the village lived a small house in the edge of a forest. In the house lived man named Felonious Gru. He thought he was alright living by himself, but as the years went by, he soon learned he that he was indeed alone. He surely wanted his last days to be happy ones, so he longed for one thing to call his own: a child.
One day, he was leaving an herbal and antique shop, run by a big, Russian, white-bearded, red cloak-wearing good wizard, who the people called North, after his visit.
"And this seed will help me have a child?" he asked in a strange accent with the seed in hand.
"It's not just any seed, my friend," North said with a Russian accent. "It's a truffula seed. All you have to do is plant it, water it for seven days, and on the eight day it'll grow from your flower pot and it'll grant your wish."
He was hesitant at first, but he took it home and did just that. Nothing happened to the seed that week in the pot near the window, but knowing he was that desperate for his wish, he decided to keep his patience. After all, he's heard all about North's work with his good magic.
When he woke up on the eighth day, just when he thought he was tricked, the shine and warmth of the morning sun made the seed slowly sprout a gray striped stem and out came a bright pink truffula flower. He watched it grow, and what he saw: he thought he was still asleep, dreaming. He was at awe!
The soft, silky tuffs opened at the top and revealed a man: a young, skinny man, wearing black shoes, gray, striped pant with a matching gray vest over a white long-sleeved shirt, which was tucked in, and a gray fedora on his short raven hair banged at one side, sound asleep inside it, because he was incredibly small enough to fit inside it! In fact, he was only half the size of an index finger! The sunlight and the sweet smell of butterfly milk stirred him up and he yawned and stretch himself. He heard a voice gently saying, "Hello, there" to him. His eyes cleared and he saw an enormous, bald middle-aged man with a gray outfit and gray striped scarf, staring at him with a smile on his face.
At first, he thought he should be scared, but somehow, he didn't seem hostile as he looked his blue eyes stared at the man's matching ones. "Hi."
He was caught by surprise when the huge hand was held out. "It's alright, son. I won't hurt you."
"Son?" he questioned.
"That's right," he replied. "I planted the flower you came out of. You're my son."
"Really?" he asked happily. He stood up and walked onto Gru's palm, who nodded.
"What's your name?" Gru asked.
The tiny man was about to open his mouth to answer, but stopped, looking puzzled. "No clue, actually."
It is his first day on Earth, he thought. He thought and thought and came with one. "I thought of a name that says, 'a moment like this happens once in a lifetime.' It may sound strange, but I shall call you 'Once-ler.' If it is to you, I can..."
"Don't worry," he reassured, smiling and leaning on his thumb. "When you put it that way, I like it."
As days went by, the two did everything in the house together, despite his size, but he still managed. When the word got out, kids from the village would come to see him. Some brought their storybooks and he, with the help of his new dad, would read them to them, and if a song was in a book, his lovely voice would amaze the kids. Those were the best days of Gru's life. What the father and son didn't know was one day, someone was watching them.
It was night time, and the two were ready for bed after a long day with two village girls. Next to a lit candle, the father made a bed out a matchbox with a folded tissue as mattress and one as a cover and a cotton ball as a pillow for his son.
"Those two girls really love that story, do they?" Gru chuckled.
"Yeah," he answered, but with a hint of sadness. "They do."
He caught on to it. "What's wrong?"
"Their story was about fairies, and they were little like me and..." He paused and sighed. "It dawned on me that I'm the only human my size. If only I was as big as everyone else, and you wouldn't have to be on your toes all the time."
The older man knelt and eyes him sympathetically. "Listen, it was a surprise when we first met, but there was something about you that made you more than your size." His answer was genuine. "You're resourceful, optimistic, not to mention golden-voice," He smiled at that part. "and you have a kind heart. Those are blessings, but they can be curses if in the wrong hands, and luckily for you, you're not in the wrong hands." He placed his finger to lift his son's head. "You've made my days more filling and happy when you first came. You will always be my boy, no matter what size."
Listening to that, completely touched, smiled and hugged his finger. "Thanks, dad."
"Don't ever forget that," he finished and then blew out the candle. "Goodnight, son."
"Goodnight, dad."
As Gru went to his room, Once-ler tucked himself in and fell asleep.
