That Still Small Voice
The Enchanted Forest
A crowd gathered near a booth, watching a puppet show.
"I wish, I wish, but nothing changes," lamented the Princess. "I wish I was better at wishing! Alas, will no-one slay this fearsome dragon and win my hand in marriage?"
As the puppet show continued, a young boy weaved through the crowd, pick-pocketing wallets, purses… anything he could get his hands on.
"Aha! I will slay the fearsome dragon, milady, or die trying!" the Prince called.
"Goodbye, dear prince," the Princess said. "It was nice knowing you!"
The Princess puppet was removed, and a dragon puppet appeared.
"Who dares disturbed my sleep?" it roared.
"Uh, he went that way!" the Prince lied.
"Then I will go that way!" the Dragon growled. The crowd laughed as the Prince nodded vigorously.
"Very good idea. You go that way and I'll…"
After their puppet show, the puppeteers, Myrna and Martin, along with their son, Jiminy, examined their earnings. Well, more like stolen objects. Most of it was taken by Jiminy from unsuspecting viewers.
A coin dropped and Jiminy went to pick it up.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Careful, careful!" Martin called.
"Don't let those coins roll away," Myrna scolded.
"No, they might disappear," Martin said. Performing a sleight of hand trick, he made the coin disappear and "reappear" behind Myrna's ear. "Whoop, whoop, ha! Look at that."
Pulling a small cage out of a bag, Jiminy grinned at the sight of a cricket.
"Oh, a cricket! I love crickets!"
"Crickets are trouble," Myrna told him. "Noisy bugs."
"But they get to do whatever they want, hopping from place to place. They're free."
"You're free," his mother said.
"To do what we want," Martin added.
"To be who you are."
"And you are who you are."
"Well, maybe I want to be something else," Jiminy said. "Maybe I don't wanna steal. Maybe I wanna be good."
"All that from a cricket," Martin muttered.
"Told ya. Trouble," Myrna told him.
Martin looked at his son.
""Good" is another word for "weak"."
"Let us do the thinking for you," Myrna added. "That's what parents are for."
"To help you!"
"You are who you are, and there's no changing it, Jiminy. Right?"
"Right," Jiminy nodded.
"Right. Problem solved," Martin said, giving his son a smile.
Dr. Hopper's Office
Archie sat across from Henry, writing on a notebook during their session.
"You weren't always a cricket," Henry told him.
"I wasn't al… Oh right, because um… because you think I'm Jiminy Cricket. Why… Why do you… Why do you think that Henry?"
"It's just because of who you are," Henry answered.
"And who am I?"
"You're a conscience. You help people see right from wrong."
Tilting his head to the side, Archie gave Henry a warm smile.
"So, all of the crickets in Storybrooke, they were once people too?"
"There aren't any crickets here. Listen." Going to the window, he opened it, listening it closely. They heard an owl hooting, but no crickets.
"Maybe it isn't late enough," Archie suggested.
"There's never been crickets here. You've just never noticed."
Blinking, Archie shook his head.
"So, you think that's proof that there's a curse?"
"Yes, but I know it's not enough. I'm looking for more."
"So, Henry, Look, I asked you this once before and you said you'd think about it. Why… why do you think it is so important that this is real?"
"It… It just is."
"All right, well… Keep thinking about that answer Henry, 'cause I think there's something buried there."
Storybrooke Sheriff Department
Emma stared down at the uniform Graham wanted her to wear. She held up the shirt so that Penny could see it from her spot at Graham's desk.
"A tie?" Penny deadpanned.
"Right!" Emma exclaimed. She looked to the Sheriff. "You know you don't have to dress a woman as a man to give her authority."
"So… you think you can get people to do what you want in that red coat?"
"I'm getting you to do what I want right now," Emma replied, throwing the shirt down.
With a sigh, Graham shook his head.
"Well, at least wear the badge. Go on. Take it. If you really want to be a part of this community, you have to make it official." Emma clicked the badge on her blet and a loud tremor shook the office briefly. Penny jumped to her feet as car alarms started blaring and all the telephones began to ring.
Abandoned Mines
At the entrance to the Mines, a crowd gathered around the collapsed one. Regina exited her car and approached the crowd as the police cruiser arrived.
"Everyone step back please," Regina ordered.
"Is that a crater?" Ruby asked. Marco shook his head.
"No. There were tunnels, uh, old mines. Something collapsed."
"Be careful, step back," Regina commanded.
The Mayor turned as Graham and Emma approached.
"Sheriff set up a police perimeter. Marco, why don't you help with the fire department?" She frowned at Emma. "Miss Swan, this is now official town business. You're free to go."
"Well, actually, I work for the town now."
Face turning stormy, Regina shot Graham a look.
"She's my new deputy," he defended.
"They say the mayor's always last to know," Regina quipped.
"It's in my budget."
"Indeed." She shot him another look. A look Penny didn't approve of, but she respectfully bit back her tongue.
Taking a short breath, Regina turned to address Emma.
"Deputy, why don't you make yourself useful and help with crowd control?" She turned to the crowd. "People of Storybrooke, don't be alarmed. We've always known this area was honeycombed with old mining tunnels, but fear not. I'm going to undertake a project to take this area safe, to rehabilitate it to city use. We will bulldoze it, collapse it, pave it…"
As the Mayor spoke, Henry and Archie walked up.
"Pave it?" Henry asked. "What if there's something down there?"
"Henry, what are you doing here?" Regina asked in a whisper.
"What's down there?" Henry whispered back.
"Nothing," Regina answered. "Now step back. In fact, everyone please, please step back. Thank you. Let's go boys."
Noticing something on the ground, Regina picked up a piece of glass with a worried look.
"What was that?" Henry asked Penny. She shrugged as Regina rolled her eyes.
"Henry, enough. Listen, this is a safety issue now, wait in the car… Deputy Swan, Sheriff, cordon off the area."
Henry beckoned to Archie and Emma from his mom's car.
"Hey, Archie!" he called. "Over here." Penny joined the trio, yawning tiredly. "This requires all of Operation Cobra… all three of you."
"I didn't realize I was in Operation Cobra," Archie told him.
"Of course you are, you know everything."
Pursing his lips, he looked desperately up at the adults.
"We can't let her do this. What if there's something down there?"
"They're just some old tunnels," Emma reminded him.
"That just happened to collapse right after you get here?" he asked.
"You're changing things. You're weakening the Curse."
"That's not what happening," she disagreed.
"Yes. It is. Did you do anything different today? 'Cause something made this happen."
Regina walked up to them as Emma, in deep thought, lightly touched her badge
"Henry, I told you to wait in the car," she told her son. "Deputy, do your job." Archie started to walk away, and she stopped him.
"Dr. Hopper. A word please?"
The doctor approached her.
"Okay, we're done with this," she started.
"Uh, excuse me?" Archie questioned.
"My son. We need a new treatment plan. Everything I do he thinks is part of some horrible plot. I can't over up a safety hazard without him thinking I'm hiding something. How am I hiding something terrible in an old mine? How is any of this logical to him?"
"He's got an amazing imagination."
"Yes, that you two…" She shot a pointed look in Penny's direction. "… let run rampant."
"Well, I think it would be wrong to rip away the world he's constructed," Archie said. "I'd rather use it to try and get—"
The Mayor huffed, "Sometimes, I think you've forgotten. You work for me. You're an employee, and I can fire you. This is my town. You will lose your office, lose your house. I can cut you down to size until you're a tiny, shrunken little creature, and this…" Regina held up his umbrella. "… this will be the only roof over your damn head."
Archie swallowed, "What would you have me do?" She smirked evilly.
"You take that delusion out of my son's head, and you crush it."
The Enchanted Forest
The young Jiminy grew into an adult, although he continued his thieving job. He lived with his parents in that small covered wagon. They arrived at a small market and Myrna looked appreciably around.
"Come on, Jiminy. Oh, I remember this place. Looks like it's been a good year."
"Yeah, you can tell by the fat people," Martin joked.
The man's wife chuckled, then lowered her voice.
"Maybe we can run the elf tonic scam here."
"Oh, can't we just… Can't we just put on a show?" Jiminy asked. "We make enough on ticket sales. Do we have to steal too?"
His parents made sounds of disgust.
"We don't need too, but it's nice. We steal from them and they steal from someone else," Martin said.
"It's called an economy," Myrna added.
"I want to change. I-I want to quit!" Jiminy tried.
"Oh, this again," Myrna sighed.
"No, you can't leave now," Martin cried. "We're getting old."
"It's my hip."
"My liver."
"I got lumps in strange places."
"I've got burning sensations."
"You'd better stay with us."
"Just until we die."
"Now, be a good boy and set up."
Thunder rumbled as rain fell heavily. Jiminy set up the wagon for the puppet show. A young boy approached him.
"Puppets! Wow!" the boy exclaimed. Jiminy glanced at him for a moment. "What a great job you have!" Looking unhappy, Jiminy turned back to his work. "What? You don't like it?"
"No, no I don't," Jiminy answered truthfully. "Same show, same fairs, every year."
The boy's brow furled.
"Well… then, why don't you do something else?"
"It's just who I am." He frowned at the little boy. "Well, did you just come out here to watch us set up?"
"No, I came out here to listen to the crickets." Jiminy cracked a tiny smile.
"Oh crickets. I haven't listened to the crickets in a while. Hey, you'd better get home or you're gonna catch a cold."
"So will you," the boy said. "Here, have my umbrella. I don't like far." He offered it and Jiminy took it. The boy grinned and began to hurry away. "I can't wait to see the show!"
Dr. Hopper's Office
Archie sat in his office once more, tapping his pen on his leg. There came a knock at the door and Marco poked his head inside.
"Hey, Archie," he greeted.
"Marco, what are you doing here?" Archie asked. Marco motioned to his mouth. "Oh, lunch. I'm sorry, I forgot. I've got another patient. Another time?"
"Sure, of course," Marco nodded.
Henry entered the room and Marco smiled at him.
"Hey. Have a good session, Henry." Marco left them as Henry sat down on the couch.
"Hey," Archie told Henry.
"Are you recruiting Geppetto for Operation Cobra?"
"You think Marco is Geppetto?" Archie asked.
"Sure, he's Jiminy Cricket's best friend, and Marco's yours."
"Henry, Henry look. We… we really need to talk about this, okay?"
Sighing, Henry shook his head.
"I know you're not convinced, but I know where I can get proof." Henry opened his backpack, showing Archie the continents.
"What is this?" Archie questioned, looking through it.
"A flashlight? And candy bars? Oh, wait. Henry. Henry, you do not want to go down there."
"Emma's here, and stuff's happening. I have to look at it."
"Henry, Henry. Stop!"
The boy stopped, looking at his therapist.
"There's no proof. Look… all of this… all of this is a delusion. Do you know what a delusion is?"
"I… I think so," Henry said slowly.
"It's something that's not real. And… and not healthy. And… and I thought you'd outgrow this, but Henry, you know… know it's turned into a psychosis. Do you know what a psychosis is?"
The doctor knelt to Henry's level.
"That's… that's when you can no longer tell what's real and if that continues, then… then I have to lock you away. Henry, look, this has to stop for your own good. You gotta wake up. This nonsense must end." Grabbing his backpack, Henry left the room without saying another word.
Storybrooke Hospital
Mary Margaret sat beside David Nolan, playing a game of hangman. It was her turn, and he was writing the letters into the lines he'd drew. _AR_AR_AR_AR_ _.
"I don't know," Mary Margaret admitted. ""M"?"
"Two of them," David nodded. He wrote a letter "M" on the first space and another on the fifth. M_AR_MAR_AR_ _. "Get it yet?" he questioned.
"Yes," she said with an embarrassed look on his face.
"And I'm completely mortified. I almost hanged on my own name."
The man laughed, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, I would never have let you hang. I would've added toes and a hat. Maybe a horse."
"Was this a game you played a lot before?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I don't know," he muttered.
"It'll come back," Mary Margaret said sympathetically. "Besides, they're sending you home in a week. They have to think you're progressing, don't they?"
"Physically."
"Well, you're making new memories just fine."
"Maybe I'll like these better."
That touched her and she smiled.
"Okay, play again?" They looked up as Kathryn entered, carrying a box.
"Can I guess, too?" she asked. Mary Margaret's eyes widened.
"Mrs. Nolan. Oh, it-its noon already. I-I didn't realize. I-I should go." She exited the room quickly.
Kathryn called after her.
"Good day, Miss Blanchard." She turned to her husband.
"Honey, I brought more pictures. Maybe they'll job something." David nodded absentmindedly as he watched Mary Margaret leave. Kathryn took out a picture of a dog.
"It's our old dog, Ajax. Remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, Ajax."
Staring at the photo, David tried to jog his memory of the dog. It seemed, however, that no matter how hard he tried, his mind pressed back harder. He got a headache almost every time. The only time he felt like himself was with Mary Margaret. Not with the woman before him who was apparently his wife. How did he forget about his wife?
The Blanchard Loft
Mary Margaret glanced at Penny as the girl helped her make some s'mores.
"I am the worst person in the world," she whined.
"Really?" Penny questioned in surprise. "In the whole world?"
"If Kathryn was horrible, it would be easier, but she's so nice."
"And what exactly would be easier?" Emma asked.
"Nothing," Mary Margaret answered quickly.
Raising a brow, Emma nodded.
"Nothing's a good idea. You're smart. You know not to get involved with a married guy. It's not worth the heartache. Trust me." The three women looked up as there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Penny offered.
Upon opening the door, she saw Henry, sobbing.
"Henry! What happened?" she asked as he rushed into her arms. He held her tightly, trying to get his words out through his tears.
"Archie… Says it's… says it's not real." Emma came up behind Penny, taking Henry into her arms.
Dr. Hopper's Office
Archie was sitting with Pongo when he heard pounding at the door.
"Archie! Archie!" she called angrily. She barged in, glaring at the man. "What did you do? You told me not to take the fantasy away. You told me it would devastate him."
"When a course of therapy stops working, you adjust it," Archie mumbled.
"Is it her?" she asked. "Did she threaten you? What could be strong enough to drown out your own conscience."
"I do not need to defend my professional decisions to you, okay?"
Emma's phone began to ring, and she answered it.
"Hello, Madame Mayor. Nice work."
"You're with him?" Regina's voice buzzed.
"Yes, I'm with Dr. Hopper, and guess what? You left your fingerprints all over him when you—"
"Not him. Henry. Is he with you?"
Emma frowned, "I dropped Henry off at your office an hour ago… With Penny."
"Well, they're not here."
"I don't know where he is."
"I do," Archie sighed.
Storybrooke Mines
Penny gulped as they stood outside the mines. Henry wanted to enter, and she didn't think that was a good idea.
"Maybe you should rethink this," she began. He rolled his eyes before rushing inside, holding his flashlight. Part of her knew that she shouldn't follow. But, if he got hurt, it would be her fault. "Henry!" she called, hurrying after him.
The Dark Castle
Rumplestiltskin sat at his spinning wheel, spinning straw as Liliya read a book nearby. She looked up as Jiminy entered, carrying a small bag.
"Thank you very much," Rumplestiltskin told Jiminy. "And the names? To whom did these treasures belong?" Jiminy pulled out a small piece of parchment and placed it on top of the bag.
Handing him some gold, Rumplestiltskin grinned.
"Gold thread, for your thievery. Thank you, you can go." Jiminy began to leave, but the dark one's next words kept him back. "But you want something else, don't' you?"
While he spoke, he poured a potion on another gold threat, melting it and putting it into a little bottle.
"Something with… magic?"
Jiminy sighed, "Every year, I'm stuck in that damn wagon. I wanna be free. I wanna be someone else. But something keeps holding me back."
"Something or someone?" Rumplestiltskin asked.
"It's my parents."
"Then I have exactly what you need."
Liliya watched as her father offered the young man the potion he had just created.
"This will set you free. Pour it, sprinkle it, put it in their curds and whey. Anything will work." Jiminy reached for the bottle, but the Dark One grabbed it back. "Ah! But you have nothing more to give to me."
He chuckled, shaking his head.
"Tell you what – after the potion has… done it's work, leave them where they are, and I'll come collect them. It'll be my fee!"
"What will become of them?" Jiminy asked.
"Worry you not, they'll be in safe hands. And you'll be free." He handed Jiminy the potion and Jiminy left the castle, leaving Liliya watching him with eyes full of pity.
Storybrooke Mines
Emma stood in front of the mines, yelling inside.
"Henry! Henry!"
"Penny!" Archie called. Pongo entered and ran to the entrance of the mines, sniffing. "What've you got there, Pongo?"
"I don't think he's here," Emma said.
"I think he is," Archie disagreed. He picked up what Pongo was sniffing at. It was an Apollo Bar. "Candy bar. He had these with him."
Henry, flashlight in hand, explored the mines when his light shined on something. Penny caught the glint nad picked up a mysterious shard of glass among the stones. She examined it closely when all of a sudden, she heard the gravel rustling. As Henry looked up to see an avalanche of rocks, Penny grabbed his arm, yanking him away. They ran deeper into the mines as the rocks fell behind them.
Archie's eyes widened as they felt the tremor. He raced towards the opening.
"Henry! Penny!"
"Archie!" Emma yelled after him.
"Henry! It's not safe!" Archie climbed into the collapsing mine and Emma stared after him.
Lightening a match, Archie held tightly onto his lucky umbrella. He looked around for Henry and Penny, venturing deeper into the mines as he called their names.
"Henry? Penny?" Suddenly, Henry came out, flashlight shining on Archie.
"Archie! You're here to help me!"
"No, I… listen, we gotta get out of here."
The young boy's eyes darkened.
"So, you're still against me."
"Henry, there's no time for that," Archie begged. "Come on, Henry, come on!" Henry backed up as the doctor reached for him.
"You don't believe me? You'll see. You'll see!"
Henry ran away, Penny racing after him.
"Henry! Henry, come back!" Archie cried. He looked to the exit before taking a deep breath. He had to get Henry and Penny out. And the only way to do that was to get Henry back. Penny wouldn't leave the boy. So, gathering his courage, Archie plunged deeper into the dark hole.
Enchanted Forest
Jiminy, Martin, and Myrna walked up a path to a nearby house to cheat people for money. Jiminy stopped at the door and turned to his parents.
"Look, can't we skip this tonight? We don't need the money!"
"Everything isn't about money, Jiminy," Myrna told him. "It's about the principle."
Using a small trick, Martin produced a small bottle filled with liquid in his hand.
"A commitment to excellence."
"Excellence… at stealing money."
"Now and take the "elf tonic," Jiminy."
Holding back a grimace, Jiminy took the bottle while his parents laughed together. Myrna knocked and a young couple, Stephen and Donna, answered the door.
"Oh! Such beautiful young people!" Myrna gushed.
"Pardon me," Jiminy addressed the couple. "Do you have a place at your hearth for an honest man and his…"
Taking a sharp breath, Jiminy glanced at his parents for a moment before continuing.
"… elderly parents?"
"Of course," Stephen agreed readily.
"Oh!" Myrna let out a relieved breath.
"Come in," Stephen said.
"I'll heat up some broth," Donna said quickly.
"Oh, we love broth," Myrna told her.
"Oh, what a beautiful home!" Martin exclaimed.
"Your cobbles are so even!" Myrna added.
After heating up a pot of broth, Donna passed out bowls. Jiminy gave her a tight smile when she handed him a bowl.
"Thank you for your kindness," Jiminy told her. She return the smile before moving over to her husband.
Beginning their act, Myrna looked to Martin.
"I just can't get it out of my mind, that family."
"Terrible way to go," Martin agreed.
"Oh," Myrna sighed. Donna looked at them as she sat beside Stephen.
"What? What happened?"
The tricksters looked at each other than at the couple.
"Plague." Donna gasped and turned to Stephen.
"The next town over, we just passed through," Myrna said.
"The plague?" Donna asked, eyes wide.
"Well, a plague, certainly," Myrna corrected.
Stephen took hold of Donna's hand comfortingly.
"Is it coming here?" he asked. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, us, no, we're immune," Martin said.
"We have the elf tonic," Myrna nodded. "Made by elves, from elves."
"Four out of five court physicians recommend it."
"Fifth one died before he could try it."
Laughing, Martin shot Jiminy a hidden wink.
"Well, you have it, right?" Myrna asked.
"Smart folks like you?"
"We've never heard of it," Donna answered.
"Oh, no."
"Oh dear god."
"Oh no, you're going to die," Jiminy said half-heartedly. "You're going to die."
"Oh, I wish we had extra," Myrna cried.
"We don't have extra," Martin reminded her.
"There isn't any extra," Jiminy muttered.
Eyes wide, Donna looked pleadingly at them.
"We could pay you."
"We have a tiny bottle," Martin admitted.
"But we need that for ourselves," Myrna said.
"What can we give you?" Stephen asked. "Surely there must be something here you would want." Myrna looked around before nodding.
"I'm sure we can come up with something…"
Martin placed three coins along with a few other items into a bag and flung it over his shoulders.
"I guess we should start loading up," Myrna told him.
"Here you go," Jiminy said, handing the tiny vial over to the couple.
"Thank you," Stephen said, taking the bottle.
"Thank you," Donna smiled gratefully. Swallowing, Jiminy left the house, walking after his parents.
At the wagon, Jiminy berated his parents.
"Those were good people. They would never hurt us like that."
"That's where they went wrong," Myrna said.
"It's better to be the kind of people that take," Martin began.
"Instead of those that get taken from," Myrna finished.
Pulling the potion from Rumplestiltskin out of his pocket, Jiminy looked sadly at them.
"I'm sorry. You've given me no other choice." Jiminy threw the potion onto his parents, but nothing happened. Myrna smirked at him.
"How frail do you think we are, son?"
"Rainwater won't hurt us," Martin chuckled.
Their son was shocked, and he looked at the bottle.
"I'm pretty good at a sleight of hand, Jiminy," Martin reminded him.
"You switched them?" Jiminy gasped. He looked back at the house. "So, this is the elf tonic."
"Oh my! We must have given whatever you had to that family," Martin said.
"Hope it wasn't dangerous," Myrna said. Jiminy quickly ran back to the house.
Jiminy opened the door to find the pottle of poison on the ground, already used. Picking it up, he looked behind the door. On the bed sat two puppet dolls that looked like Stephen and Donna. Horrified, Jiminy fell back onto a chair. His wicked parents entered and chuckled at the sight of the dolls
"Oh, look at that," Martin whistled.
"New puppets for the act," Myrna said appreciatively.
Suddenly, the young boy who had given Jiminy the umbrella entered. He stopped, looking at Martin and Myrna.
"Who are you?" Jiminy saw the boy and shook his head with regret. The boy caught sight of the puppets on the bed and gasped. "Papa? Mama?... Papa!" He turned to Jiminy. "What did you do to them? What did you do to them?"
Storybrooke Mines
Archie continued to look for Henry and Penny. He saw a light up front and found Henry shining his flashlight into a gap on the ground.
"Henry! You gotta slow…"
"There's something shiny down there," Henry interrupted.
Looking around, Archie spotting Penny, who was sitting at the ground. She was looking at her knee, which was skinned and bleeding.
"This is seriously dangerous," Archie said, kneeling beside Penny. "We gotta get out of here. "
It would be something," Henry pressed.
"Look, I'm frightened for you, Henry."
"Because you think I'm crazy?"
"No!"
Archie forced himself to calm down when Penny's head whipped up to him.
"No. Because we are trapped underground in an abandoned mine, Henry, and there is no way out." He looked at Penny. "What happened?" he asked, tearing a piece of his shirt off.
"I tripped on a rock," she whispered, wincing as he wrapped the strip of fabric around her knee.
Inside Archie's car, Pongo barked as Emma, Graham, Marco, and Ruby gathered around the entrance of the mine.
"Archie is smart," Marco was comforting Graham. "He'll keep them both safe until we get to them."
The ground shook and Marco looked to the crew that was trying to open the entrance.
"Watch out!" Regina raced to Emma.
"Stop! Stop! You're making it worse."
"I'm trying to save them," Emma snapped.
"You know what, Henry wouldn't have gone in the first place except you made him feel like he had something to prove!"
"And why does he think he has anything to prove?" Regina asked. "Who's encouraging him?"
"Do not put this on me," Emma glowered.
"Oh please, lecture me until the oxygen has run out." Turning, the mayor stalked away.
Penny looked up to the darkness above them as she heard faint barking.
"Do you hear that?" she asked.
"It's Pongo!" Henry exclaimed.
"Follow the noise," Archie ordered, helping Penny to her feet.
Emma walked up to Regina, arms crossing.
"We have to stop this arguing," she said. "We won't accomplish anything."
"No, we won't," Regina sighed.
"What do you want me to do?" Emma asked.
"Help me," Regina said. Emma nodded in agreement.
Archie led the way through the mine and stopped at a large sheet of metal.
"It's over here," he said. He removed the metal, and his brow drew in thought.
"What's this?" Henry asked.
"It's… an old elevator," Archie said.
Regina crossed her arms, looking at the mine entrance.
"We need to find some way to punch through the ground. We need something big."
"Like what?" Emma asked.
"Explosives," Marco said thoughtfully.
Archie walked to the elevator, speaking to the kids behind him.
"It's used to get the mine workers in or out. It goes all the way to the top. That's why we can hear Pongo."
"Can we make it work?" Penny asked.
"Let's give it a shot," Archie shrugged.
Getting inside, he tried to turn the wheel of the elevator. Penny joined him, yanking while he pushed. She looked to Henry.
"Come on!" Quickly, Henry hurried to assist them. As the elevator started to move a bit, it stopped and began to shake as they heard a large explosion. Penny reached for Henry, holding him tight as Archie grabbed onto her. It dropped a bit, scaring the trio.
Emma ran into the smoke caused by the explosion. She sighed when she saw no opening. She walked back, a grim look on her face.
"Did it work?" Regina asked. Emma sadly shook her head.
"It didn't open."
Graham gulped, "Then what did it do?"
Storybrooke Hospital
Mary Margaret was leaving the hospital, saying goodbye to the other staff.
"Have a good day," she said.
"Hey!" David called. She stopped, turning to look at him. "Where are you going?"
"Home," she answered. "I'm done for the day. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"Actually, Dr. Whale asked me to start physical therapy. I'm supposed to walk thirty minutes a day on a treadmill outside with an escort. But they are kind of short on personnel because of that thing that happened in the mine."
"Oh," Mary Margaret managed to get out.
"So… maybe there is a volunteer willing to help?"
David and Mary Margaret walked outside the hospital.
"I try to remember this place," he said."It's like, it's like I woke up on something strange land."
"Is there anything come back?" she asked. She blinked, thinking back on something. "What about when you're with her? You remember your dog."
"Yeah, I lied."
The teacher's eyes went wide.
"You did?"
He winced, "She's so lovely. I didn't want to disappoint her. But none of it feels right. A dog named Ajax. Who'd name a dog that?" Mary Margaret smiled brightly. "None of it makes sense. None of it, none of it feels real."
"That sounds so lonely."
"Actually, one thing does feel real, you."
"What?"
He smiled shyly at her.
"I know it's crazy, but I swear, you're the only thing in this whole place that feels… that feels right." Mary Margaret felt herself growing happier and inched closer to him. "Kathryn."
That felt like a slap to her face. She backed off, lowering her head.
"Right." David walked past her.
"Kathryn." Mary Margaret turned to see Kathryn walking up to them. "You're here."
"I know it's outside of visiting hours. But I needed to see you."
Smiling softly, she handed him a basket.
"I made some cranberry muffins. They used to be your favorite." Mary Margaret swallowed again.
"Well, I should leave you two." She started walking away.
"Wait, Mary Margaret!" David called after her. "See you tomorrow?" She turned back and gave him a tiny smile before continuing to walk away.
Storybrooke Mines
Regina ran to the workers after Emma told her it didn't work.
"What was that? What the hell was that? You said you could do this."
"Madame Mayor," Emma tried to cool her down.
"They could have killed my son!"
"I know, but this isn't helping."
"If we knew exactly where they were, we could drill down to them," Marco suggested.
Emma's ears perked up at the sound of Pongo's barking. She turned and ran to the fire truck. She let him out as Marco, Regina, and Graham talked.
"Come on buddy," she coed to the dog. He hopped out, rushing around. "It's Archie's dog," she said to the others.
Pongo wandered around before sniffing at the ground.
"He's found something,' Emma said. "This is where they must be… What is it?" She went quiet as Graham and Marco removed a sheet of metal. Below was a hole blocked by grate bars.
"What is that?" Emma questioned.
"It's an air shaft," Graham answered.
Henry snuggled closer to Penny as she held him.
"I'm really, really, really sorry," he told them.
"It's all right," Penny said, holding him tighter.
"I just wanted to find proof," he whispered.
"No, it's really all right, Henry," Archie said. "You know, I'm sorry too. Okay, I don't think you're crazy. I just, I just say to you that you got a very strong mother, who's got a clear idea of a path that she wants you to be on. When you step off that, she, she is scared. You know, it's natural. But it's also natural for you to be able to be free, to think the things that you want to think. So, anyway, I didn't mean those things, I just said to you. I never should have said them."
"Okay, why did you?"
"I guess I'm still not a right person. I'm not the man I wanna be."
After the metal bars were removed, Emma stared down the shaft. She frowned at the darkness, calling to the others.
"All right, we got it." Staring down to the shaft after a moment, Regina turned to Graham.
"So, what's next?"
Henry pulled away from Penny, looking at Archie.
"I think you can be him. I think you can be a good person. I mean, you're Jiminy Cricket." Archie frowned at him.
"Henry, Henry, Jiminy Cricket was a, was a cricket, okay? It was a conscience, and, and I hardly think that's me."
"But before he was that he was a guy," Henry said. "Who took a long time to figure out the right thing to do."
Archie paused for a moment as the elevator shook again.
"He kinda sounds like me," he shrugged.
"Now it's harder for you," Henry said sadly. "Because of the curse, to care for the voice inside of you, to be who you wanna be." The elevator shook again, causing Penny to squeak.
Graham grabbed two harnesses as Regina and Emma bickered.
"Lower me down," Regina snapped.
"Oh, no way. I'm going." "He's my son."
"He's my son too. You've been sitting behind your desk for ten years. I can do this."
Regina sighed, "Just bring him to me."
Archie leaned forward to Henry.
"Hey, can I ask you again?"
"Of course," Henry nodded.
"Why do you think it's so important that your… your fairytale theory is true?"
"I don't know," Henry shrugged.
"Give it a shot."
Handing Archie a chocolate bar, Henry tried his best.
"Cause, this can't be all there is."
"I understand."
"I thought if I've found proof… But I didn't find anything."
"That's not true," Penny disagreed.
"Yeah," Archie nodded. "I was lost when you found me, right?"
"You mean, you remember?" Shaking his head, Archie passed a piece of chocolate to Henry.
"No, I don't remember. But I do remember that I'm a person I wanna be."
There was a noise from above them. Penny's head shot up.
"What was that?" she asked.
"It's a rescue," Archie said. Emma lowered from the top.
"You guys okay?" she asked, slightly out of breath.
"Yeah, we're all okay," Archie answered.
"Hang on," she said.
Pulling out her walkie-talkie, she spoke into it.
"Okay, let's get a stop." Emma removed the roof of the elevator and tossed the extra harness to Penny. Penny quickly slid into it, buckling it up. Archie boosted Henry through the roof to Emma before helping the teen up.
There was another rumbling sound as Emma tightened her grip around Henry.
"You get them to safe…" Archie trailed off as the elevator started to rumble. "
Archie!" Penny exclaimed. "It's gonna fall!"
"I'm sorry," Emma said.
"It's okay." Archie murmured.
The elevator started to fall with a loud noise.
"No!" Penny cried, reaching for Archie's umbrella. She held on tightly to it as the elevator fell, leaving Archie swinging in mid-air. Emma laughed with relief and Henry made a thumbs-up signal.
Outside the air shaft, the crowd clapped their hands as Marco and other workers pulled out Emma, Henry, Penny, and Archie. Regina rushed to Henry, hugging him tightly before leading him away. Graham pulled Penny away, the girl breaking down in tears as he enveloped her into a tight hug. Marco and Archie hugged each other with joy.
Emma tried to get to Henry.
"Are you okay, Henry?" she asked her son. Regina shoved Emma away.
"Deputy, you can clear the crowd away." Emma watched unwillingly as Henry was taken away.
"Thank you Dr, Hopper," Regina said to Archie.
"I, uh, I have something to say."
Marco left his best friend side as Regina followed Archie off to the side.
"I'm gonna continue to treat Henry and I'm gonna do it my way," he told her.
"My relief at his safety hasn't changed a thing, Dr. Hopper. You will do as I say, or you…"
"Or what?" Archie asked. "You'll ruin my life? You'll do your worst? Because I will always do my best."
"Don't test me," Regina snapped.
"Oh, I don't need to, because you're gonna leave me along and let me do my work, in peace."
"Really? Why is that?"
"Because someday, Madame Mayor, you may find yourself in a custody battle. And you know how a court determines who's a fit parent? They consult with an expert, particularly one who has treated the child. So, I suggest that you think about that and you'll allow me to do my work and let me do it the way my conscience tells me too."
The Enchanted Forest
Jiminy leaned on a fence, listening the crickets chirping. He was all alone. Looking up, he saw a blue star in the sky.
"I wish," he whispered. He closed his eyes and sat on the fence. "I wish…"
The Blue Fairy appeared, smiling at him.
"I hear your wish, you don't need to wish it so loudly." Jiminy smiled up at her. She looked at him, expression turning sadly. "But it's not possible. I cannot bring back the boy's parents."
"It's my fault. I have to make it right. I… I will trade my life to make it happen."
"What's done is done. There may be another way."
He looked eagerly up at her.
"Tell me, please," he begged.
"The little boy, he will grow up the face many challenges. Do you want to help him?"
"Um, I can't get away from these people, my parent. They're who I am." She nodded, smiling at him once more.
"But if you didn't want to be that, what would you like to be?"
Pausing he heard the chirping of the crickets and then he wished in his heart.
She grinned, "I hear your wish." She waved her wand, and he began to glow before transforming into a cricket. He laughed, admiring his new body. "How do you feel?" the Blue Fairy asked.
"Free," Jiminy chirped. "Find the boy, Jiminy. You will live as many years as you need to help him. Just find him."
"How will I? I don't even know his game."
"His name, is Geppetto."
Storybrooke Mines
Emma stood beside Henry as they watched Archie and Marco chatting happily.
"Is that Archie's father?" Emma asked.
"No, they're just old friends," Henry answered. Emma looked down at him.
"You really scared me."
"I'm sorry," Henry murmured.
Archie walked over to Henry, arm wrapped around Marco's shoulders.
"Gentlemen," Emma nodded before looking at Henry again.
"Come on, your mom wants to take you home." Hearing something, Henry looked at to Archie.
"Listen!"
The sound of crickets were heard.
"Crickets," Archie said happily.
"They're back!" Henry exclaimed before looking at Emma. "Things are changing."
Pawn Shop
In his pawn shop, Mr. Gold walked past a pass of puppets on his desk. He looked at them briefly before continuing on his way.
Storybrooke Hospital
Mary Margaret put her letter of resignation into the mailbox at the counter. She looked at it sadly before turning and leaving the building.
Storybrooke Mines
Outside the mine, the workers and crowd chatted and drank to celebrate as Regina looked out a piece of glass from her pocket. She threw it down an airshaft. The piece of glass fell until it hit the ground near a glass coffin.