A/N: Episode 5 That Still Small Voice. This is in Fairytale Land, after Gepetto runs from Jiminy. I changed the story from the original one because I really didn't like it. Enjoy and I hope this one is better
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the epic characters (and David/Charming) in the television series Once Upon a Time, those belong to the creators, writers, and ABC. these characters were brought to life by the amazing actors that play them (and Josh Dallas; just kidding) :)
"No!" Gepetto yelled, running out of his house and into the forest, cackling coming from somewhere off into the distance.
Mother...Father...what...Thoughts flooded Gepetto's mind, the young boy tripping over a tree root and sprawling on the forest floor. Gepetto laid there, too scared to move.
The man, he was the one he gave an umbrella to, the nice one with the puppet show. What had he done to his parents? The sight of the wooden figures causing the little boy to shake. A twig snapping made Gepetto bolt upright, his eyes wide.
What had that man wanted? Was he coming for him next? Why did he hurt his parents? Gepetto quickly stood back up and bolted towards a small cluster of trees, hiding in the large roots, hiding himself just as the man burst through the foliage, the man's face gaunt in pain.
"Hello?" he called, cupping his hands to his mouth. Gepetto suppressed a gasp and pushed himself farther into the tree, eyes never leaving the man. So he was coming back for him. The man continued to shout.
"Are you there? Listen, what happened...what you saw it wasn't...I'm sorry," he finished in a whisper, Gepetto seeing his face shine in the moonlight. Was he...crying? Gepetto was so confused, fear and confusion running through the boy, unsure of how to respond.
The man looked around, his face hopeless as he turned away from Gepetto and crashing away, the noise fading after a few seconds, Gepetto never leaving his hiding spot.
Gepetto wasn't sure how long he stayed, but he was starting to shiver on the damp ground. Scurrying out of the trunk, Gepetto started the walk home, tears in his eyes and his heart twisted in pain.
When he got back home, they would be there, staring at him with those scary, empty wooden eyes. He wasn't sure if he could go back and face them, wondering what he was going to do with them.
The thought brought another twist of pain in his heart, finally reaching his house, the cabin looking dark and foreboding in the weak light of night. Dragging his feet to the door, Gepetto let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Reaching out a hand he opened the door, darkness greeting him.
Trying to be the brave boy his parents always said he was, Gepetto moved purposely through the dark room, his eyes never wondering to that particular part of the room, deciding instead to light the fire.
Within a few minutes the hearth was crackling happily as Gepetto warmed his hands against the flames. Precious minutes ticked by, but Gepetto refused to turn around, to see those wooden figures staring at him, it was too much for the small boy.
Gepetto thought back to that moment in the woods. The man that had taken his parents away from him seemed, sad. He had been crying, Gepetto was sure of it. He was looking for him to apologize, and for some strange reason Gepetto decided to forgive him.
Gepetto didn't know what had happened, he wasn't there, maybe the man found his parents like that. It wasn't his fault, bad things happened, and it wasn't right to sit here scared like a coward. No, if there was one thing his parents had taught him it was to be brave and to always forgive others.
Taking another deep breath, Gepetto turned around to see his parents. His first glance filled him with terror, the little wooden bodies very eery, the blank looks shaking Gepetto to his very core. But no matter how much they terrified him, they had been his parents, and he was going to treat them as such.
Walking over to them, Gepetto looked at the faces that had held so much love for him. Tears started to fill in his eyes before he could stop himself, a sob shaking the small child.
Stepping closer, Gepetto touched his mother's face, the wood warm under his hands. "I love you," Gepetto whispered, taking his mother and father and hugging them, their heads bobbing up and down. "I love you, and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, did I interrupt?"
Gepetto let out a shout and jumped, the wooden bodies falling limply to the ground. In front of Gepetto stood the scariest man he had ever seen. Leather and scales with very big eyes and a wide grin across the man's face. Gepetto had never seen anyone like him before.
"Wh-who are you?" Gepetto asked, trying not to seem too shook up.
The man gave a giggle his whole personality full of mirth.
"You mean you don't recognize me?" the man asked, gesturing towards himself. Gepetto shook his head and the man let out out a chuckle, his eyes squinting as his mouth curled into a smile. "Why I'm the great Rumpelstiltskin of course!" he shouted, a flourish of hand motions as he faked a bow.
Gepetto stared at him. Everyone in the village near Gepetto's home knew about Rumpelstiltskin and the things he did, and Gepetto was extremely worried why he was here.
"I...I don't wish any favor from you, Rumpelstiltskin, so you can leave. You won't get a deal out of me," Gepetto said bravely, puffing out his chest to look stronger. This just made him laugh once again.
"Oh, I'm not here to make a deal," Rumpelstiltskin said, holding up on finger. "I am here to collect a debt."
Gepetto stared at Rumpelstiltskin confused, until he saw where his eyes were looking at.
"No," Gepetto said, making a step towards his parents, grief threatening to engulf him once again. "You can't take them."
"Ah, ah, ah," Rumpelstiltskin said, wagging his finger at the young boy. "I'm afraid that's not up to you." He knelt down and scooped the two marionettes up and wrapped them in a cloth, heading for the door.
"Wait!" Gepetto shouted, running after the man. "Please," he begged, grabbing his sleeve and trying to tug him back. As soon as his fingers gripped the cloth Gepetto was jerked back, his head barely missing colliding with the floor as he fell. Rumpelstiltskin turned back, his eyes burning until his met the tear streaked face of Gepetto's. Gepetto wasn't sure but he thought he saw Rumpelstiltskin's face soften.
As soon as he thought he saw it though it was gone, the gleeful imp now back to his usual self. "Sorry, but this is my price for the tonic your parents took. You can blame the man who poisoned them, not me. Goodbye young Gepetto." And with that he thrust open the door, snapped his fingers and was gone in a puff of smoke.
For the second time that night Gepetto ran from his house, fear and pain twisting his caring heart.
"Please!" Gepetto yelled into the night, his voice choked and rough. Tears spilled freely down the child's face as he fell to his knees on the ground, sobs wracking his small frame.
"No," he murmured, hiccuping with sobs, his head stuffy and his heart aching.
Why did this have to happen. Was it not bad enough what his parents had become, but now he was forced to be alone forever without even the knowledge of his parents' graves.
Gepetto was about to heave another sob when he heard it. It was the quiet sound of a cricket chirping and it was very close.
"Excuse me," a little voice said.
"Aah!" Gepetto shouted, jumping away from the noise wherever it had come. He looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the voice but could not find it.
"Um, down here," the little voice said again. Gepetto looked down and found a cricket standing on the ground, its face turned up to him.
The little insect had a suit jacket on and looked ridiculously proper. If it were under normal circumstance Gepetto would have laughed, but he just sat there staring at the cricket.
"Are you talking to me?" he asked it, unsure if it would answer or not.
The cricket nodded, standing up to its full height and giving a short bow
"Jiminy Cricket at your service, sir," he said politely.
Gepetto just stared, sniffling and rubbing at his eyes.
"What he asked, confusion in his eyes.
Jiminy let out a sigh, the insect's shoulders slumped in grief.
"I know about what happened to your parents, Gepetto," the cricket said, his voice one of kind sadness. "I'm here to tell you that you are not alone and that you have a friend. I...I will friend and guide into the world, if you'll let me"
Gepetto let out a hiccup, mulling over the cricket's words. He really didn't want to be alone, the idea of what would happen tomorrow scaring the small child. It would be nice to have a friend, someone to help him when he grew up and to take care of him.
"You want to be my friend?" he asked uncertainly, the past events scarring his naive loyalty.
"Most definitely," Jiminy said, looking up to the boy with hope in his eyes. "I am here to help you in whatever way you need it, Gepetto. I will right the wrong that has been done to you."
Gepetto gave a watery smile and nodded. "Thank you," the little boy whispered. Jiminy smiled back, hopping up onto the boy's shoulder.
"You are very welcome, Gepetto. Now, let's get you inside and get some sleep, you've had a rough day."
Gepetto nodded groggily as he walked back into the small cabin, climbing under the covers and quickly falling asleep.
Jiminy watched as the boy's breaths evened out and he eventually began to snore softly. The little cricket hopped next to the boy's face, Jiminy's head right next to Gepetto's.
"I am truly sorry," he whispered to the boy, patting him on the cheek and looking out the window, prepared for whatever troubles the boy would face.
A/N: So, did you guys like it? I hope it was better then the other if you guys ever read it before and if you haven't then trust me when I say this is an improvement. Thanks guys and reviews pretty pretty please!