Tiny

The next day, Mary Margaret and Gwen were in the kitchen area of the loft when David walked in, "You like the holster, huh?" said Mary Margaret, with a smile.

"I miss carrying a sword," said David.

"Well, it looks good on you."

Gwen smiled when she saw her brother and sister in law kissing. Gwen stood up, "Come on. Fallon has the dwarves on Cora watch. They've got eyes everywhere, but they could use our help."

"Really?" said Mary Margaret, as she walked over to the door. David helped her with her coat and then she said, "How hard can it be to find a powerful sorceress in a small town?"

She opened the door and saw Regina preparing to knock on the door, "Apparently, not very hard," said Gwen.

"Regina. You're back," said Mary Margaret.

Regina looked at them and said, "I know you think I'm responsible for poor Dr. Hopper's death."

"He's… Alive," said David.

"What?"

"You were framed," said Mary Margaret.

"Who would do that?" asked Regina.

"Your mother," said Gwen, "She's here."

"But… But that's… That's… Not possible."

"We found a way back, so did she."

"We were wrong… And we're so sorry," said Mary Margaret.

"I know," said Regina, "But, if Cora's here, then we're all in danger. Please, you have to let me see my son. I can protect him."

"He's not here."

"What?"

"Mr. Gold asked Emma to help him find his son," said David, "They left town about an hour ago with Henry."

"And no one told me?" asked Regina.

"We didn't know where you were," said Gwen.

"And, to be honest, Regina," said Mary Margaret.

"No, I suppose she doesn't," said Regina, then she turned and left.

Gwen closed the door, "Well… that went well…"

"With her, it doesn't get much better," said David, "Come on. Let's go find Cora." He picked up Mary Margaret's bow and arrow.

"Where?" asked Mary Margaret.

"No idea," said David, as he handed the weapons to his wife, "But I know who to ask."

A short time later, David, Mary Margaret, Gwen, Leroy and Hook were down at the docks. Hook was walking with a limp as he said, "You didn't even ask me about my recovery."

"How are you feeling, Hook?" asked Mary Margaret.

"Come closer and feel for yourself."

David hit Hook in the shoulder, "You want to lose the other hand? Where's the ship? Come on. Archie told us. It's shielded somehow, isn't it, mate?"

"Aye… That it is Follow me," Hook started down the dock, then stopped, "I don't know what you expect to find. Cora won't be there."

"Well, maybe she left something behind that will tell us where she went," said Gwen. She forced him to walk down the dock, "Let's go."

"No funny business," said Leroy, "I'm watching you, pirate."

"Yes, Dwarf," said Hook, "That should deter me from any maleficence."

"Oh, don't worry, Leroy. He'll help us," said Mary Margaret.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because you're a pirate. You know which way the wind blows, and, right now, it is gusting towards us."

"Oh. I see where your daughter got her gumption. Follow me."

Hook turned and walked up an invisible gangway and disappeared behind a shield. Then, the rest of them followed. They stepped on to an old sailing ship, "You sailed this ship from our land. Can you sail it back?" asked Leroy.

"My ship?" asked Hook, "She's a marvel. Made from enchanted wood. We weathered many a storm together, seen many strange, glittering shores. But, to travel between lands, she must go through a portal."

"Yeah," said Gwen, "What do you know about Cora's plans?"

"Cora's not the most communicative of lasses. I will tell you this – whatever malice she has in mind, her weapon of choice is in here." He pointed to a tarp covered box

David and Leroy pulled back the tarp and under it was a cage. Inside the cage was a very large man unconscious, "Who's that?" asked Mary Margaret.

"This is the giant who had the compass you three needed to get back to Storybrooke," said Hook.

"So, Cora used magic to make him travel-sized," asked Leroy.

"Whatever she intends to do with him, it's important," said Hook.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what she intends to do with him," said David, "You're holding out on us."

"Well, either have your lovely wife torture it out of me," said Hook, "Which I promise will be fun for both..."

David grabbed Hook by the throat and shoved him against a yardarm, "Why don't you and I have some fun?"

"I don't know what she's planning," said Hook, "Why don't you wake the bloody giant and ask him yourself?"

Hook held out the key to the cage. Mary Margaret took it and unlocked the door. She crouched down and touched the man on the shoulder. During this, Hook quietly snuck away. He startled awake, "Hey… It's alright. You're safe now," said Mary Margaret. The man crawled out of the cage, "What's your name?" she asked.

"Anton," said the man, "Where's that witch?"

"She's gone," said Gwen.

"What did she do? She made me small."

"Come on. Let's get you out of here," said David.

"You," said Anton.

"Me?"

"You!" Anton punched David in the face knocking him over a railing and onto the deck below.

"David!" shouted Mary Margaret.

"Hey! Hey, over here, you big..." said Leroy as he tried to distract Anton. But he was thrown down the steps on the other side. Anton walked down the steps and after David. David drew his gun to shoot him in the leg but Anton kicked out of his hand. Then, an arrow flew past the right side of Anton's head, and a blast of yellow magic went past the left side of Anton's head.

He looked and saw Mary Margaret with her bow drawn and Gwen had taken her Sun Stone off her belt, and it was glowing yellow, "Step away from my husband," said Mary Margaret.

Anton looked around, "You may have me outnumbered, but this isn't over," he looked down at David, "You think I forgot what you did? I didn't. You'll pay for your evil. I promise! You'll pay!" Then he ran off.

David, Mary Margaret, Gwen and Leroy went to Granny's to regroup. David, Mary Margaret and Gwen were in a booth while Leroy was in the bathroom. Then, Mary Margaret said, "David… Did that giant say he'll make you pay? For what?"

"I have no idea. I've never seen that guy before," said David.

"Well, he sure knows you."

Then, Gwen had a realization, "No. It's not about you. He just thinks it is."

"What?" asked David.

"He thinks your James."

"Our brother?" he asked, "Why?"

"Well…" said Gwen, "as you know our kingdom was strapped for gold. Before Midas offered the reward for killing the dragon, we learned there was a Giant in the kingdom. King George sent James and his lover at the time, Jacqueline, to befriend the giant and steal some beans, while the Jewel Riders and I lead a charge to take as much gold as we could. To tell the truth, I thought we had killed all the giants."

"That must be it," said David, "Come on." He said, as he stood up.

"Where are we going?" asked Mary Margaret.

"To find the giant and see if we can convince him that I'm not James." David saw Leroy walking out of the back and said, "Leroy, get your head looked at and gather the dwarves. We need to keep an eye out for this giant."

Mary Margaret, David, Gwen, Tamera and Fallon were searching town for Anton. When they found him, he had grown back to his normal height which was around 50 ft. tall. He was walking down Main Street yelling at the people below, "That's right! Run! Run!" The six of them were looking around the corner trying to stay out of sight. He picked up the car and threw it in their direction missing them by a few feet. Then Anton stalked away. The three of them ran down the road and David said, "Head to the town hall! Bring anyone you find on the way! Somebody get Leroy!"

"Guess we found our giant," said Mary Margaret, "I just didn't think he would be so…"

"Giant?" asked Fallon.

"My mistake."

David looked at Gwen, "You said you guys fought giants… How did you stop them?"

"We used poisoned swords," said Gwen, "But, that's not the answer now."

"I agree," said David. He stepped forward and yelled up to Anton, "Wait! You don't have to do this!"

Anton turned and looked at them, "Yeah, I do. You destroyed everything in my life. Now you're going to know what that feels like."

Gwen stepped forward, "The man who hurt you? That wasn't him. That was his twin brother, James. They were separated at birth. He was raised by my father a ruthless King." As Gwen talked, Leroy joined them.

Anton looked at David, "You're not James?"

"No!" shouted David.

"Then, where is he?"

"He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's dead! There is nothing more you can do to him."

"We're on your side, Anton!" shouted Mary Margaret, as they all stepped forward, "We're good! We're here because of you. You know our daughter, Emma. You gave her the magic compass."

"Emma?" asked Anton, "Let me talk to her. She says you're okay, then I'll stop."

"She's kind of out of town," said Mary Margaret.

"Really?"

"But when she gets back, I know she'll really want to talk to you."

"How convenient," said Anton, "Everyone I'm looking for isn't around! All you humans do is lie, and cheat, and kill, and I'm sick of it!" Then Anton ran after them.

"Well, that went well!" said Fallon, as they ran.

"So, let me get this straight – you got a twin brother?" asked Leroy.

"Yeah," said David.

"His name is James?"

"Right."

"Well, your name is James."

"No, actually, it's not."

"It's Charming, then?"

"No, that's the nickname I gave him," said Mary Margaret.

"Hey, hold on. What the hell is your name?" asked Leroy.

"David," he answered.

"Your curse name?"

"My real name!"

"What, you're David, James, and Charming? Is David like a middle name?"

"No! It's my name-name."

"You know what? I'm going to call you whatever I damn well please! Is that okay?!"

"Sure, Leroy."

As they ran they reached the docks, "So what's the plan?" asked Leroy.

"Lead the giant away from here, so he can't hurt anyone," said David.

"Wait," said Tamera, "If we keep heading in this direction, we're going to hit the town line."

"Okay, new plan." David stopped and approached Anton.

"What are you doing?" asked Gwen.

"Giving him what he wants," Then David shouted, "Anton! How about we make a deal?"

"I don't make deals with humans," said Anton.

"Just hear me out. I'll surrender myself to you, if you spare the lives of everyone in Storybrooke."

"David, you can't do this," said Mary Margaret.

"If I don't, the whole town will suffer. I can't allow that," David turned back to Anton, "Well, what do you say?

"Deal," said Anton. Anton lunged at David and tried to jump on him. But, Mary Margaret pulled David away at the last moment. The ground was very soft and Anton ended up waist deep in the ground. Then all of the sudden Anton was surrounded by blue smoke and then he seemingly vanished.

"Where did he go?" asked Fallon.

"I'm not sure," said David.

They walked over to the hole. They looked down and they saw Anton hanging onto an underground pipe.

David went and got his truck. While Leroy came back with a long, heavy rope. While they were gone a group of townspeople arrived including Ruby, Granny and the rest of the Dwarves, "That better hold," said David.

"It'll hold," said Leroy.

"I got this," said Granny as she tied the rope to the back of David's truck. Leroy then threw the other end of the rope down the hole.

David got ready to climb down when Mary Margaret pulled him into a kiss, "Most people would let that giant die after what he's done," she said.

"You wouldn't," said David. He wrapped the rope around his waist and began to shimmy down the hole, "Alright, Anton! I'm coming down!" He reached Anton and said, "Take my hand."

"No!" said Anton.

"No?"

"I don't want to go back up there. I should just let go!"

"You'll die."

"Maybe death hurts less than life."

"If you really wanted to die, you would have let go already. Now take my hand!" Anton grabbed David hand.

Gwen watched from the top of the hole and said, "Okay! Pull 'em up!"

The townspeople pulled and soon David and Anton were back at the surface, "You saved my life." Said Anton as he looked around at the people around him

"That's what we do," said Gwen.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," said Leroy.

They took Anton to Granny's and as they walked inside, Leroy said, "This is Granny's. She makes a mean lasagna and runs an inn, so I'm sure we can set you up with a room till you find a place."

"Thanks, but I think I'll set up camp in the woods," said Anton.

"The woods?"

"Yeah, I'm better off alone. I'm not too good at fitting in."

"You're in the right place. Storybrooke's got all kinds – dwarves, fairies, werewolves, you name it. Ruby, beers all around!"

"We all miss our land, Anton," said Tamera, "But this is our home now."

"You never think about going back?" asked Anton.

"Of course, we do," said Gwen, "It's just not possible."

"We have no way to get there," said David.

"How's the farmland here?" asked Anton.

"Pretty good. Why?"

Anton took out a vile with a piece of plant inside, "The stem is from a beanstalk. If I plant it, it should be able to grow some magic beans. And then, you just may have a way."

Mary Margaret, David, Gwen, Tamera, Fallon and the dwarves to Anton to a field outside town but still in the town border. Anton checked the soil, "Well, what's the verdict?" asked David.

"Soil's got a nice loamy feel," said Anton, "Lot of minerals. The beans should grow well here. Only one problem."

"What's that?" asked Mary Margaret.

"Cora. This is why she brought me. She wanted me to grow beans. So, whatever she plans to do with them… Can't be good."

"Then we won't let her get to them," said Fallon.

"No one touches our crop," said Leroy.

"Your crop?" asked Anton, "I thought you guys were miners?"

"Work is work. It's what we do. So what do you say? You up for some help?"

"Okay."

"Happy!" called Leroy and Happy handed Anton a pick axe, "Here. To help break up the earth."

Anton looked down, and the name 'Tiny' appears on the handle, " 'Tiny'. My brothers used to call me that."

"Axe never lies."

"Wait a second," said David, "I did my time in the mines. How come I didn't get one of those?"

"Cause you ain't a dwarf," said Leroy, "Welcome aboard, brother." Then, the dwarfs and Anton started to hack at the ground, whistling while they work.

AN: Remember, if you like this story. Review, Favorite and Follow, if you haven't done so, yet. It gives me motivation to keep going.