"Emily! Emily please! Wake up!" A voice cried, the buzzing filled my ears as the voice spoke, a piece of fabric was dabbed on my forehead

My eyes slowly opened, adjusting from the fuzzy images to focused ones

"Emily, please wake up," Henry cried, I groaned as I tried to sit up

"Woah hey, take it easy, you hit your head pretty hard," A new voice spoke, Archie

"Archie? What are you doing down here?" I asked

"I came when the mines started to shake, found Henry as he came crying for my help. Then I found you unconscious, and had to drag you out from that pile of rocks. One hit your head pretty hard, you might have a concussion," Archie explained, he then placed my own hand over the rag he held on my head, I felt the stickiness of blood seep through it, "And a slight bump in you ankle, it might be fractured."

"Henry, are you alright?" I asked him, Archie helping me sit up against the caverns wall

"A little scraped up from the fall, luckily Archie fixed me up," Henry spoke, showing his fabric rapped hands

"Do you believe me now?" Henry suddenly asked Archie

"What? Henry nows not the time for that, we have to get out of here. Emily's really hurt and you need some real medical attention, come on," Archie encouraged

"So your still against me," Henry sighed

"Henry, nows not the time. Let's go, Henry! Come on!" Archie ordered

"You'll see, you'll see," Henry called, rushing down a different way

"Henry! Henry!" Archie yelled, wanting him to come back, but he ran farther down

Archie looked to me and then at Henry, debating his options

"Go find Henry, I'll be fine here," I coughed, laying my head against the rough cavern wall

"I can't do that, you might fall asleep and injury yourself. And I can't make you stand," Archie muttered, then he lifted me up bridal style

"Keep the rag on your head okay? And don't close your eyes, we'll get you out of here," Archie spoke

He had his umbrella on his wrist and started his long journey down the mine trails
                                         ~~~~~~~~
It was late at night, crickets chirped and Jiminy and his parents walked out from their cart, to a brick and straw house, their next victims

As they walked to the door Jiminy turned to face them, "Look, can't we skip this tonight?"

"Oh," his father sighed

"I mean, we don't need the money," Jiminy added

"Everything isn't about money, Jiminy. It's about the principle," His mother sighed

"A commitment to excellence," his father added, holding a vile in his hands, one that was similar as the one Jiminy took from the Dark One

"Excellence at stealing money," his mother concluded in a hushed voice

"Now, go ahead and take the 'Elf Tonic' Jiminy," His father laughed, his mother joining in

Jiminy sighed, holding the vile in his hands and then turned towards the door as his mother knocked, the laughter becoming silent

The door creaked as it opened, revealing a lovely couple behind it

"Ooh! Such beautiful young people," his mother gasped as the couple revealed themselves

"Pardon me. Uh, do you have place at your hearth for an honest man and his. . . Uh, elderly parents?" Jiminy asked, tired of the same old lie

"Of course. Come in," the young man smiled, a genuine kindness from his heart

Jiminy to, wished he had that

"Oh. Oh," his mother smiled, a fake smile he thought

"I'll heat up some broth," The young woman offered, more kindness, Jiminy thought, a kindness they did not deserve

"Oh, we love broth," his mother smiled as they entered the couples home

"Oh, what a beautiful home," his father added

"Your cobbles are so even," his mother admired

"Oh and that real thatch," his father added

All while Jiminy couldn't help but feel all his lies swallow him up as the door shut

Soon enough they were all seated around a table, eating the broth the couple had offered

"Thank you for you kindness," Jiminy thanked as the young woman handed him his bowl of broth, his mother giving him a look before inhaling deeply

"I just can't get it out of my mind. That family," his mother spoke in a hushed voice

"Terrible way to go," his father added, louder than his mother

"Ohh," his mother 'whimpered'

"What?" The young woman asked, "What happened?"

"Plague," they both answered, the young woman gasped

"The next town over. We just passed through," his mother added

"The plague?" The woman asked

"Well, a plague, certainly," His mother corrected

"It is coming here? Are you okay?" The young man asked, slightly leaning away from them

"Oh, us? No, we're immune," his father spoke

"We have Elf Tonic," his mother added

"Made by Elves from Elves," his father spoke

"Four out of five court physicians recommend it," his mother continued

"Fifth one died before he could try it," his father joked, laughing, his mother rolled his eyes

"Well, you have it, right? Smart folks like you?" His mother questioned

"We've never heard of it," The young woman admitted

"Oh, no," his mother gasped

"Oh, dear god," his father gasped

"Oh, no. Your going to die. You need Elf Tonic," Jiminy 'panicked'

"Oh, I wish we had extra," his mother spoke

"We don't have extra," his father added

"There is no extra," Jiminy 'gasped'

"We could pay you," The young woman suggested

"We have a tiny bottle," his father added quickly, awaiting the price to be set on the table

"But we need that for ourselves," his mother interjected, knowing the more you want it, the higher the risk

"What can we give you?" The young man asked

"Surely there must be something here you would want," The young woman added

A devious smirk appeared on his mother's lips, "I'm sure we could come up with something."

And I'm no time Jiminy's parents had ransacked the place, taking anything and everything they found that they wanted

"Well, I guess we should start loading up," his mother smiled, a fake one, shifting a large blanket over her shoulder, wrapped to hold many items, his father was the same

He let them out after the jerk of her head towards the couple, Jiminy held the bottle out to the couple, "Here you go."

"Thank you," The young man smiled, sighing with relief that his family would be alright

If only he knew the truth, Jiminy thought

He took one last look at them before shutting the door softly, leaving the couple behind

"Those are good people. They-They would never have hurt us like that," Jiminy gasped to his parents, ashamed of their behavior but more ashamed of himself for not stopping it

"And that's where they went wrong," his mother replied

"It's better to be the kind of people that take. . ." His father began

"Instead of those who get taken from," his mother finished

Jiminy pulled the vile from his pocket, he was done, he didn't want this life anymore, he wanted his freedom, and he was about to get it

"I'm sorry," Jiminy spoke, knowing what he was about to do, "You've given me no other choice."

Opening the vile he threw it on his parents, they gasped in shock, but then they turned into smirks

"How frail do you think we are, son?" His mother asked

"Rainwater won't hurt us," his father added, chuckling, "I'm pretty good at sleight of hand, Jiminy."

"You switched them?" Jiminy panicked, "If this was the Elf Tonic. . ."

"Oh my. We must have given whatever you had. . .to that family," his father 'gasped'

"Oh, I hope it wasn't dangerous," his mother 'gasped'

Soon Jiminy race back towards the hut, panicked really setting in as he opened the door, to find no couple their, but an empty vile in the floor

The goodness of the liquid leaking from the bottle to the floor, Jiminy was careful to pick it up

Jiminy moves towards the door and as he moved the door away he finally froze, the couple were sitting there, as dolls, with red and black covering their bodies as they sat holding hands

Jiminy sat back on a chair in shock, a couple had died because of him, it was meant for his parents but it happened to them

The people who took them in when they didn't know a single thing about them, the people who fed them broth, the people who begged to keep themselves alive from the 'plague' now we're lifeless

Then his parents walked in, confused by his actions till they looked at the dolls

"Oh, look at that," his father chuckled

"New puppets for the act," his mother chuckled

Then a new voice arrived, one Jiminy recognized, "Mama! Papa!"

As the boy arrived at his hut he was confused by these strangers in his home, "Who are you?" He asked

Jiminy stood, but no words reached his mouth, now he left a child as an orphan

He turned to see his parents, but seeing their doll figures made him drop his water bucket in shock, "Mama? Papa?"

The boy turned to face Jiminy, "What did you do to them? What did you do to them?!" The boy whimpered

But Jiminy could find no words to answer the boys question
                                          ~~~~~~~
"Henry? Henry?" Archie panted, holding onto me as he stumbled a bit over a piece of railing, careful to not let me go

"Henry! Henry. Henry. You gotta slow down," Archie panted as he found Henry, looking at something with his flashlight

"There's something shinny down there," Henry spoke

"Henry, this is seriously dangerous," Archie argued as he set me down, setting me carefully against the wall

"We've got to get out of here," I added, sounding like a whisper

"It could be something," Henry argued

"Will you look at me? Look at me! I'm frightened for you Henry! And Emily to!" Archie exclaimed

"Because you think I'm crazy?" Henry asked

"No! No. Because we are trapped underground, while Emily's very hurt, and we have no way out," Archie spoke

And sudden realization hit Henry, seeing as he was right

Then a barking was heard, we looked around

"Guys? Do you hear that?" I wondered, slowly standing up, but leaning against the wall in pain

"It's Pongo!" Henry cheered, Archie came over and helped me walk, seeing as carrying me was to much

"Follow the noise," Archie spoke, Henry followed after the noise and it stopped at an abandoned elevator shaft

"It's a shaft," I spoke, helping Archie move the thin layer of metal that was blocking it, but quickly regretting it as my head was pounding with pain along with my ankle

"It's to get the mine workers in and out," Archie spoke

"It goes all the way to the top, must be why we can hear Pongo in the first place," I added

"Can we make it work?" Henry questioned

Archie stepped out and helped me inside, sitting me in a corner, "Let's give it a shot."

Archie started to pull at the wheel, but it ain't doing much, Henry went over and helped and the elevator was starting to move little by little

But then a rumbling occurred, I pulled Henry to my lap and protected him as the elevator fell down
                                     ~~~~~~~~~
"Emily!" A voice snapped, I shot awake, the pounding returning to my head

"Henry, not so loud," I mumbled, feeling my head, a small stain of red left on my hand

"I'm sorry, I'm scared," Henry spoke

"Hey it's okay, we'll get out of here," I told him

"I'm not scared of that," Henry spoke

"Then what are you scared of?" I asked

"Losing you, you came down here because of me and now your hurt and it's all my fault," Henry whimpered, tears in his eyes

"Hey, no Henry. It's okay, I'll be fine. This was not your fault, okay? Had I not pushed you out of the way you'd been in that pile of rocks. Don't ever think this is your fault because it's not and never will be," I told him

"I just wanted to find proof," Henry sighed as he slid down the wall

"It's alright Henry, really," Archie added, checking on my wound

"Do you still think I'm crazy?" Henry asked Archie

"I don't think your crazy. I think that you've got a strong mother who's got a clear idea of the path that she wants you to be on, and when you step off of it she. . . she gets scared and, you know, that's natural, but it's also natural for you to be able to be free to think the things you want to think. So. . . I mean, I never meant those things I said and I shouldn't have said them," Archie spoke

"Why did you say them?" Henry asked

"I guess I'm just not a very good person. I'm not the man I want to be," Archie sighed

Then the elevator shook, violently and slid a bit down

After a bit Henry spoke, "I think you can be him. I think you can be a good person. I mean, you're Jiminy Cricket."

"Henry, Henry. Jiminy Cricket was a, uh, he was a Cricket, and he was a conscience, and I hardly think that's me," Archie sighed

"But before you said he was a guy who took a long time to figure out the right thing to do," Henry shrugged

"Kinda sounds like me," Archie agreed after a moment

"Now it's harder for you, because of the curse, to hear the voice inside of you, to be who you want to be," Henry replied

Then the elevator shook again, Henry fell towards me and I caught him, holding his head on my shoulder with my hand and looking up, my ankle now throbbing more

Some small rocks fell and I covered Henry's head with my backpack, a small rock hitting my wound making me hiss in pain

"Hey. Can I ask you again?" Archie asked

"Ask what?" Henry asked

"Why is it so important that your fairytale theory is true?" Archie asked

"I don't know," Henry shrugged

"Give it a shot," Archie spoke

"Cause. . . this can't be all there is," Henry spoke, handing Archie a chocolate bar, I passed on mine

"I understand," Archie spoke

"And I thought if I found proof. . . Mm. But I didn't find anything," Henry concluded

"Well, that's not true. I was lost, and you found me, right?" Archie spoke, handing him a piece of the chocolate bar

"You mean, you remember?" Henry asked, excited

"No, I-I don't remember, but I do remember the kind of person I want to be. I just gotta listen harder," Archie concluded, a small smile on his face

Some more gravel fell, and a light was shining on us

"What's that?" Henry asked

"That's our ticket out of here," I smiled

"Are you guys okay?" Emma asked as she came down, a hook attached to her belt

"We're fine, but Emily's hurt pretty bad, take her first," Archie spoke

"But, Henry—" I began

"I'll be fine, you first," Henry interrupted

"Yeah, yeah okay," I agreed, but not liking the thought of it

Emma opened the top of the elevator and Archie held his hands out for me to step on, I stepped on his hands and he helped me up, Emma grabbed my arms and helped me up

"Just stay awake, okay? We've got an ambulance, just hang on," Emma spoke

"Alright," I spoke, and we started to get lifted up, once we reached the top some people helped me out of the hole, setting me gently on the ground as an ambulance came over and placed me on a rolling gurney

"Henry..." I whispered as they put an oxygen mask on my face, to calm me down

I pushed it away, waiting for Henry to come back up

"Miss, please—" the man began

"Not until he's safe, the both of them," I argued, sitting myself up

I watched as they struggled with the rope, and then I heard the crash of the elevator, come on Emma

And then Emma came up with Henry, and a smile came to my face, and as they came up Archie did as well and my smile grew wider as they were both here safe and sound

My head then grew with pain and I hissed as the pain continued, the paramedic laid me down and put the mask back on my face, strapping me in and I felt the gurney roll

"You'll be okay, Miss. Just keep your eyes open," he spoke

And in no time, I was loaded into the ambulance and taken to the hospital
~~~~~~~
Jiminy walked out of his carriage he shared with his parents, guilt was all he could feel

He stared up at the sky, a single star was shinning the brightest in the sky, and he decided to make a wish

"I wish. . . I wish. . ." Jiminy began, but no other words came out of his mouth, and he held his head down in shame

And suddenly a blue light and the sound of bells tinkling caught his attention, he turned his head to see a fairy, covered in the bluest of clothing

"I hear your wish. You don't need to wish it so loudly," she giggled

A smile made its way to Jiminy's face, his guilt slightly fading

"But it is not possible. I cannot bring back the boy's parents," she sighed n

Jiminy's face fell, his hope seemed lost, "It's my fault. I have to make it right. I. . . I would trade my life to make it happen."

"What's done is done, but there may be another way," The fairy suggested

"Tell me, please," Jiminy begged

"The little boy. . . He will grow up to face many challenges. Do you want to help him?" She questioned

Jiminy sighed, looking back at his parents carriage, "I can't get away from these people. They're my parents. They're. . . who I am."

"But if you didn't want to be that, what would you like to be?" She questioned

Jiminy thought, listening to the sound of the crickets chirping, and in his mind he wished for what he'd want to be

"I hear your wish," she smiled, and with the wave of her wand a bright blue light erupted and bells tinkled

Jiminy was now transformed into what he wanted to be, a Cricket

She giggled, "How do you feel?"

"Free," Jiminy chirped in response, though no words were heard she understood

"Find the boy, Jiminy. You will love as many years as you need to help him. Just find him," The fairy told

"How will I? I don't even know his name," Jiminy chirped again with no words

"His name is geppetto," The fairy told him

Jiminy nodded, holding his umbrella in front of him, knowing he was ready to help the boy

Whenever and wherever
~~~~~~~~
I woke up, and doctor Whale walked into the room

"Good, your awake," he spoke

"What happened?" I questioned with a small groan, sitting up in my bed

"Well, you had a small concussion. But with a few stitches it was fixed. And you ankle is fractured, so you'll have to stay off of it for a bit," he explained

"But what about work? I have to be there or I won't get paid to pay my bills," I argued

"Which is what I'll be taking care of," Mary-Margaret spoke as she walked in

"Mary-Margaret—" I began

"Don't worry, as soon as you can move you can work again. I don't want you pushing yourself when your hurt," Mary Margaret argued

"Okay, I'll take some time off."

"Thank you, Now I'll let you get some rest," Mary-Margaret spoke, brushing some hair from my face and lightly kissing my forehead

As she left the room, an envelope clutched in her hand, I couldn't help but feel as though something wasn't right, something was missing from that kiss

But what?
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jiminy walked out of his carriage he shared with his parents, guilt was all he could feel

He stared up at the sky, a single star was shinning the brightest in the sky, and he decided to make a wish

"I wish. . . I wish. . ." Jiminy began, but no other words came out of his mouth, and he held his head down in shame

And suddenly a blue light and the sound of bells tinkling caught his attention, he turned his head to see a fairy, covered in the bluest of clothing

"I hear your wish. You don't need to wish it so loudly," she giggled

A smile made its way to Jiminy's face, his guilt slightly fading

"But it is not possible. I cannot bring back the boy's parents," she sighed

Jiminy's face fell, his hope seemed lost, "Its my fault. I have to make it right I...I would turn my life to make it happen."

"What's done is done, but there may be another way," The fairy comforted

"Tell me, please," Jiminy begged, he needed a way to fix this, he needed it more than anything

"The little boy...he will grow up to face many challenges. Do you want to help him?" The fairy questioned

Jiminy was silent, he looked towards his parents cart, he wanted more than anything to help the little boy to who he caused so much pain and grief, but his family would never allow such a thing to happen

"I can't get away from these people. They're my parents. They're...who I am," Jiminy spoke

"But if you didn't want to be that, what would you like to be?" The fairy questioned, sensing his want and need to help the little boy

Jiminy was silent once more, listening to the sounds of chirping of crickets, deciding what he'd want to be

And he wished it, and the fairy smiled at his choice, "I hear your wish."

With the wave of her wand she transformed Jiminy, turning him into what he wished to be, a cricket

"How do you feel?" The fairy chuckled, sensing his happiness

Jiminy chirped, his answer was free, finally for once in his life he felt free to be himself

"Find the boy, Jiminy. You will live as many years as you need to help him. Just find him," The fairy told him

Though Jiminy wanted to find him quickly he didn't know where to look and expressed his confusion, especially about not knowing the boys name

"His name is Geppetto," The fairy answered

Jiminy felt happy, for the first time in his life, he could do something good

He was set on helping the boy he caused pain to, finally he could help instead of hurt