Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 83 - Change

The dwarfs worked hard in the mines, thrusting their axes into the rock and and collecting the diamonds.
"Let's pick up the pace, boys! We're making magic here!" shouted Bossy to the dwarfs.
"Where's my axe?" asked Dreamy's voice in the shadows of the mines.
The dwarfs stopped working and turned around to see Dreamy walk slow towards them, his face down, all hope of his dream gone.
"Where's my axe." he asked again when he got no reply.
A beam grew on Sneezy's face. "Dreamy! You're......." he sneezed loudly. "..........back!"
Bossy walked towards him and handled him his axe. "Well, heigh-ho boys!"
The dwarfs all went neck to work, mining their sparkling diamonds.
Dreamy walked down through the dark mines, away from his brothers.
"Good to have you back, Dreamy." said Bossy.
"No place I'd rather be." he said dully.
He sighed. "Heigh-ho." Then he threw his axe into a high rock. He continued to hit the dock with his blade, letting out all his anger.
The dwarfs stepped working agaon and looked at him in his destructive mood.
Suddenly the wooden handle of his axe split and broke in half with the force of his smashing. He looked at the broken axe in his hand. "Bossy, hand me another axe." he dropped his broken axe on the cart track beneath him.
The dwarfs passed another axe along to Dreamy.
"Here you are, Dreamy." said Bossy as he held out the axe.
Dreamy took it in both of his hands and looked down at the wooden handle to see the name Grumpy appear.
Bossy stared at the pickaxe in shock, he stepped back a little to keep his balance.
"It's Grumpy now." he said, glaring at the axe.

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The people crowded around Mary Margaret and Leroy's candle stall, holding out money for one of their handmade candles.
Mary Margaret and Leroy smiled happily as they quickly took the money they were given and traded it for the candles.
"Here you go." said Leroy cheerfully, handing a old woman a candle ans smiling.
Leroy looked through all the empty cardboard boxes, searching for a single candle to spare. Once Mary Margaret had sold the last one she looked around with Leroy.
"Leroy...........we sold out!" she said, glancing around her at the people around the stalls and markets, the lit candles their hands.
Leroy beamed happily and laughed. Mary Margaret put her arms around him happily and Leroy lofted her off her feet. They laughed gleefully.
Leroy gazed over at the nuns standing near by, huddled together, the candles in their hands.
"Well, go on. Give her the news." said Mary Margaret. "Have your moment." she looked at him.
Leroy walked through the crowds, towards the nuns, the box of money in his hand.
"Excuse me." said Astrid to the other nuns when she saw Leroy.
"Okay." They replyed.
She stepped over to Leroy and he held out the box of money to her. "Five thousand bucks. Piece of cake." he smiled.
"You sold them all?" she smiled happily.
"Yeah, I had a little help."
"You made it happen."
"You have no idea."
She sighed and stammered. "I...... I don't know what to say." she took the box as Leroy held it out.
"You're welcome............. Listen, that boat of mine, I'm gonna fix it up. And, well, maybe you could be my first passenger."
She chuckled and nodded. "I'd like that."
"Well, then that what we'll do, sister." he smiled broadly.
She sighed as she looked around at the markets and stalls. "Ohhhhh...... It's beautiful. Isn't it?"
They looked around at the happy people guiding their way through the darkness with their candles.

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Emma sat in the Sherif's station, looking thoroughly at the phone records of Kathryn Nolan, David's call highlighted in pink.
Suddenly the door opened and she looked up.
She saw Regina walk into the station and into her office. "If this is about the blackout, I've got the guys from the power company down there working on it." said Emma.
"That's not why I'm here." she said, now standing in front of her desk. "It's been twenty four hours since my friend Kathryn went missing. Have you found anything?"
She raised her eyebrows a little. "I found something. I just don't know what it means."
"Well, what is it?"
She hesitated for a moment. "At this point in the investigation, it's best I don't divulge thar information."
"If you're covering for someone..... If you're not doing your job, Sherif Swan, I'll find someone who will." she walked and walked out of the station, leaving Emma and her thoughts. She took a sip from her herbel tea and clicked the lid of her highlighter, staring into the nothingness.

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Mary Margaret wrote in broad capital letters on some card board SOLD OUT, smiling. She then sat it up on the stall and blew out the very last candle that lit her market up.
She walked away from the crowds, alone, her head bent, the unlit candle in her hand. She reached her car and looked at the word TRAMP written in red on the widows. It was now a little washed away but it was still clear for all to see. She stared and the letters and her reflection in the window, hope drained from her eyes. She them turned away from the car and back through the markets and crowds outside the Town Hall, keeping her chin up and allowing a tear to rest in her eye.
Granny walked from one of the stalls, her iglighted candle in her hand. She took Mary Margaret's arm she smiled at her, gently taking her unlit candle from her hands and lighting it with hers. She handed it back to her and Mary Margaret smiled at her thankfully. Granny smiled at her forgivingly and rubbed her back.
She then walked bravely through the crowds with her lit candle, tears of a mixture of joy and sadness downing down her cheeks. She walked through past all the stalls and markets, smiling at the people she passed.
David stood near by, staring at her. He sighed and looked away then spotted Emma walking towards him. "Emma?" he smiled
"David, we need to talk." said Emma.
"Did you get a hold of Kathryn?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Then what is it?"
"I need you to come to the Sherif's station with me and tell me everything."
"I'm sorry, I thought I already did."
"So did I." she said, her face down. "Come on." she walked to the sherif's car and he followed, confused.
Some of the crowds turned their attention to David walking to the car. Then as Mary Margaret drew nearer, she saw him too, stepping into the back of the car and Emma closing the door. She stopped and stared, fearing the worst, her eyes widening in shock.