A/N: Although I loved The Pirate Fairy, it bothered me that Tinker Bell and the others didn't try to comfort Zarina after she was fired as dust-keeper when they saw how upset she was. The story might have turned out differently if they had. Here is a possible "missing scene" to explain what had happened. Thank you MLPRWSandPowerpuffgirlsfan for suggesting that I post this!

Chapter 1

Dread tightened Tinker Bell's throat as she watched Zarina dash away in tears, disappearing into the foliage of the massive plant she'd grown. The plant that, thanks to an overdose of pink pixie dust, had demolished the Pixie Dust Depot and displaced some of the surrounding houses. Thick, tangled vines stretched in all directions.

Tink had felt Zarina's pain when Fairy Gary scolded her for tampering with pixie dust, then told her she was no longer a dust-keeper.

This is partly my fault, she thought, hot tears blurring her vision. I have to go after her. But she couldn't move. Her feet remained rooted in place, her wings hung slack.

She turned to Rosetta, Fawn, and Silvermist who stood beside her on one of the vines. They looked as helpless as she felt. A short distance away Queen Clarion, Fairy Mary, and Fairy Gary were discussing plans on how to start rebuilding the Depot.

"Poor Zarina!" whispered Fawn.

"I've never heard of a fairy released from her talent before." Silvermist tugged at a lock of her glossy hair. "What will she do now?"

Guilt gnawed at Tink. None of this would have happened if she hadn't distracted Zarina, admonishing her to stop her experiments. She'd trusted Tink, had been so eager to share her discoveries. And now this. Tink's insides twisted.

"We should go talk to her," said Fawn.

"The poor thing will need some cheering up, that's for sure," said Rosetta. "Let's meet at her house in an hour. I'll gather some flowers for her."

"And I'll make her a jewelry box." Tink brightened. That was a gift she had planned to give Zarina for her next Arrival Anniversary celebration but it would work even better now.

"Okay, that's good," said Silvermist, thinking. "I could…I know! I'll bring her one of Dulcie's best cakes."

"We also need to find Vidia and Iridessa," said Tink, glancing around. "All of us should be there."

"I'll do it," said Fawn. "You guys get busy. See you at Z's place in an hour."

"Right!" said Tink as they all sped off in different directions.

Tink almost lost track of time as she worked. Pride filled her when she held up her completed creation. It was round and shiny, made from a silvery metal she had found on the beach and hadn't known what to do with. Now it formed a perfect container. The tiny jewels that encrusted it sparkled against the gentle glow of the setting sun spilling through her window.

But would it be enough for Zarina to forgive her? A fresh batch of guilt washed over Tink as she darted out her door, clutching the jewelry box to her chest. She flew slowly, mulling over what she could possibly say in addition to an apology. Why, why hadn't she been more supportive? Memories of how Fairy Mary had initially scoffed at her use of Lost Things flooded her mind. Zarina had even pointed that out. And now she'd done the same to Zarina.

"We'll all go with you first thing tomorrow to talk to Fairy Gary," she whispered, rehearsing. "Maybe we can convince him to give you back your job. And, if not, then there must be something you can do with that dust…thing of yours. It's pretty flitterific, actually. I—"

She stopped as Zarina's house came into view. It sat high in the air, on a thick branch of that rouge plant. Vines looped through the open door and windows. Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn, Vidia, and Iridessa were already there, standing outside. Tink's heart throbbed.

"What took you so long, Miss Spare Parts?" Vidia hissed.

"Sorry," she whispered, alighting beside them. "I just wanted this to be perfect." She held up the jewelry box.

"Oh, that's pretty!" gushed Silvermist, who was holding a decorative chocolate cake. "She'll love it."

"Okay, are we all ready?" said Fawn.

"I think so." Iridessa gulped. "The door's open. Do we knock or just go in?"

Tink was relieved that her friends seemed just as nervous as she felt. Still, they weren't the ones who had distracted Zarina, causing her to create this mess in the first place. She swallowed a huge lump in her throat.

"Oh, for pity's sake!" Rosetta, clutching a bouquet of colorful flowers, knocked on the side of the house. "Sugarcane, it's us. Are you all right? Can we come in?"

No answer. Tink's pulse raced. Was Zarina even home?

"Zarina?" The jewelry box felt suddenly slippery in her sweaty palms. Her legs were shaking as she forced herself to enter after the others. She fluttered her wings to propel herself forward.

Zarina's cottage was dark, lit only by moonlight and the fading sunset slipping in through the openings. Her lab equipment was in disarray and some of it was missing, including the journal that detailed her experiments.

A sick feeling wormed through Tink.

"She's not here," said Vidia once they searched the house.

"Where could she have gone?" asked Silvermist.

"This doesn't look good." Iridessa wrung her hands. "She wouldn't leave Pixie Hollow, would she?"

"No. Of course not, Sunshine." Rosetta's usually cheerful voice was tinged with concern. "This is her home. She's got to be around somewhere. Maybe she just wandered off to think things through. She'll probably be back by morning. Why don't we all get a good night's sleep and look for her tomorrow?"

"That's a good idea," said Tink, a momentary flicker of relief passing through her. "And if she doesn't show up we can ask Fairy Gary or Terence." Her heart gave a sudden flutter. "They might know since they work with her. Or…uh, used to." She scratched the back of her calf with her foot.