Tinkerbell and The Dark Fairies

A great many eons ago, there lived two humans. Now, these humans were not like you or me, no. These humans were not quite done- a little unfinished. Endless generations had made them what they were, but they were not quite right. Nothing against them, you understand- they were perfectly wonderful almost-people. And they were in love. Back then, The world had no seasons, for they had not yet come to exist. There instead existed but one season, one season that was never quite warm or cold enough. It was a very confused, disorderly season and though I'm sure it tried it's best, it just couldn't get it quite right. The almost-humans didn't find it very pleasant at all, but as they had nothing to compare it to, they hardly realized it. But thankfully, that was about to change.

One day Ug walked out of his cave to go find some breakfast. It was a normal day- the trees to his left were exuberant in their reds and ambers, and the trees to his right seemed perfectly happy with their deep greens, with some indecisive ones scattered here and their who didn't seem able to decide what color they wanted their leaves to be. Over in the distance he could see some snow clouds competing with a disgruntled rainstorm over how much snow versus water to put down. Despite this, Ug was dressed in light clothes- he had a lot of hair on his mostly-exposed body, which would serve him well if a surprise snowstorm decided to hit. He breathed in deeply, enjoying the smells of the day before hurrying along. HIs mate was eating for two right now, and needed all the food she could get.

He returned early in the afternoon with a deer sling across his shoulder. "Ru!" He called, throwing the deer down upon the ground, "I've got food!"

"Wonderful! I'll be out in a second, dear- Ah!" her words were cut off by a surprised cry

"Ru!" cried Ug, running inside, "What's wrong? Is it the baby?"

Inside, his wife stood unharmed, though she still looked surprised. "I'm sorry, love. It was just that dang raccoon again- it surprised me."

Ug heaved a great sigh of relief. "Better than one of those snow tigers! I was afraid something had snuck in while I was away!"

Ru gave her mate a look of displeasure. "Don't discount me just because I'm pregnant, Ug. I was just a good a hunter as you before this."

Ug gave her a rueful smile "I'm sorry, I can't help but worry, not when you're carrying our son."

"Now, Ug, you know as well as I that it has just as much of a chance of being a girl as a boy."

"I'm sure it's a boy. Don't forget, I'm always right."

"Oh really? What about that time you thought the rustling in the bushes was a wolf, only to rush in and tumble right down the side of a riverbed because you didn't bother to look where you were going? You scared the daylights out of that poor rabbit."

"I don't believe I remember that" said Ug, wincing

"Uh-huh. And what about the time you fell into your own trap because you forgot to mark it properly? Or time time you brought back itching plant for bedding? Or the time- Ah!" Ru doubled over, clutching her belly

"Ru! Are you okay? What is it now?" Ug hurried over and helped his mate lay down on their bed

"Of course not, you fool! The baby's coming!- Ow!" Her entire body stiffened as another contraction hit her.

"The baby! But- oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear-"

"Shut up you great buffoon and build up the fire! We;re gonna need warm water for thi-Ooowww!"

Ug jumped up, grabbed one of their clay pots, and rushed down to the stream nearby for water. Returning, he saw Ru was continuing to have contractions, screaming in pain every time one hit her. Setting the pot on the hot coals, he grabbed some wood and began to feed the fire back up to it's full force. Once that was done, he kneeled next to his wife and held her hand as she continued to give birth. Heaving a sigh, he settled in for one of the most harrowing experiences of his life.

A few hours (and one nearly-broken hand later) Ug sat with his wife as she cleaned off the new-born infant. "It's a girl" He said. For all his talk of a son, he was in love with the little creature already and was ecstatic that it had finally come.

Ru smiled wearily "Of course it is- I knew it would be, and you know I'm always right."

Ug smiled back and held her close, careful not to squeeze his newborn daughter. Looking down at her his expression grew slightly troubled "She looks… odd. Not in a bad way", he hurriedly amended when his wife glared at him, "She doesn't look like us, though. She looks… well, perfect is what I want to say."

Ru looked down at the tiny creature suckling on her chest. She could see what he meant- her forehead was different, more smooth and without the ridges that characterized their people, and the child was lacking the usual amount of hair. She would have to make sure that she kept her child warm if a snowstorm happened by. Still, she was a proud mother, and loved her child with a fierce intensity. Just then, the child stopped suckling, and looked up curiously at her new parents. Suddenly, a grin grew on her small face, and their child laughed for the first time.

But as soon as the sound left her lips, their was a great sound as if a thousand mirrors wet shattering into a million pieces, and the cave was suddenly filled with sparkling lights that swirled around the family before retreating out the cave entrance as if bourne upon a swift wind.

The new parents gaped at each other before staring down at their child, who was now cooing like a normal baby. Though neither parent new just what had happened, they knew in their hearts that it had been important, and magical.

As for the lights, they traveled over land and sea, following the second star to the right, till they were caught in the branches of the many trees that sat in a rather curious part of a rather spectacular land, where the seasons coexisted separately. There they stayed till the first light of the rising sun struck them, when they suddenly took form and became the fairies They were separated by their talents, of which there were a great many. All were important, but it soon became apparent that there were a great many more of certain talents, those whose lights had taken root in each of the four seasons.

Those who had first alighted in the land of cold and snow became the Winter fairies, who help the rivers freeze to just the right thickness for ice skating, and who crafted each snowflake into it's perfect individual form.

Those who landing in the land of new growth and blossoming flowers became Spring and Garden fairies, who help the first plants burst from the snow.

Those who landed in the land of amber leaves and harvest became Autumn fairies, who aid the plants in ripening and who turn the colors of the leaves that perfect shade of red and orange.

And those that arrived in the land of sunlight and warmth became Summer fairies, who help craft their season to be perfect for running and jumping and playing under the sun.

There were yet others, such as those whose lights absorbed the very first rays of the new sun as it crested the horizon, who became Light fairies, creators of rainbows and whose works enrich the other seasons, and the Tinkerers, who discovered a love of building and crafting and tinkering very quickly, making houses and carts and cups and jars and almost everything they could think of to make life a little bit easier for the other fairies.

There are many others, others whose talents are even more varied but no less important, and I'm sure you've heard of most of them, for they travel rear about everywhere in this spectacular land of ours, the fantastical land of Neverland. And though you will meet a great many of these fairies in our story, they are not the focus of it. For there was yet another tribe, yet another talent, though it has been mostly forgotten now. These were the Dark Fairies.

No, they are not mean or nasty fairies. They did not play pranks or trick people. They were those whose lights landed in deep holes or in the hollows of trees, where the light of the sun did not reach them. However, that night a great wind blew through the fairy kingdom, gathering them up and throwing them into the brilliant rays of the moon. They were responsible for waking those animals that walked the night, and for helping those elusive flowers that only bloom at night and whose petals glow with a pale, gentle light. They also delighted in making moonbows, rainbows that shine silver and gleam with the brilliance of the stars.

Now, for some years they all lived in peace and there was much happiness, until the day that that first human child (now a beautiful young lady) had her heart broken for the very first time. Her sob traveled the same long route to Neverland, and though thankfully it did not land in Pixie Hollow, It still took form and became Kyto, The Great Evil Dragon of Neverland. Kyto, born angry and vengeful, rampaged for a great many years before being eventually trapped by Peter pan and The Lost Boys, with help from a Fairy Queen.

Still, it was a day of great sadness when he first crested the mountain and attacked. The fairies, caught unaware, fled in fear to a safe distance and hid, only returning after seeing the great wyrm departing. The forests were in terrible shape, though thankfully the Pixie Dust Tree survived with minimal damage, it's ancient trunk oddly impervious to the dragon's flames. The greatest tragedy was not discovered until night came and went without the spectacular moon bows and beautiful night flowers. The next morning, the fairies went to check on the dark fairies and were horrified to discover the truth: The dark fairies, being nocturnal, had not woken up when the dragon came calling, and the overhanging cliff that housed their sleeping quarters had been sheared off by the dragon's rage, plummeting into a deep crevice. The fairies, believing their friends to be dead (for who could survive such a fall?) left, weeping bitterly. That night, as they toasted to their friends, there was much talk of sending search parties down into the depths to search for survivors. This idea was greater enthusiastically, and a group of the hardiest fairies were given large pouches of fairy dust to ensure they could make the the trip, and even bring back some of the lost fairies with them. It was not to be.

Early the next day, the rescue party set out for the crevice, with most of the fairy kingdom flying behind to offer encouragement. Cheer soon turned to dismay and terror, as Kyto once again swooped over the fairy kingdom, landing on what remained of the cliff. As the fairies screamed and fled, the dragon let loose a torrent of fire, catching some of the reuse team as they fled. Their charred bodies fell into the crevice, but the pressure of Kyto's already gargantuan body caused what was left of the cliff to crumble, and the dragon tumbled down along with a great flood of boulders and rocks. While this did not kill him, it did wound him, and he left crying out in rage and pain. While Kyto would not trouble the fairies again for a great number of years, his second attack took the last hope the fairies had of rescuing their comrades from the crevice- the rocks of the cliff had plugged the entrance like a cork in a bottle, and no fairy could find a path to the bottom. Eventually the fairies gave up, and a great vigil was held at the crevice.

As time went on the fairies set about putting the seasons in proper order, and the humans and almost-humans found it a great improvement. They grew used to the routine of planting and harvesting and playing and even grew to love the cold of winter. More children were born and laughed, and more fairies arrived in Pixie Hollow, tales of the Dark Fairies became legend, and legend became myth, until many fairies barely believed the dark fairies had ever existed. With only that first laugh of laughs having the magic required to interact with the moon and elements no new dark fairies could be made, and without a representative to help with the Talent Choosing no one was found to carry on their legacy.

Eons passed, and much laughter and joy where had amongst the fairies, and love and adventure where found by all. Especially by one particular fairy, and her friends. I'm sure you've heard of her, that particular Tinkerer known as Tinkerbell. This is the story of one of her adventures, and how the Dark Fairies returned to live in Pixie Hollow.