"No, no. If we use that passage, it would take us forever to escape."
"Bartholomew, I'm telling ye. I've traveled that waterway many a time 'afore."
Tinker Bell awoke to the muffled voices of Bartholomew and Williams. The large stateroom was filled with the morning's soft light. Tink stood and stretched her wings as best she could within the jar's glass walls. Her eyes still felt heavy and her whole body seemed to ache from exhaustion. Tink always thought that being kept imprisoned by pirates would be fun, but this was no joyful adventure. She gazed up towards the lid and noticed the book was gone. Her eyes grew wide as they traveled over to the two bickering humans. This was her chance to escape. She fluttered up to the top of the jar and pushed but lid was tightly secured. She tugged on her bangs, thinking furiously.
I know! Tinker Bell flew from side to side. The jar tipped to the right, then to the left. It stopped, leaning to the right. Come on. Finally, it fell on its side. Tink's wings fluttered in delight. She began to roll it towards the desk's edge. Closer, closer! "Come on! Come on!" Almost there!
"Oh no, no, no. That could've been bad." Bartholomew grabbed the jar and replaced it back in the middle of the table. Tink watched in agony as he set the leather book back on top of the lid.
"I'm never going to get out of here…"
Meanwhile, Terence was watching the two pirates snore soundly in the thicket's grass.
"Ahh, wake up already!" The sparrow-man hovered in mid-air, anxiously wringing his strong hands together. It had taken everything in him to wait. Now, he was desperately panicking about Tinker Bell's safety. He couldn't wait another second to see her. He quickly flew to a tree, picked some of its walnuts and headed down towards the men. He stopped right over the small pirate and let the nut fall. It fell with a CLONK! On top of the man's hard head.
"Oww!" He cried in his whiny voice, immediately awaking. "Stupid squirrels!"
"What are ye complainin' about now?" The husky one grumbled in frustration, also awakening from his slumber.
"That really hurt!"
"Oh, stop 'yer bickerin'! It's morning, we need to go back to the ship. Captain's orders from last night." Terence's heart began to race. He hoped with his whole being that these pirates were from the same crew that took Tinker Bell.
The morning slipped away into a dark afternoon. The sun disappeared behind a foggy sky and an eerie breeze blew over Never Land's waters.
Tink had never felt so defeated in her life. She stared at the jar's bottom, tears filling her eyes. She could feel this was the end, Once Bartholomew realized she didn't have any "mystical powers," he would have no more use for her.
"What's worse, he'll be furious. He's so determined to find that stupid treasure." A tear fell onto her cheek. "I really will be fortunate to make it out of this alive."
"Oh won't these look beautiful in the courtyard tonight?" Rosetta gushed, holding a red rose up in front of Iridessa's face.
"Uh yeah, I guess so. Okay, come on Iridessa," She urged, trying to refocus. "First, it's blue light, then red light, and then the yellow light." The fairy threw balls of pixie dust in the air, watching them burst into the desired colors. "Okay, now this one is the most important. Focus, focus." The light-talent whispered, closing her eyes. Just as she tossed the last and biggest glob of dust into the air, Rosetta spoke again.
"Ooo! These green vines would look exquisite with the roses. What do you think?" The ball popped, dumping the pixie dust all over Iridessa.
"Oh Sweet Pea, was that supposed to happen? You know Queen Clarion wants everything to be perfect for tonight." Iridessa sighed in defeat, blowing a smidge of dust off her face.
"I'm telling you Vidia, I haven't seen Terence in two days." Gabriella exclaimed, trying to keep up with her faster friend.
"Well what do you expect me to do Sweetheart? I'm not his fairy-sitter. I don't watch out for anyone." She stopped suddenly and turned, coming face to face with the other fairy. "You could learn a lesson or two from me Dumpling. And until you do, you can leave me alone!" Gabriella watched as she quickly zipped away. She scoffed and flipped her hair.
"Who needs her anyway?" Suddenly, she saw Iridessa and Rosetta down below. "Maybe they know where Terence is."
"So what do you think? The pansies or the tulips?"
"Rosetta, I told you. I'm trying to practice for the light show tonight. I don't have time to-"
"Fly with you!" The two fairies turned to see Gabriella come gliding down towards them.
"Fly with you Gabriella." They replied together in a flat tone.
"Oh Rosetta! Your roses are absolutely gorgeous!" The garden fairy blushed with a bashful giggle.
"Well thank you. I was planning on hanging them around in The Courtyard for the dance tonight."
"Of course, the Fairy Dance. It'll be fun. Iridessa, the show you and the other light fairies are putting on will be amazing! I can't wait to see it."
"Thanks…I think." She replied, raising an eyebrow skeptically. She knew Gabriella could turn the charm on as quickly as she could turn it off.
"Anyway, I was wondering if either of you had seen Terence. I haven't for a couple of days."
"A couple of days?" Iridessa repeated in surprise.
"Come to think of it," Rosetta added thoughtfully. "I haven't seen him or Tinker Bell in a while. I've been waiting for her to bring my watering cans back." Gabriella's blood began to boil. She crossed her arms and tapped a dainty foot.
"And where do you think they are?" Rosetta and Iridessa shrugged at each other, clueless about the whole situation. "Are you serious? So you have no idea where they're at." Gabriella growled furiously. "Well fine, I'll just find them myself." With that, she quickly took to the air and flew off. Iridessa turned to her friend, her slender eyebrows narrowed.
"I wonder where they are. I mean, I hope they're okay."
"Oh, now don't go fussing Honey. I'm sure Tinker Bell and Terence are perfectly fine. But, in the meantime, we should probably go look for them. It isn't like Tink to not stick to her word. She told me she'd have those watering cans back to me by last night."
"Do you think we should inform Queen Clarion?"
Rosetta nodded. "Two missing pixies is certainly important."
