Warnings: I have not read the books, but I have access to Wikipedia – so I have names such as Ginger but only a quick explanation of her character and talent. I saw the first movie – that's what has happened and it's AU after that. Adventure-talent is an actually an established talent-kin and will be used as such. I take liberties with the fairies pasts and incorporate my own version of Pixie Hollow within the rules of Never Land. A little bit of violence. Made-up fairy swears. Reused plot devices that work their way in there before I realized I had done it. Questionable morals. An abundance of Vidia, and me writing the wrong story. Expansions on talents that don't exist. Vidia has actually been a hero in the past. My ever present and 'famous' use of my own original characters. New: Queen Clarion and Queen Ree are the same person, another fact I stole off Wikipedia, sorry for any confusion it caused.
Summary: Vidia uses the shadow in the library to her advantage, but once Tinkerbell finds it she lets it believe that it has hopes, and starts the cogs going for an ending that might mean the end of everything she has known.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Belongs to Disney and – well, I'm actually not entirely sure who wrote the actual series it's based off.
Chapter Fourteen
Trust and Betrayal
Tinkerbell came awake almost as soon as she hit the sand. A few fairies immediately followed her descent and started fussing over her, but all eyes kept glancing back at the sky. Tinkerbell followed their gazes and saw Teary and Queen Clarion throwing talents dangerously against each other with colors exploding in the sky. Teary was smiling in a way that seemed crazed and her eyes glowed with some sort of evil Tinkerbell couldn't name. Was this really fairy she had grown so used to? Teardrop seemed so different now. All those things she had been accused of seemed probable with those eyes.
"And that would be why we suggested that you not get involved," Tinkerbell looked in shock at Scrawl. The teacher-talent smirked and tugged at Tinkerbell's arm until the tinker was on her feet and moving away from under the fight.
"But, that isn't Teary," said Tinkerbell glancing back at the colors, the view slowly becoming overrun with greenery as the grass and flowers grew in a rapid rate towards the two battling sisters.
"Sweetheart, I was the teacher-talent who stuck around trying to catch glimpse of the evil monster. I know what Teardrop looks like," said Scrawl, continuing to pull Tinkerbell away from the action.
"You realize that you say sweetheart the same way Vidia says dear, right?" said Tinkerbell glancing back at the swirling purple clouds.
"Perish the thought," was the sarcastically reply with hard tug on the tinkers arm.
"Where are we going?" asked Tinkerbell, and then glanced back at the storm. Were they really alright in there? She didn't want either sister hurt because of a misunderstanding, or because Teardrop had finally lost her temper, the dark fairy had a bad habit of letting her emotions control her actions.
"Off we go to one of the healers hideouts, need to make sure that whatever Teardrop did didn't mess you up to badly," said Scrawl tugging on Tinkerbell's unhelpful weight.
"I'm not hurt, and we need to stop them," said Tinkerbell finally moving but now pulling to go back toward the battle.
"No, you stupid feather. Don't you understand this by now? They're ten times as powerful as us. We're lucky that Clarion is finally dealing with her problem on her own. Do you know it's said it took two legions (or something like that) of fairies before they sent Clarion with one of them to subdue that monster? Teardrop is powerful and the only one who has a chance of beating her is her sister," said Scrawl and gave a good hard tug on Tinkerbell, dragging her toward the healers.
"They'll kill each other," shouted Tinkerbell.
"Put each other in a deep sleep, sure, but would you rather Teardrop put us all in one? Because at the moment she's illogical enough to try," snapped Scrawl.
"There has to be a way," said Tinkerbell and tripped on her feet when Scrawl let go of her. She turned to see Scrawl glaring at her.
"Listen, I was worried because for a minute there you were falling with no soul in your eyes, but fine, you do what you want, but know that if you do anything that causes me great grievance will lead me to make your life a living Pirates Cove," said Scrawl and took off with a quick flick of her wings to the sky.
Tinkerbell frowned; she knew she was doing the right things, the only thing really. It wasn't even a question of it being better for the twins to reconcile. At this point, after such a great battle, there was sure to be turmoil in the various talents, the fairies as a whole couldn't lose their queen or find anyone suitable enough to replace her. If nothing else the two twins needed to stop their battle simply so that the seasons still ran smoothly, it was going to be a struggle even with the queen.
"Tinkerbell!" said tinker flinched at the call of her name. "Thank goodness, you're the only one I've been able to find so far."
"Hey Iridessa," said Tinkerbell turning to the other fairy with a forced smile. The anxious light-talent stopped for a moment and then glared at the tinker.
"Oh, no, you better not be planning anything girl," said the light fairy with a shake of her finger. "We need to get away from the purple clouds, not closer to them."
"But…"
"Leave it to the Queen," said Iridessa and latched onto Tinkerbell so that she knew the light fairy was scared stiff. "We need to find shelter."
"If we leave it to the Queen the only thing we'll have is more destruction and two powerful fairies who never wake up or at least have sealed their, our, and the Main Lands, fates," said Tinkerbell irritably.
"Come on Tinkerbell, you're the only one of my friends who are not light fairies that I've found," said Iridessa and Tinkerbell froze.
"What about Rosetta, Fawn?" asked Tinkerbell.
"No, come on Tinkerbell, I need your help," said Iridessa, folding her hands together.
"I-but…" said Tinkerbell.
"No, you still can't be considering trying to stop them, we need you," said Iridessa.
"No one else is trying to stop them and if this goes on then we'll be gone," said Tinkerbell, Iridessa caught her wrist and tugged back.
"You can't be serious," said Iridessa. "You're just going to abandon us?"
"I'm going to do the right thing," said Tinkerbell and with an apologetic expression to Iridessa the tinker made her way toward the purple clouds. Tinkerbell bit her lip as she left her friend behind her.
Tinkerbell flew to where the wind started to beat hard against grass, making the twisting stems strain, flutter, and break. It also acted better than a wall for keeping unwanted fairies out. Tinkerbell tugged against the wind when she got too close. She needed to figure out a way in, at the moment if she tried the cyclone would throw her out, the more she got in the more it would toss… but what if she pushed as hard as she could? Maybe if she got enough momentum and just flew as hard as she could into it, she could get far enough into that the cyclone she would actually draw her into the middle of it.
The tinker studied the raging thing for a moment, the ice and plants, and general mayhem making her pause. She was going to come out black and blue no matter how careful she was. Still, maybe the inside circle wasn't so dangerous. She'd just have to wing it. This should be the hardest part anyway. Teardrop was a stickler for logic, but if Tinkerbell could make the speech sappy enough she could probably make Teardrop cry and then she could easily be restrained. Not that Tinkerbell would let her be locked a way, they still couldn't lose Queen Clarion. No, she needed to convince either the Queen, or someone close to her, to make the two twins work out their problem like they should have a one hundred years ago.
Well, the tinker had stalled enough. With a heavy sigh Tinkerbell straightened, squared her shoulders, and flew into the churning mess. The wind caught her and tried to throw her off course as soon as she entered. With determination Tinkerbell continued in, dodging the heavier sticks and rocks to be thrown around. She was going to have some interesting bruises after this, it was a good thing that fairies healed pretty fast.
Tinkerbell made it to the second level. There was one still fraught with wind but with stiff grass to make a cave of hard bush branches tangled together. Tinkerbell held tight to them and brought her wings as close to her body as she could. The wind here pushed against her hard, and Tinkerbell was grateful that the foliage was there, it gave her something to ground herself and she didn't have to worry about her wings being destroyed and being thrown in the sea.
Not that it was easy; it was hard to push through all of the weeds and twigs. Though she did know when the wind stopped, mostly because the grass was too thick to go through and even trying to squeeze her thin form through the gaps, or forcing gaps, was putting a strain on her body. The closer she got in, the more dense it became. She finally could hear it, well, she was sure that it was the fight, hidden in a protective ball of greenery and wind.
Tinkerbell peaked through the mess and glanced at the fight. Teardrop's back to her, but Tinkerbell could see Clarion fine. The Queen was frowning at Teardrop, a ball of light in her hand, and a dead eyes staring at her twin, though from her position it almost felt like the queen was looking at her with those eyes. They were good, Tinkerbell knew that, but they were empty, so empty. The Queen might be a little harder to convince to have a conversation with then she thought. Tinkerbell never thought that she'd ever see such a lack of emotion in the Queen. And even though Teardrop had such dead eyes, Tinkerbell could feel Clarion's intention to kill, and that couldn't be healthy if Teardrop was really just another part of her soul.
"Queen Ree, this has gone on long enough," said Tinkerbell, pushing her way through the last tangles of twigs. "And you-"
Tinkerbell froze as she was brought hard against a soft body; her breath caught when something sharp touched her throat.
"Well, look who didn't pay attention to my little warning barrier, what a surprise," purred Teardrop, the hand on Tinkerbell's wrist moving up her arm and then from her chin to the bottom of her ear. "What are you going to do now Ree? I've got one your pets by the neck."
"Let her go Teardrop, this is between the two of us," said Queen Clarion, her hand clamping around the light in her fist, the shade turning an angry. "Tinkerbell is a model for other talents, she's inventive, inquisitive."
"Self-destructive," said Teardrop grabbing Tinkerbell's wrist and twisting it painful behind her back. Queen Clarion gulped and the light disappeared though her glare intensified. "Good girl, I wouldn't want to hurt this tinker, we do like that what she's done, very inquisitive little thing, though she worried us at the beginning."
Us? What did Teardrop mean by us? Tinkerbell glanced from side to side but didn't see anyone.
"Teardrop, don't think of yourself as royalty," said the Queen.
"I don't, I know I wouldn't be a good queen, not the right people skills for it, but I know someone who does, she'll shape up to a better queen, maybe with the right direction even better than you," said Teardrop and ran a hand across Tinkerbell's back.
"Is that why you're doing this now, because you think I'm unfit to be queen?" asked Ree, her eyes begged the answer to be yes.
"No, nothing so detached, I wouldn't try and punish my own self for something so impersonal. I'm doing this because you looked me away, locked away my powers, kept me away for so long," said Teary, and Tinkerbell wondered how stupid it would be if she tried to break away. "You locked away our power, our source to work through, and for that we'll make you suffer the same."
"Don't do this," whispered Tinkerbell. "You're better than this. You just need to talk, you need to forget your anger, she's your sister."
"What an interesting fairy," mused Teardrop wrapping her arms and dragging Tinkerbell to her. "Here I am with a dagger at your gut and you're still worried about my redemption. How sweet. How stupid. I don't care about that anymore, she locked me away, and whether they forgive me or not doesn't matter. All that does is…"
"Is what? Revenge? You've been down that path before, remember? Queen Clarion tried to do it and you ended up in the library. Stop making yourself miserable. Both of you!" snapped Tinkerbell.
"You think that this is some sort of joke?" demanded Teardrop, her grip becoming painful and the dagger pricked Tinkerbell's skin through her dress. "This isn't idle revenge; this isn't just about being betrayed by a sister. This isn't just about the twins, this is about what was best, yes we should have remembered that the one with all the talents was born reserved and that someone with all intuition wasn't the one to rule, but that stubborn pirate of a queen… though we underestimated the loyalty that the other could show, we always thought it was a singular thing but it seems that the two talents can be just as moronically focused then our representative."
"Teary, you've lost your mind," said the Queen duly, Tinkerbell couldn't help but agree to a certain degree.
"Of course I have," said Teary with a nod. "Are you willing to risk this sprites life? With your logic I should be unstable enough to make her fall into an everlasting sleep. So, what say you Ree, are you really going to let this one fall simply to save your own life?" asked Teardrop, dragging her dagger up the silhouette of Tinkerbell's body until it was resting at the tinkers neck.
"If I let you take me prisoner you'll just torment the rest of the fairies for allowing you to be confined," said the Queen, her eyes asking for forgiveness from Tinkerbell for leaving her at her sister's mercy.
"Fine, I'll promise to send you into an everlasting sleep, how does that sound, dear?" asked Teardrop sarcastically, the hand with knife flicking out to narrate her words. Tinkerbell shoved her elbow into the dark fairies gut making Teardrop clench in on instinct and let go of the fairy. She should have known it wasn't that easy. Harsh bush branches wrapped around the tinkers body and hit her hard against the side of the cocoon that surrounded the twins.
Trying to regain her breath, Tinkerbell looked with gaping mouth to see the two twins posed to strike. Clarion with a sparking light encrusted ball of dust and Teardrop bringing up all the elements to a point and aiming for her sister. For once Tinkerbell couldn't find her voice or the right thing to say.
---
Vidia cursed every healing-talent to the grave and back. It had taken her forever to shake them and now her aching body was losing its grip on the adrenaline it had first felt while screaming out in pain over the stupid thing she was doing. Vidia looked angrily up and tried to convince herself that she could pull this off and save Teardrop effortlessly. She was a fast flying fairy, wind was her thing, her element. She just had to spread her wings and invoke the smallest bit of magic and she'd be soaring right to the next level.
Of course that required her to move her wings, something that was causing Vidia a little bit of trouble at the moment. The healing-talent had told the fast flying fairy that she would be able to use her wings… eventually. It was a problem. Vidia watched the various debris fly around in a raging circle and winced at the thought of any of it banging into her. She was sure that even the lightest twig crashing against her ribs would remind that some were broken, fractured, and bruised. If she hit the ground there was no way she was getting up again, at least not any time soon.
Vidia sighed and tried to find even a speck of courage. It wasn't easy, the only time ever did anything brave, it was when it came to perfecting her flying. Now she had a friend that was in trouble and instead of doing the logical thing, which would be to go back and just let the twins duel it out, she was going to go and try to stop two of the most powerful fairies. Just to prove how stupid this idea was, she had even heard that Tinkerbell had gone in to stop them. Hopefully the tinker had somehow save Teary and gotten herself put in a deep sleep. But that would only be in a best case scenario.
"I can do this," said Vidia shaking her hands and looking determined. "And can do it without acting like an idiot… or sounding like I'm insane."
Vidia glanced back at her target and took a deep breath for courage. She could do this, she just had to not think about it too much, and of course get her stubborn wings to move. She almost wished her wings were like a birds, if they were she could just use the wind and glide on the currents she created, instead gliding could only be done for short periods of time, and certainly not when going straight in the air.
Vidia frowned and touched her fist against the ground looking straight up at her objective. She willed her wings to start, to at least make the tiniest of flutters. All she needed to do was reach that peak, all she needed to do was fly to dodge all the debris and make it to the cocoon of grass and branches separating her from her goal.
A flying stump almost caught her the minute she took to the sky. With an angry hiss Vidia started rearranging the winds to help her reach her goal. It would be rather annoying to finally have gotten her aching wings moving only to be hit out of the sky by a flying leaf. Not to mention embarrassing and she was sure whatever the outcome of the battle was she would never be able to live it down.
"Got ya," said Vidia and then hissed when the wind pulled at her body making her arm pop dully in its socket. She ignored the ache and spots appearing before her eyes.
The fast flying fairy grit her teeth and started to navigate her way through the bramble. She wished that there was only wind separating her from the fight. The branches went from too thin to too thick within seconds and the constant pressure on her bones was starting to cause her to see as if in a tunnel and colorful spots to pay across her vision almost constantly.
The scene she finally saw was one that caught her breath. The twins were beautiful. Queen Clarion's face was full of pride as she hovered in the air, a few loose strands covering her eyes, in her hands the queen held a ball of light, sparking against her gold dress. Teardrop hovered firm, her body curled and her fists clenched and her eyes one of disgust and triumph, power surging to a point with crackling of energy. Vidia didn't have much time left.
"Teardrop!" she shouted, but she was ignored, the only head turning her way the meddling tinker's who was held captive by twining bush branches. Vidia tried to ignore her, Vidia had seen that gold in her friend's eyes before, it meant that she had lost her temper and wasn't completely in control of her actions.
"Teary!" she shouted, closing her eyes as if it would help the sound carry.
Vidia opened her eyes. Teardrop's face was inches from hers, hazel orbs looking down in concern. Vidia frowned in confusion and looked around. It looked like she was propped against Teary's lap, the cocoon dispersed and the only thing to hint it had ever existed was the mess left all around them. Vidia could see that a few fairies were hidden, none daring to come near them. The only ones close were the Queen, her helpers, and (of course) Tinkerbell.
"Moron," she said looking back at Teary. Teardrop blinked and then smiled, brushing at her short hair that was slicked with sweat.
"Well, it seems that you have successfully proven my point," said the queen, Vidia turned to see Clarion frowning at her sister with a determination that was going to get all of them on the fast track to insanity.
"Of course Ree," said Teary sarcastically. "How could you ever be wrong?"
Vidia watched as Clarion stiffened, Ree's eyes hardening with her resolve, and the fast flying fairy pinched her stupid dark friend.
"Well, I suppose I should be grateful, you exposed someone within our ranks that should also not be allowed the freedom granted to her," Vidia gulped at the queen's voice, those hard eyes now meeting hers and daring the fast flying fairy to contradict her.
"Better throw me into an everlasting sleep, because that's the only way you'll subdue me," muttered Vidia. Teary's hold became tighter and Vidia gasped a little in pain. Her broken bones protesting loudly to the increase in pressure.
"She didn't have anything to do with this," said Teary. Vidia rolled her eyes. The queen was thick, not stupid. Vidia had been the only one able to stop Teary in the middle of one her tirades, and Teary had probably rushed to her aid when the fast flying fairy's body had started to descend to the ground when she was no longer supported by the twigs and leaves.
"Don't test my patience Teary; I can see what she means to you, that she trusts you," said Queen Ree, lifting her fingers as if to snap her helpers into action and drag both their butts into prison.
"No, she didn't have anything to do with me," insisted Teary, her grip tightening and immediately becoming looser at Vidia's groan of pain.
"She called you Teary," said the queen with the slightest touch of annoyance entering her voice.
"She probably heard that stupid nickname from the dense tinker," said Teardrop inclining her head toward Tinkerbell. Vidia remembered that this was Teardrop holding her. Someone who had said she cared for Vidia as much as she cared for her sister. Did that mean that if Clarion was going to condemn them that Teardrop would fly her away? Because the way her body was flexing and moving it seemed at least possible that Teardrop was going to try and go into hiding again, even if she was probably drained of power.
"Are you telling me that you stopped for a complete stranger?" asked Clarion and Vidia pinched Teardrop, trying to make her shut up.
"I heard my name," shrugged Teardrop and looked down on Vidia in irritation when the fast flying fairy started working the sharp pinches up the dark fairy's arm.
"Teary, you're not convincing anyone. Why would you fly so fast to save someone you only met a few times before?" asked the queen and Vidia remembered that the queen knew when Teardrop was lying, this entire conversation was pointless and the fast flying fairy started to add a bit of nail to her pinches.
"I saved her because she'd a very powerful talent," said Teardrop without missing a beat.
"She's your sister," said the fast flying fairy and headed to more visible skin as the more discrete places had already been used.
"She has nothing to do with me," asserted Teary without looking at Vidia. Vidia rolled her eyes and gave the dark fairy the hardest pinch yet, and glanced at the queen. What she saw made the fast flying fairy actually freeze. The Queen was staring at her sister like she had never truly seen Teary before. No, that wasn't right; there was something, like a long lost memory behind those shocked eyes. The Queen looked away, though the scene was obviously ingrained in her mind. Vidia just stared at the Queen in confusion. Finally the queen bit her lip before expression became blank and she looked up sharply.
Teardrop brought Vidia closer to her and glared at her sister. At length Clarion turned her back on them.
"If you want to ever gain my trust you will follow me to the Home Tree," said Clarion. She took off and the fairies left on the beach glanced at each other. Finally the four helpers and Fairy Mary took off to follow their queen. Teary shifted the fast flying fairy in her arms and took to the sky. Ignoring how the fast flying fairy was trying to wiggle herself free.
"You're still badly injured," Teardrop said softly while pushing a strand of Vidia's hair from her eyes.
"That was very brave," said Tinkerbell coming to Teardrop's side and smiling down on the fast flying fairy. Vidia glared at medaling tinker and then hid her face in Teardrop's bust while the dark fairy looked down at the fast flying fairy in amusement.
"No, that was stupid," said Teardrop with a smile to the annoying tinker. Vidia started to pinch her again. "But at least this silly thing is starting to learn that connections are also an important part of being a fairy."
"All you care about is making sure that fairies stick to their talents," said Vidia grumpily and twisted the next pinch.
"Stop that," said Teardrop shifting Vidia in a way that made the fast flying fairies vision go black for a second.
"Stop encouraging the annoying tinker," said Vidia between gritted teeth.
"I love you too Vidia," said Tinkerbell and Teardrop had to jar Vidia against her wounds to stop the fast flying fairy from attacking the tinker with a death wish.
"Ah, young love," said Teardrop cuddling a groaning Vidia. She received two pinches for her trouble.
They arrived at the Home Tree with no opposition. A few fairies could be seen following from time to time, but if they were making sure Teardrop followed Clarion, or whether they were just curious, Vidia couldn't tell. Vidia would have liked to see them try to stop Teardrop when the dark fairy put her mind to something.
Vidia sighed against her friend's arms, finally reserved to her fate while the tinker giggled at her. Vidia was going to have her revenge when she could move again. Teardrop brought her over and settled the fast flying fairy on a low couch when they entered the Home Tree, a healing fairy coming and immediately starting to check her over. Vidia struggled to get Queen Clarion back into view, the stupid healing-talent kept getting in the way.
"Stop squirming or I'll tie you to this couch," said the healing-talent and then the two fairies proceeded to try and glare each other into submission.
"So, what do you have to say for yourself?" asked the queen. Vidia looked her way and the healing-talent took it as her win and pushed Vidia into the cushions and re-bandaging her wounds with a few choice words that declared Vidia a moron of epic proportions.
"Are you talking to me, dear sister?" asked Teardrop with a light sneer. Vidia rolled her eyes; Teary really didn't have the luxury of pushing her sister's buttons at the moment. Clarion had given her a chance and Teary had allowed her emotions to ruin it utterly.
"Dear is my insult," shouted Vidia raising her head. The healer pushed her back down roughly.
"Sweetheart?" asked Teardrop looking around the healer and completely forgetting her sister for that moment.
"No, that's Scrawl's," said Tinkerbell.
"Who's Scrawl?" asked Vidia testily.
"Isn't that the teacher talent who used to stick around to see me?" asked Teardrop, clearly amused at the idea.
"Yeah, and she was not the one who left you food," said Tinkerbell sounding the tiniest bit accusatory.
"Well, no, but who did should be obvious by now," said Teary with a slight chuckle.
"You can cook?" asked Tinkerbell looking at Vidia in shock.
"Well, she has to do something in her free time," said Teardrop. "Apparently the only friend she has spends all her time locked in the library."
"What…" they looked over to see the queen staring at them in shock. It was like she couldn't believe what she was seeing, and on a level, Vidia didn't blame her. "We're here to maybe close you two from the outside… and you're joking around?"
"I blame the tinker," proclaimed Vidia and turned sharply from the queen. As she hissed in pain the healer called her several kinds of idiot and started to move Vidia back into a more comfortable position.
"What made you do it Teardrop? If you had someone, then why would you risk them in this stunt of yours?" asked the queen. Vidia had the feeling that Clarion was reading a little too much into their relationship, but decided to let Teary deal with it. Ree was her sister after all.
"Well, for one thing I never thought that Vidia would be stupid to do anything like that," said Teardrop glancing disapprovingly at Vidia. The fast flying fairy stuck her tongue out. "For another… well, the reason I attacked was…"
"I can explain it!" everyone jumped at Fawn's voice. She apparently shocked herself since she face planted right after she made it through the door, but the animal-talent was up on her feet in seconds and flying next to support Teary. "Vidia could too, but she's being stubborn."
"Oh, and what would this reason that has escaped both me and Teary for over a century?" asked Clarion sounding very sweet, but there was something potently scary about her question.
"It isn't her fault," said Fawn and then took a long breath. "We figured out that it seems like when she uses her power, especially when she tries to use talents that she doesn't know she loses a little bit of control until she gets a hang of it. She picks up talents so fast that usually no one notices, but I did. Also, before when she described her first… breakdown, or whatever it was that was it felt like they were working through her. That the talents were working through her instead of her using them. We think that if she actually learns to use all of them correctly, instead of just guessing and then becoming overwhelmed, and had someone be there to personally explain it to her. Which is interesting because she can't just read a book on the subject and understand, she needs someone to demonstrate it to her first. And that's…"
"Breathe!" shouted Vidia; Fawn stopping talking took a few quick breaths and then one long one. Composing herself minutely.
"And that's the reason we think she is losing control because it is really the talents that are using her as an untrained outlet," said Fawn and then smiled brightly at the end of her speech.
A cricket chirped in the field.
"But she says that given the choice she would still kill…"
"Oh, stop it, it's like you're trying to find reasons to make yourself miserable," snapped Vidia and glanced straight into Queen Clarion's shocked eyes. She then remembered who it was she was yelling at and sunk back into the couch and stared red faced at the ceiling. Someone was giggling lightly in the background.
"Perhaps, you have a point," said Clarion finally. "Fairy Mary, is there any way to see if what Fawn is true?"
"I'll take Teardrop to the backroom," said the chubby teacher fairy. Vidia watched the other suspicious, but wasn't really worried. She had a feeling that Teardrop would not let herself be confined so easily as before.
"And what, do we do, wait?" asked Vidia irritably.
"Exactly," said the queen with a piercing glare. Tinkerbell sat in her corner, and Fawn collapsed where she was floating with a slight snore. Vidia looked up at the ceiling and wondered. Did the queen really put that much emphasis on this interview, or was it a stalling means? Was queen Clarion really taking this time to rationally look at her options and decide if it was worth it to lock herself a way? If she was, Vidia wouldn't blame her, it was a big decision. But she hoped the queen was selfish, because life without Teary would go back to being mundane, and Teary always seemed to be able to mix things up as much as the dark fairy just wanted everything to work out.
---
Ree sat in her corner flanked by her helper fairies and couldn't help but feel a sting of regret. Was she letting this go too easily? Even if that strange look in her sister's eyes had always been the talents working through her, they had only been trying to work out Teardrop's own goals. Still, what if they had only fed on Teardrop's more destructive ones? Sure, Teardrop had not been impressed with the way Queen Bright had run things, but before she was locked away Clarion would say Teardrop was too much of a pushover to ever try and carryout an assignation slash rebellion. And then this second time, Teardrop shouldn't have been able to find the strength to try and carry out her revenge, and seemed to have lost interest the minute Vidia had yelled her name.
So, was it really Teardrop's fault? There were times in every fairies life that they just wanted someone to disappear, or disapproved of something that was being done. If – if the queen hadn't locked Teardrop away somewhere the dark fairy would be bombarded by the concentration of all the fairies talents, would Teardrop simply put up with the queen up to her death? She could admit when she was pushing things. Teardrop's rebellion-thing and Queen Bright's death had to be coincidence, Teardrop could make people drop into an everlasting sleep, and even if she could kill someone she'd actually have to have the person there to do it. Queen Bright had only confronted Teary after she had been restrained, never before.
So that left the question of what she would do when Fairy Mary came back with answer. Well, the easiest would be if they said it wasn't the talents that had taken over Teary. Of course, upon reflection, sending her sister into the darkness really wasn't all that appealing, and Clarion knew that just like before, she'd jump at an alternative, just like before. But could anyone really blame her? Well, yes they could; however, Clarion was sure that in the same position they probably let their sister free or joined her rather than doing the right thing.
Did that mean that she wanted Fairy Mary to come back and tell her Teardrop just needed to be trained? If she did that and let her sister be free again would the other fairies still just think she was doing it for her own sake? But, it wasn't just that, Teardrop had an oddly soft heart that let everyone and no one in. It was amazing that anyone had gotten in close enough to draw that sort of reaction for her, the one that told Clarion Teardrop really did have a heart.
"Nicite, do you mind helping Vidia in here, I want to ask her a few questions about Teardrop," said Fairy Mary pocking only her head out the door. She had that look on her face that meant she was studying something particularly important or difficult, though beyond that Clarion could not tell if her sister was convincing the teacher-talent or not.
It had been that look in her sister's eyes that had stopped her, and Clarion should have probably seen the warnings before that. Ree had seen that look in her sister's eyes only once before. It had been so long ago, maybe a day after they had shoved Teardrop in chains into the library. The head fairies at the time had asked Teardrop point blank if Clarion had been a part of the plan, if it was away to boost one of their pristine and then take over from the inside out. Clarion remembered that second because they both knew that if Teardrop said Clarion had been a part of it, Ree would have been locked up alongside her sister. Teardrop had looked over at Clarion, and what was reflected there wasn't hate, it wasn't the need to keep her away, it was something sadder, an acknowledgement that even if she felt Clarion had betrayed her, Ree was still precious to Teary. Teardrop had spat at the queen's feet, told her that Clarion had turned on her and that Clarion had never known of her plans.
Ree had convinced herself that it was just some sort of odd possessive thing on Teardrop's behalf, not that she was genuinely concerned. She had convinced herself her sister had been born without a heart. But, now she knew that wasn't right. There was a good chance that Teary had been connected with Sunshine and that's why when Queen Bright had brushed off the old fairy's death Teardrop had been so angry. And then the friendship her sister had created with Tinktock. Her sister wasn't one to instantly become friends with, perhaps with time she would have formed the same close bond. But then tragedy had struck and Teary had been hidden away, her heart turning to stone. And still Vidia was able to become friends with her.
"Tinkerbell, Fawn, I'd like to speak with you next," said the chubby teaching-fairy, sounding oddly like a healing fairy calling in friends to see a recovering friend.
Clarion leaned her head back. Did Fairy Mary have to be so thorough? Did it really matter if she didn't have control? Didn't she know her sister well enough? No, Clarion had to consider the idea that she didn't. Ree had really believed that she was the only one who could get close to Teardrop, but Vidia had proven that theory wrong.
Would it be better for everyone if Teardrop was back among the fairies? Sure she could be overbearing, but sometimes her very linear thinking could be helpful. As long as she didn't scare everyone off. But it sounded like she had been a hit as a librarian.
That was it. If Fairy Mary decided it really was her talents she'd send Teardrop to work permanently at the library. She'd of course be allowed to go out and learn the respective talents. But while welcoming in new talents made sense and connected her with allot of the talents, the job of librarian would allow her to meet lesser talents at a more individual level and get to know their personality by the books rather than a first impression. Plus, it had the benefits of reminding Teardrop of exactly where she was coming from and hopefully keeping her on a shorter leash.
"Milady?" Clarion looked over to see Fairy Mary coming out of the room the other three carefully following behind. Teardrop seemed to be trying to hide behind the four, which meant that she was probably squatting behind the others.
"Yes, and what is your verdict?" asked Queen Clarion, her heart begging Fairy Mary to tell her that her sister had been controlled. Even if it meant the other was lying, she could easily control her sister. She had people she loved, and Teardrop would never want her sister to truly suffer. She knew that.
"It seems that she really was being controlled, everything that they said fits together," said Fairy Mary.
"And is Teardrop willing to take the time to learn all the talents?" asked Clarion, still trying to sound detached and regal. The fairies parted and Teardrop stood to her full height before looking Clarion in the eyes.
"Of course, would there really be any doubt of that?" Teardrop's smile was so soft and her tone so sincere that felt everything leave, only leaving her sister standing there with that soft look that confirmed all of Ree's fears.
"Then," she said holding back a choked sob, her sister could do, she could be saved. Vidia was good leverage, but could only be used last minute seeing as her sister really wouldn't take well to threats, especially made against her precious people, she had already tried that. "You'll learn control. You'll spend half a day learning the various talents, but will retain your job as librarian."
"I suppose she'll only be allowed to leave guarded until you decide she's safe," said Vidia as she was hobbled over to the couch again.
"No," everyone looked shocked at this. "If she feels that the library should only be opened until there are more completely files she may do research and close it down. It after the library closes she wants to have dinner with a friend that's also fine. You all can stop looking like I've lost my mind. I may not have known about the talents but neither did Teary. I do know how my sister makes friends, and even if Vidia saved her it would have taken much longer than that for Teardrop to lie for her."
By this time Teardrop looked embarrassed and a little mortified.
"Well, I needed someone to tell about the things going wrong in Pixie Hollow. Not that I blame you for not noticing sister. It's just I had more time on my hands to notice. So I picked a broody, not gossipy, social outcaste to save Pixie Hollow," said Teardrop with a sheepish grin.
"You were half insane and starving when I met you!" shouted Vidia from her position on the couch. Ree cringe.
"Well, apparently in that kind of state I can really nail the personality of a person," said Teary, hands on hips and expression teasing.
"She can't see you," said the queen with a roll of her eyes at her sister.
"But you all can," said Teardrop with an exaggerated bow. She looked up at Ree with hope in her eyes. "Do you really mean it?"
"Yes," said Clarion with a soft smile, her entire stance softening. "I really mean it."
Teardrop walked forward and buried her head in her sister's shoulder, and because it was part of her name, big wet drops started to fall on the queen's shoulder as Teardrop tried to disappear into her sister's neck. Clarion sighed in exasperation and held her sister closer; if the twin was truth Ree would admit that she'd missed this. Teary really wasn't acting like herself unless she was either being critical of others or if there was just the tiniest bit of depression in her expression.
"I missed you Ree," said Teardrop into Ree's shoulder.
"Just promise me one thing Teary," said Clarion.
"Anything," said Teary without hesitation. Clarion saw pictures of Teary going from strict to tears, tears to hyper happiness, insanity to caring friend, angry to playfulness… and got a killer headache for her troubles.
"Stop being such a duality," Teardrop laughed wetly and the sisters fell into hopeless giggles with other fairies joining in after a spell.