The strangled gasp exploded from her mouth before she could stop it and her hands flew upward to try and reign back the horror she felt bubbling to the surface. "We need to get you to a healing-talent right away!" she exclaimed, already taking his hand and yanking him toward the door, continuing with her untameable rampage as she did. "How long have you been hiding this from us? Don't you know what could happen? Bobble, your wings are breaking! Why are you being so reckless?"
That's my job! she wanted to add, but something prevented the words from coming. Perhaps it was the nagging horror that now settled against her chest as she realized that she hadn't even noticed anything was wrong before.
She hadn't noticed.
No one had.
And it hadn't been hard to see either. The only times he had ever really hidden it was when he was in winter helping the frost talents out with one or two of Peri's crazy attempts to be a tinker for a day (though he did it mostly to see Gliss. Not that Tink was jealous of that or anything. Why would she be?).
He had told them once before that he wasn't greatly popular and that fairies never gave him a second glance when hurrying past. Now she understood what he had meant by that.
By the great second star, it was a terrible feeling.
At her firm decision, Bobble yelped and dug in his heels, seizing his blanket and once more throwing it over his shoulders. Tink, unbalanced by this unexpected resistance, nearly toppled forward, spinning back to confront him in confusion. He, in reply, shook his head wildly, staring at her with the most panic-stricken expression she could ever recall him having. "We can't do that, Miss Bell!" he insisted. "They'd just be askin' me how I went and scorched myself and that would do us no good at all. And ye know I can't lie to save a life! We'd just be causin' a bigger problem for everyone by goin'!"
Tink sighed, her shoulders relaxing as she let her temper go from hyperactive-terror to what she was hoping was just a bit more empathetic. "You're afraid they're going to figure it out," she guessed. "Just like I did. Only...you're afraid that they won't be as understanding as the rest of us, right?"
Nyx, especially. She'd probably impale him just for sending her on a wild goose chase for almost a year.
"It's just...ye know," he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "ye never did tell me how ye did it."
"Well, it's just like you said, right? You're a terrible liar. Anybody who knows you knows that and...hold on, were you trying to change the subject?" She scowled at him and he promptly withered again. "While you're at it, you can go ahead and tell Scorpian to just zip up whatever argument he's trying to concoct up there. He's not going to stop me from getting you help. Now stop being such a thistle and come with me!"
"I...I can't..." he tried to protest quietly. "Tink, I can't do that. What if it's somethin' really bad and the healin'-talents can't help...or...or the Queen finds out I've been hidin' this from everyone? It's...it's a secret and if Clara or any of the other healers find out how this happened-"
"And if you don't go?" Tink shot back. "Your wings will only get worse! You've been having more and more difficulty flying since that day. Up until now, we all just thought you were afraid of something and it was holding you back and I guess we were right! Pixie dust doesn't work if you have fear. Terrence taught me that after I had the stupid notion to try and hide the fact that I had broken the moonstone. In a way, I think you've broken your own stone and whatever is stopping you; your promise to Queen Clarion, the possibility that everyone will know who you really are, Scorpion, you need to give it up because it's only going to get worse and it's going to hurt you and it's going to hurt the fairies around you. You could lose your flight and everyone will know that you're the reason the Hollow is safe and they will know about Protectors and isn't that what you're trying to prevent?"
"Ye know it is!"
"Then you need to get help!" she pleaded. "You have to be brave because otherwise, you are going to lose so much that I know is important to you!"
"But I'm not brave, Miss Bell!" Bobble cried, finally raising his voice to be heard over the hissed mutterings of the sparrowman in his head and Tink's ocean of pleas. He squared his shoulders and took a step away from her, retreating back into the corner of the room where he could hide better from her hopes and expectations. "I never have been! I'm...I'm not like ye! I can't go around pretendin' everythin' is okay when I know it's not! I couldn't face Shade without ye and I can't do this either!"
"That's not true!" Tink argued. "Who was it who helped me fix Spring and came up with the idea to build the boat that lead you all to me while we were on the mainland?"
"Actually, that was all Clank's idea..."
She ignored him. "And who stayed to help me build the snowmaker even though you knew it was against the rules and we would get in trouble if we got caught?"
"Fairy Mary grounded us from deliveries fer a month after that!"
"And who volunteered to go with Terrence the moment he realized that I had left the Hollow without telling anyone even though you knew it might put you in serious danger?"
"He said he wanted to do it alone," Bobble explained quickly, "because he loves ye, Tink, but-"
"Don't you see?" she barrelled on before he had a chance to continue arguing. "You're just as brave as anyone else! You did all of those things, Bobble! You fought Shade even though you were scared! You risked your life to save me! You saved the Hollow and everyone who lives here! You are one of the bravest fairies I have ever met!"
"But, I-"
"And the bravest fairy I have ever met should not be hiding in here when he has so much more he could be doing to help the Hollow out there!" She waved dramatically to the door, already reaching to push him forward again. "Now, come on, we're going to see the healing-talents so let's go!"
"Tinker Bell, I can't!" he finally yelled, lunging backward just as her hand connected with his shoulder. Instantly, his wings exploded into fiery light and he shrieked as the flames shot across his body and down his arms, dispelling out into his hands in a massive explosion of color, shoving Tink through the air and sending her crashing down against the wall and sending him rocketing backward the opposite direction. He slammed down onto a desk, splintering it in two.
The last thing Tink saw was the roaring fire as it rushed to consume them both.
It enveloped her as she fell and everything went dark...
Oh, brilliant. Now you've gone and done it. You were supposed to scare her away, not incinerate her! It's just a scratch! A flesh-wound! Get up and make yourself useful, why don't you?
He groaned, the pounding in his head not quelled whatsoever by the booming voice of disappointment racing through his very being as he slowly heaved himself up onto his hands and knees, wincing as pieces of what used to be his crafting table fell away from his back and the magic coursing through his fingers vanished without a trace. His wings felt like lead against his spine and he didn't dare twist and see their appearance. He didn't want to see what he already knew would be there.
The explosion.
Focus on the explosion.
Tink!
Oh yes, you should probably find that girl. Incredibly curious. Somewhat unreliable. I don't think we have to worry about her sharing our secret with the rest of the Hollow. Probably in your best interest to make sure you don't kill her off before your chapter of the story is complete.
Story? Was that how Scorpion saw all of this? As some kind of sick, twisted fairytale?
I don't care about any of that! Bobble growled telepathically, making sure to add extra emphasis on the sound effects, pushing himself back to his feet and flinching as more rubble slid from his hair. There was blood there too, but he wiped it away, stumbling as his knees trembled and his vision went distorted. I don't care if anyone sees me right now! What about Tink? Is she all right? Oh, why do I always have to make things so difficult? This is too dangerous...I'm too dangerous! I'll only hurt her or...or make things even worse or-
For the Hollow's SAKE, Scorpion exclaimed. What is WRONG with you? You like this girl and then you don't like her, you trust her but then you don't. You're so scared she's going to break apart like a snowflake the moment you even get near her! But she's not made of snow, Phineas! She has already proven herself to be stronger than I-and maybe even stronger than you-anticipated! She's going to be fine but only if you stop feeling pity for yourself and your powers and go do something to help!
Adrenaline coursed through his veins. Without thinking or giving a second consideration to his own well-being, he darted forward and scooped her into his arms, already racing for the door, heaving it open and stumbling forward into the sunshine, not caring how his legs buckled or who might see. Ashen-faced and face wet with terrified tears, he dropped to the earth and continued his trek on foot.
"HELP!" he cried, staggering down the deck and choosing to limp in the direction of the nook. Surely someone had to be there already by now, right? Surely Fairy Mary would know what to do! "Fairy Mary! Someone! Anyone! PLEASE HELP!"
It was after sunrise.
There was always someone in the Nook after sunrise.
Why was no one there?
"HELP ME!" he screamed, cut off by the forceful sobs heaving themselves into his throat, making it nearly impossible for him to go on. He couldn't look down, couldn't bear to see how much he had hurt her. She was alive, he knew that much, but the explosion...she could still be really hurt and why was no one answering?
"ANYBODY! CLANK! FAIRY MARY! GUYS!?"
The throbbing was back, biting hard against his determination, and he blinked back the salty liquid. No...he had to keep pushing forward. For Tink. He had gotten her into his mess. He had to get her out of it.
Hmmm...unusual and yet...courageous. You are a very unique Protector, Phineas, Scorpion commented. Most of the others would have left her for dead by now. Now, not me of course. Personally, I love the energy between the two of you. You share a bond, yes? Both tinker-talents, in a manner of speaking, naturally, both appearing as outcasts from the rest of the guild. I suppose it would be only natural for your desire to defend her no matter what. It seems you have risked your life for her multiple times and you...even interacted with the human world to make sure she would be safe? Pray tell, what led you to make such a decision, especially about one fairy who doesn't return the same feelings you have for her-
It doesn't matter about that! Bobble repeated fervently, definitely not wanting to hear the end of that sentence. She's my guildmate, my...my friend! She's important to a lot of fairies!
But she means something more to you, doesn't she? She's...for lack of a better comparison...your Asha. You would sacrifice more than just your powers to defend her, wouldn't you?
NOTHING is going to happen to her! he roared, abruptly swinging around to glare at the elongated shadows stretching across the outer walls of the ravine. Just as he expected, no one was there, but he could still feel Scorpian's gaze resting on him and the ringing in his ears as the older Protector vanished to silence.
...She's your Asha...
"KETTLETREE!"
"Bobble!"
"Oh my Atlantis! Is that Tink?"
"Oh no! What happened?"
His friends.
For the second time in his life, he had never been more grateful to see so many fairies he recognized. They circled back to him, ducking under the mossy overhang and landing, already running to meet him.
Relieved, he let his knees hit the dirt, exhaling sharply as Vidia reached him first and quickly pulled Tink away. Clank and Rosetta were right behind her, lunging to grab him as the world swayed and the earth did a loop-de-loop in front of him.
"Whoa!" Rosetta exclaimed, grabbing his arms and pushing him up. "Steady there, boy! Don't ya go passing out on me now!"
"Bobble!" Vidia demanded, checking Tink for a pulse (she had one. He knew it). "What did you do?"
"Vidia!" Iridessa protested. "What did we say about scaring him?!"
"Look at Tink!" the fast-flyer screeched back at her. "He did this, Dess! He set the Pixie dust tree on fire and he did this to her too! It's what I keep trying to tell you guys! He's dangerous!"
Run, Scorpion hissed. Run now!
They're afraid of me. Guilt slammed into him like a wrecking ball. They think I hurt her because I can't...control my powers...
Phineas! You need to fly! You need to get out of there!
But they're right, aren't they? he whimpered. I can't control them. I've proved that, haven't I? And Tink...I...I hurt her...I really hurt her. I didn't want to...I don't know...what to do, Scorpian. Please...help me...
The sparrowman went silent.
"Phineas!"
A harsh snap broke through the girls' bickering and he choked in fear as Vidia and Fawn stepped aside to permit the owner to come closer. He recognized her dark clothing and long dark hair immediately, as well as the sharp glint of anger in her deeply-hazel eyes.
"Come with me," Scarab ordered lividly, glaring down at his shaking, bloody figure. "Right now."
