New Wings for Rani
By Amanda Gabrielle
The Clippers
"Tink!" Rani breezed into the Tinker's Nook workshop, excited to see her best friend. She knew she was still working but once Tink was done for the day, the two girls had plans to see the storyteller Lyria spin a new tale at Fairy Tale Theatre. "Are you almost finished with your work? I know I'm a little bit early, but I'm just so excited. I have a feeling tonight's story is going to be really enchanting. Lyria's been working so hard on this one!"
Tink chuckled softly at Rani's entrance. Rani had a way of being just the right amount of excited about things, never overly loud, just purely joyful. She admired that in her friend. "Hi Rani! Alllmost," she drew the word out, which made Rani question how true its meaning was. "I'm still a little tied up. Fairy Mary gave me an extra project today because I stopped by her house in the middle of the night a few days ago to talk about a new pulley system I thought up. She… wasn't thrilled when I woke her up." Tinker Bell smiled sheepishly and tugged on her bangs, remembering the event. She couldn't blame Fairy Mary for her reaction. Besides, to a tinker, there were far worse punishments than being told to fix an extra leaky pot or two.
"Well, that's okay dewdrop. I can wait and keep you company," Rani said, sitting herself down on the table next to Tink's. However, as her behind hit the table, she was poked in the back by something hard. "Yowp!" Rani let out a little squeak. Turning around and picking up the object, she found out that she'd been poked by a pair of thorny clippers.
At that moment, around the corner came the biggest and strongest of the tinker fairies, Clank. He looked slightly concerned, like he was missing something. "Hi Miss Bell. See you're still finishing that project Fairy Mary gave you, eh?" He chuckled playfully. Then his eyes met Rani, who was sitting on his desk, watching him curiously with her big blue eyes. They shimmered like the Never Ocean. "Oh! Hello! I'm Clank!" Clank smiled sweetly at her. "You must be Miss Rani! Tink's told me lots about you– I can't believe we haven't met! Well, till… just now… of course." He chuckled briefly. He was finding her to be very pretty, even prettier than he'd imagined– and Tink always spoke quite fondly of Rani. "It's a pleasure to make your–"
"Acquaintance?" Rani finished his sentence for him, as she so often did for all the fairies in Pixie Hollow. She was such an empath that she often knew what a fairy was going to say before they said it. "The pleasure's all mine, really," the blonde fairy replied sweetly. She was looking at Clank with such an admiring smile.
The sparrowman giggled a little, his cheeks now quite red as he was lost in the water talent's eyes.
Tinker Bell could hardly believe what she was seeing, but she was certainly enjoying it. So much so, that she'd stopped tinkering without even realizing. She was just watching the two of them hit it off.
Feeling Tink's gaze on him knocked Clank out of his daydreams and made him shake his head a little, kind of like a dog who got water on his ears. "Right– erm– have either of you seen my–"
"Clippers?" Rani asked, holding them up. "Just found them," she said with a little chuckle, glancing over at her backside for a second as she remembered how unpleasant they were to sit on.
"Oh! Thank you so much! Been looking all over for these for the last few minutes!" Clank exclaimed, taking the tool back. A tinker fairy would be lost without their tools. Just ask Tink– but that's a story for another time. "Suppose I should've looked here first, come to think of it."
Rani couldn't help but notice how sweet he was, and so open and honest. "Is this your desk, Clank? I'm so sorry I sat here– I-I didn't know you'd be back. I can get up if you'd like," she offered, starting to get up.
"No worries, Miss Rani. I'm all done for the day! Unlike Miss Bell here," his Cockney accent teased playfully. "You should've been here to see her face when Fairy Mary gave her the extra work. She was red as a beet!" Clank laughed, and Rani giggled along with him. Everyone knew how red Tinker Bell could get when she was worked up!
Tinker Bell rolled her eyes, accepting the playful jabs like a champion. "Oookay you two. It wasn't that bad. And I really don't mind the extra work! Besides, the cooking talents will be thrilled when they get their pots and pans back after the greatest tinker of all time has fixed them!" She glanced at Clank smugly.
"I wouldn't argue with that, Miss Bell," he conceded warmly, which honestly took Tink a little off guard. He really was so kind.
Tinker Bell blushed a little. She hadn't expected him to agree, and she was flattered. "Oh! Thanks, Clank," she said softly.
"There's that blush, Tinker Bell!" Rani pointed playfully at her friend, giggling.
Tink stuck her tongue out playfully at Rani. But she had a wonderful idea. Glancing at the work that still needed to be done, then back to her friends, she began to speak. "Hey Rani, I think I need to spend a little extra time with the leaks in this pot, and I don't think it'll be done by showtime. Clank, why don't you go see Lyria's new story with Rani?"
"Me? A-are you sure you don't want to go with her, Miss Bell?" His heart was racing, and he wasn't sure why. He certainly wasn't scared! "I could finish your work for you. I don't want you to miss out on your plans."
"Nah, thanks anyway, but Fairy Mary will know if it's not me who finishes the job. Maybe next time, Clank," Tinker Bell winked. Right now, he and Rani needed some time to get to know each other better.
"Are you sure, Tink?" Rani asked. She didn't want Tinker Bell to miss the show, but she would be more than happy to have Clank come along with her.
Tinker Bell gave a nod of confirmation. "Absolutely. You two go on now! You don't want to be late! Go, go!" She actually found herself with a hand on each of their backs, ushering them out the door of Tinkers' Nook.
Clank and Rani smiled sheepishly at each other as Tinker Bell pushed them along. Their faces were both so flushed. "Well, okay, Tink," Rani said, that quiet excitement playing in her voice again. She knew this would be fun!
"Bye now Miss Bell," Clank said, heading off with Rani.
As the pair left, Tinker Bell brushed her hands off, feeling accomplished, although her work wasn't quite done yet. "Now who's red in the face?" She chuckled softly to herself.
Just a Fairy Tale
Lyria had told the most wonderful story about a king in a faraway land who surrendered all of his gold in order to get his beloved queen back. It made Rani cry quite a lot. Being a water fairy, this was not unusual in the slightest, however, Clank felt so bad, that he had to make sure she was okay as they were walking out of the theatre at the conclusion.
"Cor! That was amazing! A-are you sure you're all right, Miss Rani?" Clank asked tenderly, patting her hand ever so gently. His big hands were very warm and comforting to her dainty little water fairy hands.
Rani sniffled and nodded, dabbing her tears away with one of the many leafkerchiefs that she always carried with her. "Yes Clank, I promise I'm okay," she looked up at him with a watery smile. "I promise. I just felt so bad for the king and queen–" Her lip began to quiver. She was about to lose it again. "He loved her so much!" Rani sobbed.
"Oh!" Clank's voice was soft as Rani fell into him. He wrapped her in a soothing, inviting hug. "I-it's okay, it's okay. He did, and she loved him too," the sparrowman assured the smaller, beautiful fairy as she sobbed into his leaf shirt. "You're going to make me cry too just remembering it."
Rani tilted her chin up and looked at Clank's face, her teary blue eyes full of love and admiration. Water was still dripping down her cheeks. "I-it's okay! The ending was happy, remember?" Now she was the one consoling him. "The queen was brought back and they both lived happily ever after in the forest."
Clank smiled and nodded, his lip quivering slightly. "Mmhm, they did."
After just a moment more of consoling each other, they released each other from the hug, but Rani kept hold of Clank's hand. This made his wings flutter a little. But instead of flying, the way he'd usually be, Clank remained on the ground out of respect for Rani, who, for some reason, did not have wings. He thought nothing of it, it didn't phase him, and she was perfectly perfect without them.
They talked and laughed all the way to Rani's house, which was made of an abnormally large, shimmery conch shell that washed up on the beaches of Never Land.
"Thank you for a wonderful night, Clank," Rani said graciously as they reached her front door. "You're flitterific company."
"I should say the same about you, Miss Rani!" He smiled warmly, savoring every last moment before he knew they'd be saying goodbye, hopefully not for as long as the king was without his queen. "Can we do this–"
"Again sometime?" Rani giggled. "Absolutely." And before the sparrowman could say another word, Rani leaned in and planted a light, adoring kiss on his plump cheek. "Goodnight, Clank."
With a coy wave, Rani disappeared into her home for the night, leaving Clank on cloud nine at her doorstep. The smile on his face was priceless. "Goodnight, Miss Rani."
A Big Muffin
It had been a few short days since Tinker Bell finished her punishment pots and pans, and since Rani and Clank went to Fairy Tale Theatre together. It was around lunchtime for all the fairies in Pixie Hollow, but Clank was still tinkering away on some acorn baskets, humming to himself. He was lost in a daydream, and besides, he especially loved making acorn baskets.
Suddenly, around the corner came Rani, carrying a big piece of a blueberry muffin, which once belonged to a clumsy.
"Clank!" She beamed, "Look what Prilla brought back from the Mainland!"
"Whoa!" Clank could see that Rani, who was a small, slender fairy, was struggling to carry the heavy dessert, so he quickly flew over and plucked it from her hands. She was quite grateful, and it was much easier for him to carry. "I've got it," he assured her, bringing it to his work desk. He looked it over with wide eyes, licking his lips. He hadn't realized until now that it certainly was time for lunch. "I've had one of these before! They're really tasty!"
Rani giggled, delighted by his reaction. "I know– that's why I brought it over. It's for you!"
The sparrowman's face lit up. "Really?" She was incredibly kind. Clank wasn't exactly everyone's first thought. But he sure was glad that she was thinking of him, especially after their outing together. "Thank you Miss Rani!" The tinker talent quickly dug out two big handfuls of the muffin and hummed with pleasure as he ate. "I can't eat it all– please– help yourself too!"
"Well," she giggled softly, breaking off a handful of spongy muffin, "if you're sure." As she nibbled on the muffin, Rani admired Clank– the way his nose crinkled when he smiled, and that pretty sparkle in his warm brown eyes. They were exactly the same shade as chestnuts.
"Mmh, so good…" Clank was in pure bliss. But coming back to reality, he noticed that Rani was still sitting there. "You know, Tinker Bell's not around right now. It's alright if you can't hang around, Miss Rani."
"Oh, I know Tink's not around– I came over just to spend time with you again, Clank!" She smiled cheerfully, her cheeks blossoming into a warm pink shade.
"Really?" He was amazed. And likewise, turning quite pink. "W-well, I'm not all that interesting, at least I don't think I am. But I dunno, I've never had a conversation with meself then."
That got a hearty laugh out of Rani. He was so funny! "Well if it means anything, I think you're interesting."
With a sweet smile on his face, Clank's wings flittered a little. "Heheh, thanks. You know I can be a wheel. I s'pose that's something interesting."
As the two fairies continued talking and sharing the huge muffin, they couldn't help but grow even fonder of each other. Eventually, quite full, Rani gave up on the muffin but Clank was determined to polish it off.
Clank was deeply invested in everything Rani wanted to tell him. But there was one thing in particular that he was very curious about.
He tapped his index fingers together, trying to choose his words extra carefully. "Erm, Rani, I hope I'm not overstepping here, but can I ask you… erm… how did you–"
"Lose my wings? I was wondering when you'd ask," she gave him a warm, understanding smile, one that put him at ease about having asked such a personal question.
But as Clank listened, he realized that it wasn't as much of a personal matter as he thought. She had sacrificed her wings in order to save Pixie Hollow. It wasn't very long ago that this occurred, and Rani wasn't even in Pixie Hollow for a very long time when it happened. Why, she was younger than Tinker Bell. But in the kingdom's most desperate hour, Rani had to beg Prilla to cut off her wings so that she could get a mermaid's comb. This was necessary for saving Mother Dove's egg, which in turn saved Pixie Hollow. Rani was nothing less than a genuine hero.
Clank found himself wiping away his own tears as he listened to her recount the tragedy. "Oh, Miss Rani… I'm so sorry… Why I'll go up there and get your wings back from that dragon meself! I will!"
Rani, tears in her eyes for some reason or other as well, chuckled softly and gave a little dismissive wave. "Thank you dewdrop, but don't worry about it. It'd be impossible to put them back on now, even for such a talented tinker…" She gently cupped his chubby tinker face with her dainty little palm. "But really– I don't mind. I get to swim in the Never Ocean! A-and I've made friends with mermaids and seahorses! I always dreamed about doing these things… Now I can!" Rani's beaming smile showed Clank that she truly meant it. She was happy being Pixie Hollow's wingless fairy. She liked herself. And he liked her just as she was, too.
"Splinters! That sunflower seed wagon just won't stay together!" A frustrated Bobble muttered as he entered the workspace. "Clank, could you give me a hand wi— oh! Pleased to finally meet you, Miss Rani!" Bobble smiled kindly and gave the water talent fairy a polite bow. "Phineas T. Kettletree, er, Bobble, at your service. I hope I'm not erm, interrupting anything…" He looked between Clank and Rani, trying to read the room.
"No worries, Bobble," Rani said warmly, getting up, only after giving Clank's hand a gentle pat. "I was just bringing Clank a snack." She sent a wink his way, making him smile like a fool. "I've got to get going to help the other water fairies with the new tadpoles, anyway."
"Aye, that's very kind of you! Please come by again soon, Miss Rani!" Bobble said with a grin.
"Yes! Real soon, okay?" Clank exclaimed, desperate to see her again already.
"I will! Fly with you later!" Rani waved goodbye to the tinkers before heading out into the sun again.
Bobble eyed a very dreamy-looking Clank. He could tell what was happening here. "Ahh… Clanky! You've really got a thing for Miss Rani, haven't ye?" He prodded with a playful grin.
"Maaaybe I do, maybe I don't." Clank replied, shy about his feelings for Rani. "She's really smart, Bobble. And brave, and kind, too!"
"Aye, she is… Oh you've got it bad, Clank."
Our Wings
The whole rest of the day, Rani's lack of wings weighed heavy on Clank's mind. He wondered what life must be like without wings. Why, there were so many little tasks that required a fairy to use their wings. And naturally, being a tinker talent himself, he felt the innate need to fix any problem. Rani said that she was happy, and he believed her. But he knew that she had to miss being able to fly. And there was one thing that Clank could do about that.
In the early evening, when work was done, Clank put his tools away and like a bolt of Never lightning, zipped out the door. He was on a mission.
Rani was sitting at her vanity, brushing her flowy, blonde hair, when she heard a knock at the door. "Coming!" She exclaimed, assuring whichever friend might be paying her a visit. She set down the little brush and padded across the dewy floor. Opening the door, she absolutely beamed when she saw who it was. "Clank!" She clasped her hands together.
"Miss Rani, I've been thinking about you all day. And there's something I'd like to do for you, if it's all right with you." He was so sincere, and very serious about this, too.
"Anything!"
Clank fluttered his wings for a moment, and in one fell swoop, scooped Rani up and set her bridal style in his arms. "I want to give you your own personal pair of wings!" Flapping his wings, Clank easily rose up, carrying Rani so carefully and so comfortably. He soared high above the Home Tree, keeping the water fairy securely in his protective hold all the while.
Rani had forgotten how small everyone's houses were from this high up in the sky. Not that she had a lot of problems, but being so far away from everything made absolutely any problem feel so small, too. A laugh bubbled up from deep inside her. She giggled brighter, more joyfully, than perhaps ever before. Happy tears trickled down her cheeks, and she threw one arm up into the sky, keeping the other draped around Clank's shoulders. Rani cheered, releasing any and all inhibitions. She felt so loved, so happy, and so free.
Her radiant joy made Clank feel better and prouder than ever. This may be his greatest mend yet. He flew faster, farther, swooping around trees in Autumn Forest, ducking into tall grass, and soaring up again, into the warm breeze of Summer Glade. He could do this forever.
Eventually, Rani pointed out a beautiful spot by the side of Havendish Stream, and Clank landed them expertly there on the bank. He gently set her dainty feet back on the ground, and she whirled around to gaze at him with all the admiration and love in Pixie Hollow.
"That was the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me," Rani blurted out, her blue eyes still watery. "Thank you, Clank."
"Rani, I promise you, we can do that whenever you'd like! J-just say the word, and I'll be right there. My wings are your wings now."
She held his hand warmly, never dropping her gaze. "Cos you're a tinker, and tinkers fix things."
