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.
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 Nine
When Everything's Going Well
It had been an interesting three weeks, to say the least. Teardrop had to get use to fairies almost constantly being in her library, making small but, distinct noises. Ginger had actually declared herself the snack provider for the library and after a week had relocated and built a small shop on top of the library. It specialized in snacks, but Teardrop had also heard that it was a good place for lunch. Ginger had finally made it up to Teardrop after the library fairy had told her why the lemon square was important. Of course, they still didn't completely understand each other. Ginger refused to learn to read, so Teardrop couldn't give her any recipe books, and Ginger seemed convinced that making lemon squares -- anything with lemon in it in fact, would make Teardrop happier if the dark fairy started to look depressed.
Of course since Ginger had firmly planted herself in Teardrop's life, becoming something like a eating coach and taking an unusual amount of pride in that fact.
Vidia no longer came to visit. So, it was Teardrop's job to at least once a week show up at the fast flying fairies place and be chased out of the kitchen because Vidia had also decided she liked feeding Teardrop. Getting to Vidia's had become quite a fun little game since the guards around Teardrop had been doubled and everyone knew what she looked like and that she was restricted to the library.
It had been a close call when some fairies actually noticed she was gone one night and had sent a search party all through the library, including a mining fairy into the archives. Thankfully, in her true spacey way, when Teardrop had returned from visiting Vidia she had stopped to run her hands over a book written in brail and been found by the frantic mining fairy who dragged her up to the upper level. Tinkerbell had stood up for her, explained that yes, it was possible that Teardrop had gotten caught up reading in the dark and lose hours of time doing so. Thankfully no one had reported it to Queen Clarion and later when they had caught her sleeping in the archives after a late night of working and they knew that it wasn't something to really worry about.
"Eat," said Ginger clattering a plate full of food in front of Teardrop who sent a small glare at the fairies back. Sighing Teardrop started poking at the stuff. She was going to get fat she was sure. How could she go from loving the thought of food for almost a century to dreading it in just three weeks?
She had once mumbled about getting fat during open hours and an adventure-talent fairy had started squeaking about her getting out more until Teardrop's glare reminded the silly thing who she was talking to. Instead of fleeing in fear the adventure fairy had mumbled off sounding like she was thinking of making an exercise routine for Teardrop to do inside. Teardrop found herself often wanting to make the fairies remember why they avoided her before all this, and wondering why they hadn't directed all this sickeningly kind energy constantly at Vidia who would have to cave under it eventually.
"Eat it, you skipped dinner yesterday," Teardrop glared at Ginger who had gotten her own plate of food. It was a Saturday, and for some reason Ginger closed up her little kitchen on Saturdays and Sundays to spend with Teardrop and concentrating on solely on making non-sticky or greasy snacks for the people who came into the library.
"I'm not used to this much food," said Teardrop, unable to say that she had eaten the night before and Vidia had kept making weird faces until she ate it all and then laughed when Teardrop had complained about being to full. She really needed to get the fast flying fairy back for that.
"You should be, I've been here for three weeks already," said Ginger making it sound like she'd been there ages. Teardrop rolled her eyes used to Ginger's personality already. She pushed the food and decided that still didn't regret the Friday still. Sure she had full out cried twice that day, but in the end it had turned out to be an alright day that guaranteed she wasn't lonely for week to come. She even got her silence once in a while when she did her work on translations and such. Making all those library cards had been a pain, and she soon had to make slips to put in all the books so she had a record of books that were out and so she didn't ruin the front of the books.
"Yeah, yeah," said Teardrop continuing to poke at her lunch, she didn't see Ginger stiffen. "Why do you continue to make my meals like this Ginger?"
"Hey, this is great prestige; I get to say that I cooked for one of the most dangerous fairies and I was able to keep my wings I was so good, and you get food by the best cook in Pixie Hollow," Teardrop snorted as Ginger took her plate to the table. The baking-talent fairy could be quite conceited when she wanted to.
"I made you something," said Teardrop morosely. Her meal had the slight tang of lemon. "It's next to the dust oven."
A little bit of rustling told her Ginger was looking at what Teardrop had made and couldn't help the baking-talent was being just a little too easy to order around. Still, without even tasting it she'd assume that Teardrop was as bad at cooking as her sister. This thought made Teardrop really start destroying the lunch in front of her until it was mush.
"A crumble cake?" asked Ginger carefully.
"Yup, my specialty," said Teardrop with a funny smile still playing with her food. Ginger would usually be scolding her by now. Was she throwing her cake out of window just like she had thrown her sister lemon square out the window? Maybe it would hit that grumpy guard again.
"Wow," Ginger actually exclaimed and was looking in genuine wonder at her cake. "This is really good. If I didn't know better I'd say you were a baking-talent, I mean that teaching-talent that cooks for you sometimes has this slight off taste, I mean it's good, but you can tell she's been probably cooking, for some reason, for herself for a while and that's why it tastes so good, but you, this is just good."
"That sounds very stuck up of you," said Teardrop dryly. If all these people were around her, would her sister dare lose a little face and come and visit her? Somehow she couldn't see her doing it, but the ache must be there as strong as ever, not that she would ever admit that.
"No, it's a fact, I mean, it's like you're talent, you're just best at it, so you can tell when – were, are you a baking-talent?" asked Ginger with soft confusion.
"Baking-talent? Well, hehe," Teardrop started to laugh and she wasn't sure why, was her throat choking up? Shouldn't she be able to tell when she'd about to cry better than this by now?
"Fawn, get up here now!" shouted Ginger in a panic, she hated when Teardrop would just start bawling.
Teardrop only had time to blink before she was overcome and rolling on the ground.
"Fawn," said Teardrop in a slight whine. Why was this generation of fairies so incredibly weird?
"Hey Teardrop," said Fawn happily with the oddest smile. Teardrop just gave her one of her deadpan frowns that the fairy had gotten used to over the past few weeks.
Teardrop stood with the antsy fairy shifting from foot to foot and brushed off her outfit, something that was exceedingly more comfortable than her leaf and looked up at Fawn. In the end Rosetta had chosen not to tell the fairy what had almost killed her, and oddly enough Fawn hadn't pushed the issue. Instead, after finding out Rosetta had learned the answer from Teardrop, Fawn had made Teardrop something like her older wiser mentor of a friend. She adored Teardrop and the poor dark fairy couldn't even start to imagine why. She had even resorted to some of her more mischievous trick and that hadn't even been able to stop the fairies affections.
The weirdest thing about Fawn's affections was that Rosetta wasn't at all perturbed by them and would often even encourage the odd attachment that Fawn was making with Teardrop. It wasn't that Rosetta disliked her again, but there was, and always would be a barrier between them. Rosetta would only come to the library on occasion and only stay long enough to find a friend or a book. She would talk with Teardrop usually, and they would exchange pleasantries, but in the end they weren't any closer for it.
"And I wanted you to meet him!" said Fawn as Teardrop returned from her musings, and was instantly suspicious.
"Meet who?" she asked. Fawn rolled her eyes and Fawn was reminded why the girl wasn't constantly around her. Fawn by nature couldn't sit still, the animal-talent had learned how to read, but she didn't have any real interest in the task, and would only take out the occasional book. Teardrop at the moment was holding her library card because the last book came back with mud smeared on it, and Fawn telling her she'd found a use for the thing after not being able to find the time to read. So, that meant that Fawn spent most her time trying to find a way to legally get her outside to see all her cute baby animals, while Teardrop told her that no she couldn't bring them into the library.
"Weren't you listening?" asked Fawn with sagging shoulder and then sighed when and rolled her eyes when Teardrop crossed her arms and glared. "Come and see him."
Teardrop found herself dragged over to the edge of her loft and looking in horror down at a small garden mouse that had started to attract the attention of a few of the fairies. Teardrop just stared at it for a moment before turning oh so slowly toward the annoying animal talent.
"Fawn," drawled out Teardrop angrily making Fawn back up with her arms folded at the elbows and pointed up with a guilty smile.
"He's really tame, and I really thought that you'd like to meet him," said Fawn and then looked so hopeful that Teardrop almost caved, but didn't allow the slip to show on her face especially when a cry went up, wood rocked, and a flutter of books caught her ears. Teardrop turned back to that the mouse was hitting its head against one of her shelves, she cast an annoyed glare at Fawn, who smiled and then dropped her head, and flew down to confront said cute but destructive garden mouse.
"There, there, away from the…" Teardrop's eyes widened in slight horror as the mouse turned softly toward her, a book in its mouth. She walked up to it, keeping her friendly smile, and carefully took the book from its mouth. She let the book go, and thankfully it was only scuffed a little from the ordeal and was able to quickly get to another shelf.
Teardrop turned back to the mouse, whom she praised and cooed at and who looked at her with understanding eyes and a twitching nose until Teardrop just collapsed in tears on the things neck.
When she finally came back to the real world, she did so more quickly than usual, because someone was holding rose nectar under her nose and she greedily grasped at it and chugged it down before Ginger could stop her. When she finally smacked her lips happily the cup was taken and refilled and Teardrop looked up to thank whoever it was only to see Ginger holding another cup at her.
"I thought you didn't like me drinking," said Teardrop, now sipping at her liquor delicately with the knowledge it wouldn't be whisked away.
"I don't, but since Fawn did the opposite of what she was supposed to, I thought this would be something to keep you from being a downer the next hour," said Ginger with a hand on her hip. Teardrop gave her a smirk and stood up as the mouse started to move toward the door.
"Gave up on trying to give me lemons?" asked Teardrop teasingly.
"It just makes it start all over again," said Ginger with an irritated sigh.
"So, I get to drink every once a week at least, goody," said Teardrop staring into her drink happily, knowing that Ginger was rolling her eyes at her. She had to be careful not to let a drop fall when Fawn tackled her in the middle in a very violent hug.
"Don't cry on purpose Teardrop, you already do it enough and alcohol isn't good for you," said Fawn and then with a bright smile zipped out of the library door, probably to return the poor mouse back to its home.
"Psychotic," muttered Teardrop watching Fawn's retreat.
"You are not one to judge," said Ginger, Teardrop sent her a mock glare that went ignored. "Looks like we're getting low on dandelion puff, I'll whip up some more with that stupid ladel thing that Bobble gave you yesterday."
Teardrop rolled her eyes, but she had books to locate and to check out the bookshelf and make sure it was still safe. At least it wouldn't be hard to find a carpentry fairy to fix it up if the mouse had made it unstable. It looked alright. She wondered if Tinkerbell would be coming by. The tinker no longer stopped by every day, she came almost everyday, but there were times when she could be gone three days in a row. It was nice, she still wasn't sure what to make of Tinkerbell, and many times she had just started crying in the girls practice and not explained herself.
Tinkerbell was a friend, not like Vidia, Vidia was still the most important, but Tinkerbell was someone Teardrop would miss once she gone. The other had this ability to draw Teardrop out by unconsciously guilting the dark fairy to talk to her, until Teardrop wanted to demand if Tinkerbell really was that ignorant, but she didn't like talking about her past. She didn't like talking that much either, especially when she was working, Tinkerbell liked to make herself the exception to that rule.
"Teardrop, where's the thing on Queen Bright?" called a voice that Teardrop schooled her features into a neutral smile.
"She should be in the queen section," said Teardrop and walked up to the two young fairies standing there and flourished her hand to the side. "I'll take you to it and on the way; perhaps I can suggest a better queen to read about?"
It really wasn't that she didn't want them to know her history, it would give them a better perspective of the danger they were putting themselves in. She didn't think that Queen Bright was a good queen to study for someone to look up to, she never would. The two could read about what happened on the books written on Clarion's early life, and she would have suggested it if the queen hadn't insisted all those books be stored in one of the dark corners of the archives. Teardrop had done it but thought the queen was silly. No one would blame the light/dust fairy, she had done her job, had done her best, and always had supported the queen. The information in those books might just make her a greater leader because of the sacrifice. But in all fairness, she didn't want to remember, and anyone who read those books would have questions, and sometimes it was easier to pretend the hurt just didn't exist.
---
Tinkerbell finally fixed the pulley system with a small inward cheer. She wanted to get working on her net invention for winter, and this job had taken up a significant amount of her time. She happily flew to her work place and drew the three books she needed in front of her and the four pages of notes and designs so she could start getting serious. She was about to start getting the supplies she'd need when she heard Queen Clarion and a nervous Fairy Mary.
"I'm just not so sure Fairy Mary," Queen Clarion admitted with a sad shake of her head. "I know how she can be, deceitful and careful, and I doubt she likes me very much at the moment or even Pixie Hollow, and now so many fairies are seeing her? I don't think this will end well at all."
"She's connected to Pixie Hollow, I doubt that she would do anything against it no matter what you did, and I don't think she could ever hate you," said Fairy Mary soothingly, though her wings quivered behind her.
"You'd be surprised what she feels and how conflicted every emotion is. She, no she wouldn't… you don't understand, I thought I understood her before and she was still able to turn against Queen Bright, she was still able to hurt us all with her rash actions," said Queen Clarion and Tinkerbell slowly walked forward to get a better view.
"But she can't do anything against you, that would be… Tinkerbell what are you doing here?" asked Fairy Mary with a forced smile and Tinkerbell flew carefully forward without a slight smile.
"Sorry, you were talking sort of loudly," said Tinkerbell halfway apologetic. Queen Clarion smiled kindly.
"That's understandable, was there anything you needed young one?" she asked with a small smile and Tinkerbell found herself shifting uncomfortably.
"Well, not so much for me, but… I don't understand," said Tinkerbell with a sigh.
"What's confusing you?" asked Queen Clarion floating with kind concern, and Tinkerbell licked her lips nervously and tried to ignore Fairy Mary's signaling that she was pretty sure telling her that if it had anything to do with Teardrop, Tinkerbell would do better not to mention it.
"Were, you talking about Teardrop just now?" asked Tinkerbell making Fairy Mary sag with obvious resignation. Queen Clarion looked a little shocked and then serious.
"Yes, and from what I hear you're one of my main reasons for worrying," said Queen Clarion strictly, Tinkerbell held her ground.
"There's no reason to worry," said Tinkerbell and then stomped her feet when Queen Clarion tried to intervene. "Teardrop isn't dangerous, I know she made mistakes and that some of her beliefs are a little twisted, but she's really just a sweet fairy who has trouble expressing herself or trusting people. I swear, if she was just given a chance she would show you that she's good. She's just awkward… and she needs a little guidance."
"She needs to be forgotten," snapped Queen Clarion making Tinkerbell jump at its venom. The queen sighed and looked up at Tinkerbell, begging her with her gaze to understand. "Tinkerbell, I know Teardrop can be a very convincing liar, but you have to understand, she needs to remain in there, she is too much of a liability to be let out. If there was any chance that she could have been accepted back into the community she would have by now."
"But Queen Clarion," said Tinkerbell trying to ignore how desperate and disjointed the queen was talking about Teardrop. "She's not that bad. She just… says stupid things to try and push fairies away and likes her space. Please, all you need to do is give her a chance, she's sure to prove herself worthy."
"No, I grew up with her Tinkerbell, I know her well and I will always give her a chance, and her answer will always be the same," said Queen Ree firmly.
"Rosetta also grew up during her time, she's forgiven her, I mean, they don't exactly… well, Rosetta goes to the library now," said Tinkerbell and then smiled quickly as if that would cover up her tripping. "I mean, maybe just make her sister spend time with her if you really think that she should decide, but them avoiding each other isn't helping, I mean, I now it's hurting Teardrop, it has to be hurting her also."
"You don't understand!" practically shouted Queen Clarion, glowing brightly. Immediately she blushed lightly and sighed and reigned in her temper. "Tinkerbell, you can't judge Teardrop like other fairies, she knows how to twist her words and how to gain trust and break it just as easily."
"But she didn't kill Queen Bright," said Tinkerbell imploringly.
"No, she didn't," agreed Queen Clarion with a touch of danger. "Is that what she told you? Is that why you think she's harmless, because I can tell you now that she left out a very important part of that explanation. While it is true that a fairy cannot kill another fairy, Teardrop was not ignorant of that fact when she attacked Pixie Hollow. She knew that she couldn't kill Queen Bright, but she also knows that you can kill a fairy.
"We worked with a dust fairy, one that Teardrop was close to, called Sunshine. The fairy was wrinkled and deformed she couldn't fly and it hurt for her to walk. She had been drenched in tar; she had come close to never waking up. Because that is possible, with enough skill and force a fairy can put another into a permanent state of sleep. The fairy isn't dead but she is too hurt to even wake up."
"She wouldn't…" said Tinkerbell, but couldn't finish that thought, because Tinkerbell could still see Teardrop saying that if given the chance Teardrop would still rise up against Queen Bright, still do all in her power to overcome her.
"Tinkerbell, please, stop going to visit her, tell others to stop going also and move the school back where it should be. Teardrop is dangerous at best, and I know she has enough tar in her possession to do serious damage if she wants," said Queen Clarion. "I don't want any of my fairies harmed because we have forgiven someone… someone without a heart."
"She has a heart!" shouted Tinkerbell and then looked down at her hands for the words she needed to convince the queen. "She lives for her books that she's taken on as her talent, she hurts, she cries – a lot." Clarion rolled her eyes completely unconvinced by this admission. "She laughs, and takes her job too seriously. She likes quiet and adores food. She can't figure out why Bobble keeps giving her warped tools and odds that he spends all night trying to make perfect but also unique. She has a horrible sweet touch and love of nectar. She can't understand why people want to be around her and as much as she tries to push people away she also lets them in, especially if they're seeing under the pretense of coming to the library. She lives and breathes, and works and craves just like the rest of us."
"I know she does, that's the reason I didn't have her tied and gagged and thrown into a cell made a mile under Pixie Hollow," said Queen Clarion angrily.
"I would hope that you would have practically killed her sister if you'd done that," said Tinkerbell, she had done a little research on the topic.
"Her sister would have understood," said Queen Clarion flatly. "And I would have done it if someone hadn't pointed out that with the ruby necklace she was useless, and that she would be of more use just locked up in that library."
"You would have ruined two fairies lives just because of a grudge?" demanded Tinkerbell. Queen Clarion suddenly looked furious.
"It was much more than that. She betrayed us, all of us, there has never been, the entirety of fairy history there hasn't been someone who committed even an act half as evil as that," said Queen Clarion strongly.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," said Tinkerbell firmly and then shook herself when she saw Queen Clarion ready to defend her choice. "Asking her a question that has no more meaning doesn't count. Have her sister instead if she'll rise up against you, because I know what the answer would be."
"What she thinks of me is inconsequential," said Queen Clarion between clenched teeth.
"It's everything to her, well, everything that isn't her sister and food," said Tinkerbell with a flourish of her arms. "She cares about Pixie Hollow; she wants what's best for it and its people. She knows you're a good queen and care about every talent. She often refers to you as the best thing that happened, though she scoffs at you ever letting her go or coming by."
"Queen Clarion," Clank came and gave the queen a surprised hug. Bobble dragged him away with an embarrassed smile.
"Hello Milady, you look a bit stressed," said Bobble with a little concern, and who then wilted under the disapproving glare that the Queen Clarion looked down on him.
"I've heard that you've visiting Teardrop," Tinkerbell shivered, she'd never heard the queen sound so severe. Bobble flinched and looked down at the ground guiltily.
"Oh yeah," said Clank happily, completely missing the tense atmosphere. "She's a nice lady. Kinda scary when we first met her. She's got a good hand with tinkering, but she sent us out in a hurry because we dropped kettles all over her library, and she hates things like that."
"What do you mean she sent you out in a hurry?" asked Queen Clarion carefully. Clank smiled brightly, only to happy to accommodate. Bobble put a hand to the big guys chest and strained a smile.
"Nothing, just pushed out," said Bobble, why was the other tinker lying, and badly at that.
"Some push," scoffed Clank. "She sent us out with a gust of wind, like a fast flying fairy, which is kind of funny because the way she fixed the kettle I would have thought she was a tinker."
Queen Clarion's eyes were large with something akin to horror. Her hand clutched at her right wrist and she closed her eyes and her expression became blank. Even Clank seemed to have realized something and was watching the queen, waiting to see what she would do. Queen Clarion's eyes opened and they had become determined and hard.
"Fairy Mary, come with me," she said softly and all the fairies took a small flutter away from the ice in the queen voice. "You three stay here, I'll deal with you later."
"What did I say?" asked Clank as they watched the two older fairies fly away.
"You gave her the information she needed but didn't want," said Bobble ominously.
"We should go after them," said Tinkerbell, still a little shell shocked.
"But Queen Clarion said to stay," said Clank and Bobble nodded though with sadder eyes.
"Whatever me and Clank said, I'm pretty sure that it got Teardrop in trouble, and she deserves to have us come and try to make things right for her, to try and stop Queen Clarion from making a mistake," said Tinkerbell and then turned to her friends.
"Right," said Clank. "But what will happen to her if we don't."
"She'll be locked in the dark," said Bobble with a small shy. Clank's face became determined.
"Well then," he said bustily. "We should go save her."
Clank took off and Tinkerbell realized they'd have to go to stop Clank from doing anything over the top. Clank could have a very single-minded determination when he wanted to do, and it'd be nice if he didn't become the next librarian as punishment for attacking the queen and making off with Teardrop. Tinkerbell and Bobble shared a glance, turned to where Clank's form was slowly disappearing, and after a few second took off after him.