Fairy Swears (I think I got most of them): Fluttering, glittering, tar water, by the pirates, pirate.
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 Ten
The Forms of Betrayal
They didn't fly that quickly toward the Home Tree and the library. Clank soon became out of breath and for some reason Tinkerbell and Bobble were not in a hurry to get to the library. Though they couldn't quite put words as to the reason why.
"What's wrong with you three?" asked Rosetta suddenly appearing in front of them. Or at least that's what it seemed like to Tinkerbell, but the other two fairies seemed to anticipate her and looked nonplus at the fact Rosetta had suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Queen Clarion found out Teardrop could still use her talents," said Bobble morosely and started forward again.
"She can still use her…" Rosetta smiled and then sighed under Bobble's soft glare. "Alright, well, I mean, what can she do?"
"Tie her up and throw her in a mining cell a mile under Pixie Hollow," said Tinkerbell with an angry frown and kicked her foot against the ground. Rosetta froze, literally, her eyes wide.
"She can't do that, it would be suicide," said Rosetta worriedly.
"Well, a sort of murder," said Tinkerbell. "What's suicide?"
"We have to stop her, now!" said Rosetta furiously. Tinkerbell found herself straining to keep up with her friend.
When they arrived at the library the very door looked darker and every eye seemed turned half in its direction toward the harsh sounds of a heated argument. They stayed outside the door, even Rosetta's resolve had waivered against open the door. Bobble ended up being the one to push forward. Clarion and Teardrop were glaring, Clarion righteous and Teardrop looked torn, while Fairy Mary and the other leaders of the seasons were up against the wall trying to look firm and failing.
It was understandable since there was an unnatural clash of sweltering hot and icy cold. The air was sparking dry and wet, light and dark. The odd combination of opposites was stifling and Tinkerbell could only make her way a few centimeters forward before the need to run out back into the fresh air almost overwhelmed her and had her running in that directions.
"You can't!" shouted Teardrop as Tinkerbell actually started paying attention to the argument.
"I have to, you're dangerous," said Clarion strongly though her light seemed to attack Teardrop as the dark fairy tried to duck away from it.
"I've been dangerous since the day you fluttering were revived with dust. And you glittering well knew it!" said Teardrop empathically.
"I didn't know for sure," said Queen Clarion with a proud flourish.
"Oh, tar water Ree, you fluttering knew it," said Teardrop with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "You can't do it, I won't allow you."
"You can't stop me," said Queen Clarion and walked toward Teardrop who backed up.
"I don't want to hurt you and you, by the pirates, know it. But I won't let you do this, I will not be put away in the dark away from the talents," said Teardrop with an angry hiss.
"You have to be put away," said Clarion. "You're dangerous."
"And tell me, sister, what does that make you? A pretty and unassuming princess?" demanded Teardrop and Tinkerbell's eyes widened. "You have just as much power, just as much chance of being – dangerous."
"You have taken that role, it will no longer be mine," spat Clarion.
"It never was yours," snapped Teardrop. "I am the one to move, to attack, it is yours to stand there and be strong, but why – why even now do you let Queen Bright hold more meaning in your eyes than me? She is dead and gone, and as much as we both want it, it is not my fault."
"I always protected you, thinking that you were like me and that you actually would care about something more than something that wasn't yourself," said Clarion with a high head and a sad glare.
"I do care, that was the reason I tried to throw that stupid pirate from her spot as Queen. The only fairies that thing cared about were light fairies, you were the obvious choice as a better queen that I should have thought of if that stupid feather hadn't separated us for so long," said Teardrop pulling at her head and almost doubled over. "You are the perfect shield Ree, you always have been; but like I can only half use you, you don't seem to know at all how to use me."
"You are not to be used, that would mean you were a tool and your mind is too sharp to be used in that way," said Clarion with a slight glare and Teardrop snorted.
"It's good to know that you're mind can be just as sharp and cruel as mine," said Teardrop with a smile that made Tinkerbell shiver though she couldn't place it.
"I am not cruel," said Clarion irritably. "I'm just stating the obvious."
"Many would say that it is cruel," said Teardrop with a twisted lip. "When you can look into a fairies soul and see that in them. It means that you are slightly more – twisted than most fairies who are too innocent to see others as weapons, to see others as only a danger."
"I have you as my sister, I learned fast enough," growled Clarion and Teardrop scoffed as if she wasn't already in enough trouble.
"I have advice for you Ree, you may be a good queen but when it comes to me your council is decidingly off and you begin to act like a paranoid human corrupted king," hissed Teardrop.
"No matter what you call me I still cannot allow you to remain above ground, not when even rubies cannot control your power," said Clarion and her power started to well up behind Teardrop who looked at it and then sneered.
"I will not let you do this to us Ree, I will not let Pixie Hollow fall because you feel that above all else you must protect the fairies from a part of yourself," said Teardrop, her back pressed to her books and her knees bent. "There are worse dangers than me in Never Land."
"I only can see you now Teardrop, and you have an easy remedy," said Queen Clarion drawing her magic to her core. Tinkerbell looked see that shadows seemed to be licking the fairies body, consuming the dark fairy into her element.
"No, sister, because it would also drag you in," Teardrop's voice echoed as if she were drifting away. "You better hope that you reconsider this decision, dear sister, before I decide to leave Pixie Hollow and ruin us all."
Queen Clarion lunged forward, but it was too late. The shadows scattered under the light queen's rays but her hands were empty. Somehow, in that second, Teardrop had gotten away or somehow in that darkness had been gone long ago. It wasn't certain. Now the queen stood there, her head bowed with a heavy heart and guilt touching the side of her closed eyes. Her fingers clenched and loosened in fists as if trying to find her sisters essence in the shadows they grasped at only seconds before.
When the queen finally opened her eyes, Tinkerbell had to hold back a gasp. There was nothing there. As Queen Clarion stared a head, face blank and mind numb, Tinkerbell was reminded of Teardrop, how after a confrontation like that the dark fairy would be visibly holding back tears of sadness, remorse, and anger. It scared her that the apparent enemy would show more empathic reactions than the queen did. It scared her to think that Teardrop had left her library and was alone and thinking that the whole of Pixie Hollow was against her. It saddened her to realize there was a good chance that she'd never be able to reassure the odd fairy that one day she'd be forgiven and want to take the hurt away every time the chestnut curls moved against her head as she rejected the idea. It hurt to know she was crying somewhere without Ginger making a big deal and trying to figure out the food it would take to make her happy again.
"How?" asked Tinkerbell drawing everyone to look at the tinker-talent as she grasped for the idea and answer.
"How could she fly out?" asked Queen Clarion, with a slightly bitter smile. "She…"
"I know why she flew out," said Tinkerbell testily and glared at her queen. "You threatened to lock her away where she'd never see the sun or another fairy or be of use, any fairy would resist that fate no matter how much you think you both deserve it. What I don't understand is how she is as dangerous as you claim. She was afraid of you and she didn't even strike back even with all her power swelling around us."
Clarion looked at her with disappointment and Tinkerbell found herself unable to look the queen in the eyes anymore and looked away from the queen. She heard Queen Clarion sigh and the older fairy seemed to pull herself together, her anger returning inside her, as if saving it to throw at her sister.
"Fairy Mary, all of you, gather every fairy in Pixie Hollow. I need to talk to everyone and warn them. This is my fault, I thought that if I left it alone that everyone would come to their senses… but this has gotten out of hand and I never should have allowed my own personal needs to get in the way of doing the right thing."
"But Queen Clarion," said Rosetta coming toward the light fairy.
"Rosetta, I don't understand how you could let her trick you," said the queen coming right up to the garden fairy. Rosetta gulped and looked away. Clarion then looked at Bobble and sighed. "I'm sorry Bobble, I realize that I should have pulled you away as soon as I heard. You have to understand my sister…"
"Saved my life," said Bobble not looking at Queen Ree. "She loved you and she cared."
Queen Clarion sighed and shook her head. "She went mad when she gathered all her talents together, and I could feel it. What will happen when she decides that someone is not needed or is dangerous to Pixie Hollow?"
"She has a kind heart," snapped Bobble and Tinkerbell was surprised by his furiousity. "The only thing that broke her in the end was being cut off from everything including you. The only thing that you will achieve by this is either in repeating history or destroying yourself in the process."
"Bobble," said Queen Clarion with a sigh. "She's my sister, my other half, I know how she thinks."
"Maybe instead of assuming you know her you should actually try and understand your sister," said Bobble. "Just because she's your opposite doesn't mean she isn't also you. Doesn't mean that she's not also kind, doesn't mean she doesn't care about the fairies of Pixie Hollow. You two really aren't that different if you think about it; in the end you both have only a little reservation to sacrificing a fairy the better of all the fairies."
"I would suggest that you hold your tongue Bobble about things you truly have no knowledge about," said Queen Clarion, glowing a little red under her anger. Bobble quickly scampered back, but still looked furious with the queen and seemed to sink into the darkness himself.
"Queen Clarion," said Tinkerbell trying to ignore the slight squeak in her voice and hastily tried to clear it. "I think you're taking this too personally still. Maybe it's time let us decide, we have a fresh view on the situation, because we didn't know – maybe we proved that she's to be trusted."
Queen Clarion sighed and floated over to Tinkerbell and looked down on the fairy with disappointment and almost what would sad relief.
"I know it's hard to believe, living here with fairies is rather… easy, even when we see the cruelty of human's we are blind to it, and though many become a little disillusioned, fairies do not need to be born with the ability to understand the crueler sides of life, our worst fears lie in death, and many don't even start contemplating it until later and their lives. No kills over it, there are petty thefts, no one violates each other, and no one purposefully or at least seriously harms another. It's not in our nature to even acknowledge many of these acts. But as queen I have to know on some level. And that's I suppose, where I agree with you Bobble," the queen turned to look at the sulking sparrow fairy. "She does understand these things; she sees the possibility of it all around her. But unlike me, my sister has embraced these evils as something necessary, and believes that they are sometimes what's needed instead of recognizing what it really is."
"But," Rosetta placed a silencing hand on Tinkerbell's shoulder and shook her head. Queen Clarion sighed and started floating toward the door, no clothes foot lightly tapping against the library floor.
"I will be making my announcement in an hour's time," said the Queen her tone completely composed and filled with false compassion. "I would suggest waiting here until that time, and to tell any friends that miss it the information that I cover. I would rather not have any of my fairies put at risk because of some silly belief in someone that you have not given the proper time to learn everything about."
And the Queen left, her subjects watched, none of them looked particularly impressed with her final decree. Bobble even refused to come out of the dark corner for a time, and Tinkerbell learned that for some reason the silly thing hadn't been going to get his daily magic refill for a few days. So they all made a big deal of scolding the poor scapegoat, who, at least for a time, was distracted from the sentence soon to be placed on Teardrop's head.
It was something difficult to wrap a tiny mind around. Tinkerbell found herself staring into the pit of gold dust, of magic, looking for the black magic, or tar, or ink, depending on the era or use that the black gunk was in. She couldn't see it, was there none in there right now? Teardrop had been speaking true when she said that black magic wasn't found often. Terrance would only pause in his work once in a while to take the black stuff out of the dust and spend the rest of the day combing through the pixie dust that he could get into, until deciding he had really gotten all of it. Had there been a time when there was such a bad leak in the black magic that they had to cart it away in huge vats? But weren't Teardrop's vats proof of that possibility.
"Hey Tink, you holding up okay?" asked Terrance, placing a gentle hand on Tinkerbell's shoulder. Tinkerbell forced a smile and looked up at the concerned dust fairy.
"Yeah, sorta just want to get this over with," said Tinkerbell and returned her gaze to the glowing dust. "Is there any use for black magic?"
"Sure," said Terrance with a smile. "Scholars have found a very pointed use for it. Sure they have to be careful, but if handled right anything can be useful."
Tinkerbell nodded.
"Why would someone forget that?" asked Tinkerbell wrapping her arms around her knees. Terrance sighed.
"Once something that has a dangerous potential to it, like a kitchen knife, some people the first time they cut themselves, especially if they're young enough, hate them or fear them for the rest of their lives," said Terrance and then shrugged. "If you look into human history you'll see more of it, or you'll see more prominently I suppose, here in Pixie Hollow it tends to be a lot more superficial."
"What, the fear of kitchen knives?" asked Tinkerbell.
"Well, no, fearing things that prove to have a dangerous quality to them. I mean, you can find them, but humans stories are better at learning how someone of the same… species can place and fear a group of single person," said Terrance, and then looked up, as if hoping Tinkerbell understood. It took a moment but Tinkerbell's mouth opened in a silent 'oh' and she flew, her intent on the human section of the library. She stopped abruptly and turned back toward Terrance.
"Thank you!" she called with a bright smile. He waved at her with an amused smile and Tinkerbell was off toward the library in a flash.
It wasn't until she was almost too close to stop that she realized it was impossible. The front of the library was bared and guarded by sparrow men. Tinkerbell leaned against a root of the Home Tree and tried to understand. The library wasn't dangerous, not if Teardrop wasn't in it. It had served as a prison, why would Teardrop return, and if she did wouldn't it be more reasonable to have a trap inside? The books weren't dangerous; they didn't have a lurking evil inside them. They had black magic, but it had been dried and thus virtually harmless.
"Fairies of Pixie Hollow," Tinkerbell turned to see Queen Clarion with Fira glowing brightly at her side. "Gather round."
A flurry of small voices, most of them confused spread across the field until most of the fairies not knowing the situation and confused as to why their queen sounded so strained. Soon they were all in the air most at the queen's level, fluttering in place in a semi-circle facing the queen who had her eyes closed and her expression grave.
"I have bad news, a dangerous fairy has gotten free of her prison in our library and for this I apologize," but the last few words were drowned out by frantic whispering of the other fairies. A dangerous fairy, was that even possible? What in the world was library? A prisoner, like the dragon? She wasn't talking about Teardrop right, that fairy could be strict but in the end she cried too much to be of any real danger? Words and questions were whispered between groups and Tinkerbell watched and found her friends, people who had become close to the dark fairy not long after her.
Silvermist was biting her lips, not quite looking at the queen. Bobble appeared to be restrained by Clank, not hard, and only so he didn't just leave. Rosetta looked a little flippant about the whole thing, though her nose was scrunched and her arms crossed. Iridesa looked confused and nervous once in a while turning toward the sound of her fellow light fairies voices. Ginger looked irritated, her café had probably been closed along with the library, she probably also thought the entire things was stupid. Fawn had her fists clenched at her side and a stubborn glint her eyes that said she'd defend Teardrop to the end. She probably wouldn't say a word the entire meeting.
Tinkerbell's eyes traveled to Vidia for some reason. The fast flying fairies arms were crossed and her expression twisted in her normal sneer. Still, she seemed to be here not to rip Teardrop apart, her expression looked more disgusted than usual. Tinkerbell remembered Vidia's and Teardrop's confrontations. They weren't ever nice, but Vidia could never be described as nice. Their meetings were usually peppered by sharp insults and Vidia hadn't stopped by that often but for a few books to try and convince people that pirates of all things were coming. Vidia liked confronting Teardrop, Tinkerbell was sure of that, the fast flying fairy always made it a point to track down Teardrop and demand ridiculous things of her. Teardrop would smile oddly and then both of them would try to find the most oddly polite, most cutting ways to insult each other. And Tinkerbell knew Teardrop well enough to know she liked these rare instances where her wit and barbs were tested.
"Quiet," most fairies jumped at the severity from their queen. "Listen, I know some of you have come to know, or think you know my sister, but don't let her crocodile tears confuse you. Teardrop is not someone who you want to become close to, she is not, by nature, soft and passive, and she is in no way harmless. Just as I am connected to Pixie Hollow, so is she. She knows everything that goes on, she knows our weaknesses and she is open to taking advantage of them. Not only that she is not bound by a single talent, not even two; she has ability and innate skill for all of them."
A light gasp went through the entire audience. And frightened whispers quickly died off under the queen's glare.
"We must use all our wit and skill to hunt her down. I have only found now that she has retained the ability of all talents even though they should have been bound by the rubies around her neck. If anyone sees her, or think they see her, do not pursue her alone, she will have no qualms hurting you, even at the expense of your wings. Fly in groups, I'll have guards on the constant lookout for her…"
"You're not concerned about the right thing!" shouted Vidia finally losing her patience. "Don't you understand, pirates are coming, not the ones from the Main Land! They'll be here and destroy all of us while you worry about something that is half your soul, something you should have addressed long before it came to this, before…"
Vidia's and everyone else's eyes widened in shock at the slap that resounded in the quiet air. No one dared move and even the constant hum of wings seemed to be thundering against the air. Vidia backed away from the queen, red cheek in hand looking stunned. Queen Clarion looked down upon the selfish fairy who had been trying to help protect Pixie Hollow.
"Vidia this not a time to try to regain some favor, what needs to take president…" said Queen Clarion and Vidia turned on her hard.
"You need to get your head out of your bum and see that you're sister isn't the real problem here," hissed Vidia. "I'm not trying to get back into your favor but I refuse to see my home destroyed because you won't see past something that happened a century ago."
"You do not understand," said Queen Clarion and pointed over her shoulder. "Go, I will have someone make sure that you understand later."
Vidia looked shocked. And then looked away.
"Don't blame me when they attack and you're too busy chasing someone more interested in getting back in your favor and our home is destroyed," said Vidia and flew off in a blur of purple.
"Clarion," said a hesitant fairy who had started a few days ago spending her afternoons in the library seeing as she was a teaching-talent. "Is Teardrop really that dangerous?"
"When she was born she knew all the talents were hers, more so when they glowed around her it was almost as bright as the sun itself," said Queen Clarion with a sigh.
"But you're more powerful than her, right?" asked leader of Spring. Queen looked away and his eyes widened, all of them knew the answer, but not even Tinkerbell could believe.
"No," said the Queen and turned away. Tinkerbell was sure the next words carried on the wind only half of them received. "But she isn't more powerful than me."
Tinkerbell watched her disappear in the Home Tree and watched with a detached shock the seasons following the queen close behind. Groups of fairies slowly broke off and Tinkerbell soon found herself surrounded by friends, all of whom were looking for a slightly different type of support from each other.
"All right you lot, I think it's time we get this sorted out," the fairies looked to see Fairy Mary dragging a sour looking Ginger and a fighting Vidia. "I think it's time to square away exactly happened. Time to tell you all Queen Clarion's and Teardrop's birth and Teardrop's betrayal."
That got all their attention. Ginger sniffed but her eyes flicked over to Fairy Mary, even Vidia stopped struggling. Fairy Mary led them to a clear spot near the Home Tree and sat the fairies around in a layered circle around her, Vidia closest as she didn't trust her enough to not fly away. A few fairies joined in interest, some ones that Tinkerbell couldn't remember taking a step in the library, but this was an odd topic. Tinkerbell herself was interested. She wanted a clear story to connect the detached pieces of information she was able to garner through the week.
Fairy Mary sighed and gathered her resolve to tell the story. When she opened her eyes the seriousness of it was reflected in her eyes. She began simply, with a baby's first laugh and one red and one brown maple leaves being carried to Pixie Hollow while it was still under Queen Bright's reign.