The sun had set beyond the horizon, the sky had turned dark and the rising moon cast its mesmerizing illumination across the island of Never Land. In the mouse stables Tinker Bell was still crushing foods to be fed to Roquefort so he could eat even as his throat healed. She hoped that her work wasn't for naught. Tink's arms felt almost as sturdy as the mush in the mortar. Hours of crushing food had left the muscles in her arms screaming for relief, but she wouldn't allow herself to stop. Tinker Bell had to make this right. Then she would have to make something else right. The little tinker fairy had plenty of time to rethink her actions against Vidia, and to consider what Queen Clarion had told her and Silvermist. It left her feeling uncertain about herself and her disgust towards Vidia.

Fawn came racing towards the tinker fairy, her face lit up with good cheer. "It's working, Tink," Fawn told her. "He ate everything in that bowl. It was slow, but he didn't stop or turn away like he was doing earlier. Keep at it."

"I'd like to, Fawn, but my arms are about to fall off," the tinker said. "I'll be lucky if I can move my arms tomorrow morning."

"Let me take over for you," the animal fairy said taking the mortar and pestle from Tinker Bell and grinding down the food in the bowl. "I'll get a couple of the animal talent healers to work on this tomorrow for Roquefort's meals. That way you can get some rest."

Tinker Bell could only sigh. "I can't even do that."

Fawn looked at her quizzically. "Why?"

"I have to help Vidia capture the rest of the thistles, starting tomorrow."

"Now why do you have to help that jerk weed flyer? She's the one who started all of this."

"Yeah, I know, but what I did was wrong. I shouldn't have let my anger get the better of me," Tinker Bell explained. "I destroyed her house, now I have to make it up to her. Queen Clarion's orders."

Fawn looked at her friend in utter disbelief. "You actually sound like you feel bad for putting Vidia in her place."

Tinker Bell stood up and took a few steps away from her friend, her back turned to Fawn. The tinker fairy slowly turned around as if ashamed to make this admission, "I kind of do."

The animal fairy was stunned into silence. After a few moments had passed, Fawn asked, "Why? Why in the Second Star's name would you feel bad for finally sticking it to that obnoxious brat of a fairy?"

"Because I ruined her home," Tinker Bell responded. "I destroyed everything she ever owned."

"She destroyed yours first, Tink," Fawn pointed out. "At least she still has a roof over her head. You don't even have that. And besides, a flyer's home tends to be rather spartan. A tinker's house can get pretty messy with tools, designs, works in progress."

Tinker Bell began to grin and even chuckled as Fawn spoke. "What's so funny?" the animal talent asked.

"You pretty much described my home, perfectly," the tinker answered. The smile drained from her face. "Well, it used to be like that."

"Well then I don't get why you aren't more upset? Why do you feel so sick about giving her a taste of her own medicine?"

"Because it was wrong," Tinker Bell replied. "How long have I been here? A few months? How long has Vidia?"

"Um..., I think around 235 years," Fawn said, her eyes looking skyward as she thought about her answer. "She arrived before I did. I'm just barely a hundred."

"Exactly, she had history there. I never really had time to get really comfortable." Tinker Bell paused. "Besides, the queen was right. It wasn't my place to do anything. It is her responsibility to deal with Vidia."

"Well all of Pixie Hollow disagrees with you, Tink," Fawn told her. "Everyone is pleased as pixie dust at what you did. Vidia's had this coming for two hundred years and I'm glad you had the wings to do it."

"That's something else that bother's me, Fawn. Why is everyone so happy that I did this to Vidia? It sounds like they are all out for her blood." Tink sat back down next to her friend. Her eyes betraying more than her words ever could.

"They are, Tink. Some of the nasty things Vidia has done to us over the years would make your skin crawl," Fawn said. "Rosetta has some real horror stories. Next time you see Ro you should ask her to tell you some of the scarier ones. You'll see."

Tinker Bell sat thoughtfully, still unsettled by what was going on around her. How could so many fairies hate one fairy so much that they actually want to see harm come to her? she asked herself. Tinker Bell had seen a few glimpses of Vidia's nastiness. If she had endured more perhaps she would understand Fawn's argument better. But something else was still nagging at her. She had lost her temper, becoming so blind with anger she badly hurt her mouse friends in the process. This was a side of herself she had not seen before and it frightened her. Is this what the other fairies of Pixie Hollow really wanted? Revenge at any cost? This just couldn't be right.

Fawn said nothing immediately, apparently deciding that she wasn't about to change Tink's mind. Instead she chose a different line of questioning. "So what do you intend to do?"

Tinker Bell gave some consideration to the question before answering. "Vidia doesn't have any friends, does she?"

"No," Fawn replied. "I told you she can be pretty nasty. She thinks she is so much better than the rest of us."

"I wonder if that's why she thinks she is so superior?"

"What? I don't understand, Tink?"

"What if all she has in her life is her talent? Vidia has no friends, and doesn't even live with the rest of her guild like the rest of us do. What if all she has is her talent to feel good about herself? She has to be terribly lonely living the way she does."

"Wow, where did that come from?"

"Just an observation, I suppose. When we first met all she could talk about was how great her talent was and all the terrific thing she could do with it," Tinker Bell said, relating that day to her friend. "She seemed to take so much pride in her abilities. Does Vidia attend any of the regular functions in Pixie Hollow? Holidays? Dances? or other festivities?"

"She shows up once in a while, but just long enough to be seen and then disappears," Fawn answered. "Usually because the queen will practically demand that she make an effort."

"Is she dating anyone?"

"Uh..., no. Why do you ask?"

Tinker Bell's eyes darted about as she thought, "No friends, no social life, no romantic life, not even close with her own guild. She must be so isolated and alone that the only things that give her comfort are her talent and being the best in Pixie Hollow."

"Second best," Fawn said. "Remember? You're the best talent now."

"Oh, right," Tinker Bell said. To Fawn, it almost seemed like Tinker Bell disliked being the most talented fairy in all of Pixie Hollow. At least for this moment. "No wonder she hates me so much. I took something very precious away from her. One of her greatest distinctions. If she can't be the best in Pixie Hollow, and she defines herself by her talent then..., then..., what else is there for her? Vidia's life is suddenly empty and meaningless."

"Oh what," Fawn said with a chuckle, "now you think you can fix Vidia the way you fix pots and pans?"

"THAT'S IT!" Tink yelled standing straight up. "I'll fix Vidia. I'll be nice to her, be her friend. Show her that she can define herself by more than just her talent."

"What? Uh, I don't think she will appreciate you trying to fix her," Fawn said. "She seems pretty happy with the way things are right now."

"No, she isn't happy, Fawn. If she were then why is Vidia always doing those nasty things to us? Ever ask yourself that?"

Fawn just looked at Tink like she had gone nuts. "Why bother? If you're nice to her, Vidia just treats you worse. She takes advantage of your niceness."

Tinker Bell certainly knew this to be true. It was how their first meeting went. Tinker Bell approached Vidia with the intent of making a friend. Instead Vidia was dismissive of the tinker, insulted the entire tinker guild and even goaded Tinker Bell into wanting to go to the mainland oh so badly. Vidia knew that tinkers were forbidden to travel to the mainland at that time and knowingly set up Tinker Bell for a huge disappointment. Vidia rejected friendship and kept everyone at arms length.

"I'm going to do it, Fawn, I'm going try and become Vidia's friend," Tinker Bell announced.

"No!" Fawn put the mortar and pestle down, stood and wagged her finger at Tinker Bell. "Stop! Now sit. Sit." Tinker Bell began to sit down. "Good, now stay."

"Hey, wait a minute," Tinker Bell said standing back up again. "I'm not one of your animals."

"Sorry," Fawn said. "I guess it's sort of second nature to me. But that's beside the point. Didn't you say that Queen Clarion didn't want you to get involved?"

"She didn't want me to take revenge on Vidia," Tink answered. "Queen Clarion never said anything about not trying to be her friend."

Fawn wasn't as sold on the idea. "Y'know, maybe you should check with the queen first, just to make sure it's okay with her."

"Oh, Fawn, you worry too much."

"Tinker Be-ll!" the animal fairy responded, pushing her friend to do the right thing.

"Okay, okay," the tinker fairy said, throwing her hands up in a conciliatory fashion. "I'll speak with the queen about it in the morning."

"Good for you, Tink." Fawn took one look at the dark night sky and noted how late it was getting. "I'm going to check on the mice again and then I'll turn in. You should, too. Although you may want to see a healing talent for those arms in the morning if they're stiff and sore."

"I'll do that. Thanks, Fawn." Tink tried to wave good bye to her friend, but her arms were already getting tight from all the twisting. Tinker Bell had every intention of speaking with Queen Clarion in the morning about befriending Vidia. She just wasn't going to mention anything about trying to fix the flyer. Tinker Bell was the best tinker in all of Pixie Hollow. If she couldn't fix Vidia, no one could.

Finally got this chapter written and posted. Still in Calculus, (it's a business calc course, btw) and it is kicking my butt all over the place. It may be a while before I get another chapter posted. Thank you for your continued patience and enjoy the story.

I should acknowledge that this chapter was inspired by some of the reviewers, who always seem to have great ideas, as well as by TINK IN A FAIRY FIX where she tries to fix other fairies and gets on their nerves while doing so. (I read the summary on Amazon).