A Chance
It was the day of the science and inventors convention. Tink practically bounced with anticipation as she counted down the hours in her shift. She looked at the clock frequently as she begged time itself to move faster.
This was it. The day she had a shot to make her dream come true. Where she could impress someone at Haddock Industries enough that they'd offer her a job. Was it a long shot? Hell yes. But that didn't mean she wouldn't take her chances. Better to try and fail then to never try at all.
"And what has you so excited fairy?" came a very unwanted voice. It practically held a sneer. Tink sighed and suppressed a groan as she looked over to see her co-worker, Austin.
"Hello Austin. Nice day isn't it?" Tink said politely with a tight smile. Austin wrinkled his nose as he obnoxiously chewed the gum in his mouth. The unpleasant red head just seemed to love riling Tink up.
"Didn't answer my question fairy," he said. Tink narrowed her eyes at his use of the word fairy. While this normally wouldn't bother her, after all, she was in fact a fairy, he used it as an insult to make a jab at her height.
"Well, today I'm going to be presenting my invention at the science and inventors convention. And hopefully, I can impress someone at Haddock Industries enough to get a job," she answered curtly.
Austin snorted and rolled his eyes. "Oh here we go. You know that only happens like once in 1000 times right? Besides, what could you possibly have made to impress a company like that?" he said with a sneer.
Tink scowled as her face turned a bright red. "None of your business," she told him in a huff as she crossed her arms and turned her head away.
"Just face it, you're going to work here all your life and—"
"Hey Tink," came a very welcome distraction. Tink smiled and stood up as Periwinkle came up to the counter.
"Hey Peri," Tink called out.
"Hey Peri," Austin said with a sly grin as she blocked her path. Peri plastered on a fake smile as she prepared herself for more of his flirting.
"Hello Austin," she said politely.
"So, Peri. I was hoping you and I could see a movie today? You know, after my shift. I'm free," he said waggling his eyebrows.
Peri suppressed an eye roll. He thought he was so smooth. "Sorry Austin, I' going with Tink to show off her invention today. But tell me how the movie you see is," she said as she stepped around him. Austin was about to take another shot at her when Tink came to meet her sister after having clocked out.
"C'mon Peri lets go. Bye Austin," Tink called out as she pulled her sister out of the building. Peri laughed at her sister's excitement, she wished her all the luck in the world.
"NERDS! NERDS EVERYWHERE!" Jack said as he gestured to the entire room he and Hiccup were in. It was full of people and companies showing off their latest gadgets, designs, and plans. And of course Haddock Industries and Dunbroch Corp were there as well. Hiccup had come alone to the convention this time, leaving his business partner and girlfriend to handle other projects.
"Yep. Isn't it great," Hiccup said with a grin as he looked around the room. He was dressed professionally as he kept his eyes out for any potential business opportunities or any new minds that would be a perfect fit for their company. The Haddocks had started out as simple and humble ship builder, so he always kept his eyes open for the diamond in the rough among the unknown and upstarting would be inventor with a revolutionary idea.
"Ugh…why did I come here? I don't know what half these people are talking about," Jack said with a groan.
"Beats me. I told you what I was coming here for."
"I thought I'd see like a laser or something. Not a whole bunch of geeks having nerdgasms over big magnets and robots that shoots beer cans at you."
"Well now you'll just have to suck it up. I'm on the lookout for some new talent. So just follow me, and please, for the love of god, DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING," he said stressing the last part.
"How come every time we're around science stuff you're all like 'Don't touch that Jack. Put down that beaker Jack. Don't point that ion beam at me Jack. Don't blow up the base Jack'?" Jack responded indignantly.
Hiccup rolled his eyes as he continued forward. Occasionally stopping at a booth to see what a team or a single inventor had to show.
Tink was breathing heavily into a bag. Suddenly she'd been overcome with nervousness as she gazed at all the people around. She was supposed to demonstrate her invention to them all. She was panicking. OH GOD! This was suddenly becoming very real.
Peri watched her, unsure of what to do to help and opted to rub circles in her back for support. "Hey, it'll be ok Tink. Your invention will knock them dead," she said to encourage her.
Tink took one more breath into the bag before pulling away. Then she straightened herself out as she smiled gratefully at Peri. She nodded as she clutched her duffel bag tightly to herself. Then she stood up straight as she walked around the convention. She was amazed to see the things other people made. The competition would definitely be intense. She looked at the clock as she checked the time. Then she looked around for her allocated booth.
She was dressed in a green T-shirt with a white lab coat over it, hoping to look professional. She wore blue jeans with green flats. She had her hair up in a bun as usual and she used a little glamour to his her pointed ears.
Peri wore a baby blue turtleneck sweater with powder blue leggings and teal flats. She also used glamour like her sister did to hide her ears from the humans and kept her wings close to her body. She looked around n interest at the other inventions, but she was sure her sister had the best.
As they walked around together, they got curious stare from a brown haired individual. Jack cocked his head and furrowed his brows as he spotted the two women. There was magic in them. He could sense it. And he could tell they were both using a little glamour magic. He considered looking through it…but that would be a little rude.
Still, he was very curious as to what two magical creature were doing here. Not many magical creature embraced science now a days. Most were still very old school. But he let them be with a shrug as he looked around for Hiccup, whom he'd managed to get separated from.
A few minutes later, Tink was at her booth as a small group of interested science enthusiasts gathered to see what she had to show. Partially out of interest, and partially out of the very attractive white haired female.
Tink took deep breaths as she prepared to show what she had. She looked to Peri for support, and she received it in the form of a nod and a smile. She motioned with her hand to go on. Tink nodded back.
"Hi everyone," she said with a small but nervous smile. The small crowd looked back at her with blank faces. Bored and waiting. "So, my name is Tracy Bell. And I have something I think will really blow your minds." With that she reached into her bag and pulled out her invention.
It was large object reminiscent of a gun. It was two handed and was composed of scrap metal she'd welded and bolted together. Everyone eyed the crude looking object with interest as they looked back to her.
"Now, I know this will sound insane. Like honestly, pure science fiction. But what I have here is a shrinking ray," she said firmly. The people gasped, scoffed, or raised an eyebrow with mixed feelings of interest and skepticism.
"Many of you are probably thinking, 'Yeah right, she's crazy'," she joked. And to her delight, some people laughed, easing the tension and nervousness in her shoulders. "After all, how could an object possibly shrink? It has a set amount of mass that can't just be destroyed. But what my ray does is move that mass into a pocket dimension."
"Now the theories and details I'd have to go through to explain it all would take me all day and night. But how about I just show you?" she said with an eager smile. With a nod to Peri, her sister stepped forward and came to a large object covered with a sheet. Pulling it off, there was a medium sized foldable table.
Peri stepped back and motioned with her to go ahead. With a smile, Tink pointed her shrink ray at the table and fired it up. The ray came to life, lighting up and buzzing in her hands. Everyone watched in anticipation. The ray charged with power and Peri clenched her hands in excitement.
And just as it reached full power and was about to fire. It suddenly sparked in Tink's hand. She yelped as it started to chur and shake while sparking and even smoking violently. Tink smiled weakly at the watching crowd as she gave it a few whacks and urged it to work as if it were a living thing.
But, it was not meant to be as it continued its mad sparking, forcing her to drop it and leap back as it burst into flames. Tink gasped and yelped as it went up in flames, as did her hopes. Luckily, someone rushed forward with a fire extinguisher and put it out. Leaving a smoldering mess that was once her hard work. She looked to the crowed who scowled at their wasted time and started to disperse.
"No, wait, just a slight malfunction. It works I swear!" Tink called out in vain as her hopes and dreams just fell down a bottomless pit. She dropped to her knees in front of her shrink ray and dropped her head in sadness.
Peri came up to her in concern. She knelt down in front of her. "Tink, what happened?"
Tink sniffled and wiped at her eyes. "I don't know. Probably a faulty part inside," she said miserably with a shrug.
"Well, can't you show them the video of your tests? Surely that will work," Peri said hopefully.
"Videos can be faked. I needed to show them here and now that it works. And I failed. If only I had access to better equipment and parts," she said quietly. Defeat washed over her. All her work for not. And now, it could take months to find everything she needed again. Peri came around and hugged her, trying to offer what comfort she could.
All the while, they were being watched. A curious figure had heard what she'd said and he approached them. He stood there, unsure how to announce his presence.
"Um…Ms. Bell, was it?" he said to make himself known. Peri and Tink looked up to the tall man standing behind them. Peri didn't know what to make of him. But Tink's eyes widened in recognition.
"I believe your name was—"
"Henry Harrison Haddock III," Tink said in shock.
Hiccup's face turned upward into a small smile. "No, that's my name. I believe you said yours was Tracy," he quipped.
Tink flushed red as she leapt up. "Oh yes, sorry Mr. Haddockk sir. Haddock. Henry," she said nervously as she extended a hand. "Tracy Bell," she said with a small smile.
"Henry. But my friends call me Hiccup," he said as she took her hand and gave it a shake.
"My friends call me Tink. I tinker. It's what I do," she said. She mentally face palmed at her foolish behavior.
Hiccup chuckled, completely understanding. Then he turned his gaze to the remnants of her work. He raised an eyebrow curiously. "So, that invention of yours. Does it really work?" he asked.
Tink perked up and nodded frantically. "Oh yes. It really does. Just, well—"
"I overheard you saying you don't have the parts. Is that true?" he asked. She nodded. Hiccup hewed the inside of his cheek pensively. If it really did work, this thing could be absolutely amazing. And for her to have made it out of what looked like scrap and junk. She'd have to be one of the greatest inventors he'd ever met. Her skills could be equal, or hell, even greater than his own.
"Alright then. Come with me," he said motioning with his head. Tink and Peri exchanged a glance. Tink paused to scoop up her invention before she and her sister followed after him. Hiccup pulled out his phone and texted Jack to head back to the hotel.
With that he led them to his Limo, which ushered them to the Haddock Industries building.
Tink looked around in awe as she followed Hiccup through his company's building. She couldn't believe she was in here. She gaped at the research labs they passed. She had the overwhelming urge to run inside of one and start tinkering, but that would be a little rude.
So she let Hiccup lead them to a lab. He punched in code on a security panel and the door slid open to reveal a large lab, full of equipment, metal, wire, and anything she could imagine.
"Alright Tink. So I want to make you a deal," Hiccup said as he sat down in a chair and turned to look at her. She looked at him and nodded for him to explain. "If you're invention does work, it'd be a shame if I couldn't see it all because you lacked the resources to make it happen. So, go ahead," he said as he gestured around the room.
Tink furrowed her brows in confusion.
"You have ten hours to build me your invention. Fix it or make it from scratch, the choice is yours. But at the end of ten hours, I'm want to see it," he said firmly.
"And what happens after?" Tink asked.
"Well, if it does work. I'd like to buy the rights to it. With your permission of course. But even if you don't want that, I'd like to offer you a job," he said with a smile.
"OH MY GOD REALLY?!" Tink shouted. Hiccup chuckled. Flushing red, she coughed and straightened her features.
"Yes," Hiccup said with a nod.
"And if it doesn't?"
"Well, then you wasted my time. I'd like to give you more time, but I'm a busy man. And if you have the theory and designs down, then 10 hours all you need."
Tink looked around the room and smiled. With this, she might be able to do it. Any part she needed she could fabricate from scratch.
"You're on the clock by the way," Hiccup said to snap her form her thoughts. Tink flinched before she got to work. She fired up some computers, allowing Hiccup to unlock them and open the designing programs. She started drawing and building the designs for her work. Her finger flew as she typed away.
She wouldn't let her chance slip by again.
She few around the room, making her designs and welding and fabricating parts with the state of the art equipment. She never rested, never stopped. Eventually the night wore on and it was dark. She began getting tired as she nearly fell asleep. Luckily for her, Hiccup came up to her with some coffee.
"Coffee break. Time out," he said as he took a sip of his own cup. She smiled gratefully, pausing to let the caffeine give her a boost. Then she got back to work.
And 10 hours later…
"Shrink Ray, mark 2," she said proudly as she held it up. Hiccup looked it over and smiled. He stood up and applauded her. Tink smiled back as she looked over to Peri, who was slumped over a lab desk and snoring.
"So, let's see if that thing works," Hiccup suggested. She nodded. Looking around for something. Eventually, her eyes settled on an empty trash can. With a deep breath, a quick prayer, and some aim, she powered up the ray and fired at it. A blue beam of energy shot out of the ray and covered the trash can in an energy field.
Hiccup watched on in astonished. And after only a moment, the trash can began to shrink. It shrank until it almost disappeared. Tink stopped the ray and she and Hiccup came over to the trash can. Leaning down, Hiccup picked it up between two fingers as he stared at it.
His jaw was hanging open. He could hardly believe it. It worked. He looked o Tink, who waited anxiously for him to say something. Hiccup shook his head to focus as he set the trash can down on a table.
"So Ms. Bell, when can you start?"
Tink gasped and covered her mouth to stifle it. And then she let out the giddiest, loudest, and most excited squeal she'd ever produced. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Peri jumped up as she was awoken. "What happened, where are we?" she asked in confusion. Tink immediately rushed to her and pulled her into a crushing hug.
"So, is that a next week?" Hiccup asked as he raised an eyebrow. Tink blinked in realization before turning to him.
"Yes Mr. Haddock sir. I mean…boss," she said with an awkward salute. Hiccup smirked and chuckled. He was about to inquire about buying the rights to her invention when he heard a phone vibrate.
Peri and Tink pulled out their phones and their eyes widened. They exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between the two of them.
"Sorry Mr. Haddock, I have to go, can we schedule a meeting to discuss this further, that'd be great, can't wait to get started," she called out as she and Peri ran out. Hiccup raised an eyebrow as he watched them run away. He eyes her invention, deciding to store it away for later when his communicator went off. He pulled it out as it streamed him a video of something happening in downtown Never city.
He smiled a little in excitement. Some action. This may not be his city, but if he could help he would. And besides that…
He was curious about this Pixie hero.
He called up Jack to tell him to meet up.
Meanwhile, Peri and Tink rushed to her storage unit. Tink was all smiles, she'd done it. She could hardly believe it. But she shook it off. Now was not the time for that. She needed to focus on the task at hand.
A frequent annoyance had just shown up and Pixie and Snow Sprite were needed.
After all, who else was going to stop whatever plan Hook had planned.
Chapter 2. Isn;t Hiccup nice? She got the job.