Peter watched the fairies work with wide-eyed wonder. Rosetta was tending to her flowers while Iridessa and Fawn were tending to the lightning bugs. Peter had never known about these creatures, let alone see one at work. For a moment, he wished that the pixie dust would turn him into a fairy. What an adventure that would be! He saw Queen Clarion leading Terence back down the tree and he jumped to his feet.

"Peter," she said in a clear ringing voice, "I'd like to thank you for what you have done for the fairy world. It sounds as if you have been a big help to both Tinkerbell and Terence."

"Not help enough, I'm afraid," Peter said sadly. The Queen folded her hands and floated over Peter's head. Terence watched her, sadness and longing clouding his eyes.

"We will find a way to save Tinkerbell but we will need your help."

"Anything, Your Majesty. I owe Tink my life." Terence bit his lip to keep in the retort he wanted to throw at Peter and flexed his fingers instead. The Queen pretended not to notice.

"I need you to tell me everything you possibly can about this Captain Hook. Anything that might be of use. Terence, why don't you find Periwinkle? Let her know what has happened. Clank and Bobble can assist you."

"If Periwinkle is in the Winter Woods, how can I cross over without my wings freezing?" His eyes widened and he gasped. "They're ruined for good, aren't they? You know that I'll never fly again. So it doesn't matter if they freeze and—"

"Terence, sweetheart, calm down. I never said anything about you not being able to fly again. Periwinkle can frost your wings, as she has done in the past. There should be a Winter fairy waiting at the Border, in case Periwinkle is elsewhere. As for your injury…I do not know. I have never seen this sort of injury but I want you to see the Healing Fairy. She may be able to give us some good news."

"Not until we rescue Tink," he said firmly. "We've already wasted too much time. The moon is high in the sky, we have two hours at best."

"Then ask Fawn to send a bird with a message. And inform Rosetta of what has happened, she can spread the message to the other fairies." Terence bowed and hurried off to speak to Fawn while Peter turned to the Queen, his eyes still wide.

"What was all that about? Who's Periwinkle? What's the Winter Woods? And DO you think he'll ever fly again?"

"My dear, as you have said, we don't have a lot of time for these questions. Perwinkle is Tinkerbell's sister, who is also a Winter Talent. She will want to know what has happened. And as for Terence's wings, I honestly don't know. I hope we will find a way to fix it. A fairy who cannot fly…" she trailed off, looking heartbroken and Peter frowned. The Queen hitched her smile and shook her head. "Well, anyway. We're getting off the subject. Tell me all about Captain Hook."

Rosetta had to ask Terence to slow down several times and by the time he had reached the end of his tale, he was very frustrated and irritable. Silvermist lay a comforting hand on his arm.

"We'll get her back, Terence. Tink is a fighter and we know you wouldn't let any harm come to her. You love her."

"You know, everyone keeps saying that and yet I'm willing to sacrifice her for our secrets! Is that real love, Silvermist? I don't think it is! I don't think I know what love is, or how to give it properly! If I had, she wouldn't have run off to some human and we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place!" The girls all exchanged looks and bit their lips. Terence was fuming; the pain in his wing was not helping matters and he hated that Peter and Queen Clarion were left alone. He knew he had to trust Peter and he even wanted to like him but he just couldn't bring himself to. The human boy had stolen his girl, more or less. He could hear in Peter's voice how much Tink meant to him and that irked Terence even more. He didn't want to depend on Peter to rescue Tink but thanks to his wing, which was still throbbing with pain, he didn't have much of a choice. Surprising everyone, Vidia flew forward and gripped Terence's hand tightly.

"You and Tinkerbell are destined to be. Your love transcends the galaxies and you DO love her more than anything. I have no doubts that if it came down to it, you would choose her over your secrets. And that's how it should be. So don't let one mistake ruin your bond, Terence. This human is merely one more obstacle on your path to happiness with your true love. So let's use him to get Tink back and then we won't see him anymore. Don't forget, she was captured rescuing YOU from the pirates, not him. You're still the most important thing to her. Don't forget that." Terence stared at her, as did the rest of the fairies. Even Vidia looked as if she wasn't sure where that had come from. But she dropped his hand and shrugged. Terence didn't know if he felt better by her words, or worse. What sort of King couldn't protect his Queen? What sort of King would let his Queen sacrifice herself for him?! But he merely nodded and turned quickly when he saw the Queen and Peter approaching.

"Can we go soon, Majesty? Have you come up with a plan?"

"Peter might have an idea," she said gently and Terence tried not to look too angry. He felt one of the girls set a hand on his and he relaxed slightly.

"We can take a little bit of dust to Hook and offer it as an exchange. We'll tell him once we have Tink back, we'll lead him to the Pixie Dust Tree. I'll have the Lost Boys and Jake and his crew waiting on the borders and they can ambush the pirates as they come near. Hopefully surprise will be our advantage and—"

"Peter, they're children against fully grown pirates. What chance do you think you all stand?" Peter glared.

"We fight pirates everyday. We're not defenseless children, I've taught the Lost Boys how to use a sword and a bow. And as I was saying before you interrupted me, Cubby is very good with a map. He can find us a spot where we'll be well hidden. We'll bring another friend of Hook's along. The croc."

"Excuse me? The croc? As in the crocoile? You want to bring a giant crocodile around children? What kind of leader are you?"

"A better one than you, it seems," Peter said heatedly. "I'll take action, I won't just sit back and watch my friends die."

"I told you to shut up about things you don't understand—"

"What don't I understand?! You're willing to sacrifice the one you love for your source of power! Nothing wrong with that, Terence, I just value my friends more than power—"

"I said SHUT UP!"

"BOYS!"

Their voices had risen over all of Pixie Hollow and Queen Clarion had landed between them, her hands raised toward each of them. "Not another word," she said in a deadly whisper. Both boys fell silent but continued to shoot glares at each other.

"Now then, there is obviously a lot of tension between you two and we do not have time for it. Tinkerbell does not have time for it. She means a great deal to both of you, so you will have to work together to save her. Peter, do not assume you know everything about Tinkerbell and Terence's relationship just because you and Tinkerbell have a special connection. They are still Fairy Mates and will eventually be Joined together before all of Neverland."

"Joined? Is that like…marriage?" Peter repeated the word he had heard on the Mainland constantly. He didn't like the sound of it, for it sounded grown up and dreadfully dull. But Terence crossed his arms and looked smug.

"Yes. We are getting married. And I'm not too sure how I'll feel about my Fairy Wife spending time with you."

"Terence!" Queen Clarion snapped as Peter opened his mouth angrily. Terence fell silent and Peter fumed, his face nearly as red as his hair. Queen Clarion, sensing Peter's angry retorts, held up her hand.

"We don't have time for your anger," she said in a much gentler tone. "Peter, please finish telling everyone your plan." Peter shot Terence one last glare, which was returned, before he continued.

"As I was saying, the crocodile has been following Hook ever since we left Dead Man's Cave. Old Tick-Tock Croc will be hungering to taste him again. If we lead Hook into a trap, the rest of the pirates will flee. And since your Queen doesn't want the codfish harmed, you can all rescue him before Tick Tock takes another bite." Peter crossed his arms over his chest and looked pleased with himself. Terence stared at him, his brows raised in contempt. But Iridessa opened her mouth first.

"It sounds logical, Peter, but do you really think the pirate will give Tink up before you lead him here? I have heard that pirates are cunning; they'll be expecting a trap, won't they?"

"He'd expect it from me. But it will be the two most important people in Tink's life that will be going to Hook. He has no reason to doubt or suspect foul play."

"What makes you think you are one of the most important people in Tink's life?" Vidia asked with a smirk. Peter gave her one of his deadly glares, which Vidia only returned.

"I never said anything about me. Terence and Tink's sister, Periwinkle will be the ones to approach Hook. I'll translate and let Hook know who everyone is and explain the deal. Once we have Tink, we start leading him to Pixie Hollow. Cubby will get him a little sidetracked and he will wander into Crocodile Creek. Any other questions?"

"What's going to stop Hook from capturing Terence or Periwinkle?" Fawn asked worriedly. Peter's hands went to his hips.

"Me, of course. I've fought Hook more times than I could count. And of course I always win."

"Do you always have a fairy fly to your rescue," Terence said under his breath but unfortunately, Peter heard and his eyes flashed.

"Listen you, I'm sorry that your fairy mate left you to save my life—"

"You'd better stop that sentence right now Peter, or I'll—"

"What will you do? I'm how much bigger than you? And how exactly are you going to get into the air, to reach my height?" The girls gasped as silent, deadly tension ripped the air. Even Queen Clarion's eyes widened at Peter's remark and she waited with bated breath. Terence and Peter shot daggers at one another until Terence raised his wings and took a deep breath. Keeping his narrowed eyes on the boy, he flapped his wings hard and tried to rise off the ground. Pain shot through his entire body and with a cry, he fell back down but held up his hands as everyone ran toward him.

"Don't touch me," he said quietly. He flapped his wings even harder and ignored the throbbing, as he started to rise into the air. The girls, Clank and Bobble, Peter, and Queen Clarion watched in horror as the sparrowman beat his wings furiously to rise higher and higher. His face pale and screwed up in torment, Terence rose in front of Peter's face and crossed his arms.

"Tinkerbell is the love of my life. And I'll do whatever it takes to save her. Make no mistake that I'll be rescuing her with or without you." Peter said nothing; for a brief moment, Terence feared that the boy would reach out and smack him to the ground as easily as Hook had done to Tink. He tensed up when he saw Peter reaching out and he winced in pain. But Peter held his palm under Terence and allowed the sparrowman to drop into his hand. Peter held his hands together and merely nodded to Terence before setting him back into his shirt. Terence rested against Peter's chest, his wings on fire.

"Terence, you should really see a Healing Fairy," the Queen said as she hovered close to the boys.

"As you said, Your Majesty, Tink doesn't have a lot of time. It can wait."

"My dear…your wings—"

"Are nothing compared to Tink's life. If I can't ever fly again, so be it. I hope Tink is alright being with a flightless sparrowman."

"You know she would be," Rosetta said gently. Peter nodded and the Queen folded her hands.

"Very well. Periwinkle has agreed to help and she is waiting at the Border. Lord Milori has designed a special coat for her to wear so that her wings will stay cold. I trust you, Peter, to protect her and Terence."

"Of course," he said, inclining his head.

"Your Majesty," Silvermist spoke up in a tentative voice. "What about Tink's wings?"

"What about them?"

"Remember when her wing froze and broke? Periwinkle helped mend it and Tink was alright again! What if we just did that to Terence's wing? Surely Tink, being his mate, could help?"

"My dear, if love could help heal a broken wing, don't you think that Lord Milori would have flown years ago?" Silvermist suddenly looked ashamed and her head hung low. Queen Clarion set her hands on the fairy's shoulders and smiled.

"You are always showing great care for your friends, Silvermist. It's what makes you such a special fairy. But I'm afraid that particular way will not help heal Terence. I had always heard there was no cure for a broken wing. Obviously, I stand corrected. We may yet discover another way to help you, Terence, but if you insist on waiting, you will not leave Peter's side. A flightless fairy is a doomed fairy. Let Peter protect you, as I know he will." Terence's throat stuck as he nodded. Peter glanced down at the sparrowman but said nothing.

"Your satchel, Terence." She held out her hands for his satchel and flew up to the Pixie Dust Tree, returning seconds later with a full satchel. Terence slung it over his shoulder and gingerly weighed it.

"It's a lot of dust for a fairy but I don't think it will be enough for a pirate."

"We'll take our chances," Peter said above him and he bowed low to the Queen.

"Be safe, my dears. Bring Tinkerbell home safely."

"I swear it," Terence said bravely. Peter merely nodded and rose into the air, flying straight for the Winter Woods. The girls watched them anxiously.

"We want to help too, Queen Clarion."

"I fear pirates are too dangerous for fairies to be around, dears. Have faith that Tinkerbell will be rescued." She cast a sad look over the group before she fluttered away and Silvermist stifled a sob.

"Faith."

Rosetta nodded sadly and chimed in, "and trust."

"And Pixie Dust," the girls all finished in saddened tones. They all turned to watch the speck that was Peter zooming across the sky.