Tang Ri Shan

(Happy Pirate Fairy release Day! Stay with me! We're almost at the best part!)

Tinkerbell: Curse of the Duskmoth

(I do not own Tinkerbell or any of the Disney Fairies. Enjoy!)

Chapter 15

Tinkerbell froze as she watched the glowing eyes look at her. She held their gaze, trying not to blink, but she felt an icy chill creep down her back. What if it was the Duskmoth? Despite what Vidia had said about the creature, Tinkerbell wasn't quite sure she was ready to meet it yet. She jumped as a small cracking sound reached her ears and the eyes faded. Something flew down from the branches towards them. It wasn't the Duskmoth, it was...

"Erikel?" Vidia suddenly gasped as the sprite hovered a few feet above them, his arms crossed in front of him and an angry look on his face. "How long have you been there?" She asked, suddenly looking embarrassed.

"Long enough" He replied with a growl, and Tinkerbell realize that he must have heard everything. Erikel's gaze slowly swept over the group and finally rested on Tinkerbell. "Is this the friend you were talking about?" He asked, looking at Vidia as she rose slowly into the air. She nodded, and his gaze swept over everyone else. "And the rest of them?"

"Look, I''m sorry but..." Vidia started to apologize but Erikel glared at her and she fell silent.

"You said you were getting one of your friends, not all of them" He growled, his teeth flashing. "You know what they think of the Duskmoth! All it takes is one of them flying to Kelsier to ruin everything!"

"Hey!" Tinkerbell darted between Erikel and Vidia. "We care about the Duskmoth just as much as you do! And for your information, your friend Kelsier is planning to take over Pixie Hollow, so we have no more love for him than you do! We're all against him, so that makes us on the same side!" Erikel's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in anger.

"Kelsier and I are not friends anymore" He said, pain evident in every word. "Did Vidia tell you of my history with Kelsier?" Tinerbell nodded. "Than she told you how Kelseir attacked me as soon as he saw me as a sprite." He sighed and all the anger seemed to flow out of him. "We used to be best buddies, I thought I could always count on him, but when he attacked me, it was like the Kelsier I knew didn't exist anymore."

"Erikel?" Everyone loked down at Bobble, who was gazing at Erikel with wide eyes, really wide eyes. "But you're suppsoed to be..."

"Do I look it?" Erikel narrowed his eyes, then suddenly seemed to realize what he had said. "Okay, I need to stop saying that" He muttered, causing everyone to laugh.

"I'm sorry" Vidia said, looking down. "I know how important this is to you"

"It's okay" Erikel said, his gaze softening. "Like I said, It was my fault that the Duskmoth's last brood didn't hatch. I don't intend to make the same mistakes this time." He gazed towards the Pixie Dust Tree as he spoke, and sighed. Then turned back to them. "So, what's this I hear about you becoming sprites?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Tinkerbell felt her face redden.

"Well" She tried to explain, but didn't know how best to phrase it, but Kelsier smiled like he understood.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, gazing around at the group. A ring of solid steel eyes stared back at him and everyone nodded, even Klank, though he still looked nervous. Erikel sighed. "Well, if you're going to become sprites, you're going to..." Erikel suddenly stopped talking. He was glancing towards the Tree, a worried look on his face. A group of lanterns had appeared, flying around the tree like a swarm of angry bees.

"What's going on?" Silvermist wondered, staring at the lights.

"I'm not sure, but I don't like it" Erikel replied. "Follow me" He led the group away from the tree into the forest.

A Few Minutes Later:

Erikel led the fairies deep into the forest, following a small river. As Vidia followed, her memory suddenly jolted into ger. This was the same route she had taken away from the Duskmoth's lair. Sure enough, Erikel finally paused outside the entrance to a familiar cave. He turned to the group, his face suddenly serious. "What you will see within this cave may be the most terrifying thing you have ever, or will ever, witness." He warned. "Are you ready?" Everyone nodded, though some looked nervous. Rosetta gave a small whimper of fear and Klank's whole body was visibly shaking.

"Then follow me" Kelsier turned and flew into the tunnels. As the group followed, Tinkerbell caught Vidia's eye, she looked nervous. Vidia smiled at her friend and they flew on. As Vidia accelerated to catch up with Erikel, he muttered. "So what exactly is the plan here?" Vidia smiled, feeling confidence spring up from some unknown part of her mind as she told him the plan. As she spoke, a broad smile slowly crept across his face. "An interesting plan" He said after Vidia was finished. "All right, we'll try it your way. I just hope the Duskmoth will be willing to cooperate" As he spoke, they rounded a bend and appeared in the chamber.

"Woah!" Vidia heard a chorus of voices exclaim from behind her. Turning around, she saw that the eyes of all her friends were transfixed on the glowing purple pool.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Vidia couldn't resist smiling, and this made her eyes seem to flash.

"Very" Tinkerbell replied, pushing through the group. Once at the front, she darted towards the pool.

"Wait! Don't" Erikell warned, but his voice was drowned out by a piercing cry that echoed throughout the chamber. A dark figure thudded down in front of them, hitting the floor so hard that the chamber shook. Tinkerbell skidded to a halt at the Duskmoth reared up in front of her, hissing. It's blue-purple eyes were ablaze, its antennae were waving and lashing through the air, and its wings were spread out, casting a dark shadow over Tinkerbell, and its forelegs were raised above its head. For the first time, Vidia was able to get a good look at the creatures scaly hands and the three wicked-looking curved claws on its three fingers. For a moment, both just stared at each other. Then Tinkerbell tried to step backwards and the Duskmoth hissed again, making Vidia shudder, and raised an arm like it was going to slash Tinkerbell.

"Wait! Wait!" Vidia darted in between the enraged creature and her cowering friend. In the back of her head, she heard Tinkerbell gasp as how fast she had just moved, but she ignored it and gazed into the Duskmoth's eyes. "These are my friends" She explained slowly, "They're here to help" The Duskmoth stopped hissing and slowly, very slowly, lowered its raised arm. As it slowly began to fold its wings, Erikel darted forward with a small bowl in his hands. Vidia turned and smiled to her friends. "It's okay, It's just defending its nest!" She called.

"N-nest?" Bobble stammered, still staring at the Duskmoth.

"Yeah" Vidia replied, rolling her eyes. "Why do you think that pool is glowing?" Bobble didn't answer, he just kept staring.

"Oh, and this is the infamous Duskmoth" Vidia gestured to the creature, who was now eyeing them suspiciously. No one answered her.

Tinkerbell stepping forward nervously. The Duskmoth growled, making her flinch, but she put on a brave face and spoke. "H-hi" She stammered. "I-i'm Tinkerbell." At the mention 'Tinkerbell', the Duskmoth stopped growling, for a second, than hissed fiercely. Tinkerbell's legs felt like jelly, but she forced herself not to flinch again. "It's nice to meet you" She said firmly, rising a few feet off the ground and offering her hand. The Duskmoth stopped hissing and stared at Tinkerbell, then turned to Vidia.

"Bold friend you have" It rasped, making the others gasp.

"You have no idea" Vidia replied, smiling.

"Ahem!" Everyone looked down as Erikel stepped forward, his bowl full of purple liquid. "Are you ready?" He asked, holding up the bowl.

Tinkerbell glanced at Vidia, who nodded, still smiling, then she flew down to Erikel. "What do I have to do?"

"Just drink it" Erikel replied, holding out the bowl "All of it" Tinkerbell stared at the glowing purple liquid, and suddenly had second thoughts. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea" She thought to herself. "What if it doesn't work?" A growl made her look up, right into the eyes of the Duskmoth. It growled at her again, but there was something in its eyes, a steely glint. Next to it, Vidia hovered with a smug look on her face. She crossed her arms and her smiled widened. Seeing this made Tinkerbell suddenly feel angry at herself. "What am I thinking! Of course it will work! Vidia turned out okay, didn't she?" Before she could think anymore she took the bowl and began to drink it, tipping the bowl back. She almost gagged as she felt the liquid enter her mouth. It was not at all like she had thought, it was sweet and thick, like warm honey, but it was ice cold. Tinkerbell finished, and suppressed a shiver, she could feel the liquid moving down her throat and land in her stomach. She held her breath, waiting for something to happen, but she didn't feel any different. She glanced down at her hands, they still looked normal. She looked up at Vidia, who gave a confused frown, and raised an eyebrow.

"So, what exactly is suppose to-" Tinkerbell was cut off by a gasp as a sudden chill seized her body like a vise. Her hair felt like it was standing on end. Her legs suddenly gave way and she collapsed, moaning.

"Tink!" Her friends darted forward, but the Duskmoth hissed angrily, and Erikel darted in front of them.

"No!" Erikel yelled, but he was smiling and there was a twinkle in his glowing eyes. "It's okay. Just watch" He turned back, grinning broadly, while the other fairies peered out from behind him, eyes wide and in some cases, mouths open in amazement.

"I don't believe it" Terence muttered under his breath.