Tang Ri Shan
(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 18
"TINKERBELL!" Periwinkle screamed as she watched the glittering figure disappear into the darkness. The sparkling glow that haloed her wings faded as she sank to her knees, her face a mask of despair as she stared at the autumn woods. Her friends Gliss and Spike crouched down next to her.
"Was that really her?" Gliss asked aloud. "I didn't see her face."
"You saw how her wings sparkled, just like Peri's" Spike snapped, then her face softened as she glanced down at Periwinkle.
"So it's true then?" Sledge, the handsome winter-sparrow man gazed at the dark woods with concern on his face. "Tinkerbell has become a sprite?"
"Sure looks that way man" Slush, the glacier fairy wheezed, his solemn gaze turning to Sledge. They all fell silent, the only sounds were Periwinkle's sobbing.
"We'd better go tell Lord Milori" Sledge finally said, turning. He led the group deeper into the northern woods. Periwinkle was sobbing so much she could barely fly, so she was supported by Gliss and Spike.
A Few Minutes Later:
"You're sure?" Kelsier asked, adjusting his coat. Everyone was gathered in the Keeper's frozen library. The summer fairies were all wearing thick coats and their frosted wings seemed to shimmer in the light. Sledge nodded, looking grim. Kelsier sighed as he turned to face Queen Clarion and Lord Milori. "You see? What more proof could you need? Not only has Vidia succeded in corrupting Tinkerbell and her friends, but now they have stolen the blue pixie dust. We have to get it back!"
"And how do you propose we do that?" Milori asked, looking annoyed.
"There is only one course of action!" Kelsier replied, his voice raising. "We need to take it back! By force!"
"You mean-?" Queen Clarion started, but Kelsier cut her off.
"Yes" Kelsier nodded. "I'm going to take my entire guild, go to the summer woods, and destroy the Duskmoth and its servants once and for all!"
"Kelsier, I applaud your courage but..."
"But? But what?" Kelsier sputtered, looking angry now. "What would you have us wait for, Queen Clarion? Do you have another solution? Please share it with us!"
"There is no need to yell!" Lord Milori came between the two, looking angry himself. A few feet away, Fiona the Lynx growled, her pale blue eyes narrowed, and Lord Milori's snowy owl mount snapped its beak, its amber eyes also glaring at Kelsier, who seemed to withdraw under three sets of angry eyes.
"Forgive me" He said in a calmer tone. "But you must see the danger of this. We cannot wait any longer. Now that they have the blue pixie dust, they ultimately control the pixie dust tree. And without the pixie dust, no fairy will ever fly again"
"This is true" Queen Clarion admitted. "Plus, Fairy Mary and Gary are still over in summer. We need to help them"
"But what if they are corrupted?" The minister of Winter asked.
Kesleir shook his head. "The Sprites are vicious, but they cannot pass the disease on, only their master, the Duskmoth, is capable of doing that. We need to find them before the Duskmoth does."
Every fairy present turned to Clarion, but just as she opened her mouth to speak, the door to the library opened. Dewey the Keeper entered, flying slowly, his curved staff tapping the ground before him.
"Beggin' yer pardon, Lord Milori" He stammered. "But I've justa been speakin' to some of the summah farieis, and they're nota ina good way at'all"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, to be honest, Summer fairies just aren't made to survive in the cold. Coats and frost on the wings does help, but I dunno how long that'll last. "
Kelsier turned from Dewey to the others. "Now you see? "He said, a satisfied tone in his voice. "I agree that you decision to relocate everyone to the Winter Woods was a wise one, but the truth is, we cannot stay here forever. We must reclaim the Pixie Dust tree before our supply dries up."
Queen Clarion and Lord Milori looked at each other. Finally, Queen clarion sighed. "Very well, Lord Kelsier. Take your guild, drive the Duskmoth away from the tree, but if you find any sprites in the summer woods, try to capture them, instead of destroying them. Perhaps they can still be saved."
"As you wish" Kelsier bowed, then strode from the hall, a smile playing on his face.
Meanwhile:
Meanwhile, Tinkerbell and Vidia were laughing as they flew back towards the tree with the blue pixie dust, talking about their chase.
"Did you hear him scream?" Tinkerbell laughed.
"Of course I did! He nearly broke my ears!" Vidia cackled. "Gale always acted like such a tough guy. I'm not afraid of anything!" She mocked, and they both burst out laughing.
"Tink!" Both fairies looked up as they saw Terence zip towards them. "Did you get the dust?" He asked when he was close enough.
"Right here" Vidia showed Terence the pouch.
"What happened to Fairy Mary and Fairy Gary?" Tinkerbell asked.
"Oh, they're fine, shaken up, but fine" Terence replied as they flew back towards the Tree, but he looked a little worried.
"Terence, what's wrong?" Vidia asked, noticing.
"Well, Rosetta might have... well, you should see for yourself." Terence said and led them to where they could see the Tinker's workshop. Tinkerbell and Vidia gasped. Towering in the middle of the work area was a large cage made of vines. Inside this cage, Fairy Mary and Fairy Gary were huddled together, staring out at the ring of sprites that prowled around the edge of the cage, growling at them.
"Wow" Tinkerbell gasped.
"You can say that again" Vidia agreed, looking impressed. For a moment, no one said anything, then Vidia seemed to snap out of her trance. "Come on, we need to get this to the Duskmoth." She led the way into the clearing. The other fairies looked up as they approached. Vidia held the satchel aloft and they hissed in approval, smiling.
"The blue dust" Fairy Gary moaned, his face paling. Next to him, Fairy Mary shuddered. Vidia smiled wickedly and hissed at him, before flying away towards the Duskmoth's lair. Tinkerbell waited until they were out of sight of the trap, then whispered to Klank and Bobble.
"Can you two keep watch on Fairy Mary and Gary?" The two tinkers nodded and slowed, quickly disappearing into the gloom.
"Well, it should be smooth sailing from here on out!" Vidia said, but as soon as she said it, something happened. She suddenly felt a pain flare up inside her chest and spread to her arms and legs, her wings froze and she dropped from the sky.
"Vidia!" Someone cried out and Vidia heard a rumbling beneath her. She glanced down just in time to see a plant come shooting out of the ground at her.
"Ooof!" Vidia thudded into the rapidly-rising plant so hard that she let go of the satchel containing the blue dust, but Iridessa managed to swoop down and catch it.
Vidia suddenly felt very, very tired. Like all the energy in her body was leaking out of her, and she felt so dizzy that her vision blurred. As Tiinkerbell examined her friend, she noticed that the purple glow in Vidia's wings was fading,and her skin was changing color. "What's happening to her?"
"Let's get her back to Erikel, maybe he'll know" Terence said, lifting Vidia up. Tinkerbell nodded and led the way through the trees towards the Duskmoth's lair.
"I hope we're not too late" She said quietly as they approached the cave entrance.