Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrooke
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon A Time Crossover
Season 1, Episode 3, Chapter 6

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

"Thanks for the shirt," Emma told him when she sat down in the booth. Ms. Swan had been living out of her VW bug and didn't have much in the way of a change of clothes. So Henry brought her a clean blouse to wear. It turned out that it belonged to Regina. As if Emma didn't have enough to worry about from the mayor. But at least something else was working out for her today.

Emma had a plan, and it was coming together nicely. Mary Margaret had gone to the hospital last night to read to John Doe. Henry was convinced that Mary Margaret was Snow White. John Doe was her Prince Charming. They were supposed to be soul mates, at least that was his theory. He believed that his book of fairy tales, titled Once Upon A Time, revealed that all the people of Storybrooke were actually fairy tale characters who had been brought here by a curse cast by the evil queen. They had no memories of their true selves and had been trapped in a prison of time for the past twenty eight years. It was a crazy notion and Emma was going to dispel it the nicest way she could.

Mary Margaret, Henry's school teacher, went to the hospital last night to read the story of Snow White and Prince Charming to the comatose John Doe. If Henry was right, he would remember his true self and wake up. If Emma was right, and she was betting she was, nothing would happen and the boy would finally have to accept that there were no fairy tale characters living in Storybrooke. Mary Margaret was going to meet her and Henry at Granny's for breakfast and give a full report. To Emma, this was a full proof plan. Except for one small thing.

"He woke up," Mary Margaret said upon entering Granny's Diner. "Well, not actually woke up, but he put his hand on mine."

Emma couldn't believe her ears. This wasn't how the plan was supposed to play out. How could he have woken up? She had to find out more, so the three left Granny's for the hospital immediately.

Upon arriving, they discovered that not only had John Doe woken from his coma, but he had gone missing. Emma was blindsided by the news. Henry's theory about fairy tales couldn't possibly be true. Before she could worry about it any further, Emma was stunned by another development. Mayor Mills and the sheriff were already at the hospital looking into the disappearance.

~O~

Regina was unhappy to see Henry in the company of Emma Swan. He had told her he was playing Whack-A-Mole at the arcade. He lied. And just how did Ms. Swan get one of her blouses? No doubt that was Henry's doing, as well.

"Well, Ms. Swan since I can't keep you away from my son, I'll just have to keep my son away from you," Regina said, pulling the boy to her side. She also made it abundantly clear that Henry would be punished for his lying.

"How is that you're here, Regina?" Emma asked. Regina informed Ms. Swan that she was John Doe's emergency contact number. She had found the man lying by the side of the road, unconscious, some time ago and brought him to the hospital where he had been in a coma ever since. He had no identification and not a single person knew who he was or could ID him.

That explanation didn't exactly sit well with Emma, but Regina didn't care. She was more worried about her own son lying to her and sneaking off to be with Ms. Swan. She ordered the sheriff to find John Doe while she took her son back home, where he belonged.

~O~

Determined to find out what happened to the missing patient Emma, Graham and Mary Margaret visited the security office to look at the tapes of the ward to find out how a comatose patient was able to just disappear. Neither Leroy, the perpetually grumpy custodian, nor Walter, the hospital's security officer, had seen anything.

"You fell asleep again, didn't you, Walter?" Leroy said accusingly.

"Hey, you're not throwing me under the bus," Walter replied.

Emma didn't have time for this and had the security tapes cued up. Everything appeared normal, but Emma spotted something wrong.

"It's the wrong tape," she said. This recording showed Ms. Blanchard's students putting up the banners and posters. That was yesterday, before the patient went missing. When the correct recording was found and cued up, it showed John Doe stumbling out the back door, barely conscious.

"Where does that lead?" Emma asked.

"The woods," Leroy answered.

The trio hurried outside to begin their search. John Doe had pulled out his I.V. and could have been bleeding. Time was against them.

~O~

Tina lazily descended the stairs and strolled into the kitchen. She was expecting her mother. Instead, Valerie was there cooking breakfast. Or at least trying to cook breakfast. On the kitchen table was a serving plate containing scrambled eggs so overcooked that water was pooling around them. There was bacon that was dark and overly crisp, slightly charred sausage patties and links and a short stack of toaster waffles that were several shades beyond golden brown.

"Where is Mom?" Tina asked her older sister.

"Asleep," Valerie replied in a testy voice. On a hot pad, she put down a saucepan of grits which was thick rather than creamy. "That's twice she's overslept."

"She had a panic attack yesterday, Val. And she almost ran someone over."

"Hmph! So why is that my problem," Valerie answered, sitting down to the unpleasant meal she had prepared.

"Why are you so mean to Mom?" Tina asked.

"She started it!" was Valerie's quick answer. "Ever since you were born, that woman has been fawning all over you and treating me like the bastard child of the house."

"That's not true, Val," Tina tried to assure her. "You've just been so mean to her."

"I'm just doing to her what she has been doing to me all along!" Valerie rebuked in a raised tone.

"Ssshhhh! Mom needs to rest."

"Who cares!?" Valerie said. "She has always resented me ever since you came along. When you had your seventh birthday what did you get?"

"A bicycle," Tina said. "It's what I asked for."

"Exactly, you got what you wanted," Val said. "But when my fifteenth birthday came along later that year do you know what I got?"

Tina shook her head no.

"All I wanted was Microsoft Flight Simulator," Val answered, tears swelling in her eyes, her voice beginning to crack and tremble. "Dad bought it for me. I tore open the box and was so excited. But Mom made him take it back. They argued for days over it. She said no daughter of hers was going to do something dangerous like learn to fly."

"Good grief, Val, your timing couldn't have been worse," Tina said. "It was the spring of 2002 and you wanted a flying simulator program."

"It wasn't dangerous! It was just software, but you got your bicycle which is dangerous," Valerie said nearly breaking down. "Dad knew it was my dream. That's why he bought me model planes to build and put up in my room. I loved putting them together. I could imagine myself sitting behind the stick and flying across the country in the open sky. He promised that on my eighteenth birthday he would pay for flying lessons."

"He died when you were sixteen," Tina observed. "He couldn't keep his promise."

"No, but Mom could have. When I turned eighteen, I asked her for those flying lessons," Val continued. "She flatly said no. I kept begging her to keep Dad's promise. So you know what she did? She went into my room and pulled down all of my airplane models, breaking each of them before throwing them into the trash."

Valerie started crying. "That's why I hate her so much, because she hates me," Valeria howled. "The only dream I ever had in life was to fly. Dad understood that and encouraged it. But Mom took it away from me. She took the only thing that mattered and threw it into the garbage."

Valerie jumped from the table.

"Where are you going?" Tina asked.

"To the work site," she answered.

"Huh? Why?"

"Do you want to lose the house? To live under a bridge? Someone has to put food on the table since Mom is apparently too incompetent to even do that anymore," She spat. "Do yourself a favor, Tina. Get out of this place as soon as you can. The only thing Mom seems to be good at anymore is ruining people's lives." Val then ran out the door to the garage and rode off on her bike.

Tina sunk into her chair and picked at the food on her plate. I'm beginning to understand you, Val.

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

When they neared the Troll Bridge, Snow White and Prince James abandoned their horse and sent it on its way because Trolls didn't like horses. Snow had sold the jewels to the trolls at this bridge for money. She was trying to gather enough to leave the kingdom for another realm, a place where she could be safe from the Evil Queen. Regina had already sent out a huntsman to carve out Snow's heart, but he couldn't do it. Regina didn't give up so easily and sent her entire force of Black Knights to find and kill Snow. That was why she stole from James. If she couldn't be rid of the queen she would escape her.

Prince James didn't know anything about trolls. He thought they were little people.

"Those are dwarves," Snow corrected. "Trolls are dangerous and they will cut off your hand as easily as look at you."

The bridge was a dilapidated stone works overpass. The two sides were masonry, but the middle over the deep chasm was little more than a few wooden planks joining the two anchors on either side. Snow and Prince James walked out towards the middle. She put out a few gold coins to get their attention. The bridge trolls ascended the structure and leapt over the railings. These creatures were fearsome looking, with oversized heads, powerful looking muscles, great strength and agility and long fangs that sprang up from their bottom jaw.

She asked to buy back the jewels sold to them earlier. However, they were agitated by the presence of her male companion. They didn't know who he was and thought it might be a trap. Despite all of their physical prowess, bridge trolls were often hunted. They were very wary. Snow tried to vouch for James. At first they were unwilling to take her word, but acquiesced and sold back the jewels. Unfortunately, James let his royal training slip with a "thank you" and other appreciative words.

"He's a royal!" one of them roared. They were afraid it was a trap. A fight ensued and James was able to incapacitate one, but was captured by the others. Snow White managed to escape and thought that James was right behind her. When she turned, she saw him forced to his knees, about to be executed.

"Royal Blood is the sweetest," one of the trolls said to James before raising his sword to kill him. Then the troll dissolved into a beetle. James struggled to break free, but the second and then the third troll were also both reduced to bugs. It was Snow's dark fairy dust.

"Thanks, but what about your special someone?" he asked Snow. She would have to find another way. When he asked why she did it, Snow replied, "I couldn't let Prince Charming die."

After the brief conflict the two parted ways. James took his wedding ring, given to him by his mother, and let Snow keep the rest of the jewels so she could escape. He joked as he had before that Snow wasn't the jewelry type.

"I don't know," she said, taking the ring and putting it on her finger. "You're right. It's not me." She gave him back the ring.

At that moment, the seeds of love between them were first sown, though neither of them realized it yet. Snow White left to find her safe passage and Prince James went back to the castle and his fiancée. However, little did they know that their paths would cross once again.

PIXIE HOLLOW, NEVER LAND (The Restoration Period on the Mainland)

Vidia crossed back into Pixie Hollow and the safety of her homeland. A tidal wave of relief washed over her. She lay down on the ground as all the anxiety and fear seemed to melt of her. Within minutes she fell asleep.

When she woke Vidia noticed that the sun was sinking into a bright red western sky. She had slept for hours. The only thing she had eaten since beginning this journey was the squashed berry in her sack. Vidia had made the hard decision to go back and collect another blueberry that would satisfy the requirements of the quest. She didn't want to live with the stigma of having to grovel for something that others had earned outright.

She looked around trying to find Swift and Festus so she could present them with her prize. However, they were nowhere to be seen. She searched the area near the border with the wild lands and called out their names several times, but to no avail. They must have assumed she was killed and left. Vidia flew to The Nest to find them.

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

"Hi, Clarence? It's me, Tina. Listen, I'm going to be stuck here at the house," she told him over the phone. She explained what had happened yesterday.

"Yeah, I know," he answered. "It was in the morning edition on the front page."

"WHAT?" She ran out to the front door and collected the newspaper. Opening it she saw a photo of Desiree Collingsworth and a stock photo of an Apple iPad. The article didn't accuse or explicitly condemn Mrs. Kensington, but she was mentioned as being the employer of the suspected thief. This wasn't going to help the already flagging company. It hurt the trust she had with the townspeople, and in a place like Storybrooke trust was worth more than gold.

"Oh great. Mom already has enough to worry about," she whimpered over the phone.

"Don't worry, I'm certain Sheriff Graham will find the missing tablet and everything will be fine," Clarence said with an assuring tone.

"You really think so?"

"I know so. He's really good at watching out for us."

"Thanks, I feel better now. Oh, I forgot why I called. I won't be able to come over see your new car," Tina said regretfully. "Mom is sleeping in after all the stress she endured yesterday. Val just left and I have to take care of my mother."

"That's okay, I understand," he said. "Family comes first."

She smiled. "Thanks."

"Hey, I have an idea," Clarence said. "If you can't come to the car, I'll bring the car to you!"

"That sounds like a great idea. I'll be waiting."

"Okay, I'll be there after I'm doing delivering mail."

PIXIE HOLLOW, NEVER LAND (The Restoration Period on the Mainland)

The doors to The Happy Flyers Wind Riding Club burst open. The patrons turned to see Vidia standing in the doorway, a sling made of leaves over her shoulder. She walked into the pub and sought out Swift and Festus.

"There you are!" Swift bleated excitedly. "C'mon, let's go into the office and talk." Vidia was led into a backroom with a desk and several shelves with supplies.

"What happened?" Festus asked. "We thought you were eaten?"

"Or that you chickened out and ran off," Swift added.

"I'm no coward," Vidia spat. She explained what happened, how she moved quickly and silently through the wild lands, avoided predators and found herself in a real rat's nest of trouble as she approached the blueberry bush. Then how she waited to formulate a way out, that she accidentally smashed one of the berries and decided to go back to secure another.

"I think that qualifies me for a feather," she said confidently.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Swift told her. "You took too long."

"What! You never said there was a time limit!"

"Okay, okay," Festus said. "I think Vidia has a good claim on a feather since she had to go back."

"NO! No one has ever taken that long! She failed."

Vidia was furious. She had worked too hard and endured too much to beg or grovel for her feather. So instead, she decided to strangle Swift with her bare hands.

"Give me that feather, you jerk!" she yelled.

Festus stopped her, pushing the enraged fairy out the back door and onto the patio. "Wait here," he said. "Let me talk to him."

"You'd better or he'll have to change his name to Swiftamina by the time I'm done with him," Vidia growled.

"You're upset. I get that. But leading off with a threat is usually not the best way to get what you want," Festus said. "Why don't we put the fairy gender change in our back pocket as a last resort?"

Vidia smiled a bit, amused. "Okay. Go talk to him. But if he doesn't say yes he better get used to wearing a dress."

"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll come around," Festus reassured her before going back into the room.

"Yeah, well he'd better. Because I'm not doing that again."

Sorry for the slow update. I've been studying for Final Exams and trying to watch the NBA Playoffs at the same time. Not easy.

Let me know what you think of some of the developments in this chapter. The next one should wrap up Episode 3.

For those who don't watch Once Upon A Time, you may want to start this fall. The Season 3 season finale aired Sunday and in the last few seconds they introduced who the next major character would be for Season 4. It's none other than Elsa, the Snow Queen from Frozen. You can see her introduction on Youtube. Just do a search for Elsa on Once Upon A Time. I don't know about you, but I'm stoked.