Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrooke
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon A Time Crossover
Season 1, between episodes 7 and 8
STORYBROOKE, MAINE
From Vidia's perspective, she had just met another of her kind here in this town. Lyria, the best of the performing talent fairies, was standing just a few feet from her. Like all the others Vidia met, she did not immediately recognize her or anyone else. It was just like they were ordinary people meeting for the first time. Vidia should have known better by now, but she was still surprised each time it happened.
Yesterday evening she kept referring to Paul and Ben as Clank and Bobble even though neither one recognized their own name. The performing talent didn't respond to Vidia, either. Instead she continued her conversation with Queen Clarion and Deputy Emma Swan. Meanwhile, Rosetta listened intently wondering why she couldn't offer her assistance right away.
~O~
"Why can't I bail out this poor child?" Desiree asked, confused with the request. "She deserves to be home with her mother and sister."
"I couldn't agree with you more," Lydia Van Buren replied, "but save your money. I think I can get her bail lowered substantially."
"How can you do that?" Claire wondered. "The arraignment…?"
The arraignment had been a farce, Lydia knew that. Judge Bonaventure was in Regina's hip pocket. He owed his position on the bench to her and he did whatever she wanted. So much so, in fact, that Van Buren had kept a laundry list of judicial misconduct and bullying behavior, much of it at Regina's behest. She never acted upon this list before because no one had the intestinal fortitude to challenge the mayor. Until now.
"Wait a minute," Tina broke in suspiciously. "Aren't you the video store lady?"
"Indeed I am," Van Buren replied.
"Then what makes you qualified to be a lawyer?" Emma rightly questioned.
Lydia had to take a moment and explain her history. How overbearing parents forced her into law rather than the theater. "They don't call them starving artists for nothing" she was reminded every day. Upon graduating high school, Lydia's parents would only pay for college if she chose either law or medicine. Choosing law, Ms. Van Buren graduated at the top of her class, passed the bar exam on the first try and worked her way up as the very best defense attorney in Storybrooke.
However, the siren song of her first love, the theater, continued to pull at her. Her parents sensed this and suddenly introduced her to the man they had handpicked for her to marry. He was intelligent and wealthy, but also an arrogantly brutish sort whom Lydia understood was to keep her in line by any means possible.
With that being the last straw, Lydia quit law and enrolled in college again for a degree in theater arts. Unwilling to let Lydia have her way, the parents put forth an ultimatum. Do as they say or be disowned. Without a moments reflection she chose disownment and struck out on her own leaving behind her family's name, influence and money. The video store was her means of maintaining a livable income until regular parts in theater productions came her way.
"My ex-family kept telling me their only intent was so I could be happy like them. They think they're happy, but they are not. You can see it in their eyes," Lydia told them. "They marry for strategic social climbing rather than love and choose careers solely for money and status rather than pursuing what brings them fulfillment. I chose different so I was cast out."
"Oh you poor thing," Desiree commented. "What do they think this is? The twelfth century?"
"Apparently so," Lydia agreed. "But I can tell you this. I have never regretted my decision."
"So why did you agree to take my case?" Claire rightly questioned.
"My family abuses their power," Lydia answered. "Oppressing their own children no matter their age or intellectual capability. Everything they do is about maintaining their status and influence in Storybrooke from one generation to the next. It's tyrannical and oppressive. I see that same abuse in Mayor Mills. I want to fight back."
"Okay, with that out of the way, what's your cunning plan?" Emma asked.
Judge Bonaventure needed to be investigated for his abuse of power from the bench. Unfortunately, Storybrooke was such a small town that the bureaucracy was equally small and some individuals pulled doubled duty. In the case of the justice system, there were only a handful of judges and Bonaventure was Regina's handpicked head of the internal affairs department. She used him to bully the others into doing what she needed of them.
However, should the head of internal affairs come under scrutiny himself, then according to the town charter any investigation became the responsibility of the town's chief law enforcement officer, the sheriff. Or acting sheriff. Deputy Emma Swan.
"Graham was under Regina's influence during his tenure," Lydia expounded. "However, with his death you are now the town's sole law enforcement officer. You become the lead investigator on such matters."
"How does this help Valerie?" Claire asked.
Once an official investigation was opened, Judge Bonaventure would be forced to recuse himself from any court case in which he was involved. Including the one for Valerie Kensington. As soon as that happened a new judge would be assigned immediately. Lydia would then ask for a meeting to get Valerie's bail lowered to a more reasonable level.
"Deputy, when you filed charges against Valerie Kensington, you listed reckless endangerment as a misdemeanor, not a federal charge," Lydia observed. "That's a huge difference. I'll argue that the bail is excessive for the charges listed and the new judge should agree. Also, I'll try and get the charge of resisting arrest dropped since at time of capture Valerie was in no condition to resist her arrest."
"What about the District Attorney?" Claire asked. "Albert Spencer scared the living daylights out of the two attorneys who were representing me before."
"Spencer doesn't scare me," Lydia answered confidently. "I'm one of the few lawyers in town he can't intimidate and he knows it. Every time I enter the same room with him the very first words out of his mouth are something belittling. It's an obvious tell that he can't beat me in a fair fight."
"Ms. Van Buren, you're hired," Claire announced happily.
Van Buren and Claire Kensington shook hands sealing their agreement. Immediately afterwards Lydia handed off a very thick stack of papers to Deputy Swan. These were a record of every abuse of power and judicial misconduct on the part of Judge Bonaventure. "This should be enough to open that investigation tomorrow morning. Let me know as soon as you have done so. I'll want to talk with the new judge."
"Regina won't be happy about this," Emma replied knowingly. "She'll fight it every step of the way."
"It won't matter," Lydia responded. "Once the investigation is open it can't be closed except by the investigating officer. Even if Mayor Mills could postpone the investigation indefinitely Judge Bonaventure wouldn't be able to resume his duties. He would become a lame duck judge until you closed the books on him."
"What if she tries to postpone the hearing?" Claire asked.
"She can't. It's on the docket. If she tries I'll remind her of Valerie's constitutional right to a speedy trial. To try and flout the rules so brazenly would be to reveal her true colors."
"It sounds like you have this all planned out," Emma commented to the young woman.
"I've been planning this in my head for years," Lydia replied. "I just never thought I would get the chance to actually do it. I'm excited."
"Wait, wait, wait," Valerie chimed in. "Does this mean I have to spend the night here?"
"I'm afraid so, dear," Claire answered her. "But don't worry, you'll be out tomorrow. Isn't that right?"
Desiree nodded. "I'll have you out of this place in two shakes of a lamb's tail," the chirpy TV host said.
"Two shakes of a…? What does that even mean?" Valerie asked.
"I'll be quick about it," Desiree answered rather drolly.
PIXIE HOLLOW, NEVER LAND (The Mid Georgian Period on the Mainland)
Word had spread throughout the mainland that one of her colonies across the great waters was in revolt and had taken up arms against the mother country. Although hardly a concern to the Never Fairies of Pixie Hollow, they nonetheless had to work in greater secrecy as human troops wearing red colored coats mobilized for deployment to what had once been called The New World.
Wisp took great pleasure in zipping about just at the very periphery of the human houses where troops marched down the main street to go to war.
"What are you doing?" Vidia asked irately. "You're going to get us caught."
"Ha! So says the second best fast flyer in Pixie Hollow," Wisp said in rebuke. "A true rare talent like myself doesn't have to worry. They will never see me. Now a slowpoke like you would give us away."
"Slowpoke?! Why you little imp! I ought to…"
"Ought to what? Bump into more branches while in flight? Maybe you'll see better without all those leaves pasted across your face." Wisp laughed at her own caustic remarks. She was truly enjoying making Vidia the butt of her jokes.
Vidia burned from the inside. Despite years of trying she still could not finish the row of trees that were part of The Kessel Run.
Wisp celebrated being the number one fast flyer by darting around the chimneys and in front of open windows. Down below, columns of humans marched toward ships moored in port, one of which was named the HMS Cerberus. Their destination was Boston, Massachusetts where they were to reinforce troops who were withstanding a growing siege by rebel armies under the commands of Generals Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold and Artemis Ward.
"STOP!" Vidia shouted to her. "THE HUMANS ARE GOING TO SEE US!"
The blonde flyer refused to listen and shot across the street high above the red clad army. "Woohoo!" Wisp yelled at the top of her lungs. "I'm too fast for you and too fast for these clumsy humans." To prove her point, Wisp shot down to street level and zipped left and right and around showing just how fast she was. Vidia had no choice, but to fetch her before she was seen.
Vidia couldn't find her. It was like she was a ghost. Then she heard Wisp yell, "Yoohoo!" Vidia looked across the street and saw her quarry sitting in a tricorn hat worn by one of the marching soldiers. Vidia darted across the street to capture Wisp and bring her back to Pixie Hollow. When she got to the hat it was unoccupied.
"Can't catch me!" Wisp yelled from behind a street lamp. Again Vidia shot through the air to the new hiding place to find nothing.
"Hey!" Wisp flew into one of the stores forcing Vidia to follow again. "Told ya! They never saw me!"
"You! Are! Crazy!" Vidia shouted at the top of her lungs. "Do you want to get caught? Do you want those humans landing on Never Land and tromping through our home?"
"You worry too much, Vids," Wisp said. She had taken to calling Vidia "Vids" for no other reason than it annoyed the dark haired flyer to no end.
"It's Vidia, Vi! Dee! Ya! What is so hard about my name?"
"Watch this, Vids." Wisp started shooting back and forth in the window, lighting it up. None of the men in the marching columns took notice, but one of the officers on horseback watching over them did and dismounted to take a look inside.
"Oh no! Now you've done it. HIDE!" Vidia shouted.
"Pfft! Not a chance, this clumsy human can't see past his own nose," Wisp answered as she alighted on a shelf where Vidia had taken cover. One second later, the door opened as the officer entered the store to locate the flittering light he had seen. Wisp was instantly paralyzed by fear. Before the human could catch a good look at Wisp, something pulled her away. It was Vidia who had yanked her behind a cast iron grill that was hanging from the next shelf up.
The officer searched the store looking behind and under pots, pans, plates, tankards and other items for sale. When he came to the shelving where Vidia and Wisp were hiding, Wisp started to panic. Her wings fluttered and her glow illuminated their hiding spot. "Stop that," Vidia ordered. "He is going to see us!"
The human moved closer to their position, so Vidia grabbed Wisp by the arm and took her to another hiding place behind a large and ornate stein. Wisp was still panicking and her glow was about to give them away, which made her panic even more. Vidia tried to calm her down, but Wisp was whimpering and whining, glowing brighter as she trembled, her mind overwhelmed by fear.
To put a stop to it Vidia tackled the youngster to the floor, pinning the girl and immobilizing her wings. Vidia then put her hands over the little fairy's mouth and whispered, "Be quiet!"
The cast iron grill was pulled aside as the officer searched the shelf behind it. Unable to see the human, Vidia remained motionless while keeping Wisp from twitching her wings. Even the slightest glow would be a dead giveaway at this proximity. The human's hand pulled out random objects from the shelf as he looked behind them. A goblet directly in front of them slid off the shelf. Vidia's heart stopped, along with her breathing.
The goblet was put back. Then Vidia heard and saw the stein they were hiding behind begin to slide off the shelf. She knew this was it, they were going to be found out. The young officer removed the tankard and swept the shelf with his gaze, finding nothing. He put back the stein and continued to search the shelf. Vidia had managed to grasp the ornate elements of the tankard, a family crest in high-relief, and held on tight, bringing Wisp along with her.
The two fairies had to wait for nearly another minute or two before the persistent human gave up and returned to the march outside. As soon as the door closed, Vidia exhaled and then inhaled deeply. "I thought (gasp) he would never (gasp) leave."
Wisp stretched out her wings, creating a fairy's signature glow.
"Stop that!" Vidia yelled. "That's what got us in trouble in the first place."
Vidia forcibly dragged Wisp back to Pixie Hollow where Queen Clarion was most disappointed with the young flyer upon hearing about the incident. The fairy queen reiterated the importance of remaining hidden from view from the humans. To help the young one reflect on her error, the queen handed down a punishment restricting Wisp to Never Land for one full year. A penalty which annoyed youngster. She wanted nothing more than the freedom to have fun wherever she could find it.
"Well, I hope you learned your lesson" Vidia told the younger fast flyer. "Maybe next time you'll be careful and stay out of sight."
"You are enjoying this aren't you, Vids? Well let me tell you something. I might be stuck here for one year, but my punishment will eventually come to an end. You on the other hand will always be second best. And there is no time limit on that!"
This statement struck Vidia like a knife in the heart. She took a swipe at Wisp who bolted off laughing at the brunette flyer. "Couldn't catch me then, can't catch now. So long, slowpoke."
Vidia, so infuriated by Wisp's statement, let out a primal scream that sent doves flying and squirrels scampering for cover. More than ever she wanted to put that little brat in her place, but until she could successfully navigate the trees of The Kessel Run it was mission impossible.
STORYBROOKE, MAINE
The next morning when the courthouse opened Deputy Emma Swan filed a formal complaint against Judge Bonaventure and began an official investigation. As soon as it was filed she contacted Lydia Van Buren who demanded that Bonaventure recuse himself from all court cases. The judge exploded with anger and threatened to run Lydia out of the law practice. Moments after Van Buren left his office Bonaventure called Mayor Mills to inform her what had been done.
"Let me take care of this," she replied. Soon the mayor was at the station house having words with Emma Swan. "How dare you open an investigation against one of the town's most esteemed judges without my permission?"
"I don't need your permission, only just cause of which I have plenty," Emma replied, showing her the thick stack of papers detailing every abuse of power and act of judicial misconduct committed by Bonaventure over the years. Deputy Swan also detailed the articles of the town charter which put her in charge of the investigation.
"You're still trying to defend this little criminal? This menace to our pleasant township?" the mayor asked while pointing to Valerie. "Well go ahead. But when this trial is over and that repeat offender is safely behind bars I'll have your badge. And it will be you who loses her job for official misconduct, Deputy Swan, not Judge Bonaventure."
"Do your worst, Madame Mayor. That girl is in no condition to stand trial and you know it," Emma answered defiantly. "I'm well aware of the threats you made against her and her family, so we will see who loses their job."
"It's her word against mine, Deputy," Regina told Emma. "And no one is going to believe an angry young woman with mommy issues. Good day, Ms. Swan. Enjoy the badge. You won't be wearing it much longer." Regina stormed out of the sheriff's station, a grimly determined look plastered on her face.
~O~
More than an hour had passed since Emma had received a phone call offering a hot lead on who made the cyber-attack against the hospital. Vidia had nothing to keep her company in her jail cell except for the wall clock.
One would think that silence would be quiet, but it wasn't. It was deafening. With no other sounds in the station house to get in the way, Vidia's ears picked up a piercing sound that grew louder and louder until it overwhelmed her. When she cupped her ears or made any sound, it instantly went away.
"What is that?" she asked herself at least twice. Her purgatory ended when she heard voices coming from the hallway outside. It was Queen Clarion raging in protest.
"How could you leave her all alone?" she yelled. "What if there was a fire? What if something happened and she couldn't get out?"
"We have a fire suppression system," Emma replied, her voice echoing through the hallway. "And what am I supposed to do? Stay here all day and all night long?"
The door opened and in came the fairy queen. She ran to the jail cell thrusting her arms through the bars, grabbing up Vidia into a warm and maternal embrace. "Oh, my little baby. Are you okay?"
"Uh, yeah." Vidia hated being referred to as a "little baby," even it was just a term of endearment. Despite her unvoiced protests Vidia reciprocated by wrapping her arms around the queen, relieved to see her arrive for what she hoped would be a quick exit from this dreary place.
Right behind were Rosetta, who said she had left the studio as soon as her show wrapped for the day, and Lyria, proclaiming a successful negotiation with the new judge.
"Judge Hale saw things my way," she said. "The charge of resisting arrest has been dropped and bail has been reduced to a mere $25,000."
"Oh, now that does sound more reasonable," Rosetta said with a smile.
Deputy Swan did not accompany them. "She may have the hacker responsible for deleting all of that vital information at the hospital," Lyria said.
"Does this mean we're going to get Valerie's medical records back?" Clarion wanted to know.
"I'm not sure, you'll have to ask Deputy Swan," the performing talent answered.
"I hope she can," the queen said. "I just want this over with. And the sooner the better." She turned her attention back to the fast flyer. "Isn't this wonderful, sweetheart? I'm going to take you home. I bet the first thing you'll want to do is change out of those clothes and take a good shower."
"Actually, I could eat something first," Vidia answered.
Clarion smiled. "Of course. We'll whip up something once we get back to the house."
Vidia listened intently as Lyria conferred with Clarion and Rosetta. "That database has key information, but we can't stop working the problem. Valerie, I know you've been interviewed before, but I'll need to speak with you later. There are plenty of questions I still need to ask."
"Okay, sure."
"Ms. Collingsworth," she said, addressing Rosetta, "I know you've come here to make amends, but I'll need your further assistance, too."
Mayor Mills has asked Desiree not to talk about this case on television, expressing a desire to keep this out of the news. However, the morning edition of The Daily Mirror was already running a story on the arraignment and upcoming hearing. "It paints Valerie in a most unfavorable light," Lyria explained. "That's not the worst of it. There is also a side story greatly stretching the truth nearly to the point of libel which all but indicts Mrs. Kensington as a terrible mother unfit to care for her own children."
"That awful Mr. Glass," Vidia heard Queen Clarion mumble. "He is the absolute worst journalist."
"Exactly. We can't let Regina and Sydney dominate the public forums," Lyria demanded. "Ms. Collingsworth, I need you to go on television tomorrow morning and give your firsthand accounts about Valerie. Your show is not a news outlet, but that gives you a unique position to talk frankly about this situation and offer commentary."
Rosetta was already nodding her head in approval.
"The newspaper's campaign of misinformation has to be countered with an emotional resonance," Lyria continued. "The public has to see Valerie and Claire as real human beings. Human beings who are suffering from a great tragedy. A mother has lost her daughter to psychological trauma and a family that has struggled against all odds to stay together since Claire's husband passed away. You cannot stress enough the painful losses Claire has suffered, Ms. Collingsworth. Break your audience's hearts so that no one would dare say a word against the Kensingtons."
"Of course I will," she agreed. "Anything to help this poor, hardworking family stay together."
"Thank you," Claire told her. "I appreciate this so much."
Lyria turned her attention to the queen. "Mrs. Kensington, I'll be spending a great deal of time at your house between now and the hearing. You, Valerie and I have a great deal to discuss in that short span of time. Monday is only supposed to be a hearing, but I wouldn't put it passed the District Attorney to hound you like it was a trial. We must go over strategies and tactics, likely questions Spencer will ask and what your responses MUST be to come out of that hearing in good standing. Albert will do everything he can to trip you up. Even the slightest misconception he can twist and turn and make it appear as if you are not telling the truth. Words must be precise to avoid his attempts to destroy you with them and you absolutely cannot contribute any more information then what is necessary."
"Understood," Clarion told her.
While all of this was going on Vidia could hear voices in the background. She was unable to see beyond her jail cell as all three women were gathered directly in front of her, blocking the view. Vidia recognized Emma Swan's voice. The other voice, also female, was quite familiar.
"I didn't do it," the familiar voice declared.
"Yeah, then why was the hospital's entire database on your home computers?" Deputy Swan asked.
"I have no idea, but I most certainly did not put it there," the voice protested. "It was probably the Black Hat. The one who hacked the hospital's network in the first place."
"Then how did he break into your home network?" Emma responded.
"I don't know," the voice replied. "My home network is extremely secure. It's better defended than any in Storybrooke, the hospital included."
"Look kid, you're not helping your case any," Emma Swan told her. "Everything you are telling me right now I will be duty and ethically bound to relay to the prosecution. Now I already read you your rights. My advice to you is to keep quiet until you can find a good lawyer."
The girl sighed. "Okay, okay."
Vidia was finally able to get a good look at the girl Deputy Swan was escorting. The door to the opposite jail cell swung open and the tiny slip of a girl with platinum blonde hair stepped inside. When she sat down her face came in full view. Vidia was horror stricken when she saw the other person, instantly recognizing her.
"Periwinkle!"
As promised, one huge twist and a cliffhanger to boot. So how is Periwinkle and Vidia going to get out of this before the upcoming hearing? Stay tuned.
As always, thank you for reading. Your reviews are greatly appreciated.