Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrooke
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon A Time Crossover
Season 1, between episodes 7 and 8

PIXIE HOLLOW, NEVER LAND (The Mid-Georgian period on the Mainland)

The Daughter of the Wind. That phrase carried such elegance, such grace, such beauty. Vidia was too moved by its power to grossly revel in it. It should be revered, clutched tightly in her heart as she might clutch a medal or an award to her chest. For once she wasn't heckled or mocked or ignored. She had earned this accolade with her own hard work and perseverance. It was like the crown worn by a monarch declaring their superiority.

However, Wisp would not let a single defeat stop her from trying to recapture that crown. "Race me, Vidia," she demanded. "Race me again, I'll prove to you who is best." Now she sounded bitter and angry, not joyful. There was no merriment in her voice. She was all business.

"Hey, I won and won handily," Vidia scoffed. "It! Is! Over!"

"It is not over," Wisp countered. "I won once and you won once. That doesn't make you the best at anything."

"Why don't you just stop, already? You've lost, accept it and move on."

"Why? You didn't," Wisp answered back. "Why is it okay for you to be persistent, but not me? What's wrong, afraid that your victory will look like an accident? You and I both know your new clothes made all the difference, not you."

"Gear is only as good as they flyer wearing them," Vidia spat. Then in a smug tone added, "I guess that shows us who the greatest fast flyer really is, doesn't it? Or are those rags around your feet just for decoration?"

Wisp became spectacularly irate. "I'll show you Vidia. I will not rest until I can prove you're nothing, but a cheater and a second rate fairy." With that the little blonde flyer bolted off into the skies.

Great, more races with that crazy girl, Vidia moaned internally. Wisp would never be happy being number two. Just as Vidia couldn't, either. She knew what this meant. A lifetime of race after race after race against that little snip. There had to be a way ending this feud between them (that is what it had turned into), and soon.

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Vidia could not get to sleep right away after the tear filled confession of her queen. Her pronouncement that she was not wanted struck Vidia right in the heart. It felt like the days when she was an outcast in her own society. Vidia dealt with it by reminding herself that those words did not come from the heart of her queen, but from the false memories of a distraught mother. That was Queen Clarion's (human) body, but not her mind. The memories, feelings and emotions of this night were all illegitimate. She could not take them at face value.

What Vidia did take to heart was the vulgar way the queen acted. Dancing cheers and crying like a human baby. Clarion had always been the very model of poise, grace, sophistication, reserve and regal grandeur. Watching her come unglued as she did was disheartening to the say the least. It angered Vidia to know that someone had made the queen into a lowly woman of this sort. That anger only further galvanized Vidia in her task to undo this black magic and return all the fairies to their rightful place on Never Land Island.

~O~

Like her daughter in the other room, Claire could not sleep well this night. After finally coming to terms with her own greatest failure she had flung off a terrific burden, one that had weighed her down for so many years. However, now she faced a new problem. Her first child, her baby girl was gone. She reminded herself of this fact from time to time, but refused to take it heart, deluding herself that Valerie might come back given time. Now it seemed that this was impossible.

Strong emotions can sometimes bring back memories in someone who has lost them. Earlier this night the photos and confessions had no effect on Valerie who had spent the last several years in furious rebellion. Claire more than ever felt all was lost and that protecting her child from the courts had moved into the territory of being purely academic. Yet the love she had finally rediscovered for her eldest daughter could not let her simply give the girl up.

Whoever she was now, whatever name she chose to use, that was still her child and nothing could separate Claire from the last twenty four years of motherhood. Parental attachments run too deep to be severed so easily. She vowed to always care and protect her daughter even if her own daughter did not or could never remember her own mother. This was her new burden, a weight that could never be lifted. Claire was desperate for a forgiveness she could never receive. Keeping this new woman in her daughter's body safe was to be her self-imposed penance.

To that end, Claire contacted both Lydia Van Buren and Doctor Archie Hopper to inform them of what had happened. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," she apologized to each as she spoke to them. "I was kidding myself all this time. Trying not to admit I was the horrible mother Valerie always accused me of being."

Dr. Hopper was grateful for the news, for him this announcement meant Claire had reached a new level of self-awareness that could lead to a better relationship with both Valerie and Tina. Lydia, though, while appreciative that this breakthrough occurred before the hearing and not after, was still very cross with Claire for not coming to terms with this sooner. Van Buren had to spend extra time during the night altering her case to account for this change. It also meant being unable to prepare anyone for when this question was asked and answered in court. It wasn't damaging, just so damn ill timed.

~O~

Next morning the courthouse had more spectators than when the arraignment occurred. This was actually Regina's doing. Since it was difficult for her to stop the hearing as she was the one who insisted that it be held as soon as possible, her desire was to fill the courtroom with people who would find Valerie's claims laughable.

If Regina couldn't tilt the courts in her favor, then she would humiliate the girl in a public forum. Shame Valerie and her mother right out of Storybrooke. Of course, finding these people was a little harder ever since that blabbermouth television host went on the air and discussed the girl's situation. She made Valerie look as sympathetic as possible. Still, there were enough in the crowd to do the job.

To ensure the onlookers would be against the girl, they were told to arrive extra early. Bailiffs were instructed who to let into the courtroom and many sympathizers were forced to listen from outside or watch from home.

~O~

"Okay, now remember what we talked about these last couple of days," Lydia instructed her clients. "Stay calm, keep your answers short and to the point and do not contribute any information."

She then turned to one her aides and asked if the young girl at the hospital had been able to recover those MRI images from their computers yet. He shook his head in the negative.

"Damn, she better work fast."

~O~

Vidia looked through the crowd and found Rosetta squished in among the throng waiting for court to begin. She waved to her and the garden fairy turned television host waved back. Elsewhere she found Terence who somehow had managed to get the day off to lend his support. Then she spotted two persons she hoped to never see again.

"Swift and Festus," she gasped. "What are they doing here?" The two disgraced fast flyers were seated next to none other than Mr. Gold, the pawn shop owner whom everyone was so afraid of. Their presence angered Vidia, bringing back floods of unwanted memories.

"Who?" Lydia asked her.

Vidia pointed them out to her. She had told Lyria, Lydia in this land, her entire history including how she had come to be banished from the fast flyer's guild and was forced to live in disgrace in the sour plum tree overlooking the pine forest where her guild made its home. The lawyer knew exactly who they were and made quick note of it.

"Are you going to be okay?" Lyria asked Vidia, apparently sensing that this upset her.

Vidia took a few deep breaths. "Yeah, I think so."

"Just don't look at them," Lyria instructed. "Don't look at them, don't even think about them. They are just faces in the crowd."

"Right, faces in the crowd," Vidia repeated.

"Do you see anyone else?" Lydia asked her client. Valerie took a quick survey of those in attendance. "No, that's it," she said.

"Good. Stay calm and remember what we talked about. You are going to do just fine."

~O~

A moment later the judge entered the room and court was gaveled into session. The hearing began in earnest. The new charges, which did not include resisting arrest, but did include the qualifier "misdemeanor" for reckless endangerment, were announced to those gathered. Mayor Mills, who was seated in the first row did not look pleased with the new list of charges against Valerie Kensington. The federal charge she wanted carried a longer sentence and stiffer fine.

Nonetheless, Regina had stacked her deck well and was ready to force "Queen Clarion" and the others out of her town. And the sooner the better. Finally, there would be payback against that unholy fairy queen for taking away what Regina wanted more than anything: her one true love, Daniel.

~O~

Lydia did her best to make the case that Valerie was not mentally competent to stand trial. Mental competence hinges on one of two things. First, does the defendant understand the reasons and consequences of standing trial? Second, can the defendant properly assist in her own defense? Only one of these standards needed to be met.

Valerie most certainly could understand the consequences of the trial, so the first condition could not be met. However, her personality had drastically changed and she believed herself to be a wholly different person. A different person who did not possess the memories of Valerie Kensington. She could not recall any events of her own life, much less the evening in question. Therefore she could not adequately assist in her own defense. This was Lydia Van Buren's claim that she was mentally unfit to stand trial.

When asked to provide how she reached that conclusion Lydia said that Valerie Kensington believed herself to be a character from children's movies based on a fairy tale. "She thinks she is Vidia, a fast flying fairy who lives on Never Land Island alongside Tinker Bell."

As soon as she made that pronouncement there were howls of laughter from those who had come to watch. The judge gaveled the court back into order. Lydia knew what she was facing. Regina had stacked the courtroom with people who would jeer Valerie throughout the proceeding.

"Your honor, permission to approach the bench?" she asked.

"Granted."

Lydia asked that the courtroom be cleared of all spectators. "They are going to laugh, mock and humiliate my clients throughout this proceeding."

"What's wrong, counselor? Can't Valerie Kensington take a little light hearted giggling?" Albert Spencer rebuked.

"This isn't light hearted giggling," Lydia argued. "They are going to make a mockery of your courtroom and humiliate my client until she won't even be willing to speak in her own defense."

"Careful, Lydia," Spencer cut in, "you're undermining your own claims of mental incompetence."

"This isn't a trial, Mr. Spencer," the judge reminded him. He then turned to Lydia and said, "Ms. Van Buren, if they continue in this manner I'll grant your request."

It was a small victory for Lydia, but she wondered when the judge would draw the line. Hopefully sooner than later because Valerie was the first one called to the stand.

Whew, finally this hearing is going to start. So, will Penny be able to recover those files in time? Will Vidia spend months in jail? Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out.