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

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Lydia Van Buren might have been robbed of her strongest asset at the moment, but she was not stymied. She was anything if not flexible. One did not survive in the dog eat dog world of law by being stiff and unbending. Though she could not use Dr. Hopper's formal analysis of Valerie she could still use him as an expert witness.

She opened by asking the psychologist about his visits with Valerie prior to the accident. He revealed that she was an angry girl who missed the love and attention her father gave her. He doted on her constantly and embraced his daughter's interests with fervor. Charlie did that for both girls.

"Did her mother do the same?" she asked him pointedly. "Dote on her and embrace Valerie's interests?"

"No, she did not?"

"How did Mrs. Kensington treat her oldest daughter?"

"She discouraged her love of flying," Hopper began. "Claire often compared her unfavorably to Tina, the younger sister."

"Why?"

"Valerie acted differently than Tina," Hopper responded. "Valerie took it to mean Claire loved Tina more."

Van Buren then listed several incidents between Valerie and her mother to illustrate the point. This included the night Claire tore down and threw away all the model airplanes Valerie had hanging in her room. Each of which had been gifts from her father and who often helped her to build them.

"This helped to foster the anger that Valerie had for her mother?" Lydia summarized.

"Correct," Archie answered. "Valerie responded through acts of passive aggression against her own mother in protest. Actions which her mother interpreted as simply the actions of a mean and insensitive young lady who refused to take responsibility for herself."

"But they weren't, were they?"

"No, her actions were cries for help. She wanted her father's love back and she wanted her mother to embrace and dote on her in the same way Mrs. Kensington doted on Tina."

Then Lydia began asking about how Valerie was acting now.

"Objection," Spencer broke in. "Calls for analysis which is incomplete."

"Sustained," the judge concurred. "Avoid calling on any direct analysis of Valerie Kensington, Ms. Van Buren."

Lydia sighed for a moment before continuing. This time, she sought the answers she wanted by asking general questions about persons with severe personality disorders similar to Valerie's. It didn't take long for Spencer to object once again.

"This is not an analysis of Valerie's condition," Lydia explained to the judge. "I'm simply asking questions about this kind of behavior in general."

"Your Honor, she's clearly asking for a direct analysis which has already been disallowed," Spencer countered.

"Analysis of Valerie's condition has been disallowed. Textbook examples and case histories are fair game, Mr. Spencer. You are overruled. Please sit down," the judge ordered. "You may continue, Ms. Van Buren."

Lydia once again questioned the psychologist about the indications of this kind of disorder.

"You did examine Valerie for one day, did you not?"

"Yes."

"What did you observe?"

"Objection," Spencer announced. "Calls for analysis."

"Observation, not psychological analysis," Lydia clarified.

"Overruled, Mr. Spencer," the judge told him. Then he turned his gaze to the attorney for the defense, Van Buren. "I'm giving you a short leash, Counselor. Go too far and I'll shut you down. Understood?"

"Yes. Thank you, Your Honor."

Van Buren returned to her questioning of Dr. Hopper. "What did you observe that day?"

Archie Hopper noted how she wistfully looked out at the sky from the upper story window. She was genuinely confused by the vending machines and by the cafeteria and the food served there. "She couldn't even open a can of soda," Archie noted. "She didn't know how."

He remembered that when they stepped outside she reached out and allowed a dragonfly to land on an outstretched finger. Then Valerie chased, or possibly raced a small group of dragonflies.

"It was as if she had done this before," he noted.

"Objection," Spencer again announced. "Conclusion by analysis."

"Observation and interpretation, not psychological analysis," Lydia defended.

"Sustained," the judge said. "Rephrase your answer, Dr. Hopper."

Archie nodded and explained that she was enjoying the race and clearly wanted to continue when she could no longer follow them.

"Any other recollections, Dr. Hopper?"

"Yes, at the pond she fed some of the ducks," he remembered. "Another bird intervened and she yelled at it before driving it away. She then spoke to the ducks as if she expected them to understand her."

Spencer objected again on the grounds that it was analysis, but Dr. Hopper defended himself saying it was observed behavior. "The way she spoke to them seemed very much like she expected them to understand her words. Just like the characters in the movies we viewed earlier."

"Overruled, Mr. Spencer."

"If a person cannot remember what happened before an event, like say a trauma to the head, but can form new memories what is that called, Doctor?"

"It is known as retrograde amnesia," he said. "Has Valerie displayed this kind of amnesia?"

"Yes, she has."

"She believes she is someone else, is that multiple personality disorder?"

"No," Hopper said. "Dissociative Personality Disorder means more than one personality exists and that they alternate controlling the body. There have been no reports of more than one personality, not even her own, surfacing since she regained consciousness at the hospital."

"Would that be schizophrenia?"

"Valerie has not displayed symptoms of schizophrenia?" Hopper described the various symptoms associated with schizophrenia at the judge's request for more clarification.

"So she has retrograde amnesia and believes she is someone entirely different?"

"Yes."

"What might be a cause?"

"Physical trauma to the brain or a disease can prevent memory recall," he explained. "Psychological trauma could cause a person to create a new personality and personal history in which they reinterpret people and places around them in a manner that is more pleasing or less painful for them."

"A coping mechanism?"

"It's possible," Hopper stated. "Research is always deepening our understanding of the workings of the human brain."

"Her father, who was very positively involved in her life passes away. Valerie also claims that for many years she felt unloved and unwanted by her own mother," Lydia stated. "She was constantly compared to her sister in a negative light, her dreams and ambitions were squelched and connections to her dead father were violently ripped away from her. Then she finds out, in a fit of anger, that her own mother did not want her. Might this be a psychological trauma sufficient to alter her state of mind?"

"It is possible," Hopper responded.

"In conjunction with the physical trauma from the accident?"

"Yes."

"Is it within the realm of possibility that a person in this condition might assume the identity of a fictional character and see the world as the character would?"

"It is with the realm of possibility," Hopper answered.

"Thank you, Doctor. Now on to a different subject. When Valerie watched the movies she had a somewhat adverse reaction."

"That's putting it mildly, but yes."

"How would you describe it?"

"She appeared frightened, as if in terror," he answered.

"What are the physical reactions caused by fear or terror, Doctor Hopper?" she asked outright.

"Well there are certain responses which cannot be duplicated by conscious effort," he responded. "They are involuntary and beyond any ability of the person to duplicate through sheer will."

"Could you describe some of these involuntary responses?"

"Yes. Sweating is one. A second would be blood flow to the capillaries is restricted causing the extremities to become cold. Also elevated heart rate and chills."

"Was she experiencing a moment of fear or terror when watching the first movie?"

"Objection," Spencer howled. "Calls for a conclusion."

"Sustained."

"Did she appear frightened at that moment?" Van Buren rephrased.

"Yes, I think everyone would agree that she appeared most frightened at that moment," Hopper answered.

"And when you examined her afterwards did she display these traits of a person experiencing fear or terror?"

"Yes, she most certainly did," Hopper offered.

"And remind us again of your qualifications," Van Buren asked.

"I don't think we need to be reminded," Spencer said, cutting in. "I'm sure we are all aware of Dr. Hopper's expertise."

"That will be all, Doctor. Thank you." Van Buren sat down, confident that she had backed Spencer into a corner. She had effectively gotten all she wanted from the psychologist and had worked around the roadblock Spencer had erected.

Albert Spencer stood up and began his cross examination. "Doctor, earlier you gave us some symptoms of schizophrenia. Could you review those for us?"

"Yes. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech patterns, extremely disorganized or abnormal motor function. A person can also appear to show no emotions or speak in a monotone voice."

"What about in teenagers? Are the symptoms different?"

"Yes."

"Please describe them for us."

"In a teenager, schizophrenia could manifest as withdrawing from friends and or family, a drop in their performance at school, trouble sleeping at nights, depressed mood, irritability and even a lack of motivation. Teenagers are also more likely to have hallucinations rather than delusions."

"Has Valerie Kensington displayed most or all of these symptoms? Withdrawing from friends and family, poor performance in school, irritability and lack of motivation?"

"Yes. Yes she has. However, it should be noted that…"

"Thank you, Doctor."

"…these are common teenage problems, as well." Doctor Hopper added.

"Your Honor, I ask that the bench disregard the doctor's last statement," Spencer said, addressing the judge.

"Based on what? That they undermine your case?" Lydia interjected snidely.

"That's enough counselor," the judge admonished Van Buren. "The last statement will not be disregarded, though anyone with a teenager doesn't need a psychologist to know how a teenager acts."

This earned a few chuckles from those in the courtroom. Lydia, though, knew Spencer was poking holes in her theory. Now she wished she had asked a few more questions. She avoided them at first because she didn't want to plant the idea in the judge's head and then let Spencer give that idea legs. But now she wanted a chance to dissuade the judge. However, Doctor Hopper stepped up in her place.

"She's not schizophrenic, if that's what you're asking," the psychologist continued.

"I didn't ask," Spencer replied.

"Well it sounds like you are," Hopper rebuked sternly. "Valerie is in her mid-twenties. Adult symptoms would have manifested by now and they haven't. She has never had hallucinations or any other symptoms of schizophrenia. Further, there are other psychological and medical explanations for her transformation. Explanations which have not yet been explored because this trial was forced into action too early."

"I see. Doctor, would a person who is lying and has been caught lying display those same traits of fear? Narrowing capillaries leading to cold extremities, sweating, elevated heart rate, chills?" Spencer had ignored the doctor's appeal and coldly moved on.

"Yes. Yes it can," Hopper replied. "Any event which induces fear can cause those specific responses."

"And these responses are uncontrollable," Spencer said for clarification, though none was needed. "She could not have made them happen or kept them from happening even if she wanted?"

"That is correct. They are completely involuntary."

"And when you examined Ms. Kensington at the hospital you described her as being 'self-assured and in full control of herself,' these are your words. 'Valerie seemed to be confident, almost to the point of cockiness.' Is that correct?"

"Yes. I did."

"Thank you, doctor. You've been most helpful." Spencer returned to his associates and sat down in his chair. A small smirk on his face as he looked at Lydia Van Buren through the corner of his eyes.

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

From the moment of her great betrayal and subsequent banishment from her own guild by the traitors Swift, Festus and Fairy Kelly, Vidia had found it impossible to trust anyone. She kept wondering why she was singled out by Swift and Festus for their plans. Why was she betrayed by the very people whom she admired?

She questioned herself and began a long and difficult period of self-reflection culminating in the shaky premise that while she was the strongest talent, she must not have been good enough in other respects. They apparently saw those weaknesses and exploited them. Specifically, Vidia had fallen in love with Festus. He was caring, helpful and friendly. Above all he trusted her to pull through difficult situations. He acted as the mentor she needed. EXACTLY as the mentor she needed.

Vidia berated herself for not seeing through that painfully thin disguise, completely ignoring the fact that she was young and naïve. She fell for him and that love created the strongest trust and loyalty.

It was all a lie.

Her final conclusion was that love and trust were what others used to exploit you. While the other fairies and sparrow men in Pixie Hollow were not as shallow or deceitful as Swift and Festus and their acolytes, Vidia had no way of knowing who the next back stabber might be. So she chose not to trust or invest any emotional baggage in any person. To that end, Vidia erected a wall of mistrust and loathing to protect herself. To hide the pain of being manipulated by the man she loved Vidia convinced herself of her own superiority. She had no weaknesses, nothing someone else could use to cause her pain.

Vidia honed her ability to cut people to the quick with snarky rejoinders and snippy remarks. She insulted and berated anyone and everyone she encountered to keep them at arm's length. Even members of her own guild were not immune to her brutal comments. No one would ever break her heart or abuse her trust ever again.

Then came Wisp. At first a nuisance, then a rival, Vidia had disliked her intensely. Wisp had become obsessed with outshining Vidia and proving herself to be the best. Outwardly Vidia was no more than annoyed, but inwardly it hurt. Being second best meant being weak and it opened the old wounds left by Festus and his lies. Her talent and a little help from a fat sparrow man named Clank of the tinker guild helped her to keep her title of greatest talent in Pixie Hollow. It helped her to maintain her illusion of superiority.

Then the accident which nearly paralyzed Wisp occurred and Vidia was left with so much self-doubt. She began to question her choices and personal philosophy, wondering if that was why Wisp was almost killed. Wisp's admission of guilt helped to quell Vidia's doubts and she continued to keep people at a distance. Except one. Wisp.

True to the doctor's word Wisp did eventually recover, though she had to endure many seasons of repetitive and often painful physical therapy to regain her former level of skill. Vidia offered to help once. Then twice. Then a third time. Then more.

Soon the duo were often seen together flying circles around rocks, trees and hills. They engaged in friendly races and often placed bets on who would win. Vidia always did. Her snarky edge never dulled in the presence of Wisp who just accepted this as Vidia being Vidia.

For her part, Vidia never fully learned to trust Wisp. The bitter pain and heartache of betrayal at the hands of the man she had once admired and loved and the feeling of helplessness and inferiority it left within her never faded. But she did call her "friend" once or twice. Vidia still treated others with the same vitriol she always did, but at least this was a first step towards reconciliation.

At least until one evening when a certain tinker fairy arrived to change all that.

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

She had been outmaneuvered. This was a court hearing where Van Buren had to make the case that Valerie was suffering from a personality disorder which made her unfit to stand trial in her own defense. If there was enough doubt in the mind of the presiding judge the trial would go forward and with the evidence stacked against her, Valerie could end up in jail for several months.

Spencer had just provided that doubt. Lydia was doing all she could, but was coming up just short. What she needed was a miracle.

As if on cue her miracle arrived with the sound of the large double doors banging open. She turned around to see Penny Steveston and Dr. Whale enter the courtroom accompanied by one of the men who was in the employee of Mr. Gold.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion," the judge calmly asked.

"We have the MRI images," Dr. Whale announced holding up an SD Card.

Van Buren could hear her clients hugging and quietly cheering. She let out a deep sigh of relief.

Spencer, though, kept up to his old tricks. "Objection, your honor, this evidence is unknown to us."

"Considering we have been discussing the MRI images at length it is hard to imagine that they are unknown to anyone in this courtroom," Lydia blasted back.

"Nonetheless, we have not had the chance to review this evidence," Spencer soldiered on. "I ask that this evidence be disallowed."

"Why now, Mr. District Attorney?" Lydia countered. "Why didn't you try to keep this out of the courtroom when the hearing started?" That last part truly rankled Spencer. Albert had read the reports and deposition from Dr. Whale and had a general sense of what was in those MRI images. Allowing them into the proceedings would be damning to his case. Unfortunately for him, the bench didn't see it his way.

"Counsel is correct, Mr. Spencer, motion to disallow is denied," the judge answered.

"Then I ask the court for a recess so my associates and I can review this new evidence," Spencer asked in a perfect businesslike manner.

"Agreed. This court will stand in recess until tomorrow morning so that both sides will have a chance to review this new evidence."

With that the judge gaveled the court into recess and all parties departed for the day.

Whew. Okay. One more chapter (hopefully) and we will be done with all this stuff and we can all get back to the good stuff. Isn't that great?

(Sounds of crickets chirping)

Aw, man!