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

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Upon returning from deliberation the judge rendered his findings. Though it wasn't readily apparent, Spencer wore the look of defeat. He wasn't done fighting just yet, but this round had, he was certain, gone to his opponent.

Mayor Regina Mills boiled with anger. Her carefully laid plans had come to naught. At every turn that meddling Emma Swan had gotten involved along with other members of her town. She would have to do something about that. How could she run this city if her own residents didn't fear her?

Lydia Van Buren felt confident in the outcome, but she didn't rest on her laurels. Spencer was anything if not thorough and tricky. He wouldn't stop fighting until it was all over.

Claire was an emotional wreck. She wanted this verdict to go her way and for Valerie to be kept out of jail. Yet she also felt as though she had lost more than she could stand to gain. The District Attorney's question and Dr. Whale's answer about Valerie's personality confirmed what she already knew. Her daughter was gone forever. Yet it still hit her like a punch in the gut, perhaps because it erased even the faintest sliver of hope.

Vidia was focused on a different thought. The fairies who were here rallied around her. They came to her aid just as they had before. Though they had no memories of their former selves they somehow still managed to come to her aide and protect her. This lifted her spirits and assured her that she was not alone even in this strange, human world.

~O~

"The question of whether or not a person is mentally capable to stand trial rests on one of two precepts," the judge began in his summary. "First, does the defendant understand the reasons and consequences of standing trial? And second, can the defendant assist in her own defense? Only one standard must be met for a Valerie Kensington to be declared mentally unfit to stand trial."

"First, Ms. Kensington seems to be fully self-aware and is capable of understanding the consequences of this hearing and our justice system. She has also demonstrated an understanding of the charge levied against her. Therefore the first standard has not been met."

"So now we move on to whether or not Ms. Kensington can assist in her own defense. Can she remember the events which led to her being in this courtroom? Is she aware of the difficult history she has had with her own mother? The medical images of her brain are startling. The change in her mental ability, the manner in which she conducts herself, even her responses to seeing the films in question lead me to believe that the defendant is unable to assist her attorneys in her own defense. She has no memory of her past and has retreated into a fanciful world to shield herself against the harshness of her reality. In my opinion the defendant does indeed meet this second qualification and the charge of reckless endangerment is summarily dropped."

There was the sound of relief coming from the defendant's side. Claire hugged Valerie and then Tina who in turn hugged her sister. Valerie, or Vidia, was the most relieved though she did not seem as elated as her mother and sibling.

Mrs. Kensington then shook the hands of her attorney in congratulations for successfully defending her daughter and keeping the girl out of jail. That, however, was when Albert Spencer made his next attempt to put Valerie away.

"Your Honor, in light of the evidence provided for us by Dr. Whale and Dr. Hopper, the people ask that Valerie Kensington be remanded into state custody. Specifically, the Psych Ward at Storybrooke General Hospital."

"On what grounds?" Van Buren blurted out in her client's defense.

"On the grounds that Valerie could be a danger to society," he replied. "Dr. Whale did testify that this is unprecedented. For all we know this Vidia persona could end up being a menace to society. A serial killer perhaps."

"Yes, having the personality of an ultimately benevolent six-inch fairy must CERTAINLY mean that she'll go on a psychotic killing spree with pollen and glitter gloss as her murder weapons," Lydia answered in her most snarky and condescending tone. "This is Disney we're talking about... and I would like to remind the court that Hannibal Lector did NOT grow up in Never Land."

This quick witted rejoinder sent howls of laughter through the courtroom. Spencer was clearly infuriated with Van Buren's snide remark, though he was impressed with her ability to cut him down so easily.

"She cannot be unleashed on an unsuspecting public," Spencer said, trying to salvage whatever he could of his argument.

Van Buren replied that the Vidia persona had shown no criminal or violent tendencies and has been acting like a model citizen ever since waking up in the hospital.

"Well, except for that one time when she went stark raving mad and nearly hurt several members of the hospital's dedicated staff," Spencer replied.

"While uncommon, it is not without precedent," Lydia answered back. "The unfamiliar surroundings and people was a shock and she ran out of fear. The hospital does have records of this occurring with other patients."

"Well then what do you suggest we do with her?" Spencer asked Van Buren directly. "Let her get a job and rent an apartment? Maybe you should let her drive on our streets, as well? If she has no recollection of her previous self and thinks she is a fairy from Never Never Land then she probably doesn't even remember how to operate a vehicle."

On that score he was absolutely right. Vidia had demonstrated no ability to function properly in Storybrooke. She had been, up to this point, been totally reliant on Claire and Tina. Which gave Van Buren an idea.

"Your Honor, perhaps we should ask Vidia what she wants."

"Oh please. Your Honor, are you going to allow a little girl run your courtroom?" Spencer said in a harsh tone.

"It's my courtroom and I can do as I please," the judge answered with a scowl. The magistrate turned his attention to Vidia and asked her directly what she wanted.

"I would like to stay with Queen Clarion and Tinker Bell," Vidia replied.

The judge smiled. "I believe you mean your mother and sister. Mrs. Kensington, is that all right with you?"

Claire looked over at Vidia. The girl looked back with pleading eyes. She wanted to bring her daughter home, yet Claire could not shake those words from her mind. "Valerie is dead." Whoever this young woman was now, it certainly wasn't her little girl. But how could she turn her out into the cold? She looked like Valerie and sounded much like her, too.

"Yes. Yes it is all right with me," the bereaved mother answered, though somewhat hesitantly.

"Very good, the state remands custody of Valerie Kensington into the care of Claire Kensington," the judge announced. "This court is adjourned. Good day, everyone."

~O~

Vidia turned to her queen. She could see the uncertainty in her eyes. In the past few days Vidia came to understand something of what was happening to Claire. She had lost a daughter who was replaced by another person. Vidia had guild mates who had been lost to the hawk or to drowning or simply got lost and never returned. The heartbreak was palpable.

It must be the same heartbreak that Claire was feeling right now. It explained why she hesitated to take her back into her home. Loss can be a powerfully negative feeling.

"Thank you," Vidia told Claire. "You won't regret this."

Claire just offered a weak smile in return. "Let's go home. I want to put this behind me as quick as possible."

Vidia nodded in agreement.

She hadn't taken more than a few steps when Claire's path was blocked by Mayor Regina Mills. "Well, I'm glad that is worked out so well for you," the mayor told her.

Regina then turned her attention to the young woman at Claire's side. "I guess I was wrong about you," she said, smiling.

Vidia wasn't fooled. It was a phony grin. Vidia had perfected that insincere smile and knew the mayor had no intention of the letting this go. Though she had no complete answer for why. Vidia wanted nothing more than to zing this woman with a remark so snarky it would knock Regina on her proverbial backside. But for the sake of the queen, Vidia held her tongue.

Claire thanked the mayor and walked on. Then Regina mentioned the work being done on the Town Hall. "By the way, I'll have to cancel your contract with the city." She announced.

Claire spun around, shocked. "Why?"

"Paul and Ben are former city workers who were fired for intoxication and damage to city property," Regina explained. "You can't hire them to work on a city project. I'm sorry, but you'll have to stop work immediately and forfeit any future payments. Next time read your contract more carefully."

"I did read my contract," Claire answered, stiffening. "There is no such restriction."

"Oh, really? Well there is now," Regina replied with a smirk.

"Hey! You can't do that," Vidia scolded. "You make an agreement you have to honor it. I don't care who you are."

"How cute. And for your information my name isn't 'Hey You.' I am the mayor of this town and you had best get used to addressing me as such."

Vidia put her hands on her hips and in the snidest tone possible answered, "Well perhaps, but using your title would mean acknowledging that you EXIST. So forgive me if I want to delay this unpleasant prospect for as long as possible."

Claire was aghast. She grabbed Vidia and put her hand over the girl's mouth.

"She didn't mean that," Claire said to the mayor. "You didn't mean that," she then said as an order to Vidia.

"Keep this… whatever… under control," Regina growled. "She is your responsibility now, Claire. And if you hope to ever have a chance at another town contract you had best grow some common sense."

Claire was incensed by Regina's accusation, but before she could utter a single word in retaliation, Vidia opened her big mouth.

"Oh really? Because you're such a shining example of common sense?" Vidia replied with a satisfied grin.

Regina smugly answered, "Why do you think I was elected mayor?"

"Hmmm? Because no one's sense is more common than yours?"

The few people left in the courthouse had stopped to listen in on the conversation that was brewing between Regina and Mrs. Kensington. Each was taken aback when Vidia showed not one ounce of fear in the presence of the mayor.

Regina herself was absolutely livid. No one had dared to talk back to her that way. Not in Storybrooke or the Enchanted Forest. Only her own mother could be so bold. "You watch your mouth, young lady. Or I'll watch it for you."

"You want to stare at my lips all day? I thought you had better things to do, Geena?" Vidia answered with an emphasis on the diminutive of Regina's name.

Regina was furious. She had promised to expose Valerie as a fraud and failed. Now this little whelp was calling her on it. She waited for Claire to step in and do something, but the elder Kensington woman did nothing. Instead Claire suddenly had grown a backbone.

The tension was so palpable it could be cut with a knife. All eyes in the courtroom stared at the trio before a light chuckling broke the mood.

"Oh I like her," said the familiar voice of none other than Mr. Gold. It grabbed the attention of both Regina and Claire, and sent shivers down Claire's spine.

"What are you doing here? This is a private conversation," Regina told him.

"Oh I doubt that, Madame Mayor. Everyone can hear you," he told her. "And to answer your question, I have a rather significant investment in the hospital, not to mention the insurance. That means I have to look out for the safety and welfare of that fine establishment, which in turn makes me responsible for the good health of the people of Storybrooke." Mr. Gold then gave Regina a meaningful look. "I heard that 'someone' thought they could just do away with the files in the computer system that 'I' paid for."

Regina's eyes widened. She had no idea that Mr. Gold had paid for the computer equipment at Storybrooke General or that he underwrote the insurance policy for it. Though in hindsight she should have figured it out.

"Owing to the fact that Ms. Kensington's medical scans arrived safely, it seems that everything is well in hand thanks to the efforts of our young friend over there," Gold nodded in the direction of Penny, who was well into a conversation with Tina.

"Everything is under control," Regina announced hoping he would leave. "You have nothing to worry about."

"True, but I don't think you're aware of the full repercussions that this 'incident' could have caused. Poor Henry's files could have been lost, as well. It would be a real shame if something were to happen to him... and no one could help."

There was a threat hidden in the subtext of that sentence. He knows. Now it was Regina's turn to a feel a chill run down her spine.

"Now, Madame Mayor... how about you spare yourself the drama of continuing your failed attempts to intimidate an otherwise handicapped woman... and PLEASE... devote yourself to making sure that something like this 'incident' doesn't happen again."

He said it. Please. As was part of their deal in the Enchanted Forest whenever he spoke that word she could not resist him. Everyone watching was stunned as they watched Regina quietly walk away without so much as a threat or a rejoinder.

"Oh and Madame Mayor? The young woman is quite correct" Gold added. "Contracts establish expectations, responsibilities and restrictions for both sides. As I recall city contacts cannot be altered on a whim. Mrs. Kensington could very well file a lawsuit for breach of contract and considering the formidable nature of her representation she stands a very good chance of winning."

Lydia quirked an eyebrow in the direction of the mayor.

Regina glared at Mr. Gold. Then at Claire. She wanted nothing more than to be rid of that fairy queen once and for all, but she was caught. "Fine! Whatever!" She then stormed out of the courtroom to fulfill Gold's request.

The impeccably dressed Mr. Gold turned to Vidia and offered a slight smile. "That was some experience. It would seem you truly believe yourself to be someone else…, and from another land."

"That's right."

"What did you say your name was again?"

She stood up straight. "My name is Vidia, a fast flying fairy from the realm of Pixie Hollow."

Mr. Gold smiled again before turning his attention to Claire. "You have quite an interesting one, Ms. Kensington. Do look after her, won't you? I have a feeling that Storybrooke just became a lot more… interesting."

"Yes, Mr. Gold." Claire's resolve in the face of Regina's threats had all but vanished in the presence of the pawn broker. Vidia could see that while Queen Clarion had regained some of her strength it hadn't come back fully. As Gold stepped away, Claire let out a deep breath as if she had been holding it in for a long time. She had to sit down and lowered her head as if letting the blood rush back to her brain.

"Oh boy. This has been one hell of a day."

The two men whom Vidia had recognized as Swift and Festus stayed close to their employer, but were still at a proper distance. They snapped to attention and remained ever vigilant guarding him as he conducted his next order of business. Vidia was amazed and disturbed by the ease with which Gold commanded them. It spoke volumes as to why Clarion was so afraid of Mr. Gold. Vidia began to wonder if he was responsible for bringing them all here to this land. He had displayed no magic, other than to drive away Regina with only a simple request. Not that Vidia minded that much. However, it was cause for suspicion and Vidia made it a point to keep an eye on him.

~O~

Gold smartly stepped over to the two teenaged girls who were conversing to the exclusion of all else.

"Trust me," Penny said. "If I can calculate fractals on my Mac Pro I can help you with your Geometry homework. What kind of calculator do you have?"

"Calculator? I don't know just your basic model from the pharmacy."

"Oh no. You have to get at minimum a Texas Instruments TI-86 Plus Silver Edition."

"My teacher won't allow it," Tina answered. "She insists that we show our work."

"Pardon the interruption," Mr. Gold said. "Ms. Steveston, may I have a word with you?"

Penny excused herself for a moment before stepping aside to speak with Mr. Gold. He explained his connection to the hospital and the computer equipment. He thanked Penny for her service both to the community and to his bottom line.

"Allow me to offer you compensation for your considerable skills," he said, removing a plain envelope from his breast pocket and handing it to her. It was very thick and when she opened it inside Penny found a huge stack of one hundred dollar bills.

"HO! Oh, oh, I can't take this," she answered him, looking embarrassed. "This is… just so much."

"Please, my dear, it is the least I can offer for what you've done for me." With that Mr. Gold smiled and walked away.

Tina looked over Penny's shoulders and saw the huge wad of money. "WOW! What are going to do with all that?"

"What else? Computer equipment. Newegg here I come."

"New…, new what?"

"Newegg. A website that sells computer equipment," Penny explained. "Then after that, maybe a visit to the Apple Store for another Mac Pro. Can't have too many of those lying around the house."

"Penny?" Claire had recovered enough and thanked the girl for recovering those files. "They made all the difference in the world."

"Oh it was nothing," she replied.

"Would you like to join us for dinner as a thank you?" Claire asked. "You seem to be hitting it off quite well with Tina."

"Yeah, it's like we've been friends since forever," Penny gushed.

You don't know the half of it, Vidia mused.

~O~

Outside of the Town Hall building Mr. Gold was called aside by Mayor Mills who had a few choice words for him. "What the hell are you doing? Why are you helping them?"

"Don't you have a task to perform?" Gold asked her, referring to his 'please' request in the courtroom.

"I'm taking care of it. I'm going to ask that little girl to beef up the hospital's computer security," she told him. "But that's not the point. Why are you helping them?"

"I have my reasons," he answered, obfuscating his intentions.

"And they are?"

"Mine."

"Please. Claire is indebted to you for quite the large sum," Regina stated. "It's no secret. So why help them? Why not just foreclose and throw them out on the street?"

"Because, Madame Mayor, if I foreclose I lose out on the money they owe me."

"So? You take possession of the house," Regina answered. "You're not really losing anything."

"Oh but I would," Gold explained. "Just who do you suppose will purchase that house? There doesn't seem to be a population explosion in Storybrooke at this very moment. With the passing of Sheriff Graham and the arrival of Deputy Swan this sleepy little town has only managed to break even on that account. So as you can see, allowing the Kensington family to remain in their home is quite beneficial to me. Good day, Madame Mayor."

Regina steamed at Gold's answer. With Mr. Gold fattening his pocket book was his guiding principle. But she knew him well enough to know that Gold never stopped there. He was like a master chess player, always seeking the advantage for the greater victory and he had all the patience in the world to let his gambits play out.

The question now: what was he playing at now?

Whew! Okay, this should do it. We'll get back on track in the upcoming chapter. Next up Episode 8: Desperate Souls.