Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrooke
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon A Time Crossover
Season 1, Episode 8, Chapter 5

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Claire's good mood was instantly spoiled when she came home to find Tina and Penny sitting in the upstairs hallway, the washing machine pulled aside, its back plate against the wall and grease on the carpet.

"What happened here?" Claire shrieked. "You said everything was fine?"

Tina had little choice but tell her mother what she had done. This made Claire furious. First, she excused Penny telling her it was best if she went home. Once alone Claire lit into her youngest. "I told you to wash clothes, not ask your sister to do it."

"She needed to learn," Tina said hoping to come up with some kind of defense.

"And she will, under my supervision and I certainly won't just give her some instructions and leave her alone," Claire replied. "I told Hartley how proud I was of you and your sense of responsibility. Then I come home to this. I am so disappointed in you, Tina."

Those words cut Tina to the quick. They were spoken often in this house, but they had always been directed at Valerie. Now they were being spoken to her. At this moment Tina wished she had her old sister back if for no other reason than Valerie made Tina look like a saint by comparison.

Claire huffed and sighed and face palmed all the while trying not to lose her temper. "All right, what's wrong with it?"

Tina didn't answer at first, still feeling the sting from her mother's scolding.

"Well?!"

"The transmission is shot, I think" Tina finally uttered. "We need a new one."

Claire groaned loudly. "I don't need this right now. Okay, okay. Can you replace it?"

"Yes," Tina barely answered.

"Good, tomorrow we go to the repair shop and order one," Claire told her. "In the meantime we'll just have to wash our clothes at the Laundromat. Now put everything back and clean up this mess." Claire pointed at the grease that had been worked into the carpet. "Scrub this out with the steam machine. We can't afford a new carpet."

Claire went to Valerie's room, but before entering she added, "And next time use a drop cloth."

Tina put the broken machine back together just enough so it could be pushed back into the closet. Then she used the industrial carpet steam cleaner normally employed for onsite jobs to remove the grease stains. In the meantime Claire and Vidia went downstairs to prepare an evening meal for the two girls.

~O~

"What about you?" Vidia asked.

"I, uh, I had dinner with Mr. Winter," Claire told her. "While my clothes were drying."

"Great! Good," Vidia said, nearly leaping out of her shoes with excitement. "You and Lord Milori are meant for each other."

Claire, who was already upset, slammed down the knife she was using to cut vegetables and nearly exploded. "I am not a queen of anything, Valerie. I am Claire Kensington. A widowed mother raising two daughters trying to do something I was never trained to do. Hartley Winter isn't some Lord of the Rings or fairy man. He repairs air conditioners. Tina is not Tinker Bell, and you are not a rocket powered fairy. You are Valerie Kensington, a baby girl we adopted. This is who we are, that is all we are. Now please just drop it."

The harshness in Claire's tone was painful for Vidia to hear. Queen Clarion never allowed her emotions to bubble to the surface. She was always the model of assured grace under pressure. Claire on the other hand always seemed at wits end. Of course, it had only been two weeks since Vidia had woken up in this human city one hundred years into the future. She had no idea of what Claire was like prior to recent events.

Still, to listen to her queen act in such a hurtful way was despairing. Vidia knew she was going to have a hard time muddling through it all. She decided then to act somewhat diplomatically. "Who was Val…, I mean who was I… before…"

Claire's upset mood colored her words as she spat them out. "You were an obnoxious girl who refused to take orders, talked back all the time and wasn't the slightest bit grateful for what I was trying to do for you."

Vidia softened the blow of those words with a bit of snarky humor. "That's me alright. Guess I haven't changed much."

"That's not funny," Claire hissed. "That is not one damn bit funny. Valerie may have been a thorn in my side, but she was my baby girl and I loved her. You? I don't know who the hell you are."

After that neither talked much except to finish cooking.

~O~

Upstairs Tina was in a pouty mood, still angry with how her mother treated her. She called up Blake. "Do you still want to take me to the stables?"

"Yeah, sure," Blake answered, excited to hear this news. "When?"

"Tomorrow. Pick me up after school. Mom thinks I'm going to study with a friend. She'll never know."

"Okay, see you then."

PIXIE HOLLOW, NEVER LAND (The Early Edwardian Period)

They had, at one time, been Pixie Hollow's most adorable couple. Tinker Bell and Terence. For many seasons they had danced around their feelings for each other. It was the worst keep secret in the entire realm of the Never Fairies. When these two young ones finally declared their love for each other it was as if the entire Hollow released its collective breath. Finally, they were together.

It was expected that their love would last. They had been friends for so long, they had cared deeply for each other and supported each other in their individual endeavors. They were a match so perfect that only the queen and her true love Lord Milori could surpass them in that regard.

Thus it came as a complete and utter shock when Tinker Bell and Terence had their first public argument. It was expected that any new couple would endure growing pains in the early months of their relationship. This argument, though, was explosive and seethed with anger, resentment and pent up frustration. This wasn't a minor tiff that flowers and chocolates could smooth over. This was the utter disintegration and dissolution of what should have been a grand love affair.

Tink was known for her wild mood swings. She was a super talented genius and, like Vidia another super talent, could be very temperamental. Terence on the other hand was almost the total opposite. He was patient, kind, generous to a fault, loving, caring and seemed to have a knack for dealing with Tink's depressing lows and joyous highs.

Yet when they burst into a raging argument over seemingly petty things, the tone spoke of a deeper problem. One that was systemic and threatened to destroy the very love that had brought them together.

Tink was beset by the greatest fear any tinker could have. Nothing to fix, nothing to invent, nothing to challenge her intellect. She was rendered useless by her own devices. Most guilds welcomed her bigger inventions, ideas that improved workflow or allowed for the faster production of supplies, but many of her smaller ideas used at the point of production were rejected by guilds that found that these machines diminished the quality of their output. Trading away originality for blasé uniformity. The skills of craftsmanship and artistry were robbed by these things and every guild that received them disavowed every last one. This left Tinker Bell feeling unwanted, unchallenged and without use or worth.

Terence, on the other hand, was being pulled in every direction. He was a dust keeper, and was training rigorously as Fairy Gary's assistant which in and of itself was like two jobs in one. His responsibilities began with developing schedules for each day, then mapping routes, determining how much dust to produce daily and ensuring its proper distribution to every fairy and every guild and also to the monarchy which had its own purposes for the dust.

At the end of each day he was also in charge of clean up, doggedly recovering every last grain of their precious dust. To make matters worse, there was a population explosion on the mainland. More babies being born meant more new fairies arriving. This stretched the available supply of pixie dust thinner and thinner each year. Fairy Gary suggested that if this trend continued they may not be able to produce enough dust to go around within twenty five years or so.

When he could, Terence assisted Zarina with her alchemy classes. As Zarina's best and most creative graduate he visited regularly to teach her new students by sharing his own creative processes to help inspire them.

This dedication to his guild meant he had no time for Tinker Bell or her mood swings. He had always been a steadying force in her life, but no longer. When she came to him seeking sympathy and a shoulder to cry on he was swamped with work and had no patience for her. What little time they could spend with each other almost always ended in an argument over priorities, needs and time. Those clashes were always kept private and no one knew how badly their relationship had deteriorated until they burst into fits of screaming accusations in public.

"Is that all you ever think about," Tinker Bell shrieked, "your job."

"It's important to me," Terence barked in reply. "It's all I've ever wanted in my life."

"Oh? And what about me? You don't care about me anymore?"

"Here it comes, the guilt trip," Terence groaned.

"My life is turned upside down and you don't even care!"

"Oh well excuuuse me! Tinker Bell is having one of her little fits. Okay, everyone. Drop whatever you are doing and let us all give her a great big hug so she doesn't have to feel so bad."

"You are so mean, Terence."

"Hey, if you didn't take everything so flapping personally you wouldn't need someone to rush to your side every five seconds. Now do us all a favor and get over yourself."

Tinker Bell wept. "I hate you!" she shouted.

"Yeah, well I hate you more!" Terence shouted back.

Rosetta, Vidia, Bolt, Stone and all of their friends and guild mates were blindsided by what they heard. Rosetta tried to comfort Tinker Bell, but she wanted no part of the garden fairy's useless platitudes. Stone tried to talk with Terence, but he had schedules to make, delivery routes to assign and pixie dust to ration.

Queen Clarion was absolutely flabbergasted when she heard the news. "They've grown apart," she surmised correctly. "They need each other more than ever and can't even stand still long enough to realize this."

"Yes, they've spent nary a day together in the past two seasons," Fairy Mary told her best friend, the queen. "Tinker Bell has been so depressed lately she's hardly ever at work. What are we going to do?"

Clarion took it upon herself to act as counselor between the two former lovebirds. Unfortunately the sessions always ended up the same: shouting, recriminations and accusations of heartless ambition and overblown drama.

It all looked so bleak for them. If the queen could not remedy their relationship, what hope did they have?

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

Success. With the dagger in his possession and hidden in the folds of his clothing, Rumpelstiltskin stole away into the night. The fires in the Duke's castle providing just enough light for him to navigate through the forest to make good his escape.

Baelfire greeted him a safe distance away. "Father are you alright?" the boy asked.

"Yes, Bae, I'm fine. Now please go home," the boy was told. Baelfire did as instructed. Though he was clearly worried for his father.

Now that he was alone Rumpelstiltskin removed the kris dagger from its hiding place. The power this dagger represented would change his life and his fortunes. Ever since being branded a coward for running away during the Ogre Wars he had lost his wife, was shunned by his friends and suffered the resentment of those who lost loved ones in the war. There were even merchants and villagers who refused to do business with him for this reason alone. Rumpel and his son moved frequently hoping to escape his stigma, but no matter where he went in the Duke's realm, his reputation would always find him.

Tonight everything would change for the better. All that was needed was to summon the Dark One. A glance at the dagger revealed the true name of this powerful wizard. Zoso.

Rumpel called out that name. "Zoso. Zoso I summon thee."

Suddenly the Dark One appeared. Dressed in black clothing, his face was partially obscured by the magic that coursed through him.

"I have the dagger," Rumpel stated, showing it to the black mage.

"So you do," Zoso replied. His voice sounded like death itself.

"I command you," Rumpel said to him. He made his voice loud trying to project an authority he did not have. It was plainly obvious that he was afraid of the powerful wizard that was at his beck and call.

"What would you have me do?" It was a straightforward question to which Rumpelstiltskin could not provide a straight forward answer. Thus he remained silent, too frightened to speak and too petrified to run.

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Early the next morning, the first thing Claire did was wake Vidia and apologize for last night. "I am so sorry for how I acted," she said. "I was very angry at Tina for so many things. I should not have taken it out on you." Her tone was honest, but not particularly heartfelt.

Tina was dropped at school. Claire then picked up Paul and Ben to continue work at the Town Hall. Claire just hoped she could withstand another verbal assault from Mayor Mills. Strangely it didn't come today leaving Claire confused, but relieved.

~O~

By lunch time news that Emma Swan had been jailed at the age of eighteen for possession of stolen property with intent to sell spread throughout town thanks to an article in the local paper. Her prison mug shot was splashed across the front page. The lead article also detailed how she gave birth to Henry while in prison and gave him up for adoption because she had no life to offer him while she was an inmate.

Upon reading this article Claire was left feeling dubious about the candidate she had chosen to back in the upcoming election. A prison record meant that Emma had made serious mistakes in her past. This did not mean she was still the same person, but did anyone really know?

~O~

After school let out Emma met up with Henry at Granny's Diner. He was reading the paper. "Is this true?" he asked her. The article was written by Sydney Glass and Henry knew better than to trust anything he wrote.

Unfortunately, Emma had to admit that it was all true. He looked disappointed. "This is why good can't beat evil because good doesn't do this kind of thing. You can't win against my mom, she's evil. She always plays dirty."

"I have a new ally, Mr. Gold is going to help," Emma said with confidence.

Henry was horrified by this news. "Mr. Gold? He's even worse," he told her. He was very worried that Emma, already owing him one favor, may end up owing him another.

Her reaction told him all he needed to know. She had not thought about that aspect of this agreement. She just wanted to beat Regina and might have gotten in over her head.

~O~

Blake picked up Tina from school and brought her to the stables. He met with a friend who gave them the full tour. He pointed out every aspect of how the horses were cared for, fed and housed. Tina was shown proper equine etiquette and then was allowed to pet and then later brush one of the horses.

In the infirmary, the two were shown a horse and her new foal. The tiny creature had not yet stood up and was being encouraged by its mother. When the tour ended Tina was given a special treat arranged by Blake himself.

She rode a horse for the first time in her life. The instructor who accompanied her was surprised at how well she managed. "Most new riders tend to bounce all over their saddles, but you were like a seasoned pro. You sure you've never done this before?" the instructor asked.

"Yeah, never. I've never even seen a horse up close before," Tina said, her enthusiasm bubbling over after the experience.

"Well, what did you think?" Blake asked the blond.

"That was great!" she bubbled. "We have to do this again!"

Blake smiled. This was her best day in a long time.

~O~

Tina was dropped off minutes before Claire and Vidia returned home from working at the Town Hall. Claire had sealed and stacked all the containers and drums of solvent and paint against the wall next to the stairs. Plastic and placards were left hanging to protect their work as they left it to try overnight. She then made sure every can and drum was tightly sealed before leaving for the day. Regina was still in her office working late when they left for the evening. No one in Claire's work detail would be subjected to more of her disparaging words. At least not tonight.

Claire picked up Tina and drove to the repair store to order the transmission for the washing machine. As it turned out, no new parts could be purchased as the manufacturer was now long defunct. Only rebuilt parts were available. Fortunately, the owner of the store had a couple in stock and offered a small discount in exchange for the non-working transmission. "I sell them off to be rebuilt," he told them. The worried look on their faces prompted him to offer a one year warranty at no extra charge.

On the drive home Claire noticed a bright glow coming from the center of town. It illuminated the night sky.

"Where is that coming from?" she asked.

"It looks like the Town Hall," Vidia answered.

"Oh no…"

~O~

Emma Swan barged into Mayor Mills' office… again. This time with the newspaper in hand.

"This was a Juvie Record," Emma told Regina point blank. Emma's juvenile prison records were sealed by law. Only a court order could unseal them and only with sufficient reason. A minor election in a small town shouldn't have been sufficient.

"What's wrong? Afraid people will learn you cut Henry's cord with a shiv?" Regina answered back in a most smug tone. "Well anyway, you can always explain yourself at the debate."

"Debate?" Emma asked, confused. There was to be a debate held in the auditorium of Town Hall. "I hope you'll be ready for it, Ms. Swan."

Emma's concern wasn't so much for herself, but for Henry. "How does it look to him to see his adopted mother and birth mother fighting it out like this?"

Henry was in therapy, was the mayor's reply. Regina, however, seemed to be more concerned with whom Emma had turned to for help with her campaign. "You should be more careful with who you get in bed with?"

"I'm not getting into bed with anyone," Emma replied as they descended the stairs, passing directly in front of where Claire was storing her solvents and paint cans for the night. "I'm just fighting fire with fi-."

BOOM!

A powerful explosion knocked the two women off their feet and set the walls of the Town Hall ablaze. Emma got to her feet immediately, but Regina couldn't, her ankle was injured. Flames blocked their escape path to the front doors. Emma could run through unharmed, but Regina could not. She would be forced to hobble slowly through the flames and suffer burns if she tried.

Emma disappeared through a doorway, seeming to leave Regina to her fate. Seconds later, though, she returned with a fire extinguisher to clear a path so both women could escape safely from the burning building.

Fire trucks arrived seconds later to put out the fires while Sydney Glass and his photographer took pictures of Emma rescuing the mayor. "No, you idiot," Regina growled. "She's the competition."

Crowds of onlookers quickly gathered to witness the spectacle and determine if anyone was hurt. Claire was horrified to see the building she had been working so hard to restore now in flames. All that time and effort wasted. She also gave thought to what would happen to her contract. Would she even have a job tomorrow morning?

As soon as word spread among the onlookers that Emma had rescued the mayor from the burning building they crowded around her and began offering their help in the campaign. Juvenile record or not, Emma had proven she was a true hero at heart. She even used this to bolster Henry's spirits, showing him that good could defeat evil without resorting to dirty tricks.

"Maybe you're right?" he said. And he smiled, the first smile she had seen on his face in days.

~O~

When the firefighters began to remove charred wood and debris from the building Emma spotted something among the rubble. It was a tightly wrapped piece of something that stuck out like a sore thumb. When she picked it up Emma quickly recognized it was wool. The smell it gave off was extremely pungent… and quite familiar.

She knew right away this fire wasn't an accident.

Whew, this chapter really covered a lot of territory didn't it? I hope you have enjoyed following along so far. Thank you for reading.