Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrook
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon a Time Crossover
Season 1, Episode 9, Chapter 4

LONDON, ENGLAND (Late Victorian Period)

"This is… incredible!" Periwinkle said completely overwhelmed by everything she saw. "What's that?" Her first visit to the mainland and she was already a tourist.

"That is a tower clock," Spike told her. "The humans call it Big Ben."

Peri, Spike, Gliss and a few of their friends and guild mates took a nice, leisurely spin around the giant clock. The youngster marveled at its size, design and construction. Spike just rolled her eyes at the new girl and her wide eyed amazement. "Newbies."

From Big Ben the frost fairies flew down to ground and began applying frost to every bare tree, bush and shrub they could find. Their frozen water crystals glistened in the moonlight making the ground and surrounding area twinkle like the stars in the night sky.

The snowflake fairies, meanwhile, dropped their cargo upon the city blanketing the streets and sidewalks in a pristine, white blanket. Slush and his friends flew up to roofs, branches and stairs and any place where they could form long, slender icicles. Then together they froze the puddles, ponds and lakes throughout London and the countryside.

"I wonder what this city looks like in the spring or summer," Periwinkle asked no one in particular.

"I hear it is a lovely place," Snowflake, the Minister of Winter answered her.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you there," Peri apologized.

By dawn the winter fairies had nearly completed their annual ritual. Outside the city limits, Sled and his crew deposited many of the animals shipped across the waters. They released snow shoe rabbits, weasels and many more creatures, all in their white winter coats.

Snowflake, who was riding a snowy owl, perched her ride atop a tall roof. She surveyed the work of her winter pixies and was satisfied with the result. "Brilliant, as always," she said. Periwinkle alighted next to her.

"How do you like the city?" the minister asked.

"I love it here," she said. "I can see so many animals not found in the Winter Woods. Sled told me all about horses, pigs, chickens, goats, dogs and cats. But what are these strange, green plants that grow in circles and hang above the city streets?"

"That, my dear, are decorations for a festive holiday the humans celebrate during winter," Snowflake answered. "They call it Christmas. It is an annual event that remembers the birth of a very important human whom many believe to be a deity."

"How interesting. That wasn't in any of Dewey's books."

"No, I suppose it isn't."

Periwinkle peered into windows and saw lovely decorations, lighted candles and more of the green wreaths the minister had told her about. She wanted so desperately to fly down and explore even further, but as the first light peered across the eastern sky humans began to stir and walk about in their heavy coats.

Then Periwinkle asked a very awkward question. She wanted to know why the Minister of Winter was the only winter fairy who could cross the border.

"There is an old legend in Dewey's library," Snowflake told her, "about a great betrayal eons ago during the reign of Queen Titania the Great, the first queen of Pixie Hollow. Some say the betrayal come about from jilted love, while others think it was an act of cold blooded vengeance. No one knows for certain, except that it permanently scarred our world and separated the Winter Woods from the warm seasons forever. According to that legend, the first Minister of Winter was in the warm seasons attending to the queen when the upheaval occurred. Because of this fact she was the only winter fairy spared the change that prevented warm and winter fairies from crossing over. Ever since then every Minister of Winter has had the privilege of full access to all of Pixie Hollow. However, we do not exhort ourselves above the others of the Winter Woods lest it lead to anger and hatred."

"Do you believe in that legend?" Periwinkle asked.

"No. It is only a myth," Snowflake replied. "Strangely, though, it is the only explanation we have."

Periwinkle sighed. Why was she born a frost fairy? Permanently confined to the cold stark world of the Winter Woods and unable to live up to the lofty expectations of her talent glow?

"Let's go, young one," the minister instructed, "we have to find winter camp."

Winter camp was where the winter fairies rested for the day. Visiting the mainland was not a single night endeavor. When the sun rose it would begin to warm the earth and melt their work. When nightfall came the next evening the winter fairies would venture out into the world of humans again to refreeze the ponds and make new icicles. Another layer of frost would be laid down and more snowflakes would be dropped on the city and countryside. This process would continue until winter was firmly established. Then the fairies would return to Pixie Hollow, exhausted but satisfied with a full season's work under their belts.

"Then you and your friends can relax until the end of spring," Snowflake remarked. "There is so much fun to be had sledding, skiing and engaging in snowball fights."

"Do you do those things," Periwinkle asked during their flight to the camp sight.

"Oh no, I'm a minister, I must always present myself with the utmost decorum, but you can have all the fun you want."

"How do ministers relax after a long season?"

"Oh, we have our ways," Snowflake answered with a wry smile.

~O~

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Emma Swan had found the man Mr. Gold had told her about: Michael Tillman. She explained about the two children and informed him that they were his flesh and blood.

"That's impossible," Tillman answered her. "I don't have any children." He confided that he had been with the woman who was their mother only once.

"Once is all it takes," Emma reminded him.

Tillman explained that he had a hard enough time managing the garage, he certainly couldn't take care of two children. Emma countered by saying that a few weeks ago a boy she had never met appeared at her door and declared she was his mother. She brought him back and ended up moving to Storybrooke for his sake. She was worried about him and his welfare. Emma then offered to have Michael meet the boy and girl, but declined and went back to working on a car in the garage.

Sheriff Swan now had no choice, if Michael Tillman refused to accept the two children into his home she would have to drive them to Boston where they would be separated. Emma promised it would not happen, but her options were running out.

~O~

Tina was waiting at home when Claire arrived. Penny, however, was not at the house. Tina was supposed to be with the little blonde nerd, her new BFF as Tina had begun to call her. Claire had to ask around to find out what BFF meant.

"Where is your best forever friend?" Claire asked.

"That's 'best friend forever'," Tina corrected. "She couldn't make it today."

"Oh, she wasn't feeling well?"

"Uh..., no she was just kind of busy and stuff. Yeah, busy."

Tina's hesitation made Claire a bit suspicious. Those suspicions were fully realized when she checked her phone messages. Martha's Mexican Food called to say Tina had left her knit cap behind. Her name and number had been stitched into it since she was just a little girl. Claire dialed them up to ask them to hold it until she could come and pick it up. When she asked, Claire found out Tina had been asked to leave when she and a young man had gotten into an argument. The description of the young man matched up with Blake, the garbage collector who had taken an interest in her daughter.

She then called up Penny who said Tina called to tell her she couldn't make it today because she was on a date with Blake. That was enough. Claire had very specifically told young Tina not to see that man and she had deliberately gone behind her back. Claire went back down stairs.

"Tina," she began, not sounding angry, "Martha's Mexican Food called, you left your knit cap there."

"Huh?" Tina looked around for it, "I guess I left it there when I met with Clarence."

"Clarence? Are you two together again?"

"Yeah, I figured he's learned his lesson."

"Okay. Oh and could you answer one more question? What's a bronie?"

Tina gasped.

"Oh yes. The manager was kind enough to describe what happened. And Penny said you were out on a date with Blake. I told you not to date that man. He is too old for you!"

"Don't worry, I won't be dating him again," Tina replied. "He's a weirdo."

"I don't care, I gave you instructions not to see him," Claire said with a raised tone of voice. "Now why did you defy me and sneak around behind my back?"

"Because I'm a grown woman," Tina snapped back. "I can make my own decisions and do as I please."

"You are sixteen years old," Claire responded. "You are still a little girl."

"Stop calling me that," Tina yelled. "I am not a girl. I did this to show you I am a grown up."

"Now you listen to me, Little Miss, I am your mother and as long as you live under my roof you will obey my rules," Claire growled. "You are grounded for a month. Now go to your room where you will do nothing except study."

"You can't do that," Tina roared.

"Yes! I! Can!" Claire said with emphasis. "Now go before I take you over my knee."

Tina grabbed up all of her books, tears streaming down her cheeks. As she ran up the stairs she yelled back, "I hate you. You've ruined Christmas."

"One more word out of you and I'll ruin Groundhog's Day, too," Claire snapped. Claire walked to the kitchen, mumbling to herself. "I ruined Christmas? You're the one who disobeyed me. That just proves you are not an adult. And who do you think you are telling me you can do as you please? I'm your mother, I brought you into this world and I can take you out. Don't believe me? Just try it."

~O~

Though told to do nothing other than study, the very moment Tina slammed shut the door to her room she grabbed her cell phone and called someone. "Clarence? I want to do it. Tomorrow after school. ... What do you mean do what? Have sex. … Yes I'm sure. I've never been more certain about anything in my life."

~O~

THE ENCHANTED FOREST

Hansel and Gretel returned safely to the queen's castle, their hard won prize in hand. When Regina received the small, leather satchel she removed an apple from it. Not just any apple, she told them, but a weapon. A weapon for most deserving foe. What she had the two recover from The Blind Witch was a poisoned apple that she intended to use on Snow White to get her revenge.

Satisfied with their work, the queen offered to house the two children in her own castle where they would have all the creature comforts and an army of servants at their disposal. She would be like their mother. They declined.

"We want our father back," Gretel replied.

"Why? I can give you everything," Regina asked.

"Because we're family," Gretel told Regina outright. "Family always finds each other."

Regina was enraged by their answer. "Very well, let's see if you can find your father now." With a whirl of her hand Hansel and Gretel were enveloped in a cloud of magic smoke. Seconds later they were deposited into the forest, lost and alone. All they had was each other and their father's compass as a guide.

~O~

LONDON, ENGLAND (The Late Victorian Period)

The sun had indeed undone all their winter wonders as it had done several days prior. Peri and her friends reapplied frost to trees, shrubs and bushes. Icicles were reformed; ponds, lakes and streams were frozen deeper than before; and the city was doused in another layer of snow.

This was their last day on the mainland before returning to Pixie Hollow. Periwinkle was going to miss this wonderful place and decided to get a closer look. She flew up and around the wreaths and garlands that hung between buildings. There were bells that jingled and inside homes were trees decorated with all manner of shiny objects. In one house people were gathered and engaged in festivities. The adults drank something poured from a large bowl while the children opened boxes wrapped in colorful paper. From these lovingly decorated packages they extracted toys and quickly embraced two older humans, a man and woman.

"Those are the mother and father," Sled told her.

"What are they doing?" Periwinkle asked.

"They're exchanging gifts," the tall, dark haired sparrow man explained. "It's what they do every year on this day."

"Why?"

"It's part of the tradition of their Christmas holiday."

"I wish we could exchange gifts every winter season," Periwinkle said.

"I think you have to be a human," Sled told her. She was strangely fascinated with the world of humans, like no other fairy he knew.

Periwinkle continued to watch while the young humans played with their toys as the mother and father looked on with smiles on their faces. It dawned upon the little frost fairy that the parents derived fulfillment from watching their children play having fun.

After several minutes Periwinkle abandoned the window and moved on to other homes and businesses. While flitting through she noticed something on the ground. Snow did not fall there as it was protected by an awning. She flew down and picked it up. It was a thin strip of metal with long loop set over a shorter one (paperclip). Peri didn't know what it was, but she decided to take it with her.

~O~

Spike was given the duty of ensuring all the frost fairies checked in before the contingent of winter fairies returned to Pixie Hollow. Everyone was accounted for except for one. Periwinkle.

"Now where is she?" Spike, accompanied by Gliss, zipped off to their assigned sector and searched for the wayward youngster. They located her on the ground studying something. It was reddish in color, round (sort of) and it could stretch.

"Look at this," Periwinkle said with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Oh oh oh, I know what that is," Gliss babbled. "Oh it's a, it's a red, round, stretching thing."

"Nothing gets by you, does it?" Spike remarked in her usually snippy tone.

"What does it do?" Gliss asked Periwinkle. Peri pulled it one way and then stretched it the other. Then Gliss got the idea to grab one end of the stretching thing while Periwinkle held down the other. Gliss flitted up, pulling it taught.

"Hey, guys, we need to get back to Pixie Hollow," Spike told them, remembering her duty.

"Yeah, Spike..., ungh..., in one..., ngh... second," Gliss replied while pulling as hard as she could. Then the red, stretching thing slipped out from under Periwinkle's feet flipping her over. It zipped past Gliss, hitting Spike square in the gut and knocking her halfway into the street.

"Spike!" Gliss yelled. She flew out to her friend who was gripping her stomach and grimacing. "OOOOWWW! THAT HURTS!"

"Are you okay, Spike," Periwinkle asked, setting down next to her.

"I'll let you know when the pain stops," Spike groused through clenched teeth. Periwinkle recovered the stretchy thing and picked up the other items she had collected. Four of the slim metal loops, two buttons, a coin with the image of a dour looking woman in funeral attire and lastly a long and slender hair pin.

The threesome returned to the waiting group of winter fairies. Spike had to recheck that all of her guild were still there. She then reported in to her guild overseer who in turn reported to the Minister of Winter.

Moments later came the call.

"Away, my winter fairies," Snowflake yelled from atop her snowy owl. "Away and back to Pixie Hollow."

The winter owl launched into the air with hundreds of fairies and white feathered owls following behind.

"Time to go," Spike told her friends. She almost seemed a bit down at the prospect of going home so soon. Periwinkle realized she wasn't the only one who enjoyed this annual trip. The mass of fairies slipped through the air as the first rays of morning light began to peak over the eastern horizon.

Periwinkle, with her arms wrapped around her treasured human items, took one last look at the human city she was leaving behind. She couldn't wait for next winter.

Enjoy. Thank you for reading.