All was quiet throughout the Hollow.

A little too quiet in Tinkerbell's opinion.

It was a mild spring afternoon. All of the deliveries had been made, all of the projects for the week had been completed ahead of schedule (thanks to Fairy Mary's insistent begging), and most of the Nook had been deserted for the remainder of the afternoon to prepare for the upcoming seasonal festival scheduled to take place later that season.

Tink did not like the stillness. It reminded her far too much of last time and the absolute last thing she wanted to be thinking about right now was that. Even though the incident (as the Hollow had come to call it, and for all they knew, that was all it had been) had happened almost a year ago, it still rang fresh in her mind. And they'd come close. So close to failure. It scared her to even think about it. Even a moment longer and things might have ended very differently. Well, she knew one thing; if Shade hadn't been stopped when he had, she was sure she wouldn't have been sitting here in the workshop now.

It was strange to think about it, even after all this time; how different things had been since that day. It was like Neverland had shed its skin and revealed its most intricate and darkest secrets into the light and now it was impossible to unsee the secondary world that had been uncovered to her.

The world of Protectors.

She saw it everywhere she went now. When she was walking alone through the seasons-or even when she was hard at work like she was now-it was all she could see. What secrets do these trees contain? she'd caught herself wondering more than once as she helped Fawn collect syrup from the Maples. How many generations have they stood, watching the Hollow defend itself? The same went for the stars. Did they shine over the fairy's kingdom hundreds of years ago? What kinds of stories would they tell, if they could?

And she saw it whenever she saw him. No longer was it just the nervous, uneasy smiles he would occasionally flash her way, assuring her that everything was okay-that they were okay. Or the way he seemed to shift toward her whenever they were working on the same project-a subtle reassurance that everything was all right, that everything was the way it was supposed to be.

But Tink didn't feel reassured. Not at all. One could not just drop the whole, "Oh, and by the way, I'm not really a tinker talent at all and I'm actually secretly capable of wielding all of the talents and it's my job to single-handedly protect the entire Hollow from destruction, sorry I didn't mention it before." and expect her to be okay with it.

She wasn't, for the record.

Not in the slightest.

Today was just one of those days, she decided, where everything seemed to be going so right that you could just sense that something was bound to go wrong sooner or later. It was only a matter of time. So, all she could do was sit at her little mushroom table and continue pounding away at her newest invention and wait for the inevitable proverbial straw that would break the camel's back.

Or maybe it would be an actual camel. It was difficult to tell anymore.

She sighed for probably the umpteenth time that day and laid her head in her hand, eyeing the mangled piece of metal she'd been attempting to unravel for the past hour. And what secrets do you have? she asked it. Any magical properties that you'd like to share?

Great. I'm talking to an inanimate object.

She probably should talk to someone about this-get some help for this...whateverthis was. But who could she talk to? Everyone who had learned the truth was either in on it or still reeling at the revelation themselves. And the Queen certainly did not have the time to listen to her ridiculous concerns. She needed to handle this on her own somehow. Her own way. By confronting the problem instead of running away.

Which made it extremely difficult when said problem appeared not two moments later, as though summoned by her thoughts, along with his abnormally loud best friend.

"Hiya, Tink!"

"'Morning, Miss Bell."

"Is it?" Tink asked absentmindedly, glancing up at the partially cloudy sky. "Huh, so it is."

The boys shared a glance. It was Clank who reacted first, uncharacteristically so, to come over and see what she was doing. "Whatcha working on, Miss Bell?" he asked by way of subject change. Tink noticed it but decided to play along anyway.

"Oh, nothing much," she answered, stiffening slightly as Bobble wandered a little closer, obviously believing the coast to be clear. "I found this thing on the beach yesterday and I think it's just what I need to finish the new plans for the Fairytale Theater. If I can get it to straighten out, that is."

"Why don't ye try meltin' it?"

Tink glanced slowly toward her red-headed friend who blinked back at her before abruptly looking away and pretending to fiddle with an acorn cap. She was mad at him. So mad. But he made a fair point. "Say that again?"

"Ah..." the sparrowman cautiously looked up from his fake concentration, already positioned to bolt at a moment's notice should she give even the slightest hint of irritation. "It's just...metal tends to...ye know...bend...when it gets hotter and..." He trailed off, his voice fading away to a nervous squeak once again. As soon as his attention was on something else, Tink frowned at him and went back to pondering her dilemma.

"What's wrong, Tink?" Clank inquired, catching on to her foul mood. "Are you thinking about something?"

Yes.

"No," she lied, straightening up and pulling the wad of metal closer so she could pretend she was focused on what she was doing and not her timider-than-a-mouse guildmate across the workshop. "What are you two doing here anyway? Fairy Mary gave everyone the afternoon off."

"Eh, Fairy Tag isn't really in our skillsets."

"We'd much rather stay here with ye," Bobble added, though he still sounded tentative. "Since ye aren't goin' either, it appears." He gestured to the metal as he sat down at a distant table and continue fiddling with the acorn, doing nothing at all with it but clearly trying to act like he was. "No sense in bein' alone on a day like this after all."

On a day like this. So she wasn't the only one who was thinking about it. He knew exactly what today was. He still felt guilty. She didn't say she could blame him.

"Erm...Tink?" Bobble went on, shooting Clank a nervous glance and then, upon receiving a go on gesture, taking a deep breath. "Can we...can we talk fer a moment?"

She looked at him. "Isn't that what we're doing?"

"Well, aye, but ye see," he stammered, already looking like he wanted nothing more than to turn around and get out of dodge as quickly as fairily possible. "I just wanted to...er...well, to put it simply...ah...are we good, Miss Bell? Ye and me?"

"Of course we are. Why wouldn't we be?" But the words sounded wrong. Robotic and automatic.

He noticed immediately. "Er, well, it's just...ye've been actin'...distant recently, Tink. Mebbe even a little hostile. I know it's my fault and ye're just watchin' out for yerself but I wanted ye to know that...well, that I'm sorry. I know I didn't give ye a lot of time to process after...after ye know...and I know...that ye probably have a lot on yer mind right now but I...I don't know. I wanted to make sure we were still...well, that ye didn't hate me."

"It's all right," she tried to shield, standing up and eying the metal distastefully. "I don't hate you. Where's this game supposed to be again? I think I could use the break anyway. Fairy Meadow?"

"Oh," Bobble blinked, drawing back as though he'd been stung as she breezed right past his attempts. "Uh, aye. It's just...just on the far side near...near the Autumn Woods and-"

But she wasn't listening to him anymore. Before he'd finished with his explanation, she was already out of the workshop and taking to the air. The boys watched her go and she could have sworn she heard Bobble heave a deep sigh.

I was a little harsh, she realized as she zipped into the Spring cherry blossoms, always in full bloom. He's been trying to apologize a lot lately. Maybe I should let him. He did save my lifeafter all.

That was her common sense, but at the same time, another part of her brain wanted to let him wallow in guilt for as long as possible. She promptly shoved that thought away and paused her flight to glance back over her shoulder toward the Nook, scanning for her friends. But the workshop was deserted. They'd already left.

Tink frowned. All right. I'll make sure to let him finish next time then.

But next time was not now. Now she needed somewhere with peace and quiet to think. Not a game of tag. It had been a hasty excuse, an escape to avoid any more blatantly obvious questions about how she was not coping well. It didn't matter that it had been nearly six months. At first, she'd been okay and cheerful and accepting. But then the reality of the truth set in as she replayed the event (as much of it as she could recall plus what the others had filled her in on later) repeatedly through her mind and the more she thought about it, the more she began to wonder what else he might have lied to her about.

On her arrival day, when he'd taken her hand and eagerly showed her the Hollow, was that when it began?

Or was it later? When they were working side by side on one of her crazy projects and he hadn't even tried to protest. Had he been holding back his abilities then as well?

And how in all of Neverland did Clank not figure it out? His literal best friend! The two of them had been inseparable since long before Tink arrived! Surely he must have noticed something or at least suspected something was off!

But no, Bobble had been careful. Too careful, Tink would even dare say. Perhaps that was what tripped him up in the end. He had grown too complacent, sure that no one would figure it out. Not after all this time. His secret, he thought, was safe forever.

And then along came Tink to blow all his plans up in his face.

It had been a stroke of absolute luck that she'd pieced together the truth. Well, luck and a little reminding from Terrence.

"The only season that hasn't been affected is Spring."

"And there are the garden-talents hard at work gettin' ready for my favorite season; spring!"

"Wait...ye don't think it was me, do ye?"

It had only taken a few words to throw off his entire game. He'd been clever, avoiding suspicion for so long. But even a fairy's luck had to run out eventually and she'd been there the moment his had done exactly that. She could still recall the look of utter horror on his face as he turned and found her standing there, ready to absolutely chew him out for all of the trouble he'd been causing.

But that was all history now. Because the danger was over. Shade was gone and the Hollow was safe. Bobble had sworn off his powers, determined to be exactly what he'd pretended for so long.

So why did Tink have this feeling that everything wasn't as right as it should be?

You're just imagining things, she told herself sternly as she flew past the borderline to Summer, several blossoms twirling to the earth in her wake. You're jumping at shadows and seeing things that aren't there. Take a few breaths. It's over. There are no more secrets. Everything is exactly how it should be.

Now, if only she could stand to hold an intelligent conversation with him again, then everything would be great.

"Tink! Hey, Tink! Wait up!"

Iridessa.

Hearing the shouts of the light-talent, Tink skidded to a halt and turned, spotting the trail of pixie dust belonging to her friend from a mile away. "Hi, Iridessa!" Tink said cheerfully, trying to shake away all of her negative emotions in the presence of one of her closest friends. "What's up?"

"Are you on your way to Sunflower Meadow?" the girl asked, panting a little as she finally caught up.

"Uh..." Tink glanced once more over her shoulder. "I was heading that way, yeah. Why?"

"I was just there," Iridessa explained. "The game's over early. Apparently, some of the mice got out and are running loose all over the field. They've sent for as much help as they can get to help round them up!"

"Again?" Tink groaned. "We just fixed their pens last week!"

"They're mice!" Iridessa reminded her, already moving into chasing mod as Tink took off like a shot for the meadow. "I don't have to be an animal-talent to tell you they like to nibble through things!"

"Agh!" Tink vocalized loudly, earning a laugh from Iridessa. Together they sped the rest of the way to summer where the chaos was already out of hand. Fairies were darting in every direction, trying to reign in the escapee mice. The rodents, in return, panicked and dove away from them, weaving in and out of the tall grass.

"Ohhhh boy..." Iridessa breathed, hovering closer to a tree to scout the situation. "Well, this looks like fun."

"Apparently we have very different opinions of fun," Tink muttered, the gears in her brain already turning as she searched for a solution to the rampaging mammals. Her eyes moved from the mice to the fairies to a collection of loose boards intended for the festival fireworks and an idea began to form. "That's it!" And she took off, diving for the chaos.

"Wait...what's it?" Iridessa yelled after her. "TINK? Oh, why do I even bother?"

Tink didn't hear her, already deep into the turmoil, dodging a water-talent and landing abruptly, spinning to scan her surroundings. Okay, okay. Think. Wood. Mice. Animal-talents. Where are the animal-talents? She glanced up but there was no sign of any of Fawn's guild.

Strange.

But there was no time to think about it. Things were so out of hand. Almost every talent was present, all attempting to stop the stampeding but also adding to the chaos, frightening the mice even more and sending them into a greater frenzy.

Oooookkkaaayyyy, so this isn't good.

Wood. Build corral. Hurry! Ah! Where are the animal-talents already! How can there not be even one here?

Groaning, Tink twisted once more toward the wood steaks. Okay, let's do this!

It took her a total of four seconds to dart from one portion of the meadow to the other plus about ten more to dodge the oncoming wall of fairies. She even spotted Cheese and his brother Coby scrambling through the mix, but they didn't hear her when she called for them.

"INCOMING!" came a sudden shriek behind her. "MAKE WAY!"

"Whoa!" Tink cried, ducking as a mouse charged right for her, changing course at the last possible second and nearly tripping over his own paws in his haste to dodge the fast-flying talents in hot pursuit.

"Sorry, Tinkerbell!" one of the fairies called as she zipped past the mouse to try and cut him off.

Tink grabbed the first board she came to, heaving it away from the rest. It was nearly three times her size and far too heavy, she quickly realized, dropping it and trying to drag it instead. It was not a one fairy job, but she didn't have much choice.

"Tink!"

"Hey, Tink! Need some help?"

Blurs of color whizzed past and Tink turned as Rosetta and Vidia appeared at her side, immediately moving to grab the opposite end of the board and hoist it into the air.

"Thanks, girls!" Tink exclaimed. "Come on! Over this way!"

"Lead the way!" Rosetta called.

Together they dragged the post across the meadow and stuck it straight up and down in the earth. Several mice dove to the side, their tails nearly taking out the three fairies as they passed.

"All right! Now back for the others!" Tink instructed. "We're making a ring! A big one!"

"Got it!"

Iridessa darted down to join them, her gaze darting from her friends to the surrounding chaos and back again. "Okay, guys, I hate to be that cloud of gloom, especially since I know you all hate it, but...do you think you could maybe hurry up a little?"

"Why don't you come down here and help us, then?" Vidia grunted, nearly dropping the board. "This isn't that light, you know."

"Oh! Right!"

The fast-flying talent rolled her eyes, regaining her grasp on the wood and heaving it above her head, earning a yelp from Rosetta as the garden-talent was hoisted momentarily into the air, muttering about how she hated being shorter.

"Almost there!" Tink called, and the group immediately moved into position to stab this steak into the ground as well.

And a scream pierced the chaos.

Immediately, the girls whipped around, searching for the source of the cry. Vidia found her first- a relatively new light-talent who apparently had been hit with water during the game. She was hopping along, trying to get above the trampling paws of the mice but unable to fly due to the dampness of her wings.

And a mouse was stampeding right toward her with no signs of even seeing her there.

"Oh no!" Iridessa gasped, dropping the board immediately-right onto Rosetta's foot.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" the girl yelped, pushing it away and hopping around, hissing curses, mostly about flowers and wilting.

"Everybody get back!" Vidia yelled, already planting her feet and preparing herself to launch at full speed.

At that moment, something clicked inside of Tink. She wasn't sure if it was the pure adrenaline or the fact that she was closer than Vidia, but she didn't hesitate, letting go of the board as well and streaking away as quickly as she could-

-right toward the fairy and the mouse.

"TINKERBELL!" Vidia bellowed, her voice reaching the blond but falling on deaf ears as the tinker just pushed herself harder to fly faster. Possibly harder than she had ever done in her life. Everything around her disappeared into a blur and the next thing she knew, she collided head-on with the fairy, the force of her impact sending the two sprawling to the earth and tumbling away from the mouse's path.

Heavy frantic paw steps charged past them and vanished into the weeds a short distance away and Tink was the first to cautiously glance up, breathing heavily as she moved away from the light-talent whom she could feel trembling underneath her. "Illuma, are you all right?" she asked urgently.

"Y-yes, f-fine," the girl stammered, staring up at her with wide eyes. "T-thank you."

"Tink!"

"Tinkerbell! You had better have a good explanation for yourself!"

Her friends rushed up a moment later, all panicked and shaking. Vidia mostly with rage, as Tink slowly stood up, brushing the dirt from her dress.

"Tink!" Iridessa gasped. "You were so fast! I didn't know you could move that quickly!"

"I didn't know I could either," Tink admitted through her pants. "I just...did what had to be done."

"You should have left it to me, Tink," Vidia huffed, crossing her arms and glaring as Iridessa hurried off to help her guildmate. "I'm the fast-flying fairy. Me. You should leave the hero business to the professionals who know what they are doing!"

Tink wanted to argue. She wanted to snap back and tell Vidia how wrong she was, but she was too tired. Besides, there were still mice to round up.

And speaking of which, the sounds of dozens of wings filled the already turbulent air and she dared a brief glance toward the sky, relieved to see the multitude of orange.

"Oh, great!" Rosetta commented, limping over, still rubbing her sore foot. "The Animal-talents are here!"