The fairies met at the border to the Winter Woods at sunrise the next morning. The frost-talents were already waiting impatiently by the time the others managed to get there and Spike exhaled loudly, propelling herself off of her branch and sending a shower of powdered snow onto Peri and Gliss as they rushed to meet their friends.
"You made it!" Gliss cheered, not seeming at all phased by the bucketful of white plummeting on her head,
"Finally," Spike commented, folding her arms and fluttering over after her excited guildmates. "What took you guys so long? We were beginning to wonder if you were even gonna show up!"
"Yeah, sorry. Our riddles were a...little trickier," Fawn explained, giving her friends a sidelong glance. Rosetta and Silvermist stared on blankly while Iridessa bit her lower lip and looked up to Clank who nervously fiddled with their clue. Only Vidia seemed to display a different emotion; pure annoyance.
"You didn't find yours either, did you?" Peri guessed, noticing their forlorn expressions.
Rosetta winced and shook her head. "No," she replied. "None of us did."
"We've looked everywhere too!" Sil added, pushing her way to the front of the group. "And when we couldn't find ours, we even switched clues and we still couldn't find them!"
"Almost like they were..." Spike began.
"Never there in the first place?" Vidia scoffed. "Yeah, we figured that much out on our own."
"But...if they weren't where they were supposed to be...then what happened to them?" Iridessa wondered.
"And here's a better question; where are they now?"
"Well," Scarab remarked, and the earth shook with a resounding clash of thunder, "We're here."
The rain had finally drifted beyond them, leaving only a faint drizzle in its wake, more than enough to keep them both uncomfortable, but leaving their wings somewhat dry for the most part. Bobble fingered his jacket uncertainly and Scarab, glancing his way, noticed this.
"This is as far as we go on foot," she warned him. "Kyto resides at the very top of the mountain, in the cave furthest from the sun." She pointed in the direction she meant, but even squinting, the tinker could not distinguish where that cavern was. "We're going to have to fly to get there," she rephrased, turning back to face him with a frown. "Are you sure you can do this? Your wings are...in pretty bad shape. I don't want you to push yourself more than you have to."
"No," Bobble answered, still gazing up nervously at the impending rocky cliff before them. "I can do it." He didn't give her any more confirmation than that but she didn't seem like she was expecting anything more. Once again, he tried to reach out to Scorpion, but the sparrowman gave no acknowledgment. It was as if he had simply vanished from existence. Then, he remembered Scarab's warning and he quickly jerked himself back into the present, blinking and twisting to face the older Protector, only to find her above him, already making her way toward the peak of the mountain, zig-zagging around raindrops at a speed almost faster than he could track. At her speed, she could give Vidia a run for her money for sure.
"All right," she announced, waiting for him to catch up before going any further. "So, I figure we're going to need a plan going into this. I've dealt with Kyto before and he can be a real pain when he wants to be. Dragons are naturally greedy beasts and are often difficult to bargain with and we have very little to offer him in return." Her eyes drifted to his hands for the briefest of seconds before moving on just as quickly. "Keep your talents at the ready," she went on. "He's likely going to try and betray us the moment he gets a chance. Your fire will come in handy here. It's very similar to his and there are those who believe it was the dragons who gave the fairies the ability of fire-talent as a kind of peace offering after the war."
"And do ye believe that?" Bobble asked, flexing his fingers. The flames were there, he could feel them lingering right beneath the surface. They wanted out, and sooner or later, they would become too powerful for him to contain.
"I think dragons are lying, deceitful creatures that would kill us all in a heartbeat if they were given the opportunity," Scarab answered sharply. "And we are fortunate that Kyto is the last of his kind, though that does give him a decently strong vendetta against fairies, and the Protectors forcing him to guard the very weapons that could do exactly what he'd always wanted was probably not the best idea, in hindsight."
Bobble gulped.
"Stay close to me," Scarab repeated. "You'll be fine. He can't take us both on. And besides, you're the one with the fire. He wouldn't dare mess with you."
"But what about ye? If ye don't have fire too, how are ye goin' to be safe in there?"
She chuckled. "Don't you worry about me, Phineas. I've got my own means of handling myself. Not all of us have the same talents, and besides, I'm an animal-talent, remember? He's not going to even get close. Just watch out for his tail."
And then she took off without any further explanation, activating her fast-flying talent and disappearing into the thick fog overhead. Bobble raced after her, unsure why he was still surprised by her speed after all this time. She was the original Protector of the Hollow. She'd had years of experience and practice that he lacked. One hundred years as compared to a little over five, there really was no competition.
"Uh...wait, his tail?"
"Yes," Scarab's voice sounded distant and he put on another burst of speed, breaking into the thickness of the fog. It immediately disoriented him and he hesitated, slowing back down and rapidly scanning his surroundings, struggling to pinpoint the source of her words. "Dragons have incredibly thick tails. Kyto is gifted with spikes powerful enough to impale a fairy whole. Do not give him the chance to get close to you unless you are sure you are ready to use your powers to defend yourself, because he won't give you an opportunity."
There was a moment of silence, and then, "Over here, Phineas. Can you not...oh, wait, I forgot...hold on. Wait there, I'm coming back."
There was a flutter of wings and she reappeared from the smog from his left and he jumped, spinning to face her as she smiled, holding out her hand. "Come on," she encouraged when he drew back, confused. "I don't bite, Phin, and you can't navigate this terrain by yourself."
"Are...are ye sure?" he stammered. "I...I mean, not that I don't trust ye, it's just..."
"I'm not the girl you want to be holding hands with," Scarab finished with a small smile. "Don't worry, Bobble, Tinkerbell has no competition from me. You're...different...but you're not my type." She chuckled at his flustered embarrassment.
"How...how did ye...?"
"How did I know?" Scarab laughed. "Oh, young sparrowman, you really don't know a thing about being subtle, do you? I think all of Pixie Hollow knows by now, or...they would know if I didn't wipe their memories after your excitement at the Tree. Why else do you think that Terrence guy was getting so territorial back there in the Haven? He knows, as do the rest of your friends, I'd reckon. I'd even go so far as to say the only fairy who doesn't know is Tink herself. Ah, but they say love is blind, do they not? That is the human expression, correct? You met a human once, didn't you? I recall your friends mentioning that."
"Aye," he answered, slowly accepting her invitation and taking her hand. He barely had time to register what was happening before she'd already shot upward, dragging him along in tow. "Wait!" he yelped, flying as fast as he could to keep up but practically being pulled anyway. "Whoa!"
She laughed. "What? Too fast for you, Phin? I thought you were the one who could outrun Vidia!"
"Only when I have the element of surprise!" he cried back. "Ye didn't warn me!"
"Well, surprise!" Scarab chortled, not slowing down even remotely. "Keep up, we're almost there now!"
At the top? He was bewildered. From the ground, it had seemed so much further away, and hadn't they only been flying for a couple of minutes? His wings weren't even hurting yet! He gasped as, moments later, the fog faded away to reveal the top of Torth Mountain, glistening in the first rays of sunlight. Everything around seemed to fade to white as the fog sliced the land from view. He squinted past the sunlight, even as Scarab released her hold on him and darted forward, doing an excited cartwheel for no particular reason.
"We made it!" she called, running a hand through the fog below and sending ripples through its core. "Phineas, come check this out! It's so cool!"
He started to follow but then recoiled, spinning in a complete circle, a wave of nausea churning into his throat when he realized that he couldn't see any of Neverland anymore. We're so high up, his anxiety hissed. Far too high to be seen by anyone in the Hollow. If Kyto tries to kill us, no one will ever know we were out here. That would just be it. We'd be done for.
And I'd never have told Miss Bell the truth...about how I really feel about her. That...that I am in love with her. And all of my friends...they won't know what happened, that we hadn't been able to find the fifth bracelet, that we failed...that I failed.
At least that way he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else. Tink would heal in time, Scarab said, so this mission had really only been to save him, but if he did end up incinerated by a dragon's vengeful fury, then there would be no more need for the mission or for anyone to be unsafe from him again.
Well, that would be one way to solve the problem, came the sarcastic quip from the very back of his mind, so quick and sharp that he'd almost anticipated its arrival before it came.
Scorpion! he yelped silently. What...how...what are you doing here?!
What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? You're the one who went dead silent on me, Phineas! I've been trying to get through to you all day! I thought you'd been caught by disbelief! What's going on? Why weren't you answering? Are you...at Torth Mountain? Oh great stars, please tell me you're not going after the fifth bracelet...
I don't know if I should tell you that, Bobble retorted. Scarab warned me about you, Scorpion. You're the reason Asha disappeared. She didn't run off on a quest, did she? You did something to her and that's why no one has seen her for fifty years!
What are you talking about? Scorpion protested. Why in the Hollow would I do that? I love Asha! Scarab tricked her! It's always been Scarab! Don't be blinded by her lies! She's not who she says she is! She's the deceiver, not Kyto! She's just using you, just like she used all of us, just like she used Shade! And if you help her get the last bracelet, she'll-
"Phineas?"
He screamed, back-peddling away from her gentle touch, his wings nearly faltering as she appeared beside him, panic alight in her eyes. "Are you okay?" she went on urgently. "You looked like you were about to pass out! Your wings! Are your wings all right?"
He looked at her, his mouth moving but no words coming out.
Scarab took this to mean 'no'. "Oh no," she moaned. "We need to get you onto solid ground right away! Come on, the cave is just over here!" Without waiting, she grabbed his arm and took off again, tugging him onto the side of the mountain. They landed and Bobble instinctively drew his jacket back over his shoulders as Scarab rounded on him.
"I'm sorry!" she exclaimed. "I'm so sorry! This was stupid of me! I should have known you wouldn't be able to...I mean, I knew your wings...they're so close to breaking that I shouldn't have even suggested for you to come with me! And now we're here and you're too exhausted to fly and Kyto is right there," she pointed upward to a ledge just above them where Bobble could see smoke billowing outward, propelled by some massive force. Like a dragon's breath. "But it would be way too dangerous for you to go now, not like this. You stay here and I'll get the bracelet and come back afterward. That way you can be my lookout and you don't have to fly anywhere, okay?"
"Uh..." Bobble stammered, still trying to process this unexpected Sil-energy. "No, wait, I can do it!" he blurted as she turned to fly off. "This is my mess and I want to be the one to fix it! I need to be the one to fix it!" He heaved himself after her, scrambling over the uneven surface by foot, not to be deterred by the lack of flight.
She landed on a rock further on and sighed. "I can't ask you to do this, Phin. You're wings...if you fly too much more, they will snap. And what will you do then?"
"I can walk," he retorted fiercely, trying really hard not to think about having the same dilemma as Tink, only he didn't have a magical twin to heal his wings. If he flew too much before he could combine the bracelets and make his wish, that would be it. End of story. He would never be able to fly again. "Please, Scarab! I have to do this!"
"Phineas..." the older Protector began. "I'm sorry, but I just can't lose another...another friend. Please understand. I care about you. You're the first Protector to really understand what it feels like to be different...since I lost Shade. You don't know how badly I need you to stay safe."
"But, I-"
She twirled on her heels, already taking off before he could finish his protest. She was gone in a moment, swallowed by the gaping jaws of the cave and the furious rumbling echoing from inside.
Bobble stood there, staring up at where she had disappeared. Coward, he scolded himself. What are you doing, you useless kettle of fish? Scarab is out here risking her own life to help you and what is it you do? You stand here and let her do it all alone! Some hero you are! No wonder Tink likes Terrence! He's ten times braver and more selfless than you could ever be! Don't just stand there gawking, you buffoon! Go after her! You're the one with the talents to face a dragon, after all!
Another fierce roar shook the mountain and he inhaled sharply, focusing on the power swirling, ready to be unleashed at his command.
And then he took off after his guildmate, scrambling over the last few rocks separating him from almost certain death and crouching down beside the entrance to the cavern, taking a moment to gather his bearings and catch a glimpse of Scarab's glow as the fairy narrowly dodged a huge red talon swiping for her head. It had been ten times the size of her and Bobble suddenly felt very small.
If the dragon's talon had been that size...how monstrous was Kyto all together?
"Fairies," came a fierce growl, almost low enough to blend into the darkness around them. "Wretched creatures in my cave. Come closer, foolish beings. You will make great appetizers for my very sharp friends." Another swipe from the shadows and Scarab once again avoided the attack by the skin of her teeth.
Bobble promptly dove back out of sight, his entire body quivering, though he chalked that up to the dragon's voice shaking the entire cavern, not his own fear. He couldn't be afraid. Scarab wasn't afraid. She was in there, right now, doing what he was too cowardly to do. If she could do it, then so could he.
"That's quite enough, Kyto!" Scarab shouted, zipping back down onto the cave floor, crossing her arms and glaring up at the dragon. "You need to learn to be more social or you'll never get any guests! Especially if you treat them all like that!"
"You," Kyto snarled. "Stupid Protector! Lying Pixie! You're the one who DID THIS TO ME! RELEASE ME THIS INSTANT!" His roar was matched by the furious rattle of chains coming from somewhere near the back of the cave. He really was trapped.
Bobble tentatively peeked back around the corner, pity instantly washing over him for this beast. So, perhaps he had done some bad things, but this, this was just cruel. No creature deserved to be chained like this. Even fire-breathing murder-y ones.
"Uh, no," Scarab shot back calmly. "Not with an attitude like that. However, if you help me with what I came for, I can put in a good word to the head lady for you."
"CURSE YOU!" Kyto screamed. "YOUR PROMISES MEAN NOTHING! GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I DEVOUR YOU IN ONE SNAP!" His jaws suddenly became visible and Scarab tensed, seeming to know what could be coming next. She dove to the edge of the cave just as the fire exploded from his mouth and shot out the entrance to the mountain in a sweltering ball of rage.
Bobble cried out, throwing himself backward onto the rocks and covering his face with his arms as the heat sizzled past him and evaporated into the heavens. "Scarab!" he screamed, fearing for the girl's safety, heaving himself up and propelling himself forward into the entranceway without a second thought. "Scarab, are ye okay?"
"Urgh," came the response as the Protector slowly sat up, rubbing her head dazedly. "I'm...okay..." And then she realized what was happening, just as Kyto's head snapped around to face the tinker and two hateful golden eyes glared at him from the darkness. "Oh, no, Phin! What are you doing?! Get away! RUN!"
"And who's this?" Kyto sneered, rising up onto his haunches and eying the redhead suspiciously. "I don't know you, runt, but since you seem so attached to this traitor," he growled at Scarab as the Protector started to stand up, staggering toward Bobble woozily, "I'll assume you're one of them as well. Two Protectors in one meal. Looks like today might be my lucky day." Something moved to Bobble's right and he caught a glimpse of a huge tail, easily three times his size, snaking back and forth through the shadows.
And Scarab saw it too as she pushed her way in front of him, attempting to divert the dragon's eyes from her protege. "Don't...move..." she hissed out of the corner of her mouth. "KYTO!" she yelled. "We didn't come for trouble! We only want the thing that I left you to guard! Leave him alone, he's no threat to you!"
"Hmmm," Kyto hummed, very ominously in Bobble's opinion. A very they-look-like-great-snacks hum.
"Scarab?" he hissed. "What do we do now?" Every part of his brain was telling him to run, to flee, to get as far away as fast as possible, but Scarab wasn't budging and he couldn't go without her, or he would just prove what Terrence already thought of him; that he was nothing more than a coward, that he didn't deserve Tink's affection.
If Scarab was standing her ground, then he would too.
"You're an interesting one, little runt," Kyto growled, ignoring Scarab's entire demand. "Most fairies come barging in here, demanding and pushy, trying to tell me what do, guard this, protect that. It's utterly boring. Never have I had a visitor like you. I suppose you seek the same thing as the brute." He held up his other fore-talon. In between his sharp daggered claws he held a small ring, no thicker than Bobble's arm. "It's interesting, how much fuss one tiny, insignificant piece of treasure can cause. Just like the last fairy who came seeking this power. She didn't have your manners either. She didn't get very far. She didn't have the gift. But, you," he sneered, snaking forward slightly to glare more firmly at the tinker. "You have it, don't you? The Dragonstouch. You do not sparkle like your comrade. You hide your wings out of shame, a fairy cursed with a dragon's power, a truly unique turn of events."
"Enough of your games, Kyto!" Scarab interjected. "His magic is of no concern to you! Why don't you just give us the bracelet and be done with it already?"
Kyto rumbled, possibly laughing, possibly deciding which one of them to eat first, it was really hard to tell. "Oh, Scarab, always so brash. You really should learn to unwind. Lock yourself in a cave for a hundred years. It really puts things into perspective." He leaned in closer, his tongue flicking in and out of his fangs, so close Bobble could feel the heat of his breath. "If so many fairies are interested in this small piece of treasure, it must be extremely powerful. Much too powerful for the likes of you to wield. I think I'll just hold onto it for a little longer instead."
"Why you--!" Scarab began, but Bobble interrupted her rage, his legs pulling him forward until he was standing right in front of the dragon's snout. He was trembling but he squared his shoulders and peered up at the huge monster.
"Please!" he yelled, unsure how far his voice would carry. "I'm tryin' to save my friend! She...she means a lot to me and I..." He gulped back salty tears, taking a shaky breath and forcing himself to go on. "I really hurt her with these powers...this...this dragonstouch, and I...I can't let that happen again! That bracelet is the only way to make sure I can control it!"
"Control it?" Kyto scoffed. "You can't 'control it', foolish boy. That is not how the curse works! It has already consumed you and there is nothing you can do to reverse its effects! No magic is strong enough to undo this kind of evil. Even we dragons fear the touch, for those who are inflicted are always fated for destruction. You are the most unlucky of creatures, little one, and I pity you for that."
"That's not true!" Scarab interjected. "The bracelet can cure him! It can protect Neverland! Do not fill his head with lies! You like to bargain, do you not? What do you want in return? You give us the bracelet so we can cure Bobble and we give you something in return. Name your price."
The dragon drew back, blinking and pondering this offer. His tongue flicked back into his teeth and he tapped a claw against the stone just to their left. "This...bracelet...as you call it...is the center of a great deal of interest to a lot of creatures and there are a lot of things that could be bargained for a chance like this."
"Sometime today would be great, Kyto," Scarab snapped.
He chuckled. "Very well. You wish to bargain, fairy? Here is my offer; I give you this shiny piece of treasure..."
His fierce eyes drifted once again from Scarab to Bobble who was now definitely ready to run away as fast as his legs would carry him.
"And in return, the brave one belongs to me."