I recommend reading my other story "the pixie hollow war" for extra context.

"Clank?" Tinkerbell asks.

The rotund sparrowman smiles up at her from his workbench, "Yes, Miss Bell?"

"You both have been weirdly quiet for a while now. Are you guys okay?" She asks. She looks over at Bobble who was hunched over his work, a preoccupied look etched on his face. He seemed oblivious to her.

Clank leans forward and whispers, "I'm worried Miss Bell. Bobble's been real jumpy, tired, and distracted for almost a week now. He says he's fine but... I'm not so sure."

She rubs his shoulder to comfort him, "has this ever happened before?"

"Only when something's bothering him but it usually never lasts more than a day."

"Any idea what it is?"

Clank shakes his head.

Tinkerbell decides to ask Bobble. She turns and steps over to his space and touches his arm. "Hey, Bobble?"

He jumps slightly, dropping his wrench. "Miss Bell, I'm so sorry. Did ye need something?"

"No, just... are you okay?"

"I'm alright my dear. I've just been thinking, nothing for you to worry aboot." He smiles weakly at her before getting back to work.

She steps back to Clank and whispers, "Let me know if something happens."

Tinkerbell wakes up to frantic banging on her door. She rubs her eyes and stumbles to it, "I'm coming, I"m coming."

she opens it to see a very upset Clank. She rubs her eyes, "Hi Clank, what is it?"

"Bobble's missing. I got up to get a snack and saw that he wasn't in his bunk. I'm scared, he never leaves in the middle of the night."

"Any idea where he went?" She asks while putting her shoes on.

"There's a cave near the beach where he likes to be alone."

"Okay. Let's go." She follows him to the cave but they found nothing. "I don't think he's been here in a while, there's a pile of mold in the corner."

"Those look like the blueberries he had with him a month ago."

"Eww. Where else could he have gone?"

Clank thinks for a moment before flying away.

After searching for two hours, they find him collecting pink flower petals.

"Bobble!" Clank yells, swooping in for a hug.

Bobble backs out of reach, "Clanky, sharp thingy!"

Clank stops and backs away sheepishly, "Sorry Bobble. We've been looking everywhere for you."

"What are you doing?" Tink asks.

"Oh just... working on an experiment."

"Can we help?" Clank asks.

"what kind of experiment?" Tink asks.

"No, no, I don't need help and it's... it's a surprise. I don't really want anyone finding out aboot it yet." Bobble says nervously. He puts the petal in his bag and Tinkerbell sees a jar with a blue-white light spilling from it.

She grabs Clank's arm and tugs on it, "Come on Clank, let's go back. Bye Bobble."

Clank pouts but follows. Once they were out of sight she stops him and whispers, "Okay, be quiet. We're going to follow him and see what he's up to."

"You mean we're spying on him?"

"It's for his own good."

"Alright."

They watch as Bobble goes from place to place, collecting feathers, fur, flowers, and leaves. He goes behind a tree and they fly above to watch him. There was no one there.

"Where did he go?" Tink asks.

"maybe he went around?"

they circle the tree but see nothing. Clank gives up, "we'll never find him."

Tink sighs, "we'll find out what he's doing tomorrow." she yawns, "I need some sleep."

"Can I stay with you tonight? I don't like being alone."

"Eh, why not. Come on Clank."

they fly off. Bobble waits two minutes before climbing out of the dirt he burrowed under.

He sighs, shaking his head and flies off.

Zarina looks up at her door as Bobble comes in. "Did you find everything?"

"Aye, I did." he puts the bag down on her table.

"Cool, lightning in a jar. How'd you do that?" she asks picking up the jar.

"I lined it with an insulator and some copper plating, then asked a storm fairy for some. Simple really."

He shrugs. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Not yet. Stand back." she opens the jar and dumps in some pixie dust with a speck of blue dust and slams the lid shut. It shakes in her hands for a few seconds before dying down. She lifts the lid to see sparking blue-white dust. She shows him and pokes her finger in. she rubs it on her hand and snaps her fingers, making a thunderclap. They both smile in excitement and make more experiments.

By morning they'd managed to make one for almost every nature talent.

She looks out the window, "what time is it?"

"It's morning, so I must be getting back. Thank you Miss Zarina." He bows and leaves.

She yawns, "Tomorrow we could try winter talents."

"sounds good. I'll... (yawn) try to get some some ice. See you tonight."

"see you."

what do you think?