A Fairy's Tale - Tinker Bells Heartbreak

A Fairy's Tale ~ Tinker Bell's Heartbreak

Set Up:
This story happens after the events of "Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand." The fairies are all cleaning up after the wand's destruction, and some fairies are taken to the infirmary by the Nursing-Talent fairies. One Fairy-Dust-Talent Sparrow-Man going in to be healed has a lot of explaining to do to a certain blonde Pots-and-Pans-Talent fairy.

WARNING: TINK/TERENCE RELATIONSHIP IS BEING EXPLORED!!! May contain FLUFF!!! Also, spoilers if you haven't read the amazing books (that are a million times better than the cutesy Tinker Bell movies) by Gail Carson Levine.

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Prilla returned to Fairy Haven, a smile upon her freckled face.  The newly-sweetened wand had been returned to the Great Wandies and her home was now safe from the mermaid's flood...  But not completely restored.  The wand had caused some serious damage.  The fairy circle was in ruin, fairies were being brought to the Home-Tree in stretchers, and not everyone was quite over the sickness of "wand madness."  Some were also quite vexed by the wishes that the wretched disease had caused and created.  One fairy in particular was going to be furious when her mind settled, though Prilla did not know this when she went to pick up a velvet pouch dropped at Tinker Bell's feet.

"Tink, I think you dropped this." Prilla said as she handed her tinkering friend the pouch. The soft cloth sparkled with the fairy dust it once held, and the dust that came off the sparrow man that first handed it to Tink.

Tink stared at the pouch, and a scowl appeared and she tugged her bangs as her mind reeled.  Tinker Bell's scowl was both fierce and pert, and anyone who saw it knew it wise to avoid the fairy if this feature ever graced her face.  Prilla flew backwards a few wingbeats when she saw this scowl and shrunk away as Tinker Bell's glow began to turn red.  With eyes aflame, Tink raised her head and let go of her bangs.

"Where's Terence?"

~~~

Having run out of room at the infirmary, the Nursing-Talents took Terence to his room in the Home-Tree and decided to heal him where he was most comfortable.  Before the pain of his broken ribs and many bruises caused him to lose consciousness again, Terence asked again what he'd been asking since the wand vanished with Prilla. "Is Tink safe?"

Tink was quite safe.  In fact, if Terence had held onto consciousness for ten seconds more, he would've seen the Pots-and-Pans fairy burst through his door, her glow blazing red. A Nursing-Talent tried to shoo her away, but to no avail.

"I'm going to speak to him." Tink's face never changed from her ferocious scowl. In fear for herself, and all who would try to oppose this mad fairy, she directed Tinker Bell sit for a while 'til they finished and Terence awoke again.  So she did.  Tink found a dusty stool in the corner of Terence's room and sat on it cross-legged.  The Nursing-Talents rubbed ointments on Terence, bandaged him, braced one of his broken arms, and forced a rather foul-smelling medicine down his throat.  Tink heard labored breathing coming from Terence's bed and a few painful groans when the bandages were being wrapped, but Terence never awoke.  The Nursing-Talents almost forgot about the little tinker, until they began to file out and head back to the infirmary where more fairies and sparrow men.  The fairy who told Tink to sit til they finished, told her to wait til he awoke to speak with him, before closing the door behind her. Tink had no such plans.

Tinker Bell flew to the Dust-Talent's bed and saw him sleeping there.  Bandages were around the crown of his head, on his chest and arms, one of which was in a splint.  His handsome face was bruised and scratched, his elbow was scraped, and his wings were bent beneath him.  His breathing was still quite labored.  Tink's expression softened, but only slightly.  Even in this state, she was still upset with him.  She raised her hand to strike him smartly across the face, then she lowered it.  Tinker Bell was many things, but she was not a cruel fairy.  That was Vidia's domain. She sighed and sat on the edge of the sleeping sparrow man's bed.

"Make Tink... Like me... Like me, romantically."

That was his wish, Tink thought. But why? Why me? Why him? Didn't he know? Of course he didn't! Why should he...?

Tinker Bell looked at Terence. Still asleep.  She took a deep breath.

"I know you're fond of me, Terence." She began. "Now more than ever. But I never knew you would like me so much to cast a spell on me." No reaction, so she continued. "You see, I've ignored your advances, because I..." She hesitated. "Because..." It hurt. She couldn't say it. She'd didn't want her heart to be broken more than it already was.  She glanced at Terence again.  His eyes were closed, and his breath was slow, yet less labored. Tinker Bell sighed again, and moved some hair that had fallen into Terence's face without disturbing his wounds.

Might as well start at the beginning. "When I first met Peter Pan, I saved him from a shark." Her eyes never left the sparrow man's face as she spoke. "The shark circled him on a raft, so I sprinkled fairy dust on him and cried 'Fly, silly boy!' So he flew."  Tink continued to tell Terence everything, though he had yet to regain consciousness.  She told him of her adventures with the lost boy, how she had shown him her workshop, how he had called her "the best," and how she had fallen for him (though she never actually said that she loved him).  Then came the part that made Tink's heart ache so much she thought it might shatter every time she said it. "Then came... The Wendy."

Tinker Bell had only told these stories to Mother Dove. Mother Dove had then let the fairy cry into her feathers when Tink brought up her jealousy and hatred of Wendy Darling, and how the girl had stolen Peter's heart. Now, Tink tugged her bangs as her eyes filled with tears. Tink didn't like crying. Especially over Peter Pan.

"I neglected my work for him.  All those precious pots and pans and kettles and utensils gathering dust and rust on my work table as I flew with him like a foolish pixie.  And now he has forgotten me.  I'm not the best fairy. I'm the worst for neglecting my talent! He broke my heart.  When he brought the Darlings home on the flying Jolly Roger, he gave her..." Tink hiccuped as the tears began to fall. "He gave her a kiss... Or a 'thimble' as he called it. Then when he returned to Never Land, he and the other Lost Boys flew to the hideout. Leaving me alone... After that, I returned to Fairy Haven and worked.  I worked on repairs for three days straight. My heartbreak fueled my determination on my work... And I promised myself that I would never love again, so my heart would never be broken again."

Tinker Bell wiped the stream of tears from her cheeks, though they continued to come and blur her vision as she tried to look at Terence.  She couldn't, though she continued to speak with a shaking voice.

"I ignored your advances because I didn't want my heart to be broken again. No matter how kind... Or charming... Or attractive you may be, I was cold to you because I didn't want to be hurt. And I'd fly backwards if I could if I ever hurt you too. But then that wish you made..." Tink was trembling. "That wish... Made me love again, even though I didn't want to.  You played with my emotions too... Just as Peter did!"

"No..."

Tink jumped a little, and wiped her eyes to see more clearly. Terence was looking at her intently. His brown eyes glistening with tears and his hand reached out a centimeter from hers. Wanting to comfort, yet not wanting to hurt her anymore than she already was.

In a weak voice, Terence said, "I'd fly backwards a million times if I could. For the sake of all of Fairy Haven, I'd never want to hurt you. I'd rather my glow go out from misbelief or be scooped up by a hawk than ever hurt you..."

"Then why did you make that wish?" Tink demanded, the quiver leaving her voice as she began to regain her composure. "And how long have you been listening?" Her glow began to flush pink.

"Ever since you began to speak, I've listened. It was the longest you've ever talked to me." Terence smiled sheepishly. One of his teeth had cracked from being slammed into multiple trees by the once mischievous wand. Despite this, his smile still sparkled and was quite charming, which made Tink blush even more. He continued, "And I made that wish because... I like you, Tinker Bell. I really do. I admire everything about you. You're fierce, you're kind, you're passionate, you're pretty, and you're so strong. Now I know you're even stronger."

Tinker Bell's blush was so fierce, she was glowing orange. "Why do you say that?"

"You've kept such a heavy burden on your heart... I understand why you didn't want to pay attention to me.  I love you Tinker Bell, and I want to be with you. But I want you to be happy too... And I'm grateful that you trust me enough tell me everything about Peter." His face became grave. "And I feel terrible that you've been hurt so badly by him." Terence gently placed his hand on Tink's. She didn't withdraw hers, and held his gaze. "I'm here for you Tink. Just as you were here for me." His smile returned.

Tinker Bell didn't know what to say.  The dawn began to creep in through Terence's window. She realized how long she had been talking.  Tink stood.

"You should probably get some rest... So your wounds can heal." She gazed into Terence's eyes one more time.

"Alright." Terence said, giving her another charming smile. "Fly with you soon, Tink."

Tink felt his hand slowly leave hers as the sparrow man relaxed on the bed. She walked to the door and opened it to the dawn.  She looked back and dimpled at Terence's handsome, yet slightly broken form. "Fly with you soon, Terence. You're a good friend." She said this softly as she walked out of and closed the door behind her.