Disney Fairies: Tink, North of Never Land

by Kiki Thorpe

  “Foolish boy,” said Tink.

  Tootles nodded. He was used to being called foolish, among other things. “Can you give me some fairy dust to fly out?” he asked.

  Tink rolled her eyes. She was really too busy to be looking after this silly boy. Then again, she thought with a sigh, I can’t just leave him to the wild animals.

  Tink had only the fairy dust left on her wings. There wasn’t enough to help Tootles fly out of the hole. Looking around, she spotted a long, thick vine hanging from a nearby tree. Flapping her wings with all her might, she tugged the end of the vine to the hole. She threw it over the edge.

  Tootles grabbed it, and he pulled himself out. He sat on the edge of the hole, huffing and puffing. “Promise not to tell Peter?” he asked when he’d caught his breath.

  Tink had no intention of making such a promise. If Peter had been there, she would have told him at once. As it was, she said nothing.

  Tootles took her silence as a yes. “Tinker Bell, you should have an award for bravery,” he said. He was trying his best to sound like Peter.

  He reached into his pockets. But all he found were a few pebbles. Nothing that could be used as a medal.

  Tootles scratched his head. His fingers found a sparrow’s feather he’d stuck in his cap. As a rule, Peter did not allow the Lost Boys to wear feathers in their caps, since he wore one himself. But this feather was so tiny and insignificant, it had escaped Peter’s notice.

  Solemnly, Tootles held out the feather to Tink.

  Tink took it. She turned it over in her hands. “It’s nothing but a sparrow’s feather.”

  Tootles shrugged. “It’s the best thing I’ve got,” he said. “I hope you’ll take good care of it.” With a wave, he ran off to find the other boys.

  Tink stood for a moment, looking at the feather. Then she leaped up and began to fly toward home. She knew what she had to do.

  TINK GOT BACK to Pixie Hollow just before dinnertime. As she neared the Home Tree kitchen, she smelled chestnuts roasting. Her mouth watered. For two days, she’d had nothing to eat but berries.

  But Tink flew on. There was something she had to do first.

  When she reached her workshop, Tink stopped short in surprise. Terence, Silvermist, Iridessa, Rosetta, and Fawn were standing outside her door.

  Tink hovered uncertainly. She had known she would have to face everyone eventually. But she hadn’t expected to do it so soon. What are they doing here? she wondered.

  They were waiting for her, of course. Terence had been the first to notice she was missing. When she hadn’t shown up for the Fairy Dance, he’d gone to Tink’s friends. But none of them had seen her. After searching all over Pixie Hollow, they had settled down by her workshop to wait. And to worry.

  If Tink was startled to see them, they were even more surprised by the sight of her. They had never seen Tink in such a state! Her dress was torn. Her arms were scratched. Wisps of hair straggled from her ponytail.

  The four fairies rushed over.

  “Tink, where have you been?” cried Silvermist.

  “We’ve been so worried!” Rosetta added.

  “What happened to you?” asked Fawn.

  Normally, Tink didn’t like to be fussed over. But she was relieved to get such a warm reception. She let them hug her and brush the twigs from her hair.

  As Tink’s friends surrounded her, Terence hung back. He wasn’t sure she would be glad to see him.

  “Tink, what you need is a hot bath,” said Silvermist. “I’ll bring you some warm water.”

  “You need food,” said Iridessa. “How does sunflower soup sound?”

  “You’ll feel much better in a new dress,” said Rosetta. “And I have the perfect thing! I’ll be back before you can say ‘gorgeous.’”

  “You need a nap!” said Fawn. “You can borrow my fluffy feather pillow.”

  The four fairies flew off. Terence started to follow them.

  “Terence, wait,” Tink said.

  She couldn’t give him dust from the Pixie Dust Tree. But she could give him something. And now Tink understood that the gift wasn’t important. What mattered was how it was given.

  She went to the shelf in her workshop and took down the silver bowl. She placed it in Terence’s hands.

  “It’s a perfect repair,” he said. “You can’t even tell it was bent. You’re the best pots-and-pans fairy around, Tink.” He started to hand it back.

  But Tink shook her head. “It’s for you.”

  “Why?” Terence asked, startled.

  “For being my friend,” said Tink.

  “Friend? But…I’ve been trying not to be your friend. You told me to leave you alone.”

  Now Tink laughed. Terence thought about how he loved her laugh. It sounded like little silver bells ringing.

  “I didn’t mean for good!” she exclaimed. “I was upset. But I’m not anymore. I’ve been all over Never Land looking for the perfect present for you.” She pointed to the bowl. “It was my first fix ever. I hope you’ll take good care of it.”

  Finally, Terence understood. The bowl might have looked like just a silver bowl, but coming from Tink, it was much more than that. It was an apology.

  He smiled. “I know just the place for it.”

  Then, to Tink’s surprise, he flew over and placed it back on her shelf. He didn’t need the bowl. Tink’s friendship was all he’d ever wanted.

  “I think it will be safe here,” he told Tink. “And I can come by to visit it. Now, you look like you need something to eat. Shall we go to dinner?”

  Tink laughed. She was messy and covered in dust, but it didn’t matter. She took Terence’s hand. And together the two friends flew out into the evening.