Lost Girl: Peter Pan/Once Upon a Time

Part VIII: Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell's treehouse is only about a quarter-mile away from the beach, allowing us to reach it in less than fifteen minutes. The house itself is supported by an average-sized, but rather wide tree, which goes up directly through the middle of the structure.

We use a ladder to climb up into the treehouse, and I almost hit my chin on the bark of the tree as I try to dismount the wooden steps.

A small fire sits propped up and burning on a long sheet of metal next to what I believe to be Tink's bed.

"Don't you think having a fire up here is a little...I don't know...dangerous?" I ask.

"A little," she laughs, "but because it gets so cold up here at night, I need the fire to stay warm. I let it sit on the metal to keep it off of the floor."

She then walks over to it, sits down, and lets her hands hover over the flames to be warmed by the rising heat.

As I look around her well-constructed home, I realize how lonely she must be. If she is the only one who lives here, and she isn't a member of Pan's little posse, then she must feel as alone...as alone as I do.

"You aren't friends with Pan are you?" I question, wanting to make sure this isn't a trap of some kind.

"Far from it!" she exclaims, jerking her head upright to look at me in the eyes. "I stay as far away from that boy as possible."

"Oh, alright. I was just wondering since...well, he is kind of after me at the moment."

"After you?" she acts surprised. "Why is he after you?"

"I said something to him about wanting to leave and he lashed out at me. So I ran away and ended up on the beach where you found me." I explain.

She presses her lips together as if she is contemplating how she should respond. Staring at the floor, she sets her chin in her hands, at a loss for words.

"He told me I can't leave the island without his permission. Is that true?"

"As far as I know," she finally answers. After sitting back up to lean against the wall of the treehouse, she begins again. "I've never seen anyone besides Felix and a couple other Lost Boys leave the island before, but they always come back."

Biting the inside of her cheek, she gives me an apologetic glance. It's obvious she wants to help, but both of us know she can't.

At an attempt to change the subject, I jump back to an earlier conversation.

"You said you were banished because you tried to help the Evil Queen right? I mean, maybe it's just me, but I don't usually think of trying to help people who are evil."

"Yes I did, but it was different," she says, staring at the floor as she speaks. Growing tired of standing, I sit down next to Tink when she starts to talk again. "At first, I didn't know who she was. I only saw a girl who was looking for love. All I wanted was to be kind and try to be selfless like I was taught to."

Tears start to well up in her eyes, but she wipes them away immediately. For some reason, when I look at her, I see myself. That feeling of wanting perfection and acceptance and trying to be helpful to others, striving to gain both.

My mother always told me what a kind heart I had for what people were going through. No matter what, I always gave each person the benefit of the doubt. Even when they didn't deserve it.

"So then what happened?"

"The Blue Fairy found out what I was doing and forbade me from helping anymore. But I just couldn't help it. So, I stole pixie dust to continue as before and help Regina find her true love. In the end, she ran away and left me with nothing to show to Blue of how I was right. I was just so sure there was good in Regina!"

"And Regina is the Evil Queen, correct?"

"Yes. Eventually I had to go back and see Blue, and she took away my wings and powers because I didn't listen. I ran away after that, and I've been here ever since."

Once she finishes talking, I run her story through my head repeatedly. In my heart, I don't believe it's fair of the Blue Fairy to do that to Tink. If one believes there is good in another, why not take the risk?

"I'm sorry. It isn't right," I say, trying to comfort her.

She smiles a little in appreciation.

"It's fine. It was a foolish thing for me to do anyways." Before I can open my mouth, she begins again. "You know, it's getting late! Maybe we should try and get some rest. I know you definitely need it!"

We stand up and settle down closer to the bed, where Tink gives me a small pillow and a wool blanket to use as a make-shift covering. Once my head hits the pillow, the world goes black.

• • •

A sound from outside of the treehouse awakens me. As I listen, it grows continuously closer.

Its the sound of footsteps.

I glance up at Tink, who is fast asleep, and I stand to walk over to the ladder. Instead of going down, I stop and listen. All of a sudden, the footsteps cease and a voice rings through the silence.

"Lyv? Lyv darling?" It calls out to me almost mockingly.

It's Pan.