Legends Of Nadir | A Disney Fairy FANFICTION

Chapter 22: One Step At A Time

"Phineas...wake up..."

Tink fluttered up, hovering in the air as she beckoned Bobble to follow. "Come on, slowpoke! Everyone's about to leave for the mainland! We can't be late or they'll leave us behind and Shade will get to have all the fun tinkering this summer!"

Bobble managed a small smile, watching her buzz away, her silhouette becoming a blur against the vibrant greens of the forest. He took a deep breath and stood up, leaning heavily on his twig crutch. "Aye, I'm comin'," he called after her, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Tink shot back a grin before she sped off towards the Pixie Dust Tree, her laughter echoing through the forest. Bobble watched her disappear, his smile fading as he lingered by the brook. He looked down at his reflection in the water, his face distorted by the gentle ripples. His gaze moved to his injured arm, then to his wings, and finally to the hidden pocket inside his leafed jacket.

His heart pounded as he hesitated, then reached into the pocket, his fingers trembling. He pulled out the bracelet, the one he had stolen from Scarab. The Bracelet of Destiny. It was beautiful, crafted from intricate silver and adorned with sparkling gems, but it emanated darkness that Bobble could feel deep within his bones. He stared at it, the weight of his secret pressing down on him like a boulder.

The bracelet had been a temptation he couldn't resist. He had found it after the battle with Scarab, lying amidst the wreckage. He had told himself that it was too dangerous to leave behind, that he would give it to the others later. But as days turned into weeks, he couldn't bring himself to let it go. It whispered to him in the dead of night, filling his mind with dark promises and twisted dreams. It was corrupting him from the inside, and he knew it.

"Ye're a fool, Bobble," he muttered to himself, gripping the bracelet tightly. "Ye should've told 'em. Ye should've..."

But he hadn't. And now the darkness was growing, seeping into his thoughts, making him question everything and everyone. He felt a shiver run down his spine, the same coldness that had been gnawing at him since the day he had taken the bracelet. He shoved it back into his pocket, clenching his jaw as he straightened up.

"Ye promised no more secrets," he whispered, echoing Tink's words. "You promised."

"Phineas..."

Bobble shook his head, trying to dispel the dread clinging to him like hands clenched around his heart. He couldn't afford to dwell on his mistake, not now. Not when there was work to be done. Not when he knew the kind of danger they were in.

Tink, noticing that he was making no effort to follow, u-turned and zipped back to hover beside him. "Bobble, come on!" she insisted. "They're going to leave without us!"

He hesitated, glancing from her confused face down to his reflection, to his wings, and finally, to the crutch resting, ready for him to take. "Alright," he said at last, pushing himself up and hoisting the twig underneath his arm. "I'm comin'. Fer real this time."

Tink nodded, a small amount of her excitement giving way to concern, but she did not press him for an answer. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked and he winced. No, no he wasn't, but Tink didn't need to know that. She didn't need to do anything. She just needed to be Tink and do what Tink did best; fix things.

Except he might have been one lost thing she could never repair. 

"Fine," he replied through gritted teeth. Pain sparked through his leg and he immediately tried to compensate with his wings. He teetered, yelping as he lost his balance and fought to right himself, arms pinwheeling. Tink had flown off again, and though she lingered close, he knew he needed to at least be able to walk on his own.