The Third Star

Chapter 9: The Wingless Fairy

Present Day

"I need your help."

It was the same boy that she had saved not long ago. Tiger Lily easily remembered his dark mop of curly hair and round, baby eyes. He had turned down her help, a choice which he apparently regretted.

"Baelfire," Tiger Lily said, lowering her armful of firewood to the ground.

"I've searched this entire island," Baelfire said desperately, standing up. "I've been running from Pan's patrols for weeks. I'm not sure how long I can keep this up."

She sighed. "What do you want me to do? I have as much power over the lost boys as you do."

Baelfire shook his head. "I don't just want them to stop chasing me, Tiger Lily. I want to leave."

"Leave?" she looked at him incredulously. Oh, this poor, foolish child. "Have you learned nothing? Children only leave Neverland if Peter Pan allows them to, and I don't see him granting either of us any favors."

"Who said he has to let me?" Baelfire said. "What if there was another way?"

Tiger Lily narrowed her eyes. "You have a plan."

He ran a hand through his sandy mop of hair. "Of sorts, yes."

"Please, enlighten me," she cocked an eyebrow.

"There's a fairy on the island," he said in a low voice, leaning forward. His eyes were shining with an eccentric sort of hope. "If I could just find her --"

"Tinkerbell? That's your escape plan? A fairy with no magic," Tiger Lily pointed out, "is not much help to anyone, least of all you."

Baelfire flung his hands in despair. "She may not have magic, but she must know something about it! Tiger Lily, please," he pleaded, "she's my only chance. Unless you can think of something better."

Tiger Lily sighed. It was a foolish idea, with all signs pointing to a dead end. But Baelfire, he was just a boy. An orphan who lost everything dear to him, forced to suffer under Pan's cruel tyranny. As much as she hated giving him false hope, he had to find out sooner or later that he had no chance at all. If he wouldn't believe her, perhaps his precious fairy could convince him.

"Alright, then," Tiger Lily reluctantly consented. "I will take you to Tinkerbell."

.

The entire walk to Tinkerbell's home was cluttered with chatter detailing outlandish escape plans, courtesy of the aggravatingly optimistic Baelfire. Tiger Lily bit her tongue the entire time, unable to bring herself to crush the boy's hopes. If Tinkerbell could talk some sense into him, make him understand the truth...

Tinkerbell's treehouse was very plain and nearly invisible from where it was perched in the crown of the forest. There were no embellishments or flashy decor of any kind, just...well, sticks. And dirt. Even Tiger Lily's home was more adequately furnished.

"This is it," Tiger Lily announced wearily, gesturing towards the little hut above their heads.

Baelfire looked up skeptically. "Tinkerbell lives here? It doesn't really look like it belongs to a fairy."

She snorted. "And you were expecting what, exactly? Buttercups and rainbow flowers?"

"I'm fresh out of those, I'm afraid. But I do have tea, if you'd like."

Tiger Lily and Baelfire quickly located the source of the voice. A delicate woman with beautiful, round eyes and thick blonde hair stood by the trunk of the tree, a basket of clothing cradled in her arms. She was dressed sensibly in olive leggings and a tunic, and her hair was twisted up on top of her head. She was also covered with dirt smudges and sand, forest debris clinging to her shirt. Even so, the woman was strikingly beautiful, and she carried with her a natural grace.