by R. V. Bowman
“What?” Rommy asked.
“Um, I think you might want to,” Alice waved her hand toward Rommy’s hair, “... ya might scare her.”
Rommy put a hand to her head and a large chunk of mud fell to the ground. Her face turned hot as she ran her hands through her hair. Dried mud and tendrils of slimy plants formed a shower of debris. “Oh, I...well...” She spun away from Finn, wishing she could disappear back into the tunnels.
Finn let out a burst of laughter. He bushed at his own hair and shook his head vigorously, sending dirt flying every which way. “I guess we’re all kinda a mess. It was probably that marsh water that slicked us all up.”
Alice pulled at Rommy’s arm. “Sit down, and I’ll help you,” she said.
Rommy immediately dropped back to the ground. She felt Alice’s fingers running through her hair. Once the other girl was done, Rommy reached up and quickly re-braided the still stiff strands, tying it with a piece of vine that one of the fairies handed to her. She went to squat next to the pool and splashed water on her face before standing up.
“Here,” said Alice, reaching up and swiping at Rommy’s ear. A glob of mud fell off onto the ground.
Rommy covered her face with her hands and gave a strangled laugh. “I didn’t realize I had brought quite so much of the bogs with me.”
Finn spun her around and scrutinized her face. She could feel the heat climbing back up her neck, but she tried to ignore it. “Well,” she said, lifting her chin, “do I pass muster, or do I still look like a marsh monster?”
A smile tugged at Finn’s mouth. “I think you look just right.”
If her face got any hotter, Rommy thought it might burst into flames. She squared her shoulders. “Right, then. I guess we should go talk to Tinkerbell. Before it gets any later, I mean.”
“I don’t talk to big ugly girls,” came a scratchy voice. “But I’ll talk to you, Boy. I never get visitors no more.”
Rommy and Finn whirled around to find a creature—Rommy had a hard time believing it was a fairy—hovering behind them. She had silver hair, but unlike the other fairies, instead of gently floating around her head, it writhed like Medusa’s snakes. Her glow had perhaps been silver at one time, but now it resembled tarnished pewter. Rommy didn’t think fairies got wrinkles, but Tinkerbell’s face looked pinched and had a sickly yellow tinge to it. Her eyes were a dark blue, almost navy, and her white dress had turned a dingy gray and hung limply around her.
Rommy felt a pang of pity for the tiny fairy. Whatever had happened, it was clear time had not been kind to her, and she was not well.
Finn looked at Rommy and raised an eyebrow. Rommy nodded her head slightly. Finn smiled broadly at the fairy. “I’m Finn,” he said, putting a hand on his chest and then gestured toward the fairy. “And you must be Tinkerbell?”
The fairy smiled and sashayed closer to him. She cocked her head and smiled. “And why have you come to see me, Finn?”
“I,” he gestured toward Rommy, “and Rommy here were hoping you could help us.”
Suddenly, Tinkerbell began to shake. Her hands and feet began to glow a dark red. Her eyes dilated until they looked black. “I don’t help big dumb girls,” she screeched. “I hate big dumb girls. They steal everything.”
She flew at Rommy’s face, her small hands looking like claws. “Get out! Get out of my marsh.”
For a moment, Rommy just stared, and then her reflexes kicked in. She ducked out of the way of the infuriated fairy just as a ball of red light shot from the fairy’s hands. It passed so close to the side of her face, she felt the heat.
“Hey,” she said. “Knock it off! I haven’t stolen anything from you.”
“Yeah, and she’s not dumb,” said Alice.
Tinkerbell’s face was twisted into a snarl. “What about him? You took him!” she hissed, pointing at Finn.
Rommy frowned. “You didn’t even know him five seconds ago. How could I steal him? Besides, he’s way too big to steal.”
Tinkerbell opened her mouth, and then she started laughing. She laughed until tears ran down her tiny face. “Too big,” she kept repeating.
Finally, the fairy straightened. “You are still ugly, but maybe you aren’t dumb,” she said. She cocked her head again. “What do you want? Nobody comes here unless they want something.”
She flew closer to Rommy, who fought the urge to flinch. How to ask for the key so that Tinkerbell would agree? Should she mention Peter Pan or would that push the fairy over the edge again?
Finally, she decided on the truth—or part of it, at least. “We’ve come to see you because you have a key that will help us.”
Tinkerbell’s eyes narrowed, and she buzzed around Rommy’s head like an angry bee. “Help you? How will it help you? Nobody knows about that key but the Tree Mother. Who told you I had it?”
“You’re right. Nobody knows but Unilisi. She told me when I visited her in her grove,” said Rommy.
The fairy started to vibrate again, and Rommy dug into her pocket and pulled out one of the sparkling stones. “We wouldn’t expect you to just give it to us, but we brought something to trade.” She held up the stone.
Tinkerbell’s expression changed to one of wonder. She flew closer and put a hand on the glistening pink glass-like stone. Then her eyes narrowed again. “If I give you the key, what will you do with it?”
Rommy glanced at Finn. He widened his eyes. How much should she tell the fairy? What would convince her, and what would set her off?
“Why don’t you show it to us first so that we know it’s the right key?” suggested Rommy.
Tinkerbell snarled and began to shake again. Rommy quickly dug in her pocket again and brought out the green sparkling stone. She held it up next to the pink one. “Just show us the key, and I’ll give you both of these.”
Tinkerbell’s mouth tipped up into a smile. She nodded once and clasped her hands together before turning and flying toward the copper-colored tree. After only a few feet, she whirled back around. “I thought you were only ugly, not dumb,” she said. “Come on.”
Rommy and Finn looked at each other and then at Alice, who shrugged. Together they followed the fairy as she flew in a looping path toward her nest. Nissa, Balo, Talen, and Kalen followed at a discreet distance, trying to stay out of Tinkerbell’s line of sight.
Before they could catch up with her, she had reached the Old Willow and flown up under its long graceful branches. They stopped in front of those branches, not sure if they should get closer. A moment later, Tinkerbell reappeared.
In one hand, she held a long, glistening jade stick. It was the key.
Chapter 10:
Key to the Kingdom
Tinkerbell held out her other hand and snapped her fingers. Rommy edged forward and held the stones out to the fairy. They were far too large for the fairy to grasp, but Tinkerbell made a gesture and a glow rose from her palm, encompassing the two stones. Rommy let go, and they hovered over Tinkerbell’s hand.
Without another word, she whirled and disappeared under the branches again. Rommy expected the fairy to return, but she didn’t. Could she use one of the leaves to get that key without the others knowing? She inched her finger into her pocket and her fingertip brushed the edge of a leaf. If only she knew how they worked. Then, she might be able to use one without anyone seeing. She withdrew her hand. Rommy knew she couldn’t risk Finn or Alice noticing the leaves or they’d start asking questions. They couldn’t know her secret, or they would hate her. She shivered at the thought of being alone in Neverland and pushed the disturbing thought away. They could just wait for Tinkerbell.
Several minutes went by, and the trio looked at each other. Now what?
Rommy stepped closer. “Tinkerbell?”
Nothing.
She tried again. “Tinkerbell? We’d like to talk about the key.”
Nothing.
Rommy turned toward Finn just as Tinkerbell came zipping out from underneath the tree’s sweeping branches. There was a
snarl on her tiny face.
“How do you know about the key?” she asked.
Rommy raised her eyebrows. Oh dear. The fairy was worse off than she had thought. Apparently memory loss was also an issue besides just plain craziness.
“Um,” Rommy started.
Finn stepped forward. “We are here to see you, Tinkerbell. The Tree Mother told us you were the keeper of the key, and you were the only one who could help us.”
The fairy’s expression changed. She smiled, her eyes sparkling. She flew to hover in front of Finn’s face. “You are right,” she said. “I am the keeper of the key, but why should I help you?” She flew around him, and Rommy tried not to roll her eyes as the fairy batted her lashes at Finn.
Finn gave the fairy a grin and pushed the hair out of his eyes. “Because you can get back at Peter Pan and make him sorry he ever crossed you.”
Tinkerbell’s eyes got wide, and her hands started to turn a dull red. “Peter Pan must die,” she said, her voice so piercingly high, Rommy clapped her hands over her ears.
“Gone ‘round the bend, that one,” she heard Alice murmur.
Finn shook his head. “We’re going to do something better than kill him. We’re going to make him suffer—forever.”
It looked like steam was actually coming out of the tiny fairy’s ears. Her eyes were almost black.
“Tell me,” she said, pointing a finger at Finn.
To his credit, he didn’t flinch, although Rommy thought she would have probably ducked if that glowing red finger was pointed at her.
“We’re going to seal him in Neverland forever,” said Finn. “He’ll never be able to leave, and he’ll be here all alone. You know Peter hates to be alone.”
Tinkerbell let out a long cackle, bending over from the waist. When she straightened, she lifted her palms to the sky and let out two long blasts of red. When she stopped, smoke lingered in the air, and there was a distinct odor of sulfur. Slowly the fairy’s hands and feet returned to a normal color.
Rommy felt Alice move closer to her. She didn’t blame her. The fairy was unstable and dangerous—a bad combination to be sure.
Finn leaned closer to Tinkerbell. “Unilisi told us how to seal Pan away,” he said. “All we need from you is that key.”
Tinkerbell looked around, and her eyes stopped on Rommy. She pointed. “Not her,” she said. “No big dumb girls. Make her leave, and we will do this together, you and I.” She slid closer to Finn.
He didn’t bat an eye. “We have to take the big dumb girl with us,” he said. Rommy ignored the irritation that flickered.
Tinkerbell narrowed her eyes. “Why do we need her? All you need is me,” she said, her voice purring. She placed her small hand on Finn’s shoulder.
Finn shrugged. “Hey, it’s not my idea,” he said. “Unilisi gave the quest to her, don’t ask me why.”
Rommy’s eyes flickered downward. She wondered why Unilisi had picked her to share the quest with. The Tree Mother must have known she would ruin it all. Maybe Unilisi didn’t want Neverland to be sealed up.
Tinkerbell’s high-pitched voice interrupted Rommy’s thoughts. “The Tree Mother chose her?” Tinkerbell looked at Rommy, her lip curling. She let out a huff. “I suppose if we must take her...” she whirled back to Finn and held up a finger. “But, I keep the key until it’s needed. I won’t give it to either of you.”
Without waiting for a response, Tinkerbell darted back under the branches and brought out the key. It was almost as long as she was, and Rommy wondered how in the world the fairy was going to carry it for any length of time. Before she could voice these thoughts, though, the fairy opened a small bag attached to her waist. She slid the key into it. Rommy blinked.
“How d’ya get that big thing into that teeny bag?” asked Alice, scrunching up her nose.
Tinkerbell let out a tinkling laugh. “My magic, of course,” she said. She flew over to Alice and patted her cheek. Alice flinched away, and Rommy saw an expression pass over the fairy’s face that almost looked like hurt. Then it was gone.
Rommy poked Finn and mouthed to him, “The other fairies?” and raised both her eyebrows. While the four fairies had blended into the background, they couldn’t be expected to remain unseen for the rest of the quest.
Finn held up a hand to Tinkerbell. “We are traveling with others of your kind,” he said. “They have agreed to help us in our quest and have been faithful companions.” He gestured, and Nissa, Kalen, Talen, and Balo appeared.
Tinkerbell let out a shriek and zipped behind Finn’s head. “Get them away from me! I’m not going back, and they can’t make me.”
Finn rubbed the ear that was closest to the fairy. “They aren’t here to take you away,” he said.
“Like we’d want you in the community,” muttered Balo.
Nissa placed a hand on his arm and shook her head. She flew forward. “We have no wish to harm you or take you anywhere, Tinkerbell,” she said, her voice soft. “Our only purpose is to help the humans. We have been charged in this quest. You may give Finn the key, and we will leave you here unbothered.” Nissa placed a fist on her heart. “You have our pledge.”
Tinkerbell slipped out from behind Finn, suspicion written clearly on her face. She wagged a finger at Nissa. “You aren’t tricking me into not going,” she said. She patted the bag at her waist. “I’m coming. Just don’t bother me. You can stay in your community, but don’t try to pull me back in.” She said the word community like someone else would say toilet.
Nissa simply nodded. Balo crossed his arms and scowled. “We’re going to regret this, mark my words,” he said under his breath.
Tinkerbell darted forward and then stopped after several yards. She turned back to them, her hands on her hips. “Well, what are you waiting for? Don’t we have some revenge to get?”
Rommy and Finn exchanged glances with the fairies. Nissa shrugged. At least Tinkerbell was cooperating. The trio lifted off the ground and followed the crazy fairy. Rommy didn’t know whether to be happy they had the key or scared that things could go amazingly wrong with this creature along for the quest.
As if reading her mind, Alice piped up. “Well, this should be interesting.”
Rommy couldn’t help but agree.
Chapter 11:
Steps to a Successful Quest
When the group finally touched down outside the Salt Marshes, it was afternoon. Rommy scanned the sky for any signs of Peter Pan, and while she should have felt relieved, not seeing him made her nervous.
Alice gripped her hand. “I keep expecting him to show up. Least ways, iffen he was here, I’d be able to keep my eye on him,” she said, echoing Rommy’s own thoughts.
Rommy squeezed her hand. “I know,” she said. “I’m afraid he might just pop up all of a sudden. We’ll just have to believe our luck has turned.”
“We ain’t been lucky since we stepped foot on this island,” said Alice. “I ain’t never thought I’d say this, but I miss London.”
“We have the first part of the quest done,” Rommy said. “We’ll be back before you know it.” She didn’t say she was unsure of what would happen to Alice when they returned to London. That is if they didn’t get sealed here right along with Pan. Her Papa hadn’t been too keen on Alice, and Alice didn’t feel any more warmly toward him. Rommy sighed. She’d just have to cross that bridge when she came to it.
Finn drew closer to Rommy and Alice. “Well, we’ve got the key. Now what?” he asked, looking at Rommy.
“I’m hungry,” said Alice. “I think the next thing we should do is eat something before I expire on the spot.”
Finn smiled and messed Alice’s hair. “Are you ever not hungry?”
Alice crossed her arms. “It’s not like you ever turn down food,” she said.
Finn laughed and his eyes met Rommy’s. “Well? What do you think? We can eat and figure out what do next?”
“I think that’s a good idea,” said Rommy. “We have the key, sort of, but we hav
e to be careful when we close the passage to give ourselves enough time to get everyone out.”
Finn nodded and then looked around. “The problem is, what are we going to eat?”
Nissa, who had been hovering nearby, spoke up, “Balo and I can go get some marshberries.” She nodded at Balo who simply scowled. The two of them flew off.
Tinkerbell stared at all of them. “What are you doing? We have to go, go, go,” she said, her arms flying every which way.
“No, we need to figure out what to do next,” said Rommy.
“I know what to do next!” said Tinkerbell, her eyes dilated and her hair writhing. “Get Peter Pan.” Her tiny hands stretched out in front of her, and she twisted them like she was choking an invisible person.
Alarm zinged through Rommy. “No, Tinkerbell,” she said. “We’re going to seal Pan here so he can’t leave Neverland. We aren’t going to harm him.”
Tinkerbell let out a long cackle, and then seeing Rommy’s dismayed expression, she abruptly stopped. “Okay,” she said. She turned her back and perched on the petal of a delicate yellow wildflower.
Rommy, Finn, and Alice blinked at her before collapsing onto the ground in a circle. “Since we only have sunrise to sunrise to get everyone out of Neverland, we should get Francie and any Lost Boys who want to go first. Then we can turn that key,” said Rommy.
Finn cocked his head. “I don’t know,” he said. “Once we take Francie and any Lost Boys, Pan is going to be on our tail even more than he is now.”
“But if we leave it too late...” she shook her head. “I don’t want to cut it too close, and don’t forget I have to...persuade...Papa.” She closed her eyes briefly, dread gathering in her stomach. “He’s going to be so angry with me.”
She felt a touch, and her eyes opened to find Finn’s hand on hers. She looked up at him, and once again her eyes caught in his. A fizzle of emotion stretched between them.
Then Alice snapped her fingers near Rommy’s face. “You’ve gone off your chump if you think yer old man is staying here if you leave,” she said, her voice breaking the spell between Rommy and Finn.
