"Knock knock knickity knock," came a whisper from above her head. The fairy opened her brilliant blue eyes and yawned.

"Terence, I told you I hate it when you do that," she said with another yawn. The male fairy, or sparrow man as they are called, grinned down at her and shrugged.

"I know but I couldn't resist! Now out of bed, sleepy head! We have a lot of work to do today!" While Terence waited for her outside, Tinkerbell quickly dressed in her usual green dress and put her hair up in a messy bun. She cast her mirror one surveying glance before she opened the door and joined Terence on the steps.

"Terence, I still don't completely understand. Why is this ceremony such a big deal?"

"Fairies from all over Pixie Hollow choose their mates tonight! And it's not just fairies that participate…all of Neverland will be in a buzz. We have to make sure everything is prepared for the ceremony and Queen Clarion requested for you to make the special Dust Cup." Tink had asked her friends to explain this ceremony for weeks but she still didn't understand. Rosetta, Silvermist, Iridessa, and Fawn had explained in very different ways, that tonight at the full Harvest Moon, sparrow men would present fairies with a cup they had decorated themselves and filled with a special sort of pixie dust that glowed pink when the two hearts beat as one. Of course Tink didn't understand this…two hearts beating as one? She didn't think the ceremony would concern her. No one in Pixie Hollow had caught her attention anyway. Well, save for one sparrow man. But it was nonsense. He would never choose her to be his mate. Terence was one of the best looking and kindest sparrow men in Pixie Hollow not to mention the best Dust Keeper there was. Tink was sure he would never look at her as anything other than a friend. She glanced sideways at him and admired how his messy blonde hair hung in his bright blue eyes. He had a chiseled face and a kind smile and a lean muscular body. Terence slung his dust satchel over his other shoulder and cast Tink a brilliant smile that made her nearly fall out of the air. She cleared her throat, casting her gaze anywhere but his handsome face.

"So, er, is it your job to make the pink pixie dust?"

"No Tink, I don't make the dust. And I definitely don't turn it pink. The pixie dust comes from a very special dove, who gives us two of her feathers every eight years. At sunrise, the sun's rays hit the feathers and turn them into pixie dust, which is then gathered into special containers and are held until the ceremony. Then, the sparrow men will create a special cup to present to the fairy of his choice, with the pixie dust inside it. If she accepts his proposal and returns his affections, the pixie dust glows pink and the two of them spread that dust on their wings, signifying they are mated so that all of Neverland will know how in love they are. It's a very romantic ceremony."

"Ah," was all Tink could say. She briefly imagined her wings glowing pink alongside Terence but she shook her head and sighed. They were almost to the Nook, where Tink would go begin work on a very special cup Queen Clarion had assigned to her. After the sparrow men had chosen their mates, one couple was picked by the Queen (or by other forces that Tink still didn't quite understand) to be King and Queen of Neverland for the season. Rosetta had explained in a gushing sigh that they would participate in a fairy dance before the entire Hollow and a special Cup, containing a surprise for the couple, would be presented at the end of the night. It was a huge honor for the Tinker fairies to make this cup and Fairy Mary had strongly recommended Tink for the job.

Terence and Tink landed at the Nook and Terence gave her a quick hug.

"Go make your magic. I can't wait to see this special cup!"

"And you go work your wonders with pixie dust," she said with a smile. He turned to fly off but stopped when she called his name.

"I-I was just wondering…what happens to the fairies that aren't chosen?"

"What do you mean?" Terence asked, a frown marring his handsome features.

"Er, well," Tink scratched her head and bit her lip, "if a sparrow man doesn't choose a fairy…what does that fairy do? Is she, erm, banished from Pixie Hollow or something?"

"Oh Tink, Queen Clarion would never banish anyone. If a fairy isn't chosen, her life isn't over, it just means her special mate hasn't come along. I know sparrow men who haven't chosen either…they're waiting for that perfect fairy to come along and brighten his life."

"You've been through this ceremony before…" she said hesitantly and Terence grew uncomfortable, as he knew where this conversation was heading.

"Yeah, I have…but I'm not…I mean, I haven't…"

"Why not?" Terence bit his lip and found her eyes boring into his own. He swallowed, lost in her gaze. He felt himself going very red.

"I guess I just haven't met that perfect fairy for me," he finally said. "Or I hadn't…maybe I've finally met her and tonight could be a dream come true. Anyway, I gotta get going. See you tonight, Tink." And with that, he flew off in a cloud of pixie dust. Tink watched him disappear, sighing deeply.

"Tinkerbell," she heard Fairy Mary calling her from across the room. She scurried over, feeling that she was in trouble.

"Have you started on the Blessing Cup yet?"

"N-not yet. Fairy Mary, I was just wondering…how am I supposed to make the cup personal to the couple, if I don't know who the couple will be yet?"

"Oh you don't worry about that dear. Let me show you how to make the perfect cup." Fairy Mary led the young Tinker to the workshop and quietly explained what it took to make the Cup. Tink was fascinated to learn that many of the details would add themselves once the couple was chosen. It was a huge honor for a couple of be chosen and Tink very much hoped it was one of her friends. She was excited to see which sparrow men would present themselves to her friends. They were all very beautiful and she was sure they would be picked immediately, Rosetta, especially, who fallen for a Winter Animal Fairy named Sled. As she worked, she looked around and pondered what it would be like to be mated to someone. She suddenly remembered that no one would pick her and she started to feel very alone. She didn't know if she could bear watching Terence choose his fairy tonight. Fairy Mary noticed Tink had gotten very quiet and she raised her brow at the fairy.

"Is anything the matter, Tinkerbell?" Tink bit her lip, holding back the question that was burning inside her.

"What happens to the fairies that don't get chosen?"

"Meaning?"

"Not everyone falls in love, Fairy Mary. We're not all that lucky. What happens if someone doesn't choose me tonight? What am I supposed to do?"

"Tinkerbell," Fairy Mary gently took Tink's face in her hands and fluttered above her, "you are a bright, beautiful Tinker who has saved Pixie Hollow on numerous occasions. Any sparrow man would be lucky to have you. You needn't worry about that, my dear."
"But… what if I'm not chosen?"

"Then you go on with life as you've done and not worry about a mate. There are plenty of us fairies who do just fine on our own." Her eyes twinkled and Tink gasped. Fairy Mary wasn't mated to anyone and she had to be quite old. Tink felt a rushing feeling of love and gratitude to her mentor and she flung her arms around the woman. Fairy Mary gently patted her cheek and smiled.

"Now then, finish that Cup and I shall see you at the ceremony." Tink settled down and set to working on the Cup, determined to make it the most beautiful for whoever should be chosen for it.

Tink hadn't noticed the hours flying by but she glanced up and saw her friends all coming toward her hurriedly.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We came to get you! We are all going to Rosetta's to get ready for the Ceremony," Irdidessa said with a broad smile. Rosetta patted her hair.

"I have so much to do and not enough time to do it."

"Oh Rosetta, you know we'll all look beautiful tonight," Fawn said, waving her hand. Rosetta tugged on Tink's hand.

"Come on, Sugar, we need to get you out of that boring old dress and into something that will make you sparkle!"

"But I don't have anything else to wear," Tink said, glancing down at her dress. Silvermist clapped her hands together.

"Wait and see what we have for you!"

"Oh Tink, is that the Blessing Cup?" Fawn's eyes had fallen on the cup behind Tink and all of the girls gasped with delight. Tink couldn't help but smile.

"Do you think it's acceptable?"

"It's the most beautiful cup I've ever seen! And I've gone through this ceremony many times," Iridessa said, tossing her hair. Tink gaped at her. She didn't know exactly how old her friends were but she had imagined them all to be doing the Ceremony for their first time. She couldn't believe any of them not being chosen.

"Well, alright, I suppose I'll come with you—"

"Hello there Miss Bell," said a voice from behind her.

"Clank! Bobble! I expected you both to be getting ready for the Ceremony."

"Ah, well Fairy Mary wanted us to collect the Cup from you and deliver it to the Queen. Is that it then?" Bobble's eyes widened and Clank's jaw dropped.

"It's beautiful," he said in a whisper.

"That it is, Clanky. Miss Bell, you've truly outdone yourself!"

"Thank you. I hope Queen Clarion likes it as much as you do. Please take good care of it." Bobble tenderly wrapped it in linens and held it in his arms like a newborn babe.

"Of course, Miss Bell. We'll see you at the ceremony." The girls tugged Tink's hand and they flew to the Garden Grove where the garden fairies were bustling around, making roses beautiful for the sparrow men to give to their fairies. Rosetta pushed Tink into her house and she grinned broadly.

"We are going to make this little Tinker sparkle and shine!"