A/N: Look, I'm updating! Haven't done that in... six months. I have been working on this story, it's just been going very slowly. But here is the next chapter... please enjoy! This also marks the first appearance of Xenofen (my friends I know have been awaiting him) =D

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Spoke gaily pushed away the last remnants of the ward that still clung to the boundaries of the castle, pushing past Aedrywn to dispel the last pockets of bad energy that had collected in the crevices of this place. It was a massive clean-up job, true, but Spoke was terribly fond of doing things. Anything, really.

Aedrywn acted as the purifier, infusing the entire place with an influx of positive energy. That, more than anything else, would help keep negativity at bay and make the doctors' job (if they even attempted to start it again) much more difficult.

But as Spoke wandered towards the perimeter of the castle, its thoughts kept wandering back to the same question: Where had Pine gone? It asked Aedrywn, and the dragon didn't know. Spoke could follow him, of course, it knew the unicorn well enough to be familiar with his energy patterns.

The fae side-stepped nervously around the ugly well of power that roiled a distance from the edge of the castle. That thing, whatever it was, made Spoke nervous, and despite the fae's ever-present curiosity, it felt no desire to investigate. It did, however, want to see where Pine had gone why he had gone there and what he had been doing hanging around on the mortal world. That thing that cold evil thing it had something to do with it. Spoke was sure of that. From the thing's taint the fae could tell that it had spent plenty of time in the physical as well. Spoke wasn't sure what the thing was, but there was something familiar about it. There was a dark cloud of its nature in that place called Earth, anyway; who knew why it was there. There were a lot of strange things in the physical world! The least of which was not humans. Spoke couldn't ignore its curiosity any longer. It requested Aedrywn to go find out where Pine was, then happily sped off towards that trail of energy.

Aedrywn watched the fae leave. Alert, cat-like eyes gazed off into the horizon, and the dragon spread his golden wings and faded back into his own astral realm. He'd find Pine; find out what was going on and what the unicorn planned to do about the thing that still lurked around the castle.

The unicorn was not a hard being to locate. Although ancient and extremely adept at melding into the natural flow of energy lines, Pine had a soft, light feel to his energy. It was the kind of energy that you unconsciously headed towards when you felt vulnerable or afraid. The contrasting presence of a disease-ridden soul, dark and frayed next to the warm glow of the unicorn, provided a better pattern to follow.

But what, Aedrywn wondered, were they doing at a fae court? He broke through the misty clouds, and gleaming turquoise water stretched out before him. He soared low, stretching out golden wings to take in the light and warmth that emanated from this place. Faeries were quaint little beings at times, mischievous tricksters at others, and then there were always the dark ones, the serious ones, and the filthy ones that no creature in their right mind would want to associate with.

Aedrywn angled his wings, catching hold of an up-stream of energy and pitching higher. The island was ahead of him, in sight now he headed towards it, a fiery stream against the light-colored sky, suddenly tagged onto and trailed by a darker shape he cast his gaze sharply to the side, barely catching a glimpse of gleaming ebony scales and frosty white ones, before the being at his side rose and dipped once more.

a triumphant voice called. The call did not leave the fire dragon much time to think in his own mind, and he tucked one wing, rolling over to answer with a scorching blast of flame in the direction of the smaller dragon.

The other countered expertly, with a solid wave of energy to deflect the flame. In another moment, the two were engaged in an aerial spar, dipping and wheeling, darting through the sky in more and more extravagant attempts to outdo each other. Their motions became erratic, and Aedrywn swerved constantly to get a good sense and look of his assailant.

Yes, he knew him. This dragon was smaller than he was, covered in black scales all over except for his underside, which was white. Xenofen. The bane of normalcy, the constantly reassigned entity who held a gnawing desire inside of him to always push outward, to never be in the same place. A creature of breakdown and change, though sometimes also of creation

I'm not so serious as that. A chiding murmur drifted through Aedrywn's thoughts. What brings you here? You never go here. You never go anywhere.

I'm looking for someone.

Xenofen dipped low to perch on the gatehouse of the fae castle. Not only was that rude, it was sometimes a call for immediate attack. Not that the dragon cared; he chose his resting places high so as to better observe. Today, though, there was something new to investigate in the castle a unicorn, and something wholly unpleasant even to Xenofen's experienced senses.

Johnny looked up, sharply, eyes wide and staring, as a nervous face appeared once more through the doors. Only this time, a haughty smirk was across the fae-child's features. Nny stood up, leaning away from Pine, one hand twitching instinctively towards his boot-top. The fae-child quirked an eyebrow, his expression never faltering, and Nny wanted to kill him in that instant. He gripped his thigh hard and closed his eyes tightly. A warm breath of feeling washed over him, and he saw a glow he recognized as Pine's through his closed eyelids. He relaxed a bit.

They're done talking now, the fae-child said. His tone was only superficially respectful, and the smirk never left his eyes. Nny tensed again. He wanted to run, to get far away from these things. He didn't want to deal with them. He felt the strain on his mind, he shook under it; he couldn't face them again those leering stares, superior attitudes, ruthless judgment he wasn't going back in there. No way.

Stay out here, Pine's voice broke through the cloud of his sudden fear. I'll go in.

Johnny nodded wordlessly, leaning heavily against the wall, as the unicorn stepped up towards the fae-child. The latter was still smirking, but a glance in the unicorn's suddenly fiery eyes sent him quickly back into the room.

The others here weren't powerful enough to be a worry, Spoke knew. The fae wasn't one to worry at any rate, only to avoid where it was needed. In a realm that was a bare shadow of physical Earth, Spoke traced a dark cloud. Blue eyes gazed sharply around a physical structure as the being faded in, projecting its mind along the lines connecting the astral and the physical.

Spoke's thin fingers reached out to touch a drawing that lay on a desk. The drawing wasn't finished; a worn pencil lay beside it, and traces of concentration energy clung to it. Someone was working on it. The fae's gaze moved around the room again, landing this time on a small child that slept fitfully, curled against his pillow. There was a stuffed animal in his arms, but to Spoke it appeared as that same dark cloud he'd been tracing. Of an odd variant. Spoke poked it, with a light tendril of carefree positivity, but to the fae's intrigue, it didn't cringe away. Spoke tugged a little harder, found traces of negative energy lying around the house, and poked those at the cloud. It sucked them in eagerly. Negativity sponge, Spoke thought, and looked back down at the drawing on the desk. It studied the work for a moment, before tracing a rune over it, focusing the energy that was clung to it.

Finishing that, Spoke skipped out astrally, having quite lost interest in the entire escapade.

There were sounds coming from that room. Voices, yes, although Nny couldn't hear anything that sounded like Pine. Leaning against the wall, his eyes had time to travel across the tapestries that lined the ornately carved walls almost up to the domed ceiling. Ridiculously luxurious surroundings, in Nny's mind why did they even have a need for these things, when this place wasn't even physical? Not physical what was the difference? Nny poked himself in the arm experimentally. It didn't really feel different but what were the limits? Ignoring the voices that had grown louder in the room to his left, he concentrated, drawing the mental knife forward again. What's my real shape in this place?

You know they don't like you barging in on their affairs, Xenofen, Aedrywn said calmly, as he landed lightly outside the fae castle's gates. How many times do you recall them accepting that from you?

responded Xenofen absently, his cloudy, deep blue eyes glowing icily as he crouched over the gatehouse. His head was cocked to one side, ebony horns glittering in the sunlight, the elaborate fins along his spine rippling as he arched his neck. They have a human in there. One without a tie.

I know, was Aedrywn's response. The same that Pine took under his protection rotted thing, not worth the trouble

Xenofen grinned, baring long white fangs. Humans are hopeless, when's he going to realize that? This one has one of those you know the ones the leech type demons.

The ones that are half formed of emotion.

I was one once.

Were you?

I worked with one though listen to this, Aedrywn. This human knows how to use his mind!

He listened to Pine. That's hopeful.

A lot of humans can use their minds. About .2% of the entire amount of them that's a lot of humans.

Give them time. They're a young race!

Child's playground of souls

They're not too much worse than royal court fae, Xenofen interrupted, cracking another grin, his eyes shining.

Voices wafted out from the luxurious council room, the colorful and extravagant faeries milling around, their large eyes never moving from the ethereally glowing white figure that stood firmly in front of the throne. The queen gazed without flinching into Pine's now fiery eyes, and he gazed right back, although one of his eyes remained half-hidden behind a shock of silky white forelock.

Why should we help a human? the queen said, tapping the long, slim fingers of one hand against the armrest of her throne.

Why is a human any less deservant of your help? Pine replied.

We consider ourselves a superior breed. You yourself are a superior breed as well.

I am in no way superior for the fact that I have lived longer.

You know humans are one of the lower forms of life.

And what were we once all? another voice broke in, this one deep, lilting, and barely serious. A pair of deep blue eyes appeared next to Pine, quickly followed by the entire night-dark form of Xenofen. Grinning a cynical dragon smile. The queen stared, her knuckles going white as she clutched at the armrest.My lord, she began tightly, your presence here is a surprise your business?

Xenofen ignored the question, turning instead to the unicorn. Aedrywn's looking for you, Pine.

I know.

Your business, my lord? the queen repeated, looking perhaps a bit grayer in the face.

Don't call me that, the dragon said to her, his eyes glowing more fiercely. I'm just curious as to your selfishness in this matter.

A human is not worth helping, she replied, setting her jaw and lifting her chin slightly. Everyone in the room could see it took all her effort not to let her fear become apparent. Pine's head snapped around towards the door, orienting with the tip of his horn.

I must attend to him he said, and then disappeared into the hall.

You see? the queen said, with a half-smile to Xenofen. They're so much trouble.

You may have misplaced that label, the dragon replied, another wry grin spreading across his face. He saw her gaze drop to his ebony claws, then towards the barely visible swirl of change energy that twisted through his aura. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

They learn, Xenofen said. We all did. We all have to. Why not speed things up?

Humans.. are are best left alone. She was weakening. The dragon cocked one glowing eye.

Nothing is best left alone, he said, and if anything his grin grew more malicious. And Reavers don't make good conversationalists, you know. I wouldn't wish their company on anyone. Not even a Xenofen turned his head to one side. human.

There was dead silence in the council room, and Xenofen smiled even wider.

The halls were strange here and how could they be so infernally long? Johnny knew there hadn't been this much space on the outside of course, his warped sense of reality wasn't possibly being helpful maybe these halls went underground. There was always the possibility of that. He reached a hand out, brushing one of the tapestries. They seemed solid enough but what kind of reassurance was that, that things were what they seemed here? He narrowed his eyes, concentrating on that movement in his mind, the movement that stretched and curled along barely visible lines of energy. They were here as they were everywhere else. Just how far could someone go along them? And where did they lead? Some place better than this one, better than Earth, not full of rotten, selfish life forms? Tracing the lines with his mind, Nny felt the awareness of other planes creep into his awareness, just barely, as if he were seeing them out of the corner of his eye.

Some of them flowed easily, some were more twisted, some sucked at energy like voracious leeches some of them moved with color, others in void where was the way.. well.. home? Earth? It's not my home anymore, Nny thought morosely. And good riddance, too He was approaching something that seemed to feel like it, and a tendril of coldness leaked along some of the energy lines into his mind. It was familiar somehow; icy and wont to send shivers of dread down one's spine.

With a sudden panicked jerk of recognition Nny tried to pull his mind free. But he was far out from where he had been, and that icy tendril grew, swelled, and tightened its grip.

Pine had been afraid of this happening. He'd sensed the human's mind traveling outwards, exploring, and he well knew the state of the thing that had had claim on him. It still lurked around the castle that they'd left desolate and strewn with energy tatters; Pine could tell that even from here. Nny making his presence known was a bad idea and it was almost inevitable that the thing had found him again. The faeries called them Reavers', but Pine had no need or desire to assign the demon a name. As it was, this was going to be a difficult fight, an exhausting one, and there was a good possibility that he wouldn't win. Hooves kicking off from a solid energy base, Pine attacked.

Nny wasn't exactly sure what happened. One moment, that familiar monster had hold of him, and the next, he was knocked down violently, feeling more than seeing a violent swirl of glowing energy, akin to what he now recognized as Pine, but honed and sharpened. This was followed by a mass of bright fire, and a swirling yin-yang, almost, of chaos, all of which surrounded and overwhelmed the icy tendrils that clung like cobwebs to Nny's mind.

Battle was not something a creature like Pine relished. It was fast-paced, desperate, and made a terrible mess of balanced energy. This thing was exceedingly powerful and though he whirled and twisted, striking at it with positivity—the thing he'd found to be most deadly to it—it was counterstriking. There were pieces of the unicorn's energy, tangible pieces, that were being painfully lanced at and dribbled away. There was nothing he could do except keep driving it, keep going until one or the other wore out and while that point was a long way in coming for such an ancient being as a unicorn, it was there on the horizon, and it would eventually come.

Although hopefully not before the defeat of the thing did. Aedrywn appeared to his right, a vengeful wave of hot fire energy. Fire energy had never been a forte of Pine's, but it was the best kind for battle. It was an energy of action, and Aedrywn employed it to full use, melding with Pine's energy to turn the force of it full into the heart of the demon-thing.

Xenofen sat regally in the center of the fae court a long moment after both Pine and Aedrywn leapt to fight the demon. The fae were aware of the proximity of it, judging by the sudden loss of color in their auras and faces. If they weren't still afraid of him, that was. Almost as if they considered him a kind of demon. They had no reason to, if they did. Xenofen didn't feed on pain, or negativity. There was no need for him to do anything at all that he had no immediate desire to do and what was going on right beyond the faeries' own court? A battle of epic proportions, as they might say, one whose outcome was, as of yet, extremely uncertain. A unicorn and a fire dragon, locked in eternity trying to destroy a hideous blob of badness that was trying to destroy them just as passionately. And right under it all, a little scrap of tainted human that was unquestionably linked to the wretched demon-monster. Can't have that. Not to a soul. Blinking his glowing eyes at the fae queen, Xenofen disappeared from the court room as suddenly as he'd appeared there.

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Do not worry, this is not the end... there is going to be one more chapter I think. And I'll try to get it written quicker than this one was ^.^; Oh and I have a picture of Xenofen that I did a while ago if you care to see my (bad) interpretation of him. Why can I not get my mental images in all their glory down on paper!? He doesn't look exactly like this in my mind, but tis the closest I could seem to come...

http://www.side7.com/cgi-bin/S7SDB/DisplayImg.pl?INO=174127