This is a bit of a short chapter, because, well, everything's sort of been resolved already.

Okay, guys, let's work on last chapter's poll a bit more, okay? Because I get that you like Brackendra. That you REALLY like Brackendra. But I don't know what else you want more of. More of Chaos's crude humor, more of Fiona's snappy remarks, or more of Cassandra's stupid blonde behavior? (NOTE: I AM A BLONDE, DO NOT TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY, BLONDE JOKES ARE JUST TOO FUNNY TO HATE.)

Thank you for your useful opinions, That Guy and marshapono

PS: there will be plenty of Brackendra in the sequel. ;)

Chapter Thirty Seven

Gingerly, Bracken lays the coin on his father's pale inner wrist, right across the silvery veins. The metal pulses in a small flash of purple light the moment it touches his skin. Bracken recoils as it blazes with heat, shaking like a boiling kettle. It hisses for a second, and his eager family crowds a bit closer, eyes wide in expectation.

Then, suddenly, the coin quiets and lays still. A white light burns underneath Bracken's father's eyelids, and underneath his hand, Bracken can feel his systems pump at their normal speed. The man's hand twitches and he releases a guttural groan. Heidi, Bracken's second to youngest sister, makes a noise like a duck in her worry. Then, like a window sliding open, the Fairy King's lids slide open to reveal shimmering silver irises underneath.

Joy courses through Bracken, and he smiles warmly at his confused father. "Welcome back," whispers Bracken's mother. She lays her head against his shoulder. The Fairy King's puzzled frown deepens, but he strokes her long hair reassuringly. His eyes widen, probably noticing that all his children had aged, and his silvery eyebrows pinch together. Rubbing the Fairy Queen's back with one hand and stroking Burneda's little head with the other, he mouths to Bracken, "What happened?"

Bracken smiles and mouths back, "A lot of stuff."

But then something hits Bracken, as hard as a punch in the gut. Blind terror rolls over his mind, but it isn't his own. Bracken stiffens, eyes wide, as another mind momentarily lapses onto the horn so desperately clasped to her chest. He shudders, closing his eyes, and the moment passes.

Feeling a bit guilty, Bracken rises abruptly, stepping backwards and away from his father's sickbed. Ikia's head jerks up, and she glares at Bracken hostilely. She follows him as he backs out of the room, somewhat remorsefully. Her blue eyes burn.

Bracken tries in vain to escape his old sister's wrath before she can catch up with him, racing down the corridor, but before he knows it, she's standing in front of him. Ikia crosses her arms and scowls at Bracken, lips curling into a snarl. He stops short, skidding to a halt.

"What is it?" Ikia hisses, blocking Bracken as he futilely tries to jump around her barrier in the hallway. "What on earth could possibly be more important than Father?"

"She's having a nightmare," explains Bracken simply, shouldering his way past.

Fiona breathes in the crisp night air, the chill burning her lungs as it travels down her throat. She hears the soft whisper of Boro's paws over the leaves, and the quiet pant of his mighty breathing. Some lustful part of her wishes he'd cross the rest of the distance and join her in looking up at the night sky, but he pauses around five feet away.

"Pretty moon tonight," murmurs his silky voice, and Fiona can just picture him tipping up his golden head to gaze at the stars, lilac eyes examining the sky. It sends a jab of ice into her stomach. "Do you like the night?"

Fiona avoids the question. "Have you heard the legend about Chaos?" she questions, not tearing her eyes from the velvety black sky dotted with silver speckles.

Boro chuckles. "Which one?"

"The one about the stars." She closes her eyes, breathing out through her mouth, envisioning the story as she tells it. "The one about the love of his life."

Boro grows deathly silent. "Yes," he answers finally. "I have heard that one."

"They say," Fiona whispers, "that her name was Firefly. Every night, she'd look up at the stars and watch them. Every night. Not once did she look away. And they say that that drew young Prince Chaos to her, because he loved the night, too. Slowly, he opened up to her. And even more slowly, they say the pair fell in love. Real love. True love. Disney Princess love. They say he gave up the throne so he could stay with her." She opens her eyes to gaze at the stars once more. "And, according to legend, they had three healthy pups.

"Chaos became so happy that he offered anything in the world to Firefly, confident with his abilities. 'Anything,' he said, 'that is fit for a queen such as you.' Firefly, too, believed her mate could do no wrong. She turned her muzzle up to the sky, when the night was beautiful and clear just like this one, and wished for a star." Fiona closes her eyes again, voice quavering. "A star. Of all things. And Chaos would come true to his promise."

Boro falls quiet.

Fiona struggles to keep her voice from cracking. "They say that she straightened his cloak and licked clean the opal stone she'd given him to clasp it together. They say he held her close and whispered about how he'd be back at the morning's first light." Fiona swallows. "And he ascended into the sky like hell's angel, coat still white and spotless, unbeknownst of the things to come. For it is told that while he was climbing the heavens, literally battling gods and goddesses for his love's desire, that the Great Wolves fell and my mother lost her Soul Stone.

"Poor Chaos descended mightily, chest puffed with pride, racing down like an angel to his mate's den with a beautiful star clutched in his jaws just as the dawn light peaked over the ridge. They say it was so cold it burned with its own white fire. Chaos patrolled his den once, and marched inside to meet the love of his life."

"Fiona," warns Boro softly. He inches closer, and yet Fiona continues with sadness.

"They say that he entered his den to be met with the stench of death. They say that he dropped the star in shock at the sight of his mate and three pups lying in pools of blood. They say he wailed, and that a single teardrop landed on the white star.

"That teardrop smoked and sizzled, the fumes staining his face with black stripes. He curled around their dead bodies and wept, each tear lengthening his bands of black a little more, until he was striped all over.

"When he rose" – Fiona gulps – "he was consumed by rage. They say he threw a tentrum that shook the heavens, tracking down the murderers of his family like a demon. In his fury, they say he sunk the entire country of Atlantis, sending it to a watery doom. They say that he buried his family's bodies with the protection of the cold star, and cursed the souls of their killers to never find peace.

"They also say he never loved after that. His heart had belonged to one she wolf and three pups, and that's all it ever belonged to, or ever will. It's his curse. He lost all of his loves, and yet he's forced to live a life of exile because of his mourning."

Fiona's heart pounds as she turns to Boro, ears leveling. "That's why I don't want to fall in love with you. Prince Chaos neglected his duties as the King for true love, and then had everything he ever cared about ripped from him. I can't bear the thought of that happening to you." A tear slips down her cheek, landing in the emerald grass.

Boro rises to his feet, opening his mouth to say something. But before he can utter a word, a silver blur races between them, just a flash. Fiona's eyes trail it as it crosses the yard and skips up the steps. Boro curses in surprise. "Was that Bracken?"

"Yeah." Fiona huffs. "What's his problem?"

Boro shrugs. "He's a unicorn. Those things are weird. Ten bucks it's about Kendra, though."

Fiona hesitates. "I think the odds are stacked against me in that bet."

"They are," agrees Boro. Abruptly, his playful manner changes, as if he remembers what he'd been about to say before Bracken's rude interruption. "Fiona…" His purple eyes shine. "Fiona, what happened to Chaos is not going to happen to me. To us."

"How come?" demands Fiona tenaciously.

"For starters, we have your mother's blessing." He cocks his head. "It's really not the best mothering in the world if she advises you to get together with the one that'll kill you. And, secondly, Chaos was all alone. That's always been his downfall; he longs for friends and companions, but he realizes that they're just going to end up like Firefly and his pups."

"So, the story was true?" blurts Fiona.

"Yes." Boro sighs. "That one is true. But… don't go around telling it. Don't tell it right now, because he can be and probably is shadow-walking somewhere around here to eavesdrop. However, this isn't about him." He takes another step forward, until he's practically beside Fiona. Her muscles tremble with the stress of their proximity. "Fiona, all I know is that I love you. I've been trying to stay away from you for the longest time, and your obvious interests in me haven't been doing me any good. That's why I hurt you, the first time. I thought that grief would be enough to destroy any emotions you had for me, even if it meant tearing myself apart in the process. These other girls, they've just been distractions. Distractions and reminders that I've got to stay away from you. But, Fiona, they aren't working anymore." His shoulder brushes her, and his purple eyes regard her intently. "I can't stay away from you."

Fiona doesn't say anything at first, but leans back and savors the warmth of his golden fur. He curls around her, seemingly unwilling to speak as well. Finally, Fiona swallows and whispers hoarsely, "Why haven't you said so before, dummy?"

Boro chuckles, and a beautiful song undulates in the distance. Fiona's ears prick to the sound of Chaos's mournful voice, so deep and perhaps even more beautiful than her mother's, howling in grief. As he involves himself in the wordless lullaby, another tear rolls down her cheek at his misery and longing to be with those he loves. And, as the King of Shadows launches into the beautiful chorus, a sob escapes her throat.

"Listen

Listen, my children

Look up at – the stars!

Listen to them singing,

Singing,

Your song!

"Softly

Softly, my children

Sing up to – the stars!

Sing for your mother,

Softly,

Your song!

"Sadly

Sadly, my children

I sing you – to sleep!

Just close your eyes now,

Sadly,

Your song!"

"My god," Fiona whispers, tears flowing like rain. "Listen to him, Boro. He's singing his children to sleep. That's what he was always singing, every night at Caelum Amplexu. We were just too far away to understand him. Oh, that poor old wolf."

"That poor old wolf," agrees Boro.

"Oh. Hey." Warren glances at Vanessa in surprise. "I, uh, didn't know you were up."

Vanessa smirks. "Well, now you do." She stirs her cocoa and prances out of the room, into the family room. Bewildered, Warren follows, curious as to what she's doing at this time of night. He enters the room to see Vanessa collapsed on a maroon couch, flipping on the TV at the exact second he walks in.

Instantly, the news shocks him, with headlines like, PLAGUED BY NATURAL AND UNNATURAL DISASTERS, WILL CHINA SURVIVE? And, CAN PEOPLE REALLY SEE DRAGONS AND FAIRIES, OR IS THIS JUST A FRIGHTENING NEW CULT?

"Oh, my god," whispers Warren in shock. "What—"

"Exactly," amends Vanessa as footage from Hong Kong burning to the ground. In the corner of the screen, Warren can make out the forms of agile wolves dancing between the flicking flames. "How could I sleep in a time like this?"

"What's going on?" he demands, plopping down on the couch next to her. "Why are the wolves doing that? They're – they're good."

"They are the Keepers of Balance," corrects Vanessa, eyes blazing as she turns to Warren. "Remember what Fiona said? This is just the beginning. The human race will be torn from its mighty empire, and we'll be placed equally with all the species. They're only giving us what we deserve. That's all they're ever going to give us. I wonder what sort of world will emerge."

Before Warren can respond, the front door slams. Bracken bolts in the room, briefly makes a face at Vanessa, and then flies up the stairs. With a frown, Warren trails him up to the first step.

"What's got his goat?" he wonders aloud.

Vanessa shrugs cockily. "Unicorns are weird. I bet my left leg it has something to do with Kendra."

Warren's eyes twinkle. "I would take you up on that, but I have no desire for your left leg."

Vanessa cocks an eyebrow. "Well, you should." She extends it, red painted nails gleaming in the light cast from the TV. "You could pay millions for this beauty. It's gorrrr-geous."

"Agreed," chuckles Warren, pulling Vanessa in for a midnight kiss.

Kendra awakens with a snap, bolting upright. She cracks her forehead against something hard, causing her to recoil again. Blinking and trying to right herself, she recognizes her surroundings in the dim dark. Even with her light, the room is eerie all alone, so she'd set up a night light with a rainbow unicorn on it, and with that light she sees a very familiar pair of eyes staring back at her.

"Welcome back," he chuckles, stroking up and down her spine in soothing cycles. Silvery hair hangs in his handsome face, that face Kendra knows so, so well. His blue eyes are filled with such adoration that Kendra shivers in his firm embrace. Disoriented, Kendra notes as he lowers his lips to her ear. "You were having a nightmare," he whispers huskily.

"Bracken," Kendra gasps, throwing her hands around his neck. She clutches her trembling form against his sculpted form. Bracken's arms readjust and grip her to him, matching the force Kendra hugs him with. The crushing weight in his embrace makes Kendra's breath jar, but she closes her eyes, resolve returning. "You shouldn't be here," she breathes into his silky hair. "Your father."

Bracken draws back, and Kendra can practically feel his amusement. "My father, yes. He saw me, after he revived. I saw him. He's fine. A bit confused, but fine."

Kendra rubs her head with one hand, frowning. "But – how –"

"How am I here?" Bracken shrugs. "You were having a nightmare. How could I not be here?"

Kendra stares at him incredulously for a few seconds. "You," she whispers, placing a hand on his profiled face, "left your father that's been in a coma for a thousand years, made the Fairy Realm vulnerable by passing through dimensions, raced through the woods in the dark, and stormed upstairs just because I was having a nightmare."

Bracken smiles sheepishly. "Yeah," he admits. "That's how important you are to me."

Kendra doesn't respond, just wraps her hands around his torso. She traces a line of welts along his back with disapproval. Frowning, Kendra whispers, "Why didn't you get this healed?"

Bracken's smile grows. "I was a bit preoccupied. I never knew a human could swing an umbrella with that much force."

Despite Kendra's warnings, Bracken had decided to stay right next to her as they broke the news of the Immortality Pearl to Mom. Mom, being the reasonable being she is, immediately grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be an old umbrella, and began bludgeoning Bracken brutally, not caring that Kendra still wasn't sure what to pick.

"I'm sorry," Kendra apologizes, retracting her hand.

"I don't mind." Bracken sinks in a little closer to her, perfect lips moving gently in the darkness. "And, in all honesty, your hands felt good along my battle wounds." He props himself up on one elbow. "Maybe I should get you to tend to my injuries more often…"

Kendra's heart pounds. "I'd gladly do it," she murmurs, lacing her fingers through his hair. Something clicks in her mind. "When are you going to reclaim your third horn?"

He looks away, thumb stroking her cheek absentmindedly. To Kendra, he seems mildly embarrassed. "I'm not sure I want to. Not yet."

Kendra recoils, shocked. "You don't want to – why? My god, Bracken, you've been nostalgic for your horn since I first met you! How come you've changed your mind all the sudden?"

The thumb on Kendra's cheek freezes. He's definitely embarrassed now. "A unicorn's third horn is his pride and joy. You're right to be incredulous of my unwillingness to claim it once more." His eyes flash to hers. "But, Kendra, you seem… uncomfortable with the fact that I'm a unicorn." A blush colors his pale cheeks. "I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I want you more than anything else, and if I can't have you and my third horn…" He shrugs. "Then I won't."

Kendra lifts her hand and slaps him across the cheek. Bracken flinches, touching the hand that'd been caressing Kendra to where she'd slapped him in shock. "You stupid," Kendra hisses, "stupid unicorn."

Kendra's practically blowing smoke as she growls, "I was uncomfortable because I loved you, and that maybe I shouldn't. Just a kid. You know, before Caelum Amplexu. I was afraid you thought of me as just another adoring fairy. An amusement. I see that isn't true anymore. And, Mister, you'd better reclaim that horn or face my wrath!"

Bracken's face quirks into a smile. He cocks his head. "You've made me curious now. What about the Pearl? What are you deciding to do?"

Kendra swallows painfully, wishing her unicorn hadn't brought that up. "I guess that's up to you." Her eyes gaze into his imploringly. "If you want me around for all of eternity, then I'll be yours. If you'd rather me live short and sweet, I'll wither and die with my family."

Bracken looks at Kendra for a long time. Worry clogs her throat, and Kendra discovers she's unable to speak. Suddenly, Bracken throws himself at her, catching her lips with his. Kendra wraps her hands in his hair, loving the sensation of him, and only him. He breaks apart with a ragged gasp, blue eyes burning with passion. "I want you," he whispers gently, placing his hand along her face. "And I'll have you for all of eternity if I can. But it's up to you, darling; would you like to be my princess, and later my queen?"

Kendra wraps her arms around his neck, relishing his warmth and the swirl of that wonderful, wonderful breath against her face. "Of course," she whispers.

On the outer edges of Kendra's subconscious, she hears a wolf breaks into song.

I started crying when I was writing about Chaos, so sorry this chapter took so long to come out.

ALSO: TODAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013 IS MY BIRTHDAY! WISH ME HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

POLL: Last poll, except with more detail. -_- Thank you, That Guy and marshapono. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HAPPEN?

PS: there's only the epilogue left :P

Ciao,

~wolfluvermh