Distribution: This story cannot in part or whole be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may only be distributed with author's permission and must include all disclaimers.
Disclaimer: Cole Turner, Darryl Morris, Prue, Piper, Paige, and Phoebe Halliwell. Leo Wyatt, Jenna, and Andy Trudeau and all other characters that have appeared on the series "Charmed" as well as the concept of Charmed and all backstory are the copyright property of Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, and the WB Television Network. No copyright infringement was intended. All original characters as well as the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
Darryl didn't know how long he had searched through the darkness for Cole; all he knew was that it had felt like an eternity before he found him. The relief he had felt as his hand made contact with Cole's was something he would never be able to explain.
"Gotcha." He felt Cole's hand quickly grasp his, the grip painful but he didn't care. The fear he felt coming from Cole was almost over powering and instinctively opened the link all the way. Once it was open however he realized that that it was also his own fear he was feeling and as usual his friend was trying to help calm him just as he was trying to do the same for Cole.
"Darryl?" Cole knew that it was Darryl, what had startled him was that he could see Darryl and he shouldn't be able to. He could see the surprise in his friend's eyes when he realized that he could see him. "Don't ask me because I have no idea. I do know that we shouldn't be here." As Cole looked around them, sweeping the area for threats that he knew were out there somewhere, he never even thought about letting go of Darryl. He didn't want to lose Darryl in all of this darkness and from the feelings he was getting he just knew that his friend was going to kick into full Guardian mode any second. The thought barely had time to register when he found himself being pulled forward and right into his friend's personal space. He couldn't help the snicker that escaped from his lips.
"Okay there partner what is so amusing?" Darryl asked as he turned to look at his now snickering friend. However, with the link still fully open by this point it took all of two seconds for him to understand. "Oh all right all right it isn't that funny you know. Now let's figure out where we are so that we can figure out how to get out of here."
Very quickly both men got down to business. Working as one they visually tried to scan the area but the darkness was too complete so Cole quickly turned to a magical scan. As he scanned he automatically relayed the information, what there was of it at any rate, directly to Darryl via the link.
"So any ideas as to where we are?" Darryl asked as he carefully sifted through the information that he was receiving from his friend.
"Not really. I know what it's not if that's any help to you." Cole suddenly stopped when he realized what he had said. He simply wanted to kick himself at that moment as he heaved an exasperated sigh, his free hand unconsciously running through his hair making it stick up in odd directions.
"Okay then what isn't this place? Maybe we can figure it out by process of elimination." Darryl had felt Cole's insecurity, his anger at himself and Darryl was damned if he was going to let his friend continue to feel that way. He absently began to brush down the errant curls that were all but waving at him from atop his friend's head while he waited for Cole to calm down a little. The last thing he wanted was for his friend to get upset again. He concentrated on remaining calm himself as well. The inky darkness of this place was already beginning to get to him. He couldn't see two feet in front of him. This is how it is for him when he loses his sight. The darkness all around you with no way to penetrate it; closing your eyes and then opening them only to find the same darkness still surrounding you. Darryl had always been able to feel Cole's emotions but up until this very moment he could never truly understand, not this. Oh he could close his eyes and try walking around but he could also simply open his eyes if it became too much for him whereas his friend couldn't.
"Not being alone and knowing that I wouldn't be left alone helps." Cole had felt Darryl tense up and he didn't need the link to tell him why. He had secretly watched Darryl try and move around the Manor with his eyes closed on a number of occasions and he had also seen his friend fall over various pieces of furniture in the attempts. The very fact that Darryl had tried to understand what it was like for him whenever his world had turned to one of darkness had brought tears to his eyes. As he brought his eyes up to meet his friends there were no words needed but they were said anyway. "Thank you. Always."
"You're welcome. Always." Darryl never let Cole out of his sight, heck he never let him out of reaching distance when he couldn't see. There was no way that he would ever leave him alone, not that he was ever that far away from his charge even when his charge could see. Some people had thought their relationship strange, their need to be physically close to each other silly but neither he nor Cole cared. It was enough for both men to know that those that mattered understood and accepted them and their needs without prejudice.
Both men shook themselves a little to bring their thoughts back to the problem at hand. Cole once again scanned the area as he began to get a feeling of familiarity about this dark world around them, a familiarity that was beginning to give him the creeps; a feeling that Darryl quickly picked up on.
"This place is familiar but it's not a part of your memories and I know it's not a part of mine. What does that leave us?" He shared a look with Cole as it came to both of them.
"The Source."
Darryl felt Cole begin to shake a little at the mention of the hated name and he automatically pulled Cole closer to him in an effort to help keep him calm. What he hadn't anticipated was his own response as he found himself swaying a little on his own feet.
"Darryl?" Cole had grabbed Darryl's arm with his free hand when he felt him start to sway. Immediately looking into his friend's eyes as he felt something very strange come through the link. This time it was Cole who fell into Darryl's eyes and into a nightmare.
Cole saw flashes, little snippets of things flashing within his minds eye and he wasn't liking what he was seeing. These weren't memories they were images being superimposed onto his friend's mind. Flash after flash.
Cole saw Darryl standing over him, his body lying on the ground, covered in blood and as he looked up he recognized the street. It was where they had captured the serial killer, where he had helped to save the lives of the three officers that were standing on the curb a few feet away from them. This time though he had apparently died in the attempt. He watched as Darryl kneeled down and with a shaky hand closed his dead eyes.
The image switched to another time when he and Darryl had been caught in a firefight about a week after the first image and again he watched as he died, as he left Darryl alone. Cole was beginning to get an idea about what was going on when the image switched yet again.
This time it was the night they had met Slater, the night he had been shot. He watched as Darryl lowered him to the ground, Darryl's hand coming away from the back of his head covered in blood. Darryl's call for help rang out and then they were in the ambulance. Again the image switched but stayed with the theme of that night. He watched as the nurse gave Darryl the letter Cole had always kept on his person in case anything ever happened to him. The look on his friend's face as he read the letter was almost painful to watch but it also helped him get closer to the answer of where they were.
As Cole continued to watch, he listened as Darryl spoke to himself as he sat down. His heart ached for his friend, the pain in Darryl's voice as he spoke the promise he had made that night, the promise to Cole that he would never be alone ever again cut right into his heart. Then he saw Grams come out of the doors at the end of the hall and make her way over to Darryl, her words froze his blood as he finally made the connection.
"I'm sorry Inspector. We did all that we could but he didn't make it. Your friend is dead Inspector. Cole is dead."
Cole finally knew where they were and what he had to do. With great effort he pushed against the entity that was attacking Darryl, showing Darryl his worst fear coming to life over and over and over again. One part of Cole's brain told him that Darryl's worst fear was the same as his own; to have the other go away and leave them all alone but he couldn't think about that now so he filed it away for future reference.
As Cole was pushing the entity out of Darryl he noticed that none of the entities were attacking him for some reason so he decided rather quickly to use that fact to his own advantage. Carefully he channeled even more power into the link and preceded to push with everything he had. It had felt like a very long time to Cole but finally the entity gave ground, not much just a little but that was all the opening Cole needed. One great shove later and the entity was gone; before Cole could even catch his breath though, the mental battle having taken a physical toll as well, he felt Darryl go limp in his arms. Catching his falling friend he tried to gently lower the two of them to the ground and made it with only a slightly bruised ego to show for the effort. Quickly he pointed his hand at the ground in front of him and a wall of flame appeared which immediately ringed itself around the two men. Once the protection was in place Cole turned all of his attention to Darryl.
"Darryl?" He repeated his friend's name a few times but still Darryl's eyes remained unfocused. Feeling a panic begin to surface within himself he immediately clamped down on it, giving over to that panic building within would serve no purpose. That knowledge coupled with the fact that his friend needed him was enough to quell the rising tide of fear.
"Okay then…… his eyes are open but he isn't in the here and now and he isn't on the Dreamscape." Cole reasoned out loud. He knew for a fact that Darryl had not gone to the Dreamscape because if he had he would have disappeared from here physically as well. Suddenly he felt the body resting in his arms tense up as tears began to form in the unfocused brown eyes. Cole suddenly knew with absolute certainty what was happening, his friend was freed from the entity but the images were still playing out in Darryl's mind. Refusing to let those images continue to hurt his friend he pulled Darryl's body closer so it rested more securely in his arms before once again riding the link into his friend's mind.
Once he was inside Darryl's mind he quickly looked around and what he saw this time made his heart lurch in his chest because this nightmare he felt responsible for. It had been right after the first Bond had been established, when they had all moved into Raven Manor. He had had the same nightmare for a week before Darryl had finally gotten him to talk about it. Now he was watching that same nightmare play out before him.
He saw himself lying on his side on the ground of a cave; his eyes closed as if asleep while a hooded demon ran his hand through his hair. His body never moved though. Looking to his right he saw Darryl standing a few feet away, his arms were chained to a stone column that rose from the ground behind him.
"You failed. You promised him that I was gone, that I could never hurt him again but here I am." As the hooded demon spoke a red glow surrounded the hand that was now laying on the unconscious Cole's head. The real Cole watched as the dream Cole's body began to convulse on the cave floor.
"Leave him alone you son of a bitch! Just leave him alone!" Darryl screamed while he strained against the chains holding him, his eyes never leaving the convulsing body of his friend.
"Or what! You can't do anything. You are powerless. You always were and you always will be. Protect him. Isn't that what you promised him? That I was gone forever and could never hurt him again? Let us add lying to your many mistakes shall we. Guardian…… you? You are pathetic. You could never protect him from me and you knew that yet you still made that promise. Now he is mine again and this time it is forever. I thank you for giving him back to me." The demon removed his hand from the convulsing Cole's head, Cole's body immediately stilled but still his eyes never opened.
The real Cole watched as the demon lowered his hood but he already knew what he would see. It was the face of the Source, half disfigured but still bearing the tribal markings that were similar to Belthazor's. This wasn't real and he knew it but as he looked to his friend he could see in Darryl's eyes that he didn't know that it wasn't real. Immediately he began to walk over to Darryl, it wasn't far but as he moved forward he realized something. The fear that was usually associated with the Source coming back wasn't there, he was free of it and he knew that he was free from that fear because of his friend, his Guardian, his brother. This thought simply spurred him on as he quickened his pace to get to his friend, to free his friend.
Cole didn't stop until he was directly in front of a still struggling Darryl. Watching his friend continue to struggle against the chains that bound him Cole suddenly realized that Darryl couldn't see him. Knowing what he had to do he still found himself turning to face the very demon that had haunted his every nightmare for months after his escape from the Wasteland, had haunted him until Darryl sent the nightmare packing by simply being there for him, by caring about him.
"You can't have him." Cole found himself speaking without really thinking about it, it was simply a need he had to satisfy so he kept talking. "Do you hear me? You can't have him because he is mine and always will be. Nothing and no one, least of all you can ever change that." His voice was low and calm but cold and deadly as well. He wasn't sure exactly why he had felt the need to say what he had but he found himself feeling better for just having spoken the words aloud.
Quickly he turned back to Darryl and was mildly surprised when he found Darryl's eyes looking right at him instead of through him. He figured it had to have something to do with the link but he still felt a whole lot better when he heard Darryl's voice.
"Cole?" Darryl's voice sounded odd even to himself. His eyes locked with the blue eyes that were staring intensely at him. He wasn't sure what was happening anymore, what was real as something here had to be a lie. There were two Coles in front of him, one standing the other laying on the cave ground in front of the Source. It simply wasn't possible so one of them had to be a lie but which one.
"Darryl, listen to me. This isn't real. It's the Crydeshi, the creatures that live in this realm. It's called the Blackness of Niquili. That's where we are, well where we really are anyway. The Crydeshi torture their victims by bringing their worst nightmare to life in the victim's own mind and making them relive it over an over." Cole felt that explaining what was happening would help Darryl realize that what was happening around them wasn't real. Gods knew Darryl had done the very same thing often to help Cole out if his own nightmares. The fact that Darryl was still watching and listening to him was a good sign, now all Cole had to do was get them out of Darryl's head. Even though he had pulled Darryl out of his friend's nightmares in the past this was different. Here they were in a separate realm and the rules were different. The pain in his friend's eyes cut right through his soul and he simply couldn't stand to see Darryl hurting this way any more so he gave himself over to his own instincts and let them guide him.
"Okay Sherlock we're out of here." With that Cole grabbed Darryl's head in his hands while he grabbed the link with his mind. Once he had a firm hold on both he sent a burst of power down the link. A split second later he felt the ground drop out from under his feet and suddenly they were free falling, landing with an almost painful jar back into their proper bodies.
Darryl looked to the Cole that was standing in front of him, he looked at the blue eyes and hoped, prayed that this was the real Cole. If it wasn't then he had failed his friend, he had broken his promise to always protect him and to never let the Source have him ever again. His heart and soul simply screamed out at the pain of the very thought, his eyes growing wet with unshed tears. Just when he thought he couldn't bear it any longer he suddenly knew which was real and it had only taken one word to fall from his friend's lips. Sherlock. Only Cole called him that, only his friend knew what that word meant to him.
When Darryl was little, he had a younger brother that had called him Sherlock. Derek was younger than him by thirteen months and they were very close. Derek had picked the nickname from watching Scooby-Doo cartoons and soon it was the only way that Derek would refer to his big brother, which had been perfectly fine with said big brother. For five years the nickname was much loved but when Darryl was ten years old a stray bullet from a police firefight that had taken place outside of their school had killed Derek and since that time no one had ever called him Sherlock, no one until Cole that was.
When he and Cole had started to hang out together, before the bullet incident, Cole had started using the nickname Sherlock for Darryl. At first Darryl had been surprised but he quickly hid his surprise as he realized that he liked hearing Cole use the old nickname. At the time he didn't really know why just as he hadn't known how much Cole had come to like Darryl's nicknames for him. Darryl had never called anyone "partner", even Andy and they had been partners. He also never used the word "friend" as a nickname for anyone before either but for some reason, with Cole it had just come naturally and soon he was using "partner" and "friend" frequently when referring to or talking to Cole.
After the first Bond link was formed, both Darryl and Cole having literally lived each others lives in their mind's eye as their memories were both given and received by the other, Cole had hesitated in calling Darryl by the nickname Sherlock. Darryl had quickly understood why and made it perfectly clear to his friend that he liked it when Cole used his nickname, a confused Cole couldn't help but ask why. Darryl had taken that moment to tell Cole that he had begun to think of Cole as a little brother. The shy look Darryl had seen flow over his friend's features had taken him a little by surprise. Cole had explained that ever since Darryl had started to be his friend he hadn't felt the loneliness he had been living with ever since the death of Belthazor whom Cole had thought of as his big brother because he always watched out for him.
It was at that moment that he realized what it had come to mean to Cole that he had adopted the nicknames "partner" and "friend" for him. Cole had in fact begun to think of Darryl as a big brother, a big brother who had started taking care of him as only Belthazor had done before. Darryl had been quick to let Cole know that he felt honored to be compared to Belthazor, as he and he alone knew what Belthazor had really meant to Cole. When his friend had looked stunned by this comment, Darryl had reminded him that he had all of Cole's memories so he knew how important Belthazor had been to Cole and how happy he was that he could take away that feeling of loneliness, the loneliness that had been Cole's constant companion since the death of Belthazor.
Thanks largely due to the link, both he and Cole had come to understand what their friendship had come to mean to each other and both he and Cole were more than happy with the new arrangement that the link created.
All of these thoughts had flashed through Darryl's mind as he felt himself free falling with Cole. When normally he would have taken the lead he felt no shame in letting Cole guide them. His last thought before their rather bone jarring landing back into their rightful bodies was of the look on Grams' face. When she had realized that even though the Prophecy had named him Warrior Guardian to Cole's Warrior Archangel, the fact was plain to see that Cole looked out for him just as much as he looked out for Cole. She had told them that it was their Bond of friendship that would serve them the most when they ascended and that it would also prove to be their saving grace. It wasn't until both he and Cole had thought about what eternity really meant that the impact of her words struck home and from that day forward they had both thanked the Gods and Goddess' for their friendship and promised each other to never ever take their friendship for granted in any way. This was a promise that neither had ever even thought of breaking, no matter what.
As soon as Darryl's bones stopped rattling around, he carefully opened his eyes to find a pair of very concerned ones looking down at him. He tried to smile but he knew that it fell flat, the emotions that the Crydeshi had evoked within him still running rampant around his heart and soul. Instead of trying to say anything he simply tried to relax in Cole's arms. It wasn't the first time he had found himself sitting in his friend's lap while Cole rubbed comforting circles on his back slowly easing away the tension that the some fear had put in him. Between the soothing hand on his back and the quiet words flowing from his friend's heart past his lips to Darryl's ear, Darryl found the tension sliding away.
Darryl took a few moments to simply listen to Cole's words, the Dragonese language was a melodic one and his friend's unusual accent lent a calming softness to the melody. Darryl, as well as the Twins, almost always asked Cole to speak in Dragonese when it was his turn to read during their quiet reading times. All of them were fluent in the Dragonese language as it was the primary language of the Nation as well as their little family, but when Cole spoke in it the words themselves seemed to take on a life of their own.
"Thank you." Darryl said as he leaned back a little. He would have liked to stay in the safe circle of his friend's arms but there was a dangerous threat out there in the darkness beyond the wall of flame that surrounded them. A dangerous threat that made his Guardian instincts come to life so he reluctantly moved back so that Cole's hands were free to defend himself if the need arose.
"Don't mench." Cole's reply may have seemed to be purely automatic but it was nonetheless from the heart, their friendship always coming first no matter what the situation.
Cole took a moment to check on Darryl via the link just to make sure that he was all right, well as all right as he could be given the circumstances. The residual fear was still there but Cole had expected that. He knew it would take time to move completely away from the nightmares that his Guardian had been forced to live but he also knew that between himself, the twins, Grams, and the puppies that Darryl would be just fine in time. His full attention was brought back to Darryl's face as his friend spoke.
"How long will the fire wall hold? More to the point though is how much energy and concentration are you using to keep it in place?" Even on the Natural plane maintaining walls of protection, especially firewalls mean sacrificing power and concentration. If too much concentration was needed then the wielder would be left vulnerable to other forms of attack. Darryl had learned a lot during the past year and one of the most important things was that knowledge was power so if you needed to know something you asked. Right now that wall of fire was the only thing protecting his charge and himself from the Crydeshi and he really didn't want to face them again so soon.
"I won't be able to maintain it for much longer. The rules are different here and the power consumption ratio has increased." Cole watched his friend carefully as he spoke, both with his eyes and the link. He saw Darryl's body tense and through the link he felt he felt the fear plain as day. Cole began to worry about what would happen to his friend if the Crydeshi attacked again. His mind starting to come up with strategies but as each came to mind he found flaws in them so he discarded them, one after another after another. Suddenly he heard something on the other side of the firewall and it didn't sound like a Crydeshi, evidently Darryl had heard it as well as his friend turned an inquiring look his way. "I have no idea. I have never heard anything like that before in my life and that's saying something."
As Cole spoke, both he and Darryl could hear what almost sounded like a savage roar coming from the other side of the firewall. Almost because it wasn't really a roar either, it was something completely unique yet something that seemed familiar to the two boys. Over the next few minutes the boys sat shoulder to shoulder listening to what could only be a battle going on just past the fire wall, neither one able to explain why they felt safer with the roars than with the Crydeshi.
As suddenly as it had started the sounds of battle stopped. The boys remained frozen in place as they listened intently, trying to figure out who the victors were. The next sound they heard was one of the last sounds they ever expected to hear in the place they were in.
"Cole?"
"Darryl?"
Each puppy carefully called out, as they didn't want to scare their charges anymore than they had to. They knew that they sounded a little different as their Alter Forms were larger and they lacked the puppy sounding quality that their normal voices held. Carefully they moved closer to the firewall and were surprised when they felt no heat coming from it.
"Maybe it has to do with the fact that it was your charge that created it." Sherlock reasoned as he tentatively held a large paw closer to the flames, flames that he still felt no heat from. It was almost as if the fire wasn't there.
"Are you thinking that we are immune to their powers?" Snuggles thought about this for a minute as he too brought his paw closer to the fire. "It would appear that we are, well at least in this form and here on this plane. As for the Natural plane we will have to do some more checking before making that assumption. However, for right now let us concentrate on our charges." Snuggles said as he simply walked forward and through the fire with Bearlock right on his heels.
Cole and Darryl simply could not believe their eyes as two massive forms moved through the red flames as if the fire wasn't even there. They were the size of horses, shortish horses but horses nonetheless. They had fur-coated wings that were folded neatly at their sides with long furry tails that swished from side to side. Each bore markings that the boys instantly recognized but which left them speechless as the puppies slowly moved towards them. As for the puppies themselves they recognized the looks that were now spreading across their charges' faces.
"Cole." Snuggles said in a very calm and even tone, afraid to frighten them anymore than they already apparently had. "Darryl. It is us; really and truly it is us. These are our Alter Forms."
"Cole?" Darryl wasn't sure what was going on but from what he was feeling through the link apparently his friend did.
Cole quickly looked to Darryl and tried to explain. "An Alter Form is…… well think Belthazor as he was my Alter Form. Well not exactly since he wasn't me he was him and they are apparently still them." Cole wasn't making any sense and what worried Darryl the most was that his friend didn't even seem to realize that he was rambling. Cole's mind was too busy trying to figure out how the puppies had walked through the fire and if the Crydeshi could do the same thing.
"Cole. Cole." Snuggles wasn't liking his charge's reaction and apparently neither was Darryl. He couldn't seem to get Cole's attention anymore than Snuggles could.
Bearlock looked from Cole to Snuggles before bringing his eyes to rest on Darryl. The fear he could see in his charge's eyes suddenly made Cole's silence understandable to him. Quickly he turned his eyes to Cole. "Cole, you don't have to worry about the Crydeshi. The few that ran from us cannot get through your wall of protection." He could see the need in Cole's blue eyes the minute they looked to him, the need to believe that Darryl was safe. "Cole, listen to me." Bearlock knew he needed to calm Cole down and quickly before Cole's need to protect Darryl sent him into a total panic. Pee Wee and Uncle D were right. They are each other's Guardians and nothing will ever change that. Bearlock smiled to himself at this thought. "The only reason we were able to come through your wall of protection is because you are our charges. No one else can come through."
"And the Crydeshi are terrified of us anyway so they won't be coming back." Snuggles added when he realized what Bearlock was doing. "We will have to find out exactly why when we get back and we will be leaving, as soon as the Twins get here that is."
"The Twins?" The boys spoke as one. They watched as the two rather large sized puppies shared a look.
"All right what exactly is going on?" Cole demanded, putting his arm around Darryl's shoulders and pulling him closer so that he rested more comfortably against him. He had felt the fear spike within his friend when he heard that their Twins were coming. Cole himself was worried but Darryl, who was still reeling from the Crydeshi attack was bordering on panic, a panic that he felt subside a little with their close physical contact. Close physical contact to help alleviate panic and fear was yet one more thing that he and Darryl shared.
Snuggles and Bearlock moved closer to where the boys were sitting, each puppy laying down at the feet of their charge. They wanted to change back but they weren't sure that it was a good idea. In their Alter Forms they could better protect the boys, which in the end is what they chose to do. They were relieved when Cole and Darryl began to run their hands through their fur, however it did not take long for Cole to ask his question again.
"What is going on? What is happening? Do you know?" Cole hated not knowing what was going on and being caught in another plane wasn't helping any, especially when his friend was hurting like he was. As he continued to rub Snuggles behind his ears, and there was no doubt in his mind that the massive beast that was reclining at his feet was his little puppy, he waited as patiently as he could for an answer. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Darryl's hand begin to rub Bearlock under his chin, at the same time he felt Darryl's body snuggle up closer to his side as Darryl's head came to rest on his shoulder. Cole knew what it was like to have your worst fear play out right in front of you while you were powerless to do anything about it, he also knew that, thanks to the Crydeshi, there would be a few new nightmares awaiting his friend when he closed his eyes. But I'll be there too, just like you're always there for me. Never alone my friend never alone. Cole's attention remained half on Darryl and half on his puppy as Snuggles started to explain.
"What we know so far is that this is a trap, which you have already figured out. As for who set the trap we are not sure." Snuggles looked up as he felt the hand petting him freeze. "Cole?"
Darryl had also felt Cole freeze and he had a pretty good idea why. "It was the Elders wasn't it?"
Cole knew that it had to be the Elders and he knew how they found out. Unfortunately he had no choice but to explain himself. "Yes it has to be the Elders. They are the only ones that know about us."
"And they know about us because of Leo." Darryl felt guilt and shame begin to rise within him as he thought about this. It was because he had let the girls and Leo get so close to Cole that this had happened. He was supposed to be protecting his friend not leading the enemy to him. Before he could get a real good self-guilt trip going though three separate voices broke into his thoughts.
"You are not to blame for this." Cole, Snuggles, and Bearlock spoke as one. They could all see the guilt blossoming and they refused to allow it especially when he had done nothing wrong.
Darryl looked over to the two furry ones before bringing his eyes to meet Cole's. He found what he knew that he would, sympathy and understanding. He had to smile a little at that. It had taken him longer than he cared to think about to break Cole of the habit of blaming himself for things that he had no control over and here he was doing the very same thing. "Sorry." He spoke the word that was normally not allowed but he knew that his friend would understand what he meant.
When Cole heard the word he almost said something but he caught himself as he realized what the 'sorry' was for and instead he smiled. "No problem there Sherlock." He continued to rub Darryl's arm, the motion a soothing one for both his friend and himself. Once he felt that Darryl was calm enough he turned back to Snuggles. "Okay we know the who."
"But that doesn't explain why." Darryl continued without a beat.
"The Twins are coming or." Cole picked up once more.
"How they are coming in the first place." Darryl finished for Cole.
The link was still wide open and since they had a tendency to finish each other's sentences without the link, the open link simply increased said tendency. The puppies found it amusing and smiled which earned them a confused look from both boys.
"Sorry but it's like watching a ping pong match." Snuggles chuckled as he and Bearlock shared a knowing look. They already found it amusing and knowing that this was a common thing for their charges to do the puppies were guaranteed many hours of amusement in the future. "As for your question, we aren't exactly sure how they are going to get here but we do know that they are coming."
Before anyone had the chance to say anything else all four heads turned in the direction of yet another very unusual sound. As it grew louder the sound began to change, becoming clearer the closer it got. The confusion amongst the group was also growing for they knew what the sound was they simply couldn't believe that they were hearing it. Horses hooves. The sound was so unexpected that it took a few more seconds to process that it was two sets of hooves making their way towards them.
Darryl suddenly grabbed a hold of Cole as Cole's body began to sway away from him at the same moment the firewall disappeared. "Cole?" Darryl knew what had happened, the sudden loss of the firewall had had a whiplash effect on his friend.
"Yeah I'm fine." Cole said as he gave his head a little shake bringing levelness back to his vision. "It just came down a little sooner than I thought it would is all." Cole quickly brought his arm back around his friend's shoulders, the fear still screaming from Darryl through their link. Both of the boys jumped at the sound of their names though, the voices calling to them that of their Twins.
"Cole?"
"Darryl?"
The Twins galloped to a stop a few feet from the little group, their hooves pawing at the darkness that was the ground. To say they had been surprised to find themselves with four legs and a tail was an understatement but that was nothing compared to the surprise they got when they first looked at each other. The lower halves of their bodies were that of horses, like a centaur but it was their upper bodies that shocked them the most. Where the soft equine fur disappeared scales took their place, purple scales like Uncle D had. Their eyes were a deep solid purple almost as if they were gemstones rather than eyes, where their hands had been there were now very sharp claws, the daggers were still held firmly in their grasp. They would have continued to simply stare at each other if they hadn't felt their loves fear. It flowed around them; getting heavier the closer they got to them.
The Twins didn't even consider fear or rejection from the boys, the thought had never even crossed their minds and it never would. As they stopped, looking down into the eyes of their boys they found only love and they smiled.
"Yes it is us and no we have no idea what is going on." Anita said as she saw the question forming on her love's lips.
"And before we even begin to try and figure anything out we need to finish the ritual that will free the two of you from this place." Julianna could easily see her love's need to get them out of there, his need to get Darryl out of there as quickly as possible. As she looked to Darryl the fear was plain to see. Something had happened to him here, something that would follow him out into the waking world of that she was positive. She couldn't help the small smile from coming to her lips as she watched Cole pull Darryl just a little closer to him, rubbing his arm in an effort to help keep him calm just as Darryl had done so many times for Cole. She looked to her sister and saw the same smile forming on her lips. They both knew that as long as the boys were together then they would be okay.
"Okay then what do we have to do to get the hell out of here?" Cole didn't want to stay here a moment longer than necessary even though he knew that he would lose his sight again once they escaped, his need to protect his friend stronger than his own fear of the blindness.
"And will it get all of us out of here?" Darryl had no desire to stay here a second longer but he also had no intentions of leaving any one behind.
"Yes it will get us all out of here." Anita kept her voice soothing, the sound of her Dragon Voice making it easier to maintain. She also knew what the next question would be, from both the boys and the puppies, who had remained silent thus far. "And no we don't know exactly where we shall end up but as it was Grams and Uncle D who sent us here I think it is safe to assume that where ever we end up it will be safe."
"All right what do we have to do then?" Cole had seen the daggers in the girls' claws and knew that they would be in integral part whatever was about to happen.
The twins looked to each other, their look deciding who would be the one to explain.
"We need your heart's blood on the daggers. We already have everyone else's." Julianna began to explain as Anita moved closer to Darryl. They both could see the something had happened to Darryl here, something that had frightened him so much that Cole was unwilling to relinquish physical contact with him.
"The babies?" Both boys spoke as one, the same fear appearing on both of their faces.
"Don't worry about them. According to Uncle D it is only because of them that we can even do this before the final joining." Julianna was quick to reassure both boys as more fear and upset they did not need. She then explained quickly what needed to be done.
It was a testament to the love that they shared with their twins that neither Cole nor Darryl batted an eye at the idea of giving the heart's blood. The trust that lay between the four of them was stronger than simple love between a man and a woman, for them it was a love that was all encompassing, a trust-bond that was unbreakable. They were family in heart and soul.
The puppies came to stand by their respective charges as the twins moved close enough to obtain what they needed. As they were still in their Alter-Forms the boys were forced to stand in order for the girls to reach them without having to stoop. Everyone took a moment to take a deep breath to make sure that they were properly centered to perform this rite as this type of rite can prove to be deadly if not done correctly. Carefully the Twins brought the athames to their love's breast and spoke the words clearly.
"Blood to blood, heart to heart, soul to soul, life to life, spirit to spirit, love to love. All become as one as we give blood, heart, soul, life, spirit, and love. As you are ours so we now become yours."
The boys never even flinched as the Twins slid the blades deep into their chests for there was no pain. In its place was a feeling; one that had many aspects to it and they suddenly realized that they could feel others there with them. Each aspect of the rite carried with it the identity of the one that personified that aspect, their faces flashing through the boys mind's eyes.
Blood carried with in and image of Uncle D for he was the source of their Dragon Blood. Darryl had known that he carried Dragon blood. He and Cole had spoken of it but they were never sure how it had happened, but now they knew. Somehow they were both connected to Uncle D's bloodline even though Darryl was human, or so they thought. Little did they know what was to come for them in the very near future.
Soul carried with it the face of Grams for she was the one who fed and nourished their very souls. She and she alone had the power to heal their souls with a simple look or a touch. Her presence in their lives was a calming influence, one that both boys were grateful for.
Life carried the image of Benjamin Turner, the man who literally gave Cole life and gave Darryl a new lease on life by adopting him into the fold that was the Turner family, a place Darryl was infinitely more comfy with than when another so called family that had once claimed to adopt him into their fold. Benjamin had given each of the boys the man that they now called brother and for that each boy was eternally grateful.
Spirit carried the face of Prue. As they had struggled in the beginning, when the first Bond had been created and each had lived the others life with in their mind's eye it had been Prue that had brought them the laughter they needed to see things clearly, to know that what they now knew changed nothing except make them stronger. She had shown them that in their laughter was the answer and it was called acceptance.
The last two aspects were twins of one another and it was no surprise that Love carried the face of Anita and Heart carried the face of Julianna. Anita had brought love back into their lives. She was the love of Darryl's life and she kept Julianna, the love of Cole's life, safe. She, like Cole watched over her twin and her lover. Cole and Darryl may not have been born twins but Anita had often remarked that they acted just like twins, the smile on her face as she said it had brought a smile not only to the boys' lips but also to their hearts. She had showed them that the love that they shared for each other was that of a brother, a twin brother and for both boys this seemed right. Julianna had awakened the slumbering heart within Cole, the heart that had stayed hidden for fear of being hurt again. As Darryl watched Cole shyly open his once closed heart a piece of Darryl's own heart also opened. It was a piece he had thought closed away forever with the death of his little brother, but now it was opening again as he watched the man he had come to think of as a brother find the happiness he so deserved. Through Julianna the last pieces of the boys' hearts had been opened. Love and Heart had made them whole.
All of these images melded together in their mind's eye until they created a mental whirlwind. Moments later that whirlwind found its way out of the boys' own minds and began to swirl around them; soon all six stood at the center of the whipping winds yet remained untouched by it. Between one heartbeat and the next the ground disappeared out from under their feet and as each of them quickly and forcefully grabbed the ones next to them they formed their own circle. None of them knew how long their fall continued but what they did know was that they were not afraid. The one thought that ran through their mind, a mind that they all seemed to share now was they had nothing to fear… they were safe. It was the last thought their collective mind had before all turned to blackness.
The field was wide with a forest on the north side and a soft blue lake to the south, while mountain ranges rising up into the clouds ringed in the east and west creating an almost perfect circle of wide-open space, the ground within that space was covered in a soft green grass. The birds flying in the sky noticed the figures first and swooped down to investigate and soon the animals of the forest took notice of the new arrivals and moved to investigate as well.
There were six figures of varying shapes, sizes, and colors lying in a circle. The birds and animals approached carefully, not because they were afraid of being hurt but because they were afraid of startling these new arrivals. Suddenly the figures started to move.
"Now that was different." Bearlock shook his furry head and body as he stood carefully.
"You can say that again." Snuggles was moving just as carefully, his wings flapped slightly as he shook his furry body. "Well we are still in our Alter-Forms but I sense no danger. How about you?" While he talked Snuggles carefully scanned the area, his eyes quickly taking in the two Dragon Centaurs that were the Twins. They were just beginning to move but they appeared to just fine.
"Uhm, Snuggles?" Bearlock had started his scan in the opposite direction so he was the first to see the last two forms that were lying next to them.
"Yes?" Snuggles turned to look at his companion but said nothing more as his eyes also fell upon the two figures. Instinctively he knew who they were just as Bearlock had. Lying before them were their charges. Silence fell over not just them but also the Twins who had moved to stand beside them. They all knew that the creatures they were looking at were the boys but it was the actual forms that they were now in that had brought silence to them all, a silence and a smile.
Cole and Darryl came back to themselves at the same time, a moan coming from each as they sat up. Neither of them realized at first that anything was different though as they too looked around their new surroundings. Darryl quickly used his Guardian senses to check the area out and was surprised to find only one thing registering especially when that one thing was safe. Cole also used his heightened senses as well as his magical senses to scan the area and came up with the same results. There was no danger at all anywhere around them and no potential for any danger that they could sense. As they relaxed the automatically leaned into each other and it was at that moment that both boys realized that there was indeed something very different going on.
Darryl looked over to where Cole's face should have been but instead of his friend's smile he found himself looking at a scaled chest, a purple colored scaled chest that was covered in fine purple fur. Startled he jumped back and looking up he realized that his friend had grown in size as well as changed form. "Oh my." It was all he could think to say as he looked into the solid purple eyes that were now looking down at him from about three feet above his own head. They were Cole's eyes of that he was sure, but he couldn't help the smile that suddenly formed on his lips as he took in the full effect his charge's new form had.
Where tall dark haired and blue-eyed Cole should have been there was now a purple Dragon, covered in purple scales that were covered in fine purple fur. Cole's height was now that of about a story high, his wings looking to be about twelve feet from tip to tip. The wings themselves were covered in fine purple fur as well. He would have looked rather regal if it had not been for the lavender spots that covered his body as well as the lavender mane that started on his forehead and ran down his back, ending right between his wings. The claws were sharp and so were the teeth and the amethyst gemstone eyes held power but Darryl couldn't help the little snicker that escaped his lips as the words "Puff the Magic Dragon" popped into his head. What he didn't know was that Cole was also taking in Darryl's own appearance.
Cole had found himself having to look down to meet Darryl's eyes and what he saw was nothing short of amazing. Instead of finding a human shaped Darryl he instead was now looking at a Dragon Gryffon that he knew was Darryl. The Dragon head and upper body was covered in purple scales just like his Uncle D's but they were also covered in a fine purple fur, a purple fur that continued past the point where the Dragon body turned into that of a cat. The lower cat half was also covered in purple fur as was the somewhat overly long tail. As Cole ran his eyes to the end of the tail, which was swishing back and forth he quickly caught sight of the pink puffy ball that was attached to the end of said swishing tail. He fought to control his snicker but when he ran his eyes back to his friend's face he saw the pink mane that ran down Darryl's back ending directly between his friends fur covered wings. The mane started on the top of his head and the fur at the base of where the mane began was also pink and formed a ring around the mane's starting point. Darryl's sharp claws and sharp teeth only served to make the image that much more amusing to him and he finally lost the battle as he looked into the amethyst stone eyes that had replaced the brown ones he was used to looking into.
Cole and Darryl soon found themselves rolling around on the grass as their snickers turned to full out laughter. Snuggles, Bearlock and the twins couldn't help themselves and joined in. It wasn't until they spoke that they realized what their laughter meant.
"You… should… see… yourself…" The laughter making it hard for the boys to speak, both Darryl and Cole froze though as their words registered. Quickly they ran for the pond, practically falling over themselves in the process. As each looked into the pond they each came face to face with a face that wasn't their own. Numbly they sat back on the grass and looked to each other once again. This time however they used their link and looked at each other through the others eyes. Mouths fell open but no words were heard as they simply sat there staring at each other.
Snuggles, Bearlock, and the Twins though were becoming concerned that their boys weren't moving or speaking. They each glanced around at the others and decided that it was going to be up to them to do something. They had no idea what they were going to do but they knew they had to do something.
Anita moved forward, her hooves pawing at the ground as she came to a halt next to her Dragon Gryffon Darryl. Julianna had come to a stop at the same time next to her now very tall Dragon Cole. The puppies each moved to sit in front of their charges. Before any of them could speak though the boys found their own voices, their words bringing yet another smile to the groups lip's.
"Okay, who has the very warped sense of humor this time?" The boys said as one while rolling their eyes. The snickers that they heard simply made them roll their eyes again and shake their heads. They never realized how cute they were with their pink manes flopping from side to side. "Oh ha ha ha very funny." They said as they crossed their taloned claws across their chests. The next thing they did was fully expected by the others in the group. They put on pouty lips and huffed before settling down on their haunches for a good old pouting session.
The puppies and the twins couldn't help it, the pouty looks on the boys' Alter-Forms were simply too amusing and soon they found themselves unable to hold their laughter back.
Cole and Darryl looked to each other before shaking their heads again. "Someone is having way to much fun at our expense here you know." The boys huffed one last time before their own smiles made themselves known.
"Uhm Cole?"
"Yes Sherlock."
"These aren't going to be our true Alter-Forms are they?" Darryl visibly shuddered as he asked, the very thought of their Alter-Forms being these very forms made him want to crawl into a hole. He could already hear Uncle D's laughter ringing through out the Manor and by the look on his brother's face he was now thinking the same thing. Whoa…… "brother"? Did I just think that? Darryl found himself questioning his own choice of words. Yes he has thought of Cole like a little brother but he had never actually referred to him by that name, either in speaking or thinking. The image of his younger brother Derek suddenly popped into his head, the smile on his face told him all he needed to know. Derek didn't mind that his big brother Darryl had called Cole "brother". Darryl had been afraid that this might have hurt Derek but instead his little brother had surprised him by smiling encouragingly at him. Darryl couldn't help himself as he smiled back, secure in the knowledge that Derek was open and accepting of Cole's place in his life. Darryl quickly shook himself back to the moment when he heard his brother's Dragon voice.
"No I don't think so." Cole wasn't sure how he knew but he did. He knew that this was someone's idea of amusement but the question was whose. He tried to concentrate but he found his mind wondering a little as an image of Derek appeared in his head. He knew Derek from Darryl's memories but he couldn't figure out what he was doing in his head. The minute Derek's image spoke though he understood.
"You're his brother now. All I ask is that you love him like a brother and take care of him just as he takes care of you. After all that's what being brothers is all about and from what we have seen you already have that part covered."
Cole wasn't sure what he meant by 'we' until he saw an image of Big Belthazor standing next Derek.
"I'm sorry I won't be there to protect you like I promised I would be. Darryl is there for you now though just as I was, he is your big brother now. Take care of each other as you and I did. You don't have to worry about Derek because I'll be looking out for him."
Big Belthazor wrapped his arm around Derek's shoulders and pulled him close. He knew that Cole had worried about others finding out about Derek and using him against Darryl, making Darryl have to choose between his little brother and his charge. It wasn't much but at least now he knew that Cole would have one less worry where his new big brother was concerned.
"Come on Belthazor. It's time for us to go. I think they need a little time to adjust." Derek said as he wrapped his arm around Belthazor's waist and the two of them shimmered from Cole's mind's eye.
Cole found himself looking into Darryl's eyes and he realized that Darryl had seen everything he had. "Well that was…"
"Weird." Darryl finished for him. Darryl wasn't quite sure what it was that they had seen but he could feel a sense of peace coming from Cole that hadn't been there before. It was then that he realized that his charge had in fact harbored the fear that someday he would have to choose between his little brother and Cole himself. Darryl found himself wishing, not for the first time either, that the Bond would hurry up and complete itself. He and Cole had shared their lives with each other through the first Bond but anything that happened after that…… well having only just found each other's secret hiding places last night he couldn't help but worry that there were other things that his friend was keeping from him. He knew that Cole would never keep something important from him; no it was more the worry that his charge was trying to protect him and Darryl simply would not have it. Darryl decided that here and now would not be a good time though to bring it up so he resigned himself to waiting till they returned to the waking world, then he would have a little chit chat with his little brother. Knowing that there was nothing here that would or could harm them he decided to put the worry away for the moment and enjoy this free time with his three favorite people.
"To say the least." Cole said, shaking his head, making his mane flop from side to side again, only this time he felt it on his ears. It took him a second to figure out what he was feeling rubbing against his ears but once he did he heaved another exasperated sigh. He then watched as Darryl snickered a little at him whereby causing his own mane to fall forward into his eyes whereupon Darryl's snickers ceased and Cole's began.
"Oh ha ha ha," Darryl said as he tried blowing the pink strands of his mane out of his eyes. "This from Purple Puff the Magic Dragon with lavender measles." Darryl smirked up at his brother's now frowning face. "There there my purple spotted little brother, we'll be fine just so long as no one ever finds out about this."
"Ever!" Cole shuddered himself as he thought of Prue and Jenna seeing them like this.
"Don't even think that!" Darryl had seen Cole's thought and found yet two more reasons to pray to the Goddess that no one ever finds out.
"But you both look just so adorable." Anita smirked as she moved towards Darryl.
"And so cute." Julianna added as she moved closer to her love. "Royal purple is definitely your color my love, but those spots and the mane…… oh my yes." Julianna shuddered herself, not from dread but from the feelings that were rising within her. Her front hooves began to rhythmically beat the ground as she reached her claws up, wrapping them around Cole's somewhat long neck and pulling his snout closer to hers. Just as their new snouts touched Cole felt something land on his.
"What?" Cole had jumped back a little, his eyes which had closed of their own accord flew open; a second later his eyes tried to cross themselves as he found himself staring at a pair of birdy feet… a pair of birdy feet that were currently standing on his nose. When the bird started to talk to them everyone went still, their eyes trained on the bird.
"Hello and I am terribly sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." The somewhat large white bird said, sounding for all the world like an English butler.
"You should be ashamed of yourself Reginald. Really, scaring the poor young man like that." Another large white bird scolded as it landed on Darryl's snout. "Please forgive his lack of manners. I'm Edith and this is my mate Reginald." She could see that no one was going to be saying anything anytime soon apparently. "Oh dear. I take it that you don't know where you are."
"Not exactly no." It was Snuggles that had found his voice first and he could tell from the feel of everyone else that they had no better idea where they were than he did.
Reginald and Edith looked to each other before letting out a rather piercing birdy call. Very quickly the field that they were standing in began to fill up with all forms of creatures; some common type animals while others were more exotic and some even mythological in origin. The boys, the twins, and the puppies for their part were simply scanning the new arrivals in awe. Some of the creatures were old while others were still very young. As they filed into the field, almost all were in pairs and some with little ones as well, Snuggles couldn't help but wonder exactly where it was that they had landed and if it was in fact a random landing.
"In the name of the Creator we greet you. Here you will find nothing but peace and safety. Here nothing can harm you. Here you belong. We welcome you to this land created many millenniums ago for it is now your land too, your Home. Welcome to Dracoland."
All of the creatures spoke as one, their voices coming together as if they were one voice.
"Dracoland!?" All six new arrivals said as one in reply.
"Now we know who has the warped sense of humor." Cole and Darryl looked to each other and simply rolled their eyes, speaking as one. When they heard their twins snicker they both huffed and put on their pouty faces which simply made them snicker even harder while Snuggles and Bearlock looked on, a smile on their furry faces as well.
"Are you referring to King Draco?" Edith had to ask never knowing that her simple question would send their new arrivals off into yet another round of hanging jaws, eye rolling, and general looks of disbelief. When she looked to her mate she noticed he was smiling as well, or as well as a birdy can that is.
"Well imagine the reaction if he had kept the original title you wanted to give him." Reginald said in his own defense when he saw the look on his mate's face.
"Do we even dare ask what that was?" Cole and Darryl said as they looked to each other before turning to Edith one again. They knew that they were going to be sorry that they asked and they were right.
"Creator Draco." Edith held her beak high as she said it, feeling the need to defend their absent King. A moment later she didn't know whether or not their new friends were going to hurt themselves or not so she kept a close eye on them.
The boys were indeed sorry that they asked as they rolled about the grass, laughing so hard that they could barely breathe. As if adding insult to injury to their beloved Uncle D the twins and the puppies were also rolling about the grass as their laughter joined the boys.
The various animals and creature that now filled the open field simply stood there and watched, some of them joining in with their own snickers as the groups laughter became contagious. Just when Edith began to worry about the increased wheezing sounds that were now coming from the rolling figures she heard the sound of great wings beating the air and the sound was growing closer, descending upon the field and all who stood or rolled about there.
Cole and Darryl suddenly stopped laughing as the sound made itself known to them as well. The twins and the puppies followed suit a moment later. It was as if a switch had been thrown and the laughter that was so overwhelming a moment ago was now gone with no trace remaining. The boys moved to stand between the sound and the twins, the puppies taking up flanking positions to their charges. None of them sensed any danger but Cole still felt the need to be on guard, too much had happened in the past forty-eight hours for him to take anything at face value save his family; the recent Crydeshi attack on Darryl still very fresh in his mind.
Darryl could feel his friend's anxiety, which in turn raised his own level of anxiety. His Guardian senses were telling him that there was no threat here and none coming and he trusted these senses but he trusted Cole even more.
High above them they watched as a giant shadow descended upon them, growing larger and larger as it drew closer.