Part Three.
In Which Dean has a Dream

The night air was cool on his face, chilling the tears that fell from his still blurry blue eyes. The cold air whipped through his hair, through his clothing and burned his fragile skin beneath the silk cloth. Impala galloped through the thick trees, the rocking motion jarring his injured leg. He wanted to cry out, relieve the pain shooting up his spine and searing his brain, but he was on the run. The boy was an idiot and a coward but if he made a noise, even that fool would find him. So he bit down on his lip so hard he felt the tang of blood but he continued to grasp the silver mane of Impala and allowed the unicorn to run.

The night was too dark to really see much. The shade of trees made the night thicker, more difficult to spot forms moving in the night. Through breaks in the canopy, moon beams reflected off the man, igniting his blue eyes, pale skin, and the fading sparkle that trailed behind him created the image of large wings stretched wide behind him.

The rolling hills of the landscape were beautiful as Lucifer closed in on the northern lands. He admired the bright light on his fair skin, the way the sun hit his sandy colored hair. He could feel the cool air prick beneath his robes as the goats drove his carriage closer to the stars. It was good to be free and out in the world again. He hadn't since the last star had fallen.

He recalled that adventure, it had been Meg's first, and she had wooed the large, dark skinned man back to the castle with promises of grand adventures, great weapons and wealth. The dark star with wild brown eyes had shined perfectly when Lilith had rubbed his shoulder. That's when Lucifer had drove the glass dagger through the heart of the star and had cut it out.

That star, Uriel, as Meg had called him, had lasted them long enough to be a force in the world again. But, like all perfections, it faded with time. Greedy Meg hadn't even left enough for them to venture out on their own to get another star. They'd had to grab an apprentice, Ruby who was so low class on the food chain it had been embarrassing to share the next star with her. But Ruby had seduced an aging star, Zachariah, and lured him back to their castle. It still was only enough for a few years, a decade at most. Lucifer had to send Ruby out into the world to spread the word of the Lilim just to keep their reputations.

The little coward was apparently lazy. Lucifer had passed through small towns and wide plains, he found hardly anyone that even knew why he should be feared, let alone his name or face. If he came upon her, he would certainly kill her without hesitation.

It was then that Lucifer felt hunger and a little bit of exhaustion. He eagerly veered his goat and carriage off to the side of the road where he sensed a fire and cooking meet. He found an old worn cart, painted some ugly bright yellow with objects to ward of danger dangling over the sides. There was a small blue bird perched right by the driver's seat, held there by a silver chain and a small bell. The bird was small, unique with bright blue eyes set between its black beak and mostly white face.

Away from the cart was a frail man who looked like he'd been outside all week without a bath. His eyes were shut as he poked at a fire, a rabbit cooking above it. The man froze and scratched ad his shaven cheek, "Who's that? Have you come to rob me? I'm a poor blind man with nothing good to take."

Lucifer snorted and stood before the fire. He could see the power beneath, all smoke and ash and fire like Lucifer himself, "Don't be stupid. I know who you are and I swear by the orders of the our brothers and sisters that I will not harm you. I am just hungry and tired."

The man smiled and opened his eyes to look at Lucifer. They were sunken in, weary with travel and no power, but they were a vibrant yellow and Lucifer felt he was at home for the first time since he'd left the castle. He scratched his chin again, "Well, come join me. Sorry for the questions before, one can never be too careful of whose company he keeps."

"Right," Lucifer watched the yellow eyed man gesture to the bird. In a puff of smoke and falling blue feathers, a young woman with bright blonde hair and a pair of cat ears appeared. She frowned deeply at the yellow eyes man but none the less picked up a stool and walked over to Lucifer, soft bells tinkling as she approached them.

She sat it down before Lucifer with a muttered, "My Lord", and then she walked back towards the carriage. With another waive of the yellow eyes man's hand, the woman turned back into a bird and flew to the perch. The yellow eyes man smiled, "Hard to find decent help I tell you. Now, heads or tails?"

Lucifer took a seat and pointed to the head. He watched the yellow eyed man cut the rabbit in two and gave Lucifer his desired half. The sat in silence, eating their meat with the fire between them. When Lucifer was half way finished with his meal, the yellow eyed man looked up and smiled, "So, where you headed too, brother?"

Lucifer picked at the meat. His belly was full and his disposition was pleasant. Even then, he still had no idea what prompted him to speak so earnestly, "I seek a fallen star." Lucifer grinned, eyes finding the direction his sisters had pointed him to, "He fell no far away, perhaps another day or so traveling. And when I find him, I shall rip out his heart and eat it. Then the glory of my name will sing through the lands again."

Lucifer frowned at the easy way he'd let his mission be known. This man was part of their brotherhood of witches, but that still made him an enemy. All witches knew of the heart of stars and all witches powers came from eating the stars who hearts were shinning. And somehow, Lucifer had given it all away without thought.

The yellow eyed man scratched his beard, "A fallen star? Well that's good news. I'm getting old and weak in my age," he stroked his chin wistfully while Lucifer sniffed the meat, "It's so hard to keep that servant wench compliant and I could do with a few years taken off."

"How dare you!" Lucifer smashed the food on the floor, the meet had been spiked with truth serum and this yellow eyed man would pay, "Stealing the truth from me with food is a low blow, Azazel."

"How did you-" The yellow eyed man scurried away from Lucifer, falling to the ground in haste to get away. The clouds rolled in at Lucifer's call, darkening the area around them. Azazel turned to Lucifer once more, "Who are you?"

"You're a fool, Azazel," Lucifer called forth his power, to let the darkness shin through him and outward through his eyes so that Azazel would know who exactly he had tricked. The black smoke seeped out and startled Azazel into a groveling position.

"F-Forgive me, Dark Lord." Azazel cried into the dirt, "I did not mean to trick you. I shall not seek the star."

Lucifer smiled and his voice took on a dark tremble. Azazel quacked with every word, the low vibrations, like an iron bell being struck, called forth Lucifer's chosen spell, "Seek the star all you wish but you will never find him. You will never see the start, touch it, smell it or hear it. You shall not even perceive the star, should he stand before you."

The clouds fell away, bringing light back to the clearing and Lucifer felt the wrinkles form around his hand. He sighed, cursing Azazel and his meddling, "Pray you never see me again, Azazel."

And Lucifer set off again to seek the star.

Dean was restless as he fell asleep against the large oak tree. The moon created a beam of light straight into his face and no matter how he tried to avoid it, it seemed to follow him. He tried to relax against the oak trunk, keep all of his heat close as he curled tighter around himself. The wind was picking up, frigid and icy, and Dean wished, more than ever, to be back in his bed. He would be tucked deep under his warm blankets and whispering this story to Sammy like it was a distant dream. Sam would laugh at his pathetic attempts to teether a star to himself with a simple silver chain and ask him all sorts of questions about unicorn biology.

There was a distant chiming noise that swiped across him. He hunkered down further into his Dad's leather jacket, wishing away the loneliness. The bells grew louder and sounded vaguely more like words. They were familiar words attempting to form together with a human voice. Dean rubbed at his ears to stop the ringing.

"Dean..." Dean sat up, the sound of christmas bells ringing in his ears, forming his name as the wind whipped through the branches of the oak tree. He rubbed his ears harder, the wind picking up leaves and sticks around him.

"Dean..." It was louder this time, his name coming from a human-like voice. He looked around for a form, a person at all they may have been calling him. Dean whipped his head back around to face the front just as a large branch collided with his head. He hit the trunk of the tree and promptly passed out.

Lucifer called upon the spirits beyond to locate the star. It was a simple spell that didn't cost too much energy but boils still appeared over his frail hand, burst with puss and blood then withered his summoning hand back to its old, decrepit state. He hissed with the pain then listened for the scream of the spirits.

He frowned when none of their cries made sense. One said to make a left and continue West, another told him to make a right, to follow the East. He shouted, their wails dying in the face of his power scattering them back into the underworld. The mountain side shook with his hollering and then the world stilled. He sighed and rubbed his head in frustration.

"Brother Lucifer," He heard the scratchy, withered voice of his sister, Lilith. He turned around to find himself in Meg's free-standing mirror, starring at his two sisters and their aged faces. Lilith sighed, "Use any more of that magic and you won't have enough to come back."

Lucifer snarled, "Shut up, Lilith. I know. I'm having trouble finding her. The ruins tell me nothing and the spirits are not making sense."

Lilith and Meg retreated back to the cage of animals and pulled a dove from on of the dangling cages. Meg took a small dagger and beheaded it swiftly, it's blood forming a pattern against the wood table. Meg smoothed a finger across the wood grains, "Because you are right where you need to be."

"What?" Lucifer and Lilith called at once.

Meg nodded, dipped her finger in the blood and turned back to the mirror. She began to trace the patterns she'd seen in the dove's blood. Lucifer saw the patterns against his eyes, found the secrets the pattern told and he smiled when Meg completed the patterns.

"He's coming to you, Lucifer." Meg grinned, "He's tired from her adventure but a little tender love and care will be enough to brighten his heart again."

"Thank you, Meg." Lucifer smiled and formed a plan in his mind on how to trap the star. It would be a rather complex spell and he would need servants as well.

He turned to his goats, the boy he had entrapped would know what to do. His goat pet wouldn't but he could train them. He had enough time. He raised his hand and called upon the structures of the ground to form and inn. The ground beneath shook as stones rolled together to make the inn and attached stable, trees bent themselves forward until their trunks cracks to make the furniture, inside Walls and roof of the inn. When all was complete, Lucifer could feel the clumps of hair fall out which only made Lilith giggle from the recesses of his mind. He ignored her and casted just a small vanity spell to make himself more appealing.

He turned to find the man he'd captures, dressed in a tailored suit, eyes dim with confusion. The other goat had changed into a fair young woman with fire red hair and sizable breasts. The man was trying not to look at them but was failing. Lucifer rolled his eyes, "You will be my son, Crowley," Lucifer pointed to the man, "You'll help me sooth the star until he is happy, and you," he pointed to the goat that was starring at her sleeve like it was dinner, "Will be my daughter. Do as I ask."

"Yes, sir," Crowley sighed and the three entered the inn to prepare themselves for their anticipated guests. Clouds began to roll in just as Crowley shut the door.

Dean wasn't sure if he was dreaming or if someone had drugged his soup. The forest he was resting in was shifty, the trees and brush dancing in some hypnotic rhythm that matched the pulsing of the light above him. He looked up, finding the stars flickering and dancing above him as well. He frowned and rubbed his eyes until they focused. That only made it worse.

"Dean," A star that hung low in the sky flickered and then dulled. It was calling to him, in a voice that was half feminine and half bells.

"Dean," Another called from somewhere high. It was deep, masculine and more human than the last.

"Dean," The last was right in front of him, but not a star. This was a man, stalky with a sad face. He was dark, skin, eyes, clothes, but he was shining from within. He was bright in such away that the rest of the world, the rest of him that appeared human, was dark. Dean was reminded of the fallen star he'd lost, of those bright blue eyes that grayed out the rest of the world, "Hello, Dean."

Dean tried to get to his feet, but his body felt heavy and he couldn't really move. Instead he raised his head to the man, "Yes, how do you know me?"

"Dean..." The voice was soft, sad and the twinkling of the bells echoing, mimicked the words he spoke, "Save our brother."

The skies echoed with the man's plea, cried in a chorus of bells to save their fallen brother. Dean wanted to cover his ears, eyes prickling with cold tears as their own sorrow echoed in his head. He tried to speak but he was silenced.

"A star is not safe in Stormhold," The man began and Dean could see it. He could see this illuminated man and the sky above at the same time. He saw the fiery blaze of a star, a million miles away and saw it come closer, "Your unicorn is trying to protect him, to save him but they are being led into a trap. And you have to save him."

"Our sister fell," And he saw it, the ground quacking, the stars crying as the blaze turned into a woman and she fell to Earth. Her hair was red like apples, her skin pale like his own star and the silver dress she wore accented a figure that Dean should find pleasing but simply paled in comparison to the star he met before. He blamed it on this vision being just a dream and his star was real, "Anna was always a rebel and she grew curious of the world below. She fell to Earth and they found her."

Dean saw it all, her happy smile, her bright blue eyes, the way the inside of her erupted in blinding light. She was picked up by three old women, or, as Dean looked more closely, two women and one old man. They brought her to a castle, stroked her hair and bathed her.

"Anna was not the first to fall," The dark man sighed, "And of course she was not the last. But she was the first to succumb to them." Dean could see their faces clearly, black eyes and smokey souls with wrinkles and evil grins. He cowered from the very vision of them, the dark stare continued on, "They had been us once. Had been curious of the world below, of adventures and humanity but once a star falls, they can never go back up again.

"They were once us," The man sighed, sad. Dean watched as they laid the star on the table, took a jagged knife and plunged it through her rib cage. This Anna screamed, her wails were like a broken bell being rung as fast as possible and Dean's heart ached with the noise. He wished to never hear it again. "They shined so bright and so happy in the sky but lust and greed and the world has destroyed their shine. To continue to live, they must take ours and that is what they have planned for Castiel."

Dean watched them eat the heart and turned from old and ugly to beautiful and young and he feared them all over again. He feared them for their evil, shallow grins, for the cannibalism they take part in, for their goal to eventually do the same to his star. He turned to the man, the star, "Your name? I need it, something to let him trust me."

The man smiled, "You need to hurry. A coach is coming and its headed that same way as our Brother. You have to run and catch it."

"Your name!" But the man faded and Dean was awake. The name was a distant echo, the dream was soft bells chiming in the distance but something was screaming at him. He could vaguely remember it but it spurred him to run. So Dean did.

He ran through the forest, out into the open path, and right into a carriage. He fell back to the ground with the hope of finding the fallen star echoing in his disoriented head. With a clap of thunder, a man was in front of him again.

"So Christian is sending boys to do his dirty work!" The man was tall, with wild green eyes and blonde hair. He wore a suit of leather and his sword was at Dean's neck.

Dean gulped, "I don't know Christian, please! I need a ride."

The man frowned and lowered his sword. It was then that the clouds broke and the cold rain fell on them both. He held a hand to Dean and lifted the boy up, "My name is Prince Mark. Who are you and where are you headed?"

Dean gulped, "My name is Dean and I'm going ahead of us."

Mark frowned but guided Dean to the seat where he could guide the horses. He whipped the horses to ride forward, speeding off so fast that Dean had to clutch the edges to stay upright, "And what is ahead of us Dean?"

"You first," Dean didn't want to be rude but Bobby had told him to be careful, so Dean was. The prince nodded and seemed to concede to Dean's caution.

"My destiny," Mark said and then paused once more. He seemed to come to the conclusion that Dean was not the enemy, "My right to rule. Now you?"

"There's a man that I have offended with my behavior," Dean exhaled his frustrations, it wasn't a lie. He felt that truth beat deep in his heart as he said the next words, "I wish to make amends."

They rode in silence before Dean had the courage to speak again, "You are a stoic man."

"So are you." He offered for awhile before he grinned, "There is a man that I am on the run from, a dangerous man that will kill me for the future crown."

"Christian."

The man nodded, "He and my sister killed everyone that was close to me, everyone I felt safe around and I will not eat nor drink anything that I have not seen prepared myself. But you, your just a secretive man."

"This storm is strange isn't it?" Dean frowned, deterring the man's suspicions away from him. Prince Mark agreed, eyes focused on the sky.

"Yes, more powerful than just some storm that nature has blown in. It's rather..."

"Unnatural?"

"Or more-than-natural; super-natural if you will."

Dean laughed as they fell into silence again. The bouncing of the horses, at the speed they flew, made his butt soar as it bounced against the wood plank. He thought of the star, how thin and fragile he is and how much pain he must be in. Dean had done that to him, put the poor star in the position of pain and misery and led him into a trap. Dean had never felt such deep guilt before, it struck his core so terribly that the ache to see the star again physically hurt him.

"I am the most miserable person who ever lived," He sagged into the seat.

Mark laughed, "You are young, and in love. Every young man in your position is the most miserable young man who ever lived." He chuckled to himself before patting Dean on the back, "So, where are you from, Dean?"

"B-Behind us," Dean shouted, "Where are you from?"

"The same," Mark shouted above the roar of the rain and wind, "Perhaps we know each other's families."

"Perhaps," Dean responded and they drove in silence.

By the time Impala came to a stop, he was miserable and thankful for even just a tree to take shelter. He never wanted to ever be on Earth again. If he could find a way back home, he'd inform all of his brothers and sisters of this horrible place with stupid boys and their unbreakable silver chains so that no other star would feel this pain. And then the star began to cry, resolute in the thought that he'd never go home. The star made the choice to keep his promise with the amulet and now he was trapped in a world that hurt and was lonely.

Impala had found them an inn, as the faded sign had states, and it walked the star right to the door which opened to reveal a middle aged man with a deceptively soft smile and his two children, "Oh my, you poor thing. Come in."

The star was gently lifted from the back of Impala and set upon the ground. The man babbled about rain and something called a bath as he guided the star in. The younger man with sultry brown eyes eyed the star before moving the unicorn to the stable.

He was lead to an open room where his wet clothes were stripped, "How do you like your water? Cool, Warm, or boiling hot?"

"I," The star began and plucked at the warm, dry cloth that the woman was wrapping around the star, "I have never had a bath."

The man froze in horror, "Unbelievable, well get in the tub. You'll love it."

The star smiled lightly and dipped into the hot water, easing back all the way and resting his head against the porcelain edge. He immediately relaxed as the warmth seeped into all the cold parts of him and the ache in his leg and hip began to fade away.

"There, better?" The innkeeper smiled, fingers skimming along the edges of the tub, "I saw you limping, you must be soar."

The star nodded and closed his eyes, he felt his heart warm, swell with light and peace. The ache subsided then disappeared and he eased further into the hot water. The innkeeper grinned, "How does that feel?"

"Wonderful," the star sighed.

"Well good," the innkeeper smiled then grabbed the cloth from the young lady, "Well we don't want you to shrivel up. Get up and we'll give you a massage too."

"Massage?" The star stood and allowed himself to be wrapped in the nice warm robe. A second warm towel wrapped around his head and dried his hair. He was led to a bedroom and laid down on warm, silk sheets.

"Yes, its quite relaxing," The man smiled, "Just clear your mind of all thoughts."

"Hello!" A man's voice called from below, "Hello! We require shelter and a place for my horses."

The innkeeper sighed outrageously and patted the star on the back, "Be just a minute, let me take care of the quests."

And the innkeeper retreated downstairs, leaving the star alone in the room, wrapped in warm cloth and no longer aching from his broken leg. He heard a deep voice below that spoke beside the innkeeper before the innkeeper disappeared. Curious, the star walked quietly to the edge of the stairs.

There was a man in the tub that he'd just been in, and he caught sight of the star, "Well, about time. Service is quite questionable but come here and scrub my back anyways."

The star walked quietly down the stairs as the man muttered that he'd preferred a woman but the star was pretty enough. He frowned an neared the man in the tub, "I'm not a servant."

"Well, whatever," The man waived him off, green eyes bored with the situation now. The lighting struck bright outside, illuminated the star and the amulet around his neck. The man looked at it with sudden recognition, "What is that...you! You have my father's amulet! You have the power of Stormhold!"

The star glared at him, eyes bright, "Well then, ask me for it, and I can have done with the stupid thing."

Suddenly the innkeeper was at the star's side, "I beg you not to bother my guest, nor my two children, My Lord." The innkeeper suddenly turned on the man, brandishing a long, curved knife. Dean stormed into the inn at that point, shouting about poison just as the innkeeper sliced across the man's throat. Dean grabbed onto the star and pulled him away from the scene, squeezing the star to his chest so as not to see the body.

The young man and woman advanced on the two when Impala jumped into the inn. The young woman charged and was stabbed through the heart by the horn of the unicorn. The young man backed off, moving away from the battle. The innkeeper, glowing green and angry, advanced on the couple.

"What's going on?" The star shouted as Dean pushed him back towards the fire, behind himself and using his body as a shield.

"Just stand behind me!" Dean watched as Impala advanced on the witch, brandishing his horn but was thrown back and away from them. The body fell to the ground, unconscious from the impact. The star shouted but did not run for the unicorn. Dean huddled him back against the Wall, right beside the fire. The witch-innkeeper turned on them again.

"The burning golden heart of a star at peace is so much finer than the flicker heart of a little frightened star," The innkeeper's voice was deep, rough, and rang like hollow bells, Dean wanted to cover his hears, to get rid of the throbbing in his skull, but covered the star's ears first, then ducked his head into the terry cloth covered shoulder to muffle the sounds, "But even the heart of a star who is scared is better by far than no heart at all."

Dean grabbed onto the star's hand, "Stand up!"

The face was terrified, eyes wide and blue. His chest heaved with his gasping breaths and his face was pale with fear. Dean's heart clenched and he wrapped his arm around the star's waist and yanked the man close to him and stood up. He took all of the star's weight on himself and turned to the fire. He whipped the candle from deep inside his pocket and thrust it into the fire for light.

"Don't let go of me!" Dean called as the wick lit and they began to walk. He gripped the star to him and felt the man's lithe arms wrap around his shoulders, "Think of home!"

The took an awkward step forward and then another, stronger step. When the star finally stopped his rapid breathing, they had already left the inn behind, the innkeepers screams were just a distant echo. Dean took another step and they were passed the mountain ranges, another step and they were high in the sky. It was then, high above the Earth, that the last of the wax burned up in Dean's hands, leaving them stranded on a cloud amongst a thunderstorm.