Four

Dean figured he had to be dreaming because when he awoke he saw the most frightening creature he didn't even know was in existence. He jumped up in bed and grabbed his knife under his pillow. He shot a glance over at Sam who was still deep in sleep and showed no signs of waking up. Thank God, Sam didn't need to see whatever this thing was. Dean's breaths came out ragged. He'd never dealt with this type of creature before and had no idea how to kill it need he have to.

"I understand that you are new to this town," this ugly looking troll stepped closer. "Do you wish to go somewhere amazing?"

"What do you mean?" Dean asked his voice came out shaky.

"It's a special place," the troll replied. "I can take you there?"

"I know you," Dean said. "You're Org aren't you?"

"I don't believe we've ever met." Org replied.

"My new friend Sarah showed me a picture she drew of you," Dean played along. "And my other new friend Sierra told me about Somewhere."

"Somewhere is my home," Org explained. "It's really a beautiful place. You should visit like your new friends."

"Alright then," Dean sealed the deal. There was no turning back now. He had to go. If it meant saving those children though, it was well worth the risk. "Let's go."

"Excellent," Org's voice bellowed. "Come now child."

Dean gave a confused look to the backside of Org, but then he remembered that he'd forced down the shop owner's concoction. It apparently worked because Org thought Dean was a small child. At least he based it on souls not appearance or the hunter never would have made the cut. Dean climbed out of bed and pulled on his boots quickly. He'd slept in his clothes. He grabbed his knife from under his pillow and the knife that the shop owner had given them from the side table and followed Org out of the motel room. He caught one last glimpse at a sleeping Sam and his worry deepened, but then he shut the door behind him and continued to follow the troll outside towards the woods.

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The air was hanging low and cold. Dean shivered from within his leather jacket, but continued the trek forward. He figured once he got inside Somewhere he'd be safe from the cold. Dense woods usually blocked out wind a bit better than open sidewalk.

"Your friends enjoy this place," Org said, shuffling along in front of Dean with his massive ogre feet. "So much, in fact, that they wished to stay awhile."

"Do you want me to stay awhile?" Dean asked.

"That depends on what she has planned," Org said. "You are different than most children I've brought here. What is your name?"

"My name is Dean." Dean replied.

"Dean," Org's voice was booming. "I like that name, Dean. Seems fitting for a strong young man when you grow up."

"You mean if I grow up." Dean let out a small chuckle. Part of him was worried that he would not make it back from the adventure this time.

"You will," Org nodded, giving Dean an assuring look. "Trust me. You will."

Dean footsteps were softer, swifter that Org's thundering feet. They continued on until they reached the edge of the woods. Dean stared and observed as Org walked over to the area that Miranda and the cops had found the stuffed dog. Dean had that very stuffed animal on the inside pocket of his jacket hoping he could use it for bait to lure Sierra back home. He put his hand on it. It was so soft and tiny just like a child's fingers. Dean swallowed hard and stopped running his fingers over the patchwork. He turned his attention back to Org and what the troll was doing.

"We enter here." Org pointed to the very spot where Sierra had disappeared. He motioned for Dean to come closer and the hunter complied. Org touched the air in front of him and it rippled. Dean's eyes went wide with wonder and he gingerly touched the air as well with the tips of his fingers. It indeed rippled and shimmered even in the dark. It was a portal just as Mike had absentmindedly suggested earlier when the Winchesters had first met with him. Dean's fingers disappeared after a moment and he jumped back.

"Do not be afraid," Org urged him to move forward. "It will not harm you Dean."

Dean's breath hitched and he touched the portal's opening again. This time his whole hand disappeared. Org grabbed his other one. Dean had expected cold and slimy and gross hands from the troll, but they were surprisingly warm and comforting. He could understand why children followed the troll into this land. He wasn't as scary as he appeared.

"Somehow," Dean spoke up. "I pictured you as ferocious."

"What's the fun in harming people," Org replied. "When you can make friends with them."

Org suddenly tugged at Dean's hand and looking behind them one last time at the little sleeping town and jumped through the portal into the unknown.

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The forest was thick and dark and Dean felt almost blind as he slowly made his way through it. Org had vanished leaving the hunter lost and alone. Dean had explored numerous mountains and forests before, but this one was different. It was blanketed in never-ending darkness in all directions. Dean blinked, desperately trying to adjust his eyes to the night.

"Follow the path," Org's voice was more soothing this time. It was detached from his body though and echoing like the wind through the woods. "It will take you there."

Dean tried to assess where the troll had gone, but before he could think too deeply about it he saw a small light. They were mushrooms and they were glowing blue like a glow stick. They were beautiful in an eerie way. Dean stepped closer to the first one, intrigued. He bent down and touched underneath of the head of it and gently inspected it before yet another one lit up. Dean gasped when more started to light up before him and illuminated a small path. Dean assumed this was the path Org had been talking about. He got to his feet and started to follow the light-up fungi. Eventually as he went their light begun to die behind him and he felt this small twinge of sadness and he didn't know why. They were just mushrooms, but it was like he'd witnessed something magical that no one ever would again after he killed The Basket Woman. He felt like he'd just cheated thousands of kids, but then again he was also cheating their early death by doing this hunt. Dean finally turned his gaze away from the mushrooms behind him and continued on until he started to see light and not from the mushrooms.

When Dean reached the edge of the darkened woods he came upon a clearing where the sun was shining brilliantly and it almost blinded him at first. He didn't know what to think. There was an expanse of lush green grass that spread from in front of him to far left and right and out to the other edge of the forest. There was a small divot in the ground to his right that water could easily collect in when it rained or if it rained. Dean didn't know how this placed worked. Right now though, it was bone dry.

There was a group of leaves hanging from a tree across the way that looked like the shape of a fat woman dancing. Dean could make out the arms and the legs and even the head and it was as if it could actually dance right off of the tree branch and land right in front of him. The wind interrupted his thoughts and roared through the trees like a lion. Dean closed his eyes as it whipped around him and then back upwards, he wasn't used to this level of quiet. Then again the leaves rustled abnormally loudly. It was like they were almost talking to Dean. He tried to think of an explanation, but before he could he saw a horse.

Yes, Dean saw a horse.

It had appeared out of nowhere. It was eating the grass nearby, pulling it up by the roots and swiftly chewing. It was pure white and its mane cascaded down its back and shoulders. Its eyes were a beautiful brown and full of life. It lifted its head and stared straight at Dean and he felt as though it was starting into his soul almost. The horse snorted and Dean came closer. He wanted to touch it. He didn't know why though, he'd never had interest in petting a horse before. Perhaps it was the childlike soul he bore right then for the hunt or it was the place he'd ended up, or it was the horse itself, but all Dean knew was that he had to feel it. As Dean came closer the horse became seemingly more aware of his presence. It stiffened its muscles and stared at him intently.

"It's ok sweetheart," Dean hadn't called anything but his car sweetheart, he didn't know where it came from. "I'm not gonna hurt yah."

Dean gently touched the mare's cheek and she whinnied and tossed her head. She stomped one of her back feet and then pushed her face back into Dean's palm. Dean grinned like a small child and continued to pet the horse. She tossed her head back and revealed something rather shocking. She had a horn growing out of her forehead. It almost glowed too.

"Unicorn," Dean said in disbelief and let out a small laugh. "Fricken unicorn, I can't believe it!"

The unicorn started to run off and suddenly two small children tore out of the woods and ran behind her. They ran right in front of Dean and his mind went back into hunter mode. His words caught in his throat when the two kids came to an abrupt halt at the edge of the woods and the unicorn vanished into thin air as it leapt over the small dry divot. Dean blinked and rubbed at his eyes in disbelief.

"That is what happens when chase her children," a smooth female voice rang out behind Dean and he shot around to see what it was. "She runs away."

"We just wanted to pet her," the kids whined, the little blonde boy pointed at Dean and gave him a dirty look. "He got to."

"Because he is quiet," the woman chuckled. "And you two are not."

Dean could hear his heart stammering in his chest. This woman was stunningly gorgeous. Her body was thin, but the right shape. She had fair skin and brilliant gleaming blonde hair that was long and ran down to her lower back. She wore maroon lipstick and a mid-length white dress and no shoes. Her toenails and fingernails were painted green. But what stood out the most to Dean was her eyes. They were golden like the sun and almost cat-like. She smiled at Dean and he found he couldn't speak.

"Now," she daintily said. "Go play elsewhere, why don't you try the woods?"

The two children laughed and took off in the direction that the woman pointed they go in. She sighed at their departure and Dean could see a hint of worry in her eyes, but it quickly faded when she looked back at Dean.

"Hello there," she said rather bubbly. "How are you?"

"Better now that you're here," Dean replied absentmindedly, but then cleared his throat. "I mean so that I'm not alone."

"Ah yes it can get rather lonely here," she nodded. "Especially since she came here."

"Oh don't bore him with that story sister dear," another voice was heard, but this time male. A young man about the same age as the young woman appeared next to her, sparkles surrounding him, and he smirked. He had the same blonde hair but it was shorter and shaggy, but his eyes were blue. He had a smile that could easily blind a man. He wore a white short sleeved shirt underneath a grassy green vest and tightly fitting brown pants. He also had on no shoes. His toenails weren't painted unlike the young woman, his sister. "I'm sure he's not the one."

"But daddy told us long ago," she replied to her brother. "That he'd come."

"Scuse me," Dean waved, breaking the two siblings from their debate and they turned their attention back to him. "But just who are you two and what do you mean I'm the one?"

"Oh forgive us," the young woman smiled and her brother continued to smirk as if it were the only thing he could do. "For being rude. My name is Lily and this is my brother Puck. We are the fairies of the forest."

"Wait," Dean pointed at the both of them and then gave a look of disbelief. "You two are..."

"Fairies yes," Lilly nodded. "Our family has lived here for many years."

"And you're Puck," Dean pointed to the male fairy. "As in Shakespeare's Puck?"

"Please," Puck waved his hand and rolled his eyes. "I was Puck before Shakespeare even existed. But 'tis true I was THE Puck from his plays. He ended up here somehow and he met me and I guess we got along great cuz bada boom he's got a play written and I'm in it!"

"This is far too weird," Dean threw his hands up into the air. "Far too—"

A distant roar was heard and this time it wasn't the leaves. It shook the whole area and Puck and Lily stared wide eyed in fear. Puck gritted his teeth and pulled a small knife from his belt, holding it in his hand and guarding his sister. Dean found that to be heroic considering he had a pretty good idea as to what they were dealing with. Dean put his hand on his knife too, but then the roar silenced and the earth went back to being sound. Puck tucked his knife back into his belt and helped his sister back to her feet as she'd been knocked down in the rumble.

"What was that?" Dean asked, as if he didn't know already.

"That was her," Puck explained. "The evil ogress that has tortured our lands for years now. She is our worst enemy."

"She is horrid," Lily said. "She eats our children and the human ones Org brings here. He is on our side, but the children he brings are not strong enough to fight her."

"I hate to interrupt this," Puck said. "But if she has roared she has awoken for the moment. We need to get out here."

"Come to our land stranger," Lily said to Dean as Puck begun to lead the way. "That is where I sent those children. You will be safe there until the Ogress resumes her sleep."

Dean nodded and started to follow the two fairies. As he looked back at the clearing he noticed the leaves hadn't moved nor had the wind whistled at all since the rumbling of the earth. Dean swallowed a lump in his throat as he stepped into the woods. That alone made him uneasy of what was to come.

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