Thirteen

Sam and Bobby had spent a hell of a lot of time trying to convince Mike that he didn't want to go with them, but the police captain had insisted and eventually the two hunters had to let him come along. They had wasted enough time as it was and they needed to figure out a way to get to where Dean had. It wasn't like they could go get more ingredients from their informant. His shop was in the next town over and they just didn't have that kind of time. So that was how they found themselves wandering near the woods, trying to find some sign of a portal, but so far they weren't having much luck.

"Balls," Bobby cursed. "We don't have the time or the gas to get to the next town over to get another round of herbs."

"There has to be some other way." Sam sighed, he hated accepting defeat.

Mike suddenly broke away from the two of them, earning confused looks, and he marched over to where the stuffed rabbit had been found. He paused a moment and looked around a moment before he called out a name.

"Org," Mike yelled. "I know you're out there! I know we're not kids, but please we're here to rescue them..."

Sam and Bobby practically jumped out of their skins when the rather grotesque looking troll appeared nearby at the tree line. The air behind him rippled like tiny clear waves. He stared at Mike a moment before either of them spoke.

"It has been a long time hasn't it," Org said. "I'm surprised you haven't come before now?"

"It wasn't bad until now," Mike sighed. "None of them would've happened if it wasn't for me. I started this and I'm determined to finally finish it."

"One of your own is already headed that way," Org explained. "He's going towards the mountains. God speed to you all."

Org motioned to the rippling air and it opened sort of like a door. Mike waited for his companions to follow him. Sam swallowed hard and looked behind them at the town one more time before he made his way over to the portal and went through it. Bobby followed close behind him and then with one final look to the troll Mike was the last to enter and the portal closed behind all of them. When they reached the other side the woods were dark and they looked down at a path illuminated by blue mushrooms. Sam felt as though he was on some sort of drugs, but then remembered the type of case they were on and he looked up at Mike for an explanation. Bobby did too.

"Look I'll explain on the way," Mike said. "But for now we've got to head north. I know the...people there. Dean will most likely be among them. Hopefully we can catch him before he heads out to kill this monster."

Bobby still stared, but Sam nodded in response and Mike started to lead them down the path towards the field and the woods where they needed to go.

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The kingdom was on high alert and Dean, Sindri, and Puck were currently saddling up for the long journey into the mountains that lay ahead of them. The king was currently wishing his son and Sindri the best before he got to Dean. Dean was securing the knife that was guaranteed to kill the Basket Woman so that he was certain it couldn't fall while he was riding or fighting off whatever creatures out there to get to the Basket Woman's lair. Dean wasn't worried so much about himself though. He was more worried about the princess. It had been a bad idea to let her join them when they were training. If she hadn't come along she'd be safe and Dean couldn't help but blame himself a little. She was clearly feeling things for him that Dean could never reciprocate and he felt the least bit bad for leading her on even if it hadn't been on purpose. It was no surprise that Puck didn't like him; if anybody had ever led Sam on the tiniest bit Dean would've kicked their ass.

"Good luck Dean," King Oberon walked over to him. His wife did not join him. Dean had heard she'd been bed ridden from grief. "May your travels be safe and successful; I have something I must bestow upon you now."

"Yes sir," Dean nodded and awaited the king's gift. "I'll get your daughter back."

"I place these herbs in your care," the king handed Dean a bunch of herbs folded into a cloth. "They will heal any wound inflicted or poison injected. Use them well."

"Thank you King Oberon," Dean nodded. He looked over at Puck who was already mounted on his horse and packing his bow and arrow on his back. Sindri was right behind him on an all black horse. Dean mounted Argo and looked back at his traveling companions.

"I am trusting you three to return with my daughter and the children," King Oberon gave them a determined look. "Do not fail me."

"I will not let you down father." Puck nodded and started walking his horse towards the bridge over the tiny river leading into the woods. Sindri nodded in response also and followed close behind Puck who was in the lead. Dean gave a salute and looked back at the king and his fear stricken people. Dean's look became one of determination as well and he grabbed onto the reins. He commanded the horse to trot and then to gallop once Puck and Sindri took off over the bridge into the forest in the direction of the mountains. As Dean crossed over the wooden planks he realized that the sound he heard wasn't just the horse's hooves on the bridge, but rather it was the sound of his fast beating heart too. And his heartbeat was all the hunter heard as the trees passed him by faster than lightning.

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"I was the one who introduced the portal to Somewhere to our world," Mike explained. "When I was a kid I used to spend a lot of time in the woods because well I didn't have many friends. I accidentally stumbled upon the portal when I tripped over a fallen log. The woods used to expand a lot further, but the people who built the town started cutting them down. I fell onto the path we're on now and Org was the first person, or rather creature, I met. He helped me up and showed the world for awhile. I was gone for two days without realizing it. Eventually I made it back to my worried parents, but I never went back."

"Did you tell them where you'd been?" Sam inquired.

"They'd never have believed me so I didn't," Mike said. "But that didn't stop me from thinking about that place though. I went back a few times, but not for long. I started writing about my friends there and drawing pictures about it and such just like these other kids are doing. But the problem was I started drawing thing that didn't actually exist there. I started making monsters that I had to fight along with my friends there. What I didn't know at the time was that I had unleashed a monster upon them just by believing."

"Like a Tulpa symbol," Bobby responded. He was trailing the group. "But she only needed the imagination of one kid to bring her here."

"I guess," Mike sighed. "When I grew up I stopped going to Somewhere. I got married and had a kid of my own. I used the stories of Somewhere as bedtime stories for my son. I didn't know he'd actually believe me. One night I woke up to check on him and he was just gone. I ran out of the house searching and then I went into the woods to look there. I found his teddy bear near where the portal was when I found it. I couldn't go because I was too old. But my son has yet to ever come back and I can only think that that evil bitch ate him."

"Wait if you're the one who opened up the world between Somewhere and us then that means-?"

"I haven't been very forthcoming about my identity I guess," Mike sighed. "My name is Michael Rolland and my son's name is Christopher."

Sam and Bobby were so shocked they stopped walking just to look at him.

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Dean, Sindri, and Puck had reached the end of the woods. The trees were beginning to thin out and the air was getting chillier and crisper. Dean pulled his jacket tighter and his horse whinnied before carrying on. It was as if he could sense where they were going. Dean placed his hand on the horse's neck and petted him softly in hopes of calming his nerves a bit. Puck still led the group, but Dean couldn't help but notice a twinge of fear in the warrior's eyes. Dean wanted to say something, but the words weren't coming to him. He figured they still weren't on the best of terms so he opted to keep his mouth shut. Sindri followed close behind Dean, as if he was protecting their savior. Dean did have the knife that would kill the beast, but he didn't think that was any reason to put him on a pedestal.

"Stay close," Puck ordered. "We're coming up on the pass."

Sindri caught up and was close behind Dean. Dean's swallowed hard as the trio made their way through the opening to the mountains.

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Secrets revealed! What's to come though?

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