Fic: Endless Waltz [1/7] (The Who, M7:ATF Crossover fic, PG-13)

[sparrowsverse]

Title: Endless Waltz [1/7]
Series: Second Chances
Author: Sparrow
Fandom: Magnificent Seven: ATF, The Who
Characters: JD Dunne, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Enola Jones The Elemental Who
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own The Who or M7: ATF or The Elemental Who
Spoilers: To have any type of understanding of this ‘verse, there are previous stories to read. Sequel to Better or Worse.
Summary: The Who finally left the Faery Realm to find themselves in whole new trouble.
Author Note: I just wanted to say thank you majorly to jennytork aka Enola Jones for the handholding, the cheerleading and letting me play in her ‘verse. She has been a wonderful help and a wonderful friend as I wrote this fic. Major thanks to bookaddict43 for the awesome beta and for not murdering me for my constant poking of ‘is it done yet?’ lol



"FALLERS!" Came an unexpected voice ripping across four pairs of eardrums. "GET UP HERE NOW! FIVE OF THEM!"

Keith grunted as his fall was suddenly aborted, and then yelled as he lost his grip on JD. "NO!"

"Easy," his own voice said in his ear. "Easy, he's in good hands."

And Keith saw his twin's body jerk from impact as he was grabbed from underneath and behind.

By John.

A John with red streaks in his hair who was on fire from the waist down.

Keith could only watch; eyes huge with shock, as the big man folded JD over his shoulder like a sleepy toddler before putting on a burst of speed and holding out his free arm.

Said arm soon had Roger bending over it, snatched from mid-air like a Frisbee. A quick change of direction and the three were heading for the ground at a slower , safer pace.

"PETE YOU GOT HIM?" Keith's voice bellowed in his ears, but Keith frowned. He hadn't....was that HIMSELF holding him?

"GOT HIM! YOU GET THE CHICKEN!"

...the chicken. That meant Pete had John. Or other Pete had John or....

Oh, God, his head hurt.

There was a grunt as whoever held Keith caught Pete in his other arm and then they were heading down.

"Take it easy, fellas; you'll be safe in a few minutes."

Keith caught a glimpse of Pete’s wings and had to stifle a gasp. They were torn and tattered. Huge clumps of feathers were missing from where burnt feathers would’ve been. Oh Pete.

The group was gently lowered onto the ground as Keith scrambled to his feet and placed himself in front of Pete and JD; between the four men that sounded like him and his friends.

John quickly joined him, hands ready to spray webbing to defend. Knives quickly appeared from Keith’s body and he held them ready in his hands. Roger stood near Pete and JD limp body as backup.

“Where the bloody hell are we?” Keith snarled out.

The four men blinked in shock as they took in the people they rescued.

"You're on the grounds of Quarwood," this world's John said. "My home."

John blinked and looked. It was his mansion, but it looked …newer. John nudged Keith and chocolate brown eyes widened in surprise at the building that stood before them.

John turned his head back to look at Roger, Pete and JD. Keith kept his place between his friends and these men.

“Rog. Pete and JD okay?”

“I’m bloody fine, Ox,” Pete quietly snarled in pain.

“He’s not fine, he can’t retract his wings. I think they have to heal naturally out of his body. JD…JD’s still unconscious,” Roger said softly.

Keith quickly exchanged positions with Roger and touched JD. His form quickly blurred and was sucked into JD .

JD quickly sat up with a gasp and then moaned. “Oh my bleedin’ head.”

“You with us Keith?” John asked.

“Yeah, give me a mo’ or two.”

Water Keith's eyes widened. "They're old men," he gasped.

Roger laughed. “Brilliant deduction there.”

Keith moved his twin’s body towards Pete and inspected the damage. “Oooh should’ve dodged that venom-acid bath there Townser.”

“I’ll remember that for next time,” Pete snarked.

John took in the men with their voices. “You’re us.”

"Clearly," Water Keith said, stepping forward. They noted that his body language was completely different -- that of a man used to leading.

John lowered his hands and took in this alternative version of their friend. He looked healthy in this period of his life. “What’s the date?” He quietly asked.

Keith helped support Pete on one side, while Roger got the other. They lifted him up. Pete stifled a scream as his wings were jostled.

"August third, nineteen eighty. Why?"

All of The Who stifled a gasp, but John brought his hand up to cup the Water Keith’s face. “You look so young and healthy and you lived.”

“What are you going on about?” The Air Pete asked.

Water Keith's eyes widened. "Shit, the drugs....I was so addicted Before..."

“But your Keith is here. He blurred into that bloke’s body.” The Earth Roger stated.

“I may have accidentally kicked the bucket on September eighth, nineteen seventy-eight.” Keith mumbled. “JD here is my reincarnation.”

"How?" Water Keith asked.

“How what? How’d I die? How do I know JD is my reincarnation? Both?” Keith shot back at his other.

"Yes," he grinned.

“Well my significant other, I accidentally OD’d on a bottle of pills to curb my alcoholism.” Keith grinned at the Water Keith, but then sadness settled in hazel eyes. “As for the reincarnation bit, I’d feel more comfortable telling you lot that long story after we can settle down somewhere. We…we just came from someplace that’s been hard for us the past little bit.”

“I know I’d certainly appreciate it. These wings don’t keep afloat themselves,” Pete groused.

Roger and John grinned at Pete. In pain and still snarking at the world.

"The main house?" Water Keith asked.

Fire John nodded. "This way."

John stayed in front of his friends as they headed towards a house that was his house but wasn’t. He chuckled slightly.

Fire John looked at him and smiled with a little bit of fang. As if he knew what his ‘twin’ was thinking.

Air Pete and Earth Roger brought up the rear, ready to help their ‘twins’ just in case, they were older than them after all.

Air Pete was strangely silent.

Earth Roger nudged Air Pete in the ribs. “What’s the matter with you?” he quietly asked.

He shrugged, looking at him and Earth Roger realized -- this was one of those "Keith's got it, no need for me to talk" times.

They found themselves in the bar, although the Other Who could no longer drink , they still kept alcohol stocked for when they had guests.

Pete settled into a backless chair and sighed in relief. John and Roger were handed bandages and water to take care of the new wounds that had appeared from that little jaunt in the sky.

Keith found the couch and settled JD’s body onto it. JD’s form blurred once again and Keith stepped forward, thin and pale. Stumbling a bit, he grabbed the chair nearest to him. Shaking himself, he grabbed the couch and dragged it over towards where the others were . Surprise lit on his face when the Fire John came over to help.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Settling the couch into position, Keith brushed JD’s bangs out of his face. Spinning around, Keith plopped himself on the ground in front of his ‘twin’, standing guard.

Then Fire John joined the Other Who.

“So spill ,” Water Keith said.

And Keith did. Everything from the therapist, to the mirror, to becoming aware. Learning to become the ATF agent his new incarnation had become and saving his band mates from a gun runner. When Keith’s voice started to go hoarse, John continued the tale .

Battles in a Faery Realm and how they now were altered. How JD and Keith were taken and spent five years trapped by a madman. It seemed impossible and strange. But taking in the pale, thin faces, especially Keith’s, the Other Who believed them.

John and Keith didn’t mention the curse; nor that Pete, Roger, and John were under an illusion to make themselves look over sixty. Those secrets would remain secrets for now.

"Now it's your turn," Pete snarled. "Spill."

And they did. Getting "Sound and Picture city" off the ground. A trip to Stonehenge and getting powers. Finding themselves unable to drink or drug and unable to live apart. Aging very, very slowly. Keith leading.

Air Pete's lips twitched at that.

“We never did get Sound and Picture City off the ground. Although the no drinking and drugs could’ve benefited a couple of our members,” Roger said, pointidly looking at Keith and John.

Keith and John looked away whistling innocently.

Water Keith twitched an eyebrow up in question.

"We did," Air Pete interrupted. "We fought for it like our lives depended on it."

“Ah, you fought, we didn’t really,” Pete pointed out and looked at the doubles. “You lot got any Aspirin or Tylenol? My back is killing me.”

Earth Roger reached over the bar and tossed the white bottle he grabbed at Pete’s head. Pete opened the bottle and downed two of the aspirin dry. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Earth Roger shrugged.

Water Keith looked pointedly at John; he already knew what happened to his ‘twin’.

“Let’s just say cocaine and narrow heart valves don’t mix,” John stated.

Fire John gasped. "You died?"

Water Keith looked at him. "You mean that's not just a small, insignificant murmur?"

Fire John's lips thinned .

Water Keith's eyes narrowed. "We. Will be. TALKING. About this."

"Fine. Whatever."

“I didn’t die exactly. My heart may have stopped for a minute or so,” John understated. He gave a slight dip of his head in apology to Fire John.

Fire John nodded back.

“Your heart still stopped,” Air Pete pointed out.

“Well, it’s done and over with. John and I had words,” Keith said, crossing his arms.

“More like fists,” Pete murmured.

Keith shot a look at Pete. “I’m just worried on how we’re gonna get home now and how to help JD.”

“He was a prisoner in his own mind for about five years Keith. I know I wouldn’t want to come out for awhile after that kind of ordeal,” Roger said as he stretched out in his chair.

Keith brought his knees up to his chest. “So was I in a way Roger. Prisoner, I mean. Couldn’t even control myself for a year. And those four years I spied, I couldn’t even talk to JD. I was completely alone.”

Earth Roger stood. "Right. I'll get us some food. I bet they're all starving and after watching you three play 'catch me, I'm falling', I know I am."

Roger nodded his thanks to his twin.

It was all catching up with them, more so with Keith. He hauled himself up and sat near JD’s feet. Lifting them up, Keith put them in his lap and just rubbed them. If anything to reassure him their ordeal was finally over.

Water Keith crouched in front of him. "Do you need anything?"

Keith gave a wordless laugh. “The last five years back? JD to wake up? Those would be nice. But at the moment, no. Contact like this helps him and me out more than anything. I hope he wakes up soon.”

“Didn’t you see anything when you went diving in?” John asked.

“No. Couldn’t see JD anywhere. The mirror was there and the shards, but no JD. He’s really retreated deep into our mind,” Keith stated sadly.

Water Keith touched his ear. "I like the ears."

Keith looked at himself confused and reached up. Eyes widened as he realized his ears were still fox ears. “Shit! Shouldn’t they have disappeared?! They did last time we got sent home!”

“We’re not exactly home Keith,” Pete said.

John grinned, a hint of fang peeking through as he uncurled the long spindly legs and picked Water Keith up and moved him to the side to he could look at his two brothers. “Just noticing now, huh Moonie?”

“We were kind of busy falling to our deaths. Was only really concentrating on JD, myself and Pete’s tattered wings,” said Keith.

Roger and John faked sniffs and tears. “Hurt we are. Didn’t even notice us.”

Keith eyed them and plotted revenge for later on.

Roger and John exchanged a look, satisfied they got Keith’s mind off of the current predicament for now.

Fire John, Air Pete and Water Keith watched the exchange, happy that their counterpart’s worries were at least temporarily relieved.

Fire John stood up and headed over to his ‘twin’. “Can I see one of the legs?”

John held one out for his ‘twin’ to examine.

“Cool,” came an awed reply.

This is what Earth Roger stumbled upon as he brought food back. Soup, sandwiches, water, fruit and vegetables were on a very large platter. The tray was balanced on a large mound of dirt that followed Earth Roger.

“So is this one of those ‘if you show me yours I’ll show you mine’ kinda shows?” Earth Roger joked as the tray was placed on the large coffee table.

John smiled, black eyes glittering in the light.

Pete, John and Roger gratefully took the food as Keith blurred back into JD’s body to feed both of them.

Keith carefully sipped on the soup as his brothers devoured the sandwiches, fruit and veggies.

“Bit hungry this lot,” Air Pete said, jerking his thumb at their twins. “Hardly anything left for us.”

Roger’s eyes widened as they took in the nearly empty platter. “Sorry about that. Didn’t have any good food the past few days or so.”

After the food was finished, it was a sleepy group of musicians that were led to one big room with multiple beds. Showers were exchanged and clothes changed into borrowed pyjamas. Pete settled onto his stomach on the biggest bed. Keith grabbed the other one in the corner, blurred out of JD and curled up beside him. Roger settled onto the bed nearest the door, while John went to the wall and hauled himself up. He settled into the upper corner, legs keeping him up and fell asleep right away.

The Other Who closed the door and quickly made their way back to the Bar room.

“This is a bit strange, even for us,” Earth Roger said.

“Wonder if this is how The Monkees felt when confronted with their alternates,” Air Pete wondered.

“Probably. At least these ones didn’t attack us. They’ve been through so much,” Fire John stated.

“Well, we’ll help them heal, mentally and physically,” Water Keith ordered. And it was left at that.

~~~

During the next few days, The Who healed slowly. Pete’s wings started to finally grow back the feathers he lost, but he still couldn’t retract them.

John, Roger and Keith found they could retract their powers into their bodies. For which all of them were grateful. Although they did wonder why Pete reverted back to a human with wings instead of keeping the humanoid bird body, but that was a mystery for another day.

Pete , John and Roger were involved in a furious game of Poker with their twins, except for Keith and Water Keith. They were headed to the bedroom that The Who were sharing to check on JD.

“What’s it like?” Water Keith blurted out.

“Hmmm?” Keith asked distracted, something was wrong with JD.

They headed up the hallway.

“Being dead I guess. Or finding out that you were reincarnated.”

“Only found out through a fluke mini-me,” Keith grinned. “I probably would’ve lived me life as JD Dunne without ever knowing who I used to be. Those freaky dreams were what started it all. Me right now, just a ghost in the machine, not really suppose to be here.”

“I think the others would disagree with you.” Water Keith said.

“Oh they have and did. But it’s still what I feel.” Keith frowned in concern, something was definitely wrong with JD. Keith sped up his pace.

“What’s wrong?” Water Keith asked, keeping up.

“Something’s wrong with JD.” He took off at a dead sprint.

Water Keith surrounded himself in water and took to the air to keep up with his counterpart.

Keith slammed into the doorframe to see a wide awake, shaky and scared JD.

He approached cautiously. “Johnny? You with me?”

JD turned wide frightful eyes towards Keith. “Keith.” He then launched himself at his brother and held on as he sobbed out five years worth of pent up emotions.

Keith held onto JD and brought him into a hug. “It’s all right dear boy, it’s all right now. I’m here.” He made rubbing motions on JD’s shoulders.

Water Keith hovered in the doorway as he looked on this touching emotional scene. “I’m sorry” was being said a lot, especially from the kid and his ‘twin’ just kept offering comfort and “I know” and “Not your fault”.

He glided back to the bar room and turned off his power. Fire John looked at Water Keith. “What’s going on Moonie?”

“I thought our guests would like to know that JD is up and your Keith is with him.”

Roger, John and Pete exchanged looks before dashing to the bedroom, a whirlwind of cards fluttering behind them.

“You know, for a bunch of old men, they move pretty well,” Earth Roger mused.

“We could always call them on it,” Air Pete said, raising an eyebrow.

"Good idea," Fire John rumbled. "I say we do."

“True, but I think they have other things to worry about right now,” Water Keith shot back.

John, Pete and Roger skidded into the bedroom to see Keith holding a sobbing JD.

“Oh kiddo.” John walked forward and knelt down. Arms gathered the sobbing young man as Keith blurred into JD to help start healing mental wounds.

“J-J-J-John, I tried to fight!”

“Shh shh, it’s okay JD, it’s okay now. We’ve gotcha.” John soothed out nonsense to calm the hysterical ATF agent down. Roger and Pete offered comfort as they rubbed JD on his arm and leg.

Water Keith closed the door quietly to give them some privacy.

Fire John, Air Pete and Earth Roger stood in front of Water Keith.

“Everything all right in there?”

Water Keith shook his head no. “The kid woke up. He’s hysterical and sobbing into John’s shirt. Bit hard to think that the other me reincarnate into JD.”

"Not so hard, they look alike," Earth Roger pointed out.

“Maybe JD there is a distant relation,” Air Pete mused. “Do we really know anything about this kid?”

The others shook their head no. “Guess we’ll ask one of them when they come out,” Fire John said, leaning against the wall.

"Yeah, give them some space. He's..." Water Keith shook his head. "He's shattered."

Fire John’s statement rang true when Pete came out of the room , closed the door quietly and then walked up to the wall. He punched the wall so hard, there was an imprint of knuckles left in the plaster and wallpaper.

“Shit,” Pete swore as he flexed the injured hand and his wings twitched.

Fire John walked over and took his hand. "C'mon, let's ice that."

“Might be an idea,” Pete said as he was led to the kitchen. “I was imagining it was Lux’s face. Wish I punched the bastard when he had a body.”

"Do me a favour. Keep those wings under control, you nearly hit me."

“Yeah, they have a mind of their own sometimes.” Pete made no apologies for something that was a part of him as natural as breathing. “Be happy when they’re fully healed and I can retract them.”

"I hear that. Until then you look like a black-winged angel." Fire John smiled at him. "I keep seeing you as the angel of death."

“Who says I’m not him,” Pete smirked. “Ah, no worries. Oi, John, do those mother henning gene’s cross over into any alternate reality?” Pete yelped as the ice touched the bruised knuckles.

“What we want to know is how a bunch of old men move so fast?” Air Pete suddenly asked.

Pete found himself surrounded in a semi-circle as Fire John tended to his injury.

They looked at him, curiously.

Pete sighed, “Who says we’re old?”

"Your bald, silver hair."

“You should watch it junior, this will be you one day.” Pete frowned at his double and then looked him straight in the eye. Ice-blue met ice-blue, blue, grey-green and chocolate brown eyes. “We’re actually young.”

And all four of them gasped as it seemed like scales fell from their eyes and they could see him.

Young.

“A gift from the Faery Queen for saving her kingdom the first time. We weren’t even aware of it until JD told us and we saw past the powerful illusion,” Pete smirked at the astonished looks of the Other Who. “Unless we let someone in, we look like our regular ages to everyone else.”

Water Keith sank into a seat, just staring.

“Oooh, I think I just broke Moonie,” Pete grinned. He flexed the hand that John wrapped up. “Thanks for the fix, should get back to the others. Of course now I got to watch out for my John mother henning me.”

Pete left the Other Who to their thoughts as he joined his brothers in helping JD out.

And sure enough, John zoned in on that hand and started to fuss.

~~~

It was a few days later that the Other Who got to see an upright JD Dunne. They had been leaving food near the door and returning to see an empty tray left behind.

Even though Lux kept JD’s body healthy, JD himself, looked pale and slightly gaunt. Keith had a hand around his twin’s waist and helped him over to the couch. Both were wearing their fox ears and fox tails.

John stayed near them, reading a book, but ready to lend support. Roger and Pete were off discussing the silver arm bands they had found on their biceps a couple days ago and their implications.

"I see why they call you twins," Fire John said, walking over.

JD flinched slightly at the new, yet not new person walking towards him and Keith. Keith held firm and whispered in his ear. JD visibly relaxed.

Fire John watched the interaction curiously.

“Yeah, bit eerie.” JD smiled shakily and held out a trembling hand. “JD Dunne.”

Fire John shot a fanged grin and took the hand, shook it once and let go as JD took his hand back right away. “John Entwistle, but I think you already knew that.”

“K-k-Keith has been keeping me updated.” JD smiled gratefully at his ‘twin’.

Keith just held onto JD by the waist, while JD draped an arm on the drummer’s shoulder.

Fire John gestured at them both. “Why do you hold onto each other like that?”

“Contact helps us heal a bit better. Something to do with us being the same person I think,” Keith said from his position.

"I understand."

It was here the Other Who came into the room. JD tensed, but Keith just whispered words of comfort and that he and John were here if he needed anything. JD evened out his breathing and looked at the men who looked like his brother’s.

Water Keith stepped forward -- but not too close. "We're not going to hurt you, son."

JD giggled slightly hysterically before taking a deep breath to calm down. “Know that, just hard to control responses at the moment. And I’m not your son. Didn’t know my Pa and you ain’t him.” Bostonian accent rang true and it was here the Other Who saw a glimpse of who JD was before being held captive.

Water Keith smiled and matched his accent. "Good to see you feisty."

“I try.” JD shakily grinned and matched Water Keith’s accent.

"You succeed."

John smiled from behind his book as JD slowly healed.

“So who is JD Dunne?” Earth Roger asked as he collapsed into a chair. “What kind of person did Keith Moon become after he died, which I might say is weird to say out loud.”

JD and Keith grinned at that statement. They took turns in summarizing their new life, who was apart of it and who they became.

But as they talkedt JD started to slowly remember what Lux did to his friends as he talked about them.

Keith frowned in concern as JD trailed off a particular funny story of Buck. “JD? Johnny?” Keith saw it and grabbed onto him, memories assaulted his mind.

“Shit.” John raced towards them as Keith blurred into JD. JD twitched and spasmed as five years worth of memories were shared between them. John held JD firm.

"What is this?" Water Keith whispered.

“The price for them being like this.” John quietly stated as he held onto his brother. “JD can access Keith’s memories anytime he wishes, but Keith gets them in small or large dumps. I’m assuming since they’ve been separated for five years that their minds have decided that they’re healed enough to share those five years worth. Shit, this is going to set both of them back.”

"Or guide them forward," Water Keith said.

“One can hope,” John said as JD’s body continued to twitch and spasm. “Can one of you go grab Pete and Roger, going to need them soon.”

Air Pete's eyes and hair changed and he glided out on a blast of air.

He came back quickly with Roger and Pete in tow . They ran forward to help John with JD.

“Big one,” Roger understated.

“No shit Sherlock,” Pete snarled back.

They all breathed sighs of relief when the twitching and spasming stopped. JD slowly opened his eyes, hands helped him sit up, but he quickly slumped forward onto John’s shoulder.

“JD? John quietly rumbled.

“Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah, we’re with you.” Came a reply from the fabric.

The Other Who looked on curious; this was a new aspect to them about the reincarnation of Keith Moon.

Roger touched JD on the shoulder. “You remember everything?”

A stifled half-sob escaped from JD’s throat. “Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes. We remember everything from those-those-those-those-those five years.”

Roger's hand moved to JD's hair, stroking it soothingly.

Fox ears drooped slightly and the tail found its way to snaking around Pete’s arm in comfort.

The Other Who backed off to another part of the room as they let their ‘twins’ comfort their littlest brother.

“I guess the stuttering and plural speaking is another price,” Air Pete said.

“We all know about prices to gifts,” Water Keith softly said.

It was another twenty minutes before The Who extracted themselves from their youngest and they settled him on the couch. John let himself be held by a trembling JD as he stared out with blank eyes. Pete and Roger were back off to the side discussing something animatedly .

And the Elementals were watching from two doorways down.

JD’s blank stare found them and he roused himself enough to nudge John. John leaned over and JD jerked with his head at the Elemental Who.

John beckoned the Other Who over. “You’ve got more questions I assume.”

“Yeah, we do, but they can wait.” Water Keith said.

“Best-best-best-best-best to ask now.” JD quietly said.

“What’s up with the stuttering?” Air Pete asked.

“Signals getting mixed up in our brainpan. When-when-when-when we share memories, we merge-merge-merge-merge-merge. Hence the mixed signals. We refer to us in plural-plural-plural-plural-plural, gonna be more twitching-twitching-twitching-twitching-twitching and spasming soon. We’ll be fine-fine-fine-fine-fine in a bit.”

"Does being in water help? Because I've got a tub that can take the worst of the spasming you can give it." Water Keith said.

“Tried it once, kid here nearly drowned. So while thoughtful, he’s best on the couch here with me. I know what to watch out for.” John smiled gratefully at Water Keith.

Water Keith nodded. The Elemental Who satisfied grabbed Pete and Roger on their way out so JD and John could deal with all that in private.

“Oi! Watch the wings!” Pete yelled out.

“Easy Birdman.” Fire John said.

“What’s got you two all ruffled?” Water Keith asked.

Pete showed them his bicep with the silver strip. “Found out these things are dimension hoppers.”

“How’d you figure that out?” Fire John asked.

“Poked it and it flashed us a bunch of information,” Roger muttered darkly. “We’re going on more adventures apparently. This is just a pit stop to heal up. Not too sure how much time we got left here.”

"If you're here to heal," Water Keith said, "It stands to reason you'll be here till you all heal."

“Knowing out luck, it’s going to drag us to some hellhole soon,” Pete morbidly stated.

Roger smacked him on the arm. “Stop being such a morbid little shit.”

“Yours too eh?” Earth Roger joked .

Roger exchanged a smile with his twin.

"He's gotten better over the years," Water Keith protested.

“I think ours pickled.” Roger laughed.

“Oi!” Both Pete’s protested. “We’re standing right here.”

Roger grabbed Pete and proceeded to drag him back into the other room to discuss with John and JD what they found.

After telling them, both John and JD stared at them in disbelief.

“You-you-you think the others are dimension hopping-hopping-hopping-hopping too?” JD asked, voice sounding stronger than it had been in the past few days.

“Don’t know kiddo, guess we’ll find out,” Pete said.

"Why us?" John groaned.

“Don’t know, mystery really.” Roger retorted back.

~~~

It was a couple of days later that JD was feeling a lot better and he decided to start practicing with his knives again. It felt like that merge had healed something within him and Keith.

It was odd to find out he could materialize knives out of nothing, but it certainly explained how they just appeared. Taking a deep breath, JD started his first exercise.

Water Keith watched this reincarnation of a different version of himself go through the different forms. It was like watching water. Pete settled down next to him, wings almost fully healed.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Pete quietly asked.

“Yeah, where did he learn that?” Water Keith asked back .

“Keith did, in the Faery Realm. In the rebel army there were a few others who used knives and used those kata’s to practice. And what Keith knows…” Pete trailed off.

“…JD knows. Speaking of my other handsome self, where is he?”

Pete grinned, “Getting revenge on John and Roger.”

"Oh?"

“I didn’t ask. Better to deny any involvement. Plus last time JD pranked me; he restrung all my guitars and got my speakers to play nothing but classical music.” Pete grinned. “Who knows what Keith has planned, especially with JD’s memories at his disposal.”

Water Keith laughed long and hard.

When he got control, he asked, "How are the wings?"

Pete stretched them out and then winced slightly when they reached their limit. “Better, almost fully healed. Should be able to fly within a few days I hope.”

“How’d that happen anyway? I didn’t catch it in that explanation you guys gave.”

“Very, very, very large snake and some venom-acid. Zigged when I should’ve zagged.”

Water Keith winced. "They look a lot better," he said gently.

Pete slowly extended a wing out and held it towards Water Keith. “Feel free if you want.”

Gently, he touched it. "Amazing."

Pete folded the wing against his back. “Literally a pain in my back right now. But I’ve gotten used to them.” Pete turned back to stare as JD continued ducking and weaving against invisible enemies.

"Wow."

“Hmm?”

"He's good."

Pete smiled. “He’s had to become good. Especially to survive in a world where he catches criminals. Keith originally learned because he thought it would be cool and then learned further as survival in the Faery Realm. Two halves of the same coin they are.”

JD finished and gave a slightly bow. Twirling the knives they disappeared and he walked over to Pete and Water Keith. “Hey, you two.”

"Hey," Water Keith smiled.

JD smiled back and then went still. A fox ear cocked itself in the direction of the main house. “Oh, Keith’s started his revenge.”

Pete grinned. “Care to let us in on the prank.”

“Keith didn’t let me know, but I can hear what’s going on.”

"Oh?"

JD closed his eyes, fox ears pricked up in the direction of the main house, listening in. “Let’s see…uh-huh…there’s Keith. Oh! Oh! He’s gotten the other John involved.”

Water Keith face palmed and moaned. “Great. Why didn’t he ask me for help?”

“Oh, oh! Keith has sewed the clothes that John was given, shorter and put dye in Roger’s shampoo…pink hair dye…the other John is going to make sure to get Roger dirty.”

Pete snickered at that.

“Aw, apparently that’s all they’re doing. Just got to wait for the excitement to happen now.” JD opened his eyes, fox tail swishing from side to side in anticipation.

They stayed outside for the next twenty minutes or so before they heard very loud yelling coming from inside the mansion.

JD, Water Keith and Pete shared grins and were treated to the sight of a pink-haired Roger Daltrey chasing Keith across the mansion lawns. John had opted to climb up the side of the house to follow his counterpart who had taken to the air.

Keith saw his salvation in JD. With a merry grin and a salute to Roger, Keith dived and blurred into JD’s body.

“MOON!!! GET OUT OF JD AND TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT!!” Roger bellowed without his power activating for once.

JD grinned, “Keith Moon is not here right now, so please leave your name, number and a brief message and he’ll get back to you right after the beep.”

“AUUUUGH!!!” Roger yelled as he stalked off back towards the mansion to attempt to wash the dye out .

As soon as Roger was out of hearing range, Pete and Water Keith let loose their laughter.

It’s nice to see.

What’s nice to see?

Laughter, true laughter. S’been a long time.

JD merely smiled at the thoughts his brother sent.

~~~

It was a couple of days later when Pete proclaimed himself fully healed enough to try flying.

“This should be interesting.” Air Pete grinned.

They all gathered in the backyard of the mansion, while Pete flexed and stretched his wings. After testing them, Pete gave a couple of experimental flaps. Satisfied, he started to flap the wings stronger, within seconds he was airborne.

Grinning three Elementals went airborne twirling through the air with their friend. Earth Roger looked up to the sky wistfully.

“Why aren’t you up there with them?” Roger asked.

“I’m Earth, not made for flying,” Earth Roger said.

JD snorted, “Yeah right. You’re Earth; there are magnetic fields all around you. Wouldn’t take much effort to pull up some dirt, sit on it and hover on those fields.”

“I’ve tried, trust me I’ve tried. Just can’t get up there,” Earth Roger stated.

JD was about to open his mouth again when Keith gave him a mental poke.

Don’t say anything more JD. Looks like he’s got some mental issues on it. He has to overcome it on his own.

JD pouted. Okay.

John, Roger and JD all laughed as Pete landed whooping and hollering. Running up to him they watched as he concentrated and the wings slurped into his back, leaving the tattoo representations behind.

The Elemental Who settled down on the ground soon after. Water Keith bounded up and traced the wing patterns on Pete’s back.

“Did you have these done before or after the wings appeared?”

“They bloody well appeared after I got the feathers. When I first got the wings, I retracted them into me back and those tattoos just appeared,” Pete groused.

The Other Who crowded around to take a look at the intricate art design. Pete grabbed the t-shirt that John handed to him and put it on gratefully, obstructing the Other Who’s view of the art.

Water Keith pouted. Fire John ruffled Water Keith’s hair.

“Oi! Watch the perfection!” Water Keith attempted to put it back to normal.

Anything else that would’ve been said was instantly forgotten as The Who grabbed their arms as pain erupted from the silver bands.

Each Elemental Who hurried to their counterpart, helpless at this new development.

“What’s bloody wrong with them?” Air Pete snarled out.

“No idea!” Earth Roger shot back as he laid a hand on his twin’s back.

Roger’s head shot up, silver in his eyes. “Twenty-four hours until next hop, twenty-four hours.”

And just as sudden as it began, it stopped. The Who fell to their knees, huge gasps of air heaving from their lungs.

“Everyone okay?” Earth Roger asked as he helped his twin up.

“Yeah, that was a bit bloody intense,” John groaned.

“What was that?” Water Keith asked as JD leaned on him.

“A countdown. Twenty-four hours to go and then we’ll be on our merry way to another dimension,” Roger said.

"We'll miss you," Water Keith said into JD's ear.

JD hugged his counterpart. “Both of us in here will miss you too.”

It was an emotional twenty-four hours for all of The Who and The Elemental Who. Backpacks with food and water were provided. Goodbyes were exchanged and it was a solemn group of Who that gathered in the backyard of Quarwood.

“It was good to meet you five.” Water Keith said.

“Was good to meet you four.” JD parroted back.

Armbands tingled as silver lines spread and soon covered their entire bodies , with a flash of light, they disappeared.

The Elemental Who stared at the spot for a few minutes before turning away and heading back to Quarwood and get back to as normal as their lives could get.

~~~

The Who landed with a thump on the ground.

“Gerrof you!” Pete pushed Roger off of him and John helped JD up.

“Any idea where we are?” John asked as he looked around.

“Holy shit! We’re back near Quarwood!” Roger shouted.

“What is this, ‘This is your life?’ dimension hopping?” JD groused.

Who knows Johnny, but someone is here.

“Who’s there?!” a voice came from behind them.

They turned around and saw a Keith Moon, red-tipped white cane.

A helper cane.

This Keith Moon was visibly blind.

End Part 1.