Fic: Endless Waltz [4/7] (The Who, M7:ATF Crossover fic, PG-13)

[sparrowsverse]

Title: Endless Waltz [4/7]
Series: Second Chances
Author: Sparrow
Fandom: Magnificent Seven: ATF, The Who
Characters: JD Dunne, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own The Who or M7: ATF or The Demon Winds ‘verse.
Author Note: I just wanted to say thank you majorly to jennytork aka Enola Jones for the handholding, the cheerleading and letting me bounce ideas off of her. She has been a wonderful help and a wonderful friend as I wrote this fic. She was also a major help with writing the Demon Wind characters. Major thanks to bookaddict43 for the awesome beta and for not murdering me for my constant poking of ‘is it done yet?’ lol Also, thank you to nesmith for letting me play in The Demon Winds ‘verse. It’s been a while since I asked permission so hopefully she remembers otherwise this story is going to end with ‘rock falls, everyone dies’. lol
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.



JD moaned and pressed the heel of his hand into his forehead and slowly got up. Blinking a couple of times he took in his surroundings. He was in the bedroom suite of Quarwood where he stayed before with the Elementals and Blind Keith’s group.

He saw Pete sprawled out on the big bed on his stomach, wings outstretched. Roger was off to the side, same with Jonathan. Keith on the far wall curled into a ball, tail tucked in between his hands. Good, everyone was here, mostly. He wasn’t so sure about himself though.

Swinging his legs over the side of his bed, he got up slowly and swayed in place as he steadied himself. His ear cocked to the side and JD swung his head towards the noise. There in the doorway stood Pete, a Pete with some muscle on him and maybe in his late twenty’s, early thirties.

JD looked at him confused. “Paeter? No, sorry, yer Pete.” JD shook his head a couple of times. Paeter was from Fina and, oh.

JD glanced down and saw he was still in the clothes he wore in Fina. Glancing up, he saw that the others were in their Fina clothes as well. Fina wasn’t real, was it? JD moaned again and buried his head in his hands.

"You're awake," he said, his voice shockingly calm for Pete. "Are you Keith, or do you go by something else?"

“JD, I go by JD.” Came a quiet reply.

He nodded, his hair in his eyes. He raised a hand to push the locks away, and the movement made his shirtsleeve ride up, showing the head of a snake tattooed onto his left arm. "I'll go tell the others you're awake."

“Okay.” Man his head hurt, like he was thinking through tapioca. He heard Pete leave the room, presumably to go get the other Who of this universe.

Keith raised his head. Looked at JD. "Ah. You're okay. Good." He yawned and put his head back down.

JD giggled slightly at the antics of his twin. Only Keith. He made his way around the room, checking the various states of Pete, John, Roger and Keith. He was a little worried about how pale Roger seemed, but that could easily be fixed with some sun and good food. His hazel eyes widened in surprise as he saw The Sword of Fuu on the dresser, it came with them. Picking it up, JD cradled it to his chest, it meant Fina was real. He slowly backed up towards his bed and sat down in shock, the sword held tight against his chest.

The door opened again and there was John, with Keith standing at his elbow.

JD’s fox ears drooped slightly, tail curling around his body and he gave a hesitant wave in their direction.

"Pete was right," Keith breathed. "Those ARE for real..."

JD grinned slightly. “Just a little bit. Different universes have different rules, but…” Concentrating just a little bit, the fox ears and tail disappeared.

"Awww." It sounded like a canine whine. "I liked those!" The drummer's lower lip protruded forward.

JD grinned, just like his Keith too. Concentrating again, he brought them out again, stood up and walked over so Keith could touch them. “Go ahead. Just be careful, they’re a little sensitive.”

Fingers grazed over them and Keith's laugh sounded like a happy bark. "They're FUR, John!"

John’s fingers swept across JD’s tail. JD shivered and grinned. “Careful there John-John, that’s like a proposition there.”

They both laughed, John's sounding like a grunt. "Not my type, JD."

JD laughed, it was like hanging out with his Who. “Not mine either John.”

“You mentioned something about ‘different universes, different rules’.” Keith bounced.

JD deflated slightly. “Yeah, probably best if your Pete and Roger are here too so I don’t repeat myself.”

"We're here," from the doorway. Roger looked smaller than usual and thinner.

JD headed back over to his temporary bed and gestured for The Who to gather round and sit. “Right, usually the beginning is a good place to begin.”

They looked on at him as curious about him and their doubles as he them.

Steeling himself JD started to explain. His Keith’s death, his John’s near death. Finding out he himself was the reincarnation of Keith Moon. The mirror and a quacky doctor that brought Keith back to life somewhat, albeit a ghost in the machine. Various adventures of Keith as a ATF agent and then saving his own brother’s from a gun runner, getting shot and JD getting control back.

He wrung the sword in his hands as he explained his trip to England and hanging out there for a couple of weeks before getting swept into an adventure in the Faery Realm. All of them now altered in the Human realm. His team coming to Quarwood to bring him back and another adventure turning into a five year nightmare for himself and Keith. His team being altered as well. The rescue. The dimension hopping for the past little bit. The Elemental Who. Blind Keith and their latest adventure in Fina where they only knew who they were suppose to be, not who they actually were and then waking up here.

JD at this point had started to huddle in on himself as his memories of Fina played in his head, thinking he had killed his brother Moon.

"Wow, and I thought WE had it rough," Roger mused.

Keith laid a hand on JD in comfort. The ATF agent startled at the touch, so lost in his memories. “You okay JD?”

JD shook his head. “Yeah, sorry about that. Fina really did a mind scramble on us. Didn’t know who we were, only who we thought we were suppose to be. I just hope the others are okay. Have no clue as to what they faced in their mirrors.”

Wings twitched hard as Pete sneezed. The other one grinned crookedly. "Figures. Allergic to mornings."

Then Pete’s face with the snake tattoo turned hard. “All this is well and good, but how do we not know this isn’t a trap by Mistress?”

"We don't," his John said.

JD looked at them tiredly and curiously. “Who’s Mistress?”

"Evil incarnate," the smaller Roger snarled.

“Ah, I’ve met one of those, possessed by it too.” JD mused. “Last I heard Lux is a spirit trapped in a silver flask. Hope he gets dropped down a bottomless pit.”

“C’mon you lot, do you think this,” Keith tugged on JD’s ear, “is really possible by that bimbo?”

JD swatted Keith’s hand away and rubbed his offended appendage.

"She did this to us, anything's possible," Pete said.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your ‘is he a spy’ bit here, but did what to you?” JD asked.

The other’s exchanged glances as if asking each other ‘do we trust him?’ ‘should we tell him?’ ‘is he really a spy?’. JD rolled his eyes and sighed.

“I am not a bloody spy! What will it take to prove that to you?”

“In all of your adventures, how is it sixty plus year old men were able to do all that?” John asked.

“Oh! I’m so used to seeing how they really look now I forget sometimes.” JD said.

Keith, Roger, John and Pete looked puzzled.

JD looked in each of their eyes. “They’re actually thirty years old, physically now. A gift from the Faery Queen on the first adventure.”

They felt something fall from their eyes and rubbed them slightly. Turning around they gasped slightly as the illusion was dropped and they saw their doppelgangers all young now.

“Cor…that’s bloody brilliant!” Keith breathed. “Where can I get that plan for when I hit sixty?”

"Shut it, Pup," John laughed.

JD crossed his arms. “So is that sufficient? Do I have some trust now?”

They all looked at each other again, then back at him. It was Keith who spoke. "She gave us physical abilities and attributes we never had before."

“Like what?”

“That’s all your getting for now until we trust you more.” Roger said.

“Fair enough.” JD shot back.

A few minutes of silence passed as they each stood and looked at the other. Roger on the bed started to stir. Ears perked up, JD made his through The Demon Winds and hurried over to his Roger.

“No..noo…get off!” Roger moaned as he clutched the sheets and his legs twisted.

“Shh, shh. Rog, its JD. Its okay, The Darkness was defeated, no more Fina!” JD whispered, grabbing Roger’s hand. The other Who looked on curiously.

“Noo! NOOOOO!” Roger sat straight up in bed, blue eyes wide and he leapt up and out. “Get ‘em off! Get ‘em off.” He slapped at his neck.

“ROGER!” JD roared in Roger’s face.

Roger stilled and blinked a couple of times. “Dunne? Where are they? We have to leave now!! Before they come back!”

JD grabbed Roger’s face with his hands. “Daltrey, we’re no longer in Fina. It’s me. JD.” Here JD let his fox features melt into human ones.

Moaning Roger dug the heel of his hand into his forehead. “JD?”

“Back with me Rog?”

“I think so. Oh that was a mind fuck there.” Roger moaned.

“Tell me about it. Hey at least you got the wandering minstrel bit. Keith and I got to be John’s bodyguard’s and go getters.”

Roger chuckled a little as he raised his head and saw the other Who.

“Assuming we dimension hopped again.”

“I gave them the run down of who we are and where they came from. They don’t exactly trust us. Apparently they have their own version of Lux here.” JD said as he helped Roger to sit back on his bed.

“Shit. I’m hoping their evil is without magical powers.” He closed his eyes to fight off the oncoming headache.

"You can relax. Magic isn't common here," Snake Pete said.

“Good.” JD and Roger chorused together.

“They also know what you guys really look like. Had to give them something to make us trust us a little.” JD smiled apologetically at Roger.

“S’okay JD. You did what you had to do.” Roger smiled back at JD. JD let his fox features come back and he smiled at the other Who.

“I hate to break up the happy scene, but any idea if the other’s are gonna wake up the same way? Screeching and hollering?” Rooster Roger asked as he stared at his double slightly.

"Is it me, or did he lose an inch or two?" Roger whispered to JD.

JD eyed Rooster Roger up and down. “It looks like it.”

Anything else that could’ve been said was halted as Rooster Roger’s answer came in the form of John tumbling out of his bed, the long spindly legs flexing and twisting all over the place. A hand on his chest as if searching for something.

JD and Roger quickly hurried over to him. “John?”

“Don’t call me John.” Came a quiet rumble.

“Shit.” Roger uttered as they helped him up.

John’s head rose up as he took in their new surroundings and black eyes settled on the other Who. “Imposters! More of The Darkness’s imposters!” Hissing and clicking John pushed himself away from Roger and launched himself at The Demon Winds, long spindly legs intent on ripping them to shreds.

The Demon Winds settled into stances as the black-eyed John came hurtling towards them.

Roger let loose a sonic scream and John tumbled into the wall as the blast hit him.

John shook his head a few time. “Fuck it Roger!! I told you to bloody well watch it with that and not destroy my house!”

“Back with us John?” JD asked as John continued to shake his head.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” John dipped his head in apology to The Demon Winds as he shakily got up and made his way to JD and Roger.

One by one, they came out of their stances -- Dog Keith the last to do so.

“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t destroy my house.” Ox John said at them.

“Are all of you lot going to do that?” Dog Keith asked as he bounced around, inspecting the awake John’s long spindly legs.

“Do what?” JD asked.

“Come out of your alter egos and then become aware of who you really are.” Pete said.

“No idea, mystery really.” Roger grinned.

“Guess we’ll find out when Pete and Keith wake up.” John rumbled as he pulled his legs closer to him, not quite yet ready for anyone except himself to touch them.

Dog Keith pouted with a slight whine and bounded back to his group.

“Oh, I’m up. Who can be asleep with Roger wailing like that.” They turned as one to see Keith shakily standing up.

JD hurried over quickly to inspect his twin. John following right behind.

Keith permitted it, with a good-natured roll of his eyes to the ceiling.

“Both of you about done there?”

“Just about.” JD and John said at the same time. Sighing Keith solved their problems by quickly blurring into JD. Hazel eyes widened in surprise as Keith’s new memories became open to him with just a minor twitch to his arm, especially the last few ones of the mirror. “Oh Keith.”

“JD?” John laid his hand on JD in concern.

JD shook his head. “Not yet John, not yet.”

S’okay dear boy, it’s okay. I think all of us should have a private chat later on without the others listening in.

Yeah.

“Well, all that’s left is Birdman over there.” Dog Keith grinned. “At least the nickname is appropriate.”

“Kyrie Elesion healed us all, but Paeter, I mean Pete, he got flung to the ground, hitting his head on a rock.” JD said, worriedly.

“He’ll be all right kiddo. Pete has a hard head.” Roger said.

“So does our Pete.” Dog Keith grinned as he tapped his Pete on the head.

“Oi! Watch it dog breath!” Snake Pete swatted the hand away from his head.

While everyone was talking Roger managed to slowly make his way to his counterpart and measure their height using his hand.

“What in the bloody world are you doing?!” Rooster Roger snarled out.

Snake Pete gave grin. “You know Roger, I do believe the other you there is taller.”

Rooster Roger crossed his arms. "I'm five-six, same as I've always been."

"He's right," John said, moving to Roger's side. "You're the one that's grown. You're Keith's height."

“How in the bloody world did that happen?” Roger breathed.

“You’re asking how you’ve grown after everything we’ve been through.” JD said sarcastically.

“Well yeah. Except being able to amplify my voice, not really had anything physical happen to me.”

“Well, except for now, he’s right.” John said.

“Another headache for another day.” JD moaned. “I’m more worried about Pete than Roger’s new found height.”

Ox John had made his way over to inspect this different version of Pete. Dark black wings and dressed in black clothing with a red and black kilt. An ice-blue eye popped open and blearily looked at Ox John. Groaning Pete managed to bring himself to his hands and knees. Ox John cautiously backed away to his group incase of a repeat like his double.

JD, John and Roger cautiously made their way to Pete, ready to subdue him in case he became violent as well. Holding out a hand, The Sword of Fuu flew into Pete’s hand. “Did we win?”

“Yes Paeter, we won. I placed The Heart on the pedestal myself. The real Kyrie Elesion healed our wounds and transported us to The Holy Order.” JD said, allowing his Fina accent to come through to not startle Pete.

Pete slowly got off the bed, John and Roger there to support them. He glanced around the room and settled on the other Who. Wings rose into an attack position.

“Are they enemies or more of The Darkness golems?” Pete snarled as he started to draw his sword.

Snake Pete rose an eyebrow at the more manicured tone.

JD suddenly came into Pete’s vision. “Paeter, they’re us, but a different version. You need to come back to us, okay Pete?”

Just like the others Pete moaned and dug the heel of his hand into his forehead. “JD? Oh what the bloody fuck was that all about?”

“Real mind scramble there, eh Pete?” Roger quipped.

"No shit." He looked around, blinking at them. "You inked your arm."

Snake Pete grinned. "Yeah, and you've got wings. Between us we're a bloody coatyl."

Pete blinked again, then roared with laughter.

The other’s shared grins and shook their heads slightly at the antics of their respective brother’s.

“And besides, from what I can see, all five of you, well when your Keith was around, got inked as well.” Rooster Roger pointed out as he tapped John’s silver band.

“Not by choice.” Keith snarled as he blurred out of JD.

“Oh right. Sorry, forgot about that.” Rooster Roger apologized.

Keith eyed him and then blurred back into JD.

“So now what?” Dog Keith voiced.

“Not a bloody clue. Every time we’ve hopped to a different dimension was for a reason. Elemental Who ‘verse, we rested up. Blind Keith’s ‘verse, we stopped a kidnapping. Fina, we saved the world.” Pete said as he brought one finger down after another, checking them off.

“Maybe you’re here to help us out.” Ox John rumbled.

"How so?" JD asked.

“Mistress.” The Demon Winds chorused together.

“Well, we’ve already defeated one evil incarnate, what’s another.” JD groused as he threw up his hands.

“Mistress?” John and Pete voiced.

“Their version of Lux without magical powers.” Roger said.

“Wonderful.” John and Pete groused.

"Somehow....I don't think that's why we're here." Roger tilted his head. "This is their cross to bear -- not ours.”

“Makes sense.” JD then turned towards The Demon Winds. “So, does all of this prove we’re not spies. That you can trust us?”

Snake Pete nodded. “Yeah, for now.” He then nodded towards them with his head. “You lot hungry?”

“Oh man, I could eat a horse.” JD salivated.

“I think you did back in Fina.” Roger grinned.

John and Pete exchanged a look with one another and grabbed Roger and JD in a headlock. “C’mon you two, let’s follow the others.”

The Demon Winds started towards the door and took them to the kitchen.

It was hours later that The Who were left in their room, by themselves with a change of clothes.

“So, here we are.” Keith stated.

“Yeah, here we are.” Roger shot back.

Silence permeated their room as they looked at anywhere except one another.

“This is bloody ridiculous! We spent how long together now! I’ll go first! JD, what did you see in your mirror world that The Darkness trapped you in?” Pete snarled out.

JD trembled slightly, but Keith’s hand on his shoulder brought him courage. He talked about how he had to face a demonic fox version of Moon and when the fox leapt at him, his knife piercing it’s heart and he thought he had killed his brother, especially when it morphed back into the normal version Moon was suppose to look like. He was now afraid that he too could morph into that fox version if angry enough.

Keith hugged his twin and the others lent hands of comfort to JD.

Keith then started his story about confronting a humanoid version of himself and not realizing at the time it was a more crazy version of who he used to be. Only realizing it now. Keith is afraid of leading JD down that path, since JD used to be him. More comfort was offered.

Roger hesitantly began his tale of the women. Only later realizing that it was vampires that held him down. His last memory being that of blood being rubbed down his throat. Afraid of how that will now effect him, since their bodies seem to be fond of being altered.

John in a flat out tone told of how ‘Cousin Kevin’ tortured him. Breaking his spider limbs and extinguishing a cigarette into his chest. Passing out from the pain. Fear of not being able to use his extra limbs again.

Pete looked at his friends, his brothers and said that he never confronted any mirror, but The Darkness head on. A mockery of Kyrie Elesion and that it winked the mirrors into existence and he saw them in the end results of their tales. Shattering the mirrors with The Sword of Fuu. Him and Dunne distracting The Darkness and finally defeating it. He blacked out after that.

“Well, you heard what I did after that.” JD said.

“Yeah, we survived it all and we’ll be stronger for it.” Keith stated. “Anything else thrown at us now, easy as pie.”

“I’m thinking bed now myself. Long journey and long day.” Pete said.

The other’s quickly agreed. They all fell into bed and sleep came easily.

Sometime in the middle of the night, JD and Keith woke to someone moaning. Their ears more sensitive now, they pinpointed the sound coming from Roger’s bed.

"Roger..." they said in unison, going to his side. Creeping up the bed cautiously they looked at the singer.

"Roger, what is--"
"It, what's--"
"Wrong?"

Roger was twisting in the sheets, hands clenched and legs bucking all over the place. A snarl appeared on his face. Red eyes opened and fangs slid down from his human incisors. Blond curls flew as Roger cocked his head to look at Keith and JD. Leaping from the bed Roger flew at Keith, fangs aimed for the drummer’s jugular.

"Bloody--"
"HELL!"

They moved in unison, diving aside and into Roger at the same time, knocking him flat. Arms and legs wrapped around Roger’s torso to keep the bucking singer still.

“Pete!”
“John!”

Roger continued to snarl and buck, scenting at the fresh food that laid all around him.

At the sound of their voices being called Pete and John both had rolled off the bed and settled into stances. Their eyes widened at the wriggling forms on the ground.

“Oh, Roger,” Pete breathed.

John snarled something under his breath and pressed his palm on Roger’s forehead. Roger calmed immediately but still had the air and appearance of a feral vampyre.

“What in the bloody…”
“hell was that…”
”all about John?”

“A little bit of magic Jonathan picked up in Fina. It’s a calming spell, hopefully by morning Roger should return to normal. From his story it sounds like his turning got interrupted. I expect there will be side-effects from now on.” John stated. “Now, what is up with you two talking like that?”

“Don’t…”
“know…”
“Can’t really…”
“Stop.”

“I bloody hate side effects.” Pete stated as he nudged Roger with his foot.

Roger whined slightly as he sniffed Pete’s toe.

"Okay, mate, that's just GROSS.”

“He can’t help it Pete. Roger is down to baser instincts right now. He just wants food.” John said as he pushed Roger away from Pete’s foot. JD untangled himself slowly and then joined his brother.

“Maybe a…”
“Raw…”
“Steak?”

“I’ll head down to the kitchen and see if one is there.” Pete said as he headed for the door.

There were several. Grabbing a few of them Pete headed back upstairs and set them in front of Roger.

Roger quickly devoured them, cold blood leaking down the side of his mouth as he tore them apart. Licking his fingers clean Roger gave a happy hiss, walked over to his bed and curled up to sleep.

“I’m thinking shifts in case he flips out again.” Pete said. “I’ll go first, then John, then JD and then Keith.”

They nodded their agreement and settled down into their new routine for the rest of the night.

Morning came and with it, Roger sleeping through the dawn and not rising till nine or ten AM. That, at least, hadn't changed.

They peered over the bed anxiously as Roger showed signs of waking. Stretching out in the bed, he slowly sat up. Blinking the sleep out of his blue eyes he looked at his audience. “What? Got something on my face? Bugger off you lot, gotta take a piss.”

"Tell me this isn't gonna be every night," the twins moaned in unison.

Roger looked at them in confusion. “Every night what?”

“Rog, what’s the last thing you remember about last night?” John asked.

“Us gabbing about our mirror encounters and then bed. Why?”

John placed his hands on Roger shoulders gently. “Roger, I think some of the vampire blood you swallowed did affect you. JD and Keith woke us up with some yelling and they were holding you down. A feral vampyre version of you with red eyes and fangs.”

Roger felt hysteria bubble in his throat. John wouldn’t lie to him about this, they’d been through too much together for John to lie to him.

"So we fed you."

And Roger's brain went evil places. He grabbed John and tore at the collar, exposing his neck and looking for puncture wounds.

“Will you stop it!” John swatted Roger away from him. “We fed you raw steak, that’s all.”

"I-I didn't.....you're all...... you're okay I didn't...?" Roger stammered.

“No, you didn’t. JD and Keith stopped you. John did some wacky voodoo that calmed you down and I fed you the steak.” Pete cupped his hand behind Roger’s neck and squeezed slightly in comfort.

“Fed who steak?”

The group turned as one to see Snake Pete in the doorway.

"Me," Roger said, dazedly.

“Why?”

“Oh, I’m apparently turning into a vampire.” Roger blithely stated, the fact still not quite catching up with him.

“You lot certainly don’t have a lot of luck.” Snake Pete said.

“Ain’t that…”
“The truth.”

John just shot a look at Snake Pete of ‘don’t ask about the twins doing that’.

JD and Keith looked at one another and shrugged. Deciding to end their double speech issues, Keith blurred back into JD.

“Is he going to be a problem?” Snake Pete asked.

“No he isn’t. We’ll deal with it.” Pete replied back to his double.

As a testament of how stunned he was Roger didn’t even protest about being talked over his head.

Dog Keith bounded into the room as Ox John and Rooster Roger stood near their Pete. “What’s this about Roger turning into a vampyre?”

“Just that he’s turning into one.” Snake Pete said.

Dog Keith clapped Roger on the shoulder. “Tough luck mate.” Roger shrugged him off and headed to the bathroom, where he slammed the door close.

Ox John grabbed Dog Keith by his collar and whispered something in his ear. Dog Keith straightened up suddenly and became still.

“We’ll talk to you guys later, feel free to grab what you need for now. We got stuff we need to discuss.” Rooster Roger said as The Demon Winds left the other Who to their own devices.

The Who in the suite room took to discussing their newest development while The Demon Winds headed over to the bar room to discuss their own worries.

“As if random attacks by Mistress isn’t enough, all of this lands on us now.” Snake Pete groused.

“You think when we got our powers ‘Wacky Adventures R Us’ would come with a guidebook.” Dog Keith grinned as settled down into a chair.

Ox John rolled his eyes. “Got more pressing matters to discuss and it includes our doubles. Go on Rog.”

“Had a dream last night. Mistress attacking and our doubles there.”

“So they are her spies!” Snake Pete hissed out.

“I never said that Pete!” Rooster Roger snarled. “They were there yes, but they were helping us out from what I could see.”

“Any idea when Mistress is attacking?” Dog Keith asked, a serious look on his face.

Rooster Roger shook his head no. “Just soonish is all I got.”

“Well, I know what we can do in the meantime.” Ox John said.

“Oh?” came from Snake Pete.

“Order some more raw steak and maybe some animal blood for their Roger.”

“We should also tell the others about the dream. And maybe…a bit more about Mistress.” Dog Keith said.

“And what? Explain that we have dreams of the future if something bad is happening?” Rooster Roger snarked out.

Snake Pete scoffed. “You did see them right Roger? I think if anything that lot will believe us about prophetic dreams.”

It was a quiet Demon Winds group that came back to the suite room and the scene laid out before them. Pete, Keith and JD watched in bemusement as their John tried to talk Roger out of the bathroom.

"Let me in so I can talk to you."

“Piss off!” came a snarl.

"Roger, I need to talk to you, it's important."

“I’m living in here until the next bloody jump! I’m not gonna eat anyone! So LEAVE ME ALONE!!”

"Roger," Ox John said suddenly. "I have a proposition about that. Let me in."

There was a few minutes of silence as Roger contemplated and then opened the door a crack. “It’s your neck on the line.”

He walked in and sat down on the toilet, looking at Roger.

Roger himself was sitting in the bathtub and then looked this double of his friend. “Well, say your piece and then get out.”

"I have animals on the grounds. So long as you don't drain the wolfhounds, you're welcome to use them for food."

If possible, Roger turned paler than he already was. “I, I don’t want to kill anything John. For all I know, this could be a one time occurance.”

Ox John gave him a look.

Sighing Roger pushed some of his locks behind his pointed ear. “Ha, if anything the past little bit has taught me that’s a load of shit. I’ll think about it, but I don’t know when and if I’ll change again.”

"I'm serious."

“I know John and that’s what’s frightening to me, because then this becomes real. And I turn into a monster.” Roger brought his knees up to his chin.

Ox John sat beside him and draped an arm over his shoulders. "You don't have to be one. Get the hunger under control and you might actually find it to be a really cool thing." He smiled, revealing his own version of fangs.

“Don’t even remember last night. So getting my hunger under control would be interesting. I don’t even bloody feel that different. I still feel like meself.”

"Then take that as a very good sign."

“Yeah, whoo, bloody whoo.” Roger morbidly and not very enthusiastically stated.

Ox John poked him in the shoulder. “Now cut that out. Thought Pete was supposed to be the morbid one here.”

Roger cracked a grin. “I’m stealing and keeping his bit for the next thirty seconds.”

Ox John laughed and hugged him tight. "Well, come on. You've got four friends worried sick about you."

Sighing Roger got out of the tub. “Yeah well, everyone else, except for my John, had their meltdowns, I think I was due one.” He allowed himself to be led out of the bathroom where his John, Pete, Keith and JD swarmed all over him.

Dog Keith just fluttered his eyes and held Snake Pete close to him. “Awwww, isn’t that cute Pete?”

"I'll bite you if you don’t let me go," he snarled.

Dog Keith pouted and reluctantly let his Pete go. “So mean.”

"Of course, I'm a bloody snake, what d'you expect? Hearts and flowers?"

Snake Pete suddenly had the foxed version of Keith Moon in his face. “What do you mean by that, ‘I’m a bloody snake’. And your John there called me double ‘pup’. The nicknames have something to do with this Mistress woman?”

“What in the world…”

Keith just pointed at his fox ears. “These just aren’t for show mate. Plus being a spy for four bloody years will teach you a lot of things.”

“Like what?”

Keith crossed his arms, his body language set in annoyance and anger. “When someone lies, their heart rate increases slightly, their breath hitches and they let loose a small stink of sweat. So please, don’t lie to us. We want to know what’s going on.”

JD laid a hand on Keith to calm him down. “Quid pro quo. We’ve shared who and what we are, time you share with us. You ask us to give you our trust, it’s now time for you to give us a little bit of that trust back.”

"Yes," Ox John said. "We were given our abilities by Mistress. She tried to turn us into assassins under her control. Instead, she turned us into weapons for good."

“That sounds a bit familiar.” John murmured into Roger’s ear.

“You bloody well said it.” Roger murmured back.

“Who’d she sent you to kill?” Keith asked. “One does not get turned into an assassin without a target.”

“That isn’t our secret to give.” Rooster Roger said.

"But we didn't kill them," Ox John said. "And they helped us become what we are. As for the names -- we have attributes of four of the animals from the Chinese Zodiac."

“I’m assuming Snake for your Pete and Dog for your Keith. What did you two get?” Pete asked Rooster Roger and Ox John.

“Ox.” Ox John said with a small grin.

Rooster Roger sighed. “Cock.” And then glared at the giggles. “I prefer Rooster.”

"I can see why!" JD roared.

Rooster Roger eyed JD. “Watch it mini-Moon.”

Keith looked at all four of The Demon Winds. “You’re holding something back.”

They looked at him.

Tapping his foot, he gave them a look. “Spy, remember? You pick up on the little things.”

Once again The Demon Winds exchanged looks with the dimension hopping Who looking at them.

“With our abilities sometimes we have prophetic dreams. And I had one the other night. Mistress is attacking and you five are there. But that was all I saw.” Rooster Roger said a defiant look on his face as if daring them to laugh.

None of them did. They all wore serious looks on their faces.

"What side were we on?" JD asked.

“Ours.” Rooster Roger said.

Keith shot The Demon Winds a triumphant look as if saying ‘see, see, not spies for this Mistress woman’.

“Any idea when she’s going to attack?” Pete asked.

Rooster Roger shook his head no. “Just that’s its going to be soon.”

“Guess all we can do is prepare and be ready.” Pete groused and sat on the bed behind him.

The light coming from the window was slowly going dimmer as night appeared. Each of them lost in thought and trust now established between the two groups.

A low moan caught their attention as Roger collapsed to his knees clutching his stomach.

Both Pete’s summed it up perfectly. “Shit.”

Pete gathered the convulsing Roger in his arms as the vampyre blood attacked and rearranged the singer’s DNA.

Keith pointed at his ears. “I heard what you offered him, where are those animals he can eat?”

Ox John jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Due east, in the forest.”

John was already opening the large window of their suite. Pete brought his wings close to his body and then flung himself with Roger out. John soon quickly followed, spidering down the side of the building. Keith and JD followed, using the various hand holds found in the stone of the mansion to flip down to the ground.

Two in the air and three on the ground, they raced quickly to the forest located behind Quarwood.

The Demon Winds were standing near the window looking out.

“Whew, wasn’t that a kick in the pants. Hope they make it there in time.” Dog Keith said. “Wonder if I can do that flipping thing down the side of the house?”

Ox John rolled his eyes and grabbed Dog Keith by the collar before he fell down and broke his neck.

"Rog, get the Pup some food before he bottoms out on us!"

Rooster Roger grinned as he dragged a protesting Dog Keith to the kitchens with Ox John and Snake Pete following bemusedly.

Meanwhile, The Who were dealing with their own issues as Roger laid on the forest grounds convulsing. Red and blue eyes periodically shifting back and forth, teeth lengthening and shortening as the singer tried to grind himself into the dirt.

"He's fighting it," John whispered.

“He didn’t want this in the first place and remember, he feared becoming this. Of course he would fight this!” JD fiercely whispered back.

Keith crouched down near his brother. “C’mon Rog. Remember what the other John said? You just have to beat the hunger and you’ll control this. You can do this!” Pete crouched down on the other side.

Roger curled into a fetal ball and let loose a sonic scream. It hit and destroyed a tree.

Roger convulsed twice more, then froze. Slowly, his eyes opened.

Blue surrounded by a ring of red.

Pete cautiously laid a hand on Roger’s shoulder. “Roger?”

Roger turned his head towards Pete and slowly sat up. Nostrils flared as he took in the scent of his brother. He could hear the blood rushing beneath the skin. The lub-dub motion of the heart. He needed a taste. Bringing Pete’s wrist to his mouth he licked the pulse point. Shaking his head he pushed the guitarist’s arm away from him.

“Sorry about that.” Roger croaked out. “I’m, I’m gonna need food soon.”

Keith pointed behind him. “I hear some animals this way” The drummer flashed a feral grin full of fang. “Let’s go hunting Rog.”

"Remember," JD cautioned. "Stay away from the wolfhounds. Everything else is fair game!"

All of them knew that JD, Keith, and even John had some instinct for hunting because of what they became. Pete and Roger never really understood, but Roger did now, Pete reasoned. He was the odd bird out at the moment. They were all now more primal, more of the earth and more Fae than human.

Roger nodded that he understood, licking his lips as he picked up a scent. Taking off at a dead sprint he flew through the bushes, his brother’s right behind him.

Pete sighed and took to the air.

~~~

It was a tired and muddy group of Who who made their way back to Quarwood in the morning. Roger’s eyes now back to blue and the front of him was covered blood. Still not used to the taxing transformation he was being supported by JD and Keith. Each of them sported various cuts and bruises at keeping Roger under control.

Ox John was waiting at the front doors with a first aid kit in hand. “Glad to see you lot made it through the night.”

"Mm," was all Roger said.

“Do I at least have my wolfhounds left in there?” Ox John joked.

As a testament of how tired they were they all grunted out a yes, grabbed the first aid box and made their way back to their suits. A bemused Ox John following.

Keith and JD transferred Roger over to John. JD then inspected his tail, which had a faint puncture mark in it.

The Demon Winds quickly came to check on their counterparts and only saw Roger’s bloodied arm on John’s waist as John ushered him into the bathroom with the orders to strip, wash, get dressed and then bed.

Roger gave a tired mumbled reply as he shut the bathroom door. Pete was getting the bandages out of the first aid kit and quickly got to work at wrapping up the scratches on Keith’s arm.

“I guess your Roger worked out the hunger issues.” Ox John stated.

“Somewhat, he went a little feral at one point. It’s a work in progress.” John said back.

"Well, at one point is better than all the time," Snake Pete said.

John winced slightly as JD bandaged one of his spindly long legs too tight, but gave a slight nod to Snake Pete. Grabbing the bandages out of Pete’s hands, John set to work at bandaging the cuts on the guitarist’s legs.

It was here Roger emerged from the steam filled bathroom and zombie shuffled his way to his bed where he promptly collapsed on top of it and went into a deep sleep.

“That was a bit anti-climatic.” Dog Keith piped up.

“He’s tired.” Keith said. “Long night, for all of us.”

“I bet.” Snake Pete said.

“We’ll leave you to your sleep, we just wanted to make sure everyone made it okay.” Ox John said.

They murmured their thanks and The Demon Winds left the suite as The Who climbed into their respective beds and fell fast asleep.

Over the course of the next few days The Who dealt with the newly transformed Roger who could stand daylight, just not direct sunlight. The Demon Winds periodically would pop in to check and see how they were doing and letting them know of the preparations for Mistress.

It was on the fifth day that The Demon Winds were noticeably twitchy, as evident by the cut on JD’s arm, left by one of Dog Keith’s knives. Dog Keith apologized profusely and JD waved him off saying ‘no permanent damage done’. Keith himself settled for glaring at his double whenever he went by.

Pain flared in their arms as The Who gasped.

“Five hours until next hop, five hours.” Roger said, silver eyes flashing.

“What the bloody hell was that?” Snake Pete spat out as The Who fell to their knees.

“Warning system, let’s us know when we’re dimension hopping next.” Roger pointed to the silver band on his arm. “These are our dimension hoppers. Still have no bloody clue how it appeared there.”

“And what, you’re the time piece?” Ox John asked as he helped his counterpart up.

“Looks like it.”

The Demon Winds shook their heads at this new twist as Pete, JD, Keith and Roger were helped up to their feet.

It was four hours into their deadline when Quarwood shook with a mighty boom.

The battle had begun. Mistress was attacking.

“What the bloody hell is that?” Pete snarled out as he shakily rose to his feet.

“Mistress.” The Demon Winds spoke together. They suddenly seemed dangerous now. A light was shining in their eyes and a thirst for the battle to come.

“C’mon you lot! Can’t just sit around like a bunch of useless lumps!” Snake Pete hissed out.

JD and Keith had already materialized their knives, Pete had The Sword of Fuu ready and John, black eyes glittering, flexed his long spindly legs. Roger grabbed a sword off the wall and gave it a couple of expert twirls and proclaimed he was ready.

The Who and The Demon winds split up into groups of two and three and prowled the coridors for any of the enemies. The Who had some disbelief when Rooster Roger said that Mistress liked to attack with an army. They would soon come to believe Rooster Roger.

All of the separated groups swore creatively and silently when the power was cut and they were left with emergency dim light in the hallways.

John merely grinned a fanged grin and Snake Pete groaned as he recognized that look.

A group of ten men stalked quickly down the darken hallway, kicking in all the doors to find one of The Demon Winds.

“There!” one of them shouted. “Get him!!”

Snake Pete stood at the end of the hallway in a stance and a ‘come and get me’ grin. They charged and soon found themselves unable to move. John came down on a webbed line and admired his handy work of ‘caught flies’ as the thugs struggled and got tangled up more.

“That webbing of yours will hold them?” Snake Pete questioned.

John merely raised an eyebrow as if saying ‘you dare question’.

Snake Pete raised his hands and stepped back with a rueful grin on his face.

In another part of the house Roger and Ox John hid themselves behind suits of armor as a group of thirty men passed them by. Ox John was mentally calculating how many he and Roger could take when a low pitched hum filled the hallway. Grey eyes widened in surprise as the thirty men started to yawn and then fall asleep right there.

Roger grinned as he stepped out of his hiding spot. “Sometimes it’s good to be me.”

“Your voice doesn’t just destroy.”

“Nope, have to change the pitch and frequency, but it can put people right to sleep.”

“Cool!”

He smiled and Ox John chuckled. "You look damned scary with those fangs out."

Roger looked startled by that statement and brought a finger to his teeth. “Didn’t realize they’d come out. Gonna have to work on that.”

Ox John merely squeezed Roger’s shoulder in comfort.

In the eastern part of Quarwood Pete and Rooster Roger were planning their attack as Rooster Roger paced up and down, bloodlust licking his conscience.

Pete was currently trying to figure out how to active the wind slash from The Sword of Fuu. “Stupid fucking thing. How’d it work again?”

"You'll figure it out," Rooster Roger snarled.

Anything Pete would’ve snarled back was cut off as two groups of ten men and women each poured into the emptied out room. Giving a grin, Pete held up a glowing Sword of Fuu.

“Get them! But don’t kill the bird creature, Mistress will want to study it.” One of the men shouted out.

“No studying today mate!” Pete grinned and let loose the powerful wind slash. It escaped from the sword and raced across the room and hit the first group. Lifted up, they were propelled into the wall behind them and knocked unconscious.

Roger let loose a battle cry and jumped right into the second group. Fists and feet flew.

Pete watched, his jaw hanging open, as the small man decimated the ten that came against him in less than five minutes.

“Okay, that was a bit impressive.” Pete breathed out as he walked over to the singer.

Roger gave a cheeky grin, bloodlust sated for now. “Should see the others mate. Although that wind sword of yours was pretty cool too.”

He grinned.

It was near the main entrance of Quarwood where JD, Keith and Dog Keith were set up. Absently the twins twirled their knives, ears listening for sounds of minions as JD called them and Mistress. Keith paced up and down, restless energy waiting to be unleashed.

“People are…”
“Coming…”
“And they’re…”
“Not friends…”

“You know, it’s creepy when you two do that.” Dog Keith commented as he got into a stance.

JD and Keith merely grinned at their counterpart and settled into stances themselves.

"Creepy but neat," Dog Keith amended.

The click-clacking of heels announced her arrival and the entryway filled with various thugs and minions.

“Well, well, well. I had heard that The Who had guests, but I had no idea what kind of guests.” A throaty purr came from the woman that stood before them.

"Mistress," Dog Keith snarled.

Fox ears flattened at the anger held in Dog Keith’s voice and tails fluffed out.

“So those are not just for show. Kill Moon, but keep the foxes alive, I may have some sort of use for them.”

Twirling their knives, JD and Keith let them fly in precision at the various minions and thugs. Dog Keith let loose a battle cry as he engaged Mistress. Meaty thunks echoed in JD and Keith’s ears as they scored hits on arms, legs and shoulders to incapacitate.

It kept going on and on.

JD and Keith grinned, blood flecking their mouths from where they took a hit earlier.

“Isn’t this…”
“Fun…”

Dog Keith gave a barking laugh as he dodged another punch from Mistress. The tide turned as the rest of The Who and The Demon Winds joined the fray.

“Glad you ladies could join us!” Dog Keith yelled out.

“Piss off Moon!” Came a retort from Rooster Roger as he let loose an uppercut to a man’s chin.

Dog Keith’s yell cost him as Mistress scored a lucky hit and Dog Keith went down hard. Hazel eyes widened as JD frantically pushed his way forward, knives now scoring more permanent damage as he severed tendons and ligaments in his haste to save Dog Keith.

Mistress gave a cruel laugh as she brought her knife forward and hit flesh. JD screeched as the knife dug deep into his arm, tearing into the silver armband. Giving off a snarl, JD flicked his wrist and buried his own knife into Mistress’s thigh.

She hissed.

The fight already dying down, Keith tossed his thugs towards John and quickly tackled Mistress away from JD. Going with the momentum, he blurred right into his brother. Mistress fell into an un-gangly heap at her people’s feet. The ones still conscience at any rate.

JD was gasping.

The Demon Winds eyes widened as The Who’s bodies started to have silver lines appear on their bodies. John’s eyes widened as he tired to get to JD. It soon encompassed them. A bright burst of silver dust was left behind as they hopped to the next dimension. The minions and thugs had quickly gathered Mistress and fled the scene.

They heard a litany of “Nononono…” behind them and saw JD was still here.

"JD....." Ox John gasped.

“S’mthing wrong…with hopper…” JD gasped out. From the knife wound where the knife was still embedded, very, very slowly lines of silver, red and black seeped out.

"You're bleeding!"

Snake Pete touched JD’s shoulder and the ATF agent let loose a scream. Hazel eyes flashed silver, red, black and chocolate brown before settling back to hazel and the coloured lines still continued their slow marking of JD’s body.

Rooster Roger had managed to rouse Dog Keith up from his impromptu nap. “Why’s the kid still here?”

“I think this has something to do with is.” Ox John said as he pointed at the knife embedded in JD’s arm that had positioned itself right in the middle of the silver band.

"Pull it out!" Dog Keith roared.

Rooster Roger managed to get one of the emergency first aid kits that had been randomly stashed near the front entranceway, he handed it to Ox John who opened it up and got the bandages out. With a firm grip on the knife handle, Rooster Roger gave a pull.

JD screamed as more of the coloured lines flowed faster over his body. “Wrong, feels wrong.”

“Shit!” Ox John gritted out as he furiously bandaged the wounded arm.

Soon all that was on the ground was the outline of a body with silver, red and black colours swirling all over him. Stepping back, JD’s body exploded in a burst of those colours, leaving the dust behind.

"Oh dear God," Ox John breathed.

“The others, they did that too, but all they left behind was silver dust. I’m assuming that’s how they hop to whatever dimension John. I just hope JD lands near his friends.” Snake Pete said, trying for optimistic.

"Hell of it is," Rooster Roger breathed, "we'll never know."

~~~

The hop, it felt wrong to JD. He had been left behind, separated from his brothers.

Not again… came from both JD and Keith.

Landing with an omph, sand and dust settled around JD.

He didn’t want to move. He didn’t know if he could do this again. Fox features melted into human ones as the pain on JD’s arm throbbed. The sun glared harshly on the prone figure.

He felt…numb, that was the word.

C’mon kiddo, time to rise and maybe somewhat shine. The others, they could be nearby, but we’ll never know if we don’t look.

JD tiredly nodded and pushed himself up. Looking around he only had one word to sum up where he was. “Shit!”

He was in the desert and no water was in sight anywhere and neither were The Who.

End Part 4.

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3a // Part 4