Fic: Flip Side of Reality (The Who, M7:ATF Crossover fic, PG-13)
Title: Flip Side of Reality
Series: Second Chances
Author: Sparrow
Fandom: Magnificent Seven: ATF, The Who
Characters: JD Dunne, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle with minor appearances by Team Seven.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own The Who or M7: ATF. I own the original characters
Author Note: This story is where we take a break from the real world and go into a bit more of something else. I hope everyone enjoys it and thanks to Enola who helped steer me away from the crackiness it could’ve turned into. lol. Many thanks to sierraphoenix for the beta.
Spoilers: Please read Second Time’s the Charm and Collision: Past and Present for any of this story to make sense.
Summary: Sequel to Collision: Past and Present. Its six months later from when The Who were saved from the gun runner. JD decides a little vacation is in order and visits his friends. It doesn’t go exactly to plan.
Story #1: Second Time's the Charm
Story #2: Collision: Past and Present
From: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
To: boristhespider23@gmail.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; towserbirdman@gmail.com;
Subject: Am back home! Finally!
Hi John! Pete! And Roger!
JD here. They finally let me out of the hospital and Buck is being a total mother hen. You’d think I never got shot before.
So yeah, not too sure on how you want to do this, but any questions you want to ask me, feel free.
- JD
From: boristhespider23@gmail.com
To: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; towserbirdman@gmail.com;
Subject: Glad to hear!
You mentioned something about getting shot before in the alleyway. Third time?
And we mother hens have to stick together JD. Otherwise we have unruly patients trying to escape our tender mercies.
I guess, the real question to ask is, who is JD from Keith Moon.
- John
From: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
To: boristhespider23@gmail.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; towserbirdman@gmail.com;
Subject: Whoooo, are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?
Couldn’t resist the subject line, especially with that question John. As for getting shot before, if I told ya, I’d have to kill ya and really, we can’t afford the publicity.
As for whom I am, my full name is John Daniel Dunne. Or JD Dunne as I prefer. Keith called me Johnny.
I am a certified genius. Graduated college at 16. Lost my Ma at 17 to cancer. Joined the ATF at age 18. And history was made from there on end. Then I found out I was the reincarnation of Keith Moon. Not too much to add to that.
- JD
From: towserbirdman@gmail.com
To: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; boristhespider23@gmail.com
Subject: *tosses a drumstick*
I got a question for ya JD. Did Keith’s drumming ability crossover? We already got confirmation on the knife tossing.
Plus, is your singing voice as bad as his was? >: )
And, do you have any ruddy clue as to why you look so much like Moonie?
- Pete
From: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
To: towserbirdman@gmail.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; boristhespider23@gmail.com
Subject: *catches the drumstick and twirls it*
Yes, his drumming ability did crossover. Never knew why I was so good, just that I was. Now I at least know why.
As for the singing voice, my singing voice wasn’t that bad back then Pete! I remember you squawking a bit all over the place. As for right now, not gonna tell you. :P
And I did do some checking and apparently I am a distant relation of Keith Moon. Keith just made that up on the spot when we were in the hotel room with you. So it’s all genetics birdman.
- JD
From: towserbirdman@gmail.com
To: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; boristhespider23@gmail.com
Subject: Squawk
"MY" singing voice? "YOU remember"? Looks like somebody's crept back in.
Welcome back, Kiddo.
- Pete
From: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
To: towserbirdman@gmail.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; boristhespider23@gmail.com
Subject: *squawk’s back*
I am Keith Moon and I am JD Dunne, Pete. I was immersed in his memories in that time I was just a voice in the back of my own head. Sometimes I kinda pop into Keith’s place and think I’m there, which I was. It’s hard to explain and a little confusing. lol
But I was him; I still am him in a weird round about way.
- JD
From: mic_man01@gmail.com
To: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
Cc: towserbirdman@gmail.com; boristhespider23@gmail.com
Subject: Just happy yer here at all.
I for one don’t care, yer you and alive. That’s all that matters.
Am sorry to read that about your Mother JD. It’s hard, especially when you were so young back then.
What I want to know is when you can come visit.
- Roger
The e-mails bounced between them like that back and forth over the course of the next few months. It was into the sixth month of correspondence that JD replied that he had some leave coming up and would visit when this case would be over. He remained out of contact for the next two weeks.
It was at the end of those fourteen days that a worried bunch of band mates were happy to hear from JD that he was alive and upright. He had his leave scheduled and would they mind putting up with him for 2 weeks?
The answer was a resounding YES with a further message from John.
From: boristhespider23@gmail.com
To: jd.dunne@atf.gov.com
Cc: mic_man01@gmail.com; towserbirdman@gmail.com;
Subject: *tosses plane ticket*
Your old room's waiting at Quarwood. I'll brook no arguments.
- John
JD knew better than to argue with John when he was like that. He was looking forward to this trip. Now how was he going to explain his appearance without John’s mother henning going into overdrive.
~~~
"Tell 'em you fell down," Vin said.
"Tell 'em you crashed that crotch-rocket," Buck said.
"Tell them the truth," Ezra said, and Josiah and Nathan agreed.
Chris just said, "Tell 'em if they don't take good care of you, I'll shoot 'em."
Out of all of them, JD felt honesty was the best policy. He knew better.
A ghostly shudder came in reply and remembrance.
~~~
JD landed in London and found a driver waiting for him, holding up a sign with his name.
Walking up, JD introduced himself. The driver gave a double-take at his passenger’s appearance.
Keith’s ghostly laugh echoed around him.
Oh how will you explain this, especially after getting shot six months ago?
JD found that if he thought his replies out, Keith could receive them just as well as if he was speaking out loud.
You got us shot, Moonie.
A mental raspberry was the drummer’s reply.
It was a long drive to Quarwood and with the way he was, JD napped on the long journey there.
He was gently shaken awake by the driver, “We’re here sir. I’ll be taking your bags in now.”
JD shook his head slightly to wake himself up. “Thank you.”
Walking up to the huge door, JD slid in the key he was left at the hospital. He barely had any time to turn it before it was yanked open.
There stood John, Roger and Pete, gawking at his appearance.
JD gave a sunny smile and waved. “Um…hi!”
“WHAT THE BLEEDING HELL HAPPENED TO YOU!!”
Amazing they said that all together at the same time.
“Um, stuff?” Came JD’s reply.
"Stuff? WHAT stuff?" Pete snarled.
"Get IN here before you get burned on top of battered," John growled.
JD found himself yanked forward by Roger and yelped.
“Easy Roger! Ribs are a little tender. Oh and Chris said to tell you if don’t take care of me, he’ll shoot ya.” An innocent look was directed at John, Pete and Roger as he tried to ignore John’s wandering hands to see what kind of damage was done.
“What in the ruddy world happened to you? You look like you were run through a gauntlet of fists!” Roger growled out.
“I may have been…” JD treaded carefully. “I kinda zigged when I should’ve zagged and got caught by the bad guy of the week. Kinda deteriorated from there.”
I still think we should’ve told the others we had another mind meld action there and that’s why we got caught.
Shush Keith.
“Shoot us my Frankenstein.” John muttered as he continued his ministrations. “I’ll take my biggest bass to his head if this happens again.”
"Occupational hazard," JD said.
“So what, we can still dole out death threats if this does happen again.” Pete said calmly, as if discussing standardized death threats were an everyday common occurrence.
JD and Keith sighed together.
Roger eyed JD up and down. “How long has Keith been back?”
JD, John and Pete whipped their heads around to stare at the singer.
“Bwuah?”
Very articulate there Johnny.
John and Pete turned and eyed JD as he seemed to turn inwards.
“JD?” John inquired softly.
He ducked his head slightly and seemed to be mumbling to himself. “I don’t think…” “Whaddya mean!” “Lousy ghost in the machine.”
Pete gently lifted JD’s head up. “C’mon kiddo. Give.”
“Keith’s been back in my head since the hospital, after you guys left.”
"But.... we're talking to JD, right?" John asked.
JD nodded yes, he didn’t trust himself to speak at this moment.
"AND Keith?" Pete whispered.
“He’s fine and still here, just not in control; he’s also running a commentary in my head.” JD whispered back.
“How come you’re not one person? I thought that’s what happened when you said he was gone when we saw you in the hospital.” Roger asked.
“There was a mirror in our head, still is. The first time we encountered it, we smashed it. It’s just an empty frame with a few mirror shards there right now. It’s healing. But, its still two minds, one body at the moment. When the mirror is done repairing itself, I don’t know what will happen. Keith doesn’t either.” JD mumbled out. “Of course, every time we get close to the frame to merge again, we merge slightly, but there’s pain and then its signal’s getting mixed up in our head. We repeat words, refer to us in plural nouns and spasm.”
"I'd like to see that," Pete blurted out.
"PETE!" the other two bellowed, and he cringed.
JD folded in on himself. “It hurts us Pete and is not a whole lot of fun.”
Idiot birdman.
"And Keith says you're an idiot."
Pete spluttered.
“Hold on, he’s there right now?” Roger inquired.
“Well yeah, he’s kinda attached to me.” JD smiled. “He can’t really go anywhere and he can hear whatever I can hear. I am just a mouthpiece for him right now.”
“More than a mouthpiece JD.” John rumbled. His checking done and satisfied with what he found.
JD looked at John, “So do I pass ‘Mother Hen Inspection: The British Version?’”
Roger laughed.
John smirked, “Just barely.”
The next few days and nights passed almost entirely uneventful. It was mostly getting reacquainted with one another. And an amusing incident where JD slept walked to the drum kit and proceeded to bash it to bits in John’s old recording studio.
JD wasn’t going to forgive Keith anytime soon. He was also planning payback on Pete for all the ribbing. John was more than happy to help and Roger wisely kept out of the way.
“JD!!!” came a bellow from downstairs.
Giggling, JD made his way to a hiding nook to watch the proceedings.
To Roger, it was just a little odd hearing Pete bellow ‘JD’ instead of ‘Keith’, but he quickly got over it. “What did he do now?”
Pete held up his guitar. “He restrung it!! All of my guitars!! The little bugger! And he set up the amps to play nothing but classical music!”
John covered his snorting in time.
Roger had no such convictions and let loose a big laugh. “Serves you right for ribbing him the past few days Pete. Poor kid, recovering from being beaten and then Keith takes his body for a joyride on the drums. This should teach you not to mess with an electronics expert.”
Pete snarled and stalked off, muttering about how long this would take to fix.
John raised an eyebrow in amusement and then crooked a finger forward.
JD fell out of his hiding nook, rolling on the floor with laughter.
Roger threw his hands up into the air. “Why oh why am I friends with these guys?” And stalked off.
"Because you love us!" JD bellowed to his back.
Roger flipped him a two-finger response as he left the room.
John and JD looked at one another and burst into laughter.
Around the corner, both Roger and Pete smiled.
~~~
It was getting nearer to the end of two weeks and JD found his old thinking spot when he was once Keith Moon. A wide open field, the sun shining for once and just peacefulness.
Pretty quiet there Johnny.
Sighing, JD shifted, bringing his knees up. Wrapping his arms around his legs, he rested his head on his shoulder. “Don’t really want to leave, feels like home. But I have to. Its weird having two homes at once.”
Home is where the heart is JD.
“Yeah, well my heart has a home in two places.”
Keith didn’t have anything more to say to that. His own sadness at leaving his friends behind for a while again, flooded their whole being.
JD wiped a stray tear that escaped from his eye. “Wished we had some more time together instead of the two weeks.”
“Us too kiddo.”
Spinning around, JD spotted John, Roger and Pete.
Handing JD a hanker chief, John sat down beside his friend. Roger and Pete quickly joined them.
They joined in the silence, watching the sunset.
Blue-eyes narrowed. “I don’t like the looks of those clouds coming in.”
“Have to agree with you there Rog.” Came from Pete.
All four of them stood up and started the long trek back to Quarwood. They didn’t get very far before the wind was whipping all over the place. Thunder sounded and lightning flashed ominously.
They struggled up a small hill against the wind when there was a sharp crack.
JD’s eyesight was filled with light as lightning struck in the middle of their group. His world then went black.
JOHNNY!!!
~~~
Pete slowly opened his eyes and closed them again. Head lolling about from side to side, he jerked his head up and ice-blue irises took in his surroundings.
He saw Roger, John and JD all in crumpled rag doll positions around him.
Struggling with remembrance, there came a sound. It sounded like bells.
Shifting his body, Pete pulled himself into half fetal ball position and looked up. It was a woman. No, not a woman, something else that looked like a woman.
She had long red hair and a sea of green in her eyes. Strategic leaves and bark were placed on her body with glitter reflecting everywhere. The most astonishing thing about her was two huge butterfly-like wings behind her that fluttered and kept her afloat. She couldn’t be no more than five feet tall.
“So you are what my magic has summoned to help me.” A bell like voice chimed from her.
“Wha…?” She was suddenly in front of him with her finger on his lips. “Shhh. Listen, listen. You must listen mortal.”
He nodded slowly, unbelieving of what was happening in front of him.
“I was once Queen of one of the Faery lands that rests in between your mortal realm. My Uncle Lux, he was banished a very long time ago. He has recently returned with his army and overthrew me. I require your help. Please, defeat my Uncle!”
Pete started to say something.
A loud drum sounded off in the inky blackness that surrounded him, his friends and this Faery Queen.
“This is no time! Help me mortal! The only way back is forwards!” Her eyes became large and pleaded with him.
Pete never knew why he did what he did next, but he nodded his consent.
Beaming, the Faery Queen waved her hands and a gold dust flew from her fingertips and struck the four.
“Mortal form will not help you where you are going. Fae-like can only help you now! I apologize for the pain. Remember your quest and you shall be restored when I am restored.”
Anything else that might’ve been said or could’ve been said was washed out in a sea of pain and more blackness as Pete passed out once again.
~~~
"COOL!"
"Only John Entwistle would think having EIGHT LIMBS would be 'cool'." Roger shook his head, hair longer once again.
Sighing, he made his way over to what he assumed was Pete. Nudging the feathered body, it still laid unconscious. John had taken up a vigil for JD and Keith.
That was one of the major shocks to wake-up to, not just their altered forms. Because sitting propped up against a tree was one JD Dunne and Keith Moon. Both had fox ears and fox tails, with fangs and claws. But they still hadn’t said a word and were doing some sort of creepy stare without blinking.
A low moan filled the clearing in the forest they were in and it seemed like Pete was finally waking up.
“Oi, did anyone get the number of that storm? Me head is killing me.”
“Finally joining the rest of us Pete?”
The feathered body sat up and then cursed.
“Wot the hell happened to you!” Pete snarled out at Roger.
Roger glanced down at himself. Tan leather pants, pale skin, fringe open vest and his ears were slightly pointed. He was also thirty years younger. “Probably the same thing that happened to you too Pete.”
Pete managed a confused look with his new face and struggled to get up. Toppling backwards, he noticed his body covered in feathers and his feet were bird talons. Gasping he brought his hand up only to find it a wing and he now had a beak that stuck out slightly in front of his face.
Shaking his new appendage, he watched a feather fall off. “I look like that bleeding stork character from The Neverending Story Two!!” Came another snarl.
There came a clicking laugh to the left of them and another curse left Pete’s new found beak.
“You too John?”
John looked down at himself. Black leather pants, no shirt, eyes a sea of black with small fangs poking out as he smiled; his hands were curled into talons. The most glaring difference besides being thirty years younger were four long spindly legs protruding from his back. John folded them up against his body.
“Me too Pete, but I think there’s something wrong with JD and Keith.”
Pete had seemed to perfect the confused look in his feathered face as he looked where John was standing. Giving a squawking growl, he stood up and tentatively made his way over, nearly tripping a couple of times.
Roger muffled his laughter behind a hand as he watched Pete walk forward to their other two brothers.
Cocking his head to the side, Pete took in the vacant stares, the fox ears and fox tails. They both wore dark green pants, a beige tunic and both had black leather padded vests on.
“So what’s wrong with them?” Pete asked. Waving a wing in front of their faces.
Hands suddenly whipped forward to grab the wing and found fingers hidden beneath feathers.
Pete yelped in surprise at the sudden movement. Faces were pressed into the feathers; hands touched and mapped out Pete’s face.
They both tilted their heads to the side at the same time. They looked right at Pete. “Pete.” Heads swiveled to meet John. “John.” Then their wide brown eyes found Roger. “Roger.”
What was the eerie part was they had spoken at the same time, a mismatch of accents sounding together. They stood letting go of Pete, their tails swishing behind them.
The three Who that were standing looked on in horror.
Roger snarled, “What’s wrong with them?”
John stepped forward, hands cupping the cheeks of JD and Keith. “JD? Keith?”
JD and Keith looked at John, but seemingly stared right through him. “JD? Keith? I am familiar with those names. I am both, yet one-one-one-one-one-one *twitch* mind, two bodies.”
Roger put a hand on Keith's shoulder. "This one. You are Keith." He pointed at JD. "You are JD. That's how we'll tell the bodies apart. How's that strike you?"
“Still one mind Roger, but that is acceptable.”
John felt a tear make its way down his cheek. JD’s right hand came up at the same time Keith’s right hand came up. They brushed it away. “Don’t worry Ox. I’m still here, sort of-of-of-of-of-of. *twitch*”
All four of them then turned towards a noise. It was Pete scratching at the ground in anger. His feathers all over the place and wings flapping.
Roger couldn’t resist, “What’s got your feathers all ruffled there Pete?”
Pete snapped his beak at Roger, “I just remembered how we ended up like this!”
John stepped forward, “And?”
“It might’ve been a Faery Queen with a magic spell that summoned us here to over throw her evil uncle so she could reclaim her throne. And she might’ve used another spell to alter our forms to we could blend in more easily.” Pete mumbled out angrily.
JD and Keith’s heads tilted again, “Powerful magic like that would need some sort of permission I’d wager.”
It was here Pete deflated a little, “I might’ve, um, given permission.”
All eyes were suddenly on him again.
“You did what!” John hissed out.
“Might’ve given permission…” Pete slowly backed up as John unfurled his longer limbs.
“Because of your permission Pete, JD and Keith might never be as normal as they can be!” He lunged and slammed Pete up against a tree, fangs bared and clicking.
JD and Keith looked up from where they were. “I don’t mind being like this.” They both beamed smiles.
John hissed and clicked again at Pete.
“Will you two CUT IT OUT!!” a scream ripped its way out of Roger’s throat and tore John and Pete apart.
JD and Keith were huddled into balls, holding their hands on their ears going “Too loud, too loud.”
Roger’s eyes went wide as he slapped a hand over his mouth.
Both John and Pete shook their heads, trying to get the ringing out of their ears.
“Cor Rog. Always knew you had some powerful pipes, but I think that was a little much.” Pete snarked as John quickly hurried over to JD and Keith to coax them out.
“I didn’t mean to.” Fearful of his own voice now, Roger whispered out the reply to Pete.
"We heard that just fine.....your voice is amplified."
“Wonderful.” Groaned Roger.
John still trying to help JD and Keith asked the one question that nobody seemed to want to answer. “Now what do we do?”
“’The only way back is forward.’” Pete quoted.
“What the bleeding fuck does that mean?!” Roger angrily asked.
“It means we have an evil Uncle to overthrow and a Faery Queen to restore.” JD/Keith said as both bodies slowly regained their footing.
Pete stammered the next response, “I also remember her saying once she was restored, we would be restored.”
“Then I guess we better get moving.” John glared out at Pete.
~~~
It took nearly three days of walking, experimentation of their new bodies and many a winding path before they stumbled upon a small rural town.
John discovered he could spit acid. Roger kept playing with the volume control of his newly amplified voice. And thanks to an incident with a cliff, Pete found out he could fly. JD/Keith had their agility and acrobatic skills increased as evident of them leaping to and from the trees.
As they walked into the small town, fae scurried off the street, smoke wafted from the chimneys and the town felt like it was already dead.
Roger was greeted with hostile looks by the few still outside until he nervously pulled his hair back to show pointed ears, then the looks lessened slightly.
"Where would be best to get information?" Roger whispered.
John smirked. "The tavern, of course."
Pete snorted; it sounded more like a coughing caw to them. “Trust you’d say that.”
“Makes the most sense.” JD/Keith said.
The unusual group made their way towards a much worn building that seemed like the tavern. They entered the open doorway to be greeted with silence and suspicion. Grabbing a table in the corner, conversation returned as they were ignored.
They picked up much about Lux. And they listened.
What they learned felt like something out of a plot from Robin Hood. Evil uncle overthrew the old regime, raised taxes and did nothing to help the people. The people were starving, bitter and powerless. There was talk about rebel forces, but they didn’t seem to do much except hit and runs against wealthy carriages. And what little was distributed was picked up again by more raised taxes.
“Sounds like a regular Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John all rolled into one.” John muttered.
“You and that movie.” Roger muttered as he strained his ears to pick up any more information.
"OY! You five!" was roared. "OUT!"
They turned bewildered eyes to the bear like creature that was standing in front of their table.
“What’d we do?” JD/Keith asked with their best innocent ‘I didn’t do anything and we’re harmless’ voice.
“Spying ain’t tolerated here rebel scum!” Four others flanked the bear creature and the five found themselves bodily picked up and tossed out of the tavern.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave town too!”
They picked themselves up bewildered.
“How’d they know we were listening?” Pete voiced the question.
“Maybe a spell.” John stated.
“Maybe, they might’ve had good ears too or we weren’t that good at hiding our intentions.” JD/Keith pointed out.
“Uh, guys?”
“Yes Roger?” they all asked.
“Got a spot of trouble here.”
They turned around to see what Roger was talking about and faced a mob made up of angry fae villagers.
Rocks, clumps of dirt and various produce were thrown at the five as they were run out of town.
Running a few more hundred feet, they looked behind to see that the villagers had given up and had returned to their village.
“What the hell was that about?” Peter squawked slashed snarled out.
“Guess they knew we weren’t from around here.” John reasoned out.
“How is more of the question.” Roger pointed out.
“We’ll never know. The important part is we got the information we need!” JD/Keith said happily.
Roger, John and Pete exchanged looks with one another; their friends were still speaking at the same time an eerie mismatch of accents and voices.
“We go this way!” JD/Keith said with a grin pointing south, the way they just came.
John rolled his eyes and spun the two to face west, their arms still outstretched, fingers pointed.
“Correction, we go this way!” they said again with a grin.
Pete and Roger shook their heads at the antics of the three and started to walk forward. The other’s quickly caught up.
It took them three weeks by their time frame to reach the castle where Lux resided.
Along the way they battled swamps where Pete and JD/Keith complained to no end about the stench and muck sticking to their feathers and fur.
A rickety bridge that Roger complained about it belonging to the set of The Temple of Doom from the Indiana Jones movie.
A small desert littered with fire traps that singed John’s spider legs. He was not a happy Fae about that.
And the bandits, they couldn’t forget about the bandits.
The Who found themselves surrounded by about fifteen fae, all in various states of dress, feral looks on their faces.
“Look what was brought into our neck of the woods.” One of them sneered out.
“Easy mates, we don’t want any trouble.” Roger said with a smile.
“Not your mates! You’re our marks!” Another one sneered out.
“So, you’re going to kill us and take our money.” John stated.
One of them gave a nasty grin, mouth full of sharp teeth. “That’s the plan. ATTACK!!”
And they were lunged at from all directions.
Inhaling, Roger let loose a mighty sonic scream that blew his attackers into the trees. They hit the trunks hard, hard enough to dent the bark. They landed on the grass and did not get back up.
John nimbly danced in between his, spindly limbs flying in every direction, tossing bandits left and right.
Instincts took a hold of JD/Keith as they bared their fangs, knives flashing out, severing tendons and ligaments in wrists and ankles.
Howling, the bandits fell back. Then they concentrated on Pete and two attacked Roger from behind.
Lashing out with a talon, Pete raked one across the face, while his outstretched wing clobbered one on the head.
Tangled in a ball of limbs, Roger went down as the bandits went to work on him.
"Slit his throat!" one ordered. "That'll quell that scream!"
Pressing a hand on Roger’s mouth to stop him from screaming, one flicked a knife out. Licking the blade with a smile, he brought it down to Roger’s throat and pressed.
A roar stopped the group as JD/Keith came bounding in, tackling them all.
Roger got up and attacked.
He didn’t even use his powers as fists and feet went flying. JD/Keith cackling merrily at the destruction that Roger was making in his wake of anger and rage.
“ENOUGH ROGER!!” John yelled as he pulled Roger off of them. “They’re unconscious.”
Roger tried to calm his breathing, but his heart felt like it was going to hammer out of his chest and he put his head between his knees as John rubbed his back.
Pete and JD/Keith were wading through the bandit’s bodies. A lot of them unconscious, the few remaining had scattered back into the forest.
“You okay Roger?” Pete asked.
“No I’m not bloody okay! We just got attacked by fucking bandits and I nearly just had MY OWN FUCKING THROAT SLIT!!! SO NO I’M NOT OKAY PETE!!” Roger yelled at the guitarist.
"How's--"
"His neck?" JD/Keith asked.
John grabbed Roger from assaulting Pete and assessed his neck. A thin line of blood dribbled down the skin from a small cut.
“You’ve gotten worse from shaving Rog. It’s fine.” John said as he dabbed at the blood.
Roger growled.
Pete had taken to going through the pockets of the bandits and pulled out a rolled up bit of parchment. Unrolling it, ice-blue eyes widened in surprise. “Found a map! We’ll get to the castle in no time now!”
“Bloody brilliant.” Roger grumbled.
~~~
Encountering no problems as they made their way to the side area of the castle, they hid in a densely population area of forest near the castle and assessed the situation.
JD/Keith turned towards the others as they eyed the castle. “This is just a little too easy mates.”
“Too right.” Pete agreed.
“I’m gonna go do a little reconnaissance.” JD/Keith said as they disappeared into the forest, moonlight flashing off the leaves, before the others could get a word in edgewise.
“Those idiots!” Roger growled out. “We should stick together!”
“Could always fly after them.” Pete suggested.
“No. They know what they’re doing. Both of them do this sort of thing for a living now. We’ll wait until the next nightfall, if they’re not back, then we go in after them.” John decided. “Sunlight is no good for sneaking around.”
Pete and Roger sighed and agreed half-heartedly. Settling up in the branches of some trees, they waited.
They waited until the next nightfall and JD and Keith had not come back yet.
“Well, let’s go gents.” Pete said as he stretched the kinks out of his body. All three of them broke into an easy jog towards the castle.
They stopped at a line of bushes near the castle and took in their surroundings. There were guards everywhere. A lot of guards.
“Well, I guess we now know that JD and Keith got captured, ‘because it looks like the guard doubled.” Roger said.
“Or the Uncle is just a paranoid bastard.” Pete retorted back.
They somehow managed to avoid the guards as they ducked, dodged and weaved their way to the castle wall. Flapping a few times, Pete rose into the air. Gently grabbing Roger with his talons, they swiftly went up the side of the castle wall. John was nothing more than a blur as his long spindly legs propelled him forward.
They landed on a catwalk and crept forward towards a door. It seemed luck was on their side as they entered into a stairwell.
They made their way through the castle, avoiding guards as Roger soothed them to sleep with a hypnotic quality of his voice. Room after room was searched before they appeared in front of a large wooden door.
“This must be it.” John stated.
“And what makes you so sure Ox?” Pete asked, a feathered eyebrow rose.
John merely jabbed at a plaque with one of his longer legs. It read ‘Throne Room’. Roger snickered.
“Yeah well, so what.” Pete glared out. “Let’s go rescue our ‘fair damsels in distress’.”
“I wanna see you say that to JD and Keith’s face after this is all over.” Roger quietly laughed.
Pete turned an amused look at Roger.
“I wanna see you become a pin cushion when they toss those knives of theirs at ya.”
John clicked with laughter. “All right mates, it’s time.”
Both nodding, John and Pete stood back as Roger approached the door. Taking in a deep breath, he let loose a sonic scream.
BOOM!!!!!!
The doors were shattered into pieces as it flew into the throne room. All three strode in and stopped and stared at the scene laid out before them.
There were JD and Keith, heads laid out on top on the Uncle’s lap. His fingers were stroking their heads and petting their ears. Eyes were closed in bliss.
John hissed when he saw the state they were in. Shirts were torn and bloodied from whip marks, yet the two remained where they were. JD and Keith weren’t fighting at all.
The Uncle himself had reddish-brown hair, green eyes and was dressed entirely in black.
“So these are the champions my niece has sent to defeat me.” A cruel smirk made its way across Lux’s face.
“What the bleedin’ hell did you do to them?!” Pete roared out.
Lux gestured at the two on his lap. “Oh? These two? They were very fascinating, two bodies, one mind. It didn’t take long to break through their feeble one mind. Their mental defenses were already at a very low peak. I merely made them my pets. They, no, it does what I say now.”
John’s eyes narrowed as he hissed and clicked with anger, legs poised and ready for attack. Roger had no restraint and let loose another sonic scream at the throne.
All three of them dodged out of the way and became blurs.
JD landed, knives flashed into his hands and landed at the throats of Pete and Roger. Keith had his knives at John’s.
Lux merely laughed. “See how well I’ve trained it in the short time it’s been away from you three.”
John’s heart slowly broke as he took in what was done to his brother. “Keith? JD? C’mon, don’t let the bastard win, fight him!”
Lux smirked and laughed cruelly, “You think a mere fae can break my hold? It’s mine now, to do with what I please.”
Grey eyes pleaded at Keith and then slowly John had to school his face to keep the same expression when one eyelid quickly winked at him.
“Fuckin’ tosser!” Pete snarled out. “Think yer so powerful for breaking a mind. Let’s see what you’ll be like when I’m done with ya.”
Lux’s eyes narrowed and he walked forward towards Pete, back facing Keith and John.
Pete’s face flew as he was backhanded harshly. The tip of JD’s knife cut the feathered throat slightly, blood trickling down, staining the grey and white feathers a pinkish-red.
“Impudent bird! You shall know pain as I have each feather individually plucked from your body, roasted alive and then I shall dine on you!” Lux snarled out.
It was then a Wembly accented voice rang out, “NOW!!”
JD’s elbow snapped back quickly and broke cartilage and bone on Lux’s face. Staggering back with surprise, he walked into acid being shot against his back. Yelling with pain as it ate away his clothing and flesh, further surprise etched on his face as a knife was buried into his back.
JD spun, rushed forward and drove his two knives into Lux’s chest.
Glancing down, he looked at the knives in disbelief. JD and Keith stood in front and watched him sink to the ground.
Lux coughed up blood and smirked slightly at the two humanoid foxes. “I curse you two with the far nearness. ... you will never be able....to be separate..... always bound....always wanting not to be..." With those parting words, Lux died.
“Shit.” JD said.
“I echo that statement with ya mate.” Keith shot back.
Roger, Pete and John looked at them wide-eyed.
“Yer…yer separate!” Roger stammered out.
Keith grinned at them, “All that tinkering of the mind the bastard did separated us. Double yer pleasure, double yer fun.”
JD smiled as he slung an arm around Keith’s shoulder, “What he said guys.”
Keith winced, “Easy there Johnny. We’re both a little wounded here.”
JD winced as well as one of Keith’s fingers poked one of his wounds.
Suddenly coming to, John, Pete and Roger strode forward and enveloped their two friends into a group hug.
“Cor, don’t you two ever do that again! Nearly gave me a heart attack you did!” Pete growled out as he inspected the damage on JD. John was doing the same with Keith as Roger hunted around for some bandages.
John quickly finished with Keith, proclaiming him fine for the moment.
“Sorry about the knife wound there Pete.” JD apologized, “Didn’t realize he was gonna do that.”
“No harm done kiddo, but you owe me a new heart after all this.” JD grinned at Pete. “Deal.”
Standing to the side, Keith and John took in each other silently.
“Hey Keith.”
“Hey John.”
Keith suddenly went flying back as a fist impacted with his face.
Pete stopped from JD going forward to defend his friend. “Don’t JD, this has been coming a very long time, I’d do it myself, but John has dibs.”
JD looked in on confusion at Pete before his eyes widen in realization.
Grey eyes were narrowed in anger, “Now that I got ya here and yer not wearing JD’s face. What the bloody hell were you thinking taking all those pills?!”
“John…I’m sorry I left you alone.”
Anger deflated from John Entwistle as he strode over and helped the drummer to his feet. “Don’t do it again.”
Keith pulled John into a hug. “Haven’t touched a drop of alcohol or popped a pill since I’ve become aware John-boy.”
“Good.”
Nothing more was to be said of that.
Roger found a crude first-aid kit and some water in a basin. Something felt off to him. Looking outside a window, he realized what had happened. He quickly walked back to the throne room. “Mates, something weird is going on.”
Pete laughed, “What could be even weirder than all of this!”
JD grinned at that statement.
Roger jabbed a thumb behind his back towards the door. “All of the guards have disappeared.”
Bells chimed in the throne room. “The guards were merely constructs of illusion, bound in fake flesh. With Lux defeated, they faded back into nothingness.”
“Wait a mo! I know that voice.” Pete swiveled his head from side to side.
There in the ruins of the throne stood the Faery Queen, although only Pete was the one who was aware of that fact. The other quickly got into defensive positions.
“Stand down! That’s the Faery Queen!”
JD looked at Pete. “Ya sure?”
“Trust me, I’m sure.”
The rest of them slowly eased into being a bit more relaxed, but kept some of the tension from the fight ready to be used if necessary.
The Queen bowed low, butterfly wings aimed high towards the ceiling. “I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. My uncle wasn’t always this cruel and it pains a small part of me to see him killed. But I am glad that the man he became is now dead. Your names shall go down into our histories as the mortals who became fae and saved us all.”
All five of them looked at one another and returned the bow.
“Your majesty?” Pete asked respectively. “You said once you had been restored, we would be restored.”
“And you shall, but do you not want to see the fruits of your hard labours and attend the celebrations?”
Keith ruefully smiled, “No offence yer majesty and it sounds like the party of this realm, but I think all we want t’do is go home.”
“Too right mate.” Roger quietly grumbled.
The Queen smiled and walked forward. “As you wish, but I cannot let you go without gifts being stored upon yourselves. In one sunrise it will be apparent what was given.”
Before they could protest, she raised her hands; gold dust once more flew from her fingertips and covered them. One by one, they slowly passed out and sank to the floor.
~~~
Pete, John and Roger woke up to the wind howling and darkness; the thunder and lightning had seemed to disappear. They eyed one another and found themselves older once again. Looking around, they spied JD on the ground, not moving.
“JD!” Roger bellowed and quickly strode forward. Quickly checking his pulse, Roger breathed a sigh of relief at finding it. “He’s alive.”
“What the bleedin’ hell just happened?” Pete growled out. “Anyone else have the funky dream with the Faery Queen and us being altered?”
“I don’t think it was a dream Pete.” Roger quietly said as he brought JD into a sitting position.
“What else could’ve it been?”
Roger brought his hand up from JD’s back, it came away bloody.
John’s eyes widened in surprise. With strength he didn’t realize he had, John picked JD up into a fireman’s carry and brought him safely into the house. Pete ran to get some bandages and antiseptic cream, while Roger fetched some water.
They undressed him carefully from the wet clothes and bandaged his back. John maneuvered JD’s body into some new pyjama’s, careful as to not jostle him when JD gave a low moan.
“JD?” John asked concerned.
Hazel eyes slowly opened, took in the room and then settled on John. “John-John-John-John-John, what happened? *twitch* We feel weird.”
“A very long story that I’ll tell you when you wake up, you need your sleep.”
“Kay.” JD replied as he snuggled back under the covers and fell right back asleep.
Running a weary hand over his face, John felt older than his age right then. Standing up, he met Pete and Roger in the hall. “You two should get changed and out of those wet clothes.”
Glancing at the clock, Roger stared. “Hardly any time passed by while we were in the Faery Realm.”
“Magic.” John reasoned.
Getting John’s attention Pete asked. “How’s the kid?”
“Doing that spasm repeating words thing.” John sighed.
“Heard it from here Ox. He’ll be ok in the morning; I’m heading to bed meself, feel like I haven’t gotten any sleep in days.” Roger yawned and stumbled towards his own room.
Pete smiled crookedly, patted John on the shoulder and made his own way to his bedroom.
John did the same.
As all four of them slept through the night, a golden glow surrounded their bodies. Though they would not be aware of the changes until morning.
~~~
Roger, Pete and John woke-up sleepily, so it would be expected they wouldn’t notice anything quite yet. JD was dead to the world as he snored on.
Pete stumbled his way to the bathroom, his back aching and feeling a bit off balance. Keeping his face to the sink, he splashed some cold water on to wake him up. Lifting his head to look at himself in the mirror, he stopped and stared. Rubbing his eyes a couple of times and pinching himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, he maneuvered his new found appendage carefully forward and examined it.
Fingers hesitantly reached forward and touched the black wing protruding from his back as it curved forward in his line of vision. Seeing that it was real, Pete was left with a dumbfounded look on his face.
“Pete! Move yer arse!” A rumble came from behind the close door.
Pete couldn’t move, he was in shock. He wanted to tell John to bugger off, but a small part wanted his friend to open the door and make this go away.
“Pete, you better be decent, I’m coming in you string bean.”
The doorknob turned and John came through the door. Grey eyes widened in surprise as he took in the new form of his friend.
“John…I…” Pete stammered.
"Omigod."
The wings drooped slightly as Pete huddled in on himself, going into slight shock.
John hesitantly walked forward and lightly touched Pete on his back. Pete flinched and huddled in on himself more.
“Pete?”
Shaking started to happen as Pete’s wings wrapped around himself to keep the body warm.
John quickly ducked out and ran to the bedroom door to yell out in the hallway, “ROGER!! GET YER ARSE UP HERE NOW!!”
Roger yelled back, “I WOULD, BUT I’M HAVING ISSUES WITH JD!! HE WON’T WAKE UP!!”
John growled, “Shit.”
Making his way back to Pete, he saw that he was out of the wing cocoon, but still shaky and had glazed eyes. Walking in front of his brother, he grabbed Pete’s hand and led him out of the bathroom. What scared John even more as he led Pete to where JD and Roger were, was Pete let himself be led without a complaint.
Roger looked up and double-took upon seeing Pete. “What in the ruddy world happened to him?”
“No idea, I’m guessing he woke up like this, but it gets better.” John rumbled as he led Pete to a stool to sit upon.
“Wonderful, how can it get any better?”
“He’s in shock and won’t respond to anything at the moment. So," John finished, "What's with JD?"
“He won’t wake up, keeps tossing and turning about, muttering about that damned mirror in his head. I’m guessing coming back from that Faery realm and becoming one body, two minds did something to them. Again.” Roger sighed out.
"Shit," John growled. Keep this up and he was going to get down to a one-word vocabulary.
“You know, I can’t help wondering, if this happened to them…what happened to us?” Roger asked out loud.
“I don’t even want to think about that now Rog. Just want the two of them to be well.” John quietly stated as he sat down on the bed and looked at JD.
Roger went over to look at Pete to see if there was something he could do.
Sighing, John pushed himself off the bed with one hand and walked over. It’d been proven that JD would be fine after a bit of rest, who would be in charge, was another question all together. Pete was a bit worse off.
He walked over quickly, but then felt something odd tugging at his hand. Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes went wide as he saw white string attached from his hand to the bed.
“Rog?” John croaked out.
“Yeah John?” Roger asked and then turned around. He whistled low in surprise. Several cracks appeared in the mirror near the dresser. Startled with surprise, John jumped up very high and landed crouched on the ceiling.
Roger quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, looked up and weakly grinned. “Guess we know what happened to us Ox.”
“Shit.” John growled out again. It was rapidly becoming his favourite word of the day.
John tried to un-stick himself from the ceiling with no success. “A little help Rog?”
“Yeah, I’ll just let loose a sonic scream and bring the ceiling down around us. Great plan John.” Roger said sarcastically.
John’s eyes narrowed in anger, but then quickly turned into surprise as he lost his grip. Tumbling through the air, he landed on his hands and feet on the ground.
"You okay?"
“Pete!” John cried in surprise as he got up and made his way to the guitarist. “You back with us?”
“Sort of. Still a bit shocky.” Pete said, head held in hands.
Roger went to check on JD as John fussed over Pete.
JD moaned low in his sleep as he tossed and turned. A hand snapped out and grabbed Roger’s wrist with surprising strength. Half-lidded hazel eyes peaked out from behind lashes as they gazed at Roger. “JD?”
“Young-young-young-young-young-young-young *twitch* you look so young Roger.” With those words, JD fell back asleep, hand letting go, falling back onto the bed.
Roger frowned as he rubbed his wrist and then turned towards John and Pete. His jaw dropped in surprise as he took in his friends. All thirty years old again. It was like a veil had been lifted from his eyes.
“HOLY HELL!” Roger found his voice. His sonic scream found the wall.
Pete and John dived to the floor as Pete’s wings covered them from some of the debris.
"Would you CONTROL that?" John snarled.
Roger just stuttered and pointed at them. “Y-y-you! Go look in a b-b-bleedin’ mirror, mates!”
"Sheesh, he's channeling 'My Generation' again." But John went.
"What are you so excited about?" he called back. "I look normal."
“You bloody well do not! You look like yer thirty again Ox!” Roger growled out, careful to mind the volume of his voice.
"Look. I look six--" his voice died when he came out. "You're young!"
Roger rolled his eyes, “And so are you! And Pete as well!”
"But in the mirror---I'm not!"
Pete had made his way to the stool and watched the two back and forth like a tennis match. Getting up, he grabbed Roger by the scruff of his collar and forced them both into the bathroom.
Roger’s blue eyes widened and he touched the mirror. “That’s some illusion mates.”
Pete took in his appearance, finally coherent enough to acknowledge it, “I look like some kind of angel.”
Roger snorted, “Yer no angel birdman.”
“Back with us fully Pete?” John asked from the side.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Pete sighed. “Yeah, sorry about that. Just became a little too much there for a moment.”
Roger and John gave Pete a quick one-armed hug, mindful of his new wings and they pondered on what to do next. It seemed Pete was already one step ahead.
“I don’t know about you mates, but I’m ready for some real food. But first pants. I refuse to eat breakfast without pants.” Spinning on his heel Pete strode out of JD’s room in his boxers, back to his room.
Roger and John looked at each other amused.
And then JD opened his eyes again.
Roger and John quickly turned around to the sound of bed covers being pushed away.
“JD!” both Roger and John happily exclaimed.
Sad hazel eyes were turned on full force at the two. “Sorry mates, JD’s not in control at the moment. It’s just me.”
THE END.