PART EIGHT Dis-do I really have to do this again? Oh, fine, disclaimer and other stuff in part one. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Part Eight-Battle of Revelations The group felt themselves being pulled in all directions. Scully forced her eyes opened to find she couldn't see anything, it was all darkness. She reached out to Mulder blindly, and felt his hand take hers. She couldn't see him, but she just knew it was his hand. Suddenly something gave and they felt themselves falling. Within seconds they made impact, the breath rushing out of them. Alec rolled onto his back and gasped for air. Without even opening his eyes he knew something was not right. Next to him Molly was struggling to get her arms to prop her up, all the while spitting out grass. Robynne was holding her aching head in her hands. Scully pushed herself off of where she landed on Mulder and stood up. She reached down and pulled Mulder to his feet. He was rubbing the back of his head where it hit the ground. She checked him over briefly to make sure he didn't have a concussion. Then she turned to the three kids, who were standing on shaky legs. But then, they all got a good look at where they were. They were still on a hill, but this time it was covered in green grass. The formerly near stormy sky was now a bright, clear blue. At the bottom of the hill was a large, nearly still lake that had an almost silver gleam to it. In the distance they could see the ocean, and to another side mountainous hills. "Oh, man," Mulder breathed. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," Alec quipped. Molly looked over at him with an unbelieving look on her face. How could he joke at a time like this, she thought. But Molly's thoughts turned back to more important things. She was almost positive what they encountered was the time slip. They were in the exact same spot as they were in the forest, but this was before the forest grew in. And that was Silver Lake down that way. Her train of thoughts was interrupted by Scully's voice. "What's that?" she pointed to a thing near the lake. A thing that was beginning to move in their direction. The three kids gasped. This proved that their guesses on what was causing the kids to lapse into comas was right. What was approaching them was a Cader-Ieran, and even from their distance away they could see its teeth bared in anticipation. The three turned around to look at Mulder and Scully, who stared back. "We really should move," Robynne said. "Why?" Mulder began to ask, but he was stopped by Scully's hand on his arm. She saw the creature that she couldn't identify for the life of her approaching at a faster and faster speed. He saw it and him and Scully began edging backwards. Molly looked over her shoulder and saw the large body of the Cader gaining speed. "Run!" she screamed, and they all turned and ran up the hill as fast as they could. Before they could get anywhere though the light flashed again, and once more they found themselves in darkness, being pulled in all directions by unknown forces. This time when they landed they fell into piles of dirt and fallen leaves. The impact wasn't as bad as the first time, so they managed to pick themselves up quickly. Now, they realized they were back where they first started, in the forest behind the school. Molly saw that the backpack she dropped when she first felt the slip pulling them in was still lying on the ground. When Mulder got his breath back, and after checking to see if Scully was all right, he turned to the three kids, leaning against a tree while they caught their breath. "What the hell was that?" Mulder demanded. The three looked at each other. They were trapped. They didn't know what to do. If they told him the truth, he'd think that they were crazy. They didn't know that he'd been known to have some crazy ideas of his own but that wasn't the point. Alec noticed that the two girls were glaring more and more pointedly at him. "Uh..." he stuttered. From out of nowhere a large mass struck Mulder from the side and they both went flying, landing in between two large trees. "Fox!" Scully yelled, to her immense surprise. Molly heard the word and shot another pointed glance at Alec, who let his head hang for a second in concedence. Suddenly Molly grabbed her head in pain. Somehow the Cader's thoughts were making their way into her head. Through the jumbled mess in her head Molly was able to distinguish why the Cader was attacking Agent Mulder-the untapped Dragon energy would fuel it for a long time. Pieces to a thirty-five year puzzle were beginning to fall into place. Next to Molly Scully began to run where Mulder was to try to pull whatever it was attacking Mulder off of him. She was stopped, though, by Molly's outstretched arm. Scully glared angrily up at her, but Molly shook her head no. Then, Molly turned her head to look at Alec, and they nodded in sync. Scully stared at Alec, her mouth dropping open. The boy's skin began to change into a deep, glowing, green color, and took on a strange texture. Alec crouched down, placing his palms down flat on the ground. Suddenly his body began to change. With a flash of green light a Dragon stood next to Molly. Scully saw that the Dragon's scales were the same color as Alec's bright green eyes. But then, she figured, the Dragon was Alec. Even crouched down, the Dragon was as tall as Molly. Scully could only imagine how big he was standing up. The dragon let out a loud roar. And at that moment, all hell broke loose. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Meanwhile, Mulder saw the creature over him, clawing at his clothes. Deep inside, he knew this was why they had to be out there. That it was up to them to defeat this thing which was somehow harming the kids. He pushed his hands against the body of the creature, trying to prevent the sharp teeth from coming anywhere near him. Suddenly he felt a energy course through his veins from sources unknown. His hands began to clench and unclench against the creature's furry body. He felt his eyes begin to burn. If he was looking in a mirror, he would have seen his eyes glowing a bright hazel color. He felt the energy center in his arms. From somewhere he heard a loud yell, almost a roar. Hazel eyes flashed, and Mulder gave the creature a mighty push and sent the Cader flying off of him. The Cader landed in a heap a few yards away from him. Mulder's eyes widened when he saw the creature be attacked by what appeared to be a Dragon. A living, breathing Dragon, like something out of a fairy tale. He was too achy to move at the moment so he just stared at the fight. Scully saw the creature go flying off Mulder. She thought she was seeing things, but she could have sworn Mulder pushed it off of him. Without a second thought she ran over to where he lay on the ground gasping for breath and staring at the fight. "Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly. Mulder reached a hand up to caress her face. "I'm okay. A little achy, but okay." His eyes looked past her to the two creatures. "But what the hell is that?" "I've got no clue," Scully said. Molly looked at Alec and the Cader embroiled in a fight. Luckily it looked like Alec was winning. She glanced at Robynne standing next to her. It didn't seem as if they would need her Dragon abilities right now, so Molly bent down and whispered to her. "Why don't you go over there and help Agent Scully with Agent Mulder. And while you're at it, drop a few subtle hints." Robynne looked up at her and nodded, picking up on what she was saying. She skirted the fight and rushed over to where Scully was trying to prop Mulder up against a tree. She knelt down next to the partners and took one of Mulder's shoulder's and helped Scully get him upright. She caught Scully's look of thanks, but then it changed to a questioning one. "What is that?" Scully asked of the two creatures fighting. Robynne shrugged. "A problem." When Mulder was leaning against the tree trunk she turned her eyes back to the fight and began the 'subtle questioning'. "So, I'm guessing your first name is Fox judging by what she called out." "Yeah," Mulder said, the question evident in his voice. Robynne shrugged. "I had an uncle with that name once. Disappeared, though, about thirty five years ago, when he was three." Mulder and Scully shared and incredulous glance. Could this girl be saying what they thought she was saying. Scully grabbed hold of the arm of her windbreaker, and Robynne looked up at her. "What did you just say?" Scully asked. Robynne just smiled a knowing smile and brushed her braids off of her shoulders. At that moment there was a crash. Three heads turned to see the creature sliding down the now slightly bent trunk of a tree, falling in an unconscious heap on the ground. The Dragon stood back, and to Mulder's immense surprise turned into Alec, who collapsed on the ground, breathing hard. Robynne got up from Mulder's side and ran over to Alec, muttering "I should be a nurse." Mulder looked up at Scully. "What the hell is going on?" he asked. Scully just shook her head, and they turned their eyes once more to the scene enfolding. Molly ran over to the fallen creature, dropping to her knees as she pulled a notebook out of her backpack. After that she pulled out a small glass bottle with a cork stopper. She quickly flipped open to a page and began reciting words under her breath that neither Mulder nor Scully could understand. As her words went on, the creature's body began to glow with a sickly color. Suddenly the sickly color shifted and it began to pour itself into the little glass bottle. When it was finished, Molly quickly grabbed the cork, stopped it up, and slid it into her backpack. She turned her attention back to the creature. Mulder and Scully saw the irises of Molly's eyes begin to cloud over as she whispered more unintelligible words. They stared wide-eyed as the creature began to lift up in the air without any help. The creature floated over to where they could now see a patch of something shimmering in the air. It went through the shimmery patch, and disappeared. Molly suddenly stood up, holding her notebook in her hands and backing away from the shimmery patch. She recited more words, ending the sequence on a shout. The patch flashed brightly, blinding them all for a few seconds. When their vision cleared, the shimmery patch was gone, and Molly had rushed over to where Alec was still trying to catch his breath. Mulder scrambled to his feet and walked over to the three kids, Scully following quickly behind him. The kids had managed to get Alec to his feet, but he was still being helped to stay upright by Molly's arm around his waist. "Why did you tell me that story?" Mulder demanded. "What story?" Alec asked, puzzled and still tired. "The name thing," Molly said, not looking at him. Alec rolled his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah," Mulder said. "Why did you tell me a story about some long lost uncle of yours who coincidentally has the same name as me?" Mulder was purposely acting a little ignorant to find out what they knew. Mulder knew that the reason they told him the story was because of the name Scully had called out, which was the same one as a lost family member of theirs. The pieces just seemed to fit together. Molly looked at him incredulously, then to Alec, and back to him. "Look at the two of you! You guys look too damn alike! Try and tell me there's not some connection here," Molly almost yelled. Scully looked at Mulder and shrugged her shoulders. Her look was telling him that what Molly just said mirrored what she herself had said that morning. "Look," Robynne said. "Why don't you come with us to see our aunt. She'll be able to tell if...you know...if it's true." Mulder looked at Scully this time. Both were unsure as to what to do with the offer. "It can't hurt," Alec broke in with a smart-ass smile on his face. "We're not going to turn into serial killers on the way there so what can it hurt?" "Okay," Mulder said, making the final decision. "We'll go. Just tell us how to get there." "Uhhh..." Molly stuttered. "D'you think you could give us a ride maybe? We took the bus here." Mulder rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Whatever. Let's just get going." The group made its way down the hill, out the gate, across the street, and to the car. As he was nearing the car Mulder suddenly gasped and grabbed his head. Scully rushed over to his side. "Are you okay?" she asked, grabbing onto his arm. Mulder carefully nodded. "Yeah. Just a sudden headache. I'll be okay." Scully looked doubtful, but she said "Okay. But I'm driving. We don't need you passing out over the wheel." She held out her palm for the keys and Mulder, almost a little reluctantly, handed them over. They all got into the car and it began to make its way through the streets of Staten Island. Soon, they pulled up in front of the bookstore. 'Dragon's Den', Mulder noted the sign, 'There's got to be some significance to that.' They left the car and headed towards the building. Alec, Molly, and Robynne went in first, only to find Shannon pacing in circles in front of the cashier. "Where are they?" she asked when they got through the door. "Who?" Alec asked, knowing full well who she was talking about. "Don't give me that crap. You know--." Her words were cut off at the sight of Mulder and Scully coming through the door. At her first glance at Mulder she knew he was the same person as from her dream, and that things were going to happen. NOW. Mulder stared at the tall woman with oak brown hair and hazel eyes and felt his head begin to buzz. There was something so familiar about her. He found his mouth forming a word before he realized it. "Shannon?" he said, and then his head went blank and he fell to the floor, out cold. Scully saw the resemblance between Mulder and the woman and began to make the connections. When Mulder had asked her name her ideas were confirmed, but then he fell to the floor. "Mulder" she gasped out, and fell to her knees beside him. Shannon bent over next to her and peered down at Mulder. "Should I call for an ambulance?" she asked. Scully shook her head. Something strange had happened when she began examining Mulder for a head trauma. She could feel something in her fingers that came from Mulder that told her he was fine. "N..no," she said. "I think that his memories are coming back. That's why he collapsed. Maybe the sudden shock of it caused it. An ambulance wouldn't help at all." she said shakily. Shannon looked over at Scully. She could tell this woman knew Fox much better than she did, and that she should trust her. But she knew she could help. "We should get him out of here." Scully looked up at her, puzzled. "Where should we take him?" she asked before she could question Shannon's motives. "My mother's house. It's not five minutes from here. When he wakes up, if he's got any questions, Mama's the one to ask." Scully caught the same term Mulder used to refer to his mother from the dreams, and that made something inside her become sure that this was the thing to do. Dimly she noted that her faculties for logic were scampering off into the sunset. "Okay," Scully nodded. She looked up at the three kids standing off to the side, looking intensely curious and frightened at the same time. "Help get him into the car," she asked them, and the kids came over and between the five of them managed to lift Mulder's prone form up enough to make it through the door and into the backseat of their rental car. "I'm going to go with them," Molly suddenly said. "I'll show them the way to get there." Scully was a little surprised by this, but right now she was still a little in shock from all the developments. "Okay," Shannon said. "We'll meet you there." Shannon, Alec, and Robynne piled into her car and drove off. Scully and Molly got into her own car, and Scully started it, soon following the same path Shannon took. "I guess this is a bit of a shock," Molly suddenly said. Scully sighed. "You could say that." "Do you think it's true?" Molly asked. "Think what's true?" Scully said, puzzled. "That he's-" she jerked a thumb into the back seat to where Mulder was still out "Shannon's brother. The 'long lost' one." Scully bit her lip. She wasn't sure Mulder would like her telling this strange girl things that he remembered that they both considered personal. But from all outward signs this girl knew more about the story than Mulder did. "I suppose it could be true. He'd had some dreams with a girl named Shannon in it. I'm guessing from his reaction that she more than resembles this Shannon here. He also mentioned a woman named Mama, and that's what Shannon called her mother. Does Shannon have a brother named Colin?" Scully asked hesitantly. Molly grinned and nodded her head. "That's Alec and Robynne's father. He's out of town right now though. Any other questions you have can probably be answered by Cat, uh, Mama." Scully ran a hand over her face. "I guess that I'll get to meet her too, right?" "Yeah. We'll be there soon. I personally want to get there and get to sleep," Molly sighed, leaning against the car door. "Tired?" Scully looked over at her with a confused look on her face. "It's not even eight yet." "Yeah, but those spells really took it out of me," Molly said. Scully's brow wrinkled. "Spells? As in magic spells?" she asked with an incredulous tone to her voice. Molly suddenly smiled brightly. "You'll find everything out as soon as we get there. You two have a lot to learn." Almost imperceptibly, Scully's foot pressed the gas pedal harder. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX END PART EIGHT-Battle of Revelations For some unknown reason this part was the hardest to write. Why? I don't know.