Legal Mumbo-Jumbo: X-Files, Melissa Scully, Dana Scully, and any related characters are the property of Fox, Ten-Thirteen, and Chris Carter. No infringement intended. However, Fiona, Candra, Eithne (and all the other faeries) and Pat Scully, are mine (Paul Leone a.k.a. Kuusamo@aol.com), so if you want to use them for some reason, ask me first. Credit must go to White Wolf Games and their wonderful RPG, "Changeling: The Dreaming," for providing some inspiration for this story. All fans of the faery, check it out! As usual, a big thank you to my editor/moral support team: MD, Deb, Aviva , Kathy, everybody, thank you! Rated PG-13. Adult themes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------- X-Files "Fiona" "This tale's a fragment from the life of dreams" Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "Phantom or Fact?" 15 Shee Avenue, Washington DC Fiona was bored. Why, oh WHY? It was stupid. Surely, she reasoned, if Rianna could leave the court, so could she! Rianna was, after all, only a dozen centuries or so older then her. No matter if Rianna was the Lady of Washington. That wasn't HER fault. Just because Rianna was born before the Sleep didn't mean she should have all the fun duties. Did it? No! Look at Eogan. That little sprite, he could go where ever he wanted to. The Sidhe at court all thought it was cute. And he was only ten! A thirteen year old was much more responsible, true? Aye...And, surely 'twas true that a Faery Princess, a daughter of Eithne herself, was much more dignified then a mere changeling. Aye. Yet, Eithne allowed that -human- woman free reign of the court. That wasn't fair, even if Samantha was Ffolk. Fiona was Daoine Sidhe, a Tuatha de Danaan, not the cast-out daughter of a lost Ffolkman. So... It would be most fair if she were to leave court, even just for a day or two. What harm could come? Aye, none. After all, she knew the Fae tricks and songs to avoid danger. As if Ffolk or Gallain, or even barbarians, would hurt a Sidhe maiden. Now, then, the trick would be to leave court. Eithne's guardians were sooooo grumpy. They wouldn't even listen to her songs, let alone let her out. Maybe Candra would help her. But Eogan said Candra was wicked. What did he know? He was just a sprite, barely out of his infancy. Candra was so beautiful, just like Rianna, and the beautiful people are always nice. Candra always said that, and she was a Faery Lady, so she -couldn't- lie! That was the way of things, even if stupid Ffolk made up all sorts of lies in their stories about Faery. Oh, how silly they were - Jack the Giant Slaughterer, St. George the killer of baby dragons, and all the other stories. They were just sooooo full of lies, and the more they lied, the more they believed it, and the more they believed it, the weaker Faery became. It was almost sad, but now, they had risen from the Sleep, and magic was not a bedtime story. That's what she'd do! She would -show- a Ffolk that magic was real! Oh, this would be splendid! Eithne had spoken much about one Ffolk woman, and how her rejection of Faery was deadly. Just to prove to Eithne that she was a real Faery Lady, Fiona would make Dana Scully see the magic. "Candra?" The young, dark haired woman looked up and smiled at Fiona. "Hello, my lady." "Stop that! Call me Fiona! You're just as noble as I am." Candra nodded, hiding her triumphant smirk. "Hello, -Fiona-. Is something the matter?" "No..." Fiona glanced around the room. It was empty. For some reason, people didn't like to talk to Candra. Fiona didn't understand it. Candra was so beautiful, why didn't people like her? Well, the men did, but they came and went so fast, it was hard to keep track. Almost like Candra used them up, one after the other. Used them -how-? It was one of those weird things Eithne and the other nobles never talked about... "Tis like this, Candra...I want to go out!" Candra's eyebrows rose a fraction, and her delicate lips parted slightly. "Outside? There?" "Yes! I want to see the city!" "But, your mother said not to let you leave court." Fiona grimaced. "Please, Candra? Only for a day! I have such a wonderful idea!" "What?" "You know the Ffolk that Eithne was talking aboot in court? Dana Scully?" "Aye..." Candra nodded slowly, smiling hesitantly. "I want to make her believe!" "Oh! Goodness!" Candra hid a smile by covering her mouth and gasping. "Are you sure the Lady Eithne would like you to meddle with a Ffolk?" "Candra! It's not meddling! It's helping! Will you help me get out?" "How can I refuse? It'll be just like a quest!" Candra giggled. "If you fetch your flute, and meet me in the back alcove, I will take you from court." Fiona nodded, and dashed off. Candra smiled at her, then once the room was empty, burst into cold, harsh laughter. "What a foolish, foolish girl." Just think, what mischief she could cause once free... Apartment 5 Scully collapsed onto the couch. What a day! The monthly paperwork marathon was -finally- over. Expense vouchers, follow-up reports, and all those other forms had been filled out in full. It had only taken all ... All weekend. Saturday. Sunday. Sunday... Sunday! Oh, damn! Melissa would be so pissed off. Tries for months to get me to go to this coffee place of hers, and when I finally break down and say yes, I stand her up. Great. I should call her. "Yap! Yap!" Clyde came running into the room, barking furiously and zooming about in circles. "Hey, dog, what's the matter?" "Yap! Yap yap yap yap!" "Clyde, stop!" With a slight whine, the dog laid down on the floor, staring up at Dana with wide eyes. "Now, what's wrong?" Food and water bowls are full. What's the matter? The phone rang, and Dana hesitantly picked it up, pretty sure who it was. "Scully." "Dana! What happened? I waited for hours! Are you okay?" "Missy, I'm so sorry. Work...you know." "Oh. Are you going to be out of town? On a case, I mean." "No. Paperwork." Silence over the phone. "Missy? Are you still there?" "Paperwork." Melissa laughed. Dana couldn't tell if she was amused or hurt. "You missed lunch because of paperwork?" "Missy, I'm sorry. It just crept up on me." "No, it's okay. I understand. Maybe next weekend?" "I'll try." "Good. Well, anyway, did you read that book I sent you?" Book? What book? "No, I haven't had time to yet. It looks good, though." "It does?" "Yes. Spooky, isn't it?" "Dana, not only did I not send you a book, I did not get the book you were supposed to send to -me-." "What? Missy, argh!" "See? You're so caught up in your work, your -paperwork-, you've forgotten everything else. I'm coming over, and we're going out." "Missy, it's...four in the afternoon. I'm tired, Clyde is driving me nuts, and -" "No. You need to relax, Dana, and have some fun." "At the Fae Nook Coffee Club?" "Trust me, you'll love it. I'll be there in a few minutes. Bye!" "Missy, wait!" Click. Dial tone. Great. Hijacked to some Irish beatnik coffee club. At least there's no paperwork to fill out. 15 Shee Avenue "Where is Fiona?" Eithne asked the stone gargoyle. Its head swiveled, then bobbed up and down in a shrug. "What do you mean, ye don't know where she has gone?" The gargoyle's mouth creaked open. "Naiiiiiad. Toooooook her." "Candra? She went out with Candra?" "Yesssss." Eithne scowled. "Thank you, Troy." "Yesssssss..." The gargoyle pulled back, and froze into place against the wall. Candra...That nymph bitch, loose from court and no doubt up to her tricks. God alone knows what she's done with Fiona. "Rhys." Her elderly footman hurried over. "M'lady?" "Candra has gone with Fiona. Find her." "Yes, m'lady," Rhys exclaimed hurriedly. "At once." He bowed, then ran off. Fae Nook Coffee Club Dana stared in dismay at the outside of the Coffee Club. The walls were brick, blue and white. Eye-glaring yellow window shutters and door. A bizarre sign that had the words Fae Nook Coffee Club surrounded by six Celtic flags, hung lopsidedly from a post above the door. From inside, she could hear an odd combination of harp, electric guitar and harmonica. "Isn't it great?" Melissa said, hurrying inside. Shaking her head, Dana followed her sister. The inside was surprisingly cozy. A central bar, with dozens of tables and booths around it. There were only a few people at the bar, and two couples at the booths. At the other end of the room, the 'band' was winding down their song. There were four of them, each as different as his instrument. An elderly, white haired harmonica player in a flannel shirt and jeans, whose beard fell nearly to the top of his stomach. The harpist had on a blue and white dress, and wore a ribbon net in her chestnut hair. The guitar player, a young red headed man, had on black leather jeans and jacket, with a blue and white shirt underneath. The singer, apparently the twin of the guitarist, was in a similar outfit, the only difference being an Army sergeant stripe on her shoulder. "What do you think?" "It's....interesting." What a weird place. Melissa frowned. "Come -on-, Dana! Enjoy yourself! Come here!" She tugged Dana's arm, and dragged her to the stage. "Lianna, Michael, Michele, Llywelyn, this is my sister, Dana. Dana, this is Lianna and Michael McShee, Michele Penhallow, and Llywelyn ap Dylan," Melissa said, waving at the singer, guitar player, harpist, and harmonica player in turn. They greeted Dana warmly. "Lianna, it's open mike night, isn't it?" The singer nodded, smiling. "Have ye another ballad for us?" "My sister likes to sing, you know." "Aye?" Lianna smiled at Dana. "But, of course, you -are- Irish!" Dana stared at her sister in shock. "Missy, I can't sing!" "Oh, come on, don't be modest. You were in the chorus in high school, right?" "That was - " "Up you go!" Melissa pushed Dana towards the microphone. Lianna whistled to get the crowd's attention. "Listen up, folks! We've got a guest singer tonight...Let's hear what Dana Scully has to say, aye?" The customers clapped politely. Dana scowled at Melissa. I'll get you for this! "Relax, Dana. Have fun!" What should I sing? Sensing Dana's nervousness, Lianna leaned over and whispered, "Perhaps you know an Irish tune?" Irish? Right. Taking a deep breath, Dana began to sing. The tune was an old one, something Finn had taught her years ago. "O Bonny Portmore I am sorry to see Such a woeful destruction of your ornament tree For it stood on your shore for many's the long day Till the long boats from Antrim came to float it Away." Every eye in the club was riveted on Dana. Something in the words touched them... "O Bonny Portmore you shine where you stand And the more I think on you the more I think long If I had you now as I had once before All the lords in old England would not purchase Portmore." Without turning, Dana heard a soft sigh from Lianna. "All the birds in the forest they bitterly weep Saying "where shall we shelter or where shall we sleep?" For the oak and the ash they are all cutten down And the walls of Bonny Portmore are all down to The ground." The bartender put down the glass he was wiping and rubbed his eyes, shaking his head sadly. "O Bonny Portmore you shine where you stand And the more I think on you the more I think long If I had you now as I had once before All the lords of old England would not Purchase Portmore...." Subdued applause. Dana frowned slightly. Not a single dry eye in the place, not counting her and Melissa. "Ah, thank ye lass..." Lianna whispered. "Twas a fine song, aye?" she asked loudly. Louder clapping that died in seconds. Dana went back to the table where Melissa was. "What just happened?" "I don't know...They're very romantic here." "Right. That explains it." What on Earth did Missy see in this place? Melissa sighed. This wasn't working. Dana was just going to get a headache. "Do you want to see a movie or something?" "Sure..." Three Hours Later Once again, Scully sank onto the couch. When Melissa said 'a movie', she didn't expect to see 'Fantasia' at some hippie movie theater. It was a mildly traumatic experience. At least Melissa had enjoyed it. Got to sleep. Work tomorrow. To tired to get off the couch, Scully fell asleep where she sat. Candra nudged Fiona. "Now's your chance. She's dreaming." "I can't go into her dreams! That's not right!" Fiona protested. "Oh, don't be silly. Anything you do is right." "Are you sure? My mother always says that we should follow the laws." "Your mother is not here, Fiona!" Candra whispered impatiently. "Do it! I will help you." "Okay." Fiona pulled out the silver flute and played a quick set of notes. It worked! She could feel the link with Scully! "Keep going," Candra said encouragingly. Pressing her lips to the flute, Fiona played the entire song, just as Dafydd had taught her. The room faded into a bluish mist, and with a happy giggle, Fiona realized she had pulled herself into the Dreamlands. Scully was there, too, lost in her own dream. "Candra?" Where was Candra? Fiona looked in all directions, but there was no sign of her. "Cannnnnnndra!" The echo spilled over into Scully's dream, shattering it. Shaken, Scully slipped into another dream. Fiona whimpered. Where was Candra? Candra gently pried the flute from Fiona's limp fingers, and lowered the sleeping Faery to the floor. Now, it was time to have some fun. "Excuse me?" Scully looked up from her desk. A pretty teenage girl was standing there, awkwardly fidgeting with her hands. She had on a dress that looked like it was made of diamonds, and a crystal and gold brooch with a harp carved on it hanging from her neck. "Yes? Can I help you?" "Ooo, pooh! This is all wrong!" the girl moaned, stamping her foot. "You're dreaming!" "What?" "This is a dream, silly!" Scully frowned. This wasn't like any dream she'd ever had. "If this is a dream, the recognition of that fact should make me wake up." "Well...it's not really a dream. We're stuck here until we wake up." "Why?" Scully asked. This was interesting. If I remember this in the morning, I should take notes. "I wanted to go through your dreams into your mind, so I could make you believe in me." "In you? Who are you?" "Fiona Ni Eithne." Fiona curtsied quickly. "It's not my fault, though! Candra made me do it! I just wanted to use my flute to sing away your doubt, but nooooo!" Laughing, Scully shook her head. This was definitely a fun dream. "Why?" "Why? Because! You skeptics! Oooo! And a Ffolk, t'boot!" Fiona pouted, kicking her feet in imaginary dust. "You should know better!" "Are you trying to tell me you're a faery?" "Yes! Exactly, Miss Scully!" Fiona smiled hopefully. Maybe this would work after all.... Scully laughed in her face. "Are you sure this isn't my sister's dream?" "Ach!" Fiona spat. "If you don't believe I'm real, I can't help you get out of here. It's up to you, but I surely think an eternal dream would be hell." Fine. "I'll go along. How do you plan on getting out of here?" "Oh, we just have to walk. Something will come along." 15 Shee Avenue "Rhys, is there any word?" "I apologize, m'lady. I have failed you. Candra and Fiona are not in the city. Shall I inform those who live outside?" Eithne shook her head. "No. Candra is no longer with Fiona, so I care nothing for her. Find my daughter, Rhys, no matter what it takes." "Your will shall be obeyed, m'lady." Rhys bowed, then left the room. "What about me, Eithne? Do you want me to help?" "No, Samantha. It's my own fault for not exiling Candra, and I will nae hae ye covering for my faults." "Eithne, don't be silly. I'm your friend." "Then stay here...I need a friend right now, Samantha." The Dreamland Fiona led Scully along a silver river that seemed to be flowing in both directions at the same time. Fish stared up at the two travelers, and something that looked like a mermaid swam alongside, matching their pace. "What is this? I've never dreamt anything like this?" Scully asked, waving her hand at the misty forest that surrounded them. Something about the trees made Scully feel very, very tiny and insignificant. Some of them almost seemed to have faces. Scully squinted. More than faces...it was like humans were inside the trees themselves. Beautiful human women, trapped in the trees. Scully shivered. This place was frightening. "This isn't your dream, it's my dream," Fiona explained. "And don't stare at the dryads," she added, nodding at the tree women. "What is this place?" "Tir Na N'Og...My mother was born here, before...Just before. Come on, we still have a long way to go." "Tee hee hee hee!" Something darted beneath Scully's feet, giggling, and vanished into the trees. "Ah! What was that?" Fiona shrugged. "Probably a sprite or a pixie. Don't worry about it. They're harmless." Staring at the darkness beyond the trail, Scully nervously followed Fiona. Something about this place was familiar. After what seemed like hours, the woods ended, and they came across a bright red desert canyon. "I've been here before...This is where Mulder...the boxcar..." Fiona frowned. "This is where the Anasazi live. We better hurry, since they really don't like visitors," she whispered, hurrying across the sandy canyon floor. Scully followed, glancing up into the walls of the canyon. This version of New Mexico was somehow more alive than the real one. What was it? Whatever the cause, the result was unsettling, almost alien. "Hurreeeee! Race you!" Fiona giggled, taking off in a run across the canyon. "Wait!" After a few more minutes, the desert underwent an abrupt shift. The canyon itself seemed to flicker for an instant, then the barren rock was covered with lush vegetation. Strange, huge birds circled above them, squawking happily. Giant figures were painted on the desert floor, forming weird geometric patterns. "Now where are we?" "The Dreamlands. Australia, you'd call it." "This is Australia?" "Yes, the way it really is." Fiona refused to elaborate, and finally Scully gave up. An hour or so passed, and they came to the end of the desert. Vast, grassy plains stretched out in all directions, even behind them. A single black crow slowly drifted overhead. "Now what?" "The Happy Hunting Grounds....The Great Plains, before white men came. Come on, we're almost there." In the distance, a troop of Cheyenne warriors stood watching, riding.... "Those are unicorns!" Fiona nodded. "There were horses here long before Columbus. And wherever there are horses, there are unicorns. Humans aren't the only animals with faery cousins, you know. Now, come on, I'm getting tired." "How can you get tired in a dream? What happens if you fall asleep here?" "Don't ask." Fiona hurried through the shoulder high grass, scattering tiny, rainbow colored birds. 15 Shee Avenue "M'lady? We've found Fiona." "What? Where!" Eithne sat up so quickly, she almost overturned the chessboard onto Samantha's lap. "She's lost in the dreamlands, m'lady." "Lost? That's impossible. All she has to do is - " "She's with Miss Scully, m'lady." "Ach..." Eithne smiled. What a clever lass! "All this effort for nothing? Bring up the car, Rhys. I want to be there when they wake up." Rhys bowed, then vanished. Samantha smiled. "Fiona has some of your wits. It's an interesting approach, showing Scully the dreamlands to make her realize the truth." "It is...But tis to early, Samantha. Scully must come into the truth on her own, not because of faery tricks. As fer today, there does remain one cursed problem." "Candra? Send those who live outside after her." "Bacchus would flay me if they hurt her." "They don't have to hurt her, just scare her out of DC. Let some one else show that nymph some humility." Eithne nodded thoughtfully. "I know exactly what to do. LaCroix." Samantha stared at her in shock, then burst out laughing. "Oooh, you're nasty, Eithne. That's why I like you!" Outside Washington Candra cursed and futiley struggled to wipe the mud off her dress. That ignorant human peasant! He hadn't even slowed down for her! This was all Eithne's fault! She had locked the faery dens in the city, even those beneath it (not that she would -ever- go into the sewer city!), and left Candra nowhere to go! This was not at all fair! It was Fiona who had come to her! What did Eithne expect her to do, stay in that gilded prison? If only Bacchus hadn't exiled her! Two hundred years was just a ridiculous amount of time. After all, how was she to have known that was Chiron's son? Centaurs all looked alike. She'd show them when she returned! Nobody seduced and betrayed a nymph! Candra smiled, imagining all the many delicious ways to pay back Bacchus and Chiron for exiling her. A wolf howled in the woods, disrupting her reverie. "Oh, come -on-, Eithne! Lycanthropes? That's going too far! Nobody got hurt!" She resolved that if the next car didn't stop for her, she'd tear the roof off it and jump in herself. Even if he did pick her up, she'd make the driver's miserable life a living hell. A dusty Chevy with tinted windows pulled up minutes later, and came to an abrupt stop when Candra poked her thumb out. The window rolled down. Whew! Candra gagged. It smelled like something had died in the back seat. "Hi...Can you help me? I need a ride!" Candra batted an eyebrow and leaned very close to the window. The driver scowled, then licked his lips. "Come on in." "Thanks! What's your name?" she asked, staring deep into his eyes and smiling seductively. "LaCroix," the driver whispered blankly, smiling weakly. "Just LaCroix?" "Just LaCroix." He pushed open the door for her. "Oooh, I can tell this is going to be fun!" She giggled and stepped into the car, closing the door behind her. LaCroix smiled again. Only for you, Eithne, he mused, giggling for no apparent reason. This would be fun...Intimidate, LaCroix, intimidate. The lock snapped down next to Candra, sealing her in the car. Nervous, Candra stared at LaCroix. He smiled again, revealing a pair of long, sharp fangs. "Oh, I'll think of something to pass the time," the vampire smirked, as his red eyes glinted in the now dark car. Candra whimpered, wincing at LaCroix's maniacal laugh. The car sped off along the highway, and other drivers could just barely a faint, hysterical scream as it screeched past them. Apartment 5 The white limousine pulled up to the curb. Lianna and her band were waiting, and, as one, bowed as Eithne got out of the limo. "My lady...." Eithne sighed. "Get up, Lianna, all of you. I want this to go smoothly." She walked up to the door of the apartment, and waited impatiently for it to swing open for her. Fiona and Scully were both asleep, on the floor and couch, respectively. A small, annoying dog ran up as the faeries entered, then whined and ducked under the TV in fear. "Rhys? Do you have the flute?" Producing a brass flute from his coat, Rhys handed it to Eithne. "M'lady." "Thank you." Eithne played a soft note from the flute. Fiona stirred, then opened her eyes. "Mother!" she gasped, staring in surprise at the six faeries. "Am I in trouble?" "Fiona?" Scully shouted. One moment, the girl had been a step in front of her, and the next, she was gone. "Fiona?" At least they were out of the plains and into familiar territory. Washington, more or less. Some of the buildings looked like they had jumped out of a child's book of fairy tales, and others resembled the nightmarish creations of madmen. Great. This dream was getting too bizarre for her liking. "Dana? What on earth are -you- doing here?" "Pat?" Dana turned. Her brother, Pat, was standing in front of a dream version of the Fae Nook Coffee Club. "You're here, too?" "What do you mean? This is -my- dream. See? That's the cafeteria in Port Truro, right down the block from the embassy." He pointed at the Fae Nook. "No, this is that place Melissa goes to." Pat scowled. "It is? That's strange." "Did you just get here?" "Yeah." Pat turned to stare at something over Scully's shoulder. "I'll call you in the morning, okay? I've got another dream to attend to," he said, smiling as he walked past her. A blue mist engulfed him, and when it cleared, he was gone. Scully shook her head. What next? "Bring her back, Rhys." The Welshman nodded and ran his hand over Scully's face, whispering something in Welsh, then jumped back, quick as a cat. "Let's go." Eithne said, firmly dragging Fiona out by the collar of her dress. "oww!" Fiona's grumblings slowly faded as they pulled away in the limo. Scully rubbed her eyes and woke up. "What a weird dream," she muttered, stretching. "Faeries, magic..." Scully shook her head. Just a very, very strange dream. Tiredly (eleven o'clock already?), she wandered to the bedroom. Crunch. "What?" Scully bent down and picked up the object she had stepped on. A tiny, crystal brooch with a gold frame and a harp carved into it. "Nah..." - The End - Epilogue: Outside Baltimore, that night The car skidded to a stop in front of the Greek restaurant. Candra hopped out, smiling. She turned and blew a kiss at LaCroix. "Call me next time you're in town, sweetie!" she giggled. LaCroix sneered. "That'll be the day." Candra closed the car door and merrily skipped to the doors of the restaurant. As LaCroix's car pulled away, Candra knocked on the door. A peephole opened. "Yes?" a sullen, tired voice asked. The eyes in the peephole widened. "Mistress Candra!" "Let me in, Artaxerxes." The door swung open, and Candra crossed the threshold. Home at last. Now, all that remained was to pay back Eithne, in full. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes: This is alternate universe stuff, folks, and, really, so are all my other stories. Isn't this a kinder, gentler universe anyway? :-) Feedback! I need feedback! I may or may not bring Fiona back for more magical misadventures, and Candra is still out there somewhere, causing mischief. :-) First, though, is another Pat Story. If you like this one, let me know and I'll post more. If not, tell me why not. And, of course, any miscellaneous suggestions are always welcome. For the confused, a brief synopsis of my Faery ethnicity theory. Faery = Faery. (Eithne) Gallain = People of Celtic ancestry. (Malcolm MacArthur) Barbarians = everybody else. (Cancer Man) Ffolk = Gallain who have Faery blood in their veins. (Scully family, Mulder). If you're still unsure what's what, drop me an e-mail! Pronunciation Guide : Daoine Sidhe = Theena Shee Tuatha de Danaan = Tootha day Da-nan Candra = Kahn-drah (or 'bitch') (For those Changeling RPGers out there, consider Eithne, Fiona, and company to be Seelie royalty of the Sidhe kith, except Candra, who is an Unseelie Nymph. Eithne is the personification of the Regent legacy, while Fiona is a Wayfarer and Rhys is a Bumpkin. The Fae Nook band are all Troubadours. Candra would be a Rake. I'm too lazy to work up all those stats, but maybe someday... :-) (Tha-tha-that's all Ffolks!)