Dark was enjoying the chase. He did not mind that they were the chased instead of the chasers, it made the senario all the more exciting. Now Dark could hear the faries as thet chased him and Akexander through the trees. Dark was trying to keep running and put a couple brambles in the path behind them. The brambles would not stop the faries just slow them down.

they crashed through the foilige and skirted trees, the wind born of their speed whipped around them. they ran as fast as they could the hunters always just out of sight behind them only a glimpse of a hound or a hoof or occasionally a horn's shine and always the din the sound of horses and men ad dongs and brass. as they flew along the drees lost their green and grew golden and brown leaves fell and piled. calling up a wish a white stag sprang up from the earth. grabbing dark alexander threw both he and dark into a large pile of gathered leaves in front, as the leaves settled the din passed over them the sound and movement of feet paws and hooves passed over them nearly tougfhing but not quite, the hunt passed over them and continued on into the forest after it's newest prey. they lay there side by side in the leaves and litter of the forest floor panting. alexander was the first to react, he laughed aloud a joyiuos bellow.

Dark was sligthly shell shocked at going from runing, to hiding, to being no longer chased. Alexander's laughter brought him out of his shock and Dark relaxed from his tense position. "That was fun." Dark said with a grin. "But next time give me a bit more warning." He joked not really expecting to be warned next time. He realized that both Alexander and himself were both still laying in the leaves. "Can I get up? Or do you want to stay here?"

alexander smiled and stared up into the trees sun and sky and leaves all mixed together. he could feel a light whisper in his mind from the book, it wanted the story to be told, it was ready for another chapter. he ignored it though and continued staring, only the voice of the other next to him broke his reverie 'nan i get up? or do you want to stay here?' honestly he wanted to stay here forever just as they were in the autumnal foliage of old ireland, instead he replied 'it is your choice, i live to serve your wishes'

Dark onlt shook when he heard Alexander's reply and rolled over to face him, only to see him staring up through the trees. Dark allowed a smile, Alexander looked peaceful like that, similar to how authors described a sleeping person. "Like the view?" Dark could remember loving to look into the night sky from above the forest trees, never liking how the trees got in the way of the sky. The sky was best during autumn, clear and the constalations where plentiful. Dark stood from the leaf pile and looked around the area they had run to. The leaf pile was off to the side in a small clearing and he could hear water. "Can I still eat in this world?" This had been bugging him since the berry bush, he had seen Alexander eat but he did not know if this place would create enough norishment for a human.

'hmm' he said. he felt so calm even the world reflected it. the other lifted himself from the pile. alexander pushed himself up on his palms but otherwise stayed on the ground. 'ah' he said when asked about food 'you don't need to eat to live, but it won't kill you either if it is not poisonous' his gaze left the sky and settled on the other, such a beautiful creature this other was, nothing he could not create in looks but the soul....he could not recall in his life anything with a soul before, what a beautiful thing. he paused in his soliloquy. 'are you hungry?'

Dark shrugged at Alexander's question, "Not really, I was just wondering." Dark cast a glance around the small clearing, "So the faries that chased us earlier, what can you tell me about them?" He woundered if this adventure was as much out of Alexander's comfort zone as it was his. "And do you know what weapons are most effective to use against them, if they all be against us?" Dark froze pacing he had started with the questioning and his cheeks darkened slightly, "I'm afraid I'm only skilled at throwing blades and knives."

he was a little shocked at the question, 'it is the hunt, they chase you follow or you run' he did not understand how his lord could create such a beautiful world and not understand it. 'they do not attack and you cannot attack them' he stood and went over to touch the other shedding golden leaves as he went. he laid a hand over the forehead of the other and looked for something to explain himself with 'animatronics, toys, spectors, repeating forever, no harm' he hoped the boy could understand him. he took his hand away 'do you understand?'

Dark understood, mostly. "So they just chase you?" Okay that was a bit odd but not too wierd. Dark grinned then, "Okay, since you're now up, let us see about that water I heard." Dark grabbed Alexander's hand and pulled him towards were he assumed the water to be. "Sorry about the confusion with the faries, I'm used to assuming chasing and hunting all end up badly for the chased if they are caught."

alexander allowed himself to be pulled along. 'don't let them chase you for too long though' he chuckled 'did you not notice it was only just past spring, they chased away an entire summer...oh!' he stopped abruptly as the other pulled him past a cospe of trees, a small lake pooled to one side of a formation of rocks little streams of it going through and around the stones a couple feel to a smaller pool leading into a large brook. the sun shone on the water and the shade of the trees on the other side only accentuated it. though his magic had created it as everything else was too he could see dark had contributed too, the rocks were sharper and more angled, the distant trees were too green for the year, the brook was not nearly as gentle as he would have chosen, it was wilder than he would have picked but it had all the more charm for it.

Dark smiled at Alexander's expression at the spring. "I like autumn more then summer anyways." He said letting Alexander know he had notice the changing of seasons. "Fancy a quick dip in the spring?" Dark asked with a grin. Dark release Alexander's hand, so to not pull him into the water by accident and went to the edge of the spring. Dark knelt down beside the spring and put his hand in it. The temperature was cold but not unconfortable.

he did not understand what compelled him to do it but he could not resist the urge to push the other in the shallow pool. the splash was so satisfying he promptly threw himself in as well

Dark surfaced quickly after Alexander had pushed him into the spring. He waited for Alexander to surface and the smiled at him and said, "This calls for revenge, my friend." Dark then proceeded to splash Alexander not noticing his attire had changed to something more suitable for swimming.

he crowned the water quietly behind dark his wet hair in his eyes his cape long gone, he listened to the others muttered threat and with a grin on his face, slowly lifted his arms out of the other with the intent of dunking him again

Dark felt more then saw Alexandder come up behind in the water. He almost smiled when Alexander was in position to dunk him. Dark went along for the dunk but once under water Dark made a grab for Alexander's legs, intent on scarring him not actually to pull Alexander under.

(sorry i had a reader over my shoulder, got through the first page<3 she likes)

he was suprised to be grabbed but less suprised than dark when he reached into the water and pulled the boy out bridal style, he wobbled a bit but toted the other to shore solidly, he dropped himself and the other onto the ground in a wet plop. the other on his lap now laughed gleefully his wet hair glistening, alexander pulled away a hand to brush aside his sopping fringe and then did the same for the other. he smiled, this was bar none the most wonderful moment of his life

(A reader? And she likes it? Cool:) )

Dark was very surprised when Alexander grabbed him bridal style and carried him out of the water. Dark laughed when Alexander sat down with Dark in his lap. After pushing his hair out of his eyes, Dark sighed and snuggled into Alexander. "You make a good pillow." Dark muttered sleepily into Alexander's shoulder.

he revised his thought, this was the most wonderful. he could feel the heartbeat of the other as he drifted to sleep. it was an amazing feeling to know he was not alone anymore. with that thought he wrapped his arms around the other and closed his eyes, he would not sleep, never would he sleep lest he lose these moments but he rested and a weight left him as the book accepted this gentle and calm end. he only hoped that the next chapter could go as smoothly.

(yush^^ and i am copying the whole thing for her to read later<3

Dark woke a little while later and was surprised to see he was still in Alexander's lap. "Sorry," Dark said standing up. "I hope I didn't give you a kink in you back for holding onto me for too long." Dark offered his hand to help Alexander up, hoping he had not been asleep for to long, so that Alexander would not have had him sit on his lap for very long.

'not for long' alexander said taking the hand offered. though the sun will set sooner rather than later, should we not try to find a place to spend the night or a tree or cave to shelter in or on?

Dark blinked at the suggestion to find a cave or someplace to stay the night. He had nto thought that far ahead. "Sure, let's go find a place to sleep." He started to walk off but then relized that he had no idea were he was going. "Any idea where to look for one?" Dark's best guess was near a cliff, but he had not seen any around. Dark then felt the need to bang his head off a tree, how could he have forgotten about the wish! "Nevermind." Dark said relizing how idiotic his earlier question was. "What era are we in?"

'none specified' alexander replied 'you never placed it in a time. when would you like it to be?'

Dark was placed in a dilema, he knew nothing of time periods having always though history was boring. "I think I would like it to be close to my own time period for a while, untill I get more adventurous." Dark closed his eyes and tried to imagine he was standing in one of the cities with hotels he had been to once.

he stepped to the other and tuched his necklace, the instructions were beyond him but he could give his strength. both gems glowed and the scenery faded and warped into steel and concrete and stone.

When Dark opened his eyes and recognized the city as Limerick. "What about money, is that wishable, too?" Besides for the rule 'no wishes for harm apon the other' it seemed this world was pretty lienant on rules. Dark would hate it if he attempted to make a wish only to find that it wasn't possible. Dark also started looking for street sighns to tell him where in Limerick he was.

'money is of no concern unless it needs to be' alexander said. the law of story-book telling was very adement about such things, he continued, 'if it is not integrable to the story it is not important. if lack of money is not a key part of the delemia then it will be provided' he demonstrated this by reaching into his pockets. out came a rumpled five, a dented pack of half-smoked clove cigarettes and a hotel key.

"So as long as it is not a main problem it be provided for?" Dark asked feeling like a broken record right now. Dark wrapped his arm around Alexander's arm, "Lead me to the hotel,my prince." He said it jokingly assuming that since Alexander had the key to the room he would know which hotel they were staying at. "and act like a torist so no one will spare you a second glance."

alexander felt a small rush at the command, somehow this time it felt different, he could not at first put a finger on it but as they walked down the crowded yet faceless street he understood. his lord though still vastly ignorant to the world, he had no grasp of his own ignorance of everything else and so saw no irony in this thought, he had gown to accept what he learned in stride and with what alexander could only think of as pleasure. dark had grown comfortable with the world and was now a part of it instead of the slightly ill-fitting piece he was before. alexander was amazed once more at the speed and grace his lord had when acclimating though he did not know why it was s important. he smiled to himself and through his bangs at the other. his desire to please his lord no longer stemmed entirely from his reset nature to please his master but from a developed desire to please this one single person. he paused in the street and spoke with the fevor of someone who had come to an epiphany 'do you recall what you asked me before? about likes and dislikes, i think i have a correct answer this time. 'my likes are playing and holding and being still, i like running way and surprises, i like pleasing you but because i want to, not because i must. i like dark.' he took a breath as a twist began in his gut 'i do not like however having to lie to you. i do not like leading you through this path of damnation. i do not like condemning you to an eternity of my company against your will....' he pulled himself gently from the other's hold. 'i wish i could make you happy' with that he dissipated, his very existence melting into the scenery. the key was the only thing to remain. it glittered on the ground like a shed tear.

"I want you to create your own tastes, likes, and dislikes."

Dark looked at were Alexander had been standing seconds before he had disappeared leaving Dark alone. Dark heard Alexander's words repeat, 'I do not like however having to lie to you. I do not like leading you through this path of damnation. I do not like condemning you to an eternity of my company against your will.... I wish I could make you happy.' Dark let a bitter smile appear on his lips, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Dark picked up the card carefully. And wished the city away, it faded once more into the abyss in which he had met Alexander. "Alexander," he called, "Tis better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all."

he could hear the boy's words from the depths of where he hid, he did not understand how loss could be acceptable over failure to find, ignorance was not this painful, not this cruel. he wondered briefly if the book would try to continue the story without him or if he needed to continue his role as guide. as far as he knew it to be he was only really needed to start and to finish the story everything else was dependent of the main character, anyone who knew a story knew that. he pulled deeper into himself and watched sadly.

Dark had hoped that his confusing quote would have lured Alexander back but it looked as though he would have to drag Alexander back. He dared not wish for Alexander back for fear the book would create another one, he wanted the original back and no other would do. Dark gave a grin and remembered Alexander's words. Closing his eyes he focaused on the stream where he had fallen asleep in Alexander's lap and hoped that Alexander could see it to.

it was not a wish, not exactly but it followed under the same vein, desire was closer though that too was not right he did not understand it any more than he understood the words spoken though he knew the story they came from. the babble of water broke through to him first, he could see the stream and rocks of the pool beginning to form, it was not a strong creation, made by un practiced hands, but it had the same feel to it as the other. he did not leave his place but putting a hand to his collar where the gem lay he gave it a little more power to be and it bloomed stronger and brighter. he did not understand why the other was thinking of this place either but he was curios to know all the same

Dark could feel Alexander near by. Alexander had strenghtened Dark's illusion. Dark sat down and remembering his change of attire after the swimming. He opened his eyes to the new out fit and reclined. Closing his eyes he called out gently, "Come out, Alexander, I want you to keep me company again."

he grew antsy, it was not a command but it had the same apeal of one. he was not sure what was going on, was this a trick, was the other angry enough to lure him out to hurt him? he dismissed the thought immeadiantly, though he was unsure he trusted the other. he came closer a shadow under a tree behind a rock, where ever his darkness would blend

Dark could feel that Alexander was closer and wondered why he was so skittish. Had Dark done something wrong? Dark sat up slowly as not to startle Alexander wherever he was a wished for a book, A Tale of Tweo Cities appeared in his hand. "I'm will be here waiting untill you come out." Dark said, "Even if I have to wait forever." Dark had no idea if he could actually wait forever, but it sounded nice and he hoped it would make Alexander come out. Dark missed his companion in this world of dreams.

he could not resist. he pulled into shape under the shade of the trees lining the clearing, he sulked unhappily under their shade. 'i betrayed you, i lied. you must hate me.' he avoided looking at the other he could not bear to see the other's upset gaze

Dark had to blink when Alexander's words caught up to him Aleander had never purposely lied to him. Dark shrugged, "Can't hate you for something I don't remember." That was kind of twisting the truth but it suited his purpose. "Now sit with me and stop acting like a cat." Dark was grining a little bit, comepletely subconsiously having won the game tempotarily.

he did not understand that either but he realized it was in a way a reprieve, there was no forgiveness but only because none was needed. he felt the chapter close in on them as he settled next to the other

Dark felt his grin grow as the other settled down next to him. "Would you like to join me in reading my book? It is by one of the better known authors of the universe I came from." He offered another copy of A Tale of Two Cities "It'd not my favorite but it's not the worst either."

he took the book but put it down and leaned cautiously on the other his long hair draping down over dark's shoulder like a cape. 'it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us' he read aloud from dark's book. he ruminated on the words, how they fit so very well this world where everything and nothing were the same and only potential mattered.