Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 07:48:44 EDT
From: Angel36745@aol.com
Subject: Simple Twist Of Fate5

  Disclaimer: I do not know the BSB, nor have I ever met them. I do not
know anyone connected to the BSB. This is just a story I made up, in other
words not real.

  Warning: This story may contain sex, you know the rules that apply to
that. I'm not for sure where I'm taking this, so it could get a little
crazy. Oh, little fact it involves an Elf, I'm not going by the rules, or
mythology. Well, I might just a little but not all that much.

  Authors Note: Ok time to say thank you to those who have helped me. To
Eddi my editor and best buddy, to Chris my boi thanks for being with me.
As for anyone I may have forgotten I'm sorry, but thank you deeply. Ok the
symbols I use are as follows, *** those mean either a character change or
who I'm starting the chapter off with. Now I haven't been using ( ) these
here lately but I'm putting them in here just in case. I use those symbols
when I want to add a note or change. Ok on with the story, I'm sure your
tired of hearing me rant. Or maybe you even skipped this part, oh well I
wrote it any way. If anyone would like to write me please do so.

 Extra Note: Everyone should go read the story The Debt, it's amazing and
wonderfully written. A lot better than my own so go check out as soon as
you can.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

***Nick***

  He was getting stronger by the second, you could even hear it in his
voice. "It was real to me, it will always be real to me Zack. You gave me
something to truly be proud of in my life. Don't you see what you mean to
us, even if it was a dream it brought us together. You made a difference in
our lives, even if you don't think you did." Zack was getting stronger, but
something was off. "I made some differences, I got Kevin killed because I
didn't make the right choices. I never even thought about Brian's heart
condition. I was to blind to see what was happening to him, if I had paid
better attenion he would have been healthier. I was supposed to be his best
friend, yet I almost let him die. Your right I've made some differences,
but I don't think many of then were good ones." AJ started shaking his
head, but he didn't look sad, he looked pissed off. "Will you just get off
it and quit feeling so damn sorry for yourself. You screwed up, big deal
everyone screws up, no ones perfect. So what you kept your feelings locked
up, a lot of people do. You didn't see what was happening to Bri, news
flash neither did we. Quit blaming yourself for shit you couldn't
control. It wasn't your fault Kevin decided to overdose and get himself
killed. I use to think you were one of the smartest people I knew. Now
you've just proven your just another blond with very few brain cells." Zack
looked at AJ and started laughing loudly.

  Howie looked from Zack to AJ, he just shook his head slowly. "I never
understood how those two got along so well. I think their both nuts, that's
why they use to hang out so much." I couldn't help but laugh at Howie's
little comment, or help the feeling of hope that I was getting. "I hate to
admit it, but you do have a small point there. It's just I'm so tired guys,
if you could feel what I feel. I know I sound like I'm feeling sorry for
myself, but I'm just so tired. In one life, I had a chance to be someone,
to love someone and I screwed it up. In my real life I was never anyone,
and I was alone with this feeling of nothing. I felt anger, sometimes I
would feel kinship with another. Most of the time I felt nothing, and I
just realized how empty my heart was. Now there's something there, but it's
feelings from another life. In honestly Kevin, if you just met me on the
street would you even look twice, would you look back? How about you Bri,
or should I say Rok, any of you?" I looked to the others, their eyes were
down cast with what looked like guilt. "It's ok I understand, I'm a nobody
and you, well why would you want to look back? It's a part of life, and now
mines over for the most part. I still exist, that much is easy to see but
in the real world I'm gone." Zack wasn't fading away but he looked so real
it was scary.

  It looked like he was forming a body slowly becoming flesh and
blood. "This is what I use to be, before I was pulled into this
world. Their keeping me alive for the most part, but am I really alive
anymore? I felt my heart stop, then my mind slowly started slipping
away. But before I could really leave I was pulled back, I woke up in this
world. They told me what had happened and what they were going to do. At
first I had thought it was a great idea, I would get to live again. Then I
thought about it, how many times would I have to live to get it right? I've
had two lifetimes, and I've managed to screw both of them up. I know that
my real life wasn't my fault in most areas, but still I could have made
better choices. Kevin I know you wouldn't lie to me, so I believe you when
you say you love me. It fill's my heart with so much joy that I don't know
how to express it with words. If you would think about it for a second,
would you really want me? The way I was in my real life, because that's
me. Forget about everything you felt about me in the other world. Just
think about the real one where I had a troubled life, then tell the truth."
Kevin looked at Zack carefully then looked to Howie.

  When he turned back to Zack he had a small smile on his face. "I would
want you any way I could get you. Even if it meant that I had to live the
rest of my life right here in this place. I want you the way you are,
that's all I could ever ask for." Zack smiled then started nodding his head
slowly. "Then I will do everything in my power to survive until they can
bring me back." Then Zack started flashing, he looked scared as he reached
out to Kevin. Then he was gone, the room went back to darkness, seconds
later light streamed from a doorway. "Hurry the Queen summons you,
something has happened to the boy." That was all that was needed, we all
took off running toward the door. Kevin was in the lead, he was already out
of the door and running down the hall. When we caught up to him he looked
panicked. "I'm glad your all here, and in once piece at that. I don't
understand what just happened in this room. I was looking at Zack's body,
he was getting stronger, then he just vanished. It was like something had
pulled him from my palace, I am sorry for your loss. I had no idea anything
like this could happen, no words could express my sorrow." She looked away
then, her eyes down cast with what looked like a tear falling.  "Why did he
mean so much to you, I'm sorry for asking but I must know?" She looked at
me with sad eyes then she slowly nodded.

  She walked toward us and then past us, we followed her. "When Zell was a
child I never really showed him any love. I am a queen and I had to look
after my people, not my son. Other's took care of him for me, not my wisest
choice. Now with that said I can explain a little better why Zack meant so
much to me. When Zell shared his blood with Zack, he gave more than he had
to. In some ways it made Zack and Zell brothers, blood brothers so to
speak. Only they were tired at a deeper level, they shared their souls with
one another. In committing this act they shared their past, all of it. I
don't think either one of them knew what was really happening. When I first
entered that room of memories, I saw my son's memories. Then Zack's
memories came to light, for me it took only seconds for all of this to
happen. While you on the other hand, all of you were in that room for close
to twenty-four hours. Zack is connected to Zell, and through Zack I saw all
of the mistakes that I had made with Zell. Then I saw everything that had
happened to Zack, my heart broke. After seeing all of the trails that poor
child went through I couldn't let him die. It would be like losing my own
son, it doesn't really make sense I know but it's how I feel." She pulsed
for a short amount of time, then looked back to us.

  Her eyes were a very bright blue with a hint of gold on the edges. "Now
your most likely wondering why I was able to see those memories while you
couldn't. The answer is you went into the room ready to see Zack's life not
Zell's. If you had just gone into the room, you would have seen
everything. I didn't want that to happen, it would have taken a lot longer
to make it to his soul. That was the main reason, the other I didn't want
you to see Zell's life, and my mistakes. Now that I have told you
everything, I would like to ask you, if you would help me save my son. In
honesty I don't know if he's even in danger, but I feel that he is. I know
this with my heart and soul, I also know that you are the only ones who can
save him." I was willing to help Zell no matter the cost, I just didn't
know if the other guys were up to it. I looked to Scott and he nodded, I
found it amazing how we didn't need words anymore. "I'll help if I can,
maybe Zell can find Zack for me." Kevin was crying softly, but managed to
control his voice. The others agreed quickly after that, so now it was time
to search out Zell. I found myself with mixed emotions about everything
that was happening. My mind was focused on finding and helping Zell, while
my heart wanted to morn Zack. I had gotten my wish after all, and now I
knew Zack.

  I found it highly unfair that he had such a hard life. No matter which
way he went, he lived with a great deal of pain. It was like he couldn't
find a solid break, and now I understood why the guys cared about him. They
had seen what they thought was the worst happen to Zack. Then when they
were hit with the reality that his real life was a lot harder. They got a
chance to see things that Zack had never really told them. They had also
seen a Zack that was cursed with heart ache. I decided it was time to put
my heart away and move on. "So how do we start looking for Zell, in honesty
we have no clue where to start." AJ made a few noses then walked to the
front of the group. "Speak for yourself blondie, I have a really good idea
on where to start looking. You said that your people can't enter that other
realm. Well, I think it would be the first place we should look since we
aren't elf's. Not that being an elf is a bad thing, just not what may be
needed. By the way do you have a first name, or is it just Queen?" She
looked at AJ with something that looked like shock and amusement. "I do
have a name, it's just been a while since anyone has used it. My name is
Taya, you may call me this if you chose to." AJ smiled and nodded, then he
held his hand out toward the Queen. "Well, I guess we should get started
Taya, so shall we?" Taya smiled and took his hand, then held or other hand
out toward us.

******Kevin

  My mind was screaming to let it just be and break. I couldn't let that
happen not yet anyway. I had to help the others help Zell, then I could
break down and cry for the rest of my life. Then I could allow myself to
believe that Zack was gone and there was nothing I could do about it. My
mind went back to the things I had seen in that room. My heart ached to
just give in and die right then and there. I was so blind that I hadn't
seen his love for me. The pain he had felt at my wedding had mirrored my
own. Then the life he had lived without me, without the guys. I couldn't
stand watching him go through all he had. I kept telling myself that I
could have made it better, or stopped it if I had only known. Then after
all of those memories to see him again, only to lose him. It was almost to
much for my mind to take. When he had reached out I knew that something was
wrong. I knew that wasn't supposed to happen, he had vanished like a
ghost. All of these thoughts rushed through my mind in a matter of
seconds. I was just now placing my hand in Nick's, and Howie was taking my
hand. In a matter of seconds we would be leaving to find Zell. I had no
real hope that he could find Zack, he may have been able to save him, but
find him I doubt it.

  My heart was shattering into a million pieces. It wasn't taking all that
much time either, just a thought of never seeing him again. I had lived so
long feeling so alone, I had felt like no one could truly love me. I always
feared that I would be used by someone because of who I was. Then Zack had
entered my life, one way or another, he had saved my soul. He had loved me
for myself, not my music, not my looks, just me. I had thought that only
Nick could do that. Now I saw that I was never really truly in love with
Nick. I had loved him, but not the way I had fallen in love with Zack. I
didn't really understand how that had happened so quickly. It was like once
I knew that he loved me I fell instantly. It was like all of my dreams had
come true in one blazing moment. Now everything was falling apart so
quickly, and without pause. I knew we were traveling again only I couldn't
focus on it. My mind only wanted to think about Zack, and life without him.

  When we stopped moving I was forced out of my thoughts. There was a harsh
wind blowing, on top of that the area was way to bright. It was nothing
like this before, last time it had been beautiful. "What happened here,
it's like all hell broke lose?" Taya shook her head and pointed toward a
crystal gateway. I could tell that nothing could really be heard in this
area. So we moved toward the gate, once there everything seemed to calm
down. "We haven't been able to get past this gateway, hopefully you'll have
more luck. I know this much, I won't be able to go any further with you. If
you want you can turn back now. I do not know what lies beyond these gates,
there could be great danger. I have asked a great deal of all of you, I
would understand if you chose not to go any further." I wouldn't have any
of it, so I pushed on the gate, which opened without any problems. I
entered without looking back, I had to get this done I had plans for the
rest of my life. I was going to do whatever I had to then I was going to
feel sorry for myself till I died. I stopped in my tracks when I looked at
the land before me. It was like a crystal waste land, it looked so cold and
dark.

  It wasn't really dark, it was more like soulless. There was light and a
lot of it, only it was so harsh. The last time I had been here there was
sun light and plants, now only crystals existed. I looked back to see the
guys walking slowly toward me. "What happened, it likes a dead zone in
here?" No one had an answer for Brian's question, but I had an idea about
what had happened. The way I looked at it, there had been a battle and this
was the outcome. I just moved forward slowly making sure that I didn't bump
into any of the crystals. All of the crystals looked sharp and deadly, some
of them even looked like there were alive. I don't know why but for some
odd reason my heart rate was picking up. "Kevin, slow down a little man you
leaving all of us in the dust." I stopped for minute to let them catch up
and my heart to slow down. Something was really wrong, and I had no idea
what it could be. When Brian caught up he didn't look to good, in fact he
looked sick. As I looked to the others, they all looked different, like
they were getting sick. They didn't seem to notice, so I kept my mouth
shout and slowly stared walking again. I noticed that further we went the
worse I felt and the worse the others looked. All of the crystals were
glowing, they were getting brighter the further we went.

  I was starting to have trouble breathing, my legs didn't seem to want to
work. "We have to keep going, there's no turning back now." I looked at
Nick, he looked like he had aged ten years. I then looked down at my hands
and noticed the wrinkles that had spread over them.  I now understood what
was happening, it made me want to run forward. So I tried to move quicker,
which only seemed to make me weaker. The others were following suite, but
it didn't look good. Howie and AJ were helping Brian walk, it looked like
he had passed out. I prayed that he had only passed, I wouldn't know what
to do if he had died. I looked ahead and noticed that we only had a few
more feet to go before we cleared the crystals. I took the last of my
strength and jumped into the clearing. Once there I could feel my strength
coming back quickly, I looked back to see the others crossing into the
clearing. I watched as their faces and bodies went back in time. Brian
lifted his head slowly and looked around, he looked a little tired. "I am
not going back through that thing for anything. Do you understand me,
nothing will get me to go through that again." Nick was raving a little
while he made sure Scott was ok. I found that it was a little odd that
Scott had yet to speak.

  I decided that was a good time to get his take on everything. "Scott,
which way do you think we should go?" He looked at me and shrugged slowly,
but his lips remained closed. "Well, what do you think about all this, a
little crazy right?" He just nodded a little and smiled brightly. Now I
knew something was up with him, something was way off. He hadn't really
talked all that much to begin with. Only now he wasn't talking at all, it
made me wonder. "Just wondering, but what happened different in this life?"
Scott looked at me then Nick, who also looked interested. Scott looked away
and for a second I thought he was going to say something. Then he pointed
to his throat, and opened his mouth. He started moving his hands slowly,
then I understood, he was speaking sign languish. Howie was watching his
hands, then his mouth opened slightly. "He says that he was in a car
accident, in that accident he lost his voice, along with his family." Nick
looked at Scott then toward me slowly, his eyes were filling with tears. I
turned away, looking forward. I shook my head and asked myself why I had
pushed him to reveal it. I could have kept my mouth shut until after all of
this was over. For some reason I think it would have worked without a
problem.

  Nick was trying to talk to Scott, but Nick didn't understand sign
languish. It was a painful sight, and I didn't think it could get any
worse. I decided to move on without the guys, that way if anything happened
they would survive. The was starting to recognize the area, it was the
place I had last seen Zell. I looked around until I found a really big
crystal. Deep within the crystal I could see Zell, he looked so
sad. Something told me that he could see me as well. I ran back to the
other guys and told them what I had found. When all of us had gathered
around the crystal we tried to find a way to set him free. "Maybe we could
use some of those crystals over there to break him out." Howie and Nick
went to see if they could pry the crystal lose. "Kevin I think you should
take a look at this, and real quick." I walked up the small hill and looked
at the crystal they should have been trying to pull free. When I got a
closer look my heart stopped, deep within I could see Zack. He looked like
he was sleeping, I reached out and touched the cool surface. He looked so
pale and the crystal looked like a casket. I pounded on the crystal, but it
was like hitting steal. "If we can get Zell free he tell us what's going on
with Zack." I looked at Nick, it had to of been Zell that had done this to
Zack.

******Zell

  I watched them all from my prison, Kevin was raving about me trapping
Zack. I wanted to tell him that it was the only way I could save him. I had
used the last of my energy to bring him here. No matter what my mother
tried he would have died within a few minutes. Now that Zack was frozen in
the crystal he had a chance of surviving until I was free. I didn't even
know if I could gain that freedom now, now that Zack couldn't make contact
with the crystal. Still it was the only chance he had, now if I could just
find a loop hole in this trap. I had set up traps to keep others elf's away
so I could keep myself safe. I was surprised that the guys had gotten
through my crystal field. My only guess was that my blood had speared
them. No matter what the gray elf's had done to them my blood was still in
their veins. They could have shortened their lives to what they would have
been, but that didn't change the blood. Nick was touching my prison and I
could already feel the crystal weakening. I was starting to gain some of my
strength back. When Kevin touched the crystal to scream at me the crystal
gave way a little more. I was trying to pull my arms to my chest hoping I
could blast my way out. When Kevin backed away the crystal regained some of
it's strength.

  I was a little upset now, but I still had some power back. I pushed with
my mind and tried to tell Nick to push my crystal. His head flew up and he
looked straight into my eyes. He looked back to the guys and got all of
them but Kevin to help him push on my crystal. With every second they were
in contact with the crystal I gained more and more strength. The inside of
the crystal was becoming more like liquid than crystal. I pulled my arms to
my chest and tried pulling in all the power from the area, if I could get
enough I could break free. I opened my mind and reached out, I could feel
Zack's heart beating. He was going through this with me, he could feel my
every emotion. When the crystal gave way a little more I was a little
shocked. I hadn't even tried to break out I was just summoning my
strength. I opened my eyes to see Kevin right in front of me pushing on the
crystal. I decided that I had made a mistake in bringing Zack here, I
should have just helped him. I knew this could cost me my life, but I
didn't really have a choice. I summoned ever ounce of strength that I had
gained and sent it to Zack, hoping to help him. If I could give him enough
of my life force and magick I could save him, and bring him back. After I
had given him at least fifty more years of life I focused on setting him
free from the crystal.

****Nick

  I could see Zell moving within the crystal, he looked like he was in
pain. Then he looked at Scott and smiled slowly. Zell opened his mouth,
there was a blinding light and all of us fell back. When I could see again
the crystal looked back, almost dead. I looked to Scott to see if he was
ok. He was grabbing his throat wildly like he was in some kind of pain. I
went to his side and pulled his hand away, there wasn't a mark on
him. "Howie get over here so you can tell me what's he saying." Howie
rushed to my side but Scott wasn't moving his hands. "I don't think your
going to need Howie to tell you what I'm trying to say anymore." My jaw
dropped and I looked back at the crystal, it was getting darker by the
second. "Where the hell are we, and where are my clothes?" I looked
backward to see Zack standing outside of the crystal. Kevin was already
half way to Zack, when he reached him he picked him up. "Kevin, I'm really
happy to see you, but if you keep doing this someone else is going to get
happy." I was a little shocked by Zack's boldness on the whole matter. Then
again I didn't really blame the guy for being bold. He had one hell of a
body, there couldn't be an ounce of fat anywhere on his body. We may have
looked a lot alike but his body put mine to shame, not that I wasn't in
shape. It was just I could never be that in shape even if I worked out
nonstop for the next ten years.

  I pulled my eyes away from Zack and looked back at the crystal. For some
reason it still looked like it was getting darker. I stood up quickly and
placed my hands back on the crystal. For a second it came back to life,
inside was a bleeding Zell. He looked really bad, then the crystal started
getting dark again. "We have to hurry, everyone get over here now."
Everyone came running, one after another all of us had started pushing
again. The crystal was getting brighter but Zell wasn't moving all that
much. I was getting more worried by the second. What had he been thinking
when he had hurt himself to help the others? He had to of known that this
would be the outcome, I just didn't understand him. Didn't he understand
that we had come here to help him, not get him to kill himself. When the
crystal started cracking Brian almost pulled away. "We can't let go until
it shattered, any sooner and we could be to late." Brian nodded and kept
his hands in place, the crystal started cracking all over. When it
shattered I had thought we would get a few cuts. That hadn't happened, it
just faded away like it had never existed. I looked at Zell, his chest was
moving but only slightly. I picked him up and started back toward the gate
way. I didn't care if I looked like an old man by the time I got through
the crystal field. I just knew that I had to get Zell to his mother before
he died.

  The guys were right behind me, Brian was trying to help me. I refused to
slow down while I had him in my arms. The only thing I feared was the
crystal field that had aged us. I waved to Zack, he ran up to my side
really quickly, I told him what we were about to go through. He took Zell
away from me and took off like bullet toward the crystal field. I had never
seen anyone in my life move as quickly as he did. The second he stepped
foot past the crystals they started glowing. He didn't even slow down, if
anything he got faster. I tried my best to keep my pace going, but I was
already getting tired. I was midway through the field and the others were
right behind me. Then all of a sudden the crystals faded away. My strength
came rushing back to me like it had never left me. It only made me move
faster toward the gate, I had a really bad feeling about this. I had a
feeling that Zell had made this field to keep himself safe from
attackers. There were only a few reasons it would have just gone away. One
being that he was fine and no longer needed them. Another being that he was
dead and could no longer support them. I was hoping that the first idea was
the right one, even if it didn't seem likely.

  When we reached the gate only Zack stood in the opening. "The queen took
off with Zell, said she'd be back soon. It doesn't look to good guys, he
never moved the whole time I carried him here." Zack was still running
around naked, but it wasn't like he really had a choice. Just then he
didn't really look all that human, he looked more like an ancient
warrior. His hair was a few inches longer than mine and it blew in the
wind. I understood what Zell had meant about mystical blood. No matter how
hard I tried I would never gain his perfection. He wasn't human on the
inside, maybe a little but more elf than human. He looked for the most part
human, but there wasn't a flaw anywhere on his body. His body had no hair
on it what so ever and his skin was lightly tanned and so smooth. For some
reason I couldn't look away, he looked like me, but if you looked close
enough he looked nothing like me. I wasn't attracted to him, just
festinated by him in so many ways. I noticed the other were looking at him
like I was, there was just something about him. The wind that was blowing
was a little cold, but that didn't seem to bother him. I guess he had
gotten use to the ice cold winds when he was younger and on the streets. I
could have never have lived like that, no matter how hard I had tried.

   Kevin had moved to be by Zack's side, they looked so perfect
together. Like darkness and light forging to become something so much more
beautiful. I was just having a hard time picking who was the light and who
was the darkness. Then Zack did something that took me by surprise. He
leaned into Kevin and allowed Kevin to support some of his weight. It
wasn't much but someone that seemed so cold at times it was a sign of love
for him. He was showing that he trusted Kevin to keep him standing, and
that knew he didn't have to be alone anymore. I smiled to myself and
wrapped my arms around Scott, he sighed softly. "I wonder when all of this
will end, when we can return to something that at least feels normal." I
looked at Scott and smiled, I myself thought normal was highly
overrated. Everything that had happened in the past couple of weeks may
have been weird, but it was kind of fun. It just proved that you could
never really tell what was going to happen next. It also gave me hope that
I would lead a very interesting life, even if it was short and sweet. I
knew that I would have to live everyday like it was the last of my life. I
hoped that I would have chances to do things like this more often. Now that
I had met Zell, I hoped that the magick would continue to flow.

  I don't really know how long we all stood there waiting. When Taya walked
out of nothing she looked saddened. I closed my eyes and prayed it wasn't
what I thought it was. "Zell is doing a little better, but looks like he
has shortened his life greatly. He will not live more than one hundred
years now. With this said I hope you can find it in your hearts to take
care of him." I looked at her with confusion, as I'm sure the others guys
felt as well. "What do you mean take care of him, are you kicking him out
of your kingdom?" She shook her head and looked back toward the mist. A man
was moving toward us, he looked a little off balance. "Well, I guess that
you'll all have to make room for me in your lives." I knew that voice but
it couldn't be, Zell didn't look like that. "It seems I'm more human than
elf now, who would have thought that would happen?" Howie's jaw had dropped
when Zell got close enough to the light. I looked at Zell from head to toe,
he looked amazing. Only his ears weren't pointy anymore and his eyes were a
very light baby blue. His skin was a nicely tanned and his hair was a light
blond, with white streaks through out his hair. He had no clothing what so
ever, but I knew that he could make anything he wanted, no matter how human
he was.

  I still didn't understand why he had to live with us, not that it
bothered me. I found that I liked the idea that he was going to be joining
us. "Not that I don't want you with us, but why live on earth. I mean your
moms got one bad ass castle and she loves you more than you know." He
looked at his mother and kissed her on her cheek then slightly hugged
her. "I'm to human now, the others couldn't accept it, and I understand
that. My mom over here has tried to talk me into staying. So if you don't
mind I would like to crash with you guys. You won't have to worry about
feeding me or clothing me I can take care of that. I just need some friends
and place to live until I can get on my own." I looked to the others and
all of them were smiling. "I don't really see a problem with that Zell, I'm
sure one of us has a room for you." He smiled and walked toward us with a
grace I guess we would never have. I didn't mind I had a friend that could
make my world really interesting. That idea alone got me more hyper then
three mountain dews and a box of cookies. "I guess I can give up on the
idea of things being normal." I just nodded while Scott started laughing
lightly. Zell smiled then draped his arm over my shoulder and his other arm
over Howie's shoulder. I noticed that Howie had a very big smile on his
lips.

  To Be Continued