Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, "The Shannara Chronicles, "Star Wars", "Ella Enchanted", and Disney Princesses. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, MTV, Spike, George Lucas, Gail Carson Levine, and Disney. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.
*.*.*
Welcome to the second part in my fanfiction mini-series, The Moral Compass, part of my Origin Series and my Long Series. :)
I know the last story was a bit of an info dumper and moved very quickly. Here, there's still info dumping, but I think we can excuse the "Previously On" chapter, since that's giving backstory as to what's happening so far in the series. Plus, I thought it was a good idea to have a "Previously On" chapter, since we're diving into both Parker's story and Alindor's story.
Enjoy. :)
*.*.*
Previously On…
The Origin Series: Stage 3
.oOo.
The First Age Anthology
The Aftermath Series
Aftermath
"Corin, look out!" Parker cried, nearly grabbing his lion friend. He was too late! Corin jumped in and attacked the wolves. The pack was so large, the likes of which the light red dragonoid hadn't seen before. Two hundred wolves, from the looks of them. He had to stop them, flinching as Corin was scratched and bit several times by several wolves.
"STOP!" Parker charged towards them, moving to the center of the pack and protecting his lion friend from further damage.
-x-
"Parker," Aslan huffed, speaking softly to him, "you're in grief right now, just like last year. Just as you still are after losing your wife. I know you haven't given up on her. But I will need you and the shapeshifters to come through the timelines. I'll give you a day to gather your belongings, to say farewell to Maxin and Anabeth, and we'll be on our merry way."
"What are you up to?" Parker asked, curious about Aslan's latest endeavor.
"Let's say you owe me one. I hope you live up to your end of the bargain," Aslan said, knowing the red dragonoid would complete his mission.
"Does it have anything to do with me helping out my descendants?" Parker asked, intrigued.
"It does," Aslan said, revealing Parker's speeder bike. The red dragonoid's speeder bike had followed the dragonoid all the way out here. How? Maybe he shouldn't question it. "I'll take care of Corin's body. You go on your merry way back to Dragon's Hallow."
-x-
"Parker," said a curly, brunette-haired woman wearing a purple floral dress. She advanced towards Parker, hugging him. Parker recognized her scent. He knew those emerald green eyes anywhere, her pale skin, her thin frame. She was beautiful to look at, inside and out, and he admired her for that.
"Eliza. My Eliza," Parker said, wrapping his arms around her, kissing her on the lips. As he released her, he asked, "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead."
"This place keeps me alive, like Tobias said," Eliza said, repeating Tobias' words. She told Parker, getting his attention, "It's all right. You can visit me in this realm anytime you wish."
-x-
"Oh," the gentle-hobbit said, smiling. "I'd love to get a weapon like yours. Where did you find one?"
"I made it myself, crafting it with my own two hands," Parker said, not sure yet if he wanted to tell the hobbit how a lightsaber was made. The fine details anyway.
"I'd love to try it out for myself, crafting a weapon," the gentle-hobbit said, happy to be free. He extended his hand, telling the light red dragonoid promptly, "I'm Terrence Dooley from Pim."
"Parker Dooley," Parker said, shaking his hand.
-x-
"I'll help you find a new home," Parker said, calmly. "If that's what you want. I'll help you, and maybe a few more things, like keeping the family bloodline going."
"I could handle that," Terrence said, shaking his head. "There's nothing for me here now."
"Then let's leave, find a new home, one where you're accepted," Parker said.
Terrence nodded, smiling back. "Let's do it."
-x-
"This salt came from the Shire. I need it to grow trees." Frodo smirked at Parker and Terrence. "Thank you both for coming with me. Now, we can return to the Chesapeake Manor and get on with our day."
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen," Parker said, stunning both Frodo and Terrence. "Terrence and I have somewhere else to be, and I'm afraid it does not involve you, Frodo Baggins."
"What?" Terrence asked, shocked.
"But you said you'd come with me! You agreed!" Frodo cried, cautious of the light red dragonoid.
"And I thought you'd help the dragonoids," Parker said, content.
"I said no such thing!" Frodo said, stunned by the light red dragonoid's words. Frodo looked down at the green, grassy ground, realizing he had been betrayed. "You lied to me. You said you'd help me and you lied to me!"
"Frodo," Parker said, admitting truthfully, "if I lied to you, you would know it. Dragons don't lie and neither do dragonoids." He inched closer to Frodo, noticing the hobbit move back an inch while slinging the satchel over his shoulders and putting the salt box back in the satchel.
"I was told never to trust dragons. Why should I believe you?" Frodo asked, cautious.
"Because you won't remember this," Parker said, grabbing Frodo and staring him down. The effort worked. In seconds, Frodo collapsed, unconscious. Parker nodded silently, realizing his task was done.
-x-
"Wait. What do you mean 'we'll be separated'?" Terrence asked, alarmed.
"You'll see. This isn't any ordinary mirror. Good luck," Aslan said, watching Parker and Terrence head towards the mirror.
"Thank you," Parker repeated, patting Terrence's shoulder before walking through the mirror. He didn't look back to see if Terrence followed him. Only, he didn't expect the mirror to take him somewhere else, somewhere new. Where was he heading to anyway?
~o~
Parker's Princess Problem
"Now," Cinderella continued, as the blackboard wrote words down automatically, "what is the Light Side of the Force?"
"It's love!" Snow White said automatically.
"Hope," Anna pointed out.
"Endurance," Elsa added.
"It builds trust," Pocahontas said.
"Character," Mulan said with a warm-hearted smile.
"It defends those who love each other," Rapunzel pointed out.
"Selfless," Tiana said with candor.
"Hard-working," Merida said, gruffly.
"Beauty lies within," Belle said, gracefully.
"Finding the Light Side of the Force means you have to believe in yourself, trust yourself, and love yourself. In general, be happy with yourself," Moana said, pleased.
"Without the light, then all you have is darkness," Jasmine said, shrilly.
"Jasmine, we're trying to think happy thoughts," Cinderella said with a smile.
"You follow your heart's desire and always look on the bright side of life," Aurora said, adding to the growing list of possibilities to the Light Side of the Force.
"There's always adventure when traveling with the light. Usually, it's happy and bright," Ariel said, loving this conversation.
"But above all, you have to follow your dreams," Cinderella said to Parker, politely. "For without dreams, the light wouldn't have a reason to hope and hopefulness is important when it comes to the Light Side of the Force."
-x-
"Don't worry about us, Parker. We may live in this pocket timeline, but we know you'll come and visit us again," Snow said, lightly.
"I will. I'll be back," Parker promised, huffing a little as he made his way towards the mirror portal, disappearing from the princesses' realm in seconds.
~o~
Twitterpated
"Ah!" Parker waved to the hobbitesses. He turned to Terrence, asking, "So, who is this Marjorie? I understand you grew up together. Maybe I can meet her someday. Have you thought about what you're going to say to her when you see her again?"
"It's been a couple of months since I last saw her," Terrence blushed madly. "I can remember the first time Marjorie and I met! She was beautiful. We dated a couple of times, I asked her to marry me, but then she left. I never received an answer from her again." His expression was graved and solemn, shocking the light red dragonoid right to the core.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Parker said, sympathetic towards his great-grandson.
"No, it's all right," Terrence said. "I wish I knew what her answer was."
-x-
Parker smiled, glad when Ella and her prince, Prince Charmont, kissed and, eventually, decided to marry. Parker turned to Terrence and Marjorie, smiling when the happy hobbit couple embraced and kissed.
"Is there going to be a double wedding?" Parker asked, grateful the two happy couples were getting what they wanted.
-x-
"Marjorie's asleep. I thought I'd wander around the castle for an hour," Terrence said with a warm-hearted smile. "I've been meaning to ask you: you know how to shapeshift. I doubt my father would have forgotten to shapeshift. I'm eager to learn about shapeshifting. Maybe our bloodline will always have shapeshifting in it."
"Only if they will unlock it," Aslan, the Great Lion, interrupting their meeting. He smirked, admitting freely, "That's all you need to do, Terrence." He blew on Terrence and Parker, waited until the mist blew away, before addressing them both again. "There. It is finished. Now, your bloodline will always have shapeshifters in it."
Terrence nodded. "Thank you, Aslan."
-x-
In time, Marjorie adjusted to Terrence's new abilities. They were married on the same day as Char and Ella, and what a glorious wedding it was at the palace. Parker was, of course, invited to Terrence and Marjorie's wedding. Parker was grateful his great-grandson and new great-granddaughter-in-law got to spend their wedding amongst their new and old friends.
~o~
Transparent
They were at a graveyard. Before Parker, he saw Terrence and Marjorie wearing black, mourning for their little girl at her tombstone. Parker gasped in shock and horror. No! How could they lose their daughter like that? It made no sense at all!
Parker turned his gaze to the gravestone he and Tobias stopped by. It was covered in snow. Oh, Parker couldn't bear to look at the tombstone!
"No. This cannot be me. I cannot have this future! I cannot let these events come to pass!" Parker cried. Tobias' face remained sullen and cold.
"These are your future events, should you choose to stay at Terrence's house for years and years, never leaving and growing old a lot quicker than you know. This is your decision," Tobias raised his head, staring fiercely at Parker, "but you choose the opposite path from your destiny. You choose to abandon Frodo Baggins and the fate of your family for comfort, for your comfort zone! Parker, how dare you do such a thing! Do you not care what happens to your family? Do you not care what happens to all of us? It is your fault these events must come to pass!"
Tobias yelled with rage. He calmed down, admitting to the light red dragonoid, who was in great pain. "Your decision affects us all! Do not forget that."
"I won't become like this!" Parker cried out in terror, finding the courage in his heart. "No! I won't be like this anymore! I'll do what the spirits tell me! I'll go. I'll leave Terrence's house and continue my journey, no matter where Aslan takes me, no matter what you decide. I will follow you, always. You, the other spirits, and Aslan. Don't let me see the dragonoid who did wrong here. Let me become the dragonoid I am now!
"Please?" Parker pleaded, grabbing Tobias' jacket. "I want to change! I want to do right! Just let Autumn live!" He wept, collapsing in Tobias' arms, only to land on his bed a moment later.
-x-
Parker stopped weeping. He looked about his room. His room, which wasn't destroyed! The bed was still there, the window was closed and still present. Even the sound of a baby wailing in the next room got him jittery! Autumn was still alive with excitement! The Forest of Pim wasn't burned down! He made it back safe and sound!
"Thank you, spirits!" Parker cheered with joy.
-x-
By the time the vision ended, Parker smiled at Terrence and Marjorie. "Your baby will live on, giving birth to children and there'll be grandchildren, too. I'm sure of it! But," his happy expression turned to sorrow, "I have to leave Kyrria. Alone. I'm heading back to the Portal Realm after the Autumn Festival is over." He stopped Marjorie before she could protest, "Now, don't trouble yourself. I'll be fine."
"But why do you have to leave? These spirits tell you something, show you something important?" Marjorie asked, concerned.
"The one spirit that usually turns up is the one that is supposed to guide me. Tobias. I don't know why or for what purpose, but" Parker paused, returning to his bed, looking it over, "I know I cannot stay here. It would ruin us. It would ruin the family if I did."
"Then you must leave," Terrence said, calmly. He raised an eyebrow at Marjorie, causing her to stop protesting. "No one should go against what the spirits say, not even Aslan could stop this." Parker stood up, facing his great-grandson as Terrence continued. "I'm going to miss you. You've changed my life for the better. I now have a family because of you! Thank you, Parker, for everything you've done!"
Parker embraced him.
"Thank you," Terrence said, teary-eyed.
"Don't thank me yet." Parker released him. "Thank me after generations passed and I'll see you again in the Portal Realm, where all spirits go when they want to be alive."
Terrence nodded, appreciating the sentiment.
~o~
Alindor, the Druid King Trilogy
The Second Druid
Ulmayá couldn't believe this! She and Solima were lookalikes? She, Ulmayá, was adopted? Who was her real family? She shook off these thoughts as she approached the stone basin, willing to look at the watery glass mirror and see what Aslan wanted her to show her.
Her reflection changed to show a house cat, outside and loving nature. A male cat with a thin, muscular frame and long golden fur. He looked so beautiful. The way he moved, the way he presented himself. Who was he?
"Who is he? This cat. What's his name?" Ulmayá asked, wanting to know more.
"His name is Alindor." Aslan smiled. "And he is your mate."
-x-
Alindor turned his foster father's speeder to the next road, hoping to dodge her. He had it! He was nearing the border to the Land of Dragons… if he hadn't been stopped by the cream-colored yellow furry cat, forcing him to slow his foster father's speeder bike down.
Alindor smiled at her, hoping she would back away. That is until he saw her silver-hilted lightsaber, resting on her belt. His smile faded. He was in big trouble.
-x-
"He is not our son," Farzad said, annoyed. He told Alindor, "You know, you're lucky you don't know where your parents are. They would be very disappointed in you, as I am." He stood up, approaching a message on the table. "I'm sending you to the druids at Paranor."
"Paranor?" Alindor asked, confused. "That Druid's Keep in the Four Lands? It's not even in our world!"
"I know, but it will give you the chance to know discipline, honor, sacrifice," Farzad said, fuming.
-x-
The first High Druid nodded. "Then it is in our power to grant you the title of Druid. With it, you will be given the information you need, before you return to your home world and go to other worlds as well. Congratulations. You have passed your trials. Many more will come in time. Do you accept these terms?"
Alindor looked at the Druids, knowing what to say. "I accept them. When do I start?"
-x-
Alindor faced him, not knowing what else to do. "Where will you go?"
"Oh, don't worry about me," Bremen said. "My destiny lies here in the Four Lands. But you!" He shook his head. "You have the chance to explore other worlds, do other things no other Druid could foresee. And you know how to shapeshift, too. That will come in handy during the Shapeshifter's Migration, should you choose to go that route."
"But I don't want to leave you," Alindor said, worried. "You've given me my life back. You've given me a chance to live and be free."
"Yes, but now that time is past," Bremen said, eerily. "You must make your way in the worlds. I cannot guarantee your safety."
"I suppose I'll have to find my family. My real family," Alindor said, curtly.
"Well, good luck," Bremen said, extending his hand to him. Alindor shook it, not knowing if this was a good idea.
"And to you," Alindor kept staring at the horizon, hardly hearing Bremen's last words before the Druid left the balcony.
~o~
The Lost Citizens
"Hello," Ulmayá said, approaching Alindor and telling the brown Burmese cat. "We need to find two cats. Their names are Jine and Tracker. Jine's an Oriental Cat and Tracker's a Burmese Cat. Have you seen them? Do you know where they are?"
The brown Burmese cat huffed, shaking his head. "It's been almost two years since those names have meant something. Now, my wife Jine and I are refugees in a land that no longer belongs to us."
-x-
Tracker glared at her, asking in tension, "How do you know so much about our history?" He turned to Alindor, asking him sharply, "How do you know about us?"
"Because I'm your son," Alindor said, curtly.
-x-
She will not relinquish the throne," the leopard said, seriously. "Even if you could become king, you will not be a High King. That job has already been taken by the leopards and we will see to it that the Big Cats win our spot as top cat."
Alindor sighed. This was the way of it then. He nodded, accepting the terms. "Fine, but if I could ask one small favor from you and your kin."
"Certainly," the leopard said, curiously.
"That I shall become king, maybe not High King, but a king nonetheless. I want to see these animals return to their homeland. If we accept these terms, then I will do everything in my power to stay in power for however long I wish," Alindor said, bluntly.
The leopard nodded. Alindor wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no, but it definitely meant something.
"Fair enough. We have a deal," the leopard said, curtly. "I'm sorry I doubted you. I didn't know your family still had dignity." He huffed. "I can't say your descendants will know that, but at least you have your honor and your freedom. Our Queen will accept that and she may let you travel, but she still remains in power. That is all there is left to say on the matter." He added, stopping the golden house cat, "But a word of advice, Alindor."
Alindor nodded. "Anything."
"Free us from the Shadow Empire. That is all the leopards ask from you," the golden spotted leopard said, curtly.
-x-
"Spend three years in the Land of Talking Animals. Help out the Queen, while you still can. The Big Cats are taking over your homeland, Alindor. There's no stopping that. We both knew this was bound to happen," Aslan said, curtly. "Jine caused this and now we must pay the consequences. The raids were there for a reason."
"Who gave her the idea? The snow leopard queen?" Alindor asked, curiously.
"She gave me her life, in exchange for liberating the Land of Talking Animals from the threat that came to their lands, your lands. I told her, knowing well what I was doing, that Jine's time as a ruler had reached its end. She disobeyed my orders, your mother did, when she beat up Parker Dooley, and now she is paying the price for what she's done. I am sorry. I should have told you earlier," Aslan said, calmly.
"So, my mother is responsible? I thought she was good," Alindor asked, warningly.
"She's changed, but the wounds from her past have reached her. She will never be the same. She will never be free to lead her life the way she wants to lead it. In three years, I ask for you to go out and find Parker Dooley. Learn from him and see that the Shadow Empire is taken care of. I will make arrangements, but you must be ready to leave," Aslan said with compassion.
"Then the Shadow Empire is a threat," Alindor said, worriedly.
"And you are still a Druid. You can do this, Alindor. You have it in you to set things right," Aslan said, curtly. "Good luck. I'll see you soon." He wandered off, leaving the golden house cat alone.
~o~
For King and Country
"You are allowed to enter and exit this kingdom, the Land of Talking Animals, as you please. Unless you commit a treasonous crime, which I doubt, then and only then will your titles be revoked. I doubt you'll know what that treasonous crime is, for I will not give it. And trust me, it's higher than being in a war and watching the friends you love die, right before your very eyes!" Melisandre said, seriously. "That is the only way your title is revoked."
"Why won't you give it? What are you hiding? Why can't we know what treasonous crime it is unless you tell us?" Alindor cried, annoyed with all these riddles.
Melisandre smiled, this time keeping her cool. A silence followed that Alindor didn't like.
"Well, what is it? Won't you tell us?" Alindor asked, no longer wanting to waste any more time.
"The heinous crime is when you betray Aslan again. Surely, you do not want that. It was Aslan that offered you and your family clemency," Melisandre said, serious. "But pray you don't screw this up again. Is that understood? You and your family aren't being punished too hard and will still have your titles intact. Only Aslan can determine where you four go from here, especially since it was him that gave the orders."
-x-
"Dad, why am I doing this?" Jered asked one day, concerned about his situation as the king-to-be. "You're off to find a dragonoid, who may or may not be alive. Do you even know if this Parker Dooley's out there?"
"Aslan knows. I'll ask him first and foremost," Alindor said, calmly.
"That isn't the point. How long are you going to be gone?" Jered asked, worried about his father.
"Only time will tell," Alindor said, patting his son's shoulders.
-x-
"A happy reunion," Melisandre whispered to herself. "Well, maybe not for Jine, but it will be worth seeing Jine's reaction when she learns Parker Dooley is alive."
"And no sign of dragons approaching our land. All is quiet," Davin said, getting her attention. "Are you sure about this? You know what Aslan does to those who disobey him."
"Yes, and that is why we can't let anyone interfere in his plans." Melisandre hissed, looking out the window again. "Let's hope Aslan knows what he's doing. I cannot promise how future generations in Alindor's bloodline will behave, but let's hope they won't be like Jine. That would be a sorry case indeed."
"And if one of her descendants' acts like her? Imagine the treachery and villainy that would ensue," Davin said, worriedly.
"Yes, that's why we need to make sure this never happens again," Melisandre said, coming up with a plan. "We keep Jine's family in line. If one of her own steps out of bounds, we and all the talking animals will do our best to keep track of them. We don't want a repeat performance of the Parker Dooley-Jine incident."
"What if they don't agree to this? What happens then?" Davin asked, cautious.
"Oh, they'll have to. We'll make sure of it," Melisandre said, walking away from the window.
~o~
The Moral Compass Series
Bereavement
"A female snow leopard, Melisandre, was given the task by Aslan to raid the various kingdoms of the Land of Talking Animals," Qua'ra pulled out a map on the holoterminal, showing the Land of Talking Animals and the snow leopard named Melisandre. "Melisandre won those lands. The realm belongs to her now and to the Big Cats, but there's an issue that needs to be dealt with promptly." She sighed in despair. "So, the Shadow Empire has finally started to fall, with you being here." She shook her head. "I knew the rumors weren't untrue. This is all Melisandre's doing and the Big Cats will continue the rift, until something is done about it! Melisandre's already taken care of Jine's family. They're nothing now. The Shadow Empire is the next to fall!"
*.*.*
Thanks for reading. :)