This is the last chapter for this story. :')
*.*.*
Parker opened the castle doors, making his way back to the castle's marketplace. He looked up at the sky, noticing the sun was nearly set. Fortunately, the castle's gate was wide open. He wondered what time the gate would close. Would it stay open for him when he found Roger, if Roger wanted to return? What would happen if Roger didn't want to come back here, to the castle? What if he wanted to explore the rest of the second Seven Realms? What would Parker do then?
All these questions didn't have answers. Parker hoped that Roger was reasonable enough to talk. If he wasn't, then they were doomed.
Parker looked up in time to notice he was walking straight into the same village where Andalis found him. Yes, this was right! It must have been, or else Parker wouldn't have spotted a hobbit man in the middle of the village's marketplace. He sat on a stone fountain's basin, observing the cool, crystal-clear water. This hobbit resembled Parker, Frodo Baggins, and Parker's descendants, as well as Parker's brother-in-law, the hobbit Tobias.
This gentle-hobbit wore a royal blue jacket, a silvery-blue waistcoat, a light blue dress shirt, and dark blue breeches. His hair was soft, curly, and dark brown. His hair flowed across his shoulders as well as on the top of his feet. He had pale skin, fair elvish features, short pointy ears, and bright blue eyes.
The moment they saw each other, the gentle-hobbit jumped, brandishing his leaf blade sword.
"Whoa! I won't hurt you!" Parker told the gentle-hobbit, trying to calm him. "I'm a friend. My name is Parker Dooley! You must be Roger."
The gentle-hobbit sheathed his sword, sitting back down on the stone fountain's basin. "That's right. That's me. What do you want?"
"I came to bring you home," Parker stated, hoping this gentle-hobbit would listen to him.
Roger chuckled, beside himself with concern. "You don't want to help me." He sighed, admitting freely, "I don't need anyone's help. I'm a loner. I'm not one for arranged marriages, even if Felicity is pretty." He sighed, sheepishly, "Ah. She wouldn't take someone like me. I'm a prince. She's the Ambassador's daughter. What can I do?"
Parker sighed, realizing this was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
Aslan didn't tell him about this, but then neither did the rest of his family. Parker had a decision to make: to tell Roger to go back to his family, to marry the young lass Felicity, or to run away and not trouble himself with Jine and her family? It was a hard decision to make, one that Parker didn't approve of.
He sighed. In spite of everything, he would do the right thing, even though he would regret it in the end.
He looked up, telling Roger, "You need to go back. Aslan won't have it any other way. You must marry Felicity and let our bloodline continue. It's the right thing. I don't like it, but I'm not about to stop something that's already in motion." He paused. Roger looked away. Somehow, Parker wasn't getting through to him. Maybe he should try a different tactic. "Why don't you want to go back?"
"Go back?" Roger chuckled, guiltily. "Go back where? Back to a life I can't call my own?" He looked at Parker, shaking his head profusely. "No. I don't have a life back there! I don't get to make my own decisions! Everything's done for me. I hate that!
"And now, you tell me I have to marry someone I don't know?" He smirked, hardly believing this, "You're ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!" He stood up, determined to get away from him. "Look, I'm done arguing with you! You can't send me back! I won't have it!" He shook his head, inching away from the light red dragonoid. "I'm sorry. We're done. We're done! I'm done. What am I doing? Still talking to you." He chuckled, not liking this. "Well, you can't take me back there. I won't have it. No! Goodbye! I'm leaving!" He made his way towards a tavern, hoping that would settle his mind.
Parker followed Roger, hoping to get the gentle-hobbit to seek reason. He was just about to enter the tavern with Roger, stunning the poor gentle-hobbit, when a blusterous wind blew around the village. The torches flickered on and off, doing their best to stay lit. Parker looked around, at the same time as Roger, wondering what was happening.
"What's going on?" Roger asked, cautious. He jumped back at the sight of a large group of nomadic people, creeping out of the shadows. He hardly believed what he was seeing. He was even more surprised when Parker advanced towards the Shadow People. "Parker, who are they? Why are they here?"
Parker raised his hands. He looked at the Shadow People, telling them, "Look, Roger and I are friends. We won't hurt you!"
"Parker Dooley, you are known to us," a Shadow Woman said with a warm-hearted smile. She approached him, adding bluntly, "Hmm… it's been too long, since we last spoke. You've moved through time. So did we. Aslan knows many things. He saw you coming."
She looked at Roger, gesturing for him to step forward. "Come here. Do not be afraid. We, the Shadow People, will not hurt you. We are your friends, Guardians of the Unknown Regions, come to assist the new prince take the throne of the Land of Talking Animals, reuniting the Land of Unicorns with the Land of Talking Animals at last, once you marry Felicity, daughter of Prince Lockslear and Ambassador Syrena."
"How do you know me, let alone Syrena and Lockslear?" Roger asked, stunned.
The Shadow Woman chuckled, bowing, "We come in many different forms, but we assure you that nothing will go wrong this time around. This land was once ruled by a tyrant, a snow leopard named Melisandre. We, the Shadow People, Keepers of the Unknown Regions, took care of her and her armies.
"Although, it did cost Jine and Tracker their lives. They paid the price dearly with their lives, just so their children could live on and rule side by side with Parker Dooley's family. This bloodline must continue, through you, Roger, and through your betrothed, Felicity. Felicity's part shapeshifter, like you two." She smiled, adding bluntly, "I sense many years of peace throughout this land, thanks to your efforts and to Felicity's family. She's a lot like you, Roger. She's spunky, mischievous, and bold. Do not fear her. You're in good hands."
She sighed, departing into the shadows once more. She looked at Parker, telling him, "Parker, a portal will come. It will take you to your next quest. It will be a short quest, but when you get back, your family will be waiting for you." She vanished, disappearing into the shadows along with her people.
The moment she was gone, the wind died down, allowing a blue-rimmed portal to open up in the centermost part of the village's marketplace. Parker looked at the portal, spotting a castle under a silvery full moon, as well as a grand garden sitting before a crystal-clear lake. He faced Roger, who stared, perplexed, at the portal.
"I don't understand," Roger said, saddened by this new venture. "You're—You're leaving? We only just met. I'm sorry I yelled at you! I should return! I'm just—scared. What if Felicity's not who the Shadow Woman says she is? What if she's—evil, or worse than Jine? I don't know what to do!"
Parker embraced Roger, not letting him go until the lad straightened up. Parker encouraged Roger, saying, "Do not fear. If the Shadow Woman is right, then you have nothing to worry about." He paused, adding, "I will return, and we will talk soon." He shrugged, smiling, "Who knows? We may meet again under different circumstances." He added, "Tell Frodo I miss him. Do the same for our family. I'll come back. I promise."
Roger nodded, knowing this was right. "Good luck."
"You too," Parker said, releasing the lad. He made his way towards the blue-rimmed portal. He looked around, spotting Aslan walking towards him. He nodded to the Great Lion, wondering what he would do next. Aslan approached him, saying:
"Good luck. I will be watching you."
Parker bowed. "And to you." He huffed, rushing towards the portal and running through it. By the time the portal vanished, Roger looked around, not knowing what to do. The gentle-hobbit faced the Great Lion, confused.
"Come. It is time for you to meet your destiny," Aslan said, leading the way.
"If you say so," Roger said, following the Great Lion back to Aster Castle, where his journey began.
.
Parker stood on the lush, green grassy lawn, facing the castle. Rounded towers surrounded the castle, making it look like something out of a fairytale. The moon shone best in this area, as silver fish leapt from the lake's surface, only to dive back underwater moments later.
He sighed, knowing what to do. "Well, here goes nothing." He trudged on toward the castle, knowing that at this point, Aslan had his back.
*.*.*
That's it for the first part of my fanfiction mini-trilogy, Roger and the Shadow People, part of my Origin Series and my Long Series. :) Thanks everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to read this fanfic until the end. It is much appreciated. :)
After a week of not writing anything, I finally came through with finishing this fanfic. I say it turned out quite well. :) More things to come with my OMC dragonoid Parker Dooley and his family, as well as the canon characters! :) Parker will reunite with the Disney Princesses. We'll also see how Roger's faring in the fanfics to come. :)
Until then, I'll see everyone in the next story. Bye! :)
~Aria Breuer