Parker stepped out of the grey-rimmed portal, stunned by the Portal Realm's landscape, reminding himself that he was home. Truly home here. What could be more brilliant than that?
A dark blue/purplish starry sky loomed over the horizon and over a massive mountain, as well as a grassy field, upon which the colors browns, yellows, greens, blues, and purples rippled across this landscape and the mountains. A light shone above his head, making it easier for him to see. There were portals that floated in the air, while other portals stayed stationary, but they were all in different colors, sizes, and shapes, too. These portals were brilliant; at least, in Parker's eyes, and they were all unique, too, showing a different world beneath the surface.
It was a wonderous realm to be in, an in-between world that knew no bounds and where spirits could roam freely, alive and well, too.
He looked at his wife, Eliza, who stared at the vista in great wonder. He sighed, longing to one day share his memories with her, as many as they could. All those quests weren't complete without his human-shapeshifter wife by his side, guiding him through his quests and his trials.
He admired this vista, and his wife, as Qua'ra showed up in her scarred lioness form, greeting them with joy. She wasn't alone, for her entire family was here, that were still alive, as well as her spirit family. Yes, it seemed like Melena, who was in her brunette-haired human woman form, joined them with ease. Parker sighed, enthralled by her.
"Ahem!" Eliza cleared her throat, getting Parker's attention.
"Eliza," Parker whispered in her ear, "the last I recall, when you were a spirit, you told me to move on. Well, I did try, so many times. Even now, I nearly felt like agreeing to your wishes."
"Well, I'm alive. What are you going to do about it?" Eliza asked, surprised when Parker leaned in, dipping her as he transformed into his human-hobbit form, kissing her on the lips without question. Her heart burst inside her chest. She wanted him so badly!
He released her, moving her hair back with candor. "Did you really think I'd forget about you?"
Eliza shook her head, grateful when he helped her stand up again. "No. No, you didn't, which is why I love you, Parker Dooley."
"Well, you did teach me, when you were in spirit form, that it's okay to move on," Parker said, whispering in her ear, "but I still love you. I always have and I always will."
Eliza smirked, loving this statement. "Good, because I wouldn't have it any other way."
Parker smiled, hugging his darling wife. He looked at the others, who gave him strange looks, with the exception of Aslan, who smiled at him. Even Frodo stared at Parker and Eliza with grimness in his eyes. Did he understand love or did he not?
Parker laughed, reminding Frodo, "What? I told you, someday you'll experience this, too."
Frodo smirked in understanding. "I don't think so. I'm fine being a bachelor." In a way, he wanted to feel what Parker and Eliza shared. Why? Somehow, it caught Parker and Eliza's attention, making them both smile at him.
"You'll see, Frodo. One day, you'll see, and Parker will be right there to guide you on your journey," Eliza said with a warm-hearted smile.
"Hmm. Yes, I am sure that time will come to pass and it will come soon, sooner than you know it," Aslan said, reminding them all why they were here.
"Okay. So, the Shapeshifter's Migration. We've done it once. We can do it again!" Qua'ra | Scar-ra said with full confidence.
"Yes, but how do we go about accomplishing this?" Kat'ka | Katrina asked, also in her scarred lioness form.
"It's simple. We follow Aslan's word and nothing will go wrong. Right?" Melena asked, just as curious and confused as her family was.
Aslan cleared his throat, walking towards Frodo. "There is something we need to do first, and I'm afraid Frodo will be the one to enter the Third Age first."
Frodo chuckled, confused. No. He wasn't the one going through through the portals first! Why him? That made no sense. He looked at Aslan now, seeing the serious expression on his face.
"Oh, you're being serious? Why me? I don't understand," Frodo said, hesitant. His eyes widened with understanding. It was about to happen anyway. "No. Please don't make me become amnesiac. We don't know how bad it will be, this time around."
"Oh, but I do and so does the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea," Aslan stated, knowingly. He coaxed Frodo with gentle words, "Come on, Frodo. You knew this was happening."
"I did, but Aslan… I just… alright, but I'm not sure about this. Couldn't Parker do something about this? Something to jog my memories ahead of time, before we complete this task?" Frodo asked, wondering if Parker's powers were strong enough to find him a cure.
Parker looked at Aslan, wondering if such a thing was possible. He sighed, realizing Aslan had a backup plan.
"No, you're right," Aslan said in understanding.
"I am?" Frodo asked, alarmed.
"Why yes. Here's the backup plan: the moment you meet Parker again, you'll not only remember, but you'll know all that transpired since you came back in time," Aslan said with a warm, friendly smile.
"Since he… what? So, Frodo is a time traveler then," Parker stated, causing glares to form amongst his friends and family.
"Of course! What did you expect? He wasn't?" Eliza asked, concerned about her husband.
"Yes, I am a time traveler, but not in the way you think," Frodo explained. "I came from the future. I was five then. It's a long story, and I'm afraid we don't have time." He sighed, telling Aslan, "Aslan, if this is your backup plan, we're going to turn me amnesiac, then do it. I don't know what will transpire, but—"
It was too late. Aslan blew on Frodo, leaving Frodo senseless. Frodo's memories. They were fading. He hardly remembered anything. What was he doing? He fell into the darkness, his mind focused on his mission as new memories formed in his mind. He was a school teacher in the Land of Talking Animals, during the Third Age. He still remembered his name.
Frodo Baggins.
That was all he found out about himself… for now. Hmm… where was his family? Did they know he was still alive? All he knew was he fell asleep, lost in a sea of dreams that had no end. By the time he woke up, he was laying in his bed, lost in a world he didn't recall being in. Just that he was here and that all he knew. For now, anyway.
.
Parker looked at the portal from where Frodo disappeared. He had no idea where Frodo was, just that the poor gentle-hobbit was off doing something. Parker looked at his friends in understanding. It was time to move on. The Third Age awaited them.
Parker sighed, watching Qua'ra | Scar-ra look at him in interest and with hope in her heart.
"We're really going to the Third Age," Qua'ra | Scar-ra said, debating this whole mission. "I don't know what's about to happen to us. I just want you to know that you're my best friend. You've done so much for our families. Now, I just hope we can be best friends forever, for always."
"Just be careful. We'll see each other again very soon," Parker said, hugging his old friend, not letting her go for a second. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." Qua'ra | Scar-ra said, waiting for him to release her. When he did, she said, "I'll see you soon."
Parker nodded. "I hope so. I'll see you soon, Scar-ra." He worried that Vitiate | Valkorion might come back, or Maranguan. For now, they were safe, and that was all that mattered to him right now. He watched Qua'ra | Scar-ra and her family disappear through the portals, disappearing on sight and leaving Parker miffed. Surely, this Shapeshifter Migration couldn't be this quick? And yet, it was, which left him in disbelief. For now, anyway.
Parker waved his hand in the air, revealing a blue light that revealed his age. The blue light told him he was one-hundred-and-fifty-years-old. What? How was that possible? He hardly felt himself age up, but here he was! One hundred and fifty years old. Well, it was better than nothing, anyway… or was it?
"Parker, it's time," Eliza said, moving towards one of the portals that showed the Dragonoid Castle. Parker took her hand, as Eliza transformed into her pink feminine dragonoid form. She smiled, kissing him on the cheek, as she spoke to him, happily, "It's time we start anew, at our new home."
"Yes, I suppose it is time," Parker said, looking at Aslan one last time. "Thank you, Aslan."
"Don't mention it," Aslan said, watching Parker nod, before the Great Lion nodded back at Parker and his wife. He blew at Parker and Eliza, watching as a portal surrounded the couple, taking them straight to the Dragonoid Realm, in the Princesses' World.
Parker knew one thing: he was home.
