Sorry for the long delay. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. :)
*.*.*
"Where could Frodo and Lily have gone?" Parker asked Peter Pan, the second they went back inside the Grand Pavilion.
"I don't know. Last I checked, there was a ship heading north," Peter said, concerned. "Parker, why would they be taken?"
"There's one reason for that," Aslan said, joining them in the pavilion. "Helen the Shapeshifter is back, in a manner of speaking. Yes, I know she's dead, but her purpose now is to come back from the dead. She's going to use Lily in order to complete for transition from the dead to the living. And if she reawakens, it could spell doom for everyone."
"I've got to go after them!" Parker said, heading towards the opening.
"Yes, you should," Aslan said, stopping the light red dragonoid in his tracks. "Take the Shadow Squad with you. You'll need them in order to bring Frodo and Lily back safe and sound."
"Right," Parker said, gesturing for Peter Pan to follow. As he walked outside, he was grabbed by Peter, who got his attention. "What? What is it?"
"Parker, even if we could get into Mordru's lair, what would be your plan for getting out of there?" Peter asked, concerned.
"We're not leaving Mordru's lair until we have Pandora's box, and Frodo and Lily are safe and sound," Parker said.
"Well, I guess we're coming, too," Eretria announced, joining Peter and Parker, all while carrying her throwing daggers. She looked at Peter, telling him, "Look, you got me into this mess. If we don't find Frodo and Lily and make sure they're back here, then we're doomed."
"Well then, I guess you won't need me anymore, will you?" Anakin said, observing them all.
Parker stared at Anakin like he had seen a ghost. There was something in the Jedi's eyes that changed, something the light red dragonoid felt responsible for.
"Look, Anakin I'm sorry about our little spat back there. Is there any way we can make up for this? You can help us find Frodo," Parker beamed.
Anakin shook his head. "No, save it. I know you and your friends would rather go after Frodo and Lily. That's fine, but Hondo's still out there." He approached one of the speeder bikes and mounted it. As he turned on the engine, he told Parker, "Look, you go after Frodo and Lily. I've got my own mission to attend to: to find Hondo and get us back to our galaxy."
"You sure you won't need my help getting him back?" Parker asked Anakin, cautious. "I mean, you don't know what you're up against."
"And neither do you." Anakin took one last look at the light red dragonoid, before speeding off through the village, leaving Parker in a confused state.
"Come on! That's our cue!" Eretria said, hopping onto a speeder and driving it out of the village.
Parker didn't like this plan, but neither did he like watching Peter Pan fly off without any supervision. Great! Eretria fled in search of Frodo and Lily, Anakin was off doing his own mission, Rose returned home. Was there anything this light red dragonoid could do?
"Where's Eretria?" Allanon asked Parker, right as he and Wil showed up riding horses. Parker nodded silently, pointing in the direction where Eretria fled. Allanon nodded, turning to Wil once before they departed out of the village on horseback.
Great! Parker rubbed his cheeks several times in angst. What was he supposed to do?
"Why don't you go after them?" Aslan said, getting the light red dragonoid's attention. "This is now your mission. The Shadow Squad's leaving without you, Parker."
"I'm not their leader. I didn't want it," Parker admitted. "It was an idea, an idea that now seems to be going on without me."
"You have your mission: to find your brother and stop him before he takes away hope," Aslan said, causing the light red dragonoid to face him, "You can do this, Parker. I have faith in you. You'll get the job done."
"Right," Parker said, climbing onto his own speeder bike and zipping off into the blue.
Aslan sighed. All the pieces were falling into place now. He knew Parker would be all right, but he needed a push, in order to follow his team, the team he created with help from Allanon, Aslan, and Wil, in order to complete the job.
"Good luck, Parker. May you find Frodo and Lily, and bring them home," Aslan said with a small smile.
~o~
Frodo awoke with a throbbing headache. He pressed a hand against the side of his head. There wasn't any blood. No wet liquid to deter him. He looked up, spotting Lily sitting by herself on the other side of the ship. He peered over his shoulder at the golden dragonoid and the red dragonoid, who piloted the ship. What were they doing here?
"What is this?" Frodo asked Lily, concerned.
"Something bad," Lily admitted. She sighed out of sorrow and pain, "Frodo, there's something you should know. I'm not… I mean, I was born in an egg. I'm just—I'm not who you think I am. If the rumors are true, then Eliza Bowler is back, just not in the way you'd like to find out this information."
"What do you mean?" Frodo asked her, confused. "I don't understand."
"I wouldn't expect you to," Lily said. "What Parker doesn't know won't hurt him yet. Although, I did suspect his brother was up to something. That's why I've kept my identity, my true identity, hidden from him. Until this nightmare is over, none of us will be safe."
"Who are you?" Frodo asked Lily, cautious.
"Shh! Not here. Wait until it's all over," Lily said, curtly.
"We're here!" Helen said, watching as Mordru landed the ship at his base. The second the ship landed, Helen approached Frodo and Lily, dragging them to their feet. "And they say ghosts can't do anything. No matter. Move!" She shoved Frodo and Lily outside the ship, not caring if Frodo tumbled on the ground with Lily hoping down in the process.
"Frodo!" Lily cried, helping Frodo to his feet.
"Come," Helen said, leading Mordru, Frodo, and Lily inside Mordru's base, where Hondo awaited them in Pandora's box chamber. "It's time."
Frodo leaned in, whispering to Lily, "Come on. We can't resurrect her now. She's dangerous."
"I know," Lily said, sniffing the air and smelling rescue drawing closer to them. "I've got a plan."
"What plan?" Frodo asked, confused.
"You'll see," Lily said.