Parker, like Maranguan, was a light red dragonoid with a lizard-like, humanoid body and a dragon-like head. They had a short snout with a tipped end pointed up towards the sky. Their three-fingered frills, with black tips at their ends, sat on the sides of their heads, while their long, furry, red ears sat between their frills and their pair of short, wavy, curvy, grey horns. Their eyes were cat-like, and while Parker had yellow eyes, Maranguan's was a mixture of yellow with a swirling red mist in the irises. Parker's black claws were retracted; at least, until he saw Maranguan, then they extended a little. Maranguan's black claws were partially extended, as he dragged Frodo into the throne room. As for Parker and Marnaguan's black spikes, they ran from their backs down to their medium-sized tails, which curled around their feet.

While Parker's skin was nice and clean, free from scars, Maranguan's skin had burns, bruises, and long jagged cuts running across his body, head, tail, and face. It was the one feature that identified who was who, and Maranguan knew it as well as Parker. While Parker wore red robes today, Maranguan was dressed in his black Dark Jedi robes, complete with a black leather tabard draped across his shoulders and down to his waist, where a silver utility belt held his tabard and his black pants in place.

Parker stood there, wondering what this was all about.

It took Parker a second to realize who Maranguan was. At that, Parker reached for his silver-hilted lightsaber and pulled it out, brandishing the silver beam at the push of a button. Parker snarled, not wanting Maranguan's company.

"Whoa! Whoa! I'm a friend!" Maranguan cried, pleading with his better half.

"If you are my friend, then you shouldn't have threatened me in the dream world," Parker growled, angry at him.

"Look, I come in peace. I even brought Frodo here," Maranguan said, pulling Frodo in front of him.

Parker eyed Frodo suspiciously, retracting his lightsaber a second later and putting it back on his utility belt. Parker asked Maranguan, "Is it time? Are my descendants all grown up?"

"Accounted for," Elijah said, making his presence known to Parker. Behind him came Ronnie, as well as Aslan, who spoke to Frodo directly:

"Frodo, do you know who this dragonoid is?" Aslan said, getting Frodo's attention.

"No. No, it can't be," Frodo said, gazing up at Parker's serene face. For a second, he knew nothing. Then something happened, the moment he looked at Parker. "Parker? Parker Dooley? Whoa!" He closed his eyes, feeling his memories resurface.

He remembered the adventures he had with Parker. He remembered his family members, the moment Parker knocked him unconscious the first time, before Aslan decided to use this to his advantage when transitioning between Ages. The last thing Frodo remembered, before his memories finished resurfacing, was being in the Portal Realm with Aslan turning him into a teacher, just before he reached the Third Age.

He took a few steps back, by the time his memories returned to him. Frodo felt his forehead. For a second, he thought he needed a chair. Then he looked up at Parker again, tears streaming down his eyes. They weren't tears of sadness—well, they were sad, but they were also happy, happy he was back to normal, with memories from both his lives flitting about in his mind.

"Parker, it's you," Frodo said, rushing up to Parker and embracing him. Parker hugged him, grateful to have his best friend back. "I thought I lost you! I nearly thought I lost myself! I remember now! I remember everything!"

Parker nodded, grateful to have him back. Patting Frodo's cheek, Parker said, "I'm glad to have you back. How do you feel, now that your memories are restored?"

"Honestly, I've never felt better," Frodo said, facing Elijah and Ronnie, who came up behind Elijah. Frodo approached them, telling them, "I remember you both. I remember teaching you about the First World, the First Age, all of it."

"Do you remember now, where you grew up?" Elijah asked, curiously.

"There's no need to talk about that, is there?' Ronnie asked, beside himself with worry.

"Shh! Let him speak!" Elijah whispered to his best friend.

Ronnie rolled his eyes, lowering his head as he said, "Oh well. All is well then."

Frodo nodded, smiling, "I remember teaching you two about the First World. I also remember growing up in the Shire until I was five. After that, I went on my own, back in time, throughout the Ages." He faced Parker, explaining to him, "It wasn't long until, after the First World was destroyed, that I found my way here, in the Dragonoid Realm. I got a lift, thanks to Aslan, heading for the Land of Talking Animals. There were rumors about your family heading to the Land of Dragons. So, I did my own investigating and I found something."

"And what did you find?" Parker asked him, curiously.

Frodo shook his head, saying, "It was your brother, Turen Dooley, who stole the Encrusted Jewel."

Parker nodded. "I knew that." He failed to mention that he was there, at the Dooley Mansion, after his step-brother, Turen/Mordru, ransacked the place and killed his family, taking their mother, Cinthia Dooley, with him to the evil dragonoid cave. Oh, how much had changed since that time, all those Ages ago.

"Well, what you don't know is that Turen stole the Encrusted Jewel and used it to track you down. He's hiding in the Land of Dragons, working on his plan to get back at you for killing his family. He wants revenge. He'll stop at nothing to get it," Frodo added, "The Encrusted Jewel is what's keeping him young. I just thought you should know that about him. He's kept it all this time. He's still using the name Mordru as a cover. He wants revenge. I fear he's going to do something horrible."

"Do you know when he might turn up?" Parker asked, curiously.

Frodo shook his head, saying, "I don't know. Maybe sometime during my time. It's hard to say. He won't come out unless he knows you're there, alone. I fear something terrible is going to happen, if he succeeds. Just be careful. I fear for you. I fear for your life."

Parker nodded, saying, "Well, thank you for the warning me, but there's nothing we can't handle."

"My lord!" one maroon dragonoid approached Parker, wearing red robes and carrying scrolls. Elijah stared at the maroon dragonoid in amazement, just as Parker explained to him:

"Some maroon dragonoids weren't affected by my spell. They were the lucky ones." Parker looked at the maroon dragonoid, asking him, "Davon, what is it?"

"There's incoming ships. They're not our colors! I fear they're the enemy's colors," Davon said, warningly.

Parker nodded, leaving the throne room. He turned to Frodo and the others, telling them, "Come with me. Now!"

"Parker, what's going on? Where's Eliza?" Frodo asked, worriedly.

"Eliza's in the south tower. She has no idea about these oncoming ships," Parker said, making his way towards the castle's entrance courtyard. The moment he stepped outside, along with the others who came here to find him, Parker stopped in the entrance courtyard. Before him was a witch with green skin and dressed in a black and purple gown. She carried a staff with a glowing yellow orb on top of the staff. Her raven joined her, grateful to be of service.

"Hello Maleficent," Parker said, making introductions known to her. "I'm afraid you're not welcome here. This is my realm, not yours."

"Well!" Maleficent said, pleased. "I must say this is quite the turnout." She turned to Frodo, telling him, "Hello Frodo Baggins. My, my how you've grown. You're still keeping away from my gaze."

"You have no business here. Go away!" Frodo shouted, annoyed with her.

"Well, well. Is that anyway to treat a guest?" Maleficent asked, cackling. "I must say, I'm going to enjoy tearing this realm apart."

Parker extended a hand out to Frodo, forcing the gentle-hobbit not to interfere. Parker returned his gaze to Maleficent, telling her, "Maleficent, this is your last chance: go away and don't come back. You wouldn't want to start a war."

Maleficent chuckled. "Oh, you underestimate me. Therefore, I place a curse on this realm and others like it. Soon, there will be a war. Heroes versus heroes and villains versus villains. It is a battle where none will survive and all the victors will be slain. It shall be done, as is promised."

"Wait!" Frodo said, stopping Maleficent from completing her curse. Frodo closed his eyes, making sure there was a failsafe to the curse, "You don't want to do that. Give us a chance to live! If there must be a battle, let it be done my way. You know what way that is, don't you?"

Maleficent paused, thinking on his words. She retracted, completing her curse, "Very well. Only love can defeat this curse. The power of friendship, a kiss of true love, something that will turn the tables around. You have until the end of the Third Age to complete this task, or see the worlds fall to ruin!" A lightning bolt flashed, leaving Maleficent cackling as she disappeared into the darkness.

Frodo sighed, unsure what he just did. He turned to Parker, who only glowered at him. This was not what he wanted at all.

.

Parker returned to the throne room, seething. He looked at Frodo as he re-entered the throne room, along with the others. Right away, Parker told Frodo, "This was not meant to happen. You do realize you just cursed us all! How dare you! Aslan should put you under amnesia, and me as well. I can't live with a curse, not like this."

Maranguan gulped. "Valkorion is on the loose. He's going to do something drastic. I fear it will come to the First Base."

Parker raised an index finger, telling him off, "You're not supposed to be here. You do realize what you've done to me! I lost my wife because of you!"

"She came back!" Maranguan said, furious. "You should be thanking me for bringing her back. I've been protecting you and Frodo, and this family, for far too long! I'm sorry I scared you, but Vitiate was right there. What else was I supposed to do? Just leave him to tear us apart?"

"I wish he had, so I wouldn't have to deal with a curse," Parker said, huffing and puffing. "Aslan knew this would happen. He knew it! Didn't he?"

"Come on. This isn't like you," Maranguan said, determination in his eyes. "I just saved your life from Vitiate. We're going to defeat him, before we can take down Maleficent's curse. She said at the end of the Third Age. That's around the time…"

"What?" Frodo asked, getting involved. He understood from his teachings. "I know about the Ring and my quest to destroy it. You don't think I don't know?" He paused, telling them, "Look, ever since Aslan put me under amnesia, I found out about my own story. I read the books. I know how it's going to end for me."

"Really? I thought you didn't know about your future," Elijah said, confused.

Frodo looked at Elijah, telling him, "That was years ago. I didn't know. I found out in our high school, when reading 'The Lord of the Rings'. I know what's about to happen. The fact that I'm a shapeshifter makes it worse. I could survive, but I don't know if shapeshifters survive Morgul Blade wounds or Shelob's venom. I could end up sailing to the Undying Lands. But I will not let Sam torture Gollum. That was not tolerate," he said, referring to Samwise Gamgee.

He sighed, admitting to them all, "I don't know if Sam knows who I am, let alone what we're about to do. Or Merry or Pippin." He sat down on a chair, perplexed with what he knew. "Teaching was the only life I knew, when I was amnesiac. I would give anything to teach again, but I can't. I have a destiny to fulfill." He turned to Parker and Maranguan, telling them, "And I just saved your lives! Be grateful that I did, or Maleficent would have killed us all."

"She said the victors would be slain. I don't think that means everyone will survive," Parker said, serious. "She gave her curse. Now, now there's no way to defeat it."

Aslan nodded. "There's always my way. I know how to cure this curse."

"You do?" Maranguan asked, as Parker placed his hand over his lips, doing his best to calm down.

"Why yes. Shall I begin?" Aslan asked. Several heads nodded, leaving Aslan to stomp his paw on the stone floor. He announced, "This curse will come to pass, but it will not have the victors be slain. Instead, the victors will be defeated, but they will find a way to break this curse. Whether by the power of friendship or true love, it doesn't matter. What's done is done and this curse shall be lifted with time." He moved his paw, moving it away to show a green sprout growing from the stone. "This sprout will turn into a living tree. This tree will give us access to the Four Realms, where the Nutcracker lives. Only he can tell us what will happen next. I won't be accompanying you on this new journey."

"Aslan, no. What would we do without you?" Frodo said, remembering it was Aslan who made him go amnesiac, after Parker.

Aslan faced him, telling him, "You'll have to be brave." He added, "Complete your deeds in the Four Realms. Then come back. I will guide you to the Land of Talking Animals. The bubble worlds will have settled, and you can begin your base in the First Base, or the Heart of the Land of Talking Animals."

"The First Base?" Elijah asked, curiously.

"That is what it shall be called from now on," Aslan said, turning towards the doors. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have other worlds to attend to. By the time you get to First Base, it shall be different. Frodo," he got Frodo's attention, "Bethany will be waiting for you at First Base. She is a hobbit lass. You'll know what to do when you see her. It shouldn't be that hard to find her."

"I know, but Aslan…" Frodo looked up, noticing that the Lion had disappeared. He sighed, nodding, "…good luck."

"Well come on, let's get this over with," Parker said, approaching the tree. He watched as Maranguan, Frodo, and Ronnie joined him. Amethyst and Cynthia, who entered Parker's castle, ran off in search of Eliza, Parker's dragonoid, now human, wife. Elijah watched Parker look at Frodo, Maranguan, and Ronnie, asking them, "Are you ready to go?"

Frodo nodded, at the same time as Ronnie, "I'm ready."

"Wait. Shouldn't I come, too? I mean, I was the one who brought Frodo here, right?" Elijah asked, cautious. Maranguan glowered, causing Elijah to remember, "No. I brought Frodo from the school to your castle. Well, actually Ronnie's castle."

"Elijah, keep hold of the fort, while we're gone," Ronnie said, curtly.

Elijah nodded, "I will." He smiled, "You have my word."

"Are we ready?" Parker asked Maranguan, Frodo, and Ronnie, who nodded in return.

"Ready," Frodo, Maranguan, and Ronnie said, right as the sprout opened up a barrier. The trio and Parker fell through, disappearing on sight as the barrier closed. Elijah was left alone, awaiting their safe return.

"Good luck. I hope you find what you're looking for," Elijah said, not knowing what to do.

*.*.*

References:

Maleficent comes from the Disney animated film, "Sleeping Beauty", and the Disney live-action film, "Maleficent".