(No P.O.V.) -Sometime during January 25th, 900-
In the grasslands, somewhere along the empty river ravine, deep on ground is a young man panting heavily as he pulled himself up and out under the dead body of a velociraptor. Deep upwards and through the raptor's mouth, head is the young man's sword, having caused the final blow upon a moment of desperation.
Logan had reached for his sword to the side as he saw the raptor charging at him with its fangs out, and turned around to point the sword at the raptor who couldn't stop from both being too fast and too angry, killing him instantly.
Logan glanced at the raptor, blood becoming clotted as he's clearly dead, and he then remembered his purpose, looking over to see the love of his life, Jasmine, climbing out of the boulder crevice, unharmed and alive. Logan ran over to her, "Thank god you're safe! Did they hurt you anywhere, Jasmine?".
Jasmine only smiled softly which caused Logan to look a tad suspicious, knowing that his Jasmine would have given a smirk towards him, and perhaps say something like 'What took you so long?'. Logan looked at her, "You ain't Jasmine, are you?".
'Jasmine' chuckled softly as her body changed into someone else, the curves disappearing, the long black hair changing color and length, the skin paling to a light shade of tone, and the eyes softening up along with the cheekbones.
Logan stared at this transparent yet solid woman in awe and bewilderment, slowly recognizing the light brown eyes, shoulder length dark brown hair, the cream skin, dimples and a bit of body fat here and there, not overweight or obese thankfully.
He breathed almost quietly, not wanting to deny his eyes, "Mama?". Deborah Valkara nee Bolson smiled warmly, "Hello, my little dreamer.". Logan exhaled sharply, never dreaming to hear that nickname again as it has been so long, and realized that this is happening.
Deborah opened her arms to him, "It's okay, Logan.", and Logan almost ran-crashed into her, hugging her as sobs filled the atmosphere, his body shaking as his nose dug deep into his mother's hair, smelling that familiar scent of sugar, cinnamon, and blueberries.
Deborah laughed softly, "You certainly are tall, taking after your father there, darling.", and Logan pulled back, realizing that she's right. When he was only 7 years old, he only was high as his mother's waist, and now he's perhaps three or four inches above his mother's height of 5'3".
Logan took into her features deeply, not wanting to forget her again, and he breathed softly, "I really tried to remember, Mama...". Deborah smiled almost wistfully, "I know, Logan. I and your father were robbed of that too soon...It wasn't our time, but you know time isn't set in stone, not even if that light was staying red a minute longer...".
"I really tried to take care of Jason, Mama.", Logan whispered softly, and Deborah nodded lightly, "And you were brave, Logan, yet I was afraid for you and Jason. Having ran away that night after you received the news, that was the most stupidest yet loyal decision you ever did..".
Logan sighed softly, "I just didn't want any adults to separate Jason and me! We're supposed to be family together, and family sticks together no matter what!". Deborah looked at her son softly, "You certainly has taken Brian's words close to heart. That year was terrible for me to witness, and then Frederick came into the picture, saving you two from starvation or worse...".
Logan smiled brightly, "Yeah.. Pops sure did so much for us...Did you talk to him?". Deborah chuckled, "Talked to him? Darling, I hugged him! If it wasn't for Frederick, you boys would have been led down a dark path or died on the streets without seeing the good that grows out from bad situations...I was so proud when I saw you and your brother fighting for your home, your country, your friends.".
Logan winced softly, "I guess you would've wanted something safer for me and Jason if you were still around, huh?". Deborah sighed lightly, "Admittedly, I would have liked to see you as a baker or a musician as I would never forget how passionate you were in helping me out with my bakery and how wonderful you were when you sang along to the songs on the few movies of Disney that we had at home...Why, I could never forget how you claimed that you're going to write a song and send it to the Walt Disney Company...".
Logan exhaled slowly at that, "I was almost done with that, and I was struggling to figure out the last two lines when the police came...I ripped it out after they left...". Deborah nodded slightly, "I saw you ripping something through the window in your room.. I never knew that it was your song...".
Logan shrugged lightly, "You wouldn't have liked it anyway...It looked bad!". Deborah raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really, it wouldn't be that bad. You have talent, Logan. I saw you playing violin and guitar!".
Logan smiled weakly, "Playing is one thing, but song writing...I don't know if I can write it again...". Deborah grinned softly, "If not for me, then do it for Jasmine. Darling, I approve of your feelings for her.".
Logan blushed brightly, "Mama!". Deborah laughed heartily, "She's a wonderful woman! She's the perfect soulmate for you, Logan. And besides, you must remember my little motto about dreams, hmm?", raising a eyebrow.
Logan slightly looked wistful, smiling softly, "You are never too old to dream a new dream.". Deborah kissed her son on the cheek, "That's my little dreamer. Now, I admit I am keeping you far too long from reaching your second test. You have passed the physical test by fighting your fear, and I am so proud of you, son.".
Logan chuckled sheepishly, "I knew dinosaurs couldn't be real as they're extinct, but I guess I couldn't help having a fear of those raptors after watching the movie...". Deborah smiled reassuringly, "I don't blame you, Logan. Jurassic Park might have been posted as PG-13, but it should have been posted as PG-15 at most.".
Logan shrugged lightly, "The past is the past, Mama, and...I am going to miss you...so much.". Deborah hugged him warmly, "Oh, I know, darling, but you won't forget me as long as you know that I belong to your heart. After all, once you love someone, they stay in your heart forever.".
Logan whispered softly, "I love you, Mama.", kissing her on the cheek, and Deborah smiled softly as she pulled back, "I love you too, Logan.", kissing Logan on the forehead affectionately, and then chuckled softly.
"Don't forget to hug Jason for me, okay? And oh, it's a surprise, but your father is going to see Jason on his adventure in the future.", Deborah grinned lightly. Logan chuckled softly, "I guess you were only able to come to see me, next to Pops, huh?".
Deborah smiled softly, "The Spirits are only able to send three souls to visit in places like this, and no, the last one isn't your father, but rather someone important I suspect that you will need to talk with for a certain someone's happiness.".
Logan blinked in surprise, "It couldn't be the Sultan, could it?". Deborah chuckled softly, "The military has taught you well. You are clearly more perceptive than you used to be when you were a child. Yes, it's the Sultan, and he shall be waiting at the end of the third test along with your dragon and the destined Stone you're to be wielding, but not until you've passed all three tests.".
Logan exhaled softly, "Oh, boy, I better get on my way then. Can't keep the Sultan waiting, can I?". Deborah smiled, "That's my boy. Remember, I will always stay with you, Logan. Keep dreaming, my little dreamer.", cradling Logan's cheek gently before a golden swirl takes her, changing her into a tiny, colorful hummingbird, fast and graceful as she leaves Logan in a flash of wings.
Logan sighs softly with a smile, focusing on the climb to the other side of the ravine, and after careful balance, he makes it over the edge, seeing a stone arch over a wooden door upon a platform porch. Logan walked to the platform, seeing a sort of marble grid on the door, and touches the star in the middle of the grid, having felt a pull to it.
The marble star glows purple, and then numbers appear here and there, soon revealing its solution to Logan who recognizes it as Sudoku, and the marble star has changed and multiplied into miniature dragon pictures, placing one per grid.
Logan can see six grids total, and took a deep breath, stretched out his knuckles, "Math basics, this will be a breeze.". Oh, it took longer than he thought, taking him a hour with a chalk pencil, but he made it thoroughly, and with a last number to end the game, the miniature dragons glowed, purple lines connecting them all, forming a sort of star, and the dragons roared in unison which caused the door to open up by itself, revealing another tunnel.
Logan nodded lightly, "Let's do this.", exhaling deeply before stepping through the doorway into the tunnel, walking on for the next minute, hearing the now-familiar thud of the door closing behind him. He was in the darkness for a few moments before light suddenly came on, causing Logan to adjust his eyes to the intrusion, and once he did, his face pales, becoming white as a ghost, seeing something he never thought to see again.