This is the last chapter for this story and anthology. :')
*.*.*
The Shadow Empire was gone. The remaining members of the Renegade Alliance celebrated this victory. Those from the Land of Dragons did nothing except mourn for those who were lost on the planet Zafna, for that world had turned into a barren, broken landscape named Teremode.
The female snow leopard Melisandre got what she wanted, after all, her final wish that she brought to the worlds.
The Golden House Cat Alindor spent many long years ruling alongside his family in Creadon, in the heart of the Land of Talking Animals. On his dying breath, he was granted permission to join Ulmayá, his silver-streaked, brown pawed Oriental Cat wife, in the Portal Realm, which would become their home at long last.
But what seemed like years to Alindor and Ulmayá was only seconds in the Portal Realm. Still, Parker noticed he aged. By the time he asked Aslan, Parker realized he was already seventy years old and missed a lot of the First Age. Still, he considered speaking to Aslan, and found him a week later, when Parker turned eighty.
"I have to go back, don't I?" Parker asked the Great Lion, peering over a cliff face. "It's not going to be the same. I'm growing older! What happens if I reach the age I'm supposed to die? I could still be here when that happens!"
"The First Age is almost done. By the time it is done, you will be ninety," Aslan pointed out. "I have faith in you. You're still young for a dragonoid. Dragonoids live for hundred of years, the same with the elves. Do you really think you would be too old to travel? You're a young dragonoid."
"But still, Aslan, what do you expect me to find in the Second Age?" Parker asked, curiously.
"We'll wait until you've reached one hundred, before I send you to the Second Age. Until then, wait for my signal. The final preparations to end the Third Shapeshifter's Migration is about to come to pass. Everyone that is alive, and took part in the migration, will head back to their homelands. And… there's someone who wants to meet you. I've made sure he doesn't age until the time is right when he is allowed to go back home," Aslan explained, gesturing to the gentle-hobbit standing behind Parker.
Parker turned, jumping upon seeing Frodo Baggins approach him. Frodo still looked like he was in his tweens to his early thirties.
"Frodo, what a surprise!" Parker said, seeing the smug look on Frodo's face.
"You cast that spell on me, remember?" Frodo asked, seriously. He recovered, slyly, "Don't worry, Parker. Aslan's made sure that every Age I pass through, I become young and I forget for a moment what happened to me in the previous Ages. You don't need to cast a spell on me for that. It's already done."
"Look, I'm sorry I did that, but you spoke so much, told too much information, and you thought I would betray you! You're my descendant, remember?" Parker asked, curtly.
Frodo chuckled. "I do remember. I forgive you, in spite of what you did. I'm not a bad person. I'm a good person, who happens to be your descendant." He added, out of nowhere, "I saw Terrence here today. He looked good. He remembered me, too, and what you did to me."
"I'm sorry about that again," Parker said, leading Frodo over to a railing, observing the cliff face.
"It's all right," Frodo chuckled, smiling at him. "You needn't apologize, but I suppose you would anyway. Wouldn't you?"
"Yes. I deserve to apologize," Parker said with a smirk. "Scar-ra's adjusting, but I fear her time is not yet done. She may as well accompany me to the Third Age if we're lucky."
"We will. Indeed, we will. The late Third Age is where I come from. I can't miss it," Frodo shook his head.
"I welcome it," Parker chuckled absentmindedly. "We make a good team then, don't we?"
"The best," Frodo said, glancing over at him. "Thank you for saving me. I'm glad to have met you, Parker Dooley."
"Me too, Frodo Baggins," Parker clasped his shoulder, convinced he and Frodo would be great friends. "Me too."
*.*.*
That's it for the conclusion to my fanfiction mini-series, The Moral Compass, part of my First Age Anthology. :) Thanks everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to read this fanfic until the end. It is much appreciated. :)
This is where my First Age Anthology ends and my Second Age Series, part of my Origin Series and my Long Series, begins. I've been waiting months to get to the Second Age Series. Now, that we're here, in the next story, it's going to get very interesting. More excitement, drama, adventure, love, etc. is coming our way in the Second Age Series. :)
So, until then, I'll see everyone in the next story. Bye! :)
~ Aria Breuer