Sorry for the delay. I caught up on my current fanfics and ended up in a block, deciding which one to write next. I think I figured out, but we'll see. :)
*.*.*
Anabeth eyed the red dragonoid in the hologram a little more closely. This red dragonoid had a thin, muscular frame with a dragon-like head and a lizard-like humanoid body. His ears were red, long, and furry, sticking out next to his grey curved horns. He had a short snout with a tip that stood upright at the end. Three-fingered frills, with black tips at their ends, stuck out along the sides of his head, making Anabeth believe, for a moment, that this red dragonoid might be a water dragonoid.
The red dragonoid's black claws stuck out from his red scaly fingers and red scaly toes, as he held out an elegant sword with its curved blade and gold hilt. His black spikes stood out from the back of his neck down to his red scaly, medium-sized tail, that curled around his feet in due procession. His eyes were yellow, but what made them interesting was the swirling red mist in the irises.
There were a few claw marks on his white tunic and long brown breeches, making Anabeth wonder what sort of battle this dragonoid was caught up in. She had to tear her eyes away to look around the war room a bit more.
There were so many people and creatures in this room that it was hard to tell who was friendly and who was not. She met Aslan's gaze, wondering if he was going to introduce her to the people gathered around this table. They seemed to be staring at her cautiously, wondering if she would say something.
"Um… hello," Anabeth told the assembly, wondering what else to say to them. "I'm sorry. Is Eliza Bowler here?"
"Not everyone's gathered, lass," said a thin man with short brown hair, returning to his conversation with curly, brunette-haired woman, with blonde streaks down her hair in places, wearing a flowing light blue dress.
"I'm sorry. I thought this was where I would meet Eliza," Anabeth said, curtly. "My mother's been sent to the healers. I figured I might as well inform your leader about my mother, Janet."
"We have many leaders here, but we don't have a chief leader yet," another golden-brown lion said, entering the room in due time.
Behind him was a curly, brunette-haired woman with fair features, pale skin, and a thin frame. Grey strands stuck out from her hair, while her eyes were emerald green, her nose was small, and she had a cleft in her chin that stood out, but didn't sway the rest of her appearance. The dress she had on was dark purple, with a red and white tabard flowing down her shoulders to her waist. She nodded to Anabeth as she sat down at the table.
"Anabeth, meet Eliza Bowler-Dooley," Aslan said in introduction. He turned to Eliza, telling her, "Eliza, this is Anabeth, the young woman who came here with her mother Janet, the one everyone here knows about from her adventures."
"My mother's famous in this world?" Anabeth asked, stunned.
"Yes, she is. My husband, Parker Dooley," Eliza pointed to the red dragonoid in the hologram, "talks frequently about her and her mother Janus. I suppose anyone whose lived in the First World knows their story. They're quite popular, due to assisting the citizens of the First World to flee the planet, before its untimely destruction."
She sighed, addressing Anabeth directly, "Anabeth, is it?" Anabeth nodded. Eliza continued with a warm smile. "I saw you with a woman, who was taken to the hospital wing. That's your mother? Janet, right?"
"Yes," Anabeth nodded.
"We'll see that she's given bedrest and healing herbs," Eliza said, kindly. She added, "Your mother's going to be all right. We'll take good care of her." She added, curtly, "In fact, I'll talk to her after the meeting's finished. You might as well accompany me, so we can meet up with your mother together. She'll be in the hospital wing of this facility."
"Thank you," Anabeth said with a smile. Wow! She hadn't expected this turnout. What an amazing bunch of people and creatures! She would have to stay here longer after her spat with Brona and her journey through the Realm of the Four Seasons.
She looked up as various creatures joined the group, taking their seats around the wide circular table, where she currently sat at. Some of these creatures were dragonoids of all shapes, sizes, and a variety of colors. A few of the shorter dragonoids had to sit on the table, close to the holoterminal part, where the hologram of Parker Dooley moved about the holoterminal's center, fighting creatures and people off-screen.
Anabeth wondered about Parker Dooley's importance at this meeting. From what she already gathered on him, he had been a good dragonoid turned evil, but she had no idea who turned him evil or if he turned evil himself. Well, she hoped she would get more information on Parker's progress, whether or not he had returned to the light.
She observed the icicle, which she had set down on the table next to hers and her mother's invitation. She briefly caught Eliza's gaze, who gave a knowing look on her face, but one that was filled with hope. Anabeth sighed. Maybe there was still good in the worlds.
"I'm Corin," the other golden-brown lion said to Anabeth, taking a seat in-between her and Eliza. Anabeth stared in shock, recognizing him as the very same lion who came into the war room with Eliza. He muttered to Anabeth, "Eliza raised me."
"Oh, it's nice to meet you," Anabeth said with a warm, heartfelt smile.
"Likewise," Corin purred, smiling back at her in interest and intrigue.
When everyone was gathered, Aslan spoke to the group of people, animals, and creatures. He said, promptly, "Well, now that we're here, we can begin this new order. The Order of the Righteous. The Renegade Alliance, as it is called." He added, giving an explanation to their business, "I know you came from different times. Anabeth and her mother Janet happened to be on a year-long mission, right as Maranguan turned back to the light and became a neutral dragonoid. As it happens, he is now Parker Dooley, but not yet whole.
"That is where the icicle falls into place." Aslan turned to Anabeth, giving her permission to reveal the icicle. She did, watching the stunned expressions on everybody's faces. Aslan quieted the group before an outburst was given. "Now, now! I want you to know that Janet and her daughter Anabeth, who is here with us now, went on this journey to the Realm of the Four Seasons to retrieve this icicle. It will help Parker become whole again."
"Right. And how do we know this isn't some trick? How do we know Maranguan's not just playing with us?" a blond-haired male elf with dark locks underneath his hair, and wearing a green tunic, brown trousers, brown boots, and carrying a long bow and a quiver of arrows, spoke in deliberation.
Anabeth set the icicle down on the table. Ohhh! The last thing she wanted was someone being rude to her. Rudeness was not something she admired. No. Not in the least!
"Who are you?" she asked the pale-skinned elf, wondering what his name was.
The blond-haired elf stood up, presenting himself to the crowd. Corin growled, ready to attack him.
"Forgive me, madam, for the intrusion." The male elf bowed. "Elluin Taeganaen. My father's name is Taegan. He was in the First World before it was blown up. Aslan saved his life."
Anabeth raised her eyebrows. "I see." She took a seat, unsure what to make of this elf. He was an interesting fellow.
"I would like to speak up, too!" a golden-haired elven man, wearing white robes, stood up. He looked so proud, but also fair and full of wisdom. Today wasn't one of those days. He smiled, cheekily, addressing Anabeth, Eliza, and Corin, "I'm Glorfindel, hoping to get a title soon. How are you?" He raised an eyebrow at Corin, causing the lion to growl at him. "Ooh! Not a very nice lion, is he?"
"That was a warning, Glorfindel!" Corin growled, not enjoying the elf's company.
"Now, now. Enough of that!" Aslan said, softly, nodding to the two elven men to sit down. They did, allowing the Great Lion to continue his explanations. "Thank you! Now, down to business."
"Aslan, who exactly are we dealing with? Whose Parker fighting? Who are we fighting?" Anabeth asked, curiosity in her heart.
"We are fighting the Sith Lord Vitiate," Aslan said, serious. "He's a dangerous emperor who cares nothing for life. He would rather devour an entire planet to gain power than to think of the consequences."
"Okay. So, he's bad news," Anabeth shrunk, feeling a heavy weight rest on her shoulders.
"Parker knows the situation more than us. Aslan, too, I'm sure," Eliza said, facing the Great Lion.
"Yes, he's brilliant!" Glorfindel said, bored.
"Can we go home?" Elluin asked, curious.
"Not until this business with Vitiate is finished!" Aslan said forthwith. "This group is here for a reason: to stop Vitiate, if we can, and restore Parker to the light. The moment Parker's himself again, the chances of us stopping the Sith will be vital. If no one here succeeds in defeating Vitiate, then flee before he expects anything.
"Others will deal with Vitiate later on down the road. I do not ask any of you to achieve in defeating this Sith Lord. Our mission is to help Parker Dooley out. That should be our first and only concern. Once the job is done, meet me here. We'll debate on what to do next." He said, finishing his explanation.
"Wait. You're asking us to fail and succeed? How do we do that?" Anabeth asked, concerned.
"Vitiate must be very powerful." Eliza said, looking from Anabeth to Aslan with a concerned gaze.
"He is," Aslan agreed, "but not without faults. All villains have weaknesses. His weakness is losing his power and immortality." He sighed, saddened, "Vitiate cannot stay in power forever."
"What do you want us to do?" Anabeth asked, curious.
"That is an excellent question," Corin said, announcing his presence.
"For that, we need the Shadow Empire," Aslan said forthwith. He explained to the group, "Parker's the emperor on the planet Zafna. Eliza and Parker's son are now in charge of getting us to Zafna. If you wish to come, Anabeth, that is your choice. We need you to deliver the icicle to Parker when we arrive."
"Wait. A dragonoid and a human have a son?" Anabeth asked, facing Eliza with a shocked look.
"That's a… a long story," Eliza said, unsure about giving out all the details. Instead, she chose the most basic details to explain to her. "Let's just say Parker shapeshifted and became human. It was Aslan's doing that Parker became human. That's all I will say."
"Parker's been amassing allies, same as we. We have our goals, but our second main goal is stopping Vitiate. Parker is our first priority and we need him back. He fought the darkness and won. We must do the same," Corin explained, serious.
"Great. Let's go!" Glorfindel stood up.
"I was going to say that!" Elluin told the golden-haired elf, also standing.
"Well, you'll just have to keep up with me!" Glorfindel teased.
"Well then, if everyone is in agreement, then we can adjourn this meeting," Aslan said, pleased. The moment everyone agreed, feeling better now, he nodded. "This meeting's adjourned. You are dismissed." He turned to Anabeth, saying, "We'll get you situated. Maxin has been hanging around with the shapeshifters Melena and Tack – Daaron, as he's called. That is his true name. I'm sure you will be good friends."
"Right," Anabeth said, unsure about this.
"Come on. We'll see how your mother is doing," Eliza said, taking the lead.
"Actually," Corin said, getting their attentions, "I think it would be better if I stay behind, catch up with the elves. Show them around."
Eliza nodded.
"Thank you," Corin said in excitement, approaching Glorfindel and Elluin with courage.
"Come on," Eliza repeated to Anabeth, leading her out of the war room this time. Anabeth grabbed the icicle and the invitation, before heading out. She wasn't losing those items! That was for sure!
~o~
Anabeth followed Eliza across the metallic plated floors, into a large hospital wing. The walls had been painted in a golden-white color, while the curtains surrounding all the beds were turquoise. The floor was grey and metal, like the rest of the facility. It was unexpected, but worth it.
And there, laying on one of the beds, was her mother Janet, asleep for several moments until she heard movement outside the curtained area. Anabeth approached her mother, holding her hand and taking a seat on a wooden, cushioned chair.
"Anabeth," Janet said, weakly, "what brings you here?"
"Hello Mom. Do you remember anything from we were at Paranor to now?" Anabeth asked, curious.
Janet smiled. "Of course." She sat up, wincing in pain. "I wasn't that injured." She looked at Eliza, curiously, "Who is this?"
"Mother, this Eliza Bowler-Dooley. She's the wife of Parker Dooley, the one we're trying to locate." Anabeth said, happily.
Janet watched Eliza, curiously. She wasn't sure if she could trust this woman. She just knew that Anabeth and she were brought here for a reason. That was all that mattered to her right now.
"Thank you for taking care of my daughter," Janet said to Eliza, shaking her hand.
"You're welcome," Eliza nodded, smiling.
"Well, I see everyone's gathered," Aslan said, joining the three women. "Let's get you all caught up to speed."
