Sorry this has taken so incredibly long, but I just lost inspiration for the longest time. On the plus side, I spent the down time re-reading "The Last Battle" six times... There are major spoilers for "The Last Battle" in the next couple of chapters so be prepared! I am also telling things from Peter's point of view while, mostly, keeping to the canon of "The Last Battle", so if you want more information on the ginger cat, the monkey, or the good Calormen, you will have to read the book. On the other hand, this is where the canon deviation comes in! Let me know if you feel that it works!

Disclaimer: I am merely borrowing C. S. Lewis' charming characters and world, and will eventually return them. The only thing that is mine is the plot.

Disclaimer 2: If this story in any way resembles any other fanfiction it is by complete accident, as I go out of my way to avoid fanfictions that resemble mine until mine are completed. My apologies to any other great minds.

Author's note: This story is set pre-, during- and post- The Last Battle. I am a first time fanfiction writer and any reviews are appreciated.

Chapter Eighteen: The Door

Peter was lying on his back in a meadow with bright sunlight shining on his face. He slowly sat up in the grass, his mind reeling. He looked around and felt the same wonder and awe that he had felt when he had first stumbled out of the back of a wardrobe and saw a world that he never could have imagined.

Gone was the hustle and bustle of the London streets in early January and the terror of a train wreck. In its place was green grass and rolling hills, with a fruit orchard a short walk away. He could see magnificent mountains in the distance and the sky was a brilliant blue and had fluffy clouds floating across it.

A light breeze ruffled his hair, but not nearly as much as it should have. Feeling as though he was in a dream, Peter reached up and felt something familiar on his head. He pulled off his crown and held it in his shaking hands, just looking at it and seeing each familiar jewel. He noticed that he was no longer wearing the trousers, shirt and coat that he had worn to the train station, but was in Narnian court garb and a chain mail coat. He leaned back on his hands and felt his right hand brush metal. He looked at the ground next to him and saw a sword and shield on the grass. With wondering hands he closed his fist around Rhindon, his gift from Father Christmas. The familiar shield with its red lion shone in the sun like a mirror by his side.

He looked around again at the sky and countryside and murmured to himself, "Impossible!" He couldn't be back in Narnia. Aslan had said that he would never return. Regardless, his heart began to fill with hope and a tentative joy. All the signs pointed to his being home at last; his crown, his clothes, his sword and shield, the fact that he had been pulled from one world into another.

Peter climbed to his feet, belted on the sword and took up the shield. He couldn't stop looking around at the world before his eyes. He recognized none of it, but it felt familiar, like a dream of a dream.

He heard noises behind him and whirled around. Edmund was walking towards him. Like Peter, he couldn't seem to stop looking at their surroundings. The Just King was also wearing his crown and Narnian clothes, with a sword belted at his side. Peter stared open-mouthed at his brother, for Edmund had changed.

At first, Peter thought that Ed looked older, but then changed his mind. His face was far nobler than it had ever seemed in England or even Narnia, and Peter felt that it was truly King Edmund the Just in all his glory that was walking up the small hill towards him.

"It's odd," Edmund said simply, coming to stand in front of his older brother. "I feel like I know this place, yet I could swear that I've never been here before."

"I know what you mean," Peter replied. He met his brother's eye and saw the same excitement and hope burning there that he felt in his own heart.

Edmund asked the question first. "Do you think we could really be back in Narnia?"

"I don't know," Peter murmured. "Aslan said that we could never return, but..." Peter caressed the lion head pommel on his sword. "... where else could we be?"

"Well, if we aren't in Narnia," Edmund queried, "then where are we?"

Peter looked around again. "I don't know. But I think we will find out soon enough. We must be here for a reason. Come on, let's look around."

The two kings started walking towards the fruit grove in the distance. They were almost to the trees when Peter stopped and threw out his arm to stop Edmund. There were three figures walking towards them from the other side of the grove. Peter could tell that they were a man and two women dressed in Narnian clothing, but they were unfamiliar. Or, unfamiliar until the younger woman broke away and ran towards them.

"Lucy!" Peter cried. His sister flung herself into his arms with a happy cry. Peter held her close until she pulled away, tears of joy glistening in her eyes.

"Peter... I... we," she said, but couldn't seem to find any more words. She gripped her hands in her skirts as if to show him her dress, then reached up and laid trembling hands on the crown on his head. "I don't know how, and I don't know why, but somehow we are home."

"I don't think this is Narnia, Lucy," Edmund said, coming to stand by his siblings. "Even in my best memories Narnia was never this..." Edmund trailed off, unable to find words to describe the intensity of their surroundings.

"Never this real," the man who had come with Lucy said.

Peter looked at the newcomers. The other man and woman seemed older than him and his siblings, at least the man had a long golden beard, but he couldn't quite recognize their faces.

"Professor?" came Edmund's disbelieving question.

The other man gave a great, booming laugh and Peter, too, recognized him. It was the Professor, but younger, in the prime of his life. Peter looked at the woman and saw Polly's features in her face. She smiled and laughed too. The laughter was so contagious that all of them started laughing from pure joy. When they finally settled down enough, they wiped their streaming eyes and sat down in the shade of one of the fruit trees.

Peter was thinking on where they could possibly be, and remembered the blurry, last few minutes in England. He vaguely remembered a terrible crashing noise and then Leona hovering over him. He thought of asking the others if they remembered anything, but the surroundings were so peaceful that he couldn't bring himself to disrupt them. It didn't seem to matter anyway, not here.

Edmund leaned back against the bark of a tree and said, "It's so odd, I don't feel worried or upset or anything. Any other time I would have been on my guard for danger, but I don't feel anything except excited."

The others nodded agreement.

"That feeling may be odd, Edmund," Peter said, getting to his feet. "But nearly as odd as that!" He pointed to something several meters away from the grove.

Standing upright in the middle of the clearing was a door. No walls, no roof, just a door. It was plain and wooden, the kind that you would see in a stable or shed. The group walked up to it and around it, looking it over.

Edmund cocked his head, and looked completely befuddled. "It's a door leading from nowhere to nowhere."

Peter looked hard at the wooden mystery in front of them. "Maybe not..." he murmured. Peter leaned close and set his eye to a large crack in between two planks.

It took a few moments for his eyes to focus, but looking through the crack he did not see the grassy meadow and clear daylight of the clearing they stood in. Instead, there was movement and the sounds of voices beyond the door. The light seen though the crack was different as well, darker, as if at twilight.

Peter pulled back. "The door leads to somewhere, but where that would be, I know not."

Each of the others took a turn at the crack, marveling at the mystery.

"If the door leads somewhere," Lucy said, "shouldn't we try and go through it?"

"How?" asked Polly. "There isn't any doorknob or way of opening the door from this side, and I doubt that we could break it down."

"Besides," Peter said. "I don't think that we should try and go through the door. I have a feeling that our place is here."

"How do you know?" asked Digory.

Peter gave a shrug. "I just know. I feel as though we are just actors in a great play, waiting for the time we're to go on stage. I have a feeling that we will know what to do when the time comes."

"I know what you mean," Lucy said quietly. "As though we are being guided by some force that will place us where we must be at just the right time."

"Well, if we aren't to go through the door," Polly said. "Let's go sit down in the shade."

They had all started back towards the trees, when they heard a noise behind them. The door was opening.

They could see a far different clearing through the open door, and a setting sun in the distance. A man with an unsheathed sword stepped through the doorway and took up a position just inside, with his blade resting on his shoulder. They could tell by the look of his armor and features that he was a Calormen foot soldier. Peter, Edmund and the Professor had drawn their swords at the sight of the naked blade in the soldier's hand, but the strange man seemed not to even notice them. He did not look around at the sky and trees, but stood still, his eyes strangely unfocused as though he was seeing nothing. Putting Lucy and Polly safely behind the armed men, the group went up to the soldier.

"State your business, soldier," Peter commanded. The man did not reply or even blink. He did not turn towards the sound of Peter's voice. It seemed that he could neither see nor hear them.

The group moved a little closer.

"I say again, state your errand," Peter said. He was almost close enough to touch the stranger. He was careful to watch the man's eyes, for the eyes are what betray a surprise attack, but there was no sign that the man had seen or heard anything. On a hunch, Peter waved his hand in front of the soldier's face, but there was no response. Then Peter tried to shout in the man's ear, but again there was no reaction. Peter thought of touching the man, but decided that satisfying his curiosity was not worth having to lay his hand on the stranger, who was quite unkempt and dirty.

"Oh, leave him alone, Peter," Edmund said. "He isn't going anywhere yet, but I want to see what he'll do if left on his own." With a shrug, Peter complied and joined the others in the shade, still keeping an eye on the soldier by the door.

Peter need not to have bothered watching him, since the man did little other than stand there, occasionally shifting his weight or scratching himself.

It was almost impossible to tell time in that strange land, but it seemed like an hour or so had passed before anything happened. The sentry seemed to hear something outside of the door, and came to alert. The group of Narnians rose to their feet, eager to see what would happen.

The door opened. A large cat sauntered in looking neither left nor right. The sentry could see the cat and gave a single nod of acknowledgment. Just as the cat's tail cleared the doorway, there was a blinding flash of light. As Peter's eyes cleared he recoiled backward and drew his sword, and he heard the other two men also drawing their blades.

A hideous figure had appeared out of nowhere before them. Taller than any man, but smaller than a giant, the creature was vaguely human shaped, but with four arms that ended in hooked talons and a vicious bird's head with a cruel beak. With a birdlike dart, the monster pounced towards the cat. The cat had taken one glance at the fearsome predator facing him and darted back out of the doorway with a hideous yowl. The door was swiftly closed behind the feline and just in time. The monster hit its beak on the door as it slammed shut. The sentry could also see the beast, and bowed low to it in fear. Peter had pushed the unarmed Lucy behind him to shield her from the creature, but without need, for it vanished in another flash of light.

The shaken sentry again moved his sword to a ready position, but Peter and the others no longer even noticed him.

"What was that thing?" Polly asked, horrified.

"Tash," Peter replied simply.

"I had thought that Tash was a legend!" Edmund exclaimed. "It looks like I was wrong."

"Who or what is Tash?" Digory asked, sharply.

"Tash is a foul god that the Calormen worshiped," Peter said. "I had thought that he was just another false god, but it appears that there is a real Tash just as there is a real Aslan."

"I wonder why he tried to eat that cat," Lucy said.

"I for one, am not going to ask him," Polly said firmly.

"It is said that Tash shall come for his own," Edmund said. "Take that in whatever context you wish, but as Tash demanded human sacrifice at one point, I'd think that the cat must have done something truly dreadful to have incurred Tash's attention."

Their conversation was interrupted by the door opening again. Peter was on his guard for another appearance from Tash, but the figure coming through the doorway was that of a young human soldier. The sentry seemed to have expected someone far different, for he started and gave a little cry. This alerted the newcomer to the sentry's presence and just in time, for the sentry made to cut down the younger man in cold blood. Quickly the young Calormene, for so he appeared to be from the look of his armor, drew his own sword and blocked the stroke. Peter and the others went to aid the younger fighter, for he had been set upon dishonorably, without challenge, but they were too far away to get there in time. With a swift duck and lunge the younger man dodged the blow and drove his own sword through the sentry's heart. A quick shove pushed the dead man through the door and the victor pulled it shut behind him.

Unlike the sentry, this newcomer could see the sky and the surroundings. He could see Peter and the others as well, but seemed to be like a man in a trance, taking no real notice of the naked blades in the Narnians' hands. He was muttering, "Tash. I search for Tash." Without a word to anyone, he simply wandered off into the countryside.

Peter and Edmund looked after the young man as he wandered into the distance, then looked at each other and gave identical shrugs. It didn't seem worth the effort to follow the young soldier and at any rate, they wanted to stay and see what other visitors the door would bring them.

They watched the door for about another three or four minutes before it opened again. They could hear the sounds of shouting beyond the door and a large monkey was thrown through the door. It was apparently a Talking Monkey, but it was wearing a jacket and looked absolutely ridiculous.

The Monkey had barely landed on his rump when Tash appeared again in another flash of light. The Monkey did not have the quick reflexes of the Cat however, and when Tash swooped down on the miserable creature it only took one peck and the Monkey was gone. Lucy hid her face in Peter's tunic, looking rather sick.

Tash turned to look at the group of Narnians and Peter raised his sword in warning. Useless warning, for how could he possibly defeat such a creature? There was no need, for with a look that was almost a sneer, Tash again vanished.

"What on earth is going on?" Digory asked. "There seems to be another world beyond that door, and they keep sending their people in here!"

Peter turned to his sister. "Are you alright, Lu?"

She nodded. "It just took me by surprise, that's all. I didn't expect Tash to actually eat anything."

Peter turned to the others. "Keep your swords out. I don't like how Tash keeps turning up. Even if we couldn't beat such a monster, we at least wouldn't go down without a fight."

Edmund hushed his brother and pointed to the door. It hadn't opened, but with no one talking, they could hear the sounds of pitched battle on the other 'side'. Shouts and the sounds of steel on steel grew louder as the door was again flung open. Nothing came through at first and Peter could see through the doorway a dark night sky and a dying bonfire, and a large soldier dragging a smaller figure that struggled. The soldier flung his captive through the doorway, and Peter saw the most amazing thing happen.

As the captive crossed the threshold, his clothing changed from a dirty shirt and trousers to clean and fresh Narnian garb, and a crown appeared on his head. No sooner than the young man, for so it was, hit the ground than he was up again, pounding at the now closed door, and shouting insults at the other side. With a growl, he turned and Peter could see his face change from fury to wonder.

"Eustace?" Lucy exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Eustace was too busy looking around in awe at the sky and earth around him to take much notice of anything else, but at Lucy's cry he turned to them. In shock he walked towards them, shaking his head, and muttering.

"This is one strange adventure," Eustace said. "Where on earth did you lot come from?"

"I asked first," Lucy said, laughing.

"Well, Jill and I were pulled into Narnia nearly two days ago. You lot haven't been in this stable all that time, have you?" Eustace said.

"Stable?" Edmund replied with a smile. "Does this look like a stable to you?"

"From the other side it does," Eustace said firmly.

"Eustace," Peter said, cutting into what could easily turn into an argument. "You aren't making any sense. Start from the beginning."

"Well," Eustace began, "Jill and I were on the train, heading for the station, when there was a frightful jerk and a bang, and suddenly we were in Narnia. Right in front of us was King Tirian still tied to a tree-"

"Who?" Peter asked.

"King Tirian of Narnia," Eustace said. "The man who appeared to us that night at supper. Because of the muddle with time between England and Narnia we arrived only minutes after he appeared. We cut him loose and went with him to help."

Eustace suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Narnia's in real trouble, Peter. An ape was in a plot with Calormen to take over Narnia. The ape set up a false Aslan and used that authority to enable Calormen to invade. Cair Paravel fell and the Tisroc has taken over. King Tirian, Jill and me, and the rest of the few loyal Narnians left have tried to defeat the Ape and his Calormene forces on the other side of the door, but we are losing badly. I'm afraid that Narnia is lost."

Peter staggered, his heart ripped open. Narnia in the hands of the Calormenes! Even when the Telmarines had invaded, Narnia was still Narnia. Calormen had been their bitter enemy for centuries. How could this have happened! Where was Aslan? Peter wanted to leap through the doorway to Narnia's aid, but had the distinct feeling that once on this side of the door, no matter how one got there, there was no going back.

"The Tarkaan, that's what they call their senior captain," Eustace continued, "had ordered that the humans in our party be thrown into the stable where the false Aslan was kept, then they were going to burn us alive as a offering to Tash. I'm jolly happy that the door led here instead, wherever here is..."

"If you're here," Peter asked. "Then where is Jill?"

"Still on the other side," Eustace said. "I'm worried about her, too! They wanted us taken alive, but battles aren't exactly predictable..." Eustace turned towards the door as though wishing it to open and send in his friend.

Almost in answer to Eustace's unspoken request, the door opened again and Jill was dragged by her hair to the doorway and thrown inside. Like Eustace, her dirty clothes changed to fresh ones and a crown appeared on her head as she passed through the doorway. She landed in a sprawl on the grass and held her hands to her likely hurting head.

"Jill!" Eustace shouted, and ran to help her up. "Are you alright? Are you hurt at all?"

Jill looked around in confusion for a moment then said, "I'm fine, but where on earth are we? I thought I was going to be in a stable!"

"I don't know where we are," Peter told her. "But I have a feeling that we shall find out eventually."

The door opened one more time and two men fought their way through the door. They pushed through and the younger man's appearance changed as Eustace and Jill's had. The other man, a Calormene Captain, stayed the same. With a swift punch, the Calormen was down, and the Narnian was closing in for the kill.

A flash of light stopped the Narnian in his tracks as Tash again appeared, and bore down on the trembling Calormene.

"You have called me into Narnia, Rishda Tarkaan," Tash croaked, speaking for the first time. "Here I am. What hast thou to say?" At each word, Tash came closer and closer to the cowering Calormene, until with a sharp pounce, Tash grabbed the man around the middle and tucked him under one arm like a package. Then Tash turned on the strange Narnian.

"That man stands not alone, Tash," Peter said, firmly, sword held out before him at the ready. He was determined to go to the Narnian's aid even without Eustace pulling on his sleeve whispering, "That's King Tirian!"

Tash rounded on Peter, but cocked his head to stare with one bird's eye at the High King. "Who are you to think that you may deny me anything?"

Peter raised his head still higher. "I am Peter, High King over all the Kings of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel and blooded servant of Aslan."

Tash cackled. "Such a long title for such a meager man, particularly one who stands alone."

"He does not stand alone!" Edmund cried, coming to stand by Peter's side, his sword also drawn and ready.

Tash looked Edmund up and down, then sneered, or as much as anything with a bird's head can sneer. "Do you truly think yourself worthy?" Tash then cocked his head again and his voice changed to a familiar high, cold, woman's voice. "Little King?"

To his credit, Edmund only paled and said nothing. He did not back down, or falter.

Tash again turned his attention to Peter. "Only with the aid of Aslan's Champion, his 'Guardian'..." the last word was said with scorn, "...Could you ever attempt to defeat me, and that lap-kitten of Aslan's is far from here."

Peter knew that Tash was right. He did not know who or what this 'Guardian' might be, but he could not defeat Tash without Aslan's aid. He did know how to dispel Tash for a time at least. Straightening his shoulders he said, in a voice as strong and calm as the summer sea, "Begone monster, and take your rightful prey to your own place, in the name of Aslan and Aslan's great Father, The Emperor-over-the-Sea."

It was a command that even Tash dare not disobey. With another flash, Tash and the Calormen were gone.

TBC...