Sorry for the long delay. I was taking a break and updating my fanfics. :)

*.*.*

The first thing Parker saw and nearly embraced was the cave's darkness. He needed a torch but lighting it would be difficult. He'd been in the healer's house for so long that he forgot how to start a flame. He looked down at his feet. There was a torch, unlit. He picked it up, looked at it, and blew.

He coughed and sputtered! That wasn't supposed to happen! He was out of practice. He cleared his throat, worked his vocal muscles, and blew a small flame. He coughed again, forced to close his eyes. He couldn't produce a bigger flame. In time, the coughing stopped, allowing him to open his eyes.

The torch was lit. Perfect! Now, he could explore the cave!

Modern technology did not exist inside this cave. Just a bunch of crystals, forming a bright white light and making his scales glow. He looked back to see if Falkor was still waiting for him. To his disbelief, the Luckdragon flew away, disappearing from sight.

Someone jumped out in front of him! A deeper red, scaly dragonoid with yellow eyes and a keen disposition. Parker huffed, clearly not in the mood to talk to this particular creature.

"Parker Dooley!" The younger dragonoid spoke up in an eerie, triumphant voice. "It's been so long since you've been here. How's things going?"

"I'm fine, Mordru." Parker turned towards the tunnel and continued walking. He sighed, watching the deeper red dragonoid follow him. "I don't need your help!"

"Oh, I think you do." Mordru said, pleased. "You know, you'll have to figure out the code if you want to return to the village, Dragon's Hallow."

"I didn't know we had a code," Parker admitted, smiling gruffly. "Please, leave me alone."

"Oh, so you can run off again!" Mordru said, surprised. "Not on my watch!"

"What do you want?" Parker asked, concerned.

"Oh, I just wanted to see the look on your face when you return to the village," Mordru said, smirking joyously. "I'm the new leader. Didn't you know? Of course not! You left us! You left to worlds unknown!"

"I was saving everyone from evil." Parker said, frustrated. "I'm sorry if you don't understand that. I have no need to speak with you, brother."

"But you'll have to. You'll have to face me when you get back." Mordru spat. "I doubt you'll win. Aren't you worn down and ancient?"

Parker glared at him. "You haven't taken the village." He grunted in disbelief.

"Oh, believe me. I already did!" Mordru laughed, darting off into the cave. "I'll see you at Dragon's Hallow!" Parker watched him disappear down the tunnel. He sighed. It was time to flee.

.

At the end of the tunnel, Parker found himself before a wide pool, complete with a flowing crystallized waterfall. He set the torch down, before observing the pool. There was something swimming in it… no! Someone! Mermaids! It was one of the barriers blocking the way to the end of the cave and the way out.

How was he to cross this? If he dared enter the water, the merfolk would either kill him or let him drown and then eat him, or so he read in books about mermaids. He wasn't sure which was truer, in this case.

Oh, he really needed Falkor's help, but sadly, the Luckdragon wasn't around. It was up to Parker to decide what to do next.

Splash!

He jumped back, landing on his rear end at the sight of the mermaids jumping in and out of the pool. He needed to snap out of this and focus! He could do it! He could get into the water and make it past the waterfall! Yes! That sounded excellent!

The dragonoid moved his legs towards the water, planting his feet beneath the surface. The water scorched his scaly legs at first, before turning ice cold. This feeling sent shivers up his spine. How could he do this? What sort of curse was this? He had to brave it. He took a few deep breaths, inhaled, and dived into the water.

Waves of heat and cold inflicted on his body. He could hardly see, hardly breathe. All around the mermaids circled him, as if waiting for him to stop. But he couldn't stop, not if those invisible daggers kept hurting his sides. At last, there was the waterfall! Oh no! It was moving far away! He couldn't breathe anymore… his heart raced inside his chest… his lungs inflamed. His vision blurred, causing him to lose control. He exhaled, watching his world sink deeper into darkness.

.

"Breathe, Parker Dooley… breathe!"

Parker's thoughts were muddled. He was so filled with so much heat and energy, as well as water. He felt life return to his bones. How long had he been away? He turned his head, coughing and spitting out water.

He felt so lightheaded, almost like he was in a dream. He looked up at his brother, who smiled at him.

"Welcome back," Mordru said, pleased. "You look weak."

"I feel weak," Parker said, softly. His throat hurt so badly. "What happened?" He turned his head at the crystal waterfall. There was an opening in the wall. It was almost as if he were on the other side of this cave. "How long was I out?"

"A couple of minutes. You took in a lot of water." His younger brother said.

"Yes, I know. But are we on the other side of the waterfall?" Parker asked, confused.

"To tell you the truth, we are," Mordru said, curtly. "I pulled you out of the water before the mermaids could eat you whole. They say live dragonoid is their best meal. That's why I wasn't so keen on saving you. But you needed me."

"Where's Falkor?" Parker asked.

"Who?" Mordru asked, confused.

"He's the Luckdragon that came with me. I thought he might be here." Parker said, calmly.

"Oh, would you like me to call him for you? We need to get you to Dragon's Hallow. The exit's right over there." Mordru said, pointing to a sparkling rainbow-colored barrier, leading to an opening, where a nearby village, filled with dragons and dragonoids, resided.

Falkor landed on the ground, waiting for Parker to arrive.

Parker slumped. He was too weak to move. He sighed in relief when Mordru picked him up and saddled him on Falkor's back. He hardly cared to notice his younger brother sitting behind him, seconds before Falkor took off into the air and landed in the village. The last thing Parker remembered was a few dragonoid handmaids pulling him down from the Luckdragon and taking him inside a healer's house.

He remembered nothing afterwards.

*.*.*

References:

The mermaids this chapter's referring to comes from the Disney film "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".