Sorry for the long delay. I had major writer's block with this particular chapter. It was tough to get through, but I finally got it! :)

Also, my connection with Frodo is restored! It took some time, but Frodo and me brought our connection back. Since the delay, from posting for this fanfic, I ended up in a reading frenzy with the Bible, which I am happy to say, after six years of reading it, I finally finished reading it in March 2023! :) I'm so happy to have completed this reading sessions! :) These reading sessions threw my writing off, too. In fact, normal life seemed more like Bible reading time during this moment in my life. :)

It was a spiritual journey and very enlightening. But, it's worth it. :)

It's been a little tough getting back into normal life, but I'm doing all right. So, here we are, back in the story. Let's continue with the story. :)

The moment Janus stepped foot inside Pan's house, the warm, vibrant air sent her into a comfortable state of mind. Her dalmatian body fell into relaxation, all the while looking up and noticing Pan playing his panpipes yet again, from where he sat on his wooden armchair, complete with its own cushioned red pillow. Janus shook her head, wiping the tiredness out of her eyes, as if that was the only comfortable part of this process.

Janus looked up at the others, even as Pan gave Helen the signal to shut and lock the door. Helen did this, shaking Janus awake, as the dalmatian stood out towards the dining room table, where their meeting would take place.

Janus looked over her shoulder, witnessing the tea kettle on the stove, preparing to brew some hot water for the tea. The stone fireplace loomed, lit with its orangish-yellow flames licking the grey smoky air inside the fireplace, inside the living room. Many wooden benches, chairs, and a carpeted rug, lurked inside the living room. Wooden footstools loomed in the living room as well. Janus was fascinated with Pan's living room, as well as the winding wooden staircase, leading up to the second-floor loft, where Janus wondered if that was where Pan slept.

"Janus, come here," Pan said, lulling Janus into a stupor.

Janus merely shook out of her stupor, thanks to Helen resting her scaly purple, lizard-like hand against the dalmatian's shoulder. Janus stirred, facing Helen, "Come. It's time to begin this meeting. Won't you sit with me?" Helen asked, approaching a chair and offering it to Janus to sit down on.

"I—" Janus faced Pan at first, then turned to Helen. Janus closed her mouth, not noticing she had it gaped open earlier in those endless seconds Pan lulled her into that stupor. Janus looked at Helen, determination across her eyes, "—yes. I think I will do that. Excuse me, Pan." Janus curtsied to Pan, before Janus proceeded to join Helen over by the table.

Pan stood up, regrouping with them soon after, carrying the tea kettle with him, filled with hot, brewing water. He poured the water into a ceramic teapot, before setting the tea kettle back on the stove, where it was cold. Afterwards, he sat back down, playing his panpipes again at his chair.

The moment Janus sat down by the table, Helen moved Janus' chair in, before proceeding to join her at the chair next to her. Jock scooted in next to Janus, right from Janus' left, taking note that Helen was seated next to Janus from the female dalmatian's right. All the while, Maximus sat next to Helen, from Helen's right.

Fawn quietly joined Pan, nestling against his shoulder and quietly observing the room. "Pan, when it is my turn?" Fawn asked Pan, loud and clear.

Pan shook his head. "No. This won't do."

"Won't do what?" Fawn asked Pan, curiosity lit up across her face.

Pan rested his hand against his chin, deciding what he should do next. "Fawn," he looked at Fawn as she flew up over his shoulder, "why don't you transform into your human size? That way, we can all be present and you won't be blown over!" He smirked at Fawn, even as Janus laughed.

Fawn glowered at Janus, flying over to her and giving her a piece of her mind, right before Fawn yanked on Janus' black spotted ear.

"Ow! What was that for?" Janus asked Fawn, annoyed and massaging her poor ear.

Fawn huffed. "Humph! She deserved that."

"Fawn, please," Pan insisted, at which Fawn faced him and bowed, before proceeding to move towards the floor, transforming into a human wearing auburn, long-sleeved clothes. Pan sighed, clapping at her, "Well done, Fawn. Well done!"

Fawn stammered. She slammed her foot down against the rug, hot flashes of daybreak sizzling at her very core. Fawn couldn't imagine what brought Pan to this moment, but it was one that Fawn would remember as regret for herself and for poor, dear Janus, who Fawn could only be jealous of.

"Humph! Well, I never!" Fawn dared to fly over to Pan, leaving Janus in a daze, for she did not expect this. It was the worst day of Janus' life, and Fawn would make sure she heard of it from her very mouth.

"Fawn, sit down!" Pan told her, allowing Fawn to take a breath, before taking her seat on a wooden, cushioned chair, next to Pan.

Pan huffed, enduring this moment and all the moments to come, if he had anything to say about it! He'd for sure be rich in his life. But now was not the time for this. It was time to begin this meeting. And Pan would see to it that everyone knew what their roles were. In this case, Pan would present it to them, if he could take account for it.

"Now, to begin this meeting," Pan insisted, leaving Janus to look up and face him, "There is a rumor."

"Oh, dear me!" Fawn whined, pressing her hands against her face, knowing where this was coming from.

"Shh! You'll have your chance! Trust me!" Pan stated, leaving Fawn to look up and stamp her feet against the rug.

"Well, can we hurry up? I have places to be!" Fawn cried out, anxiously awaiting this meeting to get over with!

"Shh! Fawn, please!" Pan stated, leaving Fawn a little more than jealous and upset. She certainly hated all this shushing Pan was doing, and with good reason.

Pan sighed. He quietly told her, "I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Fawn smiled at him. "I'd thought you'd never ask."

Janus quietly interrupted them both, leaving Pan intrigued and Fawn annoyed with her. Still, Janus pressed on, "Um… you were talking about a rumor? Don't you remember?"

Pan tapped his index finger against his chin. He paused, took a breath, and quietly stated, "There is a rumor."

"Oh dear!" Fawn said, annoyed again.

Pan looked at her, wanting to say something, but convened to speak with Janus and her team. "A rumor said to be of great importance! Your mission is to destroy what lies inside the Cave, leading to the Underworld, as well as the Cave itself. Cerberus is likely to keep tunneling to find new Caves, but it is important that the Cave headed to the Jedi Temple must be destroyed, before anything further is stated."

"Great. So, now we have to destroy the Cave, leading to the Underworld," Maximus said, feeling a yearning to head back inside that Cave. Did they really have to destroy it?

Janus gulped. She asked Pan, "Is this the Jedi's command?"

Pan nodded. "It is indeed. They want you to destroy the Cave, leading to the Underworld. The one by their temple."

Janus looked at him in shock. She couldn't believe the things she was hearing! "You're certain that the Jedi want this Cave destroyed?"

Pan nodded a second time.

Janus gulped. This wasn't good! Not good at all! She thought they were supposed to investigate the Cave, leading to the Underworld, not destroy it! What were the Jedi thinking?

Janus leaned in, telling Pan, "No. The Jedi cannot do that. They're loyal! They're wise! They're kind! Why would they want to destroy the Cave?"

Pan sighed. He closed his eyes momentarily, before opening them again. He looked at Janus, rather fondly, saying to her, "Look, I don't make the rules. This is the Jedi's request. Find what you can learn in the Cave. Leave the rest to me. I knew you wouldn't go after that Cave, to destroy it! You're too weak to them! But not weak to me."

"She's too noble is what!" Jock stated, shocking Janus.

Janus hissed at him. "Could you please?"

Jock laughed, intimidated by her. "Do what? You know what you have to do! Investigate the Cave, leave the rest to Pan!" He shook his head, deliberating what was going on here.

Janus turned to Pan, telling him, "Maybe I heard you wrong before. You said we're destroying the Cave, leading to the Underworld."

Pan blew a raspberry at her. "I said this, before we entered my house. The Jedi have their ways. I suggest you listen to them."

Janus shook her head. "No. I refuse to do this task."

Pan sighed, glancing up at the ceiling with wonder. "I was afraid of that. A dalmatian who refuses to listen to orders, orders that can surely lead you to do more things. Why do you think I gave you those panpipes? Can't you see what you're doing?" Pan sighed, debating on what to do next. "Janus, go to the Cave, heading towards the Jedi Temple. Destroy it, investigate it, leave the rest to me. You will do this task. The last thing we need is for the Jedi to become angry with you." Janus huffed, glancing around in wonder. Pan told her, firmly, "Do you understand?! I won't press you again!"

Jock looked at Janus, seeing the quizzical expression on her face. "You'd better do it. It's for your own good. You need to be with the Jedi. It's your duty. It's your destiny."

"Duty? Destiny? Bah!" Janus huffed, walking towards the window in anger. She folded her furry, spotted arms, anxious over what else to do. "I understand what you're trying to do. You're trying to change me, again and again. Maximus is the one who made me change my thoughts. But it's you, Jock! You and everyone else, telling me what to do and who I am, ever since I recovered in the healer's tent! You think you're better than me? You think you're wiser than me? I'm not the same dog! Pan! Helen! I have changed! I just don't like it when everyone else treats me as though I'm not worthy."

Janus paused, stating to Jock, "How many times do I have to prove myself? I understand that the Cave, leading to the Underworld, must be destroyed, but the Jedi said nothing of it, before we left the temple. You did, Pan!" Janus pointed Pan out! "You told us this! And right now, whose right? The Jedi, you? Someone better give me some answers. Please! Any form of answers would be nice."

Pan huffed. He had to make things clearer. "If you would just listen, then you'd understand where I'm coming from. Yes, I said these words, but it's still the Jedi who made the request! Don't you see it? Don't you see how upsetting this Cave is to the Jedi? It must be destroyed. It must be investigated! So, I'm setting you on this task as well. Destroy the cave, investigate it, then leave the rest to me."

"Oh, it's a bunch of riddles," Janus said, hotly. "I mean, what do I know? You all want to make a fuss about this, then why don't you do it?"

"Because it's not his task, it's not his mission," Jock pointed out. He looked at Janus, telling her, "Look, it may come as a surprise to you, but the Jedi have to do things they don't want to do, and yet, they do it anyway. Yes, it may seem wrong, but it's for the right purpose. Without the Jedi, well, the Sith wouldn't have a common enemy. Now, would they?"

Janus sighed. She calmed down. She turned to Pan, informing him, "What can we do? What are we supposed to investigate?"

Pan sighed, glad Janus had knocked some sense into her. "The way to the Heavens leads us to finding its missing pieces." Pan waved an index finger in the air, pointing out to her, "But first, before you figure out this riddle, Fawn has some tasks for you, preparing you for your journey."

"Well, they're only three, and they're for this group: find me a water bucket, so I can pour fresh water into the spring. Find me a thimble, so I can have a seat. And lastly, find me a pair of earmuffs for the winter. Bring me these items, inside Pan's house, all four of you, and I will help you piece together more of the riddle. Got it?" Fawn looked at the others, as they nodded. Fawn nodded, too, impressed with them, "Good. Now, we can begin our tasks."

"Is she always like this?" Janus asked Jock, to which point Jock shrugged.

"I don't know. I've never met her!" Jock said, profusely.

Helen stared at the table. Already, she picked up a thimble from off the table. Helen looked at Fawn, asking her, "So, that's it? We just find household items!"

Pan nodded. "Feel free to look around. These are my gifts to Fawn, and she would dearly love to have them."

Fawn nodded, taking the thimble from Helen's index finger. "I'll take that! Thank you, Helen!"

"Wait! I smell something! Oh yes!" Jock proceeded to leave his spot, over by the table. He ran into Pan's bedroom, searching around for the earmuffs. And he found them, seated right on top of a wooden chest with a very curved lid. Jock quickly grabbed the earmuffs, proceeding out into the dining area, before passing the earmuffs onto Fawn.

"One more item to find," Fawn stated, all at once.

Janus sniffed the air. She could smell a water bucket, coming from the living room. In her haste to pick up the water bucket, flashes of memories proceeded from her innermost thoughts.

Janus was a youthful Angel with flowing brunette hair and the brightest emerald green eyes, anyone would ever dare see. She flew through the Heavens, taking on a bit of flowers to Archangel Michael, who appreciated them.

The memories fast forwarded to another time: Janus proceeded to fight the Angels. She laughed in the face of danger. She yearned to seek out those who would deny her joy. As Janus became more involved with the Rebellion, her heart strained to seek God. She departed from the battle, seeking God, demanding everything to become one of His Angels again.

She looked up, finding God granting her clemency. She sighed, taking on this vow to always be good, to become a Jedi through and through. It was her wish. Her desire.

She would make God proud. This much she knew for certain would happen to her.

The memories faded. Janus looked up, tears in her eyes. She knew her fate, her destiny. She was always meant to become a Jedi. She collapsed on the rug, debating her next move.

"Janus! Do you have my bucket?" Fawn cried out, leaving Janus to remind herself where she was.

Janus grabbed the water bucket, passing it to Fawn.

Only Fawn understood her. "You remember the Rebellion in Heaven?"

Janus nodded, silently. "I do. What does it mean? What do the Jedi want me to investigate in that Cave?"

Pan spoke up, softly but with great courage. "You will know the answers, once you get there. That's all I'm going to say. Now, off with you!"

Helen nodded, moving away from the table, with Maximus following her out the front door. Jock stayed back. The way he observed Janus sent shivers up Janus' spine. They were the best of friends, weren't they? It was clear to him they were.

"What's wrong? Janus?" Jock asked, curiously.

"Nothing. I… I don't know. I saw a vision, my past. Something's not right. Not right at all." Janus faced Pan and Fawn, saying to them, "Thank you. Thank you both for everything."

"We'll meet again. This I promise," Pan said, smiling at her.

Janus sighed, nodding to him with contemplation. "Right. I'll see you later."

"Bye!" Fawn said, transforming back into her fairy size.

But Jock wasn't through! He grabbed Janus' paw, instructing her, "Janus, if you need anything, I'm here. I promise!"

Janus smiled. "I know." She proceeded out the front door, leaving Jock mystified.