Time ticked fast. One day, the wolf-dom was awakened by a sudden thudding of some giant feet. Rep was at the mansion, collapsing the iron-wrought gate into pieces. The wolves around him howled in support of the gigantic reptile. This was the appointed day that they would grab power from Tatin and Isabella. If they win, all the wealth of the town would be in their hands.
The monster's feet thudded towards the banquet hall; its eyes, fiery, its body, a blend of crocodile and lizard. It had the skin of a snake and a long tail like it, the curse of the enchanted. People were told to avoid its eyes and tail. The eyes spat fire and the tail could flatten any victim as taffy pulled.
Wolves who guarded the mansion cringed for fear at the sight of Rep.
Tatin and Isabella were awakened by the thundering sound. They ran towards the corridor to check but were surprised by the gigantic monster staring straight at them, its head bobbing up at the second story down from the banquet hall.
The two wasted no time; they knew about its eyes so they avoided its stare. The huge enemy began to spit fire, which Tatin and Isabella intercepted with their own fire. Every time the fire met, it created an explosion like a bomb.
In a little while, Apollo II, Matthias, Julius, Hugh, Andrea, and Lobo came to the scene. They bombarded the reptilian monster with fire.
Fire was met with fire. After some time fighting, they realized that Rep could not be beaten by just throwing fire at him. He was resistant to it.
Rep was snarling. He knew he had the advantage as he was confident with his size and his capabilities. He then started to wave his long tail and with one sweep, he caught wolves who were loyal to Tatin and Isabella.
On the contrary, the wolves who were on his side were rejoicing. They wanted to see the end to power of Tatin and Isabella.
But then, from out of nowhere, Michael and Gabriel came. They were carrying the sabers that they used for fencing. At first, they were terrified by the giant. But they had to fight as everybody did. So, they took a deep breath, looked at each other as if they knew what to do. Onward, they charged, ran to where Tatin and Isabella were positioned; avoided the monster's tail. Jumping over the balustrade, the two targeted the eyes of the giant reptile. Surely enough, they landed on the head of the monster and strike hard, they did, pierced their sharp swords into its eyes so that it writhed in pain, then, it stopped to breathe out fire. Blind, the monster's tail wriggled as the two held on to its head fiercely until it settled on the ground, dead.
Rep's cohorts were shocked at what they saw. They kneeled before Tatin and Isabella and begged the two for mercy. They knew that they had to face the consequences of their own actions.
"Look at what happened around," Isabella told the renegade wolves. The fire-breathing reptile left many holes around the banquet hall and the mansion. They could see the holes that it created on the roof and walls. "Where are we supposed to stay now?"
Tatin and Isabella's head shook thinking of the destruction that the giant reptile wrought.
On the contrary, they were thankful from the help of friends who came to their rescue, especially to Michael and Gabriel. They never imagined that these kids would be their saviors.
The renegades were all bowed down from what they did.
Meanwhile, Matthias and Julius had wisely slid Josh, Jan, Fr. Robert, and Marilyn past inside one of the rooms at the mansion. They saw everything and were dumbstruck. It was like watching a dinosaur movie from a cinematic screen. Jan had prodded the four to leave even as the fight were about to begin. He didn't want to get embroiled. No, he was nervous.
"What world is this?" He muttered as they hid and peeked inside Josh's bedroom. "And what era are we in? It's anarchaic."
Fr. Robert continued shushing him, afraid that they might be heard. When the fighting ended, they sneaked out. They began to take a walk again while talking about all the mysteries that they had witnessed.
Suddenly, out of the blue, they'd come to the spot where they thought the portal appeared.
"This is it," Jan almost danced upon remembering the spot. "This was where we were. I remember that tree and the shrubberies beside that tree."
"Are you sure?" Fr. Robert asked.
Jan looked at him. "I didn't know you're too old so as not to recall this spot."
"Yes, you're right, this was the place," Josh butted in. "That's the tree—and the shrubs, yes!"
It was early in the morning. Sunlight was high.
xxxxxx
At the mansion, Tatin had decided. He would send Isabella to the future timeline. She would be escorted and attended to by Michael and Gabriel. He said he wouldn't allow her die during the war. The destabilization plots were serious and there was an even bigger war to come, he said.
Isabella knew that Tatin had to defend the wolf-dom and that her presence would only aggravate the situation.
"I feel like being the daughter of my parents is a sin—and their sin of marrying each other had been passed upon me."
"Then, you're the most beautiful sin that God ever created."
"If bigotry would mean violence of unimaginable, despicable, and outrageous consequences what reason does it have? And if I leave you again?"
"Just go, we know better. I want you to be safe. We know we shall meet again, and that's for certain."
They kissed and bade farewell. She told him to take care of each other—she meant their friends Apollo II, Hugh, Andrea, Lobo, Matthias, and Julius. She also told them that she was happy, hoping that she would see them in the future.
Tatin waved his hand. Isabella, Michael and Gabriel were gone in an instant.
xxxxxx
Meanwhile, the portal appeared before the three adventurers. The palindrome opened up and carried them in a whirlwind fashion as they travelled back to the present or the future. Marilyn chose to stay with Matthias.
Michael cried in his bedroom. Aaron and Isabella heard the baby's cry. They went inside the bedroom. Zen was making milk downstairs. Aaron carried Michael in his arms.
"You had a bad dream? It's okay," Isabella was calming him down. Later on, Zen came back with the milk bottle.
The couple thought to once more look for Josh in his bedroom. And they were extremely surprised finding that Josh was calmly asleep.
"I didn't know that he is back," Isabella said. They closed the door slowly behind them.
Josh opened up his eyes, smiling.