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Tied winner of Best Beast Wars Crossover '03

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Darkfire75

Author’s note: Okay, the plot is Tolkien’s, but I added new lines and two new characters. For those who have never seen or heard of the Lord of the Rings, here’s your chance to read it now. Anyway, the way you pronounce Mornie’s name is (Mor-knee-e`) The ‘e’ is pronounced like the Spanish ‘e’. I got the name ‘Mornie’ from a song and it means ‘darkness’ or something like that. So anyway, I based this on the movie, so I hope you fans out there don’t hate me. It’s pretty much the same thing. Also, the second part won’t come out until the second movie does. I’m sorry, but I’m basing these parts on the movies and not the books. It’s just easier to remember the lines from a movie than from a book. Also, my friend KewlGurl would like to mention that Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is hers and not anyone else’s. Legolas (Orlando Bloom) is mine as well. So, on with the story!

The sun rose over the high mountains in the distance. The ground was covered with the little light shining through the trees. Birds chirped in happiness at the start of a new day. Not a dark cloud was in sight. It was perfect. So perfect in fact for two Velociraptors that happened to be scouting in the forest.

"Such a lovely day to host a party, don’t you think Dinobot?" said a sea green raptor with sapphire eyes and violet stripes. She received a grunt from a beige and tan raptor that was lying down by the trunk of a large tree.

"Mornie, I’m sure they can host the party without us," he reasoned.

"Now where’s the fun in that? Besides, we promised Bilbo we’d be there."

"I know," Dinobot sighed standing up. "But it takes forever to get to his home back in the Shire, you know that."

Mornie rolled her eyes. "If you don’t wanna come and wish Bilbo a happy 111^th birthday, then fine, you can stay behind while I go and celebrate." She stalked away with her head in the air.

"Fine!" called Dinobot. "I’ll come, but you owe me, female."

She grinned and said, "Mornie, Maximize." Dinobot followed her example. A strange portal suddenly appeared. "Come on now, we’re gonna be late!" urged the female raptor-bot. She dragged her partner into the portal and at once they were sucked into its swirling world of colors.

************

The Shire hadn’t changed since Bilbo had returned those many 60 years before. Just over the Buckland Hill, there lie many hobbit holes. The Bagginses of the Shire were well known now that Bilbo’s tale had traveled throughout Hobbiton. The Marishes even knew of his extraordinary adventure. Now, on this day, September 22, it was Bilbo’s 111^th birthday. It was quite odd for a hobbit of the Shire to reach such an age, but somehow he managed it.

He was even hosting a party, of which half the Shire had been invited to. Three young hobbit children were just passing by the road, when a portal appeared letting out two very large creatures covered in shiny metal. "Look!" cried the children.

Mornie and Dinobot dusted themselves off and stood up. They beamed down at the little hobbits. "Good-morning, lads and lass!" greeted Mornie in the tongue of the Shire.

"Good-morning yourself, kind lady!" answered the children.

"Tell me, where is Mr. Frodo Baggins? We wish to speak to him."

The children exchanged glances. "Why, Mr. Frodo is out pasturing in the Woods, ma’am," piped up a little hobbit girl. "But I wouldn’t go see him now. He’s busy reading and he never likes it when people disturb his reading."

"Oh, I think he’ll like the surprise today," Mornie replied with a grin. Dinobot crossed his arms over his chest and sighed deeply.

They said goodbye to the children and went in search of Frodo. The Shire almost looked as though it had grown since they had last been there. Even Dinobot, who found that visiting the small country was foolish, thought that it was spectacular. Mornie and he talked a bit about how long it had been since they had last seen young Frodo. He was probably quite old now, as it was his birthday as well.

Mornie smiled once she saw the back of a curly head against a tree. She and Dinobot quietly tiptoed up behind the hobbit. She slowly reached out her hand to tap the hobbit’s shoulder. When she did, the hobbit jumped in fright. His blue eyes were wide with terror, but he soon relaxed having seen that it was only his friends.

"Hello, Frodo!" Mornie said happily. "Remember us?"

"Dinobot and Mornie, of course! How could I forget such faces?" he laughed hugging Mornie tightly.

Dinobot simply smiled at how grownup the hobbit was. "How is life here in the Shire, Mr. Baggins?" Dinobot asked.

"Please Dinobot, call me Frodo," he insisted. "But as for your question before, things are going great here. I’ve got the party all laid out. Old Bilbo’s invited half the Shire!"

"Goodness!" said Mornie astonished.

"Yes, but it will be worth the while. So how is life back in your world?"

"Oh, you know the usual. There’s a battle every so often," she answered casually.

Dinobot snorted. "Mornie, we are at war," he grumbled.

"Not now we aren’t," she said. "We’re in Middle-Earth."

"Exactly," agreed Frodo. "Would you like to see Bilbo and Gandalf?"

"Yes indeed," said Mornie in a rush. "I have a dire need to speak with Gandalf."

So they traveled up the road. Frodo knocked three times on Bilbo’s door at Bag End. "Bilbo, Bilbo it’s me, Frodo!" he called. "I’ve got some friends here who would like to speak with you and Gandalf!"

The door swung open and an old hobbit strolled out followed closely by a very old wizard in a gray cloak and hat.

"Dinobot and Mornie, my friends!" cried Bilbo. He ran for Mornie’s open arms. She had to bend down on her knees just to hug him. Both had tears in their eyes.

"It has been far too long, dear friend," said Mornie pulling away. "But look at you! You’ve hardly aged a day!" Frodo had walked away down the road.

Bilbo smiled and nodded his head to Dinobot in greeting. "Come on in!" the hobbit urged. Gandalf sat in a chair beside Mornie.

"So what is it you wish to discuss?" he asked her.

"About the rumors. Is it true, Gandalf? Is there trouble stirring in…" she took a quick glance at Bilbo and her partner to make sure they weren’t listening, "…Mordor?" she finished.

"Alas, fair lady, I do not know for certain. But such matters do not concern me at the moment," he replied.

"So, is Bilbo in good health?"

"Very good health. He’s planning on leaving the Shire, but I don’t know if it’s all talk."

"Leaving the Shire? He can’t, Gandalf! Frodo will have no one here to protect him!"

"Please, Mornie, Frodo turns 51 today. He’s quite old enough to take care of himself."

"Goodness me, I nearly forgot how fast hobbits age and how young they can look when in their 50s or 60s."

Gandalf smiled behind his gray beard. "Very silly to forget I see," he said.

Dinobot placed a hand on Mornie’s shoulder. "Bilbo was wondering if you’d like some tea," he said.

"Oh, sure," she replied. "I love hobbit tea."

Bilbo quickly prepared the stove and served the tea. It was quite refreshing. "You both are invited to the party tonight as well," added Bilbo once everyone was done with their tea.

"Thank you," Dinobot and Mornie said in unison.

*********

Later that night, the four of them sat on top of the hill overlooking the party grounds. Bilbo and Gandalf were smoking Old Toby, the finest weed in the Southfarthing, at least, that’s what Bilbo had said. Mornie and Dinobot didn’t smoke, so they didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Bilbo suddenly blew out a smoke ring. Gandalf blew out a ship to sail through it.

"My friends," said Bilbo, "this will be a night to remember."

*********

The party was wonderful. All hobbits from the Shire were there. Dinobot and Mornie were settled down at a table with Frodo and his friend, Samwise Gamgee. Sam had his eye on a pretty hobbit girl named Rosie Cotton. She danced by him and he turned his head away. Frodo noticed.

"C’mon Sam, why not ask Rosie for a dance?" he said.

"I think I’ll just have another ale," replied Sam.

"Oh no you don’t!" cried Frodo pushing his friend into the dancing form of Rosie. She quickly took Sam’s hands and placed them around her waist. They danced away. Frodo and Mornie laughed heartily. Dinobot rolled his eyes. Gandalf was setting off fireworks for the hobbit children. Bilbo was with a group of very young hobbits. He was telling them about his tale with the trolls.

Mornie turned her head and saw two troublemakers sneaking into Gandalf’s firework supply cart. She grinned and silently walked over. It was Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. Both of them were Frodo’s cousins. Merry had just thrown Pippin into the cart to grab a firework. He had grabbed the biggest one. They walked back into their tent and lit the thread.

"We should stick it in the ground!" shouted Merry.

"It is in the ground!" said Pippin in defense. They began tossing the flaming firework back and forth.

"Outside!" argued Merry.

"This was your idea!" snapped Pippin. The firework suddenly blew up. Everyone turned his or her head and gasped. Mornie looked up and saw the form the firework was taking. It was a dragon. She rushed over to Merry and Pippin and glared down at them after the firework had exploded in the air.

"Well, what have you got to say for yourselves?" she snarled with her hands on her hips.

"That was good!" said Merry as if he couldn’t hear her.

"Yeah, let’s get another one!" agreed Pippin. Both of them were suddenly pulled back by their ears. Gandalf loomed over them with a disapproving look.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. I might of known," he said. Mornie smiled.

She whispered to Gandalf, "Don’t be too harsh on them."

"Oh, no need to worry, I won’t," he replied.

She laughed and walked back to Dinobot and Frodo. All the hobbits were cheering for Bilbo to give a speech. "Speech!" called Frodo while clapping his hands.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins! Tooks and Brandybucks! Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots!" Bilbo announced.

"Proudfeet!" shouted a hobbit. Bilbo waved it away.

"Also, my very good friends, Mornie and Dinobot!" added Bilbo.

The hobbits cheered some more. "Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!" he said.

"Happy birthday!" everyone cried.

"Alas," he continued, "eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits."

Everyone cheered again. Frodo smiled. "I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve," Bilbo said.

There was silence. Apparently nobody understood what he meant. Dinobot and Mornie were exchanging confused glances.

Bilbo slowly took something from his pocket. "I…uh…I h-have things to do," he stammered. His statement changed quickly. Frodo noticed and began to realize something unusual was going one.

"I’ve put this off for far too long," Bilbo whispered. He then said in a louder voice, "I regret to announce, this is the end! I’m going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell." He looked at Frodo. "Goodbye," he whispered. He then vanished. Frodo and his friends were surprised. Gandalf was as well. The other hobbits were astonished. Mornie then saw Gandalf leave quickly. She followed in pursuit. Dinobot came as well.

*********

Bilbo reappeared at Bag End out of thin air while laughing. He flipped a gold ring and put it in his pocket. He went to grab a walking stick, when a booming voice said, "I suppose you think that was terribly clever?" It was Gandalf. Mornie and Dinobot were standing behind him.

Bilbo whizzed around in shock. He dismissed the approach and began to pack. "Come on, Gandalf!" he said. "Did you see their faces?"

"There are many magic rings in the world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly," snarled the wizard. Mornie stepped forward with clenched fists.

"It was just a bit of fun," reasoned Bilbo. He looked at his three friends, who remained somewhat stern. "Oh, you’re probably right, as usual. You three will keep an eye on Frodo, won’t you?"

"Six eyes," answered Gandalf straightening up. "As often as we can spare them."

"I’m leaving everything to him."

"What about this ring of yours?" Mornie chipped in. "Is that staying too?"

"Yes, yes. It’s in an envelope over there on the mantelpiece," sighed Bilbo.

Gandalf went to get it. "No, wait, it’s…right here in my pocket," Bilbo said quietly taking out the ring. He held it between his fingers and looked at it.

"Heh, isn’t that, isn’t that odd though?" he said. His statement changed. "Yet, after all…why not? Why shouldn’t I keep it?"

"I think you should leave the ring behind, Bilbo," said Gandalf. "Is that so hard?"

"Well no…" he began. His face and voice suddenly changed as he spoke, as if a madness possessed him. "…and yes! Now it comes to it, I don’t feel like parting with. It’s mine, I found it. It came to me!"

"There’s no reason to get angry," Dinobot reasoned. He had watched Optimus do this numerous times with him and Rattrap and he had picked up a few tips.

Bilbo turned to face all three of them. "Well, if I’m angry, it’s your fault!" he cried.

Dinobot and Mornie’s optics widened then narrowed. Gandalf seemed suspicious. Bilbo looked away again while caressing the ring. "It’s mine. My own. My precious," he said.

"Precious?" repeated Gandalf. "It’s been called that before, but not by you."

"What business is it of yours what I do with my own things!" shouted the hobbit.

"I think you’ve had that ring quite long enough," said the wizard.

"You want for yourself!"

Gandalf suddenly became angry. The two robots behind him backed away in fear. They had never seen the old wizard in such a mood before. "Bilbo Baggins!" he roared. Bilbo snapped out of it, scared by Gandalf’s thundering voice. The ceiling of Bag End behind him changed to a dark sky. "Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks!" He returned to normal. "I am not trying to rob you. I’m trying to help you."

Mornie smiled. Bilbo cried and hugged Gandalf, then Mornie. Gandalf kneeled down and held Bilbo’s shoulders.

"All your long years we have been friends," he began. "Trust us as you once did. Let it go."

"You’re right, Gandalf," Bilbo replied. "The ring must go to Frodo."

Bilbo went to the door, holding his walking stick. "It’s late, the road is long. Yes, it is time." He opened the door.

"Bilbo?" Gandalf trailed off.

"Hmm?"

"The ring is still in your pocket."

"Oh, yes…"

He took out the ring from his pocket. Staring at it in on the palm of his, he began to struggle with the power of the Ring, even though he wasn’t aware of it. It hadn’t got a strong enough hold on him yet and so he let it slip out of his hand. It landed with a loud thud. Bilbo hurried out the door. He turned on the road and looked back at Gandalf, Dinobot, and Mornie, who were standing in the doorway.

"I’ve thought up an ending for my book. ‘And he lived happily ever after, to the end of his days,’" he stated.

Mornie bent down and kissed his forehead. "And I’m sure you will, my dear friend."

"Goodbye, my friends," said Bilbo.

"Goodbye, dear Bilbo," they replied.

Bilbo began to sing. "The Road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began…"

"Until our next meeting," mumbled Gandalf. The three of them went back in. Gandalf stood in front of the Ring and looked down at it. Mornie looked at him closely. The wizard reached down to pick it up, but right before his fingers touched the Ring, he saw in a flash the Eye of Sauron.

Mornie placed a hand on his shoulder. "Gandalf, something wrong?" she asked.

"No," he lied.

Gandalf sat at Bilbo’s fireplace, smoking a pipe while he went over the Hobbit’s words. "Riddles in the Dark," he mumbled. Mornie and Dinobot lay by his feet, both in raptor mode. Behind them, Frodo entered Bag End.

"Bilbo! Bilbo!" he shouted.

He saw the Ring and picked it up.

"My precious," whispered Gandalf to himself. Frodo spotted Gandalf and went over to him. "Precious…"

"He’s gone, hasn’t he?" interrupted Frodo. "He talked for so long about leaving. I didn’t think he’d really do it." Mornie stood up and flexed her claws and neck. Dinobot followed her example. "Gandalf? Mornie? Dinobot?" Frodo said uncertainly.

They each looked at him and smiled. "Bilbo’s ring," said Gandalf. "He’s gone to stay with the Elves." He stood up. "He’s left you Bag End…"

Gandalf held open the envelope in which Bilbo meant to put the Ring. Frodo did so and the wizard sealed it quickly. "…along with all his possessions. The ring is yours now. Put it somewhere out of sight."

He went to the door. "Where are you going?" Frodo asked. Mornie had transformed. She followed after Frodo with a worried face.

"There are some things that I must see to," answered Gandalf.

"What things?" said Frodo.

"Questions. Questions that need answering."

"But you’ve only just arrived!" protested the young hobbit. "I don’t understand." Mornie had placed her hand on his shoulder. Gandalf turned at the door.

"Neither do I. Keep it secret. Keep it safe." He left. Frodo looked down at the envelope.

Mornie sat him down in a chair. Dinobot gave him a blanket.

"Feeling all right?" he asked.

Frodo looked up at him. "Do you know where Gandalf has gone?" he wondered.

"Not really," Mornie replied biting her lip. "See, Gandalf didn’t want to tell us. But we are to keep a close eye on you will Bilbo and he are away."

"May I go back to the party?"

"Of course, just be back soon."

Frodo nodded and received a small kiss on the cheek from Mornie. He walked out the door leaving the two Maximals inside Bag End.

Later that evening, Frodo and Sam left the Green Dragon Inn.

"Goodnight," said Sam to Rosie. At Bag End, Frodo and Sam parted ways. "Goodnight," said Samwise to Frodo.

"Goodnight, Sam," replied Frodo. Sam yawned and continued on, while Frodo went inside. He looked around for Mornie and Dinobot, but they were nowhere to be seen. A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"Is it secret?" Gandalf said in a rush. "Is it safe?" Mornie and Dinobot were behind him.

Frodo opened a chest. He took out the envelope and gave it to Gandalf. Gandalf practically snatched it out of his hand and threw it into the fire.

"What are you doing?" cried Frodo in shock. The envelope burned, revealing the Ring. Gandalf took it out with a pair of tongs. He held the Ring in front of Frodo.

"Hold out your hand, Frodo. It’s quite cool," said Gandalf. He dropped the Ring into Frodo’s hand. He flinched, but his skin didn’t burn. Gandalf stood up with his back to Frodo. It was as if he dreaded looking.

"What can you see?" asked the wizard. "Can you see anything?"

"Nothing. There’s nothing…" replied Frodo. Mornie and the other two sighed happily. Gandalf looked relieved.

"Wait. There are markings. It’s some form of Elvish. I can’t read it," said Frodo.

"There are few who can," said Gandalf heavily. He turned to the three. "The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

"Mordor?" repeated Frodo.

"In the common tongue it says, ‘One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.’"

The four of them sat at the table. "This is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom. Taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself," explained Gandalf.

"Bilbo found it. In Gollum’s cave," said Frodo.

"Yes. Sixty years the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo’s keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer, Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It’s heard its master’s call." Mornie and Dinobot looked fearful, though they didn’t show it. Mornie had her arm around Frodo protectively.

"But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed," argued Frodo. A whispered voice mumbled Isildur’s name. All four looked at the Ring.

"No, Frodo," said Gandalf. "The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the Ring, and the Ring survived. Sauron has returned. His Orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad-dur is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it. Seeking it always. All his thought is bent on it. The Ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it."

Frodo stood up and the other three followed him. "Alright, we put it away! We keep it hidden! We never speak of it again. No one knows it’s here, do they?" he said.

He turned around at Gandalf, who hadn’t answered.

"Do they, Gandalf?" repeated Frodo uncertainly.

"There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum. But the Enemy found him first. I don’t know how long they tortured him. Amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words. Shire and Baggins."

"Shire. Baggins. But that will lead they here!" cried Frodo. Mornie bent down on her knee. Frodo had only one choice. "Take it, Gandalf! Take it!" he demanded.

Gandalf recoiled. "No, Frodo. No."

"You must take it!"

"You cannot offer me this Ring!"

"I’m giving it to you!"

"Don’t tempt me, Frodo!"

Frodo finally stopped, taken aback by Gandalf’s strong reaction. "I dare not take it," said Gandalf calmly. "Not even to keep it safe. Understand Frodo, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. But through me, it would wield the power to great and terrible to imagine."

"But it cannot stay in the Shire!" said Frodo. Mornie placed both her hands on Frodo’s shoulders to restrain him.

"No! No it can’t," said Gandalf.

"What must I do?" asked Frodo. He quickly began packing his belongings. Mornie and Dinobot were to go with him.

"You must leave, and leave quickly," Gandalf stated.

"Where? Where do we go?" Frodo wondered.

"Get out of the Shire. Make for the village of Bree."

"Bree. What about you?"

"I’ll be waiting for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony."

"And the Ring will be safe there?"

"I don’t know, Frodo. I don’t have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo, he’ll know what to do."

Frodo was done packing. He was wearing a backpack. Mornie and Dinobot stood beside him now in beast mode.

"We can cut across country easily enough," he stated.

Gandalf smiled, touched by Frodo’s courage and trust. "My dear Frodo…Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you."

Frodo smiled. They suddenly heard a noise outside. "Get down!" said Gandalf to the three of them. Gandalf went to the window. He looked down into the bushes and knocked down his staff. Someone yelped. He reached down and yanked someone through the window. It was Sam, who crashed onto the table.

"Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee! You’ve been eavesdropping?" thundered the wizard.

"I have been droppin’ no eves sir, honest!" replied Sam in a rush. "I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me."

"A little late to be trimming the verge, don’t you think?"

"I heard raised voices."

"What did you hear?! Speak!"

"N-n-n-nothin’ important. That is, I heard a good deal about a Ring and a Dark Lord and somethin’ about the end of the world. But please, Mister Gandalf, sir, don’t hurt me. Don’t turn me into anythin’…unnatural?"

Gandalf looked as if he wasn’t too sure about that. "No? Perhaps not. I’ve thought of a better use for you."

The following morning, the five of them set off with Gandalf in the lead. Frodo and Sam were right behind him. Mornie and Dinobot stalked alongside the young hobbits for personal reasons. "Is it safe?" Gandalf asked of Frodo when they had reached the woods.

Frodo placed a hand over his pocket. "Be careful," said the wizard. "There are many servants to the Dark Lord. Birds, Orcs, and so one. Do not trust anyone."

He turned to the two raptors. "I expect you to watch over these two," he said. Mornie smiled and bowed her head.

"With our lives we will protect them," she stated. Dinobot nodded in agreement.

Gandalf then rode away on a magnificent steed. Frodo seemed queer to go without him, but Sam and the other two urged him forward. They walked until sundown. They had finally made it to the cornfields.

"This is it," Sam said.

"This is what?" asked Frodo turning back.

"I take one more step, it’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been."

Mornie giggled. Frodo rolled his eyes slightly and extended his hand. "C’mon, Sam," he said with a smile. Sam reluctantly followed after. "Remember what Bilbo used to say. ‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and there’s no telling where you might be swept off to.’"

The company of four was still traveling through cornfields. Sam had seemingly lost Frodo, Dinobot, and Mornie. "Mr. Frodo? Frodo?! FRODO?!" he called.

"What is it, Sam?" he asked coming into view. The other two were right behind him.

"I thought I’d lost you."

"What are you talking about?"

"It’s just something Gandalf said."

"What did he say?" wondered Frodo.

"‘Don’t you lose him, Samwise Gamgee.’ And I don’t mean to."

"Sam, we’re still in the Shire. What could possibly happen?" laughed Frodo.

Both of them were suddenly pinned down. "Ahh!" they cried.

Pippin Took looked down and gasped. "Frodo!" he said happily. "Merry, look, it’s Frodo Baggins!"

"Hello Frodo!" greeted Merry Brandybuck.

"Get off him!" shouted Sam angrily. "Frodo, are you alright?" Mornie silently agreed. She didn’t like Merry and Pip barging in like this.

"What’s the meaning of this?" Frodo asked Merry and Pippin.

Merry handed Sam something. "Hold these," he said.

"You’ve been into Farmer Maggot’s crop!" Sam said startled. A sudden noise of anger arose and a large pickaxe rose over their heads.

"Let’s go!" urged Pippin.

"Follow us!" said Merry. The others followed quickly.

"I don’t see why he’s so upset!" said Merry as they ran. "It’s only a couple of carrots!"

"And some cabbages!" added Pippin. "And those three bags of potatoes we lifted last week, and, and, the mushrooms, the week before!"

"Yes, Pippin! My point is, he’s clearly overreactin’! Run!" replied Merry.

All six of them suddenly stopped on the cliff. Unfortunately, Sam plowed into them and they all tumbled down the hill. "Oww!" they each cried.

"Oooh, that was close!" said Pippin from under everyone.

"I think I’ve broken somethin’," said Merry while taking out a broken carrot.

"Trust a Brandybuck and Took!" growled Sam dusting himself off.

"What?" said Merry. "It was a detour. A shortcut."

"Shortcut to what?"

"Mushrooms!" cried Pippin. The three of them pushed him down for a mad rush at the mushrooms. Mornie helped her partner off the ground.

Frodo looked up the road. "I think we should get off the road," he said. He looked back. A shrill scream echoed throughout the forest. Leaves rustled. His statement changed to terror. "Get off the road! Quick!" he shouted. The others hurriedly found cover underneath a tree trunk. Sam, Merry, and Pippin began arguing over who would get the biggest mushroom. Frodo, Mornie, and Dinobot listening intently as heavy footsteps came near. The other three became silent.

The sound stopped when a large black horse halted in front of the tree. A black rider jumped from the stirrup and began sniffing at the air. Frodo felt queasy. His eyes began to droop. He didn’t know how he did it, but he somehow had grabbed the Ring from his pocket and was holding it inches away from his finger. Mornie noticed just in time to make him stop.

The rider sniffed again. Merry suddenly threw a bag of mushrooms far away. The presence left with a scream. The hobbits and two robots ran down the sloping hills. Merry fell down and looked up at Frodo. "What was that?" he asked.

Sam and Pippin stood over him. Frodo didn’t reply, but looked down at the Ring in his palm.

Click here for chapters 4-15