Disclaimers: All material from The Lord of the Rings trilogy belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. I only own the plot, my OCs and ICs, etc.

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Welcome to Book III of the Next Generation saga!

We've come a long way on this journey. So, here's hoping events get tied up, plot points are explained and so on. Enjoy. :)

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Prologue:

A Second Bargain

One Week Ago…

Frodo Baggins entered the Faithful Bride tavern, half-expecting to find Samwise Gamgee, his best friend and gardener, in the inn as well. Well, he found Sam all right, talking with Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took. The three hobbits called him over to the bar table, where they were ordering more to drink.

"Mr. Frodo, why did you call us here? We thought… has the raid started?" Sam asked, confused.

"About that. Where's Hook?" Frodo asked the sandy-haired gentle-hobbit.

"He's over there," Pippin said, pointing out the short-haired captain, wearing a leather jacket, sitting by himself. Frodo recognized him at once. It was as if the pirate didn't age.

"I'll be right back," Frodo said, approaching the fair faced pirate captain. "Do you mind if I sit here?"

"You. I've been meaning to ask you how's your daughter. Congrats on finding her," Hook said, cheerfully.

"You seem unusually happy this afternoon," Frodo said, drinking a sip from his mug.

"And you seem to be without your family." Hook asked him, "How are things?"

"Ebony and Rosemary don't remember what happened to them. Ebony only remembers a tiny bit, but Rosemary… she was shocked to see me. She thought I was a character in one of her stories. I suppose it's true, but still…" Frodo's voice faded a little. He remembered, "I need to make another bargain with you."

"The last I recalled, you weren't up for bargaining," Hook said, serious.

"Now I am. I need Ebony and Rosemary to remember. Remember what happened," Frodo said.

"And you would give me what in return," Hook asked.

"The gemstones I gave to Ebony and Rosemary, they're important." He explained further. "They lead to a secret cave, hidden somewhere on this island. I know the risks and the dangers. What I need to do is how to get inside and out, before something bad happens."

"What's so interesting about a cave?" the pirate captain asked further.

"That concerns me." Frodo admitted, politely, "The cave's supposed to have a map, leading it further into the cave. And each gemstone that is found will guarantee access to the cave's whereabouts and what's hidden in there. You see, this Tortuga isn't like its parallel sister in the Waking World. All I can say is that the map is important to reaching the next location. It's like world jumping in a different manner."

"Why would you hide this from your wife and daughter? Don't they have a right to know what's going on?" Hook asked him.

"Ebony once knew what the cave was, where to seek it. Now, I want her and Rosemary to remember, but not just for this reason. The missing pieces of Ebony's life, including our relationship, I want back to. But since Rosemary has the amber gem, it's calling to her. Ebony knows some details, but not all of it." Frodo paused. "It's hard to explain and more difficult to track the pieces of the map. If we're lucky, we'll find the cave and start there." He asked, calmly, "I hope that covers everything."

"It's your skin, not mine. But I'll live up to my end of the bargain. Now you must live up to yours," Hook said, pointing an index finger at Frodo.

"When we find what we're searching for, my family will be reunited. The One Ring and Gollum's curse will end." Frodo admitted last, "I need to do this. I need to heal, and so does my family. I'm not giving up on them. Not this time."

"I wish you luck, lad," Hook said, drinking his fill once more. Frodo gave a small smile. Yes, he needed to find this cave. Get this mess straightened out. After eating his breakfast, Frodo left the tavern, heading back to the Heroes' University.

-.-.-

Today…

"Well, don't be alarmed." Jack said. "The adventure's just begun."

However, Frodo couldn't help staring at the cool, crystal water. Water rippled and flowed, and it was truthful. As much as he would deny it… no, he needed Ebony and Rosemary to come to Tortuga. They needed their memories back. The One Ring may have given him false hope, trying as hard as it could to break him. And it nearly did.

He wanted to get his wife and daughter's memories back. Prove to them that he was right for them. And yet, even he couldn't keep the darkness out. But there was always light, wasn't there? Hopefully, his wife and daughter would understand the circumstances to which they were sailing towards Tortuga. He hoped anyway…

"Frodo, are you okay?" Ebony asked.

"What?" Frodo asked in return, facing his wife now.

"What are you thinking about?" She pressed on him.

"I'll just be glad to get out of this mess," he answered.

"Well, look no further." Jack said. Frodo looked back in time to see the docks. They had made it to Tortuga. "Right. Now on with the show."

"What show?" Ebony asked, at the same time as Rosemary.

"You'll understand. Come on," Frodo said, climbing onto the docks. Just as he touched his wife's hand, a blast of rippled light shot off. He didn't let go of Ebony until they were on the dock. Leading her off the dock and onto the white sandy beach, he caught her in his arms. He looked at Bane and Rosemary. They were feeling the same reaction as Frodo and his wife. It was then that Frodo asked Ebony, "Are you all right? Ebb?" This was the nickname he used to call his wife. Now he hoped he could say it again.

"Frodo…. I remember." Ebony said, a few tears streaming down her face. But they were tears of joy. "I remember everything. Frodo." Frodo leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Hardly letting go of her, he kissed her in a loving moment. It was just them. No one else. The second he released her, they fell into an embrace.

"I'm not letting you go," Frodo said, joyful. His wife was back, and hopefully his daughter too.

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Chapter 1 Teaser:

"What do we know about this cave?" Ebony asked Frodo, "Besides that it will break the One Ring's curse. No offense."

"Dad, why did you take me away that night?" Rosemary asked the gentle-hobbit.

"You were going to be taken either way." Frodo said, serious. "On that night, I regretted it immediately. Pirates would have taken you either way." He looked at her then. "That's beside the point. According to the Ring's curse, my family was separated, their memories taken and switched around." He looked at Ebony and Rosemary, admitting to the two women, "We were going to be separated right as you were born, Rose. I lost my family that night. Until now, that we're together, I know that curse on our family is too." He said after a pause, "The only way we're going to stop this curse is if we head to Tortuga's cave. But even then…"

"How do we get there?" Rose asked. "I don't intend on losing my family again."

"Nor I," Ebony said immediately. Frodo grinned. He couldn't help it. He was glad to have them back.

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Thanks for reading. :)