Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or settings.

Author's Note: This is just a bit of randomness that came to me. It takes place in Fangorn Forest during the Two Towers. Enjoy, and please leave a review!

The Importance of Introduction

"The tree is talking, Merry," Pippin declared to his friend, dumfounded. "The tree is talking."

"Tree?" the Ent asked as he looked down at the two Hobbits in his clutches, offended by their stereotypical assumption. "I am no tree: I am Groot."

The two Hobbits exchanged glances, but Groot continued, frustration filling his whatever-the-Ent-equivalent-of-veins-is. "Why would you just make such a huge assumption based on my outward appearance? Don't you care about who I really am?"

Merry and Pippin stuttered as they tried to explain their error, but Groot let his rant go on. "You didn't even wait for me to give my introduction without spewing forth your racism. That's so rude!"

"We're sorry," Merry began. "We didn't mean to—"

"No," Groot insisted. "Your biting comment will not go overlooked by me! Since you refused to let me introduce myself, that's all I'll do from now on!"

"Now, Groot," Pippin said, trying to calm down the great being that carried him, "let's not be rash…"

"I am Groot."

"We know," Merry replied, trying to keep his tone friendly, "and what does Groot plan to do with us?"

"I am Groot."

"Yes, but where are we going?" Pippin inquired.

"I am Groot."

"That's right, Groot," Merry said through clenched teeth, "but we cannot stay; we need to find our friends. They might die without help of some sort!"

"I am Groot."

"I don't think he's going to answer us, Merry," Pippin whispered loudly.

"Thanks for that bit of deduction, Pip," Merry snapped back.

"I am Groot," said the Ent again, a smirk forming on his face.

And so it was that Groot fell into the habit of constantly introducing himself to prevent racist remarks. After many thousands of years of this practice, he forgot all speech save his three-word introduction, and it became one of his defining characteristics thanks to two presumptuous Hobbits.

I hope you liked it! I would really appreciate some feedback, so please leave me a review!