Quite an amount had happened since the last time Jim Raynor went to the Middle-Earth, Bilbo had adopted Frodo as his heir. Hours before the Protoss, Terrans, and Zerg were in orbit; Frodo brought letters from the mailbox. "Thank you," said old Bilbo.

"What's this?" Frodo asked taking a sketch of the younger Bilbo.

"That is private. Keep your sticky paws off," he closed the book that he was writing. "It's not ready yet."

"Not ready for what?"

"Reading," old Bilbo then had a look on the letters. "What on earth are these?"

"Replies to the party invitations."

"Ah. Good gracious. Is it today?"

"They all say they're coming. Except for the Sackville-Bagginses, who are demanding you ask them in person."

"Are they, indeed? Over my dead body."

"They'd probably find that quite agreeable. They seem to think you have tunnels overflowing with gold."

"It was one small chest, hardly overflowing. And it still smells of Troll," Bilbo covered the chest with a cloth.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Taking precautions," Bilbo hid a cup. "You know I caught her making off with the silverware once."

"Who?"

"Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. She had all my spoons stuffed in her pocket. Ha! Dreadful woman. Make sure you keep an eye on her after I'm … When I'm … When I'm …"

"When you're what?"

"It's nothing. Nothing."

"You know, some people are beginning to wonder about you, Uncle. They think you're becoming odd."

"Odd? Oh. Hm."

"Unsociable."

"Unsociable, me? Nonsense. Be a good lad and put that on the gate," Bilbo gave Frodo a sign written, "No admittance. Except on party business." The young hobbit nailed it onto the gate.

"Do you think they'll come?"

"Who?"

"Gandalf, and this guy called … Jim Raynor."

"I'm not sure about Jim. Gandalf wouldn't miss a chance to let off his Whizpoppers. He'll give us quite a show, you'll see."

"Right, then. I'm off."

"Off to where?"

"East-farthing Woods. I'm going to surprise him."

"Well, go on, then. You don't want to be late," Bilbo smoked for a break and continued writing his book. There were knocks, "Frodo, the door!" The knocking continued, "Sticklebacks. Where is that boy? Frodo!"

Johnny Raynor was raised by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lorien as a son; he also became Gandalf's pupil. One day, both the young man wearing black outfit and the wizard went to the Shire via a horse-drawn wagon to celebrate 111th birthday of Bilbo Baggins.

"Down from the door where it began.

And I must follow if I can.

The road goes ever on.

Down from the door where it began

Now far ahead the road has gone.

And I must follow if I can," Gandalf sang.

"You're late," Frodo surprised the two.

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to," said the wizard and the three laughed.

"It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!" Frodo jumped to hug him.

"You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?" Gandalf embraced Frodo. "Frodo, this is Johnny, son of Jim Raynor."

"It's nice to meet you, Frodo," Johnny offered to shake Frodo's hand.

"It's nice meeting you too," Frodo shook the young man's hand. "I heard that my uncle had known your father."

"He wrote me a book about their adventures," Johnny showed the young hobbit the book his father wrote for him.

"Is he coming?"

"I don't know. There is no way to contact him from here," Johnny spoke sadly.

"I'm sure there is a way to reach your father," Gandalf said Johnny with certainty before he turned to Frodo. "How is the old rascal? I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence,"

"You know Bilbo. He's got the whole place in an uproar."

"Well, that should please him."

"Half the Shire's been invited. And the rest of them are turning up anyway." As they rode further, Frodo brought up something to Gandalf, "To tell you the truth, Bilbo's been a bit odd lately. I mean, more than usual. He's taken to locking himself in his study. He spends hours poring over old maps when he thinks I'm not looking. He's up to something." Gandalf was listening while smoking. "All right, then. Keep your secrets."

"What?"

"But I know you have something to do with it."

"Good gracious me."

"Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of."

"Indeed."

"Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."

"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."

"Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace."

"Oh, really?"

They passed one of the homes and the children spotted them, "Gandalf! Gandalf!"

"Fireworks, Gandalf!"

"Gandalf!"

"Fireworks, Gandalf!"

Somehow the wizard managed cast some of the fireworks to the children's delight.

"Gandalf? I'm glad you're back," said Frodo before he left the wagon.

"So am I, dear boy."

When they arrived to Bag End, they saw a sign written, "No admittance. Except on party business."

"I'll stay and watch the wagon," said Johnny.

"Alright," the wizard went to the door and knocked.

"No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!" Bilbo shouted from his room.

"And what about very old friends?"

"Gandalf?" Bilbo answered the door.

"Bilbo Baggins."

"My dear Gandalf!"

"Good to see you. 111 years old! Who would believe it? You haven't aged a day." Gandalf went on his knees to for Bilbo to hug him.

"Come on, come in."

Minutes later, Johnny saw an elderly hobbit woman knocked on the door. "Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins!"

"Who is she?" Johnny wondered.

"I know you're in there!" said the old hobbit woman before she left.

"Maybe father would know," Johnny wished his father would come.

At the evening, the two friends smoked outside. "Old Toby. The finest weed in the Southfarthing. Gandalf, my old friend, this will be a night to remember."

The party started, Gandalf lit the fireworks, and the hobbits brought in a huge birthday cake. The other hobbits were drinking and dancing. "You're going to miss this, father," Johnny thought.

"Hello, hello. Fatty Bolger. Lovely to see you. Welcome, welcome," Bilbo greeted one of his guests.

"Go on, Sam. Ask Rosie for a dance," Frodo said to a corpulent hobbit when he saw an attractive hobbit girl.

"I'll think I'll just have another ale."

"Oh, no, you don't." Frodo pushed Sam to Rosie. "Go on!"

Gandalf and Johnny joined the dance floor.

"So there I was at the mercy of three monstrous trolls. And they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether it be turned on a spit, or to sit on us one by one, squash us into jelly. All of a sudden, a man in a big suit of armor aimed his weapon on the trolls and shot one of them in the groin. Then the sun's first light crept over the top of the trees," Bilbo recalled part of his adventures to the hobbit children. "And turned them all to stone!"

After Gandalf took more fireworks, two hobbits sneaked into the wagon and took a firework that shaped like a dragon.

"Up they go!" the wizard those fireworks and the other children went after them.

"Mrs. Bracegirdle, how nice to see you. Welcome, welcome. Are all these children your?" Bilbo greeted another guest and she nodded. "Good gracious, you have been productive."

"Bilbo?" there was the familiar voice.

Johnny watched Bilbo turned to his back and found Frodo. "Sackville-Bagginses! Quickly, hide!" They hid from an elderly couple of hobbits. "Thank you, my boy. You're a good lad, Frodo. I'm very selfish, you know. Yes, I am. Very selfish. I don't know why I took you in after mother and father died but it wasn't out of charity. I think it was because of all my numerous relations. You were the one Baggins that showed real spirit."

"Bilbo, have you been at the Gaffer's home brew?"

"No. Well, yes, but that's not the point. The point is, Frodo … you'll be alright."

A tent flew up and was destroyed within a loud pop. It was a dragon and was flying towards the hobbits causing them to panic. Gandalf would never do such a thing to scare people, Johnny thought for certain.

"Bilbo. Bilbo, watch out for the dragon!" Frodo got his uncle's attention.

"Dragon? Nonsense. There hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years." The dragon exploded into fireworks and the hobbits cheered. Gandalf caught two hobbits that he recognized as Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. The two troublemakers had to wash the dishes for lighting that dragon firework.

"Speech, Bilbo!"

"Speech!"

"Speech!" Frodo called.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins … Tooks and Brandybucks … Grubbs, Chubbs … Hornblowers … Bolgers … Bracegirdles … and Proudfoots," Bilbo called out.

"Proudfeet!" a hobbit corrected him.

Bilbo began his speech, "Today is my 111th birthday!"

"Happy birthday!"

"But alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits. 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 began his speech. Frodo, Johnny, and Gandalf saw Bilbo taking something from his pocket. "I have things to do." He then whispered to himself, "I've put this off far too long." He then said to the crowd, "I regret to announce this is the end! I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye," Bilbo then disappeared shocking everybody. In fact, Bilbo returned to his home unseen and Gandalf caught him for possessing a magic ring that caused the hobbit to lose his mind for a short period of time. The wizard managed to bring his friend back to his senses and persuaded the old hobbit to leave the ring to Frodo. To Bilbo's reluctance, he complied and left Bag End afterwards. Gandalf examined the ring when Frodo returned and told him of Bilbo's whereabouts and hid the ring in an envelope. Gandalf and Johnny hurried to seek answers, however strangers had arrived in the Shire.

At that time; the Protoss, Zerg, and Terrans were in orbit. A dropship flew to the Shire and landed near the entrance of Bag End. When Jim got off, he found the door opened and it was dark in the interior, "Bag End."

"Jim, wait," said Kerrigan as she and Artanis followed up.

"Someone must have broken in," Jim readied his revolver while Artanis activated his psionic blades as they bended their waists to enter.

"Who would live under the hill?" Kerrigan asked.

"Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit," Jim replied.

"What is a hobbit?" Artanis asked.

"Never heard of one before," said Kerrigan.

"Hobbits are peaceful creatures; it's easy to mistake them for dwarves because of their short size. They do have pointy ears and are always barefoot," Jim gave out what he knew. The trio were unaware that someone saw them entering Bag End.

"Who's there?" someone shouted. They turned to a younger man wearing black outfit wielding a sword.

"Who are you?" Artanis asked.

"Johnny, son of Jim Raynor," the younger man replied.

"Johnny?" Jim could not believe his eyes.

"Father?" the younger man stared at Jim.

"You had a son, Jim?" Kerrigan spoke with disbelieve.

"I'm so sorry we gave you up for dead," Jim apologized.

"It's too bad I cannot reach you from here," said Johnny. The father and son embraced each other.

"Where is his mother?" Kerrigan asked.

"She died of grief long before the first time we met, Sarah," Jim turned to Kerrigan.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said. "At least, there won't be any complications," she thought.

"What are you doing here?" it was a younger hobbit.

"This is a hobbit," said Jim.

"Looks more like a kid to me," Kerrigan commented.

Someone put a hand on the younger hobbit's shoulder and turned him around, "Is it secret? Is it safe?" The young hobbit searched a chest.

"Gandalf?" Jim recognized his old friend.

"You know him?" Kerrigan asked.

"Jim?" the wizard managed to recognize him. "I'm glad that you have come after 60 years."

"60 years?" Jim spoke in a surprised tone. "It has been 11 years in the sector."

"Looks like there is a time difference between here and the sector," Kerrigan muttered.

He had a look at Kerrigan and Artanis. "I see that you have made new friends."

"I am Hierarch Artanis."

"Call me Kerrigan."

"My name is Gandalf, Gandalf the Grey."

"Gandalf, why are you desperate? Where's Bilbo?" Jim asked.

"He left after his 111th birthday and he's still alive. I would like you to meet Frodo Baggins," Gandalf replied and did not answer part of the question. The younger hobbit gave the wizard an envelope with a seal on it. "Frodo, this is Jim Raynor."

"It's nice to meet you, Frodo."

"It's nice meeting you too," Frodo turned to Gandalf who threw the envelope. "What are you doing?"

"What is going on?" Artanis asked.

Gandalf took the ring from the fire with tongs. "Could it be the ring that started the war here?" Kerrigan asked.

"Hold out your hand, Frodo. It's quite cool," the wizard placed the ring in Frodo's palm. "What can you see? Can you see anything?"

"Nothing. There's nothing," the younger hobbit replied. "Wait, there are markings. It's some form of Elvish. I can't read it."

"There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

"Mordor!"

"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."

Kerrigan, Artanis, Jim, Johnny, and Gandalf took their seats while Frodo made tea. "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," the wizard summarized the history.

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

"Who's Gollum?" Jim asked.

Gandalf began a tale to explain, "There were two Stoors, Deagol and Smeagol, one of the early types of hobbits. They were fishing one day, a fish pulled Deagol into the water and he found the ring then cleaned the mud out of it. Smeagol strangled Deagol and took the ring for himself. It poisoned his mind, consuming him, giving him long life, while deforming him into the creature Gollum."

"That's horrible," Jim commented.

"Smeagol's story is a sad one."

"Gandalf, do you think Bilbo found it when he was separated from us in the goblin tunnels?" Jim asked.

"Yes. For 60 years, the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping prolonging his life, delaying old age."

"So this is what Bilbo had been hiding," Jim remembered Bilbo fidgeting with his pocket.

"You sound like you were there, friend Raynor," Artanis commented.

"There was a time when Gandalf and I were with the company of Thorin Oakenshield," Raynor began recalling. "Bilbo was separated from the rest of us when we were at the goblin tunnels of the Misty Mountains."

"I remember that," said the wizard.

"Jim, you never told me of your earlier adventures in this planet," said Kerrigan.

Unknown to Jim 60 years ago, Bilbo loosed himself from the goblins that dragged Thorin's company to their king. The hobbit attempted to follow them and was attacked by a goblin. During the fight, they fell off. When Bilbo woke up, a loathsome creature who muttered "Gollum" was approaching the goblin. The goblin attacked and Gollum fought it with a rock as a melee weapon. When he did so, the ring fell off and Bilbo found it. The hobbit encountered Gollum that finished the goblin off and played a game of riddles. If Bilbo won, the creature would show him the way out otherwise he would be the creature's meal. The last question Bilbo asked was what was in his pocket and Gollum lost the game. However, the creature realized it lost the ring and did not show Bilbo the way out. When Gollum realized Bilbo had the ring, he attacked him. When the hobbit escaped, he used the ring to become invisible. Bilbo followed creature that hid from Thorin's company along with Gandalf, Jim, his friend Tychus Findlay, and Andriel the elf from Rivendell. The hobbit was about to put the creature out of its misery but the creature was spared. Bilbo escaped from the creature and managed to rejoin Thorin's company. The hobbit had used the ring as a cloaking device and as a translator to the giant spiders in Mirkwood.

"Jim, let me remind you that I have tracked Amon to this planet. We're here to eliminate him," said Kerrigan.

"Who's Amon?" Frodo asked.

"An evil Xel'Naga, the Dark God. He and Sauron are in league," Jim gave out what he had known.

"How so?" Gandalf asked.

"Amon intended to wipe us Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss so that we could not help the Free Peoples against Sauron," Jim remembered what Zeratul was trying to tell him after looking into the vision of the Zerg Overmind.

"Yes, you're quite right. Evil is stirring in Mordor and it is possible that Amon had retreated there. The Ring has awoken. It's heard its master's call," said the wizard.

"But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed," said Frodo.

"Did you hear that?" Artanis asked as there were voices. He, Jim, Johnny, Frodo, and Kerrigan could not find its source.

"No, Frodo. 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 at 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. All his thought is bent on it. For the Ring years above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one: the Ring and the Dark Lord," Gandalf gave out the facts.

"So long as the Ring lives, Sauron lives but without a body," Artanis muttered.

"It's true," the wizard agreed.

"How can we destroy this thing?" Kerrigan asked but the question was dodged.

"Frodo, he must never find it," the wizard turned to the young hobbit.

"All right. We put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do they? Do they, Gandalf?"

"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. But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words. 'Shire! Baggins!'"

"Shire. Baggins. But that would lead them here!" Frodo attempted to give the wizard the Ring. "Take it, Gandalf! Take it!"

"No, Frodo."

"You must take it!"

"You cannot offer me this Ring!"

"I'm giving it to you!"

"Don't tempt me, Frodo!" Gandalf made it clear, "I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo … I would use this Ring from a desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."

"But it cannot stay in the Shire!"

"No. No, it can't."

"What must I do?" Frodo asked.

"You must leave. And leave quickly," the wizard replied causing the young hobbit began packing.

"Where? Where do I go?"

"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."

"Saruman," Jim remembered the white wizard as the greatest of the order.

"You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you. That name is not safe outside the Shire. Travel only by day. And stay off the road," Gandalf helped Frodo with final preparations.

"I can cut across country easily enough."

"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." There were sounds of cutting outside, Gandalf ordered, "Get down." Jim aimed his revolver while Artanis readied his blades.

Gandalf poked someone with his staff and dragged a corpulent hobbit in, "Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?"

"I haven't been dropping no eaves. Honest. I was cutting the grass under the window," Sam spoke with small amount of panic.

"A little late for trimming the verge, don't you think?"

"I heard raised voices."

"What did you hear? Speak!"

"Nothing important. That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, a Dark Lord, a … Dark God, and the end of the world but – Please, Mr. Gandalf, sire, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything unnatural."

"No, perhaps not. I thought of a better use of you," Gandalf came up with something.

At dawn, Bag End was empty. "Come along, Samwise. Keep up," Gandalf said to Sam when they were on their way out. "Jim, Johnny, Kerrigan, Artanis, escort the two to Bree. Be careful, all of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts," the wizard turned to Frodo. "Is it safe? Never put it on … for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Frodo … the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found."

Gandalf rode off leaving the group of six on the road.

"Father, is there something wrong?" Johnny asked.

"What Gandalf will do, I have a bad feeling about this."

"This is not the time for worrying. We are to escort the two hobbits to Bree," Artanis gave a reminder.

"What about Amon?" Kerrigan asked.

"He's helping Sauron preparing for war," Jim made an assumption.

Author's Note

The scene of how Bilbo found the Ring was cut off from StarCraft: Devils and Dwarves; therefore the summary of that scene is moved to this crossover story. An opening scene from The Hobbit where Frodo got the letters was also incorporated into this story chronologically.