Chapter 2: The Adventure Begins

Shadic waved to everyone as they left Rohan. His excitement was enough to warrant chuckles from the townspeople. The three companions left Rohan and were on their way to Rivendell. Sonic stopped, thinking.

"Would you like me to transform into something and fly us there? It would be faster." He asked.

"I thought ghosts couldn't be touched," Shadic said. His expression was one of confusion.

Sonic chuckled. "I still have my shapeshifting powers even as a ghost. Whenever I transform, I become solid."

Shadic nodded frantically. "I want to. That'll be so fun."

"Alright," Sonic said. "Or you could transform."

Shadic thought about it. "I haven't tried to do much of that," he admitted. "How do I do it?"

"Just concentrate on the animal you want to turn into and you'll transform."

Shadic nodded. He closed his eyes, thought of a dragon, and began to transform. His eyes were squeezed shut in concentration. He gasped in pain as his body began shifting. A few minutes passed before a large dragon stood before them. He looked at Sonic and tried to speak but all that came out was a growl. Gandalf and Sonic got on the dragon, who flapped his wings and flew off towards Rivendell.

When they landed, Shadic transformed back into himself with a little difficulty. He gave the other two a grin and a thumbs-up. "That was harder than I'd been thinking."

"You'll get used to it."

Shadic looked around as they walked through Rivendell. He'd always wanted to see the elven city at an age he could actually remember seeing it. Now that he was there, it was just as beautiful as he'd been expecting.

"The elves build beautiful things," he said. "I wish other places could look like this."

Sonic smiled and nodded. He saw Elrond and floated up to him as Gandalf spoke.

"The Dark Lord is putting his plans in motion," Gandalf said.

Elrond's eyes widened. "We'll have to make sure that he doesn't succeed. We must have a Council and invite the people of Middle-Earth."

Gandalf nodded. "Where should it be held?"

"Here in Rivendell."

Gandalf looked at Sonic and Shadic. "Are you going to stay here or help send the message?"

Sonic thought about it and looked at his son. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to help out any way I can." Shadic looked at the others around him. "Where do we need to go?"

The ghost looked at Gandalf for an answer.

"We're going to need everyone in this council," the wizard said. "You get the human kings. I'll get the others."

Sonic nodded. "Alright; we'll go to the immediately."

Shadic looked at Sonic again. "Do I have to transform again?"

"If you want to, sure."

Shadic nodded and concentrated on turning into a giant eagle. Once he'd transformed, he came to the conclusion that it was a feeling he was never going to get used to. He looked at Sonic for direction. Despite living there his whole life, he had no idea where to go.

"Go to Rohan first," the ghost told him.

The eagle nodded and flew off towards Rohan to warn King Theoden. He landed outside the city and ran inside before stopping in the center.

"Isn't there something I have to do?" he asked. "I can't just walk up to a king and start talking to him."

Sonic walked up beside him. "Let's head to the palace," he said. "We'll talk to Theoden there."

"But, can we just walk up and talk to a king? I thought there were things you were supposed to do." Shadic followed behind Sonic as he spoke.

"Not really," his dad said.

Once they got to the palace, Theoden saw them and smiled. "Welcome," he said. "You've been living in my city, but I haven't heard anything from you."

Shadic was speechless, standing before Théoden.

"We have come with news," Sonic said. "The Dark Lord has returned, and Elrond wants you to come to Rivendell for a meeting."

"I'll be there as soon as possible," Théoden promised.

"Okay," Sonic nodded. "We'll see you there."

Theoden nodded and watched them leave.

Shadic's ears drooped as they left the building. He'd been useless. "I'm sorry," he told Sonic. "I froze up."

"It's fine," his dad said. "Let's head to Fornost now; it's near Bree, and it's run by King Elessar."

Shadic nodded. "Is it possible to just walk up to him too?" Shadic asked as they left Rohan.

The ghost nodded.

"Wow. I thought the kings wouldn't let just anybody near them," Shadic said. "What should I transform into this time?"

Sonic thought about it. "How about...a griffin?"

"A griffin?" Shadic shook his head a moment. "I don't think I..." Then he remembered how he'd transformed into a dragon. "I'll try." He closed his eyes and concentrated, then transformed. He shook a bit after the transformation was complete. the sensation was still strange, and the new form felt weirder than the last. Testing his movements, he looked at Sonic. He didn't know which direction Fornost was from there.

"Go west," Sonic said.

The griffin nodded and took off towards Fornost with Sonic riding on his back.