The thing I love most about these kinds of stories is seeing which characters are playing whom. It's just exciting! Enjoy this next chapter.

I still don't own Fairy Tail or Lord of the Rings.

BOOM!

Colorful light burst across the country sky. Hobbits laughed merrily at the sight. Makarov chuckled, satisfied with his display. Small children huddled around him, asking him to do more. Happy laughed off to the side as he danced around with the rest of his kin.

Everywhere, people were, dancing, eating, or having fun with friends. The place was so crowded, Happy was sure half of them weren't even invited. He danced merrily to the beat of the music. His feet went everywhere and people clapped as he continued moving. His eyes drifted around the area, falling on someone sitting alone at a table, someone he knew all to well.

Not far from him sat Happy and Lily's gardener. The white haired maiden sat secluded, scowling at the festivities with her brown eyes. She wore a pink dress with a brown corset tied around her thin waste. Her and Happy's eyes met and soon the blue haired young hobbit was standing right in front of her.

"You wanna dance Carla?"

Carla scoffed, "This whole celebration is ridiculous. How the heck did Mr. Lily live this long anyway?" she said, throwing her arms out wide. Happy laughed.

"If you really hated these parties, you wouldn't come to them." Caught off guard, Carla began stuttering, a warm blush on her cheeks. Happy quickly grabbed one of her free hands and dragged her onto the dance floor.

"Happy!"

"Come on Carla!" he placed his hand on her hip and held the other up high. The two started dancing around with the rest of the group. Carla was yelling at him to let go, but he refused. The music covered up most of her yelling. Not to far from them sat Pantherlily, a small horde of children sitting at his feet.

"There we were, completely helpless as the trolls decided what to do with us. They kept debating on how to eat us: grilled, sautéed, one of them wanted to sit on us and squish us all into jelly." The kids marveled as Pantherlily recounted one of the many things he encountered on his trip to Erebor.

"We all started to fear for our lives, wondering if there was any hope. But when the first light of the rising sun peaked over the horizon, POOF!" Lily clapped his hands together, startling the young ones, "They all turned to stone!"

Many of them laughed, finding his tale enjoyable. Makarov laughed at Pantherlily from where he stood. He strolled merrily over to his cart of fireworks to obtain more. Taking up a handful, Makarov wandered back to his station to set up more for everyone's enjoyment. From behind the cart, a new figure emerged. He had reddish brown hair and dark eyes. He smiled mischievously as he hit the wall of the tent beside him. An "Oof" came from it and a second hobbit emerged, this one with shaggy green hair. The redhead gave the other a boost into the cart.

"Hurry!" he called urgently, looking around to see if Makarov was returning. The green haired one shifted through the fireworks, trying to find the perfect on. He lifted one up for his comrade to see.

"This one?" His comrade moaned, "No, something bigger!" He was surprised when his friend pulled out a firework bigger than his own body.

"Perfect," he smiled. The green haired hobbit handed the device to his friend and quickly rolled out from the cart. The two rushed away, praying nobody caught them.

Pantherlily was laughing with a young mother, talking about how much her children had grown. As she walked off, he could feel a strange sensation running through him, one that meant bad omens. He only got that sensation when someone he hated was near.

Not wasting another second, Lily pushed through the crowd, hoping to stay ahead of them. He spotted a head of blue hair and made a beeline for it. Happy was talking with Carla; despite her continues pleas to just let her go home. Pantherlily grabbed Happy's arm and pulled him closer to him.

"Nadi!" he whispered loudly in his ear. While Pantherlily had been traveling in his youth, many people tried to gain possession of his house, mainly a hobbit named Nadi. Nadi never forgave Lily for living this long and couldn't wait for the chance to get his house. Understanding the issue, Happy quickly helped his uncle through the crowd and toward one of the tents. The two hid behind one of the flaps, waiting for the hobbit to walk by. Happy could see the back of his black head as he continued passed them. Happy relaxed as well as Pantherlily.

"Thank you Happy, if I was younger I would handle him myself," Lily joked. Happy chuckled, "No problem Uncle Lily."

"Be sure to watch Nadi after I…" Lily wanted to finish his sentence, but he couldn't find it in him to. He loved Happy and he knew that telling him would only make it harder for him to stay. Happy raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"After you what?" Pantherlily chuckled, masking his sadness, "Nothing. I'm old."

"You're not that old Uncle Lily."

"Let's see you say that when you're my age." The uncle and nephew laughed. Inside a nearby tent were the two hobbits that sneakily took one of Makarov's fireworks. The redhead lite the fuse as his friend held the rocket up. His companion's eyes widened at the lit fuse, suddenly pushing the rocket to the redhead.

"What are you doing?" he exclaimed, pushing it back to the green haired hobbit.

"I don't want it, do you see the size of this thing." The two continued bickering, pushing the firework in between them. They were so enveloped in their actions; they didn't see the spark finally touch the rocket. From beneath them, fire crackled and sparked, suddenly projecting the firework into the air. The hobbits fell backwards, soot and ash covering their surprised faces. The firework went so fast, that it carried the tent into the sky with it.

Everyone's attention turned to the bright light shooting into the sky. People started cheering as it went farther and farther away. It exploded in one big BOOM! Everyone was awestruck as the fire took the form of a large dragon. It was expected, being Makarov's magic fireworks after all, however what they didn't expect was the dragon coming right at them. People started panicking, running around frantically. The orange fire drew closer and closer to them, getting dangerously close to the ground. Happy started pushing his uncle's shoulders, confused as too how the old man had not yet seen the display.

"Uncle hurry, there's a dragon behind us!"

"Dragon, don't be ridiculous Happy there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for over-" Lily was interrupted by the cackling of flames and his nephew pushing him to the ground in an attempt to protect him as it flew just a few inches above Pantherlily's head. As quickly as the dragon came to them, it flew back up into the sky, exploding into a gorgeous display of color. Everyone yelled and applauded as soon as it was all over. Despite the initial fright it had given all of them, it was probably one of the best fireworks they had seen. Off to the distance, the two hobbits who set it off fist bumped, proud of their work.

"That was awesome," the redhead said, trying to wipe away some of the black marks on his cheeks. His counterpart nodded his head ecstatically, "Let's get another one!"

Before they could do anything else, a certain gray wizard grabbed their ears firmly and pulled with no mercy. The hobbits yelped and looked up at the man who caught them. Makarov sighed.

"Lector and Frosch, I should have known."

Sufficed to say, the two were cleaning dirty dishes not five minutes later as punishment. Makarov watched them from the side, quite satisfied with himself. Everything was quieting down. People gathered around the stage so Pantherlily could give his birthday speech. The man smiled happily at the large crowd of people. He spotted Happy, his arm draped on Carla's shoulder despite her pout. Lily stuck his hand in his pocket, thumbing around with the ring. It was now or never.

"Well I have to say, this is quite the turn out, and I didn't invite half of you. I know for a fact I didn't invite you Nadi," he said, pointing at the black haired man who just scowled at him. Many people in the audience laughed, he did a shushing movement with his hands.

"It does my heart good to see all these friends and family gathered together for one giant celebration. I don't deserve this, I'm not that special." People in the crowd laughed, calling out "No" or "We love you Lily". Lily smiled, touched by the love of his friends.

"Knowing you all care so much for me just makes this harder." The crowd began casting him confused looks. Happy's mouth dropped slightly, wondering what his uncle meant. Slowly, Lily pulled out his golden ring. Nobody else in the crowd paid any mind to it, however Makarov's eyes widened in shock at the sight of it. It couldn't be.

"I'm… I'm going away now. And I won't be coming back. I'm sorry." The ring was almost on his finger. Casting one last glance at his nephew, he readied the ring, "Goodbye," he slipped on the ring, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Many people gasped, others screamed, terrified by his sudden disappearance. Happy began frantically pushing through the crowd, in hopes of finding some sign of his beloved uncle. What he didn't know was that Pantherlily was already long gone. Just as he reached his front door, Lily slipped off the ring, quite pleased with him. He laughed happily, remembering the shocked looks on all their faces when he suddenly vanished. Opening the door to his home, Lily walked into his study. He strolled behind a chair where he had hidden his camping gear. He pulled it from its spot and threw it onto the table, checking to make sure he had everything.

"I suppose you think yourself quite clever, using magic to escape." Lily jumped a few feet in the air, despite his old age. Spinning around, he found Makarov standing at the entrance of the study, his tall hat discarded on the table beside him. Lily let out a shaky breath, "Stop doing that, I'm old, you'll give me a heart attack."

"Magic like that is not to be taken lightly Lily. That specific ring is not safe," he said, worrying about his friend's well being. Pantherlily sighed, holding the ring in the palm in his hand.

"I know."

"Then you should leave it here with Happy." Pantherlily's heart stopped momentarily. What Makarov was suggesting was parting with the most important thing in his life. Lily turned away from Makarov's curious eye.

"I suppose you're right." He lifted the jewelry closer to his face, marveling at the craftsmanship, "but I don't want to," he muttered. His other hand stroked the ring lovingly; the wizard behind him grew uncomfortable at the sight.

"I found it, it's mine," he whispered, "My own…"

"My precious."

Makarov's head shot up at the word, "Precious? It has been called that before, but not by you."

Makarov was startled when Lily suddenly turned around, a crazed and angry look in his eyes.

"What do you know? You probably want it all for yourself!" Makarov had had enough of his friend's craziness, without warning, Makarov's voice grew, darkness surrounded him, and his own short figure looking almost like a titans. Lily, stumbled back, unaware his friend could become so frightening.

"PANTHERLILY THAT IS ENOUGH! I AM NOT TRYING TO ROB YOU!" Makarov recollected himself, shrinking back, and the darkness diminishing, "I'm trying to help you."

Whimpering out of fear and shame, Lily walked over to Makarov and hugged him. How could he let himself get so out of control? Makarov would never steal from him.

"Lily," Makarov muttered, "let it go."

Hesitantly, Lily nodded against his gray robes. The two stood in silence before Lily finally pulled away.

"You're right Makarov, it's time I parted with it. It is Happy's now." Lily walked over to his supplies, shrugging it onto his shoulders, "I will go to Rivendell, then make my own journey from there." The small man looked at his friend, a sad smile on his face, "Take care Makarov." Pantherlily started making his way for the green door. As he pulled the handle open, Makarov folded his arms over his chest.

"Lily, you still have the ring." Pantherlily froze, completely forgetting he was still holding the trinket firm in his grip. He held it in front of him one last time, finding it even harder to part with it. Despite his desire, he tilted his hand, letting the ring clink to the floor.

Pulling the straps of his pack higher, he stepped out of his home, wandering down the path. Lily hummed a happy tune; ready to embrace the world once more. Makarov watched sadly as his old slowly disappeared into the night.

Now there was only one thing left to do.

Now it's getting interesting! I can't wait to see all the familiar faces, but of course I know whom everyone is playing. Post reviews, I love getting your feedback! Until next time.