A/N: Final chapter!!! I hope all you readers have enjoyed this. Please leave your comments in the oh-so-handy little review box provided.

The boys had nearly made it to the top of the mountain when Simon paused to look behind him and gave a low cry.

"They found us!" he shouted in dismay. Samneric stopped and hefted their spears. Piggy paused too, and then realized he needed to stay with Ralph, who was still walking trance-like up the path.

Below, Piggy could hear shouts as the orcs were caught in Simon and Samneric's ambush. Ralph still didn't notice, reduced to putting one foot in front of the other.

Then Ralph tripped. Piggy waited for him to stand, and then realized he wasn't going to.

"Come on, Ralph!" Piggy begged. "Get up! Or let me carry the ring for you."

"No!" Ralph's face shone with fury at the suggestion.

Piggy backed up. "Well, how about I carry you?"

Ralph glared at him suspiciously. "But your ass-mar?"

Piggy's face was solemn. "I can at least try."

Then, with surprising strength, Piggy lifted Ralph and began staggering up the mountain. Down below, the shouts had ceased; Piggy didn't know whether Simon and Samneric had succeeded in keeping the orcs at ay, or whether the orcs were even now racing up the trail. He concentrated solely on step after step, until he looked up to find himself at the top of the mountain.

"Now, Ralph," Piggy begged. "Throw it in the fire!" He set Ralph down and fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

Ralph stumbled for the fire, the ring held aloft. Then, giving a low cry, Ralph turned away. "No," he said darkly. "The Ring is mine." And he put the Ring on his finger.

If Piggy had been expecting the Ring to do something extraordinary like make Ralph invisible or something, he was sorely mistaken. Ralph was very visible, although he was blinking a little.

Gandalf appeared in a flash. "What are you doing, fool?" he cried. "Destroy the ring!"

"I thought it would make me invisible," Ralph whined, "But I can't see!"

"That is why it is dangerous," Gandalf explained. "The ring renders the wearer blind."

There was a sharp squeal, and out of nowhere, Gollum leapt towards Ralph and pulled off the ring.

"It's mind!" he crowed, and did a little dance. "All mine!"

Then he tripped over a stone and fell into the fire.

There was a stunned silence as Ralph and Piggy gaped at the fire, and then Ralph turned angrily to Gandalf.

"I thought the ring would make me invisible!" he cried.

Gandalf laughed heartily. "Of course not," he answered. "That ring was destroyed in Middle Earth. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Wait!" Piggy cried. "Could you take us home?"

"I don't see why not," Gandalf answered reasonably.

"And Simon and Samneric," Ralph added.

Gandalf took their hands and teleported them to where Simon and Samneric were sitting tied up at the side of the path. Gandalf untied them quickly, and then teleported them all home, in time for tea.

- - -

Roger reached the top of the mountain just ahead of the scouts and surveyed the area angrily. He could see signs of a struggle, but no one was left. "Blast!" he muttered, and turned to the scouts. "Do you think the chief might like a pig for supper?" And he ran back down the slope, already planning how he would explain to the chief that he had taken care of the rebels single-handedly.