Aragorn lets out a battle cry as he completely unsheathes his sword and turns around with the others. A bright light erupts from the darkness and a figure moves towards them through it. Gimli cries out as he throws his axe only for it to be destroyed by the oncoming White Wizard, Legolas fires an arrow but it is deflected away, the blade of Aragorn's sword suddenly starts turning orange and heating up, burning his hand a bit as he is forced to drop it.
"Circle Sword!" Erza yells out.
"Ice Make Lance!" Gray yells out.
The two send their attacks at the figure but even then with a swift whip of his staff the swords and ice break apart into pieces.
"Roar of the-" Both Natsu and Gajeel yell out as they breathe in to cast their attacks, when the figure flicks his staff again and suddenly two medium-sized rocks fly and slam into the back of the two Dragon Slayers' heads knocking them forward to the ground.
The brightness of the light becomes too much as Erza, Gray, and Aragorn cover their faces and take a few steps back with Gimli holding his other axe up defensively and Legolas just standing still with his bow in hand. All of them prepare for the White Wizard's attack...when it doesn't come confusing them a bit.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits, and two young girls of Fairy Tail." a deep, booming voice says to them as Natsu and Gajeel push themselves back up and ready themselves to fight the threat.
"Where are they?" Aragorn questions.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Depends on if that "someone" hurt them or not you bastard!" Natsu angrily states.
"Who are you?" Aragorn asks, but when the figure does not reply "Show yourself!" he demands.
The figure steps out of the light and reveals himself to be…Gandalf?!
Natsu and the other Fairy Tail wizards gasp in complete shock at what they see as their eyes, and the eyes of the others widen "It cannot be…" Aragorn says in shock.
"We...We attacked you cause...My apologies!" Erza quickly says bowing forward as she requips into her normal armor.
"Forgive me." Legolas says as he then kneels down while Gimli lowers his axe "I mistook you for Saruman." Legolas says. Sure enough Gandalf was now all, well white instead of grey with his hair, beard, staff, and clothing all bright white.
"Y-Yeah...what he said." Gray says as bows forward as well to show respect to him while Gimli bows with his head.
"I am Saruman...Or rather Saruman as he should have been." Gandalf says.
"B-But how?" Natsu asks.
"You fell." Aragorn says.
"How'd you survive? And why are you all like...this?" Gajeel asks wondering too about his new look.
Gandalf steps off the flat rock he's on, the light dying down as he slowly approaches the group who all stand back up/straighten themselves "Through fire...and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside...Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time...Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back...until my task is done." Gandalf finishes as he now stands in front of Aragorn.
"Gandalf…" Aragorn says taking step towards him, still in disbelief at who he was seeing.
"Gandalf? Yes...That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." Gandalf says.
"Gandalf." Gimli happily says with a joyous look on his face.
"Gihi." Gajeel chuckles.
"I am Gandalf the White." Gandalf says as Legolas and the others all smile.
"And I come back to you now...at the turn of the tide." Gandalf says.
"It's nice to have you back, old man." Natsu says.
Gandalf turns and then walks over to Natsu and Gajeel with a smile on his face "Yes, indeed it is nice to be back." Gandalf says. Before suddenly whacking both Natsu and Gajeel on their heads with his staff making them cry out in pain and hold their foreheads.
"What the hell?!" Gajeel yells.
"What was that for?!" Natsu questions.
"For still being the incompetent fools you are even after how long I've been dead? Attempting to use your Roar attacks in here? Are you trying to destroy the beauty of this forest!?" Gandalf says before turning and walking away as Aragorn and the others begin to follow.
"Couldn't he of come back without the whole whacking habit of his?" Gajeel questions annoyed.
"Aye…" Natsu says in agreement.
Sometime later…
Gandalf, who is now wearing a grey cloak over his white robes, and the others walk hastily through the forest "One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf says.
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli says surprised by this.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn informs Gandalf as he stops.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf says looking at Aragorn.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested-?" Gimli's question is interrupted by the loud groaning sounds of the trees that echo throughout the forest making him look around worried as the others continue on.
"Ah, I mean...charming...quite charming forest." Gimli quickly readjusts.
"Yeah, and what about Wendy and Lucy? We just going to leave them here?" Natsu asks as he runs up to Gandalf's side and looks at him while continuing to walk.
Gandalf stops in his tracks "It was more than mere chance that brought Merry, Pippin, Wendy, and Lucy to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry, Pippin, Wendy, and Lucy will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains." Gandalf says.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says making Gandalf hum in wonder of what he meant by that as he leans towards him "You still speak riddles." Aragorn whispers making Gandalf chuckle lightly.
Gandalf pulls away from Aragorn "A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up...and find that they are strong." Gandalf says.
"Strong?! Oh that's good." Gimli says looking around still worried.
"So stop your fretting Master Dwarf, and you to Natsu. Merry, Pippin, Wendy, and Lucy are quite safe." Gandalf says as he turns and continues to walk with the Aragorn following closely behind him. "In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be Gimli." Gandalf calls back.
Gimli looks down a bit at the ground "This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Gimli says to himself.
Natsu clenches his teeth and looks at the ground as Legolas, Gray, and Gajeel, continue walking after the others "Natsu." Erza suddenly says from behind him as she puts a hand on his shoulder catching his attention as he turns his head at her.
"None of us may like it. But if what Gandalf said is true that Lucy, Wendy, and the others are here for a reason which requires them to stay. Then it must be something of great importance and we must listen to what he says. He's never led us astray before and he's not going to start now." Erza says.
"I know...it's just that…" Natsu says but finds himself at a loss for words.
"Don't worry. We'll see them again soon. At least we know they are alive, well, and safe from harm's reach. That's what matters now." Erza says before removing her hand and continuing after the others.
Natsu narrowed his eyes still not liking it, that he would have to wait longer to see Lucy, and Wendy again. He just hoped they would stay safe.
Outside the forest…
Gandalf whistles into the air, the whistle seems to echo out for miles as behind him the others wait with their horses beside them. Suddenly the distant sound of a horse neighing rings out into the air as off to the left of them a clean shiny white horse gallops up a hill and towards them over the plains. Gandalf smiles upon seeing the horse as Aragorn, and Legolas seem to be drawn in awe to it "That is one of the Mearas...unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas says.
"The mearas?" Erza asks Aragorn.
"A breed of wild horses in the northern parts of Middle-Earth. They surpass normal horses in intelligence, speed, and strength." Aragorn explains.
"Looks like just a normal horse to me." Gray says not really seeing anything impressive about it.
"Do not be so quick to judge just by appearances Gray." Aragorn says.
The horse slows down and walks up to Gandalf "Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses...and has been my friend through many dangers." Gandalf says as he approaches the horse and pets it on the side of the head.
"Lord of all horses? Sheesh, that's a title for a horse there." Gajeel says a bit impressed.
Time passes by as the group is seen riding their horses through the open plains of Rohan, their next stop, Edoras.
Meanwhile…
Back in Fangorn Forest…
"O rowen mine. I saw you shine. Upon a summer's day. Upon your head. How golden-red. The crown you bore aloft" Treebeard "sung" as he walked through the forest while carrying Lucy, Wendy, Merry, and Pippin on him as the two Hobbits sat on some branches on his right side, Wendy sitting just behind his head as she crossed her arms and laid on top of him, and Lucy sitting on his left shoulder.
Merry yawned after hearing him finish the verse "Such a beautiful verse." Treebeard says.
"It is very much Mr. Treebeard." Wendy says with a drowsy look in her eyes.
"Is it much further?" Merry asks.
"Bru-ra-hroom. Don't be hasty. You might call it far, perhaps. My home lies deep in the forest, near the roots of the mountain...I told Gandalf I would keep you safe. And safe is where I'll keep you. I believe you will enjoy this next one too. It's one of my own compositions. Right, ahem." Treebeard says as he clears his throat to continue singing, Pippin seemed to be having some difficulty trying not to fall asleep as he closed his eyes and quickly reopened them. Lucy also appeared to be tired as well as she let out a yawn while stretching her arms upwards.
"Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves. And the dreams of trees unfold. When woodland halls are green and cool. And the wind is in the West. Come back to me. Come back to me~. And say my land is best." Treebeard finishes, suddenly peering to his right and noticing the two Hobbits sleeping as he looked to his left and saw Lucy fast asleep as well. On his head Wendy was also passed out as he could hear her slowly breathing in and out.
Nighttime…
"Sleep, little Shirelings. Heed no nightly noise. Sleep till morning light." Treebeard says as he carefully puts the two Hobbits on the ground who continue sleeping away. Treebeard walks a little bit away from them before reaching up and carefully grabbing Lucy and Wendy as he then slowly places them on the ground as well "And you to, little humans. Heed no nightly noise, and sleep till morning light." Treebeard says as the two girls just like the Hobbits sleep peacefully, undisturbed by the move.
"I have business in the forest. There are many to call. Many that must come." Treebeard says as he then turns around "The Shadow lies on Fangorn." he then begins walking "The withering of all woods is drawing near."
Somewhere in the plains of Rohan…
While most of the group is fast asleep, Gandalf stands some few feet away looking over into the distance at Mordor as its orange lights brighten up the dark skies of the night for miles. Aragorn seems to be awake as well as he gets up and walks over to his side "The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes a shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumors have reached him. The heir of Numenor still lives." Gandalf says as he looks at Aragorn who looks back.
"And the other rumor?" Aragorn asks.
Gandalf smirks "And that some rather, powerful strangers not from this world, have come to our aid in this dark time. Sauron fears you Aragorn, he fears what you may become. And he fears our friends from Fairy Tail because of their mysterious powers that they bring to this fight the likes he has never seen before. But it is because of these that he'll strike hard and fast at the world of Men. He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Theoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning...we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor, in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom...We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed, and the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone." Gandalf finishes as he looks back forward.
"He's not alone." Aragorn says shaking his head a bit catching Gandalf's attention "Sam went with him." Aragorn says.
"Did he? Did he indeed? Good. Yes, very good." Gandalf says.
"Not just Sam." a voice behind the two suddenly speaks out as they turn to see Natsu standing behind them with his hands behind his head "Happy, Carla, and Lily also went with them. And with those three around they'll get this Ring destroyed safely in no time!" Natsu says with a grin.
Meanwhile…
"Steady, careful now you're almost up here." Lily says as he leans over the edge of a cliff looking down as Happy slowly and carefully carries Frodo, and Carla carries Sam.
"Okay good stop." Lily says as the two Hobbits grab onto the edge of the cliff and the Exceeds fly low over them and land on the cliff beside Lily.
"The Black Gate of Mordor…" Gollum says behind them as the Hobbits pull themselves up and the Exceeds turn around, and stare upon the massive gate that stands as the only entrance into the land of Mordor. True enough to its name, the massive gate before them was entirely black, set in between the two high mountain walls that surrounded Mordor the gate appeared to be at least if not more 60 feet high, and 250 feet long with two tall towers protruding out from the lower parts of the mountains at the ends connected by more walkways coming out from the mountain.
"Oh save us." Sam says in slight fear seeing this as Gollum covered his face and cringed in fear. Sam, Frodo, and the Exceeds stayed low to the ground and crawled forward to get an even better look at the massive structure before them.
"My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he could see us now." Sam says.
"Is this really the way we should've gone? Straight to their front door?" Lily questions just looking at the construct before them.
"Master says to show him the way into Mordor. So good Smeagol does, master says so." Gollum says crawling up behind them.
"I did." Frodo says still in shock and fear at what laid before them.
From their position the group could see hundreds of Orcs armed with bows and arrows, and pikes on top of the wall on guard duty.
"This really was a bad mistake. There's too many of them for Lily to fight by himself and I'm not seeing any way to sneak past them with the way these walls and mountains are." Carla says.
"That's it then. We can't get past that." Sam says as he looks back at Frodo.
"Hey guys look." Happy says catching everyone's attention as they look over the rocks.
Down below was a large column of what appeared to be armored men, soldiers, one of them yelling out orders perhaps in an entirely different language for anyone in the group to understand. Gollum turns away and starts to cringe again in terror "Who are those guys supposed to be?" Lily questions as a horn blares from atop the wall.
"They're humans, and yet the Orcs aren't going on alert or anything. Are these people...allied with Sauron?" Carla wonders.
"But why would there be humans allied with Sauron? Isn't he an enemy to elves, men, and dwarves alike?" Happy asks.
"It appears to not be the case." Lily says.
Just then the gate begins to open up slowly "Look! The gate. It's opening!" Sam says.
As Frodo and the Exceeds look at the opening gate, Sam climbs further out onto a nearby rock that's sticking out over the edge and looks down "I can see a way down." Sam says.
"Sam! Don't that rock is-"
"Sam no!" Frodo yells cutting Carla off as unfortunately the rock gives away and goes tumbling down the side, taking Sam with it.
"Sam!" Happy yells out.
"We need to get to him quickly! Happy!" Lily says as he, Happy, and Frodo get up and run after him.
"Master!" Gollum quietly cries out in fear as he can only watch them go down.
"Lily! Happy!" Carla says with worry.
Unfortunately because of how close they were to the enemy the Exceeds could not risk taking flight and so run down the side of the rocky hill with Frodo, the three slide behind a rock for some cover as down below two of the armored soldiers stop and break away from the column. Taking notice of some rocks sliding down the hill and dust kicking up into the air as if someone or something fell down it. Frodo and the Exceeds get out from behind the rock and continue running/sliding down the hill to another rock, as the two soldiers begin to walk towards the area to investigate with their weapons at the ready. Quickly the three rush out from the rock and slide/run over to Sam who has gotten half of his body buried under the dirt and small rocks as Frodo grabs his left arm and the Exceeds his right and attempt to pull him out, to no avail.
"He's too deep, we need to dig." Lily says as quickly they begin doing so. The armored soldiers however get closer and closer as they look around for signs of whoever caused the rocks to slide, the three try once again but Sam is still too far beneath the rocks.
Frodo looks forward and sees the soldiers much closer now "Stay close to us and remain still." Frodo quietly says to Happy and Lily as he throws his elven cloak over him, Sam, and the Exceeds.
The soldiers approach and stop in their tracks. From beneath the cloak Happy slowly lifts it up a bit for a slit to peek out, and sees that the armored soldiers' boots are practically right there in front of them. For the soldiers, all they see in front of them are some rocks, above the hill nothing else. After a few very tense seconds pass by, the four hoping that they don't decide to investigate the rocks themselves, the two soldiers turn and begin walking back to their column. A few more seconds pass by as then Frodo throws the cloak off and the three get back to digging, eventually finally pulling Sam out as Frodo rushes up to a nearby rock and peeks out to look at the soldiers who are walking in through the cracked open gate.
Sam and the two Exceeds join beside him "I do not ask you come with me, Sam, Happy, Lily." Frodo says as he prepares to make a break for the gate and hopefully not get spotted.
"I know Mr. Frodo...I doubt even these Elvish cloaks will hide us in there." Sam says.
"That's if we can even get to the gate without being spotted. A long distance of open ground between here and there." Lily says.
"What other choice do we have? We'll just have to hope we get lucky." Happy says.
The four ready themselves to make a mad dash towards the opened gate "Now!" Frodo says when suddenly.
"No!" Gollum yells out as he pulls back on Frodo and Sam with Carla flying straight down into Happy and Lily knocking both of them down as well.
"No! No master! They catch you! They catch you!" Gollum warns, Frodo tries to make a dash again but is pulled back by Gollum "Don't take it to him." Gollum pleads.
"Are you two insane!? I can't believe you were actually going to go through with that plan! You would've been spotted the minute you got out of cover!" Carla angrily says in a panic to Happy and Lily who look up at her.
"He wants the precious. Always he is looking for it. And the precious is wanting to go back to him." Gollum says as he walks a few feet forward and peeks out around the rock.
"But we mustn't let him have it." Gollum says as the horn blares again and the gate begins to slowly close.
"But how are we supposed to get in then?" Lily asks.
"That's right. If we can't fly in, and this is the only way, how are we supposed to get into Mordor?" Happy asks.
Carla crosses her arms as she turns and looks at Gollum, the others following her gaze "As it turns out. There's another way into Mordor." Carla says.
"What?" Lily says in shock hearing this as is Happy as he screams "Eh?!"
Flashback…
"Lily! Happy!" Carla says with worry. She looks at Gollum to her right angrily and sprouting her wings, shoulder rams into his side knocking him over onto his back as he cries out. Carla hovers over Gollum with an angered expression on her face "You better hope they get out of this alive or you're going to pay for it!" Carla threatens, scared for her friends lives.
Gollum covers himself with his arms over his face "I'm wishing Master gets away too! I would not have brought him here otherwise and would've taken him to the secret passage!" Gollum says.
Hearing this Carla's eyes widen in shock "Secret passage? Secret passage?! As in there's a secret passage into Mordor and you didn't tell us?! You're telling me you wasted our time, and put my friend's lives in danger when we could've been heading towards a secret passage all this time!" Carla angrily questions Gollum.
"M-Master did not ask. Master said to lead him to the way into Mordor. This is the way in, the main one. But there is another. A secret one." Gollum says.
Carla clenches her teeth in anger, she did not trust this Gollum one bit and he was really testing her patience. The only reason he was even with them still was because he was the only one who knew a way into Mordor...unfortunately it seemed he was either really stupid...or playing stupid, and had now neglected to mention that there was a secret, probably even more safer, and possibly one they could actually sneak through, secret passage.
"Please do not hurt me kitty. Please do not hurt me." Gollum pleads before he stops and slowly lowers his arms "Master...we need to see if master is okay!" Gollum says making Carla realize that too as she looked over the edge and saw the four boys...who looked like they were about ready to make a dash for the gate.
"Happy! Lily! Frodo! Sam! Wait!" Carla quietly calls out as Gollum rushes past her and she launches herself up and then straight down.
Present Time…
"Yes. More secret, a dark way." Gollum says.
Sam pulls on his shoulder to make him face him "Why haven't you spoken of this before?!" Sam questions angrily.
"It is as I told the female kitty. Because master did not ask." Gollum replies.
Sam pushes him back and looks at Frodo who looks back at him "He's up to something!" Sam says.
"Agreed!" Carla says.
"So you are saying there's another way into Mordor?" Frodo asks looking at Gollum.
Gollum shakes his head with a pleading look in his eyes "Yes. There's a path, and some stairs. And then...a tunnel." Gollum finishes saying clinging onto Frodo's shoulder as Frodo looks back to see the gate close completely.
Frodo falls back a little off the rock and leans against it as Sam and the Exceeds look at him, waiting to see what he wants to do. "He's led us this far guys." Frodo says.
Lily crosses his arms, narrows his eyes a bit and grunts disapprovingly as Happy and Carla also look at him with serious faces "Mr. Frodo no." Sam says shaking his head.
"He's been true to his word." Frodo says defending Gollum making him look up at him.
"No…" Sam says again.
Frodo looks back at Gollum "Lead the way Smeagol." Frodo says.
Gollum begins shaking his head "Good Smeagol always helps." Gollum says as he turns and starts to hop away. Sam and the Exceeds look at each other, unsure of what to do now but to follow Frodo...and Smeagol once again unfortunately as Frodo lowers his eyes to the ground.
Back in Fangorn Forest…
"Hello?"
Lucy's eyes open upon hearing Merry's voice, the rays of the sun shine through the trees blinding Lucy for a quick second before they readjust to the light. She sits up and looks around to find that her, Wendy, Merry, and Pippin are by themselves in a small, open area surrounded by trees with Treebeard nowhere in sight. Pippin sits next to a small waterfall with a stone bowl in his hands drinking the water, Merry seems to be looking around trying to find out where they are and where Treebeard is, and looking next to her she sees Wendy still asleep, a peaceful look on her face. Lucy smiles seeing the peaceful look on Wendy's face, a reminder that they were now out of danger. All that remained now was to wait for Gandalf to come back with Natsu and the others and they would all be reunited again, though she still questioned in her mind why Gandalf left them behind instead of taking them with him, she knew Gandalf must've had a reason and so chose to follow it.
"Treebeard?" Merry calls out but to no response.
"Hey, Wendy, time to get up." Lucy says, deciding to wake Wendy up since Treebeard had told them the forest can be a bit dangerous sometimes, especially if Treebeard himself wasn't with them.
"Where has he gone?" Merry asks himself as Pippin just lays back against the rocks next to the small waterfall.
Wendy sits up and rubs her eyes groaning from the sudden awakening "Lucy-san?" Wendy asks.
"Yeah, don't worry Wendy I'm right here. Though, it seems Treebeard must've gone for a walk or something but I'm sure he'll be back for us." Lucy says looking around.
"I had the loveliest dream last night. There was this large barrel, full of pipe-weed. And we smoked all of it. And then…" as Pippin described his dream to Merry, hearing what he was saying made him happy a bit as he grinned "...you were sick." Pippin finishes, and like that the grin was gone replaced with a slightly annoyed look.
Hearing this both Lucy and Wendy couldn't help but look at each other and giggle quietly. "I'd give anything for a whiff of Old Toby." Pippin says as he lowers himself against the rocks to relax.
Just then the four hear the trees groan as it echoes through the forest "Did you hear that?" Merry asks walking towards Pippin's direction but away from him to the edge of the area as he looks out into the forest with an awed look. Pippin however seems to ignore it and fill his water bowl up again as Lucy and Wendy pick themselves off the ground, just as more groans echo out.
"There it is again." Merry says.
"We heard it the first time. The trees in here are supposed to be alive right? Though, different from Treebeard if I remember correctly." Lucy says with her hands to her hips.
"Something's not right here. Not right at all." Merry says as Pippin grabs a big stone bucket in his left arm and sits up. As he stretches a groaning noise like the ones the trees make booms out from his body.
Hearing this Merry, Lucy, and Wendy slowly turn their heads towards him with surprised looks on their faces "Uh~ what?" Lucy asks.
"You just said something...Treeish." Merry says.
"No I didn't. I was just stretching." Pippin says as he stretches again, and again, both times treeish groans escape from his body
"There it is! You just did it again!" Wendy says in shock pointing at him...though something else strange happens that Merry notices.
As Merry begins to circle around Pippin he seems to be closely...examining something about him as Lucy says "H-How are you doing that?"
Merry walks to Pippin's back and notices "You're taller." Merry says.
Pippin looks back and forth between Lucy and Wendy, and Merry "Who?" Pippin asks looking at Merry.
"You!" Merry says.
"Then what?" Pippin asks.
"Than me! Don't you two see it as well?" Merry says in disbelief as he asks Lucy and Wendy if they notice it too.
Lucy and Wendy squint their eyes and lean forward a bit trying to see if he really is taller than before, the two lean back and look at each other nodding their heads before looking at Merry.
"Sorry." Lucy says as she and Wendy lift their shoulders and hands up in a shrug and close their eyes embarrassed.
"Haven't really been paying attention to that." Wendy says.
Merry shakes his head "I've always been taller than you." Pippin says to Merry.
Merry puts his hands to his hips "Pippin, everyone knows I'm the tall one. You're the short one." Merry says.
"Please, Merry. You're what? Three-foot-six? At the most?" Pippin asks making Merry shrug a bit with a questioning look on his face.
"Whereas me, I'm pushing 3'7"." Pippin says as he stretches again, this time growing noticeable for sure as even Lucy and Wendy's eyes widen in disbelief at what they see as does Merry's.
"3'8"!" Pippin excitedly says before looking at the bowl of water in his hand and drinking from it again.
"Okay, that time I noticed it!" Lucy says getting a bit freaked out now on how he was not only speaking Treeish, but growing taller too.
"I'm scared Lucy-san! What's happening to Pippin!?" Wendy cries out waving her arms up and down.
"Three-foot-eight?" Merry questions.
Pippin stops drinking and looks at Merry as then a light bulb...or candle? Goes off in his head "You did something." Merry says.
Pippin looks away, trying to act innocently as he looks back at Merry and shrugs. Slowly he begins to place the stone bowl back next to the waterfall. However Merry notices this. Within a second Merry grabs the giant stone bucket in Pippin's arm to drink from it "Merry don't! Don't drink it!" Pippin warns him in panic, but Merry drinks some anyways and looks back at Pippin with a joyous look on his face.
"Merry!" Pippin calls out as he begins to chase after him to get the bucket away.
Lucy looks on at the two "Wait...so…" Lucy looks back at the waterfall where there are a few more stone bowls lying around it.
"It's the water! There's something in the water!" Lucy says in shock and awe as Wendy looks at the waterfall as well.
Lucy looks back at Merry and Pippin as Pippin continues to chase after Merry "Amazing. It's just like what Merry said, there's something in the water that can make the trees grow and talk. But for normal people it not only makes them grow tall, but speak treeish as well." Lucy says with an excited look on her face now at learning such a thing. When it then dawns upon her "Hm~, but then again...That's just instantly. There's no telling if there are any side effects that take longer to happen." Lucy says.
"Wendy, maybe use your magic to-" Lucy begins to say while turning around to tell Wendy to use her magic to stop the boys so they can get the water and bucket away...when she notices Wendy no longer behind her.
"Eh? Wendy?" Lucy asks confused. When she then looks over at the waterfall and comes into eye contact with Wendy, who is filling up one of the stone bowls in her hands. The two just stare at each other in silence as Merry and Pippin continue to go at it in the background "No, Treebeard said that you shouldn't have any!"
"I want some!"
"It could well be dangerous!"
Lucy blinks her eyes a few times as Wendy just continues looking, not even noticing the bowl was already filled up, as then her face turns completely red and she cringes in embarrassment. "Wendy...what are you doing?" Lucy calmly asks her putting a smile on her face and closing her eyes.
Wendy looks back and forth between the water bowl and Lucy before landing them back on Lucy "Um~...nothing?" Wendy says.
"Wendy...you know that could potentially be dangerous to us right? We just don't know it yet?" Lucy asks.
"M-Maybe…" Wendy says albeit nervously as she looks away from Lucy.
"Then, maybe we shouldn't drink it. Just to be safe right?" Lucy asks.
"R-Right…" Wendy agrees.
"So...how about you pour the water back into the waterfall, and leave it alone?" Lucy asks.
Wendy lets out a sigh of defeat and closes her eyes "Alright Lucy-san." she says as she pours the water back in and is about to set the bowl down when she freezes in place.
Lucy seeing this raises her right eyebrow "Wendy?" Lucy asks.
Wendy is completely frozen in place "I'M SORRY LUCY-SAN I NEED TO DO THIS!" Wendy suddenly cries out in a desperate tone before quickly filling the bowl right back up.
"EH~!?" Lucy cries out in shock seeing this.
"WENDY! DON'T!" Lucy yells as she quickly runs after Wendy who is now attempting to run away herself, but because she is trying to be careful not to spill the water Lucy is able to easily catch up to her as she wraps her arms around her stomach and lifts her up into the air. Wendy continues to cry out while running her legs back and forth in the air with her eyes closed "No! No! No! No! No!"
"Wendy what are you doing?!" Lucy cries out.
"Please Lucy-san just let me drink just one bowl! One bowl and that's it!" Wendy pleads while holding the bowl out away from Lucy.
"No! That stuff could be dangerous we can't risk it even though we shouldn't need it in the first place!" Lucy yells back.
"You don't understand Lucy-san I need this! Please just let me have at least a sip!" Wendy cries out pleading more.
"Why do you need it?! You're perfectly fine the way you are just grow naturally!" Lucy yells.
"I don't wanna grow naturally I don't wanna be the shortest one anymore! I want to grow to be the height of everyone else! And maybe this water could finally fix my problem!" Wendy cries out.
"Problem?! What problem?!" Lucy asks.
"My flat chest! I don't want to have one anymore I want them to be like you and Erza-san's!" Wendy cries out.
"EH~! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN THINKING THAT?!" Lucy cries out in complete shock just hearing this.
As the two girls continued their struggle, "Give it back. Merry!" the water spills out from the bucket a bit as Merry and Pippin run over some big tree roots. Merry trips and falls backwards causing him to lose the bucket as all of a sudden the tree groans behind them catching their attention, suddenly the roots begin closing in around them trapping their limbs first.
"What's happening?!" Pippin cries out.
Merry cries out next "It's got my leg!"
"Merry!" Pippin yells as the two attempt to break free but now find themselves getting sucked in beneath its roots.
"Lucy! Wendy!" Merry yells out catching the two's attention as they stop and look over, and see what's happening to them making their eyes widen in shock.
"Merry!"
"Pippin-san!" the two yell at the same time as Lucy drops Wendy and Wendy drops the bowl of water and rush over to them. The two stay a safe distance away wondering what to do as Merry and Pippin continue to get sucked into the ground beneath the tree roots "Guys! What'd you do?!" Lucy yells out in panic.
"We don't know! Help us!" Merry yells.
"Wendy! Use your magic!" Pippin cries out.
"No that might just might anger the tree more and any of its friends that are around! We have to find Treebeard!" Lucy says.
"Hurry!" Merry yells as large piles of leaves begin to fall and pile down on top of the Hobbits.
"Come on Wendy we have to hurry!" Lucy says as Wendy nods her head in agreement and the two turn and start running.
"Treebeard!" Lucy yells.
"Mr. Treebeard!" Wendy yells.
"Treebeard!"
"Mr. Treebeard!"
The two do not get far however until they run right into the tall walking Ent himself making them stop in their tracks "What is all this racket I am hearing? I could hear you from across the forest?" Treebeard asks.
"Treebeard! There's a...a tree and its roots, Merry and Pippin are trapped beneath it!" Lucy quickly tries to explain.
"What?" Treebeard says as he begins to walk with haste, Lucy and Wendy stepping aside as they run after him.
Treebeard seems to know what tree it is the girls are talking about as he walks right up to it "Away with you. You should not be waking. Eat earth. Dig deep. Drink water. Go to sleep." Treebeard says as the tree seems to respond, slowly moving its roots away and freeing Pippin and Merry who quickly jump out from beneath the piles of leaves crying out in a panic to get away from it.
"Away with you." Treebeard finishes as the Hobbits run up to Treebeard.
"You two okay?" Lucy asks as she and Wendy run up to them.
"It's a good thing Mr. Treebeard was coming right back when it happened." Wendy says.
"Come," the four hear Treebeard say as they look up at him "The forest is waking up. It isn't safe." Treebeard finishes as he picks up the two Hobbits and helps them climb onto his back and then follows by picking the girls up and placing them on the other side of his back and turns to walk away.
"The trees have grown wild and dangerous. Anger festers in their hearts. Black are their thoughts. Strong is their hate. They will harm you if they can. There are too few of us now. Too few of us Ents left to manage them." Treebeard explains as he carefully walks through the forest.
"Why are there so few of you when you have lived so long? Are there Ent children?" Pippin asks.
"Bru-ra-hroom. There have been no Entings for a terrible long count of years." Treebeard says with a saddened look on his face.
"Why is that?" Merry asks.
"We lost the Entwives." Treebeard answers.
"Oh my...how terrible." Lucy says covering her mouth in shock and sadness hearing this.
"How did they die?" Pippin asks.
"Die? No. We lost them. And now we cannot find them." Treebeard says confusing Merry and the others a bit.
"I don't suppose you've seen Entwives in the Shire?" Treebeard asks.
Merry and Pippin find themselves at a loss for words for the question since they had no idea what Entwives even looked like "Can't say that I have. You, Pip?" Merry asks. Pippin shakes his head.
"Hm~, and what about you young humans, perhaps you have seen Entwives where you come from?" Treebeard now asks Lucy and Wendy.
Lucy and Wendy look at each other since, not only did they not know what Entwives also looked like, but they did not know if there was even a way for them to have somehow gotten to Earthland since...well it was a whole other world and stuff. "I don't think so." Lucy replies "Not unless they know how to travel to a whole other world or something." Lucy says in her mind.
"Mr. Treebeard, what do Entwives look like?" Wendy asks.
"...I don't remember now." Treebeard says.
Lucy closes her eyes and turns away with a deadpanned look "Well that probably doesn't help a whole lot now." Lucy says in her mind.
Rohan…
Team Natsu, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf ride their horses over a short hill, as then their destination appears before them, Edoras. The capital city of Rohan which...wasn't very much one would expect for the capital of a whole land; as it was a rather small city built up and around a small hill with semi-high wooden walls, and towers surrounding it.
The group comes to a stop to overlook the place "Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan...whose mind is overthrown." Gandalf says.
"This is the capital of Rohan? Kind of...small when you compare it to the capital of Fiore." Gray says trying to choose his words carefully so he doesn't get whacked in the head by Gandalf for being impolite.
"Looks like a dump compared to Crocus." Natsu says...and gets whacked in the back of the head by both Gandalf's staff and Erza's fist "Ow!" he cries out.
"Oh, and by the way Erza...if I were you I would requip out of your armor, for now at least until the situation calls for it. You may have heard but, in our world the thought of a female warrior is, well out of the question. You may be able to prove otherwise but until then, well let's just keep it as a surprise shall we?" Gandalf asks.
"Of course Gandalf." Erza says as she requips herself into her normal out of armor clothing, a white buttoned up blouse with no sleeves, a blue ribbon around beneath the collar, blue skirt still, and her normal boots.
With that out of the way the group continue towards the capital of Rohan, not taking that long until they arrive and begin to slowly approach the gate into the city. Along the way however, Aragorn, and Natsu in the back of the group take notice of a flag that mysteriously falls in out of nowhere and lands on the ground, the same green flag with a white horse on it that represents Rohan. Natsu and Aragorn look at each other, both of them just getting a bad vibe off of that for some reason, like it was some kind of sign of how bad of a state Rohan was in.
A few minutes later and the group is now heading up the hill towards the top where the Golden Hall lies, along the way however they do not fail in getting noticed by both the remaining soldiers and the normal civilians alike, though all they are greeted with is silence and looks.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli says.
"Sheesh, what's wrong with these people someone die or something?" Gajeel quietly says.
"Getting a creepy vibe just by having all these people looking at us all silently and shit." Gray says.
Soon they reach the top and dismount their horses, walking up the flight of stairs and arriving at the entrance to the Golden Hall as the two doors open inward and a few Rohirrim walk out, the one in the lead without a helmet as he had reddish brown medium-length hair flowing down the back of his head and a full beard. The soldiers make the group stop "I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame...By order of...Grima Wormtongue." the man says, the last part sounding a bit like he didn't like who ordered it.
Gandalf nods his head understanding the soldier as he looks at Aragorn on his right, and Legolas, and Gimli to his left and nods his head. Some Rohirrim step up to confiscate the group's weapons as Legolas hands his bow and quiver of arrows to the soldier in front of him, followed by taking out and twirling his elven daggers around before handing them off to the soldier. Gimli lifts his axe and looks at it, the look in his eyes saying he didn't like parting with his weapon but does so reluctantly handing it off to the soldier in front of him. Aragorn hands his bow and quiver of arrows off to the soldier in front of him, followed by unbuckling his sword sheath and handing it to the soldier, and then his dagger. A group of Rohirrim stand before the Fairy Tail wizards, more specifically just Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel seemingly ignoring Erza, waiting for them to hand their weapons over.
"Does it look like we have weapons on us?" Gray says as he, Natsu, and Gajeel turn their pockets inside out and show the soldiers that they have no weapons on them anywhere which the soldiers seem to accept and back away.
With their weapons handed over Gandalf just waits for the soldiers to lead them into the hall now, but they don't "Your staff." the lead soldier says.
"Hm? Oh...You would not part an old man from his walking stick." Gandalf says acting all innocent. Which seems to work as the lead soldier just stares at him looking like he didn't believe it, but then turns and begins to lead them into the building as the other soldiers stand aside to let the group pass through. As they enter the building the lead soldier steps aside and begins to walk to another soldier up ahead to the right to allow them to see the King; ahead of them was...apparently that King who looked very, very decrepit, and old with a very, very pale face and silver/grayish long hair and beard grown out wildly all over his face. Beside him was another man, one that was dark-haired, emaciated and eyebrowless, wearing black robes with dark fur, as well as being extremely pale and gaunt.
"My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming." the man known as Grima Wormtongue, chief advisor to King Theoden whispers into his ear. However, there was more to him that many did not know, such as the fact he was an agent and spy for Saruman and had been the one to help Saruman take control of the King to make him the weakened self he is now.
The doors behind the group are closed and lock shut, alerting Aragorn, Natsu, and the others who didn't like it one bit as Gandalf continued to focus and walk forward. Off to their right however, was a gathering of low-level thugs by the look of it who eyed the group.
"Seems we got some hired thugs to our right." Gajeel says carefully eyeing them out of the corner of his eyes.
"Be ready." Erza says quietly.
"He's a herald of woe." Grima whispers into Theoden's ear.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late...Theoden King." Gandalf says his voice echoing out in the silent room.
"He's not welcome." Grima says.
The king raises his head a bit, his eyes for the most part closed in a weakened state "Why...should I welcome you...Gandalf Stormcrow?" Theoden asks as he looks at Grima.
"A just question, my liege." Grima says as he stands up and begins to approach Gandalf "Late is the hour...in which this conjurer chooses to appear." Aragorn looks off to his right to spot the group of thugs still closely following them.
"Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." Grima says stopping in front of Gandalf.
"Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Gandalf says as he then brandishes his staff before Grima, his eyes widening in shock at what he was seeing as he begins backing up slowly.
"His staff...I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Grima states towards the Rohirrim as then like that the thugs run past the two helmetless soldiers towards the group. Quickly Aragorn and the others move in and intercept the thugs before they can get to Gandalf and begin engaging them with their fists while Gandalf continues to walk forward completely calm. The other Rohirrim goes for his sword but the one from before puts his hand on his to stop him.
As Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli throws punches and kicks...well...for the Fairy Tail wizards. A thug throws his fist at Gray who catches it with ease and then holds it there as the thug is taken back by how strong the young boy actually is "Oh...bad mistake." Gray says with a grin as suddenly cold air begins to surround his hand, and then in a flashing instant the thug is completely frozen in a block of ice. Seeing this causes gasps and wide eyes in the room at what had just happened, wondering if that young man before them, had really just somehow froze that man solid.
Gajeel headbutts another thug in the head and throws him aside, with his enhanced hearing he clearly hears another thug coming in for an attack behind him and chuckles "Gihi." before then turning around and throwing his left arm forward. Transforming it into an Iron Club which extends outwards and slams into the man's chest sending him flying back into a far wall and getting slammed into it creating a few cracks on the wall as Gajeel retracts his club changes it back to his arm. Two thugs chuckle quietly as they approach Erza who is unfazed by them, the two thinking that attacking her was going to be easy...oh...oh how wrong they were about to find out they were going to be.
"Requip!" Erza says.
Her body is enveloped in golden light which as it dies down reveals her back in her normal Heart Kreuz armor. The two thugs are taken back in fear seeing this, a bad feeling all of a sudden coming to them as in a flash Erza leaps forward letting out a battle cry as she slams her right gauntlet fist into the right thugs face sending him flying back, with some teeth flying out into the air as well. The other thug attempts to punch her from the side which Erza ducks under, falling to the ground on her hands and sweep kicking him off his feet.
"Theoden...son of Thengel...too long have you sat in the Shadows." Gandalf says.
Aragorn moves forward and punches a man in Gandalf's path down to the ground, Legolas throws a back elbow into another thug behind him, and Gimli kicks another thug to the ground. Natsu lifts up a thug by the collar of his shirt and throws him without problem into a nearby pillar taking him out. Natsu then looks over and sees Grima on the ground cowering in fear, Grima looks and spots Natsu looking at him as the Fire Dragon Slayer quickly approaches him before he can make any kind of getaway and knocks Grima back to the ground planting his foot on him "I suggest you stay down. Otherwise, you just might get burned." Natsu says raising his right fist and engulfing it in flames terrifying Grima even more.
"Hearken to me!" Gandalf calls out catching Theoden's attention as he eyed him out of the corner of his eyes with his head turned slightly away.
All of a sudden the civilians, and soldiers in the room begin to gather behind Aragorn, Natsu, and the others "I release you…" Gandalf says as he lifts his left hand forward and closes his eyes "...from the spell." Gandalf finishes.
A few seconds pass by, and nothing seems to happen. All of a sudden Theoden begins to chuckle ghastly before turning towards Gandalf and full on laughs at him now loudly into the air "You have no power here...Gandalf the Grey." Theoden says.
Theoden laughs once again though this only lasts for a few seconds before suddenly Gandalf throws his cloak off and reveals his white robes causing Theoden to cry out, the room seems to brighten up and Theoden's head slams back against the throne chair.
"I will draw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf says before throwing his staff forward and slamming Theoden back against his chair pinning him there. Far in the back a woman with long blond hair and a white dress rushes out wondering what all the commotion is and sees Gandalf and Theoden. The woman attempts to rush forward to seemingly help Theoden but is quickly grabbed and pulled back by Aragorn "Wait." he says to the woman as she looks at him before looking back.
Theoden stares with anger at Gandalf as he attempts to get up from the seat again "If I go, Theoden dies…" Saruman says through Theoden's body.
Gandalf swings his staff forward again knocking Theoden back into the chair "You did not kill me...you will not kill him." Gandalf states.
Theoden is once again attempting to push himself up from the chair still struggling against Gandalf's power "Rohan is mine." Saruman says.
Gandalf continues to get closer to Theoden, pushing his staff forward again and slamming Theoden back against the chair "Be gone." Gandalf says one last time.
Theoden continues the struggle, eventually managing to leap forward from his chair but with a battle cry as Gandalf swings his staff forward and knocks him back against it…
Meanwhile at Orthanc…
Saruman is sent flying to the ground as he turns around on his body now in pain. He lifts his head up slowly in shock as blood trickles down the sides of his nose.
Back at Edoras…
Gandalf eases down and takes a few steps back as Theoden slouches back onto his chair and begins to fall forward. The woman quickly rushes forward and catches him, the Rohan soldier from before puts a hand on his comrades shoulder as the two, along with everyone else in the room fears for their King's safety that Gandalf was finally able to release him from Saruman's control and is still alive. Theoden begins to breathe again at a calm, and steady rate as he lifts himself back up and looks around, a lost and confused look on his face as all of a sudden he appears to begin to de-age. The hair growing shorter and changing colors, the majority of the wrinkles going away, and his pale skin returning normally white again, in just a few short seconds his hair is medium-length, his beard a circle one as both of them are blonde in color now.
Theoden has returned to normal. He looks at the woman holding him as she smiles with joy, tears falling down her face "I know your face...Eowyn...Eowyn." Theoden says, the woman now identified as Eowyn, who was his niece continues to cry in joy to see him normal again.
Theoden turns and then looks up at Gandalf as does Eowyn "Gandalf?" Theoden asks.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf says as Theoden begins to stand up, Eowyn helping him to do so since he was still a bit weakened.
Theoden looks upon the people in the room "Dark have been my dreams of late." Theoden says as he then looks and begins to feel his own hands.
"Your fingers would remember their own strength better...if they grasped your sword." Gandalf says as then the Rohan soldier who Theoden knew as Hama, steps up to him with his sword sheathed away. Theoden reached forward and slowly wrapped his hand around the sword's grip, adorned above it was two gleaming horses' heads touching noses as he then slowly began to pull it out. Grima who was now being held on his knees by Gimli attempted to crawl away, terror written on his face since he knew what was going to happen to him but was held back by Gimli. Theoden pulled the sword out and held it upwards, looking upon the long blade of it for a few seconds, before slowly turning his eyes towards the one person who had turned him into that poisoned, weakened mind and state in the first place, Grima...who was now completely trembling on the ground.
Hama and another Rohirrim throw Grima as he lands on and rolls down the second set of stairs leading up to the Golden Hall. The scene immediately attracts all of the villagers and other Rohirrim below as they begin to gather at the foot of the first set of stairs. Grima cries out in pain as he rolls around on the ground, slowly coming down the stairs towards him was Theoden, his sword in hand "I've only...ever! Served you, my lord." Grima says as he begins to crawl away backwards on his hands down the other stairs.
Theoden still walking towards him followed by Gandalf, Hama, and two more Rohirrim who had their hands on their swords ready to pull out should anything happen. "Your leechcraft, would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden says in anger through clenched teeth.
"Send me not from your sight." Grima pleads, however Theoden raises his sword and is ready to strike him down without a second thought. When suddenly "No my lord! No my lord." Aragorn calls out as he has rushed down and quickly grabs his arms stopping him from killing Grima, the sword just a few feet away from his face.
"Let him go...Enough blood has been spilt on his account." Aragorn says as Theoden looks at him.
Grima continues to cower on the ground as Theoden calms down and Aragorn approaches him, holding his hand out to help him up to which Grima spits on it, disgusting Aragorn as he pulls it back and shakes it.
"Get out of my way!" Grima yells out as he gets up and runs through the crowd of people.
"Hail Theoden King!" Aragorn announces. The gathered people immediately getting on a knee and bowing forward to their king. Aragorn himself even gets down and bows to him as behind Theoden the Rohirrim bow their heads forward while Natsu, and the others, Eowyn as well watch from up above from a jutting out walkway. Theoden turns around and looks at the people who are out from the Golden Hall, his eyes squint close a bit "Where is Theodred?" Theoden asks opening his eyes again as something dawns upon him.
"Where is my son?"
Q&A…
To Mataras: Exactly! Each author has their own version of stories and you never know. They could be the same in the slightest of ways sometimes, or completely different. And it's like that all over the internet, there are the pleased people that just find excitement and joy in certain if not all things. And then the people who always have to nitpick at stuff like this and that and is just a party pooper.
To FlameDragonHime: As a matter of fact yes, I have this whole story already planned out. Something I did recently is create a Google Doc in which I plan all of my stories out Arc, by Arc, episode, by episode, movie, by movie, etc...some fully like this one. Some only to certain extents. That way I ain't going into stories all blinded and whatnot thinking, oh, what would be funny here, or what about this part and stuff. Etc...
