A/N:Okay, so first, sorry that I didn't upload this day before yesterday when I finished it. Kept on getting distracted. On another note, I finally feel appreciated once again! I have more than one reviewer! Heck, I have three! Applause is called for. Thanks to DragonBlade152, Kyogreperson, and Flying Dragonite for their reviews!

Now, one more thing: I mathematically worked out that this story's going to have – quite literally – more chapters than the ENTIRE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY. My chapters are shorter, and I'm going through all the same events and a few more besides. I may be able to shorten it a little, but still. Someone tell me if that's good or bad please, 'cause I am not sure. Anyway , the chapter.

Chapter IX

A Meeting of Heroes

Star POV

Alongside the others, I followed Elrond. We walked up to a building and stepped onto the porch.

There were four Hobbits there – three of which were those we'd already met. The last, I guessed, was Frodo. His hair was darker than the others', and I could see in his blue eyes an intensity the others didn't possess. Very few beings did. All of my companions did, somewhat, and so did Gandalf, Aragorn, and Elrond. So had Steward Lucario, I knew, from the one time I'd met him. But Frodo had it in amounts I'd only seen in one being before.

His eyes reminded me of my own. He had the deep, penetrating gaze of a Destined Hero.

I grinned. I already knew that I liked this Hobbit.

Then he noticed us. His eyes widened slightly, but he didn't bolt or exclaim in surprise, making it clear to me that he'd already known about us. Thank Arceus. I didn't want to be at the business end of any more sharp bits of steel. It was annoying.

Elrond smiled at the Hobbit. "Allow me to introduce, Master Hobbit, the five Heroes of Arcea. This is Star." I nodded, grinning lopsidedly at him (showing my fangs slightly, of course. What good was it otherwise?) "This is Algator, his partner." Algator nodded, unsmiling, at the childlike figure, and I pounced on the opportunity.

"Come on, Algator," I complained teasingly. "Can't you grace your countenance with a smile, for once?"

"I'm sorry, Star," he retorted, his face still perfectly straight and bland, his voice deadpan, "But I didn't think your meager mind could process such a drastic break in tradition."

My jaw dropped ever so slightly, and I blinked. Grovyle grinned, and cried, "Burn! The Feraligatr doesn't even twitch!"

"Shut up, Grovyle," I told the grass type, who was now laughing raucously. Rolling my eyes, I turned to Algator. "You've gotten better, my young apprentice," I told him jokingly. "Keep it up, and you may even surpass me in satire one day!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Celebi whispering to Frodo, who was quietly chuckling. I heard her quietly say, "Don't mind them. They're always like this."

I glared at her, but wasn't able to keep my grin off my face. Algator rolled his eyes at me, and nodded at Elrond.

"Sorry about that," he said to the Elf-Lord.

Elrond smiled and merely said, "Not at all," before completing the introductions. When he'd finished Sam turned back to Frodo.

There's to be a feast later in your honor, Mr. Frodo," the gardener told his master. "Isn't that right, Master Elrond?"

"Indeed it is, young master Hobbit," said Elrond, smiling. "It will be tonight."

Frodo smiled, but asked, "Why? What have I done to warrant a feast?"

Algator, ever the scholar, snorted derisively. "Only successfully brought the One Ring through darkness and fear here to Rivendell, and survived through it. Face it, Frodo; you've already done the impossible."

Frodo contemplated him. All the other Hobbits were agreeing with my partner, but Frodo didn't seem to hear them. "You speak as though I'm obligated to do more," he said softly. "Am I?"

"Are you?" I challenged him flatly. "You're the only one who can tell us that."

Our gazes met and wrestled. I could tell he felt the same strange kinship to me as I felt for him, but he had to realize; it meant he was a Hero, and was resigned to the life of one. And that was a hard life.

Of course I already knew the answer to my question. It was one I myself had faced before. The question was, could he?

Algator reached over and put a hand on my shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a moment, Star?" he asked, quietly.

I reluctantly tore my eyes from Frodo's and followed the Feraligatr off the terrace and under the shade of the trees. There he turned to me.

"What in the name of Reshiram are you thinking?" he asked me with a tight, furious exasperation, quietly enough that only I could hear.

I blinked in surprise. "What do you mean? What did I do?"

"You almost broke his spirit, Star. If I hadn't stopped you, you would have," he told me angrily. "This is why Heroes don't get taught by one another; because fully fledged and tested Heroes like you just don't seem to realize that not everyone's as strong as they are! For the love of Cresselia! He's new! How would you like it if someone challenged you like that back when we'd only just finished the Tiny Woods?"

I stared at him, contemplating his words. He was right, of course. "Erm… sorry," I said, abashed. "I guess I got a bit carried away. Won't happen again."

"It had better not," growled the water-type. "If this world loses its Hero because of you, then I'm going to make sure you know it."

LB

Grovyle POV

The rest of the day was fairly tranquil. We did no more or less then peacefully enjoy ourselves. Star had befriended Frodo, and the two of them had seemed to reach an unspoken agreement to forget the strange almost-hostility that had passed between them in the morning.

All the peace came to an abrupt end at the feast, though our enjoyment skyrocketed. The food was the best yet (and by Arceus, these Elves knew how to prepare dishes!), and there was laughing and talking, and yet more laughing. Over the course of the meal I, sitting beside Frodo, joined in his conversation with one of the Dwarves, who was sitting on the Hobbit's other side. The Dwarf was dressed in rich cloths of white and silver, and was clearly very important. He'd been one of the more level-headed ones I'd seen when one of their number attacked Star.

The Dwarf introduced himself as Glóin, a name Frodo clearly knew, for he rose from his chair in surprise (in doing so, scattering the cushions that allowed him to sit at the Elves' high table) and said, after returning the formal greeting the Dwarf had offered, "Am I right in guessing that you are the Glóin, one of the twelve companions of the great Thorin Oakenshield?"

I helped the dwarf gather up Frodo's cushions as he answered in the affirmative. After he'd helped the Hobbit back into his seat, I asked, "Might I be filled in? The only thing I know about Dwarves is – quite literally – that one of them attacked Star yesterday."

"Ah, yes," said Glóin, looking somewhat sheepish. "That would be my son, Gimli. Quite a hothead he is, on occasion. I assure you, the rest of do not quite agree with his sentiments, Mister…?"

"Grovyle," I told him, chuckling, "And no, I wouldn't think so, now you've seen Star grab an axe in midair and have it at the thrower's neck in all of a second!"

Frodo stared in shock at me as Glóin laughed. "Very true, I'm afraid! Fear has played a large part in our accepting the six of you for quite a fair portion of my company. Are all of your race as skilled as he?"

"Are you joking?" I said sardonically. "Of course not! He's – arguably – the greatest warrior in Arcea's history, and is certainly in the top ten! He and Algator have twice stood against our world's equivalent of your world's Sauron and won!"

Glóin paled. "I cannot believe that. No one could stand against Sauron – or anything like him – alone and emerge victorious."

"We weren't alone," said Algator across from us. We turned to him. "We had each other. And that was the deciding factor. But you'll hear more later. I've prepared a song."

"It's done?" I ask him quickly.

"Yep," he said. "I'm going to sing it after the feast."

"I look forward to hearing it," said Glóin. "Your world sounds to be an interesting one."

"More that I could tell you," chuckled the Feraligatr.

A/N: Yes, Algator will sing next chapter. I'm already writing the poem. It may take a while, so be patient. Review please!