Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings is the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and Super Sentai is the property of New Saban
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SECTION 1: SUPER SENTAI AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
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Chapter 1: The Shire
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In the realm of Middle-Earth, in a land called the Shire, a Japanese hobbit lies in the grass reading a book, enjoying it immensely. Moments later, the hobbit hears a faint, singing from a man. The hobbit jumped up and smiled with the greatest joy imaginable. And so the hobbit runs toward the singing. The man who was singing rode a wagon carriage throughout the Shire. He was cloaked in gray robes and rags and wore a gray long-pointed hat…
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The road goes ever on and on…
Down from the door where it began…
Now far ahead the road has gone…
And I must follow if I can...
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The man continued his singing until the hobbit appeared beside him from on top of a small ledge. "You're late", said the hobbit.
The man stopped his wagon. "A wizard is never late, Tekeru Shiba Baggins," said the man. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
A moment of silence came over them. The man suddenly… cackled a giggle, and then to a full-fledged laugh. Takeru, the hobbit laughed along with him.
"It's wonderful to see you, Hikoma," Takeru said as he jumped onto the man named Hikoma Kusakabe and hugged him. Hikoma hugged him back.
"You didn't think I would miss your Uncle Tsuyoshi's birthday?" he questioned him as he gave off another laugh.
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Takeru and Hikoma rode throughout the Shire. "What news of the outside world?" inquired Takeru, "tell me everything!"
"Everything?!", asked a surprised Hikoma. "Far too eager and curious for a hobbit, most unnatural", Hikoma huffed.
He decided to humour Takeru's question, "well, what can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on as much as it has this past age. Full of its own comings and goings. Scarcely aware of the existence of the hobbits, for which I am very thankful."
The duo rode through the town of Hobbiton. All the other hobbits enjoyed themselves in their peaceful way of life. Some were gardeners, others were farmers, and so forth. Truly, the hobbits were a peaceful race of beings, even though they are the size of mere children. It was proven when the hobbits greeted the wizard Hikoma on his wagon, "hey, it's Hikoma." "Hikoma", the hobbits said with glee in their voices.
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Takeru and Hikoma continued their stroll through the shire. Tommy looked to his side and saw the preparations for Tsuyoshi's party, "oh, the long expected party!"
The hobbits worked tediously preparing the party. Tents were being set up. Signs were being posted. Their hardest task for them was to put up a banner that had the words, 'Happy Birthday, Tsuyoshi Kaijo Baggins'. The hobbits clapped their hands congratulating themselves.
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Hikoma and Takeru continued their discussion, "so how is the old rascal," said Hikoma, "I hear its going to be a party of special magnificence."
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You know Tsuyoshi", said Takeru, "he's got the entire place in an uproar."
"Well, that should please him."
"Half the shire has been invited."
"Oh, good gracious me."
"He's up to something."
"Oh really?"
"All right then, keep your secrets," Takeru said as Hikoma laughed mischievously to Hikoma's suspicious nature. "Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of."
"Indeed?"
"Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."
Hikoma felt that Takeru was blaming him because Tsuyoshi went with Hikoma on an exciting adventure one time. "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved," said Hikoma sheepishly. "All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."
"Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a 'disturber of the peace'," stated Takeru.
"Oh, oh really?" wondered Hikoma. The statement that Takeru made was made clear to Hikoma when he strolled past a middle-aged hobbit named Proudfoot, who grimaced at Hikoma like he was some sort of troublemaker. Hikoma nervously looked away from him.
Suddenly, the hobbit children ran down knowing Hikoma has come to the shire once again. The children cried out, "Hikoma, Hikoma. Fireworks Hikoma! Fireworks!"
The children gathered at the back of Hikoma's wagon. There weren't any fireworks when the children wanted to see them. After a few moments, they were starting to become disappointed and let down.
Suddenly…
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POOF!
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The fireworks went off, and the children cheered, "YAAAAH!" Hikoma laughed mischievously. Unexpectedly, Mr. Proudfoot laughed along with them. Mrs. Proudfoot looked at her husband disapprovingly and he stopped laughing. He then returned his facial expression to his grimaced state when he first saw Hikoma.
Takeru enjoyed the ride with Hikoma but then decided to get off. "Hikoma, I'm glad you're back."
"So am I, dear boy,"Hikoma said as Takeru hopped off the wagon and waved goodbye to him. "…So am I," Hikoma said to himself.
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Hikoma continued to ride towards Bag End, the estate of Tsuyoshi Kaijo Baggins. Hikoma stopped at the front gate. He passed through the gate that had the sign, 'no admittance, except on party business,' and walked up to the door with his wooden staff, and knocked at the door with the staff three times.
Tsuyoshi's voice spoke loudly behind the door, "no thank you! We don't want anymore visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations."
"And what about very old friends?" asked Hikoma.
The door opened. Tsuyoshi looked up and saw in great surprise, "Hikoma?"
"Tsuyoshi Kaijo Baggins."
"My dear Hikoma," said Tsuyoshi as he went to his old friend and hugged him.
Hikoma returned the big hug, "good to see you. 111 years old, who would believe it." Hikoma released Tsuyoshi and looked at him, a hobbit who looks so ageless, "you haven't aged a day." It baffled him as much as it surprised him.
The old friends laughed to their hearts content. "Come on, come in", Tsuyoshi said beckoning Hikoma, "welcome, welcome." Tsuyoshi closed the door and took his hat and staff.
"Oh, here we are," said Tsuyoshi. "Tea? Or maybe something a little stronger? I've got a few bottles of the old Wineyard left. 1296, very good year, almost as old as I am."
Tsuyoshi laughed as he put up the staff and hat. He then ran to the kitchen, happy as he was, "it was laid down by my father. Let's say we open one, eh!"
"Just tea, thank you," Hikoma said as he lifted his head into the chandelier. "Ooh", said Hikoma as he set the chandelier straight. He then bumped his head into a wooden beam, "Ouch!" He laughed with the greatest curiosity. Hikoma wandered into the lounge with the fire burning in the fireplace.
Tsuyoshi prepared a variety of foods for his friend to enjoy. "I was," he said, "expecting you sometime last week! Not that it matters, you come and go as you please. Always have done and always will. You caught me a bit unprepared, I'm afraid. We've only got cold chicken and bit of a pickle… here's some cheese here, uhn no that won't do. Ah, we've got raspberry jam, an apple tart… "
As Tsuyoshi kept naming the foods and preserves he has, Hikoma took the liberty of looking at Tsuyoshi's work. Hikoma picked up a map of Tsuyoshi's first adventure with Tommy to the Lonely Mountain, where they fought Smaug, the dragon that Hikoma mentioned to Tekeru, and took the dragon's treasure at the same time.
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Moments later, Tsuyoshi went into his lounge, "I can make you some eggs if you like… Hikoma… Hikoma…?" It seemed to Zack that Tommy was missing, but he appeared in the kitchen and dining room behind Michael…
"Just tea, thank you," said Hikoma.
"Oh right". Tsuyoshi then took a piece of bread and ate it. "Oh right. You don't mind if I eat, do you?" he said with his mouth full.
Hikoma didn't seem to mind, "oh, not at all."
Then a knock came to the door that made Tsuyoshi stand against the wall as if he wanted to hide, "Tsuyoshi! Tsuyoshi Kaijo Baggins!" It was a hobbit woman calling his name, Izumi Shiba-Baggins.
"I'm not at home!" Tsuyosho said nervously and put the tray of food on the table. "Oh, I've got to get away from these confounded relatives hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace! I want to see mountains again, mountains Hikoma! And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, tea." Tsuyoshi remembered Hikoma's request for tea.
He grabbed the teapot and poured the tea into a cup. "So, you mean to go through with your plan?" asked Hikoma.
"Yes, yes it's all in hand. All the arrangements have been made. Oh, thank you."
"Ethan suspects something", Hikoma informed Michael.
"Of course he does," assured Tsuyoshi, "he's a Baggins. Not some block-headed Bracegirdle from Hardbottle." Tsuyoshi placed the teapot back on the burner, after he finished pouring the tea.
"You will tell him, won't you?"
"Yes, yes," answered Tsuyoshi hurriedly.
"He's very fond of you," Hikoma also informed Tsuyoshi.
"…I know," answered Tsuyoshi, with sorrow in his voice, " …he'd probably come with me if I asked him. I think in his heart Takeri's still in love with the shire. The woods… the fields… little rivers."
Tsuyoshi took a few moments of silence, knowing that he's going to leave his nephew and other hobbits that he has known throughout his years for rest and relaxation for the rest of his days…
"I'm old Hikoma . I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart," Tsuyoshi said as he started to feel the inside of his vest pocket for something. "I feel… thin… sort of stretched like… butter scraped over too much bread."
Hikoma nodded his head in agreement.
Tsuyoshi continued, "I need a holiday, a very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return." A moment of silence followed…
"…In fact, I mean not to," finished Tsuyoshi.
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It neared dusk over the shire. Hikoma and Tsuyoshi went outside to smoke their pipes. "Old toby," started Tsuyoshi, "the finest weed in the Southfarthing."
Tsuyoshi blew a large ring of smoke that floated in the air. Hikoma used the smoke in his mouth and puffed the smoke and formed it in the shape of a sailing boat… a galleon to be precise. The sailing boat floated on its own and flew through the ring of smoke.
"Ah", Tsuyoshi gasped with delight, "Hikoma, my friend… this will be a night to remember."