Chapter 7: TJ fights the forces of darkness.

The party at Italian Restaurant didn't end very happily, as they wanted it to. The creatures that appeared in the night, near, the forest attacked Lawson and Mikey and now they lie unconscious at the Italian Restaurant. They shared the same sleeping room. Ashley B properly tended to their wounds. Gretchen lay beside Mikey because of her feelings toward him.

Vince came into the room and squatted down near her, "how are they doing Ashley B?"

"They're alright, Vince," replied Ashley B, "although Lawson is very stubborn when it comes to his fighting spirit."

Vince agreed, "yeah, you're right. I have a lot of issues with him, ever since he injured me the day we first met. Not to mention he made me believe he died at the Forest. This creep and I still have our differences, but I don't wish him to go like this. Even if he is that creepy."

Ashley B nodded in agreement.

Principal Prickly went to where TJ and Spinelli were and told them the news. "TJ, it seems that Mikey and Lawson are going to make it, thanks to Ashley B."

"Thank you, Principal Prickly," said TJ, "I'm very relieved, that I am."

"Your friend truly has the amazing medical skills that you say she has."

Spinelli is also relieved as she told Molly and Lisa, "see, children, Ashley B has done it again!" The children cried with joy.

Principal Prickly started to speak again, "TJ… have you told the others of what you told me… as incredible as the story is?"

"Not yet, Principal Prickly. But I think that now is the time, after what happened to Lawson and Mikey, to tell everyone about my encounter 9 years ago, that it is."

"Tell us what, TJ?" asked Spinelli as she remembered his behavior this morning, "…is it what you were told to expect?"

Before TJ could begin…

Wind began blowing and a flash of light appeared before their eyes…

An opening manifested, as it formed into a portal. TJ maintained his determined face and instructed Kaoru to take the children inside.

Moments later, creatures came out of that portal, to wreak havoc upon the Italian Restaurant. The creatures looked horrible. They wore strange armor and armed with even more strange looking swords. Painted on their faces and armor, was a white hand… the same white hand that Mikey found in the woods.

"Are these the creatures you expected TJ?" Principal Prickly asked.

"I believe they are," replied TJ. More of these creatures appeared one by one.

Spinelli ran inside to inform everyone, "guys! We're under attack! We're under attack!"

The shouting ran throughout the Italian Restaurant, awaking Gretchen. Lawson and Mikey woke up as well. "So, it seems we have company," noted Lawson.

"Mikey," cried Gretchen, "you shouldn't move. I'll defend the Italian Restaurant."

"I believe it's time for some payback!" stated Lawson with a vengeance. Ashley B tried to stop him.

"Hold it Lawson! You still need to rest."

"Look, woman, "said Lawson, "injuries never stopped this moron with you." Lawson pointed out to Vincw. Truly these two have a grudge against each other as Vince growled at Lawson's insult.

Lawson went on, "…and besides, woman, I've face more of these life or death situations than any of you have."

Nevertheless, Ashley B wouldn't relent…

"Let him go, Ashley," said Vince, "I don't think anybody or anything could stop this creep." Ashley B reluctantly agreed to Vince's request.

"I hope I don't regret this," she said.

"Don't worry, you won't. I promise," Lawson assured her. He went out the door with Vince behind him.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight Lawson!" said Vince.

"You moron," retorted Lawson.

"What did you say…?"

Mikey still wished to go to face their attackers. But allowed Gretchen to go anyway, bowing his head to her. She left also.

Ashley B and Mikey were left alone. "I hope I can count on you to rest, Mikey."

"Yes, indeed you can, Ashley B. It's been a long time, especially after Kanryu."

"Yes Mikey. And its good to know you're no longer after TJ," she smiled. Mikey smiled along with her.

"I think this battle will be tough for them," said Mikey, "…when I fought these creatures…I saw a portal…a portal that showed an eye… a fiery eye."

Ashley B was filled with worry in her heart…

Back in Bag End, Gandalf and Frodo drank tea together, discussing the ring. "This is the one ring," stated Gandalf, "forged by the dark lord Sauron, in the fires of Mount Doom. Taken by Isildur, from the hand of Sauron himself."

Frodo spoke, "Bilbo found it, in Gollum's cave?"

"Yes, for 60 years the ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age." The remark that Gandalf made clearly explained Bilbo's mysterious condition of how he was unable to age like everyone else. Gandalf continued, "but no longer Frodo. Evil is stirring in Mordor. The ring has awoken. It's heard its master's call."

"But he was destroyed," Frodo objected. "Sauron was destroyed."

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the black speech of Mordor came from the evil ring. A moment of silence followed…

"No Frodo," said Gandalf. "The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the ring, and the ring survived. Sauron has returned." Frodo went speechless after hearing about the dark lord's return.

Gandalf continued further, "his orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad-dûr is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it… seeking it, all his thought is bent on it. The ring, yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one… the ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it."

"Alright," said Frodo as he grabbed the ring from the table and started walking away with it, hoping to find a way that it will never be found…

Frodo went on, " …we put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows its here, do they?" Frodo then thought for a moment and turned to face the wizard, "…do they Gandalf?" he asked.

Gandalf started his reply, "there is one other, who knew that Bilbo had the ring." The thought of it frightened Frodo even more.

"I looked everywhere for the creature, Gollum," Gandalf went on, "but the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him, but amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words: Shire! Baggins!"

"Shire… Baggins… but that would lead them here!"

That fact was made clear as the black riders rode ever closer to Hobbiton. A night watchman was unaware of the danger that he was in…

"Who goes there," he said.

The malevolent rider then drew his sword… and without warning… took a swipe at the watchman, killing him.

"Take it Gandalf!" Frodo cried out holding the ring towards the wizard. But Gandalf backed away, for he feared the ring.

"Take it!" Frodo cried out even more.

"No Frodo," refused Gandalf.

Frodo kept insisting, "you must take it!"

"You cannot offer me this ring!"

"I'm giving it to you!"

"DON'T… tempt me Frodo!" After the last remark, Frodo was finally convinced that Gandalf didn't want the ring and lowered his hand.

"I dare not take it," continued Gandalf calmly, "not even to keep it safe. Understand Frodo, I would use this ring from a desire to do good."

A few moments of frightening silence followed between the hobbit and wizard…

"…But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine," finished Gandalf.

Frodo still was concerned about his home, "but it cannot stay in the shire!"

"No! No, it can't," resolved Gandalf.

Frodo then balls the ring up in his hand. "What must I do?"

The creatures appeared at the back of the Italian Restaurant. TJ draws his sword, and started to attack the creatures, one by one. Using his lightning quick reflexes of the Style, he was able to make short work out of the creatures.

When Spinelli put Molly and Lisa into a room, where they'll be safe. She immediately went to her room, and grabbed her sword to defend herself with and proceeded directly to the backyard.

TJ continued to fight the creatures alone. Then, Gretchen came to the back and threw her weapons at the creatures…

"Take That!" Gretchen cried out.

"Gretchen," said TJ.

"Hey, I'm still with you, TJ," said Gretchen, "no matter what anybody says." TJ smiled and gave a nod to her.

The creatures kept coming. Lawson and Vince charged in as also. Lawson with his left-handed sword thrusting technique, and Vince with his gun. Lawson skewered some of the creatures with it. Vince was able to shoot. The fighting continued and Spinelli went outside and went by TJ's side.

"Spinelli, I would appreciate if you went inside. I don't think you can handle these monsters."

"Don't worry TJ. I won't be in your way," said Spinelli. TJ smiled at her and continued the battle.

Ashley T, Chewy, and the rest also joined along. TJ launches a few attacks of his own. When things couldn't get any worse, more creatures came out of the portal and started attacking…

They were large, dog-like creatures the size of a horse. Riding on top of them were more demonic-like creatures that walked like men. Everyone gasped at the new threat that lies before them.

"Oh great," said Lawson, "not these things again. I fought these creatures last night." The fighters gasped at this fact that Lawson fought the creatures.

The large dogs started to dash towards the fighters. Spinelli, Gus, and Randall quickly jumped out of the way of the incoming creatures. TJ was able to stop one by launching an attack that struck nine places at once…

"Take that you creepiest!" TJ cried out his attack.

Vince ducked under one of the dogs and shoot it in its stomach, "You can't attack or bite Vince LaSalle!"'

Lawson stood there waiting for another of the large dogs to come to it. As it jumped toward Lawson, he quickly brought his sword up and stabbed the creature with an enormous amount of upper-body strength…

"Take that!" Lawson cried out his attack as well. "That's what you get for attacking me."

And more creatures came, and more and more, including the giant dog creatures. The odds were overwhelming and then, out of nowhere…

A flash of light overcame the creatures, causing them pain. And…

A strong force threw them backwards and they were somehow burned and thrown back into the portal. This has amazed everyone as shock overtook their faces. The portal closed afterwards. An old man in brown rags appeared before them.

"Hello TJ, we meet again," said the old man.

"Radagast," gasped TJ.

"You know this old man TJ?" asked Gus. TJ nodded to him.

"This is the old man," stated TJ, "who told me to expect these creatures, wasn't it?"

Everyone gasped at the remark TJ made, except for Prickly. He had already been told about this man who appears before them. Mikey and Ashley B made their entrance into the scene.

"Greetings, "said Radagast, "for those of you who don't know me, except for TJ, I am Radagast the Brown. I am an Istari… a wizard from Middle-Earth. The creatures you fought are called Orcs, and the large wolf-creatures are called Wargs. You have all fought gallantly against them. And indeed you are right TJ… the time of battle against Sauron… is now!"

Disclaimer: I do not own Recess or Lord of the Rings. Recess is the property of Paul Germain and Lord of the Rings is the property of Professor J. R. R. Tolkien