Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Shannara Series and "The Shannara Chronicles", "Star Wars", Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, The Unicorn Chronicles, Ella Enchanted, The Snow Queen, "Moana", and "Maleficent". They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, George Lucas, Disney, Douglas Abrams, Bruce Coville, Gail Carson Levine, and Hans Christian Andersen. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

Inspiration Music for Chapter 7: Big Beat Record's song, "Home" (feat. Nico Santos).

Warning! This chapter is Rated T for mild sensual content.

*.*.*

Bethany stood by the wall, observing the hallway for herself. It had been too long since she knew she wasn't a vampire anymore. And yet, she still felt as if being a vampire was tapped into her.

Did this mean that she and Frodo were always vampires? Were they cursed? Or was it a gift? She didn't know. She was better off not knowing what was at stake here. Otherwise, what was she doing at Aster Castle.

She sighed, longingly, as Elijah rested a hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him; grateful he was fine. "I'm fine. Really," Bethany said to, quite beside herself and flustered.

"You don't seem fine," Elijah said, taking a seat on a nearby chair. "Come on. Tell me. What's troubling you?"

"Elijah," she faced him, not knowing what to say. "It's been so long. I've known you since you were a kid." She shrugged. "But I'm afraid it wouldn't work out between us. I'm married."

"I'm not asking about that," Elijah said, smiling at her. "I consider you a true friend, just as Frodo considers Scar-ra a true friend. Don't forget that."

"I know we are. But still," Bethany said, confused.

"Well," Elijah stood up, staying close to her, "for the record, I say you look beautiful." He kissed her on the cheek, walking away from her a moment later. "We'll talk more, if that's all right."

"Sure. Thanks," Bethany said, watching him walk away.

.

Frodo looked on at Bethany from across the hallway. The way Elijah kissed Bethany on the cheek sent shivers up Frodo's spine. Frodo's hand balled up into a fist, tightening until his palm turned white.

Ooh! How he wanted to punch Elijah so hard! Surely that would ease Frodo's mind. He relaxed when Elijah walked away.

Frodo's fist remained clenched. Oh, how he wished he could punch Elijah right now. But then, he remembered Elijah was High King of the Land of Talking Animals. Punching Elijah would be treasonous, wouldn't it?

"Frodo!" Scar-ra called out. Frodo gasped, facing her direction. The scarred lioness hadn't changed that much. Since they were no longer vampires, Scar-ra was in a friendlier mood. "Can we talk?" Scar-ra asked, getting Frodo's attention.

"Yeah. Hang on," Frodo said, entering the throne room. He walked up to Elijah, telling him, "Hey, what did you think you were doing? With my wife?"

"What? It was only a friendly kiss. I didn't kiss her on the lips," Elijah said, shuddering.

"Hey, whose kissing Frodo's wife?" Amethyst asked, worriedly.

Elijah turned to her, telling her, "No one is, except Frodo is. If I remember it correctly, I'm not marrying Bethany. You can have her." He walked towards his throne, setting a silver nutcracker tool on the seat of his throne.

Frodo looked at him in shock. Surely, he thought Elijah and Bethany were together.

Elijah laughed, facing Frodo, "Come on. Did you really that Bethany and I are made for each other? Ha ha ha ha ha! Don't worry. We're not. We're just friends."

"So, you and Bethany aren't…"

"No," Elijah shook his head, patting Frodo's shoulder. "Trust me, I'm not marrying Bethany. You can have her."

"Really?" Bethany asked, confused.

"Oh, come on now," Elijah said, wrapping an arm around her. "I'm your friend. Your true friend. I told you this. Besides, I really think we need to talk, come to terms with our friendship. By the way," Elijah moved behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

He whispered in her ear, "Frodo's yours and you're with Frodo. It's that easy." He patted her shoulders, telling her and Amethyst, "Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone else who needs me. Isn't that right, Amethyst?"

Amethyst smirked, taking Elijah's hand, "Sure. What did we miss?"

Elijah laughed, wrapping an arm around her, "I've been asking that myself," as he led her out of the throne room.

Bethany faced Frodo, apologizing to him, "I'm sorry. I tried to reason with him. I thought he was coming after me. He did say I'm his true friend. I guess that's all me and Elijah are. Don't you think?"

Frodo grinned, pointing out to her, "I did hear him say that. I just wanted him to confirm it." He extended his hand out to her, "Shall we?"

Bethany took his hand, telling him, "I think we shall."

.

Frodo smiled. The thought of spending more time with Bethany appeased him. He could admit he was jealous, but he was just doing it because he wanted to spend more time with her. It was the best thing he had and he wanted to share it with her.

"Excellent," Frodo said. He sighed. He couldn't stop looking at her, but then he didn't want it to stop. He just wanted to be with her. That was all there was to it.

He wrapped an arm around her, whispering in her ear, "You can tell me whatever you want. I'll listen, too, you know." He kissed her on the cheek, embracing her.

Bethany smiled, walking with him as they talked about whatever was on their minds. "I know. So, what were you going to do with Scar-ra?"

"That's a good question," Frodo said, looking at Scar-ra as she waved him over.

Bethany nodded, in understanding. She stopped Frodo, telling him, "You'd better go. I'll stay here. Elijah gave us a room, you know."

"I know. I'll talk to you later," Frodo said, not wanting to leave her side.

Bethany looked at him with a warm-hearted smile. "I know. I will wait for you. I promise." She moved away from him, heading off to the food booths, which were now occupied with fresh food and drinks.

.

Frodo looked on at her. For a moment, he was happy. Now, he felt anxious. Had it been too long since they last ate and drank?

"Frodo," Scar-ra said, approaching him with a smile on her face.

"Huh?" Frodo asked, looking at her in shock. He asked, startled by her presence, "What?"

Scar-ra gasped, telling him, "No need to be so coy. We need to talk. Well, I need to tell you that, in spite of recent events, we really need to find my sister."

Frodo huffed, shaking his head, "I can't go with you. I need to spend time with Bethany. I don't get enough time with her."

"Can it wait? I need to find my sister," Scar-ra said, following Frodo out into the hallway. "Frodo, I need to know where she is." She turned him around, stopping him. "I'm sorry about your wife. I'm sorry about Elijah. But I need to find my sister and my family. Can you help me? It won't take long, I swear."

Frodo gulped. Did he have a choice? "You're going to track down your sisters and your brother?" He nodded. "I think I know the quickest way to reach them."

"Really?" Scar-ra asked, pleased.

Frodo nodded. "Come on. There's a war room around here somewhere."

Scar-ra followed him, determined to find the war room. She looked at Frodo, as he made his way inside the throne room, tracking Elijah and Amethyst down.

"Elijah! Elijah!" Frodo called out to Elijah, as he approached him. "Do you know where we can find a war room? My friend, Scar-ra, needs to find her family."

Elijah nodded. "I saw one in here. It's updated. There's even a huge holoterminal in the room, too. Here, I'll show you where it is." He led them out of the throne room and down the hallway, the same hallway they've been traveling down earlier.

Yes, there were doors leading out into the castle's courtyard. The guards opened and closed the doors, as they let in dignitaries and tourists. The tourists stopped, right as Elijah grabbed Frodo's sleeve.

"Come on. The war room's this way," Elijah said, leading the way in the opposite direction. Frodo followed him, taking one last look at the guests, before departing.

"Right. Here I go," Frodo said, joining Elijah by a pair of doors, which two guards opened up for them.

.

The second the guards opened the doors, Elijah, Frodo, Scar-ra, and Amethyst found themselves inside a large war room. Holoterminals with grey frames resided in this room, as did tables and chairs, and a platform, complete with its own control panels.

Scar-ra looked around this room with wonder. She found the largest holoterminal there was, rushing towards the holoterminal moments later, "Come on! It's this way!"

"Wait. Scar-ra! Scar-ra… whoa," Frodo called, stopping as he looked in amazement as Scar-ra's family on the largest holoterminal in the room. There was also a galaxy map, showing the thousands of galaxies in the Universe.

Scar-ra smiled at the Universe's name. "Of course, it's called the Shapeshifter's Universe. What an ironic name."

Frodo snickered. There was something about the Universe's name that surprised him. Would it be the last time he would hear this name? The Universe's name?

He doubted it, but then anything could happen.

He turned to Scar-ra, saying to her, "Maybe there's a reason for it being there."

Scar-ra sneered, saying to him, "Well, if there is for a reason, then we would know about it." She sighed, "Of course, it is. Um… let me try something," she observed the holoterminal's moving images. She pressed a button, allowing her to see her family and the information about them.

"Huh?" Something about the information startled her.

Tack was in the Villains' World with Ronnie and a woman named Sandria Wolff. Melena had gone to an alternate universe. Something about the Wizardry World.

Meanwhile, Zeena happened to be in this very war room. Scar-ra looked over at her youngest sister, waving to her. "Oh, hi!"

Zeena chuckled, holding her red punch in a plastic cup. "Hi. If you're looking for Katrina, I believe you'll find her there." She pointed to the holoterminal, showing their family.

Scar-ra sighed. That's what she was afraid of. "Look, I'm sorry I kept yelling at you and our family. It was out of line."

Zeena leaned forward, telling her, "It's all right. We have our bad days. You may have taken it out on Katrina a bit much."

"I didn't mean to do it. I was angry," Scar-ra said.

"Angry," Zeena finished her sentence. "I know. You're fine. Katrina may not forgive you," she leaned back, smiling, "but I will."

"Where is Katrina?" Scar-ra said, observing Katrina's information. She jumped back upon reading more about her sister.

No way! Katrina wasn't even in this galaxy! She was in the Galaxy Far, Far Away!

"What? What is she doing there?" Scar-ra asked, cautious.

Zeena answered her question. "Well, let me tell you. She's probably heading to the Galaxy Far, Far Away on a mission. Our dad sent her to restore the First World and Nathema." She finished her drink, "But surely, Scar-ra, you must have known this."

She leaned forward, telling her, "But if I were you, I'd leave her be. She doesn't want to speak to you. Not after what you did to her."

Scar-ra gulped. "I understand if she doesn't want to speak to me. But I have to see her. I have to know why she's out there."

"Scar-ra, let her go," Zeena said, worriedly.

Scar-ra moved back, leaving the holoterminal on. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have to do this. I have to find my sister!" She ran out of the war room, heading down the hallway in a hurry.

"Scar-ra. Scar-ra, wait! Scar-ra!" Frodo rushed after her, stopping to see Scar-ra bound on all fours down the hallway. He rested his hand against his forehead. He was crazy in thinking he could chase down a lioness, even a scarred lioness. It was risky, but even his riskier mind knew he had to do this.

He ran down the hallway, searching for Scar-ra. He turned down the next hallway, finding Scar-ra walking on two legs to the castle's hangar. Frodo chased after her, catching up to her in no time.

"Scar-ra, what you're doing is wrong. Katrina doesn't want to speak to you," Frodo said, noticing Scar-ra get teary-eyed. "Please talk to me."

"I'm not letting her wander off, out of guilt," Scar-ra said, tearing up.

"Please. Seek reason!" Frodo cried, getting her attention. "You know what you have to do. Is it worth it?"

Scar-ra stopped by the hangar door, looking at him, "If Bethany had gone missing, if she was angry, would you go after her?"

Frodo gulped, stepping back. "No. You know I would go after her. It is what true love is. To find the right partner. Hmm?"

Scar-ra shook her head. "I don't know how deep your romance is, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. If you like, I can help you find out what your love and Bethany's love is." She added, surprising herself, "It's too intense, like Parker's relationship with Eliza. I need to find out!" Scar-ra wandered off into the hangar.

Frodo followed her, not wanting to lose her. "Scar-ra, please. Seek reason." He repeated, hoping she would understand.

"I can't and neither can you," Scar-ra said, plainly.

Frodo looked at her with confusion in his eyes, "What Bethany and I have… our relationship is about love. What you and Katrina have is siblinghood. Your sisters, not lovers."

"I know. But that's not what I meant," Scar-ra said, plainly. "Stick with Bethany. I'll be back. Then we can sort out this romance between you and Bethany." She ran off, heading towards her new ship.

"Scar-ra, wait! Please Scar-ra!" Frodo said, rushing towards her. He stopped the moment she looked at him.

"Please let me go. Let me find her," Scar-ra said, hesitant. She couldn't waste any more time. She was losing her sister.

Frodo shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant."

"Then what is it?" Scar-ra asked, concerned.

Frodo gulped, saying, "Good luck." He approached her, extending his hand to her.

Scar-ra smiled, taking it, "You too." She released him, nodding, "You too." She opened the door, climbing inside her ship. She looked at Frodo as he stepped back.

Frodo watched Scar-ra in the cockpit window. She started up the engine. Frodo would miss her, but at least he knew her mission was important. She was determined to find her sister, and Frodo couldn't stop her now.

He sighed, longingly, the moment he felt Bethany's arms wrapped around his stomach. Frodo held her, kissing her hands, as they watched Scar-ra take off out of the hangar, heading into space.

"She'll be all right," Bethany said, pleased.

Frodo rubbed his forehead, clinging to Bethany's arms with a calmness, "I know she will."