Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2, their characters and concepts belong to Rumiko Takahashi and those enterprises to whom she has given publishing rights. The Lord of the Rings, their characters and concepts belong to Tolkien Estate and those enterprises to whom such rights were given. This work does not intend to infringe upon those rights, nor is it intended to commercial use.

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The Lord of the Curses

Chapter 1

A Long Expected Party

Ryouga was lost.

Not that the fact was surprising, not at all, for it happened all too often with the poor hobbit.

Surprising was how agitated and nervous he seemed to be. Ryouga was used to his complete lack of any sense of direction that ran like a curse in the blood of his family.

But this time it was different, because unless he could find his way back to Bag End and quickly, he would miss his own Birthday party and much worse, his uncle's Birthday party.

Ryouga would never forgive himself for missing his uncle's eleventy-first anniversary, a special age for hobbits, and for which a magnificent party was being prepared. He knew almost all Hobbiton would be invited, along with many other hobbits from more distant places. Missing his third-three anniversary, the date of his 'coming of age', was a much smaller concern in his mind.

He was immensely fond of Bilbo, who adopted him after the death of his parents. They shared many traits, the birthday being only one of them. The old hobbit delighted himself with old tales and with news from the distant places he had visited before, and Ryouga was always eager to hear them. Bilbo also suffered from the same navigational problems that plagued him, even a stronger version, perhaps, because he never wandered off the Shire, unlike his uncle.

Except for one time, one dreadful time, when he ended in front of a ruined city, with many odd looking springs all around the fallen stone buildings...

Ryouga tried to control his anger and the felling of despair that threatened to take over his mind. Unclenching his teeth and opening his trembling hands, he observed his knuckles regain their natural colour.

'I can't be that off from Bag End,' thought Ryouga, concentrated again in his task to reach home. 'Perhaps I'll find a landmark after that hill.'

Fate wasn't so merciful with the lost boy, but he did find a road in the bottom of the hill. Seeking cover under the shadow of a nearby tree, Ryouga decided to wait someone pass to ask for directions. With the information his chances of going in the right direction were slightly better than going up or down the road on his own.

'Bilbo would be around the Ettenmors, or perhaps in the Blue Mountains, if he was lost for the same time I am now,' guessed Ryouga, with a small smile in his face. His uncle's luck was indeed incredible – not once was he seriously harmed in his wandering through an increasingly dangerous Middle-earth. Going back and forth in the Shire was much safer and nicer, specially if you overlook the many times Ryouga found himself wandering in the middle of the old Maggot's farm. He firmly believed Ryouga was after his famous mushrooms and nothing could convince him the boy was just lost, and it meant that Ryouga would have to out-run the farmer's dogs to save his hide. Ryouga didn't even blamed the old hobbit, because he showed up quite frequently in his mushroom fields.

'Give him an extra month or two to be lost and he might even reach the Lonely Mountain,' chuckled Ryouga. 'Ah, the Lonely Mountain, how I would like to visit the dwarven halls,' he wished. In his heart he knew that sooner or later he would be travelling all around Middle-earth, just like his Uncle, and he didn't think it would be a bad thing. The fact that he didn't really have any choices on the subject has lessened considerably his worries about leaving his beloved Shire behind. A part of his mind, the curious and adventurous one, commanded him to embrace his curse, and the other, the conservative and homely one, bade him to resist it, as long as he could.

The Sun was already in the descendent course toward the horizon and the road was still empty. Fearing that this might be one of the less used paths through the Shire and that both ends of it wouldn't bring him any closer to Bag End, Ryouga decided to start walking once again. Picking up his back and his now inseparable umbrella, he was ready to resume his march when he heard a cart or waggon coming down the road.

Turning his head and expecting a known face, Ryouga gasped in surprise – a well known face was indeed riding the waggon.

"Kho Lon!" yelled the hobbit, sprinting in the waggon's direction.

The wizened wizard stopped the waggon to allow the hobbit to join her. "Oh, child. Don't tell me – you need a ride home," she smirked, "you could have lost your uncle's birthday and yours as well, you know." Blushing and trying desperately to find something else to talk about, Ryouga pointed to the numerous boxes of all kinds and shapes that bulked the waggon and asked, "Are these...?"

"Yes, yes," answered Kho Lon, "fireworks for the party."

This was enough to make the boy show all his teeth in a huge smile. 'Fireworks!' he thought 'I have never seen fireworks before! All this time I was thinking Bilbo was just teasing me!'

Ryouga was now in a really good mood. Not only he managed to find a guaranteed way to be back to Bag End in time for the party, he would also have a great opportunity to talk to Kho Lon the Grey. She was very same wizard that took his uncle to his most important adventure across Middle-earth and back again, with a fair share of wealth. Many times he has heard this tale from Bilbo who was now writing it down. It was a pity no one believed him when he said he decided to join the dwarves willingly. The version that Bilbo just got lost and found himself in the middle of a dragon's hoard was the preferred one among many that circulated in the inns of the Shire. But the gold he obtained none argued about.

Now actually getting news or answers from the venerable looking wizard was as hard as stealing treasure from a dragon under his nose and Ryouga didn't have an invisibility ring with him. Convincing her to teach him a new technique or move was even harder, but Ryouga would at least probe her to find out she was more open than usual. Since his early years Ryouga showed an unusual interest in the Art for a hobbit and he was having troubles find other hobbits that could teach him something new or otherwise help him to improve. It didn't bothered him many found his obsession very queer and even unnatural – the Shire was quite peaceful and martial artists were seldom needed. But Ryouga knew that he would be leaving this region, voluntarily or not, and he should be ready. He didn't understand how such withered body could possess so much energy and strength, but Kho Lon was by far the best martial artist he knew and she was his best chance to advance in the Art.

She was also his best hope of recovering from a certain... condition... he'd acquired in his first time outside the Shire. Only her managed to throw some light in his problem, having some little knowledge about what was affecting him.

"Kho Lon, do you have any news regarding... that problem? Anything that could help me?" asked the boy as the waggon slowly climbed a large hill, with much hope in his voice. This incident happened only three months ago and it was nothing short from a small miracle that Kho Lon was visiting his uncle when he arrived home.

"You mean you still haven't gathered enough courage to ask the daughter of your uncle's gardener out? There isn't much I can do to help you, I'm afraid. Her name's Akari, right?" was her answer. Muttering some unintelligible words, Ryouga blushed violently. Kho Lon enjoyed teasing the shy boy and the particularly bright shade of red he was displaying was proof enough she outdid herself this time.

"Ah, you meant your other problem... I fear that I wasn't able to find a possible cure for you. But do not despair! I have yet to talk with the master of Rivendell about your situation. He knows much about ancient lore and he's probably our best hope on the matter."

The words were lost to Ryouga, however. Akari was the only thing that occupied his mind in the moment. 'Sweet, sweet Akari, how can I ask her out in my current state?' wondered Ryouga as he received a blow in his head that snapped him back to reality, before depression could get the best of him. Kho Lon's staff was as ready as ever, it seems.

"Listen to me when I'm talking to you, boy!" warned the wizard, moving her staff around the boy's skull, "You can daydream about your girlfriend later!"

"I'm sorry, Kho Lon. Could you please repeat it?"

Ryouga sighed as he heard the bad news. Lowering his head, he decided to concentrate his attention in the very interesting planks of wood on the waggon's floor.

Kho Lon sighed, too. She really wanted to help the boy, but there might be no cure for him. 'At least anger isn't dominating him now,' mused Kho Lon, 'I wonder if I should tell him about the person who threw him in that cursed spring.' Now there was no doubt about it, he went all the way to the fallen city of Fornost and to the Valley of the Cursed Springs. Kho Lon herself has only heard rumours of this place in old tales, the details she needed might well have passed beyond all knowledge. She knew how to revert the boy to his natural form, tough – an incredible simple solution for an otherwise inexpugnable enigma – and her presence in Bilbo's house that day might have prevented the hobbit from taking harsher actions.

At first she has dismissed the boy's story about how a redheaded elven girl pursuing a large bear has knocked him into a spring. Bears in this side of the Misty Mountains were very rare, and redheaded elves were completely unheard of. And why would an elf be pursuing a bear? He was adamant about the elven girl - 'I saw her ears,' claimed the now cursed boy, 'only an elf could have such ears'. She concluded the boy had suffered some traumatic shock and had imagined it all.

Only when a pair of rangers, father and son, the leaders of the remaining Dúnedain of the north in fact, had consulted her in the Prancing Pony Inn about a peculiar and similar problem has Kho Lon realized that the boy wasn't delirious in his recount of the events.

Unfortunately, this unexpected discovery couldn't help the depressed boy sitting by her side in any way. In fact, providing him with someone to blame over the tragic accident that took place that day could prove to be very counterproductive and so Kho Lon decided not to tell him about the elf girl - in truth a male Dúnedan, for the time being.

Trying to bring the boy out of his depression, Kho Lon started to chant, in a lower than habitual voice, an old elvish song she greatly enjoyed, the tale of Eärendil.

Ryouga didn't even tried to understand the song with his limited knowledge of the language, choosing rather to lose himself in the beautiful melody he was hearing. Raising his head, he began to appreciate the countryside in the afternoon that was about to end.

"Thanks Kho Lon, I needed that."

"Indeed, my boy, indeed. You shouldn't lose hope, not so soon, at least. And even if the worst come to pass, I think you'll manage to live with it."

Ryouga doubted it, but he kept the thought to himself.

---

As the wizard's waggon approached its destination, a good number of hobbit-children started following it and begging Kho Lon for some crackers. It was obvious Ryouga wasn't the only one that heard the rumour regarding the fireworks and the presence of the old wizard cast any doubts out the minds of the little ones. The children were really wearing her patience thin by the second and Ryouga was trying to contain himself. He knew he shouldn't laugh, but it was hard.

"So they want some fireworks, I think I'll give them something," smirked Kho Lon. "Yes, I do have something special!"

Waving her staff, a blue fountain erupted in the ground just behind the wagon and in front of the children, who cried in delight. Then numerous scintillating blue snakes, writhing and whistling, began to pour out the fountain and chase their little furred feet. The surprised hobbits scattered quickly, yelling and jumping, trying to avoid the snakes.

"Hum, I thought they would be happy to see my new serpent fireworks," said Kho Lon.

It was too much to Ryouga, who burst out laughing. Kho Lon kept a straight face, but it soon cracked and she started to cackle as well.

The waggon was already in Bagshot Row, and after a smooth curve it stopped in front of the Bag End's frontal gate. Bilbo was there, with an anxious expression in his face.

"Kho Lon! You've arrived! And you've found Ryouga! Bless you, my old friend, bless you!" said the old hobbit, clearly stirred.

Kho Lon deftly jumped out the waggon and into the garden, just in front of Bilbo.

"It's good to see you again, Bilbo."

Descending from the top of her staff, Kho Lon hugged the old Hobbit.

"My, you look terrific, Bilbo!"

"You don't seen to have aged a day, Kho Lon!"

'As if it was possible', thought Ryouga, helping two dwarves to unload the waggon. 'She can't look any older than this!'

"Where have you found the boy this time? I was really afraid he wouldn't arrive in time!"

"I picked him up just south of Bywater Pool, in my way here."

"Come in, Kho Lon, do you want some tea?" asked Bilbo, entering his hobbit hole.

"I would be delighted", answered Kho Lon, following the hobbit. Given her diminutive size, Bag End was very comfortable. Even in the top of her staff she didn't risk a violent encounter with the ceiling or one of the numerous support beams. She did have to hurry to direct the hobbit to the kitchen, instead of the office.

---

After the tea, the two friends were enjoying themselves, smoking and throwing smoke rings around.

"So, Bilbo, have you changed your mind or you'll be leaving the Shire tomorrow night?" asked Kho Lon.

"Yes, I'm leaving tomorrow night. I really want to visit Erebor one more time."

"Have you told Ryouga about your plans?"

"Not yet," answered the hobbit, sighing. "I fear he won't take it well. I'll tell him after supper."

"He'll be torn between going with you and staying in the Shire," pointed Kho Lon.

"He wants to stay. I know it," said Bilbo. "He would join me if I asked, but I won't." Bilbo stopped for a moment, and asked Kho Lon, almost whispering: "Can you help him, Kho Lon?"

"I'm doing what I can, but I don't know if there's a cure for his condition," confessed the wizard.

"I feared as much," said the hobbit. "Will you help him while I'm gone? He'll need support."

"I'll, as often as possible. I trust your gardener's daughter will be interested in supporting him, too."

"Akari?" asked Bilbo, "she always helped Ryouga going where he wanted, or bringing him back. I'm sure she'll be there to help him. She's the kindest hobbit I know and I think they like each other. I'll miss seeing the two together." Blowing a particularly well done smoke ring, Bilbo laughed. "Poor Ryouga thinks his life is much worse than it really is."

"Yes, this is a part of his problems."

"But enough of that! Tomorrow we will have a party the Shire won't forget easily."

---

Ryouga was saddened but not surprised when Bilbo told him his plans. He knew his uncle was up to something given his behaviour in the last months. He was afraid he would begin to wander once again.

Ryouga couldn't find any sleep that night. Pondering over and over if he should ask to join Bilbo or if he should stay in the Shire, deciding something only to go change his mind shortly after, until the day dawned. But the sun brought him no answer.

Only when Akari knocked at his door and called him to breakfast he finally decided what he would do.

---

Ryouga knew that his Uncle has invited almost all hobbits of the region but the crowd formed in the garden still surprised him. He was thanking the numerous compliments he was receiving for his own birthday halfheartedly, because his mind and heart were elsewhere.

Akari was getting worried about him. 'Why would he be so melancholic in his own birthday?' she wondered, 'his uncle is having a fantastic party and he's acting like this all day, what could be wrong?'

The sun was already over the horizon, but clarity still lingered due the last rays of light touching the sky, and most of the hobbits were looking for good spots to watch the fireworks.

"Akari, would you like to sit in that table?" asked the lost boy. It was coded talk, of course. Even a straight line between the point they were and the table could trouble him, but to move among such huge crowd and still arrive there would be quite a feat for Ryouga. He was really asking Akari to help him get there before the beginning of the show. Being used to his directional sense (or lack thereof) didn't mean Ryouga wasn't embarrassed about it or that it was easy to him to ask for help in a task only he had trouble with. Akari knew it well and she didn't mind - she would hate to vex her friend. Both of them enjoyed each other company, so in overall it was a quite nice arrangement.

The hobbits were all excited, notably the children. Few among them could remember the last time the wizard has displayed her work in the Shire. Kho Lon began by releasing a wave of sparkling white swans, which crossed the skies above Bag End to the delight of all.

Intercalating small displays of orange butterflies, green singing birds, and shimmering clouds of yellow fireflies with displays that grabbed everyone's attention as they filled the firmament with light and sound, Kho Lon was slowly bringing the show to its surprising conclusion.

Ryouga didn't know the special surprise the wizard prepared for her old friend, but chances were very good he would have been taken by surprise anyway. During the spectacle his attention was pretty much divided between the sky and Akari's visage. The coloured light cast by Kho Lon's works was illuminating her face and her long and straight (which is rare among hobbits) chestnut hair for an instant before darkness covered them all again. But in each of these glimpses Ryouga saw how happy Akari was watching the fireworks and how much she was enjoying the party. In that moment, the felling of gloom that besieged his heart was pierced by Akari's shining eyes, and for the first time since the party started Ryouga felt like it was his birthday.

Ryouga broke out of his reverie when he saw her face contort, red, in fear. Screams of panic were being shouted throughout the party field, hobbits were running around or hiding beneath the tables. Only when Ryouga raised his head he saw what was frightening the hobbits – a red dragon was descending upon them as to release its deadly breath! Ryouga didn't stop to think about the absurdity of the situation, he threw himself over Akari to protect her, making both fall in the grassed ground. Cautiously raising his head, he noticed the dragon going away and exploding over Bywater.

The frightened hobbits were trying to understand what have just happened when Bilbo, unfazed by the sudden appearance, called them to the supper.

'Kho Lon! It was just a trick!' realized the hobbit. He also realized Akari was under him and his noses were separated only by a couple of inches. Raising as fast as he could and helping Akari regain her feet, the lost hobbit asked nervously:

"L-let join the others for supper, shall we?"

"S-sure, Ryouga."

The special dinner that took place in the main pavilion was reserved mostly for Bilbo's family, even if the relationship was distant and contact scarce. But a few friends were too invited to the event, like Kho Lon and Akari. The quality and the quantity (as important as the first to hobbits) of the repast surpassed the expectations of most, and the same could be said about the fine wine being served. After the plenteous dinner the humour of the hobbits was excellent, and soon they were asking Bilbo to make a speech.

As soon as the old hobbit got up in a barrel Ryouga noticed how he was toying with something in his pocket, and he was sure it was his magic ring. Bilbo has explained to him that he would play a trick on all the guests, but nothing he tried managed to convince the old hobbit to spill the details. It was obvious now he would disappear in front of them! Ryouga's mind was racing at the moment and he didn't notice the sudden silence that followed many cheers.

"Third and finally, I have an announcement..."

'That's it!' concluded Ryouga, 'he's going to do it!'

"... I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!"

And with this drastic declaration he vanished, in a flash of light and with a thunder-like noise that startled all the present, even Ryouga who was expecting the disappearance act. It took them some time to perceive Bilbo was playing some trick with them again. Some demanded explanations from Ryouga, some asked for more wine and some just left. No one seemed to have liked the old hobbit's last joke.

Ryouga had to stay – he promised to Bilbo he would remain in the party to act as host when he was gone. This was a difficult task for him, he knew Bilbo was leaving the Shire and it was possible to them never to meet again, and some of the guests were being very rude because of Bilbo's actions. He endured it for some time and then asked Akari if she wanted to go home.

Akari really wanted to stay a little longer, but she couldn't contain her curiosity. In the way to Bag End she would have the privacy needed to ask Ryouga what have happened, so she nodded.

After giving some orders to the cookers, they left the party, listening to the conversation and its only subject – Bilbo's disappearance.

Only when they were alone Akari asked about it.

"He's gone. He wanted to wander again," answered Ryouga, sullenly.

Akari felt the distress in his voice and reacted by holding his friend's hand and squeezing it, as they walked the last few paces to Bag End's frontal door.

---

Wishing a good night to Akari, Ryouga entered home hoping to find Bilbo still there. He headed to the main living room, which he found in the very good time of half an hour. But the only person in there was Kho Lon, in the top of her staff in front of the fire and clearly thinking about something very serious, given how furrowed her forehead was.

"Yes, he left already, child," said Kho Lon before he could ask anything. "I brought him here after his little show. He joined some dwarves who were heading back to the Lonely Mountain. He won't get lost for a while, at least."

Ryouga sighed. It was clear Bilbo didn't want to say good-bye for a second time. Perhaps it was for the best.

"Here, Ryouga," said the wizard, handing him some papers, "Bilbo left you Bag End. He also left you his ring. It's in an envelope on the mantelpiece."

"The ring!" exclaimed Ryouga, surprised, "he was very possessive of it, he wouldn't even let me touch it!"

"Is that true, child?"

"Yes, he would get angry if I even asked him to."

Kho Lon frowned, and gazed at his eyes seriously, placing her staff in the hobbit's right shoulder. "Don't use it, Ryouga, and keep it secret."

The advice puzzled the boy. "Why not, Kho Lon? Is it dangerous?"

"It may be. I'm not sure yet, but I intend to find out. Actually, I plan to leave tonight to search for some answers."

"Tonight?" exclaimed the hobbit, "I thought you would stay here for at least a week, I thought we were going to spar!"

"It won't be possible now, child," said Kho Lon, producing a scroll from his robes, "but here! Have this. It'll help you to train in your cursed body."

"I don't want it!" said Ryouga with indignation.

"Perhaps not, child, but you need it. Your uncle said water would get out of its way just to get you wet. You must be ready in either form."

Ryouga sighed again. It was the truth. It was amazing how many times he would get wet due the strangest accidents. He was beginning to believe the curse had a will of its own. He didn't know for how longer he would manage to keep it a secret from Akari and the others. Reluctantly he took the scroll.

"I'm going now. Remember Ryouga: keep it secret, keep it safe and don't use it!"

After saying this, Kho Lon climbed her staff and used it to slip out of the hobbit hole, in her very characteristic way of moving.

Ryouga sat in the dark for a few minutes. He was all alone again. He found little comfort in being master of Bag End and having a magic ring. To him Middle-earth was a dark and lonely place.

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Author's notes: As far as this fanfic is concerned, elven ears are very prominent and quite distinct features. Think Record of Lodoss War's Deedlit.

Please review my story. It makes me feel oh so happy and prevents me from copying Burgerbill's pleas for R&R.

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V. 1.1 (25-II-2003)

By Fangorn (fangorn_ff@terra.com.br)