A/N: Hey there everyone!  I wanna start out by telling you all how pleased I am with the response that I've gotten toward this story.  It's such a great feeling to know that people actually like reading what I write.  So, that having been said, I'd like to thank Aguachica, tenshiamanda, Alynna Lis Eachann, Black-as-Knight14, and eleni for reviewing.  Before I go on, I just wanna put the heads up out here.  Throughout the story, I'm probably gonna use some of the deleted scenes, like those that they put in the Extended DVD version thing.  Just fyi in case you come across something that you don't recognize from the movie, 'cause, in case you forgot, I am following the movie.

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Disclaimer: Don't own anythin but the shirt on my back....  (And the ponies and the pony parts of the plot.  But wouldn't you rather hear about my shirt?)

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Kristy....  You rock!!  This story is yours and yours alone!  I'm just writing it...

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            The sun broke over the horizon, sending streaks of pale light racing over the gardens and Hobbit-holes of the Shire.  As it rose higher into the morning sky, the silhouettes of three persons on horseback could be seen walking along the ridge.  Luckily for them, the Hobbit-folk were too busy cleaning up after the previous night's party to pay them any heed.

            Gandalf rode in the front, leading the two Hobbits behind him to a safe place to begin their journey to Bree.  Behind him rode Frodo on Escandil.  The dark-haired Hobbit was quite somber, thinking over all that he had learned from the wizard the night before.  After putting their ponies away, Gandalf had led them back to Bag End and told them about Bilbo's ring and Sauron coming back to find it.  Frodo understood the great responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders, but was still confused as to what exactly he was to do with the Ring.  But Sam was the most confused of all.  Riding behind Frodo on Rovirdil, he had had two shocking revelations to contend with the night before.  He had learned of the Ring and Sauron, but he had also been told of the Tibboh Seinop, a fact that took much persuading by Frodo to make him believe.

            Sam leaned forward and patted Rovirdil's neck.  Frodo had given the rust-colored mare to Sam the night before, and the sandy-haired Hobbit was still unsure as to what to do with her.  He was still uncomfortable on horseback, especially after his fall.  But Frodo had assured him that Rovirdil was safe and that riding was the only way that they could complete their mission.  Not wanting to leave his friend riding to Bree alone, Sam had finally agreed to accompany him.

            Gandalf led the two halflings into a grove of trees, where he stopped.  "This is where I leave you," he said as he turned to face them.  "Be careful.  Both of you.  The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts.  Never put the Ring on, Frodo, or the road to Bree will be more troubled than it already is.  I must depart to see the head of my order; he is both wise and powerful."  He turned his mare toward the South and called as he set off:  "Make for the Inn of the Prancing Pony!  I shall be waiting for you there!"

            Frodo and Sam watched the wizard gallop away and didn't turn their eyes until he was no more than a spot moving across the horizon.  Then Frodo turned to his friend.  "Well, I guess we're to set off then.  Come along, it's not a bad ride to Bree, if Gandalf's directions are true."

            He turned Escandil and rode east.  Sam turned Rovirdil to follow and said, half to himself, "Everything about Gandalf is true."

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            Riding swiftly, the two Hobbits and their ponies reached the Eastern edge of the Shire by nightfall.  Planning to continue out of the Shire at dawn, Frodo and Sam made camp near a farmer Hobbit's vegetable patch.  After eating a quick meal, they tied their ponies to two nearby trees and settled down for the night.

            Sometime near dawn, Sam woke with a start.  He listened closely and could hear loud rustling noises coming from close by.  Immediately thinking of danger, he shook Frodo awake, and the two Hobbits hurried to pack up their camp and leave as quietly as they could.  Frodo untied the ponies while Sam threw water on the fire, and they then mounted and walked swiftly down a small hill and into the road.  Remembering what Gandalf had told him, the dark-haired Hobbit motioned to for them to get off the road, and he and Sam led their ponies into an area of thick brush.

            Suddenly, shouts and sounds of running could be heard above them.  "Someone's gotten into Farmer Maggot's crop," Sam whispered to Frodo. 

            Frodo was about to respond when loud crashes could be heard.  Then, from nowhere, Merry and Pippin fell to the ground at the foot of the hill, arms full of vegetables.  From behind the brush, Frodo and Sam watched the two troublemakers congratulating themselves over the amount of food they had stolen. 

            The questing Hobbits were about to slip quietly out of the bushes and through the woods when a sharp, high-pitched screech suddenly arose.  The four Hobbits and two ponies turned to look down the road, trying to see what was approaching.  All six got more than they had bargained for.

            Charging down the road toward them was a single rider, cloaked in black, atop a huge black steed.  It let out another piercing scream that froze the blood of the watching Hobbits and caused Escandil and Rovirdil to prance nervously.  As it approached, it seemed to be riding toward Merry and Pippin, who were still lying in a heap on the ground.

            Though restricted by the brush, Frodo and Sam managed to mount their ponies and break out onto the road.  They were met by the shocked faces of Merry and Pippin.  Seeing the black rider approaching, Frodo turned his chocolate pony in the other direction.  "Come on, Sam," he said softly.

            Sam was about to turn when Pippin spoke.  "Frodo?" he asked.  "Look Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!  And Sam!"

            "On horses," Merry added quietly.  He was about to say more when the rider shrieked once more.  He began again.  "Frodo..."

            "What are you doing here?!" Pippin interrupted, becoming frantic.  Frodo turned in the saddle and gazed sadly upon the young Hobbit and his friend, the black rider coming ever closer.  He then turned and urged Escandil into a trot.  Sam, looking confused, followed suit.

            "He's abandonin' us, that's what he's doin', Pip!"  Merry's voice rang out.  "He and Sam are all high and mighty on their no doubt ill-gotten horses so's that they're leavin' us for dead!"  He yelled something else, but it was drowned out by the pounding of hooves as the black rider was almost on top of the two Hobbits.

            Sam looked over his shoulder and saw this.  "Run!" he called out.  "Get up and run!"  He then turned to Frodo.  "How can we do this?" he called into the wind.  But his friend, eyes intent on the horizon, either couldn't hear him or chose not to.

            Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin had gotten up and were running as quickly as they could down the road where Escandil and Rovirdil had carried Frodo and Sam but moments before.  But no matter how quickly they ran, the black rider was slowly gaining ground.

            No matter how far they ran...  They didn't stand a chance...  The image of the family and their pursuer flashed through Frodo's head, their vain attempt to escape.  But instead of the family, it was Merry and Pippin being chased by the Man on the golden horse.  It was Merry and Pippin that he caught, that he...

            Tears blurring his vision, Frodo yanked on the right rein, causing Escandil to turn head-to-tail.  After a moment of hesitation, the Hobbit spurred him forward, toward Merry and Pippin.  Sam, realizing what his friend was doing, quickly followed suit.

            The Tibboh Seinop reached the running Hobbits in a matter of seconds.  "Get on!" Frodo yelled.  "Hurry!" 

            Not giving it a second thought, the two quickly seated themselves behind the saddles, Pippin behind Frodo and Merry behind Sam.  Frodo and Sam then turned their ponies once more and urged them onward, away from the quickly approaching rider.

            Hardly feeling the added weight, Escandil and Rovirdil flew down the road, moving at a surprising speed.  The Hobbits then guided them off the path and into the woods, where their small size proved to be a great advantage.  Maneuvering through the trees, the Tibboh Seinop soon lost the black rider and its great charger.

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            When Frodo was sure that they were no longer being followed, he slowed his dark brown pony to a walk, and Sam did the same for Rovirdil.  The four Hobbits were quiet for a few minutes after that, neither pair knowing what to say.

            Finally, Pippin spoke up.  "What are these ponies?  You didn't steal them, did you, Frodo?"

            Frodo looked uneasily at Sam, but, remembering his promise to Bilbo, finally said, "No, Pippin.  Sam and I didn't steal them.  They live in the Shire."

            "What?" Merry asked.  "There are no horses in the Shire!  That's crazy-talk!"

            "No, it's true!" Sam spoke up, defending his friend.  "They're Mr. Bilbo's ponies.  We'll show you the herd, won't we, Mr. Frodo?"

            The dark-haired Hobbit smiled at Sam's new-found love of the Tibboh Seinop.  "Yes, Sam, we will."

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            "So this is what Bilbo did with the land he bought from us Brandybucks," Merry mused quietly as he and Pippin stood on the hill and gazed upon the herd for the first time.  Frodo and Sam stood together a little ways apart, grazing their ponies. 

            "So what do you think?" the dark-haired Hobbit asked. 

            "They're amazing!" Pippin exclaimed.  Merry nodded in agreement.

            "Well," Frodo went on after shooting Sam a quick sideways look.  "Since you're already sort of a part of Sam's and mine's quest, do you two want ponies?  Then you could come with us."

            Pippin's eyes lit up at this offer, and a grin broke out on Merry's face.  "Sam will have to return to Bag End to get the rest of the tack," Frodo continued.  "But it shouldn't delay our plans too much."

            Sam turned Rovirdil and made for the ridge that separated the pasture from the property of Bag End.  Once there, he tied up his pony and entered the Hobbit-hole on foot, where he collected the tack and some more rations.  He then remounted Rovirdil and returned to the other Hobbits.

            Meanwhile, Frodo gave Merry and Pippin their ponies.  "Merry, you take Nrimalar, the golden mare by the stream.  And Pippin, you take Kelandri, the grey stallion over there.  They are two of the original Tibboh Seinop, and you can trust them with your lives."

            Frodo then told them the history of the Tibboh Seinop and how to care for them until Sam returned with the tack.  They then tacked up and the four Hobbits on horseback set out to make up for the time lost.

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Alrighty, there's Chapter 5.  In case you don't know, I absolutely love Pippin.  I mean, it's like an obsession type thing.  But not really that bad.  Well, whatever.  The point is that I'll probably be giving Pippin some of Merry's lines and basically making Pip way more important and prominent than he was in the movie.  Just wanted to let you know that.  Read my other stuff, and be sure to review and tell me what ya think!