A/N: In which Sakura speaks to people about her decision. And starts some interesting things she'll be surprised to learn about in the future.

It's been a while, hasn't it? This is a very planning orientated chapter. What's going to be most interesting is what happens next.

And Sakura does know what she's capable of, if not the fine details. She just has no context for how overpowered she is.

It was late when Sakura made her way back to the rooms she shared with the Hobbits.

The rooms were lovely, very spacious with enough room for all of them to exist comfortably. And while the Hobbits didn't mind Sakura staying with them, she thought it had to do with her age instead of them not caring about her being a girl.

Elves, on the other hand, seemed to not find what Hobbits and Men found proper something worth their care. Even the more serious Erestor hadn't raised an eyebrow when Sam had requested a room large enough to fit all five of them.

And Strider was close by as well. He had rooms here, apparently, and they were just down the hall. Sakura thought it was maybe a bad idea to separate him from them, because she noticed that Strider seemed more content around people than not. Though perhaps Strider also preferred his rooms here?

Sakura thought about it; even if she liked spending time around other people as much as Strider did, she'd want a place of her own. Especially if many of those Elves were like Touya. Family was wonderful, and good to be around, but they could be tiring.

Well. If Strider ever looked like he needed company, then Sakura would gladly bring the Hobbits to him. They wouldn't mind if they knew why.

"You're back, Miss Sakura," Sam greeted. He was already in his sleep clothes.

Merry and Pippin were sleeping in their own beds, sprawled out. They must have tired themselves out with exploring and talking with everyone.

"Where's Frodo?" Sakura asked, and went to her own bed. The Elves gave her some of her own sleep clothes, and her traveling pack was set to the side. She hummed, and asked Illusion to temporarily hide her so that she could change into her pajamas. They could set up a privacy curtain later.

"With Mister Bilbo Baggins," Sam said. "Mister Frodo hasn't seen him since his coming of age party, so they have a lot to catch up on."

"I imagine so," Sakura agreed. They had explained that Hobbits came of age at thirty-three, which seemed strange to her. It explained why they seemed so shocked when she told them she was fourteen. "Seventeen years is a long time to not see family."

Sakura loved not having to deal with her brother, but she probably would get incredibly lonely without him around if they didn't see each other for more than a week. Never mind seventeen years.

"It is," Sam agreed. "There were some other pressing reasons that Mister Frodo had to come to Imladris, but seeing Mister Baggins again was no hardship at all."

"Well, Lord Elrond said we're free to stay here as long as we like," Sakura said, and climbed into bed. Oh, it was nice. "So Frodo can spend time with his uncle as much as he wants to."

"That's very kind of him," Sam said.

The next morning, Sakura woke up with her mind full of odd thoughts. She sat up, and looked at her hands feeling the callouses she built up from years of cheerleading and climbing stuff. They were her hands, she was certain. They had all of the small scars and dents and freckles she remembered them having.

"Good morning, Miss Sakura," Sam said.

"Good morning," Sakura echoed absentmindedly. She looked around; Frodo was curled up in bed now, and both Merry and Pippin were still sprawled out. "You're up rather early."

Sam did get up early when they were traveling, but he had put himself in charge of food. But that was traveling- even Merry and Pippin got up decently early then. And of course Strider got up even earlier.

"Habit," Sam said, shrugging. "I was going to see how Elves handled breakfast, and if I could either help or make us breakfast."

"That sounds like a good idea," Sakura agreed. She helped Sam make their lunch and dinner when she was able to. Maybe she could learn how they cooked here, and bring it back home.

"Miss Sakura?" Sam said. He studied her intently, frowning. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Sakura said, and climbed out of bed. She wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, that was certain. "I just have something I need to do, is all."

"Can I help?" Sam asked.

Sakura looked to him, and smiled. "For what I need to do right now, no. But you will definitely be a great help later, I think."

"If you say so," Sam said. He accepted her words at face value, even if he still looked somewhat worried and confused. "Would you like to follow me to wherever the kitchens are? The Elves are polite enough, but they seem to get along better with you."

"I think I might," Sakura said. Because it meant that the Hobbits would have a recent meal in them, which would help. "But the Elves don't like me any more than they do you, I don't think. They just know Wizards better than Hobbits."

"That's possible," Sam agreed. "Hm. We could also ask for a dividing curtain so that you don't need magic to change behind it."

"I was going to ask someone later," Sakura said. She shrugged and had Illusion cover her again so she could put on her clothes. She still didn't have shoes, and she still dressed in the Hobbit style. That'd be one of the things she asked around for. "I think more for when you're changing than me, since I have magic."

"That is true," Sam said. He looked to Frodo, and Merry, and Pippin. "Do you suppose they will mind that we are not here when they wake up?"

"Not really. They'll probably like the change to explore some more," Sakura said. "And I'm sure that they can ask for directions to breakfast if need be. They'll wake up soon enough, right? You keep regular meals."

"We do," Sam said, nodding. He adjusted his coat, and held the door for Sakura. "Let's go find the kitchens then!"

"Yes!" Sakura agreed, and closed the door gently behind them.

Like Sakura expected, the Hobbits found their way to breakfast with no difficulty. Sakura enjoyed their company. Merry and Pippin seemed as energetic as usual, while Frodo seemed more content than he had been previously. Still, he seemed a bit tired, and Sakura wondered how long he had been awake for last night.

"Where're you going?" Pippin asked, nibbling on a last piece of bread.

"I've got something I need to speak with Lord Elrond about," Sakura said. "And I might go see Epona later, as well. I haven't seen her since we arrived yesterday."

"Oh," Pippin said, and shrugged. "I hope you don't have to miss second breakfast."

"I don't think I'll have to," Sakura promised. She had explained that Men needed less food than Hobbits in general. Still, mealtimes were for bonding when possible. She might only eat small things, but she'd try to be there.

"I'll see if Bilbo will be up for visitors for second breakfast," Frodo said. "He seems very interested in meeting you properly, Miss Sakura."

"I look forward to meeting him as well!" Sakura said. She stepped away. "I'll see you all later."

"Bye, Miss Sakura!" Merry said.

Sakura focused, feeling for that familiar spark of star that she now associated with Lord Elrond. It was unusual, and that helped. Sakura had never felt something that felt so much like herself outside of herself before. And Elrond only felt like herself in that they shared a similar power, compared to the sun, or the moon, or even the darkness. Beyond that, there really wasn't as many similarities.

She greeted Elves she saw on the way, but they seemed to understand where she was heading. A couple asked if she required help, but accepted it when she said no. Those that knew she was looking for Lord Elrond didn't even ask how she knew where he was.

Hm. For some reason, the Elves all seemed to accept that Sakura was a Wizard really easily, didn't they? Sakura decided to ask Lord Elrond about that. Because even if she said she was a Wizard, only Strider and the Hobbits have actually seen Sakura use magic. Lord Elrond knew who she was, but that had to do with the fact that he had magic himself.

"Miss Sakura, good morning," Lord Elrond greeted when Sakura finally found him.

He was in a room that overlooked a waterfall. There were many in Imladris that Sakura had seen so far, but this one seemed different. Lord Elrond fiddled with the ring he held on his finger. There was the lingering sense of cast magic hanging around him-

Ah. Sakura supposed this is where Lord Elrond cast the magic that kept Imladris safe. And the ring had to be a focus of some sort, with the way it sparked, even now. Lord Elrond couldn't have just finished casting magic, because Sakura would have felt it.

"Good morning Lord Elrond," Sakura returned. She might have gotten a bit distracted. "I needed to speak with you, if you have time."

"I do," Lord Elrond nodded, and turned to her. "What did you wish to speak about?"

"I have prophetic dreams," Sakura said.

"Yes, you said as much," Lord Elrond agreed. They had discussed all the various forms that they could foresee the future yesterday. "Did you have one last night?"

"I think it was a bit more than that," Sakura said, and looked to the waterfall. "I don't remember everything, even if I know there was a lot. But I do remember one very, very important thing that needs to be dealt with."

"Ah," Lord Elrond said, and studied her. "Though they have not involved themselves overmuch in the past Age, we do have beings that you can call gods. It is possible, that as someone from the outside who has made a declaration of intent to meddle with Arda, they, the Valar, have gotten themselves involved."

"Maybe," Sakura agreed. It felt a bit correct, though likely not the whole thing. Well. Sakura would figure it out when she needed to, that much she was certain of.

Lord Elrond inclined his head to her. "And what did you remember?"

Sakura took a breath. "I am a traveler. This is not my world, and there are things that I simply do not know. So I am going to ask a lot of questions."

"It's never shameful to ask questions," Lord Elrond said, and motioned for her to continue.

"What," Sakura said slowly, and watched Lord Elrond carefully. She would be starting with perhaps the most dangerous, but most important, question. "Is the One Ring?"

Sakura sighed and pressed her face closer to Epona. The horse was large, apparently, even for horses in general. Glorfindel, the Elf with the really yellow hair and the very, very bright presence had mentioned as much. He also said that the height comparison between Sakura and Epona was funny.

Sakura thought that Glorfindel really didn't have a leg to stand on because he was really, stupidly, tall. Like, he made even the Elves look short, and they were an already tall people anyways.

Epona nudged Sakura and made a questioning sound.

"I'm okay," Sakura told her, and ran a hand over her jaw, scratching gently. "Just feeling a bit overwhelmed. I knew that there was stuff happening that I didn't know, or didn't understand, but it's more than I expected."

Another questioning sound, this time more curious.

"The history of this world is much different than the one I'm from," Sakura told her. "It's very young in comparison, for one thing, and there are Elves that remember almost the beginning of it all. There's a Lady that remembers the time before the sun existed."

Epona let out a surprised whinny, and then made another questioning sound.

"I know! No one where I'm from remembers a time from before the sun existed," Sakura told her. "But it's a difference in the time scale, I think? Here, nothing existed for more than several thousand years. Where I'm from, it's been billions and billions. Like, as a species, we can't even comprehend numbers that large."

An agreeing sound. After a moment's pause, a leading, questioning sound.

Sakura sighed. "The thing is, the free people of this world have been fighting against this great evil since almost the beginning of it all."

And free people implied that there weren't free people. Which made Sakura feel all sorts of things, none of them good.

Sakura was slowly finding more and more things to add to her list of things she wanted to help with. Of course, defeating Sauron at this point was the biggest one. Hopefully that would lead to a cascading effect of either demolishing or weakening everything that required his presence to exist.

Epona nudged her again comfortingly.

"Thanks," Sakura said. "I'm going to do what I said I would, no matter what. I have more reason to now. I just have to be more careful, I think? These people have been living with this for years and years, and to just walk in and say I'm going to do something seems disrespectful."

Epona lipped at Sakura's hair.

"Yes, I am speaking with Lord Elrond about it. He's one of the leaders of the free people, and he knows what has to be done. I have to be careful about it, because if I just do something, I don't know if I'll cause worse problems in the future."

Sakura was strong enough that she could cause some major problems if she wasn't careful. That's why she was being trained.

Another questioning sound.

"There's going to be a council, bringing all free people together. It's something that they all need a say in, to be done as properly as possible. It's a balance, I think. It'd go wrong if only one people handled the situation, or even two."

All people had their strengths and their weaknesses, and with all free people there, they would balance and correct each other nicely. Of that, Sakura was certain.

In fact, she felt like she couldn't do what she knew she had to do without them there. Not that Sakura knew right then what it is she was doing, but it'd come to her. And she did know that it had to do with stopping Sauron, like she said she would.

A questioning sound.

"Elves and Hobbits, of course," Sakura said. "We are in Imladris, and they've got five rather important Hobbits here. Even if Sam does think otherwise. And Strider is a Man, but he's only the one, and there are more than him out there. And then there are Dwarves, though I haven't met one yet."

Epona lipped at Sakura's hair again.

"And yes, I suppose I would be considered a different people, as a Wizard," Sakura agreed. "And Lord Elrond said that another Wizard will be in attendance as well."

Sakura was looking forward to meeting Mithrandir. He was supposedly on his way to visit anyways, he would just have an additional reason to be there. Lord Elrond knew a lot, but there were some things Sakura could only ask another Wizard.

Sakura sighed, and hugged Epona. "It was nice speaking with you, but I promised to be there for second breakfast."

Epona whinnied affectionately and hugged Sakura back, and then nudged her towards the entrance.

Sakura sighed, and went to speak with Frodo that afternoon. He said he would be in the library, while the others went to do their own things. Merry and Pippin went off to explore like they had been, their antics tolerated amusedly by the Elves.

Sam, especially, seemed to have been taken up by the gardening Elves. While all Hobbits had interest and knowledge of growing food, Sam was apparently especially knowledgeable. Being a gardener by trade was somehow a simple trade yet also highly respected as well.

"Frodo?" Sakura called quietly when she entered the library.

Oh, but she'd have to come and visit on her own. The bookcases were tall, and the room airy. There were large windows that let in plenty of light, but they were covered in colored glass and the outside had vines growing on them. Sakura remembered that light could damage books and such things, so it made sense that they tried to counteract that as much as possible. And the bookcases weren't just filled with books, but also scrolls and even some tablets with etchings on them.

"Miss Sakura?" Frodo said, emerging from between bookcases. "Did you need me for something?"

Sakura studied him. Yes, the calming air of Imladris did wonders for his pinched expression. But something still hung around him like a cloud. And now Sakura knew what it was.

"Yes, I needed to speak with you," Sakura said.

"Okay then," Frodo said, and held up a book. "Just let me put this away."

Sakura waited patiently while Frodo did so. Oh, everything she was going to tell him would be brought out anyways, but it would definitely be best for her to explain it to him beforehand. It would be terribly rude to spring something on him so suddenly.

"Alright Miss Sakura," Frodo said. "Did we need to go anywhere?"

"No, here is fine," Sakura said. She fidgeted in place. Frodo watched her patiently, and Sakura sighed. "I first arrived in Arda on accident, but as I traveled to Imladris I made the decision to stay and help defeat Sauron."

Frodo frowned. "I know that you wanted to help free the Nazgûl and handle the darkness, but this is the first I've heard of you deciding to handle Sauron."

"I didn't have the whole story, before," Sakura said. "Strider told me some, but I spoke with Lord Elrond quite a bit about what exactly I was saying. And to help free Arda from the worst of the darkness that plagues it, I am going to help defeat Sauron."

"That makes sense," Frodo said slowly, "But- and I have no doubt that you are very strong, Miss Sakura, but that is incredibly dangerous, isn't it?"

"Yes," Sakura agreed. "But I am also much stronger than I appear. And I will not be doing it alone, I don't think."

Sakura carried within her the power of the stars. And not the stars that existed in this world, but the stars that existed in her own. Her limitations came from her very human body and her knowledge, not any limitations from her own actual power. It wouldn't be easy to defeat Sauron, but it wouldn't be particularly hard, either. Especially when Sakura knew exactly the consequences if she failed to do so.

Frodo looked at his hands in thought. "Why are you telling me?"

"Because you have the One Ring around your neck," Sakura said simply. Frodo looked at her sharply. "I'm not going to take it from you, as you are probably the best person that can have it right now. Hobbits don't care about big things like power or such nonsense that Sauron looks for in other people. The Ring cannot tempt you with what it offers if you don't care about what it offers at all."

Sakura didn't bother to explain how she knew that. Lord Elrond had given her an overview of what it actually was, and why it was so dangerous, and important, but Sakura already knew what she was telling Frodo. Some of it was her ability as a Seer. A lot of it was from the dream she had, where she only remembered this particular part.

Frodo flushed, embarrassed at her praise. Sakura smiled at him. Yes, he really was the best person that could have it right now.

"And what about later?" Frodo asked, and reached up to his chest where the One Ring sat under his clothing. "I was told to come here to Imladris to hide it, but I don't know what to do with it now that I am here."

"We are making plans for that," Sakura said, and then paused. "Well, Lord Elrond is making plans for it. I'm just going along with what he says. I may be a Wizard, but this isn't my world."

"Alright then," Frodo said softly. He sighed. "I don't mean to be hasty, but do you have any idea how long that will be?"

Sakura thought about it. She was used to fast transportation such as trains, and had to do the math for what traveling by horseback would be like. She really should see if she could find some sort of way to make travel easier on people. Steam engines weren't super hard, even if Sakura didn't know exactly how they were made. And if Dwarves were as inventive as Lord Elrond had said, then even just a brief overview would get them really going.

"Well, we are moving as quickly as we can, but it honestly depends on how fast some people can travel. Lord Elrond told me that he would be sending messengers out today," Sakura told him.

"As long as there are plans, I think I'll be happy with it," Frodo said. "Thank you, Miss Sakura."

"It's really not a problem, Frodo, I promise," Sakura assured him.

That night, Sakura flew the highest spire she could find, and sat with her knees to her chest. It was windy up here, and kind of chilly. The stars were beautiful, with the barest amount of fires to provide light below her. Sakura didn't recognize any of the constellations, but she thought she some patterns in them.

The Cards pressed up against her mentally, and Sakura leaned into their touch. This was the furthest she had ever gone away from home before. And never had she traveled so far on her own, either. Any time she left Tomoeda, it was with her family, or for a class trip.

Master, Light and Dark murmured. Sakura thought about summoning them in person, but they were very noticeable. She didn't want to bother anyone. It is okay. We will be found, or we will find the way home.

"Yes," Sakura agreed. There was no way that the others weren't looking for her.

And, despite everything else happening, she was still speaking with Lord Elrond and the other Elves about the possibility of sending her home. Glorfindel, especially, had some things to suggest. Apparently he had gone past the stars to where Elves rested after death, and then returned. Sakura wouldn't be going there, but the how they traveled wasn't dissimilar.

Sakura wouldn't go home immediately, though. She had found something she couldn't stand, and she had made promises. Everyone would understand, even if they might be a bit upset about it. They would help, though, once they knew what she did. It'd be irresponsible of them to ignore the evil right in front of them.

Still lonely. Was the thought she got from Fly.

That was also true.

"I like them all," Sakura said. It was true. She liked her new friends, and meeting all these new people. She'd look for a way to visit whenever possible after she found a way home. She didn't want to say goodbye forever. "But it's not home."

It is not. Mirror said, and Sakura got the image of her brother, and Yukito, and Yue, and everyone she had ever taken the form of.

It is okay to feel sad. Light said.

"I know," Sakura said. "And I am going to be sad, and miss them until I find my way home. I don't think I'm going to be sad all of the time though."

It is also okay to be happy. Dark said.

Sakura hummed in thought. "I don't want any of the others to worry, especially with everything else going on. But I suppose I should talk to someone about it."

Elves travel past the stars and do not return. Light pointed out.

Lord Elrond especially would be missing people long past. Dark added.

"He would be someone good to speak to," Sakura agreed. "I'll just have to make sure he's not busy, and that he's willing to speak to me about it."

After all, working and the fate of the world was one thing. Sometimes it was much harder to speak about something so personal. And Elves, long lived as they are, and with their perfect memory, must have a lot that they kept in.

Something to think about. Light and Dark said.

"Yes," Sakura agreed, and turned her attention back to the stars. If she were up here, she may as well appreciate it. Even if she didn't recognize any of it, and that itself was lonely, the night sky was rather beautiful.

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