Hiya everybody! I'z back with another chapter, thanks to TehZach1993 helping me to keep this story going. Arigato gozaimasu! ^_^ We've actually started a collab on this story, so TehZach1993 has been doing the parts with the LOTR characters while I work with Team Natsu's parts.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or LOTR.
Chapter 4 Discussing the One Ring & Leaving the Shire
Bilbo was seen packing a travel bag before coming round the corner and bumping into Gandalf. "I suppose you think that was terribly clever...there are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins and NONE of them should be used lightly!"
Bilbo sighed, "Fine...You'll keep a watch over Frodo? I'm leaving everything to him..."
Gandalf nodded, "And the ring?"
"It's in an envelope on the mantlepiece...no...it's...here in my pocket." Bilbo said, softly reaching into his pocket.
The Fairy Tail wizards just stood watching in silence at the scene unfolding before them, though they were confused as to what was so special about this ring the old hobbit had in his possession.
"After all why shouldn't it stay with me? It's MINE I found it! It came to ME!" Bilbo began ranting angrily to himself.
"There's no need to get angry..." Gandalf said.
"Well if I'm angry then it's YOUR fault! What business is it of yours what I do with my own things!?"
Wendy suddenly began to feel very frightened by his raised voice, as she could sense that he suddenly didn't seem like the kind old hobbit they had met earlier anymore. She felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look back to see that it was only Natsu looking as though he were acting as a protective older brother towards her.
"So, um, what exactly is so special about this ring anyway?" Lucy decided to ask, although a bit hesitantly.
"Y-you want it for yourself!" Bilbo accused Gandalf, causing the elderly wizard's eyes to flash and light to seemingly be sucked out of the room as he shouted in a deeper voice than usual: "BILBO BAGGINS!" Bilbo backed into the wall frightfully, "Do not take me as some conjurer of cheap tricks! I am NOT trying to rob you!"
The menacing air about the room lifted as the lights returned and Gandalf crouched down to Bilbo's level, "I am trying to help you!" Bilbo whimpered and hugged Gandalf, seemingly having come to his senses.
"How long have we been friends, dear Bilbo? Trust me as you once did...let the ring go." Gandalf said as Bilbo seemed to be short of breath.
"And of course, I end up being ignored with my question," Lucy mumbled, suddenly feeling dejected now.
"If you ask me, there's somethin' fishy about that ring," Natsu pointed out.
"Doesn't smell fishy to me," Happy stated plainly.
"Wrong kinda fishy there, buddy," Natsu told him.
"Well, I'm sure we'll be allowed to ask questions about it later," Carla told all of them.
Bilbo nodded, "Yes...I shall leave it to Frodo." Bilbo stood in the middle of the room and gently opened his palm. Visible beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he appeared to be struggling as he tilted his hand...and let the ring fall to the floorboards. It hit the floor with a clang that was suspicious since it was such a small, plain golden ring. Bilbo instantly felt relieved and looked like an immense burden had been lifted from his shoulders as he approached Team Natsu and shook their hands, "It was a pleasure getting to know you all...it really was, I apologize for that..." Bilbo turned to Gandalf and nodded, "I think I've thought up an ending for my book...'And he lived happily ever after...til the end of his days." Gandalf stooped down to the small hobbit holding a walking stick and traveling pack.
"And I'm sure he will, my friend...Farewell Bilbo." Gandalf spoke, they watched as Bilbo left Bag End and his small form wandered on the dirt path into the night.
"That does sound like a nice ending," Lucy commented, before suddenly calling out to Bilbo as he was leaving. "Can I read it when it's finished? Pretty please!"
Gandalf turned to the Fairy Tail group, "This ring is no ordinary trinket, it holds a powerful dark enchantment on it...however, I believe I must confirm a few things first. Our world was once under the tyranny of a dark lord known as Sauron, who forged this ring in the fires of a mountain...in order to subjugate the entire world to his will."
"The ring was cut from his hand by a royal known as Isildur, who in turn was killed after he kept the ring as opposed to destroying it. It disappeared...until Bilbo found it during the Quest for Erebor...in a dark cave where it had dwelt in the hands of a tortured creature known as Gollum."
The Fairy Tail wizards seemed to ponder this newfound information, even Natsu -surprisingly- was doing his own thinking over what Gandalf had just explained of the ring, as the group began to wonder just how it was even possible for a little trinket such as this ring to be capable of holding so much darkness and evil. And if that was so, then why hasn't anybody thought to have it destroyed? Though what Natsu was confused about was what a 'gollum' was, though he decided to hold off asking about it for now as he would probably soon find out eventually. Well probably, anyway.
Meanwhile, Wendy was still trying to recover from the initial fright she received from Bilbo's over-possessiveness of the ring. "I-I don't like that thing if it was making him act the way he did just now," she said quietly.
Frodo burst into the house, "Bilbo!? ...He's gone." Frodo turned to Gandalf, who was sealing the plain golden ring into an envelope. "Natsu, Gray...you will come with me...Happy should come to carry Natsu since I assume horseback is out of the question? Lucy, Wendy, Carla...please stay with Frodo and keep him safe."
"But you've only just arrived! I don't understand!" Frodo blurted to Gandalf, the wizard sighed and looked at Frodo. "Neither do I, but we shall return...keep the ring secret, do not open the envelope under any circumstances until we return!"
"Yeah! It's finally time for some action!" Natsu declared loudly, fist-pumping into the air. "I'm all fired up!"
"Just try not to go overboard like you always do, you pyro," Gray told him.
"Put some clothes on first, Gray!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Crap!" Gray exclaimed, realizing he had stripped again and quickly got his clothes back on before he, Natsu, and Happy left with Gandalf.
Gandalf led them to a large black tower, at the foot of which a white robed man with pure white hair and beard with sprinkles of grey and black here and there met them. Gandalf had explained to the trio from Fairy Tail about the Nine and how Sauron had been driven from Dol Guldur in the past when Bilbo went on his adventure.
"The hour is late, and Gandalf the Grey arrives to Isengard...seeking my council." Saruman said a tad pompously, Gandalf dismounted his horse and removed his hat, bowing slightly. "Hello, Saruman."
Saruman then turned his gaze to the Fairy Tail trio standing beside Gandalf. "You two do not appear to be from Middle Earth, and yet you seem to be familiar with Gandalf," he observed, taking into consideration the fact that they were dressed strangely to be from Middle Earth as well as their odd hair colors also making them stand out. And then there was the blue flying cat as well.
"Aww, why am I always being overlooked when I'm supposed to be the cute one here?" Happy protested with a light sniffle.
Both boys glanced over at Gandalf as if waiting for the 'ok' allowing them permission to speak. Gandalf nodded to them to go ahead. "But do not give away too much about yourselves."
Natsu and Gray nodded in reply before stepping forward to introduce themselves, and Happy as well, to the White Wizard.
"We're wizards from the Fairy Tail guild which is in an entire different dimension known as Earthland," Gray spoke first, though cautiously as Gandalf had advised, and choosing his words carefully as he spoke. "Though I have a feeling Middle Earth magic works a lot differently than what we specialize in. My magic is called Ice-Make."
Natsu stepped forward next. "I'm Natsu Dragneel, and I'm a Dra...uh...I mean a fire wizard," he quickly had to stop himself from saying Dragon Slayer since he somehow had a bad feeling about this Saruman, as he too refrained from giving away too much about himself.
"And I'm Gray Fullbuster, by the way," Gray quickly added in.
"And my name's Happy," the blue Exceed added. "My magic is Aera, which gives me the ability to fly."
Saruman seemed to be pondering this newfound information about this Earthland, as he led them into the depths of the tower, where he explained to them how Sauron could not take physical form, but his spirit still existed within a great eye wreathed in flame that saw everything known as the Eye of Sauron.
Saruman nodded, "The hour is later than any of you think...the Nine are abroad, taking the form of riders in black. They will find the Ring...and kill the halfling who carries it."
The Fairy Tail wizards gasped in horror as they too were taking this all in, as they also glanced over at Gandalf.
"Gramps, you don't think he's talking about..." Natsu suddenly realized.
"Frodo and the girls..." Gray added.
"Aye, Carla's probably wishing I was still there to protect her right now," Happy added boldly.
Gandalf turned to Natsu and Gray, "We must leave, Frodo is in danger!" Gandalf made his way to the doors, all of which instantly snapped shut and locked themselves. Saruman spoke from behind them, "You did not seriously think your love of the halfling would protect him from the will of Sauron? Against the power of Sauron...there can be no victory..."
Gandalf's eyes widened in horror as he slowly turned, the trio of Fairy Tail-ers would notice his hand gripped his wooden staff tightly.
"There is only one option...we must join with Sauron..." Saruman said. Gandalf slowly approached Saruman, both wizards held their staffs in their hands. "It would be wise...my friend." Saruman said, in a threatening way. He thought for a moment, and then glanced at the Fairy Tail trio and added, "And your world must be full of many powerful wizards, I wonder just how many of them can be convinced to join forces with Sauron." Natsu and Gray both tensed up for a fight at that, because nobody threatens their guild or their comrades like that.
Gandalf clenched his jaw, "Tell me...old friend...when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason...for insanity?"
Saruman's eyes flashed, and Gandalf was suddenly thrown backwards through one of the closed doors, splintering it as he hit the wall.
"Yeah, well fat chance of that happening 'cause you ain't layin' a finger on our guild!" Gray stated defiantly. "And not to mention, you just crossed the line by making that threat towards our comrades!"
"Never underestimate wizards of Fairy Tail!" Natsu added. "'Cause when you mess with us, we fight back!" His whole body was soon engulfed in flames. "So take this! FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"
"Ice-Make: Lance!" Gray joined in, after discarding his shirt. "When you try to pick a fight with Fairy Tail wizards, we don't just stand there and take it. We take action and fight back!"
Saruman's body vanished into smoke to avoid the attacks, Gandalf shot forth in a blur of light and knocked Saruman into a wall, which crumbled slightly from the impact. Gandalf thrust his staff forward and Saruman was hit by another invisible shockwave. "Whatever...he's offered you...you are a fool...to believe him!" Gandalf wheezed.
Saruman's eyes narrowed as a vicious wind was felt throughout the room. Its effect was similar to that of Bluenote's gravity magic...only much stronger.
"Ice-Make: Floor!" Gray smirked in satisfaction as Saruman nearly slipped on the ice.
"Flames of my right hand, flames of my left hand! You put 'em together, you get: FIRE DRAGON BRILLIANT FLAME!" A huge ball of fire was sent hurtling towards the white wizard, courtesy of Natsu.
"Yeah! Way to go, Natsu!" Happy cheered from his hiding place.
Through the smoke they saw the shadowy figure of Saruman...looking irritated...but unharmed. "No..." Gandalf whispered. "I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly...but you have all elected the way of PAIN!" An enormous shockwave blast sent Gandalf, Natsu, Happy and Gray smashing through the wall...and out into the open air outside of the tower of Orthanc.
Saruman stepped forward to the massive hole that had been created, and used his magic to increase gravity for the wizards...making their descent all the more dangerous and quick. "GWAIHIR!" Shouted Gandalf, just as they were about to hit the ground...enormous eagles swooped underneath them and began flying them out of Isengard. "We must get to the Shire!" Gandalf told the King of the Eagles.
"Ugh...I think I'm gonna be sick..." Natsu said as soon as they were now on the eagles.
Gray sweat-dropped. "I don't think giant birds count as vehicles, Natsu," he told him, though he was still somewhat shaken from that battle. "Oh man, now that just made battling Lyon on Galuna Island seem like child's play compared to that," he added in reference to his childhood rival.
"Aye, and not to mention battles following that too," Happy agreed, who was also still trembling in fear. "I just hope we don't have to come back here again."
"Aye..." Natsu mumbled weakly in agreement through his motion sickness, though he was trying to do his best to fight and overcome the motion.
The eagles dropped them off at the Shire, where Gandalf went up to the door and entered without knocking. Frodo practically leapt from his seat near Lucy and Wendy, "Gandalf! Natsu and Gray! Where-"
"Lock the door." Gandalf gruffly told Frodo, who looked rather startled but did as he was told. After Frodo had fixed the travelers with something to eat and drink, Gandalf took the envelope containing the ring from the mantelpiece and tossed it in the fire. Using the tongs, as the envelope's paper burned away, Gandalf took it from the fireplace and told Frodo to hold out his hand. "It's quite cool."
Frodo blinked as Gandalf asked if he saw anything. "It's some form of Elvish...I can't read it."
"There are few who can...the language is that of the Black Speech of Mordor...which I will not utter here. In the common tongue it says: 'One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness...bind them."
"Ok, I'm officially freaked out now," Lucy said after a while.
"So that must be why it practically reeks with the scent of evil," Natsu stated seriously. "But hey, you coulda at least had me burn it if that's what you wanted," he added while igniting a flame in his hand and grinning wildly. "'Cause after all, that is my specialty. It all burns the same to me."
"Yeah, but I don't think Frodo would have wanted the whole house burned down in the process," Gray coolly pointed out. "And that grin just makes you look like a complete pyromaniac."
"There is only one way to destroy it, Natsu Dragneel...it has to be thrown into the fires of the mountain that it was forged in." Gandalf said gravely, Frodo sat at a table next to Gray and across from Gandalf. "Sauron and his forces are seeking this ring, if he were to obtain it he would have all the power at his disposal to cover the land in a second darkness."
"Y-You don't think they'll be coming after Frodo-san, do you?" Wendy asked nervously, and a bit worried.
Frodo was instructed to pack a bag, Gandalf nodded at Wendy's question, "I think they are already on their way here." Rustling out in the bushes was heard.
"Don't worry I got this!" Natsu declared. He was about to make a dive through the window before suddenly remembering that he wouldn't fit, and made a mad dash for the door instead. A scuffling sound could soon be heard as Natsu pounced on the 'intruder'. "Gotcha! Give it up intruder! You can't escape the Salamander Death Grip!" he declared, which Gray and Lucy both deadpanned at.
"Oi! It's me!" The ginger haired hobbit cried out as he was hoisted into the hobbit house.
"Sam!" Frodo cried out.
"I was jus' trimmin' the hedges, sir! Honest!" Sam said nervously to Natsu.
"What did you hear!?" Gandalf demanded.
"Nothing! Well...an awful lot bout a ring...and dark forces...you all are wizards...please don't turn me into something!" Sam continued to say nervously.
The Fairy Tail group were unsure of how to reply to that, until Gray suddenly gave a devilish smirk.
"Now that you mention it, you probably would make a good popsicle," the ice wizard suggested darkly just to scare him a bit, though it was really meant to be a joke.
"Gray! Really?!" Lucy exclaimed, looking completely shocked that he would even consider something like that.
"What? I was only kidding," Gray replied. "Natsu's not the only one who can make jokes like that, you know. Besides, you realize I wouldn't really do anything like that." Though he couldn't resist snickering at Sam's reaction to that.
"Yeah, that humor was just ice cold there, Gray," Natsu added dryly. "Heh, no pun intended with that."
"Aye, that's Gray for ya," Happy agreed.
"Oh for goodness sake, nobody will be turning anyone into anything, and that's that," Carla stated plainly.
Gandalf sighed, "Well...you should all pack some travel bags and essentials." Gandalf floated some packs with some clothes that wouldn't draw as much attention to the Fairy Tail group, as well as some hooded cloaks to conceal their unusual hair colors. "You all should change into something that won't make you stand out." Gandalf instructed the mages.
"Wait...where are we going?" Sam blinked as he was still being held by Natsu.
"You should make your way to Rivendell...Frodo you should travel as Mr. Underhill, do not reveal your name of Baggins to anyone you do not know." Gandalf said.
Sam's eyes bulged and he began wriggling out of Natsu's grasp, "We're going to see the Elves!? Me!? I've always wanted to see elves!"
The Fairy Tail wizard then went to go change into the clothes Gandalf had provided them with, though Natsu still continued to wear his scarf as he stubbornly refused to take it off and he could also be heard grumbling something about how there was nothing wrong with his hair and that it was natural and it wasn't his fault it made him stand out here.
"Natsu's scarf was given to him by Igneel before he up and left, that's why it's so special to him," Happy ended up explaining to Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam.
"Wait...you were raised by a dragon?! That's amazing! I've never heard of a dragon showing kindness to a human before!" Sam said excitedly.
Gandalf nodded and led them to the borders of the Shire, in a forest. "I shall go on ahead, you are all to meet me at an inn in the town of Bree known as the Prancing Pony. There you will meet two allies of mine, trust them...but be careful...the road ahead will be perilous."
The group agreed to stay out of trouble...well, with only one exception...
"Well I can't say I'll promise to not burn down any enemies along the way, gramps, but I'll try not to go overboard," Natsu said. "By the way, sorry I jumped ya," he added to Sam, grinning sheepishly. "I guess I did kinda go a little overboard with that."
"Now that's an understatement," Lucy muttered.
"Aye! That's our Natsu for ya!" Happy agreed.
Gandalf nodded, "I want you all to keep an eye on Frodo...and Frodo? Do NOT put the ring on, no matter the circumstances. The dark lord's minions will be drawn to its power." Though before taking his leave of them, he suddenly turned so he was looking at the Fairy Tail group this time. "And another thing that especially goes for Natsu Dragneel, and you as well Wendy Marvell. You would do well not to mention being raised by dragons to any of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth, for it will end up creating a mutual bond of distrust between you and them. And mentioning your titles as Dragon Slayers is also strictly prohibited as well, as it will have people thinking that you are mocking dragonslayers who have actually slain a dragon."
"I understand, Gandalf-san," Wendy replied.
Gandalf nodded, before turning to Natsu. "And Natsu, with your magic being closely similar to that of a dragon, I am strictly prohibiting your use of magic for as long as you are here in Middle Earth. That goes especially for when you are among the elves as well, for they especially will not trust you if they learn of your magic being dragon-related."
Natsu's jaw suddenly dropped in complete shock. "What?! Aww come on, you can't be serious! How am I supposed to fight, or protect Frodo, without using magic?! That just ain't fair, gramps?!"
Gandalf sighed. "That is why I am giving you this." He handed Natsu a sword that he was to use instead.
"Arrrrhhh! I don't even know how to use a stupid sword, though!" Natsu shouted in protest with his fists ablaze, as he was already becoming increasingly frustrated as to why the old wizard would have his magic prohibited in Middle Earth as well as not being able to freely talk about Igneel whenever he wanted. He would just have to prove to the people of this world that not all dragons are all as bad as they're made out to be, and not to mention Igneel was his dad so why could he not express himself freely on he was proud to be the son of the Fire Dragon King.
"Natsu, please just accept it already," Frodo spoke up from beside him. "The more you stand there arguing about it, is just wasting more time for us."
"Fine then!" Natsu grumbled before snatching the sword from Gandalf and angrily storming on ahead of everyone.
They eventually reached the outskirts of a farm...and Sam stopped in his tracks next to a hobbit-sized scarecrow. "This is it..."
Frodo looked back, "This is what?"
"If I take one more step...it'll be the farthest from home I've ever been." Sam answered quietly...slightly afraid.
Frodo smiled slightly and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, "Come on, Sam..."
Sam tentatively began to walk forward again. "Sam, remember what Bilbo used to say? It's a dangerous business...going out your door...you step onto the road...and if you don't keep your feet...there's no telling where the world will sweep you off to."
"And being Fairy Tail wizards, every day is considered a new adventure for us," Natsu added in addition to that, his foul mood about Gandalf prohibiting his use of magic slightly going away a bit.
Gray nodded, smirking. "I can't argue there."
"Yeah, but just be sure to never take Gray's icy humor seriously," Happy added teasingly.
"Oh come on, you guys are seriously still holding that against me?! I wasn't really serious about the whole popsicle thing!" Gray protested frantically.
Natsu suddenly paused and turned around, throwing his hand in the air in the form of the Fairy Tail signature sign for extra effect as well as in the hopes of boosting Sam's spirit so he would be a bit more comfortable about leaving, while giving off his trademark grin in the process, before turning back to catch up with everyone.
They entered into the farm's cornfield, which wasn't as tall as 'big folk' cornfields, however...two familiar hobbits crashed through the field on the group's left, and ran smack into Natsu and Gray. "Oh look! It's Natsu! And Frodo and Sam and Lucy...and Wendy and the cats that fly!" Merry said happily
"And Gray!" Pippin said from on top of Gray.
"Mind gettin' off me already?" Gray asked, firmly but gently shoving the hobbit off of him.
"What are you both doing here?" Frodo asked with a smile.
That was when they noticed Pippin and Merry had armfuls of vegetables and shouting of an angry hobbit farmer was heard nearby. "You've been into farmer Maggot's crop!" Sam accused.
"Here, hold these!" Pippin shoved two lettuce heads into Wendy's arms and some carrots and a sack of potatoes into Natsu and Lucy's.
"We'd better go!" Merry said, as the hobbits rushed the opposite way through the crop from which the shouting of farmer Maggot was being heard getting closer.
"We only took a couple carrots!" Merry said defensively to Sam.
"And the lettuce! And the two sacks of potatoes last week! And some turnips!" Pippin corrected.
"Yeah, I think we get it already," Gray told him dryly, as Natsu nonchalantly roasted a potato with his flames and ate it. "Seriously Natsu? Don't just go around eating stolen vegetables like that!"
"What? It was tempting, so I just couldn't help myself," Natsu shot back with his mouth full.
"Aye!" Happy agreed. "Even though I prefer fish."
Frodo and the other three hobbits ended up resting for the night, while Merry had decided to catch some fish for them...at Happy's mention of wanting fish. "Well...at least we won't get cold with a fire wizard here...and if it gets too hot we can always have Gray use his magic...," Pippin said.
"I've never seen any of you before the party...come to think of it...are you from around here?" Sam asked them.
The Fairy Tail group glanced at each other as they then began to explain that they were actually from Fiore, which was in an entirely different dimension known as Earthland. They even spoke of their guild -which was located in the center of the town of Magnolia, and going off of that to explain to them what a wizard guild was, and also about the different jobs they go on to earn money. Natsu and Wendy also told about how they were raised by dragon, the Fire Dragon Igneel and the Sky Dragon Grandina, and how they also learned their Dragon Slayer magic from them -the one and only time they will ever be able to freely mention their dragons again in Middle Earth before their arrival in Bree. And Natsu also told about how Happy was born from a dragon egg that he found one day when he was still a little kid, which he and another girl from their guild named Lisanna raised together -the hobbits smiled fondly, as they thought that story was cute with Natsu and Lisanna as kids taking care of a dragon egg together, as it only meant that the usually hotheaded firebreathing pyro actually did have a soft gentle side to him. And afterwards, Wendy also decided to tell about how she found Carla's egg as well back when she was still a member of the Cait Shelter guild. And then Natsu just had to bring up their Galuna Island story, which even Wendy and Carla didn't know about since they hadn't even joined Fairy Tail at the time.
"You mean you and Happy stole that request when it was actually S-class, you sneaky cat burglars!" Lucy reminded him.
"Happy, shame on you for stealing an S-class quest!" Carla reprimanded, as the blue Exceed only grinned sheepishly in reply and began munching on a fish.
That was when the air grew cold...so cold they could see their breath. "Was it this cold to begin with..?" Merry asked.
"Don't look at me, I ain't causing it," Gray told him.
Sam looked over at Frodo...who was staring fearfully into the darkness of the forest. A shadowy figure wearing a black cloak and hood could be made out in the shadow, and the Black Speech of Mordor was spoken...and it rang in their ears...as the horrifying voice chanted the inscription on the ring:
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!" Frodo felt weak, he lightly fingered the ring in his pocket and appeared to be going into some sort of trance. "We see you...halfling...you ...cannot...escape!"
A heavily armored horse with red glowing eyes was charging toward them, seated in the saddle was a hooded figure in all black...and he wielded a sword with which he sought cut them all down.
Even the Fairy Tail group looked on in complete shock and horror as they saw the rider charging towards them.
"W-What is that?" Wendy squeaked in fear.
"Well whatever it is, I say bring it on! I'm all fired up!" Natsu challenge, igniting his hands on fire and purposely forgetting about the sword Gandalf had provided him with.
"Hold it, Natsu!" Lucy shouted, as she was holding him back from charging forward to fight it off. "We don't even know what that is, or how powerful it could be. So don't just charge in without a plan."
"Try thinking before you act, Flamebrain," Gray added. "And did you seriously just forget already that your magic's been prohibited here due to being too dragon-like?"
"Yeah, so? But it's still the only way I know how to fight," Natsu shot back.
As the rider in black was about to reach them, a pillar of blue flame erupted between the group of hobbits and wizards and the Ringwraith. The figure of Gandalf in his pointy grey hat was seen within the flames, the flames that seemed to leave everything untouched but the rider and its mount. The black rider leaped off the horse before it was reduced to ashes before the group's eyes.
A hoarse laugh was heard coming from the hood of the Ringwraith. "Oh, old Grey-Beard!"
The flames vanished to reveal Gandalf standing there looking more furious and wrathful than any of them had seen him..
"Lead them across the river Brandywine! You know the way, Meriadoc Brandybuck! I would trust Peregrin with this...but I wouldn't." Gandalf ordered them. Frodo walked forward, and found himself seperated by some sort of magical barrier between the group and Gandalf and his foe. "Gandalf!" Frodo cried out.
"Do you think your magic can keep them alive?" The ringwraith mocked.
"No, but I believe it can delay you from reaching them!" Gandalf unsheathed his sword: Glamdring...and blue fire surrounded the blade of the sword.
While Gandalf held the wraith at bay, the group followed Merry towards the Brandywine river where there was a small boat just sitting there. And after a few adjustments, courtesy of Gray's ice magic, it was now big enough to hold all of them as they all began hurrying onto it. Well except a certain Dragon Slayer with a motion sickness problem. "Well, I vote we just swim all the way there. Who's with me?"
"We're not swimming, Natsu, now just hurry and get on already!" Lucy told him.
"Wendy, I'm gonna need your Troia spell," Natsu said to the other Dragon Slayer, as he stepped onto the boat.
"Alright," Wendy replied, going over and casting her Troia spell onto the motion sick pyro.
"Yeah! Now I'm back!" a newly revived Natsu declared. "Thanks, Wendy," he told the Sky Maiden, as the group was now on their way to Bree.
Yea-ah! Hope y'all enjoy this chapter. Read & Review! Next chapter is when they arrive in Bree. ^_^ And for Game2002, I went back and fixed those Natsu parts you mentioned. I hope it seems better for you, and I apologize for not realizing that before you pointed it out. So, thanks! ^_^
