Hello. I apologize for not being able to add this to the first chapter, but I could not figure out how. This is my first fanfic, so please R&R. The name of the first chapter is not meant to be offensive, only to show the ignorance Moist has towards people he doesn't know. I do not own anything Tolkien or Pratchett. Also, the was at the end of Chapter 1, should be wasn't. Again, couldn't figure out how to edit. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: The Ring of Power

It was Merry. His pony was behind him, thus causing the gangly, soggy shape. He was shivering in the cold of the rain.

"Mr. Maggot!" he exclaimed. "You're not normally one for leaving a visitor out in the rain like that! Now. Are you going to invite me in, or shall I freeze while you feast."

"I think choice two," Moist said to general laughter from all of the Hobbits. Merry snickered a little, and stepped inside. One of Maggot's sons took his horse around back to the stable. He shut the door behind him, and took off his soaked jacket. Mrs. Maggot took it and hung it up.

"Is there any more soup?" Merry asked, taking a seat next to Moist, who put some soup in a bowl and handed it to Merry. Pippin passed him a spoon.

"Merry," Frodo said. "This is our friend. His name's Moist. Moist Von Lipwig. He's from a whole other world. I believe he called it...uh. What did you say it was called again?"

"It's the Discworld. It's a large, flat disc, which sits on the back of four large elephants, that stand on the back of a giant turtle called Great A'Tuin. "

"I see," said Merry, looking very sceptic. "Well then," he ate another spoonful of soup. "I see you've been making along well."

"About as well as can be made along, when you have Black Riders on your tail," replied Pippin, in a hushed whisper.

"Black Riders," said Merry, looking excited. "I would dearly like to hear about these so called 'Black Riders'."

"Oh, believe me," said Sam. "If you had seen them already, you wouldn't want to see them."

"I'll explain everything later," said Frodo. Rising from his seat, he added "Well Farmer. Thank you very much for your hospitality. But now, we really must be leaving."

"But cousin," said Merry. "I still haven't finished my soup-"

"Please Frodo," said Maggot. "I'll give you a ride up to the Buckleberry Ferry."

"But, my soup-"

"And we still haven't given you a present yet," said Mrs. Maggot. "How would you like some Mushrooms?"

"You know, mushrooms would go really well with some soup. Why don't you sit down and have some more, and I can finish-"

"Mushrooms sound wonderful," said Frodo. "Thank you Mrs. Maggot."

"Frodo, it was such a long ride! I'm so, hungry. And I'm sure you are too, from-"

"Come now, men. Let's go. Thank you all again." Frodo motioned for the others to follow him, and moved toward the door.

"Huh...So long, poor soup. Perhaps after Frodo gets to Crickhollow, I will come back and enjoy you."

"Merry," said Mrs. Maggot. "Would you like me to save you some soup?"

"Oh Mrs. Maggot. You truly are a jewel among Farmer's Wives." At this, Merry noticed the others were already out the door. He ran quickly, about as fast as his little legs would carry him, to reach the cart. His pony was helping to pull it.

At first, the group went at a very slow pace, however, as the night drew on the ponies found knew endurance and stamina. They pressed on, and before long, they were at Crickhollow. Fatty Bolger was inside, waiting for them with supper, and tubs, and boiling water. Pippin, Sam, and Frodo all bathed while Merry and Fatty set up dinner.

All the while that they bathed, they sang one of Bilbo's old bath songs, of food and drink, rest and...well...baths. After drying up, and putting on nice wear, Frodo and the others came out to the table. They had a second, decent-sized meal (for Hobbit standards, anyhow; Moist was definitely much more full than the others), and then Frodo stood up.

"I...I don't know how to put this..." he began, rather weakly. "With all of the work that was put into this, and the friendship that you have all shown, it just...it breaks my heart to tell you that...well-"

"That you'll soon be going into dangers unknown, and you're afraid you're going to go alone," Merry said. "Well cousin Frodo, fear not. For we all know of your dangerous plight, and of the Ring of Power, Sauron's Ring-the One Ring to Rule Them All."

Frodo had fleeting glimpses of many different emotions cross his face in a matter of seconds. "But how could you-where did you-how long-what?"

"We learned it all from the Master Conspirator himself," said Pippin. "Our very own Samwise Gamgee!" Frodo gave Sam a look that made him shrink back into his chair. Then, he looked at him happily.

"Unfortunately, you're right. However, I can't bring all of you along. Gandalf said-"

"'Bring only those companions of whom you can trust,'" finished Merry. "What's the matter Frodo? Can't trust us?"

"No. No it's not that. It's not that at all! It's just that-" he looked lamely at the floor. "-Gandalf said to go quietly, and while, the more people there are, the worse off we'll be."

"Which is why I've got a plan-" Suddenly, Merry's thought was interrupted by Moist.

"Wait a moment. What's this, Frodo?"

"My uncle, Bilbo, acquired a magical Ring that once belonged to a Dark Lord named Sauron. He left it to me, once he left the Shire. That's what those Black Riders were. They were trying to get the Ring back for Sauron. But it seems that it has been left up to me, to make sure he doesn't get it. The Ring cannot stay in the Shire. And no one can know that I'm leaving. That's why it needs to be so secret."

"Frodo. Hear me out," Merry said. "If we rise early tomorrow, and make our way through The Old Forest, we might just have a chance of making it to Bree without anyone noticing. And, we'll be able to avoid the Road, and those nasty Black Riders. Then, we can make our way towards Rivendell."

"What's Rivendell?" asked Moist. "And who is Gandalf?"

"Gandalf's a Wizard that is supposed to have met us before we left, however, he never did. I think we may hear word of him in Bree. It's a big enough town. And Rivendell is on the other side of Bree. It is a large Elvish City, and the man there, Elrond, is supposedly very wise. He will be able to instruct Frodo."

"Well, why not just do away with the Ring?"

"Well you see," Frodo said. "It's not that simple. In order to "do away with it", we'd have to take into The Cracks of Doom in Orodruin, the Volcano that sits in the middle of the Dark Lord's land. The Land of Mordor." Frodo sat there with a grim look on his face.

There was a chilled silence. Everyone was relieved when Fatty finally broke it saying, "You're not really going to go through the Old Forest, are you?"

Maintaining the same grim look the whole time through, Frodo replied, "Fatty. It's the only way to save Middle-Earth."