Sorry it took so long for an update. Here is the next chapter of Magic 8-Ball. Hope you enjoy. :)

Pippin dramatically hauled himself onto a rather large rock. He stood on top of it, panting. It dawned on him that he could have simply walked around it like everyone else was. He began climbing back down when halfway his foot slipped, and down he went. Fortunately, Merry was there to cushion his fall.

"Ack!" Merry grunted when Pip landed on him.

"Merry?" he crawled off. "Merry, are you alright?"

"Do I look it?"

"Merry. Pippin." Aragorn called. "Come, we must keep moving."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Merry grumbled peeling himself off the ground. "Thanks Pip, I think I really have broken something."

"Perhaps it's a carrot again?"

Merry reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece broken celery. He was about to bite down on it when Sam snatched it from him. He glared angrily, obviously still a bit ticked over the camcorder incident that he coerced both of them to never speak of again.

Speaking of the Camcorder, they had to ditch it. It wouldn't work no matter what they did and Gandalf refused to do anything to help. Even though it was gone, the damage had been done. Namely Legolas' hair, which would never be the same. Well, at least until it grew back anyway. Which he had time for.

"Merry! Pippin!" Aragorn called again.

"We're coming." Pippin answered.

As they rushed to catch up, Gandalf decided they should stop for a break. A decision he would soon regret. After everyone set there bags down and sat to rest for a few, Sam built a fire and started cooking. Boromir called for Merry and Pippin to join him for a sparring match.

"Two, one, five. Good! Very good!" Boromir praised Pippin.

"Move your feet." Aragorn commanded from the sidelines.

"You look good, Pippin." Merry commented about his sparring.

"Thanks."

Boromir switched to Merry.

Gimli was grumbling (rather loudly) about no one listening or asking his opinion, or something like that. Nobody was really paying him any attention so they couldn't be for certain. He was about to shout when Pippin yelped.

The Hobbit's sword clattered to the ground. Boromir exclaimed that he was sorry, but Pippin kicked him in the shin. Merry took the opportunity to clobber him in the hip with the flat of his sword, and the two of them tackled Boromir to the ground.

"For the Shire!"

"Hold him! Hold him down, Merry!"

Boromir laughed as the three of them wrestled.

"We're winning! We're winning!" Pippin exclaimed. "No, we're not! No, we're not! Abandon the mission! Abandon the mission!"

They both leapt up, but before they could get to far Boromir grabbed Merry, and wrapped his arm around his neck and began to rub his knuckles on his head. Merry struggled and managed to escape just as Legolas shouted.

"Crebain from Dunland!"

That set everyone into a frenzy. Gimli, of course, complaining about how no one ever listens to him, but listens to the Elf instead. Stupid Crebain. They dove under boulders and sparsely covered bushes.

"Merry." Pippin whispered as they hid under a bush.

"Shh!"

He poked him hard in the shoulder. "Merry."

"What!" he hissed rubbing the now sore spot.

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"That!" Pippin yanked him to where he could see where he was pointing.

"Dunno. Let's get it."

Merry and Pippin waited expectantly as Gandalf looked the small globe over. He could have sworn the symbol on it resembled an eight.

"Is it a palantir?" Aragorn tugged at his bottom lip.

"No, I don't believe so."

"Can we keep it!?" Pippin held his hand out.

"After the last fiasco? I should think not!" Gimli roared, causing Pippin to withdraw his hand. "Have we learned nothing about giving these two buffoons anything that does anything!?"

Everyone stared at him blankly making for a very awkward silence.

"I didn't realize anyone said anything about giving it to them." Frodo said silently, taking a large step back. Sam and Legolas nodded in agreement, following suit.

"It says stuff!" Pippin danced happily in place. "Here," he snatched it from the old wizard's hand. He gave it a hard shake, turning the dark window upward. "See?" He motioned to the window. Everyone had been expecting it to say something verbally. They all leaned in to read the words: Ask Again Later.

"So… you can ask it stuff?" Sam scratched his head.

Pippin shrugged. "Guess so. Um… ah! Is Gimli insane?" He shook it up.

Signs Point To Yes.

"It does know."

"I'm not- I'm not insane!" Gimli bellowed. "What are these supposed signs!?"

Legolas pulled his hood onto his head, as almost everyone else whistled Dixie.

"I don't know, Gandalf." Sam began. "If we let these two have this thing it maybe like last time. We'll all be humiliated."

"I don't really see how it can cause a problem. It doesn't have a window like the last one did." Pippin defended. "Besides, Gandalf, don't you always say that we need to give folks second chances?"

The Wizard rubbed his temples. "We've give you two so many 'second chances' it's not even funny."

"If it causes problems we can get rid of it. No questions asked." Merry added. "We promise."

"Uncross you figures, both of you." he didn't even have to look up. They complied. "One problem." They nodded. "One problem and it's gone for good. Got it?"

They nodded. "Yes, sir!"

"What!? Obviously we've learned nothing from last time!" Gimli began to rant and rave but was quickly cut off by a gag Boromir made.

So what'd ya think?