Grim slowly re-entered the house, his gaze fixed on the small golden ring on the floor. He curiously lent down to try and pick it up.
But when his fingertips lightly brushed the golden band…
RAAAAAA!
"SWEET ZOMBIE BUDDHA!" Grim screamed in fright.
A flash of an eye entered his mind, making him pull his hand back immediately. But the eye that he had saw…it was a giant blue eye, with no lids and worse of all…surrounded by fire.
"Either that was an omen of doom, or I need to stop having so many chocolate chip cookies before bedtime…"
As the evening went by, Grim sat in one of the many wooden chairs within Appa's Sanctum. He was by the fire and smoking the last of his Old Momo plus, he recalled Gyatso's fierce and inhuman outbreak.
"Its mine, my own, my precious…"
"Precious…" Grim recalled the story Gyatso told him nearly a hundred years ago…when he encountered a certain green creature.
"Gyatso!" Aang burst through the doorway, out of breath from the long run, he looked around the room and saw the ring on the floor, and he picked it up without much interest.
"Riddles in the dark…" Grim mumbled to himself.
"He's gone hasn't he? He talked for so long about leaving…I didn't think he do it," Aang said in depression as he noticed Grim by the fireplace. He then walked over beside him.
"Precious…" Grim mumbled again, lost in his own world.
"Um…Grim, are you okay?" Aang asked, the Wizard shook his head and got out from his trance like state. He looked at Aang and the ring in his palm.
"Hmm…Gyatso's ring," he said as he forced himself to smile as he got out of his seat.
"He's gone to stay with the Anime; and he's left you Appa's Sanctum," Grim said with a smile, he went to the mantle piece and took out an envelope.
"Along with all his possessions; the ring is yours now," Grim then thrusts the envelope in front of the teen's face, and then he dropped ring into it.
"Keep it somewhere out of sight…" Grim instructed, he then left the living quarters and grabbed his scythe and headed for the door. Aang was on his heels.
"Where are you going?" Aang asked as he tried to keep up.
"Something just turned up. There are things I must do!" Grim said hastily.
"What things?" Aang asked in confusion
"Questions. Questions that need answering!" Grim explained as he reached for the door.
"But you've only just arrived! I don't understand!" Aang yelled out; Grim halted and turned around; facing the young airbender with sympathy.
"Neither do I…" he admitted, he then bent down and placed a hand on Aang's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Keep it secret, keep it safe…"
With that he bolted out for the doorway and into the night, leaving Aang alone in the hallway. He then looked down at the envelope in his hand.
Meanwhile, in the dark and volcanic lands of Cyclonia, several black creatures running around the top of a certain black tower; one of many towers that made up Slade's ancient fortress of Shadowspire. A fortress that was slowly being repaired. When suddenly, an agonising scream could be heard filling the air.
"AGGGGHHHHH! SHIREVILLE! GYATSO!"
Suddenly, the volcano of Mount Vader erupted within moments the words were first shouted. It was as if the land itself was responding to will of its evil master.
Elsewhere, the gates to the dark city of Necropolis opened. And out came nine riders on what looked like motorcycles. Eight of them had purple eyes, but their leader stood out with his demonic red eyes. These hooded riders were Slade's most dangerous servants and his finest assassins; shadows given human form: the Night Crawlers.
From a far distance atop the lush green hills; Grim came riding on his own horse, straining his eyes (so to speak), he could just made out the fires that erupted from the blazing mountain in the far off land of Cyclonia.
"Well, that can't be good," Grim muttered. He gritted his teeth and kicked his horse into full gear and sped down the hillside he was on.
As he travelled down he came to a gleaming white city crafted from the mountain side, but Grim ignored its beauty and sped through its gates, as he climbed through its levels he was met by a librarian by the name of the Pagemaster (The Pagemaster) who led him deep into the city's bowels. After many minutes of walking, Grim was led directly to the city's great library; a dusty room lit only by candle light where there were thousands of scrolls, books, parchments and DVDs.
"So, what exactly are you looking for?" the Pagemaster asked.
"I seek all of the information on the Great War that King Carver fought in! For the fate of the world may depend on it!" Grim explained.
"Do you need any help?" the old man offered.
"Nah, I'm sure I'll be fine," Grim assured him. "It shouldn't take me more then a few minutes to find what I'm looking for…"
French Narrator (Spongebob Squarepants): Two weeks later…
"It's hopeless!" Grim cried in anguish. "I've been stuck in here for days on end, and I still haven't found that stupid paper! The world's doomed! Oh, wait, here it is."
Grim then picked up the ancient article of paper and read it to himself.
"The year 3434 of the Second Age; here follows the account of Carver, High King of Atmos, and the finding of the Ring of Power…"
"Aggghh!" Carver yelled as he thrust his father's blade forward, taking off the hand of Slade. The Dark Lord screamed at his loss before vaporising into nothingness, leaving Carver alone with the hand of Slade, and the ring left in the ash.
Grim continued to narrate Carver's final words aloud, for it held the key to the information he sought…
"It has come to me, the One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain…" Grim read on, becoming increasingly concerned.
"The markings upon the band begin to fade. The writing, which at first was as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell." Grim finished, now completely worried.
Meanwhile; back in Shireville, a young man named Shaggy Rogers (Scooby-Doo) was chopping some firewood. Nearby was his best friend, a Great Dane named Scooby-Doo.
"Like, all this firewood should get us through the winter, right Scoob?" Shaggy remarked.
"Ruh-huh," Scooby replied with a nod. Suddenly his ears perked up, and he began sniffing the air. Then Scooby's ears flattened and he began to growl, bearing his fangs. He then started barking at something in the direction of the east.
"Like, what is it Scooby?" Shaggy asked in concern. In all these years, he had never seen Scooby act like this before. What could have set him off like this? Then as he gently laid the axe down, he noticed large flocks of birds flying from the east. It was almost like they were trying to get away from something.
Then he noticed a dust cloud heading towards them. But on a closer look, Shaggy could see bike riders. They must have been what Scooby had sensed.
Then the riders stopped in front of Scooby and Shaggy's house. Scooby stopped barking and jumped into Shaggy's arms, shivering in fear.
"Like, it's okay Scoob," Shaggy said. "I'm sure…ZOINKS!"
The nine riders were all wearing hooded cloaks with black armour, giving them a sinister and dangerous look to them. But it was their eyes that grabbed Shaggy's attention; especially their apparent leader's, who's where as red as blood. But Shaggy could also sensed something else about them, something dark and almost…unnatural.
"Shireville…Gyatso…" the leader of the group whispered, his soft voice sounding distorted and hollow.
"Like, there's no Gyatso's living around here, man," Shaggy answered, his teeth chattering and his knees shacking. "You might want to try the W-Western Suburbs."
He then pointed in that direction. "That way!" Then he and Scooby ran into their house and locked to door.
Peeking from their window, Shaggy and Scooby watched the nine riders revved up their bikes and ride off in that direction.
"Like, that Gyatso got some strange friends, huh Scooby?" Shaggy said to the Great Dane.
"Ruh-huh."
Oh no! Slade is aware of the Ring and has sent his goons to Shireville! Will Aang be able keep it out of their hands? Stay tuned! And Please Review!