Dawn came to Shireville. The landscape was quiet, except for three familiar silhouettes moving quickly across a field.
"Hurry up, Garfield," Grim snapped without turning around, "or I'll turn you into a coffee table!"
Beast Boy struggled to catch up to Aang and Grim, puffing all the way.
When the trio arrived a shadowy forest, Grim said to the boys, "Now, you two be careful; look both ways when crossing the street. And don't talk to strangers. The Enemy has many spies: Birds, beasts, trees, Republicans…"
He then turned to look at Aang sternly. "Is it safe?"
Aang fingered his pocket and nodded.
"Never put it on," Grim warned, "for the agents of the dang Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember: the Ring is trying to return to its master. It wants to be found."
And with that, Grim hopped onto his horse and rode off.
Aang and Beast Boy silently looked at each other. Then they both walked into the direction of the East.
After many hours, passing houses, shops and several small delis, the two friends came to a cornfield guarded by a single scarecrow. Aang just waded through it but Beast Boy stopped with a depressed look on his face.
"This is it…" the green Changeling sighed.
"What is?" Aang asked.
"If I take just one more step…it'll be the furthest I've ever been from home."
Aang just smiled softly as he walked over to put an arm on his best friend.
"Come on, Beast Boy, you know what my uncle used to say 'It's a dangerous'…"
"…business, Aang, going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet; there's no telling where you might be swept off to…"
Evening came; and Beast Boy, being a good cook as well as gardener, was cooking tofu on a fire while Aang was waiting patiently in a nearby tree.
Suddenly, Aang caught the sound of ethereal singing in the distance.
The young airbender smiled widely and leapt down to join Beast Boy.
"Garfield, come on!" Aang said excitedly. "Forest-Anime!"
Both boys ran from their little camp a little further into the forest. From the bushes they spied a line of graceful and almost unearthly humanoids walking thru the forest, singing a sweet melody.
"A Galad ren i veniar
hi' aladhremmin ennorath
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
ithil nâ thûl, ithil lîn hen"
"They're going to the harbor beyond Sentinel Towers…to the port of New Macross." Aang whispered.
Beast Boy blinked. "They're leaving Toon-Earth…"
"Never to return…"
"I don't know why. It makes me sad…"
Not long after, the two friends are trying to go to sleep.
"Dude, I am so not made for camping!" Beast Boy complained as he tossed and turned.
"Just close your eyes and pretend you home in your bed," Aang offered.
"Tried it. It's not working," Beast Boy moaned.
Aang just smiled. "Good night, Beast Boy…"
On a hill overlooking Shireville, the Red-eyed Nightcrawler surveyed the scenery like a bird of prey.
Then he turned around and saw his eight minions arguing amongst themselves about which way to go to the Western Suburbs. The red-eyed assassin just face-palmed in disgust and shook his head.
Happy New Year folks! Hope you like this new chapter. Also, I'm sure you've noticed that I've changed the earlier chapters a little and made Buster Bunny and Plucky Duck into the new Merry and Pippin. Hope you don't mind.
Please read and review!