The Dark Twilight

By Aria Breuer

Disclaimers: All material from The Lord of the Rings book trilogy belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. All material from The Chronicles of Narnia book series belongs to C.S. Lewis. All material from Harry Potter book series belongs to J.K. Rowling. All material from the "Star Wars" film saga belongs to George Lucas. All material from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer, Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio, Gore Verbinski, and Rob Marshall. All material from "The Lion King" film trilogy belongs to the Walt Disney Company. All material from the "Happy Feet" films belongs to George Miller. All material not related to the books and films listed above, but from other films, books, games, cartoons, television shows, etc., belong to their respected owners. All original material, including the story's plotline and characters (a.k.a. OCs), belongs to the author of this fan fiction story.

Tagline: Epic has found a new meaning.

Full Summary: When the stars fall across the night sky, the hobbit Frodo Baggins is sent to the Evenshire Camp. There, he trains amongst heroes and form friendships. Only after learning about another camp, where villains train and recruit their minions, Frodo must unite with unlikely allies, as they attempt to search for a reason behind why the stars are falling. Will Frodo and the heroes succeed, or will all worlds perish into a time of darkness and tyranny for a hundred years?

This is not the first time I have worked on a story at this grand scale. For those of you who have seen my story and character banners, be assured these seven heroes will unite; hopefully, before the plot picks up its pace. This idea sparked in 2011, when I was thinking of a new story to write that would not only interest me but have a variety of genres, fit for all audiences. The purpose of the heroes and villains from these seven and other stories, whether they are fictional or OC, will become known throughout this story. As you have noticed, the main focus of this story concerns the heroes, but there will be times when we get to see what the villains and villainesses are scheming.

As for the Prologue, it does not begin at Middle-earth. Instead, this Prologue, like many prologues, tells about the other characters in this story. However, we are hearing the Prologue from the lions and lionesses, as well as their friends, from "The Lion King" films. We will reach The Lord of the Rings in the next chapter. So, I hope you, the readers, are prepared and excited to see how this story unravels.

Prologue:

The Great Lion

The sunlight drew closer in the cool evening hours. While observing the clear night sky, Rafiki watched as five stars blinked, before shooting across the horizon. Growing concerned, Rafiki climbed down one thick branch after another, in the massive baobab tree, until he reached the curved, golden-brown platform where he always drew on the trunk's bark walls. The drawings of Simba, Kovu, and Kiara still remained, but a yellow circle in the shape of a sun was around them now, as if to establish a union of prides. Hastily, Rafiki cracked open a coconut and used its juice to draw on the bark canvas. Upon drawing stars on the blue canvas, Rafiki noticed these painted stars blink once, and then vanish a split second later.

Rafiki cried, "Oh no, what are you doing? Stop… now!"

As the mandrill-baboon spoke these words, the stars reappeared on the canvas of bark. After his silent deliberation passed, Rafiki felt a strong wind blow in his path. He peered up at the early morning sky, from the wide openings in the thick branches, knowing right away who it was causing the chilled breeze to come his way.

Confused, Rafiki asked the air, "Mufasa, are you behind this?" He was smacked in the face by a fierce, billowing wind, which forced the mandrill-baboon to cry out, "All right! I trust you are not the cause of these stars falling from the night sky." As the wind became a soft, gentle breeze, Rafiki asked, "So, why did five stars fall early this morning?" He felt the breeze grow stronger from the branches, sending a coconut hurtling down to the platform.

When the coconut's juice splattered all over the mandrill-baboon's fur, Rafiki had an epiphany. "Do you think the stars are falling because Scar, Zira, and Nuka will return from the Netherworld?" Picking up one of the smashed pieces from the platform's surface, Rafiki looked up and snapped, furiously, "You cannot be serious! Lions and lionesses do not return from the dead! Neither do villains and villainesses…" He was cut off by a strong wind, which smacked his face a second time. "All right, OKAY!" He added, calmly, "I believe you, but I hope you are right about this!" The wind left him alone at last and blew back up into the sky, climbing higher above the Tree of Life.

The day passed without event. In the late afternoon hours, as Simba and his pride listened to the meerkat Timon and his warthog friend Pumbaa tell wise-cracking jokes, a dark furred lion named Kovu left the lion's den. Moments into overhearing the punch line of another joke, Kovu laughed ecstatically as he approached the Promontory of Pride Rock. Kovu had moments to calm down when his recently wedded wife Kiara, a lioness and Simba's daughter, approached him.

Getting his attention, Kiara asked, "Kovu, what is it?"

Kovu's gaze fell towards the grassy ground, meters below the massive rock. Just then, he and Kiara watched Rafiki climb up the rocks to the Promontory. He asked his wife in confusion, more as a statement-of-fact, "I wonder what he wants."

Kiara suggested, "Maybe we should tell my father…"

A lion with a red mane and tail called from the den, "Kiara!" In seconds, the lion made his way to the Promontory. Kovu and Kiara recognized this lion as Simba. With him came the lioness Nala, Simba's wife and Queen of the Pridelands.

As soon as Kovu's gaze returned to the mandrill-baboon, Rafiki was panting harshly. Once Rafiki calmed down, long enough to speak, Simba addressed him. "Rafiki, what brings you here?"

Rafiki cried, "Your majesty, this is an emergency! I fear we are in grave danger." Rafiki added, while pointing his stick at the starry, night sky, "Look to the stars. You see…" Even as he spoke, three stars fell across the horizon. He cried in bewilderment, "There! You see! It is happening even as we stand and speak like… hornbills!"

Flying towards the group, the blue hornbill Zazu protested, "I beg your pardon, baboon! I happen to be Simba's majordomo. You would do well to respect birds of all shapes, sizes, and breeds."

Rafiki bowed, "As you wish, Zazu." Facing the others, Rafiki admitted, "However, I do think it wise if we all speak in the den."

Simba nodded in agreement. "That is fine with me."

"Come along!" cried Rafiki, as he bounded inside the lion's den.

Simba and Nala followed the mandrill-baboon soon afterwards. Kiara stayed with Kovu until he told her to head back inside with her parents. Once he was alone, Kovu peered at the night sky, only to see two more stars shoot across the horizon. In spite of his thought-filled questions, Kovu walked away from the Promontory.

o-o-o

The second Kovu entered the warm, rock-walled den he was met by his sister Vitani, who looked stressed and bewildered. Even while he spoke to Vitani, Kovu overheard Rafiki argue with Zazu over why hornbills are in the same species of birds, in the wilds of Africa. Timon and Pumbaa, avoiding this fierce debate, approached Simba, who was also confused.

Timon muttered to his lion friend, "Uh… Simba, is there a good reason why Rafiki is in the pride's den?"

"He has something important to tell us, about the stars falling from the night sky," muttered Simba in reply.

"Oh, that's nice," said Timon, calmly.

Confused, Pumbaa asked his meerkat friend, "Timon, how is that nice?"

"It means our lion friends and that baboon saw stars shoot across the dusky horizon," told Timon, explaining in a polite, calm manner.

Pumbaa blurted, understanding now, "Oh! Is that all?"

Finally getting away from Zazu, Rafiki bounded up to the highest rock platform, where he leapt on top of the stone surface. When he had all the lions, lionesses, and other animals' attentions, Rafiki spoke in complete bewilderment, "Everyone! May I have your attention? The Pridelands are about to enter a major crisis! We need to leave Africa while there is still time…"

"Where would we go?" cried Vitani, angrily.

Roaring loudly, Simba managed to calm his pride down. "Relax, all of you! I'm sure this is nothing serious."

Timon cracked a smile. "Ha! Oh sure, and the stars falling means the end of the world. Oh, please…" Realizing Rafiki was looking at him, Timon added, now confused, "does it?"

Rafiki nodded. "This is a matter that concerns everyone! I sense a darkness is about to spread, not just in this world, but in all worlds. I fear Scar, Zira, and Nuka might return from the Netherworld. We need to take refuge somewhere safe and away from harm, before it is too late!"

"Where is your proof, Rafiki?" asked Simba, coyly.

"Do you not understand what I tell you? You are King of the Pridelands, Simba, which means you should listen to what your friends warn you," admitted Rafiki, bewildered.

Simba shook his head. "Not if that friend told me a lie. Then would I believe him?"

A deep voice cried to the lion king from the opening, "Would you, Simba?" The dark shape moved into the light of the den, revealing a lion with a golden-brown mane, tail, and furry body.

Rafiki bowed before the newcomer, as did many of Simba's pride. Only Simba and Kovu were confused by this new lion, as well as his role on the issue with the stars. Rafiki moved off the platform as the newcomer leapt onto the rock surface.

Facing each animal in unison, the lion spoke, calmly, "Arise, all of you." He paused. "The reason I have come tonight is, not only to show support, but to give you a warning. That warning is this: the stars shooting across the night sky means the villains and villainesses of many worlds, including yours, have awakened. I do not yet know where they are camped, but I know only a few in this den must find out what they are doing and why these stars are falling. I fear if too many stars fall, the worlds will perish."

Kovu spoke aloud, in confusion, "Who are you?"

"I am Aslan. Many know me as the Great Lion. I am the ruler of this Universe and all its worlds. Simba's father, Mufasa, is my right-hand or –paw lion. For now, let us not discuss any more about Mufasa or the Kings of the Past. Before I can tell any about these disturbing events, I need a select few to come with me, as we will leave the Pridelands and not return until this task is finished." Aslan turned to the pride and asked, "Who will accompany me?"

The pride paused, including friends of Simba's family. In moments, Kovu spoke before the Great Lion, "I will go. If my mother has returned from the Netherworld, as you say, then I would take my chances to face her."

"Kovu, you don't need to go," said Kiara, concerned.

"I will return, Kiara. I promise," said Kovu, taking his oath.

Simba spoke seconds later, as Kovu joined Aslan on top of the platform, "As will I." He paused. "I will make sure to keep Kovu safe and look for a logical reason behind Aslan's statements." Facing Aslan, he told him, scornfully, "I'm not sure what you're playing at…"

"I play no game, Simba. You will learn, one day, I am right about your father," said Aslan. Once Simba and Kovu joined him on either side, Aslan turned to Rafiki and said, "Rafiki, I will need you, if we are to begin discovering the truth. I am sure you can handle that task."

"Yes Aslan, as you wish," said Rafiki excitedly, bowing before him.

"Where are we going?" asked Kovu, sitting behind and to the right of the Great Lion.

"You will see. As for those who did not speak first, we shall wait until later to bring them to the Camp. For now, come with me," commanded Aslan, leading Simba, Kovu, and Rafiki out onto the Promontory.

Kovu waited until he, his father-in-law, and Rafiki sat on the ledge. He then asked Aslan, "What now?"

"Wait," said Aslan, gruffly.

Aslan blew at the chilled air, which churned and stirred up the wind until a silvery-gold, glistening line opened at the edge of the Promontory. He let Rafiki charge into the portal first, before letting Simba follow the mandrill-baboon. As Simba ran across the Promontory, Aslan held Kovu back until the lion with the red mane vanished completely from their sight through the silvery-gold line. Then Aslan released Kovu, allowing the lion with the dark mane, fur, and tail to travel through the portal. Kovu looked back at the Great Lion with worried eyes. He soon discovered Aslan's eyes were aged yet powerful. Not willing to upset the lion, Kovu ran towards the portal, disappearing in seconds. Aslan traveled through the opening, closing the portal as he left the Pridelands and Pride Rock.