Chapter Eight:
Heroes' Meeting
The Animal Headquarters had roughly twenty to thirty stories, but the animals there tended to lose count. Each floor was unique in its own way. As Frodo led Malinda down the fourth floor, they were greeted at times by various heroes. Among those heroes was Tony Stark, who had a few words to say. Gurgi would often catch up to Frodo and Malinda, but other times he would run ahead, giggling. Malinda found Gurgi quite amusing, while Frodo didn't mind the creature's behavior.
Eventually, Frodo led Malinda to the ninth floor, where a larger meeting room was held. Nearly all the heroes from other worlds were there, as well as the animals and people residing at the Animal Headquarters. To Malinda's surprise, Frodo's friends had also shown up. Frodo chose a seat a few rows down from the door. There, a hobbit was already sitting next to a hobbitess; the hobbit right away reminded Malinda of Frodo, whereas the hobbitess reminded Malinda of herself.
The hobbit whispered to Malinda, "I'm Elijah."
"Malinda," said Malinda in introduction.
Gurgi careened down to the rats, where the blue-grey rat Remy sat. Remy moved out of the way, mere seconds before Gurgi squashed him. However, Remy did notice Gurgi squashed his chocolate meringue pie.
"Gurgi, that was good pie!" complained Remy.
Gurgi looked himself over, before pulling the pie out from under him. He tasted what remained of the pie with delight. "It's good pie, Remy."
Remy shook his head. "Oh, will you never learn?"
Remy's dad, Django, called from lower down. "Son, why don't you sit down here! The view's better!"
"I don't want to keep changing spots, Dad! I'm a grown rat! I shouldn't have to sit with my father all the time!" called Remy back.
"Well, it's better than having you be next to that Gurgi creature!" said Django.
"Maybe someone should help them," said Emile, Remy's brother.
"Thanks Emile!" called Remy, not pleased.
Once the bears settled the crowd down somewhat, they started calling the braver heroes to discuss the situation. Frodo dragged Malinda down the stairs to join his friends. Scar-ra and Katrina were among the heroes, as was Elijah and the hobbitess Amber. In the adjacent room, there stood a large round table and chairs. On top of the table was a map and small figurines. They reminded Malinda of chess, which she pointed out to Frodo. When the group was gathered, people and animals alike, the meeting began. Melissa entered the room late with Nash, which wasn't a surprise to everyone except Malinda.
"Sorry we're late," said Melissa. "What did we miss?" Her gaze fell on Malinda, who looked confused.
Frodo told Malinda, "Maia, this is… your mother, Melissa Snowberry."
Malinda turned to Melissa in shock. "How are you here?"
"Is that all you're going to ask?" asked Melissa.
The brown bear Mother Sinclair called, "Melissa, we can discuss your parental matters some other time. Right now, we need to discuss what's been happening all across the worlds."
"Mr. Frodo and I saw the villains working on something in the Shire. It looked mechanical, something which most hobbits despise," said Sam.
"My sister's seen it too, in the Pridelands," said Katrina.
"What is causing the villains to bring in machines?" asked Mother Sinclair.
"They're panels of some kind, and I'm guessing they're the massive kind," said Tony Stark, entering the room. "When two or more are turned on, they make a ping which is how they can create barriers or teleport messages to one another. In the villains' case, and I must be the only one who did their research, they're blocking communications the heroes have in order to speak to one another. Did anyone look it up?"
"But how did the villains know where to put those panels?" asked Elijah.
"They either measured it or made an excellent guess," said Tony. Approaching Elijah and Amber, Tony said, "By the way, I love how you two are able to transform into a lion and lioness at will. It's impressive."
"Thanks/Thank you," said Amber and Elijah in unison.
"That still doesn't explain how the villains were able to block our signals. We've had no news from other heroes. Who knows who's in danger?" asked Scar-ra.
"Didn't I already explain things to you people?" asked Tony.
"And you who built a suit of iron," said Scar-ra, not impressed.
"Someone needs to go to the work shaft and fix these villains, before they block our signals further," said Mother Sinclair.
"Why doesn't Malinda do it?" asked Melissa. "Give her a job to do, instead of letting her sit around all day with Frodo."
"Who's Malinda?" asked Mother Sinclair, confused.
"That would be me," said Malinda. She asked Melissa, "What is your problem with me being with Frodo?"
"Just watch your back when you're with him," said Melissa.
"Don't talk to her like that," said Frodo, defensive.
"Please!" said Mother Sinclair. "Can we talk calmly here, before any fights start."
"Let's hope Malinda isn't like her mother," said Katrina. Scar-ra shushed her.
"Let her speak," said Kovu.
All eyes turned to the hobbitess sitting next to Frodo. Malinda spoke, bravely, "Look, you're all heroes and must have done great things so far. I'm new to this. Just yesterday, I was pulled out of the Shire and now you tell me I have to do something to stop the villains. I don't know if I can do that."
"She sounds like Frodo," said Kovu. He noticed Frodo's gaze fall away.
"What do you mean?" asked Malinda, confused.
Mother Sinclair told Malinda, "Listen, we're not asking for any favors. If you can do this, we'd be grateful. Of course, you'd be taken from your friends and family for a long time."
Malinda nodded. "If it'll help the cause, then I'll do it."
"It's settled," said Mother Sinclair. She told the nearest bear, "Take Malinda to Father Time's zone. He'll want to see her right away."
"Yes ma'am," said the bear. He faced Malinda, "Miss?"
As Malinda stood up, she noticed Frodo standing up with her. Frodo grabbed Malinda's hand. "Don't do this."
"Let me go," said Malinda.
Melissa told Frodo, "Do it, Frodo. It's for the best."
Frodo released Malinda's hand. "Just make sure to come back alive."
Malinda nodded. She was escorted by the bear towards a silver portal. The two vanished in moments.
Melissa said, after Malinda left, "It was best that you let her go. There's no point in delving in the past."
Frodo was about to throw his fist at Melissa, but retracted. He noticed Melissa automatically back off when this happened. Frodo told her, "You should be grateful nothing's happened to you, but to see Malinda go…"
"Yes, what would you have done if she hadn't left? Its better this way," said Melissa.
"I'm not sure," said Frodo.
"Mr. Frodo," said Sam.
"So, where were we?" asked Pippin, returning to the original discussion.
Frodo, after some consideration, sat back down. His mind was still on Malinda, worrying if she would be all right.
Out from the portal, Malinda saw she was inside a huge cavern. In this cavern were several hallways above. The room she and the bear were inside appeared to be a vast hall attached to an armory. Inside one of the massive pillars was what appeared to be a silver-walled room. Malinda followed the bear inside the room, where an elderly man wearing deep blue robes was looking at a couple of papers scattered on an elegant-designed table.
The bear got the elderly man's attention. "Father Time, I'd like to present to you Malinda Brandybuck. She's come to take on the job you were offering."
"Yes, I've been receiving mixed signals above, from almost all the worlds. What mischief has been happening that I wasn't aware of?" asked Father Time.
"I'm sure Malinda can fill you in," said the bear.
"I'd like to be called Maia," said Malinda, correcting him.
"What news do you bring me, child?" asked Father Time.
"I heard the heroes talk about the villains blocking signals. They wondered if you could help," said Malinda.
"Would you like a job to do, while you are here?" asked Father Time.
"I'll do whatever you ask from me, as long as it helps the cause," said Malinda.
Father Time chuckled. "You're a spiteful creature." He escorted Malinda through a secondary room. After telling the bear to wait in the first room, Father Time led Malinda back out into the hall. They entered another room, which turned out to be a highly-sophisticated room built on what Malinda thought to be magic.
"Does magic exist here?" asked Malinda.
"If you mean witchcraft, then no. We don't allow witchcraft in these halls," said Father Time. "No, there is a different form of nature that runs through these halls. Let's call it nature because this magic, as you call it, flows through everything." He pointed out several rooms as he spoke. "There are the Masters of Nature, the Guardians of the Elements, and those Keepers of Time. The Keepers of Time are the Past, Present, and Future, but they mostly keep to themselves." He looked at Malinda now. "The task I'll have you do involves keeping time accorded. You're to make sure nothing is tampered. I sense you have some form or natural ability hidden in you. This may prove well in our work against the villains. Even now…"
"The villains keep blocking our signals. We can't get through to anyone. This is frustrating," said a tall man with dark hair and wearing green robes.
"That would be Future. A modest fellow, short-tempered, but he does well making sure no one tampers with the future. The consequences are grave if that happens," said Father Time.
"Yes. Five people this week wanted to look into the future, and they all died instantly," said the Future. "Consequences, never work well for those looking into their futures."
Malinda looked stunned by the news.
"Precisely," said Father Time. "Shall we?" He led Malinda over what appeared to be a machine. "You'll work in here. If you can figure out how to get the villains' signal down and the worlds restored, we'll be fortunate."
"What am I supposed to do?" asked Malinda.
"Find the will inside yourself. I'll explain all the details to you soon. You can do this, Malinda. It's in your blood. You're meant to be here," said Father Time.
Malinda nodded. As she stepped inside the circular, cylinder, silver machine, the door slid close, leaving her inside to think over what she needed to do. Father Time did return and explain some things to her, but once he left her Malinda was left to figure out what each button and lever did. After a few clicks and pulling down levers, Malinda miraculously had the problem restored. The signals returned to most of the worlds, but there was still work that needed to be done.
Frodo waited a long time to hear any news. Suddenly the power turned on. Frodo could hear Melissa and others in the halls say they were getting the signals back from the worlds outside the Limbo World. He even heard that whatever the villains did was going down. Deciding to leave the meeting room, Frodo found his passage blocked by Mother Sinclair.
"What are you doing? I have to see…"
Mother Sinclair stopped him. "Oh Frodo, you're to remain here until told otherwise. We cannot risk losing anymore heroes."
Before Frodo had a chance to speak a word, he remembered how he forgave Gollum for what he did and how relieved he was to have been away from the madness of the Ring. Mother Sinclair spoke again, "Is that understood?"
"How's Malinda? I want to see her," said Frodo.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. Malinda now works for Father Time," said Mother Sinclair.
"Can't I talk to her?" asked Frodo, determined.
"That's out of the question. Good day, Mr. Baggins," said Mother Sinclair, serious. She closed the door in his face and locked it. Turning to a few bears, Mother Sinclair told them, "Make sure he doesn't leave." She saw the bears nod before going to the other doors to the large meeting room and locking them as well.
Frodo banged and pounded on the doors at the top of the stairs. Try as he might, he couldn't get them to open. Eventually, he sat down on the top step, panting. Just as he was about to give up hope, he saw a familiar face on the ground floor, beckoning to him. Frodo stood up and, after checking behind him, climbed down the stairs. He reached Elijah Molvaro in several seconds. After the two embraced, Elijah led Frodo past a door and down a narrow hallway. Elijah pointed out a silvery portal a short distance away.
"You'll find Malinda through there. All you have to do is think of her," said Elijah.
"Yes, I know how portals work. Aren't you coming?" asked Frodo.
"No. I'm needed elsewhere," said Elijah.
"Look, how you came back I have no idea. Just thank you for coming to my rescue," said Frodo.
"Good. Now go, before someone sees you," said Elijah.
After saying a final goodbye to Elijah, Frodo ran towards the portal. He jumped through, coming out into a large cavernous hall. All around were tall people in robes. His search to find Malinda led him inside an intricately-designed hall. He found Malinda still dressed in her hobbit lass clothing and ran up to her.
"Malinda, can we speak?" asked Frodo.
Malinda was surprised to see him. "Frodo, I'm busy."
"Please, we need to talk. The animals at the headquarters wouldn't let me see you," said Frodo.
"Then perhaps you should have listened to them, instead of coming all the way here," said Malinda.
"Please Maia, please. Let's just talk, return to things the way they were," said Frodo.
"You mean before all this happened?" asked Malinda, bewildered. "In all this time, you could have told me the truth when I was a child. Now, everything's become so complicated."
"I know it has and I'm sorry you weren't told of recent events, but that doesn't mean we can't start over and…"
"Start over? Frodo, when did we ever have a relationship?" asked Malinda. She noticed a tear run down Frodo's cheek. She paused. "Listen, I have work to do here. I have training coming up. They say I'm special, that I have these unique powers of nature. I can't have a relationship knowing that I have something important to do."
"I thought our love was important, Maia. Don't you believe in anything anymore?" asked Frodo, desperate.
"I have work to do, Frodo. I'm sorry, but this'll be the last you'll speak to me for a while. Now please, move," said Malinda.
Frodo nodded, while trying to choke back tears. "One day soon, you will have need of me. I know you will."
"You have a gift of foresight. Impressive," said Malinda, trying hard to be serious.
"What can I do?" asked Frodo.
"You can't do anything. Now leave me to my work here. We have to keep the villains at bay," said Malinda.
"Now you sound like Coral," said Frodo.
"Who's Coral?" asked Malinda, confused. Then she realized where this was going. "Oh, more secrets you haven't been telling me."
"I told you about Coral when you were a teenager. Isn't it enough that we should be together? Being apart would devastate me," said Frodo.
"Why are you so interested in me? Why is everyone interested in me and what talents I might possess? This is too much for me to handle," said Malinda, trying to back out.
"Malinda, if you…" Frodo was stopped by Father Time, who called to him.
"I guess Father Time wants to see you," said Malinda. "Excuse me." She walked away, carrying a basket full of flowers and loaves of bread.
Frodo, unsure what to do or how to calm himself, approached Father Time. He was surprised at how tall Father Time was, yet Father Time didn't mind. He led Frodo inside one of the nearest rooms, which had a symbol on the wall of an element.
"Do you know what this room is, Frodo Baggins?" asked Father Time.
"Not in the slightest," said Frodo, doing his best to recover from what happened.
"This is the Hall of Nature. It serves the Guardians of the Elements well, as each symbol represents their nature: rejuvenation, water, earth, fire, light, dark, chaos, air, plants, animals, metal, and speed. Each element has its own purpose and each is unique to the last. They all have an important role to play, to help balance the universes and the worlds," said Father Time.
"What do you want me to do?" asked Frodo, still saddened.
"Why, my boy, you're in charge of cleaning. You have to start somewhere," said Father Time. He looked at Frodo and added, "Things will get better. You'll see."
"I'm not so sure they will," said Frodo. "I just had my heart broken by the one lass I might truly love."
"Like I said, things will heal with time," said Father Time. "Now, onto what I insist you do around here. And we'll right a letter, explaining why we're keeping you here…" He went into a long winded conversation, showing Frodo the many rooms he would end up working at.
All that was on Frodo's mind was how to get Malinda out of her workaholic state, so she could see reason better. He knew he would recover from this, or so he kept telling himself, but the pain was still too strong and hard to believe what had happened. He just had to keep reminding himself to believe he would get Malinda back, but how? That remained the question on his mind for a long while.