The Emperor-across-the-sea and Aslan come from The Chronicles of Narnia book series.

Chapter Twenty-Four:

The Halls of Nature

The hobbits entered the stone room at the same time. What they had been looking for was found. Now the only question remained was what to do and how to get the Torch of Light down from the pedestal.

"Looks like we're back together after all," said Merry.

"Good. As it should be," said Frodo. He glanced over at Aria, who shook her head. "What?"

"You're unbelievable," said Aria.

"Well, you can't expect to be alone all the time," said Frodo.

"I'm used to it," said Aria. "I didn't have strong friendship growing up as you did."

"Can we just focus on the task at hand?" asked Pippin. "Gee, you two remind me of a married couple, always bickering."

"That's nice, Pippin," said Merry.

Sam asked the group, "Any ideas on how to get the torch down."

"Well, technically I'm part Nobody," said Aria.

"Would you like to try?" asked Frodo, gesturing her forward.

"Glad to," said Aria. Approaching the pedestal, Aria saw how her height changed back to the way it was before she came to the limbo world Flaminus the first time. Once she got a hold of the torch, the pedestal's light dissipated, leaving the torch light to be the only light found. She had a hard time holding onto the torch. "Boy, it is heavy."

"You need some help?" asked Frodo, concerned.

Aria did her best to hold onto the torch. "Yes, please?"

The second Frodo grabbed onto the torch, helping Aria hold it, a flaming light came out of the torch, surrounding the two. Sam, Merry, and Pippin watched as Frodo and Aria vanished. The last words written, after their leave, were Father Time.

"Where did they go?" asked Pippin.

Sam called, "Mr. Frodo? Miss Aria?" He asked, confused, "Where are they?"

"I have a feeling where they are: the Halls of Nature," said Merry.

"How do we get there?" asked Pippin.

"By using this, of course," said Merry, pulling out the hilt device.

Merry pressed down on a button, causing the hilt device to reveal a light portal. He allowed Sam and Pippin to step through first, before he followed. The portal vanished after the three hobbits were gone.

ARIA'S POV

I don't know for how long Frodo and I traveled through the light wormhole. I knew it was seconds, but there had to be a stopping point somewhere. Eventually, my mind couldn't take it anymore and named the place to stop at: the Halls of Nature. The wormhole broke, causing me and Frodo land on a stone floor. The torch was thrown off to the side. Frodo rushed over to me, as soon as he was able. I could still feel jetlagged after the wormhole trip.

"Are you all right?" asked Frodo.

"I think so," I said, confused and baffled.

Then I remembered what had happened in the wormhole. Villains were spotted, attempting to break through. Nobodies were still out there as well, causing who knows what havoc or maybe just enjoying themselves for a time. Either way, I knew what I had to do.

"I think I know how to end the Nobody problem and the villains' problem," I said.

"What?" asked Frodo, confused. "How?"

"I have to go back to the machine I was brought to when I first came here," I said.

"Wait, what does that mean? Aria?" Frodo chased after me as I remembered the path.

I kept running, searching for the right area, until I had found the silver, cylinder machine. It was exactly as it was left. Before Father Time could speak to me, I dived into the cylinder machine. The silver door closed behind me, as I stood up. I heard Frodo calling out to me, and then talking to Father Time, but my concern wasn't only on them. It was on everyone. It seemed fate was in my hands after all.

I looked at the machine. There were so many dials, but also sliders that could be changed at the hand of a lever, or several. I remembered these only changed by a single thought, so I had to be careful. Where I spotted the slot that said "10,000 Nobodies", I moved the lever down; it changed to "0 Nobodies". Next I checked the slot that said "Good vs. Evil"; that I left alone, knowing it would better benefit us. That's when I saw the slot that said "Villains Take Over; All Shall Perish". I know I didn't change that when I was there last. I pulled down on the lever and made my thought. The slot changed to "Good Always Wins; Villains Receive Nothing". I pressed a few more buttons and pulled down on levers until everything was where it should be.

The machine went haywire. As soon as the door opened, I was jolted by a volt, which punched me straight in the chest, right at my heart. The last thing I remembered was being jolted backwards out of the machine. The door closed afterwards and I felt Frodo wrapping his arms around me, as he sat down, resting my back against his legs. Then I remembered nothing.

"Aria?" Frodo asked, as Aria looked at him.

"Don't give up on them," said Aria, moments before she closed her eyes and drew her last breath.

Frodo wept. He couldn't help it. Frodo tried everything he could to wake Aria up, even a kiss, but nothing happened. He was at a loss for words.

Sam, Merry, and Pippin arrived by portal, just as the situation took place. They approached their cousin, unsure what had just happened. Realizing that Aria wasn't moving or breathing, Merry pushed Frodo back and began giving Aria CPR. Nothing happened. He tried again, but still nothing. Whatever volt it was that shot Aria was strange, for that one wouldn't wake her up no matter what Merry or Frodo did. Frodo wept even more, while Merry did his best to hold back his tears. Aria was gone and there was nothing they could do.

All the limbo worlds felt a shift, as a rippled light passed through the lands. This rippled light was seen less on the living worlds, including Earth, but everyone from both living and limbo worlds could feel something changing. As Mickey, Sora, Riku, and the other keyblade wielders struggled in the Battle at Keyblade Graveyard, Mickey noticed the Nobodies were returning to their original hosts. That included even the strong willed Nobodies.

Back at the limbo world Flaminus, Ronnie called out to Elijah. He eventually found him in their suite, playing another game. Elijah didn't look all too pleased to see him, but instead chose to ignore him.

"Come on, Elijah. All the Nobodies are returning back to their original hosts. That includes Frodo's Nobodies: us," said Ronnie.

"I don't want to go back to Frodo's body," said Elijah, glum. "I liked it better when I can interact with him and Aria."

"You can still do that. You are the friend part of Frodo," said Ronnie.

"And you're the troublemaker," said Elijah.

Ronnie heard calling. He then told Elijah, speedily. "Listen, we have to move, now Elijah. This is our only chance."

"And what does-" Elijah was cut off by a bright light, which tore through the air, revealing the Hall of Nature. Elijah dropped his Xbox game controller as he looked at Frodo, who lay beyond the light. "I guess my time here has ended." He told Frodo direct, "Frodo, it's time to wake up."

Moments Ago…

Just as Merry made another push, Aria screamed out. Merry moved back a little as a spirit form of Aria's human form left Aria's body. Aria's scream ended afterwards. What was standing before the four hobbits was a human form of Aria, changing to Estella in hobbit form.

"Glad to be out of there. What a nightmare," said the spirit form of Estella. She looked at Merry once, saying, "Hullo." She then flew out of the caverns in search of Estella, the original host.

"What was-" Merry was cut off by a bright light, which engulfed the room.

When the bright light stopped, the four hobbits fell to the stone ground, as if lifeless. The Nobodies that came out of them were restored. All four hobbits looked like themselves, since the Nobodies chose not to interfere with the way they looked or thought; only what personalities and other traits that belonged to the hobbits were restored.

Father Time came out to the hall just as the restoration process ended, the Nobodies no more. He knew other Nobodies were returning to their hosts, some looking as they did when they were Nobodies and others back to their original host. When it stopped, Father Time approached Frodo, who was coming out of it. Frodo's mind was muddled.

"Frodo, do you remember anything?" asked Father Time.

"Not much, except… Aria," said Frodo. He approached Aria's lifeless body. Tears stung his eyes. Frodo touched Aria's face, which looked innocent and pure. "If only there was a way to bring you back to me." He looked at his three hobbit friends, who were just coming out from the Nobody restoration process.

Two figures approached the group. One was the Lion called Aslan, while the other looked like a tall human figure, such as an Elf or as tall as Gandalf was. He looked like he held great power, yet he seemed humble in ways.

Frodo asked the tall angelic figure, "Who are you?"

"I'm the Emperor-across-the-sea," answered the tall figure.

"The Ilúvatar," said Frodo, understanding.

"Yes, I go by that name, too," said the Emperor-across-the-sea.

Frodo said, between tears, "Please, you have to help her. Aria…"

"Has restored the balance of things, as should be. The Nobodies are no more," said the Emperor-across-the-sea.

Merry said, "Shame. We could have needed their help."

Frodo told the Emperor-across-the-sea. "Please, sir. All I want to see is Aria alive and well again. I promise I'll look after her. If there's any chance to bring her back."

"She gave up her life to complete her purpose. I may be able to help, but she can only return to Earth one last time. Then she must leave. She will not be allowed a second time," said the Emperor-across-the-sea.

"Who are we talking about? My mind is muddled," said Merry.

"I remember most is Aria. I love her so much, even friendship can keep us together," said Frodo.

The Emperor-across-the-sea said, "Your minds will return, but the memories you had during the time of the Nobodies will be left muddled for a while. No, you will not remember what the Nobodies remember, for that is locked now in your hearts and souls. But I can help Aria." Picking Aria up and moving her towards his legs, the Emperor-across-the-sea rested his lips against the top of Aria's head and breathed. That breath led Aria to come back alive and awake.

Aria was in hobbit form, but felt herself changing rapidly. She was still Aria from Earth on the inside. The second the Emperor-across-the-sea moved his mouth away from Aria's head, Aria embraced Frodo. She looked at Frodo and realized he was also Elijah Molvaro. She was grateful for this, for she could have the friend she loved as well as the lover.

Merry remembered. "Estella."

Merry pressed a button on the hilt device. When the portal opened, Merry gave the hilt device to Frodo. Sam and Pippin followed Merry through the portal, returning them to Middle-earth. Frodo turned to Aria, who looked just as muddled as he was.

Aria said, "Frodo, I remember something about Earth. I must have grown up there. I remember something about coming here and meeting you."

"Is that all you remember?" asked Frodo, cheerful.

Aria nodded.

"Well, I don't remember much after the Quest for Mordor, except for you," said Frodo. "You must have meant so much to me."

Aria turned to the Emperor-across-the-sea with new hope. "Thank you."

The Emperor-across-the-sea nodded. "Aslan brought me here. He knew it was time. You can only return to Earth once, and then you must leave. You no longer belong there… not yet. Times are changing and the villains won't be grateful with this new change in plans. They'll plan an attack and it will be hard and swift. The days are numbered. Time grows short. The time to end things and begin anew has started."

Aria told him, "Ilúvatar, about my actions back on Earth. I'm sorry I ever did them."

"Just don't do them again," said the Emperor-across-the-sea.

"I promise I won't," said Aria.

The Emperor-across-the-sea showed tears. "It's good to have you back, daughter. Yes, you are still Merry and Estella's daughter, but you are also my child, same with Frodo and everyone else." He turned to Aslan. "Come Aslan. We can bring these two directly to the Wall of Memory. I am sure they will want to see that torch."

"How do we get back?" asked Aria.

"Good question," said Frodo.

Aslan bellowed a roar, before the Emperor-across-the-sea engulfed Frodo, Aria, and the Torch of Light in a sea of bright light. When the light was gone, so were they from the Halls of Nature.