The three companions rode through the often-narrow causeway of the foreboding mountains. Fog hung thick in the air as if its very hands might grab them and then drag them away somewhere to never be seen again. They came to an archway with strange carvings. Their two steeds were neighing wickedly, and they turned their noble beasts loose for their own sakes, horses would not do well underground anyway.

Aladdin, grave as he was in Moria went in first without a word, and then Robin Hood, with a deep breath followed in.

"The Fox goes underground, while a Dwarf dare not, I'd never hear the end of this!" Grumpy grumbled to himself as he rushed after his two friends.

Meanwhile, Minas Tirith was in really bad state. An army sent by the Enemy was practically at their gates, Taran had attempted to lead a force to charge their opponents head on, but all that resulted in was a number of deaths, and many wounded, including himself. Ector was succumbed by grief, refusing any counsel. Merlin had found himself forced to take charge of the city. They sent the biggest boulders they could from their catapults at the opposing army crushing flanks, but that could only do so much. Piglet had looked upon Taran and listened with his big ears at his new friend's nose and realized that despite not being fully conscious, Taran was alive! But Ector just wouldn't listen to his or Gurgi's pleas and threw him out of his throne room.

They rushed to get help from the wizard, who not wanting Taran to be needlessly killed Merlin rushed to help them. They were in luck, Ector had gathered fuel to form a funeral pyre for himself and Taran, surrounded by his immediate guards.

"This is what the kings of old would do, there will be no eternal rest for the two of us, my line is over, even if it were just my family line, my blood will not be passed down regardless!" he exclaimed bitterly as he doused himself with oil. He grabbed a torch and set it upon the pyre with himself and Taran still upon it but Piglet and Gurgi jumped up and were able to roll the unconscious captain off.

"Don't you dare take my son from me!" Ector shouted trying to stop them but Merlin was quick and using a quick spell caused him to fall onto the pyre. It was in that moment, Taran began to awake, Ector could see his adopted son's eyes opening. Unfortunately for him, he was still covered in oil and surrounded by fire, he became engulfed in the flame. With great speed for a man of his girth he ran out, eyewitnesses claimed later that they saw him jump into the fray in a final sacrifice.

In a distant corner where the sun never shone, three small travelers and an owl had entered a dark cave. It was clearly filled with many tunnels but as it was the closest thing to a secret passage they were going to get into Mordor, they had to take it. Somewhere down this tunnel, Donald felt himself grabbed and pulled away. He realized far too quickly that it was in fact Creeper!

"Yeh nasty brute!" he exclaimed. Drawing his sword and taking a good swipe at the foul creature.

"I will have the precious yet!" Creeper exclaimed. Donald never trusted the Creeper and was more than prepared to fight him. What he wasn't prepared for was getting separated from Mickey, the one person he had sworn to stay close to and not lose from the very beginning of this quest! And here he was separated from his friend. He kicked Creeper right in the ribs and then found a pit that he cleverly pushed him down into.

Archimedes came flying right at him!

"Quickly Donald! Mickey might need help!" Donald unsheathed his sword and rushed down the tunnel where Archimedes lead him. At the end was an opening and a sight that would have chilled any mortal to the bone: A giant spider spinning Mickey into some sort of web cocoon! Donald rushed over and chopped off one of its legs. The spider screeched in pain and started turning its attention to the attacker, but Donald now had his blood pumping and stabbed his adversary in one of its eyes. The arachnid flung back its head in pain screeching at what would pass for the heavens on the outskirts of Mordor. Unfortunately for the foul beast, it left its midsection exposed and Donald took his advantage and stabbed the creature in the chest.

Defeated, the spider slunk back into its domain of tunnels and darkness. Whether it ever recovered, this tale does not tell but I believe many of us would like to believe that the wounds Donald gave it eventually caused the foul creature's demise.

Donald rushed to his friend, and pulling back the wrappings he saw Mickey pale and seemingly lifeless. The poor duck was crushed, here he was miles from home in a dark and dreadful place, his best friend apparently dead when they still had a way to go before reaching the final destination.

"Donald, we must carry on. Mickey would want us to, I know you're hurt, I am too, but we can't stay here to mourn," Archimedes pointed out. Donald knew the little owl was right. He took Mickey's blade, the light he had been given by Simba and Nala, knowing that he would need it in the darkness of Mordor and lastly, he took the Ring from around his friend's neck and placed it around his. That's when he heard voices. He and Archimedes quickly hid themselves and saw a group of goblins coming from where they knew they'd have to go. The creatures surrounded Mickey.

"Looks like old Shelob has been havin' some fun!"

"He's not dead, just paralyzed, she likes them fresh!"

"Well, c'mon, let's take him and see what he's up to in these parts!"

Donald couldn't believe his ears!

In another dark tunnel three companions walked in horrifying silence until they were greeted by a group by (there is no other word one could use to describe them) ghosts. At the head of them was a yellow eyed individual with blue flames for hair.

"Alright, whaddya want, and make it snappy, ain't got all day," he said.

"I have come to fulfill your oath!" announced Aladdin.

"Look palsy, only the King of Gondor can command me to do that, and from what I understand, that lineage has been deader than me for centuries, and I am the King of the Dead, Hades!" then he seemed to summon up a blue flaming sword, but Aladdin was ready for that and blocked it with his own blade! Hades looked upon it with fear in his eyes!

"That blade was destroyed long ago!" he shrieked; he recognized it.

"Fight alongside me and I will release from this living death, what say you?" asked Aladdin. Hades' lips curled into a smile.

"We fight!"