Chapter Nineteen Disclaimers: Frodo Baggins comes from J.R.R. Tolkien's book trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Kat'ka is my original character. My self-insert is me.

Warning! This chapter is Rated M for sensual themes.

Chapter Nineteen Summary: Frodo arrives at a dystopian New York City. He searches for Aria, and finds her at her apartment, from which they rekindle their love.

Here is the rewritten version of this chapter. Enjoy. :)

Chapter Nineteen:

Rekindling

The portal vanished behind Frodo, startling the poor hobbit.

He turned this way and that, finding himself smack dab in the middle of Times Square. Only, many of the screens weren't present. Frodo felt strangely like he was back in time, back to when he was just beginning to form upon the writings of The Lord of the Rings.

Had he really fallen back in time? And why were there horses and horse-drawn carriages around New York City?

He found a nearby stable, hopeful that someone there would guide him on what was going on. He peered inside, finding so many horses and ponies inside.

Great. Like that was going to help him out.

He decided to head back out to Times Square, finding a change in the stores already.

Only, the stores he caught glimpses of only showed places that weren't inspired by books and fictional characters. He hardly recognized their names. Not even Broadway was the same, for something scientific had taken over the theatre.

"You are not how I pictured you would be," Frodo told the theatre, wondering if something had happened to the arts and creativity on this dystopian Modern Earth.

All at once, he spotted a passerby, hopeful they would answer his question.

"Excuse me, miss, but you wouldn't happen to know what happened to Broadway? The art street of New York City, too?"

The lady huffed, telling him, flat out, "You, sir, are mistaken! Nobody creates in this city, let alone anywhere in the world! We are businessmen and women, as well as scientists, or even sportsmen and women. Pfft! What are you talking about? Hahaha!" She walked on without another word.

Frodo looked at her, contemplating what he was doing here.

Why was he here?

"I'm looking for Aria. Right, I'll..." oh, but Frodo was so lost now! Surely, he could find her somewhere in his city. She couldn't be too far away.

Follow his instincts. Yes, that would be wise. It was the only thing he had to keep track of her. He might as well do just that.

But where did Aria go?

What was one of the obvious spots Frodo could think of Aria being? Central Park? Why, yes! Peaceful naturistic spots. Surely, Central Park was still around. Now, he just needed to get there.

His gaze turned towards a sheet of paper the loomed atop a lamppost. A ball. There was going to be a ball tonight. Well, if he could wake up Aria, and help her get to the ball tonight, then surely, she might let him back in.

Yes, that sounded about right.

He spun around, surprising himself to find he had wandered off to an apartment complex. He made his way inside, informing the landlord who he was seeing and where to find her. The landlord kindly guided him to Aria's apartment complex.

"Thank you!" Frodo darted up the stairs at once. The moment he reached the top floor to Aria's suite, he knocked on the door.

There was no sound. He knocked again.

The door opened, revealing Aria dressed up in her best red jacket, white dress shirt, and black dress pants. The way she stared at him almost made Frodo's senses go wild. Frodo gently lowered his hand, upon which Aria slammed the door shut in front of him.

Frodo retracted his hand fast, knocking on the door a third time.

The door opened again a few moments later. Did Aria recognize him?

"Aria, it's me. It's Frodo! Frodo Baggins. We met before," Frodo stated, wondering if she recalled him.

"I must be dreaming," Aria said, flabbergasted. "What are you doing here? The last time we met, you kicked me out of the base at Paravane Trepess. Then I was flooded with memories I didn't know I had. Then I fell into a spiritual sleep. No thanks to you, I'm... waking up. This fast. You're too quick, Frodo!"

Frodo dived in, kissing Aria on the lips and closing the door behind them. They stayed that way for a few moments, already missing each other. The second they released, they embraced, not wanting to let the other go.

Frodo smiled, happy his beloved remembered him. "I should have known you wouldn't forget me or anyone else."

"I felt you coming," Aria stated, confused and bewildered by her current situation. "I don't know why, but just seeing you brought back all those memories. Do I really have to sacrifice myself? Don't I get to see how this story ends?"

Frodo's smile faded. He released her, cupping her head in his hands. "I won't let that happen! Five years of life experience, and you already think you know so much about life. You've barely started." He kissed her on the lips again, embracing her once more. "I didn't think you'd remember me this fast. I thought... but you're too resilient! Kat'ka said you have a job, a life here. What is your job?"

Aria sighed, despair reaching her eyes. "The only one Seraphina gave to me, should anything happen to me. If reality took over anyway." She looked at Frodo now, telling him, "I'm still writing. Freelance writing in this reality. It was the only one I could think of. The only writing career that's available here. Why should I give up writing, just because this world has turned upside down?"

Frodo snickered, kissing her forehead in delight. "Well, at least, you didn't give up on your dreams."

"No. I'm glad of it," Aria stated, cautious now. "So, how do we get back? I'd like to have a word with Casses about her decision to dump me so profusely!"

Frodo chuckled. "Well, we have a problem. The Original Timelines are gone, again."

"What? No. How!" Aria asked, alarmed to hear this news.

Frodo huffed. "After you freaked out, reality took over. Fantasy and fiction left the worlds behind. It's getting worse. And..." he lowered his head, understanding now the weight of Aria's mission, "...I suppose the only way you can come back, same as Parker Dooley, is to sacrifice yourself. I know, you hate it, as do I. But what's the worst that could happen to us?"

Aria lowered her head in shame, feeling the weight rest upon her shoulders. Did she really have to die to save everyone? And how would she get back, should the worst come to pass? What would happen to everyone if she did that?

Aria sighed, feeling after all she'd done, something had to be done.

She looked up at Frodo, nodding to him in understanding.

Frodo looked at her now, asking her, "So, how did writing manage to stay a job? It's creative, isn't it?"

Aria chuckled. "No. There's technical writing. Writing managed to stick, in spite of creativity being lost to this world. Writing is the one creative aspect that didn't leave. Maybe it's a sign, hope."

"I sure hope it is." Frodo already felt Kat'ka calling out to him. He looked around, embracing Aria fast.

All around them, Aria's apartment dematerialized. The Alternate Timelines rematerialized.

Frodo and Aria looked all around them, confused with what they were seeing. Frodo couldn't believe it. They were on the pod that would take them to different worlds again. Frodo stepped out of the pod, letting Aria follow him, as they returned to Kat'ka.

Kat'ka smiled at them, but that smile was short-lived, for no sooner had she smiled did the dark storm clouds grow longer. "It's coming. We need to move."

"What?" Aria asked, still confused over what was going on. "We have to find Seraphina. We have to..."

"...I know, Aria!" Kat'ka told her, as she searched for videos on the holoterminal. "But we've got a problem with these dark storm clouds. New York City is still a dystopian place right now. It's not safe for you there."

Aria huffed. "I've been to New York for two years now. I was lucky to find work there. Do you know how much harder it is to do freelance work there these days? Well, in the dystopian New York, it was vastly harder."

Kat'ka huffed in return. "Sounds terrible."

"We were going to fix the Alternate Timelines, remember? Those dark storm clouds are growing longer and wider." Frodo complained, pointing out the dark storm clouds.

"The Darkness is almost upon us." Kat'ka faced Frodo and Aria then, telling them, "Listen, find Seraphina if you can. Nash, too, but I fear we don't have a whole lot of time, before the Darkness comes."

Aria nodded, facing her and Frodo with great joy, 'Let's find Seraphina."

"Now? Aria, those storm clouds are..."

"...oh, come now, Frodo! What's the worst that could happen?" Aria asked, taking Frodo by the hand.

Frodo retracted, stopping her immediately, "Aria, your arm. I think I may know of a way to save your arm and your bones. Archangel Raphael..."

"...has been healing me. I told you this earlier! Didn't you hear me before?" Aria asked Frodo, stern now.

"I don't know, Aria. For you, it's been five years. How would you remember it?" Frodo asked her, cautious now.

"I don't know," Aria looked away for a moment, before facing him again. "I'm just remembering more things now that we're back here. As if I never left." She changed the subject on him. "Come on! We'd better find Seraphina."

"When did you get so bold?" Frodo asked her, as Aria dragged him throughout the camp.

Kat'ka chuckled, telling them, "Good luck. You'll need it." She returned to the holoterminal, determined to find whatever videos she was looking for.

Chapter Nineteen Outro Song(s): "With Love," song by Hilary Duff.

.x.

How was that?

Originally, I thought about making my self-insert sacrifice herself in this chapter. But I thought against it and went back to what I wrote the first time. I say it's better now. :)

I'm still brainstorming the next chapter. So, we'll see what happens next. :)

Thanks for reading. More chapters to come. :)

~Aria Breuer