Chapter Fifteen Disclaimers: Frodo Baggins comes from J.R.R. Tolkien's book trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Anakin Skywalker | Darth Vader | Anakin's Force Ghost comes from George Lucas and Disney's "Star Wars." Parker Dooley | Maranguan and Syrena are my original characters. Paravane Trepess is my original town. My self-insert is me.

Chapter Fifteen Inspired Soundtrack: "Star Wars: Rebels" Seasons 1 - 4 Soundtrack.

Chapter Fifteen Inspired Clips: "Spider-Man Transformation Scene," from the 2002 live-action film, "Spider-Man." "Ren's Transformation Scene," from Season 1 of the 2016 – present web series, "Ren: Girl with the Mark." "Bella's Transformation Scene" from Stephanie Meyer's book series, the Twilight Saga.

Warning! This chapter is Rated M for Mature. It is Rated M for sensuality.

Chapter Fifteen Summary: Frodo and Aria's transformation into half-vines, half-human, and half-hobbit is complete. Upon waking up, Aria runs away from Frodo, only for Frodo to find her. And yet, Aria misses home. Her old life anyway. Can she adjust to her new life with Frodo and their friends? And what happens when Frodo and Aria explore their new base?

Sorry for the long-months delay. I was reposting fanfics over on Archive Of Our Own or AO3, and then fear took over me since July 2024, which took this month to come out of. Apparently, fear is normal for spiritual awakenings. Well, this was another time for it.

Also, I learned zoning out is healthy for the brain. It's something I'm relearning, as my self-insert will find a way to adjust to zoning out, too.

We're also, sort of, exploring the base now. Sort of, due to what's about to happen to my self-insert.

That said, enjoy. :)

Chapter Fifteen:

Exploring the Base

It's starting… now!

The vine that seeped into Frodo's heart left its mark on him. The vine spread its arm throughout Frodo's internal system, coursing through him until he was half-vine, half-hobbit. For a moment, Frodo forgot to breathe. Then his breathing protruded from his mouth, allowing him to take slow, deep breaths.

As for the vines cast over Aria's body, from within and underneath her clothes, they soon seeped within her heart and her stomach, jutting throughout her internal system, as well as her external system. By the time they were done with her, she had become half-vine, half-human, transfigured to look like a hobbit while she was in this universe, where Frodo and her friends were located.

It was a much quicker transformation than anyone could guess. Moments after the process was done, Frodo and Aria fell into a deep slumber, not waking up until a few hours later, right when Syrena hoped they would awaken.

Syrena checked the clock on the wall, admitting to Frodo and Aria, as they sat up, "You were only asleep for three hours! Are you okay?"

Frodo sighed. "Three hours, huh?" He faced Aria, smirking uncontrollably. "I've never felt better." He kissed Aria's temple, leaving her feeling dazed and confused.

"You're unusually happy," Aria said, as Frodo leaned down to her neck, kissing her several times to coo her into his gaze.

Frodo chuckled, merrily. "I hardly know what you mean. I feel so alive!" He continued kissing her, stunned that a green vine's arm jutted out from his back. When the vine returned to his hand, before returning within his back, it produced a bottle of water. "Thank you," Frodo told the vine, as it proceeded to slid within his body again. He gave one last kiss against Aria's neck for now. He glanced up at Aria, holding the water bottle towards her, "Water? You need to drink something. You know that, right?" He patted her across the back, calming her down.

Aria took the bottle of water from his hands. The water slaked her thirst. She wanted this water badly. It made no sense that she was more thirsty than usual. Well, maybe it did. She was part vine now. She guessed water was the first drink she would have, wasn't it?

She took a swig of water, feeling it course through her veins, as well as the vines themselves. She watched Frodo do the same, watching as a vine's arm reached out and grabbed him a bottle of water, too.

Aria couldn't tell if Frodo was happier because he now had a living plant inside himself, or why she was feeling lighter than usual. Was this normal? And why were the vines holding up her right shoulder as well as her right arm from within her body? Not literally holding her right arm and her right shoulder up. No. Instead, keeping the bones, muscles, and nerves together from within her right arm and her right shoulder.

Was this right? It only meant that she wouldn't have just the Archangels healing her right arm and her right shoulder! Was that the reason for why the vines wanted her so badly? Other than the vines pleasuring her, this seemed to be the other reason for their erratic behavior.

Aria soon turned her attention towards the white-standard unicorn Syrena. She gazed at this unicorn, asking Syrena, "We'll always be like this, won't we? Part vine, part human and part hobbit? It's so strange and confusing."

Syrena waved a grey hoof at her. "I know, Aria! I know. Don't worry. They'll likely be with you, even when you're in your universe. That was the whole point of the transformation you and Frodo endured. They'll be with you, always, those vines. Such is the way of things, it would seem."

Aria nodded once. "I see."

Frodo took a swig of water, feeling more alive now. He chuckled, merrily, for the second time, unable to control his laughter. He shook his head, enjoying himself too much to care about anything else.

Frodo wrapped an arm around Aria's shoulders. He leaned forward, whispering in her ear, "Relax. Take this moment to your advantage. You'll always have company. Isn't that what's important?"

"Um… eh. Well, I…" Aria could hardly speak. She turned to Frodo, noticing his nods and head tilts, even when he dived for her neck, kissing her once again.

Aria fell into a daze. A wave of shock coursing through her veins. Fear overwhelmed her. She wanted more than anything to be alone. In her haste, she pulled away from Frodo's kisses. She stood up fast, darting towards the door and leaving the third war room behind.

It was then that Parker made it over the threshold, entering the third war room, when Aria escaped. Parker looked on at Syrena and Frodo, telling them, "She looks good!"

~o~

Aria ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She was nearly halfway down the hallway, when a slimy, green vine arm stretched itself towards her, wrapping around her waist, and joining with the other vines, coursing throughout her body.

Aria was pulled off the floor, dragged into the air, until she came face to face with Frodo.

Frodo cupped her hands in his, breathing her in, and not letting her go. He tilted his head to his left side, eyeing her with great care. "What's wrong, Aria? Don't you want me?"

Aria looked at him now, stunned. What did he mean by it? "Frodo, I..." her words were cut off, right as Frodo raised his hand to stop her, before resuming to cup his hand in hers.

He leaned in, keeping his gaze on her. "You know, you can't escape this. Escape me. Where else are you going to go?" He eyed her, leaning in close to her right ear. "You're home, Aria. You have friends and family here. Please stay."

Aria shied away from him. She looked at him now, asking him, "What about my old life? Back home, there's family and friends who need me there, too. Eh!" Her breath faltered. Frodo wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. He moved his hand towards her forehead, moving a lock of dark brown hair out of her right eye.

Frodo looked at her for a moment. He admitted to her, "And how do you know that they're safe?" He paused, letting her ponder this question he just asked her. He smirked, shyly, coaxing her, "I assure you, they're fine. Now, maybe if you would quit running and see that you're safe here, too, then there would be no need to panic. Now..." His thoughts drifted off, the moment Syrena poked her head out from the threshold to the third war room.

"...Hey! Do you two want to explore the base for a little bit? Anakin's expecting Aria to come to the second war room. It gives you both a chance to explore this place, for a while," Syrena stated, right as Frodo turned his gaze from her back to Aria.

Frodo shrugged. He asked Aria, "Shall we?"

Aria nodded silently. Her legs trembled, the sensation never leaving her. "Right. Wherever you go then, I go."

Frodo nodded, peacefully. "Right then. Let's go." He watched as the vines drifted him and Aria back to the floor. Frodo faced Syrena, but not before he pulled Aria close to himself yet again. "You're not getting away that easy. Maybe this time, you won't run away from me."

Aria sighed, not liking the feeling of being trapped. She winced a little, the second she felt Frodo kissing the left side of her neck again. She closed her eyes, relaxing as Frodo's kisses overwhelmed her.

By the time she opened her eyes, after a momentary blackout, Aria could feel Frodo drag her along throughout the base.

They had left the mess hall, carrying a morsel or two to eat and drink. Before long, they were off again, stopping near a balcony, overlooking the town, Paravane Trepess.

Aria didn't know what happened. A moment before, she and Frodo were kissing... or was it Frodo who kissed her? The next minute, they were exploring the base. She fell back in her mind, overhearing a conversation she hardly recalled hearing.

No way! She was zoning out! Was this natural? Was it natural at all? She felt her brain taking a break for a while. All she had to do was calm down as she came to, to her laughing up a storm with Frodo, who joined in.

It was wonderful, but Aria wished she could hear the entire conversation, without her brain having a pitstop.

Was this worth it? She hardly knew. All she knew was that when she became fully conscious, she and Frodo were kissing. It made Aria wonder what they had discussed, but it must have been good.

"Come on, let's go. Anakin's expecting you," Frodo said, as Aria became fully aware of her surroundings.

She blinked, shaking her head a little to recognize that she was back.

It didn't take Frodo long to find out what was going on, "You blacked out. You zoned out, didn't you? I thought I was talking to someone else who looked like you. You're telling me no one notices you when you black out, when you zone out?"

Aria paused, shaking her head. "No. I guess they don't. Is this bad?"

Frodo inhaled, exhaling slowly. "No. It's all right for your brain to rest, Aria. When you go, mentally, that's when I make sure not to drag you to somewhere that's dangerous. Trust me, I know."

Aria gulped. She was afraid of that, "What happens when I black out, when I'm in danger?"

Frodo shook his head, keeping his arms wrapped around Aria's waist. "I don't know. Let's hope it doesn't happen when battle comes. For I sense it will come for all of us soon." He shrugged, tilting his head to the side. "Come on. We need to find Anakin, get your training started up again."

Aria looked down at floor, contemplating on what they should do next. "Oh right. About that..." Her words drifted from her mouth.

Frodo sighed, tempering his words with glee, "...oh, come on now! This time, you won't be facing Anakin alone. This isn't like the Sith Temple. Trust me, I know. We're in a safe space. Besides," he chuckled, "maybe Anakin could teach me a few things about the Force."

Aria gazed at him now in confusion, wanting this nightmare to end. "I thought you cared about my right shoulder."

Frodo laughed, enjoying himself. "You'll see. Come on, let's go." He nearly walked ahead, before stopping her again. "Eh eh! And this time, we go via vine arms."

"What do you... mean? Oof!" Aria was pulled into the air, thanks to Frodo and the vine arms, guiding them back inside the base, right into the second war room.

For it was in the second war room—a much narrower room with dim blue lights and windows resting high above them, close to the ceiling—where they found Anakin's Force Ghost, ready to train Aria some more.

How was that?

This chapter took months to figure out. I was having so much writer's block with it as well. Such a nightmare I'm glad is over with now, with this chapter posted. :)

Next chapter is my self-insert's training with Anakin Skywalker. What happens after the next chapter... well, we'll see. :)

Thanks for reading. More chapters to come. :)

~Aria Breuer