Chapter Eight 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." Valkorion and the Sith Temple come from Bioware's "Star Wars: The Old Republic." Maleficent comes from Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and "Maleficent." The Bridge of Death comes from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Parker Dooley | Maranguan is my OMC. Paravane Trepess and the Unending Forest are my original locations. My self-insert is me.
Chapter Eight Summary: Frodo, Aria, Parker, and Anakin, now reunited, make their escape from the Sith Temple, but something is amiss that Aria and Parker cannot shake.
This chapter was a bit tricky to figure out. Since the storylines converged, figuring out who would lead this chapter proved to be a challenge. Not only that, but it also came down to the fact that since Frodo and my self-insert reunite, it was hard to figure out what Frodo and my self-insert would say. Fortunately, I think I got it fixed.
So, hopefully, it works. :)
That said, enjoy! :)
Chapter Eight:
Escape from the Sith Temple
Frodo advanced towards Aria. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he neared her.
There were no words, no words to describe this feeling. It'd been over a decade in Aria's world since they last met. For Frodo, ah Frodo, it had taken him even longer just to get to this moment.
Frodo wanted to speak out over all they'd been through, but he couldn't. They were already communicating by thought all that they went through together, telepathically. Their telepathic communication started out as something like this:
Frodo, Aria spoke to him by thought.
Aria, Frodo inquired by thought. He was touched by her, but there was something about their current situation that he couldn't deny. And so, he looked at her, telling her, profusely, So this is all your doing.
What?
Aria, why did you abandon us? Why did you abandon all of us, for over a decade? We needed you, Aria. Did you know that? We needed you so badly.
Look, Frodo, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I had no way of getting here. All the portals were closed, and I didn't recall how to open them. Otherwise, I would have come a lot sooner! Please forgive me.
There's more, isn't there? What's bothering you? I can read your mind. I know what you're going through, Aria, Frodo paused, taking her in. Look, if you don't want to talk about it, then we can discuss it later. But I can hear your troubles, Aria. We'll speak more about this soon.
And yet, all Frodo could do was stare at her, move a lock of dark brown hair out of Aria's eyes, lean forward, and give her a soft peck on the cheek.
It was in that moment that Frodo leaned in and gave Aria a fair kiss on the lips. Softly at first, which quickly developed into hard, fast kisses. Time seemed to stand still. Frodo and Aria broke away, not knowing how long they kissed, before embracing each other.
Frodo wept in her arms. Aria did the same. Oh, how they wanted to yell, have a shouting contest in fury over their separation. Their thoughts did the job for them, explaining to each other why Aria jumped back into Father Time's machine to reset everything. The way Frodo looked at Aria astounded him.
Aria hardly recalled what happened to her inside Father Time's machine. Was her mind as muddled as his was? He sighed, nodding slowly but surely in appreciation.
They had to get back to Father Time, resort to solving this mess they both undertaken, and hopefully, find a solution to this mess, before something happened to them and to everyone else as well.
The look in Aria's eyes told Frodo enough about her. He couldn't be angry at her for too long. She was too sweet, and he… well, he was just shy and miserable, wasn't he? Kindness, compassion, they both shared that, but there was still so much more to their character than kindness and compassion.
They were complex. It was enough.
Now, what could they do?
It took Frodo time to realize Parker Dooley and Anakin Skywalker's Force Ghost were staring at them. Had they been there for a long time? Or was it a short time?
"Ahem! We should get going," Parker said, ruining this heartfelt moment. He nodded, his yellow dragon eyes smiling at Frodo and Aria, as Parker declared, "Anakin's coming with us. He's our personal Force Ghost and guide. I don't know why, but he is."
Aria smirked, thrilled to see Anakin in person, again, "Of course, you're here. You really are coming with us?"
Frodo laughed, merrily. "Well, he is. I wouldn't be surprised. I'd just watch him. He's pretty powerful now, as am I."
"So am I. Whose going to question us on whose more powerful, Frodo?" Parker asked, giddy with excitement.
Frodo laughed, enjoying himself. "Well, you're not wrong." He looked at Aria, telling her as he kissed her lips. "You ready?"
Aria nodded, resting her forehead against his. "I'm ready."
Frodo nodded, gently patting her right shoulder. " Then let's go." He moved his forehead, leaving them both wincing and upset. Frodo sighed, extending his arm to her. "Shall we?"
Aria nodded, taking his arm. "I'm ready. Let's go."
"Right," Frodo said, glancing around the grand hall. It was so murky, with sickly green light coming off the dark grey stone walls, Frodo feared he would end up trapped here, inside the Sith Temple. But if Aria was here, he was safe, right? "All right. Come on. We'd better hurry." He didn't want to talk for long hours with Aria inside the temple, for he feared that would wind up being their fate, if they stayed there even longer.
Aria rubbed his arm, calming him down a bit. "Come on, Frodo. Are you all right?"
"Yeah. Just this funny feeling that I've been here before," Frodo said, warily. It was strange, like he was remembering another time where he was a Sith Lord. When did that happen?
Frodo brushed the thought off, as he followed Parker and Anakin—all while Frodo kept hold of Aria's hand—down the dark, murky hall, towards the temple doors. He looked around fast, dragging Aria with him, as he spotted so many villains staring at them. The villains, including Valkorion, faded and then reappeared, then vanished moments later in a misty green smoke.
Frodo sighed, his legs trembling fiercely.
"Frodo, we have to go!" Aria said, her voice clawing at Frodo's memories, tearing him apart. He remembered his place, as he looked at Aria, feeling wanted again. "Frodo, come on! Let's go!" Aria cried, determined to get them out of there.
All at once, Anakin opened the temple doors, stretching forth his hand as he reached out to the Force, keeping the doors opened as Frodo, Parker, and Aria ran through the opening. Anakin followed, closing the temple doors behind them.
Aria looked on in amazement, wondering how and why it was so easy to leave the Sith Temple. "That was too easy. That makes me upset and worried."
Frodo blew a raspberry, wondering, "And what makes you say that?"
Aria looked at him, reminding him, "Don't you remember? Every story has this: when something's too easy, it's a trap. It's always been this way."
Frodo giggled, recalling, "Aria, we got out of there, safely. Let's go!"
"Yeah, it was too easy," Parker said. "The villains couldn't let us escape that easy."
Anakin shrugged. "Well, if Aria passed the villains' test, then nothing can go wrong. I know. I was a villain once, remember? I'm sure we won't meet any villains from the temple, while we're outside." He changed the subject, "Come on. It's time to go. Over the bridge and back to Paravane Trepess." He reminded Parker, "Your wife and brother are waiting for you, remember?"
"Oh, right! That's right. I do remember," Parker said, cautious that his drunken mayhap at Swan Tavern would cost him everything.
Anakin stared at the trio in wonder. How did they survive the Alternate Timelines, while he was away? He shook his head, saying to them, "Well, come on, you lot. We don't want to be late."
Aria grabbed Frodo's arm, contemplating on what they should do next, "Frodo, your admirers. What should we do?"
Frodo stretched forth his hand to calm her, all while keeping her arm locked in his, "Relax. I think, once my admirers see we're together, all should be well. Come on. They tried to make me forget you. I told you this telepathically. How bad can it be? I love you, Aria," Frodo kissed her temple, embracing her scent. "Come on. Maybe Anakin's right. There's nothing to worry about."
"Oh no! Not you again!" Parker stated, getting everyone's attention on the Bridge of Death. There was Maleficent on the other side, with her fair complexion and wearing a brown dress, and dark brown boots. Her dark brown wings kept her flying in the air, but she landed in front of the bridge, right on the other side, smirking.
Aria contemplated at once, "See? What did I tell you! It's too easy."
"Aria, calm down," Frodo whispered in her ear. "We don't want to cause any more trouble. Relax. I've got this."
"Hmm…" Maleficent hummed, as Frodo, Parker, and Aria crossed the Bridge of Death. Anakin followed suit, guiding the trio across the bridge. Maleficent took a few steps back, encouraging them to pass. The second the four companions were across the bridge, and back the way they came, Maleficent followed them, keen on seeing them reach their steeds.
Aria tried to glance back, only to be tightly by Frodo, who wouldn't let her go. "Frodo, my hand."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Frodo loosened his grip, hopeful she wouldn't try to run. He hoped it. Frodo glanced at Maleficent, who silently watched them walk on. Keen on getting back into town, Frodo watched Parker and Anakin arrive at Parker's horse, just as Frodo and Aria climbed down the hill and reached Frodo's pony.
Frodo looked at Maleficent, watching her reach Aria and grab her arm. Maleficent snatched Aria away from Frodo in a heartbeat, keen on getting their attention fast. "Don't!" Frodo screamed, stopping Maleficent in her tracks, "She's been through enough!"
"Hmm… has she?" Maleficent stated, facing Aria, "You're in a lot of trouble. Resetting everything. You do realize what's coming? The Void. Even we cannot escape this fate. You forced the Nobodies to vanish. Now, your fate has been sealed. All of our fates have been sealed. And when the Void comes, we'll all be caught in darkness. I thought you liked that, the darkness, Aria. It's what you're best at."
She shoved Aria back to Frodo, who collided towards the green grassy ground, taking Aria with him.
Maleficent smirked, adding, "The Void is close. I cannot wait to see this Pocket World suffer. Ha ha ha! Good luck to you all. I'll see you all very, very soon. Goodbye!" She flapped her wings, flying away an instant, only to land at the top of Swan Tavern's rooftop in shock of the innkeeper, who yelled at her.
Maleficent yelled back, knowing she had won this fight.
Frodo winced, helping Aria stand up, as she helped him stand. As they brushed off the grass and dirt from their clothes, Frodo and Aria took each other in.
Their moment was broken by Frodo's hobbitess admirers, who gasped long and hard at them, shocked to see them together.
"I thought she was gone!" Frodo's first hobbitess admirer stated.
"She should be gone! Frodo's mine!" Frodo's second hobbitess admirer said, giddy with excitement.
"No, he's mine!" Frodo's third hobbitess admirer said, fighting the first two hobbitess admirers.
Frodo laughed, but only for a second.
The clouds roiled in, turning into a sickly pinkish-grey color. The winds picked up, followed by a sudden rush of heat from the air. Leaves blew around the town Paravane Trepess.
Parker sighed, reacting fast. "I have to find Eliza and Turen! Surely, they're here!" He rushed off, away from his horse, much to Anakin's disdain.
"Wait, Parker, you won't find them! Parker! Oh no," Anakin glowered, facing Frodo and Aria for a second. "Stay together. I'll keep an eye on Parker. Go!" He vanished, chasing after the light red dragonoid.
Frodo glanced this way and that. Something was in the air.
He and Aria glanced up at the roiling clouds, turning darker shades of grey within seconds. Frodo wrapped his arms around Aria, embracing her in his grasp, as the winds drew through them. Goosebumps shown from their arms and legs, driving the cold followed by the heat through their clothes.
Darkness swirled, plunging them, Parker, Anakin, the town, everyone and everything into a billowing nothingness, where all that could be seen was the Void.
Well, apparently, the reset did more than we thought.
Now, the question remains is how Frodo, my self-insert, Parker, Anakin, and everyone in the Pocket World are getting out of this mess!
Thanks for reading. :) More to come. :)
~Aria Breuer