Chapter 62 of Tessa and The Stranger in the Plane

Posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on October 10, 1999 at 01:15:54:

: Chapter 62 [Endgame] (written by Goodsport)

: "Dude, what's going on???"
: Short Round woke up to the thick, molten air, finding his hands and feet tied up as he was sitting against a cave wall. He glanced around. He say both Lamberts sitting next to him, similarly tied up. Standing ahead of him in the dark cave was the Fiddler, speaking to a bald, tattooed-faced man in robes. To powerfully built men stood to the side, a little ahead of where molten lave could clearly be heard.
: Shorty turned his head toward Indiana James. "This don't look good!"

: - - -

: After several hours of trudging through the mud the plains had become because of the downpour from the blood-red clouds, Mount Doom was finally in sight.
: "We'll set up camp here," Boromir announced, as he rode up to Micah's tree and addressed him. "We'll come up with a plan between our two groups to retrieve your friends and to stop the evil once and for all!"

: - - -

: "Good Fiddler," Saruman called out, "bring forth both Lamberts."
: The Fiddler walked over menacingly to Indiana James and Brett and, with both hands, lifted each of them by the neck.
: "Now we'll see who dies first!" the Fiddler grinned, as he tightened his grip on the gasping Lamberts.
: The Chosen turned around. "Careful, Fiddler," Saruman said, "we need them aliveÖ for now!"
: "Don't worry, Chosen," answered the Fiddler, "I won't let them die so quick - believe me!"
: The Fiddler slammed both Indiana James and Brett onto the stone altar table. Mikal took a hold of Indiana James' arm and slit it slightly with a knife. He allowed James' blood to drip into a small glass vial.
: Saruman took the vial of James' blood from Mikal and lifted it. "Now the ancient prophecy will come true," the Chosen though aloud, "the blood of the Lambert brothers will release the Ringwraiths, who in turn will find the One Ring of Power!" He tossed the vial into the pool of molten lava below him. The lava churned and rose, its fires increasing.
: With everyone's attention on the Lamberts, Short Round tried wriggling his wrists out of the ropes binding them. He was slowly succeeding, but seemed to be taking forever.
: Krede took a knife and slit Brett's arm, letting his blood drip into another vial. He then handed the vial to Saruman.
: Short Round let the rope fall from his wrists. He was now working desperately on untying his ankles.
: Brett whispered sadly to James, "Yo bro', our blood's gonna destroy Valinor, eh?'
: James smiled. "Don't worry, it ain't gonna workÖ not as long as Short Stuff gets outta here quickly!"
: Confused, Brett asked, "I don't get it!"
: "Something Gandalf told me a little while ago," answered Indiana James
: Short Round threw the rope from his ankles aside. He began tiptoeing toward the cave's entrance.
: Saruman tossed the vial of Brett's blood into the lava and shut his eyes, anticipating ultimate victory.
: Krede swiveled around and caught Short Round sneaking out. He grabbed a knife from the altar table and threw it. The knife grazed Shorty's arm, but not enough to stop Short Round from escaping through the entrance.
: Saruman opened his eyes in disgust. He turned around and screamed, "It didn't work - that last vial did not contain the blood of a Lambert!"

: - - -

: Short Round ran and ran as far and fast as he could through the dark, hot tunnels of the volcano. If only I knew the way out of here! One other thought permeated his mindÖ whether he would ever see Micki again.

: - - -

: As Saruman, Krede and Mikal glanced at the lava, contemplating on why the Ringwraiths haven't yet been summoned, Indiana James took the knife next to his hand and started cutting away the rope on his wrists. After some difficulty, he succeeded, then proceeded to the same for the ropes around his ankles and Brett's ropes. By the time the Chosen and his servants had turned, both James and Brett were gone.
: "Yo bro'," called Brett to Indiana James, as they both ran aimlessly through the dark tunnels, "how come that blood thing didn't work? Didn't those hosers need the blood of 'both Lambert brothers' for something or another?"
: "Yeah, but you better brace yourself for this one, Brett," James warned Brett as they both stopped running. "When we were babies in the maternity ward, Gandalf appeared. He already knew that all this was gonna happen sooner or later, so he switched two babies around."
: Brett's heart sank. "Who?"
: Indiana James took a deep breath. "You and Shorty!"
: Brett's jaw dropped. "That means that Short Round is actuallyÖ"
: James nodded. "Short Lambert."
: Shaking his head, Brett continued, "Ö so that would make meÖ"
: "You were the one who was really born to the Round family," revealed James, "so your real name is Brett Round."
: Brett Round dropped to the floor in shock. Indiana James Lambert helped him up and said, "Look, we have to find Shorty before they do, or else they will have the blood of both Lambert brothers!"
: They began running down the tunnel again. "Tell me something, James," Brett inquired, "what is all this about Shorty being the 'Successor' ?"
: "That," answered James, "I have no idea!"

: - - -

: Pounding his fist on the altar table as both Krede and Mikal dashed out of the cave to chase the three captives, Saruman wondered how the second vial had no Lambert blood.
: "Chosen," the Fiddler called out from across the room, as he lifted the knife that had grazed Short Lambert's arm.
: As Saruman took the knife from the Fiddler, he glanced at small amount of Shorty's blood on the edge of the blade. He finally understood - perhaps they had drawn blood from the wrong captive.
: Saruman tossed the knife into the lava. The explosion from the lava threw Saruman and the Fiddler back against the wall, as a loud shriek emanated the cave. Streams of fire shot out from the lava. One stream shot through Saruman, while another shot through the Fiddler, both of their forms transformed into fiery horsemen. Other streams escaped the cave through both the cave entrance and the hole on top of the mountain.

: - - -

: "Shorty, wait up!"
: Short Lambert turned around to see both Indiana James Lambert and Brett Round catch up to him. James explained to Shorty the same thing he told Brett, and Short Lambert almost fainted - and not because of the heat in the tunnel.
: Shorty finally spoke. "So that means that we two are reallyÖ"
: "Ö the Lambert brothers!" James finished.
: The three of them heard footsteps behind them. They dashed forward, knowing that Krede and Mikal would catch up to them soon if they didn't.

: - - -

: The Stewards of Gondor and the army of trees carrying the Phoenix Group, the Vanguards of Valinor, Tom Bambadil and Tessa finally arrived at the base of the volcano. The ground shook violently as the top of the volcano started shooting streams of fire into the dark-red sky.
: Five streams of fire each descended onto Nobody, Deirdre, Muppet, Mack and The Man with the Hat. All five of them burst into flame, burning the trees and the horses that were holding them. They were transformed into fiery horsemen, standing there menacingly among the Gondor horsemen and the Phoenix Group.

: - - -

: Both Lambert brothers and Brett Round reached a dead-end in the tunnel. The footsteps came closer.
: "You cannot escape!" said Krede, as he and Mikal approached them armed with knives.
: Fiery streams hit both pursuers in the back. Indiana James, Shorty and Brett just barely were able to jump out of the way as both men flew against the wall, their bodies catching on fire as they transformed into fiery horsemen.
: Both Ringwraiths glanced at the brothers and Brett, then rode off through the wall.

: - - -

: Gandalf fell over, his staff hurtling to the ground in front of him.
: The rings on Goodsport's, Meg's, Quint's and Tessa's hand began glowing to the point of almost blinding them.
: "Sir Gandalf," asked Goodsport, bending down to help the wizard up, "what's wrong?"
: The wizard's terrified eyes met Goodsport's. "The ring on Tessa's finger, the one I had encanted to hide its true nature from Sauron. The encantation is broken!"
: Goodsport stood up quickly, as four fiery horsemen broke through the side of the volcano to join the five already among the group of humans.
: Meg gasped as Indy turned to Goodsport and asked, "What the hell are those???"
: Goodsport glanced at Indy. "The RingwraithsÖ the Nine Mortal Men Doomed to Die!"
: Indy peered at Goodsport. "Nine Mortal Men?!? One of them's Deirdre!!!"
: Quint snorted, somewhat amused. "Perhaps Sauron's an Equal-Opportunity demon!"
: Meg and Goodsport screamed at the same time, "TESSAÖ RUN!!!"
: Before Tessa could react, the Nine Mortal Men Doomed to Die streaked toward Tessa and snatched her up! Without actually burning her, the nine fiery forms rode away into the sky toward the top of the volcano with Tessa in tow.

: - - -

: Short Lambert, Indiana James Lambert and Brett Round made their way back to the cave's entrance. What they saw both awed and terrified them - nine horsemen, the riders and horses both aflame, surrounding Tessa, who was thrown to the ground.
: A giant demonic figure rose from the lava several feet away from Tessa, his form filling up nearly the entire interior of the volcano. The Ringwraiths bowed before their master.
: "Sauron, here is the ring you seek!"
: "Excellent!" Sauron's voice boomed off the volcanic walls as he reached down toward Tessa.
: Despite his brother and Brett urging him otherwise, Short Lambert stuck his head into the cave. "Leave him alone, you buttheads!"
: They all turned toward the entrance.
: "UhhÖ" gawked Indiana James, "ÖI have a really bad feeling about this!"

: - - -

: "Orcs!" screamed Boromir, pointing to the army of Orcs rushing at them from around the base of the volcano.
: "Damn," exclaimed Indy, "they're everywhere!"
: The scene was utter mayhem as hundreds of horsemen, let by Boromir, Indiana Jerico/Faramir and Aragorn, battling in close combat with hundreds of Orcs.
: Gandalf weakly lifted himself among the mayhem. He motioned to Goodsport, Meg and Quint, and they came to him.
: "Noble Vanguards, I have but little energy remaining," informed Gandalf, "help Tessa destroy the One Ring of Power!"
: The Vanguards disappeared in the bright flash of light.

: - - -

: Brett and the Lamberts were running down the tunnel as fast as they could. It appeared that it wouldn't be enough, as the nine Ringwraiths were almost catching up to them.
: The three reached the end of the tunnel, turning around to meet their end.
: The white light that flashed in front of them, however, was not from the fiery horsemen.
: "Goodsport!" cheered Short Lambert "Meg. Quint. How'd you guys get here?"
: "Gandalf, of course," answered Goodsport, "glad to still see you in one piece, Short Round."
: "UhÖ actually, I'm Short Lambert," replied Shorty, "and that's Indiana James Lambert and Brett Round."
: Goodsport, Meg and Quint were clearly confused. "Huh?"
: Short Lambert grinned. "It's a long story!"
: Goodsport opened his backpack and took out Theoden's Spear spearhead. A smaller flash of light from inside the backpack revealed a spear shaft.
: "Thank you, Gandalf," Goodsport said quietly as he attached the spearhead to the shaft. The entire spear glowed in Goodsport's hands. He threw the spear just as the nine Ringwraiths turned the corner of the tunnel. The impact of the spear caused a mist to form around the Nine Moral Men Doomed to Die, freezing them in mid-air.
: "Come on," Goodsport said, "it'll only hold them temporarily!"
: Meg turned to Short Lambert and asked, "Where's Tessa?"
: Shorty turned to James and Brett, who answered back with shrugs.
: "Don't know," Shorty finally answered, "we were running so fast we weren't paying attention to where we were!"
: The Vanguards' ring began glowing and 'pulling'.
: "Never mind, Short Stuff!" announced Quint, the heat in the tunnel steaming up his thick glasses, "It looks like the ring will show us the way."
: Goodsport, Meg, Quint Glimsby and Short Lambert stood up and followed the pull of their rings. Indiana James and Brett followed them.

: - - -

: The ring on Tessa's finger began to glow. She felt pure power surge through her body, and it felt good to her.
: "Yes, Theresa!" boomed Sauron's voice, "Give me the Ring, and you will have all that power and more!"
: "Don't listen to him, Tessa!" Goodsport shouted from the entrance of the cave, "He's lying. That Ring is corrupt. If you keep it on too long, it'll corrupt you as it corrupted Gollum and almost corrupted Frodo Baggins!"
: "I don't care what you say!" screamed Tessa, under the influence of the Ring, "I've never heard of those two. Besides, I finally can do anything and everything I want!"
: Quint approached Tessa. "Look, that isn't you talking, it's the Ring. Now give it us!"
: "WHY?!?" Tessa yelled, " So you can become all-powerful???"
: "No!" answered Goodsport, "So we can throw it into the lava from where it was forgedÖ to destroy it once and for all! Otherwise, Sauron becomes completely invincible!"
: Quint grabbed Tessa's hand, trying to pull of the ring. With a wave of her hand, Quint flew across the room and slammed into the wall.
: The Lambert brothers and Brett dashed from the entrance and tried to grab her, only to have Tessa wave her hand and turn them into flies.
: Tessa pointed toward Goodsport, the lightning bolt from her finger knocking him unconscious.
: Sauron laughed menacingly. "Yes! Now you realize the power you can haveÖ and what you've seen of yourself was but a small taste. Now give me the Ring!"
: As Tessa removed the Ring from her finger to hand to Sauron, Meg stepped toward her.
: "Tessa, please! What about your husband? Your son? What will happen to them when Sauron gets through with this world - and ours?"
: Her husband and son. Two of Tessa's greatest loves and joys in her life. Memories of them flooded her senses, snapping her out of the powerlust induced by the Ring.
: Sauron reached out his hand. "Give me the Ring!"
: Tessa glanced at the Ring. She glanced at Meg. She glanced up at Sauron. She glanced down at the lava.
: She quickly tossed the Ring into the lava. It landed with a sizzle and vaporized.
: "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! screamed Sauron, causing the whole volcano to rumble.
: The three flies flying above turned into the Lambert brothers and Brett, who promptly landed on the floor with a thud.
: Meg embraced Tessa. "I knew you wouldn't give in to the evil, Tessa!"
: "Aww, nice Kodak moment," chided Brett, "but let's get out of here already!" They lifted Goodsport and Quint Glimsby and carried them out of the cave.
: Sauron exploded completely, rupturing the entire top of the volcano.
: As they entered the tunnel, the Ringwraiths ahead of them exploded into a burst of uncontrolled flame, the heat of which caused them to re-enter the cave.
: "There's no escape!" screamed Indiana James.
: The second-to-last things that they saw were the cave walls falling above them. The last thing they saw was the flash of white light in their eyes.

: - - -

: "Good Micah!" informed Gandalf, with barely any energy left, "We have them!"
: "Excellent!" Micah answered, "Get them up into the trees!"
: Several trees lifted Tessa, Meg, Shorty, Indiana James, Brett, Goodsport and Quint. They then joined the other trees holding the rest of the Phoenix Group, as well as the Joneses and Tom Bambadil.
: Mount Doom was erupting, its landslide already disabling the majority of the Orcs. The few Orcs that had escaped the landslides ran off to safety.
: Boromir cried out to his horsemen, "Our task is done, noble Stewards! Now we retreat to safety!"
: The horsemen charged away from the exploding volcano, followed by the running trees. After about an hour of riding, they all stopped in the middle of the plain and turned around.
: The entire volcano exploded, the large mushroom-like cloud it caused almost looking like an atomic-blast cloud. The ground shook from the explosion, then stopped. The blood-red clouds disappeared instantly, replaced by a bright, blue sunny sky. And perhaps most noticeably, the rupture in the sky had disappeared.
: The evil had been vanquished. Valinor was now safe.

: -----

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: : Chapter 62 [Endgame] (written by Goodsport)

: : "Dude, what's going on???"
: : Short Round woke up to the thick, molten air, finding his hands and feet tied up as he was sitting against a cave wall.  He glanced around.  He say both Lamberts sitting next to him, similarly tied up.  Standing ahead of him in the dark cave was the Fiddler, speaking to a bald, tattooed-faced man in robes.  To powerfully built men stood to the side, a little ahead of where molten lave could clearly be heard.
: : Shorty turned his head toward Indiana James.  "This don't look good!"

: : - - -

: : After several hours of trudging through the mud the plains had become because of the downpour from the blood-red clouds, Mount Doom was finally in sight.
: : "We'll set up camp here," Boromir announced, as he rode up to Micah's tree and addressed him.  "We'll come up with a plan between our two groups to retrieve your friends and to stop the evil once and for all!"

: : - - -

: : "Good Fiddler," Saruman called out, "bring forth both Lamberts."
: : The Fiddler walked over menacingly to Indiana James and Brett and, with both hands, lifted each of them by the neck.
: : "Now we'll see who dies first!" the Fiddler grinned, as he tightened his grip on the gasping Lamberts.
: : The Chosen turned around. "Careful, Fiddler," Saruman said, "we need them aliveÖ for now!"
: : "Don't worry, Chosen," answered the Fiddler, "I won't let them die so quick - believe me!"
: : The Fiddler slammed both Indiana James and Brett onto the stone altar table. Mikal took a hold of Indiana James' arm and slit it slightly with a knife. He allowed James' blood to drip into a small glass vial.
: : Saruman took the vial of James' blood from Mikal and lifted it. "Now the ancient prophecy will come true," the Chosen though aloud, "the blood of the Lambert brothers will release the Ringwraiths, who in turn will find the One Ring of Power!" He tossed the vial into the pool of molten lava below him. The lava churned and rose, its fires increasing.
: : With everyone's attention on the Lamberts, Short Round tried wriggling his wrists out of the ropes binding them. He was slowly succeeding, but seemed to be taking forever.
: : Krede took a knife and slit Brett's arm, letting his blood drip into another vial. He then handed the vial to Saruman.
: : Short Round let the rope fall from his wrists. He was now working desperately on untying his ankles.
: : Brett whispered sadly to James, "Yo bro', our blood's gonna destroy Valinor, eh?'
: : James smiled. "Don't worry, it ain't gonna workÖ not as long as Short Stuff gets outta here quickly!"
: : Confused, Brett asked, "I don't get it!"
: : "Something Gandalf told me a little while ago," answered Indiana James
: : Short Round threw the rope from his ankles aside. He began tiptoeing toward the cave's entrance.
: : Saruman tossed the vial of Brett's blood into the lava and shut his eyes, anticipating ultimate victory.
: : Krede swiveled around and caught Short Round sneaking out. He grabbed a knife from the altar table and threw it. The knife grazed Shorty's arm, but not enough to stop Short Round from escaping through the entrance.
: : Saruman opened his eyes in disgust. He turned around and screamed, "It didn't work - that last vial did not contain the blood of a Lambert!"

: : - - -

: : Short Round ran and ran as far and fast as he could through the dark, hot tunnels of the volcano. If only I knew the way out of here! One other thought permeated his mindÖ whether he would ever see Micki again.

: : - - -

: : As Saruman, Krede and Mikal glanced at the lava, contemplating on why the Ringwraiths haven't yet been summoned, Indiana James took the knife next to his hand and started cutting away the rope on his wrists. After some difficulty, he succeeded, then proceeded to the same for the ropes around his ankles and Brett's ropes. By the time the Chosen and his servants had turned, both James and Brett were gone.
: : "Yo bro'," called Brett to Indiana James, as they both ran aimlessly through the dark tunnels, "how come that blood thing didn't work? Didn't those hosers need the blood of 'both Lambert brothers' for something or another?"
: : "Yeah, but you better brace yourself for this one, Brett," James warned Brett as they both stopped running. "When we were babies in the maternity ward, Gandalf appeared. He already knew that all this was gonna happen sooner or later, so he switched two babies around."
: : Brett's heart sank. "Who?"
: : Indiana James took a deep breath. "You and Shorty!"
: : Brett's jaw dropped. "That means that Short Round is actuallyÖ"
: : James nodded. "Short Lambert."
: : Shaking his head, Brett continued, "Ö so that would make meÖ"
: : "You were the one who was really born to the Round family," revealed James, "so your real name is Brett Round."
: : Brett Round dropped to the floor in shock. Indiana James Lambert helped him up and said, "Look, we have to find Shorty before they do, or else they will have the blood of both Lambert brothers!"
: : They began running down the tunnel again. "Tell me something, James," Brett inquired, "what is all this about Shorty being the 'Successor' ?"
: : "That," answered James, "I have no idea!"

: : - - -

: : Pounding his fist on the altar table as both Krede and Mikal dashed out of the cave to chase the three captives, Saruman wondered how the second vial had no Lambert blood.
: : "Chosen," the Fiddler called out from across the room, as he lifted the knife that had grazed Short Lambert's arm.
: : As Saruman took the knife from the Fiddler, he glanced at small amount of Shorty's blood on the edge of the blade.  He finally understood - perhaps they had drawn blood from the wrong captive.
: : Saruman tossed the knife into the lava.  The explosion from the lava threw Saruman and the Fiddler back against the wall, as a loud shriek emanated the cave.  Streams of fire shot out from the lava.  One stream shot through Saruman, while another shot through the Fiddler, both of their forms transformed into fiery horsemen.  Other streams escaped the cave through both the cave entrance and the hole on top of the mountain.

: : - - -

: : "Shorty, wait up!"
: : Short Lambert turned around to see both Indiana James Lambert and Brett Round catch up to him.  James explained to Shorty the same thing he told Brett, and Short Lambert almost fainted - and not because of the heat in the tunnel.
: : Shorty finally spoke.  "So that means that we two are reallyÖ"
: : "Ö the Lambert brothers!" James finished.
: : The three of them heard footsteps behind them.  They dashed forward, knowing that Krede and Mikal would catch up to them soon if they didn't.

: : - - -

: : The Stewards of Gondor and the army of trees carrying the Phoenix Group, the Vanguards of Valinor, Tom Bambadil and Tessa finally arrived at the base of the volcano.  The ground shook violently as the top of the volcano started shooting streams of fire into the dark-red sky.
: : Five streams of fire each descended onto Nobody, Deirdre, Muppet, Mack and The Man with the Hat.  All five of them burst into flame, burning the trees and the horses that were holding them.  They were transformed into fiery horsemen, standing there menacingly among the Gondor horsemen and the Phoenix Group.

: : - - -

: : Both Lambert brothers and Brett Round reached a dead-end in the tunnel.  The footsteps came closer.
: : "You cannot escape!" said Krede, as he and Mikal approached them armed with knives.
: : Fiery streams hit both pursuers in the back.  Indiana James, Shorty and Brett just barely were able to jump out of the way as both men flew against the wall, their bodies catching on fire as they transformed into fiery horsemen.
: : Both Ringwraiths glanced at the brothers and Brett, then rode off through the wall.

: : - - -

: : Gandalf fell over, his staff hurtling to the ground in front of him.
: : The rings on Goodsport's, Meg's, Quint's and Tessa's hand began glowing to the point of almost blinding them.
: : "Sir Gandalf," asked Goodsport, bending down to help the wizard up, "what's wrong?"
: : The wizard's terrified eyes met Goodsport's. "The ring on Tessa's finger, the one I had encanted to hide its true nature from Sauron. The encantation is broken!"
: : Goodsport stood up quickly, as four fiery horsemen broke through the side of the volcano to join the five already among the group of humans.
: : Meg gasped as Indy turned to Goodsport and asked, "What the hell are those???"
: : Goodsport glanced at Indy. "The RingwraithsÖ the Nine Mortal Men Doomed to Die!"
: : Indy peered at Goodsport. "Nine Mortal Men?!? One of them's Deirdre!!!"
: : Quint snorted, somewhat amused. "Perhaps Sauron's an Equal-Opportunity demon!"
: : Meg and Goodsport screamed at the same time, "TESSAÖ RUN!!!"
: : Before Tessa could react, the Nine Mortal Men Doomed to Die streaked toward Tessa and snatched her up! Without actually burning her, the nine fiery forms rode away into the sky toward the top of the volcano with Tessa in tow.

: : - - -

: : Short Lambert, Indiana James Lambert and Brett Round made their way back to the cave's entrance. What they saw both awed and terrified them - nine horsemen, the riders and horses both aflame, surrounding Tessa, who was thrown to the ground.
: : A giant demonic figure rose from the lava several feet away from Tessa, his form filling up nearly the entire interior of the volcano. The Ringwraiths bowed before their master.
: : "Sauron, here is the ring you seek!"
: : "Excellent!" Sauron's voice boomed off the volcanic walls as he reached down toward Tessa.
: : Despite his brother and Brett urging him otherwise, Short Lambert stuck his head into the cave. "Leave him alone, you buttheads!"
: : They all turned toward the entrance.
: : "UhhÖ" gawked Indiana James, "ÖI have a really bad feeling about this!"

: : - - -

: : "Orcs!" screamed Boromir, pointing to the army of Orcs rushing at them from around the base of the volcano.
: : "Damn," exclaimed Indy, "they're everywhere!"
: : The scene was utter mayhem as hundreds of horsemen, let by Boromir, Indiana Jerico/Faramir and Aragorn, battling in close combat with hundreds of Orcs.
: : Gandalf weakly lifted himself among the mayhem.  He motioned to Goodsport, Meg and Quint, and they came to him.
: : "Noble Vanguards, I have but little energy remaining," informed Gandalf, "help Tessa destroy the One Ring of Power!"
: : The Vanguards disappeared in the bright flash of light.

: : - - -

: : Brett and the Lamberts were running down the tunnel as fast as they could.  It appeared that it wouldn't be enough, as the nine Ringwraiths were almost catching up to them.
: : The three reached the end of the tunnel, turning around to meet their end.
: : The white light that flashed in front of them, however, was not from the fiery horsemen.
: : "Goodsport!" cheered Short Lambert "Meg. Quint.  How'd you guys get here?"
: : "Gandalf, of course," answered Goodsport, "glad to still see you in one piece, Short Round."
: : "UhÖ actually, I'm Short Lambert," replied Shorty, "and that's Indiana James Lambert and Brett Round."
: : Goodsport, Meg and Quint were clearly confused.  "Huh?"
: : Short Lambert grinned.  "It's a long story!"
: : Goodsport opened his backpack and took out Theoden's Spear spearhead.  A smaller flash of light from inside the backpack revealed a spear shaft.
: : "Thank you, Gandalf," Goodsport said quietly as he attached the spearhead to the shaft.  The entire spear glowed in Goodsport's hands.  He threw the spear just as the nine Ringwraiths turned the corner of the tunnel.  The impact of the spear caused a mist to form around the Nine Moral Men Doomed to Die, freezing them in mid-air.
: : "Come on," Goodsport said, "it'll only hold them temporarily!"
: : Meg turned to Short Lambert and asked, "Where's Tessa?"
: : Shorty turned to James and Brett, who answered back with shrugs.
: : "Don't know," Shorty finally answered, "we were running so fast we weren't paying attention to where we were!"
: : The Vanguards' ring began glowing and 'pulling'.
: : "Never mind, Short Stuff!" announced Quint, the heat in the tunnel steaming up his thick glasses, "It looks like the ring will show us the way."
: : Goodsport, Meg, Quint Glimsby and Short Lambert stood up and followed the pull of their rings.  Indiana James and Brett followed them.

: : - - -

: : The ring on Tessa's finger began to glow. She felt pure power surge through her body, and it felt good to her.
: : "Yes, Theresa!" boomed Sauron's voice, "Give me the Ring, and you will have all that power and more!"
: : "Don't listen to him, Tessa!" Goodsport shouted from the entrance of the cave, "He's lying. That Ring is corrupt. If you keep it on too long, it'll corrupt you as it corrupted Gollum and almost corrupted Frodo Baggins!"
: : "I don't care what you say!" screamed Tessa, under the influence of the Ring, "I've never heard of those two. Besides, I finally can do anything and everything I want!"
: : Quint approached Tessa. "Look, that isn't you talking, it's the Ring. Now give it us!"
: : "WHY?!?" Tessa yelled, " So you can become all-powerful???"
: : "No!" answered Goodsport, "So we can throw it into the lava from where it was forgedÖ to destroy it once and for all! Otherwise, Sauron becomes completely invincible!"
: : Quint grabbed Tessa's hand, trying to pull of the ring. With a wave of her hand, Quint flew across the room and slammed into the wall.
: : The Lambert brothers and Brett dashed from the entrance and tried to grab her, only to have Tessa wave her hand and turn them into flies.
: : Tessa pointed toward Goodsport, the lightning bolt from her finger knocking him unconscious.
: : Sauron laughed menacingly. "Yes! Now you realize the power you can haveÖ and what you've seen of yourself was but a small taste. Now give me the Ring!"
: : As Tessa removed the Ring from her finger to hand to Sauron, Meg stepped toward her.
: : "Tessa, please! What about your husband? Your son? What will happen to them when Sauron gets through with this world - and ours?"
: : Her husband and son. Two of Tessa's greatest loves and joys in her life. Memories of them flooded her senses, snapping her out of the powerlust induced by the Ring.
: : Sauron reached out his hand. "Give me the Ring!"
: : Tessa glanced at the Ring. She glanced at Meg. She glanced up at Sauron. She glanced down at the lava.
: : She quickly tossed the Ring into the lava. It landed with a sizzle and vaporized.
: : "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! screamed Sauron, causing the whole volcano to rumble.
: : The three flies flying above turned into the Lambert brothers and Brett, who promptly landed on the floor with a thud.
: : Meg embraced Tessa. "I knew you wouldn't give in to the evil, Tessa!"
: : "Aww, nice Kodak moment," chided Brett, "but let's get out of here already!" They lifted Goodsport and Quint Glimsby and carried them out of the cave.
: : Sauron exploded completely, rupturing the entire top of the volcano.
: : As they entered the tunnel, the Ringwraiths ahead of them exploded into a burst of uncontrolled flame, the heat of which caused them to re-enter the cave.
: : "There's no escape!" screamed Indiana James.
: : The second-to-last things that they saw were the cave walls falling above them. The last thing they saw was the flash of white light in their eyes.

: : - - -

: : "Good Micah!" informed Gandalf, with barely any energy left, "We have them!"
: : "Excellent!" Micah answered, "Get them up into the trees!"
: : Several trees lifted Tessa, Meg, Shorty, Indiana James, Brett, Goodsport and Quint.  They then joined the other trees holding the rest of the Phoenix Group, as well as the Joneses and Tom Bambadil.
: : Mount Doom was erupting, its landslide already disabling the majority of the Orcs.  The few Orcs that had escaped the landslides ran off to safety.
: : Boromir cried out to his horsemen, "Our task is done, noble Stewards!  Now we retreat to safety!"
: : The horsemen charged away from the exploding volcano, followed by the running trees.  After about an hour of riding, they all stopped in the middle of the plain and turned around.
: : The entire volcano exploded, the large mushroom-like cloud it caused almost looking like an atomic-blast cloud.  The ground shook from the explosion, then stopped.  The blood-red clouds disappeared instantly, replaced by a bright, blue sunny sky.  And perhaps most noticeably, the rupture in the sky had disappeared.
: : The evil had been vanquished.  Valinor was now safe.

: : -----

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