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ALTERNATE MULTIFANDOM UNIVERSE 5678MINASTIRITH8765
1 APRIL SR1402 (6500BZ):
34-year-old Frodo Baggins was asleep in his night gown, a white glow surrounding the queen-sized bed as deep scars littered his face. Maiar wizard Gandalf the White stood across the room, staff in hand, anticipating the hobbit’s awakening. Near the bed, lunar celestial manifestation Miranda ran her hand through Frodo’s hair, briefly checking his neck pulse.
[MIRANDA]: (relieved exhale) He’s still breathing. It’s slow, but it’s there.
[GANDALF]: (gradual nod) That’s good to hear.
Suddenly, Frodo woke up and recognized the Uranian moon beside him, wavy greyish pink hair slightly touched by mild outdoor winds. She wore a night gown as well, a darker shade matching her hair color.
[FRODO]: (dazedly) Miranda…is that you?
She momentarily caressed his left cheek, recalling how she utilized her medical knowledge to help his mother (Primula Brandybuck) deliver her only child almost thirty-five years prior.
[MIRANDA]: (gently) Yes sweetheart.
[FRODO]: (sitting upright) Where…where am I?
[MIRANDA]: You’re in Minas Tirith—the capital of Gondor.
The hobbit’s eyes widened significantly.
[FRODO]: Gondor?
Miranda nodded with a soft hum.
[FRODO]: (surprised) B-But how? When? Sam and I were…
He trailed off, lost in his train of thought.
[MIRANDA]: (solemn smile) Thank goodness you weren’t.
Frodo instantly turned to the silent yet familiar wizard glancing at him a few feet away, eyes alight with shock and puzzlement.
[FRODO]: (mouth agape) Gandalf?
The Maiar’s eyes twinkled as he genuinely smiled at him. They both burst into laughter, Frodo overjoyed that Gandalf was still alive. Then his younger cousins once removed (30-year-old Meriadoc ‘Merry’ Brandybuck and 27-year-old Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took) entered the room in matching night gowns, though Merry wore a golden vest underneath.
[MERRY]: (mouthing happily) Frodo!
Pippin beamed quietly next to him before the duo leaped onto Frodo’s bed, laughing out loud while embracing each other tightly. Miranda stepped back to give them space as Gandalf continued to guffaw behind them. And soon, Frodo was reunited with the other Fellowship members as well, sharing a weary smile with his best friend (32-year-old Samwise ‘Sam’ Gamgee).
2 APRIL SR1402 (6500BZ):
The four hobbits begged the new Steward of Gondor (Faramir) to let them sleep in the same room, afraid they’d vanish into nonexistence otherwise. Agreeing to their request, the surviving son of Denethor II offered them a luxurious bedroom on the fourth floor with a king-sized bed. It had navy blue covers, an ocean-colored mattress, and fluffy cool grey pillows.
After every hardship they’ve endured over the past seven months, they were extra clingy with each other. Frodo had been separated from his closest relatives for over a month, so he didn’t hesitate to let them cuddle next to him, Pippin sandwiched between Frodo and Merry, his body wrapped in Frodo’s arms. Sam was fast asleep on Frodo’s opposite side, snoring contently.
The bedroom across from theirs was where Miranda’s host planet (Uranus) and his younger twin brother (Neptune) slept soundly.
[NEPTUNE]: (muttering) Tater tots…
[URANUS]: (blearily) Hm?
Falling back asleep, muffled voices could be heard from the courtyard outside, where their older brothers (Jupiter, Saturn, and the Sun) temporarily stood. Sol glared daggers at his planets with gritted teeth, fists tied with biodegradable fiber ropes.
[SUN]: (outraged) Traitors! You’re both traitors! All of you are DAMN TRAITORS!!
[SATURN]: (hissing) Sun, please! Keep it down! People are sleeping —
[SUN]: I DON’T CARE, YOU WORTHLESS CHURLS!!
Pure frustration filled the air as Zeus inhaled sharply.
[JUPITER]: Just STOP!
[SUN]: (stomping towards him) YOU DARE —
[JUPITER]: (palm forward) NO, Sun! I’m sick and tired of this! We all are! Enough’s enough!
[SUN]: (demanding) What the hell are you talking about —
[JUPITER]: This has been going on for far too long, Sun. Now that their quest is finished and the Age of Men has finally arrived, we don’t need to tolerate this anymore. We are done!
[SUN]: How dare you!! After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me?!
[JUPITER]: (voice quivering) What about us?
[SUN]: (impatiently) What?
[JUPITER]: (sadly) The way you’ve treated us…for the past two million years, ever since OTS was born! But you know what? Your obsessive need for control, your way of managing us…we can’t keep living like this!
[SUN]: (humorless laugh) Oh ho! You think I’ll let you do as you please? HUH?! After your recent transgressions, you think I’ll just —
[JUPITER]: (firmly) We are not asking your permission to leave.
He tenderly grabbed Saturn’s arm and proceeded to walk away, but halted as soon as Sol spoke up.
[SUN]: Is this really it?! Huh?! Is this your grand plan?! You’ll strand me somewhere and abandon me for GOOD?!
The gas giant’s brows creased reflectively, righteous anger replaced with emotional numbness.
[JUPITER]: Anything is better than this.
He faced his star one last time.
[JUPITER]: (despondently) Goodbye Sun. OTS will show you the way out.
[SUN]: (scowling) OTS?! What does she have to do with…?!
Before he could finish his sentence, both planets instantly vanished through a swirling mint-colored portal. Then he felt thin scarlet fingers tug his arm towards a rose-colored portal rightward-adjacent.
[OTS 44]: (sympathetic frown) I’m sorry Sol…but this is for your own good.
[SUN]: (snarling) Get off me, you filth!!
[OTS 44]: (solemnly) I’m afraid I can’t.
Regardless, she successfully pushed him across the shining gateway as it closed. Helios found himself surrounded by a luscious teal green forest and tweeting bluebirds outside of Middle Earth. He straightened his posture and released an irritable huff, attempting to re-open the portal back to Minas Tirith. Realizing he was stranded here, unshed tears swam in his eyes.
[SUN]: (wailing) N-No! You can’t leave me! I’m the Sun! I am the SUN! Everyone!! COME BACK!
The G2V yellow dwarf collapsed to his knees as vicious sobs tore from his throat, screaming in anguish. Once his red-rimmed eyes dried out and tears concluded streaming down his cheeks, a milder wave of despair washed over him.
[SUN]: (hoarsely) You’ll…you’ll come back to me. Y-You’ll see…you’ll all s-see! I…I won’t be…alone…
His eyes fluttered shut as he fell into an unconscious state, knees and knuckles covered in dirt and ash.