The Fellowship of the Star

Part Two

Part Two of The Fellowship. For the first part, please go here.

Book Two


Chapter Six: The Bridge of Kazhad-Dumb


"What exactly are these Mines?" asked Homestar, not cold any longer, walking down the path with the other eight members of their fellowship.
"Well," Strong Bad started,
"BIG SCARY MINES!!!" Strong Mad interrupted.
Strong Bad thought a bit and said, "Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."
Homestar gulped.

They arrived at the Morea gate at nightfall. PomPom was riding the horse that Creekindale had sent with them with Strong Sad.
Homestar's foot slipped in a very large body of mucky water. He pulled it back out and brushed the gunk off.
Strong Sad studied the door for awhile.
"Now, let’s see. Ithildin.. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight," Strong Sad said, feeling bigger and mightier than everybody else, who was either sitting down playing with some grass or just walking around.
The moon appeared from behind a cloud and the door illuminated.
"It reads “The doors of Derin - Lord of Morea. Speak friend and enter," Strong Sad read.
"What does that mean?" asked Bubs.
"Oh, it’s quite simple. If you are a friend you speak the password and the doors will open," Strong Sad said.
"So... do it!"
"Annon Edhellen edro hi ammen!" which ment "Gate of the Elves open now for me!"
They all stared at the closed door.
"Ando Eldarinwa a lasta quettanya, Fenda Casarinwa!"
They door remained closed.
PomPom was petting their horse as Strong Bad walked up.
"The mine is no place for a horse like Bob," he said.
PomPom was heart-broken.
"We have to leave-"
Strong Bad nodded his head.
PomPom hugged up to Bob's side.
"Run off, Bob," he said, "this is no place for a h-h-horse!"
"He knows the way home," Strong Bad said.
"He better!"
Plunk!
Coach Z threw a stone into the water. Bubs was about to, but Strong Bad stopped him.
"What are you doing!?" he asked them, "Don't disturb the water!"
Strong Sad threw himself against the door.
"Oh, it's useless. We're just going to die out here, cold and hungry," he said.
"It's a riddle! Speak 'Friend' and enter!" squacked The Cheat, "what is the Elvish word for 'Friend'?" asked The Cheat.
"Uh... Oh! I've got it!" yelled Strong Sad. Everybody got up.
He placed himself in front of the door, rubbed his hands together and said,
"Mellon!"
They all stared at the door, then at Strong Sad, then at the door. The door slowly cracked open as dust and small rocks fell down the door. It was finally big enough for them to walk through.
"Soon you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of this place," Strong Bad said, "roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of Me and Strong Mad's cousin Bailin. And they call it a mine. A mine!"
"Um... he's my cousin too," Strong Sad said.
"Shut up dumpface."
"This is no mine, it’s a tomb!" squacked The Cheat.
Dead bodys lay scattered across the hallway.
"NO! NOOO!!!" yelled Strong Mad.
The Cheat picked up an arrow from the corpse of a person and looked at it carefully. Dry blood was splashed on the point of the arrow. He threw it away in disgust.
"Goblins!" yelled Strong Bad.
The Cheat put an arrow to his bow, and Aragorn and Homsar drew out their swords.
"DaAaAaA?!We make for the Gap of Rohand! We should never have come here!" yelled Homsar.
Homestar and Coach Z walked slowly out of the mines. What they didn't notice was the something stirring in the water.

"This is no place for us to be! Get out!" yelled Strong Bad as they all ran towards the exit.
Suddenly a tentacle grabbed Homestars leg and pulled him out of the cave. The tentacle raised in the air as a large octopus-type thing raised out of the water.
"Homestar!" yelled PomPom, "Strong Bad, get him!"
Strong Bad ran and jumped onto the tentacle just as it was flung into the air. He held on with his left hand and with his right hand sliced of the cave Watchers tentacle. He and Homestar fell to the groud. The small tentacle still moved around Homestars leg, but he pulled it off and threw it into the bushes.
"The Cheat, Strong Mad! Get your weapons ready!"
"Aragorn!" Bubs yelled.
The Cheat shot an arrow at the already-sliced off tentacle. Suddenly a large amount of tentacles raised out of the water, and two pushed the hobtons to the ground.
"Stand by the door!" yelled Strong Bad, rushing into the water with his sword. Strong Mad and Homsar followed. Homsar swung at nothing as Strong Mad hacked with his axe at the cave Watcher.
Then they all ran back towards the mines.
"Into the Mines!"
"The Cheat! Aim for his eye! Come on!" yelled Strong Bad.
The Cheat shot an arrow into the Watcher's eye. It pulled back, but then the tentacles came and knocked them all off their feet.
"Augh!"
"Oof!"
Strong Bad, Strong Mad, Homsar and The Cheat pulled out their swords. They were ready for anything.
"Everyone else, run into the mines! Hurry!" Strong Bad yelled. The Watcher leaned back with a huge splash, and all of his tentacles came hurrling at them with great force.
"Perry!" yelled Strong Bad as he blocked off the tentacles with his sword.
Strong Bad jumped up so the tentacles went under him. The tentacles turned Back around, and as they did, Strong Bad landed on them. He held on as the tentacles swung him back and forth through the air.
"WoAH?! WoAh?!" he yelled.
The tentacles were to slippery to stay still. He put his sword in front of him so he slid down the tentacle and dug his sword into the Watchers face.
It sheiked and threw Strong Bad against the wall.
"Run! Run!"
It pulled back and as the Fellowship raced into Morea, it reached out and slammed the big, stone gates shut. Rocks dropped and the roof of the passage collaspsed in front of the gate. Total darkness.
Then a faint beam of light came from Strong Sad's wand, showing the startled faces of the Fellowship.

"Since when do you have a wand?" asked Strong Bad.
"I've had this for a while," Strong Sad said, "but anyway, we now have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Morea. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Unguraits in the deep places of the world."
They carefully made their way across the hallway, carefull not to trip on dead bodies.
"Quietly now. It’s a four-day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed," Strong Sad said.
The Fellowship entered a great cavern with a walkway down through the middle. They climbed slowly up steep steps on the side of a cavern. For a second, Coach Z lost his footing and slips onto Bubs.
"You okay?" asked Bubs.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Coach Z said.
On the fourth day of their journey, the Fellowship climbed another flight of stairs to a crossroad in the mine: three portals loomed before them.
"I have no memory of this place," Strong Sad said.

They sat around the portals, resting while Gandalf tried to decide which portal to enter.
"Ore we lost?" asked Coach Z.
"No," said Bubs.
"I think we are."
"Shush! Strong Sad's thinking," PomPom said to them.
"Borbs?" asked Coach Z.
"What?"
"I’m hungry."
Homestar looked over his shoulder, back the way they came, and saw a small figure leaping from one stone to another. Scared, he walked over to Strong Sad.
"There’s something down there, stuwpid," he said.
"It’s Zollum."
Homestar looked even more scared.
"Zollum?"
"He’s been following us for three days."
"He escaped the dungeons of Darad-Bur?!"
"Escaped... Or was set loose?"
From the distance below, Zollum looked up, his large eyes observing the company.
"He hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself. He will never be rid of his need for it."
Homestar looked at Zollum in disgust.
"It’s a pity The King of Town didn’t kill him when he had the chance!"
"Pity? It was pity that stayed The King of Town’s hand. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Homestar?
Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise can not see all ends. My heart tells me that Zollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of The King of Town may rule the fate of many."
"Why are you so confident? You're always wike, ' Oh, I'm going to die' or 'Why do I live?!?!' ?"
"I realize I am the leader of this group, since I'm the wiz-"
"Ah chub-chub-chub-that's great."
Homestar looked at Zollum again.
Zollum backed off. Frodo sat down next to Strong Sad with a sigh.
"I wish the star had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened," he said.
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Homestar, besides the will of evil. The King of Town was meant to find the star, in which case you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought," Strong Sad said to him.
Strong Sad looked towards one of the portals.
"Ah! It’s that way," he said and pointed.
"He’s remembered!" said Bubs.
"No, but the air doesn’t smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Bubsy, always follow your nose."
The Fellowship headed down the left passage, and soon they came to an open space.
"Let me risk a little more light," Strong Sad said.
His staff illuminated a huge hall of stone lined with tall pillars and arched ceilings as far as the eye could see. All members of the Fellowship looked around in awe.
"Behold the great realm and dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf," Strong Sad said.
"Now there’s an eye opener, and no mistake," Bubs said.
They walked through the hall. Strong Mad saw a ray of sunlight shining through a chamber.
"OH!"
"Strong Mad!" said Strong Sad, running after him.
Strong Mad payed no heed to Strong Sad, but ran into the chamber. He stoped and knelt by a crypt and started to sob.
Strong Bad moved forward and placed his hand on Strong Mad’s shoulder. Strong Sad stoped next to Strong Mad and translated the runes on the tomb.
" 'Here lies Bailin, Lord of Morea'. He is dead then. Its as I feared," Strong Sad said, barely forming a tear. It was also his great-grandfather, of course.
Strong Sad handed his wand to Pippin, bent down, and took from the grasp of a dead dwarf a large, battered and very old book. He opened it and cleared the dirt from its pages. The Cheat looks around the chamber and turns to Strong Bad.
We must move on, we cannot linger!" he squacked.
Strong Sad started to read.
"They have taken the bridge," he started, "and the second hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep," he turned the page slowly and with caution, "we cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out...They are coming."
Coach Z saw a corpse sitting by a stone well. Curiously, he reached out and touched an arrow. The arrowhead broke off from the rest. The skull with the slightest bit of flesh on the top toppled into the well. Strong Sad turned to see what happened as do the others. The chain and bucket go down as well. The body, chain and bucket bang against the bottom of the well, echoing from hall to hall. He winced at the wave of noise.
Then there was silence. They began to relax as Strong Sad slammed the book shut.
"Fool! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" Strong Sad said.
"Oh what are you going to do, bleed on me?" asked Coach Z, standing up for himself.
He was about to say something back until he heard drums echo up from deep below. Terror crept into their faces. PomPom saw Sting glowing blue.
"Homestar! Sting glows! Unguraits are near!" he blubbled.
"Oh we don't know-"
Foul sounds were heard from the distance outside the chamber.
"Unguraits!" The Cheat shouted.

Strong Bad ran to lock the wooden door. Arrows wizzed past his head, almost sticking him in the face. The Cheat droped his torch and yells to the Hobtons.
"Get back! Stay close to Strong Sad!"
Strong Mad ran to Strong Bad and closed the doors. A troll was heard from outside.
"They have a cave-troll. They have a cave-troll!" yelled Strong Bad.
The Cheat tossed spears and axes to Strong Mad and Bad to help blockade the door. The Fellowship drew out their weapons.
"Aarghhh!! Let them come! There is one person yet in Moria that still draws breath!" yelled Strong Bad as he and Strong Mad ran back twords the tomb.
Unguraits begn breaking the door down. The Cheat and Strong Bad shot at them through the holes in the door. The Unguraits finally manage through the doors and the battle began. Strong Bad pulled his sword out as the Unguraits flooded through the door. Clang-Clang-Pssh! Strong Bad plunged his sword into the Unguraits neck.
They swung mainly at the Unguraits stomach, where one good slash would cut them open and they would die.
Homestar, PomPom, Coach Z and Bubs pulled out their small swords, just in case.
Strong Mad had five Unguraits on him. PomPom notice he was having trouble, so he picked up an small, old axe and chucked it at him. It sliced the side of his head and he fell over. Suddenly an Unguratit jumped in front of Homestar. Homestar jumped back, startled, then plunged Sting into the Unguraits dark face. It fell over and Homestar spat on the gash.
Suddenly, a cave troll smashed trough the rest of the doors. The Cheat finished off an attacking Ungurait and shot an arrow at the troll, but he just growled. The arrow stayed in it's shoulder. It draged it's mace behind him with more Unguraits piling in. PomPom looked up just to see the troll swinging his mace down at him and he threw himself under the troll’s legs just in time. He then ran into an Ungurait, and it growled. PomPom whapped it in the face with a frying pan.
"I think I’m getting the hang of this!"
The Cheat was killing Unguraits on a ledge on one wall. The troll swung his chain at The Cheat, who avoided it several times until the troll wraped it around a pillar by accident. The Cheat stamped the chain tight and then ran along it onto the troll's head. He shot the troll in the back of it’s head and then jumped off. The troll continued to seek Homestar, who had run behind a pillar, tring to hide. After some hide-and-seek, the troll found him and grabed him. Homestar fell on his back into a corner. The troll lifts him, and he hangs dangling from the troll’s hand.
"Strong Bad! Someone!"
Homestar lifted himself up and cut the troll's hand with Sting. The troll droped Homestar to the ground and growled.
"Homestar!" yelled Strong Bad.
He grabed a spear from the floor and threw it at the troll's chest. The troll hit Strong Bad and sent him flying across the room. He collapsed onto the floor. Homestar crawled after him and tried to rouse him, but Strong Bad was too stunned to move. Coach Z and Bubs threw rocks at the troll to no avail, and then Homestar began to run, but the troll blocked his way with a spear, throwing him back into the corner.
Then the troll stabed Homestar in the chest.

"Agh!"
"Frodo? Frodo!" PomPom yelled.
Homestar piled slid down the corner of the wall and plunked down.
"Yaahh!" yelled Coach Z and Bubs.
They leaped onto the troll's head and started stabbing him. The troll finally grabs Coach Z, swinging him around. He threw him to the ground. The Fellowship redoubles their effort against the Unguraits and troll in furry. Strong Sad and Mad took turns stabbing at the troll and then dodging out of range. The Cheat took aim, and with Coach Z stabbing the troll one more time on the head, the troll opened its mouth and growled. The Cheat shot an arrow into it’s neck and the troll moaned. It then staggered and collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Dust rose. Coach Z was thrown against the floor and knocked out and there was a moment of silence. All the Unguraits were dead or they had fled. Strong Bad awakened and crawled over to Homestar.
"Oh no!"
He turned Homestar over and Homestar gasped for breath. PomPom ran over to them.
"He’s alive!" he blubbled.
"I’m all right, I’m not hurt," he said.
"What tha- You should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar!"
"I think there’s more to this hobton than meets the eye," said Strong Sad.
Homestar revealed his Mithril shirt.
"Mithril! You shure are full of surprises Master Homestar," The Cheat said.

They heard Unguraits down the hall again.
"To the bridge of Khaza-Dûm!" yelled Strong Bad.
They ran out the back door of the chamber, being chased by large army of Unguraits. Others sprang out from the floor or climbed up and down the pillars like spiders.
The Unguraits were to fast and they surrounded the Fellowship.
The Fellowship drew their swords.
"You know what were gonna do to you?" one of them snarled, "We're gonna cut you open, rip out your insides - and put 'em in a stew!"
The rest of them cheered.
"Shut up!" the Ungurait snarled.
They shut up.
"And then we're gonna-" A fiery light appeared at the end of the hall. Then a thunderous growl. The Unguraits fled panicking in all directions, but The Fellowship stared towards the light.
"DaAaAaA?! It's as groovy as a lightbuulb."
"What is this new devilry?" asked Strong Bad, looking at it.
"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run! Quickly!" he yelled as everybody started to run down the hall.
They entered a passageway and down they went on stone steps. They were cracked and didn't have any gaurd rails. Parts of the steps just ended-letting you fall into the deep, deep chasm. Strong Bad was running down the steps and nearly flew of the ended side. The Cheat grabed himm just before he plunged in.
They all passed them, turning a sharp right, and Strong Bad and Strong Sad brung up the rear.
"Lead them on Strong Bad. The bridge is near. Do as I say! Swords are no more use here," Strong Sad said.
"Aren't you supposed to be whiney?"
"Just go!"
"Oh, right,"
The Fellowship ran down the steep staircase. Half way down, they encountered a gap on the stairs. They wondered what to do until The Cheat lept forward and landed on the other side. He waved to Strong Sad.
Strong Sad looked back up towards the Hall as they heard a loud growl. Stones fell around them. He then leaped down to the gap.
Suddenly, arrows whistled in the air, striking the steps the stood on. The Cheat and Strong Bad shot back, knocking many Unguraits off the wall and into the chasm.
"Bubs! Coach Z! Hoo-aah!"
Strong Sad took them both and lept forward, landing on the other side.
"PomPom!" Strong Bad yelled and did the best he could to throw him over. He floated for a bit, but he got over.
Strong Mad jumped forward and nearly fell back into the chasm. He hangs on for his life.
"Strong Mad!" yelled The Cheat and grabbed his wrestling suit.
"ERRGH!"
"NOT WRESTLING SUIT!"
"Everybody help me!" squacked The Cheat.
Everybody on the other side pull and strain and finally get Strong Mad over.
Some of the steps that Homestar and Strong Bad were standing on started to crumble.
"Back up the steps!"
Strong Bad pushed Homestar up the steps and jumped up there, too, just as the steps crumbled under him. They looked at the widened gap they were going to have to jump across, the gap that separated them from the rest of The Fellowship. The Balrog could be heard from the other hall, it's firey light could be seen. Some pillars collapsed into the chasm. Then a huge stone fell from the ceiling and smashed down the steps behind Homestar and Strong Bad, weakining the one little bit they had to stand on.
The stairs began to wobble.
"Stay there. Hold on. Hang on! Lean forward!" yelled Strong Bad.
"Come on!" yelled The Cheat.
They shifted their weight forward, tipping the stairs across the divide. It slammed onto the steps where their companions awaited them. The flew off onto the stairway.
They ran and ran down the stairs as the stone structures collapsed behind them.
"Over the bridge! Fly!" yelled Strong Sad.
The Fellowship crossed the bridge. Strong Sad stoped halfway over and turned to face the Balrog, who appeared out of the fires, growling.
"You cannot pass!" he yelled.
"Stwong Sad!" yelled Homestar.
A blazing light radiated from Strong Sad’s staff, illuminating the entire bridge and it’s surroundings.
"I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udun!"
The Balrog striked down on Strong Sad with a flaming sword. Gandalf parried the blow with Glamdring, shattering the Balrog’s sword.
"Go back to the shadow!"
"He sure isn't like himself," Homestar whispered.
The Balrog brandished a flaming whip, lashing it about menacingly.
"YOU...SHALL NOT...PASS!!" Strong Sad yelled.
He striked his wand and sword onto the bridge. The Balrog stoped, not knowing what to do. As it steped forward, the bridge collapsed under it and the demon fell backward into the chasm, growling.
Strong Sad, exhausted, watched the Balrog fall then turned to follow the others.
At the last minute, the flaming whip lashed up from the depths and wounded about Strong Sad's ankle, dragging him over the edge. He held onto the bridge but was straining. Homestar rushed forward, but Strong Bad restrained him.
"No, no, No- Homestar!" yelled Strong Bad, restraining Homestar.
"EUGH! EUGH! STWONG SAD!" yelled Homestar, dragging Strong Bad.
"Homestar!"
"STWONG SAD!"
Then there was silence as Homestar fell onto the bridge.
"Fly you fools!" Strong Sad said- and he lost his grip and fell into the abyss.

"NOOO! Stwong Sad!" yelled Homestar.
PomPom grabbed Homestar and rans, heading for the stairs leading to the East Gate.
"Strong Bad!" yelled The Cheat.
"Nooooooo!!!" yelled Homestar again.
Strong Bad stared at the bridge in disbelief, unable to move for a few seconds. An Ungurait arrow whizzed past his head. Other arrows started to follow, and so, dodging, he turned and followed the others up the stairs.
They came running out of the East Gate of Morea. PomPom sat on the ground, bowed his head and began to weep. Strong Bad, even though it was Strong Sad, was horrified.
Bubs watched Coach Z, who lay down. The Cheat tried to restrain Strong Mad as he vented out his rage and sorrow. The Cheat also wore a look of shock and disbelief, though.
"The Cheat, get them up," said Strong Bad, getting ready again.
"Well, give them a moment for pity's sake," The Cheat said back.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Unguraits! We must reach the Woods of Lorion. Come Strong Mad, The Cheat, Homsar, get them up," he said.
Strong Bad reached down and grabbed PomPom's arm, trying to pull him up, but he boxing glove just slipped.
"On your feet PomPom," Strong Bad said, "Where is Homestar
"Whight here!" he said behind Strong Bad.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Why would I not be okay? It isn't wike Stwong Sad just pwunged to his death or something," Homestar said.
"O...kay..."
"Come on, let's go, I guess," The Cheat said, and before they knew it, they were continuing the journey, Strong Bad leading them. They crossed hills, brooks, and through some woods.
They finally entered the Woods of Loathelorion Slowly, they walked under the huge trees. The trees were as big as imaginable, with stairways winding up the trunks, with houses and platforms in the leaves and limbs of the trees.
"Stay close! They say there’s a great sorceress lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell..." The Cheat started, when Homestar heard a voice.
"Homestar..."
Homestar, startled, looked around.
"...and are never seen again," The Cheat continued without even knowing Homestar heard a voice.
Galadriel’s Voice: Your coming to us… (Frodo stops)..is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here Ring bearer!
"Mr. Homestar?" asked PomPom.
Homestar shook his head and walked.
"Well, here’s one person she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" said The Cheat.
Suddenly, The Cheat had an arrow pointed towards him. Lorien people appeared from behind the trees, aimed at the others as well. The Fellowship stopped and looked around, alarmed.
"Oh.." Strong Bad sighed.
"That thing speaks so loud we could have shot him in the dark!" said a man.
The Cheat mumbled something.
"Haldire o Lórion, we come here for help. We need your protection," said Strong Bad.
Strong Mad looked at all the arrows pointing at him without moving.
"Strong Bad, these woods are perilous! We should go back," The Cheat said.
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back," said who was apparently Haldire, who looked at Homestar, "Come, she is waiting."

Chapter Seven: The Mirror of Galadrial


The Fellowship walked up a case of winding stairs amongst the trees. They were very big trees.
With a glow issuing forth from them, a man and woman descended to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand.
Strong Bad touched his head reverently in greeting while everyone else stared.
"Eight that are here yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Strong Sad? For I much desire to speak with him," said the man.
The woman looked at Strong Bad, reading the answer in his eyes.
"He has fallen into shadow," she said, looking at the Fellowship, "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all." She looked Homsar. She was curious of what he was doing, which was flipping his hat in the air.
"Yet hope remains while the company is true," she said, and looked at PomPom. He was gazing at her.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow. Tonight you will sleep in peace and comfort..." she said, then looked at Homestar.
Homestar heard a voice in his head.
"Welcome, Homestar of The Quire. One who has seen the Eye!" the voice said.
Homestar looked to her with question, but she did not look back.

Later, back on the ground, an area was set up for them to rest. They could here people singing in the trees.
Strong Bad looked over at The Cheat, who was pacing around.
"Take some rest, man. We're protected. Besides, we've got our swords, just in case," he said to The Cheat.
"I will find no rest here," The Cheat said, "I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondoor. She said to me even now there is hope left. But I cannot see it. It is long since we have had any hope.
"My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing. And now our…our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondoor restored. Have you ever seen it Strong Bad? The White tower, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver. It's banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?"
"I have seen the White City, long ago," he said to him.
"One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guards shall take up the call: The Lords of Gondoor have returned!"

The Fellowship was sound asleep, as Galadrial, the woman who had spoken with them before, walked past in silence. Homestar woke up and proceeded to follow her, and she didn't seem to mind. She walked down to a garden and filled an ewer with water. She turned towrds Homestar.
"Will you look into the mirror?" she asked.
"Well... what will I see?"
"Even the wisest cannot tell. For the mirror shows many things."
She began to pour the water into a silver basin that was sitting on top of a stone statue, short enough to look into.
"Things that were, things that are and some things... that have not yet come to pass," she said.
Homestar looked up at her confused.
"What are you twying to fweakin say?"
"Just take a stupid look into the mirror!"
"Oh."
Homestar stepped up to the mirror. He looked down and saw nothing but his reflection.
He turned to Galadrial.
"Uh... what's suppowsed to happen? I don't see anything."
"Just keep looking."
"Ok!"
He looked back into the mirror. He still didn't see anything.
"Uh... what's suppowsed to-"
"Just keep looking!"
"Oh."
He looked back but only saw his face staring back.
"Are yo-"
"YES!"
"Ok!"
Suddenly the mirror cleared.
"Gasp!" Homestar said.
The mirror showed a vision of The Cheat, Coach Z and Bubs, but then it showed PomPom.
Then he saw his home, hobton. But something was wrong with it. It was burning. Hobtons, tied up in chains, walking in a straight line being whipped, houses caving in over people, fire all around!
Then he saw an eye. A big, firey eye.
"Th-th- The Eye! The Eye of Word Ungurwait!" Homestar yelled.
The Star started to peal off of Homestar's shirt. He started to pull closer to the mirror himself. Steam came up and curled around as Lord Ungurait spoke to Homestar in Black Speech.
Homestar pulled the Star back and threw himself against the soft, green grass.
"I know what it is you saw. For it is also in my mind," said Galadrial.
She started to speak telepathically.
"It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The Fellowship is breaking. It has already begun. He will try to take the Star. You know of whom I speak. One by one it will destroy them all."
"If you want the stuwpid thing, just take it. I won't care," Homestar said telepathicly.
"You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this."
She walked towards Homestar her hand open. Her image began to change.
With a deep, dark voice she said "In place of a dark lord, you will have a queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair!"
But then she returned to normal with a scared look on her face.
Then a scared smile.
Then just a smile.
"I-I pass the test! I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadrial!"
"I donwn't understand. But I can't do this awone," Homestar said.
She turned to him.
"You are the Star-bearer, Homestar. To bear a Star of Power is to be alone. If you don't find a way, no one will," she said.
"Then I know what I gotta do, I think. It's just... I'm afwraid to do it," he said.
She bent down.
"Even the smallest person chan change the future."
Homestar looked up at her and tried to force a smile.

"Do you know how the first Unguraits came into being?" asked Homestar 20X6, walking around an Ungur-Hai, who looked like an Ungurait, except taller and not as goblin-like. They were in Organic, standing in the central chamber.
"They were elves once, taken by the dark powers, man. Tortured and mutilated.. A ruined and terrible form of life. Now...perfected.. my fighting Ungur-Hai, man! Who do you serve?"
"20X6!" said the Ungurait.
"No, you work for..."
"Homestar 20X6!"
"That's right, man!"
The Ungur-Hai wore their armor and were given their weapons. They received a white handprint on the corner of their gruesome, brown heads and faces, signifying Homestar's army. They all assembled before him in a big crowd.
"Hunt them down! Do not stop! You do not know pain, fear or disgust! You will taste man flesh and swallow it whole!"
The troops growled. 20X6 turned to Lurtzy, the Ungur-Hai who was standing in Organic with him.
"One of them carries something of great value. I want him to me alive and unspoiled. Kill the others in the most gruesome way you can think!
The Ungur-Hai started to leave Whos-in-gard to find the Fellowship and kill them. Kill all but one, anyway.

"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." said Celliborn, the man who the Fellowship met earlier in their arrival at Lorion.
The Cheat put supplies into a boat that Coach Z and Bubs were sitting in. He took a piece of lambes bread out of the pack.
"Lambes. One small bite, enough to fill the stomach of a grown man," squacked The Cheat.
"How many pieces did you eat?" asked Bubs.
"Four," replied Coach Z.

"Farewell, Homestar Runner. I give you the light of Ërendil, our most beloved star," Galadrial said. She handed him a crystal phial.
"May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out," she said to him.
Coach Z and Bubs were riding with The Cheat, Homestar and PomPom were riding with Strong Bad, and Strong Mad was riding with Homsar. The pushed off and canoed down the river.
Galadrial raised her hand and waved. Homestar waved back, though Galadrial didn't know it.
"Here we are, the great river," Strong Bad says.
The Fellowship looked up at two towering statues, carved out of the mountain, proudly standing on each side of the Andun. Their left arms were held out, their palms facing outwards in gesture of warning. Their faces were stern and serious.
They reached the bank. Homsar looked worried, and for someone as stupid as him, it probably isn't good if they are worried.
The Fellowship started to make camp.
"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach DorMor? from the north," Strong Bad said.
"Oh, yes?! It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Mymn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better!" squacked The Cheat.
"LOTS OF GOO!" Strong Mad said.
"Exacly! Festering, stinking marshlands far as the eye can see!" The Cheat squacked again.
"Shut up! That is our road," Strong Bad said.
The Cheat looked into the forest around them.
"We should leave now," he squacked.
"No. Unguraits patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness," Strong Bad said.
"It isn't the eastern shore. Something draws near..." he squacked.
"Hey! Where is Homestar?" asked Bubs, returning with some fire wood.
PomPom, half-dozing, roused with a start. Strong Bad looked around. He looked down at where Homsar was, but he was gone too.

Homestar skipped around in the woods. He stood by an immense stone head. Homsar saw Homestar and walked towards him.
He started to back away, but Homsar continuted to follow him.
"DAaAaAaA?! You suffer greatly! There is another path like the lampshade is darkk!"
Homestar still backed away.
"I don't think there is any other way," Homestar said.
"DaAaAaAaA?! I only want to defend Cheat's peoplee..."
"Did you just say something smawt?"
"DaAaAaA?! I wish I were beef! DaAa?! Can I have the star?"
"No!" he said and stepped back.
"DaAaA?! I am not a theif but a license plate!"
"You are not yourself!"
"DaAaA?! Don't beg for death when they find you!"
Homestar ran. Ran as fast as he could.
"DaAaAaA?! You are a fool as much as you are Agent See-Throooo!"
He ran after him.
He tackled Homestar.
"DaAaAa?! It is mine! Give it to meeeee!" he yelled.
Homestar struggled.
"Let me get lose!"
"Never! DaA?!"
"Let.. me... lose"
"DaAa?! Give it to meeee!"
"No!
"DaAaA?! I need the Star!"
"Noou..AHH!"
Homestar dissapeared. Homsar felt a hard pain in his face. Homestar had kicked him and put the star on his back. Homsar looked around.
"DaAaA?! Don't betray usss! Curse you and everyonne! DaAaA?! I'm McBeanie? Trousdale!"
Homsar stoped and fell to the ground. The madness left him and he came to his senses.
"DaAaA?! Oops!"

Homestar walked around in the "Shadown World". He climbed onto the the Seat of Seeing atop of a hill. He looked around and saw the Dark Tower of Lord Ungurait from afar. The image rushed to him of the giant Burning Eye of Lord Ungurait. Homestar tried to remove the star and fell off the seat. He landed on his back. He sat up, trying to catch his breath. Strong Bad ran up.
"Homestar?"
Homestar turned around.
"It took Homsar," he said.
"Where is the star?"
"Stay away!" He got up and backed away from Strong Bad.
"Homestar, you idiot!"
He stopped.
"I swore to protect you! Though I shouldn't have..."
"Can you pwotect me from yoursewlf?!"
Homestar showed Strong Bad the star. Strong Bad suddenly understood.
"Would you destwoy it?"
"I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of DorMor?," he said back.
"I know. Wook after the others, especwlly PomPom. He just wouldn't not understand."
Strong Bad nodded, but then he saw Homestars sword glowing blue.
"Go, Homestar," he said and he drew out his sword, "Run. Run!"
Homestar turned and ran.

"Where ore they? I'ma gonna go look for erm!" said Coach Z and ran off into the wilderness.
"No! Where are you going!? Come back!" sqacked The Cheat.
Strong Bad ran ontop of the Seat of Seeing and looked around to see if anybody was coming.
He did. A whole troop of Ungur-Hai were advancing towards him.
He gave a sort of half-smile and held his sword up to his face. They attacked.
Strong Bad jumped down of the Seat of Seeing and attacked. He slashed several across the stomach, and cut a bunch of heads off.
Further down in the forest, everyone was searching for Homestar.
"Homestar!!" yelled PomPom franticly. He heard the clash of sword on sword and his eyes widened.
"Find him! Find him!" yelled Lurtz.
The Cheat and Strong Mad ran out from behind the Seat.
"Yes!" yelled Strong Bad as Strong Mad ran forwards into the Ungur-Hai.
They all yelled as he came and knocked them over. He pulled out his axe and chopped some up, but more cam running down the hill, their swords waving in the air.
The Cheat shot three Ungur-Hai and the fell to the ground.
Homestar was already half way down the hill. He hid behind a tree in a little ditch. He looked through a space between two trees as five Ungur-Hais ran past. Across the way, Coach Z and Bubs hid in some fallen tree trunks.
"Homestar! Over here! Oh dag!" whispered Bubs as some more ran past.
"Hurd hure, quick!" whispered Coach Z.
Homestar looked at them in a confused way then shook his head.
"What's he doing, dag?" asked Bubs to Coach Z.
Coach Z suddenly understood.
"He's leavin'."
"NO, DAG IT!" yelled Bubs and ran out from the branches.
"Borbs!" said Coach Z and ran after him. They were out in the open, and just their luck more Ungur-Hai were running down the hill. They stared at them and then Coach Z turned to Homestar.
"Run Homestar, Go!" he whispered. He cupped his hands over his mouth.
"Hey! Hey, you! Yeah, the big, fat, ugly one! Over here!"
Homestar wasn't sure what Coach Z was doing, so he yelled too.
"Weah! Come over here, come over here!"
"No, you idiot, run!" said Bubs.
"Oh," he said and ran down the hill.
"Yeah, you big beast! Come over here and fight like a man! Or are you to scared? Go home and cook dinner for your husband! Come on!" yelled Bubs.
"This ware!" yelled Coach Z, waving his arms.
They suddenly both darted off the path. The troops followed them.
"It's working!" said Bubs.
"I know its working! Rorn!" yelled Coach Z.
They ran across an old bridge, but stopped in the middle and turned around. Ungur-Hai were running towards them from another direction. Both groups were closing in, front and behind. One ran up to them and raised his axe. Coach Z and Bubs squinted until they saw a sword jab out of his face. He fell to the ground to show Homsar.
"DaAaAaA?! I'm McBeaine? Trousdale!"
Coach Z and Bubs smiled. They pulled out their small swords and helped Homsar fight the Ungur-Hai.

Back at the Seat, The Cheat, Strong Bad and Strong Mad continued to fight. In one smooth move, The Cheat stabbed one Ungur-Hai with an arrow and shot it out another. Strong Bad stabbed one in the back of the head so it protruded from his face, pouring black Ungurait and Ungur-Hai blood. The Cheat shot first three Ungur-Hai, then one who was attacking Strong Bad. Three loud ox-horns were then heard.
"Homsar! That's Homsar's horn!" squacked The Cheat.
Strong Bad ran forward.
"Homsar!

PomPom bounced down through the woods, but eventually got to fast and basicly jumped down. He was running towards the bank.
"Homestar!" he blubbled.
Homestar stood upon the shore of the river. He stared at the opposite shore.
"I wish this stupwid thing had never come to me!" he said.
"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you," said Strong Sad in his mind.
He grabbed the edge of the boat and pushed it into the water. He jumped in as PomPom emerged from the woods. He saw Homestar paddling away and ran after him.
"Oh, Homestar, NO!" Homestar!"
PomPom stopped on the edge of the shore.
"Oh, gweat. No! Go away!" Homestar said to himself.
He contunued to paddle. PomPom ran into the river as Homestar looked back.
"Go away, PomPom! I'm going to DorMor? alone!"
"Of course you are, and I'm coming with you!"
"That didn't make any freakin' since!"
PomPom jumped into the boat.
"Poms are excellent swimmers," he said.
Homestar sighed.
"I made a promise, Homestar. A promise!"
"When?"
"Oh, I don't know! The point is, I'm coming with you and that's it!
"Come on, then," Homestar said. PomPom grabbed an oar and they paddled to the other shore.

Chapter Eight: The Conclusion


Homestar and PomPom stood upon a rocky hill, seeing the Dead Marshes and DorMor? in the distance.
"I hope the others find a safer route," PomPom said.
"Stwider will hopefully take cawe of them," Homestar replied.
"I don’t suppose we’ll ever see them again."
"We may yet, PomPom, we may," Homestar said and he turned to PomPom.
"PomPom, I'm glad your with me," he said.
PomPom smiled, shifted his grip on his pack and they both walked down the rocky slope.


More to come.
Please note this is the 2nd part of The Fellowship of the Star.
For the first part, go here.
For the second book, go here.
For the main page, go here.