Disclaimer - I claim no ownership over anything but the storyline. Don't sue me, I am but a poor student.

Pirates? Not in this Shire...

They had been travelling for what felt like days, although Pippin was certain that his ma had told him that it was not far to Hobbiton, and Pippin was bored. There was not much for a young hobbit to do when he was the only child amongst a group of elders, and Pippin was not a child who liked not having much to do. He needed to be kept busy. How else would he have the wit and charm to adventure as much as he did? Yet there was not much chance of any adventure today. Pippin adjusted his pack and half closed his eyes, as his pony plodded on without his guidance, and began to strongly wish he was already at cousin Frodo's. Frodo always knew how to have fun.

The young hobbit's eyes widened as his slow grey pony turned a corner and a group of hobbit travellers came into view on the horizon. Wait... they weren't travellers - they were pirates! Pirates of men who had raided the troves of elven kings and were now headed north to hide the treasure in their dark, corrupt village. Pippin gasped as he saw the trunks they were pulling on their heavily loaded cart. There must be thousands of coins there! thought Pippin, as the nine year old hobbit's thoughts turned to a plan. He would wait until cover of nightfall, and then sneak up on their camp, brandishing his sword. It would be a hard fight, but he was sure he could steal the treasure back. Then he would be famous, and known throughout the Shire as "Burglar Took - the bravestest hobbit in all Middle-earth!" And then perhaps his older sisters would stop teasing him so much.

Pippin squinted to reduce the glare of the sun, and took another glance at the pirates: they were fast approaching, and Pippin now saw that they had some younger hobbits with them. They had prisoners! That's it, thought Pippin, I can't wait until dark. Not if they have prisoners. Feeling a sudden onset of Tookishness rising in his small frame, Pippin decided to attack. He would not be able to beat these men in full daylight, but he may be able to distract them enough to free the prisoners and then slip away with hobbit-stealth himself. Yes. That was what he would do.

All the while, Pippin's pony had been trotting along contentedly, unaware of the danger that lay ahead, and the risk her master was about to take. So Pippin's sudden striking of her took her by surprise and she reared, throwing the youngest Took to the ground. Pippin did not land hard, but it was enough for him to utter a yelp of pain. Oh no, he thought, I will surely be captured now!

"Peregrin," Paladin Took ran to his son's side, "Peregrin, are you hurt?"

"No Pa," said Pippin, "But the Pirates......." he pointed to the cart that was now almost met with the group of Tooks, "they'll have seen me, and now I can't get to their prisoners, or the elvish treasure..."

"Pirates?" laughed Paladin softly, picking up and dusting off Pippin, who had begun to cry, "Pippin, they are not pirates! If my eyes see correctly, they are members of the Goodbody family, and the prisoners you speak of are their children! They are fine, see...."

Pippin wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket and followed his Pa's gaze. Indeed, it was as if the pirates had disappeared into thin air! Perhaps they possessed a magic ring like Bilbo's.... he would have to remember to ask when he arrived at Bag End.