Hope you enjoy

Raistlin Phnatom Was so good and proofreaded and edited this chapter, remember to give him some love

Sauron heard the trumpets, he turned to the direction it was coming from. He heard that princess Twilight is going to arrive, so she had just arrived. But wasn’t it to early? It could be, or he spent so much time with Celestia he didn’t even notice that a couple hours may have passed. He glanced up at the sky and saw the sun still in the same position as earlier.

He then also heard citizens saying something and starting conversations with each other, he didn’t expect to meet another royals so quickly. Maybe he will finally have someone to talk what, she was a librarian after all, so she must be smart. He likes smart people, they like to think like he likes to plan.

Other than that, he never had enough smart advisors or anyone like that. Only his bodyguards or the ring wraiths, were “smart” enough and he allowed them to speak or advise him in some things. Intellect is the key to success, and knowledge is the key to power. Both these two can give order that he desires to fall upon middle-Earth, of course by his ideas and all.

Maybe he will even try and change the ideology and type of thinking, here in this strange new world? Surely his ideas won’t harm Equestria or the Crystal Empire, the need for free workforce is needed to build new mines and make the economy become stronger. Slaves can rebel but with enough well-trained guards it won’t be a problem, and they wouldn’t charge like idiots, just as the orcs do.

Sauron looked at Celestia that was surprised by all that, she didn’t know something is or was going to happen. He with his hand gestured to go and see what is happening, Sauron knew what is going o happened. But the wanted to look and see the princess. He wants to also to measure her strength and see how will she react when she sees him.

Celestia with him begin to go to the direction from where the trumpets were heard, they passed the rest of the cultural district. He saw theaters and weird buildings, with different kinds of art on the outer walls. He didn’t understand why would someone leave such precise painting on the outside, then rather hide it inside somewhere to be safe.

He also saw schools and different kinds of ponies that mostly wear glasses, he saw the local library that quite big he had to admit. Other than that, it was rather calm and the guards quickly galloped past them to make the way for the arriving Princess. In Harad more guards were assigned to such things, but this is something different.

The fact that Celestia didn’t bring any guards with her was rather interesting, what if someone attacked her? What if he attacked her? Well the answer was rather easy to guess, they would die if it was him, but still she needed protection. Maybe she thought of him? His idea for fighting and such then said that it is normal and she is right if she chose him.

But if it isn’t the case, then she really needs to think about protection and personal guards that, will risk their lives for her. He doesn’t like to fight, and he isn’t too good at it. But he has power and he is going to use it. Sauron really didn’t like to get his hands dirty with such things as defense, what is the purpose of guards and military, of not attack and defense?

While getting closer to the main path, Sauron saw some weird looking monuments, they were bend in different type of shapes. Some were easy and rather simple, other were very spiky and for him hard to understand. The missed big amounts of material in the middle, and the basic harmony when it comes to architecture.

He saw an ash grey Pegasus who had blades as his cutie mark. Was he some sort of mercenary or maybe a soldier? A butcher or a blade master? Either way it was an interesting cutie mark, he saw that cutie marks resembled basic thigs, be it scrolls or even scissors. The guards had sometimes a shield, or a spear with a spark on the end.

Citizens were coming and when they saw princess Celestia with him, they got out of the way while looking at him with scared little eyes. Sauron didn’t mind that, he even liked that a bit. Of course, he must has to be seen as an ally, because the citizens can influence sometimes very heavily the monarch.

If the citizens will be scared the whole time, the monarch might release an edict or something. That makes the problem to be eradicated, and he won’t get easily eradicated. He died once and he won’t die more, not now and not here in these strange lands. Because of some ponies cutting of his ring, that would be rather very embarrassing.

Slowly now getting to the point where Sauron will be able to see the princess, he was getting prepared to be asked millions of questions or be again attacked. If this Twilight was the former student, she will immediately ask what is he doing, who he is, and why he is next to Celestia. If not, then probably other questions.

He also wondered if Princess Luna and Princess Candance will come, not forgetting about Shining Amor and their daughter Flurry Heart. They must, for family reasons and to look good for the public, as well as be good hosts for the guest. The good times when the ambassadors or the local nobles from Harad or Rhun, were coming back.

How much did he kill? At least one hundred of them was dead if he isn’t mistaken from both of those countries for speaking to him jot in the correct way. He sent some to the wargs to fed on, some were just killed by him and his mind. Telekinesis also helped when he threw a knife at them, from the back or otherwise.

The orcs with pikes impaled them and left them somewhere in the front of Barad-dur. Not to mention that he also had to send his orcs to fight that ranger of the black gate. He with Celebrinbor brought him so much pain and so much unsuccess, he can’t even think straight without getting angry. But after many fights and encounters with his Nazgûl’s he finally got rid of him. The new ring was also lost, he didn’t know where it is or why it was lost and where exactly.

Sauron and Celestia were now standing where most of the citizens had been, just behind the guards that kept them in order. While the chariot with Princess Twilight was slowly going through the town, four unicorns pulled it. Then the Citizens looked at the right, and Sauron with Celestia did the same. From there with her crystal guards, was Princess Cendence with her husband and their daughter, Flurry Heart looked rather nervous or a little sad

‘Wonder what happened’ Sauron thought, he then felt something on his shoulder

When he looked he saw Celestia had her hoof on his shoulder, and with her head she gestured to join them. He nodded and immediately Celestia spread her wings, then she jumped and flew where Twilights chariot was. Sauron before also joining in, looked at the guards that pulled Twiligh6ts chariot. And then he compared them to the crystal guards

The crystal ponies, had a thick armor on their chests and armored boots, the metal was silver or very polished for normal steel. They had a crystal heart in the center, the seemed to be made of diamond. Their helmets were also thick, and were made from the same steel and were also very polished.

He then looked at the Twilight guards, they had golden armor. With some robes underneath that hid their cutie marks, but showed the same symbol she had on her flank. A purple star surrounded by smaller blue ones on a white robe or cloth. The armor wasn’t as thick, but he couldn’t say it was slim, it was rather moderate.

He didn’t yet join, he wanted to but he also wanted to join later and see her reaction to him. It was rather exciting to think what would happened. He felled weird but he liked the lavender color of her fur, her mane was also rather simple. Her lavender eyes also were really hypnotizing, she wasn’t that bad looking. But he would prefer more warm colors like red or maybe orange, the strip of dark lavender to her mane was also looking good.

‘7/10’ He said in his thoughts

Celestia landed between Cendences and Twilights chariots. She could already see her pupil smiling and waving to her. She wanted to fly and get a welcome hug, but a princess must have her manner’s. Cendence and her family also looked at Celestia with a smile and waved to her. Celestia sat, and waited for their arrival, but why didn’t Sauron come to after her?

She couldn’t see him where he stood earlier, so maybe he is planning something? She hopes it won’t be something scary that will scare the ponies. This sure won’t help in socializing with Twilight, at least it will make her look at him with a bad stare while rumors will appear. Or is he may be preparing to do a greeting from his country?

‘That would be rather interesting’ Celestia thought

When both Twilight’s and Cadence’s chariots stopped, each the royalty walked in different directions. Celestia in the middle looked back and then forwards to see her former student and best friends going her direction. She hoped everything went well, and nothing bad happened. The gryphons really are troublemakers.

As always, Twilight was wearing her crown, with a big diamond shaped into a star like her cutie mark has in the middle or shining on his shield. Her horn was bigger, her wings also and she overall has grown quite a bit, she is now bigger than any of the elements of harmony together. While not counting in the mutated giants that have grown to be massive hulking beasts, at least they will have a good job.

Both guards from both sides were behind the royalty, one of those mutated ponies that was an unicorn, and he was with Cadence and her family behind them. Celestia now was also heading Twilights direction, she was only a couple meter’s away, besides who would mind? Normal ponies don’t wait at each other.

When Celestia met, they stared at each other for a second, before hugging very warmly. They stayed so for a couple seconds before breaking the hug. Twilight looked into Celestias purple eyes, and Celestia looked into her lavender eyes. There was a moment of silence, but finally Celestia asked Twilight.

“How was the journey?”

“It was just like always, nothing to do other than reading books that I brought with me.”

“Heheh…Didn’t you even have a break for some fun in the Gryphon capital?”

“No, I talked with the diplomats and the nobles for hours, I can’t believe that they still think of me as your student. They want to meet with you and Luna and discuss more ‘Advanced’ things about our Pony-Gryphon relations” Twilight shaking her head a little

Celestia with her hoof brought her head up “Don’t worry yourself, for now you will have to meet somepony.”

“B-But Celestia, I told you I don’t need a Stallionfriend!” Twilight protested

“Who said it was about that? Naughty mare.”

Twilight blushed a bit, and then she shook her friend “Actually what are you doing here? Did Cadence say that I’m going to arrive? I mean that I didn’t plan on coming here, just boked my arriving quickly”

As Twilight spoke, Cadence and her other two family members came and heard the question. But before answering, she hugged her sister in law, the next following was shining that tried to pick her sister up with the hug. He barely succeeded, she was almost bigger than he was, then there was Flurry’s turn, and she also received a warm hug from her auntie, and a kiss on the forehead.

“No, I didn’t tell her” Cadence finally spoke

“Huh? Then something has happened?” Twilight asked and turned Celestias direction

“Well yes, but it was a misunderstanding” She answered her friends Question

“Is it connected with the Pony I will meet?”

Celestia nodded, but then Flurry Heart spoke “I’m sure, you will like him, aunt Twi!”

“He is rather, well big or giant. But he can become tiny, and still be bigger than most of us” Shining said this time

With narrowed eyes she looked at her brother “Ok…And where is Luna?”

“I’m sure she will arri-“

“Hello everypony!”

“-ve, in a moment” Cadence spoke in whispering tone

“Hi Luna.” Twilight approached her and they both hugged also warmly

“Greeting Twilight, how have you been?”

“Good as always, but with the gryphons it’s not too easy” She said in worried tone and a sight on the end

“Don’t you trouble your mind with that! Right now, you have to be happy you are here” Luna said in a very happy tone

“Yes, you are right, where is Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?” Twilight looked at all of them

“In the palace, Fluttershy, is… ummm helping Discord with repairing” Cendence answered

“Rainbow dash is somewhere also in the palace, probably you know, again being anti-Sauron” Shining spoke

“What do you mean in Anti-Sauron? Is it the name of the pony I have to meet?”

Celestia looked at Luna, she looked at Cendence. Cendence looked at her daughter and then changed her gaze on Shining. Shining looked at her sister and again at his wife, then Luna and Celestia looked at each other, and Flurry Heart looked at Twilight. While twilight observed it all, and begin to think about their glances to each other and the lack of speech in the group.

“He isn’t, a pony to start with…” Celestia started and Luna finished “…More information about him, will be reveled in the palace. For now, we can say that he isn’t a pony...” She paused and then Looked around and asked, “Wasn’t he supposed to be with you?” Luna asked her sister

“Yes, I do not know where he-”

“Right here”

They all turned and saw a pony guards, the one from the mutated ones that were called giants. He was a unicorn, a very handsome unicorn. His horn was long and very sharp looking, he had very angry but merciful and hot predatory eyes, as if he was a bat pony, but more of a cat, or lion. He wore the Crystal Armor, and his fur color was black, while his mane was marvelous blond-orange color and was long, looking familiar to the one Prince Blueblood had in Canterlot.

He was admirable, and he looked at them with sassy eyes, slowly he changed his gaze. He saw Luna blush, he saw Celestia hide her cheeks in her mane but then looked at him with narrowed eyes. Sauron looked at Cadence who was also, impressed by the handsomeness. Shining looked angry because of Cadences reaction. Flurry heart was just sitting and eyeing him with curiosity.

The stallion then finally looked at Twilight, and he looked at her with and raised eyebrow. Twilight just also blushed, and she came more and more red with every second she looked at him. But she just didn’t understand what was going on, did Celestia and Luna talk about him? Did she just lie about a Stallionfriend? He was truly handsome, he seemed admirable and he seemed to be the definition of beauty when it comes to stallions.

That very well shaped muzzle, the smile of an adult good grown and noble blooded pony was with him. His muscles were seen through his fur, his muscles on his legs were also seen clean. His eyes had the perfect size and shape the same with the ears, heat was coming of him, almost illuminating and flooding the air with the warmth. And a very unique scent followed with it, it was strong and very, very charming, even when it seemed that it was smoke like smell

“You’re not Sauron! He is a Maiar or Maia, or something like that…” Flurry said

‘Maia? Never heard of something like that’ Twilight thought

“Oh really?” The unicorn asked, “Well no more.”

“I do not know who you are soldier, but this behavior won’t come unnoticed!” Shining said and was now looking straight into the new stallion’s eyes.

“Celestia” She said and turned her direction “You said that he isn’t a pony? Or is this Unicorn just well, saying he is this Sauron?”

“We will find out” She said in whispering tone to Twilight and then turned to the Unicorn and said, “Prove that you are him, or say something that prove to us that you are Sauron” She stated simply, but in a dangerous tone.

“Well I was just testing if my plan will work, and it did work. Hope you know what I’m talking about” The unicorn replied.

“Enough Of this!” Luan stepped in “Name, rank, and the address where you live” She demanded

“Lord Sauron of Mordor, rank: High King. Address of where I live? Mordor” He said and paused “I though you would know who I am after our night adventures” The unicorn said with a smile

Luna blushed again as he said it in a teasing tone. Twilight looked at Luna and then at the unicorn to be Sauron. And also, to be a King?! A new land? A new civilization and maybe even cultures? He claims to be him so maybe he is a changeling? Or he has the ability like a changeling to shapeshift? She needs to know.

“You…you…” Luna tried to speak but she couldn’t

“Yes?” The unicorn said teasingly

“How do you know?” She asked finally

“Well maybe because I was there?”

There was a minute of silence.

“I trust you” Twilight spoke finally.

All the ponies looked at her, the unicorn also with a raised eyebrow and looked interested in what she had to say. Twilight looked at the ground and then up, straight into the Unicorns eyes, a drop of sweat went down her forehead down and landed on the ground. With a slight blush, she finally said what was on her mind.

“You claim to be that Sauron, so why not trust you? Maybe you can change? Just like the Changelings, what Fluttershy teach me was to be kind and to be friendly. I will trust you and believe you that you are him, I never heard of Mordor or of Sauron, and he isn’t a pony, as Celestia said. So maybe you can wield magic and you just took the form for some reason.” She then extended her hoof, “Glad to meet you”

“Finally, someone who is smart.” He said shaking her hoof.

While he did that, weird smoke with particles surrounded him, she could feel that her hoof was held by no more a hoof but rather a hand, it was warm and she could feel the skin and no fur. The particles then disappeared quickly, and there wasn’t any more a handsome unicorn with a big spikey horn standing, but a tall bipedal creature with a handsome face and the same hair with the same predatory eyes.

“As I said before, my name is Sauron. And I’m the High King of Mordor” He said releasing her hoof.

Twilight, in her head did her win dance, again she was right. Other than that, she never saw somepony like him, he seemed to be familiar to the humans Lyra always talked about. They have no muzzles, have skin and no fur, have no manes but hair. Maybe he is one? But then again Flurry said he was a ‘Maia’ or ‘Maiar’ Her eyes landed on his right hand…

“Wow…” She whispered to herself when she saw the ring.

Sauron immediately followed her gaze, and he took his hand away. Twilight took a moment to wake up from her deep thoughts, she then looked up, her eyes met with his again. She couldn’t say why but it was rather a nice experience, they seem to be so calm but they had much power behind the one that has them.

“Did you craft it? If yes why does it illuminate dark magic? Is it an artefact?” She begins to ask.

Sauron then stood tall and looked at her with a cold gaze, he didn’t like to talk about the ring, and he won’t talk about it for as long as he wants to. Be it even a century and he won’t say a word about it, the only thing he will let them know that it is his and only his. And this Twilight, is most certainly too curious about certain things.

The princesses and shining looked at each other, Celestia and Luna bit her lip. Shining just looked worried what happened, and Cadence just facehoofed when she saw that her best friend, is again asking about things she shouldn’t. Flurry Heart just stared and listened, she never felt dark or evil coming from the ring, it was just weird to look at.

“I’m assuming you are nameless then?”

She looked at him with a questioning stare and raised eyebrow “Umm no?”

“I think yes, but let’s do it the other way around. So, what is your name?” Sauron asked, and Twilight couldn’t help but just realize how thoughtless she was, she didn’t tell him her name!

“I-I’m sorry…I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle” She said with a blush

After that Twilight just stood while no one said a thing, the sisters looked at each other and communicated through telepathy, though Sauron didn’t feel them do it. Shining was nervously smiling to her sister, and was from time to time looking at the back of Sauron. Cadence just hoped, she didn’t offend him.

“Let’s get to the palace.” Cadence started nervously with a big forced and nervous smile

Sauron just nodded and begin to head towards the tall crystal structure, Twilight just looked at him and she managed to have a last glance on the ring, before his dark sleeves hid his hand. She still wanted to know why was dark magic coming from it, why can he shapeshift. Is he a changeling or some other evil creature?

Celestia and Luna then followed him, Cadence also with Shining and Flurry were next to Twilight, no one said a thing, the guards and the Chariots got away to make the way clean for them, while later they joined and were escorting them to the palace. The Citizens at first whispered when they saw that it was he who was the unicorn. But the whispers soon went silent, and again cheers were heard coming from all the ponies.

“Twilight…” Cadence started “You can’t just ask such things, you might offend him”

“Yes, in fact very much judging by the reaction on his face.” Shining added

“But I had to, he avoided to response so there has to be something to it!” She said confidently

“I just hope you didn’t offend him to much” Cadence said

Luna and Celestia also joined them, Luna looked at Twilight with well a bit angry stare and Celestia did the same. She just felled bad now, but there must be something to it. Her ears fell back and she hang her head in deep thought’s. Maybe in fact she did say something wrong? But if something has dark magic in it, its evil and its corrupting everyone.

‘Maybe it was created with the help of dark magic’ She thought

It could have been a possibility that the ring on his hand could have been created with its help, but the darkness is to strong, and the ring itself doesn’t illuminate any strength. The Alicorn amulet corrupts and is very evil, so maybe his ring works the same way. She needs to maybe destroy it? But it’s his for now, so taking it won’t be easy

The thought of taking it…stealing it was already weird for her. She never thought about stealing something, and she never intended to do something like that. But she looked at the ring, and felt greedy and she felt weird, maybe the ring has already corrupted her? She looked at her family and friends now.

They seem to be angry, well Shining and Flurry wasn’t. Cadence was just worried, and she hoped that everything is okay. While Celestia and Luna had serious faces and when Celestia saw that Twilight was looking at her, her expression still was serious and very stagnant. Again, her curiosity and her hunger of knowledge, and to learn took over and destroyed her first impression.

The world had taken her number one and only assistant from her, what could she do? She has no one to talk with other then the staff, and maybe sometimes Celestia or Luna. Her friends have now private life, and she now just destroyed international relations. She doesn’t go to often to see her brother, not to make them think something is happening.

She was probably suffering depression but she wasn’t sure, she was the princess of Friendship and with that she as the Princess of Magic. Because Friendship equals magic, she is maybe even stronger then Celestia or Luna if she would use her strength and potential. Or even all the information she knows and they don’t know.

Her world was falling apart, but least today she will meet with rainbow dash and maybe even with Fluttershy and their little foal. Anarchy is such a cute one! He has skill in arts too, but he still doesn’t want to be teached about using his magic he has inherited from Discord. So much potential, a new spirit of chaos would be needed as an ally if something bad happens

Twilight still was interested in his ring, maybe he was married and it's a way to connect to his mare? Or he was married and his wife died, and now she just brought painful memories back? But then again it would have been a normal golden ring. Twilight knew she was going to regret asking but she needed to! She needs to know, but Celestia, Luna, and Cadence want to tell her something.

When Twilight with other entered the palace, the guards just looked at them with their regular stares, this day was supposed to be good and funny. And it turned dark and grim because she said too much. Again, it was her fault for something bad happening, she can’t talk to the gryphons, she can’t get spike back, and she can’t be with her friends like in the old days.

She asked also the guards where are Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, but the answer came quick. She was tackled to the ground when a pink blur hit her, and after her a yellow butter pony with pink mane followed. Twilight stood up, she wasn’t angry at her friend, a good friend isn’t angry at her friends.

“Owww…” mumbled Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow watch ou- “Fluttershy stopped a when she saw Twilight, and she flew to hug her friend. “-Twilight!”

“Hey Fluttershy.” When Rainbow regained her senses, she joined the group hug, “Hi Rainbow.”

Sauron watched as the ponies hugged and he held his chin high. They were close and he still didn’t know what are the elements exactly, but Twilight seemed to have close connection with both of the elements. Maybe she is an element herself? That would be interesting, and he would need to change his posture and the way he wants now to talk to Twilight.

He likes smart people, and he values knowledge high up in the ranks, but this one is to curious and she asked him why the ring illuminates dark magic, he didn’t know they can sense that. If the others sense it then he is very much doomed now, he needs to think about explaining it to them when the time finally comes.

‘Discord in here somewhere’ He thought when he felt the chaotic magic, he already knew to who it belonged to.

The palace itself was rather, quickly repairing. Already most of the smaller crack on the walls or the floor were gone, the wood and all the mess was gone. But still this land needs free workforce and he is going to make them have such. Free workforce is always a good thing to have, you don’t have to pay and its affective, if not then it is used as meat shield.

Sauron looked around, but he couldn’t find him, he masked himself away but he still could fell his presence in this room. The spirit of Chaos has a lot to explain to Princess Twilight when she will finally find out what happened, he will also probably. But he heard everything they said, she won’t talk for two days to him before apologizing or again asking “offensive” questions

He would gladly tell about Ada, about Mordor and its “Holidays” that he will make up quickly if he was required, other than that, having her secured will a be a good thing. She seemed to be in depression. It’s an easy goal to corrupt and to finally claim. First step to have this Country or a part of it as his and only his. If this won’t work, well then…

‘…Accidents happen’