As Princess Cadence entered the more “private” meeting cambers. Dedicated to more extreme and serious meetings, her Husband followed her inside the room. Sauron was accompanied by two crystal guards that held spears in their magic. Both had white coats and red eyes, only their manes were different, one was green and the other dark blue.

The more “private” meeting chamber was rather small for having such an important role. The room consisted of one wide round crystal table, with the same armchairs he saw in the dining room. There was now window, no door other then the one he entered the room with, and no guards or even any guards.

Again, with the guards, everything unguarded, everything so easy to destroy or kill and leave behind burned. He hates to look at this, this state. Is supposed to help him while unprotected?! He need this country protected so that his plans may be fulfilled. And he is going to make a first push to secure his interests in this country.

On the opposite, where Sauron just stood, there were two larger and more beautifully decorated and designed thrones, both having the cutie marks curved in them. Each had a pillow, and each was higher than the rest of the armchairs. The thrones were three steps higher, and above them the ceiling was three steps convex.

On the ceiling there was one big and made out of red gems chandelier. The floor had pictures of different ponies and probably artists and very important historical ponies on it.

The guards escorted his majesty Sauron to his place, Sauron looked at his place to sit and with his mind, while looking now and the siting Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. He moved his armchair backwards, other then receiving a deadly and serious still stare from the two Monarchies, he did the opposite and sat when the armchair was close.

The guards then with spears in their magic, went to the side of their Monarchs. One the Cadence and One to Shining Armor. Sauron with his back against the backrest of the chair. Looked still at the two ponies. The guards this time grabbed the spears in their hooves, which still surprised Sauron how can they do it.

“Explain yourself.” Cadence started.

Sauron took a deep breath through his nose and let it out with his mouth. From his emotionless face a small happy smirk formed. He firstly looked at the table and then at her. The smirk disappeared and changed into angrier frown.

“With pleasure,” He said, “Although I would advise to b-”

“I don’t think you started explaining yourself.” Shining Armor said.

He hated it, he hated when someone interrupted him. He didn’t like this, he would very much hang anyone who dared to do this. And he would even millions of times if he could. But fine, if they want to start this without a promille of culture and respect to another person, let it be like this, sure he can play like this.

“Alright then,” Sauron said now more disrespectfully, “Tell me.” He said and looked up at them, clearly angry “Who? That sane someone of course” He stopped to think “…Would keep a whole hallway, without one at least guard in a palace, in a palace where the heads of the country sleep, live, eat, work and care for their child?”

There was silence

“No one, I had to yell to summon them, what if Princess Twilight sparkle has injured herself while I was not there? Who would the find her? Who would help her?” He asked, seeing Cadence getting little Hurt inside, while Shining took personally these questions.

That was his plan for now, Shining won’t accept being insulted and accused of not protecting his family. He will surely do something he will regret in his anger and his emotions will drive him. Sauron has much opportunities to use them when he will enter that state.

He stood up and slammed his hands into the crystal table “I ask! Who would?! If even a bloody assassin entered the place, what would happen? who would even stop him if he succeeded to at least make him pay for something he would do?!” He stared at them, while the crystal table had a small crack under one of his palms.

“There was no assassin, no murderer or anypony who would mean harm for many years.” Started Cadence. “Who would stop the pony that would do something horrifying like this you ask?” Clearly her voice broke under the word horrifying.

“I would personally!” Yelled her husband “And I would seek, search, and ask for this pony to the end of my life if something happened to my family.” He then pointed his hoof at him. “You have nothing to those decisions, or to change what is what.”

Sauron clearly now seeing Cadence in some progressed to crying for some reason and seeing her easy to be broken while talking about such scenarios. While also seeing Shining Armor thinking he is brave and would always do the right thing, there is a big opening point thou in their statements.

“Would it change what happened? Would it prevent what would have been done?” He asked, his voice sounding as if he didn’t have interests in them, and what they said or what their decision id going to be “The answer is NO, and you know it.” he then continued. “The harm, the injury and the event that would occur.”

Sauron tried to push further, he wanted to see only some water in those eyes, at least one small tear that would go down Cadences cheek. Only to see it in her eye, and to have as much joy from it as he can, to know as much what breaks her and to know what to use to control and deceive this pony.

“What is your point then? Why did you have to insult me? What if I did the same?” Shining said.

“My point is that, you need more protection. You need more strict laws, you need more funding on the guards, you need more soldiers. You need more personnel, you need more ponies you need to have every hallway with at least three of them.” He stated, with his hands high up.

“There is no need to do this.” Cadence assured. “Everything is and will be perfectly fine, besides that, the ponies will start to wonder why many guards are there suddenly guarding us. They’ll think that something had happened or will happen.”

Shining Armor continued after his wife. “There will be panic, and we can’t just suddenly hire guards, they will be inexperienced, almost worthless recruits worth only being used as reserves.” He says.

Now this was interesting, finally he has heard a pony, addressing another pony in a bad way. Maybe these ponies have some aggression, have some warrior instinct in them that would allow them to function! Maybe indeed better to control this land, he might use Cadences immortality to get her on his side, while he will somehow dispose of Shining.

“Maybe, but it is better to have three times more than three times less, I know from my own experience it does work.” With his finger raised, like an old and wise man.

“No.”

Sauron looked at Cadence, so did Shining Armor

“No, No, and NO!” She yelled, her wings also went up from the anger. “If we do this, then thieves and clearly assassins as you said would come as they would think something valuable is here, and there is nothing valuable. Guards would be injured because they wouldn’t be experienced.” She took sighed and carefully said “It would bring more trouble then there is already.”

‘Then there is already’ he repeated this sentence in his head.

This means there are indeed some problems, that there is a problem that makes them act like this. Clearly right now she said herself that there is a problem, probably it is asleep or the organization or anything particularly is aiming at them. There could be some truth in what she said it would bring more assassins and more thieves and problems from around the world here, but it’s worth paying the price to later have peace.

Carefully he sat, and looked at them, with narrowed eyes. “The at least you need to have more patrols, clearly there was no one patrolling, this is something terrible and unacceptable.”

“The patrols were canceled, there has been as every day a training, and some weapon practice lessons.”

“Only a small group of ponies was left, they had a training earlier.” Shining said.

And here was one of the mains problems, they needed more guards, so that at least there would be the same number of ponies guarding and patrolling as there is training and improving their skill. There is an easy way for doing that. Every experienced pony, is going to be in one group, while the other won’t be. For four days there won’t be a training session for the experienced ones.

When this is done, they will mix up the experienced with the un experienced one, so that the experienced ones can share their skill with the newbies. With the following year, or maybe even in three or six months, there isn’t only going to be a hundred percent more guards, but also equally experienced.

Some would say, he is stupid. He wants to have more guards while also disturbing the peace in the realm? What an idiot! But, but, but… Sauron isn’t the guy who first does then looks and sees he has done bad. No, he knows good there will be more ponies making his work more difficult. There is a way to lower the chance of being caught and brought to justice.

First is to maybe influence the patrols to his liking, and maybe even change some lay out and paths they take.

Two, is to let the guards know who gave them jobs and a place to stay, being a royal guard clearly is a nice and important thing, and it gives prestige and much appreciation to the ones family. In other words, make the guards thank him for this opportunity.

Three, make them think he is right. He will also try to make the ponies believe in what he says, and that he is right, and he wants good for the Crystal Empire as he has grown to like the ponies. Obviously, it’s a lie, but if they become loyal, they will close an eye for seeing him messing around in the orders. Thinking he tries to improve the Empire.

And four, if necessary, have a small force of two or three hundred stallions to maybe even make a small coup. Or when he won’t need a coup, but when he’ll need an intervention in some things, he could just say to the guards what to do and make them lie to sabotage the Empires reputation among rich families to then plead for being send and to fix this problem, ultimately gaining trust and more power in the court.

While also not forgetting his earlier plans, to take the citizens go out on the streets and in mobs do small revolts to force some laws on the Empire. Both combined can-do wonder’s, if only he could achieve this, he would almost be the most powerful person in the realm, maybe even more than the current heir to the throne!

The thing is, he needs to start somehow his plans, and he hoped they won’t be intervened in any case. He could wait two more days, and then start them, maybe three, and along the way do some minor work. He would also gladly know more about the elements and maybe, who knows. Get to know Rainbow Dash better, she seems like the perfect material for a puppet.

“You just said yourself what is the problem.” He said. “To many guards are on the training session, and to many guards are there” He with an open hand gestured to the world ”And not here.” He finished with his fist on the table.

“You are wrong, Lord Sauron. The guards in training are replaced by regular Royal Police, called by some even Militia, that checks if anypony enters the palace.” Shining explained.

“Really? How much are there? Ten? Twenty?”

“Six.” Cadence answered.

Sauron closed his eyes, and with his hand on the forehead, he leaned back and sighed really sadly at what Cadance has just said. Six ponies, six ponies trained in checking and not fighting probably, six ponies… only six ponies!

“How is this place not robbed yet? Let's talk as if we were friends right now.”

Although what he said seemed to spark some fear in the two Ponies, wasn’t so badly taken by the guards who expected in any other second some violent and unneeded cuss words to be said. This is going to be a fourteen year old spectacle out his bitch in any moment.

“You have, forty, maybe fifty guards here while the others are away.” He said, thankfully he wasn’t corrected with the guard number and Melkor be praised for this! “You have six Militiamen standing there checking for “bad ponies” yes? I assume the training are each day at the same hour?”

Both of them nodded.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Militia men are standing each every time at the same position.”

Again they nodded “Every one of them sees each other, and it has always worked to maintain the security high up.”

“Wrong!” He yelled. “ Maybe now it does work, but let me assure you that there will be a gap where the palace is going to be exposed. Two or three need to be taken out or go, or look somewhere else so that the intruder can go in the palace.”

“Even if he or she does, the guards on the bottom still cover the area and the intruder would be caught.”

“Don’t be sure, there can always be something more and always there is a mastermind behind all of those big assaults, or even murders and intrigues involving money or deposing of someone.”

The debate wasn’t as bad as it seemed to be or seemed to involve into one, yes, one could argue with another if there indeed needs to be more guards and if it is very unwise to leave only six ponies when the rest is somewhere. It is better to have more, as long as it isn’t bad, and the guards aren’t bad in any case.

“Imagine someone would try to enter the palace to steal anything, even a pencil in this case. He needs to wait for the guards to go on training, this pony waits for it. Then when they go, he calls for his friends that are supposed to make a small confusion among the crowd, while also some would distract the Militia stallions, from there three or four are busy and two patrol further, and they decide not to let any pony enter yes? The one who wants to do something, is the strongest, in mind, or in strength. If he has both he will defeat the two, then he would enter the palace, from there he only lies, or usement ofhis abilities to somehow get through the guards” Sauron explained, what he envisioned what might happen in his mind.

This plan he presented wasn’t really said in detail and was made up quickly, he would think of something better. But he wanted to present the situation to the two Monarchs that they aren’t safe, besides that he also wouldn’t like to see any one injured. Especially the three princesses he met, why? He sees opportunity in using them to strengthen himself.

Cadence and Shining Looked at each other, he had some right, but not all right and he didn’t know everything exactly. Cadence can’t allow new guards patrol the palace, not only these guards will be inexperienced but she fears for her little Flurry Heart to be the reason for the trouble to come, for some reason she feels like being more protective, cleverly protective.

“I understand that maybe indeed there will be more cases where ponies or any other creature that lives in this…” He looked at the guards, and then at them.

“Country…” Shining added.

“Country… will try to see if there is something worthy of attention. They’ll come, and go when they’ll see nothing is here. They’ll tell others and you will have peace, while also being protected. It's worth paying the price.” Sauron continued to push the matterl.

They exchanged stares again, Cadence still looking at him with a small frown. Shining had one and only answer, he only waited for Cadence to start, as it is her Kingdom, not his, he only from time to time decides something.

“The answer is still no, and if it’s the only thing why you reacted and said what you said there in the medical wing. Then I hope we can stop this debate, with you apologizing.” Cadence said.

“Hmmm?” he moved his head to the side slightly. “What now?”

“I said that we could end this dispute right now, with you apologizing.” She said, now changing her tone to sound more like a ‘Bitch’.

“I want only good for you, and this place… I try to convince you that you should improve what isn’t good enough so that it can be better,” He stood up, “I let myself be ordered to come to this place, and listen to what problems this city can have, I am eager to share my knowledge and experience with you.” The chair behind him moved, and he stood tall and angry.

He with his one finger on the crystal table, and his other hand by himself. He moved his right leg more to the right and was ready to start going around while explaining what he had in mind. His eyes didn’t help, the look, the way his face was shaped also suggested he didn’t smile a lot. But recently he did.

“I propose something good, and you decline, I want to see something being successful while also knowing I had my own part in it. I want to be friendly and I am and you are too. I see a problem, as a good ally I share it with you to inform you about it so that we can put it out together.” He started to walk around the table.

The guards nervously look at each other, the one with the green mane especially looks at his comrade as he is the first one to go and actually attack if something bad is going to happen. Cadence and Shining Armors heart beat also is faster at the moment.

“Who would imagine that, when you want good, when you want to help.” He stopped and with a sinister and doubtful look he gazed at them. “When you with premeditation insult, to have a talk about something important, you receive and demand and not even a small nod of thankfulness for caring, while the one talking and saying has its own problems.”

He put his hands again on the crystal table.

“Yes you heard me right, I did this with premeditation so that we can exchange views and opinions, so that I can present you with the facts and what is the problem. With something that will maybe even prevent the most sudden and sad things to appear.” He stopped.

Cadence could see that there was a very little crack on the crystal table, where once he had his hands. She will let this slide away, as she understands that he is a important guests and she could let such things go, but now she actually fears him. She fears he might himself do something to make her, TO MAKE her conscript more guards, to have more of them. He is from a world filled with war, and Equis isn’t, he needs to adapt to his surroundings but she won’t say it out loud.

‘Not now…’ she said in her mind.

“Let's imagine, the guards are like a shield, who protects the palace that is defended by you the most mightiest of the pony races, a Alicorn…” He stopped and thought “No, two Alicorns.”

Shining clearly didn’t like Sauron mentioning his daughter. He also didn’t like where is this going, he with Cadence didn’t say a word, quietness and silence may be a powerful weapon and a very important thing. But sometimes there needs to be an answer.

“Its perfect, it round and doesn’t have any gaps or ways to be avoided or somehow to have no effect on the harsh realities of the world.” He clearly put more power in pressing against the table. “The defense can’t be perfect and unbeatable, it's impossible. Every defense has its level, its hardness and softness and it has its own weak points.”

Sauron wasn’t great at explaining to others something they didn’t even clearly thought through or don’t know about it too much. He need to show it while explaining, and he does this for Princess Cadence. If Shining Armor has at least some knowledge he will know what he is talking about.

“The more layers it has, the harder to break, the better melted, forged and upgraded the steel is, the lesser is the chance for it to be pierced. If it was done in the right way, the better the product overall is. These three things indicate, experience, the type of warrior, and the amount of…” He stopped for them to say.

“Guards…” Shining said.

“Indeed,” He nodded, “now, there can’t be a perfect defense, there is always one path that leads to the thing that is protected.” He pointed at the end of the round table, on the opposite side.

Sauron wanted the table to break, only a tiny bit, to damage the table. It was made out of crystal, what kind of crystal he doesn’t know. Whatever it is it has been surely grown, and magic was also used to even curve this table from a big gem, or at least to make tiny pieces be connected together.

Sauron magic, Sauron’s influence poured into his hands, the was energy, energy that was just plain force. Like a shockwave in his hands and not in his palms. Two different things, and there could be two different outcomes. His both thumbs were close to each other, he imagined to release his magic, his energy, his strength into this furniture.

He didn’t push against the table as he was pushing, now he had his thumbs press against the table. His strength, especially in this smaller form, was very much different, from the one when he is a twelve meter high giant. Not only here he can’t smash an actual diamond in his hand without using his powers, but also he can’t properly break iron sword.

Sauron saw a crack, go to the end of the table, all the way just like he imagines. Leaving a zigzag modeled crack, looking familiar to a river getting itself through the lands and hills. Sauron then lost his strength on pressing, and from his both thumbs he released the energy, the magic he has summoned and also gathered into the crystal smooth surface.

Soon a cracking sound, a very hard for ears to whistand sound appeared. As he wanted so has happened, as his will was more powerful than an object of Nature. Sauron’s will can’t be stopped, his magic, his strength and his emotion of anger he had currently stored in him since he entered this room divided the crystal.

He wanted it to be shaped like a river, perfectly going to the other side. He destroyed the smooth surface, but if enough? If one would run his hoof he wouldn’t notice a thing, he would think the damage was nothing of concern, but only for a pony. A made out of flesh body, especially designed for the Children of Eru to be seen upon could notice the small space between both sides of the crystal table.

“One doesn’t mean it will be safe, and every one will place one card on it, all its forces and plans involving getting inside. This is what I call a “Diamond” Defense.” He said, and gestured at what he has done. “ I have to say that, you aren’t even close to this level. You are at something I call “Paper” Defense.”

He moved his one hands along the table, and crack went from it, it connected to the first one. Shining Armor and Cadence watched with small amounts, but nonetheless, with fear as he did that. She could break gems, it wasn’t too hard for her as she was an Alicorn, and also as she has learned something from Twilight about magic. Shining on the other hoof, not so much, but yes he still could if he wanted to.

The crack that went along the way and joined the first one, have also made the first look like a tree trunk. It was thick, and some rather than joining right away, went along and then joined to the first one. Sauron now left the table without his guidance, and on the side where he had a vision to created curled like “branches” appeared a pattern, similar to a wave. Also reminding of a snails shells.

The sound at last has stopped, and the two Monarchs have seen a tree on the table, made out of cracks and openings in the crystal. Even if it was done by probably anger, it was beautiful and if he left it be, any skilled Craft Stallions and carvers would like to claim it as theirs.

“Do you know why I call it the “Paper” Defense? Not because it has as many paths as a tree has branches, and openings as leaf’s.” He then sat again and with his hands together on the table, he explained further “Because, you can simply have something small but powerful with you to make it useless, like fire. A strong thing and it is small. Something that can destroy much. Like a forest, that has much, much animals to defend it, but its unorganized and a small fire can make it worthless. It can burn it.” Sauron clapped his hands.

He again put his hands on the table, he now wanted to reverse what he has done. And he will do it with a rather orthodox way. He will burn the gem where it is cracked to melt it together. The table will cooldown for the rest of the night, but at least it will be “repaired”.

A golden wave that looked like a sparkling mist went thru the table, and where were the cracks, there was now a yellow, but golden light illuminating from the cracks. They slowly disappeared and only the shape of the tree was there. Truly a spectacular view to look at, especially when Sauron does it. She didn’t see much of his magic.

And he let go, he didn’t have now any contact with the surface. As he removed his hands, so from underneath his palms and golden light was shining and was pouring out from the middle of his hand. The foggy golden mist also started to disappear and only some small amounts of smoke were left.

The hot melted yet gem was trapped underneath the now forcefully cooled down crystal. Sauron wasn’t as stupid as most would think he is, a gem and a Diamond, anything actually can burn. A gem is no exception. A diamond is made out of coal, and a gem is also, not entirely but has much coal also inside. He didn’t want to burn but to melt the crystal surface.

“Simplifying my words, I want to seal as much of those paths away, your safety is In danger. I won’t lie, my also but I could deal with any assassin and murderer out here. I have faced, much, much more worse than some dagger wielding combat amateurs.” He leaned forward trying to make his next words clearly seen as the most important ones. “ I may have an hard heart, and I may be harsh and evil at times. But I never would like to see an ally in danger.” He ended.

The hot table was now at least as hot as the magma of Mt. Doom back in Mordor. And the points where the gem was still melted, there was at least two thousand degrees. Sauron had nothing more to add or to even do right now. He would gladly go away and leave them with their thinking, he hopes that he has planted some of his lesson in their heads.

Cadence sighted, and Shining Armor looked at her, she was the one to make a choice and not he. His commands are as powerful as Cadences when she isn’t around, but if she is around, then her words and commands are always above his. In every matter, there is no exception that’s why she doesn’t say a thing when it comes to military, as he is the expert.

“It has been, a rather interesting talk…But the answer is still no.”

Sauron nodded, he promised himself he is going to do it, and he will. They will thank him later, he is going to prove it that it was a bad idea by keeping the number of guards low. But so be it, he will for now leave it be. For now he will. Maybe somehow he could make Princess Twilight think as he thinks, maybe then they would break and say he is right.

“I understand…If it's everything, then goodbye.” He said and stood up.

Before finally going, he gave them one final stare, he could notice the small frightening look in Cadences eyes, he won’t let this matter slip away, it’s the first discussion he as started and he will win it. No matter how, no matter what he will do, he is going to win even in something like this. If only he could have something that would let him allow to accomplish this task.

The door have opened, no magic of an unicorn was seen, it was clear as day that he did it. He exited the “private” meeting room, while the Guards looked at each other, so did Cadence and Shining Armor at themselves. They might have just lost something, or started even something greater than what they have lost.

And something tells them, it won’t be easy to win…He didn’t apologize in the end, and he also had to not made clear what is he going to do. But one thing is sure, the power of Sauron won’t be just swapped away like this, and be it power thru words or deeds. It won’t be undone for a long time.

As always I encourage you to fav and write a comment. Its not like one guy and from time to time an curious person writes something. AND i'm totaly not annoyed by this. You can trust me, really I'm not joking.

Also sorry for such an long pause, but you know, life isn't easy

Edited by:
Raistlin Phantom