Sauron returned to the hallway where he left the guards he has taken out. He checked if they had moved, just in case somehow his magic didn’t work. The guards still lay in their places, Sauron then quickly disappeared from the area. He wanted to return to his room, from there he would plan ow to get out undetected.

Sauron, like a shadow made went up the levels, he avoided swiftly he guards and other ponies. His steps weren’t noticeable as he used his strength and will to make the sound disappear. For now this palace without the needed to guards was easy to infiltrate for skilled spies like him, or anyone in that matter.

Only a few guards were on the night shift, he would put a least three hundred and not forty. If of course Sauron doesn’t need to sleep or eat, the ponies have to. He understands that the guards would make a lot of noise, although it’s the price to pay for protection. Sauron while on the way to his chambers thought how would he deal with the dragons he would face.

They are grown up, but almost children. Mind tricks, some magic and pure amount of physical strength and combat skill he poses will be enough. If they will breathe fire, he could just toss it away by moving his hand and make the fire hit another dragon blinding him for an moment. If this world has the same principles when it comes to the race of dragons, then the dragon won’t burn.

Cold won’t hurt him, he as a Maia is highly resistant to such things, fire and extreme temperatures are nothing, cold is also a small thing. Water and lack of oxygen is something dangerous, although only because he has a body made of flesh he currently walks in. If he was a spirit, in his true form, he wouldn’t need oxygen to live.

Injuries will heal quickly, small scars will be left, he only needs to watch for body parts, as they won’t regrow, he could make the regrow if he forced it on himself but that would take much time and energy he will use for other things. He could also use his size and the fact he is much more bigger than before to scare the dragons.

In Middle-Earth he was four meters, and now he is three times the size! He is sure he can grow slightly, just like when he caught Celestia from falling down the stairs, but he isn’t sure if he can still manipulate his size the way he was able once. He would gladly stay four meters tall in the fight that can awaited him. Sauron would try to persuade them, or intimidate. However where is the fun and sport in this? He needs to move a bit, his bones need to move a little so that he will always be prepared for a fight.

He could also test how much stronger he got after entering this world, it is possible that the world he is in empowers him and gives him strength. This is only a theory Sauron has made, but there are no entities like him that created this world, at least from what he knows. Magic here is different and it doesn’t belong to the world, just like in Middle-Earth.

Sauron is basically sucking in the magic surrounding him making him more powerful by just using the magical reserves this world has, he is like a magnet, a very astronomically and unbelievably strong magnet. If that’s the case then if he returns to Middle-Earth, he will be at his previous state. That would be a shame, but there is still hope it’s a permanent boost to his abilities.

Then there is the Crystal Heart, Sahvoz is supposed to meet him on the outskirts, but what’s more he will meet them at the caves in the north. He could back there deep in the mountains cave try and convince the Heart that he is good, or even make it his. He doubts it as the Heart is powered by the ponies and he is talking about four hundred thousand of ponies. Four hundred thousand of souls giving their will and strength, soul and consciousness to the heart.

Sauron assumes there is at least four hundred thousand ponies in this great city, technologically they are more advanced than he thought they are. Technology means anything related with math, medicine, or engineering for him. What medicine teaches about? Hygiene and how to cure diseases, because the ponies are more advanced, he could surely say that they know how to give birth better without the mother dying. He would need this information to breed more orcs.

Science is a weapon, as science is knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge because you do know about certain things, from flowers and poisons to what does what in nature or machines. From knowledge you gain wisdom, and vice versa. You may know thanks to knowledge how to kill a sheep so, you have the wisdom how to approach to kill and what to do when something goes wrong.

But wisdom comes at a great price. He poses the wisdom, but each person uses it differently. Someone’s wisdom may be connected to his character. Sauron uses it in intrigues and planning, while others in works, others in force. The same with knowledge, you know about an affair, you could use it for your own gains, or not.

Sauron stopped in his tracks, he saw a maid heading towards his doors, to is chambers. He managed to get unnoticed by the guards. But now he has a problem, he wanted the pony’s to think he was in his chambers. Later he could use this as an excuse he is terrified by what happened, of course the fact he talked earlier with the princesses and prince about guards won’t help when suddenly the crystal Heart has been stolen. He will be a suspect, the ponies however will fall or will be heavily influenced by his words.

Sauron hid behind the wall, the maid was pushing her cart. Probably to ask if he needs something to be cleaned or changed. Sauron thought quickly what could he do, and he got an splendid idea what he should do. Sauron looked behind the corner and aimed with his sight at the wheels of the cart.

With his will Sauron stopped the cart. The maid bumped into it as she didn’t expect it to stop and she tried to push it forwards, but she checked to see if something was wrong with it grunting. Sauron behind the wall, with his hands he grabbed the shadow and by manipulating the element of shadow he sprayed it across the hallways as if he threw dust into the air.

The maid didn’t see, but a big portion of the hallways was completely dark and no light could be seen, not even a trace of the end of the hallways was seen. Sauron in the darkness used his ability, a golden light illuminated from him. The light was blocked by the show he has sprayed, a small swirl of the golden light encircled him and then a very bright and quick flash of orange light shone.

Sauron at a very fast rate begin to become smaller and smaller. The smaller he got the brighter was the light, and the golden energy was like an aura that still formed the lines of his body. When he shape shifted, the light like steam covered him. He took the form of a mouse, a large mouse almost equal to the size of a rat with white fur and red eyes.

His ring, was a collar around his neck, but the fur covered it almost perfectly and was nearly undetectable. Sauron, as a mouse stood up and unsummoned the shadow so that it disappeared, when the light that hit it. Leaving the same dark hallway, this time without only darkness in it.

Due to Sauron’s powers leaving the element, it became weak and it was catered among the light making the hallway become dark as it was before he has sprayed the shadow with his hands. Sauron made his way towards the maid without making himself noticeable, he wasn’t squeaking or even breathing. He could tell that his addiction to his body, his accustomed form begun. He felt the need to again take the form of his body he used to long.

Surprisingly it didn’t hurt, as the longer one is accustomed to one form, the more it hurts to shape shift into something. This could mean that he isn’t affected for now by this symptom. Some pain wouldn’t be a big deal, even his master Morgoth felt pain while shapeshifting. But he managed to hold out, so could he.

He never have imagined he would be able to use this ability again, so much to do with it! He could change into a wolf, into a dragon, anything he wants. From eagles to maybe even dragons if he concentrates enough! But not more than for one hour, as his addiction would keep his mind blinded and he wouldn’t think about his goals but about going back into his humanoid form.

Sauron quickly run under the skirt of the maid! Just as the amid has fixed her cart. He avoided her steps and tried not to touch her with his body as much as he could. He was quite large for a mouse the size of a rat. Sauron wanted to come under the maids skirt when his will be in front of his doors, o when she enters. This will give him an opening to go inside, and from there turn back to his form, and open the doors and ask what happened to the terrified maid.

One thing he knows about females of any race, is that they don’t like certain animals, just like the Oliphant’s don’t like mice, so do the women. Strangely they have some common things those ponies and the men of the west. There are other countries, as he saw different races. Princess Twilight also shared her information about different countries.

Either way, it was quite warm under her, her skirt sure was thick. This was almost a Sauna for him ad because he took the form of a mouse he could smell her scent. It was decent, nothing special but everyone like something different. Her dark cyan fur was fluffy, she also seemed to possess one of those less common types of pony body he recognized.

‘What would Luna’s, Twilight and Celestia’s scent smell like?’

This thought almost killed Sauron as he barely dodged the maid last steps before sitting down in front of his door. Of course he wasn’t inside so she knocked once again, and waited. But again nothing happened so she wanted to open the door but before that she asked if she could enter. Because no one answered, she thought he was somewhere else.

Sauron was standing on his two feet as a mouse, if he was on his four feet he would touch the mare’s legs and she would notice him. But his predictions proved him right and she indeed opened the door. He waited until the doors will be open wide enough for him to get in, and for the doors to close on themselves.

When the right moment came, Sauron jumped from behind her skirt and the maid with a terrifying scream fell on the floor. She saw Sauron getting inside of his room. The doors closed, and behind them Sauron changed again using his ability to shape shift. The process was the same, this time however the golden light was like a layer that covered him and morphed him into his humanoid body. It finished with a small but very bright flash of light and he stood there on two legs in his clothes.

Sauron regained stability and he rushed to the door and opened them. He saw the dark cyan furred mare maid on the floor breathing heavily. He looked at her with his hair slightly out of place, he looked as if wind destroyed his long brushed hair. This gave the maid the idea he was napping and she with her scream has awoken him.

“I’m terribly sorry,” She said, “I’ve got scared by a rat! It's in your chamber lord Sauron”.

Sauron only to prove her wrong, and to make her go away as fast as possible played like an actor. He turned back and lit the candles on fire so that some light might shine. He opened the door for her to see that nothing was inside. He looked around and lifted some pillows and chairs up, he pushed the table he had in his room to make it more realistic.

“There’s nothing here, now, what brings you here?” Sauron asked.

The maid went to her cart and took an envelope in her mouth to bring it to Sauron, he took it with some disgust, and still was surprised it didn’t have any saliva on it

“The famous Equestrian travel writer Trenderhoof would like to write about you and your appearance in the Crystal Empire. Your name is known in the biggest cities and smallest counties or estates in the Empire.”

Sauron listened with an raised eyebrow, someone’s would like to have an interview with him? To write about him and make history about a person who appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t think about it, but a unknown scary looking guy that appeared in a scary armor instantly gets along with the royalty must be an very interesting topic among the peasantry.

“He immediately sent a letter asking you if you’d agree to talk with him.”

“What will he write about me?”

“Well, how you look like and describe you with as much detail as he can.”

Sauron considered this, if he already is such an popular celebrity and he won’t die in their minds. He could use this to make himself even more popular, who knows maybe gain some interesting contacts and other various important ponies as allies. If he could make this Trenderhoof think he is very charming and a peaceful and kind person he would surely look friendlier in the eyes of the ponies.

Sauron opened the envelope and took out a letter written by Trenderhoof. For a pony he had a very good handwriting if you could call it that. He waved his hand and he said the maid to just ‘fuck off’ in a polite way. She thought he will thank her or at least tell her something nice. But Sauron’s heart was dark, like the void and cold like the winter poles.

Good day or evening good sir! My name is Trenderhoof and your name has come to my attention, you have been called a knight in dark armor, giant, savior and from time to time even an alien. You have been the topic of many ponies since your arrival in the Crystal Empire. You brought Princess Flurry Heart back from the forest and became friends with the Crystal pair in such a quick amount of time!

My profession is writing, I write about holidays and celebrations, towns and carnivals. I also do write about famous ponies or celebrities if I have the time. However as you came the Crystal Empire has been called the ‘hot topic’ of the month and maybe who knows of this year!

I write to you with a proposition, I’d like to get my hooves on you! Not literally… By writing about you and the mood of other ponies, we could both help each other, I could tell you about the pony cultures and cites, and what’s interesting about them. While you will answer me some questions that just want to be answered, for example. If the rumor that you have fought with Discord are true.

Sauron snickered, this had to be a joke. Not only they have a small amount of guards, but their staff are baling about it. Then again the workers in this palace could have also been provided with the information what happened to the palace. Still it's sad to see that there are rumors about it. Surely this Trenderhoof just wants to get some money by writing about him.

Sauron continued with the letter by sitting down on his bed

There are many questions and rumors to be answered by you, for example where you actually come from and what language do you speak. What was that strange halo behind you and what does it mean and what is written it? Or if it just a pretty pattern, personally I would like to see it too.

Right now the ‘halo’ is not with him as it appears only shortly after he disposes of his armor or uses a significant amount of magic. It has no effect other than a visual look that makes everyone wonder what it is and that it look pretty and powerful.

How do you speak our language? Was it magic or somehow do we speak the same language, it so fascinating to think about it.

“Magic.” Sauron said out loud, and he fell on the soft sheets reading the letter further down.

As mentioned before, my goal is to answer as much questions as I can, I would be really happy if you accept this proposal, of course I understand if you would rather do it later when you get accustomed to the wonderful crystal fields of the Crystal Empire. Although I mostly write in Equestria, I would be very pleased and honored if you came to my country so that we may do it, however it is your decision alone.

With Great Regards,

Trenderhoof.

Sauron looked at the other side of the letter, there was nothing written. He doesn’t want more attention, but this could prove good for the time being, he will answer those questions and he won’t be stalked by others like him in the future. What’s more he is sure is known and popular, having someone like this in your arsenal would prove beneficial if needed in certain situations

But on the other hand, he will get more known, and this could bring ponies from around the world here, he doubts anyone would do this. But those ponies have much time and it’s to colorful and peaceful to worry about bandits or anything similar on the way here. In the end power always solves things, and by getting along with him he will get more power.

He stood up and placed the letter on the desk, he won’t write to him now. Sauron has more important things to do then this, he needs to think of a plan leading him out of this palace. He could say he is tired, but that would be a lie as he told them he doesn’t need to sleep. He could just say he doesn’t want to be interrupted by anyone in the night. This would give him the opportunity to leave this place by using the shadows and his abilities.

Sauron could get out by just forcing himself out of the palace, he could also again shapeshift but this would take long and he didn’t his ability to fluently walk on our legs is horrifying. He would take some time getting down, he could be a Pegasus but he would be seen by anyone down on the streets flying of the palace.

Sauron could make himself invisible ad jump down, but what then? If to summon the wind it would be to noticeable as a small tornado would form, if he just dropped down he would break his legs. There are heights from which he can live while jumping down. Shapeshifting into a bird might work, to get down on the ground and sprint from there on the northern outskirts of the city.

Even if he decides how to get down on the starts, he needs to on how make the ponies not check on him. They will search for him, they will hunt for him. He needs to think of something rational, something logical but also something that would be stupid and easy enough for the ponies. He could create an field around his chamber so Thawte very pony who comes checking on him, would forget for what he came for and then go away.

Surely this will work, the ponies minds seem to be weak there can be some individuals that could try and resist his will. If Lúthien managed to make the whole court of Morgoth fall asleep, so he can force ponies that are supposed to check on him to go away when they enter an influenced by his magic area.

This is one thing, but still how could he get down? He could like once transform into a swarm of bats and be a like a cloud, an eagle is an option. He didn’t fly in a long time by his own and it might deflect on his. But it’s worth trying, he also doesn’t know how big he will be, as a mouse he was like an overgrown rat. As an eagle he could be the size of a pony or larger.

Turning into a show will be see on the palace walls, it will also make Discord appear, and that would be bad. He definitely can feel his presence in the palace. Discord probably can also feel his, whenever he is, surely Discord is watching. He didn’t see him for some time now and he doesn’t like it.

Fluttershy spends most of the time in the city or on the meadows, it’s another thing he occasionally learned in the Museum. She is an animal lover, she loves them more then anything, no wonder she loves Discord. They have a child too, he would gladly meet with this child, if he could befriend it, Ohh! He would break Discords heart and destroy him using his own son.

But that’s for another time, its seven pm and he has an hour to get to the outskirts, this will be rather easy, he can move at very fast speeds even with his body. Teleportation is unavailable for him because of his body. He could in a moment move a distance of five hundred kilometers.

“A bird, maybe an eagle and something to keep them away.” He said to himself.

This could work, but that’s not enough, he could make the aura around the entrance to his chamber make them see something like an vision. This would assure them they went in and out, talked with him. Later he would come and see what the spell has projected to them, if he will be investigated, he will tell them what he was doing. When the ponies connect it to the staff, he will be clear and protected all thanks to magic.

“I can do that.” He said out loud

With this Sauron got into preparations, he stood in the middle of his chamber, he moved his hand up. From his palm a very light blue light appeared that sent three waves, all while Sauron was standing in the middle. The chamber was filled with some sort of mist that was really hard to see, he blow the mist out of his room and it went under the floor to the hallway filing it up with his spell.

Sauron then snapped his finger and a round field of slightly transparent matter appeared, it was a like a dome, a ceiling from a temple. But it went thru the door, at one point Sauron’s hand turned into a fist, and that’s when the light in his hand disappeared. He opened the door to see the mist he has created is being blocked by the field he projected. It was invisible for others but visible for him.

He closed the door in such a way no one heard it, the field was to make the mist stay in its position, while also making the ponies sleepier and way more easier for the fog to work on the ponies. The fog itself was supposed to make them see a false vision, of them knocking and talking to him. If to detect the mist, one would not only have to be pretty strong.

The barrier can also block and disturb the magical flow, this will make unicorns unable to use magic, or when they will try to use it will be rather hard for them. If to destroy the barrier, it might be pretty strong, as it is constantly powered by him, anywhere he is. Sauron will notice if someone will attack it, only if the attack will do much damage.

He can later say he defended himself from potential threats. That he doesn’t trust the ponies in this castle and that his experience back in Middle-Earth made it a habit even in his own Castle/Fortress of Barad-dûr forced him to cast spell to protect himself. This is an easy spell, he could do much more advanced ones without even moving like here or saying a word.

For the Istari, they had their ‘wands’ in the form of staff’s that they used to fight with. From all the Istari, Alatar and Pallando had the best looking ones. Easy and simple. Enough of this. Sauron has some free time, he could use it to already go and meet with Sahvoz or maybe start writing the letter to Trenderhoof.

‘A ridiculous name’ He thought ‘Like almost all of them’ He continued in his thought.

But the quicker he moves, the more time he has to think how could he show power to those ponies, he doesn’t doubt that the ponies also have great mages, but he has to be better and his ways need to be more pleasing, more interesting to look at. So that it might impress them and also scare them.

Sauron begin to be encircled by the same golden light as before. He shone and there was a flash of light and suddenly his body changed. He took the form of an eagle, not just some eagle. His wing were half the size of him, and his body alone was almost equal to himself in humanoid form. This all is when he currently suppresses his true size, he would a great eagle if he took the form of one while being a twelve meter giant. He would be significantly larger, and even more terrifying.

His feather were black, but on the edges of his wings they were white, his head was yellow and his eyes of a lion. Truly his form was bizarre and unique. His beak was sharp like a knife, and his feather on his chest were extra thick. His claws, could be said they are razors, he would cut thru any flesh with them. His ring was now on his feet, very small so that it wouldn’t fell off his leg.

Sauron spread his wings, and a great wind followed by that, it was so great that the chairs hit the falls and the door hinges almost let go of the door. The table flew towards the desk on mirrors he had breaking them. The doors to the balcony opened and these hinges holding them let go of the doors, the glass broke because of the extreme pressure.

His bed sheets flew away, everything hit the walls, only certain things and furniture was heavy enough to stay on the floor, including a wardrobe and his bed. Sauron didn’t expect this to happen, he only wanted the balcony doors to open. He will have to fix it when he comes back or else there will be questions about why his room is in this state.

Sauron prepared to fly and flap his wings for the first time since the First age. It was so long, he could finally fly and feel like a King of the World he is! Sauron flapped his wings and with a great force he launched forward. His wings were by his side, he was like a bullet of magic or light flying across the sky piercing the weak clouds. Weak like the hearts of his enemies and soft like the Vala.

Behind him, he left a mark on the sky from the clouds that followed with the wind he made. A white line showing his route. He move at incredible speeds faster than any animals ever has. He started to duck down. Sauron was on the same level as the clouds, but when he looked down he could already notice half of the city was behind him, he was approaching the northern outskirts of the city.

He tried to see if he could sense Sahvoz with his magic, out he saw nothing but lights on the streets that the maps have shone. Ponies begun to head home, but many still functioned and didn’t mind to look up and see him flying above them. Sauron will land at a pleasant lace, maybe find a tree and wait for some time before again turning back to his humanoid form.

Sauron in half a minute managed to get from the center of this great Crystal city to the outskirts of it. He slowly spread his wing so that he might lose some speed and begin to slow down. He also aimed himself at a certain point. It was a farm with some hay in case he would land badly. Sauron’s past skills didn’t get forgotten and he like a normal bird landed on a tree on the outskirts of the city, where a thin path lead to the mountains. He could feel as the air got very cold.

It was eleven degree if not less, while in the city it was twenty six or more. It’s truly interesting to know what the Crystal Heart does to the environment, how it protects the city. What will happen when the Heart leaves the city? Will it freeze? Surely not instantly, but if left for three days, it might get very cold in it.

Now waiting for Sahvoz to appear and sense him, Sauron closed his eyes.

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