Sauron eyed the incoming barrier that grew in size and slowly started to cover the rooftops of the highest buildings in the city. Sauron hoped his influence was powerful enough to stand against thousands of minds. If not the force of the ponies managed to clear the Heart, then the heart after getting its power back would have enough strength to wash away his mark.

He looked down at Twilight, she was happy that the storm was pushed back, that he managed to do something many mages in the worlds history probably have tried to do. He wondered if she knows about the mare he saw, then again, he still has questions about the Heart's response to him making sure he still has influence over it.

Cadence was also hurt during the storm, he might try and maybe forcefully extend Cadence’s bad medical condition, he’d keep it so for a week and then he will try and himself help the ponies. He would stop his actions and heal her. Earning even more trust and even more influence. His attitude will clearly show them his friendliness and open arms seeking cooperation.

There are bad sides to this, he will cause much stress on Twilight, her husband and Flurry Heart. Celestia and Luna would also be worried only worsening their daily effectiveness when dealing with matters such as ruling or perhaps diplomacy. For now, another conflict would only extend his time he needs to spend here in this world. He wants the Crystal Empire to start research on portals, teleportation methods and other worlds or familiar anomalies as quickly as possible.

The barrier was closing in, quickly gaining more speed, for it to reach the outskirts of the city, would take about ten seconds, maybe more. One of Maiar’s abilities is to think while everything around is frozen so to speak. A second might pass in real life, but in his head, one thousand years may pass, or more it all depends on the user. All Ainur poses this ability.

However, its not used often and despite its usefulness in combat or perhaps thinking how to win a battle and prepare millions of strategies and outcomes. Only he is capable of remembering it, his orcs that could be powered on by his will could probably remember these tactics and use them, but it would greatly limit his powers being used in other places to simply contact with his mouth.

Right now, it was of no use, but thinking what could happen when it meets him was interesting, he would be cast away from the city, perhaps the heart would tell the ponies he has ill intentions? Many scenarios, he hoped for the best one to be chosen, where he will be just left alone, and the barrier will pass him.

He turned his gaze to look at Twilight just before the light touched his body and the surface of his elven skin. What he said earlier, was rather weird. It happened from itself, he didn’t really aim to tell her that she is smart. It was more of a though to just make her go away, the goal was to make her shut up with petty compliments.

For a pony, that has a personality of a mortal, she is… special for some reason. She looks different, she looks unique. Luna and Celestia too, maybe he could count in Flurry Heart, but the child only partially has something in common with the three. Her mane, for example, there is something telling him to call it hair and not a mane.

Celestia, Luna, Twilight, these three names are carving themselves places in his mind. For unknown reasons he wants to maybe grow better relations with the three, not because they are rulers, that they are Alicorns a special and powerful race, not because they are old. It’s the voice of something that makes you think like this without a valid argument.

You could compare it to someone saying he doesn’t want to chat or play, and he answers, because he feels like it. The friends will torture him endlessly asking why? For what reason, and start theories, stupid ideas will get into their minds thinking he doesn’t like them. As long as someone with a familiar problem doesn’t come he won’t get support, what’s worse, it’s the first time he feels like this. In most cases he always had a reason for his actions.

Here, it's simply pulling him towards these three, like an unknown force equal to his strength or even stronger was making him think and feel like this. There is a chance that the equivalence of a Valar is making this, but he would recognize such force. Of course, other world other rules, new magic and new concepts of using it.

The last seconds were quick, the light of the barrier has already accepted Twilight that found herself on the other side, he stood behind of her. Sauron’s eyes reflected the blue light, they were like mirrors, or perhaps like a painting of an artist that just started and took the easiest topic, space, and stars.

He used his right hand, on which the one ring was wore by the Dark Lord, to shield himself from the light. When the barrier met him, he felt what he feared, it was hard, it was painful. Like a stone or something really hard just smacked into him, it didn’t however feel like magic. More like a very hard but deformable material if much pressure was put on it.

He tried to immediately use his magic to stay in the city and not be thrown out of it, but the feeling of touching the barrier felt… warm. He felt good while thrown away, it was enjoyable. Still, this could be a trick to make him not act while the heart is banishing him. His ring shone strongly, and the blue color of the barrier turned white, to the point it switched between very light yellow and azure.

The impact wasn’t that bad to begin with, it wasn’t hurting him as such as he thought he would be hurt. Sauron started to gather his magic around his palms to whist and the barriers energy. Plain magic versus plain magic was a good idea for the minute, later he could switch the elements. He was pushed by pure kinetic energy, nothing more or less.

Sauron however stopped his actions when he saw something weird, in fact, something unrealistic. His, legs his arms begin to go through the barrier, while he still was flying away because of the impact. He was let to stay in the city after all, and his influence helped him in this, but the barriers force and its speed simply were to big for his own magic in the heart to react properly and fast enough.

The barrier increased its growing speed very radically and violently, moving past Sauron just like past Twilight and growing to its natural size, protecting the city, while it stopped at the end of the cities borders, it send a wave of wind that had an azure tint over it. The storm therefore was vanished, and the clouds started to disappear like steam or smoke in the open.

Sauron only saw how his body begin to glow white and yellow, it blinded him, he didn’t know what was happening, he knew that he was in the air. The impact was powerful enough to send hm flying away, Sauron landed on his back hitting the cold and wet ground. Laws of physics obliged, and he rolled further down the streets.

Sauron hit his head many times, the time he stopped was when he landed on his back and rolled even more. The light around him vanished by the time and he was left lying on his back, beaten up in a few bruises and cuts in his body. Sauron slowly opened his eyes, he saw the night sky slowly being fully revealed to him.

He for sure didn’t expect that to happen, he grunted, and he could say that he broke a rib. His left shoulder aced him, his head hurt, he checked if he was bleeding, indeed he was in small amounts. The barrier had to decrease his resistance to physical damage when it went thru him. Minor damage for a Maia.

He supported himself with his hand, and sat down, he noticed that the sleeves had white color instead of black. He looked at his chest and torso, his clothing changed, he was dressed in a long vesture of unknown to him origin, it was designed weirdly but really neatly. He felt like a noble somewhere from Arnor, perhaps a rich but still an elf of lower breed. It had something in it familiar to maybe the clothes the Haradrim wore, perhaps a hybrid of both Khandian, and Haradrim fashion.

The pain was strong, he felt as if someone stabbed him with a spear, and the tip was held over a flame so that the hot metal may cook his flesh while he’d get penetrated. Nothing he couldn’t stand, he experienced pain way stronger. He literally died and was no more than a shadow in the clouds and yet he still lives, some heart made from rock won’t kill him.

His muscles also gave sign of being hurt, he never worked as a slave, but from all the descriptions and cries he heard. He can proudly say that it could be compared to the back pain of a slave, that had to carry kilos of bricks and stones for weeks if not years. Sauron shrugged of the pain and stood up. He looked around, the stone has disappeared, the homes were fine and seemed to be repaired…

“What kind of power do you have?” He whispered to himself, looking at the work of the Heart.

The Heart has repaired the homes that grew anew, the crystal took their previous shapes. Rooftops, doors, broken windows, everything was repaired, he stood on the crystal streets, and looked down at it, it was so clean he could see his face in it, with some individual blood drops of his on it. He inspected himself and how he looked like.

His clothes were more like a tunic, or perhaps some rich holiday outfit. He liked it, it had interesting circular patterns, they were embroidered with gold thread. They took shapes similar to flowers, what kind of flowers? Big ones, with wide petals. He never was much into fashion, but sometimes you need to look good, so he learned a few things about it. Especially among the elves.

Everything looked just fine, like nothing has ever happened…

“Sauron!” A voice of concern called his name, it was said by someone worried, a person that was scared for his life, for his health.

Twilights voice, it was Twilights voice, it was warming, and at the same time it made him laugh internally for her to quickly check on him. Sauron really well hid the fact that this call warmed his heart, but so little, it wasn’t even visible.

Twilight landed just before him, she flew a small distance to get to him, he was send forwards in a straight line, there was no need to search for him like before. She had a scared and worried expression; her ears fell backwards and with concern she walked closer.

She was shining, her coat became crystal, her mane was longer, he could compare it to Luna’s mane, it was as long as hers. Twilights mane was also shining and sparkling giving her an extra charming look.

“Are you alright? What happened? How and why?” Twilight asked, immediately.

Sauron naturally shrugged it and with a friendly look without a smile he answered.

“Truly, I don’t know, but it can be linked with the fact, that I’m not from here.” He said so that she might had understand what he meant, of course it being indirectly saying he is from another world.

She looked down and up. “Still, it shouldn’t have happened, only evil and dangerous creatures that seek illness to the ponies of the crystal Empire are touched directly by the barrier.”

“It could be that it had troubles recognizing my nature, when I first came here I had to forcefully go inside the city.” Sauron Started, gaining a hungry for knowledge look from Twilight. “The barrier had a different color…” He looked for a good word to continue.

“Discords Magic, it could have kept you away, while the heart would let you in after a moment like now.” Twilight wondered.

“Nothing bad has happened, as far as I know.” Sauron added. “Although, Cadence is hurt as you said earlier…”

Twilight immediately took off after he mentioned her sister in law, she flew with amazing speeds, but she didn’t leave a lavender trail behind of her. Sauron was left alone, he had nothing more to do then to go back to the palace. At least he didn’t break his leg or sprained his ankle while he was tossed around.

Sauron was currently going towards the palace, the ponies around went away and made him a path towards the palace. The crowd on the left and right looked at him with worried eyes, with scared looks, foals hid behind their fathers to mother’s legs and some covered their eyes. Others looked at him, seeing a hero and even tried to wave towards him with their tiny hooves.

All the ponies had a crystal coat, they all shined brightly and it was annoying, it hurt his eyes to see so much sparkles and lights flickering at the same time.

Sauron looked from time to time at the ponies, they were interesting creatures, an apocalypse for them almost happened, and they just return to their daily lives like nothing has ever happened? The amount of ignorance and plain optimistic look on the world is disgusting! Despicable he ever dares to say.

The guards that helped the ponies with their things also looked at him, but they looked at him ready to act in order to protect, these guards were ready if anything would get into his mind. This is behavior he likes, it's not all sugar, honey, popsicles but rather swords, pain and injuries. These ponies are ponies that would survive way longer than any other pony he has seen so far.

One pony however stepped out of the crowd, it was a mare from the looks of it, she had a more of a round face. While stallion have a square muzzle. Something he noted while being here for a while now. He looked at her, but he didn’t stop, rather she waited for him. He eyed her, and he could see that her husband wanted her to go back. This is what happens when women do not listen to men, they get in trouble and you have to save ‘em.

He went past the pony, but she grabbed him by his hand, he was surprised by the initiation of physical contact with a peasant. He didn’t know how to act but being friendly and solving whatever might happen diplomatically would be the best solution for what is happening right now. He looked down at the pony, she had yellow eyes, a silver mane that at the ends turned a little red, somewhere close to pink. Her coat was light cream. She also was a unicorn, she was capable of casting magic.

“Please take this, for all you did.” She said, her voice indicated she was at least in her late forties.

Her horn shone with grey light and soon he saw as a medallion flew from the inside of her purse her husband carried.

He took it with his hand from the air. He eyed it, it was a simple trinket made by a well skilled jeweler, he had the skills of a human. Nothing had a chance to be close to an elven smith. The golden wheat neck-chain was rather thick, the eyelet also wide, the medallion was a round shield in which a sapphire was placed, the sapphire was shaped into a large rectangle. From the corners straight lines followed to the edges. These were made by placing very small shards of Rubin, creating a X shape.

It looked very expensive with such stones, he was surprised to receive such a generous gift from a pony. Especially since he didn’t do all that much. He thought twice, if he should take it or perhaps should he give it back? He doesn’t necessarily need gold, and ponies might themselves start to donate and give him money like this wom-mare.

Sauron’s hand started to glow with mint green, and the medallion was wrapped in the magic, he stopped quickly. He tossed the medallion up, once and again. He looked coldly at the mare, he extended his arm and opened his palm to give the trinket back to the owner. The ponies around also looked with interest what will happen.

“Now it’s more valuable.”

She took it back, this time with her one hoof, and he continued his voyage towards the palace. The husband of the mare was a regular horse looking pony with a brown coat and dark mane, he had green eyes, other that that he looked like a regular animal. Sauron proceeded to ignore any further attempts of stopping him.

The mare wanted to know together with the ponies around what did he to the medallion, she tapped it, she wore it. She even started to hit it, yet nothing happened. Perhaps he has done something that cannot be directly seen or the medallion itself will have an ability in certain situation? Hard to say, even she as a unicorn doesn’t know much about magic.

Sauron had more problems on his head then curiosity, for example, what he might live thru when he goes back to the palace? Living hell? For sure. Twilight is probably right next to her sister in law and is angry at herself for her own condition. That makes her powerless and unwanted in the medical wing where Twilight once was.

He could try and heal her, but he didn’t heal anything but Flurry Heart and himself in a few occasions. This might end badly for Cadence if he does something wrong, but he can’t allow the ponies to further ignore his cause, he needs to make them act and work already to see if they can send him back home.

While at it he had the opportunity to see how the Crystal Heart actually looked like while active. He didn’t expect it to just spin around its own axis. The two cones that held it in the air almost touched the Hearts surface. Sauron could feel that the energy of the barriers was coming from the heart, he felt like little shocks of electricity went thru him, but hey we're fine, not painful. He’d say, quite satisfying.

The guards kept any pony away so that the Heart may no be disturbed for now. It’s weird that the Heart is in the open and not hidden somewhere. Then again it does serve a very important purpose, maybe it has to be outside or it wouldn’t work. Other world other rules, other powers and abilities different races may have.

Sauron went inside the palace to get some silence from all the ponies. This will be hell of a stay in this world. Before however he we will depart to his chamber, he might as well look how much Cadence is injured. He will later decide if it will be wise to help her, maybe even do harm to her, or leave her alone.

Sauron walked through the crystal hallways and this time a lot of guarding ponies were guarding the main hallways, the less important ones were empty. The hallway leading to the medical wing was as heavily guarded as any other hallway. Tactically, a good decision, if anything wanted to get through it would be slowed down and injured by the fights with the guards earlier. Then again, the invader would decimate the guards by defeating them in detail.

Personally, he’d flood the hallways with ponies, they are not as important as Cadence is, they have the money, he didn’t saw many poor ponies on the streets. In fact, there was no one begging for money since he came. The Empire was wealthy, it lacked poor individuals, it lacked sadness. This world is just filled with joy, almost like a Utopia.

Sauron was allowed to enter the medical wing, as once he again saw may doctors in white outfits with maids with crosses on their own outfits or hats, running and making everything ready for Cadence. Twilight was also here, she watched from the side, she was focused on her. He was taller then Twilight or any other pony, he saw Cadence laying n the bed, with again, some weird mask on. Also, cables and various weird medical equipment laying around. Shining Armor talked to the same pony he talked with when Twilight landed in this place.

What fascinates him, is that these ponies managed to achieve so much, when it comes to technology. They use things he didn’t see, they built objects he’d desire to copy in Mordor. These creatures look like a higher race, believe or not this is not a sentence to laugh from. Gunpowder or whatever Saruman called it is probably common in the military.

It was night, for some reason he expected Flurry Heart to be here. He wondered how long until the sun rises up from the horizon. He would like to see at what speeds Celestia can move it. Not only that, he’d like to know more about both the moon and the sun, what is it made of, how hot it is, and how powerful it is.

Twilight saw him, he decided to go over to her while looking at the laying Cadance. Shining Armor seemed to ignore everything but the conversation he had. Sauron walked up to Twilight and both didn’t say a thing. Sauron had to break the silence in order to know what was going on, after all, but even he was touched curiosity.

“How is she?”

Twilight looked up, she still had her coat sparkling and shining. “Not bad, she is only unconscious,”

Sauron nodded “I’m sorry to ask, but it was a thunderbolt that struck her?”

“Yes, I flied to look for you and then it happened, I can’t use magic, so she protected me.” Her ears fell back again. “Because of me she is here.” Twilight whispered.

“No, you can’t say that, she did the right thing.”

“No!” She yelled, gaining attention in the medical room by a few nurses and staff walking by. “If I wasn’t so stupid to try and see how your magic works, I wouldn’t have harmed myself, and it all lead to this.” She hissed, her last words became quieter.

Sauron nodded again, he sighed. “Princess Twilight, I understand your frustration, and I understand that you she’s a family member of yours.” He said, his tone was more apologetic, strong and firm, somewhat hypnotizing. “I know what is the main cause of you pain right now, I know this… feeling that creeps on you, stabs you, tell you it's your fault. Making you think what kind of stupid person you are.”

Twilight looked at him, her eyes concentrated on his yellow lion eyes, like two mirrors put against each other. He saw himself and she herself. The two grew a connection by eye contact, tied with a rope of trust and experience both had seen and felt, both knew the best about.

“There in your mind, a tempest covers all your feelings, and lets thru only the violent ones, the bad ones, like anger and hatred. Perhaps even strong but calm ones, like sadness and fear that are also very unstable.”

Twilight again was open towards Sauron’s words, towards his words of wisdom and also words of a stranger that had no ill goal but to help, to be like a friend in the rain. Who blocks the water, is her protection, loyal and always ready to serve. Sadly, he can also be taken by the violent wind of life. Shaped like tear, the tip, ending with a knife…

“I even would take some of your burdens on me.” He said it so, honestly and warmly.

All throughout Twilight a new emotion tore her chest and organs, made her feel weak when she tried fighting or perhaps controlling it, her temperature rose up, her heartbeat begin to rise up. Her Wings shook a bit. Her cheeks began turning red as the silence lasted. A drop of sweat went down her forehead.

“You want to help, you want to fix something you think you are the reason why it happened in the first place. You need to understand one thing, you did the right decision.”

Twilights mood lowered, it didn’t help, her anger grew, sadness struk and the salty tear formed on the edge of each eye.

“You helped more than you think, you helped me save this splendid city, full of crystal and happy families. To keep those streets still being able to shine in the sun during the day.”

Twilight remained the same, for the entire time.

“You helped save lives, you my dear Twilight.”

There was something weird about these words, these words, they were beautiful, they were so paralyzing that she felt her heart skip one beat. Like a first kiss.

“You stole them, you stole those ponies, those little foals, from the embrace of lonely death…”

Now it was warming her up even more, she felt special hearing this, she felt, more important, more than a puppet that smiles when Celestia and Luna order.

“Cadence would do the same, I’m sure of it even when I’m here not even half a week.”

Twilight nodded to this statement in her mind, that was true, she would.

“I do not doubt that Princess of Equestria, would do the same thing. She’d sacrifice herself for others.”

Twilight also nodded to herself, this time so that Sauron may see it.

“I assume, it’s a family tradition, to be such noble.”

Twilight smiled, if she had a better time, she’d probably chuckle at the comment.

“Who would have thought, a boring blondie making a princess smile?”

“Hey.” She said annoyed, and said it prolonging the word, she sounded… cute. “Don’t say so, you’re not boring.”

“Everyone has a different opinion Princess Twilight, it may be that I just have a low self-esteem.”

Twilight again looked worried. “Why so?”

Sauron shrugged it off. “Nothing important.”

There was a moment of silence in between both of them, looking at each other. Twilight was smiling again, both Sauron and Twilight enjoyed the moment, even when both of them were on different levels, as Sauron was taller. It didn’t bother Twilight to look up and tire her neck muscles. Sauron eventually kneeled on one of his knees.

Both relished themselves with how close they were to each other.

“Just because something bad happened because of one bad decision, in this case someone very close to you got hurt. Doesn’t necessarily mean you have to blame yourself. Cadence loves you just as you love her. This will heal no time. Don’t you think it would be better for her to hear all the great thinks that happened to the cursed storm then hear you attack her with how sorry you are?”

Twilight thought about it, it's true, she can’t blame herself and make herself the worst pony in the world. She has to take it on, she has to look forwards and plan forwards. She won’t attack Cadence with her apologizing for everything. She will however say it once or twice and leave it be, so that Cadence may hear it, and like Sauron said, see the love she showed by saving her being returned with a simple sorry.

“You’re right.” She answered.

It took Sauron a long pause, but he said words he didn’t really mean to say. “You really are a smart pony.”

Twilight was surprised to hear this, her eyes shot straight up, and her wins again twitched and shook. She even wanted to use them and cover her face. She looked away, embarrassed while Sauron stood up and shook his head a little, covered his face with both for his hands for a while. He kept on observing what was happening to Cadence.

It was almost day time, but Celestia still had to make her morning coffee in order to make the sun rise up properly. The Dragon land was cold, it was like a desert filled with red sand and Volcano ash, especially in those areas. Near the sea, the Vulcans tend to create a lot of vapor or still be active underwater.

The dragons stood in the desert, they always waited for something, or someone so to say. They looked scared, they looked worried. Hungry and weak, all in bruises. Three males and three females. Waiting for something to happen, hungry for attention, desperate to go home and never return to this cursed place.

The sky was clouded, a thunderbolt shot into the ground scaring one of the dragons that hid behind a female dragon, she was taller than he was. She herself was frightened, and she pushed him away. The thunderbolt left a fire in the place where it landed, but soon the fire grew and grew, it grew to the point it became a tornado, when it connected with the sky, purple lighting and weird energy reversed how it was spinning, turning the fire purple.

It sucked in stones, water and other various obstacles around, even bugs. The cyclone became smaller and smaller, soon it took the form of a creature on three legs, the sand and stones melt and formed is body while the core, the soul was the fire that shone brightly from within, illuminating the surroundings.

It send a shockwave that pushed the dragons and made them fall. The dragons quickly changed their positions with their heads touching the ground and them kneeling in front of the being. Bowing before it and its horrifying posture. Its hair were long and made out of shadow. Its smile was made from molten rocks, that were also made from the slime of the bugs and other organics materials squished into a slime.

It looked at them.

“You lizards… Had one, one task and you couldn’t even do it!”

The being yelled, making the nearby ground shake, and the dragons choke, their wings felt weird, as if the blood in the veins become… stale.

“Now I will have to deal with the barrier, tell me that you managed to at least find the bodies of those sons of whores!”

On of the dragons, a she, stood up immediately.

“We are sorry, but only one was found.” She said quickly.

The creature seemed to stare at her, with a shocked and disappointed look, it appeared instantly in front of her, without moving or casting magic.

“Tell me more.”

Its breath foul as its heart, equal to rotten bodies made the dragoness dizzy.

“I-It was glint, he… his body was destroyed, he had burned scales. He looked as if something dark, and evil touched him. It was horrifying.” She said.

The being seemed to move a little backwards. Then again forward, like a child with orphan disease.

“More.”

The dragon girl gulped. “We suspect it to be magic, but the chosen pony was a Pegasus he couldn’t control magic.”

“It could have had a special ability allowing him to do it.”

The dragoness looked at the dark being, taller than her.

“The war! Is still going to happen, and I will climb to my victory on you dead bodies, every failure is a thousand more dead dragons!”

The dragons looked at him, eyed him, feared him. The dark being only nodded and exploded into thousands of pieces harming the dragons and especially the dragoness, the purple energy shot into the sky and disappeared sending a purple like wave across the sky. The dragons were happy that he left them, and took great lesson from his last sentence…

So, I have ventured on and now I find myself in the land of the Fuhrer, with a shitty PC and a German keyboard...Yeah. I need some time before I will adjust to it and produce my fanfiction as quickly as I did before!

As always leave a comment and remember to give some love to the editor. Raistlin Phantom is his name.

I hope you enjoy the weak but noticable romance, also wish me good luck, I will try and rewatch season five, six, and maybe seven. Honestly season eight is a little shitty.