Sauron wasn’t happy with the fact he had to follow some old unicorn, but he might as well do it for the moment. New Order was a little stressed about the situation that occurred a few minutes ago. He however hid it very well, but Sauron knew the old unicorn was scared of the Prince right now, how? Easily, he felt the fear coming off the old unicorn.

While he is in his beautiful form, doesn’t prevent him from being able to know what someone feels. Normally mortals ran from him, feared him. He was seen as dreadful monster in the eyes of mortals when he took off his elven disguise. Orcs and evil men around him were in constant fear and if they stood for some time close they turned insane.

The same with his master, Morgoth. Everyone around went crazy, their minds were crushed by his presence and fear dominated their souls. That’s one thing, he just reads New Orders emotions, more by looking then actually using his abilities. Don’t be fooled as he uses his abilities to indeed read New Orders emotions but uses only the minimum of his potential.

It's like a boost to his senses. Continuing, New order walked together with Sauron firstly towards the housing area, while Shining Armor was giving his speech in the background. The barracks were made from wood, everything here was made from wood and weak materials. The old unicorn stopped and looked at Sauron.

“Well, here is our first stop. There’s not much to say about this part of the camp, other than that every build has an small armory build inside.”

That would explain why the ponies walked out with their armors on, it was weird that they didn’t have their weapons with them. Perhaps one of those buildings looks like an proper armory while the rest around are just for housing the ponies? Sauron looked at the barracks, there was one big pair of doors leading inside.

The Crystal Empire looked rich, but here everything around looks rather poor. As if they didn’t spend much on even building this place. The barracks themselves, wooden, the walls painted with cheese orange color. While the roof was of course red because of the roof tiles. The barracks were three stories tall, six windows for every level.

The barracks were long, he would say that one like that could have at least a hundred and fifty ponies? Maybe one hundred and eighty or more. There was no pathway, so if the ponies stood up early in the morning for an drill. They would have to walk on the dirt for the whole day, he doubts they have their horseshoes with them.

“The barracks were built first, there are twenty two altogether, each had a kitchen, a small gym inside. Baths, and of course regular rooms for four ponies to sleep together. There was eight in the beginning, then the Princess Ordered to build an archery, make a place for the unicorns to train their magic. Which is why a big part of the cam is empty.” The yellow unicorn explained.

Well yes, the camp may have something for Archers and regular foot soldiers to train on, but in reality. This is shit! Nothing that gives a challenge is here! He would expand the whole thing. Add something so that the ponies may compete with each other. He would make them use different types of weapons, learn how to swing maces, how to deal with different equipment.

This is preparing them to fight, not to carry out orders, do these ponies even know how to properly teach their soldiers what sort of formations should the ponies do in certain situations? How big are the companies! Basic information, what if the lines will get destroyed because of cavalry charging? These ponies need to know those things, and not only know how to fight!

“Tell me, you teach your soldiers, how big should very a regiment should be? Or even a small company?”

“Of course we do! The Pegasus’s have their own variations as they are in the air. When a part trains their skills and the other has their daily routine of making seven circles around the camp. We test if they know how to organize themselves in different groups of forty or eighty or more ponies.”

At least one thing is clear, they are not dumb in this matter. He shouldn’t frustrate himself with such puny matters as those. These are ponies, why does he care so much for some horses? He knows why, they will be responsible for him getting back home! Back to Arda, to Mordor, to again rebuild his armies and re call his Nazgûl if they didn’t perish.

“Other than that, is there anything else?” Sauron asked.

Right now it was boring to even listen to this, as if he cared about some barracks where ponies sleep. He wants to know more important things, like, how much does it take for a soldier to become a guard for example. Do these ponies require nobles to fight for their country every time there is a conflict?

“Well, the camp was built recently, the border friction on the Equestrian Gryphon border is quite tense in the following years. Celestia asked Princess Cadence to build this training camp so that ponies from both Equestria near the border and from the Empire might train together.”

“The Gryphon Empire?” Sauron asked intrigued.

“Yes, the Gryphons live there, a warmongering nation if you ask me. They have an ambitious ruler. The Gryphons don’t really care about peace, they didn’t attack Equestria just because they don’t poses strong enough magic.”

“Have they attacked Equestria before?”

The old unicorn chuckled at that, “But yes, of course they have. Every time they made it to Fillydelphia and then they stopped their advance.”

“Fillydelphia? What a weird name for a city.” Thought Sauron.

“How many wars were there?”

“I’ll tell you on the way.” The Unicorn said and started walking forwards.

Sauron followed the old unicorn and walked right beside him, they were slowly heading towards something or somewhere. While walking besides, Sauron noticed that every barrack had its number. Currently they passed number ten. The barracks were a little too long, he would make them taller, so that there could be more place for recruits to train on.

“There were many wars with the Griffins, seven from what I remember.”

Seven wars, he doubts they were long, maybe each lasted for twenty five years. Of course he could be mistaken again, but that was just an assumption. The Crystal Empire was not present for one millennium. Most Wars that will be now presented will be Equestrian conflicts. That would also explain why the unicorn doesn’t have a crystal coat. He’s from Equestria, like most of the teaching ponies.

“The first conflict was a regular battle for land. Equestria has claimed a piece of land outside of their own territory on the other side of the sea where the Gryphons reside. The griffin king at that period of time was furious. The Griffons knew powerful magic and they were not going to go easily on us. They send Equestria an Ultimatum to retreat with their settlers.”

Colonization, a small piece of land belonging to another nation just when the whole area around may belong to yours does sound quite harsh. From there the Equestrians could have tried to expand further and further, decreasing the chance that the Griffin country might be a dominant force on their land and region.

A war for interests, many conflicts were born from such disputes over a piece of land. Many were won and lost. Many have died in such wars. What can you do? War is natural when you have different races, cultures and more importantly countries. Countries could disappear, unite into one big Kingdom. However, the rulers of those countries might not want it, why? Because they seek renown and prestige from all the wars they could win. Even from the fact that a King might develop his country greatly, he will gain a good name. The ones on top are the main reason for wars.

“Equestria at that time was more of an Confederation. It was three thousand years ago when that happened…”

“So long and your people didn’t forget about it?”

“Why should we forget about our history? That’s just sad, this conflict is very important for the later birth of Celestia and Luna.”

Sauron nodded and the two continued walking.

“Anyways, Equestria was still divided into the three tribes that had an agreement to help each other out when one side is attacked. It was an alliance meant to protect the race of the ponies. The Griffins attacked the earth ponies who called for help the Pegasus’s and the unicorns. The war lasted for seventeen years. The Griffins managed to hold us out from their region while still occupying some land. The armies of unicorns, pegasus and earth ponies united and clashed with the Griffins at the Horseshoe bay.”

Sauron listened closely, knowing some Equestrian History will always be beneficial. Even if he will never speak of this, knowing something, is still good. Knowledge as this is important to assume what relations Equestria and the Gryphons have. For now it looks like the Griffins have a rich history with the ponies.

“It was a big battle at that time. It is estimated that at least ten thousand have died on the gryphon side and eleven on the Equestrian side. Both sides hated each other, it was a bloodshed. Ponies didn’t have mercy towards the Griffins and so did the Griffins towards us.”

Sauron nodded again. Of course there is no love in war, everyone is aiming to survive. In order to survive in war is to kill and hope you won’t have to kill more and risk losing your life with every next enemy you have to slaughter.

“The Griffins retreated and their fleets blocked the way towards the colonies, the ponies wanted to make peace. The Gryphons agreed. The earth ponies spoke with the Griffin King and agreed that the earth ponies will never again settle their hoof in the Griffin region. While the Gryphons agreed to let the settlers go. The Earth ponies however had to allow the gryphons to take the bodies of their fallen warriors back to their homeland.”

“A tradition, to bury the dead in their homeland or something else?”

“From what I know, they believe in their weird pantheon with their minor gods that can become one mighty. We ponies believe in Faust our creator. She created an avatar of herself and choose a pony to mate with so that Celestia and Luna may be born and unite the tribes. This however happened one thousand years later.”

Sauron stopped after hearing what he heard.

“Your creator, have made herself a body to walk the earth and give you, your rulers?”

“Not exactly like that, there is more to this, I was always good at history lessons but I can’t remember what else there was to it. Many scientists and historians do know. Princess Twilight resides in the city from what I heard, she may know more details.”

The unicorn stopped and so did Sauron, they found themselves in the open where only dirt lay around and nothing more. The area was touched by magic, Sauron could feel its presence in the ground. It wasn’t strong but he could say that it was quite strong, as if a minor spirit settled here for a few days and left a mark in the area.

They found themselves on the back of the army, not so far away but far enough not to be seen by the ponies who stood and listened to Shining Armors last sentences. How is he not getting tired from shouting all the time was a mystery, but probably his pony stamina kept him on his hoofs.

“I’ll stop the story for now, here the unicorns test their magic, they are ordered to fire spells of different kinds. Lighting, fireballs, cast shields and force fields. Transmutate and manipulate the earth.”

Sauron walked around… the nothing and from his point of view the unicorns had a lot of space to play with. He could build here a troll pit for both Orcs and cave trolls to fight and test their endurance, durability and strength. The pit would be big, and would spit out one or two well trained battle trolls a day.

“I can see that.”

“I’m responsible for teaching them high level spells. To fire pure magical beams and to construct fields of magic capable of shielding a few houses. Defense against dark magic, magical manipulation etc.”

Sauron raised his eyebrow. “You teach them illusions?” Asked the Dark Lord.

The old unicorn answered from the back. “No, but we do teach them how to detect illusions. They do know different variants to help them dispel the illusions.”

“Personally I could start doing that, illusions can do more than you think, or at least make them capable of firing a spell capable of destroying the enemies equipment.”

“Why? If I may ask.” Said the Unicorn and approached Sauron.

“Illusions mess with your mind, if you teach them to make petty illusions that would help your soldiers fight by messing with the mind of the enemy. Imagine a unicorn casts an illusion and makes your ponies look bigger, stronger and scary. The enemy morale is closer to the border of breaking. Morales keep your soldiers fighting, if your soldiers keep fighting even when the battle is lost. They might still kill more, every lost life for the enemy is one potential life saved on your side.”

The unicorn got uncomfortable with the topic. Killing is one of the worst crimes there are. Peace reigned for many years, and it is close to breaking. He wouldn’t like to prepare his own soldiers for war. His job is to make them ready for it and not to send them to it. He wouldn’t be able to look them in the eyes and tell them that somepony beside you might not stand next to you ever again.

“Breaking the morale is a cheap way of winning, a true soldier; a royal guard will win even if the morale of the enemy is at its highest. He doesn’t need a weapon, and armor. Or in fact, anything. All he needs is to know that he fights for his country, for his family. That he protects what he loves, that he protects what gave him his life that made him who he is. His country, and the ones who care for it.” The unicorn said.

Sauron knew what the old unicorn meant, he rejected his idea of teaching the unicorns here illusions because it’s a cowards way of winning. A cowards way, he doesn’t like that a bit. He used illusions plenty of times and he doesn’t accept calling him a coward. Illusions just like any other branch of magic is a way of fighting, if someone likes it or not!

“Illusions may help in dire situations, sometimes it is better to make the enemy weaker to win. Mess with their mind and eyesight, make them feel weird. Try to even make them think that they are blind and when they run around. Avoid them or kill them with one good hit to the neck or heart.” Sauron explained.

“Illusions are nothing more than tricks, meant for children to laugh off or thieves to hide their treasures from others by making them think a giant monster guards the gold. Illusions don’t solve the problems for eternity and they are a cheating technique that can even betray you.”

Sauron disagreed with the unicorn very hardly, illusions are one of the best solutions to all problems. He doesn’t deny that there are better ways, he just tries to prove his point they are helpful and should be used because they can bring much good. The old unicorn doesn’t support his words, but he is eager to make him agree, old people have a tendency to stay by what they believe is just. He dealt with worse.

“Illusions can shield families, illusions can be worth it, imagine casting an illusion that would make the enemy think a poisonous snake or something different tied itself around his sword and he cannot reach for it. While you approach him or her? You can win and let him go or kill him. Illusions just fasten the process, in order to control them you have to have a good mind.”

The unicorn again disagreed. “No, illusions such as those only show that you need help and are not skilled enough yourself to fight the enemy.”

“In war, would you rather cast an illusion and save one hundred ponies from the breath of a dragon that is about to breathe fire everywhere. Or would you rather, charge with a spell ready shield them that could perhaps not withstand the pressure?”

“Your example is very one sided, but a magical barriers would hold out the breath of a dragon.”

“My example wasn’t one sided at all.” Sauron shook his head. “The dragon could suddenly see your ponies moving to the left and he would breath fire at the left thanks to the illusion, while your ponies would run. You could fire a powerful offensive spell that could harm the dragon while he breathes fire.”

While Sauron said it, the ponies behind them started to get back to their barracks, This had to mean Prince Shining Armor finished his speech to the recruits and wished them luck in their training Sauron didn’t see the Prince, but he saw that many of the ponies gave him and the old unicorn stares and whispered among themselves something. The distance might be large, but he knows when others talk about him. Sauron looked back at the unicorn, and both moved forwards.

“Don’t you think that’s it’s a little too tight for so many ponies to be in one place?” Sauron asked New Order.

“A little, from what I know princess Cadence wants to add a few things to this place. Of course her decision was influenced by her husband’s requests, and my advices.”

“Still, I doubt that after so many years of peace your government is willing to invest into war economy.”

“Why spark tensions and waste life’s when the money can go for civilian use?”

“Indeed, but you never know, it best to have a decent army prepared for anything and also have some ponies in reserves trained and ready to be drafted.”

“That…” The unicorn looked for a word, “Is not what Equestria and more importantly the Crystal Empire should aim for, for now.” The unicorn said, both he and Sauron close to their next destination.

“Every country, even a free, self-governing trading city should have some military. Every citizen of your should serve a few years in the military in order to become adults.”

“There is some truth in your words, but ponies these years have ambitions and study hard to get the job they dreamed about. Or become the pony they always wanted to be.”

Sauron looked at the unicorn and thought about these words. How can a pony by learning become the one he wants to be, if the cutie mark chooses his future? That’s a hypocrites thinking and philosophy of an idiot and complete loser! There is no way, it’s impossible, the only way it could work is when the pony studies what he is good at to be better, but that’s still not his dream job. It’s something he has to do because fate choose so.

Sauron let it go and continued. “Someone needs to defend those ambitions, it would be a shame if a foreign country got its hands on a geniuses talents.”

The old unicorn stopped as both he and Sauron were in front of the archery. While New Order spoke, Shining Armor got his hands on the one responsible for his daughter near death. The distance in between them and him was too big in order for any of Shining Armors yells and shouts reach their ears.

“Well anyway’s, here the archers train their aim and also learn how to properly use a bow, we had a few workbenches for our archers to work on destroyed and broken bows in order to know how to repair them, but the workbenches were removed due to bad quality.”

“Where do you store all the weapons?”

“We don’t, every soldier is given his weapon, and for as long as he is here he has it with himself. He has to learn to carry it everywhere with himself in this camp. The same with arrows, axes, pikes or even halberds.”

Sauron looked at the shields that were placed in the distance for the archers to shoot at, he looked at the old unicorn and asked him.

“You don’t make them elites, or prepare to be guards, you make those ponies prepared to die in the first lines don’t you?”

New order started to sweat a little, he became nervous but he hid this fact very well. He gave Sauron an offended stare and responded angrily.

“That is not true, we just train them the basics, later they can either wait until this camp gets bigger, and will have more to offer. Or go and train themselves in Equestria or the city to become proper guards or more well trained infantry.”

Sauron approached the old unicorn he looked at him with a blazing started that burned deeply in the unicorns soul.

“Listen, I don’t like it when anyone lies to me.” Sauron turned away. “You are responsible for governing this camp. Tell me then, what can the Crystal Empire do in order to upgrade this training camp?”

The old unicorn begun to sweat heavily, he didn’t expect anyone to ever ask him those questions, he was ensured no one ever will ask him such things. He was ordered to prepare the ponies of both the Crystal Empire and Equestria for war. He had to make this place produce fresh meat, nothing more. He himself is a colonel.

“They plan on adding an separate obstacle course for the pegasus’s. Something similar you can see for Wonderbolts in Cloudsdale. They plan to demolish some of the barracks and make the camp oval not circular, thicken the walls by three meters, this time with stone. Make place for ponies to race each other both on land and in the air.”

“This doesn’t sound bad, and when is this planned to be done? I don’t think it’s a secret.” Sauron said again looking at the unicorn.

“In ten years.”

“In ten years? For ten years you want to produce nothing but basic infantry?” Sauron said looking at the unicorn with disgust.

New order looked back and said nothing, he didn’t want to speak. Something was holding him from speaking, he felt dominated with Sauron’s presence, he felt as if something pushed his thoughts about saying anything back. He felt stressed out and Shining Armor was not in the near, while the newbies are in the barracks having their last minutes of free time.

“For ten years you will make soldiers, you will train them and tell them. That they will have a career as an soldiers, that they will become guards and Iluvatar know what!” Said Sauron with his hands in the air. “You lie to them, if there will be a conflict, they will be the first to die, so that the enemy might only become tired!”

New order felt ashamed for what he is doing but he has no choice, he has his orders and he has to fulfill them. Everypony started as cannon fodder and he won’t be able to change it. What he can hope for is that there won’t be a conflict, and he won’t have to know thousands have died. Because he made them just a layer, before the well trained troops enter the battlefield.

“What rank do you have?”

“I’m a colonel, on retirement, but I wanted to still work in the military so they gave me this position”

Sauron shook his head. “I don’t doubt that, while you will spit out more ponies ready to become the floor for others to step on. Other colonels like you will lead those untrained privates into battle and death.”

New Order looked at Sauron, he wanted to go away, he wanted to make Sauron go away. Sauron however continued his speech and sadly New Order had to hear it out. But maybe in a moment Prince Shining Armor will be finished and he will join them freeing him from Sauron’s, dark and dominating influence.

“Equestria and the Crystal Empire have the numbers, and the population, I assume that there is at least forty or so million ponies in both countries may be much more.” Sauron said and stepped closer to New order, looking him straight into his eyes.

New order could swear his already gray mane was becoming whiter, with each second Sauron looked at him. The Dark Lord was close to New Order who felt squished, weak and cold when Sauron was looking at him, he felt as if Sauron’s thoughts could crush him. He felt unreal fear and dominance from Sauron and him standing before him.

“You can have the best troops there are, you have so many volunteers and you waste them. Why follow a doctrine of mass assault, you could quickly with perfectly equipped and trained troops defeat the enemy with shocking speed.”

“It’s the will of the Princess, I can’t defy her.” New Order tried to argue, but his attempts were weak.

Sauron looked at, New Order, he knew he was close in breaking the old pony, he had a light touch when it comes to recruits such as those. He doesn’t want to continue serving younglings full of potential and spirit on a silver plate to those that can only throw it out the window. Sauron looked behind the old unicorn, he saw Shining Armor approaching them.

Sauron stopped enforcing his will, he used minimal amounts of his strength to mess with the unicorns mind. He wasn’t strong, he was decent but too weak for his abilities and skills. The Unicorn seemed to get normal with the passing moments and regained his hope in himself. He was now again ready to battle with Sauron’s words at a fair level.

The process of dominating any living creature is easy, you can either do it slowly and without much action like he wanted, to make him agree with you. Then thru the following days make him your ally. While meeting the victim you would make yourself his leader and when the time comes dominate the victim properly. It would be easy, as the victim would be opened to every order you give him after one year.

In such situations you can just connect to his mind. Telepathically is the best way of doing it, although there are others, you could strengthen your wills impact on a certain subject by using magic. Therefore you’d decrease the victims mental strength by using magic, your will might be weak, but if you have much strength thanks to magic, you can decrease your subjects will to the point of it being weaker than your will.

There of course is the violent way of just enforcing your will together with your magic. He as a Maia, has more experience in such things. Sauron can within a few seconds turn battalions against their master jut by letting them see visions promising wealth and a good name, women, any other material thing.

He could do it right now as he did with Sahvoz, it would take five or more seconds to dominate the old unicorn. He could take control of a hundred ponies at the same time but in return he would have to wait a few minutes. Sauron doesn’t necessarily need to do it himself, the one ring can by just being close to mortals influence them and turn them to his side.

If he stays near Shining Armor or any other mortal pony long enough, he will just by interaction and living with them dominate them, the process will be slow in order for them not to think they are being stripped from their free will. Of course placing his hand on one of their heads also would work, physical contact is the best link between minds if you want to dominate someone.

Sauron, however isn’t necessarily in need of an unicorn who runs a place like this. Truly if what he said about the future development of the camp. It can be wise to have someone in here, so that the pony may convert recruits to his side and have an small army within both Equestrian and Crystal Empires army.

He estimates that Equestria has about two hundred thousand soldiers, what about the Crystal Empire? He doesn’t have a clue, but he thinks the number might be close. The Crystal Empires army needs to be retrained and upgraded to be as effective as any other army. They have been in void for a millennium after all.

What he doesn’t get, is the fact that they train Unicorns here, unicorns that can cast powerful spells and magic capable of impressing even such individuals as him. It's really unfortunate that the true force of the Empires and Equestrias military will be wasted in the front lines, rather than serve as an alternative to artillery and siege Equipment.

“So what have you learned?” Shining Armor asked, as he made his way towards them.

He was all wet from his sweat, his mane was a little unorganized and messy, the Armor he wore, that was of pure steel and didn’t have a saddle like the other ponies, seemed to be dusty. The Prince approached both of them and smiled, he was less angry, he was surprisingly happy.

“Have you found the one responsible for-” Sauron couldn’t finish his sentence as Shining Armor cut him off, and he hated being cut off in the middle of his sentence.

“Yes, I did, there’s nothing to worry about I took care of… that pony. Let’s go on, we have to come back early so that you may meet with the rest of the elements of Harmony later today.”

Sauron sighed heavily and he followed the Prince, he might as well ask some questions now that the douche is here. For some reason however, he started to think about the dragons he has killed. What would bring them the stealing of the heart? More importantly, for whom? He might as well ask about the dragons, when he will get back and have some time to spend with Princess Twilight. There’s no point angering Shining by mentioning dragons in this place.

‘She is a smart pony, most of my questions will be answered with the most unneeded details.’ Thought the Dark Lord, smiling as he thought about it.

She indeed was a clever pony…

Thanks for all the kind words, this chapter was written before my message.

Comment and remember to give the editor some love. After this chapter, you'll see some mane six