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// Sauron 
// Story: X in Equestria 
// by RoseluckyCinor 
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	The sound of bouncing balls and exhaustion crowded the air. Twilight stood at the head of a square of ponies. Nearly forty of the ponies, and Gabe Newell, doing jumping jacks in front of the Ponyville Library. There was a soft breeze that rolled down from the misty hills in the north mountains near Canterlot. Young ponies with wild imaginations say you can smell whatever soft, bready delicacies are made by the bakers, a sweet scent carrying all the way to town.
It could be said that most of the breeze flowing from town came from Twilight’s groaning sighs. While watching the potential players she was not impressed. Only Gabe Newell could do jumping jacks because ponies just don’t work that way. She did note, with a slight gleam in her eye, that ponies could stretch their rumps into the air, tails swaying in the air. She noted that often, making sure the ponies were extra limbre in that area. Often times the tryouts saw Twilight with her face buried in her clipboard, not really looking at the them, but they didn’t care.
Gabe looked at the purple mare with sadness, a single great tear flowing from his eye and falling to the ground. Where it feel a small flower sprouted from the ground. He turned to one of the ponies that had quickly become his friend. She was a smaller one than he, but a blazing orange coat that made his eyes shine. She looked like she was wearing one of his favorite polos. 
“Applejack, we need to help Twilight with this,” he said between gasping breaths. She nodded solemnly, also staring behind her at the mare. Applejack always felt comfortable limbering up in front of others. She and her brother, Big Mac, had done it. Big Mac was always careful to make sure AJ stretched herself before bucking apples.
Applejack was never sure why he did that.
From her window, Rarity looked down at the ponies doing exercise. She wasn’t that close but she had good enough vision. It was relief that her vision was that good, seeing as her father wore reading glasses, and Sweetie was seeing an optometrist next week. Rarity sighed heavily. She knew that she could wear stylish glasses, and her sewing glasses looked nice. But she didn’t want the social stigma of glasses.
She brushed a lock of purple mane from her eyes, frowning just barely at the corners of her mouth. There was a footstep behind her, the sound of metal roughly smacking and scratching into wooden panel behind her. Still she didn’t turn around. The room grew colder as the presence behind her grew darker and stranger. The candles beside her flickered, losing light. Even the sunshine seemed less able to penetrate her window.
“You’re not Gandalf,” she whispered, eyes looking towards the corners of her vision. He felt almost the same as he had. she could never explain it to him and he never could explain why. While Gandalf felt powerful, the person behind her felt omnipotent.
“Not quite the same.” The voice was low and deep. It sounded ancient, beyond time itself. There was nothing good about it.
“Why are you here?” she asked, not expecting a response.
“For a long time I straddled the line between life and death. And when I awoke... I was here.”
“What is your name... darling?” There was a contemptuous laugh behind her.
“I am called... Sauron.”
“And just what is it you want?” Rarity asked. It was if something was pulling her from the side, struggling to get her to turn towards the being. Again there was a laugh.
“Can’t you see, horse, that I want to help? I want to help with your struggle.” Rarity furrowed her brow and turned around. Instead of what she imagined she’d see, it was a surprise. The voice sounded like it’d be a dark spirit clad in demonic armor. Instead she saw a floating plaid shirt with khakis. The only thing that struck her as accurate was a large helmet of plated steel with long spires on the top. All in all he was a chill looking dude.
Rarity merely scratched her chin and stared long and hard at the man. If he had eyes she would have looked at those. But what might have been eyes were shaded in a supernatural fog. This made Rarity suspicious. 
“Look, I’ll be honest, I’ve made something for you ponies and your team.” 
Rarity scoffed. “Please darling, I’ve already made boots, scarves, and team jackets.” Sauron laughed. Nervously he shuffled, and then slowly got on one knee. From his back pocket he pulled out around twelve shiny rings, different hues of metallics and inlays. Rarity’s eyes grew wide. 
“Rarity, I...” He paused a moment, unable to look into her soft eyes, fearing what may become of his tender heart. She stopped him, putting a hoof on his hand.
“Of course! Of course!” Sauron brightened up.
“You will?” he asked excitedly. She nodded.
Sauron laughed, dropping the rings to the ground in front of the pony.
“Fool!” he screamed with the wail of banshees. “Your soul will be consumed by these rings! You will all bend under my powers, all for just a little skill at basketball. Ha ha ha!” Rarity furrowed her brow.
“These rings will make ponies better at basketball?” she hazarded. The demonic man nodded. Nodding as well, Rarity took the rings and ran off to Twilight, excited at having progress.a