Crystal Empire, 1005 years ago.
"Hello Lightning Striker, did you scout along the seventh sector?" King Sombra asked the loyal corporal. "I swear if I find out you didn't search that sector then you'll be shoveling snow from every inch of the palace."
"My King I have scouted the area as you instructed, but I found something..." Lightning Striker started. "It's massive, and it's heavy too."
"What? Are you sure it's not a rock?" King Sombra asked with his brow raised.
"Not a chance sir. It looked like a huge ape, but it wasn't like any ape I ever saw." The corporal paused. "With your permission sir, I will have a team bring it back for your inspection."
"Alright take a team, bring this "ape" back and we will decide what to do once we have a better understanding of what it is." The king turned back to his office where the dreaded stack of papers waited for his return. "Hopefully this isn't anything that will rock the boat. Dismissed corporal."
With that the said corporal took his leave and gather his team. His steps were bold and confident. Finally he stepped out into the fresh air with an aura of confidence about him. This was his time, his chance to shine and possibly move up through the ranks.
'Hmm perhaps I could finally gain the courage to ask out that cute florist.' Lightning Striker thought to himself as he made his way quickly to the barracks. His steps were steady with those thoughts pushing him along.
Sector seven, frozen plains.
"Ugh my head, what did I drink?" The large figure sat up, his massive body pushing snow away with each move. His dark cloak making him stick out of the ice covered land. "Oh god... I didn't fuck a polar bear did I?!"
His head turns as far as his helmet would allow him, scanning each direction for any signs of life. To his left nothing. To his right, he could see off in the distance a pillar of something he couldn't identify.
"The hell with the cold I'm going there, might be warm." He began his journey towards the empire of crystal. "I will never know why people like snow, it's wet and cold. Too damn cold for me."
As he stepped forward he felt a weight lightly hit his left leg, it was noticeable enough to get his full attention. His eyes shot down to his left side and grew wide, it was an enormous mace with dangerously sharp edges. Upon noticing the weapon he began to inspect himself.
The armor his body wore was beyond familiar to him, it was the armor of the dark lord. Sauron.
With that realisation his eyes went to his right hand,and the final clue who he had become, the one ring on his right index finger. That was more than enough proof about who he was now.
"I'm Sauron! Holy crap! This is so awesome!" He jumped in joy as the revelation sunk in, his jumps became hops and finally standing still. "Where am I? How am I supposed to get back home?! Mom's going to kill me."
As he continued his trek towards the empire off in the distance he felt eyes on his every movement. Even underneath his armor the hair on his neck stood on end.
"Come out from hiding!" He commanded to the frozen plains, not sure what to expect. His stance suggested a fight, yet his mind in turmoil. 'I'm so dead, I'm so dead!'
Over the hill of snow came five low forms, each hard to truly make out as they were as white as their surroundings. Wolves... perfect. As he pulled out the wicked mace a small sensation guided him into a proper battle stance.
The wolves snarled and barked viciously as they all surrounded him, each ready to pounce.
The sensation built up readily, warning of an attack from the rear.
"Four on one, well this isn't fair at all." He spoke to no one, his eyes taking in as much information as he could. "Two up front and two behind. I hope this works out right."
Just as a wolf from behind leapt to attack, he spun to avoid the teeth of a pack member. It worked as the wolf collided with one from the front, they snapped at each other only to be met with the cold mace.
"Four!" He shouted as two of four were out for now, he quickly spun to the other pair. "Oh crap."
They both tackled him to the snow, barking madly as they clamped on the softer portions of the armor. He struggled to stand back up, he knew the other wolves would be up and pissed. One of the canines' teeth managed to get through the thin metal and cut him.
As he felt the teeth cut in his skin his fear melted into anger. The two other wolves now joined their pack mates in trying to bring him down. His anger boiled in seething rage as his will steeled him for a fight, it became clear that he had to kill.
With a great rage did he spring back up, knocking the beasts from him. His mace in hand he swung hard and true.
The first death was signified with a sickening crack! His mind guided by the alien sensation, it felt welcomed as he fought. The second jumped for his softer spots, only to be caught by both hands. His fingers tightened on the wolf like a python until the whimpers began.
He dropped the canine to face down the rest, his vision became distorted and cloudy as he roared challenge to the pack. They answered back with growls of their own, they couldn't react in time as the mace crashed down on the back of the wolf on the right.
Only one now stood against him and the odds weren't in it's favor, it turned and fled.
"Come back coward! I'm not finished!" He called after the fleeing wolf, following slowly behind it. As he continued his rage melted away leaving only weariness in it's stead.
"Damn dogs." That's when he noticed the last wolf, a pup, cowering from his huge stature. He sighed as he took in the look of the poor creature before himself. He crouched before it, one hand outstretched for it. "Come here little fella, come here..."
It whined as the hand drew closer, the hand that belonged to the slayer of it's pack. Of course the pup was frightened of this thing, it killed three and caused another to flee. The tips of the thing finally touched the pup causing it to whine pitifully.
"I'm not going to hurt you little guy, please come here?" His voice was soft and comforting, despite the body it came from. His hand finally locked around the pup and held it up for inspection. "No worries little guy... erm... little gal. Oh boy, okay let's get going before you freeze to death."
Once he turned he was met with spears all readied at his helmet. He was even more surprised by the wielders of the spears, very small horses.
"Come with us peacefully and no harm shall come to you. Failure to comply with that and we will use force to apprehend you." Lightning Striker confidently spoke to the massive thing in front of him, the size of it alone was enough to intimidate the stallion. "What say you creature?"
"Uh sure but as long as you don't mind me bringing a friend with me." Sauron pointed to the pup still shaking in his hand.
"Um alright. By the way creature what is your name?" Lightning Striker asked, his curiosity peaked.
Sauron thought quickly, and decided if he looked the part might as well take the name.
"Sauron." Having decided his new name he felt pride, before his thoughts slipped back onto family. This place was real, the pain confirmed that much. Before his mind could drift into darker places his hope jumped up, maybe one of these small horses could do something about his situation!
"King Sombra wants to see you immediately once we return to the city, be on your best behavior or else." Lightning Striker commanded to Sauron, well at least tried to. Sauron was deep in thought about his new puppy and what it's name would be.
The trip took only an hour or so, but once inside the city Sauron was instantly impressed. An entire city made from enormous crystals, it was breath taking. One of the guards swore he heard Sauron sniffle.
"Mommy look a monster!"
"Geez I'm going to have nightmares for a week."
"Hmm impressive, most impressive."
"Talk about pointy."
"Excuse me."
The last one came from the smallest filly Sauron ever saw was tapping on his foot.
"Yes? What can I do for you?" Sauron asked as nicely as he could without being terrifying.
"Are you going to eat us?" She asked blatantly, it caused Sauron to laugh.
"No little one, I do not eat horses." He stood back to his full height, upsetting the wolf pup in his arms.
"We're ponies mister, not horses." The tiny filly informed, taking Sauron by surprise.
"You mean to tell me all of you are ponies?" He choked out, barely holding his laughing in check. At the confirmation he couldn't hold it in anymore, his laughter could be heard blocks away. "Oh my god that's hilarious, I'm sorry but it's just I thought you guys looked small."
"Wait till you see the King, he's a lot bigger than many. Besides we do have to see him, so come along." Lightning Striker ordered, Sauron just followed dutifully as he was told. "But first, I'd like to be the one to cordially welcome you to the Crystal Empire. We do what we can to survive in this beautiful land shrouded in snow."
"Well I gotta say fancy." Fancy was understatement of the decade, but it worked for the newly dubbed Sauron. "So... this king of your's, is he just?"
"Of course he is, why I'd go so far to say best king we ever had." Lightning Striker felt the question was odd but didn't think too much on it. "Be careful going up the stairs, they weren't made for something like you. Also you may want to have your... "Company" on a leash."
Sauron looked at the pup and back to the guard, and back down to the pup.
"Nah I'm good." With that he nearly tripped up the stairs.
Finally reaching the top with puppy still held safely in his arms Sauron let out a breath, following the guard as he navigated the corridors. Sauron thought it would take forever but within minutes he stood before the throne room doors.
"Nice doors, made from oak?" He asked Lightning Striker who merely nodded. "Well why keep the man in charge waiting?"
