The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

Ch.6 Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

Twilight sat by the fire which she lit in Granny Smith's fireplace. She read a book, as usual, but something kept her concentration from being entirely focussed on said book. This 'something' was Granny's ring, that mysterious and powerful object which lay just in front of the door of the house. Twilight had tried to pick it up earlier, but her magical presence had stirred something in that ring... something evil.

Her thoughts turned to what Granny had said to the ring earlier in a fit of greed, "It's Mine. My Own. My Precious." She knew where she had heard that exact phrase before, during her earlier adventure with a younger Granny Smith.

"Riddles in the Dark," Twilight whispered to herself. She set the book aside and stared at the fire before her.

"Granny! Granny Smith!" yelled a small filly from outside, who's Southern Belle accent was as unmistakable as the answer to two plus two.

"Granny!" Apple Bloom opened the door and ran inside; her eyes searched the front foyer for any signs of her dear Granny.

Twilight just sat there, and stared at the fire, unchanged by the sudden intrusion of Apple Bloom. After all, this was her house, and it was only a matter of time before all of Ponyville realized that Granny was no longer at her own birthday party.

Apple Bloom head hung low, disappointed that her Granny had actually left, like she always said she would. But Apple Bloom noticed something else: a ring, more specifically, Granny's ring, which just sat on the floor, as if carelessly abandoned by its previous owner. So Apple Bloom scooped the band up with her front hooves, and set it in one of her forehooves; she began to scrutinize the curious object.

"My Precious." Twilight's voice surprised Apple Bloom, but it was a pleasant surprise, as she realized that another one of her dear friends hadn't abandoned her this night.

"She's gone, hasn't she?" asked Apple Bloom, but Twilight simply ignored her and stared at the fire, deep in thought.

"She talked for so long about leaving...I didn't think she'd actually, or even could, do it," continued Apple Bloom. She balanced her way over to Twilight's side, carrying the ring in her hoof. The closer Apple Bloom got to Twilight, the more clearly she heard the lavender Unicorn repeating something, murmuring the same word over and over: 'Precious'.

"Twilight? You okay in there?" asked Apple Bloom. She slightly nudged her friend's shoulder to draw her attention.

Apple Bloom's nudge disrupted Twilight's trance, and she became aware of the small filly presence beside her. Twilight turned towards Apple Bloom, but her eyes lowered, until they rested upon the ring which sat in Apple Bloom's hoof. Twilight then looked up at Apple Bloom, and smiled.

"Granny's ring. She's gone to stay with the Princess. She left you her ring, and to Applejack: Sweet Apple Acres." Twilight enjoyed passing on the good news, it meant that other than serving out dish-cleaning duty to two foolish fillies, something worthwhile came out of this disenchanted night.

"Speaking of which, where is your sister, and your brother?" asked Twilight.

"They're still looking for Granny Smith. They probably won't be back for a while," answered Apple Bloom.

"Good, good. It's good that we can have some alone time," continued Twilight.

Twilight turned towards the mantelpiece, and using her magic, levitated an envelope towards Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom, taking the hint, set the ring in the envelope. Twilight quickly licked the lip, and sealed the envelope.

"The ring is yours now." Twilight levitated the sealed envelope out to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom reached out for the envelope, but upon making contact, was swiftly pulled towards Twilight, till she nearly nose-to-nose with the lavender Unicorn.

"Keep it secret. Keep it safe," warned Twilight. The mare's face carried a look of distress which Apple Bloom hadn't seen since Twilight went crazy because of being 'tardy' on a letter to the Princess.

Twilight promptly stood up, and made a beeline for the door, leaving a confused Apple Bloom in her wake.

"Where are ya going?" asked Apple Bloom, trying desperately to discover the reason for the change in Twilight's demeanor.

"There are some things I must attend to. Books, reading, studying, the works," answered Twilight.

"But why can't you just stay here in Ponyville. You study in that big ol' library of yours all the time," added Apple Bloom. Tears started to well in the filly's eyes for the loss of two friends, both who would leave her for their own selfish reasons.

"The knowledge I require cannot be found in Ponyville, but in the Canterlot Archives. So I must go there at once, and find what I am looking for." Twilight's response only encouraged Apple Bloom's thoughts that her friend and kin were leaving her for their own pursuits.

"You're just being selfish! You've only just arrived, and now, you're gonna leave... just like Granny!" cried Apple Bloom. The tiny filly's pleas melted Twilight's heart, and caused the lavender Unicorn to stop in her tracks.

Twilight turned and faced Apple Bloom, whose face was moistened by the tears that twinkled down her cheeks. Twilight kneeled in front of Apple Bloom and wrapped her hooves around her, and Apple Bloom did the same.

"Don't worry my dear. Goodbyes aren't forever," assured Twilight. She took a hoof and carefully stroked Apple Bloom's apple-red mane.

"I *sniff*, just don't understand why you have to go so soon." Twilight pulled back, and met Apple Bloom eye-to-eye.

"Neither do I. But heed my words, Apple Bloom. Keep the ring secret. Keep it safe." And with that, Twilight stood up, and teleported to Canterlot, or that's what Apple Bloom presumed.

Apple Bloom's slowly moved into the living room, where, on the chair where Twilight sat earlier, lay the envelope which contained Granny's most prized possession.

***

Dark clouds reigned in the sky, and pumice ash fell like rain. The Unicorn Range, named after the more glamourous sub-species of Ponykind, was not a reflection of its namesake, but a foil. At this time, the Changelings made it their home in Equetria, as they constructed a giant spire, which served as their hive. It also served as the place which Sauron had chosen to take his present form: a Great Eye, wreathed in flame, lidless, and ever-watching.

Right now, Sauron's attention was focused upon the torture going on below, as the strange creature, Gollum, inanely babbled in the pool of boiling water in which it sat. But the Great Eye always gets what it wants, and two of the creature's words stuck as acceptable answers to where his Ring resided.

"PONYVILLE! AHHHHHH! APPLES!"