The Lord of the Ponies: The Search for Harmony

Unrelenting rain poured from the heavens, drowning Apple Bloom and Spike in an unforgiving torrent. The pair huddled beneath the dry underside of a protruding rock. The dragon slept while the filly watched the cliffs beyond their temporary abode. A hiss, unnoticed in the thunderous downpour, emanated from the stone above Apple Bloom. A haggard hoof reached over the rock, wedging itself in a crack for support. Feral eyes, large and glowing in the shaded night, peered over the overhang and caught a glimpse of the sheltered pair below.

The stalker twitched, and a stone loosened from the rocky overhang. The rock crashed before Apple Bloom. Her head snapped upwards. Nopony was there. Apple Bloom returned to her vigil, watching the time-worn cliffs. The deafening rain consumed another hiss.

***

The morning fog was thick; it left the path indeterminable as Spike and Apple Bloom trudged through the Rambling Rock Ridge. Silence led the way as the pair ascended another cliff. Near the top, Spike tripped. His hand shot out for support, and he grabbed an outcropping of stone. Regaining his footing, he pulled his hand from the rock and found it double scratched, as if another scaled hand had fallen there recently.

"I think we've been here before," announced Spike as Apple Bloom disappeared in the fog.

Even though her vision was limited, upon reaching the top, Apple Bloom noticed disfigured markings on the ground, the  scoured remnants of where numerous books once lay. Apple Bloom turned back in Spike's direction. "It's because we haf been here befo'e. We're goin' in circles."

Spike rejoined her at the clifftop. He hunched over, his claws resting on his bent knees. His ragged gasps echoed through the Rambling Rock Ridge. As he drew in new breath, he began to choke. One claw pinched his nose, and his free arm waved frantically in the air. "What's that horrible stench? There's got to be a bog nearby." Spike turned to Apple Bloom. "Can you smell it?"

"Yes," she answered, "but I don't think it's a bog." Of all the creatures in Equestria, Apple Bloom knew about bogs. When the spring showers soaked the fields of Sweet Apple Acres, she would sit on the porch with Appleja—

Apple Bloom flinched. Her memory skipped ahead.

Apple Bloom remembered how, when the rain saturated the acres of brown soil, there would be no working that day. But the most memorable aspect was the smell. Even days after the rain, there was a certain crispness that hung in the air. That smell was not present where Apple Bloom presently stood. The smell which assaulted her nose was from no bog.

Apple Bloom turned to Spike. "We're not alone."

***

Spike and Apple Bloom slept along the cliff wall. Their snores, somewhat exaggerated, echoed through the Rambling Rock Ridge. Hisses emanated above the slumbering travelers but were overcast by their louder snores.

A dark, spidery shape crept from the top of the cliff and made its way down to the slumbering filly and dragon. The stallion was emaciated, but his eyes were oversized. The hair that remained on the equine's coat was now thin and fell where it may about his shoulders. He descended the rock face upside down like an insect, seemingly impossible even for a cloven-hoofed creature.

This was Gollum.

"The thieves. The thieves. The filthy little thieves. Where is it?" Gollum spoke in an ancient, gravelly voice. "Where is it? They stole it from us. My Precious. Curse them! We hates them! It’s ours, it is, and we wants it!" Gollum reached for Apple Bloom's neck, coming within inches of the One Ring.

Spike shot forward, keeping his head low, and slammed into the Gollum’s side, his sharp crest drawing a line of blood. Apple Bloom sprang up too, abandoning the illusion of sleep. Skittering back, the gaunt stallion eyed the two of them warily. His eyes fixed on the Ring, and, without warning, Gollum leapt for Apple Bloom. She ducked in a panic as he flew over her. He hit the gravelly earth, scrambling madly for his hoofing. Spike rushed between them, and when Gollum looked up, Spike punched him between the eyes. The stallion dropped, snarling and clutching at his face. Spike reached down and grabbed one of Gollum’s ears, pulling sharply. The creature howled and hooked a hind leg around Spike’s. With a savage yank, Spike tumbled to the ground. Scrambling to his hooves, Gollum shook his head, searching for the Ring. Apple Bloom froze when they locked eyes.

They were the eyes of a mad pony, alight with feral desire. There was no kindness in them, only unguarded need. This was a pony that would kill to get what he wanted, and what he wanted hung around her neck.

“Gives us the Precious!” he roared, trampling over Spike.

Jerking into action, Apple Bloom reached for her sword, Sting. She tugged, but it snagged on her pack. Reflexively, she glanced down. Realizing her mistake, her eyes went wide as she looked back up. No time! she thought. Apple Bloom shoved her shoulder forward as if pushing open a heavy door, and Gollum slammed into her. She was knocked on her back, stones digging into her side. A high-pitched whinny of pain tore from her lips.

The Ring was knocked out of its hiding place. All eyes briefly turned toward it.

Gollum’s wheezing turned into a mad whoop of glee. He leapt for the Ring. Kicking up at him, Apple Bloom struggled against the wiry stallion. A hoof connected with her temple, and she went limp, vision going dim. Hazily, she saw a burst of green and heard screaming.

Gollum flailed on the ground, his hindquarters smoldering. Spike faced him, hands balled into fists. Glancing over, he called out, “You alright, Apple…” He trailed off, staring at her neck. Apple Bloom pointed behind him.

“Look out!” she cried.

Spike turned just in time for Gollum to catch him under the chin with a swift buck. It lifted him off his feet, and he hit the ground with a thud. Bursting into a sprint, Apple Bloom rushed to them. Planting a forehoof, she pivoted and kicked back as hard as she could. Her hooves connected with something solid, and she yelled a wordless shout.

Apple Bloom was careful to not step on Spike as she brought her hooves down. She reached out to help him up. “Ya alright?” He nodded, a small trail of blood running down his chin. They nodded to one another.

As one, they focused on Gollum. He staggered to his hooves, his groans turning to growls, and directed a stare of pure hatred at them. They stared back at him for a time. A second, a minute, time seemed to race and crawl at the same time. Then Gollum opened his mouth and howled, spittle flying from his lips. Apple Bloom’s ears flattened against her skull as she pawed at the ground, and green flames played around Spike’s mouth, filling the air with sizzling and a sharp, metallic smell.

They charged at each other, sending pebbles flying with every hoof or footstep.

Protect the Ring, protect the Ponyville.

Keep miss Apple Bloom safe from that thing.

Precious!

As the distance closed to a few body lengths, Spike turned and whipped out with his tail. Gollum hurdled over it and landed beside Apple Bloom. She reared up and kicked out with her forehooves. Ducking the strikes, he flattened against the ground before springing back up, reaching out for the Ring. He slipped a hoof between her neck and the chain—

A vision filled Apple Bloom’s mind. The stallion would pull, and the flimsy chain would snap. He would take the Ring, and he would run. They would never catch him. Fire would sweep over Ponyville…

— and she brought her hooves back down, trapping his. Gollum snarled, eyes narrowing, but before he could do anything more, Spike’s jaws closed around one of his hind legs. With a snarl that was half pain half frustration, Gollum pulled with all his wiry strength. Apple Bloom strained her farm work toned muscles, stopping him dead. Despite the pain obvious in his eyes, he bared his rotting teeth. Ah gotta get him offa’ me somehow! Come on, Apple Bloom, think! Use yer… head...

She closed her eyes and struck, smashing her forehead into his nose; his grip slackened. She shoved him away, but he didn’t go far, as Spike was still latched onto him. When he staggered away, Apple Bloom caught sight of her friend. Biting down on the stallion’s leg, he looked strange, animalistic, his reptilian eyes focused straight ahead.

Gollum stomped, jostling Spike but not dislodging him. With a snort the stallion lashed out with his filthy tail, catching Spike across the eyes. He yelped and brought his hands to his face, stumbling away. Gollum darted around Spike, seemingly uncaring of his injured leg, and kicked the backs of his knees, sending him tumbling forward.

The creature leapt onto Spike’s back and wrapped his forelegs around Spike’s neck, squeezing tightly. Twisting a few times, Spike finally built up enough momentum to roll over onto his side, getting Gollum’s weight off his chest. But Gollum tenaciously maintained his grip.

“Hang on, Spike! Ah’m comin’ fer ya!” Apple Bloom shouted as tucked the Ring back into her mithril shirt. Spike, for his part, didn’t — couldn’t — respond. Gollum’s hold kept tightening, crushing his windpipe. He elbowed back, hitting the stallion’s barrel. Dimly, he felt movement, and then his head was pulled back even harder so that he was looking directly at Apple Bloom.

She was pulling Sting from its scabbard. It was taking far, far too long. I have to… buy some time... He struck back again, barely grazing the creature on his back. Apple Bloom finally freed Sting and started rushing over, but it was so slow, like they were under water.

Apple Bloom hurried to her friend's aid as quickly as her awkward, three-legged gait would allow.  She grabbed the creature's hair, pulling his throat towards her sword. The stallion's eyes went wide, and he froze, but he maintained a hold around Spike's neck.

"This here is Sting. Yo've seen it befo'e, haven’t ya, Gollum?" Spike struggled against Gollum, his claws digging into the stallion’s arms. However, Gollum would not budge, even as blood flowed from the multiple lacerations on his leg. The dragon's eyes fluttered, and his arms offered increasingly weak resistance against Gollum’s grip. "Release him, o-or I’ll cut yer throat!" The sword shook dangerously in Apple Bloom's hoof. Sweat poured down her face. Gollum watched as her sword arm expectedly tensed and her eyebrows set into an angry glare. Sting stopped shaking, and the sword pressed harder against the stallion’s neck, drawing a pittance of blood. Gollum loosened his grip around Spike's neck. The dragon crawled away from the stallion, coughing violently.

Gollum went limp, and he fell to the ground. His eyes closed, and a guttural noise built up in his throat. His gasping breath was replaced with a wail as the creature surrendered itself to its new master.

***

Gollum’s wails echoed across the vast, rocky landscape. The sun pummeled Spike and Apple Bloom, and with the assistance of Gollum's screams, it seemed as if the heavens were launching an assault on their mission. But willing or not, Spike continued to tug on the Alicornian rope tied around Gollum's neck, even as the stallion desperately sought a grip on any of the surrounding rock.

"It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty Alicorns twisted it. Take it off us!" screamed Gollum.

Spike's cheeks turned from violet to a violent shade of red. He gave the rope an especially hard tug bringing Gollum face to face with him. His claw surrounded the stallion's neck. Gollum's wails cut off to nothing more than a gurgle. "If you don't be quiet, I'll do something that will really burn." Spike opened his maw, and green fire slowly approached his lips. Gollum tried to scramble away from the dragon, but to no avail; Spike's grip on his neck was too strong.

"Spike?!" yelled Apple Bloom. Spike turned to his companion, and Gollum began to wail again. Spike's attention shifted from Apple Bloom, to Gollum, and finally back to Apple Bloom. "It’s hopeless. Every Changeling in Equestria is going to hear this racket. Let’s just tie him up and leave him."

Gollum stopped crying at once, and turned to Apple Bloom, wide-eyed and pleading. "No! That would kill us! Kill us!"

"It's no more than you deserve," retaliated Spike, moving towards the stallion with his claws held high.

Apple Bloom's hoof went to Spike's shoulders, and she gently pulled him back. Spike stopped altogether, turning to his companion. "No, it's not," said Apple Bloom. Gollum also turned to her and crawled to her hooves.

"We be nice to them if they be nice to us. Take it off us," begged Gollum, shoving the noose around his neck towards his captors. Spike and Apple Bloom turned back to Gollum, gaze flicking from him to each other and back. "We swears to do what you wants. We swears. We swears to serve the master of the Precious. We will swear on the—" Gollum searched frantically before his gaze settles on the Ring. "—on the Precious"

A retched sound reverberated up Gollum's throat. "Gollum. Gollum," he coughed.

Apple Bloom and Spike analyzed the pitiful creature. "Th' Ring is treacherous. Kin Ah hold yo' t' yer wo'd?" Gollum grabbed ahold of Apple Bloom's hoof; Spike flinched.

"Yes, on the Precious. As if I was the Element of Honesty. Yes, on the Precious," complied Gollum.

Apple Bloom inhaled sharply, her eyes unfocusing. Applejack.

Spike noticed his partners lethargic state. His features returned to a fiery red, and he lunged at the stallion. "I don't believe you! You lie!" Gollum jumped away. The stallion screamed bloody murder.

"Spike!" yelled Apple Bloom, ripping the dragon off of the helpless stallion.

"He’s trying to trick us! If we let him go, he’ll throttle us in our sleep. He tried it once before, and he'll do it again," defended Spike.

Gollum lay before the pair, panting and holding his throat. He backed away, his eyes wide and focused on Spike. Apple Bloom placed her hoof on Spike's shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Jest stay back fo' a second." She walked with deliberate slowness toward Gollum.

"Yo' know th' way t'th' Smokey Mountain?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Yes," answered Gollum, his gaze shifting warily from Apple Bloom to Spike. The latter still maintained a fiery, red complexion.

"Yo'’ve been thar befo'e?" continued Apple Bloom.

"Yes," Gollum answered again, his breathing returning to normal.

Apple Bloom reached out and removed the rope from Gollum's neck. Gollum looked down at his body, a slow, nearly toothless smile spreading over his grimy face. Behind them, Spike shook his head. Apple Bloom, you fool.

"Yo' will lead us t'th' Black Gate," ordered Apple Bloom.

***

Gollum scrambled quickly through the rocky crags of the Rambling Rock Ridge. He looked back, making sure that Spike and Apple Bloom were still behind him. The following pair panted heavily, their failing steps lagging behind the surprisingly agile stallion.

"To the Gate! To the Gate! To the Gate, the master says. Yes!" recited Gollum, his features relaxed. Suddenly, Gollum's face twisted into a darker, scowling mask. "No! We won’t go back. Not there. Not to him. They can’t make us."

Gollum retched again. "Gollum! Gollum!"

The stallion scrambled on further and pounced atop a rock. His complexion turned soft. "But we swore to serve the master of the Precious," he pleaded, but his expression soured again. "No. Ashes and dust and thirst there is, and pits, pits, pits."

Spike and Apple Bloom followed Gollum loosely but still within earshot of the argument the stallion had with himself.

"And Changelings, thousands of Changelings. And always the Great Eye watching, watching." Gollum hid in face in his hooves as he began to pout. Whipping around, he looked back to see Spike and Apple Bloom, who managed to catch up with him. He let out an animalistic growl and ran off down the path, quickly losing the following pair.

Spike started forward. "Hey! Come back now! Come back!" Spike and Apple Bloom sprinted after the runaway stallion. Running into a pair of tunnels, the pair surrendered their steps. "There! What did I tell you? He ran off. So much for his promises," huffed Spike, crossing his arms and blowing black smoke while a scowl distorted his complexion.

"This way, pony and dragon. Follow me!" Gollum's head popped out from behind a rock, and he pointed to the rightmost tunnel. Apple Bloom quickly ran after him. Spike retained his scowl but followed as well, slightly shaking his head.

Apple Bloom, you fool.