Death.
To most beings, it is a definite state. Once done, it can’t be undone. So, it is natural they fear it. They will do everything in their power to use whatever moments they can to avoid their fate. Some can be successful, but most are silenced in their vain attempts. It can be gruesome, or pleasant. All that and more drives the beings of this world to define themselves and make their existences have meaning.
I find them all laughable as well as sickening. Death has no claim over one such as I.
I find their ‘meaning’ to be utterly ridiculous. They live frivolous, wasteful lives without any real purpose. They meander, they crawl, they try to eek out a piece of the world for themselves. They are frail, worthless things. They can’t even rule themselves without eventually breaking down. They need guidance. They need a leader. Someone far and above them in every respect.
I tried to be that leader. I tried to lead the people of Middle Earth into a better tomorrow, but what did I receive in thanks? Retaliation. Rebellion. Murder. They slew me! They cast away my rightful rule and for what? For freedom? I would laugh if I still had lungs. No, they don’t have freedom. Only I could give them freedom. Freedom from ‘choice’ and ‘fate’. They would finally have meaning. They should thank me and embrace my ideals.
So, here I am. Nothing, less than nothing. I am a shadow, a pale imitation of my former glory. They think they beat me. They think I can’t return, so they celebrate. They forget me, but all they are doing is ensuring their defeat at my hands. My ascendance was never in question. My return to the bonds of the mortal plane was as fact as the changing of the seasons. I am a force of this world. It needs me, whether they want it or not.
I let them have peace. I let them hope and be merry in my absence. I want to wipe away their smiles. I want to break their gleeful souls into pieces and burn their frolicking bodies into ash. My revenge is certain. Their doom is written in the annals of history. Their ignorance is a joke I will share when the time is right.
My plan is already in motion. The white mage already turns his ear to me and my orcs grow in numbers. I will not make the same mistake twice. I will never again let the ‘free’ people of Middle Earth unite. They will bicker and squabble. They must. I need them divided. I want them to be alone and helpless as I slaughter them to the last child. Thankfully, they did that job for me, but I need to be sure. Even the Elves hide agents of mine. Their noses, which they hold so high in the sky, will never come down to see the killing blow. The race of man is weak and pitiful that I ponder to myself if I could have done a better job. It was their ring bearers that had joined me, not the others. Man was such a fun race. I almost didn’t want to destroy it.
Almost.
The dwarves were a race I concerned myself with however. Their keeps and cities were almost impregnable. The filthy tunnelers kept to themselves, so their ranks would be swelled when the time came to attack them. They would put up a fierce resistance and it could take years to slay them all. I had years to spare, so their resistance, while annoying, would prove fruitless.
The only thing I needed to secure my victory was my ring. It held a part of me. It held my power, my source of rebirth. I needed to have it. ‘In hindsight, perhaps casting a piece of my soul into an object so easily hid wasn’t the greatest of choices.’ I couldn’t do anything to change that now. The Nazgûl could track it down with ease, but I couldn’t send them out yet. The people of Middle Earth would begin to suspect something was amiss. No, I had to rely on orcs and goblins and other such lowly creatures.
I feel ashamed of what I have resorted to.
Yet, I was content to sit and wait. There was nothing that could best….No.
For an instant, I had sensed something. Something powerful, something ancient, something…I had not sensed in such a long time. It was as bright as the sun and just as fierce. It tore at the shadows and I had to fight to control the pain, even from this great of a distance. It was holy magic, among the most pure I had ever felt. It reminded me of my kin. No, it reminded me of something greater? Something akin to my master……’How could they be here?!! Why now?’
It had been centuries since I have been filled with such rage and curiosity. It felt like a Valar, but it wasn’t like any of them. It was different. Of course, it didn’t matter if that was so. It needed to be dealt with. To my dismay, I knew where to find it:
Erebor, the Lonely Mountain.
The resting place of Smaug.
Dragons were incredibly unruly creatures. To a certain point, I only could keep a handful of them loyal. The rest were content to squabble and bicker like men. The miserable wretches thought me unworthy of ruling. They did not respect me like they did my master. They disobeyed my orders, they killed and plundered my armies. No matter how many I killed, they still didn’t listen. Even as I smashed their wings and bent their backs, they remained defiant.
They were my master’s greatest mistake.
Now, a dragon housed a Valar. I didn’t know why. Perhaps it was taking pleasure in their death as I felt the Valar’s life force fade. That is, until it made a swift recovery. It was no way on par with that surge I had felt so long ago, but it meant that the dragon was helping it. I had been content on sitting idly by and watch the Valar die. I couldn’t afford to do that anymore.
A shame, really. I had thought to try and recruit him. I may hate his kind, but they still made excellent weapons. Pity. No matter, he was good as dead.
I still had creatures strong enough on their own to kill dragons. The dwarves should think twice to dig so deep into the earth. They can never tell what they’re going to find. With a simple push of my mind, I touched it. I felt the fire rage and darkness stir and a roar that could shatter bone. Its purpose was clear and all it needed was my order.
“Cleanse the mountain.”
___________________________________________________________________________________
*Celestia*
For a moment, I really thought I had somehow found an actually intelligent civilization of Diamond Dogs. Not to be offensive, but Diamond Dogs aren’t…smart in any real regard. Actually, that sounded offensive. I have met many amiable Dogs in my life, some of them even holding very memorable discussions with myself. It’s just that, they were always simple. They liked to keep it that way. Their constructs and tunnels showed that. They could be extensive and vast, but they were always crude. They just needed to serve a purpose. Anything beyond that was unnecessary in their eyes.
This city was nothing like the simplistic designs of the dogs. No, it was something far grander and much more aesthetically pleasing. The sheer effort and craftsponyship to make something of this scale and with this level of detail was daunting to say the least. My ponies, while adoring the art of construction, liked to keep to a mold. Most of the cities, while grand, were similar. In a way, we were like the dogs. Still, we had exceptions such as Canterlot. ‘I would love to meet the species that built this place. Perhaps I could set up a trade of goods, or at least a few drawn up plans and schematics.’
While I would say Canterlot was far better to look at, it wouldn’t be fair. For one, Canterlot was in pristine condition, while this place looked like it was rotting. It felt dead. Even the air itself stunk of it. A part of me already knew that it was not the stench of the city, but of its former inhabitants. That part of me wanted to hate Smaug. It wanted me to slay him where he stood.
I didn’t listen to it. Dark thoughts such as that are ill becoming. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind as the saying goes. I couldn’t change the past. The only thing I could do was ensure a brighter future. Smaug could be brought to his senses. Such a task wasn’t so farfetched, if I took in Fluttershy’s work with Discord and my own with my sister. I just needed to make a breakthrough. Nothing major, just something to gain his trust. That was easier said than done when talking about a dragon. Their species was never a trusting one.
As I walked the halls, my little friend Thrush would often speak up. Most of the time it was to tell me little snidbits of information, like he was my tour guide. They were never that long or that detailed, so it was as clear as crystal that he barely knew anything about the mountain city. Needling out clues from the bird was much harder for it. Still, he would always steer me away from certain areas. He was insistent that they were in such poor shape that a simple noise could cause a cave-in. He was a poor liar, but I complied. I simply took note of every ‘condemned’ passageway. I never forget anything. ‘Not even ‘that’. I really don’t want to know where Discord got that idea from and I don’t want to go through it again.’
Scarring memories aside, I had a lot on my plate as it were. Whether he intended to or not, Thrush was taking me around in circles. He was either stringing me along, or just a terrible guide. Either way, I’m sure he’d rather be outside as would I.
“So, are you liking your new home?” Thrush asked. He was perched keenly in my mane as Philomena would have done in her early years.
I…I miss Philomena….’No, don’t drag yourself down now. You need to keep a clear head if you’re going to get out of here.’
I nodded slightly. “Yes. I am honored live under Smaug’s mountain. He is the most generous dragon I have ever met.”
The two of us had entered the dwarves’ smithing room and it was glorious. Great cauldrons stood at attention, little carved tunnels that would have been rivers of gold and other minerals had this place been in operation. It was magnificent, even in such a state of ruin. Oh, how I so wanted to meet these dwarves. My ponies would learn so much from them. The dwarves smiths were masterminds. Their jewels were so well crafted, that my best smiths would cry in shame if they compared their own work to it.
“….Really?”
“Why would I lie to you, dear Thrush? You are Smaug’s eyes and ears. To tell you an untruth is to invite dismay upon myself. Am I wrong?”
Thrush caught on to what I was really saying and sighed. “You are indeed as clever as the master.” The little seemed to shift uneasily on my head. “I am sorry if he has mistreated you. He is not the nicest of creatures.”
“I beg to differ,” I corrected the small bird, shaking my head slightly. “He is among the nicest of dragons I have ever met.”
“Truly?”
I nodded. “Truly. If he were any other dragon, he would have eaten me. When we argued or when I threatened to destroy that accursed Arkenstone, a regular dragon would have burned me alive for even thinking about it. I am truly thankful I did not land in the horde of another dragon.”
“Even if he keeps you locked inside?”
“He is just being cautious,” my ears quirked about as I heard something. Ponies had great senses of hearing and Alicorns were even greater in that regard. Softly, I could hear the sound of claws clacking against the ground, very heavy claws. I paid them no mind for the moment.
“Caution is one thing. Slavery is another.”
“Yet, I wear no chain or head no orders. I am no slave, little one. I am a jewel. I am something to look at and fawn over, but kept within his grasp. Freedom is something neither the slave or the jewel possess, but the jewel is ‘comfortable’, whereas the slave is not. For the most part, Smaug has been a wonderful host. Perhaps I could call him a friend if he wished it.”
“A friend?” Thrush laughed. “My master wishes not for a friend, but for loneliness. He hates everything with such a passion that he could light the world on fire with his mind alone. Friendship is the last thing he wants.”
“But he needs it,” I snorted. “Smaug’s heart is sick with hatred. You can’t survive on it. Hate makes you stupid and blind. It corrupts you, tortures you, and leaves you a hollow husk. Smaug is better than that. All living things are better than that and if he does not turn away from hatred, it will kill him.” I had seen it destroy many creatures, including my beloved ponies. It was a sick and depraved process and I still weep for the lost souls. Some of them…I could have saved…I should have saved. ‘Sombra, I….’
NO! Don’t think about that. Don’t ever think about that again.
“I am wounded, Celestia.” A deep, familiar voice spoke up. Low and behold, Smaug turned the corner. “To think a fickle emotion such as hatred could fell one such as I? I would laugh if I was not insulted by your insinuation.”
“Insulting you was not my intention,” I countered. “It was merely a warning. I pray you take heed.”
“Friendship?” Smaug seemed confused. “You think this thing called ‘friendship’ can keep me alive? Tell me, did I need friendship to take this mountain? Did I need friendship to slay the dwarvish army that hurled themselves at me by the droves? Did I survive the black arrows thrown at my beautiful scales because of friendship? No, all that and more was fueled by my greed and by my hatred. I am death. I am fire. Neither of which needs anything more to fuel them. Maybe the pitiful dragons from your world are so weak they can’t utilize hatred, but I am strong because of it.”
“No, you are weak Smaug. You are weak because you rely on it. What happens when it’s not enough? When you’re all alone, against the world? Do you think that you can keep yourself going on mere hate and greed?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are a fool.”
Smaug snarled. The large dragon was nearly upon me in seconds. His snout mere inches from my own. “Do you think that just because you’re my jewel, I will tolerate such talk? I have been lenient with you. I have given you the honor to be amongst my gold. Yet, you still persist to insult me to my very face.”
“I say again, I mean no insult,” my face softened. “I wish merely to ensure your survival.”
Smaug tilted his head in curiosity. “My survival? Why should you care? I am not stupid. I know you must hate me for keeping you here.”
“No, you aren’t stupid. You’re merely acting like you always have,” I gently nuzzled his snout and he pulled away. He looked surprised by my action, but said nothing. “Greed is a driving force for you dragons. There is no denying that, but you can work past it. Why, back home I had the pleasure to know a young drake who broke free from his greed. He lives amongst us in peace.”
“Disgusting,” Smaug shook his head. “Peace is an illusion. He is a dragon. He can’t live amongst the other races forever. He will one day strike and you will pay for trusting him. It is his nature to kill, to devour, to conquer. He can’t fight it. It will consume him one day, mark my words, Celestia.”
“Again, you are wrong.” I shook my head and let out a tired, sad sigh. Getting anything through his thick skull was going to take some time. Thankfully, I was a patient mare.
“I am never wrong,” Smaug snorted, blowing jets of hot steam across me and Thrush. Luckily for the small bird, he was deep within my mane so he had a good enough grip. “But I see there is no point in continuing this conversation. You will not see reason.”
“Nor will you,” I smirked.
Smaug opened his mouth to say something, but it was cut off when something smashed into his side.
Hooray! More!
He... sees... you...
You accidentally a word.
Should that be "into his side" perhaps?
5420589
YOU SAW NOTHING!...but thanks...
Glad you liked this chapter.
5420592 Already fixed that.
Also, was there anything of note you liked about this chapter?
Taking all bets! Taking all bets! What is the beast that Sauron has summoned?!
Is it...
A drake?
games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99811466019_CaveDrakeNEW01.jpg
A Watcher in the Water?
games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99811499006_TheWatcherintheWaterNEW01.jpg
A Balrog?
games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99121499016_BalrogNEW01.jpg
What will it be?!?!
Also, for fun have a Smaug:
games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99811466017_Smaug01.jpg
I stopped fapping to read this chapter. I regret nothing.
5420662
I...thank you?
It's a giant sparow. :D
Hmm wouldn't Sauron risk to be discovered and what could travel so fast and unseen and be powerful as dragon? Even barlog wouldn't stand a chance against dragon. In the past elven heroes vere able to kill barlogs but they wouldn't stand a chance against dragon.
5420630 *Slams a large bag of gold coins onto counter* Put it all on the Balrog! All 500 of 'em!
*Snickers to myself* I'm gonna be rich! Rich, rich, rich! Who else would the Dark Lord send that would be able to sneak into the mountain without Smaug noticing? A Water Watcher? it doesn't have bones, and it can probably slide into awkward spaces, like a normal octopus, but it couldn't propel itself fast enough to smack Smaug to the side without being in water! Octopi are universally incompetent outside of their aquatic environment! It's a fact! A drake couldn't find a large enough passage for itself without having tipped off Smaug! Smaug can hear Thrush tapping at the rocks outside of his fortress, while asleep! Only a Balrog could've snuck up on Smaug! The last Fire Drake wouldn't think twice about noticing a flame in his castle! The Balrog probably transmuted itself into one, using its fire magic! I'm gonna be RICH!
5420697
I remembered that Sauron is Barlog too. The question is, would be Sauron able to defeat Smaug in duel? I think not and he is the most powerful Barlog. The problem is he lost the power to create body. After every defeat he lost part of his ability to create body and in the end he could manifest himsel only as ball of energy formed to an eye that is locked on one place.
5420630 Balrog. And Celestia probably is going to help Smaug :D. Sauron will regret the day when he messed with this... weird ass ship.
5420700 Nah man, clearly it's a jeager! Derr.
~Dollars.
Balrog?
EET GODZILLA!
Raaaa!
Monster fight! How could you do this to me, man? I wanted to see Smaug lay the smack-down.
I am willing to bet Celestia ends up having to drain her reserve again in the fight, however.
You just HAD to say that didn't you?
Oh and have you seen the last film yet? When I first saw Smaug I thought he was a bit of an arse. (He still was.) But thanks to this story, I was pretty sad when he died. Anyway, can't wait to see what happens next. Merry Christmas!
5420630be careful,games workshop does not like it if you use pics of painted models like that
(but my mony is on the balrog)
to show op, not to win
5421433
I buy their $50 plastic tanks and soldiers, I think I'm entitled to a few pics on Christmas.
Also, happy holidays!
5421640 happy holidays to you to
Balrog vs Smaug?
Not if Celestia's white magic has anything to say about it.
Even if Celestia escapes, her very nature will be to try an reform Smaug, which is impossible. He's too old to change.
5421895
Or, because he is so old he can change.
I really hope to see Smaug get a little fluffed then see Celestia just come in and blitz whatever it is.
Really looking forward to the next chapter.
I understand dramatic moments but
Common, they would have heard that
Oh maiii gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad i want moar
I love the intro with Sauron's perspective. I particularly like his viewing of Celestia as a Valar. I've always thought of alicorns as pretty much the equivalent of maiar, with Discord as a Valar in terms of equivalent powers, but either way it is a good comparison.
Also, I like the Thrush nestling in Celestia's mane, that is adorable. As for the monster, I bet on a balrog, but there's no balrog who could take Smaug in a fight except maybe Gothmog himself. The fire whip of a balrog would do nothing to a dragon, neither would the shadows have a significant effect. I suspect a balrog could strike a killing blow with its sword, but only on Smaug's weak spot, and meanwhile his talons and jaws will tear apart a balrog like paper-mache. Still, it should give Celestia a chance to help out, and they can bond over a mutual battle.
Oh, I just got that foreshadowing from last chapter:
I guess we're about to find out!
yay smaug vs balrog
5426821 I suspect Sauron has sent the most powerful evil force in the universe to destroy Smaug:
Trogdor the Burninator!
The next chapter will come soon... that is not a request. Good job on the chapter though.
Wow, I love the interaction between Smuag and Celestia. They both argue in a proud but calm way. Luv it!
Is Sauron overestimating Celestia? Or are you or estimating Celestia? I mean yes she is powerful but in Valar levels? Maiar levels? She's about more powerful than an Istari I think honestly. Really she's not that impressive when compared to even the most unimpressive Maiar. Celestia's age can be measured whereas the Maiar and Valar always were before time and space even existed. I'm just hoping to not see a return of the great "celestia calls down the actual sun to burn everyone" type thing everyone seems to think she can do. I live in hope that does not happen here.
Yay new chapter! I am going to see Hobbit part 3 today. Perfect way to get ready. Thanks!
The big dark eye thinks he can kill Smaug Ha! he is stupid Smaug is no mere dragon he is THE LAST DRAGON TO LIVE AND HE WILL BE THE LAST THING TO LIVE EVER HE NEVER LOSES!
5431452 Well her age can be measured in your headcanon but I do not think that it is stated in canon
Actually, how do you know she can't "call down the actual sun to burn everyone"
Maybe she and luna or whatever did exist before time and space existed, you don't know :P
Your headcanon is loverly and all, but it is yours. The author may have a different headcanon, don't try to apply yours to his creation because it just won't work
Kinda surprised from an In-universe perspective that Sauron's not voiding his incorporeal bowels in fear, given the possibility that the Valar might be taking a direct personal interest in Middle Earth again.
Also Durin's Bane vs Smaug the Golden (vs Celestia) grudge match go!
5443350 The ponies had Unicorns that controlled the sun and moon and before Luna and Celestia were around. They had an entire episode for that XD. And I know she can't call the sun down because the first time she'd have tried that would be pbly time because there'd be nothing left XD also I'm actually going by what I've seen. She lost to Chrysalis after only some love was absorbed by Chrysalis. Yeah she's not even on par with Saruman at those levels XD ok maybe I'm exaggerating but she's certainly pretty crap compared to most of the powerful things in just Middle Earth
KAWAII DESU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...I've got to see where this goes...
5431452
a quote from chapter 1:
so Celestia is quite a bit more powerful that an Istari, most likely an equal (and opposite) to Sauron himself at her most powerful... of course, she DOES require sunlight to function, so her current level is probably a little lower.
also, missed this first read through:
that explains so much.
5467603 Smaug wouldn't've had contact with any Istari. They existed after Saurons defeat. Smaug wouldn't've just bumped into one and even then they have different levels of power with Saruman being the most powerful at the moment. I think the only ones he would've come across would've been one of the blue wizards... Hardly the most powerful XD but there are human Mages and stuff so Smaug could've come across many of them.
Was that the Balrog? Because if is, holy shit.
5420597 I see this going down several ways: Sauron attacks, Or Nazgul,Anther much bigger dragon or what ever you decide
Smaug vs. Durin's Bane.
THE MIDDLE-EARTH SMACKDOWN OF MY DREAMS!!!!!!
eke
Upon researching, this appears to be a portmanteau of "snippets" and "tidbits". However, I don't think it has widespread traction as a word, and I also am not convinced it actually adds any new meaning compared to just saying "tidbits", especially in this context.
dwarves', or dwarven
(Also, remove comma after "crafted")
heed
"Yet I wear no chain and heed no orders." or "Yet I wear no chain, nor heed any orders."
5445421
I am surprised as well. If Celestia is (or is equivalent to) a Valar, that makes her Sauron's greater. He should be afraid that a being with more power than him is in Middle Earth.
I must say, this ship is (as I've mentioned before) very well done and almost believable, which is as good as you're going to get when you try to ship a huge dragon from Middle-Earth with a pony princess . However, it's very well paced and I can actually, almost see this happening! It's realistic in the sense that it's gradual, and not just like:
Rawr! You are now my prisoner!
Oh no! Whatever will I do? Waaahh!
My precious jewel...
Oh I hate- ohh, he's soo handsome... I think I love himmm... Please, give up your evil ways and embrace friendship!!
Ugh, she's so ann- wait, she has a point! And she is so beautiful... I love you, magical pony princess!
I love you too, ferocious dragon!
I am still wondering how you've managed to make Smaug... not as evil as he was, make him even start to fall in love, without him or Tia breaking character. An amazing piece of crossover... You should do more LotR/MLP!
Still there. Should be "eke".
o-o
I have a VERY hard time to belive in that Celesstia is even close on Valar level of power. Her power might feel as pure as Valar but in terms of pure power? Nope. I can't see this. Or heaven forbids Eru level. Taka would be just damn hilarious when we count thar Tolkien was indirectly stateing that Eru is God. like you now Earth God. So capital G with all perks.
6481398
are you a snake?