Equestrian empires

After he got to Canterlot, Spike got some armor, along with a sword and shield. The captain assigned a pony with the cutie mark, $, to be the commander. The commander assigned a pony with a cutie mark of a skull to be the replacement. Then he assigned Spike to be an interrigator. Every pony else was just a soldier.

So, Captain Shining Armor told them to take over Ponyville as an estate for Canterlot's advantage. On the train ride back, everyone got some sleep. When they showed up, they told the mayor to gather the townsfolk. The commander yelled, "Ponyville is an estate of Canterlot now. Every pony in this town will pay ten bits each! If some money is missing, we'll kill someone."

They all yelled back things like, "LEAVE US! SCREW YOU! GET LOST! I'LL DIE FIRST!" So, the whole squad, except for Spike, slapped a few ponies around. One pony's ear was jerked. Another was stomped in the dirt. Then it all changed. A soldier lost patience, and stabbed the mayor in the forehead! A few pieces of the brain fell out, and blood was all over the floor.

"NOW IF ANY OF YOU BASTARDS WANT TO LIVE, YOU PAY UP EVERY WEEK! IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE DONE!" This convinced the residents to pay. Spike wrote to Shining Armor saying it was done. After reinforcements arrived, they left for the Everfree Forest.