Is all Hope Lost?

All the way in Zebrica, both Zecora and Discord were in the throne room of King Savimbi of the zebras. Zecora was the one who was telling him the whole story about how Spike got captured by Roseblood, of course Discord would have to help her out since he was the witness to it, for the zebra mare was just a better speaker and a talker than him. Savimbi was just as shocked and horrified to hear of this grave news, and he was more determined to fight Roseblood than before.

“And That is exactly what happened, you see?” Said Zecora. “ It we must not be too rash. Spike will take caee of himself, maybe.”

“But he is only a child.” Said Savimbi. “What if the boy meets his demise in the hooves of a Roseblood? And how will you know that he will survive at her mercy?”

“Because I know him well, my king.” Zecora answered flatly. “But we have other thighs to worry about, for Spike is just one thing.”

Discord stepped up, and he cleared his throat before saying: “she’s right. What matters now is creating our army now before things go from bad to worse. Ember will ready the dragons, Thorax will ready the Changelings, Imari will ready the elands, and you know the rest.”

“Yes, of course, and I will ready as much zebras as possible to assist you with their aid. For now, you have to warn the others about this, so they can prepare for an attack.” And he looked at his general. “Cubango, reedy your finest troops for battle! If we are going to make it out of this alive, we have to prepare to attack Roseblood.”

“Yes, my king.” Said Cubango. “I will see to it at once that my soldiers will assist Zecora and the God of Chaos. I assure you both that my troops will provide as much help to you as we can.”

“Excellent, Cubango.” Said Zecora with a look of hope. “Perhaps we should tell Queen Zini, king Nelson, and King Yetu to help us. The last thing we want is for all of our plans to attack a Roseblood to come to a bust.”

“Good luck, Zecora. I really hope you know what you are doing with this plan.”

“Don’t worry,” Discord Said. “We know exactly what we are doing, my king.” As the general prepared the zebra soldiers to help with the cause, Zecora and Discord went to the second kingdom with zebras led by queen Zini, and it looked rather smaller than the city Zuma was taking charge of, but still, it was populous with zebras living upon it.

Like in Zuma’s town. The zebras in Zini’s kingdom recognized Zecora as well, and greeted her warmly. Unfortunately, she could not stop and say hello to them, or any other formalities, for this is a “life or death” situation.

“I beg you, you have to let me in. Queen Zini needs to hear what is going on, for I am an old friend.” Zecora urged the two guards near the castle gates.

“Very well.” Said the first Guard. “Come right in." Zecora and Discord set foot through the long corridor and Queen Zini was there sitting on her throne.

When she looked upon Zecora, she smiled seeing her face. "Zecora. Welcome." She greeted warmly. Zini didn't look the same for Discord however. "Hello, Discord." She addressed him in a rude manner with her eyes narrowed.

"My old friend, we desperately need your help." Zecora began to explain.

Before she could explain to the queen any further, Zini stopped her by saying: "I know, my old friend. King Savimbi told me everything thing through word of mouth. As a matter of fact, I have readied some of my own troops for battle against this Roseblood."

"Really? That is wonderful." Zecora had a look of hope on her face. "We have to act before Roseblood goes something rather terrible."

"Come. Let me show you my army that will help you." Both Zecora and Discord followed Zini vack outside. And they saw a rather large line of soldiers ready for battle. They were all wearing tribal marks on their faces, along with some of them wearing helmets with antelope horns on them. Other zebra soldiers had dreadlocks, while some didn't. Another interesting feature about them was the swords and scimitars they were holding in their mouths.

"That is quite an army." Said Discord. "I think we might have a greater chance now."

"Quite an impressive sight, aren't they?" Said Zini with a bold, confident smile on her face.

"Yes they are." Said Discord. "I honestly think Celestia and Luna's guards will stand a chance against these warriors."

"Do not forget we donnotbqajt to kill anypony." Said Zecora. "We want to save them all from the evil influence flooding their minds."

"You think I am not aware of that? The fate in Equestria and the world rests in our hooves and hands."

"Now we need to go to Nelson and his kingdom of Mnangagwa." Said Zecora. "An old friend of my ma. Thank you again Zini. We will have the rest of our army ready."

"Good luck, my old friend." Said the queen. Then Discord teleported himself and Zecora to the kingdom of Mnangagwa to see this king Nelson, who had a much bigger city than the other two Zecora and Discord visited for help."

While in the streets, Zecora recognized a large zebra with thinner black stripes on his fur, and wore a shiny gold necklace with an emerald at the very center of it. He also had a gray goatee that was braided.

"Nelson!" Zecora called out to him. The king of this city turned around and he smiled, recognizing the zebra mare and her voice.

"Zecora!" He shouted with excitement. He then ran up to her and hugged her very tightly. "It is so good to see you again."

"I really hate to break up this wonderful reunion Nelson," said Zecora. "But I need to have your full attention."

"I know. Savimbi already told me of the wicked Roseblood pony, and her plans for world domination. I see how much of a threat she is to the world, and I would be more than happy to stop her from having her reality come to life."

"Do you have your soldiers prepared for battle?"

"Are they prepared for battle?" Said Belson with a chuckle. "I already made the preparation for them to help the resistance fighters in this war."

"How powerful is it?" Asked Discord curiously with a raised eyebrow.

"Do come with me and I will show you how powerful they are." Nelson led the two heroes to his quarters where his army was looking more than prepared to fight against Roseblood and other evil.

These warrior zebras had spears called: "Iklwas" with them, and it looked long, sharp, and the spearheads at the top looked pointy and deadly.

Not only those iklwas, but they had swords, tribal shields, and fascinating armor made of leather.

In a short distance, they saw a pair of zebra stallions fighting ferociously, yet gallantly in this kind of training.

"My goodness. Now this is what I call a zebra army." Discord remarked.

"We teach our finest troops everything they need to know about fighting and combat. Not to worry, those stallions over there are only training for battle, nothing too serious. Rough-housing is a common sight to see among my soldiers, for they really like to rough.

Zecora was getting more hope that this army that was continuously building up would stand a great fighting chance against Roseblood and other forces of evil.

One thing she and Discord can hope that this upcoming army will be enough to stop her.

Meanwhile

Spike was helping Roseblood wrote a letter to the mayors of Starlignt Glimmer's town, which were Night Glider, Sugar Belle, Double Diamond, and Party Favor.

This letter was for them to read to surrender to Roseblood willingly, or be forced to inhale the mist that she will unleash on them and the village of they all don't cooperate.

Spike sighed sadly, and he was very reluctant about this, but he had no choice. He breathed into the scroll with his green fire breath, and it was gone. He never felt so guilty all his life like this.

"Oh come now, Spike. Do lighten up." Roseblood said, stroking his head like anyone else would treat their pets lovingly.

Of course, he couldn't really tell if she was opt to kill him if he displeased her, or if she decides that she is bored with him.

"Now, I should expect Shining Armor to report back to me with excellent news." Roseblood added. "It will not be long until other cities will be under my control." Then she made an evil chuckle.

"You know... if I can't stop you," Spike blurted. "... somepony will." He knew it sounded weak compared to how he would normally sound brave.

"Really?" said Roseblood with a smirk. Spike honestly thought she was going to kill him or do something horrible like use him in an inhumane experiment like a mad scientist. "Such as?"

"Well... Discord can stop you."

"Oh puh-lease. That moronic clown couldn't hurt me or kill me if he tried to do it. As for your zebra friend, Zecora, she would be no match for me either. So, they can try and stop me, but they will never succeed. They will forfeit their lives in trying to destroy me. Soon, I will destroy them as well for trying to interfere with my plans."

Despite how sinister this was, he knew it was not true, for Ember, Thorax, Savimbi, Imari, Grandpa Gruff and Gilda probably heard the news that he was captured by now. With that, they simply cannot ignore this, and they would all have to come and save them.

"Right." was all he muttered, for he didn't say anything else. He simply waited for some other order that she might throw him next. He really hoped that he wouldn't be asked to kill some pony, for he would never kill somepony, even if he needed to if if meant sparring his life. So far, she hasn't ordered him anything else yet, which was good.

After a long ten minutes, Roseblood then said. "Well, I suppose I can go for a little bath for myself." The baby dragon had a thought in his head. He thought that maybe with Roseblood having her own little bath in a hot tub, he would see this as a perfect opportunity to flee from her and the other brainwashed ponies under her control.

“Hmmm...” he had a rather devious look on his face, and an insincere smile appeared on his face to her. “That’s okay. I can just wait out here and enjoy more gems. You can go and enjoy your bath.”

Roseblood giggled, and said “Oh ho no. You are going to take one with me.” Spike’s hopes instantly went back down to his feet, and his spirit was at his lowest once again. He was almost like a statue,mane gulped his throat. “You and I both know exactly what would happen if I leave you here by yourself.”

“What are you talking about.”

“Feigning stupidity will get you nowhere, Spike.” She smirked at him. “You think with me out of the way in a bath would get you a perfect opportunity for you to escape me. Well guess what; it will never wash.”

“Damnit!” The baby dragon cussed in his brain. “She’s smarter than I thought.” To her, he said with his mouth, “Okay, you got me.”

“Of course. I am far too clever for you and your thinking, hence you are still only a child.”

“So True it hurts.” Spike muttered. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Of course.” Roseblood picked up Spike and she went in the Royal bathroom upstairs where Celestia and Luna’s hot tub would be like. “Hmm, well it is not bad to look at.” She observed the jacuzzi. “But, I know a way to make it look more... fitting for me.” She used the magic from her horn, and turned the jacuzzi into a more, hellish or nightmarish-looking hot tub with the color of black, and the water a shining, glowing green. “There. That is much more suitable.”

“Don’t tell me it’s poison.” Spike gulped again.

“No, don’t be stupid.” Said Roseblood. “It is just green water.” Then she slowly took a dip in the jacuzzi, and enjoyed the warm, toasty water of this newly designed relaxation privelage. “Ah, this is the life.” She looked at Spike who was looking a little uncertain at this. “Well? Come on now.”

Spike gulped for the final time, and tried the hot tub water, and it didn’t burn him or anything. No, it was the exact opposite of anything like acid. This water was certainly refreshing against his scales. “Oh wow.” He sighed with his eyes closed.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. It is nice.” Said The baby dragon relaxing some more. “That really hits the spot on my skin. I feel more... more....”

“Calm?”

“Yeah. That’s it.”

“You know Spike, are you good at playing instruments?”

“Well. I have been taught to play a wide variety of flutes, guitars, violins-“

“Excellent!” She interrupted him. “Because, I am in the mood for hearing some music at the moment. So after this, you have to play a number of songs for me.”

“What instrument?”

“For now, the lute. And you have to wear this outfit for me.”

That suit looked absolutely silly and ridiculous, for it was like an old-fashioned jesters’ type of clothing with the bells. “Oh no. No way! I am not going to be a minstrel for you like this! Only a complete idiot would wear something like that!”

Roseblood got that angry look in her eyes again, and she motioned her face towards his own. “I would not say such things if I were you.” She Said with her eyes narrowed and glowing red again. “You will do exactly what I say, when I give you that order. Understood?”

“Y-yes ma’am.”

“Perfect. Now, do enjoy it here, my pet. You should be greatly privileged to be in this kind of jacuzzi with me. I would never let anypony else have this kind of luxury, unless I say they can. In your case however, because you are my adorable new pet, I can certainly make an exception.” Then she pulled him close to her like her own teddy bear.

Spike was still greatly scared and hoped that Discord And Zecora were building up this resistance army to fight her and the other corrupt ponies.

Meanwhile

King Imari was just as shocked and horrified to hear of Spike being abducted like the zebra rulers Zecora and Discord had met before. “This is very grave,” Said The eland bull. “If we are going to attack, we have to act now.”

“No.” Said Zecora. “I really admire your zeal Imari, but we cannot yet go.”

“But he is only a child. Roseblood might perform some terrible atrocity on the boy without warning, even killing him.”

Discord cleared his throat and said: “We will save him, turbo. We just need to build up a pour army and prepare it for battle. Not to mention; rally the dragons, Changelings, griffons, And our other allies to help us out to the cause.”

“Understood. I suppose, Spike is a more capable infant dragon than I realized. When I met him, he had a strong will within himself that he can stand up to Roseblood.”

“Bold or not,” Said Zecora. “Spike cannot Just defeat her in a fight with her and her evil lot.”

“I know that.” Imari sighed and looked st the ground. “Should we ask Zuberi for help once again? Perhaps he will see reason with us this time.”

“We can try, but I highly doubt he will cooperate that easily.” Said Discord. “Still, we cannot give up for trying. At least we can do is talk to him. But first, I want to know how powerful the eland army is for us to fight alongside.”

“More powerful than you think, Discord.” Said Imari. “Look at this.” The eland king shown them both a large number of eland warriors under his command, looking quite bold and wearing classed armor, marching in a group together.”

“Oh yes. This is quite an Armor. They would be a good muscle for us all.” Said Zecora with a bigger smile of hope. “Considering the fact that elands are far more taller.”

“Silver Horn And Light Hoof should probably know too, we both asked them for their help, and they have agreed, too.”

“And Kifaru.” Said Discord. “The more help, the merrier.”

“Exactly.”

Despite all these soldiers going to fight along side them both, Discord and Zecora still have a feeling of uncertainty inside of themselves, and wondered if this would still end in fiasco. Honestly, they didn’t know for sure how it would end, even with all the dragons, rhinos, buffalo, eland, griffons, And hippogriffs fighting alongside the, in this upcoming battle that will be re,embedded for countless generations.

One thing was for certain, they need to give it all they got against Roseblood and her hand of demons and brainwashed ponies under her control and influence. Still, they needed to get more numbers and followers for this.