Is all Hope Lost?

Sitting on the bed of the master bedroom, Spike was still in complete misery and sadness. He didn't know what was worse: the part where his friends have turned evil, or where he was forced to be a jester in a humiliating getup. Poor Spike didn't want to think about it too much, for it was enough to make him cry. Deep down, he was hoping for a miracle to happen in his life. Looking at the ceiling, Spike sighed in his misery, and hoped that this would all end, and he even wanted to end his own life so this pain would stop.

"Psst!" said a voice. he perked his head up, and looked around. "Psst! Spike!" the voice whispered. "Over here!"

The baby dragon looked over to see the small statue of Roseblood, and Discord was it's head. He gasped with joy and excitement. "Discord!" he said with a smile. "I never thought I'd say this, but am I glad to see you!"

“Shh, don’t let Roseblood know that i’m Here.” Discord Said. “If she sees em in here, she will completely murder me until not even my own mother would recognize my remains.

“Discord, are our friends preparing for an attack?” Spike Asked him in a desperate voice. “I’ce Been forced to perform in front of her and my Now evil friends with a lute, and made me wear a ridiculous jester suit.”

Poor Spike felt like crying just thinking about it again. His eyes were, however, out of tears to cry out at the moment. “Oh Spike.” Said Discord. “They really made you do that?”

Not saying about it, he just nodded his ends a yes to him in return, Bowing his head in shame.

“I am truly sorry, child. Do not worry, I will prepare for an attack to save you, and Equestria from this evil wench. In the meantime, did she hurt you at all?”

“Besides the whole jester thing, Roseblood didn’t really touch a painful hoof on me.” Spike replied. “But, I don’t know how long she will keep this up, she might use me in a painful experiment, or worse!”

“She does seem unpredictable.” Discord muttered. “But don’t worry, just pull through and be brave. We promise, that me, Zecora, and all the followers we have gathered will come to rescue you and save all of Equestria from eternal hell.”

A small boost of hope came back to Spike hearing those words, and he ultimately said: “Alright. I believe you guys. And, what about the survivors hiding? Are they okay?”

“Just fine, but has Roseblood conquered more cities?” Asked Discord

“Yeah, Appleoosa, Manehattan, Las Pegasus, and other cities and villages. For all we know, Equestria and this planet are all doomed! Doomed I tell ya! Doooom!!”

“No.” Discord said boldly. “Not if we have anything to say about it. I’ll try and help you in ma y ways I can when it come to Roseblood, but only small details. If I just do bigger magic, that might draw unwanted attentionfrim the enemies.”

“You’re right. I... i don’t want to be completely alone and live in a world that is so evil and gloomy.”

“Fear not, you will not have to.”

All of a sudden, faint footsteps were heard outside the bedroom door, Spike panicked and looked around the room to and fro for a hiding place with Discord to hide in, But the door flew open, revealing to be Roseblood herself.

Discord’s face disappeared from the small statue and was back to the way it was before. “Yes, milady?” Spike gulped.

“I just wanted to tell you how much of an astounding performance you did back there with that lute. You certainly have some musical skills in you, Spikey-poo.”

The baby dragon was flattered and a little weirded out by her compliment.”Thank you, I guess.”

“Oh no problem. You should feel great you are under my mercy. Now, come with me, I need you to clean shear the new bushes of me in the garden.” She showed him the new bush versions if herself in the castle gardens. They were representing Roseblood as a hero or a goddess of some kind, fitting how she can be egotistical and vain in herself.

Peeking through the window, the statues looked big for aSpiie to try and cut by himself, and he didn’t want to do it, but he had no choice. What Roseblood says, or orders him to do something goes. “Five hedges?”

“That’s right.”

Spike gulped and asked: “Okay, how am I supposed to cut those large hedges- oh wait, wings. Right.” He flapped them two times.

“Right, and do not think about escaping while you are outside. Remember what we talked about you escaping the castle like a mouse crawling back in his hole in a kitchen.”

“I know. I won’t escape, your highness I promise.”

“Good. Good. I know you won’t escape, because I am going to have Princess Celestia and Luna watch you down their like a pair of hawks.” It was just then Celestia and Luna appeared from behind Spike, looking down at him with their evil smiles.

“That’s right,” Said Celestia. “But don’t worry, me and my sister won’t hurt you, as long as you behave for us and your new queen.”

“And I have no doubt you will follow our every whim if needed.” Luna added. “Mistress Roseblood May have warn you about this already, but if you try to escape, their will be-“

“Dire consequences,” spike sighed. “I know. Roseblood already told me.”

“Yes. That’s a good boy.” Said Celestia. “And who know, maybe me and Luna will have some fun with you after all Spike.”

“And they will take good care of you.” Roseblood added with a wicked laugh. Spike’s heart dropped down to his stomach hearing those kind of words. He knew it couldn’t be good when it comes to her definition of fun.

“Okay, where is the shear?” Roseblood handed him a pair of shears from behind her and it was a little heavy for Spike to carry with his arms. “Can I get.. a smaller pair of these?” He Asked sheepishly

“Ummm... no! Now shut up and get to work, little child.” Spike bowed his head and tried carrying the pair of shears with all his strength, as soon as he got down in the courtyard, he started giving the bushes a trim.

For a baby dragon his size, it was certainly not easy carrying these pair of large, heavy shears, but he needed to get the job done so he wouldn’t have to get hurt, punished, or even executed by Roseblood for his so-called defiance or if he messes up with this.

Celestia and Luna kept a close eye on him to make sure he didn’t escape. Poor Spike had to use almost all his strength to hold these gigantic pair of shears, and he was worried that if he did it wrong, Celestia and Luna would bring him a world of pain, agony, and anguish all at once.

After he was done, he was soaking wet with sweat, and put the shears down on the ground with a small clang. "There." Spike panted. "How did I do?"

The princess got a look at all three bushes and inspected them quite thoroughly and closely. Spike was so scared about what these two would do to him if he had gotten even the slightest detail wrong. "Hmmm, To be most fair," said Celestia. "You have made a great interpretation of our queen, Spike."

"And I think you cut the edges perfectly." Luna added. "But, it is our queen's opinion that matters." It was just then Roseblood came down in the garden to see what Spike had done for her. Feeling more scared, he hoped that Roseblood would feel the same way as Celestia and Luna think about these bushes. Legs trembling in fear, he was fearing for the worst.

"Hmm... Spike." said Roseblood in a stern voice. Now the baby dragon felt like throwing up, he knew what the sound of that stern voice meant to his ears, but regardless, he sheepishly went up to her left side, and waited for the worse from his new mistress, and bowed his head

"Y- yes, m- mistress?" he trembled

"You.... did a fantastic job shearing those bushes, my dear!"

"I know, if you're going to kill me then- wait wait wait, what?"

"These bushes of me look far better than I can possibly imagine. Tell me, do you have any magic claws on your hands?"

"Magic claws?" Spike said. "Well... no. I do chores around Twilight's castle, and I do my best to keep her happy with the chores."

"Well, I can certainly say that Twilight is lucky to have you as a slave."

"Slave?" Spike said in offense. "I'm not a slave! Twilight considers me as a good friend, and she would always stick up for me if needed."

"That was then," said Roseblood. "This is here and now. And now, you are my own personal pet and slave at the same time." then she stomped her right foot at him, making him fall backwards. "And I expect you to do everything I say, when I say it. But of course, you know your place as my new pet, right?"

The baby dragon gulped before he replied: "Yes mistress."

"Good. For now, why don't you enjoy these bag of gems I have brought from our Diamond Dog friends."

"They're not my friends." Spike said begrudgingly

"I know. They're not my friends either, but they are quite useful to me and my plan. " Roseblood had her thinking face on again. "Perhaps, when I am satisfied, I will deal away with them, too."

Then Roseblood handed him a goblet of gems and began snacking on them like a dog would do.

"Consider this as a thank you gift from me."

"Thank you." Spike said.

"Well, for now, why don't you take a little nap or something?"

"I think That's best." Spike remarked. Then the baby dragon hurried back to the master bedroom, and he was quite afraid, for he didn't want to see any more of Roseblood's wrath and anger anymore.

Despite having the gems, he still wished that things were back to the way they were before as usual. He knows that Roseblood might kill him in the end if she is no longer happy with him.

He tried going to sleep, and it took a rather long time, but he finally fell asleep under the covers with only his head showing.

Meanwhile, back with the heroes, Zecora and Imari were talking with Zuberi, the leader if this lone cape buffalo tribe once again.

"My old friend, I beg you to see reason. The threat is real." Said the eland king. "If we do not do something, this world could meet its future doom."

"And Roseblood can wipe all of you out if she wanted to." Said Zecora. "That is certainly something that witch can do."

The buffalo chief was silent, and made a small huff before saying: "what happens in Equestria is none of my concern, or my subjects as well."

"What part of she will kill you all did you not understand?!" Discord shouted at Zuberi. "You are looking at a Drancequus that has seen what she is capable of!"

Zuberi was taken about by the Master of Chaos' berating.

"Our friends are in terrible danger, the world might end by turning into a place with hell everlasting, and yet you still don't care?!"

"I... i..." before the buffalo chief could speak any further, he was interrupted by him.

"My dear friend, Fluttershy, is brainwashed by Roseblood obeying her every whim now. If we do not do something about this, everything and everyone we ever cared about will be lost."

"You speak wisely, Discord." Said Imari.

"Thank you." Discord boldly replied. "Roseblood will wipe out every last of you like you never even existed at all."

"Please, old friend." Said Zecora. "We need every bit of help we can get to stop her and her plans."

Ultimately, Zuberi sighed and said: "if what you all have said to me is true, then... on offer you my horns."

"So do i." Said another bull with a broken right horn.

"So will we." Said a group if calves.

Imari, Zecora, and Discord seeing Zuberi come to his senses and comply to this plan.

"When do we attack?"

"Not yet." Said Imari. "We have to gather more followers as we can to stop Roseblood."

"For when we attack, I honestly cannot say, but we will be ready when it comes that very day." Said Zecora. "We will need more buffalo, more eland, more dragons. More changelings, and other friends and allies."

"What if Princess Ember finds out about Spike being kidnapped like this? We have to tell her and Thorax the news."

"You are right, Discord." Said Imari.

"You just prepare for war." Said Zecora. "We have got to bring the news to our friends and more."

"I'll poof us to the Dragon Lands." said Discord. "We'll be back shortly, new friends." then he disappeared with Zecora. In the Dragon Lands, Ember and her dragons were preparing for war against Roseblood and her minions. She had her armor on from when she was trying to get the Gauntlet of fire behind her father's back, and it still suited her perfectly. The other dragons were also preparing for battle, mostly because they love the feeling of fighting and combat, even if it means playing dirty.

"Ember." said Zecora.

"Ah, guys, you're back!" said Ember. "We're getting ready to fight Roseblood, and.... wait, where's Spike."

Discord and Zecora had an uncomfortable look on their faces, and Discord said: "He's been... abducted."

Ember was quite shocked to hear that. "Whaaat?!! He's been kidnapped?" and a great rage built up inside of her. "I will go to Roseblood myself and finish her off!" and when she was trying to foolishly get Spike back and kill Roseblood head-on by herself, she was stopped by Discord grabbing her tail and yanking it.

"I know you are pissed." said Discord. "But if you go out and try to fight her right now, it would be suicide. These require planning."

"But, he's still a kid."

"We know." said Zecora. "But it is not yet that we can go."

Ember sighed in defeat, and said: "I hope we save him soon."

"We will soon."

Just then, Thorax appeared out of nowhere, and said: "Hello friends, what's going on?"

"Thorax." said Ember. "Just what we needed to see. Spike's been abducted by Roseblood."

The changeling king's heart dropped to his feet, and began to panic. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" he began hyperventilating in a crazy manner. "My first friend already kidnapped by Roseblood?! What are we going to do!?"

"Thorax,"

"Who knows what those monsters will do to him? He can't make it by himself!"

"Thorax!"

"We have to act know, Oh! I know, I'll sneak in there, and-"

"THORAX!!" Ember shouted. "Pull yourself together!"

Sighing, the king changeling took a few deep breaths in a doggy bag. "Okay, okay." he panted. "You're right. I'm overreacting again. Can't we just barge in there and take him back?"

"Afraid not." Discord admitted. "We have to gather more followers on our side to fight Roseblood. And I do hope that your friends and family are preparing for the fight."

"We are. We are using are stealth skills and trying combat practice. My brother, Pharynx, is already training the changeling army to fight, and he was always a brilliant military strategist."

"Perfect!" said Zecora. "We might be one step closer before we fight."