Is all Hope Lost?

Roseblood was taking a look at her wonderful hedges in the shape of herself, and Spike was right next to her. She could never get enough of her beauty that Spike captured while carving these hedges to her shape in body. Deep down, Spike was feeling ashamed about carving those hedges to this evil, wicked mare, in Celestia's garden, and he can imagine how dirty he felt inside because of that. Alas, he didn't want to face a very cruel punishment by Roseblood, and Spike most certainly did not want to face her wrath when she is angry or provoked to do so.

Still, he pretended to be proud of himself, just to make his new "Owner" happy. After all, he did all of this by himself. "Just look at my beauty, Spike." said Roseblood. "You have really outdone yourself by making these glorious hedges. You have really captured my beauty with your skills."

"Hmph. Not good enough." He thought to himself.

"What's that, my pet?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh! Nothing. I was just thinking about how you're one of the most beautiful mares in the world." He lied to her. Well, he wasn't exactly lying, for Roseblood was a beautiful mare to Spike's eyes, but not as beautiful as Rarity.

"Aren't you the sweetest thing in the whole world?" She remarked, giving him a kiss on the left side of his face. A red kiss mark was left on his left cheek, making him blush in response.

"Yeah. You did a terrific job on trimming these hedges." Twilight said with an evil smile on her face. "It was a glorious thing you did for our queen."

"Yeah." Spike sighed in misery. "I know I have."

"Oh come on Spikey-Whikey. Do cheer up." Rarity said, trying to look beautiful for him like she would do to make him happy. "I for one think you did a tremendous job in this myself."

"How about I make you a cake of evil?" Pinkie Pie suggested.

"Yes, you should really be honored you ate my new especial pet." Roseblood added. "And besides I have another job for you."

Spike gulped in fear, too scared to even ask what she wanted from him now.

"I need you to write a letter to the mayor of Manehattan and tell him that I will be sending some of my guards down there to secure all of the city."

"The ifrits, right?"

"That is correct, whelp. My ifrits. I want to make sure no resistance will try and undermine my authority."

Gulping again, Spike said. "Okay," in a shaky voice. He reluctantly pulled out a scroll of paper and a writing quill. "What do you want me to write down on here?"

"Write this:" Roseblood cleared her throat and began "Mayor Paramount, I am writing you to this letter, your queen, that i am sending an army of my ifrits up in Manehattan to secure the whole place and see that any resistance or enemies will be crushed before their might, in my name."

Spike was writing down all that she said on the scroll, but felt like shedding a tear in committing a treasonous act like this. "Anything else?"

"Ohhhh yes. There is much more for you to write down. Just heed my words loud and clear." Then Roseblood continued with the letter by saying: "and be sure to have some slaves work on a gigantic statue monument to celebrate my glory. And be sure to decorate the city of red and black. You're new queen: Roseblood."

Spike then closed the scroll and was about to send it, but waited for her approval. "Is that everything?"

"That is pretty much it, Spike. You may send it now."

"Alright." Spike sighed, and breathed fire into the scroll, and it was already sent to the mayor of Manehattan. "It's sent, and you might get a reply by him soon."

"perfect." Roseblood smiled evilly. "I will be waiting for an answer till then. Now, do me a favor, and..." she used her magic to pull out the bard outfit that Spike had to perform for her in before, and the lute as well. Spike's heart sank, knowing exactly what she wanted him to do with those things.

"Oh no." Spike groaned. "Not again."

"Or, I can just give you a punishment for disrespecting me again." the evil mare sang.

Spike had an immediate change of heart and his eyes grew wide with fear. He didn't want to face that punishment again, for Spike knew how painful that last punishment on him was, and he immediately took the suit and the loot in his hands. "On second thought," he blurted. "I'll put this right on."

Giving a sadistic smile on her face, Roseblood said: "I thougth you would see things my way, sweetie." The corrupted elements of harmony began laughing at his misery again, almost making him burst into tears. He immediately put his lute suit on and went with Roseblood for yet another humiliating performance.

In the auditorium, he played many types of songs, while dancing in a goofy and silly fashion once again. It was all just so humiliating for him. It was all so agonizing being degraded like this. He honestly wished that he can just fly away and be in tears, but he didn't want to show weakness, so he just kept on playing the lute continuously and danced like a complete and utter fool.

Of course, being brainwashed, his friends threw tomatoes at him just for kicks. it was truly heartbreaking for Spike, but he had no choice unless he wanted to anger his new queen. Spike certainly did not want to face torture by Roseblood again.

The wicked mare was laughing in enthusiasm and triumph as she was watching Spike being in a humiliating state right now. "Alright, alright, that's enough tomatoes, my minions." she announced.

"Aww." Flurry heart said. She was obviously enjoying it the most she she loves throwing things like most babies would do, and she had plenty more tomatoes where that came from, and she can even conjure more tomatoes out of thin air with her magic.

"I know Flurry." said Cadence. "It's fun, I agree, but let us not be so rude to Spike now."

"Yes, at least give him a chance to perform fully." Shining Armor added.

"Quite right you are, Shining." Roseblood agreed. "Play again for me, my little pet."

Spike sighed and continued his tomfoolery dance and lute playing once more.

It was nighttime and Spike was sobbing on his bed, wishing this would all just end as usual. At last, he decided he could stand this no longer and pulled it another note and quill pen. He began writing down words to Zecora, and Discord, the specific people he was writing it for.

“I’m getting myself out of here, you guys.” Spike thought to himself. “I hope that you guys can help me stop this madness.”

Little did he know that the resistance outside of Canterlot were already making preparation for an invasion. Still, he did not know how much more of this he can take, or if he would even want to over anymore.

He was about to send the letter, but he was startled by Iron Will, who barged in his bedroom. “Hey there, kid!” He Said in his macho voice. “Roseblood wants a word with ya.”

Spike gulped. “Am I in trouble?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t ask.”

“Okay. Where is she?”

“The throne room. Now hurry up you runt. Musn’t keep her waiting out there for ya.” Said Iron Will. He escorted the baby dragon to the throne room, and there stood the evil queen herself just lounging on her chair

Bowing down to her in respect (mostly out of fear), he asked Roseblood in a shaky voice. “Y-Yes my queen? I ddn’t do anything wrong.”

“Of course not.” Said Roseblood. Just then, she pulled out a few scrolls from behind her. “But, cons you explain these notes you have written?”

“What notes?”

“Just read it for yourself.”

Roseblood gave Spike these kind of papers and realized that she has found out about him trying to get in touch with Discord and Zecora behind everyone’s back. Spike took a look at some of them, and he was really scared to see that he and been found out about these secret correspondences. “Oh no,” he whispered.

“That’s right.” Fluttershy sang. “You’ve been trying to get out of here again, haven’t you Spike?” She and everyone else we’re giving him an evil smile, knowing that he really messed up this time.

“You should know better not to cross my best friend like this, Spike.” Chrysalis cruelly taunted. “It will only get you in bigger trouble.”

“You- you Said I wasn’ In trouble, Iron Will!” Spike lashed out at the blue Minotaur.

“Yeah. Iron Will is a pretty good liar. And I took a few acting classes in my younger days.”

“Well, I see that Discord and Zecora are building up an army to dethrone me.” Roseblood Said. She gave out a loud laugh of amusement, and then every brainwashed pony began laughing with her. In a change of demeanor, Roseblood Said in a serious tone of voice: “how pathetic. Nopony can possibly try and outclass me and my glorious army of followers. Not to mention that I have the former rulers of the sun and moon by my side.”

“I absolutely concur with you, my friend.” Said Chrysalis. “The diamond dogs, Iron Will and all his friends as our enforcers, nopony could possibly try and outclass us.”

“Sure. They can try and defeat me.” Said Roseblood. “But, they will never succeed. Haven’t you all underestimate my numbers already, Spike? Have you underestimated my power?”

“No, no, of course not.” Spike Said. “I mean, i’m Lonely here. There, I Said it.”

“Lonely?” Said Roseblood in a mock-gasp. “You’ve got me as a friend.”

“And haven’t you forgot about me, Sugarcube?” Asked Applejack.

“And me,” Fluttershy added before she let out a small chuckle. “You’re never alone as long as we’re here with you.”

“Besides,” Twilight put her head next to his left ear. “I raised you.” She whispered softly. It gave Spike a shiver down his spine just hearing it. “So technically, we are family, are we not?”

“T-True.” Spike admitted. Then he felt Twilight slap him across the face, knocking him to the floor. Everyone, minus Roseblood laughed at what he experienced. A few tears were running down Spike’s face after what his sister just landed on him. “Twilight- Why did you-“

“For trying to defy our queen, that’s why.” Twilight replied sternly.

“Try something like this again, and you will be sorry.” Roseblood warned coldly. “Do I make myself clear?”

Spike couldn’t really say anything, but he nodded his head a yes to her in reply.

“Good. Very good.” Roseblood remarked in her happy voice. “I knew you would be an obedient pet. Now, go get some rest, sweetie. You will need your strength for tomorrow writing letters to the other pony leaders under my control.”

Spike bowed his head in shame again, and he said in a weak voice: “Okay.” And he walked out of the throne room, and put himself to bed. As soon as he tucked himself in, he was crying himself to sleep after a degrading day of being forced to dance and play a lute once again.

Could this day possibly get worse for him right now? What more will Roseblood make him do to satisfy her cruel mind? Poor Spike didn’t even want to think of what other horrible things Roseblood will make him do just for kicks.

Before he could fully go to sleep, he heard someone going: “Psst!” Over ang over again. “Spike, over here.” He looked Go the right and saw Discord disguised as a lamp in a ballerina position. “It’s me.”

“Discord!” Spike Said in joy.

“Shh. Keep it down. We must not let them all know i’m Here.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“We’ll save you soon. We have gathered more followers in our army and more soldiers to join the fight against Roseblood.”

The baby dragon made a gasp of excitement, and a burst of hope came back inside of him. “That’s great. Do you think it will be enough to stop her?”

“That’s uncertain. Numbers don’t technically win a battle, you know?”

“Fair enough.”

“But we have a very strong army of warriors on our side in the fight.” Discord added. “So it shouldn’t really be a problem.”

“I think it is a problem.” Said Spike. “Celestia and Luna have been turned to Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon!” Spike Said.

“What?!” Discord Said in surprise. “Oh, that is so not good. I’ll have to tell Zecora and the council about this when I get back.”

“Wait, what about me?”

“Sorry Spike, But we’ll save you. As soon as I save you and bust you out, Roseblood will know eventually. You probably know how powerful an cunning she is by now.”

“Makes sense. I’ve tried to escape, but I was caught and they shocked me. It stung all over my body and I have never felt so in pain before in my life.”

“Don’t worry Spike. You are staying strong, and I can appreciate that. But what else have you found out in here?”

“Iron Will And his gang have been recruited and she conjured an army of demons T her command called ifrits. They are huge and terrifying!”

“Ifrits? I’ve heard about them. I thing but a bunch of mindless monsters who only seek to cause havoc and destroy.” Discord muttered. “And Iron Will is just a big brute who does ‘t know up from down.”

“Look. You have got to hurry and save me as soon as possible.”

“We will. Everyone in our ranks has to play a part in this.”

Meanwhile, Roseblood was discussing with her closest associates under her control. “I think if it’s a war Discord and Zecora want,” Said Roseblood. “Then, it’s a war they shall get.”