Is all Hope Lost?

At last, the day came when everyone was ready for battle, and ready to take down Roseblood, and restore peace and harmony to Equestria. the weapons were in prep and horns were sharpened to take down any demonic enemies that would dare to take them all down, and the swords, axes, shields, claws, and battle-axes were also prepared to kill any evil forces. Zecora and Discord themselves were ready, and one thing they were certain of, is to get poor Spike back, for he must be traumatized as it is in the clutches of the evil Roseblood, and save all their friends that were turned evil by the dark magic.

In everyone's own minds, they all hoped that nopony would get very injured or killed. The last thing they want is to accidentally kill everypony they know and love. Chief Thunderhooves and the bison, along with other bison tribes up to six or seven, were offered some armor, but they refused, not wanting to be slowed down by heavy chest plates, or shoulder pads, or helmets.

Ember, Smolder, and the other dragons readied their claws one more claws for good measure, and they were sharper than before, like a bunch of daggers attached to their fingers, along with the changelings practicing their shape-shifting to fool any enemies that would suspect something was up.

In the upcoming battle, they would have to give it all they got against the forces of evil and darkness. For the pegasus ponies, griffons, and hippogriffs, they were practicing their flying skills and dodging many obstacles in case they would fight in the air. So far, they were doing so good, except for Grandpa Gruff, who thanks to his old age, slowed him down a little, which was why Gilda suggested he remain on the ground most of the time if he was going to fight.

"Zecora! Discord!" said Ember, flying up to them to say some kind of news. "Garble and his friends aren't anywhere to be seen. And, yet, that wouldn't surprise me."

"And who are they?" asked Zecora

"Just a couple of meat-headed dragons. I asked them to come join us in the army, and they said no, so they completely abandoned us."

"Ah, the ones that Spike writes in his letters to you every once in a while?" Asked the Master of Chaos.

"Yeah. Those are the- wait, how do you know about what me and Spike wrote to each other?"

Discord just whistled to himself like he was perfectly innocent. "Oh. Just a lucky guest, thank you."

Ember just gave him a suspicious look. "Wait, have you been spying on him?"

"What? I wouldn't even know how."

"Oh really." Said Sandbar. "How do you explain the time you snooped on me and my friends meeting in our secret club?"

"That's different." Discord defended himself.

"How is that different?" Asked Ember

"Now is not the time to be point hooves, or fingers, or claws!" Said Discord. "We have bigger problems to worry about."

"You're right." Said Queen Novo. "This is not the time for any petty arguments. The sooner we go to Canterlot and save Equestria, the better things will go back to the way they were before."

After their last training sessions, everyone was looking more than ready to fight the bad guys. Zecora, Discord, Savimbi, Imari, Spiral, Thunderhooves, Rutherford, Zuberi, Conok, Ember, Novo, Thorax, and the other leaders of this army gathered around, and the zebra stepped up on a small knoll to speak and make a speech to all the members of this amazing, gigantic army of good forces.

"Friends!" she announced. "The time as come for us to march in Equestria and liberate it from the clutches of Roseblood at long last." There was an uproar of cheering in front of her, and some war-cries to go with it. "For long, Roseblood has tainted this land with darkness, and corrupted our beautiful sky, but this day, I promise you all, she will die!!"

Yet another uproar of cheering and shouting was heard from the army. "She may have corrupted our friends and everyone we ever cared about," Discord stepped up. But she will no take away Fluttershy from me! Or this planet. Our poor friends are under Roseblood's spell, and it is up to all of us to save them from doing any more evil! We may have been off-guard when she invaded the whole land of Equestria, but now? Now, she will never know what will hit her!"

"And we'll make her pay for trying to steal my own first friends I ever made in my life!" Ember added.

"And for attacking us yaks!" Rutherford added. "YAK SMASH!!!" and he began shaking the ground with his front hooves, repeating the words: "YAK SMASH!" over and over again, then the other yaks did the same thing their leader did, much to many soldiers irritation because of the ground shaking around them.

"Alright, alright!" Zecora announced. "Would all you yaks please quiet down!?"

Then they all stomped their chanting and ground pounding, and listened to what else the leaders had to say about the upcoming battle. "As we were saying before," Zecora continued. "They will know what happens when they mess with our homes, and all the ones we loved most dear!"

"As soon as we go over to Canterlot, we will show that mare from hell, what hell really is!" Discord added.

"She will be sorrier than a puppy who killed his little brother!" said Thorax. "And we'll do anything in our part to bring back the one dragon that showed us the way to Friendship, and that would be Spike! We'll do everything in our part to make Roseblood pay for stealing my own friend, the very best friend I have ever made!!"

"And when we're done with her," said Pharynx. "Not even her own mother will recognize her, and we'll be sure to send her back to the fieriest pits of hell once we're done mutilating her! Oh sweet blood will be spilling on the ground after we're done with her!"

Everyone looked at him with a rather scared look on his face, and Pharynx realized that he may have sounded a little too extreme saying those kind of words. Of course, there was a cheering from the dragons, minotaurs, and yaks, knowing how tough they all were, and he was only speaking their language in that kind of talk.

"Let's... not go to far with that, big brother." Thorax said.

"Sorry. Just tryin' to make a point here."

"Well, point has been well taken." said Conok. "We will really be prepared for any attacks that Roseblood will throw at us all." and he readied his gigantic sword. "May the demons she conjures, suffer the wrath of my blade, and smell of their own blood."

"Now, we must free Celestia, Luna, Cadence, the Elements of Harmony, and other ponies from her evil!" said Zecora. "And remember, do not kill any ponies. They are still my friends just corrupted by a very evil magic. Only kills the demons, diamond dogs, minotaurs that are on the evil side, and other monsters that she will send out to stop us!"

"We will only subdue our pony friends in a non-lethal way!" Discord added. "Leave them alive!"

And yet another uproar of cheering and shouting was heard among the crowd. "We will all be ready for Roseblood and whatever she will throw at us. Rain or shine." Zecora began again.

"Now, let us march over to Canterlot for glory!" Discord shouted. Everyone in the army began shouted "Huzzah!!" with enthusiasm

"And let's show her what we're made of!" Sandbar added.

"Huzzah!" everyone shouted again

"For Justice!" Zecora shouted.

"And for Celestia!!!!" Discord concluded the speech, and the loudest, wildest cheering was heard, and everyone in this freedom faction began marching onward to Canterlot to rescue Spike, Roseblood, and then finish the job on her. One thing everyone hoped in themselves was if it will ever be enough to stop her and her followers/minions from killing them all and prevent any chance to restore Equestria after all?

Even Princess Ember and the largest, toughest dragons were worried about if they can defeat Roseblood at all. And deep down, although she didn't want to say it out loud, she really missed Spike and would never forgive herself if anything bad happened to him.

"Ah, Spike." She thought to herself while hovering. "I really hope you're okay." And she remembered the time she and Spike helped one another in the Gauntlet of Fire event. Her very first friendship was something she will never forget on her entire life, and she wanted him to be alright and safe.

Thorax was walking right next to her and he noticed her looking at the picture of them at Ponyville that time. Giving a sympathetic look on his face, she gently laid a right hoof on Ember's left side. "You know, Ember," he said. "It's okay to feel sad and miss Spike."

"Oh, come on." Said Ember. "I.... I really do miss him." Then she hugged Thorax' side. "I'm afraid of what will happen to him if we don't save him."

"I'm just as worried as you are." Said Thorax. "But I promise, we'll help Spike get out in any way we can."

"Good. I know we'll get him back. I know we will." She didn't stop looking at the picture of her, Spike, and Thorax together as she was still walking. Poor Ember hardly took her eyes off of the decent photo, and it made her think of Spike even more. Well, at least that everyone is in their way to end this once and for all.

Meanwhile, Spike was enjoying a couple more gems and there were still plenty of these jewels to eat. “Spike,” Said Roseblood. “Can you come in here for a minute, please?”

“I’m not in trouble again, am I?” Asked the baby dragon.

“No, of course not. I just want you to meet a couple of... familiar faces that you might have known before.” She went out of the room and Spike followed her, mostly out of fear of making her angry if he didn’t follow her orders.

Going back into the throne room, what Spike saw next shocked him to the core. A small group of teenage dragons were waiting for the evil queen, and in front of them was Garble. “Oh no. Not you!” Spike pointed,

“Well, well, Well, look at what the cat brought in.” Said Garble in a snobbish voice. “Long time, no see, worthless runt.”

“Pfft. Figures you would be here to serve Roseblood, and the rest of your moron friends too.”

“You callin’ us morons?” Said one of his friends. He was charginfanfrilly at the baby dragon when he was stopped by a couple of royal guards and demonic guards.

“Now now, you teenage dragons.” Said Roseblood. “Play nicely. Spike is a personal pet to me, and you will all treat him with respect, unless I say otherwise.”

“Aww.” The teenage dragons groaned,

“Why are they even here anyway?” Asked the baby dragon.

“They were... skulking around the castle courtyards and trespassing here.” Said one of the demon guards.

“Then we brought them here and now, they will answer her questions.” Said another demon Guard.

Garble cleared his throat and he spoke out by saying: “Look, we like gems and getting paid. Not to mention cause sweet destruction like you do, milady. Maybe we can be of help to you, and cause some serious hell around here.”

Roseblood gave an intrigued “hmmm” sound, and she replied “interesting. I can always use some extra reinforcements around here. You can bring terror to the skies with you dragons under my command.”

“We get paid gems and money, right?” Asked a slender, purple teenage dragon.”

“Of course, of course.” Roseblood chuckled. “As long as you serve me until the end of time, you will get as much rewards as I can award you, gems, money, and anything you’d hearts desire would want.”

“Wow. I like ya already.” Said Garble. “And... we can keep an eye on Spike for you if needed.” He gave him a smug look on his face.

“That is rather kind, but Spike would be under my care.”

The baby dragon gulped and felt so relieved.

“Now, welcome to our ranks.”