Author's Note

Another song inspiring this chapter, this one you have to pay attention to the lyrics. It actually is on par with this chapter. If you don't get it, its fine but I really enjoyed being inspired by this song to put it in.
As for the chapter itself, it was more of a real life scenario that happened to me at point so I included a bit of my life into it and wondered if I will come across a scenario like this again.
I posted the next chapter right away because I have at least 55 pages and longer going with this. So I pass a certain one and keep going from there.
No editors were used except Hemingway Editor and that's about it... so... yeah.

Death's Alteration

Death Likes me Rough

Death's Alteration

A soft clicking sound echoed. Like a tongue against the roof of the mouth, it bounced in the void around.

“Hmmm… something has changed.” She commented outloud.

Spike found himself once more in front of death, whom seemed a bit more active than before.

“What has changed?” he asked in a monotone voice. “Is it a bad change?”

She was in her cloak, yet her skull only provided the blank feature that all skulls carry. Yet, he could tell that some sort of excitement has her buzzing around. “You have changed. Rather, your history, your future that is too come, has change.” Her voice blew misty cold air around and he could tell that she captivated by this. Was it a good sign?

“How?” Was all he asked. She didn’t reply. Instead, she turned her head away from him. He heard her muttering off to herself. She was in conversation, but it was as if someone was in front of her, rather than her mutterings being to herself. After a minute, she stopped and turned to him.

“A temporal time displacement has occurred and despite its natural course of self-containment over itself, the temporal shift in your reality has altered the alignment of your current heading.”

He blinked once, looking at her before sighing.

“Uh… in Equish please?”

She moved closer to him, where her head was close to his. He starred at the void eye sockets where he swore he saw a glimmer in there.

“Something has changed your future. Time tried to correct itself and was successful but not without a small missed step. Your future has changed a bit, but it is still on the same path.”

“Is it a bad change or will I even be aware of it?”

She shook her head, reaching over with her bone claws to brush his face. “The change is how you and I see it. For you, it could be bad, but for me, it means more souls will pass on then the previous set course.”
He cocked his head a bit.

“More souls? Like more… ponies will die? How?”

“That is what your future has changed to, dear Spike.” She leaned in and brushed her boney features across his muzzle. “You are responsible for it.” She then pulled back. “But I ask that you forgive my actions that may cause it.”

“What?”

He was then yanked back hard into the living world once more.

A brushing feeling came across his muzzle. He felt the caress of hard hands brushing over his face and he could hear the voices that surrounded him. They were loud and plentiful. He then felt more hands on his body. Two of them seemed to be holding down his arms while another larger set of hands or claws in this case held his legs.

It took him a second before he felt an extreme burning sensation on his arms and legs where he had the pikes inserted. That itself, got a reaction out of him but his body was still to weak to protest, so all that left him was a painful moan of agony.

“I know, I know,” came a sweet angelic voice. “But we have to heal your wounds so you didn’t lose anymore blood.” Lose anymore? How much more did he have to spare? If he would be experiencing more pain like this, he should have told Death to wait until after they finished it.

Whatever they were using to heal his body, burned hotter than anything yet, he knew it was some kind of magic. After an agonizing few minutes, the pain stopped. A soft ‘caw’ was heard and he wondered who had said it. Whatever had been used on him, was a ‘miracle’ as his body was slowly gaining strength and feeling. He felt his wounds tightening, almost healing themselves and could feel function returning back to ligiments.

He wasn’t restored but he felt better than before. Opening his eyes, his vision filled with odd shapes, few being dragons while others were hard to distinguish.

“W-Wh-wha…” He felt something press against his muzzle.

“It’s water, drink.” The voice, he recognized instantly. He knew that voice and he never had felt so much safer. With a lean forward, the contents were spilt unto his muzzle and he felt the sweet nectar of life, enter his body. One never really appreciates water until they go on without it. His body way drained with all the blood lost and he knew that despite his wounds healing, it would take time before he would be back to normal.

He drank until the last pits of water dropped onto his muzzle and a satisfying sigh left him.

“Thank you, Lord Ember.”

A small chuckle left her and his vision was soon filled with her beautiful face. “Now is not the time for formalities. Besides, it we rescued you, but he was the one whom healed you.”

She helped him lean up a bit, where he saw not just other dragons around him but a non-dragon right in front of him. With a bright fire colored feathers and standing almost two feet high, was his old phoenix and best friend, Peewee.

“Caw!”

“Hey Peewee!” His voice croaked but still held mirth. “You’re the one who healed me?” The phoenix nodded before taking a few hoping flaps and landed near his head. The fire bird brushed his head against his former owner, cawing in sadness for his pain. Brushing back against him, he felt joy for his buddy’s return. “Hey, its alright now. I’m still alive.”

“Barely,” commented Ember. “I couldn’t feel your heart beat for a bit.” A grimace past over her. “I wasn’t even sure if we were too late.”

You were, but it wouldn’t have matter. He wished he could say it to her but… rules were rules. He dared not break ‘Death’s rules’. Off to the side, he saw a bunch of ponies on the floor, secured by dragons.
They were all unicorns and he wondered if they were his loyalist or henchmen. He wondered what happened to the non-unicorns.

“I’m surprised you found me quickly,” he said. “I thought I would have been dead long before.”

Ember nodded though she looked tired.

“One of the scouts that were waiting to report to me on your impending arrival, saw the explosion. When he went to report back to me, we quickly tried to make our way over. But by the time we got there, the… uh, transport?” She gave a questioning look to him, which he nodded to. “Yeah, so we saw that part of it had been separated. Any of the ponies that were around were saying how you got separated back there. We went to go look for you but they were gone.”

She paused and he watched her eyes shimmer. He knew she was trying to remain strong, not for him but in front of her dragons. He didn’t blame her.

“We tried to find any traces but it seemed as if you disappeared by magic.”

“Literally.” He said with a chuckle. “The pony who took me was a unicorn.”

Her eyes narrowed and she looked over to the ponies that were caught.

“Are they here? The pony that took you?!”
There was a growl in her voice and her claws balled tightly in her hands. He knew that she wanted revenge and to hurt the ponies responsible. But he also knew that there were some innocent ponies here. At least, he hoped.

He gave a another glance at them before shaking his head.
“No, the one who did this me is long gone. He teleported and left any stragglers behind to slow you down, so it would be too late.” He then turned to Peewee whom was checking his work on his body. “By the way, how did you get here Peewee?”

The phoenix pulled from underneath his wings a small rolled up scroll with his beak, and dropped unto Spike. The dragon weakly pulled on the string and saw that it was a map highlighting his route and rendezvous point. He then looked towards Ember, whom gave a small shrug.

“I didn’t know the phoenix was yours until one of your guards that we met said that you had a pet phoenix. The bird was already circling around the entrance and when we got you out, he kept trying to get on top of you.”

Spike smiled, brushing his claws over the large fire bird. “Wow, you heard me get into trouble and decided to team up with some dragons to save me, huh?” The phoenix nodded with another ‘caw!’ and brushed his head against him once more. Returning it, he gave him an affectionate growl. “Thanks buddy. I owe you.”

A clear of several throats had him look up towards the other dragons surrounding him, including Ember whom gave a cocked eyebrow and smirk.

Rolling his eyes, he gave a sheepish grin. “And thanks to the wonderful dragons that also rescued me. Though I figured I would have been away from prying eyes.”

Ember snorted, a bit of smoke leaving her.
“We were expecting you. The letter said that you were being targeted for death. Anyone whom dared tried to take on me…our own, would have to deal with us all!” Spike gave a grin at her words and he knew what she meant. Ember saw his grin and growled. “You know what I mean!”

After Spike had rested well enough, Ember had decided that it was time to heads towards the dragon lands. The day was already shifting towards evening and the sun was setting.

As the dragons readied to depart, the site of three alicorns had appeared over head. Ember and the dragons watched as Princess Celestia, Luna and Twilight all landed a few feet away.

“Spike!” Twilight yelled as she quickly rushed to her younger brother. She gripped him in a tight hug, receiving a yelp from him.

“Watch it, princess!” Ember growled in warning. “He is still recovering!”

Twilight pulled away sheepishly as she apologized.
“Sorry Spike. We received word on what happened and we came as soon as we could.”

He winced at the pain the swelled with her hug but smiled nonetheless.

“Yeah, it was a pain trying to get through this.”

It was Celestia that approached but she carried a look of sadness and pain. “Oh son, I failed you yet again.”

Spike was about to comment on how she didn’t but Ember came forward.

“Clearly its not the first and it won’t be the last.” She half growled. “You already were planning to give him to us and yet we could have met him back in Equestria and taken him from there. Why did you sent him on something he was targetted from?” Ember was clearly peeved and it only made her angry on Celestia’s poor planning.

“We had no interpretation that he would be ambushed on the train.” Countered Luna. “We sent out most trusted, including a few changeling guards in disguise.”

Ember cocked an eyebrow. “And they couldn’t deal with or even be aware of ponies amongst your own trying to kill him?” she snorted. “Pathetic.”

“Ember…” Spike tried to defend them.

“No Spike! Its bad enough you can’t trust the ones that surround you but they didn’t even put proper measures to care for you. We are proud, strong creatures and if one of our own is being threaten by damn ponies, then we share as Tarturas will be making sure they are stopped the first time.”

“And at what cost?” asked Celestia. “We have tried every measurement to try and protect him. We are still unsure who’s behind this.”

“I do.” Spike said softly. Looking up to his mother, he wore of face of hard resentment. “It was Neighsay, former headmaster at your school.”

“And it will be he that will return us back into perfect glory!” One of the unicorns finally spoke out. “He will finish the job and lead us unto a path where only unicorns will lead this country into greatness!”

All three princesses gave looks of shock or dismay. Though Spike gave a soft groan of disappointment.

“Really? None of you saw this coming? At all?” He exaggerated. “I mean, how many ponies and non-ponies have we turned into villains and then seek revenge later on? Come on!” If it weren’t the fact that he was still in pain or dizzy from the blood loss, he would be yelling and screaming at this.

All three looked at each other with concern before looking at the pony prisoners. “We will take the ponies and we will integrate them, so we can gain info on Neighsay.”

“Go ahead, take us to the prison. We have spies hidden all around and…”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. You ponies are going to be killed off for what you have done.” Ember interrupted with a loud voice.

Every pony, including Spike turned her head towards Ember. Shock or fear entered their minds. It was princess Twilight that spoke out first.

“Ember, you cannot do…”

“I can’t do what?” she growled at Twilight. At this point, the dragons around them all took stances of aggression towards the ponies. “I can’t do what? Kill the ponies responsible for getting Spike killed many times? Kill the ones whom almost took a loved one away?!”

The captive ponies screamed in fear and began begging towards the princesses.

“Please don’t let them kill us!”

“We will tell you anything!”

Princess Celestia stepped forward, trying to keep them civil.

“I am aware of their actions, Lord Ember but I cannot in good conscious let ponies die for this reason.”

Ember let a fume of smoke leave her nostrils. “Well, it’s a good thing its not your conscious, it will be mine.” She then motioned for her dragons. “Besides,” she gave a dark grin. “You have no jurisdiction here. You are in dragon land territory. They committed acts of torture, attempts at murder, taking a hostage, and participated in acts of aggression towards dragons for targeting a dragon of high estate.”

Spike listened and couldn’t believe that Ember was throwing so much at his mom. It was difficult to believe but she had gone all out, just for him. She threw everything she could at Celestia and it would be at the cost of ponies, that he would cause their deaths. He tried to find words, but Ember pushed on before him or even his mother could.

“Since they all did this in dragon territory, my lands, they will be punished according to my laws. And my laws say, for the multiple attempts at targeting one of my own, they are sentenced to death!”

“But Spike is an Equestrian citizen!” Twilight tried to counter.

“But their actions were done in my land, Twilight! Spike might be your dragon but their actions were still towards a dragon.” Ember then focused her gaze at Celestia. “You want to take them from me, it will be an act against my ruling and my ways, and there by you are provoking a Lord on their land. If you choose that way, then you will be declaring war!”

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all looked at Ember wide eye, Spike especially. He was so confused and so shocked at the words of Ember. She wasn’t just saying nonsense and spewing words that normal dragons would. She was putting forth the ultimatums for what the actions of ponies whom tried to kill him, in front of them. It hurt to know that the one dragon he loved, could be this menacing and brutal that she was willing to put ‘war’ into the fore front. History would remember them all if the princesses declared war for a few ponies, especially ones that killed… well ‘almost’ killed him. They wouldn’t follow Celestia or any of the princesses because she couldn’t leave her good nature be for pony kind.

And this clicked for Spike, realization slapping him in the face.

“This is what he wanted.” Spike said outloud. All eyes focused on Spike, with Twilight recovering from her shock.

“What? Who?”

Spike swallowed, he pulled Peewee, bringing his claws to gently pet him. Looking up towards his mother, aunt and sister, he answered.

“Neighsay. This is what he wanted. He wanted me to die so that if mot… if Princess Celestia and Twilight were too distraught at my death, then they would seize control under them and take over, thereby getting his revenge. If that failed, then… than he knew that your kind nature wouldn’t allow ponies to be killed by dragons. You would do whatever you could to make sure that they would be in your hands. Even if they were to be put to death, it would only martyr them. At which point, Neighsay and his followers would strike once more. War with the dragons for a few ponies… would make you look unfit.” He paused and sighed. “That’s his game here. We choose to sacrifice a few, or you risk rebellion and being overthrown.”

All three took in Spike’s words and finding truth to them. It was true, that all three of them would do anything to protect their ponies, even ones as dangerous as the ones that tried to kill him. The ponies would be in prison cells yes, but they would be treated with care and maintained. But, if they were to go to war, just for a few supremacists that tried to kill him, the populace wouldn’t follow their princesses anymore. That left the ultimatum to Ember.

“As you can see, this is why I will deal with it.” Ember spoke evenly. All eyes went to her. “If I deal with them, its out of your conscious and you don’t have to worry them trying to escape or finishing the job.”

“Princesses please! You can't let them kill us! They are monsters! They will…” A large whack came to him as one of the dragons backhanded the talking pony, knocking him out. All three princesses wanted to say something but couldn’t. Ember snorted.

“If anymore try to come attack Spike, then we will consider it an act of aggression thereby triggering a war.” She then gave them a steady look. “Give that speech to your ponies. No other way to flush out your enemies than the threat of a war. A war that… in all honesty, we know who would win.” Crossing her arms across her chest, she stared at the Princesses. “Make your choice.”

“Ember…” Spike called out. Yet, Ember ignored him and moved to the prisoner ponies.

“If you want, you can at least keep one so you can interrogate them for anything you want but the rest is ours.”

Twilight was the most distraught by this situation, having never come across it before. Yet, Luna and Celestia remained silent and their faces were very stoic. Their eyes met behind Twilight and a silent agreement was quickly formed. But it was Luna that would deliver the speech.

“We only need one for integration,” spoke Luna. Twilight and Spike looked up at her in shock. “But we need one whom was more closely associated with Neighsay than any others. Once we have them, we will… take our leave.”

Ember nodded while Spike and Twilight looked gapingly at Celestia. She continued to remain emotionless but her eyes betrayed the sadness in her heart.

Then Luna turned to the ponies. Approaching them, she counted 8 bounded ponies. With her approach, they immediately began to shout and beg for their lives. Ignoring them, Luna lit her horn and magic wrapped around their throats, which quelled their voices.

“None of you are to speak. You are all receiving your punishments here because you decided to follow a mad unicorn with ill-intents towards Royalty and the usurp of the nation of Equestria. You are all charged with these crimes, but the crimes are outside of Equestrian soil. Instead, your actions are in dragon lands. This gives us no jurisdiction to dictate your punishment. Instead, it will be dealt with by the dragons.” This caused complete fear to run amongst, most trying to scream at her, but their voices remained absent. Moving on, she stood over them with a stern look. “This is, fault of your own and nopony else’s. But, one of you will be spared from their punishment, in exchange for everything and anything about Neighsay’s plans, future actions and goals for any further attempts at assassinations at royalty or if any other Equestrian citizens. The magic I have placed you with, will only allow you to speak if I allow it. But, I made sure only the truth leaves your mouth, nothing more. So, whom amongst you have worked alongside or is aware of the entire operation of Neighsay?”

Despite the magic and fear, none of them said nothing at first. It stayed that way for a few moments. A small bit of irritation passed her, and she looked to one of the dragons. A big brown one full of spikes, caught her eyes and with a grin, he growled at them, making each one of the silently scream. He took one big step that caused the ground to shake and one of the unicorns finally screamed out.

“I have been at Neighsay’s side for the last year and a half! I don’t know much of his future plans but I know where he has bases and hideouts in Equestria! Please don’t let the dragon kill me!”

The rest looked absolutely betrayed and horrified as they realized then and there, they were about to die. With a small nod, Luna wrapped the unicorn in binding magic and levitated him towards Celestia and Twilight. Both eyed him with suspicion but the fact he was almost wetting himself, lead them to believe that he would tell them what they needed to know.

Ember looked satisfied.

“With that taken care of, you may take your leave. Spike can return once we receive word that the pony attempting to kill him is dealt with.”

Twilight was still unresponsive with what just happened in front of her, witnessing the harsher elements to being a princess. Putting a hand on her shoulder, Celestia tried to give her a reassuring smile before dropping it and looking towards Ember.

“We will send when we put a stop to his evil schemes.”

“Be sure that you do,” growled Ember. “I’d rather not hear that anymore dragons are being targeted or attacked for this.”

All three princesses hesitated to leave, with Twilight still in dismay. Struggling up, Spike finally managed to stand on his two legs and slowly and painfully make his way towards his sister. Seeing her vision clouded by him, she carefully hugged her brother. A soft sob left her and he knew it wasn’t for him.

“It’s alright,” he whispered to her. “Mom will take care of you and you can forget all about today, ok? I am fine, I am alive and if you can find Neighsay quickly, I can return home soon.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything. She separated and stood by Celestia. The older alicorn gave her son a small sad smile.

“I love you.”

“Me too.”

“Take care, little nephew.” Spoke Luna.

“I will and you care for them, aunty Luna.” He said, motioning towards Celestia and Twilight.

After another moment, both Luna and Celestia with Twilight and their captive, the two princesses lit their horns. A flash of blue and golden yellow, they teleported and disappeared.

As soon as they did, the bindings on the ponies disappeared, allowing them to scream in fear. Spike couldn’t bare to look at them. He also knew talking to Ember was out of the question, but he still had to try. Turning to her, his eyes where met by his. A small, stern expression was present on her face. Spike opened his mouth to speak but Ember held it shut with her claws.

“Not here, not yet.” Despite their almost similar sizes, she reached underneath him and picked him up with ease, carrying him bridle style. She then turned to the dragons that remained. “After we are gone.” A simple command which received various evil grins and nods. She then turned south and with a few flap of her wings, she was airborne. “Don’t forget your bird.”

Forgetting almost all about Peewee, Spike called him out. “Come on Peewee, follow!” A short ‘caw’ was his reply before the bird took flight and followed Ember and Spike, side by side. As they headed south, Spike tried to look Ember in her eyes but her focus remained on their flight, carrying them both towards her home. He wanted to speak but no words seemed to come out.

As they flew towards the southern desert to the dragon lands, he wished they had flown farther down, for he still heard the screams of the prisoners being killed.