Spike sat on the throne of the Crystal Empire with a gleeful smile on his face. He stared down the set of stairs which lead up to his grandiose chair at the many dragon workers rushing throughout the room placing the statues of his former friends in nice locations around the room. Ember was sitting on the floor next to him, her arms curled around his leg lovingly.

"Move Celestia a little to the right please, I don't want her being blocked by Discord," Spike said with a dark smile as the Dragon carrying the sun princess followed his order and moved a tad to the side. "Perfect."

Spike laid back in his throne with a content smile. People waiting on your every request? Living in a palace made of Crystal? Having the hottest dragon alive as a personal concubine? Not having to rearrange a shelf every ten seconds? This was heaven as far as he was concerned!

He snapped his fingers and leaned back. "Amethyst," He demanded then opened his mouth. A crystal pony next to his throne smiled and bowed before reaching into a bowl she held in front of her and placed it in the drake mouth. He chewed down on it and smiled.

"Ahhh... this is the life," He claimed. "Which kind of gem is your favorite Ember? I personally have to say Amythest. I love the way they crunch."

"Sapphires. I like their color," Ember replied with a slight smile as she curled up further against his legs.

Spike smiled down at her. "I should have guessed," He laughed.

Then the throne room doors slammed open and a panicked crystal pony ran in.

"My Emperor!" He cried, fear tinging his voice. The Dragon Guards in the room quickly rushed in front of him, weapons at the ready.

Spike held up a hand and stopped them as he stood up. "What is the issue?" He asked gently as he stood up and walked down the stairs that lead up to his throne. "Is the Resistance mounting another offensive?"

"N-no my lord!" As the towering form of Spike closed in on him. "A changeling was spotted nearby! One of the dragon guards saw him enter a cave just outside of the city and cornered him inside!"

Spike hissed. He should have known Chrysalis would try to capitalize on his conquest! The changeling was obviously one of her scouts. "Ember, I want you to stay in the palace."

The former princess opened her mouth to object but closed it and sighed. "Whatever you wish, my Emperor."

The Emperor turned to his guards. "I want half of you guarding me, and the other half to protect the palace and Ember. I am going to deal with this creature personally."

The guards nodded. "Would you like to take the Scepter of Domination with you, my Emperor?" One asked with a salute.

The Dragon punched his claw into his hand and cracked his knuckles. "No, I think I'll deal with that thing with my bare hands."

Spike growled when he arrived at the cave entrance. A variable army of pony and dragon guards stood at the entrance, weapons at the ready.

Garble, who stood closest to the entrance, turned when Spike approached. He gave a salute. "We have him cornered inside my lord. He cannot escape."

"Good job General. I am going alone," Spike said as he walked past him.

Garble initially smiled when he heard his Emperor's praise, before his smile dropped and he looked at his lord with confusion.

"A-are you sure? What if it tries to attack you sir?" Garble asked, taking a step forwards.

Spike glared at him and walked past. "Then I will defend myself. Contrary to popular belief, I am no longer a pathetic weakling who can no longer defend himself."

Garble saluted and stepped aside. Spike marched past him into the cavern entrance. There was a small slope which lead into a small ice cavern with a large rift like crack going down the middle. Rocks sat around the edge of the rift.

Yet, there was no sign of any changelings. Spike carefully walks down the slope, careful to not slip, then he looked around again. He jumped and took a step back when he saw something tall, armored and purple in front of him. He let out a deep sigh when it turned out that it was just his reflection.

He lowered his arms. "Looking good Spike," He said with faux confidence, before turning and taking a step towards the rift, looking over the edge. Maybe the changeling was down there?

There was a sudden crash behind him. He quickly spun around to see his reflection had slipped on the ice and fallen onto his back. It pulled itself up and shook its head before looking up at him and cringed. There was a burst of cold green fire, and in Spike's place, was the black form of a changeling.

"You!" Spike said raising his fists to fight, taking one last step back. That was one too many, and he felt his foot touch nothing but open air.

He cried out as he felt himself slip over the edge of the crack. His claws dug through the air trying to catch the wall of the canyon, to prevent himself from falling, but it was too late. He tumbled over the edge.

"Graaaaah!!!!" He shouted. So this is how it ended? Escaping Twilight, only to fall to his death, in an ice cavern where his body would likely never be found?

His hand was suddenly grabbed and his descent stopped. Spike looked up to see the changeling, his hands wrapped around Spike's claw as his wings buzzed ferociously. His body shook as his face scrunched up. It was obvious that Spike was too heavy for the bug.

"Wh-what are you doing?" He asked as the changeling started to slowly pull him towards the edge of the ice wall that made up the rift.

The changeling didn't answer. He merely let out a high-pitched roar as he struggled to keep the fully armored Emperor in the air. The two reached the edge of the crack, which allowed Spike to dig his claws into the ice and scamper over the side. Spike gave out a large exhale as he flopped onto his back panting.

"Oh sweet dragon god. I almost died..." He said to himself clutching his chest. His heart was pounding against his chest. That was bad. Very bad.

Spike heard a thud to his side. He looked over to see the changeling on his knees. The changeling's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed onto his chest. He didn't move, aside from dangerously slow breaths, which appeared more like wheezes.

Spike's eyes widened in concern as he stood up and approached the bug, kneeling down next to him. This was the first time he got a good look at him.

He was thin, ghastly thin, as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. His body was covered in cracks and barely healed cuts, some of which looked as if they had been reopened while he was saving him. They slowly leaked cyan blood as the changeling could do nothing but look up at Spike.

It didn't take a genius to realize he was on death's door.

Spike raised a hand, he hesitated before placing it on the back of its head, gently rubbing along his head fin.

"You sacrificed yourself to save me, didn't you?" He asked gently. It didn't respond. He sighed and lowered his head, not stopping the slow rubs of the back of its head.

He noticed something then. As he rubbed, there was a very very slight bulging of the creature's thin frame. His eyes widened. He could save the changeling.

Spike took his other hand and reached around to the belt of his red loincloth, he grabbed something and held it up. A small metal collar. He had it with him in case he could have captured the changeling instead of killing it, back when he still thought it was a threat.

He gently placed the collar around the changeling's neck, making sure it wasn't too tight. Spike smiled down at the changeling and gently lifted him up, bridle style, and pulled him against his chest.

"Don't worry," He said consolingly down to the changeling. "I will keep you safe."

Spike turned and started to walk towards the exit.

Woot woot,

Now we all know why Spike loves the bug boi so much.

We all know that he must be held and cherished!

This chapter was the first thing I have ever written with Grammarly, hope it is good!