Spike stood in Smolder's throne room, pacing back and forth. He nervously gulped, turning to Ember who was sitting on Smolder's throne while Smolder and Starlight were leaned over the map. Garble had since been deployed to round up some soldiers. The Imperial Army was needed for the upcoming operation.

"Is he awake yet?" Spike asked Ember, a concerned look easily discernable on his face.

Ember sat up. "You just healed him thirty minutes ago. Give him some time to-" She was cut off when the doors of the throne room burst open. Pharynx pushed himself inside, stumbling to his knees for a second. The Changeling breathed heavily and stood up as if there was nothing wrong, approaching Spike and Smolder at the planning table.

"He had a hole in his chest and he is already up? By the gods what is this guy made of?" Smolder asked as she looked up at the changeling.

Spike noted the two pony guards he had assigned to him were missing. "Where are you're guards?" He asked.

"I gave them the slip. But that doesn't matter. At all." Pharynx stumbled forwards and slammed his hands on the table. "What matters, is my brother Thorax."

Spike grimaced before nodding. "Very well. I do feel the urge to ask, however..."

Spike stomped forwards, towering over Pharynx. "If this is a trick, I will smash your head like a pumpkin." He growled.

Pharynx looked up at him, with no fear on his face. "This isn't a trick."

Spike nodded down at him in response. There was no hint of decrepit in his voice or on his face. Not to mention, Thorax was his brother.

"Very well, what are your terms?" Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Terms?"

"Yes. Terms." Spike asked with a sigh of annoyance. "What do you want in return for the information you are going to give me."

Pharynx looked up at him with a look of pure determination on his face. "I want nothing other than the safety of my brother. Promise me nothing, not so much as a scratch, will come to him."

Spike looked down at him and smirked. "Then our goals are one and the same. Now then, how are we going to save him?"

Pharynx turned to the map, setting his finger down right next to Canterlot. "There is a series of tunnels underneath Canterlot."

Spike nodded. "Indeed, I remember that from the wedding."

"Well, what you probably don't remember," Pharynx said, dragging his finger across the map, from Canterlot to the Changeling hive. "Is that there are tunnels that connect to them, they are winding and confusing but the lead out directly inside the shield around the hive, which would allow soldiers to move in and shut the shield down from the inside."

Spike's eyes widened at that. That was it! That was how changelings seemed to be able to move through his empire unopposed despite Sombra never lowering his shield. Spike's hands clenched into fists. They had been moving under his very nose this entire time.

"Excellent. Give us a map of the tunnels and we will move out asap." Spike said turned and beginning to march a door which led to a balcony.

"Who said anything about a map?" Pharynx asked, standing up.

Spike looked back to him with a raised eyebrow.

"I am going to lead you there, even if it kills me." The changeling stood up and followed after Spike.

Spike looked the changeling up and down before smirking. "Well then, welcome to the Draconic Empire, Captain."

"Captain?" Pharynx asked. Smolder and Starlight looked at each other.

"Myes, Captain. You have proven yourself to be a proficient soldier and strategist. However, I do not believe you have earned enough trust to reach anything higher in rank for now. Now then, Ember, would you be so kind as to join me for a bit of a... speech."

Ember smirked as she rose from Smolder's throne and joined Spike and Pharynx as they stepped out onto the balcony. Instantly Pharynx's eyes widened at what he saw.

He had made the mistake of assuming the entire Imperial Army, save some small garrisons acting as guards around the Empire. He had never been so wrong. A sea of purple armor-clad soldiers filled the streets and plazas of Canterlot. Every alley, road, and clearing had soldiers standing information within, their eyes on Spike's balcony. There were too many to count, but Pharynx's tactical knowledge let him know that there were between 400,000 up to 500,000 soldiers standing before him.

Giant dragons, the variety that could destroy entire cities singlehandedly flew in the air above Canterlot, circling the city by the hundred. They kept their eyes on Spike though. Even they were loyal to their Emperor.

Brazzers burned at every street corner, illuminating the army in the crisp night air. The light allowed Pharynx easy vision of the banners they held aloft alongside their pikes and spears. It was that of a purple dragon on a green background.

Spike, with a smirk, outstretched his arm, as a microphone was handed to him by Garble as the general landed at his side. His smile widened as he looked over his forces. It was good to rule.

"My soldiers!" He shouted at them. "For the first time in all of recorded history, shall the known world be united under one stable, force. We shall have, for the first time in our history, unity, security, and peace, as all races shall be united by one singular banner, and it is all thanks to my newest recruit!"

Spike suddenly grabbed Pharnyx's hand and raised it into the air. "This is the eldest son of Queen Chrysalis, and thanks to him we will be able to bring down the shield around the changeling hive, bringing the last hint of resistance under our rule! Our empire shall stretch from Yakyakistan in the north to the vast deserts to the south and everything in between. I have one question for you, however."

Spike let go of Pharynx's hand and stepped forwards, to the very edge of the balcony. He spread his arm through the air, addressing the crowd.

"I ask you one question. Once we conquer the hive, shall we end our conquests? Shall we demilitarize and leave ourselves open to conquest from outside forces?" Spike asked with a smirk.

A deafening 'No!' came from the crowd, pony and dragon alike raising their fists and weapons.

"Or, shall we take our conquests further? Past the maps of the known and into the unknown? Shall we conquer every inch of this world, and bring about a world of peace and prosperity? A world where nothing shall ever threaten us again!?!"

Roars of approval and joy ripped through the air, as an entire army cheered their loyalty and support. Dragons reared back and shot fire into the air, a rainbow of flames bursting into the sky, and through it all, Spike watched on with an ever-widening smile.

"Go now! The first step in our global conquest begins with Chrysalis and Sombra's heads on pikes!"

In one movement, the entire army turned and began marching out of the city, banners proudly raised and weapons at the ready.

"Spike is so good at working a crowd isn't he?" Ember whispered to Pharynx as Spike stepped back and dropped his microphone to the ground.

Pharynx wasn't listening. Only one thing was going through his brain right now. He chose the right side.

Spike turned back to them arms behind his back.

"Garble. Ready the Draconian Guard. We are going cave diving!"

Sorry for the long wait! I will see this story through to the end so help me! Nothing will keep me away from it!

Spike is quite the orator huh? Reminds me of a certain someone;