Starlight stared up at Spike's throne as the Emperor glared down at her, a smile on his face. She certainly couldn't run, your hoof being turned to stone tended to do that to ponies.

Spike eyes widened as he remembered something, quickly turning on his heel he rushed over to Ember and placed a hand on her chin. Gently, he forced her face up, staring directly into her eyes. Like a helicopter parent or something, Spike checked over every inch of her face for any kind of damage or blemish upon her perfect features. Then he checked over her chest, back, arms, legs, and wasn't satisfied until he saw that every inch of her was still fine and untouched.

Spike gave a deep hiss as he let her slip back into his throne, not caring that she was sitting on the king's property.

"I want the changeling who harmed my Ember found and executed in the most painful way you can think of Garble." Spike said looking over his shoulder at the Dragon Commander.

"It will be done my Emp-" Garble started before being cut off.

"No! No no no please don't hurt him!" Thorax suddenly cried out from beside the throne before clasping his hands over his mouth.

Spike turned to the slave and narrowed his eyes darkly. "It's not the place of the slave to raise their voice to deny their master, Thorax."

Thorax lowered his hands to his sides and stared down sullenly. Starlight noticed that he was shaking, and that his eyes were watering up.

"Y-yes master." Thorax stuttered.

"Out of Curiosity," Spike started, grabbing Thorax by the chin and forced him to look up, making eye contact with The Emperor. Thorax knew that was something a slave should never do. He tried to move his head to avert eye contact but Spike kept him still.

"Why don't you want him hurt." Spike hissed at Thorax who suddenly started hyperventilating.

"H-h-he's m-my Brother." Thorax finally let out, his voice shaky and quiet.

Almost as soon as the last word left his mouth, Spike's hand on his chin shifted to his throat. Spike lifted the Changeling up by the throat, his eyes narrowed with rage, and slammed him against the back wall of the throne room.

"And why didn't you think it prudent to warn me about him!" Spike roared as he held Thorax up who grabbed at Spike wrist, tears flowing down his cheeks. "Ember could have been hurt, because of you!"

The poor changeling let out a raspy cry as Spike tightened his grip around his throat.

The Dragon Guards in the room gasped and shared glances. Starlight loudly cried out as she instinctively tried to claw towards the two in a panic, not even budging.

"Spike! That's enough!" Roared Ember as she hopped out of the throne and rushed towards the two. Spike's eyes widened, having been snapped out of his violent rage by Ember's voice.

Spike let go of Thorax who tumbled to the floor with all the grace of a corpse. Spike took a couple heavy breaths and stepped away from the changeling who curled up into a ball loudly crying and sobbing.

Ember slid down next to Thorax and placed a hand on his back, a large and rather nasty crack had formed on his elytra.

"I'm s-s-sorry!" The slave cried out between sobs. "I'm a failure of a s-slave. I don't deserve you as a master! Please d-don't send me back!"

Spike stared down at the claw he had used to hurt his changeling. It was shaking, just like him.

"Get out! Now!" Spike roared, punching the wall in front oh him with enough force to crack it. The guards in the room turned and ran out as quickly as possible, a couple of them tripping over each other and even Starlight. The dragons slammed the door behind them in a panic.

Starlight watched in confusion as Spike bent down next to Thorax. Spike felt Ember's eyes burning into the side of his face, he would clearly be hearing a lot from her later.

Spike felt bile rush to his throat when Thorax flinched as he reached his hand towards him. Spike sighed deeply, picking Thorax up into a hug, one arm wrapped firmly around him, and the other pressed to the back of his head.

"I'm not going to send you back Thorax." Spike said as he lovingly ran a claw down Thorax's head fin. "You mean to much far to me. I am so sorry."

Spike kept stroking the back of his slave's head until his sobs turned into whimpers, and his whimpers turned into calm and quiet breaths. He had fallen asleep. The poor thing must have still been exhausted from the rather intense drilling he got earlier.

Spike stood up, still keeping Thorax close to his chest and turned to Ember, who had also pulled herself up.

"Take him to our room, and put him into bed. We will talk about this later." Spike said as he handed the changeling over to her.

Ember nodded at him, a deep frown on his face. The two were certainly going to have words later. Easily taking the Changeling, Ember flew towards the door thorax had previously emerged from and retreated within.

Spike turned away from them and walked over to it, sitting down with his face in hand. "What is wrong with me?" He asked himself.

For several minutes Spike sat there before looking up, seeing Starlight Glimmer sitting in the middle of the room. His eyes widened and his face flushed red. He very quickly cleared his throat and stood up.

"Oh that's right. I captured you earlier didn't I?" Spike said, embarrassment easily audible in his voice.

"Yes, you did." Starlight grunted back.

Spike stepped down from his throne and stalked towards her with a dark glare in his eyes. "Good. You, are my ticket to capturing Sombra and your friend. Now then, you are going to tell me everything about where you came from."

"And why should I do that." Starlight asked with narrowed eyes.

"Simple." Spike said walking in a circle around her. She dully heard her grab something when he was behind her. As soon as he was in front of her, he bent down and snapped a collar around her neck.

"I own you now."

Word of the day!

Today's word is: Elytra!

The Elytra is the back plate of beetles and other select species of Insect. The Elytra conceals the wings of the insect, protecting them from harm. When the beetle wants to take flight, it will spread the Elytra and allow the wings to emerge.

Also, it's been too long since we had any clop, so Imma introduce this poll to whose gonna sleep together next chapter after all the important stuff happens:

https://www.strawpoll.me/18750026