Ember sat on the side of the velvet bed that she, Spike and Thorax called their own. The dragon instinctively ran a loving claw down the sleeping face of Thorax, who was comfortably wrapped in the best blankets in the Empire. While doing so, Ember easily saw the dozens, if not hundreds of small cracks and dents in his carapace.

As angry as she was at Spike right now, she knew they weren't from him. Thorax had a hard life, harder than hers, and as much as he would deny it, much harder than Spike's. Ember shook her head and stood up. She cracked her knuckles as she took a step towards the door to the Throne Room. Spike was about to get a piece of her mind to say the least.

She found herself stopping at the door when she heard a whimper from behind her. Looking back, Ember noticed that Thorax was very visibly shivering.

The Dragon looked at him, then back to the door, then finally back to him. She sighed as she let go of the door handle and walked over to him. She lifted the blankets and crawled into bed next to him, wrapping one of her strong arms around the small black changelings protectively. A warm grin grew on her face as he snuggled up next to her, and smiled.

Blueblood cleared his throat after Twilight's rather rude and loud scream. He brought a hand up and rubbed one of his ringing ears and sighed. "Myes, that is correct. Blueblood is my name. Would you please take a seat?"

Twilight's mouth opened and closed a couple times before she shook her head and took her seat. "I am so sorry, I am just shocked. In my universe you are... well... The last person I'd expect to do this kind of thing..."

"Oh no that is the same here, my friend." Blueblood replied simply, clasping his hands together in front of him. "In this universe I am the same entitled, spoiled brat as I presumably am in your universe."

Twilight felt her jaw drop again. "B-but..." She started before being silenced by Blueblood.

"So, tell me. If you and the princesses were completely defeated in battle, and then a villain went around eliminating any threats or potential revolutionary heads, who is the last person they'd expect to be a good leader for a rebellion? Be honest." Blueblood asked.

"W-well you? You were kind of a dick in my universe." Twilight mumbled under her breath.

"Exactly. A necessary sacrifice I assure you. You see, I am one of Celestia's many contingent plans. If all else fails. I take over. Have you ever wondered WHY we kept a passive aggressive incompetent prick in her inner circle?" Blueblood explained with a smug smile on his face. Twilight wanted to say something but it honestly made sense to her. Why else would she keep him around?

Blueblood cleared his throat and continued. "Now then, if your done being flabbergasted, would you like me to explain the situation?"

Twilight shook her head and nodded. "Please. I need to know what's happening, I need to save Starlight so I can get home."

Zecora raised an eyebrow. "Is that all you're after?" The Zebra asked.

"Of course not. I just think that saving Starlight would also save all of-" Twilight stopped mid-sentence and her head snapped over to Zecora, her jaw dropping for what felt like the thousandth time that day. "You didn't rhyme!?!" She cried in shock.

"What? Why would I rhyme? That's ridiculous!" The Zebra answered in confusion, before being silenced by Blueblood.

"Let's focus everypony. Please. This is important business." Blueblood said as he tapped the map on the table a couple times. It was entirely purple, aside from a small deep green section near the maps equator, which she realized was the changeling lands.

"This is Equestria's current political landscape, Twilight. Spike's Dragon Empire takes up the entire planet, aside from the changeling lands which are currently held together by Sombra and Chrysalis's shield. If that shield falls for even a minute, we are going to be swarmed by the enemy, which puts us, the resistance, in a bit of a pickle." Blueblood said as he clasped his hands together in front of his face, idly tapping the palms together.

"We originally came to the hive to pick up supplies from Spike's only remaining enemy but now we are trapped. Not to mention, Chrysalis and Sombra don't like us, and we don't like them. This alliance is temporary at best, and the second Spike is beaten they will turn on us." Spitfire continued.

"Wait what? Why is Sombra even on our side? Isn't Spike his puppet or something?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"Not in the slightest." Blueblood said with a shaky voice. "When Sombra was about to loose for the first time three years ago, he detached a piece of his darkness which attached itself to the nearest living thing. Which was Spike. It waited until Spike was at his strongest before doing anything, and that was when Spike got his hands on the Bloodstone Scepter. Then it took over. While this entire situation is Sombra's fault, that... thing ruling over Equestria... make no mistake, that is Spike."

Twilight's entire face went pale. She was glad that she was already sitting, otherwise she would have toppled to the ground. She couldn't even speak.

"It being Spike is a bit false." Zecora said shaking her head. Twilight felt the slightest bit of hope shoot into her heart at that. "While yes, it is Spike that is being evil, he is being defined purely by his darker memories. 'Emperor' Spike only remembers the bad times he shared with you and the elements, none of the good you did together. He is only half of Spike."

Twilight smiled slightly at that. That was a good thing. It first and foremost meant that the Spike of her Universe wouldn't end up like that... hopefully. The Alicorn then shot a glance back to the map and sighed.

"I just don't get it." Twilight said as she brought a hand to her face. "How did Spike even get so powerful? Why does he even have ponies serving him?" She asked as she looked at the map. The ponies she had seen in Spike's army seemed almost... happy even."

"Simple." Blueblood answered with a sigh. "He told them the truth."

"Which is?"

"That Celestia was actively ignoring threats, threats which actually put millions of lives at risk, to give her student challenges to overcome." Zecora explained in response. Blueblood and Spitfire looked away, wanting to avoid eye contact with Twilight.

"Wh-what?" Twilight asked in very legitimate shock.

"Did it never strike you as odd that Celestia knew about almost every threat that Equestria was going to face, but never raised a finger to do anything? Didn't mobilize the guard when Luna attacked? Didn't even warn anyone when Discord escaped? Didn't even raise a finger to stop Sombra? Spike didn't need to tell a single lie to spin Celestia's actions in his favor. He offered Ponykind safety and security permanently." Blueblood continued.

"The Ponies of Equestria were still on the Resistances side, at least somewhat. Until..." Spitfire continued shaking her head.

"Until what?" Twilight asked standing up, expecting some kind of atrocity.

"Until he actually stopped an invasion of Equestria, almost single-handily in fact." Blueblood responded. "The Changelings tried to launch some kind of secret take over of Equestria. They replaced every pony of every political standing. I don't know how, but he knew EVERY pony they were planning on replacing, and tracked the changelings down and either killed or enslaved them... and..."

"Almost overnight the entire resistance shattered. Over 90% of our numbers simply stopped fighting and joined Spike's Empire. We are all that's left." Zecora said shaking her head. "We don't know how but Spike somehow knows almost everything about Changeling strategy. He knows their weaknesses, their strengths, their tactics, even the hive's location. We had to race to get here in time."

"I think I know how." Twilight replied. "He has Thorax with him. And he was wearing a slave collar when I saw him."

All three of the resistance leaders gasped at once.

"Y-you mean Prince Thorax? H-he went missing months ago according to Chrysalis. If Spike has him..." Zecora started.

"Then the changelings are doomed. We need to escape the hive. Asap." Blueblood said leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. "But how?"

"Wait... wait... I have one more question." Twilight exclaimed.

"Which is?" Spitfire asked.

"Why are ponies loyal to him, even if he is practicing slavery." Twilight asked.

Blueblood simply looked dejected and shook his head and Spitfire once again looked away.

"The Gryphon, Yak, and Changeling slaves are forced into chains yes, but the ponies?" Zecora said staring Twilight directly in the eyes, "The Pony slaves are completely willing."

Instead of actually paying my rent this month I commissioned a Clop image for ya'll,

/2171904

Enjoy peasants. *Scoffs*

In all seriousness tho, it means alot to me that ya'll like my story.

Thanks for all the views guys.