My Loyal Ponies: Submission Is Mandatory- Spike

>Canterlot Castle looms before you, no longer the beacon of hope and prosperity it had been merely days before.
"Move it whelp!" growls a Lunar guard, emphasizing her point by shoving you forward with the butt of her spear.
>Sweat drips down your scales, a shiver not caused by the lack of sun finding its way down your spine.
>Twilight and the others had been gone for a few hours after Nightmare Moon had returned, and they'd vanished after
that burst of light from the middle of the Everfree Forest.
>Word had reached even sleepy Ponyville of what had befallen Equestria in the days since.
>The Celestial Guard had been routed, either slain or imprisoned.
>The Lunar Guard had been seen at the forefront of the slaughter, many noting how most of them seemed worlds away;
the lights being on but nobody home, save killing or capturing their targets.
>Which you are now one of.
>The door to the Golden Oaks library had been rudely smashed open, and you were roused out of one of the worst
nightmares of your short life by what you figured were the newly christened 'Nightmare Guard'.
>If you hadn't been on the verge of soiling your non existent pants, you'd have thanked them for interrupting your nightmare.
>It had been of Twilight; All of them were now.
>She was always either dead at the bottom of Ghastly Gorge, a forgotten skeleton in some Manticores lair, chained to a rock in a Dragons cave....
>While the thought of not seeing the pony who had practically been your mother greatly saddened you; the thought of never being able to talk to the beautifully coiffed fashionista who was your new goddess was what had caused your spiraling depression and subsequent three day stay in your bed.
>Shaking your head to dispel the daydream and ignoring the lump in your throat, you slowly approach the door to the throne room.
>Its the first time you weren't looking forward to it.
>As it creaks open, an enchantment no doubt reacting to your trembling presence, you slowly step forward.
>The inside is like the rest of what you've been told is now called 'Nightmare Keep', dark and foreboding.
>As your eyes adjust, you notice a light source where you remember Celestia's (former?) throne is.
>Squinting, you can barely make out.. chains? And a collar?
>Your stomach sinks when you realize who is wearing it.
" T..Twilight? "
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>The single source of light coming from a stained glass window illuminates the sad state she is in.
>Hair frazzled, eyes puffy and wet with tears.
>Obvious bruises, scrapes, burns and other signs of abuse dotted her body like scales do yours.
>What strikes you as odd is what she's wearing.
>A bent and battered five pointed crown adorns Twilight's head, clearly a size or so too tight; And an almost out of place choker on her neck.
>What looks to be a tattered traditional coronation dress hangs on her loosely, almost accentuating her signs of abuse, and...
>The very realistic looking purple wings on her back?!
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>You rush to her side, vaulting over several ruined statues, an odd looking large blue box and the body of a brown earth pony wearing a simple collar and green tie.
>Twilight is in a daze, she doesn't even acknowledge your sobs and the warm hug you're giving; the only indication you have that she's even alive is her shallow breathing and the thousand yard stare that slowly focuses on you.
>That disturbing look takes a moment to change, her pupils shrinking and gaze softening.

"Is that you Spike?" she weakly groans
>"Yes Twilight! Its me! Oh Celestia I've missed you so much!"
"And I've missed you my dear friend, but we have matters more important than catching up to attend to."
>"Oh sure. Let me just cut these chains and.."
"DONT!"
>Her fear tinted scream stops you in your tracks.
>Fear wasn't something Twilight ever showed. Nervousness, anxiety and occasional sadness, but never raw fear.
>You could see her eyes darting around, examining the shadows in the throne room before slightly calming down.

"I deserve these chains Spike. They're the cross I bear for failing Celestia, Luna and so many others."
>She holds up a hoof, stopping your objection.
"I was the only person who could have stopped Nightmare Moon, saved Celestia and prevent" she mournfully looks at the ruined throne room "All of this."
>"That isn't true Twilight! No one pony could save all of Equestria, nor should any one pony shoulder all of the blame for its fall!"

>Twilight looks at you, past the tears and concern for her, almost into your soul.
>She sighs, practically exhaling depression
"Did you tell anyone else?"
>"Huh?"
"About the Mare in the Moon, Spike."
>"That old fairy tale you were talking about the other day? No, why would I?"
Looking oddly relieved, Twilight clears her throat before turning around
"It is as I said Anony..."
>A snap of fingers is heard, and Twilight's eyes bulge before she collapses, twitching and clutching her throat.
>Your attention is now drawn to the figure emerging from the shadows.
>It looks like some sort of runty minotaur, two arms, two legs and very little body hair.
>What throws you off is his lack of hooves, thin body hair and full suit of body armor, adorned with a stylized crescent moon.
>He didn't look like he was related to Bulk Biceps either.
>Even the scrawniest of minotaurs looked capable of benching Celestia, and they would have thick hair at least covering their legs. This.. thing looked more like a Wonderbolt; lean and mean, and only had hair covering it's head.

"Don't know what I am, do you?"
>His grin makes you want to vomit, and your fists tighten in rage.
>All this does is make him laugh.
"My name is Anonymous, though like Toilet Sprinkle here, you will be calling me master soon enough."
>"HER NAME I..."
>You feel a hoof on your leg.
>Twilight looks you at once, sadness and resignation in her eyes, and simply shakes her head.
>The objection dies in your throat, though rage is still simmering in your gut.
>Anonymous looks at your clenched fists and simmering rage, with a wide grin on his face.
>What he says next makes your blood run cold.

"You're actually right about something for once... Twilight."
>He emphasizes her name, causing her to first wince then visibly relax.
"The Empire could certainly use his abilities, provided that you're a better dragon trainer than savior of Equestria."
>Her relaxation ends, and she hangs her head, tears welling in her eyes. How can't she see that he's playing her emotions? Even if she wasn't a very sociable pony, Twilight was always great at reading ponies. Anonymous is manipulating her, barbed insults aimed at shaking her confidence laced with occasional compliments that she's been conditioned to desire.
>How much had happened in just a few days?

>"I'm..." she hiccups, not quite composed "Confident that I can train him to be an asset to the Empire, Master." she bows deeply

"Don't I get any say in this? What could possess you to think that I would help the monster whose beaten my friend?!"
>"Oh I don't think you'll help Nightmare Moon's ogre because you WANT to." he sits on Twilight's back, not caring that she's visibly straining to stand "You're a fine upstanding citizen of Equestria! Why would you even THINK of giving assistance to the beast who cut off the Princesses wings and had them surgically attached to fugly here before he knew that they'd grow back?"

>Twilight shifts nervously at the mention of that. The wings on her back twitching slightly.

>"You'll help him because its either that or an all expenses paid trip to the gallows, Spike." Twilight drones, not registering that her statement has stopped your brief rebellion in it's tracks. "I know you'll hate me for this, but I didn't have much choice. After the Deans from Celestia's School tried to free her, Nightmare Moon has had every pony who had the knowledge of the legend of the Mare in the Moon either executed or thrown into the dungeons. After failing Celestia and getting my friends..."

"Thats not what they call you ya know." chimes in Anonymous, casually munching on an apple

>Twilight winces again, before hesitantly continuing.

>"I couldn't lose you too!" she sniffs "Nightmare Moon dismissed you as a librarian's assistant and was going to turn you into a suh..saddle!"