...Who else wishes that Unicornia falls badly eventually?

This is just sick! I hope Spike and his group save all these poor slaves and burn the island to the ground with the slavers on it. May Mistress Loveshot burn in Hell.

The griffins proceed to leave while Aquilina turned to Azura and muttered, “Speak when I ask you to.”

“Hey, you want me to do this role right? That’s how you do it,” Azura grumbled as she walked away.

I think the Aquilina and Azura's roles should be reversed here.

Nice chapter and love the story so far.

"Bleak" doesn't even begin to describe just how messed up the slavers part of Erebus that would even unnerve other local mercenaries. Spike not giving in the temptation building up over a decade to just break cover right there and then, kill everyone on that rock and be done with it is nothing short of incredible. The fact that Sir Marshall even tells Spike about breath mints implies that the customer and his/her escorts losing their lunch over the display is a common occurrence whenever someone comes to buy. I take it that Mistress Loveshot here will be our first arc villain to be iced?

Sincerely hope that the next chapter(s) would come sooner. If it's too bleak for too long (in both In-Universe time and actual time) then the story as a whole will end up like Berserk and Case Closed.

9450346

Oh they will. The problem is that they may drag the entire world with them because nobody cared enough or had the ability to put them in their place long ago.

Now I wonder just how much Spike and his crew will wreck this place up before they get fully outed?

“The island can turn invisible?” Aquilina asked, out of curiosity.

“Quit, mercenary! Speak when I ask you to!” Azura shouted, making the former slave glare at her, but she remained quiet. Azura turned back to the leader of the guard and raised her eyebrow. “Although, I must admit I am curious myself.”

Azura is playing this role quite nicely.

“Times change. And if I am to keep up with the times I must have a set of my own slaves so that I stay ahead of the other nobles,” Azura answered in a dull tone while taking a moment to look at her hoof. “May we talk more inside Miss...”

“Mistress Loveshot,” she answered, offering to lead the group down the pier. “I am the caretaker of my little children here.” She turned over to the pegasus slave and patted her cheek. “And I do take good care, don’t I my lovely?”

More like a Conquerer of Slaves!!!

Spike looked at his friends and said, “I also think we should have half of us wait here. I’m thinking Aquilina and Windward will guard the ship while Azura, Razorwing, Yasahiro, and I go on land.”

“Why am I staying here?” Aquilina asked, puffing her cheeks.

“Because I know you want to cut off the balls of every slaver here and I need you to be under control before you decide to go on a killing spree,” Spike said with a deadpan expression. “Right or wrong?”

Sorry Aquilina, but Spike is so right.

“... Fine, but I get first kills later,” Aquilina grumbled, crossing her arms.

I'll save about 50 for you.

“And me?” Windward asked.

“Because Azura needs to concentrate on her role without you trying to get under her tail,” Spike answered. “Besides, if things go south you two are the fastest fliers we got and can back us up if need be.”

“Besides, you’d most likely ask to try out one of the sex slaves,” Azura stated, snorting in disgust.

Oh I bet he'd so do that...with you at least Azura!!!

Windward looked at Azura with a gasp of horror. “I’m offended you would think such a thing of me, Azura. Now if I was your sex slave? That’s a different ballgame. Totally down for that, Master.”

Is he becoming some sort of masochist?!?!?!

She lead them up a long set of stairs where archers of different races were stationed with their bows drawn and eyes ever alert. The size of the fortress grew until they reached the top where a iron gate was waiting them. It slowly opened, allowing the group to enter a large courtyard where they were greeted to a grim sight. A huge array of slaves, covered in whip marks and dried blood, were tied to long wooden posts under the burning sun above. They all ranged in all ages from young teens to mid-aged adults with every race that could walk or fly seen suffering beside one another. Armored guards circled around the poles, blood covered whips with spikes by their side. In front of the poles was female minotaur guard, speaking into a megaphone. “My life is over, my new live has begun. I shall be a servant to those with the right sum.”

Oh...Faust....

To Spike and his friends horror, the slaves all repeated in unison as if it was a prayer at a church. “My life is over, my new life has come. I shall be a servant to those with the right sum.”

“The gods have forsaken me. My punishment is to serve. Only by serving my betters shall my life be preserved.”

“The gods have forsaken me. My punishment is to serve. Only by serving my betters shall my life be preserved,” they answered again.

“For until death claims me, I am nothing but a tool. Here to be used by my betters be they kings or a fool.”

“For until death claims me, I am nothing but a tool. Here to be used by my betters be they kings or a fool.”

“I shall obey every command. I shall not stop to debate. I am a slave. This is my fate.”

“I shall obey every command. I shall not stop to debate. I am a slave. This is my fate.”

This is just...sick!!!

However, one unicorn pony was too late to finish and was suddenly whipped by three guards over and over again, receiving fresh wounds as she cried out for mercy before getting punched in the face. Her jaw broken, she was unable to speak so she just cried in misery until one of the guards shook his head to another. That guard proceed to take out his dagger to free her of their bonds before dragging her limp broken body to a door.

That poor mare...!!!

“They are quite a sight. However, they are often the most resistant next to the dragons. With dragons, you simply poison the gems they eat with enough drugs laced on them to slowly lose their minds and become docile.” Mistress Loveshot drink her tea before continuing. “Griffins are the most resistant of the lot. You can clip their wings, pluck their talons, shave them naked, whip them, even have a guard... pleasure them forcefully.”

Spike could hear the Razorwing’s glass slightly crack from the pressure in his hands.

Keep it together Captain...just wait for a big longer and you can rip all their throats out!!!

She then turned to one of the Diamond Dog guards that reminded Spike of a dalmation yet his eyes were unique. One was blue while the other was green with the former giving off a cold glare while the latter held life and joy. His eyes briefly connected with Spike which gave the dragon a shiver down his spine, but he didn’t know why. “Sir Marshall? Will you please give one of the slaves your knife?”

Heterochromia eyes huh?

Mistress Loveshot turned to the griffin with the knife. “Slave, kill the griffin next to you.” Everyone’s eyes lit up as they turned to the slaves who continued to stand there without any sort of sign on their faces except their emotionless gaze. “Slave about to die, don’t struggle or scream while your dying. That’s an order.”

“Yes, Mistress Loveshot,” they both said before facing each other.

The one with the knife instantly cut at the throat of the other slave who held his cut neck while his eyes went wide with pain. He fell to the floor, gasping for air, but he never once shook with shock or begged for help. Spike raised from his seat, unable to hide his horror as the griffin slowly died in front of him. When the last gasp of air left his body and his eyes rolled behind his head, only then did Spike finally turn away with tears in his eyes as did Captain Razorwing. Azura, to her credit, bit her lip and closed her eyes, but remained posed for her role while Yasahiro just sat there with his paw drawing closer to one of his blades. All while the other slave just stood there staring into the distance with no sign of remorse, guilt, shame, or glee. He looked like complete and utter stone.

...

...

...

...

This place is Tartarus.

Mistress Loveshot smirked before getting up and stroking the slave’s neck. “Obedient. Emotionless. Through. And best of all I don’t even have to use those spells Ars Arcanum uses. I was chosen for this spot because I can show not only how good our tactics can be, but our outside clients can be impressed.” She stood in front of the griffin slave before smirking at him. “Now kill yourself darling. Try not to get blood spilled on my table.”

Somepony save these poor slaves!!!

The griffin was about to raise the knife to its neck, but to the surprise of everyone in Spike’s group that was prevented by the least likely of them. Yasahiro rushed across the table, kicking the plates and food across the kitchen while drawing one of his katanas. At first it looked like he was going to attack the slave, but steel met steel as the katana knocked the knife out of the griffins claws. It sailed into the air until it landed stuck on a painting of a navy unicorn officer, right between its legs as he stood up holding the flag of Equestria.

SHIT, NOT NOW!!!

All the guards instantly drew their weapons and pointed them at Yasahiro who didn’t even flinch at this. He instead glared at Mistress Loveshot who looked frightened by the speed before trying to glare back. However, the narrowing warning glare from the kitsune samurai was enough to make her stand down.

Too close....

“I think my mercenary has seen enough, and if he wants his pay he’ll stand down and return to the ship,” Azura warned, gritting her teeth in worry.

Please don't mess this up!

Yasahiro slowly sheathed his katana before jumping off the table, bowed, and left with a set of guards following him weapons drawn. Mistress Loveshot fanned her face with her hoof before turning to the slave and ordering him to leave. Sitting back down, she cleared her throat and said, “You choose your guards well, Lady Azura. But I ask that you refrain from doing such things in the future.”

You almost ruined the plan!!!

“Before we go, may I use your restroom?” Spike asked. “I’m afraid I’ve developed a dislike of chamber pots for our voyage.”

That, or he probably needs to puke his guts out form all that he's scene. Can't say I blame him...

Spike didn’t say anything, but slowly entered, closed the door, and locked it. He then dived for the toilet to let loose the lunch he had been eating just moments ago. He felt tears drip down his cheeks as he let loose without hesitation. The images of the slaves tied to their posts, the dead eyes in each of them, and the way that the griffin died without even fighting for his life and how easily the second was ready to kill himself. He had seen horrible things in his time here in Erebus, but it was never easier. It was taking every bit of his will power not to burn this place to the ground.

Spike just keeps amazing me more and more in this story....

I’ve got to get them out of here...

And Fast...!!!

9450346 Me.

I would like to see all the worthless unicorns burned to cinders, all the slaves be freed and the flutterponies get their land back.

Oh, and I especially want to see the Bluebloods burn.

Every. Last. One. Of. Them.

I really like this story but come on man these chapters are way too short xwx

Oof