The creature in front of them seemed to be a dragon, but something was off about him. He was a little bit shorter then the dragons Spike had met on the Migration, but was proportioned differently. His face had more maturity to it, his purple and green scales seemed to have dulled with age, and he did not have wings. This specimen was also wearing clothes, a full body dark green uniform that had been stitched up repeatedly, with both fabric and seemingly animal skin.
"Alright ponies, put your hands in the...hooves... Just don't move!" The drake commanded while gesturing with his rifle, which seemed as equally patchwork as his uniform. "Come to meddle in the affairs of the Gosrand now have you? Good luck making this place any worse." He spoke with mistrust and contempt. Then he noticed Spike, and his eyes got very hard.
"Kidnapping a hatchling, is there no low you savages won't sink to?"
"I am not kidnapped!" Yelled Spike. "Twilight and The Doctor are my friends, and if you're going to hurt them, you'll have to hurt me to!" The drake was intensely confused by the young dragons defense of the ponies. How could anyone befriend such beasts?
"You see my good chap, we found young Spike here alone and lost on the battlefield, and sought to do the decent thing and bring him here." The Doctor very convincingly lied. "Wherever here is."
The self-identified Gosrand's attitude had shifted from aggressive to confused. "All three of you will need to be questioned. Get walking, single file, and don't try to infect me with any of your magic!" As they walked through the security door, the soldier stopped Spike. "You may ride on my shoulder, little one."
"Doctor, why do you think this dragon hates ponies so much?" Twilight asked in a hushed whisper.
"I don't think the being we have encountered is a dragon, and least not as we know them." The Doctor replied. "And that person isn't hateful Twilight, he's scared and simply trying not to show it. And rightfully so. This is not a proud period in pony history. Before the emergence of the Princesses, ponies were a very savage and intolerant species, and their conflicts were made worse by the inherent magic of all three races, something no other species on this planet can claim in such abundance. The other species fear the three pony tribes, who at this moment are engaged in a brutal race war far to the North of here, for they have always been capable of doing with magic what only in your time can be done with Minataur or Griffon technology. In this era, Minataurs have just recently mastered the aqueduct, while ponies can already direct weather and warp nature." The Doctor then contemplated his surroundings. "But this place..."
The soldier had been directing them down sleek metal hallways, past soldiers and civilians wearing machine spun clothing, and even at one point past a computer bank. Yet something was off, everything they saw had the same patchwork appearance as the uniform and weapon of the soldier escorting them. Many outfits, espically the civilian ones, had been patched together with animal hide and even plant material like tree bark. The weaponry of the soldiers also varied widely, from gas powered guns to spears and swords and even a laser pistol was seen at one point.
More immediate however, was the fact that they all had the same color pattern as Spike.
Finally the three were put in a waiting room. After a few minutes, the soldier returned and gestured towards the ponies. "General Aglon will interrogate you personally, while the hatchling will be held in the nursery until we can determine his mental state."
"I'm not leaving Twilight." Spike said defiantly.
"Spike, we need to co-operate with the Gosrands, by the way, how do you spell that?" The Doctor asked. The soldier simply glared at him. "I am certain they do not intend to harm you. Twilight and I will rejoin you as soon as we can."
Spike's resolve wavered, and he looked to Twilight, who simply nodded at him. "Fine." he said with a tone of defeat. "Alright guys, take me away." He added before allowing two new soldiers to lead him to this "nursery."
"Alright then, let's go meet the general, shall we?" The Doctor and Twilight were lead to a war room, with a surprisingly young looking Gosrand sitting in a command chair in front of a desk adorned with war maps.
"Why have you come to this place?" Asked General Aglon.
"Well, that is a rather long and complicated story I'd be happy to regale you with. But first, introductions. I am The Doctor, and this is my lover, Twilight Sparkle."
Spike was dreading what awaited him. Who knew what horrible things these dragons did to their young? He'd probably be tortured or hit, or dunked in lava or...
Offered a cookie?
Spike had been so wrapped up in his thoughts, he failed to notice he had arrived, and was now being offered a cookie by a female his own age. Spike looked around, and was a little confused to see a totally normal nursery. There were toys and games and a bunch of hatchlings the same age and colors as Spike running about and enjoying themselves. He looked again at the cookie, sniffed it, then gingerly consumed it.
His cautious behavior seemed to amuse his new friend, who offered to play blocks with him.
"Maybe this trip will turn out okay."