[With a gulp, yet another assassin is sent down his gullet, the assassins' muffled screams fading as the bulge disappeared into his body. Snorting, Spike shifts back down from his cathedral-sized body down to his preferred size, to be with his wife]



Consort Spike: "There, done as you commanded, my Empress. That would be the 8th assassin for this month alone. Really, somepony is getting desperate to off you. Not that I complain; it's not like they ever had a chance, and that just means plenty more morsels for me."



Empress Rarity: "Well, my love, I guess I was right about you being hungry."



Consort Spike: "More like famished; I haven't felt truly full ever since the last war. I restrain myself from eating so much so to not bankrupt you beautiful empire. If I could, I would eat half of Grogar's Army right now!"



Empress Rarity: "Darling, you DID eat half of Grogar's army!"



Consort Spike: "I know, dear. If you and your legions haven't decimated the other half I might have devoured them too... and probably the city of Tambelon by myself."



Empress Rarity: "Just like you had with Garble's dragon pack, those monsters from the Everfree, that alliance of Diamond Dog hedge kingdoms, and those invading Griffon armies and raiders. It never ceases to surprise me how often you solve your problems by EATING them, but I suppose that comes with your true size being close to that of a mountain. Thank our dear friend Archmage Twilight for teaching you size-shifting and spatial compression spells; otherwise I don't know how they all fit into your belly in their tens of thousands!"



Consort Spike: "Well, I had ravaged our enemies with my claws and fires, as much as those I had devoured. I am ever thankful for my surrogate mother's teachings... though I wish she taught me the spell to cure indigestion; I think some of those I had eaten are still alive inside me, hardy they are, and giving me heart-burns every now and then." [He clamps his muzzle shut briefly as he tries to suppress an un-royal burp] "Now, about those assassins... have our thestral agents any clue as to who sent them?"



Empress Rarity: "As a matter of fact, they have! It seems that our neighbor in the south is trying to remove me before advancing her territorial desires with her Changeling host."



[At this news, Consort Spike's draconic eyes lit up with unholy light, and his muzzle contorted to a menacing, snarling grin, revealing all his fearsome teeth. Rage bubble to the surface at the thought of the Queen who dare to try harming his beloved spouse]



Consort Spike: "She will pay for her transgression, my beloved Empress. What do you need me do?"



Empress Rarity: "I plan to surprise her: our armies shall gather near the Macintosh mountains, but not at the narrow passage way our enemy would plan to defend and invade from. With your true form and power, you shall carve your way through the mountain range, to make a new passageway for our own counter-invasion deep into her territory. Afterwards, you have free reign upon their frontier armies and strongholds. Do not worry about any innocents caught in the cross-fire of your righteous rampage, for they are in the towns and cities we shall capture, far off from where many of their warriors are garrisoned. Go forth, my mighty consort: crush the battle swarms of the Changelings, humble their arrogant Queen, and show everyone the folly of threatening our harmonious empire and our subjects."



[Spike purred with delight, nostril smoking and his tongue is licking his teeth. The time for war had come: once again, a whole realm to plunder for treasure; once again, countless enemies in their thousands to feast upon and satisfy his endless hunger; once again, countless more foes to be crushed, burn, toyed with and be annihilated to sate his blood-lust, all in the name of his beloved spouse and her equally beloved realm. Even now, he struggles to keep his excitement from boiling over, lest his inherent draconic savagery break free of his thin veneer of civility and self-control]



Consort Spike: "As you command, my dear, it shall be done..."