//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Sky Castle 
// Story: The Adventures of Dragon Charge and Friends: Attack of the Gargoyles 
// by PonyRob 
//------------------------------//

The Dragoon made its way into the castle, and after making sure no one was around, the four ponies got out of the ship and began the search for the Elements in the gothic palace. It was made of completely black bricks, and had stained glass windows depicting the battle between ponies and gargoyles years ago. 

"Man, this Kappo guy really has an ego, huh? 'I am the great Kappo, and now, witness the hammiest overacting ever seen by pony kind! RAAAAHAHAHAHAH...'", Critic mocked. 

"Shhh...", Retro said. "This place gives me the creeps.". He soon noticed a statue in the shape of a young pegasi. "I need something to take my mind off of this." 

He thought for a second. "Where are you guys from?", he asked the group. 

"Dragon and I grew up in an orphanage together. Orphan caretaker was a jerk, Luna was impressed with us, took us in, that's about it.", Critic answered. 

"How about you, Miss Tenacity?", Retro asked. She remained silent as she held her head down. 

"Nothing? You were quite the chatterbox on the battlefield." 

She muttered quietly, "I was angry." 

"So, you can only talk when you're angry? Sorry to hear that, I'm sure you have lots of interesting things to say." 

She shook her head, smiling a bit. 

"So, you can talk when you're not angry?" 

"Hey, leave her alone, man, if she doesn't want to talk, she doesn't want to talk.", Critic said. 

After a little bit more walking, she quietly said, "It's okay. He's cool." 

"How about you, Retro?", Dragon asked. 

"Well, I was a loser, just some dweeb who loves video games, but I wanted to help my fellow pony, just like Grandma always did, so I took part in this experiment, but things didn't exactly go as planned, and now I have these superpowers. So, I decided to use them to help those around me. Unfortunately, thanks to the gargoyles, the Pixel Pony days are over." 

"Your grandma sounds like a real sweet lady", Critic said. 

Retro stopped and looked downwards sadly. "...she was." 

They all grew silent for a moment before Critic muttered, "Awkward."

They continued on, Dragon explaining the plan of action. "The Elements are probably in the throne room with their emperor.", he told them. But according to Frank's guide, we'll need to make it through the Grand Labyrinth to reach it. Be careful, soon the room will fill with a highly toxic gas.", he warned.

They all entered the labyrinth room and went together in one direction, using Frank's map to solve the maze. Soon, however, the room darknened and the smog began flowing in. 

Thankfully, Tenacity had come prepared with a few cloths she had brought with her to cover their mouths and noses in case of airborne toxins. Unfortunately, she soon realized that she had dropped one in the front hall, and so she gave her only three cloths to her friends for them to save themselves. 

Dragon transformed into a great bat to help see and guide his friends in the dark. Thankfully, they all made it out in the nick of time. Kappo's throne room and the Elements lied just ahead.