//------------------------------//
// Castillo de espiga 
// Story: A new Age 
// by Silver Butcher 
//------------------------------//

"Yup, this is definitely the place." Peach Pie said looking at the children's placemat she had been using as a map, she looked over it at the large Crystal castle, it looked weirdly like a Brimstone Tree.
"What tipped you off?" Flurry Heart asked looking at the place "The castle or the sign?" she pointed to a large painted sign that simply read, Castillo de Espiga."
"Wait, what the heck does that mean?" Zestar Apple asked in confusion scratching his head before turning back to his friends with a laugh "Anypony? No? Ok."
"I remember Spike from before." Pumpkin said as she looked at the castle "He was a rather nice guy even after..."
"Don't say it." Jasper said, cutting her off "We all know what my mom and dad did to him, less we talk about it the better." Jasper reached his arm out and pulled Pound to him, who was shaking like no tomorrow. "You ok bud?"
"Oh I'm fine." Pound said with obvious falseness in his tone "So what's the plan? We walk in and ask the Dragon that ate Sombra to just give us the items of power? Or, and I think this time you'll really like this idea, we go get literally anypony else to do this!?"
"Pound this is our chance!" Flurry Heart said trying to mimic her aunt’s knack for speeches, she turned to face her friend, fixing her sword as she did so. The 6 where all wearing white armor, each with a different weapon strapped to their back, an image of the Crystal Heart of their chests and shoulders, Flurry patted her chest piece as she began her speech "We can all step out of the shadows and become Equestrian legends!" As Flurry Heart spoke, Peach and Zestar scoped out the front gates, while Pumpkin looked in confusion at the 'map' Peach had been using. "We've tried countless times to protect Ponyville, but this time our parents and their friends won't shove us to safety and try and push us to the boring path, this time it'll be us who walk around the town and are called the heroes!" Flurry was smiling now as she thought of her plan "Now I'm gonna do something, and if it doesn't work out..."
"You'll die!" Pound shouted "Flurry come on the guy's a maniac! He’s a villain that eats other villains and steals their powers!"
"And that's my family and their friend's fault." Flurry said as she turned to the castle "Sure he's a little...completely crazy, but no ponies seen him in like 12 years! I'm sure he hasn't gotten that bad." the group had gotten quiet, Peach and Zestar looking back at her, Pumpkin was rolling up the 'map', Jasper had turned around and was trying to calm Pound down who was still panicking. Flurry cleared her throat as she realized her speech had ended flatly.
"Alright If I'm not back in an hour...call my parents." Flurry took a Bracelet off her right arm and handed it to Pumpkin who gave an awkward salute.
"You got your sword?" She questioned.
"I always have my sword." Flurry said as she put her hand tentatively on it.
"Alright" Pumpkin held Flurry’s face and looked her dead in the eye "You still owe me 60 bits, die and I'll kill you."
"Noted." Flurry said before heading out.
"Keep watch." Flurry said to Zestar and Peach "If lasers start shooting out of the walls or ceiling or whatever either join the fight or call my parents." the two saluted and Flurry made her way to a long rope bridge, she took a deep breath as she looked at the task before her the Castle was surrounded by a huge cavern which acted as a moat, the winds swirling around it preventing anything from flying in or out that wasn't welcome, the bridge was the only way to cross, but doing so would alert Spike to her presence, she exhaled and took a step on the bridge, the top of the castle came to life with blue fire as she spoke loud and clear "I'm coming uncle" before being the walking across it.
It creaked and groaned with every step she made the castle glowing as the owner watched her threw a crystal ball shaped like a goats eye, he sat in silence for a moment before holding his hands up,
"Guess I have company." he said with a giggle "better clean this place up a little before my niece gets here."



Flurry had no idea how long the walk had taken but it had started getting dark out, rather it was really getting late or if this was just one of Spike's spells she had no idea, she stepped off the bridge and the doors swung open loudly, She stood in silence staring at the dark doorway when blue light flooded the inside and a voice called out to her.
"Come now you didn't come all this way just to stare at my door did you?"
"I did not." Flurry confirmed, trying her best to sound confident as she walked into the halls, the door's swung shut as she entered, the sound making her jump as it echoed through the silent halls of the castle. Flurry took a few breaths as sweat began forming on her brow "No going back now" she thought as she began walking forward, the walls looked rough and unfinished, as though the carver had lost interest in finishing his work, the floors had multiple rugs spawn across the floor, as though to act as a carpet, the more Flurry looked around the castle, the more flaws and lazy cover-ups she saw, she made her way to a large door and pushed it open, she had been expecting a throne room, and it seemed that this was the one thing Spike hadn't half-finished.

The walls where polished and clean, the floor had a single long rug starting at the door and ending at the Throne, lined up along the rug on either side was a long row of Female Diamond Dog's in armor, staring at her in silence as she walked in, all lined up from smallest to largest, the scrawniest runts stood at the door, while two very large Diamond Dogs stood on the steps that lead to Spike's throne, the Throne was probably the strangest one she had ever seen, It looked like a Giant Diamond dog, she quickly found when it met her gaze that this was because it was a Giant Diamond Dog, sitting to the side of the dog was a small table with a Crystal Goat's eye on it, and finally laying on the Dogs lap was Spike, he looked as though he was a living 3-dimensional shadow, he was laying on the Dogs lap like he was waiting for someone to paint him like a French girl, his scales where black and his entire body looked hazy around the edges.
"Flurry Heart!" He cheered jumping to his feet and resting his hands on his hips "So Lovely to see you! Welcome to Castillo de Espiga" as he said the name of his home he did jazz hands and smiled at her, after a moment he sighed and shook his head "Straight to business then?" Flurry Heart took a deep breath before standing her ground.
"Spike, by order of the Princess I demand you surrender any and all fragments of the Elements of Harmony and the Tree of Harmony you possess"