Flurry was removed from her prison and placed at the table next to Pumpkin near the head of the table, Zestar and Peach were down a fair ways from them, Jasper and Pound sat near the end of the table, A Large number of Diamond Dogs sat around them, Flurry counted well over 60 of them, the Heads of each side of the table was empty, Reserved for Spike and his Throne.
"Alright," Flurry said looking to Pumpkin, "It's later, how about explaining why Magic Binding was so much of a shock?"
"Magic Binding is a very powerful and Illegal spell," Pumpkin said with a frown as she stared at the ceiling, "To be used on any living creature, Even on Discord, is horrifying to think about, It's like having your own personal slave, whoever it's cast on is forced to do whatever the caster says, it's the same kind of magic used back in the most ancient of times to trap Genies in their lamps, to think Twilight would use it," Pumpkin looked over at Flurry.
"Look," Flurry said softly "I'm sure it's not that bad, we can't trust Spike, he may be acting nice and...yeah the main 6 aren't the greatest of ponies today, but they banished Spike-"
"Long after they stopped being the hero's the stories are about," Pumpkin replied, a look of irritation on her face. "Maybe we can't trust Spike, but so far I've seen far more reasons not to trust most of our heroes than this supposed villain, and one of the only 2 heroes I still do trust sent said villain a fucking present, so forgive me if I'm having doubts," Flurry didn't give Pumpkin a reply but instead look down at her wrist, Pumpkin followed her gaze and looked at the emergency signal she had been given before Flurry had entered the castle.
"Oh no," Pumpkin said, immediately pulling the arm away from Flurry "You're the one that wanted to Give Spike the benefit of the doubt when we first got here,"
"His Dog throne wife thing beat the shit out of me and he's somehow preventing both of use form using our magic in here, and he locked me up in a giant glass lamp!"
"Too bad," Pumpkin replied as Flurry began pulling on the arm with the bracelet, Flurry was the stronger of the two and easily pulled the arm to her, only to find the bracelet gone, she looked to Pumpkin just in time to watch her chuck the bracelet as hard as she could behind them before Flurry could react the Diamond Dog who had taken Pound to the restroom, Juniper, got up to investigate the scuffle and found the bracelet. She picked it up and looked at it before looking at the duo
"Ponies fighting over Ring?" She asked in confusion as she held it up and smile, "Give to Spike, get tummy rubs for solving problems," They watched as the diamond dog returned to her seat, a few others grumbling around her for having not beaten her to the prize. Flurry looked at Pumpkin with rage, Pumpkin returned her gaze with one of irritation, before the two could continue arguing a succulent smell hit their noses and they looked at the table, it was set with a feast fit for a king, or for a massive hoard of Diamond Dogs. Pumpkin and Flurries plates were filed up for them and the duo looked at the head of the table, where Spike was having a drink. A quick glance confirmed that his Throne was at the other end of the table.
"Now," Spike said, his voice seemed to emanate from every shadow in an odd way that made it so his voice was easily heard around the room without him having to shout. "I think it's time I tell you some more of my story,"
Spike let out a groan as he pulled the cart, Twilight was sitting up front and pulled on the reins around Spike's muzzle forcing him to a stop.
"I don't remember this being apart of my job," He said angrily as he looked back at Twilight.
"Spike how many times must I tell you?" Twilight asked as she got down from the cart "I am a Princess, I can't just walk around town, I am of a higher race and as such must take precautions to make sure I am always at my best, can't have the common folk see me dirtying my hooves," Spike watched as Twilight light her horn and set a spell around her hooves, preventing anything like dirt or mud from sticking to them.
"Why don't you just do that then?" Spike demanded as he tried to unleash himself, only for his hands to be forced to his side by magic.
"Spike, the carriage driver waits outside, I swear I'd replace you if you didn't work for free," Twilight made her way inside Sugar Cube Corner and Spike flares his nostrils.
"I don't work for free, you just stopped paying me," Spike looked back at the cart, what looked to be a Large Glass lamp was resting comfortably in the back."
"Wait, hold up!" Flurry said as she set her food down "a large glass lamp? like the one you had me trapped in?"
"Simular" Spike said with a smile "but the one I have has a much different function than Twilight's, and before you ask, you'll find out what twilights did before the end of the story, now as I was saying-"
Spike stood outside irritable, he was waiting for Twilight to gather the girls and teleport them all the empire when he showed up.
"Well if it isn't old Lizard boy himself," the second he heard the half-assed insult his ears dipped.
"Oh Celestia please no," Spike begged as Soarin walked over to Spike and put his arm on his shoulder.
"Hey Spike," he said with a shit-eating grin "Just saw you standing out here like the good little lap dog you are and just wanted to ask, how's my and Rarity's Kid doing? You know Rarity, My wife, you've met her right?" Spike looked at Soarin in silence.
"Do you even know your child's name?"
"It's some gemstone or another," Soarin said waving the question off "But hey what do I care, after all, you're raising him for me, I ever thank you for that? For raising me and Rarity's Child for us?"
"Every time you see me," Spike replied irritably "And I'm not raising your child, I'm watching him and the others because the other parents are too busy with work and you barely know how to take care of yourself much less a baby," Soarin smiled at the insult.
"Hey say what you want, but who did Rarity come running to when you couldn't commit?" Spike's left eye twitched at the word but before he could say more a cough sounded behind them and the two turned just in time for Soarin to be hit with a face full of Honey, Soarin fell onto his ass And Pinkie smiled at Spike from behind her cannon and winked at him before Rarity went off on her.
"Pinkie," Rarity said angrily as she rushed passed Pinkie and shoved past Spike, knocking him down just in time for Twilight to pull on the reins and force him back to his feet.
"Spike how hard is it to stay at the ready?" Twilight asked with exasperation.
"Rarity shoved me," Spike snapped back and Twilight pinched the bridge of your nose.
"Rarity shoved me," She repeated irritable "Rarity cheated on me, Rarity stole the Rings I gave her-"
"For our Engagement," Spike said angrily "not her and-" Twilight pulled hard on the reins and Spike met the cart face first before falling back into place, he wobbled before standing back into place with a few tears in his eyes.
"How many times," Twilight said angrily "Have I told you, you are to never talk over or interrupt a Princess," Spike didn't reply and Twilight spun her finger and Spike turned back to face forward. In the Cart Pinkie and Applejack were loaded up, Rainbow and Fluttershy had long since abandoned their friends, or at the very least two of them, Rarity waved goodbye to a very angry Soarin before walking past Spike, as she passed him she whispered.
"You'll pay for that," She said simply much to Spike's confusion.
"Wait, what did I-" Spike was cut off as Twilight pulled on the reins again and let Rarity load in before lighting her horn, in a flash they were at the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, in the distance they could see magic blasts going off near the castle and Twilight pulled on the reins once more.
"Alright, lets head out,"