A/N: Writers block is a bitch, especially when you have a ton of ideas for one story but almost none for another. And for those wondering: Spike is not going to be a Ranger. The Dragon Jet is powered by the Green Zeo Crystal, but it won't impart any power on him.

Chapter 16: Gilda

The two former friends stared down at each other. Gilda allowed the barest hint of surprise to wash over her face before she settled into her trademark sneer.

"Lookin' sharp in blue RD. What do you say about ditchin' these punks and flyin' off with me?"

Behind her helmet, Rainbow Dash ground her teeth together. Her eyes were fixed solely on the Griffon in front of her had she didn't blink once at the trio of Z Centaurs that appeared behind them. While some small part of her still considered Gilda as her friend, there was one thing she still had to know before she categorised the creature in front of her.

"I gotta ask this, Gilda. What are you doing with those creeps?"

The griffon threw her head back and laughed as Pinkie Pie slowly edged away from her. She silently summoned her Element Morpher to her and attempted to hide it in her mane.

"Oh Dash, the power I've gotten from this guy is great! He doesn't look the greatest, but he promised me much more power if I can bring him the head of one of your friends!"

At that statement, Applejack moved to stand protectively near Rainbow Dash. She knew the cyan Pegasus would rush in and Gilda would spring her trap. Also, she didn't want Rainbow Dash to die before she could tell her how she felt. She was beginning to see what Billy had said about life or death situations. She pawed the ground and lowered her head a split second before Rainbow did the same. If they charged in a straight line, they could jump over Pinkie's head and allow her to morph.

Through her helmet, Applejack glanced at Rainbow Dash and nodded once. If they were only to get once chance at this, they would have to do it fast. Within a blink of the eye, both ponies raced towards Gilda. Leaping onto an updraft of wind, the Blue Ranger soared into the sky and within moments drew a tight bead on Gilda.

"Element Blaster, suppression fire!"

As the cyan bolts rained down onto the surprised Griffon's head, she was suddenly very grateful that Billy had explained the various fire controls of the Element Blasters in greater depth. Peeking out of the corner of her eye, she saw a pink and white flash as Pinkie morphed and jumped onto a Z Centaur that was threatening Fluttershy. Below her, she saw a red streak barrel towards Gilda and she smiled.

Gilda was pinned down by her former friend's energy bolts. The monster that her Master had sent with her was of no use and was just idly picking grass from the ground. It was just a glorified zombie Griffon anyway – and a rather weak one at that. Spying the Red Ranger race towards her, a wicked grin spread across her beak. She would make them pay for taking Dash from her. She inhaled deeply and screeched in the direction of the Ranger.

The effect was devastating.

The sonic screech bowled Applejack off her hooves and sent her sprawling. The trio of Z Centaurs shattered and the other Rangers were temporarily stunned. One more screech aimed above her and Rainbow Dash was sent spiralling out of the sky. Something inside her wanted to go and help her former friend, but the griffon stamped that urge down. If the Pegasus wanted to play hero that was her decision, but to destroy the world was better. Inhaling once again, she aimed at the falling Blue Ranger. One more sonic screech would liquefy her brain and kill her. Inhaling once more, she concentrated all of the power her Master had given her into the killing blow.

Fluttershy looked up and tried to calm her nerves. Rainbow Dash had been stunned and was free falling to the ground. At the speed she was travelling, her armour would protect her but if she involuntarily demorphed…she didn't want to think about that. Seeing Gilda take in another breath, her mind clicked that she was the only pony who could stop Dash from dying. Focusing power into her wings, she rocketed off microseconds before the sonic blast left Gilda's beak. Time seemed to slow down as she neared Rainbow Dash, millimetres ahead of the rippling air wave. With a burst of speed that would have stunned Connor McKnight, Fluttershy shoved Rainbow Dash out of the way and took the full brunt of Gilda's charged Sonic Screech.

As the blast smashed into her armour, Fluttershy felt the air compressing out of her lungs. Her wings locked up and she frantically tried to make them flap at least once to no avail. The lack of oxygen was making her dizzy and her vision started to blur. Through her darkening vision, she managed to sputter out three words.

"Element…blaster, f-fire!"

In a move that mimicked the Element Megabuster, her Element Crystal fired out a single bolt of charged Grid Energy. As Fluttershy succumbed to the darkness, she didn't see the bolt of energy strike Gilda between her eyes nor hear the horrific scream of anger and pain from the now blind Griffon.

"Gryffon! Destroy them! Start with the Pink one!"

Gilda teleported away in a flash of red. Rainbow Dash had snapped out of her near-unconscious state and had dived down to catch Fluttershy who had now demorphed. Shaking her head, she opened up a communication channel with the Command Tower.

"Billy, can you teleport Fluttershy outta here?"

"Yeah. Hold on."

With a sparkle of light, the Yellow Ranger was teleported away from the battle. Gliding down to the ground, she prodded Applejack with a hoof. Banishing away the thoughts that threatened to consume her, she prodded Applejack again until the Red Ranger raised her head from the ground.

"Come on, AJ. There's a monster to beat and we need your –"

"Help!"

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked towards the shout and saw a dome made of spinning feathers engulf Pinkie Pie. The Pink Ranger only had enough time to look at the others fearfully before the dome closed around her; trapping her in with the monster Gilda had referred to as Gryffon. The Rangers traded looks of worry before looking at the dome and wondering what was going on inside.

And would Pinkie Pie prevail?

TBC…

Author's Note

Yeah...Gilda. Eye Scream. The Equestria 101 chapter Metamorphosis takes place directly after this and just covers Zedd enslaving Gilda with fake memories and a rather painful transformation. Around this time, I re-read the first 11 or so chapters of my other fic The Ultra Crystals and noticed an error I hadn't picked up on before: the inclusion of a mysterious thirteenth Crystal.