The Last Gargoyle

"Where's my sister?!" Apple bloom cried, running around frantically. "What the hay is a Gargoyle? What happened to the barn??"

"Apple Bloom..." Fluttershy tried to comfort her.

"Starburst, which way did it go? Is Applejack okay?" Rainbow pressed, gearing up to take off at top speed.

"I... I didn't see..." The alicorn muttered apologetically.

"Come on!" Twilight exclaimed, taking off. Her horn glowed as she galloped, illuminating a set of tracks that lead across the farmland and into the forest beyond.

"This way!" She called. Rarity, Pinkie, Starburst, and Apple Bloom were hot on her hooves; there was no time to stop and tell the little filly to go back inside.

Once she knew which way to go, Rainbow Dash shot off, flying over the forest. Fluttershy was right behind her, fanning out to cover more ground.

They had only Twilight's hornlight to navigate by. Trees loomed from every direction, and they had to be careful to avoid running into them headfirst. Weeds and thickets lashed at their legs like whips as they galloped. Twilight cast a glance over at Starburst.

"Starburst! I was thinking about what you said!" She called. "What's the date?"

"The date? 4094!"

Twilight furrowed her brow. "No! It's just as I thought. The date is 6014. The Gargoyle must have brought you to the future."

Starburst stumbled, eyes bugging out. She fell behind a little, and the others stopped to let her catch up.

"We don't even know if we're going in the right direction! Applejack could be miles away by now!" Twilight gasped, exasperated. "Where are Rainbow and Fluttershy? And while we're here, Apple Bloom! You should have stayed at the farm!"

"No way Twilight." The filly stated. Her voice wavered with the tiniest waver of fear. Twilight guessed that she was probably scared for her sister rather than frightened by the forest. Giving Apple Bloom a confirmatory nod, she turned back to Starburst.

"You're from the time of Discord's reign."

"And he's not here in the future, is he? You have this Princess Celestia now?"

"No, he's not. You said the year 4092, didn't you? That's the date Discord was defeated by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Things are going to change for the better very soon." Twilight assured, smiling.

"But how will I get home? Directed time travel isn't even possible!" Starburst lamented.

"We'll think of something. Right now, we-"

"I've got tracks!" Rainbow yelled. Her voice permeated the dark wall of trees, emanating from somewhere off to their right.

"We're coming Rainbow!" Pinkie yelled back. She paused. "But Fluttershy went that way..." Tapping her chin, she took a deep breath.

"Fluttershy! We found tracks! If you can hear me, follow the sound of my voice!"

A twig snapped somewhere. Rarity's ears pricked up, and the group subconsciously huddled closer to one another.

"Flu-"

"Quiet Pinkie!" Twilight hissed, eyes scanning the trees.

"Does... does anypony else hear hoofsteps off in that direction?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I can't hear anything." Starburst said, wings bristling.

"I think we should head towards Rainbow Dash." Rarity suggested. "We'll be better off if we know where that hideous creature is... because we can follow the tracks and find Applejack." She finished quickly.

They cut through some undergrowth, galloping toward Rainbow's location. She didn't sound that far away, and there was a path in roughly the same place Twilight guessed that she would have been when she yelled.

Only... she was nowhere to be seen.

"Rainbow?" Twilight murmured, looking around.

"There's something following us!" Pinkie cried.

"What?! Where!"

"What is it?!"

"I can't see anything!"

"Where was it Pinkie?!"

"No..." Pinkie mumbled meekly. "I didn't see anything, I meant it just feels like we're being followed."

Twilight groaned loudly.

"Hey, we all heard that twig snap! You know that twigs don't just snap themselves!"

"I heard nothing of the sort!" Rarity scoffed.

"That could have been Fluttershy!" Twilight cursed.

"Girls?" Starburst asked. "Where did Apple Bloom go?"'

Everypony gasped.

"Apple Bloom! Not you too!" Twilight cried. "Where are you Apple Bloom?!"

Silence.

...

A twig snapped.

"Alright, I definitely heard that." Rarity mumbled, shivering.

"Oh no, I can hear something coming for us!" Pinkie cried, pointing to a patch of rustling bushes. Everypony backed away. The bushes became still.

"Maybe it was nothing?" Twilight mused, taking a step forward.

"Be careful darling..."

"It's right there!"

Twilight crept closer, hooves pattering quietly as she inched forward. She didn't want to use her magic, as the light would reveal their location. She reached for a frond, pulling it back to look beyond.

"BOO!"

"Yaah!"

Twilight leaped backward, colliding with Rarity. Pinkie screamed, shooting up into the treeline. Apple Bloom walked out from behind the bushes, giggling raucously.

"Were you silly fillies gettin' scared?" She chuckled. "I was followin' the tracks th-"

Apple Bloom stiffened as a heavy thump sounded somewhere behind her. Her eyes widened as another thump sounded, closer this time.

"Run!" Twilight cried. "Just run! Go, go!"

The five ponies bolted away as fast as their legs could take them. They followed the tracks, which seemed to lead nowhere but forward, into the darkness.

"Oh no." Pinkie wailed. "Oh no. We're running away from it, but it has Applejack." Her body shook, rattling her speech. Rarity wrapped a foreleg around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

"We have to find Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy." Starburst stated.

"Rainbow was followin' the tracks. I don't understand, where did she go?" Apple Bloom grumbled, looking around. There was nothing but trees and darkness in every direction.

Rarity gasped.

"What?" Twilight asked. Rarity pursed her lips and shuffled her hooves, trying to calm herself.

"Nothing." She mumbled. "I thought I saw a pair of eyes off in the distance, but it's... it's just my mind playing tricks..."

"What kind of eyes?" Starburst asked, her voice slightly panicked.

"Wait." Twilight raised a hoof. "I think I hear whispering. ... You hear it too, right?"

"That's just Pinkie." Rarity said, giving the quaking mare a reassuring squeeze.

"... hide under my pillow from what I thought I saw..."

Twilight shuddered as a chill ran down her spine.

...

A twig snapped.

Pinkie mewled into Rarity's mane. Apple Bloom and Twilight exchanged horrified glances.

Rarity screamed, stamping a hoof. "Something out there is toying with us!"

"Rarity, shush!" Twilight gasped, head whipping back and forth as she scanned the trees.

"I can hear something..." The lavender mare's ears pricked, swiveling in an attempt to pinpoint the sound.

"Girls! Where are you?! Come quick! Girls, please! Where the hay are you?!"

Rainbow's panicked screaming pierced the darkness like an arrow. It was coming from somewhere far off, further up the tracks.

"T-the same thing could be happening to her..." Pinkie murmured. "She must be terrified..."

"Come on!" Twilight yelled, galloping towards Rainbow's voice. "We're coming Rainbow! Hold on!"

They ran for what seemed like an eternity. There was silence all around them, but at the same time, all kinds of sounds emanated from the dark depths of the forest. It felt as though they were being watched by some unknown danger lurking in the darkness.

Suddenly, Rainbow burst forth from the darkness up ahead. Her face was contorted into a frantic grimace, and her breath came in panicked gasps.

"Thank Celestia. Come on!" She spun around and took off, leading the way into a clearing up ahead. It was huge, at least the size of Ponyville's town square. Moonlight bathed the area in an eerie blue glow. Fluttershy was standing there, and she turned to look at them as they raced over to her.

"Oh thank goodness you're here." She said. "We don't know what to do..."

The Gargoyle stood there in the middle of the clearing. Its empty, soulless eyes turned on Starburst, and she shuddered as she felt it bore into her soul.

Apple Bloom gasped. "Applejack!"

The creature held Applejack in one of its huge claws. She struggled, writhing and gasping for air as it squeezed her.

"H-help... me aaah!"

The Earth pony huffed, exhaling. To Twilight's horror, she noticed that the Gargoyle was squeezing tighter every time AJ exhaled. It was suffocating her. Applejack's spine popped audibly as the creature's vice grip tightened, and her face was quickly losing color.

"Let go of my sister!"

Apple Bloom broke into a gallop, darting forward before anypony could stop her. The Gargoyle blinked at her, almost as if it were surprised. Its eyes narrowed as it readied its free claw, talons clacking. When Apple Bloom was in range, it struck. The filly wasn't to be beat though. She rolled sideways, leaped back on course, spun around and bucked the Gargoyle full-force in the gut. She rolled out of the way as it collapsed forward, wheezing sharply. Applejack's head slammed into the ground as its arms shot out to catch its fall. Apple Bloom was right there by her side. She started stomping the creature's thick wrist, letting out an enraged grunt with each impact.

"Let. Her. Go!"

The Gargoyle shrieked. It pulled its arm back sharply, roaring at Apple Bloom. She ignored it, grabbing her big sister and dragging her back to the group as fast as she could. The swipe of sharp claws barely missed her rump. Everypony else just stood there, watching on in awe.

"Apple Bloom..." Twilight gaped. "That was-"

"Impressive for a little filly? I know."

Once Applejack was safely behind her friends, Apple Bloom laid her down, watching in concern as she gasped for air in rapid, desperate gulps. Apple bloom pouted, putting a comforting hoof on AJ's shoulder.

"Just breathe, sis." She was trying to sound confident, but couldn't mask her panic.

"App- aah... Apple Bloom, you saved me."

"I'm just glad you're okay Applejack." The filly mumbled, tracing a few little circles in the ground with her hoof.

"And I'm glad you came out here to rescue me." Applejack replied. Her little sister's head shot up, eyes wide.

"Wait, you are?" She squeaked.

Applejack just smiled. Taking one final deep breath, she rolled onto her hooves, adjusted her hat, and grinned.

"Now come on. I don't like that way that thing's lookin' at our friends."

The Gargoyle stared down the group. Starburst, Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow, and Fluttershy stood side by side, ready for its next move. Growling suddenly, the creature flapped its wings and lunged straight for Rainbow. Three horns sparked, two sets of wings flared, and Rainbow stared right back as the Gargoyle... changed direction?

It swerved, turning away, and rammed straight into Starburst. She screamed as she was tackled to the ground, sharp fangs inches from her face.

"Starburst!"

Rainbow lunged at the Gargoyle, only to be swatted away smugly. The impact from its heavy forearm slammed her into a nearby tree. Twilight reached out with her telekinesis, but couldn't grab Dash in time. She teleported over, rushing to Rainbow's side.

"Rainbow! Are you alright??" Twilight cried.

"Oww... That thing is fast..."

"I know. I wasn't expecting it to be so powerful..."

She helped Rainbow back up gently, then turned to survey the scene before her. Applejack was doubled over on the ground, clutching her ribs and gasping. Apple Bloom and Fluttershy were tending to her, but there wasn't much they could do for a possible broken rib out here. Rarity was behind the Gargoyle, and had its wings in the firm grip of her telekinesis. She was pulling them upward in an attempt to keep it off Starburst, who was pushing it away with her own magic.

"Rainbow?" Twilight said, turning to her pegasus friend.

"Yeah?"

"Stay back."

Twilight concentrated. Her horn glowed brightly, and she disappeared in a flash of light. A similar flash underneath the Gargoyle drew Rainbow's gaze, and she watched as Starburst reappeared a safe distance away from her attacker. Twilight appeared between the two and threw up a shield. She hunkered down, meeting the Gargoyle's ferocious glare with one of her own. Twilight watched as it drew back and punched the violet bubble that kept it from reaching Starburst. A soft cry was pulled from her throat as she pushed to compensate for the added force, leaning forward.

"Twilight!" Starburst cried, standing up and walking over to her. "Please, I can't let you put yourself in harm's way like this. It wants me. I brought it here, it's my responsibility."

"No! I'm not going to let it hurt you!"

"... You've only just met me."

"That doesn't matter." Twilight stated. "I'm not letting that Gargoyle anywhere near yo-AAAACK!"

Twilight's shield shattered as the Gargoyle punched through. Its claws shot forward, closing around Twilight's neck. The lavender mare let out a sharp yelp as her body was yanked into the air, the Gargoyle pulling back and glaring at her friends.

Starburst and the others rushed forward, prepared to do anything they could. Rainbow slammed into the creature's head, pummeling it mercilessly. Apple Bloom sprinted around and delivered a buck to the back of its knee. Roaring, it grabbed the pegasus by the tail and flung her away. She hit Fluttershy, and they both skidded backward into a tree. Turning on the spot with surprising speed, the Gargoyle grabbed Apple Bloom and slammed her to the ground. It held her there with a massive talon, roaring angrily. The filly screamed for her big sister, struggling futilely as it bared its fangs. Her panicked cry ended abruptly as it jabbed her with a claw, and her body disappeared in a flash of light.

"Apple Bloom! APPLE BLOOM, NO!" Applejack shot to her hooves, biting back the pain, and raced forward. She screamed when Fluttershy grabbed her and held her back.

"What are you doing?! Let go! Apple Bloom's... I have to get to-I have to save her! She could be anywh-"

"Applejack I'm sorry! There's nothing you can do now! You have to stay still, you'll only aggravate your injury!"

"Let me go Fluttershy! I've gotta-

"No! You're going to stay here where I can keep you safe! I'm not letting you get hurt again!" Fluttershy shouted, transfixing Applejack with an authoritative glare. The Earth pony stopped. She sat down, and Fluttershy held her.

The Gargoyle focused its attention back on Twilight. It grinned wickedly, watching her friends' reactions as it held her up for them to see. Her breathing came in short, sharp gasps, and she grasped at its claws uselessly with her hooves. Her legs kicked in the air. Her friends were running out of options. They couldn't get anywhere near it safely, and their attacks barely harmed it. Rarity and Starburst ignited their horns, combining their efforts as they struggled to loosen the Gargoyle's grip.

"It's too strong!" Starburst cried.

"We have to try, Starburst!" Rarity growled back. "Pull harder!"

"You can teleport away Twilight!" Pinkie shouted hopefully.

Twilight let out a breathless whimper as her struggling ceased. Her eyes rolled back into her head as her body went slack.

"Twilight no! No! Teleport out! You can do this!" Pinkie wailed. There was no reply. Twilight's body hung limply, not moving.

"TWILIGHT!" Pinkie screamed. Twilight roused at the sound of her voice. She grit her teeth, and her horn fizzled a few times, but nothing happened. Rarity grabbed Starburst and shook her.

"You have to do it! You can teleport her away! You're an alicorn!"

Starburst bit her lip. "I don't know how... I.. I.."

"Do something!!" The unicorn screamed. She turned back to the Gargoyle, and her alabaster horn glowed brightly. With a strained yowl, Rarity managed to wrench open the Gargoyle's grip for a moment, allowing Twilight a single breath. Everypony breathed a small sigh of relief. The claws around Twilight's neck tightened once more, and the Gargoyle laughed.

"We've given her time. We need..." Rainbow growled. "It's just standing there! Watching us!" She snorted angrily, stamping her hooves.

Rarity was shaking. She glared at the creature with an intensity that could melt rock. With an enraged roar, her horn erupted, and the Gargoyle howled in agony. It thrashed wildly, holding its face and growling. Rarity glared as the creature shook itself off and sneered at her. It held Twilight up, squeezing even harder, and felt its empty eye socket with its free claw.

The severed orb floated over to Rarity, landing on the ground. She raised her hoof, holding it above the eyeball threateningly.

"You're not going to hurt Twilight. Let her go, or the other eye goes too."

"Rarity..." Rainbow gasped.

Twilight cried out as the grip around her neck tightened. The Gargoyle snarled at Rarity, brandishing the lavender mare at her. Rarity knew that it wouldn't let go.

"This isn't working. We need something else. We... I don't know what we need!" Starburst cried. She concentrated, pouring as much magic into her horn as she could, trying something, anything. There had to be a spell that could save Twilight...

The alicorn was drawing a blank. She had no spells on hoof, and there was nothing she could do. She had brought the beast here, and it was killing her friend. It was her fault. Her horn glowed, and she desperately prepared her strongest magical blast.

But then, something happened.

A white-hot surge coursed up the length of her horn, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Her body erupted in flames, a searing-hot burst of heat that seemed to explode from within her. The inferno swirled into a howling vortex that illuminated the area with orange light. Everypony could feel the sheer, intense heat radiating from it. Starburst's glowing form was visible at the base, and the light snuffed out suddenly.

The Sun rose.

The clearing was bathed in Sunlight. A loud shriek was heard as the Gargoyle's body began to petrify. It writhed and struggled, unable to move its legs. Twilight fell to the ground like a stone, gasping for breath. She clutched at her sides and neck, trying to hold herself steady as her body quaked. Her friends were at her side in seconds. Rainbow shot over like a bullet, pulling her into a hug.

"Breathe. Just breathe Twilight."

Pinkie and Fluttershy stood there, silently relieved. Rarity roared furiously, screaming profanities at the Gargoyle statue. With one swift buck, she toppled it and started punching it madly, screaming and howling at the top of her voice. Pinkie cantered over to her.

"Rarity?"

The unicorn ignored her, still screaming.

"Rarity, it's okay. You can stop now."

Rarity slammed her hooves into the ground, panting and glaring at the statue. Pinkie wrapped her hooves around the unicorn and pulled her back gently. Rarity complied hesitantly, keeping her eyes on the Gargoyle. Twilight stood up, taking a deep breath. She looked over at Applejack. The Earth pony sat there, holding her side and staring at the ground emptily.

"What in Tartarus is that thing?" She wondered aloud.

...

"Wait." Twilight said. "It's the middle of the night. Why is the Sun out?"

"I think Starburst did it..." Fluttershy replied. Everypony turned to look at her. She was still standing in the same spot, doubled over. Her horn glowed brightly. She gasped, wincing. They all rushed over.

"Starburst? The Sun is out. Did... did you do that?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know what's happening... It reached out to me. The Sun, it's sentient. It accepted me, it wanted to help..."

"Girls? Look. Her cutie mark." Pinkie said.

Twilight backed away. "No, that's... that's not possible. How can that be-"

She was cut off by a scream. Starburst's body began to glow with a gentle, soft yellow light. Her eyes opened, and they glowed from within. Her body began to change, legs and neck lengthening. Starburst's wings opened as she grew, and her wingspan increased. Splashes of pink and blue blossomed from her head and rump, forging a stripe through her mane and tail. The length of her horn doubled. The light faded, and her mane began to undulate.

"What's happening to me?" She gasped. "Oh, my... my voice!"

Everypony stared in complete and utter shock. They barely blinked. Starburst looked at them worriedly, frowning as she flexed her wings.

"I'm taller..." She mumbled, looking over her body. "and my cutie mark... It's a Sun emblem." Her eyes trailed down to her tail, watching as it waved, curling around her. She looked at her mane, and smiled. "Pink, green and blue. Just like my brother and sister..." She turned to the group, smiling awkwardly.

"Are you alright Twilight? I'm so glad we managed to stop that Gargoyle. If I had known earlier that I could raise the Sun..."

Twilight sat there gaping at her. She licked her lips.

"... Princess Celestia?"

Starburst looked at her blankly.

"She means you." Rainbow pointed out. "You look exactly like Princess Celestia."

"You are Princess Celestia..." Rarity murmured, unable to quite believe it.

"No, that's... I'm not a Princess..." Starburst shook her head, backing away. Her bewildered expression disappeared as the clearing was shrouded in darkness.

"The Sun's setting!"

"Now?!"

"The Gargoyle!"

"Princess! The Sun!"

They all fumbled about in the darkness, panicking. Celestia's horn glowed just in time for everypony to see the Gargoyle tackle her to the ground. She shrieked, casting a spell as the Gargoyle poked her.

They both disappeared with a bright flash, and everything was dark once more.