//------------------------------//
// Giggle with the Gargoyles 
// Story: Count's Traveling Haunted House 
// by misskoifishpony 
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A circular opening appeared the right side of a hallway filled with large stone Gargoyles holding fiery torches. The opening echoed the screams of Pinkie Pie and the three fillies following her. After two minutes of straight screams of terror, the group of ponies finally landed into this hallway. But in the process, landed into a jumbled pony pile with Pinkie Pie on top. This made the fillies groan in pain, feeling the immense pressure on their spines. Gummy popped his head out of Pinkie's mane, showing how dizzy he was by the swirling in his eyes and how his head followed in this motion.

Pinkie Pie clumsily got off the CMC, still feeling like the room was spinning all around her. "Let's do it again! Let's do it again! Let's…" Then Pinkie Pie collapsed on the floor.

As the CMC detangled themselves from the pile, Apple Bloom still dizzy from the ride commented "Let's…not do that again."

Scootaloo looked around and asked "Where are you we?"

This made the other ponies look around, and they noticed the Gargoyle statues that surrounded them. But they were thankful that the hallways was lit, giving those monsters they meet earlier less chances to spook them.

Pinkie Pie turned her head all around, with a very analytical and serious expression on her face. She concluded "It looks like…we're in…the Gargoyle Hallway!"

Sweetie Belle responded "How do you know that Pinkie?"

Pinkie Pie answered cheerfully "Because of the Gargoyles silly!"

Sweetie Belle sighed "I was hoping you knew because you had a map on you."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom sighed together "Yeah."

Pinkie Pie noticed the 'down in the dumps' looks on their faces, and cheered "It'll be okay. We don't need a map! Especially for a super duper fun haunted house! Besides, ponies don't usually make haunted houses hard to navigate through, it's not like they want to trap us in here forever and ever!"

Scootaloo said to Pinkie "Are you sure about that Pinkie? Did you see those monsters back there? They didn't look like some fillies trick or treating. They looked like the real deal…not that I'm scared or anything."

Apple Bloom added "I agree with Scootaloo."

Sweetie Belle nodded her head in agreement.

Pinkie Pie then said with a smile "In my opinion, it doesn't matter if the boogie oggie monsters are real or not. Like my Granny Fine Pie once said, all we need to do is giggle at the ghosties!"

Scootaloo questioned "How does giggling at ghosts and monsters make them go away?"

Pinkie Pie answered "Giggling at the ghosties make the ghosties not ghosties anymore. Laughter can make even the scariest of things into fun and happy things!"

Scootaloo replied with a confused "Huh?"

After Scootaloo made her remark, she saw something starting to move behind Pinkie Pie. The supposedly lifeless statue on the wall began to step off their platforms. While carrying their torches, they slowly sneaked up to Pinkie Pie. They crouched their backs like lizards, and open their mighty wings to emphasize their terrifying presence. They flared their sharp rows of teeth and the fiery torches made the teeth gleam and shine.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle then noticed the monstrous gargoyles just above Pinkie's shoulder. The CMC huddled together in fear and tried to quietly warn Pinkie. But Pinkie Pie just smiled like she always does and said "I'll show ya."

The gargoyles opened their jaws wide, about to let out their colossal roars, but they were interrupted by a swift turn around by the pink pony in front of them. She gave them a sly smirk before blowing a loud and spitty raspberry at them.

The gargoyles were confused, as they kept glancing back forth within their group, trying to find an answer on this pony's behavior. Pinkie then did a variety of silly and goofy faces, accompanied by a variety of bending and twisty dance moves that went with each face. It looked like Pinkie was voguing without music. Not only were the gargoyles entranced by this strange behavior, but the three fillies behind the pink pony were enthralled in her little dance as well. No pony or gargoyle in the room didn't know what to do, as Pinkie Pie continued in her interpretive dance. Even Gummy joined in his owner's fun, by imitating her hoof and arm movements while remaining still and stoic in his owner's mane.

Eventually, the gargoyles happily joined in Pinkie's goofy face dance with bright smiles on their faces and joyful yet hearty laughter escaping from their smiles. The CMC gasped at the sight of this. They couldn't understand how these scary monsters somehow gave in to Pinkie Pie's silliness. Just a minute ago, they were about to pounce on her and possibly eat her.

The group dance escalated quickly into the gargoyles beat boxing a beat while Pinkie and Gummy break danced on the floor. Gummy spinned into a ball on his side while his owner did the worm. The three fillies were amazed by their incredible flexibility. Once Pinkie and Gummy stopped dancing, the gargoyles let out a booming group laughter and gave high fives to the two dancers.

The CMC slowly and cautiously approached the happy group before them. The one of the gargoyles, looked like the leader of the monster gang, exclaimed to Pinkie "Haha for a cute little pink pony, you sure know how to bring a smile to a monster's face!"

Another gargoyle added "Although, I have a feeling we couldn't scare ya even if we try!"

The third gargoyle commented "I don't think any monster here can!"

The gargoyle leader then said "I don't care what old Batula says, we can't scare away a new friend. Especially a new friend with guts galore!" He gave a playful punch into Pinkie's arm, she giggled at his friendly gesture. But she still rubbed out her arm due to that gargoyle strength of his.

Gummy started to chew on each of the gargoyle's tail, to show a sign of acceptance and friendship which made the gargoyles chuckle. Pinkie saw the cautious fillies behind the gargoyles and shouted "C'mon silly fillies, come join in the fun!"

The gargoyles quickly turned around to face the small fillies. Once the gargoyles saw them, they gave them bright and toothy grins. This made the fillies feel uncomfortable and almost feel awkward around the strange creatures.

However, Pinkie Pie then reminds them "Remember girls, the giggling at the ghosties can make them not ghosties!"

The CMC looked at Pinkie Pie first before turning their attention back to the still grinning and slightly friendly gargoyles. Scootaloo was the first to offer her hoof to them and she nervously greeted "Hi…nice to meet ya."

The leader of the gargoyle took Scootaloo's hoof eagerly, and pulled her into a tight bear hug. The other two gargoyles joined into this hug. The leader then laughed "Pleasure to meet you too HAHA!"

Pinkie Pie was so thrilled and excited about this that she joined into the hug too while pulling in Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle with her. Pinkie Pie and the gargoyles giggled and snorted at this new bonding experience, while the three fillies were gasping for air.

Luckily for the CMC, the hug didn't last long and they were able to breathe again. Pinkie Pie then asked the gargoyles "Do you guys want to join us on our haunted house journey?"

The gargoyle leader answered with gusto "We would be delighted! In fact, we can take the short cut to the exit. We know the best routes with the best scarers."

Pinkie Pie screamed cheerfully "PERFECT!" This began the odd little group's journey down the hallway and deeper into the mysterious haunted castle.