Star Narrow Path

"HELP!"

Apple Bloom screamed her plea into the night sky as they trotted along the narrow path.

"Nopony's going to hear you!" Scootaloo told her.

"How do ya'll know that?" Replied Apple Bloom.

"We're in the middle of the Everfree Forest! Nopony can hear you but us," Scootaloo pointed out, "But I've gotta say Apple Bloom, you've got some pipes!"

"An' how does me havin' pipes help us get out of this creepy place?"

"It doesn't. It was just a complement."

"Why ah'd like to give ya'll-"

"GIRLS!" Star Shower gave the arguing fillies an angry look, and their quarrel wilted.

"We should'da never asked ter come with Star Shower! Or else ah would've been home by now!" Apple Bloom wailed.

Dinky nodded in agreement. There was a little sniffle, and they all stopped and saw Sweetie Belle standing, silent tears pouring down her face, and dripping off her muzzle.

"Are you okay?" Star Shower asked gently.

"I can't get the image of that pony out of my head!" Sweetie Belle cried, "She's just there. Permanently!"

"What pony?" Star Shower asked. Scootaloo turned and explained about the mysterious blank-flanked pegasus.

"Then you arrived, and she was gone!" Scootaloo said.

"That ain't exactly how it happened," Apple Bloom said.

"So? That just means that my talent isn't telling stories!" Scootaloo retorted. Apple Bloom opened her mouth to argue, but closed it as she saw the look on Star Shower's face.

"Look girls, we're not going to get out of here faster if we keep arguing. Dinky, separate Scootaloo and Apple Bloom," Star Shower ordered. Dinky nodded. She inched around Apple Bloom with difficulty, and separated the pair. Out of the blue, there was a rustling, and a pony jumped out of the plants. They screamed in terror, and Star Shower's horn glowed brigher, ready to fire a laser at the pony.

"No, wait! I come in peace!" Whispered the pony, "Listen to me, your walking on the wrong path! Trust me, you want to follow me! I lead you home!"

"How do you know we can trust you?" Scootaloo demanded.

"Please trust me!" The pony begged, "Listen, do you remember that little pegasus filly?"

"Y...yes!" Sweetie Belle sniffled.

"I was trying to lead her to the right path...and she decided to play a game of chase with me," The pony sighed, "She ran back the way we came, and scared you. She ran into the other side and was killed. Her body is currently being digested. Every bone of it. Now the creature that ate her, is stalking you, waiting for a chance to eat you too. I can help you loose him. Please, please trust me!" She looked pleadingly at them.

"We have no choice," Star Shower told the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "We have to trust her." She turned towards the pony.

"You trust me?" She asked.

"Yes," Star Shower said, "Lead us home." The pony nodded, and led them into the forest, not seeing the smirk growing on her face.