My Evening Star

The scorpion raises its tail, showing off the deadly point that was ready to pierce any target brave enough to come near it. Applejack takes the challenge. She rushes towards the monster and jumps on its back. Startled, the scorpion staggers back and forth, trying to shake the orange pony off. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy seize the opportunity Applejack had given them. With a length of rope in their hooves, the pegesi dive down on the incapacitated scorpion. The deadly tail is caught by the rope and pulled down until it is flat against the scorpion's back. Applejack dives off to avoid the falling tail.

"Go, Fluttershy! Get under its legs!" Rainbow Dash encourages as she does the same.

The pegesi loop underneath the terrified scorpion, and they tie the monster's tail down. Twilight lowers her horn and launches several bolts of magic at the scorpion's head. The magic harmlessly deflects off of the monster's shell, causing several trees off to the side to explode into splinters.

"Hey, you!" Twilight taunts. "Come and get me!"

It wasn't her brightest idea, taunting a giant, killer scorpion. Twilight almost regrets the plan all together, but it was too late. It works, and the scorpion takes the bait. Its tail may have been defeated, but the monster's two front pincers were still fully operational. Twilight takes a couple nervous steps backwards, but she holds her ground. The scorpion was falling right into her trap. The scorpion realizes this all to late, and it hits a trip wire set up by Rarity. The monster is instantly bagged in a mesh net and hoisted into the air. It tries to cut through the net, but the silk is too strong.

"Oh, I wouldn't try that, darling..." Rarity says. "That silk is specially crafted, and it will not tear so easily."

The scorpion ignores her and continues anyway. To finish the monster off, Pinkie Pie blasts the beast in face with her signature air-powered confetti cannon. At last, the scorpion gives up, and its claws hang loosely as it sadly scrapes the dirt.

"Twilight, I do hope you aren't planning to leave this creature dangling like this forever." Rarity says, sympathetically.

Twilight shakes her head.

"Of course not, Rarity. We'll let him go when we can find a way to get him back to the Dead Lands."

The scorpion shifts excitedly at the mention of his home.

"That is a mighty good idea, Twilight." Applejack agrees. "Besides, those crazy villagers will be be even more relieved to find out that this fella wasn't trying to terrorize them. He just got a little lost."

"A little 'lost'?" Rainbow Dash scoffs. "The Dead Lands are, like, a thousand miles away! How in Equestria are we going to get him there?"

Twilight smiles at the blue pegasus.

"Rainbow Dash, when you know the princesses like we do, everything is possible." Twilight says with a content sigh.

It was a job well done. A lost 'monster' was incapacitated, and a village was saved. All they needed to do now is return to the village, give the villagers the good news, and return to Ponyville. That was the plan, anyway. Unfortunately, things don't always go according to plan...

***

The silence is broken instantly by the return of the mane six. The villagers burst into cheers and stomping hooves. They threw hay and grass along the dirt road as the 'Equestrian Outsiders' approached. The village chief, flanked by his daughter, steps forward to greet them. Twilight and her friends stand before the chief, now. They lower their heads as a greeting gesture. The chief lowers his head in return. Then, he raises his right hoof to quiet the roaring villagers. When they are quiet, he turns his attention to the mane six to speak.

"My little ponies, when you first entered our village, you were outsiders. You claimed a magical 'map' had guided you here to solve a friendship problem. We were skeptical, at first, and we were afraid. We have always though of outsiders as evil and selfish ponies, but you have proved us wrong. Not only did you help our blacksmith and his wife come past their ridiculous feud, but you went out of your way to stop the certain destruction of our village at the claws of that scorpion. You are no longer outsiders, my little ponies, you are now friends of the Blackstar Tribe!"

The village erupts into cheers once again. Twilight couldn't help feeling good about herself. Her chest pounded with a sense of pride she had rarely felt. She felt accomplished, and she felt like she could do anything the world threw at her. The chief raises his hoof again to quiet the villagers.

"As new friends of the Star Tribe," He says. "We request that you celebrate these victories with us. It is only fair that we fill your bellies with food and drink before your long voyage home."

Twilight was blushing even harder, now. A celebration wasn't a part of her plan. They were going to head back to Ponyville. She looks back at her friends.

"What do you gals think? Ponyville doesn't need us right this second, does it?" Twilight asks them.

They shake their heads eagerly. They wanted to party with the Blackstar Tribe just as badly as Twilight did. The purple alicorn grins from ear to ear as she turns back to the chief.

"We would be honored to celebrate with you, your grace." She says with a low bow.

"Ha!" The chief roars. "This will be a day long remembered! We will sing songs of you for generations to come! The stars in Princess Luna's sky will paint your pictures above to watch over us during the night! Come! Let us waist no time. Pink mare, let loose your cannon of parties!"

Pinkie Pie didn't need to be told twice. She pulls her party cannon out of thin air, gives it a swift kick, and launches confetti into the trees. The villagers completely lose it. They cheer wildly as they welcome the mane six into their hooves. The celebrations had begun. A makeshift bar was erected by the pond in the village's center. Tables were set up and filled to the brim with salads, breads, and beautiful sculptures of hay and bark. Honorary rose petal necklaces were given to the heroes as tokens of friendship.

"This party is wild!" Rainbow Dash yells as inhales a plate of green leaves.

"I'm in mind with Rainbow." Rarity agrees giddily as a couple villagers offer her a bouquet of flowers. "These ponies are just to kind."

Twilight smiles. She was glad her friends were enjoying themselves, but she needed a drink. The battle with the scorpion had left her parched and quite hungry. Twilight excuses herself, and she makes her way to the bar. The villager serving drinks gives her a gracious bow.

"Good evening, friend!" He says excitedly. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Twilight nods eagerly as she thirstily eyes the sparkled waters and fruit-flavored beverages. Just as she was about to point her hoof at a tasty-looking red liquid, some pony taps her shoulder. Twilight spins around. It was a golden unicorn, the chief's daughter. In the cloud of her magic, she held a clear beverage. The golden mare offers Twilight the beverage. Thirsty beyond all belief, Twilight takes it. The chief's daughter watches with intensity as Twilight gulps down the soothing drink. It wasn't water. It looked like water, but it tasted like sweet honey and chocolate. It warmed her throat and chest to an unknown level of comfort.

"W-Wow..." Twilight moans as she eyes the empty glass. "That stuff was... great..."

"I am glad you liked it, Twilight Sparkle." The golden mare says happily. "W-Would you care to... dance with me?"

Twilight looks around her. The festivities were just beginning. Villagers, plus a few of her friends, were dancing in large circles around the pond. After drinking that strange beverage, Twilight felt compelled to join them.

"Of course I'll join you, uh..."

"My name is Sadri." The golden mare reminds her with a sweet laugh.

"Right..." Twilight says, her cheeks burning red.

Before she knew it, Sadri was pulling her away from the bar and into the dancing rings. Twilight is instantly caught in the moment. The festive music and laughter lifts her spirits until she twirling in circles with Sadri in her hooves. Sadri laughs as she tightens her grip around Twilight. The two mares spin until they fall down. They continue to laugh. Sadri tries to stand, but her hooves are tangled in Twilight's and they both fall again. This time, Sadri crawls on top of Twilight. The purple unicorn watches as she pulls a silver broach off of her neck. It was laced with gold trimmings, and a bright emerald was shining in the center. Sadri offers it to Twilight. Not wanting to be rude or upset Sadri, she takes the gift and puts it around her own neck. Sadri beams with joy.

"Oh, Twilight Sparkle, t-this makes me so happy..." She stutters.

Then, she leans forward and kisses Twilight full on the lips. Twilight gasps before she passes out.

***TO BE CONTINUED***