Scorpion walked through the streets of Ponyville, his mind still floating with his contrasting thoughts. He had gained Fluttershy’s trust, but she had called him a friend to her. He didn’t think of her as such, not in the slightest. He only saw her as a means to an end. Gaining her trust brought him a step closer to Celestia, and killing her would bring his family and clan back.

‘I will not fail them this time,’ Scorpion said to himself, thinking back to when Raiden had promised Scorpion a chance to have his family and clan returned to the realm of the living. However, Scorpion’s lust for revenge had gotten the better of him then. This time, he was going to succeed in bringing them back. Nothing was going to stop him, especially not these ponies.

As Scorpion continued to walk through Ponyville, he continued to receive the glares and stares of the many ponies. Some were amazed, and some, or rather most, were afraid. A good amount of them even glared at him with hatred, but he glared right back at them, which sent them into fearful frenzies. Scorpion still paid little mind to them, as he was set on a path for the Carousal Boutique. He was to meet Rarity to help her next.

Knocking on the door to the building, Rarity answered with a disgusted look on her face.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said plainly, trying not to look at Scorpion.

“I was told by Twilight that you had something for me to help you with. What is it?” he asked her. He tried to enter, but she simply pushed him back with her magic. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

“Well, to start, I hope you don’t expect to be allowed inside my home. That will not be happening. As for the task I have in mind, I will explain on the way. First, we must get Spike,” Rarity said as she started to walk, keeping a distance from Scorpion.

“Spike? What does he have to do with this?” Scorpion asked, following her.

“Well, I recently received an order for a dress line that includes the use of gems. Spike is the perfect candidate to dig them up, but both he is too small to pull the cart I will be bringing, and I refuse to put that dirty thing on me. That is where you come in.” Rarity turned around back to the Boutique and magicked out a large cart.

“If you can use your magic to pull the cart, why do you need me?” Scorpion asked.

“The cart is empty now, Scorpion. When filled with the gems, it will be much heavier. And besides,” Rarity said, pulling out another cart. “I plan to get a lot of gems today.” Scorpion let out an aggravated sigh.

“Very well, let’s go then.” Scorpion started to pull both of the large carts. Unfilled, they were quite easy to pull. Scorpion was strong enough to pull both of them, and he had no doubt that even with the carts filled with gems, he would be able to pull them back home.

As he and Rarity arrived at the library, Twilight was already outside to greet them.

“Oh, hello you two. Rarity, is Scorpion behaving?” Twilight asked.

“I am no child, Twilight Sparkle. Do not treat me as such,” Scorpion said, giving her an angry stare. Twilight looked back to Rarity.

“Well, to answer your question Twilight, he’s been… acceptable, for the most part. He is definitely useful for manual labor.”

“Don’t abuse him Rarity. We don’t need him getting angry at any of us. Just try to get used to him please,” Twilight said. Spike shortly after came outside to greet Scorpion and Rarity.

“Oh, hey guys, what’s up?” he asked, trying to play it cool in front of Rarity.

“As a matter of fact, Scorpion and I will require your assistance for the day, Spikey Wikey,” Rarity said. Scorpion cringed at the hearing of that name. It sounded so unbearably cute and adorable. He wanted to punch Rarity in that moment, just to make sure she didn’t say it again. But, of course, he restrained himself.

“Oh, really, what for?” Spike asked.

“Rarity wants to use you to dig up some gems for her outfits,” Scorpion answered.

“Oh, I can do that, no problem. But… can I at least eat a few of the gems you get?” Spike asked, giving Rarity a puppy dog face.

“Of course you can Spike, I will just need to get enough gems for my order. Once that is done, any leftover or extra gems will be yours,” Rarity said. Spike immediately perked up and rushed back inside. He came back out a few moments later with a hardhat on his head. Scorpion looked at him confusedly, but both Twilight and Rarity giggled at the dragon. Scorpion decided to ignore it.

“Very well, shall we be off then?” he asked, turning to Rarity.

“Of course. Spike, come along.” Spike followed her as she started off. Scorpion looked at Twilight for a moment. She smiled and nodded at him. He surprisingly nodded back to her and followed Rarity and Spike, pulling the carts behind him.

‘Don’t let me down Scorpion,’ Twilight thought to herself, as she walked back into the library to continue with her work for the day.

Rarity led Scorpion and Spike to a prime spot for digging up gems on the outskirts of Ponyville. Rarity and Spike had done this before, except they had a nasty run in with some Diamond Dogs. Scorpion could only see a desolate landscape though. Sure, there were a few trees here and there, but not enough to make the area seem ripe with gems.

“This place does not seem very promising,” he said, still aggravated by the fact that he was left alone to lug around the two carts.

“It may not look like much, but believe me, it is ripe with gems. Now then, onto the hunt!” Rarity said, starting to scan the area with her horn. Scorpion looked confusedly at her, and then to Spike.

“She’s finding gems with her magic,” Spike told him. He simply nodded and continued to watch the mare at her work.

“How long will this take?” Scorpion asked.

“Well, based on the amount of gems I will require, probably about an hour or so. I’m sure you can find something to do. Help Spike dig up the gems that I find,” Rarity said, continuing her search. Her eyes suddenly beamed open, as she had found a spot. “Spike, over here!”

“On it,” the dragon said, walking over and beginning to dig up the gems. Once he had finished, he started to drool over the pile of gems in the ground. Rarity suddenly magicked them into one of the carts.

“Remember what I told you Spike. You will get your gems when we are finished.” Spike simply nodded and continued to follow her. Scorpion, on the other hand, walked over to the cart and pulled one gem out without Rarity noticing. He slipped it in his belt and walked over to the two of them.

Rarity soon found another spot filled with gems. And another, and another, and another. Soon enough, she had filled up one whole cart, and she was already working on filling the second one. Rarity took a moment to check her inventory. Now was Scorpion’s chance. He knelt down next to Spike and showed him the gem. He started to whisper to the dragon.

“Take it, quickly,” he said.

“What, no. You heard Rarity. I don’t get any until we’re done.”

“Stop letting her deny you of what you want and just take the damn gem,” Scorpion said, putting it in Spike’s hands. He looked at the gem, and then to Rarity.

“Well… ah, what the heck.” Spike ate the small gem in one whole bite, savoring every second of it. He quickly swallowed and let out a quiet burp. Rarity looked back at him with disgust.

“Please Spike, have some manners,” she said, turning back to the cart. She didn’t suspect a thing. Spike turned back to Scorpion.

“Thanks.”

“Think nothing of it,” Scorpion responded, standing up to his full height. “Rarity, how many more gems do you require?”

“Well, if we can fill the second cart to its brim, then we should be fine. It shouldn’t take us too long,” Rarity answered, getting back to her search. She didn’t want to admit it, but she almost felt a little safe now in Scorpion’s presence. When they first met, she despised him and wanted nothing to do with him. Now, having worked with him for a while, she had grown to like him a bit. Scorpion still thought little of her, but she thought a bit more of him.

Little did the three of them know, however, that they were being watched. Much like Rarity, there are others that desire the acquisition of gems. Three Diamond Dogs had been watching in amazement as this two-legged creature assisted the pony and dragon in their search for the gems. They spoke quietly to each other.

“That tall creature could help us,” one of them said.

“We should capture him, along with the pony,” another said.

“And this time, we have a muzzle to muzzle her muzzle!” the third said in excitement. The other two looked at with aggravated looks. The third dog simply shrugged and looked back to the unsuspecting trio.

“When should we attack?” he asked.

“Why not now?” the second said.

“Let’s get them,” the leader said.

From behind Rarity, Spike, and Scorpion, the three Diamond Dogs jumped out on the unsuspecting targets. The biggest of the three dogs pushed Spike on his back to keep him out of the way, then grabbed Rarity. The other two dogs started to attack Scorpion.

“What is this?!” he shouted, standing ready to fight. “Do you wish to die?!”

“Oh no, no death is required here. All we require is your undying service,” the leader of the pack said, whipping out a chain and latching it onto Scorpion’s right hand. He grunted in surprise as the second dog whipped out a chain, latching it onto Scorpion’s left hand. They pulled back as Scorpion started to struggle.

“Let him go you dirty mutts, and more importantly, LET ME GO!” Rarity shouted, squirming around in the bigger dog’s grasp.

“Shut it, tiny pony,” he ordered.

Scorpion continued his struggle, trying to pull back on the chains, but it didn’t work. As nimble as these two mutts looked, they were quite strong. Scorpion, however, had the upper hand over them. He teleported into the ground, dragging the chains downward with him. This caused the two dogs to smack into each other. They stood there, dazed and confused. Finally getting recomposed, they started to look around.

“Where’d he go?” one of them asked. He got his answer when Scorpion appeared right in front of them. The two dogs stood in surprise. They couldn’t even react, as Scorpion pulled back both of his fists.

Everything went black and white for Scorpion, Rarity, Spike, and the dogs. As Scorpion brought his fists forward, everything went into slow motion. As Scorpion’s fists collided with the faces of the two dogs, Rarity, Spike, and the third Diamond Dog got a really good look at what was going on inside the skulls of the two dogs that were at the mercy of Scorpion. Every bone in their jaws had been broken, and even their noses had been broken. Even their screams came out in slow motion. They both fell to the floor. Scorpion leaped into the air, doing a flip in mid-air. He landed with a hard stomp on the chests of the Diamond Dogs, effectively breaking every rib in their bodies. The third dog, Rarity, and Spike got a real good look at that too, getting to see every rib crack and break.

Scorpion flipped off the two dogs, who were now crying in pain. They both began to spit up blood as Scorpion drew his blades.

“Enough of this! If you wish to die so be it!” he said, holding his blade underhanded and raising them above his head.

“Scorpion, stop!” Rarity shouted. Scorpion looked to her, as she was still being held in the arms of the third dog. He immediately dropped her and ran off. Rarity cautiously stood and stared at Scorpion. “You don’t need to kill them.”

“They attacked us.”

“Well, I can agree that they deserved the… devious, thrashing that you gave them, but that’s no reason for them to die. Just let them go. Besides, I’m sure they’ve learned their lesson.” As Rarity finished, Scorpion sheathed his blades and looked down to the Diamond Dogs.

“Leave, now,” he said. They didn’t need to be told twice. They groggily got back up and slowly ran off. Scorpion looked to Spike and Rarity.

“How did you do that?” Spike asked.

“What?” Scorpion responded.

“Make everything go all black and white and slow motion,” Spike added.

“I must say Scorpion, that was quite… violent. Did you not see their every bone break beneath your powerful strikes?” Rarity asked.

“I do not understand. I simply delivered powerful blows to those filly creatures. I could feel their bones break beneath my might, but I did not see anything. Are you sure you two are alright and haven’t suffered any head injuries of your own?” Scorpion asked. Spike and Rarity looked to each other in confusion. They both decided, however, to drop the subject.

“Well, for whatever it is worth Scorpion, I thank you for protecting Spike and I,” Rarity said, bowing her head.

“Yeah, you really showed them Scorpion,” Spike said, nudging his leg. Scorpion simply chuckled.

“No thanks are required. What was I to do? Let them capture you and myself? I could not allow it.”

“I never knew you could be so modest Scorpion,” Rarity said. “I assure you, you have done Spike and I a great favor. You helped us get all these gems, and you saved us from those filthy Diamond Dogs. Such efforts must not go unrewarded. I shall have to think of something for you. Besides, you also helped Fluttershy, and her being one of my closest friends, you are indeed in need of a reward.” Scorpion simply chuckled again and knelt down to the pony.

“If you think that a reward is in order, then I shall not stop you. Thank you Rarity,” Scorpion said, nodding his head.

“No Scorpion, thank you,” she said. She turned back to her carts of gems. “Now then, as for you Spike, you’ve been patient enough, and it’s time you got your reward for the day.” She magicked to him two gems.

“Thanks Rarity,” he said, quickly throwing them into his mouth and chewing them to pieces. He swallowed and let out a more noticeable burp than before. “Excuse me.” Both Scorpion and Rarity couldn’t help but laugh at the dragon.

“Well then, shall we be off?” Rarity said.

“I’ve got the carts,” Scorpion said. He pulled on the ropes that were tied to the carts and followed both Rarity and Spike. The now filled carts were a lot heavier than before, but Scorpion expected this. But, as the three walked back, more thoughts started to run through his mind. Rarity was generous enough to offer Scorpion a reward. Sure, she hadn’t presented it to him yet, but she wanted to give him a reward. Why would she do something like that for him? Once again, these contrasting thoughts scrambled around in Scorpion’s mind.

‘Do not lose focus, Scorpion. You are here to kill Celestia. The lives of your family and clan are in your hands,’ Scorpion thought to himself. He would not fail them again.

Author's Notes:

Woohoo! Updates! Again, I apologize that this took so long to get out. But, in any case, it looks like Scorpion's got Rarity on his side now too. But, will his thoughts of his family and clan keep him on track with his mission, or will the continued friendships of the ponies stop him. Who knows?