//------------------------------// // The Sting of Scorpion // Story: Pinkie Pie: The Amazing Spider Mare // by SuperPinkBrony12 //------------------------------// Despite being happy with her life after moving in with The Cakes, Pinkie Pie could not bring herself to completly abandon her Aunt Suzanne. And she soon found a way to help her favorite aunt, using the web slinging superhero she had created. The Ponyville Express was a fine newspaper for a time, but not long after Twilight moved to town the paper fell from grace. New companies began selling their own newspapers, with the kind of stories a new generation of readers wanted to see. The Express still had a few loyal followers, but those dwindled by the day. Eventually, desperate measures had to be taken to save the failing newspaper. In a deal labled "The Bargain of The Century" local Ponyville business stallion Filthy Rich, owner of the successful Barnyard Bargains, bought the Express. Almost instantly the paper was transformed, but as the Gabby Gums incident proved all too well, if the paper didn't have some sort of attention grabbing story or article it would not last. Filthy Rich refused to see a business he had purchased be shut down, and so he made the faithful decision to hire a special photographer. This photographer would cover all sorts of events, but most importantly, the photographer would be tasked with obtaining photos of the one thing all of Equestria would not stop talking about. And that thing was, Spider Mare. One day, about a month after the discovery of The Tree of Harmony, and the subsequent visit to Celestia and Luna's old castle in search of clues for the mysterious box, Pinkie Pie stumbled across something in the pages of The Ponyville Express. It was a job offering. The offering read: Wanted: A photographer of any skill, preferably professional. Must be willing to risk life and limb to get a good scoop, and get the best shots possible. Photographer will be expected to obtain high quality photos of several events, but most importantly, photos of Spider Mare. Interested applicants please see the Editor in Chief, Filthy Rich Tiara at the desk of The Ponyville Express, and bring a sample of your work. Will pay 25 bits an hour for starting wage. This was just sort of the thing Pinkie Pie needed. The extra money from this photography job could be sent to Aunt Suzanne, who could spend it as she saw fit. The Cakes had a very flexable schedule, and if she cut back on a few excess parties Pinkie Pie could easily squeeze in the time to be a photographer. And she knew just how to obtain the best pictures of Spider Mare. All she needed to do was simply bring a camera along with her, whenever she was out fighting crime. She would use a bit of webbing to place the camera in just the right area, and set a timer on it, to capture every minute of the action. For the initial interview however, she just needed to dress up as Spider Mare and snap a few photos. Something she could easily do in her bedroom. The building that housed The Ponyville Express was a towering skyscraper, a type of building rarely seen in Ponyville. On the very top rested the company logo of a newspaper carriage running fast. Supposedly it was based off of the rumor of the Express' founder, who allgedly used his own carriage to deliver the news as soon it was off the presses. The interior was even more elegant than the exterior. Almost like a hotel instead of a newspaper, except for the many ponies, as well as the odd mule, donkey, or griffon, running about. Some worked at desks, some manned the presses, and some made use of a new technology called "radio" to obtain and gather information about developing news stories. It was hard to believe that despite all this chaos the company wasn't doing well. Pinkie Pie walked up to the front desk, where a white earth pony mare with a curly red mane and tail, black eyes, and a cutie mark depicting a stack of papers, greated her. "Hello." the mare said "Welcome to The Ponyville Express 'The Fastest Newspaper in Equestria'. My name is Quicken Loan, how may I help you?" "I'm here to see the editor in chief about the job offering." Pinkie Pie explained "I have some photos that I think he would very interested in seeing. I can totally imagine that he'll be blown away!" "Very well then. Please proceed to the elevator and take it up to the 11th floor. Mr. Rich's office will be on your left the instant you step out." Quicken Loan instructed "I'll let him know you're here. What is your name?" "Pinkie Pie." Pinkie Pie said "Easy, peasy, nice and easy." "Ah, you must be Pinkie Pie." Filthy Rich said, greeting Pinkie Pie when she arrived in his office. "Please, do come in. I am very interested in what you have to offer." Pinkie Pie couldn't help but get the feeling Filthy Rich was interested in photos of Spider Mare for reasons other then just because everyone was talking about her. But she wasn't going to turn down this job offer because of it, unless it was something she knew was wrong. Filthy Rich's office was quite humble and plain. Almost like the interior of Barnyard Bargains. Pinkie Pie sat down in an office chair, and Filthy Rich took his seat at his desk. "Alright kid, I'm a very busy stallion and I haven't got all day." Filthy Rich said "I need photos! Photos of Spider Mare! But not just any photos, I need good photos! So far, none of the photographers I've interviewed have been able to provide that. So you'd better hope you have something I can work with. I have little patience for those who waste my time." "Well, see what you think of these." Pinkie Pie said, and opened an envelope. Inside it were pictures of Spider Mare in various poses. Filthy Rich looked over them with interest. "Amazing aren't I?" Pinkie Pie said. "Now these are the kind of photos I've been looking for. You're probably not an expert, but this is some very good quality stuff. You have a very unique way of capturing just the right amount of emotion and passion in your work." Filthy Rich exclaimed "Congratulations Pinkie Pie, as of today you're the special photographer for The Ponyville Express!" "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thaaaaank you!" Pinkie Pie said happily "You have no idea how much this means to me. I promise I won't let you down Filthy Rich." "Please, just call me Mr. Rich." Filthy Rich said. "Okay. But can I ask you something?" Pinkie Pie said. "Of course kid, what is it?" Filthy Rich asked. "Why do you want photos of Spider Mare? I doubt it's just because everyone's talking about her." Pinkie Pie said with concern. Filthy Rich grinned, but sighed at the same time "I like your reporter instincts Pinkie. It shows you're thinking. You see, the real reason I want photos of Spider Mare is because, I intend to show the public the truth. They all think Spider Mare is a hero, and maybe she is. But, what if she's not?" Filthy Rich explained. "You think Spider Mare is evil?" Pinkie Pie gasped. "No, it's not that far." Filthy Rich said, Pinkie Pie sighed with relief "At worst Spider Mare is a problem. Sure, she might be taking down criminals left and right. But you've seen how some of them are finding ways to evade her. And if they can evade Spider Mare they can certainly evade the law. And then there's that brief Mysterio incident from a few months ago. Spider Mare means well, I'll give her that. But she might be doing more harm then good with her web slinging antics. That's why I need photos. Without photos I can't prove my point to the public." "So you're going to print lies about her?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Not lies." Filthy Rich said "I'll mearly be showing both sides of the issues. It'll be up to the public to decide if Spider Mare is on our side. You don't have a problem with that, do you?" "Not as long as you 'Pinkie Promise' to only tell the truth with the photos I give you." Pinkie Pie said. "'Pinkie Promise' eh? Well, whatever floats your boat. I, Filthy Rich, 'Pinkie Promise' that I won't print lies about Spider Mare. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Filthy Rich said "And yes, I know that a 'Pinkie Promise' is never broken." "Then we shouldn't have any issues." Pinkie Pie said. And so, the deal was struck. Thanks to Pinkie Pie's photography skills The Ponyvill Express began to pick up new readers on a daily basis. Soon, everyone in town was reading it, and requests came pouring in for copies of it in cities like Manehattan and Fillydelphia. Per Pinkie's request she was not credited with the photos that were displayed. But she still earned the money the job offered, and every single bit of it was sent to her Aunt Suzanne. Meanwhile, Spider Mare was indeed busting criminals at an almost insane pace, and the police and royal guards couldn't help but sing her praises. But one question still remained, just who was it that was under Spider Mare's mask? Not everyone, however, was entirely thrilled with Spider Mare's crime busting spree. Filthy Rich believed he was perfectly justified in his fear, that Spider Mare might be creating foes more dangerous then the criminals she was trying to stop. And so, he pursued an option that would ultimately backfire, and create a danger far worse then Mysterio. Filthy Rich had many contacts and allies in various fields. Including the technology department. One of these contacts happened to working on a very complicated program. The intent was intially, to explore the uses of chemicals to treat diseases that had previously thought to have been incurable. But not long after Filthy Rich found out about it, he took charge and changed the program. Now the goal was to create a new crime fighting weapon that could rival even Spider Mare. To help take down those criminals that thought they were better then Spider Mare. It took several weeks of trial and error before a suitable prototype could be developed. Said prototype was a suit designed to look like, and enfused with, the powers of a scorpion. It was green, with a long, sharp stinger, which could spray acid strong enough to dissolve anything. Filthy Rich secretly lined up a list of potential test subjects, and screened them all. In the end, his wife, Diamond Sparkle Tiara II, was chosen. Both because she met all of the requirements, and because she had recently been diagnosed with a disease that would slowly, but eventually, kill her. Filthy Rich hoped that the chemicals within the suit would at the least extend his wife's life span long enough for a cure to be found. Alas, in life things rarely go as planned. Spider Mare did not take kindly to what Filthy Rich was doing, and the instant she found out about where the experiment was taking place, she stormed off. Determined to set the stallion straight before he did something stupid. "You're playing with things you shouldn't be playing around with." she said sternly. "You can't tell me what I can and can't do Spider Mare!" Filthy Rich snapped "I'll do whatever I think is the right course of action. If you have a problem with then take it up with my laywers. But I can't waste my time worrying about your idle threats!" "It's not idle, and this isn't a threat. This is serious! What makes you think this little 'creation' of yours will work? What if it turns on you?" Spider Mare warned. "I assure you, Spider Mare, that I have already thought of ways to keep my new weapon under control." Filthy Rich said crossly "So why don't you do me a favor and buzz off?! Go bother someone who actually cares!" "Would you just listen to me, please?" Spider Mare pleaded "I'm warning you, this is going to end badly. I know it. But it's not too late, you don't have to go through with this." "Sorry Spider Mare, but my decision has been made. And there's nothing you can do to stop me." Filthy Rich said "So leave now, before I lose my patience!" Spider Mare sighed "Very well then. But I tried to warn you." she said. "Just you wait Spider Mare! When my new creation is completed you won't have anything to be smug about. So enjoy the feeling while it lasts." Filthy Rich said. "I'll believe that when I see. Now, if you'll excuse me, a hero's work is never done." Spider Mare crossly, and swung away. "You'll be sorry Spider Mare. Just wait and see!" Filthy Rich thought to himself. "Are you sure about this dear?" Diamond Sparkle Tiara II asked her husband, as she was helped into the scorpion suit "What if something happens to me? What will our little Diamond Tiara have to say?" "Relax sweetheart." Filthy Rich reassured his wife "We've been working for a long time on this project, and we're certain we've got all the bugs worked out. "You don't have to do this. I'm sure Diamond Tiara will understand that there's nothing the doctors can do." Diamond Sparkle Tiara said. "I'm sure she would, but I would rather not have it come to that." Filthy Rich said "And look on the bright side. Even if this doesn't extend your life, at least it will provide you with something to do pass the time. It would sure beat just lounging around, waiting for the end to come." "If you say so." Diamond Sparkle Tiara II said. "Good." Filthy Rich smiled "Now then, let's begin the procedure! Are you ready Sparks?" Sparks was a red coated unicorn with a white mane and tail, and a cutie mark depicting an electrical wire. He was wearing a white lab coat. He was the pony that had first told Filthy Rich about the program. "Ready and waiting." he said. "Then what are we waiting for?! Start the sequence!" Filthy Rich instructed. Sparks did so. At first the procedured proceeded as planned, Diamond Sparkle Tiara II could feel the powers of the suit flowing into her body. She could also feel her energy being restored, as if the disease had never affected her in the first place. But then, something went wrong. Diamond Sparkle Tiara began to scream in pain as the power within the suit began to build up to dangerously high levels. It felt like the suit was bonding with her, sticking to her coat. Filthy Rich started to panic "What are you wating for?!" he shouted at Sparks "Shut off the power! We've got to pull the plug on this operation!" Sparks tried to do so, but the program wouldn't let him. The controls froze up. "I can't! It's not responding to my commands!" he shouted back. "Well don't just stand there, do something!" Filthy Rich commanded. "I'm trying!" Sparks said "This sort of thing has never happened before! Nothing I try seems to work!" "Hhhhhheeeeeeeeelllllllllpppppppp mmmmmmmeeeeeeeeee!" Diamond Sparkle Tiara cried, pleading despartely in the hopes that someone would stop this painful experience. "The system's overloading! It's gonna blow!" Sparks shouted "Hit the deck!" He ducked for cover, pulling Filthy Rich down with him. The electricity build up became too much for the machinery to take. A massive explosion ripped through the lab. Machines parts and broken glass flew everywhere. In another part of town Pinkie Pie was relaxing with her friends at the Ponyville spa. All of them talking about Spider Mare, and the unknown photographer who took such good pictures of her. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie's 'Pinkie Sense' started going crazy. This meant that someone was in serious trouble. It was obvious that Spider Mare was needed. She just needed to find a way to slip away without attracting attention to herself. Luckly, her friends were talking so much about Spider Mare that they weren't paying much attention to anything else. Pinkie Pie quickly, but quietly slipped away. "Looks like it's Spider Mare to the rescue!" she said, changing into her costume. When Spider Mare arrived at the location, the Ponyville Research Labs, smoke was already billowing out from the windows. The place was clearly already ablaze. She'd have to be careful. Fortunately, her costume was resistent to heat, and could block out some smoke. If she was quick she could go in, rescue the pony or ponies her 'Pinkie Sense' had warned her about, and get out. "Stay low to the ground! There's more air down here!" Sparks instructed. "Sweetheart?! Sweetheart where are you?!" Filthy Rich cried out "Yell if you can hear me!" There was no reply. "Stop yelling, save you energy!" Sparks said. "But what about my wife?!" Filthy Rich asked "Is she gonna be okay?" "I don't know. More then likely the heat and smoke will have gotten to her by now." Sparks said "I'm sorry, but I don't think she's gonna make it out of here." "No! That can't be true!" Filthy Rich cried. "We don't have time to worry about her!" Sparks said "We've got to get out of here, and fast!" "Never fear, your friendly neighborhood Spider Mare is here!" Spider Mare cried out, swinging onto the scene. "Spider Mare?!" Sparks asked. "Spider Mare!" Filthy Rich said sternly. "Don't worry guys, I'll get you out!" Spider Mare said "Grab hold of me, and hang on tight!" "What are you doing?!" Sparks and Filthy Rich asked. "Please keep your hooves inside the ride at all times! Thank you for flying Air Spider Mare!" Spider Mare said as the two stallions grabbed hold of her sides. Spider Mare shot a string of webbing at a nearby window, and swung out of it. She then shot another string of webbing to the nearby building sign, and brought the two stallions safely onto solid ground. The Ponyville Fire Department arrived a moment later. Within minutes the fire was out. "Oh thank you Spider Mare! You're a life saver! What would I have done without you?" Sparks said, thanking his rescuer. Filthy Rich however, was not so grateful. In his mind it was Spider Mare's fault that his beloved wife was likely dead. If Spider Mare weren't around he never would've gone through with this experiment. "Listen here Spider Mare!" he said sternly "I don't know what kind of publicity stunt you're trying to pull by saving my life, but it won't work! This is all your fault!" "My fault? Really? I fail to see how this is my fault." Spider Mare said innocently. "Just shut up! I don't need your help! Because of you my wife is dead!" Filthy Rich said. "Is that any way to thank the mare who just saved your life?" Spider Mare asked "I mean really, that's not very nice. No one likes a meanie pants." "If I want your opinion I'll gladly ask for it. Now why don't you do me a favor and just leave?!" Filthy Rich snapped. "Don't mind him Spider Mare, he's just in a bad mood." Sparks apologized "He'll calm down eventually." "Let's hope so." Spider Mare said "I hate seeing him so upset." And she left without another word. The Ponyville Fire Department conducted a search of the entire area the fire had engulfed. But they failed to find any signs of Diamond Sparkle Tiara. The only clue they found was a hole in one of the lab walls that looked like it had been made with acid. This meant that Diamond Sparkle Tiara II was likely alive. Where she had disappeared to was a mystery, one that no one could figure out. Filthy Rich ran several wanted ads in The Ponyville Express that described what his wife looked like. And even provided information on how to contact him if anyone should find her. But days roled by without any news, and Filthy Rich's mood and behavior took a turn for the worse. Even his daughter, Diamond Tiara, could sense that he wasn't his usual self. But the only thing that could cheer him up was news of his wife's whereabouts. Whenever she could, Pinkie Pie would head out as Spider Mare to conduct her own search. But even she failed to find anything. In the meantime she had more exciting adventures with her friends. Fixing up the old castle of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, becoming a "power pony", discovering a startling secret about the author of the Daring Do series, and seeing her friend Fluttershy inadvertly become a vampire fruit bat/pony hybrid. But all the while, her thoughts kept returning to Filthy Rich's missing wife. It just didn't make sense how a pony could escape a raging inferno, only to disappear without a trace. As the search continued into its third month, everyone was telling Filthy Rich to just give it up, and accept that his wife wasn't going to turn up. But Filthy Rich refused to give up until he either found his wife, or learned that she had died. Anyone who tried to convince him otherwise failed. And so, the search continued. Then, one day, while out and about in search of trouble, Spider Mare stumbled across something. She could see what looked like a pony in a scorpion suit spraying acid onto a bank wall. The acid dissolved the wall, allowing the costumed pony to break into the vault, steal the money stashed inside, and escape. Or so the pony thought. "Making a quick extraction huh?" Spider Mare asked, confronting the pony. By doing so she got a good look at who it was, and who she saw shocked her. The pony was a mare with a dark pink coat, a mane and tail consisting of alternating gold and silver locks, and pure blue eyes. It was Diamond Sparkle Tiara, and she was clad in a green scorpion suit. "So, what's it to you?" the mare asked. Spider Mare recovered from her shock "You're Diamond Sparkle Tiara II, Filthy Rich's wife! You're alive!" she said. "I am alive, but I'm no longer Diamond Sparkle Tiara II." the mare said "Thanks to that stallion who dares to call himself my husband, I am stuck in this suit. Now, I am Scorpion!" "Well, whoever you are, I'm sure Filthy Rich will be pleased to see that you're alive and kicking." Spider Mare said "Now I just need to contact him." Scorpion swung at Spider Mare with her tail "Don't ever mention that name!" she said furiously "That so called stallion used me as a guinea pig in his little 'science project', and this is the monster he created!" "You're not a monster. I'm sure there's a way to get you out of that suit." Spider Mare said, trying to reason with Scorpion "Now, why don't you just calm down and we can" "I don't want to hear it! That stallion doesn't deserve a mare like me anymore!" Scorpion hissed "After what he did he can consider our relationship terminated, permantely!" "Well, regardless of who you are, you're still breaking the law. And you know how much I hate law breakers." Spider Mare said, trying to smile "So, if I were you, I'd put that money back right now and surrender peacefully. I don't wanna hurt you." "Too bad! Because I want to hurt you!" Scorpion said "You're the reason Filthy Rich went ahead with that project in the first place! If you hadn't shown your pretty little head, everything would've been perfect!" Scorpion shot out a spray of acid from her tail, hoping to hit Spider Mare. Spider Mare's 'Spider Sense' allowed her to dodge it at the last minute. The acid struck a nearby wall, dissolving it with a loud hiss. "Whoa! Be careful where you aim that thing!" Spider Mare shouted "If you're not careful someone could get hurt!" "And why should you care? I'm a criminal, the law is no concern of mine!" Scorpion boasted "You and Filthy Rich created me, and now all of Equestria shall suffer because of it!" "Stop blaiming me for what happened!" Spider Mare said "It was an accident!" "So that pathetic excuse for a stallion says. But my current condition begs to differ!" Scorpion hissed, shooting out more acid that Spider Mare narrowly dodged. "I didn't want to have to do this! But you left me no choice!" Spider Mare said, and fired a ball of webbing into Scorpion's stinger. She then fired two strings of webbing while Scorpion was distracted, preventing Scorpion from moving. "That should hold you." Spider Mare said with confidence "Now then, I think it's time for you to go home. I'm sure my good buddy Princess Twilight can get you out of that suit. And I know your daughter will be happy to see you again." "I told you....I'M NEVER GOING BACK!" Scorpion shouted, breaking free of the web strings that held her to the ground. Scorpion then dissolved the webbing around her stinger, and swung it hard at Spider Mare. Spider Mare was caught off guard, and was knocked into a wall that crumbled upon being struck. Spider Mare worked quickly to emerge from the rubble. "You play way too rough, you know that?" she said innocently. "I'm not done with you yet Spider Mare!" Scorpion said, wrapping her tail around Spider Mare. "What are you doing?! Put me down!" Spider Mare protested, trying and failing to break free. "I'm simply 'throwing science at the wall to see what sticks'." Scorpion explained "And I've always been curious as what happens when a spider meets a brick wall." "You wouldn't!" Spider Mare gasped. "Try me!" Scorpion said with glee "You won't know what hit you!" And with that Scorpion threw Spider Mare into another wall. This time Scorpion waited until she was certain Spider Mare wasn't going to surface. "Rest in pieces Spider Mare!" she cackled "Now it's time to pay back my ex husband. Boy will he be surprised." Spider Mare had not been buried very deeply, but she had delibertly avoided poping up to lure Scorpion into a false sense of security. But upon hearing what Scorpion planned to do next she began to panic. Using all of her strength she surfaced, and dug herself free of the rubble. Taking off her mask, Pinkie Pie dug into her costume's utility belt, and pulled out the experimental portable radio device that Filthy Rich had given her. The intent was for her to use it to update him if she spotted a breaking news story, but until now it had never been used. "Just hope I'm not too late!" she thought to herself "He may be a bit of a meanie pants, but he doesn't deserve to die." Pinkie Pie quickly turned on the portable radio. Within seconds she was recieved by The Ponyville Express. "Hello, you've reached The Ponyville Express. This is Quicken Loan, how may I help you?" Quicken Loan asked. "Quicken Loan, it's me Pinkie Pie! I need you to patch me through to Filthy Rich, it's urgent!" Pinkie Pie pleaded. "I'm sorry, but Filthy Rich is currently busy and cannot be disturbed. Please try again later." Quicken Loan said. "But I have something he'd really like." Pinkie Pie lied "I've got some incriminating photos of Spider Mare working with a new supervillan who calls herself Scorpion.. "Just a sec. I'll patch you through." Quicken Loan said, and relayed Pinkie Pie's message to Filthy Rich. "Filthy Rich! It's me Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie Pie said. "Pinkie?! Shut up and call the police, now!" Filthy Rich ordered. "What's going on?!" Pinkie Pie asked frantically. "I don't have time to explain! This costumed freak who calls herself Scorpion just showed up and she-" Filthy Rich said. "No one will get here in time to save you Filthy Rich!" Scorpion interrupted, swating the radio out of his hooves with her stinger. "Filthy Rich?! Filthy Rich, are you there?! Come on, answer me! Filthy Rich this isn't funny! Filthy Rich, say something!" Pinkie Pie pleaded. But the only response was silence. "Uh-oh!" Pinkie Pie gasped "Hang on Filthy Rich! Help is on the way!" Pinkie Pie pulled her mask back on and swung off towards the building housing The Ponyville Express. Spider Mare feared that if she didn't get there fast, poor Filthy Rich could end up in the obituaries of the very paper he owned. Filthy Rich was starting to panic as Scorpion slowly approached him. He tried desperately to reason with her. "Sweetheart, please listen. I never intended for this to happen. But that Sparks guy knows a lot of ponies in the world of technology. One of them has got to know something. There might be a way we can get you out of that suit. Maybe we could even get Princess Twilight to help us." he said. "It's too late for that. You're too late! You just want to save your own skin!" Scorpion said. "That's not true! I care about you!" Filthy Rich said "There must be something we haven't thought of yet." "Silence!" Scorpion hissed "You got stuck me in this suit, and now I'm going to make you pay!" Scorpion swung her stinger at Filthy Rich, who ducked it. The stinger broke the nearby window, Filthy Rich barely avoided the broken glass that came as a result. "My dear, please clam down and get over it" Filthy Rich pleaded, ducking another swipe of Scorpion's stinger. "You ruined my entire life, so now I'll end yours!" Scorpion threatened, preparing to strike again and knock Filthy Rich out of the broken window. "Leave him alone chuckles! I won't let you hurt him!" Spider Mare shouted, swinging in after breaking another window with her webbing. "You're still alive?!" Scorpion asked, turning her attention away from Filthy Rich "Well, it doesn't matter. Butt out webhead, Filthy Rich and I have some unfinished business to discuss." "Well you'll just have to make time. Cause now you've got to deal with me!" Spider Mare said. "Spider Mare?!" Filthy Rich asked "How...what the...I ask for the police and I get this?!" "Hey! I'm doing you a favor here!" Spider Mare said "If I hadn't shown up just now you wouldn't still be alive! You could stand to show me a little respect!" "I don't recall asking for your help!" Filthy Rich said "I had things under control!" "Yeah right! Listen, I can't waste time arguing with you!" Spider Mare said sternly "Just stay out of this and let me handle it!" "You can't tell me what to do!" Filthy Rich snapped "Why I should listen to a word you just said?" "Fine, don't take my advice. Just don't blame me if you get hurt!" Spider Mare said "Now if you'll exucse me, I need to teach your wife a thing or two." "You should've just stayed down." Scorpion said "You're no match for me!" "We'll see about that." Spider Mare said with a grin. "Gloat all you want Spider Mare. It'll make this much more satisfying." Scorpion boasted, and fired off a stream of acid from her stinger. Spider Mare dodged the stream, but the acid dissolved the place where Filthy Rich had been hiding. He quickly bolted, and ran for cover. "Come back here you coward!" Scorpion said, and tried to give chase. But Spider Mare shot out a string of webbing and yanked her back. "If you wanna hurt that stallion you're going to have to go through me!" Spider Mare said. "Why are you sticking up for him?" Scorpion asked as she and Spider Mare tussled "He's made it quite clear that he doesn't like you. He's been trying to make you look bad, and he's even using one of his most innocent photographers to spy on you. I'm doing you a favor by getting rid of him." "Even if Filthy Rich and I don't see eye to eye it would be wrong to let you have your way with him." Spider Mare said "Letting him die isn't the right thing to do. I've learned that revenge never solves anything, it just starts a neverending cycle that you can't stop. I vowed to use my powers to help others no matter what. And that's a vow I never intend to break. It might not always be easy, but it's what I know is right." "Oh gag me, such heroic nonsense!" Scorpion groaned "As far as I'm concerned you and Filthy Rich are just two sides of the same coin. One of you provokes the criminal world with your vigilante antics, and the other one riles up the public with slander and lies. Without the two of you Equestria would be a better place." "You're wrong Scorpion." Spider Mare said, dodging another swipe of Scorpion's stinger "Without me the criminals of Equestria would be much more of a threat then they are now. The police and the royal guards do their part, and I do mine. And it's thanks to me that many elusive criminals are caught, tried, and face justice. I even once stopped a criminal that was planning to rob your house. If I hadn't been there you would've lost a lot of valueable items." "They could've easily been replaced." Scorpion snapped "Nothing you say or do will ever convince me that you're a good thing! Now, out of my way!" "I think not!" Spider Mare said, jumping over Scorpion's stinger and landing a blow to her back. "I'm out of here!" Filthy Rich shouted, bolting from his hiding place. He raced out of his office and headed for the desk of a worker that had gone home not that long ago. He quickly pressed a button. "Yes?" Quicken Loan asked. "It's me Filthy Rich! Call the police! I'm under attack by a freak in a scorpion suit!" Filthy Rich shouted. "Okay." Quicken Loan said. "Tell them to get here fast!" Filthy Rich pleaded. "Will do." Quicken Loan said. Scorpion, meanwhile, broke down the door of Filthy Rich's office. "Where are you hiding?!" she shouted, and began to look around. "Where do you think you're going Scorpion?!" Spider Mare asked. "Isn't it obvious? That cowardly Filthy Rich has decided to play a little game of hide and seek with me, and it looks like I'm the seeker." Scorpion said "I just need to find out where he's hiding." "I don't think he wants to be found." Spider Mare said "Not that I blame him." "Shut up! I've had enough of you Spider Mare!" Scorpion said, and swung her stinger as hard as she could "It's time for you to say goodnight!" Using her 'Spider Sense' Spider Mare dodged the stinger, which jammed itself into the ground. While Scorpion was trying to pull it out Spider Mare quickly shot a barrage of webbing that tied Scorpion to the floor. "NO!" Scorpion said. "I can see the headlines now!" Spider Mare taunted "Spider Mare defeats Super Scorpion, Web Slinging Miracle: Spider Mare Does It Again." "Don't get ahead yourself Spider Mare!" Scorpion said, trying to break free "This isn't over yet!" "It is now!" Spider Mare said, delivering a blow to Scorpion that brought the costumed mare down. "This...can't....be....how...it ends." Scorpion said, and collapsed. "You can come out now Filthy Rich." Spider Mare said "Scorpion can't sting you anymore." Filthy Rich was shocked "I don't get it. I've hated you. I've tried to make you look bad. I've tried to tell lies about you. I've even tried to create a rival to oppose you. And yet, when I was in danger, you saved me. Why?" he asked. "Because, as I told Scorpion. That wouldn't have been the right thing to do." Spider Mare explained "Although I admit that option was very tempting." "T-thank you." Filthy Rich said "I can't believe I'm actually saying that. But without you, I don't think I would be standing here now." "Well, it took you long enough to get that hatred of me out of your system. Better late then never I guess." Spider Mare said. Filthy Rich looked at Scorpion "What's going to happen to her now?" he asked nervously. "That's not my decision to make." Spider Mare said "The law will decide what happens to your wife. But no matter what, I just wanted to say. I'm sorry about what happened to your wife." "No, I'm sorry." Filthy Rich said "This was my fault. I created this monster." "It's nopony's fault." Spider Mare said "It was just a freak accident. It could've happened to anyone." "But don't you see? It was my idea to create the scorpion costume in the first place." Filthy Rich explained "If it weren't for me and my silly ideas, none of this would've happened." "Is there anything I can do to help?" Spider Mare asked. Filthy Rich looked at Spider Mare, then at Scorpion, then back at Spider Mare. "No." he said somberly "But you should probably get out of here before the cops show up. I'll tell them everything." "If worse comes to worse, I'll put in a good word for you at your trail." Spider Mare offered. "Thanks but no thanks. I will face the consequences of my own actions if I have to." Filthy Rich said "You just continue to do what you've always done. Don't worry about me." "Well, if you're sure." Spider Mare said "I'd better be going. Hopefully I'll see you around." And with that Spider Mare left. When the police arrived they arrested Scorpion on spot for assault and battery, as well as attempted ponyslaughter, and property damage. When Filthy Rich explained the role that he played in creating Scorpion the police decided to take him into custody as well. Scorpion was quickly convicted and sentenced to prison for a few years, at which point she would be reevaluated to determine if further prison time was needed. Filthy Rich's trial was quite the public spectecal, and the debate over what sort of role, if he any, he had to play in the creation of Scorpion lasted for almost two weeks. Eventually, despite the fact that Filthy Rich felt otherwise, the jury was unable to conclude that he was guilty and he was freed of all charges. He was quickly reinstated as the editor in chief of The Ponyville Express, and things seemed to go back to normal. But Filthy Rich had turned over a new leaf. He was now much more somber, and rarely spoke a word when he didn't have to. And Pinkie Pie couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Once again, it seemed that being Spider Mare came with its ups and downs.