It was ordinary peaceful morning. Ponyville began to wake. Forests filled with light, flowers bloomed again, animals got up and moved about their business. Citizens also got out of their beds. Town gadually came into motion: first going to work ponies appeared on the streets, shops and stores began to open. And at that very time very loud scream spread around the settlement, like some not good pony tried to break a galss with own voice. Judging by the tone, it was a stallion’s voice. And it came form town mill.
Mister Millstone, the owner of the voice, was the main supplier of products for all Ponyville bakeries, was a miller in seventeenth generation and was known as rather phlegmatic pony, who almost couldn’t be scared and surprised. The only case of changing the expression on his face in the presence of witnesses was marked at last Nightmare Night, when Princess Luna by popular demand took the look of her dark incarnation and then, in this form, began to visit citizens and gave them, if they knew nothing about what is happening, mixed feelings. And it happened so that Mr. Millstone appeared to be in her list. The thing what made him scream again must be really terrible.
In truth, it was so: with so carefully preserving granaries of Mr. Millstone happened the worst possible thing that miller can imagine – invasion of rodents. But these ones weren’t usual toothy pests, they were Tartarus mice. You can guess what region is their homeland. They’re incredibly nasty creatures, behave themselves like bandits and their susceptibility to magic is low, and this makes the situation only worse. It’s also necessary to say one more thing: their generic name these creatures got from inhabitants of Tartarus, but average local from there is much bigger than average local from Equestria, so for ponies they were rats. Big – almost as Winona – and impudent rats.
And now they, all thirty eight ones, set down in the town mill bins. Mr. Millstone, having recovered from the shock, understandable got angry.The creatures had to be driven away, but, considering whom have to deal with, it’s necessary to act with caution. So miller, having taken a deep breath, dourly frowned and in terrible voice asked rats what are they doing in his bins. With some gestures rodents honestly answered that they have not so many food at home, so they came here to fill their empty stomachs. Having heard that, Mr. Millstone took normal expression and told rats that in this case he would be ready to give them some gtrain, but only if they left the bins. Rats answerd that they will leave only when they load themelves up. Except that according to the external signs these beasts had black holes instead of stomachs, and they won’t move away until they devour everything here, including equipment. The situation was rapidly approaching the stalemate. Mr. Millstone tried to negotiate. But such attemts are as productive as attempts to transport water with sieve. Rodents continued to stand on their ground and didn’t accept any other offers. Miller understood uselessness of this and, having swallowed a lump in throat, tried to threaten them. Rats as answer only threw miller away from the bins and slammed the door.
He treid everything what he could do by himself. He needed help.
Mr. Millstone went outside. Outside there was rather big crowd already, and they wanted to know what happened. Anxious ponied didn’t calm down, so miller, having sighed, told the truth:
“Tartarus mice penetrated the pantry.” – he said.
“WHAT??? Tartaus mice?” – crowd shouted.
“Yes.” – Mr. Millstone sadly nodded.
The crowd began to murmur:
"Oh no…"
“They won’t rest until they eat eveything!”
“Eat everything?”
“Yes! They are Tartarus mice! They are rare, but if they come – wait for the mayhem of the century!”
“It’s terrible!”
“Looks like we’ll spent some months without bread…”
“Mister Millstone, are you doing anything?”
“Ehm… I’m working on it!” – miller answered.
He took a thought and started to walk here and there. Meanwhile all the gathered got the proof that rodents feast is in full swing, and the situation requires immediate action: neighbourhood got shaken by thunderous burp what came from the mill.
Vibration of the porch forced Mr. Millstone to stop. He decided: it’s necessary to undertake one more attempt of negotiations. But it’s necesaary to call other pony, a true professional. Ability to enter into transactions wasn’t his forte. He never was a good trader, unlike, his grandfather – he really was a master, he was the one which without any bothering and with the most credible face sold barite as wheat flour of the highest quality. But here it was necessary not only to have the ability to negotiate, but also, if it would be possible, to show eloquence – in short, he needed a diplomatist. And there is only one professional diplomatist in Ponyville – Mrs. Ivory Scroll, mayor of the town.
Having heard about the incident, she immediatelly arrived. Mr. Millstone briefly told her about all what had happened and thanked her for help. Ivory Scroll said that time for bows hasn’t come yet and asked to lead her to the place.Miller nodded and took her to the pantry.
Rats, having heard that somepony want to speak with them, and substantially, got interested and opened the door. Ivory Scroll, trembling, slowly entered. Door was gently closed.
Thirty minutes of silence – Mr. Millstone’s bins have excellent soundproofing; because of this, by the way, he didn’t heard the coming of rats – kept everyone stressed. But then the door creaked and… At that moment miller and all other ponies learned that Tartarus mice have specific attitude to all who tries to out-talk and bamboozle them: some exiled ones didn’t forget about bad habits, so continued to cheat even there, and Tartarus mice sometimes became their victims. But rodents quickly learned how to detect such things, and now operatively prevented all attempts to affect on them. So at the moment incredibly startled ponyvillers could see how mayor of the town came out with filled with grain to the eyeballs mouth.
That was the limit. Some ones began to offer to call a magician to banish these creatures the hell out of here. The proposal was supported, and ponies rushed to the Golden Oaks library.
But when they arrived, they didn’t meet the neceaasy pony, Twilight Sparkle. There were only napping Peewee, Owlowiscious and red-eyed Spike, who tried to stare down the owl.
“And where’s Twilight?” – a bewildered voice came from the crowd.
“She was asked to come to Canterlot this morning.” – little dragon answered, rubbing his eyes, - “And what’s the matter?”
About dozen ponies sat down. “We’re doomed.” – they spelled. Puzzled Spike wondered what’s happening. Miller, sighing, told him everything.
It will interrupt the event in the capital, but they have no other choice – there is an emergency here, and help is really needed. Spike, having said others to not worry, quickly wrote a letter and sent it. The answer came even faster, but gave weak hope: help will come only in two hours.
“Two hours? There would be nothing to save by this time!” – shouted irritaded Mr. Millstone.
“No need to worry!” – dragon tried to console everypony, - “There are other ways! Um… You can ask Fluttershy!”
Ponies fell silent. Dammit, right! How could they forget? So crowd moved to the timid pegasus house.
She, having heard about miller’s trouble and having seen the faces of despair, agreed to help even before they finished the explanations. In ten minutes she together with Mr. Millstone was before the pantry door. Miller strongly knocked – to make rats hear it – and said that other pony wants to see them. She is a doctor. Rodents got surprised: doctor? Why? But they decided that they have to open. And they let Fluttershy to come in.
Having entered, pony looked around and, as she had already knew about previous failures, immediately passed to the main part and unleashed the full power of her legendary “stare”. All thirty eight rats stood at attention and froze. They were perfectly still when Fluttershy stared at them. But then she got tired, closed her eyes and lowed her head. Rats stood still a bit more, and then together grabbed their heads. Despite the fact that Fluttershy laid out in full, her “stare” only caused headache among the mice. Pegasus, having seen that her trick had no effect, began to shiver, then she just sat down and petrified. Absolutely petrified. She showed no reaction to external stimuli. But rats, seeing that pony wasn’t in normal state, acted quite equinisticaly: they took frozen Fluttershy out and seated her on a stack, having mentioned that she needs some medical care. After it they returned to the main. And witnesses remained flabbergasted.
Even the professional tamer failed. Seeing no other way out, Mr. Millstone decided to use brute force.
For this Rainbow Dash was sent to one hut, lost among the bushes near the town. Soon she returned. With ones for whom she was sent – “Mad Hogs”, as they called themselves. These stallions indeed had something what made them look like hogs – powerful jaws and coarse fur – but the main thing was that they were as strong. So miller led all six thrasher to the bins. There “hogs” looked at ecah other and, without thinking twice, broke the door and rushed in.
Fierce struggle in the pantry lasted for three minutes. And then through broken during the fight window five “hogs” were thrown away one by one. The last one fled with loud screams.
After it the most hefty rat came outside and glanced at the gathered ponies. Having finished, he lifted his left paw, quickly touched the elbow with his right and then even fasted bended the elbow. Faces of gathered got more dense red and murrey shade. Grinning rat returned to the bins.
Dumb show followed.
It lasted for rather long time, then ponies came to their senses. Ponyvillers started to say goodbye to bread and buns, and Mr. Millsome started to mourn the lost and think about new job.
Alicorns will arrive only in an hour. During this time there would be nothing in the pantry, except dust and husk. This shouldn’t be allowed. So Spike, when other ponies grieved, quietly sneaked into the pantry through other broken window.
There was a lull: rats decided to take a break from the eating. So at the moment they were lying on sacks with flour and grain which in few minutes should appear in their stomachs.
“Where is your boss?” – dragon asked, having approached the sacks.
Rather battered rat came out from behind of the heap. He was sharpening his teeth with a file. Where he got file in such place, science can’t tell.
“You?” – Spike asked to clarify
The rat nodded.
“I know what is happening here and what has already happened.” – little dragon said, - “You’re just a bunch of hooligans.”
Rodent put the file aside and stared at him with look which said: “So what?”
“Listen, if you just needed to get something to eat,” - Spike continued, - “you just could ask!”
The rat just waved away – now is not the time to ask!
“Okay…” – dragon spelled, - “Then I’ll tell you this: in several minutes my friend will be here. Recently she became an alicorn. She will do anything to save the grain and flour in this pantry. So you better leave the room, or you all will get in the neck.”
Tartaus mice only squinted, like saying: “This is bullshit!”
“I’m serious.” – Spike frowned.
Rat’s leader grinned.
“Well then… I’ll explain in another way…” – dragon quietly said, took toy smoking pipe from the same place where rat’s leader took his file and, having produced few bubbles, coughed and in low and wheezy voice spelled, - “If you won’t get away in thirty minutes, all ones who remain here will envy, heh, the dead…”
Rats got puzzled. But their boss only frowned: “You’re lying.”
“Well, maybe I exaggerated a little…” – continued Spike in voice of old pirate, - “But I assure you that ones which remain after arriving of the help will quickly catch up the ones which will decide to leave now.”
Mitigated ultimatum caused a scorn among the rats. They, having grinned, hissed on dragon and turned, like saying, get the hell out!
Spike took the pipe from his mouth and slowly spelled:
“If you don’t believe it… Then you have to deal with me.”
Rodents hickered.
“Eghkhe? Kha?” [Who? You?] – boss rat wheezed.
“Yes, me.” – little dragon said.
The leader just waved away, saying with this: “Don’t make me laugh!”
“I’m not joking. I repeat: I’m serious.” – Spike said severely.
Rats, having raised their eyebrows, with meaningful question “Eh?” turned to the dragon. And then…
Gathered near the mill ponies heard terrible and loud shout: “HOOGA-BOOGA-BOOGAAA!!!”, and then saw how all thirty eight rats with terrified squeaks jumped through the broken windows and ran away.
Hardly believing own eyes, they rushed to the bins. When they arrived, they got startled: there were no Tartarus mice, a lot of grain and flour have been saved, and in the middle of the room glad junior librarian rubbed his paws.
“Wh-what h-h-hap-pened?” – miller muttered.
“Oh, Mr. Millstone!” – little dragon exclaimed, - “Job is done, mice are banished!”
“H-how d-did you d-do it?”
“This… I made awful mug to scare them.”
“And that’s all?”
“Yes.”
“You just made terrible mug?”
“Yep.”
“No way!”
“I could show you, but, considering that it scared even the inhabitants of Tartarus… I would not want to do it.”
“Th-then… Where did you learn it?”
Spike quickly looked around and whispered:
“It’s because I like to read horror stories.” – he looked around one more time, - “But, plese, don’t tell Twilight about it!”
And, having winked, little dragon went away. And startled miller with other ponies remained alone with their own thoughts: “Sakes alive! Surely still water run deep…”
But with Twilight, who, as appeared, rushed to the false alarm, there were some problems.
Door to shrouded in darkness cabin slowly opened, and big shade sneaked inside. It silently approached the bed and in spooky amplifying voice spelled:
“Clock is ticking on dusty shelf, The creepy ghost will now show itself!..”
“For sake of whole humatinty! It makes mad, this punctuality!” – waked crew member muttered, - “Bastard, you know well that I had the night shift!”
“Sorry, dude, but you know the rules: you have to wake an hour before the start of shift!”
“Dammit, thirty minutes for all the preparations are more than enough!”
“Dura lex sed lex.”
“You could have done in normal!”
“Nope.”
“Toad… Okay, I’m up!”
“Good!”
“And, by the way, is there some results?”
“Still nothing, although we’re keep monitoring for more than forty hours.”
“This is bad…”
“And what can we do?”
Both lads sighed and went in different directions.