//------------------------------//
// A Moment to Breathe 
// Story: Eclipse: Poets and Pests 
// by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof 
//------------------------------//

	"Parasprites.  A perpetual plague of pests.  Multiple mouths always seeking more meals.  Always eating, always hungry, and never can that void be filled.  For when one should be full, another shall come and both shall seek food once again.  And I believe that it is true, nothing can be fulfilling unless you can keep a part of it inside of you.

"Parasprite.  Parasite.  Embodiments of pestilence and famine that can fit in your hoof.  Our very own town you can examine and see the proof.  In less than a day, so much food was taken away, if nothing had been done how far would it have gone?  Would we be lucky enough for them to stop ... after they eat the last crop, or would they simply move on?  Eat things that may not be seen as food?  The flowers and grass under our hoof, the very buildings from foundation to roof: would any of this be safe?  Or when starvation got us and we finally fell, would they eat us as well?"

There was a gentle clapping of hooves as the pony stepped off the stage.

"Thank you for that performance," Pinkamena called out as she stepped up to the microphone.  "That was both dark and thought provoking."  She lifted the clipboard she held, looking over it.

"Before we continue: on behalf of the Bean There, Done That, I would like to thank everypony for coming out for our parasprite themed performance night.  We still have plenty of openings available.  So if you want to perform, you can sign up at the counter.  We have also have donation jars as well as specially marked snacks and beverages.  All proceeds from those will be used to assist ponies that have suffered financially in light of recent events."

She paused, looking back toward the counter and getting a quick head shake in response.  After giving a brief nod, she flipped the page on her clipboard.

"That seems to be it for the announcements at the moment.  Our next performer tonight will be..."

She looked at the name listed, then looked at it again.  Her eyes narrowed as she leaned closer, making sure that she was reading it right.

"...Rainbow Dash?" she read aloud, not keeping the surprise from her voice.

"Hey," Rainbow called out, "I may not do it all the time, but I know plenty about rhythm and rhyme."

"I just imagined you more as the rock and roll guitar type.  Anyway,  Rainbow Dash."

There was a polite clapping of hooves as Pinkamena moved off the stage and Rainbow Dash stepped on.  Pinkamena moved off to the side, not too far since she was unaware how long Dash's piece (or pieces) would be.  It really was a surprise that she was doing it at all.  Rainbow Dash did have a basic sense of rhythm and was picking up rhyming with ease since she became Zecora's apprentice, but Pinkamena had never seen anything that would indicate an interest in spoken poetry.

It actually sounded like she had a talent for it.  A bit basic with rhyming couplets, but a start.  If she was willing to learn a little more and practice, Pinkamena thought that Rainbow Dash could be a real talented poet in her own right.

"You have visitors," a voice said from behind Pinkamena, making her turn around.

A tall, lanky, rose-pink mare stood nearby, smiling gently.  Her head tilted, blue eyes glancing back toward the counter where she had been standing.  Beside it were two familiar looking forms: Twilight Sparkle and Vinyl Scratch.

"Judging from the way Lieutenant Sparkle is acting," the mare said as she turned her attention back to Pinkamena, "I'm guessing it is some sort of official business."  She held up a hoof.  "Watch the register while you talk to them, there's few customers there at the moment.  I'll cover the announcements for now."

Pinkamena nodded and passed the clipboard to Mrs. Joe.  She then moved to walk past her, but was stopped by the mare's tail.

"Are you certain you don't want to go up?" Mrs. Joe asked.  "We do still have plenty of openings."

"I'm certain," Pinkamena answered.

"Suit yourself."

Pinkamena headed over to the waiting pair of unicorns.  Vinyl wore her well-known sunglasses (regardless of the fact that they were in doors and it was night time), and had a massive grin on her face as she hopped up and down on her front hooves slightly.  Twilight stood stiff and at attention, every muscle tense.

"I assume you aren't here to perform or donate," Pinkamena said as she reached the pair.

"They want to record your song and take it national!" Vinyl Scratch practically shouted, grinning as wide as she could.  The proclamation got a glare of anger from Twilight, which Vinyl either did not notice or did not care about.

"Record my song," Pinkamena said slowly, looking at the pair.

"It's a possibility," Twilight answered, still glaring at Vinyl.  She then turned her attention back to Pinkamena.  "That is, provided that the ability would still work on parasprites like that."

"I thought you already had a copy of the song and instrument list in case they returned," Pinkamena said.  "Are you worried that's not enough?"

"It's not about Ponyville," Twilight answered.  "It turns out that there are other towns that have also been infested with parasprites recently."

"Lieutenant uptight here --" Vinyl punched Twilight in the shoulder, causing her to stumble a step "-- thought that if we recorded it, we could send it to every town in Equestria.  That way the ones in trouble could deal with it, and the ones that don't will have it ready just in case."

"When I suggested it, Vinyl" -- Twilight then punched Vinyl in shoulder, causing the disc jockey to nearly fall over before regaining her footing -- "was more than willing to let us use her recording equipment.

"We can still send the sheet music and instrument listing, but with some of the larger towns, it will probably take longer to assemble a group of musicians than to complete and send the records.  Alternatively we could re-assemble our own group and have them play at each town, which would start out being the fastest choice.  Unfortunately, they would only be able to visit one town at a time.  So while one would be saved, others would continue to be destroyed.  That would mean we would have to try and figure out how to give priority to whom in what order.  It would have so many variables to calculate: geographical distance, size, population density, food produ-"

Twilight was cut off when a cookies and cream brownie was stuffed into her mouth.  She narrowed her eyes to glare at Vinyl Scratch (again), but continued to eat the sweet treat she had been given.

"I don't think we need one of your neurotic scheming rants at the moment," Vinyl said.

"I don't scheme," Twilight huffed before taking another bite.

"Anyway," Vinyl turned back to Pinkamena, "you get the main idea.  We get the band back together, record your song, and send it to every town."

"Provided," Twilight added, "we know that it still works.  We should be able to find a few close to the edge of the forest still."

"So what do you think?" Vinyl asked.

"I don't see why it wouldn't work," Pinkamena answered.

"Great!"  Vinyl threw her foreleg around Pinkamena's neck, pulling her closer.  "Tomorrow, we can get all the musicians together and bang this thing out before dinner.  You can even hang out with me in the control room while we do it."

Pinkamena shifted, seeming to be a bit brighter colored.

"That sounds nice."

"For now," Vinyl said as she pulled away, "give me a couple of those cannolis, and a cup of black coffee.  Plus, Lieutenant uptight's brownie and whatever else you two want, on me."  She paused, tapping her chin a moment.  "Ah, what the hay.  Sign me up for a spot while you're at it."

Pinkamena tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.  "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Vinyl said.  "I mean it's just like rap, isn't it?  How hard can it be?"

Pinkamena said nothing, but she could not help but notice the mischievous smirk on Twilight's lips.