//------------------------------//
// Second Course for One 
// Story: Eclipse: Poets and Pests 
// by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof 
//------------------------------//

	All around the Luna's Rangers Guard Station, musicians sat or laid sprawled out on the ground.  Rangers moved among them, checking on the exhausted ponies.  Some carried trays with various snacks and beverages, while others carried various medical supplies such as first aid kits, bandages, and ice packs.  One was even applying ointment to the undersides of a pony's hooves.

Closer to the station, two tables were set up.  At one sat Lieutenant Twilight Sparkle.  Her horn glowed as she lifted up ice packs one by one, held them for about three seconds, then set them back down.  A quill was held between her teeth and she shuffled several pieces of paper in front of her.

At the other stood Pinkamena.  She passed out food and drinks to the musicians who were strong enough to get there on their own, and to the Rangers to take to the ones that were not.

Rarity walked toward the table that Twilight currently sat at.  Her eyes continued to look around at the worn out ponies and those that were helping them.  She really wished she did not have to be here under the current circumstances.  She would much prefer if she were here to volunteer in assisting.  After all, a majority -- if not the entirety -- of the blame  for the issue could be placed on her and Spike.  Fortunately, most of the ponies in Ponyville were pretty understanding, and none save for Pinkamena were aware of how dangerous the parasprites actually were.

"Ice packs are ready," Twilight shouted.  Several Rangers came up and collected the ice packs, taking them over to other ponies.

"Hello Twilight," Rarity said as she approached, "Pinkamena."

"Rarity," the other two responded.

"How is everything going?"

"One second," Twilight said before turning to the side and shouting.

"Sunburn!"

"Yes?" a burnt orange pegasus called back.

"Is Beauty Brass dead?"

"Hold on."  Sunburn moved over the mare in question, poking her.  "No, Ma'am.  She's still alive.  Just asleep."

"Thank you." Twilight then turned back to the papers in front of her.  "No fatalities," she said as she made a note on the paper.

"Fatalities?" Rarity cried out, eyes wide.  "Did you think such a thing was possible?"

"Yes," Twilight replied, "but not very probable.  All of the musicians are in their prime age and health, but we still marched for hours without any of them even taking a break."

Rarity shifted, one of her ears flicking as she licked her lips.  Her gaze drifted away from her friend and toward the exhausted ponies around them.

"How bad is it?"

"Nothing a few days of rest or a trip to the spa can't take care of," Twilight answered, rubbing her forehead.  "Most of them are just exhausted, with the next biggest problem being stiffness and soreness from holding a position for so long.  Several have chafing, three might have bruises, one somehow got blisters on the soft underside of their hooves, and one...had an accident."

Rarity tilted her head, curious.

"What happened?  Did they fall?  Walk into something?"

"Not that kind of accident," Twilight said.

"Then what..." Rarity started, but stopped as the implication sank in. "...Oh..."

"Rarity," Pinkamena spoke up, "is something the matter?"

"Matter?" Rarity squeaked as she turned to face Pinkamena.  "What makes you think something's the matter?  Why that's just silly.  Silly I say."  She threw her head back out and let out a long, loud, and rather unconvincing, laugh.

When she stopped, she found that Twilight and Pinkamena were staring at her.  It was clear that they were not buying it.  Rarity let out a sigh, her shoulders and head sagging.

"Okay," she said.  "So... it turns out that Spike -- who I would like to you remind you still a child who is young, innocent, and naive -- was... not quite as understanding as I thought."

"Please," Twilight groaned, "tell me he did not keep one of the parasprites."

"...three..." Rarity mumbled, turning to look out over the edge of the field.

Twilight lifted her head and looked at Rarity.  The Lieutenant's eyes narrowed to study her friend as she perked her ears forward.

"What was that?"

"Three," Rarity blurted.  "He kept three.  He gave me the original but still had three."  She shifted.  "In his defense, they weren't for him, and it was really for a very sweet reason."

"And what reason would that have been?"

"He wanted to give them as gifts to Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. He thought his aunt and her friends would like them."

Neither Pinkamena nor Twilight seemed very moved by the sentiment.

"So," Twilight said very slowly, one of her eyes twitching, "Spike kept three of the parasprites, when one was enough to start this whole situation."  She took a deep breath and slowly let it out.  "I take it there are no longer just three?"

"Well..."  Rarity shifted again.  "There might be two or three... dozen more..."  She held up a hoof.   "But the good news is that we have them all trapped in a barn where there is no food.  Now we just need to get them far away before the get loose.  Especially since the closest farm is Carrot Top's and I really don't want her furious with me."

Twilight Sparkle slammed her head against the table and let a groan.  Being a friend and neighbor of Rarity's had made Carrot Top's farm one of the places most likely to have an outbreak and attack by parasprites.  That was why Twilight had made sure that it was one of the farms that the route would pass twice, same as with Sweet Apple Acres.  So that places in the most danger would also have the best chance of being protected.

An old quote came to mind: "No plan survives first contact with the enemy."  She then wondered why no one ever warned about the ever-growing list of other things that could potentially derail an otherwise well created plan: to which Twilight could now add "baby dragons."

"Alright," Twilight said as she lifted her head.  "I'll see if any of the musicians feel up for one more performance.  Hopefully we can get enough to-"

"That won't be necessary," Pinkamena cut in.

"It won't?" both Twilight and Rarity asked, turning to face their friend.

"I was hoping to avoid it," Pinkamena said, "but I can do it on my own."  She turned to step around the table.  "I'm just going to need some of the instruments."

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked, causing Pinkamena to pause.

"No," Pinkamena answered.  "I don't have Great Aunt Piper's musical or animal talents.  Unfortunately, nearly everypony is exhausted.  Since she was my aunt and I've seen her perform, I probably have the best chance.  I have to at least try."  She turned to look over her shoulder.  "You know you would do the same thing."

Twilight gave a slight nod, but said nothing.

"Since it's just Rarity's farm," Pinkamena continued, "it should be a lot faster.  If we're lucky, I'll be back shortly with the last of the parasprites.  At worst, at least everypony will have more time to rest."  With that she left the two unicorns while heading over toward the musicians, talking to them about borrowing their instruments.

"Well, I'll leave you to your work then," Rarity said as she turned from Twilight.  Before she could take two steps, the white mare found herself engulfed in a rose-colored aura.

"Hold on," Twilight snapped.  "Where do you think you're going?"

Rarity turned to look back at Twilight, eyes wide.

"With Pinkamena back to my farm."

"She isn't leaving yet," Twilight retorted.  "So while she gets what she needs, you can fill in for her."

"...I suppose that's fair."

Twilight nodded and released her magical grip on Rarity.  Rarity gave herself a shake, and moved behind the table with refreshments.  Her horn began to glow as she started to pass out the sandwiches, sweets and beverages.