//------------------------------// // Episode 10: Heart of the Swarm // Story: Elements of Heroism: Season 1 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// Ty woke up and stretched. He smiled at the blanket Fluttershy had covered him in last night. That girl's pretty sweet. "Well, no sense in lazing about. I have a job to go to." Ty got off the couch and cleaned himself up before eating breakfast. He had noticed Fluttershy had set some food aside for him. "I'll have to cook something for her to return her kindness." Ty then made his way over to Sweet Apple Acres. "Morning Applejack." Applejack smiled. "Mornin' Ty! Yer just in time!" Applejack then pointed over to a group of trees. "That group of trees is being pretty stubborn, and Big Mac is busy at the other end of the orchard. Think you can handle them?" "Shouldn't be too hard." Ty walked up to one of the trees. He then punched it sending vibrations through the whole tree shaking the apples loose. "Just gotta find the right spot to hit it." Ty then rubbed his fist. "Maybe I should use a kick next time. I don't wanna go busting up my hands." Ty kicked the rest of the trees with great force! Shaking all the apples loose. Applejack was impressed. "Well Ah'll be. Yer a natural at this!" Ty smiled. "Thanks. My parents made sure I knew how to defend myself just in-case. I guess it paid off in more ways than one." "Ah'll say. But before you head out..." Applejack handed Ty a small bag full of bits. "Here's yer pay an' a wallet. You'll need to carry yer bits in somethin'." Ty took the bag graciously as he left. "Thank you." When Ty got back to Fluttershy's cottage, he heard her fawning over something inside. "Fluttershy?" Ty opened the door to find Fluttershy fawning over a little blue bug with green eyes. "What's that thing?" "Oh! Hello Ty." Fluttershy then nuzzled the little insect. "I met this little guy while I was out today. Isn't he cute?" Ty inspected the creature closer and recoiled! "Fluttershy? Get rid of that thing. Now." "What?" Fluttershy looked at the little creature with a confused look. "What's wrong with him?" "That's a parasprite. And if it's eaten..." Ty then clamped his hands down on Fluttershy's shoulders. "Please tell me you didn't feed it." "Well, he ate a whole bucket of apples. Why?" Ty then bolted out the door! "Ty?" Ty ran over to Burst's house and banged on the door! Burst was confused when he opened the door. "Ty? What's up?" "We've got a problem. Fluttershy's brought a parasprite to town.", Ty said gravely. "And the worst part being she fed it." Burst scratched his chin. "Let's check one of my books. We'd better learn how to deal with this mess before it escalates." Ty followed Burst inside his house and Burst grabbed a list of pests native to Equestria. "Let's see....parasprites. A small, harmless-looking insect. However, these pests possess a ravenous appetite which lets them multiply at an unbelieveable." Burst then looked to Ty. "We have to find Fluttershy. NOW." The two headed outside. "So these things mulitply whenever they eat something. How bad of a swarm are we talking?" "Let's just say we'll literally be eaten out of house and home!", Ty answered as he and Burst looked around for Fluttershy. They then spotted her heading into Sugar Cube Corner. "Oh no. No, no, no...." Ty and Burst made a break for Sugar Cube Corner and intercepted Fluttershy as she was showing off the parasprite to Twilight and Pinkie. "Fluttershy. I think it would be best to put that parasprite back where it came from." Pinkie gasped! "Parasprite?! Yuck! Hold on! I need to get some instruments!" Pinkie dashed off. Burst was confused and shrugged. "If Pinkie's got a plan to deal with these things, I hope she can get it ready fast." "I'm just glad she won't be demolishing the sweets made for Princess Celestia's visit.", Twilight said with a sigh of relief before looking at the parasprite. "But why are you two freaking out over this adorable little thing?" "Because these little guys can be a big problem. ESPECIALLY if they keep eating.", Ty noted. He then looked to Fluttershy and saw that the parasprite had multiplied. "Oh no. That's not good." Fluttershy was confused as she looked to the two new parasprites. "But...I only found one at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Where did these two come from?" "They came from the one you found Fluttershy. Parasprites multiply after they eat.", Ty said with a frown. "They can't be that bad.", Twilight said as she took one of the parasprites. "They look so adorable!" "That's what makes them so dangerous!", Burst noted before sighing. "I'm going to go hang-out with Spike at the library. He'll probably need help with all those books you've left lying around." Burst headed for the library while Twilight went to show-off the parasprite to Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Leaving Fluttershy with Tyrannus. "I'm sorry. The little guy just looked so hungry.", Fluttershy said as the parasprite nuzzled her hair. "Can you say no to this face?" Ty sighed. "I can't be upset with you for being kind Fluttershy. But I'm going to help Pinkie with whatever plan she's got brewing to drive the parasprites out. In the meantime, you just try to avoid feeding that thing anymore." Ty left to help Pinkie with the plan she had in mind. Fluttershy then headed home and spent the rest of the day trying to resist feeding the parasprite. Her will didn't hold long. The next day... Twilight woke up with a start at hearing the sound of many tiny sounds of snoring. She then saw that the parasprites had surrounded her! "Spike!" Twilight ran over to spike and shook him awake to get the parasprite that were covering him off! "Wake up!" Twilight looked around at all the parasprites. "Spike? Did you feed that parasprite I brought in yesterday?" "The little guy got hungry last night, so I gave him a snack!" Spike looked around at the swarm in the library. "Maybe I shouldn't have done that...." Burst had just opened the door, and his jaw dropped! "Okay. Things just got a little more bad." Burst then revealed a bag he was carrying. "Good thing I planned ahead! Let's round up these pests! We need to contain them before they spread anymore!" Burst powered up his horn and fired a small spark of lightning from his hands to herd the parasprites to the center of the library! Twilight used her magic to levitate the bag over them, and seal them inside! "Let's hope we can solve this problem before Princess Celestia shows up!" At Rainbow Dash's house, the parasprites swarmed her and refused to leave her alone! Rarity had found the creatures helpful, but was disgusted when she saw them spit to create more of themselves! Inferno tried to use his magic to get rid of them, but couldn't risk a fire going off in the shop! Over at Fluttershy's house, Ty was trying as hard as he could to protect the fridge! The parasprites were everywhere and trying to get past Ty while Fluttershy desperately tried to get them to stop! "Fluttershy?", Ty asked witha frown. "Yes?" "You fed that parasprite you kept. Didn't you?" "I couldn't say no to that face! They're too cute!", Fluttershy argued! "Now what do we do?" "I'm going to find Pinkie. Try to keep these pests here while I do that. Please." And with that, Ty left Fluttershy to deal with the swarm that had invaded her cottage. Fortunately, Ty didn't have to look far. "Pinkie! How's your plan coming along?" "It's almost ready! I just need another couple of minutes!", Pinkie said with a smile as she showed Ty the instruments she'd gathered. "Think you can keep the parasprites rounded up until then?" "I hope so..." Ty then saw Burst, Twilight, and Rarity arrive at Fluttershy's cottage. However, his eyes widened when he saw Applejack walking up with a cart full of apples! "...Or not. Don't open the-!" Ty's warning came too late as a swarm of parasprites came flying out of the front door! Devouring the entire cart of apples Applejack had brought with her! "Okay. New plan. Herd them altogether!" Applejack nodded and ordered the others to keep on the parasprites as they rolled them into a gigantic ball! Whatever you have planned Pinkie, you better do it soon! They had gathered the parasprites together, but the containment didn't last! "Well, now we need another new plan." "Time to call in the weather team!", Rainbow Dash said with a smirk as she straped on her goggles and flew! Creating a hurricane that sucked in all the parasprites! She was leading them away until Pinkie came along carrying cymbals that got sucked in as well! Rainbow Dash dodged like crazy to avoid the cymbals and the tornado she made faded away leading the parasprites back to Ponyville! Rainbow rubbed her head as she stood up. "Well that backfired." Twilight's eyes went wide with horror. "Oh no. They'll eat everything in town!" The group rushed to Ponyville and Twilight's horn glowed as she readied a spell. "If I use and appetite spell, that'll get them to stop eating all the food!" Twilight raised her hand as the aura of her magic covered it and released a wave of magic that reached all the parasprites! Fortunately, they stopped eating the food. However, Burst wasn't so sure that this was a good thing. "Um, Twilight? If you've gotten these pests to stop eating the food, what're they going to eat NOW?" Burst and Twilight flinched when they saw a parasprite eat a bucket! "...I think we have our answer. We've gotta get rid of these things before they eat the whole town!" Twilight ran off to her library to find that the parasprites were eating all the words from her books! She grabbed one and made a break for Zecora's hut to see if there was anything she knew! At the same time, Burst, Inferno, and Ace were shooting small blasts to keep the parasprites away from the buildings! "Here's hoping Pinkie's got her plan ready!" The three of them held off the swarm until Twilight returned and saw how overrun they were. She fell to her knees. "We're doomed." Twilight then heard the sound of many instruments going off and saw Pinkie and Ty were the source! But what really impressed her was that the sound of the music was leading the parasprites away! The two lead the parasprites away from Ponyville, and Princess Celestia watched with an amused expression before turning her attention to Twilight and the others. "I can't believe it! It's working!" "Sometimes the silliest solutions are the most effective.", Burst said with a nod. He then saw Princess Celestia's procession heading their way. "And just in time too." Burst and the others bowed before Princess Celestia as she approached. "Twilight Sparkle. My prize pupil.", Celestia said with a warm smile. "Hello Princess!" "So lovely to see you again. As well as your friends." Celestia then noticed Pinkie and ty leading away the parasprites. Twilight then tried to alter the subject. "So how was the trip? Hit much traffic?", Twilight asked with a nervous smile. "What is this?" A parasprite then flew up to Celestia and nuzzled her. Celestia giggled at the site of it. "These creatures are adorable!" "If only she knew...", Burst whispered to Inferno. "I'm terribly honored that you and the good citizens of Ponyvill have organized a parade in honor of my visit.", Celestia said with a smile. "Parade?" A light bulb went off in Twilight's head. "Oh! Yes! The parade!" "Unfortunately, that visit is going to have to be for another time. There's an emergency going on in Fillydelphia. Apparently there's been some sort of infestation." "I-Infestation?" "Yes. A swarm of bothersome creatures has invaded the poor town. I'm sorry to put you through all this trouble." Twilight smiled. "By the way, would you care to give me your latest report on the magic of friendship?" Twilight looked to Pinkie and smiled. "I've learned that sometimes that the solutions to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends' ideas and perspectives. Even when they don't seem to make much sense." "That, and sometimes silliness is super effective.", Burst joked. "I'm glad to see you and your friends are learning so much.", Celestia said with a smile as her procession left. The girls met up with Pinkie. "I'd say that ends today on a high note.", Burst said with a nod. "Now we'd better get to rebuilding." Burst and the others set to work fixing up the town. But faraway, a portal opened up and sucked a lone parasprite through. Fortress of the Nightmare Forces... Dark Ice was looking over his transformed body. Where his normal pegasus wings once stood, bat wings that matched his skin color were in place. Also of note were the dragonic eyes that were in place of his normal ones. "So this is what those who know no fear feel like. It feels like everyone else should fear me!" "Very good Dark Ice." The figure who had rectuited him said. "Your new form suits you quite well." Ice bowed. "Thank you. Lord Night Terror." Night Terror had dark grey skin, long pitch black hair, and acid-freen eyes that seemed to ooze darkness. "I have a mission for you Dark Ice." Night Terror then produced the parasprite he had captured. "I want you to use your abilities to scan this creature. Then construct something more...appropriate from from the scan." Dark Ice reached his hand out, and an aura of darkness surrounded the parasprite before it faded. Ice then focused, and a new creature formed from the darkness he had in his hand. It was a wasp that was poison purple in color and had a stinger like a blade. "Excellent. We shall call them Nightmare Stingers. Go to Ponyville Ice. And destroy the Elements of Harmony! As well as the male alicorn that dared to stand against Nightmare Moon!" Ice bowed before opening a portal. Ponyville, Night time Burst was just about ready for bed when he sensed something in the air. This dark magic. It feels like... Burst strapped on his Duelist Arms and met Inferno. "Did you feel it too?" Inferno nodded. "What could be causing it?" "What're you two doing out so late?", Ace asked as he glided down to join them. Steel and Ty joined in as well. "We picked up on something.", Inferno answered. "It feels like dark magic. But we've got no idea what's causing it!" A buzzing soon filled the air. "On second thought, maybe we know now..." The group saw the swarm of Nightmare Stinger splitting up into different directions! "It looks like they're headed for the girls' houses!" "Then let's split up! Each of us to a different one of the girls! Now!", Burst ordered! Burst saw a group of nightmare stingers hovering around Twilight's window! Burst fired two shots from his blasters and fried them! Meanwhile, Inferno shooting down some Nightmare Stingers caused the swarm to divert their attention on him! And Ty puncing out some of the swarm hovering around Fluttershy's cottage made him a target too! Ace had frozen the Nightmare Stingers that tried to invade Sugar Cube Corner and shattered them! Steel in the meantime cut down the Nightmare Stingers that had gathered at Rainbow Dash's house! At the same time, Ice sensed his swarm being exterminated and ordered them to converge on the ones who had interfered! The group gathered at the edge of town and got rid of the last of the swarm! "Just who sent these things anyway." "I did.", Ice said as he stepped out of a portal. Ice stared coldly at Burst and the others, but his eyes went wide when he noticed Ace! "..Ace?" "Ice...", Ace said in shock! "What....what did you do to yourself? Why're you attacking my friends?!" "Simple. This new form lets me banish my fear! I'm no longer the coward that did nothing while that storm raged on!", Ice said with a frown. "As for why I'm attacking your friends, they stand in the way of the one who gave me this new found courage. All who stood against Nightmare Moon will pay for their foolishness." Ice then pointed at Burst. "You are among that lot Burst Stream." "No Ice.", Ace said sternly. "All you're doing is projecting your fear on others! You're just running away all over again! If you're going to hurt the people we care about, then we're not letting you through!" "Shut up!", Ice hissed. "If you're going to be in my way, then I'll let my friend play with you." Ice snapped his fingers and the vanquished Nightmare Stingers gathered their essence and forged a new form! It was a gigantic wasp-like humanoid monster with stinger blades on his forearms! "See you around bro." Ice vanished through a new portal leaving the guys to deal with the revived Nightmare Stinger! Nightmare Stinger hovered in the air and rammed Ace to the ground! Inferno rolled out of the way as Nightmare Stinger slashed at him with its forearm stinger blades! "Let's fry this bug!", Inferno shouted as he fired off a shot from his blaster! Nightmare Stinger buzzed furiously as the blast scorched its exoskeleton! Inferno blocked Nightmare Stinger's stinger blade with his own sword and knocked the overgrown bug away! Burst then fired a charged shot from his blaster! Electrocuting the nightmare creature! Nightmare Stinger buzzed furiously as it separated into a new swarm of wasps! Burst and the guys tried to destroy the swarm, but Nightmare Stinger's swarm form was to fast! It was then that Ace had an idea! "Guys! Herd them into a single place!", Ace called out! Burst and the others forced the swarm to gather in a single points! "Here I go!" Ace concentrated his ice magic, and sent out a blast that started to freeze the swarm! Nightmare Stinger barely finished taking its individual form before Burst and Inferno destroyed it with one final blast! With the fight over, Ace fell to his knees. "Ice. What have you done?" Ace then felt Burst put a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever's happened, we'll find a way to save him.", Burst said with a smile. "And Ice'll need your help to wake up." Ace stood up and sighed. "I hope Ice can wake himself up too...." As Ace and the guys headed home, Ace then noticed something. The necklace he wore under his shirt was glowing. Ace pulled out the necklace. It had a green gem called a dragon's eye, and a dragon's claw and fang were hanging alongside the gem. It was then that he heard voice. "Steel your eyes, bare your fangs, and ready your claws. Let them guide you to your wisdom awaken the courage within the sleeping hero.", the voices said. Ace was then whisked away to a cave! It was there that he saw three items encased in ice. Ace inspected the pedestal they were placed on had an engraving corresponding to each of them. Each one seemed to correspond with a different item on Ace's necklace. Ace placed the gem, the fang, and the claw in their respective slots that was in front of the items. In a flash of light, the crystal prison of the items was shattered! Ace shielded his eyes from the light! When it faded, Ace saw the items for what they were. There was a sword that was emerald green throughout, a navy blue scarf, and a red shield that looked like a dragon's head. Three dragon spirits then materialized before Ace! "We are the spirits of the dragon knights. We have watched over the Duelist Arms you see before you Ace. You are the one destined to wield them." "What makes me so special?", Ace asked. "You have awakened as an Element of Heroism Ace. And with these, you shall free your brother. When the time comes, you shall know. Farewell Ace." The dragon spirits faded away and Ace found himself back with Burst and the other Elements of Heroism. The guys noticed Ace's new Duelist Arms. Ace looked at his Duelist Arms with a determined gaze. "Ice. I'm going to wake you up from this nightmare. I just hope you wake up before I need to make you."