//------------------------------// // Episode 10 [Part 2] - Pest Control // Story: Heart of the Cards // by AspirantWriter //------------------------------// “What is going on...?” Dusk groaned as he got out of bed earlier than he wanted.  Despite his attempts, the constant buzzing and chipping from outside his room made it almost impossible to go back to sleep. “Twilight, if you are using your little friend of yours to wake me up, I’m not...” When he walked towards the door and opened it, he was speechless for before him was a swarm of the very insect that the unicorn brought back last night.  All of a different colour and numbering in the hundreds, they would have entered the stallion’s room if not for him abruptly closing it shut. “What is going on?!”  Dusk cried out with his back on the door.  “Wait a minute...” He soon recalled Utopia’s warning from last night, then to Twilight telling him that she somehow gotten two more and finally what Pinkie called it when she first laid eyes on it. “Don’t tell me...  That insect was actually a parasprite?!” Upon this realization, he bolted out of his room but not before closing the door behind him shut to prevent any of the parasprites in the hallway from entering. Brushing the insects aside, he made his way to Twilight’s room and saw that both her and Spike were struggling in vain in containing the swarm that were now pulling things off the shelves. “Dusk!”  Twilight was relieved to see the stallion.  “You got to help us!  The Princess will be here in a few hours!” “Twilight, I know this may sound crazy to you, but I believe these insects are parasprites.” “Huh?”  Twilight was confused at first, but she too remembered what Pinkie said at Sugarcube Corner yesterday.  “You can’t be serious.” “Not only that, Utopia actually told me last night that you were a fool for bringing that insect here.”  He stated as Twilight gasped in response.  “Didn’t your Number, Star Seraph Sentry say anything to you?” “Well...”  Twilight sadly recalled what her Number told her the moment she drifted into sleep. (“Do you have any idea what you have done by bringing that here...  You will find nothing but grief tomorrow...”) “I...  I thought it was making a really bad joke!  I didn’t know that these would be so much trouble!” Twilight gestured to the paraspites that were flying within her room and no doubt throughout the entire library. “Just because these insects are cute doesn’t mean they are harmless.  If one alone can multiply into a swarm overnight...”  Dusk’s eyes quickened widen, which startled Twilight.  “Didn’t you just tell me last night that you say gave one of these parasprites to Rainbow Dash and Rarity?” “Yes, why...”  Soon enough, her eyes widen as well.  “Oh no!” “Those two are likely having the same trouble as we are!  I need to check on them!”  Before Twilight and Spike could say anything else, Dusk quickly left the room and was now out of the library. After seeing that none of the parasprites have gotten out, he decided to go to Carousel Boutique and check on Rarity before looking for Rainbow Dash. However, Dusk ended up meeting the latter instead of the former first.  He heard a yell coming from the sky and saw the pegasus flying around, apparently trying to get rid of a bunch of parasprites was around her mouth akin to a beard. “Rainbow!  Are you okay?!”  He called out to her. “Dusk!?”  She turned her attention to him while still trying to get rid of the insects.  “Do you look like I’m okay?!  I just got swarmed the moment I woke up!  I only had just one last night!” “Believe it or not, but Twilight is having the same problem.”  Dusk said before an idea appeared in his head.  “Wait a minute...  Maybe Fluttershy know a thing or two about them!” “Good idea!  I’ll go to her right now!” Dash then quickly bolted towards Fluttershy’s cottage while Dusk continue his way to Carousel Boutique and check on Rarity. By the time he got there, Dusk saw that Rarity was already outside with two bags filled with something.  She also appeared to be bickering with Pinkie Pie about something. “Please, Pinkie, I don't have time for some silly scavenger hunt.”  Rarity said before walking away.  “I've got a real problem.” “You've got a real problem, all right.  And a banjo is the only answer!”  Pinkie replied before running off into another direction. “What was that about Rarity?”  Dusk asked as he approached the unicorn. “Oh Dusk.  That is just Pinkie being herself.”  She stated as she gestured to her bags.  “She couldn’t understand that I have a crisis here.” “Let me guess?  An infestation?” Dusk didn’t actually need to guess what were in Rarity’s bags.  He could easily tell from the chirping and buzzing emitting from them. “Yes.  If you excuse me, I need to see Fluttershy right now.” “I’ll come with you.  Rainbow Dash should with her at this moment.” “Why?  Don’t tell me...”  Rarity said worriedly. “I’m afraid so.  She having the same trouble as you.  Twilight included.”  Dusk told her. Without wasting anytime, he and Rarity quickly ran as fast as they could to meet with Fluttershy and hopefully get a solution. As much as he wanted to ask Pinkie since she seems to knows something about parasprites, Dusk feels it would best to talk with the animal expert herself first.  On the way to Fluttershy’s cottage, Dusk and Rarity soon encountered Twilight running towards their direction.  She gasped as she skidded on the ground to stop herself from colliding with her friends. From the movement inside her bags, it was very obvious to the stallion and fashion unicorn what was inside. “Dusk told me that you and Rainbow Dash are having the same problem as I am.”  Rarity said to Twilight. “Ditto!” The ponies heard Dash’s voice as the blue pegasus have finally arrived and was struggled to shake the parasites following her. “Fluttershy knows everything about animals, I'm sure she can tell us how to stop them from multiplying.” Twilight said to her friends as they all went up to the front door of the cottage.  Just when Dusk was able to pull the handle, the door suddenly opened and a vast swarm of parasprites poured through. “Apparently not!”  Dusk shouted as he immediately went inside the cottage.  Twilight, Rarity and Dash soon followed suit. They were shocked to see hundreds of the insects scattered across the entirety of living room while Fluttershy herself was apparently avoiding one was flying around her that was holding a pot in its tiny legs. “Do something Fluttershy, can't you control them?”  Twilight worriedly asked her. “I've tried everything I know.  I've tried begging, and pleading, and beseeching, and asking politely and...” Fluttershy didn’t finish for she was forced to ran away as the pot-holding parasprite started to chase her. While Rarity and Dash respectively made a look of fear and disgust, Twilight appeared to be staring into the unknown with horrified eyes. “Twilight?” Dusk gently shook her to snap her out of it, but she didn’t budge.  He was unaware that she was imagining the worse-case scenario of Princess Celestia’s visit, where she would be screaming as the swarm of parasprite whisk her away into the horizon. Now outside the cottage, Twilight was telling everypony what would happen if the Princess come to an now-infested Ponyville. “If we can't get them under control before the princess arrives, it'll be a total disaster!” Moments later, a yellow parasprite then hovered close to Rarity and coughed out a brown ball, which then turned into another parasprite. “Ew!”  Rarity as expected was disgusted by the scene.  “If you ask me, it's already a total disaster!” “So that how they multiply...”  Dusk noted as he watched the two insects enjoy each other’s company. As everypony were trying to think of a way to get rid of the ever-growing swarm of parasprites, Applejack soon arrived with a cartload of apples. “Here's all those apples you wanted, Fluttershy, but I still can't figure why y'need so many.” Before she knew it, a small swarm of parasprites then flew towards her apples and consumed them all in a matter of seconds. “Hey!” “And they have quite an appetite for their size...” Dusk noted again as he watches the small swarm fly away.  It seems quite clear to him why Pinkie called these little insects were called parasprites and for good reason. “What do we do?”  Fluttershy asked Twilight, who gasped moments later when an idea popped up in her head. “I got it!  No pony can herd like Applejack!” “Yeah!  We can drive 'em back into the forest!” “I'll rastle 'em up, but I need everypony's help to do it.” Applejack scoffed before she begun give instructions to her friends.  Twilight, you, Rarity and Dusk wait over there.  I'll herd the little critters straight at you like a funnel.” The three nodded as they then took their positions. “Rainbow Dash, you and Fluttershy stay on top of 'em.  Don't let 'em fly away.” “Aye aye!”  Dash said as she and her fellow pegasus flew above the parasprites. “Yee-haw!” Applejack cried out and that was the signal for everypony to gather up the parasprites.  It took some time, but they manage to clump them together into a huge ball. “Alright y'all, here goes nothing!” Everypony were then moving the ball of parasprites into the Everfree Forest; Twilight, Rarity and Dusk were in front, Applejack was behind while Dash and Fluttershy were hovering above. “So far so good.”  Dusk muttered as he and his friends didn’t face any sort of trouble.  Une the insects though tried to fly away, but Dash put a stop to that. He then heard the sounds of somepony galloping by his right side and turned to see it was Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie!”  Dusk said in surprise.  The rest of the mares were surprised as well since they never expected her to appear without warning. “Dusk, everypony, we don't have much time!”  Pinkie said. “You're telling us!”  Twilight replied.  “The princess could arrive at any moment!” “Exactly!  That's why I need you all to drop what you're doing and help me find some maracas!” “Huh?”  Dusk was bewildered why Pinkie wanted some maracas, especially in a situation like this.  “Would you tell me...” “Maracas?”  Twilight interrupted him.  “Pinkie, we've got much bigger problems than missing maracas.” “You're right!”  She gasped.  “Getting a tuba has to be our number one goal!  Follow me!” The two watched Pinkie bolted to the opposite direction, but she returned back a few seconds later.  She was running backwards yet remarkably, she was able to keep pace with everypony else. “I said, follow me!”  Pinkie stated. “Pinkie Pie, you are so random.”  Dash said in annoyance. “And you are all so stubborn!”  With that said, Pinkie finally left. “Forget her everypony!  Focus!”  Applejack told her friends.  “Head 'em up and move 'em out!” In a few minutes, they all reached the edge of the Everfree Forest and successfully rolled the ball of parasprites to where they belong. “All right!” Dash cheered as she gave Fluttershy a high-five on both her hooves, but the latter appeared to be more sensitive. “Ouch.”  Fluttershy quietly said. “Looks like we did it.”  Dusk said.  “Nice work as always, Applejack.” “Couldn't have done it without y'all.” “Now let's get back and clean up the mess they made before the princess arrives.” Twilight told everypony as they then walked back to Fluttershy’s cottage. “Okay, everyone knows what to do, right?”  Now that everypony was back at the cottage, Twilight asking her friends regarding the Princess’s visits.  “We gotta work extra hard to make up for lost time.” Just as Fluttershy opened the door through, another swarm of parasprites then flew out while the rest of the ponies were utterly shocked. “Where did they come from!?”  Twilight cried out as the swarm was just as large as the one they herded away. “Fluttershy...?”  Dusk turned to the said pegasus with a glare.  “Don’t tell us you...” “Well...  I may have kept just one...”  She admitted as an orange parasprite then appeared on her back, hopping joyously. The rest of her friends then joined in glaring at her for putting them all back to square one with the infestation. “I couldn't help myself.  They're just so cute.”  Fluttershy said as Dusk shook his head at her. “Great...  Just great.” “We don't have time to keep rounding up these things!”  Twilight said as she watched the swarm scatter all over the area.  “What do we do now?!” “We call in the weather patrol!” Dusk turned to Dash, who had now a pair of goggles on her forehead before she took to the air.  As for the others, they were too focused on the parasprites to see what she has planned. “Time to take out the adorable trash!  Yaaaaa!” The pegasus cried out as she begun to fly around the insects and was quickly picking up speed while leaving a rainbow streak.  Everypony was surprised when Dash formed a miniature tornado and was sucking up any parasprite in its path. The tornado was stronger then Dusk anticipated for he and the other mares had to hold onto something to prevent themselves from getting sucked in as well.  Luckily, Dash was giving chase to the remaining parasprites and moved the tornado away. “Way to go, Rainbow Dash!” “Looks like our problems are solved!” Twilight and Applejack said in relief that the new infestation is now contained. It was then they heard the sounds of clapping cymbals in the air and everypony but Dash turned to see it was Pinkie again and she had a pair of the said instructions on her neck via a string cord. “They will be with these cymbals.”  Unfortunately, Dash’s tornado snapped the cymbals off their cord and was now being sucked in.  “Hey, give me those back!” “Oh oh...” Dusk muttered in worry for he saw the cymbals entered the tornado edge first.  From the sudden and awkward movements that it is making, it was clear that Dash was caught off guard and was now losing control. “I can't hold it!  She's breaking up!” Very soon, Dash was blown out of the tornado and was briefly stunned when her back slammed into a nearby tree.  As for the cymbals, they flew out and narrowly hit Dusk before becoming lodged into the cottage’s fence. Without Dash to maintain it however, the tornado begun to dissipate, but not before blowing the parasprites towards Ponyville. “Pinkie Pie, what have you done?!” Twilight and the other mares was not pleased at what Pinkie had done even though it was more like an accident.  Dusk however was focused on pulling the cymbals out of the fence and wasn’t with them when they confronted the party pony. “I've lost a brand new pair of cymbals, that's what I've done!” Pinkie replied, which only made her friends more agitated. “Will you forget about your silly instruments for one second?!”  Twilight cried out.  “You're ruining our efforts to save Ponyville!” “Me?  Ruin?  I'm not the ruiner, I'm the ruin-ee!”  Pinkie said.  “Or is it ruiness?  Ruinette?”  “Come on girls, there's no reasoning with that one.”  Applejack told the others.  “She's a few apples short of a bushel.” Tired of their friend’s apparent randomness, they all unanimously went straight to Ponville while ignoring what Pinkie has to say. “Hey!  I'm trying to tell you all that the ruining is on the other hoof.  If you'd just slow down and listen to me!” Frustrated, Pinkie was about to leave if not for Dusk patting her on the back.  She turned to see that he holding onto her cymbals with his mouth. “Herre are yor cmbaals.” Dusk will admit that he doesn’t like the taste of metal in his mouth and was relieved when Pinkie took them. “Thank you Dusk.”  Pinkie said happily before she then frowned.  “You are going to leave aren’t you?” “Not before you tell me why you need instruments all of the sudden.”  Dusk asked.  “You been like that the moment Fluttershy showed that parasprite yesterday.” “Duh!  Parasprites love music, so I been collecting instruments so I can lead them out of Ponyville.  I tried asking the others for help, but they are too stubborn.” “Maybe because you didn’t tell them in the first place!”  Dusk scolded her. While he was surprised that Pinkie actually had the solution all this time, Dusk wasn’t very happy that she never told him or the others about it at the start. “Huh?” “Pinkie, you been asking us to help you gather instruments, but you never explained why beforehand!  If you told us in the first place that you have solution in dealing with these parasprites before asking, then we would be more than willing to help you!  You didn’t however and we ended up assuming you were being yourself!” Dusk told Pinkie, who was confused at first.  After a few moments though, she soon saw the logic in the stallion’s words. “Oh...”  Pinkie said.  “I guess that does makes sense.” “It does Pinkie.”   Dusk sighed. After the scolding, the stallion then told Pinkie that he would help her, but he would like to explain everything to the others first, which the latter agreed to.  With that done, they went back to Ponyville before going their separate ways. As Pinkie went out to find additional instruments, Dusk searched around for the other mares.  All the while, the parasprites were swarming all over the place and were eating any food in sight. By the time he found the others, he saw Twilight casting a spell.  Her horn unleashing waves of purple magic all across the town and the parasprites were apparently affected by it since they abruptly stopped their eating frenzy. He also notices that Applejack was missing, but surmised that she went back to her farm to protect her apple trees from the parasprites’ endless hunger for food. “Twilight?  What did you do?” Dusk asked the unicorn as he approached her and the others. “Oh Dusk, I just casted a spell that make them stop eating all the food.”  Twilight answered while gesturing to the parasprites.  “Where were you by the way?” “I was talking to Pinkie and...” “What?  But why?”  Dash questioned.  “You already seen how random she is today.” “You all got to know that...” “Wait.” Twilight interrupted him as she pointed to a parasprite that was sniffing an apple in a wooden bucket.  She was scared at first, but was relieved that her spell did worked as indented since the insect refused to eat it. Instead, the parasprite chose to consume the entire bucket in one gulp while spitting the apple out.  The rest of the swarm followed suit as they begun to consume anything that isn’t considered food like signs, lamp posts and even the houses. “Hey, it worked...”  Dash said sarcastically.  “They are not eating the food no more.” “Twilight...”  Dusk shook his head at the unforeseen outcome of the unicorn’s spell.  “If anything, you just made things worse...” Twilight could only smile nervously as everypony watched as the entire town was slowly being devoured by the parasprites. “Oh no...  If they get inside my store...” Realizing that the parasprites’ new appetite is going to endanger her business, Rarity stood on her hind legs and yelled in panic.  “Everypony for themselves!” Just as Rarity ran off, Dusk soon saw that his Duel Monster cards were also endangered for the library was swarming with parasprites.  Even though the door to his room was closed, there was the chance that those insects could chew through it thanks to Twilight’s spell. “The library!” Dusk ran as fast as he could to the library with Twilight following from behind; worried as well that the parasprites would literally sink their teeth in her books. By the time they reached the library, the two notices that something was banging the door from the other side. “Spike?” Twilight muttered just as Dusk went up and opened the door.  When he did, he was then knocked to the ground as a swarm of parasprites rushed outside.  It was hard to tell, but Twilight swore that those insects all had a fearful expression on their tiny faces. “What just happened?”  The stallion as he rubbed his head. “Us...” The two were startled to see two golden humanoid wraiths coming out of the library and realized who they were upon seeing their distinctive wings. “Utopia?” “Seraph Star Sentry?” Dusk and Twilight said in surprise just as Spike poked his head out of the library’s door. “Dusk!  Twilight!  You two are not going to believe this!” The baby dragon then explained that as the parasprites were continuing to wreak havoc throughout the library, the two good Number then appeared without warning.  Intimidated by the overwhelming presence of the Numbers, the insects stopped what they were doing and were trying to get out of the library just before Dusk opened the door. “I’m surprised you two could take up this form.”  The stallion said as he inspected the Utopia’s astral appearance. “Only in rare circumstances that we will do so...”  Utopia replied. “Like when somepony decided to cast a spell to made the swarm to eat anything but food...  Like our cards; our anchor to the physical world...” Seraph Star Sentry said as he looked at Twilight in disappointment, who could only laugh nervously at notion that she endangered both her and Dusk’s Numbers. “In any case, the library is secured and the rest of the Number could be used to secure more of the town...” “Rest of the Numbers?”  Dusk wasn’t sure what Utopia meant. “The Numbers that you have defeated in the past.”  It stated.  “While no longer capable of inflicting harm, they still retain some power and capable of preserving their connection to the physical world if necessary.” “So, they would scare off any nearby parasprite to ensure it doesn’t get eaten then?”  Dusk asked, which the Number nodded its head as a yes. “You two should also seek out that eccentric friend of yours.”  Seraph Star Sentry said.  “She passed by the library and I could tell she has the solution.” “Pinkie?”  Twilight said in dumbfounded manner.  “You’re kidding me, right?” “Seraph Star Sentry isn’t kidding.”  Dusk vouched for the Number as he told Twilight about the discussion that he and Pinkie had some time ago.   As he expected, the unicorn was shocked to hear why her friend was so focused on gathering instruments despite the infestation. “And she never said it in the first place?!” Twilight yelled out with a stressed-out expression.  If Pinkie actually told her and the others at the start, they wouldn’t be in this mess. “Trust me, I was mad at her as well and I had to give a good scolding.”  Dusk said.  “Just try to find her.  I’ll go around town and set up some safe zones with my Numbers.” Twilight was hesitant at first, but she soon relented and set off to find Pinkie.  Dusk in the other hoof ran to his room and grabbed his deck and his Numbers.  Seraph Star Sentry chose to remain in the library to ward off the parasprites, so he could take Utopia with him. “Better check on Applejack first.”  Dusk muttered as he ran as fast as he could to Sweet Apple Acres. She’s no doubt caught off guard by the parasprites abruptly eating her farmhouse instead of her apples thanks to Twilight’s spell.  He could only hope to get there before that ever happens. “Looks like I’m not too late.” Upon reaching the edge of Sweet Apple Acres, Dusk saw that Applejack and the rest of her family have already setup a barricade using two wagons and a table. While Big Mac was holding a flyswatter in his mouth, Granny Smith was doing the same with a pitchfork and was using a cooking pot as a makeshift helmet.  Despite the possible dangers of facing down a swarm, Apple Bloom was with them as well and was using a net. “Dusk!  I’m so relieved that you’re here!”  Applejack notice the stallion and quickly called to him.  “You gotta help me and my family!  Can’t you use what ever your Numbers can do to drive those critters off!” “I believe I can.”  He replied just before he then heard the sounds of an oncoming swarm of parasprites behind him. “They’re here!”  Applejack cried out to Dusk.  “Do something!” “I’m on it!” Wasting no time, Dusk held out Utopia in front of the incoming swarm and they thought the card was going to be tasty snack.  However, the astral form of the Number then appeared in front of them and they immediately halted. Feeling the overwhelming power from Utopia itself, all the parasprites in the swarmmade a horrified expression and quickly turn back were they came from.  Dusk made a sigh of relief while Applejack and the rest of her family were cheering that Sweet Apple Acres was safe. “You did it Dusk, you...”  The farm pony said before she notices that the swarm once more halted in the distance.  “Huh?” The parasprites turned around to the ponies at their eyes slowly turned bright red and their exterior became pitch-black. “What the...”  Dusk muttered as he could feel that the changes that the insects were undergoing was not natural. Before he and the Apples could do anything, the swarm quickly flew towards the ponies and formed a large circle around them.  Despite the presence of Utopia, the parasprites were no longer intimidated by it like they were before. “Dusk, what is going on?!” Applejack cried out as she was startled by the change of behaviour of the parasprites, who were staring at everypony with blank eyes. “Something much worse...”  Dusk narrowed his eyes at a black aura a few meters away from him.  Slowly raising from the ground, the aura soon took the shape of a humanoid-insect wraith. “Don’t ruin my fun, Number Hunter.”  It said.  “I was just enjoying the fear and panic that these little guys are causing.” “A Number?!”  Applejack yelled as she realized what was before her.  “At a time like this?!” Despite being present for the incident during the Summer Sun Celebration several months ago, this was the first time that Big Mac and Granny Smith ever seen a Number in its astral form.  Apple Bloom wasn’t as fazed though since she already seen one during the day she, Applejack and Dusk first meet with Zecora. However, they soon found themselves experiencing what it’s like to be ensnared by a Number for their limbs and mouth were entangled by black tendrils that appeared below them. “Hey!”  Applejack was enraged that the Number would dare threaten her family.  “Leave my family alone!” “Yeah!”  Dusk called out.  “It’s me you want!” “Do I look like a fool?  I don’t intend to join your collection Number Hunter.”  The Number laughed.  “Instead, I’ll fight that student of yours.” “Huh?”  Applejack said. “Don’t be so surprised.  I know that the Number Hunter has been teaching you how to duel.”  It stated.  “However, I also know that you have yet to play in an actual duel.  That will be your incentive into duelling me...” It then pointed to the rest of the Apples, who were all struggling in vain to break free from the tendrils.  Dusk tried to approach them, but was halted by the obviously-possessed parasprites. “Don’t interfere or I will sic my newest swarm at them.  This is between me and her.” Applejack didn’t say word as she glared at the Number.  She knows that she isn’t as experienced in Duel Monsters as Dusk, but she didn’t want to leave her family at the mercy of the malicious being. There was a problem however for she realized that didn’t have her deck with her.  It was inside her farmhouse and it’s not possible to retrieve it as long the Number maintain its control over the parasprites.  Even if she did, she could tell that Dusk didn’t bring his spare duel disk for her to use. ‘What can I suppose to do...’ Just as her frustration over her inability to duel the Number begun to grow within her, Applejack then heard a strong yet gentle voice in her head. “I’ll get it for you.” “Wha...” “Your heart is both strong and honest.  Let me lend you my aid.” Before Applejack knew it, a golden orb of light suddenly materialized in front of her.  In a split second, it then flew towards the direction of the farmhouse. “Oh no you don’t!” The Number quickly commanded the majority of the swarm tried to stop the orb by forming a dense wall.  Much to its shock however, the orb easily brushes them aside. “Could that be...” Dusk muttered as the golden orb then phased through a window on the second story of the farmhouse.  In a few moments, it then left the structure and immediately flew towards Applejack. “What the hay is going on!?” Applejack said as the orb struck her left hoof and felt a strange yet pleasant feeling as her entire body was enveloped by a golden glow.  She then saw a mental image of a symbol shaped like a number in her head; 75. As the rest of the Apples could only look at her in astonishment, Dusk only smiled as it became clear to him what that golden orb was. By the time the glowing died down, everypony could see that there was now a rugged-looking duel disk on Applejack’s left hoof.  While mostly red in colour, its outlines were a mix of green and gold. There was even a deck already inserted into the proper slot and the farm pony could tell it was the same deck that Dusk made for her back then. “I don’t believe it...  It is like with Dusk and Twilight...” It became apparent to Applejack that she too received the support of a good Number and the timing was impeccable. “Now...”  The voice spoke once again.  “Let us fight Number 28 together.”