//------------------------------// // Short - Pest Control // Story: Welcome to Distopia // by LucidDreamer //------------------------------// The sun had just crested the horizon and a bug and a buck were already out for their morning walk. It was cool out. (It had to have been near autumn.) The buck was fine, however the bug was in a quite warm looking black hoodie. The pair were taking the back roads, the ones that circled Ponyville and led to the farmsteads and Fluttershy’s cottage. “I hate having to wear stuff all the time when it’s cold. Old body ran hot so I could wander around in t-shirts and a jacket. But no, I have to have a bloody exoskeleton now. Stupid bugs being weak to cold damage.” John grumbled as he power-trotted to keep up with the buck’s long strides. “Jonathan, can’t you shapeshift into something more… fluffy?” Alastor asked, glancing down at the smol bug with something close to a smirk. “Don’t know, haven’t really tried. I mean, I’ve thought about it, but I have a feeling it requires concentration and me and concentration rarely work well together unless I’m really focused on something. Then again, it could also be emotional, because insectoid emotive species…. Mmmm, I’ll think about it later.” John shrugged. “So what, Johann, you are simply going to panic-shapeshift?” Alastor said with a small chuckle. “Eh? Probably.” John shrugged again. “Knowing me, I’m probably going to lose it and rage at something, and that is when my changelingness is going to rear its head.” “Don’t you mean, ugly head, Johnny?” “Fuck you, I’m adorable, fight me.” John smirked smugly at him. “Ha! I’d rather not. You are a tiny fireball that is far too accurate with his hooves.” Alastor laughed, yet covered his nose with a hoof. The pair lapsed into silence, and as they passed a field of wildflowers, they noticed the butter yellow form of Fluttershy picking said flowers. She had a basket sitting on a rock and she seemed to be very selective about what she was picking. She also had a pair of pink saddle bags around her barrel. “Ah, that is the shy, kinky one, correct?” Alastor asked, looking down at the bug. John blinked then looked over at Fluttershy. “Well, I guess? One is obvious, the other, not so much.” “Ah.” He nodded then looked over at Fluttershy. "Excuse me, would you happen to be the author of the Mares Exotic series?" Alastor asked as he walked over to the pegasus. “Wut?” John asked bluntly. Fluttershy jumped and whirled around until her eyes fell on Alastor. Her face was already a vibrant hue of pinkish-red. She seemed to take a moment to absorb the fact that there was a deer buck in front of her, then take another moment to process what he’d said. Her eyes widened and she started to shiver. “Alastor, you broke her, the feck?” John snapped at the buck. “Well I merely wanted an autograph. I have an acquaintance in Tartarus who wouldn’t shut up about her novels.” He rolled his eyes. “Wait- What?” John blinked at Alastor. “You weren’t-” There was a whoosh and Fluttershy was almost face to face with Alastor. “Tell. No one.” The normally sheepish mare hissed at him. “Not a word.” Alastor replied with a smug smile. The mare then relaxed with a sigh as she leaned away from the buck. “Sorry, I just worry that word will spread around Ponyville. It’s actually really exciting to meet a fan!” “Oh, no I’m not a fan. Can’t even stand those things. But I have a coworker who is, and when he found out I was going topside, he was insistent that I get an autograph.” Alastor explained to the mare. “Oh.” Fluttershy wilted for a moment. “Well, I’d gladly write an autograph.” “Hey, Fluttershy, where would I go to find any of your work, just out of curiousity.” John said with a cough. “Oh, I have my own website.” She blushed and quickly said. “You know, I’ll just mail you the first book for free!” “Thanks?” John asked, tilting his head to the side. Fluttershy dug in her bags with her wings until she pulled out a pencil and a pad of paper. As she did a small, fluffy, blue, ball-like insect with bright pink eyes hovered out of her bag. It was immediately snatched out of the air by a bloody red aura. It squeaked as Alastor glared at it, his antlers were glowing the same deep red and they were starting to grow outwards a bit. Fluttershy gasped. “What are you-” “Where did you find this?” Alastor’s voice was as sharp as a knife, hovering the insect in front of Fluttershy. “Did you feed it?” Fluttershy recoiled. “I-it showed up while I was picking flowers. It looked so cute and it seemed hungry-” “Did. You. Feed. It?” Alastor enunciated every word as the air filled with the buzz of static. “No!” She yelped. “I didn’t bring anything with me!” “Alastor, calm down, they can’t be that ba-” John got cut off. "Good," the buck growled, his grin predatory as he observed the insect squirming in his magic. "Never feed these creatures, kill them on sight, trap them if you must but never give these vermin a single crumb." "You see, this is a Parasprite," the buck explained. "If it eats a single bite of anything you recognize as food will trigger their ability to self replicate and they will devour anything in sight. A town left in ruins in an afternoon, a kingdom left starving in a matter of weeks, the world destroyed in under a year..." “They’re… that bad?” John asked, now looking more warily at the insect. Fluttershy looked shocked, her formerly pink face now quite pale. "Are either of you familiar with the Dark Age?" Alastor asked and after seeing his audience shake their heads, he elaborated. "In those days, chaos and darkness ruled. The parasprites were created to drive populations to eat food tainted with magic so twisted and vile, it made the King of Tartarus look like a saint in comparison." The buck eyed the parasprite, his gaze cold. "Oh how I despise these creatures." “What are they doing here?” Fluttershy asked quietly. “We- We should warn Ponyville.” “But Ponyville would know about them, right?” John asked. “They’re probably from the Everfree, because one just showing up doesn’t seem likely.” “They wouldn’t know, I thought I had exterminated them eons ago.” Alastor seemed to be close to losing his smile. His eyes definitely didn’t look happy. “Well, are you going to kill it? It sounds kinda like a locust swarm on steroids.” John said, leaning away from the thing. “Are… Are you okay?” The meek mare asked Alastor. “No. I’m not.” There was a flash and the insect was consumed in angry red flames, the ashes blew away in the breeze. There was a moment of silence. Then Alastor perked up. “So! Who wants breakfast?” “What?” Fluttershy and John asked in unison. “Waffles sound delightful.” The buck turned around and started to trot away back towards home. “Are you two coming, I will treat, and by I, I mean Johnson will. Oh, why don’t we swing by the house and see if Lorraine would like to join us?” Fluttershy and John gave each other a look. “I’m just going to… gather my things and go home.” She said softly. “Yeah… good idea.” John nodded. “Oh, of course! I’ll stop by later for that autograph, yes?” Alastor called over his shoulder. “Th-that’s fine!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Come Johanna, let’s retrieve Lorraine.” Alastor said, almost prancing as he trotted. “I’m coming.” John hurried after the buck. He’d have to tell Lorraine about what happened later. For now, he wanted to put it out of his mind and food was the perfect way to do that.