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// House of Everfree: Parasprite Swarms 
// Story: Equestria Divided Tales 
// by Grenazers 
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In the House of Earthborn, there is a unique company of ponies tasked in one thing, logging. 

Unlike other armies that are consist of trained soldiers, this logging company is made up of labourers. 

Basically earth ponies are used to manual labour are deployed to the Everfree forest. They are sent to harvest lumber from the vast dark forest.

Past experience has shown that invading the forest and clearing out any threat is impossible, even if they do outnumber them, the forest's inhabitants will fight ferociously for their homes.

So now instead the Earthborn ponies stay near the edge of the forest and cut the trees from there.

This logging company benefits the House in two ways: first, the wood they gather will help supply the faction. The second reason is that this will help stop the expansion of the Everfree forest.

Sure, occasionally the ponies will be attacked by the many enemies of the forest, such as: Timberwolves, Zebras, Wild Ponies, Minotaurs, and many other creepy crawlies.

But, for each attack it only strengthen the company's defences. Now they have a line of cannoneers  preparing for an attack from the forest.

However, this time the defenders will be facing an enemy they haven't seen for a long time. 

Out came from the forest, the Parasprites. These little creatures are menace to the ponies, even before Equestria was divided the Parasprite swarms devoured foods from farms to cities. They travel around, causing famine everywhere they go.

Nowadays the Parasprites are working exclusively for the Everfree forces.

The line of Earthborn warriors weren't prepared for this and in panic, fired their cannons. The cannonballs flew right through the swarms, this barely halted their advances.

Soon enough the Parasprites were upon them. The swarm were effectively disrupting their formation, leaving them vulnerable for the next offensive.

Out from the forest, came a second wave of enemies. This time however, they are the regular forces they faced before.

The Everfree soldiers slaughtered the distracted Earthborn soldiers. And with the majority dead and the few that escaped, the Everfree force turned their attention to the various structures around them.

The lumber mills, houses and barracks were destroyed. They left the destroyed structures there to serve as a grim reminder of the Earthborn losses.

Once done they returned to the woods, disappearing into the shadows of the forest. 

The only one that stayed behind were the huge swarm of Parasprites. They have been given orders by Lady Fluttershy. In retaliation for the continuing cutting down of her forest, Fluttershy has ordered all her Parasprites to spread out into the Earthborn territories and devour all their crops.
The swarm did as they are told, and fanned out into the both the Frontier and the Heartlands. 

They went out and devour every food they come across, bringing famine where ever they go.