Swarm of 456 years. Part 3
Twilight Gets a Puppy
By TDR
Swarm of 456 years.
Part 3
The mares peered expectantly past Spike into the library after the little Dragon had opened the door for them. Bets had been taken prior to knocking.
Applejack had expected disaster with parasprites trashing the place.
Rarity had expected the little bugs to be helping Spike and Twilight sort things, mostly as she thought that Twilight didn't have the same revulsion of the creatures as she did.
Rainbow Dash had expected a bloodbath with Rahs having gorged on the extra creatures.
Unfortunately it seemed that Fluttershy won the twenty bit pool as the library was undamaged and there was only one parasprite present. The little blue bug was inside a small bird cage and was plastered to the bars as far away from the pair sitting on the couch studying it as it could get.
Small bits of food rested on the table around the cage along with a collection of odd sciency devices and numerous pages of notes.
Of course Rahs and Twilight were arguing as well.
“...all I’m saying is, 'tastes like a peach gumball' is not a valid description for a field guide.”Twilight fussed.
“Bark.” Rahs countered.
“ Yes I know the field guides he writes for animals also include the flavor of them, but we should not be taking advice from a stallion named after a woodland predator who, when in an emergency situation.... ANY emergency situation, drinks his own urine.” Twilight pointed out.
The four mares stared at the pair, not sure what conversation they walked into before all of them looked at Spike.
“Better you don't ask. Any way if you're here for the squeeze box we had in storage Pinkie Pie already came by and took the instrument.” Spike sighed.
“Momma had a squeeze box..... daddy never slept at night.” Fluttershy quietly mused.
“ No Spikey we are not.... umm what happened here?” Rarity broached the subject carefully.
“Ehh, I'm not going to be the one to explain this nonsense. “ Spike turned back to the pair. “ Twilight parasprite lecture time again. They wanna know what's going on.”
Rahs groaned and buried his head in his paws as Spike wandered off to the kitchen. Twilight perked up noticing the girls for the first time and smiled, it was at that point when the others finally saw she was wearing a lab coat.
“Oh it's been a great investigation. I woke up this morning and there were dozens of them all over the place. It wasn't great they were making a mess, but we quickly fixed that after I put the original in the cage here. With so many to experiment on I’ve got a full biological life profile including skeletal, for what it's worth, and neurological systems. But the really interesting thing is the digestive system. It utilizes a version of Quids theorem that has only a 3% waste rate. 47% of all material ingested goes towards maintaining the system with the other fifty percent going completely into reproduction. If the parasprite eats something the same size as itself, like a berry, then it has to eat something else of equal size in order to produce a second parasprite, so like two berries. Given that it it can distend it's mouth open larger than it's whole body however it can eat things up to three times it's own size. The skeletal system is really just a brain case with a small flexible spine that has connections to the wings, everything else is a fleshy, stretchy cartilage so it might be able to eat things even bigger than that. We haven’t tested it fully as I have no idea where to get a watermelon this time of year.... and it's too early for pumpkins.” Twilight rambled.” I am learning so much....”
“Skeletal and digestive....... are you dissecting these things?” Rarity asked making a disgusted face.
“Only about a dozen of them, I’ve a simple fly killing spell that works just as well and Fluttershy is behind you on the ground isn't she....”Twilight trailed off looking back by the girls legs. Looking down the yellow mare was passed out on the ground at the thought her friend had been cutting open the parasprites to see what made them tick.
The other girls looked back at the fainted Fluttershy then ignored her again, every pony was still mad after all.
“That's pretty hard core Twilight.” Rainbow Dash stated.
“Yeah trying tah do that with a frog back in school made me squeamish.” Applejack admitted as Rarity frowned glaring at the farm mare for some reason.
“You do realize that when Rahs first learned to hunt on his own I had to cut up and fix his meals. Mom and Dad wouldn't touch them and Shining Armor wasn't always around.” Twilight shrugged. “This was little different from that given Rahs ate them all after I was done as well as the ones I hadn't tested.”
Rainbow Dash looked at the Moon Dog curiously.“So what did these taste like?”
“He said various flavors of gumball depending on the color. Everything from cherry to ginger so far.” Spike added coming out of the kitchen with a tray of tea for every one.
Rarity took note that the small bug had yet to pull itself away from the back of it's cage despite eying the food that was left for it. The bug wasn't just afraid of Rahs either.
“Twilight dear. How many parasprites have you cut open?” Rarity asked.
“About a dozen I think.” Twilight admitted.”They were humanely killed before I did that however. I’m not a monster.”
Rarity nodded before looking at Spike.”Spike?”
“Closer to about forty I think.” Spike added.” But I lost count when she started trying to see if color changed any of their internal layout........ it doesn't....”
“Oh.... I did?” Twilight muttered.
“ An how many has Rahs eaten?” Applejack questioned.
“I'll put it this way, see those scraps on the table? That's all the food that's left in the house, and we just went shopping yesterday morning.” Spike grumbled.” At least Rahs is well fed.......”
The three mares looked back over at Twilight and Rahs. The former seemed to be wondering what she did wrong and the latter was trying to look innocent. None of the girls were buying it.
“This explains why they're all avoiding this place.” Applejack sighed.
“And this is what I live with.....” Spike sighed passing out the tea. Rahs got off the couch and moved over to check on Fluttershy since no pony else was.
“Don't start with me again buster.” Twilight accused pointing a hoof at Spike.”With as fast as these things reproduce it's better to know everything we can about them in case they decide to swarm or there's a reduction of their natural predators. They eat anything even remotely resembling food.......”
“ Like that horseradish cheese dip you made the other day.” Spike snarked. “That was almost food.”
“Pinkie Pie gave me that recipe thank you very much.” Twilight snapped. “ Anyway the parasprites reproduce at such a rate that using a few of them as test subjects is only objectionable if is not conducted humanely. Or if it's done on something that is endangered or can communicate it's own defense, Pleading to Fluttershy not withstanding. It's also not objectionable if the creature in question is a threat to pony kind..........”
Twilight trailed off looking at the girls as if seeing them for the first time clearly.
“You're not here to raise a fuss about my research are you?” Twilight asked.
“Fluttershy might , but I’m not planning on it.” Dash snorted.
“I'm so used to some one causing a fuss.....Rarity, Rainbow Dash what happened to the parasprites I gave you yesterday?” Twilight asked.
“ Umm well..... it's like this darling...” Rarity stammered.
Twilight slapped her face with her hoof as she looked to her brother who had turned from Fluttershy and was looking out the door.
“Rahs how bad is it?” Twilight groaned rubbing the bridge of her nose with a hoof.
“Woof.” Rahs grumbled.
“Okay only level two theorized... we can handle that I think.....” Twilight sat down hard and rested her hoof on her chin as she started thinking. “ Plan 4-B?”
“Bark.” Rahs shook his head.
“Too many of them hmm. Plan R-9?” Twilight suggested.
Applejack watched the pair of them for a moment before leaning over to question Spike.
“What tha hay are they talking about?” Applejack asked.
“They made plans in case of a disaster. Twilight calls it creative brainstorming, I call it game ideas galore.” Spike admitted.
“But what does she mean level 2?” Rarity asked.
“Danger scale. It's actually a Guard thing. It goes from five to zero then from zero to five. Anything before zero is a Potential Disaster Rating or PDR. The lower the number the closer it is to being a disaster. Zero is a disaster is happening, but it's not rated yet. One to five above that is the level of disaster rating or DR. A one is light damage and minor injuries, a two is moderate damage and injuries with possible heavy damage or death. A three is certain death and serious damage, a four is mass extinction and continental damage. A five is the end of the world. There's decimal points in there two so we can have a 3. 3 for instance, but we've really never had anything beyond a two or three that I can recall.”
“Woof.” Rahs added.
“Okay but she was only a potential 5 Nightmare Moon got stopped before she put out the sun. She never got past a 1 DR.” Spike sighed.
“Every time I think I understand you three something happens and I find out stuff like you're making plans for the end of the world.” Rainbow Dash shook her head.
“This is my life.” Spike sighed.
“Q-8, Amalthea's plight?” Twilight suggested.
“Sure if you want to burn out again and make them all depressed.”Spike scoffed. “ Besides with how they reproduce wouldn't they just double their efforts to make more of themselves if they think they are the last one?”
“Good point. It's mostly for defense any way. Something can't attack you if it's too depressed to do so.” Twilight admits. “ I-7, Igneel's immolate?”
“Nope, remember what happened when the one got to close to a candle last night? Now imagine that across a town that has NOT been fire proofed like the library.” Spike countered.
“True he lasted a good twenty minutes before we put him out as well.... then he ate the candle...” Twilight muttered.
“They're fire proof?” Rainbow Dash gasped.
“Fire resistant, but we didn't check the length of time they would burn for obvious reasons. I also couldn't test on a fresh body as Rahs kept eating them.” Twilight explained as Fluttershy fainted again.
The group of them, minus Applejack and Rahs, stood outside of Sugar-cube Corner watching the chaos of the bugs running around looking for food. With Twilight outside of the shop, the parasprites were giving it a wide berth allowing the Cakes to finally relax a little.
Applejack had drug Rahs off almost as soon as she found out the bugs avoided him, in order to protect her orchards, which left the rest of them to figure out how to fix this problem. For Twilight that was to consider spells while Spike shot them down.
“ H-12, Mentok's marvelous mind taking?” Twilight pondered.
“Okay I can see that working depending on what you do with it. Maybe avoid all Ponies?” Spike offered.
“Too complex, they probably don't know what ponies are. I was thinking more along the lines of 'Don't eat food'” Twilight offered.
“Wouldn't that mean they would choose to eat things that are not food? Like buildings and ponies?” Rarity pointed out making Twilight wince as she considered it.
“Veto.” Spike stated.
“Agreed.” Twilight nodded.
“I must say you are surprisingly calm for this situation, particularly considering that Princess Celestia is going to be here soon.” Rarity added as Twilight winced again.
“Ummmmm.” Twilight muttered shifting her hooves in place as she fidgeted.
“You forgot she was coming didn't you.” Rainbow Dash deadpanned.
“Well I got so caught up in the research....” Twilight began.
“It's fine, if we don't figure it out the Princess can do her own heavy lifting for once.” Spike scoffed.
“SPIKE!” Twilight yelled.
“What? Oh I’m sorry was I not supposed to voice my opinion out loud so you could keep that infallible Princess fantasy that you're trying to build back up?” Spike growled. “Well tough, We've been over this Twilight, that's not healthy coping. Plus you two woke me up early, my favorite ice cream place has been cleaned out, we're facing an apocalyptic scenario and I’m supposed to censor myself with all that just so you can repress some bad thoughts about the Princess? Not happening.”
“Dude you hold a grudge for a while.” Rainbow Dash commented. “I thought she apologized for using you guys in the Nightmare Moon thing.”
“Yeah, she did.... to Twilight. I've seen her three times since then and she's not said a word about it to me or Rahs.” Spike scoffed. “Everyone apologies to the big scary dog and the Pony, but every one forgets the Dragon.....”
“Ehh can't fault your loyalty I guess.” Dash shrugged.”And we did come looking to you guys for help so waiting on the Princess isn't that much more of a wait. Though I hate not doing anything. I wanna do something.”
“I agree, we have to try and do something!” Rarity fussed.
“What, like tell every pony that bludgeoning damage does nothing and they need to do either slashing or piercing to hurt them?” Spike offered.
The other conscious mares looked at Twilight who simply shrugged.
“I'm very through in my research.” Twilight admitted.
Angel Bunny who happened to be near by still chasing the parasprites that had eaten his breakfast, stopped to stare at Spike as he spoke, the white rabbits ears twitching. He then tossed his hammer aside pulling a combat knife from his soft fluffy white fur and began the pursuit once again.
“Not to freak any pony, Twilight, out, but we have a golden chariot incoming.” Rainbow Dash pointed upward where said chariot glimmered in the sunlight as it approached.
“Okay new plan.” Twilight twitched, as she started to freak out. “ Rainbow Dash you distract them, Rarity you gather every pony up and Spike and I will build an exact replica of Ponyville over there for the Princess to land in. No trouble at all.”
“Rainbow Dash can you lift me up to her eye level.” Spike stated in monotone.
“Kay...” Dash blinked picking up the little Dragon as Twilight continued to lose it.
While Dash expected Spike to slap some sense into his sister, she was not expecting him to stick his claw into his mouth coat it with spit and then jab it in his Twilight's ear.
Twilight reacted accordingly.
“GAAAAH!!!” she shrieked jerking away from her raised brother, pawing her hooves wildly at her ear. “Eew eew eew eew eew eew eew!”
“Disgusting, yet effective.” Rarity grudgingly admitted.
Fluttershy slowly stood up again with a small groan. “Does any pony else hear music?”
“I really think you should see a doctor darling, you faint quite a bit.” Rarity chided.
Evidently the parasprites heard music too as they all stopped and buzzed around looking for the source fluttering up and down in time to the beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VIllAilTnE] Music
Looking for the source, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Spike watched as Pinkie Pie made her way through town, strapped down with all the instruments she had been collecting, some how managing a rather jaunty tune all on her own as a one pony band.
Spike looked at Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, all of whom shrugged while Twilight continued to flail on the ground trying to clean the Dragon slobber out of her ear.
The rest of them watched in confusion as the swarm started to drop to the ground and hop after the playing pink party pony.
The group was distracted enough it wasn't until a stallion cleared his throat rather loudly that they turned to see who was behind them. All of them but Spike, and the oblivious Twilight, quickly dropped into a bow as Princess Celestia and a number of Guards trotted up behind them.
“We were going to land outside of town, but there seemed to be some sort of commotion going on in Ponyville that might require our intervention.” Celestia offered, her chariot Guards moving to either side of her as Pinkie Pie's parade of parasprites pounced past. One of the bugs took a moment to glide down and land on the Princesses wing. “What is this?”
Celestia looked at the little bug smirking as it churred at her.
“That is quite adorable......”
“NOOOOOOO!!!!” Twilight screamed out, leaping at the princess and snatching the bug away from her doing her best to throttle the offending bug as the Guards all dog piled on her to keep the Princess safe.
Celestia and her remaining Guards blinked in confusion as Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash face hooved. Spike simply let out a long suffering sigh.
“So how bad is it this time?” Celestia muttered to Spike as Twilight tried to bury the bug in the dirt while the Guards that tackled her had difficulty restraining her as they were rather confused as to what she was even doing.
“It just started when you showed up. She'll calm down when she finds out Pinkie Pie fixed it. Then she'll freak out again cause Pinkie Pie fixed it.” Spike offered.
“Well I'm sure you and Rahs can deal with her, you've had practice. Has there been some sort of problem in town otherwise?” Celestia raised her eyebrow looking around seeing a number of wrecked gardens, but no real damage.
“Just a bit of a infestation Princess, nothing we cannot deal with.” Rarity placated before looking over to the Pinkie Parade. “Evidently.....”
“Seems to be going around. Phillydelphia is having some sort of issue as well. I simply stopped by to tell every one that I couldn't stay as I need to go see what is happening there.” Celestia let out a small sigh. “ Luna is already in the city and I fear what actions she might take to correct whatever the issue is.”
“ Sisters... am I right?” Spike scoffed and Celestia chuckled.
“Indeed Spike. Thank you for taking care of yours as well as you have.” Celestia offered.” I'll be sure to send a care package of gems for all your hard work when I can.”
“Hey no problem, some one's got to be the sensible one.” Spike smiled puffing out his chest a little.
“Yes well on to duty. Tell Twilight I said hello when she's done playing with... well whatever that cute thing is.” Celestia offered waving the confused Guards trying to restrain Twilight away as the purple mare succeeded in trapping the little bug in a hole under a rock. She nodded to the others before she and her Guards went back to her chariot and took off into the sky.
“Well this has been a day. And I would like much for it to be over now.” Rarity sighed her gaze shifting between the long line of bugs heading out into the Everfree after Pinkie and the golden chariot flying off into the sky.
“No kidding.” Dash agreed.
“I would like very much to go home now.” Fluttershy agreed.
“Yes, well, Darling I am going to come along with you just to make sure that you did not save ANOTHER of those disgusting things.” Rarity stated.
“That's fair.” Fluttershy shrugged and followed along with Rarity.
“Wanna help me get Twilight back into the house?” Spike asked.
“Yeah sure,”Dash agreed looking at Twilight muttering to her self and drawing a sealing circle around the rock. “got nothing else going on right now.”
[Sweet Apple Acres.]
“BORK!” Rahs snapped as he squirmed in the ropes.
“Don't give me that, ah dunno what yah said but ah know tha tone. Ah ain't got time tah watch and make sure yah don't eat another trees wortha apples. I'll come and get yah down when we got everything secure from tha bugs” Applejack called trotting off.” Wouldn't have had tah do this if yah didn't make a bee line fer tha trees tha second yah got here.”
Rahs growled before slumping in his bindings. All he wanted was a few apples and the moment he went for a few Applejack had hog tied him and strapped him to the post before slapping an old coat and a hat on him leaving him mounted like a old scare crow.
Clearly the farm mare still held a grudge about the fence he had broken.
Stats
Page generated in 0.023 seconds
Total duration
741 users online
726,788 hits today, 2,151,698 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Never thought the quiet-and-shy mare would like this up-and-dance song.
I'm surprised Angel's scene didn't include a "Ka-click".
Is there any particular reason you posted this at 2 a.m. or did you just want to make me hate being awake any more?
8731626
Hey, Its always the quiet ones.
8731712
Mostly cause i was up to post it......
Here's hoping the epilogue include a lecture to Pinkie about explaining her plans in case others don't get it.
excuse me?
Mindtaking.
8731636 8731737 True that
8731947
BooooooweeeeeEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
HAH! Well done, Angel.
Got the first two references (I think). Amalthea the unicorn from The Last Unicorn and Igneel from Fairy Tail. Didn't know the last one though.
8737477
http://harveybirdman.wikia.com/wiki/Mentok
I actually watched the whole thing. Lol
9502225
Wise words and good advice.
I'm seeing a pattern here...
I guess you could say that rahs is …ON THE FENCE about the parasprites
9659704
u r terrible
Wait angel bunny can pull things out of his fur like it’s his own pocket dimension? Angel have you been getting lessons from pinkie?
10052932
Eh, probably more like Looney Toons.
That explains so much about Zephyr. Kinda creepy that.
On a side note, freakin love The Who.
10052932
Curse you Bugs Bunny!
Maybe not.
Upon re-reading this...
Fluttershy sent a parasprite to Zephyr in Fillydelphia once she knew it was a pest, didn't she ?
ah darn it out of toilet paper *proceeds to drink own urine*
I love that mental image so much
Did Rahs at least pay for the Apples?
Great Chronicles of a great episode. Well done! 👏
Fluttershy should send her beloved brother magic changed ones... What a tragedy if the 'accidently' eat him alive
OMG I'M DYING I CANT STOP LAUGHING
Twilight, please recite to me the etymology of the word 'humanely', and make sure Lyra can hear.
Twilight...
Can you not make your friends think you threw your morals into a flaming pit?
Ahh the only time I'll like Angel Bunny. Combat Knife, good choice.
Parasprites are nice snacks apperently. Neat!
Ehh can't fault your loyalty I guess.” Dash shrugged.”And we did come looking to you guys for help so waiting on the Princess isn't that much more of a wait. Though I hate not doing anything. I wanna do something.”
Is that supposed to be loyalty or logic?
Oh please fluttershy would watch documentaries and irl animals falling to their death or get eaten and be fine(fascinated even) with it but once its artificial she faints
humanly - not 'equinely' ?
Damn... Parasprites are very persistent.