Swarm of the Century

Pony's Log Number 110: It still amazes me how the cutest things in the world can lead to great feats of destruction and chaos...

One day, Fluttershy was out in the outskirts of the Everfree forest busily gathering flowers with some of her animal friends.

"La, la-la, la-la, la-la," she sang happily as she continued to fill the basket on her back with lots of beautiful flowers. Then a squirrel appeared before her to offer a flower to the collection. Fluttershy noticed that the squirrel had picked out a dandelion.

"Thank you little squirrel, but remember these flowers are for Princess Celestia," Fluttershy replied, "Only the prettiest ones will do." A strong gust of wind hit the dandelion, blowing away its pedals, and leaving just a stem. The squirrel just smiled apologetically and dashed away. Fluttershy just smiled and went back to her humming as she headed towards a nearby cart.

"La, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la..."

CHIRP

"Gah!" Fluttershy was suddenly started by the loud chirping and rushed behind the cart, dropping all the collected flowers onto the grass. She heard the chip again. There behind a rock was a insect with two pairs of wings, large eyes, and a spherical body. It just rose from its hiding place and smiled.

"Hello, little guy," said Fluttershy sweetly, "I've never seen anything like you before." The insect flew over a nearby apple, sniffing it despite not even having a visible nose.

"Oh, are you hungry?" Fluttershy asked and stomped the apple into some mush, "here you go." The insect just looked at the mush before heading towards a nearby bucket that was loaded with apples. The insect swarmed the bucket, eating every apple inside.

"I guess you were hungry," said Fluttershy as the insect snuggled into Fluttershy's pink mane and purred.

"You're the cutest thing ever!" said Fluttershy, "I can't wait to show you to my friends." Fluttershy was so excited to show off her new friends that it didn't occur to her that the insect's large appetite could pose a problem.

(Theme song)

Back in Ponyville, Twilight and Spike were busy trying to tidy up the library, but Twilight's need for perfection was not making the task any easier.

"Oh! Hurry up, Spike!" said Twilight, "This place isn't gonna clean itself."

"It also didn't mess itself up," said Spike, emphasizing the fact that he wasn't the one who threw all the books on the floor as he tried carrying a few at a time.

"Princess Celestia will be here tomorrow!" Twilight explained as she continued to use her feather duster.

"I thought this was just an unofficial casual visit," said Spike.

"There's nothing casual about a visit from royalty," Twilight retorted, "I want this place to be spotless, and you've barely made a dent in the clutter." Spike just continued to try and put some books away on some of the higher shelves.

"Maybe you should, ugh, start reading them one at a time?" Spike suggested before he lost his balance on the ladder, "Whoa -ho! Aw." Spike tumbled back into the floor and groaned.

"Everything's got to be perfect," said Twilight, not listening to Spike at all, "No time for fooling around."

"You know, this would be an awful lot easier if there weren't two of us here getting under each other's feet," Spike proposed, hoping to get out of cleaning the library.

"Great idea," said Twilight, "You clean, I'll go see how everyone else's preparations are coming." Twilight then handed Spike her feather duster and headed out.

"Or maybe I should..." But Spike was too late, Twilight was already gone and Spike was left to clean the library alone. He groaned as he got back to work.

Twilight quickly galloped about the town as the other ponies were busy getting everything ready for Princess Celestia's visit. As she made her way into the park, she noticed how all the trees were decorated and flowers were being watered to ensure they were in full bloom for tomorrow. She then noticed that two ponies were setting up a banner as they chatted amongst each other.

"WELCOME PRINCESS CELEST"

Celest?

"What happened to the rest of her name?" Twilight asked the two ponies.

"We couldn't fit it all in," said Golden Harvest.

"You can't hang a banner that says "Welcome Princess Celest"," said Twilight, "Take it down and try again." Golden Harvest and the other pony looked indignant as Twilight went on her way. She then noticed Bon Bon watering some flowers that were beginning to blossom.

"That looks perfect," said Twilight, "Keep up the good work." Bon Bon just smiled as best she could considering the watering can was in her teeth. Twilight headed over to sugarcube corner where the Cakes were busy creating and setting up various types of desserts and delectable goodies.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Cake," said Twilight as she arrived outside of the shop's entrance, "How's the banquet coming?"

"Uh...it would be coming a little better if..." Mrs. Cake pointed over towards a table that had various deserts and goods that had been munched and completely destroyed. The only decent item was a rather nicely decorated cake that had a tiara on top. Until a certain pink pony slammed her face into it and gobbled it up. She smiled as her muzzle was covered in butter cream, making her seem like she had a beard and she now had the tiara on her head.

"Mmm..." Pinkie murmured as she used her long tongue to slurp up the rest of the frosting on her face. Mario popped out of the kitchen. He had come to help with banquet since Mrs. Cake seemed to enjoy having him assist with the baking and prepping. It seems Mrs. Cake always got a little misty when he was around...but that's another story.

"UGH!" Mario cried out in frustration, "Will you quit devouring everything in sight! I can't keep making every dessert twice!" He gave the pink pony a glare but she didn't seem to notice.

"Pinkie! What are you doing? Those sweets are supposed to be for the princess," Twilight protested.

"I know. That's why I'm tasting them," said Pinkie, "Somepony needs to make sure that everything is tasty enough to touch the royal tongue."

"Uhh, isn't that way I'm here helping with the baking?" said Mario, "considering I would know Mom's royal palette better than anypony?"

"Well maybe I just wanna be your princess?" Pinkie replied, leaning her head against his. Mario just rolled his eyes.

"Twilight's my princess," he muttered to himself but nopony heard him.

"Anyway, I, Pinkie Pie, declare that these treats are fit for a king, or a queen, or a princess," said Pinkie regally. Mario just shook his head.

"If the treats were left intact," said Mario indignantly.

"Twilight, Pinkie, Mario, you won't believe...oh, I'm sorry. Uh, am I interrupting?" Fluttershy had just entered the shop when she noticed the three ponies were in a discussion.

"No, not at all," said Pinkie, "Come on in and make yourself at home..." She then used her tongue to slurp up another cake, "...What's going on, Fluttershy?" Mario just hoof-palmed his face as Pinkie just smiled and Twilight glared at her.

"You won't believe what I found at the edge of the Everfree Forest," said Fluttershy and then looked inside of her mane, "Come on out little guy. It's okay." The insect just peeked out of her mane shyly before hovering before the other three ponies. Yet Fluttershy was surprised to see not just one, but three of the insects now. The insects just purred and chirped happily together. Fluttershy gasped.

"Three?" she exclaimed.

"They're amazing," said Twilight as the insects flew about, "What are they?"

"I'm not sure," said Fluttershy, "I'm also not sure where these other two came from."

"I'll take one off your hooves," said Twilight, "I've never seen anything so...adorable." Twilight nuzzled it lovingly until she realized she was cooing over a bug in front of Fluttershy. She blushed sheepishly.

"Besides, it'll be nice to have a companion for Spike so he won't bother me so much while Mario and I are studying," Twilight commented.

"Pinkie, do you want the other one?" Fluttershy offered.

"Ugh! A parasprite?" Pinkie retorted making a face, "Are you kidding?"

"Ugh?" "A para-what?" "That's what they are called?" Fluttershy, Twilight, and Mario said at once as Pinkie made her way towards the exit of the shop.

"Ugh. Now I gotta go find a trombone," said Pinkie angrily.

"A what?" Twilight asked, still puzzled.

"A trombone, you know," Pinkie imitated the instrument before leaping out of the doorway.

"What's that got to do with parasprites?" Mario asked, but Pinkie was already out of sight.

"Ahhh, typical Pinkie," said Twilight, brushing her off as her new parasprite just purred into her side.

"Did you want the other one, Mario?" Fluttershy asked.

"Umm...as cute as they are," said Mario nervously, "I'm not that big with bugs and insects, but thanks anyway." I'm still trying to decide of Pinkie really is being random or there is a connection to the parasprite and trombone. I'll need do a little research as soon as I can. Before Mario could sort out his thoughts, he and Twilight were making their way towards the Carousel Boutique as Rarity was busy making some outfits for tomorrow. She had somehow convinced Rainbow to model for one of the outfits, but the blue Pegasus' attention span was waning.

"Stand still, Rainbow Dash," said Rarity as she was trying to stick some pins to hold the material in place and not stick Rainbow.

"Ugh, I caaan't," Rainbow whined, "I need to flyyy! This is waaay too boring for me!" Rainbow tired to take off, but Rarity held her down by the tail so she couldn't escape.

"Do you want to look nice for Princess Celestia or not?" Rarity asked her sternly. As much as Rainbow hated dressing up, especially since the outfit Rarity made for her was quite...noble and proper, she did want to be presentable and conceded with a long face. It was just than Twilight and Mario walked inside.

"Wow. Rarity, these outfits are gorgeous," said Twilight as she saw them and Mario nodded in agreement.

"Mmhmm. Thank you, Twilight," said Rarity, "Nice to know somepony appreciates my talents." Rainbow just covered her face with her fore-hoofs.

"Ugh, sooo boooring," said Rainbow as she pulled down the bottom eyelids and make them recoil.

"It might not be your style Rainbow," said Mario, "but you do look very pretty."

"Oh hush!" Rainbow barked angrily. Mario looked hurt.

"Excuse me for being honest and sincere," Mario retorted back indignantly before walking away. Rainbow then realized she had blown off a genuine complement, but before she could do damage control she heard several chirps.

"Huh?" Rarity remarked since she heard the chirping as well.

"What's that sound, Twilight?" Rainbow asked curiously. It was then not one, but three parasprites popped out of her mane.

"Wow, what are they?" said Rainbow as she flew just above them despite her dress.

"The better question is, where did they come from?" Twilight answered, "I only had one a minute ago."

"That's not a good sign..." said Mario wearily, but none of the girls heard.

"Uh, I'll take one," Rainbow volunteered before she began to cuddle it. It was quite an unusual sight to see Rainbow Dash snuggle with something so openly, but Mario didn't say anything about it. He liked seeing the girl's softer side.

"Me too," Rarity replied right after as she snuggled with a parasprite of her own, "oh, they're perfect." Mario just sighed since he still felt uneasy about the bugs. Then Pinkie appeared outside the shop door.

"Does anypony know where I can find an accordion?" she called out.

"Check over at Lyra's house," said Mario, not looking at her and watching the other girls, "She used to play one a few years ago but gave it up. I'm sure she didn't toss it."

"Thank you," said Pinkie before glaring at the other girls, "At least somepony is being helpful!" The other girls were too busy cooing and doing baby talk with their parasprites.

"Girls! Hello! This is important," Pinkie yelled but was still ignored, "Durgh! Thanks alot." Pinkie the dashed away as Mario just rolled his eyes.

"Still don't know what those instruments have to do with these parasprites," said Mario, "I...better go see about that book while they're busy..." Mario sneaked away back the library, but ended up staying longer than he planed helping Spike finish cleaning before heading back into his house to read the book. He hoped to find some answers.

Later that night, Twilight was still worried about tomorrow.

"The decorations, the banquet," she sighed, "I really hope everything comes together in time tomorrow." She looked about as Spike was already fast asleep and the little parasprite was just making baby-like noises as it snoozed nearby. Twilight just yawned as she climbed into bed.

"Oh, what's there to worry about?" said Twilight as she went to sleep.

The next morning arrived and Twilight was woken up with a start by the sound of loud baby noises. She looked around to see not one, not three, but several parasprites buzzing around her.

"Spike! Wake up! What happened?" Spike woke up but two parasprites were resting on his eyes. Several more were buzzing around him.

"Huh? Whaaa!" Spike screamed as he tugged off the two parasprites off of his eyes, "What's going on?" The parasprites just chirped in response.

"Where did they come from?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know," Spike answered, "The little guy got hungry in the night, so I gave him a snack, but...I have no idea where the others came from." Just then the parasprites began to remove and toss objects from the shelves.

"Oh no!" Spike exclaimed, "They're messing up all my hard work!" Spike had forgotten the fact Mario had helped him out as he tried to shoo the parasprites away from the shelves and Twilight was trying to do the same, but there were too many parasprites to deal with.

"The princess will be here in a few hours," said Twilight worried.

"Ugh!" Spike groaned as he continued to gather the parasprites away from the shelves.

"Spike, help me round up these little guys," Twilight called out.

"Ugh, what does it look like I'm doin'?" Spike called out, showing a large basket filled several times his height with parasprites, "Ooow, waaah! D'oh!" Spike lost his balance and all the parasprites fell on top of him. Twilight just glared as some parasprites flew away so Spike could pop out of the pile.

"I know, I know, "Stop foolin' around"," Spike replied with an irritated glare of his own. He was tired of being scolded for simply trying his best and getting overwhelmed.

Back in the sky, Rainbow was just reclining lazily on a cloud shaped pillar style chair when a parasprite appeared under the cloud next to her and chirped. Then another. Then another. Then another.

"Huh? Huh?!" Rainbow exclaimed when some of the parasprite began to land on her. Rainbow screeched, grunted, and groaned as she tried to shoo them off. But every time she tried, they kept flying right back on her.

"Get off me!" she bellowed when they began even taking the shaped of headwear, accessories, even once forming a bathing suit. Rainbow groaned and grunted but the parasprites wouldn't stop trying to land on her. They finally made themselves into a beard n stache on her chin.

"Waaa!" Rainbow screamed as she zoomed away and the other parasprites followed in hot pursuit.

Rarity on the other hand was taking the multiplying parasprites very well. She had put them to work in her shop and they were helping her with several tasks she needed to get done that morining.

"Not only are you adorable, but you're also quite useful," said Rarity. Once parasprite smiled and purred until it began to cough and grunt.

"Oh are you okay?" Rarity asked worried until the parasprite spat out a brownish ball of goo into her eye, making her gasp, "Aaah! Eewww. Aaah! Gross, gross, gross!" It was then the ball of goo turned into a new parasprite. Rarity was disgusted.

"No creature that behaves so revoltingly is allowed in my boutique!" Rarity said sternly. Her only reply was when the newly born parasprite spat out a purple ball of goo, which immediately became another new parasprite. All Rarity could do was scream.

A little while later, Rarity sternly left her shop with her saddle bags loaded with all the parasprites inside. Pinkie had just arrived.

"Look Rarity, Applejack loaded me a harmonica, "said Pinkie as she played a few notes from it, "Isn't that great?" Then she heard the parasprites chirping inside of Rarity's saddle bags. Pinkie gasped.

"And not a moment too soon," said Pinkie.

"Ugh, Pinkie, I'm a little busy right now," said Rarity as she walked away from the pink pony.

"And I'm not?" Pinkie retorted, "You know how many more instruments I've gotta find? A lot, thats how many. Now if we split the list between us, we might just make it in time." Pinkie held Rarity close, but the marshmallow pony was in no mood to listen.

"Please, Pinkie, I don't have time for some silly scavenger hunt," Rarity answered and just walked away, "I've got a real problem."

"You've got a real problem, all right," said Pinkie, "and a banjo is the only real answer." Pinkie replied then zipped away. Rarity just rolled her eyes and walked away. She just arrived at a nearby lake outside of Fluttershy's cottage when she met up with Twilight, who was also carrying saddle bags loaded with parasprites. They both gasped when they saw each other.

"I see we're having the same problem," Rarity pointed out.

"Ditto!" Rainbow replied as she finally got the swarm of parasprites off her chin and flew away to keep them off of her.

"Fluttershy knows everything about animals," said Twilight as they all approached her front door, "I'm sure she can tell us how to stop them from multiplying." Just as they opened the door, they were swarmed with parasprites, not just several, or dozens, but hundreds!

"...or not," said Twilight wearily. Several hundred parasprites were buzzing about inside of Fluttershy's house as well as outside of it.

"Ugh, do something Fluttershy," Twilight called out as she yellow Pegasus dashed about her house, "can't you control them?"

"I've tried everything I know," said Fluttershy, "I've tried begging, and pleading, and beseeching, and asking politely and..."

"Guh!" was all Rainbow could say. Twilight then whined inwardly. She had a vision of Princess Celestia arriving in Ponyville, only to be sent away screaming as the parasprites invaded her chariot and took her away.

"If we can't get them under control before the Princess arrives, it'll be a total disaster!" said Twilight Sparkle. Then another parasprite hacked out another orb to produce another parasprite.

"Ew!" Rarity retorted since she had to witness that again, "If you ask me, it's already a total disaster." It was just then Applejack arrived carrying a cartload of apples.

"Here's all those apples you wanted, Fluttershy," said Applejack, "but I still can't figure out why you need so many. Hey!" Before Applejack could get an answer, several parasprites swarmed in and ate up all the apples, core and all, leaving the cart empty.

"Don't feed them!" someone shouted from the distance. That was when Mario zoomed up to the group and came to fast stop.

"Where have you been?" Twilight demanded, "we're in the middle of a crisis!"

"Nice to see you too, Twilight," Mario replied sarcastically before turning serious, "I was busy most of the night reading up on these...parasprites...and trying to learn more about them. From what I can see, you already learned that they have the ability to rapidly multiply. The cause is the fact they have such endless appetites.

"Endless?" the girls all exclaimed.

"Yes, feeding them is also what make their numbers increase," said Mario, "keep them from eating, you keep them from multiplying. But of course that's easier said than done at this point."

"Did the book say about getting rid of them?" Twilight asked. Mario shook his head.

"I checked every page and cross-reference," said Mario, "There is nothing about defeating a parasprite."

"What do we do?" Fluttershy asked worried. Twilight pondered for a second before gasping.

"I got it!" said Twilight, "Nopony can herd like Applejack."

"Yeah!" Rainbow added, "We can drive' em back into the forest." While Applejack didn't know as much about the situation as the rest of the group, she was ready for action.

"I'll rastle 'em up," she replied with a scoff, "but I need everypony's help to do it. Twilight, you and Rarity wait over there. I'll heard the little critters straight at ya like a funnel. Rainbow, and Fluttershy stay on top of 'em, don't let 'em fly away. Mario, I've seen you heard 'em with the best. Yer with me."

"Aye aye," said Rainbow as she and Fluttershy took to the skies.

"Yeeeeeeee-haw!" Applejack called out as she rose from her hind legs and then galloped away with Mario at her side. The parasprites screeched as Applejack and the rest of the group began to corral them all up into one giant orb. Then they began to herd the giant parasprite ball towards the entrance to the Everfree forest. Two parasprites tried to escape but were quickly pushed back into the giant orb.

"Alrighty y'all, here goes nothin'," Applejack called out, "Look out Rarity, that one's fixin' to get away. Keep a lead on 'em, Rainbow Dash! Hold on girls, we're almost there!"

"Why is it I always feel excluded when you say just "girls"?" Mario asked annoyingly.

"You make it too easy," Rainbow shouted as Mario gave her a death glare. Twilight was just concentrating when she noticed Pinkie had appeared out of nowhere and was running along with the group.

"Pinkie!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Twilight, we don't have much time," she answered.

"You're telling me," Twilight answered, "The princess could arrive at any moment."

"Exactly, "Pinkie agreed, "That's why I need you gals...and Mario..."

"Thank you!" Mario exclaimed, glad to not feel excluded.

"...to drop what you're doing and help me find some maracas," Pinkie finished.

"Maracas?" Twilight exclaimed, "Pinkie, we've got much bigger problems than missing maracas!" Pinkie gasped.

"You're right!" Pinkie replied, "Getting a tuba has to be our number one goal. Follow me." Pinkie than took off, but then came back, running backwards to keep pace, once she saw no one was following her.

"I said, follow me!" Pinkie said more sternly. Rainbow just laughed at her.

"Pinkie Pie, you are so random," she remarked. Unlike other occasions, Mario could tell that Pinkie was getting very frustrated.

"Look Pinkie, I might be the only pony here that thinks there might be some sort of connection between these parasprites and what you're doing, but you're not making any sense to anypony!" Mario told her aloud.

"But I need help!" Pinkie barked, "What do I choose, maracas or a tuba?" The other's just rolled their eyes.

"Go with the tuba," said Mario, "it fits more with the other instruments. Here!" Mario summon a key with his horn and tossed it to Pinkie.

"Inside my basement, I have several instruments," Mario explained, "You should find whatever you think you need there."

"Well come on then," Pinkie replied with the key on her mouth, "We've got no time to lose!"

"Pinkie, you can't expect us to just leave these parasprites out here to wonder all happy and free," said Mario, "Just do what you need to do okay! We've got this bunch!"

"And you're all so stubborn!" Pinkie snapped and dashed away.

"Forget her ladies...and gentlecolt," said Applejack, "Focus. Head 'em up and move 'em out." The ponies soon reached the edge of the forest and just let the giant orb of parasprites roll deep into the forest, hopefully to be lost forever.

"All right!" said Rainbow with a grunt. Fluttershy reached out her fore-hooves as Rainbow gave her a hard double high five.

"Ouch," said Fluttershy as she rubbed her now sore hooves.

"We did it," said Twilight with a smile, "Nice work, Applejack."

"Couldn't a'done it without y'all," said Applejack."

"Now let's get back and clean up the mess they made before the princess arrives," Twilight suggested as the six ponies made their way back towards Fluttershy's house.

"Okay, everyone know what to do, right?" Twilight instructed, "We gotta work extra hard to make up for lost time." Fluttershy then opened her door and like an explosion another swarm containing hundreds of fast flying parasprites came rushing out of Fluttershy's house.

"Where did they come from?" Twilight asked as they ducked and covered from the incoming swarm.

"Well, I may have kept just one," Fluttershy confessed, earning some very furious glares from everypony else.

"Heh. I couldn't help myself," Fluttershy admitted sheepishly, "They're just so cute." Fluttershy nuzzled one, but the others were more worried about the new swarm.

"We don't have time to keep rounding up these things," Twilight remarked, "What do we do now?"

"We call in the weather patrol," said Rainbow as she put on some goggles and grunted and she took to the skies. Poor Rarity was shrieking as she ran away from the parasprite chasing her while the others struggled to rounded up again.

"Time to take out the adorable trash," said Rainbow as she tucked her goggles over her eyes.

"YAAAAAA!" Rainbow gave a Tarzan-like yell. The parasprites began to chirp as Rainbow created a makeshift tornado that sucked them all up into it like a vacuum. Everyone else tried to hold on to something to avoid being swept away since her mini-tornado created some strong winds. Soon enough, all the remaining parasprites had been sucked inside of it.

"Way to go, Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called out, still grunting as she tried to regain her footing once the winds has died down.

"Looks like our problems are solved," said Applejack.

"They will be with these cymbals," said Pinkie, but she was too close to the tornado and they were quickly torn off her neck and sucked into it," Hey! Give me those back!"

"Whoa. Yaa! Yow! Whoa! Wow!" Rainbow yelped a she tried to avoid the cymbals swirling about, at the expense of her control over the tornado, "I can't hold it! She's breaking up!" Rainbow was soon sent flying out of the tornado and landed back first into a tree. The tornado dissipated, sending now thousands of parasprites showering over Ponyville.

"Pinkie Pie, what have you done?" Twilight exclaimed.

"I've lost a brand new pair of cymbals, that's what I've done," said Pinkie.

"Those cymbals were mine!" said Mario angrily, "Look Pinkie Pie, I've tried to be open minded about this, I've provided you with your instruments because I had some wild, delusional notion that you had some solution to our problem. But all I see you doing is getting in the way of us trying to get all these parasprites into one single location!"

"Will you forget about your silly instruments for one second?" Twilight added, "You're ruining our efforts to save Ponyville."

"And just showered an entire swarm of parasprites all over the town!" Mario added.

"Me? Ruin? I'm not the ruiner, I'm the ruin-ee! Or it is ruiness? Ruinette?"

"All seem right about you," Mario remarked to himself.

"Come on girls, Mario, there's no reasoning with that one," said Applejack, "She's a few apples shorts of a bushel." Everyone galloped off to head back into town. Mario stared but then looked at Pinkie, giving her a disappointed look before going to catch up with the group.

"Hey! I'm trying to tell you all that the ruining is on the other hoof," Pinkie shouted, "If you'd just slow down and listen to me!" Pinkie was soon left alone. Back in Ponyville, the other ponies were rather mesmerized by all the parasprites. One then landed near Bon Bon and Lyra, they seem to enjoy it's company until it started devouring both of their slices of pie. Bon Bon was shocked and Lyra was fighting not to start crying. Soon the other parasprites began to munch up flowers, fruits, vegetables, even those still in the ground...

"Aah!" screamed a garden pony as some parasprites gobbled up the contents of her entire garden. Other ponies gasped and then ran for their lives as the parasprites began to gobble up every food item insight. The rest of the group arrived in the middle of the infestation and panic.

"What are we going to do?" Fluttershy asked everyone, "They're eating all the food in town." Applejack then gasped as her green eyes shrunk.

"My apples!" she yelled and ran right out of town towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"We've gotta do something!" said Twilight.

"Well, we could use my special bug be-gone spray!" Mario proposed, holding a spray pump with his magic.

"Ahem," said Fluttershy, giving him a glare. Mario just chuckled nervously until he groaned and made the spray pump disappear. Twilight then gasped.

"I got it!" said Twilight, "I'll cast a spell to make them stop eating all the food." Twilight then sent a magical wave that made all the parasprites stop eating the food. Pinkie had continued her instrument hunt and found herself some tambourines.

"Look, tambourines! If you could all just..." Pinkie then noticed no one was listening, Mario just pointed a hoof for her to leave. Pinkie screamed in frustration and left, tambourines clashing as she ran off. Twilight gasped when she saw a nearby parasprite sniff and chirp at an apple but ignored it. Twilight and the others sighed with relief.

"Umm, Twilight," Mario whispered into her ear, "That spell doesn't eliminate their eating habits, but only alters them. What did you change their diet to?" They soon found out as a parasprite ate the bucket the apples were in. Food carts had the carts devoured instead of their contents eaten. They were even munching on the walls, roofs, and display stands of houses and shops.

"Nice to see you thought things through!" Mario remarked sarcastically.

"Heh. Hey, it worked. They're not eating the food anymore!" Rainbow added in the same tone. Twilight just smiled sheepishly until Rarity realized something.

"On no...if they get inside my store..." Rarity then panicked, "Everypony for herself!"

"And him...oh forget it..." Mario muttered as Rarity was long gone. By the time Rarity had arrived at the boutique. The parasprites were already inside munching away.

"My outfits!" Rarity exclaimed as they gobbled them all up without a second thought, "Go on, shoo! Get out of here, you naughty! Naughty!" But the nearby parasprite just belched out another ball, creating another parasprite as Rarity backed away and was now surrounded by them as she sat helplessly in a wooden stool.

"I'll save you!" said Pinkie as she appeared outside the boutique and dashed inside. She ended up running right past Rarity. grabbing a nearby recorder into her mouth, played a note or two, and then dashed away. Whether that was all Pinkie had wanted or she ignored Rarity on purpose was anypony's guess, Rarity was now left to the mercy of the parasprites.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" Rarity screamed at the top of lungs.

Meanwhile, Applejack had set up defenses in order to brace the Apple Farm for a dangerous parasprite invasion. She, Big Mac, and Granny Smith were donning pitch forks, a spray pump, and cameo hats.

"No woodland creature's gonna eat the Apple Family's crop," said Applejack as they saw an incoming swarm if parasprites heading this way, "Brace yourself, y'all, here they come." The three gathered their weapons, but the parasprites simply buzzed past the three and gobbled up the entire barn exterior, causing the interior to collapse on itself. The Apple family was left agape as they dropped their weapons.

"Didn't see that one comin'" was all Applejack could say.

Things were no better as Mario and Twilight made their way back towards the Library, which was swarmed with parasprites as well.

"Help!" Spike called out as Mario helped him to his feet, but the damage was being done. The parasprites were now getting into the books.

"They're eating the words," Twilight gasped as one parasprite licked them off while another slurped up the writing scribbles like a piece of spaghetti. Just as one parasprite made another one appear, Twilight grabbed its wings by her teeth and dragged it out of the library with a grunt.

"Help..." Spike asked as she and Mario made a direct beeline for Zecora's home. Zecora was appearing doing a combination upside down balance and mediation routine when Twilight and Mario burst through her door, making her tumble into her back.

"Ugh. Have you gone mad?" Zecora asked in irritation.

"Zecora, these little guys are devouring Ponyville, and the princess in on her way," Twilight explained in a panic as she showed the zebra the parasprite, "Can you help us please?" Zecora saw the parasprite and smiled.

"Oh, monster of so little size," Zecora replied, "Is that a parasprite before my eyes?"

"I don't know! Is it?" Twilight asked frantically.

"I told you it was," Mario remarked, thought no surprised Twilight hadn't been listening. Zecora looked through a book. The same one Mario had read.

"Tales of crops and harvest consumed, "said Zecora before sticking her head towards Twilight with a smug smile on her face, "If these creatures are in Ponyville, you're doomed." Twilight just gulped.

"Mario..." she squeaked, "what else did the book say about them?"

"You heard of the town Dustbowl, Hookie-poma?" he asked.

"Yes..." Twilight answered.

"There's a reason why it's nothing but a wasteland these days," Mario answered dearily. Twilight's eyes shrunk and Mario thought the poor girl had stopped breathing. A minute later, they were just outside Ponyville when they saw something in the sky.

"Oh no, here she comes," said Twilight. There in the sky near a tall mountain where Canterlot resided, they could see the Princess's royal chariot leaving the city and making its way towards Ponyville. Twilight and Mario rushed into town, to find ponies screaming, parasprites munching, and other hiding and cowering for cover.

"Aaaah, aaaaaaah!" Daisy screamed as a swarm was chasing her. Twilight just looked about until her mane frazzled a bit as something in her mind snapped.

"Okay, here's the plan," Twilight began with a goofy smile on her face, "Rainbow Dash, you distract them."

"YAAAA!" Rainbow screamed as a few of the parasprites came after her.

"Good," said Twilight, "Everyone else, we need to build and exact copy of Ponyville right over there. We've got less than a minute!"

"Are you crazy?" Mario retorted, "I can't build that faaaa-eeeeeeeeh..." Mario stopped talking as Twilight gave him a smile that was on the brink of a pony gone mad.

"You will make it happen, because you're my best friend, and you wouldn't want to let me down right? Riiiiight?" Twilight asked in a way too sweet tone, making Mario step back as her face got right into his.

"Okay..." Mario squeaked. Then Twilight snapped out of it, realizing what she was doing, and lowered her head in defeat.

"Zecora's right, we're doomed," said Twilight in defeat. Mario just looked at her sadly.

"Twilight...would it help at all if...I told Mom this was all my fault and mine alone?" Mario proposed. Twilight lifted her head in surprise.

"You'd do that for me?" she asked, deeply touched. Mario nodded giving her a smile.

"I'd do anything to make you stop feeling sad or worried," he told her gently. Twilight just gazed into his eyes as her own became larger and started to twinkle. Their eye gazing continued for another second before some trumpets blowing knocked them both back into reality.

"Oh no, the princess's procession is here," Twilight exclaimed, "It's all over!"

"No it won't," said Mario, "I said I'll take the blame..."

"Mario, that's sweet, but I can't..." Twilight then stopped when she began to hear polka music. Then they both saw that it wasn't Princess Celestia at all. It was Pinkie coming down the street playing polka music with what had become her own one pony band.

"Pinkie?" Twilight exclaimed, "We're in the middle of a crisis here. There is no time for your...nonsense?" Mario tapped her shoulder and pointed upwards. The parasprites appeared to stop munching and swarming about. Now they had begun dancing to Pinkie's music and began to follow her. Their other friends just watched in agape as Twilight and Mario walked up to them. They were all stunned that Pinkie's one pony band was actually working in driving every single parasprite out of Ponyville. They were soon following her at the very end of the line. Until they all saw Princess Celestia making her landing on the outskirts of town.

"Look," Twilight pointed at the sky. The six ponies all made a mad dash in front of Pinkie and caught up to Princess Celestia. They all bowed as Princess Celestia made her landing and stepped out of the chariot.

"Twilight Sparkle, Mario Star, my prized pupils," Princess Celestia said as the two ponies rose to their feet.

"Hello, princess," said Twilight and Mario together.

"Good to see you again Mom," said Mario, trying not to sound panicky. Everyone else just put on a brave smile, but one could see the nervousness in their faces.

"So lovely to see you two again," said Princess Celestia, "as well as your friends."

CRASH!

With the clash of her cymbals, Pinkie arrived leading the parasprites towards the forest right alongside them. If the other ponies weren't nervous before, they were all now."

" So...how was the trip?" Twilight asked nervously, "Hit much traffic?"

"Did you have a smooth flight?" Mario asked as well since he couldn't think of anything else. It was then one of the parasprites appeared before Celestia.

"Ah what is this?" she asked and chuckled as it nuzzled into Celestia's multicolored mane, "Oh ho ho, these creatures are adorable."

"They're not that adorable," Rainbow whispered to Rarity, who just kept smiling sheepishly.

"I'm terribly honored that you and the good citizens of Ponyville have organized a parade in honor of my visit," said Princess Celestia.

"Parade?" Twilight asked and then Mario gave her a light nudge to the shoulder, "Oh. Yes, the parade."

"Unfortunately, that visit is going to have to wait for another time," said Princess Celestia, "I'm afraid an emergency has come up in Fillydelphia. Apparently there's been some sort of infestation."

"An...infestation?" Twilight and Mario asked together.

"Yes, a swarm of incredibly bothersome creatures has invaded the poor town," Princess Celestia explained, "I'm sorry, Twilight and Mario, to have put you all through so much trouble."

"Trouble?" said Twilight with a squeak in her tone.

"What trouble?" Mario asked a toothy grin.

"Before I have to go," Princess Celestia continued, "would you two care to give me your latest report on the magic of friendship in person?"

"Our...report?" said Twilight and looked at Mario who was struggling to think of something.

"Haven't you learned anything about friendship?" Princess Celestia asked. Mario and Twilight then noticed Pinkie still leading the parasprites into the Everfree forest and they both smiled.

"Actually, we have," said Twilight. Mario gestured to say it for her, but Twilight shook her head and put his hoof down to say she would do it, "We've learned that sometimes the solution to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends' opinions and perspectives..."

CRAH

Everyone flinched as Pinkie clashed her symbols once more.

"...Even when they don't always seem to make sense," Mario finished for Twilight with a sheepish smile.

"I'm so proud of you, Twilight Sparkle and Mario Star," said Princess Celestia, "and I'm very impressed with your friends as well. It sounds like you're all learning so much from each other."

"Thank you, Princess," said Twilight.

"Thank you, Mom," said Mario. Princess Celestia then had her chariot take off into the sky. Once she had disappeared, the six ponies than made their way towards Pinkie, who had just finished sending the last of the parasprites into the forest and stopped playing as her friends arrived.

"Hey, what happened to the princess?" Pinkie asked.

"Emergency in Fillydelphia," said Twilight.

"Some sort of infestation," Rainbow added.

"Oh no!" Pinkie remarked, "Have they got parasprites too? Well, have tuba, will travel." Pinkie started to play again, when Twilight stopped her.

"I think the princess can handle it," Twilight assured her.

"So you know what those critters were all along, huh Pinkie Pie?" said Applejack.

"Well, duh!" Pinkie retorted as a matter of fact," Why do you think I was so frantic to get my hooves on all these instruments? I tried to tell you."

"We know, Pinkie Pie," said Twilight, "and we're sorry we didn't listen."

"Yeah Pinkie," said Mario, "Even I had a hunch that you might have known something, but I lost faith in you too soon. I didn't take the time to try and understand what you were trying to tell us. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, Pinkie," said Rainbow.

"So sorry, Pinkie," Rarity added.

"Sorry, Pinkie," said Fluttershy.

"Real sorry, Pinkie," said Applejack.

"You're a great friend, even if we don't always understand you," Twilight said with a smile.

"And I'm gonna try a little harder to try and understand you so I can defend you like I should have in the first place," Mario replied. That was a tall order, but Pinkie was touched for the offer.

"Thanks guys, you're all great friends too, even when I don't understand me," Pinkie replied.

"You saved Mario and I's reputation with Princess Celestia," said Twilight, "and more importantly, you saved Ponyville."

Then they returned to see just how broken down and shambled the town really was.

"...Or not," said Twilight.

Pinkie just played a sad trombone.

Mario just looked about and pondered to himself when he got an idea.

"You know what?" he asked to no one in particular, "I think I can fix this!"

"Now you admit you can fix this?"Twilight asked indignantly.

"Not in less than a minute," said Mario, "I just need to get my toy box."

"Your toy box?!" the other girls all exclaimed.

"It might not make sense, but it will work," said Mario, reminding them of their lesson with Pinkie.

"Well...ok."

"Okay..."

"Alright..."

"If you say so..." They all mumbled as Mario zipped away and then returned with the toy box on his back that was yellow with multiple colored stars on it, but he walked over to Pinkie and tossed a bunch of pink papers at her.

"Keep your "sweet babboo" notes off my refrigerator!" Mario told her and then held a hoof. Pinkie tried to play innocent when Mario gave her a glare and gestured his hoof again. She then handed back his house key.

"Thank you," said Mario as he walked away from her as she stuck her tongue out at him and stood in front of the group.

"HA-HA!" he cried out as he tossed the toy box into the air. The toy box bounced and the top of the lid open. He gave a whistle as dozens of little toy versions of peach colored ponies dressed in orange vests and hard hats jumped out and stood in line before him. (One could argue they looked like toy versions of him.)

"Oh yeah!" they called out one at a time, raising a hoof as they stood before Mario.

"Let'sa go little guys," Mario called out as the toys followed him and then split up. The six girls watched in awe as the mini-pony toys started to repair all the damages that the parasprites left behind. Some of the ponies nearby began to smile as the mini pony toys continued their work. It wasn't much longer before the toys finished restoring Ponyville like nothing had ever happened. Then in single files lines, the toys hoped back into the toy box. Once the last toy was inside, Mario used his horn to close the toy box and then leaned against it so he could stand just using his back hooves and crossed his front hooves before the other girls.

"Way to go," he replied as the repairs were complete. The six girls were just staring with the jaws dropped. Then Twilight snapped out of her stupor and began to laugh.

She was glad to be able to smile after what had been a long day.

"And the best part," said Pinkie as she spoke to you, the readers, and shows you a key, "I made a copy of Mario's house key. Now I can see my sweet babboo whenever I want!"

CHOMP!

Pinkie extended her arms at the end of her little speech, only for the key on her left hoof to be gobbled up by a random parasprite and the insect quickly disappeared. Pinkie looked at her empty hoof as her eyes watered and her lower lip quivered.

"WAH! HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Pinkie sobbed since she had only made one copy.

Mario played a sad trombone as he stood in front of her view.

Better luck next time Pinkie Pie.

Phew, that was a close call for Mario and Twilight. Especially for Mario at the end.

Peace Pony Fans.