A few days had passed. Aspect had more or less settled into the house. He knew where all the rooms were anyways.

Except for what was in the attic, as apparently, the door was busted and wouldn’t open. Still, he had a mental map of the place and could, half the time, walk from one end to another without getting lost.

Given another week, he’d be familiar enough to get to where he was going on the first try. And while everything was technically clean, he still had to go through and remove the dust cloths from all the old furniture. Some of which was likely an antique by now.

He did still find a mostly-empty room in the basement, though. Perfect for turning into a weight room. Once he got his stipend. And figured out where such equipment would be sold.

It was a nice house, overall. He just couldn’t believe that he was living there.

His trail of thought was interrupted by an enthusiastic somepony knocking at his door.

“Heeeey! Aspect!” Lyra called out through the door. “Wakey wakey, Lyra’s here to play~”

The stallion made his way to the front door and pulled the thing open with one hoof. The other still held his coffeemug as he stared at the unicorn on the other side, letting her realize what she’d interrupted.

“Ooh? You made coffee? Looks like I’m just in time then-Guh!” she was flattened as a cream-coloured hoof bonked her on the head.

“I apologise for her,” the new mare sighed. She had a cream coloured coat and a two-tone pink and blue mane. She also smelled quite strongly of sweets. “The moment I found out she had a new friend, I figured I’d tag along so you wouldn’t be subjected to the ‘Full Lyra Experience’.”

“There are some ponies that require a warning label,” Aspect agreed. “Pinkie comes to mind.”

“There aren’t enough labels in Equestria for that mare,” she sighed and held out a hoof. “My name’s Bon Bon. Owner of Sweet Treat Delights and Lyra’s best friend.”

“The bestest,” Lyra groaned from the ground.

“Balanced Aspect,” the pegasus said as he shook her hoof with his free one. “All account layabout and personal friend to Princess Celestia and Luna.”

“Well, certainly quite the claim with that last one,” she chuckled. “And yes, I knew your name already. Lyra hasn’t shut up about you and her seapony friends ever since she met you.”

“Those seaponies were a lot of fun!” Lyra giggled as she got to her hooves.

“They can be,” Bon Bon smiled and then cleared her throat. “W-Well, from what you've told me anyway.”

“Neptune’s subjects typically enjoy spending their free time around ponies,” Aspect said. “Maybe now they’ll show up more often.”

“That. Would be. AWESOME!” Lyra giggled and bounced around. “Now. Coffee?”

Bon Bon groaned and facehooved.

“It’s in the kitchen,” Aspect said. “Had to make it using a pot and boiled water. Nothing like the stuff up in Canterlot at all. I think this house predates modern appliances…”

There was a dotted outline and a cloud of dust where the mare stood.

“Lyra never slows down,” Bon Bon sighed. “I apologise for her in advance.”

“I’m getting the feeling that today is going to be interesting,” Aspect sighed. “Well, come in, I’ll lead the way there.”

“Thank you, sorry for the intrusion,” she said as she walked in.

“This. House. is. HUUUUUGE!” Lyra yelled from… somewhere. “Bonny! I want a house like this!!”

“I think from the sounds of it, she’s found the ballroom,” the pegasus chuckled. “I need to get a new chandelier for that place as well...so many things I need to do around here. So little time before I get visited.”

“Visited?” Bon asked as she followed him. “Expecting somepony?”

“My daughters,” Aspect said as he led the way to the kitchen. “I can’t imagine they won’t pay a visit once they hear that their wandering father has taken very well to his new home.”

“You’re a dad?” Bon smiled and her ear flicked. “You look far too young for that.”

“I’m older than I look,” the stallion said with a wink. “I’m sure you’ll learn why that is during your stay, especially if your friend asks the sorts of questions I’m sure she will be asking.” The door he lead Bon-Bon through was the door to the dining room, meaning the kitchen was just one door away.

“Bonnie!” Lyra zoomed up to them. “BonnieBonbonbonononoBon!”

“...Lyra.” Bon Bon’s eye twitched. “How many cups of coffee did you have?”

“One… two… five, I dunno,” Lyra giggled and bounced around. “Oh! Hey Aspect. Show us some of that sorcery magic of yours!”

“I might need to, to calm you down,” the stallion muttered as he looked at the bouncing mare. He turned his gaze to Bon Bon and smiled softly. “Brace yourself, things are about to get weird.”

“I live and am best friends with Lyra. This is Ponyville. Weird is just another Tuesday for us,” Bon Bon said with a small nod.

Then the pegasus turned into an alicorn stallion.

“Aww, what?” Lyra pouted as she looked at him. “What’s that? You’re supposed to be a human right?Comeoncomeoncomeon!!!”

“Lyra!” Bon Bon sighed. “Humans haven’t existed in Equestria for thousands of years…”

Then the stallion’s horn started to glow as a soft beat came out of nowhere.

This mare’s mind, far too manic,
Now needs just a touch less panic.
Soothe her body, calm her state,
Make this caffeine rush abate.

The magic left his horn and surrounded Lyra’s, doing its best to bring her down from the caffeine high she was currently experiencing.

“Whooooo….oooo…” Lyra’s body drooped and she stopped bouncing. “Whaaaaat?”

“Okay… I need to learn how to do that,” Bon Bon giggled. “But then, no horn. Ah well.”

“Eh, freeform sorcery can be practiced if you have enough power and will, though, word to the wise, you will always want to rhyme and spell your intentions out clearly,” the stallion said as he walked over to the coffeepot. “This was full,” he deadpanned when he looked at its now empty state.

“Thanks for the foood~” Lyra burped. He also noticed the leftover breakfast he had was gone, the plate licked clean.

“I don’t think I can apologize enough,” Bon Bon sighed.

“It just gives me time to make some for you,” the stallion said with a wave of one wing. “Just...take her to a room and entertain her, then come back in about ten-ish minutes. I should have something for you and me by then.”

“Honestly Lyra…” Bon Bon sighed and led the unicorn away. “This is how you act in somepony else’s home…?” Her lecture seemed to continue as she walked off.

The stallion walked over to the counters and began pulling together another few rudimentary breakfasts. While he was doing that, he also filled up the pot of water and set it to boil again.

Within a few minutes, he had hot water, which he passed through a filter filled with freshly-ground beans. More coffee and breakfast were now ready, and he brought the whole mess out to the dining room to await Bon Bon and Lyra’s return. Mostly Bon Bon’s.

The two mares soon returned, the mint-coated unicorn looking rather sorry for herself.

“M’sorry,” she mumbled, before Bon Bon prodded her. “Ah, alright! I’m sorry I acted like a stupid filly Mr. Aspect.”

“To be clear,” the stallion said, before gesturing for them to join him, “I find your enthusiasm about the old ways refreshing, and it fills me with a great deal of hope.”

“I’m sensing a ‘but’ in there somewhere,” Bon Bon said as she sat down.

“But,” he said with a nod, “there’s only so much of being reminded of Pinkie or Surprise I can handle before I start looking into warding spells.”

“So in short,” Bon Bon said to her friend. “Try and act with just a little restraint.”

“Yeah, I got it,” Lyra sighed. “I got a little carried away. I’m sorry Aspect, I’ve just been so excited.”

“Like I said, I find it refreshing,” the stallion said. “I just don’t know what you’re expecting to see here today. Like you expect me to have some sort of long-lost answer.”

“Are you kidding me!?” Lyra exclaimed. “You’re like… like… I don’t know! You’ve been around since before the Princesses!”

“Wait! WHAT!?” Bon Bon gawped at the stallion.

“Technically, I precede them by a fair few years,” Aspect said. “Though when you get to our age, numbers stop mattering so much. Only the relationships matter.”

“Relationships?” That didn’t get past Bon Bon. Aspect had to admit, this mare was a sharp as a tack. “You said you knew the Princesses. And now Lyra says you’re as old, if not older that the alicorn sisters. And then there was that comment about you expecting visitors… and I know Twilight Sparkle is expecting the Princess to show up any day now. She’s been running around trying to get the whole town ready.”

Bon Bon leaned forward, “So tell me Mr. Aspect, just who are you?”

“My name is Balanced Aspect, also known as the last Aspect of Equus,” the stallion said. “It is my job to right those that have drunk from the Fountain of Eternity and gone askew. Though, I do possess another name that two mares in Equestria still call me.”

He sighed and smiled. “Celly and Lulu still call me their dad. And I love it when they do.”

Lyra and Bon Bon were as silent as ghosts. They just stared at him doing a fair imitation of a goldfish.

“I think you broke them,” a voice said from down the table. A rather thin pony in a cloak, with a scythe to one side of his seat.

“It tends to do that to ponies,” Aspect agreed. “How are you doing, Mort?

“Can't complain,” he said as he sipped at his own cup of coffee. “The job's a real killer.”

“As it’s meant to be,” the alicorn agreed.

“W-Who… is that?” Bon Bon said, placing herself between it and Lyra.

“Mort, the grim stallion, the reaper, call him what you will, it’s his job to usher ponies from one life to the next,” Aspect said.

“Cut down on the whole 'restless spirit with undone business' thing,” the pony at the end of the table agreed.

“Also known as another of my children, and he’s a darn sight better than the pony that used to be in his place,” Aspect finished.

“D-death…” Bon Bon paled and backed up a little. “A-Are we gonna die!? I won’t let you!”

“Not only could you not stop me if it truly were your time, this is a social visit anyways,” Mort said as he sipped at his coffee. “I'm given to understand that father lives here, I wanted to be familiar with the place. As well, I've not met my older sisters yet.”

“Well, thanks to Bon Bon telling me, I know that Celly’s due for a visit soon,” Aspect smiled. “You could surprise her.”

“That sounds workable,” the stallion at the end of the table said before putting his cup down. “I will attempt to be around here for the next few days. You can tell me when she's here so we can finally meet, face-to-face.”

“I….I….” Bon Bon was shaking profusely.

Lyra…

Lyra was staring Mort right in the face.

“Heehee, how many can say they’ve stared Death in the face and lived?” she giggled.

“I can honestly say that only happened once before,” the stallion agreed with a dry laugh.

“Yeah, when I made you,” Aspect agreed. “Well, it was fun catching up with you Mort.”

There was a chime from within the pony’s cloak, and he pulled out an hourglass, staring as the last few trickles of sand passed through it. “And it was nice to catch up with you as well father, but alas, duty calls.” He picked up the scythe and gave a wink to Lyra before he walked...through the walls, like a ghost.

“Coooool~” Lyra giggled and looked at Bon Bon. “That was pretty awesome huh?”

“I am so done with today,” the mare groaned and slumped over the table. “I am so utterly, utterly done.”

“Aw, and I wanted to fulfill the promise I made to Lyra as well, but I can’t if it’s gonna break you,” Aspect said. “Lyra, you need to fix Bon Bon before I can show off.”

“Awww, come on Bonnie…” Lyra whined. “Just look at it this way. You can put him through the wringer when you help him exercise!”

A wide smile crossed Bon’s muzzle and she gave a very unsettling laugh.

“I feel like I should be concerned about your motivation methods,” the stallion dryly observed.

“Okay!” Bon Bon smiled. “I feel much better. Now Mr. Aspect, let’s see this human form Lyra keeps going on about.”

“Ahh, this is gonna be so great!” Lyra cheered.

Aspect shrugged, and then his entire form glowed, before being replaced with his more human one. He sat cross-legged in front of his spot at the table, his rune-embroidered robes covering his body as he ate his breakfast.

“Unbelievable,” Bon Bon whispered. “It really is a human…”

“Whooaaa!” Lyra looked him over. “It’s… you’re… not as cool as I thought.”

“Like I said,” the human said as he polished off his breakfast. “I don’t know what you were looking for. I’m pretty much the last one, and I prefer to blend in these days as much as I can.”

“Yes, you’re not very inconspicuous as you are now,” Bon Bon nodded. “Still… wow, I had… no idea such a… stallion? Even existed.”

“I tend to keep to myself, except when I’m actually needed,” the man said as he took a sip of his coffee. “Though that’s rapidly changing the longer I live here in Ponyville.”

“Well, it’s hard to keep to yourself here,” Lyra nodded. “When I moved here from Canterlot, I didn’t know anypony. And, I didn’t really care either. I’ve still got some friends back home, but when one moved away…” She sighed and looked past him, as if she was staring at some distant object. “I came here to find some answers. And I got them… but I think she’s just… forgotten is all.”

“Lyra and I have been penpals for a while,” Bon Bon said and ruffled her friend’s mane. “But the dork never told me she was moving to Ponyville, or I’d have taken her in a lot sooner. I found her three days after she arrived, living in a box like a stray cat.”

“I’m noticing a theme regarding you, miss Lyra,” the human chuckled.

“Huh?” Lyra tilted her head in confusion.

“You have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the things that interest you, but you seem to be lacking a little foresight…”

“A little? That’s being generous,” Bon Bon giggled and Lyra pouted, folding her forelegs as she sat upright in her chair.

“You guys suck,” she poked her tongue out. “I should go hang out with the seaponies instead.”

“Like I said, I find your enthusiasm refreshing,” the human chuckled. “It’s nice to see some pony so interested in the things that were. Even if I was around for most of it.”

“I must admit, my knowledge on the ancient past is… sketchy,” Bon Bon sighed. Seems that quite a lot had been kept from her. “Well, doesn’t matter too much I suppose.” A bell in the distance chimed and the earth pony blinked.

“Is that the time already? I have to go open my store.” She looked at Aspect, “Will you be alright on your own? Or shall I take Lyra with me?”

“Hey! I’m not a little filly you know!”

“Depends on if you’re going to be a good mare or not,” the human said before he re-took his pegasus form. Bon Bon’s sharp eyes saw that as his form flashed, so did his sword’s pommel.

“I’m not a filly dang it!” Lyra pouted harder and Bon Bon giggled.

“She should be no trouble for you, after all… my best friend would hate to sleep on my lumpy couch would she?”

“Geh…” Lyra flinched and shuddered. “Yeah, okay.”

“Good,” Bon Bon smiled and bowed her head at Aspect. “It was nice meeting you. Just let me know when you’re ready to start exercising as well.”

“I’ll need to get the things for it first,” the stallion sighed. “So much to do around this house, so little money. Ah well. Live and learn.”

“You should look for some work then,” Bon Bon smiled. “That’s the easiest way to earn some bits.”

“You’re like, the dad of the Princesses,” Lyra piped up. “Couldn’t they lend you some until you get on your hooves/feet… whatever.”

“Celly tried that,” Aspect chuckled. “Let’s just say, Ponyville now has a very nice emergency relief fund. The stipend should come in soon, which will tide me over while I look for a job.”

“Well, if you insist,” Bon Bon smiled.

“I have an awesome job!” Lyra beamed. “I get paid to eat candy!”

“Nooo, I let you stay rent-free in exchange for taste-testing my candy and performing for the customers,” Bon Bon corrected her.

“I’ll find something in due time,” the stallion chuckled. “Just probably not weather-work until I get my storm-causing nature under control.” He hummed a bit as a thought occured. “I could probably make a charm to keep myself under control, actually. I would just need a gem to act as the focus…”

“If you want gems, Rarity or Sparkler would be the best to ask,” Bon Bon said. “As a last resort, you have the Silver Sensations jewelry store, buuut it’s kinda pricey there.”

“Yeah, seriously, who in this town besides the Rich’s have that kind of money?” Lyra nodded. “Well, I’ll see ya later Bonnie~”

Bon Bon smiled and headed for the front door, only to squeak in surprise when she opened it. “Ah, what on Equus…?”

A small creature flew into the house, a brightly-coloured ball with large eyes and translucent wings flew into the kitchen.

“Awww, it’s so cute!” Lyra giggled.

It was promptly incinerated by a lance of fire coming from Aspect.

“AAHHH!” Lyra screamed when the cute little critter was vapourized. “Wha? What! WHY!?”

“That,” Aspect said as he lowered his flaming hoof, “Was a Parasprite. They’re cute to start with, but if they get any food whatsoever, they multiply into a city-destroying plague. We had an incident where they ate all the food in the Everfree Castle. It took us months to refill the pantries. All in the space of one afternoon.”

Lyra was just looking at the pile of ash in abject horror as Bon Bon gulped.

“W-Well…” she said shakily. “It came from outside, yes?”

“You two need to get back to Ponyville,” Aspect said. “If you see any at all, do not hesitate. They’ll eat everything. Everything.”

“Does that include-” Lyra gulped and shook. “-Us?”

“Not unless someone casts a spell to make them stop eating everything twice,” Aspect said. “The first time, they’ll start eating things that aren’t food. The second time…”

Another parasprite flew inside, but it suddenly paused as it was surrounded by a magenta glow…

“Dammit all!” Aspect said as he incinerated the next. “You two need to leave, now! I can protect my home, easily! You need to look after yours! No mercy for them!”

Lyra was still too shocked to move and Bon Bon sighed before lifting the mare onto her back. “I recognized that magic aura. That was Twilight Sparkle’s…” And with that, the earth mare ran off towards her shop, hoping it was still standing.

The stallion flashed into his alicorn form as he quickly thought up a rhyme and summoned his sorcery.

A plague of insects, infinite in size,
They hide their nature behind a cute guise,
I ward my home, shield it from view,
So that it shan’t be gobbled by you.
Come now Parasprites, try your best,
I’ll incinerate you like the rest!

A pulse of magic erupted from his horn and swept through the house, spreading his sorcery through the entire massive place. With that done, he walked through the front door and took stock of how many of the blasted insects there were.

The swarm was like a dark cloud, descending on Ponyville as it stripped entire buildings down to their very foundations. Ponies ran and screamed, trying to protect what they owned…

And then his world turned pink as Pinkie Pie was but an inch from his muzzle.

“Aspy! I need a tuba! And I need it now!!”

“Feel free to search my home,” Aspect said with a wave of one hoof. “I’m going to go in and see about warding what’s left from the Parasprites.”

Pinkie nodded and zoomed off, he could hear her enthusiastic searching from outside.

And then he felt it, it was still quite a distant ways away. But Celestia’s magic was unmistakable.

“Ah, dear daughter of mine,” Aspect chuckled. “Do you recognize this sad state of affairs?” He walked a little closer as he made sure he was still in his pegasus guise.

The town was in chaos, almost every building was crumbling or had been utterly devoured. Ponies were running around like headless chickens and in the middle of the chaos, Twilight looked like she was about to have a mental breakdown.

“Hehe...hehehe, it’s no problem,” she giggled madly. “All we have to do is build an exact copy of Ponyville. In less than a minute!” She groaned and fell to the ground. “Zecora was right. We’re doomed. The Princess is going to send me back to Canterlot. It’s all over…”

“Well, there’s always the Lavan option,” Aspect said as he walked up. “Or even the Full Lavan option.”

“What?” Twilight blinked when she saw Aspect. She raced over to him and clutched his leg desperately. “Wait, your powers. You could conjure up a new town right? Or rewind time? Or—”

“I was thinking more of burning them all,” Aspect deadpanned. “Then we could rebuild thanks to the emergency fund.”

“B-Burn them?” Twilight replied, but before she could press further, thick polka music started to play.

“Pinkie? We're in the middle of a crisis here. This is no time for your... nonsense?” Twilight tilted her head as the Parasprites stopped their endless consuming of the town and started to bob to the music.

“This is...new,” Aspect muttered. “They never reacted to music before...then again, we never tried music before…”

Pinkie walked past as a one-mare band, the parasprites following her in a single line, bouncing along the ground as she led them towards the Everfree Forest.

“Well, that handles that half of the problem,” Aspect chuckled. “The natural predators of the Everfree will winnow their numbers handily. All that’s left now is to use that fund Tia gave me to rebuild the town.”

Not a moment later, Celestia’s chariot landed near the outskirts of town where they stood.

“Twilight Sparkle, my prized pupil,” she smiled and nuzzled the unicorn. “So lovely to see you again, and all your friends too.”

“Hello princess,” Twilight replied nervously. “H-How was your trip? Hit much traffic?”

“No,” Celestia replied to the odd question. She spied the last of the Parasprites and smiled. “Oh? Ahh, what is this? They’re so adorable~”

“They’re not that adorable,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“I’m not gonna say anything if you won’t,” Aspect said with a smile. Apparently Tia had forgotten about the things that ate her cake once.

“I'm terribly honored that you and the good citizens of Ponyville have organized a parade in honor of my visit.” Celestia hummed as she watched Pinkie lead the bugs off.

“Ahaha! Yes, Parade. Of course,” Twilight was sweating bullets now.

“Unfortunately, that visit is going to have to wait for another time. I'm afraid an emergency has come up in Fillydelphia. Apparently there's been some sort of infestation.” Celestia sighed. She’d so wanted to stick around for a while too.

“An… infestation?” Twilight blinked, her stomach tying itself in knots.

“Yes, a swarm of incredibly bothersome creatures has invaded the poor town. I'm sorry Twilight, to have to put you all through so much trouble.”

Aspect merely smiled wider. Oh, it would be wonderful when she put it all together.

“Trouble? Oh, no trouble at all really,” Twilight said a little too quickly.

“Before I have to go,” Celestia hummed and smiled at her. “Would you care to give me your latest report on the magic of friendship in person?”

“R-report?” Twilight was caught a little off guard.

“Haven't you learned anything about friendship?” Celestia asked.

“Actually, I have.” Twilight smiled and cleared her throat. “I'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…”

A pair of cymbals crashed.

“Even when they don't always seem to make sense.”

“I'm so proud of you, Twilight Sparkle, and I'm very impressed with your friends as well. It sounds like you're all learning so much from each other.” Celestia gave her a hug using one of her wings before releasing her and walking over to her father.

“And how about you?” she said with a mischievous smile.

“Oh, it was a fun day,” Aspect said with a shrug of his wings. “Met up with a mare who was interested in Dream Valley of all things, brought some Seaponies to town in the recent past, and even met up with Mort today. It’s been great.”

“Well, you seem to be fitting right in then,” Celestia chuckled as she stepped back into her carriage. “Oh yes, I almost forgot…” She floated an envelope over to him. “There’s the stipend I promised you.”

“Much obliged,” Aspect said, even going so far to bow his head to her, every inch the ‘normal’ pony outside of how he talked to her. “Just be careful out there. I still worry about you and Lulu.”

“I’m always careful,” Celestia smiled. “And don’t think I haven’t forgotten about our visit. Lulu and I will come by in a few days to see you.” She nodded to her driver as the chariot took to the sky and flew away.

“Hey, what happened to the princess?” Pinkie asked as she walked back over to them.

“Emergency in Fillydelphia.” Twilight answered.

“Some sort of infestation.” Rainbow added on.

Pinkie Pie gasped. “Oh no! Have they got parasprites too? Well, have tuba, will travel.”

“I think the princess can handle it,” Twilight laughed.

“So you knew what those critters were all along, huh Pinkie Pie?”

“Well, duh! Why do you think I was so frantic to get my hooves on all these instruments? I tried to tell you.” She looked and Aspect and smiled. “Not many of you listened…”

Twilight Sparkle bowed her head in apology. “We know, Pinkie Pie, and we're sorry we didn't listen.” The rest of her friends offered their apologies as well.

“You're a great friend,” Twilight said and hugged the pink mare. “Even if we don't always understand you.”

“Thanks guys, you're all great friends too, even when I don't understand me.”

“And that sums up mares like you and Surprise perfectly,” Aspect said with a nod. “I tried to ask her once how she kept finding us and surprising us. She simply shrugged and said ‘I dunno! I just do!’”

“She sounds fun!” Pinkie giggled and then gasped. “Aspey! We still hafta throw you a party!!”

“How about we rebuild the town first?” Aspect said with a wave of one wing. “You’ve saved it, so it’s time to restore it. And fortunately, Mayor Mare should still have quite the emergency fund to draw on…”

“Actually…” Mayor Mare walked towards them. “Those little monsters got into the town treasury…”

“You keep records, right?” Aspect asked. “Please tell me those survived. I know the crown will still honor the terms of the agreement if you can provide proof.”

“Oh, they should be in there,” The Mayor said and winced as the roof of Town Hall caved in with a loud crash. “Somewhere…”

“Right,” Aspect said as he walked over. Hmm, this would be tricky to pull off as a pegasus…

But the beauty of it was, sorcery could be performed by any with the knack for it. You just had to know how. It was easier as a unicorn, yes, as you had a giant focus sticking out of your forehead. But if you knew how to use your hooves or wings as a focus, even an Earth Pony or a Pegasus could perform sorcery…

A beat came out of nowhere as the pegasus bobbed his head, thinking of the rhyme he would use.

A record book, come to me now,
so that this town can answer ‘How?’
‘How can we possibly recover?’
When all they need, is each other.

The stallion flapped his wings once, twice, three times, dispersing the magic that had built up there into the ruins of Town Hall. There was a moment of silence, and then…

From out of the middle of the wreckage, a book floated out on a cushion of air.

“Incredible,” Twilight whispered, watching the magic play out. All he had to do was rhyme? No, there must have been more to it than that.

“Is that it?” the Mayor asked. The book floated over to the stallion, and he took it and flipped through it.

“Hmm...withdrawal, withdrawal, aha! Deposit of one massive check into the town coffers, which was then set aside as the...Sparkle fund?”

“Oh come on!” Twilight yelled. “Seriously!?”

Rainbow and Pinkie howled with laughter, their prank paying off wonderfully.

“Mares and gentlestallions… my ex-friends,” Twilight grumbled as the other two hugged her.

“Right, I’ll send a petition straight away,” Mayor Mare said as she took the book from him. “Still, it may take days, weeks before this town is back to normal…” She looked at Aspect as a grim smile was set into her features. “Could you do me one last favour and signal everypony to gather up?”

“I’ll do you one better,” Aspect said as he turned to Twilight. “Spike is old enough to where he can use his magical dragonbreath, right?”

The Mayor and Twilight blinked before realising what he was getting at. “Hmm, that will speed it up, but still…” The mayor nodded to Twilight as she made a signal flare with her magic.

Soon, almost all of Ponyville had gathered as the Mayor cleared her throat.

“Attention, citizens of Ponyville. Today has been an unmitigated disaster. But luckily, nopony was hurt and homes can be rebuilt. But, that will take some time and some of you are without homes. To those that still do, I implore you, please help those who don’t. I won’t stand by while a pony is sleeping on the streets. So please, open your hearts and homes to them. The city will reimburse you for living expenses.”

Aspect had called Spike over once he’d caught sight of the young dragon and was even now penning a letter to Lulu, telling Spike how to alter the location of where things ended up. Once the Mayor had finished talking, though, he said his piece. “I currently live all alone in the huge house on the edge of town. I’ve got...four bedrooms, a dining hall, and even a freaking ballroom. If any of you can’t find shelter anywhere else, I’d be more than happy to take you in. Especially if you can cook.” With that, the letter was passed off to Spike.

Spike waited as Twilight cast a small spell, designating the recipient as Luna instead of Celestia, and once she was done, he breathed the flame and the letter was on its way.

As they waited, ponies were pairing up, but none had dared approached the strange magical pegasus yet.

At least until Lyra was pushing a rather stubborn-looking Bon Bon over to him.

“Come… on…” Lyra grunted, trying to drag the mare with her magic. “He just… offered. He won’t bite…”

“Lyra and Bon Bon,” Aspect smiled at them. “I had a feeling I’d be seeing at least one of you again.”

“Lyra, no! I’m not—”

“Those little pests devoured Bonnie’s entire house,” Lyra explained, ignoring her friend. “And since her shop was also her house…”

“I will be more than glad to house the pair of you for as long as it takes for your home to be rebuilt,” Aspect said with a bow, wings spread. “I can only hope my hospitality is up to your standards.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to house us both,” Lyra waved her hooves. “I’m crazy, I’d drive you crazy in a day. Just… please take care of Bonnie. I’ll manage somehow.”

Aspect sighed as he stood up before flaring his wing once, sending out a wave of magic and pushing the mare closer to him so he could put a hoof to her muzzle.

“No protests,” he said. “You told me today you were staying with her. If she needs a place to stay, so don’t you. And I would have to be heartless to turn away a pony in need. Because the greatest treasure of ponykind, is our kind hearts.”

Lyra teared up and looked away, wiping her face with a hoof. “T-Thank you, I promise, I’ll try not to be a bother.”

“You’ll break that promise by tonight,” Bon Bon chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll send you to bed without dinner if you’re bad.”

“Harsh,” Lyra deadpanned.

Spike belched as a letter appeared, bound with a dark blue velvet ribbon. Aspect snagged ahold of it and opened it up, beginning to read aloud the contents of the message. His mind raced ahead, already censoring out his relationship to Luna from it so that the ponies wouldn’t have cause to think that he was anything other than a weird pegasus.

“Fair peasantry of Ponyville.

Firstly, you have Our deepest sympathies for the tragedy that hath struck thy village. Thou shall receive aid in rebuilding on the morrow.

It makes Us most happy you turn to Our aide, in place of Our Sister.

Take that Tia! They like Us better!

Kindest Regards.

Princess Luna Noctis.”

Aspect chuckled to himself as he rolled the letter up and stuck it in his saddlebags. “Nopony tell her Celestia was in a carriage,” he said to the citizens at large. “We’d never hear the end of it.”

“Why’s that?” Lyra asked. Aspect puffed up and did an impression of his daughter.

“Thou didst only write to Us because Tia was in a carriage? We were not your first choice?” He sighed and shook his head. “She really knows how to lay on the guilt.”

“Ah!” Lyra nodded and giggled at his impression.

The crowd soon dispersed, several following Twilight and a few pegasi following Rainbow Dash, hers being the one of the only houses in town that had zero damage. Lyra and Bon Bon just followed behind Aspect, the latter having a saddlebag that contained the only possessions she still had.

But before they could get too far, another mare crossed his path.

“Aspect?” Rarity pawed at the ground. “I do so hate to be a bother but…”

“How bad are the damages?” the stallion asked.

“All. My. Dresses!” Rarity wailed, a waterfall of tears streaming from her eyes. “My home, my business… ruined!”

“I have more than enough space at my home,” Aspect said with a kind smile. “I even have a ballroom that could do with a more gentle touch than mine, if you’d like to help out around the place during your stay.”

“A ballroom!?” Rarity’s eyes danced with creativity. “Ooh, and you’d like me to decorate?”

“Aaaand she’s gone,” Bon Bon giggled. “You certainly know how to rope in the mares huh? You sure us innocent maidens can trust staying with such a casanova?”

“You’ll be fine,” Aspect said with a wave of a wing. “I’m more than willing to help out any who need it without taking advantage of them. If you’re willing to give back during your stay, I won’t say no.”

Bon Bon had a retort for that, but decided to hold her tongue. This would be a good opportunity to learn more about him.

“Well then, as long as that’s settled, let’s go,” Rarity said with a wide smile. She had a ballroom to make fabulous!

Celestia’s eye gave a dangerous twitch as her mane flickered angrily. She remembered these creatures now. These infernal little bugs that were consuming everything in sight…

*~*

A wide-eyed Celestia looked up from her plate where there had once been a slice of cake, only to see a round, red insect cough up another of its fellows, before her father incinerated them both.

“Don’t let these Parasprites get to the larder!” the stallion roared. “Then they’ll multiply without limit, and we’ll be out of food!” Winter was nearly upon them, they could ‘not’ afford such a disaster.

The stallions and mares of the castle took up a battlecry, crushing them with their hooves, or their magic, or anything they could pick up.

“The line must be drawn! This far, no farther!”

And thus the war against the Parasprites began…

*~*

“Princess?” one of the guards asked, sweating in his armour as intense heat emanated from the alicorn.

“You… you ate my cake,” she whispered as she glared at the bugs, her horn igniting with sunfire.

“My turn…”

Author's Note

You know, Mort was originally a little cooler. Talking in Times New Roman while everyone else was in Arial. I liked him like that. Shame he's stuck with just caps now. I blame the site.

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