Chapter 9: Parasprite in the Cottage

After two weeks of constant castle repairs with the brief weekend tutoring of Luna, combined with dodging questions about what Princess Cadance (she really wished the mare had minded her own business, love sense or not), all Trade wanted to do was sleep for a day before her next weekend session with the alicorn.

Don't get her wrong, she enjoyed talking and showing the out of date princess all the wonderful things of the modern age, but the method she used tired her out, and most of the time she had to rein in 'Dream Catcher' from overdoing something. They had spent last Sunday going through that flying arena at least a hundred times, and her wings still felt it days later.

'But today I'm sleeping and relaxing' nothing was going to ruin her down time.

Buzzing caught her attention and she swatted the bug away, trying to settle back into bed when she felt several small bodies settle on hers and her eyes shot open, seeing round balls with big eyes and wings. Now everyone else would see them as cute and want to cuddle, Trade's response? Lighting them on fire with her makeshift flame thrower of hair spray and lighter.

Once all the ones in her room were ash, she exited to see more of them and a frantic Gabby trying to gather them all,

"Gabby," her voice started out quietly, making the female griffin flinch, "Why are there PARASPRITES IN THE COTTAGE!" she shrunk under her gaze.

"I got one from Fluttershy," she admitted catching the hair spray can and flame thrower,

"Torch them, they are made of chaotic magic, they are not real creatures," she added at the griffin's horrified look. She stepped outside the cottage, raising a hoof to block the suns' rays, it looked close to noon and she frowned, how did she not notice the parasprites before?

Shaking her head, she flew towards town as fast as she could, searching for a particular unicorn that could help deal with this crisis.

Staring at her eaten cake with dismay, Lyra felt the tears build up only for a familiar pegasus to appear in her sight,

"Lyra! Get Pinkie, Octavia, and Vinyl Scratch and summon as many instruments as you cand, go!" recognizing the commanding tone, Lyra nodded and waved goodbye to Bon Bon before she ran off.

"Lyra!" Bon Bon protested, but the unicorn did not stop and she groaned, "She's always doing what that pegasus tells her," she grumbled under her breath, stomping away.

Trade flew off as she searched for some way to stop them from eating everything when she caught sight of Twilight's horn glowing and a nasty pit formed in her stomach.

"FLUTTERSHY STOP HER!" she cried out increasing her speed but it was too late, Twilight's spell had already spread throughout Ponyville.

"There! Ah-" Twilight was bowled over as Trade couldn't stop her charge in time.

"Are you nuts!" the pegasus shouted at her and she frowned,

"I stopped them from eating all of the food," she protested, Trade scoffed,

"When you use a spell to change a creatures diet, magical or otherwise, they always end up eating something else!" she pointed at the Parasprite that had eaten the basket, Twilight's ears fell down.

"Oh no," she groaned, Trade scowled at her.

"Where is Pinkie Pie," she questioned, but Twilight waved her off,

"I don't have time for this! I need to find some way to stop these creatures!" she struggled to get up only to be poked in the chest quite hard.

"You have done enough Twilight Sparkle, now unless you know how to summon instruments with your magic, sit here, and do nothing," Trade's voice had gone quiet and cold, Twilight gulped.

"Hey! Don't talk to her like that," Rainbow defended the purple unicorn, but she was ignored as Trade's ears flicked back and she sighed with relief,

"Looks like Lyra found them," the others were about to question her when what sounded like an orchestra went throughout the town, freezing all of them as the four mares appeared. Pinkie was wearing all sorts of instruments while Lyra's horn was almost blinding as she played over ten different instruments with her magic. Octavia was playing a cello on small stage being carried by Vinyl's magic who was at the same time recording and playing music in accompaniment. The parasprites all gathered behind them and followed the music playing ponies who led them out of Ponyville into the Everfree Forest.

They came back just as Princess Celestia landed, but were told that creatures had appeared in Fillydelphia and the princess was on her way to stop them, though not before she had Twilight give the friendship report she had learned today.

As the chariot pulled away, Octavia put down her cello with a sigh,

"That was a rather interesting experience, never thought I would play music to stop those creatures from destroying the town," Vinyl shrugged and made some noise with her dj set, "Yes I know you had fun doing this kind of thing, I did to, too bad our lunch was eaten during that infestation, though I do recall some delightful sandwiches that are still in the fridge," her unicorn friend did a hoof bump in the air as Trade approached them.

"Thanks for your help," Octavia smiled at her,

"Well if Lyra is running at me screaming to get my cello and play on your orders, of course I would do it, although, I did hear a rumor of an interesting organ in the Everfree Castle?" Trade nodded,

"Yes, playing certain keys activates certain trap doors, you four are welcome to come and see the room thanks to your hard work today," Pinkie whooped.

"Yes! Organ party! I'm going to go return these instruments now, but you have to show me that trick again Lyra! I didn't know you could play that many instruments," the green unicorn looked bashful.

"My magic centers around music, I'm still working on it, but I can summon up to twenty different instruments if I know them inside and out," a wing settled over her shoulders and she felt a shudder, "Yes Trade Wind?" her voice did not squeak.

"I don't suppose you've improved your cleaning magic," the pegasus questioned, Lyra's shoulders slumped.

"Yes, I did," Trade gave her a grin,

"Good, then teach Twilight all of them, because she's going to be repairing Ponyville with Fluttershy," Twilight and Fluttershy startled.

"By ourselves?! But," she stopped when Trade turned to her,

"I'm not trying to be too harsh, but it is never a good idea to force your magic onto a creature to change their diet, destroy them yes, because Parasprites fall under magical constructs that are 'virus' and if you had done that I would not complain. But if you ever use your magic to manipulate a creature's diet or a thought process, you will be forced to do remedial studies, got it," she stared the unicorn down who scuffed the dirt,

"Right," Twilight looked ashamed and Fluttershy eeped when the attention was turned to her,

"Fluttershy, you are the Rescue Pony in Ponyville, if you see a creature you do not recognize near the Everfree Forest, you do not take it into Ponyville, nor do you ignore the signs of it multiplying over and over again. Summon all of your animal friends and have them clean up the debris, luckily the four came before too much of Ponyville was devoured, otherwise you two would be getting a crash course in carpentry work. Now if you do not mind, I was hoping for a relaxing day to sleep before my trip to Canterlot tomorrow, good night," she turned and trotted off, leaving them in the dust.

"She didn't have to be so harsh about it," Rainbow muttered before she stared at a shivering Lyra, "What the hay's the matter with you! She didn't even scold you," the green unicorn chuckled nervously.

"Just memories of her doing the scolding in the past, she's very scary," she whispered this to herself before stopping and staring at Twilight, "Ready for a crash course in repair work Twilight?" the purple unicorn nodded slowly.

The Next Day

"I can see why you are frustrated, but they were not aware of what these creatures were," Luna pointed out as Trade sipped from her cup, causing the young mare to sigh.

"I realize that, but it also does not excuse Fluttershy from not exercising the duties she had trained in, even after realizing what they represented, she still kept one, causing even more problems from everyone. I'm glad they learned their listen about listening to their friends because of Pinkie Pie, but I just wonder if Ash had been present instead of doing potions work with Zecora in the Everfree, whether things might have turned out differently. I know you feel beholden to Twilight and her friends for freeing you, but she needs to learn when its appropriate to use her magic and when it isn't, especially with that OCD attitude of hers. Magiholics Anonymous would have been helpful in this regard," the alicorn raised an eyebrow,

"What's this Magiholics Anonymous?" blushing when she realized the mare had heard her, Trade coughed into her fist,

"Its something that has been festering in my mind the past few years after seeing those who use magic or potions for stupid reasons that result in various disasters. You know how there are 'Anonymous' for those addicted to alcohol or interventions if someone gets too obsessed with something," she waited for the princess to nod slowly before continuing, "Well, I thought that a group for those who feel that using magic for everything is the only solution would be helpful. They can be with those who have similar issues and could talk about why they are obsessed with using their magic this way or don't see anything wrong with how they are using their magic. Its not limited to unicorns either, I mean pegasus have their weather magic and there are plenty who probably use their powers for 'pranks' or reckless stunts, and Earth ponies do potions or get obsessed with magical artifacts, I assume you read about Silver Goblet?" Luna nodded, an interested gleam in her eye, "Okay, there are also other races that have their own magic, I know Nocturnes have some sort of magic that they don't tell others about, Zebras with potions like Earth Ponies, dragons with their fire, and anyone else who finds themselves using too much magic for not the right reasons. I tried writing a proposal up and taking it to Princess Celestia, but I've been so busy these past years with other projects and anyone whose heard me talking about it always seem dubious," her ears fell flat, "Sorry, its stupid," but Luna was interested,

"Have you tried speaking to our sister about it?" Trade shook her head, "Then we shall call on her for this discussion," she paused, "I do not suppose I qualify to be a member," she raised a hoof at Trade's protest, "I have seen the errors of my ways, but I feel it will be a good experience for both me and other ponies who need others who understand them. Plus, if Twilight Sparkle somehow finds herself in this group, it would be quite interesting," the two shared a wry smile.

Princess Celestia loved the idea, though she was a bit put out that Twilight Sparkle was written down as a future member,

"She's not that bad!" she protested, Trade Wind shook her head,

"No offense your highness, but Twilight has an obsession with keeping things in a certain way, and goes out of control when it doesn't fit what she wants. Her talent may be magic, but she also needs to learn that it can't be an ingrained response to use if something does not go her way. Has she ever been late with an assignment in school?" the white alicorn shook her head, "And what would happen if she realized she was late on an assignment?" Celestia looked puzzled.

"But she is not in school anymore, she does not have any assignments apart from her independent studies and friendship lessons," Trade nodded,

"Yes, and she's been sending you a letter per week so far correct? Have you specified whether she needs to write to you every week about a friendship lesson?" the princess raised a hoof and froze, but she lowered it in thought.

"If she has concerns she can send them to me and I can correct her, but I do not think she will overreact like you suggest and cause a magical incident," Trade dropped the subject, it was obvious there would be no changing the princess' mind unless she was right there with proof.

'But if Twilight does end up freaking out, then its straight to the MA for her' was her thought.