Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 21 - Return of the Swarm

The time: One month after the defeat of Fryght.

Pinkie Pie hums as she sets up her cakes and muffins.  The Cake Twins gurgle and coo as they play nearby.

P.Pie: Nice to know I'm still the same ol' Pinkie Pie!

Mr. Cake: Even BETTER than the same ol' Pinkie Pie.  Fryght never knew what hit her.

P.Pie: All to save Equestria from Ruinous, Mr. Cake.

Mr. Cake nods as he helps set treats up, the pegasus formerly known as Fryght walking in.  Neither pony knows what to think as the pale-white pony gets some cookies and pays for them, trotting out.

P.Pie and Mr. Cake: OK?

The Cake Twins look at the two ponies and shrug.

Mr. Cake: They're right, a sale is a sale.

P.Pie: Tru-ue!

The two resume setting up their treats as a parasprite churrs while watching.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Virtuna hums as she trots to her arcade.  Along the way, she spots a single grey parasprite.

Virtuna: Aw!  What're you, ya little cutie?

The parasprite lands on Virtuna's head with a churr.

Virtuna: *giggle* Absolutely adorable!

Virtuna hums as she enters her arcade, passing by Twilight Sparkle, who reacts to the little parasprite.

T.Sparkle: Virtuna, where'd'ya find that thing?!

Virtuna: Right by the bridge, why?

T.Sparkle: Virtuna, that's a parasprite!  A swarm of those can eat everypony out of house and home!

Virtuna: What, *points her natural front hoof at the parasprite on her head* THIS little thing?

Virtuna scoffs and heads for her kitchen, Twilight Sparkle in pursuit.  She spots the two having a snack, the parasprite seemingly having far less of an appetite than before.  Twilight Sparkle was shocked!

T.Sparkle: OK?

Virtuna: *laugh* Gonna eat me outta house and home, eh?

Virtuna and the parasprite laugh, Twilight Sparkle shaking her head.

T.Sparkle: Just be careful.  If it eats enough, it'll multiply rapidly and then we'll ALL be in trouble.

Virtuna: *smirk* I've read on them, it'll be OK, OK?

Twilight Sparkle shrugs, then heads out.  Later that night, several pods of parasprites murr as they fly over Ponyville, eating everything in sight in a swath.  Virtuna's parasprite didn't join in, though.  The next morning, Virtuna and her parasprite were horrified at what they saw, the little insect hiding in Virtuna's mane.

Virtuna: Whoa.....  *Twilight Sparkle approaches*  Was THIS what you were warnin' me about?

T.Sparkle: Yeah, but..... At night?  Why didn't the moon princesses see anything?

R.Dash: GEEZ!  This is worse than before!

P.Pie: *sigh* I'll get the instuments.

Pinkie Pie trots back to Sugar Cube Corner, only to find it infested with parasprites!  What's worse, she can't find ANY of the instruments she used to curtail the first infestation!

P.Pie: Oh, NO!!  *runs back outside*  My instruments!  They ate them!

Applejack: Oh, NO!  *She runs back to Sweet Apple Acres, only to see all her trees rendered bare by the parasprites*  Land sakes!

Discord: Ravenous little things, aren't they?!

The poor draconequus was hurriedly trying to keep them off Applejack's apples by using his cotton-candy rainclouds, but to no avail as the parasprites just had both of them!  Virtuna's parasprite churred sadly, feeling bad, then growls a bit and flies out of her mane.

Virtuna: What is it?

The parasprite flew to Virtuna's arcade and turned on a puzzle game, turning off the clock and setting the music to maximum volume.  Outside, the parasprites heard the music and set themselves in a 15x15 array, the remainder floating overhead.

Virtuna: What the..... Is this.....

Virtuna flicked her natural hoof, three pink parasprites lining up and flying back into the forest.  Rainbow Dash chuckles, lining up three blue parasprites, seeing them fly back.  After a long while playing the Bejweled-like game, all the parasprites flew back into the Everfree Forest.

T.Sparkle: PHEW!

R.Dash: Well, THAT was a bit unconventional.

Virtuna: But what a blast, eh?!

All ponies agreed, then they turn their eyes to the town - or what was left of it.

Applejack: *sigh* Well, all hooves on deck.

All ponies worked to try to fix the town, Virtuna sighing unhappily.

Virtuna: I wanna help, but..... *buzzing*  Wha?

That gray parasprite from before buzzed near her, holding up a big log.

Virtuna: You're serious?

The parasprite nods, then flies the log to Applejack so she can have some lumberjack ponies cut it.  Virtuna smiles as that parasprite became VERY helpful to the ponies, handling tools and bringing over refreshments.  By the end of the day, Ponyville was back to its past glory, ponies congratulating each other.

Virtuna: HAH!  What a game, eh?

Applejack: Oh, yeah, that was a tough game, too.

Virtuna: Perfect.  Tougher the game, better the player, I always say.  *The grey parasprite lands on her head again*  Hey!  *giggle*  Welcome back!

Rarity: We wouldn't've gotten this done if it wasn't for that parasprite.

Applejack: And the other parasprites would've been here eating everything if not for that one parasprite turning up..... *looks at Virtuna* What-game-was-that?

Virtuna: It's an old one, it's called Jewel Raid.  Trouble is, I dunno what to..... Oh-oh-oh-OH! I-DE-AH!

Virtuna zips back to her arcade and gets on the phone.

Virtuna (into phone): Cyber, I got an idea!

The next day, a thin white alicorn flies in, carrying a box with his magic.  Sporting red hair, thick glasses and a Commodore-64-like computer cutie mark, the stallion heads to Virtuna's arcade, the Mane 6 gathered there.

Virtuna: Heya, Cyber!

Cyber: 'Sup, cuz?

The two embrace, then Virtuna introduces her new friends.

T.Sparkle: Nice to meet you, Cyber.

Cyber: Aw, shucks, nice to meet YOU, Twilight.

R.Dash: Heard of her?

Cyber: Aw, she's my IDOL.

T.Sparkle: *blush* Aw, thanks for the recognition, Cyber.

Cyber murrs as he sets up the new machine, a parasprite-Bejeweled-like game, per Virtuna's specifications.  The ponies murr at the new machine, then the stallion that used to be Toxion walks in and gives it a go.  After finishing with a smile, he walks out, smiling at Fluttershy as he heads out.  Fluttershy watches him go with an incredulous look on her face.

Fluttershy: no way.....

The buzzing of Virtuna's parasprite snapped Fluttershy out of it.  Fluttershy giggles at the little insect.

Fluttershy: Who found who?

Virtuna: He found me.  I think he wants to live with me.

Fluttershy: Just don't overfeed him.

Virtuna: Aw, he's a light eater.  He doesn't eat a whole bucket of apples, he just eats a couple slices.

Fluttershy: Cute little fella.

The parasprite churrs as it nuzzles Fluttershy, then lands on the new videogame as the ponies play a few games.

TO BE CONTINUED