The Swarm

Sunset laid on her back, groaning as Trixie tucked her in, running a wet wash cloth over her forehead. Trixie gave the thermometer a concerned look before setting it aside. Sunset’s temperature had gone down a bit, which Trixie was grateful for.

“And yeah, that’s all that happened. Why they started eating the town, I’ll never know. I assume they were hungry.” Trixie’s ears flicked as she made out Derpy talking downstairs.

“I see.”

Trixie raised an eyebrow as Celestia traveled up the stairs before she listened to additional hooves trotting up the stairs and Trixie turned to face the taller mares with six other shorter ponies around her. Celestia trotted forward as Trixie stepped aside.

“Hello Trixie. How is she?” Celestia asked as she rested a hoof against Sunset’s cheek.

“Somewhat better. Her temperature went down to ninety three. Better than what it was before but not great,” Trixie answered and stepped back to join the others.

“We will uh give you some space,” Derpy nudged Roseluck and they all nodded.

“Thank you. Firstly, I need Raven and Silverspeed to go find my four guards. Have them help clean up around the town. And have Comet send orders to Canterlot to have additional guards come to assist in cleaning up and repairing the town please.”

“Yes Princess,” Raven bowed her head as she and Silverspeed trotted out, the others following suit and Roseluck shut the door softly.

“Mom?” Sunset’s eyes opened slowly and her bed creaked as Celestia levitated the blankets to make a space as the mare tossed her crown and regalia carelessly onto Sunset’s couch before laying down next to her.

“I am here,” Celestia nuzzled her forehead and draped a wing over Sunset. “You’re very warm.”

“I don’t feel so good,” Sunset mumbled and nuzzled into Celestia’s wing. “You shouldn’t be here. You’ll get sick.”

“For you, I’ll tolerate being sick, little Sun,” Celestia dropped the blankets them and wrapped her hooves around Sunset. “Rest. I’m here.”

Sunset nodded and wrapped a hoof around Celestia, sighing contently as she yawned.

“I’m very proud of you,” Celestia nuzzled her cheek and stifled a yawn herself as she waited for Sunset’s reply which came in the form of a quiet snore. “That will wait till the morning, I suppose. You always did fall asleep quickly.”

Celestia tightened her hug and closed her eyes, using her magic to close the blinds.

Comet Chaser yawned as she rested against a tree, munching on a pear as she idly watched Thunder, Artic Breeze and Cobalt playing a game of blackjack, their helmets resting on the ground next to them.

“Damn it!” Arctic cursed and Thunder chuckled as he accepted the pile of candy. “I swear, Cobalt is rigging this shit.”

“How?” Cobalt snapped as the mare shuffled her cards. “You both are watching me place the cards down.”

Comet tuned them out as she flicked an ear, idly listening to the sounds of hoofsteps crunching over leaves and she sniffed a times. She could smell the scent of Raven and a pony she didn’t know. Whoever it was wasn’t Celestia.

Raven and probably the largest pegasus the four had ever seen trotted around some trees. Comet raised an eyebrow as she examined the silver mares golden armor before glancing up at her.

“Just where did you come from?” Arctic blurted out as the white stallion stared with wide eyes. “Good heavens, you’re the biggest pegasus I’ve ever seen.”

“Uh huh,” the silver mare commented dryly and rolled her eyes. “And you’re the shortest pony I’ve ever seen this side of Ponyville. I bet one of the foals are bigger than you.” Thunder and Cobalt snickered as they each stood up, stretching out their wings.

“I like her,” Thunder turned to Comet and smirked as he picked up his helmet and tossed it on his head. “Anyway. I’m Thunder, this is Cobalt. This is Arctic and the bored one by the tree is Comet Chaser. And you are?”

“Private Silverspeed, element of loyalty and Sunset Shimmers personal guard,” Silverspeed answered and saluted. Thunder, Arctic and Cobalt shared a stunned look. Being the guard to the princess’ daughter wasn’t something that happened to just anypony.

“That’s right,” Comet cracked her neck and stood up, only coming up to Silverspeeds muzzle. “I heard about a Royal Guard becoming an element of harmony and helping down take Nightmare Moon. I read about this is the newspaper. You really put us in a good light, private.”

Silverspeed blushed and rubbed the back of her head as Raven coughed into her hoof.

“As much as I appreciate you all meeting, we have a bit of a problem. Celestia sends orders to contact Canterlot and have two extra patrols at best come to assist in Ponyville. It seems there was a parasprite infestation I believe?” Raven glanced at Silverspeed and she nodded. “Pretty much destroyed the town. You four are to assist with helping clean up town.”

“Any injuries?” Thunder asked and they all looked at Silverspeed. “You’re the one who presumably was helping out based on the scrapes on your forelegs, fill us in.”

“Yeah, there’s some. Nothing too major to my knowledge,” Silverspeed answered and fluttered her wings. “Trixie and Roseluck got a good majority out of the way.”

“Let’s move out,” Comet turned to Cobalt and Arctic. “You two, grab the first aid kits. There could always be more injured ponies we don’t know about. Thunder, grab the case of water from the back. I’ll go make contact with Canterlot. We’re moving in five minutes.”

“Yes ma’am!” The three chorused and broke off to their respective tasks as Silverspeed watched curiously.

“Come on, you ever see these crystals before?” Comet asked as she fished a small ball out of her saddlebags and Silverspeed shook her head. “You really are new. Crush one under hoof, it’ll open a straight connection to Canterlot headquarters to talk to anypony available. I’ll show you how to use it.”

Silverspeed nodded enthusiastically and fluttered her wings excitedly as she followed.

Shoeshine tossed some broken doors into a trash pile as Derpy sat talking to Dinky and Sparkler. Shoeshine cracked her back and gave a content sigh as she sat down next to the three.

“That was easily the worst day of my life,” Shoeshine flopped onto her back and crossed her hind legs, her mane splaying out under her. “Or well, one of the worst at least.”

“Agreed. I don’t know how we will come back from this. That’s a lot of damage,” Derpy looked around and Shoeshine shrugged. “My house thankfully wasn’t touched.”

“Same,” Shoeshine agreed as she yawned loudly. Silverspeed and Silver Spoon hadn’t been so lucky. Half their house had apparently been eaten according to Big Mac.

“Princess Celestia has a fund set aside specifically for emergencies like this. You’ll be taken care of guarantee,” Silverspeed reassured them as she and a stern faced white mare trotted up. “This is a sergeant from Canterlot. They are already aware of what happened and sending assistance as we speak. Where’s Sunset and the Princess?”

“Oh, they’re sleeping together in Sunset’s room according to Roseluck. It was adorable she said also. Took a picture too,” Shoeshine rolled a hoof in the air. “Hey, since you Celestia is apparently staying the night, you need a place to sleep Silverspeed?”

“I want just gonna use my room at the residency and share a bed with Silver Spoon,” Silverspeed admitted and shrugged. “Meh, we can stay with you. Especially since Sunset’s house is practically a sick ward.”

“And your guard friends?”

“Don’t worry about us,” Comet brushed off Shoeshine’s question. “The motel was untouched. The Guard pays for us to spend the night at motels if needed. And hey, we found out why they started eating the town. There was a patrol nearby. Caught a stallion who accidentally cast a spell on them to eat everything. He meant to try to cast a spell to leave Ponyville. Never cast spells drunk. He’s being let go with a fine.”

Silverspeed rolled her eyes and yawned. She was ready to go sleep. Her hooves ached and she was sweaty after flying around all day. She was also hungry and idly started planning on dinner.

But first, she needed a shower.