Two weeks later, Spark Storm had long since run out of the food that Ditzy's mother had given him. The days had started to stretch into each other, and he was no longer sure of the date. Not that it really mattered to him. He wasn't sure if anything really mattered anymore. He could teach himself to thrive in the woods, but...to what end?
He often found himself asking this question. What was the point? He had nothing to live for. He had no goals. He'd forced his friends to leave him alone, so he had no one to share this boredom with. After a while, he just started lying around. His reason for being was gone.
A day later, as the leaves idly brushed over Spark's prone body, a tall, dark figure approached him, the smell of death following it. The creature grew closer, and the smell became intolerable. Spark got to his feet and saw the creature looming over him. Spark's heart filled with fear, but at the same time, he welcomed death. It was preferable to this slow wasting away.
"...Go on, do it." He dared the beast. He was becoming annoyed with all this waiting. "Go on, kill me!" The beast glared down at him. It seemed confused at the pony's willingness to die. It slowly backed away from him, but Spark was determined to see this through, and the creature was making him mad.
Spark flared his wings, igniting the flow of electricity through his feathers. The Shadow Breed seemed to reconsider the little pony as a threat, and lunged. Spark closed his eyes and released all the energy pent up in his wings, sending the beast flying into the trunk of a tree, snapping the beast's spine. It let out a horrible howl, then lay still.
Spark stared at what he had done. Had he really killed that huge creature by himself? Is this what the village meant by 'monster hunters'? Is that what he was? Well, whatever he was, he hadn't been intending to defend himself. At the last second, he'd decided he wanted to live. And now that he'd been thinking, really thinking hard about what had happened in Ponyville, he came to a conclusion: There was absolutely no way that fire could've been caused by Cheerilee. (little rushed i know, but eh ¯\(°_o)/¯ )
As Spark Storm ran through the Everfree, his thoughts went back to that day. River had been saying something about their families never meeting. The things he said. What his friends said happened outside the school. Cheerilee attacking him. Why hadn't he seen it sooner? He ran faster and faster, finally bursting out of the Everfree.
His wings were twitching with agitation as he ran, causing a line electricity to form behind him. The sun was just rising as he approached Ponyville. There were a few ponies here and there setting up shop at the market stands, and he could swear he saw Applejack and Big Mac. He zipped past, almost too fast to note. He didn't stop until he came to the mansion along the outskirts of the village.
He didn't stop when he got to the door. He burst through it with a blast of electricity, sending sparks and splinters everywhere. Servants went into hiding as he flew down the hallways, checking each room until he came to what must've been River's room. He blew the door in like the other's, and walked in, wing's raised high, charged with more energy than they ever had been.
He had made a lot of noise coming in, so he didn't understand why River wasn't getting out of bed. Well, he wasn't going to be polite and wait. He released the energy built up in his feathers, directing it under the bed. The bed, heavy frame and all, bounced up and fell upside down, bits of it smoking but not yet on fire. River still didn't get out of bed.
After a moment, Spark felt a gentle hoof on his shoulder. He turned to see Filthy Rich, a concerned frown on his face. Spark turned to face him, aggression and adrenaline fueling his anger. "Where is he? I know he had something to do with the fire! Where is he?" Rich sighed quietly. He hadn't been expecting Spark to figure it out...this would be hard to explain. "Spark...he's gone." "What do you mean, 'he's gone'? Gone where?" "I mean, he's not here. I sent him away."
Spark shook his head slowly. This wasn't happening..."Rich...if my mother ever meant anything to you..." Rich cringed. "...Tell me the truth. Did River kill her?" Rich let out a deep, heavy sigh, then nodded slowly. "Yes, he killed your mother, Spark." The dark Pegasus turned away from Rich. He let out a scream and made to reignite his wings. He fired upon River's old bed again and again until it was splinters. Finally he collapsed on the floor with his head in his hooves.
All this time. All this suffering, and River had been behind it all. For ten long years, River had plagued him and his friends, and had finally taken his mother and his entire life away from him, and now he had no chance at taking his revenge. He was done. Spark was just done. Taking revenge had given him a chance at a goal, at doing -something-. But...it was all over now. He had no more drive, he had no more desire to live. He wished that creature -had- killed him.
Rich looked down at Spark with pity. He'd gone through so much, and he deserved so much. He turned as a servant entered the room cautiously, his eyes widening with shock as he saw the damage the little Pegasus had done. So the whispers about town were true: Another Monster Hunter had been discovered. The servant leaned in to whisper to Rich, "Sir...shall I call the guards?"
Rich shook his head and rested a hoof on servant pony's shoulder. "No, Alfred. Ready my carriage. I'll take care of this myself." Alfred bobbed his head and set about to his task. "Right away, sir." Rich turned back to Spark Storm. He looked like he'd fallen asleep. Rich carefully picked him up onto his back, and carried him outside. The ride to Canterlot was a long one. Spark was asleep for the entire trip.
"...And then he'll look into my eyes..." "Uh huh." "And...he'll kiss me." "Uh huh." And then we'll get married..." "Uh huh." "..." "Uh huh." Sapphire glared back at her strawberry-shaded friend, her eyes playful daggers. "You're not even listening to me anymore, are you?" Lemon Pop just shrugged at her, and said, "Uh huh." Sapphire scoffed, and dramatically whipped her head back around so her friend could continue braiding her hair.
The two of them sat in the park, which stood at the gates of the royal castle. It was a beautiful day out, and it was nice taking a break from the daily training. They didn't get a whole lot of days to themselves like this anymore, so when they did, they made the most of it by being girly for a change.
The two friends had met when Sapphire had moved to Canterlot five years ago. Taking an instant liking to each other, they had been thick as thieves since day one. And since that time, there wasn't a day that went by that Sapphire didn't talk Lemon's ear off talking about the "wonderful, dashing Spark Storm". Lemon Pop had to constantly remind her friend that the last time Sapphire had seen him, he was five years old. She also constantly called her friend 'pervy' and a 'cradle robber'.
Sapphire sighed as she let herself dream again. She wondered how he was doing, what all she had missed. She was so lost in thought that she didn't see the carriage pull up to the gates across the street. Rich and Spark emerged, and the dark colors of the Pegasus walking with Rich caught Sapphire's eyes.
She wasn't sure she was really seeing him, but she bolted upright, and immediately fell onto her back as Lemon was still braiding her hair. "Owwwwwwwlemonhe'shere!" "What?" Lemon looked around, and spotted the little dark blue Pegasus. She immediately recognized him from the fact that Sapphire wouldn't shut up about him. The two looked at each other for a brief instant before both Pegasi took off into the air to catch up.