Braham's next lesson was an interesting one: How to hide. Spark didn't really see the point. He had the firepower, why not just blow everything up? Because, Braham said, even the heavy-hitters got tired. And when that happens, the heavy-hitters need to hide until they're strong enough to hit again. "Now, some ponies, like me, can simply use our natural talents and hide where it's to our advantage. I, for instance, can hide in the ground." His horn lit up an earthy brown. And then, like a stationary drill, the ground shifted beneath him and he disappeared underneath. Spark jumped back with shock. Had Braham really just dug into the ground with magic?
Just like that, he reappeared, the ground rumbling as it carried him to the top of the surface. His fur was covered in dust and dirt, which made Spark wonder if Braham was naturally brown. "Geez...that's really incredible. I don't think I can do that." Braham let out a loud laugh. "Probably not. Your powers are completely different, the very nature of your strength seems to be wind-based."
Spark rolled his eyes at this. "Pfft...If that's true, I don't think there's anything more ironic than that, considering I can't even fly." Braham smiled at this. "Well now, have you even tried?" Spark Storm was about to shout at his teacher, but he paused and actually thought about the question. "Well...No, not really. I mean..." he paused and waggled his wings about over his head. "...I mean, look at 'em. They're not really flight material." Braham nodded thoughtfully after a moment of watching the oversized feathers. "Hm. I suppose. However, you still haven't really tried to fly with them. Why don't you give it a try and see what you can do with them in the air?"
Spark frowned at this. Was he really ready to try them out? Well...might as well. He'd never tried before.
"Uh...I have to warn you...This is a lot farther than the last time I tried to 'fly'..." Spark called down to Braham. He was perched on a thick tree branch some fifty feet high. "Don't worry. If you fall, and I don't think you will, I'll catch you. Remember, speed is key!" The young Pegasus sighed and took a few steps back. He cast his gaze over to his target, another branch on a tree that was well on the other side of a small clearing. Might've been a good fifty feet, the same length/height as his perch. He slowly rotated his wings until the joints cracked, then set them into flapping position.
Spark closed his eyes, taking a deep, calming breath. Then, he took off towards the end of the branch. Three feet the edge, he jumped off and spread his wings and began flapping. Before he knew it, he had reached the other branch. He stuck the landing, but the branch broke in half and he started falling. On instinct, his wings spread out and he felt himself slow in his fall, but not enough. He leaned his body forward and started flapping harder and faster. He closed his eyes as he approached the ground and...he landed. On his feet.
His heart slowing to normal rates, he looked around to see Braham staring at him. "...Did I fly?" Braham laughed quietly and he shook his head. "No, son. But you didn't fall, either. You were gliding."
Spark Storm let out a whoop as the air flowed through his hair and mane. He looked down at the ground, some one hundred feet below him. He twisted and turned, curved, looped. He lost altitude when he did this, but he'd just climb a tree and glide again. It wasn't flying, but he was in the air. He couldn't help it. All his life, he'd dreamt of flying. This was as close as he'd ever get, but he'd take it as it came.
In his excitement, however, Spark quickly lost track of Braham. He didn't really notice this, of course, until he had sailed miles through the air. It was also right around this time that he noticed that the sun was setting. He must've been gliding for hours. Crap...
It was right around dinnertime, his stomach grumbling loudly, when he saw it. A great clearing that gave way to massive farmfields and a cozy, familiar farmhouse. Spark's eyes filled with longing tears as he laid eyes on Sweet Apple Acres. Had he really come all this way gliding? Off in the distance, he could make out the distant lights of Ponyville. He hadn't seen this place in nearly five months.
The moon was out, full again. It covered the land in beautiful silver light, and he could see almost everything, it was so bright. The lights were on in the farmhouse. Spark's heart and his breath were both racing. His whole body trembled as if he'd been running inside Braham's gravity spell. He wasn't allowed back in Ponyville, but...his friends had been there for him. They'd suffered as he had under cold weather and no food or water for days until he'd made them go home. Plus...they had been his extended family. They knew what he'd been through.
Spark stared at the farmhouse for a good long while. He wanted to go see his friends, Applejack and Big Mac. Maybe the others, too. He wanted to see Ditzy.
...He wanted to see his sister. Spark closed his eyes and clutched the branch he was standing on. He didn't even know where his mother was buried. He felt a wave of sadness that he hadn't felt in such a long time. Tears started running down his face. He couldn't hold it in anymore. His cries echoed throughout the forest.
After Spark Storm had thoroughly emptied his need to cry, the moon had moved just a bit through the sky. The lights were still on in the farmhouse. Well...it was now, or never. Spark took off down the branch and jumped, spreading his wings and angling them just so. It took him a few minutes and a couple turn-arounds, but finally he came down to light on the dirt road leading to the farm. It was all quiet, save for the fall bugs. Summer had gone quickly in Canterlot, and he had forgotten how nice and cool it got here in Ponyville in the fall.
Spark walked slowly down the road towards the farm. He still didn't know if this was a good idea or not. Suddenly, his ears were assaulted by a horrible, pained scream. It was coming from a mare, and this was coming from the farmhouse. Spark ran to see what the commotion was, all pretenses and anxieties forgotten. He activated the power in his wings, prepared for some kind of monster or somepony attacking the Apples. Spark Storm flew headfirst through the Apples' front door, splintering it completely. He came down into a roll and sped through the dining area into the living room where several ponies were gathered.
Spark noticed Applejack and Big Mac at once, as well as their father and their mother, who was on the floor in what appeared to be...well, giving birth. His wings were raised high over his head, ready to spark the crap out of whatever. His wings slowly lowered as all the Apple family gathered stared at him in shock. "...Well. *cough* Uh...everything seems to be in order here. Please excuse the interuption, so sorry about the door..." He quickly made his way out of the farmhouse again, completely dumbfounded.
He was still standing outside a moment later when he was tackled by an orange blur. "Spark! Spark Storm, that is you! Confound it, you durn fool, where have you been?" Applejack hugged him as tight as she could, but after intensive training and forming a good strong body, it didn't much hurt anymore. Applejack had given way to tears as he turned in her grasp and hugged her back.
After a few minutes of soothing Applejack, the young mare pulled back to look at him with an approving eye. "Oh...look at ya, Spark Storm...You're gettin' bigger! Ya been workin' out, too, ah reckon!" She grinned and patted his firm shoulders, the observation making him blush. "A-Applejack, stop. You're making me blush." The farm-mare grinned and hugged him one more time before nudging him towards the farmhouse. "Y'all better get inside. The whole family's waitin' on ya."
"Wait, what? Why are they waiting for me?" He glanced back at her, slightly perturbed. "Y'all gotta meet the newest member of the family! Ya can't have come all this way just to walk out without sayin' hi to everypony now, can ya?" Spark suddenly remembered why he walked out. He'd barged in on Applejack's mother giving birth right there in the living room floor. "Wait a sec, Applejack, why isn't your mom down at the hospital?" Applejack gave him a shrug in response. "Wasn't time to get down there. 'Sides, most of the Apples were born right here in the farmhouse anyway."
Spark looked down at the splinters that used to be the front door. "Oh, geez...I'm so sorry about your door, Applejack." The cowmare laughed and clapped Spark on the back with a hoof. "Shoot, Spark, what were ya thinking?" "Well, I heard your mom screaming, I...I thought the farm was under attack." Applejack let out a bark of laughter as the two of them returned to the living room. Big Mac sauntered up to him and caught the smaller pony in a crushing hug. Spark took it like a champ.
"Spark, ya look like ya been plowin' every day." The big red workpony said. "What kinda work ya been doin' out in the wild?" Spark chuckled as he looked around at the Apple family. Ma, Pa, and Granny Smith were all smiling at him. Granny Smith had a tiny bundle in her forelegs, wrapped in a blanket. The little foal was fast asleep. "Well...actually, I've been spent the last year in Canterlot." Spark told them. "Filthy Rich took me there, actually." Granny Smith nodded approvingly at this information. "I knew I liked that young colt the moment I saw 'im." She came over to Spark's side so he could see the tiny new foal."
She was a beauty. Cream colored, red mane. "Little Apple Bloom. Say hello to your big brother, dear." The whole family smiled over at Spark Storm. It took him a few minutes to realize that Granny had been talking about him. It made him feel warm and wonderful. He was finally home again, and he wasn't sure he'd ever go back.