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// 16 - Evicted 
// Story: Raison D'être 
// by mechafone 
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Spark Storm sighed heavily as little Orea nudged his flanks on both sides aggitatedly. Time was scarce, and they had to hurry. Spark, however, was in no mood to go anywhere. He had fallen into a depression. His comrade and teacher had been killed. Orea was sympathetic; she had seen with her own eyes that Braham had been both honorable and invaluable. Without him holding off a good portion of the horde, both she and Spark Storm would be dead.

"Storm, please, you must hurry into my woods! More of the devils may be coming!" She pouted as Spark frowned back at her. She sighed and trotted up to him, nuzzling her head under his chin. "Please...if we do not hurry, the Earth God's death will have been in vain..."

This seemed to finally bring Spark out of the depths of guilt he was in. He nodded and picked up his pace, eventually running alongside Orea. If there was one last thing he could do for Braham, it could be to honor his sacrifice and make sure the two of them stayed alive long enough to escape the Changeling's grasp.



It wasn't long before the sky overhead began to darken. Once again, Spark delved into the darker regions of the forest. The shade was plenty, but so were places where creatures of the darkness lurked. He began to wonder how an innocent creature like Orea could live here. Was she as much a monster as her sister?

He didn't have much time to wonder when he was beset upon by the very creature on his mind. He was wrapped up in vines, his throat closing up as it was squeezed. Of course. He closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate. He could apologize to Sapphire when she joined him in the afterlife.



...No. No. No. No! Spark's eyes shot open. His irises were white, as if filled with magic. He felt hot. His whole body burned. Even though his wings had been bound, they too burned. His captor suddenly screamed and leapt away from him. Suddenly, the threat over, Spark Storm fell to the ground, the hot, blinding light disappearing back where it came from.

Ampelus, her shock quickly dissipating, threw herself at him again. She had been scared away from him, but she would not lose this chance again. She could see and hear her sister yelling at her. She didn't care. She would not be denied. She quickly whipped a leg around and soundly slapped her sister out of the way.

Spark Storm's wings were ready for Ampelus when she suddenly screamed and fell to the ground. An unearthly light surrounded her, emerging from the very earth. The ground shuddered, the trees groaned and swayed. It was if the very earth around them was groaning in fury. Spark leapt over to Orea, sheltering her from whatever was about to happen.

Ampelus raised her head to the heavens, terror in her eyes and body as she shuddered. "Mother! Please! I-" She could not continue as the root of a tree raised from the ground, pulling the dirt up with it. It smashed into Ampelus, sending her body haphazardly onto the ground. Her vine form was gone as she prostrated herself before the trees.

A loud, booming hollow voice seemed to come from every last tree in the forest. "YOU DARE. YOU DARE TO STRIKE YOUR KIN? I HAVE TOLERATED YOUR CRUELTY FOR MANY YEARS, AMPELUS. I WILL TURN A BLIND EYE NO MORE." Ampelus sobbed, fear tugging and every fiber of her being. Roots came up from the ground, ancient and twisted. They wrapped around Ampelus' prone form. She twitched and screamed in their grasp as they began sucking the life out of her.

"STOP!" Came a brave little voice beside Spark Storm. He had been watching the scene in silent horror. Now he looked down at the little mare beside him. She stepped up in front of him, daring to command the Goddess of the trees. It waited for her to continue.

"Ampelus is my sister, and we are but few. We cannot abate our numbers now, Mother. The Changelings have found us again. We have need of her, so...please..."

The forest was silent for a few moments. Finally, the old roots began sinking back into the earth, leaving no trace they had ever wandered above the surface. Ampelus glanced from her sister, then back to the elder tree before her.

Then, the tree began to form a shape in it's trunk. A tall figure, taller than Princess Celestia, began to step from the tree. It's skin was as hard and gnarled as an old tree. She was magnificent and beautiful, and older than most of the trees in the entire forest. Her wings were long and tall as she was. Her fur was deep green, like moss. Her hair was like spun powder blue cloud, and probably just as soft. She had a single ram's horn on the left side of her head. She was truly a sight to behold.

Ampelus closed her eyes and lowered her head in respectful greeting to her mother. She hadn't been face-to-face with her in nearly 20 years.

Keeping silent, the elder Goddess approached Spark Storm and her daughter. Spark felt intimidated as the giant came closer, and rightfully so. She could no doubt snap him in half easier than she would a twig. "You have spoken of the Changelings, my child. Speak of them again, tell me what has befallen our wood."



Orea told her mother of Spark Storm's power. She spoke of the Changelings, and the two battles that left the powerful Earth God broken, having sacrificed his life to protect them both. By the time she had finished, Orea was in tears. She was settled against Spark, one of his hooves rubbing her back comfortingly.

It was soon after that Orea had fallen asleep resting in Spark's warm forelegs. Comforting her felt good to him, and like Fluttershy, it felt different than when he was close to Sapphire. Like taking care of a sister.

Almalthea smiled at this. Her daughter had not had a true friend in many, many years. Ampelus had seen to that. The Tree Goddess sighed as she recalled her daughter's words. So the Changelings had finally found them again. After two hundred years of successfully hiding from them, they would be entering the woods soon now they knew which direction to look.

Many times a Changeling had wandered alone into her woods. And each time, Almalthea would make it pay for it's blunder in the most cruel ways before she gave it rest and removed it of it's energy. If they knew right where to look, the Changelings superior numbers would make quick work of the Goddess and her brood.

It would soon be unsafe for her children. Ampelus was capable, she could fend for herself. But Orea...little Orea, sweet, innocent child. She was meant for great things; it had been foretold.

Finally, she spoke to Spark. "Storm-Bringer...This holy place will soon come under attack. Those devils, those...'changelings'...They will descend upon my forest with no mercy. I shall give them reason to fear the darkness, but...you must take my daughter with you when you leave this place."

Spark looked down at sweet little Orea, his eyes widening with uncertainty. "But, my Lady," he began. He hadn't really known what else to call her, but seemed to approve. "Doesn't she belong in the forest? Will she die if she leaves?" Almalthea chuckled and ran a hoof down Orea's chin. "Of course not. The Everfree is strong, and florishes a-plenty through this valley. If you are going to Canterlot, she will be close enough to flourish."

Spark frowned once more, but he was beginning to relent. He had one more concern, of course. "Are you sure she'll come with me willingly? I mean, I know how she feels about me, but..." Almalthea nodded her head. She knew she liked this Pegasus. She closed her eyes and focused. It took a moment, but soon tiny seeds began helicoptering to the forest floor. As soon as they hit the ground, they dried up and shriveled, all except for one.

One of the seeds fell directly upon Orea, and before Spark's very eyes, she seemed to disappear, a flighty tan essence drifting into the seed. As her form disappeared, the seed fell once again, only to be caught by Spark Storm. "...What? What does this mean?" He asked.

Orea's mother smiled approvingly at his catch. She reached down and rested a hoof so lightly on the seed that Spark barely felt the giant's touch. "You must take it with you. Plant it in your richest gardens. Only then will she awake and reenter this world. She will be angry with me, but it is for her benefit that she leave this place."

Spark Storm looked sadly down at the little seed. He knew what it was like to be uprooted from his beloved home. At least she was loved here. Maybe someday, she could come back. He looked up at the Goddess and nodded confidently. "You have my word. I'll take care of her and see that she's planted in a good place."

Almalthea smiled and kissed Spark's forehead. "Then it is settled. At first light, you will return to your mountain. I will pray for your safe return." She sighed and looked down at the tiny seed in Spark's hoof. "...And yours as well, my beloved."