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// 25 - Landing In Neippon 
// Story: Raison D'être 
// by mechafone 
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Over the next three days, Spark laid in bed to recover. Now and then, his friends and shipmates would stop in to talk to him, just to tell him what had happened that day in his absence. Even Shining Armor had come to apologize for acting like a jerk. Since it had been on Twilight's insisence, Spark let him off the hook and accepted Shining's apology, maybe even his friendship.

When it came to Twilight, however, he just wasn't sure. In the three days it took him to recover enough to get out of bed, she hadn't once come to see him.

Shining Armor told Spark it was because she felt terrible about the whole thing. It had been her fault for forgetting to tell her brother that she'd made up with Spark the night before the fight.

So, as Spark slowly made his way to the front deck to disembark, he wasn't all that surprised to see no sign of Twilight. He saw Frostbite, Lemon Pop, Emerald Skies, and the Princess, carrying everything they'd need to cross the country to get where they were going.

As he gathered his own things up onto his back (carefully, his back still stung), he saw the Princess approach him. "Spark Storm, Shining wanted me to tell you, to give Twilight another chance. When I talked to her, she was really upset about what happened. She didn't mean for you and her brother to fight."

Spark sighed and closed his eyes to think. It only took a short moment before he opened them again and regarded Cadance respectfully. "I understand, Princess, but that doesn't change the fact that Twilight asked her brother to rough me up before she changed her mind."

He bowed to her, then carried on as he stepped down off the ship onto simple boardwalk leading to land. As Spark looked around at his surroundings, he noticed Twilight at the front of the group, flanking her brother.

He watched with partial interest as Cadance made her way to the front of the group and spoke quietly to Shining Armor, and shook her head, a movement that was barely noticeable. Shining seemed to sigh, then rested a hoof comfortingly on Twilight's shoulder. She in turn lowered her head.

Spark looked away from this scene to take in his surroundings. The surrounding village was small, but spread out. Little huts were dotted here and there, and some of the shortest adult ponies he'd ever seen stood among the sand and little stones on the beach, watching Spark's party gather.

Spark Storm could hear Shining Armor going over something that was probably important, but Spark couldn't really concentrate. Especially when Lemon Pop was suddenly at his side. He'd been lost in thought so when he noticed her, he jumped a little.

Lemon might have chuckled at Spark's behavior at any other time, but right now she looked concerned. "Spark, Twilight's really upset..." She whispered to him.

Spark sighed and glanced away from her, only to have his chin pulled back to face Lemon. She looked determined, and maybe a little angry.

"Look, I know what she did was wrong. She shouldn't have talked her brother into trying to rough you up. But she told me that she actually connected with you the other night. Now, tell me if I'm wrong, but didn't you feel like you had a breakthrough with Twilight that night?"

Spark had to admit, he had felt a connection with Twilight the night that he told her everything. But still, it didn't - ugh. Here he was, going in circles with the same logic over and over again. They connected. But she still told her brother to get rough with him. But they had connected and -

Spark closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh, and Lemon knew he had come to the right conclusion. He could keep going in circles about it and staying mad, but there was really only one course left to him if he wanted to be able to work together with Twilight on this trip - he had to forgive her, at least make an effort to. He couldn't afford to be getting all bent out of shape on a mission as important as this.

He finally looked up at Lemon Pop, and nodded his head once. "I get it...you're right. I have to at least try to make nice with Twilight."

Lemon Pop's eyes opened wide, she put on a huge grin, and she started bouncing. "Oh, oh! I gotta go tell her -" She made to start bouncing away, but a tug on her tail landed her on her butt.

"Lemon, if I'm gonna make this happen, I have to do this. Just...give me a minute. I think things are about to get interesting..."

Spark motioned with a hoof as somepony approached the group from a bit down the village. It was a red Pegasus who appeared to be in his mid-30's. His face bore a permanent scowl, but his body movements seemed to transmit peace.

The entire village had gathered in two long lines on each side of the Pegasus. They all bowed their heads respectfully as he passed. It took Spark a moment to notice that he was being followed by something long and red.

It was a Dragon. Spark watched in wide-eyed fascination (as did Lemon Pop, amid gasps of 'ooooh' and 'whoooa'). The Dragon itself was barely taller than a tall pony, but it's body was long and snake-like, and it moved by hovering through the air. The creature must have been somewhere between 30-40 feet long.

As the creature grew closer, Spark could fully make out it's colors. It's armored body on it's head and down it's back was all red, while the underneath was a stark gold. If it wasn't for the fact that it was obviously alive, Spark could've sworn it was the most beautiful painted statue he'd ever seen.

The odd pair finally arrived before the small party. The Pegasus gave a deep, respectful bow, while the Dragon gave a movement of it's head that might have been a nod.

In contrast to the Pegasus' red fur, his hair was a sort of muted green. The red and green made Spark think of a kind of bug he saw in the summer.

However, Spark's attention was more on the Dragon. There was something hauntingly familiar about it, something he couldn't quite put a hoof on.

"I will be leading your group to my meager home," the red Pegasus had been saying when Spark snapped back to attention. He nudged Lemon and whispered, "What did he say before? What's his name?"

Lemon nudged him back as if to get his attention, even though he already had it. "He says his name is Blazing Dragonfly. Hey, did ya notice he seems to speak perfect Equestrian? Poor Emerald..."

This statement confused Spark until he remembered why Emerald had been chosen for this mission in the first place: his ability to read, write and speak most other languages.

Spark looked to the front of the group, where he could see Emerald, who had been prepared to receive their escort. The green Pegasus indeed looked a bit downtrodden at being unnecessary to translate.

As the group began to follow Dragonfly and his Dragon companion, Spark took this opportunity to move forward through the ranks, stealthily trotting right up alongside Twilight. He said nothing, simply waiting for her to take notice.

For now, Spark watched as the clear, open village soon gave way to an open valley. There were trees, but they were scattered. Spark Storm had never before seen such open air before. The valley was wide, beautiful, and green. In the distance, he could see a vast forest, and they were walking right for it. They probably wouldn't reach it for hours, though.

When Spark heard a soft gasp beside him, he didn't need to look back in that direction to know that Twilight had finally noticed him walking right beside her. With a light chuckle, he glanced sidelong in her direction.

Twilight kept walking, but she was looking at Spark Storm as if she expected him to yell at her. Instead, he turned his head to look at her and give her a little smile.

She continued to stare at him, small tears forming in her eyes, a pleading look on her face.

He gave her a huge mock sigh and a great roll of his eyes before he nudged her in the side with his whole body. She smiled and silently nudged him back in the same way. This continued for a few moments before they just walked on in companionable silence.



After about three hours and forty five minutes of continuous walking, the group had arrived at a huge, dark bamboo forest. Spark looked up at the dark forest. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was really wrong, and it had something to do with that dragon.

With an anxious heart, Spark slipped into the trees, the fur on the back of his neck standing on end. This walk was far from over...