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// 33 - The Search For Orea 
// Story: Raison D'être 
// by mechafone 
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Spark Storm paced back and forth at the gates of Canterlot. It was times like these he really wished he wasn't so prone to leaving early.

He had gotten just four hours of sleep, but it was much more than he'd gotten at any one time since he'd been home.

Spark hadn't packed anything. All he really needed were the things that Braham had taught him about how to survive in the wild. His training with Frostbite and Gunslinger would also help.

As Spark sat, intent on waiting the next hour or so for his comrades, he kept seeing something dark out of the corner of his eye. Every time he turned, it disappeared around the corner of the street, just beyond one of the coffee shops.

Well, it's not like I have anything more important to do right now...he thought. He got to his hooves and cantered up to and beyond the coffee shop. He could've sworn he heard the rustling of feathers, but there was nothing here.

Feeling just a little frustrated, he headed back to his spot, only to find a small message waiting for him, etched in the dirt. It said 'Hi'.

Spark sighed. The streets were once again empty, nopony in sight at five in the morning. ...Might as well...He closed his eyes and concentrated. The feathers in his wings bristled quietly, and after a moment they ignited.

His wings were covered with what could only be described as an electric spiderweb. Using careful concentration that he'd been developing since he discovered this ability, he spread it out beyond him. It reached out around him until he felt something in the bushes just behind him.

At the same time, he heard a soft yelp. He turned, dismissing the web of light. He stepped towards the bushes, which were visibly shaking. He arched a brow, then sighed. "So...Are you Sweet Midnight?"

The bush shook a little less, and a teeny little voice inside said, "Mmhm."

"Oh. Ok. Are you gonna come out of there? You don't have to hide."

"Mm-mm."

"Ah. All right." Spark turned back around, then sat down in front of the bush with a gentle smile on his face. She really reminded him of Fluttershy. So shy. Probably sweet, and unexpectedly useful.

"Well...I just wanted to say...thanks. You probably didn't have to come out all the way out here, but you did, just to help me. So...thank you." Spark smiled and waited for the inevitable.

As he thought, he could hear the bushes parting after a minute. He didn't look back just yet, he didn't want to spook her. He waited patiently as she came up beside him and sat.

He carefully studied her out of the corner of his eyes. She was a pretty Pegasus, with colors nearly matching his. Dark blue fur, violet mane and tail. One could almost make them out to be siblings, the resemblance was really close.

He also noticed the scar on her left eye. Another quick glance revealed her cutie mark, a raven. What this spoke of her special talent, he had no idea. She could easily be stealthy, that much was a given the way she gave him the runaround. She was shy. This raven cutie mark was going to confusing.

The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a while.

After half an hour, Spark suddenly lifted his gaze as something moving very fast in the air caught his attention. It was a Pegasus with the colors of the sun. He landed in front of the two with flair. Sweet Midnight made a startle squeak, but immediately stood to attention. She had a sweet, shy smile on her face as she greeted the new figure. "Hello, Lovely Lightning!"

Lovely Lightning, as he was apparently called, gave Sweet Midnight a wink that made her blush. "Hey there. What's up, boss?" He said, now addressing Spark Storm. "You're here early. I was just gonna meet Sweetie here for some coffee. Wanna join us before we head out?"

"Oh. No, you two go on ahead, I don't want coffee right now."

"Suit yourself. C'mon, Sweet." The two of them walked off, talking quietly together. Now that was something. If Sweet Midnight could actually talk with Lightning, maybe...

Spark Storm sighed heavily as the two disappeared from his sight. He glanced at the castle, something catching his eye. He could just make out the Princess as she stepped out into the morning air to raise the sun. He could also make out the figure of Twilight Sparkle. He felt his insides clench and turn a little cold. As much as he'd like to see Celestia bring the daylight, he turned away, folded his forelegs underneath himself, having decided to wait for Turbid to arrive. No more distractions.

He was only kept waiting for five more minutes before Turbid Serocity appeared. As she stepped closer, Spark Storm stood to greet her with a stood straight again, and noticed that she stared at him with a mixed expression of awe and amusement.

"...What?"

"You know, you've grown since I last saw you. You're, what, twelve now?" She smiled and brought a hoof up to his forehead and leaned closer. "Mhmm. You're almost as tall as I am, Spark. You're going to be huge, you know that?"

Spark looked away with embarrassment, then back as he caught Lovely Lightning and Sweet Midnight approaching from the corner of his eyes.

"Hey, boss-lady!" Lightning called. Sweet Midnight also said hello, though as with Spark Storm, her attitude was more subdued.

Finally. This was the moment that Spark Storm was waiting for. The conversation-friendly look in his eyes was gone and he turned away from the others, towards the Everfree. Turbid, Midnight and Lightning each glanced at each other with knowing smiles before Turbid reached with a hoof to tap Spark's shoulder.

"Remember, Spark Storm: This is your mission. We're here to support you. We leave when you want us to, you tell us what to do and we'll do it."

"Then we leave now. If we hurry, we could be there by by the time afternoon rolls around." And without another word, Spark Storm took off at a brisk run down the street that lead towards the road to Ponyville. This road of course was surrounded by the Everfree. After ten minutes of running down this road, Spark's team turned a sharp left, and disappeared into the forest.



Five hours and two breaks later, the four ponies had made great headway into the forest. Sweet Midnight and Lovely Lightning had kept to the air, flying breezily through the trees. Occasionally Spark would join them, surprising his three teammates at his gliding skills. After some frolicking about in the trees with his new pegasi comrades, Spark Storm returned to the ground, moving at a brisk pace alongside Turbid.

Finding himself in a prime position to start asking questions about her time with Sapphire Snow, he turned to her, only to see her with a look on her face that told him she knew what he was about to ask. "She misses you." She told him without waiting for his question. Spark grinned like an idiot in response. "She's been working very, very hard this last year and a half. She's an amazing mare with some of the best leadership potential I've ever seen in anypony, anywhere."

Spark's grin was from ear to ear as he focused his gaze ahead on the woods before them. Was it getting late, or were the woods getting darker? Before he could get too far into his thoughts, Turbid interrupted them.

"She's going to need you, Spark." Her words were hushed now, almost in warning. He turned to give her the question now lit up in his eyes. "I can't tell you what's happened to her since then, Spark, but...just be there for her when she gets home. She will need you more than you'll ever know."

Spark stared at Turbid. What did she mean by that? He didn't have time to ponder when a roaring voice broke the silence. It echoed throughout the forest, sending birds to flight in a panic all over the canopy.

"Begone from my forest! All who invade my lands will be crushed, ripped apart and devoured! If thou cherish thy lives, depart now, lest you suffer my sorrow!"

Spark's hackles rose as he raised his wings. Sweet Midnight and Lovely Lightning had landed behind Turbid and Spark when they heard the voice. Lightning had a protective wing held over Midnight as he whispered to Spark, "Dude, I really cherish my life. You said that we're searching for a...a tree goddess or something? Is that her?"

Spark frowned as he looked around. The surrounding area was familiar, but he was sure they hadn't entered Almaltha's woods just yet. It was too bright, the trees were too far apart. Too much daylight. "I don't know, guys. Something seems off. Just stay alert, this might be a Changeling trap." He took a few steps forward, the sudden silence in the wood unnerving. He kept his wings raised, his feathers just barely twitching, the energies inside them ready for action should the need call for it.

"Almalthea!" he called. "You know who I am. We met about a year ago. We came looking for you, we received word that your daughter, Arlan, was in trouble. We have traveled here today to offer our assistance in any way we can. We humbly request audience with you." As he finished, Spark Storm kneeled into a bow. He turned his head back at the others, gesturing for them to do the same.

After a moment of silence, Spark Storm slowly backed up until he was among his team. Lightning leaned in, whispering, "I thought her name was Orea."

Spark nodded quietly, giving Lightning a meaningful stare. Turbid smiled. She knew he was smart. He could take charge, he could lead, and he was smart. As far as she was concerned, he could give Sapphire a run for her money in this leadership business.

A moment later, the trees all around the team began rustling. There was movement all around, something that greatly disturbed Spark. As far as he remembered what Almalthea had told him about their race, there was only three Nymphs left. This was put in contention as dozens, maybe even hundreds of nymphs emerged from the woods. They were all different, of varying heights and bulks. Out of all of them, none of them resembled Almalthea. She could stick out in a crowd such as this; she was enormous, taller than Celestia. This scene before them was the clincher. They had to be Changelings.

"Uh, boss, you said there were three." Lovely Lightning's voice broke the silence between his comrades, his voice both hushed and slightly panicked.

"You do remember what I said about changelings, don't you? We're gonna have to make a run for it. We don't have the firepower to hold them off. I wish we had Mellifluous with us, we could really use some bombs."

Spark felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Turbid grinning at him. "Don't sweat it. I can give us some cover. Spark, take these two and head straight on. It's getting darker in that direction. You said the nymph's woods are dark, right? Get there, and wait for me."

Spark rounded on her angrily. "No way. I lost Braham that way, I'm not going to leave you alone out here!" Turbid smiled kindly at him, though her eyes were on the approaching "nymphs".

"You need to protect the ones that can't protect themselves as well as we can, Spark Storm. You need to take them and get them to safety. Let me handle this. I promise you'll see me again." She prodded him to leave, nodding to Midnight and Lightning. "Stay with him, you two. Do not leave his side."

Although Spark hated this plan, it was the best course of action. They needed to get into the forest and find Orea, and she wouldn't be found if they all died. He rushed forward, his wings charged. The "nymphs" charged as well, though they made no move to reveal their true selves. Suddenly they all leapt into the air. Dozens of them, all arching fifty feet into the air before coming down around the three pegasi like a green blanket of death.

Bodies flew everywhere as Spark released the electrical charge in his wings in an up and outward motion. As the creatures were hit, their disguises were cast off. Each one was revealed as dark creatures with blue insectile eyes and wings. Unfortunately, Spark's excellent range sacrificed it's power. Every one of the creatures that had been hit got up and resumed the chase.

Spark and his teammates ran deeper into the woods. He and Lightning fought off the Changelings when they got too close, but the chase was tiring while trying to run. Finally, they approached the deep part of the woods. The sun was soon blotted out, and Spark felt a surge of hope. This hope was dashed however when they came to a clearing. The clearing itself was massive, it was a wide circle that might have been half a mile around in diameter. Spark was silent as he surveyed the destruction. The trees had been cut, crunched and split in half, then burned.

Spark walked out into the clearing. Lightning and Midnight followed him, both looking this way and that as they could hear the changelings approaching. "Uh, Spark, what are you doing? This is no time to be sightseeing, we have to get to Orea's woods and-"

"This is Orea's woods."

Lightning looked at Spark in confusion, while Midnight caught on to what he was saying. She gasped quietly, and placed her hooves over her mouth in shock. Spark trembled quietly as several tears fell down his face. They were too late. The trees crashed and groaned as the changelings finally found them. They would soon wish they hadn't.

As Lightning and Midnight came to Spark's side, he turned to face the changelings. His eyes seemed to burn with an electric light as his wings did the same, lighting up the afternoon air. He practically flew at the invading beasts. Changelings flew in every direction as Spark charged through their ranks, his wings both propelling and cooking them in their shells as they came into contact with the enraged pegasus. His two partners could only look on in horror as Spark brought his rage full-force on the hapless invaders. Their cries and the sounds of their shells cracking against trees were the only sounds as more changelings poured into the clearing.

Eventually, Spark began to tire. At this point, Lightning and Midnight had gotten over their initial shock at seeing Spark so angry, and had gone to help. The three of them held off the attack for a while, but soon they were cornered in the center of the clearing.

"Well guys...It's been an honor serving alongside you. Especially you, Spark. I'm sorry we didn't find your friend in time...I'm really, truly sorry." Lighting turned, and wrapped his hooves around Midnight, and began whispering to her comfortingly.

Spark had long since run out of stamina, but he still wasn't ready to give up yet. There was still more for him to do, still ponies to see. He needed to see Sapphire again. He was barely still standing as the changelings closed in around him when the ground began to shake with what could only be described as impact tremors. Changelings and pegasi alike looked around for the source of the sound, when from out of the trees walked a fifty foot high monster. It was made of tangled trees and mud. It stalked toward the group, and let out a ferocious roar that sent the changeling scrambling to get away. They disappeared into the woods, and didn't come back.

Spark, Lightning and Midnight stared up at the behemoth as it approached them, and then suddenly collapsed into a pile of sloshing mud and trees and vines. The three pegasi stared at each other in confusion until the pile began to move. Out of the center of it walked Turbid Serocity, a tired smile on her face. "Hey, kids. Did you miss me?"



Crisis averted!...for now. But is Orea really gone? Stay tuned!