//------------------------------//
// 6 - Confrontations 
// Story: Legends Of Ponyville 
// by mechafone 
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Laser Reflex didn't waste any time. He flew down at Spark Storm while his attention was on the fact that his cover was blown. He was blocked, however, by a blur of red. The pegasus mare? Well, she wasn't about to stop him. She was from a group of warriors, right? Then she couldn't blame him if he got rough. He flew past her, only for her to get in his face again. "Look you-get out of my way, or I'll-"

He didn't have time to finish when she suddenly dropped from view. In her place came a big, dark figure that rammed into him and pushed him down to the ground. An instant before impact with the street, Reflex twisted in the air and threw Spark off of him.

A crowd was gathering now. Spark looked from Reflex to the growing witnesses. It wouldn't be long now and the whole town would be here. Dodging a punch from Reflex, he hopped over the blue pegasi's back and leapt over to Lemon Pop and hissed in her ear, "Take them and go!" Lemon Pop stared at him. She knew the story connecting him with this town. He was generally loved here, but there were ponies here that hated him as well. She didn't want to leave him alone.

"Hey!" Reflex yelled, ignoring the growing crowd around them. "Stop ignoring me! I'm trying to fight you!" Spark Storm turned to face Reflex, as Lemon Pop turned and gathered her new friends, corralling them down the street so they wouldn't be caught in the crowd.

Laser had waited long enough. He flew down to Spark's level and threw a punch. Spark's wings flapped as he moved to the side, dodging easily. "Knock it off," Spark said. His voice, calm and disarming, only served to fuel Reflex' anger. Did Spark think he was better than him?

Reflex threw punch after punch, Spark simply stepping to the side, and the light blue pegasus was getting tired of it. He turned and whipped a wing at Spark, a move too big to be blocked. As predicted, Spark held up a hoof to block it. Reflex hooked a foreleg around Spark's and flew into the air, dragging Spark with him. At the very least he knew Spark was incapable of flight, and judging by how tightly Spark was holding on to him, he was right.

The two of them rose higher and higher into the sky. Several pegasi followed them, mostly just to watch the fight. Spark glared up at Reflex, a grudging look of respect in his eyes that seemed to say Well played...Reflex smirked down at Spark, then said, "When you're outmatched...cheat." And with that, Reflex brought a hind leg up and smashed it down on Spark's face. Spark let out a cry of pain as he fell, blood sailing up from his lip. Spark twisted and turned in the air, unfolding his wings to catch the air, and he began to glide. The air was filled with cheers at his save. At least a dozen pegasi had gathered in surrounding clouds to watch.

On his way down, Spark glided over to a cloud and latched onto it, then dug his hooves into the side on all four corners, and revved up his wings. He angled the cloud, then shot straight for Reflex. He never saw it coming, as he'd thought that Spark had no way of getting back up. The two collided, sending Reflex spinning down through the air. Spark wasn't finished yet. He dove off his cloud and rammed into Reflex again until the two hit a cloud big enough to hold both of them.

Spark rolled along the cloud then snapped up to his feet, his wings raised threateningly. Reflex groaned and got up much more slowly, his shoulders and chest bruised. "You...you think you're so tough, huh? You can't even fly!" He yelled accusingly, then flew up into the air. He came down again, this time spinning directly through the cloud. Spark lost his footing, and fell, his wings attempting to straighten out. He wasn't fast enough, and Reflex came back around and clocked Spark right in the chin.

Spark unfolded his wings again, slowing his fall. The muscles in his wings had begun burning, having stopped a full-speed fall twice now. He'd need to land to let his wings rest, and later begin training on wing endurance to keep something like this from happening again. Spark looked around for Reflex. This was a tough fight; not because Reflex was a better fighter; he wasn't. He was a better flier, though, and he was using this fact to his advantage.

Suddenly sensing the smaller pegasus bearing down on him, Spark twisted in mid-air, catching Reflex off-guard. Spark brushed an electrified wing tip along Reflex's back, messing with his motor control. The smaller pegasus let out a shout of anger and frustration as he began to spin wildly out of control. Spark chuckled and watched Laser nearly crash into a house. "Heh. When you're outmatched, huh? All right..." He took a nose dive after Reflex, who was catching his breath in the air above the rooftops.

Spark came down on top of Reflex, grabbing him in his forelegs. The smaller pegasus struggled, but he didn't have the strength necessary to break free. Spark lowered the both of them to the ground, then shoved him out of his grasp. Reflex bounced once, then rolled to a halt on the ground, Spark landing next to him. Laser got right back up and threw several punches, expecting Spark to dodge again. Instead, Spark lifted a wing to catch the second wildly thrown punch, then jabbed once right in the center of Reflex's nose.

For the second time in the last fifteen minutes, Reflex had been struck square in the one place where he was the most sensitive. Dazed and in pain, he fell backwards, straight onto his back. One hit. Was that all it took? Spark hadn't even been trying to hurt him. What the hell was he thinking, attacking such a big pegasus? His last thoughts before he blacked out? I hope they don't take me home...



"Spark Storm!" came an angry voice from behind the big pegasus. Here we go, he thought as he turned around to face an inevitably angry village. Instead, what he saw made him wish it was an angry village. Sapphire Snow and the entire Fighters team, minus one Lemon Pop, had arrived. Every last one of them had a disappointed or critical look on their faces. Spark looked around himself, recalling that he'd just put an angry pegasus down after a brief fight, and he immediately went on the defensive.

"Whoa, whoa...this is not what it looks like," he said, holding up a hoof defensively. Sapphire frowned at him, a look of such deep seated disappointment that it hurt to look at her.

"What you do in your spare time is your business, Spark," she said curtly after a moment of painful silence. "We're looking for Lemon Pop. She..." she paused, a look of sadness and even a little guilt passing over her eyes. "She's guilt-ridden. After what happened at the palace, she just cried and cried, then earlier today she left." Sapphire looked up into his eyes, a soft pleading look in her own. "Have you seen her?"

Spark looked away from his girlfriend. She was still his girlfriend, right? After the decision that he made, walking out, did he really deserve it? Lemon Pop now, whiny emo bitching later. Spark returned his gaze to Sapphire, his mouth curling downwards into a slight frown. "Yes. She's here in Ponyville. She's safe. Now you can all go home, because she's not coming back until she's ready."

Sapphire looked like she'd been struck. Her wings flared as she approached him, her forehead pressing aggressively against his. "She's my best friend, Spark Storm! You tell me where she is right now!"

"So you can scare her off with how you're acting? Forget it! She needs space, Sapphire, she needs time to figure out how she feels!" he yelled back at her, refusing to push back.

Sapphire pushed harder, starting to push the bigger pegasus back. "What she doesn't need is the advice of a deserter!"

Sapphire nearly lost her balance when Spark stood to his full height and stood away from her. The smoldering look of disappointment on Spark's face was a complete reversal. Sapphire found herself backing up, her heart tightening painfully. She always did have a bad habit of saying things she didn't mean when she was angry. Now the damage was done. "This is about Lemon Pop, remember? Your best friend? I think you need to leave now."

Spark turned right around, angry and frustrated. Sapphire watched him go, shaken and upset. Finally, she turned around to see her teammates looking in every which direction but at her. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she hadn't yet earned the medal she kept in her room. "Ok, guys. We know that Lemon Pop is safe," she said. The Fighters turned their attention back to her, each giving her looks of encouragement or acknowledgement. "It's a start. Spark is right. She needs time and some space, so let's give it to her. Let's go report to the Princess."

"Uh...What about him?" Flash Fire asked, gesturing to the still blacked out Laser Reflex. Frostbite looked around at the crowd. Only a couple ponies now remained, the fight having gone out of them as quickly as the fight had gone out of Reflex. The unicorn stepped over to the fallen pegasus and slipped him over his shoulder.

"I've got this. I'll see if I can find his home. You guys go, I'll catch up." The others glanced at each other in question for a moment until Sapphire gave Flash Fire a knowing smile. She signaled the others before taking off, followed by her team save for Frostbite and Flash Fire.

"Looks like it's just you and me, then," Flash Fire said as she approached her "hated enemy". Frostbite rolled his eyes to the heavens and didn't respond to Flash Fire, instead opting to approach the nearest pony, a big doofy-looking pegasus.

"Hey, can you tell me where this guy lives? I'm gonna take the poor guy home so he can sleep off his unfortunate encounter," he asked. The pegasus nodded and pointed in the direction of Reflex's home.



Rarity, back inside her boutique, sat staring at some of the dresses that Laser Reflex had helped her pick out, talk about, design. Her eyes were wide, a slight, distant frown on her face. She looked like she'd discovered something terrible, and she had. She had discovered that, despite all the signs, Laser Reflex was a straight stallion. She gasped and looked down at her hooves, where the stallion had touched her once. It had been an intimate gesture, something close and personal. But because she and probably the whole town believed he was gay, it was a welcome gesture, something between simple friends.

She gasped again and reached up, brushing her hooves through her mane. He had also touched her hair, given her tips on how to make it shiny, had been to the spa with her, talked about things. It had been a comfortable relationship, one where she didn't think she'd have to worry about any kinds of unwanted advances. She frowned and wrapped her forelegs around herself. "He-he's straight?!" she suddenly blurted out, and shivered.

The others glanced at Rarity, worried expressions on their faces. Lyra for one looked unamused. She was still a bit sour over Spark's brother getting more attention from Bon Bon than she did. The little twerp was over by Rarity's mannequins, posing and checking the fabrics.

Ditzy paced back and forth by the door, her feathers twitching with agitation. She didn't like leaving Spark Storm alone to fight, even though she knew he could probably handle himself. She made for the door, when she felt a hoof on her back. She turned and came face to face with Lemon Pop. Since Lemon had discovered that Ditzy was sweet on Spark, the two of them had been aggressive with each other. But now that Spark wasn't there for the two of them to fight over, Lemon gave Ditzy a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Spark can more than handle himself alone. He wont have any trouble. He'll come back to us."

Ditzy looked away for a moment. She knew Lemon Pop was looking out for Sapphire's interests, but Spark was a big pony. He could make his own decisions, and his "daughter" revealed to her that Spark liked her. When confronted about this, he didn't even deny it. He was stuck inbetween the two mares, and as far as the young mother was concerned, that meant he was fair game.

For now, though, Ditzy planned to play along, and then make her move when she could get Spark alone. Who knew when that would be, but that was the plan. So she smiled at Lemon Pop, a genuine smile, and leaned in to nuzzle her new friend. "I know he will. Spark's the most reliable pony I've ever met."

Lemon Pop nuzzled back, then narrowed her eyes in a playful glare. "And the most special, I'm sure. I like you, Ditzy, but I'm keeping an eye on you."

Ditzy smiled. She really did like Lemon Pop. Maybe if she'd met Lemon before Sapphire did, they would be best friends, and would've had her back instead of being in her way.



Grabbing the keys from Reflex's pocket, Frostbite opened the door to the pegasi's home and stepped in, followed by Flash Fire. They both made a face at the mess on the floor. Bread crumbs, juice, nut shells, what a dump! "Geez, you think this guy needs a maid or something..." Flash Fire said, magically closing the door behind her. It looked like the pegasus had dumped out a bunch of groceries and just ate everything off the floor. The place was starting to smell.

She followed Frostbite towards the back as he disappeared into the back room. She suddenly felt herself being picked up around the waist by a long, thin tendril. She tried to let out a shout for help when a vine-like appendage wrapped around her mouth, pulling it shut. Her front and rear hooves were tied, preventing any chance of escape. She was lifted by her hooves, struggling with all her might.

"Such a pretty little thing," a seductive voice whispered in her ear. "It has been too long since I've had any mortal fun. You and your comrade should do nicely." Flash Fire turned her head, an angry expression on her face. It quickly turned to horror when she saw Ampelus. Nymph?! She thought. She squirmed and squealed mutely as Ampelus tickled and caressed her belly with an vine-like appendage.

Flash Fire's horn lit up, intending on searing the nymph with a fire spell. Another appendage wrapped itself around Flash Fire's eyes, blinding her. "Ah-ah..." Ampelus whispered in the unicorn's ear, beginning to nibble at her neck. "Using spells blindly can be dangerous..."

Flash Fire knew she was right. She struggled, her breathing quickening from panic and, she hated to admit, pleasure at the tickling along her belly that was quickly moving south. Frostbite! Help me!