Sparky whooped and hollered as he enjoyed the ride. He wasn’t sure where Misty was taking him, but he felt like it was somewhere he needed to go. There was something in that direction calling to him.
Misty groaned; still unsure if she had made the right choice. She stopped and pulled Sparky out from under the cloak she was wearing. “Oh Sparky,” she sighed nuzzling him. “I wish you understood and could help me. If Opaline gives me my cutie mark then I'll be able to leave her. I think? Right?”
Sparky just hugged Misty’s nose and made a ‘goo’ sound, pointing a claw up the trail before them. Misty sighed and put him back under her cloak before continuing. She wasn’t sure, it felt like he knew more than he was able to tell her.
Later, Pipp led Starlight and Sunset through the streets of Maretime Bay. All the time, Sunset's head was on a swivel as she kept looking at the sides of buildings. However, it wasn’t long until they came to the front of Mane Melody. “Here we are,” Pipp grinned.
“Can we really spend time doing this?” Sunset asked. “I mean, I enjoy a good pampering, but haven’t we got a task to complete?”
“You keep saying we need to identify the Elements of Unity,” Starlight grinned. “How can we do that if we don’t know these ponies? Heck, we’ve barely spent that much time together before. How can we fix a friendship problem if we’re barely friends? What better way to get to know Pipp and see which element she could embody than coming here? Besides, after yesterday I think I need this.”
They were about to go in when they spotted Hitch. He was walking purposefully down the street towards them. “Hey Hitch,” Pipp grinned. “Like to join us?”
“I can’t Pipp, sorry,” Hitch replied. “I can’t find Sparky. I’ve searched the Office from top to bottom and he’s not there. I’m on my way to the Brighthouse to see if he’s popped up there.”
“Oh, did you want some help?” Starlight asked.
“No, it’s fine. He’s done this before,” Hitch sighed. “However, this time I’m not going to go full freak-out mode until I’ve at least checked everywhere he could be.”
“Well, if you change your mind let us know,” Pipp replied. “We’ll be here for most of the morning.”
“Sure, I’ll let you know,” Hitch smiled and headed off towards the Brighthouse.
Meanwhile, Misty slowly walked through the door of the castle. Her heart was pounding. She’d been told so many times to bring the dragon. So why was she so nervous now she was doing it?
She looked at Sparky who was sitting on her back, his eyes wide with wonder. He looked at her with a big grin on his face.
“Oh, why have you gotten so cute?” Misty sighed.
Sparky gurgled and then leaned forward, he threw his little dragon claws around her neck and started nuzzling her.
“You’re making this so hard!” Misty exclaimed a little too loudly. “No, I can’t. I can’t do this. I’m taking you back before it’s too late.”
Opaline sighed from her hiding spot having seen and heard everything. She tutted as Misty turned and started heading toward the door. Her protégé had really lost her way.
“Misty,” she shouted as she walked around the corner.
Misty squeaked and quickly turned around. Still walking backwards towards the door, she tried to hide Sparky with her head and mane.
“Where have you been all night?” Opaline asked with mock worry. “Your bed hasn’t been slept in.”
Misty gasped, unsure what to say. Two more steps backwards and she’d be at the door. Two more steps and Opaline would be unable to reach her.
“Oh, I see what you’ve been up to,” Opaline smiled.
Misty gasped as Opaline levitated Sparky up from off her back. Creating a floating half-sphere, she set Sparky down within it. She shot Misty a look of joy before she grinned at Sparky. “Look what Misty has done,” she cooed. “Has she brought the dragon? Yes, she has. Yes, she has.”
Sparky gave Misty a look of reassurance that made her bottom lip quiver.
“What’s the matter, Misty?” Opaline asked. “You’ve succeeded! Everything we’ve talked about will soon come to pass.”
“Y…y…yes Opaline,” Misty gasped at last.
“Come on you gorgeous little dragon,” Opaline cooed. “I have the perfect place for you.”
Misty gasped as Opaline turned and started heading upstairs to her study. Finally collecting herself, Misty followed knowing there was no going back now.
As Opaline walked into the study, she grinned as Sparky caught sight of the Dragon Stone and became more alert. He looked directly at the stone, his little nose twitching.
“Yes, you know what that is don’t you?” Opaline smiled.
Sparky started making excited cooing noises and tried to reach out to the Dragon Stone. However, he didn’t get far due to the curvature of the half-sphere he was sitting in.
“So, erm, Opaline,” Misty ventured.
“Yes, Misty?” Opaline replied, still studying Sparky.
“How many puffs of fire will the Dragon Stone need?”
“Oh, quite a few,” Opaline replied curtly. “In fact, I think it will be all of them.”
She added the second half sphere so that Sparky was completely enclosed. Then, levitating him out of a window she attached the sphere to the end of a chain. Misty gasped in shock and ran to the window, seeing the look of terror in Sparky’s little eyes as he saw the drop below him. His previous bravado having suddenly disappeared.
“C…can’t we keep him somewhere safer? Misty asked, her eyes wide with fear. “I…I need to take him back.”
“Take him back?” Opaline asked. “Whatever for Misty? He’ll not be worth taking anywhere.”
“But you said you wouldn’t need him after the stone is charged,” Misty replied.
“Exactly, he’ll be completely useless,” Opaline grinned. “Useless to us and useless to anypony else.”
Opaline’s horn glowed towards the Dragon Stone. Suddenly, energy began to depart Sparky’s body, seemingly coming from every part of him. It wafted over to the stone and the stone began slowly glowing. Misty watched in horror as Sparky started to look weaker.
“Misty, did you reorganize the library yet?” Opaline asked bluntly.
“N…no,” Misty sniffed. “Not yet.”
“Well, you’ll need to watch the dragon then,” Opaline smiled. “I need some spell books for later and with the mess the library is in it will take me a while. Make sure you put it on your list, hmm.”
“Y…yes Opaline,” Misty sighed, still looking at Sparky.
With that, Opaline walked out the study door with a smirk on her face.
Misty looked around to check the coast was clear. She poked her head out the window and stretched out a hoof. However, it was clear there was no way she was reaching Sparky. “I’m sorry Sparky,” she cried. “This is all my fault and I’ve got to get you help. I just hope they’ll understand and forgive me.”
Running downstairs, Misty made straight for the castle door. Running out over the drawbridge she turned towards Maretime Bay at full speed.
However, from a window in one of the towers, Opaline grinned. “That’s it, Misty, run. Run as fast as you can, bring me Sunny Starscout and her friends.”
At the Brighthouse, Hitch was finally starting to get worried about Sparky. They had searched the entire building from top to bottom and he was nowhere to be found.
“Okay, this is not good,” Hitch breathed. “He’s not at the Office and he’s not here. That’s the only two places that he’d be checked.”
“Did you check the magic tree?” Zipp asked. “You mentioned he’s been spending a lot of time looking at the flower.”
“I glanced that way when I came out of the Office but didn’t look properly,” Hitch admitted. “I was sure he’d be here though.”
“Well, we’ve tried the lullaby and that’s not found him,” Sunny replied. “Let’s head into town and pick up Pipp, Starlight and Sunset. Maybe they have some magic that could help us.”
“Yeah, some sort of location spell,” Izzy grinned. “We’ll find him, I know we will.”
“Sure, okay let’s do that,” Hitch replied. “I’m just realising what parents of lost foals must go through. You’re not supposed to report them missing for twenty-four hours. I think I need to remove that rule, it’s not even one I made!”
They were just turning towards the door when it burst open. Misty clattered in, falling in a pile on the floor, gasping for air.
“I! Sparky! Help!” Misty mustered between breaths.
Sunny rushed to Misty’s side, helping her up so she could breathe easier. “Easy Misty, breathe.”
“Say that again Misty?” Hitch asked. “What’s that about Sparky?”
“He…He’s in trouble,” Misty gasped. “He’s been dragon-napped. I…I know where to find him.”
“To the Marestream,” Hitch said determinedly. “We’ve got to rescue him.”
“What about Pipp and the others?” Sunny asked.
“I’ll give her a ring on our way,” Zipp replied. “Come on!”
They hurried into the Marestream and Zipp quickly carried out the preflight checks. When all was ready, they lifted off as Zipp called her sister.
“Come on Pipp, pick up,” Zipp groaned as the call rang and rang and eventually went to voicemail. “Pipp! Sparky’s been dragon-napped and Misty says she knows where he is. We’re heading there, I’ll ring you when we get there.”
As they got above the treeline, Misty held out a hoof and pointed. “That way.”
Zipp did as instructed and the Marestream shot off in the direction Misty had indicated.
“So, how did you know about this Misty?” Zipp asked.
“I…I saw them,” Misty replied. “I saw them carrying him away.”
“Okay, so how do you know where to find him?” Zipp asked.
“I followed them,” Misty replied.
“So, you didn’t think to call us? To call me?” Hitch asked. “I’m the Sheriff, first thing anypony should do in that situation is call me.”
“I…I…” Misty faltered, tears welling in her eyes.
“Hey, hey. That’s enough,” Sunny said leaping to Misty’s defence. “Misty did what she thought was right at the time. If anything, it’s smart that she’s come to get help instead of trying to rescue him on her own.”
“Yeah,” Izzy grinned. “Misty’s a hero already. If she followed them all the way to where they’re hiding, she’s got to be pretty sneaky.”
There was a sudden jolt, and the sky suddenly became noticeably darker. “Which way Misty?” Zipp asked, a tinge of worry in her voice.
“Over there,” Misty said pointing towards a large castle, wiping away her tears.
“Is that where they’re keeping him?” Hitch asked.
“Yes,” Misty sighed. “That’s where she’s keeping him.”
“She?” Zipp frowned. “Misty, what do you know?”
“I’ll tell you. I promise.” Misty replied. “We need to rescue Sparky first.”
“Misty’s right,” Sunny added. “Sparky first, questions and allegations later.”