Raison D'être

by mechafone

28 - King Of The East

As Spark Storm's group came to the center of the big, occupied field, it became apparent they were headed for the biggest tent that Spark had ever seen. It stood at least thirty feet tall, supported a wide open space, and in front of it was a wide throne made out of thick, sturdy wood.

On it sat what could only be Shimmering Oasis' father. He was a grand Alicorn, and tall. He was a solid gold color, his mane and tail brown. He wore a brown coat that covered his back and his hindquarters, hiding any chance of seeing his cutie mark.

Come to think of it, Spark hadn't thought to see what Shimmering Oasis' cutie mark was. He chanced a glance, and it was the most confusing thing he'd ever seen. Her cutie mark was a shimmering curtain. A transparent veil.

Spark Storm suddenly noticed that the male Alicorn was glaring at him. Of course. He must have thought that Spark Storm was eying his daughter's behind. Spark silently cursed himself for checking her out right then and there, and eyed the ground nervously.

The King spoke. For the first time since their arrival, Spark heard the native language. It was beautiful, but it was also harsh and angry. Spark could see Emerald cringing a bit. When the King was finished, he snorted and walked back to his throne.

Shimmering Oasis turned to face Spark, but she then turned and nodded to Emerald Skies. He let out a little gasp and bowed to her, then excitedly hopped over to Spark before controlling himself. He cleared his throat and put on his most serious face.

"Spark Storm, the Golden Lord would be most appreciative if from now on you would refrain from gazing at his daughter's flanks. If he catches you doing it again, there will be severe consequences."

Spark blinked, a look of uncertain worry on his face. "...Is that right? Is he serious? I mean...I'm like, 12, dude." Emerald nodded, that serious look on his face never leaving him.

"Oh...Ok." Spark Storm shrugged, then glanced around at his party. Lemon Pop was distracted by a dragonfly, Twilight seemed to be avoiding his gaze, but Princess Cadance gave him a kind smile and gestured her head towards the Golden Lord.

Not needing any more advice on what to do, he approached the makeshift throne, then gestured towards Emerald. He also approached, then Spark bowed his head to the big Alicorn. "Forgive my impudence, my Lord. It won't happen again."

Emerald lifted his head and proudly relayed Spark's message. He hadn't been able to translate for the last two days, and it felt good to finally be of use. The Golden Lord mulled over the message, then finally nodded his approval to the two.

Spark and Emerald fell back into line together, both quietly congratulating each other, Storm for landing a good apology, and Emerald for finally using his gift to perfection.

Amused though he was at this back and forth banter, Shining Armor gave the two young stallions a light glare before he stepped forth and cleared his throat. Emerald glanced at the Unicorn, then strode forward to stand by his commander's side to translate.

Before he could begin, though, the Golden Lord raised a hoof to silence him. He gave a pointed nod to Emerald. Ever attentive, the green Pegasus came before the Golden Lord, bowed, and turned to his group. The Golden Lord began to speak.

When he was finished, Emerald immediately began to translate. "It brings my heart joy to see our Equestrian neighbors return my call of aid so quickly. However faithful you may be, I must request that you prove your skills in battle and intelligence."

Spark, Frostbite and Shining Armor all made faces. All three glanced at each other. None of them liked this idea. Still, if trust was what the king needed, then it was necessary.

Shining stepped forward and began to speak, but the Golden Lord interrupted. Again, when he was finished, Emerald translated. "Your role is already understood, Lieutenant. I want your guard to be tested."

Spark, Frostbite and Lemon all glanced at each other, then at Emerald. "Us?" Lemon asked.

Emerald nodded solemnly. "Yes. He wants you three."

Spark Storm didn't like this. Suddenly he felt very apprehensive, and he felt the fur on the back of his neck rise. He gave a sideways glance to Frostbite and Lemon Pop. They both noticed this look; he gave it often when he wanted them on their hooves. It was a very discreet look, and they were always ready to move when they saw it.

Even though Spark Storm had spent little more then a few weeks with Lemon Pop, she had proven herself capable and reliable in combat. Her time spent training with Turbid Serocity and her Pegasi partners hadn't slowed her down a bit.

Frostbite gave Spark Storm a nod. Lemon Pop gave him the same. Spark was getting used to this; they seemed to look to him for leadership. He hadn't been expecting it, he was the newest member after all. He hadn't even been properly initiated yet.

Spark made to move towards the throne when two spinning rods of metal came at him from behind the throne. There was no time to plan or maneuver. He spun on one back hoof, his wings igniting. One wing for each rod; both rods fell vertically into the ground after being deflected.

So this is what he meant by a test...Spark thought. He watched the Golden Lord carefully for a reaction, but it didn't look like he was done testing.

The big Alicorn's horn lit up, accented by a vivid, transparent yellow light. However, this turned out to be a signal as two ponies suddenly sprung up behind Frostbite and Lemon Pop and held knives to their throats. Both of his comrades let out a gasp, and froze.

Spark turned around the second he saw movement. His wings ignited once again with strobing life, but he held stock still as he saw the looks on his friends' faces. They stared at him with subtle confidence. Spark watched carefully and quietly, then slowly lowered his wings.

He then let out a little sigh as he gave a shrug. One subtle movement. That was all it took for the attackers to give a look at each other. What was he doing?

The look, even the feel of doubt in the new ponies' actions was enough. Frostbite's horn lit up. Lemon Pop pressed back against her attacker and fell for the ground, away from the knife that had been pressed to her throat.

Frostbite's magic instantly created a thick cylinder around the blade of the knife. His attacker made to slit his throat, but the ice made the knife's edge dull and harmless.

Lemon Pop, rolling backwards as the knife previously held at her throat met air, thrust with her back legs and caught her attacker in the stomach, sending him to the ground without his knife.

Frostbite grabbed the foreleg grasping the useless knife and tossed his attacker over his back in front of Spark Storm. The dark Pegasus raised his wings and held them over the fallen Earth Pony, who watched as electric death loomed over him.

A stiff bark of an order made Spark pause. He glanced at Emerald, who looked a bit shaken by the action. He composed himself, then nodded. "Please, let him up, Spark. Just part of the test."

The Golden Lord looked like he approved of what he'd seen so far, but he still had yet to finish. He gave an explanation of what was to happen next. Emerald blanched visibly at what had been said.

"Ah, uh...Oh my." He cleared his throat of a bit of phlegm, but he couldn't remove the look of worry on his face. "Spark Storm, his Majesty is impressed with your reflexes and with your faith in your friends, but now he would like to test your friends' faith in you."

Spark turned to Emerald and frowned. Already he didn't like the sound of this. The Golden Lord spoke, while pointing to Frostbite, Lemon Pop, Emerald himself and to Twilight Sparkle.

Emerald sighed heavily, then related what had been ordered. "U-um...You guys..." He said, gesturing to the previously indicated ponies, "we're to gather in a circle around Spark Storm, a wide circle, please. Spark Storm will be blinded, uh temporarily!" he said as Spark Storm glared at him.

"All of us must remain standing still. An assassin will walk among us, and Spark Storm must find him and incapacitate him in a single strike...without hitting any of us. We are not allowed to speak or warn Spark of the assassin's location in any way. If we fail this test, we will be sent away, I'm afraid..."

Spark Storm glanced around at his friends, then chanced a glance at Twilight. She stared right back at him. It looked like she had a hundred things to say to him.

Finally she merely nodded. She and the others stepped closer. Emerald instructed them all to stand four pony lengths apart, encircling Spark Storm in a 15 foot circle.

Spark wondered if they were simply going to blindfold him with Shimmering Oasis approached him. He blinked up at her as she lowered her head and gently touched her horn to his head. He let out a gasp as darkness surrounded him. She'd blocked off his sight with magic.

Spark's heartbeat rose exponentially, and looked around. He'd snuck around in the darkness plenty of times, and he didn't remember a single time in his life when it had been so dark that he couldn't see.

Spark Storm suddenly felt a pair of lips pressed against his ear. He stood still and felt a blush creep up his face as he heard and felt Shimmering Oasis' voice carressing his cheek. "Don't fear. Feel. You must pass this test."

Geez...tell me not to look at her flank, but it's ok for her to whisper like that in my ear? He shivered and felt his wings twitch. He pulled them tight across his back. He wasn't sure what was going on with his wings, but he felt it would be pretty embarrassing if they went out of control now.

He heard Shimmering Oasis step away. He was all alone then. He could see nothing before him, and there were no sounds. How was he supposed to catch an assassin -and- strike him when he was handicapped like this?

...But that was the point, wasn't it? To be at his best when he was at his worst. And, maybe, not fry one of his friends in the attempt.

But...to feel? How did one feel? It's not like he had any extrasensory abilities.

...Right?

He suddenly heard a hoofstep to his right. His wings ignited immediately and he turned to his right only to hear a gasp from Lemon Pop. Crap, ok...calm down...do NOT kill Lemon Pop, please.

He turned slowly in place, ears flicking this way and that, but he couldn't hear anything over the sound of his buzzing wings. Oh, duh...He relaxed his wings, returning himself to complete silence.

Again, he heard a hoofstep, this time directly in back of him. Thinking of a new trick, he turned and immediately shot a bolt of electricity directly into the ground of front of him. He felt a bit of hot dirt backfire up into his face.

He also heard a gasp. It was a male gasp, and it certainly didn't belong to Frostbite.

Spark felt his adrenaline rise. He had identified the general direction his quarry lay, but he still couldn't attack. He didn't know the exact location of his target. If he struck now, it'd be a good chance that he'd hit one of his friends.

C'mon, c'mon, think! Spark frowned as he felt himself getting more and more frustated. He couldn't just sit still, there was an assassin in his midst! He couldn't keep his wings flared and ready to strike, he needed to hear. There had to be some kind of middle ground...

Maybe that was it. Something different, something new. His wings and his abilities had been developing lately. Maybe there was something he could try that he'd never done before. He just discovered earlier that month that he could reflect and redirect lighting, why not?

He sighed and closed his eyes, not that it made much of a difference. What could help him figure out a new move? A new tactic, maybe? Something that could help him spot his target. Like...some kind of trigger. Movement trigger. Like wind moving through a...

A web. A spider's web. If something gets caught in the web, the spider can sense it, because the web transmits movement. Ok, that's a start...but how the hell do I make a web? It's not like I have thread coming out of my butt.

Spark pursed his lips to keep from sniggering. Stop that! Focus! He took a deep, calming breath, and got back to his inner monologue. Ok, I don't have thread like a spider, but...I do have my wings. That's something. ...Ok, try it...

Spark Storm ignited the energies, which began to course through his wings. He'd never done something like this before, and he didn't know what he needed to do. He messed with the strength, the speed and consistency of the threads of light dancing between his feathers.

At first, Spark was frustrated. If he couldn't find a way to safely strike his target, he would have failed his team and they wouldn't be to move forward. Now that he thought about it, it seemed pretty stupid to have sent for Spark's team all the way out here, only to turn them away...

This thought began to occupy his mind, getting him more and more angry. This whole situation was so stupid, and that damned dragonfly to his right was so annoying! He turned to the annoying bug and zapped it right out of the air.

...Ok, how did I do that. He could hear his friends shift where they stood. His ears twitched, and he realized that his back was still alight, but barely. It fizzed and fizzled quietly, and it felt like it was bunched around his body, not on it. Was that how he found the dragonfly?

Now, with fresh inspiration gnawing at him, he slowly pressed the electrical field around him further. He felt it drop towards the ground, then back up, in waves, up and down, curving, and...he gasped as he felt it touch something. He heard...no, felt a gasp suddenly touch the gentle field of electricity. It was like a signal directly from the nerves.

Now we're getting somewhere...he thought. Feeling quite smart, Spark raised his wings and sent the electrical field in all directions. He heard gasps and felt bodies twitch as the soft, tingly feeling pressed against bodies. He felt one particularly stiff body, suddenly frozen in it's movements, whereas it had been moving a second ago.

Bingo. Spark Storm built up a powerful surge of electricity and let it loose upon the offending presence. When it hit, he heard Twilight scream.

Oh no, no no! Spark Storm let out a panicked shout and dropped to the ground, stomping his hooves furiously. He should've struck with less strength, he should have been sure, dammit!

He felt brightness beyond his closed eyes again, then opened them to make out some blurry shapes. His sight slowly returned to him to see that he hadn't hit Twilight. Right next to her, though, lay an Earth Pony he didn't recognize. He also made out the sharp knife attachment on the pony's right leg. He had somehow managed to find the assassin and strike him down.

He looked from Twilight, who looked shocked and scared, to the Golden Lord on his throne. He looked shocked, too. He had no idea that there was such a talented pony among them. After a moment, he nodded to Emerald.

"Hah! You did it, Spark Storm! You passed the test!"

Shouts of congratulations went around the group. He was patted on the back. He was hugged by Lemon Pop. All the while, Spark Storm watched Twilight. She didn't seem to know what to do, or what to say. She merely stared back at him for a moment before she gave him a light smile, gratitude shining in her eyes.

Comments

[Saveer]

I was like 'dude you just fucked up' when the scream came up

[Licorice Twist]

Hello throat, meet heart. Don't mind that it suddenly bashed through your door >____> Yes, Twilight's scream nearly made me choke!

[mechafone]

869696
Hahah. I'm happy to entertain >: D

[LizzieLizard]

Oh, wow! When Twilight screamed i was all but then she's okay. And Sparky has a NEW ABILITY!!!! YES!

[Jacensolo43]

Level up. Skill up goes to: Lightning Web. (Sorry, gamer in me just had to do that.) I got scared when Twi screamed. I'm a slight curious if the assassin had his blade against Twi. Oh well, i may find out, i might not. either way, great chapter!

[mrmayortheiv]

Seems like kind of a ridiculous test. I mean dafuq? Cool new skill though. You completely fooled me with twilight at first by the way.