Raison D'être

by mechafone

32 - The Long Road To Peace

Spark Storm thought quietly to himself as he walked along the high walls of Canterlot. It was three in the morning, and he just couldn't sleep. The talk he'd had with Twilight Sparkle on the ship had kept him up since.

Since he had nothing better to do, his thoughts strayed back to just over a month ago, just after he'd missed the big fight for freedom and survival in Neippon.

---

By the time Cadance had regained enough strength to stand, a large crowd had gathered where Shimmering Oasis had been thrust through the wall of her room. The first to approach her had been Shining Armor. They spoke quietly while Spark Storm made his way out to the others.

Emerald, who looked absolutely livid, walked before the Golden Lord, who looked like he wanted to tear Spark Storm in two. "Spark Storm, what in blazes happened here? I do hope you have a proper explanation, or we may all be in serious trouble!"

Spark nodded soberly at this information. "Yeah yeah, I get it..." He bowed carefully before the Golden Lord, and glanced back at Cadance and Shining before continuing. "My Lord, what I am about to tell you may be hard to swallow..."

Spark continued to tell the Golden Lord what he had discovered. He told him about the shapes he'd seen that night, the night of the terrible storm that threatened to sink their ship. He told him of his revelation, and how Shimmering Oasis had approached him and put him under a spell to silence him.

Cadance put her two bits in, adding that she had seen this happen, then followed, confronted and battled the Golden Lord's daughter. She spoke of the things she saw. Of course, the King had trouble believing this. His daughter was loyal, certainly not brutish and secretive, and of course he had no idea that she could use a scrying spell, so it was indeed hard to take in.

The proof, however, was granted to the Golden Lord when his dragons returned to him and relayed to him what they had found when they had come to their senses. The King was distraught. His beloved daughter was a traitor, and working with his enemy to overthrow him?

The next few hours had gone by in a blur for Spark Storm. Shimmering Oasis, upon awakening, had been arrested and imprisoned. Blazing Dragonfly, his one Dragon partner permanently restored to his senses, went to find Twilight Sparkle, Frostbite and Lemon Pop, and returned them to the King's camp, safe and sound, along with an arrested Fire Lotus.

Shimmering Oasis and Fire Lotus were both found guilty of war crimes, conspiracy against the King, murder, treason...the list went on, for both of them. Fierce Rapids, having discovered that he had been used, was free to go once he promised to rally his people and promote peace. Rapids was only too happy to do so, now that he knew his only reasons for making war had been falsified against his knowledge.

Peace was finally in sight for Neippon. It was a long road yet, but now it was possible. The conspirators Fire Lotus and Shimmering Oasis were behind bars, and the King could finally speak to his people. All of them.

---

Spark Storm stopped as he approached the cliffside of the castle. While a chance at peace had finally been attained in the land of Neippon, Spark hardly felt at peace. Several things weighed heavily on his mind as he laid on the cold stone. Fall was approaching, the wind was getting just a little cooler. The pleasant air did little to comfort his stewing thoughts.

---

Twilight Sparkle sat at her window in her room. The last month had been so hard, and the things she'd said to Spark Storm still remained at the tip of her tongue. Every last word she'd said to him had been difficult and painful. She sat with her forelegs hanging out with her head resting on her legs. She stared out at the stars and sniffled quietly, trying to keep back the tears as she recalled the long trip home.

---

Twilight opened her eyes. She felt so weak, so very weak. Suddenly she shot up to full attention. The last thing she remembered before she blacked out was the red mare about to kill her. She remembered feeling a terrible pressure in her horn, and then...nothing.

She found herself in a completely destroyed camp. Several things were on fire, buildings were destroyed, there were craters in the earth all over. Lemon Pop and Frostbite were the only two she could see...wait. Some ways beyond where she lay was the mare that wanted to kill them, unconscious.

Twilight called for Lemon Pop, who immediately came to her side to comfort her. Lemon explained to her what happened, and of course Twilight remembered none of it. She had completely blacked out and single-hoofedly saved both their lives and destroyed Fire Lotus' camp and dispersed her army, then fought one-on-three against Dragons, magic versus elements.

Twilight was confused and upset. Surprisingly, the first thing on her mind was Spark Storm. She now knew how she felt about him. He was her first crush, maybe her first love. But no matter how this fact made her feel, he wasn't interested. He was waiting for somepony else. His heart belonged to that sompony else.

As weird and as twisted as this trip had been, Spark Storm had occupied most of her thoughts. She had been distracted nearly the whole trip, and had culminated in a midnight confrontation that had caused her to run off and get caught by the enemy. Then, she was to be killed. In that moment, again, the only thing she could think of was Spark Storm. Not Princess Celestia, not her future as a student of magic, not her parents. Spark Storm.

As Blazing Dragonfly came to collect the four of them, her normally fluctuating thoughts returned to her. She missed her home. She missed the Princess, and she wanted to see her parents. At the forefront of these however, was Spark Storm. She needed to talk to him, but it was the last thing that she wanted to do. She had a difficult decision to make.

And so, as things were wrapping up in Neippon, the next three days Twilight avoided Spark. He tried to talk to her once or twice, but each time Lemon Pop steered him away. She told him to wait for her to talk to him. Spark Storm spent much of that time feeling terrible for what Twilight had heard.

The trip back to their ship had been a long walk, and this time Twilight didn't let herself fall asleep. Only when she had gotten to her cabin and into bed did she rest. She slept for two days straight.

On the third night, she awoke. She was starving. She also really needed to relieve herself.

After she had taken care of that, she wandered out onto the ship. It was a beautiful night out, with a nearly full moon and a cloudless sky. The smell of an odd sort of food filled her senses. It actually smelled interesting, almost appetizing. She turned to look where it could've been coming from, but there was nopony on deck.

Then it came to her: The roof. It could only be Spark Storm. As she hoisted herself up onto the cabins' overhead, she spotted him. Right next to the damaged part of the ship, where the lightning had struck, was Spark Storm.

He had set up a sort of fire that was elevated off the wood. He was chewing on a stick with many pointy ends. It had an odd shape, it almost looked like a...a fish. Twilight had to cover her mouth, but she managed not to vomit thanks to an empty stomach.

The sounds she was making alerted Spark to her presence. He immediately tossed the bones overboard and shoved an after-dinner mint he'd been saving into his mouth.

Once Twilight glanced his way again, the two of them stood facing each other awkwardly. Finally, Spark broke the silence just as awkwardly as the silence had been.

"Uh, h-hey. It's good to see you're up...and ok."

Twilight frowned at him. She knew what she was getting herself into the moment she went looking for him. She didn't know if she was ready for this...

"Spark Storm, I..." she began. She closed her eyes and took a deep, slow breath, then began again. "I...I can't..." She trembled with all the emotions running through her at once. Tears fell from her eyes as she tried to compose herself once again.

"I don't want to see you anymore." She shuddered and barely held back the sob threatening to escape her. She kept her eyes shut tight so she wouldn't see the hurt on Spark's face. "I do remember what you said in the woods. You've got somepony waiting for you, Spark, and I...I don't want to be in the way."

"You're not in the way, Twilight." she heard. She heard him move, and she shouted, "Don't! Just...please don't. I wish I could tell you how I feel right now, but...I just need you to stay away from me, Spark Storm. Please. Even in Canterlot. I had a life back there that was simple and I knew what I wanted. Then you came into my life and I didn't know anymore! You confuse me and you hurt me. I know you don't do it on purpose, that's just how it is. So please, Spark...for me...just stay away."

She didn't give him a chance to respond as she made her way back down below. She didn't know what he did the rest of the trip. She stayed cooped up in her room, reading books or crying. Lemon Pop stayed with her, bringing her food and water, talking, or offering her comfort.

Three weeks went by so slowly and finally they reached Equestria once again. Twilight went home with Cadance and Shining Armor, separate from the rest.

When she had gotten home, Twilight went to her room and cried. Spike stayed with her, though she wouldn't tell him why she was so upset.

The first time Princess Celestia came to visit her, Twilight flew off the handle and actually yelled at the Princess for making her try to make friends. After the Unicorn had calmed down, the Princess gathered Twilight in her forelegs, something she hadn't done in years, and made Twilight tell her everything.

---

Spark Storm frowned as he looked out into the Everfree forest. It was so big, so very, very big. And little Orea was out there, all alone, and in pain. Spark's face darkened as he again found himself going over what Princess Celestia had told him as soon as he got back to the castle.

---

"What? What do you mean, she ran away? What do you-"

Celestia raised a hoof for silence, the look in her eyes impatient. "Please, Spark, let me speak."

The Pegasus sighed and looked down at the floor. First Twilight, now his only Nymph friend had run away. What else was going wrong?

"Two weeks ago, Orea came to me and told me that she'd received a message from her mother, deep in the Everfree. She told me that these Changeling creatures had found her home and invaded."

Spark looked up at the Princess, panic written all over his face. "And you let her run off without any help?"

She let that one slide. "Of course not, Spark Storm. She ran off before I could muster any of the Fighters, or my royal guard. I'm so sorry, Spark Storm, I have honestly no idea what has become of her, or her family..."

Spark Storm stomped loudly on the marble floor. This was great, just great. Things were falling apart all around him. He turned to leave, only to come face to face with Turbid Serocity herself. It was so sudden and unexpected that he fell backwards onto his butt.

The Unicorn arched a brow down at him, then up at Princess Celestia, offering a salute. "Your highness. You called for me?"

"For us, you mean?" Lovely Lightning stepped out from behind his teacher, and at his side stood a Pegasus mare, shy and withdrawn. Sweet Midnight stuck close to her friend Lightning. They both seemed very close, maybe even together.

"Wha...what?" Spark Storm looked between the three of them and Celestia.

The Princess smiled warmly down at Spark Storm. "I called them for you, Spark Storm. Take them with you, and find Orea."

Spark smiled back up at her, and fought back a stupid urge to cry. It felt good to have some hope after all the sadness he'd endured the last month. "Thank you, Princess. If you all don't mind, let's prepare to leave in two days."

Turbid smiled and nodded before walking close and resting a hoof on his shoulder. "You're in charge of this trip, Spark Storm. We met Frostbite and Lemon Pop on the way here. They had nothing but glowing remarks and recommendations for you. And take heart...Sapphire Snow will be done with her training in four months. She'll be coming home."

---

Spark opened his eyes again, looking out over the Everfree Forest again. The quest to find Orea would begin in the morning.

"Wait for me, Orea. We're coming."

Comments

[Licorice Twist]

Oh Twilight, you girl.... >_>

Great chapter, as usual :D

[LizzieLizard]

Cool story, bro.

[Jacensolo43]

Now it makes sense why Twi thought it was unimportant to make friends. And, i don't know what Orea's age equivalence is to us, but couldn't she wait just long enough for Tia to summon some of the fighters? My guess at the age equivalence is probably about four. I don't know, it's just a guess.

[mrmayortheiv]

I think this chapter would have been better told without the... accelerated flashback? I think that it could have transitioned back to present tense for the boat trip and beyond or failing that, certainly when spark got to canterlot and started talking with Tia

[mechafone]

1281147 Ah, yes. I agree, not one of my better constructed chapters.

[Melody Brush]

Oh Boy! Hang on little Orea. Don't die on us yet!

Yes, I still like little Orea.