Spark stood, nervously fluttering his wings, on one side of the oasis, next to Ember, where everyone could see him. He could see Starpebble and Sunfire and Brightsky across the water, watching him. I won’t disappoint you.
Ember nudged him. “Don’t be nervous. We can do this.”
It was approaching midnight. Spark’s heart was beating like a frightened bird’s, fluttering as fast as ever it could. “I hope so,” he whispered through a dry throat. He could barely talk.
The Hundred Year Star blazed and then flooded everything with light. Suddenly he was no longer nervous. He lifted off, flying straight up into the light, the only thing in his vision the gold of the star. He flapped up and up and up, getting warmer with each wingbeat. The light caressed him and began to pry open his jaws. He let it, and his mouth burst open so wide he thought his jaw would break.
The starfire rushed into Spark, flowing through his veins, beaming out in golden rays from his eyes. Faintly he heard the cries of the watching pegasi, but they didn’t matter. All there was was the star and him and the starfire filling him and healing bruises and mending a scratch on his side.
And then it was over. He was gliding down to the ground, landing with a stumble, in a daze. The starfire crackled from his hooves and eyes and golden sparks fell from his mouth. He felt better than he ever had before.
He breathed a small plume of starfire into the air, half wishing his story had been like Star’s and he could heal a doubtful over-stallion. But Cobrawing loved him, and everyone in the herd was healthy.
The cries of the herd were getting louder. Spark looked around, trying to figure out what the commotion was. Well, I did just become super-powerful. Starpebble was staring at him over the water, her mouth forming a word. He squinted. What was she trying to say?
He strained his eyes, then saw the word.
Ember.
Spark looked.
Ember was rattling his feathers, sparks drifting around him, his hooves glowing, his eyes glowing. Spark stepped closer, struck dumb.
“Ember….”
Ember turned toward him. “What? What’s wrong?” Then he gasped. “Oh….”
Spark stepped back.
The sparks coming from Ember’s mouth.
His hooves.
His eyes.
The light around him.
It was silver.
DUN DUN DUUUUUN
Desert Herd:
Cobrawing~ (over-stallion) bay pinto stallion with green feathers, mixed brown-and-white mane and tail
Dustcloud~ (lead mare) palomino mare with pale green feathers, white mane and tail, wide white blaze
Sunfire~ (captain) gold dun stallion with violet feathers, gold mane and tail, thin white blaze
Starpebble~ (weanling) silver filly with pale blue feathers, white mane and tail, deep blue eyes
Ember~ (black foal) solid black colt with black feathers, black mane and tail
Spark~ (black foal) solid black colt with black feathers, black mane and tail, four white socks
Brightsky~ (mated mare) bright palomino mare with mixed blue and purple feathers, white mane and tail
Sunlight~ (single/widowed mare) palomino pinto mare with pink feathers, white mane and tail. Ember and Spark’s dam. Deceased
Summersong~ (weanling) brownish-gold filly with pale pink feathers, light brown mane and tail
Snow Herd:
Fogfire~ (captain) gray stallion with navy feathers, black mane and tail. Deceased
Moonfrost~ (mated mare) dark silver mare with dark purple feathers, black mane and tail, Deceased
Echoflower~ (single/widowed mare, elder) white mare with pink feathers, white mane and tail