Nightmare Life

~The Leave~

Night Riser felt the edge of the windowsill leave his hooves once the sun went down.

It was all he had planned for, this night. For those years he had suffocated in the lab he still clung to that inspirational dream that one day he would leave, and that he would do so by flying away. Away from it all. He of course kept his building skill a secret, for if Dr. Zoid had known, Night Riser would have no chance of escape. It was the belief the Master had that Night Riser's wings were too feeble to fly that let the colt have an open window for fresh air and not stones like it was everywhere else.

But the stallion was also afraid of this night. What if he failed? Failed either in flying from his window alive or unseen? Failed at finding the acceptance in Ponyville he had dreamed for?

And what if he never did find the Bat Princess?

Foolish thoughts, he thought to himself. I will find her, and I will fly tonight, away from this place forever. Of course, he knew it wouldn't be forever. Not yet anyways. First, he planned, he would sneak out at nights, only to be sure the Master had no idea he was vanishing, and then, when the time came, when the ponies outside loved him enough to stay.

He would leave forever. He would live without anguish, in paradise, forever.

Night Riser dreamed it, and he knew it would come true.

And that's what took him to the first second in the air, the first stomach-dropping moment where he found himself in a strange space he had never known. But like he had practiced, Night Riser flapped his wings steadily as he could, up and down. He regained posture and kept from falling; however, he was losing altitude quickly.

The sooner I land, the better, he told himself. I can walk much better, besides. He had to struggle over the large gate first that encircled the lab, but considering his starting height, he was fine. It was the return that scared him, but he would mind that later.

Over the gate Night Riser went, down into the brush just behind. That's where he slowed himself down to the earth below to set his hooves upon and regain his breath. His wings, he admitted, were still shaky, and may be for the rest of his life, which meant it was hard work to keep himself defying gravity.

Nevertheless, Night Riser was where he wanted to be, and began a trot to Ponyville, far off in the bushes and fields, somewhere in a happy existence celebrating the most glorious festivity to Night Riser, Nightmare Night.