Nightmare Life

~Home~

As giddy and warmed to his heart as Night Riser felt, he knew that his mind needed to settle back to the way things were so that he could hide everything that had happened from the Master. He couldn't let out a single hint, for that would throw him off. No. He needed to act miserable again. At least until the time came when he would leave forever...

And why couldn't he? The next night? Yes! Why couldn't he then? He knew that the Master was wicked, and that Luna knew it, that she was debating with her sister now, and that they would certainly investigate soon. And Fluttershy! He had found her, something that he could fly to, away from the lab. Somepony that would care for him besides the aching love that Dr. Zoid barely gave at all.

He had decided, and a smiled crossed his face. Yes, tonight would be it. Late, he would sneak out. And everything would be better. He wouldn't be locked up in the hell that Dr. Zoid called the one place he belonged.

He would go home.

Night Riser found that he was a little late to arriving to the window, and made haste to getting himself above the dreaded gate and through the thin walls of the portal that brought him back to his miserable life before all that had happened prior. He landed on the floor, all four hooves touching. He then ran down the stairs as fast as he could. The sun was already partially up, and he needed to at least be hallway through his chores by now. Night Riser made way for the main room, neglecting the fact a bandage was still tied to his hoof.

The stallion raced through the dark hallway and to the stairs. Instinctively he trotted down the main stairs, turned the corner and-

He froze in his tracks. Dr. Zoid was sitting, his back toward Night Riser, in his wheelchair. He was at the counter, holding a coffee.

"We're up late again, aren't we boy?" he asked in a steady tone. Night Riser moved behind him.

"Yes, sorry Master, I-I was not watching the sun, I suppose. I'll get to work right away-"

"No," bellowed the doctor. Night Riser froze, ready to be scolded. Had Dr. Zoid found out? What would his punishment be? Did he know of Night Riser's flight?

"I have been thinking," said the doctor slowly. "Yesterday I may have been a little on the hard side of me. I do believe all ponies have dreams after all. Yes, that's how I had the idea of this, this lab. You. Maybe I was rash...suppose I was a little tempered at the moment. My boy, I don't know what, but I do know that I have deep sorrow in my mind...this one time..." Night Riser stalled at the sound of Dr. Zoid's turning voice. He knew the Master was never kind, and usually meant there was something worse to come. But this was different than that. This...had sincerity.

"Master..." Night Riser said.

"Go," waved off Dr. Zoid. "Go to your room. Rest for one day. Your chores can be done tomorrow! That's when we will talk, understand?" Night Riser nodded.

"Yes sir."

"Good, now go."

* * *

Night riser watched the sun set as he laid in his room. He had been thinking all day, about so many things. Dr. Zoid's new leaf, mainly. He was also wondering when Luna would come, when she'd save him. He also thought about Fluttershy, whom he already missed. But night was falling. He was going to see her very soon.

"Night Riser!" Dr. Zoid suddenly called from the second floor. Instantly the stallion flew to the staircase and slid down the grip and to the floor. He ran to the outside of the pony's study.

"Yes, Master?" he asked.

"Bring me the Dantrium, boy!" he said. Night Riser felt his stomach turn. Had Dr. Zoid gone back. Possibly. But either way, the old pony felt that his life revolved around the drug and wouldn't have wanted to wait on it. Night Riser fled after it right away.

Down the stairs he tumbled and to the cabinet that contained the many vials of the muscle relaxer. He stood on his hind legs and opened the door, revealing the glass containers inside. He picked up the nearest one in his mouth, careful of his teeth, and shut the door. With haste, he took to the stairs, and then galloped down the hallway and into the study. He showed the vial to his Master.

"Here it is, sir," said Night Riser dutifully. Dr. Zoid did something very strange then. He smiled.

"Ah, yes, boy, bring it right here so I can inject myself!" The bat-pony stepped forward and hesitantly gave the Master the vial. He raised an eyebrow at the doctor.

"Oh don't look at me like that!" said Dr. Zoid. "I've figured I turn to a better side of me to you. After all, I really couldn't have made anything else but you, and if I were you, Night Riser, I'd appreciate this better mood of me." The doctor turned the chair around to fill the syringe.

"I suppose I can...what then?" asked Night Riser.

"Go, leave me, do what you'd like, I guess," said the doctor. "Maybe...and I'm thinking..." he turned back around, "we can see the outside. You'd like that? I need to stretch the old bones myself." Night Riser nodded.

"Yes. I guess so." He turned to leave when Dr. Zoid put a hoof on his shoulder.

"Listen, son, I really am trying, but after so many years...I know this change will be hard. But I've got the wish for it. The will. The dream." He leaned back. "Do you, Night Riser?" Night looked at his creator with his yellow eyes, big and bright. Was this something new? For real? Something better? The stallion grinned.

"Yes," he replied. "I suppose...I do."

"Good," sighed the doctor. Night Riser then turned to leave. His heart somehow felt a lot lighter, like a burden came off of him. Sure, the time before were so dark and stormy, but now...now there was nothing left of that.

Nothing but a bright future.

"Oh, before you go, boy," said Dr. Zoid, "will you inject this for me into my back? I've seemed to be getting a little old, as you know." He chuckled. Night Riser came obediently forward.

"Of course," he said. Dr. Zoid gratefully held out the injector to Night Riser, ready to take. But the young stallion stopped. Something about the syringe wasn't correct. His eyes saw clearly that the liquid in the syringe was purple, not the normal clearish green he always saw.

"Master..." he said to begin his observation. But before anything more could escape his mouth, the doctor clutched the syringe tightly in his hoof and drove it fast into the shoulder of the bat-pony, sinking the needle in his skin and letting the blood draw. Night Riser cried in pain. His eyes dilated as he struggled for screaming more, but nothing could muffle through. Instead, a blank look crossed his face, his color paling. His joints froze as he fell to the ground, the liquid having gone completely inside of him. And all that was facing him was the cruel eyes, the malicious grin of Dr. Zoid, who made sure Night Riser knew one last thing before his mind shut out to the world forever.

"Now you will be sent to where you belong, rat!"