Unvengeance

Two sips of water every five minutes, no more. His cracked and dusty hoof wormed its way to his right saddle bag, and after rustling through some odds and ends, he felt the cool touch of metal running up and through his entire body. Even the cold sensation of the thermos was refreshing. Starring and thinking about the water only made him more desperate and he knew that one of these stops for a drink might break him completely. The fear of madness gave him a newfound reverence for water like never before.

The thermos reached his mouth, which soaked up the water like a sponge. He controlled himself. A little over a third full. Gaging the water level, he knew his opportunity to turn north towards Equestria had already passed a while ago, now he was committed to finding this place. Whether or not this place actually existed was a question that he couldn’t let take control over his mind. Ponies told legends of wanderers and vagabonds losing their minds in The Shun, an especially inhospitable wasteland in the Badlands. The only legend more popular and more incredulous than insane ponies was the legend that a city existed out here. At least all the right ponies seemed to think so.

If I could just find an oasis or a stream, I’d be set. He had the proper build to survive out here for a while; he was strong… for a pony of his kind. The last time he was forced into The Shun, he quickly learned how to survive on little water. Even though they gave him food and water the last time, he made the terrible mistake of eating and drinking too much too soon. Now, they gave him nothing except for an empty thermos and a lousy sack of flat bread. They didn’t want to spend anything on their criminals and especially not for reoccurring ones.

Was I a criminal? He sighed as he tried not to remember, but as he became thirstier, the stream of memories became stronger. The desert sun scalded and dried his memories onto his mind so he couldn’t forget. I should’ve seen the true fear in his eyes. I should’ve known that he wasn’t him. The killer I was looking for would’ve laughed when I cried in anger, I’m sure of it.

Everypony who knew him knew he’d done it out of spite, and in that canyon, they considered revenge first degree murder… even though he got the wrong pony. I can still see the icy faces of The Brothers when they declared me a criminal. I killed one of my own, there’s not much to say. He returned only to have the pissed pegasi blackmail him into exile again with one in particular springing the trap and entangling him in his own web of lies.

He could never go back now and so he travelled west to restart in a city that he didn’t know existed or not. Every step forward, he distanced himself from Storm Canyon and his crime. He was confident they would never find him, they wouldn’t want to seek out a criminal out here, even the most livid Brother.

Glaring rays blew him back like the winds on the peak of Mt. Greymane outside the city and the heat tore at his fur like ice. The fine gravel and sand kicked up forcing his eyes shut as the evening winds rolled in from the north; it was cooler but it was drier. From afar, the stallion was just a dark blot trudging his way between the massive mesa towers that resisted the silty wind and casted shadows that stretched for miles. All the streams that used to flow here were blown away.

I can’t see anything with this light, even if the city was right in front of me, I’d pass it up. At least, in a few minutes, the sun would set and he wouldn’t have to walk any further for a while. The stallion wasn’t sleep deprived, he was just thirsty and it was a ravening thirst for more than just water… he just didn’t know it, but he could feel it. In the end, though, this wandering stallion had one last resort and he knew it might cripple him, it could even kill him should he dare try it.

An aching pain in his shoulder blades never seemed to go away; the bases of his wings, the crook where they connected to his back, were sore from a recent little incident. The pegasus knew he couldn’t fly with his injury but if he ran out of water, he couldn’t wither and die on the ground- he would have to die flying at the very least.

More water down the hatch. It’s late enough. He scanned the area for a decent outcropping of rusty rocks until he found a little depression that looked at least minimally comfortable. Of course he didn’t have a tent and he didn’t have any firewood. A river or a creek would give him everything he needed to sleep comfortably- he knew that –but for now he slept in the cold.

He laughed aloud, “This is the best bed yet.” And it was, in the Badlands at least.

Turning to a mesa tower, he noticed its shadow had blended with the dimming light of twilight. Only a sparkle of daylight was left.

Hearing an acidic hissing sound, he whipped around to see where the noise had come from. Oh no, no. It’s one of those venomous geckos. Having heard stories about these Spinejaw Geckos, he knew never to approach one unless armed. He remembered from his last escapade out in The Shun that these things would attack even if he stood completely still. No matter what he did, he was bucked either way.

Overcome with panic, the stallion kept spinning in an attempt to find the source of the sound until he glanced for a split second at the red slit eyes of the pale monster. All he needed was a moment to behold the lizard before recoiling in fear.

Seconds passed before the gecko charged. He barely managed to dodge its fangs but the spines on its sides cut at his legs. Without thinking, he tried to stamp the creature out with his front right hoof but it dodged to the left. He stamped and kicked as the lizard scurried through his dancing hooves until his back right hoof landed on its tail. It writhed in fury, letting out a toxic angered scream.

Simultaneously relieved that he had it pinned and anxious that it might escape, he looked down at the heaping pile of scales. Those red eyes stared back at him and he went blind. A sharp, fiery pain coursed through his muzzle and into his head. Luckily he managed to keep the creature under his hooves.

Stomping in anger, the stallion showed no mercy; bluish blood trickled onto the dusty stones from its smashed head. It better not be lethal… hopefully it doesn’t have any friends.

Venomous geckos aren’t the most relaxing things to fall asleep to, but the venom coursing through his veins lulled him to sleep. He didn’t try to fight it because the thought of having passed by the worst in life comforted him to sleep like it did for all the nights in the desert before. His adrenaline disappeared much faster than it ever did before his string of incidents and this time, it was a good thing.

A vague sense of laziness flooded his mind after he thought about how he would never have to return and deal with those ponies ever again. At that point, he didn’t care what the venom would do to him. If this is the end… let it come quickly.

He entertained the thought, thinking back to his parents and the time before he was branded a criminal. He could feel his father’s pride shining down from above the mesa towers as he remembered the day he learned to fly, back when he didn’t have to worry about anything. His mother might be up there as well, having watched him run away from his home city.

If he would die from the venom, right here and now, he knew he wouldn’t make it all the way up there; he would just be stuck lying in the dust forever. That was the last feeling he felt before he fell asleep.

“-Bet you can’t beat me to the top of that cliff over there” she pointed at a regal grey cliff on the other side of the valley.

“You must be dreaming to think that you could actually outfly me, I was first in my class.”

“I was too.”

“Liar.” He chuckled.

The mare cracked up. “Only because that one teal coated colt cheated-”

“-yeah right, I’ve heard the same thi-”

“-No, I’m serious. The shortcut was obvious… but he tricked everypony else, he even got the officials fooled. After I kept trying to tell them, they gave up entertaining the whole thing and didn’t disqualify him.” She barely managed to keep a straight face even though she knew exactly what had happened.

“I’ve heard that conspiracy before.”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me?” The mare whined.

“Yeah.”

The mare’s vibrant pink eyes stared straight into him, and it wasn’t an endearing stare either, her eyes and her smile didn’t match. Her complexion cracked its talons; its one claw ruffled the fur on his back while the other squeezed his heart dry.

She flipped her mane back and paced. “If you really like me like you say you do, you’d trust me a lot more. I trust you, I’ll prove it and after I do, you’ll have to believe me.” She paused, staring vertically up at him. “I dare you to catch me in a trust freefall, it’ll be the ultimate test.”

“N… no, you know how dangerous that is-”

“-I knew you would say that.” Her smile grew wider.

He stammered, “No seriously, couples think it’s this romantic fashion and it kills them. I won’t, I can’t.”

“That’s only urban legend, nopony’s actually died from a trust freefall. All the mares I know’ve done it before all the time.” He turned away knowing what she would say next. “That’s because they’ve all gone out with stallions they knew and partied with… but I chose not to do that, I chose to be with you.” She held her expression but her pink eyes narrowed

“Don’t lecture me with that.”

“I’m helping you get to know this place, its ponies, and everything we do around here. When I met you, you were such a shy stallion; don’t go back to hanging out with the colts that have no lives, do this for yourself. Trust me, it’ll be fun.” The mare looked vaguely concerned but behind her glossy eyes, the stallion sensed excitement.

“Fine.”

“Come on, let’s go then.” They both flew across the valley with flowering trees down below rushing past in a blur. Their reflections in the river stared back at them as they flew across to the west side.

They both thought the same thing: it was nice to get away from the constant hustle and bustle of Storm Canyon. The stallion looked north where the dark dam dominated the landscape; beyond it was his hometown.

“You’re so slow,” she laughed as he broke his gaze and lurched forward to meet her. They saw that the cliffs from the urban legends were true as they witnessed needle teeth rising up from the mist as captivating as it was horrifying. He had to take in the lush greenery and the jubilant cyan waterfalls that poured from those towers. It was always summer here.

The mare was busy looking for the tallest cliff of them all. Not seeing the rumored peak, they landed under the canopy of shady trees to rest their wings for a bit. They definitely found the place where the more sociable stallions and mares hung out. It was a nice and private place… away from the city.

Knotted trees lined the sides and the top of the cliff protecting them from other curious pegasi who used the place to escape from prying eyes.

“Where is the cliff?” She boomed.

“Not so loud, you don’t want to anger the couples here.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.”

“What do you mean don’t be ridiculous? You know as well as I that breaking a good kiss is a jerk move.” He held back his smile well enough.

“You know they’re doing more than that up here.” She gave him another smoldering stare.

“Of course I know that. It’s all the more reason not to scream like a sand wolf; how would you like it if somepony did that to u- you?” He caught himself. “And you think I’m the socially clueless one.”

She laughed a snorting kind of laughter. “Okay, fair enough,” her jovial expression faded, “but we still can’t find the tallest cliff.”

“You only looked for, like, five seconds,” he chided as he took off into the mist again. “What does this cliff even look like, I’m sure your other colt friends have told you."

“Jealous?”

“Just a little.” But the stallion took it a tad more seriously than necessary and the mare sensed a crack in his words.

“Well, it’s the one that everypony is supposed to be flying around. Usually there are dozens of ponies up here, maybe even hundreds.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I go here all the time.”

“Then why haven’t you done the freefall yet? You’ve had a special some-“

“-It’s not like that. You don’t do a trust freefall with just anypony.” Her tone darkened before she looked up at the one tower towering above the rest. “There it is. That’s strange.”

“What?”

“Nopony’s here, it’s just us.”

“How d’you know there aren’t ponies hiding in the trees?”

“They wouldn’t do anything where dozens of ponies usually gather. They only use this cliff for the real deal.” She quieted with a strange sort of respect as they both looked up at the tallest cliff in the area, The Jaded Jump.

Cool wind blew from all around the top of the cliff refreshing them as she led him to the exact point where pegasi jumped in the past. The stallion looked over the ridge and saw that there was nothing but a little creek gurgling towards the main river. There was no nice, deep water to save them if the wind snuck its way into their heads.

“Are you nervous?” He choked on his words.

She looked up at him, sensing that he had a little more strength than he was admitting. Before now, she hung out with him because he was all alone in his new world, but after a few seconds of staring, she knew, without a doubt, that she truly loved him. He had grown on her and even though she was one of the cleverest, most sociable, and most popular mares in her class, she didn’t see her own feelings coming.

She leaned in close and whispered, “mh, you’re a strong stallion.” She rubbed her hoof on his chest. “Where were you a year ago when all I could dream about was living and sleeping with a decent stallion?” He tried to escape but she slung her hooves around his neck, muzzle almost bushing against muzzle. “I need your love.”

“I…” but before he could finish, she tilted her head and sucked the thought right out of him leaving him struggling for air. The mare’s hold on to the back of his head tightened as she dug deeper. The stallion couldn’t help but to open his eyes and to take in the full force of the mare’s body: her sky-blue coat, her lightly colored peach mane, and that hot pink streak in her mane that matched her closed eyes.

He didn’t know how long they went on for but he decided he didn’t want to resist. Feeling like a dunce for not reacting, he placed a hoof behind her head as well only to feel her jump a little when he did. The mare trembled under his hoof like she was cold. Trying to tug away a bit, she moved in closer and hugged him tighter than before. Afraid of what would happen if he ignored her body, he pulled away using his hooves and forcing her to let him go.

“What’s the matter? You’re shivering,” He quivered.

“I’m scared.”

“You? You’re not scared of anything. I’ve been scared ever since I moved here; I’m scared just being around you.”

“It’s different.” Usually the statement would be met with eye rolling, but not this time.

“But you acted so confident when you got up here, you acted like you didn’t have a care in the world, like you were the top of your class.” The stallion couldn’t help the suspicion seeping into his veins. Why is it that she’s so upset? Sure it’s a free fall, but something’s not right.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this, I knew I couldn’t bring myself to jump.”

“If you knew you didn’t want to jump, why did you bring me up here? You don’t have to do anything for me.” He was mostly worried and disappointed for her, but he couldn’t help fight a redder feeling from rising up in his stomach.

“No, it’s just that I want to… I just can’t.”

“But you’re the one who took me under her wing, aren’t you? You’re the one who brought me here to get rid of my own shyness and awkwardness, aren’t you? I want to do this for you… I didn’t earlier, but I’m ready.” His frustration grew.

“That’s all true.”

“But if you knew, then why did you ask me to do the same?”

“I-”

“-You pressured me into doing this.” His eyes narrowed, he lost his pity for her. “You used me. You used me. You tried to use my insecurity as some kind of sick leverage… you…” he huffed as he began to realize the full implications of her deceit, “you don’t honestly love me, do you?”

The mare strutted right up to the edge of the cliff where bare rock showed and as she looked back at him, the stallion felt anger jamming his insides up.

“Well, you dragged me out here. Do you love me or not?”

“I didn’t before. I was just trying to be a friend. But now, now I can’t ignore my heart. Come on, let’s leave and forget this whole fiasco ever happened.”

He scowled as he lumbered to the cliff's edge behind her. “Why don’t you show me that you’re honest? Because I have no idea if what you’re saying is a complete and utter lie to my face or not.” He shouted.

The mare turned around to face the cliff and the valley below and her excitement quickly vanished. Her hot pink eyes and her mane seemed to glow with fear. “I’ve never actually done this before. I don’t know if-”

“Oh no, you guilt tripped me, now it’s your turn,” he spat.

“Look, I don’t-”

“-That whole thing about you being some sort of benevolent mare because you liked me instead of all the other, better, stronger, faster stallions… can I believe that?” He dug deeper into the lie.

“You have to trust me.” She searched for ways to mend the growing hole of deceit.

“No! Remember you said, ‘oh, you have to trust me before I trust you,’” he whined sarcastically; she was running out of options to defend herself.

“N… no-”

“-That’s what you said.”

“Fine.” She turned around to stare angrily at the valley below and with the romantic mood completely blown away. She shut her frustrated eyes and reopened them in anger… more directed towards herself than him.

She shut her wings and jumped, this time to prove a point.

Having no other choice, he jumped after her and flew straight down. Once the stallion matched her speed, he accelerated, but only to find that she sped up too. It didn’t make any physical sense. No matter how much he sped up, she fell just as fast, keeping the same distance.

Suddenly, the valley below melted into a black chasm and the mare silently boomed, “I don’t trust you.”

“No, I’ll prove it.” The chasm seemed to suck the anger and the power out of his voice. My wings ached badly now and after a moment or so, he could hear his own wings bending in ways it shouldn’t.

Her face seemed to change as if it was made out of Badland clay. “You killed him.”

He looked away from her warped and furious face to look at the completely black world above me. Everything was engulfed by the void.

“You’re such an idiot, you killed him. I want you gone. I want you dead.” The mare’s body warped into the figure of a bloodied stallion before shifting and sliding into the gruesome and terrifying image of a sinuous Spinejaw Gecko which finally enlarged to take the shape of a massive red dragon with metallic black eyes.

“Good work, you did well,” it snarled.

The dragon stopped freefalling, opened its heavy jaws, and spit black fire singeing the stallion into oblivion. A pinching sensation like a thousand needles dancing through his body made his very spirit writhe until it reached some cruel breaking point.

The stallion sat up with a chilled sweat and tried to heave the nightmare out of his mind and heart like all the nights before. And once again, he couldn’t muster the strength to forget even the tiniest of details on the leaves of the trees. He escaped that place, that city… but that place still lingered, still traveled with him across the desert.

It made the desert a foal’s sandbox and it made this mysterious phantom city a pretend asylum for the dejected.

…But the dragon was new.