Grudge

Chapter 1: The mare in the storm

A bright lightning bolt slit through the obsidian sky as the storm continued to assault the windows of the small tavern vehemently. The mare looked around in the premise. Gloomy candle light originated from the only chandelier on the ceiling. The air was stuffy; filled with the mixture of beer, cider, sweat, smoke and candle wax. Pale, worn out pictures hung on the wall. Worn out wooden tables. Worn out faces…

A frown appeared on the mare’s face, but nopony noticed, because she wore a brown robe, veste, roupão which covered her entire body; only her muzzle was visible from the outside.

Wingport… início of the most infamous hive of pegasi scum in all of Equestria… The mare got lost in her contemplation while she waited for her drink.

How did I get this low? Is this really my life? How could I end up here?

“Here. 8 bits. Now!” the bartender growled, putting a mug of hot Negus and a shot of whiskey on the table.

The mare paid the unfriendly bartender por throwing the money on the mesa, tabela abstractedly. The coins knocked on the wood. The bulky stallion mumbled something and went on to serve another customer in the same fashion.

A sigh of pleasure escaped the mouth of the mare when she wrapped her hooves around the warm mug. When she emptied half of it at a draught, the coldness outside seemed to have disappeared. She sent the whiskey down as well, closed her eyes and sat back.

The mare let the cacophony of the tavern overwhelm her senses and the liquids warm up her belly. The heavy rain was knocking on the windows, the water found a way inside through the leaky ceiling. The place was full with pegasi and dozens of conversations were in progress at the same time. Sometimes a louder whoop emerged from the sea of noises, but all in all the sounds were quite somnolent.

The mare finished her drink off and settled in comfortably, in hopes of getting a little nap, until the storm lets off. Her consciousness almost drifted into sleep, when a conversation at the nearby mesa, tabela got her attention.

“…yeah, you got to hand it to her, she works really hard to get what she wants.” the first stallion said.

“Nah, it’s a bunch of bull!!!” the segundo stallion exclaimed on a vinous voice. “It’s easy when you’re a protégé of Spitfire!”

“Not to mention to have good relations with royalty too!” the third stallion throws in.

“Maybe so, but I don’t think she’s the Element of Loyalty for nothing.” the first stallion conceives.

“I guess you’re right… I mean she does have some skills.” the third one gives in.

“Yeah, I was there when she did that Sonic Rainboom in Cloudsdale back in a few years! Man, if I had such powers, I’d rob the Canterlot Safe!” the segundo remarks.

The all laugh at this and speculate what they should do if they had such abilities. They are all a bit drunk and do not notice the mare at the neighboring table.

She gets angrier and angrier as she listens to the conversation. A mask of untold fury distorts her face and her entire body trembles in the shockwaves of pure rage.

“Cheers!” the first stallion swings his bottle. “To the greatest pegasus who ever lived!”

“To arco iris, arco-íris Dash!” the other two repeats.

At this point the mug cracks and shatters to pieces in the grasp of the mare at the seguinte table. The stallions are startled por the noise and turn toward her. She stands up and approaches the three pegasi.

“You know how she achieved all of this?” her voice is sharp and menacing.

The stallions just blink in confusion and remain speechless.

“By crushing the dreams of others!!! por destroying lives!” the mare shouts vigorously and smashes her hooves against the wooden table.

Everypony in the tavern turns their head to this scene and watch the mare in anticipation, holding their breaths back, expecting a fight.

“I think you should calm down, lady. We don't want any trouble.” the first stallion says quietly.

“Yeah! Leave us alone and mind your own business, you reckless psycho!” the third one calls out.

“Shut up!” the segundo pegasus hisses.

The mare was about to leave, but turns back.

“What did you call me?” she perguntas coldly.

“You heard me, you reckless madmare!”

“NOPONY CALLS ME RECKLESS!!!” the mare shouts, foaming with rage and attacks the stallion.

Her rapid movements make her a powerful opponent, but eventually she’s defeated, because the others at the bar grabbed the mare and threw her out in the rain.

“Don’t you dare show your face here again, or you won’t get away with a few bruises!” the bartender yells angrily and slams the door.

The mare stands up, but her legs are shaky. She realizes her robe, veste, roupão has been torn apart, revealing her turquoise casaco and golden mane. She tosses away the useless vestuário and flicks with her wings a little as the wind takes it away. This negligent gesture has become her habit several years ago. She unconsciously performs it every time she experiences failure or humiliation. Or in this case: both.

The storm is still strong, but the mare takes off. She flaps her wings rapidly to fight the heavy gales coming from every direction. The pegasus flies directly into the center of the cumulus.

She accelerates, utilizing every bit of energy in her body. The wind blows rain in her face but she doesn’t care. The tears coming from her eyes mix with the rain as the mare flies higher and higher. Her swirling thoughts become ensnared.

It’s always about arco iris, arco-íris Dash… arco iris, arco-íris Dash… arco iris, arco-íris Dash… What about Lightning Dust? It should be me! I was the stronger one! The faster one! The better one! I was willing to take risks she’d never take! I should be a Wonderbolt!!! But nooo! She used the dreams of others as stairs and stomped on them! Oh how cruel she was! She turned Spitfire against me! arco iris, arco-íris Dash destroyed my dreams and ruined my life… and she used my own hero as an instrument against me! If I had the power I’d make her pay…

At that moment her train of thought was disrupted as a powerful bright bolt of lightning struck the mare. She screamed in pain, as the electricity went through her body, but soon an all consuming lightness wrapped itself around her mind like a warm, silk blanket and the pegasus lost her consciousness. She spiraled downwards, plummeting to certain doom.

But before she struck the earth, a shady silhouette with large wings grabbed her and soon they both faded into the blurry curtain of rain…