They were both crying.
Dust said, "I'm so grateful. You've always been so kind to me. I never deserved someone like you."
"Of course you do, Dust. I saw all those things that nobody else saw. All the good things. They're the reason I fell in love with you. Ever since we were kids. I will always love you."
Dust nodded while the tears rolled from her eyes. "I know you will. Thank you so much for loving me. I don't think anyone else ever really did."
They nuzzled for a few moments, then Dust looked deeply into Macho's eyes. "Macho?" she said.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry I laughed at you that time that you fell. If I could go back now, I would have helped you up."
"I know," Macho replied softly. And now it was time. "Take the amulet," he said.
Dust lifted the amulet off of his neck, then Macho helped her slip it over her neck.
The two halves had to be pressed together, then they would meld and the wearer's broken heart would be healed. That's what the Princess had said.
Macho tilted his head, then leaned forward—with his mouth, he pressed the two halves of the amulet together. He felt them slide together perfectly.
He pulled his head back.
He watched the two parts of the broken heart swing back apart.
All he could utter was, "What?"
Then Dust was saying, "Macho, Macho. Listen to me…"
Macho shook his head in disbelief. "It can't be. I must have done it wrong."
Dust was trying to comfort him, saying, "You didn't do it wrong."
Macho looked into her eyes, then said, "You…you didn't die of a broken heart. You never loved me."
"You were always too good for me. I should have loved you. I tried."
"But…you didn't."
"Maybe I just don't know how. It's not your fault."
"I was always too sweet for you.…"
"Yes," Dust said, "but it's my fault. Don't you see? I'm broken. I belong here in the Dark Kingdom. You belong in the Pastel Kingdom."
"So tell me, if you didn't die of a broken heart, how did you die?"
"I chewed the petals of a poisonous flower called the lotus."
"Suicide? Why?"
"It was part of the deal. And Darkeyes was here. I wanted to be with him."
"Because he's dangerous," Macho said.
"Yes."
"Did you set me up on the night of the promenade?"
Dust looked down with shame. "Yes. Me and Badunkadunk…Clint told us to eat a bunch of mints, then kiss you so you would get intoxicated and lose the dance off. I'm so sorry."
"Why did you do it?"
"I don't know why, okay? Clint wanted to embarrass you. He told me to do it, so I did. He has a power over me."
Macho looked down at the ground, trying to hide the hurt in his eyes. "I still love you, Dust. I see the things in you that nobody else sees, not Clint or Darkeyes. I want you to know that. Let me stay with you. Here in the Dark Kingdom."
"No, Macho, you can't. The Dark Kingdom transforms all the undead. The undead don't know love. Besides, you belong on the pastel side. Please, if you love me like you say you do, go back for me."
Despite the pain, Macho replied, "Okay."
Macho transferred the two halves of the amulet to his neck.
Dust leaned forward and connected the two halves together with her mouth.
The two halves held together and started to glow with a white light. Macho felt the warmth on his skin.
He looked over at the gray girlponi in front of him. He wondered where she had come from.
The girlponi smiled at him, then said, "It worked. Now hurry, and cross over."
Macho kicked his ball across, then stepped across the Jagged Line. He was now back in his home: the Pastel Kingdom.
He turned to look back at the undead girlponi. "Thank you."
The undead poni had tears streaming from her eyes. "You're welcome, Macho."
"I'm sorry. Have we met?"
The undead girlponi looked taken aback. "What do you mean? Of course we have. It's me, Dust."
Macho smiled awkwardly. "I'm sorry. I don't recall. I'm so embarrassed. Perhaps if you refresh my memory…"
Sadness came over the undead girlponi's face. "It's no big deal. I'm just a girl. A girl you were always too good for."
Macho felt confused. "I'm sorry. I don't understand."
"Goodbye, Macho. I wish I could have been what you thought I was."
"Goodbye," Macho replied.
The girlponi turned and started walking away.
Macho watched her for a few moments, then he turned and started walking back to his village.
He squinted his eyes, because the Pastel Kingdom seemed so bright after having been in the Dark Kingdom.
The Legend of Machoponi
Part the Second
And so, our Hero crossed the line,
But could not say, "Fair Dust is mine."
The wind lifts feelings from his heart,
And Dust and Macho drift apart.
Sometimes, a brain freeze doesn't kill,
And cannot stop the tears that spill.
Sometimes, there's damage to the brain—
Lobotomy, along with pain.
And so, brain freeze lobotomy,
Offends like a smiling enemy.
The betrayer’s acts, they bring such pain,
But roofies swipe it from the brain.
Forgotten flavors tease his soul,
Like gazing at an empty bowl.
And ice cream tasted yesterday,
Evaporates, to his dismay.
Dust drifts away.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lotus, or Lotey, as he keeps trying to get people to call him, lives in Austin, an oasis in the heart of Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he learned that frat boys are lame. He once watched a fraternity house burn down when they accidentally set their fake snow on fire after a party. After college, rather than get a real job, he decided to become a writer. He invented the corruptagram, a symbol he's trying to get banned in public schools. He enjoys Newcastle Brown Ale and black metal with blastbeats. Lotus Rose is not a frat boy.
myspace.com/lotus_rose
myspace.com/machoponi
Here's a short poem he wrote:
O, shall I be like the lotus,
And bring you dark dreams and soft sighs?
Or shall I be like the rose is,
Sweet-scented and tempting your eyes?
For the unending sleep can seduce you,
To the world behind unseeing eyes.
And the beauty that beckons, then cuts you,
Is also the cruelest of lies.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Emma, or Emz as her friends like to call her, is a viking who lives in the most southern part of Sweden (no, there are no polar bears there). She is currently attending the University of Lund where she's trying to become an animal ecologist, only so she can torture animals in the name of science. In her free time she pretends to be an artist and likes to doodle on everything she can lay her hands on, including furniture, wallpaper and other people. She enjoys Monty Python, Simpsons, liquorice and kittens with dewdrops in their whiskers.
https://Honeykitten.deviantart.com
Favourite quote:
"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it."
~ Lloyd Alexander
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