Death Unbound

"Hmm lets see, killed the dragon, saved the mare, what am I missing? Oh thats right, the 'Happily Ever After' part." I said, leaning in to kiss my beautiful princess.

"Ha! If you really want me, you gotta catch me first!" She said, leaning away from the kiss before disappearing in a sudden flash of color followed by a cloud of dust.

"That'll be way too easy!" I yelled, giving chase.

She might be the fastest flier where she's from, but this was my realm and I controlled its inner workings. In a flash I was right behind her, our laughter lost in the wind as the game of cat and mouse went on. Although I knew I could win easily, I decided to play along after seeing how happy this made her. We chased each other for an eternity, switching roles as we caught up to one another. Eventually we landed in a vast meadow and simply watched the clouds roll by. I slowly sat up and, out of curiosity, took a look around. The meadow was on a slant, angled perfectly for watching the sky, nearly everywhere were flowers of all the colors and sizes. The location in which we landed was the only expanse in the vast plain that didn't have any flowers at all, it only had soft, green grass. I came around to look at the gorgeous mare laying next to me, eyeing me lovingly. Her cyan coat, beautifully contrasting with the deep green of the grass around her, her mane outshining the vibrant colors of the roses, the hydrangeas, the buttercups, the tiger lillies, and every other flower in the entire meadow. Nothing in all of nature could match the beauty of my darling marefriend.

"Hey, Crash!" Came a voice from out of no where.

I looked around nervously and, seeing no source for the voice, calmed down slightly. My marefriend, having noticed my sudden apprehension, looked about as well.

"Crash!" Said the voice, once again repeating my name.

I looked around again, ready to grab the mare next to me and take flight in a moments notice should something suddenly show up. It was then that I noticed that she was no longer there. Panicking, I whipped my head around, looking for any possible sign of her and only getting nothing for my efforts.

"C'mon dude, stop foolin' around, its our shift." Came a now familiar and exceedingly loud voice.

Shift? Wait, I'm dreaming aren't I? Shit, of course I am. I thought, a sinking feeling coming over me.

My senses began to become fuzzy, my limbs, unresponsive to my movements. My legs lost feeling, forcing me to the ground. A sudden ringing filled my ears as I found myself returning to consciousness.

My smell came first allowing the scent of sweaty stallions and dirty clothes to fill my nostrils. Next came my hearing, slowly picking up more and more sounds of yelling guards. Although I could feel my sight return, I chose to keep my eyes closed, not yet prepared to face my brother in arms. As my feeling finally returned to me, I noticed my side being poked rather annoyingly. I opened my eyes and rolled over, finally prepared to face my fate.

I was greeted by a strange sight. A grey coated stallion was standing at the head of my bed, his black mane in tangles and his tail frizzy. Along with this, his eyes were bloodshot and he was shaking. He shifted nervously in his stance every couple seconds, never seeming to find a comfortable way to stand. His head was constantly on a swivel and his eyes were darting about the room. His telescope cutie mark seemed to be faded, like it was rubbing off. His face was white as a sheet, he looked like he had just seen a manticore rip a pony to shreds.

"I'm coming Lookout, no need to be hasty, its not like we're going to be late for the night shift at all." I said, trying to calm the younger stallion.

"S-something has happened, I'm not sure what it is, but I'm positive that it isn't good bro. Everyone has been staring at me when I walk by for some reason." He responded anxiously.

"Hmm, maybe it's because your a bat-pony walking around during the day? Oh, no that couldn't possibly be it." I said, my words laden with sarcasm.

"N-no man, something happened, I've got this feeling bro." He continued.

"Rrriiiiiight...are you high? I'm pretty sure you experience paranoia when you're high. Also, I hear that you get the munchies too. Speaking of which, lets go and get breakfast, or dinner as the case may be. You know, that always confused me, what are we supposed to call it? Do we say it from our perspective or the day guards'? 'Cause for us, it's breakfast, but for them it's dinner. I guess I'll just keep calling it breakfast..." I rambled, never letting him answer the question, or continue on his ridiculous claim.

I got up, continuing my rant as I went, and headed towards the cafeteria. The room I lived in used to be a large janitors' closet. A simple bed and chest currently furnishing the pitiful excuse of a living quarters. Shows how much they care. I knew my past, and I knew things would never change, but I was still the best at what I did. I would have thought that years of barebones survival would have changed me, broken me yet it only strengthened my resolve, allowing me to not only survive, but come back.

I snapped out of my journey down memory lane just in time to watch a serving pony come charging at me, knife in hand. I easily dodged his clumsy swings, ducking and weaving around him. Suddenly, his tactics changed, now accounting my experience in hand to hand, he decided to used his magic.

He levitated multiple knives and prepared to send them after me. I knew I wasn't going to be able to dodge all of them, but what would one more scar do? I simply waited, formulating a plan, if I saw any kind of opening at all, I would take it. Suddenly, knives flew about me in random directions scattering about until they eventually converged around the two of us. The result was a kind of tornado of knives, each swooshing as it came past and gleaming in the light. I could only barely see what was going on outside the metallic storm, but I could make out the forms of many dead ponies, dressed in either guards uniforms, or suits.

My attacker took this chance and charged me yet again. I wasn't prepared and he made contact, nearly shoving me into the twister of blades. I managed to shove him off, but in a flash he was back at it, trying with all his might to gain ground. I had my back to the storm, and I could feel the wind from the flying knives on my back. I tried to move the stallion, to push back, but I was making absolutely no headway, while he was succeeding in pushing me closer and closer to my death.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Come on out you Tartarus-born daemon! I know you're watching, and I would appreciate some help before we both die!" I yelled.

Suddenly a grey blur came into my field of vision from the direction of my room. It took 2.5 seconds for me to process what had happened, but it was hours too late. I heard a pained grunt followed by two screams, the knives hitting the floor immediately after. I jumped to my hooves and looked around for the source of my good fortune. I eyed a growing pool of crimson on the ground and a low groan that was just outside my field of vision. I rushed to the downed pony, his grey coat and black mane spattered with blood, his telescope cutie mark adorned a mask of blood and knives.

"Nonononononononononono! What do you think you were doing you idiot! I had him, then you had to go and interrupt!" I yelled at Lookout.

"I-I had to do something...nopony else could...he was going to kill you..." He responded between pained gurgles.

I got a closer look at him, I almost wished I had stayed ignorant of his injuries. His entire right side was perforated with knives, I counted at least fifteen, each at varying depths. From the sound of it, he had punctured a lung, but his heart seemed to be untouched, so there was a faint hope. I needed to act fast.

I quickly tore off the dead serving pony's suit, shredding it into strips and prepared myself. I reached for the nearest knife, planning as far ahead as I possibly could. After a calculated 3.5 seconds, I had formulated the perfect plan, well not perfect, but the best one with the options I had. Quickly and carefully, I pulled out the knives and bandaged the wounds, earning a grunt for my efforts to which I was relieved.

He's not dead yet.I thought, as relief came over me.

Carefully, as to not disturb the fresh injury, I picked him up and placed him across my back and immediately headed for the nearest exit. I expected to have a fight once we came out of the, rather drab, barracks, however, the rage inflicted ponies seemed to be headed back towards the castle, to the princesses and to Shining Armor.

I grinned at the thought of their deaths, I thought they deserved worse, if my current condition was anything to go by. Saving the personal vendetta for later, I galloped towards my destination, using the scraps that used to be my wings to keep  Lookout from being jostled around too much. Just as I arrived at the gate, ponies sprang at me from out of nowhere and grabbed each of my limbs.

They pulled and yanked, they did all they could to try and tear my legs off and I was helpless to stop them. I looked back at Lookout, seeing his broken and bleeding form on the ground, an overwhelming feeling of rage flowed through my veins. Dark thoughts plagued my mind as all rationality left me. My body started convulsing violently and sporadically to a point that I thought I might tear my own limbs off.

Eventually my body stopped and my thoughts were clear, no longer infested with petty emotions. I knew what my mission was and I knew what I needed to do to complete it. I closed my eyes and listened, felt and smelled my surroundings.

The pony holding my left hind leg is weakest. Then its the one holding my right foreleg, then my left foreleg and finally my right hind leg. I thought, testing each with a simple kick.

Dislodge, twist and kick, twist and kick, throw. I thought, opening my eyes.

Without warning, I kicked my left hind leg as hard as I could, causing the mare to fall back onto her haunches. Using her as a platform at the same time, I was able to do a kind of diagonal backflip and drive my back hoof hard onto the crown of the pony holding my right foreleg. The stallion immediately fell, unconscious, to the ground. Kicking off the top of his head, I reversed my direction and kicked the mare holding my right hind leg across the face, this caused her to stumble back, but she wasn't out yet. It didn't matter, there was only one stallion left standing so, I picked him up, him losing grip on my foreleg in the process, and slammed him, headfirst, into the mare. I stood there triumphantly for a moment before returning to my current mission. I ran to the unmoving form of Lookout. Even though the fight only lasted 7.2528 seconds, he had already lost more blood than I thought he had left.

I sprinted into the home of Lavender and Starlight, without a care as to how they would react. I broke down the door to see the two of them, one being a white mare with light purple mane and tail, and the other was a magenta stallion with blue mane and tail. The both of them being unicorns. Unicorns equals magic, magic equals teleportation, teleportation is the fastest way to get to a healer or hospital of some sort. Or at least thats the way I planned it. What I hadn't accounted for was the hatred they felt towards me.

As soon as they saw me, the two of them began launching anything and everything in the room at me before they ran out of things. Then they began to use spells. Dear Celestia I hate unicorns. When I decided that they would finally listen, even if it was out of extreme exhaustion, I began to explain my current situation and my need for medical supplies.

"Listen you two, I'm pretty sure we can put aside our vendettas for each other long enough to save somepony's life! Doncha think?" I yelled at the two of them.

"...Fine, but we still don't trust you." Said Starlight, the husband as Lavender went about providing medical attention to Lookout.

"You know, I was sure that you were the cause for this. But after seeing those ponies out there nearly killed you, I have come to the conclusion that not even you are that retarded." He continued.

"No, this wasn't me and believe me, as much as I enjoyed watching those ponies beat up and nearly kill the only friend I've had since I came back, I want to stop this as bad as you do." I growled, shutting him up.

"Th-nothing is working! The wounds are to extensive, you will have to take him to a hospital." Said Lavender from the other room.

"Or to someone more talented in magic than the two of you combined." I hinted, already prepared for the upcoming fight.

"Who-oh no! Definitely not, we are not sending a monster to our daughter's doorstep!" Bellowed Starlight, taking a defensive stance.

"Listen! If he doesn't get proper medical attention soon, he will die! My only friend will die! I will do anything, and I mean anything, to prevent that!" I returned, preparing myself for a fight.

"STOP! THE BOTH OF YOU!" Yelled Lavender, Lookout being levitated in her purple magic aura.

Right on time.I thought, snickering internally.

"Listen, Starlight, we need to let this go for now, somepony's life is on the line and you are worried about a feud born of fear. Just let them go, our daughter can protect herself if he tries anything. But," She continued, turning to me, "nothing will be able to protect you if you so much as think about hurting my daughter. Understand?"

"Yes ma'm." I said, offering a mock salute as she levitated Lookout onto my back.

"Good, now go. Save your friend." She finished, offering a wave before teleporting me away.

Teleporting sucks. It takes a lot of concentration and energy, it nearly blinds you each time you use it, and you feel as if you had an out of body experience, which is not very pleasant. So when I was unexpectedly teleported five feet above a wooden set of stairs, while my friend was teleported onto the couch, don't blame me for being a little flustered and really angry.

"That mare! She will get what's coming to her!" I said, picking myself up from my new position at the bottom of the bed.

"W-who's there?!? Come out nice and slow, I'm a ferocious and terrifying dragon and I'm not afraid to eat ponies!" Came a childlike voice from a door at the back of the room.

"Right, whatever, do you know where Twilight Sparkle is kid? I need immediate medical attention." I said, walking to the limp body on the couch.

"Uh-I'll be right back!" He yelled as I heard a door open and close.

I looked at my friend, knowing that the kid wouldn't be back in time. Lookout had already lost too much blood, there was no way he could survive this. I walked to the nearest window and surveyed the area, tears hitting the windowsill as I watched crazy ponies ruthlessly kill many a pony out in the street. There seemed to be no place safe from this random act of slaughter. I began to think back to the ponies I had left in Bitsburg, Manehatten, Trottingham, all over the land who were most likely being murdered much like the ponies in this town were. It was madness, chaos and there was no end to it until everypony had killed each other.

I didn't particularly care about most of the ponies there, but with each kill, I felt my anger boil more intensely. It became too much as I watched a mother be brutally killed in front of her child. I bellowed out a sound that shouldn't have been possible for a pony to emit. A cry born of anger, sadness and hopelessness.

I could feel my body begin to change, a familiar sense of power welling up, changing my physical form. My white mane and tail being replaced with one of the darkest black. My coat, changing from its original smokey grey to a sickly white. My face losing its features and being overlain by a mask of bone, only letting my still purple eyes show, though now they shone with a slight purple aura about them. I felt a horn erupt from the mask, ending about a foot from my face, the same bone white as my mask. My stubs stretched and moved, eventually rupturing, casting forth large wings of bone whose membrane like span was as wide as I was long. I could feel ancient magics at work on my own magic wells, converting my aura to purple and if you watched for long enough, souls would come into view, distorted and warped by the magic that fed off their energy. Overall, my I had become exponentially bigger and stronger in a matter of 2.347 seconds, and now it was time for me to let out all of my pent up feelings on some crazy ponies.

I was about to leave when I heard the back door open again. The child's voice could also be heard, this time accompanied by another. This one seemed to be older and was definitely a mare. I stood facing the door, waiting for them to enter the room, but upon hearing nothing, I looked over my shoulder to see an admittedly pleasing sight. Twilight Sparkle was looking at me in awe, her face as white as a sheet, most of her body covered in blood. A baby dragon trembling behind her, metal pan in hand.

"Twilight, do you mind seeing if there is anything you can do for my friend there, he was hurt in my escape." I said, turning back to the door before opening it and exiting.

"T-twilight, who was that?" I heard the dragon ask.

"That Spike...was Death incarnate." Twilight said, fear evident in her words.

I shut the door behind me and walked out into town, directly towards the now crying filly. Each step was in slow motion, every movement of everypony around me seemed at half the normal speed of things. I could feel the ponies around me dying, some insane, others just defending themselves. I could feel the pegasus dive bombing me, the unicorn preparing to shoot a spell at my back and the earth ponies charging me from either side. I simply walked, a smug grin on my face.

There was a reason I hid my real name from ponies, there was a reason that no one saw my true form, why I hid under the guise of a normal pony.

No more, I am Death, and I am free! I thought, conjuring a scythe from out of no where and letting out a loud laugh as I prepared for battle.