Death in Equestria

by Ono-Matopoeia

Rating: everyone
Tags: King Sombra, Pinkie Pie, Slice of Life, Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other
Length: 5465

Three short stories about three ponies who have died and met the guide that takes them to the next step.

Like it says. This is a bit of somethin' somethin' I threw together.

Starring one Enbarr of the Flowing Mane from my story Lead Crown Factions, a trio of short stories that focus on three very different ponies during their final moments among the living. Don't check the tags if you don't want to be spoiled on the identity of one of them. ;)

I don't really have any plans on writing more on this line of thought, but I put it as Incomplete anyway, just in case.

Published 2013-12-29 01:20:04 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-13 23:13:07 UTC

Chapter 1

The sky burned as the alicorn sisters did battle with the lord and master of Equestria. Discord would not give up his claim to it so easily, and it was clear to all that the duo's magic, though strong beyond comprehension, was not enough to defeat the Draconequus. They would need something stronger if they wished to defeat him.

And as they did battle, the subjects of the creature that called himself king could do nothing but hide, avoiding stray blasts of magic.

One such subject, a Pegasus mare called Lightning Dancer, had not been quite quick enough to seek shelter when the battle started. She'd been struck with a bolt of lightning. Thrown by Discord and deflected by the Luna, the bolt had sheared off one of Lightning Dancer's wings, and left terrible burns all along the right side of her body. She lay in her sickbed for days, inching ever closer to death.

She would never see the sun rise on an Equestria free of Discord. She would never see the moon rise on a world where the alicorns were queens of the newly liberated land.

As the battle raged on, Lightning Dancer's worries and regrets suddenly began to fade away. She looked up, scanning the area. Her friend Soprano Petal sat asleep beside her. The unicorn mare had been awake for days tending to the wounded, using what rudimentary healing magic she'd scraped together over the years. She was a musician, not a medic, but she had done her best.

Finally, her eyes found what she was looking for. A large grey Pegasus mare, maybe the size of Celestia, walked towards her, radiating calm.

"Be at peace, Lightning Dancer." she said.

"Do I know you?" Lightning Dancer asked.

"No." The grey mare said. "But I know you."

Old stories her grandmother had taught her flooded into her mind. "Enbarr."

"Yes." The grey mare said.

"I didn't expect I would die this way." Lightning Dancer said.

"Very few ponies die in the time and place of their choosing." Enbarr said. "It is one of the great blessings of life that you not know what will come next."

"I was gonna join the Royal Guard. Be like Commander Hurricane and lead a squad of pegasus for the glory of Equestria, and Queen Celestia and Queen Luna."

"Yes, I know." Enbarr said.

"I don't suppose they'll have much need for a royal guard in the afterlife."

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know. It is my purpose to guide you to the next step. What awaits you beyond that is a question that only you can know the answer to."

"Can you at least tell me that it was worth it? That Discord will lose?" Lightning Dancer asked hopefully.

Enbarr was silent long enough for Lightning Dancer to realize that she didn't know, but finally she said, "Yes. Discord will fall and Celestia and Luna will rule over Equestria for time immemorial."

It was a lie, but it was a lie that Lightning Dancer was happy to pretend was truth. "Then I'm glad to have at least been here to see it start." She lay down her head and closed her eyes.

She opened them again, then climbed to her hooves and stretched her wings. "I'm ready."

Enbarr nodded. She turned and walked away without saying anything further. Lightning Dancer took one last look at the sky from her window, where the battle raged on. Queen Celestia and Queen Luna. That didn't quite have the right ring to it, she thought. Maybe something a bit less grandiose was in order.

Lightning Dancer shrugged and followed after Enbarr of the Flowing Mane.

==========================

"I was once a powerful wizard, you know."

Star Swirl the Bearded was dying. This was nothing new, Star Swirl had been dying for some time now. He was a very old pony. He'd extended his life with magic as best he could, but after a certain point a pony realizes the futility of staving off death and submits to the vagaries of time.

"Listen to your master when he speaks, Clover the Clever!" Star Swirl said sternly to Princess Platinum the fifth. The great-great-granddaughter of the princess of the unicorns had volunteered to perform the deathwatch for Star Swirl. He was a very learned pony. He and his student, Clover the Clever, had done a lot for the three kingdoms after they united, and she was nothing if not a dutiful princess, always willing to sacrifice for her subjects.

"I'm listening, Sir Star Swirl." said Platinum.

"Good, that's good. Now, you mustn't tell the princess that I'm dying, Clover. She'd only worry. Sweet little filly. Was just at her cute-ceañera, you know."

Star Swirl's powerful mind, legendary in its time, had become erratic in his dotage.

"Yes, Sir Star Swirl, I know." said Platinum.

"You weren't there, of course. You were away with her mother looking for the new land at the time. Gotta keep that foal Hurricane in his place. Callin' himself Commander like he's so high and mighty. I knew his sire, you know."

"Yes, Sir Star Swirl, I know." said Platinum.

"I was a powerful wizard in my time." Star Swirl said again. "Stood beside giants. Fought me a Draconequus. And that Ahuizotl creature. Called himself Ahuizotl. How you like that? Be like me calling myself Pony. "

Star Swirl sighed heavily. "Your master is a very old pony, Clover the Clever. He's not long for this world. Not long now before Enbarr of the Flowing Mane comes for me. You remember what I taught you about him?"

Platinum had heard the name before, but as a princess, she'd not been given texts on such morbid things as death. Such things would come later, her teachers had said. "Tell me again, Sir Star Swirl."

Star Swirl chuckled. "Foolish apprentice. If I had the energy I'd lay one upside your head for not payin' attention. Enbarr is the name of a pony. But also not. He's death, you see. He'll come and take me when I die. And he'll guide me to the next step. He knows my name, you see. He knows everypony's name. He won't be bothering with the Bearded this or Sir that. I'll just be Star Swirl again, like I was when I was just a colt."

"Where will your spirit go after Enbarr comes for you?" Platinum asked.

Star Swirl shook his head. "Read alot on the subject. Nopony really knows of course. Some of them religious types, they'll tell you if you're good you go to a place with clouds and what not. How you like that? Gotta spend my time afterwards with Pegasi? I don't think so! Mindless brutes, the lot of them. That Hurricane is the worst of the bunch. Silly foal. I knew his sire, you know."

Platinum nodded. "Yes, Sir Star Swirl, I know." She said again.

"I'm a bit tired, Clover the Clever. Be a good lass and watch over your master while he sleeps. Wake me when Enbarr comes." Star Swirl said as he closed his eyes for the last time.

"Of course, Sir Star Swirl."

Platinum sat and watched over Star Swirl as she had promised. Long hours passed and she was just about to nod off herself when she heard the sound of hooves in the corridor outside. She got up from her seat and walked to the door. She was just about to reach out with her magic to open it when the pony on the other side opened it for her.

A very large unicorn stallion with a grey coat entered the room ducking his head slightly so as to avoid the door frame. He focused on Star Swirl at first, but quickly became aware of Platinum's presence. He turned his head head and looked at her. His eyes were an extremely vivid blue.

"Princess Platinum." The stallion said.

Platinum, only slightly intimidated by his size, drew herself up as she stepped closer to the bed. "Are you Lord Enbarr of the Flowing Mane?"

The stallion, Enbarr, dipped his head in confirmation. "I am lord of no pony, but I am Enbarr."

Platinum looked from Enbarr to Star Swirl. "He wanted me to wake him when you came."

"Let him sleep." Enbarr said. "It will just be a little while longer."

Platinum returned to her seat. "Do you know what happens after we die?" She asked.

Enbarr shook his head. "It is my role to guide you to the next step. What lies beyond is a question that only you can know the answer to."

"Will he be happy, at least? He's been good to my people. Strong and valiant. I think he deserves that much."

"It is not my place to say what a pony deserves or doesn't." Enbarr said. "I am merely a guide."

"Do you know when you will come for me?" Platinum asked in a sudden spur of morbid curiosity.

Enbarr nodded. "I do, but I will not tell you if you ask. It is a great gift to not know the future. Treat it with the proper respect." He turned his head to Star Swirl. "It is time. Now sleep, Princess Platinum."

As Platinum fell into a deep slumber, Star Swirl awoke. With an energy he hadn't had since the first day he'd been apprenticed to his own master, he sprang out of bed and laughed. Then he scowled up at the massive unicorn. "About bucking time, you great lummox!" Old habits died much harder than old ponies, and Star Swirl had ever been a grumpy individual.

Enbarr smiled. "Forgive me my tardiness, Star Swirl. This is always a busy time of year for me."

"Well, let's not just sit around chatting, youngster." Star Swirl said, though he knew that Enbarr was far far older than he. "Do your duty and take me to what awaits."

"Of course, Star Swirl. Follow me."

As Enbarr left, Star Swirl lingered, regarding the sleeping Princess Platinum wth fondness. Now recognizing her as the fifth Platinum instead of his own long dead student, he marveled at how she looked just like her granddams. Family resemblance ran strong in that line. He placed an intangible kiss on her cheek, then turned and followed Enbarr out the door.

==========================

King Sombra, former ruler of the Crystal Empire, was dead. He knew this as surely as he knew the large grey unicorn stallion sitting across from him was Enbarr of the Flowing Mane.

"Our meeting is long in coming, Sombra." Enbarr said. "Have you anything to say before I guide you to the next step?"

Sombra grumbled. "It was my right to rule my country as I saw fit."

Enbarr shook his head. "Look to others for your moral validation, Sombra. I am merely a guide."

"Did I at least take that blasted pink princess with me?" Sombra asked.

"You did not. Your return was thwarted in its entirety. You came close to succeeding, but you failed to account for a mere dragonling named Spike."

Sombra sighed. "To be defeated by so mere a creature. Got sloppy. Left that shadow to its own devices. Thought I didn't need it."

Enbarr said nothing.

"Was the strongest unicorn there ever was." Sombra said wistfully. "Boosted by the Crystal Heart, I fought two alicorns. Two! Can you believe that? Star Swirl the Bearded couldn't say the same."

Enbarr dipped his head in confirmation. He had been there when Sombra fought the alicorn sisters. He was at every great battle.

"Pair of missionaries came by one time." Sombra said after a long pause. "I threw them in the dungeons, of course, but I kept one of them alive. He said something about a lake of fire. Gonna burn for eternity, am I?"

Enbarr shook his head. Most ponies asked him what awaited on the other side. His answer was always the same. "I don't know. It is my role to guide you to the next step. Nothing more. What awaits you is for you to discover."

Sombra thought about this for awhile. Enbarr waited patiently. This was going better than he thought it would. Sombra had been a raging egomaniac in life, but he was taking his death in stride.

"All right then." Sombra said finally. "Let's go."

Enbarr climbed to his hooves without saying a word and led Sombra away. Sombra did not tary, as many ponies did. He had nothing left worth remembering, anyway.

Author's Note

So there you have it. Lightning Dancer and Soprano Petal are OCs I created for the purposes of this story. Enbarr is also an OC.

As I'm sure you're well aware, Star Swirl and Sombra are not OCs. :)

Lunar Hem

My name is Lunar Hem and this is the story of how I died. It's not a terribly long story. You're not going to get a run-down of my backstory or a detailed analysis of why I do the things I do. It's just the story leading up to how I died. As the Danish prince said, "Report me and my cause aright to the misatisfied. The rest is silence."

I will not make excuses for my life. I was a thief by trade. I stole from other ponies. Sometimes ponies who deserved it. Usually ponies who didn't. Alot of ponies have probably suffered for my intervention, but I never cared. All that mattered was the next big score. I traveled all over Equestria, from Cloudsdale to Manehattan, working my trade. The polizia dogged me every step of the way, but I am a Ventasso Pegasus; I would not be so easily captured.

I had pulled off a job or two in Canterlot before. Never quite managed to work up the courage to try a job in the Royal Palace. They say Princess Celestia knows everything. I never believed it, of course, but we thieves are a superstitious bunch and the better part of valor is discretion. It's saved my life more than once. It would have saved it that night as well.

"Lunar, baby, darling, my love, my life, my reason for being, hear me out." My partner in crime, a rather audacious stallion named Crystal Measure, said as he followed me around the room. He was the go-to-pony for jobs in central Equestria. He was a very well connected pony; always seemed to know a pony who knew a pony who knew the mark.

I stopped and turned towards him. "I told you already, Picket, there's nothing in Canterlot Castle worth risking the Princess' wrath over." He'd always hated the nickname I had given him; Picket, because he was a fence. But he tolerated it; I was his best client after all.

"I bet I could prove you wrong with three words, Lunar." He said with a knowing smirk.

"Try me."

"The Platinum Crown."

I stared at him like he'd grown two heads. "You've actually got a buyer lined up for the Platinum Crown? The actual Platinum Crown?"

The Platinum Crown was nothing special. A relic of the Unicorn Kingdom, it was passed down from parent to child since the time of Princess Platinum, in whose honor the crown had been made. Officially those who wore it were royalty, prince or princess on equal footing with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. It was actually mostly a figurehead position, and the crown hadn't been worn since the incumbent, a foppish stallion named Blueblood, had worn it at his coronation.

But it was a unique artifact, filled with history and sentimental value. More than a few private collectors would pay handsomely for it.

"You bet yer britches, hot stuff. All I need is someone to retrieve it. If only I knew a pegasus in the business. Possibly a mare. Say, a Ventasso." Picket batted his fake eye-lashes at me, laying it on as thick as he could.

I sighed and asked, "How much are they offering?"

"That's the best part!" Picket said giddily. "They're offering five hundred!"

"You're joking." I said with shock. Five hundred million Bits was alot of scratch.

"Nooooooope." He said as he pranced around with glee. "So what do you say?"

"Fifty-fifty?" I asked. I didn't really need to; Crystal Measure was a very generous pony and always honored his agreements, but in our business it never hurt to be sure. Picket knew this and wasn't offended.

"Of course. Now let's work out a plan."

===========
It was night when I finally made it into the castle. Princess Luna was on the prowl but her attentions were focused on those of her subjects who lay abed, guarding their dreams from such threats as may find them, and wouldn't be looking for a waking thief. The guards were usually a bit more attentive, but I'm an old hoof at this. I timed my arrival in the Tower of Canterlot to coincide with shift changes.

"Who are you?" Someone asked all of a sudden.

I nearly jumped out of my skin. I could have sworn I'd been the only one here. I looked around. There was a patch of darkness in the corner, much deeper than the simple shadows The owner was shrouded in darkness. And I had thought I wouldn't need my night vision goggles.

"I'm one of the maids." I said, improvising. This was the first time this sort of thing ever happened. "Princess Luna sent me up here to retrieve something."

"Is that why you came in through the window?" The voice asked. "You know what I think? I think you're a spy."

The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows and my heart skipped a beat. It was Discord. Former ruler of Equestria, erstwhile prisoner of Canterlot gardens. After escaping he'd briefly taken up residence in Ponyville, a village a few miles south of Canterlot, before being sealed away again by Celestia's prize pupil. I forget her name. Shinelight Marble or something like that.

Rumor had it he'd been released again not too long ago, but I'd never believed it. More fool me, as my concentration was suddenly broken by being lifted into the air.

"Now what shall I do with you, my little pony?" Discord asked as he waved his lion's paw back and forth, causing me to float through the air.

"Discord." A new voice said in a "He better not be doing that" tone. A large grey pegasus mare had entered the room and was glaring at Discord.

Discord was suddenly the picture of innocence, his mismatched eyes growing incongruously large and a halo appearing over his head. "Enbarr, you're just in time. I was just helping this poor little pony get her bearing."

"Did you have anything to do with this?" the mare asked calmly.

"Absolutely not. No. Nu uh. Nyet. Nein. Maybe. A little. Look, what do you want from me, she was poking her nose around where it didn't belong. She's a thief, here to steal from our dearest Princess Celestia."

"I do not care about the activities of ponies before they come to me. It is not for me to make moral judgements, but I will draw the line at allowing you to tamper with my domain."

"You have the audacity to talk to me, Discord, the master of chaos, like that?" Discord reared up in an exaggerated manner, growing extremely large and surrounding himself with flames. It was all quite ridiculous. He clearly didn't take this Enbarr mare seriously.

Enbarr's eyes narrowed, clearly not appreciating Discord's frivolity. "You are interfering with my duties, Discord. Release that mare and begone." She didn't say "or else" but the threat was implicit. I have no idea what she could have done to Discord - According to legend he was stronger than Celestia and Luna put together - but clearly he didn't feel like taking his chances as he pouted, stuck out his tongue and disappeared in a flash of light. Without Discord's magic to hold me up I began to fall. I spread my wings to catch my fall, but they didn't seem to catch the air like they normally would and I hit the ground headfirst. Strangely, I felt no pain.

As I flopped down onto my back I just lay there for awhile, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

After recovering some sense I took a look at the mare who'd saved me. She was large, as tall as Princess Celestia at least, but more heavily built. Not an alicorn, just a pegasus. She looked awfully familiar, though I couldn't place her.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" I asked as a rolled over and moved to a sitting position.

The mare gave a sort of half shrug. "It is not impossible, though I do not make a point of socializing while on the job. My name is Enbarr of the Flowing Mane."

"But it doesn't." I said, the fact that this was Death, capital D and everything, being shoved to the back of my mind as a totally unimportant observation forced its way out of my muzzle.

She was taken aback by this. "What?"

"Your mane." I said. "It doesn't flow. It's all done up in a braid."

Enbarr smiled amusedly. "You know, I believe you may be the first person to take notice of that."

"It pays to be observant in my line of work." I said. "If you're not then...well...you know."

Enbarr nodded. "I have met many thieves. It is a dangerous career. Few live to old age."

We were both silent for a minute or two after that. I got the impression that Enbarr was waiting for me to say something.

She seemed like the kind of pony who was fine with waiting however long it took.

"I know you probably get asked this alot, but, what's waiting for me? You know. On the other side?"

As I expected she would, Enbarr was shaking her head before I even finished the sentence. "It is not for me to say what awaits you. I am merely a guide."

More silence.

On a whim, I quoted an old play, "'When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.' I haven't got anyone to mourn my passing."

"Crystal Measure will mourn you." Enbarr said matter-of-factly. "He loves you."

I snorted. "Crystal Measure loves what I can do for him. He tolerates me because I'm his best client, but I can assure you we aren't remotely close enough for him to love me, or I guess wouldn't be even if he weren't gay."

Another one of those half-shrugs. "Believe or don't." She said."When you are ready, I will guide you onwards."

I stared at Enbarr for maybe a minute, trying to guess what she was thinking, but she was clearly an old hoof at this. Her startlingly blue eyes gave away no hint of anything other than patience.

I finally broke down and asked, "You really think Picket - Crystal Measure that is - you really think he loves me? But he's gay!" And rather notoriously so at that; he had brazenly propositioned the groom at the royal wedding of Princess Cadance. It had been quite the scandal. Many of Canterlot's higher-ups had practically been out for blood, though the three Princesses seemed unanimous in finding the event utterly hilarious.

Enbarr nodded. "There are many different types of love, Lunar Hem. Crystal Measure treasured his time spent with you, though you may not have realized it. "

I thought about this for awhile. Picket had always been there for me, ready with a job, or a place to lay low while the polizia were after me. It never occurred to me that he was doing it for reasons other than good business. I chuckled. "I guess I can live with that." I said wryly as I climbed to my hooves. "Take me to what's next, guide."

Enbarr nodded, then turned and walked towards the door. I followed her, stopping for just a moment at the window. I could see into Canterlot from here, though it was a long way off I could easily pick out Crystal Measure's townhouse. I would miss him, and resolved to do better by him if ever given the chance.

Then I turned and followed Enbarr to face whatever fate awaited me next.

Author's Note

Just sorta threw this together. Didn't want to end the month without putting anything up. :P

Have no idea how to continue Lead Crown Factions. Probly be switching over to Dusk Shine, Timide and/or Vestige for now. Finish LCF later.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed Lunar Hem's short tale. I hope Capn_Chryssalid won't begrudge me the reference to his excellent work. ;)

Romy Pie

Author's Note

Well, I think you saw this coming.

Shorter than most other entries, but that's all right. I think I've conveyed the information I need for the moment. In the end it was inevitable that we'd get here. Maybe in the next installment of ONAY we'll find out the details. =O

Or maybe not. One thing's for sure, it won't be for a while yet. I've nothing like a schedule.

Romy Pie

Romulus di ser Ignazio da Murgese was not, by most standards, a very "Romulus di ser Ignazio da Murgese" kind of pony.

Romulus di ser Ignazio da Murgese was a name for a pony with poise and breeding. A pony who was raised by old money that looked down his long nose at other ponies and considered himself above them all.

While it can be honestly said that Romulus di ser Ignazio da Murgese possessed poise and breeding - after all, his family was one of the wealthiest in all Equestria - it was not something especially evident in him, as he avoided that life and that ideal. But it was true that Romulus di ser Ignazio da Murgese had never looked down his nose at anyone, apart from the normal way in which one looks down one's nose.

Because Romulus di ser Ignazio da Murgese knew in his heart of hearts that he was not that kind of pony. His friends called him Romy Pie, after his old Granny Pie on his mother's side, because he was very much a "Romy Pie" kind of pony. He was the kind of pony who loved to see other ponies smile. The kind who would go above and beyond the call of duty to turn a sad frown upside down. Yes, sometimes he could be too aggressive in his attempts - after all sometimes, ponies just want to be left alone - but he had always done his best to avoid annoying anyone. At least more than necessary. Well, usually. Well, quite often. Look, the point is, he does his best and that's all you can really ask of a pony.

His friends did not know about his past; they never thought to ask. And if his love of parties caused him to spend more money than can be found in the salary of an apprentice baker, they tended to chalk it up to Romy Pie being Romy Pie. It was a catch-all phrase that could be used to dismiss his eccentricities, and it was one that found itself in use quite often.

Deciding to come to Ponyville was the best decision of Romy Pie's life, if you had asked Romy Pie.

He had many friends, but few were as close as those he had gained on the day of the Tenth Centennial Harvest Moon Festival. Dusk Shine, Kingston Black, Prism Blitz, Timide and last but certainly not least, Vestige.

The others, save Dusk Shine who was newly arrived from Canterlot at the time, had lived in Ponyville for many years and knew eachother casually, but were not really friends, with the exception of Timide and Prism Blitz, who had grown up together in Cloudsdale.

It was not until the Harvest Moon Festival when Tyrant Helios broke the thousand year old seal that had been placed upon him that the sextet had come together (if reluctantly on Dusk Shine's part), and discovered the Elements of Harmony, which they used to defeat Tyrant Helios, rescue the long lost Prince Apollo, free Princess Artemis from her imprisonment by the former and earn themselves commendations from the newly reunited royal siblings and a shiny stained glass window in the royal castle at Canterlot. Not bad for a day's work.

On this particular day, Romy wasn't quite sure what had happened, but he was sure things would work themselves out. Lots of ponies were screaming and his friends were wrestling for some reason, and he was about to join in - roughhousing was always fun - when he saw a pony he had never seen before and his brain defaulted to his usual reaction.

"Hi there!" He said excitedly as the large stallion walked up to him. He was an earth pony. Very large, bigger than Princess Artemis. "I've never seen you before and I know everypony in Ponyville what's your name I'll get my friends together and throw an officially official Welcome To Ponyville party and we'll get to know you and become good friends just like when Dusk Shine came to live here from Canterlot and now we're the bestest of best friends!" Romy stopped and took a deep breath, as he was running rather low on oxygen. His wide grin never left his cheerful face.

The stallion merely stood there, looking down at Romy with a hint of confusion. The stallion had met a great many ponies in his time, but there was no pony in Equestria quite like Romy Pie.

"I'm afraid I'm just passing through." he said. "I have a very busy schedule and am just dropping by Ponyville for an appointment."

Romy's grin grew, if anything, wider as his restless energy got the better of him and he began to bounce a circle around the new pony in town. "Is it an appointment with Mayor Stallion because he's always really busy and never has time for parties and is a big old meany head because when I tried to throw a One Year Since You've Been Elected party for him after he beat Mayor Mare in the election and he was really angry with me and I don't know why but I think it might be because I threw it in his house while he was asleep and maybe forgot to tell him about it before I did it so maybe he's not really a meany head but I still say it was very rude of him to kick us all out right in the middle of a party by the way you didn't tell me your name."

The grey stallion's look on confusion deepened as he tried to decipher some sort of thought-line in Romy's words. The pink pony talked a mile a minute, rarely pausing for breath. "My name is Enbarr."

Romy continued to bounce excitedly around him. "That's funny because I saw a book in Dusk Shine's library the other day that was talking about a pony called Enbarr but I doubt it was you because that Enbarr is called Enbarr of the Flowing Mane and he's supposed to come for you when you die and-" Romy stopped cold as his memory of what had happened returned and realization hit him.

"Then you know." Enbarr said calmly. He seemed to do a lot of things calmly.

"Does that mean that..." Romy began, but he couldn't finish his sentence. It didn't bear thinking about. He knew the answer anyway.

"It does." Enbarr said, confirming Romy's suspicions.

"So what happens now?" Romy asked, drooping slightly.

"Now I take you to the next step." Enbarr said.

"Will there be parties?"

Enbarr remained as stone-faced as ever as he nodded. "Yes, there will be lots of parties."

Romy wasn't stupid. He recognized a lie when he heard one, but he was okay with that. He thought Enbarr probably didn't know either.

Enbarr continued. "If you wish, you can wait up for your friends. They'll be along in hardly any time at all. A few decades on the outside."

"That's an awfully long time." Romy said.

"Relatively speaking it's hardly any time at all." Enbarr said.

"It was an accident, you know." Romy said sorrowfully.

"I know." Enbarr said as he turned to leave. Romy followed after him. There was no point in staying in Ponyville, but he wasn't planning on going all the way. He was sure that Enbarr would find him a place to wait until he could be reunited with the guys, then they could all make the journey together.