Reaper Mare

Once again, Applejack found herself marching for Twilight's house, wondering why she even bothered dying. It wasn't like much in her daily routine had changed. Granted, she returned from a different place, but she always found herself wandering Ponyville during the day.

She hoped Twilight would be able to help her find another Element of Honesty. The unicorn, despite being fairly new to Ponyville, had managed to make a lot of connections and had an uncanny ability to read ponies. She seemed to know what was going on behind a pony's eyes and could learn a great deal about their true nature in only a few moments. Not to mention, she had garnered a great deal of respect as the Bearer of Magic. Ponies were more willing to work with her.

Unfortunately, neither Twilight nor Spike were home. Applejack sat down, at a loss as to what to do next. True, Twilight could have been out visiting, but it also made sense that she would have been called to Canterlot, what with the rapidly-approaching Auditor. She didn't think it was practical to sit and wait for the unicorn to return as there was no telling when that would occur. Her mission was on a tight schedule, and she needed Twilight's help.

She heard the sound of many hooves and looked up to see a group of ponies marching for the library, with Twilight at the head.

“Well, how do ya like that?” She asked herself. Instead of searching for her friend, Twilight came to her.

As the crowd approached, she could see why Twilight had attracted such an audience. The mare was covered in specialized gadgetry. There was the spook-spotting glasses, which had been upgraded with more widgets, the purpose of which was lost on the Reaper, than reasonably necessary. A pair of headphones that were perched over her ears with a small microphone jutting from a rig on her chest. Across her back was a massive magical battery, powering everything attached to her.

She looked like she hadn't slept properly in days. Her mane and coat were a mess of matted hair, and her body twitched oddly.

Applejack could hear the mutters of the group around her friend, rumors that the pony had finally lost her mind under the stress of being a Bearer, the Princess' student, and the recent tragedies of her life. Twilight seemed to ignore the speech of the others as she continued her search.

Finally, she turned and noticed Applejack sitting by her front door. “There you are,” she stated, making a bee-line for the Reaper. “I've been looking all over for you. I got my Oscilloscope back from Vinyl and I'm ready for more experiments. I need you to speak into the microphone so that I can gauge the frequency you're speaking in and adjust the headphones so that I can hear you. But, I also have something very important that I need to speak with you about.” She raised her foreleg to eye-level, bringing the Oscilloscope into view.

“Alright,” Applejack said. “Pony Pepper Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers.”

Twilight nodded, “Looks like you're speaking in the frequency of nine-point-eight hertz. I'll adjust accordingly.” She fiddled with some knobs and switches on her earphones and gave a second nod. “Let's do it again to make sure I've made all of the necessary adjustments.”

Applejack leaned into the microphone. “How's this?”

The unicorn gave a startled yelp as she backed up a pace. “Not so loud next time.”

“Sorry.”

“It's okay. Let's go inside so we can have,” she cast a murderous glance over her shoulder, “some privacy.”

They entered the library, Twilight unnecessarily holding the door for the Reaper. Inside, it was quieter, but ponies kept trying to look through the windows. With a flick of her head, Twilight closed the curtains.

“I wanted to bring something up,” Twilight announced without preamble. “Our friends are hurting. Pinkie hasn't been seen in days and Fluttershy seems lost. I want to bring your lingering to their attention, so that they'll know you haven't truly left. However, I'm conflicted. The knowledge that you are still watching over us would bring them some comfort, but the problem is that I don't know how they would take knowing that you haven't found peace.”

Applejack nodded, remembering something that her father had once told her. “Ignorance is bliss.”

Twilight nodded. “I understand. I'm not happy about it, but it's for the best, I suppose.” Going to her desk, she pulled out several files. “I've been interviewing some potential candidates that might work as an Element of Honesty. I think you'll like these.”

The folders held the pictures and brief bios of four different ponies. She had met one of them and knew the others by reputation.

“Big Mac ain't a possibility, Twi.” Applejack drawled. “Surely ya heard?”

“No, I haven't.”

She drew a deep breath. “Sweet Apple Acres got sold. Mac and Bloom don't live here no more. They moved on to Manehatten for a construction job.”

Twilight's ears wilted, “Oh, I'm so sorry.” With a hoof, she pulled Big Mac's folder away.

“Ain't much you could've done about it, at any rate.” Applejack replied. “What say we get on the rest of these?s We're on a short schedule.”

Twilight cocked her head. “I've been meaning to ask about that. I know something is coming. Princess Celestia insinuated as much when we last spoke. I can't figure out what it might be.”

“Believe me, Twi, ya don't wanna know. Just trust me when I say things are gonna change around here.”

“What kind of change,” Twilight inquired.

“Ever heard of the Four Ponies of the Apocalypse?”

Twilight sat straight, “You mean they actually exist.”

“Eeyup. Death, my employer, is one of 'em. They're gonna be poppin' up here soon.”

“I...I should warn everypony.”

Applejack shook her head. “Nope. That's the exact opposite of what ya oughta do. Ah want ya to keep this quiet. They ain't gonna hurt anypony and all we're gonna do is go to the palace, have a talk with the Princesses, and be on our way. That's all.”

“Wait...you're going to see the Princesses? Oh sweet Celestia, you're not gonna kill them, are you? I need to warn them.”

“Hold yer horses, Twi. All Ah mean is whatever has Celestia and Luna up in arms has Death and his brothers spooked as well. There's gonna be a big meetin' concernin' all of this, soon as Ah can get everythin' set up.”

Twilight seemed to settle down a little. “I don't think I like the idea of the Harbingers of Doom paying us a social call.”

“They don't like it any more than you, believe me.” Applejack rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the folders. “Ah like Cheerilee and Octavia. Let's focus on them.”

Twilight retrieved the folders and stored them away. “Alright. We need to get together with them and have an interview. I'd like you there so that you can see what they're like when they're not in the spotlight. I've always considered myself a decent judge of character, but you would know better than most.”

Applejack couldn't help but agree, especially when it came to her own element. “Alright, but Ah think ya'll should leave them doodads behind. Ponies ain't gonna take you seriously if ya'll are wanderin' around looking like somethin' from a Sci-fi book.”

Twilight was taken back. “But, how will I be able to tell if you're there?”

Applejack scoffed. “Ya'll can always come back and get my say. There's nothing stoppin' ya from that. Besides, Ah don't want everypony knowin' I'm still hangin' around. Ah don't think it would do well for everypony's state of mind to know that there's a creature who can take their lives on a whim wanderin' the streets.”

Twilight nodded. “I see where you're coming from. I'll hold my tongue, but we still need to help our friends. They're in a sorry state, Applejack.”

“Ah understand, Twi. Really, Ah do, but what kinda state they gonna be in when they find out about my lingerin'? Ah mean, one of their best friends, who has, they're convinced, moved on, is still hangin' around and watchin' their misery.”

“We have to do something.” Twilight asserted. “They're suffering.”

“And we will,” Applejack assured her. “We just gotta wait for a good time to do it. Ah'm sorry, Twi, but Ah don't need ponies keepin' an eye out for me every time I make the Mortal Plain. Best to just keep it like it is.”

“And what happens when another of our friends tries something like Dash did?” The unicorn challenged. “What happens the next time I have to go galloping through the night because somepony has slit open their forelegs or downed the contents of their medicine cabinets?”

“Ah wanna help in some kinda way.”

“Then let me tell them.”

“And what'll that do? 'Oh, hey girls. Y'know our friend, the one we were all convinced had moved on and would want us to do the same? Yeah, she sold her soul into slavery to Death itself to watch over us.' Yeah, that'll go over real well.”

“What do you want me to tell them?”

“Nothing!” Applejack snapped, frustrated that Twilight couldn't see that she had their best interests at heart.

“That's not acceptable. We've already seen what could happen with that.”

“Dash blamed herself from my death. She was unstable. She shouldn't have been let out of the hospital to begin with.”

Twilight sighed. “Luna's investigation found that Doctor Script felt Rainbow was as she seemed, stable, but grieving. She was supposed to return for therapy twice a week.”

Applejack groaned and facehoofed. “Shoulda just moved on. Ah wouldn't have to deal with this mess if Ah'd just moved on.” After a moment of thinking, she locked gazes with Twilight. “Say nothin' to them, ya hear? Ah'll take care of this. In the meantime, Ah have somethin' for you to do. Ah need ya to get with Cheerilee and Octavia and set dates for an interview. Invite them to tea or somethin', Ah don't care. Leave a note on your calender where Ah can see it. Have the interviews here on those dates and times, Ah'll be here.”

Startled by the Reaper's sudden change in mood and tone, Twilight didn't know what to do other than nod. “Okay.”

“Good. Don't let them know we're interviewin' for a new Element Bearer. You're just regular Twilight Sparkle drinkin' regular tea with her regular friends and hopin' to catch up after a difficult couple o' months. Get 'em here and keep 'em talkin'. Ah'll take care of everythin' else.”

“Okay.”

With a huff, Applejack turned and left. Out on the street, she began to mutter to herself, cursing Death, and herself, and the Griffon bandits that put her in this mess. For a moment, she seriously considered going to Death and telling him she wanted out, but she couldn't. She had given her word to look after and protect her friends, even from beyond the grave. Death, Twilight, and even the Princesses were depending on her to protect them from the Auditor. It was quite a load to put on a single simple farm pony.

She paused for a moment. Worrying over all she had to do would only make the task seem larger and not actually get anything done. She needed to break everything down into simple objectives and follow them step-by-step. That's how she handled her work on the farm when she had a long list of chores to tend to, and it always worked.

She spotted the hospital just down the street. “Since Ah'm already headin' in that direction, Ah might as well.”

She resolved to tell Dash what the Pegasus wanted to hear. It wouldn't be easy, but it was for the best. How she was going to do it, however, she had no idea.