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                        Ray of Hope                        
                         -by rsms-                         
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                       Introduction                        
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Introduction
I am death, but I am just doing my job. Do not blame me.
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I have the eye that can watch anypony's activity, really. The fact that I have been given this job is just simply, well, let's put it that I am just doing my job. I take away ponies, whilst my good friend Life makes new ones. We do it every second,of every minute, of every hour, day, week, year, century, millenia, era's, finally. Though it may sound like not an easy job, it is actually very simple. You see, at first, we were built like machines, producing life and death constantly. But then, the princesses realised that life was overpopulating some areas, and that death was destroying whole villages, and even towns. Thus, Celestia and Luna gave us expression and speech, and so, we could've now communicate, and express feelings. This is where I could also transform into a pony and talk to others. It was just simply amazing. Peace pervaded for a millenia. But, then, something terrible happened. Something that no one expected. A nuclear and information war between the Zebra Nation and Equestria. I was astonished. I had to take away so much lives in a week. It was close to 5 million. I cried. For the first time ever, I was actually sad. It was probably the worst day of my life.
For the next 500 years, I had to take in more lives as to the radiation poisoning. Then, I have seen Life send a newborn foal, whose name he decided would be Centa. At first, I always saw him do his job: Make the mare pregnant, name the foal in 9 months, and that's it, done. "I think there will be something special about this foal", Life said to me once, as she looked at Centa's mother, Blue Ivy, "I think this foal will change the course of history."  
"How do you know that, you can't be sure, right ?", I asked with doubt in my eyes.  
"Well, I do not really predict future, you know, but I think this future mare will be as brave as a thistle surviving the winter without sleeping", Life whispered.  
"Well, if you think so, then... it is your thoughts... I cannot read you mind.", I said.  
"Death", he said, "Let's not argue on this matter. It is just a silly thought, heh", Life chuckled. But of what he said, was actually meaningful, and, I also has a feeling, but a distorted one, that this foal will grow into something big in the Trottingham underground. It may defeat enemies, and may lose a couple bets, fights, battles. It may just be a normal mare in the underground, but it would probably be very special inside. I hoped for her, and I hoped that I was right. I was even a bit happy.

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                  Chapter I: Early Stages                  
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Chapter I: Early Stages
Her first steps, her first words, it was gorgeous!
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When Centa was born, I could not get my eyes off of her. It was such a moment for me. But, in fact, I did not know I am so excited for birth of some foal who's ancestors luckily survived the nuclear fallout. In fact, when Life asked what I was doing I rolled my eyes off of her, and proclaimed, "N-nothing. Just looking at this worthless foal".
"Remember what I said? I said that she would grow to be special", Life said a sentence which was very hard to reply to, thus, I did not. But, when we stopped talking for a minute or so, I looked at Centa in her mothers' hooves. She was beautiful, in a sense. Though I had some other tasks to do, I still couldn't get my eyes off that foal. She was special, and I knew it.
In a year time, she grew up and started walking, and even trotting. It was gorgeous! I've never been so interested in a pony being before!
After she has started walking and trotting aimlessly, her father, unfortunetley, has lead his way into my hooves. It happened all in 3 seconds. 3 short seconds. As he was a hunter for mutant animals in the undergrounds and metro, it was a very dangerous job, but he was considered to be the best one around. But, on one hunt for the "Dark Eagle", he got mauled by a Kimra, a leopard-like mutant with sharp teeth and giant claws. And in just 3 seconds, he was killed by the savage. Blue Ivy (Centas's mother) has been grief for 4 consecutive weeks, until drowning in obsession with drugs and sex.
It was terrible to see Centa's mother under the influence of cocaine whilst at home, shouting the maid, calling her a bitch and a right-winged cunt. Soon after, Blue Ivy has gotten a rehab on drug obsession, and has been cured of it. When she has returned, the maid was crying of happiness and Centa said, "Mom!". It was the first thing that Centa said, and she said it on repeat like a broken record for the rest of the day, until she went to sleep, with a smile on her face.
The rest of the early childhood of Centa just consisted of eating, sleeping, and aimlessly walking left and right on the metal floor. It was nothing much, but it was a pleasure to see it.
"Still obsessed with her, eh?", Life said once.
"Sh-shut up! I'm not!", I shouted with anger.
"For fuck's sake! Calm down!", Life said calmly, "You can watch her any time you want, just do your job, and everything will be fine". I have followed that advice well and clearly.
The only time I had to see Centa was just 4 hours. It seems to be long, but it just cuts for only 5 minutes for me. Time here, you see, is faster, thus I have little time to see the foal. But I was still happy. She was speaking and walking, and it was her freedom...