Reaper

Death. A thing that is hated by all races of creatures. Also known as “The Grim Reaper” and “The Angel Of Dark And Light”. It is said that Death takes the souls of those who recently died and shows them to the shining gates of Elysium. But actually, Death isn’t like what the stories and drawings depict of him. He’s actually a gentle and nice spirit that makes the spirits of the recently deceased feel better before he shows them to Elysium’s gates. How do I know this you might ask? Well… I’m Death. No I’m not an aggressive being who doesn’t care about how a soul feels, on the contrary I was once a soul myself before I was offered the job. The only somewhat good thing about it, though, is the fact that it’s not that boring but even the not boring part can be pretty depressing. This isn’t some explosive adventure through Equestria or me realizing I don’t have to do my job. This is simply one normal day for me.

My workdays are usually… slow if it’s the right word. Usually because of the many souls I have to get to Elysium. Every day and every night I work, gathering the souls of stallion, mare and foal alike and helping them get peace. But today was one of the slowest days I’ve had. Where was I? I was at my favorite place to go on a day like this. The Ponyville Cemetery. Yes weird things happen in this town but it has a certain…. appeal to me. Maybe it’s the fact that this was once my home town or maybe I like being amongst others that can see me. The sisters can see me but it isn’t the same to me. They only talk to me to comfort me during days where I think I want to quit my job and declare my unfinished work done. But I couldn’t otherwise I was damned to walk Equestria for an eternity as a ghost.

If you were a ghost or one of the royal sisters, you could see me in my cloak that was black as oil with its hood mostly covering my head. My fur was once colorful, but now it’s as grey as stone. My mane and tail matched my fur. My eyes were a shade of navy blue, the only color on my body. But what I looked like didn’t make spirits afraid of me when I approached. It was my scythe that scared them. It was long with a wooden handle, hoof carved from a two thousand year old oak and at the tip of it was a long razor sharp blade, chipped a bit and it curved like Luna’s beautiful crescent moon. In my long career I have never had to use this blade on anypony except for very rare occasions. But I also had a special relic that was given to me for my career. It was a small circular relic I held around my neck called “Cheia De La Ceruri” or when translated from Roneighian “The Key To The Heavens”. It was a golden relic that was shaped like a pony’s skull, two small rubies for its eyes. I wore it on a rope around my neck to prevent it from leaving my sight. After I spent a few hours in front of my old grave I turned as my duty called for me. I heard the familiar sound of a slight ringing sound and recognized it as somepony had recently died. Okay… let’s get this over with. I thought to myself as I picked my scythe up with my teeth and placed it over my back. I then reached into my robe and pulled out a special list that gave me the name of those who had just died or are possibly going to die. I read the top, for it had the most recent names and I saw a familiar name.

“Granny Smith Apple. So, it’s another visit to Sweet Apple Acres.” I said to myself in my airy voice. I then felt my shoulders tingle and saw my wings open up. I was once a pegasus with proud feathery wings. Now, they’ve became nothing but bones that use a certain type of magic to make me fly. With a few flaps, I began to hover off the ground. With a few more, I took into the air and flew out of the cemetery. I enjoyed flying every now and then. The feeling of the wind blowing through my cloak was nice. I looked down and saw the busy town of Ponyville. I missed when I used to live there. Everypony was nice to you and they’d love to lend you a hoof. But it usually had something bad happen to it every few weeks. I died from…. actually I don’t remember what I died from. It’s been so long since it happened but I’ve seen it grow so much since my departure but to see the final member of the original founders pass…. it never lessens my heart nor make my job easier. After passing the town, I flew over a dirt path that lead to Sweet Apple Acres. I came here once for two souls, husband and wife. The wife died after having her third child due to a rare sickness and the father, he died from a Timberwolf attack.

Why does life need to be cruel for this family? First the children lose their parents. But soon… they’ll lose the last family member they’ll have here. I thought sadly as I soon saw the large red barn signaling I was there. Sweet Apple Acres was a beautiful place with all the apples it grows. I got near an orchard and was so tempted to pluck an apple but I slapped my hoof back for even trying to make myself happy. I didn’t deserve it…. not now while this family mourned. I slipped in and saw that the three siblings were crying their eyes out again. I then moved upstairs and saw the old green mare merely lying where she was peacefully. Her wrinkled green fur was pale without life, her mane was in snowy white and was place in a bun. And her eyes were closed for I knew how she died. Her heart stopped beating in her sleep. A way to die I’ve seen many times.

I hate seeing ponies do this. I thought as I waved my thin hoof, making it give off a bright light for a second. I then watched as the mare’s spiritual body got up from where her physical body laid and yawned. She opened her eyes, revealing them to be a bright but beautiful shade of orange.

“What in tarnation?”

“Granny Smith. It is time.” I told her in a deep voice that echoed a little.

“Shucks Ah’m barely one hundred sugar.” She joked a little causing me to smile, something I’ve rarely done during trips like this.

“Granny Smith, before you go, would you like to see your grandchildren one more time?” I asked her.

“Y-Yes please. It’ll be a quick shake of mah wrinkly flank and then we can go.” She told me. She turned to her grandchildren and walked over to them.

“W-Why did ya’ have to leave us Granny? First Ma’, then Pa’, know it’s you.” The orange mare of the group sobbed. I knew it must have taken every ounce of her willpower not to cry at the sight of her granddaughter broken and sobbing over her dead body. I couldn’t say I blamed them but she was going to a better place and one day they all would join her.

“Don’t worry Applejack. One day, we’ll all be together. You with yer’ brother and sister, yer Ma’ and Pa’, and me and yer’ grandpappy.” She said with a small smile as she shedded a small tear. She then turned back to me and I saw the sadness in her eyes.

“A-Alright. Ah’m ready.” She told me. I then grabbed my relic, took it off my neck and held it in the air.

“Zei de mai sus, vă rugăm să-mi dea permisiunea pentru a permite această intrare ponei la porțile de Elysium. Vă rugăm să permiteți-mi să aduc pace ei cu familia ei, care sunt în așteptare pentru ei în ceruri.” I chanted in Roneighian. Soon after a portal opened up and it shone a beautiful white light that only me and Granny Smith would be able to see.

“Well Ah guess this is mah stop.” She told me as she trotted towards the slight with a certain strut about her. As soon as she stepped through the door it vanished in a flash. I sighed when it vanished as I left the farm with only one thought going through my head. One down…. a billion more to go.