//-------------------------------------------------------// The Beach -by AlphaPinkie- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Beach //-------------------------------------------------------// The Beach “Where am I?” She thought to herself as she awoke in such a melancholy place. This place was a beach, and this beach was filled with gray sand whilst being overcast by a dim sky and many clouds. The temperature was cool, and the breeze made it slightly cooler. This breeze brought in the typical smells of the ocean, but there was a hint of something not so grand in it. A smell she had smelled before, it smelled of death. No, this was not the deathly odor one would find from a decaying body, it was more subtle. It smelled like the essence of death, rather than decay. The water that made up the ocean was dark, and the only thing you could see on its surface was the reflection of your face. This face was still Pinkie’s, but it seemed slightly distorted and twisted. The water itself smelled less of salt and fish that one would detect in a typical Equestrian ocean, no, this ocean smelled of nothingness. She attempted to stick her hoof in, and while on the surface it appeared to be water, it didn’t feel like it. It felt as if she were sticking her hoof into sludge. She quickly brought back her hoof, and backed up. The beach was dead silent other than her ripping her foot from the ocean’s cold grasp. Pinkamena looked behind her, only to see a dense forest. This forest seemed to be pitch black beyond the tree line. To her sides was beachfront as far as the eye could see. “Am I dreaming?” She quietly thought to herself as she sat down on the sand. She tried to remember what she had been doing yesterday, but memory was not on her side as she could not think of anything that has happened to her. She continued looking around, hoping somepony would come to her aid when she needed it most. She waited for hours, and no one came to her aid. During this time the beach was completely silent. She soon arose, and started walking northward along the beach, hoping she would find someone to assist her. Every hoofstep that touched the sand, she became that much more weary. The air of this place was wearing on her, and although she had walked only one kilometer, she felt like she walked twenty. The sand was cold as well, and it felt like her hooves were freezing over. She attempted to start galloping away, she thought that might ease the cold. No, she couldn’t run. A few steps, and she was out of breath, and collapsed onto the sand. As she lay there, she realized that the sand was quite soft. She would have used the material for a bed if she had been given the chance. She let out a loud yawn, and began to drift off to sleep. She fought it at first, knowing that falling asleep in this sand would be the death of her. Soon though, she couldn’t help it, she was so tired from her walking and galloping that she needed to sleep. So she did. Once she woke up, she was surprised to be in the exact same location. Although, she was freezing cold, and could hardly move. There was also something else that was quite concerning. It felt as if she was sinking into the sand. Not like how would sink into quicksand, no, this was a much slower process. It was comfortable though, as if she was sliding through a mess of blankets. As she continued to sink, she felt something warm, it was something holding out its hand to Pinkamena. She grabbed it, and the creature pulled her up. The creature that pulled her up was strange looking. It was wearing black robes, black boots, and black gloves to cover its bony hands. It also carried a massive scythe on its back. “Thank you.” Pinkamena said greatfully. The creature remained silent. “What’s your name?” The creature remained silent. “Well, bye then.” Pinkamena said somewhat uncomfortably. She began to walk away, but the creature stopped her. It looked at her, and adjusted its mask before saying something to her in a very raspy tone. No words were spoken though. It was all telepathic. “I am death. You are in limbo. I am to guide you to your afterlife. Whether that be heaven or hell, is to be decided by the law.” “Wait, I’m dead?” Asked Pinkamena, shocked by this news. “Yes. Now please, come with me. There are other souls waiting to be delivered.” “No.” She said calmly, as she walked towards the ocean. “You can not refuse this. You have had your life, and now you must come with me.” “I can’t be dead!” She shouted. “I don’t remember anything…” “I do not know how you died, all I know is that you died. Now please, come with me. I will not harm you.” He extended his hand. Pinkamena refused it. “I want a chance to win back my life.” She said, turning her back on death. “It does not work that way.” Death took out his scythe. “Come with me.” “I will not go with you!” Pinkamena kept her back turned towards death. She was trying to sound strong, but she was crying. She was dead, she knew she was dead now. With that, she knew she was probably never going to see her friends again, or her family, or anything she loved about her life. “Am I going to paradise?” She asked, looking back with tears staining her face. “I do not know. You must still be judged.” Pinkamena took a deep breath. “What will it take to send me back to Equestria.” “Omnipotence.” Death said. “How can I become omnipotent?” Pinkamena asked. “You can’t.” Death replied as he grabbed Pinkamena by the hoof. She began to cry again as she felt the cold grasp of death touch her. Soon there were other ponies, and bipedal creatures in front, and behind Pinkamena. They began walking through the dark forest. This would be the last time Pinkamena would ever be near Equestria.