My Little Psyche: Journey of the Soul

Friendship. Many Equestrians would have you believe that Friendship is the strongest magic there is. And occasionally seeing the current wielders of the Elements of Harmony in action, I could see why. But the “strongest magic there is?” I beg to differ. Even the Elements of Harmony would not be able to stave off Death forever. No matter how kind, loyal, honest, or generous you are—no matter how much laughter you have in your life or how much magical talent you possess, Death comes to everypony eventually.

But...this is not to say such things have no value. In fact, such things are what make Life so special in the first place—something the First Alicorns were trying to teach us so long ago when they created Death in the first place. Something I've been beginning to understand more and more as of late.

And right before my eyes stood the embodiment of one of those oh-so-precious Elements that make Life so special: Fluttershy. The Element of Kindness.

When she first became aware of my presence, she shrunk back a little, letting out a small squeak of surprise, and perhaps terror, at the sight of me. I made sure I wasn't in my cloak or wielding my scythe before engaging her in conversation.

“Hello.”

She hid her face behind her flowing pink mane, uttering a rather meek acknowledgment in return.

“Do not be afraid, Fluttershy. I mean you no harm.”

She took a couple steps back in response. Yes, Psyche. Bring up the topic of harming her. That'll make her less afraid of you!

“Maybe I should just go...”

I turned away from her to find that Angel, the bunny I had spotted in the bush, had come out into the open and was eying me carefully.

“Oh, Angel! There you are!” Fluttershy exclaimed, forgetting her previous shyness as she walked right up beside me. “I've been looking all over for you, you silly rabbit!”

The bunny continued to stare at me awkwardly.

“I think he likes you!” Fluttershy informed me, smiling brightly before quickly looking away. “I-I... Um... I'm sorry... I don't believe we've met before... Do you live here? In the forest?”

I let out a sigh of relief. Good. I didn't completely scare her off. “No. I'm from Ponyville. I just...keep to myself a lot, that's all.”

“Then what are you doing all the way out here? The forest is pretty dangerous, you know...”

I raised an eyebrow at how ironic such a statement was. Especially directed towards a Reaper of all ponies.

“I know. But I must find Zecora. It's very important.” Shit! Goddamnit, Psyche! Why can't you just keep your big muzzle shut!

“Zecora?” Fluttershy asked. “I know where she is. I can bring you there. I mean, if you want...”

“Oh, no! That won't be necessary! But uh...would you mind pointing me in her general direction? It's been some time since I've been in these woods...”

“Oh...Um...” She pointed her hoof straight and slightly to the right. “Her hut is about seven minutes that way. If she's not there, she's probably out gathering materials for her potions...”

“Right... Thank you.”

I immediately started making my way to Zecora's hut.

“Are... Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?”

I saw a shadow move out from beyond the trees. It was the lost soul of pony who had died out here. It's form was in a great state of decay. It's innards were out, dragging along the ground. Its face was mostly skull, its fur a mess of dirt and dry blood, missing in patches here and there. The exposed dead skin was incredibly pale and peeling.

As it slowly turned to face me, I immediately averted my gaze.

“Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked me, her voice sounding closer this time.

She couldn't see the spectre. Good. Spirits usually wouldn't bother you unless they knew you could perceive them. As long as I pretended I couldn't see it, it just might leave us alone. The fact that the Forest was nullifying most of my power might have helped as well—helped me seem like just an ordinary pony to it.

I lifted my head and it was right in front of me, it's black empty sockets seeming to take in every last inch of me. I reacted by not reacting at all. I merely looked past it, passively moving my gaze around it as if observing the trees instead.

“Honestly...I'm not feeling that confident in my ability to find the place on my own. Perhaps you should accompany me after all. If you're still willing, that is...”

“Oh yes! I'd love to help! Plus I'd feel much better knowing you got there safely. Like I said, the forest can be quite dangerous. At least, to somepony who isn't familiar with it. What about you, Angel? Would you like to visit Zecora, too?”

The bunny hopped onto Fluttershy's back, its front legs folded across its chest as it continued to watch me carefully. Honestly, I found its gaze more unsettling than the ghost's.

Speaking of which, when I turned back in its general direction, it was gone.

“Alrighty then! Let's go!” Fluttershy softly exclaimed, leading the way.

Great. But how am I going to get away with stealing the book from Zecora with Fluttershy around? I wondered. Oh well... Guess I'll figure that out when we get there.

And with that, I followed her deeper and deeper into the woods, leaving the safety of Ponyville farther and farther behind me with every step I took. Whatever would come of this little adventure, it was sure to prove quite interesting. Quite interesting, indeed...

* * * * *

As we ventured further and further into the Everfree Forest, I took notice of just how different it was from Ponyville. Everything here was dark, dreary, wild. While everything there was bright, colorful, and orderly.

I did not, however, consider the forest to be any way malevolent, despite what we've been told.

A set of hooves slowly drifted amongst the leaves in the trees, dripping a black sludge that fizzled away before touching the ground. I didn't dare focus on who they belonged to.

But as I was saying, I did not consider the forest to be malevolent. It was merely following a set of rules outside our own. Sure, your life was at a greater risk of being snuffed out than it would have been if you were in the comfort of your own home, but we all die someday, right?

Well, not me, perhaps. But you? Yes, you for sure. But this does not mean you should give up or live in fear. If anything, it should encourage you to live your life while you can, since it can leave you at any second, no matter what you do.

Take the pony leading me, for example. She didn't not fear the woods or what may lie within it. Today, on her way home, she could be eaten by a chimera or fall into a particularly sadistic patch of poison joke, but that's not stopping her from living her life the way she wants to live it, helping animals. And Reapers too, apparently.

“Fluttershy?” I asked, walking up beside her.

“Hm?”

“What do you see...when you look at this forest?”

“Oh, um... Well... I see grass and trees. Green and healthy. Beautiful animals you can't find anywhere else. Rays of sunlight shining through the leaves...”

“Sounds quite lovely. Not quite as lovely as what most other people would see.”

“That's just because they won't give it a chance. There's beauty everywhere. Even where we least expect there to be.”

She gave me a soft smile, and black ooze trickled down onto her face. A pony's face, upside down with bloodshot eyes and a missing jaw came into view above her, staring down at her with a cold, unblinking look.

“Well, perhaps not everywhere...” I replied.

The ghost's milky white pupils snapped in my direction and I dropped my gaze.

“Is something wrong?”

“No! I'm just...not used to these woods. That's all. Are we almost there?”

“Yes. It's just over there. See?”

I slowly looked up to her, sighing with relief when I saw the ghost had disappeared. She gave me another little smile and nodded ahead of us. I looked and through a thin layer of trees I saw that we were indeed very close to Zecora's hut.

“Good. I was beginning to think—” BOOM! Something hit me hard from above, knocking me off my hooves and onto the ground.

Fluttershy gasped in horror. “Are you okay!?”

“SSSSSAAAAAVVVVEEEE USSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!”

I felt myself lift off the ground and turn to face both the jaw-less ghost and the first ghost I had encountered with its guts spilling out. They had been joined by the ghost of a foal who had been burnt to a crisp. How did their deaths happen? I wondered.

“What's going on!?” I heard Fluttershy cry out from below. I couldn't let her know what was happening. If I did, it would only draw attention to her.

“SSSSSAAAAAVVVVEEEE USSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!”

“I can't,” I grumbled through gritted teeth.

The ghosts howled in response and hurled me into a nearby tree. I felt a very unpleasant pressure grip my body on impact, and I realized...I was in pain! I couldn't even remember the last time I was in pain! It was so strange and wonderful and...the absolute worst thing I had ever felt!

I could hear Fluttershy scream and run over to me. “Oh no! Are you okay!?”

“Run!” I shouted, gasping as another wave of pain shot through me. “Get out of here!”

The ghosts lifted me into the air and slammed me down onto the ground again. Air I previously didn't think I needed forced its way out of my lungs, and my vision started to darken around the edges.

But I was still able to see Fluttershy running away from here as fast as she could, Angel gripping tightly to her back. He was still looking at me as they disappeared from view.

Good... May your death be more peaceful than mine, little pony...

“SSSSSAAAAAVVVVEEEE USSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!”

I struggled to look up at the ghosts. “I...I'm sorry you're suffering. B-But there's nothing I can do here. If you could just...follow me to the edge of the forest—”

Again they lifted me off the ground and slammed me down. This time the pain actually lessened and the darkness grew more pronounced. I smiled. I wondered what I'd look like as a ghost. I wondered if I'd still have the sense to venture out of the woods and be found by another Reaper, or if I would wonder aimlessly through the trees, waiting for somepony to take notice of me.

Again the ground left me and returned to me once more. This time I felt no pain and the last bit of light left my vision entirely. But even then, one last image entered my thoughts: Higgins and Cathode.

So full of love... So full of life...

Although I was no longer able to feel it, I knew I was crying.

Lucky them...

“Though Death you are, dead you'll not be... Your journey is not over, so awaken...Psyche...”

I opened my eyes and the light returned. But I was no longer where I had been. Instead I was in an enclosed space. Bottles of various colors were strung up on the ceiling and settled on shelves. Masked lined the walls, watching as a zebra mare worked in front of a bubbling cauldron.

“Psyche!” I heard a familiar voice gasp.

Fluttershy was beside me with Angel. She must have learned my name while I was out. Which only meant...

“For your life, Fluttershy did fear. But worry not—ghosts here will not appear.” Zecora handed both of us a wooden cup filled with some sort of liquid I couldn't recognize. “Drink this to regain your strength. The reason you're here, we shall discuss at length...”