A Chance Encounter with Death

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five

Chapter One

I was only a filly when I first saw Death. Not only in that a pony had died, but Death himself.

I had been put to bed, my parents had gone out somwhere. This wasnt a new occurrence, they left me on my own a lot. I could handle it, even though I didnt have my cutie mark yet. It meant I could get out of bed once they had left, and eat all the ice cream I wanted. We lived pretty far from town, so it was fairly safe, my parents often said.

Settling onto the couch, ice cream bucket firmly in hoof, I heard something thump outside the window. Freezing in place, my eyes slowly turned towards the noise. I couldnt see much outside in the darkness, but something was definitely moving out there. I hugged my teddy close, before throwing him onto my back and sneaking up to the window. I peeped an eye around the corner, looking out into the night. I could see shapes moving, so I pushed my face against the window to see clearer.

There was a pony, and it looked like he was fighting with another pony! They traded blows, muffled thumps reaching my ears. Over and over again they went back and forth, each hoof connecting.

Suddenly one of the ponies collapsed to the ground, and didnt get back up. The other pony walked up to him, and slammed his hoof down again and again onto the fallen pony, the muffled squelching causing my tummy to twinge with disgust. I started to shake, fear gripped me tightly. The bigger pony turned, I dropped down below my window frame, my heart thundering in my ears. I knew who the pony was, he was the Big Stallion who ran the carrot farm, Mom had him around sometimes when Dad wasnt home.

I lay on my floor for what felt like hours, my ice cream had almost melted away, before steeling myself to peep out the window again. Poking my head above the windowsill, my eyes locked with eyes; he was standing right outside my window, his breath fogging the glass. Dark coloured sweat ran down his face as he stood there, staring at me. I shrieked and fell to the floor, covering my head as glass sprayed in on me, a huge hoof breaking the window pane. He was coming to stomp me into dust too!

The hoof groped around, trying to find me. I flattened myself down as far as I could, squeezing my eyes shut. “Pleasegoawaypleasegoawaypleasegoaway,” I chanted quietly in my head, because my teeth were clenched closed in fear.

I sensed the hoof retract through the window, and heard thumping hoofsteps walking away. I breathed a small sigh of relief. He was gone, thank Cele-

'BOOM' went the front door as it crashed off its hinges. I screamed, dived for under the couch, but I felt hooves grab my hindlegs and dragged me back out. I was flipped over, staring up into the eyes of the Evil pony. I felt my bladder let go, like a baby I started bawling and begging.

'Please let me go! I didnt see anything!'

The Evil Pony snorted, 'Sorry kid, I need no witnesses.'

'Please oh please, I'll be good-'

I felt a hoof press down over my moouth, muffling my cries.

'Shh kid, I will make it quick, unless you really piss me off. Now, is anyone else home?'

I tried to speak, but he shoved his hoof harder against my mouth.

'Just nod or shake.'

I shook my head, and Evil Pony let out a sigh.

'Well thats a relief, at least.'

He flipped me up and over his knee, hooking a hoof around my throat. Spots began to dance in front of my eyes as he squeezed.

I couldnt breathe, and I couldnt move! My limbs went heavy,my lungs felt like they were on fire.

I was dropped. Coughing, I focused on getting sweet cool air into my lungs. Looking up at Evil Pony, my eyes swimming with tears, Evil pony was looking at something. There was another pony in the room! I tried screaming, telling the new pony to get out and run away, but only harsh squeaking came out.

Blinking hard to clear my eyes, I saw the huge blue Evil Pony facing a smaller, slender grey earth pony, with an electric green mane.

'The fuck are you?' Evil Pony demanded, stepping forward.

The new pony, in a surprisingly soft, high voice, replied. 'I am here for you.'

'For me, the fuck does that me-' Evil Pony suddenly shuddered, and fell to the floor, shaking with spasms.

'It means it is time for you to die, Brazen Bull.'

The charcoal pony stepped over the twitching body, and lifted my chin so I was looking at his eyes. They were a deep brown, so deep it was almost black.

'Are you well, little one?' He asked, the kindness still in his voice.

I swallowed, words dying on my tongue. I nodded, the stallion looked relieved.

'Very good. It is not your time yet.'

The stallion stood, moving towards the front door. He cast one more rueful look at me, before fading away.

The after image of his cutie mark has been burnt into my mind since then.

It was a scythe, dripping with blood.

Chapter Two

Life for me changed after that night.

Mother and Father came home to a dead stallion on our floor, with me in a shivering ball inside a box in the attic. The police ponies came, asked hundreds of questions, but I could only shake my head and bury my face in my forelegs.

I couldnt speak or make sounds any more. The doctors said my voice had been scared away. The police ponies tried to get me to write what I had seen, but I could only draw pictures of the bloody scythe that now haunted my dreams, cutting down the Evil Pony again and again. I would snap awake, swearing I could hear that soft voice in my room.

My mom refused to ever let me out of her sight, sometimes even sleeping next to my bed holding a knife in her hooves. Dad told her to calm down, that she was being over paranoid, but she just screamed at him that it was his fault they had to go out that night, that he promised I would be safe. Eventually, Dad stopped coming home, though a check for bits would arrive in the mail each month like clockwork.

Something amazing had happened to me the night I lost my voice. I had gotten my cutie mark! It was a heart stitched together in three places, all in shades of green.

Just like Death's mane.

Over time, mom eventually relaxed, though she was still nervous a lot. A special doctor came all the way from ponyville, and prescribed some pills to help mom chill out a bit.

A year passed, and I was allowed back at school. I was feared by the other foals though, because everypony knew I had seen something bad enough to scare my voice away. So making friends wasnt something I could do.

Instead, I became obsessed with finding out who the grey stallion was. I spent hours in the library pouring over books about death, and about the legends of the pony who was death. I knew all the stages of bodily decomposition, the magical theories about souls, and all the myths about Princess Celestia and Princess Luna guiding ponies into the Great Herd of the afterlife.

My schoolmates called me a freak, and Mom made me see dozens of new doctors, fearing I had some sort of evil curse on me, though the doctors couldnt find anything. They reassured Mom it was just a phase, a way of coping and processing what I had seen that night.

They didnt know, my true purpose wasnt to work through my issues. I was searching.

It was one rainy day when I found it. The very image I had been searching for. There, on the page, was the scythe. Same blood, same handle.

Clapping my hooves with glee, I pulled out a quill to make notes.

'The scythe cutie mark is the essence of the legends of Death. It is said that he who bears this mark can turn invisible at will, and will appear right as a pony dies, ready to usher their soul into the magnificent Great Herd beyond the wall of light.

No pony has ever confirmed a sighting of this mysterious stallion, but rumours still prevail of his existence.'

He was real! I knew I hadnt dreamed him, like the stupid doctors said! He was real, and he had saved me! I gripped my quill in my teeth as I shivered with happiness and excitement.

Flipping to a new page, I wrote a new heading in big, bold letters.

“HOW TO FIND DEATH THE PONY.”

I was going to find him again. I was going to thank him, and then, I grinned, I was going to ask him what my cutie mark meant!

♡♡♡♡♡♡

Sitting at the edge of the playground, I went over my plan again. Today, I was going to sneak out of school, catch a train over to Ponyville, and go to the Ever-free Forest. All of my research pointed to it being a hotspot for weird and wild magic. There were even rumours of a zebra living there!

I knew there had to be a clue to Death in that forest.

But first, I had to get out of school. I had been practising my sneaking all the time, so much so Mom made me wear a bell so I didnt 'give her a heart attack'. I had learned how to move without the stupid bell ringing too, at which point she had thrown her hooves up in exasperation and sent me to my room. Not being able to talk was a big help in that regard, ponies tended to ignore me and forget I was even there.

If I was sneaky enough, I would be forgotten at morning bell by the teacher on duty, and from there I could use the wirecutters I stole from my Dad's old shed to cut my way out of the yard.

I tightened my saddlebags, and began to sink into the corner of the sandpit. Remaining absolutely still the whole time was so important to being forgotten. Doing it too early would make the adults make a point of remembering where you were, and doing it too late created a sudden disappearance and theyd come looking for you.

'Look girls! Its the freak! Whatcha doin' freak? Tryna be a sandworm?'

Oh.

Crud.

I looked up, and sure enough Page Turner and her posse were headed my way.

They were a group of fillies, sometimes 3, sometimes 5, who lived to make my life miserable. Mostly because I couldn't talk back. They didnt do much, usually taking my whiteboard so I couldnt write, stupid stuff like that. Frustrating.

Today of all days though, I didnt want to deal with them. I had a job to do!

My eyes darted around, searching for an exit.

'Hey Worm, I'm talking to you! Whats wrong, cat got your tongue?'

How very droll, I thought,as her liitle group laughed at her stupid joke. I had to get away, I didnt have time for this!

An idea bloomed in my mind. A crazy one, but right now, crazy was exactly what I needed!

Picking up my marker in my mouth, I began to write frantically.

'Whatcha writing, Worm?' Page came closer, kicking sand at me.

I spat out my marker and dropped the board at her hooves, grinning triumphantly. I had ink splattered across my muzzle from my rush, but I knew it would work. Page stepped forward, leaned down and read the 3 words on my board.

'slugs in pit'

I laughed silently as I watched them run squealing away at top speed. Now I just had to find a new hiding place and 'Operation Everdeath' was a go!

Turns out new hiding place was wedged under some stairs. Thankfuly my coat was a dark enough purple that I blended right in to the shadows. My mane, however, was another story. I had to rub dirt all over it, so the light wouldnt get caught on the pale grey hairs.

The bell rang. I watched as the teachers rounded up all the kids, herding them into the school house. In they went, two by two, and I began to breathe easier. Today was going to work after all!

Then Page the Pig ruined it.

'Miss Sunrise! Inkblot isnt in line! She was over by the sandpit before!'

I gave a silent cry of frustration as Miss Sunrise counted the foals, confirming Page Turner's words.

'Alright, inside children!' she called. 'Get your diaries out and write about your weekend while I fetch Inkblot.'

Drat, she was trotting to the sandpit. Miss Sunrise had a giftbox for a cutie mark. She had once explained that it didnt mean presents, but always being able to find things that were hidden. Which means I was screwed, would have detention for hiding, and for being dirty. Agh!

Sunrise pawed at the pit, before her head snapped back up. Slowly, she turned towards the staircase. She knew!! I began to tremble in fear, my bell tinkling softly. Curse everything!! I had to hide my death notebook, otherwise I would have to go visit the stupid doctors again! Theyd take it all away! My research! Everything!

Miss Sunrise flared her wings as she stalked towards the staircase, her mouth set in a prim line.

'Inkblot! Come out this instant! You are tardy!' I bit my bell, muffling it. Maybe she wouldnt find me, maybe the Princesses would help me out this once!

She was almost at the stairs now. Her pastel orange hooves were thudding loudly against the pavement. I curled up even smaller, backing up away from the small hole in between the stairs.

'You have until the count of three, Inkblot.'

No!

'One.'

Nononono!

'Two.'

Nooooooo!!!

'Three.' Miss Sunrise bent down and-

Two carcoal hooves picked me up, then the world vanished.

Chapter Three

I felt my insides swirling around like a storm, like I was being squeezed in two, then I felt a pop, and suddenly it stopped.

Bwa? Where was I? Who had...

A small lamp lit up, and my eyes focused in the gloom. Standing right there, in front of me, was none other than Death!

Omygoodnessitsyouihavesomuchtoaskyou, my brain was going a hundred miles an hour, and I frantically looked around for my chalkboard

'Hush now.' that sweet, gentle voice instantly quieted my mind.'There's no need for that.'

He bent down, and kissed my forehead. Instantly I began to blush, my legs turning to jelly. The strange pony smiled at me.

'I have given us a temporary mind connection.' his mouth didn't move, but I could hear his words! What was going on? Was this magic or something-

'Shhhh. You're flooding my mind with your incoherent thoughts. Take a deep breath, and think one sentence at a time.'

oh oops.

'Hello?' I tried, frowning as I thought at him.

'Hello.' His voice chuckled back at me, even though his face didn't move. 'You've been very busy looking for me, haven't you?'

I nodded, then remembered. 'Yes! I have so much to ask you! Are you really Death the Pony?'

He looked thoughtful.

'In a way, yes I am. Do you know why I bought you here instead of letting you get detention?'

'Because you didn't want me to get detention?'

'No, truthfully it wouldn't have bothered me. Education is important. It was because you would have tried again. You would have done it smarter, and you would have succeeded entering the Ever-free forest.'

I perked up my ears. My plan would have worked!

'Yes,' Death thought at me. 'and you would have died. I cannot protect you there.'

'Protect me?'

'Yes, the Ever-free is just that, free. There is a different Death pony who cares for that area. This is my area.'

'There are more of you?' I sat down, astonished.

'There are many. Many creatures die, every second. Thus many Deaths are needed to ensure the souls go where they need to. Those that get lost, become that which you call 'Windigos''

Oh wow. This was amazing. So much to take in. but first, the most important question.

'I got my cutie mark the night I saw you.'

Death smiled. 'You want to know what it means.'

I nodded so hard I thought my head would fall off.

Death looked at me, almost sadly.

'I do not know, little one. All I know is that you are a very special young pony, and I have kept watch over you every moment since that night.'

'So when I heard you in my dreams...'

'Yes.' Death sat down across from me, his spiked up green mane almost glowing in the lamplight. 'I can dreamwalk, and vanquished your night terrors.'

'But you're an earth pony! Like me! We cant do that kind of magic! Only princess Luna can!'

Death threw back his head and laughed, it was a warm, delicious sound that set a small fire in my lower belly, one that made me flush with confusion.

'We Death ponies are not bound by tribe my dear.'

That little fire in my belly pulsed at that, being called his 'dear'.

'We are above such things, and take the form of whatever we choose. I think earth ponies are the most beautiful, so an earth pony I became.'

I lowered my eyes, blushing furiously. What was happening to my body?

'Alas,' he said. 'I must return you to your realm. You have been here many hours already.'

'Huh? I've only been here 10 minutes!'

Death smiled at me as he reached behind him with a hoof.

'Time passes strangely in this realm. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. I will place you in your bed, so it is as if you slept the entire day. Promise you'll apologise to your teacher for skipping class, and promise me you wont do it again.' he looked at me sternly. I lowered my eyes.

'I promise.' for him. I would have promised anything. 'How will I see you again?'

'You will not.'

Instantly my eyes filled with tears. 'Why?'

'Not for a while. If you are absent from your realm too much, it will be noticed. I will contact you, by leaving a white rose on your windowsill, with one of these next to it. Take it before you sleep, and I will come for you.'

A small candy floated to my mouth. I took it in surprise, looking up into those beautiful; black eyes.

'This will aid in the trip back. You will go to sleep, it makes travel through realms safer for mortals.'

Already I was feeling sleepy. I leaned against Death as darkness closed in, a small smile on my face. He smelt like strawberries.

Chapter Four

Blinking, I awoke in the darkness. I shook my head, getting my bearings. The sweet smell of strawberries lingered in my nose, and my cheek tingled. A memory brushed against me, a kiss on my cheek goodbye, and a promise.

'This is our little secret, promise?'

'I promise!!'

Smiling, I threw myself back into my bed. This was the best day ever!

Unfortunately, I had to go back to reality, and compared to death's realm, reality was so boring. Every day I would go to school, rush back home and check my windowsill, and every day, it was bare. Mom saw me a few times, and asked me if I was looking for bugs or something.

Bugs were boring. All I could think about was Death, and the way he made me feel. That warm fire in my special place that flared up when I remembered his smell. His strong hooves around me. It felt like a dream, more and more so as the days passed.

Summer turned to autumn. The running of the leaves came and went. Dad still hadn't come back. My windowsill was still bare. Soon I wasn't rushing home any more, I just walked slowly, trying to remember how Death had made me feel.

Mom had noticed, too.

'You seem sad, my little Inkblot, what is bothering you?” she would always ask sweetly, but I would just shake my head, and go do my homework.

One particularly cold day, I trudged upstairs. I threw my bag into the corner of the room, and got out my colouring book, I didn't even bother to glance at the window. Picking up a crayon, I coloured without even thinking about it, allowing my mind to wander.

Perhaps he had forgotten me. Or perhaps he didn't like me any more. I shouldn't be surprised. He was an inter-dimensional being, and I was a stupid, boring filly who had to wear a bell.

I looked down, blinking with surprise. Without even thinking about it, I had coloured in Princess Celestia with a bright green mane. Tears prickled my eyes, and I started sniffling. Then I heard it. A tiny scrape against my window.

I scrambled out of the chair, scattering papers everywhere in my hurry.

Pleasepleaseplease! I shoved my curtains open, and there it was. The most beautiful white rose I had ever seen. I grabbed it and slammed the window shut.

Throwing myself on my bed, I buried my face in that beautiful flower, inhaling its scent deeply. Once again that strange throb was back in my special place, but I didn’t have time to figure that out. A small heart shaped candy fell out of the centre of the rose, rolling across my bed. I pounced upon it with glee, he did remember me!!

Straight away I began sucking on the piece of candy, eagerly waiting for the effects.

When the drowsiness came, I mentally hurled myself at it, this couldn’t come fast enough!

Small nuzzles woke me from my slumber. I yawned, slowly pushing myself up. Sure enough, Death was there, smiling at me! Laughing with joy in my mind, I threw myself onto him and embraced him hard. He returned the hug, before kissing my forehead again.

'Hi.' his voice like chocolate, I nearly cried with relief at hearing it.

'I thought you had forgotten me!'

Death chuckled, and nudged me with his flank.'I hadn’t. I checked in on you every single day. I’m sorry its been so long, autumn is a time of death for the land. We death ponies are very busy now.'

'Oh! That makes so much sense!' I suddenly felt very silly for doubting him.

'So, my little one, want to see something truly special?' Death asked, rising to his hooves.

'Yes please!' I practically bounced around in circles jumping for joy.

'I thought you might. Wait here.'

Death trotted off, fading away into nothingness. I tapped my hooves against the ground, too excited to stand still.

Death faded back into view, something floating before him. He knelt down in front of me, and at last I could see what it was. It was a tiny flower, opening and shutting over and over again.

'its so beautiful.' I breathed. Death smiled, and threw the flower upwards. It exploded in the air, arcing into sparks which sat on the roof like stars.

I couldn't take my eyes off it.

'You're very special to me, Inky. Its why I wanted to share this with you.'

I settled against Death, still watching the twinkles. Breathing in his smell, I felt my eyelids get heavy. In the back of my mind, I swear I heard 'If only you felt the same...'

My heart was thundering as I woke up.

'Death? Death??” I thought at the room, but it was my room. I was back. Flopping back down onto the bed, I thought back to the twinkling petals Death had shown me. He made me feel so good, and so tingly. It was such a strange feeling, like my body was made of fizzy sherbet.

Almost without my knowledge, my hoof tucked itself in between my hind legs, stroking that secret part of me that ached so when I thought of him.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

I carefully wrote my question down, and presented it to Mom at breakfast.

'What is the feeling when a pony makes another pony all hot, with their heart beating hard?'

Mom looked at the question, then looked at me with a smile.

'Is there somepony at your school who makes you feel this way?'

I shook my head, scrubbing out my question for the reply.

'Asking for a friend.'

Mom just smiled knowingly at me.

'Well, Inkblot, that feeling is called love. Its what ponies feel for their very special somepony.'

Scrub scrub.

'Like you and Dad?'

'Yeah...' Mom trailed off, looking wistful. 'Just like that.'

Love. Was I in love?

How?

What kind of love I was feeling? Did Death feel the same? Should I tell him? What if he never wanted to see me again?

What if he hated me?

My mind raced with all these questions and more.

Mom looked back to me. 'Tell your friend that if she feels this way about someone, she should tell them right away. Because she might find out the other pony loves her too.

Scrub scrub.

'What if they don't?'

'Then you keep them as a friend.' With that, Mom shooed me out the door for school.

Chapter Five

Was I really in love?

Days blurred by as I pondered the question. My resolve would swing from telling him, to taking my secret to the grave, then telling him again. Why would he want a little foal like me? I wasn't even 12 yet! Ugh. Life is so hard!!!

A week went by before I found another rose. This one was pink. Pink! Did that mean...? I shook my head. No, he was just being nice.

He was a death pony. And an adult. I was an ordinary filly. He would never be interested in me.

I gulped down the sweet that came with it anyway, eager to see my friend again.

I awoke, with Death smiling at me again. Straight away butterflies took off into my belly.

He leaned over and kissed my head, and the connection between us sparked to life. My forehead tingled where he had touched it.

'How are you, my little one?'

'I'm okay.' I guarded my thoughts carefully. I didn't want to give anything away about my feelings.

'Just okay?'

'Yeah.'

'Oh. Okay then.'

Death looked so sad at that moment, that it all came back out in a rush.

'ithinkiminlovewithyoubutimnotsurebutyoumakemefeelsonicebutidontwantyoutogoaway.'

Death looked at me, his eyes wide in shock.

'you...love me?'

I nodded, lowering my eyes. He was going to tell me to leave, and never come back. I just knew it. Cold fear gnawed at my belly.

A soft grey hoof was under my chin, lifting my head to his. My pink eyes met his black, and suddenly he kissed me!

It was only a light kiss, but my body felt like it was on fire! I just gaped at him stupidly.

'Bwa?'

'I love yoy too, you silly filly.' Death was blushing! He was blushing! He loved me!

Suddenly he frowned, and the cold feeling rushed back into me.

'But we cant be together.'

'Why not?' I pleaded.

'At least, not like this. You'd have to become a death pony too if we wanted to be together. It would mean you leaving your family behind, because they wouldn't be able to see you like this.'

Oh.

My heart plummeted as I thought about what he was saying.

'Never, ever?'

Death shook his head. 'Never ever. Until they die anyway.'

'I-'

Death cut me off. 'Don't decide now. Think about it before you choose. You have to be sure.'

I nodded solemnly.

'But for now, why don't we just enjoy the time we have?'

Beaming, I snuggled up to Death, and we just cuddled, enjoying the night. All too soon, it was time for me to go.

Death floated a candy out to me.

'I will come for you in 7 nights. If you choose to leave your family, leave your window open. If you choose to stay with them, leave it closed. If its closed, we will never see each other again, I love you too much top go through the pain of losing you. But if its open, we can be together, forever.'

Death kissed me again as darkness closed in.

6 nights and one day later I sat on my porch, weighing up my choices. I really didn't have much here. No friends, Dad hadn't even called me since he and Mom split up, and Mom was working so much lately I rarely saw her outside of breakfast. No one would miss me, not really. Death loved me, he was with me every day in my heart, and he had always been there for me, ever since that Evil Pony.

I was firm. I had decided. Love conquers all, the fairytales dad used to read me taught me that.

Mom came in to kiss me good night.

'I love you, Mom.'

'I know honey. I know.'

I waited until I heard her door shut before leaping out of bed. I packed a small suitcase, and wrote a letter to Mom.

'Dear Mommy,

I am leaving, to be with my one true love. I will see you again when it is your time to die. Don't worry, Death would never hurt me.

Love always, Inkblot.'

Opening my window, I sat and waited.

Princess Luna's beautiful moon rose. Sure enough, as the first star twinkled, Death phased into my room. He looked so happy, tears were in his eyes. He ran to me, and kissed my lips before kissing my forehead.

'You chose me!” He was so happy, and so was I. I felt like I could fly with all the butterflies in my tummy!

'Of course! True love is the only think that matters, right?'

'Right.'

He kissed me again, and the world vanished.

♡♡♡♡

We were in a different room this time, dimly lit by lanterns. There was a strange table in the middle of the room.

'Where are we?' I asked my love, putting my bag on the floor.

'There's a special spell that has to be cast before we can truly be together.' Death murmured in my mind as he trotted to the table.

'It will be a bit scary, but it wont hurt. Ill be right here with you.'

He patted the bench, and I climbed up onto it.

'What do I need to do?' I asked, I was feeling very nervous.

'Just lay down.' Death replied.

I lay on my back, and he put these strange straps around all my hooves.

'Magical straps,' he smiled down at me. 'It will help.'

'With what? I asked.

'You'll see.'

He trotted off, and came back with a strap that had a ball on it.

'Open wide my love, and we can be together forever.' Death looked into my eyes. I hesitated slightly, something niggling at the back of my mind. He looked wounded.

'Don't you trust me?'

'Of course I do!' brushing away the thought, I obediently opened my mouth and the gag strapped itself onto me.

'Can you move?' Death asked, his voice full of love and excitement.

I wriggled in place, and shook my head.

'Okay. I'm just going to hit a button...' Death smacked a button with his hoof, and the table rotated so I was standing up, facing my beloved.

Looking up, I expected to see Death's caring face. Instead, it was as if a stranger stood there. His black eyes were dark and cold.

Fear rippled through me.

'Ohhh you are a stupid little bitch,' he sneered. 'Fell for it hook line and sinker.'

Death smoothed down his spiked up mane, exposing for the first time....a horn?! He sneered at me.

'Yep. Unicorn. A few vanishing spells, some mystical sounding bullshit and you trusted me. Didn't your mother ever warn you about strangers? '

'But you killed the Evil Pony!' My mind was reeling.

'Heart attack spell. It just so happened I was walking by, and a golden opportunity presented itself, with you as my next target.'

'But your cutie mark!' I thought in frantic confusion. The stallion leaned back, ripping off the decal covering his flank, exposing his true cutie mark.

A decapitated head.

The voice which had been silent for a year came back in full force as I began to scream.

☆☆☆☆☆

Officer Sunny and Detective Bean watched the small body being wheeled away from the blood splattered room.

'Another one.' Light said hollowly. 'That's seven so far.'

Bean nodded grimly.

'We will catch him. We have to. Celestia and Luna are relying on us to stop him.'

'Stopping a stallion who calls himself Death. This isn't how I imagined retiring.' Light coughed.

'I know. Come, we need to inform the parents, and get them to identify what's left of their daughter.'