A Chance Encounter with Death

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.