Cryogen

"He's coming back." The doctor says between heavy breaths, quickly checking every monitor around my body. All of the other ponies in the room sigh in relief, Rarity almost fainting onto Twilight. Daring flies out of the room suddenly, vanishing into the hallway.

"Thank Celestia... Why did his heart stop? More importantly, how did it start again?" Twilight asks the doctor. Alright, if Twilight has to ask a question, then something weird really must be going on. She knows everything.

"I... don't know, actually." He says in a confused tone. "I've never heard of a case like this. Please, you four watch him for a minute, I need to go check some results." With that, the doctor walks out of the room, leaving everyone else in silence. I finally stand up, leaning against the wall as I watch the four give each other relieved yet worried looks.

"I'll... be right back." Rainbow mumbles, slowly walking out of the room. I raise an eyebrow, and watch as Twilight begins to follow her.

"I'll go see what she's doing. You two watch Zack, and don't let anything happen to him."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Applejack says with tilting her hat. I push myself off the wall, following Twilight out into the hallway. I spot Rainbow heading towards the cafeteria, the doors closing behind her just as I spot her. Twilight picks up her pace, causing me to have to slightly jog to keep up. One thing about being... whatever I am right now, is that I don't seem to be getting tired at all. In fact, the only time I felt anything really was when that thing tried to kill me.

Twilight pushes the doors to the cafeteria open with her magic, looking around the room for a moment before spotting Rainbow at a small table in the corner of the room. She trots over to her, and I watch from the doors for a second before following her to the table.

"Hey, why'd you walk out like that?" Twilight asks as she sits down next to Rainbow who is resting her head on a hoof. She lets out a sigh, and brushes the hair out of her face.

"It's my fault..." She mumbles.

"What? No it isn't, he was just being reckless, and an accident happened. How is that your fault?"

"I'm not reckless..." I mumble to myself, watching the two from right across the table.

"Twilight, he wouldn't have tried to fight Dusk if it weren't for me."

"Rainbow, you can't seriously think this is your fault. It was his decision to pick a fight with the guy anyway."

"I just... feel bad, y'know? He was standing up for me, so I feel responsible for his getting hurt... I don't know, I just don't need anything happening to him after what I've already done."

"You mean knocking him out?"

"Yes! This is the second time he's been in the hospital in less than a week, and this time he could die!"

"We don't know that Rainbow, he could wake up any minute."

"But what if he doesn't?" Rainbow chokes out, tears starting to form in her eyes. This catches me off guard, causing me to lean in closer over the table. What I don't notice is that my hand accidentally hits the little napkin container, causing it to fall off the table and onto Rainbow's lap.

"Did... huh?" She asks, suddenly changing her tone of voice. "Twilight did you just throw this napkin holder at me?"

"N-No, I didn't." Twilight says with wide eyes. I take a step back, looking down at my hands. I didn't know I could still interact with the world around me. I can use this, I can find a way to communicate!

I take off at a full sprint, looking desperately for anything I could use to communicate with... well, anyone really. I run back into the lobby, and find a sharpie on the receptionist's desk. I reach down to grab for it, but I pull my hand back when I feel a cool wind against my back. I quickly spin around, only to be right in the face of a young woman in white clothing, just like me.

"What... who?" I start to mumble out before something clicks in my head. "You're no woman." I say with an angry tone. "Everyone else is dead. You're that thing that tried to kill me."

"Hm, you're smarter than I thought." She says with a sly smirk. I curl my hand into a fist, purely by instinct, but she seems to notice and takes a step back. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"What, you think you can just walk on in here and kill me? I won't have it. You don't have the right!"

"Oh, but I do Zack, that's why I'm here."

"...You're a reaper, aren't you?" She flashes me a quick, evil looking smile, and her eyes quickly flash a blood red before turning back to their normal color.

"You could say that. Point is, it's your time Zack, just let go, and come with me."

"No, it's not my time, not yet. I still have work to do." I say, my voice shaking with both anger and fear.

"Everyone has to move on at some point Zack. I'm sure you'd rather die than stay here forever, slowly going insane from your own loneliness."

"Fuck you." I spit out.

"Ah, quite the naughty one aren't you?" She says while slowly walking around me in a circle. She stops in front of me, placing a finger on my chin. "How about I make a deal?"

"A deal with the Devil huh? Why should I take that?"

"Oh, him? I'm not him, I'm just... a helper, if you will."

"So what, I'm going to Hell or something? Is that what you're trying to tell me you twisted little-"

"That's not for me to reveal honey. Now, how about that deal?"

"...I'm listening."

"I give you a second chance... but you'll have to do me a little favor."

"And what's that?"

"I need you to kill someone." She whispers into my ear. I jump back, slamming against the receptionist's desk.

"You're fucking death itself, why don't you do it!?"

"Zack, you're smarter than this. I cannot kill someone who isn't close to death."

"Well, let's say I take your deal. Who am I supposed to be going after?"

"I believe you already know him. I think you call him... Dr. Hendricks?"

I spring forward, grabbing the woman by her collar. She makes no effort to break free, only staring into my eyes with that same lifeless, evil smirk.

"What do you know about that bastard?"

"I know that he's still alive, and I'm sure you know that by now too. He's been cheating me for a long time Zack, only because He is keeping him alive. I need him taken care of."

"Who's keeping him alive? Who!?" I yell into her face, anger searing through me.

"Oh, you'll know soon enough... So, do we have a deal?" I think it over longer than I thought I would, but ultimately come to a conclusion.

"Where is Hendricks?"

"I'm not sure right now. That's up to you to find out." I nod and reach out my hand, hovering it right next to her's. This feels so wrong, I'm practically making a deal with the devil, but I have to do it. Hendricks has to pay for everything he did. I grab her hand, and instantly, everything turns into a flash of white.

"Deal."

I take in a large gasp of air, my body going rigid as I do so. Immediately I feel a throbbing pain in the back of my head, and my eyes shoot open, taking in the bright light of the room.

"Sweet Celestia..." I hear someone gasp. I realize the accent as being Applejack's. I start coughing pulling the breathing tube out of my throat.

"What the fuck..." I cough out with a scratchy voice, sitting up in the bed.

"Zack!" Both of the mares in the room run up on either side of me, propping themselves up with their forelegs on the bed on both of my sides.

"Hey..." I cough out. "Where is she?"

"Where's who darling?"

"The woman, the... reaper thingy."

"Are ya alright there Zack? You're speakin' nonsense."

"N-Nevermind. Go... get Twilight and Rainbow. They're in the... cafeteria." I say with a sigh, laying back down on the bed. Son of a bitch my head hurts.

"How do you know where they are darling?" Rarity asks, giving a confused look to Applejack.

"Just fucking get them. I thought you'd have learned not to question me by now."

"A-Alright then. I'll go get 'em." Applejack walks out of the room, leaving Rarity and I alone together.

"I was worried you know. That was a stupid thing to do Zack."

"Rarity... are you really going to lecture me right now? I did it because I wanted to make things right."

"Make things right?"

"The guy I was fighting... was the guy who got with Rainbow and tried to..."

"O-Oh, really?..."

"Yeah, and then Daring... Hey where is Daring?"

"I don't know, she just flew off after you were revived. Thank Celestia that happened too, your heart stopped Zack, can you believe it!?"

"Yeah... weird." I stare up at the ceiling, wondering just where Daring flew off to. It isn't like her to just rush off when someone's in trouble.

"Zack!" I look towards the door to see a teary-eyes Twilight rush into the room.

"Hey. Why are you cry-"

"We were worried about you! Don't ever do that again!"

"Alright mom, sheesh." I say while rolling my eyes. "Hey, have you see Daring?"

"No, she flew out a while ago... I don't know where she went."

"Rainbow... where is she?" I ask, my voice cracking as I lift my head to look out into the hallway.

"She's... hold on." Twilight walks back out into the hallway, stopping shortly after turning the corner. I can still see the end of her tail in the doorway. "Rainbow Dash you are the Element of Loyalty. Get your flank in here before I drag you in!" I hear her hiss out in a whispering voice. Element of Loyalty? The hell did she mean by that.

Rainbow slowly shuffles into the room, stopping in the doorway.

"Hey, um. Can you guys give us a little alone time. I think I need to talk to her." I say quietly to the rest of the girls. They all nod and make their way out of the room, Twilight shoving Rainbow further into the room before closing the door behind her. I look down at Rainbow, giving her a stern, yet concerned look.

"Now, we need to talk."