I'd spent days listening to them all, as they explained why their afterlife was the perfect choice for me. I was already tired of it and almost wished the nihilists had been right.
There was just something so shallow about it all. Everything I had had in life, that was worthwhile, I had fought tooth and nail for. My wife, my job, the eventual respect of my peers - my entire life starting from the small farming town I'd been born into, had been an uphill struggle. I had often thought - like when I'd been diagnosed with cancer for the first time - that my struggle was unfair, that it was more than anyone should have to go through. But now as I stood in the golden chamber, stars shining down through the open ceiling, it was so obvious that it had been the fruits of the struggle, that had made my life worth living. The idea of eternal joy and happiness had already worn thin.
None of what they had to offer was Heaven - not for me, Rick Mortison.
….
“Well if it isn't an atheist, I’m sure you can see the irony in this...if you can call ending up near heaven such a thing.” A voice spoke to which Rick assumed was St. Peter.
“Look, I wouldn't be here if it was up to me.” Rick slacked.
“You say that now, but what I have to say might change your mind, it all depends on your answer.”
“Answer?”
“See, there is a slight problem that if you take care of in the name of the lord I will be permitted to send you into the reincarnation wheel forever if Heaven is not your idea afterlife.”
“Really? What’s this problem?”
“I would hate to bore you with the long details so here is the short version...A newly made angel has left heaven without filling the proper forms, your job will be to find him and send him back.”
“Ok, that raises so many questions…”
“Look Rick, this actually happens all the time, wish it didn't but that's the problem. Darn young angels these days.”
“Ok...so you're sending me to get this guy...angel...to go back to heaven? How will I do that?’
“Well, have you ever seen that one movie where if you kill an angel they automatically go to heaven? Basically like that….”
“Ok I’ll do it.” Rick was sure reincarnation would be better then this heaven of white and gold.
“Good, Now that I have your verbal agreement I’ll lay down the ground rules...One, you are now immortal till the angel is handled. And Two, If you die..time will rewind to that moment so learning how to dodge would be great.”
“So I'm going back to Earth to kill an angel...what a day.”
“Oh before I let you go, you should know that you're going to were the angel went to...a land of humanoid ponies called Equestria.”
“Wait, what?!” before Rick could say anymore he vanished from the golden hall.
…..
Rick awoke in a field of flowers as he tried to stand up and stop his pounding headache. He looked at himself to see that he was physically fine as he was in his blue jeans, white t-shirt, and brown boots. His blonde hair flowed in the breeze as his blue eyes gazed on the world around him.
Like a painting of a fantasy world laid before the human. Rick took a deep breath then noticed that his nose was longer the usual. He felt his face and it hit him like a brick to the face. Rick was a humanoid pony, with light blue fur covering his skin and a pony like face.
“Dang it…” Rick muttered.
“Well, no sense in just standing here...hopefully this won't take too long.” Rick began to walk to what looked like a village on the horizon of this grassy field of flowers.
….
It was a peaceful afternoon in Ponyville. The idle chatter of the town’s ponies and the clacking of shoes on the little town's streets were the only sounds that permeated the air. All around where little houses with thatched roofs, brick and stucco walls, and happy ponies in the doorways. Vendors called to ponies from behind their stalls and in front of their carts. The smell of baked foods and fresh produce wafted from every corner.
Within the center of Ponyville was Princess Twilight's Castle, grand and majestic like a moose on fire. Today Twilight was preparing to go to the new local bookstore to get more reading material and some quills for her own novel she had just started. All was well in the world until a loud crash echoed thru the castle.
Twilight quickly came down the staircase to see a bright light in the entrance hallway. She thought it was some odd magical anonmy when the light faded and what was left was a man, wearing white armor with gold trimmings, his black hair and purple eyes made him seem out of place in this world. This man opened his back wings then collapsed on the ground.
Thus enters the missing angel...Capricorn.
Twilight rushed to his side to see if he was still alive. Still breathing, Capricorn was levitated by Twilight who moved this stranger to one of the castle's many guest rooms.
….
On the outskirts of Ponyville lies the cottage of the animal caretaker, Fluttershy. The pony in question was busy feeding her animal friends there tasty lunch for the day. It was a good day.
Suddenly the young Pegasus saw a stallion walk down the path near her house. This stallion waved at her to which she walked cautiously to him.
“Excuse me miss, what is that town over there called?” Rick asked.
“That’s the town of Ponyville, are you new here?” Fluttershy said.
“You can say that, I’m just visiting here for a...job I’m on...hopefully I won't be here that long, but can you tell me where I an grab a quick bite to eat?”
“Well, there is Sugarcube corner where you can find a lot of tasty treats. I’m going to there in a minute so I’ll show you how to get there.”
“Thank you kindly ma'am.” Rick and Fluttershy set off to Sugarcube corner not knowing that Twilight was racing to the same spot with big news.