Second Chances and the Cost of Life

by Amaranthine Thought

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Drama, Horror, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 8557

Twilight lives again, but serves death. Can she find her normal life, or is she forever cursed to a half-life?

Semi-sequel to The Last Sparkle Before the Night. Reading not required.

Twilight Sparkle died. She died saving everypony from the changelings, slaying each and every one of them with a single spell. The results?

Regrets. Pain, suffering. No chance to say goodbye, no chance for anypony to say sorry. She left behind betrayals not forgiven, and not one pony was left unburdened by her sudden passing.

There is no such thing as a second chance. Unless something special happens.

After all; Death has its servants as well. And with somepony as special as Twilight Sparkle, perhaps it might see its way to asking for her services.

Death pays well, but asks for everything. Can Twilight find her chance, or will she turn into nothing more than a pawn of the end?

has a sequel: Once More, With Feeling

Published 2017-07-20 19:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2017-07-23 17:55:51 UTC

Stirring

Twilight stirred. Something disturbed her from a rest so perfect that nothing should have been able to wake her. A rest where nothing could reach her, and she found herself wishing to reach it once again.

At first, she didn’t have the will or strength to resist the tug, and it kept pulling her higher. Making her more awake, more able to think. The pain came soon.

Not a physical ache, but rather, a mental and emotional one. She had retreated from that pain, and wished for it to end again. The pain she had found when she discovered that she was dead. When she discovered the circumstances about how she died, and everypony’s reactions to how she died.

She didn’t want to remember what she could never mend. She didn’t want to think and be trapped with those thoughts for eternity in death.

So she struggled, reached back toward her rest, but found herself unable to. The pull was indomitable, perfect, and nothing she did could slow or stop her rise. She thrashed against it, but after a few moments of vain struggle, went limp and let it drag her.

Her pain was not as sharp as it once was. The knowledge was a dull blade in her, but it was something that she could live with if she had to. It didn’t overcome all else as it once had.

“Twilight Sparkle, awaken.”

Twilight opened her eyes in surprise; the voice was her own. She stared at what had spoken and was speechless.

What stood in front of her was herself. In a way. It was herself like she might imagine what might happen to a pony who had died like she had.

Massive burns were all along the form, and the flesh was torn and hanging in spots. Only one eye was still there, and it was a cloudy black, implying blindness. The sight was sickening, and yet, Twilight found it… acceptable.

“Good. You wake this time.” it said in her voice.

“…What?” Twilight asked, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She coughed and tried again, “What are you?”

“You mental faculties are functional, are they not?” it asked, still speaking in her own voice. Twilight found herself mildly distressed by it; what was in front of her? “Or perhaps they are impaired from your own thoughts… Very well. I shall explain.”

“I am Death. I am the end, the closing of the story, the rest of all life. This place is a tiny part of me, and this broken form, a representation that fits your mind’s concept of ‘your death’. It is automatic; mortals always see me in such a manner.”

“Can you look like something else? Seeing me dead is… well… upsetting.”

“No. I want your mind and soul in one piece, not shattered. You cannot endure my actual form. Accept the simple lie, and do not ask questions to things you won’t like the answer to. Your afterlife will be much happier.”

Twilight frowned at it, and then sighed. “Why did you wake me anyway? I want to rest. I want to… to stop thinking again.”

“I need you Twilight Sparkle. And I am willing to offer you a few things in return for your services.”

“… If I say no?”

“…Then I shall put you back, and find another that is less than you.”

“Ah!” it interrupted as she opened her mouth to tell it to do just that, “I didn’t finish.”

“If you refuse, you will find your rest. But should you accept, I will give you… a ‘second chance’.”

“A second chance?”

“You have regrets, strong ones. You had to go very deep to be rid of them. I offer the chance to heal those pains.”

“…How?”

“If you accept, you will be bound to me, and do what I ask of you. In return, I will raise you back to life, and you will find the end to your suffering. A mutually beneficial agreement, is it not?”

“… You can do that?” Twilight asked, hope rising.

“I am death. Should I choose to turn a blind eye, then you will live again. Well, Twilight Sparkle? Deny me and rest, or accept, and live again as my servant. Think about it carefully; I am far from a kind master. I am willing to wait until you feel ready.”

Twilight nodded, and considered. Denial was an easy consideration; say no and return to that place where nothing mattered and ash could sleep without her pain.

Accept, and live again. Actually return to life. Resurrection. A second chance, a chance to stop everpony’s suffering and bring them happiness that nopony had ever experienced before. But it also meant serving death.

And what might death want from her? What could… it? He? It, desire for her to do? She glanced at it before deciding that it wasn’t going to tell her. So only one question was left that decided between yes and no:

Is what death was going to ask of her going to destroy any chance at her finding happiness again?

She didn’t know. It had warned her about itself, but… A second chance is worthless if that chance is taken by the one giving it. Death is considered absolute; therefore, it probably was telling the truth when it said that she would have a chance.

Twilight nodded again, deciding. The choice was easy in the end.

No only meant that nothing changed.

Yes meant that something might, and a chance is always better than never trying.

“Alright.” she said, “I accept.”

Her dead form smiled. “I had hoped you would. Welcome to my service Twilight Sparkle. My newest reaper.”

“I grant you the power you will need to accomplish my tasks. Ready yourself Twilight Sparkle.”

Its eyes glowed a light blue, and a freezing chill filled Twilight, making her gasp and shiver. It reached all the way to her core, touched every part of her. After a few moments, it slowed, and she began warming again, though the cold remained.

It nodded and then spoke deliberately, for once, her voice fading and a far deeper one taking its place.

“I reject you. This is not your home anymore. My gaze turns from you, and you live once more. Rise, and do not return to here!”

It turned from her, and Twilight began rising again. A light glittered above her and she smiled as she stared at it. It seemed to represent her new hope, and it grew brighter as she slowly drifted to it. She was already planning to do so much, say so much, to everypony. She was eager to start.

The cold was in her, but she didn’t care. She had sworn service to death itself, but she didn’t care. Nothing could diminish her hope and budding happiness.

After all, she had what nopony else had ever had;

A second chance.

Animation

It thundered over Canterlot. The rain poured down that night, lightning drawing the dark city in bright whites and pure blacks.

Canterlot had a yearly thunderstorm, and most of the populace were of the mind that the pegasi had overdone it that year. The rain poured down and the lighting and thunder shook their houses. Nopony was outside.

The pegasi managing the storm were concerned. The thunder was far greater than anticipated, and the lightning was behaving in just the wrong way. They were scrambling to prevent a hit, but the lightning seemed to always avoid their effort, the charge growing and growing, until it finally became too much.

“Pull back!”

“But it will hit the city!”

“Pull ba,”

Two of the team members were outright disintegrated from the bolt, and three more were struck from the sky and fell, smoking. The remaining two, the new member and the team leader, were shocked and horrified.

The storm rumbled at them, and the leader grimaced as the other began panicking.

“Back to base!”

“My brother!”

“Back to base! We need help for this one!”

The pair flew away, hurrying to try and find help. Of the three that fell, only one survived the impact, bouncing off a roof, the other two slamming into the ground.

Both hit the graveyard, one impacting near Twilight’s grave, not quite dead, and the other hit a gravestone.

The sight wasn’t pretty.

If one were to look closely, a frail green mist flowed from them, and collected over Twilight’s grave. Then it entered the dirt, and for several moments, nothing happened.

Then the earth heaved. Screaming came from under the dirt, and it pushed upward again, before collapsing slightly.

A hoof burst free, and Twilight desperately fought her way to the surface. Once free of the dirt, she shook herself to rid herself of some of it and stared up at the rain. She noted several things wrong immediately.

The first was that she wasn’t feeling the rain at all. The second was that she couldn’t breathe, and yet didn’t suffer and was able to vocalize. The last was that she could see her front hooves, and one of them was bone up to her knee.

Now, let’s begin. She heard, her own voice echoing in her head.

“Hang on! Something’s wrong!” she yelled, “My leg…”

What is wrong?

“My leg is bone, and…” Twilight kept looking at herself, and one thought, or several, came to mind. Burned. Ripped. Decayed. She was black, her fur falling from the rain and showing black necrotic skin. Gashes covered her, bits of her flesh missing. She could see exposed bone in many places, particularly her left side; she could count her ribs.

“I’m dead, except I’m not! This isn’t alive! I can’t feel the rain, I can’t breathe in, what have you turned me into!?”

Your soul has only one home it may return to. Your body. It has suffered from your death and decayed during your absence, but it is animate. It would take much, much more, for me to fully renew you.

“I want this fixed!”

Then allow me to outline what you will be doing for me. Focus on the power I granted you. The first spell should summon; do so.

Twilight hesitated, and then tried. A black urn appeared before her, topped with a horse skull. An ornate zero was on the front of it, and Twilight didn’t appreciate the way the skull seemed to leer.

This is the soul jar. It is where you will be storing lost souls until you return them to me. The number on the front is an indication of how many you can carry.

That jar can hold ten at most. Work hard and well, and your jar will enlarge.

I will guide you in your first collections; I have already made the circumstances that will assist. Look to the left.

She did so and gagged, seeing the pegasus that had hit the gravestone. He was almost in two parts.

Use the magic to find the soul, and then pull it free and place it into the jar.

The knowledge of how she would do so came to her, and she focused, her horn glowed a faint blue. The soul looked just like the pony, though it seemed distressed and depressed.

She pulled it toward her, and then guided it to the jar. Once near it, the skull opened, and sucked the soul inside, the numeral changing.

Good. No mistakes; you are a natural.

“What am I doing though?”

Souls need help to find their rest. Reapers help guide them to their afterlife. Otherwise, reality would be covered in the souls of the dead. Behind you; a troubled soul.

She noted the other pegasus and went to him. To her shock, his eye opened and saw her.

“Help…” he whispered.

Pull the soul free.

“But he’s alive! I can’t,”

He is dead. Suffering. Pull the soul free, and end his pain.

Twilight closed her eyes, and flinched at the sigh when she did so. She opened her eyes to see the soul, and it was agitated.

“I can’t be dead! My brother! He’ll be all alone, please!”

Put him in the jar.

“But,”

It is not your place to judge. Put him in the jar.

Twilight did so, unable to resist the voice. She shook herself when she had control again, and had a faint feeling that she wasn’t going to have much choice in these matters.

“…”

You are troubled.

“My job is… killing ponies?”

No. You find them when they die, or are about to, and guide them. It is not your place to determine the end of life, only that you allow it to find rest.

Some souls are lost, and come without a whisper. Some are troubled, and desire to live on. Some deny their death, and a rare few cling to unlife. All must be helped to their rest, willingly or not.

Dismiss the jar.

Twilight did so, and looked around before heading toward the gate. She thought as she walked, and then asked, “I want a living body. I want my own body back, and not this… When can you fix it?”

You shall address me as master.

Twilight had meant to ask him why she should. What came out instead was, “Yes Master.”

She shook her head, concerned at how death seemed able to override her will. “… Can I live again? Properly?”

Yes. Should you collect enough.

“What does Master mean?” Twilight grimaced. It seemed that whenever she referred to death, it came out as Master and made her sound stupid. She would have to be careful where other ponies could hear her.

I prize a good worker. As you accomplish my tasks, I will grant you a few coins. Enough coins, and I will rebuild you a little more.

Your flesh renewed, you lungs refilled, your heart beating again. Your current body is barely enough to house your soul; don't damage it overtly, or you may find yourself in debt.

“I was only dead for four days. That isn’t enough time for everything to go bad.”

You died a full year ago. Tomorrow is the anniversary of your death.

“…What!?”

I pulled you from your rest ten times. It was only the tenth that you responded to my calls. Every other time, you sought your rest and refused to speak or even move. Every time I pulled you up, I waited a time before trying again.

It also took two days for your soul to fully reclaim its home, and I needed to rebuild it at least somewhat. You were… less than whole, and your home was not ready to be lived in.

So I put your leg back, connected your bones, and rid you of any flesh eating life forms. A free gift from me, so that I could fulfil my part of this contract.

“A year… How many souls do I need to start fixing myself?”

… Many. A great many. I do not hold dominion over life, and it will take effort to remake you. Take it step by step, and you will eventually be whole. Or I could offer you something else.

If you accept more power, then you will become ethereal. Your form will be rebuilt, but that is not life. You would be a strong soul, but you will not have a body.

Twilight shook her head. “I don’t agree with what Master says is ‘alive’, but it is a start. If master say that I can earn my life again, then I will do so.”

She stopped by the gate, staring at it. It had a good lock on it, and Twilight found herself stuck.

Nothing stops a reaper. Know that you transcend mere matter, and pass through.

Twilight hesitated. There was no spell that time, only the knowledge that she could just walk through it. She stared for a few moments longer and then closed her eyes, wished she could breathe, and then hurried through it.

It was like she passed through a thick fog, and she opened her eyes to find herself on the other side of the gate.

“But now what?” she muttered. “Master?”

No response came for a moment. And then,

There is one last, the hardest. In the city. Find him.

The voice went silent again, and Twilight glanced back and forth in the rain, trying to decide which way she should go.

She yelled when her vision shifted and everything took on an ethereal glow. The rain almost vanished and she could see everything; not one shadow remained.

And in the air was a glowing line leading down into the city from the clouds high above. It was like a guiding arrow, and Twilight went toward it.

She headed through the city until she found the downed pegasus, and there was a soul next to him, trying to rouse him.

“Come on! Get up! Somepony help! Mare down!”

He flew in small circles, yelling and screaming for somepony to come and help. Twilight was reminded of her own time as a ghost; nopony had heard her speak.

Lead him to his rest.

Twilight nodded and went over. The pegasus on the ground was unconscious, but the soul spotted her instantly.

For an instant he looked terrified, but then he hesitated.

“Wait… no… no, it can’t be. I’m not dead. Go away! I don’t want… need you here!”

“I only want to help.” Twilight said.

“For death, you are horrifying. But I’m not dead, you hear me!? Go away!”

“I am not Master. Come on, it will be better elsewhere.” After all, I found rest. He’ll only suffer if he goes on. Twilight thought.

He will refuse. Subdue him before he escapes.

Twilight nodded, and her horn lit again. The pegasus spotted that, and when she caught him, he struggled against her. She found herself pulled, and her hooves skidded on the ground before she caught herself and tried to pull him back.

“No! Stop!”

“Come on!”

“I don’t want to!”

“You have to! You will only find something painful if you stay! Come on, and rest!”

He screamed when she finally got him, his soul siphoning into the jar. Twilight panted, staring at it.

Then she heard something behind her, and turned to look into the fallen pegasus’ eyes.

Twilight had never heard anypony scream like that before. The mare screamed as if she was staring at her death and fainted at her sight, but she had cracked the nearest windows, and yells were coming from the nearest houses.

A stallion burst from one only to stop and stare at her in horror.

“Celestia save us.” he breathed.

Another one arrived, saw her, and called back, “Monster! It’s a monster!”

The ones arriving were better prepared to handle the sight of her, and one tossed and hit her with a knife, the blade thudding into her. She stared at it in horror, and when the next pony charged, she ran.

But she was in a city, and she saw more ponies gathering ahead, ready to fight. She was trapped.

“Master! Help!” she called.

The power in her expanded, and she saw the darkness for a moment before suddenly finding herself outside of Canterlot.

She stood there for several moments, and then calmed. She frowned at the knife in her and pulled it free, noting that she neither felt it nor did she bleed.

“What now?” she asked.

Live. I have nothing for you now. To give me the souls, find a conduit. You will know what they are when you see them.

The voice stopped, and seemed to leave her. Twilight waited for some time before deciding that master had truly left her.

What now? She was some monster, a servant of death. It wasn’t like she could just…

Or could she? If she hid, and tried to explain, then maybe, just maybe, her friends would understand. It was something she could focus on at least.

She turned toward Ponyville. It would take two days on hoof, but she could spend the time thinking about what she was going to say.

Things were… not what she had hoped they were. But they would get better. Twilight was optimistic as she set off, trying to find the benefits to being an undead thing. The most obvious was that she didn’t get tired. And even a half-life was better than being dead, right?

Twilight nodded, smiling. Everything would be fixed, and her friends helped. She could do it. They were going to be so happy, she just knew it.

Changing

Twilight walked for a full day without stopping, finding herself inexhaustible. Her current state left her without limits or the needs of life.

And while that did mean she didn’t have to stop for anything she didn’t want to, it also meant that she couldn’t feel the breeze of the sunlight. Couldn’t smell the flowers she passed. It was… saddening that she couldn’t, though she was beginning to not care.

She had made it quite far, almost on the very edge of Sweet Apple Acers. She could see the apple trees and brightened; she was close.

It was growing dark as she entered the orchard, and in the darkness she spotted something. A soul wandering the trees.

It was bright and even had a faint tinge of color; red. Every other soul she had seen had been translucent and colorless. That one could convince you that it might just be alive.

It spotted her and headed over. Once it was closer it stopped and looked her up and down.

“Huh. I weren’t expectin something like this.”

Twilight started, feeling Death’s sudden anger.

“Master?”

Capture him!

Twilight winced from the yell, and caught the soul in her magic.

He didn’t budge. He didn’t even seem to care as she tried to pull him.

“Yer sure ya want this rodeo little reaper?” he asked.

“You need to find rest.” Twilight said, trying and failing to move him in any fashion.

“Ya speak.” He said, surprised. “What’s yer name little reaper?”

“Twilight Sparkle. It will be nice, I promise.”

“Hmm… Alright then. I won’t make this too bad on ya.”

Hold him!

The soul turned and ran, and Twilight yelled as she was dragged after him, unable to do anything but keep holding on.

She bounced on the ground, his speed breathtaking if she had breath. She had no idea how he moved that fast, dragging her after him as he weaved himself and her through the trees. Then he laughed.

“Good grip! Not too shabby! Yer a right natural little reaper! But nows th time ta really get movin!”

Twilight screamed when he sped up. His earlier speed had just been a game, and Twilight didn’t even have time to see the tree before she slammed into it and her grip broke.

She flopped to the ground, giving some thanks that she couldn’t feel anything.

“Tell yer master that we ain’t goin, ya hear! But if ya’ll ever want ta jus chat then I think me and th missus kin work somthin out. Yer a good… whatever yer supposed ta be Sparkle.”

Twilight winced at Death’s roar.

“Master, he’s too strong for me…”

I see that. It is not something unexpected. Those souls have evaded and overcome every effort I had to put them to rest.

For now, evade them. The male has destroyed reapers before.

“… He killed a dead thing?”

Souls can be shattered, and even I do not have the power to remake them. It is the ultimate suffering a soul can undergo.

Should you see the wife, do not touch her. He will not forgive.

“I understand.” she said, getting to her hooves again. Death didn’t speak farther and Twilight wondered who the stallion could have been, and why he was so strong.

He was unusual for a soul, at least, she thought he was. Death had mentioned that he and another one had been able to deny him every other time. She assumed that wasn’t normal.

She found the farmhouse dark, and dropped for a moment. Everypony was asleep and she…

On the other hoof, maybe it was better that everypony was asleep. She could go inside, find Applejack, and subconsciously implant the idea of her being alive again. That way she wouldn’t panic or do something thoughtless upon seeing her current body. But she would have to hide; visuals were probably too much for anypony to handle without much preparation.

She nodded to herself; it was a good plan.

She found the front door locked, but one use of her step and she was inside. She blinked a few times and then berated herself; it was dark, and she couldn’t see in the dark.

Her horn gently lit and she crept forward until she found the stairs. The very first one creaked and Twilight winced before taking far greater care to go up.

She found the upper level had six doors, and recalled that she had never seen Applejack’s room. She had never been inside.

She could go through any door, but she couldn’t use her light lest the pony inside wake. She would have to take it carefully, and do her best to try and guess.

She chose the second on the right, and slipped inside. With the moonlight in the window, she could just make out a pony sleeping on a bed. She looked around and then slipped under the bed, reasoning that it was the best hiding place.

Time to start.

“Twilight is alive.” she whispered.

She heard movement over her and waited for a second, wondering if she had been too loud. The sounds stopped after a second and Twilight waited a few moments longer.

“Twilight is alive.” she whispered softer than before.

Somepony made a knocking sound, and Twilight grew confused. It was quick and somewhat loud, like the knocker was upset but trying not to wake everypony.

“Nothing to be afraid of.” she whispered.

More knocking. And then the sound of somepony opening the door.

Twilight saw Applejack’s legs as she entered the room, carrying a candle or a lantern; there was a light source that Twilight couldn’t see.

“There’s a monster under my bed.” she heard Applebloom whisper.

“I thought ya were over that Applebloom. Now come on, its late an ponies are tryin ta sleep.”

“I heard it!”

“There ain’t nothing there but dust.”

“Please look for me?”

Twilight flinched, and hoped for a second until she heard Applejack sigh. She knew that sigh. The ‘if you want me to sure’ sigh.

She tried to smile and look as pleasant as possible.

Applejack peered under the bed, and met Twilight’s eyes. She stared for a second before getting back up.

“Nothin.”

Twilight heard Applebloom whimper as she was confused. ‘Nothin?’ Really? She had expected lots of responses, but not that one.

“Git ta sleep sis.”

“But…”

“There ain’t nothing there but scary thoughts. Big sister’s honor. I’ll even leave th candle.”

Applejack left and Twilight tried to understand what had happened. Applejack had seen her, she was certain. The farm mare’s eyes had grown slightly larger, and Twilight was fairly sure she had gasped.

And the last words were unusual for her too. Applejack wouldn’t have added anything to ‘there ain’t nothing there’ normally.

She wanted to know, but she was stuck under the bed until Applebloom fell asleep again and blew out the candle, if she would. She settled down to wait, and didn’t notice the light moving.

When she finally did, she looked to see the candle on the floor and Applebloom’s head, upside down, staring at her with absolute terror on her face. She pulled herself back up for a moment, and Twilight heard her whispering to herself.

Twilight was telling herself to hold still and hoping that she wouldn’t look again.

She did.

Twilight lunged as her mouth opened and she grabbed the filly and pulled her under the bed, muffling her cry before it could begin.

She held on tight, feeling Applebloom struggling in panic.

“Stop moving!” she hissed, “And I won’t hurt you!”

Applebloom did stop struggling, but based on her breathing, she was sobbing.

“Stay quiet.” Twilight said, and then very slowly relaxed her grip. Applebloom didn’t move, and only a few small hiccups came from her.

Twilight looked at her, Applebloom repressing sobs, shaking in fear.

She knew the filly. Saw her terrified to her very limits, and Twilight…

Twilight didn’t care.

It was almost impossibly hard for her to even notice that, and when she did so, it kept slipping from her. She did not care what Applebloom was feeling, even if she tried to.

In fact… she could use her fear.

“That’s right. Quiet.” she whispered, smiling. “I need you to do a few things for me, alright?”

“Please… don’t hurt me.” Applebloom said, speaking through her sobs.

“Be a good girl for me and I won’t. Tell your sister that Twilight is back. I’m alive again, and want to meet her.”

“… In the Everfree. Near Zecora’s home, next night. Do that, and you’ll never see me again.”

Applebloom nodded, her tears slowing, but her fear remaining.

“But don’t… and bad fillies get punished.” she said, Applebloom starting to cry worse at her words.

“Goodnight Applebloom.”

The power came instinctually. Twilight sank through the floor and floated to the ground, righting herself as she landed on the floor.

Then she left, feeling like she had set everything up. She would meet with Applejack and… Something. She must have forgotten, but friends should meet friends. Exchange greetings, talk about life. Something like that.

She would have time. A full day to find the souls in the Everfree. Lots of time to put them to rest again and think about what she was going to do or say.

It was going to be good practice, and she whipped her spell to catch souls around her as she walked, warming up. Her form glowed as she went, more and more of the power becoming easier and easier to use. She stepped through trees without care, and after a moment, stopped walking, simply floating forward.

Two ponies watched her go, floating over the farmhouse.

The male sighed. “I had thought she was different.” he said.

“She is.” The other said, a female. She was the faintest orange. “Too close to death and not enough life. It must be so hard keepin yourself like that…”

“I don’t like it. What do you think?”

“… She’s got a chance. Jus a real bad one. Death is up to somethin, and I do not like it. He never had a reaper who thought for itself before. Why now?”

“Don’t know.”

“We should help her.”

The male started. “Wha?”

“Think dear. Do you really want to see her forget everythin? You had a good time with her earlier. She’s a good girl. Was a good girl, you know that. She jus needs to get back to herself.”

“… But how?”

“… Her jar. We’re going to have to break it.”

“Honey, he nearly got us last time we did that. We have children to watch.”

“We can only watch them. But we can help her. And we are going to, for her sake and for the sake of our children.”

“Alright.” He took a deep breath, “We’ll try.”

Blood, Death, and Fire

Twilight was feeling very pleased with herself. She had found and captured five souls in the woods, and it hadn’t been very hard.

A little use of power, and she walked through the trees and thorns. A little more and she didn’t have to walk. A little more than that and animals and predators would actively avoid her. She even suspected that her strength was increasing from the use of her power.

In all, it was a very satisfying day. The only thing missing was a conduit to Death. She hadn’t found one and her jar was growing full.

She looked up after a time and noted the late time. It was almost time for her meeting, unless Applebloom didn’t tell Applejack. She should have, but if she didn’t then Twilight would have to do something.

Like hang her from the roof or shave her bald, or something like that. Not kill her, just… make her suffer a little.

And she had thought about what she was going to do and say during the meeting. It was actually obvious, and she was wondering why she had been uncertain before.

She was going to yell at Applejack. For leaving her behind, betraying her… that was something… unforgivable really. She had thought she could smooth it over, but it was never going to go away.

She had thought them friends, but looking back, she was obviously just deluding herself. She would feel much better after yelling and maybe, possibly, very likely really, killing Applejack.

A reaper is not meant to purposefully end life.

“But I’m alive. I work as a reaper, but I am not one, not like that. I can do what I want on my time.”

… True… Be cautious though. There are many ways that my power can change you.

“I am the same Twilight I always was.” she said. Death didn’t respond as she headed toward Zecora’s home.

A tiny part of her was screaming to be heard. She felt locked away in a mockery of herself, something cold and unfeeling overtaking her mind. Only a tiny part remained, powerless to effect anything anymore.

She hadn’t seen it in time. Applebloom had been the last chance, and she slipped from the cliff. Now, all she knew was anger and satisfaction. Anger toward her friends, and the satisfaction of breaking them.

She did err toward some mercy though; she would make it quick. There was no reason to make her suffer after all.

“What is this I have found? Something that belongs in the ground?”

“Zecora?” Twilight asked, surprised. Then she shook her head; of course Zecora would be near her own home.

And that was going to be a problem.

“Is it Twilight Sparkle in that form, the one that was once food for worms?”

“… It’s me Zecora. I’m back. Alive again.”

“Only as a servant of the end. To a friend, my aid I will lend. You must not stay like that, come to my home and we shall chat.”

“I don’t have the time.” Twilight said, growing annoyed. Zecora was getting in her way, and she was running out of time.

“Your mind is shifting, going to waste. If we are to save it, we must make haste. I see the anger in you, and I already fear what you may do.”

“Zecora… get out of my way.” she growled.

“I will not until you are fixed, the potion I have, already mixed.”

“I said move.” Twilight’s horn lit and Zecora took a step back, her eyes widening.

“Twilight, this is not truly you! And that is not a thing you should do! Listen to me, hear what you say! It is your mind that truly does decay!”

Twilight yelled, and focused. Zecora leapt, but too slowly.

The land under the zebra’s feet erupted, and she screamed as a spike or rock sliced into her side. She flinched form it, and Twilight grabbed her in her magic and tossed her away.

That done she looked up to the night sky. She was late and now she was upset too.

Maybe she wouldn’t make it slow after all.

Applebloom had told Applejack, and her sister had believed her. It was stunning to think what she had thought a hallucination had been real, but it was real. Real enough to threaten and terrify her little sister.

She had gone and gotten the others, and the five of them walked in the woods, dreading what they were going to find. None of them spoke, each one occupied with their own thoughts, and the fear they all had.

“Stop my friends! Up ahead,” coughing, “Up ahead may be your ends!”

They stared as Zecora limped from a bush, her side bleeding heavily and one leg limping badly. Fluttershy went to her, but Zecora waved her away.

“Zecora, what happened!?” Applejack asked.

“Twilight Sparkle is back, and if you go ahead she will attack.”

They glanced at each other before Rarity sighed heavily. “I am afraid that that is what we are here for.”

“We can’t turn back.” Applejack said.

“Applebloom might be in danger.” Fluttershy whispered, softer than she normally did.

Zecora glanced to each in turn, seeing fear and pain on each one.

“She is strong and fast, if you go as you are you will not last.”

None of them responded. None of them could meet her eyes and Zecora felt deep concern for them. She had a suspicion she knew what they were planning to do.

They were not planning to fight. They were planning to die.

“…If this is something you find you must do, then I am going with you.”

“Ya don’t have ta…”

“It is my home, and my land. It is where I also must stand.”

They soon arrived at her home, most of the lights doused. The ground seemed cleared, and a pony shape was in the darkness in front of the home itself. The group stopped at the edge of the light, and for a moment, none had the courage to do anything.

Then Applejack called, “Twilight?”

“It’s me.”

They all flinched at the anger in the voice. The cold indifference. Twilight had never spoken like that.

“I didn’t expect everypony. I am pretty sure I only asked for one.” The shape stood up and turned, “but this does make everything faster.”

Twilight walked into the light, and the bearers backed up in fear and disgust.

Her form was burned and torn, necrotic flesh easily visible. She was almost bald but for a few scraps of purple fur still on her. Her left side had exposed ribs, and the right was little better.

Her mane and tail were black, scattered over her, caught by rotting skin and flesh. They saw her cutie mark and the skull that it now laid on. But the worst was her face.

She smiled hugely, far too wide to be considered normal. Bone was visible around her horn, and her eyes…

Her eyes were gone, leaving two black pits. A black substance leaked from them and caught the bearer’s collective vision, pinning them in place.

“Hello my dear, dear friends.” she chirped. “It’s been a little more than a year we’ve been apart, but I’m back.”

“Twilight…”

“I’ll explain. It’s rather simple really. I got a chance to live again. I took it.”

“At first, I thought that we could meet again, and that nothing had changed. That we were still ‘friends’. It took me a while to realize that I had just been deluding myself from the moment I met you all.”

“How far does the betrayal travel? Does a true friend so easily betray another? Or was it all a lie? A big, fat, giant, LIE?”

“I’ll go from least to greatest.”

“Pinkie Pie.” The pink mare started and leaned away. “The element of happiness. You… you’re just blind. And insane. One hint of ‘party’ and that tiny brain of your simply shuts down. Do you think, or is it all just a random collection of spasms that make it seem like you do?” Pinkie was lying down, covering her head. The others heard her sobs.

“Rarity. Generous to a fault. Whenever it doesn’t hurt you, your image, or anything you might happen to care about, which is yourself. The vainest peacock of a pony I ever met. You do your element a disservice.”

“Darling…”

“Don’t darling me. It’s far, far too late for that.”

“And Applejack. Honesty. And yet, you can’t tell when somepony is lying and when another is telling the truth. Totally consumed with what’s easiest, rather than what’s best. I was honest. It didn’t seem to make a difference.”

“But really, I can’t decide which is the worst. Is it Rainbow, the element of loyalty, the same loyalty she shattered without even a second or first thought!? Or is it Fluttershy, the element of kindness, the same kindness that spat on any chance of my happiness and stomped on my spirit!? Well!? WHICH IS IT!?”

She watched them all, and not one could match her gaze. Most were in tears.

“Can’t defend it. That’s fine. It is indefensible after all. Celestia might be the worst, but you five are close. To think I thought I made friends. I made enemies in disguise. Was it ever real? Was it? Was anything ever really friendship, or just some sick joke played on me?”

“It doesn’t matter. There is only one thing that can make up for everything.”

“Your deaths. But don’t worry; I can guide you to rest once I think you’ve suffered enough. It could be quick; I haven’t decided yet.”

Twilight stepped forward, and Zecora limped in front of the bearers, standing strong.

“This is my land, and my house. So long as I breathe, you shan’t harm even a mouse.”

“… You’re already half dead Zecora. I don’t have something against you. Move.”

“No.”

Twilight’s horn lit, and both mares glared at each other for a few moments.

Then Zecora yelled, and threw something that clouded the air. Twilight backed away from the cloud, and fired within it. Zecora came from the right and rammed into her, sending her sprawling.

Zecora took her chance, and reared back and tried to stomp on Twilight’s head. Her hooves passed right through.

Twilight grabbed Zecora in her magic and lifted her up as the fog fell and she got to her hooves.

“I told you to move aside.”

Zecora didn’t say anything, waiting, staring at Twilight.

“Any last words?”

“You are still Twilight, and this we can mend.” Zecora gave her a wicked smile, “And know this…”

“You are still my friend.”

Twilight stared before screaming at her in rage. The bearers gasped at the sudden crunch. Zecora gasped once, and then her broken body was tossed in front of her home.

One spell and the entire home was in flames. Twilight turned back to the bearers, giving a faint laugh.

“I told her. She just didn’t listen.”

She saw them standing against her. Glaring, ready to fight where once they hadn’t been.

“… It comes to this. I understand.”

Her jar appeared next to her and she smiled as her horn lit again.

But then she frowned, her horn’s light dying for a moment.

“What… what are you doing…”

Her jar rocked, and she looked at it instead of at the bearers.

“My jar!” she yelled. That’s when they charged.

Twilight reacted, but something seemed to catch and hold her to allow the bearers to jump on her. She fought them, struggling and screaming in anger, her horn flashing.

They overcame her, and as one, in a single moment, threw her into the flaming home.

Twilight didn’t make a sound in the fire, and they stood, panting, staring. Then they saw her again, coming out, burning fast.

She made it outside as they backed up, uncertain. She looked up, disintegrating before their eyes.

“I’m so, so sorry.” she said, her voice normal once more. “Thank you…”

She collapsed, her legs falling from her, and Twilight moved no more. Her jar shook and then faded away as if it had never been.

Her friends stared at her burning form, and then at the blaze that consumed Zecora’s home.

“Is it over?” Rainbow asked as Fluttershy sat down.

“She’s gone.” Rarity remarked, and then sighed. “But…”

“She was there…” Pinkie said sadly.

“Just for a little bit.” Fluttershy added.

Applejack sighed as her friends slowly cried over what had just happened. They had lost Twilight again; they had killed her that time.

But they had saved her from whatever had consumed her. And even as she burned, she had saved them.

The monster she became had said everything they had feared she would say. But Twilight… Twilight had said sorry.

Twilight didn’t think those things. Twilight didn’t blame them. Not even for this.

Applejack got tears in her eyes. It hurt, it hurt badly, but it was a good pain. A pain they carried for years could finally begin to heal.

If only Zecora hadn’t died getting them to see what they needed to do. A heavy sacrifice for so little. For something they should have seen immediately.

But Applejack looked up at the smoke that obscured the skies above. Because she had thought she had seen something. Just for a moment. Just an instant.

Two familiar ponies, preventing Twilight from doing anything as they fought her. Stopping her magic. Letting the bearers do what was needed. It was only for an instant, and in the rush of adrenaline, but…

“If it were you… Thanks.” she said, crying. She sobbed openly, as did everypony else, pride forgotten.

And somepony else sobbed as well, in a mixture of sorrow and happiness. The male soul comforted his wife, a single tear in his own eye.

“They did it.” He remarked.

“But… But that poor zebra… And Twilight…”

“I know.”

“An our daughter.”

“She’s become as strong a pony as me. I couldn’t be prouder o her.”

“I think she saw us.”

“I know. Maybe we can’t change much o anything, but… we did good here. They did good here. It’s jus how life works sometimes; we all lose thins. Least now they can properly mourn.”

The female sniffled. “She’s going to be alright, isn’t she?”

“Yep. Applejack’s plenty strong.”

“I meant Twilight. I saw death take her soul, but what does he want with her? What is he going to do now?”

The male hesitated for a long time, watching the fire. “Dunno. But I think we’ll find out sooner or later.”

They remained, watching the fire with the bearers. The pain was strong, but cleansing. It burned away the doubts and fears they had carried for so long.

As the fire slowly died and the sun began rising again, they felt renewed. A new day had dawned, and their hopes were back. Maybe, just maybe, they could move on. They went back to Ponyville, resolving to keep what had happened to as few ponies as possible. Shining Armor and Spike needed to know, as did the princesses, but nopony else.

They were… ready. They would be happy later, but it would take a few days for their nightmare to truly end. A few lingering pains and doubts that would fade in time. They were healed, just not healthy.

And Twilight was back in the darkness, sobbing.

She was herself once more, and she cried for everything she had done. Everything she had said.

She had been cruel and ruthless. Cold and heartless. She had blamed them, and attacked them in the most hurtful way she could have imagined.

And if the two souls hadn’t been able to overcome her, she might have killed them. Like she killed Zecora, crushing the zebra in her magic, relishing the snapping of bone.

She saw Death, still in her dead form, and grew angry at it.

“You did this!” she yelled. “You and your ‘life’!”

“I hurt them! I tried to kill them, wanted to kill them! Because of you!”

She stared at it, panting in her tears. “Everything is worse now.” She said, and turned from death. “Go away.”

“You should look again Twilight Sparkle.” it said in her voice.

“What should I..!” she snapped, before stopping. Death was gone, replaced with images of her friends. Just a few, but enough that she could see them healing. That they weren’t devastated, that they knew that Twilight hadn’t said those things, done those things.

“What?” she whispered, staring at the images.

“Their pain is less.”

Twilight looked and found Death next to her.

“Their regrets are less. They are renewed in their lives. They try to spread that renewal to others. In life, I think that is not ‘everything is worse’.”

“… But I… I did all that…”

“You will find ponies to be understanding and forgiving. Perhaps another race would hate you, but not them. And there is something more.”

“What?”

“The souls you helped.” Death gestured, and Twilight saw the eight she had gotten. They slept, peaceful and happy. Each one at rest, even the one who had fought her. Even the ones she had found tormented in the Everfree. Their pain was over.

“This is the duty of a reaper. I cannot guide souls to rest; only reapers can. I can only provide them their place.”

“Eight souls, three found the moment or moments after their death, and the other five. They had wandered for decades in that wood.”

“Decades?” Twilight asked, incredulous.

“I have few reapers, and many souls. There are only two that are on Equestria; you are the second.”

“Your life might have hurt some, but the growth after death is the strongest. And your duty helps every soul you find.”

“Our contract broke when your body turned to ashes. But we can make another.”

Twilight was silent for a time.

“…Can you make my body again?”

“… It would be almost impossible to raise you from the ashes.”

“I understand. Then what would I be?”

“You would be as a spirit, unable to touch or be touched. A more proper reaper than you were before.”

“… No. I can’t… I don’t trust myself like that. I lose myself like that.”

“…Very well.” Death said. “I shall leave you to your rest.” It turned away from her and took a step.

“Wait!” Twilight called, Death stopping. “I… I want to say something.”

Twilight took a breath. “Thank you. Even if… even if it went horribly wrong, you did let me see them again. Even if everything went bad, I saw them, and I spoke to them. Just for a second, but… That’s more than I expected before you came.”

“So thank you. For the second chance. I hope you find somepony who can help.”

Twilight sighed, and settled down, closing her eyes. Perhaps it could have gone better. Maybe it was fated to have gone so badly. But either way, things were better.

She had very nearly made everything worse, but it somehow worked out. Her friends were better, and maybe they could help the others in turn. There was hope, where hope was missing before.

As for her, she would rest. Find some peace.

She had before. It wouldn’t be hard to do so again.

She felt… unaccomplished. She had truly failed, and only won because things had fallen in the correct way. She hadn’t had a good chance, and had ruined it, not noticing what she was becoming until it was too late.

It was better than her regrets she could have carried, but it still bothered her. Peace might be a little hard to find, just like it had been before.

Twilight sank, and though her thoughts ended, the idea that she had a chance and failed remained with her.