The Return of the Reaper of Life

Equestria 27,000 years ago
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Long ago, before Time was even given form, name or even became a conceded notion there existed a Being, He traveled the Void going from place to place or at least what stood as a place when there was an abstract Void of nothing. One day as He stopped to rest and meditate a creature approached him. The Being was shocked at first, here before him stood the first living thing he had seen in many countless eons.

"Who are you?" He asked the creature before Him.

"I do not know." She replied in a sad tone. "I do not know who I am, who are you?"

The being pondered this as He had never truly thought about it. "I believe that I was once known by another name, though what it was I cannot remember, however the name I am now called is Death. I am the Grim Reaper."

The creature tilted its head in confusion "Grim Reaper? Is that what I am?" She asked.

Death laughed at her question. "No my dear, I am and always will be the only Grim Reaper, it is the title given to the ruler of the Reapers, the title of Death. And before you ask no, you are not a Reaper either as you bare no cloak or scythe. But I do believe I know who you are, that is if you wish to know."

The creature nodded its head. "Yes, can you please tell me who I am?"

Death sighed at her response and he too nodded. "Very well, I will tell but first I must be sure so I will ask you a few questions. Please answer them as best you can." The creature nodded and Death began. "First tell me what you are." The Creature hesitated before answering.

"I am what’s known as a... Pony. I think I'm part of the species called... an Alicorn... wait, how do I know this!"

"This is basic knowledge given to you when you were created.” Death Explained. “This same basic knowledge is also why you can speak. Tell me, how did you find me and what do you remember before finding me?"

The Alicorn thought for a moment. "I remember there was… nothing a great nothing that existed and at the same time didn’t, then there was... something. When I... awoke? Yes, awoke, I sensed something and a voice called me to find that something. So I followed looking for that something. I walked for what seems like a long time and that something always stayed ahead then it stopped moving and I... found it. It was you., I was searching, following you!"

Death nodded. "I see, tell me what’s the opposite of Death?"

The Alicorn didn't hesitate or think on this question. "Life."

"And there is your answer." Death said with a sigh. "In all honesty I wondered when you would show up."

"So... I am Life?" The Alicorn asked. "And what do you mean ‘when you would show up’?"

"You are Life my opposite in all ways. You give while I take, you are all that which brings joy I am all that which brings sorrow but without you I cannot exist for it is I that takes what you give. As Death it is my duty to oppose you and insure that when the time comes for those whose time it is to return go back to where they must return."

The Alicorn liked surprised for a moment before frowning. "But that‘s not fair, I have only just met you and yet you have been so kind. You have walked this realm for who knows how long and yet you now abandon your only chance at companionship in the face of some greater duty?!" Life scoffed at this as if it were a cruel joke. "Tell me that this is some form of sick joke to amuse yourself, for if you are truly Death and I Life then the first thing I create will be whatever you desire!"

Death laughed, he laughed long and hard but there was no joy in it. It was a mirthless laugh that spoke the answer more than any words could. "Perhaps you should challenge the universe with your humor for the joke was never mine to make, I wish it was but it’s not. All that I have spoken is truth and I truly am sorry but if you do not believe then follow me. Death rose and began to walk in what seemed a random direction. "Ahead of us is a world that holds no life. It has the remains of a moon and a dying sun but that is all, let's prove my claims and bring that long dead world life."

The two beings walked in silence and as they walked Life began to notice that where ever she walked the stars around her glowed brighter or new stars formed. ”I cannot be life.” She whispered as she followed Death. Death ignored what she muttered and continued to walk, the Alicorn following for what seemed like an eternity but at last they came upon the world of which Death had spoken of.

"Here it is the world of which I spoke. When I came to be it was this world on which I and two others lay. Sadly there was no life on the planet even then and one of the other two I was with passed before they could truly learn their power. After a few years of learning how to control my power I tried to bring it life but ultimately I failed and this world has only fallen deeper into ruin since."

"What do you mean bring it life? If you are Death why try to bring life to something?" The Alicorn asked as she turned to him.

Death sighed. "My scythe is more than a weapon or tool; it holds the ability to take the Soul of any living being however that is not its only power. You see my Scythe is rather unique in the fact that it can grant life as well, sadly while I might be able to grant life I can't create life but you, you hold the ability to do this, you can do what I cannot, create life from nothing."

The Alicorn sighed "Fine I'll try and 'create' life. I assume that you want a world of darkness or so-"

"NO." Death roared causing the Alicorn to shrink away from Death in fear however he raised his hand and a dark aura surrounding her and pulled her close to his face. The Alicorn screamed in terror as the hood of the cloak fell away revealed his face to her, it appeared as that of a bleached white skull with glowing red eyes. "What I desire is this world restored not twisted into an abomination!" He yelled at her in anger.

The Alicorn closed her eyes and whimpered as Death held her in his power for a few more moments before he slowly began to take a few deep breaths. Slowly the Alicorn cracked her eyes open however they quickly widened as she watched him calm down and quickly realized that the more he calmed down the more features appeared on his face. Once he had fully calmed down she saw what he really appeared as, his skin was only slightly pale and boar a single scar across his right eye. His hair was a deep black almost matching that of the space of which they stood, his eyes no longer glowed red but instead where an arctic blue and gave off a faint silver glow.

'He is certainly handsome.' She thought before her eyes widened in surprise. 'Why did I think that? He is Death and I am 'supposedly' Life! Besides we only just met I can't like him!'

"I apologies for that outburst." Death said as he released her and he looked away. “That was… unbecoming of me.”

"It's... well it's not alright but this was partly my fault. I shouldn’t have said that." the Alicorn said as she raised a hoof to his arm.

Death began to chuckle and soon it turned into a full on laugh, the Alicorn was taken aback by Deaths reaction till she realized that his laughter had devolved into sobs. “It's not fair this cruel universe!" Death said as he slowly fell to his knees crying. “You were not far off when you said I have traveled for countless eons, Time is meaningless on this universe as there is none, but I have existed for so long alone. And then here I am almost chocking the one person who willingly tolerates my presence and not look upon me in disgust.”

The Alicorn watched sadly as Death cried. Slowly she knelt down her horn glowing with she magic didn’t understand and lightly touched it to the dirt. With a flash of green energy the earth beneath them was rejuvenated and sprang to life as grass and flowers rippled outward from underneath her and spread out like a shock wave but the Alicorn was not done she raised her head and trees ripped from the earth and rose standing tall as if they had for thousands of years. Another wave of her magic and the sun glowed as the threads of light that had made it look like an unraveled ball of yarn began to weave back together and merge into one and the broken moon above them was pushed together and reformed creating a sky born in the twilight hours of both day and night. The Alicorn gasped for air as the effort left her drained but she still had one thing left she had to do. 'I can't be with him in this form we're too different. I have already restored the planet, sun and moon now for him I will use the last of my power to change myself.'

The Alicorn gasped in pain as her body cracked and bones shifted. Slowly her body changed to support that of a bipedal creature, her chest expanded outward as her forelegs shifted onto arms and her hind changed to support her new form while still having hooves, once these changes had finished her front hoofs shifted and slowly morphed into hands. Tears fell from her eyes from the pain but she willed the changes to continue, her magic faltering for a moment but remaining strong as it continued changing her body to further take on the traits of Deaths only more feminine. Her body took on a slight hourglass curve, her bones shifted to support her weight and her wings grew larger to allow flight. Once the changes finished the Alicorns limbs gave out and she collapsed on to her stomach.

After a moment to recover the reformed mare slowly sat up and looked herself over. Her body very different than her previous form, she noted that she still had her rear hooves, her fur and while she could tell her face had changed slightly it was mostly unchanged. The rest was what she assumed was what a female of Deaths species looked like. Slowly The Alicorn approached Death and embraced him in a hug. "Please stop crying." She said and gasped, her voice had changed slightly as well; it now held a melody like quality that was quit soothing.