Background and Lore

The question that haunts everyone everywhere: What happens when we die?

For all science and magic have accomplished, this is the question they have never managed to definitely answer...at least without the use of necromancy, which is normally forbidden to most. So the only ideas we have of life beyond death comes from folktales, superstition and belief, which, of course, vary from kingdom to kingdom.

One belief that is quite common in Equestria, involves two key Gods of death: Mictlan and La Catrina.

While these two Gods are both associated with death, they couldn't be any more different.

While their daughter goes to collect souls when they die, Mictlan and La Catrina both rule two different lands where they could end up.

Where everyone hopes to go is the appropriately named; Land of the Dead, sometimes called the Elysian Fields or Elysium. It is the realm where all the souls of good people go to be reunited with lost families and just be in paradise. This realm is ruled by the Goddess La Catrina, who rules with a loving and gentle hand. Despite her association with death, La Catrina is openly worshipped and revered in several places.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for her husband, because while there are many good people....there are also several bad or downright evil people.

This is where the other God comes in.

Mictlan rules the Land of the Punished, where souls of people who have committed great crimes in their lives go for sentencing. For while life itself is not always fair....death is. For it is the destination we all have in common, no matter what.

But don't let that make you think Mictlan is a bad God! Far from it! For his dark purpose and frightening appearance; the legends tell him as a loving and devoted husband to La Catrina. It is he who gives judgement to souls when they die, reflecting and comparing their actions and lifestyles, good or bad, and he always judges fair. He takes personal responsibility for those he condemns, using the Land of the Dead as a sort of 'reformation' program for souls to pay for their crimes so they can hopefully one day move on to the Land of the Dead.

For as frightening death itself may seem, it is just another part of life, and the holiday 'Dia De los Muertos' was created to honor them and the lives they had.

The Equestrians believe that we are all born destined for Elysium, and will make it, so long as they follow one simple rule; the first rule of magic and of their personal beliefs:

Do what thou wilt, but harm none.