Even Death Needs A Vacation

"Whoever invented stairs, I wish I could've sent the bastard into Limbo."

Lily groaned as she walked up the 15th staircase of the day, huffing softly from exertion. Normally stuff like this doesn't have any effect on her, but for some reason, going long distances without any breaks was starting to take it's toll on her. Practically dragging herself up the stairs, hanging off of her scythe with each step higher, she finally made it to the top, her aching legs begging her for relief. But she refused, knowing that every moment she's waiting around was a moment she wasn't finding a way out of this crummy universe.

Pushing herself through pain she hadn't felt in thousands of years, the little girl dragged on out of pure spite. But as she got more and more mad to psych herself up, her body began to deteriorate once again, rotting and turning ashy blue and green. Ponies looked at her, gasping at the horrific display before running in fear from the hooded zombie fox. Lily's wispy red eyes narrowed in her sockets as she felt the water soaking her bones.

"Yeah, run away, like you always have... You're no different than anybody else. Nobody is. Who could love something as disgusting and cruel as a Death anyway..."

But as she continued through the city, Lily couldn't shake the feeling of being followed... Watched by some unseen presence. She paused her advance, wrenching her neck around with a rotten crackling noise as the smoky red plumes in her eye sockets slowly scanned the area behind her. There was nothing but a crowd of preppy ponies running away from her in the distance.

If she still had lips, she'd be frowning right now. Instead, she turned back around and pushed on, her ancient tail bones creaking. She was only another couple miles from the castle. And when she got there, there was going to be Hell to pay. Oh yes, there was going to be Hell.

Twilight paced in the busy passenger cart impatiently as the Friendship Express clattered down the tracks noisily, the countryside zooming by the windows. Fluttershy, at this point, had managed to compose herself a little more, although anypony could see she was only one or two wrong words from another breakdown. The others, meanwhile, were talking quietly, discussing what they had learned...

"So Lily was drowned by her real mother..." Rarity said softly, looking at the floor.

"Well, that's still no excuse for lying to us! And if she thought mom's were evil, that means she thought Fluttershy was just as bad! She basically insulted her by calling her that!" Rainbow snorted, "I swear when I get my hooves on her..."

"Now Rainbow, calm down. Lily was just... misinformed. She can't be blamed for not knowin' any better! Besides, we promised Spirit that we'd find Lily and bring her back safely." Applejack said, glaring at Rainbow Dash from across the aisle.

"I'm sorry, I just can't believe she'd say something like that about Fluttershy!"

"Like Applejack said, darling, she didn't know any better! And that nightmare she had only made matters worse. She's clearly a very troubled girl."

"I hope she'll be happy to see us..." Pinkie said sadly, pawing at her seat softly, her long straight mane swaying a bit.

"Don't worry Pinkie Pie. I'm sure once we get this whole mess straightened out, she'll come around again."

The rest of the train ride went along in a similar fashion. Thankfully, it was a short trip up the mountain, and they arrived in Canterlot Station around half an hour later. The 6 mares quickly got off the train, running into town before gathering in a square just a block or two away to formulate a game plan.

"Alright girls, Lily is probably somewhere in Canterlot. Now, we just need to figure out where! Rainbow Dash and I will take to the air and get a bird's eye view of the whole city. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie will be ground team one, searching the main streets and avenues. Rarity and Applejack will be ground team two, searching the alleys and backstreets. As soon as any of us get a visual on Lily, we're to inform the other teams immediately!"

"Orr... we could just go in the opposite direction of those scared ponies." Rainbow said, pointing to a crowd of frightened citizens racing by.

There was a beat as they watched the crowd run by, hearing them squealing and screaming, a few shouting something about a "monster in a hood" and "something straight out of Tartarus". Looking at each other, the 6 mares quickly darted in the opposite direction, racing toward their next lead. They knew they were on the right track when they saw a trail of pond scum and murky water seemingly appear out of nowhere, then slowly drag itself in the direction of Canterlot Castle.

"Why is she going to the castle?" Rainbow said as she flew behind her friends, "If she's trying to get away from us, wouldn't it make more sense to go somewhere else?"

"She must believe there's something up there that can aid in her escape!" Twilight answered, galloping down the street.

"Well, we better stop her before somepony important sees her! Who knows what they'd do!" Applejack shouted.

Lily's advance only slowed more and more as her body continued to deteriorate. At this point, she was not much more than a skeleton wearing clothes, but her old bones were starting to weaken as well. She'd already lost most of her tail bones, as well as parts of her feet. But she refused to stop, she couldn't! Not when she was so close to her goal! She grunted, grinding her teeth as she took another step forward. Then another... and another.

She just knew there'd be something up there for her to get home with! A portal, an amulet, a looking glass, something! There had to be! There just had to-

Wait, what's that noise?

Her bones clacked and creaked as she slowly turned her head, looking over her shoulder. It sounded like... hoofsteps. Rapid ones. And a lot of them. And it was getting louder. Squinting, she could see a cloud of dust slowly approaching from the street behind her, a little flurry of color leading it. What were those colors called again? Gah, Rarity told her, right? Started with a P... Pretzel... Parcel... Pestle... pastel! That's it.

The blurry colors were pastels. Wait... Pastels?! That means that a group of ponies are after her!

"But... who'd be chasing... oh no."

She turned back around, looking for a place to hide. She slowly managed to get to the side of the road before clumsily climbing into a parked chariot and hiding inside. Her bones were thankful for the break, as they began to slowly rebuild themselves now that Lily was somewhat relaxed. Well, relaxed was far from what Lily was, but at least her bones were becoming stronger.

The galloping got louder and louder, making Lily curl up a little more in the chariot.

"Lilyyyy!" Twilight called from somewhere outside the chariot. It sounded distant, but she wasn't sure. Her ears weren't exactly there anymore. "Lilyyyyyy!!"

Please just go away, you're making this harder than it has to be!

The galloping slowed to a canter, which slowed to a walk.

"Anything Rainbow?"

"The trail doesn't continue toward the castle, so she must've stopped somewhere around here!"

"Well, let's see if we can find where she went."

"Wait, I smell pond water from over here!"

Oh god damn it. Of COURSE she'd leave a pond water trail, why didn't she think of that?!

The sound of hoofsteps got closer and closer to the chariot, then stopped just outside of it. Lily paused, hoping that they'd just turn around and walk away. Instead, there was a soft knock on the side of the chariot.

"Lily...?" Twilight said softly.

There was no answer.

"Lily, we know you're in there... We can smell pond water."

"Go away..."

"Lily, please... Just come out and talk to us?"

There was another silence, and soon Lily peeked out from the chariot, making all 6 of them back up in fear. Twilight squinted, then looked concerned as she leaned in curiously.

"...Lily...? Oh my Celestia, what happened? You're all... you're all bones!"

"It's... part of my reaper magic... If I get too emotional, I start to look more like how I died..."

"Oh... so... you're... okay?" Twilight said cautiously, giving a sheepish smile.

"I wouldn't say that..." Lily said, her red plumes of smoke looking down at the floor.

"We... know why you ran away."

There was a pause from Lily's end as the red smoke darted back up to look at her, making Twilight jump before continuing.

"You're afraid of being hurt or abandoned, like how YOUR mother hurt you...But Lily, we're not like that. We really, truly love you, Lily. We'd never hurt you."

"You're only saying that because he's making you. This isn't real. This is some illusion to punish me."

"Because who's making us?" Rainbow said, scowling.

"My mentor! None of you are real! He just wants to get me all attached to you so that he can rip you away when I get comfortable!"

"Lily, we're not illusions. We're real ponies with real, genuine care for you..." Twilight said, extending her hoof to Lily, who tried to swat it away.

"No you're not!" She protested, tears starting to form in the corners of her sockets, "Y-You're not real! No matter how much I want you to be!"

The mares looked at one another, frowning before looking back to Lily.

"Lily, what can we do to prove that we're real?"

"Real things die."

The ponies went silent, shocked by what Lily just said.

"Lily... are... you saying you want us to die?"

"It's the only way to know you're telling the truth! And you can't die, so you can't be telling the truth!"

"But Lily... You can't die either," Twilight said, lowering her brow, "So by that same logic, you're as fake as the rest of us."

"But... Wait, that's not fair, I already died!"

"Not THIS version of you."

"B-But... that... no! That's not how that works!" Lily whimpered, tears streaming down her cheekbones.

Twilight knew she was striking a nerve, but she knew it was the only way to get Lily to understand.

"How can you be so sure, Lily? For all you know, we all died in a previous life too."

"B-But... But... th-that doesn't make any sense!! Why would my mentor send me to a place full of creatures who have already died?!"

"I didn't..."

Everybody jumped at the rusty voice that suddenly echoed from everywhere at once. Lily looked up in surprise at the gigantic cloaked figure that was suddenly standing behind the 6 mares.

"B-Boss?!"

The mares looked behind them and screamed, backpedaling from the huge figure towering over them. It was easily as tall as a house, and it didn't cast a shadow.

"WHAT THE HAY IS THAT?!" Rainbow shouted.

"SUGARCUBE, THIS THING IS YOUR BOSS?!" Applejack said, looking at Lily and pointing a hoof at Death.

"Quiet..." he said, never breaking the stare he was sharing with Lily, "Lily... You... are confused."

"W-Well... YEAH!" She shouted, obviously annoyed, "I've only been trying to talk to you for the past 4 days with no answer! What the fuck is the deal?! Why did you send me to a place with a bunch of ponies that can't die?!"

Death's shoulders rose and fell a few times as he let out a raspy chuckle, making Lily immediately look more fearful. She... never heard Death _laugh_ before.

"B-Boss... a-are... you... laughing?"

The chuckles continued, ancient wheezes and choked laughter only growing louder as he held his stomach. Despite the laughter, everybody was only further discomforted, even Pinkie Pie. Soon, he stopped laughing, letting his hands drop to his sides again.

"You... always were... a feisty girl. Even... now... when you talk... to your boss." he said, sounding more like a father to Lily than a boss. "You... want answers... that I... have not given."

Lily nodded quietly, shrinking away into the chariot a little more.

"I cannot... say. You must... figure it out... for yourself."

Lily suddenly rose back up, looking angry.

"F-Figure...it... YOU SENT ME HERE TO FIGURE IT OUT?! THAT'S ALL I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO!!" She was interrupted when her mentor lifted his hand to her.

"I can... say, however... that you... are not... being... punished."

"I'm... not? But that poor boy, I almost-"

"You... are an emotional... girl... and you lost... control. You need... guidance."

He lowered his hand, motioning toward the ponies below him.

"They... will guide you."

Lily looked down at the mares at his feet, then looked back up to her mentor. She let out a soft squeak when he suddenly squat down, leaning on his knees and reaching out to her with a single bony finger. She shivered as he got closer, then... gently tapped at the top of her nose hole. Lily's form glowed brightly for a few moments, and when it was done, she was back to her old self, flesh and all. She looked at her hands in wonder, then looked up at her mentor thankfully.

"Boop." he said, and Lily swore she saw a bony grin under his hood's shadow.

She giggled, closing her eyes from the sheer informality of her boss in that moment, and when she opened them, he was gone, leaving behind 6 VERY shaken mares and one reaper with an adorable smile.

"...Let us never speak of this again." Rarity said curtly, making all of her friends give a series of frightened nods and muttered affirmations.

Lily climbed out from the chariot, taking her scythe with her before walking over to the ponies.

"I...I think I'm ready to try again... if... you'll have me."

The mares all looked at Lily in surprise, then smiled and quickly crowded around her, giving her one of their patented pony group hugs. Lily meeped sharply, caught off guard by the downy tag-teaming she was receiving, before smiling and enjoying the warm embrace. That's when she heard several... twinkling noises.

"Girls...? Why are your butts vibrating?"

The ride home was a lot more enjoyable than the ride there as the 6 mares gushed over Lily's return, Fluttershy more than anyone. Lily certainly didn't mind the attention, and armed with an answer she really could've used at the beginning of her journey, she was more than happy to go back to Ponyville. Although, everypony agreed that Lily would definitely need more TLC before she would call anypony "mom" again. This didn't stop Fluttershy from snuggling Lily like she was her own foal, however.

"Fluttershyyy, c'monnn!" Lily giggled, "I missed you too, but we've been cuddling ever since we sat down!"

Fluttershy just giggled and nuzzled the top of Lily's head, planting a kiss right between her ears, only tightening her embrace. She even got her wings involved, surrounding Lily like a feathery shield. Lily peeked out, looking at Twilight who sat across from her.

"Help me~" she squeaked playfully, which only made Fluttershy hold on a little tighter.

"Hehehe! Well, she IS the Element of Kindness, Lily."

"Element of what now?"

The ponies all went silent as they looked at Lily in surprise. Lily feigned ignorance for a moment before losing her composure and breaking into a giggle fit.

"I'm kiddinnnng!" she assured, kicking her legs happily. The ponies all began laughing with her, rolling their eyes and shaking their heads.

"Okay but seriously what's an Element of Kindness...?"

Fluttershy carried Lily back to her cottage, taking it slow so as not to jolt the sleepy girl on her back. They went inside, and the animals immediately swarmed Fluttershy and Lily, the former waving her hoof to get them to settle down.

"Quiet down everyone~" she said with a giggle, "I know, I missed her too. She's safe now."

The pegasus gently let Lily off her back, who sleepily began to stumble her way to the couch again. But Fluttershy was quick to stop her, guiding her toward the stairs instead.

"Wha... why?" Lily said sleepily.

"I want to make sure you don't have another night terror~ You're sleeping with me tonight."

"But..." Lily began, but stopped as she saw Fluttershy's maternal smile, "Oh alriiight."

The two of them went upstairs and got into bed, getting comfortable. And right when Lily was about to close her eyes, a soft jingling noise made her jump. Sitting up, she looked toward the window. Suddenly, a ghostly white orb wearing a pink lily flew into the room, circling the bed a few times.

"Spirit!" Lily shouted happily, extending her arms as her ghostly friend swooped down to her, wrapping her arms around them. "Ohh I missed you so much~ I'm so sorry about before, you were right all along... Can you forgive me?"

Spirit bounced up and rubbed up against Lily's face, making her giggle as Fluttershy watched with a big smile.

"Aww I love you too, Spirit~ C'mon, we should let Fluttershy sleep though... She's gotta teach tomorrow."

Her ectoplasmic companion flew out of her arms, then floated down to the foot of the bed and laid down, settling in place as Lily laid back down, sighing softly. There was a silence for a while before Lily turned to look at Fluttershy.

"...Fluttershy?"

"Yes Lily?"

"Thank you for coming to find me..."

"Anything for a friend, Lily."