Time flows differently for us all. In the past millennia, I saw days pass under my nose so quickly that I could hardly believe a year was worth even a passing thought. Now though, with freedom finally being something I could actually enjoy, I found nights lasting longer. I also found myself a bit more lax in my work, with a slower rate of work in modern times I was lucky to have a hundred jobs a year. I also had weeks at a time with nothing to do, which led to hobbies. I couldn't remember if I had a hobby before this, but I found drawing to be an excellent outlet. I would write music as I walked, and find myself smiling as I read a book in a closed shop. But today was special. Today I had no time for hobbies or wandering. There was no music to be shared, just me and an empty plinth of marble.

I traced the Cutie Mark with my finger, feeling the slight indents of carving with my now gloveless hands. "Hello there princess, how have the past hundred years been?" I didn't expect an answer and sat down cross-legged. "You've given me so much with your passing. The entity did indeed die, and with its death, my workload crumbled to nearly nothing. I think it co-opted death itself. Using flaws in whatever system was naturally here to feast on souls."

I moved my mask up, letting the cold night air kiss my scruffy beard. "I thought maybe I would die with it, but instead I get work directly. Like I was supposed to be doing it the whole time, only the old hook was placing itself in the middle." I ran a hand over my face, trying to find words for what I've been wanting to say for a century. "I've been watching your daughter for you. I know you didn't ask me to, but it seemed the least I could do. She's smarter than the ponies around her give her credit for. I think she even knows I'm watching her, but it's hard to tell. She doesn't act like most creatures. If her eyes ever meet my mask, they light up. Like she's spotted an old friend instead of her mothers murderer."

I sighed. "I wish I could talk to her, but I doubt it would end well. Celestia and Luna have been searching for me tirelessly. I still try to do things right though. I was there for the element bearers when they passed. I know Twilight was your sister, and you would want them to know that they're safe." I felt one of my eyes tear up. "Look at me, sitting here like some maiden and crying at the grave of my savior. If this was some storybook you would rise from my tears, or I'd hear your voice in the wind. I'm sad to say I've read plenty of those abominations recently. They make me feel better about," I gestured to the whole world with my hands. "All this. On the bad days, I wish that I had died with that crazy god, but you've given me a chance. I won't waste it."

I heard something behind me but didn't care to turn and look. "I had to take your chance at life, and in your final moments, you gave me something I never thought I could have. You gave me a chance to live life by my own rules." I leaned my head against the cold marble. "I'm glad I managed to keep the entity off of you. With it gone I get to know a little bit more of what happens on the other side, and I've seen a glimpse of you before. It seems so nice there, and I'm glad you aren't suffering."

I let the quiet of the mausoleum invade, the empty building that sat in Canterlot a tomb of more than just ponies. I suppose it was poetic in its own way. Death sitting with the dead, regretting their passing. I smiled. "Y'know, this reminds me of something I read so long ago. The greatest love story ever told was that between life and death. Life would craft death a billion gifts with love and care, and he would keep each and every one. I guess I have, but I never met life." I tapped the marble with a finger as if rousing a close friend from a nap. "You were the closest thing, and for your gift, I will forever guard what was yours. So I guess what I'm trying to say is rest, never shall your family fall by an assassin's blade, or a workplace accident. Your line will only die naturally, and I shall guide each and every one of them to your side with my own hand. Just like I did with Shining."

A cough sounded from behind me, and I let out an annoyed scoff. "I am having a private moment. If you something here to kill me then wait outside."

The voice was soft, and I barely recognized it. "Actually, I was here to see you."

I paused, turning my head to see Princess Flurry Heart, ruler of the Crystal Empire. I froze as the ward I had protected in most of my free-time stared me down with a sad smile. I thought of a million things I could say. An introduction, an explanation, but they all died before they even graced my throat. Instead, I simply nodded while pointing to an area of marble beside me. I turned back to the memorial of Princess Mi Amore Cadenze. Immortal alicorn of love cut down in her prime. Finally, the words I wanted to say came to mind. "I'm sorry you never got to meet your mother."

So simple, and so painful. Words that could never live up to my immense regret at the death on my hands. Instead, I focused on what was important and turned to the grave. The silence came in again, this time with a vengeance. I let it wash over me, trying to think of things to say, but every time a thought formed it was chased off by a shuffle from the princess beside me. After five minutes she spoke. "Did you really kill my mom?" I nodded dumbly, unable to say anything of substance. Then she asked the damn question I couldn't answer. The one that I had been praying for and dreading for a century. "Why?"

My breath caught, which for a dead man was a bit of an achievement. I stuttered a moment, all my prepared answer being thrown out in the face of a single curious being who I was indebted to more than she could ever imagine. "I-I... I had to. She gave everything so I could live, and killing her myself was the closest thing to saving her I could do."

Flurry looked at me for a moment. "I got told you tried to kill every alicorn, but you haven't come after me yet." I paused, wiping my brow as I looked up to the statue on the plinth. Flurry moved slightly closer. "And I don't think you ever will."

I nodded. "Your natural, a scion of ice born into a physical body. There was no attempt to buck the order or extend your life. I keep the balance of life and death, and a mortal ascending is how you end up with so much life that all things die." I sighed, running my hands through my hair causing my hood to fall. "But your mother ascended, she saved a village and stumbled across the gift of immortality. But the rules don't allow exceptions, whenever a mortal becomes more than that, I have to test their mettle." I pointed to the head of the statue. "Your mother, she saw that the creature I had to follow at the time was feeding off me, and spent the trial cutting each of its hooks in me."

I looked down at the floor, unable to meet Flurry's eyes. "And by the end it was crippled, but it still had enough control over me that I couldn't let her go. When I got to choose between it eating her or not, I made my choice. I killed her myself, which meant she escaped a fate worse than death."

Flurry Heart shuffled back and forth. "You were there when my dad died too. I saw you speak to nothing as his funeral went on."

I nodded. "I was talking to him. He asked to see his own funeral if only to make sure you were okay." I paused thinking back on the conversation. "He said he was proud of you, and that you were even better than he dreamed when he first saw you in your crib." I coughed. "He also said If I ever hurt you he would crawl out of Elysium simply to haunt me." I smiled at the memory. "He was a good man, er, stallion. I wish I could have known him better."

Flurry nodded. "He was the best, but I came here for a more specific question." I raised an eyebrow, trying to tease out what Flurry wanted to know without her asking the question. She ruined my attempts by speaking. "Why do you follow me around?" The silence seemed overpowering after those words dropped. I had never masked myself to her, letting her know when I was there from the moment I found out Cadence had a filly. She started speaking after a moment of silence. "I remember seeing you a lot. I saw you at my fifth birthday, and you brought me that hairpin nopony knew where it came from. And you were there when we recovered my mom's regalia, in almost every major event in my life I've seen you in the corner. Just watching."

I nodded, deciding to let my still heart decide my words. "Your mother was the most generous and kindest soul I have ever met, and perhaps the only thing I ever fully regret allowing to pass into the dark. When I found out she had a child, I made a promise." I lowered my mask back onto my face, letting it cover my clammy features. "None in her line will die from an unnatural cause, and her daughter will live a full life as safe as possible." I paused, trying to come up with an adequate way to describe my feelings. "I owe your mother a debt so large that if I watched you for a million years I would be no closer to earning her kindness, so I guard you. I will make sure no arrow will find your heart, and no fire will burn you down."

I stood slowly. "I may not always be able to be beside you, but I will forever watch over you. Never shall you need to fear for your life, and I will be there to guide any mortals of your line to the other side." I turned to leave and paused. "Though, if you could do one thing for me, I would be thankful." She didn't speak, but without a declination, I moved forward. "Tell the other princesses that... that I'm sorry. I wish there had been another way." With that I let myself fade into fog, no longer a dark grey but of clear white. I let the wind take me to a nearby rooftop, and reformed to sit down on the rafters. "Well Cadence, your girls sharp as a tack and smart as as a suit. Hope you were watching." With a sad smile I felt a niggle at the back of my neck. Work called, and death waits for nothing. A cloud passed by my perch, and by the time Flurry walked out, I was gone.

Author's Note

And that's a wrap.