Death's Apprentice

Chapters

Prologue - A Fortunate Turn of Events
Chapter One - Master and Apprentice
Chapter Two - A New Way of Doing Things
Chapter Three - Training Begins

Prologue - A Fortunate Turn of Events

Death's Apprentice

by Phil-Osophy

Summary: Death isn't as young as he used to be, ten thousand years as the keeper of souls has driven him to exhaustion. So when a certain orange filly meets her doom. Death decides to take her on as his apprentice, the next 'Grim Reaper'.

Prologue – A Fortunate Turn of Events

“Scootaloo, are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Sweetie Belle, looking worriedly towards her pegasus friend.

“Of course I am!” Scootaloo responded confidently, picking up a small hammer in her mouth. “Wurr curf porraby ro rong?”

Appleboom shook her head at the other filly's poor choice of words.

“Don't go sayin' that Scoots, you'll jinx it!” she warned.

Scootaloo just scoffed and rolled her eyes as she finished hammering in one of the last nails.

“I swear Applebloom, you're family is the only family I know that still believes in all that sort of stuff.” she snickered. Sweetie Pie giggled as Applebloom pouted.

“I'm not backwards," she protested "I'm the one who first made friends with Zecora!” She threw a stray screw at her smirking friend.

“Hey! Don't throw things we might need.”

“I'm still worried.” Sweetie Belle said in a small voice, standing in front of the two before they could continue.

The other's faces softened and they both went in to hug the unicorn filly.

“Awwh don't worry Sweetie Belle! This is probably the best plan I've ever come up with. I get to try for a scooter stunt cutie mark, and we all get to try for construction cutie marks. It's a win win!”

“But don't you already ride your scooter a lot?” interjected Sweetie.

“Yeah, and aren't we always building things?” added Applebloom. Scootaloo looked flustered.

“Err... y-yeah b-but um... d-didn't Twilight say that we should focus on things we're already good at? Yeah! So if we keep doing big things like this instead of normal things we should get find our talent.” Scootaloo grinned triumphantly. Applebloom sighed.

“Fine,” she turned back towards their half finished ramp. “We're almost done anyways.”

“That's the spirit! Sweetie, get me some more nails and another plank!” said Scootaloo. She turned back to their construction and picked up the hammer in her mouth again. Sweetie walked over to their stockpile grumbling.

“Just hope I don't have to get my first-aid cutiemark today...”

Three hours later, their ramp was finished. The three crusaders looked in wonder at their newest and greatest construction. Applebloom had borrowed the supplies from the farm, which had them in large stock. The ramp was situated halfway down the path on a hill. Scootaloo would start from the top of the hill, gain some speed then shoot off of the ramp and land on the path some twenty metres below where the ramp stood. They had moved a few hay bales in the way at Sweetie's insistence.

“At least then you'll have a chance of survival.” she remarked as Scootaloo protested.

Scootaloo hated to admit it, but for the first time in a long time, she doubted her ability to pull off a jump. She'd never tried something on this scale before. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she fiddled with her helmet.

“Okay Scoots, we'll be down by the ramp. No doin' any fancy tricks this time ya' hear?” Applebloom warned, squaring up to the other filly and looking her dead in the eyes. "Just go off the ramp and in t' the hay."

Scootaloo grinned cockily.

“I'll be fine Applebloom. You just watch me.” she said confidently. Her earth pony friend merely sighed, wished her good luck, and galloped down the hill to the ramp where Sweetie Belle was waiting.

Scootaloo took a moment to line up the scooter, aiming directly for the middle of the ramp. Just as she got on, a chilling wind roared around her, almost throwing her off balance and filling her with a sense of foreboding. She shivered slightly before shaking her head. What was she doing? Getting scared of a little wind? Rainbow Dash would never scared of something so stupid! Scootaloo took one final intake of breath and pushed off, rolling down the hill.

The wind once again roared around her, this time it was different though, this wind made Scootaloo feel alive. Was this what she was missing not being able to fly? It didn't matter anyway, the ramp was fast approaching. Before she knew it, Scootaloo was hurtling through the air.

The adrenaline ran through her blood like a tsunami as she, for the first time, flew. Scootaloo giggled like a mad-pony. This was living, this was what she was made to do. The feeling was amazing, euphoric.

“Wooooooooooooooooooo!” screamed the orange pegasus. As she opened her wings and performed a three hundred and sixty degree spin. Throwing away all cautions she flapped her wings frantically as she began her descent, pushing her weight against the handles. One front flip, two front flips, three front flips! It took a second for Scootaloo to regain her senses, disorientated from the . When she looked forward, her eyes bulged.

By opening her wings, the wind had caught in them, lifting her way above the hay bales and further towards the farm. Elation turned to terror as the speed of her plummet rapidly increased, her heart raced with fear.

The scooter landed hard, Scootaloo's legs taking the brunt of the impact, cracking under the stress. Scootaloo yelled as she fell off the scooter as her legs buckled under the stress. Her broken body scimmed across the ground like a ragdoll.

The last thing Scootaloo felt was her head hitting one of the sturdy wooden poles of the Sweet Apple Acres fence and a small pain in her neck. Then there was nothing, nothing but darkness.

Scootaloo wouldn't say that she woke. It was rather more like she had just taken a very long blink. One moment there was nothing, the next moment there was something, like a flash. What was more confusing was the fact that she was now stood up, and the pain which had previously been her world was missing.

She was close to where she had fallen, the surroundings were familiar. It was just that the world was in monochrome. Scootaloo couldn't even hear any sounds, only the sound of her own ragged breathing

“Hello there young one.” Scootaloo whipped around to see a pony dressed in a large black cloak, their face obscured. She could tell from the deep voice that he was a stallion. He slowly walked towards her until he was directly in front of her. Scootaloo backed away slightly, her ears flat against her head.

“It is my solemn duty, to welcome you to the realm of the dead.” he spoke softly.

“W-what?” Scootaloo barely whispered. “You... you're kidding. Where am I, who are you! What the buck is going on” she yelled.

“I'm afraid it is true child. You are dead.” spoke the figure. “In answer to your question, I am what someponies call The Grim Reaper, Guardian of Souls and Keeper of Records. You may call me Death.”

Scootaloo started to sweat, backing up further from the supposed reaper. It couldn't be. It had to be a joke, a prank. Just an elaborate prank as punishment for going on the ramp. Yes, that's it! This was her punishment!

“Buck you!” screamed the filly. “Who are you really, this isn't funny. I can't be dead!”

Death simply raised a cloaked hoof and pointed to the right.

Scootaloo turned around and her heart skipped a beat. There she lay, her legs bent at odd angles, blood dripping from her skull and the many scratched on her chest. Out of morbid fascination Scootaloo drew closer, noticing how her neck was bent as well, if she had to guess she would have to say it had snapped. Her legs buckled underneath her as the true gravity of the situation set in. She was dead. Dead. Tears formed in her eyes as the little filly's mind struggled to grasp the situation.

“I'm... so... stupid!” she forced out in between sobs. She felt a hoof on her shoulder, and looked up into the obscured face of Death.

“I know this you're scared child. I know this is all happening too quickly. But time is growing short.” Scootaloo looked up into the black hole that was Death's face.

“Do you have anypony you wish to see before we go. Your family, perhaps?” he said kindly.

“N-no.” Scootaloo whispered, still sniffling.

“No?” asked Death. “Where did you live.”

“Here and there.” she said. “I ran away from the Cloudsdale orphanage a while back.”

“Surely you must have somepony who cares for you?” inquired Death softly.

“I do, over there.” Scootaloo nodded towards the distance, where two fillies galloped as fast as they could go to where their friend had fell. “They're my only true friends.”

“No adults?”

“No. Well,” the pegasus began to tear up again. “there is this one, but she never really took any notice of me.” Death paused for a long moment.

“What is your name young one?” he finally said.

“Scootaloo.” she replied weakly.

Death stood up and began to pace slowly. Scootaloo turned back to her broken body, tears flowing freely from her face now.

After a few moments Death stopped. There was a flash of light as a long scythe blinked into existence, surrounded by a dark aura. Scootaloo looked at it fearfully. To all outwards appearances it was a simple scythe but the light appeared to bend around it.

“W-what are you going to do with that?” asked Scootaloo.

Death did not reply and the scythe started to spin. It increased rapidly in speed, moving until it was spinning horizontally above Death's head. A low hum filled Scootaloo's ears, gradually increasing in pitch as the scythe became nothing more than a blur. Death reared and a bolt of light flew out of the middle of the scythe. The bolt made contact with the sky, releasing a massive boom as it exploded, filling the sky with shockwaves of pure white light.

“Whoa!” Scootaloo exclaimed, in awe of the feat of magic. Her death temporarily lifted from her mind.

“That was a time spell. Something to give us a little more time to talk.” said Death. Scootaloo looked towards her friends, who had drawn much closer in the minute or two she had been dead. They were now frozen. Mouths stuck in frozen screams of terror and fear. Scootaloo grimaced and turned away.

“What about?” asked the orange filly, sitting up for the first time since she fell. Death paused for a moment before turning back to the child, scythe floating lazily by his side.

“An opportunity.” he said. “I must ask you to let me give you some information. Please only talk when I ask you to.”

Scootaloo pushed down the rebellious urges inside her. It was much easier when she remembered the fact that she was now dead.

“What do you know of the history of Equestria?” he asked her. Scootaloo's smiled slightly.

“We were learning about that last week. Princess Celestia ruled for a while with her sister Luna before she was banished. Before that there was Discord! Right?”

Death smiled, even if it was obscured by his cloak. At last Equestria's generations were being taught about Discord.

“Correct. However what you won't have been taught is what there was before Discord. You have heard of the Hearth Warming's Eve tale I assume, but that tale is only part true. Roughly ten thousand years ago the gods created Equestria, and with it all the plants and creatures, including the three tribes of ponies. Everything was fine for quite a while. Ponies died and I, being Death, showed them the way to the afterlife, as is my duty. However soon things took a turn for the worse.”

Scootaloo began to speak but Death silenced her with a wave of his hoof.

“Questions later. The population grew to the point where I was usually quite busy each day. I have other duties than reaping the dead but I was still able to manage my time effectively.” Death frowned.

“The problem was that there were enough ponies for large scale war to be possible. The old gods were forgotten and the ponies split into the three tribal races all fighting against eachother. Entire armies slaughtered in one day. Wars going on for years. Too many dead for me to deal with. I have the blessing of being able to... adjust my position in time, but it was still extremely difficult for even me to deal with. It took me centuries to finally collect all the dead for that era, and by the time I was finished, another war had already begun."

"So now you see my dilemma. For all my power I am still just a single entity. The more the population grows, the harder it get's to reap all the souls required of me. And the population is showing no signs of stopping. Henceforth I am offering you an opportunity child." Death removed his hood and Scootaloo gasped. The bare skull she thought would be revealed was absent. Instead she was looking at a stallion with a greying dark brown mane, tan fur and deep red eyes. He was an earth pony.

"What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly.

"You are dead, but that does not mean you have to leave the mortal plane. If you wish you can stay with me, and become my apprentice. Help me guide the dead into the afterlife, learn my trade."

“I'm sorry.” Scootaloo said after a moment, eyes downcast. “It doesn't really sound that appealing really, stuck meeting dead people for all time.” Death let out a great, booming laugh, Shocking the little filly.

“Ha! I suppose it wouldn't sound very exciting to a foal.” He smirked. "But I think I can persuade you otherwise. ~If you become my apprentice we can reside in both the world of the dead and the living. For all intents and purposes, you'd be alive.”

“You could bring me back to life!” Scootaloo exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

“Not quite. You'll be able to continue out your life as normal, and during this time I'll teach you everything you need to know, about flying, about magic and about our duties. I'll come up with a cover story for my involvement in your life but you need not worry about that.”

“So, I'll still be able to see my friends?” Scootaloo asked. Death grinned.

“Yes, you'll get your life back. You'll be able to get your cutie mark, fly for the first time. Everything. But be warned Scootaloo.” Death's smiled turned into a scowl, and he suddenly seemed to tower of Scootaloo.

“This all has a price. You will be able to be with your friends, and those you care about. But one day they will die, everypony you know will die and we can never do anything to stop that. Can you do that child? Are you prepared to see those you love wither and die for all eternity until our duty is fufilled?”

“Yes!” Scootaloo shouted immediately. “Yes! Yes! Yes! I don't care if they die, at least I'll be able to spend a lifetime with them. That's enough!"

“Are you sure. After this there is no going back.” Death gave his final warning.

“I'm sure. I want to become your apprentice.” A familiar hum of energy began to build up. The scythe started to twirl once more.

“Very well.” Death grinned. “I shall see you soon.”

“My apprentice.”

The scythe shot across the space between them and struck Scootaloo in the head. Then for the second time that day Scootaloo fell into unconsciousness.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Urgh...” Scootaloo groaned. Her head hurt, and the rest of her body wasn't feeling too good either. She remembered her conversation with death, then the scythe hitting her in the skull.

“Look Sweetie! She's up!” Scootaloo winced at the volume of the voice, which she recognised as Applebloom's.

“Yeah... yeah I'm up. Stop shouting please...” Scootaloo said quietly. Opening her eyes.

It looked like she was in a hospital. The tubes connected to her left foreleg confirmed this. Surprisingly, she found that she could actually move all of her legs, admittedly with some pain. As soon as she had shown signs of being awake, her two friends had rushed off out of the room. Scootaloo presumed it was to get a doctor, or somepony else. In all honesty, she didn't really care as she turned over and snuggled back into her pillow.

The door burst open and a group of ponies swarmed into the room. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle as well as their sisters. There was also a mare in doctor's garb.

“We're so glad you're okay!”

“We were so worried!”

Scootaloo smiled sheepishly as her two friends embraced her. One on each side of the bed.

“Awwh, come on guys. I knew I would be fine.”

“Quite to the contrary Miss Scootaloo, you are very lucky to be as uninjured as you are.” everybody in the room turned to look at the doctor.

“As it is you only suffered minor head trauma and sprains in all of your legs. How you only injured yourself to this extent when you fell three stories is a miracle!”

Scootaloo winced.

“We're all very ashamed of you kids!” said Applejack angrily. “Pulling a stunt like that, why I'd like to have a word with your parents Scootaloo! It's high time we talked about all three o' ya'll having the same punishment.”

Scootaloo panicked. She had worked hard to make sure nobody knew that she was an orphan. That and she was technically a squatter. She'd be sent back to the orphanage in Cloudsdale! Then she'd never get to see her friends again!

“We've sent a pony out to her father, her mother's name isn't listed.” said the Doctor. Scootaloo's eyes bulged. What?

Just then the door opened and in walked a familiar face.

“I'm here! I'm here.” he looked towards Scootaloo. “What has my daughter got herself into this time?” Death said with a grin.

Chapter One - Master and Apprentice

**Death's Apprentice

by Phil-Osophy**

Summary: Death isn't as young as he used to be, ten thousand years as the keeper of souls has driven him to exhaustion. So when a certain orange filly meets her doom. Death decides to take her on as his apprentice, the next 'Grim Reaper'.

Chapter One – Master and Apprentice

“So you're Scootaloo's Dad?” asked Applebloom, looking up at Death.

“Yes, yes I am.” he responded.

"Well then excuse me sir, but myself and Applejack here would like to talk to you."

“Ah, and you are?” Death inquired, smile fading from his face.

“My name is Rarity, I look after Sweetie Belle here."

“And I'm Applejack. Applebloom's big sis and legal guardian."

“My name is Soul Ink, it's a pleasure to meet you all. Can Scootaloo come with me or does she have to stay the night?” he asked the Doctor.

“She should be fine, just make sure to look out for the concussion, dizzy spells and all that. And keep off those legs young lady!” the mare admonished Scootaloo. “I know you fillies all like to run about but you have to keep the strain off of them or they'll never get better!”

“Yes ma'am.” Scootaloo said, with a mock salute. The doctor rolled her eyes.

“If you'll just sign here sir, then your child can be released.” Death just smirked and signed his name. Scootaloo got up and threw off the hospital gown. She then walked over to Death. Wincing with each step she took.

“Hold on a minute.” Applejack interjected. “I think we need to sort out punishments for these three, doing somethin' so dangerous all by themselves.”

“Ha!” Death chuckled. “I think a near death experience should be punishment enough, I'll leave you to decide what punishment you should give to your sisters, though by seeing their friend in such a state the same might apply. Now if you'll excuse us we have to leav-.”

"I insist." said Applejack, taking a step forwards. Death's brow furrowed.

"Very well." he said. "Scootaloo, stay here with your friends. Your friend's sisters and I will be back shortly."

The three ponies walked out of the room, the door closing shut behind them. Scootaloo didn't really know what to say. Everything was happening too fast. First she'd died, now it appeared as if she was being adopted.

"So, err." she started, turning towards her friends. "How was my scooter?"

Death stood opposite the two mares. The white one, Rarity, looked relatively calm. The orange one on the otherhand appeared to be thoroughly more vexed.

"I think it goes without saying that this time the girls went too far." said Rarity seriously.

"Indeed," replied Death. "Rest assured however that Scootaloo won't be doing something like this again. I doubt she is in any hurry to repeat such a terrifying experience."

"That's what I'd a thought the last time something like this happened." said Applejack loudly. "But they ain't changing."

"Applejack and I are of the opinion that all of the girls need a joint punishment." said Rarity. Death shook his head.

"As I've already stated, I disagree. They will not do something like this again. I'm sure of it."

"How can you be so sure? These three have gotten themselves into more scrapes than I care to remember. Surely Scootaloo has told you of some of their... worse exploits. They need a firm punishment!"

"Ya need to support us on this Mr Ink. or they'll just keep on getting themselves hurt!" Applejack all but shouted.

"I'm sorry. But you can't tell me how to raise my foal. Now if you've quite finished I will be taking her home. Good day to you." With that Death strode opened the door and strode back into the hospital room. Applejack and Rarity followed, both of them with stormy expressions at the abrupt dismissal.

“Hey Mister?”

“Yes Sweetie Belle?” replied Death, looking down at the unicorn filly.

“What's your cutie-mark mean?” she inquired, staring at his flank.

“Sweetie!” interrupted Rarity, embarrassed despite her anger at the stallion. “What have I told you about asking that to people you've just met?”

“It's quite alright Miss Rarity, it's a simple enough question. It's means I'm good at maths, it's an infinity symbol, see?”

Scootaloo didn't know what to think of Death's cutie-mark. Unlike many other cutie-marks she'd seen, it was neither colourful nor ornate. It was simply a bold print of the infinity symbol as if it had been stamped onto his flank.

"Now Scootaloo, say goodbye to your friends. We should be getting home."

Scootaloo turned to her friends.

"See you later I suppose you guys..." A pair of hooves were suddenly thrown around her neck. Scootaloo felt tears stain her coat as Sweetie bawled.

"Please don't die Scootaloo!" she cried. "I don't think I could take it if you died. Please... please... promise me."

Scootaloo felt tears come to her eyes.

"I promise." she said. Although she knew that it was far, far too late for that.

Later on, all of the elements of harmony assembled in Twilight's library. They sat on the floor on big cushions, discussing the events that had taken place that day. All except Rainbow Dash, who was hovering around the room.

“I can't believe the nerve a' that stallion!” Applejack fumed. “Now I understand why Scoots is so reckless if she's never punished for it...”

“Now darling I think you're being too critical.” said Rarity. "He had a point with them not doing anything like that again. I've never seen Sweetie Belle like that. Never." She took a sip of her tea, which was levitating in front of her.

“Ah still think there we should punish them. Just to drive the lesson home."

"With all respect Applejack. I think they've been through enough." interjected Twilight. Applejack just huffed.

"So what was Scootaloo's Dad like then. I can't believe none of us have ever met him before." said Rainbow Dash.

“I personally think he could be quite interesting, you have to be pretty smart to get your cutie mark in maths after all.” Twilight said excitedly.

“Pff, you're just excited there's another egghead in town.”

“I think that's a fair assumption. What about you Fluttershy?” asked Twilight. The yellow pegasus flinched slightly..

“Erm... he sounds nice enough I guess.” she said quietly.

“And you Pinkie?” Twilight asked. “Pinkie?”

Pinkie Pie seemed to be looking quite intensely at a spot on the wall. Her eyes narrowed. All present shared looks of apprehension. Cautiously, Rainbow Dash edged closer to the pink mare.

“Err...” she reached out a hoof to prod Pinkie. “You there Pinks?”

“No parties!” she suddenly shouted, Rainbow Dash flinched back.

“W-what?” whimpered Fluttershy.

“I just checked! He's never been to any Pinkie Party. None!”

“Maybe he's just not much of a party pony?” Rarity suggested, being the first to gather her bearings. Applejack shook her head.

“Why... I don't think there's a pony in Ponyville who ain't never been to a Pinkie Party.”

“Well, we obviously have one now.” Twilight remarked.

“Meh, I'm sure you can throw one for him at some point. My shift is soon anyway. I gotta scoot. Glad the little squirt's okay though.” said Rainbow Dash. She flew off out of the library window, leaving her signature rainbow trail behind her.

“At least we know that she has a guardian now though." said Twilight. "I was getting worried when we never saw anybody pick her up or anything."

"I guess she's just quite independent darling," said Rarity. "Though, the doctor did say that her mother wasn't on file as a contact detail."

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat more subdued at that proclamation.

"Poor filly." said Applejack. The rest of them nodded in agreement.

Scootaloo and Death walked slowly away from the hospital and back into the centre of Ponyville. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since they'd left the hospital. Death felt uncomfortable for what must have been the first time in decades. In all his years of existence he'd never had to deal with something like this. Wordlessly, he guided Scootaloo to the outskirts of town, where their new house was situated.

“I'm sorry if I've offended you. I was very short on time and it seemed to be the best cover story feasible. ”

Scootaloo said nothing, she just kept walking, eyes firms on the road beneath them. Death opened his mouth, but then just sighed and closed it again. It was always hard to explain things to foals, especially when the adult who had made the mistake.

They soon approached the end of the road, which had taken them almost to the border of the Everfree Forest. Just before the cobbled road ended a magnificent three story house lay. It followed the same style as most the buildings in Ponyville, but this house had a black slate roof instead of a straw one. Scootaloo looked upon it in a semi-state of awe. This was going to be her house. Her home. It was much better than the hovel she had been squatting in.

“I saw the place you were living in previously. I dare say this is a bit better, don't you think?” said Death, smiling at the filly's reaction. Scootaloo just nodded.

Death unlocked the door with a flash of magic

"How did you do that?" said Scootaloo. "You don't have a horn!"

Death grinned. "Who told you that a horn was necessary to do magic? Soon, you'll be able to do magic too."

The glossy white door opened to reveal a small entrance hall which contained the stairs as well as a few paintings. Scootaloo slowly stepped onto the dark, polished wooden floor and gazed around in wonder.

“Well, I suppose you'll want a tour.”

Death took her on a tour of the house, from the clean, well stocked kitchen to the cosy living room. Everything was so large, so expensive looking...

“That's my bedroom, and this will be your and... oof!” Death almost fell over as an orange blur struck him the stomach.

“I'm so, so sorry...!” Scootaloo sobbed into his chest. Death smiled and put his arms around his bawling apprentice

“Ssh... ssh... you have nothing to be sorry about.” he whispered, calmly stroking her mane as she cried.

“B-but. This is the nicest thing anypony has ever done for me!” she moaned. “And I just, I almost hated you.” Death sighed.

“It's not your fault, child. I should have had more tact in the first place, or at least told you before-hoof.”

After a few more moments of tears Scootaloo stopped crying. She slowly took her head out from where she had nestled into Death's coat and looked up at her new... master.

“I don't expect you to call me a father Scootaloo. We are Master and Apprentice, nothing more. However,” he hesitated. “ I don't expect you to call me Master either. Call me what you wish, Grim, Death. I don't really mind.” he grinned, then paused. "But I'm afraid you might have to call me Dad in public. Sorry about that."

“Now let me show you your new room...”

He threw open the door and Scootaloo gasped as she noticed....

...it was empty. The walls were white, the floor was made up of simple wooden boards. A wooden bed was in the corner beside a window overlooking the garden and a small lamp hung down from the ceiling. Apart from that there was nothing, the room was bare.

“What?” she exclaimed, confused.

“Don't be so disappointed.” Death smirked. “You have a bed, what more could you want.” Scootaloo turned around angrily.

“A lot of things! Even my old place had a dresser! And what abo-” she was cut off by Death's booming laughter.

“That's the point! The first thing I'm going to teach you is how to manipulate matter in the mortal plane. Soon you'll have your dream room. I thought to myself, 'what would a young filly want in a room'. I couldn't think of anything, so I've decided to let you do it yourself. Happy?”

“I suppose.” grumbled Scootaloo. “But I'm going to get you back for that.”

The old stallion chuckled but then his voice turned serious.

“Most of the house is available to you, but there is one exception.” he teleported them down back into the entrance hall. He gestured to the door behind them, Scootaloo hadn't noticed it before, just at the side of the stairs.

“This is the one place I must ask you to stay away from. This door will only open to you and me, nopony else. It is my office, where I do my duties which don't involve the reaping of souls.”

Scootaloo looked at the door with new found curiosity. Death noticed this and bent down to look Scootaloo straight in the eyes. His red eyes shone with intense power. Scootaloo ears folded as she took a step backwards.

“Only enter if you are in dire need of help my child, if one was to disturb my work and I happened to make a mistake.... Well, let's just say that nopony would walk away completely unscathed.”

Scootaloo gulped, then nodded.

“Good, now get some sleep my child. You did die today after all.” Death said with a grim laugh, then entered the study, closing the door behind him.

Scootaloo walked up to her room in deep thought. What Death had said had struck a chord inside the young filly.

It had just taken one moment, one mistake, and she was dead.

Scootaloo tucked herself into the silk sheets of her new bed and sighed.

“Nothing is ever going to be the same, is it.” she asked the ceiling. Snorting at how dramatic she was acting, she turned over and went to sleep.

Chapter Two - A New Way of Doing Things

Death's Apprentice

by Phil-Osophy

Chapter Two - A New Way of Doing Things

Well, she tried to get to sleep.

No matter how much she twisted and turned or adjusted her pillows and sheets, she just couldn't get to sleep. She even tried counting sheep, much to her embarrassment, but it soon got boring. Scootaloo sat up in the bed and looked at the door. Death had said she could go wherever she wanted in the house (with obvious exceptions) but then again adults said a lot of things they didn't really mean. Would he change his mind if she went downstairs after he'd told her to go to bed? She still wasn't sure how she felt about him. He'd given her a home and a chance to keep on living though. She owed him for that, even enough to call him dad in public.

Hesitantly, but with rebellious spirit burning in her stomach, she quietly got out of bed and left her room. It was dark in the house, the hallway was lit with a few candles set into the walls. Scootaloo found this weird, usually most houses had magic powered lights. Then again she'd been without lights at night for a year aside from when she used her torch, so she couldn't really fault Death's design choice.

She crept down the stairs and walked into the kitchen, intending to get a midnight snack, although she wasn't really hungry. The kitchen was pretty cool as well. The walls were white, as was the tiled floor. A painting of a bowl of fruit hung above a small table with four chairs. Scootaloo made her way to the fridge and opened it. It was full of all manner of food, but none of it looked very appealing to Scootaloo.

"Couldn't sleep?" Scootaloo just about jumped out of her skin. She turned around to find Death sitting on one of the chairs, at the kitchen table, a familiar book in his hoovess.

"What the hell? How'd you- I mean." she spluttered, face red from embarrassment.

"It's to be expected. You are dead after all. I mostly just sent you upstairs to give you a little time to get your thoughts in order." Scootaloo frowned.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked. Death turned a page in his book.

"I didn't bring you back from the dead Scootaloo. I just made you undead, like myself." Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "A side effect of this is that you no longer need to sleep, though some time alone and in the quiet can helps a person order their thoughts I find."

"You mean I'm a zombie?" exclaimed Scootaloo. Death chuckled.

"No, you still have a mind. You'll find you don't need to eat or drink either. Though I'd dare say you'll still want to. Food will still taste delicious." It was after Scootaloo had finished digesting this information that she noticed just why the book Death was reading was so familiar.

"Hey, that's my math book!"

"Yes, indeed it is." replied Death, flicking through another page. "Considering your circumstances you're doing quite well. You have potential."

Scootaloo blushed, she thought she wasn't very good at math.

"Why does it matter anyway?" she said. "It doesn't have that much to do with guiding the death or whatever does it?"

"My official title is 'Guardian of Souls and Keeper of Records' Scootaloo. You will be helping me with all of my duties eventually, not just the former. Math and English skills are essential in my line of work."

"Well I think you've picked the wrong pony to make your apprentice then..."

"Nonsense!" Death let go of the book and it popped out of existence. "Like I said, you have potential. I'll just have to draw that out. Rome wasn't built in a day."

"What's a Rome?" said Scootaloo, confused. Death visibly stifled a snigger.

"Sorry," he said. "Old expression. Rome was an old Earth Pony settlement. You wouldn't have heard about it."

Scootaloo just shook her head.

"Now then, I have to go to work. I retrieved your belongings from your previous home. They should all be upstairs now. Don't be late for school!"

With those parting words Scootaloo watched as her new master stood up from the table. Darkness surrounded him for a moment and formed into his cloak, obscuring his face. Then he simply turned around and he was gone.

Scootaloo sighed. Why'd she have to be adopted by a weird pony?

Scootaloo managed to get through the rest of the night., Scootaloo even went early to school it was so boring not being able to sleep. Cheerilee was pleasantly surprised to see Scootaloo sitting on the swings when she went to unlock the school building.

"Scootaloo?" the teacher called. "What are you doing here this early?"

"Couldn't sleep Miss Cheerilee." replied Scootaloo, getting up off of the swing and walking towards her teacher. Cheerilee looked at the filly with sympathy in her eyes.

"Almost dieing does that a pony, I know," Scootaloo's eyes widened. "I had a near miss myself when I was your age." Cheerilee smiled kindly. "If you ever need to talk to somepony about it dear, I'm here for you."

Scootaloo smiled a shy smile.

"Thanks Miss Cheerilee."

"It's nothing my dear. Now get inside before you catch your death of cold, it's freezing out here and rain is scheduled for today."

Half an hour later class began. Scootaloo smiled as her friends took their seats next to her and class began.

"So class, today I'd like you all to give a warm welcome to our local librarian and student to the princess herself, Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight walked into the room, smiling and carrying a few books in her magic. Cheerilee continued.

"Twilight is here today to take the classes for today, teaching you about all the different forms of magic. As you all know Miss Sparkle is the element of magic so you can learn a lot from here. I'll be in the back of the class and I expect you all to be on your best behaviour."

Scootaloo leaned her head on her hoof, preparing herself for a boring lesson. It wasn't as if she was a unicorn or anything, why did she need to know about magic? Then again, apparently you didn't need a horn to do magic, at least according to Death. Scootaloo perked up a little. Maybe this would be a bit more interesting than she'd previously thought. She snickered, at least if Twilight didn't go into lecture mode.

While she'd been thinking, Twilight had already introduced herself and started into her first lecture.

"Now when most ponies think of magic, they think of unicorn magic. But the truth is that magic is all around us. In the food we eat, the water we drink and inside every living thing in the planet." Her horn lit up and she levitated a piece of chalk from Cheerilee's desk to the blackboard.

"Magic comes from the sun in the day and the moon at night. We absorb this magic just by being outside as well as eating and drinking. This is why a unicorn can't cast spells very easily when malnourished and why all ponies enjoy being outside so much." She drew a diagram on the blackboard of the sun and moon with arrows pointing down to pictures of a flower, a chicken and a pony.

"A flower, a pony and Scootaloo." sniggered Diamond Tiara under her breath to Silver Spoon a few desks away. Scootaloo scowled.

"This also has an effect on pegasi. Pegasi use their magic when flying, as a pegasi's wings are way too small to fly normally. Instead they use their magic to propel them through the air. No matter how hard a pegasi flaps, without magic the wings are useless."

"Maybe that's what happened to Scootaloo. Maybe she's magically retarded." whispered Silver Spoon. Diamond Tiara giggled. Scootaloo fumed. Could Cheerilee or Twilight not hear this? Then Scootaloo had a thought. She usually wouldn't be able to hear them this clearly. Why could she hear them?

"Earth ponies on the other hoof use magic to gain greater strength and endurance than other ponies. Without the magic their strength is severely limited."

"I bet Scootaloo's parents are so poor they can't afford to feed her anything, so that's why she can't fly." whispered Diamond Tiara.

Scootaloo looked around at Miss Cheerilee. She was marking some papers or something while Twilight taught. Buck load of good she'd be then.

"Maybe that's why she's so stupid as well."

"Yeah, maybe she more resembles the flower after all. That's how stupid she is."

"I bet that's why she's a blank flank. You need magic to get a cutiemark."

Scootaloo's wings pulsed as he heart rate sped up. A primal reaction to her ever increasing anger. She wasn't even listening to Twilight anymore. She swore, if Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon didn't shut their stupid bucking mouths she'd...

"Did you hear about that accident she was in yesterday? She almost died. Wish I'd have seen it."

"I wish she really did die. Do you know how hilarious it would have been? A pegasi die because they couldn't fly."

"Shut up!" Scootaloo yelled. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut the buck up!"

Scootaloo panted with barely leashed rage as she glared at the two fillies, who like the rest of the class were staring at her in shock.

"Scootaloo! Get off of there and stand outside until the end of class!" Cheerilee was out of her seat, glaring at Scootaloo. It was then that Scootaloo realised that she was standing on her desk, wings outstretched. Still panting, Scootaloo jumped off of the desk and walked outside the classroom, slamming the door behind her.

"I'm sorry Twilight. Please continue."

Scootaloo sat outside the classroom on the corridor floor. It was cold, but she barely felt it. Come to think of it, she supposed that she hadn't felt the cold that morning either. Another side effect of being dead? Scootaloo scowled. She felt so embarrassed to have blown up like that, but Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon pissed her off! Ever since her, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had become friends they'd been a constant annoying presence in her life. Always there with a quip or a comment about the fact that she couldn't fly, that her fashion sense was bad or how she never wore makeup or... something! She was always so tempted to just smack some sense into them, but Applebloom or Sweetie always stopped her just at the right time.

Scootaloo forcefully hit her hoof onto the floor. Next time. Next time she wouldn't let her friends hold her back. The two nags needed to be taught a lesson. A painful one.

It was some time, at least half an hour, before Cheerilee came out to deal with her. With a curt order to go to her office, she went back inside. Scootaloo sighed. Seemed she'd be missing recess. As if there was ever any doubt. It wasn't like she hadn't gotten detentions with Cheerilee before.

Cheerilee's office was only down the corridor. Scootaloo entered the little room and hopped onto the chair opposite the desk.

Cheerilee came in a few minutes afterwards and sat down in her chair. Scootaloo looked at her with a bored expression.

"I've tried to be kind with you Scootaloo." said Cheerilee. "Each time you've been in here you've promised to stop misbehaving. I see that simply giving out a punishment like normal simply doesn't work."

"But Miss Cheerilee," said Scootaloo. "I wasn't telling Twilight to shut I was telling Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They were whispering about me."

Cheerilee shook her head.

"That doesn't matter Scootaloo. You could have raised your hoof and asked me or Twilight to make them be quiet. Instead you decided to be overly aggressive and make a huge scene in public. That is completely inappropriate a reaction." Scootaloo deflated in her seat.

"Fine." she snapped. "What's going to happen to me then."

"I've sent a letter to your father. We're going to have a meeting."

Scootaloo's heart felt like it had frozen in her chest.

"He's at work."

"On your contact form it says that he works from home."

"Oh. Yeah. I knew that." Scootaloo said awkwardly. Rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof.

"He should be here any moment."

Just then there was a knock on the door. Cheerilee smiled and walked over to the door.

"Ah, just on cue." she said as she opened the door. "Come in Mr Ink. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

Death stepped through the door. His cloak was missing, which Scootaloo supposed made sense unless he wanted everybody to think he was the Grim Reaper. Which he was.

Death pulled up a chair and sat next to Scootaloo. He looked at her and smiled reassuringly.

"Just can't keep out of trouble for one day can you Scoots?" he said. Cheerilee grimaced.

"In school time at least Mr Ink I would have to agree with you. Scootaloo has consistently misbehaved for quite a while now. The most recent incident was today where she yelled and swore at two of her classmates when a guest speaker was teaching,"

"I see." said Death. He turned and looked once more at Scootaloo. Scootaloo stared back into his intimidating red eyes defiantly, her hooves crossed.

"Scootaloo," he said. "Why did you do what you did?"

"They were whispering about me."

"I know you have a thicker skin than that." Scootaloo looked at him questioningly. "What exactly did they say to set you off in the middle of class."

"Plenty of things." Scootaloo responded. She didn't want to tell them. It was too embarrassing. But both Cheerilee and Death looked at her expectantly. After a few moments of silence Scootaloo sighed and relented. "They were making fun of the fact that I don't have a cutie mark yet. That I can't fly yet. And they said that they wished I'd died yesterday." Cheerilee's eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly.

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"Well," said Death grimacing. "I suppose then that your actions were understandable, if not excusable. I also assume after her outburst she missed the rest of the lesson?"

"Yes." said Cheerilee. "It was a lesson on magical theory. She'll have to catch up."

"I'm quite capable of explaining the basics to her. She shouldn't need any additional help in the subject." Cheerilee nodded. "Scootaloo, could you step outside for a moment?" Scootaloo shrugged and hopped off of the chair before leaving the room. Once the door was closed Death began to speak in a low voice.

"I trust that these two pupils will be spoken too."

"Yes," Cheerilee sighed. "I know that the two students in question have quite a rivalry with Scootaloo and her friends, but I hadn't thought they would harbour such ill will towards her."

"Foals bicker." said Death. "I know, but you're right. This is getting out of hoof. I would like to request that I decide her punishment. It appears she will need to learn how to control herself better."

"And I will keep and closer eye on them all."

Meanwhile, outside the office Scootaloo was once again bored. Her legs still hurt slightly so she once again sat down next to the door. Scootaloo didn't know what they were talking about in there. She could only hope that her master and teacher wouldn't give her too harsh of a punishment. Scootaloo sighed. This day sucked.

"Oh, hello Scootaloo." said a voice from beside her. Scootaloo turned her head and saw noneother than Twilight Sparkle standing awkwardly beside her.

"Err... hey." said Scootaloo quietly. Neither of them said anything for a few moments.

"I'm sorry about what happened in class." said Scootaloo simply. Meeting Twilight's eyes. Twilight smiled.

"It's fine. I'll admit I was more surprised than offended. I thought you were talking to me."

"No, I wasn't."

"I know." Scootaloo almost winced. The awkward silence had returned. "Then again, I know most people are bored by magical theory" said Twilight.

"I wasn't." said Scootaloo quickly. Twilight's expression brightened

"Oh?" she said. "Did you like it?"

"Yeah, it was interesting." It was true. Scootaloo had found it more interesting than she'd thought she would originally. Especially since she knew she'd be casting magic in the future.

"Well, then. Since I assume Miss Cheerilee is busy with your father. Would like to hear more about it?" said Twilight, sitting down on the floor next to Scootaloo

"Sure." said Scootaloo, smiling.

Death was pleasantly surprised when he exited Cheerilee's office about ten minutes later to find Scootaloo talking to whom he could only assume was Twilight Sparkle. He had never met Twilight Sparkle, his occupation usually didn't leave much time for meeting other ponies, at least those on the mortal plane. But the magic coursing through her was unmistakable to his enhanced senses. He could hear it humming from inside her. Only an alicorn or the element of magic could possess such pure power, and she wasn't an alicorn.

"Hello?" he said, interrupting what he guessed was an explanation of basic magical theory. She must have been the guest speaker then.

"Oh, hello!" the mare said as she hastily got up off of the floor, looking slightly embarrassed. "My name's Twilight Sparkle, I was just talking to Scootaloo here about what she missed in the lesson today."

"Nothing too complicated I hope?" said Death.

"Oh no, just the basics."

"Good," Death grinned. "I was hoping to teach her the more advanced magical theories myself." Twilight looked intrigued.

"Do you have an interest in magical theory?"

"Yes. My special talent is mathematics you see." he nodded towards his cutie mark. "So although I'm not a unicorn I find the equations involved to be fascinating."

"Really? I've never come across an earth pony with a love of magic if you don't mind me saying."

"No not at all infact-"

"Am I being punished or not?" Scootaloo interjected, impatiently.

"Miss Cheerilee told me that you're free to go and enjoy the rest of your recess. I will decide the rest of your punishment once we get home."

Scooterloo grinned. She couldn't believe her luck.

"Thanks!" she called as she hurried off down the hall as fast as her aching legs would carry her.

Chapter Three - Training Begins

Death's Apprentice

by Phil-Osophy

Chapter Three - Training Begins

At the end of the day Scootaloo came back to find Death sitting on the sofa in the living room, a newspaper hovering in front of him. When he noticed she was there the newspaper disappeared and he stood up.

"Ah! You're back. Have a good day?" he said.

"Aside from this morning. Yeah, I guess." Scootaloo responded unenthusiastically.

"Good. Because we have a lot of work to do tonight."

Scootaloo groaned.

"Can't I rest first?" she complained.

"No," said Death. "And that's one of the things I'll be teaching you."

Scootaloo sent him a questioning glance, so he continued.

"I'm sure that aside from not being able to sleep and not getting hungry, you've noticed a few more things are different now that you've died?" Scootaloo winced at the mention of her death, but responded nonetheless.

"A few things, I think," she said. Death motioned with his hoof for her to go on. "Well, I could hear stuff better." Death nodded.

"Enhanced senses are a useful side effect of being undead. At some points they can become bothersome, as you found out today, but they're easily controllable. After some practise you'll find it relatively easy to manipulate the range of your senses to an extent." Death explained.

"For now however," he said, walking up to Scootaloo and placing a hoof on her shoulder. "I'll make good on my promise to teach you how to decorate your room."

Death teleported them to a clear field. Scootaloo had only been teleported once or twice by Twilight in certain circumstances, but she immediately decided, now she was properly paying attention, that she liked Death's version a lot better. When Twilight had teleported with her she'd felt as if all the air was compressed out of her lungs and there was a blinding flashing light. When Death did it there was no discomfort, and all that passed over her eyes was a second of darkness, like blinking. The best way Scootaloo could think to describe was that if Death's version was carriage taking you to your destination, Twilight's was just throwing you from one place to the next.

"Why are we here?" said Scootaloo, looking around. "I thought you were going to teach me how to decorate my room using magic?"

"I am," said Death. "It's just sometimes the results can be... explosive." Scootaloo's fur stood on edge. Did he just say explosive?

"We also need to enter the plane of the dead." Death's scythe appeared in front of him, hovering in the air. "Stand still, this may be a little uncomfortable.". Before Scooterloo could react, he tapped her on the head gently with the scythe. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been pored down her back. Scootaloo yelped as all colour and sound drained from the world. All she could hear were the sounds herself and Death were making. Including Death's chuckles.

"That wasn't funny!" Scootaloo yelled. Death just continued to chuckle, the scythe disappearing without fanfare.

"My apologies, but it's easier for your first time using magic if we're here and not in the living plane."

"Why?" said Scootaloo, annoyed. She didn't like it when ponies laughed at her.

"If not food, what do you think sustains us Scootaloo?"

Scootaloo hesitated before answering.

"Magic?"

"Right you are, but for living ponies most of their magic comes from the food they eat. How do you think we survive without it?" Scootaloo shrugged, she didn't know.

"It's quite simple really," said Death. "When a pony becomes non-living. They become essentially non-material. They don't need a body. Whereas to a living pony, the spirit and body are intrinsically linked; upon death they are separated. The body is dead, but the spirit remains."

He placed a hoof on Scootaloo's torso.

"In a way, you were quite accurate when you said that you were a zombie earlier. If a unicorn were to cast a necromantic identification spell at your or me, they would come to the conclusion that our bodies were simply possessed, since that's what we are. Spirits possessing bodies."

"I don't understand." said Scootaloo. "Do you mean that I'm a ghost now then?"

"It's a crude way of expressing it, and I'd prefer you to use the term 'spirit'." said Death. "But you are essentially correct. Still, all of that doesn't explain how you or I is able to exist without food. Instead, we get our magic from a different source."

Death motioned to their monochrome surroundings.

"Here! Every single time a pony dies or a pony is born, those acts cause a huge amount of energy to enter this plane of existence. Everything that exists here is saturated in it. Pure energy, pure magic. It is that pool of magic which allows us to survive without eating, without a body, and perform magic."

Death's scythe appeared in front of him and he swept it in a long arc. An ornate table materialised in the air, falling to ground.

"All matter can be turned into energy, all energy into matter. With the proper concentration and practise, there is no limit to what can be made. Providing you have enough energy of course." His scythe swept back and forth, objects forming and dropping to the floor . Chairs, beds, pillows, vases, paintings, boxes and numerous objects Scootaloo had never seen before.

"Can you summon anything living?" said Scootaloo. Death paused for a moment and turned to her.

"You could create a body girl. But you can't create a soul to fill it. All it will be is decaying organic matter. Even if you can make it function properly. Such automatons will never be able to truly replicate the living."

"Oh. Makes sense I guess." said Scootaloo. Death bent down to her level and looked her in the eyes.

"Indeed. On that note Scootaloo. I forbid you to attempt it. Some things are better left unexplored. Do I make myself clear?" Scootaloo nodded.

"Good! Now let's set about creating your first object. Or, to use the technical term: Summoning."

"Focus girl! Hold the image of the object clearly in your mind." said Death for what felt to Scootaloo like many times too many.

In front of her, laying innocently on the grass was a simple child's building block. It was made of wood, oak to be exact. On a single face it had a large capital 'A' painted on it in red paint. Scootaloo knew this because for the past half an hour she had been examining it, feeling it, hearing what is sounded like, even tasting it. All while Death barked instructions at her.

"Three simple steps Scootaloo, Imagine, Infuse, Actualise. I.I.A. Visualise the object, infuse the concept with magic and the concept becomes reality. It's simple!"

"I know it's bucking simple," yelled Scootaloo, kicking the block, sending it bounding across the field. Scootaloo immediately felt pain in her front leg and winced. "I just can't do it. I'm sorry!" Angry tears started to well up in her eyes but Scootaloo blinked them away. Death sighed.

"Alright," he said gently. "Let's try a different approach. Which one of your own possessions do you think you know the most?"

"My scooter." Scootaloo said immediately. She'd saved up money she'd scrounged for weeks to by that scooter. She'd seen one a few weeks after arriving in Ponyville. The foal playing in on it was much older than Scootaloo and much more skilled. To a pegasi who didn't know how to fly, it sang to all her instincts. To go flying through the air... free.

"Then let's try to summon a copy of that."

Scootaloo didn't think trying to summon her scooter would help. If she couldn't even summon a wooden block how was she to summon a whole scooter? But nevertheless she tried. She closed her eyes and thought of how the handle grips felt against her skin, how cool it looked. Soon enough she had an image of her scooter in her mind's eye.

"I've got it." she whispered, not wanting to break the hold she had on the image.

"Good," said Death slowly. "Now draw out your magic. Don't try to think about doing it, just do it. Like moving a limb. You don't think about moving it. You just move it."

For the first time, Scootaloo felt her magic. Death was right, it was just like using a limb, flexing some mental muscle to open up the flood gates and allow the magic to flow through her. Hearing a popping sound, Scootaloo opened her eyes to see a small object fall to the ground. Disheartened, Scootaloo picked up the single grey handlebar she'd summoned.

"Very good!" said Death happily. Scootaloo looked at him, confused

"What do you mean? I only managed to summon the handlebar." she protested. Death brushed off her disappointment,

"Only? I wouldn't expect even Princess Celestia to summon a full scooter on her first try." Scootaloo still looked disappointed. Death patted her on the head, causing Scootaloo to look up at him with surprise.

"You did well Scootaloo. I'm glad I chose you as my apprentice." Scootaloo looked away and blushed.

"Now then," said Death, walking away. "Now that you've done it once it'll become easier with practise. I a few days you'll be able to summon bigger and more complex things. For now though I want you to practise summoning that block. By the time I've returned I'll "

With those parting words he disappeared. Scootaloo supposed she couldn't monopolise all of his time. After all, the reason she was here was because he couldn't deal with the amount of people who were dying. Scootaloo looked at the wooden block which was still laying on the monochrome grass with narrowed eyes.

She would be a good apprentice.

"Spike! Have you found it yet?" Books flew out of shelves, each contained in a magic aura. One by one they floated towards the unicorn manipulating them. Each was dismissed in turn as she glanced at their covers before moving them back into their rightful place on the shelves.

"Twilight I don't think it's in here!" responded her favourite and only assistant from where he was in the basement.

"It has to be in here Spike! Where else could it be?"

"I don't know... maybe you lost it?" All the book's froze in mid air.

"What did you just say!" Twilight yelled, outraged.

"Err... nothing." said Spike desperately.

"That's what I thought. Nothing." the books resumed their movements. After another few minutes Spike poked around head out of the door to the basement. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes and yawned.

"Twilight, we've been at this for four hours now and we've checked every single book in the library and basement three times. We aren't going to find it." he said.

"You don't know that!" said Twilight, turning around to look at Spike. She wasn't in that much of a better state herself. Her hair was frizzy and her eyes bloodshot, a clear indicator of her stress. "We must have missed it! We'll just have to try again. Get searching!"

"No Twilight." said Spike obstinately, folding his arms. "I'm going to bed, neither of us have slept in like eighteen hours. I'll see you in the morning."

Twilight watched as her Spike angrily walked up the stairs to his basket. When she saw how he was struggling to get up the stairs her face softened. Piling the books she still held in her magic onto the floor, she levitated Spike the rest of the way.

"Sorry Spike," she said. "You get some rest. You've earned it." Spike just grunted, then moved out of Twilight's sight. Twilight sighed.

Spike was right. Wherever the book was, it wasn't in the library.

"It was probably a long shot anyway..." Twilight grumbled to herself. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee before returning to her desk. The desk was an overflowing mess of parchment and ink, surrounded by neat piles of books. At the centre of the orderly chaos was a large blackboard covered in symbols, complex thaumaturgical formulae and technical terms only understandable to the most knowledgeable of magical scholars.

Twilight sighed as she surveyed her work. She usually wasn't one to swear, but in certain times it was called for. Spell creation was such a nag of a field of magic. The spell she had chosen to work with was a simple dictation enchantment. It would be so useful to be able to record everything said on paper without having to use Spike all the time. Not to mention the many practical applications for the spell in the equestrian courts system, in the bureaucracy etc.

But as little as Twilight wanted to admit it, it was clear she'd been too ambitious. There were too many calculations for even her well trained mind to follow easily. She'd hit a wall and had been looking for the one book on spell creation that might have helped her. But it seemed that was missing.

Twilight took a long drink from her coffee cup. She was stumped. Without that book, she would make no progress on this spell. She could ask Celestia for help. But something in her heart felt like that would be cheating. Celestia was practically a god. Even if she could make time for her faithful student, she probably wouldn't be much help anyway. The princess thought it was best to let ponies figure these kind of things out for themselves.

The various other scholars in Canterlot and Manehatten wouldn't be much use either. Twilight needed help now, not in a few days. She loved Ponyville to bits but it was terribly inconvenient to be away from the hub of magical innovation that was Canterlot. Most ponies in Ponyville hadn't taken their formal education past what was required by law, preferring more vocational education.

But then Twilight's mood brightened. There was one pony she could go to perhaps...

She drained the rest of her cup and then set about putting various parchments into her saddlebags. Although Spike had gone to bed, and she herself hadn't slept in twenty four hours, it was still only six o'clock in the evening. Twilight had very much enjoyed her previous conversation that morning with Soul Ink. Perhaps he could help her. She only hoped he wasn't busy.

The queen surveyed her kingdom, in all of it's majestic beauty. She had worked hard for her kingdom, to construct it with her bare hooves from the most basic of components. But all of her hard work had paid off. Now she sat on her throne, unchallenged, crown on head and sceptre in hoof.

To say that within a single hour Scootaloo had improved was somewhat of an understatement. She sat on a pyramid of summoned wooden blocks upon which sat a wooden stool. The crown on her head was also made of wood (although it looked more like a party hat than anything else, it was all she could manage) as was the sceptre, which she was particularly proud of since it had her name engraved on the side.

The problem with being queen, Scootaloo had decided, was that when you had achieved everything you'd set out to achieve, there was very little else to do. Idly she summoned another block, letting it clatter off of the pyramid to the growing pile of blocks below. She could summon them with hardly a thought now, so familiar was the object. The crown and sceptre had take a lot more work.

"Enjoying yourself dear?" Scootaloo fell off her stool and was about to tumble down the pyramid before she was hoisted into the air by Death's magic. "Oh how I do enjoy the enthusiasm of youth." he lamented to the upside down filly.

"Put me down!" said Scootaloo angrily. Death ignored her.

"You've done well Scootaloo, extremely well in fact." he said. "I especially like what you've done with the crown and such, very impressive. Especially since I didn't ask you to experiment like that." The aforementioned objects floated with Scootaloo as she blushed from the praise.

"Well you didn't say I couldn't do it." she pointed out hesitantly. Death smiled.

"Indeed I did not. You've done extremely well Scootaloo and I would have asked you to experiment with shape anyway. But I must urge you to show more caution in the future. Some magics are not to be experimented with without precaution."

"Sorry." she muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Now now, like I said you've achieved great things today Scootaloo. I'm rarely surprised, but you've managed it. I believe a reward is in order."

They floated down to the ground and the pyramid of blocks disappeared, leaving only the crown and sceptre behind. Death materialised his scythe and put Scootaloo down. Scootaloo waited excitedly for her reward. With a single swish of his scythe, a huge array of ramps and platforms appeared suspended in the air. Slowly they floated down onto the ground, Scootaloo watching with awe.

"There we go!" said Death happily. "One skate-park, Las Pegasus' skate-park if I'm correct."

"This is so cool!" Scootaloo yelled, jumping into the air. "How did you do that!" Death smirked.

"Summoning my dear. It shan't be long until you can do that, at least in the plane of the dead. It's much harder to summon the energy in the plane of the living, not to mention that most summoned objects here dissolve in a few days, the matter decays too quickly... but I digress. Have fun." Scootaloo's scooter, in all it's glory appeared in front of her, as did her helmet, both bleached of colour. Scootaloo lovingly caressed the helmet before putting it on, jumping onto the scooter. She was halfway to skatepark before she turned back around to Death.

"Wait" she said. "How am I supposed to get back, and won't somebody notice that a whole skatepark has appeared in the middle of a field? How do you know what Las Pegasus skate-park looks like anyway?" Death frowned.

"I know what it looks like because I've been there several times. Skating isn't perhaps the safest sport, as you well know." Scootaloo cringed. "Come to think of it; although you can't die again, you can get hurt so be careful. When you want to come back home just call my name and if you get hurt, I'll be there anyway."

"To answer your second question, the realm of the dead and living are fundamentally separate. Just like you can't see a person's spirit or myself talking to them when you're not dead, you can't see whatever resides in the realm of the dead while alive. Whatever it may be." Scootaloo nodded. She understood that. "I'll see you later! Have fun!"

Death disappeared. Scootaloo wooped, hopping onto the smooth wooden platform that was now in front of her and mounting her scooter. She looked over to the big ramp... then thought better of it. Maybe she'd try some of the smaller ramps first...