Author's Note

Hello, and before you read this, know this has been a tool to get back into writing, and finally get ready to remake the lost chapters for Shimmering Hope. Know when I have time, the next thing I work on is Shimmering Hope's chapters three, four, and five. They won't be named yet, since that will spoil them.

I do hope your all alright with this chapter, as I personally loved writing it. If you have any constructive criticism, please feel free to tell me. I am more then happy to get better at writing from constructive criticism.

Anyways, enjoy the chapter, and if you want more of this kind of stuff, comment and ask questions about the lore, and I'll either dedicate a chapter to your question, or I'll just privately inform you your question is gonna cause spoilers to be mentioned. Have a great day or night.

Oh Death's Weeping Sorrow

Ah welcome back, did you feel inclined to return for another tale I have? Oh yes, excellent. Today I have a few, but I know just the one to tell you, the tale that made Death so kind and and want to change, you could say, he tried many times, to break the cycle, to help and push others from his grasp, but this is the tale of when he almost had it all, and lost it.

This is the tale of Death, and how he fell in love with a mortal woman, and how he gave a world without order, a way to combat the chaos of his own Darkness. Now, sit down, and get comfortable, for this tale is surely a good one.

The tale begins with Death, having taken on a mortal form, wandered the earth as a pale avatar of his namesake. During this age of history, humanity was similar to other ancient races still, mythical, full of magic given to them by the Alicorns, and also full of Life's creations. However, humans were a fearful race, and thus, fought and feared the others who were their equal. All across their world, humans were at odds, but Death knew this, and let it happen. He wanted to see how things played out, and oh he was surprised. He watched humanity fight, befriend, and kill witches, Dragons, Lycans, Vampires, and all other beasts of this world, but...he also say many respected, protected, and fought for the same "monsters" and even fell in love with them, or became their friends. Then, one day, he simply decided to stay a while in a place, but then, his presence was noticed.

Death was thought of as a Vampire due to his pale skin and amber eyes, and the humans tried to fight him, their soldiers running and showing no fear, until a spear tore through his side, and out of it, his shadows spilled. The mortals screamed, as from these shadows, formed the first ever creature Death created, and that was the Monster known as Crypt, the Steed of Death. The black, undead beast had large clawed forelegs, strong hoofed back legs, and was of shadows and darkness. It then ran so fast it caused the Earth to shake, and thus Death grabbed onto Crypt, to try and stop it from ending this world. He pulled hard on it's mane, and ordered it to halt. But, Crypt was an untamed monster of Death, and thus his steps caused chaos, so much so that the void itself, suddenly created a new being out of need to balance out the sheer unknown caused by Crypt.

Thus, popping into the universe closest to them, was born a creature like crypt, with parts made from what was alive, pulled and stitched together, to create a new being, of dragon, buffalo, pony and bat. With the eye of a chaotic combination, and with powers bound only to the source of all existence, the void, Discord, the God of Chaos, was born. However, like many beings, he was too young to do much, so he instead buried himself in a cocoon, and rested, to gain energy until he felt like he was ready to explore and learn.

As that happened, Crypt, the wild Beast of Disaster, caused civilizations to end, lives to be lost, and knowledge to be all but forgotten to the mortals. Death was tired, but with his resolve, and his imagination, he formed a harness pulled on Crypt, to the point the beast was staring up at the stars. This was when it stopped, and bucked off Death, before falling onto it's side, and panting. Death landed in the sands of an island, where volcanoes and rock was all that existed. Death then looked at Crypt, as he spoke at the beast with rage. "You just....DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE? ALL THOSE LIVES, ENDED TOO SOON...UGH!" All Crypt did was look into the stars, as the beast then spoke, "I only ran, because I was scared they would harm you. But, won't they come back, or will be made into new souls?"

Death sighs, "Of course, but that's not the point. I am trying to not do this, I have done enough killing." Crypt looks confused, "But, then why was I born to destroy?" Death stops, and thinks, then realizes, he created something that existed, in this realm. He MADE something without Life's help. The mixture of joy and anger made his head spin, and thus he fell onto the black sand beach, as he sighed loudly. Crypt, simply got up and laid down next to Death, as they both rested. Death then spoke in an astonished tone, "I made you, but, now what shall I do?"

Crypt looks at the stars, with big, black and blue eyes. "I think, we can help keep balance, and maybe, we can walk the world together, for I am, but shadows, my form can be anything." Death nods, as they then rested and planned for four days and night, and on the fifth day, they took off across the ocean, and left only a single patch of seeds on the island, to hopefully start something to look back on later.

------Time Skip------

Death and Crypt wandered the Earth, and watched humanity change. No longer were they colorful and bright, their skins changed to common colors or peach, tan, browns, and such. Only their hair remained strangely colorful. Over time, the other races decided to hide among the humans, if they could, or simply lived in places they could never find them. Many magical species made gates, to hope over into the other universe next to their home one, and sealed them with magics of old. However, many stayed to live on their home, and help humanity and themselves. Such was the case of Lycans, Vampires, Werewolves, the Fea, Dragons, and many others, though most simply let the humans believe they were dead, or nearly so.

Death had also noticed Humanity's cruelty and wicked ways fully, but also knew some were just. However, around the age when the short man of France was on his conquests, Crypt and Death were exploring England, and on this fateful day, Death saw a woman, barely older then thirty, get grabbed by a man, and pulled into an alley. However, what Death also saw was that she was strong with magic, the ancient magic specifically. Thus, he felt he should do something to preserve her, so she may pass it on to someone, as he saw many like her be burned and killed in the times of plague and fear.

Crypt read Death's mind, as both then entered the alley, and Death whispered a dark curse, "Let go thy woman, or be consumed by the darkness in your heart and soul." The man was in shock, and Death felt his breath leave him, then the man fell dead, as his heart turned black, and he bled inky ooze of darkness from his eyes and mouth. The woman, in shock but also awe, was left speechless, until Death and Crypt were almost out of the Alley.

"Um, excuse me kind sir, could you help me get back to my home, I feel, I may need some companionship to stay safe." Death nodded, as Crypt walked over, and Death moved backwards on Crypt's back, and helped her get onto Crypt. Death then spoke in a very calm tone, "Where do you live miss? My trusted friend here can take us anywhere in the world." The woman was small compared to Death, her height maybe only five feet and a few inches, and she looked to be built to survive, but he could tell she was rich and well fed from her body's condition and her clothing.

"Um, I can guide him, I rather not say out loud here of all places. Also, what is thy name good sir?" She asks, as Death stops, and Crypt simple lets her guide him, as he does go faster then what she expected, and the woman, in a tight corset, and rich noble attire, tried and succeeded in having Crypt slow down, which was a truly a feat for any mortal to do. Death then spoke, "I have but one name, and to tell you would mean to harm you, and that I shall not do." She looks back at him, having to look up with her small round face, and gorgeous green eyes. Death stared into those orbs of green, almost in awe of what they were, the pure color and kind life twinkling inside of them. If only he knew how she saw him, for what she saw was Death's soul, his form revealed to be truly a shadow of life, yet she felt sorry for him.

"Ah, that is alright," The lady exclaimed, "I know, it is rude to ask for your name when we just met, but my name Emily Walker, and it is nice to meet you Sir." Death nods, then sighs, as he whispers into her ear, "I am, Death, but I will not harm you, gifted one." She giggles and sighs, then speaks politely to Death, "Oh I know, I see you for who you are, but may I welcome Death and his Steed to my home?" Crypt nods, and takes off, as Emily is nearly knocked off, if it was not for Death to catch her with a hug. Crypt races to her home, picking it out from her scent of her soul, as Death kept hugging her, even far after Crypt slowed down, as he felt warm again, a feeling he hasn't felt since The Cataclysm.

Emily, Death, and Crypt soon arrive at her home, a sizable mansion in the middle of the woods of England, and as he looked around, he saw many beings of old there, living here with the humans in harmony. He then stayed for dinner, and met many new faces, though whose names only he may recall, and Death decided to remain there for a while. However, a while turned into weeks, then months, then several months. Soon, Death was always there, talking to the half-fea witch Emily, her Father Charles, and her mother Madison. Death never felt happier then with Emily and her family, her friends, and he felt like this could never end. But oh boy, how wrong he was.

As Death and Emily got closer, so did Life, and she was worried about them both. For she knows not what may happen if he tried to make life with Emily, and she felt worried and scared, as she should have been. Years later, Emily and Death, who had by now been given the name Xavier by her, married, and bedded each other. Then Emily became sick, so bad she would either die before, or during childbirth. Her family was so enraged, they forced Death away, banishing him with an ancient curse, and kicked him and his Steed into the river, then passed it. Death could not even try to help her, or be with her, as Emily did indeed die, but...unknown to Xavier, she survived long enough for Life to help her give birth, to triplets, two boys, and a girl. All of them shared his powers of magic, his amber eyes, and only the girl had a hint of green in her eyes. Emily then made life promise her, to take Death back and to keep him safe, and to help him now more than ever. Life agreed to, and then blessed each child with great blessings, and then, Life went to help Death, as Emily's soul passed into his domain, and was worshiped as the only mortal to make Death feel warmth.

Death was by the river still, crying into it, as he looked helplessly at the estate, and wished to help his lover and wife, his friend, pass on, to apologize, to take back his curse of death. However, Life soon found him, and comforted him, as she spoke, "You know, she will be reborn one day, as will her children, they shall be reincarnated to be your aids, to help you and I, and to help all alive find balance."

Death sighs, "I am not worthy to have you touch me." She then scoffs, and pulls him into a hug, as she takes on the form of a woman, though insanely tall, motherly in body, and with hair like vines and skin like the earth. Life then spoke softly, "I think my Shadow needs a hug, and to know, his wife loved him as much as I do, even more than I could ever. So, now let us go and spread her legend, make it known, she was one of the only beings to make you happy my old friend." Death sighed, and refused to move, and thus they sit there, for weeks, till Death finally fell asleep, and Life took him and Crypt back to her domain, to rest and recover.

------Time Skip------

Eventually, Death and Life went back to their cycle, though Death often tried to slow it down, as did life, and they cared for the Walkers and those they protected. Neither knew that Emily's children, who were named Martin, Theodore, and Alexandria, would become revolutionaries and help protect supernaturals, beings of magic and myth, from the shadows. However, they soon found out, as they watched them grow, live, marry and love many lovers, then die happy and peaceful. Their children and their children's children, and so on and so forth, all lived in the work of protecting supernaturals, being revolutionaries, and working in the shadows with the magics Death had given them. Eventually, they formed an organization known as the Foundation, and Xavier and Life, who took on the name Rachel, both took on mortal forms and names to help them, and often found it pleasant to help this family. Then, one day, on his way to talk to the eldest child of the oldest generation, the powerful witch-alien Madison Walker, Death stumbled upon a soul he has never seen here, a bright shining one, nearly as bright as the Alicorns, sitting in the cold, fading fast. Xavier, instead of wanting to save this being to study, saw she was going to die, and recalled the last time he saved someone, he saw Emily's ghostly form over this bacon-haired girl. with tan skin and clothing not suited for this night.

Xavier, right then and there, spoke to his old lover, "You always knew I couldn't resist your presence." With that, Xavier landed, and saved an unknown alien of the human world from his grasp, all the while, knowing his love wished him to help her, as this was his chance, to be a father figure to someone, and he took this with stride and passion.

And thus we know a part of why Xavier saved Sunset, and his past in greater detail. However, what makes Sunset's soul so strong, who is Madison, what is this Foundation, and more importantly, what ever happened to Crypt, Discord, and the lone Alicorn who conquered her darkness? Oh, do wait, for those tales I shall tell, another time. Good night or day, and may you all enjoy yet another story from..... Once Upon a Time.