Twilight blinked and looked up at the human standing before her. “I’m sorry what was that Anon?”
“What happens when ponies die? Y'all don't seem to have any religions or anything,” replied the human who leaned against the door jam, his hands in his pockets.
“We compose?” Twilight put down her quill and set aside the letter she had been writing. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Well most humans believe that we have these things called souls that are eternal and go to some manner of afterlife when we die,” Anon explained.
“Ahh the afterlife,” Twilight remarked. “Every living thing on Equestria goes to the fields of Elysium. Has no one explained this to you?”
“So like, it's one hundred percent confirmed that's where you go?” Anon pressed.
“Indeed,” Twilight declared. “I even glimpsed the place when I ascended and let me tell you it's as glorious as Celestia said it was.”
“Wait, you saw the afterlife?” Anon continued, walking forward and placing his hands on the back of one of Twilight’s office chairs.
“Ascension requires you to well, die. Albeit only briefly,” Twilight explained, wincing slightly. “It's not altogether pleasant, I assure you.”
“Dying doesn't sound like it would be fun,” Anon remarked.
Twilight chuckled. “I suppose it wouldn't.”
“So then, like everyone goes there? Every bird, beetle, pony, minotaur, whatever?” Anon inquired.
“Every living thing with even the barest hints of sentience, yes,” Twilight answered. “Every insect, animal, and even a few magical viruses go there.”
“Wait, even viruses?” Anon pressed, falling into the chair.
“The Piedmont incident was strange, but yes,” Twilight pressed. “Why do you ask anyway?”
“Well, I mean. I won't live forever you know,” Anon stated somewhat awkwardly. “And a lot of the old religions would probably send me to whatever version of hell they have.”
Twilight frowned. “For what? I know you may have your flaws but you certainly don't deserve such a terrible fate.”
Anon sighed. “Some religions might damn me for not dying in battle, others for who I like, and one might do so for not giving enough money to the church.”
Twilight blinked. “That is ridiculous. We are all deserving of a noble end.”
“Really? Even if they don't believe in an afterlife, or were jerks?” Anon continued.
“Why would it matter if they believed in it? Thats where they are going,” Twilight replied in a slightly confused tone.
Anon smirked. “Maybe no one told them of its existence.”
Twilight chuckled somewhat nervously. “Sorry about that Anon. I would have thought that was covered by the basic history primer I gave you on your second day here.”
“Oh it probably was,” Anon remarked with a shrug. “I just never opened the thing.”
Twilight sighed. “I should have seen this coming.”
“So, like I was asking, even jerks?” Anon pressed, leaning closer.
“Of course,” Twilight declared. “Just because you were mean in life doesn't mean you deserve oblivion or some manner of hell after it.”
Anon looked down, his shoulders slumping. “What if there was like, a pony hitler or something. Would he go there?”
Twilight shuddered. “Yes, even pony hitler would graze forever in the golden fields of Elysium.”
“But why? Don't you think if anyone deserved hell it would be him?” Anon asked.
“Let's back up for a second. I forgot to explain something,” Twilight announced, stepping up from her desk and opening the blinds, allowing the light into her small crystal office. “Something that is very important and will happen to us all.”
Anon sat a little straighter. “Like what?”
Twilight turned back to him and sat back down, steepling her hooves. “We all go to Elysium, but we also all experience all the wrongs we did in life.”
“All the wrongs?” Anon inquired. “Like, if you stabbed a guy you would get stabbed?”
Twilight sighed, and massaged her temples. “Yes, you would get stabbed but not like your probably imagining. There are no demons waiting to shank you.”
“Heh, pony demons,” Anon muttered.
“Rather you would feel each wrong you’ve done from the perspective of the person you harmed,” Twilight explained. “You would also feel and experience the full ramifications of your actions.”
Anon frowned. “I guess that makes sense. It certainly would be a poetic way to pay for one’s sins.”
Twilight blinked, her muzzle scrunching up in disgust. “Pay for one’s sins? Stars above no. It isn't about punishment. It's about growth. Its about becoming the best version of you.”
Anon opened his mouth to speak only to stop himself. “Wait, if you died, then you felt all that then right?”
“I did,” Twilight replied, smiling somewhat wistfully. “It's why I returned so…”
“Holier than though?” Anon offered.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “I would say experienced, or perhaps wisened.”
“So what was it like?” Anon pressed, leaning forward.
“It's as I said. I experienced every slight and act of hate I ever committed,” Twilight explained. “Though not pleasant, it granted me a certain perspective of the world. One that allows me to understand my little ponies in a way that mortals simply cannot.”
“Mortals?” Anon inquired, jabbing the pony’s hoof with a finger. “Your divinity is showing.”
“It's not that,” Twilight replied, recoiling her limb. “It's simply a term reserved for those who must worry about aging.”
“Alright, so back on topic,” Anon corrected. “I still don't see why pony hitler would deserve to go there.”
Twilight smiled knowingly. “Because a finite crime is never deserving of an infinite punishment.”
“Celestia told you that, didn't she?” Anon pointed out.
Twilight nodded. “She did. Though that doesn't make it any less true.”
“Not even pony hitler?” Anon asked.
Twilight sighed. “Yes, not even pony hitler.”
“Really though?”
The alicorn stood, and gave her wings a brief stretch as she rubbed her chin. “Alright imagine the worst pain possible, now how long do you think this bad guy of yours deserves?”
“The number eight but on the side,”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Give it a real number.”
“A million million years,” Anon declared.
“That's a little cruel, but understandable I suppose,” Twilight murmured before shaking her head. “So you understand then that justice requires an equal punishment?”
“I guess,” Anon replied, leaning back in his chair.
“And what is more fitting than personally experiencing every wrong you’ve ever committed, from the perspective of the person whom you have wronged?” Twilight finished.
Anon sighed. “I suppose that would make sense.”
“It is the epitome of justice,” Twilight declared.
“Okay so then what about… me?” Anon asked in a slightly lower tone.
“We went over this Anon, remember? You too shall go there,” Twilight whispered.
“But I’m not from here,” Anon retorted.
“You are here now,” Twilight stated.
Anon stared down at his feet for nearly a minute before a smile crossed his face. “You know, this feels kind of good. I think I understand why ponies are so harmonious. If I had always been here, and knew that I would end up on the receiving end of every verbal barb or cruel act I ever did I probably would have been nicer back on earth.”
“It's never too late to start you know,” Twilight offered.
Anon stood up from his chair and stretched. “Nah, that feels like work.”
“It really isn't,” Twilight replied.
The human stopped at the entrance to the office. “I accidentally tripped Spike already today so I think I’ll start tomorrow.”
“That's not how it wo-”
“Yup, tomorrow will be the dawn of a new me,” Anon declared as he walked out the door. “A new, nicer Anonymous.”
Twilight smiled and shook her head. “Well I look forward to meeting him.”
Anon smiled faintly as he turned and walked away. “Me too Twilight, me too.”
Author's Note
Just a thing I needed to get out there.
