As Kalfu was spending time with Luna in his dream state, he suddenly noticed that she and the surroundings suddenly faded out and pulled away from him like he was flying through a form of light speed. All matter of colors were pulled forward until he stopped in the middle of a rather familiar set of roads. He spun around a few times as he looked around, seeing those lit torches that lined the old beaten paths before he heard the familiar clicking of a wooden cane coming up behind him.

“Well well. For someone who is new to our god group, you certainly have already gotten quite the following in the new world haven’t you, young man?” asked the kindly old man with a smile from under his straw hat, those tattered red and black clothes were definitely no mistaking who that was before Kalfu. The man removed his hat and bowed in reverence to the leader of the Loa “Great Legba. It is so good to see you again.” said Kalfu as he approached the elderly man and took the outstretched hand that was offered to him, taking it into both his hands after placing his hat back on his head.

The old man smiled up at Kalfu from his hunched position “It is refreshing to see that you haven’t let your godhood go to your head. Not even the other gods before you show this kind of respect towards me.”. Kalfu shook his head “Well, something tells me that they didn’t get a second chance at life thanks to your will. So of course, I might be a bit more grateful than them.” he said before the man chuckled softly “Indeed, you do have a point. Perhaps I should rotate the position out to mortals that pass away every now and then huh?” he asked with a laugh before he motioned Kalfu to follow walk with him “Let’s go for a walk, young man.”.

Kalfu nodded before walking up next to Legba and offered an arm for the old man to have some more support. While Kalfu knew that the leader of the voodoo gods could handle his own, it was the principle. To show respect to one’s elders. As they walked, Kalfu caught up with Legba on all the things he had done and how he had been spreading the religion of voodoo in the world he was charged with. While the old man didn’t say much in return, he smiled and listened to Kalfu go on and on, much how like a father listens to the adventures of his child after a day of playing outside with their friends and exploring.

“I see. You went for the tried and true method. Spreading the teaching through texts. And you created a paradise and damnation and even a limbo? You definitely went by the book, kiddo.”.Kalfu nodded in agreement “Well, what was the old saying we humans have? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” right?” he asked with a slight chuckle. Legba nodded with a chuckle in turn as well, wholeheartedly agreeing with Kalfu. “I also noticed that you have been teaching the children of this new world as well. Thankfully what is only proper for them to learn at their current age. Even preventing more adult knowledge from being seen with an age hex. Very clever.” he said in a rather proud manner.

Kalfu felt a surge of pride in his chest before nodding “Well, I am responsible for the souls willing to learn. Once they reach the proper age, then they may explore the paths that are open to them when it comes to the faith. Wouldn’t you believe in the same thing?” he asked as he gazed down at Legba. The old man nodded sagely and patted Kalfu’s forearm gently “I couldn’t agree more, young man. I also noticed… that you have acquired a rather VERY potent follower in your ranks. While I try not to peek in on you too much, I noticed that she is one of the two rulers of the land you currently reside in.”.

Kalfu nodded affirmatively in response “Aaah, you mean Lulu? Yeah, she was actually one of the first ponies to come and visit me the first night I was brought here. I never knew it at the time…that she would become one of my most loyal followers.” he said as he rubbed his chin in thought, lightly combing his fingers through his now long and dreaded beard. The two walked on in silence for a good while, not saying much but exchanging glances every now and then as they walked down the torch lit path before Legba spoke again.

“I think you have known for a while what is happening to you as you gain more followers, my child. You are changing. Gaining more and more power as the voodoo faith is spread throughout this world. And your physical appearance is altering as well. No shadow, no reflection in the mirror, not even the sound of your footsteps exists anymore. But, now that you have acquired such a powerful follower, I am afraid you are going to be leaving your humanity fully behind when you I part ways once more tonight.” he said in a rather serious tone as he turned to face Klfu, placing his hand gently on his upper arms.

“Leaving behind…my humanity? How do you mean?” Kalfu asked as he gently clasped his fingers around Legba’s forearms, a little worried at this new and sudden development. “You see, some gods choose a form that best suits their needs. Like the Lovecraftian squid things that are..oh..what is the term for that god again.Squidlulu?”. Kalfu nearly burst into laughter before responding with the answer “Cthulhu is the name you are seeking. I did a little studying up on him when I was going through school for a project…got me an A plus and scared the teacher a little bit.” he said as the memory made him smile.

“Yeah, that’s the big ugly I was talking about! Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Gods tend to take forms that suit their followers. And we took the form of humans. So I am assuming you know where I am going with this…yes?” he asked with an arched brow. Kalfu indeed did know where he was going. But..what kind of pony would he end up being? A thought suddenly came to him “I….don’t have to be an alicorn, do I..? I know I am a god and all that. But I’d rather keep my divinity somewhat hidden. And having both wings and a horn can get me into a lot of trouble and get me unwanted attention.”.

Legba chuckled lightly and shook his head “It's going to be YOUR new form, young man. Think about how you want to take your new shape to better identify with your followers. But, make it your own as well. Cloooose your eyes and picture them in your mind’s eye. How do you want to appear to your children..?” he said as he helped Kalfu focus inward. He wanted Kalfu to be happy with his new appearance after all. Kalfu nodded and closed his eyes hard, a blinding white light flashing behind his eyelids.

What Kalfu saw as he pictured his new form was a solid black fur coat that shined in the moonlight. His whole entire body was covered in white fur markings that resembled the skeleton in an x-ray image upon that dark black fur. His hair and new tail are long and dreaded and now a platinum white. His body is less lanky and more muscled and bigger in mass as an equine should be. His eyes still remain the same solid glowing green they are always at default. Even his new face was now covered with a skull marking, matching his markings all over his body. Even his long, nearly dreaded beard became platinum white. And to top it all off, a long curved unicorn horn appeared on his forehead, solid ivory white.

Once he had the full imagine engraved in his mind. Legba nodded and released Kalfu from his grip, the man suddenly falling into a dark void with a light growing bigger and bigger under him. “Before I leave you once more, I have one more thing to tell you. You have followers who are much older than your presence here in this world…and they have been followers of the voodoo religion far before you began spreading the teachings. Seek them out and treat them with kindness and respect, won’t you? They will reveal secrets that you may need further down the road. Stay safe, Kalfu…” he said as his voice echoed and faded before the light completely engulfed Kalfu as he fell through.

Kalfu was suddenly jolted awake as he appeared to have fallen from his bed wrapped up in his blanket. He let out an annoyed grunt at this blunder before looking down at his arms and hands. Seeing the black fur which was covered in bones like markings that when all the way down to the tips of his fingers. Remembering the dream that he had just woken up from, he slowly stands up and gets to his…hooves. He stumbled a bit before lifting up and hovering. He’d learn how to walk on these new hooves later.

He drifted towards his bathroom, stopping at the wall rather than the doorway before he placed his hand through the wall, then proceeded to phase through it just as he had always been able to do before. It appeared that he was still a living ghost, just in pony shape now “Okay, I still retain my former abilities. But…I wonder if I acquired any new ones with this change as well. I definitely feel an increase in my power…” he said as he clenched and opened his hands a few times before getting a shower and getting dressed for the day. Thankfully, his current outfit still fit him. It was just a bit more snug. But he could get the spiders he had to make this outfit to loosen it up a bit later.

Kalfu sat in the kitchen with breakfast being made, knowing full well that Scootaloo would be shuffling her way in here soon enough with the smell of waffles and hay bacon strips filling the house. And soon enough, he heard her mumbling down the hall and her hooves coming down the hall, the adorable little filly dressed up in one of her favorite long t-shirts that double as a tomboyish nightgown. “Good morning, my dear. Hope you slept okay,” he said as he sat the plate of the now prepared food at her spot at the table. Apparently, the filly was still half asleep as she let muscle memory and the smell of the food lead her to her chair.

It wasn’t until she was a few bits in that she noticed the rather imposing unicorn sitting across from her with a book in hand, sipping on a cup of peach tea and enjoying the breakfast with her. Her eyes widen and her fork drops onto the table and her jaw slowly drops after she swallows her food hard “D-Daddy…???” she asked in absolute shock and a little bit of uncertainty. He was wearing her father’s usual clothes, sure. But his appearance had completely changed. This was NOT the man she saw before she went to bed last night. He wasn’t a man at all at this point, he was a full blown stallion!

Kalfu chuckled nervously before nodding “Yes my sweet little filly, it is still very much the spooky voodoo man. I am…just no longer a man anymore it seems. I have become a unicorn stallion. Ah, let me explain…” he said as he began to tell Scootaloo of last night’s event involving his dream. But soon enough, it was time to send the filly off to school for the day. And he had to be off to show his new self to those he knew.

While he was out, however, something drew him to the Ponyville hospital. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but he felt he had to be there for…something. He casually floated through the sliding doors before making his way up to the counter, one of the nurses slowly lifting their gaze up before their pupils shrank a bit at his appearance “C-Can I help you sir…?” she asked with a slight shakiness in her voice. He thought about it for a moment, he wasn’t sure what brought him here, but he had to buy himself some time “I am..not sure. But I am glad I came in. It seems that I have run into a rather beautiful mare..” he said as he tried his best to sweet talk her.

It appeared to be working as the two of them got into some small talk that lasted for a good half hour. It wasn’t until the door slid open once more before a young mare and an elderly one in a wheelchair rolled up to the counter “Excuse me..? Can I get some help please?” she asked as she watched all the nurses and doctors walk past. It seems it was a rather busy day at this hospital today. She rolls her mother along in the wheelchair as she approaches Kalfu and the nurse he was speaking to “Excuse me? Can I get some help? My mother is far more sicker than he is!” she said in a slightly angered but pleading tone.

Kalfu and the nurse break the conversation before the elder mare’s and Kalfu’s eyes meet, a look of fear coming across her face when she gazes upon the living god. “Obia….” she said with a whimper. Kalfu’s brows lifted slightly before dropping back down to their neutral position at that word as the daughter and the nurse looked between the mother and Kalfu “Obia stallion.I’m gonna die…” she said in a rather thick Haitian accent. He could only assume that this mare had come from somewhere similar to Zecora has. Seems not only zebras are from there.

Obia? What is Obia?” the nurse asked as she came to help the daughter and the patient in question. “It's nothing, it means bad spirit..” she then looked to her mother “Mama, please…” she said as she tried to calm her down before looking back to the nurse “Can you please just help us?”. “Of course…have you registered yet?” she asked as she spoke to the daughter. No..not yet,” she responded.

“Go with the nurse, my dear. She will be alright.” Kalfu said in a rather comforting and reassuring tone. The nurse and the daughter stood there for a moment before nodding and heading to the front desk. “Don’t leave…” the elderly mother cried out as she reached for her daughter. She then slowly turned her gaze back to Kalfu “Obia…” she said once more. Kalfu slowly approached the mare before standing in front of her “I am not evil, madam.” he said in the same calm and quiet tone. “ What you is then..?” she asked in a defensive manner as she slowly gazed up into those glowing green eyes.

Kalfu reached down and gently took her right hand into his, the weathered mark that belonged to him that was carved into her hand beginning to glow brightly as time seemed to slow down around them. The old mare’s eyes went from cold and accusatory, to soft and filled with happy tears as she knew exactly who was now in front of her. The one whom she believed in all these years of her life, the one who she had all those visions and dreams about throughout her youth and young adult years. Kalfu smiled and nodded silently as the mare let out a weak, but happy cry of joy as she squeezed Kalfu’s hands to the point where they were shaking like leaves.

“Not obia…loa. Loa!” she cried out again as she wanted to jump up and wrap her arms around Kalfu in absolute joy, but her body was too far damaged and weak from the terminal cancer that she was dealing with “My Voodoo King. You have truly come…I knew my faith would be rewarded one day.” she said as she placed her lips to his fingers before resting her forehead against his clasped hand. “My prayers have been answered. Please…take me to the next place..?” she begged as she looked up at him hopefully.

Kalfu could see the havoc that the cancer she suffered from all over her exposed flesh. He frowned before looking into her, seeing that her soul was old and worn with age, but shined brightly as all good souls do “It’s not your time though, madam.” he said as he placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. She squeezed the hand that she held as firm as she could “This pain…going through me. I can’t take it anymore. I don’t want my little girl to have to bear this burden anymore….please…” she said as she began to quietly sob at that last word.

Kalfu placed a gentle hand upon the old mare’s cheek and gave a gentle nod “Soon, madam…son the pain will end. And you can rejoice in the land of paradise where there is no more pain and suffering. Just stay a little bit longer so that your family can spend the little bit of time they have with your left. And I will return to take you away from your suffering.”. The mare closed her eyes before looking back up at him “Dying….does it hurt..?” she asked, a bit fearful.
Kalfu gave a gentle smile before shaking his head “Quicker than falling asleep, I promise…”.

It was later that same week that Kalfu returned to the hospital, the elderly mare’s family had gathered around her bedside, tears flowing and quiet sobs filling the room as Kalfu drifted into the hospital room. No one but the elderly mare could see Kalfu, who had come to visit her during her time in the hospital when he could to provide her with a bit of comfort. He could see her soul struggling to stay within her body. He knew that this was it for the mare.

As he approached, her eyes fell upon the dreadful looking stallion. But greeted him with a smile as she knew exactly who he was “He’s…come for me, sweetie. It is all going…to be…alright…now…” she said weakly as her daughter and the rest of the family looked around “Who do you mean mama..?” she asked as she was confused. “The Voodoo King...He has..come to…take me…to the crossroads. Then…to paradise...I love you, my child. I hope to…see you again someday..” she said as she began to fade away. Kalfu stood next to the elderly mare’s dying body before taking her hand softly and pulling her spirit from her body “It's time, madam. Stay close to me and I shall guide you..” he said as he looped an arm around hers gently.

Before they both vanished, the daughter caught one last glimpse of Kalfu and her mother arm in arm, the stallion removing his hat and placing it upon his chest with a bow before placing it back on his head and vanishing with the soul…

Author's Note

Was inspired by a scene in Meet Joe Black for the second half of the story here. Not sure if you youngins on this site know that movie :p Anyways, enjoy.

May the darkness grant you peace.